Link Report for Thurs. 8/17 -- Villanueva - Gallardo Combo

[pogokat]

Final: West Virginia 7, Hickory (Pirates)1

 

West Virginia Site Game Review:

 

GARRISON HOLDS HICKORY DOWN

 

After allowing a two out RBI single in the top of the first inning, Power lefty Steve Garrison settled down and did not allow another run the rest of the game and the Power offense took care of the rest, scoring seven runs, five in their last two innings as they beat the Hickory Crawdads 7-1 on Thursday night at Appalachian Power Park.

 

Steve Lerud provided Hickory?s only run of the game on a two out RBI single in the top of the first. Darren Ford tied the game in the third inning on a solo homerun, his fifth of the year. West Virginia took the lead in the fourth inning on Brad Willcutt?s Sacrifice Fly which brought in Mike Bell. Ryan Barba and Lorenzo Cain pitched in with two out RBI singles in the seventh inning to add to the Power lead. In the eighth inning Tony Festa hit a two run homer, his fifth of the year and his second in as many nights. Three batters later, Nate Yoho tripled off the wall in right center field, and scored on an errant relay throw from Hickory shortstop Cameron Blair.

 

Lorenzo Cain went 1 for 4, to give him 145 hits on the year, five hits shy of the franchise record. Michael Brantley doubled in the seventh inning, and he has now reached base in his last 22 games.

 

Steve Garrison (6-5) was fantastic through six and two thirds and got the win. He allowed a run on six hits with two strikeouts and induced three double play balls while Patrick Ryan (1) pitched two and a third scoreless innings out of the bullpen to get the save and Dustin Craig (1-1) got the loss. The Power are 65-56 on the year and 26-26 in the second half after the win while the Crawdads fell to 60-62 overall and 27-26 in the second half after the loss.

 

The Power will finish the four game series against the Hickory Crawdads at Appalachian Power Park on Friday night. Right hander Todd Redmond (9-6, 2.92) will make the start for Hickory and the Power will counter with right hander Will Inman (9-1, 1.48 ). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

 

West Virginia Box Score and Game log

Late game heroics let the Power pull it off. I wonder how much more power Darren Ford could develop. You'll aslo note that Ford has gone from not taking walks at all at the beginning of the season, to walking at the 1bb/10ab's rate that management looks for in minor leaguers. Darren is definitely a sleeper prospect.

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c..._wvaa

[colbyjack]

He still strikes out a bunch (>1:4 AB). If he continues to hit, does anyone think TC would get agressive with him? There's no prospect blocking him (unless you think Rottino is a 3B) at AAA and they've got to stick Heether somewhere with Gamel in Brevard...

 

I don't see why Braun wouldn't be at AAA to open next year, although a lot of people thought he would open this year at AA. He is on almost the exact same timetable as Rickie Weeks was.

 

And the more Gallardo pitches, the more I believe he will be at AAA to open next year as well. Heck, he may just may make a push to be in Milwaukee's rotation the way his season has gone.

[pogokat]

In progress: Az Angels 9, Az Brewers 1, Through 2.5 innings

 

Mark James gets absolutely lit up. Brent Brewer not in the lineup, perhaps a very late season move, to give him a couple of Ab's above AZ?

[pogokat]

Final: Nashville 5, New Orleans (Nats) 3

 

Nashville Site Game Review

link, (including pic of Carlos Villenueva then text

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2113

 

Sounds Power Way Past Zephyrs, 5-3

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Carlos Villanueva?s sixth win of the season was over shadowed by the Nashville offense as the Sounds scored all their runs with the longball in the club?s 5-3 win over the New Orleans Zephyrs on Thursday night in front of 5,317 fans at Greer Stadium.

 

The victory, the Sounds? fourth in their last six games, plus an Iowa loss resulted in a four-game lead in the PCL American Conference Northern Division for Nashville (67-59).

 

Villanueva (6-0) put together another solid outing at Greer Stadium, allowing three runs on six hits over 7 1/3 innings of work as he recorded his sixth win of the season. In Villanueva?s four starts at Greer Stadium, he has not had an outing less then six innings and his 7 1/3 frames on Thursday marked his longest Triple-A start of the season.

 

Third baseman Jermaine Clark (2-for-3) paced the Sounds? five-hit night with his 16th multiple-hit game of the year. The other three hits came in the form of home runs off the bats of Laynce Nix, Chad Moeller, and Graham Koonce.

 

Both Moeller?s and Koonce?s roundtrippers were their second in as many nights against the Z?s.

 

The Sounds pelted three longballs for the second night in a row. In August, Nashville has slugged 20 home runs in the past 17 games. Coming into August, the team had hit only 29 home runs over a 55-game span in June and July.

 

Former Sound Nelson Figueroa (2-4) started the game for the Zephyrs and gave up five runs on only five hits, including all three Nashville homers, en route to picking up his fourth loss of the year.

 

The Sounds jumped on top early, plating a run in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Nix hit a mammoth fly ball over the right field fence that landed on Chestnut Street to give the Sounds a one-run lead. The four-bagger was Nix?s 16th home run of the season and his sixth since he joined the Sounds on July 30th.

 

The Zephyrs answered right back with a home run of their own in the top of the second. George Lombard smacked an 0-1 offering over the left field fence off Villanueva to tie the contest at 1-1. Lombard?s longball was his seventh of the year.

 

The Sounds reclaimed the lead for good in the bottom of the second by plating three runners to give the home team a 4-1 lead. With one out, Dave Krynzel reached first on a walk and then advanced to second on a Clark single. Both runners advanced a base on a Figueroa wild pitch. With one out and two runners in scoring position, Moeller battled back from an 0-2 count during a 10-pitch at-bat that culminated in a three-run home run over the left field fence. Moeller?s second roundtripper of the season brought the score to 4-1.

 

The home team gave Villanueva some more breathing room in the bottom of the sixth inning. Koonce led off with his 15th home run of the season to give the Sounds a comfortable four-run lead.

 

New Orleans plated two runs in the eighth as they attempted to climb back into the game. With runners on first and second, Marlon Byrd hit an RBI double to left field allowing Tyrell Godwin to score from second. Byrd?s double chased Villanueva from the game and brought in reliever Mitch Stetter.

 

The lefty specialist came into the game and struck out the left-handed hitting Lombard for the second out of the inning. Sounds manager Frank Kremblas then brought in closer Alec Zumwalt to finish the game.

 

With runners on second and third, Zumwalt threw a ball in the dirt that skipped past Moeller and allowed Henry Mateo to score from third, bringing the score to its final 5-3. Zumwalt then struck out pinch-hitter Larry Broadway to get out of the jam without further damage.

 

Zumwalt hurled 1 1/3 innings of shutout baseball as he picked up his team-leading 14th save of the season. Zumwalt?s 14th save ties him for the fifth-most saves in the PCL.

 

The two teams play the finale of the four-game series on Friday night at 7 p.m. The Sounds will give the starting nod to southpaw Dana Eveland (3-3, 1.90) and the Z?s will send right-hander Steve Watkins (6-5, 3.87) to the bump.

 

Nashville Box Score and Game Log:

Carlos V with a good start and Laynce Nix with another bomb. TGJ slumping a little since his demotion---truly amazing how often this happens

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c..._nasa

[colbyjack]

Helena just went up 4-3, middle of the 6th. Stephen Chapman just missed a grand slam. I guess it's really windy in Casper, which probably isn't helping the wild fires, but in this case the ball Chapman crushed was pushed just foul. Instead he is called out on strikes with the bases loaded. Bummer.

[pogokat]

Final: Huntsville 11, Carolina (Marlins) 2

 

Huntsville Site Game Review

link, then text

www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=971

 

Gallardo Dominant in Stars' Victory

 

Yovani Gallardo worked 5 1/3 perfect innings and Ryan Braun capped a five-run third inning rally with a monstrous home run in Huntsville?s 11-2 pasting of Carolina Thursday night in the middle game of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars have taken the first three games of the set, won four straight overall and improved to 29-23 in the second half but remain two and a half games behind first place Tennessee, which knocked off Mississippi at home 11-3. The Mudcats fell to 22-31 in the second half and for an eighteenth time in their last 21 road games. The Stars have won five in a row at home to match their longest win streak of the year at the Joe.

 

Mudcats? starter Paul Mildren retired the first six hitters he faced before JC Boscan and Travis Ezi opened the third inning with singles, advanced on a Gallardo sacrifice bunt and scored on a Steve Moss single to make it 2-0 Huntsville. Callix Crabbe singled and Braun unloaded on the first pitch he saw, smashing a ball off the middle of the scoreboard in left-center field for his ninth home run of the year to make it 5-0.

 

Crabbe led off the home fifth with a double, stayed at second base when Kevin Randel booted Braun?s ground ball and moved to third when Brad Nelson walked to load the bases and chase Mildren from the game after his shortest outing of the season. Ron Acuna knocked in a run with a ground out, Boscan brought home another with a sacrifice fly and Gallardo finished the rally with a two-run single. Huntsville pounded out 13 hits in the win and has outscored Carolina 25-6 in the series and collected 34 hits to the Mudcats 12.

 

The Huntsville right-hander struck out seven of the first 16 hitters he faced before Brian Cleveland singled to left field to spoil his bid for a no-hitter and perfect game. Rex Rundgren singled home Cleveland with two outs to break the shutout and a Boscan throwing error trying to nail him advancing to second base allowed Jose Campusano to score from third. Gallardo was lifted after six innings and 97 pitches and picked up his fourth win of the season. He finished with nine strikeouts, no walks and yielded three singles.

 

The series continues Friday night with right-hander Tim Dillard taking the hill for Huntsville against Mudcats? right-hander Jose Garcia. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 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

Ho-Hum...Yo flirts with perfection, while k'ing 9 while Ryan Braun hits another bomb. Wish those things will happen in Milwaukee as soon as possible

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c..._hunaax_1

[Team Canada]

8-1? I see 11-2.

[pogokat]

i can't count...or i was thinking of something else...uhhh...

 

i'm faster than fast, and i don't let insults sit for an hour.

[DHonks]

Peralta with a solid outing...good to see some improvement from the Dominican signings of late...Mercedes and Peralta especially

[Team Canada]

Well you fixed one number, now it's 11-1. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

 

oh it's on now pogo.

Watch your back.

[pogokat]

Final: Casper (Rockies) 5, Helena 4

 

not much to say...Fredy De La Cruz with a good game, and again at SS...

 

Helena Box Score and Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c..._casr

[pogokat]

Final: AZ Angels 16, AZ Brewers 2

 

Good game John Alonso...the rest of you guys, do 4 laps and hit the showers...

 

Arizona Box Score and Game Log

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c..._angr

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

 

Yankees tackle Manatees

 

Alan Horne and two relievers combined on a five-hitter as Tampa toppled Brevard County, 8-1, on Thursday at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Horne gave up one run on five singles and a walk while striking out two in five innings. Once the bullpen came in, the Manatees were completely shut down.

 

Joshua Schmidt (3-4) walked one in two hitless frames for the win and Elvys Quezada fanned two in two perfect innings.

 

The Yankees (30-24) were ahead, 2-1, in the eighth when they erupted for six runs, highlighted by Carlos Mendoza's two-run homer. P.J. Pilittere was 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI.

 

The Manatees (21-31) scored in the first when Alcides Escobar hit a one-out single to right, stole second and came home on Kyle Phillips' bloop single to left.

 

Reliever Bo Hall (5-5) took the loss after Tampa reached him for seven runs -- five earned -- on six hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings. -- Michael Echan/MLB.com

[Mass Haas]

Helena Independent Record:

 

Rockies topple Brew

 

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Casper?s Logan Wiens hit a walk-off home run to lift the Rockies over the visiting Helena Brewers, 5-4 Thursday night.

 

Wiens saved the Rockies from dropping the game after holding a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning.

 

After Daniel Hanna held the Brewers to a single run in the fourth, he was replaced by Emil Rogers to start the sixth and the Rockies reliever gave up a single, a double and a wild pitch before retiring in the same inning.

 

Chris Errecart got the single and advanced to second on the wild pitch before scoring on a double by Bill Rowe.

 

Henry Guzman stepped out of the Rockies? bullpen to replace Hanna, but didn?t have any better luck.

 

Fredy De La Cruz singled to score Rowe, and Carlos De La Cruz reached on a throwing error by Casper?s pitcher. That would advance Fredy to third base before scoring the 4-3 go-ahead run.

 

Hector Gomez evened it up in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly to score Jorge Sandes, and Riquy De Los Santos came in to pitch in the seventh for the win. He went three innings without a run despite giving up two hits, walking two and hitting Taylor Green with a pitch.

 

The Helena Brewers are 10-9 on the season, good for third in the North Division standings.

 

The two teams will meet again today at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.casperstartribune.net...1c1e1d.txt

 

By TODD ZEIDLER

Casper Star-Tribune staff writer

 

One night after suffering perhaps the most disappointing loss of the season, Logan Wiens provided some heroics with a walk-off home run to give the Casper Rockies a 5-4 win against the Helena Brewers at Mike Lansing Field.

 

"It definitely is (a spark). We had a rough road trip, so we are just trying to get the momentum back on our sides and win some ballgames to try to get back in the hunt for the playoffs," Wiens said.

 

After last night's loss Rockies' manager P.J. Carey said he asked his team five questions, and "they answered all five of them in grand style."

 

"They came out to play, they stuck in a tough ball game ... and put themselves in position to win it late," Carey said. "Cinderella story, Cinderella finish. You love to see that."

 

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Wiens swung at a knee-high, 2-1 fastball and didn't miss. The ball sailed deep over the fence in left field, and he knew it was gone the instant it bounced off his bat.

 

"(The umpire) called low strikes on me all night. It was just reaction, he threw a fastball and I just reacted and threw my hands at it," said Wiens of his third homer of the season.

 

Weins stuck his hands in the air in jubilation as he left the batter's box, and his teammates were waiting in that same spot with back-slaps and high-fives after he rounded the bases.

 

"It shows you the power potential he has," Carey said. "He got a pitch to hit late in the game and jumped all over it."

 

Wiens' mammoth shot to win the game overshadowed a strong start on the mound by Esmil Rogers. In his last start, Rogers lasted just 1 1/3 innings, but on Thursday he threw five solid innings, allowing just one run (zero earned) on three hits and striking out two.

 

After dropping nine of their last 10 games, which included an eight-game losing streak, Carey said his team entered Thursday's game with a different attitude.

 

"They came out to the ballpark with a different focus ... and we played well, we turned some double plays that were key and got some timely hitting," he said.

 

The Rockies also got three hits apiece from Maruis Loupadiere and Radames Nazario to complement Wiens' big night.

 

The walk-off home run was the first of Wiens' professional career, but he said he hit "a few" in high school.

 

Bill Rowe had two hits and two RBI to lead Helena's offense

 

Casper hosts the last of the three-game series with the Brewers tonight at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

SHORT HOPS: The Friday Night Fireworks Show is cancelled for tonight because of fire danger ... Helena's Chuckie Caufield's 18-game hitting streak was snapped ... Radames Nazario has now reached base safely in eight consecutive games.

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with middle infielder Taylor Green (Select date for August 17th, skip to the 10:00 minute mark) --

Another well-spoken kid...

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section.../200608185

 

Cain moves closer to milestone in Power win

By Jim Workman

For The Charleston Gazette

 

Lorenzo Cain is closing in on some local baseball history. In the meantime, he?s helping the West Virginia Power dispose of the opposition with his bat.

 

Cain delivered an RBI single in the seventh inning as the Power defeated Hickory 7-1 before 6,676 fans Thursday night at Appalachian Power Park. It was the Power?s third victory in a row.

 

The hit raised his season total to 145, leaving him five short of Bobby Perna?s 1991 total of 150, the single-season record for hits by a Charleston player since the city joined the South Atlantic League in 1987.

 

Cain has hit safely in six straight games and is 11-for-24 in that span, giving him a league-leading mark of .309.

 

?I?m trying to get there,? Cain said of the record, after promising a fan leaning over the fence in right field that he would try to set the mark at home. ?We?ve been on a roll lately.?

 

The Power will go for a four-game sweep of the Crawdads at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central). After that, the Power has four home games against Hagerstown Saturday through Tuesday.

 

?We?ve had good clutch hitting, especially with two outs,? Power manager Mike Guerrero said. ?We?re feeling like we?re in a good groove right now. We?re seeing the ball well.

 

?When you combine clutch hitting with good pitching and defense, you usually have a good chance to win the game.?

 

Good pitching and defense kept the Power cruising along.

 

Lefty Steve Garrison (6-5) was the winning pitcher, allowing one run on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. Patrick Ryan pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his first save, striking out four while allowing just a hit and a walk

 

Power pitchers retired Hickory in order four times and benefited from three double plays.

 

?We turned a couple of double plays that really helped us,? Guerrero said. ?The defense showed up. And we made some good pitches.?

 

The Crawdads began the scoring in the top of the first when Steve Lerud knocked in Cameron Blair with a single. West Virginia?s Darren Ford cranked a home run off the scoreboard in left-center in the third inning to tie the contest at 1.

 

The Power went ahead to stay in the fourth when Brad Willcutt smacked a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Mike Bell. In the seventh inning, Ryan Barba rapped a single to right to plate Michael Brantley, and Cain followed with an RBI single to score Barba, giving the Power a 4-1 lead. Brantley?s double gave him 22 consecutive games in which he?s reached base safely.

 

Tony Festa plowed a two-run homer over the right-field wall in the eighth, lifting the Power to a 6-1 advantage.

 

Then, in one of the more exciting plays of the season, Nate Yoho drilled a triple off the center-field fence and scored as the throw from the outfield skipped past Hickory?s third baseman. Yoho didn?t miss a beat and broke for home, sliding head-first across the plate.

 

Right-hander Will Inman (9-1, 1.48 ERA) will start for the Power tonight, while Todd Redmond (9-6, 2.92) will go for the Crawdads.

 

Photos by Charleston Gazette Photographer Chip Ellis

West Virginia Power shortstop Mike Bell turns two as Hickory?s Shelby Ford attempts to break up the double play Thursday night at Appalachian Power Park. The Power, which donned Negro League throwback uniforms for the contest, defeated the Crawdads 7-1.

 

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/Power1.jpg

 

Power starter Steve Garrison allowed just one run in 62/3 innings to get the win against Hickory.

 

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/Power2.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=51647

 

Nix, Moeller spark Sounds to victory

By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent

 

If anybody can say they?ve had an up-and-down past 12 months, it?s Nashville outfielder Laynce Nix.

 

Last year, Nix battled a shoulder injury that sidelined him the entire second half of the season. He rebounded from that to win the Texas Rangers starting center field job in spring training, but struggled early this season and was demoted. Shortly after being sent to Oklahoma, Nix suffered from an infection in both his eyes that cost him time and slowed his progress.

 

Nix was just starting to find his stride when he was traded by the Rangers on July 30 as part of the deal where Milwaukee shipped out sluggers Carlos Lee and Nelson Cruz.

 

National media didn?t make much mention of Nix?s inclusion in the deal, but he?s made the most of the change of scenery. Since joining the Sounds, Nix has hit six homers ? including one on Thursday night that sparked the Nashville offense and helped the team to a 5-3 victory over New Orleans at Greer Stadium.

 

Chad Moeller and Graham Koonce also homered for Nashville. Moeller?s shot was a three-run homer in the second that put the Sounds (67-59) up for good.

 

?I thought the big blow was Moeller?s three-run homer with the pitcher on deck,? Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said.

 

Nix got things going for Nashville with a monstrous solo homer in the first inning that landed on Chestnut Street.

 

?All I can say about that is it?s probably the farthest home run I?ve ever hit in my life,? Nix said.

 

Since becoming a Sound, Nix is hitting well over .400 and he seems a likely candidate for a Sept. 1 call-up by Milwaukee when major league rosters expand.

 

?I?m feeling good, better than I have in two years,? Nix said. ?I?m only one year removed from major shoulder surgery. Through [the injuries and trade rumors] I just took care of my own business.?

 

While the offense played long ball for the second straight night, Sounds starter Carlos Villanueva held up his end of the bargain on the mound. Villanueva (6-0) went 7.1 innings and allowed three runs on six hits for the Sounds, who hit three homers for the second game in a row.

 

The victory put Nashville four full games ahead of Iowa in the Pacific Coast League American Northern Division.

 

Alec Zumwalt came into the game with two outs and runners on second and third in the eighth. Zumwalt threw a wild pitch that allowed one run to score, but he struck out Zephyrs slugger Larry Broadway to end the threat. Zumwalt then worked a perfect ninth for his 14th save.

[Mass Haas]

Sounds are solid all-around

By BRYAN MULLEN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

If anyone happened to videotape the Sounds game on Thursday night, feel free to use it as an instructional video.

 

Solid pitching, timely hitting, aggressive base running and flawless defense all played a role in Nashville's 5-3 win against New Orleans in front of 5,317 at Greer Stadium. It was the first time since July 26 that the Sounds won back-to-back home games.

 

"When your offense isn't producing any runs, it's tough to get a winning streak," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "That's what happened on the road trip a couple of times. But we seem to be swinging the bats a little bit better."

 

The Sounds (67-59) upped their lead to 3½ games over Iowa in the Northern Division of the PCL's American Conference.

 

Nashville went up 1-0 in the first when Laynce Nix smashed a home run to right. But the Sounds' biggest hit, in terms of the scoreboard, came in the next inning.

 

After falling behind in the count 0-2, Nashville's Chad Moeller fouled off four pitches, worked the count to 2-2, then hit a three-run homer off Zephyrs starter Nelson Figueroa give the Sounds 4-1 lead.

 

"He just left a (splitter) over the plate and I was fortunate to catch it on the barrel," Moeller said. "He had left a couple of sliders over the plate which I had fouled off."

 

In the sixth, Nashville made it 5-1 when Graham Koonce hit a home run to center.

 

Sounds starter Carlos Villanueva went 7 1/3 innings and gave up three earned runs on six hits against New Orleans (65-60).

 

Stealing the show: The Sounds have been blasting home runs in August, having already passed their total in single-month totals in June and July. But lost in their powerful play has been their aggressiveness on the base paths.

 

Nashville leads the PCL with 168 bases and several players have been pitching in. The Sounds have eight different players who have 10 or more stolen bases this season, good enough for a new single-season franchise record.

 

Complete performers: It was impressive enough that Zach Jackson on Wednesday tossed the Sounds? PCL-leading eighth complete game. Even more impressive, however, is that five different Sounds pitchers have worked complete games this season.

 

Good glove: If traditionalist baseball fans are sickened by the lack of sound fundamentals in professional baseball, the Sounds may have the perfect antidote.

 

Nashville?s .981 fielding percentage is tops in the PCL and is on pace to tie the club?s single-season record set in 2004.

 

The Sounds have committed only five errors in their previous 120 innings entering last night.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Pitching Coach Stan Kyles:

Includes Zach Jackson and Steve Bray discussion...

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...208-17.mp3

 

AUDIO: Laynce Nix's Mammoth HR --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...208-17.mp3

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's

 

www.starsboxscore.com/

 

LAST STOP: CLEVELAND

GALLARDO PERFECT FOR 5 1/3

A poster on Brewerfan.net blamed his fianceé when Brian Cleveland broke up Yovani Gallardo's perfect game in the 6th. Don't blame her......... Hate to break the news, but it happened in the section next to me when I went to chat with a friend after the 5th. I said to him, "Some game, huh?" His buddy next to him, who probably thinks Yogi Berra lives in Jellystone National Forest and was obviously just there to socialize, uttered the forbidden phrase, "Yeh, he's working on a perfect game"....... He was admonished by his friend for mentioning the deadly phrase, and I walked away back to my section and my seat.

 

Brewer fans are giddy watching the progress of this 20-year-old 2nd round right-hander I'm sure; comparing him to Ben Sheets. Let me tell you, I think he's got more upside than Ben, and I've seen him come through Huntsville. I think he's the greatest right-handed pitcher to play for Huntsville....... Comapring Sheets and Gallardo through their first nine starts at Huntsville, both pitchers had very comparable records. I threw in Steve Hammond, who's started only eight times, because he threw strikes Wednesday with more consistency than Yovani did tonight:

 

 IP H R ER BB SO ERA SHEETS 45 34 11 10 17 37 2.00 GALLARDO 62 1/3 40 14 10 22 69 1.44 HAMMOND 62 1/3 43 19 16 18 48 2.31

When you take the strikeouts-to-innings ratio, you can see what really separates the two, and why I believe Gallardo was a better pitcher here than Sheets, and why I believe he'll surpass Sheets easily someday as Milwaukee's star pitcher.

 

This was a speedy game for the first five innings....... While Gallardo was mowing through the Mudcats order, Carolina starter Paul Mildren was doing the same for a short while. Both pitchers were perfect for 2½ innings, then J.C. Boscan, who is hitting .233 during the Stars' 18-5 winning run, compared to Lou Palmisano's .184, lined a two-hop single to left. That kicked off a five-run rally that was all Gallardo needed on this quiet, windless 90° night........ Travis Ezi followed with a sharply hit single up the middle, sending Boscan to 2nd....... Gallardo's sacrifice to the left side of the infield moved Boscan and Ezi into scoring position........ Steve Moss then picked the right time to snap an 0-for-13 slump with a hard-hit liner deep to right near the line for a long single, driving in the runners for a 2-0 lead. Moss, as I've seen him do so many times this season, worked the count full the first three times he came to the plate....... Callix Crabbe, more of a first-pitch/early count hitter, then stroked Mildren's first pitch on two hops to left, sending Moss to second. Crabbe has been the Stars' hottest hitter during these past 23 games, hitting .368 and leading the way with 32 hits. This month, he's hit an incredible .414........

 

Well, the way the Stars have been hitting home runs, I've been waiting for someone to tee off against this team in this series, and against the league's 2nd leading gopher ball pitcher, Ryan Braun did it on Mildren's first pitch, crushing the ball high in the air toward the scoreboard....... As I watched it, I thought he just might clear it, but on the way down, it struck the Channel 19 logo below the video screen and bounced off --- a three-run home run, the 9th of the year for last year's top draft pick. Braun has hit .336 since July with seven HRs and 21 RBIs, and is a huge reason for the Stars' biggest 2nd half comeback in their history........ Brad Nelson followed with a double, but Ron Acuna struck out and Ozzie Chavez grounded out to end the 3rd........ This inning aside, 10-game winner Mildren was pitching no-hit ball.

 

The Stars finally chased Mildren away in the 5th inning as they opened up a 9-0 lead for Gallardo........ Crabbe opened up with a double on a 2-1 pitch to the gap in left-center. After a fielding error by Kevin Randel and a four-pitch walk to Nelson, the Stars loaded the bases. That brought Chris Mobley in from the bullpen....... A grounder to Brian Cleveland scored Crabbe, moving the runners up and a walk to Guilder Rodriguez loaded the bases again....... Boscan's fly ball in front of the warning track in left-center scored Braun to make it 7-0 and another walk, an intentional pass to Ezi, loaded the bases again........ Then for the third night in a row, a Stars pitcher drove in a pair of runs. It wasn't a double from Gallardo, but a single to shallow left that brought home Nelson and Chavez to make it 9-0.

 

And that's all she wrote........ With one out in the 6th, Brian Cleveland broke up the perfect game, grounding a 1-1 pitch through a hole in the infield on the left side and into left field....... After striking out Lee Mitchell, Jose Campusano hit a sharp grounder to Crabbe on a 1-2 pitch. Crabbe made a great play in stopping the ball from going through, smothering it with his body. He dug the ball out from underneath him and gave it a flip to Rodriguez, now in at short for Chavez, but the toss sailed over his glove........ It looked on the surface like an error on Crabbe, but it was a tough play, and Campusano was justifiably given the hit........ Rex Rundgren worked the count full, then dropped a single to right in front of Ron Acuna. Cleveland raced around third and we all know what an arm Acuna has....... He went home with the throw to get Cleveland, but Rundgren broke for second as he did. Boscan threw to G.Rod, but the throw was wild and Rundgren made it in easily. Campusano scored to make it 9-2........ It was the first time in this series Carolina had anybody make it into scoring position......... Gallardo threw 97 pitches in picking up his 4th victory of the season. He threw 70 in the first five innings, 44 for strikes (62.8%).

 

This is the 2nd-to-last Friday night game at the Joe for this year....... The Stars will send Tim Dillard (8-7, 3.30) against Jose Garcia (5-5, 2.90), who is not or any relation to the Stars pitcher of years ago......... Dillard is 3-3, 2.92 at home....... The Mudcats have now lost 18 of their last 21 road games. Garcia is 0-4 on the road with a 3.52 ERA.

 

When the Mississippi Braves play here next week, they may not be without Brandon Jones, who was placed on the disabled list, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who was placed on the temporary inactive list in order that he may try out for the 2008 Olympic team.

[clancyphile]

Gee, Braun seems to be getting extra-base hits at a Bill Hall-type of pace at Huntsville.

 

Opening Day 3B in `07?

[DHonks]

while I understand the comparison to Sheets, it should be noted that Sheets was working on learning to throw only 92-94 in the minors. The Brewers were trying to teach him to vary speeds and throw a 2-seamer. It wasn't until his 3rd season in the big leagues (or was it 4th) that he finally said "screw it, I'm throwing 4 seamers as hard as I can."

[colbyjack]

I was just going to comment on that DHonks. I remember a few prospect experts questioning Sheets' long-term effectiveness due to his less than ideal strikeout ratio. John Sickels quickly comes to mind. As we all know, he's one of the better strikeout pitchers in the big-leagues now, as what he was doing in AA and what he is doing now are two completely different things.

 

Yo may be a better pitcher at AA, but that doesn't mean he'll be a better pitcher in the big leagues. I hope so, because to be better than Sheets at his best is a pretty amazing accomplishment.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1

 

Stars keep scoreboard busy in win over Carolina

By BRAD SHEPARD

For The Huntsville Times

 

The playoff-chasing Stars have insisted they aren't scoreboard-watching down the stretch.

 

They went to scoreboard-punishing Thursday night instead.

 

Huntsville struck for five runs on six hits in the bottom of the third inning and added four more in the fifth on its way to an 11-2 rout over Carolina.

 

Ryan Braun's exclamation mark was a towering three-run blast high off the Joe Davis Stadium scoreboard in the third inning that connected with a thunderous "Thunk!"

 

Thanks to the highly ranked prospect, Huntsville dented the scoreboard literally and figuratively.

 

"To be honest with you, I didn't even watch it," Braun said. "When I hit it, I knew it was gone."

 

The only thing hurting worse than the board after Braun's home run was Mudcats starter Paul Mildren, who turned and watched in disbelief. And the Stars continued the punishment of their recent opponents with their 18th win in 23 games.

 

Even though they remained 2 1/2 games back of the also victorious Tennessee Smokies, the Stars (29-23) don't appear to be going anywhere.

 

Thursday's win ensured Huntsville's fifth straight series win. Before the current streak, the Stars had won five series all year.

 

The schedule remains reasonably favorable the rest of the way for the Stars, whose hitters are coming along and revamped pitching has been phenomenal.

 

"Now," Stars manager Don Money said, "we feel like we have the opportunity to go win every game."

 

As big as Braun's majestic blast was, it was arguably overshadowed. His teammate, starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo, nearly made the 1,325 fans in attendance forget all about the offense.

 

As a matter of fact, the only part of the scoreboard that appeared untouched for most of the game was the Mudcats' line score, thanks to a near-flawless performance by Gallardo. The 20-year-old phenom took a perfect game into the fifth inning before allowing two runs, only one of which was earned. By then, the game had long been decided.

 

"He's just been phenomenal," Braun said of Gallardo. "I've had the pleasure of playing with him all year, and he's been consistent, which I think is the key to his success."

 

Gallardo helped his own cause with a two-out, two-run single in the fifth. But even that was a little bit expected. He was the third Huntsville hurler in as many nights to have a two-run hit.

 

Gallardo allowed just three hits and struck out nine in his six innings of work. Huntsville's heroics started long before Gallardo's at the plate. Neither team had mustered a hit going into the bottom of the third, but that's when the Stars erupted.

 

The teams are scheduled to continue their series tonight at 7:05. Carolina will pitch Jose Garcia against Huntsville's Tim Dillard.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...006081820/

 

Power surging down homestretch

Michael Dailey

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

On paper, the immediate future doesn't appear too bright for the West Virginia Power.

 

The Power, who have only 17 games left on the schedule, trail South Atlantic League Northern Division leader Lakewood by 9 1/2 games. West Virginia must finish the baseball season without its top run producer, following a season-ending broken ankle for catcher Angel Salome.

 

On the field, however, the Power are showing no signs of quitting down the stretch, having reeled off three straight wins, including Thursday night's 7-1 over the Hickory Crawdads.

 

An overflow crowd of 6,676 looked on at Appalachian Power Park, as the Power took advantage of timely hitting, opportunistic defense and superb pitching in besting the Crawdads.

 

West Virginia evened its second half record at 26-26 with the win, while Hickory dropped to 27-26.

 

Power left-handed starter Steve Garrison (6-5) rebounded nicely from a loss to Delmarva in his last outing, by tossing 6 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and one earned run.

 

After a rough first inning, Garrison, a 10th round pick in the 2005 draft, settled in to retire the side in order in three of the next four innings.

 

"It was a good performance tonight, no question," said Power pitching coach John Curtis. "He took us deep in the game, kept the ball down as well tonight as he's done all year and he mixed up his pitches.

 

"There are some strategic things to work on, but this kid's a competitor and he did a nice job against a tough, right-handed hitting lineup."

 

Even with the solid performance, Garrison was quick to give credit to a solid Power defensive effort, for his success on the mound.

 

"The defense was just tremendous behind me tonight," said Garrison, a Ewing, N.J., resident. "Coach was telling me to pitch to contact and with that defense, I was very confident."

 

Power infielders Mat Gamel, Ryan Barba, Mike Bell and Tony Festa helped Garrison out of a few jams by turning double plays in the first, fourth and seventh innings.

 

Right fielder Lorenzo Cain also threw out Hickory's Shelby Ford at the plate for the final out of the sixth inning.

 

"It's great to have a good defense behind you," Garrison said. "It helps your confidence because you know you don't have to strike everybody out. You can just let them hit it and be confident with the guys behind you."

 

Power reliever Patrick Ryan earned his first save by pitching 2 1/3 innings of one hit baseball. Ryan struck out four, while lowing his ERA to 2.00.

 

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, West Virginia tied it in the third on center fielder Darren Ford's fifth homer of the season.

 

The Power took the lead in the fourth, when catcher Brad Willcutt's sacrifice fly scored Bell, who had singled and moved to third on a single by Festa.

 

West Virginia added to its lead in the seventh on RBI singles by Barba and Cain.

 

Tree more runs plated in the eighth inning, highlighted by Festa's second two-run homer in as many nights. Nate Yoho closed out the scoring with a triple to left center, before scoring on an errant relay throw by Hickory shortstop Cameron Blair.

 

Power points -- The Power will conclude its four-game series against Hickory tonight at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). Power ace Will Inman (9-1, 1.48 ERA) will take the mound against Hickory's Todd Redmond (9-6, 2.92) ... Cain has now hit safely in six straight games and with 145 hits on the season, is five short of Charleston's Class A franchise record of 150. Cain leads the SAL in hitting with a .309 average.