Sabol Homers as Indy Goes Five Games Above .500
September 2, 2022 – International League (IL) – Indianapolis Indians News Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Blake Sabol launched his first Triple-A home run as the Indianapolis Indians never trailed and outlasted the Louisville Bats for an 8-7 win on Friday night at Louisville Slugger Field. The Indians are now a season-high five games above .500.
After the scoring went back-and-forth through the first six innings, the Indians (65-40) took their final lead of the night in the seventh inning. With one out as the second batter of the frame, Ji-Hwan Bae lifted his sixth triple of the season to center field and was driven in on a sacrifice fly by Bligh Madris.
Travis MacGregor and Eric Stout (S, 5) then combined for seven strikeouts through the final three innings to shut down the Bats (52-75) offense. Stout stranded the bases loaded following two singles and an error in the ninth to clinch the victory.
For the second time through just four games in the series, the Indians got on the board first with a five-run spot in the opening frame. The team sent eight batters to the plate and hit for the cycle, with a leadoff double by Hoy Park, RBI single by Ji-Hwan Bae, RBI triple by Travis Swaggerty – his eighth of the year – and a three-run homer by Blake Sabol doing all the scoring.
In a repeat of Tuesday night, Louisville erased Indianapolis’ early five-run lead. After three of the first four batters in the bottom of the third reached base safely, two by free passes, Leonardo Rivas launched a grand slam to right-center field to bring the Bats within one.
Jared Oliva extended Indy’s lead to two runs with an RBI single in the fourth, but it didn’t last long. Following a fielding error that would have marked the final out of the fourth inning, Isiah Gilliam lined an RBI single into right field and a wild pitch on the next at-bat tied the game at 6-6.
Indianapolis’ retook the lead with an RBI single by Swaggerty in the fifth, but Louisville tied the game again one inning later on a bases-loaded walk.
Luis Ortiz made his Triple-A debut for Indianapolis and surrendered six runs (four earned) over 4.0 innings. He was relieved by Noe Toribio (W, 4-2), who took the Indians through the sixth inning with four strikeouts in 2.0 one-run innings. In total, Indians pitchers fanned 14 batters.
The Indians were issued five walks and struck out only six times. After starter Gavin Spiers was tagged with seven runs (six earned) in 5.0 innings, Julio Pinto (0-1) gave up the triple to Bae and game-winning sacrifice fly.
Indianapolis will look to extend its winning streak to four games tomorrow at 7:05 PM ET vs. the Bats. Taking the mound for the Indians will be RHP Osvaldo Bido (2-7, 4.79) against LHP Justin Nicolino (3-4, 5.29).
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