Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon
Triple-A Affiliate
The Official Site of the Indianapolis Indians Indianapolis Indians

Indians Grit Out Win Over Division-Leading Omaha

It was Indy’s first win over Omaha this season
Hunter Owen hit 2-for-4 with an RBI in the win over Omaha. (Photo by Zach Bolinger)
July 13, 2021

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians came back from a 1-0 deficit and held off the Omaha Storm Chasers in a tight, series-opening win on Tuesday night, 3-2.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians came back from a 1-0 deficit and held off the Omaha Storm Chasers in a tight, series-opening win on Tuesday night, 3-2.

It was Indianapolis’ first win over Omaha since Aug. 4, 1997 when they bested the then-Royals, 10-8, in 12 innings on the road. The two played each other as members of the American Association through the 1997 season before separating for the next 22 years; Omaha joined the Pacific Coast League while Indy was placed in the International League. In their first meeting this season, Omaha swept the Indians in six games.

Down 1-0 following a sacrifice fly to give the Storm Chasers (37-22) a lead in the second inning, the Indians tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Hunter Owen got on base with a single and came in to score two base knocks later.

The Indians (30-29) carried their momentum into the top of the fifth inning. Four consecutive singles, capped off by back-to-back RBI hits by Christian Bethancourt and Hunter Owen, extended the lead to 3-1 over the Triple-A East Midwest Division leaders.

With the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning, Mitch Keller (W, 1-0) exited the game. Tanner Anderson entered in relief and walked his first batter seen to put an unearned run on Keller’s line. Indy’s starter finished with two runs (one earned) allowed on five hits and a season-high tying eight strikeouts.

Braeden Ogle and Nick Mears (S, 1) combined to hold Omaha hitless through the final two innings of the game to seal the win.

All three of the Indians runs scored with two outs in the contest. Dee Strange-Gordon’s double in the third inning was the only extra-base hit of the game, and he was one of four Indians batters to record multiple hits.

Omaha and Indy will face off again tomorrow night in a 7:05 PM ET start. RHP Luis Oviedo (0-2, 14.73) will take the mound against RHP Brandon Barker (0-0, 54.00).