Indy shuts down Scranton 3-1
Published on May 5, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Indians pitcher's Jason Davis, Sean Smith, Denny Bautista, and Chris Bootcheck combined to hold the International League leading Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees to just one run as the Tribe took home a 3-1 victory on Tuesday evening at Victory Field.
With the win the Indians improve to 11-13 overall and 6-9 at home, while the Yankees fall to 20-5 on the season and 12-2 on the road. The win for the Tribe evens the series at one game apiece and gives Scranton/Wilkes-Barre just their second loss on the road this season.
Coming into Tuesday's match-up, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had scored 42 runs on 62 hits over their past five contests. However, Indianapolis hurlers with some help from excellent defense around the diamond, combined to hold the Yankees to just one run on eight hits.
Neither starter figured in the decision even though, Indianapolis RHP Jason Davis (5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) turned in his best effort of the year allowing just two hits over five innings and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starter Kei Igawa (6.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) matched him pitch for pitch giving up just one run on three hits, while striking out six.
The game was to be decided by the bullpen and Tribe relievers were up for the task as RHP Sean Smith (2.0 IP, 5 H , 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO), RHP Denny Bautista (1.0 IP, 2 BB) and RHP Chris Bootcheck (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) combined to allow just one run, while scattering six hits. Smith picked up the win to improve to 1-0 on the season, while Bautista collected his second hold and Bootcheck tallied his third save.
Indianapolis pitchers also benefited from another sound defensive effort from the Tribe fielders, who posted their third straight error-free game. RF Jeff Salazar was again the focal point of several stupendous and potentially game-saving defensive plays throughout the game.
Salazar first prevented an early Yankees' rally when he nailed 1B Juan Miranda at second trying to stretch a single into a double. The Tribe outfielder then helped to stop an important run from scoring by throwing out Scranton C Chris Stewart at home in the seventh inning, before making another game-saving catch in the eighth inning, when he laid out and robbed Yankees' LF Austin Jackson of a potential game-tieing double.
The Tribe offense capitalized on six walks by Yankee's hurlers and came up with clutch hits in key situations to plate three runs on just four hits.
1B Steve Pearce got the Indians off to an early lead, when he blasted a solo shot to deep center field for his team-leading fourth long ball of the season. The Tribe then took the lead in the eighth inning as C Erik Kratz drew a walk, stole second and eventually came around to score on a clutch single by 2B Shelby Ford.
McCutchen also drew a base-on-balls right before Ford's base knock in the eighth, and eventually plated an important insurance run, when Salazar and Pearce each drew walks to force him in. McCutchen also collected a triple in the third inning to extend his International League lead to six on the season.
Scranton plated their only run in the sixth inning, when DH John Rodriguez singled in Stewart for his fifth RBI already in the series. Yankees' CF Todd Linden saw his International League best 19-game hit streak come to an end as he collected just two walks in four plate appearances.
2B Kevin Russo turned in the only multi-hit performance for the Yankees with two hits in four at-bats and now has six hits in just two games against the Tribe this season. Russo's second base counterpart Ford also turned in the only multi-hit performance for his club going 2-for-4, while also driving in what turned out to be the eventual game-winning run.
Yankees' reliever Jose Valdez (0.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB) walked four in just one third of an inning and was pinned with the loss to drop to 2-1 on the season.
Indianapolis continues their four-game series with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. RHP Ty Taubenheim is scheduled to start for Indianapolis, while RHP Jason Stephens is expected to get the nod for the Yankees.
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 12:40 p.m.
Post-game quotes -- 1B Steve Pearce
(on his home run in the second inning) "It was the first pitch I saw in the at-bat and my teammates and I we just fought hard and we got the win tonight."
(on teammate Jeff Salazar's defense in Right Field) "With our offense struggling the way it is our defense can keep us in these games and Salazar had a heck of a night and it was a great game for him."
(on Jason Davis' start) "I love to see him pitch like that and when he gets going he's almost unhittable. I really like that confidence he had tonight and hopefully we can come out and build on that."
(on Shelby Ford's first year in Triple-A) "He's starting to get comfortable and he has been coming up with some really big hits lately. As long as he keeps doing that he really has a bright future in front of him."
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