Tag: Pedro Ciriaco

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Indianapolis Indians� 10,� Norfolk Tides� 6 (box)

Joe Martinez made his home debut and his first start for the Indianapolis Indians tonight at Victory Field, and he earned his first win as the Tribe halted a 3-game losing streak by beating the Norfolk Tides.� Each team recorded 12 hits in the game, and the two teams traded the lead back and forth before the Indians settled in with a big enough lead to hold on.

The game began in an unfortunate way for Norfolk.� They had one base runner in the top of the inning, when DH Michael Aubrey doubled, but he was left on base.� Then with one out in the bottom of the inning, Tides' starter Chris George was hit by a screaming line drive off the bat of the second batter he faced, 3B Akinori Iwamura. The ball hit George on his upper body, though it was not clear exactly where (UPDATE: it hit him in the elbow, and x-rays were negative), and ricocheted all the way over to where his first baseman Brandon Snyder was positioned, allowing Snyder to easily make the out at first.� George was clearly hurting, and he walked right off the field, not even trying to throw a practice pitch.� The Tides brought in reliever Jim Miller to take over for George.� CF Alex Presley greeted Miller with a single into right field, but Presley was thrown out trying to steal second base.

Over the next three innings, the scoring was fast and furious.� Norfolk got onto the scoreboard with 2 runs in the top of the 2nd.� After a quick ground out, Snyder grounded sharply to first base, but the ball skipped off 1B Doug Bernier's glove and up and over his left shoulder, and Snyder was safe on the error.� For the second night in a row, 3B Scott Moore hit a 2-run homer over the right field wall in the 2nd inning, bringing in Snyder, and the Tides had a 2-0 lead.

LF John Bowker got one run back for Joe Martinez with his own home run.� His blast, his first since joining the Indians, sailed just inside the right field foul pole, and landed in the back of the beer garden patio behind the right field corner.

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a lot of jawing going on

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Norfolk Tides� 9,� Indianapolis Indians� 1 (box)

Norfolk Tides' starter Chris Tillman pitched into the 7th inning and struck out 9 Tribe batters as the Tides easily washed over the Indians at Victory Field tonight.� Indians' starter Jeremy Powell (photo) had a rough outing, and did not get through the 4th inning, as he allowed 7 runs on 10 hits.

Powell allowed at least one base runner on in each of his 4 innings, though he did have a bit of luck in the top of the 1st.� CF Matt Angle opened the game with a double into the right-center field gap.� He moved to third base when one of Powell's pitches to SS Robert Andino came up and in and high, and got past C Jason Jaramillo for a wild pitch.� Andino struck out, then Powell struck out former Indy Indian RF Jeff Salazar.� On strike three to the left-handed hitting Salazar, Jaramillo hopped up and fired down to third base, surprising Angle, who was a little too far off the bag.� 3B Akinori Iwamura was easily able to tag out Angle to end the inning.

Unfortunately, there was not much more luck going for Powell.� In the 2nd inning, with one out, DH Michael Aubrey smacked a sharp grounder to the right of 2B Brian Friday. Friday was able to make the diving stop, but had no time to throw Aubrey out at first.� Aubrey went to second base on 1B Brandon Snyder's ground out.� Then 3B Scott Moore rocketed a rising line drive out of the park just inside the right field foul pole for a 2-run homer.

Three straight hits off Powell gave the Tides another run in the 3rd.� With one out, Andino tripled into the left-center field alley, with the ball rolling to the wall in the deepest part of Victory Field.� Salazar brought Andino in with a bloop single into short center field.� Salazar was thrown out trying to steal second base -- the first time this season that Salazar has been caught stealing, in 17 attempts.� LF Nolan Reimold grounded a single up the middle, just out of reach of SS Pedro Ciriaco, but he was left stranded when Powell struck out Aubrey.

Things got worse in the 4th.� Brandon Snyder began the inning with a line drive down the right field line and into the corner.� Powell walked Moore, and C Adam Donachie, just arrived from AA Bowie, dropped down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third bases.� 2B Paco Figueroa grounded toward short, where the ball scooted past the diving Ciriaco, who might have been distracted by Moore, who was running in front of him and between Ciriaco and the oncoming ground ball.� It was ruled a hit, and Snyder came in to score.� Angle drove a high bouncer just barely inside the chalk line and into the right field corner for a triple, plating both Moore and Figueroa, and the Tides had a 6-0 lead.� That brought up Andino.� When Powell's first pitch came in tight and hit Andino's jersey, Andino took exception (remember that high and tight wild pitch in the first inning? ).� Andino stood at the plate and yelled out at Powell.� He was restrained by the home plate umpire and Jaramillo, and by his own teammates who quickly came out of the dugout.� Powell returned the jawing, and took several steps toward the plate, but was also blocked by the umpires and his teammates.� Manager Frank Kremblas kept the rest of the Indians' bench from emptying, and after a bit more yelling and milling around, order was restored (photo here and at the top).� No one was ejected, but Kremblas decided that it was a good time to end Powell's night.

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Durham Bulls� 2,� Indianapolis Indians� 0 (box)


The Indians were held to just 2 hits as they were shut out at Durham Bulls' Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina this evening.� The win by the Bulls gives them a 3-1 win of this 4-game series, and a 5-3 win of the season series.

The Bulls used 5 different pitchers, who combined to strikeout the Indians 14 times in the game.� Aneury Rodriguez made an unexpected spot start for the Bulls, and he pitched into the 5th inning.� He struck out 6 Indians, and gave up 4 walks plus one hit.� CF Alex Presley worked a walk in the 1st inning, but was left there as Rodriguez struck out two batters in that frame.� After one out in the 3rd, 2B Brian Friday (photo) blooped a single over the reach of the leaping Durham SS Elliot Johnson.� Friday stole second base and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch that bounced into the grass between the plate and the pitchers' mound.� 3B Akinori Iwamura walked, but the two runners were left standing on the corners.� Rodriguez walked two batters, SS Pedro Ciriaco and Friday in the 5th inning, then was relieved by Joe Bateman.� Bateman struck out LF Kevin Melillo, and Ciriaco steal third and Friday steal second base on strike three, but a fly out ended the inning and the Indians had still not scored.

The next three Durham pitchers,� Jake McGee, RJ Swindle, and Winston Abreu, retired all but one of the rest of the Indians' batters in the game.� The Indians went down in order in the 6th (McGee struck out the side), 7th, and 8th innings.� With two outs in the 9th, RF John Bowker grounded to third, where Bulls' 3B Angel Chavez struggled with an odd hop and fumbled the ball behind the third base bag.� Bowker reached first base, and was given a single on the play.� But pinch hitter Mitch Jones struck out, ending the game and leaving Bowker on first base.

Durham Bulls� 10,� Indianapolis Indians� 1 �� (Game 1) (box)

Two 5-run innings by the Bulls stampeded Indians' starter Brad Lincoln in the first game of today's double-header at Durham Bulls' Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina.

Lincoln (photo) hit a batter in his first inning of work, then struck out the next two batters.� But in the 2nd inning, the Bulls began running.� The first three batters reached base safely-- singles by 2B Joe Dillon and LF Leslie Anderson and a 2-run double by DH Dioner Navarro.� Lincoln got C Jose Labaton to ground out, then walked 3B Angel Chavez.� CF Desmond Jennings lined a single into right field, bringing in Navarro.� A passed ball by rehabbing C Ryan Doumit moved the two runners into scoring position, then a single by SS Elliot Johnson and a double by RF Justin Ruggiano each drove in a run, to give the Bulls a 5-0 lead.� A ground out and pop out finally ended the inning.

Lincoln breezed through the 3rd inning, again striking out two batters, but got right back into trouble in the 4th.� Once again, the first three batters reached base safely, scoring 2 runs.� This time it was a single by Chavez and a walk to Jennings, followed by a triple by Johnson.� Lincoln struck out Ruggiano, then former Indy Indian 1B Chris Richard doubled, bringing in Johnson.� That was all for Lincoln.� He had given up 9 hits and 2 walks, and ultimately was responsible for 9 of Durham's 10 runs.� He had thrown 83 pitches (50 strikes) in just 3.1 innings.

Brian Bass came on to relieve Lincoln, entering the game with one out and Richard on second base.� But Bass fell victim to the Bulls' stampede too.� The first three batters he faced -- Dillon, Anderson, and Navarro -- all singled, and along with a fielding error by CF Alex Presley, two more runs scored, with one charged to Lincoln.� Bass got Lobaton to bounce back to the mound, where he started a 1-6-3 (Bass to SS Pedro Ciriaco to 1B John Bowker) double play.

Bass went on to pitch the 5th inning, allowing a single to Jennings, but getting Johnson to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play (2B Brian Friday to Ciriaco to Bowker).� Daniel Moskos took the final inning, allowing only a walk. (Only 7 innings in an International League double-header game.)

Indianapolis Indians� 5,� Norfolk Tides� 3 (box)

The Indianapolis Indians avoided being swept out to sea by the Tides with a 5-3 victory at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia this afternoon.� Starter Jeremy Powell (photo) earned his 8th win of the season, and reliever Joe Martinez earned a Save in his Indians' debut.� Another debuting Indian, 1B/RF John Bowker, made a good impression with a 3-for-4 day at the plate including 2 doubles and an RBI.

The game began with the Tribe batters securing a nice packet of run support for their starter Powell, as they batted around in the top of the 1st.� The first four batters reached base safely.� LF Kevin Melillo led off with a double into center field, and a wild pitch sent Melillo to third.� SS Pedro Ciriaco blooped a single into right, scoring Melillo with the first run of the game.� Ciriaco stole second base, then advanced to third base on CF Alex Presley's single through the hole into right field.� The hot-hitting DH Brandon Moss added a double, bringing in both Ciriaco and sending Presley to third.� After a strikeout by the rehabbing RF Ryan Doumit, newcomer John Bowker began his Indians' career with an RBI single that plated Presley.� Norfolk starting pitcher Chris Tillman tried a pick-off throw, but it went wild, and Moss scored from third base.� 3B Jim Negrych also singled, moving Bowker to second base.� Both were left on base when two strikeouts ended the inning, but the Indians had secured a 4-0 lead for Powell.

Powell missed a complete game shutout by a strike in his last start (July 29th), and today he looked just as good.� He retired the first 15 batters he faced, including 3 strikeouts, zipping through 5 innings.� But in the 6th, Powell began to struggle.� He gave up a lead-off walk to 1B Brandon Snyder and a single to former Indy Indian (2008) C Michel Hernandez.� A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position.� CF Matt Angle singled, scoring Snyder, and former Indy Indian (2009) RF Jeff Salazar lifted a sacrifice fly, allowing Hernandez to score.� One more single, by SS Robert Andino, drove in Angle, and the Tides had come within a run of the Indians, 4-3.� Powell was relieved by Corey Hamman, who finished the inning with a strikeout.

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Norfolk Tides� 4,� Indianapolis Indians� 1 (box)

Tribe starter Mike Crotta (photo) gave up only 4 hits in 7 innings of work, but two of them were big hits, and that was enough for the Tides to beat the Indians for the third straight night at Harbor Park in Norfolk.� Crotta suffered his 6th loss in his time with the Tribe.

Crotta struck out 6 batters and walked only one, and he threw a total of 115 pitches (74 strikes).� He took care of the Tides, 1-2-3, in the 1st inning, but gave up a pair of runs in the 2nd.� With one out, Crotta walked LF Nolan Reimold and gave up a single up the middle to 3B Scott Moore.� A fly out gave Crotta the second out of the inning, but then C Craig Tatum lined a triple past CF Alex Presley, which scored both Reimold and Moore.

The 3rd inning was another 3-up-and-3-down for Crotta, but he again got into trouble in the 4th.� Reimold lined a one-out single into center field and stole second base.� Crotta struck out Moore, but 1B Brad Snyder took a 2-1 pitch over the left-center field wall for a 2-run home run.�

Crotta retired 9 of the 10 batters he faced over the next three innings.� The only base runner he allowed was, once again, Reimold, who he hit with a pitch in the 6th.

The Indians were not providing Crotta with much in the way of run support.� They scored one run on 5 hits.� RF Brandon Moss, who has been the team's hottest hitter recently, had 2 of the hits.� Moss led off the 2nd inning with a single into right field, and he moved to second base when DH Ryan Doumit, with the Indians on a rehab assignment, grounded out to second.� He was left stranded when a fly out and a strikeout ended the inning.� Alex Presley beat out a bunt for� single in the 4th, and went on to second base when the Norfolk C Tatum made a throwing error.� LF Kevin Melillo doubled to open the 6th inning.� Neither Presley nor Melillo got any further than second base before the inning ended.� 1B Jonathan Van Every also reached base to begin an inning when he was walked to start the 5th.� He was caught trying to steal second base.

Norfolk Tides� 3,� Indianapolis Indians� 2 (box)

A 9th-inning rally by the Tides tied up the game, and an 11th-inning rally gave them the win over the Indianapolis Indians at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia tonight in the first game of a 4-game series.� Pitching ruled in the game, as the Indians were held to just 5 hits, and the Tides were held to only 6, and a wild pitch and a fielding error made the difference in the game.

The Indians jumped out to the early lead in the top of the 1st inning.� LF Kevin Melillo looked at strike one, then took 4 balls for a walk.� Two outs later, DH Brandon Moss (photo) rocketed a 2-0 pitch over the right center field wall for a 2-run homer.

But that was all the scoring the Tribe would do, and they collected only 4 hits in the rest of the game, plus 3 more walks.� No Tribe batter got as far as third base for the rest of the game.� 1B Jonathan Van Every singled with one out in the 2nd inning, and moved to second base on a ground out by C Luke Carlin, but got no farther.� Newcomer RF Mitch Jones, in his first game with the Indians, was hit by a pitch to lead off the 4th inning, and 2B Jim Negrych followed with a single, moving Jones to second base.� But Van Every lined out to first base, and Jones was doubled off second base, and Negrych was left stranded at the end of the inning.

The Indians threatened again in the 7th, when Luke Carlin walked and 3B Brian Bixler singled, but both were left on base that time.� In the top of the 11th, Brandon Moss picked up his second hit of the game, a single lined into right field, but he was forced out at second when Mitch Jones grounded out, and moments later, Jones was picked off first and caught stealing.� Jones and SS Brian Friday were the only other batters to reach base, both on walks, and both were left stranded.

Brian Burres made the start for the Indians.� He pitched 7 innings and allowed one run on 3 hits and 4 walks, with 2 strikeouts.� Burres gave up a bunt single to the first batter he faced, CF Matt Angle, then picked Angle off first base.� He proceeded to retire the next 9 Tides' batters, until he gave up a one-out single to SS Robert Andino in the 4th.� Walks to former Indy Indian RF Jeff Salazar and 3B Scott Moore loaded the bases.� After a quick chat with pitching coach Dean Treanor, Burres got the next batter, LF Nolan Reimold to bounce to third base, where Brian Bixler stepped on third for the force out, then fired across the diamond to 1B Jonathan Van Every for the double play.

A host of roster moves today, in view of the Pirates' activity at the trading deadline, which will affect the Indianapolis Indians.

SS Argenis Diaz and 1B Jeff Clement have been promoted from the Indians to the Pirates.� They will take the roster spots vacated when INF Bobby Crosby and OF Ryan Church were traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Pirates acquired ss Pedro Ciriaco from the Diamondbacks.� He is a 24-year-old Dominican native who has been with AAA Reno this season.� In 87 games, Ciriaco is hitting .259 with 15 doubles, 7 triples, 6 homers, and 51 RBI.� He's also stolen 14 bases.� That overall batting average doesn't tell the whole story, though.� He started the season slowly, hitting just .184 in April (when he got into only 9 games) and .222 in May.� He turned it around in June, when he hit.296 and July, hitting .293.� Ciriaco also played in the Futures game earlier this month.� Last season with AA Mobile, Ciriaco hit .296 with 54 RBI and 38 stolen bases, and was named to both the mid- and post- season Southern League All-Star Teams.� He is also a very strong defensive shortstop with a good arm.� He is expected to join the Indians.

The addition of C Chris Snyder (the main player coming to the Pirates in the trade with Ciriaco) might make you wonder what will become of C Erik Kratz, especially when Ryan Doumit comes off the disabled list (he's had yet another concussion).� The Pirates (for now) are saying that Snyder and Kratz will be the team catchers, and that Doumit will be playing some first base and some outfield.� Of course, Clement will be playing some first base too...�� This also suggests that Jason Jaramillo will be returning to the Indians.

As expected, RHP Daniel McCutchen was recalled to the Pirates to make the start on Saturday and remain in the rotation.� For now, reliever Steven Jackson is still with the Pirates, and reliever Justin Thomas might be called up for a few days since it's not entirely clear when all the new pitchers will be joining the Pirates.

The Pirates traded reliever Octavio Dotel to the Dodgers for RHP James McDonald, who will be joining the Pirates, and OF Andrew Lambo, who will be joining the Altoona Curve.� Lambo is a California native who will turn 22 in a couple of weeks.� He was drafted by the Dodgers in the 4th round of the 2007 draft and spent all of 2009 at AA Chattanooga, where he hit .256 with 39 doubles, 11 homers, and 61 RBI.� He had played in 47 games for Chattanooga this season, and hit .271 with 11 doubles, 4 homers, and 25 RBI, but he has missed a big chunk of the season because he tested positive for banned substances (not PED's) and was suspended for 50 games.� The Pirates seem to feel this was a one-time mistake, and not likely to be repeated.� Since returning at the end of June, Lambo has hit .219 with 2 homers and 12 RBI.

The Pirates traded reliever Javier Lopez to the Giants for 1B/OF John Bowker and RHP Joe Martinez, and both of them are expected to be assigned to Indianapolis.� Bowker is a 27-year-old California native, who has split this season between the Giants and AAA Fresno.� In 51 games with Fresno, He has a .310 average, with 12 doubles, 14 homers, and 36 RBI; with the Giants, in 41 games, he has hit .207 with 3 doubles, 3 home runs, and 8 RBI.

Joe Martinez,� a righty pitcher from New Jersey, has made 4 appearances (one start) with the Giants this season, totalling 11 innings.� He's allowed 15 hits and 6 runs (4.91 ERA) with 6 walks and 3 strikeouts.� The 27-year-old has spent most of the season with AAA Fresno, where he has made 13 starts and one relief appearance, earning a 5-3 record and a 3.32 ERA.� In 81.1 innings, Martinez has allowed 78 hits and 30 earned runs, 26 walks, and struck out 65.� His ERA has dropped a little over the course of the season -- 3.60 in April, 3.29 in May, 3.00 in July.

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Their heads must be spinning....