Homers lead Tribe past Bulls, 6-2
Published on August 3, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
DURHAM, N.C. -- Shortstop Brian Bixler, center fielder Chris Barnwell and designated hitter Brian Myrow all launched home runs, while starter Eric Hacker earned the victory after striking out seven in six innings of work as the Indianapolis Indians defeated the Durham Bulls 6-2 Monday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
With the win the Indians improve to 53-56 on the season and 27-30 on the road, while the Bulls fall to 62-48 overall and 30-22 at home with the loss. The victory for Indianapolis gives them a 2-1 edge in their current series and wraps up the season series in their favor as they take a 5-2 advantage with just one game remaining.
For the second straight contest the Indians' offense belted three home runs off Bulls pitching to tie a two-game team season high of six home runs. Both Bixler and Myrow homered for their second straight game, while Barnwell added his second home run of the season with his solo shot in the sixth
Durham jumped out to an early lead with single runs in the first and second innings as LF Justin Ruggiano brought home CF Desmond Jennings with a sacrifice fly in the first and 3B Ray Olmedo plated 1B Rhyne Hughes with a run scoring double in the second. Hughes (2-for-3, 1 R) went on to collect another two-bagger and extended his team best hitting streak to 11 games, during which time the left handed slugger is batting .567 (21-for-37) with six runs and six RBI.
However, after the Bulls plated their run in the second, Indianapolis would score six unanswered runs, including a run in each inning from the fourth through the eighth. The Tribe first got on the board when C Robinzon Diaz singled home LF Tagg Bozied in the fourth, a base knock which also extended Diaz's hitting streak to five games.
The Indians' offense would then explode with home runs in each of the next three innings as Bixler launched his solo shot in the fifth, Barnwell added a solo homer of his own in the sixth and Myrow capped the home run barrage with his two-run shot in the seventh. The Tribe also would later add an insurance run in the eighth when Bixler drew a two-out walk and then trotted home on an RBI double by RF Jose Tabata.
Bixler also collected his International League leading eighth triple of the season in Monday night's contest and with his two-hit three-run effort has now hit safely in his last six contests and scored in five of those six as well. The multi-dimensional utilityman has also now reached base in 14 consecutive contests overall and continues to rank among the IL's best in both runs (3rd, 64) and triples (T-1st, 8).
Along with Bixler, Myrow also extended an impressive on-base streak with his powerful effort at the plate on Monday, as he has now reached base in 19 of his last 20 games. The left handed slugger also drew a base-on-balls and has now collected at least one walk in 15 of his last 20 contests, including a total of 21 free passes during that span.
All in all, it was another dominating offensive performance for the Tribe as they collected six runs on 14 hits and had five players turn in multi-hit efforts, including Bixler (2-for-4, 3 R, 1 RBI), Tabata (2-for-5, 1 RBI), Myrow (2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI), Barnwell (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) and 3B Neil Walker (3-for-5). Walker's multi-hit performance was his fourth such effort in as many games and improved his average to .579 (11-for-19) with three runs, and seven RBI during his four-game offensive outburst.
While the Indians' offense turned in yet another top notch performance, starter Eric Hacker and three relievers held a powerful Durham offense to just two runs in the victory. Hacker (6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) tied a season high with seven strikeouts as he notched his fourth victory of the season and has now posted a 2-1 record, 1.73 ERA (5 ER in 26.0 IP) and 14 strikeouts over his last four starts.
In relief of Hacker, Indians' relievers Mike Koplove (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO), Jason Davis (1.0 IP, 2 H) and Chris Bootcheck (1.0 IP, 2 SO) combined to allow just two hits over three scoreless innings of relief. Koplove was credited with his team best 10th hold of the season, while Bootcheck worked out of a ninth inning jam to earn his team leading 19th save of the season.
Bulls starter Andy Sonnanstine (6.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO) allowed a season high nine hits as well as three runs and was pinned with the loss to drop to 3-1 on the season, while RHP Matt DeSalvo (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) was the only Bulls reliever not allow a run over his one inning of relief.
Indianapolis will wrap up their four-game series with Durham on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Daniel McCutchen is scheduled to start for the Indians, while RHP Jeremy Hellickson is expected to get the nod for the Bulls.
International League Stories from August 3, 2009
- Syracuse knocks off Norfolk, 8-2 - Norfolk Tides
- Homers lead Tribe past Bulls, 6-2 - Indianapolis Indians
- Bulls drop another to Indy, fall into first place tie - Durham Bulls
- Bankston, Stubbs propel Bats past Knights - Louisville Bats
- Bisons Add RHP Jim Ed Warden - Buffalo Bisons
- Bisons Game Notes August 3rd - Buffalo Bisons
- LIVESTRONG Yellow Out Night Aug. 16 - Louisville Bats
- Veterans Barker and Towers Named IL Players of the Week - IL1
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