Tag: Steve Pearce

Indianapolis Indians �9, �Buffalo Bison �3 (box)

The Indianapolis Indians exploded for 6 runs in the top of the 10th inning, to break a 3-3 tie and put the game out of reach at Coca Cola Field in Buffalo, NY tonight. �SS Argenis Diaz (photo) had the RBI single that tied the game in the 9th, and also contributed an RBI double in the 10th, and CF Jonathan Van Every also had 2 RBI. �Rehabbing Steve Pearce had 3 hits for the Indians. �Jean Machi pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win for the Indians.

The Tribe began the game with their first four batters reaching base safely, on three consecutive hits and a hit batter. �LF Kevin Melillo led off with a double, and he scored on C Luke Carlin's single up the middle. �Carlin tried to take second base when a pitch in the dirt from Dillon Gee got away from the Buffalo catcher Josh Thole -- but not as far away as Carlin thought it was, and Thole threw Carlin out at second base. �2B Jim Negrych doubled, and Steve Pearce, playing right field tonight, was hit by a pitch. �1B Jeff Clement grounded to short, and when the Buffalo SS Justin Turner threw wide to first base, Negrych came around to score an unearned run. �Those were the only runs Gee allowed. �He retired the Indians in order in the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th innings. �In the 4th, Pearce grounded to third, where 3B Mike Cervenak stumbled as he went to make the throw to first. �That made his throw come in high at first, with 1B Mike Jacobs leaping off the bag to catch the ball. �It was initially ruled a throwing error on Cervenak, but later changed to a hit for Pearce, who was reaching the bag as the throw came to first anyway. �Jeff Clement also singled, on a grounder that slipped through the right side of the infield. �But two strikeouts and a throw down to second when Clement was off and running with the pitch ended the inning without a run scoring.

Charlie Morton (photo) made the start for the Indians. �It was his third start since joining the Indians, and it was similar to his last. �Tonight he pitched 5 innings and allowed 3 runs on 6 hits, with 3 walks and 5 strikeouts. �(On June 13th, he went 7 innings and gave up 3 runs on 7 hits and a walk, with 6 strikeouts.) �Morton gave up a walk in each of the first two innings, and a double over the head of LF Kevin Melillo and off the wall in the 2nd. �Morton needed 21 pitches to get through the 1st inning and another 20 for the 2nd. �Then he retired the side in order in the 3rd inning, needing just 9 pitches.

The Bison tied the score in the 4th inning. �With one out, Morton gave up a single up the middle to CF Fernando Martinez. �After a fly out, LF Lucas Duda doubled, scoring Martinez, and C Josh Thole put a soft liner into center field to bring in Duda and tie the game.

The 6th inning began with a controversial grounder up the third base line by Mike Cervenak. �The ball appeared to be foul, and it bounced in foul territory once it was past third base, but 3B umpire Stephen Barga ruled that the ball was in fair territory when it sailed over the third base bag, and so it was fair, and a double for Cervenak. �Manager Frank Kremblas and C Luke Carlin protested, to no avail. �Kremblas continued on to the mound, to change pitchers, and Carlin apparently continued to express his point of view. �Before reliever Justin Thomas could come in from the bullpen, Barga ejected Carlin from the game.

Erik Kratz came into the game to replace Carlin. �Justin Thomas struck out the first two batters he faced, then gave up a single to pinch-hitter Andy Green, which drove in Mike Cervenak from second base with the go-ahead run (charged to Morton).

Williamsport Crosscutters �5, �State College Spikes �3 (box)

The Spikes opened their season on the road tonight, unfortunately on the losing end. �Starter Zack Von Rosenberg, who had pitched just one inning in the 2009 season, was charged with the loss. �He pitched 4 innings, and allowed 4 runs on 7 hits and a walk, with 2 strikeouts.

Williamsport struck first, with a run in the bottom of the 1st inning, on two doubles. �The Spikes took the lead in the top of the 3rd, with a 2-out rally. �SS Walker Gourley doubled, and 2B Gift Ngoepe singled, driving in Gourley. �Ngoepe stole second base, and he scored on 3B Chase Lyles' RBI single (his first professional hit), giving the Spikes a 2-1 lead.

A 2-run homer, followed by a walk and an RBI double gave the Crosscutters 3 more runs and the lead in the 4th inning. �Another single nearly brought in another run, but RF Andury Acevedo's throw in to the plate to C Miguel Mendez had the lead runner out at the plate. �Those 4 Williamsport runs were all charged to Von Rosenberg.

The Spikes got within one run again in the 6th. �DH Kelson Brown and CF Justin Bencsko's each collected his first professional hit -- a single for Brown, and an RBI triple for Bencsko.

Ryan Beckman took over on the mound for Von Rosenberg for the 5th inning. �He gave up a single and hit a batter, but did not allow a run to score. �Eliecer Navarro pitched the next 2 innings. �He loaded the bases in the 6th with a walk and two singles, but struck out the next batter to end the inning without a run scoring. �Navarro gave up a solo home run in the 7th, giving the Crosscutters an insurance run. �Justin Ennis made his pro debut with a perfect 8th inning -- a strikeout and two ground outs.

Lots of home runs in the minor leagues tonight, including Jim Negrych's 2-run homer that won the game for the Indianapolis Indians.

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Bradenton Marauders �9, �Jupiter Hammerheads �7 (box)

A 5-run inning boosted the Marauders in the early part of the game, and then the Marauders had to use three home runs to make up for making 4 errors in the field. �The two teams combined for 27 hits in the game, with the Marauders accounting for 16 of them.

Bradenton starter Nate Adcock gave up a run in each of the 2nd and 3rd innings. �Two singles and two throwing errors brought in a run in the 2nd, and a double, a single, and an RBI ground out plated the run in the 3rd.

The newest Marauder, 2B Jorge Bishop, got the party started in the bottom of the 3rd with a lead-off triple. �A single by SS Greg Picart brought in Bishop. Another single by CF Robbie Grossman and a double by rehabbing DH Steve Pearce plated Picart. �LF Quincy Latimore singled to score Grossman and Pearce. �Two more singles, by 1B Calvin Anderson and 3B Adenson Chourio scored Latimore. �The Marauders almost had another run, but Adenson Chourio was throw out at the plate after C Andrew Walker's single. �The Marauders came out of the inning with a 5-2 lead.

Adcock got into trouble in the 5th, when a fielding error began the inning. �A double, a single, a passed ball, and two RBI ground outs brought in three more runs, only one of which was earned. �Another double, a fielding error, two singles and a sacrifice fly brought in an earned run and an unearned run in the 6th.

The Marauders kept up with the help of the homers. �Calvin Anderson smacked a solo homer in the 5th. �A double by Bishop, a stolen base, and a wild pitch added another run in the 6th, to tie the score at 7-7. �Back-to-back homers by Quincy Latimore and Calvin Anderson in the 7th gave the Marauders the go-ahead run and one more for insurance.

Tyler Cox, Ramon Aguero, and Noah Krol each pitched one scoreless inning of relief, with 5 strikeouts between them. �Cox earned the win, since he was the pitcher of record when Latimore and Anderson homered in the 7th. �Aguero was credited with a Hold, and Krol earned his 16th save of the season, tying him for the lead in the Florida State League.

Rehabbing Steve Pearce went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, a walk, and a strikeout in the game.

The Indianapolis Indians had a scheduled day off today.

Reports are that 1B/OF Steve Pearce, who is working his way back from a sprained ankle, played in an extended Spring Training game today in Bradenton. �He went 1-for-5 at the plate.

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West Virginia Power �5, �Hickory Crawdads �3 (box)

The Power snapped their losing streak with a win in Hickory tonight, led by DH Kyle Morgan and his two home runs. �After two quiet innings, Morgan got things started in the top of the 3rd with a solo home run over the right-center field wall. �SS Benji Gonzalez followed the homer with a single, then stole second base (his 9th steal of the season). �A double by CF David Rubinstein plated Gonzalez, and a single by 2B Jarek Cunningham brought in Rubinstein. �Cunningham also stole second base (his 3rd of the year).

The Crawdads tied it up with 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. �Kyle McPherson had the first batter reach on an error by 3B Jesus Brito, then gave up back-to-back singles to load the bases. �A double cleared the bases, and those 3 runs tied it up.

But the Power were not done. �Both RF Jose Hernandez and Morgan blasted solo homers (not back-to-back) in the 4th inning, and the Power had the lead again.

That was all the scoring in the game. �Brito and Cunningham were the only Power batters to reach base over the remaining 5 innings, both on walks. �The Crawdads did not fare any better --�McPherson retired the next 11 batters he faced over the 4th through the 7th innings. �He gave up a 2-out triple in the 7th, but got the next batter to strike out. �Ryan Kelly pitched a perfect 8th inning, and Duke Welker pitched a perfect 9th, including two strikeouts. �McPherson was credited with his 5th win, and Welker with his 4th save.

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Indianapolis Indians �4, �Gwinnett Braves �2 (box)

CF Brandon Moss's (photo left)�double in the 8th inning made all the difference at Victory Field tonight, as the Indians beat the Braves to close this home stand. �Daniel McCutchen (photo above) made the start for the Tribe, pitching 7 strong innings, but he did not factor into the decision. �Reliever Steven Jackson got the win, his first of the season with the Indians.

McCutchen was reactivated from the Disabled List earlier today, where he had missed one start due to a tired arm. �His arm didn't look at all tired today. �Of his 7 innings, he buzzed through four of them, retiring the side in order (1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th). �He gave up a lead-off hit to SS Brandon Hicks in the 7th inning, but erased Hicks on a double play, then got another ground out to end that inning.

The Braves caused McCutchen some problems in the 2nd inning. �1B Freddie Freeman led off with a line drive into left field for a double. �After a sacrifice bunt to move Freeman to third base, McCutchen gave up three consecutive singles. �Hicks singled into left field, scoring Freeman. �Hicks tried to steal second base, but was thrown out on a perfect throw by C Luke Carlin. Braves' C Clint Sammons and 2B Luis Bolivar both singled also, but McCutchen got Braves' starter Chris Resop to bounce to first base, ending the inning with Sammons and Bolivar still on base.

(Photo: �Luke Carlin and Daniel McCutchen discuss strategy)

Resop dominated the Indians' batters over the first two innings. �He struck out four batters and got two fly outs. �He allowed only Luke Carlin to reach base, after working the count full, fouling off another pitch, then finally taking ball four.

But Resop's control started slipping in the 3rd inning. �SS Brian Friday led off with a ball along the left field line, and his aggressive base running put him on second base, just ahead of the throw back into the infield. �Daniel McCutchen dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Friday to third base. �LF Jose Tabata smacked a ball back to the mound, which ricocheted off Resop's glove with a high bounce toward second base. �The bounce was high enough so that by the time 2B Luis Bolivar waited until the ball came down and threw to first, the speedy Tabata had enough time to beat out the throw. �Friday scored easily from third base, and the score was tied at 1-1. �Tabata reached third base on a single into center field by 2B Kevin Melillo, but 1B Brian Myrow bounced into a 3-6-3 (1B Freddie Freeman to SS Brandon Hicks and back to Freeman) to end the inning.

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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Indianapolis Indians 9,

Buffalo Bison 2

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3B Pedro Alvarez smashed a 3-run homer (photo) to cap off a 7-run inning as the Indians stampeded the Bison in the first game of an 8-game homestand at Victory Field. �The Indians recorded 15 hits in the game, with each position player in the starting line-up picking up at least one hit except for 2B Brian Friday, and Friday contributed a sacrifice bunt in the big inning. �Both C Erik Kratz and LF Brandon Moss had 3 hits in the game, while CF Jose Tabata, 1B Neil Walker, and SS Argenis Diaz each had 2 hits.

The Indians went into the bottom of the 6th with a slim 2-1 lead. �Buffalo starter, Bobby Livingston, who had pitched briefly for the Indians in 2009, had completed 5 innings and reliever Kiko Calero was beginning his work on the mound. �Brandon Moss began the fun with an easy liner into center field, his second hit of the game. �Moss took off for second base, and though he did not get there before the ball did, Bison shortstop Ruben Tejada dropped the ball on the throw, and Moss was safe with a stolen base. �Erik Kratz took a fly ball to the left-center field alley, for his second double of the game, and Moss cruised home with an insurance run (1). �Brian Friday dropped down a neat sacrifice bunt, moving Kratz to third base. �Argenis Diaz lifted a little fly to short right field, which fell in between three Bison chasing after it. �Kratz had been waiting to tag up, so when the ball fell in, he headed for the plate. �The throw came in to Buffalo catcher Josh Thole on the first-base side of the plate and a little in front, as Kratz slid on the outside of the third base side, his right hand skimming the plate as he went by, scoring the second run (2). �Diaz advanced to second base on the throw. �Brian Myrow came on to pinch-hit for starter Brad Lincoln, and he took the first pitch he saw up the middle for another single, scoring Diaz (3). �Jose Tabata (photo) was next, and he was hit on the left hand by a pitch, putting runners on first and second bases. �That brought up Neil Walker, who'd already had a single and an RBI in the previous inning. �Walker smacked a liner into right-center field, which hit the ground just about a foot in front of the glove of the diving outfielder. �The ball got past him and kept rolling, and Walker had an RBI double as Myrow crossed the plate (4). �That was enough to send Calero to the showers.

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Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs 3, �Indianapolis Indians 1 (box)

Daniel McCutchen (photo) made his second appearance since returning to the Indianapolis Indians, but the early morning start did not agree with the Tribe. �In a game that started at 10:35 am to accommodate the school-aged crowd at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA, McCutchen did not pitch all that badly, but he did not get much run support, so he did not get the win.

The Indians were held to just 4 hits in the game -- two each by CF Jose Tabata and 3B Pedro Alvarez. The first two hits, one each, came right away in the top of the 1st. �Tabata opened the game with a single into left field. �Two outs later, after Tabata had advanced to second base on a ground out, Alvarez drove him home with an RBI double lined into center field.

And that was all the scoring the Indians would do. �They went down in order in the next two innings. �In the 4th, 1B Brian Myrow walked, but was caught stealing when he started to make a break a little to early in the pitcher's motion. �In the 5th, C Luke Carlin walked, but was erased in an double play. �Tabata was also caught stealing after his single in the 6th, though 2B Neil Walker was left stranded after he walked. �Three more Tribe batters (RF Brandon Jones, pinch-hitter Doug Bernier, and Tabata)�walked during the 7th and 8th innings, but all three were left on base. �The final Indians' hit of the game, a single by Alvarez, led off the 9th inning, but Alvarez was out in a force at second base, and the next two batters went down in order.

McCutchen needed 80 pitches (53 strikes) to go 6 innings in the game. �He gave up 7 hits, no walks, and worked around at least one runner on base in each inning but the 5th. �Two Iron Pigs' runners reached base in the 1st inning, and one in the 2nd, and both times, McCutchen left them stranded. �The third inning began with former Indy Indian CF Rich Thompson grounding sharply to second base. �Neil Walker made a diving stop of the ball, to keep it from getting into the outfield, but Thompson is too fast, and Walker had no chance of getting the ball to first base in time. �2B Luis Maza followed with a single into center field. �McCutchen got two outs, but then he made his big mistake of the game -- to RF Cody Ransom, who blasted a 3-run home run into the Indians' bullpen behind the left field wall. �Iron Pigs 3, Indians 1.

Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs �10, �Indianapolis Indians �6 (box)

Five runs by the Iron Pigs in the 6th inning put the game out of reach for the Indians in Saturday's game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA. �With starter Donnie Veal on the mound for the Tribe, the Iron Pigs batted around, beginning with a lead-off double by RF Cody Ransom. �Tribe CF Jose Tabata had to make a long run, but couldn't quite get to the ball, as it glanced off the end of his glove. �3B Neil Sellers walked, and after a fly out, C Dane Sardinha smacked a long fly that bounced on the warning track in left-center, then bounded over the wall. �Ransom scored, but Sellers had to be stopped at third base because it was a ground-rule double. �Pinch-hitter Paul Hoover was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and former Indy Indian CF Rich Thompson lifted a long fly ball to left field. �LF Neil Walker got to the ball for the out, but Sellers tagged up and scored on the sacrifice, as the throw in to the infield was cut off. �2B Luis Maza followed with a double, bringing in two more runs, and that was the end of Veal's night.

Vinnie Chulk relieved Veal, but he gave up a single, which moved Maza to third base. �A pitch in the dirt got past C Erik Kratz, and Maza scrambled home from third base. �A strike out ended the inning. �Those 5 runs (one was unearned) were charged to Veal, who allowed a total of 7 runs (6 earned) on 7 hits and 4 walks, over 5.2 innings, with one strikeout.

The Indians scored first in the game, with two runs in the top of the 1st. �Jose Tabata (photo) opened the game with a walk, on three pitches which appeared to be very close -- close enough to get Lehigh Valley's starter (and former Indy Indian) Ryan Voglesong and catcher Dane Sardinha upset. �With the dangerous Tabata on base, the Iron Pigs' 2B Luis Maza had to stay a few steps closer to the second base bag. �That gave Neil Walker the space he needed to slip a ball through the right side of the infield for a single, moving Tabata to second base. �3B Pedro Alvarez also singled through the hole into right field. �This time RF Cody Ransom bobbled the ball, so manager Frank Kremblas changed his "stop at third" sign to a "keep going" sign, and Tabata raced home. �Walker moved up to third base, and when 1B Steve Pearce flied out, Walker scored on the sacrifice. �Then came a poor base running move: �Alvarez stepped a little too far off first base, and was picked off by Vogelsong. �It was the 8th time this season that the Indians had a runner picked off first.

Pawtucket Red Sox 7, � Indianapolis Indians 6 (box)

The Indianapolis Indians came from behind twice, but could not answer a 7th-inning home run, as the Pawtucket Red Sox halted the Indians' winning streak at 6 games tonight in Rhode Island. �The Indians were hoping for a sweep of the 4-game series, but had to settle for a 3 games to 1 series win.

Brad Lincoln (photo) made the start for the Tribe, and he struggled through 6 innings, allowing 6 runs on 7 hits and 4 walks. �The Indians gave him an unearned run to work with in the top of the 1st. �CF Jose Tabata opened the game with a ringing double into left field, and then he stole 3rd base. �The stolen base was his 9th of the season -- third in the International League. �With DH Brian Myrow at the plate, the Pawtucket 3B Jorge Jimenez dropped a foul pop for what should have been the second out of the inning. �Given the second chance, Myrow responded with a single through the hole into right field, and Tabata scored.

When Lincoln took the mound in the bottom of the 1st, that slim lead was immediately erased: �the first batter, DH Josh Reddick, lifted a long, high, no-doubt-about-it home run over the right field wall. �Lincoln worked around a single to keep the PawSox from scoring again in that inning.

1B Steve Pearce broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the 2nd inning. �He led off with a double into left, then advanced to third on a ground out by RF Brandon Moss, and scored on another grounder, this one by C Luke Carlin. The PawSox came right back in the bottom of the inning, though. �Lincoln walked the first two batters of the inning -- something that is sure to come back to haunt you. �It did just that -- a single by CF Bubba Bell loaded the bases with one out, and Josh Reddick doubled into left field. �The first two runners scored easily, and Bell rounded third and aimed for the plate as Tribe LF Neil Walker's throw came in to the infield. �The relay to the plate arrived in Carlin's glove before Bell got there. �Bell tried to bowl over Carlin, but Carlin held onto the ball, and Bell was out. �The PawSox took a 3-2 lead.

Indianapolis Indians �4, �Pawtucket Red Sox �1 (box)

The Indianapolis Indians held the PawSox to 5 hits as they earned their 6th straight win tonight. �The win moves them above the .500 mark, with an 11-10 record. �It was warmer in Pawtucket tonight than in the past couple of days, which could only help matters as far as the Indians were concerned.

Both C Luke Carlin and CF Jose Tabata recorded 2 hits each for the Indians, and four Indians contributed RBI: �Tabata, LF Neil Walker, DH Brian Myrow, and SS Brian Friday. Every member of the lineup had at least one hit, except for 3B Pedro Alvarez.

Daniel McCutchen (photo), who was recently reassigned to the Indians,� made his first AAA start of the season, and he was impressive. �McCutchen threw 103 pitches (62 strikes), and scattered 5 hits over 7 innings of work. �Pawtucket DH Josh Reddick had the most success against McCutchen, when he singled with two outs in the 3rd inning (but was thrown out trying to steal second), and homered to lead off the 6th inning. �SS Angel Sanchez doubled off McCutchen in the 4th and singled in the 6th, but both times was left stranded at the end of the inning. �McCutchen also walked two batters and hit one, but left all of them on base too.

The Indians' batters got started with their scoring in the top of the 1st. �Jose Tabata began the game with a single into center field, and when Pawtucket CF Bubba Bell threw wildly back into the infield, Tabata advanced to second base. �Brian Myrow brought him in from second base with a double ripped into right field. �The Tribe added a second run in the 2nd inning. �With one out, Luke Carlin crushed a 3-1 pitch into the right field corner, and raced all the way to third base when RF Matt Sheely had trouble coming up with the ball. �Brian Friday followed with a sacrifice fly, and Carlin scored easily, to give the Indians a 2-0 lead.

Three weeks into the minor league season... knowing that it's a small sample, who's hot -- or not-- at the plate:

INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS

Team batting average: .274 (4th in International League) , �20 Home runs (3rd in IL), 166 strikeouts (2nd in IL), 30 stolen bases (2nd in IL)

Who's HOT: � (* is the team high)

Steve Pearce - .371 average*, 9 doubles*, 2 homers, 7 RBI, 16 walks ; .488 OBP*, .643 SLG*, and 1.131 OPS*; �Pearce has been spending most of his time at first base, with just 3 games in right field. �This is the Pearce we saw in 2007, when he rocketed through the Pirates' minor league system. �His average has been above .400 this week, and even when he's not hitting, he's still walking and scoring runs. �He and Neil Walker should be the next position players called up.

Neil Walker - .333 average, 8 doubles, 3 homers, 15 RBI*, 10 walks, 7 stolen bases, .407 OBP, .560 SLG, .967 OPS; Walker is right behind his buddy Pearce in most of those numbers. �Pearce is doing it while back at his comfortable position, and Walker is doing it in all his uncomfortable positions. �He's learning to play outfield and second base on the fly, and is looking good. �If you didn't know this was his first month at second base, you probably couldn't tell just by watching. �He made a jump-turn-throw this week that looked like he's been there all his life. �He's also taking more walks than he has before, and has fewer strikeouts. �And, he's stealing bases -- second most steals on the team. �He's had at least one hit in 10 of his past 12 games, and went 4-for-4 last night. �Not so great splits: �he's hitting .434 against right-handed pitching, but only .091 against lefties. �Also in line to go home to Pittsburgh.

Luke Carlin - .342 average, 3 doubles, 4 RBI in 11 games. �Carlin has had more playing time than originally expected, due to some minor injuries to Erik Kratz.

Jose Tabata - .296 average, 2 doubles, 2 homers, 8 RBI, 8 stolen bases*; �Tabata started the season with an 11-game hitting streak, then went 0-for-4 in one game, and has hit in each if his next 6 games -- he's had at least one hit in 17 of the 18 game's he's played. �Looking good in the outfield, mostly center plus a few games in left.

Argenis Diaz - .296 average, 8 RBI; �That taste of The Show last week was good for Diaz. �He's been 7-for-15 since his return, and boosted his batting average 60 points.

Not So Hot:

Brandon Moss - .233 average, 2 doubles, 2 homers, 7 RBI; Doing better in the past week, going 6-for-22 in his last 5 games.

Erik Kratz - .200 average, 2 doubles, 2 homers, 7 RBI; �Invaluable behind the plate, though, and also on the mound.

Brian Myrow - .200 average, 2 doubles, 2 homers, 7 RBI; (yes, that's right, these three all have the same numbers of doubles, homers, and RBI); Got off to a slow start, but he's starting to pick it up.

In the Middle:

Pedro Alvarez - .237 average, 2 doubles, 4 homers*, 12 RBI, 22 strikeouts*, 8 walks; �Those homers all came in the first 8 games of the season -- in fact, three came in the first two games. �But, this is also how Alvarez started off last season with A+ Lynchburg, and he got better. �He had a modest 7-game hitting streak in the past 10 days. �Also worrisome is that he leads the team in errors (4). �Three of those were fielding errors, and the one yesterday was throwing, but he also probably leads the team in the number of times Steve Pearce has saved him at first base. �By my observations, about half of Alvarez's throws to first base make Pearce stretch out as far as he can go to make the catch -- to his left, to his right, in the dirt. �Pearce is a very good first baseman... what's going to happen if Alvarez is throwing to a less experienced first baseman, like Jeff Clement?

Continuing on with the rest of the affiliates... (click on "read more")