Duo Trying To Make It Back To Cleveland

This time last year, Jeremy Sowers and Joe Inglett looked like they would be key players for the Indians in 2007. Wednesday night, both had good games at Triple-A Buffalo as each continued to try and get into a groove in what has been a disappointing season for them. At Class A Kinston, first baseman Matt Whitney continued his fine year by hitting his 30th homer, giving him 107 RBI for the season.

Sowers (4-5, 3.83 ERA) allowed two runs over 6 1-3 innings in a 7-6 win over Pawtucket.

The left-hander improved to 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA in his last seven starts covering 46 innings.

Sowers started the season in Cleveland, going 1-6 with a 6.93 ERA in 12 starts. Demoted to Buffalo, he went 0-4 in his first five starts for the Bisons until pitching a complete-game shutout over Syracuse on July 20 that started the current turnaround.

Inglett (.246) went 2-for-3 with four RBI and scored twice Wednesday night.

The second baseman-outfielder came into this season with a .310 career average in 562 games in the minors and had batted .284 in 64 games with the Indians last year. But he suffered a series of hamstring and leg injuries in training camp that knocked him out of any chance of gaining a roster spot in Cleveland and has never approached his usual sharp offensive performance at Buffalo this season.

First baseman Ryan Mulhern (.306) and third baseman Andy Marte (.253) each had two hits and one RBI for the Bisons on Wednesday night. Ben Francisco (.321) went 1-for-4 with a run and his 21st stolen base.

Jason Stanford (3.93 ERA) pitched a scoreless eighth, but allowed four runs in the ninth inning to make it close.

At Double-A Akron, first baseman Jordan Brown (.331) went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, his 10th, in the Aeros' 7-4 loss at Erie. Reid Santos (8-3, 2.79 ERA) gave up three runs in 1 2-3 innings of relief to lose it. The lefty came in having worked 7 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings over his past six appearances.

Between Class A Kinston and Akron this year, Jeff Stevens, the right-hander acquired by the Indians in the trade that sent Brandon Phillips to Cincinnati in early 2006, is 6-3 with a 2.56 ERA in 44 outings. In 78 innings, he has allowed only 50 hits and 22 walks while striking out 94.

Kinston first baseman Matt Whitney (.303) hit his 30th homer of the season on Wednesday night in a 6-3 loss to Potomac. The two-run shot was his 14th homer since being promoted from Lake County and gave him 43 RBI with the K-Tribe and 107 for the season.

Chris Gimenez (.278) went 3-for-5 for Kinston.

Cirilo Cumberbatch (.293) went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Lake County's 11-2 loss to Lakewood. Hector Rondon (7-10, 4.93 ERA) gave up nine runs (six earned) in four innings.

At Mahoning Valley, Jeff Hehr (.260) went 2-for-6 with four RBI while Jansy Infante (.312) and Adam White (.227) each had three hits, but the Scrappers lost in 12 innings to Auburn, 8-7. Todd Martin (.360) went 2-for-5).

In Winter Haven, Fla., first baseman Luis Rincon (.239) went 3-for-4, but the Gulf Coast League Indians lost to the GCL Tigers, 3-2. Starter Ryan Miller (4-2, 2.40 ERA) allowed three runs (two earned) over four innings.