Link Report for Games of Sunday, July 30th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Zach Jackson at home vs. Salt Lake (Angels), 5:40 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Steve Hammond at home vs. Chattanooga (Reds), 1:50 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450radio.com/

 

Brevard County: Idle

 

West Virginia: LHP Steve Garrison will pick things up in the third inning of Saturday's suspended game at Savannah (Nationals), 10:55 AM pre-game, 11:05 gametime; TBD follows in the seven-inning nightcap

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: RHP Chris Jean at home vs. Billings (Reds), 4:50 PM pre-game; 5:05 gametime

 

Audio (click on "Listen Live"):

www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php

 

Arizona: TBD at home in Maryvale vs. the rookie Padres' kids, 9:00 PM Central time, never any web audio for the Arizona League

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday'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

 

West Virginia, Completion of Saturday's Suspended Game:

No linescore or game log, but box score will otherwise be intact...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_savafx_1

 

West Virginia, Regularly Scheduled Game:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_savafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_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 58 50 .537 - 34-23 24-27 L3[/b] Iowa 54 53 .505 3.5 30-24 24-29 L2 Memphis 43 64 .402 14.5 25-31 18-33 W3 Omaha 43 64 .402 14.5 26-26 17-38 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 21 15 .583 - 13-7 8-8 L1 Chattanooga 20 16 .556 1.0 13-7 7-9 L1 West Tenn 19 17 .528 2.0 12-4 7-13 W1 [b]Huntsville 17 18 .486 3.5 10-10 7-8 W6[/b] Carolina 12 24 .333 9.0 8-7 4-17 L7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 22 13 .629 - 15-9 7-4 L1 St. Lucie 19 16 .543 3.0 10-9 9-7 L1 Palm Beach 16 21 .432 7.0 8-8 8-13 W1 [b]Brevard County 15 20 .429 7.0 6-5 9-15 W2[/b] Vero Beach 15 21 .417 7.5 9-12 6-9 L1 Jupiter 13 21 .382 8.5 8-12 5-9 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 24 12 .667 - 12-5 12-7 W2 Lake County 19 15 .559 4.0 11-8 8-7 L1 Hickory 19 17 .528 5.0 8-12 11-5 W1 Greensboro 16 18 .471 7.0 8-9 8-9 L1 Hagerstown 16 19 .457 7.5 9-14 7-5 W1 [b]West Virginia 15 19 .441 8.0 7-6 8-13 L1[/b] Lexington 13 22 .371 10.5 7-9 6-13 L1 Delmarva 12 22 .353 11.0 7-11 5-11 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 1 0 1.000 - 0-0 1-0 W1 [b]Helena 1 0 1.000 - 1-0 0-0 W1[/b] Great Falls 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1 Missoula 0 1 .000 1.0 0-1 0-0 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Royals 3 0 1.000 - 2-0 1-0 W3 AZL Padres 1 0 1.000 1.0 1-0 0-0 W1 AZL Giants 2 1 .667 1.0 1-1 1-0 W1 AZL Angels 1 1 .500 1.5 1-0 0-1 W1 AZL Rangers 1 1 .500 1.5 1-0 0-1 W1 AZL Athletics 1 2 .333 2.0 1-0 0-2 W1 AZL Cubs 1 2 .333 2.0 0-0 1-2 L1 AZL Mariners 1 2 .333 2.0 1-1 0-1 L2 [b]AZL Brewers 0 2 .000 2.5 0-1 0-1 L2[/b]

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 6, Savannah (Nationals) 5, completion of Saturday's suspended game

More details from Power site later on...

 

West Virginia Game One Box Score Link:

No linescore or game log, but box score is otherwise intact; Mat Gamel leads the way, on base four times; Lorenzo Cain and Angel Salome 0-for-10 combined with four K's, yet the Power hang on; yes, that's former Toby Power 50 favorite Francisco Plasencia leading off for the Sand Gnats; Steve Garrison gets the win despite allowing two home runs and five runs in his five innings; Kevin Roberts is rockin' in his new relief role...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_savafx_1

[pogokat]

after plascencia was released, he actually went back to his home country and returned to playing local ball for kicks...and was subsequently re-scouted and signed by the nats...dude must feel like he was reincarnated or something...

[Mass Haas]

RHP Matt Kretzschmar is your Power pitcher in Game Two. Scoreless after two innings...

[Mass Haas]

With only one out in the Huntsville first inning:

 

Callix Crabbe triples (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Noochie Varner. Callix Crabbe out at home, left fielder Noochie Varner to shortstop Gary Patchett to catcher Miguel Perez.

 

Trying for inside-the-park home runs rules when there's two outs.

 

Remember the Eric Young out-at-home attempt leading off a game? Worst attempt ever...

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia bats around in the 3rd, scoring four runs for a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th in this seven-inning game.

 

The big inning started when shortstop Ryan Barba smoked a triple, his 7th hit of the season, but first above the Maryvale Rookie ball level. Of Barba's seven hits, one has been a double and three have been triples.

[Mass Haas]

Fun day!

 

West Virginia 6th inning, game two:

 

Mat Gamel hits an inside-the-park home run (12) on a fly ball down the right-field line. Darren Ford scores. Michael Bell scores.

 

Came with two outs http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

Gamel's second home run of the day, the first being more traditional.

 

Power up 9-1 late in this one...

[wibadgers23]

Is Salome hurt? I haven't seen his name in the box score for a few games.

[Mass Haas]

Is Salome hurt? I haven't seen his name in the box score for a few games.

 

He played in Game One, extended from last night. He receives the occasional game off when he's not catching or DH'ing, but no more than usual lately.

[Mass Haas]

Final, regularly scheduled game: West Virginia 9, Savannah (Nationals) 6, seven innings

Details from Power site later on...

 

West Virginia Game Two Box Score and Game Log Link:

RHP Ryan Marion couldn't mop up with the 9-1 lead; closer Dane Renkert is a workhorse; Darren Ford (3-for-4 at the plate) now 48-for-61 in SB attempts; Mat Gamel drives in six...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_savafx_1

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Site Doubleheader Summary:

 

POWER TAKE TWO FROM SAVANNAH

 

The West Virginia Power offense scored 15 runs on 21 hits in Sunday?s doubleheader against the Savannah Sand Gnats and won both ends, taking game one 6-5 and winning game two 9-6.

 

In game one the Power scored four times in the second inning and never looked back. Ned Yost and Ryan Barba drove in runs on RBI groundouts, Michael Brantley ripped a run-scoring double and Darren Ford finished the four-run frame with an RBI single. Savannah cut the 4-0 lead in half in the bottom of the sixth inning on Ofilio Castro?s RBI base hit and a run-scoring double from Dee Brown.

 

The Power took the runs back by scoring twice in the seventh inning. Kenny Holmberg drove in the first run on an RBI groundout and Brantley drove in the second run on an RBI single. The Sand Gnats homered twice in the bottom of the seventh to come within a run. Brian Peacock hit a two-run homer and Francisco Plasencia hit a solo shot to make it a 6-5 game. The Sand Gnats had runners on first and second base when Kevin Roberts struck out Ofilio Castro in the ninth to end it.

 

In the second game, the Power offense blew up in the third inning with four runs to take an early lead. Tony Festa, Nestor Corredor and Brantley all chipped in with RBI singles, and Mat Gamel drove in his first of six runs on a sacrifice fly.

 

Castro came through for Savannah, knocking in their first run on an RBI single in the fourth inning. Gamel hit an opposite field two-run homer, his eleventh of the season in the top of the fifth inning, and he hit a three-run inside the park home run to put the Power up 9-1 in the top of the sixth. The Sand Gnats did not go quietly. They put up five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Castro drove in three on a double, Pahuta doubled to score Castro and Pahuta crossed the plate later in the inning on Reggie Fitzpatrick?s single.

 

In game one Steve Garrison (5-4) earned the victory, Roberts (2) earned the save and Gene Yost (7-4) got the loss. Matt Kretzschmar (3-4) allowed only a run on six hits through five innings to get the win in game two while Dane Renkert (7) got the save and Mario Estrada (0-2) obtained the loss. The Power are 56-49 overall and 17-19 in the second half after the wins while the Sand Gnats fell to 45-62 overall and 17-20 in the second half after the losses.

 

The Power will finish the four-game series against the Sand Gnats at Grayson Stadium on Monday night. Left hander John Lannan (5-6, 5.13) will make the start for Savannah and the Power will counter with left hander Dave Welch (3-6, 2.84). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Final: Chattanooga (Reds) 4, Huntsville 0

Just when we were starting to get hooked...

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=945

 

Stars Stalled in Quest for Seventh Straight Win

 

Eddy Valdez and two relievers combined on a seven-hit shutout, as Chattanooga blanked Huntsville 4-0 Sunday afternoon in the second of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium. The Lookouts improved to 21-16 in the second half and stayed within one game of front-running Tennessee in the North Division, while the Stars dropped to 17-19 and saw their six-game win streak brought to an end. Huntsville was shut out for a fourteenth time this season and for the eleventh time on home soil.

 

Noochie Varner singled to lead off the fourth inning, moved to third base on a one-out double by Javier Colina and scored the first run of the game on a Chris Dickerson ground out. Rick Asadoorian doubled to open the fifth inning, moved to third when Steve Hammond walked Ryan Hanigan and Varner with one out and scored on Miguel Perez' sacrifice fly, the third of the series for the visitors. Hammond was taken out after five frames during which he gave up two runs on four hits and four walks. The southpaw struck out four and dropped to 3-3 in seven starts with the Stars.

 

Dickerson led off the eighth inning against Matt Yeatman and drove his second pitch over the wall in center field to make it 3-0. It was his fourth home run of the season and first since May 23. Yeatman walked the bases loaded and Hanigan knocked in the final run of the game with a ground ball out. The Stars also lost a five-game home win streak and fell four and a half games behind the Smokies, who scored in the ninth inning to down West Tenn 6-5.

 

Callix Crabbe sliced a line drive to center field with one out in the first inning that got past a diving Dickerson and was retrieved by left fielder Varner, who threw to shortstop Gary Patchett, who made a one-hop throw to the plate that was in time to cut down Crabbe in his bid for an inside-the-park home run. Valdez yielded three hits over the next six frames, walked one and fanned five to earn his seventh win of the year. He has thrown 14 1/3 scoreless innings in his last two starts. Calvin Medlock worked a scoreless eighth inning and Jon Coutlangus a scoreless ninth to preserve the Lookouts sixth shutout of the season. Huntsville did not push a runner past second base after the first inning.

 

The series continues Monday night with right-hander Yovani Gallardo starting for Huntsville against Lookouts? left-hander Tyler Pelland. 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 Link:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Who are these Helena Brewers? And what did you do with the old ones? No wait, we like these better...

 

In progress: Helena 3, Billings (Reds) 0, after seven innings

19 consecutive scoreless innings (and counting) to start the season's second half -- Chris Jean with six scoreless tonight; another Chris, Chris Errecart, with home run # 7 -- that's tied for second-most in the Pioneer League...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 3, Billings (Reds) 1

Full details from the Helena Independent in the AM...

 

Helena Box Score and Game Log Link:

Check out the Billings 8th -- listened to it, and yes, two doubles, a single, and no runs -- 9th inning was no cakewalk, either; H-Crew 2-0 in the second half...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

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

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-30.mp3

 

Final: Salt Lake (Angels) 7, Nashville 2

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Laynce Nix photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2087

 

Morales' Big Night Leads Bees Past Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Salt Lake first baseman Kendry Morales belted a pair of home runs and recorded a season-high five RBIs to lead the visiting Bees to a come-from-behind 7-2 victory over the Nashville Sounds on Sunday evening at Greer Stadium.

 

For the second night in a row, Salt Lake trailed at the game?s halfway point then scored seven unanswered runs to record a victory. Nashville (58-51) suffered its fourth straight loss and had its lead in the PCL American Conference Northern Division reduced to only 2 ½ games over Iowa.

 

Morales was one of five Salt Lake batters with two knocks in the contest as the Bees pounded out a dozen hits against Nashville pitching one night after registering 14 safeties against the Sounds.

 

The Sounds offense broke out in the home half of the fourth plating two runs against Salt Lake starter Nathan Bland to break a scoreless tie. The newly-acquired Laynce Nix led off with a single and moved to third on first baseman Graham Koonce?s double to right. Koonce?s 12th two-bagger of the year extended his current hitting streak to four games, which ties his season high.

 

With runners on second and third, Vinny Rottino plated Nix with the first run of the game on an RBI single to center field. Koonce gave the Sounds a two-run lead when he crossed home on a Dave Krynzel RBI chopper back to the pitcher.

 

AUDIO: Vinny Rottino RBI Single --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-30.mp3

 

Nix went 2-for-3 with a walk in his first game for Nashville to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games. He was riding a nine-game hitting streak in Oklahoma before being traded to the Brewers organization on Friday.

 

Rottino finished 2-for-4 on the night to raise his team-leading July average to .350 (28-for-80).

 

The Bees knotted the game up at twos in the sixth inning. With Erick Aybar on first base, Morales hit the first offering from Sounds starter Zach Jackson over the right-field fence. The round tripper was Morales? sixth of the season.

 

Salt Lake snapped the 2-2 tie with a four-hit, five-run seventh inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Jackson got Casey Smith to hit a potential inning-ending grounder to shortstop Chris Barnwell, but Bees center fielder Tommy Murphy slid hard into second baseman Zach Sorensen to break up the double play. The visitors plated two runs on the play to grab a 4-2 advantage. It was the second time in the game that Nashville failed to execute a turnable double play.

 

After Aybar singled to put runners on first and second with two outs, Sounds skipper Frank Kremblas summoned Mike Meyers from the bullpen to relieve Jackson. Morales greeted the right-hander by slamming his second home run of the game, a three-run shot to right that was his seventh roundtripper of the year, to increase the lead to its final 7-2.

 

The Bees suffered a scary moment in the top of the eighth inning when Darren Blakely was hit in the face by a Meyers pitch and immediately removed from the game.

 

Bland (4-3) picked up the victory for Salt Lake after holding the Sounds to two runs on six hits while walking none and striking out six batters in his six innings of work.

 

Matt Hensley worked the final three innings in scoreless, two-hit fashion for the Bees to earn his second save of the campaign.

 

Jackson (2-4) took his second straight loss for Nashville after allowing six runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings. The 10 hits and six earned runs marked season highs allowed by the southpaw. Since returning to Nashville on July 20, Jackson has started two games and has recorded a 9.26 ERA (12 ER / 11.2 IP) over that span.

 

The teams will face off again on Monday night at 7 p.m. for game three of the four-game series. The Sounds will give the starting nod to southpaw Dana Eveland (3-3, 1.83) and right-hander Kasey Olenberger (5-2, 4.67) will man the bump for the Bees.

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=51271

 

Bees cruise past Cruz-less Sounds

By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent

 

Perhaps the Milwaukee Brewers will be better off in the long run because of the blockbuster trade they made last Friday that shipped star slugger Carlos Lee to Texas. But in the short run the trade is not shaping up so well for the Nashville Sounds, who lost star slugger Nelson Cruz as part of the deal.

 

The Sounds dropped their fourth straight game since the blockbuster trade, falling to Salt Lake 7-2 at Greer Stadium on Sunday night.

 

Milwaukee traded Lee and Cruz to the Rangers for reliever Francisco Cordero, left fielder Kevin Mench and center fielder Laynce Nix, who played his first game as a Sound on Sunday. The Brewers also picked up a Class A pitcher.

 

?Other guys have to step up,? Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said regarding the task of replacing his best hitter, Cruz, who led the team in home runs (20) and RBIs (73).

 

So far other guys have not stepped up enough to notch the Sounds (58-51) a victory. Nashville?s lead in the American Northern Division shrunk to 2.5 games after the loss.

 

Nix had a successful Nashville debut, however. He collected two hits, a walk and scored a run.

 

?I was kind of pleased with the night,? said Nix, who arrived two hours before game time. ?I hadn?t played in three days. I?m happy to be here and be around the team and get back to playing baseball.?

 

Nix said he was ?pretty surprised? to be included in the deal, but Kremblas said he suspected the Brewers were going to make a move. Internet rumors are still circling around Milwaukee making more moves, but Kremblas said he didn?t know if the team would before today?s deadline.

 

Against the Bees, Nashville had a 2-0 lead heading into the sixth inning when Kendry Morales tagged Sounds starter Zach Jackson for a game-tying homer. The next inning, Salt Lake (63-45) scored five more runs, two of which came when second baseman Zach Sorenson couldn?t turn a would-be inning-ending double play. That chased Jackson, whose ten hits and six earned runs were the most he?s allowed this season.

 

In came Mike Meyers, who gave up a three-run homer to Morales, which put the game on ice.

 

?You can?t give a team extra outs,? Kremblas said of Sorenson?s costly bobble.

 

Cruz goes to big leagues: Cruz, who was an All-Star for the Sounds and Milwaukee?s Minor League Player of the Year in 2005, hadn?t been promoted by the Brewers this season. But after the deal he found his way onto the Rangers? big league roster and collected his first hit on Saturday.

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS

 

Bees deal Sounds their fourth consecutive loss

Salt Lake scores seven straight runs two nights in row

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Salt Lake poured, well, salt in Nashville's wound Sunday night, handing the Sounds their fourth consecutive loss.

 

The 7-2 decision was Salt Lake's second win in the series, and the Sounds' seventh loss in their last nine games.

 

A Greer Stadium crowd of 5,003 watched the Sounds take an early lead, just as they had in the first game against the Bees, only to let it slip away.

 

It marked the second consecutive night Salt Lake scored seven unanswered runs.

 

"The only way it was different (Sunday) night was in the inning (seventh) when they got five runs we didn't turn a double play when we had a chance, which would have gotten us out of the inning,'' Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas said.

 

After Salt Lake loaded the bases, Sounds second baseman Zach Sorensen bobbled the ball on Erick Aybar's grounder up the middle. Sorensen failed to get Aybar out at first, allowing two runs to score.

 

"And then we gave up a two-strike hit later in that inning,'' Kremblas said.

 

Kendry Morales followed his sixth-inning, two-run home run with a two-run shot over the right field wall on an 0-2 count against reliever Mike Meyers, who had just replaced starter Zach Jackson.

 

Jackson (2-4) picked up the loss after giving up 10 hits and six runs.

 

"You can't give them extra outs, they made us pay when we did,'' Kremblas said.

 

Saturday, Nashville led 4-0 after the fourth inning before losing 7-4. Sunday, the Sounds took a 2-0 lead when Graham Koonce hit a double to the warning track, advancing Laynce Nix to third. Vinny Rottino scored Nix on a single to center field and Koonce scored on Dave Krynzel's groundout back to the mound.

 

The Sounds struggled to come up with much offense after that. They finished with eight hits but did not get a runner beyond second base in the last three innings.

 

Salt Lake went on to collect 12 hits after having 14 in Saturday's game.

 

What they said: "They got a couple of guys swinging the bat hot and they came through with runners on base. That's just how it goes sometimes.'' ? Nix.

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS

 

New faces take Bray's spot on Sounds roster

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Nashville made room on its roster for outfielder Laynce Nix and infielder Milko Jaramillo, who arrived Sunday, by placing pitcher Steve Bray on the disabled list.

 

Bray strained his right hamstring in Saturday's game against Salt Lake. He will be out for a minimum of seven days. Bray has allowed a run in only one of his first 10 games for Nashville.

 

Nix was part of a trade between the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers that brought him from Oklahoma (Rangers Triple-A affiliate) on Friday. He started against Salt Lake on Sunday in center field and singled in his first at-bat.

 

That extended Nix's season-best hitting streak to 10 games. The streak is recognized because both Oklahoma and Nashville are in the Pacifica Coast League. Nix also got a hit on his second at-bat in the fourth inning and scored on Vinny Rottino's hit to center field.

 

Nix, 25, batted .269 at Oklahoma with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs in 77 games. He also appeared in nine games with the Rangers, going 3-for-32 (.094).

 

Jaramillo, who was with the Sounds early in the season and in Double-A Huntsville since May 31, started at third base. He struck out in his first at-bat.

 

Jaramillo, 25, who is from Caracas, Venezuela, signed as a non-drafted free agent with the Dodgers in 1996. He was acquired by Nashville at the start of the season and played in seven games, batting .214 (3-for-14) with three RBIs.

 

Nelson Cruz, who led the Sounds in home runs (20), was included in the trade and has played in each of the Rangers' games since Friday. Cruz got his first hit Saturday, a single against the Royals.

 

Tough night: Nashville pitcher Zach Jackson allowed six runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings Sunday night, which marked the second time he's allowed at least six runs in a game since joining the Sounds on July 20.

 

He allowed seven runs in his previous start, which came against Oklahoma. Jackson has a 9.26 ERA and has allowed 12 earned runs in 11 2/3 innings. Jackson came to Nashville on July 20 after being optioned from Milwaukee on July 18.

 

Injured: Bees left fielder Adam Pavkovich left the game after being hit in the jaw by a pitch from reliever Mike Meyers. The pitch appeared to hit Pavkovich's helmet first. He then collapsed next to the plate and was rushed off the field holding his jaw.

 

Nashville Box Score and Game Log Link:

Vinny Rottino finally behind the plate for a game, Chad Moeller your DH...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with Manager Ed Sedar (Select date for July 30th, skip to the 8:30 minute mark) --

 

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

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...730221.txt

 

Brewers down Mustangs, move to first in standings

By CURT SYNNESS, Independent Record Sports Writer

 

In a low-scoring game highlighted by tight pitching, timely hitting and great defense, the Helena Brewers downed the Billings Mustangs 3-1 at Kindrick Legion Field Sunday.

 

The victory was the Brewers? fifth in a row, improving them to 17-23 overall and 2-0 for the second half of the season. The Brewers lead the northern division standings in the second half.

 

Helena was led by the pitching of Chris Jean and Mike McClendon, the offense of center fielder Stephen Chapman and first baseman Chris Errecart, and a fine team defensive effort.

 

In fact, both Helena and Billings played great defense, on a rare occasion where neither club committed an error in a fast-moving game that took only 2 hours, 10 minutes.

 

Jean and Mustangs? starter Travis Webb hooked up in a pitching duel for three scoreless innings before the Brewers drew first blood in the bottom of the fourth. Chapman was hit by a pitch, stole second and then raced home when designated hitter Andy Bouchie ripped a single past the diving first baseman.

 

In the sixth stanza, Chapman legged out a triple on a long drive to the fence in the gap in right-center field. Webb was then lifted for Jeremy Burchett. Burchett retired one batter before giving up a two-run homer to Errecart, who drove the ball high over the left field wall for the deciding tally.

 

Jean, whose record moved to 3-2 with the win, worked six shutout innings, allowing three hits while striking out five and walking only one. The key to his success was a good curveball and changeup, working the corners, and keeping the ball low, according to a team official. McClendon pitched two innings in relief, permitting three hits and fanning two. With two on and two out in the eighth, McClendon sent Drew Stubbs down swinging to end the threat.

 

Steve Palazzolo picked up the save in the ninth. When Danny Dorn?s RBI single drove in Justin Turner for the Mustangs? lone run, it ended a Brewers? streak of 20 2/3 scoreless innings, dating back to the win over Great Falls two nights ago.

 

Chapman, the team?s leading hitter, went 2-for-3, raising his batting average to .337. He is no. 1 in the Pioneer League with 52 base hits, and also pilfered two bases, upping his season total to 13 steals.

 

Errecart, who leads the club with seven homers and 31 RBIs, went 2-for-3, as his first-inning single extended a stretch of 25 successive games where he has reached base safely.

 

The Brewers? defense was sparked by two double plays from the combination of shortstop Brad Miller, second baseman David Parker and Errecart.

 

A thrilling play took place in the eighth frame, when with a man on third, right-fielder Chuckie Caufield gloved a fly ball and rifled a seed to the plate. Dorn had tagged up and looked like he might score, but catcher Jordan Swaydan made an acrobatic sweep tag for the out.

 

Webb went 5 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and whiffing three, while being tabbed with the loss. Billings, which is managed by former Boston Red Sox and California Angels shortstop Rick ?Rooster? Burleson, fell to 24-16.

 

The two teams meet again tonight at Kindrick Field at 7:00 PM (8:00 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Padres 11, Arizona Brewers 6

 

Arizona Brewer Box Score and Game Log Link:

Catcher Matt Whiteside's bat in the lineup (error in left field); a reminder that starting RHP Rolando Pascual isn't even 17 1/2 years old yet; Pascual only walks one (three wild pitches), but three others walk nine more...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Valdez sinks Stars' win streak

Huntsville offense missing in 4-0 loss to Chattanooga

By BRAD SHEPARD

For the Huntsville Times

 

Arguably the two most promising pitching prospects in the Southern League are slated to take the mound during the next two nights at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

But before the Stars' Yovani Gallardo pitches tonight and Cincinnati top prospect Homer Bailey goes to the hill for Chattanooga on Tuesday, Lookouts right-hander Eddy Valdez took his turn Sunday afternoon.

 

Gallardo and Bailey have plenty of work to do to live up to Valdez's performance.

 

In stifling heat, Chattanooga's 26-year-old starter crushed Huntsville's six-game winning streak with seven shutout innings in a 4-0 victory in front of an announced crowd of 7,879.

 

"We just didn't put much together today," Stars manager Don Money said. "We didn't come through with any big hits. Their guy pitched well today."

 

On "Safe at Home" Family Fun Day, no Stars crossed home, and it was hardly fun for anybody except the Lookouts and church-going fans who stayed afterward for a postgame concert.

 

The closest any Huntsville player came was Callix Crabbe in the bottom of the first. He laced a ball into left-center field that a diving Chris Dickerson could not corral.

 

Crabbe raced around the bases with visions of an inside-the-park home run likely dancing in his head, but he was thrown out at the plate after a perfect relay throw from Gary Patchett.

 

"I was tired," Crabbe said with a smile. "My 5-foot-6 legs can only go so far. It would have been a good way to jumpstart the game."

 

A night after closing the gap in the league's North Division to 3 1/2 games, Huntsville failed to even its record at 18-18. Instead, the Stars fell to 17-19.

 

The solid fundamental baseball that they have displayed during the second half wasn't present Sunday. They rarely took Valdez deep in the count, making it an easy day for a Chattanooga pitcher in command.

 

Making things worse, with the Stars already trailing 3-0 in the eighth with one out and the bases loaded, Huntsville reliever Matt Yeatman momentarily lapsed mentally. Rather than converting a surefire double play on a quick comebacker, he inexplicably tossed to first base for a single out, allowing a run to score.

 

"I've played six years," Yeatman said afterward, "and that's the first time I've done anything like that."

 

It didn't have any outcome on the game, but it defined a tough day. The most players Huntsville sent to the plate in one inning was five, and it didn't do that until the eighth and ninth innings.

 

Steve Hammond, who shut out Chattanooga in his Double-A debut, wasn't sharp Sunday. Hammond (3-3) pitched five innings, walked four and gave up two runs in the loss.

 

Calvin Medlock and Jon Coutlangus combined with Valdez (7-5) for the shutout.

 

"My change, my two-seamer, my slider," Valdez said, "everything was working."

[LouisEly]

Looks like Errecart's found his mojo. He's been on quite a tear the last 2-3 weeks. Hopefully Clem will soon follow suit.