IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Indianapolis Walk-Off Hands Stripers Loss

Published on May 3, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


INDIANAPOLIS, IN - A two out, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth by Erich Weiss plated two unearned runs as the Indianapolis Indians (13-10) walked off with a 3-2 win over the Gwinnett Stripers (9-16) Thursday night in game one of a four game series at Victory Field.

In the fateful bottom of the ninth inning, clinging to a 2-1 lead, Stripers' reliever Josh Ravin misplayed a one-out ground ball to the mound hit by Jacob Stallings. The error enabled Stallings to take first and opened the door for the rest of the game. After striking out Jerrick Suiter for the second out, Ravin gave up a single to Pablo Reyes to put runners on first and second. Weiss then drilled the winning hit to right on a 1-2 pitch. The ball scooted past right fielder Danny Santana and rolled to the wall, allowing both Stalling and Reyes to score for the walk-off win.

The Indians took the first lead in the game as starting pitcher Kolby Allard gave up a leadoff single to Kevin Newman. Gwinnett County native Austin Meadows bunted Newman to second and Jordan Luplow followed with a walk. A double steal moved Newman to third and Luplow to second. Eric Wood then pushed across Newman with a ground out to third for a 1-0 lead, ending Allard's scoreless innings streak at 11.2.

The Indianapolis lead held up until the top of the sixth, when Pittsburgh's A.J. Schugel, working on a rehab assignment, started off the inning by hitting Sean Kazmar, Jr. with a pitch. Carlos Franco then singled to right, and a groundout to second moved runners to second and third. Then with two outs, Tyler Smith drove in both with a single to right for a 2-1 lead.

Gwinnett's pitching was stellar as Allard worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the third. He also got out of trouble in each of the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, while Evan Phillips stranded a runner on third in the eighth.

Allard pitched 7.0 innings with six hits, one earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts. It was his second consecutive quality start. Phillips (H, 3) went 1.0 inning with two strikeouts. Ravin (BS, 1) (L, 0-1) was charged with 0.2 innings, two hits, two unearned runs and struck out one.

For Indianapolis, Casey Sadler started and tossed 5.0 innings with four hits, no runs, one walk and two strikeouts. Schugel (BS, 1) pitched 1.0 inning with two hits and two earned runs. Bo Schultz went 2.0 innings with one hit, one walk and two strikeouts. Calhoun, Georgia native Josh Smoker (W, 1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless top of the ninth with one strikeout.

Franco paced the Gwinnett offense with a 2-for-4 night and one run. Smith was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

For the Indians, Newman and Reyes were each 2-for-4 with a run. Weiss was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.

The Stripers continue the road trip Friday night with game two of the four game series at Victory Field. Right-hander Andres Santiago (1-1, 3.63) will start for Gwinnett. The Indians will start righty Alex McRae (0-3, 6.55 ERA). Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 and 93.5 FM The Other Side of the River beginning at 6:50 p.m. with the first pitch set for 7:15 p.m..

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International League Stories from May 3, 2018


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