IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Phelps And Bell Propel Clippers To 7-5 Victory

Published on April 10, 2011 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


NDIANAPOLIS -- Second baseman Cord Phelps and right fielder Bubba Bell combined to go 6-for-9 with three runs, two home runs and six RBI to lead the Columbus Clippers to a series sweep of the Indianapolis Indians with a 7-5 victory on Sunday afternoon at Victory Field.

With the loss the Indians drop to 0-4 to begin the season for the first time ever at Victory Field, while Columbus starts the season 4-0 for the first time since 1980. The win was also the eighth straight for the Clippers over the Indians dating back to last season.

As they have in each game of the season opening series, Columbus started the scoring as Phelps connected on a solo home run to deep center field in the fourth inning. Bell then put the Clippers ahead by two when he ripped a double to right field to plate LF Jerad Head, before traveling home along with CF Ezequiel Carrera when Phelps connected for his second longball of the afternoon later in the frame.

Indianapolis would respond with some power of their own in the bottom of the fifth, plating four runs to draw with-in one at 5-4. 2B Pedro Ciriaco sparked the rally as he roped a one out single, stole second and third and came plateward, along with SS Chase d'Arnaud, when the red hot Alex Presley lifted a two-run double to left.

Presley would come home himself just one batter later as Tribe DH Andy Marte blasted a homer to deep center field for his first hit in an Indians' uniform. The home run was the second on the year for the Tribe following Presley's ninth inning solo blast in last night's contest.

Presley continues to dominate at the plate for the Indians as he added three more hits in five at-bats to improve his average to .500 (8-for-16), while also adding two RBI to take over the team lead with four and a run scored to pull even with d'Arnaud with a team best four runs.

The Clipper's offense, however, was not done as they added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth on two walks, two singles and a wild pitch. DH Jason Kipnis started the rally with a lead-off base-on-balls, before Head followed with a walk of his own one batter later.

The Clippers then loaded the bases when former Tribe C Luke Carlin lined a single to right to set the stage for the suddenly surging Bubba Bell, who plated Kipnis with his third base knock of the afternoon. Head later crossed the plate on an Indians' wild pitch to take a 7-4 advantage that they would not surrender.

Despite a Dusty Brown solo longball in the bottom of the ninth, the Indians would not be able to mount another late inning comeback as the Clippers finished off the Tribe to earn the season opening four-game sweep.

Indianapolis actually outhit Columbus 11-8 on the afternoon as only Phelps and Bell posted multi-hit efforts for the Clippers, while Presley, d'Arnaud (2-for-3, 1 R), Brown (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and Ciriaco (2-for-4, 1 R, 2 SB) all collected multiple base knocks for the Tribe.

Columbus starter Zach McAllister (5.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO) earned the victory despite allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings of work, while on rehabilitation assignment with the Indians, starter Brad Lincoln (4.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss despite allowing just two runs on two hits in 4.2 innings.

Former Indians hurler Joe Martinez (2.0 IP. 2 H, 3 SO) pitched well in relief for the Clippers as he struck out three and allowed just two hits to earn his second hold of the season, while reliever Zach Putnam (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) notched his first save for Columbus despite surrendering a solo home run in the ninth.

The Indians now begin a short two-game series with the Toledo Mud Hens on Monday at 7:05 p.m. LHP Adam Wilk is scheduled to start for Columbus, while Pittsburgh Pirates two-time defending Minor League pitcher of the year left hander Rudy Owens is expected to make his Triple-A debut for Indianapolis.

The contest will be carried on WNDE 1260 AM, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones, while also being broadcast live on Comcast and Bright House Networks digital channel 81 with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show begins at 1:45 p.m.

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International League Stories from April 10, 2011


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