IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Hernandez Holds Down Tribe in Clippers' 5-1 Win

Published on August 10, 2012 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Columbus starter Roberto Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona, held the Indianapolis offense to just one run over seven strong innings, while shortstop Gregorio Petit belted a two-run home run in the second inning to provide all the offense the Clippers would need in a 5-1 win over the Indians on Friday night at Huntington Park.

His name may be different, but the effectiveness shown by Columbus starter Roberto Hernandez reminded fans of the once dominant hurler formerly known by Fausto Carmona. In a the series opener of a first and second place matchup in the International League's west division, Hernandez (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) allowed just a single score on four hits and one walk while striking out five over seven innings to earn his first victory of the season.

In 2007, the right handed hurler, then known as Carmona, turned in a spectacular season for the Cleveland Indians, going 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA. Despite failing to achieve the success of the 2007 season in subsequent years, Carmona would still spend significant time in the Major Leagues from 2008-2011.

Then in January of 2012, Dominican police arrested Carmona accusing him of using a false identity to obtain a visa. It was discovered that his real name was Roberto Hernandez Heredia and that he was in fact three years older than he reported. As a results of the charges Hernandez was held out of playing baseball until he was granted a visa to work in the US on July 16, 2012.

Friday nights start was the third for Carmona since returning to the US, all being served in the minor leagues due to a three week suspension delivered by Major League Baseball for age and identity fraud that only allows him to pitch in the minors and simulated games.

While Hernandez held down the Indians offense on Friday night, Columbus put all the runs they would need on the board with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the second inning. After 1B Lars Anderson drew a one out walk, Petit stepped to the plate and belted his seventh homer of the season to left field to put the Clippers ahead 2-0.

The Tribe would cut that deficit in half with what proved to be their only score of the contest in the top of the fifth inning when DH Jeff Clement lined a one out single to right, before being brought plateward on a two-out double by C Tony Sanchez. It was the second straight night that Sanchez came through with a two-out RBI base knock for the Indians as he also connected on a two-out two-run single in Thursday night's 3-0 eight-inning no-hitter victory.

However, Hernandez and Clippers reliever Scott Barnes (2.0 IP, 3 SO) would not allow an Indians hit over the final three innings of the game to give Columbus the victory. The Clippers also tacked on what proved to be three unneeded insurance tallies with a single score in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

3B Russ Canzler led of the sixth with base hit to center, moved to second on a single by Petit and came around to score on base hit by former Indians C Luke Carlin. The Clippers then added two more scores in the seventh thanks in part to a throwing error, two passed balls and two wild pitches to give the game its final score of 5-1.

Despite striking out at least seven batters for his fifth consecutive start, Tribe RHP Rick VandenHurk (5.1 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 11-4 on the season. Out of the Indianapolis bullpen, Tribe relievers Bryan Morris (1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO), Logan Kensing (0.1 IP, 1 SO) and Evan Meek (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) worked around trouble and did not surrender an earned run over 2.2 innings of relief.

With the defeat the Indians (72-49) saw their advantage over the Clippers fall to eight games in the International Leagues west division. The Tribe will look to bounce back in game two of the series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. when they send RHP Chris Leroux to the mound to oppose Columbus probable starter LHP TJ McFarland.

The game will be carried on WNDE 1260 AM-WFBQ-HD2, 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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International League Stories from August 10, 2012


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