Kata's Bat Helps Indians To 5-1 Win Over Yankees
Published on May 10, 2008 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS -- Second baseman Matt Kata crushed a three-run triple and tallied four RBI as Indianapolis posted a 5-1 win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in front of 10,942 Saturday evening at Victory Field.
Kata's three bagger to right came in the fourth inning after DH Kevin Thompson smashed a double to left, RF Steve Pearce reached on a fielding error and C Michel Hernandez drew a base on balls.
The Indians improve to 19-18 overall and 9-7 at home, while the International League-leading Yankees fall to 26-11 overall and 9-5 on the road.
Indianapolis added two insurance scores in the eighth to build a four-run cushion.
LF Nyjer Morgan reached on a fielding error before Pearce and Hernandez drew back-to-back walks. 3B Neil Walker followed with a single to score Morgan. Kata then added a sacrifice fly to plate Pearce.
Kata, who entered the contest 1-for-12 over the past four games, records his first four-RBI game since July 15, 2005. He has now driven in 17 runs in 33 contests this season.
The Tribe collected just five hits on the night, with no individual tallying more than one.
Yankees C JD Closser (2-for-3), a graduate of Alexandria High School and Indiana's Mr. Baseball in 1998, turned in the only multi-hit effort for either team.
Scranton/W-B plated its lone run in the first when CF Brett Gardner walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on 1B Jason Lane's base knock through the left side.
Indians RHP Ty Taubenheim (7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) improved to 3-5 with the win. He is now 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA in four starts at home, but 0-4 with a 9.56 ERA in four starts on the road.
Yankees RHP Dan Giese (7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO) fell to 2-2 despite not allowing an earned run. All five of SWB's runs were unearned as a result of a season-high three miscues.
The teams continue their four-game series on Sunday at 2 p.m. RHP Ian Kennedy is slated to start for Scranton/W-B, while RHP Luis Munoz is expected to get the nod for Indianapolis.
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 1:40 p.m.
Several promotions will surround the Mother's Day Matinee. The first 4,000 fans receive an Indians Picture Frame courtesy of IndyMoms.com, while the first 500 mothers also receive a flower. Gates open at 12:30 p.m.
In addition, the Indians will wear pink jerseys and players will have the option of using pink bats during the game. The jerseys will be auctioned off to raise money for the Young Survivors Coalition.
Members of the Community Health/WISH-TV Knot Hole Club are then invited to run the bases after the game.
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Post-game quotes -- INF Matt Kata
(did you make any adjustments during your second at-bat?)
"When you get into that hitter's count, you look for a fastball and hope to put a good swing on the ball."
(when you hit the ball with the bases loaded, were you immediately thinking three bases?)
"Out of the box, you are thinking three. Once I saw the right fielder fiddle around with it, I took off for three."
(on the performance of RHP Ty Taubenheim)
"Ty (Taubenheim) did an awesome job tonight. He was really aggressive in the strike zone and tried to get swings early in the count. Ty continues to do a great job for us. He's kept us in the game his last two starts, and has allowed the bullpen to come in and shut the door. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is a good team so it's important to have starts like this to stay in the game and pick up important wins."
International League Stories from May 10, 2008
- Kata's Bat Helps Indians To 5-1 Win Over Yankees - Indianapolis Indians
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