Indians Beat Norfolk 9-3 In Front Of 12,073
Published on April 11, 2008 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS -- Right-hander Luis Munoz held Norfolk scoreless for the first six innings and Indianapolis used a balanced offensive attack to post a 9-3 win in the 2008 home opener before a crowd of 12,073 Friday night at Victory Field.
The Indians improve to 6-3 on the season, while the Tides fall to 5-4. The Tribe has also won six of its last seven contests.
Munoz (6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO) picked up the win in his first decision of the campaign. Through six frames, he didn't allow a runner past second base and faced just four over the minimum.
The Tribe bullpen also continued to dominate. The Indians relievers have now allowed just one run over their last 19.2 innings. RHP Romulo Sanchez (1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 SO) and RHP Jonah Bayliss (1.0 IP) sealed the deal after Munoz departed with two outs in the seventh.
Indianapolis had nine different individuals score and nine different individuals register at least one hit. 2B Luis Ordaz (2-for-4, 1 RBI) and LF Kevin Thompson (2-for-4, 1 R) collected multi-hit efforts, while 3B Neil Walker (1-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI) and SS Josh Wilson (0-for-1, 1 R, 2 RBI) notched multi-RBI performances.
The Indians jumped on the board with two runs in the second. C Michel Hernandez trotted home on a hit by pitch, while Walker scored on a fielder's choice.
Indianapolis added a run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth. Walker highlighted the fifth with a two-run triple off the center-field wall. The Tribe scored on sacrifice flies the other two frames.
The Indians have now managed 63 hits over their past seven affairs (9.00 per game) after recording just four base knocks in their first two contests (2.00 per game). The Tribe has also raised its team BA from .080 to .241 during that same time frame.
Norfolk scored all three of its runs in the seventh. C Mike Costanzo sparked the Tides with a lead-off homer to right center.
The two teams continue their four-game series on Saturday at 7 p.m. RHP Jim Johnson is scheduled to start for Norfolk, while RHP John Van Benschoten is expected to get the nod for Indianapolis.
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.
For a second straight season, the Tribe guaranteed 60 degrees on Opening Night at Victory Field. That was not the case on Friday evening as the home opener began with a game-time temperature of 59 degrees, according to the National Weather Service Forecast Center. The reading gave all fans in attendance a FREE ticket to another home game in April.
Friday night's gathering marked the largest home-opening crowd at Victory Field since the July 11, 1996, debut.
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Post-game quotes -- INF Josh Wilson
(on playing in front of the home crowd at Victory Field)
"It was an awesome crowd and great Opening Night. It always feels good to get a win."
(on facing a hard-throwing starting pitcher)
"(Norfolk starter Radhames) Liz was throwing pretty hard out there, so I just tried not to get jammed. I was looking for good fastballs in the strike zone that I could put in play. That's all you can really do."
(on Tribe RHP Luis Munoz)
"(Luis) Munoz had outstanding stuff all night long. He located pitches well and used the breaking ball to his advantage. He mixed it up and was tough to hit."
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