Link Report for Games of Sunday, May 18th

[Mass Haas]

There are multiple outside commitments among Brewerfan staff today and there will not be a traditional "pre-game" Link Report set-up for Sunday.

 

All the details will be posted by early Monday AM. If you had hoped to listen in or get earlier updates, we direct you to where you will find their schedule and scoreboard links helpful.

 

We apologize for any inconvenience, thanks.

[bretsky07]

I can at least post links to the box scores. All times Central.

 

Nashville: 2:00, RHP Richie Gardner (3-1, 4.50)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_18_nozaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville: 2:05, LHP Brae Wright (1-4, 4.17)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_18_cmcaax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County: 5:00, RHP Josh Butler (0-4, 4.74)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_18_sarafa_breafa_1

 

West Virginia: 12:05, RHP Amaury Rivas (3-1, 2.88)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_18_wvaafx_lwdafx_1

 

[JohnBriggs12]

Patrick Ryan has now not allowed a run in 20 1/3 innings covering 14 appearences. He must have some awful good sink with a 3.73 GO/AO ratio.

[jvrocksaz]

It may be time to take notice of what Luis Pena in now doing at Nashville! After a rough start he has had a great run in his last 10 outings.. 10 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 K's and most importantly 6 saves! Nice!!!

[jjfanec]

Nice line for Butler as well. 7IP, 2ER, 5H, 1BB, 3K. It would be nice to see his K numbers get higher, but it is good to see him get deeper into games.

[craigharmann]

It may be time to take notice of what Luis Pena in now doing at Nashville! After a rough start he has had a great run in his last 10 outings.. 10 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 10 K's and most importantly 6 saves! Nice!!!

Bring him up. He's gotta be better than the crap that's being thrown against the wall currently.

 

[jjfanec]

I agree that it does not make sense to keep Pena down there. Today showed we need another guy for need to go to late in games after having Torres pitch back to back days after pitching 40 pitches the night before. Honestly, I don't feel comfortable with anyone other than Torres, Mota, Shouse (but only to lefty's) and Gagne (and not that comfortable with him). DeFelice, McClung, and Zach Jack are just guys. I hope Stetter finds the strike zone in Nashville and that they bring up Pena to take DeFelice's spot. That way McClung can go back to the long man role.

[twobrewers]

We could promote a few closers.

 

Aguilar has a 0.40 ERA at Brevard County. He could be bumped up to Huntsville.

 

Huntsville could bump someone to Nashville. (Not sure who really though - Unless they use Stetter as a closer)

 

Luis Pena could be bumped to MLB.

[NastyTwig]

Move Aguilar, Ryan, and Pena up a level. They're all kind of old for their leagues, and all have been lights out lately.

 

Also, look out for Lorenzo Cain. He's turning it around this year, he's gonna blow up once he gets to AA.

[bretsky07]

Add Joe Bateman to that list. He's the AA version of Steve Bray; good numbers, but for whatever reason has never been called up to the next level.

[Mass Haas]

Quite a few updates added to Saturday's Link Report, so please be sure to check that thread out.

 

Otherwise, still playing catch-up today -- look for all of Sunday's updates later on, and thanks to those who posted above with box score links and comments on players.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Reliever Mitch Stetter

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 8, New Orleans (Mets) 5

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Eric Munson photo, text follows --

 

Sounds Take Series Finale From Zephyrs, 8-5

NASHVILLE - The Nashville Sounds wrapped up their series against New Orleans with an 8-5 victory on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium in the finale of a four-game series.

 

Nashville (18-24) took three of four from the Zephyrs and stands only three games behind division-leading Memphis, which makes a visit to Music City beginning Monday.

 

New Orleans right fielder Victor Mendez staked the visitors to a 3-0 advantage in the top of the third inning with a two-out, two-run home run to left off Sounds starter Richie Gardner. The roundtripper was his second of the season.

 

Following a 36-minute rain delay, the Sounds rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the third against Zephyrs starter Willie Collazo. After Nashville loaded the bases on a pair of singles sandwiched around a fielding error by New Orleans third baseman Anderson Machado, Laynce Nix (2-for-5) delivered a two-run single to left to pull the Sounds within a run at 3-2.

 

The Z's added another two-out run in the fourth to increase their cushion to 4-2. Argenis Reyes led off the inning with a walk and came around to score three batters later on a Jesus Feliciano double off the wall in right-center.

 

Sounds shortstop Adam Heether reduced the deficit to one run in the bottom of the frame when he belted his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to left off Collazo.

 

New Orleans catcher Gustavo Molina made it a 5-3 contest in the fifth when he blasted a 2-1 Gardner offering deep to left for a one-out solo shot, his third home run of the year.

 

The exchange of runs continued in the bottom of the frame when Steve Sollmann blasted his first career Triple-A home run, a leadoff shot to left-center off Collazo.

 

Eric Munson propelled the Sounds to their first lead of the afternoon in the sixth, when his two-out, three-run double greeted former Sound Nelson Figueroa and put the home team in front by a 7-5 count. Nashville had loaded the bases against Z's reliever Joselo Diaz on a Heether single and a pair of walks drawn by Crabbe and Sollmann.

 

AUDIO: Munson Go-Ahead 3-Run Double

 

Nashville tacked on an insurance run in unearned fashion in the eighth when Sollmann reached on a one-out walk then scored when Nix followed with a single to right that was mishandled by Mendez.

 

Tim Dillard (3-0) worked two scoreless innings of relief for Nashville to earn the win. Luis Pena notched his sixth save by keeping New Orleans off the board in the ninth.

 

Diaz (1-4) was saddled with the loss after being charged for three runs in his two-thirds of an inning of work.

 

Gardner, who took a no-decision, allowed five runs on eight hits over five innings of work for Nashville.

 

The Sounds continue their homestand by welcoming the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds to town on Monday for the 6 p.m. opener of a four-game series. Left-hander Sam Narron (NR), who opened the year with a 6-1 record and 2.77 ERA in eight starts for Double-A Huntsville, will make his Sounds debut and face Memphis southpaw Jaime Garcia (1-0, 0.69).

 

Nashville Box Score

Steve Sollmann on base all four official trips, added a sacrifice; Callix Crabbe, your corner outfielder (both spots, but not at once, naturally -- that'd be something); Russell Branyan walks three times; Tim Dillard not stewing after being passed over for his big league call-up; Derrick Turnbow still very erratic; Luis Pena, as noted above, getting the job done...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Sounds heat up after rain

Munson leads 7-run outburst following delay

By TYLER BLANK

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

The Sounds didn't blame a three-run deficit on the rain. Instead, their offense just got hot.

 

After a 36-minute rain delay in the third inning, Nashville scored seven runs over a four-inning stretch to capture an 8-5 win over New Orleans on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium.

 

Eric Munson's two-out, bases loaded double in the sixth inning cleared the bases for the winning runs.

 

"You can't say it did or didn't (help)," outfielder Laynce Nix said of the delay. "I just know we got some guys on and got some runs in."

 

The Zephyrs' Victor Mendez hit a two-out, three run home run off Richie Gardner during a heavy rain shower just before the delay that gave New Orleans a 3-0 lead in the third inning.

 

"It wasn't actually a bad pitch," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "It was down and the guy hit it the other way and the wind was blowing out."

 

The game was delayed during the at-bat following Mendez's home run, Once play resumed, Gardner got Anderson Machado to ground out. Nix's bases-loaded single in the third brought in two runs but the Zephyrs countered with runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

 

Nashville shortstop Adam Heether hit a solo home run off Willie Collazo in the fourth and second baseman Steve Sollmann hit his first Triple-A home run in the fifth to bring the Nashville within a run.

 

"His (Collazo's) command suffered a little bit after the rain delay," Kremblas said. "He got some pitches up and we hit him pretty good."

 

Munson's three-run hit gave the Sounds the lead for good.

 

"We just kept pecking away. Our offense has come around and playing well right now," Nix said.

 

Gardner allowed five runs on eight hits through five innings with four walks and four strikeouts. Tim Dillard (3-0) picked up the win with two innings of hitless ball.

 

Nashville has won 11 of its past 16 games and took three of four from New Orleans.

 

What they said: "We've got some guys that have been swinging the bats really well and we're just making good contact."- Sollmann

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Nunez watches game from different dugout

By TYLER BLANK

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Abraham Nunez had to make only a short walk to find his new team Sunday. It was just from one side of the field to the other.

 

The Sounds released the infielder Saturday but he has signed with the Mets organization. Nunez, 32, passed his physical Sunday and will be activated by the Zephyrs today. He hit .210 with eight RBIs in 33 games for Nashville this season.

 

Nunez was released to make room for outfielder Callix Crabbe, who was acquired from the Padres organization. Crabbe played 130 games for the Sounds last year and went 0-for-3 with two walks and two runs Sunday.

 

Turnbow update: Former Franklin High pitcher Derrick Turnbow entered the game in the eighth inning with a 7-5 lead and worked his way into some trouble.

 

The 2006 National League All-Star lasted just two-thirds of an inning, giving up one hit and two walks to load the bases. He also struck out one batter.

 

"He's just had some mechanical issues he's been trying to iron out," Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas said. "He was better than he has been the last couple of outings, but he was just missing some of them today."

 

Erasmo Ramirez replaced Turnbow and got Jesus Feliciano to ground out to end the inning.

 

Turnbow has appeared in the four games with the Sounds. He has pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and nine walks.

 

First time for everything: Steve Sollmann hit his first career Triple-A home run Sunday in the fifth inning.

 

"I got pretty lucky," Sollmann said. "He left it up in the zone and I got a good swing on it and it went a lot farther than most of the other balls I hit."

 

Swinging well: Laynce Nix continued to hit well Sunday, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a strikeout. He has hit safely in 20 of his past 23 games.

 

"It's just a matter of me being consistent and trying to do the same thing over and over," Nix said. "It's just consistency and concentration."

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Sounds Photo Gallery from the Tennessean

[TheCrew07]

Turnbow has appeared in the four games with the Sounds. He has pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and nine walks.

That's such a depressing line I don't have the words. I actually feel sorry for the guy.

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: Carolina (Marlins) 8, Huntsville 3

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Early Offense Sends Sinkbeil to Second Win

Carolina Clinches Series Victory

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

Brett Sinkbeil tossed 6 1/3 strong innings and Chris Coghlan missed hitting for the cycle by a triple in Carolina's 8-3 win Sunday afternoon in the fourth of a five-game set Joe Davis Stadium. The Mudcats clinched a series win with a third victory to improve to 25-19, while the Stars slipped to 30-14 and will lose a series for only the second time this season. The Mudcats moved to within five games of the North Division leaders, who saw their advantage over West Tenn trimmed to two and a half games.

 

The visitors jumped on Stars' starter Brae Wright for three runs in the first inning on run-scoring hits by Coghlan and Gaby Sanchez and a sacrifice fly by Manuel Mayerson.

 

The Stars put runners at second and third with two outs in the bottom of the inning but Mike Bell grounded out to end the threat.

 

Carolina added to its lead with a pair of runs in the third on another Mayerson scoring fly ball and a Kris Harvey run-scoring hit. Cameron Maybin singled in a run and a throwing error by Guilder Rodriguez allowed another run to score in the sixth to extend the visitors' lead to 7-0. Wright was charged with seven runs, six earned, on 11 hits, while walking three and striking out three. He took the loss to fall to 1-5 and remains winless since his double-A debut on April 6.

 

Huntsville finally got on the board in the home half of the sixth on a Matt LaPorta leadoff home run, his first long ball in 12 games and his first run batted in over the last eight games. Sinkbeil was taken out after yielding one-out singles to Michael Brantley and Alcides Escobar and replaced by Jacob Marceaux, who walked Mat Gamel on four pitches to load the bases. However, Marceaux worked out of trouble by fanning LaPorta and getting Bell to foul out. Sinkbeil allowed nine hits, struck out four and earned his first win since April 13 to improve to 2-5.

 

Coghlan's homer, his second of the season, leading off in the ninth pushed the lead to 8-1 before the Stars scored twice in the ninth against Carlos Martinez. Huntsville totaled 14 hits and left a season-high 14 runners on base, including at least one in every inning.

 

The series wraps up Monday afternoon with right-hander Mike Jones taking the mound for the Stars against Mudcats' right-hander Derrell McCall. Coverage of the game begins at 11:50 am 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

Guilder Rodriguez with two throwing errors from a very uncustomary left field; Angel Salome's first error of the season comes on a pickoff attempt -- it took a long time, his defense has been encouraging, at least statistically; it sure seems as though Chris Errecart's sore back was worth a seven-day DL stint, but that transaction never took place, still day-to-day...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Stuck in clutch

Huntsville hitters leave 14 runners on base as Carolina clinches series

By SKIP VAUGHN

For The Huntsville Times, skip.vaughn@htimes.com

 

The Huntsville Stars didn't have much fun on the field during Sunday's "Wet and Wild Day" promotion at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

While staff members and youngsters enjoyed dousing each other with water guns in the stands, the Stars couldn't stay afloat against the Carolina Mudcats.

 

The Stars lost 8-3 to Carolina before an announced crowd of 1,481, despite outhitting the Mudcats 14-13. Huntsville stranded 14 runners.

 

"We just did not get big hits when we had the opportune time," Stars manager Don Money said.

 

Huntsville (30-14) had to play catch-up from the outset. Carolina (25-19) scored three runs in the first inning, two in the third and two in the sixth.

 

"We came out and were swinging the bats extremely well," Mudcats manager Matt Raleigh said.

 

Matt LaPorta got the Stars on the board with his 11th home run in the sixth, a towering drive to left. He went 3-for-5 and scored twice.

 

"It was a fastball inside and he left it over the plate a little too much and I got a good swing on it," LaPorta said. "They have a great pitching staff. They've been pitching great all week to me.

 

"We just didn't get the run production we needed. We got our hits. We just didn't get them when we needed it. I mean I left guys on base. That can't happen with one out."

 

Carolina starter Brett Sinkbeil (2-5) went 6 1/3 innings and allowed nine hits and one run with four strikeouts and no walks. He threw fastballs, a slider and a few changeups. He left with two runners on and one out in the seventh after throwing 101 pitches.

 

"I was just able to keep the ball down in the zone," Sinkbeil said. "A lot of fastballs down, just mixed them in and out."

 

Stars starter Brae Wright (1-5) went six innings and allowed 11 hits and seven runs, six earned. Huntsville scored two runs in the ninth off Mudcats reliever Carlos Martinez.

 

The Stars, despite losing a series for only the second time this season, are still having a strong first half.

 

"It's a very solid start," Money said. "Pitching for the most part has been well. Offensively we've been very good. Defensively we've been holding our own. It's all up and down the lineup - one through nine."

 

The Stars face Carolina today at 12:05 p.m. in the series' fifth and final game. Right-hander Mike Jones will take the mound for the Stars against Mudcats right-hander Derrell McCall.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 7, Sarasota (Reds) 4

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

Manatees Bash Reds, 7-4

By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees

Brevard County pounded the Sarasota Reds 7-4 Sunday evening, led by home runs from Lorenzo Cain and Jimmy Mojica. The Manatees struck quickly in the first inning, as Cain singled, stole a base, and scored on Taylor Green's sacrifice fly. Sarasota battled back to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on Chris Heisey's two-run double to left field. The lead was short lived, as the Manatees took the lead back on Cain's two-run homer to left field. Brevard County broke the game open in the sixth inning, as Kenny Holmberg led off with a double, and then scored on an error. Later in the inning, Mojica hit a soaring three-run blast over the left field wall to put the Manatees ahead, 7-2.

Josh Butler (1-4) earned his first win of the season, pitching seven strong innings while allowing just two runs on five hits. Rafael Gonzalez (2-3) was tagged for seven runs in five innings, taking the loss for the Reds. Shawn Ferguson stopped a small rally by the Reds in the ninth to earn his third save of the season.

The two teams are both 22-21 after Sunday's game, and will battle again tomorrow in the second game of the four-game set. Donovan Hand (3-2, 2.10) will look to continue his solid season for the Manatees, facing Daniel Guerrero (2-2, 5.65) of the Reds. Game time is 7:00 PM (6:00 Central).

Brevard County Box Score

Nice seven-inning stint for Josh Butler...

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

Josh Butler delivers a pitch during Brevard County's 7-4 win Sunday. (MiLB.com Photo by Dennis Greenblatt)

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2008/05/18/oqJjt22b.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lakewood (Phillies) 3, West Virginia 1

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER LOSE PITCHER'S DUEL IN LAKEWOOD

 

The West Virginia Power and Lakewood BlueClaws combined to score just four runs on 12 hits in Sunday afternoon's game at First Energy Park but the BlueClaws used a pair of home runs to snap their six-game losing streak and came away with a 3-1 victory.

 

Michael Taylor snapped a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run. It was his 10th of the season, second most in the South Atlantic League. West Virginia tied the game in the top of the seventh. Eric Fryer was on first base with two outs when Curt Rindal doubled off the left field wall to bring in Fryer.

 

The BlueClaws took the lead for good in the bottom of the eighth inning when Dennis Winn ripped a two-run homer with two outs and Lakewood never looked back.

 

Sergio Escalona (1-1) allowed a run on two hits over two and a third innings of relief to get the victory and Jared Simon (4) tossed a scoreless ninth inning to get the save. Reed Dickert (0-1) allowed a pair of runs on two hits in the eighth inning and was tagged with the loss. Amaury Rivas was sensational for the Power. He allowed a run on four hits with four strikeouts over seven innings. He retired ten in a row at one point and he sat down 11 of the final 12 he faced.

 

The Power fell to 16-25 with the loss and the BlueClaws improved to 20-23 with the win. Zelous Wheeler had the only multi-hit game for the Power, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and he reached three times in four trips. Caleb Gindl was the only other Power player to reach multiple times as he walked twice.

 

The Power will finish their four game series against Lakewood Monday night. Right-hander Roque Mercedes (1-2, 6.55) will get the start for the Power and the BlueClaws will counter with left hander Jacob Diekman (0-3, 4.40). The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM (5:35 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score

Yee-hah for Amaury Rivas; Eric Farris (2-for-25) with an extremely slow start out of the gate; game was played in under two hours -- wow...

 

West Virginia Game Log

[LouisEly]

Patrick Ryan has now not allowed a run in 20 1/3 innings covering 14 appearences. He must have some awful good sink with a 3.73 GO/AO ratio.

Way to jinx him John. As soon as you say it, boom, he gives up a run the next night.

 

[LouisEly]

We could promote a few closers.

 

Aguilar has a 0.40 ERA at Brevard County. He could be bumped up to Huntsville.

 

Huntsville could bump someone to Nashville. (Not sure who really though - Unless they use Stetter as a closer)

 

Luis Pena could be bumped to MLB.

Pena to Mil, give DiFelice a shot as the #5, and send CV to Nashville to find his mojo again.

Aguilar could use some better competition too.