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IL Indianapolis Indians

Late-Inning Surge Not Enough as Indians Fall to Saints

May 29, 2022 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Indianapolis Indians overcame a two-run deficit to tie the game in the top of the ninth, but an RBI single by Jake Cave with two outs in the next half inning gave St. Paul its second walk-off win of the series on Sunday night, 8-7. The Saints won the seven-game series, 4-3.

Trailing 7-5, Mason Martin led off the top of the ninth inning with his 11th home run of the season to bring the Indians (24-23) within one run. With Canaan Smith-Njigba on first base and one out, Cole Tucker sent a towering fly ball off the right-field wall to tie the game against Jharel Cotton (W, 3-1).

Hunter Stratton (L, 1-1) sat down the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth, but a single by Mark Contreras and a passed ball to follow put the winning Saints (20-27) runner in scoring position. On a 2-2 count, Cave roped a single into right field to hand Indy just its second walk-off loss of the season.

Oneil Cruz put Indianapolis on the board first with his first leadoff home run of the season and his second homer in as many games. Two additional Indians runs scored on a bases-loaded walk and run-scoring ground out, giving them a 3-0 lead through their first two offensive frames.

The lead didn't last long, however, and three consecutive multi-run frames by the Saints put the home team ahead through the fourth inning, 7-4. Indy's fourth run of the game came on an RBI triple off the bat of Ji-Hwan Bae.

An RBI double by Bligh Madris in the fifth brought the Indians within two runs for their eventual comeback, with Cam Alldred, Cristofer Melendez and Eric Hanhold combining to hold the Saints scoreless until the ninth.

Ji-Hwan Bae notched one of the four two-hit games by Indians batters, extending his hitting streak to a team-high nine games and his on-base streak to a career-high 26 games. Martin and Cruz both continued their hot streaks as well in the contest, each homering three times in the seven-game series at St. Paul.

The Indians travel to Omaha on Tuesday to begin a six-game series and continue their 13-game road trip. The first game of the series is scheduled for 8:05 PM ET and neither team has yet to name a starting pitcher.

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