For the Indianapolis Indians, this home series seems never-ending. On Saturday night, they hosted the Columbus Clippers for the second doubleheader in three days. It marks games four and five that the two teams will play against each other in a ten game stretch – they have one more game at Victory Field before the All-Star break and then a four game series in Columbus.

The rain earlier in Indianapolis kept the night overcast and grey for game one of the doubleheader. It wasn’t until the sixth inning that the Indians’ offense really started to see the ball as Clippers’ starter Kyle Davies flirted with a no-hitter through five innings.

It was during that sixth inning that the Tribe scored their only runs of the game. With one out, Chase d’Arnaud doubled. With two outs, Chris McGuiness doubled, scoring d’Arnaud. The next batter, Brent Morel, doubled and McGuiness scored. Tony Sanchez drove in Morel on a single, before Mel Rojas struck out to end the inning.

On the pitching side of things, the Indians’ signed starter Rafael Perez to a contract as a minor league free agent prior to the start of the games. In his debut he pitched six innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Going into the seventh inning, the Indians had a 3-2 lead and since it was a save situation, the Tribe called on reliever Andy Oliver. In save attempts, Oliver was 10-for-10 until Saturday night. Unfortunately, the streak of 10 straight saves ended when he gave up two runs on two hits in the seventh inning. It was his first blown save and his second loss of the season, as the Tribe dropped game one 4-3.

Game two started similarly to game one and appeared to be a pitcher’s duel in the making. Clippers’ starter Jordan Cooper lasted 4.2 innings giving up no runs on one hit while striking out three and walking three. Josh Outman earned the win, though as he was the pitcher of record at the end of the fifth inning.

The only Tribe run came in the sixth as they lost 2-1. The run was courtesy of the back-to-back-to-back singles by McGuiness, Morel and Sanchez. The Indians’ threatened in the seventh and the game on the line, but stranded two runners.

The Clippers took spot starter Jhonathan Ramos deep twice and that was enough to keep them on top of the game and bring themselves within one game of the Tribe in the International League West Division standings. Ramos’ final line was five innings pitched, two runs on four hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Josh Wall relieved him in the sixth and pitched two innings, giving up no runs on one hit with one strikeout.

Prior to the start of every game, it is announced that balls and bats may leave the playing field. Everyone including the staff in the press box should heed that warning. On Saturday night, a foul ball made it’s way into the press box. Everyone was okay, but the TV that is used by the official scorer took the brunt of the hit and the only damage was that the channel changed. It was something along the lines of the Pablo Sandoval foul ball that broke a reporters laptop at a game at the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

The Tribe hosts the final game of the series, and looks to rebound from both losses, on Sunday starting at 1:35 p.m. Casey Sadler is the Tribe’s expected starter.

Game 1 – Indians’ Player of the Game:

Rafael Perez

In his Indians’ debut the pitcher, he gave up two runs (one earned) in six innings of work. He did not earn the win, but still proved that he will be an asset to the team as the Indians look to win the International League West Division for the third straight season.

 

Game 1 – Final Box Score:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Clippers	1	0	0	0	1	0	2		4	9	1
Indians	0	0	0	0	0	3	0		3	5	1

Winning Pitcher: Davies (5-7, 3.94)
Losing Pitcher: Oliver (1-2, 2.15)

Game 2 – Indians’ Players of the Game:

Chris McGuiness and Tony Sanchez

Chris McGuiness scored the Tribe’s only run after singling in the sixth inning. He was driven in by Tony Sanchez two batters later. Both Sanchez and McGuiness were 1-for-3 at the plate.

Game 2 – Final Box Score:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Clippers	0	1	1	0	0	0	0		2	5	0
Indians	0	0	0	0	0	1	0		1	6	0

Winning Pitcher: Outman (1-1, 6.75)
Losing Pitcher: Ramos (0-1, 3.55)
Save: Tyler Sturdevant (1)