Tribe triumphs over Clippers 5-2
The Indians improve to 46-53 overall and 22-26 on the road, while the Clippers fall to 52-45 on the season and 23-23 at home. The outcome gives the Tribe two straight wins and extends Columbus' losing streak to six games.
Three errors, a single and a sacrifice fly plated all three runs for the Tribe in the fifth inning.
Following the first two Clippers' miscues, 3B Neil Walker drove in RHP Jason Davis with a single to right field. Another Columbus slip up then plated the second Tribe tally, before SS Brian Bixler lifted a sacrifice fly to right for the Tribe's third run.
Walker also gave Indianapolis the early lead with an RBI single to left, which drove in LF Nyjer Morgan, who led off the game with a double to right. The base knock for Morgan extended his team-best hitting streak to 17 games (.347 BA, 25-for-72, 15 R, 7 RBI), which continues to be his best stretch since hitting safely in 21 straight affairs for High-A Lynchburg (Va.) during the 2006 season.
Tribe RHP Jason Davis (6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO) came on in relief of RHP John Van Benschoten (2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 SO) and picked up the win to improve to 5-9 on the season. Indianapolis RHP Jesse Chavez (1.0 IP, 2 SO) pitched a perfect ninth to notch his seventh save of the season.
Fresh off their appearance in the Triple-A All-Star game on Wednesday night, Bixler and OF Andrew McCutchen combined for two runs, two walks and a RBI for the Indians.
Walker (3-for-5, 3 RBI) and Morgan (2-for-5, 2 R) turned in the only multi-hit performances for the Tribe.
Columbus plated both of their runs in the third by way of a single by CF Roger Bernadina and a double by 3B Ryan Zimmerman. The double by Zimmerman, who is on a Major League rehab assignment with the Clippers, was the only extra-base hit for Columbus.
RHP Shairon Martis (6.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) started and took the loss to fall to 0-2 on the season. RHP Jim Ed Warden (0.2 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) and LHP Mike Hinckley (2.0 IP 1 BB, 1 SO) came on in relief and did not allow a hit.
Bernadina (2-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI) posted the only multi-hit effort for Columbus.
The teams continue their four-game series on Friday at 7:25 p.m. LHP Corey Hamman is scheduled to start for Indianapolis, while RHP Tyler Clippard is expected to get the nod for Columbus.
The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 7:05 p.m.
Post-game quotes -- INF Neil Walker
(on driving in a run with each of his three hits)
"What this means is that the guys in front of me are doing their job. I just continue to go out and try to put a good at-bat together. Fortunately tonight I was able to put three good at-bats together and everyone in front of me did the job to get on base. As a hitter that's all you can really ask for."
(on OF Nyjer Morgan always being on base over the past few weeks)
"It seems like every time I come to bat, he, (OF Andrew) McCutchen, or (SS Brian) Bixler are always on and most of the time at second base. As a hitter that's always a good sight when you come up to the plate."
(on the performance of RHP Jason Davis)
"He has been giving us some great outings recently and it seems like a lot of the time we are not getting him enough runs. He goes out there and works hard every time and fortunately we were able to give him some support tonight. He did a great job settling down after the third inning and gave us the chance to win."