Andres Alvarez had a three hit day at the bottom of the Indianapolis lineup. His triple in the seventh inning was the most significant of the day.
Coming to the plate to lead off the sixth inning of a 7-7 game, Alvarez launched his fourth triple of the year 100.3 MPH to center field, putting a runner at third base with no outs late in the game. Ji Hwan Bae came to the plate next and singled him in, giving Indianapolis the go-ahead run in their 8-7 victory.
The other two hits from Alvarez were singles, hit at 102.1 MPH and 37.8 MPH. The latter was a bunt single to lead off the second inning. The former was a single that moved a runner into scoring position in the fourth.
Alvarez was the first 20/20 player in Altoona franchise history in 2022, but didn’t follow that up in his return to the level in 2023. He’s been hitting .275/.362/.422 in Triple-A this year, with six homers and seven stolen bases. Alvarez is a good upper-level performer, and the 27-year-old could one day reach the majors as an emergency depth option.
TRIPLE-A: INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANAPOLIS won 8-7 after the Andres Alvarez triple and run scored.
- 1B Jake Lamb: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
- DH Joshua Palacios: 1-for-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI
- RHP Aaron Shortridge: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
- SS-CF Ji Hwan Bae: 1-for-4, BB, RBI
- C Jason Delay: 1-for-3, BB
Jake Lamb broke the game open for Indianapolis in the first inning with a three run homer. His seventh of the Triple-A season resulted in a 5-0 lead. Joshua Palacios expanded that to 7-0 after hitting a two run homer in the second inning. Michael Plassmeyer allowed five runs in the bottom half of the inning, and was replaced by Aaron Shortridge. After stranding a runner in the second, Shortridge pitched five innings, allowing two runs. He picked up the win, being on the mound when Bae knocked in Alvarez.
STATCAST HEROES
Hardest Hit: Joshua Palacios, 104.2 MPH, Home Run (374 feet)
Lamb Homer: 93.2 MPH, 343 feet
Shortridge Cutter: There was one swing and miss pitch of the five thrown by Shortridge. The cutter had four whiffs on seven swings. The four-seam and slider combo that he led with didn’t produce any whiffs, but were both thrown for strikes.
Franzua Whiffs: Striking out the side in a scoreless eighth inning, Geronimo Franzua led the Indianapolis pitchers in whiffs on Saturday. He had three from his changeup, two from the sinker, and one from the slider. All three pitches had a 43-60% CSW.
SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 1:07 PM – RHP Mike Burrows (0-1, 3.86)
