Faced with their second elimination game in a row, the Indianapolis Indians turned to Chad Kuhl to keep their season alive in Game 4 of the best-of-five Governor’s Cup Championship at Victory Field on Friday night. Kuhl delivered for the first seven innings while he was on the mound and first baseman Josh Bell delivered the walk-off single to force a winner-take-all Game 5 against the Columbus Clippers Saturday night.
Kuhl, a ninth-round pick of the Pirates in 2013, started 26 games for the Double-A Altoona Curve over the course of their season, winning 11 games and posting a 2.48 ERA. His first Triple-A start was a big one, as it came Friday night in Game 4 against the Clippers. Kuhl delivered in a big way for the Indians, going seven innings and allowed just one earned run, one walk, and struck out four.
Columbus got on the board in the fourth inning on an Adam Moore solo home run. The home run would prove to be the only blemish in the Kuhl’s outing.
The Clippers lead would not last long, as Bell would get his second extra-base hit of the game on a solo home run to tie the game.
Columbus pitcher Jarrett Grube went 8.1 innings, but it was in the top half of the eighth that Columbus struck against the Indianapolis bullpen. Frank Herman relieved Kuhl and gave up a three-run home run to Michael Choice to put the Clippers back in the lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Bell would get his third hit of the game, a single, which loaded the bases for Mel Rojas, Jr. with one out. Rojas would wind up grounding out, however, Gustavo Nunez would come in to score on the play, cutting the Clippers lead to two.
After a scoreless top of the ninth, the Indians came down to their final three out of the game and possibly the season. Keon Broxton led off the home half of the ninth with Grube still on the hill for Columbus. Grube gave up a double to Broxton, who advanced to third on a Dan Gamache ground out. With a runner on third and one out, catcher Tony Sanchez stepped to the plate. A single to left field by Sanchez plated Broxton and knocked Grube out of the game after eight and one third innings of work.
Nunez stepped to the plate to face Clippers reliever Jeff Johnson. Nunez laced a single to left field to put runners at first and second and one out for Alan Hanson. Hanson kept the hit parade going with a single to score Steve Lombardozzi, Jr., who pinch ran for Sanchez. Lombardozzi’s run tied the game at four.
Gorkys Hernandez would get intentionally walked to load the bases and bring up Bell, who just so happened to be a triple away from the cycle after three at-bats. The Pirates top position player prospect stepped to the plate and delivered a laser line drive to right field to score Nunez and force a Game 5.
Video of Bell’s walk-off is available here.
Bell, who went 4-for-4 at the plate Friday, had two RBIs on the night and is currently hitting .423 in the playoffs for the Indians.
Blake Wood got the win for Indianapolis after his scoreless ninth inning while Jeff Johnson got the loss and the blown save for the Clippers Friday night.
Game 5 will be played Saturday night at 7:05pm at Victory Field. Mike Clevinger gets the ball for Columbus while a pitcher for the Indians has yet to be named.
Indianapolis is looking to win its first International League Championship since 2000.
Photo credit: MiLB.com
