Enmanuel Valdez’s Second Straight Game with Go-Ahead Homer Seals Indians Win

INDIANAPOLIS – Enmanuel Valdez and Cameron Barstad each launched home runs over 400 feet to lift the Indianapolis Indians over the Columbus Clippers, 4-3, on Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field. Beau Burrows closed the door for his International-League-leading 13th save.

With the Clippers (25-26, 66-59) ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the third, Indianapolis (33-20, 64-64) backstop Cameron Barstad launched a 432-foot solo home run to lead off the inning for a 2-2 tie. Columbus’ starter Yorman Gómez (L, 1-5) quickly collected two strikeouts, but Ronny Simon drew a walk to extend the inning. The free pass paid off, as Enmanuel Valdez followed with a long ball over the center field fence for a 4-3 lead. Valdez has now homered in back-to-back contests for the fourth time this season.

In the first inning, Daniel Scheemann grabbed an early lead for the Clippers, hitting a solo shot to put Columbus up, 1-0. Mitch Jebb answered immediately in the bottom frame, sending a long ball to right-center field to knot the contest, 1-1. It was his third home run in as many games.

The Clippers retook the lead in the third, 3-1, as three doubles and a single by Clippers batters amounted to two more runs.

Brandon Neeck (W, 3-2) earned the win with 2.0 perfect innings and four strikeouts. Beau Burrows (S, 13) entered in the ninth and faced the minimum on eight pitches. He now stands alone at the top of the International League leaders in saves.

Indianapolis will aim for their fourth straight win behind southpaw Hunter Barco (4-6, 3.99), facing Columbus’ RHP Ben Lively (0-0, 0.00). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM ET.