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Game Information: Iowa Cubs (22-14) vs. Indianapolis Indians (18-20)

May 16, 2023 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


LOCATION: Victory Field

FIRST PITCH: 6:35 PM ET

GAME #39 / HOME #15: Iowa Cubs (22-14) vs. Indianapolis Indians (18-20)

PROBABLES: RHP Ben Brown (1-0, 0.84) vs. RHP Quinn Priester (3-3, 5.40)

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

TV: Bally Live app / MiLB TV

ABOUT SUNDAY: The Indianapolis Indians offense exploded for a five-run fourth inning and seven-run ninth inning en route to a series finale victory against the St. Paul Saints at CHS Field on Sunday afternoon, 15-3. With St. Paul leading 2-0, Nick Gonzales opened the fourth inning with a triple, and Canaan Smith-Njigba sent him home in the next at-bat with an RBI single. Following a walk issued by Endy Rodríguez, Cal Mitchell reached on a fielder's choice to score Canaan Smith-Njigba. Jared Triolo then smacked his first Triple-A double to left field, breaking the tie and giving the Indians a lead they would not relinquish. The half-inning concluded with Grant Koch grounding into a run-scoring double play. Leading 8-3 in the top of the ninth, the Indians dashed any hope for the Saints to rally, plating seven more runs before the afternoon finished. Gonzales opened the inning with his second extra-base hit of the contest, a double to right field. A single by Canaan Smith-Njigba, RodrÌguez walk and Triolo ground-rule double put the Indians in double digits. A wild pitch by Josh Winder sent Triolo to third and the second walk of the inning was issued to Koch after the Indians successfully challenged a strike call. Josh Bissonette reached safely on a single, and Chavez Young put the exclamation point on the victory with a three-run home run. The Indians offense was backed by a solid outing by starter Caleb Smith, he allowed three runs with a career-high tying nine strikeouts over 5.0 innings.

WINNING ON THE ROAD: The Indians finished their two-week road trip 8-4 - which is the second-best record in the International League in May - after taking five of six at Toledo and splitting their series with St. Paul. Both pitching and hitting shined throughout the road trip, as the Indians outscored their opponents 74-42. Starting pitching was led by Quinn Priester who tossed two quality starts on the trip and Caleb Smith's 7.0-inning complete-game shutout which earned him International League Pitcher of the Week honors. In the bullpen, Colin Selby collected three saves during the trip and did not allow a hit in 5.0 scoreless innings. Outfielder Cal Mitchell led the Indians offense, leading the team in average (.350), home runs (3), RBI (10), SLG (.625), hits (14), extra-base hits (5) and runs scored (9).

TRIOLO DOUBLES: Third basemen Jared Triolo went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a career-high tying four RBI on Sunday afternoon. It was the third time in his career that he's clubbed four RBI, the last time being July 27, 2021 with High-A Greensboro vs. Winston-Salem. Triolo was activated from the 7-day IL on May 9 after starting on it to begin the season. The 25-year-old was selected by Pittsburgh in the 3rd round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Houston (Texas). He is currently rated Pittsburgh's No. 15 rated prospect by Baseball America.

CAME TO PLAY IN MAY: Nick Gonzales is off to a hot start to May, collecting two extra-base hits against St. Paul on Sunday. To start May, he is hitting .344 (11-for-32) with seven runs, three doubles, a triple and two walks in seven games. The 23-year-old is now hitting .279 (29-for-104) this season with two home runs, six doubles, three triples and 5 RBI. Pittsburgh selected him seventh overall in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft out of New Mexico (Las Cruces) State. He is currently rated Pittsburgh's No. 5 rated prospect by MLB Pipeline

SELBY IS LOCKED IN: Indians closer Colin Selby collected his team-leading third save of the season and second this month after retiring the Saints in order in the ninth on Saturday afternoon. Along with keeping his opponents scoreless over his last five games, he has not allowed a hit (6.0ip). His five-game no-hit streak is the second-longest active streak in the International League behind Lehigh Valley's Yunior Marte. During this stretch, he has struck out 12 while issuing only three baserunners via three walks. On the season, the 25-year-old has a 3.00 ERA (5er/15.0ip) with 19 strikeouts, 1.13 WHIP and .151 average-against. Selby was selected by Pittsburgh in the 16th round (474th overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Randolph-Macon (Ashland, Va.) College. He is currently rated Pittsburgh's No. 26 rated prospect by Baseball America.

TONIGHT: Tonight, the Indians will return to Victory Field after a successful two-week road trip to host the Iowa Cubs at 6:35 PM ET. The Indians finished their road trip 8-4, taking five of six at Toledo, and splitting their six-game set with St. Paul. This week will be their first matchup against the I-Cubs this season, the Indians won last season's series matchup, 11-8. Tonight, top pitching prospect RHP Quinn Priester (3-3, 5.40) will take the mound for the Indians against Iowa's right-hander Ben Brown (1-0, 0.84). Brown will make his first career appearance against Indy and his third career Triple-A start. He's only allowed one earned run through his first 10.2 innings in Triple-A.

PRIESTER DAY: Right-hander Quinn Priester will make his eighth start of the season tonight against Iowa at Victory Field at 6:35 PM ET. The 22-year-old has strung together two excellent starts in May, going 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA (2er/12.0ip) and eight punchouts in two starts. Tonight will be his first career matchup against the I-Cubs. As the former 18th overall selection by Pittsburgh in 2019, he is currently rated as the Pirates No. 5 prospect (Baseball America) and the second-best pitcher behind Luis Ortiz (No. 4). Priester finished last season with a 3.29 ERA (33er/90.1ip) overall between Double-A Altoona and a short stint with Indy en route to being honored as the Young Bucs Bob Friend Pitcher of the Year, given to the top-performing minor league pitcher in Pittsburgh's organization.

THIS DATE IN 1964: In its first of a five-season run in the Pacific Coast League, Indy scored 15 runs in the top of the first inning in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Seattle en route to an 18-0 win. Right fielder Jim Hicks finished 3-for-5 with a team-high six RBI. The 15-run frame is still a franchise record to this day. Second baseman Marvin Staehle batted three times in the first inning to match a Pacific Coast League record originally set by Pudgy Gould on Aug. 18, 1923, a record that is shared by Staehle and Gould today.

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