Link Report for Games of Sunday, April 20th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Zach Jackson at Albuquerque (Marlins), 2:15 PM pre-game; 2:35 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Derek Miller at Mississippi (Braves), 12:50 PM pre-game; 1:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Brevard County: LHP Rafael Lluberes at Vero Beach (Devil Rays), 12:00 PM gametime

 

Audio link, Vero Beach's broadcast (game will also archive at this link):

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503

 

West Virginia: RHP Roque Mercedes and RHP Evan Anundsen in a double-dip at home vs. Lexington (Astros), 12:50 PM pre-game, 1:05 gametime; each game will be seven innings...

 

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

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

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday'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_20_nasaaa_albaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_20_hunaax_msbaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_20_breafa_vbdafa_1

 

West Virginia Game One:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_20_lexafx_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Two:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_20_lexafx_wvaafx_2

[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 9 6 .600 - 5-3 4-3 L1 Iowa 7 8 .467 2.0 2-5 5-3 L1 Memphis 7 10 .412 3.0 2-6 5-4 W1 Nashville 3 13 .188 6.5 2-5 1-8 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 12 4 .750 - 5-1 7-3 W3 Huntsville 10 6 .625 2.0 8-2 2-4 W2 West Tenn 9 7 .563 3.0 5-1 4-6 W2 Chattanooga 8 8 .500 4.0 3-3 5-5 W1 Tennessee 8 8 .500 4.0 5-5 3-3 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 10 6 .625 - 5-3 5-3 L1 Jupiter 10 6 .625 - 7-1 3-5 L1 Palm Beach 10 6 .625 - 5-3 5-3 W1 Daytona 8 8 .500 2.0 4-4 4-4 W1 Vero Beach 8 8 .500 2.0 5-3 3-5 W3 St. Lucie 2 14 .125 8.0 2-6 0-8 L5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 11 5 .688 - 5-2 6-3 W4 Greensboro 11 6 .647 0.5 5-3 6-3 W2 Hickory 9 7 .563 2.0 4-4 5-3 W1 Delmarva 8 8 .500 3.0 5-4 3-4 L2 Lakewood 7 9 .438 4.0 5-6 2-3 W2 Hagerstown 6 10 .375 5.0 2-3 4-7 L4 Lexington 5 11 .313 6.0 1-7 4-4 L1 West Virginia 4 12 .250 7.0 2-6 2-6 W1 

[Mass Haas]

By the way, the Manatees will get a taste of big league play today -- they are facing the Rays' Matt Garza on a rehab assignment.

[Mass Haas]

Nice start (grand slam) for Mike Bell and the Stars:

 

Huntsville Top 1st

• - Michael Brantley walks.
• - Alcides Escobar doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Quentin Davis. Michael Brantley to 3rd.
• - Mat Gamel pops out to shortstop Javier Guzman.
• - Matt LaPorta called out on strikes.
• - Cole Gillespie walks.
• - Mike Bell hits a grand slam (1) to left field. Michael Brantley scores. Alcides Escobar scores. Cole Gillespie scores.
• - Freddy Parejo lines out to center fielder Matt Young.

Don't ask about Rafael Lluberes' start with Brevard -- ugh...

[twobrewers]

Brantley has been fantastic this year.

 

As a CF, he has to move up the Power 50.

[pogokat]

what about as a first baseman? Because that's where he played today...

 

he's the strangest guy in the system...he's getting on base at a .471 clip, but he's only got two extra base hits...

 

i genuinely don't know what to think of him...he's very unique...if only there was a little bit more power...

[homer]

Yeah what does he have, one career HR? Two? He certainly is a conundrum. If he had Darren Ford speed he'd potentially be one of the best prospects in baseball I'd think. Or maybe if he played middle infield.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 10, Mississippi (Braves) 3

Stars Flex Muscle in Win Over Braves

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

Mike Bell, Matt LaPorta and Cole Gillsepie all hit home runs and the bullpen chipped in with four shutout frames in Huntsville's 10-3 victory over Mississippi Sunday afternoon in the second game of a five-game set at Trustmark Park. The Stars improved to 11-6 on the season but remain two games behind front-running Carolina in the North Division, while the Braves established a franchise record with their ninth straight loss to fall to 2-15. The Stars have won all seven meetings this year by outscoring the Braves 48-16 and matched a franchise record, set in 1985-86 against the Chattanooga Lookouts, with a twelfth consecutive win over an opponent.

 

Michael Brantley started the game with a walk and advanced to third base when Alcides Escobar followed with his first double of the season. Mat Gamel popped out to short and LaPorta was called out on strikes before Gillespie walked to load the bases. Bell then drove a 2-2 pitch from James Parr into the Braves' bullpen in left for the Stars' first grand slam of the season and for his first home run at the double-A level. LaPorta's monstrous two-run home run in the third inning pushed the visitors lead to 6-1 and gave him round trippers in consecutive games. Parr, who had yielded six earned runs in his first three starts, was tagged with his second loss of the season after permitting six runs on seven hits and three walks.

 

Jason Perry, who had singled home a run in the first inning in his initial at-bat with the Braves, launched a long home run to right field in the fourth inning to trim the Stars' lead to 6-3. Huntsville starter Derek Miller retired the next three hitters and was removed after a scoreless fifth inning. He earned his first win of the season after permitting three runs on six hits, while fanning four. Miller had received only four runs of support in his first three turns.

 

Robert Hinton worked two scoreless innings, David Johnson worked around two walks in a shutout eighth inning and Ben Stanczyk induced Javier Guzman to ground into a game-ending double play with runners at the corners. The trio allowed three hits, walked three and fanned three.

 

The Stars scored two unearned runs in the eighth inning against Michael Nix and closed the scoring on Gillespie's two-run home run to left-center field in the ninth. The Stars clubbed three long balls in a game for the first time this season and have now tallied a dozen runs, eight earned, against Nix in three innings over three appearances.

 

The series continues Monday night with left-hander David Welch taking the hill against Braves' right-hander Todd Redmond. 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 and www.730ump.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Pre-Game Audio Interview with LH Reliever Rusty Tucker

Be sure you're on the WUMP archive for April 20th, then go to the 11:30 minute mark...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Albuquerque (Marlins) 11, Nashville 8

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Zach Jackson photo, text follows --

 

Sounds Drop Second Straight To Isotopes

ALBUQUERQUE - The Albuquerque Isotopes handed Nashville its second straight defeat on Sunday afternoon, posting an 11-8 victory over the Sounds at Isotopes Park.

 

With the loss, Nashville fell to 3-14 on the year and dropped to just 1-9 on the road.

 

Former MTSU star Brett Carroll enjoyed his second consecutive big game against Sounds pitching, pacing the Albuquerque offense with a 4-for-5, four-RBI afternoon.

 

The Sounds took a first-inning lead when Hernan Iribarren scored on a Brendan Katin single, but Albuquerque jumped in front in the second with a four-run outburst against Nashville starter Zach Jackson highlighted by a three-run double off the bat of former Sound Chris Barnwell.

 

After the Isotopes stretched the lead to 5-1 in the fifth on a Carroll RBI double, Nashville plated three unearned runs in the top of the sixth to pull within a run. Adam Heether slugged his first career Triple-A home run in the frame, a two-out, two-run shot off Isotopes starter Chris Seddon.

 

Albuquerque quickly responded to the Sounds' rally with one of their own, sending five men plateward in the bottom of the fifth to push its lead to 10-4 and chase Jackson.

 

The Sounds kept it interesting in the seventh, greeting Albuquerque reliever Marcus Gwyn with a four-run inning to pull within 10-8. Katin (2-for-5) drove in a pair of the runs with a two-run double.

 

The Isotopes bullpen shut down the Nashville offense in the final two frames, keeping the Sounds out of scoring position to secure the victory.

 

Seddon (2-0) earned his second win of the year after working six innings and allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits. Joe Nelson worked a scoreless ninth to notch his seventh save of the year.

 

Jackson (1-3) took the loss for Nashville after being touched for nine runs (seven earned) on 12 hits over six-plus frames.

 

The teams continue the series with a 7:35 p.m. CT meeting on Monday evening. Left-hander Chris Narveson (0-3, 3.94) will look to pick up his first win of the year when he toes the rubber for the Sounds in the contest. Albuquerque will counter with right-hander Bobby Keppel (2-1, 4.58).

 

Nashville Box Score

Zach Jackson really needs a change in scenery -- it's just not happening; it'd be nice to see something out of Luis Pena; Sounds ground into four double plays; Hernan Iribarren drew three walks -- the only ones issued by Isotope pitching...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Vero Beach (Rays) 12, Brevard County 4

 

Brevard County Box Score

At this point, you have to believe Rafael Lluberes is either shellshocked or hurt (27 hits and 14 walks in 11.2 IP covering four dreadful starts); Travis Wendte was hit hard before Shawn Ferguson brought a semblance of normalcy to the proceedings; Lorenzo Cain on base four times -- he is 10-for-his-last-19 to bring his average up to .261 from .160 in five games...

 

Brevard County Game Log

Manatees had a chance to make it a game in the 4th, but left the bases loaded as Taylor Green grounded to first base; a "cozy" crowd of 471 in Vero Beach took it all in...

[Mass Haas]

MLB.com

 

Garza feels fine after rehab start

Rays right-hander working back from nerve irritation

By Bill Whitehead / Special to MLB.com

 

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- Rays starting pitcher Matt Garza's return to the Florida State League looked nothing like his first time around, but he felt fine Sunday afternoon following his first Minor League rehab start.

 

The right-hander, who overpowered FSL hitters in 2006, pitched into the fourth inning at Holman Stadium in the Class A Vero Beach Devil Rays' 12-4 win over the Brevard County Manatees.

 

It was his first start after landing on the disabled list on April 9 due to radial nerve irritation in his throwing arm. He was injured while pitching in Tampa Bay's home-opening loss to Seattle the previous night.

 

"I felt good. I got some good work in," said Garza. "The best part is I'm pain-free."

 

Garza gave up eight hits and four earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. He fanned four and walked three while throwing 39 of his 70 pitches for strikes.

On a warm afternoon, the 24-year-old California native pitched effortlessly against the Manatees over the first two frames. Garza struck out leadoff hitter Darren Ford on a nasty slider to open the game, then he received defensive help from Vero Beach third baseman Cesar Suarez, who closed the inning by fielding a bouncer on a short hop and starting a 5-4-3 double play.

 

Garza gave up a single to start the second, but he struck out Charlie Fermaint looking on another slider. Garza ended the inning by inducing another double-play grounder.

 

"I think the bad thing was when I had only thrown 20 pitches after the second inning, they told me if I didn't get to 60 [pitches] after four [innings], I'd have to finish up in the [bullpen]," the right-hander said. "That kind of deflated the adrenaline. In the second inning, I started working on breaking stuff and offspeed pitches and locating other things."

 

He ran into trouble in the third after getting two outs and walking a batter. Vero Beach center fielder John Matulia misplayed a line drive that ended up as a triple, and Garza then allowed run-scoring hits to the next two batters.

 

He left in the fourth after yielding two hits and a pair of walks.

 

"I shouldn't have walked as many guys as I did," Garza admitted, "but that's why I came down here to do this, instead of at the big league level."

 

Garza's slider was his most impressive weapon, accounting for all four of his strikeouts. His fastball clocked in around 94-96 mph, and he tossed a handful of slow curves, most of them out of the strike zone high.

 

Of his injury, Garza said he initially thought he had a "dead arm," but further tests revealed it was a nerve issue. Rest and medication were recommended by the Rays staff.

 

Garza is eligible to come off the DL on Wednesday, and he may be ready to join the Rays when they host the Red Sox in a three-game series that starts Friday.

 

While playing for Class A Ft. Myers two years ago in the Twins system, Garza went 5-1 with a 1.42 ERA in eight starts before quickly being promoted to Double-A New Britain. The Rays acquired him in November in a six-player swap that sent outfielder Delmon Young to the Twins.

 

Dioner Navarro, who is ready to be activated from the DL, caught Garza's start on Sunday, and the catcher continued to show progress, especially at the plate.

 

Navarro slapped a single to right field in the first inning, then he hit an 0-1 pitch from Brevard lefty Rafael Lluberes over the fence in left field for a home run that give Vero Beach a 6-0 lead. Navarro added a single in the third inning, and he finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: Lexington (Astros) 10, West Virginia 9

 

Final, Game Two: West Virginia 6, Lexington 2

 

West Virginia Site Doubleheader Summary:

POWER AND LEGENDS SPLIT DOUBLE DIP

 

The West Virginia Power and Lexington Legends both took victories away from Sunday's doubleheader at Appalachian Power Park as the Legends came from behind to win game one 10-9 and the Power took game two 6-2.

 

In the first game, the Power scored first on Caleb Gindl's first of two home runs in the doubleheader in the bottom of the second. The Power added one more in that frame on Kurt Crowell's run-scoring single. Lexington took the lead in the top of the third after Craig Corrado ripped a three-run double and scored later in the inning on Russell Dixon's base hit.

 

The Power sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third and scored seven times to regain the lead. A pair of Lexington errors allowed Zelous Wheeler and Brent Brewer to score the first two runs. Steffan Wilson and Uly Snijders walked with the bases loaded before Crowell smacked a two-run single. Wheeler and Curt Rindal both contributed with RBI singles in the inning as well.

 

Lexington began their comeback with four runs in the fifth inning. Eric Taylor's base hit drove in a pair of runs and Jonathan Fixler brought them within a run on a two-run homer. In the sixth, the Legends took the lead for good on Collin Delome's two-run inside the park home run.

 

West Virginia Game One Box Score

Roque Mercedes, AKA Rafael Lluberes; RHP Wes Etheridge's first appearance in a week -- not sure what to make of the 2007 12th rounder's situation...

 

West Virginia Game One Game Log

Brewer and Wheeler both smacked RBI doubles in the first inning of game two to give the Power an early lead. Scott Houin stole home in the second inning and Lee Haydel scored on Corrado's throwing error to make it a 4-0 Power lead. The Legends plated a pair of runs in the third on Corrado's RBI single and Dixon's run-scoring double. The Power added a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. The first came courtesy of Gindl's second bomb of the day and they got the second run on Houin's RBI single.

 

In game one Reid Kelly (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings of relief and got the win while Curtis Pasma (0-2) was tagged with the loss. Evan Anundsen (2-0) lasted through six and a third, allowing a pair of runs on seven hitts and earned the victory in game two while Carlos Ladeuth (1-3) was tagged with the loss.

 

After the split, the Legends are 6-12 and West Virginia is 5-13. Three Power players had multi-hit games in the first contest, including Curt Rindal who paced the Power with three hits and Kurt Crowell knocked in three runs. Lee Haydel reached all four times up in game two, going 3-for-3 with two runs.

 

The Power and Legends are off on Monday but will continue their series on Tuesday night at Applebee's Park in Lexington. Right-hander Nick Tyson (0-1, 3.00) will get the start for the Power and the Legends will counter with left hander Sergio Severino (1-0, 0.60). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Game Two Box Score

14 ground ball outs in 6 1/3 for Evan Anundsen -- let his lovefest continue; Scott Houin reached base five times in the two seven-inning affairs; welcome, Caleb Gindl -- where you been, man?

 

West Virginia Game Two Game Log

[gregmag]

My attitude about Brantley right now is, so far, so good. He's still 20, he's in AA, he's an OBP machine, he plays most of his games in CF, and he steals some bases. He definitely needs to develop power if he's going to start in the bigs, but he still has plenty of time to do that. The things he already does well will keep him in the mix while we see whether the power comes. As things stand, I'm having a harder and harder time seeing how Brantley's future doesn't project better than Tony Gwynn's -- not to pick on Gwynn gratuitously, but they have similar skill sets.

 

Greg.

[twobrewers]

what about as a first baseman? Because that's where he played today...

You mean most 1B don't play CF too?

 

I bet Prince plays a mean CF!

[wvpowerblkwel]

Gindl goes deep twice today....here's a shot moments before the first one!http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/3d1356ad9270799aea4fc5bcee3782a4a7bf6f9.jpg

[colbyjack]

John, as always, I can't thank you enough for the great shots you take. That is a great, great picture, and I think gives all of us a great idea of Gindl's stature, which has been in question by some/many (and it's funny to see the coach watching him from "behind," seemingly with a big smile on his face).

 

Does Lee Haydel ever not attempt to steal when he gets on base? He's starting to remind me of Dave Krynzel part II.

[TheCrew07]

I've been quietly rooting for Caleb to have a game all season, he became an instant favorite of mine listening to the Helena broadcasts last year. I know he's not toolsy, but the kid can play, or at least that's the way it sounds listening to games on the radio. I wonder if there will ever be video from minor league games, even from a single camera...

[wvpowerblkwel]

Here's a pick of Anundsen from last nite for those of you who haven't seen him before. Really does a nice job inducing the ground balls and probably made it through close to 100 pitch outing yesterday...not bad for April!http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/5da2552924722ecbc5ee39718a55e06cb7e9ea8.jpg

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com

The Stars have dominated the Mississippi Braves lately like no other team in their history -- a record 12 straight wins going back to last year, starting with a 5-1 victory on April 9, the last game of the opening series of 2007....... The Stars have now outscored the Braves 40-16 this season, socking Mississippi pitchers for a .299 average....... I had to go back to the early years of Stars baseball to find a run like this....... 12 straight wins over the Chattanooga Lookouts from August 7, 1985 to May 14, 1986...... Side-by-side, here are the two streaks.

[align=center]

CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS				MISSISSIPPI BRAVES
1985-86		***. avg.		2007-08		***. avg.
August 7	W. 5-0	.281		August 3	W. 3-1	.313
August 8	W. 3-1	.284		August 4	W. 6-5	.352
August 9	W. 4-0	.293		August 5	W. 3-1	.330
August 18	W. 5-3	.274		August 6	W. 5-3	.304
August 19	W. 7-1	.289		August 7	W. 7-5	.313
August 20	W. 4-2	.291		April 3	W. 8-2	.313
August 21	W. 7-1	.293		April 5	W. 6-1	.305
May 6	W. 4-3	.286		April 5	W. 4-3	.298
May 7	W. 14-8	.307		April 6	W. 1-0	.288
May 8	W. 14-9	.321		April 7	W. 9-5	.299
May 9	W. 6-4	.330		April 19	W. 10-2	.306
May 14	W. 20-11	.347		April 20	W. 10-3	.305
	93-43				72-31

[/align]

Oddly, they came almost at the same point in their respective seasons.

The Mississippi Braves have now lost nine straight and are off to their worst start (2-15) since moving from Greenville to Trustmark Park. They have the worst batting average in the league (.214) and scored the fewest runs -- 45. (By comparison, the Stars have scored a league-leading 93) -- and, of course as if things aren't bad enough, the Braves lost Van Pope and Carl Loadenthal, two of their best players from last year....... Pope, their 3rd baseman who was 3rd on the team in doubles last year, had been on the DL with a strained hamstring until he was activated Saturday night. On his 2nd at-bat in the 4th inning, he pulled up on a grounder back to Steve Hammond, clutching the back of his thigh. Loadenthal, who hit .300 last year and was an All-Star, also after two at-bats, took himself out after striking out, clutching his mid-section. I suspect it was an abdominal strain........ Both players were struggling, Pope hitting .241 and Loadenthal, their speedy centerfielder, just .210.

The Stars, who scored four times in the 2nd inning Saturday night, did the same in 1st inning Sunday, sending 7 men to the plate...... Michael Brantley walked on a 3-2 pitch, his team-leading 12th of the season. Alcides Escobar, who twice hit into a double play Saturday for the 3rd time in seven games, roped a line drive double to left, moving Brantley to third. It was Escobar's first double this year in 62 at-bats. Alcides had as many triples and home runs last year (5) as doubles, and curiously, seems to be repeating that trend. He has two triples and two HRs this year...... With two out, Cole Gillespie, who has finally raised his batting average above the Mendoza line by going 7-for-15 in his last six games, walked to load the bases. That set up Mike Bell's grand salami into the Braves' bullpen in left on a 2-2 fast ball...... It was Bell's 1st home run of the year, and the 2nd grand slam hit by the Stars, both coming against the Braves.

From that point, the M'Braves never caught up, although they had half of their six hits off starter Derek Miller, who gave up half of the six hits he yielded in five innings of work in the bottom half of the 1st........ After back-to-back one out walks to Javier Guzman and Diory Hernandez, Jason Perry, added to the Braves roster today, looped a fly ball to right-center that dropped in in front of Freddy Parejo, scoring Guzman, and sending Hernandez to third........Perry, now in his 7th year in the minors, spent last year in the Oakland A's and Detroit Tigers organization, spending most of his time at Class AAA-Sacramento (PCL), where he hit .268.

The Stars, for the first time this year, hit three home runs in a game....... They added two more runs in the 3rd to make it 6-1....... Mat Gamel, with a new, more closed stance that seems to be paying off, led off the 3rd with a triple....... Matt LaPorta, playing in left field for the second straight day, the first time we've seen him out there this year, followed with a home run that went not just over the picnic area in left, but into the parking lot where it hit a parked car...... In the 9th, Cole Gillepie made it 10-3 with a two-run home run that left the yard in left-center.

David Welch (2-0, 3.24) will try to give the Stars their unprecedented 13th straight victory against a single opponent on Monday night. That game will start at 7:05. Right-hander Todd Redmond, who lasted four innings the last time he faced the Stars, will go to the hill for hapless Mississippi.

The Carolina Mudcats (13-4) remain two games in front in the Northern Division after they beat the Smokies, 4-1. The Smokies have lost four in a row...... Brantley, who has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, is 4th among batting leaders with a .357 average and 2nd in hits (20)...... The Stars themselves, lead the Southern League in batting with a .276 average. Haven't seen that in April very often. In fact, it's the best since 1986, when they finished April with a .291 mark, although they had a .274 April in 1998........ LaPorta is 2nd in the league in RBIs. He's driven in 10 of his 14 runs against Mississippi...... On the mound, the Stars' pitching staff has given up 17 home runs, tying them with Montgomery for the most gopher balls. Still, with a 3.65 ERA, they are doing a fine job. It's Carolina's formidable pitching rotation and 2.52 team ERA that's making them the team to beat this first half....... The Stars made Dan Smith the league's first four-game loser this year...... Despite the success of his grand-slam today, Mike Bell is 2-for-14 in his last four games....... Ryan Crew is 0-for-7 after his 4-for-4 game April 9th (his first four-hit game as a Star)....Cole Gillespie got his 2nd start this year in right field today, and Michael Brantley was moved to 1st base, giving Freddy Parejo, the Stars' hottest hitter, some playing time....... Chris Errecart, lugging a .208 average, got the day off - his first since April 12...... Parejo is on pace to become the hottest April hitter in Stars' history, outpacing Marcos Armas, the Stars' 1992 All-Star outfielder, who hit .415 in April, en route to a .283 season. Even after a 1-for-5 day, Parejo is hitting .472. He would have to have at least 50 ABs to qualify and he has 36 so far....... Who would have thought it would come from a 5th outfielder who hit .219 at Brevard County last year? Here are the top 10 April hitters in Stars' history (A's organization pre-1999):

[align=center]

			April	HRs, RBIs
Marcos Armas	OF	1992	.415	2, 14
Tony Brown	OF	1990	.414	2, 14
Ramon Hernandez	C	1998	.410	1, 14
Terry Steinbach	C	1986	.377	3, 17
Lou Palmisano	C	2007	.373	2, 15
Ernie Young	OF	1994	.364	5, 14
Steve Sollmann	1b	2007	.362	1, 10
Mickey Lopez	2b	2000	.360	0, 12
Gary Jones	2b	1986	.360	0, 6
John Minch	C	1988	.351	0, 11

[/align]

 

Mat Gamel is 9-for-26 (.346) in his last six games, raising his average to .292. Even better news -- he hasn't made an error at 3rd base in his last eight games and has four so far. Last year, he committed 11 in April, on his way to a ridiculous total of 53 at Brevard County.

With the victory, Don Money has tied Casey Parsons as the 2nd winningest manager in Stars history. Both now have 213 victories under their belt...... Parsons managed the Stars from 1991-1993, taking the team to the Western Division Playoffs in 1992, losing to Chattanooga in four games.

Adam Heether hit his 1st home run of the year for Nashville in the Sounds' 11-8 loss in Albuquerque, home of former voice of the Stars, Robert Portnoy. Brendan Katin (.262) went 2-for-5 and drove in three runs in that game. Heether is off to a slow start, hitting .213.

With the success of "3Rs for the Stars" GM Buck Rogers wants to take this a step further in Huntsville next year...... Taking an idea he implemented at Brevard County, Rogers wants to incorporate baseball with the students' education at every grade level but high school (and he's not averse to that idea)....... As he did at Brevard, Rogers wants to solicit the ideas and suggestions of teachers and school board members for a teachers' guide, similar to one used successfully at Brevard........ Students would learn, of course, how math is applied to baseball, but also geometry, geography, science, social studies, and language arts, as well....... For instance one of the tasks Buck described to me is how the kids would have to identify the places the Stars are from on an outlined map...... It would presumably be called Education Day at Joe Davis Stadium. Buck told me he plans to present his ideas as early as September.

REAL Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO has a feature on Mike Coolbaugh this week. Check your listings...... Some of the scenes show Coolbaugh in a Stars uniform during the 1997 season.

[Never Outhustled]

Laporta's OPS is suddenly up to 933, which is just outstanding in the Southern League.

[brewman04]

Question for the Huntsville crowd how has Gamel Fielding been so far?