INDIANAPOLIS - Elias Díaz and Phil Gosselin clubbed consecutive two-run doubles in the fourth to back Steven Brault's seven shutout innings as the Indianapolis Indians blitzed the Buffalo Bisons, 4-0, on Monday night at Victory Field. Indy has won three straight contests to move back to 10 games over .500.
INDIANAPOLIS - Elias Díaz and Phil Gosselin clubbed consecutive two-run doubles in the fourth to back Steven Brault's seven shutout innings as the Indianapolis Indians blitzed the Buffalo Bisons, 4-0, on Monday night at Victory Field. Indy has won three straight contests to move back to 10 games over .500.
A Jordan Luplow single was all Indianapolis (62-52) could muster through the first three innings against Joe Biagini, but it was another Luplow single that sparked the four-run fourth. Following Luplow's second knock, Biagini's night was finished after he sailed a wild pitch to the backstop and yielded a base hit to Edwin Espinal.
Right-hander Chris Rowley entered and failed to retire each of the first three batters he faced. He issued a four-pitch walk to Joey Terdoslavich before Diaz and Gosselin laced back-to-back doubles.
Buffalo's (50-65) season-high five-game winning streak was halted thanks to Brault's brilliance on the bump. The southpaw escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first by inducing a 5-4-3 double play off the bat of Jake Elmore, and the rest of his evening was smooth sailing. He faced three over the minimum from the second through the seventh and allowed just one runner to reach second base during that stretch.
Brault (9-5) exited at an efficient 86 pitches en route to his team-high ninth win. Since May 6, the 25-year-old is 9-2 with a 1.54 ERA in 15 games (14 starts).
Biagini (0-1) suffered the loss in his Triple-A debut. He surrendered two runs on three hits in three-plus innings pitched. Chris Rowley gave up two runs over five innings in relief.
Angel Sánchez and Montana DuRapau worked the eighth and ninth innings to complete Indy's eighth shutout win of the season. The shutout loss was Buffalo's 14th of the season.
The Indians and Bisons continue their three-game series Tuesday night in the Circle City. The Tribe will send right-hander Clay Holmes (7-5, 3.43) to the mound, opposite Buffalo left-hander T.J. House (8-10, 4.28). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
