Link Report for Games of Friday, July 25th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

All times Central except Arizona League; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Sam Narron at home vs. Tacoma (Mariners), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

 

Audio link via WNSR, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link):

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t556

 

Huntsville: RHP Nic Ungs at Carolina (Marlins), 6:00 PM pre-game; 6:15 gametime

 

Audio link via WUMP, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link):

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

 

Brevard County: TBD at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link via MiLB.com (Palm Beach feed), be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link):

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?cid=503&sid=t503

 

West Virginia: LHP Dan Merklinger at Lake County (Indians), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link via WSWW, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link):

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t525

 

Helena: LHP Efrain Nieves, "The Phenom" as per play-by-play man Steve Wendt, at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

Audio link via KCAP, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link):

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t433

 

Arizona: 18-year-old RHP and ground-ball machine Adrian Rosario vs. the Royals Lil' Dumplings in Maryvale, 10:30 AM local Mountain Standard Time

 

Never any audio for the Maryvale Crew

[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 "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_07_25_tacaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_25_hunaax_cmcaax_1

 

Brevard County:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_25_breafa_pbcafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_25_wvaafx_lcoafx_1

 

Helena:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_25_bilrok_helrok_1

 

Arizona:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_25_royrok_brrrok_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 63 43 .594 - 38-18 25-25 W1 Memphis 58 47 .552 4.5 28-22 30-25 W2 Omaha 48 57 .457 14.5 22-29 26-28 L2 Nashville 41 64 .390 21.5 20-29 21-35 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 19 14 .576 - 10-8 9-6 L1 Huntsville 18 15 .545 1.0 8-7 10-8 W1 Carolina 17 16 .515 2.0 7-6 10-10 L1 Chattanooga 14 19 .424 5.0 7-11 7-8 W1 West Tenn 13 20 .394 6.0 4-11 9-9 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 18 12 .600 - 9-5 9-7 W2 St. Lucie 18 13 .581 0.5 8-6 10-7 L1 Jupiter 17 14 .548 1.5 9-6 8-8 W3 Palm Beach 15 17 .469 4.0 10-7 5-10 L1 Brevard County 14 19 .424 5.5 6-10 8-9 W1 Vero Beach 11 22 .333 8.5 5-13 6-9 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 24 9 .727 - 14-4 10-5 W3 Lakewood 21 12 .636 3.0 9-5 12-7 L2 Delmarva 19 14 .576 5.0 6-8 13-6 W4 Hagerstown 15 18 .455 9.0 5-10 10-8 W1 Greensboro 13 20 .394 11.0 7-11 6-9 L1 Lake County 12 21 .364 12.0 5-10 7-11 L5 Hickory 11 22 .333 13.0 3-14 8-8 L9 Lexington 10 22 .313 13.5 7-12 3-10 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 22 13 .629 - 10-3 12-10 W1 Helena 18 17 .514 4.0 9-10 9-7 L2 Great Falls 17 18 .486 5.0 10-9 7-9 L2 Missoula 8 27 .229 14.0 4-15 4-12 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 18 7 .720 - 9-4 9-3 L1 AZL Rangers 17 9 .654 1.5 8-5 9-4 W7 AZL Cubs 16 10 .615 2.5 11-2 5-8 W1 AZL Giants 15 12 .556 4.0 8-6 7-6 W3 AZL Royals 14 13 .519 5.0 10-4 4-9 L1 AZL Padres 13 13 .500 5.5 8-5 5-8 W1 AZL Athletics 9 17 .346 9.5 4-8 5-9 L7 AZL Mariners 9 17 .346 9.5 5-7 4-10 L3 AZL Brewers 6 19 .240 12.0 6-7 0-12 L1 

[Mass Haas]

Wow, I sure mis-spoke yesterday. Nice surprise, Chris Errecart is your designated hitter in Maryvale today.

 

Fantastic six-inning start for Adrian Rosario as well.

[battlekow]

Hey, two doubles and an error for Carlos George. Sounds about right!

[Never Outhustled]

No Cutter Dykstra in Arizona today, I hope he's on his way to Helena, and that he didn't re-re-tweak his groin.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Royals 4, Arizona Brewers 3, 11 innings

 

Arizona Box Score

Chris Errecart 0-for-4 with a walk; newcomer Bobby McEwen charged with the blown save, surrendering two (unearned) runs in the 9th; RHP Jose Sanchez took the loss; walks kill -- RHP's Adrian Rosario and Damon Krestalude combined to walk only one over the first eight innings -- McEwen and Sanchez walked five combined; yes, Carlos George committed the Brewers' only error, his 17th, but his error pace is way down since the opening two weeks -- unfortunately, this 9th inning error, the team's only one this game, was ultra-costly; 19-year-old Venezuelan catcher Jonathan Requena with his first pro home run...

 

Arizona Game Log

Brewers loaded the bases, one out in the 1st -- no runs; in the 3rd, Brewers loaded the bases with no outs and did not score -- sigh; this Carlos George error was a baserunning one -- leadoff double, bottom of the 9th, chance to win the game -- picked off! Double sigh. Chance to tie it, bottom of the 11th, man on 2nd, one out -- team is now 6-20. Triple sigh...

[Mass Haas]

LHP Bobby Bramhall starting for the 'Tees tonight.

[twobrewers]

Wow, I sure mis-spoke yesterday. Nice surprise, Chris Errecart is your designated hitter in Maryvale today.

Very pleasant surprise.

 

I was trying to figure out if the Brewers had any other Errecart in the system.

[jjfanec]

Pena not doing anything to show he deserves a call-up 3 hits, 3 walks, and 4 ER in one inning. Brad Nelson had 3 more walks, a 2B and 2 RBI's.

[Mass Haas]

Helena Pre-Game Audio Interview with Manager Rene Gonzales

Click on the KCAP archive of July 25th, then browse to the 13:00 minute mark; worthwhile discussion if you haven't been tempted to listen to a manager's chat as of yet...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Billings (Reds) 3, Helena 2

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Brewers' comeback falls short

By JEFF WINDMUELLER - Helena Independent Record

 

The Helena Brewers set a season-high attendance record for their game with Billings Friday night, and they had pretty much every one of the 1,425 in attendance stomping by the bottom of the ninth.

 

Trailing 3-2 into the final stanza, the Brewers (18-18) got a shot from Corey Kemp past the second baseman to lead off the inning. He was replaced by pinch runner John Delaney, and with Michael Vass' sacrifice bunt, Helena suddenly found itself with one out and the tying runner in scoring position.

 

A bad pick-off throw to second by Billings (22-13) closer Steven Otterness and Delaney was staring down home plate, just waiting for the crack of the bat to send the game into overtime or finish it off with a win.

 

Unfortunately for Delaney, and the raucous hometown crowd backing him, it never came.

 

Jose Duran and Derrick Alfonso both went down swinging and the Brewers suffered their third straight loss, tying their season-high streak.

 

At least it was a better effort than the night before when the Brewers were clobbered by the Mustangs 17-2.

 

But, the five-hit, two-error performance still left the Brew Crew dissatisfied.

 

"I wasn't really happy with our situational hitting. We had a lot of opportunities, but we just failed," said Brewers manager Rene Gonzales.

 

Three times the Brewers had a runner on third with one out and couldn't bring him home.

 

In the sixth, Steven Braun, little brother of Milwaukee Brewers All-Star Ryan Braun, hit a flair to right field for the first hit of his professional career. Erik Miller walked and David Fonseca singled to left to load the bases.

Erik Komatsu hit a fielder's choice, which got Fonseca out at second but also allowed Braun to score the first run of the game. With runners at the corners, Chris Dennis struck out for the second out, and at the same time the Brewers attempted a double steal. Komatsu made it safely at second, but Miller hesitated going home before turning back toward third. His mix-up gave Billings shortstop Miguel Rojas enough time to throw home and catcher Chris McMurray to make the throw to third to get Miller out on the slide.

 

The run scored made the game 2-1, but the Mustangs fired right back as Tyler Stovall cracked a solo home run to lead off the seventh inning. It was the second homer of the game and the first at-bat Brewers reliever Santo Manzanillo saw in the game.

 

Efrain Nieves had given up a solo home run to Tony Brown in the first inning before finishing up six innings allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three.

 

The Brewers brought the game back within one as Billings' Enrique Garcia walked the first two batters before being relieved by Will Hudgens in the bottom of the seventh.

 

Duran hit an RBI grounder to right field, bringing home Kemp, and the Brewers worked the bases once again. Alfonso laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance runners to second and third, but as before, the final outs came as Braun struck out swinging on a pay-off pitch and Miller grounded out.

 

"We couldn't come through; we just couldn't execute," Gonzales said.

 

At least for the Brewers the game had no bearing on league standings. Billings' win the night before clinched the Northern Division first-half championship, giving them a berth in the playoffs at the end of the year.

 

The Brewers have just two games left in the first half of the season before they try to make a run at the playoffs.

 

With a weight off the Brewers shoulders, Gonzales decided to rest a few starters, jumbling the line up and putting some players in positions they haven't been at all season.

 

First baseman Brock Kjeldgaard, shortstop Michael Marseco and Delaney were all resting for the game.

 

"I'm just giving these guys some breaks. Kjeldgaard, Delaney and Marseco have played just about every inning of every game," Gonzales said.

 

Of course, that led to a few concerns in the infield, where two errors in a row that allowed a run in the second inning. The first came off the glove of Fonseca at shortstop, then Kemp - one of three catchers - missed a bouncer that hit off his glove and allowed Stovall to score.

 

The players quickly collected themselves and on the next at-bat turned a 4-6-3 double play.

 

Kemp, normally a catcher, also proved he could field with the best of them when he darted in from third base on a slow-rolling grounder by David Sappelt. Kemp bare-handed the ball and made an impressive throw to first, but it just wasn't in time.

 

"He's a good athlete. He does surprise you," Gonzales said about Kemp. "He said he felt comfortable over there, so we put him out there."

 

Stovall led the Mustangs, going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.

 

Five Helena batters combined for their five hits.

 

Garcia (2-0) picked up the win, allowing two runs on two hits over four innings. He walked three and struck out two.

 

Nieves' outing dropped him to 4-2 on the season, however he remain possibly Helena's best starting pitcher. His four wins leads the team and came into the game with a 3.78 ERA. At 39 1/3 innings, he has the most playing time of any Brewers pitcher.

 

"He's having an outstanding year, I think he's only had one poor outing," Gonzales said. "He's as solid as they come."

 

The second-place Brewers head back on the road for tonight's game against the cellar-dwelling Missoula Osprey (9-27).

 

Helena will try to use momentum facing off with the worst team in the Pioneer League as they begin the second half of the season on Monday at Missoula.

 

"It's gonna happen, we've been streaky, and we'll get going," Gonzales said.

 

Helena Box Score

Efrain Nieves wonderful, as noted above, and 19-year-old RHP Wily Peralta has been very good in relief, allowing just one run in his last 12 innings...

 

Helena Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 8, Lake County (Indians) 1

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER CLOBBER CAPTAINS

 

Eric Farris smacked a pair of two-run doubles and Dan Merklinger turned in six solid innings at Classic Park on Friday night as the West Virginia Power defeated the Lake County Captains 8-1 for their fourth straight victory.

 

Farris snapped a scoreless tie with his first two-run double of the night in the top of the third inning. Eric Fryer reached on Ron Rivas's fielding error later in the inning which allowed Farris to score. Caleb Gindl brought in the final run of the four-run frame with an RBI single. Farris struck again in the fourth inning with another two-run double to make it a 6-0 Power lead.

 

The Captains got their first run in the bottom of the fifth. Rivas reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded and nobody out to score Jeff Hehr. Merklinger fanned the next two batters to end the inning. Logan Schafer singled in Lee Haydel in the sixth inning and Haydel drove in West Virginia's final run with an RBI single in the ninth.

 

Merklinger (4-7) retired the first eight batters he faced and allowed just a run on four hits over six innings with six strikeouts to get the victory. Reed Dickert (2) tossed three scoreless innings of relief and got the save. Ryan Morris (7-4) surrendered seven runs on seven hits over five innings and was tagged with the loss.

 

The Power improved to 57-46 on the year and 25-9 in the second half with the win. The Captains fell to 53-51 on the year and 12-22 in the second half with the loss. Five Power players turned in multi-hit games. Curt Rindal and Farris paced the Power with three hits apiece. Matt Cline reached twice and extended his on-base streak to 15 games. Farris went 3-for-6 and has hit safely in ten straight games since his 15-game hitting streak was snapped. Gindl went 2-for-4, extending his on-base streak to 17 games and his hitting streak to six games. The Power have recorded double digit hits in five straight games, and nine out of their last ten.

 

The Power will continue the four-game series against Lake County at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio on Saturday night. The Power will start right hander Evan Anundsen (9-4, 3.68) and the Captains will counter with left hander Ryan Miller (7-5, 2.56). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score

You look at the offensive numbers up and down the lineup and realize that April was so, so long ago -- that's player "development", kudos to the coaching staff; lefty Dan Merklinger has been inconsistent, but when he's on, he's been excellent...

 

West Virginia Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Further detailed updates on Nasgville, Huntsville, and Brevard later this morning, thanks for your patience today. Of course, box scores are linked in the early posts above.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Palm Beach (Cardinals) 7, Brevard County 3

Brevard County Box Score

LHP Casey Baron kept the score within reason late, stranding three inherited runners, but fellow southpaws Bobby Bramhall and Rafael Lluberes with so-so to poor outings prior; top of the Manatee order on base plenty, and while the bottom five reached base four times combined, overall, as the averages attest, it's not a powerful collection of bats, putting it nicely; Taylor Green walked twice and hit a sacrifice fly, contributing often on an 0-for-2 day; Jonathan Lucroy doubled twice, and Brent Brewer doubled and singled to continue a good week...

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Pre-Game Audio (brief, joined in progress) with LHP David Welch

Click on the WUMP archive of July 25th, it's right off the top...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Carolina (Marlins) 2, Huntsville 1, ten innings

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Mudcats Sink Stars in Extras

Carolina Claims Pitcher's Duel

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

Bryan Peterson's infield single scored Dante Brinkley with the winning run in the tenth inning in Carolina's 2-1 victory over Huntsville Friday night in the fourth of a five-game set at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats improved to 18-16 in the second half and moved to within a game of division leading Tennessee, while the Stars slipped to 18-16 in the second half and into a second place tie. Carolina has taken ten of the 15 games between the two teams this season.

 

Jason Shiell took over on the mound for Huntsville in the tenth and gave up a leadoff single to Brinkley, who then advanced to second base on a Chris Coghlan sacrifice bunt. Gaby Sanchez was intentionally walked and Lee Mitchell walked on four pitches to load the bases for Peterson, who sent a humpback line drive over the mound that was fielded on a hop by shortstop Guilder Rodriguez, who threw home but not in time to get the speedy Brinkley, who crossed with the game-winner. The Stars dropped to 2-7 in extra innings games this season.

 

Todd Doolittle struck out the side in top half of the tenth to earn his third win. Carolina loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth against David Johnson on a Brad Davis double and two walks before Lorenzo Cain made a spectacular running, diving catch on a fly ball hit by John Raynor to end the inning and send the game into extras (02:51:00 hour / minute mark at the Huntsville audio link in the prior post). Johnson allowed one hit and struck out four and has yielded only one run in his last 21 innings.

 

Sanchez led off the home second with a home run, his 11th, and the third allowed by Stars' starter Nic Ungs, making his second start against his former team. Pitcher Brett Sinkbeil led off the bottom of the third with a four-pitch walk and advanced to third base on two singles but the Mudcats could not cash in, as Sanchez flied out to shallow left field and Mitchell grounded out to end the frame.

 

Sinkbeil retired the first 11 hitters he faced before Mat Gamel tripled and came in to score on an Angel Salome double to tie the game. Jay Gibbons then delivered a single to left field but Raynor threw Salome out at the plate to end the frame. Sinkbeil retired the last nine batters he faced and set down the Stars in turn in six of seven innings, as he matched his longest performance of the season. For a second straight start, Sinkbeil did not record a strikeout or issue a walk and was not involved in the decision for a second time in three turns against the Stars.

 

Ungs allowed at least one base runner over his last three innings but kept the home team off the bard and departed allowing a run on six hits over six frames. He walked two, fanned three and left with a no-decision in both of his turns against Carolina.

 

The series finishes Saturday night with Stars' right-hander Alex Periard making his AA debut, taking the hill against Mudcats southpaw Aaron Thompson. Coverage of the game begins at 5:00 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

Angel Salome throws out the only runner attempting to steal...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Manager Frank Kremblas

[Mass Haas]

Final: Tacoma (Mariners) 10, Nashville 9, 12 innings

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

Sounds Lose 12-Inning Marathon, 10-9

NASHVILLE - Nineteen runs, two grand slams, and 12 innings later, the Tacoma Rainiers finally outlasted the Nashville Sounds, 10-9, on Friday night at Greer Stadium in the finale of a four-game series.

 

The Rainiers finally broke through in the top of the 12th inning when Matt Tuiasosopo belted a two-run home run, his sixth of the year, over the batter's eye in center field off Erasmo Ramirez to give the visitors the lead. The Sounds scored a run in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to one but were unable to even the score.

 

The loss dropped the Sounds record to 0-4 in extra-inning games at Greer Stadium and gave them their eighth loss in the last 10 games. The marathon game lasted four hours and nine minutes and included a combined 20 position players and 10 pitchers for both teams.

 

After battling back from a first-inning grand slam to take an 8-4 lead, Nashville closer Luis Pena blew his fourth save of the season when he allowed four runs in the ninth inning off three hits and three walks. He walked in two of the runs before giving up a two-run single to Rob Johnson that evened up the score at eight.

 

Nashville starter Sam Narron got off to a rough start in the top of the first inning when he gave up a grand slam to former Sound Craig Wilson to center field on a 1-1 pitch. The longball was Wilson's fourth of the year for Tacoma and marked the first grand slam against the Sounds since former Brewer draft pick (unsigned) Ronnie Prettyman hit one for Tacoma on August 5, 2007.

 

The Sounds responded in the bottom half of the inning when Brad Nelson knocked a two-run double to cut the Rainiers' lead to two. The double scored Hernan Iribarren from second base and Dillon from first and was Nelson's fourth two-bagger of the series.

 

Both pitchers settled down after the first inning and kept the teams off the scoreboard until the bottom of the eighth, when the Sounds posted a six-spot on the Rainiers. After a walk drawn by Nelson and a single from Laynce Nix, Vinny Rottino knocked an RBI double off Tacoma reliever Jared Wells to score Nelson from second. Adam Heether was intentionally walked to load the bases before Wells walked Chris Woodward on four pitches to bring in the tying run.

 

Carlos Corporan then crushed an 0-2 pitch over the right field wall to give the Sounds the lead and their first grand slam since Nelson's on May 25. The longball was Corporan's second of the year for the Sounds and would have been his second game-winning homer since joining Nashville on June 30 had Pena held the lead.

 

The Rainiers then posted four runs in the top of the ninth off Pena to even the score and eventually put the game into extra innings. Tuiasosopo's homer in the 12th gave Tacoma its first extra-inning win this season.

 

Ryan Rowland-Smith did not factor in his first start for the Rainiers after recently being demoted by the Seattle Mariners. He pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up two earned runs while striking out five batters on 91 pitches. After giving up two runs in the first inning, he only gave up one hit over the next 4 2/3 innings.

 

Mumba Rivera pitched 1 1/3 innings and kept the Sounds off the board before Wells blew the save by allowing six runs in the eighth inning. Randy Messenger (5-4) contributed three scoreless innings to pick up the win, and Jon Huber picked up the save despite allowing an RBI single from Iribarren.

 

The Sounds had the tying run on second with two outs in the bottom of the twelfth but Huber struck out Joe Dillon on a 3-2 offering to end the contest.

 

Narron pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up three earned runs off nine hits but did not factor in the decision. Joe Bateman pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Sounds before turning it over to Pena who blew his second save in his last five appearances. Mitch Stetter followed up with two scoreless innings, and Ramirez (1-4) gave up the two-run home run by Tuiasosopo in the 12th to take the loss.

 

The Sounds will continue their homestand when they open a four-game series with the Portland Beavers at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday at Greer Stadium. Lefty Chris Narveson (3-12, 5.40) will take the mound for the Sounds against right-hander Chad Reineke (5-9, 4.41) for the Beavers.

 

Nashville Box Score

Luis Pena's season on the verge of being a big disappointment, actually, despite OK-to-impressive save percentage numbers; obviously a busy box score and log...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Link Report Bonus Courtesy of the Nashville Site --

 

What exactly is a player thinking when selecting his at-bat music?

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Sounds fail to close deal vs. Tacoma

Take four-run lead into 9th, lose in 12

By STEVE SILVER

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Everything seemed to be going right for the Nashville Sounds heading into the ninth inning Friday night.

 

The Sounds had overcome an early four-run deficit and also took a four-run lead of their own after Carlos Corporan's eighth-inning grand slam. One of the best closers in the Pacific Coast League, Luis Pena, was coming into the game.

 

But Pena walked three batters and allowed four runs on three hits, and the Rainiers pulled out a 10-9 victory with Matt Tuiasosopo's two-run home run in the top of the 12th inning.

 

"We had plenty of chances in extra innings, but we just didn't execute," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said after his team remained winless in four extra-inning games this season.

 

Sounds starting pitcher Sam Narron allowed five hits in the first inning, including a grand slam to former Nashville infielder Craig Wilson. It was only the third grand slam the Sounds have allowed all season. The Sounds scored twice in the first inning, and both teams remained scoreless until the eighth inning.

 

After Tacoma reliever Jared Wells walked in the tying run in the bottom of the eighth inning, Corporan blasted the grand slam to right-center field to highlight a six-run inning and put the Sounds on top 8-4. Corporan was hitting .179 prior to Friday's contest.

 

But the 8,502 fans at Greer Stadium started celebrating too early as Tacoma notched four runs with two outs during Pena's ninth-inning meltdown.

 

"(Pena) is down there getting ready, he's not celebrating," Kremblas said. "He just lost concentration and his command wasn't there tonight."

 

The Sounds' bullpen allowed six earned runs and a season-high 10 hits.

 

Narron allowed nine hits and three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.

 

Katin slumping: Despite driving in 14 runs in his last 15 games, outfielder Brendan Katin was not in the lineup.

 

"I was just giving him a rest and giving him a day to get things straight in his head," Kremblas said. "He's been a bit out of whack lately."

 

Katin leads the Sounds with 58 RBIs, but he is hitless in his last 10 at-bats, including an 0-for-4 outing in the Sounds' 9-1 loss on Thursday.

 

Rough goodbyes: The Sounds are 5-21 in series finales and 1-6 when facing an opponent for the final time in 2008.

 

No double trouble: Brad Nelson's double in the first inning Friday was his 27th of the season and fourth of the series against Tacoma.

 

Nelson batted .417 (5-for-12) with four RBIs in the four-game series.

 

What they said: "That was a big, well, huge, huge two-strike grand slam in the eighth," - Kremblas about Corporan's eighth-inning home run, which gave the Sounds an 8-4 lead.