The Indianapolis Indians can’t win every game this season, but until their 10-9 loss to the Columbus Clippers on Sunday it felt like they might.

The Tribe, like in many of the other games this season, scored first. They like to make their offensive presence known early in the game. On Sunday, it was with a two-run first inning. Andrew Lambo drove in a run on a double and he scored on a single by Matt Hague.

Unfortunately, though the Indians’ starter Phil Irwin didn’t make it out of the second inning, giving up seven of the eight Clippers’ runs that inning. Jay Jackson pitched in long relief, following his spot start in the last week’s double header against the Toledo Mud Hens. Jackson gave up three runs in four innings, striking out seven and walking two.

The Indians attempted to chip away at the lead the Clippers took early. After they scored two more runs in the top of the fourth, the Tribe scored three in the bottom of the inning. Gregory Polanco drove in two runs with a double and Lambo earned another RBI with a single. Michael Martinez, who was a home run shy of hitting the cycle, drove in a run in the bottom of the seventh.

Jackson combined with Duke Welker and Andy Oliver held the Clippers to scoreless innings from the fifth through the ninth.

Heading into the ninth inning, with their last chance to score, the Tribe was down four runs (five to win). They pulled close, scoring three, but were unable to complete their ninth inning rally. Martinez drew a bases loaded walk to score a run, Blake Davis drove in a run by hitting into a force out and the final run came on a single by Chase d’Arnaud.

Casey Sadler is the Tribe’s expected starting pitcher for Monday night’s 7:05 p.m. game at Victory Field.

[symple_toggle title=”Writer’s Note”]This article was originally published on the Indy Sports Report website. The photo is courtesy of Phil Taylor, a photographer for Indy Sports Report and accompanies the article on the website.[/symple_toggle]