Clippers Fight Off Indians 9-7
The Clippers improve to 7-9 overall and 3-3 at home, while the Indians fall to 6-8 on the season and 3-2 on the road. Columbus' Friday night victory evens the current four-game series at one game apiece.
After sitting out Thursday night's series opener, Jones (2-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI) made his presence felt with a multi-hit and multi-RBI performance. The Tribe right fielder got things rolling in the first when he drove in CF Andrew McCutchen with an RBI ground out.
Jones started the night 0-for-3, but was able to extend his hitting streak with an RBI double to right field in the eighth. In the following inning the big lefty blasted the ball over the fence for a three-run homer, which gave him his second longball on the season and fifth RBI of the evening.
Led by Jones the Indians staged a late-inning rally as they scored two runs in the eighth and three runs in the ninth. Tribe batters belted a season-high six doubles in the game, including three back-to-back two-baggers in the eighth by LF Jeff Salazar, Jones and 3B Neil Walker. Despite tallying five runs in the final two innings the Indians comeback came up short as the Columbus bats continued to provide answers.
The Clippers 3-4-5 hitters, 3B Wes Hodges (3-for-5, 3 R), RF Matt LaPorta (2-for-4, 3 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB) and SS Luis Valbuena (3-for-4, 2 R, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 1 BB), all notched multi-hit performances and combined for eight of their team's nine runs. Hodges scored three runs on three hits, while LaPorta added two more including a two-run homer in the third.
Valbuena plated Hodges with an RBI double in the bottom of the first to give Columbus their first run of the game, but it was his hit in the eighth inning that was the difference. After the Indians pulled to within three in the eighth, Valbuena answered by slugging a two-run triple to right field that scored LaPorta and LF David Dellucci and stretched the score to 9-4.
Every Tribe player reached base in the contest, but only two other Indians besides Jones amassed multi-hit games. CF Andrew McCutchen (2-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB) remained hot at the plate going 2-for-5 including a double, two runs, one RBI and a stolen base.
McCutchen remains a fixture at the top of the International League leader board in hitting as he came into Friday night's contest ranking among IL leaders for triples (1st, 5), runs (T-2nd, 14), total bases (3rd, 36) and stolen bases (T-9th, 3).
After going 2-for-22 in his first eight games, Tribe 1B Larry Broadway (4-for-4, 1 R) broke out with his first multi-hit performance of the season. Broadway reached base in every at-bat going 4-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored.
Indianapolis starter Jason Davis (4.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) dropped to 0-2 on the season after he allowed six runs in 4.2 innings, while Columbus starter Jack Cassel (7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO) picked up the win after striking out six in seven innings of work. The win pulls Cassel to an even 1-1 against the Indians this season.
The teams continue their four-game series on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Ty Taubenheim is scheduled to start for Indianapolis, while LHP David Huff 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 6:45 p.m.
Post-game quotes -- RF Garrett Jones
(on his hitting improving later in the game)
"I'm seeing the ball real good right now, but my timing is a little off from where it was. Tonight I felt better as the game moved along and my rhythm got better."
(on the windy conditions)
"Wind is a factor and it was tough to get a good read on the ball. I almost missed a ball tonight that was lined right at me. You just fight through it and position yourself as best you can."