After leading the International League in comebacks in the regular season with, the Indianapolis Indians were no stranger to battling back after giving up an early lead. Unfortunately, in Game 2 of the Governor’s Cup, the Indians were unable to overcome their early deficit to the Columbus Clippers and lost 5-4.
The Game 2 loss to Columbus gives the Clippers a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five game series that will now head to Indianapolis for the rest of the series.
Wilfredo Boscan got the ball to start Game 2 on the mound for the Indians. Boscan would eventually get the loss after giving up all 5 runs on 5 hits while striking out 3.
Columbus got on the board against Boscan early in the game courtesy of a first-inning error from first baseman Josh Bell. The Clippers followed that up with 2-run home run in the second inning off the bat of Michael Choice. Scoring would be scarce for both teams until the sixth inning when Columbus got another run across the plate by way of an Adam Moore home run.
Down 4 runs in the top of the seventh inning, Indianapolis began to chip away at the deficit. With the bases full of Indians, Gustavo Nunez worked a walk to score John Bowker, who had singled to lead off the inning. Gorkys Hernandez singled on a ball up the middle to plate Keon Broxton and cut the Columbus lead to two runs.
In the Columbus half of the seventh inning, the Clippers would score on Bell’s second error of the evening to put the home team up 5-2.
Faced with a 3-run deficit to begin the ninth inning, the Indians were down to their last three outs. Broxton led off the Indianapolis half of the ninth by striking out against reliever Carlos Marmol. The next hitter, Tony Sanchez, worked a walk to get the rally started for the Indians. Dan Gamache singled to put runners on first and second base for pinch hitter Mel Rojas, Jr. Marmol walked Rojas to load the bases and advance Gamache into scoring position.
Up next for the visiting team in the ninth was Alen Hanson, who hit a sacrifice fly to left field deep enough to score Sanchez from third. The Indians, now faced with two-outs and down two, sent Hernandez to the plate next. Marmol would walk his third hitter of the inning in Hernandez and would be replaced by Nick Maronde. Maronde’s first and only hitter was Bell who forced the fourth free pass of the inning for Columbus. The free base would plate Gamache and force the Clippers into using their third pitcher of the inning.
With two-outs and the bases again loaded, Willy Garcia came to the plate to face reliever Dustin Molleken in hopes of tying the game at 5. Molleken was able to induce a fly ball to center field and seal the game for Columbus.
Toru Murata got the win for the Clippers as Boscan was handed his first loss of the playoffs.
Pirates’ top prospect Tyler Glasnow takes the mound in Indianapolis on Thursday as the Indians look to fight off elimination and get to Game 4. On the mound for Columbus in Game 3 is Will Roberts who went 9-6 with a 3.45 ERA in the regular season for the Clippers.
First pitch from Victory Field in Indianapolis is scheduled for Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
Photo credit: IndyIndians.com
