Monthly Archives: September, 2009

The World Cup tournament opens today in Europe, with Team USA playing their first game tomorrow.

Two members of the Indianapolis Indians, Brad Lincoln and Pedro Alvarez, have been in North Carolina practicing with the team, and are set to begin play in Europe. �Also on Team USA is veteran pitcher and former Indy Indian (2002 - 04) Jason�Childers. �

Team USA played 4 games against Team Canada to warm up in North Carolina.

Sept 3

3B Pedro Alvarez went 1-for-4 and scored a run. �Team USA scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, on a single, two walks, and a 2-RBI double by 2B Tug Hulett. �A sacrifice fly by CF Buck Coats brought in the third run. �Canada responded with three runs in the top of the 3rd, off US starter Kasey Kiker, with an RBI single and a 2-RBI double. �

With Lucas Harrell on the mound, Canada took the lead in the 4th, on a single, a wild pitch, and another single. �Team USA regained the lead in the bottom of the 5th. �LF Jon Weber led off with a single, and Pedro Alvarez followed with another single, moving Weber to third base. �A ground out by DH Terry Tiffee brought in Weber, and RF Josh Kroeger's single plated Alvarez. �An unearned run gave Team USA an insurance run in the 6th. �Two walks and a throwing error loaded the bases, and when SS Trevor Plouffe grounded into a double play, the runner on third base scored. �

Jason Childers pitched the 8th inning for Team USA, retiring the side in order, including one strikeout. �

Sept 4

Brad Lincoln made the start for Team USA and got the win. �He pitched 4 innings, allowing one run on 3 hits and a walk, with one strikeouts. �It took him 52 pitches (37 strikes).

Team USA jumped out to an early lead, with 3 runs in the 1st inning and 4 runs in the 2nd. �With one out in the 1st, CF Buck Coats doubled and LF Jon Weber walked. �3B Pedro Alvarez reached on a fielder's choice, with Weber out at second base. �A walk by RF Ike Davis loaded the bases. � 1B Justin Smoak singled up the middle, scoring Coats and Alvarez, and DH Tug Hulett also singled into center field, bringing in Davis. �

Four straight singles began the 2nd inning. �C Jason Castro, 2B Daniel Descalso, Buck Coats and Jon Weber all hit, with Coats and Weber each picking up an RBI. �Pedro Alvarez fouled out, then Davis doubled, bringing in Coats. �Smoak's ground out allowed Weber to score, and Team USA had a 7-0 lead. �

Canada got one run back in the bottom of the 2nd inning, on a solo home run. �That was the only run allowed by Lincoln. �They added 3 more runs in the 8th inning, aided by a throwing error and a wild pitch. �A sacrifice fly, a triple, and a single brought in 3 unearned runs. �

Pedro Alvarez went 0-for-5, with two strikeouts. �Dustin Molleken pitched 2 shutout innings for Canada, allowing only one walk and striking out 3 batters. �

Sept 5th

3B Pedro Alvarez had a double, a single, and an RBI in this game. �Team USA again scored early, and then had to hold off Canada's late inning rallies. �

SS Daniel Descalso opened the game with an infield single, moved to second base on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on a ground out. �He scored on DH Justin Smoak's sacrifice fly. �LF Ike Davis doubled, and he scored on 1B Terry Tiffee's RBI single. �Pedro Alvarez also doubled, plating Tiffee, and Team USA had a 3-run start. �They added another run in the 2nd inning with a solo home run by C Lucas May. �

Two more runs scored in the 3rd inning, when Davis again doubled, followed by three singles by Tiffee, Alvarez, and CF Josh Kroeger. �Team USA was held to just 2 hits over the rest of the game. �

US starter Todd Redmond pitched 5 perfect innings before giving way to Cedrick Bowers to begin the 6th inning. �That's when Canada got going. �Canada scored two in the 6th, with a double, a single, a sacrifice fly, and an RBI single. �Two walks and an RBI single added one run in the 7th. �Canada scored two more in the 8th, with a triple, a walk, another sacrifice fly, and an RBI single.

Jason Childers came in to pitch the 9th. �He gave up a lead-off single, then retired the next three batters to earn the save. �

Sept 6th

Team USA scored in all but two innings, posting 17 hits on their way to 11 runs. �

1st -- 2 runs on 2 doubles, a single, and a grounder -- RBI: SS Trevor Plouffe and CF Josh Kroeger

3rd --1 run on a walk, a wild pitch, a single, and a sac fly -- RBI: Jo Castro

4th -- 2 runs on 3 singles and a double -- RBI: Plouffe, Terry Tiffee

5th -- 1 run on a single, a throwing error, and a sac fly -- RBI: Lucas May

6th -- 2 runs on 2 singles and a double, with Dustin Molleken on the mound for Canada -- RBI: Tiffee, Kroger

7th -- 1 run on a single and a double, again off Molleken -- RBI: David Descalo

8th -- 2 runs on a 2-run homer by Josh Weber

Pedro Alvarez pinch-hit for 3B Terry Tiffee in the 8th, and fouled out. �He remained in the game at third base for the last two innings. �

Canada scored on a solo home run in the 1st, and in the 8th on two walks and a single.

************

There are a few other Pirates' farmhands and friends who will be participating in the World Cup:

RHP Dustin Molleken (Altoona Curve) �-- Team Canada

RHP RJ Rodriguez (Lynchburg Hillcats) -- Puerto Rico

Inf Gift Ngoepe (Bradenton Pirates) and Inf Brett Willemburg (West Virginia Power) �-- South Africa

LHP Paul Mildren �(formerly with the Curve and Hillcats) and OF Chris Snelling (with the Indianapolis Indians for a few weeks this year)-- Australia

RHP Tom Boleska (Hillcats) �-- Great Britain (he's a Canadian native, with family connections to the UK)

Inf Brant Ust �(formerly with the Hillcats) �-- Great Britain

Inf/Of Yurendell de Caster (formerly with the Indianapolis Indians) is on the preliminary roster for the Netherlands, but the final roster has not yet been posted.

The first ro und of games include: � � (Some games televised on MLB TV)

Today (Sept 9th)

Czech Republic @ Australia � in Prague

Spain @ South Africa � �in Barcelona

Tomorrow (Sept 10th)

Great Britain @ Japan � in Zagreb

Puerto Rico @ Cuba � in Barcelona

Canada @ South Korea � �in Sundbyberg

US @ Venezuela � �in Rgensburg

Friday Sept 11th

Cuba @ South Africa

Australia @ Taipei

Nicaragua @ Great Britain

Spain @ Puerto Rico

Netherlands Antilles @ Canada

US @ Germany

Saturday Sept 12th

Australia @ Mexico

China @ US

Croatia @ Great Britain

South Africa @ Puerto Rico

Sweden @ Canada

NOTES:

The Lynchburg Hillcats begin their playoffs tonight, with Justin Wilson on the mound.

Neil Walker had a pinch-hit single for the Pirates in last night's game, and he came around to score, forced in on a bases-loaded walk. �

Some batting stats:

Average: �Garrett Jones and Brian Myrow -- .307

�� � � Andrew McCutchen .303

Hits: �Brian Bixler -- 111

Doubles: �Neil Walker -- 31, �Erik Kratz -- 30

Triples: �Brian Bixler and Andrew McCutchen -- 8

Home Runs: �Neil Walker -- 14; �

RBI: �Neil Walker -- 69

Walks: Brian Myrow -- 43

Strikeouts: �Brian Bixler -- 128

Stolen Bases: Jeff Salazar -- 16 (with 0 times caught stealing)

Caught Stealing: Steve Pearce -- 7

A note about Brian Myrow -- �He joined the Indians in June, coming over from the Charlotte Knights, so his overall season stats reflect his total results for both teams. � His .419 OBP lead the International League, and that was the third season in a row that Myrow led his league (Pacific Coast League in 2007 and 2008) in OBP. �But, when broken down between the two teams....

In 62 games with the Indians, Myrow hit .330 and had a .448 OBP. �He had 68 hits in 62 games, with 12 doubles, a triple, and 8 homers, with 34 RBI. �He led the Indians with 43 walks (65 total for the season), and the next highest number of walks for the Indians was Brian Bixler with 35. �

Some Pitching Stats:

Wins: �Daniel McCutchen -- 13

Losses: Ty Taubenheim -- 9

Saves: �Chris Bootcheck -- 20

Innings Pitched: �Daniel McCutchen -- 142.2

ERA: � Starters: �Tom Gorzelanny -- 2.48 in 15 starts

�Relievers: �Mike Koplove: �2.35 in 22 appearances; �Jean Machi -- 2.12 in 13 appearances

Hits: �Eric Hacker -- 154

Home Runs: �Virgil Vasquez -- 14

Hit Batters: �Eric Hacker and Jason Davis -- 10

Walks: �Eric Hacker -- 50

Strikeouts: �Strikeouts -- Daniel McCutchen -- 110

WHIP: Chris Bootcheck -- 1.10 in 42.2 innings

��Tom Gorzelanny -- 1.18 in 87 innings

While Daniel McCutchen was named the Indians MVP, pitching coach Ray Searage says that Jeremy Powell was the most valuable member of his pitching staff. �Powell was used as a starter, a long reliever, and in short relief, and was a general workhorse for the Indians. �He made a total of 34 appearances with 10 starts. �His record was 4-7, with 2 saves, and a 3.74 ERA. �He pitched 98.2 innings, walked 26, and struck out 31.

Go Tribe!

C Kris Watts batted .291 (third in the Carolina League), with 21 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs, and 49 RBI this season. �He also led the Carolina League with his .405 on-base percentage. �Watts got the season started with an outstanding month of April, hitting .444 in 17 games, with 2 homers and 12 RBI. �He hit 7 RBI in June, and another 7 in July, when he had a .328 average. �Watts was on the Carolina League's mid-season All-Star team and played in the All-Star game against the California League All-Stars.�

Righty Matt McSwain made 25 starts for the Hillcats, along with 3 non-start appearances. �His 11-8 record gave him the second most wins in the Carolina League. �He also earned one save in relief. �McSwain posted a 3.43 ERA over a team-leading 144.1 innings, while allwoing 162 hits, 23 walks, and struck out 64 batters. �He won 5 games (no losses) in 6 starts in May, and in 5 starts in June, he posted a 1.82 ERA. �McSwain was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for August 16-23, when he threw a complete game shutout on the 23rd. �

RJ Rodriguez was the All-Star closer for the Hillcats, named to both the mid-season and post-season All-Star teams. �He made 47 appearances for Lynchburg, and led the Carolina League with 27 saves. �He also posted a 6-3 record and a 3.08 ERA. �In a total of 49.2 innings, he gave up 37 hits, 27 walks, and struck out 41 batters. �Opponents hit .214 against him. �He collected 7 of his saves in April and another 7 in August. �Rodriguez has joined the Puerto Rican team for the upcoming World Cup tournament.

The Indianapolis Indians snapped their longest losing streak of the season (5 games) with a come-from-behind win over the Louisville Bats at Slugger Field in Louisville, KY this afternoon. �In the season finale, the Tribe out-hit the Bats 12-8, and scored 4 unanswered runs in the late innings. �Four batters recorded two hits: �Brian Bixler, Tagg Bozied, Erik Kratz, and Robinzon Diaz. �Starter Eric Hacker�(photo) pitched 6 innings but did not factor into the decision. �Juan Mateo got the win in relief, and Jean Machi finished the season with his 6th save.�

In a bit of last-game-of-the-season fooling around, the Indians' batters all used the same bat, an all-black model, for the first 5 innings. �As each batter came out of the dugout, he was either handed the bat by the batter ahead of him, or picked it up from the ground near the plate, dusted it off, and proceeded to use it. �Unfortunately, the Black Bat was not a big help. �After going down in order in the top of the 1st, the Indians threatened in the 2nd inning. �3B Tagg Bozied walked, and C Erik Kratz moved him to second base with a line drive single into right field. �LF Hector Gimenez popped out. �Robinzon Diaz, in right field today, knocked a grounder that hit the third base bag and bounced high, coming down on the infield grass in front of Bats' 3B Juan Francisco. �The bounce was high enough to let Diaz reach first base safely, and the Indians had the bases loaded with one out. �But the Indians couldn't capitalize, as SS Chris Barnwell�(photo)�grounded to third base, where Francisco started an around-the-horn double play. �

Eric Hacker made his 20th start for the Indians' final game and he had some good innings and some innings that were more troublesome. �He worked his way out of a jam in the 1st inning. �With one out, rehabbing C Ryan Hanigan slipped a single through the hole and into right field. �Another rehabbing Cincinnati Reds player, RF Jay Bruce, slapped a grounder to third base which bounced off 3B Tagg Bozied's glove and into left field for a single. �Ryan Hanigan advanced to third base on the play. �Bruce stole second base, and the Bats had two runners in scoring position. �1B Wes Bankston, up next, worked a full count and fouled off two more pitches, but after that last foul swing, he stepped away from the plate, holding his lower left side. �He had to come out of the game due to an oblique muscle cramp, and Michael Griffin stepped in to complete the at-bat. �Griffin fouled off another pitch, �then swung at strike three -- the strikeout charged to Griffin. �Hacker finished the inning by striking out Juan Francisco, leaving the two runners in scoring position.

The Bats scored their first run in the 2nd inning. �LF/1B Danny Dorn blasted a high fly over the right field wall, which bounced on a picnic table and back onto the field, giving the Bats a 1-0 lead. �Hacker retired the other three batters in the 2nd without any trouble. �In the 3rd, he began by hitting CF Chris Heisey with the first pitch. �Heisey took his base, then stole second, but Hacker retired the next three batters in order, and Heisey did not move past second base. �Heisey remained in the game for awhile, but then came out. �Both Heisey and Bankston were later reported to be doing ok.

The Bats scored again in the 4th. �Juan Francisco blooped a double over the head of Brian Bixler, who had moved over to third base when 1B Jeff Clement left the game (Pedro Lopez took over at second base and Tagg Bozied moved to first base). �2B Todd Frazier followed with a single into left field, as Francisco advanced to third. �Hacker struck out Danny Dorn, but SS Chris Valaika lined a single into center field, and Francisco crossed the plate with the Bats' second run of the game. �Hacker settled down again, and retired the side in order in the 5th, and kept them scoreless despite two walks in the 6th. �

After threatening in the 2nd inning, the Indians' batters and the Black Bat posted only one hit over the next three innings -- a single by Brian Bixler (photo), who was then stranded on first base. �Robinzon Diaz worked a walk to lead off the 5th but was out on a force play at second base. �Finally in the 5th inning, when Brian Bixler came to the plate, he had a lighter colored bat, though he also grounded out. �

With the lighter colored bat, it was harder to tell if everyone was using the same one, but without the Black Bat, the Indians were able to score a run in the top of the 6th. �With two outs, three consecutive hits brought in the Tribe's first run --Tagg Bozied, Erik Kratz, and Hector Gimenez all singled into left field, and Gimenez's brought Bozied around from second base to score. �Robinzon Diaz walked, again loading the bases, but a strikeout by Chris Barnwell ended the inning. �The Indians had cut the lead to 2-1.

Larry Broadway (photo) came on to pinch hit for Eric Hacker to begin the 7th inning, and he ignited a rally with a double into right field. �Brian Bixler followed by sneaking a grounder through the hole into right field, moving Hacker to third base. �With runners on the corners, CF Jose Tabata bounced a grounder ri ght to second base, where SS Chris Valaika took a step to touch second base and completed the double play by throwing out Tabata at first. �But Broadway scored from third base on the play (no RBI for Tabata), to tie the game. �

The Indians were able to take advantage of a Bats' distraction and a Bats' error to score again in the 8th. �Tagg Bozied led off the 8th inning with a single. �Erik Kratz bounced to 2B Todd Frazier, who tried to tag Tagg as he ran by. �But Tagg stopped, reversed direction, and eluded the tag. �Frazier tried a second time to tag Tagg, instead of throwing on to first base. �Though he did get the tag on Tagg that second time, he had messed around long enough so that he did not have time to throw to first, and Kratz was safe at first on what could have been a double play. �Hector Gimenez walked, and Robinzon Diaz loaded the bases with a single. �That brought up Chris Barnwell with the bases loaded for the third time in the game. �

Barnwell grounded to third base, for what should again have been a double play. �3B Juan Francisco fielded the ball and threw to second, for the force out on Diaz, but Francisco's throw to second base was low and to the outfield side of the base, and that made 2B Todd Frazier rush his throw to first, so that that throw skipped away from 1B Danny Dorn. �Kratz scored from third base on the fielder's choice (can't assume a double play), and Gimenez scored on the throwing error, as the throw on the retrieved ball was also not on target. �The Indians had a 4-2 lead. �

Eric Hacker exited the game after 6 innings of work. �He allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, with 5 strikeouts. �He threw 100 pitches (64 strikes). �Hacker was hoping that this was not his last appearance for 2009 -- and as the game is finishing up, there is word that he will be �called up to finish the season with the Pirates. �

Juan Mateo (photo above) came on to pitch the bottom of the 7th inning, and he retired the side in order. �In the bottom of the 8th, he gave up a single to Jay Bruce, but then got Michael Griffin to ground into an around-the-horn double play (Bixler to Lopez to Bozied) to end the inning.�

The Tribe got back-to-back singles from Jose Tabata and Pedro Lopez in the top of the 9th, but they did not come around to score.�

Jean Machi�(photo) took the mound for the bottom of the 9th as the Bats made one last effort to regain the lead. �With two outs, Danny Dorn singled just past Tagg Bozied and into right field. �But Machi struck out Chris Valaika to end the inning, the game, and the Indians' 2009 season. �

The Indians finish the season with a 70 -73 record (they had one game cancelled due to wet grounds in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in June). �They had a .500 record at Victory Field (36-36), and a 34 - 37 record on the road, finishing in third place in the International League West Division, 2.5 games behind second place Toledo and 14.5 games behind first place Louisville. �Columbus came in 4th, 26.5 games behind Louisville. �

Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Two singles by Tagg Bozied (photo), one igniting the rally in the 6th inning, and the second getting things started in the 9th inning. �

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �Two late-inning double plays, which kept the Bats from interfering with the Indians' late-inning rallies. �In the 6th, Michael Griffin walked, and Juan Francisco hit a sharp liner right back to Eric Hacker on the mound. �Griffin had taken off for second base, so when Hacker fired the ball to first base, he was easily doubled off. �In the 8th inning, after Jay Bruce singled, Griffin was the one who started the double play -- he grounded to Brian Bixler at third, who started the 5-4-3 twin killing. �

NOTES:

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting (as of 4:05 pm) that Eric Hacker, Brian Bixler, and Robinzon Diaz will be joining the Pirates tomorrow. �Also, rehabbing pitchers Jeff Karstens and Donnie Veal (who has been with the Altoona Curve) will come off the disabled list and rejoin the Pirates. �No "formal announcement" until tomorrow.

In the post-game interview, Tagg Bozied said that the Tribe had indeed been using the same bat through the first few innings. �The Black Bat was chosen by manager Frank Kremblas. �But, after 5 innings, the bat boy (who was from Louisville) pointed out that the Tribe batters had made just 3 hits with the Black Bat. �At that point, they switched over to using their own bats, and they recorded 9 hits over the remaining 4 innings. �

Stay tuned.....

The minor league season is over.... but that's not the end of baseball. �We still have more baseball to follow with our Pirates' farmhands and friends: �

*Our former Indians who are now with the Pirates will be playing for another month or so.

*Team USA begins play in the World Cup tournament on Thursday, in Regensburg, Germany. �The World Cup tournament lasts through Sept 27th. �Pirates' farmhands Pedro Alvarez and Brad Lincoln are members of Team USA. � Other Pirates' farmhands in the tournament include Dustin Molleken (Canada), Gift Ngoepe (South Africa),�RJ Rodriguez (Puerto Rico), and�maybe Brett Willemburg (South Africa), .

*The Arizona Fall League begins play on October 13th and runs until the third week of November. �The Scottsdale Scorpions team will include some Pirates' players: �Danny Moskos, Donnie Veal, Tony Watson, Chase d'Arnaud, Brian Friday, and Jose Tabata.

*The Winter Leagues - - Mexican Pacific League, Venezuelan League, Dominican League, and maybe Puerto Rican League -- begin play in October and run until the end of December or the first week of January, depending on the league. �Brian Bixler is expected to play for at least part of the season in Mexico, but no specific roster announcements yet. �There are usually some North American players taking part, as well as many Latin players. �

And, just in case you think that you're the only one counting: �there are 212 days until the Indians' 2010 Opening Day!

Go Tribe!

[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]

The Altoona Curve wrapped up their 2009 season with a win over the Mets in Binghampton, NY this afternoon. �Mike Crotta made his 27th start of the season, tying a Curve franchise record, and earned his 7th win. �

Crotta pitched 7 scoreless innings, scattering 6 hits and no walks, with one hit batter. �He struck out 5 Mets. �He gave up two singles in the 1st inning, but one was caught stealing and the second was left stranded. �He gave up another single in the 2nd inning, and promptly erased him on a double play. �Two runners reached base against Crotta in the 5th, on a single and a double play, but then struck out the next two batters to end the inning. �The other two hits, a double in the 6th and a triple in the 7th, also resulted in runners left stranded.

Jared Hughes relieved Crotta to pitch the final two innings, earning his 3rd save of the season. �He gave up only a lead-off double in the 9th, and struck out 2 batters.

The Curve batters recorded 9 hits on their way to 3 runs. �After CF Gorkys Hernandez's double in the 1st inning, Mets' starter Eric Niesen retired the next 14 Curve batters in order. �Things changed in the 6th inning, when C Miguel Perez led off with a line drive single into left field. �Mike Crotta tried to bunt Perez to second base, but fouled off a bunt for strike three. �SS Brian Friday and Gorkys Hernandez followed with two more singles, loading the bases. �LF Jonel Pacheco brought in Perez from third base with a sacrifice fly, and 1B Jason Delaney scored Friday with an RBI single. �Hernandez tried the steal of home, but was caught to end the inning. �

Pinch-hitter Eddie Prasch singled in the 8th inning for Altoona, and he advanced to second base on a wild pitch, but could not come around to score. �The Curve added an insurance run in the 9th, when Jonel Pacheco led off with an infield single, moved on to second base on a wild pitch, and continued on to third on Jason Delaney's single. �Pacheco scored on 3B Ray Chang's sacrifice fly. �

Jonel Pacheco ended the season with a 12-game hitting streak, and Brian Friday ended with a 6-game hitting streak. �

The Curve finished the season with a 62-80 record, which unfortunately is a franchise worst. �They landed in 6th (last) place in the Eastern League Southern Division, 27 games behind division winner Akron. �They had identical 31-40 records at home and on the road. �

Pedro Alvarez, who missed the last few games of the season so that he could join Team USA and prepare for the upcoming World Cup tournament, was named the Curve's Most Valuable Player. �Yoslan Herrera was the Pitcher of the Year, Jonel Pacheco was the "King of Swing", and Miguel Perez won the "Unsung Hero" award. �

Some stats to wrap up with:

Batting Leaders :

Average: �Pedro Alvarez -- .333

Hits: �Jonel Pacheco -- 119; �Jason Delaney -- 118

Doubles: �Jason Delaney -- 25; �Jonel Pacheco -- 24; � Brian Friday -- 22

Triples: �Jason Delaney -- 5

Home Runs: �Jonel Pacheco -- 14; �Pedro Alvarez -- 13

RBI: �Jason Delaney -- 65

Walks: �Jason Delaney 57

Strikeouts: �Jason Delaney -- 90; �Jonel Pacheco -- 89

Stolen Bases: �Jonel Pacheco -- 15

Also of note:

Jose Tabata, who finished the season in AAA, hit .303.

Ray Chang, who played in 41 games with the Curve after his promotion from A+ Lynchburg, hit .291.

Pitching Numbers:

Wins: �Yoslan Herrera and Danny Moskos -- 11

Losses: �Danny Moskos -- 10

Saves: �Scott Nestor -- 10

Innings Pitched: �Danny Moskos -- 149

ERA: �Starter: �Brad Lincoln -- 2.28; �Reliever: �Jean Machi -- 2.08

Hits: � Mike Crotta -- 181

Home Runs: �Danny Moskos -- 11

Hit Batters: �Scott Nestor -- 7

Walks: �Danny Moskos -- 58

Strikeouts: �Mike Crotta -- 97

Five unanswered runs in the final 3 innings gave Salem a come-from-behind win in the regular season finale in Lynchburg. �

The Hillcats took an early 3-0 lead. �DH Kris Watts opened the bottom of the 2nd inning with a solo home run on a line drive over the right field wall. �C Tony Sanchez followed the homer with a double, and after two ground outs, he was on third base. �CF Jose De Los Santos grounded to first base for what should have been the third out, but the Salem pitcher missed the catch on the toss from his first baseman, leaving De Los Santos safe at first, and allowing Sanchez to score. �De Los Santos stole second base, for his 53rd steal of the season, but was left there when the inning ended on a strikeout. �

A pair of doubles, by SS Jordy Mercer and RF Jamie Romak, gave the Hillcats another run in the 3rd inning. �The Red Sox countered with one run in the top of the 4th, on a solo home run. �In the bottom of the 6th, the Hillcats added two more runs. �With two outs, 1B Matt Hague singled, and LF Alex Presley tripled to bring in Hague. �Jose De Los Santos walked to put runners on the corners. �De Los Santos was picked off first base, and as he was in the middle of the rundown, Alex Presley came across the plate, and the Hillcats had a 5-1 lead.

Matt McSwain pitched 2 hitless, scoreless innings to begin the game. �The only base runner he allowed came on a fielding error. �Tom Boleska pitched the next 3 innings, and he allowed the solo home run in the 4th, and one other hit also in the 4th. �Mike Colla came on to pitch a scoreless 6th, but got into trouble in the 7th. �A double, a single, and a 2-RBI double made the score 5-3. �

Two more runs scored in the 8th, to tie the score. �Harrison Bishop gave up a one-out walk and a single, and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. �Another 2-RBI double plated those 2 runs. �Noah Krol took the mound in the 9th. �He began the inning by allowing a double, then got two ground outs. �The next batter was intentionally walked, but that backfired when another double brought in the go-ahead run. �

The Hillcats put one runner on base in the bottom of the 9th, when 2B Chase d'Arnaud reached safely on a fielding error. �A ground out ended the inning and the game. �

The Hillcats finished the season with a 73 - 66 record. �They went 36 - 32 at home and 37 - 34 on the road. �The Carolina League has a first half/second half season set up. �In the first half of the season, the Hillcats finished in first place in the Carolina League Northern Division, with a 45 - 24 record. �In the second half, though, they finished in last (4th) place, with a 28 - 41 record. �

The Playoffs begin on Wednesday, as the Hillcats play a 5-game series against the second-half winner of the Northern Division, the Wilmington Blue Rocks. �The winner of that series will face the winner of the Southern Division series, Salem vs. Winston-Salem.

Some batting stats:

Average: �Miles Durham -- .296

Hits: �Matt Hague -- 133; Jordy Mercer -- 131

Doubles: �Jordy Mercer -- 36 �(Carolina League leader)

Triples: �Alex Presley -- 11 �(Carolina League leader)

Home Runs: �Pedro Alvarez -- 14

RBI: �Jordy Mercer -- 83 � (5th in the league)

Walks: �Jared Keel -- 68 � �(4th in the league)

Strikeouts: �Jose De Los Santos -- 96

Stolen Bases: �Jose De Los Santos -- 53 �(3rd in the league)

Also of note: �Ray Chang hit .303 in his 36 games (122 at bats) before being promoted to Altoona.

Pitching leaders:

Wins: �Matt McSwain -- 11 �(2nd in the Carolina League)

Losses: �Bryan Morris -- 9

Saves: �RJ Rodriguez -- 27 � (League leader)

Innings Pitched: �Matt McSwain -- 144.1 �(3rd in the league)

ERA: �Relievers: �Michael Dubee -- �1.45; �Starters: �Ronald Uviedo -- 3.36

Hits: �Matt McSwain -- 162

Home Runs: Justin Wilson -- 14 � (3rd in the league)

Hit Batters: �Matt McSwain and Justin Wilson -- 7

Walks: �Justin Wilson -- 55

Strikeouts: �Jeff Locke -- 99

Four Power pitchers, Aaron Pribanic, Wilson Ortiz, Rafael De Los Santos, and Alan Knots, all combined for a one-hitter shut-out, as the Power over-powered Greensboro in the season finale. �The first Greensboro batter of the game reached base on a fielding error, and the base runner advanced to second base on a ground out and to third on a passed ball. �He was out at home on a fielder's choice grounder to second, when 2B Adenson Chourio fired to C Danny Bomback for the tag out at the plate. �

Pribanic retired the next 7 batters, until the lead-off batter in the 4th inning singled. �He was picked off base a few moments later. �Every Greensboro batter who came to the plate after that was retired. �Pribanic pitched 6 innings, striking out 3. �Wilson Ortiz, Rafael De Los Santos, and Alan Knotts each pitched a perfect inning of relief. �

Meanwhile, the Power bats were booming. �RF Austin McClune led the Power with 3 hits, as the Power posted a total of 12. �They scored 3 runs in the first inning, on a 2-run homer by 1B Kyle Morgan after LF Erik Huber's single. �DH Calvin Anderson followed with a single, and an RBI double by 3B Bobby Spain scored Anderson. �Three more runs came in on Huber's 3-run homer in the 2nd inning, after lead-off singles by McClune and Chourio. �

The Power boomed again in the 6th inning. �Danny Bomback led off by being hit by a pitch, and Austin McClune's single pushed him to third base. �Adenson Chourio grounded out, forcing McClune out at second but scoring Bomback. �A single by SS Benji Gonzalez and a walk to CF Robbie Grossman loaded the bases. �When the Greensboro third baseman made a throwing error on Erik Huber's ball, both Chourio and Gonzalez came around to score. �Kyle Morgan's sacrifice fly brought in Grossman with the 4th run of the inning. �

The Power finished the season with a 67 - 70 record overall. �They were 37 - 43 in the first half of the season, which put them in last (8th place); in the second half, they finished in second place with a�40 - 27 record. �

Some batting leaders:

Average: �Erik Huber -- .318; Tony Sanchez -- .316

Hits: �Robbie Grossman and Quincy Latimore -- 120

Doubles: �Quincy Latimore -- 24

Triples: �Quincy Latimore -- 10

Home Runs: �Calvin Anderson -- 12, Quincy Latimore -- 11

RBI: �Quincy Latimore -- 70

Walks: �Robbie Grossman -- 75

Strikeouts: �Robbie Grossman -- 164

Stolen Bases: �Robbie Grossman -- 35

Pitching Leaders:

Wins: �Rudy Owens -- 10

Losses: Duke Welker -- 11

Saves: �Ryan Kelly -- 6

Innings Pitched: �Hunter Strickland -- 126.1

ERA: �Starters: �Rudy Owens -- 1.70; �Relievers: �Casey Erickson -- 1.75

Hits: �Gabriel Alvarado -- 135

Home Runs: Hunter Strickland -- 14

Walks: Duke Welker -- 67

Strikeouts: �Gabriel Alvarado -- 96

A 7-run 6th inning did all the damage tonight, as the Indians lost their second-to-last game of the season to the Bats at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, KY. �That was the only inning in which a run scored, as the Bats beat the Indians for the 4th straight game. �Indians' starter Yoslan Herrera (photo) made his second start since being promoted from the AA Altoona Curve, and he suffered the loss. �

The game was a pitching duel between Tribe starter Yoslan Herrera and Bats' starter Sam LeCure for the first 5 innings. �LeCure retired the first 8 Tribe batters before allowing a batter to reach base, and that was his mound opponent Herrera, who slipped an all-but-accidental single into right field in the 3rd inning. �It was Herrera's 10th career hit -- one during his time with the Pirates, and 9 in the minors. �Brian Bixler came to the plate next, and he lined a ball right to 3B Michael Griffin. �Griffin had the ball for a split second, then dropped it. �Bixler didn't see the drop and thought he was out on the liner, so he started back to the dugout, as Griffin fired the ball over to first base for the real out to end the 3rd inning. �LeCure proceeded to retire the next 11 batters after Bixler. �

Herrera allowed only 2 base runners over the first three innings. �He hit CF Chris Heisey with the third pitch of the game, and gave up a single to Chris Valaika in the 2nd inning. �With one out in the 4th inning, the Bats tried to ignite a rally. �Wes Bankston smashed a long fly to center field. �Tribe CF Jose Tabata made a leap and appeared to trap the ball against the wall, but when gravity took over and Tabata landed on his feet, the ball fell away from him, and Bankston cruised into third base with a triple. �2B Todd Frazier followed with a ground ball to third base, where Brian Bixler (photo), in his first game at third base in his career, made a bare-handed scoop of the slow grounder and fired to C Robinzon Diaz at the plate. �Bankston inexplicably did not slide into the plate, though it probably wouldn't have mattered. �Diaz was easily able to tag out Bankston and keep the run from scoring. �Frazier was safe at first on the fielder's choice. �He advanced to second base on a wild pitch, but was left stranded there when Chris Valaika grounded out. �

It was the 6th inning when the wheels fell off for Herrera and the Indians. �The Bats sent 12 batters to the plate and scored 7 runs in the inning. �Herrera began with a walk to rehabbing C Ryan Hanigan, then got the also-rehabbing RF Jay Bruce to fly out. �Wes Bankston singled, moving Hanigan to second base, and Todd Frazier also flied out, and things were not looking all that bad. �But then Chris Valaika singled through the hole and into left field. �The throw in from LF Hector Gimenez was on time, but Hanigan avoided the tag and scored the first run of the game. �That was the end of Yoslan Herrera's night. �He had made 92 pitches (58 strikes), and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing a total of 4 hits and 2 walks, and ultimately responsible for 3 runs (all earned).

Jeff Sues (photo) came in from the bullpen to take over for Herrera. �Sues began by walking the first batter he faced, LF Lew Ford, loading the bases, still with two outs. �Then it got ugly. �Michael Griffin singled into right field, scoring Bankston and Valaika. �Griffin stole second base, putting two runners in scoring position for pitcher Sam LeCure. �LeCure lined a single into center field, scoring Ford and Griffin, and LeCure ended up on second on the throw to the plate. �Sues walked Chris Heisey, and a wild pitch moved LeCure and Heisey into scoring position. �Ryan Hanigan lined a double into right field, and both LeCure and Heisey scored, giving the Bats 7 runs in the inning. � Sues had faced 5 batters, walked two and gave up 3 hits. �Three of the runs were charged to Herrera, and the other 4 to Sues.

Jorge Julio was brought in to relieve Sues. �He walked Jay Bruce, and when ball four was wild, Ryan Hanigan advanced to third base. �Finally, Julio struck out Wes Bankston to end the inning. �

Jeff Karstens (photo),�on his rehab assignment from the Pirates came on to pitch beginning the 8th inning, and as part of the double switch, Erik Kratz came in to play first base. �Karstens retired the side in both the 7th and 8th innings, with 3 strikeouts and 20 pitches (16 strikes). �

After managing only one hit over the first 6 innings, the Indians collected 3 more in their last 3 at-bats. �RF Tagg Bozied singled with two outs in the 7th inning, and was left on base. �Hector Gimenez reached base on a throwing error by 3B Michael Griffin in the 8th inning, but did not advance beyond third base, as Bats' reliever Joe Krebs retired the next three batters.

The next Bats' reliever, Enerio Del Rosario retired Brian Bixler and 2B Pedro Lopez to begin the 9th. �The Indians weren't quite ready to go quietly, though. �Jeff Clement (photo below),�who had not appeared in a game in about 10 days due to an oblique strain, came in to pinch hit. �He grounded sharply up the middle. �SS Chris Valaika was abl e to get to the ball deep behind second base, but his throw to first pulled 1B Wes Bankston off the bag to the infield side,�

and Clement was safe with an infield hit. �Tagg Bozied followed with a grounder to third base and beat it out when 3B Michael Griffin bobbled the ball, for the fourth Indians' hit of the game. �That was as far as they would get, however, as pinch-hitter Chris Barnwell flied out to left field, ending the game. � �

This was only the 4th game of the season in which the Indians did not record an extra-base hit. �The Tribe did not get any walks in the game either.

Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Tagg Bozied (photo below) had two of the Indians' four hits, including the clutch second hit in the 9th inning. �

Indians' Defensive Gems of the Game: �Today was the first time in his career that Brian Bixler has played third base. �(He has also had a first time in center field this season.) �Bixler had two fielding chances at third. �In the 2nd inning, Michael Griffin grounded to third, and Bixler made a routine-looking 5-3 play for the ground out. �In the 4th inning, Jeff Frazier dragged a slow roller down toward third base. �Bixler charged in and made the bare-handed pick-up, and fired to Robinzon Diaz at the plate, for the tag out on Wes Bankston, who had been running from third base. �

NOTES:

Neil Walker made his first start at PNC Park today, and got his first major league hit, a single �into right field in the 8th inning. �Earlier in the game, he walked and came around to score the tying run in the 6th inning. �

The Pirates are expecting to promote Brian Bixler and Robinzon Diaz to the major league club after the Indians' season ends tomorrow. �Jeff Karstens, who is on a rehab assignment, will have his 15 days on the DL finish up later in the week, and he'll return to the Pirates also. �Jeff Clement was supposed to have been called up too, but because he has not been playing due to an oblique strain, the Pirates are having second thoughts about that plan. �

Erik Kratz, Tagg Bozied, and Jeremy Powell have already been talking to the Pirates about returning to the organization for the 2010 season. ��

Go Tribe!

[Photo by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]

Sunday evening's action in the Pirates' minor league organization:

Here's an article on Gift Ngoepe, by Kevin McCallum of International Online of South Africa. �Ngoepe is expected to play with the South African team in the upcoming World Cup tournament.

The State College Spikes ended their 2009 season with a bang, as they recorded 17 hits and 14 runs to beat the Scrappers. �Every member of the starting line up but one had at least one hit, and LF Kyle Saukko, who did not have a hit, still walked, scored, and collected an RBI. �Three Spikes had 3 hits: �SS Brock Holt, 1B Aaron Baker, and RF David Rubinstein; two Spikes had 3 RBI: �DH Justin Byler and Baker. �

The Spikes got started in the 1st inning with a 2-run homer by CF Evan Chambers following Brock Holt's lead-off single. �Another single by Justin Byler and and a double by David Rubinstein scored another run. �They made it 4-0 in the 2nd inning on C Craig Parry's triple and Kyle Saukko's sacrifice fly. �

After a couple of quiet innings, the Spikes scored two runs in the 5th inning, when Aaron Baker homered after Justin Byler had reached base on a throwing error. �Another throwing error by the Scrappers gave the Spikes another run in the 6th, when Kyle Saukko walked and scored on the error. �

The Spikes' big inning was the 8th. �With two outs, Brock Holt and Evan Chambers both singled, and Justin Byler brought them in with a 3-run homer. �Aaron Baker followed the homer with a double, David Rubinstein singled, 3B Pat Irvine doubled, and 2B Elevys Gonzalez and Craig Parry also singled, bringing in 3 more runs, for a total of 6 in the inning. �They added one final run in the top of the 9th, when Brock Holt walked, went to second on a grounder and fielding error, to third on another grounder, and scored on Aaron Baker's double. �

Jeff Inman made his second start for the Spikes, and like the first start, pitched 2 scoreless innings. �Jason Erickson pitched the next 4 innings. �He worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam (three singles) in the 3rd inning. �In the 6th, Erickson hit a batter, then gave up a double and a 3-run homer. �Zach Foster pitched 2 innings, and gave up one run on a walk, a hit batter, and an RBI single. �Diomedes Garcia came in to pitch the bottom of the 9th, giving up one hit but erasing that runner on a double play. �

The Spikes finished the season with a 38 - 38 record, in 3rd place in the Pinckney Division of the New York/Penn League. �That's a considerable improvement over last season's record.

Batting leaders:

Average: �Brock Holt -- .299

Hits: �Brock Holt -- 76

Doubles: Justin Byler -- 19

Triples: �Aaron Baker -- 7

Homers: �Brock Holt and Justin Byler -- 6

RBI: �Justin Byler and Pat Irvine -- 41

Walks: �Evan Chambers -- 50 �(that's in 58 games)

Strikeouts: �Evan Chambers -- 78

Stolen Bases: �Brock Holt -- 9

Pitching leaders:

Wins: �Tyler Cox -- 8

Losses: �Nelson Pereira -- 5

Saves: �Marc Baca -- 6

ERA: �Zach Foster -- 1.24

Innings Pitched: �Kyle McPherson -- 75.1

Hits: �Tyler Cox -- 81

Walks: �Nelson Pereira -- 28

Strikeouts: �Tyler Cox and Kyle McPherson -- 57

The Curve staged a late-inning rally in the 8th inning, but couldn't catch up to the Mets. �Derek Hankins got the start for the Curve, and pitched 5 innings, allowing one run on 4 hits and a walk, with 7 strikeouts. �That one run was a solo home run in the bottom of the 1st inning. �He worked around a hit or a walk in each of the next 4 innings, but each time kept the Mets from scoring. �

The Curve were scoreless over the first 4 innings, though they put runners on base with 5 walks and a single in those innings. �They scored a tying run in the 5th. �SS Brian Friday singled with one out, then stole second base. �CF Gorkys Hernandez singled into right field, and Friday headed for the plate, where he was thrown out on an on-target throw from the Mets' right fielder to the catcher. �RF Jonel Pacheco doubled, and Hernandez came in to score. �

The tie lasted until the bottom of the 7th. �Michael Dubee pitched a scoreless 6th inning, with two strikeouts. �Ramon Aguero took the mound in the 7th, and the Mets rallied to break the tie. �Two singles, a wild pitch, a walk, and a double brought in 3 runs, giving the Mets a 4-1 lead. �

The Curve responded with a rally in the 8th. �Gorkys Hernandez led off with a walk, but he was out at second when 1B Jason Delaney grounded into a force play at second base. �3B Ray Chang lined a double into left field, moving Delaney to third base. �C Milver Reyes singled into right field, and Delaney came across the plate. �2B Shelby Ford's single brought in Chang, but that was all the Curve could score. �In the 9th, Brian Friday singled and Gorkys Hernandez walked, but a double play ended that threat before it could really get going. �

C Steve Lerud was hit in the chest by a foul tip in the 1st inning, and left the game. �No further word yet on his injury.�

Jonel Pacheco extended his hitting streak to 11 games, a nd Brian Friday extended his to 5 games. �

One run was all it took, so one run was all the Hillcats scored, and they got it out of the way in the bottom of the 1st inning. �SS Chase d'Arnaud led off the inning with a double, and he advanced to third base on a passed ball. �3B Jordy Mercer's sacrifice fly scored d'Arnaud with the only run of the game. �

The Hillcats recorded 6 more hits, including a single and a double each by 1B Matt Hague and C Eric Fryer. �None of the Hillcats walked, but DH Tony Sanchez got on base when he was hit with a pitch. �Sanchez was hit in the 4th inning, and that was followed by Hague's double. �Sanchez tried to score from first base, but was tagged out at the plate. �Fryer was also thrown out at the plate in the 7th inning, when he doubled and then tried to score on CF Alex Presley's single. �

Jeff Locke and Ronald Uviedo combined to pitch a 4-hit shutout. �Locke retired the first 6 batters he faced. �He gave up a double to begin the 3rd inning, then retired 6 more batters. �He gave up a lead-off single in each of the 5th and the 6th innings, but still left the runners stranded. �Locke got two outs to begin the 7th inning, then gave up a double. �He was relieved by Uviedo, who finished the inning, and then finished the game, retiring all 7 batters he faced. �Neither Locke nor Uviedo walked a batter or hit a batter. � Locke earned his 5th win, and Uviedo earned his 3rd Save. �

Starling Marte's ankle injury does not appear to be all that serious. �He is not going on the DL, but is going to be day-to-day, and may still be available for the Hillcats in the playoffs. �

Like the Hillcats, the Power scored only one run in tonight's game. �But unlike the Hillcats, the Power could not keep the opposition from scoring, and their one run was not enough. �Brian Leach got the start for the Power, and pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, with 3 strikeouts. �Two runs came in in the top of the 1st, as the Grasshoppers opened the inning with back-to-back doubles, scoring one run, then later brought in another run on an RBI single. �They added another run in the 2nd inning on two singles and a wild pitch. �

The 3-0 lead lasted until the 7th inning. �The Power recorded a single, a double, and four walks over the first 6 innings, but could not get any of the base runners around to score. �In the bottom of the 7th, RF Austin McClune doubled, and scored on 2B Brett Willemburg's RBI single up the middle. �

Greensboro countered with a 3-run home run in the top of the 8th, off reliever Diego Moreno, who had already pitched 2 scoreless innings. �The Power tried to rally in the bottom of the 8th, with singles by LF Quincy Latimore and 1B Erik Huber. �Two wild pitches moved both runners into scoring position, but a fly out ended the inning without a run scoring. �The Power loaded the bases in the 9th, when Austin McClure walked, C Josue Peley was hit by a pitch, and after two outs, CF Robbie Grossman walked. �But Latimore lined out to end the rally and the game. �