Suwinski Leads Indy to Four Games Above .500

INDIANAPOLIS – Jack Suwinski smacked a pair of two-baggers and finished with three RBI as the Indianapolis Indians clinched a series win over the Rochester Red Wings on Saturday night at Victory Field, 5-3. They have now won eight of 11 contests during the 12-game homestand.

With the win, Indianapolis (62-58) is now a season-high tying four games above the .500 mark for the first time since emerging victorious from Game 1 of a doubleheader on May 25 (23-19). The team was also four games above even after throwing a combined no-hitter at St. Paul to cap a five-game winning streak on April 13 (6-2).

The Indians scored first for their third consecutive game via a sacrifice fly off the bat of Travis Swaggerty in the bottom of the opening frame against Red Wings starter Mason Thompson (L, 0-4). The scoring then broke open with two outs in the third inning when Suwinski and Mason Martin smoked back-to-back doubles, extending Indy’s lead to 4-0.

The Red Wings (54-68) could not catch up as Indianapolis’ pitching staff held them without a run until the eighth inning. Johan Oviedo opened the contest with four strikeouts through 3.2 three-hit innings, and John O’Reilly (W, 5-2) held the shutout through the sixth inning.

Suwinski continued his tear in the home half of the sixth, sending a long double off the wall in straightaway center to score another run. He finished the game with the Indians’ only multi-hit performance and three RBI. He is now one hit shy of 500 in his professional career.

Rochester got on the board with a run-scoring fielder’s choice in the eighth and made things interesting with two runs in the ninth. Three consecutive one-out singles plated the first run in the final inning, and another run-scoring fielder’s choice followed by an error scored another. Eric Hanhold then sat down the final two batters of the frame with swinging strikeouts.

The Indians and Red Wings will close their six-game series tomorrow at 1:35 PM ET at Victory Field. After earning the win in the series opener, RHP Osvaldo Bido (2-7, 5.02) will take the mound in search of Indy’s ninth win of the 12-game homestand. Countering for Rochester will be RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon (1-2, 5.30).