Indians Take Series in Pawtucket with 4-3 Comeback Victory
Published on June 23, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Christian Kelley delivered a go-ahead single in the ninth inning and the Indians held off Pawtucket in the bottom half as Luis Escobar left the bases loaded to give Indy a dramatic 4-3 win on Sunday. Jordan Lyles surrendered one run on two hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings pitched in his rehab start.
The win gave Indianapolis (39-34) its first series victory since taking two of three in Louisville from June 3-5, snapping a four-series slide. But it came with plenty of drama.
Indy's ninth inning was jumpstarted by Darnell Sweeney, who was hit on the foot by Jenrry Mejia (L, 2-7). Sweeney took second base on a delayed steal and after Nick Franklin walked, Kelley pounded the decisive knock into right field.
In the bottom of the ninth, Escobar gave up a leadoff double to Juan Centeno, and Pawtucket (31-43) eventually had two runners in scoring position with one away. Three consecutive 3-2 counts followed for the 22-year-old Escobar. He caught Gorkys Hernandez looking at strike three, walked Jantzen Witte to load the bases and induced a game-ending groundout to second base off the bat of Cole Sturgeon.
Indy's bats were quiet most of the afternoon against Ryan Weber. A Hunter Owen one-out single in the first inning was all the Tribe could muster until Cole Tucker tied the game at 1-1 with his sixth home run in the sixth.
Bryce Brentz, who blasted a game-winning homer for Pawtucket on Saturday night, greeted Blake Weiman with another long ball that put the Red Sox back in front 2-1.
The lead didn't last long. Will Craig walked and Logan Hill was hit by pitch to start the seventh. Sweeney moved both runners up 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt to set up a two-run single for Franklin.
Brentz hit a game-tying single in the eighth once again, bringing home Hernandez who drew a leadoff walk against Escobar (W, 2-1).
The Tribe improved to 15-9 in one-run games. The 15 wins by a single run are tied with Durham and Charlotte for most in the International League.
The Indians begin a four-game homestand on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Tribe will play Louisville for two days before welcoming division-leading Columbus to the Circle City for a two-game set. Mitch Keller (5-1, 3.10) is scheduled to start the opener for Indy.
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