Tribe holds off Toledo for 6-5 win
Published on June 29, 2009 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS -- Third baseman Chris Barnwell and designated hitter Hector Gimenez combined for six hits, two runs and three RBI, and the Tribe bullpen held off a late rally as the Indianapolis Indians defeated the Toledo Mud Hens 6-5 in front of a crowd of 10,097 on Monday evening at Victory Field.
With the win the Indians improve to 37-39 overall and 19-21 at home, while the loss drops the Mud Hens to 33-44 on the season and 17-25 on the road. The victory for Indianapolis gives them a 6-3 season series edge over Toledo and moves then one game ahead at 4-3 against the Mud Hens at Victory Field this season.
The Tribe jumped out to an early lead with four runs on six hits, including back-to-back-to-back-to-back base hits to lead off the game. 2B Pedro Lopez led off the game with a base hit to center, moved to second on a Barnwell base knock, and came around to score when CF Jeff Salazar roped a hit of his own.
RF Garrett Jones then brought home Barnwell with the fourth straight single of the inning, before Gimenez drove in his first of three runs with a base hit that plated Salazar. C Erik Kratz then capped the frame with a ground-rule double to deep right field that plated Jones to give the Tribe an early 4-0 lead.
Toledo then drew to within one run with a run in the second and two in the third on RBI singles by LF Wilkin Ramirez and 2B Scott Sizemore as well as run scoring groundout by 1B Jeff Larish. However, Barnwell and Gimenez would put the game out of reach when they sparked what turned out to be the game-winning rally in the fifth.
Barnwell began the fifth with a double to left and moved to third on a Salazar fly out. Jones then drew an intentional walk to set the stage for what turned out to be a game-winning, two-run double by Gimenez. Gimenez's two-bagger was also his season-high third hit of the night and plated his second and third RBI of the contest as both Barnwell and Jones crossed the plate for the second time.
Toledo did make a late rally push with two runs in the seventh after Ramirez and C Dane Sardinha led off the frame with back-to-back walks. DH Will Rhymes later lifted an RBI single which scored Ramirez, before Sardinha came plateward when RF Clete Thomas beat out a double play attempt.
The Indians and Mud Hens combined for 24 hits as Gimenez (3-for-4, 3 RBI), Barnwell (3-for-4, 2 R), Jones (2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI) and Lopez (2-for-4, 1 R) all collected multiple hits for the Tribe and Toledo countered with four multi-hit performances of their own from Sizemore (3-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI), Rhymes (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI), SS Brent Dlugach (2-for-3) and 3B Mike Hessman (2-for-4, 1 R).
Indianapolis starter Daniel McCutchen (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) picked up his team leading sixth win of the season to improve to 6-5 after allowing three runs on five hits in five innings of work, while Toledo starter Eddie Bonine (4.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) was roughed up for six runs on 10 hits to take the loss and drop to 0-4 on the year.
Besides Tribe reliever Donnie Veal (1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB), who allowed two runs in his inning of work, the Indians' bullpen combined for three scoreless frames as RHP Ty Taubenheim (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO), RHP Denny Bautista (0.1 IP, 2 H), RHP Mike Koplove (0.2 IP, 1 SO) each collected holds, while closer Chris Bootcheck (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) notched his 14th save of the season.
The Mud Hens bullpen also pitched well as relievers Matt Rusch (2.1 IP, 2 H, 2 SO) and Casey Fien (1.0 IP, 1 SO) combined for 3.1 scoreless innings in relief of Bonine.
Indianapolis finishes their four-game series against West Division foe Toledo on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. RHP Brad Lincoln is scheduled to start for Indianapolis, while RHP Chris Lambert is expected to get the nod for the Mud Hens.
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