INDIANS SHUT OUT CLIPPERS 8-0
Moss And Bernier Combine For Six RBI In Victory
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Right fielder Brandon Moss and first baseman Doug Bernier each drove in three runs to lead the Indianapolis Indians’ offense to multiple scores in the first, second and fourth innings, while four Tribe pitchers combined to hold Columbus scoreless as the Indians earned an 8-0 shutout over the Clippers on Saturday night at Huntington Park.
The victory improves Indianapolis’ record to 68-67 on the season, while the loss drops Columbus to 74-61. The win also ups the Tribe’s record to 8-9 on the year against the Clippers with four games remaining this season between the two teams.
With 3B Akinori Iwamura standing at first with two outs in the top of the opening inning, Moss stepped to the dish and promptly gave the Tribe a quick 2-0 advantage when he blasted the fourth pitch of his plate appearance out to deep center field for a two-run home run. The blast was the outfielder’s team-leading 21st home run of the season and accounted for his 85th and 86th RBI of the year.
After 2B Brian Friday doubled home SS Pedro Ciriaco with two outs in the second inning to up Indianapolis’ advantage to 3-0, Bernier gave the Tribe a four-run cushion when he laced a line drive single to left to plate Friday. The base knock drove home the utility infielder’s second RBI this month and was a precursor for what was to come in Bernier’s next at-bat.
With the score still holding at 4-0 in the Tribe’s favor in the top of the fourth inning, Bernier strode to the plate with runners standing at first and second with one out in the frame. The Indians’ first baseman wasted little time at the dish and lined the first offering of his at-bat out to right field for his 12th double of the season to plate both C Jason Jaramillo and Friday and give Indianapolis a 6-0 lead.
Following a fourth inning, run-scoring double by CF Alex Presley that allowed Bernier to touch home, Moss capped off his three-RBI evening with a sacrifice fly to right field to up Indianapolis’ advantage to 8-0. The sacrifice fly was just the second run-scoring sacrifice hit of the season for Moss in 127 total games played.
Not to be overshadowed by the Tribe’s eight-run, 12-hit offensive attack was the effort of both Indians’ starter Dana Eveland (3.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) and reliever Brian Bass (3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 SO). Eveland limited the Clippers’ offense to just three hits over 3.1 innings of work in a spot start for the Tribe after RHP Charlie Morton was recalled by the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier in the day, while Bass was just as impressive as he allowed only one base runner in a season-long 3.2 inning relief stint.
Indians’ RHPs Steven Jackson (1.0 IP, 1 BB) and Jean Machi (1.0 IP, 2 SO) pitched the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to close out the scoreless effort for Indianapolis. The 8-0 victory was the Tribe’s fifth shutout of the season and the team’s first since beating the Toledo Mud Hens by a 1-0 score on August 20.
In his third start of the season against Indianapolis, Columbus LHP David Huff (4.0 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) was strapped with just his second loss at the Triple-A level this year after he allowed eight runs on nine hits in four ineffective innings. The Clippers’ bullpen – led by RHPs Carlton Smith (2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 SO), Jess Todd (1.0 IP, 0 R, 1 SO) and Saul Rivera (2.0 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) – held Indianapolis scoreless over the final five innings of play.
At the plate, four Tribe batters – Bernier (2-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI), Presley (3-for-4, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB), Jaramillo (2-for-4, 1 R) and Friday (2-for-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB) – collected multiple hits in the contest, while Iwamura (1-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB) and Friday each scored two runs for the Indians.
The Indians conclude their brief two-game road series against the Columbus Clippers on Sunday, August 29 at 5:05 p.m. RHP Mike Crotta is the probable starter for the Tribe, while RHP Zach McAllister is expected to get the call for Columbus.
The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and www.IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show begins at 4:45 p.m.
Post-game quotes — INF Doug Bernier
(on getting regular playing time against left-handed pitchers)
“It’s always nice to get regular at-bats. It’s easier to get your timing down and get into the flow of the game. It’s been a nice thing to play more.”
(on the combined shutout effort of the Tribe pitching staff)
“They (the Indians’ pitching staff) have been throwing pretty well of late and we haven’t been helping them out offensively. It was nice for everything to click tonight. Our pitchers were outstanding and it was a fun game to be a part of.”
