Indians walk away with 5-2 win over Norfolk
Published on May 1, 2008 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
NORFOLK, Va. -- Indianapolis scored four runs in the top of the ninth to post a 5-2 victory over Norfolk and end a five-game losing streak Thursday night at Harbor Park.
2B Matt Kata (3-for-4, 1 R) started the ninth with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by 1B Adam Boeve. Following a walk to SS Josh Wilson, LF Jorge Cortes reached on a Norfolk fielding error to load the bases.
CF Andrew McCutchen then gave Indianapolis the lead with a bases-loaded walk, which forced home Kata. 3B Neil Walker broke the game open moments later with a two-run single to center, which plated Wilson and Cortes. The Tribe added an insurance run when Walker came home on a Tides throwing error.
McCutchen also scored the Indians' first run when he launched his team-high sixth home run in the fifth. The Pirates top prospect finished 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI to extend the International League's longest on-base streak to 23 games.
A mixture of Norfolk mistakes and timely hitting in the ninth gave the Tribe its first win this season when tied or trailing after seven innings.
Indianapolis RHP Jesse Chavez (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) picked up the win in his first decision of 2008, while Norfolk RHP Esteban Yan (2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) fell to 0-2 with the loss.
Neither starter -- Indians RHP Luis Munoz (7.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) or Tides RHP Andy Mitchell (5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) -- figured in the decision.
Indianapolis improves to 14-14 overall and 6-8 on the road, while Norfolk falls to 11-15 on the season and 6-6 at home.
3B Mike Constanzo went 2-for-4 and scored both the Tides runs, while 1B Chris Heintz (3-for-4) and RF Adam Stern (2-for-3) also turned in multi-hit efforts.
The teams continue their four-game series on Friday at 7:15 p.m. LHP Craig Anderson is expected to get the nod for Norfolk, while Indianapolis has yet to announce a starter.
The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 6:55 p.m.
Post-game quotes -- OF Andrew McCutchen
(on his solo home run in the fifth inning) "The pitch was right there, and I put a good barrel on it. It looked good off the bat, but then the wind started hooking it towards the foul pole. I knew I hit good enough where it was going to stay fair."
(on stopping the Indians' five game losing streak) "You just have to shake off those tough losses. You can always start over because baseball is a game of adjustments. That is what we are doing right now, and we have a whole bunch of games left so we are just going to continue to play hard."
International League Stories from May 1, 2008
- Indians walk away with 5-2 win over Norfolk - Indianapolis Indians
- Bats Bop Braves - Gwinnett Stripers
- Tribe top Tides, 5-2 - Norfolk Tides
- Aquino Clears Waivers, Accepts Norfolk Assignment - Norfolk Tides
- International League News & Notes- 05.01 - IL1
- Bisons Notes 5/1/08 - Charlotte Vs. Buffalo (7:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- Red Hot Clippers To Face IronPigs Tonight - Columbus Clippers
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.
