Three-Run 10th Inning Gets Indians to First-Place Tie
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Indianapolis Indians scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning to hold off the Gwinnett Stripers in extra innings for an 8-6 win on Tuesday night on the road. With a loss from the Rochester Red Wings on Tuesday night, Indy moves into a
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Indianapolis Indians scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning to hold off the Gwinnett Stripers in extra innings for an 8-6 win on Tuesday night on the road. With a loss from the Rochester Red Wings on Tuesday night, Indy moves into a tie for first-place atop the MiLB second half standings for the final playoff spot with five games remaining in the regular season.
In the 10th inning, Indians (41-29, 72-73) designated hitter Nick Cimillo got Indy back in front on a two-run double to left field to score Robert Hassell III and Tyler Callihan for a 7-5 lead. Duce Gourson came up later in the inning to bring home Cimillo on a single to left field to put Indy in front, 8-5. Gourson went 2-for-4 on the night with a home run in the first inning, two walks and two RBI.
Gwinnett (36-34, 74-70) was able to bring one home in the bottom of the 10th on a Jim Jarvis line drive to score outfielder José Azócar, but Beau Burrows (W, 7-4) shut the door on the Gwinnett rally.
After Indy scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning, Gwinnett scored one run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make it 5-3 before tying the game in the ninth inning on a Jordan Groshans two-run home run off Burrows.
Hassell III went 2-for-4 on the evening for Indy, highlighted by a second-inning triple to Azócar, but Azócar fumbled the gather and allowed Hassell III to come all the way home to increase the Indians lead early. Cimillo and Indians catcher Christian Bethancourt both went 2-for-5 to power the bottom of the Indy batting order.
Indians starter Hunter Barco dealt a gem on the hill going 5.0 shutout innings with six strikeouts and only gave up four hits on the night. Justin Meis allowed one run in the sixth inning and struck out one hitter in his 1.0 inning of relief. Evan Sisk threw 1.0 inning as well and Michael Darrell-Hicks held Gwinnett scoreless in his 1.0 inning.
Gwinnett starter Elieser Hernández only went 2.0 innings and gave up two runs to Indy, but only one was an earned run. Rolddy Muñoz (L, 1-5) was last to work and went 2.0 innings, but gave up the three decisive runs in the 10th inning.
The six-game series between Indianapolis and Gwinnett continues Wednesday afternoon at 11:05 AM ET. Indy’s starter will be announced tomorrow morning and RHP Brett Sears (1-0, 0.92) will take the mound for Gwinnett.