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Despite a 9th inning rally and a 3-for-3 night at the plate by RF Brian Myrow (photo),�the Indianapolis Indians fell to the MudHens at Fifth-Third Field in Toledo, Ohio tonight.

Myrow was the only Indians' batter to figure out MudHens' starter Chris Lambert in the first 5 innings. �In the first inning with two outs, Myrow singled into left field. �1B Steve Pearce popped out to end the inning and leave Myrow on first. �In Myrow's next at-bat, in the 4th, Myrow lined a double into right field. �But a strikeout by Pearce and a fly out by DH Larry Broadway ended that inning without Myrow getting any further. �

In the 6th inning, the Indians got two runners on base. �CF Brian Bixler dropped down a bunt and beat it out for a single. �A ground out by the newest Indian, LF Lastings Milledge, moved Bixler to second base. �Brian Myrow walked, but a fly out left both runners stranded.

Meanwhile, Indians' starter Ian Snell (photo)�had also started his night off well. �He retired the first 6 batters he faced. �Then in the 3rd inning, the MudHens scored twice. �3B Mike Hessman led off with a double into left field and RF Jeff Frazier followed with a single, moving Hessman to third base. �A sacrifice fly by C Dane Sardinha scored Hessman with the first run of the game. �DH Will Rhymes knocked a grounder to 3B Tagg Bozied, which got by Bozied and into left field, and again the MudHens had runners on the corners. �LF Wilkin Ramirez singled up the middle, allowing Frazier to score the unearned run and give Toledo a 2-0 lead. �

Snell worked around a one-out single in the 4th inning, and then worked his way out of a jam in the 5th. �Two singles, by Rhymes and Ramirez, put runners on the corners again. �Ramirez stole second base, and the MudHens had two runners in scoring position with two outs. �But Snell struck out 1B Jeff Larish to end the threat and keep Toledo from adding to their lead. �

Snell had to battle again in the 6th inning. �He walked SS Brent Dlugach, but C Erik Kratz (photo, with Ian Snell)�threw out Dlugach when he tried to steal second base. �Mike Hessman singled, but was left on base when a ground out ended the inning. �Snell finished with 6 innings of work, allowing the 2 runs (one earned) on 7 hits and one walk, with 4 strikeouts. �

Steven Jackson came in from the bullpen to make his first appearance since being reassigned from the Pirates. �He pitched a 1-2-3 �inning in the bottom of the 7th, with one strikeout. �

The Indians did not have any more success against the MudHens' bullpen in the 7th or 8th innings. �They went down in order in the 7th. �In the top of the 8th, 2B �Shelby Ford led off with a double -- the first time in the game that the Indians had their lead-off batter reach base. �Ford stole third base, sliding in under a slightly late tag. �But he was left standing 90 feet from the plate, when a line out and a fly out ended the inning. �

Juan Mateo pitched the bottom of the 8th for the Indians, and he gave up two insurance runs, as the first three batters he faced recorded a hit. �Wilkin Ramirez singled, 1B Ryan Roberson doubled, and former Indy Indian (2007) Don Kelly tripled, with RBI going to Roberson and Kelly. �Mateo settled down and struck out Brent Dlugach. �The inning ended when Mike Hessman lined out to 3B Tagg Bozied, who took two steps over to touch third base and double off Kelly. �MudHens 4, Indians 0.

The Tribe broke the shut-out in the top of the 9th. �Brian Myrow led off with his third hit of the game. �Steve Pearce followed with a double bounced off the center field wall, scoring Myrow. A wild pitch moved Pearce to third base, and he scored on Larry Broadway's ground out. �Tagg Bozied also doubled into left field, and suddenly the Indians had the tying run at the plate. �But Erik Kratz bounced out to third base, which kept Bozied from advancing, and Shelby Ford grounded out to second base to end the rally and the game.

The loss is the third in a row for the Indians, and moves them to 8.5 games behind first-place Louisville in the International League Western Division. �Toledo is now 9.0 games behind Louisville and in third place in the Western Division.

Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �A three-hit night by Brian Myrow (photo) -- he reached base safely in four trips to the plate. �That raises Myrow's average to .282 for the season, and .300 with the Indians. �He's hit .321 in his last 10 games.

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �Tagg Bozied's unassisted double play in the bottom of the 8th inning, catching the line drive by MIke Hessman, and then tag ging third base to double off Don Kelly. �

NOTES:

Roster Moves:

As expected, the Pirates recalled Luis Cruz up to Pittsburgh, and also ended�Ryan Doumit's rehab assignment.

In order to open a roster spot, C Robinzon Diaz was optioned back to Indianapolis.

OF Lastings Milledge has been removed from the disabled list and assigned to the Indians.

INF Pedro Lopez has been placed on the Temporarily Inactive List.

OF Chris Snelling was released by the Indians/Pirates. �In 19 games with the Indians, he was hitting .123, with 4 RBI, 8 walks, and 14 strikeouts.

Tomorrow the Indians and MudHens will play a scheduled Double Header -- the only scheduled twin-bill for the Tribe this year... and for the past few years. �The fun begins at 5:30 pm. �

Go Tribe!

[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]