Early Holmes and Late Bats Push Tribe to Win in Soggy Series Finale

NORFOLK, VA. - An offensive barrage in the eighth inning resulted in four runs for the Tribe, more than enough to down Norfolk, 6-0. Add that to Clay Holmes' masterful performance and Indy found the recipe for its sixth series win of the season and 20th win overall.

Holmes (2-2, 4.31) alleviated leadoff walks in each of the first two innings, striking out the side in the first and inducing a double play to end the trouble in the second. His next four innings, broken up by a 33-minute rain delay, saw him fan four Tide hitters and allow just two hits. Six of his seven total strikeout victims went down swinging. 
Thursday's outing from Holmes came as a welcome sight after his last two, where he allowed nine earned runs in consecutive losses. Tanner Anderson and Josh Smoker shut the door in commanding fashion, allowing two baserunners over the final three innings to preserve Indy's fourth shutout of the year.
Both Holmes and Tides starter Jimmy Yacabonis fought through rainy conditions early, but both hurlers kept the clean sheet intact even after the weather delay. Neither side notched a tally in the run column until the sixth when Jordan Luplow, nearly the hero after a ninth-inning homer Wednesday night, barreled up an RBI double. 
Two innings later, the Indians took complete control. Christopher Bostick belted a 1-2 pitch into the Norfolk bullpen in right center field for his second homer of the year. An Erich Weiss double plated Luplow, and once Ryan Lavarnway singled to center for two more RBI, the Tribe's lead ballooned up to five.
Luplow added the cherry on top with an RBI double following an Austin Meadows' two-bagger. The two combined for five of the Indians' 12 hits. 
Norfolk's southpaw reliever Jason Gurka (1-2, 3.38) registered the loss after suffering an earned run in the sixth. He gave up two hits and struck out three in three innings of work.
With the win, the Indians have now won or split the series at Harbor Park in 12 of the past 15 seasons. 
Their date with Durham at 7:05 Friday night continues their six-game tour of the International League South Division. Joe Musgrove (1-0, 0.00) is scheduled to make his second start in Triple-A as a part of his ongoing rehab from the MLB.  
To purchase tickets for any Indians home game, contact the Victory Field Box Office at 317-269-2282 or [email protected]. For more on the Tribe, visit IndyIndians.com.