Indians win their first series of the second half
By Katie Bostic
July 3, 2023
LOUISVILLE, Ky. –A three-run home run belted by Cal Mitchell led the Indianapolis Indians to a series victory over the Louisville Bats on Monday night at Louisville Slugger Field, 5-3.
With the game scoreless going into the third inning, Ji Man Choi drew a walk and Miguel Andújar sent a single to left field. Mitchell then launched his ninth home run of the year off Evan Kravetz (L, 0-1) to tally the first runs of the contest for the Indians (37-43, 4-2). In the next inning, a two-out walk issued to Josh Bissonette set up a Chris Owings RBI double to extend the lead to 4-0.
In the bottom of the fourth, Jose Barrero got the Bats (42-37, 2-4) on the board with an RBI single. Louisville tacked on another run in the fifth after Alejo Lopez roped a triple and TJ Hopkins sent him home with a sac fly.
With two outs in the sixth, Indianapolis tacked on an insurance run thanks to an Andújar single that plated Endy Rodríguez after he reached on a four-pitch walk.
Trailing by three in the bottom of the ninth, Barrero doubled on a sharp ground ball to left field and promptly swiped his first bag of the season, sending him to third. He scored in the next at-bat when Chuckie Robinson grounded out, but Michael Siani popped out on the first pitch of the following at-bat to seal the series for Indianapolis.
Southpaw Kent Emanuel (W, 6-3) threw 5.0 innings, surrendering two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. Indians relievers Colin Selby, Juan Minaya, Yohan Ramirez and Hunter Stratton (S, 2) combined for 4.0 shutout innings, giving up just two hits.
The Indians will return to Victory Field tomorrow to begin a six-game tilt with the Memphis Redbirds at 6:35 PM ET. Neither team has named a starter.
Originally posted on milb.com