In the 4th — Wimberly led off with a grounder up the middle for a single. Bowker brought him in with his 2-run homer, which left the playing field at the corner between the last seating area and the grass berm in right field, over the top of the fence by just a few feet. That gave the Tribe 8 runs.
In the 5th — Watts began the inning with a single lined over 1B Ryan Strieby’s head and into right field. Brown’s double just inside third base and into left field put Watts on third base. Norman’s sacrifice fly brought in Watts. Wimberly lined a flare into left field, plating Brown, who had tagged up and moved to third on the sacrifice fly. Ten runs for the Indians, and an early shower for Toledo starter Gagnier.
Tribe starter Garrett Olson (photo) earned his third win of the season, aided by all the run support. Olson zipped through the first three innings, allowing only one hit, to Guez to lead off the 3rd inning. Guez advanced to second base when Olson hit C Max St. Pierre on the foot with a pitch, but a pop out and a ground out ended the inning.
Rehabbing Toledo 2B Carlos Guillen began the 4th inning with a solo home run that barely cleared the fence over the scoreboard in left field. Olson walked Timo Perez after the homer, but retired the next three batters in order. He also walked the first two batters in the top of the 5th, DH Cale Iorg and St. Pierre. Iorg tagged up and advanced to third base on Salazar’s fly out, then scored on Diaz’s sacrifice fly, to give the Mud Hens their second run. Olson finished his outing by retiring the side in order in the 6th. He threw 95 pitches (52 strikes) and allowed those 2 runs on just 2 hits, with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.
(Photo: Pedro Alvarez played the full game at third base tonight)
Mike Crotta pitched the 7th inning for the Indians, retiring the side in order. Jose Ascanio threw a scoreless 8th. He walked Salazar, but got Diaz to bounce into a 4-6-3 (Wimberly to Mercer to Hague) double play.
Once Toledo starter Gagnier sat down, with the Tribe up 10-2, the Indians did not have as much success with the Mud Hens’ bullpen. Reliever Enrique Gonzalez finished the 5th inning with a fly out, then came back to pitch the next two innings. Bowker walked to begin the 6th, but was forced out at second base when Hague bounced to third. 3B Diaz made a diving stop, then threw to second for the force. 2B Guillen made the relay to first, hoping for a double play, but his throw was not in time. Hague was left on base when Watts popped out. Brown ripped his third hit of the night down the right field line, just inside the first base bag, in the 7th, but he was also forced out at second when Norman grounded to short. Guillen had trouble handling the ball after making the out at second, so there was no throw to first and Norman was safe. But he too was left on base when Wimberly grounded out to first.
The Tribe put a runner on third base in the 8th, but did not score again. Reliever Matt Hoffman gave up a one-out single to Bowker, then walked Alvarez. Hague’s chopper glanced off Hoffman’s glove and over to 2B Will Rhymes, who had taken over for Guillen. Rhymes forced out Alvarez at second, but the relay to first was again not in time. Bowker moved to third on the play, giving the Indians runners on the corners, but a pop out ended the inning.
(Photo: Tim Durham battles the sun but makes the catch)
Tim Wood came on to pitch the top of the 9th for the Tribe. He had not pitched in several days, and it showed. Wood walked Timo Perez. He got Strieby to ground to third base, where Alvarez seemed to be undecided about where he should throw the ball. He looked at second base, then looked to first, then looked back to second, and finally decided to throw to second, for the force out on Perez. Wood walked SS Danny Worth, then gave up a double to the deepest reaches of the stadium, in the left-center gap at the 418′ mark. Strieby scored on the double, then Worth scored from third on Iorg’s sacrifice fly to the right field corner. The game ended when Wood struck out St. Pierre.
Indians’ Hitting Gems of the Game: Three hits each for Corey Wimberly and Dusty Brown, who was in his first game since returning to the Indians. Wimberly had a double and two singles, with an RBI. Brown had a single and two doubles, with two RBI. Watts and Bowker each had two hits and two RBI. Watts’ RBI came on a single and Bowker’s came on a homer.
Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game: In the top of the 7th, Ben Guez led off with a fly ball that drifted more and more foul, down the right field line. 2B Corey Wimberly and 1B Matt Hague gave chase, then Wimberly said he saw RF Miles Durham “come out of nowhere” and race in front of the other two. As Durham approached the wall in foul territory, in the visitor’s bullpen, he went into a slide. Durham caught the ball, then in a cloud of dust, slid into the wall in front of the stands. As the dust drifted into the stands, Durham held up his glove, with the ball in it, and the umpire signalled the out.
Kris Watts………. former Indian Jeff Salazar
From yesterday, Jared Hughes………………..former Indian Argenis Diaz
Miguel Perez……………… Donnie Veal
Mike Crotta………….. the infielders – Jordy Mercer, Corey Wimberly, Matt Hague
NOTES:
Brian Friday, who injured his knee at a collision at the plate yesterday, had the knee examined after the game yesterday, then had an MRI today. Both were ok. Toledo’s C Omir Santos, who was the other half of the collision, was placed on the DL today.
Pedro Alvarez has been working on his timing at the plate during batting practice. He had 2 hits yesterday and went 1-for-3 today with two walks.
Reliever Cesar Valdez (photo) was traded by the Pirates to the Marlins today, for a player to be named later or cash. Valdez pitched 42 innings for the Tribe this season, with a 1-1 record and 5 Saves. He allowed 20 runs (18 earned) on 36 hits for a 3.86 ERA with 17 walks and 36 strike outs.
Garrett Olson was moved back from the Bradenton Marauders’ roster (which was a paper move) onto the Indians roster, in time for today’s start.
Go Tribe!
(photos by Nancy)
