Indians snap skid against Clippers

Indianapolis starting pitcher Brad Lincoln surrendered just two earned runs on six hits in seven frames, while the Tribe’s offense scored a run in five straight innings to total nine runs on a season-high 16 hits in the Indians’ 9-5 victory over the Columbus Clippers on Friday night at Victory Field.

Lincoln (7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 B, 4 SO) earned his third straight victory to improve to 3-3 after matching an Indians’ season best by going seven innings, while giving up just two earned runs on six hits along with two walks and four strikeouts. The right hander also continued the trend of excellent starting pitching for the Indians as Tribe starters have now gone 3-2 with a 1.85 ERA (8 ER in 39.0 IP) 28 strikeouts and just 14 walks over the team’s last seven contests.

The Indianapolis offense provided plenty of run support, scoring nine consecutive runs and tallying a season best 16 hits. Leading the way at the plate was the Indians’ trio of 1B Matt Hague, (3-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI) SS Chase d’Arnaud (3-for-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 3 RBI) and C Jason Jaramillo (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI), who combined to go 8-for-13 with three runs and eight of the team’s nine RBI.

Columbus opened up the scoring in the second inning with a pair of runs thanks to 3B Luis Valbuena’s two-run double. RF Travis Buck led off the frame with a single and moved to second on a walk by C Luke Carlin before both came across on Valbuena’s double to deep left center.

The Tribe however answered back with a run in the bottom of the second after Jaramillo singled, advanced to second on a throwing error and third on RF Andrew Lambo’s base knock before coming home on d’Arnaud’s fielder’s choice. The run was the first of five straight innings in which the Indians plated a tally.

Indianapolis then scored three runs in the following frame to take over the lead for good at 4-2. 2B Pedro Ciriaco began the frame with a single, stole second and third and then came home on Hague’s RBI single. Following Hague’s base hit, 3B Josh Harrison reached on a Columbus fielding miscue, before Jaramillo brought in both with an RBI double to left.

The Indians then plated two more in the fourth inning as after a lead-off single from Lambo, d’Arnaud ripped an RBI triple off the left field wall to push the advantage to 5-1. d’Arnaud would later score when DH Corey Wimberly slapped an RBI single to center to increase the margin to five.

Yet another Tribe tally would come home in the fifth after Harrison began the frame with a triple and scored on d’Arnaud’s RBI single. The run-scoring single gave the shortstop an RBI in each of his first three at bats of the contest.

Indianapolis capped their scoring in the sixth frame as Presley singled and stole second before LF John Bowker walked to set the stage for Hague, who lifted a two-run double to left to give the Indians a 9-2 advantage. The two-run base knock for Hague gave him three RBI for the second consecutive contest, increasing his team lead to 23 so fart this season.

Columbus raised comeback hopes with three runs in the final frame, but ultimately came up short. Cord Phelps drew a base on balls and then took second on a single by 1B Chad Huffman before Buck left the yard with a three run blast to right to make it 9-5.

All nine starters in the Indians’ lineup notched at least one hit, while eight different Tribe players scored at least one run. For the Clippers, DH Lonnie Chisenhall (2-for-4, 1 2B) along with Huffman (2-for-5, 1 R) and Buck (2-for-5, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI) each tallied two hits.

Clippers LHP David Huff (4.2 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss to lower his record to 3-2 after giving up four earned runs on 12 hits in 4.2 frames. Columbus reliever Josh Judy (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 SO) fired two scoreless frames of relief, allowing just two hits while striking out a batter.

The Indians continue their four-game series against Columbus on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. LHP Garrett Olson is scheduled to take to the mound for the Tribe, while the Clippers have yet to name a starter.