Finally in the 5th inning, the Indians made their hits count. �With one out, pitcher Jeremy Powell lined a single into right field. Brandon Moss followed with a walk. �A high pop by Neil Walker, with the infield fly rule invoked, gave the Tribe their second out, but didn’t move the runners along. �Then Pedro Alvarez (photo) smacked a fly ball over the head of Iron Pigs’ RF Ransom and all the way to the wall, for a double that scored both Powell and Moss.
Brandon Jones blasted the game’s only home run to begin the 6th inning. �After the game, Jones said that he had been “looking for a curve ball, and he (Iron Pigs’ pitcher Joe Savery) gave it to me, and I put a good swing on it. �I knew it was going, but I didn’t know it would go that far!”
The Indians added one more insurance run in the 8th. �Iron Pigs’ reliever Ehren Wassermann (a member of Team USA for last fall’s 2009 World Baseball Cup), came on to pitch, and he had trouble with his control. �He walked Steve Pearce (on 5 pitches). �Brandon Jones flied out, then Wassermann commited a balk, moving Pearce to second. �Then a pitch bounced into and out of C Hoover’s glove, allowing Pearce to move to third base. �Wassermann tried to pick Pearce off third base, but he forgot that he needed to have someone to throw to — he threw to third, but 3B Neil Sellers wasn’t there. �The ball sailed into left field, and Pearce scored easily with the fourth Indians’ run. �Wassermann hit Erik Kratz with a pitch, then got 2B Brian Friday to fly out. �SS�Argenis Diaz doubled into right field, and Kratz advanced to third base. �Pinch-hitter Brian Myrow was also hit by a pitch, loading the bases, and at that point, Wassermann was relieved by former Indy Indian (2006) Brandon Duckworth. �Duckworth ended the inning by getting Brandon Moss to strikeout with the bases loaded.
Vinnie Chulk pitched a perfect 8th inning for the Indians, including one strikeout. �After some tough early outings this season, Chulk has not allowed a run in his last three appearances. �Jean Machi came on for the top of the 9th. �With one out, Machi gave up a double to Cody Ransom, then walked Neil Sellers. �Paul Hoover grounded to second base, where Brian Friday made the scoop and throw to second base, where Argenis Diaz got the force out on Sellers. �But Diaz’s throw to first base was wide on the outfield side of the base. �Hoover made it all the way to second on the error, and Ransom scored an unearned run. �A fly out to Brandon Jones ended the game without further runs scoring.
The win puts the Tribe back above the .500 mark, to 13-12 (.520) and ties them with the Toledo Mud Hens for second place in the International League Western Division. �They are 2.5 games behind the first-place Columbus Clippers.
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Indians’ Hitting Gem of the Game: �Brandon Jones’ (photo) big home run in the 6th inning. �After having missed some time when he was Designated For Assignment and was outrighted to the Indians, Jones missed some more time due to a death in the family. �Tonight was his first game back in action, and he was clearly glad to be back.
Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game: �Also Jones, when he saved at least one run in the 5th inning with his catch of Luis Maza’s sinking line drive. �The runner on second would have scored if that ball had made it past Jones, and the speedy Rich Thompson might have made it around from first to score too.
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NOTES:
Neil Walker was lifted in the middle of the 5th inning, after going 0-for-3 at the plate. �No obvious injury, or other problems. �The radio broadcasters did not see him sitting in the dugout after that. �The Pirates said they were going to be calling a position player up some time this week….
UPDATE: Nope, not Walker being called up — it’s Steve Pearce. �He will be joining the Pirates on Tuesday. �The Pirates will likely be sending a pitcher to Indy, either Brian Burres or Brian Bass.
Walker didn’t run out a pop up, so he got to sit down. �It seems like manager Frank Kremblas is trying to make a point, and some of the guys are a little slow on picking it up.
Pitcher Kevin Hart’s season is over. �He is having surgery on his right shoulder tomorrow, by Dr. James Andrews in Alabama.
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Go Tribe!
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(Photos by Nancy)
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