Gwinnett Powers Past Indianapolis 9-4
With the loss the Indians drop to 21-24 overall and 12-12 on the road, while the win improves the Braves to 26-21 on the season and 13-12 at home. The victory for the Braves gives them the 2-1 series edge with the final game to take place on Thursday afternoon.
The Indians jumped out to an early 3-1 lead behind center fielder Andrew McCutchen's two-run home run in the top of the third, but the Braves took over the lead scoring a combined eight runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
CF Gregor Blanco's two-run single in the fourth tied the game at three and was followed by an RBI single by 2B J.C. Holt that gave Gwinnett the lead. SS Brooks Conrad later added a two-out solo longball in the fifth to extend the Braves lead to 5-3. Gwinnett then closed the door in the sixth with four runs, including a two-run double to deep center field by 1B Barbaro Canizares.
One through four hitters, Blanco, Holt, LF Brandon Jones and Canizares combined for five of the nine Braves' hits, three of the nine runs, and seven of the eight RBIs. Canizares (2-for-4, 1 2B, 3 RBI), however, collected the only multi-hit performance, while Blanco (1-for-5, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 SB) and Holt (1-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 SB) also knocked in multiple runs
McCutchen (3-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB) tallied the Indians' only multi-hit performance going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while also picking up an outfield assist after gunning a runner out at home in the fourth. The top prospect also stole his tenth bag of the season to go along with his third homer of 2009.
The Braves bullpen combined to allow only one run on two hits in five innings of relief. Gwinnett left hander Boone Logan (2.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) earned his first win with a scoreless fifth and sixth, while RHP Vladmir Nunez (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) gave up one run in two innings and LHP Mariano Gomez (1.0 IP) closed out with a perfect ninth.
Tribe starter Ty Taubenheim (5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO) dropped to 2-5 on the season after he allowed five runs on six hits in five innings of work, while Braves' starter James Parr (4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 SO) received a no decision after he gave up three runs and struck out four in four innings.
Indianapolis closes out their four game series at Gwinnett at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday. Indians RHP Jeremy Powell is expected to get the start against 300-game winner and likely hall-of-famer Tom Glavine as he is slated to start for the Braves.
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 1:40 p.m.
Post-game quotes -- RHP Ty Taubenheim
(on his first inning performance)
"I felt fine, I knew things within my delivery weren't comfortable. So I needed to adjust and that led to my fastball being inconsistent, but my curve was sharp so I had that."
(on Gwinnett's rally in the fourth)
"The intentional walk didn't bother me it was the lead off walk. It's tough to give out free passes and bounce back. It's hard enough to get outs and I gave them bases."