Hurlers And Homers Help Tribe Top Clippers 8-1
Published on August 10, 2011 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Right fielder Jose Tabata went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while third baseman Josh Harrison and All-Star first baseman Matt Hague each blasted late longballs in support of four Tribe hurlers, who combined to hold the Clippers to just one run as Indianapolis defeated Columbus 8-1 on Wednesday night at Huntington Park
With the win Indianapolis improves to 62-57 on the season, while the loss drops Columbus' record to 74-44. The win also gives the Tribe a 1-0 lead in the short two-game series, while improving their record against the Clippers to 5-11 overall and 2-6 at Huntington Park.
The Tribe offense jumped out to an early lead with three runs over the first two frames and then piled it on late with scoring rallies in the sixth seventh and eighth innings. Each Indians' batter turned in a productive performance as eight of nine collected at least one hit, while the only starter not to collect a hit, SS Pedro Ciriaco, still came through with two superb sacrifice bunts.
In the fifth game of his Major League rehabilitation assignment, RF Jose Tabata was the perfect table-setter for the Tribe offense as he reached base in four of five plate appearances, scored two runs and drove in a run. Tabata got things off to a quick start as he lead off the game with a double, and following a sacrifice bunt from Ciriaco, came around to score the games first run on a base hit by LF John Bowker.
The second frame began exactly as the first did, when 2B Jordy Mercer led off with a two-bagger to set the stage for CF Gorkys Hernandez, who singled him home with a line drive shot to center to extend the Indians' advantage to 2-0. Tabata then moved Hernandez to third with a single of his own to center, before Ciriaco brought him home with an RBI groundout to increase the Tribe's lead to three.
Then, after Columbus plated a single tally in the fourth on RF Chad Huffman's double that plated LF Jerad Head, Indianapolis powered their way to important insurance scores in the sixth and seventh. Overshadowed in the Tribe's victory was an excellent effort from Huffman, who finished the night a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate.
Harrison began the late frame fireworks with a solo blast to center field to lead off the sixth frame. The homer for Harrison was his fifth on the season and first since July 30, while also extend his hitting streak to a current team best nine straight games, during which time he his hitting .364 (12-for-33) with three runs and five RBI.
Not to be outdone, Hague followed Harrison's hot shot in the sixth with a two-run blast of his own in the seventh, plating Tabata, who led off the frame with a walk and extending the Tribe advantage to 6-1. The home run for Hague was his 11th off the season and extended his on-base streak to an impressive 19 straight contests, during which time he has posted a .312 average (24-for-77) with 12 runs, three homers and 15 RBI.
Finally the Tribe tied a bow on the blow-out victory with singles scores in the eighth and ninth, beginning with a summation statement from Tabata, who plated Hernandez with a two-out double in the eighth. DH Jeff Clement then capped the scoring in the ninth, when he brought home Bowker, who doubled to lead-off the frame.
Along with Tabata (3-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB), Bowker (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) Clement (2-for-5, 1 RBI), Hernandez (2-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI) and Mercer (2-for-5, 1 R) also all turned in multi-hit efforts for the Tribe. However, though the offense broke through with eight runs on 14 hits, the Indianapolis pitching staff also shined on Wednesday evening as LHP Tony Watson, LHP Aaron Thompson, RHP Chris Leroux and LHP Justin Thomas combined to hold a powerful Columbus lineup to just one run.
Watson (1.0 IP, 1 H) began the game with a scoreless first, before in his first appearance in an Indians uniform, Thompson (3.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER) allowed just one run over 3.2 innings to earn the victory. Then two stalwarts out of the Tribe pen in Leroux (2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 SO) and Thomas (2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 SO)) finished off the contest with multiple frames of scoreless relief to lead the Tribe to the 8-1 victory.
On the other side, Columbus starter Corey Kluber (7.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 6-8 on the season as he allowed six runs on nine hits over seven innings of work. Out of the Clippers' bullpen RHP Mitch Talbot (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) and RHP Matt Langwell (1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) each gave up a single score in their single frame of relief.
Indianapolis and Columbus now wrap up their short two-game series on Thursday afternoon at 12:05 p.m. LHP Brian Burres is expected to make the start for the Indians, while the Clippers are scheduled to counter with RHP Jeanmar Gomez
The contest will be carried on WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones, with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show begins at 11:45 a.m.
Post-game quotes -- LF John Bowker
(on getting a win against a hot Clippers team)
"It's something we wanted to do. We knew that they came in here pretty hot, so it's good to get off to a good start. We definitely played well tonight and will try to do the same thing tomorrow."
(on his excellent defensive plays)
"The ball really carries here and there is not that much room out there either. Anything in the air has the chance to get over the wall, so I just tried to get back as quick as possible and make the play."
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