The Indianapolis Indians carried their momentum from Friday night’s extra inning victory into Saturday’s doubleheader, sweeping the Columbus Clippers by final scores of 4-0 and 5-4.
Brandon Cumpton gave up six hits in his six-inning starting performance in game one. He gave up no runs and his quality start was supported by the Indians’ offense in the second and fourth innings.
Back-to-back doubles to start the second inning from Brent Morel and Chris Dickerson led to the Tribe’s first run of the game. The victory was solidified in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Matt Hague to drive in Gregory Polanco. The big hit came when Chris McGuiness homered with Dickerson still on base, putting the Indians up 4-0.
The Clippers would threaten in the bottom of the fourth, but Cumpton pitched out of the jam getting Tim Fedroffto fly out to centerfield with runners on second and third. Duke Welker relieved Cumpton in the seventh to complete the game.
Unsatisfied with losing the first game, the Clippers started game two by scoring first off starter Jake Brigham. It would be the only run given up by a Tribe starting pitcher over the course of the day. Brigham’s final line included nine strikeouts in six innings pitched.
The Clippers wouldn’t stay on top for long. The Tribe answered, scoring two in the second. With McGuiness on base, Nevin Ashley doubled. Blake Davis followed the Ashley double with one of his own and driving in the second run of the inning.
The Tribe scored three more between the fifth and sixth frames with Polanco adding an RBI and Davis picking up two more.
Jay Jackson was unable to halt the Clippers’ threat, giving up three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Josh Kinney was able to come in to retire the last batter and earn the save in the Tribe’s 5-4 victory.
In other Indians’ news from the day, Robert Andino was placed on the 7-day disabled list prior to the doubleheader. Davis was called up from the short-season Jamestown Jammers and is wearing jersey number 10.
Sunday’s probable starting pitcher in the last game of the series against the Clippers is Adam Wilk. This will be Wilk’s first start, outside of Spring Training, in the United States following a year spent playing international baseball in Korea.