Musgrove Shoves, Newman Homers as Indians Nip Clippers, 2-1

INDIANAPOLIS - Kevin Newman cranked his first career Triple-A home run as part of a four-hit performance, and Joe Musgrove fired 5.2 no-hit innings with six strikeouts as Indianapolis leveled its weekend series with a 2-1 nail-biter over Columbus on Saturday night at Victory Field. Musgrove walked none and tossed 60 of his 79 pitches for strikes.

Newman's first-inning shot came on a 1-0 offering from former Indian Adam Wilk (L, 1-3). He yanked the pitch 387 feet out to left, setting the tone for Musgrove's electric start.
A World Series champion with the Houston Astros last fall and acquired in the Gerrit Cole trade this January, Musgrove looked the part of a pitcher with postseason experience under his belt. He worked around a fielding error by Jerrick Suiter in the first with a foulout to short and lineout to right, the latter being the only ball to leave the infield when he was on the mound.
Musgrove (W, 1-0) bookended both the second and third innings with strikeouts, and he exited after erasing Jon Berti with whiff No. 6 in the sixth.
Indy's combined no-hitter remained intact until a clean single by Melky Cabrera came with a man on and no outs in the seventh. Later in the frame, the Clippers made it a 2-1 ballgame on a Hasse RBI single up the middle, but Tyler Jones and Johnny Hellweg (S, 6) posted zeroes over the final two innings to seal the win.
The Tribe added a big insurance run in the home half of the sixth. Kevin Kramer singled with two down and hustled all the way around from first base on a double by Jacob Stallings into the left-field corner.
Newman tied a career high with his four hits, the fourth time he's accomplished the feat and first since July 23, 2016 with Double-A Altoona. He's now 9-for-13 (.692) over his last three games.
The Indians and Clippers conclude their three-game series on Mother's Day at The Vic, with first pitch set for 1:35 p.m. Indy will send right-hander Austin Coley (1-2, 7.91) to the bump, opposite Clippers righty Alexi Ogando (2-0, 2.89).
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.