Next Stop: Indianapolis

The Clippers (8-4) arrived in Indy last late night to begin a two-game set with the last place Indians (4-8). First pitch tonight is 7:00pm with Hector Rondon facing lefty Donnie Veal.

* Louisville’s Sam LeCure fired eight innings of two-hit shutout baseball last night to beat the Clippers. The Clippers scored twice in the ninth against reliever Jon Adkins. The two runs scored are the fewest this season by the Columbus lineup.

* The Clippers are batting .293, tops in the league. The team ERA is 4.15, ranking 10th (of 14 teams).

* Indians Prospect Insider as an in-depth look at the Clippers starting rotation.

* Carlos Carrasco suffered his first loss last night in Louisville and a throwing error cost him for the second consecutive start. In the 5th inning of a scoreless game, Carrasco tried to throw out Corky Miller at second base, on a tapper back to the mound from Chris Burke. Carrasco’s throw was off the mark and both runners were safe. Chris Heisey then blasted a three-run homer to left field to put Louisville ahead for good.

* Michael Brantley met the team this morning in Indianapolis. He is expected to be in tonight’s lineup. Brantley, 22, batted just .156 (5-for-32) in nine games with Cleveland. He won the starting left fielders job in spring camp, but with Russell Branyan returning from the disabled list, Matt LaPorta will inherit left.

* Brian Horwitz was given his outright release to make room for Brantley. Horwitz, acquired in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft, was 4-for-15 (.267) with two RBIs in six games.

* Jerad Head was transferred to Double-A Akron today. He has been on the Clippers disabled list since Opening Day.

* Here is today’s Indians Minor League Report

* In case you missed it, the Clippers will be broadcast on MLB Network June 15 vs. Norfolk.

* Brian Bixler started last night’s game in left field, his first outfield appearance this season. Bixler, acquired from Pittsburgh in an off-season trade, made his first big league outfield appearance in center last September, but also made 15 starts in center field with Indianapolis.

* Chris Gimenez made his 2010 debut at first base because Wes Hodges was unavailable after fouling a ball off his ankle during Sunday’s double-header. Gimenez started 24 games at catcher, 11 in left field and 3 at first base last season in Triple-A. He was called up to the Indians on May 31 and appeared in 18 games at first base (13 starts), 14 in left field (9 starts), 7 in right field (4 starts) and 8 as catcher (6 starts).

* By the way, Hodges (ankle) is considered day-to-day and could have played last night according to Mike Sarbaugh.

* Our friend Tony Lastoria was at Huntington Park last week and wrote a good story about Wes Hodges moving to first base.

* Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for Clippers in-game updates, roster moves, and more!

* Lastly, Happy Birthday to Clippers Merchandise Director Krista Oberlander and Louisville Bats broadcaster Matt Andrews. Stop in the Clippers Cargo Shop at Huntington Park and say hello to Krista sometime this season. You can say hello at Matt here…