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Indianapolis Indians

May's Day Propels Tribe by Clippers 6-2

June 4, 2013 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In the top of the eighth inning, a key wild pitch and throwing error allowed the Tribe to even the score at 2-2, before catcher Lucas May followed with a three-run game-winning homer later in the frame to propel the Indianapolis Indians (40-19) to a 6-2 victory and four-game series sweep of the Columbus Clippers (29-29) on Monday night at Huntington Park. With the four-game sweep of the Clippers the Tribe extend their lead in the International League West Division to a season-high 10.5 games.

The hit parade continued for the Indians as they collected 14 base hits on the evening to finish the four-game series against the Clippers with an amazing 61 hits. The Indians failed to capitalize on a multitude of chances early on in contest, but finally cashed in with five runs in the eighth sparked by a key mistake by Columbus.

After the Clippers took a 2-1 lead on a controversial home run by LF Ezequiel Carrera in the bottom of the seventh, they looked to finish out the contest and avoid dropping more than 10 games behind the Tribe in the IL West Division. The Indians had other plans, however, beginning with former Clippers INF Jared Goedert, who led off the top of the eighth with a base hit to center.

Then on what proved to be the key play of the game, Goedert broke for second on a wild pitch by Columbus reliever Jerry Gil, before a throw by C Omir Santos, which could have made for a close play at second, sailed into the outfield and allowed Goedert to advance to third. LF Brett Carroll immediately followed with a double to left to plate Goedert and even the score at 2-2.

The wheels then began to fall off for the Clippers as Gil hit Tribe RF Jerry Sands with a pitch, following the double, to set the stage for the night's hero in C Lucas May. With runners at first and second and nobody out, many thought May might be looking to lay down a bunt. However, the Tribe backstop swung away at the first pitch and launched it over the left field wall for a three-run homer.

The longball, which ultimately proved to be the difference in the game, was May's first since he connected on a three-run shot on April 27, 2012 against the Rochester Red Wings, while a member of the Buffalo Bisons. The blast was also the Indians 10th roundtripper in the four-game set in Columbus.

Indianapolis was not finished in the eighth as they tacked on another tally, when 2B Josh Harrison ripped a two-out double and came plateward on a base hit by CF Felix Pie. The single for Pie was his fourth base knock of the night and gives him a team-high three four-hit games this season.

The night's scoring began in the bottom of the second, when Columbus C Omir Santos singled home DH Chun-Hsiu Chen to give the Clippers a 1-0 lead. The Indians quickly responded with a run of their own in the top half of the third as Pie drove in Harrison with a double after Harrison reached on a force out and stole his 15th base of the season.

Despite pitching in and out of trouble, both starters held their opponent to just a single score and ultimately did not figure in the final decision. Tribe LHP Andy Oliver (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 6 SO) allowed four hits and six walks, but struck out six and induced two key double plays to escape most of the damage. On the other side Columbus starter Trevor Bauer (5.2 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 SO) allowed nine hits, but used his eight strikeouts to escape several jams throughout the early frames of the contest.

The game would be decided in the bullpens where, in his season-debut with the Indians, after coming over to the Pirates organization in a trade with Boston, RHP Graham Godfrey (3.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO) struck out five over the final 3.0 innings to earn the win and improve to 5-3 on the season. Clippers reliever Jerry Gil (2.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO) surrendered all five of the Indians five scores in the eighth and suffered the loss to fall to 5-2 on the year.

Following the four-game series sweep the Indians now return home for an eight-game homestand beginning with a four-game first-place showdown with the IL South Division leading Durham Bulls. Indianapolis is expected to send RHP Brandon Cumpton (4-3, 3.51) to the mound in game one on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m., while the Bulls are scheduled to counter with RHP Alex Colome (4-5, 2.60).

The contest will be televised on HTSN, Hometown Sports and News, available via cable or over-the-air on digital channel 6.2. The game will also be carried on WNDE 1260 AM, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones with Howard Kellman and Will Flemming on the call. The pre-game show begins at 6:45 p.m.

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Post-game quotes -- C Lucas May

(on if he was thinking he would be able to swing away when he came to bat with runners on first and second and nobody out in the top of the eighth) "I was not. I am looking at the scoreboard and we are tied up and have first and second nobody out. He (Tribe hitting coach Mike Pagliarulo) calls me over and said he would give me one swing and luckily I put a good swing on it."

(on if he just wanted to join the Indians' recent home run party) "I guess so. It feels really good to come out here and beat a team that's playing really well like Columbus. It feels really good to take four-out-four from them."

(on new Tribe reliever Graham Godfrey) "He pitched outstanding. He is a guy I have faced over the years and it's nice to be on the receiving end. He pounds the zone as good as anybody, with all his pitches. It was just an all around great win for us tonight."

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