Link Report for Games of Tuesday, July 22nd

[Mass Haas]

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Power blanks Braves 7-0

By Tommy R. Atkinson

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia Power manager Jeff Isom enjoys watching his ballclub.

 

And why not? The Power has been on a roll in the South Atlantic League's second half and gaining confidence with each victory.

 

"It's definitely a great team effort,'' said Isom, who is in his first year with the Power. "It's not one guy you can really key on in our lineup. It's going to be a number of guys show up and carry the load for us. It's fun to watch these guys play.''

 

The Power's cast of characters was on display again Tuesday night as six different players drove in a run apiece in taking a 7-0 victory over the Rome (Ga.) Braves. A paid crowd of 3,384 braved rain and lightning at Appalachian Power Park.

 

West Virginia (23-9) extended its lead in the Northern Division to two games over the Lakewood (N.J.) BlueClaws. The Power, which has won 13 of its last 16 games, begins a pivotal eight-game road trip Friday with four games each against the Lake County (Ohio) Captains and Lakewood.

 

The Power had 11 hits and drove in five of its six runs with two outs Tuesday. Caleb Gindl went 4-for-4 with a double and RBI as five different players turned in multiple hits.

 

West Virginia starter Roque Mercedes and reliever Pedro Lambertus combined for a four-hit shutout. Mercedes (5-4) was masterful in earning the win, allowing three singles and no walks with nine strikeouts in seven innings. He set down the Braves in order in the final four innings. Lambertus fired two scoreless innings, fanning the last three batters to end the game.

 

"Our pitchers have done a very good job of getting us the lead,'' said Isom, who led Helena (Mont.) to a division title in the short-season rookie Pioneer League last year.

 

"When we have the lead we're a different ballclub than when we're trailing. Guys did a very good job with two outs. When you get a team that's rolling and guys feel comfortable at the plate, that's what happens.''

 

The Power held a 2-0 lead after three innings, but came up with clutch hits for some breathing room. Lee Haydel scored on an error in the fifth and Zelous Wheeler added a two-out single to give the Power a 4-0 advantage.

 

Haydel, Matt Cline and Eric Farris strung together three straight two-out doubles in the sixth to plate three more runs and grab a 7-0 edge, which was more than enough.

 

"Everybody did his job,'' said Gindl. "At some point everybody contributed. A guy gets on [and] get him over. We're just starting to play better as a team. Nobody on this team likes to lose.''

 

Power points

 

Farris extended his hitting streak to eight in a row after seeing his 15-game streak come to an end recently. ... The Power will play host to Rome at 12:05 PM Wednesday (11:05 AM Central) in the finale of the four-game series. West Virginia will send right-hander R.J. Seidel (7-4, 4.80 ERA) to the mound while the Braves will counter with lefty Jeff Locke (4-9, 3.82).

[TheCrew07]

Wow, Money must have been cranky, that was some pretty biting criticism of a couple of guys... "very long and very slow swing", "no out pitch"

[Mass Haas]

Final: Casper (Rockies) 3, Helena 2, ten innings

Lengthy rain delay led to this partial game report --

 

Helena Independent Record

 

The Helena Brewers (18-12) rallied from a two-run deficit Tuesday night before their road game with Casper, Wyo., was pushed late by a rain delay.

 

The two teams were tied 2-2 in the top of the seventh at press time.

 

Helena's Erik Komatsu scored both of the Brewer's runs to tie the game up, thanks to a few Ghosts (20-12) errors.

 

Komatsu came home first on a wild pitch by Marco Duarte in the fourth inning. Then, after a double steal with Brock Kjeldgaard that landed Komatsu on third base, the runner scored a second time when teammate Michael Vass reached on a throwing error by Casper shortstop Carlos Martinez.

 

Casper built up their lead with runs scored in the first and third innings. Like the Brewers, a single player scored both of their runs.

 

Carlos Martinez scored first on a sacrifice fly by Nick Valdez before Wilin Rosario brought him in again on a line drive to right field.

 

Both Komatsu and Martinez led their team, going 2-for-3 in the game.

 

Brandon Ritchie started on the mound for Helena, giving up two runs on four hits while striking out four. He did not walk a batter in his five innings of play.

 

Duarte gave up one run on three hits while striking out six over five innings pitched.

 

The Brewers, who are currently second in the Pioneer League's Northern Division, will have an off day today before returning home to face off with the Billings Mustangs on Thursday at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score

A one-out Ghost single handed the H-Crew a walk-off loss -- Garrett Sherrill walked the leadoff man in the 10th, recipe for destruction that led to his 5th loss; LHP Brandon Ritchie (five innings, two unearned runs, one on his own error), RHP Liam Ohlmann (one inning) and RHP Rob Wooten (a powerful three innings, six K's) did not allow an earned run between them; Brewers never really threatened at all late; only four hits, all singles, for Helena, two by Erik Komatsu, who reached three times...

 

Helena Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Helena Pre-Game Audio Interview with closer Rob Wooten

Click on the KCAP archive of July 22nd, then browse to the 11:30 minute mark; classic North Carolina accent, big-time enthusiasm...

[Mass Haas]

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Two errors by Gwynn cost Sounds

By MAURICE ATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

In 55 games with the Nashville Sounds this season, outfielder Tony Gwynn had been charged with just one error all season - and by all accounts, it was a questionable call.

 

There was no doubting either of his two miscues in Tuesday night's series opener against visiting Tacoma. Both were a factor into the 5-2 loss.

 

"I'm disappointed, but they're occasionally going to happen," Gwynn said. "I know I'm still a good centerfielder. You don't like to make 'em, but it happens sometimes."

 

Gwynn dropped a two-out flyball in the first inning, allowing one run to score and setting up a second. After Nashville rallied to tie the game with a pair of sixth-inning runs, Gwynn bobbled Rob Johnson's seventh-inning leadoff double to allow Johnson to reach third base.

 

Johnson scored on the second of Tacoma's four doubles in the inning.

 

"Unfortunately, they cost us," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said of Gwynn's errors, which helped the hosts get their sixth loss in their last seven games. "Hopefully, we could pitch around those."

 

The two unearned runs were the only ones allowed by Nashville starter Mark DiFelice, whose earned run average dropped to 2.97 with his five innings.

 

"The first one, I just took my eye off the ball," Gwynn said. "It would have been the third out, and (DiFelice) had to throw some more and they got some knocks. The second one, it took so long to come down that I hurried it and kicked it off my glove."

 

Nashville had three doubles as part of its 10-hit attack. But the Sounds stranded nine runners, five in scoring position.

 

"You've got to do something with those doubles," Kremblas said. "We had a couple of strikeouts (behind them); we've got to do better.

 

We've got to put the ball in play."

 

Tacoma's four doubles in the seventh inning gave the Rainiers six for the game - matching a season high for doubles allowed by the Sounds, who gave up six at Oklahoma in an 8-6 loss on June 11.

 

What they said: "Either we don't get hits, or we get a lot of hits and don't get them with runners in scoring position. You hate to say it, but there are years when that's just how your team is going to roll." - Gwynn, after five Nashville baserunners were left in scoring position.

[Mass Haas]

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Durham trade affects Sounds' roster

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Milwaukee's weekend acquisition of veteran infielder Ray Durham had a trickle-down effect on the Nashville Sounds.

 

To make room for the longtime White Sox and Giants second baseman - a member of the Sounds' 1994 team - the Brewers optioned infielder Joe Dillon back to Nashville. Outfielder Mel Stocker was reassigned to Single-A Brevard County to fill the roster spot vacated there when Darren Ford was included in the trade.

 

It's Dillon's second stint with the Sounds this season, following a nine-game stay from April 21-May 1.

 

In an unrelated move, left-handed reliever Troy Cate was also added to the Nashville roster prior to Tuesday's game. Cate opened the season with Sacramento (Athletics) but was released after posting a 7.27 earned run average in 12 appearances. He then pitched in the independent Golden League before the Brewers purchased his contract and assigned him to Double-A Huntsville, where he was 3-0, 2.36 in four starts.

 

Cate took the roster spot opened when struggling reliever Derrick Turnbow was placed on the disabled list, retroactive to Thursday, and sent to the Brewers' spring training complex in Phoenix to recover. In 18 appearances since joining the Sounds in mid-May, Turnbow was 2-2, 10.50 with 28 strikeouts and 41 walks in 18 innings.

 

Cate was the losing pitcher in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to Tacoma. He allowed four hits and two runs in 1 1/3 innings.

 

The Sounds are expected to add reliever Mitch Stetter to the roster this week, as he was optioned by Milwaukee on Tuesday to make room for Jeff Suppan to come off the disabled list. To activate Stetter, another move will have to be made.

 

Nashville's 103 transactions are 19 more than the team had all of last season.

 

Brewers' brass in full force: Milwaukee assistant general manager Gord Ash is in town for the Sounds' series with visiting Tacoma, along with special assistant Dan O'Brien, player development business manager Scott Martens and minor league field coordinator Charlie Greene.

 

The group will be in town for varying lengths of time, possibly making personnel evaluations with the July 31 draft deadline approaching.

 

Fender-bender: Following the game, Sounds infielder Callix Crabbe's parked Honda Accord was hit outside the clubhouse by a bus. The left front fender was damaged in the collision. According to eyewitnesses, the bus did not stop as it proceeded off the stadium property.

"That's why you don't have an expensive car," Crabbe said.

 

Crossed ties: Craig Wilson, whose 33 home runs in 2000 were one short of the Sounds' single-season record, is on the Tacoma roster but did not play Tuesday. Since coming to the Rainiers in a trade from the Pirates' organization on July 10, Wilson has reached base in seven of his first eight games, hitting .357 with a pair of homers.

 

In 71 games with Triple-A Indianapolis - where he was reunited with Trent Jewett, the Sounds' winningest manager - Wilson hit .230 with 10 homers.

 

Also, Tacoma reliever Jason Kershner spent part of the 2006 season with the Sounds. Rainiers pitching coach and former Milwaukee Brewer Dwight Bernard played at Belmont (1971-74) and is a member of the school's athletic hall of fame. Rainiers outfielder Prentice Redman is the younger brother of ex-Sounds outfielder Tike Redman (2000-03), who is with the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk, Va.

[Mass Haas]

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Plan B serves Power well in win over Rome

by J.T. Simms

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In sports, or life in general for that matter, going to Plan B is usually a sign of trouble.

 

It is a fallback position, a way to simply try and survive or a desperate attempt to just get the job done.

 

But when West Virginia Power pitcher Roque Mercedes resorted to his Plan B Tuesday night it was visiting Rome that looked desperate.

 

Making a spot start for recently called up Amaury Rivas the lanky 21-year-old settled down after a rough first inning to throw seven scoreless frames as the Power rolled to a 7-0 win in front of a paid crowd of 3,384.

 

It did not look like the Power's night early on though.

 

As storm clouds passed and then circled the park the visiting Braves came out swinging.

 

Leadoff hitter David Berres lined the first pitch of the game to left field. Cole Miles followed with a well-hit flyout to center.

 

With the hit-and-run on the next batter, Jason Heyward, lined another Mercedes fastball to left to put runners at the corners.

 

Something then happened that would later make Manager Jeff Isom say he was proud of the youngster.

 

He used his head.

 

"They were hitting the fast pitch," Mercedes said. "I saw this and went directly to my Plan B."

 

That meant more off-speed pitches, especially sliders.

 

The next Braves hitter struck out swinging and the next looking.

 

From there it was smooth sailing for Mercedes.

 

"What an adjustment he made going to his off speed pitches," said Isom. "The big thing with him was his placement."

 

While Brave batters were off balance the Power bats came alive with single runs in the second and third.

 

An inning-long downpour in the fifth was not enough to halt play and a pitching change by the Braves in the same inning did not slow down the Power batters as they pounded out 15 hits on the evening.

 

"It was a great offensive performance for us," said Isom. "The guys are having quality at-bats and tonight it came down to two-out RBI."

 

The Power scored six of their seven runs after there were two outs in the inning. The lone exception coming on Logan Schafer's sacrifice fly RBI with one out in the second.

 

Pedro Lambertus came on to allow just one hit and a walk while striking out three over the last two innings.

 

Like the Power as a team Mercedes has seemed like a different player in the second half of the season.

 

Actually a different player from even the last half of last season when he went 0-4 with a 7.26 earned run average.

 

This season the right-hander had put up a 2-4 record with an earned run average of 6.81 in the first half.

 

After starting his first 10 appearances Mercedes had made only one start since May 24th.

 

Rivas' call-up opened a spot in the rotation and recent games had made the Power go deep into its bullpen.

 

"We were a little thin in the pen tonight," said Isom. "We were hoping to get six innings (from him)."

 

Mercedes allowed just one more hit after the first inning while fanning nine and walking none in going seven innings.

 

"His performance was outstanding, a heck of a job for a spot start," Isom said. "This is by far his best outing of the season for us."

 

Since the second half began Mercedes is 3-0 with an earned run average of just 0.85.

 

"We're proud of him," said Isom. "He's a hard worker."

 

One who hopes to be back in the starting rotation soon.

 

"Going to relieving then coming back to starting helped me," Mercedes said. "I like starting better, I'm more comfortable."

 

For right now though he will have to wait and see.

 

"It's up in the air at this point," Isom said.

 

The Power and Braves wind up their four-game set with a noon game Wednesday.