The World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 tournament started this weekend, with round-robin group play that has Team USA in action down in Mexico.
Representing Team...
The DSL Pirates teams ended their seasons this week, which brings the rookie-level affiliates to an end.
I've been reviewing the best performing hitting and...
The Curve came from behind to tie the score in the middle innings, and then scored in each of the last 4 innings of the game, to double up the SeaWolves tonight.
Indians' newest member, starting pitcher Brad Lincoln made his AAA debut with a splash, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing one run on only 2 hits, with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. �He also contributed to the Indians' offense, with two hits of his own at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA tonight. �
Lincoln allowed one and only one base runner in each of the first 4 innings. �He walked former Indy Indian (2005 - 06) LF Rich Thompson twice (1st and 3rd). �He worked around a lead-off double by 3B Terry Tiffee in the 2nd inning. �He hit 1B Andy Tracy with a pitch in the 4th, but erased him with a double play. �Lincoln retired the side in order in the 5th and 6th innings. �
In the 7th inning, Lincoln appeared to be tiring. �He walked Andy Tracy to open the inning, then got two fly outs. �C Paul Hoover lined a single into left field, only the second hit Lincoln had allowed. �That was all for Lincoln's night. �He had thrown 99 pitches, 63 for strikes.
Reliever Mike Koplove came on to relieve Lincoln, and the first batter he faced, former Indy Indian (2005 - 06) JJ Furmaniak, singled into left field, to score Tracy. �A fly out ended the inning, but Lincoln's shutout had been lost. �
The Indians posted 11 hits, scoring in the 2nd and 3rd innings. �Every member of the Tribe lineup except LF Chris Barnwell had at least one hit, and Lincoln, RF Garrett Jones, and 3B Pedro Lopez each had two hits. �
The Indians' batters went down in order in the 1st inning, but got to Lehigh Valley starter Gustavo Chacin in the 2nd and 3rd innings. �With one out in the 2nd inning, C Erik Kratz bounced a ground-rule double over the left field wall. �1B Hector Gimenez walked, and both Kratz and Gimenez scored on�Pedro Lopez'sline drive double into center field. �After�Chris Barnwell�grounded out, Brad Lincoln legged out an infield single, moving Lopez to third base, though Lopez was out at the plate when he tried to surprise the Iron Pigs and make it all the way home.�
The Indians added two more runs in the 3rd inning. �2B Brian Bixler led off with a single down the left field line. �He went to third base on SS Luis Cruz's double lined into left field. �CF Jeff Salazar walked to load the bases with no outs for the Tribe. �Garrett Jonesbounced a little grounder back to the mound, where Chacin quickly scooped up the ball and returned it to the plate, and C Paul Hoover fired on to first base for a double play. �The Indians loaded the bases again when Erik Kratz walked. �Hector Gimenez slipped a single into left field, for 2 RBI as both Cruz and Salazar came around to score. �Kratz rounded second and headed for third base, but he was caught in a run-down and eventually tagged out (7-2-4-3-4-5).
Lincoln singled again in the 4th inning, a two-out single on a line drive into center field, but he was left stranded on first. �The Tribe managed only one more hit, a single by Garrett Jones, over the next three innings. �The 8th inning began with back-to-back singles by Jeff Salazar and Garrett Jones. �A force out at second base and a fielding error by Iron Pigs' 3B Terry Tiffee left Salazar on third base and Erik Kratz on first, but a double play ended the inning without the Tribe scoring again. �
Mike Koplove pitched a scoreless 8th inning, working around a fielding error by Brian Bixler at second base on a grounder by Rich Thompson. �Bixler redeemed himself by making the next two plays without any problems, and Koplove ended the inning with a strikeout. �
Reliever Chris Bootcheck earned his 12th save of the season with a perfect 9th inning, including a strikeout. �
Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �Brad Lincoln's 2-hit performance, going into the 7th inning in his AAA debut. �His 99 pitches were the most he's thrown in a game so far this season. �In an interview after the game, Lincoln admitted to having some butterflies, but said that he was able to settle himself down and command his pitches so that he could consistently throw strike one to the Iron Pig batters. �
Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �It was all Lincoln in this game -- celebrating his debut with two hits of his own. �
NOTES:
Several roster moves:
Brad Lincoln was officially added to the Indians' roster today. �
RHP Brian Slocum was removed from the Indians' roster and placed on the Lynchburg Hillcats' roster. �Unsure if this is a physical move or a paper move.
Larry Broadway, who has not been playing due to a gash on his foot from being spiked a week ago, has been placed on the Disabled List, retroactive to Monday.
Virgil Vasquez, who was removed from last night's game after throwing a 12-pitch perfect inning, is indeed not injured. �He is waiting to hear, either tonight or tomorrow, whether or not the Pirates will need him to make a spot start in Pittsburgh on Friday. �If he is not needed in Pittsburgh, then Vasquez is expected to make his regular start for the Indians on Sunday.
The Pirates have acquired 1B/OF�Brian Myrow from the White Sox organization for cash considerations. �Myrow is a 32-year old Texas native who has major league time with the Dodgers and Padres. �He was initially signed out of independent ball by the Yankees in 2001, and progressed to the AAA level with their organization, then was traded to the Dodgers in 2004. �He spent the last two seasons in the Padres' organization, split between AAA and the majors. �Over those two years, he hit .335 at the AAA level, with 54 doubles, 5 triples, 25 homers, and 132 RBI. �In a total of 33 games with the Padres at the major league level, he went only 4-for-31. �Myrow has been with the White Sox' AAA Charlotte Knights this season. �In 48 games, he was hitting .277, with 10 doubles, 7 homers, and 25 RBI. �The Pirates will assigne Myrow to the Indians. �
Former Indian�Andy Phillips has been released by the White Sox. �Phillips started the season with the Indians, and hit .333 here in 7 games. �On April 1
7th, he was traded to the White Sox, and assigned to the AAA Charl
otte Knights. �He was hitting .295 for the Knights, with 5 homers and 27 RBI. �Phillips is reportedly working on a deal to play in Japan for the Hiroshima Carp.
Lots of activity in the lower minors today, as the Gulf Coast League (Rookie) begins play (this afternoon), and the Carolina League (A+) and South Atlantic League (A) play their All-Star Games.
Lots of activity in the lower minors today, as the Gulf Coast League (Rookie) begins play (this afternoon), and the Carolina League (A+) and South Atlantic League (A) play their All-Star Games. �Oh, and don't forget a certain AA-level debut....
2B Gift Ngoepe made his US professional debut this afternoon, collecting two singles, for a quarter of the Pirates' 8 hits. �DH Melvin De La Cruz also had two singles, while 3B Andury Acevedo, LF Rogelios Noris, and RF Wesley Freeman�all doubled. �Acevedo's double opened the top of the 3rd inning, and he moved on to third base on SS Benjamin Gonzalez's ground out. �Another ground out by De La Cruz brought Acevedo in with the Pirates' first run. �
The Pirates' only other run came in the top of the 9th, when Freeman doubled, went to second on a fly out, and scored on C Ramon Cabrera's RBI single. �
Pirates' starter Eliecer Navarro�pitched 3 innings, and allowed 3 runs on 6 hits, no walks, with 3 strikeouts. �He gave up a run in the 1st inning on a single, a double, and a sacrifice fly. � �A 2-run homer added two more runs in the 2nd inning. �Sandobal Septimo pitched the next 3 innings and he also allowed 3 runs, on 4 hits, again no walks, and 2 strikeouts. �One run came in in the bottom of the 4th, on two singles with a stolen base. �Another 2-run homer made the score 6-1 in the 6th inning. �Noah Krol pitched one perfect inning in the 7th, but Harvey Garcia gave up 2 more runs in the 8th inning, on two walks, a passed ball, and a double. �
Pedro Alvarez made his much-anticipated AA-level debut with the Curve tonight. �He went 0-for-4 at the plate, with 3 strikeouts and a fly out. �In the field, he fielded two grounders at third base in the late innings and also made a catch of a pop up.
The Curve were limited to 2 runs, which came in the 5th inning. �SS Angel Gonzalez doubled and CF Gorkys Hernandez singled to open the inning. �2B Jim Negrych's RBI ground out brought in Gonzalez. �RF Jose Tabata plated Hernandez, coming around from second base, with an RBI single. �Tabata was out at second trying to stretch his hit into a double, and the inning ended with a strikeout by Alvarez. �Altoona had several other innings in which they put runners on base, and even two runners on base, but could not get them around to score. �Tabata went 2-for-3, and Hernandez went 2-for-4, and DH Jason Delaney also had a double. �
Kyle Bloom got the start for the Curve. �He allowed a hit in each of the first three innings, all scoreless. �In the 4th inning, he walked the first batter, and then was removed from the game because of an unspecified "arm injury". �Sean Smith replaced Bloom, and he gave up two singles and a sacrifice fly, for two runs (one charged to Bloom, one charged to Smith). �Smith also pitched a scoreless 5th inning, allowing a walk and then promptly picking the base runner off first base. �
Dustin Molleken also made his AA debut, and it was not so hot. �He took over for Smith on the mound to begin the 6th. �With one out, a fielding error by Gonzalez put a runner on base, and after that runner stole second, an argument ensued, resulting in Curve manager Matt Walbeck being ejected from the game. �After another out, Molleken gave up two singles, bringing in one run, which turned out to be the go-ahead and winning run. �Molleken began the 7th inning with a walk, a strikeout, a double, and a triple, and he was charged with 3 runs. �Corey Hamman finished the 7th inning, and Michael Dubee got his chance for a debut in the 8th inning. �Dubee had the best debut, as hie retired three batters in order. �
The SAL All-Star Game was held at the Power's Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, West Virginia. �Two of the West Virginia Power were members of the starting line-up: �SS Chase D'Arnaud, and DH Calvin Anderson. ��Powers' LHP�Rudy Owens�was also named to the All-Star team, but the Pirates had said that they would prefer that he not pitch. �
After two scoreless innings, the Southern Division team got onto the scoreboard with 3 runs in the top of the 3rd, on a single, two doubles, and a sacrifice fly. �In the bottom of the inning, the Northern Division squad got one run back. �They began the inning with 3 consecutive singles, the middle of the singles belonging to�Chase D'Arnaud. �A sacrifice fly brought in a run, and Chase D'Arnaud got as far as third base before the inning ended. �Chase's bro
ther Travis D'Arnaud (2 years you
nger, playing for the Lakewood Blue Claws in the Phillies' organization) came into the game as a defensive replacement at catcher in the 4th inning. �
The Northerners took the lead in the bottom of the 5th inning. �The first batter, 3B Paul Gran (Greensboro -- Marlins) led off with a single. Chase D'Arnaud was hit by a pitch, and was removed from the game, replaced by a pinch runner. �A grounder force out left runners on the corners, and a walk filled the bases. �Travis D'Arnaud tied the score with a line-drive into right field, scoring two and again leaving runners on the corners. �Another single by RF Michael Bianucci (Hickory -- Rangers) brought in the go=ahead run. �The inning ended on a double play -- a line drive caught by the first baseman, who fired to the shortstop to double Travis D'Arnaud off second base.
The Southern squad regained the lead in the top of the 6th, on a 3-run home run by pinch-hitter Juan Perez (Augusta -- Giants): �South 6, North 4
The Northerners came back with 4 runs over the last three innings. �In the 7th, a double and a throwing error on a stolen base allowed one run to score, and a single, another fielding error, and a ground out brought in a second run. �A walk, a stolen base, and a double added another run in the 8th inning, and the North had regained the lead, 7-6.
The South tied it up in the top of the 9th with a solo home run. �The bottom of the 9th began with a single by Ronnie Welty (Delmarva -- Orioles), then a strikeout. �That brought DH Calvin Anderson to the plate. �He had�struck out in the 2nd inning, and flied out in the 4th, though a base runner was able to advance from second base to third on the fly out. �He walked in the 7th inning, and was left stranded on base when the inning ended. �Then in the 9th inning, with the score tied and one on and one out, Anderson singled into center field. �Welty rounded the bases and headed for the plate, as the South center fielder's throw to third base went wide, which allowed the winning run to score. �
This All-Star game turned out to be a pitching duel, that took 10 innings to resolve at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore, CA. �Each team had only 6 hits. �Lynchburg's (soon to be Altoona's) Miles Durham went 0-for-4 with 2 strikeouts, and C Kris Watts played half the game and went 0-for-2. �RJ Rodriguez�pitched 0.2 of an inning, allowed a double, and got a ground out and a strikeout; the batter who doubled did not come around to score. �
The California squad scored their first run in the bottom of the first inning on three consecutive 2-out singles. �C Buster Posey (San Jose -- Giants) got the RBI. �The California All-Stars led off the 2nd inning with a single, but that runner was erased on a double play. �A batter walked in the 3rd, but was left stranded on base. �The Carolina pitchers retired two to finish the 3rd inning, and proceeded to retire the next 13 batters after that in order, until the double Rodriguez allowed in the 8th, then they put down the next 5 batters as well.
The Carolina batters were not having much better luck at the plate. �They had two singles in the first inning and two walks in the second inning, but none of those runners scored. �A lone walk produced the only runner over the next 4 innings. �RF Michael Burgess (Potomac -- Nationals) got a hit in the 7th, but was out at second base when he tried to stretch the single into a double. �Finally, in the 8th inning, the Carolinians squeaked out one run. �SS Pedro Florimon Jr (Frederick -- Orioles) led off with a triple, and he came home on a fielding error on the next play, tying the score at 1-1. �A second fielding error in the same inning put another runner on base, but he was forced out at second base to end the inning. �
Both teams went down in order in the 9th inning, and two singles by the Carolinians in the top of the 10th didn't help, as both runners were again left stranded. �The game ended in the bottom of the 10th, when LF Jon Gaston (Lancaster -- Astros) hit Derrick Loop's (Salem -- Boston) first pitch over the center field wall for a walk-off home run. �
C Tony Sanchez led the Spikes with two hits, both singles, as the Spikes out-hit the Scrappers 7-5, but the Scrappers were able to out-score them. �The Spikes' only run came in the 3rd inning. �SS Andy Vasquez singled with one out, but was forced out at second base on Sanchez's grounder. �A throwing error by Mahoning Valley's second baseman not only kept it from being a double play, but allowed Sanchez to move up to second base. �1B Kyle Morgan tripled, scoring Sanchez, but was left stranded at third base. �2B Brock Holt, 3B Freizer Pedron, and CF Edward Garcia also singled for the Spikes, as they were able to put base runners on in several other innings, but could not push them across the plate.�
Spikes' starter Mike Felix pitched 4 shut-out innings, scattering 3 hits, a walk, and a hit batter. �His toughest inning was the 2nd, when the Spikes made 3 errors. �Felix made the first error, on a throw, allowing the first batter to reach base. �After a grounder force out, Tony Sanchez threw out the base runner trying to steal second base. �The next two batters reached base on a throwing error by Pedron and a throwing error by Sanchez (not on a steal attempt), but a ground out ended the inning without the errors causing a run to score. �
Another error by Pedron (fielding) gave the Scrappers an unearned run off reliever Marc Baca in the 6th inning. �Baca hit the first batter with a pitch, and he stole second base and then scored on an RBI double (earned run), to tie the score. �Then the fielding error
allowed that runner to score
also with the go-ahead run. �A passed ball by Sanchez put a runner on second base, but he was left there when the inning ended. �
A single by Sanchez in the 8th was the only base runner the Spikes had over the last 5 innings. �Reliever Mike Williams also held the Scrappers scoreless for two innings, including 3 strikeouts. �
The Pirates announced that they have signed three more draft picks to contracts:
11th round pick 1B Aaron Baker (University of Oklahoma)
21st round pick RHP Phillip Irwin (University of Mississippi)
43rd round pick RHP Ed Fallon (University of South Carolina- Upstate)
No word yet as to where these three players will be assigned.
For a complete list of the Pirates' 2009 draft picks and which have signed, go here.
EDIT:
And one more draft pick signed:
Supplemental round pick RHP Victor Black (Dallas Baptist University).
Black will be assigned to State College
The Altoona Curve have a scheduled day off today, and the Lynchburg Hillcats and the West Virginia Power are also off, as their leagues are in their All-Star Breaks.
Mahoning Valley Scrappers 7, State College Spikes 6
The Pirates announced that they have signed three more draft picks to contracts:
11th round pick 1B Aaron Baker (University of Oklahoma)
21st round pick RHP Phillip Irwin (University of Mississippi)
43rd round pick RHP Ed Fallon (University of South Carolina- Upstate)
No word yet as to where these three players will be assigned.
For a complete list of the Pirates' 2009 draft picks and which have signed, go here.
EDIT:
And one more draft pick signed:
Supplemental round pick RHP Victor Black (Dallas Baptist University).
Black will be assigned to State College
The Altoona Curve have a scheduled day off today, and the Lynchburg Hillcats and the West Virginia Power are also off, as their leagues are in their All-Star Breaks.
Mahoning Valley Scrappers 7, State College Spikes 6
State College starter Kyle McPherson gave up 10 hits and 6 runs (4 earned) as he suffered his first loss for the Spikes. �The unearned runs came in the 1st inning. �Back-to-back singles and a throwing error by CF Kyle Saukko put runners on 2nd and 3rd bases with no outs. �McPherson struck out the next two batters, but a double scored both base runners. �A throwing error by SS Ty Summerlin�allowed the third run of the inning to score. �
A triple and a single brought in another run for Mahoning Valley in the 2nd inning. �McPherson gave up singles in each of the next two innings, but did not allow another run to score until the 5th. �A solo home run began the scoring in the 5th, and McPherson gave up another single before being relieved by Zachary Foster. �Foster gave up a double and a 2-RBI single, giving Mahoning Valley a 7-0 lead. �
The Spikes were able to get runners on base in 5 of the first 6 innings, but were kept from scoring by runners caught stealing, a heads-up outfield assist, and two double plays. �Finally, in the 7th, the Spikes got a rally started. �DH Patrick Irvine and RF David Rubinstein walked and Kyle Saukko singled to load the bases with no outs. �C Miguel Mendez also worked a walk, forcing in Irvine with the Spikes' first run. �Ty Summerlin brought in Rubinstein with an RBI ground out. �A throwing error on a ball hit by 3B Andy Vasquez allowed both Saukko and Mendez to score. �Scrappers 7, Spikes 4.
Two more runs came in in the 8th inning. �1B Justin Byler was hit by a pitch and went to second on a ground out. �Rubinstein's single put runners on the corners. �Byler scored on Saukko's sacrifice fly, and Mendez doubled to score Rubinstein. �Mendez tried to get to third base on the throw in from left field to the plate, but the Scrappers' catcher was able to relay the throw back to third base and Mendez was tagged out. �Another throwing error allowed Vasquez to reach base again in the 9th inning, but he was left stranded, and the Spikes fell short. �
The Pirates have announced that four players from the A+ Lynchburg Hillcats are being promoted to the AA Altoona Curve, and one from the A West Virginia Power to Lynchburg.
First on the list, and most eagerly anticipated, is 3B Pedro Alvarez.
