Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon
Triple-A Affiliate
The Official Site of the Indianapolis Indians Indianapolis Indians
Tickets
Single-Game Tickets My Tickets Ticket Plans Daily Deals Premium Seating Group Outings Promotions Kids Zone Digital Ticketing Gift Cards
Schedule
Schedule Game-by-game Results Printable Schedule Downloadable Home Schedule
Stats & Scores
Scoreboard Individual Stats Team Stats Pirates affiliates MiLB Stats Pirates Transactions Standings
Team
Roster Field Staff Front Office Staff Watch Video News Home History Feature Stories Broadcast Information 2024 Game Notes Media Guide
Victory Field
Frequently Asked Questions Public Events at Victory Field Employment Opportunities Know Before You Go Stadium Map Parking Tours Concessions Video Board Celebrations Venue Rental & Event Space
Community
Indianapolis Indians Charities Donation Requests Rowdie Events Hero of the Game Indians Youth Sports Program Fundraising Opportunities Tickets for Good 50/50 Raffle Donate Now
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions Social Media Clubhouse Join Our Email List Weather Information
Shop
Ticket Terms & Conditions
Sweepstakes & Contests
(317) 269-3542

Difo Walks Off In Indians Debut

The Indians came back from two deficits and won the game in the 11th
Wilmer Difo roped a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning. (Photo by Adam Pintar)
By Anna Kayser
June 18, 2021

INDIANAPOLIS – Down to their final strike and facing a 2-1 deficit in the bottom of the 10th inning, the Indianapolis Indians tied the game and went on to walk-off Thursday night’s game vs. the Memphis Redbirds in the 11th, 3-2.

INDIANAPOLIS – Down to their final strike and facing a 2-1 deficit in the bottom of the 10th inning, the Indianapolis Indians tied the game and went on to walk-off Thursday night’s game vs. the Memphis Redbirds in the 11th, 3-2.

Wilmer Difo, in his Indians debut, roped a single into center field to score Hunter Owen as the automatic runner with one out in the top of the 11th inning. With the victory, the Indians are now in the midst of a season-high five-game winning streak.

Memphis (15-24) jumped out on top, 1-0, in the first inning with a leadoff home run off the bat of Kramer Robertson. Anthony Alford then tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning to score T.J. Rivera with two outs.

The game stayed knotted at 1-1 through the end of nine innings. After back-to-back strikeouts by Tyler Bashlor to begin the top of the 10th inning, Evan Mendoza singled on a line drive to right field to give the Redbirds a 2-1 lead.

With the tying runner 90-feet away, Anthony Alford at the top of the order for Indianapolis (21-17) worked a seven-pitch walk to extend the inning. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Jared Oliva sent a sharp ground ball to second baseman Irving Lopez to reach safely on an error. T.J. Rivera scored on the play, tying the game at 2-2.

After a scoreless top of the 11th, Difo recorded his first hit with the Indians to win the game in walk-off fashion. It was the Indians’ second walk-off win of the season and first since May 16 vs. Toledo.

Cody Ponce got the start for the Indians and tossed his first quality start of the season with just one run allowed in seven innings. He fanned nine batters in the outing, his most since striking out a career-high 12 batters on July 9, 2016 in High-A.

Kyle Keller (W, 2-0) fanned back-to-back batters with the go-ahead run on third base in the top of the 11th to earn his second win this season. Jesus Cruz (L, 0-2) surrendered the walk-off hit to Difo to score the unearned, winning run for the Indians.

Indianapolis will look to extend its winning streak to six games tomorrow night in a 7:05 PM ET start vs. the Redbirds. RHP Max Kranick (1-1, 3.14) will face off against LHP Matthew Liberatore (1-3, 4.73).