Wings Get Loss Out Of Way Quick
By: Thad Brown
Updated: June 10, 2012
Just one day after being shutout out by a fantastic pitching performance from Rochester starter Liam Hendriks, the Indianapolis offense would erupt for six early scores that never put the final outcome in doubt. Along with each starter collecting at least one hit, all but one scored at least one run and five drove in at least one run.
With the longball, his second since joining the Tribe on May 30, Navarro has now hit safely in 10 of the 11 games in which he has played for Indianapolis, during which he has posted a .310 average with eight runs scored and seven RBI.
Following their three-run opening frame, the Indians would continue their early-inning barrage with three more scores in the bottom half of the second. RF Brandon Boggs began the second-inning attack with a leadoff single and, after moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by C Tony Sanchez, came plateward when 3B Brian Friday lined a double to center field.
LF Gorkys Hernandez would eventually plate Friday with a clutch two-out single later in the second to extend the Indians advantage to 5-0, before coming home when CF Starling Marte followed with a two-bagger of his own.
Rochester would put across their only run of the contest in the top of the third when catcher J. R. Towles led off the frame with a double and, after a throwing error moved him to third, would cross home when SS Pedro Florimon grounded into a double play.
However, Fox would get that run back and more for the Indians when he launched a mammoth two-run to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the game its final score of 8-1. The shot by Fox, which plated Gorkys Hernandez who led off the frame with a base hit, was the right handed slugger's second of the season and first since April 27 in Durham.
Indianapolis' offensive outbreak was all in support of starting pitcher Rudy Owens (6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) who battled through six innings to earn his fifth win of the season. The effort by Owens also lowered his ERA to an excellent 2.29, which is the best among all Indians starting pitchers and ranks among the top 10 in the International League.
After Owens, Indians relievers Chris Leroux (1.0 IP, 1 SO), Daniel Moskos (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and Jose Diaz (1.0 IP, 2 SO) combined for three hitless frames of relief to nail down the Indians victory. On the other side, Rochester starter Cole De Vries (2.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss to fall to 1-5 on the season after surrendering all six early Tribe tallies.
The Tribe and Red Wings continue their four-game series on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. Indianapolis expects to send LHP Justin Wilson (4-4, 4.23) to the mound while Rochester is expected to counter with LHP Matt Maloney (0-1, 4.86).
