Joshua Palacios extended his hitting streak to six games on Saturday, going 3-for-4 with a homer and a double.
This was the third time during this six-game stretch that Palacios recorded three hits in a game. He had at least two extra base hits in each of those games. He also had a four-hit game earlier this month, with all four hits being doubles. As a result of the big hit days, Palacios is batting .444/.488/.917 with two homers, nine doubles, and four stolen bases this month.
He homered in the bottom of the fifth inning on Saturday, giving Indianapolis their first three runs of the game as they took a 3-2 lead. It was a 435 foot shot that traveled 106.5 MPH.
His 15th double of the season led off the seventh inning. Palacios was left stranded on third with the score tied at 4-4. Palacios led off the ninth inning with a single. He was part of a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning with the score tied 5-5.
The game went to extra innings. Palacios was intentionally walked in the 11th, with a runner at third. He stole second base, leading to another intentional walk to load the bases. Indianapolis couldn’t score, and allowed three runs in the 12th inning to lose 8-6.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS lost 8-6 in 12 innings, despite the big day from Joshua Palacios
- LF Billy McKinney: 3-for-4, 2 2B, 2 BB, RBI
- CF Matt Gorski: 2-for-6, RBI
- C Jason Delay: 1-for-4, BB
- DH Seth Beer: 1-for-4, BB
- RHP Luis Cessa: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Luis Cessa got the start, allowing three runs in 5.1 innings. The first two scored in the second inning, and Cessa kept his opponents off the board until the sixth. Billy McKinney had three hits, with two doubles. That puts his season total at seven. He also walked twice, reaching base safely five times. He hit an RBI single to bring in the tying run in the eighth inning. Matt Gorski hit an RBI single in the same inning that Palacios gave Indianapolis the lead.
STATCAST HEROES
Hardest Hit: Billy McKinney, 106.6 MPH, Double
Palacios Hits: 106.5 MPH Home Run, 98.9 MPH Double, 97.5 MPH Single
Cessa Whiffs: 4 on 16 swings vs the Slider, 7 on 14 swings vs the Four Seam (92.8 MPH average velocity)
DOUBLE-A: ALTOONA CURVE
ALTOONA lost 7-2
- CF Jase Bowen: 1-for-4, HR, RBI
- RF Tres Gonzalez: 2-for-4, SB
- 1B Nick Cimillo: 2-for-4
- LHP Nick Dombkowski: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
- RHP Grant Ford: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Nick Dombkowski entered Saturday’s start with a stretch of three outings in a row where he allowed two runs in 15 innings. He went two scoreless frames before allowing a three run inning. He followed that with a run in the fourth. Grant Ford came on to pitch the next three innings, allowing just a solo homer in the fifth. Altoona got their first run from a balk with Nick Cimillo at third base. Jase Bowen hit a solo homer in the fifth inning, his ninth of the year. Tres Gonzalez stole his tenth base of the season.
SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 1:35 PM – RHP Mike Burrows (0-1, 4.03)
- Double-A: Altoona, 1:00 PM – TBD
