Indianapolis inched closer to securing a playoff berth with a shutout victory Monday night. Indians pitchers combined to give up just four hits, with Kris Johnson leading the way with a spot start after getting promoted from Altoona after the major shakeup on the major league staff that saw Justin Wilson and Kyle McPherson promoted to the Pirates. Johnson allowed two hits and didn't walk a batter in 5.1 innings of shutout ball. He whiffed one. Bryan Morris continued to show why he belongs in the major leagues, as he struck out four, walked none and gave up just one hit in his 2.2 innings. His ERA is down to 2.51. Tim Wood struck out two in the ninth to pick up his 19th save and his ERA is also tiny at 2.17. The Indians' offensive charge was sparked by the new and the old. Brock Holt's hot streak raged on in his short time in AAA, as he collected three more hits, two of them doubles, to raise his average to .423 for Indianapolis. Jeff Clement also contributed with his 16th home run of the season in the second inning. Clement finished 2-for-4. Brandon Boggs followed Clement's bomb with his fifth triple and Tony Sanchez hit a sacrifice fly to account for all the game's scoring. Alex Presley singled and walked three times, while Matt Hague was the "Double Play Collector" in this one. He grounded into three double plays on the night.
AA Altoona | Altoona 6 Trenton 2
Altoona also had a spot starter get the job done Monday night, as regular reliever Jeff Inman pitched the first four innings and didn't give up a run, nor did he walk one or strike anyone out. Inman just allowed one hit. Tim Alderson did give up both Trenton runs in his two innings, but newly-promoted Erik Turgeon achieved his first Altoona win with two scoreless and hitless innings. Victor Black had his regular one-inning, two-strikeout performance. Black now has 77 strikeouts in 53.1 innings for the Curve with a 1.86 ERA. Ramon Cabrera smacked three hits, including his 18th double on the year to pace Altoona's offense and hike his average to .265. He was caught stealing home however. Andrew Lambo stayed hot with a 2-for-5 game and Drew Maggi doubled. Every starter other than Kelson Brown had at least one hit.
A West Virginia | West Virginia 9 Charleston 2
The Power won the first battle of the teams centered in a Charleston town with quality hitting and pitching. The offense pounded out 14 hits, including two massive home runs from Willy Garcia. Garcia took the team lead (he was tied at 16 with Jose Osuna and Alen Hanson, who were one ahead of Gregory Polanco's 15, lots of power for the Power) and now has 18 blasts on the year. Garcia finished with three hits on the day and is now at .250 on the season. Eric Avila couldn't homer for the fifth straight game, but he did go 2-for-4 with 13th double to remain on a good streak. Francisco Aponte went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and a stolen base and Dan Gamache hit his 36th double of the season. Hanson drove in two runs and went 1-for-5. Mike Jefferson hurled perhaps his best game of the season, earning his fifth victory with a six-inning, one-run performance. The lefty gave up three hits, walked none and struck out four.
A Bradenton | Bradenton off day
Bradenton did not play today.
A State College | Williamsport 6 State College 4
Ryan Hafner blew the Spikes 4-2 lead by giving up three runs in the bottom of the seventh to receive the loss against rival Williamsport. Hafner has struggled mightily between West Virginia and State College in his first year playing full-season ball. Jason Creasy started on the mound and had a so-so outing, allowing two runs, five hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. Creasy struck out just one hitter. The Spikes' offense was led by two young hitters who have scuffled and disappointed all season long, Jared Lakind and Yhonathan Barrios. Both singled twice, with Barrios adding a walk and a steal (his tenth) and Lakind scored two runs in his 2-for-4 day. Lakind's average only jumped to .162, while Barrios' went up to .211. D.J. Crumlich also had two hits, including his 16th double and drove in three runs. Alex Fuselier walked twice and Tyler Gaffney recorded the only other Spikes hit and stole his 11th base.