Link Report for Games of Thursday, August 28th

[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 Lindsay Gulin at home vs. Albuquerque (Marlins), 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 Jeremy Jeffress at Chattanooga (Reds), 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: RHP John Axford at home vs. Jupiter (Marlins), 6:00 PM gametime

 

Sorry, no audio for this series...

 

West Virginia: LHP Lucas Luetge at home vs. Kannapolis (White Sox), 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 Daniel Meadows at Missoula (Diamondbacks), 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.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t433

 

Arizona: TBD at the mini-Royals complex in Surprise, 7:00 PM local Mountain Standard Time

 

Never any audio for the Maryvale Crew

[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_08_28_albaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_28_hunaax_cngaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_28_jupafa_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_28_kanafx_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_28_helrok_misrok_1

 

Arizona:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_28_brrrok_royrok_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 80 57 .584 - 46-22 34-35 L2 Memphis 73 64 .533 7.0 35-30 38-34 W2 Omaha 61 78 .439 20.0 30-41 31-37 W1 Nashville 59 79 .428 21.5 29-41 30-38 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 39 26 .600 - 20-10 19-16 L1 Tennessee 33 31 .516 5.5 15-19 18-12 L1 Huntsville 30 35 .462 9.0 17-18 13-17 W1 West Tenn 28 36 .438 10.5 14-20 14-16 W1 Chattanooga 27 37 .422 11.5 13-17 14-20 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 35 22 .614 - 23-9 12-13 W6 Jupiter 38 26 .594 0.5 19-14 19-12 W2 St. Lucie 31 29 .517 5.5 13-14 18-15 W1 Palm Beach 32 31 .508 6.0 18-14 14-17 L1 Brevard County 29 35 .453 9.5 14-18 15-17 L2 Vero Beach 18 44 .290 19.5 6-22 12-22 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 43 22 .662 - 21-9 22-13 W2 Lakewood 39 26 .600 4.0 19-14 20-12 L1 Delmarva 36 28 .563 6.5 16-14 20-14 W1 Lake County 33 31 .516 9.5 18-16 15-15 W6 Greensboro 25 38 .397 17.0 12-18 13-20 L3 Hagerstown 24 41 .369 19.0 12-20 12-21 L3 Lexington 22 42 .344 20.5 12-23 10-19 L2 Hickory 20 44 .313 22.5 7-24 13-20 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 16 11 .593 - 13-5 3-6 W3 Great Falls 14 15 .483 3.0 7-7 7-8 W1 Helena 11 18 .379 6.0 3-11 8-7 L1 Missoula 7 21 .250 9.5 5-6 2-15 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 37 17 .685 - 19-7 18-10 W5 AZL Giants 34 20 .630 3.0 18-9 16-11 L1 AZL Padres 32 21 .604 4.5 18-9 14-12 L1 AZL Rangers 32 22 .593 5.0 17-10 15-12 W2 AZL Cubs 31 22 .585 5.5 20-7 11-15 L3 AZL Royals 22 32 .407 15.0 13-14 9-18 L8 AZL Mariners 21 33 .389 16.0 11-16 10-17 W2 AZL Athletics 20 34 .370 17.0 10-17 10-17 L3 AZL Brewers 12 40 .231 24.0 9-17 3-23 W2 

[Mass Haas]

Arizona League Standings

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

West Virginia Power closer to clinching division title

by Jack Bogaczyk

Charleston Daily Mail Sports Editor

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Pennant-race fever is a new, and welcome, malady for Manager Jeff Isom and his West Virginia Power, although the skipper and most of his players have reached their desired destination previously.

 

A year ago, Isom's Helena Brewers -- most of whom are current Power players -- won a first-half title in the rookie Pioneer League to punch their playoff ticket early.

 

His 2008 Power started poorly (19-32) but now has a four-game lead over Lakewood with five to play for the South Atlantic League second-half Northern Division crown.

 

If the Charleston "Baby Brewers" are going to make the SAL postseason for a second straight season, the clincher will come at home. West Virginia (43-22) closes the regular-season with a five-game Appalachian Power Park series against Kannapolis (33-27) starting tonight.

 

The first three games of the series start at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central), with Sunday's game at 6:05 (5:05 Central) and Monday's Labor Day finale at 1:05 (12:05 Central). Isom said left-hander Lucas Luetge (2-1) will get the mound start in tonight's series opener.

 

If the Power wins the second-half title, the best-of-three Northern Division playoffs against Lake County would start at the East End ballpark next Wednesday night.

 

"I go back to the beginning of the season when I said this team was going to hit, and those first couple of months we didn't," Isom said. "It's not a surprise we finally hit. It was a surprise we didn't.

 

"When we started losing a lot of one- and two-run games I think some of the players started questioning themselves and then we'd make an error or hang a breaking ball and we couldn't overcome that."

 

The Power's low point came May 27, when the team dipped to 19-32. Isom's club finished the first half 13-5 before an impressive second-half that's on a par with the 48-20 first half the 2007 Power had. Last year's club reached the SAL Championship Series, falling in a sweep to Columbus.

 

The Power leads the league in team hitting (.276) by a 14-point margin and catcher Eric Fryer, who didn't make the club in April and stayed in Arizona for extended spring training, has emerged to lead the SAL in batting (.334) by 11 points. He joined the Power on May 9.

 

Fryer, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, is seeking to become the Power's second straight SAL batting champ, after Charleston pro baseball hadn't had a league hitting king since Jack Perconte won the Class AAA International League title at .346 for the 1983 Charlies.

 

Andrew LeFave won the SAL hitting title last season at .345 before Milwaukee dealt him to the Washington Nationals. He's playing at Potomac in the high Class A Carolina League and batting .266.

 

"The biggest surprise we have to me is Fryer," Isom said. "The guy didn't make the club out of spring training and the fact he's now leading the league in hitting is a credit to him. He came up here and we had Jonathan Lucroy catching before he moved up, so we had to find a spot for Eric in left field.

 

"Now, Eric is catching every day and doing a good job. He's done a good job at both positions and he's leading the league in hitting and has 10 homers and 61 RBI (in 100 games). He's been great."

 

Fryer is one of three Power players to make the postseason SAL All-Star Team selected by managers and front office executives of the 16 clubs and media regularly covering the SAL. Corner infielder Steffan Wilson and outfielder Caleb Gindl are the other Power all-stars.

 

Wilson leads the league with 97 RBI -- five shy of the Charleston Class A franchise record of 102 set by Jason Parsons for the 1997 Alley Cats. Right fielder Gindl is second in the league in doubles and fifth in runs scored and is hitting .351 in August to take him into 10th place in the league at .307.

 

Right-hander Evan Anundsen (12-7) got the win in Tuesday night's road finale at Lexington. Anundsen not only leads the club in victories, but has the most mound wins for the Charleston SAL franchise since Jimmy Gobble went 12-10 for the 2000 Alley Cats.

 

Isom has found little to quibble about in his second-half Power surge.

 

"To tell the truth, I expected more out of our starting pitching," said the Power manager, a former moundsman himself. "I thought we'd have a little more depth there than we do, but what's surprised me has been our bullpen.

 

"I think that's been a big part of us winning like we have. We've been able to use the bats to get a lead early and then those guys would come in and hold things down. The bullpen has really been solid for us.

 

"Now, we've just got to get a few more (wins) and we'll be where we want to go."

 

Power points -- The Power has won seven of 11 meetings with Kannapolis this season ... Power right-hander Roque Mercedes had a 7.05 ERA when he was moved from the starting rotation in late May. Now, it's dipped to 4.24. In 18 innings of relief this month, Mercedes hasn't allowed a run, and only eight hits with three walks and 22 strikeouts ... Isom's 2007 Helena club finished 48-28 in the short-season Pioneer League ... The Power is 21-9 at home this half after going 13-20 at Power Park in the first half.

[Mass Haas]

Helena Pre-Game Audio Interview with 2008 2nd round pick RHP Cody Adams

Click on the KCAP archive of August 27th, then browse to the 04:00 minute mark; velocity up recently, changeup has nice movement; good discussion on pitching philosophy, first pro season, etc.

[battlekow]

Wow, Jeffress completely imploded: 6 hits, 1 BB, 1 HBP and only got 2 outs. 6 runs allowed. Yeesh.

[battlekow]

Through 4 innings, the Manatees have walked 8 times against Jupiter starter Kyle Winters, but have 0 hits and 0 runs. Very strange.

 

WV got postponed due to wet grounds.

[battlekow]

Nice to see the Baby Brewers roughing up KC's supplemental first-rounder Mike Montgomery a bit, while Stosh simultaneously tallies 5 Ks in his first 2 innings. Homering off Montgomery is a nice feather in Jose Garcia's cap.

[battlekow]

Wow, Scarpetta strikes out 8 in 3 shutout innings, with 2 hits and 2 walks. I love this guy.

[And That]

That's 55 K's in 31.2 IP for Scarpetta... ay ay ay.

[battlekow]

I wonder what the Brewers' logic was when they decided to send Rigoberto Almonte to Arizona instead of Helena, given that he's already 21. He's proving that he could have used a more aggressive assignment, with a 15/0 K/BB in his first 8.3 IP.

[colbyjack]

...while Stosh simultaneously tallies 5 Ks in his first 2 innings

 

Wow, that is impressive http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Tony Gwynn
Some stance adjustments to help with power...

Former Sound Nelson Cruz Named PCL MVP

Final: Albuquerque (Marlins) 4, Nashville 3

Nashville Site Game Summary:
Link for Joe Dillon photo, text follows --

Sounds Drop Final Home Game, 4-3

NASHVILLE - The Nashville Sounds lost a lead in the top of the ninth inning and eventually lost the game, 4-3, to the Albuquerque Isotopes in their final home game of the 2008 season.

Despite holding a 3-2 lead with a Sounds bullpen that only gave up two runs in their last 26 2/3 innings, Nashville was unable to secure a victory after a blown save from Tim Dillard in the ninth inning.

Sounds starter Lindsay Gulin pitched six innings and struck out five batters while only giving up one run on a solo homer. The longball was the only hit Gulin gave up while picking up his fourth quality start, but he did not factor in the decision after the blown save.

The Sounds got off to a quick start when Hernan Iribarren, Tony Gwynn, and Joe Dillon all knocked consecutive singles with Iribarren scoring on Dillon's single to left field in the first inning. With that run, Nashville has outscored its opponents 32-8 in the first inning over its last 12 contests.

Albuquerque evened the score with one swing in the top of the third inning when Brett Hayes crushed a 2-2 offering from Gulin over the left field wall for a solo home run. The longball was Hayes's fifth of the year.

Nashville went up again in the bottom of the fourth inning when Chris Woodward scored on a wild pitch after hitting a single to lead off the inning and moving to third on a double from Vinny Rottino. Iribarren then singled up the middle to score Rottino from third and give the Sounds a two-run lead.

The Isotopes scored in the bottom of the seventh inning with three consecutive two-out singles off Sounds reliever Mitch Stetter from Jason Wood, Andrew Beattie, and Hayes with Wood scoring on the last of the three, but Hayes was thrown out at second base by Jay Gibbons to end any further rally.

Albuquerque tied the game in the top of the ninth inning when Dillard gave up an RBI single to Hayes that scored Wood from second base. The Isotopes then took a 4-3 lead when Jai Miller hit a sacrifice fly to score Hayes from third base. The blown save was Dillard's second of the season.

Albuquerque reliever Carlos Martinez (2-2) picked up the win after pitching two innings, and Brandon Villafuerte picked up his seventh save of the year after closing out the ninth inning for the Isotopes.

AUDIO: Chris Woodward Defensive Gem

The Sounds travel to New Orleans to wrap up their 2008 season with a four-game series against the Zephyrs at Zephyr Field starting on Friday at 7:00 p.m. Southpaw Sam Narron (9-4, 4.73) will start for the Sounds against lefty Jon Niese (5-1, 3.65) for the Zephyrs.

Nashville Box Score
Sounds outhit the 'Topes, 13-7; Mat Gamel 0-for-4, three K's, left three runners in scoring position with two out; likely Lindsay Gulin's final 2008 numbers; Gulin hasn't helped himself at the plate, 1-for-29...

Nashville Game Log

Hot bat: Infielder Chris Woodward continued his August hot streak, going 3 for 4. Woodward is hitting .368 (35 for 95) with a team-high 22 RBIs this month.

Sealing the deal: The Sounds are 10-25 in series finales.

[Mass Haas]

Gustav Alters Sounds' Final Road Trip Schedule

METAIRIE, La. -- Based upon the conditions of Tropical Storm Gustav on Thursday afternoon, the New Orleans Zephyrs have made the following decisions regarding the scheduled season-ending four-game series at Zephyr Field between the Z's and the visiting Nashville Sounds, which begins Friday:

 

Friday's game against the Nashville Sounds will go on as scheduled at 7:00 p.m., with fireworks following the game.

 

Saturday's game, originally scheduled for 6:00 p.m., has been moved up to 1:00 p.m.

 

The status of Sunday's and Monday's games are to be determined, based upon further developments with the storm. The Zephyrs expect to make decisions pertaining to those games sometime on Friday evening.

 

Additional updates as to the Sounds' schedule will be posted on the team's official website (www.nashvillesounds.com) as information becomes available.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Pre-Game Audio with Pitching Coach Chris Hook

Click on the WUMP archive of August 28th, then browse to the 08:15 minute mark; kind words for Brae Wright and Omar Aguilar to start...

 

Final: Chattanooga (Reds) 11, Huntsville 7

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Lookouts Slam Stars

Early Lead Vanishes Quickly in Loss

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

Eric Eymann and Chris Heisey each hit grand slams in Chattnooga's 11-7 win over Huntsville Thursday night in the opener of the last regular season series at AT&T Field. The Lookouts improved to 28-37 in the second half and 65-70 overall, while the Stars dipped to 30-36 in the half and 71-65 overall. The Stars lead the season series 12-9.

 

The Stars jumped out to a 4-0 in the first inning against Camilo Vazquez on a run-scoring double by Alcides Escobar and a three-run home run by Michael Garciaparra, his second of the season, both coming in Chattanooga. However, the lead did not last very long, as the Lookouts responded with six runs in their half of the frame.

 

Danny Dorn's run-scoring ground out chased home the first run and Chris Valaika's run-scoring single cut the Stars lead to 4-2. Stars' starter Jeremy Jeffress then hit Sean Henry to load the bases before Eymann belted his grand slam on an 0-2 pitch to put the Lookouts in the lead for good. It was Eymann's eighth home run, his second grand slam and the third grand slam hit by the Lookouts against the Stars this season. Jeffress was removed after a Vazquez single and double by Michael DeJesus and replaced by Patrick Ryan, who retired Heisey on a come backer to end the frame. Jeffress took the loss after allowing six hits and walking one and dropped to 2-1 in four double-A starts.

 

Ryan went 3 1/3 innings, giving up a run on a Vazquez sacrifice fly in the third and left trailing 7-5. He allowed three hits, walked two and fanned two. Huntsville trimmed the lead to two in the top of the fifth on a run-scoring single by Garciaparra and left the bases loaded after Heisey made a fine running catch on a ball hit by Freddy Parejo.

 

Vazquez was lifted after five frames, giving up five hits, walking five and fanning four. He grabbed the win to improve to 3-3 and was followed by Robert Manuel, who tossed two scoreless frames. Heisey's grand slam with two outs in the home seventh off of Steve Bray broke the game open and marked his second straight night with a long ball. Eymann and Heisey each wound up a triple shy of hitting for the cycle to lead a 13-hit attack.

 

The series continues Friday night with right-hander Donovan Hand taking the hill for the Stars against Lookouts' right-hander James Avery. Coverage begins at 6:00 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

As noted above, Patrick Ryan stranded two Jeremy Jeffress runners to keep the rough start down to six runs allowed; not the high note sendoff to the Arizona Fall League Jeffress was looking for; Cole Gillespie still sidelined...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Jupiter (Marlins) 10, Brevard County 2

Brevard County Box Score

Casey Baron stranded two of John Axford's runners, as Axford allowed three runs in 4 2/3, but then Baron was uncharacteristically hit hard in the 6th for six runs to break the game open; encouraging two scoreless innings for Zach Braddock, albeit in garbage time; Jonathan Lucroy doubled and walked twice; that's about all worth noting as the Manatees, as per usual, toil in almost anonymity in the media-starved Florida market place...

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

The West Virginia Power's opener of a five-game homestand Thursday night against the Kannapolis (N.C.) Intimidators at Appalachian Power Park was postponed because of wet grounds.

The two teams will play a doubleheader tonight beginning at 6:05 (5:05 Central).

The Power (43-22) entered play Thursday holding a four-game lead over the Lakewood (N.J.) BlueClaws in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division. West Virginia's magic number for clinching the second-half division title and a playoff berth is down to two games.

NOTE: Lakewood won Thursday, so the magic number remains at two.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Missoula (Diamondbacks) 3, Helena 2, 12 innings

Helena Independent Record:

 

A wild pitch in the bottom of the 12th inning allowed the Missoula Osprey to beat visiting Helena 3-2 in a Pioneer League baseball game Thursday night.

 

Missoula greeted reliever Garrett Sherrill with a single and double in its half of the 12th and a wild pitch scored Kyle Greene with the winning run to hand the Brewers their second straight loss.

 

The result pushed the Brewers four games behind Great Falls in the North Division standings and race for a potential spot in the league playoffs with eight games remaining.

 

Helena (11-19) plays at Missoula (8-21) tonight and then returns to Kindrick Legion Field for games with Great Falls Saturday and Sunday.

 

Great Falls (15-15) is two games behind division leader Billings (16-12).

 

The Brewers got a pair of hits from Brock Kjeldgaard and David Fonseca and a combined 18 strikeouts from four pitchers.

 

Reliever Cody Scarpetta, an 11th round draft pick in 2007, struck out eight batters in three innings.

 

Reliever Brandon Rapoza gave up just one hit in his four innings of work.

 

Sherrill dropped to 1-9 with the loss.

 

Jesse Orosco, the son of the former Major League great by the same name, struck out three batters in his one inning of relief work and improved to 3-0 on the season.

 

Missoula pitchers struck out 15 Helena batters.

 

The Brewers opened with two runs in the first inning, and Missoula answered with single runs in the second and third before the teams played eight scoreless innings in a row.

 

Helena's games with Great Falls begins the team's final homestand of the season. It plays Missoula Monday and Tuesday.

 

Helena Box Score

Brewers didn't score over the final 11 innings; Cutter Dykstra scuffling. hitting .184 over his last ten games; H-Crew now 2-9 in extra innings; top three in the order (John Delaney, Dykstra, and Erik Komatsu) go 0-for-16 with no walks; Cody Scarpetta -- wow; Brandon Rapoza will be 23 in November, so he'll be aiming to jump West Virginia next spring if possible -- his 2008 Helena numbers won't hurt that effort...

 

Helena Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 4, Arizona Royals 3

 

Arizona Box Score

Three wins in a row! Overall, the A-Crew's pitching has been head over heels better than it's been in past summers -- much better walk/IP ratio, K's, ERA, across the board; 16 K's vs. two walks here; scoreless inning for Jake Odorizzi -- see you next year, kid (Appleton?); offense a bit of a different story, as usual, but enough to win here...

 

Arizona Game Log

[homer]

Who's this Almonte kid? 7K's in three innings?

[Postseason2006]

Danny Almonte? He's still got some age left for the Little League World Series.