IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Indians Use Clutch Home Runs to Halt Five-Game Skid

Published on July 1, 2019 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


LOUISVILLE, KY. - Trayvon Robinson and Will Craig delivered clutch home runs to help the Indianapolis Indians snap a five-game losing streak with a 7-6 victory over the Louisville Bats on Monday night. The two swings accounted for five of the Tribe's seven runs, and the triumph ended the longest skid of the season.

Indianapolis (42-39) trailed 3-0 as the game entered the seventh. Kevin Kramer began the game-tying rally with a double. After Craig walked, Kramer scored when an errant throw on a wild pitch went into left field. Robinson then pinch hit for Logan Hill and clubbed a two-run home run to right field to tie the game, 3-3. It was the first pinch-hit homer for the Tribe since May 10, 2018.

The Bats regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh, but the Indians regrouped to go back ahead in the top of the eighth. Darnell Sweeney delivered a pinch-hit single, then later scored on Kramer's single. With Kramer and Erik Gonzalez aboard, Craig launched his 17th home run of the season over the left-field wall to give Indy the 7-4 lead.

Louisville (30-53) brought a run back in the bottom of the eighth, but Blake Weiman induced a pop-up out from Christian Colon with the bases loaded to end the threat and preserve the lead. The left-hander allowed a solo homer in the ninth but held on for his first Triple-A save.

Sal Romano started for Louisville and held the Indians hitless over four frames. Indy did not get its first knock of the game until the top of the sixth when Jake Elmore led off that inning with a single through the left side. The Bats had built a 3-0 lead on a Brian O'Grady homer in the second, and hits from Colon and Josh VanMeter in the fifth.

Geoff Hartlieb (2-0) worked two innings and earned the win out of the Tribe bullpen in his first game back from Pittsburgh. Jesus Reyes (0-4) allowed the two homers and was handed the defeat.

The Indians are now 6-1 at Louisville Slugger Field this season, and they'll look to continue the success on Tuesday night in game two of the series. Alex McRae (5-4, 5.07) is the probable starter for Indianapolis. The Tribe returns to Victory Field on July 4.

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