Indians and Braves Split
Published on June 17, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Indians took game one of a doubleheader 3-2 behind dominate pitching by Virgil Vasquez and a walk-off single by shorstop Luis Cruz, while the Gwinnett Braves were victorious in game two 4-3 behind a 5.1 inning effort by starter Tony Armas on Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field.
With the doubleheader split the Indians' record moves to 31-34 overall and 16-20 at home, while the win moves the Braves to 36-31 on the season and 20-13 on the road. The doubleheader split gives Gwinnett the 2-1 series lead and 5-2 lead overall against Indianapolis so far this season.
Vasquez (7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) was brilliant in game one as the right hander allowed just two runs on five hits and tossed the Indians' second complete game of the season. Thanks to the Tribe's final frame heroics Vasquez got his team leading fifth win of the season with the team's first complete game since LHP Tom Gorzelanny tossed all seven innings on May 2 against Rochester.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the seventh, the Tribe mounted a final inning comeback, capped by a walk-off single by Cruz that gave them their fifth walk-off victory on the season.
C Erik Kratz led off the bottom of the seventh by blasting a double to deep left-center and moved to third on an infield single by LF Larry Broadway, who was immediately lifted for pinch runner Brian Bixler. 3B Pedro Lopez then brought home Kratz with an RBI groundout that plated the first Indians run of the game.
Then following the second out of the inning, 2B Shelby Ford came up with a clutch RBI double that plated Bixler and set the stage for Cruz's walk-off heroics. Cruz, who turned in his second straight multi-hit effort, went 3-for-4 and brought Ford plateward to give Indianapolis the game one victory.
Cruz's walk-off base knock also spoiled Gwinnett starter John Halama's excellent effort in his first start with the Braves this season. Halama (5.2 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO), a Major League veteran of over 260 games, allowed just five hits and held the Tribe scoreless over his 5.2 innings of work, before closer Luis Valdez (1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER) blew his fifth save of the season and took the loss by giving up three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Gwinnett jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fifth, sparked by back-to-back doubles by RF Brian Barton and SS Kody Kirkland. Halama then brought home the game's first run with a fielder's choice, before LF J.C. Holt plated the second run with a suicide squeeze bunt.
Cruz (3-for-4, 1 RBI), Kratz (2-for-3, 1 R) and RF Garrett Jones (2-for-3) all turned in multi-hit games for the Tribe in game one, while only Barton (2-for-3, 1 R) managed multiple base knocks for the Braves.
Gwinnett bounced back in game two, holding off another late Indians rally and gaining the doubleheader split with a 4-3 victory.
Armas (5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) picked up his first win of the season for the Braves after he allowed just three runs and struck out four in 5.1 innings of work. Relievers Jon Huber (0.2 IP, 1 H) and Mariano Gomez (1.0 IP, 2 H) held the Tribe scoreless after relieving Armas as Huber picked up his first hold of the season and Gomez notched his fifth save.
The Braves jumped out to an early lead with a run in the first when RF Reid Gorecki led off the game with a double, moved to third after back-to-back walks and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by 1B Barbaro Canizares. The Tribe quickly evened the score in the bottom half of the inning when SS Brian Bixler lifted a one-out triple to left-center and then trotted home on an RBI single by CF Jeff Salazar.
Gwinnett then re-took the lead with three singles, a wild pitch and two walks in the third inning that led to two runs by way of RBI singles by C Alvin Colina and Barton. Barton (2-for-4) turned in another multi-hit effort in game two along with 2B Brooks Conrad (2-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI), who not only collected multiple hits, but also gave the Braves the lead for good with his RBI single in the sixth that brought SS Antonio Perez for the eventual game-winning run.
Indianapolis again trailed heading into the final innings and mounted another comeback with two runs in the bottom of the sixth and placing runners at first and second with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
Salazar began the Indians comeback attempt when he led off the sixth with a walk, stole second and then rode along on 1B Steve Pearce's two-run long ball. Pearce's shot not only brought the Tribe to within one run at 4-3, but also tied him with Jones for the team-lead in homers at 10.
The Indians then placed runners at first and second with just one out in the seventh as LF Chris Snelling and Bixler ripped back-to-back base knocks. However, the Tribe was not able to pull off the walk-off win for the second straight contest as Salazar flew out to right and Jones grounded into a force out to end the game.
Bixler (2-for-4, 1 R) and Pearce (3-for-3, 1 R, 2 RBI) turned in the only multi-hit performances for the Tribe, who also got sound defense all afternoon, turning three double plays in game two after one in game one.
Reliever Brian Slocum (2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 SO) took the loss for the Indians to drop to 1-3 on the season after starter Donnie Veal (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) went just two innings and did not figure in the decision.
Indianapolis finishes their four game series with Gwinnett on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. RHP Eric Hacker is scheduled to start for the Indians, while LHP Jonny Venters is expected to get the nod for the Braves
The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 6:40 p.m.
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