Link Report for Mon. 4/14 -- Another Uninspired Power Failure

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Yovani Gallardo at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 5:40 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Steve Hammond at home vs. Chattanooga (Reds), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link via WUMP (game will also archive at this link):

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?sid=t559

 

Brevard County: Idle

 

West Virginia: RHP Roque Mercedes at home vs. Greenville (Red Sox), 9:20 AM pre-game, 9:35 gametime

 

Audio link via WSWW, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link):

www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Log" or "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often.

 

Nashville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_14_iowaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_14_cngaax_hunaax_1

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_14_capafx_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated several hours prior to gametime.

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Omaha 6 4 .600 - 5-2 1-2 L2 Memphis 6 5 .545 0.5 2-1 4-4 W2 Iowa 4 5 .444 1.5 2-4 2-1 L1 Nashville 2 9 .182 4.5 1-2 1-7 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 7 3 .700 - 4-1 3-2 W3 Tennessee 7 3 .700 - 4-1 3-2 W4 Huntsville 6 4 .600 1.0 5-0 1-4 L2 West Tenn 6 4 .600 1.0 4-1 2-3 W2 Chattanooga 5 5 .500 2.0 2-3 3-2 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jupiter 8 3 .727 - 6-0 2-3 L1 Palm Beach 7 4 .636 1.0 3-2 4-2 L1 Daytona 6 4 .600 1.5 4-3 2-1 W2 Brevard County 6 5 .545 2.0 1-2 5-3 W1 Vero Beach 3 7 .300 4.5 2-2 1-5 L7 St. Lucie 2 9 .182 6.0 2-5 0-4 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greensboro 7 4 .636 - 4-3 3-1 W1 Hickory 7 4 .636 - 3-1 4-3 L1 Lake County 6 4 .600 0.5 2-1 4-3 W1 Hagerstown 5 4 .556 1.0 2-1 3-3 L1 Delmarva 4 5 .444 2.0 3-3 1-2 L1 Lakewood 4 6 .400 2.5 3-4 1-2 W1 West Virginia 3 8 .273 4.0 2-5 1-3 L3 Lexington 2 9 .182 5.0 1-6 1-3 L5 

[colbyjack]

The Power bats continue to struggle. I'm going to predict that team wakes up when Farris finally joins the team. He's the sparkplug that teams needs right now.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Greenville (Red Sox) 9, West Virginia 3

Details from the Power Press Release later on...

 

West Virginia Box Score

Well, Andy "Bull" Barch, I was a bit distracted at work for sure, but did listen to you for every pitch; the Power was dominated all series long, and today was no different; Power pitchers allowed 21 baserunners -- ugly, just ugly, painful actually; Roque Mercedes wasn't wild, but has never shown he can be successful above the rookie level; a few bright points -- defense was much better today, including Brent Brewer, who was moved to the #9 spot in the order -- Brewer went 1-for-3 with an RBI double but struck out two more times; Lee Haydel is consistently seeing a lot of pitches and should continue to grow as a leadoff man; Jeff Isom moved Zelous Wheeler up to the #2 spot, as he has been hitting the ball better than his .250 average indicates; Power batters struck out 13 times while drawing two walks; two of the older players on this young Power team, Kurt Crowell and Curt Rindal, have been really struggling...

 

West Virginia Game Log

 

Andy received some excellent email questions today -- how can he get good questions, yet we're letting down Jim Powell via the Sports Bubbler? Let's rectify that for Jim against the Cardinals this week, folks...

[Mass Haas]

Stars Press Release:

By the way, it was 40 degrees for the Power game today, too...

 

The Huntsville Stars have decided to fight back against Mother Nature tonight in the team's series opener against the Chattanooga Lookouts. With chilly temperatures again threatening Joe Davis Stadium, the Stars have stepped forward with a weather guarantee.

The temperature will not drop below 40 degrees during tonight's game, guaranteed. Stars' General Manager Buck Rogers is so sure of it that if the temperature does plummet, he will allow every fan in attendance to use their ticket stub at another Stars' home game, any Stars' home game.

"Come on out to the party tonight," Rogers implored fans. "The weather may be cold, but the game's going to be hot. If it gets too cold for you, come on back later and we'll try again."

Tonight, and every Monday night, is also Military Monday and Pray-'n-Play Monday. Fans who present a Military ID or a Church Bulletin, will receive special $1.00 ticket price.

"How can you go wrong? Come watch a game for a buck, and if it gets cold, come back and catch a game when the weather's a little nicer."

The Stars host the Chattanooga Lookouts, tonight at 7:05 pm in the first game of a five-game series. The Stars will send lefty Steve Hammond (1-1, 4.50) to the mound against the Lookouts' Sam Lecure (0-0, 8.31).

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Site:

 

GREENVILLE COMPLETES POWER SWEEP

 

The Greenville Drive scored multiple runs in three innings of Monday morning's game at Appalachian Power Park and extended their winning streak to six games as they completed the four game sweep of the Power, defeating West Virginia 9-3.

 

Aaron Reza began the game with a solo home run to left, his second of the year. The Power answered quickly in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of runs to take their only lead of the game. John Alonso ripped an RBI single and Caleb Gindl's sacrifice fly brought in Jonathan Lucroy to give the Power a 2-1 edge. It didn't take Greenville long to respond as they took the lead for good in the second inning on back-to-back two out hits from Kris Negron and Reza. Negron's single scored David Mailman and Negron scored later in the inning on Reza's double.

 

Manny Arambarris added to the lead with a two-run homer in the top of the third. The Drive plated three runs in the sixth inning. David Marks's sacrifice fly brought in Anthony Rizzo and Yamaico Navarro drove in the final two with at triple, giving him seven RBI in the series. The Drive plated their final run in the seventh when Marks walked with the bases loaded. The Power scored their final run in the seventh on Brent Brewer's RBI double.

 

Ryan Colvin (1-0) allowed a run on four hits over three innings out of the pen to get the victory while Roque Mercedes (0-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits through three innings. Greenville starting pitcher Jose Alvarez was taken out after four and two thirds, but struck out eight batters while allowing two runs on just two hits.

 

The Power are 3-9 after the loss and Greenville improves to 8-4 with the victory. The Drive finished their eight game road trip with a 7-1 record. Zelous Wheeler had the only multi-hit game for the Power, going 2-for-4. Reza and Mike Jones both went 3-for-4 for the Drive. Greenville outscored West Virginia 24-7 in the series.

 

The Power will begin a four game series with the Asheville Tourists at McCormick Field on Tuesday night. Right hander Evan Anundsen (1-0, 1.64) will get the start for the Power. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

[TheCrew07]

What's not to like about Buck Rogers? A great minor league GM with a sweet name to boot, I hope he continues his letters to the fans this year, I enjoyed them immensely.

[TheCrew07]

A rather ho hum start for Yo, and Huntsville just got less than they should have in the 3rd on a DP you don't see very often.

 

edit. Salome with his first hit of the season. This is not a well pitched game, both pitchers over 60 pitches in the 3rd, though it is cold.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Starting Pitcher Zach Jackson

[Mass Haas]

Final: Iowa (Cubs) 5, Nashville 4, 12 innings

 

Link for new Russell Branyan picture, text follows:

 

Cubs Edge Sounds In Series Finale, 5-4 In 12

 

NASHVILLE - Iowa first baseman Jake Fox delivered a two-out RBI single in the top of the twelfth inning on Monday evening at Greer Stadium to give the visiting Cubs a 5-4 victory over the Nashville Sounds in the finale of a four-game series.

 

In the top of the twelfth, Luis Figueroa reached with one out after Sounds catcher Vinny Rottino mishandled a swinging third strike and was charged with a passed ball. After a groundout and Matt Murton walk, Tim Dillard was summoned to face Fox, who ripped a 1-0 offering through the right side of the infield to plate Figueroa with the game-winning run.

 

Cubs reliever Neal Cotts (2-0) worked two scoreless frames to earn the win for Iowa, while Mitch Stetter (0-1) took the loss after giving up the game-deciding run in unearned fashion his 1 1/3 innings.

 

Both teams' first extra-inning contest of the year was made possible by Sounds third baseman Russell Branyan, who tied the contest at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth when he led off the frame with his 200th career minor league home run, an opposite-field solo shot to left off Cubs reliever Jose Ascanio.

 

AUDIO: Branyan Game-Tying HR In 9th

 

Branyan finished 2-for-5 with a pair of extra-base hits and has hit safely in 10 of his 12 contests this season while posting a team-leading .405 average.

 

Right-hander Yovani Gallardo made his third rehabilitation start for Nashville while recovering from left knee surgery. He worked 6 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits while throwing 106 pitches (61 strikes). Four of the seven hits against him went for extra bases. Gallardo struck out seven and walked three batters.

 

Through three rehab outings, Gallardo has an 0-1 record and 5.17 ERA (9 ER / 15.2 IP).

 

Fox put the visitors up 2-0 in the top of the second innings with a towering two-run home run to right field off Gallardo. The blast, which scored Josh Kroeger, was Fox's third home run of the year.

 

The Cubs added a pair of runs in the third against Gallardo on RBI doubles from Kroeger and Casey McGehee, doubling the Iowa lead to 4-0.

 

The Sounds pulled with a run at 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out rally against Cubs reliever Les Walrond. Brad Nelson drew an inning-opening walk and Laynce Nix singled before the lefty retired the next two Nashville batters.

 

Steve Sollmann, who had two hits in 23 at-bats to open the year, ripped a two-run double down the left field line to halve the Iowa lead. Brendan Katin followed with a first-pitch RBI triple that glanced off the glove of diving second baseman Eric Patterson in short right field, allowing Sollmann to make it a one-run contest.

 

With his second run-scoring pinch-hit knock in as many nights, Katin extended the Sounds' longest active hitting streak to five games and registered his team-leading sixth RBI of the year.

 

Iowa starter Mark Holliman worked six shutout innings, allowing only three hits while striking out six batters, but took a no-decision following the late blown save.

 

The Sounds continue their opening homestand on Tuesday when they welcome the division-rival Omaha Royals to town for the 6 p.m. opener of a four-game series. Left-hander Chris Narveson (0-2, 4.50) will man the bump for the Sounds and face Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar (0-1, 3.97).

 

Nashville Box Score

Nice to see Brad Nelson with such a productive start, in right field in this one...

 

Nashville Game Log

Most of the Nashville losses, and there have been many, have been by multiple runs, this seems like the first "tough loss"...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 6, Chattanooga (Reds) 5

Details form the Stars' Press Release in a bit...

 

Huntsville Box Score

Patrick Ryan closes it out 1-2-3, although one warning track fly ball was scary; Michael Brantley isn't even 21 years old until next month -- my goodness, he's so polished at the plate, only on base five times tonight; Dave Johnson with a very strong stint to get the win behind an uneven Steve Hammond; Stars struck out ten times but drew seven walks and two HBP's; Alcides Escobar, Matt LaPorta, and Mike Bell each reached three times; a struggling Cole Gillespie dropped to the 7th spot in the lineup -- yikes...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[battlekow]

Heck of a game for Brantley: 3-3, 2 BB, 2 R, 3 SB. He's now hitting .368/.455/.421/.876.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Press Release:

HUNTSVILLE BACK ON WINNING TRACK

 

Matt LaPorta knocked in two runs and Michael Brantley reached base in all five of his at-bats, as Huntsville hung on to down Chattanooga 6-5 on a frigid Monday night in the opener of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville improved to 7-4, and 6-0 at home, and stayed within a game of North Division leading Carolina, while the Lookouts dropped to 5-6. Temperatures dipped to 45 degrees at first pitch and dropped significantly throughout the game and were augmented by winds gusting in from left field at about 20 miles per hour.

 

Brantley led off the home first with a single, moved to second base on an Alcides Escobar base hit. The two pulled off a double steal and a throwing error by catcher Craig Tatum on the play allowed Brantley to score. Escobar then came in to score on a two-out single by LaPorta, who had one hit in 14 tries in the last series against West Tenn.

 

Jose Castro's run-scoring ground out in the second and Michael Griffin's run-producing double in the third tied the game before the Stars tallied twice in the home third to take the lead for good. Brantley singled, Escobar and Mat Gamel walked to load the bases and Chris Errecart followed with a sacrifice fly that moved all three runners. LaPorta was given an intentional pass to reload the bases before Mike Bell singled to right to plate Escobar to make it 4-2. However, on the play, Gamel was thrown out at the plate and LaPorta was then cut down trying to advance to third to end the frame.

 

B.J. Szymanski's home run in the fourth trimmed the Stars' lead to 4-3 and the Lookouts had runners at first and second with one out in the fifth when Huntsville starter Steve Hammond was taken out of the game and replaced by David Johnson, who fanned Eric Eymann and Szymanski to end the inning. Johnson worked a scoreless sixth inning to grab his second win of the season Hammond allowed four hits, walked five and fanned eight in his third turn of the season.

 

LaPorta and Bell delivered back-to-back run-scoring triples in the fifth to give the Stars a 6-3 lead. Chattanooga starter Sam LeCure, who lost to Huntsville three times last year, was handed his first loss this season after allowing all six runs on eight hits, four walks and two hit batters over five frames. Brantley singled three times, walked twice, stole three bases and extended his hitting streak to five straight games.

 

Szymanski's two-out, two-run double in the seventh inning cut the home team's lead to one before E.J. Shanks retired the side in order in the eighth and Patrick Ryan worked a perfect ninth to record his first save of the season.

 

The series continues Tuesday night with left-hander Derek Miller taking the hill for Huntsville against Lookouts' right-hander Darryl Thompson. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Sounds lose to Iowa in 12th

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Despite a major leaguer on the mound, the Sounds reverted to their season-long struggles Monday night.

 

Yovani Gallardo, currently on the Milwaukee Brewers' disabled list after injuring his left knee a couple of months ago, made his third rehabilitation start of the year for the Sounds in the team's series finale against visiting Iowa.

 

The right-hander pitched 6 1/3 innings and struck out seven - both season highs - but allowed four runs on seven hits as the Cubs won 5-4 in 12 innings to clinch the series.

 

Nashville trailed 4-0 before scoring three runs in the seventh inning and tying the score on Russell Branyan's ninth-inning leadoff home run.

 

However, a passed ball by Vinny Rottino on a strikeout by Mitch Stetter allowed Luis Figueroa to reach base in the 12th inning. Following a groundout, a walk and a pitching change, Jake Fox singled to right off Tim Dillard to score Figueroa.

 

The Sounds lost for the 10th time in 12 games to open the season.

 

"We made a mistake in the last inning," Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas said regarding the passed ball. "We missed a third strike, and the guy comes around to score. That's the ballgame."

 

That was the only misstep by the Sounds' bullpen as five relievers held Iowa to just three hits. Early, though, the Cubs roughed up Gallardo.

 

Iowa scored two runs in the second inning and two in the third, but Gallardo allowed just two hits in his final 3 1/3 innings.

 

"He was rushing a little bit," Kremblas said. "I think he was a little anxious, knowing it was his last rehab start. Those guys aren't bad hitters. He was up in the zone and they pounded him. But he settled down and pitched well."

 

What they said: "Two-out RBI: We had three (in the seventh inning) that got us back in the game; they had one that won it for them." - Kremblas.

 

Today's pitchers: Nashville LHP Chris Narveson (0-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Omaha RHP Luke Hochevar (0-1, 3.97).

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Katin proves to be good in a pinch

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Brendan Katin has been instant offense for the Sounds, extending his hitting streak to a team-high five games with pinch-hit RBIs in back-to-back games.

 

His seventh-inning blooper to short right field in Monday's eventual 5-4, 12-inning loss to Iowa was in the glove of diving Iowa second baseman Eric Patterson - but came out when Patterson landed. Steve Sollmann scored from second and Katin wound up with a triple.

 

In Sunday's 6-1 win over Iowa, Katin singled on the first pitch to drive in a pair of seventh-inning runs.

 

With the three RBIs in the past two games, Katin - in his first season of Triple-A ball - leads the Sounds with six.

 

No creatures of habit: For the first time this season, the Sounds utilized the same batting order in consecutive games.

 

After scoring a season-high six runs in Sunday's win over Iowa, Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas used the same starting lineup Monday.

 

The move didn't pay off early. Nashville trailed 4-0 before scoring three runs in the seventh and one in the ninth to force extra innings.

 

Milestone: Russell Branyan's ninth-inning leadoff homer, which capped the Sounds' comeback, was the 200th of his minor league career.

 

A seventh-round pick of the Cleveland Indians in the 1994 draft, Branyan - who moved to Franklin following the 2005 season - hit 30 or more minor league homers in three different seasons - 1996, when he hit 40 at Class A Columbus; '97, when he hit 39 between Single-A Kinston and Double-A Akron; and '99, when he hit 30 at Triple-A Buffalo. He also hit 37 total home runs in 2000, with 16 of those coming for the Indians.

 

Thus far this season, Branyan has hits in 10 of the Sounds' 12 games and is batting .405.

 

South for the winter: Kremblas has accepted an offer to manage the Caracas Lions of the Venezuelan Winter League following the conclusion of the PCL season.

 

It'll be Kremblas' third winter ball stint, having previously coached in Venezuela in 2000 and managed in Mexico in 2004.

 

Kremblas admitted he doesn't speak the native language, but said, "I'm taking a guy with me that knows Spanish."

 

Heavy-hittin' Hopf: Catcher J.R. Hopf was activated prior to Monday's game after previously being placed on the disabled list at Double-A Huntsville because of back spasms.

 

To create a roster spot for Hopf, catcher Martin Maldonado was reassigned to Class A Brevard County, where he began the year prior to his Saturday callup.

 

Hopf, who hit .226 between Brevard County and Nashville last season, led the Sounds in the postseason with a .500 (5-for-10) batting average while driving in three runs. He came into Monday night's game in the 12th inning as part of a double switch and grounded into a double play.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Pre-Game Audio Interview with Manager Don Money:

Go to the WUMP archive, make sure you're selected the April 14th date, go to the 06:45 minute mark --

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/multimedia/audio.jsp

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Home's where the wins are for Stars

Huntsville improves to 6-0 at The Joe after beating Chattanooga

By BRAD SHEPARD

For The Huntsville Times

 

During the past two games, the Huntsville Stars' vaunted offense mustered only two runs in two losses.

 

Facing Sam LeCure was the cure.

 

The Stars pelted Chattanooga's starting pitcher for eight hits and six runs in five innings on their way to a 6-5 victory in front of an announced crowd of 502.

 

Huntsville stayed hot at home despite temperatures that barely hovered over 40 degrees, moving to 6-0 this season at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

"(LeCure) had a hard time locating, throwing strikes and he had to rely on his fastball," said Huntsville second baseman Mike Bell, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

 

"He was struggling a little bit, and we jumped on him."

 

The Stars needed every bit, too, thanks to Chattanooga right fielder B.J. Szymanski. The Princeton graduate went 2-for-3 with a home run, double and three RBIs, but Huntsville's early offense and late relief were too much.

 

Patrick Ryan got the Lookouts in order in the ninth to pick up his first save of the season after fellow reliever E.J. Shanks struggled.

 

Also, when Stars starter Steve Hammond failed to get out of the fifth, David Johnson stranded runners on second and third with one out, coming through with a pair of strikeouts to pick up the win.

 

"Johnson came in and did a great job," Stars manager Don Money said.

 

The same couldn't be said for LeCure. He entered with an earned-run average of 8.31, which actually rose. The damage would have been worse if not for two Stars - Mat Gamel and Bell - getting thrown out at the plate on 9-2-5 and 7-2 double plays.

 

On top of those oddities, there were the back-to-back triples by Matt LaPorta and Bell in the bottom of the fifth, which turned a tenuous one-run lead into a 6-3 cushion.

 

It was a Ripley's-Believe-It-or-Not hodge-podge of weird plays all night.

 

"You just never know in this game," Bell said. "When you play as long as we have, nothing surprises you anymore."

 

Huntsville struck quickly with two runs in the first, but the Lookouts (5-6) stormed back

 

After they tied the game at 2-all in the top of the third, the Stars (7-4) answered immediately off LeCure.

 

Michael Brantley - who was 3-for-3 with two runs, two walks and a steal - started the inning with a single up the middle and scored on a sac-fly by Chris Errecart.

 

Chattanooga elected to walk LaPorta to load the bases and set up the double play, which they did - just not the way they'd hoped. Bell laced a single past the diving first baseman, but Szymanski threw out Gamel trying to score. Catcher Craig Tatum then fired to third to get LaPorta.

 

The Lookouts closed the gap to 4-3 with Szymanski's home run, but the Stars tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth.

 

"This lineup has been held back the last couple of nights, and that was out-of-character for sure," Brantley said. "I don't know what it is about this park, but we just like it hitting-wise."

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Lett trying to get struggling Power hitters to relax more in batter's box

West Virginia Power loses fourth straight

by Tom Aluise

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

Trailing 9-3 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, the West Virginia Power had virtually no chance of escaping its fourth straight South Atlantic League loss.

 

Still, Power hitting coach Jim Lett liked what was transpiring at home plate.

 

West Virginia's Lee Haydel was battling Greenville Drive reliever Chad Povich as if the winning run was in scoring position.

 

Haydel fouled off pitch after pitch until he found one to his liking and drove it into the gap in left center field. Unfortunately for the Power and what was left of the 2,942 fans out for a chilly Grand Slam School Day game on Monday, Haydel's sinking liner was pulled in for the game's third and final out.

 

"That's exactly what I'm talking about," Lett said of Haydel's at-bat. "You have to fight pitches off to get a good pitch to hit."

 

In his first season on the Power staff, Lett appears to be in a particularly demanding job.

 

The Winfield native has to help turn around a Power offense that is struggling early in the season. West Virginia ranks near the bottom in the 16-team Sally League in batting average, hits and runs scored. Power hitters are striking out more than all but a couple of teams in the league.

 

Monday's 9-3 loss, which dropped the Power to 3-9, did have a bright side. West Virginia finished with seven hits against Greenville pitching. In seven of the Power's first 11 games, it had six hits or fewer.

 

"They just need to settle down, do the little things and when they get a good pitch to hit, put a good swing on it," said Lett, who managed the 1990 Charleston Wheelers to the Sally League title.

 

Lett said the Power's young players, all of whom want to start the season with a bang, are beginning to press at the plate. The deeper they fall into a slump, the less patient they are in the batter's box.

 

Right now, Lett said, the team is swinging at too many bad pitches. Monday, three Greenville pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts.

 

"Good hitters are relaxed up there," Lett said. "Their mentality is (that) the pressure is on the pitcher, not the hitter.

 

"You're going to go through these spells," Lett added. "That's why they call it Class A baseball. We've all been there before."

 

Second baseman Zelous Wheeler collected two hits for the Power on Monday and scored one of its three runs.

 

Starter Roque Mercedes (0-1) took the loss for the Power. He went three innings, allowing five runs on seven hits.

 

"We've faced some pretty good pitching," Lett said. "That bunch (Greenville) was a pretty good staff."

 

It won't get any easier this week for the Power.

 

Tonight, West Virginia opens a four-game series at Asheville. Through Saturday, Asheville pitching ranked third in the Sally League in team ERA at 2.72.