Link Report for Fri. 6/13 -- Tensions Flare in Charleston

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

Nashville: RHP Richie Gardner at Iowa (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

Audio link:
www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

Huntsville: LHP David Welch at Jacksonville (Dodgers), 5:50 PM pre-game; 6:05 gametime

Audio link via WUMP (game will also archive at this link):
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?sid=t559

Brevard County: Idle for the All-Star Break; Link Report details on the game to be provided Saturday AM...

West Virginia: RHP R.J. Seidel at home vs. Greensboro (Marlins), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:05 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]

Nashville's game at Iowa is also available for subscription viewing at MiLB.TV.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday'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_06_13_nasaaa_iowaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_13_hunaax_jaxaax_1

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_13_gboafx_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 37 29 .561 - 19-11 18-18 L2 Memphis 34 34 .500 4.0 15-17 19-17 W2 Omaha 32 33 .492 4.5 15-19 17-14 W3 Nashville 27 39 .409 10.0 15-16 12-23 L5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 40 27 .597 - 22-13 18-14 L1 West Tenn 39 28 .582 1.0 22-10 17-18 L1 Carolina 36 31 .537 4.0 18-14 18-17 W1 Chattanooga 36 31 .537 4.0 20-15 16-16 W1 Tennessee 26 41 .388 14.0 13-22 13-19 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 41 26 .612 - 26-11 15-15 L2 Brevard County 34 32 .515 6.5 21-14 13-18 L1 Daytona 33 34 .493 8.0 15-17 18-17 W2 Vero Beach 32 34 .485 8.5 20-12 12-22 L3 Jupiter 32 35 .478 9.0 18-12 14-23 L2 St. Lucie 18 49 .269 23.0 9-26 9-23 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 40 27 .597 - 18-17 22-10 W1 Greensboro 38 29 .567 2.0 17-18 21-11 W5 Delmarva 37 29 .561 2.5 21-11 16-18 W2 Lakewood 36 31 .537 4.0 19-15 17-16 L1 Hagerstown 32 34 .485 7.5 16-20 16-14 L2 West Virginia 29 37 .439 10.5 10-20 19-17 L1 Hickory 28 39 .418 12.0 12-20 16-19 L8 Lexington 21 45 .318 18.5 10-24 11-21 W1 

[Mass Haas]

Certainly a serious situation if you've seen the news sites today --

Nashville Site:

DES MOINES - Flooding around Principal Park from the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers has caused the Iowa Cubs to postpone Friday night's game against the Nashville Sounds, which was scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.

 

No makeup date has been set.

 

The teams are now scheduled to open the series on Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Richie Gardner (5-2, 3.98) is slated to man the bump for Nashville. Iowa will counter with left-hander J.R. Mathes (3-3, 2.76).

[Mass Haas]

Ugly loss for the Stars.

Wasted chance after chance early, then Patrick Ryan gets lit up, which is like a Halley's comet event.

Mat Gamel with two more errors (17), a pace that even Bill Hall (15) can't keep up with.

And I know Mat has made strides, just looking for a minor league vent thread (which we're not going to start, by the way).

Oh yeah, West Tenn is romping...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Jacksonville (Dodgres) 9, Huntsville 4

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Seventh Inning Sends Stars to Defeat

Huntsville's Hold on Top Spot Tenuous

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

 

Russell Mitchell tripled in three runs to finish off a six-run seventh inning rally that pushed Jacksonville past Huntsville 9-4 Friday night in the middle of a five-game set at the Baseball Grounds. The Stars dropped to 40-27 and saw their lead over West Tenn in the North Division cut to a half-game, pending the outcome of the Diamond Jaxx' game with Chattanooga at Pringles Park. (As of this post time, West Tenn led, 8-4, in the 7th). The Stars have now dropped 11 of their last 13 games in Jacksonville since June, 2006.

 

Patrick Ryan took over in the seventh for David Welch and gave up a leadoff single to Adam Godwin, who then stole second base. Pinch-hitter Matthew Berezay walked before James Tomlin dropped down a sacrifice bunt attempt past Ryan that was fielded by Mat Gamel, who threw wildly past first base into the stands, allowing Godwin to score the go-ahead run, Berezay to reach third and Tomlin to advance to second. Jamie Hoffman was given an intentional pass to load the bases before Mark Bellhorn and Lucas May singled in runs and Mitchell tripled over the head of Michael Brantley in center field to make it a 9-3 game.

 

Travis Schlichting tossed two scoreless frames behind the starter James McDonald to earn his first win and was followed to the hill by Zach Hammes, who gave up a leadoff long ball to Chris Errecart in the eighth to account for the game's final run.

 

Brantley started the game with a leadoff home run, his fourth of the season, to right field. The Suns answered in their half of the inning with a pair of runs on an RBI hit by Hoffman that plated Tomlin and a Mitchell sacrifice fly that scored Ivan DeJesus, Jr. to put the home team ahead for the first time at 2-1.

 

Matt LaPorta started the second inning with a double off of McDonald, advanced to third base on a Cole Gillespie ground out, stayed there when Errecart struck out and then scored to tie the game on a wild pitch by McDonald with Mike Bell at the plate. The Suns struck again in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff long ball by Juan Gonzalez, his 10th of the season, to regain the lead.

 

Huntsville got the game tied in the top half of the third when Welch led off with a single, moved to third base on an Alcides Escobar double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Gamel, who drove in his league-best 62nd run. Gillespie led off the fourth with a single, moved to third on an Errecart double but they could not score after Bell skied out to shallow center, Welch lined out to first, Brantley walked and Escobar was called out on strikes.

 

Welch went six innings, giving up three runs on four hits, walking two and matching a season-high six strikeouts, while McDonald allowed three runs on seven hits over five frames with two walks and seven strikeouts.

 

The series continues Saturday night with left-hander Brae Wright taking the hill against Suns' right-hander Mario Alvarez. Coverage of the game begins at 5:50 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

Michael Brantley on base three times, five other Stars on base twice apiece, which should have equaled more than four runs...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[twobrewers]

Mat Gamel with two more errors (17), a pace that even Bill Hall (15) can't keep up with.

That's funny. After looking at the Brewers box score and Bill Hall's two error game, I thought to myself - "Well, that puts him back in a tie with Gamel"

 

And then I looked at Huntsville's box score. Nevermind.

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 6, Greensboro (Marlins) 5

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER TAKE DOWN 'HOPPERS IN HEATED BATTLE

 

The West Virginia Power and Greensboro Grasshoppers went back and forth on Saturday night in a heated battle at Appalachian Power Park. West Virginia took the lead on three different occasions and a fight nearly broke out in the fifth inning as the Power came away with a 6-5 victory to take the second game of the series.

 

Zelous Wheeler reached on Matt Dominguez's fielding error in the bottom of the first inning which allowed Matt Cline to score, giving the Power 1-0 lead. Greensboro took their only lead of the game in the third inning where they scored twice on three hits. Danny Garcia began the inning with a single and scored on Emilio Ontiveros's double. Ryan Curry singled later in the inning to score Garcia, giving Greensboro the lead. Steffan Wilson tied the game in the next half inning as he drove in his first of three runs with a two-out RBI single.

 

The Power scored twice in the fourth inning to regain the lead. Cline hit into a 4-6-3 double play but Curt Rindal scored in the process. Eric Farris singled off Jay Voss before Voss was taken out in favor of Eric Basurto. Basurto threw three wild pitches in a row to bring Farris around to score. In the fifth inning, Basurto fell behind Caleb Gindl 2-0 before the next two pitches went behind Gindl, putting him on first base. Steffan Wilson then hit a groundball to third base, giving the Grasshoppers a chance at a double play. Gindl's extremely hard slide into second base broke up the double play possibility and caused the benches to clear. There were a number of heated discussions, but there were no ejections.

 

Greensboro tied the game in the sixth inning with their second two-run inning. Mike Stanton tripled in Bryan Petersen and scored on Ryan Anetsberger's base hit. Wilson struck again with two outs in the sixth inning, as he singled in a pair of runs to put the Power ahead. Greensboro scored one final run in the eighth when Stanton's sacrifice fly plated Ryan Curry.

 

R.J. Seidel (3-4) allowed four runs on six hits and fanned seven over six innings to get the victory. Rob Bryson (4) fanned Tom Hickman with the tying run on third base to finish the game and earned the save. Steven Cishek (1-2) gave up a pair of runs on two hits over two innings and was tagged with the loss.

 

The Power improved to 30-37 with the win and the Grasshoppers fell to 38-30 with the loss. Farris paced the Power with a 3-for-5 performance while Wilson and Rindal chipped in with two hits a piece. Gindl's walk extended his on base streak to 15 games. Zelous Wheeler reached on a walk in the sixth but went 0-3, bringing his 12 game hit streak to an end.

 

The Power will continue the four game series with Greensboro Saturday night. Right hander Amaury Rivas (5-2, 3.02) will get the start for the Power and the Grasshoppers will counter with right hander Stu Alexander (6-5, 5.40). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score

 

West Virginia Game Log

[TheCrew07]

I'm not sure I've ever seen this in a professional game log... this sort of thing happens in High School.

 

West Virginia Bottom 4th

 

Curt Rindal doubles (8) on a ground ball to left fielder Hunter Mense.

Lee Haydel singles on a ground ball to right fielder Michael Stanton. Curt Rindal to 3rd.

Matt Cline grounds into double play, second baseman Ryan Curry to shortstop Emilio Ontiveros to first baseman Ryan Anetsberger. Curt Rindal scores. Lee Haydel out at 2nd.

Eric Farris singles on a line drive to left fielder Hunter Mense.

Pitcher Change: Eric Basurto replaces Jay Voss.

With Jonathan Lucroy batting, wild pitch by Eric Basurto, Eric Farris to 2nd.

With Jonathan Lucroy batting, wild pitch by Eric Basurto, Eric Farris to 3rd.

With Jonathan Lucroy batting, wild pitch by Eric Basurto, Eric Farris scores.

Jonathan Lucroy walks.

Zelous Wheeler called out on strikes.

[uwisfan]

my guess is Mat has the 'yips' again. That's 5 errors this week after a really solid start..

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Power plays spoiler, nips Greensboro 6-5

By Doug Smock

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

 

A visiting reliever scored a "hat trick" of wild pitches and the managers nearly got in a Friday night fistfight, but in the end the West Virginia Power inflicted a damaging blow to the Greensboro Grasshoppers' first-half title chances.

 

Steffan Wilson's two-run single with two outs in the sixth inning gave the Power a 6-4 lead, and the home team hung on to win 6-5 at Appalachian Power Park. A fireworks night crowd of 3,630 attended, though a postgame storm scrubbed the fireworks.

 

The customers got a little extra bang for their entertainment buck beginning in the fourth inning, when the Power ousted Greensboro starter Jay Voss. Power batters touched Voss for nine hits in 3 2/3 innings, but had just a 3-2 lead to show for it.

 

Eric Basurto took three pitches to change that, and not to the Grasshoppers' benefit. Those first three pitches all went to the backstop, moving runner Eric Farris around from first to score, giving West Virginia a 4-2 lead.

 

"We'll take the runs any way we can get them," said Power manager Jeff Isom. "They're hard enough to come by."

 

The real fun came in the Power's fifth. Caleb Gindl walked on four pitches, with the last two going behind him and to the backstop. Home-plate umpire Mike Brundage immediately warned Basurto and both managers.

 

That begged the question: As wild as Basurto was, could he have hit a Power batter if he so intended?

 

"When the pitch goes behind the hitter twice in an at-bat, they should be throwing out warnings, even if it was an accident," Wilson said. "It's like, get your stuff together, because it's dangerous. With the tension already high, I think that's the right move there. I know their coach wasn't happy about it, but why not warn them?"

 

Wilson was the next batter up, and he hit a potential double-play grounder to third. But Gindl nicely broke up the twin-killing, taking out second baseman Ryan Curry.

 

Curry didn't think the play was very nice, and said as much to Gindl. That little chat emptied both dugouts.

 

Gindl and Curry were separated, and the players didn't seem in the mood for combat. But Isom and Greensboro manager Edwin Rodriguez got into several heated exchanges.

 

"We've hit a few of their players in the last series, and he took exception to that, and understandably so," Isom said. "That's what that all stemmed from. We go in and break up a double play with Gindl, just hard baseball, and it all started from there.

 

"It's understandable. They're frustrated; they're in a playoff run, tensions are high for them. We don't want them clinching at our home field, so we're taking care of our business. That's going to happen when you have two teams that are wanting to win."

 

"We're going to try to break up two every day of the year," Wilson said. "And if they have a problem with that, then we're probably going to have more problems like this."

 

The teams settled back down to baseball, and the Grasshoppers tied the game in the top of the sixth on a Mike Stanton triple and a Ryan Anetsberger single. But Wilson put the Power ahead for good off reliever Steven Cishek (1-2), when his line drive sailed just past the shortstop's glove and scored runners Matt Cline and Farris.

 

As it turns out, Wilson had all three of the Power's RBIs.

 

"It's the third time in the last two weeks we've seen [Cishek]," Wilson said. "[He throws] a pretty good fastball, a little cutter. He started me out with a cutter for a ball, and that was a good pitch that could have gone either way. Got down 2-0 and he came back with two fastballs in a row, and the second one I managed to stay up the middle with it, which is kind of what we're taught."

 

That made a winner of R.J. Seidel (3-4), who struck out seven and walked just one before yielding to Mike Ramlow. Ramlow got in trouble in the eighth, allowing an unearned run on a Stanton sacrifice fly that made it 6-5. But he got bonus-baby Matt Dominguez to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to stifle that threat.

 

The Grasshoppers (38-30) got a runner to third in the ninth on an Anetsberger single, a balk and a groundout. Isom summoned Rob Bryson to get the final out, which he did by fanning pinch-hitter Tom Hickman.

 

West Virginia (30-37) put Greensboro on the brink of first-half elimination. The Grasshoppers fell to 2 1/2 games behind Lake County, whose game Friday was suspended by rain. Now, Greensboro must beat the Power today and Sunday and have Lake County lose three times in a row to force a first-half tie on the Northern Division.

 

"That was the theme of this whole series," Isom said. "If we're not going to be in it, let's be the spoiler for somebody. And we want to make something of these games here, and take some momentum into the second half."

 

BRIEFLY: The fireworks are rescheduled for tonight, after the Grasshoppers and Power play their 7:05 PM game (6:05 Central). Fans were offered admission tonight with their Friday ticket. ... Stanton struck out for the 82nd and 83rd time this season. ... Farris, entering the game with a .190 batting average, went 3-for-5. ... Cline went 1-for-4, dropping his team-high batting average to .298. ... Zelous Wheeler's 12-game hitting streak was snapped. ... The four-game series, and the first half, wraps up Sunday with a 6:05 PM game (5:05 Central).

 

Charleston Gazette Photo by Chip Ellis

Greensboro's Emilio Ontiveros slides home safely as Power catcher Jonathan Lucroy tries to handle the throw.

 

http://www.wvgazette.com/images/thumbs275/WVP2_G0806133bjym1.jpg

[Mass Haas]

By the way, West Tenn did win, 12-4, and the Stars and Diamond Jaxx are tied for first place with two games remaining.

 

If they tie, the first half champion will be decided in the two teams' first head-to-head meeting of the second half schedule, which coincidentally, opens the second half slate. It'd be this Tuesday the 17th at home in Huntsville with Steve Hammond on the mound.

 

But the Jaxx are home this weekend, while the Stars are on the road against a tough Jacksonville club, so getting to a championship game may be tougher than actually winning it.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Iowa Cubs: Flooding forces team out of Principal Park

 

RANDY PETERSON

Des Moines REGISTER STAFF WRITER

 

Michael Gartner looked out the window from his downtown residence near Principal Park.

 

"All I saw was water," the majority owner of the Iowa Cubs said.

 

He spoke while walking inside a stadium that had water standing in the outfield from the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers and ensuing sewer backup.

 

Immediately, he knew Friday's game against Nashville would be postponed, and the journalist in him took over.

 

"Five in the morning, I called the morning news TV shows, radio shows and sent an e-mail to the newspaper," said Gartner, a former newspaper editor and former president of NBC News.

 

Friday the 13th

 

Gartner and Iowa Cubs general manager Sam Bernabe stood in the outfield bleacher-patio area, watching water cover at least 20 feet of neatly manicured grass.

 

Suddenly, Bernabe hollered down to head groundskeeper Chris Schlosser, who was sloshing through the flood water.

 

"Happy birthday," Bernabe hollered.

 

Gartner looked bewildered at Bernabe.

 

"It's his birthday - Friday the 13th?" Gartner asked.

 

"He's fired."

 

View of water from 801

 

While watching water, Bernabe's cell phone went off. Ownership partner Mike Giudicessi wanted to talk while watching the stadium from his office at 801 Grand.

 

"What's it look like from up there?" Bernabe said, waving toward the building.

 

A wet walk to stadium

 

Shortly before 8 a.m., Iowa Cubs assistant general manager Jim Nahas parked across the street from the flooded parking lot in which he usually parks.

 

He took off shoes and socks before gingerly walking through water, which by now had become part Raccoon River and part sewer backup.

 

"A carp jumped up in front of me," Nahas declared. "It scared me so much that I about (wet) my pants."

 

Stunning homecoming

 

The Iowa Cubs returned from a 12-day road trip around 10 a.m. Friday.

 

Most of the players drove directly to their Des Moines-area residences. Randy Wells drove past the stadium.

 

"Unbelievable," he said, looking onto the players' parking lot behind the locker room. "Amazing."

 

Manager Pat Listach could not see the stadium as the Iowa Cubs neared Des Moines International Airport Friday morning.

 

"I saw more flooding than I've ever seen out the window on the side of the plane I was sitting," Listach said. "It's just terrible, the flooding and the tragedy to the Boy Scouts in western Iowa.

 

"Makes you wonder just how important baseball really is in the grand scheme of things."

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

I-Cubs dealing with uncertainty

 

By RANDY PETERSON

Des Moines REGISTER STAFF WRITER

 

The Iowa Cubs will determine by 10 a.m. today when they hope to play again at Principal Park.

 

Flood waters from the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers forced postponement of Friday's 7 p.m. Pacific Coast League game against Nashville.

"If the flooding's gone down by Saturday morning, if we can get the ballpark in playing shape, and if we're not causing a problem from a public safety standpoint, we'll try to play," general manager Sam Bernabe said. "That's a lot of ifs, but right now, we're like everyone else - we're making hour-by-hour decisions."

 

Water flowed into stadium parking lots early Friday, but recently created levees sealed lot entrances, and water had not moved to neighboring streets.

 

The water began creeping onto the main field from the outfield area by 7 a.m. - and was about 20 feet in from the outfield fences as of mid-afternoon.

 

Bernabe said he took a gamble in trying to host at least the first part of the eight-day, nine-game homestand that was supposed to start Friday.

 

He opted against moving the games to Memphis.

 

"From a public safety standpoint, no one told me we couldn't play when I talked to the city officials about it Thursday afternoon," Bernabe said. "Would that have changed (Friday) even if the field would have been playable?

 

"Maybe, and if they would have said we couldn't have played, then we wouldn't have played.

 

"We will do whatever they tell us to do. I'm not going to put anyone at risk."

 

Aside from Thursday projections that showed Principal Park below the anticipated flood stage, trying to play at home was a business decision.

"The weather so far this season hasn't been real conducive to big crowds," Bernabe said. "I get only 71 dates that I can play home games. That's 71 dates to make as much money as I can make."

 

Revenue from games moved from Des Moines would have stayed with the Memphis organization.

 

Crowds of at least 10,000 in the 11,000-seat stadium were expected Friday and tonight, according to Bernabe.

 

"If I lose dates, then we're not making money," he said. "Each missed date is money out of our pocket."

 

Bernabe said he wouldn't second-guess his decision yet.

 

"Right now, I still think I made the right move," he said Friday. "If we can play by at least Sunday, with there being no risk from a public safety standpoint, then I will have made he right decision. If we're still not playing on Monday, then I might reconsider whether I made a good decision."

 

Principal Park has received $6.5 million in recent renovations. Officials said the main improvements - scoreboard, fountain, new seats and other upgrades - are high enough to avoid rising flood waters.

 

The last time floods affected the home of the Iowa Cubs was 1993, but the team was on a road trip at the time.

 

The Principal Park playing surface underwent a $1.2 million makeover six years ago, Bernabe said. The City of Des Moines paid 75 percent of the bill, Iowa Cubs owners paid the rest.

 

"It's too early to tell how much grass, if any, will be killed," Bernabe said.

 

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie said that any decision on playing will be made by Iowa Cubs officials and not city officials.

 

City officials urged businesses along Court Avenue to close as part of the voluntary evacuation of downtown, but some bars stayed open.

[SunGrasses]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Power plays spoiler, nips Greensboro 6-5

By Doug Smock

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

 

The real fun came in the Power's fifth. Caleb Gindl walked on four pitches, with the last two going behind him and to the backstop. Home-plate umpire Mike Brundage immediately warned Basurto and both managers.

 

That begged the question: As wild as Basurto was, could he have hit a Power batter if he so intended?

 

"When the pitch goes behind the hitter twice in an at-bat, they should be throwing out warnings, even if it was an accident," Wilson said. "It's like, get your stuff together, because it's dangerous. With the tension already high, I think that's the right move there. I know their coach wasn't happy about it, but why not warn them?"

 

Wilson was the next batter up, and he hit a potential double-play grounder to third. But Gindl nicely broke up the twin-killing, taking out second baseman Ryan Curry.

Curry didn't think the play was very nice, and said as much to Gindl. That little chat emptied both dugouts.

 

Gindl and Curry were separated, and the players didn't seem in the mood for combat. But Isom and Greensboro manager Edwin Rodriguez got into several heated exchanges.

 

"We've hit a few of their players in the last series, and he took exception to that, and understandably so," Isom said. "That's what that all stemmed from. We go in and break up a double play with Gindl, just hard baseball, and it all started from there.

 

"It's understandable. They're frustrated; they're in a playoff run, tensions are high for them. We don't want them clinching at our home field, so we're taking care of our business. That's going to happen when you have two teams that are wanting to win."

 

Charleston Gazette Photo by Chip Ellis

Greensboro's Emilio Ontiveros slides home safely as Power catcher Jonathan Lucroy tries to handle the throw.

 

http://www.wvgazette.com/images/thumbs275/WVP2_G0806133bjym1.jpg

 

What's not written here is that following the bench clearing "incident", a Greensboro batter had better aim than their pitcher. Basurto, who couldn't manage to hit Caleb Gindl, left the job to the offense. Power catcher, Jonathan Lucroy, was hit in the back of the head by a bat on a backswing so hard that it cracked his helmet and cut his head open. But, last night was not the first time for this to happen. It also happened Thursday night, 6/12/08, and before that when they were in Greensboro!

[pogokat]

these teams had it out for each other in 2006 and 2007 as well..

[uwisfan]

Jonathan Lucroy, was hit in the back of the head by a bat on a backswing so hard that it cracked his helmet and cut his head open.

Seriously? Is he okay?

 

[SunGrasses]

Yes, he's OK. He didn't need stitches. But he needs a new helmet!

 

I bet tonight's game will be interesting...

[LouisEly]

I guess the silver lining is another quality start from Welch. Three runs is not that great, but only four hits and two walks with six K's in six innings is pretty good. Errecart and Gillespie seem to be getting out of the funk they were in the last week.

 

Same with Seidel - the four runs were not great but six hits, one walk and seven Ks in six innings is good.