Indians Race Toward Walk-Off Knock

April 23, 2022 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release

INDIANAPOLIS - Following a leadoff triple by Hunter Owen in the bottom of the ninth inning, Canaan Smith-Njigba smacked a single down the left-field line to walk off the Columbus Clippers on Saturday night, 3-2. It was the Indianapolis Indians' second walk-off of the season in as many homestands.

Clippers' outfielder Alex Call misread Owen's long fly ball to straightaway center to open the bottom of the ninth inning and set the game-winning run on third base with no outs. On a 1-0 count, Smith-Njigba lined a fastball the opposite way against Brett Daniels (L, 1-2) to ensue an on-field celebration at Victory Field.

Mason Martin broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning with his third home run of the season deep out to the right-field scoreboard. Rodolfo Castro opened the frame for Indianapolis (8-8) with a double.

Columbus (12-5) tied the game in the sixth on a leadoff double and two-run homer off the bat of Gabriel Arias.

Cam Alldred made his first career start and was scoreless in a career-high 4.0 innings. After the two-run long ball in the sixth inning, relievers Sam Howard, Eric Hanhold and Yerry De Los Santos (W, 1-0) combined for 3.0 shutout innings with just two hits allowed.

The game ended at the 2:06 mark, which was the Indians' fastest 9.0-inning game since April 11, 2018 vs. the Toledo Mud Hens at Victory Field.

The Indians will look to escape the six-game series with a split with Columbus tomorrow at 1:35 PM ET at Victory Field. RHP Roansy Contreras (0-0, -.--) will make his first Triple-A start this season after appearing in three games with Pittsburgh. Countering for the Clippers is LHP Adam Scott (1-0, 2.19), who got the start in Tuesday's series opener.

International League Stories from April 23, 2022

• Stripers Battle Back to Beat Jacksonville in 10 Innings - Gwinnett Stripers
• Stripers Stifled by Small in 10-0 Loss to Sounds - Gwinnett Stripers
• Jumbo Shrimp Fall in Extras to Gwinnett 10-8 - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
• Bulls Roll Tides 7-5 - Durham Bulls
• Sounds Clinch Series Win over Charlotte in Front of Sellout Crowd - Nashville Sounds
• Hall blasts two home runs in win over Red Wings - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
• Knights Fall to Sounds 9-1 on Saturday - Charlotte Knights
• Cumberland Hits Milestone Home Run in Norfolk Loss - Norfolk Tides
• Wings Comeback Bid Falls Short Saturday - Rochester Red Wings
• Indians Race Toward Walk-Off Knock - Indianapolis Indians
• Bisons Late Rally Comes up Short against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 7-4 - Buffalo Bisons
• Syracuse's Four-Game Winning Streak Ends with 9-2 Loss to Worcester on Saturday Night - Syracuse Mets
• RailRiders Top Bisons - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
• Sensational Sixth Propels Mud Hens Past Saints - Toledo Mud Hens
• Lewis' Mammoth Home Run Not Enough in 5-2 Loss to Mud Hens - St. Paul Saints
• Chasers' Bats Go Quiet in Shutout Loss - Omaha Storm Chasers
• Liberatore, Offense Dominate Storm Chasers in Redbirds Victory - Memphis Redbirds
• Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (7-8) vs. Columbus Clippers (12-4) - Indianapolis Indians
• Overton Overpowers While Planes Fly Overhead - Louisville Bats
• I-Cubs Comeback Falls Short - Iowa Cubs
• Johnny Cueto Joins Knights, Will Start Tonight - Charlotte Knights
• Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
• April 23 Game Notes: Iowa at Louisville - Iowa Cubs
• Offense Comes Alive as Chasers Score Nine in Friday Night Victory - Omaha Storm Chasers

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Indianapolis Indians Stories

• Indians Outlast Stripers in a Back-And-Forth Affair
• Cook Cranks Two Homers as Indy Clinches Series Victory over Gwinnett
• Indians Fall to Stripers in 10 Innings
• Left-Handed Pitcher Ryan Borucki Has Rehab Assignment Transferred to Indianapolis
• Indians Silence Stripers for Seventh Shutout of Season