Tag: Doug Bernier

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Syracuse Chiefs� 4,� Indianapolis Indians� 2 (box)

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Like yesterday, the Indians had an early lead in this afternoon's game against the Syracuse Chiefs at Victory Field.� Like yesterday, the Chiefs' late inning rallies had them catching up and taking the lead.� But, unlike yesterday, today, the Indians could not stage a last-minute rally for the dramatic win.� Rehabbing right-hander Chris Jakubauskas (photo above) could not hold off the Chiefs, and he suffered the loss.

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Jeremy Powell (photo) made the start for the Indians, under yet another 90+ degree sunny sky.� For the first 6 innings, he was brilliant.� He retired the side in order in half of his innings.� He worked around a one-out single by C Wilson Ramos in the 2nd inning.� Ramos singled again with two outs in the 4th, but Powell ended the inning by inducing a pop out.� He also worked around a one-out double by opposing pitcher Jordan Zimmerman in the 3rd.� Zimmerman surprised almost everyone in the stadium by ripping a line drive to the 418' sign in left-center field.� For anyone else, that would have been an easy triple, but not wanting to overtax the pitcher, particularly in the heat,� Zimmerman started slowing down shortly after he rounded first base, and all but walked into second base, where he watched LF Kevin Melillo's throw come back to the infield.

Melillo got the Tribe out to a good start with a lead-off single in the bottom of the 1st, though he was left stranded.� The Indians had two runners on in the 2nd inning, when 1B John Bowker (photo, on right) lined a single into right field, and SS Pedro Ciriaco bunted to the left side of the mound, where Zimmerman could not find the handle on the ball to make a throw.� 2B Brian Friday popped up, and the infield fly rule was invoked.� That brought up Jeremy Powell with two outs, and he could only bounce a grounder to short, ending the inning with the two runners on base.

The first Indians' run came in the 3rd inning.� With one out, 3B Akinori Iwamura worked a walk.� Then CF Alex Presley worked his magic again, taking a long bouncer just barely fair down the right field line.� The carom off the wall in the right field corner fooled Syracuse RF Leonard Davis, and while Davis was busy chasing down the ball, Iwamura scored and Presley cruised into third base with a triple.� Indians up, 1-0.� The inning ended without further runs scoring.� RF Brandon Moss's oops-swing lifted a low, twisting flop of a fly right to Chiefs' 3B Pete Orr.� Presley had been taking a lead, and he could not get back to the bag in time, so was doubled off to end the inning.

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Manager Frank Kremblas congratulates Pedro Ciriaco on his triple

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Indianapolis Indians� 5,� Syracuse Chiefs� 2 (box)

C Jason Jaramillo's booming home run in the bottom of the 8th inning capped off the win for the Indianapolis Indians over the Syracuse Chiefs in the opening game of a 4-game series at Victory Field tonight.� Tribe starter Charlie Morton pitched 6 solid innings and earned his 4th win with the team, while reliever Jean Machi earned his 17th save of the season.

The Indians started with their first four batters reaching base safely in the bottom of the 1st.� SS Pedro Ciriaco (photo) led off with a tremendous standing triple into the deepest part of the ballpark in left-center field.� 3B Doug Bernier reached base on a fielder's choice that was really a fielder's confusion.� He grounded right to former Indy Indian Brian Bixler, who seemed to be expecting Ciriaco to be heading for home.� But Ciriaco made a feint, danced a bit, then headed back to the bag, as Bixler's arm was cocked to make the throw.� With Ciriaco back at the bag, Bixler turned for the throw to first, but by then, Bernier was only a few steps from first base, and Bixler didn't have a play their either.� (photos below)

CF Alex Presley did bring in Ciriaco, when he grounded through the hole and into right field.� RF Brandon Moss looped a single over the head of the Chiefs' second baseman, loading the bases.� Bernier briefly considered heading for home, but manager Frank Kremblas held him at third, since the ball was not deep into right field and there were still no outs.� It was a good decision, since moments later, Syracuse starter Matt Chico bounced a ball into the dirt, which squirted back to the backstop, allowing Bernier to score easily.� Presley moved up to third base and Moss moved to second on the wild pitch.� 1B Mitch Jones lifted a fly ball to right field, for the first out of the inning, but it sacrificed home Presley from third base with the third run of the inning.� A strikeout and a ground out ended the inning, and the Indians had a 3-0 lead.

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Photos:� Bixler can't decide where to throw it.

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Indianapolis Indians� 10,� Norfolk Tides� 6 (box)

Joe Martinez made his home debut and his first start for the Indianapolis Indians tonight at Victory Field, and he earned his first win as the Tribe halted a 3-game losing streak by beating the Norfolk Tides.� Each team recorded 12 hits in the game, and the two teams traded the lead back and forth before the Indians settled in with a big enough lead to hold on.

The game began in an unfortunate way for Norfolk.� They had one base runner in the top of the inning, when DH Michael Aubrey doubled, but he was left on base.� Then with one out in the bottom of the inning, Tides' starter Chris George was hit by a screaming line drive off the bat of the second batter he faced, 3B Akinori Iwamura. The ball hit George on his upper body, though it was not clear exactly where (UPDATE: it hit him in the elbow, and x-rays were negative), and ricocheted all the way over to where his first baseman Brandon Snyder was positioned, allowing Snyder to easily make the out at first.� George was clearly hurting, and he walked right off the field, not even trying to throw a practice pitch.� The Tides brought in reliever Jim Miller to take over for George.� CF Alex Presley greeted Miller with a single into right field, but Presley was thrown out trying to steal second base.

Over the next three innings, the scoring was fast and furious.� Norfolk got onto the scoreboard with 2 runs in the top of the 2nd.� After a quick ground out, Snyder grounded sharply to first base, but the ball skipped off 1B Doug Bernier's glove and up and over his left shoulder, and Snyder was safe on the error.� For the second night in a row, 3B Scott Moore hit a 2-run homer over the right field wall in the 2nd inning, bringing in Snyder, and the Tides had a 2-0 lead.

LF John Bowker got one run back for Joe Martinez with his own home run.� His blast, his first since joining the Indians, sailed just inside the right field foul pole, and landed in the back of the beer garden patio behind the right field corner.

Durham Bulls� 10,� Indianapolis Indians� 1 �� (Game 1) (box)

Two 5-run innings by the Bulls stampeded Indians' starter Brad Lincoln in the first game of today's double-header at Durham Bulls' Athletic Park in Durham, North Carolina.

Lincoln (photo) hit a batter in his first inning of work, then struck out the next two batters.� But in the 2nd inning, the Bulls began running.� The first three batters reached base safely-- singles by 2B Joe Dillon and LF Leslie Anderson and a 2-run double by DH Dioner Navarro.� Lincoln got C Jose Labaton to ground out, then walked 3B Angel Chavez.� CF Desmond Jennings lined a single into right field, bringing in Navarro.� A passed ball by rehabbing C Ryan Doumit moved the two runners into scoring position, then a single by SS Elliot Johnson and a double by RF Justin Ruggiano each drove in a run, to give the Bulls a 5-0 lead.� A ground out and pop out finally ended the inning.

Lincoln breezed through the 3rd inning, again striking out two batters, but got right back into trouble in the 4th.� Once again, the first three batters reached base safely, scoring 2 runs.� This time it was a single by Chavez and a walk to Jennings, followed by a triple by Johnson.� Lincoln struck out Ruggiano, then former Indy Indian 1B Chris Richard doubled, bringing in Johnson.� That was all for Lincoln.� He had given up 9 hits and 2 walks, and ultimately was responsible for 9 of Durham's 10 runs.� He had thrown 83 pitches (50 strikes) in just 3.1 innings.

Brian Bass came on to relieve Lincoln, entering the game with one out and Richard on second base.� But Bass fell victim to the Bulls' stampede too.� The first three batters he faced -- Dillon, Anderson, and Navarro -- all singled, and along with a fielding error by CF Alex Presley, two more runs scored, with one charged to Lincoln.� Bass got Lobaton to bounce back to the mound, where he started a 1-6-3 (Bass to SS Pedro Ciriaco to 1B John Bowker) double play.

Bass went on to pitch the 5th inning, allowing a single to Jennings, but getting Johnson to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play (2B Brian Friday to Ciriaco to Bowker).� Daniel Moskos took the final inning, allowing only a walk. (Only 7 innings in an International League double-header game.)

Norfolk Tides� 11,� Indianapolis Indians� 6 (box)

Norfolk's two home runs in the bottom of the 8th inning gave the Tides the win this evening at Harbor Park in Norfolk.� The two homers, which accounted for 5 runs, were charged to reliever Daniel Moskos, who suffered his 4th loss with the Indians.� Newcomer Travis Chick made his Indians' debut, and it was also troublesome, as he was charged with a Blown Save.

The 8th inning began with the score tied at 6-6, and Daniel Moskos (photo) taking the mound for the Indians.� Moskos gave up a lead-off single through the hole into left field to 2B Pack Figueroa, then struck out CF Matt Angle.� Former Indy Indian RF Jeff Salazar gave the Tides the lead with a 2-run homer over the right-center field wall.� Moskos got a fly out, then gave up a double to SS Robert Andino, who stole third base, and a walk to 3B Scott Moore.� That set up LF Nolan Reimold, who smacked a 3-run homer over the right field wall.� The Indians could not come back in their last chance in the top of the 9th, going down in order, and the Tides had taken the first two games of this four-game series.

The Indians were the first to get onto the scoreboard.� They had only one baserunner over the first two innings, and that was RF Mitch Jones, who reached on a fielding error by SS Robert Andino, but was left on base.� The 3rd inning began with the first three Tribe batters reaching base safely.� C Luke Carlin lined a single up the middle.� SS Brian Friday walked on 5 pitches, then 3B Doug Bernier loaded the bases by beating out a bunt for a single.� 2B Brian Bixler lifted a fly ball to center field, but it was too short for Carlin to tag up and score.� CF Alex Presley grounded to the second baseman, and Bernier was forced out at second base, but Carlin scored on the play.� That left the Indians with runners on the corners.� Tides' pitcher Zach Britton picked Alex Presley off first, but it didn't turn out to be the boon the Tides were hoping it would be.� Britton threw to 1B Michael Aubrey, who threw on to SS Andino, but Andino's relay throw went wild, letting Presley reach third base and letting Friday score.� DH Brandon Moss came to the plate next, and blasted his second home run in two days, and his third of the week, to give the Indians a 4-0 lead.

Syracuse Chiefs� 8,� Indianapolis Indians� 6 (box)

A 4-run 7th inning put the game into the Chiefs' pocket at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse tonight, as the Indians' pitchers struggled.� The Indians' batters posted 9 hits, with two each for 3B Jim Negrych (photo), 1B Jeff Clement, and LF Jonathan Van Every.

Jim Negrych got the game started with a double into left field.� A sacrifice bunt by 2B Doug Bernier moved Negrych to third.� CF Alex Presley grounded to short, where the Chiefs' SS Seth Bynum made his first fielding error of the game (out of a total of three).� That let Negrych score, and when Presley reached first and headed for second base,� 2B Chase Lambin missed the catch, and Presley was safe there.� Walks to Jeff Clement and Jonathan Van Every loaded the bases, but a fly out ended the inning.

Brad Lincoln made the start for the Indians.� He zipped through the first inning, but trouble found him in the 2nd.� 1B Jason Botts started off with a single, and after a strikeout by Seth Bynum, RF Pete Orr also singled.� The bases were loaded when former Indy Indian 3B Luis Ordaz grounded to second but Jeff Clement missed the catch at first.� Another former Indian, C Carlos Maldonado lined a double into center field, which cleared the bases and gave the Chiefs a 3-1 lead.� The Chiefs added another run in the 3rd inning, when CF Justin Maxwell doubled, moved to third on Chase Lambin's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Jason Botts' sacrifice fly.

The Indians got one of those runs back in the 3rd inning.� Alex Presley singled up the middle, and he raced to third base when Jeff Clement lined into right field for another single.� Jonathan Van Every also singled up the middle, allowing Presley to score.

Seth Bynum's jinx haunted him again in the 4th.� SS Argenis Diaz grounded to Bynum, who made his second fielding error of the game.� Diaz stole second base, then scored when Jim Negrych lined into center field.� That put the Indians just one run behind, 4-3.

Brad Lincoln (photo) started the rally that tied the game in the top of the 6th.� Lincoln doubled into center field, and Jim Negrych followed with a walk.� A wild pitch moved both runners up one base, and Alex Presley was intentionally walked, loading the bases.� That brought up RF Brandon Moss, who has been hitting well lately (6 hits and 9 RBI in his previous four games).� Moss grounded to short, where the unfortunate Seth Bynum made his third fielding error of the game.� Everyone was safe, and Lincoln scored the tying run.

Indianapolis Indians� 4,� Syracuse Chiefs� 1 (box)

Indians' starter Jeremy Powell (photo) won his 7th game of the season for the Indians tonight at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, NY.� The win gave the Indians their fourth win in a row, and 3 wins in this 4-game series against the Chiefs, which concludes tomorrow.� But it was not entirely the way that Powell or the Indians hoped it would end.

Powell pitched into the 9th inning, keeping a shut-out going the whole time.� He sailed through the first 8 innings, striking out 5 batters and scattering 5 hits.� Powell gave up a single to LF Boomer Whiting to open the bottom of the 1st, but C Luke Carlin threw him out trying to steal second base.� Powell retired the next 10 batters in order, until he gave up a single and a walk in the 4th.� He allowed a single in each of the 5th and the 7th, and when C Jamie Burke walked to lead off the 8th, he was erased in a double play.

The Indians went into the bottom of the 9th with a 4-0 lead, and with Powell just a step away from a complete game shut-out.� He began the inning with a strikeout of Justin Maxwell.� 2B Chase Lambin slipped a line drive into right field for a single.� Powell struck out 1B Jason Botts, and that put him an out away from the goal.� SS Seth Bynum was up next, and he got to a 1-2 count, then took 2 pitches that looked pretty good, but were both called balls.� The Indians and Powell felt that he had been cheated out of what should have been another strikeout, and the end of the game.� Instead of being out, Bynum lined a single up the middle and into center field, and that allowed Lambin to score. That was the end of the shutout.

The Indians had reliever Justin Thomas up in the bullpen, and he was ready, but manager Frank Kremblas elected to give Powell the chance to get the final out.� But when 3B Pete Orr dropped a little bunt in front of the mound, Powell's throw to first base was wide for a throwing error, and Bynum moved to third base.� That was all for Powell.� He had thrown 115 pitches (75 strikes), and had allowed one run on 7 hits and 2 walks, with 7 strikeouts.

Justin Thomas did come in at that point, and he finished things up by getting a ground out, to earn his 4th save.� The Indians and Powell were still not pleased, and they went so far as to try to talk to plate umpire Chris Bakke after the last out, even heading toward the umpire's tunnel after him.� It did no good, of course.

Indianapolis Indians� 7,� Syracuse Chiefs� 5 (box)

The trio of 1B Jeff Clement (photo), CF Alex Presley, and RF Brandon Moss had 7 of the Indians' 8 hits in tonight's game at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, New York, as the Indians held on to defeat the Chiefs.� Derek Hankins made his AAA debut, and earned his first AAA win with a very short one-third-of-an-inning appearance.

The Indians got the game off on the right foot, with a big blast in the top of the 1st.� 2B Brian Friday led off with a walk, and 3B Aki Iwamura singled back to the mound.� But Iwamura collided with one of the Chiefs, and had to be removed from the game, with Doug Bernier taking his place at third base.� CF Alex Presley loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch, which brought up the hot-hitting Moss.� Moss took a 1-0 pitch over the right-center field wall for a grand slam, and the Indians had an instant 4-0 lead, before an out had been recorded in the game.� Jeff Clement singled after the homer, and he was sacrifice bunted to third base by LF Jim Negrych, but two strikeouts ended the inning.� No further word at this point about Iwamura's condition.��� [UPDATE: Iwamura went to the hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion; he'll be out for at least a few days]

Mike Crotta was the Tribe starter who was the beneficiary of a 4-run cushion before he even took the mound.� Crotta (photo below) breezed through the first two innings, allowing just one hit, a single to 3B Pete Orr in the bottom of the 1st.� He gave up an unearned run in the 3rd inning.� Former Indy Indian C Carlos Maldonado walked, then reached third base when Washington Nationals' rehabbing pitcher Jason Marquis reached base on a throwing error� by C Luke Carlin on his bunt attempt.� CF Boomer Whiting bounced into a double play, and Maldonado scored from third on the play.

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The Chiefs got within one run of the Indians in the 5th inning.� RF Kevin Mench led off with a bloopy hit over the head of Doug Bernier at third, dropping into left field.� LF Leonard Davis took Crotta's 1-0 pitch over the right field wall for a 2-run home run.� Indians 4, Chiefs 3.

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Jason Marquis held the Indians to just one hit over the next 4 innings.� That was a single by Brandon Moss in the 3rd inning.� Moss was immediately erased, though, when Jeff Clement bounced into a double play.� Marquis was relieved by Jason Jones to begin the 6th inning, and the Indians promptly got going.� Alex Presley slipped a single past Orr at third base, who was playing in a little too far.� Presley stole second base, and when Jeff Clement singled through the right side of the infield, Presley raced for the plate.� He slid in just before the throw came in to Maldonado from Kevin Mench in right field.

Indianapolis Indians� 8,� Syracuse Chiefs� 5 (box)

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CF Alex Presley and RF Brandon Moss led the offense, as they posted 13 hits to give starter Charlie Morton plenty of run support.� Morton (photo) pitched a solid start and earned his 3rd win at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, NY tonight.

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Morton's night started out a little shaky, as he gave up a run in each of the first two innings.� He began the bottom of the 1st by walking LF Boomer Whiting.� A throwing error by 1B Jonathan Van Every put Whiting on second base, and a ground out moved Whiting to third.� Whiting scored on 1B Jason Botts' double lined into center field.� In the next inning, 3B Pete Orr led off with a double.� The first out of the inning came on an unusual play.� RF Leonard Davis tried to drop down a bunt, but he was on the move, and had already stepped out of the batters' box when his bat hit the ball, so he was called out.� Orr was thrown out trying to steal third base, which became important for the Indians, because former Indian C Carlos Maldonado homered next -- without Orr on base, it was just a solo home run.

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The Indians had put a runner on base in each of the first two innings.� 2B Brian Friday led off the game with a double and C Luke Carlin walked in the 2nd inning.� But it was Charlie Morton himself who got the rally started in the 3rd inning.� Morton led off the inning with his first hit of the season, a little blooper over the head of the Chiefs' first baseman.� After two outs, CF Alex Presley worked a walk.� That brought up the hot-hitting RF Brandon Moss, who continued his heat with a 2-run double.� It was Moss' 16th hit with runners in scoring position and two outs this season, and it tied the score.

The Tribe batted around in the 4th inning, scoring 4 runs to take a 6-2 lead.� Jonathan Van Every began the inning with a blast over the right-center field wall to give the Indians the lead.� Luke Carlin and SS Argenis Diaz followed with back-to-back singles.� That brought up Charlie Morton in a good bunting situation.� But Morton's bunt got to Chiefs' pitcher Shairon Martis too quickly, and Martis was able to whirl and throw to third, forcing out the lead runner Carlin.� Brian Friday walked, loading the bases with one out.� 3B Akinori Iwamura was also walked (neither intentional), which forced in Diaz with the second run of the inning.� That chased Martis from the game, but Alex Presley greeted the new reliever with an RBI single into left field, bringing in Morton.� Brandon Moss bounced a grounder to first base, which allowed Friday to score, and the Indians were ahead 6-2.� Another ground out ended the inning.

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Home plate umpire Chris Ward and manger Frank Kremblas discuss an ejection.

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Charlotte Knights� 3,� Indianapolis Indians� 2 (box)

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Indians' starter Daniel McCutchen (photo, making a pickoff throw to first base) suffered another tough loss this afternoon at Victory Field.� Like in his previous four starts, McCutchen gave up 3 runs (it was 2 runs on June 21st) but did not get enough run support to get the win.� Today McCutchen pitched 8 innings, his longest start of the season, and threw 101 pitches (67 strikes).� Other than a 3-inning rain-shortened start in May, this was McCutchen's first start in which he did not strike out anyone.

McCutchen gave up just 6 hits in his 8 innings.� The first hit, to Knights' lead-off batter CF Alejandro De Aza to begin the game, was erased when De Aza was thrown out by C Luke Carlin trying to steal second base.� After two of the hits, a double by RF Stefan Gartrell in the 4th and a single to De Aza in the 8th, the runner was left on base.� (McCutchen retired the side in order in 3 innings.)

That left just three hits that were a problem for McCutchen.� LF Josh Kroeger led off the top of the 2nd inning with a line drive single into center field.� He moved to second base when 3B Brent Morel grounded slowly to third base -- 3B Jim Negrych charged the ball, but had only the one play at first base.� A balk by McCutchen put Kroeger on third base, but that turned out to not matter.� A moment later, 1B Jeremy Reed put a long fly ball well over the right field wall, landing on the patio beyond the right field corner.� Charlotte up, 2-0.

With one out in the 6th inning, 2B Luis Rodriguez deposited a home run just barely over the wall in the right field corner.� Rodriguez has now homered in each of the three games so far in this series between the Indians and the Knights, and in fact, it is his 4th home run in his last 4 games.

Those were all the hits the Knights needed.

Yesterday, Knight's starter Carlos Torres, who leads the International League in walks with 56, walked 7 batters.� Second in the league in free passes is Charlotte's Lucas Harrell -- today's starter.� Harrell came into the game having walked 53 batters so far in the season.� Unfortunately for the Indians, he left the game with exactly the same number of walks.

The Indians had at least one runner on base in 4 of Harrell's 6 innings, with 6 hits.� Unfortunately, four of those base runners were eliminated on force plays, including two double plays.� DH Kevin Melillo led off the bottom of the 1st with a soft looper into left field.� He was removed when 2B Brian Friday bounced into a double play.� LF Brian Bixler beat out a bunt up the third base line for a hit in the 5th inning, but he was erased when SS Argenis Diaz bounced into a double play.� Diaz slipped a grounder past the Knights' 2B Rodriguez for a single in the 3rd, but Melillo's grounder to first base forced him out at second base (photo).� There wasn't time for a throw to first base on that play.

The remaining force out was part of a rally in the 2nd inning, along with one of the Indians' other hits.� The Knights had just taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the inning, and with one out, Jim Negrych lined a single into center field.� Luke Carlin followed with a grounder right to SS Rob Hudson.� Hudson tossed to second base to force out Negrych, but he airmailed the relay throw to first base, and Carlin was safe at first.� 1B Doug Bernier, lined a double down the right field line and into the corner.� Carlin raced around the bases, scoring from first base, to cut the Knights' lead to 2-1.

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Moss' homer in the 1st.�







Indianapolis Indians� 17,� Charlotte Knights� 11 (box)

DH Brandon Moss went 3-for-5 with a double and two home runs, contributing 6 RBI, in the Indians' big win over the Charlotte Knights at Victory Field tonight.� The two teams combined for 28 runs and 31 hits (and 5 errors), with the Indians posting 17 runs and 14 hits.� That surpassed the previous season high of 15 runs in a game (June 27th against Toledo), but fell short of the most hits in a game this season (19 hits, in that same game).� The Indians scored in 5 of the first 6 innings, and they capped the offensive onslaught with a 9-run 7th inning.

Mike Crotta (photo) made the start for the Indians, and he earned his first win since June 9th.� Crotta pitched 5.1 innings and allowed 11 hits, with 5 runs and 5 strikeouts.� Crotta had some tough-luck moments in this outing.� In the top of the 1st, with one out, Charlotte's 3B Luis Rodriguez drove a fly ball to the deepest part of Victory Field, the left-center field alley at 418 feet, for a triple.�� Crotta struck out the next batter, but then RF Stefan Gartrell took a high hop right over the mound.� Crotta, going on instinct, made the leap to try to catch the ball, but only managed to deflect it, and the ball dropped to the grass behind the mound, out of everyone's reach.� It was ruled a single, and it brought in Rodriguez from third base.� 1B Josh Kroeger dribbled a slow roller to the right of the mound and in from the infield dirt.� 2B Aki Iwamura charged in to make the play, but by the time he got to it, Kroeger was nearly to the bag.� Iwamura rushed his throw and he was off-balance besides, and the throw scooted to the infield side of the first base bag, putting Kroeger safe at first.� Crotta ended that inning with a grounder to short.

The Indians came right back in the bottom of the 1st.� LF Kevin Melillo led off with a walk.� Aki Iwmura slapped a 1-2 pitch right back to the mound, where it hit Charlotte starter Brandon Hynick, probably on the glove.� The ball ricocheted off Hynick, going straight at the visitor's dugout, crossing the first base line just out of reach of Hynick, who recovered quickly enough to try to chase it.

A sacrifice bunt by CF Alex Presley moved both base runners into scoring position, and the speedy Presley nearly beat out the throw to give the Indians full bases.� Hynick struck out 1B Jeff Clement, bringing up Brandon Moss (photo).� Moss responded by taking the first pitch he saw over the wall in straight-away center field for his first home run of the season while in the Designated Hitter role.� The Indians had a 3-1 lead, which they never surrendered.

The Tribe added two more runs in the 3rd inning.� Alex Presley singled off the end of his bat and into right center field, then Jeff Clement walked.� After a fly out, a walk to RF Jonathan Van Every also walked to load the bases.� 3B Jim Negrych drove a liner into center field for an RBI single, bringing in Presley and Clement for a 5-1 lead.

Mike Crotta kept the Knights scoreless in the 2nd and 3rd innings.� He had to deal with loaded bases in the 2nd, when C Donny Lucy reached base on throwing error (low throw that Clement couldn't handle) by SS Brian Friday.� DH Jeremy Reed blooped a single into short right field, where Jonathan Van Every tried to dive for it but missed.� A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, but the next batter, Alejandro De Aza lined out right to Jeff Clement.� It happened so fast that neither runner had time to even get off his respective bag.� Crotta retired the side in order in the 3rd inning, then began the 4th with a strikeout and a grounder to first.� With two outs, the next three batters all had hits.� SS Rob Hudson doubled down the left field line to the left field wall, where Kevin Melillo played the carom.� Alejandro De Aza skipped a grounder past the mound and past the second base bag for a single, and that drove in Hudson from second base.� Then Luis Rodriguez homered over the right field wall for 2 more runs, and the Knights had moved to within one run of the Indians, 5-4.

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Charlie Morton was pouring 'em in there.

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Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs� 3,� Indianapolis Indians� 2 (box)

For the past three days, the Indians have been losing, but they have been piling up the hits:� 16 on Monday, 10 on Tuesday, and 12 on Wednesday.� Today, the Tribe bats were shut down by strikeouts -- a total of 16 K's -- and they were held to just 3 hits.� And, the Iron Pigs won again, sweeping the 4-game series from the Indians at Victory Field.

Former Indy Indian (2006) and Iron Pigs' starter Brandon Duckworth gave up all three of the Indians hits.� LF Kevin Melillo had two of them.� He opened the bottom of the 1st with a double off the lower part of the right field wall.� Two ground outs, both to second base, by 2B Aki Iwamura and CF Alex Presley, brought Melillo around to score.� Presley picked up the RBI.

Melillo drove a liner into right field again in the 3rd inning, but when he tried to reach second base, Iron Pigs' RF John Mayberry's perfect throw beat him to the bag.� It was unfortunate for the Indians, because if Melillo had stayed at first, he would have scored in just another moment -- when Aki Iwamura blasted a home run over the wall in straight out center field (photo).

Those were all the hits the Indians had in the game.� There were four walks, two to 3B Jim Negrych, , and one each to Melillo and RF Brandon Moss. Duckworth was also responsible for the walks, which he scattered over four innings, so that the Indians never had more than one base runner on at a time.

Duckworth also was responsible for 11 of the Indians' strikeouts.� He struck out one in the 1st, then 2 batters in each of the next 5 innings.� After two K's and a walk in the 6th, Duckworth was relieved by Michael Stutes.� Stutes finished the inning, then retired the side in order for the first time in the game, including another strikeout.� Antonio Bastardo and Scott Mathieson each pitched a perfect inning to finish the game, and each struck out two Tribe batters.� 1B Jeff Clement had the most trouble in the strikeout follies -- he struck out in all 4 of his at-bats.� Jim Negrych was the only batter who did not strike out at all.

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