Indianapolis edges Charlotte

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Ronny Cedeno connects for a single against Charlotte. Jeff Brown/Flyer Photo

July 19, 2011

Justin Whitaker The Hendricks County Flyer Tue Jul 19, 2011, 11:51 PM EDT

INDIANAPOLIS — Much like the temperature, the Indianapolis Indians' bats were hot.

When the first pitch was thrown, the temperature was 94 degrees with a heat index of 108. But the heat did not seem to bother the Indians as they connected on 11 hits and were able to outlast the Charlotte Knights 3-2. The win moved the Indians to 50-48 on the seasson and gave them a 2-0 advantage in the four-game home stand against Charlotte (48-50).

Indianapolis is now four games back from a wild card spot in the International League standings.

"Really, it's a huge momentum swing for us," first basemen Matt Hague said. "We've been playing well, even at Columbus we were playing well but we just didn't get the win. It's good for us to get a win and keep momentum going."

The Indians were able to convert early as Steve Pearce rocketed a line drive almost directly on the left baseline that brought in John Bowker for the early 1-0 lead.

But the Knights tied the score in the third inning when Eduaro Escobar slid in at home for the close call on a Jim Gallagher sacrificial fly.

The Indians responded right back in the bottom of the third when Pedro Alvarez dropped a ball in the middle of centerfield to score Ronny Cedeno and put the Indians up 2-1.

In the top of the fifth, the Knights struck back when Alejandro De Aza placed a ball in between three Indians in right field to knot the score 2-2.

Indians pitcher Rudy Owens earned a steady ovation when he left the game after throwing 109 pitches in seven innings and only giving up two runs in the extreme heat.

With both teams coming up empty after the fifth inning, it looked like extra innings loomed in the forecast.

But a double play in the top of the eighth by the Indians brought its power hitters up to try and break the tie. The fourth man in the lineup, Pearce made it to first after Charlotte third basemen Dallas McPherson botched the ground ball. Alvarez, on the very next play, connected in nearly the same spot Pearce did and McPherson could not get to the ball again.

With runners on first and second, Hague was instructed to bunt to advance the runners. But when the count turned favorable for him he took his shot.

"(Indians hitting coach Jeff)Branson said if the first two runners were on I was going to get up there, bunt and move them over, so I was prepared to bunt," Hague said. "But really, I got ahead in the count 2-1 and 3-1, and I got the green light. Put a good swing on it."

Hague hit a ball to the centerfield wall, the deepest part of the field. Pearce was able to run in for a 3-2 lead, but a great throw from Charlotte centerfielder Lastings Milledge prevented the Indians from scoring any more. Luckily the Indians did not need any more runs as they closed out the Knights in the top of ninth.

The third game of the Indians four-game home stand against Charlotte takes place today at 1:05 p.m. at Victory Field.

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