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Anthony Solometo tried throwing like everyone else when he was younger. The left-hander was taught to pick up a ball like everyone, with the intent to throw it overhand. He had an issue with dropping his arm...
Returning from Tommy John surgery, Braxton Ashcraft was just looking to remain healthy in his 2023 season. “The health was the biggest focal point of the season,” said Ashcraft at the end of last year’s campaign. “I...

Moss Takes IL RBI Title As Indians Win

Indianapolis Indians� 5,� Louisville Bats� 3 ..��� (box)

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RF Brandon Moss's (photo) double in the top of the 7th inning gave the Indians the winning run and gave Moss his league-leading 96th RBI at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky this evening.� RBI #96 secured Moss' win of the International League's RBI title.� The second-place slugger, Durham's Dan Johnson, is now playing in the major leagues, and the third-place slugger, Gwinnett's Freddie Freeman, is also in the majors. Two players are tied for fourth, Lehigh Valley's Andy Tracy and Charlotte's Stefan Gartrell, are both still in this league, but one of them would have to get 16 RBI tomorrow to catch up to Moss.�


Tribe LF Kevin Melillo got down to business with the first pitch of the game, which he ripped on a line drive into right field for a triple.� SS Pedro Ciriaco lined a single into center field, allowing Melillo to score easily from third base.� After a strikeout by CF Alex Presley, Moss lined a single into right field, moving Ciriaco to second base.� Another strikeout to 1B Mitch Jones, then C Erik Kratz singled up the middle, driving in Ciriaco, and the Indians had the early 2-0 lead.

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IMG_4455Chris Jakubauskas (photo) made the start for the Indians, and he was happy to take the mound with two runs in his pocket.� Jakubauskas buzzed through the first three innings, allowing only a double -- to Bats' pitcher Jeremy Horst -- in the 3rd inning.� Jakubauskas began the 4th inning by giving up a single to SS Zack Cozart and a walk to Danny Dorn, but he retired the next three batters, and the two runners were left standing on base.

The Bats did get to Jakubauskas in the 5th.� Three consecutive singles opened the inning -- by 3B Eric Eymann, 2B Kris Negron, and pinch-hitter Mike Costanzo.� Eymann scored on Costanzo's grounder that just barely got past 2B Brian Friday and into right field. � CF Dave Sappelt followed with a grounder to Friday, who was able to get the force out at second base.� The speedy Sappelt beat out Pedro Ciriaco's relay throw to first base, as Negron scored the tying run from third base.� Zack Cozart grounded to 3B Doug Bernier, who also got the force out of Sappelt at second base, but Friday's thow to first base was not in time to get the out on Cozart.� The inning ended with a pop out by Danny Dorn.

Powell Is Tough And Moss Adds RBI In Home Finale

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Last home game

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Indianapolis Indians� 4,� Louisville Bats� 1 ...���� (box)

IMG_4641Two RBI from the Indians' MVP and two hits from the team's Rookie of the Year supported a strong effort by the team's Starting Pitcher of the Year as the Tribe defeated the Louisville Bats at Victory Field in their home finale.� The Indians were again playing the role of spoiler, preventing the Bats from securing a playoff berth for at least one more day.

Starter Jeremy Powell (photo) pitched 6 solid innings, and allowed only one unearned run on 6 hits, but no walks, with 6 strikeouts.� Powell had trouble in two innings, one with trouble of his own making, and one with trouble that was foisted upon him.� After giving up a double off the top of the right field wall to Bats' lead-off batter CF Dave Sappelt, Powell retired the next three batters, including back-to-back strikeouts of RF Danny Dorn and 1B Todd Frazier, to get out of the inning.

The first bit of trouble came in the 2nd inning.� C Devin Mesoraco led off with a line drive into right field, going right toward RF Brandon Moss. But with a 6 pm start to the game, the sun was directly in Moss' eyes, and he had no idea where the ball was until it dropped to the ground about 15 feet in front of him and to his left for a single.� Powell got 3B Mike Costanzo to pop out to Pedro Ciriaco (photo below), then LF Michael Griffin singled into short center field.� 2B Kris Negron followed with another single, going over the left side of the infield into the outfield.� That brought up the Bats' pitcher Matt Klinker.� Powell got Klinker to tap back to the mound, where he snatched up the ball and returned it to the plate.� C Jason Jaramillo stepped on the plate to force out Mesoraco, then fired to first base for the double play on Klinker.

IMG_4663Powell allowed only one hit over the next three innings.� Dave Sappelt led off the 3rd with a single through the right side of the infield.� 2B Brian Friday took care of Sappelt when SS Zach Cozart lined sharply straight to Friday, who then took three steps forward and tagged out Sappelt, who was nearly at second base, for the unassisted double play.

Sappelt collected his third hit of the game when he led off the 6th inning with a single into center field.� Zach Cozart next bounced to third base, where 3B Akinori Iwamura made the scoop and turned to throw to second base to begin a double play.� He got the force out of Sappelt at second, but Brian Friday's throw on to first was rushed and it went to the outfield side of the bag.� 1B Mitch Jones couldn't make the catch, and Cozart was safe at first on a fielder's choice (no error because you can't assume a double play), with one out.� Danny Dorn was next, with a high pop at short.� This time, Pedro Ciriaco had to battle the wind, and instead of making the catch, a last-second gust pushed the ball away from him and it dropped to the ground.� That might not have been too much of a problem, since Ciriaco was able to quickly find the ball about 2 feet away and toss to second base to force out Cozart.� But Brian Friday could not keep hold of the toss, and when he tried to swipe at Cozart as he momentarily came off the bag, he missed that too.

That gave the Bats runners on first and second, with one out.� Todd Frazier gave the Indians another try at the double play that would end the inning with a grounder to third base.� Aki Iwamura again made the scoop and threw to second base to start a double play -- but this time, Iwamura's throw skittered into the outfield.� Frazier was safe at first on the fielder's choice, Dorn was safe at second on the throwing error, and Cozart raced around third base to score an unearned run.� Powell took a deep breath, bore down, and ended the mess by striking out both Devin Mesoraco and Mike Costanzo to end the inning.

Just Ugly

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The wind had the flags doing this, and the flag poles swaying, all evening.

Louisville Bats� 16,� Indianapolis Indians� 6 ..���� (box)

IMG_4595It got ugly early at Victory Field tonight, and it didn't get much better as the game went on.� The Louisville Bats clobbered the Indianapolis Indians 16 - 6, and the two teams combined for a total of 30 hits.

The Ugly:

* Starter Mike Crotta (photo) lasted only one inning.� The first four batters in the top of the 1st reached base:� a slow roller single to short that CF Dave Sappelt beat out for a single, double down the left field line by SS Zach Cozart, four pitch walk to RF Danny Dorn, and a bases-clearing triple to the 418' mark in left-center by 1B Todd Frazier.� Tribe SS Pedro Ciriaco made a diving stop and great throw to first base to make the first out of the inning on C Devin Mesoraco, then Crotta walked 3B Mike Costanzo.� 2B Eric Eymann hit a little dribbler just a few feet in front of home, but when C Jason Jaramillo had to leave the plate to field the ball, since he had a better angle than Crotta did for the throw to first, then Frazier took the opportunity to break for home and score.� LF Michael Griffin capped the inning with a wind-aided 2-run homer over the right field wall.� Crotta struck out Bats' pitcher Tom Cochran to end the inning.� The Bats had a 6 run advantage before the Indians came to the plate.

IMG_4602*After two scoreless innings and just one walk, reliever Corey Hamman (photo) got into trouble in the 4th.� With one out, Michael Griffin drove another triple to the 418' sign in left-center.� Hamman struck out Cochran again, for the second out of the inning, but he had trouble finding that third out.� The next four batters reached base -- an RBI double into center field by Sappelt, a walk to Cozart, a 2-RBI double that rattled around in the right field corner by Dorn, and an RBI double out of CF Alex Presley's reach in center by Frazier.� Bats lead, 10-3.

*Anthony Claggett gave up another 2-run homer to Griffin in the 5th inning, for a 12 - 3 lead.� Then he gave up 3 more runs in the 7th.� With one out, he surrendered a double to Eymann, singles to Griffin and pinch-hitter Sean Henry (RBI), then after a ground out, another RBI single by Cozart.� Claggett was relieved by Brian Bass, who gave up another single to Dorn, driving in the third run of the inning.� Bats up 15-6.

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Indians Strike (Out) Bats

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Heroes at Victory Field




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Indianapolis Indians� 7,� Louisville Bats� 5 ...��� (box)

IMG_4571The Indianapolis Indians snapped a 4-game losing streak and got to play the role of spoiler for at least one night as they defeated the Louisville Bats at Victory Field tonight.� The Indians' pitchers combined for a total of 15 strikeouts -- more than half of the outs they recorded were strikeouts.

Dana Eveland (photo) made the start for the Indians and pitched 4 innings.� He struck out a season-high 9 batters, meaning that he recorded only 3 outs that were not strikeouts -- a fly out, a pop out, and a grounder force out at second base.� Eveland also gave up 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks.

The game began ominously for Eveland and the Tribe.� The first batter of the game, CF Dave Sappelt, lined a single over 2B Doug Bernier's leap and into right-center field.� The second batter, SS Zach Cozart, lined a double into right-center field.� The third batter, 1B Danny Dorn, smacked a home run over the right-center field wall, giving the Bats an instant 3-0 lead.

Eveland got his feet back under him for the rest of the 1st inning.� He struck out LF Todd Frazier and got C Devin Mesoraco to pop out to second base.� He did give up another hit, to LF Luis Terrero, butt hen struck out 2B Kris Negron to end the inning.

IMG_4573In the bottom of the inning, the Indians batters jumped right on Louisville starter Chad Reineke too.� LF Kevin Melillo with a liner over the head of the Bats' second baseman and into right-center field.� 3B Akinori Iwamura worked a walk, then CF Alex Presley flied out to right field. Melillo was able to tag up and advance to third base on the fly out, which put him in position for RF Brandon Moss. Moss collected his 90th RBI of the season with a grounder through the right side of the infield, and Melillo scored easily from third base.� That was all the Tribe could get that inning, though.� Jeff Clement, who was making a rehab start at first base (photo), flied out and C Erik Kratz struck out to end the inning.

Eveland struggled again in the 2nd inning.� The first batter, 3B Eric Eymann slipped a single through the hole at short for a single.� Bats' pitcher Chad Reineke dropped down a bunt, but Eveland pounced on it, whirled and fired to second base, where he was in time to force out Eymann and leave Reineke on first.� Back to the top of the Bats' order, Eveland struck out Dave Sappelt, then walked Zach Cozart.� Danny Dorn drove in another run (Reineke) with a single down the right field line.� Eveland struck out Todd Frazier again, but the Bats had increased their lead to 4-1.

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Indians’ Bats Quiet Again

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Jason Jaramillo and Brad Lincoln try to reassure umpire Chad Whitson.

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Columbus Clippers� 4,� Indianapolis Indians� 1 .....��� (box)

IMG_4546Pitchers Brad Lincoln (photo) and Joe Martinez piggy-backed through 7 innings at Victory Field tonight, but the Indianapolis Indians' batters could not provide them with much run support, and the Columbus Clippers took the win in the last meeting between the two teams for the 2010 season.

Like last night, the Indians cracked the scoreboard first.� RF Brandon Moss led off the 2nd inning with a smooth line drive into left field for a single.� DH Jeff Clement, with the Indians on a rehab assignment, took a 4-pitch walk, moving Moss to second base.� 1B Mitch Jones made the first out of the inning by swinging at an outside pitch for strike three.� C Jason Jaramillo brought in Moss from second with a line drive just over the leaping Clippers' 2B Cord Phelps, to give the Indians a 1-0 lead.� The inning ended with a strike out-throw out double play, when Clement took off for third base as SS Doug Bernier swung at strike three.

And like last night, the lead did not last long.

Brad Lincoln began the game by giving up a dribbly infield single along the third base line to RF Jose Constanza.� Lincoln got the next two batters to fly out, then picked Constanza off first base to end the inning.� He retired the Clippers in order in the 2nd inning, including two strikeouts.� The third inning began with a solo home run by LF Matt McBride, to tie the score at 1-1.

IMG_4563Next to the plate was former Indy Indian C Luke Carlin.� Carlin and Lincoln, former battery mates decided to have a little fun with one another.� On Lincoln's first pitch, a ball, Carlin feinted a bunt -- something he knows irritates Lincoln.� Lincoln responded by throwing the second pitch about 3 feet behind Carlin -- not close to him so that Carlin had any chance of jumping back and getting hit.� Both players grinned at one another, and prepared to get down to the real business at hand.� Unfortunately, the umpiring crew did not see the same humor in the exchange.� 2B Umpire Alan Porter walked in to the mound and motioned to home plate umpire Chad Whitson.� The two conferred and talked to Lincoln, who appeared to be reassuring them that he had no intention of hurting his former teammate.� But the umpires were still not impressed.� Whitson warned both dugouts and managers, as Carlin turned away with a grimace on his face (photo).� Jason Jaramillo and Brad Lincoln continued to try to reassure Whitson (photo at top), but they did not seem to be making any progress.

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Indians Are Mathematically Eliminated

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John Bowker homered in the 4th

Columbus Clippers� 6,� Indianapolis Indians� 4 ..�� (box)

The Indianapolis Indians could not keep up with the Columbus Clippers tonight at Victory Field, and the combination of the Indians' loss and the Clippers' win officially eliminated the Indians from any chance of making the International League playoffs as the wild card team.� The Louisville Bats lost to the Toledo Mud Hens, 6-2, so the Clippers have edged closer to the Bats, who are clinging to a half-game lead in the IL West Division.

IMG_4527The Indians and Clippers traded the lead back and forth in the middle innings of this game, but a 3-run 6th inning sealed the win for Columbus.� Jeremy Powell (photo) made his 20th start of the season for the Indians, and he suffered his 9th loss, allowing all 6 runs on 9 hits and a walk, with 3 strikeouts.� The Clippers got right down to business in the top of the 1st.� Lead-off batter RF Jose Constanza smacked Powell's first pitch on a line drive into center field, then hustled his way to second base before CF Alex Presley could get the ball back to the infield.� Powell got CF Ezequiel Carrera to ground out and got 2B Drew Sutton to pop out to 3B Akinori Iwamura in foul territory.� Then Powell got a 0-2 count on DH Wes Hodges, and was one strike away from escaping the inning unscathed -- until Hodges took the next pitch over the wall in dead center field, landing just behind the camera well for a 2-run homer.� 1B Jordan Brown followed the home run with a double to the warning track in right field.� Powell hit 3B Jared Goedert with a pitch, but both Brown and Goedert were left on base when LF Matt McBride flied out to left.

Not to be outdone, Aki Iwamura homered in the bottom of the 1st inning, taking the ball to almost exactly the same spot over the center field wall and behind the camera well -- no more than 5 feet away -- cutting the Clippers' lead to 2-1.� One out later, DH Brandon Moss was hit by a pitch from Columbus starter Yohan Pino.� Even though neither plunk appeared to be overtly intentional, home plate umpire Alan Porter must have decided he didn't want to have anyone even think about escalating anything, and so he stepped out and clearly warned Pino, Powell in the dugout, and both managers.� Moss ended the inning with a poor base running move -- he was caught out in the middle of nowhere on the base path, and easily caught stealing.

Four Tribe Pitchers Combine For Shutout

Indianapolis Indians� 8,� Columbus Clippers� 0 ..��� (box)

IMG_4157Four Indianapolis Indians pitchers combined to shut out the Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park in Columbus, Ohio.� They held the Clippers to a total of 4 hits and 2 walks.� CF Alex Presley supported them with 3 hits, and both 1B Doug Bernier (photo) and RF Brandon Moss contributed 3 RBI.

The Indians got things started in the top of the 1st with a one-out single by 3B Akinori Iwamura, and after the second out, RF Brandon Moss launched his 21st home run of the season, bringing in Iwamura for a 2-0 lead.� They added 2 more runs in the 2nd.� With one out, SS Pedro Ciriaco smacked a grounder towards third base.� The ball glanced off the glove of Columbus 3B Argenis Reyes and past him down the left field line, and Ciriaco cruised into second base with a double.� After a strikeout by C Jason Jaramillo, 2B Brian Friday lifted another double into center field, and Ciriaco came around to score from second base.� Doug Bernier followed with a line drive single into left field, and Friday also scored.� Bernier stole second base, but was left there when a ground out ended the inning.� The Indians were up, 4-0.

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IMG_3940Charlie Morton was originally listed as the starting pitcher tonight, but he was recalled by the Pirates so that he can made the start for them tomorrow.� Dana Eveland (photo) made the spot start in Morton's place.� Eveland had to work around one runner on base in each of the first three innings.� 2B Drew Sutton lined a single into left field in the bottom of the 1st, but Eveland got 1B Wes Hodges to bounce into an around the horn double play, Iwamura to Friday to Bernier.� DH Jared Goedert walked with two outs in the 2nd, but Eveland struck out former Indy Indian Luke Carlin to end the inning.� Clippers' SS Josh Rodriguez reached base on a fielding error by Brian Friday to begin the 3rd inning, but Eveland induced three grounders, again keeping the Clippers scoreless.

Tough First Inning Sinks Indians

Toledo Mud Hens� 8,� Indianapolis Indians� 2 ..����� (box)

IMG_4387Five runs in the 1st inning gave the Toledo Mud Hens a lead they would not give up, as they defeated the Indianapolis Indians at Victory Field tonight.

Joe Martinez (photo) had to work through a tough 1st inning on this start.� The first batter of the game, 2B Justin Henry, fouled off the first two pitches for an 0-2 count, then took 4 straight balls, for a walk.� SS Cale Iorg grounded to third, forcing Henry out at second, but Iorg was safe at first.� 1B Max Leon dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Iorg to second base.� Then, with two outs, LF Jeff Frazier smacked a 2-run homer over the left field wall.� CF Ben Guez followed the homer with a single, and former Indy Indian C Robinzon Diaz reached on an error when Martinez could not handle the tapper back to the mound.� DH Michael Bertram belted a 3-run homer over the right-center field wall, and the Mud Hens had a 5-0 lead.

The Indians got one run back in the bottom of the 2nd when four consecutive batters reached base. With one out, LF Mitch Jones lined a single into left field, then advanced to second base when Robinzon Diaz let a pitch get past him.� C Erik Kratz and DH Brian Myrow both ran the count full then took a walk, loading the bases.� SS Pedro Ciriaco lined another single into left field, scoring Jones from third base.� A foul pop and a grounder back to the mound ended the inning with three base runners still on.

Martinez got through the 2nd and 3rd innings without allowing a run to score, though he gave up back-to-back singles (Henry and Iorg) in the 2nd, and a walk to Bertram in the 3rd.� The Mud Hens picked up another run in the top of the 4th, when RF Christopher White led off with a solo home run.� Henry and Iorg singled again after the home run, but a double play and a ground out got Martinez out of that jam.

The Mud Hens went down in order for Martinez in the 5th, but came right back at him in the 6th.� RF Shawn Roof and Christopher White led off with back-to-back singles.� A ground out to first moved both runners into scoring position, and Cale Iorg's line drive double into left field brought both Roof and White in to score, giving the Mud Hens an 8-1 lead.� That was the end of Martinez's night.� He had allowed 8 runs (5 earned) on 11 hits and 2 walks, with 3 strikeouts.� He threw 93 pitches, 58 for strikes.

Powell Wins #10 With Early Homers

Indianapolis Indians� 6,� Louisville Bats� 2 ..��� (box)

IMG_2550Both the Indianapolis Indians and the Louisville Bats slammed two home runs, but our big dingers were bigger than your big dingers.� The Bats' homers were both solo shots, while the Indians' had a 2-run homer and a 3-run homer.� The Indians home runs both came in the 1st inning, giving starter Jeremy Powell (photo) an early cushion, as he won his team-high 10th win of the season.� This is the first time since 2006 that Powell has had as many as 10 wins in a season.

The big 1st inning was just about all the Indians needed.� The inning began with LF Kevin Melillo rocketing a low liner right back at the mound, where it struck pitcher Matt Klinker on the leg.� Klinker was able to locate the ball and get it over to first base in time to get the out.� He convinced Bats' manager Rick Sweet and the training staff that he was ok.... but the rest of the inning did not bear that out.� He walked the next batter, 2B Akinori Iwamura. Then CF Alex Presley slammed a no-doubt-about-it homer over the right-center field wall.� The Louisville outfielders did not bother trying to chase it -- it was clearly already gone.� Klinker hit the next two Tribe batters -- RF Brandon Moss was plunked in the back, and 3B Mitch Jones was only grazed on the jersey.� That brought up 1B Brian Myrow, who was making his first start since coming off the Disabled List.� Myrow showed that the DL stint hasn't slowed him down, with the second home run of the inning, taking a 3-2 pitch over the right field wall for 3 runs.� Klinker began to right himself after that, striking out both C Jason Jaramillo and SS Doug Bernier to end the inning.

Klinker was fine after that, though the damage had already been done.� He allowed the Indians only one more hit over the next 5 innings, though he did walk 2 more batters.� Doug Bernier singled with one out in the 4th, and advanced to second base on Jeremy Powell's sacrifice bunt, but got no further.� Aki Iwamura walked in the 2nd inning, and he also reached on an error when 2B Wilkin Castillo dropped his ground ball in the 5th.� Alex Presley walked after Iwamura got on base, but Iwamura was doubled off second base when Brandon Moss lined out to first base, and Presley was out in a grounder force out to end the inning.

Two Homers Too Much For Tribe

Louisville Bats� 5,� Indianapolis Indians� 1 ..�� (box)

IMG_4097Two home runs by Bats' RF Wladimir Balentien plus an RBI single drove in a total of 4 runs, as the Bats made quick work of the Indians at Louisville Slugger Field in Louisville, Kentucky tonight.� 3B Mitch Jones scored the Indians' only run of the game, and starter Mike Crotta (photo) suffered the loss.

The Bats' first two runs of the game were sparked by two triples.� Mike Crotta had worked around a base runner in each of the first two innings -- CF Dave Sappelt reached on a fielding error in the 1st but was erased with a double play, and LF Danny Dorn walked in the 2nd but was left on base.� With two outs in teh 3rd inning, Sappelt drove a low liner into the right center field alley.� CF Alex Presley chased after the ball and made a diving attempt to catch it, but the ball went off his glove, and he had to hop up and track it down before he could throw the ball back to the infield.� By then, Sappelt had cruised into third base with a triple.� Crotta's first pitch to 2B Wilkin Castillo hit the dirt and bounced away from C Erik Kratz to the left of the home plate area.� Kratz scrambled over to pick up the ball and throw to Crotta covering the plate, but Kratz was throwing from a sprawled position on the ground, and his throw was high and wide, and the run scored.

The 4th inning began with the second triple, this one by 1B Yonder Alonso.� The ball bounced just inside the first base line but past the diving 1B John Bowker, down past the rolled up tarp and into the right field corner.� RF Brandon Moss hoped the ball would carom off the wall and toward him as he raced over in right field, but there was no carom and Moss ahd to chase it down.� Alonso was easily in with a triple.� Wladimir Balantien followed with a single through the hole and past SS Doug Bernier and into left field, plating Alonso, to give the Bats a 2-0 lead.

Bullpen Falters As Indians Lose Late

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Alex Presley is back to the bag safely









Louisville Bats� 6,� Indianapolis Indians� 3 ..���� (box)

IMG_4467It was a tough night for the Indians' bullpen, as they stumbled in the last two innings, giving the win to the Louisville Bats at Victory Field.� The Indians wasted an excellent starting effort by Charlie Morton (photo), who pitched 6 shutout innings and allowed only 4 hits.� The Indians posted 5 hits, while the Bats out-hit them with 13 knocks.

Morton got some help from his defense, but he cruised along in this start.� He faced only the minimum over the first three innings, and only one batter over the minimum in the first five innings.� He began each of the first three innings with a strikeout, and struck out one more batter after that.

The second batter in the top of the 1st, SS Chris Valaika, slipped a single up through the middle of the infield, where 2B Brian Friday would have been if the Indians' defense was not in a shift position.� The next batter, 1B Yonder Alonso, also grounded up the middle, right over the second base bag.� SS Pedro Ciriaco made a diving stop, and as he hit the ground stretched out prone behind second base, the ball fell out of his glove,� Ciriaco scrambled to pick it up, then still on the ground, flipped the ball back and lateral to Friday covering second base.� Friday was at the bag, and he made an outstanding turn, and fired the ball to 1B John Bowker, just in time to beat Alonso to the first base bag.

Morton retired the side in order in the 2nd and 3rd innings, then gave up a lead-off single to CF Dave Sappelt in the 4th -- the ball glanced off 3B Mitch Jones' glove and into left field.� But again the infield stepped up.� Valaika grounded to third base, where Jones started an around-the-horn (5-4-3) double play to erase Sappelt.� Alonso almost put the Bats onto the scoreboard with a long fly ball to left field.� The ball hit the top of the left field wall, missing a home run by inches, then bounced into left field for a double.� Morton did not erase Alonso from the base path, but instead struck out the next batter, RF Wladimir Balentien, to end the inning.

IMG_4480The Bats also went down in order in the 5th, and that inning ended with an odd play.� 2B Wilkin Castillo bunted a 1-1 pitch to right in front of the plate, but as he was moving out of the batters' box, he came in contact with the ball, so was called out.� C Jason Jaramillo, as the closest fielder, gets credit for the put-out in that situation.

The only time Charlie Morton had two base runners on base at the same time was in the 6th inning.� With one out, Bats' pitcher Chad Reineke dribbled a little grounder (not a bunt) along the third base line, just fair.� By the time Morton and Jaramillo got over to it, Morton picked up the ball, but he had no play at first, and Reineke was on with an infield hit.� Sappelt followed with a grounder to short, and it looked like Morton was going to have yet another base runner erased with a double play.� Pedro Ciriaco made the scoop, but he got excited and his throw to second missed Brian Friday entirely, and sailed into right field.� Reineke advanced to third and Sappelt to second on the error.� With the Indians leading 2-0 at that point, those two runners in scoring position represented the tying runs, and the go-ahead run was at the plate.� Pitching coach Dean Treanor came out for a little chat with Morton (photo).� Then Morton got Valaika to ground softly to third base, and the runners had to hold up.� Another grounder by Alonso to short ended the inning for Morton, and without a run scoring.

Presley And Indians Capitalize On Bats’ Mistakes

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Alex Presley is congratulated after his home run





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Indianapolis Indians� 4,� Louisville Bats� 2 (box)

IMG_4435The Indians were able to take advantage of physical and mental mistakes by the Louisville Bats and earn a win at Victory Field this afternoon.� In their last Sunday afternoon home game of the season, the Indians came from behind, taking the lead in the bottom of the 8th inning.� Tribe CF Alex Presley led the charge with a solo home run and a key double that began the 8th inning rally.

Joe Martinez (photo) made his third start for the Indians, and the Bats kept him hopping in his 5 innings.� He worked around a one-out line drive single by SS Zack Cozart in the 1st inning.� With one out in the 2nd, he gave up three consecutive singles, which put the Bats onto the scoreboard.� LF Todd Frazier drove a long fly off the wall in the right field corner for a double, and a single by 2B Chris Valaika brought in Frazier from second base.� C Corky Miller added a single into short left-center, moving Valaika up to second base.� Martinez ended that inning with a strikeout of his counterpart Ben Jukich and a fly out by yesterday's Bats' hereo, CF Dave Sappelt.

After a quick 1-2-3 inning in the 3rd, Martinez had to work around two runners on base in the 4th.� 3B Juan Francisco reached base when his grounder right over the second base bag hit SS Pedro Ciriaco's glove or foot and glanced off to his left.� Luckily, 2B Doug Bernier was right there to back him up, but by the time the ball got to him, Bernier had no play on Francisco.� Chris Valaika lined a double into center field, and Francisco raced around to third base.� Martinez left both of them in scoring position, with a strikeout by Miller and a tapped grounder by Jukich.