IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Ransom Lifts Lehigh Valley Over Tribe 3-1

Published on May 4, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Right fielder Cody Ransom plated all three Lehigh Valley runs with a three-run home run in the third inning, while five pitchers combined to hold the Tribe to one run on four hits as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs gained the series split with a 3-1 victory over the Indianapolis Indians on Tuesday afternoon at Coca-Cola Park.

The loss moves the Indians' record to 13-13, while the win improves the IronPigs to 11-14 on the season. Despite the loss, Indianapolis still finishes their 10-game road trip with an excellent 7-3 record.

For the sixth time in their last seven games the Tribe scored in the first inning, led once again by CF Jose Tabata, who led off Tuesday afternoon's contest with a single and has now reached base to lead-off the game in each of the last five contests in which he has appeared. Tabata has also now reached base in all but one game in which he has played this season and with his 2-for-3 effort continues to pace all Triple-A hitters with 35 hits.

Following Tabata's lead-off base knock, 3B Pedro Alvarez put the Tribe on the board with a two-out RBI double, which scored Tabata for what turned out to be the only run of the contest for the Indians. With his run scoring double, Alvarez has now collected 10 RBI over his last five contests to increase his team best total to 22 on the season.

After being held scoreless for the first two frames of the game, Lehigh Valley broke through in the third and took the lead for good on one swing of the bat. After CF Rich Thompson and 2B Luis Maza led of the inning with back-to-back base hits, Tribe starter Daniel McCutchen induced two fly ball outs, before Ransom made his way to the plate and launched the first pitch he saw over the left field for what turned out to be the game-winning three-run home run.

After allowing the Tribe to get on the board in the first, six IronPigs' pitchers combined to hold the Tribe to just two singles over the final eight innings of the game on their way to the victory. Starter Drew Carpenter (6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) earned the win to improve to 3-2 on the season, while relievers Mike Zagurski (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO), Oscar Villarreal (0.2 IP, 2 BB) and Antonio Bastardo (0.1 IP, 1 SO) each earned holds and closer Scott Mathieson (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) notched his fourth save of the season.

Despite suffering the loss to drop to 1-1 on the season, McCutchen (6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO) turned in another excellent effort for the Tribe as Ransom's three-run homer was the only blemish on his six innings of solid work. The Indianapolis bullpen continued its dominating work as LHP Justin Thomas (1.0 IP) and RHP Steven Jackson (1.0 IP, 3 BB) each tossed an inning of hitless relief.

Only two players from each team managed to collect multiple hits as Tabata (2-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB) and Alvarez (2-for-4, 1 RBI) turned in multi-hit efforts for the Tribe and Maza (2-for-4, 1 R) and C Paul Hoover (3-for-3, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 BB) posted multiple base knocks for the IronPigs.

Following an off day, the Indians return home for an eight-game homestand beginning on Thursday, May 6 when they take on the Buffalo Bisons at 7:00 p.m. RHP Brad Lincoln is expected to get the call for Indianapolis in game one of the series on Thursday, while LHP Pat Misch is the scheduled starter for Buffalo.

The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and broadcast live on Comcast and Bright House Networks digital channel 81 with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show on WXLW-950 AM begins at 6:40 p.m.

Post-game quotes -- CF Jose Tabata

(on the start to his season)

"I feel great and I want to play everyday. I'm comfortable at the plate and getting a lot of fastballs. Every time I come to the plate I'm trying to do something to help this team win."

(on if he considers himself a base stealer)

"Yeah! Sometimes I see something from the pitcher and I take advantage. If I read him, then I'm going to steal. Maybe people don't think I can run, but I've got some speed."

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International League Stories from May 4, 2010


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