Monthly Archives: April, 2009

A 5-run 8th inning and a timely 2-RBI single by 1B Steve Pearce (photo) gave the Indians a come-from-behind win over the Clippers at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio this afternoon. �

The Indians had not been having much success against Columbus starter Tomo Ohka. �In fact, the only batters to do anything against Ohka in his 6 innings of work were LF Jeff Salazar and RF Garrett Jones. �Jones was the only batter to reach base in the first three innings, and he did that on a walk to lead off the 2nd inning. �Unfortunately, he was picked off first base a few moments later. �In the 4th inning with two outs, Salazar singled into right field, and Jones followed with a double lined into left field. �Salazar raced around third base, but was thrown out at home to end the inning. �When Zach Jackson relieved Ohka in the top of the 7th, Salazar walked, but was left on base. �

Tribe starter Tom Gorzelanny (photo) was not having as good a day as Ohka. �Gorzelanny lasted 5.1 innings and was responsible for 3 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks, with 4 strikeouts. �He threw 94 pitches, 53 for strikes. �The first Columbus run came in the 2nd inning, on a double by 3B Andy Marte that was followed by an RBI single by CF Josh Barfield. �Gorzelanny had a runner on base in every inning but the 5th -- a walk and a single in the 1st inning, a single and a walk in the 3rd, and a fielding error in the 4th. �Gorzelanny couldn't get out of the jame he created in the 6th inning. �He hit the first batter, 1B Michael Aubrey, with a pitch, then gave up a single to RF Matt LaPorta. �After a strikeout, Gorzelanny walked Marte. �Barfield hit his second RBI single of the game, scoring Aubrey, and that was the end of Gorzelanny's afternoon. �Jeremy Powell took the mound in relief with the bases loaded and one out. �He began by getting DH Andy Cannizaro to ground to third base, where Tribe 3B Neil Walker was able to force�out Marte, but LaPorta scored. �A strikeout ended the inning, with the Clippers ahead 3-0.

Powell gave up another run in the 7th inning. �He walked the first two batters, CF Michael Brantley and SS Luis Valbuena. �Two fly outs followed, and Brantley was able to tag up and move on to third base on the second. �A wild pitch by Powell bounced away from C Erik Kratz, and by the time Kratz could locate it, Brantley scrambled home, giving Columbus a 4-0 lead. �

Then came the top of the 8th inning, and all the fun came with two outs, as the Indians sent 10 batters to the plate. �Neil Walker grounded out and DH Larry Broadway lined out sharply to second base to begin the inning. �The next three Tribe batters singled: �Erik Kratz and 2B Chris Barnwell both singled up the middle. �CF Andrew McCutchen grounded a ball deep behind third base, and Clippers' 3B Marte was able to stop it, but had no play as the speedy McCutchen flew down the line to first base. �SS Luis Cruz walked with the bases loaded to force in the Indians' first run. �

The Clippers changed pitchers, sending Zach Jackson to the showers and bringing on Ryan Edell. �Edell had faced the Indians twice before this season: �On April 14th, Tribe batters collected 8 hits and 6 earned runs off him in 2.1 innings, and on Friday, they touched him for 2 runs on 4 hits in 1.1 innings. �Today wasn't much better. �Jeff Salazar was the first to face Edell, and he grounded to Michael Aubrey, wide of first base. �Aubrey went for the force out at second base, which should have been an easy out #3 -- but his throw went wide and bounced around behind the bag. �Everyone was safe, with Barnwell scoring easily, and McCutchen scoring while the Clippers chased down the ball behind second base. �The Indians were only one run down, 4-3. �Edell walked Garrett Jones to load the bases. �That brought up Steve Pearce, who slipped a ball through the hole and into left field, scoring both Cruz and Salazar with the tying and go-ahead runs; �Indians 5, Clippers 4. �Neil Walker, who had made the first out of the inning, also made the last out of the inning, with a strikeout. �Edell was charged with the Blown Save, and ultimately the loss.

Juan Mateo continued his stretch of innings without earned runs by pitching two perfect innings to finish the game for the Indians. �Mateo earned his first save of the season, and Powell was credited with a win, his 3rd, as he was the pitcher of record in the top of the 8th inning. �

The win gives the Indians a 7-9 record, and avoids a sweep in Columbus. �They will finish this road trip back where it started, with two games in Louisville. �

Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Steve Pearce's clutch single into left field in the 8th inning, which brought in the tying and winning runs. �After the game, Pearce said that he was excited by Jones' at-bat ahead of him, and was "looking for something to hit. �I wasn't going to cheat myself, so I wanted to look for a pitch to drive... I was able to get good wood on it and it got out of the infield."

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �Catcher Erik Kratz threw out two Columbus base runners who were trying to steal third base: �Luis Valbuena in the 3rd inning, and Josh Barfield in the 4th inning. �Kratz has now thrown out 5 of 10 runners trying to steal against him. �

NOTES:

SS Brian Bixler (photo) has been called up to the Pirates, just t his morning, to fill in for Jack Wilson, whose sprained finger has become enough of a problem that he needed to be put on the Disabled List. �Bixler is already in San Diego, and is in the line up, batting 8th, for the Pirates' game against the Padres. �.... �Just saw him make a great play at deep short in the 2nd inning..... and he hit a 2-run double in the 8th inning, going 1-for-3 with a walk overall. �

Garrett Jones' 11-game hitting streak came to an end last night, but he started right in on another one today. �He has had a hit in all but two of the games he's played in (15 total).

Erik Kratz has a 6-game hitting streak, and Jeff Salazar has an 8-game hitting streak. �

Former Pirate and Indy Indian Bryan Bullington has appeared in two games for the Blue Jays since being called up from Las Vegas this week. On Friday, he pitched the 9th inning for the Jays. �Bullington got a strikeout, gave up a single, got a fly out, gave up another single and a walk to load the bases, then struck out Jim Thome to end the inning and the game. �(25 pitches, 15 strikes) �Last night, he again pitched one inning, and it looked similar. �Bullington gave up a single to another former Pirate farmhand, Brent Lillibridge, then got a strikeout, then another single and a walk to load the bases, then struck out Paul Konerko and Corky Miller to end the inning. �(23 pitches, 13 strikes)

Go Tribe!

[photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]