PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

Team USA starter Brad Lincoln pitched 5 solid innings, allowing only one run, but he did not factor into the decision as Venezuela tied the game and eventually won in 11 innings. �

Lincoln scattered 5 hits and 2 walks over his 5 innings. �He worked out of a jam in the 2nd inning when with two outs, he gave up a double, then a single. �The base runner from second was off and running and tried to score on the grounder to short, but was thrown out at the plate. �In the 4th inning, a lead-off homer by Venezuela's 3B Michael Sandoval was the only run Lincoln allowed. �Lincoln was relieved after his 5 innings, holding a 7-1 lead. �He threw 79 pitches (50 strikes).

Team USA started their scoring early. �SS Trevor Plouffe walked with one out in the 1st, and moved to third base on 1B Justin Smoak's double down the right field line. �Plouffe tried to make it home on the play, though, and was cut down on the relay throw. �With Smoak still on second base, RF Josh Kroeger doubled in to the left-center alley, and Smoak scored. �A throwing error put DH Terry Tiffee on base, and LF Jon Weber's singled scored Kroeger, to give Team USA a 2-0 lead. �3B Pedro Alvarez�singled, loading the bases, but a fly out ended the inning without further scoring.

The bottom of the 2nd inning started with a solo home run by 2B Tug Hulett, increasing the lead to 3-0. �CF Buck Coats followed the homer with a double, and he scored on Justin Smoak's 2-run homer. �After a pitching change, Josh Kroeger was hit by the first pitch thrown by the new reliever. �He scored on Terry Tiffee's dobule down the left field line, and Team USA was up 6-0.

After the Venezuelan homer in the top of the 4th, Smoak answered with his second home run of the game, a solo blast to lead off the bottom of the frame, and the Americans were well on their way, 7-1. �

BJ Rosenberg relieved Brad Lincoln to begin the 6th inning. �He pitched that one inning, and gave up one run, on two doubles. �Still, Team USA was ahead, 7-2. �Former Indy Indian (2002-04) Jason Childers took the mound for the 7th inning, and that's when things fell apart. �CHilders got a fly out, then walked two batters. �Then a strikeout, and another walk loaded the bases. �Childers hit Michael Sandoval with a pitch, forcing in a run. �Four more runs scored when RF Rene Reyes (Colorado Rockies) lifted a long fly ball over the center field wall for a grand slam. �Childers was relieved by Cedrick Bowers, but the damage was done and the score was tied at 7-7.

The next 2.5 innings were scoreless on both sides. �Team USA put a runner on base in the 7th when Jon Weber singled, and in the 8th when Tug Hulett walked, but was caught stealing. �Trevor Plouffe walked and Josh Kroeger singled in the 9th, but a double play ended the threat.

Cedrick Bowers came back out to begin the 8th inning for Team USA, but after he walked the first batter, he was replaced by Ehren Wassermann. �Wassermann got a double play, then walked another batter, but got a line out to end the inning. �He then retired the side in order in the 9th. �

As the game went into extras, international baseball rules took over. �Under the International Tie Breaker rule, each team begins their inning at-bat with two runners on base (first and second). �The team chooses which batter they want to begin the inning at the plate, and the two batters immediately ahead of that batter in the order are the ones placed on base. �Then the chosen batter steps to the plate and the team proceeds to try to bring those runners in. �

Venezuela began the 10th with their two runners on base and 1B Lino Connell at the plate. �Connell bunted the runners to second and third, and was safe at first on a fielder's choice. �After a strike out, Geno Espineli relieved Ehren Wassermann on the mound. �Espineli walked Rene Reyes on 5 pitches, forcing in the tie-breaking run. �A ground out brought in another run, and Espineli was relieved by Nate Field. �Field got the final out of the inning, but Venezuela had taken a 9-7 lead.

Team USA began the bottom of the 10th with Tug Hulett placed on second base and Buck Coats placed on first. �That brought Trevor Plouffe to the plate. �Plouffe flied out, but Justin Smoak doubled, scoring both Hulett and Coats to tied the game again. �

CF Jonathan Sivira was chosen to bat first for Venezuela to start the 11th inning, with Field still on the mound for Team USA. �Field struck out Sivira and C Yosnel Garcia, then loaded the bases with a walk. �SS Dimiro Chavez blasted the second grand slam of the game, and Venezuela had a 13 - 9 lead. �Team USA placed Terry Tiffee on second base and Jon Weber on first for their turn in the bottom of the frame, bringing up Pedro Alvarez. �But Alvarez flied out, and a ground out and a strikeout ended the game, giving Venezuela the win. �

Justin Smoak went 4-for-6 in the game with 5 RBI. �Pedro Alvarez went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts. �

Team USA's next game will be on Friday against Germany, with Todd Redmond scheduled to pitch. �

More Day 2 action:

Pool A

Mexico 8, Taipei 0

Pool B

Cuba 10, Puerto Rico 0

This game lasted only 7 innings, as the Cuban pitcher Maikel Vera held Puerto Rico to 3 hits and a walk, while striking out 8. �RJ Rodriguez did not get into the game. �

Pool C

Canada 9, South Korea 1

Canada's LF Adam Loewen (Blue Jays) went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, and 2 RBI to lead the offense. �Starter Nick Bucci (Brewers) pitched 5 scoreless innings and allowed 3 hits for Canada. �Dustin Molleken did not appear in the game. �

Pool D

Nicaragua 10, Croatia 1

Japan 9, Great Britain 7

SS Brant Ust singled, scored, and had an RBI, while Tom Boleska�pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing a hit and hitting one batter. �Japan had a 6-2 lead going into the 8th inning, then picked up 2 more insurance runs in the 8th, and one more in the 9th, for a 9-2 lead. �Great Britian made Team Japan worry, though, with a 5-run bottom of the 9th. �With one out, a dropped third strike (which landed in the Japanese dugout) put one runner on base. �Next came a single, then Ust's RBI single, and then a 3-run homer by RF Sam Wiley brought the score to 9-6. �More runners on base, and another dropped third strike allowed a runner from third to score, and Great Britain had made it 9-7. �Another single loaded the bases with two outs, but a strikeout ended the inning and the game, with Great Britain's rally falling short. �

Team USA starter Brad Lincoln pitched 5 solid innings, allowing only one run, but he did not factor into the decision as Venezuela tied the game and eventually won in 11 innings. �

Lincoln scattered 5 hits and 2 walks over his 5 innings. �He worked out of a jam in the 2nd inning when with two outs, he gave up a double, then a single. �The base runner from second was off and running and tried to score on the grounder to short, but was thrown out at the plate. �In the 4th inning, a lead-off homer by Venezuela's 3B Michael Sandoval was the only run Lincoln allowed. �Lincoln was relieved after his 5 innings, holding a 7-1 lead. �He threw 79 pitches (50 strikes).

Team USA started their scoring early. �SS Trevor Plouffe walked with one out in the 1st, and moved to third base on 1B Justin Smoak's double down the right field line. �Plouffe tried to make it home on the play, though, and was cut down on the relay throw. �With Smoak still on second base, RF Josh Kroeger doubled in to the left-center alley, and Smoak scored. �A throwing error put DH Terry Tiffee on base, and LF Jon Weber's singled scored Kroeger, to give Team USA a 2-0 lead. �3B Pedro Alvarez�singled, loading the bases, but a fly out ended the inning without further scoring.

The bottom of the 2nd inning started with a solo home run by 2B Tug Hulett, increasing the lead to 3-0. �CF Buck Coats followed the homer with a double, and he scored on Justin Smoak's 2-run homer. �After a pitching change, Josh Kroeger was hit by the first pitch thrown by the new reliever. �He scored on Terry Tiffee's dobule down the left field line, and Team USA was up 6-0.

After the Venezuelan homer in the top of the 4th, Smoak answered with his second home run of the game, a solo blast to lead off the bottom of the frame, and the Americans were well on their way, 7-1. �

BJ Rosenberg relieved Brad Lincoln to begin the 6th inning. �He pitched that one inning, and gave up one run, on two doubles. �Still, Team USA was ahead, 7-2. �Former Indy Indian (2002-04) Jason Childers took the mound for the 7th inning, and that's when things fell apart. �CHilders got a fly out, then walked two batters. �Then a strikeout, and another walk loaded the bases. �Childers hit Michael Sandoval with a pitch, forcing in a run. �Four more runs scored when RF Rene Reyes (Colorado Rockies) lifted a long fly ball over the center field wall for a grand slam. �Childers was relieved by Cedrick Bowers, but the damage was done and the score was tied at 7-7.

The next 2.5 innings were scoreless on both sides. �Team USA put a runner on base in the 7th when Jon Weber singled, and in the 8th when Tug Hulett walked, but was caught stealing. �Trevor Plouffe walked and Josh Kroeger singled in the 9th, but a double play ended the threat.

Cedrick Bowers came back out to begin the 8th inning for Team USA, but after he walked the first batter, he was replaced by Ehren Wassermann. �Wassermann got a double play, then walked another batter, but got a line out to end the inning. �He then retired the side in order in the 9th. �

As the game went into extras, international baseball rules took over. �Under the International Tie Breaker rule, each team begins their inning at-bat with two runners on base (first and second). �The team chooses which batter they want to begin the inning at the plate, and the two batters immediately ahead of that batter in the order are the ones placed on base. �Then the chosen batter steps to the plate and the team proceeds to try to bring those runners in. �

Venezuela began the 10th with their two runners on base and 1B Lino Connell at the plate. �Connell bunted the runners to second and third, and was safe at first on a fielder's choice. �After a strike out, Geno Espineli relieved Ehren Wassermann on the mound. �Espineli walked Rene Reyes on 5 pitches, forcing in the tie-breaking run. �A ground out brought in another run, and Espineli was relieved by Nate Field. �Field got the final out of the inning, but Venezuela had taken a 9-7 lead.

Team USA began the bottom of the 10th with Tug Hulett placed on second base and Buck Coats placed on first. �That brought Trevor Plouffe to the plate. �Plouffe flied out, but Justin Smoak doubled, scoring both Hulett and Coats to tied the game again. �

CF Jonathan Sivira was chosen to bat first for Venezuela to start the 11th inning, with Field still on the mound for Team USA. �Field struck out Sivira and C Yosnel Garcia, then loaded the bases with a walk. �SS Dimiro Chavez blasted the second grand slam of the game, and Venezuela had a 13 - 9 lead. �Team USA placed Terry Tiffee on second base and Jon Weber on first for their turn in the bottom of the frame, bringing up Pedro Alvarez. �But Alvarez flied out, and a ground out and a strikeout ended the game, giving Venezuela the win. �

Justin Smoak went 4-for-6 in the game with 5 RBI. �Pedro Alvarez went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts. �

Team USA's next game will be on Friday against Germany, with Todd Redmond scheduled to pitch. �

More Day 2 action:

Pool A

Mexico 8, Taipei 0

Pool B

Cuba 10, Puerto Rico 0

This game lasted only 7 innings, as the Cuban pitcher Maikel Vera held Puerto Rico to 3 hits and a walk, while striking out 8. �RJ Rodriguez did not get into the game. �

Pool C

Canada 9, South Korea 1

Canada's LF Adam Loewen (Blue Jays) went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, and 2 RBI to lead the offense. �Starter Nick Bucci (Brewers) pitched 5 scoreless innings and allowed 3 hits for Canada. �Dustin Molleken did not appear in the game. �

Pool D

Nicaragua 10, Croatia 1

Japan 9, Great Britain 7

SS Brant Ust singled, scored, and had an RBI, while Tom Boleska�pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing a hit and hitting one batter. �Japan had a 6-2 lead going into the 8th inning, then picked up 2 more insurance runs in the 8th, and one more in the 9th, for a 9-2 lead. �Great Britian made Team Japan worry, though, with a 5-run bottom of the 9th. �With one out, a dropped third strike (which landed in the Japanese dugout) put one runner on base. �Next came a single, then Ust's RBI single, and then a 3-run homer by RF Sam Wiley brought the score to 9-6. �More runners on base, and another dropped third strike allowed a runner from third to score, and Great Britain had made it 9-7. �Another single loaded the bases with two outs, but a strikeout ended the inning and the game, with Great Britain's rally falling short. �

Pool A:

Australia 17, Czech Republic 4

Former Indy Indian Chris Snelling went 1-for-3, with a walk and an RBI, and he scored one of the 17 runs. �

The Australians got the scoring started in the 2nd inning with a solo homer by LF Tim Kennelly and a 2-run homer by DH Andrew Graham. � �They added another 3 runs in the 3rd inning, on a single, a walk by Snelling, and Tim Kennelly's second homer (3 runs) in the game. �Kennelly led off the 5th inning with a single, and scored on 1B Stefan Welch's home run. �Brother Matthew Kennelly came on to pinch-hit, and doubled, then went to third on a throwing error on the next play. �He scored on an RBI single. �RF Chris Snelling also singled, bringing in the 4th run of the inning. �That gave the Australians a 10-0 lead.

The Czech team got onto the scoreboard with a solo home run in the bottom of the 5th, and they added an unearned run in the 6th on a double, two wild pitches, and a throwing error. �The Czechs scored 2 runs in the 7th, on a single, a triple, and another single.

Two singles gave the Australians another run in the 7th inning, but their biggest inning was yet to come. �In the top of the 9th, they scored 6 runs -- a walk, a single, a double (RBI), an error (another run in), and three more doubles, by Welch, Graham, and Matthew Kennelly. �

Pool B:

Spain 15, South Africa 0

This game ended after 6 innings, due to the rule that they don't want us to call "the Mercy Rule". � The South Africans were held to just 2 hits, one of which was by SS Gift Ngoepe.

Pool C

Netherlands Antilles 10, Sweden 8

Pool D

Germany 14, China 1

The Blue Rocks (affiliate of the Kansas City Royals) scored early and late, as they recorded 11 hits and took advantage of two Hillcats' errors to win Game 1 of the Carolina League Northern Division Championship Series in Lynchburg, Virginia tonight. �

Justin Wilson got the start for the Hillcats, and pitched 5 innings. �The good news was that he struck out 9 batters and allowed 6 hits, no walks. �Wilson opened the game with two strikeouts, then was charged with a hit batter (though the ball clearly sailed way over the batters' head, and protests by manager PJ Forbes went unheeded), then struck out a third batter to retire the side. �Wilson also struck out three batters in the 3rd inning, working around a 2-out single, and he retired the side in the 4th and 5th innings, including two more strikeouts. �

The bad news was the second inning, when the Blue Rocks batted around and scored 4 runs. �The inning began with a line drive through the hole by top Royals' prospect 1B Eric Hosmer. �RF Nick Van Stratten skipped a grounder to shortstop, which looked like a tailor-made double play ball. �But the ball bounced right on the lip of the grass and took a high hop to SS Jordy Mercer. �Mercer got his glove on the ball, but lost it in the transfer to his throwing hand, ruled an error, and everyone was safe. �LF Jamar Walton singled through the hole into left field, scoring Hosmer from second base. �The throw in from LF Alex Presley bounced away from C Tony Sanchez, and when the base runners advanced to second and third bases, Presley was charged with an error. �After a strikeout, singles by SS Anthony Seratelli and CF Derrick Robinson brought in Van Stratten and Walton. �Wilson got a pop out in foul territory for the second out, but one more single, by 3B Mike Moustakas scored Robinson, and the Blue Rocks had a 4-0 lead, with 3 unearned runs. �

The Hillcats were putting runners on base, but could not get them around to score. �After a 1-2-3 bottom of the 1st, RF Jamie Romak walked to lead off the 2nd inning, and DH Kris Watts singled, to put two runners on base with no outs. �But Tony Sanchez and 1B Matt Hague grounded into a double play, erasing the threat. �CF Jose De Los Santos doubled in the 3rd, and Hague singled in the 5th, and both were left on base, as was Watts after a walk in the 4th. �

Jordy Mercer finally put the Hillcats onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the 6th inning. �He blasted a long fly ball over the left field wall for a solo home run. �That was the only run the 'Cats would manage, though. �They threatened in the 7th inning, when with two outs, Alex Presley doubled and Jose De Los Santos singled, sending Presley to third base. �A strikeout ended the threat. �Two errors by the Blue Rocks put a base runner on in each of the 8th and 9th innings, but both were left stranded. �

Noah Krol relieved Justin Wilson to begin the 6th inning. �Krol pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing only a single and a walk in the 6th, and a double in the 7th. �Harrison Bishop pitched an easy scoreless 8th inning, but got into trouble when he came back out for the top of the 9th. �The first three batters in the 9th recorded hits: a triple, a single, and a double, bringing in 2 runs and sending Bishop to the showers. �Chris Cullen relieved Bishop, and he got Mike Moustakas to ground out for the first out of the inning. �After an intentional walk, Eric Hosmer reached on a fielder's choice, batting in the runner from third base. �A double play ended the inning, but the Blue Rocks had a 7-1 lead. �They held off the Hillcats in the bottom of the inning, to take a 1-game lead in the 5-game series. �

The Salem Red Sox beat the Winston-Salem Dash by a score of 7-2 in the Carolina League's Southern Division Championship Series. �

NOTES:

Weird stat: �The Hillcats were hit by pitches 97 times this season -- that's 25 times more than any other team in the Carolina League. �

Reliever Ramon Aguero has been reassigned from the Altoona Curve back to the Hillcats so that he can participate in the playoffs. �

OF Starling Marte has been placed on the Disabled List, and will not be able to participate in the playoffs with the Hillcats. �He will be reporting to Bradenton for Fall Instructional League. �

The Indianapolis Indians are auctioning off their black (alternate) game worn jerseys, with one day left to go. �Here's the site -- lots of jerseys with no bids yet, and the auction ends tomorrow. �

1B Jeff Clement will also be reporting to Bradenton to do more rehab work on his strained oblique, with the hopes that he will be able to join the Pirates later in the month.

Neil Walker started at third base for the Pirates in this afternoon's 8-5 loss to the Cubs. �Walker singled to lead off the 4th inning, and came around to score on Andrew McCutchen's 2-RBI double. �Walker also grounded into a force out in the 8th inning, and scored on Ronny Cedeno's home run. �Jeff Karstens, fresh off the Disabled List, pitched 2 innings of relief. �He retired the side in order in the 6th, but gave up 2 runs in the 7th. �Denny Bautista pitched the 8th inning and also gave up 2 runs. �

The World Cup tournament opens today in Europe, with Team USA playing their first game tomorrow.

Two members of the Indianapolis Indians, Brad Lincoln and Pedro Alvarez, have been in North Carolina practicing with the team, and are set to begin play in Europe. �Also on Team USA is veteran pitcher and former Indy Indian (2002 - 04) Jason�Childers. �

Team USA played 4 games against Team Canada to warm up in North Carolina.

Sept 3

3B Pedro Alvarez went 1-for-4 and scored a run. �Team USA scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, on a single, two walks, and a 2-RBI double by 2B Tug Hulett. �A sacrifice fly by CF Buck Coats brought in the third run. �Canada responded with three runs in the top of the 3rd, off US starter Kasey Kiker, with an RBI single and a 2-RBI double. �

With Lucas Harrell on the mound, Canada took the lead in the 4th, on a single, a wild pitch, and another single. �Team USA regained the lead in the bottom of the 5th. �LF Jon Weber led off with a single, and Pedro Alvarez followed with another single, moving Weber to third base. �A ground out by DH Terry Tiffee brought in Weber, and RF Josh Kroeger's single plated Alvarez. �An unearned run gave Team USA an insurance run in the 6th. �Two walks and a throwing error loaded the bases, and when SS Trevor Plouffe grounded into a double play, the runner on third base scored. �

Jason Childers pitched the 8th inning for Team USA, retiring the side in order, including one strikeout. �

Sept 4

Brad Lincoln made the start for Team USA and got the win. �He pitched 4 innings, allowing one run on 3 hits and a walk, with one strikeouts. �It took him 52 pitches (37 strikes).

Team USA jumped out to an early lead, with 3 runs in the 1st inning and 4 runs in the 2nd. �With one out in the 1st, CF Buck Coats doubled and LF Jon Weber walked. �3B Pedro Alvarez reached on a fielder's choice, with Weber out at second base. �A walk by RF Ike Davis loaded the bases. � 1B Justin Smoak singled up the middle, scoring Coats and Alvarez, and DH Tug Hulett also singled into center field, bringing in Davis. �

Four straight singles began the 2nd inning. �C Jason Castro, 2B Daniel Descalso, Buck Coats and Jon Weber all hit, with Coats and Weber each picking up an RBI. �Pedro Alvarez fouled out, then Davis doubled, bringing in Coats. �Smoak's ground out allowed Weber to score, and Team USA had a 7-0 lead. �

Canada got one run back in the bottom of the 2nd inning, on a solo home run. �That was the only run allowed by Lincoln. �They added 3 more runs in the 8th inning, aided by a throwing error and a wild pitch. �A sacrifice fly, a triple, and a single brought in 3 unearned runs. �

Pedro Alvarez went 0-for-5, with two strikeouts. �Dustin Molleken pitched 2 shutout innings for Canada, allowing only one walk and striking out 3 batters. �

Sept 5th

3B Pedro Alvarez had a double, a single, and an RBI in this game. �Team USA again scored early, and then had to hold off Canada's late inning rallies. �

SS Daniel Descalso opened the game with an infield single, moved to second base on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on a ground out. �He scored on DH Justin Smoak's sacrifice fly. �LF Ike Davis doubled, and he scored on 1B Terry Tiffee's RBI single. �Pedro Alvarez also doubled, plating Tiffee, and Team USA had a 3-run start. �They added another run in the 2nd inning with a solo home run by C Lucas May. �

Two more runs scored in the 3rd inning, when Davis again doubled, followed by three singles by Tiffee, Alvarez, and CF Josh Kroeger. �Team USA was held to just 2 hits over the rest of the game. �

US starter Todd Redmond pitched 5 perfect innings before giving way to Cedrick Bowers to begin the 6th inning. �That's when Canada got going. �Canada scored two in the 6th, with a double, a single, a sacrifice fly, and an RBI single. �Two walks and an RBI single added one run in the 7th. �Canada scored two more in the 8th, with a triple, a walk, another sacrifice fly, and an RBI single.

Jason Childers came in to pitch the 9th. �He gave up a lead-off single, then retired the next three batters to earn the save. �

Sept 6th

Team USA scored in all but two innings, posting 17 hits on their way to 11 runs. �

1st -- 2 runs on 2 doubles, a single, and a grounder -- RBI: SS Trevor Plouffe and CF Josh Kroeger

3rd --1 run on a walk, a wild pitch, a single, and a sac fly -- RBI: Jo Castro

4th -- 2 runs on 3 singles and a double -- RBI: Plouffe, Terry Tiffee

5th -- 1 run on a single, a throwing error, and a sac fly -- RBI: Lucas May

6th -- 2 runs on 2 singles and a double, with Dustin Molleken on the mound for Canada -- RBI: Tiffee, Kroger

7th -- 1 run on a single and a double, again off Molleken -- RBI: David Descalo

8th -- 2 runs on a 2-run homer by Josh Weber

Pedro Alvarez pinch-hit for 3B Terry Tiffee in the 8th, and fouled out. �He remained in the game at third base for the last two innings. �

Canada scored on a solo home run in the 1st, and in the 8th on two walks and a single.

************

There are a few other Pirates' farmhands and friends who will be participating in the World Cup:

RHP Dustin Molleken (Altoona Curve) �-- Team Canada

RHP RJ Rodriguez (Lynchburg Hillcats) -- Puerto Rico

Inf Gift Ngoepe (Bradenton Pirates) and Inf Brett Willemburg (West Virginia Power) �-- South Africa

LHP Paul Mildren �(formerly with the Curve and Hillcats) and OF Chris Snelling (with the Indianapolis Indians for a few weeks this year)-- Australia

RHP Tom Boleska (Hillcats) �-- Great Britain (he's a Canadian native, with family connections to the UK)

Inf Brant Ust �(formerly with the Hillcats) �-- Great Britain

Inf/Of Yurendell de Caster (formerly with the Indianapolis Indians) is on the preliminary roster for the Netherlands, but the final roster has not yet been posted.

The first ro und of games include: � � (Some games televised on MLB TV)

Today (Sept 9th)

Czech Republic @ Australia � in Prague

Spain @ South Africa � �in Barcelona

Tomorrow (Sept 10th)

Great Britain @ Japan � in Zagreb

Puerto Rico @ Cuba � in Barcelona

Canada @ South Korea � �in Sundbyberg

US @ Venezuela � �in Rgensburg

Friday Sept 11th

Cuba @ South Africa

Australia @ Taipei

Nicaragua @ Great Britain

Spain @ Puerto Rico

Netherlands Antilles @ Canada

US @ Germany

Saturday Sept 12th

Australia @ Mexico

China @ US

Croatia @ Great Britain

South Africa @ Puerto Rico

Sweden @ Canada

NOTES:

The Lynchburg Hillcats begin their playoffs tonight, with Justin Wilson on the mound.

Neil Walker had a pinch-hit single for the Pirates in last night's game, and he came around to score, forced in on a bases-loaded walk. �

Some batting stats:

Average: �Garrett Jones and Brian Myrow -- .307

�� � � Andrew McCutchen .303

Hits: �Brian Bixler -- 111

Doubles: �Neil Walker -- 31, �Erik Kratz -- 30

Triples: �Brian Bixler and Andrew McCutchen -- 8

Home Runs: �Neil Walker -- 14; �

RBI: �Neil Walker -- 69

Walks: Brian Myrow -- 43

Strikeouts: �Brian Bixler -- 128

Stolen Bases: Jeff Salazar -- 16 (with 0 times caught stealing)

Caught Stealing: Steve Pearce -- 7

A note about Brian Myrow -- �He joined the Indians in June, coming over from the Charlotte Knights, so his overall season stats reflect his total results for both teams. � His .419 OBP lead the International League, and that was the third season in a row that Myrow led his league (Pacific Coast League in 2007 and 2008) in OBP. �But, when broken down between the two teams....

In 62 games with the Indians, Myrow hit .330 and had a .448 OBP. �He had 68 hits in 62 games, with 12 doubles, a triple, and 8 homers, with 34 RBI. �He led the Indians with 43 walks (65 total for the season), and the next highest number of walks for the Indians was Brian Bixler with 35. �

Some Pitching Stats:

Wins: �Daniel McCutchen -- 13

Losses: Ty Taubenheim -- 9

Saves: �Chris Bootcheck -- 20

Innings Pitched: �Daniel McCutchen -- 142.2

ERA: � Starters: �Tom Gorzelanny -- 2.48 in 15 starts

�Relievers: �Mike Koplove: �2.35 in 22 appearances; �Jean Machi -- 2.12 in 13 appearances

Hits: �Eric Hacker -- 154

Home Runs: �Virgil Vasquez -- 14

Hit Batters: �Eric Hacker and Jason Davis -- 10

Walks: �Eric Hacker -- 50

Strikeouts: �Strikeouts -- Daniel McCutchen -- 110

WHIP: Chris Bootcheck -- 1.10 in 42.2 innings

��Tom Gorzelanny -- 1.18 in 87 innings

While Daniel McCutchen was named the Indians MVP, pitching coach Ray Searage says that Jeremy Powell was the most valuable member of his pitching staff. �Powell was used as a starter, a long reliever, and in short relief, and was a general workhorse for the Indians. �He made a total of 34 appearances with 10 starts. �His record was 4-7, with 2 saves, and a 3.74 ERA. �He pitched 98.2 innings, walked 26, and struck out 31.

Go Tribe!

C Kris Watts batted .291 (third in the Carolina League), with 21 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs, and 49 RBI this season. �He also led the Carolina League with his .405 on-base percentage. �Watts got the season started with an outstanding month of April, hitting .444 in 17 games, with 2 homers and 12 RBI. �He hit 7 RBI in June, and another 7 in July, when he had a .328 average. �Watts was on the Carolina League's mid-season All-Star team and played in the All-Star game against the California League All-Stars.�

Righty Matt McSwain made 25 starts for the Hillcats, along with 3 non-start appearances. �His 11-8 record gave him the second most wins in the Carolina League. �He also earned one save in relief. �McSwain posted a 3.43 ERA over a team-leading 144.1 innings, while allwoing 162 hits, 23 walks, and struck out 64 batters. �He won 5 games (no losses) in 6 starts in May, and in 5 starts in June, he posted a 1.82 ERA. �McSwain was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for August 16-23, when he threw a complete game shutout on the 23rd. �

RJ Rodriguez was the All-Star closer for the Hillcats, named to both the mid-season and post-season All-Star teams. �He made 47 appearances for Lynchburg, and led the Carolina League with 27 saves. �He also posted a 6-3 record and a 3.08 ERA. �In a total of 49.2 innings, he gave up 37 hits, 27 walks, and struck out 41 batters. �Opponents hit .214 against him. �He collected 7 of his saves in April and another 7 in August. �Rodriguez has joined the Puerto Rican team for the upcoming World Cup tournament.

The Indianapolis Indians snapped their longest losing streak of the season (5 games) with a come-from-behind win over the Louisville Bats at Slugger Field in Louisville, KY this afternoon. �In the season finale, the Tribe out-hit the Bats 12-8, and scored 4 unanswered runs in the late innings. �Four batters recorded two hits: �Brian Bixler, Tagg Bozied, Erik Kratz, and Robinzon Diaz. �Starter Eric Hacker�(photo) pitched 6 innings but did not factor into the decision. �Juan Mateo got the win in relief, and Jean Machi finished the season with his 6th save.�

In a bit of last-game-of-the-season fooling around, the Indians' batters all used the same bat, an all-black model, for the first 5 innings. �As each batter came out of the dugout, he was either handed the bat by the batter ahead of him, or picked it up from the ground near the plate, dusted it off, and proceeded to use it. �Unfortunately, the Black Bat was not a big help. �After going down in order in the top of the 1st, the Indians threatened in the 2nd inning. �3B Tagg Bozied walked, and C Erik Kratz moved him to second base with a line drive single into right field. �LF Hector Gimenez popped out. �Robinzon Diaz, in right field today, knocked a grounder that hit the third base bag and bounced high, coming down on the infield grass in front of Bats' 3B Juan Francisco. �The bounce was high enough to let Diaz reach first base safely, and the Indians had the bases loaded with one out. �But the Indians couldn't capitalize, as SS Chris Barnwell�(photo)�grounded to third base, where Francisco started an around-the-horn double play. �

Eric Hacker made his 20th start for the Indians' final game and he had some good innings and some innings that were more troublesome. �He worked his way out of a jam in the 1st inning. �With one out, rehabbing C Ryan Hanigan slipped a single through the hole and into right field. �Another rehabbing Cincinnati Reds player, RF Jay Bruce, slapped a grounder to third base which bounced off 3B Tagg Bozied's glove and into left field for a single. �Ryan Hanigan advanced to third base on the play. �Bruce stole second base, and the Bats had two runners in scoring position. �1B Wes Bankston, up next, worked a full count and fouled off two more pitches, but after that last foul swing, he stepped away from the plate, holding his lower left side. �He had to come out of the game due to an oblique muscle cramp, and Michael Griffin stepped in to complete the at-bat. �Griffin fouled off another pitch, �then swung at strike three -- the strikeout charged to Griffin. �Hacker finished the inning by striking out Juan Francisco, leaving the two runners in scoring position.

The Bats scored their first run in the 2nd inning. �LF/1B Danny Dorn blasted a high fly over the right field wall, which bounced on a picnic table and back onto the field, giving the Bats a 1-0 lead. �Hacker retired the other three batters in the 2nd without any trouble. �In the 3rd, he began by hitting CF Chris Heisey with the first pitch. �Heisey took his base, then stole second, but Hacker retired the next three batters in order, and Heisey did not move past second base. �Heisey remained in the game for awhile, but then came out. �Both Heisey and Bankston were later reported to be doing ok.

The Bats scored again in the 4th. �Juan Francisco blooped a double over the head of Brian Bixler, who had moved over to third base when 1B Jeff Clement left the game (Pedro Lopez took over at second base and Tagg Bozied moved to first base). �2B Todd Frazier followed with a single into left field, as Francisco advanced to third. �Hacker struck out Danny Dorn, but SS Chris Valaika lined a single into center field, and Francisco crossed the plate with the Bats' second run of the game. �Hacker settled down again, and retired the side in order in the 5th, and kept them scoreless despite two walks in the 6th. �

After threatening in the 2nd inning, the Indians' batters and the Black Bat posted only one hit over the next three innings -- a single by Brian Bixler (photo), who was then stranded on first base. �Robinzon Diaz worked a walk to lead off the 5th but was out on a force play at second base. �Finally in the 5th inning, when Brian Bixler came to the plate, he had a lighter colored bat, though he also grounded out. �

With the lighter colored bat, it was harder to tell if everyone was using the same one, but without the Black Bat, the Indians were able to score a run in the top of the 6th. �With two outs, three consecutive hits brought in the Tribe's first run --Tagg Bozied, Erik Kratz, and Hector Gimenez all singled into left field, and Gimenez's brought Bozied around from second base to score. �Robinzon Diaz walked, again loading the bases, but a strikeout by Chris Barnwell ended the inning. �The Indians had cut the lead to 2-1.

Larry Broadway (photo) came on to pinch hit for Eric Hacker to begin the 7th inning, and he ignited a rally with a double into right field. �Brian Bixler followed by sneaking a grounder through the hole into right field, moving Hacker to third base. �With runners on the corners, CF Jose Tabata bounced a grounder ri ght to second base, where SS Chris Valaika took a step to touch second base and completed the double play by throwing out Tabata at first. �But Broadway scored from third base on the play (no RBI for Tabata), to tie the game. �

The Indians were able to take advantage of a Bats' distraction and a Bats' error to score again in the 8th. �Tagg Bozied led off the 8th inning with a single. �Erik Kratz bounced to 2B Todd Frazier, who tried to tag Tagg as he ran by. �But Tagg stopped, reversed direction, and eluded the tag. �Frazier tried a second time to tag Tagg, instead of throwing on to first base. �Though he did get the tag on Tagg that second time, he had messed around long enough so that he did not have time to throw to first, and Kratz was safe at first on what could have been a double play. �Hector Gimenez walked, and Robinzon Diaz loaded the bases with a single. �That brought up Chris Barnwell with the bases loaded for the third time in the game. �

Barnwell grounded to third base, for what should again have been a double play. �3B Juan Francisco fielded the ball and threw to second, for the force out on Diaz, but Francisco's throw to second base was low and to the outfield side of the base, and that made 2B Todd Frazier rush his throw to first, so that that throw skipped away from 1B Danny Dorn. �Kratz scored from third base on the fielder's choice (can't assume a double play), and Gimenez scored on the throwing error, as the throw on the retrieved ball was also not on target. �The Indians had a 4-2 lead. �

Eric Hacker exited the game after 6 innings of work. �He allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, with 5 strikeouts. �He threw 100 pitches (64 strikes). �Hacker was hoping that this was not his last appearance for 2009 -- and as the game is finishing up, there is word that he will be �called up to finish the season with the Pirates. �

Juan Mateo (photo above) came on to pitch the bottom of the 7th inning, and he retired the side in order. �In the bottom of the 8th, he gave up a single to Jay Bruce, but then got Michael Griffin to ground into an around-the-horn double play (Bixler to Lopez to Bozied) to end the inning.�

The Tribe got back-to-back singles from Jose Tabata and Pedro Lopez in the top of the 9th, but they did not come around to score.�

Jean Machi�(photo) took the mound for the bottom of the 9th as the Bats made one last effort to regain the lead. �With two outs, Danny Dorn singled just past Tagg Bozied and into right field. �But Machi struck out Chris Valaika to end the inning, the game, and the Indians' 2009 season. �

The Indians finish the season with a 70 -73 record (they had one game cancelled due to wet grounds in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in June). �They had a .500 record at Victory Field (36-36), and a 34 - 37 record on the road, finishing in third place in the International League West Division, 2.5 games behind second place Toledo and 14.5 games behind first place Louisville. �Columbus came in 4th, 26.5 games behind Louisville. �

Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Two singles by Tagg Bozied (photo), one igniting the rally in the 6th inning, and the second getting things started in the 9th inning. �

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �Two late-inning double plays, which kept the Bats from interfering with the Indians' late-inning rallies. �In the 6th, Michael Griffin walked, and Juan Francisco hit a sharp liner right back to Eric Hacker on the mound. �Griffin had taken off for second base, so when Hacker fired the ball to first base, he was easily doubled off. �In the 8th inning, after Jay Bruce singled, Griffin was the one who started the double play -- he grounded to Brian Bixler at third, who started the 5-4-3 twin killing. �

NOTES:

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting (as of 4:05 pm) that Eric Hacker, Brian Bixler, and Robinzon Diaz will be joining the Pirates tomorrow. �Also, rehabbing pitchers Jeff Karstens and Donnie Veal (who has been with the Altoona Curve) will come off the disabled list and rejoin the Pirates. �No "formal announcement" until tomorrow.

In the post-game interview, Tagg Bozied said that the Tribe had indeed been using the same bat through the first few innings. �The Black Bat was chosen by manager Frank Kremblas. �But, after 5 innings, the bat boy (who was from Louisville) pointed out that the Tribe batters had made just 3 hits with the Black Bat. �At that point, they switched over to using their own bats, and they recorded 9 hits over the remaining 4 innings. �

Stay tuned.....

The minor league season is over.... but that's not the end of baseball. �We still have more baseball to follow with our Pirates' farmhands and friends: �

*Our former Indians who are now with the Pirates will be playing for another month or so.

*Team USA begins play in the World Cup tournament on Thursday, in Regensburg, Germany. �The World Cup tournament lasts through Sept 27th. �Pirates' farmhands Pedro Alvarez and Brad Lincoln are members of Team USA. � Other Pirates' farmhands in the tournament include Dustin Molleken (Canada), Gift Ngoepe (South Africa),�RJ Rodriguez (Puerto Rico), and�maybe Brett Willemburg (South Africa), .

*The Arizona Fall League begins play on October 13th and runs until the third week of November. �The Scottsdale Scorpions team will include some Pirates' players: �Danny Moskos, Donnie Veal, Tony Watson, Chase d'Arnaud, Brian Friday, and Jose Tabata.

*The Winter Leagues - - Mexican Pacific League, Venezuelan League, Dominican League, and maybe Puerto Rican League -- begin play in October and run until the end of December or the first week of January, depending on the league. �Brian Bixler is expected to play for at least part of the season in Mexico, but no specific roster announcements yet. �There are usually some North American players taking part, as well as many Latin players. �

And, just in case you think that you're the only one counting: �there are 212 days until the Indians' 2010 Opening Day!

Go Tribe!

[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]