IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Liftoff: Three Homers Carry Tribe to Victory

Published on June 3, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - Ryan Lavarnway drilled a two-run homer as part of a five-run second inning to propel the Indians to a 7-3 triumph over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday afternoon. Christopher Bostick ripped a leadoff blast and Eric Wood clubbed a homer in the third to back six strong innings from Tyler Eppler.

After falling behind 2-0 through a half-inning, the Tribe (27-27) gained momentum in the home half of the first on Bostick's third home run of the season and second career leadoff dinger with Indy.

Indy sent nine batters to the dish in its next at-bat. Wyatt Mathisen singled and was along for the ride on Lavarnway's first long ball of the year to right-center that pushed the Indians in front, 3-2. Pablo Reyes then reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a Bostick push bunt toward second. Max Moroff answered the bell with a two-run double to deep left-center to chase Josh Rogers out of the ballgame.

Wood opened the third with his team-high sixth home run, lifting a fly ball into a jet stream of 20 mile-per-hour winds gusting out to right field.

The RailRiders (25-30) recorded a pair of doubles and sacrifice fly in the fifth to get within four but would get no closer as Jesus Liranzo, Bo Schultz and Dovydas Neverauskas allowed just one total baserunner over the final three innings.

Eppler (W, 5-2) tossed six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts. He improved to 10-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 21 career games (17 starts) at Victory Field.

Rogers (L, 5-4), a New Albany High School (Ind.) product, suffered the loss after giving up six earned runs on nine hits with two punchouts in 1.1 innings of work. The RailRiders starter had allowed just nine earned runs in his previous seven starts, spanning 44.2 innings pitched.

The Tribe out-hit Scranton/W-B, 15-5, and matched their season high for home runs in a game. Bostick was one of six Indy players with multi-hit efforts.

Indianapolis finished its six-game homestand with a rare series win over Scranton/W-B. The Tribe's last series victory over the RailRiders in the regular season came in 2013 when Indy won three of four in a July 30-Aug. 2 series at The Vic.

The Indians blasted six total home runs on the homestand after hitting just five through their first 23 home games of the season.

Following an off day on Monday, the Indians head to Rochester to open a six-game road trip against the Red Wings on June 5. Left-hander Brandon Waddell (0-1, 27.00) will make his second Triple-A start against southpaw Stephen Gonsalves (4-1, 4.00).

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International League Stories from June 3, 2018


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