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Burres Struggles, But Ciriaco Returns With A Vengeance

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The Tribe got one run back in the top of the 5th.  Ciriaco led off with a double into left field, and when Bowker reached base on a fielding error by Marrero at first, Ciriaco advanced to third.  Hague singled on a looper into center field, bringing in Ciriaco from third.  Hague and Bowker were left on base, when the next three batters went down in order.  CF Gorkys Hernandez brought the Indians back within one run of the Chiefs in the 6th.  He led off the inning with a line drive into center field, and moved up to center field on a bunt by Leroux.  Norman flied out, letting Hernandez tag up and advance to third.  Ciriaco grounded to short and beat out the throw to first, collecting his third run and an RBI as Hernandez scored on the play.  Chiefs 6, Indians 5.

After finishing the 4th for Burres, Leroux went on to pitch 3 more scoreless innings.  He retired the side in order in the 5th and 6th.  Marrero led off the 7th with a fly ball off the right field wall.  Norman ran right into the wall in his effort to make the play.  Marrero should have had a double, but he fell down as he rounded first, so had to scramble back to that bag as Norman’s throw came back to the infield.  Marrero was erased moments later in a double play.  Frazier lifted a fly to short right-center field.  CF Hernandez raced in to made a running basket catch, then seeing that Marrero was way off the bag, threw to first base to double him off.  

But the Indians could not get any closer than that 6-5 score.  They were retired in order in the 7th and 8th innings.  Then the Chiefs rallied again in the bottom of the 8th.  Jared Hughes took over on the mound for Leroux, and gave up a lead-off single to Bynum.  A sacrifice bunt moved Bynum to second base, and pinch-hitter Michael Aubry singled to put runners on the corners.  Three more singles (Lombardozzi, ANtonelli, and Jesus Valdez) drove in Bynum and Aubry, increasing the Chiefs’ lead to 8-5.  The Indians had one more chance in the top of the 9th, but again went down in order, and the Chiefs had the win.  

Ciriaco went 3-for-5, with a double and two singles.  Anthony Norman made his AAA debut with a double in his first AAA at-bat, and went 1-for-5.  Jordy Mercer was 1-for-4 in his AAA debut.  Miguel Perez appeared in his first game for the Indians this season, coming in as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the 8th.  He did not have any plate appearances.  

Indians’ Hitting Gem of the Game:  John Bowker’s third homer in three games, for three runs.  This homer traveled about 380 feet over the right field wall.  

Indians’ Defensive Gem of the Game:  Gorkys Hernandez’s running basket catch of Jeff Frazier’s fly out in the bottom of the 7th, which let him double Chris Marrero off first base.  

NOTES:

Wondering about the uniform spelling of Chase d’Arnaud’s name?  He had the upside-down P during spring training, but the Indians used a capital D.

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Alex Presley celebrated his return to the Pirates with a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning, and an RBI single in the 4th.  Presley batted in the lead-off spot in the Pirates’ batting order and played left field.  Chase d’Arnaud went 0-for-4 with a walk in the game, and he made an error at third.  

Go Tribe!

(photos by Nancy)

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