Nick Gonzales finished a home run shy of the cycle
By Anna Kayser
INDIANAPOLIS – Led by Nick Gonzales’ four-hit day, the Indianapolis Indians boomed with eight of nine starting position players recording at least one run, hit and RBI in a series-opening 10-6 win 4/16 over the St. Paul Saints at Victory Field on Tuesday.
Gonzales, who hit for the cycle at Victory Field on Sept. 19, 2023, vs. Rochester, went 4-for-5 and was a home run shy of becoming just the first batter in franchise history to accomplish the feat twice. He was joined by Canaan Smith-Njigba (3-for-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI), Billy McKinney (2-for-5, 1 R, 2 RBI) and Ji Hwan Bae (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI) in having multi-hit performances for Indianapolis.
The Saints (7-8) took an early first-inning lead on back-to-back triples to begin the game, the first of which came off the bat of former Indian Diego Castillo. The lead was short-lived, however, as a run-scoring groundout by Pirates rehabber Yasmani Grandal knotted the game in the bottom half.
A back-and-forth contest continued from there. Down 2-1 in the third inning, the Indians were off to the races with a three-run third inning, sparked by back-to-back doubles by Smith-Njigba and Bae. It was their first of three consecutive run-scoring frames, countering a two-run fourth by St. Paul with an RBI triple by Gonzales in the fourth and pair of RBI singles by Gilberto Celestino and Smith-Njigba in the fifth.
The Indians (7-9) never relinquished their lead, but the offense continued rolling. Following a two-run Will Holland homer in the sixth to bring St. Paul within one, another three-run frame in the eighth took the game out of reach. RBI singles by McKinney and Smith-Njibga sandwiched a double by Matt Gorski.
In total, the Indians had seven extra-base hits in the contest, five doubles and two triples. The three-baggers by Gonzales and Liover Peguero were the Indians first at Victory Field this season, one year after leading the league with 42.
Eric Lauer got the start for the Indians and allowed four of six runs in 3.2 innings. After Brady Feigl (W, 11) exited the game in the seventh, J.C. Flowers, Fineas Del Bonta-Smith and Brent Honeywell spin 3.0 shutout innings to close out the game.
Randy Dobnak (L, 1-2), making his eighth career appearance vs. Indianapolis, surrendered five runs in 4.0 innings.
The Indians and Saints continue the six-game series on Wednesday at 12:05 PM ET. Taking the hill for Indianapolis will be LHP Cam Alldred (0-2, 10.00). Countering for St. Paul is RHP David Gesta (0-0, 2.16).
Originally posted on milb.com/indianapolis