Indians Rally, Beat Columbus 12-9
In a game that saw multiple runs scored in five separate half-innings, the bottom of the sixth proved to be the most vital. With two outs in the frame, C Tony Sanchez drew a walk and advanced to second base on a single by SS Chase d'Arnaud before Hernandez followed with a single of his own, this one to center field.
Sanchez, not the fastest runner on the Indianapolis roster, motored around third base, sliding into home safely just ahead of the throw, barely beating a quick swipe tag by Columbus C Matt Pagnozzi. The run proved to be the game-winner, and Hernandez is now batting .406 with six RBI and five runs scored in his past 10 games.
CF Starling Marte had tied the game at 9-9 with one swing of the bat earlier in the frame, launching his 10th home run of the season over the left-field fence to drive in LF Alex Presley, who had walked, and RF Jose Tabata, who singled.
The Clippers had taken an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring a run without a hit as LF Jason Donald drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third and eventually scored on a groudout by DH Vinny Rottino That lead was short-lived, however, as Indianapolis RF Brandon Boggs put the Tribe ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the first with a three-run home run to left, his seventh of the season. The Indians would then go ahead 5-1 on a two-run homer by Sanchez, his fourth of the season.
Columbus rallied in the top of the third inning when Rottino hit a three-run home run to right-center field -- the first hit of the game for the Clippers -- to cut the Indianapolis lead to 5-4. The Indians would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the frame, however, as Sanchez doubled home Boggs, who had walked and alertly tagged up and advanced to second on a flyball to deep left field.
Columbus stormed out to a 9-6 lead in the top of the fourth, sending 11 men to plate in the inning. RF Russ Canzler led off the frame with a home run to right field, his 13th of the season, and things went downhill from there for Indianapolis. Back-to-back-to-back singles loaded the bases with no outs in the inning, chasing Indians starter Justin Wilson (3.0+ IP, 5 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 HR), who was fortunate to end up with a no decision.
Indianapolis got an important out at the plate on a diving stop by 3B Brian Friday and a scoop-and-tag by Sanchez, but a check-swing bloop single off the end of CF Ezequiel Carrera's bat found its way over the drawn-in infield and into shallow left field, scoring 3B Jared Goedert and Pagnozzi and at the time giving Columbus the lead. A sacrifice fly by 1B Matt LaPorta drove in the fifth run of the inning and pushed the lead to 9-6, but Columbus would not score again in the game.
After Wilson exited the game with none out in the fourth inning, five Indianapolis relievers combined for 6.0 innings of one-run relief. Recently reacquired LHP Doug Slaten (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K) picked up the win in his first game with the Tribe since May 24, improving to 3-0 for Indianapolis. For Columbus, RHP Dan Wheeler (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR) suffered both a blown save and the loss, falling to 0-2 on the season. Indians RHP Tim Wood (1.0 IP, 1 H) closed out the game with a scoreless ninth to pick up his 13th win of the season for the Tribe.
The Indians picked up a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as Boggs drew a leadoff walk and came all the way around to score on a double by 1B Yamaico Navarro. Navarro then advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a single to center field by d'Arnaud to give the game its final 12-9 tally.
With the win, Indianapolis (58-36) extended its lead in the International League West to 11 games over the Clippers (47-47). The division rivals will conclude their five-game series on Sunday afternoon, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:15 p.m. RHP Rick VandenHurk (8-1, 3.47) is expected to take the mound for the Indians, while LHP T.J. McFarland (3-2, 5.23) will likely get the nod for the Clippers.
The contest will be televised on HTSN (Hometown Sports and News), available via cable or over-the-air on digital channel 6.2. The game will also be carried on WNDE 1260 AM-WFBQ-HD2, 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 12:55 p.m.
Post-game quotes -- C Tony Sanchez
(On his two hits)
"I'm seeing the ball well. It's just a matter of reaping the rewards of hard work that we're putting in the cages. Jeff Branson and I have spent countless hours in the cages pregame and with me getting here early, getting as much work in as possible, it's paying off and you're seeing it with the swing. Thank God."
(On third baseman Brian Friday making a diving stop and throwing a runner out at home)
"He saved a run and that was a crucial run late in the game. It could have completely been a different momentum changer. He threw me the ball and gave me a chance to make a play, and I put the tag on him and thankfully made the play."
(On adjustments between Double-A and Triple-A)
"Guys you're facing on the mound definitely throw their offspeed stuff for strikes a lot more often than they do in Double-A. A lot of people said that the step from high-A to Double-A is the biggest jump, but I feel like the jump from Double-A to here is a lot different. Guys in the bullpen aren't throwing anywhere under 94, and you don't see that a lot in Double-A. It takes some adjustments and I'm learning that. I still have a long way to go, though."
(On the bullpen's performance after starter Justin Wilson exited after three innings)
"Unfortunately, Justin didn't have his best stuff tonight and usually, the past six starts, he's been dominant for us and he's given us a chance to win and unfortunately he couldn't do that tonight for us. Our offense picked him up and the bullpen came in and gave us some good innings. It was huge for the bullpen to come in there and slam the door."
(On outfielder Starling Martee)
"That kid's unbelievable. He's 180 pounds soaking wet and he's driving balls 400 feet out to left field. It's amazing. I played with him since 2009 and I've seen him grow as a hitter and as an outfielder and he's a special player and he's one-of-a-kind. I love being on that guy's team and it's unbelievable what he can do on the field."