Link Report for Sat. 7/22 -- Detailed Comments on Will Inman

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Ben Hendrickson at Oklahoma (Rangers), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Corey Thurman at Carolina (Marlins), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:15 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450radio.com/

 

Brevard County: TBD (most likely RHP Mike Jones) at Clearwater (Phillies), 6:05 gametime; sorry, no audio for this series

 

West Virginia: RHP Will Inman at home vs. Lake County (Indians), 5:55 AM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: RHP Brock Kjeldgaard at home vs. Orem (Angels), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime

 

Audio (click on "Listen Live"):

www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php

 

Arizona: Idle

[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_orhaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cmcaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_clrafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_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:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 55 44 .556 - 32-19 23-25 W1[/b] Iowa 50 49 .505 5.0 27-24 23-25 W2 Memphis 40 59 .404 15.0 22-29 18-30 L2 Omaha 40 59 .404 15.0 25-23 15-36 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 16 13 .552 - 10-5 6-8 L1 Tennessee 15 14 .517 1.0 8-7 7-7 W1 West Tenn 14 14 .500 1.5 9-4 5-10 W1 Carolina 12 17 .414 4.0 8-6 4-11 W1 [b]Huntsville 11 18 .379 5.0 5-10 6-8 L1[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 18 8 .692 - 11-5 7-3 L1 St. Lucie 16 11 .593 2.5 9-6 7-5 L1 Palm Beach 12 17 .414 7.5 6-6 6-11 W1 [b]Brevard County 11 16 .407 7.5 6-5 5-11 L1[/b] Vero Beach 11 17 .393 8.0 5-8 6-9 L1 Jupiter 10 17 .370 8.5 6-10 4-7 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 20 9 .690 - 9-2 11-7 L1 Lake County 16 11 .593 3.0 9-5 7-6 W1 Hickory 14 15 .483 6.0 8-11 6-4 W1 Greensboro 13 15 .464 6.5 8-9 5-6 W1 [b]West Virginia 12 15 .444 7.0 6-5 6-10 L1[/b] Lexington 11 17 .393 8.5 7-7 4-10 L3 Hagerstown 10 17 .370 9.0 5-12 5-5 W2 Delmarva 10 18 .357 9.5 5-7 5-11 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 18 12 .600 - 11-4 7-8 L1 Great Falls 16 15 .516 2.5 6-9 10-6 W1 Missoula 14 16 .467 4.0 8-7 6-9 W1 [b]Helena 12 19 .387 6.5 6-10 6-9 L2[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Giants 15 8 .652 - 7-4 8-4 L2 AZL Padres 15 9 .625 0.5 5-6 10-3 L1 AZL Royals 14 9 .609 1.0 7-4 7-5 L2 AZL Angels 13 11 .542 2.5 10-7 3-4 W1 AZL Mariners 13 11 .542 2.5 8-4 5-7 W1 [b]AZL Brewers 11 13 .458 4.5 5-7 6-6 W2[/b] AZL Athletics 10 14 .417 5.5 5-6 5-8 L1 AZL Cubs 8 16 .333 7.5 4-7 4-9 W2 AZL Rangers 8 16 .333 7.5 5-6 3-10 L1

[Mass Haas]

Interesting statistical oddities in the Nashville media notes (linked above) today, and, at least for now, Dennis Sarfate is still listed as Tuesday's starter (not in bullpen).

[jvrocksaz]

Manny Parra (Yay) is starting (but struggling) for BC tonight...

[TheCrew07]

Is it wrong that Inman gave up 2 runs and I'm disappointed?

[TheCrew07]

Also, Salome with 72 RBIs on the season and another home run today. I have to keep reminding myself not to get excited because he's only in A ball... sigh.

[And That]

Oi, that Helena team sucks.

[wibadgers23]

Nelson Cruz now batting nearly .300 with 19 hr's and 71 RBI's. He's pretty good.

[colbyjack]

I think it's pretty cool that Inman has probably his worst start of the year, or at least one of his two bad starts of the year, and he still fares pretty well, and picks up the W in the process.

 

Not to jinx the guy, but he still has not allowed a HR all season. That's pretty amazing.

 

There hasn't been as much obsessive Angel Salome love this season, but as noted in this thread and elsewhere recently, he's having a very solid year. The doubles are impressive, and he has very good BB:K ratio.

 

Lorenzo Cain too...might the Brewers have a DFE hitter worth talking about?

[DHonks]

nice night for the W. Va boys. And how about those Power pitchers? all three with sparkling ERA's tonight

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with LHP Brian Logan, an undrafted signee this spring (Select date for July 22nd, skip to the 11:00 minute mark) --

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Final: Orem (Angels) 16, Helena 9

Where's Cole Gillespie gone to?

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...306_03.txt

 

Owlz rout Brewers

By JEFF WINDMUELLER - Independent Record Sports Writer

 

Every batter for the Orem Owlz walked Saturday and the Helena Brewers gave up a three-run lead in the bottom of the sixth to lose their third straight, 16-9 at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

The Brewers pitchers had 14 walks and two hit-by-pitches on the game. Ten of those walks came after the sixth inning.

 

After Steve Palazzolo went three scoreless innings on the Brewers? mound and Helena surpassed the Owlz?s early runs to take an 8-5 lead, Zach Braddock replaced Palazzolo and immediately gave up four walks in the top of the seventh.

 

Chris Toneguzzi came in to relieve, but the Owlz chipped away at the Helena lead, getting five hits and scoring six in the inning. That knocked the wind out of the Brewers? sails. They scored only one more run in the game, a ninth-inning home run by Chris Errecart.

 

?(The pitchers) let us down quite a bit, actually,? said Brewers manager Ed Sedar. ?Maybe it?s time to make some changes.?

 

While they?ll be looking to improve at the mound, the Brewers have improved at other areas of the diamond.

 

The rest of the Brewers defense were willing to sacrifice their bodies for the ball. In the top of the fourth, Zach Clem leapt into the left field wall to make the catch on a potential double by Ryan Bourjos. Clem staggered away from the wall but stayed on his feet for the rest of the game.

 

In the sixth, Errecart made a diving stop along the first base line and was able to flip the ball to Palazzolo for the out.

 

?Position players played well, even at the end when we were getting our butts handed to us,? Sedar said. ?At least their not quitting.?

 

At the plate, the Brewers got big hands from Carlos De La Cruz and Errecart.

 

De La Cruz?s doubles in the second and third innings brought three runners across the plate. He also scored twice, getting in on all five of the early runs that tied the game in the third.

 

?It was a nice job by Carlos, and I expect that from Carlos,? he said. ?He was caught in a Catch-22. He was sent somewhere (last year) where he didn?t get a lot of playing time and he?s just starting to feel his rhythm again.?

 

The third baseman batted over .300 the year before that when he was a star Brewer.

 

Errecart, whose home run in the bottom of the ninth gave the dwindling remnants of Brewers fans a last bit of cheer, went 3-for-4 with a walk and has hit four homers in the last four days. He has recently been fulfilling the role of the clean-up batter.

 

But while the Brewers have made improvements and changes, they have not been able to get all aspects of the game working together.

 

Their season record of 12-20 puts them in last place in the Pioneer League and with his batters and position players showing improvements, he will now have to look at the pitchers.

 

?I take all the blame,? he said. ?This is my team and whatever I?m trying to do to make them better isn?t working.?

 

The two teams meet again today at 4:05 PM (5:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score and Game Log Link:

Big righty Steve Palazzolo shines among the five pitchers, but he's supposed to be doing that in West Virginia or Brevard; what's happened to Zach Braddock, suddenly pitching like the 18-year-old he is; catcher D.J. Neyens left the game early, a couple of innings after a home plate collision; Zach Clem now 4-for-37 on the season (four singles) -- he's the 11th round pick out of the University of Washington...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 9, Lake County (Indians) 2

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER SURGE FOR FIVE IN THE THIRD

 

Angel Salome and Tony Festa hit two-run homers in a five-run third inning for the Power at Appalachian Power Park on Saturday night as the Power went on to defeat the Lake County Captains 9-2.

 

Salome ripped an RBI double in the top of the first inning to score Lorenzo Cain and gave the Power an early 1-0 lead. Cain drove in the first of five runs in the third inning on a sacrifice fly, which preceded the two-run homers from Salome and Festa.

 

Lake County scored both of their runs in the top of the fourth inning. Max Ramirez knocked in Chris Gimenez with an RBI single and Mike Butia scored on Mike Bell?s errant throw. Mat Gamel singled in Cain in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Power added two more runs in the seventh on run-scoring doubles from Cain and Bell.

 

Will Inman (6-1) had his scoreless innings streak snapped at 24, but he only allowed two runs on three hits through five innings to earn the victory, and J.D. Martin (0-1) got the loss. The Power are 52-45 overall and 13-15 in the second half after the win while the Captains fell to 39-53 overall and 16-12 in the second half after the loss.

 

The Power will finish the four-game series against the Captains Sunday evening. Right hander Jim Deters (7-7, 3.62) will make the start for Lake County and the Power will counter with right hander Shawn Ferguson (0-0, 0.00). The first pitch is scheduled for 5:05 PM (4:05 Central).

 

***

Link while active, text follows --

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2006072228

 

Not as sharp, but Inman wins again

By Mike Whiteford

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

 

The fastballs began arriving high in the strike zone instead of their customary location at the knees.

 

Power right-hander Will Inman, the hottest pitcher in the South Atlantic League of late, lacked his usual pinpoint control Saturday night and paid a modest price, though not enough to spoil an otherwise productive evening.

 

Inman extended his scoreless streak to 24 innings but allowed three consecutive soft hits ? an opposite-field bloop double, a seeing-eye single that trickled through the infield and a looping single ? that led to two runs in the fourth inning, but the Power pounded out 14 hits in a 9-2 victory over the Lake County Captains at Appalachian Power Park. A crowd of 4,254 attended.

 

Inman, a 19-year-old native of Dry Fork, Va., entered the game with a 1.13 earned run average and 21 consecutive scoreless innings and, through three innings, allowed just a walk. In the fourth, however, he surrendered hits to the first three Captains.

 

Although the hits were eminently unimpressive and were the only ones Inman yielded in five innings, he accepted full blame. After all, he?s an admitted self-critic.

 

?The fastball was up all night, and that?s when they start getting those chink hits and home runs and line drives and stuff like that,?? said Inman. ?If you get the ball down, they don?t get those chink hits as much. You get a lot of swing-throughs on those, or the batters take, thinking they?re balls.??

 

After his five-inning stint, Inman discussed his performance with pitching coach John Curtis, and both agreed that pitches down in the strike zone are less likely to result in hits.

 

?The fastballs came up,?? said Curtis. ?They didn?t hit ?em well, but they just fell in. But he buckled down and got his ground balls.??

 

In addition to the three hits and two runs, Inman, who missed five weeks with a shoulder injury this season, finished with two walks and five strikeouts, raised his record to 6-1 in 61 innings and kept his ERA at an extraordinary 1.33.

 

?Our bats were amazing tonight,?? he said, ?and we made good defensive plays, but personally I felt like I had a bad night. I left a lot of fastballs up.??

 

Despite his success, he?s expected to stay with the Power for the remainder of the season.

 

?He?s not going anywhere,?? said Curtis. ?We?re committed to him staying here. It?ll give us a better chance to win this thing, and he?s only a youngster. He?s only 19, so he?s in no hurry to go anywhere.??

 

Curtis recently discussed the matter with Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin.

 

?When Melvin was here,?? said Curtis, ?he was saying that we like a kid to dominate a league before we graduate him.??

 

And besides, Inman still needs work on his changeup, a pitch he threw just five times Saturday and never for a strike. In most recent outings, however, it?s been an effective addition to his arsenal.

 

?He?s probably a changeup away from feasting in the Florida State League,?? said Curtis, referring to the next logical step in Inman?s career. ?I think he could pitch and win there, but we like to develop him further.??

 

The Power, 13-15 in the second half, scored five runs in the third inning, highlighted by two-run homers by Angel Salome and Tony Festa, and added a run in the fifth and two in the seventh. Salome also had an RBI double in the first.

 

Power points

 

The Power and Captains will play tonight to conclude the homestand. The Power then will play eight games on the road, beginning with a four-game series in Charleston, S.C., starting Monday and continuing in Savannah on Friday. ... Lake County starter J.D. Martin, a first-round draft pick in 2001, pitched in the Class AA Eastern League last year and is making a comeback from Tommy John surgery. ... After the game, area Cub Scouts camped out in the outfield, watched a movie on the videoboard and spent the night. ... Despite only two hits on Friday, the Power entered Saturday?s game with a .274 batting average, best in the South Atlantic League. ... Entering Saturday?s game, the Power had averaged 3,939 fans a game. ... Inman, who is still on a pitch count, threw 78 Saturday.

 

West Virginia Box Score and Game Log Link:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

Charleston Gazette Photographer: Chip Ellis

Power pitcher Will Inman improved to 6-1 but saw his streak of consecutive scoreless innings snapped at 24.

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 10, Clearwater (Phillies) 5

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

 

Manatees double up Threshers

 

Alcides Escobar and Hernan Iribarren led a 15-hit attack as Brevard County beat Clearwater, 10-5, on Saturday at Bright House Networks Field.

 

Escobar went 3-for-5 with a run scored, while Iribarren was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Carlos Corporan also chipped in two hits and two RBIs. Every hitter in the Manatees' lineup had at least one hit, and seven enjoyed multi-hit nights.

 

Brevard County (12-16) scored four runs in the third against starter Julio De La Cruz. With one run in, Brendan Katin hit a grounder to shortstop Brad Harman, who committed two errors that allowed two runs to score and gave the Manatees a 4-2 lead. Harman leads the Florida State League with 31 miscues.

 

Reliever Ben Stanczyk (7-2) picked up the win with three scoreless innings, giving up four hits and two walks.

 

J.J. Johnson went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs for Clearwater (16-12).

 

De La Cruz (4-7) gave up seven runs -- four earned -- on 11 hits and two walks in four innings. -- Michael Echan/MLB.com

 

Brevard County Box Score and Game Log Link:

Manatee defense spotless with four double plays; the first five in the order all reached three times apiece; only one double, 14 singles for the 'Tees; Freddy Parejo scuffling badly as of late; at least Manny Parra took the mound...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_clrafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 3, Carolina (Marlins) 2, ten innings

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link for Travis Phelps photo, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=933

 

Stars Survive and Outlast Mudcats in Ten

 

Jeff Eure knocked in the winning run with a ground ball out and Travis Phelps worked out of a bases loaded, nobody out jam in the tenth inning to preserve Huntsville?s 3-2 win Saturday night in the final game of a five-game set at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The Stars won twice in the series and are 12-18 in the second half, as are the Mudcats, who had dropped seven of eight entering the series. Huntsville improved to 6-14 in games decided by one-run.

 

Callix Crabbe walked to open the tenth, moved to second on a Ryan Braun single and both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Ron Acuna, his first since May 31. Brad Nelson was intentionally walked to load the bases and Eure?s ground out to shortstop Rex Rundgren pushed Crabbe across with the go-ahead run. Eure knocked in six runs in the series, including at least one in all five games.

 

Phelps took over for Joe Valentine, who struck out pinch-hitter J.C. Muniz and Rex Rundgren with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth and worked a scoreless ninth to grab the win, and walked leadoff man Ryan Bear, who also singled three times. Kevin Randel doubled to move Bear to third base and Brett Carroll was walked to load the bases. Patrick Arlis struck out swinging before pinch-hitter Jonathan Aceves swung at the first pitch and bounced into a game-ending double play. Phelps earned his first save of the season in the Stars? second win in 11 extra inning games.

 

Frank Moore singled with one out in the first inning, stole second and was thrown out trying to score from right field by Ron Acuna after a base hit by Tony Schrager, who finished the series with 10 hits in 17 at-bats. Carolina pushed across the first run of the night when Schrager led off the fourth with a double and scored when Bear singled to right field to knock in his fourth run of the series. The home side loaded the bases with two outs but Stars? starter Corey Thurman worked out of further trouble by retiring Bear on a fielder?s choice on a chopping ground ball hit by Mudcats? starter Manu Olivera, who remained winless since June 5. The Mudcats were turned away again in the fifth when Moore doubled with one out and was thrown out by Acuna again after a two-out single by Bear.

 

Olivera blanked the Stars on three singles through the first six innings before Lou Palmisano doubled with one out in the seventh and moved to third on a Guilder Rodriguez ground out. Olivera was taken out and replaced by Chris Mobley, who was called on to face right-hand hitting pinch-hitter Carlos Lee. The Mudcats? right-hander sent home a 2-0 pitch that hit off the glove of Arlis, the catcher, and allowed Palmisano to score the tying run. Lee singled to left and was replaced by pinch-runner Travis Ezi, who moved to third base on a Randel error and scored the go-ahead run on a beautiful bunt base hit by Crabbe.

 

The Stars are off Sunday and return to action Monday night at home with Stars? left-hander Jorge De La Rosa making his sixth and final rehab start in the opener of a five-game set against Birmingham right-hander Adam Russell. 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:

Ron Acuna has a boatload of outfield assists this year; that 10th inning must have been a fantastic call for play-by-play man Brett Pollock -- unfortunately, not archived...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cmcaax_1

 

Jeff Eure Photo courtesy of Ponderphoto.com via the Stars' site:

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/images/news/euret.JPG

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 6, Oklahoma (Rangers) 1

 

Nashville stifles Oklahoma

Tennessean Staff Reports

 

OKLAHOMA CITY ? The Nashville Sounds held the Oklahoma RedHawks to three hits in their 6-1 win Saturday at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City.

 

Ben Hendrickson started for Nashville and earned the win, going seven innings and giving up one run on three hits with a walk and a strikeout. Chris Demaria pitched the last two innings and allowed two baserunners on a wild pitch and a hit batter.

 

Nashville's Nelson Cruz put the Sounds on the board in the first inning with a two-run home run. It was his 19th of the season. Cruz finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBIs. His home run was the only extra-base hit by either team in the game.

 

Oklahoma's lone run came in the third inning when Drew Meyer walked and advanced to second base on a ground out. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Adam Hyzdu.

 

Kameron Loe made a rehab start for Oklahoma and went 2 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits with five walks and two strikeouts. He threw 78 pitches, 41 for strikes.

 

Oklahoma reliever Nick Masset went 3 1/3 innings and gave up two unearned runs on one hit with a walk and four strikeouts.

 

The Sounds are now 11-2 against the RedHawks this season. The two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 4:05 p.m. today at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. The first game is a postponed game from June 18.

 

Nashville Box Score and Game Log Link:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

[hsvstarsfan]

IT DON'T COME EASY

Stars survive three bases-loaded situations

Corey Thurman and Manny Olivera hadn't won a game in over a month and a half entering this game at Five County Stadium....... Well folks, they still haven't.........There's no question that Corey Thurman is a fine pitcher. Heck, in 17 starts he has the 5th best ERA in the league and he's got the most experience of any pitcher on the staff with a fine resume behind him --- 4th among Texas League ERA leaders in 2001 after holding hitters to a .206 average in a tough league for pitchers....... His work ethic is excellent, he's durable, and he's got a fine arsenal of pitches. In other words, he's a winner......... Unfortunately, his record doesn't show it because the lack of run support he gets is unparalleled in the history of Stars baseball........ Corey is 2-8 with an ERA of 2.66. Let's look back at other Huntsville starters with mismatched stats that show evidence of non-support......

W-L, ERA
Tim Birtsas 1987 5-10, 3.60
Jeff Shaver 1987 7-9, 3.39
Scott Chiamparino 1988 4-5, 3.21
Todd Van Poppel 1991 6-13, 3.47
Dave Zancanaro 1991 5-10, 3.38
Brad Rigby 1996 9-12, 3.95
Jose Garcia 2000 4-8, 3.76
Derek Lee 2001 7-11, 3.38
Derek Lee 2002 5-10, 3.04
Pedro Liriano 2003 9-13, 3.79
Tim Bausher 2004 1-6, 3.67
Jeff Housman 2004 5-8, 3.13
Corey Thurman 2006 2-8, 2.66

These were the most outstanding examples. There were some such as Eric Dubose in 1998 who was 7-6 mark and 2.70 ERA in 14 starts. Not extreme enough. And Dennis Sarfate, who was 7-12 in 2004 with a 3.98 ERA. SL hitters teed off at a .266 clip against him, and then there's the issue of all those walks. And there were, of course, a lot of hard-luck starts in the course of history. But if you look at Corey's numbers and compare, there's just no comparison. He's the only one I mention with an ERA under 3.00, and he's got the worst W-L Pct. along with it.

Now let's look at each of his 17 starts and see the record. Keep in mind, RS means run support and not runs allowed:

www.starsboxscore.com

Without a doubt, he's Huntsville's all-time hard-luck champion......... In only 2 of his 17 starts has Thurman received more than 3 runs of support -- and he won both of those starts...... In all the rest, he's had 15 runs of support in 15 starts........ Last night, the Stars won the only game he started where he didn't get the decision, and it was a nail-biter at that. Owe it all to the Stars' defense -- performing this year at a club-record best.

With one out in the bottom of the 1st inning, Frank Moore singled and stole 2nd....... Tony Schrager, the toughest out for the Stars in this series (10 hits in 17 at-bats) after being rescued from the Indy circuit, on a 3-2 pitch, bounced a ball through the right side for a hit. Moore raced around 3rd, ignoring the stop sign from the 3rd base coach, and was gunned down on a perfect throw to the plate by none other than Ron Acuna, who has done this what seems like a countless number of times this year. Acuna leads Southern League outfielders in fielding (1.000 in 135 chances) and is 2nd to Montgomery's Jeremy Owens in assists with 14...... Let no one doubt the worth of Acuna to this team.

Schrager came back in the 4th inning to light another fire, and this time, it was successful....... After Thurman got behind, 3-and-0, Schrager worked the count full before smacking a ground ball past Ryan Braun down the left field line for a double. Ryan Bear, 5-for-16 (.313) in the first four games belted a line-drive single to left-center to drive in Schrager, giving the Mudcats a 1-0 lead. The Stars soon would face their first crisis situation in the game.

Kevin Randel legged out a bunt for an infield hit to put runners on 1st and 2nd....... Brett Carroll bunted the ball third base side to advance the runners into scoring position........ Thurman struck out catcher Patrick Arlis on a 2-2 slider for the opportune second out....... Brian Cleveland walked with a full count and with the bases loaded, pitcher Olivera, on 2-and-1, popped a ball toward the mound. Lou Palmisano, dashing in, fielded the ball and rushed over to tag Ryan Bear coming down the line for the final out.

After the Stars were taken out of a potential rally with runners on 1st-and-2nd by a fine diving stop by 1st baseman Ryan Bear, the Stars defense was called to duty again In the 5th........ Frank Moore drove a 3-1 pitch to the wall to deep center for a double. After Schrager flied out to right for the 2nd out, Bear singled to right. Once again, as he did in the 1st inning, Moore tried to cheat in a run off Acuna who took the grounder and fired him out at home plate, saving another run.

Another Carolina opportunity vanished as they held on to a 1-0 lead in the 6th, as Patrick Arlis was left stranded after a two-out double when Bruan Cleveland grounded out to short.

After giving up 9 hits in 6 innings, Thurman was gone, after giving up just one run in six innings, but the Stars would put him in position to win the game........ Palmisano doubled to left with one out and moved to 3rd on G.Rod's grounder....... Olivera was taken out and replaced by Chris Mobley and Carolina moved Schrager to 3rd base, replacing him at short by Rex Rundgren....... With Carlos Lee batting for the Stars, Palmisano scored on a 2-0 passed ball by Arlis to tie the game........ Lee singled to left and was replaced at first by Travis Ezi, who went to 3rd on Kevin Randel's throwing error with Steve Moss at the plate........ With two out, Callix Crabbe, 2-for-3 on the day after going 4-for-24 in his last 7 games, bunt singled to third to score Ezi, giving the Stars the lead.

Chris Mabeus came in to relieve Thurman and got the side in order in the 7th, but after Schrager lined a single to lead off the 8th, Joe Valentine was called in, and it was Valentine who lost the lead for Thurman this go-around, but the Stars' latest pitching acquisition would get them out of their 2nd bases-loaded jam......... Ryan Bear hit a bloop single to right, moving Schrager to 3rd. Schrager then scored on Kevin Randel's fly out to left to tie the game at 2-2........ Brett Carroll's ground-rule double put runners in scoring position and Patrick Arlis was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out and the game in definite jeopardy........ But Valentine, the former Birmingham Baron who tied a SL record for saves in 2002, struck out pinch-hitter J.C. Muniz and Rex Rundgren, both swinging to end the inning......... Valentine retired the side in the 9th inning and into extra innings we went. The Stars this season had won only one game in extra innings, back on May 14 vs. the Smokies, and lost 9, by far the worst record in Stars' history.

Callix Crabbe walked to open the 10th, then moved to 2nd on a ground ball single to the right side by Ryan Braun....... Both runners advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt in front of the mound by Ron Acuna, his 1st since May 31. Brad Nelson was then walked for the 3rd time in the game, loading the bases, and tying him with Toby Kominek for 18th on the Stars' all-time list....... After Jeff Eure took a big cut at Chris Young's first pitch, he hit a 0-1 grounder to the left side that Schrager couldn't reach in time. Deep in the hole, Rundgren fielded the ball and could only throw out Eure at first, driving in Crabbe for the go-ahead run......... Eure knocked in a run in all five games of this series, and is 2nd to Drew Anderson in RBIs by one......... Young struck out J.C. Boscan. Now it was up to Huntsville's defense again and Travis Phelps.

Only six days prior, Phelps (3-7, 4.40) had come into a 4-4 tie game in the 10th, in a game Thurman had started, and blown it, giving up four runs in an 8-4 loss to Mississippi. He was entrusted again. Such is baseball. The last thing a pitching coach or manager wants to do is destroy a pitcher's confidence......... Phelps got into trouble immediately. He got behind Ryan Bear and walked him on a 3-and-2 change-up as the ballgame plodded past the three-hour mark........ Kevin Randel, who wasn't going to lay one down this time, worked the count to 3-and-2, then drove a ball to the alley in right-center for a double, sending Bear to 3rd....... Brett Carroll was intentionally walked to load the bases with nobody out and the Stars clinging to a 3-2 lead.

Phelps, with a 13.50 ERA with runners in scoring position was to face Patrick Arlis, 4-for-11 in the series, but he struck him out on a 2-2 pitch....... In position to get the double play to win this game, Braun backed up at third and Jeff Eure positioned himself even with the bag at first......... On Phelps' first pitch, pinch-hitter Jonathan Acevas chopped a ball to Callix Crabbe at second. Crabbe shoveled to G. Rod for the force there. G. Rod then turned the DP at first to end the game....... A tremendous job by Crabbe and Rodriguez to save the game and move the Stars back into a tie for 4th place with the Mudcats.

Monday, the Stars return home with Jorge de la Rosa (2-1, 2.52) making his 6th and final re-hab start. Adam Russell (1-0, 2.79) is scheduled to start for the Birmingham Barons....... Russell will be making his 3rd start for Birmingham after being called up from Class A - Winston-Salem (Carolina), where he was 7-3, 2.66....... The Barons have lost 7 of their last 11 games.

Lou Palmisano has a new look. Batterymate Khalid Ballouli gave him a shave up top and now he's bald. Check it out Monday.