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Tag: Corey Wimberly

The Pittsburgh Pirates won in extra innings on Opening Day, beating the Miami Marlins by a 6-5 score after a Jared Triolo RBI single in the top of the 12th inning. The Pirates played comeback the entire...
Normally, I do a pre-season analysis, where I fill in my own depth chart and playing time estimates for the upcoming Pittsburgh Pirates season, along with ZiPS projected WAR totals. This year, I'm looking at the...

Owens Strikes Out 8 In Tribe Loss

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Watching from the dugout:  Pedro Alvarez, Tom Filer, Dusty Brown, Jordy Mercer, Kris Watts








Toledo Mud Hens  5,  Indianapolis Indians  1
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IMG_6246The Indianapolis Indians must have used up too many of the hits in their bats in yesterday's 10-4 win, because today they were back to scoring just one run, as they did in the two previous games against the Toledo Mud Hens.  Tonight at Victory Field, the Tribe posted just 4 hits on their way to their lone run, while the Mud Hens stacked up 12 hits and 5 runs.  

Rudy Owens (photo) struck out a season-high 8 batters in his start for the Tribe, but he also gave up 8 hits and could not get through the 5th inning.  He was charged with his 6th loss of the season, giving him a 6-6 record.  

The game began with LF Will Rhymes lining a double into right field for a double.  Owens struck out the next two batters, 3B Danny Worth and rehabbing 2B Carlos Guillen.  DH Ryan Strieby lined a single into left field, and Rhymes raced around to score from second base.  Owens struck out former Indy Indian CF Jeff Salazar to end the inning, then began the 2nd by striking out 1B Scott Thorman.  RF Ben Guez doubled into center field with one out in the 2nd, but a fly out and another strikeout left Guez on base.  

IMG_6253(Photo:  Pitching coach Tom Filer, Rudy Owens, Dusty Brown, Corey Wimberly)


Owens also worked around a one-out hit by Worth in the 3rd -- a bloopy hit that fell into no-man's land behind first base, out of reach of Tribe RF Miles Durham, 1B Matt Hague, and 2B Corey Wimberly.  Salazar struck out again to lead off the 4th inning.  Thorman singled into right field, then with two strikes on Guez, Thorman took off to try to steal second base.  Guez swung and missed on strike three, and as he finished his swing, he stumbled a bit, causing his bat to come around and hit C Dusty Brown.  Brown was in the middle of throwing to second base as he was hit by the bat, and it caused his throw to go off-target.  Guez was out on the strikeout, and since he was already out, the penalty for the batter interference ruling was that the base runner Thorman was also called out at second base.  

Wimberly, Watts, Brown, And Bowker Spark Tribe Outburst

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Corey Wimberly congratulates John Bowker on his 2-run homer in the 4th inning.







Indianapolis Indians  10,  Toledo Mud Hens  4
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IMG_6219It was a good night for hitting, at least for the Indians, tonight at Victory Field.  The Tribe posted 13 hits, 10 more than they allowed the Mud Hens, as they easily defeated Toledo to even up this 5-game series at 2 games each.  The Indians had scored only one run in each of their last two games, but tonight, all but one member of the Indians' line-up scored at least one run, and all but two had at least one hit.  SS Jordy Mercer (photo), who did not have a hit, scored one run.  CF Anthony Norman, who had neither a hit nor a run scored, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.  2B Corey Wimberly and DH Dusty Brown each smacked 3 hits, while LF John Bowker and C Kris Watts had 2 hits each.  


The Tribe scored in each of the first 5 innings:
In the 1st -- Wimberly led off with a double down the left field line, which landed about a foot inside the foul line and continued down to the left field corner.  Toledo LF Timo Perez had to fight the sun a bit, and had a little trouble tracking it down, so Wimberly made it into second base easily.  Mercer was hit in the back as he ducked away from the first pitch from Toledo starter LJ Gagnier.  A ground out to first by Bowker pushed Wimberly to third and Mercer to second.  Then rehabbing Pedro Alvarez, who played third base today, snuck a single between the Mud Hens' first- and second-basemen and into right field, scoring both Wimberly and Mercer for a 2-0 lead.  Two fly outs ended the inning.

IMG_6242In the 2nd --  RF Miles Durham led off with a blast into the right-center field gap, past the diving Toledo CF (and former Indy Indian) Jeff Salazar.  Once the ball got past Salazar's desperate reach, it bounced to the wall, and Durham had all the time in the world to motor around and into third base standing.  Brown ran the count full, fouled off five more pitches, then doubled down the left field line to almost the same spot as Wimberly hit in the 1st inning.  That brought in Durham to boost the lead to 3-0.  Norman  bounced back to the mound, where Gagnier whirled and caught Brown in between second and third bases.  Brown dodged back and forth long enough so that Norman could reach second base before he was tagged out.  Norman reached as far as third on Wimberly's ground out, but a strikeout ended the inning.

In the 3rd --  With one out, Alvarez worked a walk, as ball four bounced about two feet in front of the plate.  1B Matt Hague hit the Indians' third double down the left field line, just barely fair, which ducked under the bullpen bench so that Time Perez had to dig it out.  Alvarez was running "carefully" on his pretty-much-healed-up quad (photo), but manager Dean Treanor did not want to take any chances, so he held Alvarez at third.  Watts followed with a single lined into center field, picking up his first two AAA level RBI, as both Alvarez and Hague scored.  Durham hit a sharp bouncer toward third base, which bounced off former Indy Indian 3B Argenis Diaz's glove and into left field.  It was a 2-base error, putting Durham on second base and moving Watts to third.  Brown's long fly ball into right field became a sacrifice fly, bringing in Watts from third, as the throw in from Hens' RF Ben Guez was way wide of the plate.  Indians up, 6-0.  

Alvarez Returns To Tribe

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Happy Fourth of July!


















Toledo Mud Hens  2,  Indianapolis Indians  1

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IMG_62173B Pedro Alvarez (photo) arrived in Indianapolis today to continue his rehab work, after suffering a strained right quad muscle while playing for the Pirates.   He has had some set-backs in his rehab program, but has been on rehab assignments with both the GCL Pirates (1 game) and the A+ Bradenton Marauders (6 games).  Tonight Alvarez contributed 2 hits as the Designated Hitter in the Indians' loss to the Toledo Mud Hens in front of a sold-out crowd at Victory Field.  

Tribe starter Sean Gallagher made the start, but suffered his 9th loss of the season.  He pitched into the 6th inning, and allowed 2 runs on just 3 hits and 2 walks, with 4 strikeouts.  Gallagher had only one inning in which he retired the Mud Hens in order (the 5th).  He allowed a line drive single into center field by LF Timo Perez in the 1st inning, then walked DH Scott Thorman to open the 2nd inning.  RF Ben Guez followed the walk with a grounder back through the middle.  The ball glanced off Gallagher's glove then on to 2B Brian Friday, who flipped the ball to SS Jordy Mercer at second for the force out on Thorman.  The Indians were hoping for a double play, but Mercer's throw to first base was wide to the infield side, pulling 1B Matt Hague off the first base bag, and Guez was safe.  Gallagher ended the inning with a tapper back to the mound by former Indy Indian Argenis Diaz and a pop out by C Omir Santos.  

Indians Wrap Up Road Trip With A Loss In Toledo

Toledo Mud Hens  7,  Indianapolis Indians  1
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IMG_5397Former Indy Indians Argenis Diaz and Jeff Salazar gave the Mud Hens both offensive and defensive boosts to help defeat the Indians at Fifth-Third Field in Toledo, Ohio tonight.  

Brian Burres (photo) suffered his of the season, going 7 innings and allowing 3 runs on 7 hits, with no walks.  He began his evening with 4 scoreless innings, giving up just 2 hits -- a double to CF Salazar in the 2nd and a single to C Omir Santos in the 3rd.  

The Indians put runners on base in each of their first 5 at-bats, but could not get any of them around to score.  DH Corey Wimberly opened the game with a double into left field and stole third base.  LF John Bowker walked to put runners on the corners.  1B Matt Hague bounced into an around-the-horn double play, started by 3B Diaz, to end the inning without a run scoring.  SS Jordy Mercer reached base on Diaz's fielding error in the 2nd inning, but was immediately erased when 3B Andy Marte bounced into a double play, again started by Diaz.  RF Miles Durham also walked in that inning, and was left on base.  

2B Brian Friday doubled with two outs in the 3rd inning, then Mercer walked and Marte lined a single into left field in the 4th inning.  The first two Tribe batters reached base in the 5th, CF Gorkys Hernandez on a throwing error by Toledo SS Cale Iorg, and Wimberly on a fielder's choice by Toledo starter Fu-Te Ni.  Wimberly moved to second on the fielders' choice as Hernandez was out at third.  Wimberly stole third base and Friday walked, again giving the Tribe runners on the corners.  And again, a double play ended the inning without a run scoring.  

Bowker’s Clutch RBI Gives Indians Extra-Inning Win

Indianapolis Indians  4,  Toledo Mud Hens  3
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IMG_4287After 5 scoreless innings with a tie score, the Indians pushed across a run in the top of the 12th, then held on for the win over the Mud Hens at Fifth-Third Field in Toledo, Ohio.    

With two outs in the top of the 12th, 2B/3B Brian Friday worked a walk.  LF John Bowker (photo) lashed a double into the right-center field alley, over the head of Toledo RF Ben Guez, and off the wall.  Friday was off and running with the pitch, and he rounded third and headed for the plate as Guez chased down the ball.  He crossed the plate well ahead of the throw, scoring the go-ahead run for the Indians.  

The Mud Hens jumped right on Tribe starter Justin Wilson in the bottom of the 1st inning.  Lead-off batter DH Will Rhymes with a single, and LF Timo Perez doubled, putting runners on the corners.  Rhymes scored on an RBI single into right field by rehabbing 2B Carlos Guillen, and Perez came in on an RBI single by 1B Ryan Strieby, for a 2-0 lead.  Strieby stole second base and 3B Danny Worth walked.  Wilson got out of the inning when he struck out RF Scott Thorman, and C Kris Watts fired down to third base, throwing out Strieby trying to steal third.  SS Cale Iorg added a run in the 2nd inning on a solo homer, giving the Mud Hens a 3-0 lead.  

Wilson went on to pitch 4 more innings, scattering 3 more singles (by Rhymes, Iorg, and Strieby) and two walks (Guillen and Strieby), but he did not allow another run.  He threw 91 pitches, with 52 strikes.  

9th Inning Rally Defeats Tribe

Syracuse Chiefs  5,  Indianapolis Indians  4
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IMG_5861The Indians were one out away from a win at Alliance Bank Park in Syracuse, NY tonight, but a two-out rally led to a walk-off for the Chiefs.  

The Tribe went into the bottom of the 9th with a 4-3 lead, and Justin Thomas (photo) in from the bullpen.  Thomas got two quick outs, with a ground out and a strikeout.  Then he gave up a soft looper into center field by Syracuse 2B Steve Lombardozzi.   3B Matt Antonelli singled on a grounder up the middle, moving Lombardozzi to second base.  Thomas was relieved by Jose Ascanio, so that the righty Ascanio could face the right-handed RF Jesus Valdez.  Valdez lifted a fly ball into the right-center gap.  Tribe RF Andrew Lambo gave chase, and after a long run he made a desperate dive -- but could not come up with the ball.  The ball got past him, and turned into a 2-RBI double, scoring Lombardozzi with the tying run and Antonelli with the winning run. 

Rudy Owens made the start for the Tribe.  He had missed his last turn for a start, due to a bruise on his hand, suffered when a come-backer hit him while on the mound.  Owens worked around a fielding error by SS Pedro Ciriaco and a walk to Jesus Valdez in the 1st inning, escaping the jam with the help of a timely around-the-horn double play, 3B Andy Marte to 2B Brian Friday to 1B Matt Hague.  With one out in the 2nd inning, LF Jeff Frazier and Indiana University product SS Seth Bynum hit back-to-back doubles.  Frazier scored to put the Chiefs onto the scoreboard.  After a fly out, Syracuse starter JD Martin singled through to left field, and Bynum raced around from second base.  But LF John Bowker's throw to C Kris Watts was on target, and Watts tagged out Bynum at the plate for the third out of the inning.  Syracuse manager Randy Knorr argued the call at the plate, but only got himself ejected by plate umpire Chad Whitson for his efforts.

Bowker’s Homer Is A Bright Spot; Presley Up To Pirates

Pawtucket Red Sox  4,  Indianapolis Indians 1
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IMG_5417The Indianapolis Indians came away with a series split against Pawtucket, giving them a 5-3 win of the season series with the Red Sox.  The Indians out-hit the PawSox 9-4 at Victory Field tonight, but Pawtucket made their runs count and left town with the win.

Equally as big for the Tribe: the flurry of roster moves that affected the Indians today.  The Pirates optioned SS Pedro Ciriaco to the Indians, in order to make room for the move that has been eagerly anticipated by Tribe fans -- OF Alex Presley (photo) was promoted to Pittsburgh.  The Pirates had a scheduled day off today, but Presley will join the team tomorrow in Toronto.  He may make appearances as a pinch-hitter in the intraleague games, or he might also play some outfield since Jose Tabata has been injured.

Tribe C Wyatt Toregas, who left yesterday's game due to injury, was placed on the Indians' Disabled List today, yet another catcher in the Pirates' organization to be sidelined.  The Pirates do not feel that catchers Tony Sanchez and Travis Scott are ready for moving up to AAA.  They sought help from outside the organizaton :  former Indy Indian and Altoona Curve catcher Miguel Perez is once again an Indian.  Perez played in the Pirates' organization during the 2008 and 2009 season.  He hit .281 for the Curve in 57 games in 2008, with 2 homers and 22 RBI, and in 30 games for the Curve in 2009, Perez hit .262 with another 2 homers and 12 RBI.  Perez got into just 7 games for the Indians in 2009, and hit .182.

IMG_6188And, last but not least, pitcher Mike Crotta finished his rehab assignment, and was reinstated of the Pirates' Disabled List.  He was immediately optioned to Indianapolis.  In order to make space on the roster, pitcher Brad Lincoln was moved to the Altoona roster.  This was a paper move only.  Lincoln is in a holding pattern, expected to be called up to pitch for the Pirates when they have a double header on Saturday.  And, Lincoln was right here tonight, coaching at first base (photo).  


OK, on to the game:

Justin Wilson made his 15th start for the Tribe, in search of his 10th win of the season.  He was foiled, though by two tough innings.  After retiring the first four PawSox he faced, Wilson walked 1B Hector Luna in the 2nd.  The next batter, 2B Nate Spears, with his own private cheering section from Anderson, Indiana in the stands, smashed a long fly ball over the right field wall for a 2-run homer.  

Wilson struck out the next two batters to finish the inning, then retired the side in order again in the 3rd.  The 4th inning began with Wilson hitting DH Lars Anderson with a pitch.  Luna grounded to short, where SS Brian Friday made the scoop and the toss to 2B Josh Harrison.  But with Anderson barrelling down on him and an off-balance toss, Harrison made the out at second, but dropped the ball as he went to transfer, and they could not get the double play they'd hoped for.  Spears flied out to center field, but 3B Brent Dlugach hit a single to behind second base, moving Luna to third.  Wilson walked SS Jose Iglesias to load the bases with two outs.  LF Matt Sheely took advantage of the loaded bases and lined a single into left field, scoring both Luna and Dlugach, to give the PawSox 4 runs.

Three Hits For Hague And Presley Held Out Of Game

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Indianapolis Indians  7,  Pawtucket Red Sox  5
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The Indianapolis Indians withstood a late-inning surge by the Red Sox, to beat Pawtucket this afternoon at Victory Field, and earn at least a split of this 4-game series.  The PawSox won the first game of the series on Friday night, but the Tribe has taken the next two games.  The two teams' final meeting of the season will be on Monday evening.


Before the game even started, there was a bit of drama for the Indians.  About 10 minutes before game time, the Indians received word from Pittsburgh that Pirates' outfielder (and former Indian) Jose Tabata had been injured while running out a bunt.  Tabata had crossed the first base bag, then sank to the ground with a left quadriceps problem.  He had to be taken off the field on a cart, but was later able to walk around the clubhouse, though limping.  The Pirates were strongly considering calling up Tribe outfielder Alex Presley, probably within a couple more days, but depending on the severity of Tabata's injury, they felt that timetable might have to be moved up.  So, just before the Indians' game began, Presley was removed from the lineup.  He may already be on his way to Pittsburgh, or may wait another day, since the Pirates have a scheduled off day on Monday.  

IMG_6173With Presley cheering the team on, and coaching first base (photo), the Indians got down to business with the PawSox.  They recorded 11 hits (to 12 for Pawtucket), and had only one inning without at least one baserunner.  Every member of the line-up got on base at least once during the game, and 1B Matt Hague led the way with 3 hits.  

The Tribe got warmed up with two base runners in the 1st inning, when SS Brian Friday walked and Hague lined a single into left field, but both were left on base.  The 2nd inning began with a walk to 2B Josh Rodriguez and a grounder up the middle for a single by RF Miles Durham.  C Wyatt Toregas dropped down a nice sacrifice bunt toward the third base side of the mound.  Pawtucket starter Felix Doubront fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw to first base sailed high over the 1B Lars Anderson's head and into the visitors' bullpen.  By the time the PawSox chased the ball down, Rodriguez and Durham had both scored (Durham from first), and Toregas was standing on second base.  CF Gorkys Hernandez grounded out to third, and Toregas held at second, but when DH Corey Wimberly blooped a single into right-center field, Toregas advanced to third -- and took himself out of the game.  Toregas had apparently suffered an injury, though it was not apparent what was wrong.  He did not seem to be limping, and didn't slide into third oddly.  Kris Watts, who was brought up from AA Altoona (again) yesterday, took Toregas' place at third base as a pinch-runner, then remained in the game as catcher.  Watts did not get to run from third, though, as Friday bounced into an inning-ending double play, but the Indians had taken a 2-0 lead.  

Tribe Rox PawSox With Wild Bottom Of The 9th

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Josh Harrison's throw to Brian Friday at second base was not in time to beat Pawtucket base runner Ryan Lavarnway.






Indianapolis Indians 6,  Pawtucket Red Sox  5
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The Indianapolis Indians took advantage of a wild Pawtucket pitcher to score the winning run in the bottom of the 9th for a walk-off win at Victory Field tonight.  The Indians were sporting camouflage jerseys tonight in honor of the Indianapolis National Guard.  The jerseys were auctioned off during the game with the proceeds going toward the National Guard's fund that assists families of soldiers serving overseas.  

IMG_6140The game began ominously for starter Garrett Olson (photo) and the Indians.  Since coming off the Disabled List earlier this month, Olson had made 3 other starts and had pitched brilliantly.  He had allowed one run on 3 hits over 14.1 innings, and on June 14th, he pitched 5 hitless and scoreless innings, allowing just one walk.  But tonight, the first 5 batters Olson faced reached base safely, and the PawSox scored 3 runs in the top of the 1st.  Lead-off batter 2B Yamaico Navarro slapped Olson's first pitch into left field for a line drive.  3B Brent Dlugach followed with an instant replay -- another line drive to the same place in left field.  Olson got a full count on LF Daniel Nava, then lost him to a walk, loading the bases with no outs.  1B Hector Luna slipped a grounder through the left side of the infield for an RBI single, bringing in Navarro from third.  C Ryan Lavarnway took a slow grounder to short, where Tribe SS Brian Friday made the scoop and threw to 2B Josh Harrison for the force out on Luna, but Harrison's relay throw to first was not in time to get the double play -- the grounder had been too slow.  That allowed Dlugach to score from third, an since it was not a double play, Lavarnway was credited with the RBI.  RF Nate Spears also picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Nava.  But the equally important part of Spears' at-bat was that Spears ran the count full, and continued to foul off more pitches.  It took Olson 10 pitches to retire Spears, and by this point in the inning, Olson's pitch count was climbing at an alarming rate.  Following Spears' sacrifice fly, Olson gave up another infield single to DH Luis Esposito.   Harrison raced to make the stop deep behind the second base bag and tried to flip it to Friday covering second, but was not in time (photo above).  SS Jose Iglesias also worked a full count and fouled off another four pitches before finally swinging at strike three to end the inning.  The PawSox had scored 3 runs before the Indians had even picked up a bat, and Olson had thrown 39 pitches in the first inning.  

Rodriguez Goes 3-For-3 In Debut; Owens Injured

Indianapolis Indians 10,  Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs  5
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The newest Indian, Josh Rodriguez, went 3-for-3 with 4 RBI as the Indianapolis Indians overcame a 4-0 deficit to beat the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA tonight.  The Indians posted 15 hits, while the Iron Pigs put up 14 hits; the Tribe also worked 8 walks.  SS Brian Friday also had 3 hits for the Indians, as all but one of the starting lineup had at least one hit.  The Tribe pitchers combined to strikeout 14 Iron Pigs' batters.


Once again, several former Indy Indians were on the field for Lehigh Valley:  CF Rich Thompson (2005-06), LF Brandon Moss (2010), 1B Tagg Bozied (2009).


IMG_5565Starter Rudy Owens (photo), who has been having trouble getting through the first inning in many of his starts this season, had problems again tonight.   Rich Thompson led off with a line drive off 1B Matt Hague's glove and into short right field for a single.  As usual for the speedy Thompson, he stole second base.  SS Pete Orr moved Thompson to third base with a single tapped back to the mound and deflected by Owens.  RF John Mayberry brought in both Thompson and Orr with a 3-run homer.  Owens got Brandon Moss to pop out, but Tagg Bozied blasted a no-doubt-about-it homer over the left field wall and well past the bullpen, for a 4-0 lead.  Owens also gave up a double to 2B Josh Barfield after the homer, but a fly out and a strike out ended the inning.  

The Tribe put runners on base in each of the first three innings, though none of them came around to score.  Chase d'Arnaud, who was on third base again tonight, led off the top of the 1st for the Indians by reaching first when SS Orr made a high throw to first base, bouncing it off the screen in front of the Indians' bullpen.
 Friday singled, moving d'Arnaud to second, and a fly out by LF Alex Presley moved d'Arnaud to third.  But RF John Bowker bounced into a 3-6-1 double play to end the inning, keeping d'Arnaud from scoring.  


The Indians threatened again in the 2nd inning, when Hague lined a ball off the Iron Pigs' 3B Cody Overbeck's glove and into left field.  With one out, new Indian 2B Josh Rodriguez grounded to short, where SS Orr made the scoop then fumbled the ball a bit, and Rodriguez was credited with his first Indians' hit.  A grounder by CF Gorkys Hernandez forced out Rodriguez at second, but left runners on the corners with two outs.  They got no further that time either, as Owens struck out to end the inning.  Presley singled in the 3rd inning, but was left on base.

FIve Tribe Pitchers Combine For Shutout

Indianapolis Indians  2,  Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs  0
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IMG_5846Five Indians' pitchers combined to shut-out the Iron Pigs at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, PA this evening.  The Pigs were held to just 4 hits, while the Indians posted 6 hits.  

Starter Sean Gallagher (photo) earned his 2nd win of the season, pitching 5 scoreless innings and allowing 2 hits and 4 walks, with 5 strikeouts.  Gallagher retired the Pigs in order in the 1st inning, then had to battle with runners on base in each of the next four innings.   With two outs in the 2nd inning, Gallagher walked former Indy Indian C Erik Kratz and hit former Indy Indiana 1B Tagg Bozied with a pitch.  He walked SS Brian Bocock to load the bases, then struck out Pigs' starter (and another former Indy Indian) Brian Bass to end the inning and leave the bases loaded.  

The 3rd inning looked like an instant replay.  With two outs, Gallagher again loaded the bases.  He gave up a single by CF John Mayberry, who also stole second, and a walk to former Indian LF Brandon Moss.  He struck out RF Delwyn Young, but strike three was a wild pitch, and Young made it safely to first base.  This time it was Kratz who struck out to end the inning and leave the bases full.  

Three of the Indians' six hits came off the bat of 1B Matt Hague.  CF Gorkys Hernandez had 2 hits, and 2B Brian Friday had the last Tribe hit.   Hernandez's first hit was a line drive single into left field to begin the 3rd inning.  Gallagher dropped down a sacrifice bunt, moving Hernandez to second base, and when he saw that none of the Pigs were covering third base, Hernandez took off and reached third safely.  "Gallagher put down a pretty good bunt, and when I got to second, I saw the third baseman was off the base.  I said if I can take another base, I help my team," said Hernandez after the game.  It was a help, because after SS Chase d'Arnaud walked, Friday singled, and Hernandez scored from third.  LF Alex Presley grounded to first, moving the runners to second and third bases.  RF John Bowker walked, loading the bases.  This time it was the Indians who left the bases loaded, though, as a fly out ended the inning, but with the Indians ahead 1-0.  

Indians Fall Despite Last-Minute Rally

We're on the road, so just brief recaps for a few days....

Rochester Red Wings  7,  Indianapolis Indians  4
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Indians' errors contributed to the Red Wings' big inning, and the Indians' own big inning was not big enough, as the Tribe lost to the Red Wings at Frontier Field in Rochester, NY.  

The Wings jumped all over Tribe starter Rudy Owens in the bottom of the 1st, beginning with a ground-rule double on the first pitch Owens threw.  A walk and a grounder force out gave Rochester runners on the corners.  Both of those runners scored on 1B Aaron Bates' double down the right field line, for a 2-0 lead.  

The Indians got one run back in the top of the 2nd.  1B John Bowker led off with a single, then stole second base.  C Eric Fryer lined a single to short, and Bowker scored from second base.  

Owens worked around a walk and a single in the bottom of the 2nd inning, then allowed just one hit over the next three innings.  But things fell apart on him in the 6th.  Bates led off with a double into right field.  After a walk, 2B Toby Gardenhire dropped down a sacrifice bunt.  Owens fielded the bunt but threw wildly to first, and all three runners were safe on the error.  Owens walked the next batter, forcing in a run.  He was relieved by Justin Thomas, but Thomas hit the first batter he faced with a pitch, forcing in another run.  A single drove in two more runs.  A double play finally gave the Tribe two outs, and Thomas was relieved by Jose Ascanio, who had just been assigned to the Indians.  The first batter Ascanio faced grounded to third, but a throwing error by 3B Matt Hague allowed the batter to reach safely, while the runner from third base scored the 5th run of the inning.  Red Wings 7, Indians 1.

Jared Hughes and Sean Gallagher each pitched a scoreless inning of relief to finish the game for the Tribe.  Meanwhile, the Tribe batters were not having much success with the Red Wings' pitchers.  CF Gorkys Hernandez singled in the 3rd, but was caught trying to steal second base.  Bowker and Hague hit back-to-back singles in the 6th, but were left on base.  Hernandez also doubled down the right field line in the 7th, but was stranded.  

The Tribe rallied in the top of the 9th.  Three pinch-hitters started the inning: Andy Marte led off with a double into center field, Wyatt Toregas struck out, then Miles Durham singled, bringing Marte across the plate.  After a fly out, Hernandez hit his second double of the game, a ground-rule double, moving Durham to third base.  SS Chase d'Arnaud also doubled, which drove in Durham and Hernandez to bring the score to 7-4.  But Rochester ace reliever Anthony Slama was brought in from the bullpen, and Slama got DH Corey Wimberly to ground out, ending the game.  

The Indians and Red Wings play a split double header on Saturday -- one game at 1:05 pm, and the second game at 7:05 pm.