BUFFALO, N.Y. - Gift Ngoepe hit two home runs and drove in five runs to help lead the Indianapolis Indians to the 8-3 victory over the Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday night. The effort matched Ngoepe's career high for runs batted in and home runs in a single game.
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Gift Ngoepe hit two home runs and drove in five runs to help lead the Indianapolis Indians to the 8-3 victory over the Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday night. The effort matched Ngoepe's career high for runs batted in and home runs in a single game.
Ngoepe put Indianapolis (68-53) on the board with a three-run blast in the top of the third inning. Edwin Espinal and Christopher Bostick began the rally with a pair of one-out singles. One out later, Ngoepe belted a 3-1 fastball from Buffalo (54-68) starter Luis Santos over the left-center field wall.
Austin Meadows returned to the Tribe lineup, his first game with Indy since June 21. He doubled to start the third inning and scored when Max Moroff lined a double of his own to right field. The doubles pushed the Tribe's lead to 4-1.
In the fourth inning, Ngoepe clubbed his second home run of the game. Jacob Stallings doubled with one out before Ngoepe sent Jeff Beliveau's pitch over the left-field wall.
Stallings would drive home a run in the fifth, and Bostick doubled home Jordan Luplow in the ninth to complete the Indians' scoring.
Tuesday marked the first time Ngoepe hit two homers in a game since July 7, 2012. It was the third time overall of his professional career he accomplished the feat.
Tribe starter Drew Hutchison (7-8) worked seven innings and allowed just three runs to earn the win. It was the sixth consecutive start for Hutchison that he pitched at least six innings.
Indianapolis is now a season-high 15 games over .500. Game two with Buffalo is set for Wednesday night, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard live on Fox Sports 97.5 FM / 1260 AM WNDE. Nick Kingham (7-6, 3.70), who fired a complete game his last time out, will start for Indy.
