Indians Outlasted by Stripers, 5-3

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – After a back-and-forth affair in the first half of the contest, the Gwinnett Stripers were able to put up a three-run sixth inning to defeat the Indianapolis Indians on Saturday night, 5-3.

After being issued two consecutive walks to open the bottom of the first inning, Gwinnett struck first on a sacrifice fly from Pat Valaika for the game’s first run. In the top of the third, Josh Bissonette was able to get in scoring position courtesy of a one-out double, and Oneil Cruz scored him in the next at-bat with an RBI single to tie the contest early, 1-1.

The Indians (31-32) were able to take their first lead of the contest in the top of the fifth inning. Following a leadoff double off the bat of Jared Oliva and a walk issued to Jamie Ritchie, Oneil Cruz knocked in his second RBI of the contest with a sacrifice fly.

The 2-1 lead was short lived, however, as the Stripers (33-32) were able to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. Delino DeShields led off with a single to left, and a wild pitch by pitcher Cam Alldred sent him to second base. A one-out walk issued to Kramer Robertson and a Drew Waters single loaded the bases. Preston Tucker was then hit by pitch to force in the game-tying run.

Indianapolis plated its third and final run of the night in the top of the sixth, when Travis Swaggerty roped an RBI single to left before the Stripers pulled away in the bottom half of the inning.

Three consecutive singles from Alex Dickerson, Chadwick Tromp and DeShields loaded the bases for the Stripers in the bottom of the sixth with no outs. A wild pitch sent Dickerson across home plate to tie the game at three apiece. Back-to-back walks to Ryan Goins and Robertson scored the go-ahead run for Gwinnett. The Indians were able to get a double play to end the inning, but not before DeShields was able to score and extend the Stripers’ lead to 5-3.

Cody Bolton tossed 2.0 innings, giving up one run with a strikeout. John O’ Reilly (L, 2-1) threw 1.1 innings of relief, yielding three runs on three hits and two walks.

Huascar Ynoa (W, 3-3) went 6.0 innings, surrendering three runs on seven hits and seven punchouts.

Indianapolis and Gwinnett will meet in the series finale tomorrow afternoon at 1:05 PM ET at Coolray Field. The Indians will send RHP Mike Burrows to the mound for his Triple-A debut. Gwinnett has yet to name a starter.