PIRATES PROSPECTSPITTSBURGH PIRATES MINOR LEAGUE NEWS, TRANSACTIONS, AND ARTICLES

Bixler has earned this call-up, after hitting .343 for the month of July, with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 6 homers, and 20 RBI. �That hot hitting continued into August, with Bixler hitting .321, with 2 more singles, 3 more homers, and 6 RBI. Bixler was a late scratch from last night's Indians' game, interrupting his 15-game hitting streak. �

Bautista made 35 appearances for the Pirates last season, all in relief, earning a 4-3 record and a 6.10 ERA. �He has been with the Indy Indians all season, making 36 relief appearances for 48 innings. �He's allowed 54 hits and 29 runs (26 earned) with 34 walks and 58 strikeouts. �He has a 2-3 record and a 4.88 ERA. �

Phil Dumatrait will join the Indians bullpen, taking Bautista's place. �He is still on his rehab assignment and may swap places with Bautista when he's ready to come off the Disabled List. �

OF Jeff Salazar was Designated For Assignment -- he will be on waivers for up to 10 days. �That makes room for Bixler. �

The Pittsburg Pirates' first round draft picks from 2007 and 2008 combined to lift the Curve to a win over the Fisher Cats. �3B Pedro Alvarez (2008) went 3-for-3 with a homer, and starting pitcher Danny Moskos (2007) pitched 8 strong innings to earn his 9th win of the season. �Moskos scattered 5 hits over the 8 innings. �He allowed only one hit in the first 4 innings, and that was a solo home run to lead off the 2nd inning. �A single and a fielding error put two Fisher Cats on base in the 5th, but Moskos struck out two to end the inning. �Another single in the 7th was erased by a double play. �Moskos gave up another run in the 8th on a lead-off triple and a single. �He struck out a total of 6 batters, and did not walk anyone.

The Curve scored their first run in the 3rd inning. �2B Shelby Ford, who went 1-for-2 with a walk, doubled to begin the inning. �After two strikeouts, SS Brian Friday singled into left field, plating Ford. �Friday went to second on the throw, but then was caught in a run-down and was tagged out. �Pedro Alvarez walked in his first at-bat in the 1st. �In the 4th, Alvarez led off with his 9th home run with the Curve, to give the Curve a 2-0 lead. �Alvarez also singled in the 6th inning, but was out at second in a double play.

The Curve threatened in the 7th inning. �1B Jason Delaney led off with a single, but was erased when LF Jeff Corsaletti bounced into a double play. �DH Ray Chang walked and went to second base on a wild pitch. �Shelby Ford was intentionally walked, and then C Miguel Perez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. �But CF Gorkys Hernandez struck out to end the inning. �

After the Fisher Cats tied the game at 2-2 with their run in the top of the 8th, the Curve came back in the bottom of the frame. �Pedro Alvarez singled for his third hit of the game. �RF Miles Durham also singled, putting two runners on. �Jeff Corsaletti grounded to short, but a throwing error by the Fisher Cats' shortstop allowed Alvarez to score with what would be the winning run. �

Ramon Aguero, in his first appearance with the Curve, earned the Save. �He took the mound in the 9th, and got a fly out, then gave up a double, then got a ground out that moved the base runner to third base. �The next batter tried to drop down a suicide squeeze bunt, but Aguero scooped up the ball and fired it to the plate in time for Miguel Perez to tag out the base runner at the plate to end the game. �

Pedro Alvarez is now hitting .468 for the month of August, and has walked 12 times in the month. �

The Pelicans and Hillcats combined for 27 hits, but the Hillcats left 9 runners on base and were 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position. �The score was tied at 6-6 going into the 9th inning, but closer RJ Rodriguez had a very un-RJ-like outing, as he gave up 3 runs and took the loss. �After striking out the first batter in the 9th, Rodriguez gave up a double and a walk, then gave up a 3-run homer to Gerardo Rodriguez. �A strikeout and a ground out ended the inning, but not before Hillcats' DH Jamie Romak was ejected from the game -- and he would not have even been on the field at the time. �The Hillcats got one base runner on in the 9th, on a single by 3B Jordy Mercer, but two strikeouts ended the inning with Mercer still on base. �

The Pelicans scored first, collecting one run in the 1st inning on a single, a stolen base, and an RBI single. �They added two runs in the 2nd, on a single, a fielding error by pitcher Jeff Locke, and an RBI double. �The Hillcats tied it up at 3-3 in the bottom of the 3rd. �2B Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer led off with back-to-back singles. �Jamie Romak doubled, bringing in Harrison, and C Kris Watts lined a single into right field, scoring both Mercer and Romak. �

Myrtle Beach took the lead again in the 5th, on a double and two singles. �Another single filled the bases with Pelicans, but Jeff Locke struck out the next batter and then induced a double play to end the inning. �Locke came back out to begin the 6th inning, but gave up a double, a single, a sacrifice bunt, a walk, and another single, all bringing in 2 runs. �Locke was relieved by Moises Robles, who got a strikeout to end the inning. �Locke was responsible for 6 runs (5 earned), on 12 hits and 2 walks. �Robles pitched two more innings, retiring all 7 batters he faced. �

The Hillcats tied the game again in the 7th inning. �SS Chase d'Arnaud and Josh Harrison both singled, and d'Arnaud stole third base. �Kris Watts brought them both in with a blast over the right field wall for his 5th homer of the season. �

Hunter Strickland pitched 6 excellent innings, allowing 2 runs on only 4 hits, no walks, with 3 strikeouts. �Two of the hits came in the 4th inning, a double and a homer, accounting for the Legends' only two runs of the game. �Strickland worked around a lead-off single in the 3rd inning. �He also allowed a single in the 5th, but erased that batter on a double play. �

The Po wer got onto the scoreboard in the top of the 1st, when LF Robbie Grossman boomed his 5th homer of the season over the right field wall. �They threatened in the 4th inning, when 1B Kyle Morgan and DH Calvin Anderson singled, and moved to second and third on a ground out. �Two strikeouts ended that inning without a run scoring. �

The Power regained the lead with 2 runs in the 7th inning. �CF Starling Marte led off with a single, and a throwing error on 3B Bobby Spain's grounder to second base put runners on the corners. �2B Danny Bomback brought Marte in with a sacrifice fly. �Spain moved to second base on RF Austin McClune's ground out, and on to third on a wild pitch. �C Josue Peley scored Spain with an RBI single, and the Power had a 3-2 lead. �They added two insurance runs in the 9th. �Spain singled, and Bomback reached base on a fielding error, and both scored on McClune's RBI double. �

Duke Welker pitched 2 scoreless innings in relief. �He allowed only one base runner -- a batter he hit with a pitch. �Casey Erickson gave up 2 singles in the 9th, but two fly outs ended the inning and the game without more runs scoring. �

Three hits by 3B Pat Irvine, including a double and a home run, were not enough for the Spikes to overcome the Lake Monsters. �Irvine's double was the Spikes' only hit over the first 4 innings. �He scored the team's first run with a solo homer to lead off the 5th inning. �That got his teammates going -- DH Justin Byler followed the home run with a single, and C Craig Parry's grounder force out left Parry on first base. �Parry stole second, and LF Kyle Saukko walked. �SS Brock Holt brought Parry in with an RBI single into right field. �CF Evan Chambers walked to load the bases, but former Spike Gary Amato came on in relief for Vermont, and he got 1B Aaron Baker to line out to end the inning. �

The Spikes took advantage of two Vermont errors in the 6th inning to score again. �A fielding error on RF David Rubinstein's ball to third put him on second base. �He moved to third base on a ground out, and a fielding error on Justin Byler's hit to short allowed Rubinstein to score. Pat Irvine singled in the 8th and stole second base, but could not come around to score. �

Starter Kyle McPherson pitched 6 innings for the Spikes. �He gave up one run in the 3rd inning, on a single, a double, and a sacrifice fly. �He also allowed a two-run homer in the 6th, as Vermont tied the game at 3-3. �Zach Foster pitched a perfect 7th inning, striking out two batters. �Teddy Fallon suffered the loss, when he gave up the tie-breaking runs in the 8th. Two walks and a single�loaded the bases, and two sacrifice flies brought in the two runs. �

The Pirates scored all four of their runs in the 3rd inning. �RF Edwin Roman opened the inning with a single and 2B Elevys Gonzalez walked. �DH Ramon Cabrera grounded to short, and a missed catch error at second base left the bases homer. �C Jairo Marquez cleared the bases with a triple for three run. �After a walk by CF Wesley Freeman, 3B Henry Henry singled, scoring Marquez. �

Mitchell Fienemann started for the Pirates and pitched 3 innings. �He gave up 5 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits, no walks, with 3 strikeouts. �A 2-run homer put the Braves on the board in the 2nd inning (the 2 earned runs). �Two throwing errors by Henry Henry in the 3rd inning, plus a 2-run homer, brought in the unearned runs in the 3rd inning. �Andres Santos gave up 2 runs on two singles and a double in the 4th inning. �Ryan Beckman pitched the final 5 innings for the Pirates. �He scattered 3 singles over those 5 innings, and struck out 3 batters, keeping the Braves from scoring again. �

The Indianapolis Indians blew the Clippers out of the water, completely sinking their pitching and taking advantage of 4 Columbus errors, at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio tonight. �The Indians tallied up 14 runs on 16 hits. �Each Indians' batter scored at least one run, and all but one had at least one hit. �Four Tribe batters, SS Chris Barnwell, 1B Jeff Clement, RF Tagg Bozied, and C Erik Kratz (photo),�had 3 hits, while Clement and Kratz contributed 4 RBI each.

�The fun began with the first pitch of the game, which Chris Barnwell ripped into center field for a double. �Eleven batters later, the Indians had 7 runs. �LF Brian Myrow walked and Jeff Clement lifted the first pitch he saw over the center field wall just to the right of the batters' eye, for a 3-run homer. �Tagg Bozied singled, and Erik Kratz doubled, adding another run. �A walk to DH Hector Gimenez and a wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third bases. �2B Pedro Lopez grounded to short, and the Clippers made their first two errors. �SS Jesus Merchan bobbled the ball as he fielded it, giving Lopez time to reach first base safely. Kratz scored easily. �1B Niuman Romero threw the ball home, catching Gimenez between third and home, but a throwing error by C Lou Marson in the rundown allowed Gimenez to score also, and left Lopez at second base. �Chris Barnwell's second hit of the inning, a line drive single into left field, scored Lopez, as the throw in to the plate was in time, but bounced off Marson's �chest protector and over toward the third-base dugout. �Just to make sure, the Indians added another run in the 2nd inning. �Tagg Bozied reached on an infield single, when the throw from shortstop bounced in the dirt at first base. �3B Neil Walker doubled off the left field wall, and Bozied scored easily.��Indians 8, Clippers 0.

Indians starter Brad Lincoln (photo) took the mound in the bottom of the 1st with a pocket full of run support. �He scattered 6 hits, no walks, over 5 innings of work, and took advantage of 6 strikeouts and a timely double play to get him out of some minor jams. �Lincoln allowed only two runs, both solo homers, and both in the 4th inning. �The first homer was by LF Matt LaPorta, who went 4-for-4, and the second was by RF Stephen Head.

The Tribe responded to Columbus's 2 runs with another Big Inning. �This time it was 6 runs, as the Indians sent 10 batters to the plate. �Erik Kratz's big blast over the right field wall brought in Tagg Bozied, who had singled, and Neil Walker, who had walked. �Hector Gimenez followed the homer with a double, and he scored on Pedro Lopez's single. �CF Jose Tabata, the only member of the line-up who did not have a hit, reached second base on an error when he hit a fly to right field, and that moved Lopez to 3rd base. �Lopez scored on Brian Myrow's sacrifice fly, and Tabata scored on Jeff Clement's line drive into right field. �Indians 14, Clippers 2.

The Clippers scrabbled out two more runs in the bottom of the 6th. �Jason Davis took the mound after Brad Lincoln had finished (78 pitches, 48 strikes). �Davis just didn't seem to have it, though, as he loaded the bases without recording an out �-- a 4-pitch walk to DH Damaso Espino, a single by Matt LaPorta, and a walk to 3B Wes Hodges. �Davis was relieved by Juan Mateo. �Mateo walkdd the first batter he faced, Lou Marson, forcing in a run. �Then he got Stephen Head to ground into a 4-6-3 (Lopez to Barnwell to Clement) double play. �

LaPorta scored on the play, but Mateo and the Tribe had plenty of runs to spare and were happy to give up one to get the two outs. � Mateo ended the inning with a fly out by Jesus Merchan. �Mateo pitched a scoreless 7th inning, and allowed only one hit in the 8th -- LaPorta's second homer of the game. �Corey Hamman, just returned to the Indians from AA Altoona, pitched the 9th. �He gave up two singles but didn't allow a run.

The Indians faced an old friend, former Indian (2007) Michael Tejera, who kept the Indians scoreless over the last 3 innings of the game. �Tejera gave up singles to Chris Barnwell and Jeff Clement in the 7th, and another to Pedro Lopez in the 9th. �Barnwell also reached base in the 9th on the Clippers' 4th error (fielding) of the game.�

Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Two 3-run homers, by Jeff Clement (photo above) and Erik Kratz. �Both hitters homered on the first pitch they saw in the at-bat. �It was Clement's 7th homer in his 2 weeks with the Indians, and Kratz's 7th of the season.

A few more photos, by our special photography assistant, from Wednesday's game at Victory Field:

Brian Bixler in center field .............................Jeff Clement and Erik Kratz

Larry Broadway in the coaching box as Pedro Lopez runs to first base...... Denny Bautista and Jean Machi stand guard as Juan Mateo warms up in the bullpen

Brian Bixler at the plate ..................Argenis Diaz steps up, with Bixler on deck

Brian Bixler rounds first .................... Robinzon Diaz also singles

NOTES:

Roster moves: �

Phil Dumatrait has finished his rehab work, and will be heading back to the Pirates. �That opens up a spot in the starting rotation for Ty Taubenheim. �

Brian Bixler was originally in the lineup for tonight's game, but was a late scratch -- no reason announced.

The Pirates have signed their # 12 draft pick, RHP Jeffrey Inman from Stanford University. �Inman was mostly a starter for Stanford. �

The Pirates now have top picks #1 through #13 signed, plus their Comp Round pick - a total of 23 out of 51. �

Go Tribe!

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

Indians' 3B Neil Walker (photo) and 1B Jeff Clement each collected 3 hits, and the Indians out-hit the Clippers 12 - 10, but it wasn't enough to overcome a 5-run inning by the Clippers at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio. �Last week's International League Pitcher of the Week, Eric Hacker, could not keep up with last week's pace, and he suffered his 5th loss of the season.

The Indians jumped out to an early lead, scoring 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning after two outs had been recorded. �LF Brian Myrow singled off the top half of the right field wall, and Jeff Clement followed with another single into right field. �RF Tagg Bozied grounded to third base, which should have been the third out. �But the ball bounced off Clippers' 3B Wes Hodges' glove and into foul territory, and everyone was safe. �With the bases loaded, Neil Walker grounded sharply up the middle. �Columbus SS Jason Donald made the dive, and he stopped the ball from going into the outfield, but Donald had no play, and Myrow scored the game's first run. �DH Hector Gimenez also singled up the middle, and this time the ball tapped off Jason Donald's glove and did get into the outfield. �Clement and Bozied both scored, and the Indians had the lead on three unearned runs. �

The Clippers got one run back in the bottom of the 1st inning. �Eric Hacker (photo) has typically struggled through the first inning in his starts, and giving up one run in the 1st is not all that bad for him. �He gave up the run on a single by Jason Donald, followed by a double by LF Matt LaPorta. �Hacker gave up another double, to 1B Niuman Romero, in the 2nd inning, as well as a walk to 2B Jesus Merchan, but kept the Clippers from scoring. �Columbus' third triple, in the 3rd inning, sparked another run. �Jason Donald led off with the two-bagger, moved to third base on DH Tony Graffanino's ground out, and scored on Wes Hodges' sacrifice fly. �Still, the Indians held on to a 3-2 lead. �

Hacker allowed only a walk in the 4th inning. �Then came the 5th, when the wheels fell off for Hacker. �Jason Donald and Tony Graffanino opened the inning with two singles. �After a fly out, Wes Hodges also singled, scoring Donald. �Hodges�stole second base, and when Tribe C ��Robinzon Diaz's throw to second base went wild, Hodges advanced to third base, and Donald scored the tying run. �

Back-to-back doubles by C Lou Marson and RF Stephen Head plated Hodges and Marson, and that was the end for Hacker. �He had lasted 4.1 innings and thrown 95 pitches (55 strikes). �Hacker was responsible for the 6 runs that had already scored in the 5th, plus Head, who came around to score after reliever Jeremy Powell took over, along with the two earlier runs -- 7 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks, with 4 strikeouts. �Powell was able to get Jesus Merchan to fly out, but the he walked Niuman Romero and gave up a single to CF Michael Brantley, before striking out Jason Donald, the 10th batter in the inning. �Columbus had taken the lead, 7-3. �

[Photo: �Robinzon Diaz at the plate]

Jeremy Powell and Denny Bautista shut down the Clippers' offense after the 5th inning. �Powell retired the side in order in the 6th. �Bautista hit Jesus Merchan with a pitch in the 7th. and retired the remaining 6 batters he faced. �But, it was too late. �

The Tribe tried to battle back, and did come close to catching up. �They scored one run in each of the last 3 innings. �In the top of the 7th, they rallied again with 2 outs. �Robinzon Diaz lined a single into center field, marking the end of Columbus starter's Hector Rondon's evening. �Reliever Rich Rundles came in from the bullpen, and Brian Myrow (photo) greeted him with a single into right field. �Jeff Clement followed with a double lined into right field, scoring Diaz, and the Indians had crept a little closer to the Clippers. �

Neil Walker greeted the next Columbus reliever, Zach Jackson, with a booming line drive over the left field wall near the foul pole in the 8th inning. �His 12th homer of the season pushed the Indians one run closer -- Clippers 7, Indians 5.

Greg Aquino took the mound for Columbus in the top of the 9th, when the Indians make one last rally. �Back to the top of the batting order, 2B Brian Bixler lined a single into left field. �Robinzon Diaz bounced into a force play, with Bixler out at second, and leaving Diaz at first base. �A passed ball moved Diaz on to second base, and the Indians had hope, with a runner in scoring position. �After a strikeout by Brian Myrow, Jeff Clement slipped his third hit of the game into center field, and Diaz scored, bringing the Tribe within one run. �But another strikeout to Tagg Bozied ended the game, and gave the Indians the loss.

This loss was the 8th time this season that the Indians loss the game that would have moved them up to .500. �Maybe we need to stop worrying about this statistic.

Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: Neil Walker's big blast, for his 12th homer of the season and his 54th RBI. �Of those RBI, 14 have come in August. �

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: ï¿ ½A long fly ball to right center field, with CF Chris Barnwell and RF Tagg Bozied both chasing it... and both getting there at the same time. �Bozied has a higher reach, so the ball landed in his mitt, and they both tumbled. �Both got up quickly, no one hurt. �

More photos from Wednesday at Victory Field, from our special assistant photographer:

Jeff Clement..................................Neil Walker and Argenis Diaz

Virgil Vasquez and Neil Walker ................ �Brian Myrow in left field

Robinzon Diaz at first base ............................ �Neil Walker at third

Larry Broadway coaching at first �...............Pedro Lopez at the plate

NOTES:

Corey Hamman�has been promoted from Altoona to Indianapolis. �Hamman (photo) made 16 relief appearances with the Indians earlier in April and May, but gave up 20 runs on 27 hits and 6 walks in 16.2 innings. �He has made 29 appearances, all in relief, for the Curve, and did much better -- �12 earned runs on 28 hits and 8 walks over 29.1 innings. �He did particularly well in July, allowing only one earned run over 13.1 innings (0.68 ERA), and opponents hit .204 off him. �

Brian Bixler's two hits extended his hitting streak to 15 games.

Go Tribe!

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

Indians' 3B Neil Walker (photo) and 1B Jeff Clement each collected 3 hits, and the Indians out-hit the Clippers 12 - 10, but it wasn't enough to overcome a 5-run inning by the Clippers at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio. �Last week's International League Pitcher of the Week, Eric Hacker, could not keep up with last week's pace, and he suffered his 5th loss of the season.

The Indians jumped out to an early lead, scoring 3 runs in the top of the 1st inning after two outs had been recorded. �LF Brian Myrow singled off the top half of the right field wall, and Jeff Clement followed with another single into right field. �RF Tagg Bozied grounded to third base, which should have been the third out. �But the ball bounced off Clippers' 3B Wes Hodges' glove and into foul territory, and everyone was safe. �With the bases loaded, Neil Walker grounded sharply up the middle. �Columbus SS Jason Donald made the dive, and he stopped the ball from going into the outfield, but Donald had no play, and Myrow scored the game's first run. �DH Hector Gimenez also singled up the middle, and this time the ball tapped off Jason Donald's glove and did get into the outfield. �Clement and Bozied both scored, and the Indians had the lead on three unearned runs. �

The Clippers got one run back in the bottom of the 1st inning. �Eric Hacker (photo) has typically struggled through the first inning in his starts, and giving up one run in the 1st is not all that bad for him. �He gave up the run on a single by Jason Donald, followed by a double by LF Matt LaPorta. �Hacker gave up another double, to 1B Niuman Romero, in the 2nd inning, as well as a walk to 2B Jesus Merchan, but kept the Clippers from scoring. �Columbus' third triple, in the 3rd inning, sparked another run. �Jason Donald led off with the two-bagger, moved to third base on DH Tony Graffanino's ground out, and scored on Wes Hodges' sacrifice fly. �Still, the Indians held on to a 3-2 lead. �

Hacker allowed only a walk in the 4th inning. �Then came the 5th, when the wheels fell off for Hacker. �Jason Donald and Tony Graffanino opened the inning with two singles. �After a fly out, Wes Hodges also singled, scoring Donald. �Hodges�stole second base, and when Tribe C ��Robinzon Diaz's throw to second base went wild, Hodges advanced to third base, and Donald scored the tying run. �

Back-to-back doubles by C Lou Marson and RF Stephen Head plated Hodges and Marson, and that was the end for Hacker. �He had lasted 4.1 innings and thrown 95 pitches (55 strikes). �Hacker was responsible for the 6 runs that had already scored in the 5th, plus Head, who came around to score after reliever Jeremy Powell took over, along with the two earlier runs -- 7 runs on 9 hits and 3 walks, with 4 strikeouts. �Powell was able to get Jesus Merchan to fly out, but the he walked Niuman Romero and gave up a single to CF Michael Brantley, before striking out Jason Donald, the 10th batter in the inning. �Columbus had taken the lead, 7-3. �

[Photo: �Robinzon Diaz at the plate]

Jeremy Powell and Denny Bautista shut down the Clippers' offense after the 5th inning. �Powell retired the side in order in the 6th. �Bautista hit Jesus Merchan with a pitch in the 7th. and retired the remaining 6 batters he faced. �But, it was too late. �

The Tribe tried to battle back, and did come close to catching up. �They scored one run in each of the last 3 innings. �In the top of the 7th, they rallied again with 2 outs. �Robinzon Diaz lined a single into center field, marking the end of Columbus starter's Hector Rondon's evening. �Reliever Rich Rundles came in from the bullpen, and Brian Myrow (photo) greeted him with a single into right field. �Jeff Clement followed with a double lined into right field, scoring Diaz, and the Indians had crept a little closer to the Clippers. �

Neil Walker greeted the next Columbus reliever, Zach Jackson, with a booming line drive over the left field wall near the foul pole in the 8th inning. �His 12th homer of the season pushed the Indians one run closer -- Clippers 7, Indians 5.

Greg Aquino took the mound for Columbus in the top of the 9th, when the Indians make one last rally. �Back to the top of the batting order, 2B Brian Bixler lined a single into left field. �Robinzon Diaz bounced into a force play, with Bixler out at second, and leaving Diaz at first base. �A passed ball moved Diaz on to second base, and the Indians had hope, with a runner in scoring position. �After a strikeout by Brian Myrow, Jeff Clement slipped his third hit of the game into center field, and Diaz scored, bringing the Tribe within one run. �But another strikeout to Tagg Bozied ended the game, and gave the Indians the loss.

This loss was the 8th time this season that the Indians loss the game that would have moved them up to .500. �Maybe we need to stop worrying about this statistic.

Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: Neil Walker's big blast, for his 12th homer of the season and his 54th RBI. �Of those RB I, 14 have come in August. �

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �A long fly ball to right center field, with CF Chris Barnwell and RF Tagg Bozied both chasing it... and both getting there at the same time. �Bozied has a higher reach, so the ball landed in his mitt, and they both tumbled. �Both got up quickly, no one hurt. �

More photos from Wednesday at Victory Field, from our special assistant photographer:

Jeff Clement..................................Neil Walker and Argenis Diaz

Virgil Vasquez and Neil Walker ................ �Brian Myrow in left field

Robinzon Diaz at first base ............................ �Neil Walker at third

Larry Broadway coaching at first �...............Pedro Lopez at the plate

NOTES:

Corey Hamman�has been promoted from Altoona to Indianapolis. �Hamman (photo) made 16 relief appearances with the Indians earlier in April and May, but gave up 20 runs on 27 hits and 6 walks in 16.2 innings. �He has made 29 appearances, all in relief, for the Curve, and did much better -- �12 earned runs on 28 hits and 8 walks over 29.1 innings. �He did particularly well in July, allowing only one earned run over 13.1 innings (0.68 ERA), and opponents hit .204 off him. �

Brian Bixler's two hits extended his hitting streak to 15 games.

Go Tribe!

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

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. �

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. �