Tag: Erik Kratz

Indianapolis Indians 14, �Columbus Clippers 12 (box)

It was another slugfest at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio, but at least tonight it was not one-sided. �The two teams combined for 31 hits and 26 runs, and the Indians held on for the win. �After having posted 4 home runs last night, the Clippers put up 5 more home runs tonight. �The Indians homered only once last night, but added 4 homers tonight including two home runs by 3B Pedro Alvarez.

After a "boring" top of the 1st, in which CF Jose Tabata led off with a double and RF Brian Myrow walked, but were both stranded on base, there was at least one run scored in each of the next 10 half innings.

Columbus got started in the bottom of the 1st with back-to-back doubles by 2B Jason Donald and C Carlos Santana, then a 2-run homer by DH Shelley Duncan. �Santana, who homered twice yesterday, nearly had another homer here, but the ball bounced off the top of the wall in right-center field and fell back onto the playing field. �After Duncan's homer, Brad Lincoln gave up a walk, then an infield single to 3B Brian Buscher that bounced off either Lincoln's glove or the mound itself, and headed over toward second base, where it came to rest in the grass out of everyone's reach. �SS Anderson Hernandez followed with a line drive to left field. �Tribe LF Jon Van Every raced in and made a dive, but the ball hit his glove and popped out, making Van Every chase it down. �It was ruled a single, and the bases were loaded. �At that point, new Indians' batting coach Dean Traynor made a visit to Lincoln on the mound. �After a brief chat, Lincoln got RF Chris Gimenez to chop a high bounce to the first base side of the mound. �Lincoln made the quick hop to his left and the leap to snag the ball, then fired to C Erik Kratz, who turned and made the throw to first for a 1-2-3 double play. �Clippers ahead, 3-0.

It was Kratz who put the Indians right back into it in the top of the 2nd. �DH Neil Walker led off with a single slipped through the right side of the infield, and Kratz launched the first pitch he saw on a rising line drive over the left field wall to make the score 3-2. �Not to be outdone, the Clippers came right back in the bottom of the inning, with a lead-off home run by CF Jose Constanza. �Jason Donald doubled, and when he went to steal third base, Kratz's throw went sailing past 3B Pedro Alvarez, allowing Donald plenty of time to come home. �Clippers up 5-2.

Looking at two more catchers today -- both veterans:

Erik Kratz was a surprise last year in Indianapolis. �The 29-year-old was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2002 draft, and spent seven seasons in their organization mostly as a back-up catcher at various levels. �He occasionally took a turn playing first base, and played third twice in 2008, and even pitched in four games along the way (5 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 4 walks, and one strikeout). �After the 2008 season, Kratz became a minor league free agent, and he chose to sign a minor league contract with the Pirates for 2009. �The plan was for Kratz to be the back-up catcher behind Robinzon Diaz in Indianapolis.

Things changed when Pirates' catcher Ryan Doumit was injured. �Diaz was called up to Pittsburgh on April 21st, and Kratz became the primary catcher in Indy. �The regular playing time showed off Kratz's skills, and it also gave him the chance to get regular at-bats. �He hit .227 with a home run in April, but went on a 6-game hitting streak (9-for-25) after Diaz left. The average increased to .288 in May, which included four 3-hit games, and rose further to .308 in June, when he had a hit in all but two games that he appeared in (18 games). � Kratz still struck out a lot, but the rate decreased over the season (26% of plate appearances in April, but down to 18% in May, 20% in June, and 14% in July). �Kratz was named the starting catcher for the International League's All Star Game. �He hit the International League team's first hit, which was a double in the 3rd inning, and moments later scored the team's first run. �Then he sealed the win with a 2-run homer in the 6th inning, to give the International League the win and earn himself the game's Top Star (MVP)�honors. �Kratz returned to Indianapolis to find that Robinzon Diaz had been optioned down from Pittsburgh, but this time, Kratz was not automatically bumped back to the back-up role. �He continued to get playing time and at-bats, though he hit only .216 with 3 homers in July. �Then in August, he blasted 5 home runs and hit .329, finishing the season with a solid .273 average in 93 games, including a personal best 30 doubles, 11 homers (he also hit 11 in 2005), and personal best 43 RBI. �Behind the plate, Kratz threw out 25 of 83 runners trying to steal base (30%). � He was named the Indy Indians' Defensive Player of the Year for 2009.

The Pirates made a quick roster move on Wednesday morning, deciding on the back-up catching question. �Erik Kratz was reassigned to minor league camp, where he will join the Indianapolis Indians again for 2010. �Jason Jaramillo, who was the back-up to Ryan Doumit in 2009, will return to that role in 2010.

That leaves the final bullpen spot and the back-up infielder spot yet to be determined. �The Pirates also have to create two spaces on the 40-man roster to make room for relief pitchers Jack Taschner and DJ Carrasco. Management has hinted that more trades or waiver acquisitions could be coming.... stay tuned.

Las Vegas 51's 3, �Indianapolis Indians 1

Starter Donnie Veal pitched 3 innings for the Indians, but was charged with the loss when he gave up a solo home run in the top of the 1st inning. �The southpaw allowed 2 hits besides the homer and walked one, while striking out 4 batters. �Las Vegas also scored a run in the 5th inning on an RBI double, and added a third run on a wild pitch in the 6th.

Indians' batters managed to score only one run, which came in the 7th. �1B Brian Myrow led off with a single, then advanced to third base on 2B Shelby Ford's single. �Pinch-hitter Andy Vasquez brought Myrow in with a sacrifice fly.

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Pirates 7, �Braves 6 � (10 innings) � �(box)

Rule 5 pick John Raynor made the difference for the Pirates on Thursday afternoon in Bradenton, when he walked and eventually came around to score the winning run on a wild pitch off Braves' reliever Manny Acosta. �The Braves had the early lead in this game, as Pirates' starter Charlie Morton gave up homers to two former Pirates: �CF�Nate McLouth blasted a solo homer in the top of the 1st, and 1B Eric Hinske smacked a 3-run homer after two singles in the 4th inning. �After Hinske's home run, Morton gave up a double and a bunt single, making it 5 straight hits off him with no outs in the 4th. �After a line out, a sacrifice bunt by Braves' starter Kenshin Kawakami brought the runner in from third, and the Braves had a 5-0 lead.