Link Report for Games of Thursday, July 31st

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

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

 

Nashville: LHP Chris Narveson at Sacramento (Athletics), 8:50 PM pre-game; 9:05 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 Alex Periard at home vs. Montgomery (Rays), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 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: RHP Jeremy Jeffress at home vs. Palm Beach (Cardinals), 6:00 gametime

 

Sorry, no audio for this series...

 

West Virginia: RHP Evan Anundsen at Lakewood (Phillies), 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: RHP Rico Salmon at Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:00 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: TBD and TBD (2) in a doubleheader at the Athletics' complex in Phoenix, 4:00 PM local Mountain Standard Time; each contest seven innings

 

Never any audio for the Maryvale Crew

[Mass Haas]

Nashville's series in Sacramento this week is available for live and archived viewing to subscribers via MiLB.com.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Thursday'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_31_nasaaa_srcaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_31_monaax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_31_pbcafa_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_31_wvaafx_lwdafx_1

 

Helena:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_31_helrok_grfrok_1

 

Arizona Game One:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_31_brrrok_athrok_1

 

Arizona Game Two:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_31_brrrok_athrok_2

[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 65 46 .586 - 38-19 27-27 L1 Memphis 61 50 .550 4.0 30-25 31-25 W1 Omaha 49 62 .441 16.0 22-30 27-32 L3 Nashville 43 68 .387 22.0 21-33 22-35 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 23 16 .590 - 13-6 10-10 W6 Tennessee 21 18 .538 2.0 10-10 11-8 W1 Huntsville 18 21 .462 5.0 8-11 10-10 L6 West Tenn 16 23 .410 7.0 6-13 10-10 W1 Chattanooga 15 24 .385 8.0 8-12 7-12 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 21 14 .600 - 11-6 10-8 W1 St. Lucie 19 15 .559 1.5 9-7 10-8 L1 Jupiter 19 17 .528 2.5 10-8 9-9 W1 Palm Beach 18 19 .486 4.0 12-7 6-12 L1 Brevard County 15 21 .417 6.5 7-10 8-11 W1 Vero Beach 14 24 .368 8.5 6-14 8-10 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 27 12 .692 - 14-4 13-8 L1 Lakewood 25 14 .641 2.0 13-7 12-7 W1 Delmarva 22 17 .564 5.0 9-11 13-6 W2 Hagerstown 18 21 .462 9.0 8-13 10-8 L2 Lake County 16 24 .400 11.5 9-13 7-11 W2 Lexington 15 23 .395 11.5 7-12 8-11 W3 Greensboro 15 25 .375 12.5 7-11 8-14 L2 Hickory 14 25 .359 13.0 3-14 11-11 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 3 0 1.000 - 3-0 0-0 W3 Great Falls 1 2 .333 2.0 1-1 0-1 L1 Helena 1 2 .333 2.0 0-0 1-2 W1 Missoula 1 2 .333 2.0 1-0 0-2 L2 

[heresrobin]

Huntsville offers trade to the Green Bay Packers for Brett Favre

 

Sort of odd.

[Minigoon]

Arizona game 1 has Seth Lintz starting. A balmy 113 degrees at game time. I don't care if it is a "dry heat", that's hot!

[twobrewers]

I know Lawrie playing in the Olympics hurts...

 

But so far I have been underwhelmed with our 2008 draft class. I was really hoping some of the pitchers would show a little more.

[bullox]

Huntsville offers trade to the Green Bay Packers for Brett Favre

 

Sort of odd.

Concession stand with Brett Favre Waffles - now that is gold.

 

[uwisfan]

Gamel's bat is completely frozen right now.. Escobar may actually catch his batting average!

[TheCrew07]

I know Lawrie playing in the Olympics hurts...

 

But so far I have been underwhelmed with our 2008 draft class. I was really hoping some of the pitchers would show a little more.

While Lintz gave up 3 HRs today and Frederickson, Adams, and some others have struggled, there have still been some very nice perfomances out of the draftees... Bowman, Luetge, Wooten, Odorizz, Scarpetta (esentially a 2008 draftee), and Romanski hasn't made an appearance yet that I can find as a pitcher, though I could have missed it. I guess it depends on what your expectations were for each player. Lintz hadn't given up a run until today which ballooned his ERA from 0.00 to over 6.7 and makes his entire season effort to this point look crappy, when he's actually pitched pretty well. I'm looking for about a 50% success rate from pitchers as they move as I've stated before, so I'm happy pulling 1 out of every 2 guys. I'm still really excited about all of those young pitchers, where as a guy like Seidel is someone whom I've been getting concerned about. The college guys who are struggling thus far worry me some, but for every 1 of them there is another that's pitching well. I try not to get too high or too low on guys till AA. I thought I had learned my lesson previously with this, but for whatever reason I still took Brewer's struggles the first 60% of the season pretty hard.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: Arizona Athletics 9, Arizona Brewers 6

Final, Game Two: Arizona Athletics 10, Arizona Brewers 4

Arizona Game One Box Score

The Athletics had hit 16 home runs all season (30 games) before connecting for three vs. 2nd round pick Seth Lintz in three innings; only two of RHP Greg Miller's eight appearances, all but one a brief relief stint, have been scoreless -- 21-year-old 10th round picks out of Seton Hall shouldn't be struggling in Maryvale, Miller retired one of seven batters here; 21-year-old infielder Miguel Vasquez (32nd round, 2007) has been one of the more productive A-Crew hitters, with an .826 OPS, but even he has struck out 30 times in 80 AB's; Vazquez played first base here as several players have been rotated there this season; catcher Shawn Zarraga's OPS of .859 leads the squad, is excellent for this league, and has shown to be quite polished as well (12 BB's, 13 K's in 69 AB's, so yes, even this deep into the season, sample sizes are still small); Zarraga was behind the plate all seven innings in this one with 113-degree heat -- hello, hydration...

 

Arizona Game One Game Log

A-Crew scored five runs in the 6th to close a 9-1 deficit...

 

Arizona Game Two Box Score

Temperature dropped 14 degrees for this one, only 99! Five errors led to seven unearned runs, although 19-year-old RHP Joel Morales was still hit hard despite three errors and six unearned runs allowed in his two-inning outing; 18-year-old RHP Blake Billings has put up good lines in his first two appearances, this was his first pro start; Huston's Street's brother Juston pitched for the A's -- notice the spelling of his name, cute parents...

 

Arizona Game Two Game Log

A-Crew did turn three double plays in their six innings of defense, and the offensive stat lines for some are looking more respectable -- eight hits for the Maryvale kids here...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 4, Great Falls (White Sox) 3

 

Brewers hold off Voyagers

Helena Independent Record

 

The Great Falls Voyagers wouldn't go down without a fight, but the Helena Brewers held off a ninth-inning rally to steal a 4-3 win Thursday before 1,918 fans at Centene Stadium.

 

The Brewers (2-2) had a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, thanks to a home run and RBI double by Erik Komatsu. But in the bottom of the ninth, Helena reliever Nick Tyson struggled to end the game as Great Falls (1-3) made a slight comeback, hitting three straight singles to start the stanza.

 

The Brewers were able to throw out Kyle Sheldon at home on a bases-loaded fielder's choice, but then Kent Gerst followed it up for the Voyagers with a grounder to center field, bringing home Jordan Cheatham and Lyndon Estill.

 

Helena made a change, bringing in Garrett Sherrill to close out the game, and the new Helena pitcher forced Jesus Avila to bat into a game-ending double play.

 

Komatsu led at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. His solo home run came in the first inning and gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead until teammate Michael Marseco singled and eventually reached home on a wild pitch to extend the lead in the fourth.

 

Gerst scored on a double by Mike Grace in the sixth to make it 2-1, but Komatsu's double in the eighth brought home David Fonseca before the Brewers center fielder scored on a single by Chris Dennis.

 

Gerst finished 2-for-5 with a run and two RBI to lead the Voyagers.

 

Helena starter Rico Salmon (1-0) sparkled and picked up his first win, allowing one unearned run on five hits over six innings pitched. He struck out seven and didn't walk a player.

 

The Brewers return home tonight after kicking off the second half of the Pioneer League season. Helena, who started off the half 0-2, was able to avoid the 0-3 start they had at the beginning of the summer and are now at .500 and solidly in second behind the Northern Division's first-half champions, the Billings Mustangs (4-0).

 

Helena hosts Great Falls for their final of a four-game series at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central) at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

Helena Box Score

Rico Salmon's line one of the prettiest of the season anywhere in the system (by the way, it's Sal-mon', accent on the second syllable); 8th round pick Erik Komatsu is way above the Pioneer League talent level -- .924 OPS, only 14 K's in 153 AB's -- well past time to find a way to get him moved up...

 

Helena Game Log

We've never seen position players get hurt like this at a single level in Link Report history -- again, it's a Helena position player, and not their pitchers, who have just been punished in '08 --

 

Helena Top 4th

• - Michael Marseco singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Lyndon Estill.
• - Erik Komatsu singles on a soft pop up to shortstop Tyler Kuhn. Michael Marseco to 2nd.
• - Brock Kjeldgaard grounds into double play, shortstop Tyler Kuhn to first baseman Mike Grace. Michael Marseco to 3rd. Erik Komatsu out at 2nd.
• - With Christopher Dennis batting, wild pitch by Daniel Hudson, Michael Marseco scores.
• - Helena Brewers shortstop Michael Marseco left the game due to an injured head.
• - Christopher Dennis strikes out swinging.

Not sure we've seen it worded that way before, but hopefully he's OK. To listen to the Marseco play, click on the KCAP archive of July 31st (you'll need to click on "Select Month" to choose July) , then browse to the 01:04:00 hour / minute mark. Michael took the ball right in the face on the slide home, also a chance to listen to Steve Wendt talk about the kid for the next several minutes, good stuff...

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 8, Lakewood (Phillies) 3

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

DEUCES WILD IN POWER VICTORY

 

The West Virginia Power scored two runs in four different innings of Thursday night's game at First Energy Park and defeated the Lakewood BlueClaws 8-3 to take their second game in the series.

 

Steffan Wilson's first of three hits was a one-out double in the second inning and he scored during the next at bat on Logan Schafer's double. Schafer scored on Curt Rindal's two-out single. Jay Miller's RBI groundout in the bottom of the second cut the lead in half and the BlueClaws tied the game at 2-2 in the third on Tim Kennelly's RBI single.

 

Wilson struck again in the fourth inning with a two-run homer, his 16th of the season. Miller's second RBI groundout of the game plated Lakewood's final run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Eric Farris belted an RBI single in the fifth inning and he scored on Caleb Gindl's second double of the night. Wilson's final hit of the game was a two-run single in the seventh inning to plate the final two runs of the contest.

 

Corey Frerichs (5-7) tossed three scoreless innings of three-hit ball in relief and earned the victory. Adam Eaton (0-1) was tagged for four runs on five hits over three and two-thirds and was tagged with the loss. The victory marked the second time this season that the Power have defeated a major leaguer on a rehab assignment. Wes Etheridge tossed two perfect innings of relief as well.

 

The Power improved to 60-49 on the year and 28-12 in the second half with the win. The BlueClaws fell to 63-47 on the year and 25-15 in the second half with the loss. Farris and Wilson paced the Power with three hits apiece. Matt Cline reached twice to bring his on-base streak to 20 games and Gindl reached three times to extend his on-base streak to 23 games. Wilson extended his road hitting streak to 24 games and Lee Haydel doubled in the fifth inning to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.

 

The Power will finish the four game series against Lakewood Friday night. The Power will start left hander Lucas Luetge (0-0, 0.00) and the BlueClaws will counter with right hander Mike Stutes (1-0, 0.00). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score

It's at the point where West Virginia offensive box scores are almost always a joy to review, rather than pinpoint here, simply click and enjoy; Evan Anundsen with an uncharacteristic six walks in his four-inning start -- in 21 starts prior, the wonderful youngster had only walked 26 total, so this was a real outliner in the season-long sample; Corey Frerichs has been huge in middle-to-late relief all season -- it reminds us a lot of Patrick Ryan's work at this level a while back...

 

West Virginia Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Link from the Lakewood press (with photo), text follows:

By the way, for these Phillie kids, are tougher places to be assigned to spend your summer than the nice Jersey shore...

 

Eaton happy with performance

Allows four earned, takes loss for Lakewood

By TONY GRAHAM

APP.com STAFF WRITER

 

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Adam Eaton no doubt envisioned himself pitching for a team in contention as July flipped over into August.

He probably never could have imagined it would be for the Lakewood BlueClaws, who are aiming for a playoff berth in the low Class A South Atlantic League.

 

Thursday night, the struggling Eaton, who Monday accepted a minor league assignment, did little to help Lakewood's cause as he allowed four earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

 

The 31-year old right-hander left with a two-run deficit and was charged with the loss in Lakewood's 8-3 defeat to the West Virginia Power before 6,384 at FirstEnergy Park.

 

As the game continued, Eaton was a solitary individual in an otherwise mostly deserted BlueClaws locker room as he answered questions.

 

"I felt good. The ball was coming out pretty nice. I was very happy with the way I threw," said Eaton, apparently not fazed by being tagged for five hits, including three doubles and a home run by the Milwaukee Brewers affiliate.

 

The defeat dropped second place Lakewood (25-15, 63-47) three games behind the first- place Power (28-12, 60-49).

 

Eaton said there was "definitely a different feel going into the game" of being "very mellow" as opposed to the major leagues.

 

"For me, you get that adrenaline of being in a big league stadium, of big league competition," he said.

 

"Not to take anything way from here. You still need to have that competitive edge, and there's just a different feel - been here done that, I know I can compete, I'm here for a reason, to work on some stuff."

 

Departing after reaching a pitch count target between 55 and 65, he left to a mixture of boos and polite applause and with a Lakewood earned run average of 9.82.

 

In the second year of a three-year, $24.5 million contract, Eaton had lost his job in the Philadelphia rotation and had been hit hard in two relief appearances. Not much changed Thursday.

 

"It seemed like a double or a home run on every hit," Eaton said. "But for the most part, things went well. I had good command."

 

The home run by Steffan Wilson, a 19th-round Milwaukee draft pick in 2007, was smoked onto the left field concourse on Eaton's hardest thrown pitch of the night according to the stadium radar gun, an 89 MPH fastball.

 

"I don't know how accurate that gun is," Eaton said. "I heard it's a little bit slow at times."

 

Lakewood left-hander Walter Tejeda, who followed Eaton, was regularly clocked in the 90-92 range.

 

"His velocity wasn't there," said Lakewood pitcher Julian Sampson, Eaton's neighbor in Sammamish, Wash. "It's not always about velocity. I'll take 87 hitting the corners every time than 95 down the middle."

 

Despite the defeat, Eaton left the BlueClaws with a good taste in their mouths, literally. He bought the team and its coaching staff complete post-game steak dinners.

 

"I was in awe, a big leaguer here," Lakewood first baseman Matt Rizzotti said. "Either way, if he threw good or he threw bad, I still think he threw fine.

 

"I can't bad mouth a big leaguer. He's already done a lot more in his career than I've ever done."

 

Eaton said he expected he would make his next minor league start for Class AA Reading (Pa.).

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 5, Palm Beach (Cardinals) 4, ten innings

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

Mojica Walks to Victory

By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees

(Viera, FL) When Jimmy Mojica smashed a two-run double in the eighth, putting his Manatees ahead, 4-1, it appeared that he had provided the insurance runs needed for a Brevard County win. The lead did not hold up, however, so he came through again with a walkoff walk in the tenth inning as Brevard County defeated Palm Beach, 5-4.

Jeremy Jeffress finally got the start for the Manatees, after being pushed back by rainouts the previous two days. He gave the Manatees 5.1 strong innings, allowing just one run while striking out eight. Mark Diapoules was just as strong for the Cardinals, though, and the game remained tied, 1-1, through seven innings.

Brevard County broke through in the eighth inning, starting with Brent Brewer's leadoff double. He moved to third on a Jonathan Lucroy groundout. After Taylor Green was intentionally walked, Mel Stocker came through with a sacrifice fly to center field, putting the Manatees ahead. A Chuck Caufield walk put two runners on board for Mojica, who ripped a double to right-center field, scoring both Green and Caufield to give the Manatees a 4-1 lead heading into the ninth.

Palm Beach struck back quickly, as Brian Cartie led off the inning with a double of his own, followed by a Daniel Descalso single. E.J. Shanks was summoned from the bullpen at this point, but walked Nick Derba, the only hitter he faced. Derrick Ellison entered the game for Brevard County, but was unable to stop the bleeding. Antone DeJesus greeted him with a two-run single, and Donovan Solano's bunt turned into an infield single, loading the bases with no outs and the lead down to 4-3. Tyler Henley's sacrifice fly tied the game, bringing up pinch-hitter Luke Gorsett with two on. Gorsett flied out to right field, advancing both runners to second and third. DeJesus tried to sneak home on the play for the go-ahead run, but was gunned down on the play by Mojica, ending the threat.

Lucroy led off the bottom of the tenth with a double, followed by another intentional walk to Green. After Stocker bunted to move both runners up, Caufield was intentionally walked to load the bases. The plan backfired, as Casey Mulligan was unable to find the plate against Mojica, walking him on five pitches to score Lucroy and give the Manatees their second straight extra-inning win.

Mulligan took the loss, dropping to 1-1, while Ellison (1-0) earned his first win as a Manatee despite blowing a save in the ninth. The two teams square off again Friday, with Brevard County's John Axford (4-6, 4.06) taking on Shaun Garceau (6-3, 3.43) of Palm Beach. Game time is 7:00 PM (6:00 Central).

 

Brevard County Box Score

Jonathan Lucroy nails 2-of-3 baserunners -- he's a stud; Robert Hinton a 1-2-3 inning in his return; Jeremy Jeffress did walk four, so his line was good, not great...

 

Brevard County Game Log

Jimmy Mojica was all smiles after coming through in the clutch yet again for the Manatees. (MiLB.com Photo by Dennis Greenblatt)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2008/07/31/xr2zSFc7.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Nashville won, Huntsville lost (again) -- more in a bit, I've been going heavy with the details this AM in the midst of my non-Brewerfan morning routine http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: Montgomery (Rays) 9, Huntsville 8

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Montgomery Hangs on to Sweep Stars

Biscuits Use Big Inning to Hand Huntsville Tough Loss

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

Montgomery used a seven-run third inning to grab the lead and withstood a furious, late comeback in a wild 9-8 win over Huntsville to complete a five-game series sweep Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium. The Biscuits finished a 10-game road trip with nine wins to improve to 23-16 in the second half but remain three and a half games behind South Division-leading Mississippi, while the Stars suffered their season-high seventh straight loss to fall to 18-22. The game was delayed an hour and 20 minutes at the start and for 23 minutes in the eighth inning because of rain.

 

Lorenzo Cain led off the home ninth against Neal Frontz with a single and advanced to second base on a fielding error, the Biscuits' sixth of the game, by right fielder Erold Andrus. Cain moved to third on a Guilder Rodriguez single and scored on a base hit by Alcides Escobar that cut the visitors lead to 9-8. Mat Gamel and Mike Bell struck out before Cole Gillespie walked to load the bases. Frontz ended the game by striking out Chris Errecart, as the Stars lost their sixth straight at home.

 

Huntsville took advantage of two errors on the same play by Sergio Pedroza to score twice in the first inning and added a run in the second on a Cain sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead and score in consecutive innings for the first time in the series. The Stars scored only seven runs in the first four games of the series and not more than twice in any prior game.

 

Montgomery then sent 13 batters to the plate in the third, collecing nine hits and two walks. Ronnie Merrill drove in two with a ground ball out and a single, while Gaby Martinez, Rhyne Hughes, Sergio Pedroza and Rashad Eldridge each singled in a run. Stars' starter Alex Periard was lifted after 2 2/3 innings in his second double-A turn and charged with all seven runs after allowing seven hits, walking three and striking out two. Patrick Ryan went 1 1/3 scoreless innings behind Periard, though he gave up three hits and walked three.

 

Montgomery added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings against Ben Howard, who was taken out after a scoreless seventh inning. Biscuits' starter Mike Prochaska had blanked the Stars from the third through sixth innings before Huntsville posted four runs in the seventh to climb back into the game.

 

Cain's fielder's choice grounder and a run-scoring double by Escobar cut the lead to 9-5 and a walk to Gamel chased Prochaska from the game. Eddie Morlan took over and gave up a looping two-out, two-run double to Bell that sliced the lead to 9-7. The inning was extended by a fielding error by Martinez on a potential inning-ending double play ball that made three of the runs unearned. Prochaska allowed seven hits, walked three and fanned five but managed to grab the win. Huntsville was swept in a series for the first time this after sweeping three in the first half, including two at home.

 

The Stars begin a five-game series against Mississippi Friday night with right-hander Nic Ungs taking the mound against Braves' southpaw Carlos Sencion. Coverage of the twin bill begins at 6:50 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com and www.730ump.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

Alcides Escobar still at DH only, but on base four times; it pains us to see that line from Alex Periard, growing pains...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Infielder/Outfielder Hernan Iribarren

Discussion on all parts of his game -- offense, defense, baserunning...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 4, Sacramento (A's) 2

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

Sounds Take Second Straight From Cats, 4-2

 

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Nashville Sounds won their second straight game to open their road trip, defeating the Sacramento River Cats by a 4-2 margin on Thursday evening at Raley Field.

 

The back-to-back wins are the first for the Sounds (44-68) since July 8 and 9 at Omaha. Nashville posted the victory despite being out-hit by the River Cats in the contest, 7-6.

 

Sacramento took a 1-0 lead in the third when Justin Knoedler doubled off Sounds starter Chris Narveson and scored on Eric Patterson's two-out single to center.

 

The River Cats doubled the advantage an inning later when Daric Barton led off the frame with his first home run of the season, a solo shot to right.

 

Laynce Nix put the Sounds on the board in the top of the fifth when he led off with his team-leading 20th home run of the season, a solo shot to right off River Cats hurler Chris Gissell that accounted for Nashville's first hit of the evening.

 

AUDIO: Laynce Nix's Team-Leading 20th HR

 

Nashville grabbed the lead against Gissell in the seventh on second baseman Chris Woodward's two-out, two-run single to right. Jay Gibbons led off the frame with a single before being erased on a Nix fielder's choice grounder. After Adam Heether doubled to put runners on second and third, Woodward delivered his go-ahead knock to spot the visitors at 3-2 advantage.

 

The Sounds added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when shortstop Ozzie Chavez drew a two-out bases-loaded walk from Sacramento reliever David Shafer to extend the lead to 4-2.

 

Narveson (4-12) turned in his team-leading sixth quality start of the year to earn just his second win in his last 16 outings. He allowed two runs on six hits while striking out six batters in 6 1/3 innings of work.

 

Joe Bateman struck out the only two batters he faced to escape an inherited jam before Erasmo Ramirez worked a perfect eighth for the Sounds to get the ball to Tim Dillard, who notched his first save since 2004 by keeping the River Cats off the board in the ninth.

 

Gissell (4-3) took the loss after he gave up three runs on five hits over six frames of action.

 

The teams continue the series with another 9:05 p.m. CT contest on Friday night. Right-hander Mark DiFelice (4-0, 2.63) will take the hill for the Sounds to face Sacramento southpaw Gio Gonzalez (7-7, 4.54).

 

Nashville Box Score

Nashville Game Log

[Never Outhustled]

With 2 more hits last night, Brent Brewer is hitting 324 over his last 10 games, with 4 doubles and a triple, and 5 walks.

[wvpowerblkwel]

Better yet, with his 2 doubles last nite Caleb Gindl is hitting .462 in his last 10, with 6 RBI in that span also. RBI total for the season hits 61, and the batting average creeps ever so closer to .300 at .296! Another multi hit game might just get him over the hump! It's great to see last years pioneer league batting champ finding a groove!

[jjfanec]

What does Eric Komatsu have to do to get moved up? His numbers are great across the board. Good BA, OBP, and OPS. He has a great eye striking out once every 11 at-bats. He is a left handed hitting CF, which is intriguing as well. With Gindl, Haydel and Schafer (who is also doing very well right now although his low walk rate is a concern) there may not be a spot for Komatsu, but it seems like a bump in competition would be good for him.

 

For those who have not been impressed with the draft class Komatsu and Schafer are other guys to be excited about. Guys, who for at least right now, are playing CF and are left-handed bats. After them there is obviously guys like Ordorizzi who is showing why he was a first round pick with a really nice numbers. Billings just started pitching and has had some nice outings. I agree with the comments on Lintz as his numbers are going to look bad after one rough outing, but before that things looked good. Corey Kemp has put up nice numbers for a catcher. Cutter Dykstra has handled Helena well for a high-school guy. Pitchers like Luetge, Wooten, Bowman. Adams, and Salmon have pitched well to varying degrees, with Bowman, Luetge, and Wooten already pitching in low-A ball.

 

There have been disappointments like Duran, but would not even call Fredrickson a disappointment. I think his walks were expected and we will see what an off-season with Brewer coaches will do.

[tyguy20204]

Agreed jjfaf, not to mention that our first pick hasn't even signed yet.