IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Indians Beat Out Buffalo, 2-0

Published on June 17, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


BUFFALO, N.Y. -- In his hometown of Buffalo, New York, second baseman Jim Negrych collected three hits and plated the only runs of the contest with a two-run home run in the sixth inning, while four Tribe pitchers held the Buffalo Bisons to just three hits to lead the Indianapolis Indians to a 2-0 victory on Thursday night at Coca-Cola Field.

With the win, Indianapolis' improves to 36-31 on the season, while the loss drops Buffalo's record to 35-32. The victory also gives the Tribe a 1-0 series lead and improves their record to 4-1 against the Bisons overall this season.

In what is a rare opportunity for any professional athlete, Tribe second baseman Jim Negrych had the chance to play in front of friends and family in his hometown of Buffalo, New York on Thursday night. By the end of the contest the Triple-A rookie turned in a night to remember as he helped lead the Tribe to an important 2-0 victory.

Negrych got rid of the butterflies right off the bat when lifted a single to center fielder with two outs in the top of the first inning. Then after grounding out in the top of the third, Negrych came through with the key hit of the contest when he blasted a two-run home run to center field in the sixth inning, scoring RF Brandon Moss, who had led off the frame with a base on balls.

The two-run longball was the left hander's second in just six games with the Indians this season and plated what turned out to be the only two runs of the contest. Since joining the Tribe on June 11, Negrych has posted a .471 batting average (8-for-17) with four runs, two doubles, two home runs, five RBI and two stolen bases, while having already posted two three-hit efforts and belted two more longballs than he did in 49 games with Double-A Altoona earlier this season.

Not to be overshadowed by Negrych's homecoming show, Indians pitchers Hayden Penn, Anthony Claggett, Wil Ledezma and Jean Machi combined to hold the Bisons' offense to no runs on just three hits, including setting down 18 straight batters during one stretch.

Penn (6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO) continued his dominating work in the month of June as he allowed just three hits and struck out four to improve to 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA (4 ER in 21.1 IP) and 18 to 5 strikeout to walk ratio over four starts in the season's third month. Claggett (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and Ledezma (1.0 IP) followed Penn with two perfect frames of relief to earn their third and fifth holds respectively, while Machi (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) finished off the contest to notch his team-best 10th save of the season.

With the top-notch shutout work by the four Tribe hurlers, the Indianapolis pitching staff lowered its already International League best ERA in the month of June to 2.53 (39 ER in 139.0 IP), while the three innings of scoreless relief from the Tribe bullpen helped to drop their ERA to a miniscule 1.08 (6 ER in 50 IP) in the season's third month.

Along with Negrych (3-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI), Tribe 1B Jeff Clement (3-for-4, 1 2B) also turned in a three-hit effort, while only three individual Buffalo batters managed base hits as CF Fernando Martinez, LF Lucas Duda and C Josh Thole each came through with a single base knock.

Despite allowing just two runs on six hits and striking out four over seven strong innings of work, Buffalo starter Pat Misch (7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) suffered the loss to drop to 5-3 on the season, while reliever Roy Merritt (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) finished off the contest for the Bisons with two innings of scoreless relief.

Indianapolis continues its four-game set with Buffalo on Friday, June 18 at 7:35 p.m. LHP Brian Burres is expected to get the call for the Indians, while RHP John Maine is the probable starter for the Bisons.

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 7:15 p.m.

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International League Stories from June 17, 2010


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