IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (0-2) at Columbus Clippers (2-0)

Published on April 6, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


The Indians are seeking their first win of the season as their four-game set continues in Columbus.

Location: Huntington Park

First Pitch: 6:05 p.m. EDT

Game #3 / Road #3: Indianapolis Indians (0-2) @ Columbus Clippers (2-0)

Probables: RHP Alex McRae (0-0, 0.00) @ RHP Jefry Rodriguez (0-0, 0.00)

Radio: Fox Sports 97.5 / AM 1260 / iHeart app

TV: MiLB TV

MCRAE DAY: Right-hander Alex McRae turns 26 today and will get the start for Indianapolis. McRae made his MLB debut last year on 8/1 vs. Chicago (NL) and surrendered just one earned run in 3.0 innings pitched. He managed just a 3-10 record and 4.77 ERA in 26 games (19 starts) with Indy in 2018, but he did toss seven quality starts, third most on the team. Indy's league-best offense only scored 72 runs in his 19 starts (3.8 runs per game), so a boost in run support could lead to better results this summer for the West Allis, Wis. native.

COLE COOKIN': Tribe shortstop Cole Tucker has done damage at the plate from the leadoff spot. He singled on the first pitch of the season Thursday and hit a leadoff homer on the second pitch of the game last night. Tucker is batting .444 (4-for-9) and already has two multi-hit performances in as many games.

WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A CRAIG: Will Craig is off to a fast start in his first Triple-A season. He belted a two-run tiebreaking homer in the third inning of the season opener and followed that up with a game-tying solo shot in the sixth inning last night. He is one of three players in the International League already with two dingers, joining Charlotte's Zack Collins and Danny Mendick. He has driven in two runs in each of the first two games, fresh off a 102-RBI campaign in Double-A last year.

FOUR DINGERS: The Indians have already hit four home runs through two games this season and trail only Charlotte (6) in the IL. Will Craig has a pair while Cole Tucker and Patrick Kivlehan have one apiece. Last year, the Tribe didn't hit their first home run of the season until game No. 7 and it took them 18 games before they hit their fourth homer of the season on 4/27 at Columbus.

0-2 START: The Indians are off to their first 0-2 start since 2015. That year, the Indians finished 83-61 and tied for first with Columbus in the IL West Division. Indy was the wild card representative in the Governors' Cup Playoffs and swept Scranton/WB 3-0 before falling in the best-of-five Governors' Cup Championship Series, 3-2. Since becoming the Triple-A affiliate of the Pirates in 2005, the Tribe have now endured six 0-2 or worse starts to the season (2008, 0-2; 2009, 0-3; 2011, 0-4; 2013, 0-2; 2015, 0-2; 2019, 0-2). The Tribe have reached the playoffs in two of the five previous occurrences, 2013 and 2015.

THE TABLES WILL TURN: Indianapolis has homered, held their opponents without a home run and scored first in each of its first two games. The Indians went 42-26 when homering, 51-23 when holding their opponent without a homer and 51-31 when scoring first last year.

WELCOME TO THE SHOW, J-MART: Outfielder Jason Martin was recalled by Pittsburgh yesterday and made his MLB debut this afternoon vs. Cincinnati. He got the start in left field and hit from the leadoff spot. In his first at-bat he singled off RHP Tanner Roark, a line drive into center field on a 3-1 pitch.

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International League Stories from April 6, 2019


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