Griffin Extends Hitting Streak as Indians Drop Fifth Straight
Published on April 1, 2026 under International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Konnor Griffin extended his hitting streak to five games and Esmerlyn Valdez recorded his second extra-base hit in as many games as the Indianapolis Indians fell 6-1 to the Columbus Clippers on Wednesday night at Huntington Park.
The Indians (0-5) have now lost each of their first five games on the 2026 campaign, marking the team's longest losing streak to begin a season in the Victory Field era. The team previously lost its first four games of the season in 2023 (March 31-April 4) and 2011 (April 7-10).
After jumping out on top thanks to a run-scoring groundout by Endy Rodríguez to score Griffin as the leadoff man, Columbus (4-1) knotted the game and took the lead with solo home runs by Kahlil Watson and Stuart Fairchild in the first and second innings, respectively. The two then capped the scoring with a two-run eighth inning, with Fairchild's second home run preceding a Watson two-out RBI single.
Wilber Dotel (L, 0-1) surrendered the first three Columbus runs through 4.1 innings in his Triple-A debut. Trenton Denholm (W, 1-0), making just his second Triple-A start, fanned eight through 6.0 one-run innings and held Indianapolis to two of its three total hits.
The Indians will look for their first win of the season tomorrow night in the third of six games vs. Columbus at 6:15 PM. RHP Noah Davis (0-1, 7.20) will make his second start for Indy against RHP Pedro Avila (0-0, -.--).
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