Long Ball Dooms Bats, Fall to Indians 6-4
The Indians got off to a ferocious start as Jose Tabata hit the fourth pitch of the game over the left field fence for a home run. Erik Kratz then hit what was originally called a home run, but was changed to a ground-rule double after an appeal by Bats manager Rick Sweet. Tagg Bozied followed with a single to right that looked to score Kratz from second, but Michael Griffin threw a missle to home plate ahead of Kratz to end the inning.
Indianapolis added two more runs in the top of the second as Robinson Diaz hit a mammoth shot to left scoring two.
The Bats finally got on the board in the bottom of the second when Michael Griffin hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Juan Francisco.
After another run by Indianapolis on a RBI single by starter Brad Lincoln, the Bats put up three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game. Their runs came off of a home run by the red hot bat of Francisco, and another sacrifice fly by Michael Griffin. Bats starter Ben Jukich even managed to help his own cause with a RBI single to left.
The back-and-forth continued in the top of the fifth when Indianapolis took the lead again with a two-run blast by Eric Kratz that landed in the bleachers, measuring a phenomenal 440-feet.
The Bats were led offensively by Francisco and Dorn who both had multi-hit games. Francisco, Griffin, and Jukich drove in the runs for the Bats.
Ben Jukich (7-6, 4.62) took the loss for the Bats, going five innings, giving up six runs on twelve hits, while walking two and striking out four.
The Bats now head to Indianapolis to play the Indians for another three games starting Thursday. Probable starters are RHP Matt Klinker (1-1, 2.20) for the Bats and RHP Daniel McCutchen (12-6, 3.40) for the Indians.