IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (24-21) at Charlotte Knights (18-29)

Published on May 26, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


Indy and Charlotte continue their four-game set with game two tonight at BB&T Ballpark. The Tribe fell 2-1 last night in the series-opening contest.

Location: BB&T Ballpark

First Pitch: 7:04 p.m. ET

Game #46 / Road #23: Indianapolis Indians (24-21) @ Charlotte Knights (18-29)

Probables: RHP Alex McRae (1-4, 5.13) vs. RHP Donn Roach (3-2, 3.78)

Radio/TV: FoxSports975.com / iHeart app / MiLB TV

From the Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Tribe fell in Charlotte 2-1 after the Knights knocked in a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Indy chalked up a run in the top half of the fourth when Jordan Luplow doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a wild pitch to give his club a 1-0 lead. That lead quickly diminished as Patrick Leonard blasted a triple to deep center that scored Alex Presley, who reached on an error the first at-bat of the inning. Mason Robbins plated Leonard with an RBI single later in the inning that gave Charlotte the lead for good. Carson Fulmer walked six and struck out five, improving to 1-0 in his first start of the season with the Knights. Christopher Bostick paced all batters in the game by notching two hits.

OUT OF THE GATES: With the loss last night, the Indians drop their record in series openers this season to 9-6. Overall, opponents have outscored the Tribe by four runs (77 to 73) in the first contest of a series. The largest loss came in just the second series of the season, home against Toledo, where the Mud Hens downed Indy 13-3. The Indians clobbered Columbus 17-5 on April 27 to give them their largest margin of victory in a series opener this season. Against Charlotte, they are now 1-1 to open a series, winning the very first matchup 4-1 at Victory Field on April 20.

SHORT START: Nick Kingham started on the mound Friday night and lasted just one inning, allowing a single hit. Friday night's start marks the third shortest start of his nine-year career. In 2013, he registered two starts that lasted just 0.2 innings - one on May 14 with High-A Bradenton (3 h, 4 er, 2 bb, 2k at Clearwater) and the other with Double-A Altoona (1 h, 1 k at Binghamton). The righty remained in the game for one full inning twice before in his career, but both times he did it in relief - August 28, 2010 with the GCL Pirates and July 14, 2017 with Indy.

CASEY ON THE RUBBER: Casey Sadler took over for Kingham in the second inning Friday night and pitched four innings, his longest relief appearance this season. Despite receiving the loss Friday, his first as a reliever this season, he has seen success in the long relief role for the Tribe. The hurler is 2-1 out of the 'pen in six games and has accrued a 4.05 ERA (6 ER/13.1 IP) with 10 strikeouts. Sadler has also eased into the role as the month of May has progressed, putting up a 3-1 record this month that includes his sole win as a starter this year. Overall in May, he boasts a 2.41 ERA (5 ER/18.2 IP) and 17 strikeouts compared to a 8.31 ERA (12 ER/13.0 IP) and nine whiffs in April.

KEEPING THE PACE: The Indians have bashed 120 doubles this season, good for the top mark in the league. The total is well ahead of Toledo's 97, which is second best in the IL. The Tribe are averaging 2.67 doubles per game, putting them on pace for 373 doubles. The franchise record for doubles in a season is 378, set over a 166-game season in 1931. The Victory Field era record for doubles in a season is 299, accomplished in both 1998 and 2000.

LUPLOW CAN LEG THEM OUT: Jordan Luplow has now doubled in five straight games, setting a career high. The slugger is batting .400 (8-for-20) over the last five games and has contributed six total runs (three RBI and three runs scored). Since May 17, Luplow has logged seven doubles, the most in the IL for that span and second most in pro baseball behind the White Sox's Jose Abreu, who has eight.

MIGHTY MAX: In his three games since returning from Pittsburgh, Max Moroff has been a consistent threat at the plate for the Indians. The utility infielder currently boasts a three-game hit streak, totaling five hits in 12 at-bats the last three games. On May 23, he hit his second career leadoff homer and first of the season with the Tribe. Against lefties, he is batting .400 this season (4-for-10) and .429 (3-for-7) when leading off an inning. Plus, he has been a Swiss-army knife in the field, starting at second base, third base and shortstop in his 10 games with Indy this season, committing just one error in 31 total chances.

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International League Stories from May 26, 2018


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