Gomez guides Clippers past Indians 2-0 - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (IndyIndians.com) - Both Columbus starting pitcher Jeanmar Gomez and Indianapolis starter Daniel Cabrera tossed nine-inning complete games on Friday night, with Gomez earning the victory after surrendering just two singles and striking out seven to lead the Clippers to a 2-0 shutout of the Indians in front of a crowd of 12,480 at Victory Field.

Gomez (9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) turned in a spectacular performance in tossing the sixth complete-game and third shutout of his professional career. The Clippers right-hander surrendered only a fourth-inning single to SS Chase d'Arnaud and fifth-inning base hit to C Tony Sanchez while matching a season-high with seven strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 2-1 on the season.

Cabrera (9.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) was a tough-luck loser for the Indians as he came through with his first complete game since 2008 with the Baltimore Orioles. The Tribe right-hander allowed just two runs on six hits and two walks over his nine innings of work, but was outdueled by Gomez to fall to 4-4 on the season.

The pitching duel marked the first time that the Indians have been involved in a contest featuring two complete games since game one of a doubleheader on August 5, 2006, in Columbus. In that contest, current major leaguers Ryan Vogelsong (for Indianapolis) and Jeff Karstens (for Columbus) each were credited with complete games after Vogelsong went six innings and Karstens lasted seven in a 3-1 Columbus victory.

Columbus scored the only run they would need in the top of the third when LF Tim Fedroff led off the frame with a triple to center before coming plateward on a wild pitch by Cabrera. Indianapolis killer Vinny Rottino would then give the Clippers what proved to be an unneeded insurance run in the following frame when he blasted a one-out solo bomb over the left-field fence.

The longball for Rottino was his first with the Clippers and fifth on the season as the right handed slugger collected four homers with Buffalo earlier this season. Four of Rottino's five home runs between Buffalo and Columbus have come against Indianapolis, including three in one game against the Tribe on May 19 while with the Bisons.

The loss by the Indians (57-36) drops their record against the Clippers to 4-9 on the season and lowers their lead to 10 games over Columbus in the IL West division. The Tribe and Clippers continue their series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. with LHP Justin Wilson expected to get the start for Indianapolis and LHP David Huff scheduled to take the mound for Columbus.