Link Report for Wed. 8/20 -- Nelson's Two HR's Pace Nashville Rout

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

 

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

 

Nashville: LHP Chris Narveson at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 5:45 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime

 

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

http://web.minorleaguebas...jsp?sid=milb&cid=t556

 

Huntsville: LHP Brae Wright at Birmingham (White Sox), 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.minorleaguebas...imedia/audio.jsp?sid=t559

 

Brevard County: LHP Derek Miller and TBD (Amaury Rivas or Josh Butler?) in a doubleheader at Jupiter (Blue Jays), 4:05 PM gametime; each contest seven innings

 

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

http://www.minorleaguebas....jsp?cid=503&sid=t503

 

West Virginia: LHP Dan Merklinger at home vs. Asheville (Rockies), 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.minorleaguebas...jsp?sid=milb&cid=t525

 

Helena: RHP Cody Adams at home vs. Ogden (Dodgers), 7:55 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.minorleaguebas...jsp?sid=milb&cid=t433

 

Arizona: TBD at the baby A's crib in Phoenix, 7:00 PM local Mountain Standard Time

 

Never any audio for the Maryvale Crew

[Mass Haas]

Follow Wednesday'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.minorleaguebas...008_08_20_rreaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebas...008_08_20_hunaax_biraax_1

 

Brevard County Game One:

 

http://web.minorleaguebas...008_08_20_breafa_jupafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Two:

http://brevardcounty.mana...2&cid=503&t=g_box

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebas...008_08_20_ashafx_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

 

http://web.minorleaguebas...008_08_20_ogdrok_helrok_1

 

Arizona:

 

http://web.minorleaguebas...008_08_20_brrrok_athrok_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 77 53 .592 - 46-22 31-31 L1 Memphis 69 61 .531 8.0 33-30 36-31 L1 Omaha 56 75 .427 21.5 25-38 31-37 W2 Nashville 55 76 .420 22.5 25-38 30-38 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 36 21 .632 - 19-8 17-13 W1 Tennessee 29 28 .509 7.0 13-17 16-11 W3 Huntsville 27 30 .474 9.0 14-16 13-14 L1 West Tenn 24 32 .429 11.5 11-18 13-14 L1 Chattanooga 24 34 .414 12.5 12-16 12-18 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 31 22 .585 - 20-9 11-13 W2 Jupiter 32 23 .582 - 15-11 17-12 L2 St. Lucie 29 24 .547 2.0 12-11 17-13 W1 Palm Beach 28 27 .509 4.0 16-13 12-14 L1 Brevard County 26 30 .464 6.5 12-16 14-14 L1 Vero Beach 16 40 .286 16.5 6-22 10-18 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 39 19 .672 - 20-7 19-12 L1 Lakewood 36 21 .632 2.5 18-12 18-9 W1 Delmarva 32 24 .571 6.0 16-14 16-10 W5 Lake County 27 29 .482 11.0 12-14 15-15 L1 Greensboro 24 35 .407 15.5 11-17 13-18 W1 Hagerstown 21 36 .368 17.5 9-18 12-18 L6 Lexington 19 38 .333 19.5 9-19 10-19 L5 Hickory 18 40 .310 21.0 6-23 12-17 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 12 6 .667 - 9-3 3-3 L3 Great Falls 11 11 .500 3.0 6-4 5-7 L1 Helena 7 15 .318 7.0 2-9 5-6 L1 Missoula 5 17 .227 9.0 5-6 0-11 L1 

[Mass Haas]

Arizona League Standings

[wibadgers23]

I can't see BC playing for at least the next couple of days with the rain Florida is getting right now.

[homer]

The people demand boldfaced web links!

[wibadgers23]

I can't see BC playing for at least the next couple of days with the rain Florida is getting right now.

Never mind.

[twobrewers]

Huntsville kinda left Brae Wright out to dry tonight.

 

7 innings pitched. 10 hits, 8 r, 7 er - and 3 HR.

 

He never really had a blow up inning - just constantly in trouble. Why let him go 7 IP - are they short in the pen?

[colbyjack]

I don't think Huntsville hung Wright out to dry. As you noted, he never had a blow up inning, and while he consistently gave up runs over his 7 innings of work, I'm not sure you can say he was constantly in trouble. If you check the game log, most of the runs were scored relatively quickly off of him, and his worst innings were his first and his last. Two solo home runs and a 2-run shot, in which only 2 runners got on base during that inning, were the biggest blows. The overall line isn't pretty, but it's not a case in which his pitch count was ignored or anything like that.

 

Nice to see the Sounds put up some big numbers vs. Round Rock. Brad Nelson with the biggest of nights in that lineup, with 2 dingers and 4 RBI.

 

Is tonight the first time that Caleb Gindl has reached the .300 mark? Well done young man, as it definitely has been a long road for him to reach that mark after starting the season so slow.

 

I listened to most of tonight's Helena game, for the first time in a long time, and while Ogden pretty much owned them, Efrain Nieves came in and pitched the last 3 innings and he was dealing, hopefully getting back on track (6 K in 3 IP) after a pretty rough month. For you Cutter Dykstra die-hards that don't check the game log, don't worry, he wasn't removed due to injury, he got tossed in the 5th.

[battlekow]

Brewers farmhands showing good stuff tonight. Greg Miller had by far his best game since being taken in the 10th round in June, with 4/0/1 K/BB/H in 2 IP. Believe it or not, it's just his second scoreless appearance of the year. 19th-rounder Blake Billings has also had quite a nice debut; tonight's walk was actually his first of the year, and his K/BB is now 15/1 in 12 innings, certainly heartening to see from a high school pick. Billings has also been getting a ton of ground balls.

 

Also nice to see another stuff-y line from Amaury Rivas, who's put up an 11/2 K/BB in his last 10 innings, after registered only a 5/8 K/BB in his first 15 innings at Brevard.

[battlekow]

Good timing for Allixon Cequea's first HR of the year, in the top of the 10th inning in a 5-5 game; recent, strangely old Dominican signee Rigoberto Almonte pitched a strong two innings (3/0/1 K/BB/H) for the win, just the second for BRRROK on the road this year.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 6, Arizona Athletics 5, ten innings

 

Arizona Box Score

Teams combined for 31 strikeouts and four walks, and there were only six pop outs / fly balls combined in ten innings; thanks, guys, for the notations above, as this Link Reporter is running on fumes as the season winds down...

 

Arizona Game Log

Only the 2nd bus ride home after a victory this season, too bad it was such a short trip (within Phoenix)...

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: Jupiter (Marlins) 5, Brevard County 4

Final, Game Two: Brevard County 3, Jupiter 2

JUPITER, FL- The Jupiter Hammerheads and Brevard County Manatees split their double-header Wednesday evening at Roger Dean Stadium. Jupiter took game one 5-4, but Brevard County bounced back in game two to win 3-2. Jupiter currently stays tied with Daytona for the Florida State League East Division lead.

Brett Carroll, who is with Jupiter on a Major League Rehab Assignment, hit a two-run double in the fifth inning to give Jupiter a 5-4 lead in game one. Jeff Allison (9-7) allowed three-earned runs on five hits and struck out two in route to his ninth win of the season. Adalberto Mendez pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his 26th save.

 

Brevard County Game One Box Score

After a 1-2-3 first inning, LHP Derek Miller, working his way back from shoulder trouble, leaves the game after just four batters (and three runs) in the second; LHP Derrick Ellison retired all eight men he faced and has a scoreless string of 7 and 2/3 innings; with two out in the Jupiter 6th, a walk, single, and two-run double burned Zach Braddock for the loss...

 

Brevard County Game One Game Log

Pinch-runner Scott Houin caught stealing to end the game...

 

J.R. Hopf singled off of reliever Brad Stone to break a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning of game two. He finished the game two for three.

Bryan Petersen and Daron Roberts each had two hits for Jupiter in the nightcap of the double-header.

 

Brevard County Game Two Box Score

Four Manatees HBP, no Hammerheads; three of the HBP came in the first, with the final one forcing in a run; RHP Amaury Rivas recovered at the tail end of a shaky first inning to limit the damage to two runs, as Jupiter would not score again; Kenny Holmberg's sacrifice fly tied it in the 5th before J.R. Hopf's go-ahead line-drive single in the final inning, set up by Brent Brewer's leadoff double; LHP Casey Baron gets the win in relief...

 

Brevard County Game Two Game Log

Rivas played Houdini again in the 4th, escaping a 2nd and 3rd no-out jam unscathed...

 

The two teams will square off Thursday in game three of this four-game series. 2005 first-round draft pick Sean West is slated to take the mound for Jupiter. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Nashville wins, Huntsville and Helena fall, as does West Virginia, which sees its scant division lead fall to 1.5 games (one in the loss column).

 

Details later today, thanks for your patience.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Ogden (Dodgers) 8, Helena 3

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Raptors bite Brewers 8-3

By CLIFF PFENNING - Helena Independent Record

 

For a team that's lost seven of its last eight games and is just 7-16 in the second half of the Pioneer League season, there's plenty of playoff drama left for the Helena Brewers as they head for the final 15 games of the regular season.

 

Because of the league's playoff structure, the Brewers can be a playoff team with a strong finish - especially in head-to-head games against Great Falls.

 

Helena fell four games behind Great Falls in overall wins and losses by dropping an 8-3 decision to the Ogden Raptors Wednesday at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

The Brewers got solid outings from pitchers Cody Adams and Efrain Nieves, but couldn't overcome a slew of base-running errors, a passed ball and three wild pitches before a wind-blown crowd of 1,226.

 

Helena is off today and then plays two games at Billings and two at Great Falls before returning for a pair of home games against Great Falls Tuesday.

 

In spite of their recent play, the Brewers are still aiming for a playoff spot.

 

"We check the standings every day," said Brock Kjeldgaard, who hit his 13th home run in the eighth inning. "We're playing okay, but we haven't been getting any breaks lately.

 

"We've got to keep focusing on playing good fundamental baseball and not get beat by mental errors."

 

Helena is still alive for a playoff spot because of the strong second half put together by Billings, which won the North Division first-half title and is leading the second half by two games over Great Falls.

 

If Billings wins the second half title as well, the team with the second-best overall record would earn a playoff spot.

 

After Great Falls beat Casper, Wyo., 8-1 Wednesday, the Voyagers improved to 31-30 overall. Helena is 27-34, four games behind.

 

Billings seemed to be cruising to the second-half title before losing four straight games. And, the Mustangs left Idaho Falls Wednesday to play a doubleheader at Casper, Wyo., today before returning home to face the Brewers.

 

In the final 15 games, Helena plays Great Falls six times, Billings five and Missoula four.

 

"We think about the playoffs," Nieves said. "But it's tough to be a playoff team when you're not winning games. Lately, we haven't been winning a lot of games."

The Brewers played from behind from the first inning Wednesday when Adams gave up three runs. He settled down, though, and pitched through the fifth inning, ending up with seven strikeouts while walking two.

 

Ogden scored four runs in the sixth off reliever Santo Manzanillo before Nieves struck out six of the 10 batters he faced.

 

The Helena offense managed seven hits, including the homer by Kjeldstaad that nearly landed on Lyndale Ave., but the team also floundered on the bases, getting thrown out three times trying to advance an extra base.

 

Center fielder Cutter Dykstra added to that by getting ejected for arguing a called strike in the fifth inning. Manager Rene Gonzales also got tossed.

 

Added to the pressure to win as a team is the pressure to perform as individuals to attract attention from the parent club, the Milwaukee Brewers, although Nieves said the Helena clubhouse comes first.

 

"There's a lot of pressure on the team and on us players," he said, "but being able to play as a team and win as a team is what we're focused on."

 

Helena Box Score

 

Helena Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Photos by Lisa Kunkel IR staff photographer - Helena Brewers' Mike Roberts looks to his first base coach as Ogden's second baseman Tony Delmonico trips on the play during Wednesday night's game at Kindrick Legion Field.

http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2008/08/21/sports/top/50spl_080821_brewers.jpg

 

Helena Brewers' Cody Adams pitches a fastball as he strikes out Ogden's Travis Vetters during Wednesday night's game at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

http://images.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/articles/2008/08/21/sports/top/50spl_080821_brewers-2.jpg

 

Helena Brewers' Mike Roberts tries to beat the ball to home plate as Ogden's catcher Matt Wallach stands at the ready during Wednesday night's game at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

http://images.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/articles/2008/08/21/sports/top/50spl_080821_brewers-3.jpg

 

John Delaney fires the ball to first base during Wednesday night's game against the Ogden Raptors at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

http://images.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/articles/2008/08/21/sports/top/50spl_080821_brewers-4.jpg

 

Helena Brewers' Steve Braun jumps over Ogden's Nick Buss after he turned the double play during Wednesday night's game at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

http://images.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/articles/2008/08/21/sports/top/50spl_080821_brewers-5.jpg

[And That]

Huntsville kinda left Brae Wright out to dry tonight.

Part of it is what colbyjack mentioned - he never really blew up in any inning. The other part of it might be that they're trying to get him as close to his inning cap as possible this year, so they're giving him more work, even though the work makes the pitching line look a little funky.

 

Anyone else think the Brewers might hang onto Richie Gardner and try to make a reliever out of him?

 

And I demand a BCB interview with Rigoberto Almonte!

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Pre-Game Audio Interview with RHP Mike Jones

Click on the WUMP archive of August 20th, then browse to the 05:45 minute mark; bullpen vs. starting topic included; has kept in touch with good friend Manny Parra; congrats to Mike, getting married this fall...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 8, Huntsville 2

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Cassell and Long Balls Down Stars

Huntsville Drops Second In a Row

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

Justin Cassel tossed six solid innings and was supported by three home runs in Birmingham's 8-2 win over Huntsville Wednesday night in the middle of a five-game set at Regions Park. The Barons improved to 29-28 in the second half, while the Stars fell to 27-31 in the second half and 68-60 overall.

 

The Barons scored the first two runs of the game in the first inning when Javier Castillo's line drive to right field was lost in the lights by Cole Gillespie and went for a triple that knocked in C.J. Lang. Lee Cruz then singled into center field off the left leg of starter Brae Wright to deliver Castillo and knock in his 23rd run since joining the Barons.

 

The Stars answered with a run in the second inning when Angel Salome doubled to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 13 games, moved to third base on a ground out by Mat Gamel and scored on a Gillespie groundball out. The Barons got the run back in their half of the frame on a home run by Jared Price, his fourth and just the seventh allowed by Wright.

 

Huntsville responded in the top half of the third when Lorenzo Cain's fielder's choice grounder with the bases loaded plated Mike Bell. Cassel worked out of further trouble and stranded the potential tying run at third base by striking out Alcides Escobar and getting Salome to fly out to deep right field. Cassel then kept the Stars hitless over the next four frames and wound up allowing three hits, while walking three and fanning five. He picked up his first win in three tries against Huntsville and his tenth of the season. Joe Torres, Kanekoa Texeira and Ryan Rote each tossed a shutout frame behind Cassel to wrap up the win for the Barons, who have beaten the Stars in eight of twelve meetings this season.

 

Brandon Allen's leadoff long ball in the fourth, his eight with the Barons, pushed the home team's lead to 4-2. It marked the first time in 25 starts that Wright has allowed two home runs in a game. Lee Cruz belted a two-out, two-run home run in the fifth to extend the Barons' lead to 6-2 before two more runs in the seventh put the game out of reach. Wright was charged with eight runs, seven earned, on 10 hits, while striking out two. He fell to 6-10 and remains winless since June 26.

 

The series continues Thursday night with left-hander David Welch taking the mound for Huntsville against Barons' right-hander Dewon Day. Coverage 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

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Asheville (Rockies) 7, West Virginia 2

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

ASHEVILLE BURIES POWER WITH SEVEN-RUN THIRD

 

The Asheville Tourists recorded eight straight hits and scored seven times on nine hits in the top of the third inning to defeat the West Virginia Power 7-2 on Wednesday night at Appalachian Power Park.

 

Beau Seabury began the string of eight straight hits with a one-out single. Helder Velazquez doubled Seabury in before Bo Bowman, Darin Holcomb and Kevin Clark smacked back-to-back-to-back RBI singles. David Christensen doubled in the next two runs and he scored on Brian Lapin's two-bagger to cap the inning.

 

West Virginia plated both of their runs in the bottom of the seventh. Caleb Gindl began the inning with his eleventh homer of the season, his second in as many days. Zelous Wheeler followed Gindl's bomb with a base hit and advanced two bags on a pair of wild pitches. Curt Rindal drove him in on a sacrifice fly.

 

Connor Graham (11-6) tossed five and two-thirds scoreless innings of one-hit ball and fanned five in a winning effort. Dan Merklinger (7-9) was tagged for seven runs on eight hits over two and two-thirds and was tagged with the loss. Roque Mercedes, Mike Ramlow and Curtis Pasma combined to toss six and two-thirds scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

 

The Power fell to 71-57 on the year and 39-20 in the second half with the loss. The Tourists improved to 79-50 on the year and 33-26 in the second half with the win. Gindl went 2-for-3, turning in the only multi-hit game for the Power. Eric Fryer went 1-for-3 and extended his on base streak to 29 games.

 

The Power will continue the four game series against Asheville Thursday night. The Power will start right hander Evan Anundsen (11-6, 3.96) and the Tourists will counter with left hander Christian Friedrich (0-0, 0.00) The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

***

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Tourists pitcher shuts down Power

by Michael Dailey

Charleston Daily Mail sports writer

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When the Asheville Tourists came to Charleston for a four-game series against the West Virginia Power on Tuesday, it set up the possibility of a matchup of teams that could meet in the South Atlantic League Championship.

 

The Tourists won the SAL South Division first-half title and have ensured themselves a spot in postseason play, while the Power are currently in first place in the SAL North Division second-half race.

 

For the second consecutive night, Asheville showed why it already has locked up a berth in the playoffs by defeating West Virginia, 7-2, at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday evening.

 

"We definitely tried to make a statement," Asheville starting pitcher Connor Graham said. "The way we have been playing lately, we need to start playing like we did in the first half and like we know we can."

 

Graham, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound right-handed pitcher from Bowling Green, Ohio, dominated the high-octane Power offense, giving up only an infield single in his 5 1/2 innings of work.

 

He has the fourth-lowest earned average in the league and improved to 11-6 on the season.

 

Despite mowing down the Power lineup, Graham was taken out early with a 7-0 lead in an effort to rest him before the playoffs.

 

Power Manager Jeff Isom expected a solid outing from Graham and when West Virginia allowed seven runs to Asheville in the third inning, Isom knew the home team had a difficult task of coming back.

 

"Going into the game, we knew two or three runs could win this ball game," Isom said. "We had to do whatever we could to put up zeros and possibly scratch a run or two across.

 

"Graham was excellent tonight and didn't give us anything. Unfortunately, we go out and give up seven and to have to come back after something like that, it's nearly impossible against a guy like Graham."

 

Isom knows a possible championship series against Asheville would be tough and that the Tourists are trying to get prepared for their upcoming trip to the playoffs.

 

"They are a good club and have very good starting pitching," Isom said. "They are playing well and trying to get something going into the playoffs with some momentum."

 

With Asheville winning the first two games of the series, West Virginia's chances of making the playoffs took a hit. Its lead over second-place Lakewood is now only 1 ½ games.

 

"The ball is in our court," Isom said. "We have to try and worry about what we have to take care of. We have to take care of our business and not worry about what they are doing. We have to win ball games, bottom line."

 

After Power starting pitcher Dan Merklinger (7-9) got through the first two innings with relative ease, he ran into a Asheville hitting buzzsaw in the third.

 

In the decisive seven-run frame, the Tourists had nine of their 13 hits and eight straight Asheville batters had hits off Merklinger, including back-to-back-to-back doubles.

 

That was clearly enough runs for Graham, who throws his fastball in the low to mid 90s and his off-speed pitches in the low 70s.

 

Despite having a seven-run cushion, Graham knew the high-powered Power offense, which leads the league in team batting average by a wide margin, still could post a comeback.

 

"It takes a lot of pressure off when you score that many runs, but you have to remind yourself that you can't be complacent and to still pitch like it's a tie ball game," Graham said.

 

"They have an explosive offense. I've known Steffan (Wilson) for a while, (Eric) Fryer, and a couple of their guys. They can definitely swing it. It was just one of those days I was able to get inside on some of them."

 

The Power scored two runs in the seventh with Graham out of the game. West Virginia had a few more scoring opportunities but couldn't get any closer.

 

Right fielder Caleb Gindl, who has been the Power's hottest hitter lately, was the only one with a multi-hit game with a 2-for-3 performance.

 

Charleston Daily Mail Photo by Craig Cunningham

West Virginia Power second baseman Eric Farris fields a ground ball Wednesday against the Asheville Tourists.

http://www.dailymail.com/images/thumbs275/WEB_--_Eric_Farris_I080821103050.jpg

 

West Virginia Box Score

It's a shame three of the Power's top relievers (Roque Mercedes, Mike Ramlow, and Curtis Pasma) -- this would have been a good game for Jose Garcia to mop up, but he pitched the day before...

 

West Virginia Game Log

The first five hits among the seven consecutive surrendered by Dan Merklinger in his dreadful third inning were ground balls -- not saying they weren't hit hard -- they were followed by a fly ball double and line drive double...

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Tourists pick up another win over Power

By Mike Whiteford

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Upon their arrival in Charleston earlier this week, the Asheville Tourists needed to brush up on a few things - like strengthening their grip on some recent momentum.

 

Tourists manager Joe Mikulik called it swagger.

 

They won the first-half Southern Division championship, qualifying them for September's playoffs, but had played sporadically for much of the second half.

 

Against the Power, a momentum-filled team in search of a playoff berth, the Tourists have responded admirably.

 

Erupting for eight consecutive hits and seven runs in the third inning, the Tourists cruised past the Power 7-2 Wednesday night at Appalachian Power Park, giving them victories in the first two games of the crucial four-game series. A paid crowd of 2,200 attended.

 

The Power loss, combined with Lakewood's victory on Wednesday, trimmed the West Virginia lead to 11/2 games in the Northern Division's second half.

Eleven regular-season games remain.

 

"We're putting it together right now,'' said Asheville right-hander Connor Graham, a former Miami of Ohio pitcher and one of the South Atlantic League's best.

 

Facing the league's top-hitting team, Graham allowed only an infield single and four walks in 5 2/3 innings and departed after reaching 100 pitches, his allotted number.

 

"We couldn't do anything against him,'' said Power manager Jeff Isom. "I think we got one hit, and that was questionable, although I thought it was scored correctly. He's a quality arm, there's no question about it. And then we go and give up the seven runs in the third inning.''

 

Graham, a fifth-round draft pick, has struggled with control this season but sometimes reaches 96-mph and on Wednesday lowered his earned run average to 2.01 - fourth-best in the league. He's 11-6.

 

"He competes with every pitch. He's a perfectionist,'' said Mikulik. "At times, he's too intense.''

 

After winning the first-half title, the Tourists fell below .500 in the early weeks of the second half but seem to be regaining their first-half form. They're 32-26 in the second half.

 

"We really didn't have momentum early in the second half,'' said Mikulik. "We gained some, then we lost it, now we've got it back. I think we've got some swagger back. We spent a lot of energy winning the first half.''

 

Added Graham: "We've been up and down in the second half of the season. I think it's real big for us to kind of come together and start playing like we were in the first half.''

 

POWER POINTS: Caleb Gindl's home run in the seventh inning spoiled Asheville's shutout bid, and Curt Rindal's sacrifice fly brought home the second run in the inning. ... For the first year since APP opened in 2005, the Power will not set an attendance record. The team entered Wednesday's game averaging a respectable 3,355 - about twice the average of most Watt Powell Park years. Last year, the Power averaged a Charleston record of 3,603. ... Playoff ticket packages are on sale. A $32 ticket would cover all possible playoff home games, as well as the 2009 home opener April 9. Individual game tickets are $8 and will go on sale Aug. 29. The Power will donate 20 percent of playoff ticket revenue to the East End Family Resource Center. ... The Power and Tourists will play the third game of the four-game series at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central). Right-hander Evan Anundsen (11-6, 3.96) will start for the Power.

[Mass Haas]

Helena Pre-Game Audio Interview with First Baseman Brock Kjeldgaard

Click on the KCAP archive of August 20th, then browse to the 03:15 minute mark; Steve Wendt always with great questions driving the discussion towards both Brock's offensive and defensive progression, given his conversion from pitcher this season...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 11, Round Rock (Astros) 4

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Brad Nelson photo, text follows --

 

Nelson Belts Two Homers In Sounds' 11-4 Rout

NASHVILLE - Brad Nelson swatted a pair of home runs to lead an 18-hit onslaught in the Nashville Sounds' 11-4 victory over the Round Rock Express on Wednesday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a five-game series.

 

Every Nashville position player except catcher Carlos Corporan (0-for-4) recorded at least two hits in the contest as the Sounds ripped nine of their 18 hits on the evening for extra bases, including a season-best five home runs.

 

Nelson's two-homer night was his third of the year and increased his longball total to 16 on the season. The slugger recorded a season-high four hits and drove in four runs on the evening to up his team-leading RBI total to 71.

 

The game had a late start following a one hour and 12-minute rain delay at the outset.

 

Continuing a recent trend, Nashville jumped out to huge early advantage against Round Rock by plating five runs in the top of the first inning against Josh Miller. Over the last five games, the Sounds have outscored the Express by a 21-3 count in the first inning.

 

After Callix Crabbe and Joe Dillon singled to sandwich a Tony Gwynn flyout, Nelson and Brendan Katin connected for back-to-back mammoth home runs that each cleared the 24-foot high batter's eye in center field. The blasts, the Sounds' fourth set of consecutive homers this season, were each player's 15th of the year.

 

Adam Heether kept the inning going by narrowing missing a third consecutive tater, doubling off the top portion of the batter's eye in center, then scored when Vinny Rottino followed with an RBI single back up the middle to make it a 5-0 contest.

 

Crabbe continued the early scoring barrage when he led off the second frame with his first home run of the year, a solo shot to right-center off Miller. The blast was his first in 225 at-bats, dating back to September 1, 2007.

 

AUDIO: Callix Crabbe's 1st HR Of 2008

 

The Sounds' big night continued in the third when Gwynn lifted a bases-loaded, two-out double to left-center to plate Heether and Rottino for an 8-0 advantage.

 

Nelson belted his second home run of the evening in the fourth, an opposite-field blast to left off Miller that led off the frame and increased the home team's lead to 9-0.

 

Ray Sadler put the visitors on the board in the top of the sixth inning with a one-out, two-run homer to right-center off Sounds starter Chris Narveson, his 21st roundtripper of the year and second in two nights against Nashville pitching.

 

The Express made it a 10-4 game in the seventh. Yordany Ramirez led off with a double and pinch-hitter Nick Gorneault drew a walk before Narveson retired the next two hitters. After Sadler drew a walk to load the bases, Randy Choate replaced the left-hander on the hill and was greeted by a two-run infield single by Mark Saccomanno that tipped off the end of Crabbe's glove during a diving stab just onto the outfield grass behind second base.

 

Dillon wrapped up the evening's scoring with a solo homer to left off Express reliever Nick Regilio in the bottom of the eighth, his fourth longball of the year.

 

Crabbe (2-for-4) and Dillon (3-for-5) extended their longest hit streaks of the season to nine and five games, respectively, for the Sounds in the win.

 

Narveson (6-12) earned a win for the second straight start for just the second time all season. The southpaw allowed four runs on six hits while walking three batters and striking out seven in his 6 2/3 innings of work.

 

Miller (8-8) took the loss for the Express after surrendering nine runs on 12 hits in his four frames of action.

 

The teams continue the series with a 7 p.m. meeting on Thursday evening. Right-hander Nic Ungs (2-2, 8.20) will take the hill for the Sounds to face an undetermined Round Rock hurler.

 

Nashville Box Score

What a box score -- somehow all lined up like that, it looks like more than 18 Nashville hits...

 

Nashville Game Log

Yay, big bad Brad...