IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Indians Walked off by IronPigs 5-4

Published on May 5, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


ALLENTOWN, PA -- For the second straight game, the Indianapolis Indians (21-10) committed several costly errors and yielded the game-ending hit to CF Leandro Castro, as the Tribe suffered a 5-4 walk-off loss in the bottom of the ninth inning to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (12-16) on Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park. Despite the loss, the Indians still maintain a hold of first place in the International League West Division.

With the contest knotted 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the IronPigs jumped all over RHP Vic Black to prevent the matchup from drifting into extra innings. 2B Cesar Hernandez began the game-winning rally with a leadoff walk, and after LF Darin Ruf was retired on a strikeout, Black (L, 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) unleashed a wild pickoff throw that bounced into the outfield to allow Hernandez to advance to third.

The Indians then intentionally walked 3B Josh Fields and 1B Cody Overbeck to load the bases and bring last night's game-ender Leandro Castro to the plate.

After whiffing on the first pitch and fouling off a bunt attempt, Castro quickly found himself down to his final strike. However, even with an unfavorable 0-2 count, the center fielder turned on the third Black offering to rope a single into the outfield and send the IronPigs to a 5-4 walk-off victory.

The epic four-game series spanned over a combined 40 innings and lasted 13 hours and 41 minutes. The two teams were also locked in a tie for 17 of 22 total frames during the series' final two contests.

In a back-and-forth battle through the long afternoon, Indianapolis drew first blood in the second inning beginning with C Tony Sanchez coaxing a leadoff walk. One batter later, and for the third time in as many games, the Tribe was the beneficiary of a longball as 3B Jared Goedert smashed a two-run blast for his second homer of the season, putting the visiting squad up 2-0.

After knocking just nine home runs through the season's first 27 contests, the Indians went yard three times over the four-game series with Lehigh Valley, lifting a homer in each of the final three tilts against the IronPigs.

As if following the same scripted performance from last night, Lehigh Valley wouldn't allow the Tribe to hold a lead for more than half a frame, immediately tying the score and ultimately taking the lead in the bottom of the second.

C Humberto Quinterro sparked the four-run rally with a one-out single to center field and advanced all the way to third when RF Steve Susdorf flied a double to right. LHP Francisco Liriano was then unable to finish off the opposing pitcher at the plate, and LHP Adam Morgan re-tied the contest 2-2 when he poked a two-run single left that plated both Quinterro and Susdorf.

Liriano regathered his control on the mound to coax a groundout from Martinez, but Hernandez, who finished the series with hits in three of the four games, slammed a two-run homer that sailed over the left field wall, giving Lehigh Valley a 4-2 edge.

The two-run lead was erased almost as quickly as it was earned, as the pair of evenly-matched teams suddenly found themselves deadlocked in a 4-4 tie in the next inning. CF Alex Presley lead off the frame with a double that bounced all the way to the left field corner, and after 2B Josh Harrison was drilled in the ankle by a pitch, both runners advanced a bag on a double steal.

Two batters later, 1B Matt Hague dribbled a ball to the left side of the infield to allow Presley to race home and cut the deficit 4-3. Sanchez then re-tied the contest on an RBI single up the middle, scoring Harrison and making it 4-4.

Both teams remained deadlocked through the later stages of the game, largely thanks to lockdown pitching from the two bullpens. Among Tribe relievers, RHP Duke Walker (2.0 IP, H, 0 ER, BB, 2 SO) authored a scoreless seventh and eighth to extend his scoreless streak to a team season-high 16.0 consecutive innings. The right-hander has been a force to be reckoned with on the hill in 2013, surrendering just three hits and eight walks while fanning 20 through his 16.0 shutout frames.

RHP Joe Savery (W, 1.0 IP, 0 ER, SO) picked up the win for the second straight game, tossing a scoreless ninth in which he struck out one Tribe batter.

Indianapolis starter and Pittsburgh Pirates rehabbing left-hander Francisco Liriano (5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 6 SO) allowed four runs on seven hits in his 5.0 frames. The southpaw also walked one and fanned six in his third rehab outing with the Tribe.

The Indians will now travel to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a four-game series against at PNC Field. Indianapolis is scheduled to throw LHP Andy Oliver (1-1, 3.34) while the RailRiders are expected to counter with RHP Chien-Ming Wang (2-1, 0.95), with first pitch slated for 6:35 p.m.

The game will be carried on WNDE 1260 AM, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones with Howard Kellman and Will Flemming on the call. The pre-game show begins at 6:15 p.m.

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