Tribe Thumped By Knights in Opener 8-3
INDIANAPOLIS -- Six opposing batters turned in multi-knock efforts as the Indianapolis Indians (56-48) were outhit 18-6 in their 8-3, series-opening loss to the Charlotte Knights (44-59) on Monday night at Victory Field.
Charlotte chased Tribe starter Jay Jackson after just 2 2/3 innings by pounding out six runs on eight hits. The Knights combined for two doubles, a triple and a two-run homer in their three-run first, before tacking on three more with a pair of doubles and RBI single in the top of the third.
The Tribe then erased one of the three-run outbursts beginning with Robert Andino tripling and scoring on a passed ball to lead off the bottom of the first. Jaff Decker followed with a walk, took third on a single from Brent Morel and came plateward on an RBI grounder from Chris McGuiness to make it 3-2.
Behind a strong relief outing from Rafael Perez, who worked 5 1/3 innings with just a lone unearned run, the Indians would score a third and final tally when Chase d'Arnaud lifted a fourth-inning sac fly that brought McGuiness home and cut the deficit to 6-3.
Knights starter Bobby Doran worked a quality outing of three runs in six innings to pick up his second win in as many Triple-A starts this season.