Link Report for Games of Saturday, May 31st

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu: It looks to me like dinner is served at 6:00 Central tonight, yes?

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Jeff Weaver at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 5:45 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Steve Hammond at Chattanooga (Reds), 6:00 PM pre-game; 6:15 gametime

 

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

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

 

Brevard County: LHP Zach Braddock at home vs. Vero Beach (Rays), 6:00 PM gametime

 

Sorry, no audio for this series...

 

West Virginia: LHP Dan Merklinger at Greensboro (Marlins), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:00 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 Saturday'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_31_iowaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_31_hunaax_cngaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_31_vbdafa_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_05_31_wvaafx_gboafx_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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 28 26 .519 - 19-11 9-15 W2 Memphis 28 28 .500 1.0 11-13 17-15 L2 Omaha 26 27 .491 1.5 15-15 11-12 L2 Nashville 23 31 .426 5.0 11-12 12-19 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 34 21 .618 - 19-11 15-10 W2 West Tenn 34 21 .618 - 19-6 15-15 W1 Carolina 30 25 .545 4.0 14-11 16-14 L2 Chattanooga 28 27 .509 6.0 17-13 11-14 W3 Tennessee 22 33 .400 12.0 12-18 10-15 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 33 21 .611 - 19-9 14-12 L1 Vero Beach 28 26 .519 5.0 16-9 12-17 W5 Brevard County 27 27 .500 6.0 17-12 10-15 L2 Daytona 26 28 .481 7.0 11-15 15-13 L1 Jupiter 25 29 .463 8.0 15-11 10-18 W1 St. Lucie 12 42 .222 21.0 5-23 7-19 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 34 21 .618 - 15-14 19-7 L2 Delmarva 30 24 .556 3.5 18-11 12-13 W3 Lakewood 30 25 .545 4.0 15-13 15-12 W2 Greensboro 28 26 .519 5.5 13-15 15-11 L2 Hagerstown 27 27 .500 6.5 12-15 15-12 L4 Hickory 27 28 .491 7.0 11-16 16-12 L3 West Virginia 21 32 .396 12.0 7-17 14-15 W2 Lexington 16 37 .302 17.0 7-20 9-17 W1 

[Mass Haas]

Mat Gamel's photo is featured as a pre-game audio reminder on MiLB.com's home page today as one of the rotating headlines, along with this note:

 

Huntsville's Mat Gamel leads the Minors in hits (86), runs (53) and total bases (152) and has a 45-game on-base streak.

[Trowekamp]

9K's in 4 IP for Braddock and HR's for Laporta (14) and Escobar(6)....

 

Nice to having top prospects playing well again..

[TheCrew07]

Ohh my, not to be outdone by Jeffress, Braddock goes 6IP, 2H, 1ER, 11SO, 0BB... sweet line young man.

 

Cain has cooled off some, only .225 over his last 10, average around .270, and still not hitting for much power.

 

Hammond has a horrible 4th giving up a 5 spot.

 

Gindl is quietly coming on, average up over .275 the 50 strike outs still hurt, only 4 less than Brewer.

 

Weaver with his best start of the year, I hope that doesn't equal a call-up yet.

[uwisfan]

well, despite never hitting more than 2 HRs, Escobar continues to gain momentum. That makes 6 on the season and raises his average to .322

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 3, Vero Beach (Rays) 2

 

Brevard County Box Score

It wasn't that long ago that you'd have Yovani Gallardo or Will Inman making minor league starts, and you'd see their names in the Link Report Daily Menu, and say to yourself, that's appointment TV (or appointment box score, you know what I mean). That's been lacking in 2008, but Zach Braddock and his Brevard teammate Jeremy Jeffress both qualify in that regard. Braddock wasn't babied here, as he was allowed to work a full six innings while striking out 11 and walking two (one HBP), allowing just one run on two hits. So obviously I was wrong yesterday when I said this Manatee squad lacks storylines, they only are short in "everyday" storylines. Taylor Green, the team MVP thus far, hits a leadoff home run in the 6th, giving him five Florida State League home runs before June, a fine number. Green finished 3-for-4 with two RBI. Mike McClendon stranded an inherited runner in the 8th, then retired the side in the 9th in order, finishing with three K's. Looks as though he will get first crack at Omar Aguilar's closer role...

 

Brevard County Game Log

Seven of Braddock's 11 K's were swinging...

[PrimeTime955]

Escobar with a pretty good week so far. 13 for 24 with 2 homers and 5 rbi's since Monday.

[colbyjack]

Braddock's start today was especially exciting in that he opposed Vero Beach starter Jeremy Hellickson, one of the Rays' top prospects and a pitcher that I believe shut down the Power twice last year during the South Atlantic League playoffs. You're sure to see Braddock's name mentioned during BA's prospect pulse roundup on Monday.

 

Overall, three intriguing lefties on the mound this evening, although only Braddock had an inspiring start. Hammond's been rock solid up to tonight's game, while Merklinger is still a darkhorse IMO to make some strong impressions as the season progresses.

 

I can't wait to see who gets promoted mid-June. You'd have to think that Gamel is candidate #1 the way he's swinging the bat, unless the Brewers want to keep him at AA to work on his D'. Escobar is also deserving since many of us felt he could have opened the season at AAA, and his increase in power may be the most exciting storyline among all Brewers minor leaguers. Lucroy is another obvious candidate, especially since he's more polished than most low-A ballers, the Power aren't in the hunt for the first-half playoffs while the Manatees are, with no one at BC blocking Lucroy (unless you're the biggest Andy Bouchie fan out there).

[wvpowerblkwel]

Bryson closes out with 2 2/3 fine innings throwing gasolina! Goose eggs across the board! Power takes another one run game....could these guys be turning it around?!

[Mass Haas]

Final: Chattanooga (Reds) 12, Huntsville 5

 

Huntsville Press Release:

Stars Fall to Chattanooga After Early Lead

FOURTH INNING LEADS LOOKS TO WIN

 

Jordan Smith tossed six solid innings and knocked in three runs to help Chattanooga down Huntsville 12-5 Saturday night in the opener of a five-game set at AT&T Field. The Stars dropped to 34-22 and temporarily a half game behind West Tenn in the North Division, while the Lookouts improved to 29-27 and moved to within five and a half games of the top spot.

 

Huntsville got off to a rousing start, scoring in the first inning on a solo home run by Alcides Escobar and a two-run blast by Matt LaPorta, his league-best 14th of the year. The Lookouts got back into the game in the bottom half of the second on a two-out, two-run double by Smith, who collected his first hit in his first professional at-bat. At that point, all 14 runs allowed by the Stars on the road trip had come with two outs.

 

Chattanooga put together a five-run rally in the fourth to take the lead for good that got started when Sean Henry was hit on an 0-2 offering from Steve Hammond leading off the frame. Smith then delivered a bases-loaded single to plate Henry to tie the game before Cody Strait followed with a base hit to knock in Justin Turner to give the Lookouts a 4-3 advantage. Eric Eymann drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Chris Valaika capped the rally with a two-out, two-run double.

 

Huntsville pulled to within 7-5 in the seventh on a two-out, two-run single by Escobar against Robert Manuel, who had allowed only two earned runs in 26 2/3 innings since joining the Lookouts. Left-hander Lee Tabor came on to retire Mat Gamel on a come-backer to end the inning before the Lookouts put the game out of reach with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Derrik Lutz tossed two scoreless innings to close out the game, allowing one hit and recording two strikeouts.

 

Hammond was taken out after six innings and was tagged with his third loss of the season after allowing seven runs on eight hits. David Johnson took over and allowed a two-run triple by Sean Henry, who then came in on a scoring fly ball by Turner, who had two hits, scored twice, walked twice and knocked in a run. Johnson was lifted after issuing back-to-back walks and replaced by Mike Jones, who got pinch-hitter Danny Dorn to ground into an inning-ending double play. Valaika hit a two-out home run in the eighth and B.J. Szymanksi singled in the final run of the night, as Huntsville yielded a season-high dozen runs for a second time this year.

 

The series continues Sunday afternoon with left-hander Derek Miller taking the hill against Lookouts' right-hander Sam LeCure. Coverage of the game begins at 1:00 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

Well, time for me to head back to the Transaction thread and delete the confusing Huntsville media retraction, as Micheal Garciaparra did indeed make his Huntsville debut, striking out as a pinch-hitter; you have to feel for 23-year-old OF Freddy Parejo (DNP), as he just can't get consistent AB's given the nature of this lineup and the scarcity of designated hitter games in the Southern League; looks like Donovan Hand's arrival spelled the end of Mike Jones' closely monitored three- and four-inning starts...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Bryson closes out with 2 2/3 fine innings throwing gasolina! Goose eggs across the board! Power takes another one run game....could these guys be turning it around?!

I just listened to that final couple of innings -- nice! Though some might mention (jokingly) that the Power should save these recent wins for the second half race. Good for them -- they deserve a decent stretch of fun. Three straight one-run road wins against a quality opponent, that's outstanding.

[uwisfan]

I don't think we see Gamel this year unless its as DH. The Hall/Branyan platoon is off to a great start and there would be nowhere to put Branyan if Gamel came up. I don't see the team taking a chance in rushing his glove after the Braun/Weeks/Fielder defensive struggles.

 

Escobar is going to be interesting. He could get the call, though I wonder if they would take a chance with JJ the way they treat him with kid gloves.

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

Braddock Blows Away Devil Rays

By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees

(Viera, FL) Zach Braddock dominated Vero Beach Saturday night, leading Brevard County to a 3-2 victory. Braddock struck out 11 Devil Rays in his six innings of work, while allowing just one run on two hits. Taylor Green led the offensive attack for the Manatees with three hits and two RBI, including a deep solo home run to right field in the sixth inning. Mike McClendon entered the game in the eighth inning to pitch out of a jam, and then pitched a perfect ninth for his second save. The Manatees pitching staff tallied 15 strikeouts total.

Vero Beach struck quickly in the first inning, with an RBI double from J.T. Hall, giving them the early 1-0 lead. The Manatees bounced back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, with a triple from Lorenzo Cain, followed by singles from Green, Andy Bouchie, and Charlie Fermaint. Green's home run made the game 3-1, and the Devil Rays were able to scratch out one run in the seventh inning to provide the final margin. Jeremy Hellickson (5-1) was saddled with his first loss of the season, allowing three runs over six innings.

The Manatees wrap up their homestand Sunday, with Jeremy Jeffress (1-2, 10.22) taking on Ryan Morse (2-0, 2.02). Second place in the FSL East will be on the line as the Manatees look to finish their homestand with a winning record.

Zach Braddock struck out 11 Devil Rays Saturday night. (MiLB.com Photo by Dennis Greenblatt)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2008/05/31/gLk4FT4J.jpg

[bork]

Looks like Pena and Stetter are both going to be staying in AAA for a while, until they can cut down on the walks.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Iowa (Cubs) 5, Nashville 2, ten innings

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for new Jeff Weaver photo, text follows --

 

Sounds Open Homestand With Extra-Inning Loss

NASHVILLE - The Iowa Cubs scored three runs in the top of the tenth inning to hang a 5-2 defeat on the Nashville Sounds on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

 

Felix Pie ripped a one-out double off Sounds reliever Mitch Stetter to start the tenth. After Matt Murton drew a walk, pinch-hitter Bobby Scales delivered an RBI single to center to put the I-Cubs in front. Iowa catcher Casey McGehee gave the visitors some breathing room when he followed with a two-run single to left-center, increasing the lead to three.

 

Iowa took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when former Sound Luis Figueroa dropped a well-executed two-out bunt single up the first base line to plate Josh Kroeger, who had opened the frame with a single.

 

Nashville tied the contest with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning. Brad Nelson drew a leadoff walk and later scored the tying run from third when Hernan Iribarren stole second and McGehee threw the ball into center field.

 

The Cubs moved back ahead by a 2-1 count in the third when Eric Patterson scored on a bases-loaded McGehee sacrifice fly.

 

Neither team scored again until the home half of the ninth when the Sounds squared the contest at 2-2. With one out, Iribarren drew a walk from Cubs reliever Andy Cavazos then scored from first when Chris Woodward lifted a fly ball single to center that was nearly snagged by a sliding Pie. Iribarren narrowly beat Pie's throw to the plate on the play.

 

AUDIO: Sounds Tie It In The 9th

One heck of an exciting call, too bad the loss followed shortly after...

 

Cavazos (1-1) picked up the win following the late rally despite allowing the game-tying run in his 1 1/3 innings of work.

 

Jim Brower, who joined Iowa hours before the game after being acquired by the Cubs from the Cincinnati Reds organization, worked around a pair of walks to pitch a scoreless bottom of the tenth to earn his first save.

 

Stetter (0-2) was saddled with the loss after surrendering three runs on three hits in his lone frame of action.

 

Neither starter factored in the decision despite a pair of solid efforts.

 

Iowa starter Randy Wells dominated Sounds batters in his six frames. The right-hander struck out nine batters while allowing one unearned run on three hits.

 

Nashville starter Jeff Weaver turned in his second quality start of the year. The veteran allowed two runs on eight hits while striking out six batters in a season high-tying seven innings.

 

The teams continue the series with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Derrick Turnbow (1-0, 13.50) will make the start for the Sounds and face Iowa right-hander Justin Berg (1-2, 7.32).

 

Nashville Box Score

Jeff Weaver threw 106 pitches over seven innings; Mitch Stetter has to be beside himself -- he had it, the big league clubhouse, lifestyle and salary, and he has temporarily lost control, literally, of his ideal situation...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Jim Powell & Tom Flanagan, Brewers Director of Player Development & Scouting

In order, the audio discussion is on Jeremy Jeffress, Omar Aguilar, Angel Salome, and Mat Gamel's defense -- good stuff, as you can imagine...

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 6, Greensboro (Marlins) 5

 

West Virginia Press Release:

 

POWER SECURE THIRD STRAIGHT WIN

 

Greensboro, NC - The West Virginia Power matched their season-long winning streak with their third consecutive one-run victory over the Greensboro Grasshoppers at NewBridge Bank Park on Saturday night, topping the 'Hoppers 6-5 and will have a chance to go for the sweep on Sunday.

 

Caleb Gindl and Curt Rindal ripped back-to-back RBI singles with two outs in the top of the first inning to give West Virginia an early lead. Matt Cline's sacrifice fly plated David Fonseca in the second to make it a 3-0 Power advantage. Mike Stanton hit a solo homer in the bottom of the second to put the Grasshoppers on the board. Steffan Wilson and Gindl hit back-to-back solo homers to begin the third inning for West Virginia. Matt Dominguez doubled in a run with two outs in the bottom of the third to bring the Grasshoppers within three.

 

Eric Farris smacked a one-out triple in the fourth inning and scored West Virginia's final run on a wild pitch. Justin Jacobs hit Greensboro's second homer of the game in the bottom of the inning to make it a 6-3 contest before Dominguez blasted a two-run shot in the fifth to bring the Grasshoppers within a run. The Grasshoppers stranded three over the final five innings against Roque Mercedes and Rob Bryson.

 

Mercedes (2-4) earned the victory in his first relief appearance of the season, allowing no runs over an inning and two-thirds. Bryson (2) struck out three and retired all seven batters he faced to get the save. Kyle Kaminska (2-2) suffered the loss, giving up six runs on eight hits over five innings of work. Dan Merklinger tied his longest outing of the season, going four and two-thirds, allowing five runs on five hits with six strikeouts but didn't go long enough to factor into the decision.

 

The Power improved to 22-32 with the win and the Grasshoppers fell to 28-27 with the loss. The victory improved West Virginia's record to 6-9 in one-run games, doubling their victories in games decided by one run going into the series. West Virginia is now 19-7 all time at NewBridge Bank Park and 15-15 on the road. Every Power player struck out at least once. They struck out 16 times, establishing a new season high. Gindl and Lee Haydel paced the Power with two hits a piece.

 

The Power will finish the four game series against Greensboro Sunday evening. Right hander Evan Anundsen (3-4, 4.21) will get the start for the Power and the Grasshoppers will counter with right hander Alejandro Sanabia (0-1, 5.63). The first pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM (4:00 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score

The Power drew one lonely walk (Steffan Wilson) among all those K's, but hey, we're not supposed to quibble after victories; Roque Mercedes' long run in the rotation appears over; Zelous Wheeler started in left field before moving back to third base for defense in the 8th -- first time I can remember Wheeler in the outfield; Rob Bryson was just dominant in a loud hostile environment for the multi-inning save...

 

West Virginia Game Log

[colbyjack]

I don't think we see Gamel this year unless its as DH

 

I'm not sure if this was in response to my comment on promotions, but I wasn't suggesting that the Brewers promote Gamel, or Escobar to Milwaukee, but to AAA Nashville.

[brewmann04]

amen colby

[uwisfan]

my bad there..yeah it would make sense to bump him to AAA, though the org has made a big deal about the defensive work he gets in with Money. So many bats about big-league-ready that its hard not to think about it, aside from the defensive issues...

[pogokat]

Wow Flanagan with some super high praise of mat gamel there...always good to here...apparently aguilar is more of a one pitch dude at the moment, but he said he has the makings of a good slider...

 

nice stuff..