Meanwhile, Toledo starter Duane Below was not having much trouble with the Indians’ batters. 3B Josh Harrison reached base when former Indy Indian SS Argenis Diaz had a grounder take a goofy hop over his shoulder in the 1st inning, but Harrison was picked off and caught stealing before Below even threw a pitch to the next batter, Presley. Presley slipped a single through the right side, but he was left on base when Hague grounded out. The Indiansdid not have another base runner until the top of the 4th, when Hague walked. He was forced out at second on a grounder to third. C Jason Jaramillo singled in the 5th, and he was left on base.
The Tribe posted 3 hits in the top of the 6th, but only one run scored. That run was a lead-off home run by SS Chase d’Arnaud (photo), over the left field wall. Harrison followed the homer with a single, when Toledo SS Cale Iorg threw wide to first, but Harrison was erased when Presley bounced into a double play. Hague lined a single into center field, but he was forced out at second to end the inning.
The two newest Indians, pitchers Blaine Boyer and Garrett Olson were the next two to take the mound. Boyer took over for Owens to begin the bottom of the 6th, and his Indians’ debut was not what he’d hoped it would be. He walked two of the first three batters he faced, with a strikeout in between. He got a ground out, then walked another batter to load the bases. After a visit from pitching coach Tom Filer, Boyer gave up a single to 2B Scott Sizemore, driving in 2 runs. Boyer should have been out of the inning when Perez grounded to short, but d’Arnaud airmailed the ball over Hague at first, allowing a third run to score. That was all for Boyer, with Olson coming on to relieve him. Olson got a fly out to end that inning, and Toledo had a 7-1 lead.
By the top of the 7th, the fog that had been lurking beyond the outfield walls was starting to creep into the air above the outfield. Jaramillo worked a walk, and went to third on Friday’s double, which slipped into and out of the fog over right field. Hens’ RF Thomas had the ball drop in behind him, as he had trouble finding the ball as it came his way. With two outs, d’Arnaud walked to load the bases. But Harrison popped out to end the inning and leave all three runners stranded.
Olson put Toledo runners on the corners in the bottom of the 7th with a double by Worth and a single by Iorg. He left them stranded with a line out and a ground out to end the inning. Cesar Valdez pitched the bottom of the 9th, and retired the Hens in order.
The Indians put just two more runners on base after the 7th. Presley walked in the 8th and Friday walked in the 9th, and both were left on base.
Next, the Tribe will move on to Columbus to face the Clippers in a 3-game weekend series.
Indians’ Hitting Gem of the Game: Chase d’Arnaud’s solo homer in the 6th inning. It was d’Arnaud’s first homer of the season, and the only Indians’ run in the game.
Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game: Toledo’s Andy Dirks began the 5th inning with a long fly ball to center field. Alex Presley, who has moved from left field to center field (where he played when he was with the Indians in 2010) with Gorkys Hernandez on the bench, made the long running catch for the first out of the inning. If Dirks had reached base, he would have scored on the subsequent hits in the inning.
NOTES: 
Pedro Ciriaco (photo above) was called up to the Pirates today, though that is expected to be very temporary. The Pirates have claimed SS Brandon Wood off waivers from the Angels. In order to create a roster spot for Wood, Rule 5 Draft Pick Josh Rodriguez was designated for assignment. If Rodriguez clears waivers, he will have to be offered back to the Cleveland Indians. Cleveland can take him back, or they can work out a trade with the Pirates. It will take a couple of days for Wood to report to Pittsburgh, so Ciricao will fill in for those days.
The Nationals have called up former Indy Indian/Pirate INF Brian Bixler (photo) from AAA Syracuse. The Pirates/Nationals game today was rained out, but Bixler should be in Pittsburgh for their game tomorrow.
Go Tribe!
(photos by Nancy)
