Tag: Donnie Veal

Sunday afternoon action with the Pirates' lower minor league teams:  

Altoona Curve 5,  Akron Aeros  4
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2B Brock Holt singled up the middle in the bottom of the 9th, scoring 1B Miles Durham from second base, for the Curve's walk-off win.  
Curve starter Aaron Thompson began his outing by facing only the minimum over the first three innings.  He gave up a single in the 2nd, but erased that runner with a double play.  The Aeros scored the first run of the game in the top of the 4th, when they loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before Thompson could record an out.  A sacrifice fly drove in the runner from third, but Thompson got another double play to get out of the inning.   

The first 11 Curve batters also went down in order, until LF Quincy Latimore singled in the 4th.  He was forced out at second on SS Jordy Mercer's grounder.  The Curve got onto the scoreboard and tied the game when 3B Jeremy Farrell blasted a solo homer to lead off the 4th inning.   

Thompson again retired the side in order in the 5th.  The Aeros took the lead again in the top of the 6th with 2 runs off Thompson.  A single, a stolen base, and another single put runners on the corners with one out.  A wild pitch moved the runner from first to second, though the runner on third had to stay there.  Two more strikeouts drove in two runs, to give Akron a 3-1 lead.  

The Curve answered with one run in the bottom of the 7th.  Mercer and Ferrell led off the inning with singles, and C Tony Sanchez walked to load the bases.  After a pitching change, RF Eric Fryer bounced into a double play, which let Mercer score from third base, though Fryer did not get credit for an RBI.  The Curve added two more in the bottom of the 8th to take the lead.  Pinch-hitter Kris Watts singled up the middle, and was replaced by pinch-runner Brad Chalk.  Holt sacrificed bunted Chalk to second.  CF Starling Marte beat out an infield single, moving Chalk to third, and Marte stole second base to put two Curve runners in scoring position.  Latimore drove in Chalk with a sacrifice fly, an Mercer brought in Marte with an RBI single.  Curve ahead, 4-3.

Mike Dubee relieved Thompson and pitched 2 scoreless innings.  He retired the side in order in the 6th, then gave up just a walk in the 8th.  Noah Krol took over for Dubee for the 9th.  He was charged with a Blown Save when he gave up a solo home run to tie the score.  Then he was credited with the win because he was the pitcher of record in the bottom of the 9th.  The bottom of the frame began with a fly out, then Fryer singled and Durham reached on a fielding error at shortstop, moving Fryer to third.  Chalk bounced to short, giving the Akron shortstop the opportunity to fire back to the plate, and Fryer was tagged out at home.  With Durham on second and Chalk on first, Holt singled into center field, and had the walk-off win when Durham raced around third base to score on the single.  

The Pirates have three pitchers who are beginning the year on the (long term) disabled list.  When they eventually are ready to return, they will have to do some minor league rehabbing.  

Donnie Veal  --  L/L, 6' 4", 230 lb
Veal was a Rule 5 draft pick for the Pirates in 2008, coming from the Cubs' organization.  He did spend the entire 2009 season officially on the Pirates' roster, though he also went onto the Disabled List with vague injuries twice.  He pitched 7 "rehab" games in Altoona (5 starts, no record, 13.1 innings, 1.35 ERA), and 9 "rehab" games in Indianapolis (0-1 record, 14 innings, 6.43 ERA).   Veal got in only rare work out of the Pirates' bullpen, and his control suffered all season.  However, after the season, Veal was assigned to the Arizona Fall League, where he got in regular work -- and dominated.  Veal returned to Indianapolis to begin the 2010 season.  His control was improving, and in his first 4 starts, he allowed 8 runs over 22.1 innings (3.22 ERA) with 9 walks and 14 strikeouts.  The next three starts were rough, with 13 runs in 15.1 innings.  Then Veal had his best outing, throwing 7 shutout innings and allowing just 2 hits.  He made one more start, and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits.  Then Veal was shut down with elbow problems, which eventually led to Tommy John surgery.  Overall for the season, Veal earned a 3-2 record and a 4.35 ERA in 49.2 innings of work, with 24 earned runs and 42 hits, 23 walks (4.2 walks/ 9 innings), and 41 strikeouts (7.4 K/ 9 innings).   Veal was non-tendered at the end of the 2010 season, but was quickly signed to a minor league contract.  He came to spring training and worked on things like fielding drills, but did not pitch competitively.  The 26-year-old is tentatively on track to return by the middle of the 2011 season.  


Jose Ascanio  -- R/R,  6' 0",  170 lb
Ascanio, a 25-year-old Venezuelan native, was first signed by the Braves, then traded to the Cubs, and in July 2009 was traded to the Pirates.  After the trade, Ascanio made one start in Indianapolis, then moved up to Pittsburgh, where he made 2 relief appearances.  He developed some shoulder problems at that point, and was out for the rest of the season, eventually having shoulder surgery.  He was ready to pitch again in mid-2010, and made one rehab start with the GCL Pirates and another with A+ Bradenton, throwing a total of 3 scoreless innings.  Unfortunately, Ascanio injured his hand (off the field) at that point, which shut him down for the rest of 2010.  He did get in some work for Los Leones del Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League,throwing 9 scoreless innings over 8 games, with 5 hits, one walk, and 7 strikeouts.  Ascanio, who is on the Pirates' 40-man roster, came to spring training, but pitched very little, and when he did pitch, he did not have good command.  He was placed on the DL to begin the 2011 season, but it's unclear where he will go from there.  He is not even close to being ready to pitch at the major league level, but he is out of options, and might not make it through waivers without being claimed.  

Nothing unexpected here, though maybe a few days earlier than they had earlier suggested....

Catchers Tony Sanchez and Eric Fryer and pitchers Donnie Veal and Cesar Valdez were all reassigned to minor league camp this morning.  Sanchez and Fryer are both likely to begin the season at AA Altoona.  Both had their 2010 seasons at A+ Bradenton shortened by taking pitches to the head.  Veal is still in the process of rehabbing from elbow surgery, and is not likely to be ready to pitch competitively until June or July.  Valdez, who came to the Pirates' from the Diamondbacks (Zach Duke trade), has spent the last two seasons at the AAA level, but was a very very long shot to make the major league club to begin the 2011 season.

Minor league spring training games will begin in about 10 - 12 days. 

Southpaw Donnie Veal will likely be back in Indianapolis in 2011.  He has signed a minor league contract with the Pirates today, and has also been invited to the big league camp for Spring Training.  After struggling through his mandatory year on the Pirates' major league roster as a Rule 5 Draft pick in 2009, Veal was assigned to the AAA Indians to begin 2010.  He made 9 starts for the Indians, with a 3-2 record and a 4.35 ERA over 49.2 innings before being shut down due to elbow issues.  Veal had Tommy John surgery in early June, and is expected to be ready to go for Spring Training.  

The signing of 1B Lyle Overbay is going to make things more difficult for the likes of Steve Pearce and Jeff Clement.  Both are working their way back from knee problems.  Pearce was granted one more option year because of his injuries last season.  

Other news of minor league contracts signed: Former Pirate Denny Bautista has signed with the Mariners.  INF Doug Bernier, who spent 2010 with the Indy Indians, signed with the Yankees.  P Vinnie Chulk signed with the A's.  Former Pirate P Jonah Bayliss signed with the Rays.  INF/OF Jonathan Van Every signed with the Nationals.  

Cheering for Pirates' players and friends in Wednesday's winter league games:

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Caribes de Anzoategui  4,  Bravos de Margarita  0  --  Los Bravos were held to just 3 hits, along with 2 walks.  The first 13 Margarita batters went down in order before the first base runner reached on a walk.  They had 2 runners on base in both the 6th and 8th innings, but could not get them around to score.  Los Caribes scored one run in each of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings, then one more in the 7th.  In the 4th, LF Jose Tabata was hit by a pitch, then scored on an RBI double.  

Tigres del Aragua  3,  Cardenales de Lara  1  --  A 2-run homer in the bottom of the 11th by C Wilson Ramos broke the 1-1 tie for Los Tigres.  The homer came off Lara reliever Romulo Sanchez, who was charged with his second loss of the season.  Each team scored a run in the 2nd inning.  Los Cardenales' rally was started with a single by former Pirate farmhand CF Ray Sadler, then another single and two walks forced in a run.  Ramos doubled to lead off the bottom of the 2nd for Los Tigres.  He scored on a single by 1B Hector Gimenez and a sacrifice fly.  Both teams missed scoring opportunities in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings, but there was only one base runner for either team over the next four innings -- that was DH Lastings Milledge, who doubled in the 9th.  

When the deadline for offering contracts passed last night, four new free agents were created.  
The Pirates offered contracts to pitcher Jeff Karstens and SS Ronny Cedeno, both as expected.  But they elected not to tender contracts to pitchers Donnie Veal and Brian Burres, SS Argenis Diaz, and OF Lastings Milledge.
Veal is still recovering from elbow surgery, and is expected to sign a minor league deal with the Pirates.  Since he is going to have to spend some time in the minors when he returns anyway, this is not likely to affect his progress much.  The other three are all free agents now.


Other notes:  Former Pirate C Ronny Paulino was also non-tendered by the Marlins, and he also is now a free agent.  Pittsburgh native INF Josh Wilson, who played for the Indy Indians in 2008, was resigned by the Mariners. (NOT Jack Wilson, who is also on the Mariners' roster.)  OF Eric Hinske was signed as a free agent by the Braves.  P Zach Duke signed a contract with the Diamondbacks, avoiding arbitration.  

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Indianapolis Indians �5, �Columbus Clippers �0 (box)

The Indians shut out the Columbus Clippers, who currently reside in first place in the International League Western Division, at Victory Field tonight, to begin an 8-game home stand. �Four Indians' pitchers, starter Mike Crotta (photo above), Vinnie Chulk, Justin Thomas, and Brian Bass, combined to hold the Clippers to 4 hits and 4 walks, while the Tribe batters piled up 10 hits for 5 runs.

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Mike Crotta pitched 5.1 scoreless innings to earn his 3rd win with the Indians, needing 87 pitches (46 strikes) to get the job done. �He was responsible for 3 of the hits and 3 of the walks. �He kept his infielders busy, as all of the outs he recorded were either ground outs, except for two strikeouts and one runner thrown out at second base.

Crotta gave up a 2-out double to Columbus catcher Carlos Santana in the 1st inning, but ended the inning with a bouncing grounder to SS Argenis Diaz (photo above). �Crotta retired the Clippers in order in the 2nd and 3rd innings, then gave up a walk to former Indy Indian 2B Brian Bixler (photo) to begin the 4th. �Santana followed with a grounder to third base, and as 3B Pedro Alvarez made the scoop and throw to first, the speedy Bixler got a good jump and broke for third base, where he slid in safely before 1B Brian Myrow could return the throw across the diamond. �Bixler was left standing there, though, as Crotta struck out 1B Wes Hodges and got DH Jordan Brown to ground out to second.

Crotta had to have a little help from his friends to get out of the 5th inning. �LF Nick Weglarz worked a walk to open the inning, then 3B Brian Buscher hit a high hop right to Brian Myrow at first base. �Myrow turned and fired to second base, forcing out Weglarz, then scrambled back to cover the first base bag and take the return throw from Argenis Diaz for the double play. �SS Anderson Hernandez followed with a line drive into center field for a single, but when he tried to steal second base, C Luke Carlin's throw was right on target, and the inning was over.

Crotta and Carlin did not have the same luck in the 6th. �With one out, CF Michael Brantley slipped a single through the hole and into left field. �He stole second base, and as he slid in, Carlin's throw might have hit the ground near second base, or maybe even hit Brantley, but either way, the ball ricocheted into center field, and Brantley took off for third base. �Argenis Diaz chased down the ball and threw to third as Brantley was reaching the base there, but Diaz's throw went way wide of third, and very nearly sailed into the Indians' dugout. �Brian Bixler worked his second walk of the game, and that was all for Crotta.

Vinnie Chulk came on in relief, and the speedy Bixler stole second base without drawing a throw from Carlin, putting two runners in scoring position. �But Chulk made it not matter -- he struck out both Carlos Santana and Wes Hodges to end the inning without the Clippers scoring.

Indianapolis Indians �4, �Gwinnett Braves �0 (box)

Brad Lincoln (photo) pitched 6 shutout innings, scattering 4 hits and one walk, while striking out 6 batters on his way to his 6th win for the Indians at Coolray Field in Gwinnett County, Georgia tonight. �The Indians posted 12 hits, including 3 by 1B Brian Myrow and two each by LF Jose Tabata and 2B Brian Friday, on their way to victory. �Three of the Tribe's hits were triples.

Lincoln dominated the Braves, just as he dominated the Charlotte Knights last week. �He has now recorded 11 consecutive scoreless innings. �In his last start against the Braves, at home on May 22nd, Lincoln allowed 3 hits in the 8th inning, after he had pitched 7 scoreless innings -- that's 3 runs over the past 19 innings. �Lincoln threw 81 pitches tonight, 52 for strikes.

Today, Lincoln gave up a double to 2B Joe Thurston with two outs in the 1st inning, then retired the Braves in order in the 2nd and 3rd innings -- and he struck out the side in the 3rd. �3B/2B Luis Bolivar singled into right field to lead off the 4th inning, but Lincoln picked him off first base. �The Braves put two runners on base at the same time in the 5th, with a double by LF Alex Romero and a walk to C Clint Sammons, but Lincoln ended that inning with a strike out, leaving both runners on base. �Thurston also singled in the 6th inning, but was again left on base.

After the game, Lincoln said that he has found that the key to pitching well for him is to "get ahead early in the count and make the hitters have to swing the bat. �To make the hitters get in a defensive state at the plate is a good thing for me, and it's one of those things that has been working for me.... I feel like I have become a complete pitcher, not just a strikeout pitcher, but an efficient pitcher." �When asked about the possibility of being called up to the Pirates and plugged into the rotation on schedule to face the Washington National's Stephen Strasburg on June 8th, Lincoln told interviewer Scott McCauley "I have always been that type of guy that wants to be there in that big situation and go against the best. �It's something that I would look forward to. �If I get that call, it would be very exciting.... however, I'm not going to assume anything."

Lincoln got two 2-run innings of run support from his teammates, and he helped out there too. �The Tribe batters put at least one runner on base in every inning but the 8th. �They scored their first pair of runs in the 3rd inning, taking advantage of a pair of triples. �With one out,�Jose Tabata hit a laser over the head of RF Mitch Jones for a stand-up triple. �Brian Myrow drove in Tabata with a sinking line drive into left field for a single. �3B Pedro Alvarez (photo) had the second triple, a drive into the right-center field alley, which easily brought Myrow around to score. �The throw in from the outfield got away from the Braves' infielders and sailed to the facing of the third base dugout, but not far enough away for Alvarez to score. �Alvarez was 1-for-5 in the game.

The Tribe threatened in the 4th inning. �Brian Friday led off with a double that slipped past the Braves' third baseman and down the left field line into the corner. �SS Doug Bernier singled up the middle, and the Indians had runners on the corners. �Lincoln dropped down a bunt that was intended to be a suicide squeeze. �3B Luis Bolivar scooped the bunt, looked Friday back to third (it was too close for him to score anyway), then threw on to first base, but he had delayed just a fraction of a second too long in looking back at Friday, and the hustling Lincoln beat the throw to first, for a hit. �That gave the Tribe the bases loaded with no outs -- but they could not get a run across the plate, as two strike outs and a line out ended the inning with all three runners standing right there.

C Erik Kratz doubled with one out in the 5th, and he got as far as thrid base on a ground out by CF Jon Van Every, but that threat fell short also.

Lincoln started another run-scoring rally in the 6th by working a walk. �Jose Tabata doubled off the top of the right field wall, moving Lincoln to third base. �Then RF Kevin Melillo tripled over Braves' RF Jones' head, to score both Lincoln and Tabata. �That chased the Braves' starter Jose Ortegano, who had allowed all 4 of the Indians' runs, on 11 hits.

The Tribe batters did not do as well against the Braves' bullpen. �Cory Gearrin relieved Ortegano and struck out two batters to end the 6th, then allowed only one base runner over the next two innings -- he hit Erik Kratz with a pitch, though erased him with a double play. �Stephen Marek took over for the 9th inning, and he gave up a walk to Kevin Melillo and a single to Brian Myrow (his third hit), but left both on base when he ended the inning.

Wil Ledezma pitched 2 scoreless innings after Lincoln sat down. �He gave up a double in the 7th and a walk in the 8th, but struck out 5 batters. �Jean Machi pitched a scoreless 9th, allowing a single and a walk, and he ended the game with a strikeout. �It was not a save situation.

The win gave the Indians a split of the 4-game series with the Braves, and also a split of the season series. �The Indians will not play the Braves again during the 2010 regular season. �The Tribe has a 28-26 record, which puts them in third place in the International League Western Division, 6.5 games behind the first-place Columbus Clippers. �The Indians return to Victory Field on Friday, to begin a 4-game series with the Clippers -- hoping to gain some ground on them in the standings.

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Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: �Three triples, which were factors in all four of the runs the Indians scored: �Jose Tabata (2nd triple of the season), Pedro Alvarez (3rd of the season), and Kevin Melillo (3rd of the season).

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �Three pitchers, Brad Lincoln, Wil Ledezma, and Jean Machi, combined for 9 shutout innings, and a total of 13 strikeouts.

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NOTES:

Donnie Veal has has a consultation with noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, and the result is that Dr. Andrews will be performing Tommy John surgery on Veal's left elbow tomorrow. �That's the end of Veal's 2010 season... with hopes that he'll be ready to return sometime near the beginning of the 2011 season.

Lincoln has been named the Indians' Player of the Month for May. �There will probably be an official presentation of the award this weekend.

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Go Tribe!

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(photos by Nancy)

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The Pirates have called up Pittsburgh native Neil Walker. He will join the Pirates in Cincinnati, just a quick drive from Indianapolis.

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Walker has been on fire at the plate from the start of the season. �He has a .321 average with the Indy Indians, with 18 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers, and 26 RBI. �He has been playing second base (20 games), first base (7 games), left field (14 games), plus one game at third and one game as the DH. �In all of that shuttling around the field, Walker has committed just one error (fielding, at second base). �His 18 doubles lead the team and the International League, and he leads the Indians and is second in the IL with 94 total bases.

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The Pirates have placed 1B Steve Pearce on the Disabled List with an ankle sprain suffered in last night's game, opening up the roster spot for Walker.

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The Indianapolis Indians have placed starting pitcher Donnie Veal on the Disabled List due to tightness in his left elbow and forearm.

Starter Daniel McCutchen has been on the DL with arm fatigue, and he is expected to be reactivated today, to be able to pitch tonight.

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Kratz celebrates his home run.

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Gwinnett Braves �6, �Indianapolis Indians �3 (box)

With two outs in the top of the 9th, the Braves broke a 3-3 tie, scoring 3 runs and holding on to take the win at Victory Field this afternoon.

Reliever Wil Ledezma (photo, with Luke Carlin) had pitched a scoreless 8th inning, then started the 9th with a fly out and a pop out. �Then things fell apart. �Pinch-hitter Matt Young tapped a slow roller to second base, which 2B Brian Friday fielded, but had no time to throw to first before Young got there. �CF Gregor Blanco worked the count full, fouled off a couple more pitches from Ledezma, then took a walk. �3B Wes Timmons followed with a single lined into right field, scoring Young with the go-ahead run. �Ledezma was relieved by Jean Machi, and the Tribe still had hope -- they had come from behind to tie the score twice already in this game.

Machi struck out the first batter he faced, 1B Barbaro Canizares, but strike three was a wild pitch. �Blanco scored easily from third base as C Luke Carlin chased nearly to the backstop after the ball. �But Machi did not run in to cover the plate, and the second runner, Timmons saw that (or at least Gwinnett's manager Dave Brundage saw it). �Timmons had been heading to third, and just kept going. �He was about 10 feet from the plate when Machi woke up and realized he was not where he ought to have been, and by then it was way too late -- 2 runs scored on one wild pitch. �With Canizares on first, RF Mitch Jones doubled down to the left field corner. �The Braves decided to intentionally walk SS Brandon Hicks because the pitcher, reliever Craig Kimbrel, was hitting in the 6th spot in the batting order (after a double switch). �Kimbrel hit for himself, and Machi was able to get the strikeout to end�the inning. �Machi had thrown 19 pitches, but only 8 were strikes.

The Tribe had one more chance in the bottom of the 9th, now down by 3 runs. �Kimbrel, who had retired three Indians in order in the 8th, struck out Luke Carlin to begin the bottom of the 9th. �He walked Brian Friday next, then struck out SS Argenis Diaz. �Pedro Alvarez, who was getting a day off from third base, came on to pinch-hit, and after a full count plus some foul balls, he also walked. �But 3B Doug Bernier struck out to end the game and earn Kimbrel his first win of the season.

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Indianapolis Indians �3, �Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees �0 (box)

Donnie Veal (photo above) dominated Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Victory Field on Tuesday night, holding the Yankees to just 2 hits and 3 walks over 7 innings of work. �Veal struck out a total of 7 batters, including 5 of the last 9 batters he faced. �Indians' CF Jose Tabata (photo) out-hit the Yankees all by himself, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while 1B Brian Myrow had 2 hits and 2 RBI.

Veal had more trouble in the early innings than he did later in the game. �With one out in the 1st, he gave up a walk to 2B Reegie Corona and a single to SS Eduardo Nunez, but got out of the inning with a grounder to SS Brian Friday for a double play. �He used 18 pitches to get through the 1st inning, and then needed another 19 in the 2nd inning, when he worked another walk but still kept the Yankees scoreless.

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Veal also had to work around a base runner in each of the 3rd and 4th innings. �C Chad Moeller began the 3rd inning with a double, but Veal left him standing right there, while he racked up his first two strikeouts of the game around a pop up. �The third walk Veal allowed came in the 4th inning to LF Jon Weber, but another double play started by Brian Friday ended that inning.

Meanwhile, Jose Tabata was leading the Indians' offensive attack. �He opened the bottom of the 1st with a line drive into left field for a double. �2B Neil Walker was hit on the foot by a pitch, then Brian Myrow (photo) lined a single into right field, and Tabata came around from second base to score. �After a pop out by 3B Pedro Alvarez, RF Brandon Jones walked to load the bases, but C Luke Carlin bounced into a double play, and the Indians could not take advantage of the bases-loaded situation.

Yankees' starter Jason Hirsch thought he had the Indians under control in the 2nd inning, when he began the frame with two fly outs. �But then Brian Friday ripped a double into left field, and surprised Hirsch by stealing third base. �Jose Tabata grounded to third base, but beat out the throw to first for a hit, allowing Friday to score. �Neil Walker lined a single into right field, moving Tabata to third base. �With runners on the corners, Brian Myrow again slapped an RBI single, this time into center field, and Tabata scored easily. �A ground out ended the inning, but the Indians had a 3-0 lead.

Both teams were pretty quiet for the remainder of the game. �Jose Tabata collected his third hit of the game in the 4th inning, again beating out a throw on an infield hit. �As Neil Walker stepped into the batters' box following Tabata's hit, some serious jawing erupted from the Yankees' dugout, possibly related to what had been a close play at first base. �1B Umpire Dan Bellino tossed someone in the dugout -- it wasn't clear whom until S/W-B manager Dave Miley came out of the dugout to continue the jawing �-- yup, it was Miley. �Once the dust had settled and the game resumed, Tabata promptly stole second base, then stole third. �Neil Walker walked, but the Indians left the runners stranded on the corners when Brian Myrow grounded out.

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Luke Carlin congratulates Erik Kratz after his 2-run homer.

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Indianapolis Indians 8, �Rochester Red Wings 3 (box)

The Indianapolis Indians came from behind again on Thursday afternoon at Victory Field, scoring 7 unanswered runs to beat the Red Wings. �The Indians piled on 14 hits, led by 2B Neil Walker's 4 hits, DH Erik Kratz's 3 hits, and CF Kevin Melillo's 3 hits. �Both Kratz and LF Brandon Moss homered in the late inning rallies.

The Indians had at least one runner on base in every inning but the 8th. �They began with two hits in the 1st, when�Kevin Melillo singled, and Walker doubled down the right field line and into the Red Wings' bullpen. �Melillo tried to suprise the Red Wings and steal second base, but Rochester's starter Deolis Guerra, making his AAA debut, didn't blink. �He didn't balk either, but easily threw out Melillo at second base (photo).

RF Brandon Jones led off the 2nd inning with another double down the right field line and into the Wings' bullpen. � C Luke Carlin worked a walk. �This time, the Indians did get Guerra to balk. �That put Jones on third base (and Carlin on second) and in position to score when Erik Kratz lifted a sacrifice fly into center field.

Starter Donnie Veal (photo) looked good in the early innings. �He walked the first batter he faced, RF Jason Repko, then retired the next six batters he faced, including two strikeouts in the 2nd inning. �He began to struggle in the 3rd, beginning when his third pitch glanced off DH Erik Lis' helmet. �With the new thicker helmets, Lis seemed to barely feel it -- didn't even go down. �Home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez was not even sure that the pitch had hit Lis, but after some jawing by Lis and a conference between the umpires, Lis was awarded first base. �Veal got the next two batters out, and then threw a ball into the dirt, which bounced up and hit SS Trevor Plouffe in the knee. �With runners on first and third, Veal gave up a single to LF Brian Dinkelman, and Lis came around from second to tie the score at 1-1.

The Red Wings took the lead in the 3rd. �With one out, CF Dustin Martin dropped a perfectly placed bunt to the left of the mound, and raced to first before Veal's throw could get there. �3B Danny Valencia crushed a double to the center field wall, and Martin came around from first base to score.

Veal again hit Erik Lis with a pitch in the 4th inning, this time just grazing his jersey. �It was the third hit batter for Veal in the game, but unlike in his last start, it did not get him a warning from the umpires.

Indianapolis Indians �8, �Buffalo Bison �5 � ��(box)

The Indians had to wait out the rain, but it was worth the wait, as they came from behind to beat the Bison at Victory Field on Friday night. �C Luke Carlin's home run, along with 4 RBI from 3B Pedro Alvarez, and 3 hits by RF Brandon Jones gave the Tribe the boost they needed. �Starter Donnie Veal got the win, and Jean Machi earned his third save of the season.

Donnie Veal (photo) was anxious to get going after the 1 hour 28 minute rain delay. �He pitched 5 innings but struggled to get through most of them. �In the top of the 1st, Veal struck out the first batter he faced, but then gave up back-to-back singles to 2B Russ Adams and 1B Mike Jacobs. �Veal's wild pitch got past C Luke Carlin, and the runners moved to second and third bases. �3B Mike Hessman, a long-time foe of the Indians, lifted a sacrifice fly, scoring Adams. �LF Chris Carter followed with a double to bring in Jacobs, and the Bison had a 2-0 lead. �A strikeout ended the inning, but it took Veal 34 pitches to get through the inning.

Veal did better in the 2nd inning, allowing only a walk to SS Ruben Tejada. �He was aided by what might have been a gift from the umpires. �With Tejada on second after a sacrifice bunt, CF Jason Pridie hit a sinking line drive into center field. �CF Jose Tabata came running in to make the catch... or did he? �It was not clear by just looking whether Tabata had actually made the catch, and the replays did not offer much more information. �The umpires were also unsure, because not one of the four of them signaled either a catch or a no-catch. �Manager Frank Kremblas came out to ask what was going on, and the four umps conferenced. �They finally decided that it was a catch, which also meant that when Tejada came racing around from second base, his run did not count.

The Bison came back at Veal in the third. �Once again, Veal struck out the first batter of the inning, but then walked Jacobs, bringing up the dangerous Hessman. �Sure enough, Hessman blasted a 2-run homer over the left field wall, to give Buffalo a 4-0 lead.

Veal had to work out of a jam in the 4th. �SS Ruben Tejada led off with a single, and went to second base on a balk. �After a strikeout, CF Jason Pridie singled, moving Tejada to third base. �But Luke Carlin threw out Pridie trying to steal second base, and a fly out got Veal out of trouble. �Then in the 5th, Veal retired the Bison in order. �He exited after 5, having thrown 95 pitches (53 strikes), and allowed the 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 7 batters. �