Miguel Andújar extended his hitting streak to seven games
By Katie Bostic
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Behind another multi-hit performance from Miguel Andújar and a trio of two-run innings, the Indianapolis Indians overcame a one-run deficit to defeat the Gwinnett Stripers on Thursday night, 7-4.
Trailing by a run in the top of the fifth frame, Indianapolis (50-54, 17-13) tallied a pair of runs to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Following three consecutive walks issued to Ryan Vilade, Aaron Shackelford and Mason Martin, Luis Hernandez smacked a bases loaded single to right field, scoring Vilade and Shackelford. Two solo home runs from Andújar and Domingo Leyba in the top of the sixth sealed the victory for the Indians.
Leyba notched his first hit of the game with a single in the top of the second and Vilade was walked in the next at-bat. After Shackelford grounded into a force out to put runners on the corners, Martin launched his first triple of the season for the Indians to plate the first runs of the contest. Back at it in the third, a single from Andújar and two walks – one to Leyba and the other to Vilade who was hit by a pitch – Shackelford sent a bases loaded single to right field to make it 3-0.
Gwinnett (46-58, 13-16) got on the board in the bottom half of the inning with two consecutive RBI singles from Sam Hilliard and Dalton Guthrie. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Vaughn Grissom grounded into a double play, but not before the tying run crossed the plate. The Stripers took their first and only lead of the game in the fourth courtesy of a solo shot from Chadwick Tromp.
In his second start for the Indians this season, Travis MacGregor threw 2.2 innings, surrendering three runs on five hits while fanning three. John O’ Reilly (W, 2-3), Braeden Ogle and Hunter Stratton combined for 6.1 shutout innings, allowing just two hits and fanning nine batters in relief. Justus Sheffield (L, 1-5) yielded four runs on six hits while striking out five in 3.0 innings of work for Gwinnett.
The Indians and Stripers will return to Coolray Field for game four of their six-game set tomorrow night at 7:05 PM ET. RHP Jared Jones (2-1, 4.72) will take the hill for Indianapolis and RHP Michael Soroka (3-3, 3.69) will counter for Gwinnett.
Originally posted on milb.com