|
08/07/2009 11:08 PM ET
Eight Run 2nd Leads Tribe Past Knights 10-3
Tribe Tallies Eight Runs On 12 Hits in Largest Inning of the Season
By Andrew Jennings / IndyIndians.com
|
|
 RHP Virgil Vasquez earned the win Friday night after he struck out seven and allowed just two earned runs in six innings of work. (Bill Gentry)
Related Links
MiLB Headlines
ADVERTISEMENT
|
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Indians put together their largest inning of the season as they plated eight runs on 12 hits and one walk in the second inning to blow past the Charlotte Knights 10-3 in front of a crowd of 14,083 on Pink Jersey Night at Victory Field.
With the win the Indians improve to 55-57 on the season and 28-26 at home, while the Knights drop to 51-61 overall and 21-34 on the road with the loss. With the victory Indianapolis now leads the current set 2-0 and the season series 4-2 with two games left between the two teams.
After a scoreless first the Indians caught fire in the second where they turned in their largest inning of the season as they plated eight total runs in the frame. The inning saw 12 Tribe batters combine for eight hits, including three doubles.
Highlighting the rally was C Erik Kratz who scored the first run of the inning after he led off with a single and also added an RBI double later in the frame. 2B Brian Bixler plated Kratz early in the inning as he singled up the middle with the bases loaded to bring home the Tribe catcher and DH Hector Gimenez, who also reached on a single of his own.
CF Jose Tabata then reached on an infield single to again load the bases before RF Brian Myrow took advantage of the opportunity and brought home SS Argenis Diaz with a sacrifice fly. Following the sac fly the Tribe put together four straight hits as 1B Jeff Clement smacked a two run double followed by a double by LF Tagg Bozied and a two-run two-bagger by 3B Neil Walker before Kratz collected his second base knock of the inning with his own RBI double.
Thanks to the monster inning each Indians' starter reached base at least once as Tabata (3-for-6, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and Kratz (3-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB) went on to collect three hits with Clement (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB), Gimenez (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB) and SS Argenis Diaz (2-for-3, 1 R, 2 BB) also all recording multiple base knocks. Bozied (1-for-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 BB) also nabbed two walks, while Bixler (1-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI), Clement and Walker (2-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI) each tallied multiple RBI.
With his two-run single Bixler has now collected a hit in nine straight games and has reached base safely in 17 straight contests. Walker also extended his own hitting streak to seven games and has now recorded an RBI in six of his last seven contests including four multi-RBI performances to total 15 RBI in his past seven games.
Alongside Bixler and Walker, newcomer Clement has also been sensational at the plate as of late. In his seven contests with the Indians, the left handed slugger has gone 11-for-27 (.407) with nine runs, one double, four home runs, seven RBI and four walks.
Following the fantastic frame of eight runs, Tabata provided an encore with his first home run at the Triple-A level, a solo shot to left field. The Indians would also go on to collect a score late in the bottom of the eighth as defensive replacement Pedro Lopez knocked Walker in with an RBI ground out to second base.
Behind the strong offensive output, Indianapolis starting pitcher Virgil Vasquez (6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO) shut down Charlotte as the right hander earned the win after he struck out seven and gave up just two earned runs in six innings of work. The victory moved Vasquez to 6-2 on the season and was his first win for the Tribe since June 23 after he made seven starts in Pittsburgh.
The Knights only managed to tally two runs in the fifth and one score in the sixth off of Vasquez behind multi-hit performances by DH Cole Armstrong (2-for-4, 1 R) and C Tyler Flowers (3-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB). The two sluggers led off the fifth with back-to-back singles and both came around to score after a throwing error moved them into scoring position later in the frame.
Armstrong later trotted home on an RBI single by 2B Keith Ginter before Flowers came plateward on an RBI ground out by CF Miguel Negron. Armstrong and Flowers would also go on to help provide their team's final run in the following inning.
After a solid start by Vasquez Indianapolis continued to control Charlotte bats as their relief corps didn't allow a run in three innings of relief. Right handers Jean Machi (2.0 IP, 1 BB) and Jason Davis (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) combined to allow just one hit, while striking out two in their three shut out innings out of the bullpen.
On the other side Vasquez' counter part, Wes Whisler (1.1 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO), didn't fare as well as the lefty suffered the Tribe's season-high eight run inning. The Noblesville, Indiana native and 2001 Indiana "Mr. Baseball" dropped to 7-10 on the season after he allowed eight earned runs on eight hits and three walks in just 1.1 innings.
The Charlotte relievers did however replace Whisler with an impressive performance out of the pen as former Indians' right hander John Van Benschoten (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO) combined with RHP Justin Cassel (3.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO), Kelvin Jimenez (1.0 IP) and Jon Link (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) to allow just two runs in 7.2 innings of relief.
Indianapolis will continue their four-game series with Charlotte on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. RHP Eric Hacker is scheduled to start for the Indians, while RHP Jack Egbert is expected to get the nod for the Knights.
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 6:40 p.m.
Post-game quotes -- C Erik Kratz
(on the eight-run, second inning)
"The hitting was definitely contagious. We stayed aggressive in all of the at bats and we didn't give in. We were just trying to do what we could at the plate and we were able to get a few walks and a couple of good knocks, with guys on base.""
(on the performance of RHP Jean Machi)
"He was great. You see the 97 and 94 mile and hour pitches and that's not even all of what he brings to the table. He has a repertoire of three pitches and he was a starter last year. When you bring that kind of talent to the mound and you're a starter and now he is going to bring all of those pitches out of the bullpen."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
| 
