Link Report for Saturday, August 12th - Standings Analysis

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu: Everybody hits the road 'cept the Maryvale bunch, and some impressive arms lead the way tonight...

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Carlos Villanueva at Albuquerque (Marlins), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Tim Dillard at Mississippi (Braves), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450radio.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Mike Jones at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.daytonacubs.com/

 

West Virginia: RHP Will Inman at Delmarva (Orioles), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: RHP Brock Kjeldgaard at Great Falls (White Sox), 7:45 PM pre-game; 8:00 gametime

 

Audio (click on "Listen Live"):

www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php

 

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

[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_albaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_msbaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_delafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_grfrok_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 Friday's action:

Things looking dicey for the punchless Sounds; it's a shame the Stars don't play Tennessee again -- they'll need some help, but we like their chances with that rotation; the Manatees missed their chance in the first-half with an inexplicable at-the-time two-week slide -- a total non-factor in the second half; wonderful individual performances for Power players all season -- somehow never translated to consistent winning on the field, odd and disappointing; it's not hard to make the playoffs in the Pioneer League (half the teams do) -- Billings won the first-half title, so Helena only needs to beat out Missoula and a weak Great Falls team to make the post-season; hopefully the Maryvale kids that will move on in the system learned some things along the way this summer...

 

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 63 57 .525 - 35-25 28-32 L4[/b] Iowa 62 57 .521 0.5 35-27 27-30 W2 Memphis 46 73 .387 16.5 26-34 20-39 L2 Omaha 45 75 .375 18.0 27-33 18-42 L5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 29 19 .604 - 16-9 13-10 W4 [b]Huntsville 25 22 .532 3.5 12-12 13-10 W5[/b] Chattanooga 25 23 .521 4.0 16-12 9-11 L3 West Tenn 23 25 .479 6.0 14-6 9-19 W1 Carolina 20 28 .417 9.0 14-9 6-19 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 28 19 .596 - 19-10 9-9 W2 St. Lucie 27 20 .574 1.0 14-9 13-11 W2 Palm Beach 26 23 .531 3.0 15-9 11-14 W1 [b]Brevard County 19 28 .404 9.0 9-9 10-19 L3[/b] Jupiter 19 28 .404 9.0 11-13 8-15 L2 Vero Beach 19 29 .396 9.5 11-14 8-15 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 31 16 .660 - 15-5 16-11 W2 Lake County 26 19 .578 4.0 13-9 13-10 W1 Hickory 25 22 .532 6.0 13-15 12-7 L1 Greensboro 24 22 .522 6.5 13-12 11-10 W2 [b]West Virginia 23 24 .489 8.0 12-9 11-15 L1[/b] Hagerstown 19 28 .404 12.0 10-17 9-11 L5 Lexington 19 28 .404 12.0 13-11 6-17 L1 Delmarva 16 30 .348 14.5 9-13 7-17 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 8 5 .615 - 5-2 3-3 W3 [b]Helena 7 6 .538 1.0 6-2 1-4 W2[/b] Missoula 7 6 .538 1.0 5-1 2-5 L2 Great Falls 4 9 .308 4.0 3-2 1-7 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Giants 10 3 .769 - 4-2 6-1 W5 AZL Angels 9 4 .692 1.0 2-0 7-4 W1 AZL Royals 9 4 .692 1.0 5-3 4-1 L1 AZL Padres 7 5 .583 2.5 4-3 3-2 L4 AZL Athletics 7 6 .538 3.0 6-2 1-4 W3 AZL Mariners 6 7 .462 4.0 5-2 1-5 W2 AZL Cubs 4 9 .308 6.0 1-6 3-3 L1 AZL Rangers 3 9 .250 6.5 3-3 0-6 L2 [b]AZL Brewers 2 10 .167 7.5 2-4 0-6 W1[/b]

[wibadgers23]

I love Will Inman.

[Will Inman Fan]

Will Inman ROCKS MY WORLD!!!!!!!!

[Mass Haas]

Final: Delmarva (Orioles) 6, West Virginia 3

Second time this week a Brewer affiliate has watched their opponent walk-off with a five-run ninth inning...

 

West Virginia Team Site Game Wrap:

 

SHOREBIRDS SURPRISE POWER IN THE NINTH

 

The West Virginia Power took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning of Saturday night?s game at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland. The Shorebirds scored five times, and won the game on Stu Musslewhite?s walk off three run homer, beating the Power 6-3.

 

The Power took an early 1-0 lead on Angel Salome?s Sacrifice Fly that scored Darren Ford in the top of the third inning. Michael Brantley provided the Sacrifice Fly to score Darren Ford in the fifth inning, putting the Power ahead by a pair. The Shorebirds cut the lead in half on Ryan Finan?s RBI double in the seventh.

 

The Power added a run in the ninth inning on a two out RBI single from Lorenzo Cain. Down 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Juan Gutierrez tied the game with a two run double, and Stu Musslewhite ended the contest with a walk off three run homer.

 

Power right hander Will Inman was fantastic once again. Inman surrendered a run on a hit with two walks and struck out a season high eleven batters through six and a third. Inman, who had gotten the victory in his last five starts, did not factor into the decision.

 

Blake Owen (7-3) got the win, and Kevin Roberts (5-10) got the loss. The Power are 62-55 on the year and 23-25 in the second half after the loss while the Shorebirds improved to 53-61 overall and 17-30 in the second half after the win.

 

The Power will finish the four game series against the Delmarva Shorebirds at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Right hander Kyle Schmidt (2-2, 4.10) will make the start for Delmarva and the Power will counter with right hander Shawn Ferguson (1-1, 5.89). The first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 PM.

 

 

West Virginia Box Score and Game Log Link:

Kevin Roberts, who had seemingly found his role in late relief, with a control meltdown in the 9th, gives way to Patrick Ryan, who surrenders a three-run walkoff blast. You see this all the time -- a reliever who likely had no idea that he might be needed, is brought in and is immediately lit up by the first batter he faces. Otherwise, Will Inman's the story, allowing only one hit and two walks (11 K's) in 6 1/3 -- the run Inman allowed was only after he left the game with his man on first base and one out; Lorenzo Cain reaches base four times; Darren Ford a triple and a single in his return to the lineup after nursing a hamstring injury for a bit...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_delafx_1

[biedergb]

Ho hum... Some more good pitching lines from Dillard and Inman. Also Mike Jones with 4 strong innings, good to see him with a few solids outings in a row. And Villanueva with a good start so far.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 3, Daytona (Cubs) 0

 

Milb Game Wrap

 

Manatees control Cubs

 

Mike Jones and two relievers combined on a five-hitter as visiting Brevard County beat Daytona, 3-0, on Saturday.

 

Jones, who pitched a season-high four innings for the third time this season, allowed four hits and a walk while striking out one. He has not recorded a decision in 11 starts, despite posting a 2.34 ERA and yielding just 27 hits and 13 walks in 34 2/3 innings.

 

Jeremy Lewis (2-6) gave up one hit and a walk while fanning three in three frames. Josh Alliston retired all six batters he faced for his eighth save as the Manatees (20-28) secured their first shutout since July 20 against Dunedin.

 

Brevard County's Adam Heether snapped a scoreless tie in the sixth with his first homer of the season. Milko Jaramillo added a two-run homer in the ninth.

 

Daytona starter Mark Holliman (7-10) allowed one run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings for the Cubs (28-20), who had won six of their previous eight games. --Carl Dispoto/MLB.com

 

Brevard County Box Score and Game Log Link:

Mike Jones (four IP), Jeremy Lewis, and Josh Alliston combine on the five-hitter; unlikely offensive heroes Milko Jaramillo (3-for-4, two-run HR in the 9th) and Freddy Parejo (two doubles); Adam Heether's sixth-inning solo shot was actually all the 'Tees needed; Brevard turns three double plays, including a big strike 'em out - throw 'em out in the 3rd...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1

 

pogo edit: I wonder greatly what Mike Jones prospect status now that we know his velocity is off by about 5 mph since his heydey in 2003...Will he be a starter at Huntsville next year, or a reliever? Will the Brewers push him?

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.news-journalonline.co...081306.htm

 

Cubs' bats vanish again

 

By SEAN KERNAN

Daytona Beach News-Journal Staff Writer

 

DAYTONA BEACH -- All good things must end and for the Daytona Cubs, a six-game winning streak against division rival Brevard County came to a screeching halt in a 3-0 loss Saturday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

 

A sixth-inning solo home run by third baseman Adam Heether was all the Manatees needed because for the third time in the last 14 games the Cubs failed to score a run.

 

Brevard County's Milko Jaramillo added a two-run blast off reliever Paul Schappert to make it 3-0 in the ninth inning.

 

It was the 15th time this season the two clubs have met in Florida State League play and that doesn't count the numerous exhibition games played against each other in spring training.

 

"All these guys, we're playing against most of them all of the way up so we know each other pretty well," Heether said. "Tonight, we were just coming out like, 'We're gonna win tonight. No question about it.' "

 

Heether's first home run this season in the Florida State League came on his 119th at-bat since he was transferred from the AA Huntsville Stars. The 2-2 fastball was near the middle of the plate and Heether took advantage.

 

The Cubs (28-20) came into the game leading the FSL East by one game over the St. Lucie Mets. Brevard County (20-28), a farm team of the Milwaukee Brewers, trails Daytona by eight games.

 

Cubs starter Mark Holliman (7-10) pitched well, going 6 1/3 innings. He allowed the home run and scattered five other hits while fanning five and walking a batter.

 

"I made a big mistake when I got myself in a count that dictated a fastball," Holliman said. "He got a good swing on an OK pitch. It was one of those situations where he knew what was coming and I knew I had to throw it. He won the battle obviously."

 

Cubs manager Buddy Bailey was more than pleased with Holliman's effort.

 

"Holliman gave us a really nice outing," Bailey said. ""It was a shame we didn't score any runs for him. When you leave a ballgame when he did and give up one run, that's a tough night."

 

Daytona had just five singles and no Cub had more than one hit.

 

Daytona Beach News-Journal Photo: Nigel Cook

Daytona Cubs Nate Spears connects for a single in the first inning Saturday against Brevard County Manatees at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. C.J. Medlin is behind the plate.

 

http://www.news-journalonline.com/downloads/CUBS1081306.JPG

[Mass Haas]

In progress: Mississippi (Braves) 4, Huntsville 2, after seven innings

Stars tied things at 2-2 in the top of the 7th, Matt Yeatman just gave up a two-run base hit with two out in the bottom of the inning, on a fly ball that landed oh so tantalizingly in front of right fielder Ron Acuna...

[Mass Haas]

RHP Wily Peralta is your Arizona Rookie starter, and with his best outing thus far, three innings of one-hit shutout ball (four K's) -- 2-0 A-Crew in the 3rd...

[Mass Haas]

Cole Gillespie your leadoff hitter for Helena tonight, interesting...

 

More miscellaneous notes and thoughts:

 

Glad the Sounds are up 4-0 behind Villanueva, but who had the daily-double of predicting Zach Sorensen and Brent Abernathy as your AAA corner outfielders back in March?

 

Brent Brewer's two-run HR was what has the Arizona kids up, he's had a really nice run after early struggles.

 

Brevard's Ryan Crew reached base twice again tonight; his OBP is nearly .400 in 46 games with the 'Tees -- he just seems like he's going to always be such a useful player...

[Mass Haas]

Stars go meekly in the 8th and 9th -- oh, did they waste chances earlier in the game -- lose, 4-2 in one that hurts.

 

If pogokat's with us later, he'll get you all caught up -- otherwise, catch you in the AM with details throughout the system.

[pogokat]

Final: Nashville 8, Albuequerque (Marlins) 2

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Carlos Villenueva photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2105

 

Sounds End Skid With 8-2 Win Over Isotopes

 

ALBUQUERQUE ? Second baseman Andrew Beattie went 4-for-5 with four RBIs, missing the cycle by a double, and starter Carlos Villanueva improved to 5-0 as the Nashville Sounds snapped a four-game losing streak with an 8-2 victory over Albuquerque on Saturday evening at Isotopes Park.

 

With the win, Nashville (64-57) maintained its one-game lead over Iowa in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

Beattie?s four hits marked a season high and the four RBIs were his most since driving in a career-best six for Louisville on September 1, 2003. The infielder has six hits in eight at-bats in the first two games of the series against Albuquerque.

 

Third baseman Vinny Rottino continued his red-hot hitting for the Sounds, finishing 2-for-3 with a double to increase his average to a season-best .301 on the year. He has hit safely in 26 of his last 31 games, batting .380 (41-for-108 ) over that stretch.

 

Villanueva (5-0) allowed one run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings to continue his undefeated streak at the Triple-A level. The right-hander walked four batters and struck out six. His ERA stands at 2.77 through seven outings for Nashville.

 

The Sounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on RBI singles by Beattie and Brent Abernathy off Albuquerque starter Jason Vargas.

 

Nashville upped the lead to 3-0 in the second when Tony Gwynn ripped his first of two doubles on the night, stole third for his 25th theft of the year, and scored on Chris Barnwell?s two-out RBI single.

 

Beattie?s fifth-inning triple off Vargas scored Barnwell to increase the Nashville lead to 4-0.

 

The Isotopes finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out, two-run double by Chris Ashby that made the score 4-2. Chris Aguila reached on a forceout against Villanueva and Matt Cepicky drew a walk from Mitch Stetter before Steve Bray was summoned from the bullpen to face Ashby and surrendered the two-bagger.

 

Beattie struck again in the top of the seventh when he clubbed his first home run as a Sound, a one-out solo shot to right off Isotopes reliever Jim Brower. The blast was his seventh of the year and extended the visitors? lead to 5-2.

 

AUDIO: Andrew Beattie's 1st Sounds HR --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...208-12.mp3

 

The Sounds wrapped up the evening?s scoring with a three-run eighth against the Albuquerque bullpen. Laynce Nix highlighted the action with a pinch-hit, two-run double off Joe Horgan that accounted for Nashville?s first pinch-hit RBIs in 37 games, dating back to July 3.

 

Beattie, who came to the plate needing a double to complete his cycle, added an RBI single later in the frame off Bart Miadich to extend the Nashville lead to its final 8-2 but the Sounds failed to capitalize further as they had the bases loaded with only one out. Graham Koonce, who finished 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, struck out and Abernathy grounded out against Miadich to end the inning.

 

Vargas (2-4) took the loss for Albuquerque after allowing four runs on seven hits over his six innings of work.

 

After allowing the two-run double to the first batter he faced, Bray settled down to work 1 1/3 scoreless frames to lower his Nashville ERA to a miniscule 0.66 (1 ER / 13.2 IP) in 13 appearances.

 

The teams continue the series with a 7:05 p.m. CT meeting on Sunday night. Left-hander Dana Eveland (3-3, 1.90) will toe the rubber for Nashville to face Isotopes southpaw Chris George (2-5, 5.80).

 

Nashville Box Score and Game Log Link:

Vinny Rotino batting .300...he deserves Krynzel's 40 man spot..he's performed above expectations at every level, and i have no reason to believe that he wont be a successful major leaguer..

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c..._albaaa_1

[pogokat]

Final: Mississippi (Braves) 4, Huntsville 2

 

Huntsville Site Game Review:

link, then text:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=965

 

Seventh Inning Rally Sinks Stars

 

Yunel Escobar?s two-out, two-run single snapped a tie and sent Mississippi to a 4-2 win over Huntsville Saturday night in the fourth game of a five-game set at Trustmark Park in Pearl. The Stars dropped to 25-23 in the second half and to four and a half games behind front-running Tennessee in the North Division after the Smokies win over Chattanooga, while the Braves improved to 21-28 in the second half. The Stars five-game win streak was brought to a close and they fell to 6-3 on the road trip that ends Sunday afternoon.

 

Josh Burrus opened the seventh inning against reliever Matt Yeatman by reaching on a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Braun, moved to second on a base hit by Luis Hernandez and to third base on a one-out walk to pinch-hitter Mike Rozema. Onil Joseph popped out for the second out before Escobar?s line drive landed just in front of right fielder Ron Acuna for a single that plated Burrus and Hernandez with the decisive runs. Yeatman suffered his first loss since May 12 after allowing two unearned runs on two hits and a walk in his one inning of work.

 

Acuan?s two-out single in the top of the inning scored pinch-hitter Brad Nelson with the tying run. Zach Schreiber took over in the eighth inning and set down all six hitters he faced, striking out five, including the side in the ninth, to record his 18th save in 19 chances. Mississippi starter Matt Harrison allowed one unearned run over six innings on three hits and has held the Stars to that lone run over 13 innings in two starts.

 

Chipper Jones led off the fourth inning with a single, moved to third base on a throwing error by Stars? starter Tim Dillard and scored on a Jarrod Saltamacchia sacrifice fly to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Jones was taken out after the half inning and wound up with one hit in six at-bats in his two day rehab stint. The Stars tied the game in the fifth inning on a run-scoring single by Callix Crabbe and fell behind again in the bottom half of the frame on a two-out, run-scoring single by Joseph.

 

The series concludes Sunday afternoon with Stars? left-hander Manny Parra taking the hill, while the Braves will counter with left-hander Dan Smith. Coverage of the game begins at 12:50 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 Link:

Braun 0-4 with a costly error, not good...but his overall stats are great..Tim Dillard putting up a very good season. how hard does he throw? Anyone? He's about the only Brewers farmhand starter above R+ that I havent seen pitch, so fill me in...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c..._msba

[pogokat]

Suspended: Helena 5, Great Falls (White Sox) 2, after seven innings

 

Helena Independent Record:

 

Brew, White Sox match comes to halt

By IR STAFF

 

The Helena Brewers will have to wait until today to determine if they won Saturday?s game with the Great Falls White Sox.

 

The Brewers held a 5-2 lead into the seventh inning when a sudden downpour caused the game to be suspended.

 

The two teams have scheduled the final innings to be played at 4:00 PM today (5:00 Central), pushing their second game scheduled for the same time back an hour or so.

 

Great Falls had an early lead when Christian Marrero doubled in the third inning, scoring Scott Madsen and Lee Cruz, but the Brewers came back with runs in the fifth and seventh innings.

 

Bill Rowe scored for Helena in the fifth when Brad Miller grounded out in the fifth, closing in on the White Sox?s lead.

 

In a costly seventh, Great Falls? Ryan Wing walked Andy Bouchie and Zach Clem, who were both brought home on a three-run homer by Fredy De La Cruz.

 

Steven Spurgeon replaced Ryan Wing, and Nick Walters replaced him after just one hitter.

 

Spurgeon walked Cole Gillespie but Walters threw two wild pitches to Stephen Chapman allowing Miller to advance and eventually score.

 

De La Cruz?s home run is his fourth on the year, tying him for third on the team with Bouchie.

 

While Great Falls? bullpen deteriorated, the Brewers had solid outings by Brock Kjeldgaard and Zach Braddock.

 

Kjeldgaard started through five innings and gave up the two runs on five hits. Braddock has given up three hits while striking out two in his time on the mound.

 

The bottom of the seventh inning will resume with Great Falls? Lee Cruz on first base with two outs.

 

***

Link for Brock Kjeldgaard photo, text follows:

 

www.greatfallstribune.com...30338/1006

 

Rain delays Sox verdict

By GEORGE GEISE

Great Falls Tribune Sports Editor

 

If the Great Falls White Sox played in the major leagues, Saturday night's swift and violent rainstorm would have given the team a badly needed victory.

 

But since the Sox play in the rookie-level Pioneer League, the storm merely provided a reprieve.

 

The Helena Brewers led the Sox 5-2 when the downpour arrived about 9:15 p.m. at Centene Stadium. The Sox had two outs and one runner on base in the bottom of the seventh when the umpires finally called for a suspension of play. After a delay of about 30 minutes, it was ruled that play will resume this afternoon with the Brewers leading by three runs and Mike Grace at the plate.

 

If the Pioneer League used major league rules, the score would have reverted to the end of the last full inning ? when the Sox led 2-1 ? and Great Falls would have earned its fifth victory against nine second-half defeats. As it is, the Sox will need a big rally to win the suspended game, then they'll meet the Brewers in a scheduled nine-inning contest to follow at about 5.

 

Helena grabbed the lead in the seventh by scoring four runs against three Sox pitchers. The key blow was a three-run homer by Fredy De La Cruz, which followed two walks issued by Sox lefty Ryan Wing.

 

Wing, a 24-year-old who was a top prospect before being injured in 2004, was making his second rehab appearance of the season. He retired Helena in order in the sixth, but lost his control in the seventh. He walked Andy Bouchie and Zach Clem, struck out Bill Rowe, then gave up the homer to DeLaCruz.

 

After Brad Miller followed with a double, Sox manager Bobby Tolan pulled Wing in favor of Steve Spurgeon, who walked the only batter he faced before being replaced by Nick Walters.

 

Walters struck out the two batters he faced, but not before tossing two wild pitches to bring in the fourth run of the inning.

 

The seventh-inning collapse ruined a fine mound performance by Sox starter Tim Day, who hurled five innings and gave up just one run on four hits. The Brewers scored once in the fifth on Miller's RBI grounder.

 

The Sox scored their runs in the third when Christian Marrero sliced a two-out double to left-center to score Scott Madsen and Lee Cruz.

 

Those were the only runs given up by Helena starter Brock Kjeeldgaard, who can't figure in the decision. If the score doesn't change this afternoon, the winner will be 18-year-old lefty Zach Braddock.

 

DeLaCruz was 3-for-3 with a double and homer.

 

Cruz had two singles to lead Great Falls' eight-hit attack.

 

Helena Suspended Box Score and Game Log Link:

For a change, all the production from the lower part of the lineup...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_grfrok_1

[pogokat]

Final: Arizona Brewers 8, Arizona Angels 3

 

Good win for the youngest of the young---Brent Brewer has actually been coming on quite a bit lately, and while his current numbers don't scream successful season, given that we know he was very raw coming in, i think we can definitely call this a productive year...perhaps he can still raise the batting and obp up in the next two weeks...His power potential is obvious.

 

Arizona Box Score and Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c..._brrr

[And That]

Interesting stat of the night: Charlie Iacano of the Baby Brewers has 10 hits and 13 stolen bases.

[DHonks]

don't look now, but Jones has his ERA under 3! Here's hoping he continues his hot streak.

 

And boy, pitching sure is fun to follow this year

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Manager Frank Kremblas:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...208-12.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.clarionledger.com/app...30383/1254

 

M-Braves end 3-game skid

Rehabbing Atlanta star Jones contributes fourth-inning single before record crowd of 7,652

By Mike Christensen

mchristensen@clarionledger.com

 

PEARL ? Chipper Jones, the guest of honor, got a big hit and a big roar from the crowd Saturday night at Trustmark Park, but it took an assortment of small contributions from the regular crew for the Mississippi Braves to stop a three-game losing skid.

 

Matt Harrison made a quality start, Yunel Escobar chipped in a clutch hit in the seventh inning and Zach Schreiber notched his 18th save as the M-Braves beat Huntsville 4-2.

 

An announced crowd of 7,652, breaking the park record set Friday, turned out for the second and final game of Jones' injury rehabilitation assignment with the Double-A team.

 

Jones, the Atlanta Braves' third baseman, went 1-for-2. He scored the game's first run in the fourth inning on a Jarrod Saltalamacchia sac fly, and then departed. He had planned for just two at-bats.

 

Jones said Friday he hoped to be in Atlanta's lineup today against Milwaukee. Jones went on the DL on July 30 with a strained oblique in his left side.

 

"You'd like to get some hits and please the crowd a little bit," Jones said after going hitless in Friday's game, which drew an announced 7,577.

 

The crowd erupted Saturday when Jones ripped a 1-2 pitch from Saltillo native Tim Dillard up the middle to lead off the fourth. Dillard had struck out Jones in the first, throwing two fastballs past him and fanning him on an off-speed pitch.

 

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about it - I mean it's Chipper Jones," Dillard said. "This is the guy I've been watching on TV all these years."

 

Dillard, son of former Ole Miss and major league player Steve Dillard, was Milwaukee's minor league pitcher of the year in 2005 and entered Saturday's game with an 8-7 record and 3.38 ERA in his first Double-A season. He went six innings Saturday, allowing two runs.

 

M-Braves starter Harrison also went six, departing with a 2-1 lead.

 

Onil Joseph's RBI single off Dillard in the fifth had given the M-Braves the 2-1 lead, but the Stars tied it in the seventh against Glenn Tucker (2-3), who wound up getting the win.

 

Escobar delivered the go-ahead runs in the seventh with an opposite-field single that came with the bases loaded, two outs and a 2-2 count against Matt Yeatman.

 

"It was a fastball away, and I tried to hit it hard to the right side," the Spanish-speaking Escobar said, with Joseph translating. "I'm feeling good (at the plate) right now. It's a long season and I want to finish strong."

 

Schreiber made the lead stand up with a dominating display of power, fanning five in two perfect innings.

 

"I'm just concentrating on trying to finish guys off, not blowing them away," said Schreiber, now 18-for-19 on save chances. "When I get two strikes, I want to finish it rather than let them get the bat on it."

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1

 

Stars notebook

Covering the bases

Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

 

The Stars' late-season drive toward a possible playoff spot may have begun too late, and many hurdles remain. But Huntsville seems on the way to at least winning the Alabama state championship.

 

The Stars are 25-18 this year against the other three teams from the state. They are 12-7 against Birmingham, 9-6 vs. Mobile and 4-5 vs. Montgomery. They need only to win three in their final series at Birmingham and have Montgomery lose two of its remaining seven in-state games to clinch the very-unofficial title.

 

Montgomery, going into Saturday's game against Mobile, was 22-20 against Alabama teams. Mobile was 22-26, with only two remaining, and Birmingham was 22-27, with 11 in-state games left. ...

 

Luther Hackman, a journeyman right-hander with 149 big-league appearances, has joined the Stars. He was signed by the Brewers from the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League. The 31-year-old pitched in the majors for Colorado, St. Louis and San Diego, going 9-10 with one save and a 5.09 ERA. He spent 2005 pitching in Korea. ... Should every Stars game be televised? They have seldom looked better than in Thursday's doubleheader at Mississippi that was broadcast by CSS. ... Callix Crabbe had six hits in seven at-bats and Ron Acuna his first homer of the season in that impressive sweep. ...

 

Manager Don Money points out a key in the Stars' second half surge has been the appearance of the long-ball. "We don't have to sit around and hope for two or three or four hits in a row to have a big inning," he said. The Stars have 56 homers, tied with Mississippi for last in the league. ...

 

The arrival of Ryan Braun, with seven homers, is more than coincidence to the homer surge. Since his June 21 debut, Huntsville has 29 homers in 44 games, compared to 27 homers in the first 72.

 

Around the league

 

Baseball America's annual "Best Tools" issue is out, and the Stars were skunked among "Best" in the Southern League, though Braun's stint in the Florida State League was long enough to have him tabbed best batting prospect. ... Chattanooga's Joey Votto was named best batting prospect and ex-Carolina Mudcat Anibel Sanchez best pitching prospect. ... One of Tampa Bay's top prospects is Evan Longoria - no relation to the actress Eva Longoria - and he's scorching for the Montgomery Biscuits now. The first-round draft pick out of Long Beach, is 7-for-14 since his promotion from Single-A ball. If Evan were to meet Eva, he once told si.com, "I would hope for extra bases. Definitely not a home run." ... Birmingham pulled off a triple play Monday against Tennessee, the first for a Barons team since Aug. 31, 1974. ... Triple Crown update on Votto: His chances are fading. The Lookouts' first baseman continues to lead the league with 21 homers and his .314 average is tops, though Tennessee's Danny Richard is at .313. And Jacksonville's Craig Brazell is running away in RBIs now, 81-69.

 

Brewings

 

Triple-A Nashville Sounds (63-57 before Saturday's play, first place in Pacific Coast League American Division): Four-game losing streak. Reliever Dennis Sarfate has allowed only one hit in his last six innings.

 

Single-A Brevard County Manatees (19-28, fifth in Florida State East Division this half): Lost six of seven last week. Reliever Joe Thatcher, 3-1, 0.41 ERA, after 2.43 ERA, 10 saves at West Virginia.

 

Single-A West Virginia Power (23-24, fourth in South Atlantic League Northern Division this half): OF Lorenzo Cain 30 SBs, .303.

 

Single-A Helena Brewers (7-6, second in Pioneer League North second half) OF Chris Errecart, 8 HRs, 42 RBIs, .321 in 48 games.

 

On deck

 

The Stars end their trip at Mississippi this afternoon, then open a five-game series Tuesday against Carolina, the Marlins' Double-A affiliate. Watch for: Pitcher Paul Mildren 10-7, 3.85), tied for league lead in strikeouts.

[litesrn]

Wow, when did the Brewers ever have such potential pitching depth in their system?http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Yo, Inman, Dillard, not to mention that past prospects like Jones are now apparently back on track?

[Cyanogen5]

Whiteside with 5 passed balls in the game!! I wonder if he is at catcher to stay...he did spend quite a lot of time as an outfielder last year.

[hsvstarsfan]

STARS HELD AGAIN BY HARRISON

Moss left three times at third by Acuna

A second straight record crowd at Trustmark Park, wanting a last look, and no doubt, autographs from Chipper Jones.

The Stars dropped another game behind Tennessee, as the Smokies won their 5th straight (8 of their last 10) in defeating Chattanooga, Saturday night. They are now 4½ in back of first, still in 2nd place after the Diamond Jaxx and the Suns game was suspended in the 4th by rain, with the Suns ahead 1-0.

The Stars again were blanked by Matt Harrison, making just his 9th appearance with the Braves....... The 6'5" lefty ranks 10th among the Braves' top prospects (by Baseball America)....... The last time he faced the Stars, on July 15, he tossed 7 scoreless innings at the Joe giving up 5 hits without walking a batter. He gave up a leadoff triple to Steve Moss in that game, but Harrison beat Dillard that day, 3-0.

Harrison (3-2, 3.04) now has held the Stars to just one run in 13 innings, and that was an unearned run in the 5th inning.

It was a frustrating night for the Stars, who kept it close, but never held a lead, but they were not without opportunities that were remindful of the total wreck that was the first half of the season. In the 5th, the Stars had runners on 2nd and 3rd and couldn't score........ Three times, Steve Moss (3-for-4, 2 stolen bases) was left stranded on third .

In the 1st inning, Steve Moss led off by legging out an infield single over the mound that Yuni Escobar couldn't handle. Moss went to second on a balk on what started as a one-hop throw by Harrison to get him on a stolen base attempt.after a 3-2 pitch to Callix Crabbe. Moss was a dead duck, but the balk was called by umpire Eric Loveless....... Moss went to third on a fly ball by Ryan Braun for the first out, but Ron Acuna struck out and Jeff Eure grounded out to Chipper Jones to end the inning.

The Stars missed another chance to send Moss in from third in the 3rd inning....... Moss singled past a diving Chipper Jones with one out. Callix Crabbe nearly reached, but was retired on a nice catch by Brandon Jones of a sinking liner. His return throw sailed past the bag at first, but catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia backed him up........ Moss stole second with Braun at the plate, and reached third when Chipper threw an off-line one-hop throw to first on Braun's sharp grounder behind the bag at third, but again, Ron Acuna stranded a runner in scoring position when he struck out.

The Stars trailed 1-0 on an unearned run in the 4th, the 3rd straight time the Braves have scored that way, but they rallied to even the game in the top of the 5th. But it was deja vu, as Moss was stranded again at third by Acuna.

After Travis Ezi popped out to start the inning, Tim Dillard bounced a ground ball to 1st baseman Mike Rosamond, who tried to make a backhand play, but failed, and he was charged with an error. Moss then walked, pushing Dillard to second....... Callix singled up the middle to score Dillard and tie the game, moving Moss to second. With a count of 1-0 on Ryan Braun, the double steal put both runners in scoring position, but Braun was called out on strikes and Acuna flied out to end the inning.

With Glenn Tucker now on the mound for the Braves, the Stars evened the game in the 7th...... Brad Nelson, pinch-hitting for Dillard, and Moss opened with singles. This time, with two out, Acuna came through, grounding a ball past Rosamond to right, a ball Rosamond should have fielded, but it scored Nelson to tie the game up at 2-2....... Acuna has had hits now in 11 of his last 12 games, having lost his 10-game hitting streak, Friday night........ The Stars inability to execute hurt them again, though. On another double-steal attempt with the count 1-and-2 to Jeff Eure, Saltalamacchia took Tucker's low-and-inside pitch and fired to second trying to catch Acuna, who was attempting to take second, but Moss broke for the plate, perhaps seeing that Acuna would surely be tagged out, and Moss was tagged out on a throw from Yunil Escobar to Saltalamacchia.

The Braves came right back in the bottom of the inning to score what would be the winning run on a two-out, two run single by Escobar. Zach Schreiber picked up his 3rd save against the Stars in as many appearances to close the game, and his 18th in 19 opportunities.

Sunday, in just 15 minutes from now, the Stars will send Manny Parra (1-0, 2.70) against Dan Smith (3-6, 3.45)....... Smith no-hit the Stars for five innings in his only start against the Stars this year on July 16th. Since then, he's given up just one earned run in 17 2/3 innings in 4 starts, but won only one of them, his last start against Montgomery in which he gave up 3 hits in 6 innings.

The Stars have won 14 of their last 19 games, hitting .264 in the process, but the starting rotation has put up a fine 3.09 ERA and it's been going down....... Brad Nelson hit in the 7th inning moved him into 9th place on the Stars all-time hit list, ahead of Joel Wolfe (1993-95). Nelson is 5th on the list in games played (291) and is 4th in at-bats (1,049). He is one of only six Stars in their history with over 1,000 career at-bats. An impressive, but rather dubious distinction......... Ryan Braun is hitting .297 on this road trip, but he has kept his average above .300 since July 29th. He's hit .328 during the Stars' 19-game hot streak, but Callix Crabbe is the one swinging the hot bat, going 25-for-71 with a .352 average........ Aside from Carlos Lee's .316, the Stars' two other catchers, Lou Palmisano and J.C. Boscan, have not pulled their weight, going a combined 11-for-67 (.164).

Chris Michalak (1995-96) is back in the majors for the first time since 2002. The Reds purchased his contract from Class AAA-Louisville (Int'l.). They like the 35-year old's outstanding pickoff move. He was 9-5, 3.00 for the Bats in 22 starts.

Ryan Knox may be done in pro ball. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays released him August 2nd after hitting .149 in 25 games...... Knox played with the Stars from 2001-2004, hitting .236 with 6 HRs and 52 RBIs in 255 games, tying him for 17th on the Stars' all-time list.

The Stars will open the 2007 season at home against the Braves on April 5........ The Southern League has released their 2007 schedule, keeping the present five-game series format "to cut down our travel and eliminate back-to-back series" according to league president Don Mincher........The 2007 SL All-Star game will be played at Trustmark Park....... The Stars will finish the season, like this season, at Hoover Met against the Barons........ Look for the calendar-type schedule on my web site soon.

Brett Evert, who was released by the Stars on July 15, was picked up by the Boston Red Sox and assigned to Pawtucket. He has since dropped down to Class AA-Portland (Eastern). Thursday, Evert pitched an inning against Harrisburg in the Sea Dogs' blowout 13-4 win.

Butler, Alabama native Johnny Ruffin, resigned as pitching coach for the Chillicothe Paints of the Frontier League after he was arrested in June for failing to register as a sex offender, according to the Chillicothe Gazette....... Ruffin, a 4th round pick by the White Sox in 1988, pitched for the Birmingham Barons in 1992 and 1993 before making it to the majors with the Cincinnati Reds in 1993........ Ruffin was 0-7 for the '92 Barons, losing to the Stars 3-1 in a May 2 game that saw only four hits between both teams, and 3-0 on May 17. The next season, he was 0-4 for Birmingham, losing to the Stars, 2-1, on April 24. On July 31, the Sox traded Ruffin to the Reds with pitcher Jeff Pierce for Tim Belcher -- yes, that Tim Belcher.

Former Mobile Bay Bear Nick Trzesniak was traded to the Texas Rangers, August 6, and assigned to Oklahoma..... Mobile, meanwhile, has picked up former Birmingham Barons pitcher Jim Bullard. Bullard started the season with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Blue Jays' AA farm club. Bullard pitched for the Barons from 2002-2005.

Baseball America released their annual "Best Tools" survey. No Huntsville Star received any notice this year, but Ryan Braun was named as best batting prospect from the Florida State League........ Former Stars 2nd baseman, now Mobile manager Gary Jones was named as the Southern League's best managerial prospect........ Nelson Cruz, who has since been traded to the Texas Rangers, was named the PCL's best power prospect......... West Virginia Power pitcher Will Inman was named best pitching prospect in the Sally League....... Alcides Escobar was named best defensive shortstop in the Florida State League.