IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (41-37) at Gwinnett Stripers (44-35)

Published on June 29, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


The Indians will try to break a three-game losing skid tonight against Gwinnett.

LOCATION: Coolray Field

FIRST PITCH: 6:05 p.m. ET

GAME #79 / ROAD #40: Indianapolis Indians (41-37) at Gwinnett Stripers (44-35)

PROBABLES: RHP Mitch Keller (6-1, 2.89) vs. RHP Mike Foltynewicz (1-1, 6.11)

RADIO: Fox Sports 97.5 / AM 1260 / iHeart app

TV: MiLB TV

LAST NIGHT: The Indians suffered their third consecutive loss with an 8-1 setback against Gwinnett in the series opener on Friday night. Adam Duvall clubbed a two-run home run off Yefry Ramirez in the first inning and smacked a grand slam during a six-run fifth that turned a 2-1 ballgame into the 8-1 final. Alex Jackson also homered off Tyler Lyons in that inning, his 15th of the season. Duvall is tied with Columbus' Bobby Bradley for the league lead in home runs (24) and he paces all IL players in RBI (64), seven ahead of Durham's Michael Brosseau. Indy got its lone run in the top of the fifth as an Eric Wood leadoff single and ensuing wild pitch by Kyle Wright (W, 5-4) eventually led to an RBI double by Jason Martin, his 12th two-bagger this year for the Tribe. Ramirez (L, 1-3) was charged with five earned runs in 4.1 innings of work, and Lyons had his scoreless streak snapped at five games.

TWO-WAY SHUCK: OF/LHP JB Shuck became a two-way player for the first time since his days at Ohio State when he was outrighted to Indy on May 8, and his results as a position player and pitcher have been promising thus far. The 32-year-old is hitting .316 (30-for-95) with two homers, two triples, eight doubles, 10 RBI and a .903 OPS in 32 contests for Indy. On the bump the southpaw has thrown 4.0 scoreless innings, scattering two hits and three walks with four punchouts in three appearances. He also threw 1.0 scoreless frame for Pittsburgh this season.

LYLES REINSTATED FROM REHAB: RHP Jordan Lyles made an MLB rehab start (left hamstring tightness) for the Tribe last Sunday at Pawtucket (5.1ip, 2h, 1r, 1er, 3bb, 7k), but tonight he returns to the Pirates and takes the ball in Milwaukee. Pittsburgh won its series opener over the Brewers last night, 3-2. The 28-year-old has had a strong season with the Buccos, going 5-3 with a 3.64 ERA in 12 starts.

RIGHT GUY ON THE MOUND: RHP Mitch Keller (6-1, 2.89) will make his 13th start of the season tonight for the Tribe. In three June starts with Indy, he's 1-1 with a 1.47 ERA (3er/18.1ip), 24 strikeouts, a 0.82 WHIP and .159 average against (10-for-63). Keller has been at his best in the first inning and third time through the order. Opponents are batting just .190 (8-for-42) with a pair of solo home runs against him in the opening inning, but they have found success in the second and third inning with 12 runs scored and a .281 average (25-for-89). From the fourth inning on in his Triple-A starts this year, he's held opponents to a .220 average (24-for-109), yielding just eight runs combined.

SLIP 'N' SLIDE: The Indians carry a three-game losing streak into tonight's ballgame, their sixth skid of three or more games this year and their third already this month. The Tribe are 10-17 in June, their most losses in a single month since August 2018 when they went 12-17. The Indians haven't lost at least 18 games in a month since July 2014 when they finished 11-19. Indy is a season-high 7.5 games back in the IL West and 3.0 games behind Charlotte in the wild card race.

STRIPERS STRUGGLES: The Indians are 5-16 against Gwinnett in their last 21 meetings dating back to the 2017 campaign. Indy is also just 2-9 in its last 11 contests at Coolray Field. The Tribe are a meager 1-6 against the Stripers this season, including an 0-4 mark on the road. The Tribe lost the 2018 season series to Gwinnett, 8-3.

HOME VS. ROAD: LHP Tyler Lyons carried a 1.93 ERA (6er/28.0ip) into last night's appearance, but the veteran gave up three earned runs in 1.2 innings of work to elevate his ERA to 2.73 (9er/29.2ip). The 31-year-old southpaw has yet to allow a run in 12.0 innings pitched at home but owns a 4.58 ERA (9er/17.2ip) on the road.

THIS IS OFFENSIVE: The offense has scored three runs or fewer in 15 of 27 games in the month of June. Indy's 95 runs this month (3.52 RPG) makes them the only team in the IL without triple digits in runs in June, and it's well behind the second-lowest amount of 111 by Lehigh Valley. The offense is 13th in batting average (.247) and base hits (216, 8.0 HPG) and they rank dead last in total bases (332), home runs (17), RBI (89), walks (68), OBP (.308), SLG (.379) and OPS (.687).

UNLUCKY NO. 13: Indy's pitching staff has allowed at least one home run in 13 consecutive games ( dating back to Game 1 of a doubleheader against Pawtucket on June 16. It's the longest home run streak for opponents against Indy since the start of the 2012 season (Indy's media guides do not go back any further on this statistic). Earlier this season, the Tribe homered in 12 consecutive games (April 23-May 4), the longest stretch since 2012 as well.

MONTANA'S MOUND: RHP Montana DuRapau extended his scoreless streak to seven games (7.0ip) by recording one out in Wednesday's contest. The 27-year-old has surrendered a run in just three of his 21 appearances with Indy this year and owns a remarkable 1.11 ERA (3er/24.1ip). IL opponents are batting just .093 (7-for-75) with 26 strikeouts against him, and he's held right-handed batters to an .044 average (2-for-45).

TUCKERED OUT: Cole Tucker has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games and 13 of 16 since his return from Pittsburgh on June 11. He is batting .372 (16-for-43) with three homers, three doubles, six RBI and six runs scored during the 10-game stretch.

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International League Stories from June 29, 2019


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