Wilk Goes Distance to Blank 'Pigs 4-0
INDIANAPOLIS -- Starter Adam Wilk tossed his first career 9.0-inning, complete-game shutout to lead the Indianapolis Indians (49-41) to a 4-0, series-opening victory over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (43-46) on Sunday night at Victory Field.
Wilk's gem is just the ninth such shutout by a Tribe pitcher at Victory Field and the second by an Indians starter this season, joining Triple-A rookie A.J. Morris' 9.0-inning masterpiece on June 13 vs. the Durham Bulls.
After suffering a two-game sweep to begin the current homestand, Indy turned to its lone lefty in the rotation to help right the ship. Wilk responded in dominant fashion by facing just five batters above the minimum 27 with five hits, one walk and one doubleplay. The southpaw starter retired 14 of his first 15 batters to set the stage for the blanking, and concluded his night having tossed 109 pitches, 80 of which went for strikes.
At the plate, the Tribe struck early out of the gate beginning with a first-inning RBI groundout from Chris McGuiness that plated Jaff Decker from third to make it 1-0.
One inning later, the Indians pushed across two more runs, including one off the bat of the left-handed pitcher Wilk. After Robert Andino walked and Blake Davis singled to open the frame, Wilk laid a perfect bunt down to Lehigh Valley 3B Maikel Franco, who sent a wild throw to sailing into right field to allow both runners to easily score and give the Tribe a 3-0 lead in the second.
IL All-Star Matt Hague then drove in the game's final run by lifting a solo blast to left field in the bottom of the third.