PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

Also being promoted from the Power to the Hillcats is Dominican native Starling Marte. �Marte, who will turn 21 next month, began the season with two games for the Gulf Coast League Bradenton Pirates, then moved up the the Power. �In 54 games in West Virginia he has hit .312, with 9 doubles, 5 triples, 2 homers, and 37 RBI. �He has also stolen 24 bases and has been caught stealing only 7 times. �Marte also had a big month of July, hitting . 312, with 13 of his stolen bases. �

Both Sanchez and Marte will be eligible to participate in Carolina League playoffs with the Hillcats. �

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.

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. �

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. �

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. �

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. �

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.

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]

Tim Alderson had a disappointing last start of what was otherwise a very favorable season, as he gave up 7 runs on 11 hits and 3 walks over 5 innings of work suffering his first loss as a member of the Pirates' organization. �The Mets scored in four of the first five innings, and the Curve could not catch up. �A single and a double brought in the first run in the 1st inning, and a 2-run homer made it 3-0 after the 2nd inning. �A 2-out double and an RBI single scored another run in the 4th inning. �The 5th inning began with 2 walks and 3 singles, scoring 2 runs before an out was recorded. �An RBI grounder plated the third run of the inning. �An intentional walk setup the double play that ended the inning and Alderson's night. �

Jared Hughes relieved Alderson in the 6th and pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing only a lead-off single in the 6th, then retiring the next 6 batters. �Scott Nestor pitched the final inning, and gave up a single, though eliminated that runner with a double play. �

The Curve posted 12 hits but were able to score only 2 runs. �SS Brian Friday led the offense with a 4-for-4 night. �With one out in the 4th inning, RF Jonel Pacheco doubled into center field. �1B MIles Durham and Friday both singled, and Pacheco scored the Curve's first run (RBI for Durham). �Friday collected an RBI in the 8th inning, when the Curve again scored on a double and two singles. �Pacheco led off the 8th with his second double, and Durham moved him to third with a single. �Friday plated Pacheco with an RBI single up the middle.�

The Curve threatened in the 5th inning, when Tim Alderson singled, went to second on a ground out, and on to third on 2B Shelby Ford's single. �A pop out ended that inning. �The Curve also had two runners on base in the 9th inning, when C Milver Reyes walked and Shelby Ford singled again. �They were both left on base when two strikeouts ended the game. �

The Hillcats scored early, but let the Red Sox chip away at their lead and finally take the win as they began their last series of the season. �The 'Cats were held to just 4 hits in the game. �

LF Jared Keel began the 2nd inning rally with a walk, and he went to second base when CF Alex Presley singled. �C Eric Fryer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. �A wild pitch scored Keel, and 2B Jose De Los Santos hit a grounder to first, scoring Presley. �That was all the scoring the Hillcats would do. �They put a few runners on base with hit batters (RF Jamie Romak, SS Chase d'Arnaud), a fielding error (Romak) and a walk (1B Matt Hague). �Hague singled in the 1st inning, and the other two Hillcats' runs came in the 9th, when pinch hitter Kent Sakamoto and�Fryer�both hit 2-out singles. �Each time, the inning ended without a run scoring.�

Starter Bryan Morris pitched 6.2 innings and allowed all 3 of the Salem runs, on 10 hits and 2 walks, with one strikeout. �The Red Sox answered the Hillcats' 2 runs in the top of the 4th with one run of their one in the bottom of the inning, on back-to-back doubles. �They tied the game at 2-2 in the 5th, on a walk, a single, two wild pitches, and an RBI grounder. �In the 7th, a walk and a fielder's choice put runners on first and second bases, and an RBI single plated the lead runner with the winning run. �

Brett Lorin earned his 3rd win with the Power, pitching 5 scoreless innings. � He breezed through those 5, scattering 4 hits, and striking out 6 batters. �Duke Welker pitched 2 innings and gave up the only Greensboro run, on a walk and a triple. �Alan Knotts, just back up from the State College Spikes, allowed just one hit in the final two scoreless innings, with 4 strikeouts. �

3B Bobby Spain posted 3 hits in the contest. �He singled in the 2nd inning, but was out on a double play, and singled again in the 7th, but was left on base. �RF Austin McClune scored the first Power run in the 4th inning with a solo homer. �In the 5th inning, back-to-back singles by CF Robbie Grossman and LF Quincy Latimore opened the inning. �DH Calvin Anderson bounced into a double play which erased Latimore but moved Grossman to third. �Spain picked up an RBI with second single of the game, as Grossman came in to score. �

The Spikes were held to just two hits, both doubles, neither of which contributed to their one run. �RF David Rubinstein doubled to lead off the 2nd inning. �He progressed to third base on a grounder, but was out at the plate on a fielder's choice when 2B Elevys Gon zalez tapped back to the mound. � DH Justin Byler opened the 4th inning with another double, and went to third on a passed ball, but was left there at the end of the inning. �SS Brock Holt reached walked to lead off the game, but was also left stranded. �

Twelve Spikes' batters were retired after Byler's double. �The 8th inning began with two errors by the Crosscutters. �A missed catch error put Elevys Gonzalez on base. �A fielding error let C Craig Parry reach safely, and sent Gonzalez to third base. �Brock Holt grounded to first, driving in Gonzalez with the Spikes' only run. �

Victor Black took the loss, his second, allowing 2 runs (one earned) on 2 hits and a walk over 3 innings. �A walk, a wild pitch, a fielding error by Holt, and a double steal scored the Crosscutters' first run in the 3rd inning, and an RBI single brought in the second run. �Tyler Cox pitched the next 3 innings, and he also gave up 2 runs (both earned) on back-to-back doubles, a hit batter, and two wild pitches. �Brandon Holden and Mike Williams both pitched scoreless innings to finish the game for the Spikes. �

The Indianapolis Indians got a stellar pitching performance from starter Ty Taubenheim (photo) tonight at Victory Field, but like last night, they did not capitalize on scoring opportunities and they made critical mistakes in the field. �This time it was the Louisville Bats who walked away with the win, and Taubenheim who got no decision. �

Taubenheim was working on just three days' rest instead of the usual four. �You wouldn't have known from watching him, though. �He needed only 69 pitches (45 strikes) to go 5 scoreless innings. �He gave up 3 hits, no walks, and struck out 3 batters. �

Taubenheim retired the first 8 batters he faced. �That took him to the top of the 3rd inning with two outs. �With a 2-1 count on the Mud Hens' pitcher Travis Wood, just as Taubenheim finished throwing the second ball, the lights flickered out at Victory Field. �Blamed on a power surge, the scoreboards, the jumbotron video board, the concourse lights, and the stadium lights all went dark. �The game halted, because while it is still mostly light out at about 7:38 pm in Indianapolis in early September, it was dark enough on the field that it would have been too hard for the batters to see the ball. �The Indians stood around on the field for a few minutes (photo: C�Erik Kratz and Ty Taubenheim wait on the mound), but eventually retreated to their dugout to wait out the delay. �After about 16 minutes, the stadium lights came back on, and play resumed. �

It wasn't too bad for Taubenheim, who treated the delay as if it were just the bottom half of another inning. �It was a little tougher for Bats' pitcher Travis Wood, who had to complete his at-bat, and then had to act as if he had been waiting out a very long half inning with his team at bat. �

When play resumed with Wood at the plate, he hit the first pitch he saw to third base, where Robinzon Diaz, on third tonight, had the ball hit his glove on the back-handed attempt, and then roll behind Diaz. �Wood was safe at first, though the error turned out to be moot, as Taubenheim struck out LF Luis Bolivar looking on three pitches to end the inning. �

[Photo: �Argenis Diaz catches a pop up]

The first hit Taubenheim gave up came in the 4th inning, and it was a trickly little grounder that wound its way to the left side of the mound and around behind it. �SS Argenis Diaz came charging in, but couldn't get the bare-handed pick up in time, and rehabbing Bats' catcher Ryan Hanigan was safe at first. �But Taubenheim was unfazed. �He got another rehabbing Bat, RF Jay Bruce, to ground to second base, where 2B Pedro Lopez started a 4-6-3 double play (Lopez to Argenis Diaz to 1B Hector Gimenez). �In fact, Taubenheim was largely unimpressed by the two rehabbing Bats (from the Cincinnati Reds). �He gave up that little hit to Hanigan, but got him to ground out in two other at-bats, and he retired Bruce on that double play grounder and two easy fly outs. �

Taubenheim gave up two more hits, both in the 5th inning. �With two outs, SS Chris Valaika and CF Lew Ford stroked back-to-back singles into just about the same spot in left-center field. �Taubenheim ended the inning with a pop out by Travis Wood, leaving both base runners stranded. �

The Indians' batters put runners on base in every inning but two. �They posted a total of 10 hits, with each position player in the line-up but one collecting at least one hit. �CF Brian Bixler got things started with a slow infield grounder to third base. �The speedy Bixler was able to beat out the throw from 3B Juan Francisco. �Pedro Lopez dropped down a perfect bunt, to move Bixler on to second base. �RF Jose Tabata laced a double into the right-center field alley, which bounced off the warning track and to the base of the wall, as Bixler raced around from second base to score (photo). �

The Indians held that 1-0 lead for the next six innings, but could not add to it. �They put one base runner on base with a single in each of the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th innings (Robinzon Diaz, Jose Tabata, Hector Gimenez, and Pedro Lopez) but each time left the runners on base. �In fact, only Robinzon Diaz, in the 2nd inning, was able to progress as far as second base. �

The Tribe's best chance to score again came in the 4th inning. �This was the point at which Travis Wood had just been waiting out the power-surge delay and had been at the plate and on base. �Erik Kratz led off with a line drive single into left field. �After a strikeout by Robinzon Diaz, Hector Gimenez grounded a single through the hole and into left field. �Argenis Diaz followed with a grounder deep to short. �Bats' SS Chris Valaika was able to keep the ball from getting through and into left field, but he came up off -balance and his throw to first base was wide. �The Tribe had the bases loaded and one out -- and could not capitalize. �Ty Taubenheim (photo, at the plate) lifted a short fly ball into right field, too shallow for Kratz to tag up and score from third base. �Brian Bixler was up next. �He worked the count full, and then swung and missed at strike three, and all three base runners were left on base. �

After Taubenheim's performance, another rehabbing major leaguer, Jeff Karstens (photo),�entered the game for the Indians. � Karstens, working his way back from a lower back strain, pitched 2 innings. �He retired the Bats in order in the 6th, then worked out of a jam in the 7th. �With one out, a strikeout on 1B Wes Bankston, Karstens gave up singles to Juan Francisco and 2B Todd Frazier. �Chris Valaika grounded a slow roller to short, where Argenis Diaz had to work around the base umpire and Francisco as he ran past. �He had time to get the force out of Frazier at second base, leaving runners on the corners. �An infield pop up ended the inning without a run scoring. �

Jorge Julio took over for Karstens to begin the 8th inning, and that's when the wheels fell off. �Like many bad innings, it began with a lead-off walk, to C Chris Denove, who had entered the game in a double-switch. �Luis Bolivar dropped down a sacrifice bunt on the first-base side of the infield. �1B Hector Gimenez charged in to scoop the ball, but instead of throwing to first for the sacrifice, he tried to get the lead runner, Denove, who was going into second base. �Gimenez's (photo) throw was off-balance,�

and it glanced off Argenis Diaz's glove and into center field. �Brian Bixler was backing up and the ball didn't get far, so Denove did not advance further. �The play was ruled a sacrifice bunt for Bolivar and a fielder's choice. � RF Michael Griffin, who had also entered the game in the double-switch, put down another sacrifice bunt, right in front of the plate. �This time, Erik Kratz jumped out from behind the plate, but missed the bare-handed pick-up of the ball, and all three runners were safe. �That play was ruled a sacrifice and an error on Kratz. �With the bases loaded and no outs, pinch-hitter Danny Dorn drilled a double down the right field line and into the corner, driving in Denove and Bolivar to give the Bats the tying and the go-ahead runs. �When Julio threw a wild pitch, Griffin also scored, and Dorn advanced to third base. �After a ground out, Juan Francisco singled into left field, and Dorn came across the plate with the fourth run of the inning. �The inning ended when Todd Frazier bounced to short, and Argenis Diaz started a 6-4-3 (Argenis Diaz to Pedro Lopez to Hector Gimenez) double play. �Julio allowed one more hit in the top of the 9th, but got two strikeouts to keep the Bats from scoring again. �

The Indians got one of the runs back in the bottom of the 8th. �Erik Kratz worked a one-out walk, and then surprised the Bats by stealing second base. �It was Kratz's 7th stolen base of the season, giving him more stolen bases this season than he has had all totalled for the rest of his career. �The steal put Kratz into scoring position for Robinzon Diaz, who singled into left-center field, scoring Kratz. �A double play erased Diaz to end the inning, and the Tribe went down in order in their last chance in the bottom of the 9th. �

The loss drops the Indians down below the .500 mark again. �

Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Jose Tabata's RBI double in the 1st inning, which plated Brian Bixler for the first run of the game.

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �Brian Bixler has now played quite a few games in center field for the Indians, and he's making it look like he belongs there. �He made a number of plays in center look fairly routine. �And then, in the 3rd inning, he made a spectacular catch of a long fly ball off the bat of Chris Valaika. �Bixler had to run back and to his left, going into the alley in right-center. �He made the catch still running, with his glove hand (left) extended, on the warning track, then ran into the wall and rolled off on the bounce.�

Photos: �

Yoslan Herrera made a pinch-hitting appearance in the 7th inning (and struck out)..... Jean Machi watches from the dugout

NOTES:

The Indians are auctioning off their game-worn black alternate jerseys. �Go to the auction site and make your bids! �The auction will be going on for the next week. �Can you guess whose jersey has the most bids so far? �(answer below)

Jon Meloan, who was Designated for Assignment by the Pirates last week, was claimed off waivers by the Oakland A's, and assigned to AAA Sacramento in the Pacific Coast League. �

How many positions can Chris Barnwell play? �He has played all around the infield and in the outfield for the Indians, and he has made two pitching appearances for the Tribe. �And tonight, he was wearing catching gear and working as the bullpen catcher.

Speaking of bullpen catchers... that's the answer to the question -- bullpen catcher Ryan Lewis' (photo, wearing the jersey in question) jersey has the most bids so far (8 as of just now). � A few other players' jerseys have one or two bi ds. �

Go Tribe!

[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]

The Curve were shut out in their last home game of the season, despite out-scoring Akron 9-7. �RF Jonel Pacheco and LF Jeff Corsaletti each had 2 hits, and C Milver Reyes added a double, but the Curve left 13 base runners stranded. �Pacheco's hits extended his hitting streak to 8 games, and his multi-hit game streak to 7.

The Curve put runners on base in all but two innings, and had runners reach third base four times. �In the 1st, SS Brian Friday walked and Jonel Pacheco singled. �A grounder force out by 1B Miles Durham put runners on the corners before another ground out ended the inning. �A single by Jeff Corsaletti and Milver Reyes' double put two runners in scoring position in the 2nd inning. �A walk by Reyes, a single by Friday and a missed catch error on Pacheco loaded the bases in the 5th. �Both of those innings ended with a strikeout. �The Curve loaded the bases again in the 6th, on a walk to DH Jason Delaney and singles by 2B Shelby Ford and Jeff Corsaletti. �A pitching change and a double play ended that threat. �

Starter Kyle Bloom took the loss for the Curve, going 6.2 innings and allowing all 4 of the Aeros' hits (7) and runs (4). �He breezed through the first three innings, but gave up 3 runs in the 4th inning on a single, back-to-back triples, and a sacrifice fly. �The 5th and 6th innings were again no problem, then Bloom opened the 7th inning with a single, a pop out, a walk, a fly out, and an RBI single, to give Akron their fourth hit. �Moises Robles relieved Bloom and retired all 4 batters he faced, then Ramon Aguero pitched the 9th inning and also retired the side in order. �

The Curve have announced two end-of-season awards: �Pedro Alvarez is the Curve 2009 MVP, and Yoslan Herrera is the Curve 2009 Pitcher of the Year. �

Jenifer Langosch has a story about Gorkys Hernandez on the Pirates' mlb site. �

A loss to Kannapolis eliminated the Power's chances for a playoff spot and handed Kannapolis the North Division crown. �

The Power held a 3-1 lead for most of the game. �Kannapolis had scored one run in the 1st inning on two walks and an RBI single befor the Power put up 3 runs in the 3rd, with singles by SS Adenson Chourio, �CF Starling Marte, C Tony Sanchez, DH Calvin Anderson, and RF Quincy Latimore. �Sanchez, Anderson, and Latimore picked up the RBI. �The next 15 Power batters were retired in order, though. �1B�Kyle Morgan singled in the 9th inning, but was left on base.�

Quinton Miller pitched 6 innings for the Power, allowing only that run in the 1st on 2 hits and 3 walks, with 4 strikeouts. �Diego Moreno relieved Miller to begin the 7th inning. �He was charged with a Blown Save and then the loss, as he gave up 2 runs in the 7th, on a two hit batters, a walk, and a 2-RBI single. �A solo home run gave Kannapolis an insurance run in the 8th. �

Bobby Spain's single in the 2nd inning extended his hitting streak to 11 games, and Tony Sanchez extended his on-base streak to 19 games. �

The Hillcats took advantage of 4 errors by the P-Nats and posted 11 hits, as they took the win and seriously damaged Potomac's hopes for getting a playoff spot.�

Starter Rudy Owens had not allowed a home run since his promotion from West Virginia, but he broke that streak tonight, giving up 3 solo home runs over the first two innings. The Hillcats responded with 2 runs in each of the 2nd and 3rd innings. �C Kris Watts led off the 2nd with a walk. �LF Alex Presley brought Watts in with a triple into right field, his league-leading 10th triple of the season. �Presley scored on CF Jose De Los Santos' RBI single. �Two throwing errors helped the 'Cats score in the 3rd inning. �2B Chase d'Arnaud was hit by a pitch, stole second base, and moved on to third base on SS Jordy Mercer's ground out. �D'Arnaud scored when a throwing error by the Potomac shortstop let DH Jamie Romak reach base safely. �Kris Watts singled, and another throwing error, this one by the Potomac second baseman, let Romak score, and gave the Hillcats a 4-3 lead. �

The Hillcats took a more definitive lead in the 5th inning, as they batted around. �Chase d'Arnaud led off with a single, 3B Josh Harrison doubled, and Jordy Mercer singled to score d'Arnaud with the first run. �Jamie Romak grounded into a force out, scoring Harrison. �Kris Watts' 6th home run of the season scored two runs, and mom ents later, another homer by 1B Kent Sakamoto made it 5 runs in the inning. �The 'Cats added two more runs in the 6th, beginning with singles by d'Arnaud and Harrison. �A wild pitch moved both into scoring position, and Mercer's sacrifice fly plated d'Arnaud. �Harrison scored when a pickoff throw went wild for another error. �

Chris Cullen pitched three innings after Owens' three. �He gave up 3 runs as the P-Nats tried to battle back after the Hillcat's 5-run inning. �Cullen hit the first batter he faced. �After two ground outs, a two singles put runners on the corners, and another single brought both runners in. �Mike Colla pitched two 1-2-3 innings, and Ronald Uviedo added a scoreless 9th to finish the game. �Colla earned the win, his 6th of the season. �

The Spikes scored early and late, as they held the Crosscutters to just 4 hits and one run. �Mike Felix earned his first win with the Spikes, though he allowed the only run in the 7th. �Felix faced only one batter over the minimum for the first 3 innings he pitched -- a runner reached on a fielding error by SS Brock Holt. �In the 7th inning, back-to-back doubles scored that one run.�

Brent Klinger pitched 3 hitless and scoreless innings, allowing 2 walks, to begin the game for the Spikes. �Ricardo Paulino finished up with 2 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits. �

The Spikes jumped onto the scoreboard with 2 runs in the top of the 1st. �Brock Holt walked, CF Evan Chambers reached on a fielding error, and DH Justin Byler brought both of them in with a line drive double into left field. �Holt walked again to spark the rally in the 3rd inning. �Chambers singled, and 1B Aaron Baker plated Holt with an RBI single. �Baker stole second base, putting two runners into scoring position for RF David Rubinstein. �Rubinstein drove another liner into left field, scoring two more runs. �

Things were quiet over the next several innings, though the Spikes worked 3 walks, and added a single by Brock Holt in the 7th. �In the top of the 9th, Brock Holt again got a rally going, this time with a double into right field. �Evan Chambers also doubled, scoring Holt. �A fielding error moved Chambers to third as Justin Byler reached base safely. �Aaron Baker walked to load the bases, and David Rubinstein brought in both Chambers and Byler with his second 2-RBI double of the game. �

Two errors leading to two runs and missed opportunities by the Indians all but handed the game to the Toledo Mud Hens tonight at Victory Field. �Starter Eric Hacker (photo, with catcher Erik Kratz) matched his season-high 7 innings of work and allowed one unearned run, but did not factor into the decision. �RF Jose Tabata led the offense with two hits, a single and a triple. �

Hacker often struggles in the first few innings of his starts, but tonight it was not so much of a problem for him. �He walked former Indy Indian (2007) CF Don Kelly in the first inning, and gave up a single to 1B Max Leon in the 2nd inning, but left both runners stranded. �Hacker was helped out by a very nice catch by Jose Tabata on a fly ball off the bat of Mud Hens' 2B Scott Sizemore in the 1st inning. �

Two errors leading to two runs and missed opportunities by the Indians all but handed the game to the Toledo Mud Hens tonight at Victory Field. �Starter Eric Hacker (photo, with catcher Erik Kratz) matched his season-high 7 innings of work and allowed one unearned run, but did not factor into the decision. �RF Jose Tabata led the offense with two hits, a single and a triple. �

Hacker often struggles in the first few innings of his starts, but tonight it was not so much of a problem for him. �He walked former Indy Indian (2007) CF Don Kelly in the first inning, and gave up a single to 1B Max Leon in the 2nd inning, but left both runners stranded. �Hacker was helped out by a very nice catch by Jose Tabata on a fly ball off the bat of Mud Hens' 2B Scott Sizemore in the 1st inning. �

Noah Krol earned the win in his Hillcats (and A+ level) debut, as his teammates scored early, and then held off the Nationals to preserve the win. �

2B Chase d'Arnaud got the Hillcats off to a good start with a double to begin the game, and SS Jordy Mercer brought both of them in with a 2-run homer. �D'Arnaud began a 3rd inning rally with a single, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Mercer's RBI single. �D'Arnaud and Mercer let someone else do the scoring in the 4th inning -- C Eric Fryer doubled, and he scored on CF Jose De Los Santos' RBI single. �The Lynchburg offense was quiet after that inning, though. �The only hit after the 4th inning was a single by De Los Santos in the 7th inning. �LF Erik Huber walked and Fryer was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base in the 9th inning, but both were left on base when the inning ended. �

Justin Wilson made the start for the Hillcats. �He pitched 4 scoreless innings, allowing 2 singles and 4 walks. �He started the 5th inning with a walk, and an RBI double, and was relieved by Noah Krol. �Krol threw a wild pitch, moving a runner to third, and that runner scored on a ground out (run charged to Wilson). �Krol also pitched a scoreless 6th, allowing only a double. �

Tom Boleska pitched 2 innings, and allowed a run in the 8th, on a double, a wild pitch, and an RBI ground out. �Matt McSwain pitched a scoreless 9th, earning his first save of the season.�