COLUMBUS, OHIO -Austin Meadows smashed a three-run home run in the eighth inning to rally the Indianapolis Indians past the Columbus Clippers, 4-2, Thursday afternoon at Huntington Park. The blast was Meadows' second of the season and helped improve Indy to 13-3 in the month of May.
COLUMBUS, OHIO -Austin Meadows smashed a three-run home run in the eighth inning to rally the Indianapolis Indians past the Columbus Clippers, 4-2, Thursday afternoon at Huntington Park. The blast was Meadows' second of the season and helped improve Indy to 13-3 in the month of May.
The Indians (20-18) struggled through the first seven innings against Clippers (17-23) southpaw Shawn Morimando, recording just four hits and a walk. Their best opportunity against the lefty came in the second inning when they failed to score after loading the bases with one out.
Over the century mark in pitches, Morimando exited for submarine right-hander Neil Holland, and the Indians capitalized. Erich Weiss opened the eighth with a pinch-hit double and moved to third on the first of two singles by Christopher Bostick. With two on and nobody out, Meadows drove a 1-0 offering into the left-field bleachers, turning Indy's two-run deficit into a one-run lead.
After Edgar Santana recorded three outs in the bottom of the eighth to extend his scoreless streak to 19.2 innings, Indy added a big insurance run in the ninth on a bases-loaded infield single by Jason Rogers.
Dan Runzler worked a 1-2-3 bottom half for his first save, capping an impressive series for the Indians who took the final four games of the five-game set. Paired with Toledo's 11-2 loss to Louisville, Indy moved into a tie for first place in the International League West Division.
Pat Light (3-0) posted a zero in the seventh to earn the win. Holland (0-1) took the loss after allowing three earned runs on four hits while registering just two outs in the eighth.
Drew Hutchison notched his third consecutive quality start for the Tribe, allowing two earned runs on four hits over six frames. Columbus' Yandy Diaz belted a leadoff homer in the first, and Eric Stamets hit a solo shot in the fifth that made it 2-0.
Indy returns to Victory Field on Friday night for a doubleheader to open a four-game weekend set against Toledo. The Indians will send right-hander Clay Holmes (1-1, 3.38) to the mound in Game 1, followed by right-hander Brett McKinney (2-1, 2.25) in the nightcap. Toledo will counter with southpaw Anthony Vasquez (1-0, 4.50) in the opener. They have not named a starter for Game 2. First pitch for Game 1 is set for 5:30 p.m.
