The Pirates demoted pitcher Brian Burres to Triple-A Indianapolis today. The move makes room for the recently acquired Dana Eveland.

Indianapolis Indians �4, �Gwinnett Braves �0 (box)

Brad Lincoln (photo) pitched 6 shutout innings, scattering 4 hits and one walk, while striking out 6 batters on his way to his 6th win for the Indians at Coolray Field in Gwinnett County, Georgia tonight. �The Indians posted 12 hits, including 3 by 1B Brian Myrow and two each by LF Jose Tabata and 2B Brian Friday, on their way to victory. �Three of the Tribe's hits were triples.

Lincoln dominated the Braves, just as he dominated the Charlotte Knights last week. �He has now recorded 11 consecutive scoreless innings. �In his last start against the Braves, at home on May 22nd, Lincoln allowed 3 hits in the 8th inning, after he had pitched 7 scoreless innings -- that's 3 runs over the past 19 innings. �Lincoln threw 81 pitches tonight, 52 for strikes.

Today, Lincoln gave up a double to 2B Joe Thurston with two outs in the 1st inning, then retired the Braves in order in the 2nd and 3rd innings -- and he struck out the side in the 3rd. �3B/2B Luis Bolivar singled into right field to lead off the 4th inning, but Lincoln picked him off first base. �The Braves put two runners on base at the same time in the 5th, with a double by LF Alex Romero and a walk to C Clint Sammons, but Lincoln ended that inning with a strike out, leaving both runners on base. �Thurston also singled in the 6th inning, but was again left on base.

After the game, Lincoln said that he has found that the key to pitching well for him is to "get ahead early in the count and make the hitters have to swing the bat. �To make the hitters get in a defensive state at the plate is a good thing for me, and it's one of those things that has been working for me.... I feel like I have become a complete pitcher, not just a strikeout pitcher, but an efficient pitcher." �When asked about the possibility of being called up to the Pirates and plugged into the rotation on schedule to face the Washington National's Stephen Strasburg on June 8th, Lincoln told interviewer Scott McCauley "I have always been that type of guy that wants to be there in that big situation and go against the best. �It's something that I would look forward to. �If I get that call, it would be very exciting.... however, I'm not going to assume anything."

Lincoln got two 2-run innings of run support from his teammates, and he helped out there too. �The Tribe batters put at least one runner on base in every inning but the 8th. �They scored their first pair of runs in the 3rd inning, taking advantage of a pair of triples. �With one out,�Jose Tabata hit a laser over the head of RF Mitch Jones for a stand-up triple. �Brian Myrow drove in Tabata with a sinking line drive into left field for a single. �3B Pedro Alvarez (photo) had the second triple, a drive into the right-center field alley, which easily brought Myrow around to score. �The throw in from the outfield got away from the Braves' infielders and sailed to the facing of the third base dugout, but not far enough away for Alvarez to score. �Alvarez was 1-for-5 in the game.

The Tribe threatened in the 4th inning. �Brian Friday led off with a double that slipped past the Braves' third baseman and down the left field line into the corner. �SS Doug Bernier singled up the middle, and the Indians had runners on the corners. �Lincoln dropped down a bunt that was intended to be a suicide squeeze. �3B Luis Bolivar scooped the bunt, looked Friday back to third (it was too close for him to score anyway), then threw on to first base, but he had delayed just a fraction of a second too long in looking back at Friday, and the hustling Lincoln beat the throw to first, for a hit. �That gave the Tribe the bases loaded with no outs -- but they could not get a run across the plate, as two strike outs and a line out ended the inning with all three runners standing right there.

C Erik Kratz doubled with one out in the 5th, and he got as far as thrid base on a ground out by CF Jon Van Every, but that threat fell short also.

Lincoln started another run-scoring rally in the 6th by working a walk. �Jose Tabata doubled off the top of the right field wall, moving Lincoln to third base. �Then RF Kevin Melillo tripled over Braves' RF Jones' head, to score both Lincoln and Tabata. �That chased the Braves' starter Jose Ortegano, who had allowed all 4 of the Indians' runs, on 11 hits.

The Tribe batters did not do as well against the Braves' bullpen. �Cory Gearrin relieved Ortegano and struck out two batters to end the 6th, then allowed only one base runner over the next two innings -- he hit Erik Kratz with a pitch, though erased him with a double play. �Stephen Marek took over for the 9th inning, and he gave up a walk to Kevin Melillo and a single to Brian Myrow (his third hit), but left both on base when he ended the inning.

Wil Ledezma pitched 2 scoreless innings after Lincoln sat down. �He gave up a double in the 7th and a walk in the 8th, but struck out 5 batters. �Jean Machi pitched a scoreless 9th, allowing a single and a walk, and he ended the game with a strikeout. �It was not a save situation.

The win gave the Indians a split of the 4-game series with the Braves, and also a split of the season series. �The Indians will not play the Braves again during the 2010 regular season. �The Tribe has a 28-26 record, which puts them in third place in the International League Western Division, 6.5 games behind the first-place Columbus Clippers. �The Indians return to Victory Field on Friday, to begin a 4-game series with the Clippers -- hoping to gain some ground on them in the standings.

�

Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: �Three triples, which were factors in all four of the runs the Indians scored: �Jose Tabata (2nd triple of the season), Pedro Alvarez (3rd of the season), and Kevin Melillo (3rd of the season).

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �Three pitchers, Brad Lincoln, Wil Ledezma, and Jean Machi, combined for 9 shutout innings, and a total of 13 strikeouts.

�

NOTES:

Donnie Veal has has a consultation with noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, and the result is that Dr. Andrews will be performing Tommy John surgery on Veal's left elbow tomorrow. �That's the end of Veal's 2010 season... with hopes that he'll be ready to return sometime near the beginning of the 2011 season.

Lincoln has been named the Indians' Player of the Month for May. �There will probably be an official presentation of the award this weekend.

�

Go Tribe!

�

(photos by Nancy)

�

Altoona Curve �5, �New Britain Rock Cats �4 (box)

A 2-2 tie brought on a busy 10th inning for the Curve and the Rock Cats, but it was the Curve who came out on top. �Tony Watson had pitched two scoreless innings in the 8th and the 9th, and he was still the pitcher of record in the 10th inning.

RF/LF Alex Presley opened�the 10th inning with a solo home run over the right field wall to break the tie. �Two outs later, SS Chase d'Arnaud singled into left field, and CF Gorkys Hernandez followed with another single through the hole into left field. �A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position for 3B Josh Harrison, who came through with a liner into left, scoring both d'Arnaud and Hernandez on the single. �The Curve had a 5-2 lead.

Reliever Danny Moskos and Harrison made things interesting in the bottom of the inning. �With two outs, Harrison made a fielding error on a ball off the bat of RF Mark Dolenc, extending the inning. �A single by DH Rene Tosoni (remember him from Team USA?) and a fielding error by Hernandez in center field brought in Dolenc and put a Tosoni on third. �1B Erik Lis singled into center, scoring Tosoni and making it a one-run game. A passed ball by C Hector Gimenez moved Lis to second base, but Moskos ended the game with a fly out. �Moskos earned his lucky 13th save, and Watson earned his second win.

Presley, Hernandez, Gimenez, and Presley each had 2 hits in the game, with 2 RBI by Presley and 3 RBI by Harrison. �The Curve's first run came in the top of the 1st, on a double by d'Arnaud, a throwing error on a pick-off attempt that put d'Arnaud to third base, and an RBI grounder by Harrison. �Singles by 1B Matt Hague, Gimenez, and Presley added another run in the 4th.

Starter Tim Alderson pitched 6 innings and allowed one run on 5 hits and 2 walks. �The run came on a solo homer by Erik Lis to lead off the 2nd inning. �The Rock Cats added two more singles in that inning, but those two runners did not come around to score. �Alderson also gave up singles in the 3rd and the 5th innings, but Gimenez threw out both runners trying to steal second base.

Jimmy Barthmaier made his first AA rehab start, but it did not go as well as he'd hoped. �He gave up a walk and a single, then got a sacrifice bunt. �Another single drove in the tying run, and that was all for Barthmaier. �Tony Watson came in to finish the inning. �He got CF Ben Revere to line right to Harrison at third base, who then doubled the runner off third for a double play.

Top catching prospect Tony Sanchez left tonight's High-A Bradenton game after being hit in the head with a pitch. Dejan Kovacevic reports that the injury does not appear to be serious.

Minor league pitcher Donnie Veal will undergo Tommy John surgery on Friday. He will miss the remainder of the season.

Gwinnett Braves �2, �Indianapolis Indians �1 (box)

Jeremy Powell (photo) took a no-hitter into the 7th inning for the Indians at Coolray Field in Gwinnett County, Georgia, but ended up with a 2-hitter and a very tough loss. �Opposing pitcher and former Pirate farmhand Todd Redmond, who threw a no-hitter in his last start dueled Powell through those 7 innings, giving up 5 hits but only one run, as he took the win.

No surprise -- most of the first half of this game was played in a steady soft rain. �Powell looked strong in the bottom of the 1st, as he gave up a 2-out walk to 2B Joe Thurston, but left him on base when the inning ended with a line out to left field. �Powell went on to retire the next 14 batters, 15 in a row, until the bottom of the 6th, when he gave up another 2-out walk to CF Matt Young. �Only two of those outs were strikeouts, but Powell did not make his teammates have to make wild plays to record the outs.

Powell began the 7th inning by getting Thurston to ground out to short, but the next batter, 1B Barbaro Canizares ruined Powell's no-hit bid with a ball into the right-center field alley for a triple. �RF Mitch Jones further spoiled Powell's night by taking a 1-0 pitch down the left field line and over the wall for a 2-run homer. �There was nothing LF Jose Tabata could do but turn and watch it fly. �Powell got the next two outs easily, and that was the end of his night. �Powell had thrown 88 pitches (55 strikes) and allowed only 2 hits and 2 walks, with a total of 3 strikeouts.

Todd Redmond had to do a little more work than Powell did. �He contended with Indians' base runners in each of the first four innings. �RF Brandon Jones (photo), hitting in the 2-spot tonight, walked in the top of the 1st. �C Erik Kratz doubled to the left field wall to begin the 2nd inning, and he got as far as third base, with 2B Brian Friday on first with a walk. �The Braves had a scary moment, when Jeremy Powell grounded sharply back to the mound, where the ball ricocheted off Redmond (not sure what part of him) and to Thurston at second base. �Thurston threw to first to end the inning, and Redmond turned out to be not injured. �Brian Friday also singled in the 4th inning.

The Indians' run came in the 3rd. �With one out, Brandon Jones lashed a triple to right field that missed being a home run by just a few feet. �1B Brian Myrow followed with a double over the head of CF Matt Young and all the way to the wall, easily scoring Jones. �That was all Redmond would allow, though. �After Friday's single, Redmond retired the next 11 Indians' batters in order. �He allowed only 4 hits and struck out 10 Indians' batters.

Once the Braves had broken up the no-hitter, Steven Jackson, who just re-joined the club, relieved Powell. �Jackson worked around a single in the 8th, but did not allow a run.

Michael Dunn came on in relief of Redmond, and he was similarly effective. �He walked�Jose Tabata to begin the top of the 8th, then struck out the next three batters: �Jones, Myrow, and 3B Pedro Alvarez. That was Alvarez's fourth strikeout of the game.

The Indians had one more chance at a rally in the top of the 9th. �With Craig Kimbrel on the mound for the Braves, Erik Kratz (photo) led off another inning with a long double to left field. �Strikeouts to CF Brandon Moss and Brian Friday followed, with Indians' manager getting tossed after Friday's strikeout for arguing about strike zone issues. �Doug Bernier came in to pinch-run for Erik Kratz, but Bernier was tagged out for the final out of the game when SS Argenis Diaz grounded to third.

�

Indians' Hitting Gems of the Game: �The Indians had only 5 hits in the game, but two of them belonged to Erik Kratz -- two doubles to the left field wall. �(Only one of the Tribe's hits was a single -- the one by Brian Friday.)

Indians' Defensive Gem of the Game: �Jeremy Powell taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning. �Wow. �(At least he didn't lose the no-hitter because of poor umpiring!)

�

�

NOTES:

Roster moves: �Reliever Steven Jackson, who was optioned from the Pirates is, of course, with the team in Gwinnett. �In order to make room for Jackson on the roster, reliever Corey Hamman was removed from the Indians' roster and moved to the State College roster. �This is probably a paper move, and Hamman may still be with the team, since State College doesn't begin their season for a couple weeks yet.

Starter Jimmy Barthmaier is working his way back after Tommy John surgery. �He has made two rehab appearances in Bradenton (one hit and one run in 3 innings), and has now been moved up to Altoona to do some rehab with the Curve.

Brad Lincoln was originally supposed to make the start tonight, but he swapped days with Jeremy Powell because Powell had so little work lately. �Powell's last start on Saturday was cut short due to a suspended game.

�

The Indianapolis Star featured an article about Erik Kratz today, by Andrew Astleford. � Check out the table at the bottom of the second page -- there are two other former Indianapolis Indians there: �Chris Coste (2004), and Jason Childers (2002-04).

�

Go Tribe!

�

(photos by Nancy)

After a brief slump, Tony Sanchez recently resumed his domination over the Florida State League. Ryan Doumit is hitting well, with a .360 wOBA. He is 29-years-old, has an injury history and is lousy defensively. The Pirates have decent catching depth in the upper minor leagues. The conditions for a Doumit trade are almost ideal.

Two morning games today in the Pirates' organization. �Pat Irvine was brought up from extended spring training to take the place of catcher Josue Peley, who was traded away a few days ago. �Irvine was the Pirates' 33rd round pick in the 2009 draft. �He played at State College for the second half of 2009, but he split his time between third base and left field.... now he's a catcher.

�

Lexington Legends �6, �West Virginia Power �3 (box)

The Power and the Legends were the first to get started this morning, and the Power bats woke up first. �CF Evan Chambers opened the game with a looping single into right-center field. �2B Jarek Cunningham dropped another single in, right in front of the Legends' center fielder, then a wild pitch moved both runners up a base. �DH�Aaron Baker grounded out to first base, allowing Chambers to score from third base. �LF Rogelios Noris was hit by a pitch, but a double play ended the inning. �The Power took advantage of an error by the Legends' second baseman, who bobbled the ball, then threw wide to first base in the 2nd inning, putting 3B Elevys Gonzalez on base. �RF Jose Hernandez drove Gonzalez in with a double lined into the right field corner. �After two innings, the Power were leading 2-0.

Power starter Brandon Holden also got off to a good start, retiring the Legends in order in the 1st inning, and allowing only a walk in the 2nd -- then he threw out the runner trying to steal second to end the inning. �The Legends loaded the bases against Holden in the 3rd inning with one out -- on a walk, a single, and a fielding error by SS Benji Gonzalez. �But Holden induced a double play to end the inning, with a ground out to 2B Cunningham, who stepped on second base, then threw on to 1B Kyle Morgan to end the inning without a run scoring.

The Legends got to Holden in the 4th inning. �A lead-off single was followed by a strikeout, but then a double brought in the first Lexington run. �Another single drove in the second run of the inning, to tie the game. �Lexington added three more runs in the 5th, as they took advantage of mistakes by the Power. �A lead-off double by 2B Jose Altuve and a single by SS Miguel Arrendell put runners on the corners. �When Arrendell tried to steal second base, new Power catcher Pat Irvine�made a throw to second base, but his throw went into center field for an error, allowing Altuve to score and Arrendell to reach third base. �CF Evan Chambers' throw back to the infield, presumably aiming for third base, went sailing into the stands, and Arrendell also scored. �After another single, Holden was relieved by Jhonatan Ramos. Ramos had trouble too, hitting a batter, and giving up a single, which brought in the third run of the inning (charged to Holden). �A throw in to the plate was on-target but but the runner slid to the outside edge of the plate and eluded Irvine's tag. �A passed ball put runners on second and third, but the next batter tapped a grounder to first, which 1B Morgan fired back to the plate, and this time Irvine was able to apply the tag to prevent the run from scoring.

After scoring in the 2nd, the Power were able to put runners on base in 4 of the next 5 innings. �Jarek Cunningham and Benji Gonzalez singled, Jose Hernandez singled twice, and Kyle Morgan doubled, but none of them could come around to score. �The Power scored again in the 8th, when Aaron Baker led off with a double down the left field line, barely fair. �He advanced to third on Rogelios Noris's ground out, and then scored on Morgan's RBI ground out. �Pat Irvine was up next, and with a count 3-0 on him, the rain that had been going on for some time became much harder, and the game was halted for a rain delay. �The rain didn't last long, though, and play was resumed, with Irvine getting robbed of what should have been a double down the right field line, thanks to an excellent run and dive by the Legends' RF JD Martinez.

Ramos pitched two more scoreless innings, giving up three more singles. �Zach Foster came on to pitch the bottom of the 8th. �He gave up a solo homer to Altuve, to keep the Legends three runs ahead. �The Power could not respond in the top of the 9th, and the Legends had the win. �Brandon Holden was charged with the loss, his fourth of the season. �Hernandez went 3-for-4 for the Power, and Cunningham had 2 hits.

�

The Curve also had a morning game.... �"Read More"

More solid pitching. More sputtering offense. Another late inning spurt. Bucs win again.

Last Update:  July 5th

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(* denotes a member of the Pirates' 40-man roster
 # denotes a 2010 draft pick
  & denotes a 2011 draft pick)

Indianapolis Indians  (AAA) - manager Dean Treanor

Pitchers:
Jose Ascanio 
Brian Burres 
Mike Crotta * 
Sean Gallagher  
Jared Hughes
Steven Jackson
Brad Lincoln  *
Dan Meyer   -- DL  
Garrett Olson
Rudy Owens 
Justin Thomas  
Donnie Veal  -- rehab
Justin Wilson
Tim Wood  *

Catchers:
Dusty Brown
Jason Jaramillo  * -- DL
Miguel Perez
Wyatt Toregas  -- DL
Kris Watts

Infielders:
Pedro Alvarez  * -- rehab assignment
Shelby Ford  -- DL (elbow)
Brian Friday
Matt Hague
Andy Marte  
Jordy Mercer

Outfielders:
John Bowker
Miles Durham
Gorkys Hernandez  *
Anthony Norman
Corey Wimberly

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Altoona Curve  (AA) --  manager PJ Forbes  

Pitchers:
Tim Alderson
Joe Beimel  -- rehab assignment
Anthony Claggett
Mike Colla
Michael Dubee
Phillip Irwin
Noah Krol
Jeff Locke  *
Kyle McPherson*
Matt McSwain
Diego Moreno  -- DL shoulder soreness
Bryan Morris  *  
Aaron Pribanic
Aaron Thompson

Catchers:
Tony Sanchez
Travis Scott

Infielders:
Gerardo Alvarez  -- DL
Matt Curry  #
Jeremy Farrell
Brock Holt
Greg Picart 

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Outfielders:
Brad Chalk
Jose Hernandez
Andrew Lambo
Quincy Latimore
Starling Marte 
Josh Rodriguez

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Bradenton Marauders (A+) -- manager Carlos Garcia

Pitchers:
Nathan Baker
Ryan Beckman
Tyler Cox  
Brandon Cumpton  #
Jason Erickson
Zach Foster
Jeffrey Inman  --DL
Brian Leach
Brett Lorin
Quinton Miller  
Jhonathan Ramos
Brett Sinkbeil
Hunter Strickland  --DL
Duke Welker 

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Catchers:
Ramon Cabrera
Carlos Paulino 
Milver Reyes  -- DL

 

Infielders:
Aaron Baker
Kelson Brown  #
Jarek Cunningham
Benji Gonzalez
Elevys Gonzalez
Jairo Marquez

 

Outfielders:
Calvin Anderson
Evan Chambers
Robbie Grossman
David Rubinstein
Adalberto Santos   #

West Virginia Power  (A)  -- manager Gary Robinson

Pitchers:
Victor Black
Colton Cain
Kevin Decker   #
Zack Dodson
Justin Ennis  #
Zac Fuesser
Brandon Holden -- DL
Brent Klinger  -- DL
Porfirio Lopez
Eliecer Navarro
Brooks Pounders
Casey Sadler
Trent Stevenson
Jameson Taillon
Jason Townsend  #
Zack Von Rosenberg
Tyler Waldron   #  


Catchers:
Elias Diaz
Kawika Emsley-Pai



Infielders:
Eric Avila
Justin Howard  #
Chase Lyles
Drew Maggi  #
Kevin Mort
Gift Ngoepe  --DL
Andy Vasquez


Outfielders:
Dan Grovatt  #
Rogelios Noris
Mel Rojas   #
Cole White 

State College Spikes (Short Season A) -- manager Kimera Bartee  (Season begins June 17th)

# =  2010 draft pick     & =  2011 draft pick

Pitchers:
Stetson Allie   #
Cliff Archibald   #
Matt Benedict  &
Jesus Brito
Fraylin Campos
Emmanuel De Leon
Mitchell Fienemann
Ryan Hafner  #
Michael Jefferson  &
Nicholas Kingham
Kevin Kleis   #
Joan Montero
Vince Payne   #
Joely Rodriguez
Rinku Singh
Bryce Weidman   #

Catchers

Samuel Gonzalez 
Matthew Skirving  #
Derek Trent  & 

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Infielders:
Jorge Bishop 
Walker Gourley
Chris Lashmet   &
Brian Sharp    &
Kirk Singer    &

Outfielders:
Justin Bencsko  #
Exicardo Cayones
Wes Freeman 
Ale Fuselier   &
Taylor Lewis    & 
Carlos Mesa 
Billy Nowlin 

**********************************************************

GCL Bradenton Pirates (Rookie) -- manager Tom Prince  

Pitchers:
Brayan Almonte
Orlando Castro 
Jordan Cooper  &Luis Heredia
Jimy Hernandez
David Jagoditsh   &
Robert Kilcrease  
Wilson Lee
Jackson Lodge
Diomedes Mateo
Miguel Mendez
Joseph Parsons  &
Logan Pevny  # 
Josh Poytress  &
Cristopher Richardson
Isaac Sanchez
Bryton Trepagnier  # 

Catchers:
Dylan Child 
Ryan Hornback   &
Joey Schoenfeld 
Jon Schwind     &

Infielders:
Francisco Aponte
Yhonathan Barrios
Jodaneli Carvajal
Daan Cornelissen
Alen Hanson
Jared Lakind  #
Ashley Ponce
 

Outfielders:
Ping-Hung Chi
Willy Garcia
Gavi Nivar
Jose Osuna
Gregory Polanco
Junior Sosa 
Luis Urena 

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*********************************
Injured and waiting:

RHP Kevin Hart * --  shoulder surgery May 2010

RHP Tyler Yates --  elbow, torn flexor tendon

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Inf Jeff Clement  

The Pirates traded minor league reliever Ronald Uviedo to the Blue Jays for starting pitcher Dana Eveland today. Eveland will join the Pirates rotation.

I find almost nothing even remotely interesting about Dana Eveland. He is essentially a poor-man’s Zach Duke, without the good control. I have no idea what Neal Huntington sees in him, other than a high ground ball rate. Giving up a prospect with a live arm to acquire him is perplexing.