IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Sunday Sweep: Indians Ride into All-Star Break Red-Hot

Published on July 8, 2018 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS - First-inning homers by Kevin Newman and Wyatt Mathisen and three perfect innings in relief from Damien Magnifico propelled the Indians to a 5-4 win and three-game sweep over the Clippers on Sunday afternoon. The sweep was Indy's fourth of the season, each coming in the last five weeks.

Indianapolis (48-39) jumped in front right away against former Tribe southpaw Adam Wilk. Newman cranked a 2-1 pitch over the left-field wall for his second career Triple-A home run. Coincidentally, his first was a leadoff shot against Wilk on May 12 at Victory Field.

The Indians scored two more runs with two down in the opening frame to make it 3-0. Ryan Lavarnway doubled to right and was along for the ride on Wyatt Mathisen's fourth home run, a 347-foot blast that sailed inside the left-field foul pole.

J.T. Brubaker surrendered two runs on four hits over four innings. Columbus (45-43) scored its first two runs on a two-out double by Eric Haase that followed a hit batsman and sun-aided bloop single.

Magnifico (W, 2-2) took over in the fifth and faced the minimum through the seventh, fanning five along the way to match a season high.

Indy tacked on two big insurance runs in the fifth thanks to RBI singles from Jose Osuna and Lavarnway.

The 5-2 lead was trimmed to one run in the visitors' final at-bat. Haase launched a 1-2 offering from Montana DuRapau over the wall for a two-run shot. DuRapau then walked the No. 9 hitter Todd Hankins on four pitches, forcing Tribe skipper Brian Esposito to his bullpen one more time.

Tanner Anderson (S, 3) was summoned and struck out Drew Maggi to move the Indians nine games over .500.

The Indians had not swept a series of three or more games going into the All-Star break since 1978 when they swept a five-game set against Oklahoma City at Bush Stadium.

Indy sits just a half-game back of Toledo for first place in the IL West. The Indians' second-half slate begins on Thursday, July 12 against Toledo. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. EDT at Victory Field.

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