INDIANAPOLIS - Jordan Luplow greeted Columbus reliever Evan Marshall with a two-run single in the seventh inning to lift the Indianapolis Indians to a 5-3 comeback win Sunday afternoon at Victory Field. Catcher Ryan Lavarnway collected three of Indy's 13 hits overall.
INDIANAPOLIS - Jordan Luplow greeted Columbus reliever Evan Marshall with a two-run single in the seventh inning to lift the Indianapolis Indians to a 5-3 comeback win Sunday afternoon at Victory Field. Catcher Ryan Lavarnway collected three of Indy's 13 hits overall.
Indianapolis (2-1) never led until Luplow's go-ahead knock after the stretch. Todd Cunningham opened the seventh with a double into the right field corner and followed that with a slick feet-first slide at third on a bunt by Kevin Newman to put runners at the corners. Max Moroff then walked to load the bases and one out later, Luplow smashed Marshall's first pitch out of the bullpen into left to put Indy on top, 3-2.
Christopher Bostick added an insurance run with a base hit to center before both teams traded single runs in the eighth to complete the scoring.
Johnny Hellweg (S, 1) worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 25th career save and first since Sept. 3, 2010 with Low-A Cedar Rapids.
Tribe starter Alex McRae lasted 3.2 innings in his Triple-A debut, allowing one run on six hits with five strikeouts. Tanner Anderson and Kyle Crick (W, 1-0) combined for 4.1 innings in relief, scattering eight hits and surrendering just two runs (one earned).
Columbus (1-2) jumped in front on a two-out RBI double by Eric Haase in the first, but the Indians drew even on a Lavarnway run-scoring single in the second.
The Clippers regained the lead in the fifth on a two-out RBI single from Nellie Rodríguez. Luplow prevented further damage thanks to a perfect throw home from left field to retire Richie Shaffer, keeping the deficit at one.
Two innings later, it was Luplow's bat delivering the big blow.
Kevin Kramer (2-for-4) and Bostick (2-for-4, RBI) registered multi-hit games in the victory.
Clippers righty Ben Taylor (L, 0-1) was charged with three runs on two hits.
The Indians' homestand continues with the Toledo Mud Hens coming to Circle City on Monday, April 9 for a three-game series. Tribe right-hander Austin Coley will make his Triple-A debut, while the Mud Hens will send righty A.J Ladwig to the mound.
To purchase tickets for any Indians home game, contact the Victory Field Box Office at 317-269-2282 or [email protected]. For more on the Tribe, visit IndyIndians.com.
