MVN: Most Valuable Network

This evenings' game between the Indianapolis Indians and the Louisville Bats has been rained out.  It's been raining here since mid-morning, and it's supposed to continue until the early morning hours on Sunday.  They waited quite a while before calling it, since the game was sold out and the downtown fireworks will be visible from Victory Field (if the clouds don't come any lower).  It looks like we'll be playing two on Sunday.

Some promotions within the Pirates' system:OF Jonel Pacheco, C Milver Reyes were promoted from AA Altoona to AAA Indianapolis.  Pacheco takes the roster spot of Garrett Jones, who is now with Pittsburgh.  He will be the only "true" outfield on the Indians' roster.  Reyes is taking the spot of C Miguel Perez, who is going back to Altoona.  And, remember that Ryan Doumit is scheduled to join the Indy Indians in the next few days, and Lastings Milledge sometime soon also.  INF Ray Chang has been promoted from A+ Lynchburg to AA Altoona.  Fourth of July action in the Pirates' organization:GCL Yankees 4,  Bradenton Pirates 2boxThe Indian pitchers signed by the Pirates over last winter have made their pro debuts with the GCL Bradenton team.   Lefty Rinku Singh entered the game in the 7th.  He gave up a two singles to begin the inning, then threw a wild pitch that allowed the lead... Read more

Louisville Bats 1,     Indianapolis Indians 0boxTom Gorzelanny (photo) pitched a complete 9-inning game tonight at Slugger Field in Louisville, KY, allowing only one unearned run, but that one run was enough to give him his third loss of the season with the Indians.  Gorzelanny gave up 5 hits, no walks, and struck out 5 Bats' batters.  It took him 89 pitches, 59 for strikes.That unearned run happened in the bottom of the 1st.  CF Drew Stubbs led off with a single into center field, but was erased when 3B Luis Bolivar bounced back to the mound for a force out at second base.  Bolivar moved to second base on SS Adam Rosales' single.  When Bolivar went to steal third base, Gorzelanny whirled to make the throw to third, but he slipped as he threw, falling to the grass.  The throw bounced off Tribe 3B Pedro Lopez's glove, and got... Read more

It has finally stopped raining in Florida, at least long enough for the GCL Bradenton Pirates to play a little.  They're going to have a lot of double-headers to play.Game 1GCL Blue Jays 3, GCL Bradenton Pirates 1 box Ryan Doumit finally began his rehab assignment.   He had three plate appearances in Game 1, for a strikeout, a walk, and a fly out, and he caught 5 innings.  Doumit did not play in Game 2.The Pirates were held to only 5 hits, none of which contributed to their only run.  In the 3rd inning, LF Edwin Roman led off with a walk, and was bunted to second base by 2B Gift Ngoepe.  A wild pitch sent Roman to third base.  Doumit walked to put runners on the corners, and a grounder force out brought Roman in.  1B Gemmy Gonzalez did get a single after the run scored, and a wild pitch... Read more

The Indians' holiday weekend began with a double header in Louisville -- but not in a good way.Game 1Louisville Bats 2,    Indianapolis Indians 1boxThe Indianapolis Indians were able to put a few runners on base in Game 1 against the Bats at Slugger Field in Louisville this evening, but only one managed to come around to score.  That lone run belonged to LF Larry Broadway (photo), who blasted a solo homer in the top of the 7th inning.  Starter Eric Hacker (photo) struggled in the early innings.  The bottom of the 1st inning began with a single by Bats' CF Drew Stubbs.  Hacker quickly picked Stubbs off first base, with a controversial call at first base.  The umpire's call stood, of course, and after a second out, Hacker walked RF Chris Heisey.  1B Kevin Barker followed with a double into center field, which Tribe CF Luis Cruz could not get to,... Read more

Thursday in the Pirates' lower minor league organization.Big surprise -- the GCL Bradenton Pirates were rained out.  That's 5 games now that they've been unable to play -- and they've only played 4 games.Altoona Curve 4,  Reading Phillies 3boxHome runs by RF Jose Tabata and CF Gorkys Hernandez gave the Curve the boost they needed.  Altoona scored their first two runs in the 2nd inning.  LF Jeff Corsaletti reached base on a fielding error, and he moved around the bases on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out, then scored on 3B Angel Gonzalez's RBI single.  Two more singles, by starting pitcher Tyler Herron and 2B Jim Negrych brought Gonzalez home.  Tabata's homer led off the bottom of the 3rd inning, and Hernandez's came with two outs in the 4th.  The Curve's only other big threat came after Tabata's blast in the 3rd.  1B Jason Delaney followed the homer with a... Read more

The International League All-Star team roster has been set, and it includes two members of the Indianapolis Indians:  C Erik Kratz (photo) and righty reliever Chris Bootcheck.  Kratz is hitting .280 with 17 doubles, 3 home runs, and 20 RBI for the Indians.  He has also stolen 6 bases this season.  He hit .308 during the month of June, and currently has a hit in 9 of his last 10 games.  Kratz has also thrown out 31% of runners trying to steal a base.Bootcheck, (photo) the Indians' closer, has appeared in 30 games for the Indians.  He has a 1-2 record with 14 saves  (second highest in the International League) and a 2.91 ERA.  In 34 innings on the mound, he has walked only 6 batters and struck out 48.  The La Porte, Indiana native has not allowed a run in the month of June.The AAA All-Star game will be held... Read more

The Eastern League has named it's All-Star teams.  The Southern Division team includes three members of the Altoona Curve:OF/1B Jason Delaney  (photo)SS Brian FridayLHP/Starter Danny MoskosThe Eastern League All-Star Game will be held on July 15th in Trenton.The Indianapolis Indians have a scheduled day off on Wednesday.  They are heading to Louisville tomorrow, where they will play a double-header on Thursday and a single game on Friday.The GCL Bradenton Pirates had a double-header scheduled for today, since they've had a few rainouts in the past few days, but guess what -- it was rained out too.Indian pitching prospects Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, who have been working out at Bradenton and generally learning how to play this game, are expected to make their pro debuts soon with the Bradenton Pirates. The Pirates have signed 3rd round draft pick OF Evan Chambers to a contract.  He will be reporting to State College.... Read more

The GCL Bradenton Pirates were again rained out in Florida, but the rest of the affiliates were busy on Tuesday night.Reading Phillies 6, Altoona Curve 5  (12 innings)box It took three extra innings, but the R-Phils' Kevin Mahar finally sent everyone home with a two-out solo homer off Sean Smith in the bottom of the 12th.  The Curve put up 5 runs in the 2nd inning to get the scoring started.  LF Jonel Pacheco walked and 2B Jim Negrych singled to start the inning.  Both scored on 1B Miles Durham's triple.  C Steve Lerud was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners.  3B Angel Gonzalez brought Durham in with a sacrifice fly, and Lerud was able to go to second base when the R-Phils catcher missed the catch on the throw in from the outfield.  A sacrifice bunt by pitcher Mike Crotta advanced Lerud to third base, and Lerud scored when SS... Read more

Toledo MudHens 9,    Indianapolis Indians 7boxThe Toledo MudHens broke a 7-7 tie with 2 runs in the 8th inning to win a wild game over the Indianapolis Indians at Victory Field tonight.  The two teams combined for 23 total hits, and both teams took advantage of the other's mistakes -- including 4 errors by the Indians.  Tribe starting pitcher Brad Lincoln (photo), who was making his second start at AAA, had a much tougher time than in his debut on Wednesday in Lehigh Valley, when he gave up just one run on 2 hits in 6.2 innings.  Tonight Lincoln struggled with his control, going deeper into counts in the 3rd and 4th innings than he had in the first two innings.  He ultimately lasted only 3.2 innings and was responsible for 6 runs (3 earned), on 6 hits and 2 walks, and struck out one batter.    The MudHens scored... Read more

The Pittsburgh Pirates have called OF Garrett Jones (photo) up to the big club.  He will be added to the 40-man roster and take the spot of OF Eric Hinske, who was traded to the New York Yankees today.Jones has been doing well in his first three months at Indianapolis.  In April, he hit .314, with 3 homers and 20 RBI.  He slumped a little in May, as he had to contend with some back issues.  He hit "only" .276 with 3 more home runs and 13 RBI in that month.  He's come back with a .333 average for the month of June, with 6 homers and 16 RBI.  Jones had had a hit in 9 of his last 10 games, going 16-for-39 (.410) in that period, with 2 homers and 7 RBI.  He had the game-winning hit on Sunday and two big hits in last night's game, and he... Read more