Link Report for Sun. 5/17 -- Scarpetta Featured at MiLB.com

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday'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 Mike Burns at home vs. Las Vegas (Blue Jays), 1:45 PM pre-game; 2:00 gametime

 

Huntsville: RHP Jeremy Jeffress at Mobile (Diamondbacks), 1:50 PM pre-game; 2:05 PM gametime

 

Brevard County: TBD (probably RHP Josh Butler) at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 6:05 PM gametime

 

Wisconsin: RHP Cody Scarpetta and LHP Daniel Meadows in a twinbill at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 12:50 PM pre-game, 1:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday'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_05_17_lvgaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_05_17_hunaax_mobaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2009_05_17_tbyafa_breafa_1

 

Wisconsin Game One:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_05_17_cliafx_wisafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572

 

Wisconsin Game Two:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_05_17_cliafx_wisafx_2&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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 21 16 .568 - 10-10 11-6 W2 Memphis 19 15 .559 0.5 11-7 8-8 W1 Iowa 19 16 .543 1.0 10-6 9-10 L2 Omaha 18 18 .500 2.5 8-8 10-10 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 16 15 .516 - 6-10 10-5 W1 Tennessee 16 15 .516 - 7-7 9-8 L1 Chattanooga 15 19 .441 2.5 7-8 8-11 W3 Carolina 14 21 .400 4.0 7-9 7-12 W1 West Tenn 13 20 .394 4.0 5-9 8-11 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 23 11 .676 - 10-5 13-6 L1 Clearwater 19 16 .543 4.5 8-11 11-5 W1 Daytona 17 18 .486 6.5 8-9 9-9 L1 Lakeland 15 18 .455 7.5 10-9 5-9 W1 Tampa 15 20 .429 8.5 7-11 8-9 L1 Dunedin 14 20 .412 9.0 4-11 10-9 W1 

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog:

 

May 17, 2009 Game Notes

 

May 17, 2009: Starting Pitchers (Scarpetta / Meadows)

 

May 17, 2009: Starting Lineup (Game One)

[battlekow]

Another rough start from Jeffress, but at least he hasn't completely collapsed yet. 67 pitches through 3 innings.

[battlekow]

Great work from Scarpetta, except for the walks; the no hits and six strikeouts speak to his great stuff. Good to see Chris Dennis get off to a good start with a double and a walk.

[battlekow]

Sigh. Wheels came off for JJ in the 5th. It looked on Gameday like he got squeezed on a couple calls, but jeez, plenty were head-high, too.

[marty22]

scarpetta had 2 HBP and 1 WP too. weird outing

[DHonks]

Salome up into the .240s now. Might be .270s by June 1st.

 

As for Jeffress, if they're in a rain delay, he may have been dealing with weather all game.

[battlekow]

As for Jeffress, if they're in a rain delay, he may have been dealing with weather all game.

Uh yeah, he's been dealing with weather a lot lately.

[TheCrew07]

As uninspiring as his pitching lines have been, at least young JJ is hitting, always take something positive! No Lucroy today either...

 

Salome actually had 3 hits, he's coming on folks... Escobar with another 2B, where have they been all season young man? Irribarren and Gwynn have nearly identical BAs, take a guess who has the better SLG? On an OBP note Gwynn has been taking quite a few walks this season, his ratios have greatly improved, maybe there is a job out there for him someplace. Gillespie hitless today but he's coming around.

 

There is nothing pretty about any Brewer's lines thus far this season, I was hoping his success over the winter would have translated better especially with his placement back in A+. Wilson has more HRs than 2Bs, if he had a usual type line with 5 or 6 doubles to go with his 3 HRs he'd have a very respectable OPS. Wheeler's AVE is in a free fall and Gindl hitless in his first AB, BC could use both those guys heating up again. Bulter has made solid improvement with each successive start, his peripherals continue to improve.

 

In game 2 at WI Meadows pitched better than his line would suggest, a bunt base hit and a sacrifice bunt to start the game against hin led to a run and a single followed by a triple led to the 2 runs in the 3rd. Duran, Green, Kemp, and Zarraga all with multi hit games thus far. BK in LF of all places sees his AVE dip under .220. I had hopes he'd turn into a good 1B prospect, he's got plenty of time to turn his season around.

 

In game 1 Dennis with another hit, in fact 7 of the 9 players tallied a hit, Miller with 3. I'm pretty happy with the Dennis promotion, I was hoping he'd start the season in WI. I'm interested to see what Duran will do this season.

[Mass Haas]

All that analysis above and no mention of Mike Burns? What does a guy have to do? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

Final: Nashville 5, Las Vegas (Blue Jays) 1

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

 

Sounds Stay Hot, Defeat 51s 5-1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds stayed red-hot on Sunday afternoon at historic Greer Stadium, picking up their seventh win in the last eight games with a 5-1 victory over the visiting Las Vegas 51s.

Sounds starter Mike Burns (6-0) worked his seventh consecutive quality start and pulled into a tie with teammate Tim Dillard for the PCL lead by earning his sixth victory of the season. The right-hander allowed one run on six hits over 6 2/3 innings of work to lower his team-best ERA to 2.15 on the year.

The visiting 51s jumped on the scoreboard first, grabbing a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on shortstop Angel Sanchez's two-out RBI single.

Nashville rallied to take a 2-1 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth off 51s hurler Brad Mills. Alcides Escobar (2-for-4) tied the contest with a two-out, bases-loaded infield single before the Sounds moved in front when Mills committed a balk, allowing Jason Bourgeois to trot home from third.

The Sounds tacked on three more runs against 51s reliever Bryan Bullington in the seventh to up the lead to 5-1. Tony Gwynn reached on a one-out single then scored from first on an ensuing play. Las Vegas catcher Kyle Phillips committed a passed ball then overthrew second, allowing Gwynn to reach third. Center fielder Buck Coats also committed a throwing error on the play, allowing the speedy outfielder to score for a 3-1 lead.

Sounds designated hitter Brendan Katin padded the lead later in the frame with a two-run homer to left-center, his second longball of the year. Adam Heether, who preceded Katin with a double, also scored on the blast.

The Nashville bullpen continued its recent run of success as R.J. Swindle followed Burns with 1 1/3 scoreless frames before Ryan Houston closed out the contest with a scoreless ninth for the Sounds.

Mills (0-5) remained winless on the year for Las Vegas, taking his fifth loss despite a quality start. The southpaw allowed two runs on five hits while striking out seven in his six frames of action.

The teams continue the series with a 6:00 PM meeting on Monday evening. Nashville left-hander Chase Wright (2-4, 4.74) will toe the rubber to face Las Vegas southpaw Ricky Romero, who will make his first appearance of the year for the 51s.

 

Nashville Box Score

Brendan Katin with only his 2nd blast in 109 AB's on the season; Katin was in there only because DH Erick Almonte was tossed by the home plate umpire in the 2nd; Jason Bourgeois a .912 OPS in May; what a bust former # 1 overall pick Brian Bullington has become -- an ineffective AAA middle reliever, that's a Pirates issue, not his current Blue Jays; 29-year-old RHP Ryan Houston still with a 0.00 ERA after eight appearances...

 

Nashville Game Log

At some point in '09, R.J. Swindle is going to be a key member of the Brewer bullpen, hopefully sooner rather than later...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Mobile (Diamondbacks) 5, Huntsville 1, completed early, five innings, rain

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary

 

Stars Offense Slowed Down in Defeat

BayBears Bring Losing Skid to an End

Brett Pollock, MiLB.com

Cyle Hankerd knocked in four runs to back the solid pitching of Wes Roemer in Mobile's 5-1 rain-shortened five inning win over Huntsville Sunday afternoon. The BayBears snapped a six-game slide to improve to 20-17, while the Stars fell to 16-16 after losing for a fourth time in five games. Huntsville will not lose any ground in the standings, as Tennessee lost at Chattanooga, meaning the Stars and Smokies remained tied atop the North Division.

 

Mobile scored the first run in the second inning on a ground ball out by Sean Coughlin that chased home Hankerd, who had singled, moved up on a ground ball out and advanced to third base on a Pete Clifford single. The BayBears tacked on two more in the third with two outs when Hankerd singled in Evan Frey and James Skelton, who had pulled off a double steal during the prior at-bat with Ricardo Sosa at the plate.

 

Meanwhile, Roemer kept the Stars hitless through three innings before Shane Justis doubled to lead off the fourth but did not advance as the next three hitters were retired. J.R. Hopf led off the fifth with a double and scored on a two-out single by Stars' starter Jeremy Jeffress that cut the lead to 3-1.

 

Jeffress issued three walks in the bottom half of the inning and was removed with the bases loaded and one out and followed by Josh Wahpepah, who was greeted by a Hankerd double that knocked in a pair to push the lead to 5-1. Wahpepah then fanned Chris Rahl and got Clifford to pop out to end the inning with runners at second and third.

 

Jeffress was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on three hits, while walking a season-high six and fanning three. He dropped to 1-3 and issued at least five walks for a fifth time in eight turns. Roemer earned his first double-A win in his second start, yielding a run on three hits, walking one and recording one strikeout in five frames. The Stars had posted a dozen runs on 18 hits in the series opener last night.

 

The series continues Monday night with southpaw Bobby Bramhall getting the starting nod for Huntsville against BayBears' Jarrod Parker. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

29-26-27-27-29-26-24-26 -- AA starting lineup ages, with OF Freddy Parejo the youngest; only 49 of 97 pitches strikes for Jeremy Jeffress; 33 walks in 27.1 IP this season for Jeffress -- that is sad (kindest adjective I can come up with), Jeremy walked "only" 52 in 94 innings last year...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[TheCrew07]

All that analysis above and no mention of Mike Burns? What does a guy have to do? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

I'm hateful. I just don't like any of the starters at Nashville as anything other than depth or BP options at the big league level, plus I tend to stick to prospects, I don't have much to say about Huntsville's position players either...

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: Wisconsin 7, Clinton (Mariners) 0

Wisconsin Site Game Summary

 

Near miss on Rattler no-no

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Cody Scarpetta pitched five no-hit innings to pick up the victory in game one of a doubleheader against the Clinton LumberKings on Sunday afternoon. Clinton got a two-out double in the sixth inning for their only hit of the game in a 7-0 Rattler win at Time Warner Cable Field. Erik Miller led the Rattler offense with three hits and three RBI.

 

Wisconsin (14-21) put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the lead. The Rattlers loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. Miller drove all three runners in with a double to left-center.

 

Scarpetta worked around his fourth walk and his second hit batsman with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning to keep the LumberKings (20-15) off the board. He struck out the final two batters he faced in the fifth to keep the Rattler lead at 3-0.

 

Scarpetta walked four, hit two, and struck out six for his first Timber Rattler win.

 

Reliever Nick Tyson retired the first two batters he faced in the top of the sixth, but a double by Kris Sanchez ended the no-hit bid for Wisconsin.

 

The Rattlers offense plated a few more runs in the bottom of the sixth. They loaded the bases against Greg Moviel on a walk, a double, and a single. From there, the Wisconsin scored a run on a balk. Two more scored on a fielder's choice and error on the same play. The final run of the inning scored on a wild pitch for a 7-0 lead.

 

Tyson pitched a scoreless seventh inning to close out the LumberKings.

 

Wisconsin Game One Box Score

Lumberkings second baseman Luis Nunez was the target of all three Rattler HBP's; Taylor Green and Chris Dennis' lefty bats more than welcome, as catcher Sean McCraw and switch-hitting Michael Marseco the only others...

 

Wisconsin Game One Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game Two: Wisconsin 8, Clinton (Mariners) 3

Wisconsin Site Game Summary

 

Wisconsin keeps Meadows perfect

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Wisconsin Timber Rattler pitcher Daniel Meadows has run his record to 6-0. The Timber Rattler offense broke a 3-3 tie with the Clinton LumberKings by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Brett Lawrie and Shawn Zarraga each drove in two runs for the Rattlers and the win gave the Wisconsin a doubleheader sweep of the LumberKings.

 

Clinton (20-16) scored a run off Meadows in the top of the first. Maximo Mendez dropped a bunt single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. An infield single moved Mendez to second and a fielder's choice allowed him to score.

 

Wisconsin (15-21) answered back right away in the bottom of the first. Michael Marseco drew a walk and Jose Duran tripled home Marseco to tie the game. Lawrie's RBI grounder knocked in Duran for a 2-1 lead.

 

An RBI single by Zarraga in the second inning put the Rattlers up 3-1.

 

But, the LumberKings tied the game in the top of the third. Martinez started the inning with another bunt single. An RBI triple by Terry Serrano and an RBI single by Kris Sanchez made the score 3-3.

 

Meadows left the game after a scoreless top of the fifth inning. He allowed three runs on six hits, did not walk a batter, and struck out four.

But, he needed the offense to score in the fifth to put him in position for his league-leading sixth win of the season.

 

The Rattlers did that and more as they scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Duran and Taylor Green started the inning with singles. Lawrie drove in Duran with the go-ahead run on a single. Later in the frame, Chris Dennis knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly. Back-to-back RBI singles by Zarraga and Erik Miller put the Rattlers up 7-3.

 

In the sixth, Duran and Green had back-to-back doubles to push the Rattler lead to 8-3.

 

Rigoberto Almonte and Jim Henderson each worked a scoreless frame out of the Rattler bullpen to close out the game and give the Rattlers a three-game winning streak.

 

Game four of the series against Clinton continues on Monday afternoon. Efrain Nieves (1-2, 5.02) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Walter Suriel (0-3, 5.09) is slated to start for the LumberKings. Game time is 12:05 PM.

 

Wisconsin Game Two Box Score

Jose Duran a home run shy of a cycle -- he was a 6th round pick who was hampered by injury last year, looks like he's ready to rock -- Duran played third base here; CF Erik Miller seems to find a way to contribute most every game; big 21-year-old lefty Daniel Meadows with a 25-to-8 K-to-BB ratio in 25.2 innings with a .185 batting average against -- that's how you earn a rotation spot and catch the eye of the higher-ups as a 49th round pick; so far, so good for the roster maneuvers...

 

Wisconsin Game Two Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 1, Tampa (Yankees) 0

Brevard County Box Score

If you watched the Brewer pre-game today, you saw Doug Melvin give RHP Josh Butler a positive mention -- he pitched seven scoreless here, allowing three hits and three walks; normally a ground ball machine, Butler got 11 fly ball outs in this one on a night when a strong wind blew in from the always cavernous left field at Space Coast; RHP's Roque Mercedes and Rob Wooten both automatic as usual to close things out; Manatees 1-for-12 with RISP (Lee Haydel's double in the 4th); Zelous Wheeler reached three times -- his 24 walks easily pace the team, and he too, earned a Doug Melvin shout-out...

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Scarpetta making up for lost time

Brewers prospect goes five hitless innings for first win

By Mason Kelley / Special to MLB.com

 

Get the ball and go. That's the simplest way to explain the adjustment Cody Scarpetta made after a rough start at Quad Cities in late April.

 

Since then, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound right-hander has seen an improvement each time he has taken the mound. Making his sixth start of the season Sunday, Scarpetta struck out six over five no-hit innings as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers blanked the Clinton LumberKings, 7-0, in the first game of a doubleheader.

 

But even though the 20-year-old is pleased to pick up his first win, he insists there is plenty to work on.

 

"I'm building off last year," Scarpetta said. "I'm improving, but I've still got a ways to go. I can see myself getting better, I've just got to have a little more time."

 

Time is something the 2007 11th-round pick should get, especially considering his debut season got off to a late start last year. After twice needing surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in the middle finger of his right hand, he spent most of the summer rehabbing at extended spring training.

 

He didn't make his first professional start until July and finished the year 2-0 with a 2.23 ERA over 12 appearances between the Rookie-level Arizona League Brewers and short-season Helena in the Pioneer League.

 

"Ever since then, I haven't looked back," Scarpetta said. "I can't pitch and think about what's going to happen. Every time you step on the mound, you're risking something happening. I just go out there and try to execute as many pitches as I can and see where that takes me."

 

Before Sunday, his best start was a six-inning, three-hit outing on April 22, but he followed that by retiring only two batters and giving up five earned runs on April 27.

 

That prompted some extra sessions with pitching coach Chris Hook, who encouraged him to work faster.

 

"I'm not thinking as much," Scarpetta said. "I just get the ball and go. That's a big key to what I've been doing here."

 

Against the LumberKings, he offset his fastball with a solid changeup and mixed in the occasional curve. He set the tone with back-to-back strikeouts to end the first innings, and his defense took over from there.

 

"I'm pretty happy with it," Scarpetta said. "I struggled a little bit with my command, but my defense played very well behind me. I thought I made some pitches when I needed them. It turned out to be all right."

 

The key for Scarpetta is to build on this performance.

 

"I'm just going to take it from start-to-start," he said. "I feel like my confidence is getting back up and I feel like I can keep building on it."

It all starts with his pace when he pitches. Get the ball and go.

 

Cody Scarpetta's debut season was interrupted by a pair of finger surgeries. (Photo by Paul R. Gierhart/MiLB.com)

 

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/images/2009/05/17/LmKCy7yb.jpg

[twobrewers]

Wooten just doing his work again. Another save with two more strikeouts.

 

Jeffress...*sigh*...

 

I love how Gillespie has struggled in Nashville and still is putting up around a .345 OBP. Taking walks can really keep a player productive during long slumps.

 

Another nice outing from Butler as well.

 

Can anyone comment on Lawrie's speed/base stealing ability? I see he already has 11 stolen bases. Does he actually project as a threat in the major leagues? Or is he just picking on low A catchers?

[battlekow]

Interesting that Scarpetta was featuring the changeup as his second pitch and only occasionally throwing his curve; sounds like a mandate from above to me. With an average changeup, he could be great.

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's starsboxscore.com

 

Weather follows Stars to Mobile

Rain wins for 8th time in 18 games

 

Jeremy Jeffress, with two out and a 1-0 count, lined a single to left scoring J.R. Hopf, who led off the 5th inning with a double to right, making it a 3-1 game, but the wind was kicking up and it seemed improbable that the threat of rain, which already had started falling in the bottom of the 4th, would go away. In fact, it became relentless as Peter Clifford popped out to Yohannis Perez to end the 5th. By then, Mobile had gone ahead, 5-1. The field became unplayable and home ump Booter West finally called it...... It's the 4th loss in five games for the Stars, who had been rained out an unprecedented seven times in 15 days, a total loss of nine games in the rainiest May in Stars history.

 

Cyle Hankerd, 8th among Southern League batting leaders at .339, accounted in one way or another to all five of Mobile's runs.... Leading Mobile with three hits and four RBIs, he singled on a ball deflected by Jeffress in the 2nd inning and eventually scored. In the 3rd, a double steal set Hankerd up to drive in two with a single to center, and in the 5th, he drove in two more with a one-out double to center...... Hankerd is hitting .333 in seven games against the Stars (Huntsville opened the season at home against Mobile) and has driven in seven runs.

 

Jeffress failed to go five innings for the 7th time in eight starts, despite throwing a season-high 97 pitches. His six walks gives him a league-high 33 in 27 1/3 innings. He has struck out 34....... Two of the players Jeffress walked eventually scored...... Looking back over the 33 he walked, 13 eventually scored (39%) -- that's an ERA of 4.28. He's now walked at least five batters in four straight games.

 

Monday, Bobby Bramhall will climb the hill for the Stars to face Jarrod Parker (1-2), who has a 2.93 ERA in his May starts...... Bramhall is goming off a fine start, although he did not receive the decision, giving up just one unearned run in six innings against Chattanooga. That after giving up ten runs in six innings over two starts. Does he have it in him again against the second best team (20-17) in the league?

 

Josh Wahpepah, returning from rookie-level Helena (Pioneer), made his first appearance for the Stars in ten days. The Pioneer League season, of course, doesn't start till June 23, so it was more of a temporary reassignment to make room for Juan Sandoval. To make room for Wahpepah, Adam Heether was promoted to Nashville..... The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have activated 3rd baseman Taylor Green off the disabled list. Green, before an injury sidelined him, was a leading candidate to succeed Mat Gamel at third this year...... Gamel, incidentally, had eight errors in 33 games at Nashville. It was May 5 of last year with the Stars when Gamel committed his 9th...... The Stars are hitting .299 for the month of May, and .280 with runners in scoring position, tying Birmingham who has more hits. Yet the Stars are 6-5 this month. The starting and bullpen breakdown for the Stars this month explains it all:

 

		ERA	IP	HITS	R	ER	BB	SO
STARTERS		5.60	53	46	36	33	30	44
BULLPEN		2.72	43	37	17	13	19	41

Robert Hinton, pitching his best ever baseball as a Huntsville Star, has thrown scoreless relief in his last ten appearances covering 12 1/3 innings. In that span, he's given up just six hits, walked eight and struck out 12....... Donovan Hand, whose best month last year was the August stretch when he had a 4.90 ERA, has a 2.52 ERA in 25 innings and has a string of five scoreless frames in relief....... Michael McClendon, despite pitching solely in relief, has the 4th best ERA in the Southern League (1.75) and has given up two or more runs in just two of his 12 appearances...... Casey Baron has kept an ERA under 2.00 for most of the season. It has never risen above 2.57, which is where it sat when he came into an April 27 game against the Lookouts. He's thrown scoreless relief in his last four appearances........ What this team truly lacks though is a closer. The Stars have nine saves --- and seven blown saves. Middle reliever Hinton leads the bullpen with three saves. Derrick Ellison, Hand, Omar Aguilar, and Sandoval have all saved games for the Stars, and blown four...... In his 9th inning appearances, Aguilar has a 19.64 ERA. Hinton has walked 12 in the 8th and 9th innings combined. To his credit, he's also struck out 19. In the 8th, 9th, and extra innings, the Stars bullpen has a 3.53 ERA, which is, as you see, almost a run higher than the team's May average. The strikeout-walk ratio is 1.54 in the late innings.

 

Future Huntsville Star Cody Scarpetta pitched five no-hit innings and with reliever Nick Tyson, held the Clinton Lumber Kings to just one hit in a 7-0, seven-inning victory in the first game of a double-header at Fox Cities Stadium in a Midwest League contest, Sunday. Erik Miller went 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

 

As for some former Stars.... Mike Jones is 4-0 with a 4.06 ERA in seven starts for Brevard County..... Guilder Rodriguez is hitting .280 in 23 games for the Class AA- Frisco (Texas) Roughriders - the Rangers' AA farm club...... Joe Bateman has been signed by the Tampa Bay Rays and is unscored upon in 3 1/3 innings at Class AAA-Durham (IL)..... Chris Errecart is hitting .261 since being sent down to Brevard County on May 2.