The Tribe held on to that slim one run lead for the next 5.5 innings. Gallagher gave up a walk in the 4th to Bozied, but erased him in a double play. He gave up a single to 3B Pete Orr in the 5th, and left him on base. Mike Crotta (photo), who joined the Indians on a rehab assignment today, pitched a 1-2-3 inning for the Tribe in the 6th. Donnie Veal, also coming back from elbow surgery, walked Bocock to begin the 7th, but picked him off base. Veal also gave up a single to Orr, but left him on base. Chris Leroux pitched the 8th inning. Mayberry led off with a double, but Leroux retired the next three batters in order.
Hague singled for the first time in the 2nd inning, but was left on base. He doubled in the 6th, and again was left on base. C Eric Fryer walked in the 4th and d’Arnaud walked in the 5th, and they were also left stranded. Former Indy Indian reliever Juan Perez took over for Bass to begin the 8th. Perez struck out Presley and Bowker. Bowker said something (that he should have kept to himself) to the home plate umpire Gerard Ascani, and was promptly ejected from the game. Miles Durham replaced Bowker in right field for the rest of the game.
Hague singled again in the top of the 9th, for his third hit of the game. Fryer sacrifice bunted Hague to second base. Hernandez ripped his second hit of the game, a double lined into right field, scoring Hague with an insurance run for the Tribe.
Jose Ascanio came in from the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the 9th. He struck out the side, earning his first Save of the season, to end the game.
The Indians remain in third place in the International League West Division. They are 13.5 games behind the first- place Columbus Clippers, and 5 games behind the second-place Louisville Bats.
Indians’ Hitting Gems of the Game: Brian Friday’s clutch RBI single in the 2nd inning, to drive in the early run, and Matt Hague’s 3 hits (two singles and a double).
Indians’ Defensive Gems of the Game: Three outstanding catches: In the bottom of the 3rd, Pete Orr lifted a long fly ball to deep center field. Gorkys Hernandez (photo) ran back and made the leaping catch, bouncing off the wall to land in a heap on the ground. In the bottom of the 5th, with Orr on third base, Hernandez made an over-the-head catch of a fly ball by Brandon Moss, saving at least on run. It was Brian Friday’s turn in the bottom of the 7th. With Orr on base again, Josh Barfield lifted a pop fly to short right field, over toward the foul line. Brian Friday headed toward that area, and when he saw that John Bowker was not in the neighborhood, Friday turned on the afterburners and made the catch at the right field line, also saving a run from scoring.
NOTES:
Don’t forget to vote for the AAA All-Stars. You can vote up to 25 times, but hurry because voting ends on Friday.
Tribe Manager Dean Treanor has been named to the International League’s coaching staff for the All-Star Game. Columbus Clippers’ manager Mike Sarbaugh will manage the IL’s team. Charlotte Knight’s pitching coach Rich Dotson will coach the IL All-Star pitchers. The All-Star game will be played on Wednesday July 13th in Salt Lake City.
Go Tribe!
(photos by Nancy)
