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The Indians tied the score in the 5th inning.� Doug Bernier (photo) led off the inning, and with a 3-1 count, he smacked another pitch down the right field line — but just foul.� He continued to foul off the next 5 pitches all down the right field line.� Then, on the 10th pitch of the at-bat, Bernier again doubled — down the left field line.� Brian Bixler’s bunt single moved Bernier to third base.� When Diaz grounded into the double play, Bernier was able to score from third base.
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After that double play, as Kevin Melillo stepped up to the plate, and Lucas Harrell stood on the mound ready to go, manager Frank Kremblas got into a discussion with plate umpire Chris Ward.� Kremblas was animated, but the discussion did not escalate, and it was not immediately apparent what was going on.� The word came down a few minutes later — Argenis Diaz, after bouncing into the double play, walked past Ward at home plate.� The usually quiet and soft-spoken Diaz said something that Ward did not like, and apparently continued after reaching the dugout.� Ward ejected Diaz from the dugout and from the game.� The Indians had to shuffle the fielders around in response when the inning ended.� Brian Friday moved from second base to shortstop to take Diaz’s place.� Brian Bixler moved from left field to second base, and Jonathan Van Every moved from right field to left field.� Brandon Moss, who had been coaching at first base when the double play happened, entered the game to play right field and take Diaz’s spot in the batting order.
Brian Bass (photo) came on to relieve Daniel McCutchen for the 9th inning.� Bass got a strikeout and a ground out, then gave up back-to-back singles to 3B Brent Morel and Jeremy Reed.� Bass finished the inning by getting DH Fernando Cortez to ground out to second base.
The Indians put the tying and go-ahead runs on base in each of their last two at-bats, but could not bring them around to score.� Knights’ reliever Miguel Socolovich had relieved Lucas Harrell to begin the 7th inning, and he retired the Indians in order.� In the 8th, Socolovich gave up a line drive into left-center field to Brian Bixler to begin the inning.� Brandon Moss made the crowd gasp with a long fly ball, but it was too short, caught on the warning track in right field.� Kevin Melillo worked a walk, and he represented the go-ahead run on first base.� The Knights brought in reliever Ryan Braun to take over for Socolovich.� Braun got a fly out by Brian Friday and a strikeout by CF Alex Presley to end the threat with the two runners still on base.
Braun came back out to pitch the 9th inning.� He got the first two outs, then gave up two more back-to-back hits.� A line drive into center field to Luke Carlin and a grounder up the middle by Doug Bernier again put the tying and now winning run on base.� Another strikeout, this one to Brian Bixler, ended the inning and the game.
The Indians have one more game against the Knights, on Monday night at Victory Field.� Then they will hit the road for 12 games — four each against the Syracuse Chiefs, the Norfolk Tides, and the Durham Bulls.
Photos:
Warming up:� Left:� Kevin Melillo;�� Right:� Brian Friday
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Left:� Melillo is out at second on the double play;�� Right:� Brandon Moss
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Jim Negrych makes the play at third
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Left:� Ryan Lewis was warming up the pitcher while Luke Carlin was getting ready;�� Right:� Brian Bixler
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A run-down in the 6th inning:� Josh Kroeger is caught, Daniel McCutchen to Jeff Clement to Brian Bixler (on left) to Luke Carlin.
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Left:� Brian Bixler steals second base in the 8th;� Right:� Bixler takes a lead from second base
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Pop-up drills:�� left: Doug Bernier;��� right:� Luke Carlin
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Indians’ Hitting Gems of the Game:� Two doubles by Doug Bernier, one down the right field line and the other down the left field line.� They were his 7th and 8th doubles of the season.� Plus, he singled in the 9th inning, to give him three hits in the game.� This was only his second game since July 11th, and he was playing an unfamiliar position at first base.
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Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game:� Bernier was on first base tonight (photo), for the first time this season.� The last time Bernier played first base was in 2008, when he played one game at first for AAA Colorado Springs (Rockies).� In 2007, he played 12 games at first base for Colorado Springs.� So, it was even more of a gem when in the 7th inning, Bernier went to his right to make a backhanded stop of a grounder off the bat of Brent Morel, then turned and threw across his body to first base, where Daniel McCutchen had had to run over to cover in time for the out.
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NOTES:
This afternoon, the Pirates announced that pitcher Brad Lincoln (photo) has been optioned back to Indianapolis.� Lincoln has made 9 starts for the Pirates since being promoted and making his major league debut on June 9th.� He has a 1-4 record in those starts, and a 6.57 ERA.� In 50.2 innings, Lincoln has allowed 64 hits, 37 earned runs, 9 homers, 14 walks, and 21 strikeouts.� He’s going to need to work on a lot of things, particularly velocity and mechanics.
The Pirates also designated reliever Brendan Donnelly for assignment, which removed him from the 40-man roster.� It’s possible, though I don’t think it very likely, that if Donnelly is not traded or picked up on waivers (more likely), that he could be sent to Indianapolis.� Regardless, these two moves mean two spots open on the Pirates’ roster, and room to add someone to the 40-man roster.� Wil Ledezma is thought to be a candidate for promotion from Indianapolis.� He currently has a 0-1 recored and a 0.94 ERA in 35 relief appearances (38.1 innings).� Ledezma has allowed 20 hits and 19 walks, with 50 strikeouts.� He is not on the Pirates’ 40-man roster.� The Pirates could bring up either Daniel McCutchen or Charlie Morton, who are both on the 40-man roster.� They could also make a trade — the trading deadline is in less than a week.� The Pirates have Monday off, and are not expected to announce their plans until Tuesday.
Jeff Clement is going to be away from the Indians for a few days, due to family matters.� He is expected to rejoin the team in Syracuse on the upcoming road trip.� The problem is, since the call-ups of Jason Jaramillo and Erik Kratz, Clement has been the Indians’ back-up catcher (having caught one game in the past year).� None of the other position players have ever caught.� Luke Carlin had better be very careful.
Go Tribe!
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(photos by Nancy)
