IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Jones Hits Three-Run Home Run, Drives in Four in Win

June 5, 2010 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Designated hitter Brandon Jones blasted a three-run home run to deep right field in the bottom of the second inning and third baseman Pedro Alvarez went 3-for-3 with three runs scored as the Indianapolis Indians defeated the Columbus Clippers 7-2 on Saturday night at Victory Field.

With the win, Indianapolis improves its record to 30-26, while the loss drops Columbus to 35-22 on the season. Following the victory the Indians improve their season series record to 5-3 against the West Division leading Clippers.

With runners standing at first and third with one out in the home half of the second inning, Jones stepped to the plate, and, after working the count even at two balls and two strikes, hit a deep fly ball well over the wall in right field for his third home run of the season to give the Tribe the early 3-0 edge.

Alvarez led off the inning with a line drive single to right before CF Jonathan Van Every advanced the third baseman to second on a single and C Erik Kratz grounded into a fielder's choice to move Alvarez to third to set the stage for Jones' early inning long ball.

The Indians doubled their lead with three more runs in the third off Clippers' RHP Jeanmar Gomez (4.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) to take a commanding 6-0 lead. LF Brandon Moss opened the inning with a line drive double to CF Michael Brantley before 1B Brian Myrow put runners at the corners with a single. Alvarez then plated the Tribe's fourth run with a line drive single through the right side of the infield and, after Van Every loaded the bases one batter later, the Indians' fifth run scored on a double play grounder.

Jones then capped off the fifth inning scoring with a two-out RBI double to plate Alvarez and give the Tribe a lead they would never relinquish. With the fifth inning RBI, Jones increased his evening's total to a season-best four runs driven in and upped his season total to 13 RBI.

Columbus cut the Indians' lead to 6-2 with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Tribe pitching staff limited the Clippers to only two hits through the final four innings of play. Former Indians' infielder Brian Bixler led off the fourth with a triple and scored one batter later on a single by C Carlos Santana before RF Chris Gimenez doubled to open the fifth and scored on a sacrifice fly by SS Anderson Hernandez with one out in the inning.

The Indians tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh to take the decisive 7-2 lead when Alvarez doubled to start the frame, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kratz.

Indians' RHP Daniel McCutchen (5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO) earned his third win of the season after limiting the Clippers offense to two runs on five hits over 5.1 IP, while Columbus' Gomez was strapped with his sixth loss of the season after allowing six runs on 10 hits in 4.0 innings of work.

The Tribe bullpen continued its string of dominant appearances as right-handers Steven Jackson (0.2 IP, 0 R), Brian Bass (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 SO) and Anthony Claggett (1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 SO), as well as left-hander Wil Ledezma (1.0 IP, 0 R, 1 SO) held the Clippers to only two hits over 3.2 scoreless innings of work.

In a game that featured 19 total hits, eight of the nine Tribe starters recorded at least one base knock, including multiple hit efforts from Alvarez (3-for-3, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB), Van Every (2-for-4) and Jones (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI). On the offensive side of things for the Clippers, Santana (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and 3B Jared Goedert (3-for-4, 2 2B) each tallied multiple base knocks in the contest.

The Indians continue their four-game set with the Columbus Clippers on Sunday, June 6 at 2:00 p.m. RHP Hayden Penn is expected to get the nod for the Tribe, while RHP Yohan Pino is the probable starter for the Clippers.

The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and broadcast live on Comcast and Bright House Networks digital channel 81 with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show on WXLW-950 AM begins at 1:40 p.m.

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