IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Indians Sweep Yanks In Doubleheader

Published on June 23, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


MOOSIC, Pa. -- Outfielder Garrett Jones collected multiple hits in both contests and the Tribe posted three innings with three or more runs as the Indianapolis Indians defeated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees 7-1 in game one and 5-3 in game two of a doubleheader on Monday evening at PNC Field.

With the doubleheader sweep the Indians' improve to 33-36 overall and 17-15 on the road, while the losses drop the Yankees to 41-27 on the season and 17-15 at home. The doubleheader sweep gives Indianapolis the 2-1 series victory, but Scranton-Wilkes Barre claims the season series 4-3.

Jones sparked the Tribe offense early in game one as the Indians posted three runs in the top half of the second inning. The left fielder, Jones, and C Erik Kratz launched back-to-back solo home runs to jump-start the Indianapolis offense and give them the early lead. The Tribe then added another run in the frame as SS Luis Cruz and 3B Pedro Lopez slapped back-to-back singles with Cruz scoring on a throwing error during Lopez's base knock.

The three-run inning is all the Indians would really need as starting pitcher Tom Gorzelanny (5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, 1 WP) and reliever Mike Koplove (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO, 1 HBP) dominated Yankee hitters and combined to allow just one run on three hits through the seven inning contest. Gorzelanny earned his second win of the season with seven strikeouts in five innings, while Koplove replaced the Tribe starter with two punchouts in two scoreless innings and has yet to allow a run in six outings with the Indians this season.

Already holding the lead the Indianapolis offense decided they were not finished as the Tribe went on to record another three-run inning in the sixth. Jones again began the rally with a lead off single and a stolen base, his 14th steal of the season, and was then brought home thanks to two consecutive errors by the Yankees' defense.

Kratz and 1B Hector Gimenez both reached base on the defensive miscues, which also brought Jones plateward for his second score of the contest. Lopez and DH Shelby Ford then followed later in the inning with RBI base knocks, which scored Kratz and Gimenez to extend the Tribe lead to five.

Both Cruz (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B) and Lopez (2-for-3, 1 RBI) recorded multi-hit games, while Jones collected three base knocks and two runs for a multi-hit and multi-run performance. After the three-run sixth the Tribe added yet another insurance run when CF Jeff Salazar led off the seventh with a solo homer to bring the score to 7-1.

Gorzelanny and Koplove were dominant behind the strong offensive output with the lone Yankees score coming in the third inning on a run-scoring double play hit by 2B Kevin Russo, which brought SS Justin Leone plateward.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starting pitcher Casey Fossum (5.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 4 SO) didn't fare as well as his counterpart as the veteran right hander was handed his third loss to drop to .500 on the year. Fossum struckout four and gave up six runs, but only two of the six scores were earned as the Yankees' defense made three errors in the contest.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre would strike first and attempt to bounce back in game two, but the Indians came back to defeat the Yankees 6-3 for the doubleheader sweep.

The Yankees struck first in the nightcap when International League home run leader, Shelley Duncan lifted a three-run longball to left field in the bottom of the third. Duncan's 21st blast of the season plated C Chris Stewart who led the inning off with a single and INF Cody Ransom who reached base on a walk.

However, the Tribe answered right back with another big inning as they tallied their third inning of three or more runs on the day with four in top half of the fourth Salazar kick started the Indianapolis' offense with another solo home run to right field, his second dinger of the day.

Jones then reached with a walk only to score on Gimenez's RBI double in the very next at-bat. Gimenez then moved to third base on 1B Chris Snelling's slap single to right, which placed runners on first and third with no outs.

Cruz followed with an RBI groundout, which moved Snelling into scoring position and allowed Gimenez to trot home to tie the score at three. Snelling then grabbed the lead for the Tribe when he came plateward on C Miguel Perez's RBI single.

The Indians' pitching then dominated behind the 4-3 lead as starter Daniel McCutchen and closer Chris Bootcheck combined to shut out the Yankees lineup and allow only three hits in the final four innings. McCutchen earned his fifth victory of the season after he allowed three runs in six innings of work, while Bootcheck struckout two in a scoreless seventh to pick up his 11th save of the year.

Yankees' pitching continued to struggle against the Tribe bats as starter Josh Towers (4.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) allowed four runs on six hits in four innings of work, while relievers Mark Melancon (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 SO, 1 WP, 1 HBP) and Zach Kroenke (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER) gave up one run each in their respective work out of the bullpen.

Just as they did in the first game the Tribe offense continued to add on insurance runs late in the contest. Lopez scored Snelling with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, while Jones' RBI groundout in the seventh gave the Indians their 6-3 lead.

The Yankees then attempted their own comeback in the last inning when CF Colin Curtis led off the frame with a double. However, the comeback fell short as Bootcheck buckled down and stranded runners on first and third by striking out RF Austin Jackson to give the Indians the victory and the doubleheader sweep.

SS Brian Bixler (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 SB), Gimenez (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI) and Jones (2-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB) recorded the only multi-hit performances in game two with Jones' excelling at the plate in both contests of the doubleheader combining to go 5-for-7 with three runs, two RBI, one home run, one walk and a stolen base in the sweep.

Indianapolis begins a four game series with Lehigh Valley (Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies) on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Virgil Vasquez is scheduled to start for the Indians, while RHP Rodrigo Lopez is expected to get the nod for the IronPigs.

Check out the Indianapolis Indians Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



International League Stories from June 23, 2009


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.

OurSports Central