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The Indians figured out Perkins in the 5th inning. �After a quick ground out, LF Brandon Moss smacked a double down the left field line, which 3B Hughes dove at but couldn’t hold on to. �The throw in from LF Brian Dinkelman was in time, but came in wide to the infield side of second base, and Moss slid into second safely. �Luke Carlin did not get a hit in that inning, but he did work a walk, and DH Erik Kratz was hit by a pitch on the right arm or hand to load the bases with one out.
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Brian Friday (photo) stepped to the plate, and crushed a 1-1 pitch into the right-center field alley, clearing the bases and erasing Rochester’s lead. �A sacrifice fly by Jose Tabata plated Friday as well, and the Tribe had an insurance run, 4-2. �Neil Walker followed by taking the first pitch into the left-center field alley to the wall at the 418′ sign, the deepest part of the park. �A soft pop up by Brian Myrow ended the inning, though, with Walker still on third. �Indians up, 4-2.
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Photo: �Neil Walker slides into third base with his second triple of the season..
The Tribe tacked on three more insurance runs in the 6th. �Pedro Alvarez led off with a walk. �RF Brandon Jones‘ job was to bunt Alvarez to second, but the bunt popped up — then fell in between the pitcher Perkins, the catcher Fernandez, and the third baseman Hughes. �Perkins picked up the ball and fired to first, but he was excited and the throw to first was wild, and both runners were safe. �Brandon Moss also bunted, but the Red Wings fielded it more cleanly, and threw to second to force out Jones ( ruled NOT a sacrifice). �That brought up Luke Carlin, and he responded with a double over the head of CF Dustin Martin. �Both Alvarez and Jones scored, and Perkins headed to the showers.
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Jose Lugo came on in relief of Perkins, and he was greeted by Erik Kratz and his double down the line in left field, plating Carlin, and the Indians had a 7-2 lead. �Brian Friday walked to keep the rally going, and the Indians had runners on first and second. �At that point, the Red Wings got lucky. �Jose Tabata ripped a line drive to the left side — but right at 3B Hughes, and Hughes was alert enough to throw over to second base, catching Kratz off for the double play.
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Lugo pitched the rest of the game for the Red Wings. �He allowed only one more base runner, when Carlin collected his third hit of the game with a single in the 8th.
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After the third inning, Daniel McCutchen settled down completely. �He struck out the last batter in the 3rd (Macri), then retired the side in order, on 7 pitches, in the 4th. �He did the same on another 7 pitches in the 5th. �The 6th began with a ground out to third. �Then CF Dustin Martin worked a 14-pitch at-bat, fouling off 10 of McCutchen’s pitches before he finally doubled down the right field line. �That was all for McCutchen, who left with the lead. �He had thrown a total of 101 pitches, allowing those 2 runs on 6 hits, one walk, and with 2 strikeouts (both Macri).
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Anthony Claggett took over for McCutchen, and he got two fly outs to end the 6th inning. �He pitched 3 more innings and allowed just one walk to begin the 7th, then retired the remaining 9 batters of the game. �McCutchen earned his second win of the season, and Claggett earned his first save.
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The win puts the Indians 3 games over .500, at 17- 14. �They are in second place in the International League West Division, 3.5 games behind the Columbus Clippers.
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Photos: �Left — Daniel McCutchen scrambles to field a short grounder and tag Brian Dinkleman, but the ball went foul. �Right — �Kevin Melillo coaches at first base.
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Photos: �Left — Pedro Alvarez, Brian Friday, and Neil Walker confer in the infield; � Right — �Anthony Claggett makes a pick-off throw to second base.
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Indians’ Hitting Gem of the Game: �Brian Friday’s first triple of the season, into the right-center alley, clearing the bases and driving in the go-ahead run.
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Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game: �In the top of the 5th, �Matt Tolbert led off with a bunt that landed several feet out in front of the plate. �C Luke Carlin quickly pounced on it, made a tight spin and threw to first base for the out.
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NOTES:
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Saturday’s starter Jeremy Powell was named the International League pitcher of the week for May 3-9. �Powell made 2 starts last week, and won both of them. �He pitched 13 innings and allowed only one earned run. �That was 7 scoreless innings against Lehigh Valley on May 3rd, and one run in 6 innings on Saturday. �Powell was given the award over Aroldis Chapman, who also picked up two wins last week, but allowed 7 earned runs in his 10.2 innings.
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The Pirates have designated pitcher Brian Bass for assignment, to make room on the roster for Ross Ohlendorf, who was coming off the Disabled List. �They are hoping to keep Bass in the organization and have him pitch in Indianapolis, but first he has to pass through waivers.
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Kevin Melillo was wearing jersey #26 yesterday, on Pink Jersey day, but today he has #7.
Go Tribe!
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(photos by Nancy)
