IL Indianapolis Indians

Game Information: Iowa Cubs (25-16) vs. Indianapolis Indians (20-23)

May 21, 2023 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


LOCATION: Victory Field

FIRST PITCH: 1:35 PM ET

GAME #44 / ROAD #20: Iowa Cubs (25-16) vs. Indianapolis Indians (20-23)

PROBABLES: RHP Ben Brown (1-1, 4.91) vs. RHP Quinn Priester (4-3, 4.66)

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

TV: Bally Live app / MiLB TV

ABOUT GAME ONE: Despite a duo of pitching duels, the first of which featured a major league matchup of Kyle Hendricks and Vince Velasquez, the Indianapolis Indians were swept by the Iowa Cubs in Saturday night's doubleheader at Victory Field 2-1 and 1-0. Neither Hendricks or Velasquez disappointed as headliners of the twin bill. The Indians struck first in the fourth inning against the 2016 World Series champion, but Hendricks limited additional damage with six strikeouts across 6.0 innings. Velasquez, making the first start of his rehab assignment, tossed 4.2 scoreless frames. After Velasquez exited the game, the I-Cubs scored in consecutive innings to hand Cody Bolton the loss in the seventh. The Indians had two runners on with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Manuel Rodriguez set down the next three batters - two via strikeout - to end the threat.

ABOUT GAME TWO: The incredible pitching on both sides continued in the nightcap. Wesneski, making his first Triple-A start of the season, held the Indians without a hit through his 5.0-inning outing en route to a combined one-hitter with Chris Clarke. Canaan Smith-Njigba broke up the no-hit bid with a double in the sixth inning. Caleb Smith tossed 6.0 one-run innings in relief after J.C. Flowers opened the game. The lone I-Cubs run came via an RBI single by Sergio Alcantara in the sixth.

VINNY DELIVERS: Vince Velasquez was excellent on Saturday night in his first major league rehab assignment. In 4.2 innings of work, he held the I-Cubs scoreless, allowing four hits and a walk with a pair of punchouts. He was placed on the 15-day IL with an elbow inflammation on May 5. In seven starts with Pittsburgh this season, he is 4-3 with a 3.06 ERA (12er/35.1ip) and 34 punchouts. Pittsburgh signed him as a free agent on Dec. 13, 2022. He was originally selected in the second round (58th overall) of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Garey (Pomona, Calif.) High School.

SWIPING BAGS: Cal Mitchell, Canaan Smith-Njigba, Ryan Vilade and Chavez Young each swiped a bag during last night's doubleheader. The Indians now have 42 stolen bases this season in 52 attempts. Young leads the team with 12 stolen bases - swiping a bag in each of his last two games - followed by Mitchell, Endy Rodríguez and Aaron Shackelford who each have four stolen bases. In 2022, the Indians finished fifth in the International League in stolen bases (172), they currently rank 13th this season.

STAFF KEEPS COMPETING: The Indians pitching staff has been a highlight to the homestand, with a 2.41 team-ERA (11er/41.0ip) over the five games against the I-Cubs. They have held the I-Cubs to two runs or less in three of the five contests. The Indians have the fourth-best team-ERA in the International League (4.35), while also ranking fourth in the league in strikeouts (410).

THREE BAGS: The Indians lead the International League in triples so far this season with 15, tied for seventh-most three-baggers in all of professional baseball. Eleven different players have clubbed a triple for the Indians this season. Nick Gonzales leads the team with three - tied for the second-most in the IL - followed by Endy Rodríguez, Travis Swaggerty and Chavez Young who each have a pair of triples. The Indians led the IL in triples in 2022 with (44), which was the sixth-most in all of minor league baseball.

TODAY: Tonight, the Indians and I-Cubs will square off for a doubleheader tonight at Victory Field, with Game 1 slated for 6:15 PM and Game 2 to follow. After sweeping doubleheader, Iowa leads the series 3-2. This week is their first matchup against the I-Cubs this season after the Indians won last season's series matchup, 11-8. In a rematch of Tuesday night's opener, Pittsburgh's top pitching prospect Quinn Priester (4-3, 4.66) will take the mound against Iowa's right-hander Ben Brown (1-1, 4.91). Brown surrendered seven runs on seven hits and three walks on Tuesday night against the Indians.

QUALITY QUINN: Quinn Priester will take the hill today for his ninth start of the season and second this week against the I-Cubs. Pittsburgh's top pitching prospect according to MLB Pipeline collected his third consecutive quality-start win on Tuesday night. After surrendering singles to the first two hitters of the ballgame, he went on to retire the next six batters via strikeout. He finished his night after a career-high tying 7.0 innings, allowing only one run with nine strikeouts. His strikeouts matched his season high first set on April 15 vs. St. Paul, and his 42 strikeouts this season are tied for the fourth-most in the International League. The 22-year-old has strung together three excellent starts in May, going 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA (3er/19.0ip) and 17 punchouts compared to three walks. 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 1987: Dennis Martinez fired a one-hit shutout in a 5-0 win for the Indians against Buffalo at Bush Stadium. Martinez finished with five strikeouts in the 9.0-inning complete game. Left fielder Tom Romano and third baseman Jeff Reynolds both hit home runs for Indy while second baseman Johnny Paredes and first baseman Razor Shines notched two hits apiece.

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