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Monthly Archives: August, 2009

Veal Pitches 2 Scoreless Innings, Herrera Wins #10

Friday's minor league action in the Pirates' organization, beginning with an afternoon contest.
The West Virginia Power were rained out and will play two on Saturday.


GCL Yankees 3, �GCL Bradenton Pirates 1

The Pirates avoided a shutout by scoring one run in the top of the 9th, as Brooks Pounders took his second loss of the season. �Pounders pitched 3 innings, and gave up a single and a double in both the first and the third innings. �Unfortunately in the 3rd inning, the single and double were followed by a home run, giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead. �Zachary Fuesser pitched 4 scoreless innings and allowed one hit and 2 walks, and Andres Santos allowed a double in the scoreless 9th inning. �

The Pirates batters were given the gift of 3 errors by the Yankees, but were able to post only 3 hits and a walk in the first 8 innings and could not score. �3B Henry Henry tripled in the 2nd inning, and was left on base. �SS Gift Ngoepe singled to lead off the 3rd inning but was caught stealing second base, and 1B Gerlis Rodriguez singled in the 4th and was erased in a double play. �Finally in the 9th inning, 2B Benjamin Gonzalez led off with a single, and a wild pitch advanced him to second base. �DH Andrew Walker walked, but was out at second in a grounder force play, leaving Gonzalez at third and Rodriguez at first. �C Jairo Marquez singled, scoring Gonzalez. �Pinch hitter Ramon Cabrera walked to load the bases with two outs, but the inning and the game ended when pinch hitter Elevys Gonzalez struck out. �



Altoona Curve 4, �Bowie BaySox 1

Donnie Veal made his first start of the season tonight, going 2 innings for the Curve and allowing one hit and one walk, both in the 1st inning. �A double play got him out of the inning, and he retired the side in order in the 2nd. �Yoslan Herrera came on in relief of Veal, and�pitched 5 innings. �He allowed only one run, which came in the 5th inning, on a walk, a throwing error by 3B Pedro Alvarez, and two singles. �Herrera retired the BaySox in order in the next 3 innings, including a total of 5 strikeouts, to earn his 10th win of the season. �Ramon Aguero collected his second save with two scoreless innings and 4 strikeouts.

SS Ray Chang had 2 hits and 2 RBI for the Curve. �LF Jonel Pacheco scored the Curve's first run in the 5th to tie the game. �He was hit by a pitch, went to second base when the Bowie first baseman missed the catch on a pick-off attempt, moved to third base on C Steve Lerud's single, and scored on RF Miles Durham's sacrifice fly. �The Curve broke the tie with 3 runs in the 6th inning. �Pedro Alvarez and 1B Jason Delaney both walked with one out. �Ray Chang's double and a throwing error on the relay throw by the cut-off man allowed Alvarez and Delaney to score. �Chang went to third on the error, and he scored on an wild pitch. �The Curve threatened again in the 8th, when both Alvarez and Delaney singled, but Chang bounced into a double play to end the inning. �

DH�Brian Friday went 0-for-4, ending his 10-game hitting streak.


Lynchburg Hillcats 5, Winston-Salem Dash 1 �(7 innings)

Jeff Locke got the start for the Hillcats and pitched 5 innings, allowing one run on 4 hits, no walks. �Locke gave up a double in each of the first 3 innings, though in the 1st and 2nd innings he was able to leave the runners on base. �In the 3rd inning, the double was followed by a stolen base and an RBI ground out. �Locke allowed only a single over the next 2 innings, to earn his 4th win. �Moises Robles pitched 2 scoreless innings, with 3 strikeouts to finish the game.�

The Hillcats came back in the bottom of the 3rd with two singles, by LF Alex Presley and CF Jose De Los Santos to open the inning. �At that point, the game was interrupted by a 45-minute rain delay. �When play resumed, 2B Chase d'Arnaud singled, scoring Presley, and 3B Josh Harrison hit a sacrifice fly to score De Los Santos, to give the Hillcats a 2-1 lead.

Two more runs came in during the 4th inning. �C Kris Watts led off with a walk, and another pair of singles by Presley and De Los Santos loaded the bases. �Harrison's single brought in both Watts and Presley, and Lynchburg had a 4-1 lead. �1B Matt Hague scored one more in the 5th, when he walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on DH Kent Sakamoto's RBI single. �

This was supposed to be the first game of a double header, but the rains returned, and the second game had to be postponed. �It will be made up in a double header on Sunday. �


State College Spikes 8, �Brooklyn Cyclones 0

A record-breaking crowd saw the Spikes take the wind out of the Cyclones in State College. �The Spikes scored 5 runs in the 1st inning before an out had been recorded. �SS Brock Holt, CF Evan Chambers, 1B Aaron Baker, and DH Justin Byler opened the inning with 4 consecutive singles, as Holt and Chambers scored on Byler's hit. �LF/3B Pat Irvine made it 5-0 with his 3rd home run of the season, a 3-run blast over the right field wall. �RF Butch Biela also singled and 3B/SS Andy Vasquez walked after the home run,b ut a double play and a ground out ended the inning. �

The Spikes added two more runs in the 2nd inning, which began with a double by Brock Holt and an RBI single by Evan Chambers. �A grounder force play put Chambers out at second and left Aaron Baker at first. �Baker went to second on a wild pitch, and a fielding error put Justin Byler on base. �Pat Irvine collected his 4th RBI of the game with a single, scoring Baker. �In the 3rd inning, C Miguel Mendez singled, Holt hit a ground-rule double, and Evan Chambers hit a sacrifice fly to score Mendez and give the Spikes an 8-0 lead. �

The Cyclones' bullpen settled down and held the Spikes scoreless over the rest of the game. Meanwhile, Spikes starter Kyle McPherson and reliever Zach Foster had no trouble holding the Cyclones scoreless. �McPherson retired the first 8 batters he faced, then scattered 6 hits and a walk over the next 4.1 innings, for a total of 6 innings. �He struck out 7 batters. �Foster allowed only 2 hits, no walks, and struck out 2 batters. �The Cyclones had a runner get as far as third base only once, in the 4th inning, on two singles.



“The Pirates are just a Triple-A team for the Yankees!”

Here is a question from Dejan's Q&A yesterday: Q: Dejan, with all of the dumping of players over the past two seasons, would it...

McCutchen Wins Lucky 13; 4 RBI For Walker

IMG_1523DMcCutchen.JPGIndianapolis Indians 8,
�� �Louisville Bats 3



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Tribe starting pitcher Daniel McCutchen gave another boost to his chances of being called up to Pittsburgh before September 1st. �He earned his 13th win of the season tonight at Victory Field, with 7 impressive innings of work, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits and a walk, and striking out his season-best 8 Bats' batters. �He was aided in his effort by three of his teammates' having multi-hit nights: �2 singles by 2B Pedro Lopez, 2�singles and 2 RBI by LF Brian Myrow, and 2 doubles and 4 RBI by 3B Neil Walker.�

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McCutchen began with two quick innings, allowing one lone hit in each. �3B Scott Rolen, on a rehab assignment from the Bats' parent Cincinnati Reds, lined a single up the middle in the top of the 1st inning, but was left standing on first base. �CF Chris Heisey led off the 2nd inning with a swinging bunt that rolled slowly along the third base line. �McCutchen and 3B Neil Walker were hoping the ball would roll foul, but it didn't. �By the time it became clear that the ball was going to stay fair, Walker was able to scoop it up (photo), but had no chance of making the play at first, so he held onto the ball, rather than make a poor off-balance throw. �Heisey moved to second base on a ground out and to third on a fly out, but McCutchen left him there when he struck out C Chris Denove -- McCutchen's third strikeout in the first two innings. �

McCutchen had a tougher 3rd inning. �He struck out three batters, but did so around three hits, which allowed a run to score. �He began by striking out Bats' starter Matt Klinker. �2B Luis Bolivar crushed a long fly ball to just in front of the outfield wall at the 418-foot sign, the deepest part of Victory Field, for a triple. �
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Scott Rolen (photo) followed with a line drive into center field, scoring Bolivar. �McCutchen struck out RF Darnell McDonald for the second out. �LF Juan Francisco, who came into the game with 8 hits in 19 at-bats in his first 5 games since being promoted from AA, sliced a single past the diving 1B Jeff Clement, moving Rolen to third base. �Then McCutchen struck out Chris Heisey to end the inning, with the Bats ahead 1-0.

The Tribe didn't let that lead last for long. �Bats' starter Matt Klinker was in control for the first two innings, allowing only a single up the middle by Pedro Lopez, and striking out 5 batters. �It fell to Daniel McCutchen to get the Tribe bats going in the 3rd inning. �With one out, McCutchen dropped down the perfect bunt, which stopped in front of the plate, but just too far out of reach of both Klinker and C Chris Denove. �McCutchen runs well, and he beat out the throw to first base, for a single. �After the game, McCutchen admitted, "I was just trying to spark a rally and get something going.... everyone knows that I am not a very good hitter, but I have some wheels."

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[Photo: the Slugger McCutchen]


CF Jose Tabata followed McCutchen's bunt single with a double into the right field corner, which moved McCutchen to third base. �Pedro Lopez drove in McCutchen with a grounder to first base. �Bats' 1B Wes Bankston made a fine back-handed stop of the ball, and from his knees flipped it to Klinker covering first, but it allowed McCutchen to score the tying run. �

Klinker held the Indians to only two base runners over the next two innings. �RF Tagg Bozied was hit on the left arm/sleeve by a pitch in the 4th, but was out when Neil Walker grounded sharply to short, starting a double play. �Daniel McCutchen worked a walk in the 5th inning, but was left on base. �

The Indians got to Klinker in the 6th inning. �Pedro Lopez (photo) led off with his second hit of the game, a blooper just over the head of 1B Wes Bankston and into short right field. �
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Brian Myrow hit a hard grounder just past SS Chris Valaika. �After Jeff Clement popped out in foul territory, Tagg Bozied lifted an easy loopy hit into short right field, scoring Lopez from second base with the go-ahead run. �Myrow went to third on the play, and moments later, Bozied stole second base. �Neil Walker followed with a fly ball to left field that dropped in just out of everyone's reach in short left behind third base. �Both Myrow and Bozied came around to score, and while the Bats were busy throwing the ball to the plate (way wide), Walker went to second base on the throw. �Walker was credited with a double by the official scorer, but he did not start moving toward second base until the throw was made (everybody gets a break once in a while). �C Erik Kratz popped out just behind the pitchers' mound for the second out, and SS Argenis Diaz was intentionally walked so that the Bats could pitch to Daniel McCutchen. �McCutchen struck out to end the inning, but the Indians had taken a 4-1 lead.�

After giving up the run in the 3rd inning, McCutchen retired the next 10 bats in order. �That took him to the top of the 7th inning, with one out. �Chris Valaika dribbled a swinging bunt down the third base line. �Once again, Neil Walker made the scoop without any trouble, but this time he couldn't pick the ball out of his glove in time, and Valaika was safe at first. �Walker made the play perfectly when the next batter, Chris Denove, dropped a bunt down the third base line. �Denove was out at first, and Valaika advanced to second base. �Pinch-hitter Danny Dorn hit for Matt Klinker, and lined a single into right field, plating Valaika. �After a walk to Luis Bolivar, McCutchen got pinch-hitter Michael Griffin (in for Scott Rolen) to fly out to end the inning. �That was all for McCutchen, who had thrown 103 pitches, 75 for strikes. �

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The Indians were not done at the plate, though. �They came back out in the bottom of the 7th to bat around and score 4 more runs off Bats' relievers Pedro Viola and Enerio Del Rosario. �Viola began the inning by walking Jose Tabata on four pitches. �Pedro Lopez deposited an excellent sacrifice bunt to move Tabata to second base. �Brian Myrow (photo) followed with a huge blast, a no-doubter, 410 feet over the right field wall to the top of the grass berm, for a 2-run homer. �The homer rattled Viola, who walked the next two batters, Jeff Clement and Tagg Bozied. �That brought Bats' manager Rick Sweet out of the dugout and sent Viola to the showers. �Enerio Del Rosario came on, and the first batter he faced was Neil Walker. �The first pitch to Walker sailed all the way to the backstop for a wild pitch, moving Clement and Bozied up 90 feet. �That put them into scoring position for Walker, who ripped a line drive down the first base/right field line, which glanced off the glove of 1B Wes Bankston and kept going into the right field corner. �This was a "true" double for Walker, his second 2-RBI double of the game. �Walker moved to third base when Argenis Diaz reached on an error -- the ball popped out of Juan Francisco's glove (he had moved from left field to third base). �That was all for the Indians, as Walker and Argenis Diaz were left on base when pinch-hitter Robinzon Diaz struck out. �Indians 8, Bats 2.

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Juan Mateo relieved Daniel McCutchen to pitch the 8th inning. �He walked the first batter, Darnell McDonald. �Juan Francisco made up for his error by smacking a fly ball to left center field. �Jose Tabata chased after it and made a slide to try to catch it, but the ball got past him and rolled all the way to the wall before Brian Myrow could track it down. �Francisco rolled into third base, and McDonald scored. �Mateo settled down after that, getting an infield pop up and two strikeouts to finish the inning without letting Francisco move that last 90 feet. �

Jon Meloan (photo) pitched the 9th inning for the Indians. �He put the Bats down in order, including a strikeout. �






Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: �#1: Brian Myrow's 2-run homer in the 7th inning. �It was his 12th of the season, his 5th with the Indians, and his 3rd in August. � #2: �Neil Walker's two 2-RBI doubles, #28 and #29 for the season. �That ties him for the 4th most doubles in the International League, and gives him 5 straight games with a double. �He also now has 60 RBI.


Indians' Defensive Gems of the Game: �A strong pitching performance by Daniel McCutchen, including his season-best 8 strikeouts, and in the middle innings, 11 batters in a row retired.�



Photos:
Scott Rolen at third base...... � � Tagg Bozied makes the catch in right field
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Jose Tabata � � � ...................... � � � � � Erik Kratz
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NOTES:
Pedro Lopez has extended his hitting streak and multi-hit game streak to 6. �He is hitting 15-for-26 (.615) in those games. �

Neil Walker is hitting .364 (24-for-66) in August, with 12 doubles, 2 homers, 20 RBI, and a .636 slugging percentage. �

Chris Barnwell and a rookie did some work on the field after the game.
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Go Tribe!

[Photos by Nancy Zinni]


Moskos Wins #10, Adcock Wins #3

Thursday's action in the Pirates' minor league organization:

Two afternoon games:

Altoona Curve 2, Harrisburg Senators 1

Rain and wet grounds shortened this afternoon contest, but it didn't matter because both the Curve and the Senators did all their scoring in the first inning.

The Curve scored their two runs with the first two batters they sent to the plate. �SS Brian Friday led off the game with a line drive into left field for a single, and CF Gorkys Hernandez followed with a 2-run homer. �The Curve scattered 4 hits and two batters hit by pitches over the next 5 innings, but could not score again. �

Starter Danny Moskos pitched 7 strong innings to get his 10th win of the season. �He allowed only one unearned run on 4 hits and a walk, with 6 strikeouts. �In the bottom of the 1st, he gave up two singles, and then had both runners steal, putting both runners in scoring position. �Brian Friday dropped a pop-up for an error, and that allowed the lead runner to score from third base. �A double play ended the inning without further runs scoring. �

Moskos gave up a single and a walk in the 2nd inning, but left the runners stranded on base. �He had a batter reach base in the 3rd inning when C Miguel Perez was charged with a passed ball on strike three, but Moskos promptly picked the runner off first base. �Over the next 3 innings, the Senators had only one base runner, and he reached on a fielding error. �Another Senator batter singled in the 7th, but was also left stranded. �

The two teams had just began the 8th inning, as 2B Ray Chang led off with a walk, when the skies opened up and the rain poured down. �The grounds crew in Harrisburg had some trouble getting the tarp down, leaving part of the infield uncovered. �When the rain did slow, the field was not in playable condition, and the game was ended early. �



GCL Yankees 5, GCL Bradenton Pirates 0

The Pirates were held to just 5 hits in this game, and all 5 were singles. �2B Gift�Ngoepe had 2 of the hits, and SS Benjamin Gonzalez, DH Jairo Marquez, and 3B Elevys Gonzalez had the other hits. �The Pirates went down in order in the first two innings. �In the next three innings, their lead-off hitter singled, but couldn't come around to score. �Only two batters reached base over the last four innings, and they were also left stranded. �The Pirates never had more than one batter on base in any inning, and never had a base runner get as far as third base.

Mitchell Fienemann threw 5 innings in his start for the Pirates. �He allowed a run in the 1st inning on a double and two ground outs, and another run in the 3rd inning on two singles plus a wild pitch and a stolen base. �Edgar Gutierrez pitched the next two innings and allowed 3 runs in the 6th inning (2 earned), on a walk, a single, a double, and a fielding error by Benjamin Gonzalez. �Rinku Singh and Rafael Quintero each pitched one inning and each retired the side in order.�



Lynchburg Hillcats 4, Salem Red Sox 3

The Hillcats scored early and then held on to give starter Nate Adcock his 3rd win and Ronald Uviedo his second save. �Adcock pitched 5 innings and allowed 2 runs (one earned) on 4 hits, no walks. � The unearned run came in the 2nd inning, on a single, a throwing error, and a sacrifice fly. �In the 4th inning, the Red Sox scored on a solo home run. �

The Hillcats' offense was led by CF Alex Presley, who homered and doubled, and SS Jordy Mercer, who doubled and singled. �They picked up their first run in the top of the 1st, when 2B Chase d'Arnaud was hit by a pitch, moved to second on Presley's ground out, and scored on Mercer's RBI single. �After the Red Sox tied the score with their unearned run in the 2nd inning, Presley took the lead back for the Hillcats in the top of the 3rd, with a 2-run homer after d'Arnaud walked. �

LF Jared Keel scored an insurance run in the 4th inning. �He led off with a walk, and advanced to second base when 3B Jose De Los Santos reached base on a fielding error. �Chase d'Arnaud's single loaded the bases, and Jordy Mercer walked to force in what would turn out to be the winning run. �

The score was 4-2 after the Red Sox' homer in the bottom of the 4th. �Ronald Uviedo pitched 4 innings in relief of Adcock. �He allowed an unearned run in the 7th inning. �After a strikeout, two throwing errors put runners on 2nd and 3rd bases. �A ground out scored the lead runner. �The Red Sox threatened in the 9th inning. �Uviedo gave up a lead-off double, then a walk, and a sacrifice bunt moved both those runners into scoring position. �Uviedo intentionally walked a batter to load the bases, and the strategy worked, as the next batter lined into a double play. �Jordy Mercer caught the line drive to short, and he threw to Chase d'Arnaud to double off that runner.



Asheville Tourists 7, West Virginia Power 3
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The Power were held to just 4 hits in the game, while the Tourists recorded 13 hits and took advantage of 5 Power errors on their way to scoring 7 runs. �1B Kyle Morgan had two singles and an RBI, SS Greg Picart singled, and CF Starling Marte doubled. �

The Power got onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the 1st inning, when they posted two of their hits -- Morgan's double, followed by Morgan's first single, for an RBI. �A lone walk to Morgan produced the team's only base runner over the next 4 innings. �They scored 2 runs in the 6th inning, with their other two singles. �Picart led off with a line drive into right field, and two wild pitches advanced him to third base. �Starling Marte walked, and DH Tony Sanchez brought Picart in with a sacrifice fly. �Morgan's second single moved Marte to third base, and LF Quincy Latimore's ground out plated Marte. �

The Tourists had at least one base runner on in every inning but the 9th. �Power starter Hunter Strickland worked around a fielding error by 3B Bobby Spain in the 1st inning and the runner was caught stealing in the 2nd inning. �It got tougher for Strickland after that. �In the 3rd inning, a hit batter and two singles, plus a throwing error by Starling Marte gave the Tourists one run, tying the score. �In the 5th, a fielding error by 2B Adenson Chourio, three singles, a fielding error by Quincy Latimore, a wild pitch, and a double added 4 more runs for Asheville, and they took the lead. �Strickland exited after 5 innings, allowing 5 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits. �

Wilson Ortiz took the mound to begin the 6th inning. �He worked around another fielding error by Bobby Spain in the 6th, but gave up a run on two walks, a single, and a double in the 7th. �Two more singles around a sacrifice bunt gave the Tourists their 7th run in the 8th inning. �Casey Erickson finished the 8th for Ortiz and retired the Tourists in order (for the first time in the game) in the 9th inning. �



Brooklyn Cyclones 4, State College Spikes 3

The Spikes managed only 5 hits over the first 8 innings, and came close to being shut out. �Singles by C Craig Parry, SS Brock Holt (2),�3B Pat Irvine, and DH Aaron Baker were scattered over those 8 innings, and none of them could come around to score. �

Starter Jason Erickson held the Cyclones scoreless for the first 3 innings, but gave up 3 runs in the top of the 4th, on three singles, a walk, and a throwing error by Pat Irvine. �Erickson was relieved by Brandon Holden, who gave up the third hit of the inning. �Nate Baker pitched the next 4 innings, and kept the Cyclones scoreless, allowing only 2 singles and a walk. �Alan Knotts pitched the top of the 9th, and gave the Cyclones what would be a much-needed insurance run, on a single and three walks. �

In the bottom of the 9th, the Spikes got their bats together. �1B Justin Byler led off with a double, and Pat Irvine brought him in with an RBI single. �Craig Parry walked, and singles by LF Butch Biela and Brock Holt (his 3rd of the night) scored Irvine and Parry. �The Spikes were within one run of a tie, but a ground out ended the inning before more runs could score. �


Three Homers Lift Indians; Dumatrait’s Last Rehab

IMG_1007Dumatrait.JPG
Indianapolis Indians 6,�
�� �Louisville Bats 4






The Indians stopped their 3-game skid with a win over the Bats tonight at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, KY. �Three booming home runs accounted for 5 of the Indians' 6 runs, as C Erik Kratz, 1B Robinzon Diaz, and CF Jose Tabata each collected a round-tripper. �Starter Brad Lincoln contributed 2 hits to his winning effort, while the relief corps shut the Bats down in the late innings. �Phil Dumatrait (photo) made another rehab appearance, and Jeff Sues made his AAA debut. �


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Tonight's game began in a more encouraging way than yesterday's for the Tribe. �First,�Jose Tabata (photo) was back in the line-up after having missed a couple of days due to spasms in his leg. �Then, Tabata took a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall for a solo homer to open the game. �Two outs later,�Erik Kratz blasted what at first looked like the second home run of the inning. �The call was contested, though, and the final ruling (confirmed to be correct by radio broadcasters Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley, who had the benefit of seeing the replay) was that the ball hit the top of the left field wall, but below the yellow line, and bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. �RF Tagg Bozied followed with a single into right field, and Kratz headed for the plate. �The throw in from Bats' RF Michael Griffin to C Corky Miller was right on target, though. �Kratz was unable to bowl over Miller to dislodge the ball, and he was out at the plate to end the inning. �



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The momentum continued in the 2nd inning. �3B Neil Walker walked to lead off the inning, and Robinzon Diaz (photo) blasted a no-doubt-about-it 2-run home run over the left field wall. �Bats' LF Danny Dorn did not even take a step, just turned and watched it zoom over his head and into the grass berm. �It was Diaz's second home run in as many days. �Tribe pitcher Brad Lincoln tried to keep the rally going by beating out an infield single, but Jose Tabata grounded into a double play to end the inning. �

Brad Lincoln got off to a good start on the mound too. �He retired the Bats in order in the 1st and 3rd innings, but gave up a run in the 2nd inning, on singles to 3B Juan Francisco and LF Daniel Dorn, and a sacrifice fly by RF Michael Griffin. �

The Indians got that run back in the top of the 4th inning, amid flying bats (not Bats) and base running problems. �Neil Walker began with a broken-bat single into left field. �The barrel of his bat landed in the infield dirt at shortstop. �Robinzon Diaz took a swing at Bats' starter Ben Jukich's first pitch, and his bat went sailing over the infield and into the outfield grass behind third base. �With Diaz at the plate, Jukich turned and fired over to first base, picking Walker off first, on what the Indians felt should have been called a balk. �Diaz singled to deep short, and his bat also broke, with the barrel ending up by the third base coaching box. �SS Argenis Diaz�singled into left field, with Robinzon Diaz heading to second base. �Robinzon Diaz �broke for third base, and was easily caught off and trapped in a run-down. �Robinzon Diaz �delayed long enough for Argenis Diaz to advance to second base before the tag was applied. Brad Lincoln singled into left field for the fourth straight single of the inning, and Argenis Diaz rounded third and headed for the plate. �The throw in from LF Danny Dorn was short, and Argenis Diaz slid right across the plate, as home plate umpire Takeshi Hirabayashi called Diaz safe. �Bats' C Corky Miller had to go out in front of the plate to make the catch, but then he turned and chased Argenis Diaz who was heading back to the dugout. �Miller tagged Diaz with the ball, and the umpire �Hirabayashi called Diaz out -- then immediately called him safe again. �Confusion reigned for a few moments, but the last (and first) ruling held, and Diaz was safe. �Indians 4, Bats 1.

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The Bats came back to score again in the bottom of the 4th. �3B Juan Francisco homered for the third straight game to bring the Bats closer: �4-2. �Brad Lincoln's (photo) struggles continued, as 1B Wes Bankston singled and Danny Dorn doubled. �Michael Griffin's sacrifice fly brought in Bankston to bring the Bats within one run of the Tribe. �Lincoln thew a wild pitch that sailed all the way to the backstop, and Dorn advanced to third base. �Corky Miller was intentionally walked, giving the Bats runners on the corners, but the pitcher Ben Jukich at the plate. �That stragegy backfired on the Indians. �Jukich ripped a line drive down the left field line, scoring Dorn easily from third base. �Miller, who is not exactly a speed demon, scrambled around to third base as the throw came in from LF Hector Gimenez. �If Gimenez's throw had been on target, Neil Walker would have been able to tag out Miller, but the throw was high and Walker had to make a basketball jump to bring it down, and Miller w as safe. �Lincoln struck out 2B Luis Bolivar to end the inning, but the Bats had tied the score at 4-4.

In the top of the 5th, Erik Kratz got his revenge for just missing a homer in the 1st inning. �This time he crushed the ball about 440 feet, well over the left field wall, bouncing on the concrete and up to hit the jumbotron scoreboard. �Hector Gimenez had singled ahead of Kratz, so the 2-run homer put the Indians ahead 6-4. �

The Indians had planned to have Brad Lincoln pitch only 5 innings, as the Pirates are getting concerned that Lincoln (among other pitchers in the organization) have racked up quite a lot of innings this season, with three weeks still to go. �Lincoln left with the lead, having thrown 72 pitches (49 strikes), and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, with a walk and three strikeouts. �Phil Dumatrait came in from the bullpen, making his last rehab appearance with the Indians. �He retired the Bats in order in two innings, with the help of Jose Tabata, who made a catch at the center field wall on 1B Eric Eymann's long fly ball.


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The Indians put a runner on base in each of the last three innings, but couldn't get them around to score. �2B Pedro Lopez collected his second hit of the game with a lead-off single in the 7th, but was out in a force at second base, and no run scored. �Neil Walker (photo) smacked his second hit of the game in the 8th, on a fly ball into left field that got past Danny Dorn and rolled all the �way to the wall for a double. �Walker was still standing on second base, though, when the inning ended. �Lopez walked in the 9th inning, but was again left stranded.

The newest member of the Tribe, righty reliever Jeff Sues, fresh up from Altoona, came in to pitch the 8th inning. �The first batter he faced, CF Darnell McDonald, tripled into the right field corner. �He struck out Juan Francisco and pinch-hitter Chris Heisey, and that was enough for Sues in his AAA debut. �Corey Hamman, a lefty, came on to face the left-handed Danny Dorn. �He got Dorn to roll a little grounder down to first base for the third out, leaving McDonald still standing 90 feet away from scoring another run. �

Jean Machi pitched the bottom of the 9th inning, and retired the Bats in order, to earn his 3rd save. �

The Tribe totalled 14 hits in the game, and five Indians' batters had 2 hits each: �Pedro Lopez, Erik Kratz, Neil Walker, Robinzon Diaz, and Brad Lincoln. �Lincoln's batting average now stands at .571. �

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The Indians return home on Thursday to begin a week-long homestand. �They will have three games against the Bats, and then four games with the Columbus Clippers. �



Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Erik Kratz (photo) had two hits, but his 9th home run of the season, which came in the 5th inning, broke the tie and gave the Indians a go-ahead run and an insurance run.


Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �In the bottom of the 3rd inning, � hit a sharp grounder toward third base. �Neil Walker charged onto the infield grass to make the play between bounces, and make the off-balance throw to first base, where Robinzon Diaz made the low scoop for the out. �Walker made a few other good plays at third as well.�


NOTES:

Roster Moves:
Reliever Jeff Sues (rhymes with "juice") has been promoted from Altoona to the Indians. �He had made 40 appearances, all in relief, for the Curve, with a 2-6 record, 2 saves, and a 4.46 ERA. �Opponents hit .225 off him. � In 78.2 innings, Sues gave up 66 hits, 43 runs (39 earned), 37 walks, and struck out 74 batters. �Sues has done better in July and early August. �His ERA was 2.93 in this last 7 weeks, with 30 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. �

Phil Dumatrait's rehab appearance was his last before his rehab time expires on Friday (before the game). �The Pirates now have to decide what to do with him. �Dumatrait is not currently on the 40-man roster, so if he is added, someone else will have to come off. �If they want him to stay in Indianapolis, he would have to go through waivers.

Pedro Lopez now has 5 straight multi-hit games. �His batting average is .342.


Go Tribe!


[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]



Maholm Pitches Bucs to a Sweep

Paul Maholm evened his record at 7-7 by tossing 7-2/3 innings of one run ball. He gave up seven singles, a double and two...

Three Homers Lift Indians; Dumatrait’s Last Rehab

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Indianapolis Indians 6,�
�� �Louisville Bats 4






The Indians stopped their 3-game skid with a win over the Bats tonight at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, KY. �Three booming home runs accounted for 5 of the Indians' 6 runs, as C Erik Kratz, 1B Robinzon Diaz, and CF Jose Tabata each collected a round-tripper. �Starter Brad Lincoln contributed 2 hits to his winning effort, while the relief corps shut the Bats down in the late innings. �Phil Dumatrait (photo) made another rehab appearance, and Jeff Sues made his AAA debut. �


IMG_1020Tabata.JPG
Tonight's game began in a more encouraging way than yesterday's for the Tribe. �First,�Jose Tabata (photo) was back in the line-up after having missed a couple of days due to spasms in his leg. �Then, Tabata took a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall for a solo homer to open the game. �Two outs later,�Erik Kratz blasted what at first looked like the second home run of the inning. �The call was contested, though, and the final ruling (confirmed to be correct by radio broadcasters Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley, who had the benefit of seeing the replay) was that the ball hit the top of the left field wall, but below the yellow line, and bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. �RF Tagg Bozied followed with a single into right field, and Kratz headed for the plate. �The throw in from Bats' RF Michael Griffin to C Corky Miller was right on target, though. �Kratz was unable to bowl over Miller to dislodge the ball, and he was out at the plate to end the inning. �



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The momentum continued in the 2nd inning. �3B Neil Walker walked to lead off the inning, and Robinzon Diaz (photo) blasted a no-doubt-about-it 2-run home run over the left field wall. �Bats' LF Danny Dorn did not even take a step, just turned and watched it zoom over his head and into the grass berm. �It was Diaz's second home run in as many days. �Tribe pitcher Brad Lincoln tried to keep the rally going by beating out an infield single, but Jose Tabata grounded into a double play to end the inning. �

Brad Lincoln got off to a good start on the mound too. �He retired the Bats in order in the 1st and 3rd innings, but gave up a run in the 2nd inning, on singles to 3B Juan Francisco and LF Daniel Dorn, and a sacrifice fly by RF Michael Griffin. �

The Indians got that run back in the top of the 4th inning, amid flying bats (not Bats) and base running problems. �Neil Walker began with a broken-bat single into left field. �The barrel of his bat landed in the infield dirt at shortstop. �Robinzon Diaz took a swing at Bats' starter Ben Jukich's first pitch, and his bat went sailing over the infield and into the outfield grass behind third base. �With Diaz at the plate, Jukich turned and fired over to first base, picking Walker off first, on what the Indians felt should have been called a balk. �Diaz singled to deep short, and his bat also broke, with the barrel ending up by the third base coaching box. �SS Argenis Diaz�singled into left field, with Robinzon Diaz heading to second base. �Robinzon Diaz �broke for third base, and was easily caught off and trapped in a run-down. �Robinzon Diaz �delayed long enough for Argenis Diaz to advance to second base before the tag was applied. Brad Lincoln singled into left field for the fourth straight single of the inning, and Argenis Diaz rounded third and headed for the plate. �The throw in from LF Danny Dorn was short, and Argenis Diaz slid right across the plate, as home plate umpire Takeshi Hirabayashi called Diaz safe. �Bats' C Corky Miller had to go out in front of the plate to make the catch, but then he turned and chased Argenis Diaz who was heading back to the dugout. �Miller tagged Diaz with the ball, and the umpire �Hirabayashi called Diaz out -- then immediately called him safe again. �Confusion reigned for a few moments, but the last (and first) ruling held, and Diaz was safe. �Indians 4, Bats 1.

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The Bats came back to score again in the bottom of the 4th. �3B Juan Francisco homered for the third straight game to bring the Bats closer: �4-2. �Brad Lincoln's (photo) struggles continued, as 1B Wes Bankston singled and Danny Dorn doubled. �Michael Griffin's sacrifice fly brought in Bankston to bring the Bats within one run of the Tribe. �Lincoln thew a wild pitch that sailed all the way to the backstop, and Dorn advanced to third base. �Corky Miller was intentionally walked, giving the Bats runners on the corners, but the pitcher Ben Jukich at the plate. �That stragegy backfired on the Indians. �Jukich ripped a line drive down the left field line, scoring Dorn easily from third base. �Miller, who is not exactly a speed demon, scrambled around to third base as the throw came in from LF Hector Gimenez. �If Gimenez's throw had been on target, Neil Walker would hav e been able to tag out Miller, but the throw was high and Walker had to make a basketball jump to bring it down, and Miller was safe. �Lincoln struck out 2B Luis Bolivar to end the inning, but the Bats had tied the score at 4-4.

In the top of the 5th, Erik Kratz got his revenge for just missing a homer in the 1st inning. �This time he crushed the ball about 440 feet, well over the left field wall, bouncing on the concrete and up to hit the jumbotron scoreboard. �Hector Gimenez had singled ahead of Kratz, so the 2-run homer put the Indians ahead 6-4. �

The Indians had planned to have Brad Lincoln pitch only 5 innings, as the Pirates are getting concerned that Lincoln (among other pitchers in the organization) have racked up quite a lot of innings this season, with three weeks still to go. �Lincoln left with the lead, having thrown 72 pitches (49 strikes), and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, with a walk and three strikeouts. �Phil Dumatrait came in from the bullpen, making his last rehab appearance with the Indians. �He retired the Bats in order in two innings, with the help of Jose Tabata, who made a catch at the center field wall on 1B Eric Eymann's long fly ball.


IMG_9573Walker.JPG
The Indians put a runner on base in each of the last three innings, but couldn't get them around to score. �2B Pedro Lopez collected his second hit of the game with a lead-off single in the 7th, but was out in a force at second base, and no run scored. �Neil Walker (photo) smacked his second hit of the game in the 8th, on a fly ball into left field that got past Danny Dorn and rolled all the �way to the wall for a double. �Walker was still standing on second base, though, when the inning ended. �Lopez walked in the 9th inning, but was again left stranded.

The newest member of the Tribe, righty reliever Jeff Sues, fresh up from Altoona, came in to pitch the 8th inning. �The first batter he faced, CF Darnell McDonald, tripled into the right field corner. �He struck out Juan Francisco and pinch-hitter Chris Heisey, and that was enough for Sues in his AAA debut. �Corey Hamman, a lefty, came on to face the left-handed Danny Dorn. �He got Dorn to roll a little grounder down to first base for the third out, leaving McDonald still standing 90 feet away from scoring another run. �

Jean Machi pitched the bottom of the 9th inning, and retired the Bats in order, to earn his 3rd save. �

The Tribe totalled 14 hits in the game, and five Indians' batters had 2 hits each: �Pedro Lopez, Erik Kratz, Neil Walker, Robinzon Diaz, and Brad Lincoln. �Lincoln's batting average now stands at .571. �

IMG_0535Kratz.JPG
The Indians return home on Thursday to begin a week-long homestand. �They will have three games against the Bats, and then four games with the Columbus Clippers. �



Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Erik Kratz (photo) had two hits, but his 9th home run of the season, which came in the 5th inning, broke the tie and gave the Indians a go-ahead run and an insurance run.


Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �In the bottom of the 3rd inning, � hit a sharp grounder toward third base. �Neil Walker charged onto the infield grass to make the play between bounces, and make the off-balance throw to first base, where Robinzon Diaz made the low scoop for the out. �Walker made a few other good plays at third as well.�


NOTES:

Roster Moves:
Reliever Jeff Sues (rhymes with "juice") has been promoted from Altoona to the Indians. �He had made 40 appearances, all in relief, for the Curve, with a 2-6 record, 2 saves, and a 4.46 ERA. �Opponents hit .225 off him. � In 78.2 innings, Sues gave up 66 hits, 43 runs (39 earned), 37 walks, and struck out 74 batters. �Sues has done better in July and early August. �His ERA was 2.93 in this last 7 weeks, with 30 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. �

Phil Dumatrait's rehab appearance was his last before his rehab time expires on Friday (before the game). �The Pirates now have to decide what to do with him. �Dumatrait is not currently on the 40-man roster, so if he is added, someone else will have to come off. �If they want him to stay in Indianapolis, he would have to go through waivers.

Pedro Lopez now has 5 straight multi-hit games. �His batting average is .342.


Go Tribe!


[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]



Alvarez’s 10th Homer; Morris Wins; Watts 4-for-5

Wednesday's action with the Pirates' minor affiliates:


The afternoon game:
GCL Blue Jays 12, GCL Bradenton Pirates 11

The Pirates and the Blue Jays held a slug-fest, featuring a total of 31 hits, and a 6-run 4th inning by the Pirates. �C Andrew Walker and 2B Elevys Gonzalez each had 3 hits, including a home run each, for the Pirates, with 4 RBI for Gonzalez, 2 for Walker, and 3 for LF Rogelios Noris.

Gonzalez and Walker combined for 2 runs in the 1st inning, when Gonzalez led off with a single and Walker smacked a 3-run homer over the right field wall. �The Jays took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 2nd, on two singles, a triple, and a sacrifice fly. �

The Pirates batted around in the 4th inning, putting up 6 runs. �The fun began with a throwing error, which put 1B Gerlis Rodriguez on base. �Singles by Andrew Walker and DH Ramon Cabrera loaded the bases, and Rogelios Noris' double brought in Rodriguez and Walker. �3B Henry Henry added another run with an RBI single to score Cabrera. �Then Elevys Gonzalez hit a 3-run homer, as the Pirates took the lead back again, 8-3. �The Jays came right back with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning, on another triple, plus a single, a walk, and an RBI ground out. �Pirates 8, Jays 6. �

A double by Gerlis Rodriguez, a wild pitch, and a grounder that went for a double play added one more run for the Pirates in the 5th inning, and Henry Henry scored in the 6th on a walk, a stolen base, and Elevys Gonzalez's RBI single. �Pirates 10, Jays 6. �The Pirates scored one more time in the top of the 7th, on Andrew Walker's double and Rogelio Noris' triple, and that was all they would get.

But the Blue Jays got busy in the late innings. �Ryan Beckman had started for the Pirates, and he pitched 3.1 innings, allowing the first 5 runs on 5 hits and a walk. �Andres Santos finished the 4th inning and was responsible for one run. �Sandobal Septimo took over in the 5th inning. �He pitched a scoreless 5th, but gave up one run in the 6th on a double and a single. �Septimo gave up 2 more runs in the 7th, on four straight singles. �He came out to begin the 8th inning, and gave up a solo home run, then another four straight singles, bringing in another 2 runs. �Those 6 runs put the Blue Jays on top, 12 - 11, and the Pirates could not come back in the 9th. �



And the evening games:
Harrisburg Senators 6, �Altoona Curve 5

In a game delayed more than 2 hours by rain, the Senators rallied in the 7th inning for a come-from--behind win. �Curve starter Tim Alderson pitched 6 innings and left with the lead, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks, with 6 strikeouts. �Alderson allowed only a walk over his first three innings, while the Curve had only a single over those same innings. �

The Curve bats, led by 1B Jason Delaney, who had 2 doubles and a single, and 3B Pedro Alvarez, who homered and singled, got to work in the 4th inning. �SS Brian Friday doubled and CF Gorkys Hernandez singled, putting runners on the corners. �Pedro Alvarez's RBI single brought in Friday. �Hernandez moved to third base when RF Miles Durham bounced into a double play, and he scored on Delaney's first double. �

Harrisburg came back in the bottom of the inning with 3 runs off Alderson. �Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, and a double cleared the bases to give the Senators a 3-2 lead. �

Alderson himself tied the game in the top of the 5th, with his second home run of the season. �Pedro Alvarez homered to lead off the 6th inning, breaking the tie. �Delaney's second double of the game and an RBI single by C Steve Lerud brought in another run, and the Curve were ahead 5-3. �

Alderson gave up another run in the bottom of the 6th, on two singles, a fielding error, and a sacrifice fly, to make it 5-4. �Jared Hughes came on in relief in the bottom of the 7th inning, and he gave up 5 straight singles, scoring 2 runs, and the Senators had the 6-5 lead. �Hughes was charged with the Blown Save and the Loss, as the Curve could not score again. �



Lynchburg Hillcats 6, �Salem Red Sox 5

The Hillcats had to hold on through a 4-run Salem rally in the 8th, but they got the win for starter Bryan Morris. �DH Kris Watts went 4-for-5 at the plate, with 2 doubles.�Morris earned his 4th win of the season, going 6 innings and allowing an unearned run and only 3 hits, with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. �That run came in the 1st inning, when two consecutive batters reached on two fielding errors by SS Jordy Mercer. �An RBI single brought the first runner in to score. �Morris gave up a hit in each of the next two innings, then faced only one batter over the minimum (a walk) over the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings. �

Lynchburg got onto the scoreboard with 2 runs in the 2nd inning. �With two outs,�Kris Watts doubled, and LF Jared Keel brought him in with an RBI single. �C Eric Fryer and CF Alex Presley also singled, to score Keel. �The Hillcats threatened in th e 3rd inning, again with two outs. �RF Jamie Romak walked and 1B Matt Hague singled. �Watts also singled, and Hague raced around third, heading for home, but an on-target throw in from right field got Romak out at the plate. �

The 'Cats added another run in the 5th inning, when Jordy Mercer led off with a double. �Jamie Romak's single combined with a fielding error brought Mercer in to score. �Another error by the Red Sox contributed to 3 more runs for the Hillcats in the 6th. �Eric Fryer walked, but was forced out at second on Alex Presley's grounder. �2B Chase d'Arnaud singled and Presley went to third base. �3B Josh Harrison doubled, and combined with a throwing error by the Sox' second baseman on the relay, that cleared the bases and gave the Hillcats a 6-1 lead. �

The Hillcats posted 14 hits, including 5 doubles -- by Watts (2), Mercer, Harrison, and Fryer.�

Harrison Bishop pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th, but fell victim to the Red Sox in the 8th. �Three singles, two doubles, and a sacrifice fly brought in 4 runs, to bring the Sox within one run of the Hillcats. �RJ Rodriguez earned his 26th save with a scoreless 9th inning. �



Brooklyn Cyclones 6, �State College Spikes 1

It was all Brooklyn in this game, as the Spikes were held to just 3 hits-- singles by 1B Aaron Baker and RF David Rubinstein, and a double by 3B Pat Irvine. �Their lone run came in the 2nd inning, when Rubinstein led off with a walk, and Irvine doubled him in. �The next 13 Spike batters went down in order, until Rubinstein singled and Irvine walked in the 7th -- but both were left on base. �Baker singled and Irvine walked again in the 9th, but again they were left on base. �

Nelson Pereira started for the Spikes, and he allowed 3 runs (one earned) on 4 hits and 3 walks in 4 innings. �A walk, a single, and a grounder brought in one run in the 2nd inning. �In the 4th inning, a fielding error plus two singles and a walk gave the Cyclones 2 more runs. �Ricardo Paulino pitched 2 innings, and allowed another run in the 5th inning, with two singles and a fielding error. �Mike Williams also pitched 2 innings, and he gave up 2 runs on 3 hits (double and two singles) in the 7th inning. �Teddy Fallon finished things up for the Spikes with a scoreless 9th, working around the Spikes 3rd fielding error of the game. �


Ashville Tourists 9, West Virginia Power 2
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Another game in which it was "all somebody" but the "somebody" was not us. The Power were shut off, limited to just 5 singles, while the Tourists scored early and often. �2B Danny Bomback had two of the hits, and DH Calvin Anderson, 3B Bobby Spain, and SS Adenson Chourio had the others. �Sloppy fielding was an issue, as the two teams combined for 9 errors in the game. �

The Power scored one run in the 4th inning, when 1B Kyle Morgan and Calvin Anderson both walked and Bobby Spain singled to load the bases. �Danny Bomback's RBI single scored Morgan, but Anderson was thrown out at the plate. �They scored again in the 8th, aided by two errors. �Anderson walked again, and went to second base on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt. �Spain also walked, but was out at second base on a grounder force out by Bomback. �A fielding error by the shortstop allowed Anderson to score. �Adenson Chourio singled, loading the bases, but a ground out ended the inning. �

Brett Lorin took the loss, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing 5 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits and 6 walks, with 3 strikeouts. �A throwing error, a single, and two sacrifice flies brought in 2 runs in the 1st inning. �A fielding error, a double, a single, and a triple gave the Tourists 2 more in the 3rd. �After two walks, a wild pitch, and his own throwing error in the 5th inning, Lorin was relieved by Noah Krol. �Krol finished the 5th, then pitched the next two innings. �A run scored in the 6th, with the help of another error. �The run that came in the 7th was error-free -- it was a solo home run. �Ryan Kelly pitched the last 2 innings, and gave up 2 runs in the 8th, also error-free, on a single, a triple, and a sacrifice fly. �


Alvarez’s 10th Homer; Morris Wins; Watts 4-for-5

Wednesday's action with the Pirates' minor affiliates:


The afternoon game:
GCL Blue Jays 12, GCL Bradenton Pirates 11

The Pirates and the Blue Jays held a slug-fest, featuring a total of 31 hits, and a 6-run 4th inning by the Pirates. �C Andrew Walker and 2B Elevys Gonzalez each had 3 hits, including a home run each, for the Pirates, with 4 RBI for Gonzalez, 2 for Walker, and 3 for LF Rogelios Noris.

Gonzalez and Walker combined for 2 runs in the 1st inning, when Gonzalez led off with a single and Walker smacked a 3-run homer over the right field wall. �The Jays took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 2nd, on two singles, a triple, and a sacrifice fly. �

The Pirates batted around in the 4th inning, putting up 6 runs. �The fun began with a throwing error, which put 1B Gerlis Rodriguez on base. �Singles by Andrew Walker and DH Ramon Cabrera loaded the bases, and Rogelios Noris' double brought in Rodriguez and Walker. �3B Henry Henry added another run with an RBI single to score Cabrera. �Then Elevys Gonzalez hit a 3-run homer, as the Pirates took the lead back again, 8-3. �The Jays came right back with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning, on another triple, plus a single, a walk, and an RBI ground out. �Pirates 8, Jays 6. �

A double by Gerlis Rodriguez, a wild pitch, and a grounder that went for a double play added one more run for the Pirates in the 5th inning, and Henry Henry scored in the 6th on a walk, a stolen base, and Elevys Gonzalez's RBI single. �Pirates 10, Jays 6. �The Pirates scored one more time in the top of the 7th, on Andrew Walker's double and Rogelio Noris' triple, and that was all they would get.

But the Blue Jays got busy in the late innings. �Ryan Beckman had started for the Pirates, and he pitched 3.1 innings, allowing the first 5 runs on 5 hits and a walk. �Andres Santos finished the 4th inning and was responsible for one run. �Sandobal Septimo took over in the 5th inning. �He pitched a scoreless 5th, but gave up one run in the 6th on a double and a single. �Septimo gave up 2 more runs in the 7th, on four straight singles. �He came out to begin the 8th inning, and gave up a solo home run, then another four straight singles, bringing in another 2 runs. �Those 6 runs put the Blue Jays on top, 12 - 11, and the Pirates could not come back in the 9th. �



And the evening games:
Harrisburg Senators 6, �Altoona Curve 5

In a game delayed more than 2 hours by rain, the Senators rallied in the 7th inning for a come-from--behind win. �Curve starter Tim Alderson pitched 6 innings and left with the lead, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks, with 6 strikeouts. �Alderson allowed only a walk over his first three innings, while the Curve had only a single over those same innings. �

The Curve bats, led by 1B Jason Delaney, who had 2 doubles and a single, and 3B Pedro Alvarez, who homered and singled, got to work in the 4th inning. �SS Brian Friday doubled and CF Gorkys Hernandez singled, putting runners on the corners. �Pedro Alvarez's RBI single brought in Friday. �Hernandez moved to third base when RF Miles Durham bounced into a double play, and he scored on Delaney's first double. �

Harrisburg came back in the bottom of the inning with 3 runs off Alderson. �Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, and a double cleared the bases to give the Senators a 3-2 lead. �

Alderson himself tied the game in the top of the 5th, with his second home run of the season. �Pedro Alvarez homered to lead off the 6th inning, breaking the tie. �Delaney's second double of the game and an RBI single by C Steve Lerud brought in another run, and the Curve were ahead 5-3. �

Alderson gave up another run in the bottom of the 6th, on two singles, a fielding error, and a sacrifice fly, to make it 5-4. �Jared Hughes came on in relief in the bottom of the 7th inning, and he gave up 5 straight singles, scoring 2 runs, and the Senators had the 6-5 lead. �Hughes was charged with the Blown Save and the Loss, as the Curve could not score again. �



Lynchburg Hillcats 6, �Salem Red Sox 5

The Hillcats had to hold on through a 4-run Salem rally in the 8th, but they got the win for starter Bryan Morris. �DH Kris Watts went 4-for-5 at the plate, with 2 doubles.�Morris earned his 4th win of the season, going 6 innings and allowing an unearned run and only 3 hits, with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. �That run came in the 1st inning, when two consecutive batters reached on two fielding errors by SS Jordy Mercer. �An RBI single brought the first runner in to score. �Morris gave up a hit in each of the next two innings, then faced only one batter over the minimum (a walk) over the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings. �

Lynchburg got onto the scoreboard with 2 runs in the 2nd inning. �With two outs,�Kris Watts doubled, and LF Jared Keel brought him in with an RBI single. �C Eric Fryer and CF Alex Presley also singled, to score Keel. �The Hillcats threatened in th e 3rd inning, again with two outs. �RF Jamie Romak walked and 1B Matt Hague singled. �Watts also singled, and Hague raced around third, heading for home, but an on-target throw in from right field got Romak out at the plate. �

The 'Cats added another run in the 5th inning, when Jordy Mercer led off with a double. �Jamie Romak's single combined with a fielding error brought Mercer in to score. �Another error by the Red Sox contributed to 3 more runs for the Hillcats in the 6th. �Eric Fryer walked, but was forced out at second on Alex Presley's grounder. �2B Chase d'Arnaud singled and Presley went to third base. �3B Josh Harrison doubled, and combined with a throwing error by the Sox' second baseman on the relay, that cleared the bases and gave the Hillcats a 6-1 lead. �

The Hillcats posted 14 hits, including 5 doubles -- by Watts (2), Mercer, Harrison, and Fryer.�

Harrison Bishop pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th, but fell victim to the Red Sox in the 8th. �Three singles, two doubles, and a sacrifice fly brought in 4 runs, to bring the Sox within one run of the Hillcats. �RJ Rodriguez earned his 26th save with a scoreless 9th inning. �



Brooklyn Cyclones 6, �State College Spikes 1

It was all Brooklyn in this game, as the Spikes were held to just 3 hits-- singles by 1B Aaron Baker and RF David Rubinstein, and a double by 3B Pat Irvine. �Their lone run came in the 2nd inning, when Rubinstein led off with a walk, and Irvine doubled him in. �The next 13 Spike batters went down in order, until Rubinstein singled and Irvine walked in the 7th -- but both were left on base. �Baker singled and Irvine walked again in the 9th, but again they were left on base. �

Nelson Pereira started for the Spikes, and he allowed 3 runs (one earned) on 4 hits and 3 walks in 4 innings. �A walk, a single, and a grounder brought in one run in the 2nd inning. �In the 4th inning, a fielding error plus two singles and a walk gave the Cyclones 2 more runs. �Ricardo Paulino pitched 2 innings, and allowed another run in the 5th inning, with two singles and a fielding error. �Mike Williams also pitched 2 innings, and he gave up 2 runs on 3 hits (double and two singles) in the 7th inning. �Teddy Fallon finished things up for the Spikes with a scoreless 9th, working around the Spikes 3rd fielding error of the game. �


Ashville Tourists 9, West Virginia Power 2
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Another game in which it was "all somebody" but the "somebody" was not us. The Power were shut off, limited to just 5 singles, while the Tourists scored early and often. �2B Danny Bomback had two of the hits, and DH Calvin Anderson, 3B Bobby Spain, and SS Adenson Chourio had the others. �Sloppy fielding was an issue, as the two teams combined for 9 errors in the game. �

The Power scored one run in the 4th inning, when 1B Kyle Morgan and Calvin Anderson both walked and Bobby Spain singled to load the bases. �Danny Bomback's RBI single scored Morgan, but Anderson was thrown out at the plate. �They scored again in the 8th, aided by two errors. �Anderson walked again, and went to second base on a throwing error on a pick-off attempt. �Spain also walked, but was out at second base on a grounder force out by Bomback. �A fielding error by the shortstop allowed Anderson to score. �Adenson Chourio singled, loading the bases, but a ground out ended the inning. �

Brett Lorin took the loss, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing 5 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits and 6 walks, with 3 strikeouts. �A throwing error, a single, and two sacrifice flies brought in 2 runs in the 1st inning. �A fielding error, a double, a single, and a triple gave the Tourists 2 more in the 3rd. �After two walks, a wild pitch, and his own throwing error in the 5th inning, Lorin was relieved by Noah Krol. �Krol finished the 5th, then pitched the next two innings. �A run scored in the 6th, with the help of another error. �The run that came in the 7th was error-free -- it was a solo home run. �Ryan Kelly pitched the last 2 innings, and gave up 2 runs in the 8th, also error-free, on a single, a triple, and a sacrifice fly. �


Bats Pummel Tribe and Hacker; Meloan’s Debut

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Louisville Bats 10 ,�
�� �Indianapolis Indians 2





The Louisville Bats took their stadium's name to heart tonight, as they pounded the Indianapolis Indians at Louisville Slugger Field, scoring 10 runs on 15 hits. �2B Pedro Lopez and reliever Jon Meloan�were the bright spots for the Indians. �Lopez (photo) went 4-for-4 at the plate, with a double and three singles, raising his batting average to .333. �Meloan made his Indians' and Pirates' organizational debut, facing 6 batters and allowing only one hit. �

Starting pitcher�Eric Hacker has had trouble in the early innings in the past, and tonight was no different. �The Bats scored 4 quick runs in the bottom of the 1st inning to take the early lead. �2B Luis Bolivar led off with an infield single on a swinging bunt, and he stole second base. �RF Darnell McDonald walked on four pitches and Hacker hit CF Chris Heisey with his next pitch to load the bases with no outs. �3B Juan Francisco lifted the first pitch he saw to left field, which turned into a sacrifice fly, scoring Bolivar. �1B Wes Bankston also gave his first pitch a long ride, over the wall in left center, for a 3-run homer. �Hacker gave up two more singles, to LF Daniel Dorn and C Chris Denove, but ended the inning by striking out the opposing pitcher Matt Maloney.

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The Bats continued to attack Hacker (photo) in the 2nd inning, with three doubles over the heads of the three Indians' outfielders. �Luis Bolivar hit a fly to the center field wall beyond CF Chris Barnwell, Darnell McDonald lined one over RF Tagg Bozied's head to score Bolivar, and Juan Francisco put his double into left field, over LF Brian Myrow's head, to bring in McDonald. �The Bats lead 6-0.

Matt Maloney was not having trouble with the Indians, though. �He allowed only three singles over the first four innings -- �singles by�Pedro Lopez in the 1st and 5th innings, and a single along the first base line and a stolen base by Tagg Bozied in the 2nd inning. �

The Indians finally got onto the scoreboard in the 5th, when C Robinzon Diaz homered over the left-center field wall on Maloney's 1-1 pitch. �Diaz lifted the ball high enough to get into the wind, which helped the ball over the fence.�

Hacker settled down after the second inning, allowing only one single over the next two innings. �But he struggled again in the 5th. �With one out, Daniel Dorn dropped a single into short center field, just out of reach of both CF Chris Barnwell and SS Argenis Diaz. �Chris Valaika followed with a triple to deep center field, scoring Dorn. �Chris Denove's sacrifice fly scored Valaika, and the Bats were ahead 8-1. �

The Bats chased Eric Hacker in the 6th inning, when Darnell McDonald led off with a home run, and after a ground out, Juan Francisco added another solo homer. �Hacker had made 98 pitches (64 strikes) in what was his toughest outing of the season -- 10 runs, all earned, on 13 hits and a walk, three homers, and 4 strikeouts. �He was charged with his 6th loss of the season. �

Jon Meloan came in from the bullpen to relieve Hacker with one out in the 6th. �He began by getting Wes Bankston to pop out to Robinzon Diaz in foul territory, then gave up a single to Daniel Dorn, before Chris Valaika flied out to end the inning. �Meloan retired the Bats in order in the 7th inning,�

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Larry Broadway (photo) pinch-hit for Meloan in the 8th inning, but lined into a double play, as Argenis Diaz was caught off first base. �Broadway remained in the game to pitch the bottom of the 8th inning. �Manager Frank Kremblas and pitching coach Ray Searage were facing a shortage in the bullpen, with Jason Davis unavailable, Corey Hamman and Juan Mateo having just pitched last night, and Jeremy Powell away from the team for a few days (for the birth of his baby). �Broadway has pitched successfully for the Tribe earlier this season, and several times last season for the Columubs Clippers. �Tonight, Broadway gave up a double down the left field line to Darnell McDonald to open the 8th inning. �Then he got two pop outs and a line out to end the inning. �

The Indians scored one more run in the 9th inning. �Pedro Lopez collected his 4th hit of the game with a line drive double into right field. �Brian Myrow singled, moving Lopez to third base. �1B Jeff Clement brought in Lopez with a sacrifice fly. �Myrow moved to second base on a wild pitch and to third on Tagg Bozied's single. �But a pop out and a fly out left the runners on the corners, and the game was (mercifully) over. �

The Indians have now lost 3 games since they briefly touched the .500 mark on Saturday. �



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Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Four hits in four trips to the plate by Pedro Lopez. �He has gone 11-for-18 (.611) in his last 4 games. �


Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �In the bottom of the 8th inning, with Darnell McDonald on second base and two outs, and Larry Broadway on the mound, Wes Bankston smacked a sharp line drive down the third base line, which looked like it was heading for the outfield. �3B Neil Walker (photo) made a dive and a stab to his right to get the third out, and keep McDonald from scoring.�





NOTES:
Jose Tabata's hamstring injury yesterday was felt to be due to cramps -- a common problem in the heat and humidity in Louisville. �He was able to take batting practice today, but will be out of the line-up for a couple of days as a precaution.


Last weekend, the Washington Nationals played the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. �Two former Indy Indians are now on the Nationals, Nyjer Morgan, who was in center field, and lefty reliever Sean Burnett, who pitched in Saturday night's game facing two batters and recording two outs. �Morgan went 2-for-5 on Saturday, and scored twice. �On Sunday, he was 0-for-5.�

Nyjer Morgan

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Sean Burnett�

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Nyjer Morgan, Sunday afternoon

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Go Tribe!


[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]




Bats Pummel Tribe and Hacker; Meloan’s Debut

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Louisville Bats 10 ,�
�� �Indianapolis Indians 2





The Louisville Bats took their stadium's name to heart tonight, as they pounded the Indianapolis Indians at Louisville Slugger Field, scoring 10 runs on 15 hits. �2B Pedro Lopez and reliever Jon Meloan�were the bright spots for the Indians. �Lopez (photo) went 4-for-4 at the plate, with a double and three singles, raising his batting average to .333. �Meloan made his Indians' and Pirates' organizational debut, facing 6 batters and allowing only one hit. �

Starting pitcher�Eric Hacker has had trouble in the early innings in the past, and tonight was no different. �The Bats scored 4 quick runs in the bottom of the 1st inning to take the early lead. �2B Luis Bolivar led off with an infield single on a swinging bunt, and he stole second base. �RF Darnell McDonald walked on four pitches and Hacker hit CF Chris Heisey with his next pitch to load the bases with no outs. �3B Juan Francisco lifted the first pitch he saw to left field, which turned into a sacrifice fly, scoring Bolivar. �1B Wes Bankston also gave his first pitch a long ride, over the wall in left center, for a 3-run homer. �Hacker gave up two more singles, to LF Daniel Dorn and C Chris Denove, but ended the inning by striking out the opposing pitcher Matt Maloney.

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The Bats continued to attack Hacker (photo) in the 2nd inning, with three doubles over the heads of the three Indians' outfielders. �Luis Bolivar hit a fly to the center field wall beyond CF Chris Barnwell, Darnell McDonald lined one over RF Tagg Bozied's head to score Bolivar, and Juan Francisco put his double into left field, over LF Brian Myrow's head, to bring in McDonald. �The Bats lead 6-0.

Matt Maloney was not having trouble with the Indians, though. �He allowed only three singles over the first four innings -- �singles by�Pedro Lopez in the 1st and 5th innings, and a single along the first base line and a stolen base by Tagg Bozied in the 2nd inning. �

The Indians finally got onto the scoreboard in the 5th, when C Robinzon Diaz homered over the left-center field wall on Maloney's 1-1 pitch. �Diaz lifted the ball high enough to get into the wind, which helped the ball over the fence.�

Hacker settled down after the second inning, allowing only one single over the next two innings. �But he struggled again in the 5th. �With one out, Daniel Dorn dropped a single into short center field, just out of reach of both CF Chris Barnwell and SS Argenis Diaz. �Chris Valaika followed with a triple to deep center field, scoring Dorn. �Chris Denove's sacrifice fly scored Valaika, and the Bats were ahead 8-1. �

The Bats chased Eric Hacker in the 6th inning, when Darnell McDonald led off with a home run, and after a ground out, Juan Francisco added another solo homer. �Hacker had made 98 pitches (64 strikes) in what was his toughest outing of the season -- 10 runs, all earned, on 13 hits and a walk, three homers, and 4 strikeouts. �He was charged with his 6th loss of the season. �

Jon Meloan came in from the bullpen to relieve Hacker with one out in the 6th. �He began by getting Wes Bankston to pop out to Robinzon Diaz in foul territory, then gave up a single to Daniel Dorn, before Chris Valaika flied out to end the inning. �Meloan retired the Bats in order in the 7th inning,�

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Larry Broadway (photo) pinch-hit for Meloan in the 8th inning, but lined into a double play, as Argenis Diaz was caught off first base. �Broadway remained in the game to pitch the bottom of the 8th inning. �Manager Frank Kremblas and pitching coach Ray Searage were facing a shortage in the bullpen, with Jason Davis unavailable, Corey Hamman and Juan Mateo having just pitched last night, and Jeremy Powell away from the team for a few days (for the birth of his baby). �Broadway has pitched successfully for the Tribe earlier this season, and several times last season for the Columubs Clippers. �Tonight, Broadway gave up a double down the left field line to Darnell McDonald to open the 8th inning. �Then he got two pop outs and a line out to end the inning. �

The Indians scored one more run in the 9th inning. �Pedro Lopez collected his 4th hit of the game with a line drive double into right field. �Brian Myrow singled, moving Lopez to third base. �1B Jeff Clement brought in Lopez with a sacrifice fly. �Myrow moved to second base on a wild pitch and to third on Tagg Bozied's single. �But a pop out and a fly out left the runners on the corners, and the game was (mercifully) over. �

The Indians have now lost 3 games since they briefly touched the .500 mark on Saturday. �



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Indians' Hitting Gem of the Game: �Four hits in four trips to the plate by Pedro Lopez. �He has gone 11-for-18 (.611) in his last 4 games. �


Indians' Defensive Ge m of the Game: �In the bottom of the 8th inning, with Darnell McDonald on second base and two outs, and Larry Broadway on the mound, Wes Bankston smacked a sharp line drive down the third base line, which looked like it was heading for the outfield. �3B Neil Walker (photo) made a dive and a stab to his right to get the third out, and keep McDonald from scoring.�





NOTES:
Jose Tabata's hamstring injury yesterday was felt to be due to cramps -- a common problem in the heat and humidity in Louisville. �He was able to take batting practice today, but will be out of the line-up for a couple of days as a precaution.


Last weekend, the Washington Nationals played the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. �Two former Indy Indians are now on the Nationals, Nyjer Morgan, who was in center field, and lefty reliever Sean Burnett, who pitched in Saturday night's game facing two batters and recording two outs. �Morgan went 2-for-5 on Saturday, and scored twice. �On Sunday, he was 0-for-5.�

Nyjer Morgan

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IMG_1494Morgan.JPG

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Sean Burnett�

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Nyjer Morgan, Sunday afternoon

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Go Tribe!


[Photos by Nancy Zinni -- MVN]




NY-Penn All-Stars; Sanchez is SAL Player of the Week; Veal Rehabs With Curve

The New York-Penn League All-Star game is tonight, held at the home of the Spikes, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in State College. �

American League All Stars 4, �National League All Stars 2

Everyone got to play in this game. �They started with each pitcher on both sides pitching one inning, and toward the end, pitchers were pitching to one or two batters, just so that all of them could have a turn. �Spikes'�Phillip Irwin took�his turn in the 2nd inning for the NL All-Stars. �He retired three AL All-Stars quickly, with two fly outs and a ground out. �

The AL All-Stars scored one run in the 4th inning when Welinton Ramirez (Auburn -- Blue Jays) hit a solo homer. �The NL-er's countered with their own solo homer in the bottom of the 5th, by JD Martinez (Tri-City -- Astros). �Brock Holt entered the game in the 6th inning as a pinch-hitter. �He grounded out to second base, ending the inning, and then remained in the game as the Designated Hitter. �

Zach Foster pitched the 7th inning for the NL team, and he was responsible when the AL side took the lead. �He got the first out, then gave up a double, an RBI single, and a 2-run home run to Jimmy Paredes (Staten Island -- �Yankees), giving the AL All-Stars a 4-1 lead. �

In the bottom of the 9th, the NL troop rallied. �Brock Holt led off with a walk, and he went to second when Dock Doyle (Brooklyn -- Mets) also walked. �A grounder force out to short plus a throwing error by the AL second baseman let Holt score. �A double play ended the inning before the NL team could extend their rally. �



Other action in the Pirates' minor league organization:

GCL Blue Jays 5, GCL Bradenton Pirates 2

Three unanswered runs in the late innings gave the Blue Jays the win this afternoon in Bradenton. �SS Benjamin Gonzalez and DH Jairo Marquez both had a double and a single for the Pirates. �The Blue Jays scored one run in each of the first two innings. �A double, a fly out, and a sacrifice fly brought in the first run, and a solo homer in the 2nd inning made the score 2-0.�

The Pirates scored their first run in the 5th inning, on back-to-back doubles by Jairo Marquez and LF Rogelio Noris. �They tied the score at 2-2 in the 6th, when Benjamin Gonzalez doubled and scored on C Ramon Cabrera's RBI single. �

That was all the Pirates would get, though. �Starter Brett Klinger pitched 4.2 innings and gave up the 2 early runs on 3 hits, no walks, and 4 strikeouts. �He was relieved with two outs in the 5th inning by Dinesh Patel. �Patel gave up a triple to the first batter he faced, then got the next batter to tap back to the mound, glancing off Patel and heading over to shortstop, where Benjamin Gonzalez was able to make the scoop and throw to first in time to get the out. �Melkin Laureano�took the mound in the 6th inning, which was scoreless. �In the 7th, the Blue Jays took the lead with a double and an RBI single. �Laureano retired the side in order in the 8th, but in the top of the 9th, Laureano gave up a double, got an out, then hit a batter and gave up another double, which brought in 2 runs. �Papiro Juan ended the inning with two fly outs. �




Salem Red Sox 5, �Lynchburg Hillcats 3

Hillcats' starter Rudy Owens gave up 4 runs on 10 hits as the 'Cats fell to the Red Sox. �The Hillcats scored in the top of the 1st inning to take the early lead. �A fielding error put 3B Josh Harrison on first base, and a single by SS Jordy Mercer and a double by RF Jamie Romak brought Harrison in with the first run of the game. �1B Matt Hague lined a single into left field, to score Mercer, and the 'Cats had a 2-0 lead. �

Owens kept the Red Sox scoreless over the first 3 innings, though he gave up a double in the 1st, two singles in the 2nd, and a single in the 3rd. �The Red Sox scored 2 runs in the 4th on a single, a double, and RBI ground out, and an RBI single, tying the game. �Two more runs in the 5th inning on two singles and a double gave the Red Sox a 4-2 lead. �

The Hillcats got one run back in the 6th. �Jamie Romak struck out, but strike three was a wild pitch, and when the Sox catcher made a throwing error, Romak advanced to second base. �He scored on Matt Hague's double.

Tom Boleska relieved Owens and pitched 2 scoreless innings. �Mike Colla pitched the 9th inning, and gave up a solo home run to give the Sox an insurance run. �

Tim Williams of B.U.C.C.O. Fans.com has an interview with Lynchburg's Chase d'Arnaud. �Audio of the interview is also available. �



Altoona Curve 7, �Harrisburg Senators 2

Four Curve pitchers combined to hold the Senators to 5 hits, in a game that included 3 errors by the C urve and 4 errors by the Senators. �Start er Kyle Bloom pitched 5.1 innings and allowed one unearned run on 3 hits and 2 walks, with 5 strikeouts. �The unearned run came in the 2nd inning, after a walk and a single, a throwing error on a pick-off throw, and a ground out. �That single was the only hit Bloom allowed in the first 5 innings. �A fielding error put a Senator runner on base in the 1st inning and a missed catch error put a runner on in the 3rd, but Bloom was able to work around those. �He retired the side in order in the 4th and 5th innings, then gave up a double and a single in the 6th. �Michael Dubee relieved Bloom and finished the 6th inning with a double play. �

Donnie Veal made his first rehab appearance with the Curve, entering the game to begin the bottom of the 7th. �He retired the side in order in the 7th, and gave up a walk but struck out three batters in the 8th. �Scott Nestor pitched the 9th inning and gave up a solo home run -- but by then it was too late for the Senators.�

The Curve scored in the top of the 1st when SS Brian Friday singled, moved to second on a ground out by CF Gorkys Hernandez, and scored on 3B Pedro Alvarez's RBI single. �They added 4 more runs in the 3rd inning. �Hernandez opened the inning by reaching base on a fielding error, and another fielding error put Hernandez on third base and RF Miles Durham on second base. �1B Jason Delaney singled, scoring Hernandez, and LF Jonel Pacheco singled, scoring Durham. �Delaney and Pacheco pulled off a double steal, moving Delaney to third and Pacheco to second base, and both scored on C Miguel Perez's single. �Perez was out at second on the throw in from right field. �Pacheco added two more runs in the 8th inning, on a 2-run homer following Delaney's single. �2B Shelby Ford and Perez both singled after the home, and Donnie Veal dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up 90 feet, but a pop out ended the inning. �



West Virginia Power 10, Asheville Tourists 5

The Power exploded for an 8-run 5th inning and 3B Bobby Spain went 3-for-4 in tonight's win. �DH Calvin Anderson got the Power going in the 4th inning, when he tripled, and then came in to score on LF Quincy Latimore's ground out. �RF Starling Marte,�Bobby Spain, and 2B Danny Bomback�all singled, with Bomback picking up the RBI as Marte scored. �The Power sent 12 batters to the plate in the 5th inning. �CF Robbie Grossman singled and stole second (his 32nd of the season), and C Tony Sanchez was hit by a pitch. �A passed ball moved both runners up, and Calvin Anderson's sacrifice fly plus a fielding error brought in Grossman and Sanchez. �Quincy Latimore doubled, scoring Anderson. �Starling Marte was also hit by a pitch. �Then a single by 1B Kyle Morgan and a double by Bobby Spain brought in 3 more runs. �Bomback and SS Greg Picart both singled, and Spain singled. �All that happened with one out. �A new pitcher struck out Grossman, but then threw a wild pitch, moving runners to 2nd and 3rd bases. �Sanchez grounded out, scoring Bomback with the 8th run of the inning. �Anderson struck out to end the inning. �

Quinton Miller pitched the first 4 innings for the Power, and gave up 4 runs on 4 hits. �He gave up a solo homer in the 1st inning, then retired the next 10 batters he faced. �A throwing error and a home run gave the Tourists 2 runs in the 4th, then a single, a double, and a wild pitch added one more run. �The Tourists led 4-0, until the Power scored their first 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th. �Wilson Ortiz took the mound in the 5th inning, and gave up a run on a double, a ground out, and a passed ball. �The Tourists' lead was 5-2 going into the bottom of the 5th, when the Power broke out for 8 runs. �

Duke Welker came in from the bullpen next. �He retired 7 batters, then got into trouble in the top of the 9th. �A hit batter, a wild pitch, and two walks loaded the bases, and Welker was relieved by Casey Erickson. �Erickson gave up a single to score one run, a walk to force in another run, and another single that scored 2 runs, to bring the Tourists within one run of the Power. � After one more walk, Erickson got a strikeout to end the rally and preserve the win. �Ortiz was credited with the win and Erickson with a save. �


While other teams were haggling with their first round picks (like the Pirates were last year), Pirates' 2009 first round pick Tony Sanchez was named the South Atlantic League's Player of the Week for last week. �He was 10-for-16 (.625) for the week, with 4 doubles, 2 homers, and 10 RBI. �Sanchez is hitting .360 for the Power, with a total of 5 homers, 13 doubles, and 34 RBI. �The Pirates mlb site says that the Pirates are planning to have Sanchez stay with the Power until the end of the season (and not go up to Lynchburg), and then report to Instructional League this fall. �


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