Thomas came back out to start the 7th inning for the Indians. �He recorded two more strikeouts, then had Mike Jacobs reach base on a fielding error by 3B Brian Myrow, who is still relatively unfamiliar with the third base position. �Jeremy Powell came on to relieve Thomas. �The Indians had a big scare on Powell’s first pitch: �RF Valentino Pascucci, who homered three times last night, took that first pitch high and long down the left field line. �It was ruled a home run, and this was another controversial call. �The Indians’ bullpen, plus Jeremy Powell and Erik Kratz all immediately began to protest, and they were successful in getting the umpires to confer. �The call was reversed, saving the Indians from needing a bigger catch-up. �Pascucci went back to the batters’ box, and a few pitches later, he grounded out to short to end the inning.
Wil Ledezma pitched a 3-up and 3-down inning for the Indians in the 8th, including 2 strikeouts.
The Tribe put runners on base in both the 7th and 8th innings — a lead-off double in the 7th by Jeff Clement and a walk to Erik Kratz in the 8th — but both were left stranded.
Steve Pearce began the top of the 9th with his second single of the game. �An unusual call of catchers’ interference on Bison’s C Thole put Jeff Clement on base and moved Pearce to second, and Brian Myrow’s sacrifice bunt advanced the runners so that both were in scoring position. �An intentional walk to Jonathan Van Every loaded the bases. �That set things up for Argenis Diaz, who lined a single into right field, bringing in Pearce with the tying run. �A strikeout and a fly out ended the inning with the bases still loaded, but when Jean Machi retired the side in order in the bottom of the 9th, the game went into extra innings.
And that was when the fun began. �The Tribe sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the 10th as they piled on 6 runs. �Erik Kratz started by reaching base when his fly ball to short left field fell in between LF Duda and SS Turner, with neither one touching it. �Kratz made it to second base by the time Duda (who was charged with the fielding error) could get to the ball, and when Duda threw wildly back to the infield, Kratz advanced to third base. �Jim Negrych grounded to second base, with Kratz off and running towards the plate. �Kratz slid in around the tag on the fielder’s choice throw to the plate, scoring the go-ahead run. �With Negrych safe at first, Steve Pearce kept the inning going with a ground rule double over the right-center field wall, moving Negrych to third. �Negrych came in on a sacrifice fly. �Brian Myrow worked a walk, then stole second base, and both Pearce and Myrow crossed the plate on Jonathan Van Every’s double into left field. �Argenis Diaz also doubled into left, scoring Van Every. �Then, with the Indians running out of pinch-hitters, Jean Machi stepped to the plate for his first ever professional at-bat. �Machi now owns a perfect 1.000 batting average, because he lined a double down the right field line, scoring Diaz with the 6th run of the inning. �Kevin Melillo added a single, putting runners on the corners. �Erik Kratz came to the plate again, and after a bit of jawing with the Buffalo catcher, he grounded into a double play to end the inning.
All that was left was for Machi (photo) to retire the Bison in order in the bottom of the 10th, with a line out and two strikeouts, to earn his third win of the season.
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Indians’ Hitting Gem of the Game: �Clutch hits by Argenis Diaz in the 9th and 10th, and the fielders’ choice by Negrych in the 10th… and don’t forget Jean Machi’s first career hit in his first career at-bat.
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Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game: �Four hitless innings of work by the Indians’ bullpen: �Justin Thomas, Jeremy Powell, Wil Ledezma, and Jean Machi.
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NOTES:
Jack Taschner has refused the option to AAA Indianapolis, making him a free agent.
Pedro Alvarez had his first major league hit tonight, a ground-rule double in the Pirates’ 6-4 win over the Cleveland Indians.
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Go Tribe!
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(photos by Nancy)
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