STAFF REPORTS
The Indianapolis Indians used a seven-run fourth inning to top the Rochester Red Wings 11-6 Friday night at Frontier Field. The series continues Saturday night at 7:05 p.m., with fireworks after the game.
The Indians got off to an early lead 2-0 lead. In the top of the first, Wings starting pitcher Nick Tepesch gave up a walk to Austin Meadows followed by a home run by Max Moroff.
The Wings cut into the lead in the bottom of the frame. Indianapolis starting pitcher Cody Dickson walked Niko Goodrum to lead off the inning and Matt Hague singled. Two batters later, Mitch Garver laced a single to left field scoring Goodrum to make the score 2-1.
After Rochester native Chris Bostick led off the third inning with a single, Meadows followed with a towering home run to make the score 4-1 Indians.
Daniel Palka stretched his hitting streak to nine games in impressive fashion by hitting an opposite-field home run in the bottom the third inning. Palka’s eighth home run of the season cut the lead to 4-2.
Indianapolis scored seven runs in the top of the fourth to make the score 11-2. The Indians sent 12 batters to the plate and had six separate RBI hits in the inning.
The Wings tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run RBI single from Palka scoring J.B. Shuck and Engelb Vielma to make the score 11-4.
Tepesch was unable to make it through the fourth inning. He went 3.1 innings giving up 9 runs, seven hits, two walks and five strikeouts on 71 pitches (44 strikes).
D.J. Baxendale entered the game in the fourth and was unable to stop the Indians rally. He allowed the first five batters he faced to reach base before inducing an inning-ending double play. However, he was able to work two scoreless innings before handing the ball off to Kevin Chapman.
Dickson gave the Indians three innings of work giving two runs, four hits, three walks and four strikeouts on 67 pitches (37 strikes).
Goodrum led off the bottom of the sixth by hitting his fourth home run of the season.
Vielma hit a double to start the eighth inning and eventually scored on a wild pitch by Pat Light to make the score 11-6 Indians.
Chapman pitched two scoreless innings for Wings, and Michael Tonkin didn’t allow a run in the top of the ninth, striking out two.
After the fourth inning, the Wings bullpen pitched five innings with five strikeouts, giving up only one hit.
The Indians out-hit the Wings 13-12.
