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Indians Fall To a Homer in 12 Innings
Columbus Clippers 2,�
�� �Indianapolis Indians 1
�� � � �(12 innings)
A high fly ball over the left field wall by Clippers' LF Josh Barfield made the difference at Victory Field this afternoon, giving the Clippers a win over the Indians in the 12th inning. �The two teams combined for 21 hits, though only 3 runs, as they left a combined 20 base runners on the base paths. �
After five innings with the score tied 1-1, and wasted opportunities by both teams, Barfield stepped to the plate in the top of the 12th to face Indians' reliever Jeremy Powell (photo),�who was beginning his 4th inning on the mound. Barfield placed Powell's first pitch onto the grass berm beyond the left field wall, not far from the foul pole to give the Clippers a 2-1 lead. �3B Wes Hodges followed the home run with a single, and after Tribe 3B Neil Walker raced to the bullpen to catch a foul fly ball by DH Stephen Head, C Lou Marson bounced into a double play that also eliminated Hodges.
The Indians had one last chance to tie it up again in the bottom of the frame, but Clippers' reliever Greg Aquino got three quick outs, and the game was over. �Powell took the loss, his 7th of the season. �
Erik Hacker (photo) had made the start for the Indians. �He pitched 6 innings, and while he had to contend with Clipper runners on base in 4 of them, he only had serious trouble in the 3rd inning. �With one out in the 3rd, SS Niuman Romero looped a single into left field. �Next, CF Michael Brantley lifted a fly into short center field. �Tribe CF Chris Barnwell raced in for the catch but only succeeded in trapping the ball, for another single, as Romero moved to third base. �After Josh Barfield flied out to center field in a more catchable manner, Wes Hodges lined a single into right field, scoring Romero from third. �
Hacker retired the Clippers in order in two innings and worked around a single and a walk in two other innings. �He also had the advantage of SS Argenis Diaz's�(photo) and�2B Pedro Lopez's stellar work in the middle infield today. �
With runners on first and second and no outs in the 2nd inning, 1B Damaso Espino bounced a grounder off Eric Hacker's glove and on to SS Argenis Diaz. �Diaz flipped the ball towards second base, where Lopez had not been just a second before. �Lopez materialized on the second base bag at precisely the right point in time, snatched the flipped ball out of the air with his bare hand, and fired on to first in time to get Espino out. �It was particularly excellent because the ball had been slowed down when it tipped off Hacker's glove, and the play at first was going to be close. �The very next play was almost an instant replay of an outstanding play from last night. �2B Jesus Merchan grounded toward the hole between first and second base, and the ball seemed destined for right field, and an RBI single. �But Lopez, for the second game in a row, ranged to his left almost behind first base, made the diving catch, hopped to his knees and fired to first in time to get Marchan and keep the run from scoring. �
Argenis Diaz and Pedro Lopez combined for another amazing double play in the 6th inning. �DH Stephen Head led off with a walk, and Lou Marson made the mistake of grounding toward second base. �Diaz went to his left and scooped up the ball as he was crossing behind second base. �He flipped the ball toward nothingness at second base, and once again Pedro Lopez appeared, crossing to his right to step on the sack and make the throw to first base for the double play. �Diaz made another diving stop in the hole behind first base in the 9th inning, though on that play he had enough time to jump up to his feet before firing to first base to throw out Niuman Romero to end the inning and the threat. �
Clippers' starter Hector Rondon pitched 7 innings, and he also had to work around two Indians' base runners in every inning after the first two. �Rondon took advantage of the Indians' base running issues and two double plays. �RF Jose Tabata (photo) was hit by a pitch to begin the bottom of the 1st, and went to second base on Pedro Lopez's sacrifice bunt, but he was picked off second base. �In the 3rd inning, C Erik Kratz led off with a double just barely inside the left field line, but when CF Chris Barnwell�
bunted a little too hard and the ball came right back to Rondon on the mound, Rondon was able to turn and catch Kratz too far off second base. �Kratz (photo) was tagged out easily in what was not even much of a run-down. �
The Tribe put two runners on in an unusual way in the 4th inning. �With one out, Pedro Lopez singled into left field. �LF Brian Myrow flied out, then 1B Jeff Clement grounded to Clippers' shortstop Niuman Romero, who was just two steps off second base. �Romero stepped on second, presumably forcing out Lopez at second, and the players from both teams starte
d walking off the field. �Suddenly, everyone stopped -- home plate umpire Brian Reilly was waving his arms and pointing. �C Lou Marson had interfered with Clement -- Clement was safe at first on Catchers' Interference, and so Lopez was safe at second base after all. �Unfortunately, the Indians couldn't capitalize, as DH Larry Broadway grounded out to first base to end the inning. �
[Photo: �Former Indy Indian (1998, 2004-05) Jon Nunnally is now the Clippers' batting coach]
A walk by Erik Kratz and a single by Argenis Diaz put two runners on for the Tribe in the 5th. Both Kratz and Chris Barnwell singled in the 7th, but Kratz was out at second when he tried to stretch it into a double. �Both times, the Indians left the runners stranded.
The Tribe finally tied the game in the 6th inning. �Pedro Lopez led off with his second single of the game, a grounder up the middle. �He advanced to third base when Brian Myrow followed with a double down the right field line and into the corner. �Jeff Clement brought Lopez in with an RBI grounder to short. �Larry Broadway also singled, with a grounder that just slipped past the diving 3B Wes Hodges. �But 3B Neil Walker (photo below) grounded into another double play, and Roncon escaped without further damage. �
With the score tied, the Indians put runners on base in three of the next four innings. �Brian Myrow lined another double into the right field corner in the 8th inning. �Erik Kratz walked in the 9th, but was doubled off first base when Chris Barnwell cracked a low line drive, shoe-top level, down the first base line and right into the glove of 1B Damaso Espino. �Jeff Clement single up the middle in the 11th, but was picked off and caught stealing. �Larry Broadway was hit by a pitch moments later, but he was also left on base. �
The Clippers were not having much better luck over those same innings. �Juan Mateo relieved Eric Hacker and gave up only a soft loopy single into right field by RF Mickey Hall in the 7th inning. �He got the first two outs in the 8th, and then gave way to Corey Hamman (the only lefty in the bullpen),�who was brought in to face the left-handed Stephen Head. �Hamman dispatched Head quickly with a strikeout. �
Jeremy Powell came in from the bullpen to begin the 9th inning, and the four innings he pitched were riddled with difficulties. �In the 9th, a fly ball off the bat of Damaso Espino dropped in between CF Chris Barnwell and RF Jose Tabata amid what appeared to be a communication problem. �Jesus Merchan followed with a grounder deep behind third base. �Neil Walker was able to get to the ball and made an excellent stop, but the combination of a long and wide throw and the speed of Merchan put Merchan safely on first base and Espino on second with one out. �A fly out by Mickey Hall gave Powell the second out. �
Then Pedro Lopez came to the rescue with his diving stop deep in the hole behind first base, to make the third out of the inning.
Powell got out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th. �Michael Brantley singled, then Powell struck out Josh Barfield. �Next, Powell hit Wes Hodges square in the back with a pitch. �After a pop out by Stephen Head, Powell grazed Lou Marson's hand with another pitch to load the bases. �A fly out to right field ended that threat, and the tie score remained.
The Clippers threatened again in the 11th. �Jesus Merchan led off with a grounder to shortstop. �He beat out SS Argenis Diaz's throw to first, and then advanced to second base when the throw went wild and sailed into the stands. �Mickey Hall sacrifice bunted Merchan to third base. �(Photo sequence) �
C Erik Kratz made the play, and appeared to want to try to throw to third base (since that play worked so well last night), but Jeremy Powell had come off the mound thinking that he might have to make the play, and Powell ended up right next to Kratz and between Kratz and third base -- so Kratz had no choice but to throw to first base. �Niuman Romero attempted a suicide squeeze to bring Merchan home, but instead of dribbling up the baseline, his bunt slipped straight to Jeremy Powell as he came off the mound. �Powell all but fell as he slid to make the play, and flipped the ball to Erik Kratz, who was blocking the plate. �The slender Merchan rammed into Kratz, which was a completely ineffective maneuver -- Kratz was immovable and the ball stayed safely in his glove for the out. �A fly out ended that inning. �Then came the 12th inning and the game-winning homer.
Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Two doubles into the right field corner by Brian Myrow, on two consecutive at-bats. �The first moved Pedro Lopez over to third base in the run-scoring rally in the 6th. �They were Myrow's 21st and 22nd doubles of the season.
Indians' Defensive Gems of the Game: �As described above, two perfectly choreographed double plays by Argenis Diaz and Pedro Lopez, and two diving stops of grounders that looked destined for the outfield by Lopez.
NOTES:
Jeff Salazar (photo) was back with the Indians last night, after clearing waivers. �He should be activated in another day or two. �
Brian Bixler got the start as shortstop for the Pirates this afternoon. �He went 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and two strikeouts.
Go Tribe!
[Photos by Nancy Zinni-- MVN]
Defense Hurts Vasquez and Tribe
Louisville Bats 4,
�� � Indianapolis Indians 2Three errors by the Indianapolis Indians gave the Bats critical unearned runs, and kept Virgil Vasquez and the Indians from the win at Victory Field tonight. �Vasquez (photo) pitched 7 innings and allowed one earned run on 6 hits and a walk, but still suffered the hard-luck loss, his 4th of the season. �The Indians offense was held to just two hits in the game, and they could not capitalize on the few chances they had.
Vasquez began his outing by facing the minimum over the first two innings. �Bats 2B Luis Bolivar grounded a single up the middle to lead off the game. �Vasquez made several throws over to first base to keep Bolivar, who has stolen 22 bases already this season, close to the bag. �Bolivar was safe each time, but he was finally surprised by C Robinzon Diaz, who made a snap throw down to first on a pitch to RF Darnell McDonald, to pick Bolivar off. �
After that first inning, there was�a pattern to the Bats' at-bats: �if Vasquez, or later relievers�Jon Meloan�and�Jean Machi,�got the first Louisville batter of the inning out, then not only would the Bats not score that inning, but they would go down in order. �If the first batter reached base, then the Bats would score. �
In the 3rd inning, Vasquez gave up two line drives to the first two batters of the inning, SS Chris Valaika and C Chris Denove. �Pitcher Travis Wood did what was expected -- he dropped down a bunt, to the left of the mound in front of the plate (photo sequence). �Vasquez leapt off the mound and pounced on the ball. �
C Robinzon Diaz shouted and pointed for Vasquez to throw to first base, but Vasquez had other ideas. �He whirled and threw to third base, where 3B Neil Walker,�who had initially began charging into the infield grass, had gone back to cover the bag. �With the lead runner Valaika sliding into third, Walker made the catch to force out Valaika (as Robinzon Diaz is still pointing over to first base).
But the inning wasn't over. �With one out and runners on first and second, Luis Bolivar grounded to Neil Walker, but the hop played Walker instead of the other way around, and the ball bounced off Walker's chest and away from him -- �bases loaded. �
CF Chris Heisey popped up to Walker on the third base line for the second out of the inning, and it looked like Vasquez might get out of the inning. �The next batter, Darnell McDonald, hit a swinging bunt that landed just in front of the plate right near the third base line. �Robinzon Diaz scrambled to snatch up the ball and turned to tag the lead runner Denove as he ran past. �As Diaz lunged at Denove, Denove ran into Diaz's gloved hand -- and the ball popped out of his glove. �Denove was safe at the plate, and Diaz was charged with the second error of the inning. �3B Juan Francisco flied out to end the inning, with the Bats ahead 1-0.
Bats' starter Travis Wood had also held the Indians scoreless in the first two innings. �He allowed the Tribe's first base runner in the bottom of the 3rd, when he walked Robinzon Diaz to begin the inning. �Wood struck out SS Argenis Diaz and got Virgil Vasquez to ground out. �Then CF Jose Tabata got the Tribe's first hit of the game -- a booming home run, 370 feet long, over the right field wall, bringing in Robinzon Diaz and giving the Indians a 2-1 lead. �
Virgil Vasquez continued the pattern he'd set with the Bats' at-bats. �He retired the side in the 4th inning, but then gave up a lead-off single to Chris Denove in the 5th inning. �Another bunt by Travis Wood, this one a�
sacrifice, moved Denove to second base, and Luis Bolivar smacked a line drive off Vasquez's glove and into center field, scoring Denove to tie the game at 2-2. �In the 6th, it was 3B Juan Francisco who had the lead-off hit, on a short fly that dropped into center field, just out of everyone's reach. �Francisco advanced to second base when 2B Todd Frazier, just brought up from AA, worked a walk. �Vasquez got a pop out and a fly out, and it looked like he was goin
g to get the third out when Denove grounded right to SS Argenis Diaz. �But just as Diaz was reaching down for the ball, his foot slipped and the ball slid right under his glove and into left field as Diaz fell to the ground. �It was ruled an error, and Francisco came in to score the go-ahead run. �Bats 3, Indians 2.
[Photo: �Neil Walker catches Chris Heisey's pop up, with Chris Denove on third base.]
Vasquez again retired the Bats in order in the 7th inning. �He was relieved after that, having thrown exactly 100 pitches, 66 of them strikes. �He exited on the losing side, through no fault of his own. �Jon Meloan (photo) came on to pitch the 8th inning. �He also retired the Bats in order, on an outstanding diving stop of a grounder by 2B Pedro Lopez, a strikeout, and a fly out. �It took Meloan 12 pitches. �
Jean Machi took the mound for the 9th inning. �In his previous 5 appearances with the Indians (6.1 innings), Machi had not allowed any hits, and only one earned run. �He broke that streak tonight. �The first batter Machi faced, Chris Valaika, slammed a long fly ball over the left field wall, which LF�Brian Myrow could only turn and watch sail over his head. �Machi gave up another hit, a bloop single to Chris Denove, before getting three outs to end the inning. �
The two runs in the 3rd inning were all the Indians were able to get. �Travis Wood allowed the Tribe only one base runner over the 4th through 7th innings, when Argenis Diaz reached base on a fielding error by 2B Todd Frazier in the 5th. �Wood struck out the side in the 7th inning. �
[Photo: �Manager Frank Kremblas gives the signs]
The Indians had one big chance in the 8th inning. �With reliever Federico Baez on in relief of Wood, the Indians collected their second hit of the game. �Robinzon Diaz led off with a line drive into left field. �Argenis Diaz �bunted Robinzon Diaz to second base. �Pinch-hitter Larry Broadway, in for the pitchers' spot, worked a walk to put two runners on base for Jose Tabata, who stepped to the plate with a .351 average. �Tabata was patient and he also worked a walk. �That brought up Pedro Lopez and his .329 average with the bases loaded and one out. �But Lopez was not patient, and he slapped the first pitch from Baez right to SS Chris Valaika. �The easy 6-4-3 double play ended the inning, and the Tribe again failed to capitalize on their opportunity. �The Indians went down in order in the 9th, and the Bats had their 4th win in the 6-game split series. �
The Indians will have 5 more games against the Bats, in another split series to wrap up the season. �Tomorrow the Tribe will begin a 4-game series against the Columbus Clippers at Victory Field.
Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Only two hits to choose from, and the better of the two was Jose Tabata's (photo) 3rd home run since joining the Tribe.
Indians' Defensive Gems of the Game: �#1 -- Virgil Vasquez's play on Travis Wood's bunt in the 3rd inning, getting the lead runner out at third. �#2 -- 2B Pedro Lopez's diving stop of Juan Francisco's grounder toward right field in the 8th inning. �The ball looked like a sure single, but Lopez went far to his right and made a full-out dive, just managing to snag the ball in his glove. �Then he hopped up and thew from his knees to Jeff Clement at first base in time to make the out. �
�
Go Tribe!
[photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]
Bats Rain Down On Indians
Louisville Bats 15,�
�� Indianapolis Indians 6
The rain began in the third inning at Victory Field tonight, and that's about when the Bats began raining hits and runs down on the Indianapolis Indians. �The rain got heavier and lighter but didn't ever completely stop. �The Bats scored a few more and a few less and were even held scoreless for a couple of innings, but their steady rain didn't ever completely stop either. �
When it was over, the Bats had posted 18 hits and 15 runs, and took advantage of 2 errors by the Indians. �Five of their runs were unearned. �The Indians had 12 hits and 6 runs, but when the Bats made errors, they didn't turn the errors to their advantage. �
It wasn't too bad for the first three batters of the game. �Ty Taubenheim (photo above),�making his first start in several weeks, got into trouble in the first inning. �He hit the first batter of the game, 2B Luis Bolivar, who then stole second base. �Rehabbing 3B Scott Rolen smacked the ball right back to the mound, and Taubenheim quickly whirled and charged at Bolivar, who had ventured far off second base. �Taubenheim fired to SS Argenis Diaz, who chased Bolivar toward third base and tagged him for the out. �Rolen made it to second base while the play was developing. �RF Darnell McDonald grounded sharply between shortstop and third, but 3B Neil Walker (photo sequence) robbed him of a hit with a full-out dive to his left and a quick hop up to fire to first base in time. �
Rolen went to third on the play, and you could see Walker thinking, almost as if a little cartoon cloud had appeared in the air over his head, that maybe he could tag out Rolen as he ran past. �But Walker was a few steps back on the infield dirt, and Rolen was out of his reach. �Walker was still able to throw to first in time to get McDonald. �LF Juan Francisco, who the Indians have seen swing at almost anything, singled into right field, scoring Rolen. �CF Chris Heisey grounded to third, and Neil Walker made another outstanding stop, with his momentum carrying him well into foul territory. �His throw to first might have been on time, but 1B Jeff Clement dropped the ball just as Heisey crossed the bag. �
Bats' 1B Wes Bankston brought both Francisco and Heisey in with a double that fell in just out of RF Tagg Bozied's�reach in right field. �Finally, Taubenheim ended the inning with a strikeout of SS Chris Valaika. �
Taubenheim kept the Bats scoreless in the 2nd inning. �Neil Walker made another outstanding play at third, charging onto the infield grass to scoop up a ball to the left of the mound, which Taubenheim might have been able to get to, to throw out C Corky Miller. �Luis Bolivar reached base when his bunt trickled down the third base line and never did slide across the foul line, but Taubenheim struck out Scott Rolen to end the inning. �
The Indians were still in the game at that point. �CF Jose Tabata led off the bottom of the 1st with a single that bounced off the back of the mound and continued into center field. �He also stole second base, and moved to third on LF Brian Myrow's single that slipped past 3B Scott Rolen and into left field before Rolen could react. �Jeff Clement brought Tabata across the plate with a sacrifice fly. �Tagg Bozied led off the 2nd inning with a bloop broken bat single over second base and into center field. �Neil Walker surprised the Bats by dropping down a perfect sacrifice bunt, his first sac bunt of the season, to move Bozied to second base. �A wild pitch put Bozied on third base, and Argenis Diaz popped a single into short right-center field, to score Bozied. �The Indians were within one run of the Bats, 3-2. �
[Photo: �Chris Barnwell and Ty Taubenheim]
Then it got ugly.
Third Inning: �The dark clouds moved in, the wind changed direction and picked up, and the rain began to fall. �The Bats batted around, scoring 4 runs after Taubenheim had gotten two outs. �A double, an error, a double, a walk, two singles, and a passed ball. �With Chris Heisey on second base after a double, Wes Bankston grounded to short. �Instead of throwing to first to get what would have been a near-certain third out on Bankston, SS Argenis Diaz was distracted by Heisey running past him, and threw to third base. �If the throw had been on target, and if Neil Walker hadn't been as surprised as everyone else by the throw, Walker might have had a chance of making the catch and tagging out Heisey. �But
Walker just barely got there and the throw was wide and in the dirt. � As the ball skipped over towards the Indians' dugout, Heisey rounded third and scored easily, and Bankston made it to second base. �Taubenheim was pulled after 8 of the batters, and the newest member of the Tribe, Jeff Sues, came on in relief with the bases loaded. �His third pitch became the passed ball, which scored Corky Miller from third. �A fly out ended the inning.
Fourth Inning: �Sues (photo) stayed in the game, and had gotten two quick outs. �Then Chris Heisey lifted a long fly ball to straight-away center field. �Jose Tabata went back, back, back -- and then there was suddenly a wall in the way. �Tabata slammed into the wall as the ball hit the wall and both bounced. �The ball trailed away along the warning track towards left field, and by the time Brian Myrow could come over to chase it down, Heisey had an inside-the-park home run. �Tabata took a few moments to get up and walk around. �He was checked out by trainer Jose Ministral, and was able to remain in the game.
Fifth Inning: Sues gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. �A sacrifice bunt put the runners on second and third, and a sacrifice fly by Luis Bolivar and a single by Scott Rolen scored two runs.
Eighth Inning: �The Bats batted around again for another 4 runs. �Corey Hamman, who had just pitched 2 scoreless innings, began the inning with a walk, a double, and a single for one run. �Then a grounder got under Neil Walker's glove and past him, and another run came in. �For the second time in a week, Larry Broadway (photo) came on to pitch for the Indians. �Broadway had pitched 2 scoreless innings for the Indians already this season, but today was not as good. �He gave up back-to-back singles to the first two batters he faced, bringing in two more runs. �
Ninth Inning: �Not one, but two position players taking the mound. �Chris Barnwell (photo below) came on to pitch. �He got Michael Griffin to ground out to third, then gave up a booming home run to Darnell McDonald. �Juan Francisco tapped what he thought was a foul ball, but the home plate umpire called it fair. �C Erik Kratz just needed to take three steps forward, pick up the ball, and tag Francisco. �Barnwell walked Chris Heisey, and then got Wes Bankston to fly out. �
Taubenheim was charged with the loss, his 9th of the season. �He made 67 pitches (45 strikes) in his 2.2 innings, and gave up 3 earned runs and 4 unearned runs, on 9 hits and a walk. �Sues was responsible for 3 runs. �Hamman was responsible for 4 runs, though one was unearned. �Larry Broadway was the only pitcher who was not charged with an earned run, though he let the inherited runners score.
Bats' LF Juan Francisco made a very wild throw to the plate in the 5th inning, moving two runners into scoring position with one out. �But the Indians' couldn't capitalize, as Erik Kratz struck out and Argenis Diaz grounded out to end the inning and leave the runners in place. �
1B Wes Bankston made a fielding error on Neil Walker's grounder behind the first base bag in the 8th inning. �The Indians couldn't take advantage, though, and a line out, a grounder force out, and a fly out later, the Indians left another runner on base.
There were a few positives for the Tribe:
Brian Myrow went 4-for-4 at the plate, with a double and three singles, a walk, and 2 RBI.
Jose Tabata went 3-for-5 with a double. �
Neil Walker went 2-for-3, with two RBI singles. �He had the sacrifice bunt in the 2nd inning, and reached base on a fielding error by Bats' 1B Wes Bankston in the 8th. �He ended the game with a sharp line drive right into Bankston's glove in the 9th.
The Tribe scored one run in the 3rd inning. �Brian Myrow and Jeff Clement had back-to-back walks with one out, and Neil Walker's first RBI single brought Myrow in. �
[Photo: �Larry Broadway on the mound]
Walker brought in another run in the 5th inning. �Myrow led off with a double, and Jeff Clement walked. �Walker lined a single into left field, scoring Myrow from second base. �
The Indians didn't give up. �They scored two more runs in the 9th inning, which opened with three straight hits: �a single by Jose Tabata, a double into the right field corner by Pedro Lopez, and Brian Myrow's fourth hit of the night, which scored both Tabata and Lopez. �
Pedro Lopez's double in the 9th extended his hitting streak to 7 games.
Tagg Bozied extended his hitting streak to 8 games.
Corey Hamman pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowing only a walk, in the 6th and 7th innings.
[Photo: �Chris Barnwell considers his next pitch]
Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: �Brian Myrow's 4 hits, with 2 RBI. �
Indians' Defensive Gems of the Game: �Several strong plays at third by Neil Walker, and a double play by the middle infield, Pedro Lopez to Argenis Diaz to Jeff Clement (4-6-3) in the 3rd inning. �
Ty Taubenheim and Jeff Sues take their turns at the plate (note no battin
g gloves for Sues)
NOTES:
Phil Dumatrait's rehab time is over, and he has been added back onto the Pirates' 40-man and 25-man active rosters. �The Pirates made space for him on the active roster by placing Jeff Karstens on the bereavement list (his grandmother is ill). �To make room on the 40-man roster, Evan Meek was moved to the 60-day disabled list. �Meek was on the DL with an oblique strain, and this means the end of his season. �
Go Tribe!
[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]
McCutchen Wins Lucky 13; 4 RBI For Walker
Indianapolis Indians 8,�� �Louisville Bats 3
box �
Tribe starting pitcher Daniel McCutchen gave another boost to his chances of being called up to Pittsburgh before September 1st. �He earned his 13th win of the season tonight at Victory Field, with 7 impressive innings of work, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk, and striking out his season-best 8 Bats' batters. �He was aided in his effort by three of his teammates' having multi-hit nights: �2 singles by 2B Pedro Lopez, 2�singles and 2 RBI by LF Brian Myrow, and 2 doubles and 4 RBI by 3B Neil Walker.�
McCutchen began with two quick innings, allowing one lone hit in each. �3B Scott Rolen, on a rehab assignment from the Bats' parent Cincinnati Reds, lined a single up the middle in the top of the 1st inning, but was left standing on first base. �CF Chris Heisey led off the 2nd inning with a swinging bunt that rolled slowly along the third base line. �McCutchen and 3B Neil Walker were hoping the ball would roll foul, but it didn't. �By the time it became clear that the ball was going to stay fair, Walker was able to scoop it up (photo), but had no chance of making the play at first, so he held onto the ball, rather than make a poor off-balance throw. �Heisey moved to second base on a ground out and to third on a fly out, but McCutchen left him there when he struck out C Chris Denove -- McCutchen's third strikeout in the first two innings. �
McCutchen had a tougher 3rd inning. �He struck out three batters, but did so around three hits, which allowed a run to score. �He began by striking out Bats' starter Matt Klinker. �2B Luis Bolivar crushed a long fly ball to just in front of the outfield wall at the 418-foot sign, the deepest part of Victory Field, for a triple. �
Scott Rolen (photo) followed with a line drive into center field, scoring Bolivar. �McCutchen struck out RF Darnell McDonald for the second out. �LF Juan Francisco, who came into the game with 8 hits in 19 at-bats in his first 5 games since being promoted from AA, sliced a single past the diving 1B Jeff Clement, moving Rolen to third base. �Then McCutchen struck out Chris Heisey to end the inning, with the Bats ahead 1-0.
The Tribe didn't let that lead last for long. �Bats' starter Matt Klinker was in control for the first two innings, allowing only a single up the middle by Pedro Lopez, and striking out 5 batters. �It fell to Daniel McCutchen to get the Tribe bats going in the 3rd inning. �With one out, McCutchen dropped down the perfect bunt, which stopped in front of the plate, but just too far out of reach of both Klinker and C Chris Denove. �McCutchen runs well, and he beat out the throw to first base, for a single. �After the game, McCutchen admitted, "I was just trying to spark a rally and get something going.... everyone knows that I am not a very good hitter, but I have some wheels."
[Photo: the Slugger McCutchen]
CF Jose Tabata followed McCutchen's bunt single with a double into the right field corner, which moved McCutchen to third base. �Pedro Lopez drove in McCutchen with a grounder to first base. �Bats' 1B Wes Bankston made a fine back-handed stop of the ball, and from his knees flipped it to Klinker covering first, but it allowed McCutchen to score the tying run. �
Klinker held the Indians to only two base runners over the next two innings. �RF Tagg Bozied was hit on the left arm/sleeve by a pitch in the 4th, but was out when Neil Walker grounded sharply to short, starting a double play. �Daniel McCutchen worked a walk in the 5th inning, but was left on base. �
The Indians got to Klinker in the 6th inning. �Pedro Lopez (photo) led off with his second hit of the game, a blooper just over the head of 1B Wes Bankston and into short right field. �
Brian Myrow hit a hard grounder just past SS Chris Valaika. �After Jeff Clement popped out in foul territory, Tagg Bozied lifted an easy loopy hit into short right field, scoring Lopez from second base with the go-ahead run. �Myrow went to third on the play, and moments later, Bozied stole second base. �Neil Walker followed with a fly ball to left field that dropped in just out of everyone's reach in short left behind third base. �Both Myrow and Bozied came around to score, and while the Bats were busy throwing the ball to the plate (way wide), Walker went to second base on the throw. �Walker was credited with a double by the official scorer, but he did not start moving toward second base until the throw was made (everybody gets a break once in a while). �C Erik Kratz popped out just behind the pitchers' mound for the second out, and SS Argenis Diaz was intentionally walked so that the Bats could pitch to Daniel McCutchen.
�McCutchen struck out to end the inning, but the Indians had taken a 4-1 lead.�
After giving up the run in the 3rd inning, McCutchen retired the next 10 bats in order. �That took him to the top of the 7th inning, with one out. �Chris Valaika dribbled a swinging bunt down the third base line. �Once again, Neil Walker made the scoop without any trouble, but this time he couldn't pick the ball out of his glove in time, and Valaika was safe at first. �Walker made the play perfectly when the next batter, Chris Denove, dropped a bunt down the third base line. �Denove was out at first, and Valaika advanced to second base. �Pinch-hitter Danny Dorn hit for Matt Klinker, and lined a single into right field, plating Valaika. �After a walk to Luis Bolivar, McCutchen got pinch-hitter Michael Griffin (in for Scott Rolen) to fly out to end the inning. �That was all for McCutchen, who had thrown 103 pitches, 75 for strikes. �
The Indians were not done at the plate, though. �They came back out in the bottom of the 7th to bat around and score 4 more runs off Bats' relievers Pedro Viola and Enerio Del Rosario. �Viola began the inning by walking Jose Tabata on four pitches. �Pedro Lopez deposited an excellent sacrifice bunt to move Tabata to second base. �Brian Myrow (photo) followed with a huge blast, a no-doubter, 410 feet over the right field wall to the top of the grass berm, for a 2-run homer. �The homer rattled Viola, who walked the next two batters, Jeff Clement and Tagg Bozied. �That brought Bats' manager Rick Sweet out of the dugout and sent Viola to the showers. �Enerio Del Rosario came on, and the first batter he faced was Neil Walker. �The first pitch to Walker sailed all the way to the backstop for a wild pitch, moving Clement and Bozied up 90 feet. �That put them into scoring position for Walker, who ripped a line drive down the first base/right field line, which glanced off the glove of 1B Wes Bankston and kept going into the right field corner. �This was a "true" double for Walker, his second 2-RBI double of the game. �Walker moved to third base when Argenis Diaz reached on an error -- the ball popped out of Juan Francisco's glove (he had moved from left field to third base). �That was all for the Indians, as Walker and Argenis Diaz were left on base when pinch-hitter Robinzon Diaz struck out. �Indians 8, Bats 2.
Juan Mateo relieved Daniel McCutchen to pitch the 8th inning. �He walked the first batter, Darnell McDonald. �Juan Francisco made up for his error by smacking a fly ball to left center field. �Jose Tabata chased after it and made a slide to try to catch it, but the ball got past him and rolled all the way to the wall before Brian Myrow could track it down. �Francisco rolled into third base, and McDonald scored. �Mateo settled down after that, getting an infield pop up and two strikeouts to finish the inning without letting Francisco move that last 90 feet. �
Jon Meloan (photo) pitched the 9th inning for the Indians. �He put the Bats down in order, including a strikeout. �
Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: �#1: Brian Myrow's 2-run homer in the 7th inning. �It was his 12th of the season, his 5th with the Indians, and his 3rd in August. � #2: �Neil Walker's two 2-RBI doubles, #28 and #29 for the season. �That ties him for the 4th most doubles in the International League, and gives him 5 straight games with a double. �He also now has 60 RBI.
Indians' Defensive Gems of the Game: �A strong pitching performance by Daniel McCutchen, including his season-best 8 strikeouts, and in the middle innings, 11 batters in a row retired.�
Photos:
Scott Rolen at third base...... � � Tagg Bozied makes the catch in right field
Jose Tabata � � � ...................... � � � � � Erik Kratz
NOTES:
Pedro Lopez has extended his hitting streak and multi-hit game streak to 6. �He is hitting 15-for-26 (.615) in those games. �
Neil Walker is hitting .364 (24-for-66) in August, with 12 doubles, 2 homers, 20 RBI, and a .636 slugging percentage. �
Chris Barnwell and a rookie did some work on the field after the game.
Go Tribe!
[Photos by Nancy Zinni]
Three Homers Lift Indians; Dumatrait’s Last Rehab
Indianapolis Indians 6,�
�� �Louisville Bats 4
The Indians stopped their 3-game skid with a win over the Bats tonight at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, KY. �Three booming home runs accounted for 5 of the Indians' 6 runs, as C Erik Kratz, 1B Robinzon Diaz, and CF Jose Tabata each collected a round-tripper. �Starter Brad Lincoln contributed 2 hits to his winning effort, while the relief corps shut the Bats down in the late innings. �Phil Dumatrait (photo) made another rehab appearance, and Jeff Sues made his AAA debut. �
Tonight's game began in a more encouraging way than yesterday's for the Tribe. �First,�Jose Tabata (photo) was back in the line-up after having missed a couple of days due to spasms in his leg. �Then, Tabata took a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall for a solo homer to open the game. �Two outs later,�Erik Kratz blasted what at first looked like the second home run of the inning. �The call was contested, though, and the final ruling (confirmed to be correct by radio broadcasters Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley, who had the benefit of seeing the replay) was that the ball hit the top of the left field wall, but below the yellow line, and bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. �RF Tagg Bozied followed with a single into right field, and Kratz headed for the plate. �The throw in from Bats' RF Michael Griffin to C Corky Miller was right on target, though. �Kratz was unable to bowl over Miller to dislodge the ball, and he was out at the plate to end the inning. �
The momentum continued in the 2nd inning. �3B Neil Walker walked to lead off the inning, and Robinzon Diaz (photo) blasted a no-doubt-about-it 2-run home run over the left field wall. �Bats' LF Danny Dorn did not even take a step, just turned and watched it zoom over his head and into the grass berm. �It was Diaz's second home run in as many days. �Tribe pitcher Brad Lincoln tried to keep the rally going by beating out an infield single, but Jose Tabata grounded into a double play to end the inning. �
Brad Lincoln got off to a good start on the mound too. �He retired the Bats in order in the 1st and 3rd innings, but gave up a run in the 2nd inning, on singles to 3B Juan Francisco and LF Daniel Dorn, and a sacrifice fly by RF Michael Griffin. �
The Indians got that run back in the top of the 4th inning, amid flying bats (not Bats) and base running problems. �Neil Walker began with a broken-bat single into left field. �The barrel of his bat landed in the infield dirt at shortstop. �Robinzon Diaz took a swing at Bats' starter Ben Jukich's first pitch, and his bat went sailing over the infield and into the outfield grass behind third base. �With Diaz at the plate, Jukich turned and fired over to first base, picking Walker off first, on what the Indians felt should have been called a balk. �Diaz singled to deep short, and his bat also broke, with the barrel ending up by the third base coaching box. �SS Argenis Diaz�singled into left field, with Robinzon Diaz heading to second base. �Robinzon Diaz �broke for third base, and was easily caught off and trapped in a run-down. �Robinzon Diaz �delayed long enough for Argenis Diaz to advance to second base before the tag was applied. Brad Lincoln singled into left field for the fourth straight single of the inning, and Argenis Diaz rounded third and headed for the plate. �The throw in from LF Danny Dorn was short, and Argenis Diaz slid right across the plate, as home plate umpire Takeshi Hirabayashi called Diaz safe. �Bats' C Corky Miller had to go out in front of the plate to make the catch, but then he turned and chased Argenis Diaz who was heading back to the dugout. �Miller tagged Diaz with the ball, and the umpire �Hirabayashi called Diaz out -- then immediately called him safe again. �Confusion reigned for a few moments, but the last (and first) ruling held, and Diaz was safe. �Indians 4, Bats 1.
The Bats came back to score again in the bottom of the 4th. �3B Juan Francisco homered for the third straight game to bring the Bats closer: �4-2. �Brad Lincoln's (photo) struggles continued, as 1B Wes Bankston singled and Danny Dorn doubled. �Michael Griffin's sacrifice fly brought in Bankston to bring the Bats within one run of the Tribe. �Lincoln thew a wild pitch that sailed all the way to the backstop, and Dorn advanced to third base. �Corky Miller was intentionally walked, giving the Bats runners on the corners, but the pitcher Ben Jukich at the plate. �That stragegy backfired on the Indians. �Jukich ripped a line drive down the left field line, scoring Dorn easily from third base. �Miller, who is not exactly a speed demon, scrambled around to third base as the throw came in from LF Hector Gimenez. �If Gimenez's throw had been on target, Neil Walker would have been able to tag out Miller, but the throw was high and Walker had to make a basketball jump to bring it down, and Miller w
as safe. �Lincoln struck out 2B Luis
Bolivar to end the inning, but the Bats had tied the score at 4-4.
In the top of the 5th, Erik Kratz got his revenge for just missing a homer in the 1st inning. �This time he crushed the ball about 440 feet, well over the left field wall, bouncing on the concrete and up to hit the jumbotron scoreboard. �Hector Gimenez had singled ahead of Kratz, so the 2-run homer put the Indians ahead 6-4. �
The Indians had planned to have Brad Lincoln pitch only 5 innings, as the Pirates are getting concerned that Lincoln (among other pitchers in the organization) have racked up quite a lot of innings this season, with three weeks still to go. �Lincoln left with the lead, having thrown 72 pitches (49 strikes), and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, with a walk and three strikeouts. �Phil Dumatrait came in from the bullpen, making his last rehab appearance with the Indians. �He retired the Bats in order in two innings, with the help of Jose Tabata, who made a catch at the center field wall on 1B Eric Eymann's long fly ball.
The Indians put a runner on base in each of the last three innings, but couldn't get them around to score. �2B Pedro Lopez collected his second hit of the game with a lead-off single in the 7th, but was out in a force at second base, and no run scored. �Neil Walker (photo) smacked his second hit of the game in the 8th, on a fly ball into left field that got past Danny Dorn and rolled all the �way to the wall for a double. �Walker was still standing on second base, though, when the inning ended. �Lopez walked in the 9th inning, but was again left stranded.
The newest member of the Tribe, righty reliever Jeff Sues, fresh up from Altoona, came in to pitch the 8th inning. �The first batter he faced, CF Darnell McDonald, tripled into the right field corner. �He struck out Juan Francisco and pinch-hitter Chris Heisey, and that was enough for Sues in his AAA debut. �Corey Hamman, a lefty, came on to face the left-handed Danny Dorn. �He got Dorn to roll a little grounder down to first base for the third out, leaving McDonald still standing 90 feet away from scoring another run. �
Jean Machi pitched the bottom of the 9th inning, and retired the Bats in order, to earn his 3rd save. �
The Tribe totalled 14 hits in the game, and five Indians' batters had 2 hits each: �Pedro Lopez, Erik Kratz, Neil Walker, Robinzon Diaz, and Brad Lincoln. �Lincoln's batting average now stands at .571. �
The Indians return home on Thursday to begin a week-long homestand. �They will have three games against the Bats, and then four games with the Columbus Clippers. �
Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Erik Kratz (photo) had two hits, but his 9th home run of the season, which came in the 5th inning, broke the tie and gave the Indians a go-ahead run and an insurance run.
Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �In the bottom of the 3rd inning, � hit a sharp grounder toward third base. �Neil Walker charged onto the infield grass to make the play between bounces, and make the off-balance throw to first base, where Robinzon Diaz made the low scoop for the out. �Walker made a few other good plays at third as well.�
NOTES:
Roster Moves:
Reliever Jeff Sues (rhymes with "juice") has been promoted from Altoona to the Indians. �He had made 40 appearances, all in relief, for the Curve, with a 2-6 record, 2 saves, and a 4.46 ERA. �Opponents hit .225 off him. � In 78.2 innings, Sues gave up 66 hits, 43 runs (39 earned), 37 walks, and struck out 74 batters. �Sues has done better in July and early August. �His ERA was 2.93 in this last 7 weeks, with 30 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. �
Phil Dumatrait's rehab appearance was his last before his rehab time expires on Friday (before the game). �The Pirates now have to decide what to do with him. �Dumatrait is not currently on the 40-man roster, so if he is added, someone else will have to come off. �If they want him to stay in Indianapolis, he would have to go through waivers.
Pedro Lopez now has 5 straight multi-hit games. �His batting average is .342.
Go Tribe!
[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]
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