It’s been a week of heartache as the Indianapolis Indians lose seven straight games – one to the Pawtucket Red Sox, a four-game series sweep by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and most recently two against the Norfolk Tides.
On Friday night, the Tides set the record for most hits by an opposing team in the Victory Field era. They had 23.
On Saturday night, the Tribe played the longest game of the 2014 season lasting over four hours. The Tides also set a Victory Field record by striking out 20 Tribe batters.
It seemed that the Tides had pulled away on Friday night only for the Indians to battle back and bring the tying run to the on-deck circle in the bottom of the ninth. The Indians lost the game 10-7, but based on the lopsided numbers (23 Tide hits to 11 Tribe hits) it could have been much worse.
With Adam Wilk on the mound on Saturday night, wearing pink cleats for Mother’s Day since he isn’t playing on the actual date, the Tribe looked to break the streak. The Tides took an early lead after an RBI single by Francisco Peguero. They scored another run in the third and were held scoreless until they took the lead – and the game by a score of 3-2 – in the 12th inning.
Wilk pitched seven innings, gave up two runs on six hits. He walked two, but struck out three.
The Tribe’s Chris Dickerson was impressive both offensively and defensively on Saturday night. At the plate, he was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two walks. In the first inning, Dickerson made a stellar catch in right center field to prevent any more runs from scoring and earning the inning’s second out.
In the seventh inning with two outs, the Tribe scored their only runs of the game. Chase d’Arnaud earned a pinch hitting RBI sending Matt Hague home. d’Arnaud reached third on the same play thanks to a miscue by the Tides’ infielders, setting up another run scoring opportunity for the Indians. Dickerson followed through when he dove head first for a single.
Tyler Waldron, Andy Oliver and Josh Kinney all took the mound in relief. Kinney gave up the winning run.
Saturday night’s loss and the subsequent win of the Columbus Clippers, knocks the Tribe out of first place in the International League West Division for the first time since April 13, 2013. But by sticking with Tides on Saturday, it proves that the Indians are still battling through this slump and hopefully the streak will end following Sunday’s 1:35 p.m. Mother’s Day game. Jeff Locke is the expected pitcher for the Tribe.
Plus, you never know what else a losing streak might spawn. Nevin Ashley tweeted this photo of teammate Jake Brigham prior to the start of Saturday night’s game:
My boy Brigham changing things up around here to break this streak #nerdsrule @indyindians pic.twitter.com/xgAog5ByW7
— Nevin Ashley (@nevin_ashley) May 10, 2014