Link Report for Friday 4/17 -- Stars Walk-Off Yet Again! Sounds Pitchers Dazzle

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Link here for the live audio choices - audio will no longer archive.

 

Sorry, no audio for this Brevard County series

 

Nashville: RHP Nick Green at New Orleans (Marlins), 6:35 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

 

Huntsville: LHP Bobby Bramhall at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 10:15 AM pre-game; 10:30 gametime

 

Brevard County: RHP Evan Anundsen at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:05 PM gametime

 

Wisconsin: LHP Dan Merklinger at Clinton (Mariners), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime

[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 Tab or New Window". 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.

 

MiLB.com now has Gameday available for AA as well as AAA this season.

Nashville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_17_nasaaa_nozaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_17_msbaax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_17_dunafa_breafa_1

 

Wisconsin:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_04_17_wisafx_cliafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572

[Mass Haas]

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated a few hours prior to gametime.

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

[Mass Haas]

Midwest League Standings

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Memphis 5 2 .714 - 5-2 0-0 W1 Iowa 5 3 .625 0.5 0-0 5-3 W1 Omaha 5 3 .625 0.5 0-0 5-3 L1 Nashville 3 5 .375 2.5 3-5 0-0 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 4 4 .500 - 0-0 4-4 L2 Huntsville 4 4 .500 - 4-4 0-0 W3 West Tenn 4 4 .500 - 0-0 4-4 L3 Tennessee 3 4 .429 0.5 1-1 2-3 W1 Chattanooga 2 6 .250 2.0 1-2 1-4 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clearwater 5 2 .714 - 3-2 2-0 L1 Dunedin 4 3 .571 1.0 0-2 4-1 W3 Brevard County 3 4 .429 2.0 3-1 0-3 W2 Daytona 3 4 .429 2.0 3-3 0-1 L3 Lakeland 3 4 .429 2.0 2-0 1-4 W1 Tampa 3 4 .429 2.0 2-0 1-4 L2 

[Minigoon]

An Omar Aguilar sighting today. 1 scoreless with 2 strike outs. Nice to see him back in there!

[Paulus88]

Stars tie the game in the bottom of the ninth and have the based loaded with nobody out... could it be four straight come from behind walk off wins

[Mass Haas]

Stars tie the game in the bottom of the ninth and have the based loaded with nobody out... could it be four straight come from behind walk off wins

As Brett noted, these last few innings have been very tedious, but eventful nonetheless. Another walk-off win!

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 7, Mississippi (Braves) 6

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Wild Walk-Off for Stars, Again

Huntsville Has the "Magic" Working

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

 

Drew Anderson's sacrifice fly delivered the game-winning run, as Huntsville pulled off another improbable come from behind win, 7-6, over Mississippi Friday afternoon in the fourth of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars have rallied to win in the ninth inning in each of the last three days and in their last at-bat in all four contests to improve to 5-4, while the Braves have dropped five in a row to fall to 2-7. All five of the Stars wins this season have come by a run and eight of their nine games have been decided by three runs or less.

 

Vinny Rottino opened the ninth with a pop up against Steve Marek that shortstop Brandon Hicks lost in the sun and allowed to fall for an infield single. Pitcher Juan Sandoval dropped down a sacrifice bunt attempt that third baseman Kody Kirkland fielded and threw into center field to try to get Rottino, who advanced to third base. Shane Justis followed with a double to plate Rottino to tie the game and push Sandoval to third before Kevin Melillo was intentionally passed to load the bases. Chris Errecart struck out for the first out before Anderson lofted a fly ball on a 3-2 to deep right field that was caught by Willie Cabrera, allowing Sandoval to tag and score the winning run, marking the second time in the four-game stretch the winning pitcher had scored the decisive marker.

 

Kirkland's two-run double that was followed by a two-run single by Kala Ka'aihue in the third staked the visitors to a 4-0 lead. The Stars opponents have now scored first in seven of the nine games this season. Huntsville starter Bobby Bramhall was lifted after three frames, giving up five hits, walking two and striking out two. Omar Aguilar, Josh Wahpepah and Donovan Hand combined to throw four scoreless innings before Sandoval entered the game.

 

Meanwhile, Gadsden, Alabama native Kyle Cofield had his no-hit bid broken up by a pinch-hit single off the bat of Yohannis Perez with one out in the sixth inning and kept the Stars blanked through six. The right-hander was removed after Melillo doubled to start the seventh and Errecart walked. Kevin Gunderson got Anderson to ground out to move the runners before Chuck Caufield chased them home with a double to trim the lead to 4-2. Caufield would score on a wild pitch uncorked by Rudy Darrow to slice the lead to one later in the inning. Cofield was charged with two runs on two hits, while walking three and fanning four in his first double-A start.

 

Phillip Britton doubled in a run against Sandoval and scored on a passed ball in the eighth to push the lead back to two. Huntsville answered back against Brett Butts and Marek in the bottom of the inning on a bases loaded walk to Caufield and a Jonathan Lucroy sacrifice fly. The last four Huntsville runs that scored were all unearned.

 

The series finishes on Saturday evening with left-hander David Welch taking the hill for Huntsville against Braves' right-hander Ryne Reynoso. Coverage of the game begins at 5:45 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

Must have been fun when Cofield pitched to Caufield ("Seltzer? I said 'Salsa!'"); infielder Kevin Melillo has been productive in his nine games (.920 OPS); Juan Sandoval forced to bat in the 9th as the bench had been emptied; welcome back, Omar Aguilar...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog:

April 17, 2009 Game Notes

 

Tonight's Rattler Starting Pitcher

 

April 17, 2009 Starting Lineup

 

Notes from Chris: Of note: Michael Marseco has his first day off of the season...Erik Miller is batting second for the first time this season, he had hit ninth in the previous seven games this season. Juan Sanchez gets his first start at short after starting at third five times and being a defensive replacement at second once.

[TheCrew07]

Anundsen with a pretty nice line, unearned runs aside.

[TheCrew07]

Gamel is absolutely unreal right now, I didn't think he could start better than last year.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 12, Dunedin (Blue Jays) 3

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees

(Viera, FL) The Brevard County Manatees scored early and often Friday night, drilling Dunedin, 12-3. The Manatees piled on nine runs between the second and third innings to take control, using timely hitting and taking advantage of sloppy fielding from the Dunedin defense. Zelous Wheeler and Cole Gillespie each had a huge game to lead the Manatee offense. Each blasted a two-run homer, and Wheeler added a double and a single, while Gillespie slammed a triple. Logan Schafer continued his hot streak with two hits and three RBI, and Lee Haydel belted three singles. Eric Farris and Steffan Wilson each chipped in two hits.

Evan Anundsen (1-1) pitched well for the second straight start, allowing just two unearned runs in 5.2 innings, this time earning the win. He also struck out nine Blue Jays while allowing only three walks. Blue Jays starter Marcus Walden (1-1) was rocked for nine runs (seven earned) in just 2.2 innings.

The two teams meet again on Saturday, with each looking to get back on the right side of the .500 mark. Mike Jones will get the nod for Brevard County, while Dunedin will send the southpaw Ryan Page to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

Brevard County Box Score

'Tees batters on base 21 times; seems like Evan Anundsen has been around a long time, but he won't turn 21 until next month; Eric Farris (2-for-21 on the season) gets his first two base knocks; Zelous Wheeler 11-for-27 (1.076 OPS) with only one K; every Manatee reached base at least twice, except for Martin Maldonado, who singled...

 

Brevard County Game Log

One of the most exciting plays in baseball, a bases-loaded triple, for Logan Schafer in the 2nd...

Zelous Wheeler exploded for three hits, including a two-run blast to center field. (MiLB.com Photo by Dennis Greenblatt)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2009/04/17/r2RJ5yhS.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Final: Clinton (Mariners) 8, Wisconsin 4

Wisconsin Site Game Summary:

Ex-Rattler pitcher beats current Rattlers

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

CLINTON, IA -- The Clinton LumberKings took advantage of four Wisconsin Timber Rattler errors and got a fine pitching performance from Brett Lorin to pick up an 8-4 win on Friday night at Alliant Energy Field. Lorin, a Seattle Mariner farmhand, pitched in the Midwest League as a Timber Rattler in 2008. He is now 2-0 with Clinton, Seattle's new affiliate in the Midwest League. The loss was Wisconsin's fifth straight.

Denny Almonte doubled to start the bottom of the first inning. A sacrifice bunt moved him to third base. Scott Savastano singled to center to knock in Almonte and it was Clinton with the early 1-0 lead.

The LumberKings (6-2) scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Travis Howell doubled and Kalian Sams walked to start the inning. Terry Serrano dropped a sacrifice bunt to move the runners along. But, Rattler pitcher Dan Merklinger slipped going after the baseball. Then, he threw the ball down the right field line. Howell scored on the play for a 2-0 lead.

Merklinger threw a wild pitch to the next batter and Sams scored for a 3-0 advantage.

Edgar Trejo gave the Rattlers (3-5) a little hope in the top of the fourth. The Wisconsin designated hitter launched his first home run of the season to deep left-center. But, that was only run Lorin would allow.

Clinton kept the pressure on with another run in their half of the fourth. Nate Tenbrink started the inning with a triple. He scored on a slow grounder off the bat of Mario Martinez.

The LumberKings added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning without the benefit of a hit. There were two walks, two errors, and two wild pitches in the frame. The first run of the inning scored on a throwing error by John Delaney as he tried to start a double play. Instead of a 5-4-3 twin killing, the ball wound up in right field. The second run scored on a sacrifice fly by Tenbrink.

Lorin called it a night after the top of the sixth inning. He walked only one while recording 10 strikeouts.

Wisconsin chipped away with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning. Brett Lawrie picked up an RBI with a fielder's choice. He would score later in the inning on a throwing error.

But, Clinton got both runs back in the bottom of the eighth. Tenbrink knocked in a run with a grounder. Then, the LumberKings pulled a double steal with runners at first and third. Savastano was on the back end and scored without a play.

Michael Vass got the final run of the game. The Rattler outfielder hit a leadoff homer in the ninth, his first of the year.

Game three of the series is set for Saturday night. Cody Adams (0-0, 3.00) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Aaron Pribanic (1-0, 0.00) is set to start for the LumberKings. Game time is 6:30 PM.

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Amazing that the Lumberkings were 2-for-17 with RISP (17 chances!) yet still scored eight runs; Wisconsin has drawn just 22 walks whil striking out 80 times in their nine games; Corey Kemp doubled in his only at-bat, his first plate appearance of the season after his DL activation; defense had been really solid prior to this game' we'll have to see if southpaw Dan Merklinger makes his next start -- see below...

 

Wisconsin Game Log

 

Clinton Bottom 4th

• - Travis Howell doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Erik Miller.
• - Kalian Sams walks.
• - Terry Serrano hits a sacrifice bunt. Throwing error by pitcher Daniel Merklinger. Travis Howell scores. Kalian Sams to 3rd. Terry Serrano to 2nd.
• - With Denny Almonte batting, wild pitch by Daniel Merklinger, Kalian Sams scores. Terry Serrano to 3rd.
• - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers pitcher Daniel Merklinger left the game due to an injured leg.
• - Pitcher Change: Liam Ohlmann replaces Daniel Merklinger.
• - Denny Almonte grounds out, second baseman Brett Lawrie to first baseman Brock Kjeldgaard.
• - Luis Nunez reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Juan Sanchez to catcher Shawn Zarraga. Terry Serrano out at home.
• - Scott Savastano pops out to third baseman John Delaney.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 9, New Orleans (Marlins) 0

We should have a detailed summary from the Nashville site shortly...

 

Nashville Box Score

What a fantastic effort by RHP Nick Green in the Zephyrs' home opener before over 10,000 fans; 75 pitches for Green in six wonderful innings, 50 pitches for strikes; Chris Narveson finding the bullpen to his liking -- 12 K's, only three hits and two walks in 7.1 scoreless innings; Alcides Escobar a three-run HR in the 6th; Mat Gamel's torrid pace is overshadowing nice work by Brendan Katin; half of Gamel's 16 hits have gone for extra bases -- OPS 1.471; hopefully Joe Koshansky's two doubles get him going...

 

Nashville Game Log

It's nice to see Angel Salome behind the plate when two pitchers combine on a gem like this -- it's likely he called a fine game (obviously); Green helped himself out with a base hit in the five-run 6th...

[And That]

Chris Narveson is a talented pitcher. He could make a good bullpen addition to the big club if he takes to full time relief. I hope they don't mess around with him and move him back to the rotation.

 

Kevin Melillo has a career .370 OBP and 840 OPS. He's not yet 27... if he can play good defense (I have no idea), he might be valuable. He has enough power to be useful, certainly.

 

I wish Logan Schafer would walk a little more. Zelous Wheeler is off to one of the best starts in the system. If memory recalls, he got off to a hot start last year also, before gradually fading to an ok final line. Evan Anundsen is a horse and Brandon Rapoza is a reliever to watch.

[DHonks]

Melillo is a hard worker. He was in the AFL my last year (I think). He almost earned a spot on the Oakland post-season roster due to a couple of infielders getting hurt, but instead Oakland was allowed to re-sign Keith Ginter for the playoff roster spot

[battlekow]

Didn't that spot go to Mark Kiger?

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Catcher Angel Salome

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Nick Green photo, text follows --

 

Sounds Blank Z's In Road Opener, 9-0

 

METAIRIE, La. -- Pitchers Nick Green and Chris Narveson combined on a six-hit shutout as the Nashville Sounds blanked the New Orleans Zephyrs, 9-0, on Friday evening at Zephyr Field in the opener of a four-game series.

 

On the offensive side for Nashville (4-5), five players enjoyed a multi-hit night, led by third baseman Mat Gamel's 3-for-5 evening, and eight of the Sounds' ten batters had at least one knock.

 

Gamel and Hernan Iribarren each extended his hitting streak to eight games in the contest.

 

Nashville got on the board in the top of the second with one run, but it was the three-run third and five-run sixth that put the game out of reach. Shortstop Alcides Escobar highlighted the big sixth frame with a three-run homer, his first career Triple-A roundtripper.

 

Green (1-0) picked up his first win of 2009 after allowing four hits and striking out four batters over six scoreless frames, while Narveson earned his second save of the year by fanning five batters over the final three frames.

 

New Orleans starter Dallas Trahern (0-1) took the loss in the Z's home opener after giving up four runs on eight hits over five frames of action.

 

The teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. meeting on Saturday night. Right-hander Tim Dillard (1-0, 1.80) will make the start for the Sounds to face New Orleans righty Daniel Barone (0-0, 9.64).

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

New Orleans Zephyrs shutout in home opener

by Bob Fortus, The Times-Picayune

 

Playing their home opener Friday night at Zephyr Field, the Zephyrs did their best to please a sellout crowd.

 

Nashville pitcher Nick Green did his best to honor friend and former roommate Nick Adenhart, who was buried Thursday in Maryland.

 

With grief in his heart, Green shut down the Zephyrs, and the Sounds rolled past New Orleans 9-0 before 10,116 at Zephyr Field.

 

"I said to myself after the game, 'That was for him today,' Green said.

 

For good measure, he hit an RBI single in the Sounds' five-run sixth.

 

Green and Adenhart pitched for Salt Lake in the Angels' organization last year. Last week, Adenhart was killed in a car crash hours after pitching for the Angels.

 

Green (1-0) pitched six scoreless innings, allowing four singles, to earn the victory. He struck out four and walked one.

 

Green, 24, joined the Brewers' organization when Milwaukee claimed him off waivers in February. In his first start for Nashville on Sunday against the Zephyrs, he allowed five runs in five innings in a no-decision. New Orleans won in extra innings.

 

This time, Green was dominant.

 

"He was getting all three pitches over, just locating his fastball really well," said Zephyrs right fielder Michael Ryan. "He didn't have a set pattern the whole night, just pitched an excellent game."

 

Said Green: "Obviously, I knew what was going on in Maryland. A lot of my friends were there for the service. It'll be a long time until it goes away. It'll be something I'll never forget. I just tried to have some sort of closure (Thursday)."

 

Everyone who played for Nashville except reliever Chris Narveson had hits in the Sounds' 14-hit attack. Narveson allowed two hits and struck out five in three innings for his second save this season.

 

Hernan Iribarren had two hits and two RBIs. Mat Gamel, who is hitting .516 this season, had three hits and an RBI. Brendan Katin had two hits and and RBI and scored two runs. Alcides Escobar capped the sixth-inning burst with a three-run homer.

 

The Zephyrs had six hits, with no player getting more than one. The Sounds took a 1-0 lead in the second against Zephyrs starter Dallas Trahern (0-1) on an RBI single by Iribarren.

 

Nashville scored three runs in the third.

 

Tony Gwynn Jr. singled to right with one out, stole second with two out and scored on Gamel's double to left. Katin then singled to center, scoring Gamel, who barely beat Jai Miller's strong throw to the plate. Joe Koshansky doubled to deep right center to drive home Katin.

 

The Sounds broke the game wide open in the sixth.

 

Koshansky led off with a double off reliever Jason Standridge, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a one-out single by Iribarren. Jason Tyner singled to right, sending Iribarren to third, and Tyner reached second on Ryan's throw to the plate. Green then grounded a single to center, scoring Iribarren and sending Tyner to third. After Gwynn popped out, Carlos Martinez replaced Standridge. Escobar followed with a home run to left.

 

NOTES: The Zephyrs are 6-11 in home openers. ... The game was the Zephyrs' third consecutive home opener against Nashville and fourth home opener against the Sounds since 2005. ... Zephyrs first baseman Gaby Sanchez, who went 1-for-3, extended his hitting streak to eight games. ... Sounds shortstop Escobar is rated by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Brewers' organization, and Sounds third baseman Gamel is rated the organization's second-best prospect. ... The Zephyrs, who stole eight bases on their road trip, added to the total with a stolen base by Andy Gonzalez in the second inning.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Stars deliver another walkoff

Fourth straight last-inning win buoys Huntsville

By PAUL GATTIS

Huntsville Times Sports Staff, paul.gattis@htimes.com

 

It's not magic, no matter how sleek it may sound when paired with the surname of Huntsville Stars manager Bob Miscik.

 

Miscik Magic?

 

Not really. But the Stars have something clicking right now.

 

The Mississippi Braves may feel as if they are stuck in "Groundhog Day" or staring at a season's worth of ditto marks.

 

For the fourth day straight day, the Stars beat the Braves in their final at-bat at Joe Davis Stadium. On Friday afternoon, Drew Anderson's sacrifice fly in the ninth capped a 7-6 victory.

 

"These guys are making games interesting and finding ways to win," said Anderson, who joined the Stars on Wednesday after getting released by Cincinnati. "It always makes it a little more fun."

 

Huntsville scored seven runs in the final three innings.

 

"In spring training, even though it was spring training, we did that a majority of the games," outfielder Chuck Caufield said. "We just play hard to the end and you never know what will happen."

 

The last four days prove that:

 

- On Tuesday, the Stars broke a three-game losing streak on Vinny Rottino's single in the bottom of the 13th for a 5-4 win.

 

- On Wednesday, the Stars overcame a 3-0 deficit and scored the game-winner on Caufield's single in the bottom of the ninth.

 

- On Thursday, the Stars blew a 2-0 lead in the top of the ninth and trailed 3-2 before scoring twice in the bottom half and winning on Chris Errecart's single.

 

Then came Friday.

 

Trailing 4-0, the Stars didn't get a hit until the sixth inning against Gadsden native Kyle Cofield. But Huntsville chased Cofield by scoring three in the seventh, before adding two each in the eighth and ninth.

 

"I've never been associated with a team that's had four straight walk-offs," Miscik said.

 

The ninth inning began so poorly for the Braves that the Stars almost couldn't help but win. Johnny Raburn popped to shortstop Brandon Hicks, but Hicks lost the ball in the sun and it fell just behind the pitcher's mound for a single.

 

With no pinch-hitters left, Stars reliever Juan Sandoval had to hit for himself, and his sacrifice bunt resulted in a throwing error by Braves third baseman Kody Kirkland, moving Raburn to third.

 

"By then, they're cashing it in and we're thinking we've got the game in the bag," Anderson said.

 

Said Miscik, "At that point, you kind of had a feeling it was going to happen again to them. They were snakebit."

 

Raburn scored on Shane Justis' game-tying single and three batters later, Anderson lofted a sacrifice fly to right that scored Sandoval.

 

"A lot of it has to do with them knowing we've been coming back and they know it's going to be a challenge," Anderson said. "So you noticed in the ninth, they started to press a little bit."

 

And when the day ended, the Stars were in first place in the Southern League North Division.

 

"If you can pull out the tight games like this, you might can get a streak going," said Caufield, who drove in three runs Friday. "Then you have some games where you might be able to blow some people out, it helps you to get going."

 

And there's nothing magical about that.

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's starsboxscore.com

 

That ol' Miscik Magic

Another 9th inning comeback, courtesy of Drew Anderson

 

Simply remarkable....... To put it in perspective. Last year, the Stars were 4-8 in games decided in the last at-bat. This year, they've done it in four straight, just nine games into the season....... Forget about simply. This is incredulous.

 

And there's been a new hero every day....... Tuesday, Yohannis Perez, the least likely hitter to tie a game in the 9th with a home run -- did just that. Then Vinny Rottino, with two out and two on in the 13th inning, lined a single into left to win the game...... Wednesday, the Stars, down 3-2, put the pressure on the Braves' defense and tied the game in the 8th with the benefit of an error, then took advantage of two more in the 9th and won on Chuckie Caufield's one-out single....... Thursday, it was the Braves who got the 9th inning rally at the expense of Mike McClendon to go ahead, 3-2. But the Stars rally and with the bases loaded and two out and a 2-2 count, Chris Errecart parachutes a single between three fielders and drives in a pair of runs to win the game....... It couldn't happen again, could it?

 

After six innings, it sure didn't seem possible....... Mississippi starter and Gadsden, Alabama native Kyle Cofield had a 4-0 lead and a no-hitter going for 5 1/3 innings before Perez, who is 6-for-13 in this series, broke the spell with a single to right. Perez has had as improbable a start as you could imagine. The Cuban shortstop who was 0-for-8 in a brief call-up last year, and hit just .195 in 2007 before Alcides Escobar took over the position in mid-June, is hitting .400 with three doubles and three RBIs...... Then call it Miscik Magic, as GM Buck Rogers and scout Dan O'Brien did. The sense that if you get close enough in the late innings, as the Stars have had against the Braves' bullpen, you can pull it out in the 9th......

 

You've got to give credit to the Braves. They fought back...... After the Stars came within a run by scoring three runs in the 7th on Caufield's double and a wild pitch by Rudy Darrow, the Braves came back in the 8th after Juan Sandoval had gotten the first two batters out. A bunt single by Javier Guzman, Phillip Britton's second double of the day, and a passed ball by Jonathan Lucroy that allowed Britton to score all the way from second made it 6-3...... The ball thrown by Sandoval went all the way to the backstop. Lucroy was quick to retrieve it, but Sandoval wasn't there at the plate as Lucroy continued to hold on to the ball. Britton took advantage of the situation and scored...... Those are errors you see when a team is on a losing streak, but it's been the Stars who have been hot. The Braves, who have now lost five in a row, continue to be haunted by theirs.

 

The Stars rallied back to make it a one-run game again in the bottom of the 8th....... Against relievers Bryan Butts (1.69 ERA) and Steve Marek, the Stars, with one out, strung together a rally that began with a walk on four pitches to Kevin Melillo. Then Chris Errecart worked the count full and singled to left. Drew Anderson followed with another hit to left to load the bases. Marek came in and walked in a run before Lucroy battled Marek at the plate, lining a ball deep to left on the 10th pitch, scoring Errecart to make it 6-5...... After Sandoval retired the side on 11 pitches in the top of the 9th, the Stars pulled the rabbit out of the hat for the 4th straight time, which must be a record. And again, as they did Wednesday, they took advantage of a pair of errors to do it.

 

Vinny Rottino led off with an infield hit on a pop up that shortstop Brandon Hicks lost in the sun, an omen for Mississippi if there ever was one........ Sandoval up. Sacrifice bunt the situation. A good bunt, but 3rd baseman Kody Kirkland made the throw to second to try and get the lead runner. In doing so, Kirkland threw the ball away, allowing Rottino to reach third...... Ninety feet away now from tying the game...... Shane Justis, 1-for-13 in the series to this point, doubled on a 1-0 pitch to the gap in left-center. The Braves' fate seemed to be written, but the Stars had more work to do...... Kevin Melillo, who has five doubles among his eight hits, was walked intentionally by Marek, who then struck out Errecart on a 3-2 slider that seemed to drop off the table. Then with one out, veteran Drew Anderson worked the count to 3-and-2, fouling off three pitches the opposite way before the left-hander stung the ball deep to right field. Willie Cabrera made the catch, but the ball was too deep to get a throw to the plate in time. He simply hung onto it as Sandoval crossed the plate with the winning run....... Four straight won in the 9th inning.

 

After a 1-4 start, the Stars are now 5-4 and a half-game atop the Northern Division....... The Stars were 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position, Friday. In the four games the Stars have won, they were 12-for- 50 (.240). That's after going 4-for-35 (.114) in their first five games....... The Stars, in winning four straight by a run, tie a record that was set in 1994. The Stars won eight straight games by a run in 2002, but not in consecutive games, if you know what I mean, and I'm sure you do...... In the Stars' incredible four-game win streak, the bullpen has logged a 2.78 ERA with 21 Ks and eight walks in 22 2/3 IP. In their first five games, of which they won just one, the pen had a 3.54 ERA in 28 innings, striking out 22 and walking 19......

Adam Stern's hit streak was stopped at eight games. Of them was only one multi-hit game. Stern is hitting .257 with one extra-base hit and four stolen bases. Vinny Rottino has hit safely in seven of the Stars' nine games, but is hitting only .226...... Johnny Raburn is 0-for-9 after going 1-for-3 in the Stars' first win of the season, 2-1 vs. Mobile on April 10...... Freddy Parejo, who hit a record .421 in April last year, is off to a 3-for-21 start....... After not drawing a single walk in his first 20 plate appearances, Kevin Melillo has four in his last 11...... Six of Shane Justis's eight hits have gone for extra bases. Justis is hitting .242 with four RBIs...... J.R. Hopf is hitless in his first nine at-bats so far. Charlie Fermaint was 0-for-10 before he was released Wednesday. You'd have to go back to May 2006 to find the longest hitless streak from the start. That belonged to infielder Milko Jaramillo, who strangely enough after hitting .154, was promoted to Nashville later that July..... Chris Errecart has struck out nine times in his last 26 at-bats -- not a good percentage....... Chuck Caufield is 8-for-16 in this series with five RBIs.......

Omar Aguilar was activated off the disabled list prior to this game. Mark Holliman has been placed on the 7-day DL.

 

David Welch, who threw 13 pitches in relief in Wednesday's game to get a couple of outs, will try to make up for his disastrous first start, Saturday. Game time is 6:00 PM. Ryne Reynoso, who hails from Idaho, goes for the Braves. Reynoso was 10-6, 3.36 for Class A-Myrtle Beach (Carolina) last year. He had the 3rd best ERA among all relievers in the Braves' organization last year (1.91).