INDIANAPOLIS - A two-run double by Kevin Kramer in game one and a complete-game shutout tossed by James Marvel in his Triple-A debut in the nightcap led the Indians to a twin bill sweep over the Mud Hens on Friday night, 4-3 and 3-0. The Tribe gained ground in the
INDIANAPOLIS - A two-run double by Kevin Kramer in game one and a complete-game shutout tossed by James Marvel in his Triple-A debut in the nightcap led the Indians to a twin bill sweep over the Mud Hens on Friday night, 4-3 and 3-0. The Tribe gained ground in the IL Wild Card race with the sweep.
Playing its third doubleheader of the season and second against Toledo (38-49), the Indians used a late comeback in the opener and Marvel's gem in the nightcap to post consecutive wins for the first time since sweeping a two-game set against Louisville on June 24-25.
In the first contest, the Indians (44-42) overcame a 3-2 deficit in the fifth thanks to a two-out rally. Cole Tucker worked a leadoff walk and took second on a Ke'Bryan Hayes single. After a pair of strikeouts, Kramer smacked the first pitch he saw from Zac Reininger (L, 1-2) to deep right-center for his team-leading 22nd double.
Eduardo Vera (W, 5-6) returned for the sixth inning and pitched a 1-2-3 frame to cap his 6.0-inning, three-run performance with five punchouts. Kramer and Hayes made highlight-reel plays at second and third base, respectively, to keep the lead intact. Montana DuRapau (S, 7) then retired the side on nine pitches in the seventh for the save.
Indy grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run blast by Gregory Polanco, his eighth career Triple-A home run. Toledo pulled even in the fourth on a Ronny Rodríguez two-run homer and jumped in front momentarily in the fifth on a two-out single by Dawel Lugo.
Marvel set the tone in game two, facing the minimum in the first and scattering three hits over 7.0 scoreless frames for his second career complete-game shutout, the other coming this season on April 20 at Richmond with Double-A Altoona.
Indy's offense backed Marvel's gem with two runs in the second and another in the third. Eric Wood reached second base on a ground-rule double and raced home on a Darnell Sweeney single through the right side that made it 1-0. Two batters later, JB Shuck slapped a single to double the Tribe advantage to two. In the Tribe's next trip to the plate, Hayes powered up with a 410-foot solo home run into the center field bushes.
Marvel became the first Tribe starter to toss a complete-game shutout since Adam Wilk on July 6, 2014.
Tim Adleman (L, 3-3) went the distance for the visitors in game two but took the loss after yielding three runs on six hits in 6.0 innings pitched.
The Indians and Mud Hens continue their five-game series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. ET. Cam Vieaux (2-0, 4.08) will start for the Tribe against Kyle Funkhouser (1-4, 8.07).
