IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Pascucci Blasts Bisons To 6-4 Win Over Tribe

Published on June 18, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Right fielder Valentino Pascucci blasted a mammoth three-run home run in the first, a solo shot in the third and another solo bomb in the eighth to finish the evening 3-for-5 with three home runs and five RBI and help boost the Buffalo Bisons over the Indianapolis Indians 6-4 on Friday night at Coca-Cola Field.

With the loss, Indianapolis' falls to 36-32 on the season, while the win pulls Buffalo even with the Tribe at 36-32. The victory also pulls the Bisons even in the series at 1-1 and improves their record to 2-4 against the Indians this season.

Pascucci began his power display with a "Ruthian" blast over the left field wall in the first inning that plated SS Andy Green and 2B Justin Turner, who led off the bottom of the first with a double and walk. The right handed slugger then led off both the third and eighth frames with solo shots to left field to became the first Indians' opponent to blast three home runs in a contest since Louisville Bats' OF Austin Kearns did so against the Tribe on July 5, 2005 at Victory Field.

Overshadowed by Pascucci's offensive outburst was Green's 2-for-3 effort and important sacrifice fly in the second inning that brought home C Jose Thole, who led off the frame with a base on balls and moved into scoring position on a double by CF Jonathan Malo. Green's sac fly put the Bisons ahead 4-0, before Pascucci's multiple solo shots provided the game-winning tally and an important momentum shifting run in the eighth.

The eighth inning blast by Pascucci quelled an Indianapolis rally in the top of the eighth, where the Tribe pulled with-in one after C Erik Kratz connected on a two-run home run that plated 3B Brian Myrow and pinch hitter Luke Carlin lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that brought home CF Jonathan Van Every.

Van Every also plated the Indians' first tally when he led of the fifth with a double, moved to third on a Bisons' error and came around to score on a groundout by LF Kevin Melillo. The Tribe CF finished the night 2-for-4 with two runs, while 2B Jim Negrych posted the Indians other multi-hit effort collecting two singles to help extend his hitting streak to five straight games, during which time he is hitting .500 (10-for-20) with four runs, two home runs and five RBI.

Buffalo starter John Maine (4.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) allowed just one hit and one unearned run despite walking four and did not figure in the final decision. On the other side Indianapolis starter Brian Burres (4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) surrendered five runs on five hits and three walks to suffer the loss and fall to 1-2 on the season.

Bisons' reliever Bobby Livingston (2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) earned the victory to improve to 3-7 on the season, despite allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks over two frames of relief. Buffalo closer Bobby Parnell (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB) followed Livingston and allowed just one hit over the final two innings to pick up his fourth save of the season.

The Indianapolis bullpen continued to be a bright spot as despite reliever Vinnie Chulk (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB) serving up a solo shot to Pascucci, fellow relievers Jeremy Powell (1.0 IP, 3 SO), Brian Bass (1.0 IP) and Steven Jackson (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) combined to allow just one hit and strike out four over three scoreless innings of relief.

Indianapolis continues its four-game set with Buffalo on Saturday, June 19 at 7:05 p.m. RHP Charlie Morton is expected to get the call for the Indians, while RHP Dillon Gee is the probable starter for the Bisons.

The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show begins at 6:45 p.m.

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International League Stories from June 18, 2010


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