Indy Breaks Open Series Opener with Five-Run First
Published on June 7, 2022 under International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indianapolis Indians batted around the order in the first inning en route to a five-run outburst and never looked back, defeating the Columbus Clippers in the first game of the six-game series on Tuesday night, 9-6.
The first four batters of the game for Indianapolis (27-26) - Oneil Cruz, Canaan Smith-Njigba, Ji-Hwan Bae and Mason Martin - each hit safely in an explosive five-run first inning. A single by Bae drove Cruz home, and a two-run double by Mason Martin extended the lead. Two walks to Bligh Madris and Hoy Park chased Adam Scott (L, 1-2) out of the ballgame after recording only one out. Jamie Ritchie drew the third consecutive walk with the bases loaded to score Martin, and Jared Oliva capped the scoring in the frame with a sacrifice fly.
Rodolfo Castro, in his first game back since being optioned by Pittsburgh, sent a 461-foot home run to straightaway center field in the bottom of the third to give Indy its largest lead of the contest, 6-0.
After a two-out walk drawn by Alex Call in the fourth, Bobby Bradley lifted a two-run shot over the right-center field wall to put Columbus (33-22) on the board and cut the deficit to four runs. Indy would get one back in the bottom of the frame with an RBI double by Smith-Njigba after Cruz got into scoring position with a walk and stolen base.
The Clippers cut their deficit to two runs after a two-run fifth and another run in the sixth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Will Brennan brought in two runs with a single into the gap. Bryan Lavastida tacked on another run in the sixth with an RBI triple.
A leadoff single by Bligh Madris and back-to-back walks to Park and Ritchie loaded the bases with two outs for the Indians in the bottom of the seventh. Smith-Njigba drove in two with an RBI single through a hole on the left side of the infield to extend the lead 9-5. Columbus scored the final run of the game in the eighth.
Jerad Eickhoff (W, 3-2) tossed 5.0 innings and surrendered four runs off as many hits. Austin Brice (S, 3) struck out all three batters he faced to earn his third save of the season.
Smith-Njigba led the Indians offense with three hits and three RBI. The top six batters in Indy's lineup each recorded at least one hit, and all nine hitters reached base safely in the contest.
The Indians and Clippers will play the second game of the series at 1:35 PM ET on Wednesday afternoon. Both teams have yet to name a starter.
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