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Indians storm by Bats

September 2, 2012
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The only thing more abundant than the Indianapolis hit count Sunday at Louisville Slugger Field was the bags of diamond dry.

Despite a heavy downpour that soaked the field and made the grounds keeping crew work extra hard, the Indians racked up 16 hits and scored at least one run through the first six innings of an 11-6 rain-shortened victory over the Bats.

The game was called after seven and a half innings due to weather. In the middle of the sixth inning, the grounds crew poured piles of diamond dry on the infield. Louisville Slugger Field continued to get slammed by rain, and the umpires made it official before the eighth was completed.

The IL West division champion Indians seem intent on heading into the postseason with plenty of momentum. Indianapolis (88-55) has won 12 of 14 games, including three in a row, and sports the best record in the league.

The Bats (51-92) gained a 3-1 lead after one inning, but Indianapolis took control from there. The Indians were relentless, following their one-run first with two in the second and then three, two, two and one over the next four frames to lead 11-5.

Hector Luna, who spent the majority of this season in the Phillies organization, continued to make an impact for Indianapolis. He batted four times in the first five innings, accumulating a hit each time. The Indians' second baseman swatted a solo homer in his first plate appearance and followed that with a single, double and two-run single. He finished 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored and is now 8-for-14 in three games with Indianapolis.

Multiple Bats players had good days at the plate. Felix Perez was 3-for-4 with his 25th double of the season and boosted his batting average to .301. Neftali Soto went 2-for-2 with his 30th double and he added two RBI and two runs. Corky Miller chipped in a hit and his two RBI gave him sole possession of fourth place (211) on the Bats' all-time career list.

Making a final start for the Bats before being recalled by Cincinnati, Todd Redmond (8-11) was on a pitch count but had little success with the 59 he threw. The 27-year-old right-hander lasted only two innings while allowing six earned runs on five hits before departing with no outs and the bases loaded in the third inning. Redmond had surrendered a single earned run over 12 innings in his previous two starts.

Phil Irwin made his fourth start for Indianapolis and improved to 3-0 after yielding three earned runs on seven hits in five innings. Over his last three outings, the 25-year-old right-hander has given up just four earned runs in 17 innings.

Louisville scored three runs in the first inning as Cody Puckett and Perez began the game with consecutive singles. The first run came across on a throwing error before Miller and P.J. Phillips both lifted sacrifice flies.

Indianapolis tied it up in the second on Anderson Hernandez's RBI single and took the lead with a three-run third highlighted by Jeff Larish's two-run double. Larish went 3-for-4 with three RBI as the Indians never trailed again.

The Bats will play their final home game of the season at 1:05 p.m. Monday at Louisville Slugger Field. Pedro Villarreal will take the mound for Louisville, while Indianapolis' starter is yet to be announced.