Tribe offense explodes in 9-5 win over Columbus
The Tribe duo also reached base nine times in 10 plate appearances. Richard finished 3-for-3 with one single, two doubles, two walks, three runs and one RBI, while Maldonado went 3-for-4 with a pair of singles, one double, one score, two RBI and was hit by pitch.
The Indians improve to 73-62 on the season, while the Clippers fall to 65-70 overall. Indianapolis and Toledo are now tied for first place in the International League's West Division with nine regular-season tilts remaining.
Indianapolis pounded out 17 hits with all nine starters recording at least one base knock for just the second time this season. It was the Tribe's most hits since a 16-2 thumping of Syracuse on May 30.
Indians CF Vic Buttler collected three singles in the win, while SS J.J. Furmaniak added a home run and triple. DH Raul Gonzalez contributed two runs, while 2B Craig Stansberry and 3B Yurendell de Caster chipped in with two RBI apiece.
Indianapolis scored four runs in the sixth to take the lead for good. Gonzalez and Richard smashed back-to-back doubles to knot the affair at three. RF Adam Boeve then plated Richard with a single through the left side, while Stansberry brought Maldonado and Boeve home with a double to right center.
The Indians added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh and one more in the ninth. Gonzalez reached on a fielder's choice and Richard walked before Maldonado hammered a two-run double to left center in the seventh. De Caster then drew a bases-loaded walk to force home PH Gookie Dawkins in the ninth.
Indianapolis RHP Scott Strickland (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO), who has not yielded a run since July 30, managed his eighth consecutive scoreless outing.
Columbus manufactured a run in the first and added a pair of scores in the third before the steady rain came and Indianapolis began to rally. Both clubs were forced to deal with the elements over the final five frames.
CF Bubba Crosby and SS Andy Cannizaro managed two hits apiece for the Clippers, while LF Mitch Jones launched his 20th long ball of the campaign -- a two-run shot in the ninth.
Tribe RHP Ryan Vogelsong (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) picked up the win, improving to 3-5. The 29-year-old is now 2-1 with a 1.61 ERA (5 ER in 28 IP) over his last four starts.
Columbus RHP Kris Wilson (5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) left the contest with a 3-2 lead, but did not figure in the decision. RHP Mark Corey (1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER), who spent the entire 2005 campaign with the Indians, was charged with his seventh blown save and fell to 6-4 with the loss.
The two clubs wrap up their three-game series Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. LHP Shane Youman is slated to start for the Indians, while RHP Colter Bean is expected to get the nod for the Clippers.
The game will be carried by ESPN-950 AM and IndyIndians.com as Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley have the call. Sunday's pre-game show begins at 12:45 p.m.