Owings and Shackelford Homer in Indians Ninth-Inning Loss
By Anna Kayser
July 8, 2023
INDIANAPOLIS – The Memphis Redbirds put up three runs in the top of the ninth inning to secure a come-from-behind victory against the Indianapolis Indians on Friday night at Victory Field, 8-7.
Following a sixth-inning tiebreaking home run by Aaron Shackelford, the Indians (40-45, 7-4) held onto a one-run lead until the top of the ninth inning. A leadoff double by Juan Yepez set up the tying runner in scoring position, and he later came around to score on an RBI single by Kramer Robertson against Juan Minaya (L, 0-1). Nick Raposo lined a two-run single into left field to score the game-winning run.
A line-drive triple into the right-field corner by Liover Peguero got the Indians offense started in the second, scoring Ryan Vilade and Canaan Smith-Njigba after a single and walk to begin the inning. Three pitches later, Shackelford drove in Peguero on a sacrifice fly. With two outs and Grant Koch on first base, Chris Owings then sent a fly ball just over the right-field wall to cap Indy’s five-run frame.
The Redbirds (42-44, 3-8) wasted no time chipping away at their deficit, scoring three runs in the third on RBI singles by Richie Palacios and Juniel Querecuto. A Taylor Motter monster home run in the fifth and Raposo single in the sixth knotted the game at 5-5 before Shackelford’s home run gave Indy the lead.
James Naile (W, 5-1) entered in relief of Memphis starter Thomas Parsons and tossed 2.0 shutout innings while the Redbirds took the lead. Jake Walsh (S, 4) surrendered one run in the ninth but stranded the game-tying run at first base.
Miguel Andújar led the Indians offense with three hits and extended his hitting streak to 10 games dating back to June 29.
Indianapolis will look to clinch a series victory against Memphis tomorrow afternoon at 1:35 PM ET. Taking the hill for the Indians will be LHP Cam Alldred (5-1, 4.07) against LHP Matthew Liberatore (4-1, 3.13).
Originally posted in milb.com