Link Report for Sat. 8/21 -- Merklinger & BC annihilate Daytona, DSL Crew goes out winners

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

Nashville: LHP Chase Wright at Iowa (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime
Live Audio Link

Huntsville: RHP Andre Lamontagne at Birmingham (White Sox), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:30 gametime
Live Audio Link

Brevard County: LHP Dan Merklinger at Daytona (Cubs), 5:55 PM pre-game; 6:05 gametime
Live Audio Link (Cubs' Feed)

Wisconsin: LHP Del Howell at Cedar Rapids (Angels), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime
Live Audio Link

Helena: LHP Evan Frederickson at home vs. Idaho Falls (Royals), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime
Live Audio Link

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home in a doubleheader vs. the Dodgers' tykes; 7:00 PM; never audio for games in this league; makeup of a July 31st postponement, each contest slated for seven innings

DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM; this concludes the inaugural season for the Brewers' non-shared DSL club

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday'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.

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

 

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale) Game One

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale) Game Two

 

DSL Brewers

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Iowa	72	54	.571	-	-	35-29	37-25	5-5	W2
	Memphis	70	57	.551	2.5	16	40-25	30-32	7-3	W3
	Omaha	70	57	.551	2.5	16	32-27	38-30	7-3	L1
	Nashville	66	60	.524	6.0	13	35-30	31-30	5-5	W2

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Tennessee	34	20	.630	-	-	20-9	14-11	6-4	L1
	Huntsville	28	26	.519	6.0	11	17-11	11-15	4-6	L2
	Chattanooga	25	28	.472	8.5	9	12-15	13-13	7-3	W4
	Carolina	24	30	.444	10.0	7	11-15	13-15	3-7	W1
	West Tenn	24	30	.444	10.0	7	11-12	13-18	3-7	L4

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tampa	33	19	.635	-	-	17-9	16-10	5-5	L1
	Daytona	33	21	.611	1.0	16	18-8	15-13	5-5	W1
	Brevard County	31	24	.564	3.5	14	16-12	15-12	4-6	L1
	Lakeland	27	26	.509	6.5	12	14-10	13-16	7-3	W1
	Clearwater	24	31	.436	10.5	7	15-13	9-18	5-5	W1
*	Dunedin	23	32	.418	11.5	6	12-15	11-17	4-6	L1

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Quad Cities	32	19	.627	-	-	11-14	21-5	7-3	L1
*	Cedar Rapids	29	23	.558	3.5	-	15-12	14-11	5-5	L2
	Kane County	29	23	.558	3.5	-	16-9	13-14	4-6	W2
	Clinton	28	23	.549	4.0	19	14-11	14-12	5-5	W1
	Beloit	26	24	.520	5.5	15	14-11	12-13	5-5	L1
	Peoria	24	25	.490	7.0	15	12-13	12-12	5-5	L1
	Wisconsin	25	28	.472	8.0	14	15-13	10-15	6-4	W1
	Burlington	17	33	.340	14.5	6	11-13	6-20	2-8	W1

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Helena	10	8	.556	-	-	6-4	4-4	6-4	W2
*	Great Falls	9	10	.474	1.5	19	5-3	4-7	3-7	W1
	Missoula	9	10	.474	1.5	19	5-6	4-4	5-5	L1
	Billings	8	10	.444	2.0	19	4-4	4-6	4-6	L1

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Brewers	31	16	.660	-	-	10-9	12-7	7-3	W4
	AZL Dodgers	25	22	.532	6.0	3	10-9	10-7	7-3	L2
	AZL Reds	25	23	.521	6.5	2	9-7	11-9	6-4	L1
	AZL Indians	20	28	.417	11.5	E	7-12	10-8	1-9	W1

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Mariners	43	27	.614	-	-	23-12	20-15	7-3	W3
	DSL Cardinals	39	31	.557	4.0	E	24-11	15-20	6-4	L1
	DSL Athletics	31	39	.443	12.0	E	17-19	14-20	5-5	W1
	DSL Brewers	27	43	.386	16.0	E	16-18	11-25	2-8	L3

[Mass Haas]

The Maryvale Brewers will complete their August 17th suspended game with the Indians on August 26th -- I believe I indicated earlier the clubs weren't facing each other again this season. The teams will split hosting duties in the doubleheader, as the locale shifts to Goodyear.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO REMINDERS:

 

Here's why some of you diehards will want to spend $6.95 and subscribe to MiLB.TV for the next 30 days --

 

Yes, this current series for Nashville at Iowa is pretty much a must-sweep, and then there is the series in Oklahoma City starting on the 30th.

 

(This is another reason why OKC would be an intriguing AAA home for the Brewers, all their home games are avilable for viewing online.)

 

But --

Beginning August 27th and running through the 30th, all four Helena Brewer games at Idaho Falls will be available for viewing, as the Chukars (a bird, by the way -- photo) are the only Pioneer League team to televise. You'd be able to watch the games live and/or archived.

 

So for a very modest sum, many of you might choose to peak in on the Helena kids, and catch a glimpse of some of the more recent signings.

 

You're welcome!

[Mass Haas]

PDF documents:

Nashville Media Notes

Huntsville Media Notes

[uwisfan]

anything on Gennett yet?

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog:

Chris' game related notes (no Scooter, Kh. Davis, or Garfield -- hopefully the bottom five in the order come up big tonight) include a fun post on the Dayton Dragons and their current 24-game home losing streak.

[DHonks]

heck of a start for the Manatees....12 runs!

[battlekow]

Final: @DSL Brewers 8, DSL Cardinals 5

DSL Brewers box score

Hey, way to end the season on a high note, guys. RHP Manny Ruiz sent them out in style with an outstanding outing, fanning eight and walking just two in six shutout innings. Who knows what kind of stuff he's got, but his strikeout rate was absurdly high this year (as was his walk rate). Jose R. Garcia was 2-3 with a homer and walk, Ronny Puello also homered, and Orton Rodriguez was also 2-3 with a walk. Raul Mondesi doubled and walked, and Jose Pena was 1-4. Ruben Sanchez did not play; he'll have to wait until next season to get into his first game as a 19-year-old. Be sure to check out MH's overview of the season in the DSL thread.

 

DSL Brewers play-by-play

A four-run 6th allowed the Cerveceritos to carry the day:

 

DSL Brewers Bottom 6th

• Yonki Hernandez triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Jose Pena.
• Joan Abreu out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Jose Pena. Yonki Hernandez scores.
• Raul MondesiJr. walks.
• With Hitaniel Arias batting, Raul MondesiJr. caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Fernando Baez to second baseman Jorge Lopez.
• Hitaniel Arias reaches on throwing error by third baseman Jose Agustin.
• Jose Pena singles on a ground ball to center fielder Amaury Capellan. Hitaniel Arias to 3rd.
• With Ronny Puello batting, passed ball by Fernando Baez, Jose Pena to 2nd.
• Ronny Puello homers (4) on a fly ball to left center field. Hitaniel Arias scores. Jose Pena scores.
• Jose R. Garcia walks.
• Pitcher Change: Jefferson Segundo replaces Victor De Leon.
• Orton Rodriguez pops out to second baseman Jorge Lopez.

[Tedaldtada]

Yea, DHonks. Salome with a granny. Merklinger with 12 K's through 8 innings. Very impressive.

[battlekow]

Final (game one): AZL Dodgers 2, @AZL Brewers 0 (7 innings)

AZL Brewers box score

Terrible in relief, Kevin Shackelford has actually been very good in his five starts; tonight he went the (abbreviated) distance, allowed two runs (one earned) on just one hit in seven innings, fanning six and walking two. Unfortunately, Brewers batters were similarly handcuffed by Dodgers pitching, managing just four baserunners. Kyle Dhanani accounted for two of those, with a single and a walk. Nice to see Yadiel Rivera draw a free pass. Tyler Roberts and Demetrius McKelvie were 0-3, with McKelvie whiffing three times; he's now struck out 51 times in 109 plate appearances.

 

AZL Brewers play-by-play

The A-Crew actually put a runner in scoring position in each of the first three innings, thanks to three stolen bases, but couldn't come up with a clutch hit.

[battlekow]

Final: Brevard County 15, @Daytona 2

Brevard County box score

This is the very best kind of game: a blowout from the get-go, a dominant pitching performance, and it comes against a Cubs affiliate. The Manatees got 12 runs in the first inning, highlighted by an Angel Salome grand slam, and then Dan Merklinger did the rest: 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K, 8/4 GO/AO. He's just been so strong over the last two months. Salome finished 2-3 with a walk before giving way to Brock Kjeldgaard in the 6th. Matt Cline was on five times (three singles, two walks), and Pete Fatse, Erik Komatsu, Sean Halton, Scott Krieger, and Juan Sanchez were all on at least three times. The 'Tees had 26 total baserunners, including four HBPs (no one was ejected, so they must speak more to poor control than flaring tempers).

Brevard County play-by-play

Guess which inning I'm going to highlight?

 

Brevard County Top 1st

• Peter Fatse hit by pitch.
• Matt Cline singles on a line drive to center fielder Evan Crawford. Peter Fatse to 2nd.
• Erik Komatsu walks. Peter Fatse to 3rd. Matt Cline to 2nd.
• Angel
  Salome singles on a line drive to right fielder Kyler Burke. Peter
  Fatse scores. Matt Cline to 3rd. Erik Komatsu to 2nd.
• Sergio Miranda out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Greg Rohan. Matt Cline scores.
• Sean Halton singles on a ground ball to third baseman Ryan Flaherty. Erik Komatsu to 3rd. Angel Salome to 2nd.
• Scott
  Krieger doubles (8) on a line drive to right fielder Kyler Burke.
  Erik Komatsu scores. Angel Salome scores. Sean Halton to 3rd.
• Pitcher Change: Chris Siegfried replaces Dae-Eun Rhee.
• Sean McCraw hit by pitch.
• Juan
  Sanchez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Greg Rohan. Sean
  Halton scores. Scott Krieger to 3rd. Sean McCraw to 2nd.
• Peter Fatse walks. Scott Krieger scores. Sean McCraw to 3rd. Juan Sanchez to 2nd.
• Matt Cline walks. Sean McCraw scores. Juan Sanchez to 3rd. Peter Fatse to 2nd.
• Erik Komatsu hit by pitch. Juan Sanchez scores. Peter Fatse to 3rd. Matt Cline to 2nd.
• Angel Salome hits a grand slam (4) to left field. Peter Fatse scores. Matt Cline scores. Erik Komatsu scores.
• Sergio Miranda flies out to right fielder Kyler Burke.
• Sean Halton strikes out swinging.

One and a half times through the order, the only out the Cubs recorded was a sac fly!

[trwi7]

*Sigh* Frederickson and Lintz combine for 11 runs, 7 hits, 8 walks and 1 strikeout in 4.1 innings.

[battlekow]

Final: @Cedar Rapids 11, Wisconsin 1

Pena quiets Wisconsin

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Ariel Pena learned a little since his last start. Pena was the starting pitcher against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Time Warner Cable Field on August 15 and gave up six runs on five hits over five innings. On Saturday night at Perfect Game Field, Pena made the most of his rematch against the Rattlers by pitching a complete game and striking out 12 in an 11-1 Cedar Rapids rout of the Rattlers. Hunter Morris had two of the three hits in the game for Wisconsin.

 

Jeremy Cruz started the scoring with a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the first inning. Cruz lined a 1-1 pitch from Rattlers starting pitcher Del Howell just over the wall in right for an opposite field home run and a 1-0 Kernels lead.

 

Cedar Rapids (73-48 overall, 30-23 second half) got to Howell for four runs in the bottom of the second inning. Randal Grichuk started the inning with a double off the wall in left. One out later, Carlos Ramirez singled in Grichuk. Jon Karcich singled to put two runners on base. Jean Segura followed with a two-run triple. Matt Long’s RBI single concluded the string of four straight hits and the scoring for the inning.

 

The Kernels added two more runs in the bottom of the third. Grichuk doubled in a run and scored on an RBI grounder by Eric Oliver.

 

That was more than enough for Pena. The Kernels starting pitcher gave up a two-out double to Morris in the top of the first inning. Then, Pena retired the next 16 batters in a row.

 

In the top of the seventh, Pena walked Kentrail Davis, gave up a single to Morris, and hit Chris Dennis to load the bases with no outs. Austin Stockfisch drove in Davis with a sacrifice fly, but Pena retired the next two Rattlers to keep the score at 7-1.

 

In the bottom of the seventh, Rattlers reliever Rigoberto Almonte allowed three straight hits to start the inning and the Kernels had the bases loaded with no outs. Almonte struck out the next two batters. But, Karcich knocked in a run with an infield single and Segura drew a walk on four pitches to force in a run and knock Almonte out of the game.

 

Rattlers reliever Andy Sauter came into the game and got Long to send a high pop into short right-center. The ball dropped just out of the reach of second baseman Connor Lind for a two-run single and an 11-1 Kernels lead.

 

Pena pitched a scoreless eighth and a scoreless ninth to earn the complete game. He walked two and hit one batter and earned his seventh win of the season.

 

Wisconsin (25-29, 51-71) did not lose any ground to the two teams currently holding the second half playoff spots in the Western Division. Both Kane County and Clinton lost on Saturday. However, the Rattlers are running out of time as there are just 16 games left in the regular season.

 

Game two of the series is Sunday afternoon. Nick Bucci (5-6, 3.85) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Max Russell (1-2, 5.95) is set to start for the Kernels. Game time is 2:05pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 1:45pm.

 

Wisconsin box score

I can't believe that's the same Ariel Pena I watched walk the ballpark last week. Howell's final line: 5 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 4 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 8/3 GO/AO, 98 pitches, 65 strikes--still waiting for his stuff to show up in games. The position-player version of Howell, D'Vontrey Richardson's on-base streak ended with an 0-4 performance; D'Vo struck out three times. As MH mentioned, Khris Davis, Scooter Gennett, and Cameron Garfield did not play.

 

Wisconsin play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: Huntsville 2, @Birmingham 1

Huntsville box score

We thought Andre Lamontagne was going to be the starter, but it was Chris Cody instead, and he pitched very well, allowing a run on three hits in 6.1 innings while striking out eight and walking just one. Eddie Morlan and Robert Hinton finished off the Barons. Zelous Wheeler tripled, singled, and walked in four trips to lead the Stars, and Drew Anderson added a double and single. Brett Lawrie was 0-5, Taylor Green 0-3 with a walk, and Caleb Gindl 0-1 after entering the game as pinch hitter in the 8th.

 

Huntsville play-by-play

In a 1-1 game, the Stars were lucky to escape unscathed here:

 

Birmingham Bottom 7th

• Jim Gallagher singles on a line drive to center fielder Lee Haydel.
• Christian Marrero hit by pitch. Jim Gallagher to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Josh
  Phegley out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Chris Cody to second baseman
  Brett Lawrie. Jim Gallagher to 3rd. Christian Marrero to 2nd.
• Chris Cody intentionally walks Cole Armstrong.
• Pitcher Change: Eddie Morlan replaces Chris Cody.
• C. J. Retherford lines out to shortstop Zelous Wheeler.
• John Shelby III flies out to right fielder Drew T. Anderson.

They took the lead in the next half inning:

 

Huntsville Top 8th

• Brett Lawrie grounds out, third baseman C. J. Retherford to first baseman Jim Gallagher.
• Zelous Wheeler triples (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Christian Marrero.
• Drew T. Anderson doubles (18) on a fly ball to center fielder Justin Greene. Zelous Wheeler scores.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Chris Nowak grounds out, third baseman C. J. Retherford to first baseman Jim Gallagher.
• Henry Mabee intentionally walks Taylor Green.
• Pitcher Change: Gregory Infante replaces Henry Mabee.
• Anderson Machado walks. Drew T. Anderson to 3rd. Taylor Green to 2nd.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Caleb Gindl replaces Chuck Caufield.
• Caleb Gindl called out on strikes.

[battlekow]

Final: @Iowa 4, Nashville 3

Sounds drop series opener in Iowa, 4-3

Nashville Sounds

 

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa Cubs scored four unanswered runs to hang a 4-3 defeat on the Nashville Sounds on Saturday evening at Principal Park in the opener of a four-game series.

 

With the win, the first-place I-Cubs stretched their lead over Nashville (66-61) to seven games in the PCL American Conference Northern Division, matching the Sounds' largest deficit of the season.

 

The Nashville bullpen was unable to protect a 3-0 lead for Sounds starter Chase Wright, who took a no-decision and has notched just one victory in his last 11 trips to the hill.

 

Sounds first baseman Joe Koshansky gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when he slugged his team-leading 21st home run of the season, a one-out shot to left-center off Iowa starter Jeff Samardzija.

 

Nashville doubled its advantage in the fifth when shortstop Luis Cruz doubled with one out and later scored on a Martin Maldonado groundout to make it a 2-0 contest.

 

The lead increased to 3-0 in the sixth as the Sounds manufactured a run. Adam Stern led off with a walk and Eric Farris singled before Ray Olmedo laid down his team-leading 13th sacrifice bunt of the year to advance the runners a base. Brendan Katin then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to plate Stern.

 

The Sounds' lead evaporated with one Mitch Stetter pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning as Cubs third baseman Marquez Smith greeted the southpaw reliever by tattooing a three-run homer to left-center, his 13th longball of the year. James Adduci and Ty Wright opened the frame with consecutive singles off Nashville starter Wright before Stetter was summoned from the bullpen to face Smith.

 

Iowa took its first lead of the night in the eighth against Sounds reliever Chuck Lofgren when Micah Hoffpauir drew a one-out walk and later scampered home to score the game-winning run on a two-out wild pitch by the left-hander.

 

The Sounds didn't go down without a fight, however.

 

Maldonado led off the Nashville ninth with a double off Brian Schlitter. The Cubs reliever recovered to retire pinch-hitter Erick Almonte on a flyout before walking Stern and allowing a single to Farris to load the bases with one out. Olmedo followed with a grounder to first that resulted in a forceout at the plate for the second out of the frame.

 

Schlitter struck Katin out swinging to leave the bags full and preserve the Cubs' victory, earning his 13th save of the year.

 

The late Cubs run made a winner out of reliever Scott Maine (3-1), who tossed a scoreless inning.

 

Lofgren (7-8) was saddled with the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run in his lone frame of action.

 

The teams continue the series with a 1:05 p.m. matinee on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Marty McLeary (6-7, 6.98) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Iowa right-hander Jay Jackson (9-8, 4.29).

 

Nashville box score

Mat Gamel did not play. Stern added a single to his two walks, and Cruz drew just his 14th free pass of the year. Despite what the recap says, the box score has Lofgren pitching two innings, striking out three and walking three.

 

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Salome keys Manatees' 12-run inning

Robert Emrich/Special to MLB.com

 

By the time most Cubs' fans got settled in their seats Saturday, the Brevard County Manatees had put the game out of reach.

 

Angel Salome hit a grand slam to cap a 12-run first inning Saturday as Brevard County rolled to a 15-2 thrashing of Daytona.

 

Salome, the Brewers' fifth-round pick in the 2004 Draft, opened the scoring with a bases-loaded single. With one out and the Manatees in front, 8-0, the 24-year-old designated hitter deposited a pitch over the left-field wall for his second career grand slam and first since May 2, 2006.

 

"I was just trying to put the ball in play," Salome said. "I was trying not to put pressure on myself, the game is hard enough. I got the pitch I was looking for and drove it out of the ballpark."

 

The first four Manatees reached base to start the game. After Salome's base hit made it 1-0, Sergio Miranda lifted a sacrifice fly, Sean Halton reloaded the bases with a single and Scott Krieger doubled to build a 4-0 cushion.

 

After Chris Siegfried relieved starter Dae-Eun Rhee (5-13), Sean McCraw was hit by a pitch and Juan Sanchez followed with an RBI single. Peter Fatse and Matt Cline drew back-to-back walks and Erik Komatsu was plunked to force in another run and set the stage for Salome.

 

"Well, I've had good games before, but the way the game was going today, everybody just kept hitting," he said. "For that, you need chemistry and luck."

 

Salome went 2-for-3 and fell an RBI shy of the career high he established on June 3, 2008 at Double-A Huntsville. The native of the Dominican Republic began this season with Triple-A Nashville and batted .333 in five games. He left the team in late April for the birth of his child and was reassigned to the Brewers' training facility in Arizona, citing mental struggles.

 

"I'm not sure about (returning to Triple-A), I'm just playing the game and enjoying the game and trying to get the best out of it," Salome said.

 

Salome joined the Manatees in June and, after a sluggish start, is batting .329 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 19 games this month.

 

"When I first came to High-A, I wasn't playing for a while. And in baseball, even four days is a lot of days," he said. "My timing was messed up, and now I am getting in a groove and having a good approach."

 

Dan Merklinger (7-5) won for the fourth time in his last five decisions after striking out 12 -- one shy of a career high -- over eight innings. He allowed a run on five hits without walking a batter.

[twobrewers]

I remember the excitement I got from Frederickson's great outing few weeks ago.

 

I have a feeling that in about 2 years that will be my only Evan Frederickson memory.

[Mass Haas]

http://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/images/2010/08/22/cubs10822.jpg

Brevard County’s Sean Halton safely slides back to third past the tag of Daytona’s Ryan Flaherty in the top of the first inning at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach on Saturday. Daytona News-Journal Photo by Nigel Cook

[Mass Haas]

Missed Opportunity Dooms Barons in 2-1 Loss

Birmingham Barons

 

The Birmingham Barons couldn't capitalize with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning Saturday night and ultimately fell to the Huntsville Stars 2-1.

 

Eddie Morlan (3-2, 3.46) entered the game for the Stars with the bases juiced in the seventh inning and needed just two pitches to get his club out of the jam unscathed. Tied at one a piece, Jim Gallagher led off the inning with a hit up the middle and moved to second base when Christian Marrero was hit by a pitch. Josh Phegley's sacrifice bunt moved both runners up a bag and allowed the Stars to intentionally walk Cole Armstrong with first base open. The intentional walk ended the night for Stars starter Chris Cody and set the stage for Morlan who got C.J. Retherford to line out to shortstop and John Shelby III to flyout to right field to end the threat.

 

The Stars took the lead the next inning on a Drew Anderson RBI double (audio) to center field off Henry Mabee that scored Zelous Wheeler who had hit a triple moments earlier. Mabee (2-6, , 3.99) took the loss while giving up the one run on two hits. He tossed 1.2 innings.

 

The loss spoiled another solid outing by Charlie Leesman who was going for his White Sox farm system leading 14th win of the season. Leesman lasted six innings and allowed just two runs on five hits. He allowed just two runners to reach scoring position, but Wheeler made him pay for the first one when he drove a line shot to right field that plated Lee Haydel from second base in the third inning to give the visitors a 1-0 lead (audio).

 

Cole Armstrong tied the game in the fifth inning with his fifth home run of the season, a solo blast to right field (audio).

 

Robert Hinton picked up his fourth save of the season. He retired the final three batters of the ninth inning in order after allowing a leadoff single to Gallagher (final out).

 

Cody allowed just one run on three hits during his 6.1 innings.

 

The two teams will play each other for the final time in 2010 on Sunday. Johnnie Lowe (5-4, 4.07) will try to give the Barons their third-straight home series win opposite Wily Peralta (1-1, 2.15). The 5:05 PM contest will feature a special Bark in the Park promotion and will be followed by a special world premiere of ESPN's 30-for-30 documentary, "Jordan Rides the Bus."

[Mass Haas]

We thought Andre Lamontagne was going to be the starter, but it was Chris Cody instead, and he pitched very well, allowing a run on three hits in 6.1 innings while striking out eight and walking just one.

Yeah, I had seen a report out of Birmingham listing Cody, but then trusted the Stars' media notes and MiLB.com instead, which listed Lamontagne. With Wily Peralta now slated for today, you wonder if something's up with Andre.

 

[Mass Haas]

Joe Koshansky's home run audio is available via this link.

 

You could make a case that LHP Mitch Stetter (stats) has had the least productive season, based on pedigree, in the entire chain this season.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Smith's shot lifts I-Cubs to victory

By RICK BROWN, Des Moines Register

Micah Hoffpauir has a new nickname for Marquez Smith

 

"Nice job, Little Babe Ruth,'' Hoffpauir told Smith after the Iowa Cubs rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat Nashville 4-3 before an announced crowd of 9,481 Saturday at Principal Park.

 

Smith's three-run homer in the sixth inning tied the score. Hoffpauir scored the winning run in the eighth inning on a wild pitch.

 

"Wow, man, I didn't think I was going to make it,'' Hoffpauir said. "The ball took a really good kick back to the catcher. The pitcher (Chuck Lofgren) blocked the plate pretty well. It was a lot closer play than I thought it would be.''

 

Nashville threatened in the ninth, loading the bases with one out against Iowa's Brian Schlitter. But Schlitter got Martin Maldonado to hit a grounder to Hoffpauir at first, and he went home for the force out. Schlitter than struck out Brendan Katin on four pitches to earn his 13th save of the season.

 

Smith has now hit safely in 10 straight games, with six home runs and 15 RBIs. He was 14-of-28 during Iowa's eight-game road trip to Fresno and Sacramento that preceded Saturday's game. He had five doubles and four home runs on the road trip. Babe Ruth numbers.

 

"It's pretty funny,'' Smith said of Hoffpauir's nickname for him. "He's been joking around with me lately. I've been hitting the ball pretty well.''

 

Iowa drew blanks against Nashville starter Chase Wright over the first five innings, scratching out three hits and just once getting a runner to second, when Bobby Scales doubled with two out in the fifth.

 

Wright had extended his streak of scoreless innings against Iowa to 18 this season when the southpaw took the mound to start the sixth. Wright was chased by singles from pinch hitter Jim Adduci and Ty Wright, and saw his scoreless innings streak evaporate into the Principal Park night air when Smith deposited reliever Mitch Stetter's two-strike pitch over the fence in left.

 

"It was a slider,'' Smith said. "With two strikes, I wasn't trying to do too much. He threw me a slider earlier in that at-bat and fooled me on it. I was just trying to find something and get the barrel on it.''

 

Iowa went on to bat around in the inning, but didn't score again. Matt Camp grounded out to first with the bases loaded and two out to end the threat.

 

The Cubs took a 4-3 lead in the eighth when Hoffpauir scored on that wild pitch, and loaded the bases after that. But Adduci struck out looking to leave the bases full of Cubs.

 

Then it was Nashville's turn to load the bases, in the ninth. And that's where they stayed when Schlitter mowed down Katin.

 

Iowa improved to 73-54, passing last season's victory total.

 

The Cubs also improved to 13-8 on games played on travel days.

 

The Cubs have now hit at least one home run in 17 of their last 21 games.