Tribe Beats out Bats 8-7 in Home Finale
Published on September 3, 2011 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS -- In the 2011 regular season home finale, Tribe MVP Matt Hague and Major Leaguer Ryan Ludwick combined to go 5-for-7 with four runs and three RBI, while catcher Wyatt Toregas came through with a key two-run double in the bottom of the seventh as the Indianapolis Indians took down the Louisville Bats 8-7 in front of a crowd of 13,555 on Saturday night at Victory Field.
With the win, Indianapolis improves to 75-67 this season, while the loss drops Louisville's record to 72-70. Though a win by Lehigh Valley officially eliminated the Indians from the 2011 International League playoff picture, the Tribe did clinch second place in the West Division with their victory.
With the score tied 5-5 heading into the seventh inning, Hague drew a key lead-off base-on-balls, before 3B Pedro Alvarez put runners on first and second when he reached on a Bats' miscue. Then after a key sacrifice bunt by RF Miles Durham moved Hague and Alavarez to second and third, an unlikely hero in Toregas came through with a two-run double to center.
Toregas, who had not started for the Indians since July 15, came through with the game's biggest hit in the final action at home during the 2011 season. However, the game-winning base knock turned out to be one batter later when CF Gorkys Hernandez rolled a single to center to plate Toregas and give the Indians a 8-5 lead.
The final game at Victory Field during the 2011 season started with a bang, as both offensive exploded for five runs over the first two frames. Louisville jumped out to the first advantage, sparked by Triple-A rookie Quintin Berry, who led off the game with a base hit, stole second and moved to third on a ball-four wild pitch to LF Denis Phipps.
RF Danny Dorn then belted a two-run double to right to plate both Berry and Phipps and give the Bats the first lead of the game at 2-0. The left handed slugger continues to have success against the Tribe as he now has 14 RBI in 18 games against Indianapolis this season.
However, the Indians would bounce back with three scores of their own in the bottom half of the first, led by their lead-off hitter in SS Pedro Ciriaco. The speedy shortstop ripped a lead-off triple to center and would trot home one batter later when Ludwick rolled a base hit to right.
Hague then followed with a line single to center to move Ludwick to second, where he would come around to score later in the frame on a clutch two-out base hit by Durham. Hernandez capped the first frame outburst, when he drew a bases loaded walk to plate Hague and give the Indians their first lead of the contest at 3-2.
However, the Bats would follow up the Tribe's three spot with three of their own in the top half of the second. 3B Mike Constanzo led off their inning with a base hit to second before being forced out on a fielder choice off the bat of 2B Jose Castro.
Louisville starter Travis Wood then rolled a double down the left field line to plate Castro and draw the score even at 3-3. Berry then sparked another offensive rally when after reaching on a fielder's choice, he again stole second and immediately came around to score on a single by SS Kristopher Negron.
Finally Phipps doubled home Negron to give the Bats a 5-3 advantage for what would be the Louisville's last tally until the final frame. The Indians would score two tallies in their half of the second to even the score at five and set up an exciting late inning game-winning rally.
Ciriaco again began the Tribe's scoring rally when he led of the second with a bunt single, before being forced out on a groundout by 2B Jordy Mercer. The duo of Ludwick and Hague then teamed up to tack on two tallies as Ludwick doubled home Mercer with a two-bagger to right, before Hague brought home Ludwick with a single to center.
Ludwick (3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI) led the Indians with three base knocks, while Hague (2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB) reached base four times and Ciriaco (2-for-5, 1 R) also collected multiple base knocks. Negron (3-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI) joined Ludwick with three base knocks on the evening, while Phipps (2-for-3, 2 R,1 RBI) and Soto (2-for-5) also posted multi-hit efforts for the Bats.
After the early offensive explosion, both teams then went scoreless over the next four frames, before the Indians' game-winning rally in the bottom of the seventh. The Bats, however would make things interesting as they plated two scores in the final frame and loaded bases with two outs and trailing by just one.
However, Tribe reliever Daniel Moskos (0.1 IP) would come on to get the game's final out to earn his second save of the season. Moskos joined fellow Tribe relievers Garrett Olson (3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 SO), Aaron Heilman (2.0 IP, 1 SO) and Jared Hughes (1.0 IP, 1 H) with scoreless outings on the evening with Heilman earning the win to improve to 2-0 and Hughes notching his ninth hold.
Neither starter figured in the final decision as Indians RHP Nelson Figueroa (2.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) allowed five runs on six hits over two innings of work, while Bats LHP Travis Wood (4.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) surrendered five runs (four earned) on nine hits in just four frames. Louisville reliever Nick Christiani (1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 2-3 after give up all three of the Indians scores in the seventh inning.
Indianapolis now heads on the road for their final two contests of the 2011 season, beginning on Sunday night at 6:05 p.m. LHP Aaron Thompson is scheduled to take the mound for the Indians, while RHP Daryl Thompson is expected to get the start for the Bats.
The contest will be carried on WNDE 1260 AM, WFBQ 94.7-HD2, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones, while also being broadcast live on Comcast and Bright House Networks digital channel 81 with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show begins at 5:45 p.m.
International League Stories from September 3, 2011
- Indians Draw 13,555 for ââ¬Åmust-Winââ¬Â - Indianapolis Indians
- PawSox Clinch I.L. North Title - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Tribe Beats out Bats 8-7 in Home Finale - Indianapolis Indians
- Red Wings Score Late, Clip Chiefs - Syracuse Mets
- IronPigs Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Hague Named 2011 Indians Most Valuable Player - Indianapolis Indians
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo at Lehigh Valley - Buffalo Bisons
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