IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Johnson, Matos Lift Tribe to 8-3 Win Over Red Wings

June 7, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Designated hitter Russ Johnson and center fielder Luis Matos collected a double, a homer and two RBI each, while Indianapolis hammered out seven extra-base hits in an 8-3 win over Rochester in front of 10,291 Thursday night at Victory Field.

The Indians improve to 37-22 overall and 21-12 at home with their season-best sixth straight win, while the Red Wings fall to 29-27 on the season and 12-14 on the road. Thursday will be the Tribe's 53rd consecutive day atop the International League's West Division.

The Indians had to fight back from an early three-run deficit as Rochester put two runs on the board in the first and one more in the second.

Johnson (2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI) ignited the Tribe's second-inning rally with his third dinger of 2007 -- a lead-off shot to left. Matos (3-for-4, 3 R, 2 RBI) then stretched a shallow fly ball to center into his club-leading 16th double of the year. 2B Luis Ordaz (2-for-3, 1 R, 2 RBI) brought Matos plateward moments later on a line drive to right and eventually scored on LF Nick Green's single to center.

Indianapolis 1B Yurendell de Caster (2-for-4, 1 R) opened the third with a double to center. Johnson then traded places with de Caster on his ninth two-bagger of the season. Matos followed with his second roundtripper of the campaign -- a two-run bomb to left, making it 6-3.

The Tribe added insurance runs in the fifth and eighth. 3B Jose Hernandez (1-for-4, 1 R) crossed the plate in the fifth when RF Michael Ryan (2-for-4, 1 RBI) doubled to right. Ordaz then scored Matos for a second time with a sacrifice fly to left in the eighth.

Indians RHP John Wasdin (5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO), who was making his second Major League rehab start of the season, improved to 1-0 with the win. RHP Masumi Kuwata (2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) and LHP Juan Perez (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO) kept the Red Wings off the scoreboard to close out the contest.

Rochester RHP Jeremy Cummings (5.0 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) fell to 3-4 with the loss. LF Garrett Jones paced the visitors with a 2-for-4 effort, which included one long ball, two runs and two RBI.

Indianapolis will shoot for its first seven-game winning streak since Aug. 14-20, 2002, when the clubs wrap up the four-game series on Friday at 7 p.m. RHP John Van Benschoten is slated to take the hill for the Indians, while RHP Nick Blackburn is expected to get the nod for the Red Wings.

The contest will be carried by ESPN-950 AM and IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 6:40 p.m.

A special pre-game ceremony will honor Baseball Hall of Famers from Indiana and their families. Governor Mitch Daniels and his wife, Cheri, will be on hand for the festivities.

Then, after the game, fans will be treated to a fireworks spectacular courtesy of Coors Light and the U.S. Army. Over 700 Boy Scouts and their families will also be given an opportunity to camp out on the playing surface.

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