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Bats Slug Out 7 to Beat Tribe
Louisville Bats 7,
�� �Indianapolis Indians 0
A 7-run 6th inning did all the damage tonight, as the Indians lost their second-to-last game of the season to the Bats at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, KY. �That was the only inning in which a run scored, as the Bats beat the Indians for the 4th straight game. �Indians' starter Yoslan Herrera (photo) made his second start since being promoted from the AA Altoona Curve, and he suffered the loss. �
The game was a pitching duel between Tribe starter Yoslan Herrera and Bats' starter Sam LeCure for the first 5 innings. �LeCure retired the first 8 Tribe batters before allowing a batter to reach base, and that was his mound opponent Herrera, who slipped an all-but-accidental single into right field in the 3rd inning. �It was Herrera's 10th career hit -- one during his time with the Pirates, and 9 in the minors. �Brian Bixler came to the plate next, and he lined a ball right to 3B Michael Griffin. �Griffin had the ball for a split second, then dropped it. �Bixler didn't see the drop and thought he was out on the liner, so he started back to the dugout, as Griffin fired the ball over to first base for the real out to end the 3rd inning. �LeCure proceeded to retire the next 11 batters after Bixler. �
Herrera allowed only 2 base runners over the first three innings. �He hit CF Chris Heisey with the third pitch of the game, and gave up a single to Chris Valaika in the 2nd inning. �With one out in the 4th inning, the Bats tried to ignite a rally. �Wes Bankston smashed a long fly to center field. �Tribe CF Jose Tabata made a leap and appeared to trap the ball against the wall, but when gravity took over and Tabata landed on his feet, the ball fell away from him, and Bankston cruised into third base with a triple. �2B Todd Frazier followed with a ground ball to third base, where Brian Bixler (photo), in his first game at third base in his career, made a bare-handed scoop of the slow grounder and fired to C Robinzon Diaz at the plate. �Bankston inexplicably did not slide into the plate, though it probably wouldn't have mattered. �Diaz was easily able to tag out Bankston and keep the run from scoring. �Frazier was safe at first on the fielder's choice. �He advanced to second base on a wild pitch, but was left stranded there when Chris Valaika grounded out. �
It was the 6th inning when the wheels fell off for Herrera and the Indians. �The Bats sent 12 batters to the plate and scored 7 runs in the inning. �Herrera began with a walk to rehabbing C Ryan Hanigan, then got the also-rehabbing RF Jay Bruce to fly out. �Wes Bankston singled, moving Hanigan to second base, and Todd Frazier also flied out, and things were not looking all that bad. �But then Chris Valaika singled through the hole and into left field. �The throw in from LF Hector Gimenez was on time, but Hanigan avoided the tag and scored the first run of the game. �That was the end of Yoslan Herrera's night. �He had made 92 pitches (58 strikes), and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing a total of 4 hits and 2 walks, and ultimately responsible for 3 runs (all earned).
Jeff Sues (photo) came in from the bullpen to take over for Herrera. �Sues began by walking the first batter he faced, LF Lew Ford, loading the bases, still with two outs. �Then it got ugly. �Michael Griffin singled into right field, scoring Bankston and Valaika. �Griffin stole second base, putting two runners in scoring position for pitcher Sam LeCure. �LeCure lined a single into center field, scoring Ford and Griffin, and LeCure ended up on second on the throw to the plate. �Sues walked Chris Heisey, and a wild pitch moved LeCure and Heisey into scoring position. �Ryan Hanigan lined a double into right field, and both LeCure and Heisey scored, giving the Bats 7 runs in the inning. � Sues had faced 5 batters, walked two and gave up 3 hits. �Three of the runs were charged to Herrera, and the other 4 to Sues.
Jorge Julio was brought in to relieve Sues. �He walked Jay Bruce, and when ball four was wild, Ryan Hanigan advanced to third base. �Finally, Julio struck out Wes Bankston to end the inning. �
Jeff Karstens (photo),�on his rehab assignment from the Pirates came on to pitch beginning the 8th inning, and as part of the double switch, Erik Kratz came in to play first base. �Karstens retired the side in both the 7th and 8th innings, with 3 strikeouts and 20 pitches (16 strikes). �
After managing only one hit over the first 6 innings, the Indians collected 3 more in their last 3 at-bats. �RF Tagg Bozied singled with two outs in the 7th inning, and was left on base. �Hector Gimenez reached base on a throwing error by 3B Michael Griffin in the 8th inning, but did not advance beyond third base, as Bats' reliever Joe Krebs retired the next three batters.
The next Bats' reliever, Enerio Del Rosario retired Brian Bixler and 2B Pedro Lopez to begin the 9th. �The Indians weren't quite ready to go quietly, though. �Jeff Clement (photo below),�who had not appeared in a game in about 10 days due to an oblique strain, came in to pinch hit. �He grounded sharply up the middle. �SS Chris Valaika was abl
e to get to the ball deep behind second base, but his throw to first pulled 1B Wes Bankston off the bag to the infield side,�
and Clement was safe with an infield hit. �Tagg Bozied followed with a grounder to third base and beat it out when 3B Michael Griffin bobbled the ball, for the fourth Indians' hit of the game. �That was as far as they would get, however, as pinch-hitter Chris Barnwell flied out to left field, ending the game. � �
This was only the 4th game of the season in which the Indians did not record an extra-base hit. �The Tribe did not get any walks in the game either.
Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Tagg Bozied (photo below) had two of the Indians' four hits, including the clutch second hit in the 9th inning. �
Indians' Defensive Gems of the Game: �Today was the first time in his career that Brian Bixler has played third base. �(He has also had a first time in center field this season.) �Bixler had two fielding chances at third. �In the 2nd inning, Michael Griffin grounded to third, and Bixler made a routine-looking 5-3 play for the ground out. �In the 4th inning, Jeff Frazier dragged a slow roller down toward third base. �Bixler charged in and made the bare-handed pick-up, and fired to Robinzon Diaz at the plate, for the tag out on Wes Bankston, who had been running from third base. �
NOTES:
Neil Walker made his first start at PNC Park today, and got his first major league hit, a single �into right field in the 8th inning. �Earlier in the game, he walked and came around to score the tying run in the 6th inning. �
The Pirates are expecting to promote Brian Bixler and Robinzon Diaz to the major league club after the Indians' season ends tomorrow. �Jeff Karstens, who is on a rehab assignment, will have his 15 days on the DL finish up later in the week, and he'll return to the Pirates also. �Jeff Clement was supposed to have been called up too, but because he has not been playing due to an oblique strain, the Pirates are having second thoughts about that plan. �
Erik Kratz, Tagg Bozied, and Jeremy Powell have already been talking to the Pirates about returning to the organization for the 2010 season. ��
Go Tribe!
[Photo by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]
Curve 2009 MVP: Pedro Alvarez
The Altoona Curve have handed out these end-of-season awards:
Most Valuable Player: �Pedro Alvarez
Though he played only a bit more than two months with the Curve, Alvarez's 13 home runs (with 2 more games to go) are second on the team. �In 60 games, he hit 18 doubles and had 40 RBI, with a .333 average. �Alvarez was also named the Eastern League's Player of the Month for August. �He hit .368 in August, with 9 doubles, a league-leading 7 home runs, 20 RBI, and walked 24 times. �He also reached base in all but one of this �games in the month. �
Pitcher of the Year: �Yoslan Herrera
Herrera (photo) earned an 11-1 record and a 3.23 ERA in 15 starts and 8 relief appearances. �Herrera won 9 games before his only loss (on August 15th). �In 97.2 innings of work, he struck out 65 batters and walked 33. �He has been promoted to Indianapolis, where he earned his first win on Sept 1st. �
Unsung Hero Award: �Miguel Perez
Perez was honored for "contributions beyond the box score". �He played the role of back-up catcher for the Curve, appearing in 28 games, and hitting .266 with 5 doubles, 2 homers, and 12 RBI. �He also served as the veteran presence in the club house, giving behind-the-scenes support to the younger Curve players.
"King of Swing": �Jonel Pacheco�
Pacheco led the Curve with 14 homers, making this the second year in a row that he has led the team in homers (he had 12 last season). �He hit .276 with 23 doubles, 2 triples, and had 56 RBI (second on the team). � Pacheco was the Curve's 2008 MVP. �
Other batting leaders:
Hits: Jonel Pacheco -- 117
Doubles: Jason Delaney -- 25
Triples: �Jason Delaney -- 5
Homers: Joney Pacheco -- 14
RBI: �Jason Delaney -- 64
Walks: Jason Delaney -- 57
Strikeouts: �Jason Delaney -- 89
On-base percentage: �Pedro Alvarez -- .419
Slugging percentage: �Pedro Alvarez -- .590
Stolen Bases: �Jonel Pacheco -- 15
And some pitching numbers:
Wins: Yoslan Herrera and Danny Moskos -- 11
Losses: Danny Moskos -- 10
ERA: �relievers: �Jean Machi -- 2.08
�� � �starters: Brad Lincoln -- 2.28
Innings: �Danny Moskos -- 149.0
Saves: �Scott Nestor -- 10
Walks: Danny Moskos -- 58
Strikeouts: �Mike Crotta -- 92
Broadway Hits and Pitches as Tribe Loses Home Finale
Louisville Bats 7,�
�� � Indianapolis Indians 4
The Indianapolis Indians scheduled a fireworks show to follow their last home game of the season tonight at Victory Field, but they could have used more fireworks during the game. �The versatile Larry Broadway (photo) provided as much bang as he could, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a homer and 3 RBI, and pitching an inning of relief. �But it was not enough, as the Louisville Bats scored 7 unanswered runs for the win.
The Indians started off by scoring in each of the first three innings. �CF�Brian Bixler opened the bottom of the 1st inning by beating out the throw on a slow grounder to the Bats' 2B Luis Bolivar. �2B Pedro Lopez dropped down a sacrifice bunt, moving Bixler to second base. �RF Jose Tabata walked to put two runners on base. �LF Tagg Bozied hit a line drive into center field, but right at Bats' Chris Heisey for the second out. �Then 1B Larry Broadway stepped to the plate and took a 1-1 on another line drive into center field. �This one touched down before it went into Heisey's mitt, and Bixler was able to score from second base. �The inning ended with a base running problem -- Tabata rounded second base and took too many steps toward third base. �The throw in from Heisey caught Tabata too far off the bag, and he was tagged out in a short run-down, 8-5-6 (Heisey to 3B Juan Francisco to SS Chris Valaika).
3B Robinzon Diaz got the Tribe going again in the 2nd inning. �He led off with another line drive into center field, this one for a double. �
C Hector Gimenez followed with a single through the hole and into right field. �Robinzon Diaz advanced to third, but held there, knowing the strength of Bats' RF Jay Bruce's arm (Bruce is on a rehab assignment from the Reds). �SS Argenis Diaz tapped a grounder back to the mound, which hit Bats' pitcher Camilo Vazquez's glove hand and caromed onto the infield grass to the right and the back of the mound. �The ball was out of reach of both 2B Luis Bolivar and 1B Wes Bankston, and it took Vazquez a few seconds to recover and remember that he needed to find the ball and pick it up. �Robinzon Diaz hesitated, then started for the plate, then hesitated again, but when it was taking the extra seconds for Vazquez to find the ball, Robinzon ran full out for the plate. �He scored easily, as Vazquez was finally able to pick up the ball and throw to first to get out Argenis Diaz. �
[Photo: Argenis Diaz catches a pop up]
Tagg Bozied sparked the Tribes' 3rd inning rally. �With two outs, he took a 2-2 pitch down the left field line and into the Indians' bullpen, where it bounced around the bench. �Bozied pulled into second base with an easy double. �Larry Broadway was next, and he launched the 3-2 pitch over the right field wall and into the crown on the grass berm, 410 feet, for a 2-run home run. �Bats' RF Jay Bruce took two steps toward the fly ball, then just stopped and watched it sail over the wall. �That gave the Indians a 4-0 lead at the end of 3 innings.
[Photo: �Tagg Bozied congratulates Larry Broadway on his home run]
Unfortunately, after that, it was all Bats for the rest of the game. �
Starter Jeremy Powell (photo) pitched 7 innings, his longest outing of the season. �He had little trouble for 6 of the 7 innings. �Powell retired the first 7 batters he faced, then gave up a single through the hole and into left field by SS Chris Valaika with one out in the 3rd inning. �Bats' pitcher Camilo�
Vazquez sacrifice bunted Valaika to second base, but Powell got out of the inning by getting Luis Bolivar to pop out to shortstop. �He had to work around two singles in the 5th inning. �Vazquez was credited with a hit on his bloop fly to short right field, when RF Jose Tabata came charging in and waved off 2B Pedro Lopez -- but then Tabata had the ball tip off the end of his glove and fall to the ground. �Bats' C Ryan Hanigan, also on a rehab assignment from the Reds, singled into left field, but both were left stranded when Powell struck out. �Three Bats reached base in the 6th inning, but Powell again kept them from scoring. �Wes Bankston lined a single up the middle to open the inning. �After a fly out, Chris Heisey slapped a grounder back to the mound, where Powell was able to pick it up quickly and fire to second base to force out Bankston. �Heisey was safe at first on the fielder's choice. �He stole second base, and LF Danny Dorn worked a walk, but Powell got Chris Valaika to fly out, and again the runners were stranded.
The only inning in which Jeremy Powell had serious trouble was the 4th. �With a 4-0 lead in his pocket, Powell began the inning by giving up back-to-back singles to Ryan Hanigan and Jay Bruce. �There was a tense moment when Bruce's sharply hit low liner hit Powell's right leg and ricocheted all the way from the mound past the foul line towards the Bats' dugout (on the first base side). �Manager Frank Kremblas and trainer Jose Ministral checked Powell out, but he insisted that he was fine, and he continued in the game with no visible after effects. �
Powell continued by getting Wes Bankston to pop out to Larry Broadway at first base for the first out of the inning. �Juan Francisco grounded to deep short, and while SS Argenis Diaz (photo) was able to stop the ball from going into the outfield, his throw to first base was wide and not in time, and the Bats had the bases loaded and one out. �Chris Heisey popped out to Larry Broadway in foul territory at the far end of the Bats' dugout, and Ryan Hanigan elected to tag up at third base and try for home. �Broadway made the catch and threw in to the infield, where Jeremy Powell was the cut-off man. �Powell turned and threw toward the plate, hoping to tag out Hanigan, but the throw was wild. �Not only did Hanigan score on the sacrifice fly, but the error allowed Jay Bruce, who had tagged up and move to third base, to come around and score also. �Indians 4, Bats 2.
Powell left the game with the lead, having thrown 89 pitches, 63 for strikes. �He was relieved by Jorge Julio, who had his second difficult outing in a row. �Jay Bruce opened the inning with a single that just got past the reach of SS Argenis Diaz. �Wes Bankston struck out, but Bruce stole second base on strike three. �
Juan Francisco lifted a long fly ball to the warning track in the left-center field alley. �LF Tagg Bozied got there in time, but the ball bounced into and out of his glove, for a 2-base error. �Bruce had had to hold up at second base, thinking that the ball was going to be caught, so he was able to advance only as far as third base. �With Chris Heisey at the plate and two runners in scoring position, Julio threw a little wide, and the ball skipped off C Hector Gimenez's glove for a passed ball. �Bruce scored easily from third as Gimenez chased down the ball, and the Bats were within one run of the Indians. Francisco moved up to third base on the passed ball, and when Heisey doubled down the left field line, Francisco came home with the tying run. �Pinch hitter Todd Frazier gave the Bats the lead with another double down the left field line, scoring Heisey, to give the Bats a 5-4 lead.
[Photo above: �Jeremy Powell is throwing to first base, NOT punching Larry Broadway]
[Photo below: Jose Tabata at the plate]
The Tribe batters were unable to counter with any more scoring. �They tried to rally in the 6th inning, but ran themselves out of the inning with two more base running blunders. �Larry Broadway led off with his third hit of the night, a line drive into left field. �Robinzon Diaz set down a sacrifice bunt to the left side of the mound. �Pitcher Camilo Vazquez dropped the ball as he tried to throw it before he actually had it in his hand, and both runners were safe. �With Hector Gimenez at the plate, the 1-1 pitch from Vazquez hit the dirt and bounced into foul territory to the left of the plate. �Broadway must have thought the ball got further away from the plate than it actually did, because he took off from second base, heading for third. �But C Ryan Hanigan recovered the ball quickly and fired to third base, catching Broadway by about 10 feet. �Gimenez singled into center field, moving Robinzon Diaz to second base. �But in the second mistake of the inning, Diaz hesitated for just a second after rounding second base, and headed for third base. �The throw in from Chris Heisey reached third base well ahead of Diaz, and he was also out by about 10 feet. �A strikeout ended the inning, with the Indians unable to score a run.�
The Indians managed only two more base runners over the last three innings. �The speedy Brian Bixler beat out a bunt for a single in the 7th inning, but was left stranded at the end of the inning. �In the 9th inning, Argenis Diaz legged out an infield single when 3B Juan Francisco had trouble picking up the ball. �He too was left on base when the inning ended.
With the Indians' bullpen still thin, the Tribe brought in Larry Broadway (photos) to pitch the 9th inning. �Erik Kratz entered the game to catch, and Hector Gimenez shifted to first base, where Broadway had been. �Broadway got a quick first out on a fly ball to center field. �Ryan Hanigan and Jay Bruce followed with back-to-back singles, putting runners on the corners. �Wes Bankston grounded to third base, and it looked like a double-play ball that would let Broadway escape the jam. �Robinzon Diaz threw to second, forcing out Bruce, but Bruce's slide disrupted Pedro Lopez (it was a clean slide), who wasn't able to throw on to first. �That allowed Hanigan to score from third base, and the inning continued. �Broadway hit Juan Francisco with a pitch, and Bankston moved to second base. �A wild pitch moved both�
runners up 90 feet, and when Chris Heisey singled, Bankston scored the Bats' 7th run. �Another fly out to center field ended the inning. �When the Indians again could not answer in the bottom of the inning, the Bats had the win. �
Jorge Julio was charged with a Blown Save and the Loss. �Besides Larry Broadway's 3 hits Brian Bixler and Hector Gimenez had 2 hits each. �
The loss gives the Indians a 69 - 72 record, and with only two games left, t
hat eliminates the possibility of finishing the season with a .500 record, or catching back up to the Toledo Mud Hens to get into second place. �
Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Larry Broadway's 2-run homer in the 3rd inning. �It was his 8th homer of the season, and his 26th and 27th RBI. �
Defensive Gem of the Game: �Though Brian Bixler (photo) would still be counted as learning the center field position, he is making it look like he's been playing there for years. �Tonight in the 3rd inning, he made a running knee-level catch on a sinking line drive off the bat of Danny Dorn, and he made it look easy.
NOTES: �
The Indians held their season-ending awards ceremony prior to the game. �
Brief list:
Daniel McCutchen -- 2009 MVP
Neil Walker -- August Player of the Month; Home Run and RBI Leader
Jose Tabata -- Rookie of the Year
Erik Kratz -- Defensive Player of the Year
Chris Bootcheck -- Reliever of the Year
Brian Myrow -- Batting Average Leader
Neil Walker got another pinch-hit appearance with the Pirates today. �He flied out to left field on a 1-1 pitch. �
The Indians and the Bats will travel to Louisville, where they will play the last two games of the season. �Sunday's game will begin at 6:15 pm, and Monday's will begin at 1:15 pm.
Go Tribe!
[Photos by Nancy Zinni --MVN]
Indians’ 2009 MVP: Daniel McCutchen
The Indianapolis Indians have announced their end-of-season awards:
MVP: �Daniel McCutchen
Daniel McCutchen is tied for the International League lead with 13 wins this season �He was called up to Pittsburgh at the beginning of this week, finishing his Indians' season with a 13-6 record and a 3.47 ERA. �He posted a team-leading 110 strikeouts and only 29 walks in a team-leading 142.2 innings. �McCutchen made 24 starts for the Indians. �In his last 8 starts, since the All-Star break, he had a 5-1 record with a 1.90 ERA.
August Player of the Month,�
Home Run and RBI leader: �Neil Walker
Walker led the Indians with 31 doubles, 14 home runs, and 69 RBI, while hitting . 264. �He had an amazing month of August, when he hit .339, with 29 RBI. �He was also called up to Pittsburgh earlier this week. �
Rookie of the Year: �Jose Tabata
Jose Tabata has only been with the Indians since the beginning of August, for 29 games, but he has had a big impact. �He has a .285 average with 7 doubles, a triple, and 3 homers, and 10 RBI. �That gives him at least one hit in 20 of his 29 games, including 11 games with more than one hit. �He has also stolen 4 bases, and has been making outstanding play after outstanding play in the outfield. �
Defensive Player of the Year : � Erik Kratz
Kratz led the catchers of the IL with 11 homers and 43 RBI, as he has hit .272 and also recorded 30 doubles. �Kratz has thrown out 31% of runners trying to steal against him, and has earned the praises of his pitchers and manager for his skill at handling the pitching staff. Kratz was the only member of the Indians to participate in the AAA All-Star game, where he doubled, homered, and walked and was named the game's Top Star (MVP) award. �
Relief Pitcher of the Year: �Chris Bootcheck
Bootcheck, an Indiana native, led the Indians with 20 saves. �In 40 relief appearances, he pitched 42.2 innings and earned a 3-2 record and a 3.38 E
RA. �He allowed only 7 walks and struck out 55 batters. �Bootcheck was the Indians' Player of the Month in June, when he pitched 10.2 scoreless innings and earned 7 saves. �Bootcheck has been up with the Pirates for the past month. �
Highest Batting Average: �Brian Myrow
Myrow led the Indians with a .307 batting average, and a .419 on-base percentage. �His team-leading 65 walks was 30 walks more than the next highest (Brian Bixler with 35), and third hightest in the International League. �He was named the IL Batter of the Week for August 24-30, when he batted .600 with 15 hits and 13 RBI. �Myrow's season ended earlier this week when he injured his calf on a play in right field.
Indians’ 2009 MVP: Daniel McCutchen
The Indianapolis Indians have announced their end-of-season awards:
MVP: �Daniel McCutchen
Daniel McCutchen is tied for the International League lead with 13 wins this season �He was called up to Pittsburgh at the beginning of this week, finishing his Indians' season with a 13-6 record and a 3.47 ERA. �He posted a team-leading 110 strikeouts and only 29 walks in a team-leading 142.2 innings. �McCutchen made 24 starts for the Indians. �In his last 8 starts, since the All-Star break, he had a 5-1 record with a 1.90 ERA.
August Player of the Month,�
Home Run and RBI leader: �Neil Walker
Walker led the Indians with 31 doubles, 14 home runs, and 69 RBI, while hitting . 264. �He had an amazing month of August, when he hit .339, with 29 RBI. �He was also called up to Pittsburgh earlier this week. �
Rookie of the Year: �Jose Tabata
Jose Tabata has only been with the Indians since the beginning of August, for 29 games, but he has had a big impact. �He has a .285 average with 7 doubles, a triple, and 3 homers, and 10 RBI. �That gives him at least one hit in 20 of his 29 games, including 11 games with more than one hit. �He has also stolen 4 bases, and has been making outstanding play after outstanding play in the outfield. �
Defensive Player of the Year : � Erik Kratz
Kratz led the catchers of the IL with 11 homers and 43 RBI, as he has hit .272 and also recorded 30 doubles. �Kratz has thrown out 31% of runners trying to steal against him, and has earned the praises of his pitchers and manager for his skill at handling the pitching staff. Kratz was the only member of the Indians to participate in the AAA All-Star game, where he doubled, homered, and walked and was named the game's Top Star (MVP) award. �
Relief Pitcher of the Year: �Chris Bootcheck
Bootcheck, an Indiana native, led the Indians with 20 saves. �In 40 relief appearances, he pitched 42.2 innings and earned a 3-2 record and a 3.38 E
RA. �He allowed only 7 walks and struck out 55 batters. �Bootcheck was the Indians' Player of the Month in June, when he pitched 10.2 scoreless innings and earned 7 saves. �Bootcheck has been up with the Pirates for the past month. �
Highest Batting Average: �Brian Myrow
Myrow led the Indians with a .307 batting average, and a .419 on-base percentage. �His team-leading 65 walks was 30 walks more than the next highest (Brian Bixler with 35), and third hightest in the International League. �He was named the IL Batter of the Week for August 24-30, when he batted .600 with 15 hits and 13 RBI. �Myrow's season ended earlier this week when he injured his calf on a play in right field.
Indians Fall in 16 Innings
Louisville Bats 4,��� �Indianapolis Indians 2
The Indianapolis Indians and the Louisville Bats played the longest game, by innings, in the history of Victory Field tonight, but it was the Bats who came out on top after 16 innings.
Starter Bobby Livingston (photo) pitched 7 strong innings in his Indians' debut, but was long gone by the time there was any decision. �The Indians tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th, and six scoreless innings followed. �It became a question of who would blink first, and the Indians did the blinking.
In the top of the 16th, Corey Hamman was on the mound. �He had already pitched 4 scoreless innings and allowed only one single, with 3 strikeouts. �But he was getting tired too. �The 16th opened with a line drive single into left field by RF Michael Griffin. �
C Chris Denove predictably dropped down a sacrifice bunt. �Hamman scrambled to field it, but his legs slipped out from under him. �He was able to turn and throw to first from a half-kneeling, half-seated position, but his throw was low and 1B Larry Broadway couldn't keep a handle on it. �It was ruled both a sacrifice bunt and an error on Hamman. �Bats' 1B Wes Bankston dropped down another sacrifice bunt. �This one was fielded by C Erik Kratz (photo),�and the runners were on second and third bases with one out. �3B Juan Francisco was intentionally walked, to load the bases and set up the potential double play.
Juan Mateo, the last man standing in the Indians' bullpen, came in to relieve Hamman at that point. �With 2B Todd Frazier at the plate, Mateo threw a pitch outside, which glanced off Kratz's glove and sailed all the way to the backstop, ruled a passed ball. �That enabled Griffin to score from third base with the go-ahead run. �Frazier proceeded to single into right field, scoring Denove also. �Frazier stole second base, again putting runners on second and third bases, still with one out. �Mateo struck out SS Chris Valaika, then intentionally walked CF Lew Ford, again attempting to set up a force play at any base. �Then Mateo struck out Bats' reliever Greg Atencio to end the inning.
Atencio went back to the mound for the bottom of the 16th innings. �He retired LF Tagg Bozied, Larry Broadway, and Erik Kratz in order, with Kratz's long fly ball to center field ending the game. �
The game began with Bobby Livingston (photo) working very quickly and efficiently. �He needed only 20 pitches to get through the first 3 innings, facing only one batter over the minimum. �Wes Bankston singled through the hole into left field to open the 2nd inning, and after Juan Francisco flied out, Todd Frazier grounded up the middle to put two Bats on the bases. �Livingston got out of the minor jam by getting Chris Valaika to knock a grounder to 2B Pedro Lopez, who caught the ball, dropped it, picked it up (photo below), and still had time to fire to SS Argenis Diaz, who relayed on to Larry Broadway at first for the inning-ending double play. �
Livingston got into trouble in the 4th inning, with the help of two Indians' errors. �Rehabbing C Ryan Hanigan began the inning with a grounder down the let field line and into the outfield corner for a double. �
RF Jay Bruce, also with the Bats on a rehab assignment from the Cincinnati Reds, walked to again give Livingston two runners on base. �Livingston continued his efficient pitching, getting Wes Bankston to fly out on one pitch, and striking out Juan Francisco on three pitches. �Todd Frazier singled into left center field, scoring Hanigan. �As Bruce headed for third base, Tribe LF Tagg Bozied threw the ball in to third -- but no one was covering third base. �The ball sailed to the Indians' dugout, where it bounced off the facing -- Bozied charged with a throwing error, though it wasn't his fault that no one was covering the base. �Livingston scrambled over towards the dugout to retrieve the ball, as Bruce rounded third and headed for the plate. �Livingston tried to throw to the plate in hopes that someone would be able to tag Bruce, but that throw was off-balance and landed half way up the first base line, as Bruce scored easily (throwing error on Livingston). �Livingston ended the inning with a one-pitch fly out. �The Bats had a 2-0 lead. �
Livingston pitched 3 more innings. �He retired the Bats in order in the 5th and 6th innings, needing only 15 pitches to do so. �He was getting tired in the 7th inning, and needed 21 pitches to get through that one, as he worked out another jam. �
Juan Francisco led off with a single into right field. �Todd Frazier grounded deep to short, and while Argenis Diaz was able to make the diving stop to keep the ball from getting into left field, his throw to first base was not in time. �Chris Valaika bunted, and Erik Kratz pounced on the ball from b
ehind the plate and quickly fired to third base, in time to force out the lead runner Francisco. �3B Hector Gimenez's throw to first base was not in time to get the double play. �Lew Ford worked a walk to load the bases. �Livingston got out of the jam by getting pinch-hitter Danny Dorn to fly out to short left field -- too shallow to allow Frazier to tag up and score from third -- and then getting Luis Bolivar out on a little tapper back to the mound. �
Livingston (photo) finished with 7 innings, 2 runs (one earned) on 6 hits, 2 walks, with 3 strikeouts. �He threw a total of 72 pitches (58 strikes).
Bats' starter Ben Jukich was not quite as efficient as Livingston, but he took 37 pitches to get through the first three innings. �He retired the first six Tribe batters on 5 strikeouts. �He gave up a single to Argenis Diaz in the 2nd inning, then had Livingston follow with a grounder to 2B Todd Frazier that should have been a double play. �Instead, it slipped between Frazier's legs, and both runners were safe. �The Indians missed that opportunity, though, as Brian Bixler struck out looking and Pedro Lopez lined out. �
The Tribe did come through in the 4th inning, responding to the Bats' 2 runs. �Jukich had struck out Tagg Bozied, Larry Broadway, and Erik Kratz in a row in the 2nd inning, and they got their revenge in the 4th. �With one out, Bozied grounded up the middle. �SS Chris Valaika was able to stop the ball deep behind second base, but wasn't able to hold on to it long enough to throw -- which might not have been in time anyway. �Broadway (photo) roped a double into the right field corner, moving Bozied to third base. �Bozied was not sent homeward, respecting RF Jay Bruce's arm. �Kratz took care of it, though, with a long long fly ball to center field, which would have been a home run in many parks. �CF Lew Ford made a leap to catch the ball near the top of the wall and rob Kratz of an extra-base hit. �It was deep enough for Bozied to tag up and score on the sacrifice, and the Indians had cut the Bats' lead to 2-1.
Jukich gave up another two hits in the 5th inning, singles to Brian Bixler and Pedro Lopez, but got out of that situation with a grounder force out. �He then got his own revenge on Bozied, Broadway, and Kratz, but striking the three of them out again in the 6th inning. �Jukich gave way to Joe Krebs, who was making his AAA debut. �Krebs kept the Tribe scoreless over the 7th and 8th innings.
At the same time, Jeff Sues came on to relieve Livingston. �Sues faced only one batter over the minimum in his two innings. �The first batter he faced, Ryan Hanigan, grounded to third base, where the ball ticked off Hector Gimenez's glove for an error. �Hanigan was replaced by pinch-runner Michael Griffin, who then remained in the game as the Bats' right fielder. �Jay Bruce grounded towards second base, and it looked like the ball was heading into the outfield. �Pedro Lopez made a diving stop and came up with the ball. �From his position on the ground, he flipped the ball up to Argenis Diaz, who fired on to first base for the double play. �That was also the end of Jay Bruce's night, as he was replaced by Chris Denove, who took over behind the plate. �Another grounder ended the 8th inning for Sues. �Juan Francisco began the 9th inning with a double down the left field line. �Sues struck out the next two batters, then got Lew Ford to ground to third base, where Hector Gimenez needed to just take a few steps and tag out Francisco as he was coming into third base. �
Then it was do-or-die time for the Indians. �The bottom of the 9th began with a ground out. �Then Hector Gimenez beat out a slow grounder up the middle. �Argenis Diaz also hit a grounder that stayed in the infield, but 3B Juan Francisco charged in and missed the pick-up, for an error. �Chris Barnwell entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Jeff Sues. �He also did not get the ball out of the infield, but deep in the hole at short, so that SS Chris Valaika stopped it, but did not have a throw. �With the bases loaded, Brian Bixler (photo) hit a high chopper towards Francisco. �The ball had so much air time, that by the time it finally settled into Francisco's glove, Gimenez was already across the plate, and the only play was to throw out Bixler at first. �Pedro Lopez ended the inning with a ground out, leaving runners at second and third, but the Indians had tied the game, and it was time for extras. �
Jean Machi was next out of the bullpen for the Tribe. �He retired the Bats in order in the 10th, and worked around a lead-off single in the 11th. �Corey Hamman entered the game in the top of the 12th. �Hamman was also nearly as efficient as Bobby Livingston had been. �He allowed only one hit, a single to Juan Francisco, over the next 4 innings, and needed only 40 pitches to do it. �Both the Indians' and the Bats' bullpens and benches were depleted, due to major league call-ups and (at least for the Tribe) some injuries. �That meant that, as the innings piled up, relief pitchers were not only going to keep pitching, but also that they were going to get their turns at the plate. �
The Tribe batters did a better job of getting on base in the extra innings, but once on base, could not get the runners around to score. �Lee Tabor pitched 5 scoreless innings in relief for the Bats. �Erik Kratz doubled into the right field corner to lead off the 11th inning, and advanced to third base on a ground out, but got no further. �Brian Bixler opened the 12th by beating out the throw on a bunt single, but he was erased when Corey Hamman's bunt was hit too hard. �It rolled right to 3B Juan Francisco, who began the 5-6-3 double play. �Tagg Bozied opened the bottom of the 13th with a single, but another double play eliminated him. �Greg Atencio came on to pitch the 15th, after Tabor had gone 5 innings, throwing 47 pitches. �Atencio struck out the side in the 15th, and then retired the Indians in the bottom of the 16th to earn his 2nd win. �
Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: �Clutch singles by Hector Gimenez and Chris Bar
nwell in the bottom of the 9th, to tie the game and send it into extras.
Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �Four scoreless innings by Corey Hamman, which kept things going in those extra innings.
NOTES:
Saturday's game will be the home finale for the Indians. �They will finish up the season with two game in Louisville.
This is the progress so far on the JW Marriott going up across Maryland Street from Victory Field. �That blue section is glass panels. �The structure is now about 24 - 25 stories, and will eventually rise to about 34 stories, all covered with blue glass. �The other hotels in the complex are further along. �Signage outside the project tells us that the whole thing will be opening in "the first quarter of 2010".
Go Tribe!
[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]
