IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Indians Win 7-6 Thriller Over Charlotte; Tribe Back In First Place

Published on May 27, 2005 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


FORT MILL, S.C. -- Center fielder Chris Duffy launched a two-run homer in the top of the second and then smashed the game-winning RBI triple in the top of the ninth to lift Indianapolis to a 7-6 victory over Charlotte Friday evening at Knights Stadium.

Tribe SS Jorge Velandia led off the ninth with a walk and came around to score the game-winning run when Duffy smoked RHP Jeffrey Bajenaru's offering to the right-field wall for his third three-bagger of the season.

Indianapolis RHP Mark Corey (2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 SO), who worked the eighth and ninth frames, improved to 3-1 with the win. He escaped in the bottom of the of the ninth after Charlotte put runners at first and third with no outs. CF Brian Anderson and 1B Ross Gload opened the inning by ripping back-to-back singles, but the Tribe closer fanned the next two hitters before ending the game with a fly out to left field.

The Indians, who have not lost back-to-back games in over a month, improve to 30-18 with the win. Indianapolis is back on top with the best winning percentage (.625) of any team in Triple-A Baseball. The Knights fall to 15-34 with the loss.

Indianapolis opened up an early advantage with four runs in the top of the second. DH Jose Leon walked, went to third on RF Jon Nunnally's double to left center and came around to score the game's first run on 3B Yurendell de Caster's RBI double to left. 2B Cesar Crespo registered the Tribe's second RBI with a bunt up the first-base line to score Nunnally. Duffy then stepped to the dish and belted his fourth roundtripper of the season -- a two-run shot to right field.

Charlotte responded with a four spot in the bottom of the second. Anderson reached on a miscue by the Indians shortstop. Gload then smacked a two-run homer to left field to cut the deficit in half. The inning continued when Indianapolis RHP Justin Reid (ND, 5.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) hit C Jamie Burke with a pitch and then issued a walk to RF Joe Borchard. Moments later, Burke and Borchard scored when 3B Ricky Gutierrez laced a two-run single to left field.

Charlotte added runs in the fourth and sixth, while Indianapolis countered with scores in the fourth and seventh to set up a 6-6 game heading into the ninth.

LF Roosevelt Brown went 4-for-5 with four singles for the Knights, while Martinez added a 3-for-5 performance with a pair of doubles. Five-time Major League All-Star Frank Thomas, who has been on a rehabilitation assignment with Charlotte since May 17, went 1-for-5 and is now 1-for-13 in the series.

Duffy finished 2-for-4 with three RBI for the Indians, while C Ryan Doumit went 2-for-5 with one double.

Bajenaru (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) was pinned with the loss, falling to 1-1 on the season.

Indianapolis wraps up its 12-game road trip Saturday night at 6:15 p.m., when the Indians and Knights square off in the series finale. The contest will be carried by ESPN-950 AM as Howard Kellman and Robert Portnoy have the call. Saturday's pre-game show begins at 5:55 p.m.

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International League Stories from May 27, 2005


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