Indians snap three-game winning streak at home
By Brody Tisdale
INDIANAPOLIS – Canaan Smith-Njigba extended his hitting streak to nine games, but a pair of homers for the Rochester Red Wings topped the Indianapolis Indians on Thursday night at Victory Field, 3-1.
Home runs in back-to-back offensive frames for Rochester (65-79, 31-39) proved to be enough. First baseman Frankie Tostado broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with a solo home run off Indians starter Jared Jones (L, 4-5), and a fifth-inning, two-run blast by designated hitter Matt Adams opened a 3-0 lead.
The Indians (68-77, 35-36) showed signs of life with a run in the sixth. Mason Martin smacked a lead-off single and Chris Owings walked before Smith-Njigba sprayed a choppy ground ball to the right side that deflected off Tostado’s glove and into right field to plate Martin. The RBI knock extended Smith-Njigba’s hitting streak to nine games while notching his 23rd RBI of September. He entered tonight’s game leading the International League in RBI.
Red Wings starter Roddery Muñoz (W, 3-5) pitched 5.1 one-run innings, allowing just two hits and two walks with six strikeouts. Junior Fernandez (S, 2) stranded the tying run at first after forcing Martin to pop out to end the game.
Indians’ relievers Dauri Moreta, Chase De Jong and Cody Bolton combined for 4.0 scoreless frames, allowing just one hit.
The Indians and Red Wings continue their six-game set on Friday night at Victory Field at 7:05 PM ET. RHP Wil Crowe (1-1, 5.57) will take the hill for Indianapolis against Rochester’s RHP Alemao Hernandez (3-1, 3.64).
Originally posted on milb.com