Link Report for Fri. 7/21 -- Villanueva Seven Sweet Innings

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: the Sounds' site detailed it best --

 

The Sounds continue their road trip on Friday in Oklahoma City, where they?ll commence a four-day, six-game series against the RedHawks. The teams will play two games on Friday -- the first is the 7:05 p.m. completion of the clubs? April 24 contest that was suspended due to rain at the end of the second inning with Oklahoma leading 1-0. The second game will be a seven-inning affair.

 

Right-hander Justin Lehr (2-3, 3.62) will man the bump for Nashville in the first contest and will enter in relief of original starter Dana Eveland, who has since been promoted to Milwaukee. Oklahoma will send left-hander John Danks (2-2, 4.68) to the hill in the first contest.

 

Sounds right-hander Carlos Villanueva (1-0, 0.00), who hurled the first six innings of a no-hitter in his last start, will get the nod in the nightcap opposite RedHawks southpaw and former Brewers farmhand Derek Lee (3-7, 4.64).

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

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

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450radio.com/

 

Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:00 gametime; sorry, no audio for this series

 

West Virginia: LHP Rafael Lluberes at home vs. Lake County (Indians), 5:55 AM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: RHP Jose Beltre 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: TBD at home in Maryvale vs. the rookie Texas kids, 12:30 PM Central time, 10:30 AM local, never any web audio for the Arizona League

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday'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 Completion of April 24th Game:

Do not expect an updated game log or linescore -- box score stats only...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

 

Nashville Regularly Scheduled Game:

Seven innings...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cmcaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_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 Thursday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 53 44 .546 - 32-19 21-25 L1[/b] Iowa 48 49 .495 5.0 25-24 23-25 L4 Memphis 40 57 .412 13.0 22-29 18-28 W2 Omaha 39 59 .398 14.5 24-23 15-36 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 16 12 .571 - 10-5 6-7 W1 Tennessee 14 14 .500 2.0 8-7 6-7 L2 West Tenn 14 14 .500 2.0 9-4 5-10 W1 Carolina 11 17 .393 5.0 7-6 4-11 L1 [b]Huntsville 11 17 .393 5.0 5-10 6-7 W1[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 18 7 .720 - 11-5 7-2 W1 St. Lucie 16 10 .615 2.5 9-5 7-5 W2 [b]Brevard County 11 15 .423 7.5 6-4 5-11 W1[/b] Vero Beach 11 16 .407 8.0 5-8 6-8 W1 Jupiter 10 15 .400 8.0 6-10 4-5 L2 Palm Beach 11 17 .393 8.5 5-6 6-11 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 20 8 .714 - 9-2 11-6 W4 Lake County 15 11 .577 4.0 9-5 6-6 L1 Hickory 13 15 .464 7.0 7-11 6-4 L3 [b]West Virginia 12 14 .462 7.0 6-4 6-10 W2[/b] Greensboro 12 15 .444 7.5 7-9 5-6 L4 Lexington 11 17 .393 9.0 7-7 4-10 L3 Delmarva 10 17 .370 9.5 5-7 5-10 W3 Hagerstown 10 17 .370 9.5 5-12 5-5 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 18 11 .621 - 11-4 7-7 W1 Great Falls 15 15 .500 3.5 6-9 9-6 L1 Missoula 13 16 .448 5.0 7-7 6-9 L1 [b]Helena 12 18 .400 6.5 6-9 6-9 L1[/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 8 .652 - 5-5 10-3 W3 AZL Royals 14 9 .609 1.0 7-4 7-5 L2 AZL Mariners 13 11 .542 2.5 8-4 5-7 W1 AZL Angels 12 11 .522 3.0 9-7 3-4 L1 AZL Athletics 10 13 .435 5.0 5-6 5-7 W1 [b]AZL Brewers 10 13 .435 5.0 4-7 6-6 W1[/b] AZL Rangers 8 15 .348 7.0 5-6 3-9 W1 AZL Cubs 7 16 .304 8.0 4-7 3-9 W1

[Mass Haas]

TBD for Brevard County is now listed as LHP Derek Miller, as concerns about Manny Parra grow...

 

RHP Evan Anundsen, the 2006 4th round high schooler out of Columbine, Colorado, is your rookie league starter in Maryvale today.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 6, Arizona Rangers 5

 

Arizona Brewer Box Score and Game Log Link:

Outfielder Andrew Lefave 14-for-29 with four walks thus far; it's been a very solid introduction to pro ball for RHP Evan Anundsen...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[strawbossisevil]

Something is happening at the Huntsville game that you guys might want to check out. Its a bad thing for Huntsville, but it should be interesting to see if it keeps going if you are a fan of baseball in general.

[bork]

What, a no hitter? The jinx only works on your own team, I believe. Is there a reverse jinx for the opposing team?

[strawbossisevil]

Not just a no hitter, so far its been a perfect game. There I can say it. Didn't know the jinx was one sided.

 

Edit: I guess the jinx thing goes both ways. Three hits and two runs. Well, now that that is over, knock 'em dead Huntsville.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Dunedin (Blue Jays) 1, Brevard County 0

 

Brevard County Box Score and Game Log Link:

Derek Miller, Dave Johnson, and Josh Alliston with nice mound work; catcher / DH Kyle Phillips' returning to career norms after a deceptive hot start; with Carlos Corporan and Phillips getting plenty of AB's, all three Manatee catchers (C.J. Medlin) are often in the lineup, not a recipe for offensive success -- you wonder what first baseman Grant Richardson (season lost to shoulder surgery) would have done in the FSL this year...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lake County (Indians) 7, West Virginia 1

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

CAPTAINS CAUSE POWER OUTAGE

 

Jeff Stevens, Mark Jecmen and Randy Newsome combined to pitch a two-hitter for the Lake County Captains on Friday night at Appalachian Power Park, and the Captains used a trio of home runs to beat the West Virginia Power 7-1.

 

Max Ramirez, who was traded for Indians closer Bob Wickman on Thursday hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning in his Captains debut. Mike Conroy delivered one inning later with a three-run blast to put the Captains up 4-0 and Chris Gimenez hit the third Captains homer of the game, a solo shot in the fifth inning to give the Captains a 5-0 lead.

 

The Power scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning when Lorenzo Cain crossed the plate on a wild pitch. The Captains finished the scoring in the contest on back-to-back RBI doubles from P.J. Heiser and Matt Fornasiere in the eighth inning.

 

Jeff Stevens (4-1) earned the victory, and Rafael Lluberes (4-6) got the loss. The Power are 51-45 overall and 12-15 in the second half after the loss while the Captains improved to 39-52 overall and 16-11 in the second half after the win.

 

The Power will continue the four-game series against the Captains Saturday night. Right hander J.D. Martin (0-0, 0.00) will make the start for Lake County and the Power will counter with right hander Will Inman (5-1, 1.13). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score and Game Log Link:

Ryan Marion with a bullpen-saving four-inning mop-up stint; Darren Ford 44-for-56 in stolen base attempts, Lorenzo Cain 23-for-31...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Carolina (Marlins) 8, Huntsville 2

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=932

 

Garcia Goes Six Perfect in Mudcats' Victory

 

Jose Garcia tossed six perfect innings and Kevin Randel belted a home run and knocked in four to power Carolina to an 8-2 victory over Huntsville Friday night in the fourth game of a five-game set at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The Mudcats have taken three out of four to improve to 12-17 in the second half, while the Stars have dropped six of their last seven to fall to 11-18 in the second half. Huntsville was held to four hits one night after collecting 15 and gave up 13 hits one night after blanking the lowest scoring team in the league on six safeties.

 

Garcia struck out two hitters in the first, second, fourth and six innings on his way to fanning 10 of the first 18 batters he faced. Travis Ezi broke up the right-hander?s bid for perfection with a line drive double down the right field line to start the seventh, his second two-base hit with the Stars this season. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Ryan Braun, who lost an eleven-game hitting streak after going hitless in four tries. Brad Nelson legged out a two-out infield single, just his second hit in 24 at-bats, and scored when Jeff Eure followed with a double. Garcia stopped a personal two-game losing streak and won for the first time since June 26 to square his record at 3-3. Scott Tyler worked a scoreless eighth inning and Chris Mobley retired all three hitters he faced in the ninth.

 

Jose Campusano legged out an infield hit on what looked to be a routine ground ball to shortstop to start the home first inning and moved to third base when Stars? starter Tim Dillard walked Frank Moore and Tony Schrager to load the bases with nobody out. Ryan Bear grounded into a force out at second base to score Campusano and Randel singled into right-field to deliver Moore to make it 2-0 after the first inning.

 

Moore and Schrager delivered consecutive run-scoring singles in the second to push the lead to 4-0 before Bear singled to right to load the bases and chase Dillard from the game after he had recorded only four outs. Randel greeted Matt Yeatman with a sacrifice fly to plate Moore before Schrager was caught in between second and third base and tagged out in a rundown for the final out of the frame. The Stars turned three inning-ending double plays.

 

Yeatman lasted 3 2/3 innings in his longest outing of the year and gave up one run, on a Brett Carroll home run, on two hits and two walks. Gerritt Simpson worked a scoreless sixth inning before Randel belted a two-run home run in the seventh to close the scoring.

 

The series wraps up Saturday night with Stars? right-hander Corey Thurman taking the hill against Mudcats? southpaw Manu Olivera. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 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:

It was flukish when young SS Guilder Rodriguez found a few holes with some base hits in backup Huntsville action in 2005, even sneaking his way onto Toby's Power 50 for a bit, but it's a bit sad that he and Milko Jaramillo are the organization's AA shortstops right now; yes, Carlos Lee wears # 45 for the Stars; Tim Dillard gets a mulligan, he's earned it...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cmcaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 9, Oklahoma (Rangers) 2, completion of April 24th suspended game

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:Link, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2069

 

OKLAHOMA CITY ? The Nashville Sounds defeated the Oklahoma RedHawks by a 9-2 count on Friday evening at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in the completion of a game that originally began on April 24th before being suspended at the conclusion of the second inning due to rain.

 

For statistical purposes, all results of the game revert back as if having occurred on the original April 24 date and seasonal totals are reflected in the box score this way. However, some seasonal totals have been updated to their current numbers in the recap below.

 

The victory for Nashville (54-44) extends the club?s longest winning streak of the season to six games (April 24-30) nearly two months after it began.

 

Prior to the arrival of the rainstorm in April, the home team had taken a 1-0 lead when first baseman Jason Botts homered off Sounds starter Dana Eveland.

 

As play resumed tonight in the top of the third inning, Nashville?s Ozzie Chavez (3-for-5) opened the action with a pinch-hit home run off Oklahoma reliever John Danks that tied the game at 1-1.

 

The blast was Chavez?s first career Triple-A homer and the Sounds? first pinch-hit roundtripper of the season. The previous PH homer for Nashville came off Brad Nelson?s bat on May 25, 2005 at Portland.

 

AUDIO: Ozzie Chavez's 1st Sounds HR --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-24.mp3

 

Botts restaked the RedHawks to a lead in the bottom of the third when he belted his second home run of the contest, a two-out shot to right off Sounds hurler Carlos Villanueva. It was Botts? 13th longball of the year and accounted for the first Triple-A run allowed by the right-hander this season.

 

Nashville retied the score at 2-2 in the fourth when Vinny Rottino singled home Nelson Cruz, who paced the Sounds with a 3-for-4 effort and scored three runs in the contest.

 

The Sounds grabbed a 5-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning with three runs off Danks. With one out, Jermaine Clark walked then stole both second and third base, upping his yearly theft total to 25 to pass Tony Gwynn (24) for the team lead.

 

Following a Dave Krynzel strikeout, Cruz delivered his second RBI knock of the game to plate Clark and give Nashville its first lead at 3-2. Graham Koonce then blasted a two-out, two-run homer to right off Danks to increase the advantage to three. The roundtripper was Koonce?s eighth of the season.

 

Nashville tacked on two additional runs in the eighth against RedHawks reliever Ryan Bukvich, increasing the lead to 7-2 on a pair of back-to-back RBI singles by Chavez and Kennard Bibbs.

 

Chad Moeller wrapped up the scoring in the ninth with a two-out, two-run double into the left field corner on a 3-2 pitch against Josh Rupe.

 

Villanueva (2-0) worked all seven innings played on Friday and picked up his second victory in three PCL appearances. He held the RedHawks to one run on three hits while walking three batters and striking out four. The right-hander now holds a 0.64 ERA (1 ER / 14.0 IP) with the Sounds.

 

Danks (2-3) took the loss after being tagged for five runs on seven hits over five innings of work.

 

The teams will play their regularly-scheduled game shortly. It will be a seven-inning contest and a second game recap will be sent out at its conclusion.

 

Sounds right-hander Justin Lehr (2-3, 3.62) will get the starting nod opposite RedHawks southpaw and former Brewers farmhand Derek Lee (3-7, 4.64).

 

Nashville Game One Box Score Link:

Carlos Villanueva is a joy...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Orem (Angels) 3, Helena 1

Brewers 0-for-5 against these Owlz -- when's that second half schedule start?

 

Helena Box Score and Game Log Link:

Can't fault the five innings of shutout relief work from Brae Wright and Travis Wendte; 2006 5th rounder Chris Errecart HR # 4; top three in the order 0-for-12, that doesn't help any; Chuckie Caufield thrown out at the plate to end the 2nd; Brad Miller fly out to end the 7th with the bags juiced; three swinging strikeouts end the game, all representing the tying run...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 4, Oklahoma (Rangers) 1, regularly scheduled game, seven innings

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Justin Lehr photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2070

 

Sounds Take Down RedHawks, 4-1

 

OKLAHOMA CITY ? The Nashville Sounds continued their winning ways on Friday evening at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, defeating the host Oklahoma RedHawks, 4-1, in a scheduled seven-inning game.

 

The contest was shortened per Pacific Coast League rules because the clubs completed a suspended game earlier in the evening. Nashville defeated Oklahoma by a 9-2 count in the earlier tilt.

 

With the victory, Nashville (55-44) improved to a season-best 11 games over .500 for the third time this season. The Sounds have won seven of their last nine contests.

 

Nashville grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning against RedHawks starter Derek Lee, a former Brewers farmhand. Zach Sorensen led off the contest with a single and moved to second on a fielding error by left fielder Anthony Webster. Brent Abernathy and Dave Krynzel drew walks to load the bases for Sounds cleanup hitter Nelson Cruz, who put the visitors on top with a single to right that plated Sorensen for his team-leading 66th RBI of the year.

 

After Graham Koonce was called out on strikes for the first out of the inning, Vinny Rottino drew a bases-loaded walk from Lee to up the Nashville lead to 2-0. Lee escaped further damage in the frame by fanning Jermaine Clark and inducing an inning-ending groundout from Mark Johnson.

 

Sorensen finished with a season-high four hits in four trips to the plate on the evening. Cruz finished 1-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games (15-for-38, .395).

 

Nashville starter Justin Lehr held the RedHawks scoreless until catcher Tom Gregorio led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo homer to left, his second roundtripper of the year. Oklahoma put the potential tying run at third later in the frame but Lehr struck out cleanup hitter Jason Botts to escape the jam with Nashville?s 2-1 lead intact.

 

The Sounds added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh against reliever Scott Feldman. With one out, Abernathy and Krynzel delivered back-to-back doubles to increase the lead to 3-1. Krynzel scored the frame?s second run when he hustled home from second on a Cruz groundout to shortstop.

 

Drew Meyer went 2-for-4 to account for half of Oklahoma?s hits in the contest.

 

Lehr (3-3) held the RedHawks to one run on four hits while striking out four batters over six innings to earn the victory.

 

Alec Zumwalt retired Oklahoma in order in the bottom of the seventh to pick up his team-leading tenth save of the year.

 

Lee (3-8) took the loss after he worked four innings and allowed two runs on five hits.

 

The teams hook up for the third game of the six-game set on Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Ben Hendrickson (7-4, 2.18) toes the rubber for the Sounds to face rehabbing Oklahoma right-hander Kameron Loe (0-0, 2.70).

 

Nashville Game Two Box Score and Game Log Link:

Closer Alec Zumwalt, the Milwaukee bullpen awaits you -- we'll see...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with SS Brad Miller (Select date for July 21st, skip to the 6:30 minute mark) --

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...206_07.txt

 

Owlz tap Brewers

By TOM COTTON - Helena Independent Record Sports Editor

 

In Friday?s arms race between the Helena Brewers and the Orem Owlz, the Owlz had just a few more weapons at their disposal.

 

Orem and Helena engaged in a pitchers duel at Kindrick Legion field and the Owlz came out on top with a 3-1 win.

 

?The pitchers did a great job keeping us in the game, unfortunately their pitchers did a little better,? said Helena manager Ed Sedar.

 

Orem skipper Tom Kotchman emptied out his bullpen, using five pitchers in the win, but the quintet allowed just seven hits in the contest.

 

Trevor Bell, a first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Angels in 2005, went six innings to pick up the win. He yielded just one run in his stint on the mound.

 

That tally came in the second inning, when Chris Errecart blasted a solo shot. It was his fourth of the season and his third in the last three days.

 

Helena?s other major offensive threat came in the seventh inning with Helena trailing 3-1. With one out, J.R. Hopf stroked a double and that was followed up by a walk to Jordan Swaydan.

 

After Bill Rowe flew out to left field, Fredy De La Cruz also induced a free pass from Owlz reliever Felipe Arredondo.

 

However, the rally would fall just short as Brad Miller blasted a shot to left field that settled into the glove of Chris Pettit at the warning track.

 

After scoring 10 runs on Wednesday, the Brewers have strung together just three scores in the last two games.

 

?When we step to the plate, we need to have a plan,? Sedar said. ?Sometimes we get in a hurry and abandon it right away.?

 

While Helena?s offense has sputtered recently, the Owlz also had trouble bringing runners home.

 

Ryan Mount led off the game with a double and later came home on a fielders choice.

 

The only other two Orem runs came in the third when Louis Rivera lofted a sacrifice fly to score Peter Bourjous and Pettit launched a home run to left field.

 

Helena?s Jose Beltre was the hard-luck loser, working four sold innings. Brae Wright and Travis Wendte combined for five scoreless innings that saw Orem produce just one hit.

 

?They attacked the zone,? said Brewers pitching coach Mark Littell. ?They got the batters out on their front feel. They just pitched.?

 

Errecart and Rowe each had two hits for Helena. Tadd Brewer was the only Owl to manage two hits.

 

The loss dropped Helena 6 1/2 games behind Billings in the North Division standings.

 

The two teams will play in the second game of a three game set tonight at Kindrick-Legion Field. First pitch will be at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

Jon Ebelt, Helena Independent Record Staff Photographer - Helena Brewer first baseman Bill Rowe, left, makes a great stretch, but the ball just isn?t there in time as Orem?s Darrell Sales records a base hit Friday at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2006/07/22/sports_top/b01072206_07.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2006072135

 

Caps? homers doom Power

By Rick Ryan

Charleston Gazette Assistant Sports Editor

 

During the eighth inning, someone in the concourse was blowing bubbles and a few of them drifted lazily toward home plate, prompting umpire Jordan Baker to briefly call time.

 

The Power?s bubble, though, had burst long before then, courtesy of three big pops from Lake County?s bats.

 

Mike Conroy blasted a three-run homer in the third inning and the Captains went deep three times Friday night to earn a 7-1 South Atlantic League victory over the Power in front of 3,581 fans at Appalachian Power Park.

 

The win pulls second-place Lake County (16-11) within three games of North Division leader Lakewood in the second half. The Power (12-15), lodged in third, remained seven games out.

 

West Virginia was also held to a season-low two hits for a home game ? both singles ? by a trio of Lake County pitchers, who combined to strike out eight and walk just one.

 

Captains right-hander Jeff Stevens (4-1) permitted just one hit in five innings, a flare to right by Darren Ford in the third, to pick up the win. Mark Jecmen, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound middle reliever, allowed one hit and one run in three innings ? with Lorenzo Cain crossing on Jecmen?s wild pitch. Submariner Randy Newsom worked a 1-2-3 ninth.

 

West Virginia managed just four baserunners against Lake County, which entered the game with the league?s fourth-best team ERA. The Captains retired the side in order six times in nine innings.

 

?I think when a pitching staff like theirs goes out there and does the job the way they did tonight, you just tip your hat to them,?? said Power manager Mike Guerrero.

 

Guerrero said his team hadn?t seen Stevens previously this season.

 

?But it?s no matter if you?ve seen them or not,?? he said. ?When they throw the ball the way they did tonight, you just say they did a great job and you come back and battle them tomorrow.??

 

The Captains had the game on cruise control by the fifth inning, leading 5-0 after solo shots from Max Ramirez in the second and Chris Gimenez in the fifth to go along with Conroy?s three-run poke. All came off Power starter Rafael Lluberes (4-6).

 

It was an all-or-nothing night for Conroy, who also fanned three times, giving him 98 whiffs in 90 games. He?d earned a promotion to Kinston in the high-A Carolina League last year, but after hitting .241 in 61 games was brought back to Lake County this year.

 

Ramirez was making his Captains debut after coming over from Rome, the Atlanta Braves? Sally League affiliate. A catcher, Ramirez was traded to the Indians organization Thursday for closer Bob Wickman.

 

Lluberes, who yielded five earned runs in his five innings, saw his ERA jump from 3.54 to 3.86. He struck out six and walked three. For the season, Lluberes had now been touched for a team-high nine homers, but he?s also worked a team-high 86 1/3 innings.

 

?He had a rough outing tonight,?? Guerrero said. ?He?s got to learn from the mistakes he made. That?s all he can do now. Recall his mistakes and try to fix it for his next outing.??

 

West Virginia scored its lone run in the sixth as Cain stroked a sharp single with one out, stole second base, moved to third on Angel Salome?s groundout and scored on Jecmen?s wild pitch.

 

Lake County answered with two more in the eighth off reliever Ryan Marion, getting back-to-back RBI doubles by P.J. Hiser and Matt Fornasiere.

 

The two teams play the third game of their four-game series at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central). Power ace right-hander Will Inman (5-1, 1.13 ERA) will be opposed by Captains righty J.D. Martin, who makes his first start.

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

 

Savickas, Jays stop Manatees

 

Russ Savickas and three relievers combined on a four-hitter as Dunedin blanked Brevard County, 1-0, on Friday at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Savickas (3-1) allowed three singles and a walk over six innings in his first scoreless outing since joining the Blue Jays on June 29. He struck out four and lowered his ERA to 2.52 in five starts.

 

Only one batter got past first base against Savickas as Hernan Iribarren walked, stole second and advanced on a wild throw by catcher Robinzon Diaz in the sixth.

 

Po-Hsuan Keng tossed a perfect seventh and Connor Falkenbach yielded a hit in the eighth. Milton Tavarez pitched a perfect ninth for his 21st save, tying St. Lucie's Carlos Muniz for the Florida State League lead.

 

The Blue Jays (15-14) scored in the first on doubles by Aaron Mathews and Eric Arnold.

 

Manatees leadoff man Ryan Crew had the only multi-hit game for either squad as he went 2-for-4 with a two-out triple in the eighth.

 

Starter Derek Miller (0-1) took the hard-luck loss, allowing a run on three hits over five innings for Brevard County (11-16). He struck out four and walked two. -- Michael Echan/MLB.com

[hsvstarsfan]

THE OTHER GARCIA

Former Stars namesake is six perfect

As clouds finally roll into Huntsville, alleviating a long heat wave, the Stars, anything but hot lately, play with the clouds rolling in on them........ Suffering the latest dry spell at the plate, Tim Dillard pitched well enough last Saturday to win, going 8 innings and giving up an earned run, but getting no run support of his own. The clouds certainly didn't shy from him. Last night, he was long gone after the Stars scored twice in the 7th inning......... Dillard got the quickest hook of his season in the 2nd inning, as the Carolina Mudcats took back 4th place in the Northern Division with an 8-2 victory........ Dillard has had a tough month. After going 4-0 with a 2.17 ERA in June, he's 0-3 with a 4.96 ERA this month, his worst of the year.

The Stars (11-1http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/glasses.gif have now lost 6 of their last 7 to fall 5 games back in a very competitive 2nd half in the North (the 1st place Lookouts are only 3 games above .500)....... Although the pitching has been sub-par in the last 7 games (starters are sporting a 3.76 ERA, the bullpen: 4.63), at the plate, the team is hitting a milquetoast .209....... Oddly, five hitters are banging the ball at a .300 clip: Jeff Eure (.300), Ron Acuna, Drew Anderson, Ryan Braun (all at .316), and J.C. Boscan (.444), who got three of his four hits in the Stars' 9-0 whitewash of the Mudcats on Thursday, but the rest of the team, pitchers included, are 19-for-140 (.136)....... Steve Moss, the leadoff hitter for every game until last night, is hitting just .148 with one run scored........ Breaking down the lineup for the last 7 games, the 1-2-3 hitters have scored 10 of the Stars' 24 runs and hitting .244. The 3-4-5 hitters are hitting .208. Brad Nelson, who has been in the mix in each of the games, has gone 2-for-24 without an RBI. The 7-8-9 hitters are 11-for-67 (.164).

After being outscored 1-0 in their first three games, the Mudcats jumped on the Stars early, Friday night, taking a 6-0 lead as the Stars were being held hitless by Jose Garcia, promoted from Class A-Jupiter (Fla. St.) last June 8........ For the curious, this is not the same Jose boosters called "Paco" during his days with the Stars from 2000-02. His career ended with Class AA-Arkansas (Texas) in 2003.

Dillard faced seven batters in the 1st inning, allowing the first three to reach on a single and a couple of walks...... Ryan Bear hit into a force play at 2nd to drive in the first run. Kevin Randel followed with an RBI single to complete the scoring for that inning........ The 2nd was the big inning, the one that forced Dillard from the game.

It began when 2nd baseman Jeff Eure knocked down a 2-1 grounder down on the backhand, but was unable to make a play on what looked routine. It was scored as an error........ He moved to 2nd on Garcia's sacrifice bunt........ Jose Campusano, a speedy 4th-year player, lined a one-hop hit to left, sending Cleveland to third....... Frank Moore then lined Dillard's first pitch beck through the middle to drive in Cleveland, making it 3-0. That got Matt Yeatman throwing for the second time from the bullpen........Tony Schrager, acquired just before the start of this series from the independent Long Island Ducks where Bucky Jacobsen is playing, then made it 4-0, dropping a two-strike pitch into shallow center field, scoring Campusano....... Schrager, who played some shortstop in a utility role for the Diamond Jaxx from 2001-2003 is 7-for-12 in this series. He went on to Boston's chain and then the Dodgers, hitting .308 for LA during spring training 2005 before being let go....... Against Stars pitching in 2001 and 2003, he hit just .239, driving in 9 runs in 71 at-bats.

Ryan Bear then stepped up and bounced a ball the other way, loading he bases. That spelled the end of the night for Dillard....... In his three previous starts, he had gone into the 9th twice and finished eight in his last start....... Matt Yeatman was asked to eat some innings, and coming in, he was unscored upon in six July appearances covering 7 1/3 innings........ Randal lined a 2-1 pitch to Acuna in right, scoring Frank Moore to make it 5-0. Schrager got hung between 2nd and 3rd base. Carlos Lee threw to Guilder Rodriguez, who dispatched him on the basepaths to end the inning....... Yeatman, who served up four home runs in relief in June, served up his first in the 3rd to leadoff hitter Brett Carroll on his first pitch to make it 6-0. Both of his home runs this year have come in this series. That broke a string of 9 2/3 scoreless inning streak for Yeatman.

18 up, 18 down, 10 by strikeout......... Travis Ezi ended it all in the 7th, breaking up Garcia's perfecto on a 2-1 pitch, smacking a line drive down the first base line and off the wall in right field for a double........ After Ron Acuna flied out to right, a wild pitch back to the screen on Garcia's first pitch to Ryan Braun sent Ezi to third. Ezi then scored on Braun's two-hop grounder to Cleveland. That ended the shutout....... The inning wasn't done however for the Stars. Brad Nelson, on a 1-for-22 skid, legged out an infield single and Jeff Eure, working on a 4-game hitting streak, ripped a line drive over a leaping Kevin Randel down the 3rd base line for a double, scoring Nelson, and making it 6-2....... Carlos Lee, however, ended the inning on the first pitch to him, lining a ball to Frank Moore for the final out........ Any chance for a comeback was put away in the bottom half of the inning when Randel's 2-run home run deep to right off Garrit Simpson, his 10th of the season and his first since July 5th, made the score 8-2.

Embarrassingly, the Stars have lost this series, as well as the last, to last-place teams, and been shoved in the process back to the bottom of the Northern Division........ The Mudcats, Saturday, will look at Corey Thurman (2-8, 2.74), who hasn't won since June 2nd. The Mudcats will counter with Manny Olivera (3-6, 3.39). Olivera is 0-2 with a 5.91 ERA this month.

Ron Acuna, who had not hit in the 2nd spot in the order all year, went 0-for-4 there, Friday night........ Ryan Braun's 11-game hitting streak, the 2nd longest of the year, ended. Braun hit .419 during his streak, raising his average to .301, making him the Stars' first .300 hitter this season of note since Ozzie Chavez hit that point on April 13........ In Oklahoma City, Friday night, the Nashville Sounds handed Derek Lee his 8th loss....... Lee, the Stars' all-time winningest pitcher, lasted only four innings, giving up 2 runs in a 4-1 loss in a regularly-scheduled 7-inning game. "The General" has now lost 5 of his last 6 games and is 0-4 in July with a 7.08 ERA.