Link Report for Mon. 4/20 -- Sounds Sweep, Stars Stumble

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

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

 

Nashville: LHP Sam Narron at New Orleans (Marlins), 11:15 AM pre-game; 11:30 gametime

 

Huntsville: RHP Jeremy Jeffress at Carolina (Reds), 6:00 PM pre-game; 6:15 gametime

 

Brevard County: Idle

 

Wisconsin: Idle

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday'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_20_nasaaa_nozaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_04_20_hunaax_cmcaax_1

[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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 7 4 .636 - 2-1 5-3 W1 Memphis 6 4 .600 0.5 5-2 1-2 L2 Nashville 6 5 .545 1.0 3-5 3-0 W3 Omaha 6 5 .545 1.0 1-2 5-3 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 5 5 .500 - 5-5 0-0 L1 Tennessee 4 5 .444 0.5 2-2 2-3 L1 Carolina 4 6 .400 1.0 0-0 4-6 L4 West Tenn 4 6 .400 1.0 0-0 4-6 L5 Chattanooga 3 7 .300 2.0 2-3 1-4 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 6 4 .600 - 6-1 0-3 W5 Clearwater 6 4 .600 - 4-4 2-0 W1 Lakeland 5 5 .500 1.0 4-1 1-4 W2 Tampa 5 5 .500 1.0 2-0 3-5 L1 Daytona 4 6 .400 2.0 3-3 1-3 L2 Dunedin 4 6 .400 2.0 0-2 4-4 L3 

[jjfanec]

Matt Gamel hits another home run and walks twice in the Sounds 4-2 win. He did not have an error today either which is nice.

 

Chris Smith is 27 so old to be in AAA but he has had a nice start out of the bullpen. 13 K's and no walks in 9 innings.

[JohnBriggs12]

Matt Gamel hits another home run and walks twice in the Sounds 4-2 win. He did not have an error today either which is nice.

 

Chris Smith is 27 so old to be in AAA but he has had a nice start out of the bullpen. 13 K's and no walks in 9 innings.

Smith is worth keeping an eye on. He made it up to Boston (not exactly a bottom feeder) for part of last year and though he didn't fare well overall due to 2 or 3 poor outings, he was quite good in several 3 up 3 down innings.

[Eddiehitsthefoulpole]

When we got Smith I was thinking he would make the club. It appears that Macha may be losing confidence with some of the guys in the bullpen. I could see Smith getting called up quickly.

[tyguy20204]

Remember that it's Mat Gamel, everyone. And Mark Rogers.

 

I know it's an innocent mistake, but speaking as a person whose name is often misspelled, let's try and get it right.

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog -- Updated Pitching Rotation News for This Week

 

Post-Crescent Blog:

 

A quick look at what's ailing the Rattlers

[Mass Haas]

Just too much poor defense for Jeffress to overcome in the 3rd, extending the inning to five outs. Brutal GIDP by Vinny Rottino earlier.

[battlekow]

Even with the errors, Jeffress still had a chance to get out of the third allowing only a run:

• Sean Henry flies out to center fielder Lorenzo Cain.
• Dallas Buck reaches on throwing error by shortstop Yohannis Perez.
• Chris Heisey reaches on throwing error by third baseman Kevin Melillo. Dallas Buck to 2nd.
• Zach Cozart singles on a ground ball to left fielder Drew T. Anderson. Dallas Buck scores. Chris Heisey to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Juan Francisco strikes out swinging.
• Todd Frazier walks. Chris Heisey to 3rd. Zach Cozart to 2nd.
• Logan Parker triples (1) on a line drive to center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Chris Heisey scores. Zach Cozart scores. Todd Frazier scores.
• Eric Eymann grounds out, third baseman Kevin Melillo to first baseman Chris Errecart.

Two-out bases-loaded triples suck.

[battlekow]

Final line on Jeffress: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 82 pitches, 43 strikes.

[Never Outhustled]

Two Four-out bases-loaded triples suck.

Fixed it for ya. Jeffress has terrible luck. Last year it seemed to rain every time he pitched, Tonight it rains errors while he pitches.

[TheCrew07]

He's not helping his cause with the walks though.

[Team Canada]

Man, it's scary how much this feels like Braun all over again. Which is mostly a very good thing.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Manager Don Money

Discusses his six starter, six reliever staff -- a bit awkward...

 

Final: Nashville 4, New Orleans (Marlins) 2

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Mike Burns photo, text follows --

 

Sounds Sweep Away Zephyrs With 4-2 Win

 

METAIRIE, La. - A Joe Koshansky homer provided the winning run for Nashville for the second straight contest as the Sounds completed a four-game sweep of the New Orleans Zephyrs with a 4-2 victory on Monday afternoon at Zephyr Field.

 

Nashville (7-5) has won five of its last six contests after opening the year with a 2-4 mark.

 

Sounds starting pitcher Mike Burns turned in an outstanding effort as a last-minute replacement for scheduled Sounds starter Sam Narron, who experienced tightness prior to the game and was scratched from the outing.

 

Burns (2-0) worked seven strong innings to earn the spot-start victory, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out four batters. He also drove in a run to help his own cause. Chris Smith came in to work the final two frames in scoreless fashion to notch his second save of the year for Nashville.

 

The Zephyrs grabbed a 1-0 lead when center fielder Alejandro De Aza led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo homer to right off Burns, his first roundtripper of the year.

 

Nashville knotted the score in the third with an unearned run off New Orleans starter Brett Sinkbeil. After the first two batters of the frame were retired, Tony Gwynn singled to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, moved to third on an Alcides Escobar single, and scored the tying run on a passed ball charged to Z's catcher John Purdom.

 

Koshansky powered the Sounds into the lead in the fourth when he led off the frame with his second homer in as many days, a solo shot to left-center off Sinkbeil. Nashville extended its advantage to 3-1 later in the frame when Jason Bourgeois (3-for-4) scored from third on a Burns sacrifice bunt.

 

Gwynn stifled a New Orleans scoring opportunity in the bottom of the frame by throwing out Manny Mayorson at the plate as the Z's infielder attempted to score from third on an Andy Gonzalez flyout.

 

AUDIO: Gwynn Throws Out Runner At Plate

 

Nashville third baseman Mat Gamel kept his hot bat going in the fifth when he slugged his team-leading fourth home run of the year, a leadoff solo shot off Sinkbeil that made it a 4-1 game.

 

The Zephyrs capped off the afternoon's scoring in the bottom of the fifth when De Aza tripled and scored on a Chris Coghlan groundout.

 

Nashville had a pair of long hit streaks snapped in the contest. Second baseman Hernan Iribarren had his season-opening 10-game hitting streak come to a close with an 0-for-4 effort on the day, while Brendan Katin had his eight-gamer end with an 0-for-4 afternoon.

 

The Sounds continue their road trip on Tuesday in Memphis, where they'll open a four-game series with the 7:05 PM opener against the division-rival Redbirds (AAA-Cardinals).

 

All-time Major League saves leader Trevor Hoffman will make the start for the Sounds as he begins a rehabilitation assignment. He has yet to pitch this season while on the Milwaukee Brewers' 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique.

 

Left-hander Chase Wright (0-1, 7.27) will follow Hoffman on his regular day in the Nashville rotation. Memphis will counter with right-hander Adam Ottavino (0-1, 3.86).

 

Nashville Box Score

Jason Bourgeois is going to prove to be a nice little signing; teams combined to go 0-for-13 with RISP...

 

Nashville Game Log

Mat Gamel handled a pop-up, line drive, and two ground balls cleanly...

 

Chris Smith works out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 8th, which amazingly escaped the game summary --

 

New Orleans Bottom 8th

• Pitcher Change: Chris Smith replaces Mike Burns, batting 7th, replacing left fielder Jason Bourgeois.
• Defensive Substitution: Jason Tyner replaces pitcher Mike Burns, batting 9th, playing left field.
• Chris Coghlan singles on a ground ball to third baseman Mat Gamel.
• Gaby Sanchez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Tony Gwynn. Chris Coghlan to 2nd.
• John Lindsey hit by pitch. Chris Coghlan to 3rd. Gaby Sanchez to 2nd.
• Michael Ryan pops out to first baseman Joe Koshansky on the infield fly rule.
• Manuel Mayorson grounds into double play, third baseman Mat Gamel to second baseman Hernan Iribarren to first baseman Joe Koshansky. John Lindsey out at 2nd.

 

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Zephyrs swept by Sounds

by Bob Fortus, The Times-Picayune

 

The Zephyrs closed their first homestand with a thud.

 

Trailing by two runs in the eighth Monday, the Zephyrs loaded the bases with none out. The opportunity was there to salvage the final game in a series in which little went right for New Orleans.

 

The Zephyrs failed to score, and Nashville went on to win 4-2, completing a four-game sweep. New Orleans, which plays tonight at Round Rock, has lost five consecutive games.

 

The mood in the Zephyrs' locker room was subdued, but players and Manager Edwin Rodriguez say it's way too early in the season to get down or panic.

 

"We're going to be fine eventually," Rodriguez said. "We have to relax."

 

"We'll bounce back," first baseman Gaby Sanchez said. "What they did good is, they capitalized on their opportunities, which we didn't do. It'll start to change."

 

The game started as if the Zephyrs' fortunes would change.

 

Leadoff man Alejandro De Aza golfed a low fastball from Nashville starter Mike Burns for a home run that landed on the deck behind the swimming pool in right, giving New Orleans a 1-0 lead.

 

But the Sounds tied the score with an unearned run against starter Bret Sinkbeil (1-2) in the third inning. With two out, Tony Gwynn Jr. singled, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. He went to third on a hit-and-run single by Alcides Escobar and scored on a passed ball by catcher John Purdom.

 

Then the Sounds started taking aim at the pool.

 

Leading off the fourth, Nashville's Joe Koshansky hit a home run over the pool for the second consecutive game. His shot cleared the trees and gave the Sounds a 2-1 lead. The Sounds manufactured another run in the inning, on a one-out single by Jason Bourgeois, a hit-and-run single by Carlos Corporan and a safety squeeze by Burns.

 

The Zephyrs couldn't take advantage of a Nashville error in the fourth inning. With one out, Manny Mayorson advanced from first base to third on a wild pickoff attempt by catcher Corporan. Center fielder Gwynn, however, threw Mayorson out at the plate when he tried to score on a fly ball hit by Andy Gonzalez.

 

Leading off the fifth inning, Mat Gamel hit a towering home run over the Gator's Den behind the pool, and the Sounds led 4-1.

 

The Zephyrs scored in the bottom of the inning. De Aza hit a one-out triple, and Chris Coghlan drove him in with a groundout.

 

Burns (2-0) left after pitching seven strong innings, allowing six hits. The Zephyrs quickly put reliever Chris Smith in trouble in the eighth.

 

Coghlan and Sanchez singled, and Smith hit John Lindsey with a pitch. After Smith got behind Michael Ryan 2-0, pitching coach Chris Bosio went to the mound.

 

"I said: 'Make a pitch,' " Bosio said. " 'Try to get a ground ball. You can't walk this guy. If you get a come-backer, throw home.' He did a great job."

 

On the next pitch, Michael Ryan popped out to first baseman Koshansky in front of the mound. "It was a high changeup, " Ryan said. "It was a pitch I was looking for. I just missed it."

 

Then, Mayorson grounded into a double play started by third baseman Gamel. Smith pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to wrap up his second save.

 

"You just have to put it behind you," Ryan said. "A team can't become discouraged by a series in April. This team is good enough to go into Round Rock and not let it affect us."

[Mass Haas]

Final: Carolina (Reds) 12, Huntsville 3

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Carolina Crunches Stars in Series Starter

Buck and Big Innings Down Huntsville

By Brett Pollock / MILB.com

Dallas Buck tossed six solid innings and Logan Parker and Juan Francisco each drove in three runs to power Carolina past Huntsville 12-3 Monday night in the opener of a five-game set at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, NC. The Mudcats snapped a four-game slide to improve to 5-6 and win their home opener, while the Stars dipped to 5-6 with a second straight loss.

 

Adam Stern doubled in Yohannis Perez to get the scoring started in the third but the lead was short lived, as the home side rallied for four in the bottom of the frame. Buck reached on a Perez throwing error and Kevin Melillo followed by making a throwing error on a Chris Heisey ground ball trying to cut Buck down at second base. Zack Cozart singled in Buck to tie the game and move Heisey to second base before Todd Frazier drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Parker then tripled off the top of the wall in left field to clear the bases and give the Mudcats a 4-1 lead. Stars' starter Jeremy Jeffress was charged with all four runs, although all four were unearned. He lasted four innings, allowing three hits, walking three and fanning four in suffering his first loss of the year.

 

Buck scattered seven hits, walked two and struck out four to earn his second win. He was aided by two double play ground balls, including one off the bat of Vinny Rottino with the bases loaded and one out to end the third. Carolina would go on to turn three more ground ball double plays behind Ramon Geronimo and Ruben Medina, who gave up single tallies in the eighth and ninth innings.

 

Omar Aguilar gave up a two-run pinch-hit double to Shaun Cumberland in the sixth and was removed with two runners on and two out and replaced by Josh Wahpepah, who gave up a three-run clout to Juan Francisco that made it 9-1. Sean Henry swatted his first home run, a two-run shot, in the seventh to account for the final runs for the home side. Wahpepah had thrown eight scoreless innings over four outings before being roughed up for four runs.

 

The series continues Tuesday night with Stars' southpaw Chris Cody taking the hill against Mudcats' southpaw Travis Wood. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

Kevin Melillo (1.087 OPS) has reached in nine of his lst 13 plate appearances; Lorenzo Cain 0-for-4, 1 K, in his 2009 debut; it's not happening right now for Chris Errecart, while Yohannis Perez inexplicably remains hot, although he committed his first two errors in this one; it'll be nice when Omar Aguilar settles back in to a late-inning role...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's starsboxscore.com

 

Errors figure in Stars loss

Huntsville also hits into 5 DPs

 

Lorenzo Cain is back....... He was activated off the disabled list Monday, but went 0-for-4....... The whole game was out of control for the Stars, who couldn't make up for the five DPs they hit into (Cain hit into one of them), and the four errors in the field which resulted in seven unearned runs....... Only twice in the last seven seasons had the Stars hit into five DPs. It occurred only last year on May 27 in a 3-0 victory at Mobile. Before that, it happened on April 7, 2001 in a 3-2 loss at Orlando.

 

Hard-luck loser Jeremy Jeffress lowered his ERA to 2.45, but two of the errors which resulted in four unearned runs, reversed his 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning....... In his three starts, five of the eight runs he's allowed have been unearned.

 

Adam Stern doubled in Yohannis Perez to get things started, but the Mudcats, now the Reds' new Double-A farm club, got a one-out break in the form of a throwing error by Perez. Then came another throwing error, this time by Kevin Melillo on a force attempt at second....... Carolina didn't waste their opportunity. Zack Cozart singled to left on a 3-1 pitch, scoring Dallas Buck. After Juan Francisco struck out for the second out, Jeffress walked Todd Frazier to load the bases for Logan Parker, who lined a triple to center, clearing the bases.......

 

The Mudcats went wild again in the 6th, scoring five more to make it 9-1 thanks to a two-run pinch-hit double by Shaun Cumberland and a three-run HR by Francisco....... Josh "The Little Drummer Boy" Wahpepah-pah, who gave up Francisco's HR, also gave up a two-run HR to Sean Henry in the 7th. Wahpepah had come into the game unscored upon in eight innings over four appearances. These were the first two HRs he has given up as a Huntsville Star.

 

Tuesday, Chris Cody, who struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings in his last start, will face southpaw Travis Wood. Wood has given up just two runs, one unearned, in nine innings over his last two starts. Wood has an outstanding changeup according to Baseball America, who ranked him 21st among the Reds' best prospects in 2008, but he is unranked this year. He's lost some off his fastball since being drafted in 2005. Now it's just on the fringe in effectiveness..... Carolina showed some power to center and the alleys in this game, while the Stars hit the ball on the ground. They did spray their hits across the outfield, however, while Carolina showed a propensity to pull the ball.

 

Adam Stern raised his average to .302 with a two-hit day. He is hitting over .400 with the bases empty..... Yohannis Perez picked up two hits, raising his average to .406 -- 3rd best in the SL. Perez has hit safely in eight of the ten games he has played and has struck out only four times in 32 at-bats.......Kevin Melillo, was the only other player with a multi-hit game. His three hits raises his average to .387 -- 6th in the league...... The Stars are now hitting .238 -- 8th in the league...... Jeffress walked three, putting him in the lead among Southern League pitchers with 10...... Chris Errecart is 1-for-18 in his last six games.

 

Mat Gamel hit his 4th home run of the season in Nashville's 4-2 win over New Orleans. Brevard County and Wisconsin were off tonight. Gamel also has five errors in ten games.

[Mass Haas]

You'll see several Stars, especially Yohannis Perez, within this photo gallery from Raleigh's media coverage.