Local Kid Improves To 3-0, Indians Down Norfolk 8-3
Published on April 24, 2007 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Ball State star Bryan Bullington allowed just two runs over six innings, while first-year Triple-A player Nyjer Morgan went 3-for-3 with three runs and his International League-leading 11th stolen base as Indianapolis registered an 8-3 win over Norfolk Tuesday evening at Victory Field.
The Indians snap a three-game skid and improve to 11-6 overall, while the Tides fall to 6-10 on the season. The Tribe is now 5-0 against Norfolk in 2007 after sweeping a four-game series at Harbor Park earlier in the month.
Bullington (6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO), who missed all of 2006 while recovering from right shoulder surgery, improved to 3-0 with the win. The 26-year-old right-hander became the first student-athlete in Mid-American Conference history to be taken with the No. 1 overall pick in any sport when he was selected by the Pirates in the 2002 draft.
Morgan reached base four times on the night. 1B Yurendell de Caster and 2B Luis Ordaz both turned in 3-for-4 performances with one run, while de Caster also recorded one RBI. RF Chris Aguila added to the Tribe's 15-hit attack by going 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI, while C Ryan Doumit finished 1-for-3 with one score and three RBI.
Indianapolis jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the first. Morgan led off with a single to right, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on CF Rajai Davis' base knock to center and scored on Doumit's sacrifice fly. Davis scored moments later when De Caster smacked a single to center.
The Indians padded their lead with a three spot in the second. SS Brian Bixler was hit by a pitch, Ordaz roped a double to left and Morgan drew a base on balls before Bixler scored on a fielder's choice and Ordaz on Norfolk's only miscue of the affair. Morgan came plateward two batters later on 3B Jose Hernandez's RBI groundout.
The Tribe added three more insurance runs in the sixth to put its bullpen in the driver's seat. The frame was highlighted by Aguila's two-run base knock to right.
Norfolk RHP Victor Moreno (1.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO), who was giving the starting nod just hours before the game, suffered the loss in his first decision of the year. 3B Mike Cervenak went 3-for-4 with a solo dinger to lead the Tides offense.
The clubs wrap up their brief two-game series on Wednesday at 11 a.m. It will be the first of three Baseball in Education games at Victory Field this season.
Norfolk LHP Kurt Birkins is slated to face Indy LHP Shane Youman. The contest will be carried by ESPN-950 AM and IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 10:40 a.m.
International League Stories from April 24, 2007
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- Local Kid Improves To 3-0, Indians Down Norfolk 8-3 - Indianapolis Indians
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