PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

That gives them a total of 22 of their 51 picks signed, including all of the top 11 picks (# 1 through #10, plus Comp round).

Lefty reliever Corey Hamman has been promoted from Altoona to Indianapolis, and righty reliever Ramon Aguero is moving up from Lynchburg to Altoona.�

The Pirates held a hit-fest this afternoon, and they didn't invite the Braves to join in until the very end. �The Pirates put up 16 hits, led by DH Andrew Walker, who went 4-for-4,�with 4 RBI, and 1B/LF Gerlis Rodriguez, who had 3 hits. �Both Walker and LF Rogelios Noris homered for Bradenton. �

The Pirates started the scoring in the 3rd inning. �Walks to 3B�Henry Henry and SS Benjamin Gonzalez were followed by Rodriguez's first single, which brought in both base runners, and C Ramon Cabrera's double, which scored Rodriguez. �Noris's solo homer led off the 4th inning. �The Pirates scored 2 more runs in that inning on Walker's second single, a double by RF�Wesley Freeman, and a 2-RBI single by CF�Edwin Roman. �

Walker's homer came in the 5th inning. �After singles by Rodriguez, Cabrera, and Noris, Walker blasted a grand slam over the left field wall, and the Pirates had 10 runs. �They tacked on 3 more runs in the 8th inning. �Henry walked again, Roman doubled, and 2B�Elevys Gonzalez tripled, bringing in both Henry and Roman. �Rodriguez doubled, plating Elevys �Gonzalez.�

Trent Stevenson made his second start for the Pirates, and pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit. �Rinku Singh pitched the 3rd inning, and gave up one unearned run. �With two outs, he gave up a single, and after a stolen base, a throwing error put the runners on the corners. �When the runner from first tried to steal second base, the lead runner scored on the throw. �

Dinesh Patel took over for Singh and pitched 2 innings. �Patel retired the side in the 4th, and gave up one run in the 5th, on a single, another fielding error, and an RBI single, and he was credited with his first professional win. �Sandobal Septimo�earned his first save with 4 innings of work. �He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the 7th, and a jam with runners on second and third in the 8th, but he could not stay out of trouble in the 9th. �Two singles, then a strikeout, then an RBI single and a 2-RBI double scored the first 3 runs. �After a ground out, three consecutive singles brought in 2 more runs before Septimo got the final strikeout to end the game. ��

2B Ray Chang and 3B Pedro Alvarez had 3 hits each for the Curve last night, and accounted for nearly half of the team's 13 hits. �Chang scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th, after he hit his second single, stole second base, went to third on LF Jeff Corsaletti's ground out, and then scored on SS Brian Friday's walk-off RBI single. �

The game began with starter Tim Alderson being rocked for 5 runs on 7 hits in just 3 innings of work. �Two singles, an RBI ground out, a walk, and a 3-run homer gave the Sea Dogs 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning. �They added another run in the 2nd, on a single, a stolen base, and an RBI single. �

The Curve bounced back with one run in the 1st inning, when CF Gorkys Hernandez singled, and Pedro Alvarez brought him in with an RBI double. �In the 3rd inning, the Curve added 4 more runs to tie the score at 5-5. �Walks to Hernandez and Alvarez opened the inning. �After two strikeouts, DH Jonel Pacheco singled to load the bases, and Ray Chang crushed his first career grand slam.

Jared Hughes relieved Tim Alderson, and after retiring the side in the 4th, Hughes gave up the go-ahead run in the 5th on two singles and a wild pitch. �The Sea Dogs added another run in the 7th, on a walk, a single, and a wild pitch, to take a 7-5 lead. �The Curve tied it up again with 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the 8th. �Alvarez doubled, and scored on RF Miles Durham's RBI single. �Durham reached third base on a fielding error, and scored on a wild pitch. �

The Sea Dogs took the lead again in the top of the 9th, with Jeff Sues on the mound, on a walk, a stolen base, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly. �And once again, the Curve tied it up in the bottom of the inning. �C Miguel Perez singled and Jeff Corsaletti walked. �Brian Friday dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but a fielding error by the Sea Dogs' pitcher allowed Perez to score. �With the score tied at 8-8, the game went into the 10th inning. �Scott Nestor struck out the first batter in the top of the 10th, then hit a batter, then struck out batter #3, hit batter #4, and struck out batter #5 -- but the Sea Dogs did not score. �He was the pitcher of record and was credited with the win, when Friday's walk-off hit scored Chang in the bottom of the frame. �

Kinston scored early, and the Hillcats scored late, but the 'Cats couldn't catch up, despite out-hitting Kinston 12-9. �C Eric Fryer had 3 of the Hillcats' hits, including a home run, and DH Kris Watts and CF Jose De Los Santos had 2 hits each. �

Starter Ronald Uviedo lasted only one inning (he may have reached the 30-pitch limit) and gave up Kinstons first 4 runs on 4 hits. �A walk and two singles brought in one run, then a home run �brought in 3 more. �Moises Robles took over for Uviedo, and he faced the minimum for two scoreless innings. �Nate Adcock came in from the bullpen next, and he walked 3 batters and�gave up a 2-run homer in the 4th. �Chris Cullen pitched 2 innings. �After a scoreless 5th, he gave up two walks, and an RBI single. �Then a triple combined with a throwing error brought in 3 more runs, to give Kinston a total of 10. �Harrison Bishop pitched 2 scoreless innings and Mike Colla added one more scoreless inning to finish the game for the Hillcats. �

The Hillcats offense did not come to life until the 5th inning, when Eric Fryer led off with a solo home run. � Jose De Los Santos followed the homer with a single, then 2B Chase d'Arnaud doubled, scoring De Los Santos. �After a walk to SS Jordy Mercer, d'Arnaud stole third base and scored on a wild pitch, and the Hillcats had 3 runs on the board. �They added 2 more runs in the 7th inning, on three doubles, by 3B Josh Harrison, Mercer, and Kris Watts. �

In the bottom of the 9th, the Hillcats rallied again. �Jordy Mercer walked and RF�Jamie Romak was hit by a pitch. �Kris Watts' single scored Mercer. �LF Alex Presley walked to load the bases with 2 outs. �Eric Fryer brought in Romak with another RBI single, and Watts scored on a wild pitch, bringing the Hillcats within one run. �But the rally ended when Jose De Los Santos struck out to end the game.

C Tony Sanchez had 3 hit, including two in the big 6th inning, as West Virginia overpowered the Legends. � The Power sent 10 batters to the plate in the 6th, to score 8 runs on 5 hits. �Sanchez led off with a single, and LF Quincy Latimore reached base on a fielding error. �RBI singles by 3B Jeremy Farrell and DH Bobby Spain scored Sanchez and Latimore (2 runs). �After a pitching change, RF Austin McClune�singled, plating Farrell (3). �SS Greg Picart walked, loading the bases with two outs. �A fielding error at second base let CF Robbie Grossman reach safely and brought in Spain and McClune (4, 5). �Then Sanchez capped it off with a 3 run homer (6, 7, 8). �

The Power had scored 2 runs in the top of the 1st, when Grossman singled, Sanchez doubled, and Latimore singled. �2B Danny Bomback added another run in the 2nd inning with a solo home run. �1B Kyle Morgan, the only member of the line-up who hadn't yet gotten a hit or scored a run, did both in the 9th inning, with a solo home run. �

Brett Lorin pitched 2 innings in his third start for the Power. �He breezed through the first inning, but gave up 2 runs in the 2nd on a walk, his own throwing error on a pick-off attempt, a single, a missed-catch error by Greg Picart, and an RBI single. �(Lorin may have also reached the 30-pitch limit.) �Noah Krol pitched 3 scoreless innings, including 4 strikeouts. �Ryan Kelly took the mound in the 6th, and gave up 4 runs on 3 doubles, 2 walks, and a sacrifice fly. Casey Erickson pitched the last 2 innings, allowing only a walk, a single, and a hit batter. �

The Tigers scored in every inning but the 1st, to overwhelm the Spikes in Game 1. �The Spikes' only run came in the 2nd inning, when RF David Rubinstein led off with a solo home run. �That temporarily tied the score at 1-1, but the Tigers continued to score, and the Spikes could not muster much of a rally. �They had 2 base runners in the 4th inning, when Rubinstein walked and 3B Pat Irvine singled, but a strikeout ended the inning.��In the 7th inning, the Spikes again had 2 runners on base, on�Pat Irvine's�double, and DH Justin Byler being�by a pitch. �But a double play and a ground out ended the inning, and the game, without a run scoring. �

The Spikes' pitching staff had a tough game. �Starter Nelson Pereira gave up 3 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks in the first 3 innings. �Brandon Holden pitched one inning, but also gave up 3 runs on 4 hits, including a homer. �Nathan Baker went 2 innings, but continued the 3-run trend, on 3 hits. �Owen Brolsma pitched the 7th inning, and gave up only one run, on another solo homer. �

The Spikes turned the tables on the Tigers in Game 2, and this time it was their turn to score 10 runs. �The scoring began with a 6-run 1st inning, with 10 batters coming to the plate. �SS Brock Holt and CF Evan Chambers started with singles, and DH Aaron Baker walked to load the bases with on outs. �A wild pitch scored Holt, and RF David Rubinstein's sacrifice fly scored Chambers, but an error on the sac fly put Rubinstein on base too. �3B Pat Irvine's RBI single scored Baker, and C Craig Parry's RBI single scored Rubinstein. �LF Kyle Saukko brought both Parry and Irvine in with an RBI double. �

Irvine picked up two more RBI in the next inning, with a single that brought in Aaron Baker and David Rubinstein. �In the 4th, Craig Parry reached base on a wild pitch for strike three, and he scored when 2B Andy Vasquez tripled. �Four straight walks (from two pitchers), to Baker, Byler, Rubinstein, and Irvine added another run for the Spikes in the 5th inning. �

Jason Erickson pitched 4 innings for the Spikes and allowed one run on 4 hits, no walks, and 4 strikeouts. �The run came in the 3rd, on two singles and a double. �Ricardo Paulino earned the win with his 3 innings of work, allowing one run in the top of the 7th on a walk, a wild pitch, and an RBI single. �

Virgil Vasquez made his second start since returning to the Indianapolis Indians, and though he did a fine job on Friday, today went even better. �On Friday, Vasquez was supplied with plenty of run support, when the Indians scored 8 runs in the second inning (it was the Pink Jersey Magic, remember?). �Today he had to make do with less, but the two runs he had was enough. �Vasquez pitched 7 innings, allowing one solo home run and two other hits, plus 2 walks, to earn his 7th win this afternoon at Victory Field.

It took Vasquez (photo) 91 pitches (60 strikes) to work his way through the 7 innings. �In 4 of the innings, he retired the Clippers in order. �He worked around a lead-off double to 3B Niuman Romero in the 5th, and gave up a 2-out walk to 1B Matt LaPorta in the 6th. �The only inning in which Vasquez saw any difficulty was the 2nd. �LaPorta led off by lifting his 15th homer of the season down the right field line, going over the wall just inside the foul pole. �Vasquez walked the next batter, RB Stephen Head, on 4 pitches. �Then he settled down again to get a strikeout and a fly out. �C Damaso Espino singled into left field, moving Head to second base, but Vasquez got CF Mickey Hall to hit a towering pop fly to SS Argenis Diaz, ending the inning. �

The Indians' batters were more successful in getting hits of Clippers' starter Ryan Edell, though they scored only two runs. �Brian Bixler, in center field again today, led off the bottom of the 1st with a sharp grounder to short. �Clippers SS Jason Donald slipped when throwing, though, and the ball sailed way wide of first base on the infield side, just as Bixler was reaching the bag. �Bixler was credited with a hit, but he was erased moments later, when LF Brian Myrow hit a screaming line drive right at 2B Josh Barfield, who then doubled Bixler off first.

DH Jeff Clement (photo) answered Matt LaPorta's 2nd inning homer with a 2nd inning homer of his own. �Clement's blast, his 6th in 12 games with the Indians, flew 415 feet, landing on the grass at the top of the right field berm, to tie the score at 1-1. �RF Tagg Bozied followed the homer with a double, and advanced to third base on a wild pitch, but was left stranded there when Edell settled down to get three outs. �

The Indians threatened again in the 3rd inning. �Argenis Diaz reached base when SS Jason Donald made a second poor throw to first base. �Brian Bixler grounded to third, where Niuman Romero tried to start a double play. �He was able to force out Argenis Diaz at second, but it was a case of a slow grounder but a fast runner, and Bixler beat the relay to first by a few steps. �Robinzon Diaz, playing first base today, lined a short single into center field. �Bixler had already been doubled off two innings before, so he held up instead of running full out and trying for third, in case the ball was caught. �That put runners on first and second with one out, but two fly outs ended the inning, with the score still tied. �

The top of the batting order got to Ryan Edell in the 5th inning. �With two outs, Brian Bixler (photo) hit his second single of the day, a blooper into left field. �Robinzon Diaz smacked a grounder through the hole between first and second bases, moving Bixler to third base. �Brian Myrow lined a single into left-center field, and Bixler easily came across the plate with the go-ahead run. �Jeff Clement worked a walk to load the bases, but Tagg Bozied grounded out to end the inning. �

That one extra run was all the Indians would need, though. �Clippers' relievers Frank Hermann and Rich Rundells put the Indians down in order in the last 3 innings, including Hermann striking out the side in the 8th. �After Virgil Vasquez retired the Clippers in order in the 7th inning, reliever�Juan Mateo got three fly outs around a single by LF Michael Brantley in the 8th. �Brantley's low liner to short was bobbled by Argenis Diaz, who recovered to throw to first, but not in time to beat Brantley. �Jean Machi needed only 9 pitches to put the Clippers down in order in the 9th. �The final out of the game was made by C Erik Kratz, on a pop up behind the plate (photo). �

Machi earned his second save in three games.

The win again moved the Indians to one game under the .500 mark. Tomorrow, the Indians will make their 8th attempt to reach .500, as they begin a 7-game road trip. �They will play 4 games against these Clippers in Columbus, and then go to Louisville to play 3 games against the Bats. �

Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: �Three clutch 2-out singles by Brian Bixler, Robinzon Diaz, and Brian Myrow in the 5th inning to score the winning run. �

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �In the 6th inning, Clippers' DH Wes Hodges lifted a long fly ball to the left-center field alley, the deepest part of the outfield at Victory Field. �LF Brian Myrow (photo) gave chase and finally tracked it down, near the wall in deep left center, with a running one-handed catch. �If he'd missed it, Hodges would have had at least a double, and maybe a triple. ��

A guest photographer took some photos for us at today's game. �He was very enthusiastic, so we'll share some of those photos over several days.

Neil Walker.................. �Brian Bixler on first base in the 3rd inning

Virgil Vasquez .................... Bixler heads for second base

The Indians' dugout, with Jeff Branson and Ray Searage conferring..... Brian Myrow at the plate in the 3rd.

Brian Bixler at first......................... Brian Myrow watches his first hit drop in�

NOTES:

The Pirates have made several roster moves today:

Reliever Evan Meek has been placed on the Disabled List (15-day) with a strained left oblique muscle. �

Reliever Steven Jackson was recalled from the Indians (again) to take Meek's place in the bullpen. �

Righty reliever Jon Meloan was claimed off waivers from the Rays. �He had been pitching for the Durham Bulls, and pitched against the Indians on August 1st and 3rd. �In each of those games, he went one inning. �On Aug 1st, he walked one and struck out one, and on Aug 3rd, he gave up a hit, two walks, and an earned run, and struck out one. �Meloan is a 25-year old from Houston, who was drafted by the Dodgers in the 5th round of the 2005 draft. �He appeared in 16 games at the Rookie League level that same year. �In 2006, he spent 3.5 months with A Columbus, where he had a 1.54 ERA in 12 relief appearances and struck out 41 batters in 23.1 innings. �He was promoted to A+ Vero Beach and made 4 appearances (3 starts) and struck out 27 in 18.0 innings. �He was promoted again to AA Jacksonville where he made 5 relief appearances over the last few weeks of the season, and struck out 23 batters in 10.2 innings. �

Meloan began the 2007 season back in Jacksonville, and made 35 relief appearances, earning a 2.18 ERA in 45.1 innings, this time with 70 strikeouts and 19 saves. �He also made 14 appearances for AAA Las Vegas, where his ERA was better (1.69) though he did not strike out nearly as many (21 in 21.1 innings). �Meloan made his major league debut with a September call-up, and had two good outings, then three outings in which he gave up a total of 8 hits and 8 runs in 5 innings. �The 2008 season started with Meloan back in Las Vegas as a starter, with a 5-10 record and a 4.97 ERA. �In 21 games (20 starts), he pitched 105 innings and struck out 99. �He was traded to the Cleveland Indians and made 12 relief appearances for AAA Buffalo in August (14.2 innings, 4.30 ERA, 12 strikeouts). �He was again up in the majors in September, and made 2 relief appearances -- one inning each, no hits or runs, and 2 strikeouts. �

Meloan was back in AAA for the Cleveland Indians at Columbus to begin the 2009 season. �He made 25 appearances, all but 2 in relief, and in 44 innings, allowed 52 hits, 27 runs, 17 walks, and 37 strikeouts -- a significant drop in his strikeout rate. �He was traded to Tampa Bay on July 2nd, and had made 10 relief appearances for the Durham Bulls. �In 13.1 innings, he has struck out 15 batters and allowed 13 hits, for a 3.38 ERA. �The Rays designated Meloan for assignment last week, and he had to be put on waivers.

Meloan has to be added to the Pirates' 40-man roster, and it appears that he will be reporting to the Indy Indians -- his third team in the International League this season. �

In order to make room on the 40-man roster, Tyler Yates has been moved from the Pirates' 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list (which does not require a spot on the 40-man roster).

Brian Bixler's two hits extended his hitting streak to 14 games. �He's hitting .345 over those games.

Tagg Bozied has a hit in 8 of his last 9 games. �He's hitting .375 over that stretch. �

Robinzon Diaz made his first appearance at 1st base for the Indians today, complementing his first appearance at third base two days ago. �The last time he played first base was in 2002, when he appeared in one game at first for the Blue Jays' Rookie League team at Medicine Hat. �

Go Tribe!

[Photos by Nancy Zinni (MVN) and Paul P]

Wednesday's games in the Pirates' minor league system began with another afternoon game:

The Pirates scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, when DH�Ramon Cabrera singled after walks to 2B Gift Ngoepe and LF Gerlis Rodriguez. �Ngoepe had moved to third base on a wild pitch, and scored easily on Cabrera's walk-off hit. �

CF Edwin Roman had scored the Pirates' first run in the 3rd inning, when he led off with a single, stole second base, went to third on Ngoepe's sacrifice bunt, and scored on SS Benjamin Gonzalez's sacrifice fly. �The Pirates scored again in the 5th. �3B Henry Henry singled to begin the inning, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Roman. �He advanced to third base on Ngoepe's ground out, and scored on Benjamin Gonzalez's single for his second RBI. �

Pirates' starter Melkin Laureano gave up one run to the Phillies in the top of the 1st inning, on a single, a stolen base, another single, and an RBI ground out. �Laureano kept the Phillies scoreless over the next 3 innings, allowing a total of 6 hits, no walks, and striking out 3 batters. �Brent Klinger pitched the next 4 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and one walk, while striking out 5 batters. �Then in the top of the 9th, with Diomedes Garcia on the mound, Phillies' Brian Gump led off with a solo home run, tying the score at 2-2. �Garcia was charged with a Blown Save. �Papiro Juan came on to pitch the 10th, and he allowed only a walk. �He was still the pitcher of record when Cabrera hit the game-winner in the bottom of the inning, so Juan was credited with his first win of the season.�

And in the evening...

RHP Bryan Morris returned from his organizational suspension and made the start for the Hillcats today, earning his 3rd win. �He pitched 6.2 innings and allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 3 walks, with 4 strikeouts. �Kinston's first run came in the top of the 1st, on a single, a wild pitch by Morris, and an RBI single. �They added 2 runs in the 3rd, when Morris gave up a single and two walks with one out, to load the bases. �A grounder force out and a throwing error by 2B Chase d'Arnaud brought in two runs (one unearned). �Morris settle down after that, retiring Kinston in order in the 4th and 5th, and allowing only one single in the 6th. �Morris got two outs in the 7th and then walked the next batter, and he was relieved by Mike Colla. �Colla ended the inning with a single and then a fly out. ��

Three Hillcats' batters, Chase d'Arnaud, 3B Josh Harrison, and CF Jose De Los Santos each had 3 hits in the game, and d'Arnaud collected 5 of Lynchburg's 6 RBI. �The Hillcats got one run back in the 3rd inning. �Chase d'Arnaud,�Josh Harrison, and SS Jordy Mercer opened the inning with 3 consecutive singles. �RF Jamie Romak's sacrifice fly scored d'Arnaud. �1B Matt Hague walked to load the bases again, but a grounder ended the inning. �

Three runs in the 6th inning gave the Hillcats a 4-3 lead. �LF Jared Keel doubled, DH Kent Sakamoto walked, and�Jose De Los Santos singled to load the bases with one out. �Chase d'Arnaud's double cleared the bases and put the 'Cats ahead. �D'Arnaud gave the team two insurance runs in the 8th inning, with a 2-run homer after De Los Santos singled. �

They would need those insurance runs. �Ramon Aguero pitched a scoreless 8th inning for the Hillcats. �RJ Rodriguez�earned his 25th save of the season, though he gave up 2 runs on a double, two singles, and two wild pitches.

The Sea Dogs posted three 3-run innings and capped it off with a 4-run 9th inning to stomp the Curve tonight. �Kyle Bloom surrendered 3 runs in the 1st inning, with two doubles, a single, and two walks. �Bloom retired the Sea Dogs in order in the next three innings, but things fell apart again in the 5th. �He began the inning with two singles, a walk, and then a hit batter, forcing in one run. �Jeff Sues relieved Bloom, and got the first batter he faced to bounce into a double play, but another run scored. �A third run came in on an RBI single. �

The Curve were staying in the game up to that point. �They scored one run in the 1st, on walks to 2B Shelby Ford and 1B Miles Durham, and a single by 3B Pedro Alvarez. �SS Brian Friday grounded into a force out, scoring Ford. �Ford complained of tightness in his leg, and was removed from the game between innings. �Eddie Prasch took over at second base. �DH Jason Delaney homered after RF Jonel Pacheco walked in the 4th inning to give the Curve 2 more. �C�Steve Lerud also contributed 3 hits.

The Curve scored one more run in the 8th inning, when Brian Friday doubled and Jason Delaney singled. �But by then it was too late. �Dustin Mollekin gave up two homers, a solo and a 2-run shot, in the top of the 8th. �Corey Hamman came on to pitch the 9th inning. �He gave up 4 singles and 2 doubles, and the Sea Dogs added another 4 runs, for a 9-run lead. �

Big early innings did the trick for the Power tonight, while the pitching staff held the Legends to just 5 hits. �The scoring began in the top of the 1st. �SS Greg Picart opened the game with a walk, and scored on CF Robbie Grossman's RBI double. �C Tony Sanchez also walked, but was forced out at second on 1B Kyle Morgan's grounder force out. �3B Jeremy Farrell drove in both Grossman and Morgan with an RBI double. �Sanchez plated two more runs in the 2nd inning, when he doubled after 2B Adenson Chourio was hit by a pitch and Picart singled. �

The 5-run lead was more than the Power would need, but they didn't stop there. �Greg Picart walked to begin the 4th inning and stole second base. �Kyle Morgan walked, and both Picart and Morgan scored on LF Quincy Latimore's triple. �A fielding error and another single by Picart brought in RF Austin McClune with another run in the 5th. �McClune returned the favor in the 9th, when his RBI double scored Morgan, who had singled. �

Quinton Miller pitched 5 innings in his start for the Power. �He limited the Legends to just 3 hits, one of which was a solo home run in the 2nd inning. �He gave up a single in the 2nd also, as well as a single in the 1st inning. �He allowed only a walk over his last 3 innings. �Diego Moreno relieved Miller to begin the 6th inning. �He gave up one run in the 7th inning, on a double, a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly. �Wilson Ortiz pitched the 9th inning, and walked the first two batters he faced, then got two strikeouts and a fly out to end the game. �

The State College Spikes were rained out tonight. �The Spikes and the Oneonta Tigers will try for two games on Thursday.

The Spikes will be hosts for the New York-Penn League All-Star Game, which will be held on Tuesday August 18th. �The game features American League affiliates vs. National League affiliates. �Three Spikes' players have been named to the NL squad:

Infielder Brock Holt, who is hitting .256 for the Spikes, with a team-high 6 home runs and 23 RBI. �Holt was the Pirates' 9th round pick in the 2009 draft.

RHP Phillip Irwin, who has pitched in 7 games for the Spikes (4 starts) and has a 1-1 record and a 0.41 ERA, with 24 strikeouts in 22 innings. �Irwin was the Pirates' 21st round pick in the �2009 draft. �

RHP�Zach Foster has a 1.10 ERA in 13 relief appearances for the Spikes, with a 2-0 record. In 16.1 innings, he has allowed 7 hits and struck out 13, with batters hitting .130 against him. Foster was the Pirates' 49th pick in the 2008 draft. �

Three Curve batters, 3B Pedro Alvarez, CF Gorkys Hernandez, and C Steve Lerud, each had 3 hits and contributed to a 6-run 4th inning to lead the Curve to a win of the series opener. �The Curve got the scoring started with a run in the 1st inning, on singles by Hernandez and Alvarez, and a sacrifice fly by 1B Miles Durham. �Durham hit another sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning, after singles by 2B Shelby Ford and Alvarez, to give the Curve a 2-0 lead.

Then the Curve blasted the game wide open with a 6-run 4th, as the sent 11 batters to the plate. �Five straight singles, by DH Jason Delaney, Steve Lerud, LF Jeff Corsaletti, Hernandez, and Ford,�began the inning, bringing in 3 runs. �Alvarez walked, and Durham picked up his third RBI (without getting a hit) on a fielder's choice. �With the bases loaded, a wild pitch scored Ford. �SS �Brian Friday was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, still with no outs. �Delaney brought in Alvarez with a sacrifice fly, and two strikeouts ended the inning, and the Curve were ahead 8-0. They made it 10-0 in the 5th, when Corsaletti led off with a walk, Hernandez singled, and Pedro Alvarez hit a 2-RBI double.

The Curve had runners on base in each of the last 3 innings, including bases loaded in the 8th on singles by just-promoted pinch hitter Eddie Prasch and Steve Lerud, plus another walk to Corsaletti. �But a double play ended the inning without a run scoring.

Starter Mike Crotta earned his 6th win of the season with 5.2 innings of work. �He gave up a lone hit in each of the first 4 innings and a walk in the 5th, but left all those runners stranded. He gave up two unearned runs in the 6th, on two singles, two fielding errors, and a sacrifice fly. �Derek Hankins relieved Crotta to finish the 6th, then gave up a run in the 8th on a double and a single, but still earned his first Save of the season. �

Pedro Alvarez has 7 hits in 9 at-bats over his last 2 games. �He's hitting .429 for August and .331 overall for Altoona. �

For the second time in a week, Hillcats' starter Justin Wilson and Kinston starter Paolo Espino faced off in a pitching duel. �The two kept the other's batters scoreless for 5 innings. �Wilson scattered 3 singles and 2 walks over those innings. �Espino gave up singles to DH Jamie Romak, CF Alex Presley, 3B Josh Harrison, and SS Jordy Mercer, then doubles to 1B Matt Hague and 2B�Chase d'Arnaud. �The Hillcats loaded the bases in the 5th inning, with d'Arnaud's double, Harrison hit by a pitch, and a walk to Romak, but they were not able to score. �

Wilson began the 6th inning by walking the lead-off batter, and he was relieved by Moises Robles. �Then Kinston broke the tie with 4 runs, on a single, a walk, a 2-RBI single, and a 2-RBI double. �Tom Boleska pitched the last 3 innings for the Hillcats. �He gave up a single in each of the 7th and 8th, but a double play and a series of grounder force outs kept Kinston from scoring. �Kinston scored one more run in the 9th, with a single and a disputed stolen base, resulting in the ejection of Lynchburg pitching coach Wally Whitehurst. �A throwing error by Jordy Mercer let that runner score from second base. �

The Hillcats finally got onto the scoreboard in the 8th inning. �Matt Hague singled, advanced to second base on a fielding error, moved to third on a ground out, and scored on C Eric Fryer's RBI ground out. �They added one more run in the 9th, on singles by Chase d'Arnaud and Josh Harrison, then a sacrifice fly by Jordy Mercer. �

RF Erik Huber was hit in the head by a pitch in the 6th inning and had to leave the game. �No further word about his condition. �Jamie Romak returned to the lineup after being on the Disabled List with a broken finger. �Bryan Morris, who had been suspended by the Pirates for "unprofessional behavior", returns to action tonight. � He told Chris Lang of the Lynchburg News & Advance that he just wants to "get back out there and put this in the rearview mirror."

3B Bobby Spain led the Power offense with 3 hits and 2 RBI, as a 5-run 7th inning sealed the deal for the Power. �Hickory had scored first, with a solo homer in the 3rd inning, and 2 runs in the 4th on a walk, a single, a wild pitch by starter Brian Leach, and an RBI single. �Leach pitched 5.2 innings and allowed those 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, with 6 strikeouts. �Noah Krol relieved Leach to finish the 6th inning, with a walk and a strikeout, but because of the way the Power scored their runs, Krol was the pitcher of record and was credited with the win. �Duke Welker earned his second Save with 3 scoreless innings (one hit, 2 strikeouts) to finish up.

The Power got one run back in the top of the 6th. �CF Starling Marte led off with a single, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the Hickory catcher. �He scored on Bobby Spain's RBI single. �The Power exploded for 5 runs in the 7th inning. �SS Greg Picart opened the frame with a single, but he was out at second on a force play from LF Robbie Grossman. �Another force attempt was disrupted by a fielding error, and DH Quincy Latimore reached base. �1B Kyle Morgan's double scored Grossman, and Marte's single and a throwing error scored Latimore and Morgan. �2B Danny Bomback tripled, bringing in Marte, and Spain's third single plated Bomback, giving the Power a 6-3 win. �

The Spikes scored in each of their last 4 at-bats to come from behind and beat the Oneonta Tigers. �Tyler Cox pitched 6 innings for the Spikes and had trouble with the Tigers in only one of them. �In the 4th, he gave up three doubles and a single to give the Tigers 4 runs. �Cox also struck out 8 batters. �Victor Black shut down the Tigers in the late innings, pitching 3 scoreless frames and allowing only one hit, while striking out 3 batters. �

Spikes' batters were quiet in the first 4 innings, collecting only a single and a walk. �They broke out in the 5th with 4 runs of their own to tie the game at 4-4. �1B Justin Byler, C Craig Parry, and SS Brock Holt all doubled, and LF Butch Biela and CF Evan Chambers singled, to drive in the runs. �Holt kept it going in the 6th inning with a 2-run homer after 3B Andy Vasquez's walk. �They got some unintentional help from the Tigers' pitcher to score again in the 7th inning. �DH Aaron Baker and RF�David Rubinstein both singled, and two wild pitches by the Tigers' pitcher let Baker score. �The Spikes added their last 2 runs in the 8th with more assistance from the Tigers' pitching staff. �Parry doubled, went to third on another wild pitch (different pitcher), and scored on Holt's sacrifice fly. �2B Ty Summerlin singled and moved to second and then to third on two balks. �He scored on another wild pitch. �

An ugly first inning gave the Clippers a 4-run lead, and that was all they would need to beat the Indians and rehabbing starter Phil Dumatrait (photo)�at Victory Field this evening. �Clippers' starter Carlos Carrasco earned his 9th win of the season, generally dominating the Indians' batters, striking out 10 along the way.

The top of the 1st inning began ominously. �Columbus lead-off batter CF Michael Brantley grounded to third, where 3B Neil Walker made an excellent fielding effort (photo below), came up throwing, and got the ball across the infield to first in plenty of time. �But 1B Jeff Clement dropped the ball for a missed catch error, and Brantley was safe at first. �

It went downhill from there. �SS Jesus Merchan ripped a triple into the right field corner, scoring Brantley with an unearned run. �DH Tony Graffanino's sacrifice fly brought in Merchan (that run was earned). �1B Matt LaPorta hit a long fly ball to the warning track in straight-away center field, not missing a home run by much. �It would have been an extra-base hit, except for CF Chris Barnwell and his leaping back-handed catch at the wall for the second out. �Three consecutive hits, a double by 3B Wes Hodges, a single by C Lou Marson, and a double by RF Stephen Head, plated two more unearned runs. �Head's double was initially called a triple. �He crushed it down the right field line, and RF Tagg Bozied had trouble picking the ball up, so it was ruled a double and a fielding error by Bozied. �Finally, Dumatrait struck out LF Mickey Hall to end the inning. �

That first inning took Dumatrait 30 pitches, nearly a third of the planned "95 pitches or 6 innings" limit for his second rehab start with the Indians. �After that inning, though, Dumatrait settled in and shut the Clippers down. �He faced only one batter over the minimum through the next three innings. �

That one batter, Wes Hodges slapped a sharp come-backer right at Dumatrait, which went off his leg and over toward third base. �Dumatrait chased down the ball right away, but he was off-balance and rushed as he tried to throw to first instead of just holding on to it. �Hodges stumbled as he reached the first base bag, and that kept him from advancing to second base on the wild throw, and prevented Dumatrait from being charged with an error. �

[Photo: �Starters Virgil Vasquez and Daniel McCutchen]

The Clippers managed to touch Dumatrait for only a walk and a single over the next two innings. �He did finish 6 innings, throwing 97 pitches (61 walks). �He was charged with the loss, allowing the 4 runs (one earned) on one walk and 6 hits, with 4 strikeouts. �

Jason Davis took over for Dumatrait for the last 3 innings, and he also kept the Clippers from scoring again. �Davis retired the first 4 batters he faced. �He gave up a one-out single to Matt LaPorta in the 8th, but LaPorta's base running blunder got Davis out of that situation. �With a 1-2 count on the next batter, Wes Hodges, LaPorta took off running when Hodges lifted a fly into left field. �LF Brian Myrow made a rather routine catch of the fly, but noticed that LaPorta had already rounded second and had started for third base. �Myrow's throw, relayed by 2B Brian Bixler, easily reached first base before LaPorta did, for the inning-ending double play. �

[Photo: �Neil Walker and Brian Bixler (on the bench) and Larry Broadway (in front)]

Another double play got Davis out of a jam in the 9th. �Lou Marson led off with his third single of the night, a grounder up the middle. �Stephen Head followed with a single into right field, and Marson's aggressive base running got him to third base on the play -- runners on the corners with no outs. �

Mickey Hall smashed a line drive, but right to SS Argenis Diaz, who alertly fired over to third base, hoping to double up Marson, who had started about a quarter of the way down the third base line toward home. �Neil Walker had to look toward Diaz to take the throw, and reach for the third base bag with his foot as Marson scrambled back to the bag. �Marson was called safe -- the throw was in time, but Walker's foot had just missed the bag, and the Indians missed the double play. �They got another chance at the twin-killing, though. �2B Niuman Romero grounded to Diaz at short, and he began the 6-4-3 (Diaz to Bixler to Clement) double play to end the inning without a run scoring. �

[Photo: �Larry Broadway and Erik Kratz]

Carlos Carrasco was having no trouble with the Indians' batters. �He allowed just one run o n 4 hits over his 8 innings of work, while sending 10 batters back to the dugout without hitting a thing. �Carrasco retired the first 6 Indians in order. �C Erik Kratz led off the 3rd inning with his 22nd double of the season, down to the left field corner. �He advanced to third base on a ground out by Argenis Diaz, but could go no further. �After Kratz, the next 9 Tribe batters also went down in order. �

Then Diaz singled with one out in the 6th, taking a line drive into right-center field. �A wild pitch moved him up to second base, and Brian Bixler's (photo) ground-rule double, which got lost in the Clippers' bullpen, brought Diaz home to break the shut-out. �

Neil Walker had the last hit against Carrasco. �With two outs in the 7th, Walker took a line drive into left field. �He did not hesitate or even think about slowing up as he approached first base, but rounded and headed for second base. �Unfortunately, Clippers' LF Mickey Hall saw what Walker was trying to do, and his throw in got to second just barely before Walker did, and he was tagged out. �

The Tribe made one last effort in the bottom of the 9th, though the rally fell short. �With one out, DH Hector Gimenez doubled into center field. �Brian Myrow grounded to deep behind second base. �SS Jesus Merchan made the dive and the spectacular stop of the ball, but the dive put him in an awkward position for the throw to first base. �Myrow beat it out, and the Tribe had runners on first and third. �A wild pitch by reliever Greg Aquino bounced all the way to the backstop, giving Gimenez plenty of time to score from third base, and moving Myrow to second. �Jeff Clement flied out, and Tagg Bozied walked, giving the Indians two on and two out, with the winning run at the plate in the person of Neil Walker. �Walker took a called strike, then fouled off the next pitch. �Then he took a pitch that looked a little high -- and was called out, ending the game, as the umpire thought it was just fine. �

�� � � � � � � � ��

The loss marked the 7th time this season that the Indians lost the game that would have potentially allowed them to reach the .500 mark. �

Brian Bixler's double in the 6th extended his hitting streak to 13 games, and his on-base streak to 21 games. �Erik Kratz lengthened his hitting streak to 6 games.

Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: �Doubles by Brian Bixler, to bring in Argenis Diaz with the Indians' first run, ending the shut-out bid, and by Hector Gimenez (photo), to get the 9th inning rally started.

Indians' Defensive Gems of the Game: �Argenis Diaz was a vacuum at shortstop, scooping up any ball that came anywhere near him. �He went to his right, to his left, behind the second base bag, into the hole, forward onto the grass, and back into short left field. �He made 8 plays, making them look almost easy, and then he started the double play that ended the top of the 9th inning. �

Jeff Clement.............Daniel McCutchen gets some tips from Bill Gentry

NOTES:�

RHP Eric Hacker (photo) has been named the International League's Pitcher of the Week for August 3-9th. �Hacker made 2 starts for the Tribe last week, winning both. �On Monday in Durham, Hacker pitched 6 innings and allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, with 7 strikeouts. �On Saturday at home against Charlotte, he went 7 innings (tying his longest outing of the season), and allowed one run on 5 hits, with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. �His ERA over those two games is 2.08. �Hacker has a 5-3 record in 15 starts for the Indians, with a 3.20 ERA. �In 84 innings, he's allowed 89 hits, 33 runs (30 earned), 31 walks, and struck out 56.

Jim Massie of the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch has an article about manager Frank Kremblas. �

Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette talked to Neil Walker about his future with the Pirates. �While Walker makes it clear that he "would do anything for the greater good of the Pirates' organization", he feels that he and Brian Bixler, both of the 2004 draft class, are not being treated the same way as more recent top draft picks.

Don't forget to check out the auction of the game-worn jerseys the Tribe players wore on July 25th. �They are Pirates'-style, black with a Pirate face on the front, and they players' name and number on the back.

And, if you are one of those who expressed interest in a t-shirt with Andrew McCutchen's photo on it, those are available at CafePress.

Go Tribe!

[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]

An ugly first inning gave the Clippers a 4-run lead, and that was all they would need to beat the Indians and rehabbing starter Phil Dumatrait (photo)�at Victory Field this evening. �Clippers' starter Carlos Carrasco earned his 9th win of the season, generally dominating the Indians' batters, striking out 10 along the way.

The top of the 1st inning began ominously. �Columbus lead-off batter CF Michael Brantley grounded to third, where 3B Neil Walker made an excellent fielding effort (photo below), came up throwing, and got the ball across the infield to first in plenty of time. �But 1B Jeff Clement dropped the ball for a missed catch error, and Brantley was safe at first. �

It went downhill from there. �SS Jesus Merchan ripped a triple into the right field corner, scoring Brantley with an unearned run. �DH Tony Graffanino's sacrifice fly brought in Merchan (that run was earned). �1B Matt LaPorta hit a long fly ball to the warning track in straight-away center field, not missing a home run by much. �It would have been an extra-base hit, except for CF Chris Barnwell and his leaping back-handed catch at the wall for the second out. �Three consecutive hits, a double by 3B Wes Hodges, a single by C Lou Marson, and a double by RF Stephen Head, plated two more unearned runs. �Head's double was initially called a triple. �He crushed it down the right field line, and RF Tagg Bozied had trouble picking the ball up, so it was ruled a double and a fielding error by Bozied. �Finally, Dumatrait struck out LF Mickey Hall to end the inning. �

That first inning took Dumatrait 30 pitches, nearly a third of the planned "95 pitches or 6 innings" limit for his second rehab start with the Indians. �After that inning, though, Dumatrait settled in and shut the Clippers down. �He faced only one batter over the minimum through the next three innings. �

That one batter, Wes Hodges slapped a sharp come-backer right at Dumatrait, which went off his leg and over toward third base. �Dumatrait chased down the ball right away, but he was off-balance and rushed as he tried to throw to first instead of just holding on to it. �Hodges stumbled as he reached the first base bag, and that kept him from advancing to second base on the wild throw, and prevented Dumatrait from being charged with an error. �

[Photo: �Starters Virgil Vasquez and Daniel McCutchen]

The Clippers managed to touch Dumatrait for only a walk and a single over the next two innings. �He did finish 6 innings, throwing 97 pitches (61 walks). �He was charged with the loss, allowing the 4 runs (one earned) on one walk and 6 hits, with 4 strikeouts. �

Jason Davis took over for Dumatrait for the last 3 innings, and he also kept the Clippers from scoring again. �Davis retired the first 4 batters he faced. �He gave up a one-out single to Matt LaPorta in the 8th, but LaPorta's base running blunder got Davis out of that situation. �With a 1-2 count on the next batter, Wes Hodges, LaPorta took off running when Hodges lifted a fly into left field. �LF Brian Myrow made a rather routine catch of the fly, but noticed that LaPorta had already rounded second and had started for third base. �Myrow's throw, relayed by 2B Brian Bixler, easily reached first base before LaPorta did, for the inning-ending double play. �

[Photo: �Neil Walker and Brian Bixler (on the bench) and Larry Broadway (in front)]

Another double play got Davis out of a jam in the 9th. �Lou Marson led off with his third single of the night, a grounder up the middle. �Stephen Head followed with a single into right field, and Marson's aggressive base running got him to third base on the play -- runners on the corners with no outs. �

Mickey Hall smashed a line drive, but right to SS Argenis Diaz, who alertly fired over to third base, hoping to double up Marson, who had started about a quarter of the way down the third base line toward home. �Neil Walker had to look toward Diaz to take the throw, and reach for the third base bag with his foot as Marson scrambled back to the bag. �Marson was called safe -- the throw was in time, but Walker's foot had just missed the bag, and the Indians missed the double play. �They got another chance at the twin-killing, though. �2B Niuman Romero grounded to Diaz at short, and he began the 6-4-3 (Diaz to Bixler to Clement) double play to end the inning without a run scoring. �

[Photo: �Larry Broadway and Erik Kratz]

Carlos Carrasco was having no trouble with the Indians' batt ers. �He allowed just one run o n 4 hits over his 8 innings of work, while sending 10 batters back to the dugout without hitting a thing. �Carrasco retired the first 6 Indians in order. �C Erik Kratz led off the 3rd inning with his 22nd double of the season, down to the left field corner. �He advanced to third base on a ground out by Argenis Diaz, but could go no further. �After Kratz, the next 9 Tribe batters also went down in order. �

Then Diaz singled with one out in the 6th, taking a line drive into right-center field. �A wild pitch moved him up to second base, and Brian Bixler's (photo) ground-rule double, which got lost in the Clippers' bullpen, brought Diaz home to break the shut-out. �

Neil Walker had the last hit against Carrasco. �With two outs in the 7th, Walker took a line drive into left field. �He did not hesitate or even think about slowing up as he approached first base, but rounded and headed for second base. �Unfortunately, Clippers' LF Mickey Hall saw what Walker was trying to do, and his throw in got to second just barely before Walker did, and he was tagged out. �

The Tribe made one last effort in the bottom of the 9th, though the rally fell short. �With one out, DH Hector Gimenez doubled into center field. �Brian Myrow grounded to deep behind second base. �SS Jesus Merchan made the dive and the spectacular stop of the ball, but the dive put him in an awkward position for the throw to first base. �Myrow beat it out, and the Tribe had runners on first and third. �A wild pitch by reliever Greg Aquino bounced all the way to the backstop, giving Gimenez plenty of time to score from third base, and moving Myrow to second. �Jeff Clement flied out, and Tagg Bozied walked, giving the Indians two on and two out, with the winning run at the plate in the person of Neil Walker. �Walker took a called strike, then fouled off the next pitch. �Then he took a pitch that looked a little high -- and was called out, ending the game, as the umpire thought it was just fine. �

�� � � � � � � � ��

The loss marked the 7th time this season that the Indians lost the game that would have potentially allowed them to reach the .500 mark. �

Brian Bixler's double in the 6th extended his hitting streak to 13 games, and his on-base streak to 21 games. �Erik Kratz lengthened his hitting streak to 6 games.

Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: �Doubles by Brian Bixler, to bring in Argenis Diaz with the Indians' first run, ending the shut-out bid, and by Hector Gimenez (photo), to get the 9th inning rally started.

Indians' Defensive Gems of the Game: �Argenis Diaz was a vacuum at shortstop, scooping up any ball that came anywhere near him. �He went to his right, to his left, behind the second base bag, into the hole, forward onto the grass, and back into short left field. �He made 8 plays, making them look almost easy, and then he started the double play that ended the top of the 9th inning. �

Jeff Clement.............Daniel McCutchen gets some tips from Bill Gentry

NOTES:�

RHP Eric Hacker (photo) has been named the International League's Pitcher of the Week for August 3-9th. �Hacker made 2 starts for the Tribe last week, winning both. �On Monday in Durham, Hacker pitched 6 innings and allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, with 7 strikeouts. �On Saturday at home against Charlotte, he went 7 innings (tying his longest outing of the season), and allowed one run on 5 hits, with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. �His ERA over those two games is 2.08. �Hacker has a 5-3 record in 15 starts for the Indians, with a 3.20 ERA. �In 84 innings, he's allowed 89 hits, 33 runs (30 earned), 31 walks, and struck out 56.

Jim Massie of the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch has an article about manager Frank Kremblas. �

Colin Dunlap of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette talked to Neil Walker about his future with the Pirates. �While Walker makes it clear that he "would do anything for the greater good of the Pirates' organization", he feels that he and Brian Bixler, both of the 2004 draft class, are not being treated the same way as more recent top draft picks.

Don't forget to check out the auction of the game-worn jerseys the Tribe players wore on July 25th. �They are Pirates'-style, black with a Pirate face on the front, and they players' name and number on the back.

And, if you are one of those who expressed interest in a t-shirt with Andrew McCutchen's photo on it, those are available at CafePress.

Go Tribe!

[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]

Daniel McCutchen (photo) added another tally to his bid to be added to the 40-man roster and brought up to the Pirates in another few weeks. �He pitched 7.2 scoreless innings tonight at Victory Field, earning his 11th win of the season with the Indians. �The 7.2 innings was his longest outing of the season, and it took him 105 pitches. �McCutchen admitted in an interview after the game that he had "made some mistakes-- I gave up seven hits." �But he carefully rationed out those hits, and he did many things right to balance out the "mistakes", including striking out 7 Clippers, and retiring the first batter he faced in 7 of the 8 innings he started. �He also credited his teammates for their work behind him. �

McCutchen retired the side in order in the 1st inning, including two strikeouts. �He escaped from a jam in the 2nd inning, with some help from LF Tagg Bozied and C Erik Kratz (photo sequence). �With one out, RF Stephen Head lifted a long fly to the base of the left field scoreboard for a double. �McCutchen got C Lou Marson to pop out to 1B Brian Myrow in foul territory for the second out. �SS Andy Cannizaro lined into left field, and Head raced around third base and headed for the plate. �Bozied made a quick pick-up of the ball and fired it in on a direct line to the plate. �The throw came right to Kratz, on the baseline just in front of the batters' box. �

Kratz was planted in front of the plate, forcing Head to try to circle around him and then try to reach back toward the plate. But Kratz had the ball and made the tag on Head's shoulder or arm, and Head never got near the plate. �The out ended the inning and the biggest threat the Clippers were able to make against McCutchen.

McCutchen worked around a hit in each of the next three innings. �In the 3rd inning, LF Michael Brantley lifted a two-out double into the right-center field gap, and stole third base. �That was as far as Brantley got, though, as McCutchen struck out 2B Josh Barfield to end the inning. �The Clippers put another runner on third base in the 7th inning, when Lou Marson doubled off the left-center field wall. �

He advanced to third base when Andy Cannizaro tapped a little grounder back to the mound. �CF Chris Barnwell saved McCutchen in that inning, as he came charging in to make a running catch of CF Mickey Hall's short fly ball. �If Barnwell had not been able to make that catch, Marson would have easily scored from second base. �

[Photo: Tagg Bozied makes the catch in left field.]

With a pitch count approaching 100, Daniel McCutchen came back out to take the mound in the top of the 8th. �The first batter, 1B Numan Romero put down a long bunt along the first-base side of the infield, that actually got past the mound. �1B Brian Myrow came into the infield grass to make the scoop, but it put him in an awkward position to throw back across his body and behind him to first base, where McCutchen had just reached to cover. �Rather than potentially throwing the ball away, Myrow just held on to the ball, and Romero was safe. But McCutchen got the next two batters to fly out, Michael Brantley to SS Argenis Diaz, who made a running over-the-shoulder catch in the Indians' bullpen, and Josh Barfield to Tagg Bozied in left field. �

That was all for McCutchen. �He was relieved by Jean Machi (photo),�who was making his second appearance with the Indians. �Machi needed only one pitch to finish the inning for McCutchen, getting DH Tony Graffanino to tap an easy grounder back to the mound.

While Tagg Bozied was doing a fine job in left field, he was also making the difference at the plate. �The Indians had at least one base runner reach safely in every inning but the 8th, but most of those runners were left on base. �Two base runners were caught trying to steal second base -- RF Jose Tabata after a single in the first, and Chris Barnwell after being hit by � a pitch in the 5th. �2B Brian Bixler extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a line drive single into left field in the 3rd inning. �Tabata also extended his hitting streak to 7 games, with that single in the 1st and another single in the 6th. �Tagg Bozied also extended his hitting streak, and he did it in the 2nd inning with a no-doubt-about-it solo home run over the left field wall, almost all the way to the sidewalk behind the grass berm. �That gave the Indians and Daniel McCutchen a 1-0 lead, which they clung to for the next 5 innings.

The 7th inning began with an other hit by Bozied (photo), an infield single that was nearly into the outfield. �He smacked it deep into the hole at shortstop, making Clippers' SS Andy Cannizaro go so far back to get the ball that his throw to first base was rushed, and came in wide to the infield side of first base. �Erik Kratz followed with another single, reaching out and swinging with only one hand on the bat at the end of his swing, and spurting the ball into right field. �RF Stephen Head threw across the diamond to third to try to catch Bozied, but the throw was off-target and Bozied slid in safely. �3B Robinzon Diaz hit a grounder to shortstop, which took a wild hop at the last second, up and over SS Andy Cannizaro's head and outstretched glove. �Bozied was off and running, and he scored on the play. �Kratz, who had been at second, had held up, not sure where the ball was going, but reached third base, giving the Indians runners on the corners. �After a strikeout by Chris Barnwell, Argenis Diaz worked a walk to load the bases. �But Brian Bixler bounced into an easy 6-4-3 double play to end the inning without another run scoring. �

The Tribe carried their 2-0 lead into the top of the 9th. �Jean Machi came back out to pitch the 9th, and he began the inning with a 4-pitch walk to 3B Wes Hodges. �Hodges stole second base, and moved on to third base on a grounder to first base by Stephen Head. �Lou Marson dropped a swinging bunt down the third base line as Hodges tore home. �Neil Walker (photo),�who had entered the game in the 9th as a defensive replacement for Robinzon Diaz, made the charging bare-handed scoop, then made the off-balance throw across his body for the out at first base. �It cut the lead to 2-1, but the Tribe was willing to trade the out for the run. Machi finished the game with a strikeout of Andy Cannizaro, to earn his first Save with the Tribe. �

The win again moves the Indians within one game of the .500 mark. �

Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Tagg Bozied's solo home run in the 2nd inning (photo). �It was his 3rd homer since joining the Indians, and his 8th RBI. �

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: Bozied again, with his throw in from left field in the top of the 2nd inning. �He threw a perfect strike to Erik Kratz at home, and Kratz blocked the plate and tagged out Stephen Head to end the inning. �

Jeff Clement waits his turn....... � � Neil Walker, Larry Broadway, and Frank Kremblas

Robinzon Diaz (photo) played third base for the Indians tonight, for the first time this season. �He has played third occasionally in the past while he was in the Blue Jays' organization -- two games for AAA Syracuse in 2008, 8 games for AA New Hampshire in 2007, 9 games for A+ Dunedin in 2006, plus 2 more games at Rookie level in 2002. �Tonight, Diaz played 8 innings at third, then Neil Walker came in as a defensive replacement in the 9th inning. �Good thing, too, because it isn't reasonable to expect that Diaz would have been able to make the play that Walker did in the 9th. �

Go Tribe!

[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]

The Pirates have signed their 6th round draft pick, pitcher Zack Von Rosenberg, a high school player from Texas. �It took $1.2 million to lure him away from college baseball with current NCAA winner LSU. �Von Rosenberg will be reporting to Bradenton, where he might get into a few games at the end of the GCL Pirates' season, and then he will participate in the Fall Instructional League. �The Pirates have now signed their first 10 draft picks (#1-9, plus Comp round A).

An updated list of the Pirates' 2009 draftees is here.�

the Altoona Curve, Lynchburg Hillcats, and State College Spikes all have scheduled days off.

An old-fashioned pitching duel broke out in Bradenton, with the Yankees and the Pirates maintaining their scoreless tie into the bottom of the 12th inning. �The Pirates had collected only �4 hits, plus 5 walks over the first 11 innings of the game. �Then LF�Rogelio Noris led off the bottom of the 12th with a double into center field. �2B Elevys Gonzalez sacrifice bunted Noris over to third base, and RF Wesley Freeman was the hero, with a walk-off 2-run homer. �Noris had also singled in the 4th inning. �1B Gerlis Rodriguez had the Pirates' other 3 hits, a double and two singles. �The Pirates put two runners on base in the 4th, when Noris singled and C Andrew Walker was hit by a pitch, but a double play ended that inning. �They also had two on in the 9th, on a single by Rodriguez and a walk to Noris, but a strikeout ended that threat. �The Pirates didn't have a runner reach as far as third base until Noris did it in the 12th.

Five Pirates' pitchers combined for the 12 shut-out innings. �Seventh round draft pick Trent Stevenson made his professional debut with one perfect inning of work to begin the game (line out, strikeout, fly out). �Zachary Fuesser relieved Stevenson and pitched 3 innings, allowing only one hit in the 4th, and striking out 2. �Jhonatan Ramos was next, and he went 5 innings, allowing 2 hits and a walk, with 3 strikeouts. �All three of the base runners he allowed were eliminated in double plays. �Mitchell Fienemann pitched 2 innings, allowing only a walk. �Rafael Quintero came in to pitch the 12th, allowing a walk and a single. �He was the pitcher of record when Freeman homered, and so earned his first win. �There were only two innings, the 9th and the 12th when the Yankees had two runners on base at the same time, and no Yankee base runners reached third base. �

The Power scored early and often as they overpowered the Crawdads with 15 hits. �1B Kyle Morgan went 4-for-5 at the plate, and C Tony Sanchez and LF Quincy Latimore had 3 hits each, with Sanchez picking up 3 RBI. �The first run came in the 2nd inning, on singles by Latimore and 3B Jeremy Farrell, with an RBI grounder by DH Danny Bomback. �Two more runs scored in the 4th inning, when Sanchez led off with a walk, and both Morgan and Latimore (RBI) scored. �Bomback was intentionally walked, then Morgan scored on RF Austin McClune's sacrifice fly. �

Tony Sanchez homered after SS Greg Picart's single to add two more runs in the 5th inning. �The Crawdads also homered in the bottom of the 5th, but the Power still led 5-1. �Doubles by Sanchez and Morgan and a single by Latimore brought in two more runs in the 7th inning. �Hickory got those two runs back in the 8th, with a solo homer and a walk and a double. �The Power scored their final two runs in the top of the 9th. �Greg Picart tripled and scored on Sanchez's single. �Morgan also singled, and a grounder force out by Latimore put runners on the corners. �Jeremy Farrell's sacrifice fly scored Sanchez, to give the Power the 9-3 win. �

Aaron Pribanic got the start and pitched 5 innings, allowing only the home run in the 5th inning, and 3 other scattered hits, plus a walk. �He earned his first win in the Pirates' organization. �Gabriel Alvarado earned his first save of the season with 4 innings of work, allowing the 2 runs in the 8th inning, on 3 hits and 2 walks, with 5 strikeouts. �