Indians Rally Proved Not Enough In Walk-Off Loss

PAPILLION, NEB. – The Indianapolis Indians rallied in the seventh inning to tie the game after facing a 5-1 deficit, but the Omaha Storm Chasers sealed the victory with an RBI double off the bat of Kyle Isbel to walk-off the game on Thursday night and take a 3-0 series lead.

The Indians (11-9) jumped on the board first when Bligh Madris launched his first Triple-A home run over the right field fence to lead off the second inning.

Omaha (13-7) quickly returned the favor in the bottom half of the inning with a leadoff home run from Ryan McBroom off James Marvel. Gabriel Cancel doubled to left field and took advantage of a throwing error from Christian Bethancourt on a groundout to come around and score to give the Storm Chasers a 2-1 lead.

With a leadoff double from Alcides Escobar and a walk for Isbel, Omaha tacked on three more runs with a home run from Emmanuel Rivera to right field in the bottom of the third inning to extend the Storm Chasers lead to 5-1.

After four scoreless innings, the Indians attemped the comeback and tied the game at five apiece with a walk to Andrew Susac, double by Chris Sharpe and another walk to Troy Stokes Jr. to load the bases. Kevin Kramer knocked in two runs with a single to left field and Madris earned his second RBI of the night with a sacrifice fly to score Stokes Jr. The Indians scored the tying run off a dropped fly ball by Anderson Miller to allow Kramer to cross home plate.

Anthony Swarzak (W, 1-0) entered in the bottom of the eighth inning to strike out Kramer and shut down the Indians after a two-out walk to Sharpe and single by Stokes off Grant Gavin.

With no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Sebastian Rivero singled and Edward Olivares was intentionally walked to set up the walk-off opportunity for Isbel, who smacked a line drive to right field and drove in the winning run.

Relief pitcher Braeden Ogle (L, 0-1) took the loss and gave up the game-winning single. Joe Jacques and Shea Spitzbarth threw a combined 3.1 scoreless innings in the loss.

The Indians will have chance to break their four-game losing streak tomorrow night at 8:05 PM ET, as the six-game series vs. the Storm Chasers continues. RHP Steven Wright (1-0, 1.00) will face off against RHP Jackson Kowar (4-0, 1.25).