Possibly in preparation for an approaching trade, the Pirates have recalled Argenis Diaz and Jeff Clement from Triple-A Indianapolis.

The Pirates have acquired catcher Chris Snyder and a minor leaguer from the Diamondbacks. Arizona will receive D.J. Carrasco, Ryan Church and Bobby Crosby in the deal.

It took 10 innings for someone to score. That someone, unfortunately, was wearing a Cardinals uni. Ryan Ludwick scored on a broken bat infield single from Brendan Ryan.

Syracuse Chiefs� 8,� Indianapolis Indians� 6 (box)

A 4-run 7th inning put the game into the Chiefs' pocket at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse tonight, as the Indians' pitchers struggled.� The Indians' batters posted 9 hits, with two each for 3B Jim Negrych (photo), 1B Jeff Clement, and LF Jonathan Van Every.

Jim Negrych got the game started with a double into left field.� A sacrifice bunt by 2B Doug Bernier moved Negrych to third.� CF Alex Presley grounded to short, where the Chiefs' SS Seth Bynum made his first fielding error of the game (out of a total of three).� That let Negrych score, and when Presley reached first and headed for second base,� 2B Chase Lambin missed the catch, and Presley was safe there.� Walks to Jeff Clement and Jonathan Van Every loaded the bases, but a fly out ended the inning.

Brad Lincoln made the start for the Indians.� He zipped through the first inning, but trouble found him in the 2nd.� 1B Jason Botts started off with a single, and after a strikeout by Seth Bynum, RF Pete Orr also singled.� The bases were loaded when former Indy Indian 3B Luis Ordaz grounded to second but Jeff Clement missed the catch at first.� Another former Indian, C Carlos Maldonado lined a double into center field, which cleared the bases and gave the Chiefs a 3-1 lead.� The Chiefs added another run in the 3rd inning, when CF Justin Maxwell doubled, moved to third on Chase Lambin's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Jason Botts' sacrifice fly.

The Indians got one of those runs back in the 3rd inning.� Alex Presley singled up the middle, and he raced to third base when Jeff Clement lined into right field for another single.� Jonathan Van Every also singled up the middle, allowing Presley to score.

Seth Bynum's jinx haunted him again in the 4th.� SS Argenis Diaz grounded to Bynum, who made his second fielding error of the game.� Diaz stole second base, then scored when Jim Negrych lined into center field.� That put the Indians just one run behind, 4-3.

Brad Lincoln (photo) started the rally that tied the game in the top of the 6th.� Lincoln doubled into center field, and Jim Negrych followed with a walk.� A wild pitch moved both runners up one base, and Alex Presley was intentionally walked, loading the bases.� That brought up RF Brandon Moss, who has been hitting well lately (6 hits and 9 RBI in his previous four games).� Moss grounded to short, where the unfortunate Seth Bynum made his third fielding error of the game.� Everyone was safe, and Lincoln scored the tying run.

Pirates: McCutchen-CF Tabata-LF Walker-2B Jones-1B Alvarez-3B Milledge-RF Cedeno-SS Kratz-C Karstens-P Cardinals: Lopez-3B Jay-RF Pujols-1B Holliday-LF Rasmus-CF Molina-C Ryan-SS Carpenter-P Schumaker-2B

With the draft deadline of August 16th rapidly approaching, it means that we will soon have more “shiny new toys” to examine and rank as prospects. But what exactly makes Player A better than Player B?

We are just a bit over 24 hours from the trade deadline, and the rumors are flying left and right. That being said, after being very active leading up to the past two deadlines, the Pirates have been relatively quiet so far this year. We have already taken a look at what Paul Maholm and Garrett Jones might fetch if the front office decided to deal them. Today, let’s take a look at Zach Duke.

The Pirates were one game away from a road sweep. Ubaldo Jimenez stood in their way.

Indianapolis Indians� 4,� Syracuse Chiefs� 1 (box)

Indians' starter Jeremy Powell (photo) won his 7th game of the season for the Indians tonight at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, NY.� The win gave the Indians their fourth win in a row, and 3 wins in this 4-game series against the Chiefs, which concludes tomorrow.� But it was not entirely the way that Powell or the Indians hoped it would end.

Powell pitched into the 9th inning, keeping a shut-out going the whole time.� He sailed through the first 8 innings, striking out 5 batters and scattering 5 hits.� Powell gave up a single to LF Boomer Whiting to open the bottom of the 1st, but C Luke Carlin threw him out trying to steal second base.� Powell retired the next 10 batters in order, until he gave up a single and a walk in the 4th.� He allowed a single in each of the 5th and the 7th, and when C Jamie Burke walked to lead off the 8th, he was erased in a double play.

The Indians went into the bottom of the 9th with a 4-0 lead, and with Powell just a step away from a complete game shut-out.� He began the inning with a strikeout of Justin Maxwell.� 2B Chase Lambin slipped a line drive into right field for a single.� Powell struck out 1B Jason Botts, and that put him an out away from the goal.� SS Seth Bynum was up next, and he got to a 1-2 count, then took 2 pitches that looked pretty good, but were both called balls.� The Indians and Powell felt that he had been cheated out of what should have been another strikeout, and the end of the game.� Instead of being out, Bynum lined a single up the middle and into center field, and that allowed Lambin to score. That was the end of the shutout.

The Indians had reliever Justin Thomas up in the bullpen, and he was ready, but manager Frank Kremblas elected to give Powell the chance to get the final out.� But when 3B Pete Orr dropped a little bunt in front of the mound, Powell's throw to first base was wide for a throwing error, and Bynum moved to third base.� That was all for Powell.� He had thrown 115 pitches (75 strikes), and had allowed one run on 7 hits and 2 walks, with 7 strikeouts.

Justin Thomas did come in at that point, and he finished things up by getting a ground out, to earn his 4th save.� The Indians and Powell were still not pleased, and they went so far as to try to talk to plate umpire Chris Bakke after the last out, even heading toward the umpire's tunnel after him.� It did no good, of course.

Probable Pitchers Friday, July 30th - 8:15 PM: RHP Jeff Karstens vs RHP Chris Carpenter Saturday, July 31st - 7:15 PM: TBA vs. RHP Jeff Suppan Sunday, August 1st - 2:15 PM: LHP Zach Duke vs. RHP Adam Wainwright

Thursday's action.... I'll be on the road for the next several days, and internet connections may be spotty.

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Bradenton Marauders� 18,� Lakeland Flying Tigers� 5 (box)

The Marauders scored 13 runs in the final three innings of the game and posted a total of 19 hits, as they sent the Tigers flying.� Each member of the Marauders' line-up had at least one hit, all but two walked at least once, and six recorded RBIs.� Four of them -- 2B Shelby Ford, C Eric Fryer, DH Jordan Newton, and SS Adenson Chourio -- had 3 hits each.� Of the 19 hits, only 5 were extra-base hits -- 3 doubles, and 2 triples, but no home runs.

The game started out with some low-key scoring.� The Marauders put up one run in the top of the 1st, when Shelby Ford singled and scored on Eric Fryer's triple.� Lakeland came back with 3 runs on 4 singles and a double in the bottom of the 2nd, to take a 3-1 lead.

The Marauders returned fire in the top of the 4th.� LF Quincy Latimore led off with a double.� After two outs, three consecutive singles by Newton, CF Austin McClune, and Chourio brought in two runs, and Ford doubled, plating two more runs.� Bradenton up, 5-3.

Brian Leach pitched the first 5 innings for the Marauders, allowing those 3 runs on 7 hits and a walk, with 5 strikeouts.� He was relieved by Craig Hansen to begin the 6th, Hansen's first time back on the mound in a live game situation in over a year.� Hansen gave up a single, then got a strikeout, but followed that with three consecutive walks, forcing in a run.� He was relieved by Casey Erickson, who gave up a sacrifice fly for another run (charged to Hansen), then a single.� The throw in from McClune in center field to Fryer at the plate was right on target, and Fryer was able to tag out another runner as he tried to score.� Erickson was charged with a Blown Save, as the game was now tied at 5-5.

At that point, the Marauders really got going.� They took the lead back again (and gave Erickson the win) with 2 runs in the top of the 7th.� Three walks, to Grossman, Fryer, and 1B Calvin Anderson, loaded the bases.� Newton singled up the middle, scoring both Grossman and Fryer.� The 8th inning began with a single by Chourio, a triple by Ford (one run in), and a single by Fryer, scoring Ford (2).� After a pitching change, Latimore and 3B Adam Davis both walked.� A wild pitch and a throwing error allowed Fryer and Anderson to score (3, 4), and a single by Newton brought in Davis (5).� Eight batters had come to the plate in the 8th, and the score was 12-5.

Twelve Marauders' batters came to the plate in the 9th, and 6 more runs came in.� With one out, Chourio walked and Ford reached on a throwing error.� Grossman's double scored Chourio and Ford (1,2).� Four singles follwed, by Fryer (Grossman scores -- 3), Latimore, Anderson, and Adams.� Adams' single brought in Fryer and Latimore (4, 5).� After a pop out, McClune and Chourio singled, plating Anderson (6).

Erickson pitched 2 more scoreless innings, and Noah Krol pitched a scoreless 9th inning, with a walk and a single, plus 2 strikeouts.

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Last night, Nate Rose of Stealing First Base took my recent article regarding Neil Walker and began digging deeper. He went to FanGraphs and took a look at Walker’s plate discipline numbers, wondering whether we should expect his walk rate to improve. Nate noted that Walker does not chase out of the zone all that much, and my interest was piqued.