IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (54-53) at Toledo Mud Hens (48-60)

July 31, 2019 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


The Indians begin a two-game road trip tonight in Toledo.

LOCATION: Fifth Third Field

FIRST PITCH: 7:05 p.m. ET

GAME #108 / ROAD #55: Indianapolis Indians (54-53) at Toledo Mud Hens (48-60)

PROBABLES: LHP Cam Vieaux (3-2, 5.50) vs. RHP Beau Burrows (1-4, 4.53)

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

TV: MiLB TV

LAST NIGHT: Will Craig gave the Indians a thrilling 3-2 win over Columbus with a walk-off homer on the first pitch in the bottom of the ninth. The walk-off win was Indy's third of the season and first since an Eric Wood RBI single in the bottom of the 11th on April 21 vs. Louisville. Craig delivered the Tribe their first walk-off win on April 17 vs. Toledo on a fielding error that allowed Ke'Bryan Hayes to score the winning run. Indy led last night's contest 2-0 thanks to an Eric Stamets two-out fielding error in the third that allowed Jason Martin to touch home. Kevin Kramer doubled the lead with a two-out solo homer in the fourth, but Eric Haase took James Marvel deep for a two-out, two-run shot in the fifth to tie the game. The score remained that way until Craig smashed his 20th homer of the year to open the ninth. Dovydas Neverauskas (W, 3-1) threw two shutout innings with four punchouts to earn the win. Marvel held the Clippers to two runs on three hits and one walk with six strikeouts in six innings of work.

CAREER HIGH FOR CRAIG: Will Craig's ninth-inning homer was his 20th of the season, tying his previous career high of 20 set in 2018 with Double-A Altoona. Craig is the first Tribe player with 20 or more home runs in a season since Brandon Moss belted 22 in 2010. The walk-off dinger was the first among his 48 career professional home runs.

WALK-OFF HOMER NOTABLES: Craig's walk-off home run was the first for the Indians since Alen Hanson hit a walk-off grand slam vs. Louisville on Aug. 15, 2016 -- 1,080 days ago. It was also the third walk-off homer Indy has tallied against Columbus since 2005. On July 4, 2006, Yurendell de Caster hit a two-run walk-off homer off Jesus Colome to give Indy a 5-3 win. On Aug. 25, 2012, Dallas McPherson clubbed a two-run homer with one away off Tyler Sturdevant to lift the Tribe to an 8-6 win over the Clippers.

ONE-RUN GAMES: Indy improved to 22-16 in one-run games with last night's 3-2 victory. The game marked the 12th decided by one run in 27 July affairs, with the Tribe going 7-5 in those contests. Indy went 5-5 in one-run games in April, 5-1 in May and 5-5 again in June. The Tribe's 22 wins by one run are most in the IL (Charlotte second with 20) and their 38 games decided by one run are tied with Louisville (13-25) for most in the league. Indy played a total of 38 one-run games in 2018 and went 14-24.

CLOSE CALLS: The Indians have played 76 of their 107 games (71.0 percent) of their games within three runs this year, the second-highest volume of games decided by three runs or less in the IL to only Pawtucket (77 of 107, 72.0 percent). This season's 71% rate of games decided by three or less for Indy would be the highest since the Tribe played 104 of their 143 games (72.7 percent) within three runs in 2009.

STRONG DEBUT: RHP Parker Markel was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh from Seattle on July 27 and officially reported to Indy on July 29. He made his Pirates organization last night in the seventh inning and struck out two batters during a 1-2-3 frame. He threw eight of his 10 pitches for strikes and touched 99 mph on the stadium gun.

FORMER INDIANS TRADED: RHP Jordan Lyles was traded from Pittsburgh to Milwaukee on Monday in exchange for RHP Cody Ponce. One hour before the trade deadline today, the Pirates shipped OF Corey Dickerson to the Phillies for $250,000 in international bonus slot money and a player to be named later. Both players appeared on rehab assignments for the Tribe this season. Lyles started for Indy at Pawtucket on June 23 (5.1ip, 2h, 1r, 1er, 3bb, 7k) while taking a no-decision. Dickerson played in nine rehab games for the Indians and hit .182 (6-for-33) with one double and four RBI.

THE STRETCH RUN: Indy has 33 games remaining in the regular season and trail Columbus and Durham both by 7.0 games in the IL West and IL Wild Card races. Only eight of the Tribe's last 33 games are against teams over .500 -- five at home vs. Columbus (61-46) and three at Durham (62-47). The combined records of Indy's five remaining sub-.500 opponents (10 vs. TOL, 3 vs. NOR, 3 vs. ROC, 4 vs. LHV, 5 vs. LOU) is 237-301 (.441).

'O' ISLAND: Hunter Owen, a native of Evansville, Ind. and former Indiana State Sycamore, enters tonight's contest riding a seven-game hitting streak dating back to July 18, his longest in Triple-A and the longest active streak for the Indians. During the stretch, the 25-year-old has hit .375 (9-for-24) with two homers, four RBI and four runs scored. He was given the nickname 'O' Island at Mater Dei High School in Evansville, likened to the nickname 'Revis Island' given to former NFL cornerback Darrelle Revis.

ON PACE FOR A RECORD: Indy's pitching staff has racked up 958 strikeouts through 107 games (8.95 K/game). The Indians are on pace for 1,253 strikeouts, exactly 100 more than the franchise record of 1,153 set in 2013.

.364: INF Cole Tucker has imposed his will against the Mud Hens this season, batting .364 (12-for-33) with four doubles, one triple, two home runs and a 1.175 OPS in eight games. He is batting .294 (30-for-102) against IL West foes with four long balls, six doubles and one triple in 25 games.

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