IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Tribe Wins Fifth Straight, Edges Syracuse 4-3

Published on May 16, 2007 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Right-handed relievers Josh Sharpless, Jesse Chavez and Chris Hernandez combined for six scoreless innings as Indianapolis picked up its fifth straight win -- a 4-3 decision over Syracuse -- Wednesday evening at Alliance Bank Stadium.

The Indians improve to 24-14 overall and an International League-best 12-4 on the road, while the Chiefs fall to 15-23 on the season and 9-9 at home. Indianapolis, which has also won 12 of its last 17 affairs, continues to lead the IL's West Division by four games over Louisville.

Sharpless (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 SO), Chavez (2.0 IP, 1 SO) and Hernandez (2.0 IP, 1 SO) combined to retire the last 16 Syracuse batters. Sharpless improved to 1-0 with the win, while Chavez was credited with his second hold and Hernandez chalked up his second save. As a unit, the Indians bullpen is 3-1 with four saves and a 1.84 ERA (6 ER in 29.1 IP) over its past eight contests.

Indianapolis scored all four of its runs in the fifth. RF Michael Ryan smashed a triple to center and eventually scored on a groundout. PH Luis Ordaz followed with an infield single before CF Rajai Davis and SS Brian Bixler both walked to load the bases. 1B Yurendell de Caster brought Ordaz and Davis to the dish moments later with a single to left, while C Humberto Cota scored Bixler with a base knock to right.

The visitor's big inning came after Syracuse plated all three of its runs in the first. The home team's first at-bat included three bases on balls, two hits and a pair of miscues. 1B Kevin Barker roped an RBI single to left before RF Chad Mottola and DH Erik Kratz both walked with the bases juiced.

Chiefs RHP Michael MacDonald (7.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO) was pinned with the loss in his first Triple-A decision of 2007. Barker had Syracuse's only multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with one walk, one run and one RBI.

Cota finished 2-for-3 with one walk and one RBI for the Indians, while Ryan went 2-for-4 with one run.

The two clubs return to Alliance Bank Stadium on Thursday at 7:15 p.m., for game three of the four-game series. The IL's reigning Pitcher of the Week, Indianapolis RHP John Van Benschoten, is scheduled to face Syracuse RHP Ismael Ramirez.

The contest will be carried by ESPN-950 AM and IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 6:55 p.m.

A win on Thursday would give the Tribe its first six-game winning streak since May 27-June 2, 2006.

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International League Stories from May 16, 2007


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