The Yankees came right back in the bottom of the 3rd, as Charlie Morton found more trouble. �After a strikeout, Morton walked Colin Curtis, then gave up a single to Eduardo Nunez, who had 3 singles in the game. �Juan Miranda hit a slow dribbler towards third base, which 3B Pedro Alvarez was able to get to, but by the time he did, he had no play, and he wisely held onto the ball. �That loaded the bases for the Yankees. �After another visit by Dean Treanor, Jorge Vasquez lifted a fly ball to right field. �Tribe RF Brandon Jones came charging in and made the catch at the grass. �It might have been a catch and not a trap, but it was ruled “no catch”. �Curtis scored from third base, but Jones’ throw in from right field to second base forced Miranda out at second — some measure of revenge for Jones. �A grounder force out at second base ended the inning, with the Yankees still leading, 3-1.
After that, it was all donuts. �Morton settled down to pitch 3 scoreless innings, facing only one batter over the minimum. �Unfortunately, the Indians were not doing much more. �Tim Redding gave up the run in the 3rd, then retired the next 9 Tribe batters in order. �The Indians put two base runners on in the 7th against reliever Royce Ring, who took over for Redding. �With two outs, C Luke Carlin singled and CF Brandon Moss was hit by a pitch, but both were left on base when Brandon Jones lined out to center field. �Kevin Melillo worked a walk off reliever Mark Melancon in the 8th, but was doubled off first base when Jim Negrych flied out to left field and Melillo couldn’t get back to the bag fast enough. �Jeff Clement (photo) hit his second double of the game in the 9th inning with two outs, but a ground out left him there.
Jeremy Powell relieved Morton for the 7th inning. �He put the Yankees down in order, including one strikeout. �Jean Machi pitched the 8th inning, and got a line out and two fly outs to retire the Yankees in order again. �That means that over the last 5 innings of the game, only one Yankee batter reached base — Nunez on his third single in the 5th.
The Indians’ loss and a win by the Toledo Mud Hens moved Toledo back into sole possession of 2nd place in the International League Western Division, with the Indians a game behind Toledo in 3rd place. �The Indians are 3.5 games behind the 1st place Columbus Clippers.
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Indians’ Hitting Gem of the Game: �Jim Negrych’s RBI double in the 3rd inning, bouncing off the wall in left field to score Argenis Diaz. �It was the only RBI of the game for the Indians, and it was Negrych’s first AAA hit and AAA RBI.
Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game: �Negrych again (photo), with his catch in the bottom of the 2nd inning. �Greg Golson hit a soft liner over second base. �Negrych ran back and to his right, going into short center field, then made a leaping catch with his back to the infield to made the inning-ending catch.
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NOTES:
Don’t forget to vote for the Indians for the AAA International League All-Star team. �You can vote for the Pacific Coast League All-Stars too.
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Go Tribe!
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(photos by Nancy)
