IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Indians Earn Rain-Shortened 3-2 Win over Columbus

Published on July 8, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Designated hitter Jeff Clement hit what proved to be the game-winning solo home run in the top half of the fifth inning and the Indianapolis Indians rallied for a rain-shortened 3-2 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Thursday night at Huntington Park.

The victory improves Indianapolis' record to 46-43 on the season, while, with the loss, Columbus falls to 53-35. The victory also ups the Indians' record against the Clippers to 7-8 on the season.

With the game deadlocked at 2-2 in the top half of the fifth, Clement stepped to the dish for the Tribe with two outs in the inning and a 0-for-2 evening going at the plate. The Tribe's designated hitter calmly watched the first three pitches of his plate appearance hit the catcher's mitt before he pounced on the fourth offering of his at-bat and drilled the 1-2 pitch out to deep right for his sixth home run of the season and a 3-2 Indians' lead.

Before the Tribe rallied for the 3-2 rain-shortened win, the Clippers jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning. After the first two batters were retired with relative ease, Columbus SS Luis Valbuena worked a five-pitch walk to set the stage for Triple-A rookie Jared Goedert.

The Clippers' third baseman patiently took the first two pitches of his at-bat before lining the third offering out to left center field for his 14th home run in just his 30th Triple-A contest. The two-run long ball was also Goedert's 21st home run of the season between Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron, which sets a new single season career-high in round-trippers for the Kansas native.

Following Goedert's mammoth blast, Indianapolis rallied for two runs in the top half of the third inning to tie the contest at 2-2. The Tribe opened the frame with three consecutive first-pitch singles by LF Jonathan Van Every, SS Argenis Diaz and RF Kevin Melillo to load the bases for 3B Akinori Iwamura. A line drive single by Iwamura plated Van Every, reloaded the bases for 1B Brian Myrow and cut the Columbus lead in half at 2-1.

Myrow erased the remainder of the Clippers' advantage with a bases loaded base on balls before Columbus escaped any further damage with three consecutive strikeouts to end the Indians' rally and keep the contest tied at 2-2.

Indians' LHP Brian Burres (5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) earned his second win of the season after he allowed two runs on five hits in five innings of work. The left-hander's first victory at the Triple-A level in 2010 also came at the expense of the Clippers, when Burres limited Columbus to three runs on five hits in 5.1 innings in his Indians' debut on June 7.

After allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings of work, Clippers' RHP Josh Tomlin (6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) was strapped with his third loss against the Indianapolis Indians this season. In three games against the Tribe this year, Tomlin has posted a 0-3 record and an 8.76 ERA in 12.1 innings of work. In 15 games against opponents other than the Indians this season, Tomlin has posted a perfect 8-0 record and a miniscule 1.64 ERA (15 ER in 82.0 IP).

On the offensive side of things, all but one Tribe batter reached base safely via a hit or a walk, with Iwamura (1-for-3, 1 RBI), Myrow (0-for-2, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and Clement (1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) each driving in a run for the Indians, while Goedert (2-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI) was the only Clippers' hitter to collect an RBI in the game for Columbus.

Indianapolis concludes its short two-game set against the International League West Division leading Columbus Clippers on Friday, July 9 at 7:05 p.m. RHP Charlie Morton is expected to get the start for the Tribe, while LHP David Huff is the probable starter for the Clippers.

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 6:45 p.m.

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International League Stories from July 8, 2010


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