IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Four-Run Ninth Propels Tribe Past Chiefs 6-2

August 18, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. --The Indianapolis Indians scored the eventual game-winning run in the top of the ninth on the fourth error of the night by Syracuse, before tacking on three more insurance scores on an RBI single by first baseman Matt Hague and two-run triple by third baseman Dallas McPherson on their way to a 6-2 series opening win over the Chiefs at Alliance Bank Stadium.

Tied 2-2 heading into the top of the ninth, pinch hitter Drew Sutton would draw a one-out walk and CF Alex Presley would follow with a single to set the stage for the eventual offensive outburst. Following Presley the red-hot Brock Holt would continue to see things fall his way as he would reach on a throwing error by Syracuse 1B Mark Teahen that would also allow Sutton to score what proved to be the game-winning run.

The Indians would then leave little doubt in their series opening victory as, after a groundout put runners on the corners, Hague would come through with a clutch two-out single to plate Presley and extend the advantage to 4-2. McPherson then gave the game its 6-2 final when he capped the rally by belting his first triple of the season to center field to score both Tabata and Hague.

The four-run rally by the Tribe made a winner out of reliever Daniel McCutchen (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 SO), who turned in a brilliant performance out of the Indians' bullpen, allowing just two hits over four scoreless frames to earn the win and improve to 6-2. After McCutchen, LHP Doug Slaten (1.0 IP) would toss a scoreless ninth to seal the victory for the Indians

McCutchen was forced into long relief duty after Tribe starter Phil Irwin lasted just four innings in his Triple-A debut. Despite lasting just four frames, Irwin (4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO) still turned in an impressive performance collecting eight of 12 outs by way of the strikeout.

Indianapolis took the first lead of the night in the top of the fourth when RF Jose Tabata led off the frame with an infield single before Hague followed with a base hit of his own. Then after a strikeout, C Tony Sanchez would advance Tabata and Hague to second and third, where they would be brought plateward on a clutch two-run base knock by LF Brandon Boggs to give the Indians a 2-0 advantage.

Syracuse, however, would get to Irwin in their half of the fourth, tying the score at 2-2 with one swing of the bat. After Major League veteran Mark Teahen led off with a double to right, SS Zach Walters, who had been mired in a 4-for-27 slump, connected on his first career Triple-A home run to draw the Chiefs even.

After exchanging two-run rallies in the fourth, both teams pitching staffs would hunker down and hold the offenses silent until the Indians' ninth inning outburst. After surrendering the two Tribe runs on Boggs' base hit, veteran hurler John Lannan (6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO), would hold the Indians' offense scoreless until being pulled for reliever Pat Lehman (0.2 IP, 1 SO) mid-way through the seventh.

Lehman would end a golden opportunity for the Tribe in the seventh by inducing a groundout and strikeout after Presley led off the frame with a walk and moved up to second a sacrifice bunt by Holt. Despite his bunt not resulting in a score, Holt continued the fantastic start to his Triple-A career as the left handed slugger extended his hitting streak to seven games with a first inning base hit.

After Lehman, Syracuse reliever Hassan Pena (1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) would enter the game and be pinned with a tough-luck loss to fall to 3-5 after being on the mound when the Chiefs committed their costly fourth error in the ninth.

With their victory and the second-place Columbus Clippers falling 3-2 to Louisville in extra innings, the Tribe's magic number for a West Division championship is now down to seven.

Indianapolis will looks to draw another step closer to the division crown when they take on Syracuse in game two of the series on Sunday night at 5:00 p.m. LHP Jeff Locke is expected to make his return to the Indians rotation, while the Chiefs are scheduled to counter with RHP Kevin Pucetas

The game will be carried on WNDE 1260 AM-WFBQ-HD2, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones with Howard Kellman and Will Flemming on the call. The pre-game show begins at 4:40 p.m.

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