PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

Yoslan Herrera arrived at Victory Field just about 2 hours before game time, but it was plenty of time for him. �Herrera earned his second AAA victory, and his first this year, as he combined with relievers Jeff Sues and Jean Machi to shut out the Toledo Mud Hens tonight at Victory Field. �

Herrera looked like he'd been here all season. �He needed only 89 pitches to get through 5.1 innings, as he scattered 3 hits and 2 walks. �Over the first three innings, Herrera allowed only one base runner, Mud Hens' 3B Mike Hessman, who walked to lead off the 2nd inning. �The first hit he allowed came in the 4th inning, also to Hessman, and that was just a dribbly little swinging bunt that wobbled down the third base line as Herrera and 3B Robinzon Diaz didn't touch it, hoping it would go foul (it didn't). �

Herrera allowed two base runners in the 5th inning, when with 2 outs, 1B Max Leon lined a single into left field and SS Audy Ciriaco (just promoted from class A) slipped a grounder just past the diving 2B Brian Bixler for another single. �Herrera got out of the jam when Toledo's 2B Will Rhymes drove a screaming line drive down the first base line and right into the glove of 1B Larry Broadway. �

Herrera began the 6th inning with a strikeout, but then walked former Indy Indian (2007) CF Don Kelly. �That was the end of Herrera's night, and he sat in the dugout to watch the rest of the contest. �Jeff Sues came in from the bullpen to face Mike Hessman. �While Hessman was at the plate, Kelly tried to steal second base, but was gunned down by C Erik Kratz for the second out of the inning. �Sues walked Hessman, but then got RF Brent Clevlen to line out to SS Argenis Diaz, who made a perfectly-timed leap to snatch the ball out of the air. �

Meanwhile, the Indians' batters were quiet through the first three innings as well. �They too had only one base runner over those three innings, as CF Jeff Salazar took a 4-pitch walk in the bottom of the 1st inning. �They got busy in the 4th inning. �With one out, RF Jose Tabata (photo),�who had entered the game in the 2nd inning to replace Brian Myrow, lifted a long fly ball off the wall in the right-center field alley, for a double. �LF Tagg Bozied walked, and Larry Broadway followed with a single through the hole and into right field, driving in Tabata with the first run of the game. �The throw in to the plate from right field was on time and to the plate, but Tabata slid wide around Mud Hens' C Dane Sardinha to avoid the tag, then reached back in to touch the plate with his left hand behind Sardinha. �DH Hector Gimenez grounded to third base, where Mike Hessman made the scoop and fired to second, forcing out Broadway, but between Broadway's slide disrupting Hens' 2B Will Rhymes and the grounder moving slowly enough, Gimenez was able to beat out the throw to first base, allowing Bozied to cross the plate. �

The Indians added another run in the 6th inning. �Jose Tabata led off with a walk. �Tagg Bozied (photo) followed with a long fly ball into the right-center field alley, to the base of the wall. �Mud Hens CF Don Kelly and RF Brent Clevlen converged, and it appeared that the ball glanced off Kelly's glove -- and then he had trouble picking it up. �Bozied was safe at second base with a double, no error charged, and Tabata sped around from first base to score the insurance run. �Larry Broadway came close to adding two more runs, with another long fly, but this one was caught by Kelly on the warning track in center field, missing a home run but not by much. �Bozied tagged up and advanced to third base. �The Mud Hens elected to intentionally walk Hector Gimenez, hoping to set up a double play. �This time the Indians did just as the Hens hoped -- Erik Kratz bounced to third base, and Mike Hessman began the 5-4-3 double play. �The Tribe had a 3-0 lead, and that was all they'd need.

The Indians put base runners on in each of the next two innings, but were not able to score again. �Brian Bixler (photo) reached in the 7th on an error by the Mud Hens' SS Audy Ciriaco, when the ball bounced off his glove and into left field. �In the 8th, Tagg Bozied grounded up the middle for a single, and Larry Broadway followed with a grounder to third base that took a weird hop up and over Mike Hessman's shoulder. �Ciriaco was in perfect position backing up Hessman, and he was able to catch the ball as it came down from the hop, but it wasn't in time to throw out Broadway. �Both were left on base, though, as a fly out and a pop up ended th e inning. �

After he finished the 6th inning for Yoslan Herrera, Jeff Sues pitched two perfect innings. �Jean Machi came on to pitch a perfect 9th inning, earning his 5th save with the Indians. �

The Indians posted a total of 5 hits in the game, with Tagg Bozied and Larry Broadway claiming two hits each. �Jose Tabata had the other hit. �Brian Bixler had a 15-game hitting streak going when he was called up to the Pirates at the end of July, but that streak ended (either back then or today, depending on your point of view) when Bixler went hitless tonight (a walk, two strikeouts, and reached on an error). �

One bit of bad news, and it isn't clear how bad: �in the top of the 2nd inning, in the middle of Dane Sardinha's at-bat, Sardinha lined a ball down the right field line that sliced foul. �Brian Myrow, playing right field, turned to chase after the ball, but took one step and came up limping and unable to stand on his right leg. �It's not clear what had caused the problem -- he didn't trip or stumble or fall. �Trainer Jose Ministral came to check him out, and Myrow limped off the field. �No word at this point as to what he had injured or how bad it is.

[Photo above: �Jeff Salazar and Brian Myrow]

The win puts the Indians one game above .500 for the second time this season. �

Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: �Two doubles: �#1 by Jose Tabata which got the Indians' rally started in the 4th inning; �#2 by Tagg Bozied in the 6th inning, which drove in Tabata from first base with the Indians' third run. �Bozied was interviewed after the game, and he said that he'd "figured he was going to try to pitch me into a double play with a fastball. �Fortunately, I was able to get a pitch up. �I got a pretty good swing on it, and luckily, Tabata can really run."

Indians' Defensive Gems of the Game: �Three leaping plays. �In the top of the 1st, Scott Sizemore hit a high chopper that bounced in front of the plate and up over the mound. �Pitcher Yoslan Herrera made a huge leap from the top of the mound to snatch the ball out of the air, then landed back on the mound and fire to first base for the out. �Then, in the top of the 3rd, Herrera did it again. �This time it was Audy Ciriaco who hit the high chop, and Herrera again made a leap and took the ball out of the air. �Argenis Diaz made the leap in the 6th inning. �With two outs and a runner on first base, Brent Clevlen hit a line drive that seemed destined for left field. �Diaz saw the ball coming at him, timed his leap perfectly, and came down with the ball in his mitt for the third out of the inning. �

NOTES:

Neil Walker made his major league debut tonight with the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cincinnati. �He made a pinch-hit appearance for starter Charlie Morton in the 6th inning. �Walker grounded a 2-1 pitch toward second base, where Reds' 2B Brandon Phillips made a diving stop, and then threw from his knees to first base, robbing Walker of a hit. �

Erik Kratz was named to the International League Post-Season All-Star team. �He leads all IL catchers with 11 homers and 42 RBI. � Don Kelly was named the All-Star team's Utility Player, as he played mostly outfield, but also all over the infield this year for the Mud Hens.�

Shelly Duncan of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees was named the IL's MVP, leading the league in home runs (29) and RBI (92) with just a week left to go. � �

Brian Myrow was named the International League Player of the Week for last week. �Myrow went 15-for-25 (.600) last week, with 3 homers and 13 RBI. �He has hit .356 for the month of August, and .332 since joining the Indians in June. �He has 8 home runs with the Indians and 34 RBI. �

The Pirates have acquired LHP�Bobby Livingston�from the Cleveland Indians. �Livingston is a 26-year old who was the Mariners' 4th round draft pick in 2001. �He moved up through the Mariners' organization, reaching AAA Tacoma in 2005, and making his major league debut with the Mariners in 2006 (3 games). �Livingston was claimed off waivers by the Reds at the end of 2006, and pitched for Cincinnati and AAA Louisville in 2007, until he suffered a torn labrum in August of that year. �He worked his way back in 2008, with a few games at the Gulf Coast League level and the A+ level, then 9 starts with Louisville. �This season, Livingston has split his time between 4 teams: �AA Bowie and AAA Norfolk in the Orioles' organization, and AA Akron and one game with AAA Columbus in the Cleveland organization. � Most recently, he has been with Akron, where he's made 9 starts, going 56.1 innings for a 2-5 record and a 5.59 ERA. �He has allowed 59 hits, 11 walks, and 23 strikeouts. �Livingston was in the Indians' dugout this evening.

Go Tribe!

[Photos by Nancy Zinni-- MVN]

Three runs in the top of the 12th by the Aeros broke a tie that had lasted for 5 innings, and gave Akron the win. �With Scott Nestor on the mound and one out, a single, a walk, and a double brought in two runs, and a sacrifice fly added a third run. �The Curve went down in order in the bottom of the frame. �

Akron had scored first, way back in the 1st inning, on two walks, two stolen bases, and a sacrifice fly off the rehabbing Donnie Veal. �Veal retired the side in order in the 2nd inning, but in the 3rd inning he loaded the bases with a single, a walk, a wild pitch, and another walk. �Derek Hankins relieved Veal and got out of the jam with a strikeout and a pop out. �

The Curve took the lead with a run in each of three innings. �Wildness on the part of Akron pitcher Connor Graham helped the Curve in the 2nd, 1B Miles Durham singled, went to second base on a wild pitch, and scored on 3B Ray Chang's RBI single. �2B Shelby Ford grounded into a force out and replaced Chang at first base. �Another wild pitch and a passed ball moved Ford to second and then to third base. �C Steve Lerud was hit by a pitch, and he stole second base, giving the Curve two runners in scoring position. �A ground out ended the inning without further scoring, though. �

A single by CF Gorkys Hernandez and a double by RF Jonel Pacheco added another run in the 3rd inning. �In the 5th, Pacheco tripled, and came across the plate on Miles Durham's RBI single. �That was all the scoring the Curve would do. �They had only one base runner over the next four innings, when DH Jason Delaney walked in the 7th. �In the 10th, the Curve put two runners on base, with a single by Delaney and a walk to Ray Chang, but they couldn't get them to score. �

Derek Hankins pitched a total of 6.1 innings, and had trouble in only one inning. �In the 6th, he allowed 2 runs on a single, a ground-rule double, and another double. �That was enough to tie the score. �Scott Nestor took over in the 9th inning, and held Akron to two walks and a single over the next two innings. �

The Hillcats scored early, but the Nationals scored late, including a walk-off run in the 11th inning, to take the win. �

3B Josh Harrison had 3 hits, 2 doubles and a single, accounting for half of the Hillcats' hits. �His first double, in the top of the 1st inning, moved 2B Chase d'Arnaud to third base after his walk. �D'Arnaud scored on a fielding error on DH Jamie Romak's ball to second base. �Harrison also tried to score but was out at the plate. �In the 3rd inning, CF Jose De Los Santos reached on an error, and d'Arnaud walked again. �Harrison sacrifice bunted them to second and third, and De Los Santos came home on SS Jordy Mercer's sacrifice fly. �It was the same crew in the 5th, when RF Alex Presley singled, moved to second on De Los Santos' bunt, on to third on d'Arnaud's ground out, and then scored on Harrison's second double. �

Jeff Locke pitched 5.2 innings and allowed 3 runs, to tie the score. �After scattering 3 hits and a walk over the first 3 innings, Locke allowed one run in the 4th, on a walk, a ground out, and an RBI single. �Another single, two doubles, and a sacrifice fly added 2 more runs in the 6th inning to tie the score. �Mike Colla relieved Locke and finished the 6th inning, then retired the side in order in the 7th. �Harrison Bishop�came on next and pitched 3 scoreless and hitless innings, going into extras, but he did allow 2 walks. �

The Hillcats threatened in the 10th inning. �With two outs, Chase d'Arnaud walkd and Josh Harrison singled. �A wild pitch moved both into scoring position, but a grounder force out ended the threat. �In the 11th, again with two outs, C Kris Watts and LF Jared Keel both singled, and again a wild pitch moved both into scoring position. �A strikeout ended that threat. �

Chris Cullen took the mound in the 11th. �A walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a wild pitch put a runner on third base. �An intentional walk and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out, but only the runner on third was important. �That runner scored on a sacrifice fly, to give Potomac the win. �

A 4-run 3rd inning gave the Power the boost they needed to not be intimidated by the Intimidators. �The Power got onto the scoreboard in the top of the 1st, on singles by CF Starling Marte and LF Robbie Grossman. �C Tony Sanchez plated Marte with a sacrifice fly for the Power's first run. �Grossman led off the 3rd with a single, and another single by DH Calvin Anderson and back-to-back doubles by 1B Kyle Morgan and RF Quincy Latimore brought in three runs. �3B Bobby Spain was hit by a pitch, and SS Adenson Chourio singled to bring in Latimore and give the Power a 5-0 lead. �Sanchez added two more runs in the 6th inning, with a 2-run homer, after Marte's second single of the game. �

Brian Leach pitched 6.1 scoreless innings for the Power, allowing only 2 hits and a walk, while striking out 5 batters. �He retired 10 batters in order from the end of the 2nd inning through the 5th inning. �Melkin Laureano, in his first appearance since being promoted from the Bradenton Pirates, got two strikeouts to finish the 7th inning. �Ryan Kelly pitched the last 2 innings for the Power, and he gave up the only runs Kannapolis would score, both unearned. �After two strikeouts, Kelly gave up two singles. �The next batter reached on a fielding error by Bobby Spain at third base. �One run came in on that play, and two more scored on an RBI double. �Kelly retired the side in order in the 9th. �

The Spikes jumped out to an early lead, and held off the Muckdogs for a shutout. �Jeff Inman, the Pirates' 12th round draft pick this year, made his organizational debut by pitching 2 scoreless innings and allowing 2 hits. �Jason Erickson relieved Inman and pitched 4 innings, retiring the first 10 batters he faced before allowing only 1 hit. �Nathan Baker followed with 2 innings and 1 hit, and Mike Williams pitched the final perfect inning. �

SS Brock Holt led the offensive attack with 3 hits, and C Craig Parry added 2 doubles. �Holt got things started in the 1st inning with his first single, and a walk to CF Evan Chambers and a single by DH Justin Byler loaded the bases. �A fielding error on 1B Aaron Baker's knock to shortstop allowed both Holt and Chambers to score. �A double play ended that inning, but the Spikes came right back to score 2 more runs in the 2nd inning. �2B Elevys Gonzalez opened the inning by reaching second base on a missed catch error by the Batavia pitcher. �Craig Parry's double drove in Gonzalez. �A wild pitch moved Parry to third base, and he scored from there when Brock Holt hit his second single. �

The Spikes had only one batter reach base over the next 3 innings, when Justin Byler was safe on a throwing error. �They were able to take advantage of Batavia errors in the 6th, beginning with a walk to 3B Pat Irvine. �Irvine went to second base on a wild pitch and to third on a passed ball on Elevys Gonzalez's strike three, and Gonzalez was safe at first. �Craig Parry's second double of the game brought in two runs, Irvine and Gonzalez, and Brock Holt's third single scored Parry to give the Spikes a 7-0 advantage. �

Vasquez (photo) has been with the Pirates earlier this season, most recently at the end of July and early August. �He has made 7 appearances, all starts, for a total of 34 innings. �He's allowed 46 hits and 23 runs, with 15 walks and 21 strikeouts. �His record with the Pirates in 2-5, and his ERA is 6.07. �Vasquez was more effective for the Indians this season. �He made 19 starts, with a 7-4 record and a 3.93 ERA. �IN 107.2 innings, he allowed 116 hits and 47 earned runs, with 16 walks and 72 strikeouts. �

Walker (photo), a Pittsburgh-area native, will be joining the major league club for the first time. �He got off to a slow start this season for the Indians, and missed most of June and about half of July due to a knee injury, suffered when he dove into first base. �But since coming back from a stint on the Disabled List, and particularly since July 30th, Walker has been on fire. �His overall batting average rose from .219 at the end of July to .264, due to a .339 average for August. �He has a total of 14 home runs (2nd on the Indians), 6 of which came during this last big push. �He's had 34 RBI during this time, and a team-leading 69 for the season. �His 31 doubles also lead the team, and tie him for 6th in the International League. �

LATER:

More Promotions �(Like a chain reaction):

Yoslan Herrera has been promoted from Altoona to Indianapolis, and he will make the start tonight for the Indians. �Herrera has made two appearances already this season for Indy, going a total of 4.2 innings and allowing 5 hits and one run (a home run), with 3 walks and 2 strikeouts.

Donnie Veal will make the start in Altoona instead of Herrera.

Moises Robles has been promoted from Lynchburg to Altoona. �He has made 28 relief appearances for the Hillcats, earning a 0-2 record and a 4.43 ERA in 42.2 innings. �He has allowed 48 hits and 21 earned runs, with 7 walks and 26 strikeouts. �Robles also made 3 appearances for the Curve earlier this season, allowing 5 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks, with 5 strikeouts in 5 innings. �

Noah Krol�has been moved up from West Virginia to Lynchburg. �Krol has made 21 relief appearances for the Power, with a 5-0 record and 2 saves. �In 37 innings, he has allowed 39 hits and 12 earned runs, with 11 walks and 32 strikeouts.�

The Indianapolis Indians were held to just 3 hits, while the Toledo Mud Hens took advantage of a depleted Indians' pitching staff to post 13 hits and take the win tonight at Victory Field.

The Indians have lost three of their starting pitchers: �Daniel McCutchen was called up to Pittsburgh to make the start today, Virgil Vasquez is ready for a call-up tomorrow, and Brad Lincoln will be leaving the Indians tomorrow to join Team USA. �They also have some relievers who have worked quite a lot lately (Juan Mateo and Jean Machi), and one more reliever, Jeff Sues, who was told that he would be "unavailable" today -- possibly for a call up tomorrow. �

So, it fell to Jeremy Powell (photo above) to come out of the bullpen to make the start for the Indians tonight. �Powell stepped right up, and pitched 5 innings, allowing only 1 run, while scattering 7 hits, no walks, and with 3 strikeouts. �Powell worked around base runners in each of the first 4 innings. �A lone single by former Indy Indian (2007) Don Kelly in the 1st inning (photo-- Kelly steals second base) �and another lone single by LF Wilkin Ramirez in the 4th were no problem. �In the 2nd inning, Powell gave up a single to DH Jeff Frazier, who took a line drive over the leaping 3B Neil Walker and into left field, then a bouncer off the back of the mound and into center field to RF Brent Clevlen. �But Powell struck out two batters and got C Dusty Ryan to pop up to end the inning with the runners still on base.

Powell's only serious trouble came in the 3rd inning. �SS Will Rhymes began by lining a single into center field. �2B Scott Sizemore dropped down a bunt that neither Powell nor Neil Walker nor C Erik Kratz could get to fast enough, and Sizemore was safe at first base. �Then Powell got Don Kelly to ground to short, where SS Argenis Diaz had to work around the base umpire �to begin a 6-4-3 (Diaz to 2B Pedro Lopez to 1B Larry Broadway) double play (photo sequence). �That left Powell and the Indians with two outs and a runner (Rhymes) on third base. �1B Mike Hessman smashed a grounder to third base, where it took an unexpected hop just before it got to Neil Walker. �The ball hit Walker's shoulder or chest and ricocheted toward second

base. �Argenis Diaz had been positioned behind Walker to back him up, but when the ball headed toward second, Diaz had to chase after it too. �Rhymes came in to score easily, and Hessman was safe at first base. �Another grounder to third, this time without the goofy hop, retired the side. �

The Indians were quiet at the plate all evening, though they collected more walks (5) than they did hits (3). �The first 5 Indians' batters went down in order, until Neil Walker worked the count full, fouled off another pitch, and then took ball four for a walk. �But the inning ended when Walker was thrown out trying to steal second base. �

[Photo: Erik Kratz, Jeff Salazar, and Brian Myrow]

Three more walks by Mud Hens' starter Scot Drucker gave the Indians a run in the bottom of the 3rd inning to tie the game. �With one out, Erik Kratz walked on 5 pitches, and Argenis Diaz singled up the middle, with the ball bouncing on the second base bag and into center field. �Drucker struck out RF Jose Tabata, then walked the next two batters, Pedro Lopez and CF Jeff Salazar, on 10 pitches. �Salazar's walk forced in Kratz from third base with the tying run.

Doubles accounted for the Indians' run in the 4th inning. �LF Tagg Bozied (photo) began with a double up the third base line and into left field, where it veered into the Indians' bullpen and then bounced back out toward the outfield. �Two outs later, Erik Kratz lined another double up the right field line and into the corner, scoring Bozied easily from second base with the go-ahead run. �Indians 2, Mud Hens 1.

Unfortunately, that was all the hitting the Indians woul d do in the game. �Drucker settled in and retired the next 10 batters he faced, finishing the 4th inning and then throwing three hitless and scoreless innings. �Reliever Freddy Dolsi also retired the Indians in order in the 8th inning. �Dolsi gave up a 4-pitch walk to DH Brian Myrow to lead off the bottom of the 9th. �Brian Bixler, just back from Pittsburgh, came in to pinch-run for Myrow. �Tagg Bozied reached base safely when his grounder bounced off 3B Brent Dlugach's chest, and then Dlugach's rushed throw to first base was wide. �Bixler never got a chance to show off his speed, though, as both runners stayed exactly where they were. �Neil Walker's bunt attempt went up instead of down, and Dolsi was able to catch it in the air for the first out. �Two fly ball outs ended the inning and the Indians' hopes. �

The newest Indian, Jorge Julio (photo),�made his Indians' debut in the 6th inning in relief of Jeremy Powell. �Julio pitched two innings and held on to the Indians' slim lead. �Julio gave up a one-out single to Brent Dlugach in the 6th. �He struck out Jeff Frazier, but strike three was a wild pitch, and Dlugach was able to advance to second base. �Wilkin Ramirez also struck out swinging, and again strike three was a wild pitch. �This time the ball got all the way to the backstop before Erik Kratz could track it down, and Dlugach reached third base. �A fielder's choice ended the inning, with Dlugach still standing on third. �Julio also gave up a single to Will Rhymes in the 7th, but quickly erased him with a double play. �

Corey Hamman took the mound for the Indians in the 8th inning, and that's when trouble showed up. �Back-to-back doubles by Don Kelly, who then stole third base, and Mike Hessman brought Kelly in with the tying run. �After a line out to 2B Pedro Lopez robbed Brent Dlugach of a hit and some RBI, Jeff Frazier drove another double to the left-center field wall, in almost the same spot that Hessman hit. �Both of those hits would have been home runs in many other International League Parks. �Frazier's double scored Hessman with the go-ahead run. �Hamman walked two more batters to load the bases, but struck out Will Rhymes to end the inning without further damage. �

With the bullpen so depleted, manager Frank Kremblas had said that both Chris Barnwell and Larry Broadway were going to be fair game for coming in from the bullpen to pitch in these last few games. �It was Barnwell (photo) who was tapped to pitch the 9th inning for the Indians. �This was Barnwell's 10th career pitching appearance. �He gave up a lead-off line drive single to Scott Sizemore, then took an infield pop up himself for the first out of the inning. �Back-to-back walks to Mike Hessman and Brent Dlugach loaded the bases for Barnwell. �Jeff Frazier worked a full count and fouled off more pitches, but ultimately struck out for the second out. �Then a long fly ball by Wilkin Ramirez had the crowd holding their breaths -- until it was clear that the ball would not only stay in the park but land in Jeff Salazar's mitt to end the inning and the threat. �

Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Erik Kratz's line drive double into the right field corner, which scored Tagg Bozied with the go-ahead run in the 4th inning.

[Photo: the brothers-in-law, Don Kelly and Neil Walker, both at third base]

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �The second double play turned by the Indians, in the 7th inning. �With Jorge Julio on the mound, �one out, Will Rhymes on first, and the Indians ahead by one run, Scott Sizemore grounded to second base. �2B Pedro Lopez had to charge to his right to snag the ball, and though he could have stepped on second base himself, his momentum was moving in the wrong direction for a good throw to first base. �Lopez flipped the ball to SS Argenis Diaz, who was moving to his left. �Diaz took the flip, stepped on second base, and fired to Larry Broadway at first base, to turn two and keep the Indians in the lead, at least for awhile longer. �

Jose Tabata................ Neil Walker

NOTES:

Daniel McCutchen made his major league debut this afternoon in Cincinnati. He pitched 6 innings but was not involved in the decision -- Reds 4, Pirates 3. The first batter McCutchen �faced, Drew Stubbs, took McCutchen's second pitch�into the left field seats for a home run. �Then McCutchen retired the next 5 batters, gave up a walk, and retired 2 more. �Stubbs singled again in the 3rd inning, and two more singles brought in 2 runs. �McCutchen pitched three more innings and allowed only a walk and a single over those innings. �In the top of the second, McCutchen hit an RBI single in his first major league at-bat.

In order to make room for Daniel McCutchen on the 40-man roster, the Pirates have designated reliever Jon Meloan for assignment. �He will be unavailable for at least 72 hours.� �This is not that the Pirates were not pleased with his performance, but that someone had to go, and Meloan lost out to the numbers. �Meloan had made 6 appearances for the Indians, for a total of 7.2 innings. �He gave up 3 hits, one earned run, and one walk, while striking out 8 batters. �He had no record with the Indians, but a 1.17 ERA and batters were hitting .120 against him. �The Indians were Meloan's third International League team this season. �He also appeared in 25 games for Columbus and 10 games for Durham. �

Expect a flurry of roster moves tomorrow, when the major league teams can expand their active roster. �The Indians still do not know who will take the mound for them tomorrow.

Go Tribe!

[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]

The Lynchburg Hillcats have a scheduled day off.

The Bradenton Pirates wrapped up their season with a loss to the Blue Jays. �The Pirates were held to 6 hits in the contest. �Two of the hits belonged to SS Gift Ngoepe, and the only run scored was Ngoepe's also -- a solo home run in the 3rd inning. �3B Walker Gourley doubled, and Ngoepe, 1B Gerlis Rodriguez, 2B Henry Henry, and RF Melvin De La Cruz all singled. �

The Pirates had the bases loaded in the 4th inning, when Henry singled and stole second base, DH Joey Schoenfeld walked and De La Cruz was hit by a pitch. �Two strikeouts ended the inning, leaving all three on base. �They also had runners reach as far as third base in the 1st inning, when Ngoepe and Rodriguez both singled, and a grounder force out put Ngoepe on third base, but again a strikeout ended the threat. �In�the 2nd, Gourley doubled and advanced to third on a ground out, and two strikeouts left him there. �The seven Blue Jays' pitchers combined for a total of 13 strikeouts.

The Pirates also gave 7 pitchers a chance to get into the last game of the season. �Newly signed draft pick Zach Von Rosenberg made the start and pitched 2 perfect innings, including 2 strikeouts. �Ryan Beckman pitched next. �He got out of a jam in the 3d inning, when a walk, a stolen base, and a throwing error put a runner on third. �He gave up one run in the 4th on three consecutive singles and a fielding error. �Rafael Quintero finished the th inning with a fly out. �Mitchell Fienemann pitched the 5th and gave up what would turn out to be the winning run, on a single, a stolen base, and an RBI double. �Andres Santos, Sandobal Septimo, and Diomedes Garcia each got a turn, with Santos and Garcia going one inning and Septimo taking two innings. �All four of those innings were scoreless.

The Bradenton Pirates finished with a 29 - 31 record, in 5th place (out of 6) in the Gulf Coast League's North Division. �They did not qualify for the playoffs. �

A few team leaders:

Average: �C Ramon Cabrera -- .291

Doubles: �1B Gerlis Rodriguez -- 12

Triples: �INF Elevys Gonzalez -- 2

Home runs: �OF Rogelio Noris -- 6

RBI: �Gerlis Rodriguez -- 28

Walks: �Gift Ngoepe -- 21

Strikeouts : �Wesley Freeman -- 59

And on the pitching side:

Wins: Jhonatan Ramos -- 5 �

Losses: �Mitchell Fienemann -- 6 �

Saves: Diomedes Garcia -- 7

Innings: �Mitchell Fienemann -- 40.1

Strikeouts: �Brent Klinger -- 36

Walks: �also Klinger -- 12

ERA: �well, be careful, because just looking at this number doesn't tell the whole story.

Ramos had an ERA of 1.82 in 34.2 innings

Fienemann had an ERA of 3.79 in his 40.1 innings

Trent Stevenson �-- ERA 1.20 in 15.0 innings

Diomedes Garcia -- ERA 1.93 in 34.2 innings

Strikeout-to-walk ratios:

Ramos: �11.00

Fienemann: �8.67

Sandobal Septimo: �7.67

Melkin Laureano: �4.00

Klinger: 3.00

Garcia: �2.50

Edit:

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette sums up the Bradenton Pirates' team.

Three unanswered runs in the second half of the game helped the Power get past the Crawdads. �CF Starling Marte led the offense with two hits, a single and a triple. �He scored the first Power run in the 1st inning, when he was hit by a pitch, went to second base on a missed catch error on a pick-off attempt, and scored on C Tony Sanchez's RBI double. �

The Crawdads came back to score 2 runs in the 3rd inning and take the lead. �Hunter Strickland gave up the runs on three singles and a walk. �Those were the only hits he allowed in his 5 innings; he struck out 6 batters. �

Marte was a one-man rally in the 5th inning, when he tripled and then scored on a throwing error by the Crawdads' center fielder. �In the 7th inning, SS Adenson Chourio singled and stole second base, then went to third on another throwing error. �Marte singled, to score Chourio, and then he also stole second base, and went on to third on a passed ball, but was left there at the end of the inning. �The Power added one more run in the 8th, on a single by 1B Kyle Morgan, a double by RF Quincy Latimore, and a fielding error. �The Crawdads committed a total of 6 errors in the game. �

Duke Welker pitched one scoreless inning, then Casey Erickson pitched 2.2 scoreless innings. �Erickson left the game with two outs in the 9th inning, after he was hit by a line drive on his right (pitching) arm. �Noah Krol came on to get the last out, and earn the save. �Erickson earned his 8th win. �

1B Kyle Morgan�was named the South Atlantic League's Player of the Week for last week. �Morgan went 10-for-21 (.476) over the week, with 3 doubles, 3 home runs, and 7 RBI. �

LHP Rudy Owens, who has since been promoted to Lynchburg, was named to the South Atlantic League's Post-Season All Start Team, and named the league's Most Outstanding Pitcher. �He had a 10-1 record and a 1.70 ERA in his 19 games with the Power.�

3B Pedro Alvarez and RF Jonel Pacheco each went 2-for-4 for the Curve, who could not catch up to the Sea Wolves. �Both Alvarez and Pacheco singled in the 1st inning, after CF Gorkys Hernandez's lead-off single, and Pacheco picked up the RBI as Hernandez scored. �The Sea Wolves tied the score in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run, and then took the lead in the 2nd inning on another solo homer. �Starter Danny Moskos allowed only a single and a walk over the next 3 innings, but then got into trouble in the 6th inning. �Two singles�and a 2-RBI double gave Erie a 4-1 lead. Moskos pitched 6 innings and struck out 8 batters. �

The Curve responded with 2 runs of their own in the top of the 7th. �With one out, 1B Miles Durham and Steve Lerud both singled, with Durham going on to third base. �Durham scored on an RBI grounder by Gorkys Hernandez, and 2B Shelby Ford's RBI double brought in Lerud. �

Dustin Molleken pitched the last 2 scoreless innings, and allowed only 2 walks. �

This was Pedro Alvarez's last game with the Curve. �He leaves on Tuesday to join Team USA in North Carolina, to prepare for the upcoming World Cup tournament. �

Dustin Molleken will also be on his way soon, to join Team Canada, also gettting ready in North Carolina. �Former Curve manager Tim Leiper will be the third base coach for Team Canada. �

Batavia scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th to tie the score, and then get the walk-off win over the Spikes. �RF David Rubinstein led the Spikes' offense with 3 hits, missing only a single from hitting the cycle. �

The Spikes got things started with 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning. �CF Evan Chambers walked and stole second base, and 1B Aaron Baker also walked. �DH Justin Byler's grounder forced Baker out at second base, but moved Chamber to third. �David Rubinstein cleared the bases with a triple, bringing in two runs. �Rubinstein himself scored on a wild pitch. �

Batavia came roaring back with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning of starter Phillip Irwin. �Three singles, a walk, and a double brought in three runs before an out was recorded, and a sacrifice fly plated the fourth run. �That sent Irwin to the showers, and Brandon Holden came on to pitch. �Holden finished the inning with a pop out, then gave way to Nelson Pereira, who pitched 4 scoreless and hitless innings. Pereira walked 2 batters and struck out 9 -- he got only 3 outs that were not strikeouts. �

The Spikes regained the lead with 3 more runs in the 5th inning, on back-to-back home runs by Justin Byler (his 5th, also bringing in Evan Chambers, who had walked) and David Rubinstein (his 3rd). �They also scored a run in the 6th, when LF Kyle Saukko walked, moved to third base on SS Brock Holt's single, and scored on Chamber's second single. �

Again Batavia came back, with a solo home run in the bottom of the 6th, and another run in the 8th, on a walk, a wild pitch, a missed catch error, a walk, and finally another walk to force in a run. �Those runs were charged to Zachary Foster, who allowed one run and struck out 4 batters in his 2.2 innings. �Marc Baca finished the 8th inning for Foster, but became the losing pitcher in the 9th, when he allowed the tying run to score on a double, a bunt, and his own throwing error. �Baca got one out, then gave up an intentional walk. �But the next batter singled, and the winning run scored.

[Photo: �Hector Gimenez had 2 hits and 2 RBI tonight]

The Indianapolis Indians took advantage of Dontrelle Willis's wild night to beat the Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio today. �The win gave them a 3-1 win of the series in Toledo and moved the Tribe into a tie with the Mud Hens for second place in the International League's West Division. �It also moved the Indians above the .500 mark (68-67) for the first time in the 2009 season. �The Indians and the Mud Hens are still 10 games behind the first place Louisville Bats, and are not even close to being in the running for the wild card spot in the IL playoffs. �The Bats have clinched the West Division championship, and will be going to the playoffs. �

Detroit Tigers' lefty Dontrelle Willis made a rehab start for the Mud Hens, and for awhile, it looked like he wasn't going to make it out of the first inning. �He walked the first two Indians' batters, RF Jose Tabata and 2B Pedro Lopez on 11 pitches. � CF Jeff Salazar singled into right field to load the bases. �Then Willis walked LF Brian Myrow (photo) and 1B Tagg Bozied on 9 pitches, forcing in two runs. �With the bases still loaded, 3B Neil Walker�drove a liner into the right field corner -- but foul at the last moment. �He ended up�grounding to third, and the Mud Hens started a double play, 5-2-3, as 3B Brent Dlugach threw to the plate to force out Jeff Salazar, and C Dane Sardinha fired on to first base in time to get the out on Walker. � Tribe C Hector Gimenez�singled up the middle, just out of reach of the diving Toledo 2B Will Rhymes, and that brought in Myrow and Bozied, to give the Indians 4 runs. �

Tribe starter Ty Taubenheim, who stepped up to make the start today in place of Daniel McCutchen, gave up one run to the Mud Hens in the 2nd inning. �With two outs, LF Jeff Frazier doubled into center field, and the next batter, CF Wilkin Ramirez brought Frazier home with a line drive single into center. �

Taubenheim (photo) took advantage of two double plays to get out of the 1st and 3rd innings. �In the 1st, after Will Rhymes led off with a single, DH Scott Sizemore lined to third base, where Neil Walker made the catch, then fired across the diamond to first base to double off Rhymes. �In the 3rd, C Dane Sardinha singled, but Will Rhymes grounded right to 2B Pedro Lopez, who tagged Sardinha as he ran by, then threw to first to get Rhymes. �Of course, the Indians fell victim to the double play twice in the first three innings also. �Besides the 5-2-3 play in the 1st inning, Tagg Bozied grounded to third in the 3rd inning, for a 5-4-3 double play that erased Brian Myrow after his single. �

Taubenheim got out of a jam on his own in the 4th inning. �Former Indy Indian (2007) Don Kelly led off with a double into left field, and Brent Dlugach walked. �But Taubenheim struck out 1B Mike Hessman, LF Jeff Frazier, and CF Wilkin Ramirez, to end the inning. �

Dontrelle Willis got into trouble again in the 5th inning. �His control appeared to be a little better, as the balls he threw were closer to the strike zone, but he still walked the first three batters at the top of the order, Jose Tabata, Pedro Lopez, and Jeff Salazar, on just 15 pitches. �Willis headed to the showers, relieved by Zach Simons. �Simons' second pitch to Brian Myrow got away from C Dane Sardinha for a passed ball, and Tabata scrambled home. Myrow was intentionally walked to load the bases again. �Tagg Bozied lifted a sinking line drive �to left field, which Jeff Frazier was able to catch at his shoe tops and get back into the infield in time to keep Lopez from tagging up and scoring. �That brought up Neil Walker (photo) with the bases loaded for the second time in the game. �Walker hit another fly to left field, and this time Lopez did tag up and try to score -- but the throw in from Frazier was quick and on-target, and Lopez was out by at least 6 feet. �

Hector Gimenez picked up his second hit of the game in the 6th inning, with a liner into center field to begin the inning. �SS Argenis Diaz sent Gimenez to third base with a grounder up the middle, and Jose Tabata's sacrifice fly brought Gimenez across the plate. �

Jeff Karstens came on to pitch the 6th inning, on his rehab assignment. �He was very quick, retiring three Mud Hens in order -- two fly outs, and a strikeout. �He also pitched the 7th inning, and allowed 2 singles. �He struck out 3 batters over the two innings. �

The Mud Hens brought in another rehabbing pitcher for the 7th inning. �Jeremy Bonderman gave up a single to Brian Myrow, who went 2-for-3 in the game, but got three outs, leaving Myrow on base. �

Juan Mateo came on to pitch the 8th for the Indians. �He gave up a lead-off single to Will Rhymes, then a walk to Scott Sizemore. �Don Kelly continued his hot hitting for the Mud Hens with an RBI single into center field, scoring Rhymes. �The inning ended when Mike Hessman lifted a little pop to the right of the mound. �Mateo was able to step over and catch the ball just before it hit the ground, then throw to first in plenty of time to double up Kelly, who had been running on contact. �

The Mud Hens scored one more run in the 9th. �Jean Machi (photo) took over for Mateo, and gave up a one-out triple to Wilkin Ramirez. �RF Brent Clevlen walked, and C Dane Sardinha brought in Ramirez with a sacrifice fly. �Machi ended the inning with a fly out to Brian Myrow in left field, and the Indians were ready to hop on the bus back to Indianapolis.

Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: Two hits for Hector Gimenez. �His single in the first inning brought in the two runs that Dontrelle Willis did not force in. �Then he singled again in the 6th inning, sparking another rally.

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �Five strong innings by Ty Taubenheim, throwing 75 pitches (48 strikes) on short notice. �He allowed only one run on 5 hits and struck out 6 batters. �After the game, Taubenheim said "I think I had really good fastball command... Five innings went by and I felt good and we won."

The GCL Bradenton Pirates, as usual, do not play on Sunday. �Tomorrow's game will the their last of the season.

Altoona played an early game in Erie:

A walk-off walk in the 12th inning gave the Sea Wolves the win this afternoon. �Reliever Ramon Aguero, in his second inning of work, walked the first batter in the bottom of the 12th. �A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second base, and Aguero struck out the next batter. �He intentionally walked the next Erie batter, but two un-intentional walks forced in the winning run. �Aguero took the loss, his first with the Curve. �

The Curve got started in the 2nd inning with back-to-back walks by DH Jason Delaney and 1B Miles Durham. �2B Shelby Ford singled to load the bases. �LF Jeff Corsaletti brought in Delaney and Durham with a drive down the left field line and into the corner. �C Miguel Perez brought in Ford with a grounder to short, and the Curve had a 3-0 lead.�

Base running problems hurt the Curve in the early innings. �SS Brian Friday walked to open the game, but was thrown out trying to steal second base. �RF Jonel Pacheco was also thrown out trying to steal after he singled in the 3rd inning. �In the 4th inning, Jeff Corsaletti singled and was out at second trying to stretch it into a double. �

After Corsaletti was thrown out in the 4th, Miguel Perez was hit by a pitch. �He moved to second base on a wild pitch, and came around to score when CF Gorkys Hernandez singled up the middle. �

Jared Hughes took over for Alderson in the 7th, and that's when the�Sea Wolves tied it up. Hughes allowed a lead-off single, and a sacrifice bunt and an infield ground out moved the runner to third base. �He scored on a wild pitch. �Erie took 6-4 lead in the 8th inning on back-to-back doubles, and added a go-ahead run on a fielding error by Brian Friday. �

The Curve came right back in the top of the 9th to tie the score again. �With one out, Jonel Pacheco collected his 3rd hit of the game with a single into right field. �Jason Delaney walked. �Two RBI singles, by Miles Durham and Shelby Ford scored Pacheco and Delaney. �When Jeff Corsaletti bounced to first base, Durham was out on the throw back to the plate, and the game went into extras. �Erie put one base runner on (a walk) in the bottom of the 9th and one on (single) in the 11th . The Curve put one runner on in the top of the 10th (Gorkys Hernandez's single), and went down in order in the 11th and the 12th. �That set up the bottom of the 12th, and the walk off walk. �

A 6-run first inning by the Dash chased Hillcats' starter Nate Adcock after only one inning, and the Hillcats could not catch up.

Adcock did not have it from the start. �With one out, he gave up two walks and a single, though CF Jose De Los Santos made an on-target throw to the plate, allwoing C Eric Fryer to tag out the lead runner as he tried to score. �Then with two outs, Adcock gave up a 3-run homer, three straight singles, and a 2-RBI double, to give the Dash their 6-0 lead. �

Moises Robles took over for Adcock to begin the 2nd inning (Adcock may have reached the 30-pitch limit in pitching to 10 batters in the 1st inning). �Robles pitched 3 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts. �Ronald Uviedo pitched the remaining 4 innings. �He gave up a solo homer in the 7th innings, and scattered three more singles and two walks. �

The Hillcats were quiet for the first 5 innings, with singles by 2B Chase d'Arnaud in the 1st, �DH Jamie Romak in the 4th, and C Eric Fryer in the 5th. �D'Arnaud reached second base on a fielding error to open the 6th inning, and he was able to tag up and move to third base when 3B Josh Harrison flied out. �SS Jordy Mercer brought d'Arnaud in with a sacrifice fly to put the Hillcats on the scoreboard. ��

Three doubles, by 1B Matt Hague, Eric Fryer, and Chase d'Arnaud, plus a single by Jose De Los Santos gave the Hillcats 3 runs in the top of the 7th inning. �They threatened again in the 8th, when Jamie Romak walked and Hague singled, and both moved up 90 feet on a passed ball. �But a strikeout ended the inning without a run scoring, and the Hillcats still could not catch up. �

The Power led the Crawdads 9-2 going into the 9th inning, and almost let the game slip away when the Crawdads scored 6 runs in the top of the 9th. �Starter Brett Lorin pitched 6 innings and got his second win, allowing one run on 6 hits and a walk, while striking out 8 batters. �That one run was a solo home run by Hickory's Eric Fry to lead off the 2nd inning. �Diego Moreno pitched 2 innings and also allowed a run, in the 7th inning on a double and an RBI single. �

Wilson Ortiz took the mound to begin the 9th inning, and he got into trouble with two singles and a hit batter to load the bases without an out. �A short fly ball gave him one out, but was too short for the runner on third base to tag up. �But a walk and another hit batter forced in two runs, and Eric Fry hit his second homer of the game. �This one was a grand slam, giving the Crawdads 6 runs in the inning. �Rafael De Los Santos relieved Ortiz and gave up another single, but got the final out of the game. �

The Spikes out-hit the Crosscutters 11-6, but the Crosscutters were able to make more efficient use of their hits, and they took advantage of 4 errors by the Spikes. �

Tyler Cox made the start for the Spikes. �In 6 innings of work, he allowed one run in each of four different innings, on 4 hits, no walks, with 6 strikeouts. �Three of the runs scored on the combination of an error and a double (1st, 3rd, and 5th innings). �The run in the 5th also was aided by a throwing error by C Craig Parry, when the base runner stole second. �The run in the 4th inning came without an error charged -- it was an inside-the-park�home run. �

The Spikes scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning, temporarily tying the score. �CF�Evan Chambers led off with a double, and 2B�Brock Holt followed with a triple, scoring Chambers. �Holt scored on 1B�Aaron Baker's RBI single. � Holt singled again to lead off the 7th inning. �He moved to second base on DH�Justin Byler's single, and to third on Baker's sacrifice bunt. �RF David Rubinstein's sacrifice fly scored Holt to bring the Spikes within a run of the Crosscutters. �

Victor Black relieved Cox in the 7th inning. �He retired the side in the 7th. �In the 8th, he gave up a double and a sacrifice bunt. �The runner tried to score from third on a grounder to third, but was tagged out at the plate by Craig Parry. �The Crosscutters did score one more time in the 9th. �With two outs, a walk, a stolen base, and an RBI single scored the insurance run. �Cox suffered the loss, his 3rd of the season. �Brock Holt had 3 hits, a triple and two singles, in the game. �

The Pirates will have to make a spot on their 40-man roster for McCutchen, and they have not yet said how that will happen. �

McCutchen has a 13-6 record with the Indians, in 24 starts this season. �He has already pitched 142.2 innings, and while that is a lot, particularly by the Pirates' standards, it is less than the 171.1 innings he threw last season (123.1 in the Yankees' organization and 48 in the Pirates'). �McCutchen has allowed 145 hits and 55 earned runs (ERA 3.47) with only 29 walks and 110 strikeouts. �He has been particularly effective since the All-Star break, when his ERA dropped from 4.37 pre-break to 1.90. �While his strikeout rate has been about the same throughout the season, his walk rate dropped almost in half after the break -- from 2.27 walks per 9 innings before to 1.04 walks per 9 innings after the break. �

(LATER)

Brad Lincoln has been named to take McCutchen's spot on Team USA.

It was all Indians all night at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio tonight. �Two home runs by 3B Neil Walker (photo) and another by LF Brian Myrow led the Indians' offense, as all but one member of the line-up recorded at least one hit. �Walker had 3 hits, and Myrow and four other Indians had 2 hits each. �Walker collected 5 RBI and Myrow added 4 RBI to his total. �Brad Lincoln earned his 6th win with the Indians and his 4th win in his last 4 starts. �Lincoln, Corey Hamman, and Juan Mateo combined to shut out the Mud Hens.

Neil Walker started the fireworks in the 2nd inning. �With one out, 1B Tagg Bozied (photo below) walked. �Walker followed with a booming no-doubt-about-it homer over the right field wall, over the 375 mark, giving the Indians a 2-0 lead. �The Indians loaded the bases after the home run, with walks to DH Larry Broadway and C Erik Kratz, and a single into right field by RF Jose Tabata. �All three were left on base, though, when 2B Pedro Lopez flied out.

The Indians began a steady barrage of runs in the 4th inning, as they scored 3 runs in each of the next 3 innings. �The 4th inning began with four consecutive hits: �singles into right field by both Neil Walker and Larry Broadway, a double by Erik Kratz, and a single by SS Argenis Diaz. �Kratz's line drive into left field plated Walker, and Diaz's grounder up the middle brought in both Broadway and Kratz. �Diaz tried to make it a double on the throw in from the outfield, but he was out at second base. �

Brian Myrow walked and Tagg Bozied hit his second single in the 5th inning. �Neil Walker blasted his second home run of the game, again over the right field wall and again no doubt. �That gave Walker 5 RBI and gave the Indians an 8-0 lead. �

In the 6th inning, it was Brian Myrow's turn to send a ball sailing over the fence. �Argenis Diaz led off with a single up the middle. �He was out at second base when Jose Tabata grounded into a force out, leaving Tabata on first. �Pedro Lopez singled into right field. �Myrow brought both of them in with his 15th home run of the season, which flew over the right field wall in about the same spot os Walker's second blast. �Indians 11, Mud Hens 0.

Tribe starter Brad Lincoln�(photo)�was enjoying all the run support he was getting, but his outstanding performance was a bit lost amid the offensive explosions. �Lincoln pitched 6 scoreless innings, and allowed only 3 hits. �Former Indy Indian (2007) Don Kelly singled in the 1st inning. �Lincoln retired the next 10 batters he faced. �In the 5th inning RF Jeff Frazier led off with a single, but was promptly erased in a double play, when DH Wilkin Ramirez drove a liner right at Pedro Lopez, who then doubled Ramirez off first. �3B Brent Dlugach doubled, but a strikeout ended the inning. �Lincoln did not walk any batters, and he struck out 6 Mud Hens. �He threw 83 pitches, of which 48 were strikes. �

The Indians added one more run for good measure in the 8th inning. �Jose Tabata lined a single into left field. �CF Jeff Salazar, the only member of the line-up who did not have a hit, still reached base with a walk. �Brian Myrow followed with a single up the middle, bringing in Tabata from second base. �Tagg Bozied walked for the second time in the game, to load the bases. �This time the Mud Hens managed to hold off Neil Walker, who grounded into a force out to end the inning and leave the runners stranded. �Indians 12, Mud Hens 0.

By the top of the 9th inning, the Mud Hens decided that things were just too far out of hand. �Catcher Dane Sardinha made his professional pitching debut, taking the mound for the Mud Hens. �The first batter he faced, Larry Broadway, took Sardinha's third pitch into center field for a double. �A wild pitch by Sardinha let Broadway advance to third base, but Sardinha got three outs, a ground out and two fly outs, to get out of the inning, and give the Mud Hens' bullpen a bit of rest. �

Corey Hamman came on in relief of Lincoln in the 7th inning. �He pitched 2 hitless innings, allowing the only walk by the Indians' pitchers. �He also had a batter reach base on a throwing error by Neil Walker. �Juan Mateo pitched a perfect 9th inning, striking out Hens' 1B Mike Hessman to end the game. �

�

The win brings the Indians back to the .500 mark (67-67) for the third time this season. �In each of the other two times, they have remained at .500 only until the next game, and have not been able to take the next step to get above the mark. �The Mud Hens' loss means that the Louisville Bats have clinched the International League West Division Championship. �