A couple weeks ago, I speculated that Charlie Morton was tipping his pitches from the stretch. My theory was that when he came set, he was moving his glove prior to fastballs and keeping his hands still when he prepared to throw an off-speed pitch. Well, I noticed a change on Monday night in Philadelphia. Is Morton attempting to address this issue?

Count me surprised. Zach Duke outpitched Roy Halladay. Bucs win!

Despite impressive Triple-A production, both Jeff Clement and Steve Pearce have failed in limited major league opportunities. Does that mean they are Quad-A players, simply unable to make that jump? Will Neil Walker go down that same path?

The Altoona Curve had a scheduled day off on Monday. �The West Virginia Power were rained out. �They will play two against the Delmarva Shorebirds on Tuesday, beginning at 6:05 pm.

That leaves just the Bradenton Marauders playing on Monday evening. �First, a few updates:

OF Starling Marte's visit to the hand surgeon in Pittsburgh got him a diagnosis -- broken left hamate bone -- an a date with a hand surgeon for Tuesday. �The hamate bone is the wrist bone that is closest to the bones of the little finger. �The "hook" of the hamate (a tail piece of the bone) will be removed in surgery. �The estimated recovery time after this procedure is 8 - 10 weeks... that would have Marte returning to action in August or so. �This is the same surgery that Pedro Alvarez had after he broke his hamate bone in 2008. �Marte has a .283 average with the Marauders in 26 games this season, with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 12 RBI, and 9 stolen bases.

Hunter Strickland has been promoted from the West Virginia Power to the Marauders, filling the roster spot just vacated when Bryan Morris moved up to Altoona. �Strickland has an 0-4 record in 8 starts. �He has pitched a total of 43 innings, allowing 58 hits and 28 earned runs, for a 5.86 ERA. �He has walked 8 and struck out 15. �Strickland's longest start so far this season came on May 5th, when he went 7 innings.

Altoona's Jared Hughes was named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Week for the week ending yesterday. �Hughes won both of his starts last week, and was the first pitcher in all of the minors to collect 7 wins this season. �He pitched a total of 14 innings in those two starts, and allowed just one earned run (plus 2 unearned runs), on 9 hits and 2 walks, with 6 strikeouts.

Daniel McCutchen has been placed on the Indy Indians' Disabled List with arm fatigue. �He might miss one or two starts.

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Dunedin Blue Jays � 11, � Bradenton Marauders �3 (box)

A 6-run 6th inning sank the Marauders on Monday night in Dunedin. �Aaron Pribanic made the start for the Marauders. �He gave up a run on a pair of singles in the 1st, and two more runs on a throwing error by SS Brock Holt and two more singles in the 2nd inning. �Pribanic continued handing out the singles -- one in the 3rd, two in the 4th -- but kept the Blue Jays from scoring for those innings. �Three more singles and a throwing error by Pribanic added another run in the 5th.

The bottom of the 6th began with a solo homer, then a walk, a single, and a throwing error by C Tony Sanchez on a pickoff attempt put runners on second and third bases. �Pribanic got a ground out, and at that point he was relieved by Tyler Cox. The first batter Cox faced singled into right field, and when RF Erik Huber had trouble picking up the ball for another error, two runs scored. �A double plated the fourth run of the inning, and the second homer of the inning brought in two more runs. �Dunedin 10, �Bradenton 3.

The Marauders had threatened in the 2nd inning, when 1B Calvin Anderson singled and Huber doubled with two outs. �But the inning ended with them still on base. �The Marauders were able to take advantage of a Dunedin error in the 3rd inning, and scored two runs on a single by Holt, a double by CF Robbie Grossman, complicated by a throwing error (Holt scores), then an RBI ground out by Sanchez. �DH Eric Fryer led off the 4th inning with a solo homer, to give the Marauders their third run.

Pribanic suffered the loss, as he surrendered a total of 12 hits and 7 runs (5 earned) in his 5.1 innings. �Tyler Cox was responsible for 3 hits and 3 runs in the 6th inning, then he retired the side in order in the 7th. �Mike Felix pitched the 8th inning for the Marauders, and he gave up a solo homer for the final Dunedin run.

LF Quincy Latimore singled twice in the game. �Calvin Anderson and Erik Huber both had a single and a double. �Each member of the Marauders' line-up had at least one hit except for Sanchez, who still contributed an RBI. �But just getting on base is not enough. �The Marauders could not push the runners across the plate -- they left 10 runners on base.

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Delwyn Young homered leading off the game. That was the highlight of the night for Pittsburgh and it wasn't nearly enough.

Toledo Mud Hens �3, �Indianapolis Indians �0 (box)

On any other day, six perfect innings and 10 strikeouts would have been more than enough for Brad Lincoln. On any other day, that one tough inning and a 3-run homer would have been shrugged off. �Not today, though. �Not when Toledo pitcher Enrique Gonzalez pitched a 2-hit complete game shutout, to win only his second game of the season, and send the Indians home from Toledo having lost the 4-game series 1 to 3.

Five days ago, Lincoln began his start against the Rochester Red Wings by retiring the first 13 batters he faced. �This morning, he retired the first 16 batters he faced, taking a perfect game into the 6th inning. �He had struck out 7 batters up to that point, including striking out the side in the 5th.

Then in the 6th, it fell apart. � Lincoln got a bit of a gift for the first out of the inning, when the wind held up RF Ben Guez's huge fly ball long enough for LF Kevin Melillo to make the catch on the warning track. �LF Deik Scram broke up the perfect bid with a single just past 2B Neil Walker's desperate dive and into right field. �C Max St. Pierre popped out, and for a moment, it looked like Lincoln would not be in too much trouble.

Back to the top of the Mud Hen's batting order, 3B Will Rhymes dropped down a perfect bunt to the left of the mound. �Lincoln scrambled over and picked up the ball with his bare hand, but he was rushing and his back foot slid as he made the throw to first base. �The throw went wide to the outfield side and up the foul line. �Rhymes was credited with a hit, and Lincoln charged with a throwing error. �With runners on second and third bases and two outs, Lincoln delivered up a 2-1 pitch that SS Brent Dlugach blasted into the wind and over the left field wall for a 3-run homer. �CF Ryan Raburn followed the homer with his fifth double of the series, bounding down the right field line. �Lincoln then walked 1B Jeff Larish, but left both Raburn and Larish on base when he ended the inning with a fly out.

Those four hits and three runs were all the Mud Hens would need. �Lincoln struck out the side again in the 7th, bringing his strikeout total to 10. �Lincoln had made 89 pitches (57 strikes). �Reliever Vinnie Chulk took the mound for the 8th inning. �He gave up an infield hit to St. Pierre, when Neil Walker made another dive for a grounder. �This time Walker was able to stop the ball from going into the outfield, but he did not have time to make a throw, and St. Pierre was on first. �Raburn singled with two outs, but Chulk ended the inning without allowing a run to score.

Enrique Gonzalez let four Indians batters reach base as he pitched 9 innings and threw 119 pitches (79 strikes). �1B Brian Myrow was hit on the jersey by a pitch in the top of the 1st inning. �Kevin Melillo drilled a double down the right field line in the 2nd inning. �CF Jose Tabata lined a single into right field in the 3rd, and he moved to second base on a wild pitch by Gonzalez. �The next 14 Indians' batters went down in order, until Melillo walked to lead off the 8th inning. �But Melillo was caught stealing in a strike-out-throw-out double play (RF Brandon Moss struck out). �The Tribe went down quietly in the 9th, as Gonzalez struck out Neil Walker and Brian Myrow to end the game.

The loss drops the Indians down to third place in the International League Western Division standings and moves the Mud Hens up to second place. �Toledo is now 2.5 games behind the first-place Columbus Clippers, and the Indians are 3 games behind. �The Louisville Bats are in fourth place, 8.5 games behind Columbus.

The Indians return to Victory Field on Tuesday, to begin an 8-game home stand: �4 games against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, and 4 against the Gwinnett Braves.

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Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �There were only two hits to choose from, and Kevin Melillo's was a double.

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �A career-high 10 strikeouts for Brad Lincoln, and 6 + 1 perfect innings of work.

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NOTES:

Enrique Gonzalez struck out 9 Tribe batters, including striking out Brandon Moss 3 times.

3B Pedro Alvarez went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. �Neil Walker was 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

UPDATE: �The Indians have placed starter Daniel McCutchen on the Disabled List due to arm fatigue. �He might miss one or two starts. �Sounds like Jeremy Powell is back into the starting rotation.

Go Tribe!

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(photo by Nancy)

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Pittsburgh lost a close one - something a bit unusual for the year. What wasn't surprising is that an error helped the Cubs get back in it late.

The big news on Sunday afternoon in the Pirates' minor league organization is that the team has promoted righty starter Bryan Morris from Bradenton to AA Altoona. �Morris won his 3rd victory for the Marauders yesterday, and has been mowing 'em down in the Florida State League. �In 44.2 innings, Morris has allowed 37 hits but just 8 runs, and only 3 of those runs are earned. �He has allowed just 7 walks, while striking out 40 batters. �He has also not allowed a home run. �He leads the FSL with an ERA of 0.60, and his WHIP is 0.99. �The Florida State League has hit .220 against him. �He is first in the FSL with those 44.2 innings pitched, and his WHIP is 4th highest in the league.

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West Virginia Power �8, �Delmarva Shorebirds �4 (box)

The Power turned on their power in the 4th inning, scoring 5 runs on their way to a 14-hit afternoon. �Righty starter Victor Black made his 2010 debut with a 4-inning start, and struck out 7 batters.

The Power got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the 1st. �2B Jarek Cunningham got started with a solo home run. �DH Aaron Baker followed the homer with a walk, and LF Rogelios Noris and C Ramon Cabrera loaded the bases with back-to-back singles. �After a fly out, 1B Kyle Morgan brought in Baker with another single.

Victor Black gave up only two walks over the first three innings, while striking out 5 batters. �He gave up his first single in the 4th, then hit the next batter with a pitch. �The third batter of the inning smacked a 3-run homer, giving Delmarva a 3-2 lead. �Black finished the inning with a ground out and two more strikeouts, to end his afternoon.

In the bottom of the frame, the Power sent 8 batters to the plate. �3B Elevys Gonzalez singled, and went to second on SS Adenson Chourio's sacrifice bunt. �Gonzalez stole third base, and after CF Evan Chambers walked, a wild pitch moved him to second base. �Another wild pitch on strike three to Jarek Cunningham loaded the bases. �Aaron Baker brought in Gonzalez and Chambers with a single into right field. �Then Rogelios Noris made it 7-3 with a 3-run homer over the left field wall.

Marc Baca pitched a scoreless 5th inning for the Power. �Jason Erickson took the mound for the next three innings. �He gave up a solo homer in the 6th, but the Power got the run back in the 7th. �RF David Rubinstein led off with a single, and went to second on a passed ball. �He scored on Kyle Morgan's second RBI single of the game.

Erickson retired the side in the 7th. �He gave up a lead-off single in the 8th, but erased that runner with a double play. �Duke Welker pitched the 9th and worked around a throwing error at second base by Cunningham, striking out the final two batters of the game for a scoreless inning.

Rogelios Noris went 3-for-5 with a 3-run homer, while Jarek Cunningham, David Rubinstein, and Kyle Morgan each had two hits.

Toledo Mud Hens �6, �Indianapolis Indians �5 (box)

The Indians' bullpen collapsed out from under them this afternoon at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio, allowing the Mud Hens to score 4 runs in the last two innings, and giving the Hens the walk-off win.

The Tribe was ahead 5-2 going into the bottom of the 8th inning. �Starter Hayden Penn had allowed one earned and one unearned run in his 5 innings of work, and had pitched a little better than he did in his first Indians' start last week. �Steven Jackson came on in relief to pitch the 6th and 7th innings, and he had retired 6 batters in order. �Wil Ledezma (photo)�took over for Jackson to begin the 8th, and he was greeted by a triple into the right field corner by Toledo 2B Will Rhymes. �SS Brent Dlugach followed with a grounder to short, but SS Brian Friday's throw to first pulled 1B Brian Myrow off the bag. �It was initally ruled an error on Friday, but later changed to a hit for Dlugach, since Friday had made the play pretty deep into the hole. �Rhymes scored easily on the play, and the Mud Hens had crept a little closer, 5-3. �Those were the first runs Ledezma had given up since joining the Indians.

CF Ryan Raburn was up next, and he singled into right field, through the space 2B Neil Walker had vacated when he had to move to cover second base as Dlugach took off from first. �Dlugach rounded second and stopped at third base. �Ledezma got a gift when he picked Raburn off first base, and caught him stealing, with the throw going from Ledezma to Myrow to Friday covering second. �Friday made a quick turn, keeping Dlugach standing on third base. �He didn't stay there long, though, as 1B Jeff Larish's grounder behind first base brought Dlugach in easily. �A strikeout ended the inning, and the Indians were clinging to a slim 5-4 lead.

The Indians could only get a stuttering attempt at a rally going in the top of the 9th. �RF Brandon Moss singled up the middle, but when he tried to steal second on the early part of pitcher Robbie Weinhardt's motion, he was easily thrown out -- making a somewhat ungraceful slide, but finishing with a graceful flip, and kicking SS Dlugach's glove right off his hand in the process. �Moss ran back to the dugout unhurt and laughing. �LF Kevin Melillo walked, but a ground out forced him out at second to end the inning.

No one was laughing in the bottom of the inning. �Jean Machi (photo), who came on to pitch for the Indians, had allowed only 2 earned runs in his first 10 appearances this season (both of those in one game), but now has given up runs in each of his last 3 outings. �Today he did not even record an out. �It began with 3B Max Leon's double over Kevin Melillo's head in left field. �RF Ben Guez singled through the hole into left field, moving Leon to third base. �A single by RF Deik Scram, who had had come into the game with only one hit during the month of May (1-for-24) chose this time to find his second hit of the month, a line drive into right field which scored Leon from third base to tie the score at 5-5. �It was over moments later, when former Indy Indian C Robinzon Diaz lifted a fly ball into right field, allowing Guez to come around from second base and score the winning run.

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Pitching prospect Bryan Morris, who has not allowed an earned run in 33 innings for High-A Bradenton, will be promoted to Double-A Altoona. Neal Huntington said that Morris could be promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis by the end of the season.

Altoona Curve �9, � Richmond Flying Squirrels �2 (box)

Jared Hughes earned his 7th win, the most of any pitcher in the Eastern League, as the Curve beat the Flying Squirrels in Richmond on Saturday evening. �Hughes allowed two runs (one earned) on 4 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 4 batters. �He breezed through the first two innings, then gave up the earned run in the 3rd, on a hit batter, a single up the middle, and an RBI ground out. �Hughes then retired 9 more Squirrels in order, before giving up a double in the 6th. �A ground out moved the runner to third base, and a throwing error by 3B Josh Harrison let the runner score. �Hughes allowed two singles and a walk in the 7th inning, but a double play got him out of that jam.

1B Shelby Ford provided the big part of the Curve's offensive attack. �He went 3-for-5 for the night, with a single and two home runs, accounting for 5 RBI. �Ford homered from both sides of the plate -- from the right side in the 4th and from the left side in the 7th. �Ford also singled in the 2nd inning, but was left stranded. �He put the Curve onto the scoreboard for the first time in the 4th inning, when he homered over the left field wall after a walk by RF Miles Durham. C Hector Gimenez also knocked a 2-run homer in the 5th inning, following 2B Jim Negrych's single.

The Curve went into the 7th inning with a 4-2 lead, and that was when they exploded for 5 more runs. �SS Chase d'Arnaud led off with a walk, and moved to third base when CF Alex Presley singled up the middle. �Negrych plated d'Arnaud with a ground out to first base. �Gimenez singled to put runners on the corners, and Harrison's ground out brought in Presley. �Durham was hit by a pitch, then Ford blasted his second home run, also bringing in Gimenez and Durham.

Relievers Mike Dubee and Danny Moskos each pitched a scoreless inning to finish the game for the Curve. �Gimenez and Durham each had two hits for the Curve. �D'Arnaud and Presley both singled and walked twice, with a stolen base for d'Arnaud.

Who was the last Curve batter to have 5 RBI in one game? �It was Ford, on August 8th of last season.

Toledo Mud Hens �7, �Indianapolis Indians �3 (box)

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Former Indian Phil Dumatrait made a strong start for his new team, the Mud Hens, as they shut down the Indians at Fifth Third Field in Toledo on Saturday evening. �Indians' starter Daniel McCutchen (photo) struggled through his 6 innings, allowing 12 hits and 7 runs. �The Tribe batters were held to just 6 hits, and only one of their three runs was earned.

The Mud Hens jumped out to an early lead, as they collected 7 hits off McCutchen in the first two innings. �2B Will Rhymes began the bottom of the 1st with a single up the middle. �He stole second base, then moved on to third when C Luke Carlin's throw to second was off-target. �Rhymes had to hold at third base on a ground out to short, but CF Ryan Rayburn doubled into left field to bring in Rhymes. �1B Jeff Larish followed with another double, scoring Rayburn. �DH Jeff Frazier was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. �3B Max Leon singled next, and Larish scored from second base. �Two ground outs ended the inning, but the Mud Hens had a 3-0 lead.

McCutchen continued to have trouble in the 2nd inning. �RF Ben Guez took McCutchen's second pitch of the inning over the left field wall for a solo home run. �After a ground out, SS Brent Dlugach lined a single into center field, and Ryan Raburn doubled for the second time, scoring Dlugach. �McCutchen settled down a bit after a brief visit from pitching coach Dean Treanor, and ended the inning with two ground outs. �Mud Hens now up 5-0.

The Tribe batters were slow to get started in this game. �CF Jose Tabata was the only batter to reach base in the first two innings, on a double into left field. �Things looked up a bit in the 3rd inning. �Luke Carlin led off with a walk, then in a reversal of the first inning play, it was Carlin who stole second base and proceeded to third base when Mud Hens' C Max St. Pierre made a throwing error. �Carlin scored on SS Brian Friday's (photo)�ground out to second.

McCutchen was looking better over the 3rd and 4th innings. �He gave up just one single, to Guez, to lead off the 4th. �Luke Carlin removed Guez from the base paths by throwing him out trying to steal. �But trouble came back to McCutchen in the 5th. �Back-to-back doubles led off the inning -- Ryan Raburn with his third triple of the game, and Jeff Larish to follow with a liner down the right field line. �Raburn scored, then Larish came in on St. Pierre's single into center field. �McCutchen pitched one more inning, allowing a single by Rhymes in the 6th, but erasing him quickly with a timely double play. �McCutchen threw 81 pitches (56 strikes) over his 6 innings, which is not a lot considering that he gave up 12 hits and 7 runs. �He needed 17 pitches in the 1st inning, when three of the eight batters hit the first pitch they saw, and McCutchen hit Frazier with his first pitch.