The Mud Hens were ahead by one run, 2-1, going into the top of the 6th. Burres started the inning with a walk to Sizemore, then got two outs. Sizemore stole second, and advanced to third on the ground out. LF Ryan Strieby lined Burres’ 1-2 pitch into center, scoring Sizemore from third. Thorman followed with a line drive into right field. Burres walked Iorg to load the bases, and that was the end of his afternoon.
Tony Watson (photo) came on in relief. He ran a full count on Clete Thomas, then got Thomas to ground to 2B Pedro Ciriaco for what should have been a flip to SS Chase d’Arnaud on the bag for the inning-ending force out. But Ciriaco couldn’t hold on to the ball, and by the time he could pick it up again, Strieby had scored from third base, and everyone was safe. Watson got a fly out to end the inning. Burres, who was eventually charged with the loss, was responsible for all 4 Toledo runs (3 earned), on 4 hits and 2 walks, with 3 strikeouts. He made 84 pitches in 5.2 innings, and 51 were strikes.
Tony Watson remained in the game to pitch the 7th inning. He gave up a double to DH Danny Worth, and struck out one. Joe Beimel made his second relief appearance in two days, and again he did a very nice job. Today he struck out one batter and got two ground outs. Tim Wood (photo) took the top of the 9th for the Tribe. The first batter he faced reached base on Pedro Ciriaco’s second error of the game — a grounder that popped out of his glove and over his shoulder. Wood got former Indian 3B Argenis Diaz to bounce to short, for a 6-4-3 (d’Arnaud to Ciriaco to Hague) double play, and a tapper back to the mound ended the inning.
Andy Oliver finished his day after 6 innings. He was relieved by Fu-Te Ni, who quickly retired the side in the 7th. With two outs, the Indians were able to take advantage of a Toledo error in the 8th. Gorkys Hernandez worked a walk. Chase d’Arnaud singled through the hole and into left field, as Hernandez rounded second and headed for third. RF Dirks threw the ball into the infield, probably thinking he had a chance to get Hernandez at third, and d’Arnaud rounded first, probably thinking that he’d take second on the throw. But the cut-off man SS Iorg took the throw and instead of relaying it to third, threw to first, hoping to catch d’Arnaud. D’Arnaud saw the change in time and scrambled back to first, but Iorg’s throw was in the dirt and got past 1B Strieby. While the Mud Hens chased down the wild throw, Hernandez scored and d’Arnaud reached second base. That was all the Tribe could get, though, as Ni struck out Presley (his third strikeout of the game) to end the inning.
Ni also started the 9th inning with a strikeout — Andy Marte’s third strikeout of the game. Matt Hague drove a liner down the right field line, which bounced into the Mud Hens’ bullpen and under the same bench. This time RF Dirks had learned the Victory Field rules, and immediately dove under the bench, keeping Hague to a double. Two fly outs left Hague there, though, ending the game.
The Indians and Mud Hens split the short series. They will meet up again in Toledo next week. The Louisville Bats will have a 3-game series with the Indians at Victory Field, then the two teams will move to Louisville for 3 more games over the weekend.
Indians’ Hitting Gem of the Game: (photo) Josh Harrison’s first home run of the season (after coming within about a foot of a homer last night)
Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game: In the top of the 3rd, Toledo C Jeff Kunkel grounded to third, where Josh Harrison charged in to make the scoop, then threw across his body to first. Matt Hague had to reach, but made the catch in time for the out. Nice job of working together.
More photos from a nice sunny day:
Andy Marte takes a swing….. Alex Presley
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Matt Hague has just caught a grounder to first and is heading to the bag……. Wyatt Toregas behind the plate
Something was bothering Josh Harrison in the middle of his at-bat, but after talking to the trainer and manager Dean Treanor, he got back into the box and continued…… Wyatt Toregas chats with home plate umpire Brad Myers
Meeting on the mound: Tom Filer, Brian Burres, Wyatt Toregas…………..Matt Hague had been holding Scott Sizemore on first, but Sizemore stole second
Joe Beimel might not be here for long…………. the outfielders: Alex Presley, Gorkys Hernandez, Andrew Lambo
And some infielders: Josh Harrison, Chase d’Arnaud, Matt Hague……….Hernandez scores in the 8th inning
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NOTES:
If it was a little cold and a little windy down at ground level, think of what it was like way up there. This is the new JW Marriott, completed in February, which has been under construction across from Victory Field for the past couple of seasons. It has 30+ floors, and these four guys were washing windows. They were blowing back and forth across the side of the building as they were trying to wash….aren’t you glad you don’t have that job!?!?
Go Tribe!
(photos by Nancy)
