Tag: Dan Meyer

  


























Indianapolis Indians  5,  Toledo Mud Hens  1
(box score)

The new Max Schumacher Victory Bell finally rang out a win for the Indianapolis Indians tonight, as they beat the Toledo Mud Hens at Victory Field.  The Bell (and Mr. Schumacher, who had the honor of ringing it for the first time) had to wait through the Indians' 4-game series against the Columbus Clippers for the chance to ring, but the losing streak ended tonight, behind the stellar pitching by starter Rudy Owens and an exciting 6th inning.


Owens (photo) made his AAA debut tonight and earned the win with 7 innings of work, allowing one run on 7 hits, no walks, and with 5 strikeouts.  He gave up one hit in 5 of his innings, two hits in the 7th, and no hits in the 4th.  Unfortunately, one of the hits he gave up was a solo home run, to Toledo CF Clete Thomas in the 2nd.  It was a no-doubter, which sailed over the iron fence beyond the berm behind right field, and bounced down onto West Street (though at least not while the fire trucks were racing past).  


Owens looked completely in control all night.  He needed only 83 pitches (58 strikes) to get through 7 innings.  He did not go deep into any counts until the 6th inning, and even then threw only 14 pitches in each of the 6th and 7th innings.  He got some help from his friends behind him, including a nice running catch by LF Alex Presley in the 6th, and a backhanded stop deep in the hole by SS Chase d'Arnaud with a catch in the dirt by 1B Matt Hague.  In the post-game interview, Owens said that he was pleased to get that first AAA start out of the way.  "The first AAA start is always one of those big deals -- same with last year in AA with the first start.  I got out there and had to face (Stephen) Strasburg, and it couldn't be more nerve-wracking.  By just getting that first win out of the way and doing well, I showed myself that I can compete here..... Throwing strikes is the key for me because this team (Toledo) likes to swing and just got to let them get themselves out."


The Indians' batters also posted one hit per inning for the first four innings of the game.  Alex Presley continued his torrid hitting with two singles -- a line drive into center field in the 1st and a grounder through the hole into left field in the 4th.  He also stole second base in the 4th.  RF Andrew Lambo picked up his first hit of the season in the 2nd inning, when he grounded to short, but Toledo SS Cale Iorg bobbled the ball as his foot slipped, then threw wide to first base, giving Lambo the extra split second he needed to reach first safely.  Presley and Lambo were left stranded on base, but when CF Gorkys Hernandez singled in the 3rd, he was thrown out trying to steal second base.  

Columbus Clippers  3,  Indianapolis Indians  2

For the second night in a row, a late-inning rally by the Indians fell through, as the Tribe lost to the Clippers at Victory Field tonight.  

This time, the Indians went into the bottom of the 9th trailing the Clippers by one run, and Jensen Lewis on the mound for Columbus.  1B Matt Hague (photo) began the action by taking Lewis' first pitch on a line into left field for a single.  3B Brian Friday followed with another line drive into left field.  Clippers' LF Jordan Brown had the ball back to the infield quickly, so Hague was able to advance only to second base.  Hague was replaced by pinch-runner Josh Harrison.  CF Corey Wimberly dropped down a nearly perfect sacrifice bunt, moving both base runners into scoring position.  Pinch-hitter Andrew Lambo came to the plate in place of C Dusty Brown, and was intentionally walked to load the bases.  But Lewis bore down and struck out LF Gorkys Hernandez, then got SS Pedro Ciriaco to ground out to third base, ending the game with all three runners still in place.  

The Tribe had been able to put at least one runner on base in all but one of Columbus starter Jeanmar Gomez's six innings.  Gomez retired the side in order in the 1st.  Hague picked up the first of his three singles in the 2nd inning, with a liner into center field.  Friday walked, but the two were left on base when a pop out ended the inning.  Brown and Hernandez opened the 3rd inning with back-to-back singles, but when Ciriaco tried to put down a sacrifice bunt, the ball landed too close to the plate.  Former Indy Indian and now the Columbus catcher Luke Carlin pounced on the ball and fired to third base, forcing out Brown.  RF Alex Presley popped up for the second out, but the Indians still had a chance, with runners on first and second.   But Hernandez must have been daydreaming as he led off second base, and Gomez was able to catch him standing well off the base, and a quick run-down (1-4-5) had Hernandez picked off.  

2B Chase d'Arnaud (photo) walked with one out in the 4th inning, stole second, and kept going to third when Carlin's wide throw to second skittered into right-center field.  He was left standing just 90 feet from scoring when a pop up and a ground out ended the inning.  Wimberly led off the 5th with a little bloop that fell in amid three Clippers' fielders.  Wimberly raced to first, but he hesitated ever so slightly as he rounded the bag, and despite his speed, he was not able to beat the throw to second base when SS Cord Phelps picked up the ball in short left field.  

The Tribe finally got to Jeanmar Gomez in the 6th inning.  With one out, Presley beat out a infield single on a ball to deep short, and he stole second base.  After a fly out, d'Arnaud crushed a line drive to the wall in right field for a triple.  Presley scored easily with the first Indians' run.  Hague followed with a shorter liner into right field, and d'Arnaud came home, as Gomez headed for the showers.  Former Indy Indian (2010) Joe Martinez came on in relief, and ended the 6th with a strikeout.  Martinez went on to retire the Tribe in order in the 7th.  

One more day until the minor league openers.....

Rosters for the Indianapolis Indians, Bradenton Marauders, and West Virginia Power are now also set.  Check out their rosters, plus the Altoona Curve's  HERE.    Both 1B Jeff Clement and RHP Tyler Yates are listed as with the Indians, but on the Disabled List.   

Yesterday, the Pirates signed LHP Dan Meyer to a minor league contract, and assigned him to the Indians' bullpen.  Meyer is a 29-year-old from New Jersey, who was the Braves' first round draft pick in 2002.  He advanced quickly in their organization and made his major league debut with Atlanta in September 2004.  After that season, Meyer was traded to the A's.  He pitched the next two seasons at AAA Sacramento, then split the 2007 and 2008 seasons between Sacramento and Oakland.  He started for Sacramento, but pitched out of the bullpen for the A's.  He struggled at the major league level, with a 7.98 ERA (39 earned runs in 44 innings).  The Marlins picked up Meyer off waivers after the 2008 season, and he pitched in relief for them for the entire 2009 season, when he made 71 appearances, and allowed 20 earned runs and 47 hits in 58.1 innings, for a 3-2 record, 2 saves, and a 3.09 ERA.  Meyer began the season with Florida, but had some tough outings before missing some time due to a calf injury.  He gave up more runs upon his return, and in a total of 13 relief appearances, he allowed 10 earned runs on 15 hits in 9.1 innings (9.64 ERA).  Meyer spent the rest of the season, except for one game, at AAA New Orleans, where he made 32 relief appearances, with 15 earned runs and 32 hits in 40 innings, for a 3.38 ERA.  He struck out 27 batters (6.1 K/ 9 innings), but also walked a few too many -- 16  (3.6 walks/ 9 innings).  Meyers signed a minor league contract with the Phillies for the 2011 season, and was invited to their major league camp for spring training, but he did not make the team.  That made him available for the Pirates, who were looking for lefty bullpen help.  If he does well in Indianapolis, he'll be heading to Pittsburgh.  

Meanwhile, the Pirates have released reliever Craig Hansen.  Hansen has been battling a nerve problem in his neck and shoulder, and has not pitched for the Pirates since early 2009.  Of that deal for Jason Bay, now Bryan Morris is the only player left with the Pirates... Brandon Moss and Andy LaRoche have moved on.