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The Indians attacked Clippers’ starter David Huff again in the 4th inning.� With out, Jason Jaramillo slipped a single into left field.� Brian Friday worked the count full, then took ball four, to put runners on first and second bases.� Doug Bernier ripped the first pitch he saw into right field for a double, driving in both Jaramillo and Friday.� When Clippers’ RF Matt McBride made had trouble picking up the ball in right field, Bernier advanced to third base.� Aki Iwamura walked, then Alex Presley’s (photo) second double of the game, lined into right center field and off the glove of CF Jose Constanza, brought in Bernier with the third run of the inning, and put Iwamura on third base.� Brandon Moss lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, and Iwamura crossed the plate with the 4th run of the inning, giving the Indians an 8-0 lead.
Dana Eveland returned to the mound to begin the bottom of the 4th.� He began the inning by giving up a single to Wes Hodges, but Brandon Moss showed off his defense to compliment his offense, by throwing out Hodges as he tried to stretch the single into a double.� It turned out to be an important play for Eveland, because the next batter, LF Jordan Brown doubled.� That was all for Eveland, who had allowed 3 hits and a walk in his 3.1 innings, with one strikeout.� Brian Bass relieved Eveland, and he stranded Brown at second base, with a tapper back to the mound and a ground out to third base.
Bass went on to pitch three more scoreless innings.� He gave up a lead-off single to Luke Carlin to begin the 5th, then Josh Rodriguez reached base on Bass’s own throwing error.� But Argenis Reyes bounced to Pedro Ciriaco at short, who began a 6-4-3 (Ciriaco to Friday to Bernier) double play.� Carlin went to third base on the play, but a ground out to third ended the inning.� Bass retired the next six batters he faced, with one strikeout.
The Tribe threatened again in the 5th inning.� Jason Jaramillo singled for the second inning in a row.� Brian Friday made it back-to-back singles, and a passed ball moved them both up into scoring position.� But a ground out ended the inning without another run scoring.� Alex Presley collected his third hit of the game when he lined a single in the 6th, but two strikeouts ended the inning.� The Indians went down in order in the 7th and 8th innings.� Presley was the only Tribe batter to reach base for the rest of the game, when he walked to begin the top of the 9th.� He was erased when LF Mitch Jones bounced into a double play.
Steven Jackson took the mound for the Indians in the bottom of the 8th.� He walked Jose Constanza with two outs, then ended the inning with a ground out by Drew Sutton.� Jean Machi came on to pitch the 9th.� He finished up the game with a fly out and two strikeouts.
The Louisville Bats lost to the Toledo Mud Hens tonight also, so the Bats remain in first place in the International League West Division, 1.5 games ahead of the Clippers.� The Indians are in third place, 7.5 games behind Louisville.� Columbus leads the Wild Card standings by 1.5 games over the Buffalo Bison.� The Syracuse Chiefs are third in that race, 4.5 games back, and the Indians are fourth, 6 games back.
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Indians Hitting Gem of the Game:� Brandon Moss’ (photo) 2-run home run in the top of the 1st.� It got the game off to a good start, and was all the Indians needed, though more was nice.� Moss also picked up another RBI in the 4th inning with a sacrifice fly.
Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game:� Moss’s outfield assist in the 4th inning, cutting Wes Hodges down as he tried for second base.� The next batter, Jordan Brown, doubled, and Hodges would have scored on that play.
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NOTES:
Charlie Morton is scheduled to start for the Pirates on Sunday in Milwaukee.� To make room for Morton on the active roster, the Pirates sent reliever Justin Thomas back to the Indians.
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Go Tribe!
(photos by Nancy)
