IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Homers Highlight Keller's Gem in Series Win

Published on July 21, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - Mitch Keller's gem of a start was capped off by two identical home runs from Will Craig and JB Shuck to propel the Tribe over IL South leading Durham, 3-1. The Tribe took two of three games from the Bulls to earn their first home series win since June 25.

Keller allowed just four hits and one run in six innings for his eighth quality start of the season. His lone earned run came in the first inning, and he threw two wild pitches for the first time since 2017, but he settled in to shut down the Bulls with five strikeouts and four stranded runners.

The Bulls (59-42) took the 1-0 lead in the first when Lucius Fox roped a line drive up the middle and made his way around with a stolen base, a wild pitch and a ground out. Durham led off each of the first three innings with singles, but the Tribe shut down the threats quickly to keep the game close.

The game stood at a standstill until the Indians tied it up at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth with their fourth hit of the game, a solo shot 401 feet to right field by Will Craig for his team leading 19th home run of the season.

Neither team tallied more than one hit in an inning until the seventh. With one out, Shuck broke the tie with a 401 footer of his own. Gonzalez roped a two-out single, but the Tribe couldn't add more with two runners on.

The Indians (50-49) tacked on insurance runs by tallying multiple hits again in the eighth. Pablo Reyes singled and stole second to set up the scoring position threat. Jason Martin knocked him in with a single of his own for the 3-1 lead.

Dovydas Neverauskas (W, 2-1) came in for two scoreless innings in relief of Keller. He ended a Durham threat with a strikeout with a runner 90 feet away, and finished with four strikeouts for the day. Montana DuRapau earned his eighth save of the season after striking out three in the ninth.

Ricardo Pinto (L, 6-4) surrendered all three of the Tribe runs in seven hits to piggyback off of a three-inning scoreless start by Jose De Leon.

The Tribe have an off day on Monday before beginning a seven-game road trip through the IL North. They return to the field on Tuesday in Syracuse in a 6:35 p.m. ET start.

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International League Stories from July 21, 2019


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