IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Indians Beat Bats 7-6 In Thrilling 15-Inning Affair

Published on April 27, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Center fielder Jose Tabata blasted the game-winning solo home run in the top of the 15th inning, while catcher Erik Kratz pitched the final frame to earn his first career save and lead the Indianapolis Indians past the Louisville Bats 7-6 in an exciting back-and-forth contest on Monday night at Louisville Slugger Field.

The win improves the Indians record to 8-10, while the loss drops the Bats to 7-11. The victory also gives Indianapolis a 4-2 advantage in the season series against Louisville and their first three-game winning streak of the season.

In the Indians first extra innings contest of the season, the Bats belted three game-tieing home runs and rallied to the tie the score on four separate occasions, including in the 13th and 14th, but it wasn't enough as the Tribe capitalized on several Louisville mistakes to take the series sweeping victory.

The Indians got on the board first with two runs in the fifth inning as 2B Brian Friday came through with a two-out double to bring home RF Steve Pearce and SS Argenis Diaz followed with a single to plate Friday and give the Tribe the 2-0 lead. However, in what became a theme on the evening, the Bats battled back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run home run by C Wilkin Castillo.

The Tribe then re-took the lead with two more runs in the eighth, led by Diaz, who began the frame with a base hit and eventually came around to score on a Louisville throwing error that also allowed 1B Brian Myrow to move to third base, where he to would eventually come home on a wild pitch by the Bats. But the Bats would not lay down as they quickly tied the score in the bottom of the frame as 3B Drew Sutton led off with a triple and then traveled along on another game tieing two-run bomb, this one coming off the bat of CF Chris Heisey.

The game then took a turn for the wacky as it headed to extra innings, where after both teams failed to score in each of the first three extra frames, they each plated single tallies in the 13th and 14th, before the Tribe finally broke through with the game-winner in the 15th.

The Indians runs in the 13th and 14th were nothing short of unconventional as they scored on a bases loaded walk and on a wild pitch during an intentional walk attempt. INF Neil Walker plated the first run in the extra frames as he ripped a one out double in the 13th, moved to third following a hit-by-pitch by Tabata and another base on balls by LF Brandon Moss and finally came around to score when Kratz drew the bases loaded free pass.

However, Louisville quickly ended any aspirations of the contest ending when SS Zach Cozart blasted a home run to center field in the bottom half of the 13th to give the Bats their third game-tieing longball on the evening.

Cozart's game-tieing blast sent the game to the 14th, where Diaz led of the frame with his third base hit of the evening, moved to second on a hit-by-pitch by Myrow and to third on a sacrifice bunt by 3B Doug Bernier. Diaz then eventually came around to score on a wild pitch by Louisville reliever Logan Ondrusek that took place on the second pitch of an attempted intentional walk to infielder Neil Walker.

Yet again the Tribe had a lead and the chance to lock down the victory in the bottom half of the 14th, however the Bats continued to battle and sent the game to one more frame as Sutton led of the inning with a double, stole third and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by LF Juan Francisco.

Following yet another game-tieing base knock by the Bats, Tabata finally put the exclamation point on the four hour and 57 minute long contest, when he led off the 15th with his second home run of the season. The Tribe then turned to an unlikely source to close out this thrilling victory as Kratz, who began the game behind the plate for the Indians, finished the game on the mound, working a hitless final frame to earn his first career save.

Both starters, Indians LHP Donnie Veal (6.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO) and Bats LHP Travis Wood (7.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO) pitched well as Veal allowed just one run on two hits over 6.2 innings and Wood struck out seven in seven innings of work. Each team also received key work from members of its bullpen as Tribe LHP Corey Hamman (4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 SO) played a vital role in bridging the gap with four hard fought innings of relief and Bats RHP Jesus Delgado (2.0 IP, 1 SO) held the Tribe hitless in the 10th and 11th frames.

Indianapolis RHP Jean Machi (2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) earned his first victory of the season despite blowing the save, while Louisville LHP Lee Tabor (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO) was pinned with his first loss after serving up the game-winning home run to Tabata.

Following the short two-game series in Louisville the Indians now continue their road trip in Pawtucket with a 6:15 p.m. contest on Tuesday. RHP Jeremy Powell, who played right field and recorded an out in the 15th inning just after midnight on Tuesday morning is expected to make the start for Indianapolis later in the day, while LHP Fabio Castro is expected to get the nod for Pawtucket.

The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show begins at 5:55 p.m.

Post-game quotes -- C Erik Kratz

(on how he feels after earning his first career save in Monday's 15 inning affair)

"Energy is running high right now. After five hours of baseball, I am pretty sure I shouldn't have this much energy, but I definitely do. I love winning and that's definitely a way win."

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