IL Indianapolis Indians

Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (15-13) vs. Columbus Clippers (9-19)

Published on June 6, 2021 under International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


LOCATION: Victory Field

FIRST PITCH: 1:35 PM ET

GAME #29 / Home #12: Indianapolis Indians (15-13) vs. Columbus Clippers (9-19)

PROBABLES: RHP Max Kranick (0-0, 1.80) vs. RHP Triston McKenzie (0-0, 0.00)

RADIO: FoxSportsIndy.com / Fox Sports 1260 / iHeart app

TV: MiLB TV / My-INDYTV 23

LAST NIGHT: Three consecutive two-out walks in the eighth inning last night by Columbus's Tanner Tully and Kyle Dowdy broke a 2-2 tie and drove in the winning Indianapolis win to give the Indians their third series win this season. Hunter Owen put Indy on the board first with his second home run of 2021 in the second inning. The teams traded runs in the fourth inning, with Alford knocking a two-out RBI single to retake a 2-1 lead. Columbus knotted the game again when Oscar Mercado tripled home Connor Marabell in the fifth, and the game remained tied until the eighth inning. Tully took the loss after being charged with the final Indianapolis run when Dowdy walked in the winning run with the bases loaded.

OWEN COMING HOME: Evansville, Ind. native Hunter Owen scored all three Indianapolis runs last night in the win over Columbus. His home run in the second inning was launched to the deepest part of the ballpark. He later was singled home by Anthony Alford and scored the winning run with a bases-loaded walk to Joe Hudson. On the night, he went 2-for-4 for his third two-hit game this season.

TWO TWO-BAGGERS: In the fourth game of his MLB rehab assignment with Indianapolis, Phillip Evans went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles in last night's win over Columbus. He sent a ground ball into left field for his first double in the third inning, and he launched a line drive into the right field corner for his second in the fifth. He has recorded a hit in each game he has appeared in with Indy, good for a .500 (5-for-10) average. Last night was the first multi-hit game of his rehab assignment, and the two doubles were his first extra-base hits.

SHARPE SHOOTING: Chris Sharpe retook the Triple-A East doubles lead with his 10th last night vs. Columbus. He doubled to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning, his final at-bat of the night, after going hitless in his first three. It was his second two-bagger in as many days after doubling to lead off the doubleheader on Friday night.

ALFORD ON A ROLL: Anthony Alford drove in a go-ahead run in the fourth inning last night with a single after Columbus tied the game, 1-1. He went 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base for his third consecutive game with a hit this series. In Friday night's doubleheader, Alford went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, a home run and RBI. He went 3-for-3 in the opener with his third home run of the season and two runs scored, and followed up with a single in the nightcap. Alford's three hits to begin the night tied a season-high, the first coming on May 18 at St. Paul when he went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. In four games in June, he is hitting .500 (5-for-10) with a home run, three RBI, one stolen base and four walks to three strikeouts.

BULLPEN DOMINANCE: The Indians bullpen last night allowed just one baserunner over 4.0 innings of work to close out the game vs. the Clippers. Matt Eckelman tossed two hitless innings in relief of starter Cody Ponce, and Geoff Hartlieb earned the win. Jandel Gustave closed out the game with a pair of strikeouts in the ninth inning to earn his fourth save of the season, which ties for fourth among Triple-A East leaders. During this homestand vs. Columbus, the Indians bullpen has a 1.69 ERA (3er/16.0ip). In a loss against Columbus on Thursday, four Indians relievers combined for four perfect innings with six strikeouts.

TODAY: The Indians will look to improve their home record to 10-2 tomorrow with a win over Columbus in the series finale. The Indians have won three consecutive games at Victory Field after sweeping Friday's doubleheader and narrowly edging the Clippers last night. RHP Max Kranick will make his second start against the Clippers after pitching in the series opener, and RHP Triston McKenzie will make his Triple-A debut. McKenzie appeared in 10 games (nine starts) with Cleveland to begin the year and went 1-3 with a 6.26 ERA (29er/41.2ip).

MAX ON THE MOUND: Max Kranick takes the mound today for his second start with the Indians this season. He made his Triple-A debut with Indianapolis on Tuesday and, after allowing back-to-back singles to lead off the game, retired 13 straight batters until Oscar Mercado hit a one-out homer in the fifth inning. He allowed four total hits on the night and fanned six Columbus batters. Rated as Pittsburgh's No. 30 prospect by Baseball America entering the season, Kranick went 1-0 with a 4.02 ERA (7er/15.2ip) and 16 strikeouts in three starts with Double-A Altoona. The 23-year-old spent 2020 at Pittsburgh's Alternate Training Site in Altoona.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Reliever Tyler Bashlor was named the Indians May Player of the Month today after he went the entire month (8 games, 9.0 innings) without allowing an earned run. He held opposing batters to a .069 (2-for-29) batting average and paired that dominance with a 0.78 WHIP and five walks compared to 12 strikeouts. The 28-year-old fanned a season-high four batters in two innings in his final outing of the month on May 29 at Omaha.

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