IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Indians Explode for 14-6 Rout of Chiefs

June 3, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indians recorded season-highs with 14 runs and 19 hits and posted two four-run innings en route to routing the Syracuse Chiefs 14-6 on Sunday afternoon at Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis.

The Tribe was led early by 1B Jeff Larish, who went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI in the game. The lefty-hitting Larish got the scoring started in the first frame with a two-out RBI single to drive in CF Starling Marte, who had doubled, to give the Indians an early 1-0 lead.

SS Chase d'Arnaud then extended that lead to 3-0 with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the second, making Syracuse pay for a two-out walk to LF Alex Presley while also driving in 2B Anderson Hernandez, who had led off the frame with a single.

Syracuse cut the Indianapolis lead to 3-2 in the top of the third inning, when 2B Jim Negrych scored on a two-out double by CF Corey Brown, who then scored on LF Erik Komatsu's single. The Indians, however, never trailed in the game as Larish led off the bottom of the third with a single and immediately scored on a double by C Jose Morales, extending the Tribe's lead to 4-2.

Indianapolis then exploded for four runs in the fourth, batting around in the frame. After starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera (5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K), who picked up his second win, led off the inning with a walk, Presley launched a two-run home run over the right-field fence, his fifth since joining the Indians, giving the Tribe a 6-2 advantage.

The longball chased Chiefs starter Mitch Atkins (3.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 HR), who failed to get an out in the fourth inning and was saddled with his fifth loss of the season. With RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) taking over, d'Arnaud doubled down the left-field line before Syracuse finally got the first out of the inning via a strikeout.

Indianapolis wasn't finished in the frame, however, as Larish plated d'Arnaud with his third single in three at bats. Hernandez eventually drove in Larish to give the Indians an 8-2 lead as the Tribe sent nine batters to the plate in the inning.

Syracuse mounted a mini-comeback in the top of the sixth inning, scoring three runs to pull within 8-5. After Komatsu drew a leadoff walk, 1B Tyler Moore put runners on the corners with a one-out single before RF Xavier Paul, drove in Komatsu with a single to make it 8-3. A walk and a strikeout later, C James Skelton smacked a two-run single back up the middle to score Moore and Paul and cut the Indianapolis lead to 8-5, but Indians reliever Duke Welker (1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) recorded a strikeout to end the Chiefs rally.

Indianapolis scored a pair of insurance runs in the seventh inning as Hernandez singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and scored on a double off the right-field wall by PH Jake Fox. Marte then hit a two-out single to center field to score Fox, making it 11-5 in favor of the Indians.

The Tribe then exploded for another four-run inning in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, RF Brandon Boggs, Hernandez and 3B Yamaico Navarro hit back-to-back-to-back singles, the last of which scored Boggs and made it 11-5.

After a flyout, Presley loaded the bases with a groundball single to left field before d'Arnaud unloaded the bases with a three-run double on a flyball to left. The two-bagger made it 14-5 Indians and was the 19th hit of the game for Indianapolis, giving the Tribe season-highs in both categories.

RHP Tim Wood (1.0 IP,2 H, 3 K) tossed a scoreless eighth and LHP Kris Johnson (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER) gave up one unearned run in the ninth to close out the victory for the Tribe.

Presley finished the contest 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs, d'Arnaud went 3-for-6 with a run and a game-high five RBI and Hernandez finished 4-for-5 with three runs and an RBI. The Indians are now 10 games above .500 at 33-23 and will at least maintain their 5.5 game lead over Toledo for first place in the IL West, while Syracuse falls to 26-30 with the defeat.

The teams will close out their four-game series on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. when the Indians also wrap up their eight-game homestand. Indianapolis is expected to send LHP Rudy Owens (3-2, 2.30 ERA) to the mound while the Chiefs are likely to counter with former Indians LHP Zach Duke (6-2, 3.97 ERA).

The contest will be televised on HTSN (Hometown Sports and News), available via cable or over-the-air on digital channel 6.2. The game will also be carried on WNDE 1260 AM-WFBQ-HD2, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones with Howard Kellman and Will Flemming on the call. The pre-game show begins at 6:45 p.m.

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Post-game quotes -- LF Alex Presley

(On the Indians scoring 14 runs on 19 hits) "It was a good day for baseball. It was nice and warm out and we got some good pitching to hit today and it was a team effort. It was a good all-around offensive performance."

(On the team jumping out to early leads lately) "It's always good for the starting pitcher for us to go out there and put a couple on the board. We can get into our rhythm offensively and the pitcher can get into a rhythm as well. We did a good job of throwing a lot of strikes today and the offense had long innings, so our pitchers were well rested from that."

(On being patient today, reaching base on five of six plate appearances) "I have no idea what's coming up there on any count, so I have to be really selective and look right down the middle so I get a lot of off-speed when I'm looking for fastballs. I did a good job of it today and capitalized on my pitches."

(On his recent home run stroke) "It comes out every now and then. It's not usually like this. It's a treat to hit a few in a row. I'm just trying to enjoy it."

(On the team's success at Victory Field) "It's a great place to play. It's comfortable, with great fans. Some ballparks you go to, you feel a little off. Here, everything's comfortable and good. You can see well and everything. It's good to be home and play."

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