Indians Square Bats Late Before Falling 5-4
LOUISVILLE, KY -- The Indianapolis Indians (47-39) battled all the way back from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game in the eighth frame, but a one-out, RBI knock just half an inning later plated the decisive run in a 5-4 loss to the Louisville Bats (44-42) on Wednesday night Louisville Slugger Field. The frustrating outcome gave the Bats their third straight one-run victory over the stumbling Tribe.
Indy fought valiantly despite notching just two hits through six innings prior to beginning its 4-0, uphill climb. Michael Martinez initiated the seventh-frame comeback by singling on a liner to center field to put a runner on base for the All-Star Chris Dickerson. After watching one pitch sail by, Dickerson launched a towering two-run shot to center that sliced Louisville's lead in half at 4-2 and spelled the ending for Bats starter Chien-Ming Wang.
Still trailing by a pair in the next frame and with two outs already to the Indians record, Tribe catcher Tony Sanchez took second courtesy of his first double since May 30 and then advanced 90 feet when Robert Andino stroked a single to the gap out in left-center. Indy's lineup kept the momentum rolling as Michael Martinez worked a six-pitch walk that loaded the bases for Mel Rojas Jr., who delivered a clutch, two-run knock in his first PH appearance of the season to help the Tribe even the contest at 4-4.
While the Bats had wathced and suffered through Indy's comeback, they would need just one more at-bat to erase the effort, beginning with go-ahead runner Bryan Anderson reaching on an eight-pitch walk and taking second on a wild pitch. Ray Navarro then sent Indy packing with his game-winning single that propelled Louisville to a 5-4 win.