IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Tribe Bullied by Bulls in 5-2 Loss

Published on June 16, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


INDIANAPOLIS -- Left fielder Andrew Lambo erased an 0-2 deficit with a second-inning, two-run homer, but right-handed pitcher J.D. Martin held the Tribe's offense in check from there as the Durham Bulls (44-26) claimed both a 5-2 win and 3-1 series victory over the Indianapolis Indians (46-25) on Sunday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. For the Tribe, shortstop Josh Harrison produced the team's only multi-hit effort, and his 23 base knocks since May 31 are now tied for the most hits in the International League during that span.

Sunday's contest was ultimately decided by both squad's starting hurlers, with Martin out-pitching Pirates rehabbing starter James McDonald. Despite taking the loss, McDonald (L, 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, SO) worked a solid outing, allowing four runs (three earned) through 5.0 frames in which he walked three and fanned one. Over his three rehab starts for the Tribe, the right-hander factored into each decision, going 2-1 with a 6.75 ERA.

McDonalds counterpart, J.D. Martin (W, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 SO), delivered a gem in a somewhat revenge start against the Tribe, as he was charged with the loss in his most recent appearance at Victory Field after allowing just one unearned run through 7.2 innings of work. In today's dominant outing, Martin allowed two scores on a mere four hits in 7.0 frames en route to picking up his league-leading ninth win of the season.

As Martin pinned the Indians down from the mound, his offense offered support by pounding 10 hits against the Tribe's pitching staff, marking the eighth time in the last 10 contests that Indianapolis' hurlers have combined to allow double-digit hits to the opposition. Durham's offensive onslaught began in the opening frame when the Bulls mounted a two-out rally beginning with a walk from CF Brandon Guyer in front of a double from top prospect RF Wil Myers.

With both runners moving into scoring position, the home team waited just two batters to put a dent in the scoreboard, loading the bases on a free pass to 1B Leslie Anderson, before C Chris Gimenez, who was activated from the disabled list just prior to the start of the game, poked a two-run single to quickly put the Bulls up 2-0.

The two-run lead would last just two-thirds of a frame until the Indians came storming back with a two-out rally of their own. After 2B Jared Goedert and RF Brett Carroll were retired in order, C Tony Sanchez extended his hitting streak to five straight contest with a single through the hole at second. During his five-game streak, the Tribe's backstop has gone 6-for-19 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI.

One batter later, Lambo erased Durham's 2-0 edge when he crushed a two-out, two-run bomb to right field that pulled the Indians even with the home team 2-2. Lambo, who collected 46 RBI with Double-A Altoona before his promotion to Indianapolis, is now tied for the eighth-most RBI in all of the minors this season with 55 combined runs driven in this season, and trails fellow Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Stetson Allie by only six RBI for the fourth most runs plated in MilB during 2013.

Indianapolis' two scores remained the only runs the team's stuttering offense could muster, and after not collecting a base knock in five at-bats with runners in scoring position tonight, has now combined to go hitless in its last 15 at-bats with RISP over the last two games.

While the Tribe bats were held in check with just two runs, Durham pushed across solo scores in the third, fourth and sixth inning to first establish and then bolster its lead. Guyer tallied the go-ahead run in the third inning on a solo shot to left and 3B Cole Figueroa followed with an RBI single in the fourth to give the home team a 4-2 edge.

Things then got a little more interesting, however, when the Bulls plated their final run of the game in the sixth inning.

Figueroa led off the frame with a bunt back to the pitcher that he legged out for an infield single, and moved to third two batters later courtesy of a base knock from SS Tim Beckham. With threats on the corners, both runners advanced on what is initially being ruled a double steal, and as Beckham dashed to second, Sanchez unleashed an errant throw that sailed into the outfield. Once the Indians backstop rocketed the ball toward second, Figueroa easily dashed plateward to put Durham up 5-2, while also being credited with a steal of home.

With a 5-2 lead safely in hand, the Bulls turned to their dominant bullpen as LHP Jeff Beliveau (Hold, 1.0 IP, 2 SO) authored a hitless eighth to pick up his fourth hold and RHP Kirby Yates (SV, 1.0 IP, H, 2 SO) struck out two in a scoreless ninth to notch his sixth save and slam the door on the Indians for a 5-2 Durham win.

Indianapolis will now travel to Norfolk for a four-game set against the Tides beginning Monday at 7:05 p.m. at Harbor Park. The Tribe is expected to give the ball to RHP Stolmy Pimentel (NR) for his Triple-A debut, while Norfolk is scheduled to send MLB rehabbing LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (1-4, 8.14) to the mound.

The game will be carried on WNDE 1260 AM, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones with Howard Kellman and Will Flemming on the call. The pre-game show begins at 6:45 p.m.

Postgame Quotes --- LF Andrew Lambo:

(on his approach at the plate during his homer)

"He (Bulls pitcher J.D. Martin) was looking to overpower us and I took the first pitch. I knew he was going to come with something soft, he threw a changeup and left it up (in the zone) and it caught some of the plate and I was able to put a swing on it. Tony Sanchez did a great job too, two outs and he got that knock, so that was huge, definitely for Tony."

(on hitting at Durham Bulls Athletic Park)

"This is a nice place to hit, we had couple opportunities too, but this is a good place for lefties especially. There's that big wall in right field for righties so you have to get one (a hit) up. But this is definitely a nice place to hit."

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International League Stories from June 16, 2013


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