IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (47-39) vs. Columbus Clippers (45-42)

Published on July 8, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


The Indians conclude their first-half slate seeking a three-game sweep against the Clippers. Indianapolis hasn't swept a series of three games or more heading into the All-Star break since 1978. Today's game notes and lineups are attached.

Location: Victory Field

First Pitch: 1:35 p.m. ET

Game #87 / Home #44: Indianapolis Indians (47-39) vs. Columbus Clippers (45-42)

Probables: RHP J.T. Brubaker (4-3, 3.77) vs. LHP Adam Wilk (3-6, 4.15)

Radio: Fox Sports 97.5 / AM 1260 / iHeart app

TV: MiLB TV / Comcast 90

From the Notes

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Casey Sadler delivered six scoreless innings in a spot start to lift the Indians to a 7-0 shutout win over the Clippers. Jesus Liranzo tossed the final three innings for his second save. The Indians scored twice in the second, both coming in on a Jason Martin slow grounder back to Columbus pitcher Mitch Talbot. The righty bobbled the ball and then skipped the throw past first base into right field. Sean Rodriguez homered in the fifth to make it 3-0, and the Tribe added four insurance runs in the eighth. Martin singled home Kevin Kramer before Eric Wood plated two more with a double down the left-field line. The shutout was Indy's 10th of the season.

CASEY CRUISING: Casey Sadler has worn many hats on the mound for Indy this year, fulfilling basically every role of a pitcher: starting, middle relief, long relief and closing. Since May 22, he has allowed just six earned runs in 34.2 innings pitched (1.56 ERA). During that stretch, he's gone 3-1 and walked just 2.3 batters per 9.0 innings (9 BB/34.2 IP); he walked 5.0 batters per 9.0 innings (14 BB/25 IP) across his first eight 2018 appearances.

SWEEP INTO THE BREAK: The Indians are seeking their fourth series sweep of the season this afternoon to close out the first half. Indy has swept Rochester (6/5-7), Norfolk (6/19-21) and Toledo (6/25-27) in three-game sets this year. The Tribe haven't ended the first half with a sweep of their opponent since taking two-game sets at Toledo and vs. Louisville in 2010 and 2011. The Tribe also swept Durham in a two-game series to end the first half of the 2005 season and did the same over Omaha in 1995 and Iowa in 1985. The Indians haven't swept a series of three games or more heading into the All-Star break since they swept a five-game series against Oklahoma City at Bush Stadium in 1978. The Indians swept consecutive doubleheaders on July 8 and 9 before completing the rare five-game sweep with a 7-4 win on July 10.

HOME SWEET HOME: The Indians are 26-17 at The Vic and have won 12 of their last 16 games in the Circle City. Indy has hit .271 thru its first 43 home games this season and has posted six of its league-most 10 shutouts at Victory Field. Indy's 26 home wins are tied for second most in the IL with Scranton/W-B, Norfolk and Columbus, trailing only Lehigh Valley (28).

SEAN ROD REHAB: Sean Rodriguez ripped a leadoff homer in the fifth off Mitch Talbot last night, turning on a 2-2 changeup to give the Indians a 3-0 lead. Rodriguez, 33, hit .261 (6-for-23) with one dinger, one double, four RBI and three runs scored in six rehab games with the Tribe.

HOTTER THAN THE OSUNA: Jose Osuna is batting .344 (55-for-160) with four homers, 20 doubles, 33 RBI and a .947 OPS in 44 games for the Tribe. Since June 3 with Indy, Osuna has batted .379 (25-for-66) with seven doubles, 14 RBI and nine runs scored. His 166 wRC+ is the second-best mark among International League batters with at least 180 plate appearances.

SO MUCH OFFENSE: Indy's offense is in the top three of eight categories in the International League. They rank first in average (.276), hits (789), doubles (207), OBP (.339) and slugging (.423). They are second in stolen bases (68) and sacrifice bunts (27) and third in total bases (1212). Indy is on pace for 337 doubles as a team; the Victory Field era record for most doubles by a Tribe team is 299, set in both 1998 and 2000.

Check out the Indianapolis Indians Statistics

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International League Stories from July 8, 2018


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