Indians rally to defeat Buffalo 7-4
The Indians improve to 36-32, while the Bisons fall to 35-36. Indianapolis continues to lead the International League's West Division by one game over Toledo and Louisville.
Unusual would be the most appropriate word for the series opener, which served as a re-match of last year's first-round playoffs series between the two clubs.
The Indians, who drew nine walks and were hit by a pitch four times, won the contest with just three hits. In addition, none of the Tribe's seven runs were scored as a result of a base knock.
Indianapolis pushed across three runs on no hits in the 10th. PR Rajai Davis plated the go-ahead run when RF Adam Boeve was plunked with the bases loaded. PR Taber Lee and 2B Yurendell de Caster then came around to score when Buffalo's third baseman was charged with a fielding error.
The Indians evened the count with three runs in the seventh. De Caster scored when CF Rich Thompson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Boeve and C Carlos Maldonado then came plateward on a fielder's choice and throwing error by the Bisons shortstop.
The Tribe's six unanswered runs came after the Bisons controlled the first six innings.
Buffalo used an Indians miscue to plate three runs in the first. CF Ben Francisco beat out an infield single and DH Lou Merloni reached on the error before RF Jason Dubois roped a double to left. Dubois then came around to touch the dish when 3B Andy Marte tagged a single to left.
Indianapolis cracked the scoreboard in the third before Buffalo responded with a run in the sixth to keep its advantage at three.
Indians RHP Jonah Bayliss (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 SO), who worked a scoreless ninth and 10th, improved to 2-1 with the win. Bisons LHP Vic Darensbourg (1.1 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) was charged with the loss, falling to 0-2.
Marte paced the home team, going 3-for-5 with one run and two RBI. Dubois added a 2-for-5 effort with one score and a pair of runs knocked in.
Indianapolis 1B Chris Richard has now reached base safely in 31 consecutive games after walking three times in the contest. His streak stands as the longest by an IL batter in 2006.
The two clubs return to Dunn Tire Park Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m., for game two of the four-game series. LHP Sean Burnett is scheduled to start for Indianapolis, while RHP Jake Dittler is expected to get the nod for Buffalo.
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 1:45 p.m.