Bats Top Tribe as Indy Eliminated from Playoff Contention

LOUISVILLE, KY. - The Louisville Bats topped the Indianapolis Indians on Sunday night, 10-2. With the defeat and a pair of results around the International League, the Indians were eliminated from playoff contention. The Toledo Mud Hens secured the West Division crown after beating the Columbus Clippers.

The Indians (72-67) were looking to repeat as champions of the West Division but needed a victory and Toledo loss for it to be possible on the final day of the season on Labor Day. The Mud Hens had topped Columbus earlier, and the victory by Scranton/Wilkes-Barre shortly after the Tribe's loss cemented Indy's fate by eliminating them from the wild card.
Louisville (61-75) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Hernan Iribarren recorded a one-out double, then moved to third on an infield hit by Gabriel Guerrero. Following a walk to Brian O'Grady, Tim Fedorowicz singled to left to plate a pair of runs.
The Bats added two more runs in the second, but Indianapolis cut the lead in half with two in the fourth. Jordan Luplow led off with a double into the left-field corner. He scored on Ryan Lavarnway's single to right field. Eric Wood would drive home Lavarnway, and it trimmed Louisville's advantage to 4-2.
A pair of homers by Guerrero and Steve Selsky pushed the Bats' lead back to four runs, and they would go on to score four more in the 10-2 victory.
J.T. Brubaker (8-4) allowed six runs, but just four were earned over his six innings. Justin Nicolino (6-6) worked six frames and earned the victory.
The Indians will now conclude the 2018 season on Monday afternoon in Louisville at 1 p.m. For more on the Tribe, visit IndyIndians.com.