Season Extended: MLB and MiLB Add 10-Game "Final Stretch" to Triple-A Schedule

July 14, 2021 - International League (IL)
Indianapolis Indians News Release

INDIANAPOLIS - Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball today announced that all Triple-A teams will play an additional 10 games called the "Triple-A Final Stretch," with the season now ending Sunday, Oct. 3. The Indianapolis Indians will play at Werner Park against the Omaha Storm Chasers (Sept. 22-26) before returning to Victory Field to play the Nashville Sounds (Sept. 29-Oct. 3).

"We are thrilled to add five home games to our 2021 schedule as we play into October for the first time in over 70 years," said Randy Lewandowski, Indianapolis Indians President and General Manager. "The 'Triple-A Final Stretch' gives our players, fans and organization added excitement to finish this season on a high note while carrying momentum into the offseason to prepare for our 2022 campaign."

The Triple-A East regular season champion will be named based on the best overall winning percentage through the originally scheduled 120-game regular season that concludes Sunday, Sept. 19. The 10-game "Triple-A Final Stretch" replaces the traditional postseason format for 2021 and makes all 30 Triple-A teams eligible for postseason glory. The "Triple-A Final Stretch" champion will be named based on the best overall winning percentage in the 10 additional games. In the event two or more teams tie, criteria to determine a "Triple-A Final Stretch" champion is listed below:

Best regular season winning percentage.

Regular season head-to-head record (if three or more clubs are tied, the best winning percentage in games among the clubs).

Best regular season winning percentage over the final 20 games.

Best regular season winning percentage over the final 21 games, etc.

MLB will award a prize to the winner of the "Triple-A Final Stretch."

The Oct. 3 end date will mark the latest finish to a season for the Indians since 1949. That year, Indianapolis finished second in the regular season with a 93-61 record and went on to beat Minneapolis and Milwaukee (4 games to 3 in both series) to win the American Association title before topping Montreal (4 games to 2) in the Junior World Series. The Junior World Series clincher was played on Oct. 8.

Indianapolis' five additional home games against Nashville are listed below with game times and promotions:

Wednesday, Sept. 29 (7:05 PM) - Bark in the Park

Thursday, Sept. 30 (7:05 PM) - Thirsty Thursday/Circle City Night

Friday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 3 - Fan Appreciation Weekend

Postgame fireworks on Friday (7:05 PM) and Saturday (7:05 PM)

Kids Eat Free Sunday (1:35 PM) and Knot Hole Kids Club postgame fun run around the bases.

International League Stories from July 14, 2021

• Indians Drop Back-And-Forth 12-Inning Battle - Indianapolis Indians
• RailRiders, WooSox Each Take a One-Run Game - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
• Bisons Offense Explodes Early in 9-2 Rout of Lehigh Valley - Buffalo Bisons
• Six-Run First Inning Puts Norfolk Away Early - Norfolk Tides
• Early 'Birds Barrage Leads to Fourth Straight Win - Memphis Redbirds
• Anderson, Pigs struggle in loss to Bisons - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
• Toledo Uses Big Inning to Sink Iowa - Iowa Cubs
• Saints Win Slugfest, Crush Five Homers in 9-8 Victory over Clippers - St. Paul Saints
• Ford, Boldt Go Deep as Durham Downs Jacksonville 8-2 - Durham Bulls
• Zach Green Leads Sounds over Bats - Nashville Sounds
• Davis Homers Again, Cuthbert Homers Twice, Mets Split Wednesday Doubleheader with Red Wings - Syracuse Mets
• Wings, Mets Split Doubleheader Wednesday Night - Rochester Red Wings
• Gonzalez Homers in Five-RBI Night as Hens Top Cubs - Toledo Mud Hens
• Durham Rolls to 8-2 Triumph over Jacksonville - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
• July 14 Game Notes: Iowa at Toledo - Iowa Cubs
• 10 Games Added to Bisons 2021 Season - Buffalo Bisons
• Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (30-29) vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (37-22) - Indianapolis Indians
• Memphis Redbirds Game Notes: July 14, 2021 - Memphis Redbirds
• Hens to Host Additional Five-Game Series  - Toledo Mud Hens
• Tides to Play in "Triple-A Final Stretch", Adding 10 Games to Norfolk's Schedule - Norfolk Tides
• Sounds to Add 10 Games to 2021 Schedule for "Triple-A Final Stretch" - Nashville Sounds
• Minor, Major League Baseball Reschedule 10 Games - Rochester Red Wings
• IronPigs Season Extended Through Sunday, October 3 - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
• Storm Chasers to Play 10 Additional Games in 2021 as Part of 2021 Triple-A Final Stretch - Omaha Storm Chasers
• Five More Opportunities for Fun; MLB Adds 10 More Games to Each Triple-A Team's Schedule for "Final Stretch" - St. Paul Saints
• Bats to Host Additional Series vs. Toledo in September - Louisville Bats
• SWB RailRiders Game Notes - July 14, 2021 - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
• More Fireworks Shows, More Home Games Added for 2021 Triple-A Final Stretch - Durham Bulls
• Season Extended: MLB and MiLB Add 10-Game "Final Stretch" to Triple-A Schedule - Indianapolis Indians
• Triple-A Classification to Add 10 Games to 2021 Schedule - IL

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Indianapolis Indians Stories

• Solo Shot Sinks Indians in 1-0 Contest against Clippers
• Three-Run Sixth Inning Lifts Indians over Clippers, 3-2
• Nick Solak Named Indians April Player of the Month
• DJ Stewart's Slam Secures a 4-3 Indians Victory
• Indians Fall Behind Early and Drop Game Two against Columbus 4-3