IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Hague and Sands Outman Bisons, 7-3

Published on May 24, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Not even a 49 minute rain delay could slow down the Tribe's offensive attack as first baseman Matt Hague knocked a two-run homer and right fielder Jerry Sand slapped a two-out, two-run single to help propel the Indianapolis Indians (33-15) to a 7-3 win over the Buffalo Bisons (26-19) on Thursday night at Coca-Cola Field. In five games against the Bisons this year, the Tribe has plated a total of 37 runs.

The Indians came out swinging to tag RHP Justin Germano (L, 6 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) for three early scores, as Presley quickly put the visiting squad up 1-0 with a one-out solo shot. Following a walk to LF Felix Pie, Hague wasted little time blasting his second homer of the season to extend the Tribe's lead to 3-0 after just four batters had stepped up to the plate.

Indianapolis' pair of homers continued the teams torrid stretch at the plate, where after knocking just 20 homers through the first 40 contests of the season, Indians batters have now lifted a league-best 15 longballs over the last eight games.

Trailing 3-0, the Bisons cut into the early deficit as 1B Luis Jimenez and DH Mauro Gomez drew back-to-back two-out walks to threaten with a runner in scoring position. C Josh Thole then notched his first of two hits on the evening as he ripped a line drive to center that landed just short of a sliding Presley. Although the Tribe's center fielder was able to trap the base hit in his glove, Jiminez never slowed down from second and raced all the way home to bring Buffalo within 3-1.

The early score was one of just two tallies allowed by Indians starter RHP Brandon Cumpton (W, 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO), who managed to limit the powerful Bisons bats to just four hits through his 5.0 frames of work. The right-hander walked two and fanned four en route to his fourth win of the season, and prevented Buffalo from crossing home from the second inning until the fifth.

However, before Buffalo could find the scoreboard again, Indianapolis padded its small lead with a four-run outburst in the top of the third inning, beginning with a leadoff walk to Presley. One batter later, Pie roped a single to center while Hague followed with a base hit of his own that loaded the bases with no outs. After 3B Jared Goedert was unable to drive a ball deep enough to right for a sac fly, RF Brett Carroll helped the Tribe collect an RBI in an unconventional way, as he was plunked in the back with a pitch to bring Presley home and extend the lead 4-1.

The Indians were far from finished though, largely thanks to new life that was given to C Tony Sanchez when his routine pop out was lost in the lights and landed safely behind Buffalo's backstop. Sanchez then used his second chance to lift a sac fly that plated Pie, before RF Jerry Sands capped off the rally with a two-out, two-run single to center that widened Indianapolis' advantage to 7-3. Sands' pair of runs driven in gives the slugging outfielder 10 RBI over his last seven games, which is tied for the most in the International League during that span.

Buffalo, true to form, used a pair of homers to attempt to claw their way back into the contest in the fifth and sixth frame. LF Ricardo Nanita brought the Bisons within 7-2 courtesy of a leadoff homer in the fifth, and Josh Thole made it 7-3 with a one-out blast off of RHP Ryan Reid (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) in the sixth.

Thole's shot, though inconsequential in the game's final outcome, snapped Reid's season-high scoreless streak at 24.2 innings pitched. The right-handed reliever had not allowed a score since April 10, and fell just one inning shy of tying Scott Strickland's 25.2 consecutive shutout frames set from April 6 to May 26, 2006.

LHP Mike Zagurski (1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 SO) also added to the Indians victory, striking out the side in the seventh to improve his punchout count to 37 in just 20.2 frames of action. The southpaw has now fanned at least two batters in 14 of his 18 total outings.

While Indianapolis' bullpen was impressive, Buffalo's relievers were even more dominant as RHP Michael Schwimer (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO), RHP Buddy Carlyle (2.0 IP, H, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO) and RHP Mickey Storey (2.0 IP, 0 H, O ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) combined to one-hit the Tribe through the final six innings.

The lockdown pitching effort ultimately came in vain, as RHP Jared Hughes (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER) worked a scoreless ninth to close out the 7-3 Indians win.

The Tribe and Bisons will continue their four-game set tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. at Coca-Cola Field. Indianapolis is scheduled to give the ball to LHP Kris Johnson (4-3, 3.80) while Buffalo is scheduled to send RHP Claudio Vargas (3-3, 4.70) to the mound.

The game will be carried on WNDE 1260 AM, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones with Howard Kellman and Will Flemming on the call. The pre-game show begins at 6:45 p.m.

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