Link Report for Games of Monday, May 19th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Sam Narron at home vs. Memphis (Cardinals), 5:45 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Mike Jones at home vs. Carolina (Marlins), 11:50 AM pre-game; 12:05 PM gametime

 

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

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

 

Brevard County: RHP Donovan Hand at home vs. Sarasota (Reds), 6:00 PM gametime

 

Sorry, no audio for this series...

West Virginia: RHP Roque Mercedes at Lakewood (Phillies), 5:20 PM pre-game, 5:35 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_05_19_mrbaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_19_cmcaax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_19_jupafa_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_19_wvaafx_lwdafx_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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Memphis 22 22 .500 - 9-11 13-11 W1 Iowa 20 22 .476 1.0 13-9 7-13 L4 Omaha 19 22 .463 1.5 11-11 8-11 W1 Nashville 18 24 .429 3.0 10-9 8-15 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 30 14 .682 - 18-6 12-8 L1 West Tenn 27 16 .628 2.5 14-4 13-12 W4 Carolina 25 19 .568 5.0 11-9 14-10 W1 Chattanooga 23 21 .523 7.0 13-11 10-10 W1 Tennessee 16 28 .364 14.0 6-14 10-14 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 26 17 .605 - 17-8 9-9 L2 Brevard County 22 21 .512 4.0 13-10 9-11 W2 Daytona 22 21 .512 4.0 8-9 14-12 W4 Jupiter 21 22 .488 5.0 12-6 9-16 L2 Vero Beach 20 23 .465 6.0 14-7 6-16 L1 St. Lucie 8 35 .186 18.0 5-20 3-15 L11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 27 15 .643 - 11-9 16-6 W1 Greensboro 24 19 .558 3.5 10-12 14-7 W1 Delmarva 22 19 .537 4.5 14-9 8-10 L1 Hickory 22 22 .500 6.0 7-12 15-10 W6 Hagerstown 21 21 .500 6.0 8-11 13-10 W1 Lakewood 20 23 .465 7.5 11-12 9-11 W1 West Virginia 16 25 .390 10.5 7-13 9-12 L1 Lexington 13 29 .310 14.0 5-16 8-13 L1 

[mls4]

Stars lose 7-5. Mike Jones gives up 3 solo HRs in 3 innings; Gamel 2-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI; LaPorta 0-5; Parejo 2-2, BB, RBI; Escobar 2-5, RBI.

[bretsky07]

Patrick Ryan finally gave up a run in the Huntsville loss as well. CUT HIM!!!

[battlekow]

Nice to see Salome moved up to fifth in the order.

[Mass Haas]

Link Report Bonus:

The Nashville site has posted this infamous photo as part of a new feature. We don't know why, and neither will you, but we'll help promote their site by including their new feature within the walls of the Link Report.

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/images/news/hardballmysteries.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link Report Bonus # 2:

Brevard County Manatees Shatter World Record

Throw 8,304 First Pitches Before Game

[JohnBriggs12]

Anybody notice how Sam Narron can rake? 1 for 2 tonight with an RBI makes him 7 for 14 with a HR and 5 RBI between Nashville and Huntsville. Maybe he should be brought up to DH in AL parks.

[molitor fan]

I love that Chewie has flawless mechanics....maybe it is simply a pre-shaven Cole Hamels.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Carolina (Marlins) 7, Huntsville 5

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Mudcats Slug Their Way to Another Victory

North Division Race Tightening

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

 

Carolina slugged four home runs and Brett Hayes finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle in a 7-5 victory over Huntsville Monday afternoon in the last of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Mudcats improved to 26-19 and pulled to within four games of the top spot in the North Division, while the Stars fell to 30-15 and saw their lead over West Tenn diminish to two games. Carolina took four out of five, as the Stars lost a series for only the second time this season.

 

Mike Jones, coming back from Tommy John surgery, made his first start for the Stars this season and gave up solo home runs in each of the first three innings, to Cameron Maybin, Hayes and John Raynor, that staked the visitors to a 3-0 lead. Jones had allowed only 12 long balls in his entire career in 398 innings before the game. Jones was removed after three innings, after reaching his pitch limit, and was charged with the loss after allowing five hits, walking two and recording one strikeout.

 

Alcides Escobar's two-out, run-scoring single in the third drew the Stars to within 3-1 and a solo home run by Mat Gamel in the fifth cut the lead to 3-2. Derrell McCall was taken out after five frames in his first double-A start and grabbed the win after yielding two runs on four hits, walking two and fanning four.

 

Chris Coghlan led off the sixth with a home run against Robert Hinton and Hayes doubled in two runs later in the frame to push the Mudcats' advantage to 6-2. Daniel Barone blanked the Stars for two innings and was followed to the hill by Matt Yourkin for the eighth. Mike Bell tripled in Angel Salome, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a leadoff double, and scored on a Freddy Parejo sacrifice fly to trim the lead to 6-4.

 

Coghlan singled in Maybin, who had singled and stole second base, in the ninth to extend the Carolina lead to 7-4 and produce the first run allowed all season, after 20 2/3 scoreless frames, by Patrick Ryan. The Stars tallied in the ninth against Chris Mobley on an RBI hit by Gamel but the game ended when Matt LaPorta grounded into a double play. Mobley earned his second save of the series.

 

The Stars open a five-game series at home Wednesday night against Birmingham with southpaw Steve Hammond taking the mound for the Stars against Barons' left-hander Clayton Richard. 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

Chris Errecart struck out in a pinch-hit appearance, so there won't be any back-dated DL stint; even with a perfect day at the plate (two singles, a walk, and a sacrifice fly), Freddy Parejo's OPS is down to .805, mainly because that walk was only his second one in 103 AB's; does anybody really "get" what the plan is for Mike Jones this season -- after nine starts, he's still very limited in pitch count, and if he's being groomed for eventual long relief work, he's still only throwing every fifth/sixth day at best -- his odd schedule strains the bullpen as well; Jones is free to walk at the end of the season unless he extends (again) his relationship with the Brewers or is re-added to the 40-man roster...

 

Huntsville Game Log

First Stars game started by a non-southpaw all season...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 8, Sarasota (Reds) 3

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

GM Smith Guarantees Victory, Manatees Deliver

By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees

(Viera, FL) After back-to-back wins over the weekend, Manatees general manager Kyle Smith was feeling so confident in his team, he decided to guarantee that the Manatees would defeat the Sarasota Reds Monday night, or he would give every fan in attendance free tickets to a future game. The Manatees rewarded their general manager by crushing the Reds, 8-3.

The Brevard County bats stayed hot, with ten hits in the victory. Charlie Fermaint slammed his third home run of the year in the third inning to tie the game, 1-1. The Manatees exploded for seven runs in the fourth inning to take control of the game. The inning was highlighted by Andy Bouchie's titanic two-run shot to left field. Bouchie nearly hit his second homer of the game in the eighth inning, but was robbed at the wall on a spectacular play by Sarasota's Carson Kainer. Taylor Green added two RBI for the Manatees, and every regular except Jimmy Mojica had at least one hit in the game.

Donovan Hand continued his great season by pitching seven solid innings, allowing just four hits and improving to 4-2. Sarasota's Daniel Guerrero (2-3) was rocked for seven runs, giving him the loss. Brevard County is now 23-21, remaining four games behind first place Palm Beach. Tomorrow's game will feature Zach Braddock (0-2, 4.50) taking the hill for the Manatees against Travis Wood (3-3, 2.38) of the Reds.

 

Brevard County Box Score

Lorenzo Cain on base four times -- he has had a fantastic May (.963 OPS); for the third consecutive start, economical Donovan Hand goes seven innings, and he's gone at least seven innings in five of his ten starts -- almost unheard of at the high-A level -- Brewers coaches must love this 22-year-old; Hand will be pitching in his home state when he eventually makes his way to Huntsville, which may not be long from now...

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

Brevard County Bottom 4th

• - Kenny Holmberg walks.
• - Stephen Chapman singles on a line drive to right fielder Chris Heisey. Kenny Holmberg to 3rd.
• - Chuckie Caufield out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Drew Stubbs. Kenny Holmberg scores. Stephen Chapman advances to 2nd, on throwing error by center fielder Drew Stubbs.
• - Jimmy Mojica grounds out, third baseman Juan Francisco to first baseman Todd Frazier. Stephen Chapman to 3rd.
• - Andy Bouchie homers (2) on a fly ball to left center field. Stephen Chapman scores.
• - Matt Cline singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Juan Francisco.
• - Charlie Fermaint hit by pitch. Matt Cline to 2nd.
• - Lorenzo Cain singles on a line drive to center fielder Drew Stubbs. Matt Cline scores. Charlie Fermaint to 3rd.
• - Pitcher Change: Ruben Medina replaces Daniel Guerrero.
• - Taylor Green doubles (10) on a line drive to right fielder Chris Heisey. Charlie Fermaint scores. Lorenzo Cain scores.
• - Kenny Holmberg singles on a line drive to center fielder Drew Stubbs. Taylor Green scores.
• - Stephen Chapman grounds out, second baseman Michael DeJesus to first baseman Todd Frazier.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Could Charlie Fermaint finally be turning the corner?

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 7, Memphis (Cardinals) 3

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Laynce Nix photo, text follows --

 

Sounds Defeat Division-Leading Redbirds, 7-3

 

NASHVILLE - Every Sounds starter notched a hit as Nashville took down the division-leading Memphis Redbirds, 7-3, on Monday night at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series

 

Sounds starter Sam Narron (1-0) got the win in his first start in Triple-A since 2004. He pitched six innings and only gave up two runs, posting his seventh straight quality start this season. He recorded six straight with Double-A Huntsville before being called up.

 

Nashville centerfielder Laynce Nix had a home run with two RBIs to pace an offensive attack that included 11 hits and five extra-base hits.

 

Redbirds starter Jaime Garcia (1-1) got roughed up in his third outing for Memphis this season. His ERA rose from 0.96 to 3.00 after giving up five earned runs off eight hits in only five innings of work.

 

Garcia helped his own cause in the top of the second inning when he knocked a two-run triple to right-centerfield for Memphis to start the scoring. The three-base knock scored Gabe Johnson, who singled, and Garcia's battery mate Bryan Anderson, who walked. It was Garcia's first career triple and first career RBIs.

 

The Sounds responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Brad Nelson led off the inning with a walk and Russell Branyan followed with a single to right field that moved Nelson to second. Steve Sollmann then continued on his recent hot streak with an RBI single that scored Nelson from second base. Sollmann is now batting .385 (5-for-13) with a home run and five runs scored in his last six games.

 

Nelson started another rally for Nashville in the bottom of the fourth inning when he led off with a double to the gap in right-center field. Eric Munson then sent a towering home run sailing over the right field wall to give the Sounds the lead. It was his first dinger since July 29th of last year. Although Munson only has four hits in his last 29 at bats, three of the four have erased a deficit and given the Sounds the lead in three separate games.

 

AUDIO: Eric Munson Home Run

 

Nashville continued the rally when Adam Heether followed with a double down the left field line and scored on a single from Narron. The hit and RBI were Narron's first in his Triple-A career.

 

The runs kept coming for the Sounds when Nix crushed a 0-1 pitch over the right field wall in the bottom of the fifth inning. The longball was Nix's sixth home run of the year and his second in three games.

 

Nick Stavinoha belted a home run of his own for the Redbirds in the top of the seventh inning off Nashville reliever Ben Howard after Howard took over for Narron. The home run was Stavinoha's sixth of the year.

 

The Sounds plated their final runs in the bottom of the seventh inning after Callix Crabbe scored on a Nix double to the gap in right-center field. Crabbe had walked to lead off the inning, making him the final Sounds starter to reach base in the game. After Nix's double, Nelson and Munson reached base with a walk and a hit-by-pitch respectively, then Heether followed with another walk that scored Nix from third and extended the Sounds lead to four.

 

Howard gave up one run for Nashville in his two innings and turned it over to Mitch Stetter, who struck out two batters in the ninth inning and closed out the game for the Sounds.

 

The division rivals will continue their series tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. at Greer Stadium. Left-hander and current PCL Pitcher of the Week honoree Lindsay Gulin (1-3, 3.26) will take the mound for the Sounds and face off against righty Anthony Reyes (0-0, 2.70) for the Redbirds.

 

Nashville Box Score

GM Doug Melvin, in attendance, saw Brad Nelson reach base four times and Russell Branyan reach twice; Hernan Iribarren is 9-for-11 in stolen base attempts after going only 18-for-34 last year...

 

Nashville Game Log

[LouisEly]

Patrick Ryan finally gave up a run in the Huntsville loss as well. CUT HIM!!!

On a single and stolen base by Cameron Maybin none the less. The first and only run given up all year is to one of the top prospects in all of baseball. And he promptly followed that up with two ground ball outs. Ryan's still rollin'.

 

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Chat with Starting Pitcher and 40-man roster member Richie Gardner

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Sounds defeat Memphis 7-3

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

With a 7-3 Nashville Sounds victory Monday night against visiting Memphis, Sam Narron has defeated the Redbirds in each of his last two starts against them.

 

Never mind that the two starts were nearly four years apart.

 

Sidelined for all of the 2005 season and the first six weeks of the '06 campaign following Tommy John surgery, the 26-year-old left-hander had not pitched at the Triple-A level since 2004.

 

On Monday, though, it was almost as if he'd never left.

 

Narron allowed two runs on four hits over six innings before exiting with a 5-2 lead, and the Nashville bullpen preserved the victory - his first since defeating those same Redbirds on Aug. 26, 2004.

 

"You get hurt, you have to work your way back as best you can," said Narron, who had been 14-2 between Class AA Frisco and Class AAA Oklahoma as a member of the Texas Rangers' organization four years ago. Following the season, he was placed on waivers by the Rangers and claimed by the Brewers.

 

Before Friday's callup, he had been 6-1 with a 2.77 earned run average at Double-A Huntsville, after going 7-9, 4.21 with the Stars last season.

 

"I've got a chance; I'm trying to make the most of it," he said.

 

Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas said Narron may have gotten by without his best stuff in his return to Triple-A.

 

"I don't think he was as sharp as he'd have liked, but he's a competitor," Kremblas said. "He pitched (inside) enough to be effective, even without his best stuff."

 

Narron helped himself out, starting a double play in the first and another in the fourth, and drove in a run with a fourth-inning single. His teammates added to the 4-2 cushion as Laynce Nix hit a solo homer in the fifth and doubled home a run in a two-run seventh.

 

"We had a good team down there, had a lot of fun," Narron said of the Stars. "Then you've got another outstanding team behind you here. It's nice to know you're going to get some runs. You're able to attack the (strike) zone."

 

What they said: "We've been a little more consistent; that's what it takes. We're 4-1 on this homestand, but it doesn't matter; we've got a game (Tuesday)." - Kremblas, whose team has now won six of its past eight games.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lakewood (Phillies) 10, West Virginia 5

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

FIVE-RUN FRAME NOT ENOUGH IN POWER LOSS

 

The West Virginia Power had a 5-1 lead after an inning and a half of Monday night's game against the BlueClaws at First Energy Park, but Lakewood scored nine unanswered runs the rest of the way and defeated the Power 10-5.

 

Michael Taylor smacked a two-out RBI single in the first to give Lakewood an early lead. In the second, the Power sent ten batters to the plate and scored five times to take the lead. Scott Houin singled in Zelous Wheeler to tie the game and Lee Haydel reached on Mike Durant's error which allowed Caleb Gindl to score, giving the Power the lead. Eric Farris singled in a pair of runs and Haydel scored on a passed ball to finish the inning. Lakewood scored three times in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to one. Roque Mercedes's throwing error allowed Karl Bolt to score with two outs and Derrick Mitchell's double plated the final two runs.

 

Lakewood took the lead in the third inning on a two-run homer from Durant and never looked back. They added three runs in the fifth inning. Bolt blasted an RBI double before Freddy Galvis ripped an RBI single and Durant scored on a wild pitch. Travis Mattair plated the final run of the contest, driving in Bolt on a groundout.

 

Ben Pfinsgraff (1-2) provided four and two thirds scoreless innings of relief for Lakewood, allowing just a hit and struck out four to get the victory. Mercedes (1-3) allowed nine runs, six earned on seven hits over four and two thirds and was tagged with the loss.

 

The Power fell to 16-26 with the loss and the BlueClaws improved to 21-23 with the win. Three Power players had multi-hit games including Gindl who went 3-for-4 with three singles. Eight players reached safely for West Virginia.

 

The Power will begin a five game series against the Lake County Captains at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio on Tuesday night. Left-hander Dan Merklinger (0-3, 7.00) will get the start for the Power and the Captains will counter with left hander Kelvin De La Cruz (3-2, 1.77). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score

The Brewers sure are showing patience with Roque Mercedes, but the 21-year-old's struggles continue; the Power are 16-26, and it feels like it -- no sustained success at all...

 

West Virginia Game Log

[TheCrew07]

Mercedes must have electric stuff because his performances above Helena have been lack luster at best. I don't remember if he was one of the players Pogo profiled last year from WV or not.

[DHonks]

Man, Mercedes with almost identical numbers to his stint in West Virginia last year...yuck

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Gulin takes home league's pitching award

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Lindsay Gulin, the Sounds' scheduled starter for Tuesday's game against Memphis, was named the Pacific Coast League's pitcher of the week Monday.

 

Gulin struck out 10 over six no-hit innings in a 2-1 victory Thursday against New Orleans. He picked up his first win of the year and lowered his ERA to 3.26 with the effort.

 

He's the first Sounds player to win a PCL weekly award this season. Four Sounds were so honored last season - pitchers Yovani Gallardo (May 14-20), Manny Parra (June 25-July 1) and Seth McClung (Aug. 6-12) and outfielder Laynce Nix (Aug. 13-19).

 

It's Gulin's second PCL award, having previously won in June 2003 after throwing a nine-inning no-hitter for Las Vegas.

 

Nix in the mix: After striking out looking in his first two at-bats, Nix extended his offensive roll with a one-out solo homer in the fifth. Nix added an RBI double in the seventh and now has hit safely in 21 of his past 24 games and 12 of his past 13.

 

Clutch hitter: Sounds catcher Eric Munson hasn't had many hits of late. When he gets them, though, they've been meaningful.

 

His two-run homer in the fourth inning rallied Nashville from a 2-1 deficit. It marked the third of his past four hits - in his last 28 at-bats - that have given the Sounds a lead.

 

On May 13, he had a go-ahead two-run single at Las Vegas, and on Sunday against New Orleans, he had a go-ahead three-run double.

 

Welcome back: Mitch Stetter, whose struggles to throw strikes in two relief outings with the Brewers landed him back in Nashville, was solid in his first appearance with the Sounds. Stetter issued a pair of walks but also struck out a pair; 18 of his 29 pitches were for strikes.

 

Scratched in absentia: Left-hander Mark Mulder was expected to make a rehab start today for Memphis as he works his way back from shoulder surgery. However, after throwing a side session Saturday, the decision was made to hold Mulder back from that start.

 

In two previous starts for Memphis, Mulder has gone 0-2 with a 13.03 ERA, allowing 18 hits in 9 1/3 innings.

 

Anthony Reyes, who was expected to be the first pitcher out of the bullpen following Mulder, will instead start today.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Stranded at home

Huntsville can't get big hit as Carolina takes four of five

By BILL BRYANT

Huntsville Times Sports Staff, bill.bryant@htimes.com

 

Having officially hit their first valley since the second week of the season, the Huntsville Stars came out of their 7-5 loss to the Carolina Mudcats on Monday afternoon knowing two things.

 

Stranding baserunners is one of the easiest ways to draw the ire of manager Don Money. And despite losing four of five to Carolina, they are still in first place in the Southern League North.

 

A day after leaving 14 men on in an 8-3 loss, Huntsville left another eight stranded in front of an announced businessperson's crowd of 1,684 at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

Trailing by two runs in the third, Matt LaPorta struck out with the bases loaded. Trailing by four in the sixth, pinch-hitter Chris Errecart struck out with runners on second and third.

 

"We had one run on 14 hits (Sunday)," said Money, his eyes widening for effect. "We played well enough to win the first three games. We're just not getting the big hits with runners in scoring position right now."

 

The Stars will get a day off today to reflect on their recent shortcomings, but the fact remains that they are 30-15, good enough for a 1 1/2 game lead over West Tenn.

 

"It's much easier to teach when you're winning," Money said. "We'll get it going again."

 

The Mudcats (26-19) wasted no time getting started against on-again, off-again Huntsville pitcher Mike Jones, the former first-round draft pick just called up from Brevard County. Of the 50 pitches Jones threw - his limit for this start - three of them left the park.

 

Cameron Maybin, Brett Hayes and John Raynor all hit balls well over the secondary fences in left, center and right field, respectively.

 

"(Jones) didn't have command. Two of the homers he fell behind 2-0," Money said. "You fall behind good hitters and they start salivating. They know a fastball is coming."

 

Jones (0-1) gave up five hits and three runs in three innings.

 

The Stars got a run back in the bottom of the third on a run-scoring single by Alcides Escobar and added another one in the fifth on Mat Gamel's 10th homer of the year. Gamel finished 2-for-4 with a couple of RBIs.

 

But Carolina effectively put the game away with a three-run sixth off Huntsville reliever Robert Hinton. Chris Coghlan hit a solo homer and four batters later Hayes hit a ball into the right-field corner that drove in two more runs.

 

Derrell McCall (1-0) got the win for the Mudcats, giving up two runs in five innings. Chris Mobley got the shaky save, allowing two hits and a run in the ninth.

[jjfanec]

Why did Jones get bumped up to AA instead of Hand? Hand has been terrific other than low K numbers. Do they just want to see what they have with Jones, because he A ball numbers were not that impressive.

[TheCrew07]

Time is not on Jones' side... or at least that would be my guess.