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Sabol's Late Homer Propels Indians to Tight Win in Omaha, 7-5

September 9, 2022 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


PAPILLION, Neb. - After relinquishing a late lead, left fielder Blake Sabol's two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning powered the Indianapolis Indians to a win over the Omaha Storm Chasers at Werner Park on Friday night, 7-5.

Tied at five in the ninth inning, Indians shortstop Diego Castillo led off the top of the inning with a walk against Storm Chasers reliever Wyatt Mills (L, 1-1). After inducing a flyout, Sabol blasted a tie-breaking two-run home run that snuck over the wall in straight away right field. For Sabol, it was his third home run with Indianapolis since being promoted from Double-A Altoona early last week, and his second in as many nights after hitting a solo shot in the eighth inning on Thursday night. Indians closer Eric Hanhold (W, 4-3), who had come on to attempt a four-out save in the bottom of the eighth, shut the door to preserve the win by inducing a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

After a scoreless first, the Indians (69-63) got on the board in the top of the second thanks to a pair of defensive gaffes by Omaha on the same play. With two outs and runners at the corners, Indians center fielder Jared Oliva popped a ball up to Storm Chasers second baseman Ivan Castillo, who had the ball pop out of his glove. After he corralled it, his throw home sailed catcher Jakson Reetz, allowing Sabol to score from third and catcher Jose Godoy to score from first. Both runs against Omaha starter Max Castillo were unearned.

An inning later, Indianapolis added another run on a sacrifice fly from third baseman Kevin Padlo. The 3-0 lead allowed Indians starter Osvaldo Bido to cruise through four innings, but a three-run fifth for the Storm Chasers (64-69), highlighted by a two-run single from center fielder Dairon Blanco, halted Bido's pursuit of a win.

With the game tied 3-3 in the top of the eighth, the Indians tagged Storm Chasers reliever Ryan Weiss for four straight balls hit to right field and jumped ahead with RBI singles from Godoy and Oliva. For Oliva, the single extended his hitting streak to eight games. In the bottom of the inning, however, Omaha came back to tie the game on an RBI single from third baseman Nick Loftin and a wild pitch from Hanhold.

With a 2-for-3 day with two ground ball singles up the middle, right fielder Bligh Madris is now hitting .400 (12-for-30) over his last eight games with the Indians and has five multi-hit games in eight games played in September. On the heels of a 3-for-4 night with a double and a homer on Thursday, designated hitter Mason Martin punched a double into left center field in the top of the first for his third extra base hit over the last two games.

The Indians and Storm Chasers play the sixth of their seven-game series at Werner Park on Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:35 PM ET. RHP Jerad Eickhoff (6-5, 4.57), who threw 5.0 innings of one-hit baseball in Omaha on May 31, gets the start for the Indians. The Storm Chasers have yet to announce a starting pitcher.

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