IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (20-19) at Durham Bulls (26-14)

Published on May 20, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


The Indians look to avoid being swept in Durham for the first time since 2004.

Location: Durham Bulls Athletic Park

First Pitch: 5:05 p.m. ET

Game #40 / Road #21: Indianapolis Indians (20-19) @ Durham Bulls (26-14)

Probables: RHP Alex McRae (0-4, 5.94) vs. RHP Chih-Wei Hu (0-2, 3.79)

Radio: Fox Sports 97.5 / AM 1260 / iHeart app

TV: MiLB TV

From the Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Indians saw 1-0 and 7-4 leads vanish in last night's 10-7 loss to the Bulls. Durham used a pair of four-run frames in the second and fifth to overcome the deficits en route to sealing the series win. Indy sent 10 batters to the plate in the fourth inning, scoring six times to take a 7-4 lead. Jordan Luplow started the inning with his team-high fifth homer of the season, and Eric Wood homered with two outs and nobody on to make it a 4-3 ballgame. The Indians then evened the score behind Erich Weiss and Wyatt Mathisen doubles. Pablo Reyes followed with a run-scoring single to put Indy on top, 5-4, and after an error extended the inning, Christopher Bostick singled home a pair of runs. Tyler Eppler yielded eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in 4.1 innings, suffering his second loss of the year. His ERA also ballooned from 2.27 to 3.60 (16 ER/40.0 IP).

BULLIED IN DURHAM: The Indians' loss last night marked the sixth loss in seven games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park since the beginning of the 2017 season. Indy was beaten in a three-game set at Durham in the 2017 regular season, 2-1, before losing Games 1 and 2 in their semifinal bout at Durham last September. The Tribe hadn't lost series in Durham in consecutive years since 2003-04, years in which the Indians posted identical 1-5 records against the Bulls at DBAP. 2004 marks the last season where the Tribe suffered a series sweep in Durham. The Tribe are 40-60 all-time at DBAP.

NEWMAN FINALLY HITLESS: Kevin Newman had his nine-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-5 performance last night. The reigning IL Player of the Week is still batting .364 (8-for-22) with two RBI and three runs scored in five games this week. The middle infielder has 21 knocks since May 9, tied with Double-A Portland's Chad De La Guerra for the most in all of professional baseball. Newman has notched a hit in 15 of 17 games in the month of May and raised his batting average nearly 90 points (.234 on April 30, .317 after May 19). This month he's batting .412 (28-for-68). He ranks among IL leaders in runs scored (T-1st, 25), hits (2nd, 46), batting (5th, .317) and doubles (T-8th, 11).

BOSTICK BASHING: Tribe outfielder Christopher Bostick went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a stolen base in last night's defeat. He is now 4-for-8 with three doubles and four RBI in the series at Durham. His .323 average ranks fourth in the International League, just ahead of teammate Kevin Newman who is fifth at .317. Bostick has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, including multi-hit performances in five of the last six. In his previous 11 contests, the 25-year-old owns a .340 average (16-for-47) with one homer, four doubles, 10 RBI and eight runs scored.

WYATT CAN RAKE: Tribe infielder Wyatt Mathisen has impressed at both Double- and Triple-A this season, batting a combined .413 (19-for-46) with two home runs, one triple, six doubles, 10 RBI, 14 walks and a 1.287 OPS between Altoona and Indy. In seven games with the Tribe -- all on the road -- Mathisen is batting.450 (9-for-20) with one home run, three doubles and seven RBI. He has clubbed right-handed pitchers this season; with Altoona he hit .421 (8-for-19) with one triple, three doubles, two RBI and eight walks against righties. In Indy he's batted .700 (7-for-10) with three doubles, five RBI and two walks against right-handers. He is 4-for-17 with both of his home runs this season coming against southpaws.

FILLING UP THE LEADERBOARD: The Indians lead the IL in average (.280), doubles (105), triples (13) and OBP (.338) and are second in slugging percentage (.429). The Tribe also rank third in fewest strikeouts (282) and fourth in both runs scored (177 - 4.54 runs per game) and stolen bases (31).

TYLER TOUCHED UP: Tyler Eppler was roughed up in last night's game, surrendering season highs in hits (9), runs (8), earned runs (7) and home runs (2). The right-hander entered the contest having allowed just one run over 11.0 innings in May and nine runs in 35.2 innings pitched on the season. The 25-year-old had baffled left-handed batters this season, holding them to a .192 average (10-for-52), three extra-base hits, five RBI and a .507 OPS entering the start. Durham's left-handed hitters then went 5-for-12 with four extra-base hits and seven RBI against the Texas native.

BULLPEN BRILLIANCE: Johnny Hellweg, Tanner Anderson and Dovydas Neverauskas have dominated IL opposition since April 7. The trio has combined for nine saves and a 0.53 ERA (3 ER/50.2 IP) since that date. They've yielded just 35 hits and 16 walks with 46 strikeouts, posting a 1.01 WHIP along the way.

HELLWEG IS HUMAN: Johnny Hellweg allowed his first run of the season in last night's loss, surrendering one in the eighth on three hits against the Bulls. He did strike out two batters in the frame, but his ERA now rests at 0.60 (1 ER/15.0 IP) on the year.

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International League Stories from May 20, 2018


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