Link Report for Games of Saturday, August 19th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Justin Lehr at home vs. New Orleans (Nationals), 5:45 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Manny Parra at home vs. Carolina (Marlins), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450radio.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Luis Pena at St. Lucie (Mets), 6:00 PM; sorry, no web audio for this series

 

West Virginia: RHP Shawn Ferguson at home vs. Hagerstown (Mets), 6:55 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower.

 

Helena: 18-year-old LHP Luis Ramirez makes his first H-Crew start at Idaho Falls (Royals), 8:00 PM pre-game; 8:15 gametime

 

Audio (click on "Listen Live"):

www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php

 

Arizona: TBD at home in Maryvale to face the San Diego kids, 9:00 PM Central time, never any web audio for the Arizona League

 

EDIT: Added Manatee starter

[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 Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Log". 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:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_sluafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_idarok_1

 

Arizona Rookie:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated an hour or two prior to gametime:

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

 

Following Nashville's lead, Huntsville now makes its media notes available as well, nice:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Saturday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 68 59 .535 - 38-26 30-33 W3[/b] Iowa 63 64 .496 5.0 35-27 28-37 L6 Memphis 50 77 .394 18.0 29-35 21-42 L3 Omaha 46 81 .362 22.0 28-36 18-45 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 32 22 .593 - 18-11 14-11 L1 [b]Huntsville 30 23 .566 1.5 16-12 14-11 W5[/b] Chattanooga 29 25 .537 3.0 17-13 12-12 W1 West Tenn 26 28 .481 6.0 16-8 10-20 L2 Carolina 22 32 .407 10.0 16-9 6-23 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 31 23 .574 - 16-11 15-12 W1 Palm Beach 30 24 .556 1.0 17-9 13-15 W2 Daytona 29 24 .547 1.5 19-11 10-13 L2 [b]Brevard County 22 32 .407 9.0 11-13 11-19 L1[/b] Vero Beach 20 32 .385 10.0 12-15 8-17 W1 Jupiter 19 35 .352 12.0 11-18 8-17 L9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 37 17 .685 - 21-6 16-11 W1 Lake County 29 23 .558 7.0 16-13 13-10 W1 Hickory 28 26 .519 9.0 13-15 15-11 W1 Greensboro 26 26 .500 10.0 14-15 12-11 W1 [b]West Virginia 26 27 .491 10.5 15-10 11-17 L1[/b] Lexington 22 32 .407 15.0 13-11 9-21 L1 Hagerstown 21 32 .396 15.5 11-18 10-14 L1 Delmarva 20 32 .385 16.0 11-13 9-19 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 14 6 .700 - 8-2 6-4 W6 Missoula 12 8 .600 2.0 8-2 4-6 W1 [b]Helena 11 9 .550 3.0 6-4 5-5 W1[/b] Great Falls 4 16 .200 10.0 3-7 1-9 L10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 13 5 .722 - 4-0 9-5 W4 AZL Giants 13 6 .684 0.5 6-4 7-2 W1 AZL Royals 13 6 .684 0.5 7-4 6-2 W2 AZL Padres 11 7 .611 2.0 7-3 4-4 W2 AZL Mariners 9 10 .474 4.5 7-3 2-7 L1 AZL Athletics 8 11 .421 5.5 7-3 1-8 L3 AZL Cubs 8 11 .421 5.5 3-6 5-5 W1 AZL Rangers 6 13 .316 7.5 5-6 1-7 L1 [b]AZL Brewers 3 15 .167 10.0 3-6 0-9 L5[/b]

[Mass Haas]

Here's the clarification on Helena's standings situation --

 

The H-Crew would make the playoffs if they win their division outright in the second half. Always-tough Billings won the first half and is primed to win the second half as well. Should that happen, it comes down to overall season record, and Missoula beat Helena by three games to end the first half. So Helena would need to beat out Missoula by three games as well should Billings win the division a second time to force a tiebreaker to kick in. Tough task either way...

 

Reminders on Huntsville:

 

The Stars have to win the division outright to qualify for the postseason. As much as they're focused on Tennessee, they can't let Chattanooga sneak past them at all. Also, because of a July 28th rainout in Huntsville, the Stars will play a six-game, not a five-game, series in Birmingham to end the regular season, with a doubleheader on Saturday September 2nd. That's when they'll make up the difference in games played with the other division teams.

[Mass Haas]

Fall behind 1-0 in the first inning, Huntsville?

 

No problem, this Ryan Braun kid will go deep and tie things up in a hurry.

 

Wow. Has anyone ever won Southern League MVP on his half-season output?

 

And we're expecting one of our Huntsville friends to find out where Ozzie Chavez is -- his return from AAA helped spark the recent fantastic run.

[WestCoastBrewer]

Shoulder problem according to Brett Pollock on the pre-game show.

[Mass Haas]

Thank you, WCB...

[Mass Haas]

Mississippi defeats Tennessee, 3-1, so the Stars can pull even in the loss column tonight. Huntsville leads, 4-1, after five innings, as Travis Phelps comes in for Manny Parra, who went a strong five, walking only one and striking out four.

[homer]

Luis Ramirez is doing well so far in his first start for Helena. What's the story on this 18 year old? He's been lights out all year long.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 4, St. Lucie (Mets) 1

 

Brevard County Box Score and Game Log:

RHP Luis Pena with a fine six-inning start, but LHP Joe Thatcher the pitching star as he continues to dominate the high-A level, retiring all nine men he faces for the save; Alcides Escobar and Charlie Fermaint with three hits apiece, as Charlie hits home run # 7; C.J. Medlin on base three times; Ned Yost struggling early at this level, just as he did at low-A before turning his season around; questionable baserunning instincts for the Hurricane -- Hernan Iribarren thrown out for the 15th time in 33 attempts -- tonight out at the plate to end the 5th; three GIDP's by the Manatees is the only thing that kept this one close; nearly 3,000 in attendance in St. Lucie -- huge crowd for the FSL...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_sluafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 3, Hagerstown (Mets) 2

Too bad the Phillies' Lakewood squad is so dominant this second half, otherwise there'd be one more playoff chase to talk about...

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER OUTLAST RAIN AND SUNS

 

The start of Saturday night?s game at Appalachian Power Park was pushed back 25 minutes due to rain, and the West Virginia Power held off the Hagerstown Suns with a 3-2 victory in the first game of the series.

 

In the second inning the Power scored twice to take the lead. Darren Ford ripped an RBI single and Lorenzo Cain followed Ford with a bases loaded walk to put the Power ahead by a pair. In the third inning Mike Bell led off with a double and scored later in the inning on Michael Brantley?s sacrifice fly.

 

The Hagerstown Suns scored both of their runs in the seventh inning. Jonel Pacheco began the inning with a solo home run and J.R. Voyles added a run on a two-out run-scoring base hit. The game ended in the top of the ninth inning when Will Vogl flew out to center field with Leivi Ventura on second base.

 

Darren Ford stole his 58th base of the season, putting him three stolen bags away from tying Mike Curry?s franchise record for stolen bases in a season set back in 1999. Lorenzo Cain went 0 for 3 and had his seven game hitting streak snapped.

 

Shawn Ferguson (2-1) pitched seven strong innings, allowing a pair of runs on six hits with four strikeouts and got the victory while Kevin Roberts (6) pitched a pair of scoreless frames to earn the save and Zac Clements (0-3) suffered the loss. The Power are 66-57 on the year and 27-27 in the second half after the win while the Suns fell to 49-75 overall and 21-33 in the second half after the loss.

 

The Power will continue the four game series against the Hagerstown Suns at Appalachian Power Park on Sunday night. Right hander Josh Stinson (0-0, 0.00) will make the start for Hagerstown and the Power will counter with left hander Brandon Parillo (2-0, 7.24). The first pitch is scheduled for 5:05 PM (4:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score and Game Log:

That's a heck of a start by Shawn Ferguson, a nice bonus tonight -- Ferguson did hit three batters in addition to his two walks, however; Kevin Roberts has more than salvaged a pretty weak season with his tremendous work since moving to the pen; solid defensive catcher Brad Willcutt throws out two of three baserunners attempting to steal; patience at the plate led to two Power runs in the 2nd (four walks drawn); a full read of the game log gives you the sense that the Power breathed a collective "whew!" after this one; only 60 degrees on a cool Charleston evening...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 6, Albuquerque (Marlins) 2

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Dave Krynzel photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2119

 

Sounds Down Isotopes, 6-2; Win Streak At Four

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? The Nashville Sounds continued their winning ways on Saturday evening, registering a 6-2 victory over the Albuquerque Isotopes in front of a capacity crowd of 10,140 fans at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

 

The win, the fourth in a row for Nashville (69-59), kept the Sounds? division lead at five games over Iowa, which defeated Oklahoma.

 

Vinny Rottino (3-for-4) and Tony Gwynn (3-for-4) each matched a season high with three hits on the evening to lead the Sounds? 11-hit attack. Gwynn?s effort was his team-leading 36th multiple-hit effort and 10th three-hit game of the year.

 

Dave Krynzel went 2-for-3 with a season-best three RBIs for Nashville.

 

Nashville starter Justin Lehr (4-6) earned his first victory since July 21 by allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits over seven innings. He matched his season high with eight strikeouts on the evening.

 

The sellout was Nashville?s seventh crowd of 10,000 fans or greater on the season.

 

The Sounds grabbed an early lead, batting around to plate four runs in the bottom of the first inning against Isotopes starter Chris George. Gwynn opened with a single, Chris Barnwell walked, and new addition Drew Anderson laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached on a fielder?s choice as George?s throw to third was not quick enough to beat Gwynn to the bag, loading the bases.

 

After Graham Koonce struck out, Nashville took a 1-0 lead when Andrew Beattie drew a bases-loaded walk from George. Rottino doubled the lead when he rocketed a line drive back up the middle to bring home Barnwell. Krynzel upped the Nashville lead to 4-0 with a two-out, two-run single to center.

 

AUDIO: Dave Krynzel's Two-Run Single --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...208-19.mp3

 

Albuquerque got on the board in the top of the fourth when Robert Andino scored an unearned run on Edgar Gonzalez?s sacrifice fly. Andino, who singled to open the frame, advanced two bases during the inning after Lehr?s pickoff throw to first sailed into right field.

 

Anderson, who was added to the roster from Double-A Huntsville prior to the game, started in left field and recorded his first career Triple-A hit with a single to lead off the bottom of the fifth. He advanced to second on a George wild pitch, stole third, and scored on the left-hander's second wild pitch of the inning to increase the lead to 5-1. With his steal, Anderson became the 19th different Nashville player to record a theft this season.

 

The Sounds added a second run in the fifth courtesy of three consecutive two-out singles off George, the last of which by Krynzel brought home Rottino for a 6-1 advantage.

 

Albuquerque left fielder Chris Aguila accounted for the second visiting run when he belted his eighth home run of the season in the top of the seventh, a one-out solo shot to left off Lehr.

 

Chris Demaria and Steve Bray each worked a scoreless frame to close out the contest for Nashville.

 

George (3-6) took the loss for the Isotopes after surrendering six runs on 10 hits over his five frames of action. The southpaw fanned a season-best seven batters in the losing effort.

 

The teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. meeting on Sunday at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Ben Hendrickson (9-6, 2.47) takes the hill for the Sounds to face Albuquerque southpaw Adam Bostick (0-0, 3.00), who was recently promoted from Class AA Carolina.

 

Nashville Box Score and Game Log:

Vinny Rottino's another guy who will need to be added to the 40-man this fall; reliever Steve Bray's remarkable season now shows him with a 66-to-10 K-to-BB ratio in 78.1 innings...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

It's still early, but if 18 year, 3 month old LHP Luis Ramirez continues to dazzle as he has thus far in Maryvale and in his first Helena start (six scoreless thus far tonight, two hits, one walk, five K's) -- it would be amazing to add to the mid-to-lower pitching depth with another apparent phenom -- I certainly won't invoke Gallardo's or Inman's names here yet, but it's tempting to do so.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 7, Carolina (Marlins) 1

Brooms should have been out in Huntsville tonight, rightfully so; full details from Stars' site later on...

 

Huntsville Site Game Review

link, then text:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=974

 

Stars Flex Muscle to Finish Sweep of Mudcats

 

Ryan Braun hit a home run for a third straight night and Travis Phelps worked three scoreless innings in relief to lead Huntsville past Carolina 7-1 Saturday night to complete a five-game series sweep at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars matched a season-high with their sixth consecutive win and pulled to within a half game of the North Division lead after first place Tennessee fell to Mississippi 3-1 at Smokies Park. The Mudcats dipped to 22-33 in the second half and for a twentieth time in their last 23 road games. Huntsville completed its first series sweep of the season and has won 20 of the last 25 games to improve to 31-23 in the half.

 

The Mudcats scored in the first inning to take their only lead of the series when Rex Rundgren started the game with a double, moved to third base on a Manny Parra wild pitch and scored on a fly ball off the bat of Jason Hill, who was ejected in the sixth inning after being called out on strikes to start the frame.

 

Braun hit an opposite field, solo long ball with two outs in the first to tie the game. He has hit safely in 16 of his last 19 games and has an extra base hit in 22 of the 44 games he has started since joining the team. Brad Nelson and Ron Acuna delivered back-to-back run-scoring singles in the third inning to give the home team the lead for good.

 

Parra gave up a run on four hits over five innings to grab his second win in four starts. Phelps gave up two hits and a walk and fanned three and has now been scored on in only two of his last 14 appearances. Luther Hackman retired the side in order in the ninth to end the game. The Stars have won a season-high seven straight at home, 12 of their last 14 and have held their opponents to two runs or less in seven of those 14 games.

 

Nelson drove in a run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly that chased starter Jose Garcia from the game after 104 pitches. He allowed four runs on six hits and three walks and dropped to 5-6. Callix Crabbe closed the scoring with a two-run home run in the eighth inning, his fifth of the year and fourth at home. Huntsville outscored Carolina 45-12 in the series and collected 60 hits in comparison to the visitors 28.

 

The Stars open a five-game series at West Tenn Sunday afternoon with right-hander Corey Thurman taking the hill against Diamond Jaxx? right-hander Sean Gallagher. Coverage of the game begins at 4:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1450 AM and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score and Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Ryan Braun photo from Huntsville site:

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/images/news/Braun,%20Ryan%2028t.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Looks like Helena's going to coast behind an Andy Bouchie grand slam and the pre-mentioned pitching; the baby Brewers are tied at 2-2 after four (catcher Brett Whiteside was replaced awfully early after some passed ball issues, but that's not necessarily why he left the game).

 

So, if the Maryvale kids can win, I believe that would be the first perfect organizational day of the season (all seven clubs in action and winning).

 

If pogokat checks in later tonight, look for those updates and the summary from Huntsville, otherwise catch you in the AM.

[igor67]

Braun has certainly been a huge boost to Huntsville, but how about Crabbe going on an on base tear the last couple of weeks.

[colbyjack]

I tuned into the Helena game late, but the Idaho Falls announcer (no Helena broadcast available via the MiLB.com link) mentioned that Stephen Chapman made four highlight reel catches this evening, and added an assist from the outfield. Add in a couple of doubles this evening, and the Chukars announcers couldn't say enough kind things about the possible MVP candidate.

 

Don't count on the baby Brewers to complete the organizational sweep. Pascual's ERA continues to grow, and Brewer once again not in the lineup. I think it's clear he was injured a few days ago, which is a shame given the hot streak he was enjoying to close out the season.

[pogokat]

Final: Helena 8, Idaho Falls (Royals) 2

 

Helena Box Score and Game Log

An Easy win for Helena...Gillespie constantly on base, ---as Mass mentioned...a fantastic start by Ramirez

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c..._idarok_1

[pogokat]

In Progress: AZL Padres, 10, AZL Brewers 5, through 6.1

 

Oy Vey....Rolando Pasquel with plenty more walks than K's and an ERA over 11...ick

 

John Alonos with another good game. Wonder if he moves all the way to West Virginia Next year...

[molitor fan]

Rookie leaguer Santo Manzanillo's line just bedazzles me - 14 2/3 innings pitched for Baby Brewers, and 41 walks allowed.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Padres 14, Arizona Brewers 11

 

Arizona Brewer Box Score and Game Log:

Padres stranded 14, could have been worse; it's been proven time and again -- the Latin pitchers who show command (Luis Ramirez, Amaury Rivas, Jose Beltre) get moved along, the others don't...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with outfielder Cole Gillespie (Select date for August 19th, skip to the 14:30 minute mark) --

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

[Mass Haas]

Helena Independent Record:

 

Bouchie?s grand slam lifts Brewers over Idaho Falls

 

Andy Bouchie hit a grand slam and the Helena Brewers scored five runs in the third inning as they routed the Idaho Falls Chukars 8-2 on Saturday.

 

After Everett Teaford walked in Chuckie Caufield with the bases loaded, Bouchie came up to bat and lit up the scoreboard with his hit over the left field wall. Stephen Chapman, Cole Gillespie and Zach Clem were batted in to give the Brewers a 6-0 lead.

 

Helena added solo runs in the first, sixth and seventh innings to extend their lead.

 

Bouchie is now tied with Fredy De La Cruz with five home runs, good for third on the team.

 

The Chukars scored both runs in the eighth inning when Christopher McConnell grounded to left fielder scoring O. D. Gonzalez and Joseph Dickerson hit a sacrifice fly to score Gilbert Gil.

 

The Chukars were held scoreless for six innings against Luis Ramirez. Ramirez, who joined Helena from the Arizona rookie league on Wednesday, pitched for the win with five strikeouts, two hits and one walk.

 

Idaho Falls? pitching crew were off-and-on at best. Though all six combined for 11 strikeouts, they also gave up nine hits and walked six.

 

The Helena Brewers are 12-9 in the second half of the season, placing them third in the North Division.

 

They remain in Idaho Falls to play the Chukars today at 4:05 PM (5:05 Central). Helena will play Idaho Falls on Monday evening and again on Tuesday.