Indianapolis and Norfolk open a four-game series tonight at Victory Field. The Tribe are currently riding a five-game winning streak, their longest of the season and matching their longest winning streak from the entire 2016 season.
Location: Victory Field
First Pitch: 7:05 PM ET
Game #30/Home #19: Indianapolis Indians (13-16) vs. Norfolk Tides (14-18)
Probables: LHP Steven Brault (0-3, 3.52) vs. RHP Steve Johnson (0-0, 2.16)
Radio: Fox Sports 97.5 and AM 1260
TV: MiLB TV
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
Indianapolis Indians
Norfolk Tides
- CF Bourn
- DH Giavotella
- RF Álvarez
- 2B Andino
- 1B Washingtion
- C Sisco
- 3B Dosch
- SS Janish
- LF Schafer
P Johnson
TRIBE NOTES
DON’T LEAVE, CHARLOTTE: The Indians continued their home-field dominance of Charlotte in downtown Indy, improving to 62-37 through 99 matchups at the Vic. With yesterday’s 1-0 win, the Indians have now won 10 straight games against the Knights in Indianapolis, having swept them at the Vic three consecutive years. The Tribe haven’t lost a home game to the Knights since July 24, 2014, a 9-2 final at Victory Field. That win by Charlotte sealed a four-game sweep for the visitors.
VERY NICE, HIGH FIVE: The Indians are currently riding a five-game winning streak, complemented by back-to-back series sweeps of Columbus and Charlotte. Last year, the Tribe’s longest winning streak was five games, a stretch that began with two wins vs. Syracuse and three more gainst Pawtucket, all at Victory Field from June 11-16.
HIGH, STINKY CHEDDAR: Clay Holmes had his best ‘stuff’ of 2017 in Tuesday’s win with a season-high eight strikeouts, the final seven coming on his tight curveball. Four of his eight strikeouts were of the looking variety. Yesterday, it was right-hander Tyler Eppler who delivered his most dominant performance of the season, equaling Holmes’ eight punchouts with his mid-90s heat. The eight whiffs set a new career high for Eppler, and his seven innings of work marked a new season high.
FOR STARTERS: Drew Hutchison, Holmes and Eppler have combined for 20.2 innings pitched on the current homestand, allowing a total of three earned runs (1.31 ERA). Through 26 games, Indianapolis’ rotation had been credited with just two of Indy’s 10 wins. Over the last three games, Hutchison, Holmes and Eppler all earned wins, giving the rotation more wins in the last three days than the first four weeks of the season.