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The Indians tried to add to their lead in the top of the 6th.� Perkins was relieved by Kyle Waldrop, who got one ground out, then gave up back-to-back singles to LF Jonathan Van Every and Argenis Diaz.� Van Every beat out a slow-rolling grounder to second base when 1B Peterson stumbled, forcing Waldrop to cover first base.� Waldrop took the throw from 2B Harris, but not before Van Every had hit the bag first.� Diaz snuck a single up the middle and into center field, moving Van Every to second base.� Brian Bixler grounded sharply along the third base line, and Red Wings’ 3B D’Angelo Jimenez made a very nice stop to rob Bixler of a hit, then was able to turn and throw to second base, forcing out Diaz.� Bixler stole second base, and Aki Iwamura was walked, and the Indians had the bases loaded with two outs.� But Brian Myrow was called out on strike three, and all three base runners were left stranded.
The lead lasted until the bottom of the 6th.� With Brian Burres still on the mound, Jose Morales doubled and Brock Peterson walked.� Jimenez grounded to third base, but when Brian Bixler fielded the ball and made a quick glance over to second base, his throw to first was disrupted.� The ball hit the dirt at first base and got past Brian Myrow, skipping into the stands.� Morales was awarded home plate, Peterson went to third, and Jimenez to second.� Burres was relieved by Brian Bass (only three Brians allowed on the field at one time), but Bass was greeted by DH Wilson Ramos’ double to the warning track in left field, driving in both Peterson and Jimenez (the runs were charged to Burres), to put the Red Wings back on top, 5-4.
The Tribe kept putting runners on base, and in fact had the lead-off runner on base in each of the last three innings.� Jeff Clement singled to begin the 7th, but was out in a double play.� Former Butler University (Indianapolis) pitcher Pat Neshek began the 8th inning on the mound for the Red Wings.� CF Alex Presley was not intimidated by Neshek’s submarine herky-jerky motion, as he began the 8th with a single ripped into right field.�� After two outs, the speedy Brian Bixler beat out the throw from 2B Harris on an infield grounder for another single.� Neshek was relieved by Jose Lugo, who got Aki Iwamura to ground out, ending the threat.
Reliever Wil Ledezma pitched the 7th inning for the Indians.� He gave up a single to Jacque Jones, but with the infield shift on, Ledezma got Jose Morales to bounce right to Aki Iwamura, who stepped on second base to force out Jones, then fired on to first base for the double play.� Jean Machi took the 8th inning for the Tribe.� He gave up a lead-off triple to Brendan Harris, then had Harris score on D’Angelo Jimenez’s sacrifice fly, as the Red Wings extended their lead to 6-4.
One more chance for the Tribe in the top of the 9th, and again they began the inning by getting the first batter on base.� Brian Myrow doubled into left field to get things going.� Jeff Clement struck out, but Brandon Moss responded with his third RBI single of the game, going into the left-center field alley.� Myrow scored, and the Indians were within one run of the Wings.� Kevin Melillo came into the game to pinch-run for Moss.� But Luke Carlin struck out for the second out of the inning.� Alex Presley smacked a high bouncer toward right field, but 1B Peterson leapt and snatched the ball out of the air, then stepped on the bag to make the out and end the game.
Fifteen hits, but 11 runners left on base.
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Indians’ Hitting Gems of the Game:� Three singles with an RBI each for Brandon Moss, accounting for 3 of the Indians’ 5 runs.
Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game:� The double play turned in the 7th inning.� At the time, the Red Wings were ahead by one run, and they had Jacque Jones on first base with one out.� Jose Morales grounded to second where Aki Iwamura was in the perfect position to start the double play.
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Go Tribe!
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(photos by Nancy)
