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Indians Falter in Saturday Night Bullpen Battle

July 3, 2021 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - After a back-and-forth scoring battle through three, the Indianapolis Indians bullpen couldn't keep pace with the Iowa Cubs relief corps to drop the fifth of the six-game series, 9-7.

With the two teams knotted at five through three innings and both starting pitchers out of the game, Indy's bullpen cracked under the pressure while Iowa's flourished. Matt Eckelman (L, 0-3) surrendered three runs in three innings and Braeden Ogle allowed the ninth Cubs run to cross. Ryan Lawlor (W, 1-0) fanned five batters in two innings and combined with Justin Steele for four hitless middle relief frames.

Down 4-0 after three outs thanks to an Alfonso Rivas two-out grand slam to open the scoring, the Indians (27-25) closed out the first inning with a 4-4 tie. With two outs following a Cole Tucker leadoff double, five consecutive batters reached base safely to tie the game. Bligh Madris and Christian Bethancourt cut the Cubs lead in half with RBI singles, and Hunter Owen followed with a two-run double.

Both teams threatened in the second inning, but walked away empty handed. Iowa (20-30) then opened the third inning with a run as Nick Martini was driven home on a sacrifice fly. Indianapolis tied the game in the bottom half on Hunter Owen's seventh home run of the season and fifth in his last 16 games with at least one plate appearance.

Eckelman, in relief of Indians starter Max Kranick, allowed three I-Cubs runs as the first four batters of the fourth inning reached base safely. They tacked on one more run off Ogle in the seventh with an RBI single by Martini.

After being held hitless from the fourth through eighth innings, the Indians threatened in the ninth off reliever Trevor Megill. Cole Tucker was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Will Craig singled with two outs to set up runners at the corners. Bligh Madris then singled on a line drive up the middle to cut Iowa's lead to 9-7.

The Indians will look to split the series vs. Iowa tomorrow in a Fourth of July series finale at 6:15 PM. Both teams have yet to name a starter for the contest.

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