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IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Three-Run Tenth Propels Tribe

August 20, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


TOLEDO, Ohio -- Pinch hitter Don Kelly, center fielder Andrew McCutchen and shortstop Brian Bixler sparked a three-run top of the 10th and the Indianapolis bullpen continued to sizzle in a 6-3 win over Toledo before a crowd of 7,753 Monday evening at Fifth Third Field.

The Indians improve to 66-62 overall and 31-35 on the road, while the Mud Hens fall to 73-55 on the season and 40-24 at home. Tuesday will be the Tribe's 274th consecutive day with a record of .500 or better.

Indianapolis pulls to within five games of Durham in the International League's Wild Card race. Meanwhile, Toledo (IL West by 7.0 games), Richmond (South by 0.5) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (North by 5.0) continue to lead their respective divisions.

Kelly opened the 10th with a double to left center before McCutchen and Bixler smashed back-to-back singles through the left side. Kelly and McCutchen scored on Bixler's base knock, which was mishandled by the Toledo left fielder. Bixler then raced home on a fielder's choice to cap the three-run inning.

The Tribe bullpen nailed things down from there as RHP Jesse Chavez (2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO), LHP Dave Davidson (2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 SO) and RHP Bret Prinz (1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO) combined for 5.2 scoreless innings. Davidson earned the win in his first Triple-A decision, while Prinz picked up his sixth save of the campaign.

The Indianapolis relievers have now recorded 24.2 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to Aug. 13. The unit has also yielded just 14 hits and two walks while striking out 27 over its past seven contests.

McCutchen (3-for-5, 1 R) and 1B Steven Pearce (2-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI) recorded multi-hit efforts for the Indians, while DH Jose Hernandez (1-for-5, 2 RBI) managed the Tribe's only multi-RBI performance.

Indianapolis cracked the scoreboard with a run in the second. Pearce opened the frame with a single to right and eventually scored on Hernandez's RBI groundout.

The Indians added to their advantage with two runs in the fourth. The inning was highlighted by LF Michael Ryan's team-leading 16th homer of the season -- a solo shot to right.

Toledo evened the affair with three runs in the fifth. RF Brent Clevlen led off with a triple to center and trotted home moments later on SS Omar Infante's sacrifice fly. LF Timo Perez then whacked a two-run double to score 2B Henry Mateo and CF Andres Torres.

Clevlen (2-for-4, 1 R) and Perez (1-for-5, 2 RBI) led the Mud Hens offensively.

Neither starter -- Indianapolis RHP Victor Zambrano (4.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO) or Toledo LHP Andrew Miller (3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO) -- figured in the decision.

RHP Jose Capellan (1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER) suffered the loss in his first decision with the Mud Hens.

The two teams return to Fifth Third Field on Tuesday at 7 p.m., for game two of the four-game series. RHP Bryan Bullington is slated to start for Indianapolis, while RHP Virgil Vasquez is expected to get the nod for Toledo.

The contest will be carried by ESPN-950 AM and IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 6:40 p.m.

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