Link Report for Fri. 5/28 -- Heether Goes "Way Out There, Way Back There"

[1e Corbeau]

Total speculation, but, like jackalope wrote above, I'm guessing he gets bumped to Milwaukee since his out clause is tomorrow. Pulling at 59 pitches means he's still available to throw Sunday out of the pen in a pinch. They'll probably send Estrada to Nashville after the game tomorrow.

 

Coach wrote that Salome is back in Huntsville tomorrow, so maybe there's hope for a DFA (Suppan, Vargas), which might make Salome's return easier to plug. (I'm not sure what Huntsville's roster situation is, numbers-wise.) Something like Cappy to MIL, Gamel/Cain/Kintzler to NSH, Salome to HUN.

 

Edit: Thanks for the info on the first delay. I noticed there was another for Micah Hoffpauir getting tossed, too. What's odd is that Dillard pinch hit for Cappy. That's an argument for moving a bat to NSH.

[TheCrew07]

The rain delay was only 18 minutes, and between the first and second innings, I'm not sure that's our answer at this point.

[BrewCrewForever]

Total speculation, but, like jackalope wrote above, I'm guessing he gets bumped to Milwaukee since his out clause is tomorrow. Pulling at 59 pitches means he's still available to throw Sunday out of the pen in a pinch. They'll probably send Estrada to Nashville after the game tomorrow.

 

Coach wrote that Salome is back in Huntsville tomorrow, so maybe there's hope for a DFA (Suppan, Vargas), which might make Salome's return easier to plug. (I'm not sure what Huntsville's roster situation is, numbers-wise.) Something like Cappy to MIL, Gamel/Cain/Kintzler to NSH, Salome to HUN.

 

Edit: Thanks for the info on the first delay. I noticed there was another for Micah Hoffpauir getting tossed, too. What's odd is that Dillard pinch hit for Cappy. That's an argument for moving a bat to NSH.

This would all be fantastic news. As far as I am concerned anyway.

[juancastillo3]

Wow, Daniel Osterbrock owns the Brewers this year. He no-hit Wisconsin earlier in the year and combined on a one-hitter against Brevard tonight.

 

Any chance Cappy would go on three days rest and take Bush's spot in the rotation, thus the low pitch count? I'm just trying to stay optomistic and hoping it's not an injury.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Fort Myers (Twins) 6, Brevard County 0

 

Brevard County Box Score

I know I've been more bearish on Scarpetta than most, and in his defense I never saw him dominate a game last year when I was in attendance. Tonight was petty much par for the course for Cody as he falls victim to the big inning once again, cruising along until the 5th when the wheels came off. Offensively BC only managed a single hit by who else but Matt Cline. Osterbrock was the pitcher for Fort Myers, he's the pitcher who no hit the T-Rats earlier in the season, but had been struggling a bit in the FSL until tonight.

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

Scarpetta's 5th Inning.

Fort Myers Top 5th

• Jonathan Goncalves reaches on throwing error by shortstop Josh Prince.
  
• Joe Benson flies out to right fielder Erik Komatsu.
  
• With Estarlin De Los Santos batting, Jonathan Goncalves steals (2) 2nd base.
  
• With Estarlin De Los Santos batting, wild pitch by Cody Scarpetta, Jonathan Goncalves to 3rd.
  
• Estarlin De Los Santos walks.
  
• With Chris Parmelee batting, Estarlin De Los Santos steals (4) 2nd base.
  
• Chris Parmelee walks.
  
• Deibinson Romero singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kentrail Davis. Jonathan Goncalves scores. Estarlin De Los Santos scores. Chris Parmelee to 2nd.
  
• Pitcher Change: R. J. Seidel replaces Cody Scarpetta.
  
• Chris Herrmann grounds out, first baseman Sean Halton to pitcher R. J. Seidel. Chris Parmelee to 3rd. Deibinson Romero to 2nd.
  
• Evan Bigley reaches on fielding error by left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Chris Parmelee scores. Deibinson Romero scores. Evan Bigley to 2nd.
  
• Brian Dozier pops out to first baseman Sean Halton in foul territory.

[TheCrew07]

BC game summary from the Twins perspective...

 

Miracle Win Big As Osterbrock Gets First Victory

By Alex Margulies

 

VIERA, FL (May 28, 2010) - After a disappointing 4-3 loss on Thursday

night in the series opener against the Manatees, the Miracle pitching

staff was impressive on Friday - limiting Brevard County to just one

hit in 6-0 shutout victory. In his fifth start with the Miracle, Dan

Osterbrock (1-4) finally broke through with a win, as he allowed just a

first-inning single to Matt Cline. The lefty lasted two outs into the

seventh inning before passing things off to Jose Gonzalez. The

20-year-old was lights out - retiring the final seven batters in order

- including four strikeouts.

After both teams went scoreless through the first four innings of

play, the Miracle broke through with four runs in the fifth. Jhonathan

Goncalves started things off by reaching on a throwing error by

shortstop Josh Price, with Brevard County starter Cody Scarpetta

proceeding to load the bases with two one-out walks. Deibinson Romero

then smoked a line-drive up the middle to score the first two runs.

After a groundout by Chris Herrmann, Evan Bigley hit a ball to the

left-field wall that was ruled an error to bring home the final two

runs of the inning.

 

The score stayed the same until the Miracle tacked on two more

runs in the eighth against Manatees reliever Evan Frederickson. The

left-hander gave up three hits and two walks before exiting without

recording an out. Jhonathan Goncavles singled in a run with the bases

loaded before Joe Benson drew a walk to put Fort Myers up 6-0.

Frederickson was then removed, as Lucas Luetge was called in to clean

up the mess. He did an excellent job, getting Estarlin De Los Santos to

pop-out, and then induced an inning-ending double-play against Chris

Parmelee.

 

Tonight's win was the second time the Miracle have tossed a

one-hit shutout, the first coming back on April 29th with Kyle Gibson

throwing a complete-game.

 

With the series tied at one, the Miracle (20-28) look to at

least split the series with Brevard County (17-31) starting Saturday

night. RHP Adrian Salcedo (1-1, 6.00) will take the mound with the

first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. from Space Coast Stadium.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Cedar Rapids (Angels) 3, Wisconsin 2

 

Wisconsin Box Score

The T-Rats drop a heart breaker as the incredibly steady Andre Lamontange coughs up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th after the T-Rats just scored the go ahead run in the top of the 8th. As noted above Nick Bucci managed to pull his usual Houdini act, Caled Thielbar picked him up in the 6th stranding both inherited runners on a great play by Michael Marseco. Bucci actually lowers his ERA as the only run he gave up was unearned, it's now a ridiculous 1.59 on the season. Not a single multi hit game on the offensive side of things, though Kris Davis and Chris Dennis both doubled.

 

Wisconsin Game Log

Mike Trout is really a pain in the rear, but he bailed out Bucci in the 3rd.

 

Cedar Rapids Bottom 3rd

• Mike Trout doubles (8) on a line drive to right fielder Erik Miller.
• Matt Long out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Nicholas Bucci to first baseman Chris Dennis. Mike Trout to 3rd.
• Mike Trout out at home, catcher Cameron Garfield to pitcher Nicholas Bucci.
• Jean Segura flies out to right fielder Erik Miller.

Bucci also gave up a triple in the 4th and escaped without giving up a run.

 

Cedar Rapids Bottom 4th

• Casey Haerther grounds out, pitcher Nicholas Bucci to first baseman Chris Dennis.
• Luis Jimenez triples (5) on a fly ball to left fielder Peter Fatse.
• Justin Bass lines out to shortstop Michael Marseco.
• Jeremy Cruz grounds out, second baseman Kyle Dhanani to first baseman Chris Dennis.

The fateful bottom of the 9th. Mike Trout continues to own the T-Rats, Lamontagne hurts himself.

 

Cedar Rapids Bottom 9th

• Jon Karcich walks.
• Mike
  Trout singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Andre Lamontagne. Jon
  Karcich advances to 3rd, on throwing error by pitcher Andre Lamontagne.
  
• With Matt Long batting, Mike Trout steals (24) 2nd base.
• Matt Long strikes out swinging.
• Andre Lamontagne intentionally walks Jean Segura.
• Casey Haerther out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Erik Miller. Jon Karcich scores. Mike Trout to 3rd.
• Luis Jimenez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Erik Miller. Mike Trout scores. Jean Segura to 2nd.

[TheCrew07]

Manatees one-hit in loss to Miracle

Brevard County manages just six base runners

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA - The Manatees managed just one

hit, that came in the first inning, and had just six base runners all

night, as Brevard County was shut out 6-0 by the Fort Myers Miracle on

Friday night at Space Coast Stadium.

 

The game remained scoreless until the fifth, with the Manatees best

chance at a run being in the second inning. With two outs, Shawn

Zarraga walked and Scott Krieger reached on an error, but Juan Sanchez

flew out to right to leave them stranded.

 

With one out and the bases loaded, Miracle third baseman Deibinson

Romero ripped Cody Scarpetta's 1-2 pitch back up the middle to make it

2-0 Fort Myers. R.J. Seidel would relieve Scarpetta and two batters

later with two outs, it looked like the Manatees were going to get out

of the inning on a fly ball by Evan Bigley to Brock Kjeldgaard in left.

But Kjeldgaard dropped the ball and two more runs came around to score.

 

Scarpetta would finish the night going 4 1/3 innings and allowing

four runs (one earned) on three hits. He walked five and struck out

four.

 

The score remained 4-0 into the top of the eighth and Evan

Frederickson relieved Seidel. Frederickson pitched to five batters in

the inning and was unable to record an out as he gave up two runs on

three hits, while walking two.

 

The Manatees committed two errors and had just one runner in scoring

position the whole game. Matt Cline had Brevard County's lone hit.

 

Brevard County and Fort Myers will continue their series on Saturday

night at 7:05 p.m. at Space Coast Stadium. It will be Military

Appreciation Night at the ballpark as we salute our armed forces and

those who support them!

 

There will be a skydiver during the National Anthem and a post-game

fireworks show. AVET Project will be at the stadium collecting

donations for our troops overseas and the players and coaches will be

wearing camouflage jerseys that will be auctioned off.

[TheCrew07]

Stu just reported that Capuano was indeed just called up to Milwaukee. Congratulations Chris on a fantastic recovery beating the longest odds and making it all the way back to MLB.

[TheCrew07]

Adam Heether just joined Corey Hart hitting the 2nd Walk Off home run of the night, picking up the Nashville Bullpen, details coming shortly.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Nashville 6, Iowa (Cubs) 5

 

Nashville Box Score

Let me just start by saying that beating the Cubs at any level makes me extremely happy, especially in this fashion. Down to their last out Ray Olmedo singles and just after Stu says Adam could win the game with one swing, Adam Heether hits the walk off home run. Chris Capuano was excellent prior to his promotion going 4 scoreless giving up 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3. The effort from the bullpen left something to be desired, Tim Dillard gave up 3 runs, David Johnson 2 more. A.J. Murray had Johnson's back in the7th, pitched a scoreless 8th, and Chris Smith blew away the Cubs striking out the side in 9th for the win. Olmedo, Cruz, and Heether all had multi hit games. Cruz doubled and homered, Olmedo doubled, Raburn tripled, and Heether added the game winning home run.

 

Nashville Game Log

It was looking bleak after the Iowa 6th and 7th innings.

 

Iowa Top 6th

• Darwin Barney strikes out swinging.
• Chad Tracy doubles (5) on a fly ball to center fielder Norris Hopper.
• With Jason Dubois batting, wild pitch by Tim Dillard, Chad Tracy to 3rd.
• Jason Dubois singles on a line drive to left fielder Trent Oeltjen. Chad Tracy scores.
• With Bryan LaHair batting, wild pitch by Tim Dillard, Jason Dubois to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Bryan LaHair walks.
• Brad Snyder walks. Jason Dubois to 3rd. Bryan LaHair to 2nd.
• Chris Robinson out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Norris Hopper. Jason Dubois scores. Bryan LaHair to 3rd.
• Matt Camp reaches on fielding error by first baseman Erick Almonte. Bryan LaHair scores. Brad Snyder to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: David Johnson replaces Tim Dillard, batting 9th.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter James Adduci replaces J. R. Mathes.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• James Adduci grounds out, second baseman Ray Olmedo to first baseman Erick Almonte.

Iowa Top 7th

• Sam Fuld walks.
• With Darwin Barney batting, Sam Fuld steals (5) 2nd base.
• Darwin Barney singles on a line drive to left fielder Trent Oeltjen. Sam Fuld to 3rd.
• Chad
  Tracy reaches on a fielder's choice out, first baseman Erick Almonte to
  third baseman Adam Heether to catcher Patrick Arlis. Darwin Barney out
  at 3rd. Chad Tracy to 2nd.
• With Jason Dubois batting, wild pitch by David Johnson, Sam Fuld scores. Chad Tracy to 3rd.
• Jason Dubois walks.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Bryan
  LaHair grounds out, third baseman Adam Heether to first baseman Erick
  Almonte. Chad Tracy scores. Jason Dubois to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: A. J. Murray replaces David Johnson, batting 9th.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Brad Snyder grounds out, second baseman Ray Olmedo to first baseman Erick Almonte.

The game winning rally.

 

Nashville Bottom 9th

• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Joe Koshansky replaces Chris Smith.
• Joe Koshansky strikes out swinging.
• Norris Hopper called out on strikes.
• Ray Olmedo singles on a line drive to left fielder Jason Dubois.
• Adam Heether homers (7) on a line drive to left field. Ray Olmedo scores.

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers get heartbreak in Iowa

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers flirted with disaster all night against the Western

Division leading Cedar Rapids Kernels. It

finally caught up to them in the ninth inning.

Luis Jimenez singled in the winning run to cap a two-run rally in the

bottom of the ninth to give Cedar Rapids a 3-2 win.

 

Wisconsin (18-30) scored first.

Chris Dennis doubled to start the fourth.

A grounder by Cameron Garfield moved Dennis to third.

Pete Fatse knocked in Dennis with a sacrifice fly to left for a 1-0 lead.

 

Rattlers starter Nick Bucci was

in and out of trouble all night. He

stranded a runner at third in the first, second, and fourth innings.

In the third, the Kernels had a runner thrown out at the plate. But,

Bucci could not escape trouble in the sixth.

 

Casey Haerther singled with one

out. An infield single by Jimenez

and a throwing error on the play put runners at the corners.

Justin Bass followed with an RBI single to tie the game.

Bucci got the second out on a grounder, but the runners moved up to

second and third. Caleb Thielbar

relieved Bucci to try for the third out.

 

Carlos Ramirez sent a smash off

Thielbar's glove and the ball trickled past the mound.

But, shortstop Michael Marseco charged, made a bare-handed pickup, and

fired a strike to first to get the final out of the inning to keep the game tied

1-1.

 

Bucci's line on the night was

5-2/3 innings with six hits, four walks, four strikeouts, a wild pitch, and one

unearned run.

 

Cedar Rapids (30-18) threatened

again in the seventh inning. Mike

Trout wound up on third base with one out after two errors on one play.

The Kernels attempted a suicide squeeze, but Matt long fouled off the

bunt attempt. He would eventually

strikeout. Trout was left stranded

at third when Thielbar got a grounder to short to end the inning.

 

Wisconsin went back in front in

the top of the eighth. D'Vontrey

Richardson singled to lead off the inning. Cutter

Dykstra sacrificed him to second base. Davis

lined an 0-2 pitch inside the bag at first for an RBI double and a 2-1 lead.

 

In the eighth, Thielbar got the

first two batters. Then, Cedar

Rapids strung together consecutive singles.

The call went out for Rattlers closer Andre Lamontagne to get the final

out.

 

The runners pulled a double

steal with Ramirez at the plate. But,

Lamontagne got Ramirez to pop out to end the inning.

Through the first eight innings, Cedar Rapids had stranded six runners at

third base and had one runner thrown out at the plate.

 

But, it was different story in

the ninth. Lamontagne walked Jon

Karcich to start the inning. Trout

dropped a bunt for a hit and a wild throw from Lamontagne let Karcich take third

base. Trout would steal second to

get into scoring position. Lamontagne

got a strikeout for the first out of the inning.

Then, an intentional walk was handed out to Jean Segura to load the bases

and set up a double play.

 

 

Haerther foiled the strategy by sending Karcich home and Trout to third with a

sacrifice fly to right. Jimenez

continued to torment the Rattlers as he drove in Trout with single for the

winning run. Jimenenz had three hits

on the night and is 11-for-28 (.392) with 11 RBI in seven games against

Wisconsin this season.

 

The Rattlers and Kernels

continue their series on Saturday night. Maverick

Lasker (2-2, 4.26) is the scheduled starter for the Rattlers.

Cedar Rapids will send Tyler Skaggs (3-2, 2.37) to the hill.

 

Tune in to AM1280, WNAM for the

action. The Miller Lite Pregame Show

starts at 6:15. Game time is 6:35pm

 

WP: David Carpenter (1-2)

LP: Andre Lamontagne (2-2)

 

TIME: 2:50

ATTN: 3,144

[TheCrew07]

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 8, Huntsville 6

 

Stars attempt late comeback, but fall short against Barons

By Connor Shreve

 

The Huntsville Stars trailed the entire way on Friday en-route to an

8-6 loss to the Birmingham Barons at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville.

After splitting the series opening double header on Thursday,

Birmingham leads the five game series two games to one.

 

The visitors

jumped to an early lead with two runs in the first inning. A passed

ball charged to Martin Maldonado allowed the Barons’ Dale Mollenhauer

to second after a leadoff single. Brent Morel and Christian Marerro

followed with back to back RBI base hits scoring Marerro and Jim

Gallagher, who was aboard thanks to a one out walk.

 

Chris Errecart

doubled home Mat Gamel in the second to get Huntsville to within one

run but the Stars best early chances to even the score died on the base

paths. In the third frame, Maldonado and Lorenzo Cain were victimized

by a strike him out, throw him out double play. Second baseman Brett

Lawrie was caught trying to stretch a leadoff double in to three bases

with a perfect relay in the fourth inning.

 

Stars defensive miscues

allowed Birmingham to extend the lead in the sixth inning. Brett Lawrie

was the first to misplay a hard hit grounder with two outs. Lawrie’s

ninth error loaded the bases for Tyler Kuhn, who followed with a two

run double. After an infield single, Stars reliever Donovan Hand threw

a wild pitch past Maldonado that allowed Kuhn to score from third.

 

After

scuffling through the first inning, Huntsville’s starting pitcher Mark

Rogers (2-4, 3.60) completed his night with four innings of no hit

baseball. Rogers tossed five full innings, allowing two runs on five

hits. The Stars nearly bailed out their hurler with a late rally but

after a three run home run by Caleb Gindl in the eighth, momentum

seemed to die and Barons reliever Deunte Heath picked up his first save

of the season.

 

Rogers’ counterpart Brandon Hynick (1-0 2.89)

picked up one out in the sixth before departing. Hynick saw 22 batters,

allowed two runs on five hits and struck out four in picking up his

first win.

 

The penultimate game of the current five game series is

scheduled for a 6:00 pm (CDT) first pitch Saturday night at Joe Davis

Stadium in Huntsville. The contest will feature a fireworks display

following the game, the first Stars fireworks show of the season.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on the Huntsville Stars Radio Network

(AM 1450 FM 92.9 WTKI, Huntsville) and online at www.huntsvillestars.com

 

Notes:

Chris Errecart finished the game 2-3 including a solo home run in the

seventh. Against the Barons this season, Errecart is batting .375

(9-24) with six runs.

 

 

Huntsville Box Score

The Stars rallied almost all the way back, but came up short. Mark Rogers struggled out of the gate, cruised through the 2nd, walked back to back batters in the 3rd but got out of it, then cruised through the rest of the game without a problem. Lots of ground balls again tonight Mark, his final line 5IP, 3H, 2ER, 3BB, 4SO. The Stars were only down 2-1 when Rogers exited the game. Donovan Hand just couldn't get out of it the 6th after a Brett Lawrie error with 2 outs extended the inning, eventually 4 unearned runs would score. Hand then gave up 2 more runs in the 7th before being lifted for Nick Green who pitched 2 scoreless, Jim Henderson stranded Green's base runner in the 9th pitching 2/3 of an inning. Chris Errecart appears to be emerging from his slump, he had the only multi hit game tonight both were for extra bases, a 2B and a HR. Lee Haydel, Brett Lawrie, and Matt Gamel all doubled, Caleb Gindl added a big HR himself, hopefully Caleb gets things turned around now, he had been hitting .097 over his last 10 games prior to that HR.

 

Huntsville Game Log

Mark Rogers' Birmingham 1st.

 

Birmingham Top 1st

• Dale Mollenhauer singles on a ground ball to center fielder Lorenzo Cain.
• With Robert Hudson batting, passed ball by Martin Maldonado, Dale Mollenhauer to 2nd.
• Robert Hudson strikes out swinging.
• Jim Gallagher walks.
• With Brent Morel batting, Dale Mollenhauer steals (5) 3rd base. Jim Gallagher steals (3) 2nd base.
• Brent Morel singles on a ground ball to pitcher Mark Rogers. Dale Mollenhauer scores. Jim Gallagher to 3rd.
• Christian
  Marrero singles on a fly ball to left fielder Lee Haydel. Jim Gallagher
  scores. Brent Morel to 3rd. Christian Marrero out at 2nd, left fielder
  Lee Haydel to third baseman Mat Gamel to second baseman Brett Lawrie.
• Cole Armstrong grounds out, second baseman Brett Lawrie to first baseman Chris Errecart.

The ugly Birmingham 6th.

 

Birmingham Top 6th

• Pitcher Change: Donovan Hand replaces Mark Rogers.
• Jim Gallagher pops out to catcher Martin Maldonado.
• Brent Morel singles on a fly ball to right fielder Caleb Gindl.
• Christian Marrero strikes out swinging.
• Cole Armstrong walks. Brent Morel to 2nd.
• Salvador Sanchez reaches on fielding error by second baseman Brett Lawrie. Brent Morel to 3rd. Cole Armstrong to 2nd.
• Tyler
  Kuhn doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Caleb Gindl. Brent
  Morel scores. Cole Armstrong scores. Salvador Sanchez to 3rd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• John Shelby III singles on a ground ball to shortstop Anderson Machado. Salvador Sanchez scores. Tyler Kuhn to 3rd.
• With Dale Mollenhauer batting, wild pitch by Donovan Hand, Tyler Kuhn scores. John Shelby III to 2nd.
• Dale Mollenhauer walks.
• Robert Hudson walks. John Shelby III to 3rd. Dale Mollenhauer to 2nd.
• Jim Gallagher grounds out, first baseman Chris Errecart to pitcher Donovan Hand.

The Huntsville Rally in the 8th

 

Huntsville Bottom 8th

• Pitcher Change: Joe Torres replaces Henry Mabee.
• Brett Lawrie walks.
• Mat Gamel strikes out swinging.
• Zelous Wheeler walks. Brett Lawrie to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Caleb Gindl homers (4) on a fly ball to right field. Brett Lawrie scores. Zelous Wheeler scores.
• Chris Errecart grounds out, pitcher Joe Torres to first baseman Christian Marrero.
• Anderson Machado walks.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Pitcher Change: Deunte Heath replaces Joe Torres.
• Martin Maldonado flies out to right fielder Jim Gallagher.

[TheCrew07]

Heether Sends 'Em Home Happy In Homestand Opener

Nashville Bests Iowa On Infielder's Walkoff Homer In Bottom Of Ninth

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Third baseman Adam Heether belted a two-out, two-run

homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Nashville Sounds a

dramatic 6-5 victory over the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Friday

evening at historic Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

The game-winning homer, Heether's team-leading seventh longball of

the year, capped a two-out rally against Iowa reliever Brian Schlitter

(0-1), who took the loss following his second blown save of the year.

 

After the first two Sounds batters were retired in the ninth, Ray

Olmedo singled to left to set the table for Heether, who launched a 2-0

Schlitter offering for a walkoff blast over the wall in left-center.

 

With the win, Nashville (27-20) improved its record in

divisional play to 11-4 on the year, the best such mark among the 16

PCL clubs, and notched its ninth last-bat victory of the season.

 

Nashville took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning

against Iowa starter J.R. Mathes. With one out, Johnny Raburn tripled

to left-center. After Patrick Arlis drew a walk, pitcher Chris Capuano

laid down a well-executed squeeze bunt to plate Raburn and reached

first on the play due to a throwing error by Mathes. Norris Hopper

followed with an RBI single to left to double the Sounds' advantage as

Arlis scored in unearned fashion.

 

Sounds shortstop Luis Cruz upped the lead to 3-0 in the third

with a one-out solo homer to left-center, his third roundtripper of the

year.

 

Nashville extended its lead in the fifth when Cruz contributed

his second run-scoring knock of the night, plating Erick Almonte with a

two-out double down the left field line just out of reach of hustling

left fielder Jason Dubois.

 

Capuano made his fourth and final start for Nashville and allowed one

hit over four scoreless innings, striking out three batters while

walking one. The southpaw threw 59 pitches (37 strikes) in the contest.

He will have his contract purchased by Milwaukee tomorrow, returning to

the majors for the first time since 2008.

 

Capuano turned in a solid minor league season, posting a 3-1

record and 1.59 ERA (7er/39.2ip) in seven starts between Advanced-A

Brevard County and Triple-A Nashville. Opponents batted just .209

against him this season (32-for-153); issued only four walks in 39 2/3

innings of work, adding 33 strikeouts. With Nashville, he went 1-1 with

a 1.80 ERA in four starts (5er/25.0ip), including three quality starts.

 

The Cubs rallied to pull within a run at 4-3 with a three-run

rally against Tim Dillard in the sixth. Chad Tracy doubled with one out

and score the first Iowa run when Dubois followed with an RBI single to

left. Chris Robinson added a sacrifice fly later in the inning. The

third Cubs run crossed the plate unearned when Almonte was unable to

handle a Matt Camp grounder at first base.

 

Iowa moved ahead, 5-4, with a pair of runs in the top of the

seventh against reliever David Johnson. Sam Fuld opened the frame with

a walk and scored the tying run later in the inning on a wild pitch.

The I-Cubs took their first lead of the night later in the frame when

Tracy scored on a Bryan LaHair groundout.

 

The Iowa bullpen was on cruise control in the late innings,

retiring 12 of 13 Nashville batters from the sixth through ninth

innings, before Olmedo's late single jump-started the game-winning

rally.

 

Chris Smith (1-1) was the beneficiary of Heether's late heroics

for the Sounds, picking up the victory after striking out the side

around a hit in the top of the ninth.

 

The teams continue the series with a 6:35 p.m. meeting on

Saturday night. Left-hander Chris Waters (4-2, 3.74) will take the hill

for Nashville to face off against Iowa right-hander Thomas Diamond

(3-1, 2.01

[DHonks]

Edit: Thanks for the info on the first delay. I noticed there was another for Micah Hoffpauir getting tossed, too. What's odd is that Dillard pinch hit for Cappy. That's an argument for moving a bat to NSH.

Remember, he was drafted twice by the Brewers as a catcher, so he can swing it a little

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Media Notes:Included this item, bucked a bit back to normalcy by Mark last night --

 

A tale of two pitchers…

 

Tonight’s starter Mark Rogers has been incredibly successful on the road as he’s 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA. But at "The Joe" he’s been a different pitcher…going 0-3 with a 7.94 ERA so far in 2010. Also, he’s 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in day games, but he’s 0-3 with a 5.04 ERA when the game is played at night.

[Mass Haas]

Link Report Bonus:

Enjoy this nostalgic umpiring tale from Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times

[Mass Haas]

Nine unearned runs in the system last night (off ten errors and a passed ball), including critical mistakes that led directly to losses; nine wild pitches; 25 walks allowed -- guess we can thank Adam Heether for salvaging an otherwise pretty ugly night outside of a couple of other individual efforts.

 

I know he's become a punching bag around here, but in Evan Frederickson's last two appearances, he has allowed three base hits, six walks, and retired one batter.

 

On a positive note, LH reliever Lucas Luetge stranded three of Frederickson's runers last night in a no-out situation, and has been quite adept in that rescue role as of late. Luetge stranded three inherited runners his last time out as well, although that was a one-out bailout.

 

Great job filling in last evening by TheCrew07 . See, this is why Jay Leno, unlike Johnny Carson, never allowed a guest host to cover for him. The guest host can do too good a job. Thanks, bro.

[Mass Haas]

I played Stu Paul's call of Adam Heether's game-winning blast on a repetitive loop for a couple of minutes this morining -- it was that much fun.

 

Audio in the "Related Content" section at this link

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Pre-Game Media Notes

Included --

 

NUMBER NINE: That was the ninth blown save by the Rattlers in 2010.

 

ANOTHER ONE? After last night, the Rattlers are now 2-11 in games decided by one run.

 

Sigh, I guess those numbers will be adjusted for Saturday night's notes...

 

***

 

Always more fun when Chris blogs a post-game thought or two....

[Mass Haas]

Link Report Bonus # 2:

 

Manatees broadcaster Stephen C. Smith has a longtime allegiance to the Angels' minor leaguers, as he'll explain. But he provides a nice essay-type blog post on the amateur-waiting-to-be-drafted situation here.

[JohnBriggs12]

Despite the fact that his BA is just .241, I think the Brewers would be better served with Heether as the 25th man on the varsity than Stern or a 13th pitcher. He's developed some real pop in his bat the last couple years and the Brewers really could use a RH bench bat.

[1e Corbeau]

Remember, he was drafted twice by the Brewers as a catcher, so he can swing it a little

 

That had slipped my memory. Dave Bush, Tim Dillard, Justin Lehr... quite a collection of catchers-converted-to-back-end-starters we've had over the years.

 

JB: Regarding Heether, I've been thinking he's candidate three to be DFA'd off the 40-man, after Suppan and Varga. Which might make him #1 if the FO doesn't see the other two as good options to dump. Outside of his Beloit numbers and last year, Heether seems like a run-of-the-mill utility guy that can be had on waivers throughout the year. If he could play short moderately well, I'd probably think differently--but I don't think he can. To each their own (just like Farris)! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[DHonks]

Heether wouldn't be claimed by any team if he were DFA'd. He could be signed to a healthy AAA contract as insurance and wouldn't go elsewhere, as we're probably the only team that would look at him as a 25th man. Although if we still had Rottino, he'd have already logged about 5 innings as a pitcher, caught, and pinch hit as a righty.

[homer]

Another way to look at Heether is that he's only had one bad year in the minors and that was like four years ago. The Brewers need a right handed pinch hitter to boot.