Link Report for Games of Saturday, July 1st

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Dana Eveland at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 5:40 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Yovani Gallardo at home vs. West Tenn (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450radio.com/

 

Brevard County: LHP Sam Narron at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.daytonacubs.com/

 

West Virginia: LHP Derek Miller at Greenville (Red Sox), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: RHP Shawn Ferguson at Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime

 

Audio (click on "Listen Live"):

www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php

 

Arizona: TBD at home vs. the junior Rangers, 12:30 PM Central time, 10:30 AM local, never any web audio for the Arizona League

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Activate the Nashville Gameday. For the other links, 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. It's sweet!

 

Nashville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_capafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_misrok_1

 

Arizona:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated an hour or two prior to gametime:

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

 

Following Nashville's lead, Huntsville now makes its media notes available as well, nice:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Friday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 42 38 .525 - 27-17 15-21 L3[/b] Iowa 39 41 .488 3.0 20-19 19-22 W3 Memphis 33 47 .413 9.0 18-23 15-24 L1 Omaha 30 51 .370 12.5 16-20 14-31 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 7 5 .583 - 4-3 3-2 W1 Tennessee 7 5 .583 - 4-1 3-4 W1 West Tenn 6 6 .500 1.0 4-1 2-5 W1 Carolina 6 6 .500 1.0 4-3 2-3 L1 [b]Huntsville 5 7 .417 2.0 3-4 2-3 L1[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 6 1 .857 - 3-0 3-1 W6 Daytona 6 2 .750 0.5 3-2 3-0 W4 Palm Beach 4 4 .500 2.5 2-1 2-3 W1 [b]Brevard County 3 4 .429 3.0 2-2 1-2 L1[/b] Vero Beach 3 5 .375 3.5 0-3 3-2 L3 Jupiter 1 7 .125 5.5 1-4 0-3 L7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 6 2 .750 - 3-1 3-1 W1 [b]West Virginia 4 4 .500 2.0 3-0 1-4 L1[/b] Delmarva 4 4 .500 2.0 2-0 2-4 W2 Greensboro 4 5 .444 2.5 2-2 2-3 W1 Hickory 4 5 .444 2.5 4-4 0-1 L1 Lake County 4 5 .444 2.5 3-1 1-4 L1 Lexington 3 6 .333 3.5 2-2 1-4 L2 Hagerstown 2 5 .286 3.5 2-4 0-1 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 7 4 .636 - 4-2 3-2 L1 Great Falls 7 4 .636 - 2-2 5-2 W1 [b]Helena 4 7 .364 3.0 2-5 2-2 W2[/b] Missoula 4 7 .364 3.0 1-4 3-3 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Giants 7 1 .875 - 3-1 4-0 W6 AZL Mariners 5 3 .625 2.0 3-1 2-2 W1 AZL Royals 5 3 .625 2.0 2-2 3-1 L1 AZL Rangers 4 3 .571 2.5 2-2 2-1 W1 AZL Athletics 3 4 .429 3.5 1-2 2-2 W1 [b]AZL Brewers 3 4 .429 3.5 2-1 1-3 W1[/b] AZL Padres 3 4 .429 3.5 1-2 2-2 L2 AZL Angels 2 5 .286 4.5 1-3 1-2 L2 AZL Cubs 1 6 .143 5.5 0-4 1-2 L1

[strawbossisevil]

Wow, Eveland and Gallardo pitching awesome right now. 12 Ks and only three baserunners through 7 and a third for Eveland. Gallardo with 5 Ks through 5. No runs allowed by either to this point. Still no earned runs given up by Gallardo in AA.

[bork]

I guess today is the day for the bullpens to lose games. Only West Virginia avoided it today.

[pogokat]

this is just Dana's first trip to AAA...if he hadn't pitched in the majors this year, we'd all be salivating and bowing down to him...those are truly impressive numbers in AAA, and a solid reason not to give up any high expectations for Dana quite yet..

 

Yo is sick good...that's just crazy

[wibadgers23]

Quote:

---

this is just Dana's first trip to AAA...if he hadn't pitched in the majors this year, we'd all be salivating and bowing down to him...those are truly impressive numbers in AAA, and a solid reason not to give up any high expectations for Dana quite yet..

---

 

Good point, he's also only 22 years old. No reason to give up on him yet. And how about that Gallardo dude? 14 IP, 16 strikeouts, and no runs so far in 2 starts for Huntsville. Scary good so far.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Rangers 10, Arizona Brewers 9, 12 innings

A-Crew led 9-5 after seven innings...

 

Arizona Brewer Box Score:

Mike Goetz and Luis Bernal, in the first two spots in the order, combine to go 9-for-13 with a walk, wow; Alexandre Periard watches as fellow Canadian Craig Langille allows three inherited runners to score; catcher Brett Whiteside, in high school two months ago, with his first pro home run; Lenny Leclercq picked off first and thrown out at second base, thrown out on a steal attempt of second, and then also picked off at third -- that's pretty bad...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

 

Arizona Brewer Game Log:

Brewers thrown out at home in both the 1st and 2nd innings; winning run scored on a wild pitch...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Manager Frank Kremblas (Part 2):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%207-1.wma

 

Final: Round Rock (Astros) 3, Nashville 2

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Dana Eveland photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2031

 

Express Score Three Runs In 9th To Steal Win

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Sounds left-hander Dana Eveland recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings of scoreless one-hit ball but the Round Rock Express scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to steal a 3-2 victory over Nashville on Saturday evening in front of 7,640 stunned fans at Greer Stadium.

 

Eveland, who took a no-decision following the late Express comeback, was in line for the victory after working his longest outing of the year and allowing only three baserunners all evening. The only hit he permitted was a second-inning Luke Scott single. The southpaw?s 12 punchouts were the most by a Sounds hurler since Nelson Figueroa (Pirates organization) fanned a dozen Omaha Royals on July 18, 2004.

 

With his best outing of the season, Eveland lowered his ERA to a Pacific Coast League-leading 1.78 through 11 starts for Nashville (13 ER / 65.2 IP), surpassing Iowa hurler Rich Hill (1.85) for the league ERA lead.

 

The Sounds led 2-0 entering the ninth inning but the bullpen gave up three runs in the frame as Nashville (42-39) dropped its ninth contest in the last 12 games and suffered its PCL-leading 21st one-run loss of the year.

 

Round Rock broke up the shutout bid and rallied to take the lead in the ninth inning against Sounds reliever Joe Winkelsas. With one out in the frame, Joe McEwing and Brooks Conrad reached on consecutive singles before Scott delivered an RBI double to left that brought home McEwing with the first Express run of the night.

 

With runners on second and third, Winkelsas recovered to fan Royce Huffman for the second out of the inning. However, pinch-hitter Brian Gordon stepped in with two outs and drilled a 1-0 pitch off the wall in left-center for a two-run double that netted the visitors a 3-2 lead.

 

The Sounds didn?t go down without making it interesting in the bottom half of the frame. Shortstop Ozzie Chavez picked a good time to record his first career Triple-A extra-base hit when he led off the bottom of the ninth with a triple off the wall in right-center off Round Rock reliever Roberto Giron.

 

AUDIO: Ozzie Chavez's 9th-Inning Triple --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%207-1.wma

 

The right-hander recovered to retire pinch-hitter Jermaine Clark and Tony Gwynn on groundouts to a drawn-in infield for the first two outs of the inning before inducing a game-ending chopper to third from Brent Abernathy, who never left the batter?s box on the play.

 

Nashville grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Gwynn, who had singled, scored on a Graham Koonce sacrifice fly. Gwynn finished 2-for-5 on the evening, his team-leading 30th multiple-hit game of the year.

 

The Sounds doubled the advantage in the home half of the eighth when Nelson Cruz walked, moved to second on a Mike Rivera single, and scored on Vinny Rottino?s RBI single up the middle to make it a 2-0 contest. Rivera paced all Sounds batters with a 3-for-4 night at the plate.

 

Express reliever Brandon Puffer (4-0) was the beneficiary of the late comeback, picking up his fourth victory despite allowing a run in his one frame on the hill. Giron earned his eighth save by working a scoreless ninth.

 

Winkelsas (1-3) took his third loss in his last four appearances after recording Nashville?s 12th blown save of the season. He allowed all three Round Rock runs in his lone inning of work.

 

The teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. meeting on Sunday evening. Sounds right-hander Ben Hendrickson (6-2, 1.95), who posted four victories in the month of June and ranks third among PCL hurlers in ERA, mans the bump to face Express right-hander Jared Gothreaux (3-5, 3.93).

 

Nashville Box Score:

Mike Rivera 3-for-4 -- he can sense what's coming...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Link for Zach Sorenson photo, text follows:

 

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

 

Sounds let ace's effort go to waste

By BRYAN MULLEN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

It seemed that everything was hot at Greer Stadium on Saturday. The weather, the seats, the picnic area, Dana Eveland.

 

Only thing is, the Sounds starting pitcher was burned by Nashville's still-sputtering offense and a shaky bullpen.

 

Eveland received a no-decision but was masterful during his 7 1/3 shutout innings, striking out a career-high 12 and allowing only one hit against Round Rock. But the Express rallied in the ninth and scored three runs en route to a 3-2 win in front of 7,640 fans.

 

Nashville has lost four consecutive games and nine and of its last 12.

 

"It's something that happens," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "You're going to go through that. You lose the lead sometimes. It's just the way baseball is and the way the cycle goes. We're playing better and we're doing things better as a team."

 

The Sounds (42-39) scratched out a respectable nine hits but were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

 

The Express (51-31) made them pay. Sounds reliever Joe Winkelsas allowed all three runs in the ninth, including the game-breaking, two-run double by Brian Gordon, which gave the Express a 3-2 lead.

 

Ozzie Chavez led off the bottom of the ninth with a triple but the Sounds couldn't push him home. The game ended when Brent Abernathy grounded out to third, but he didn't run to first, thinking he'd fouled the ball off his foot.

 

Abernathy and Kremblas argued to no avail with home plate umpire Jason Kiser.

 

Nashville's two runs came on a sacrifice fly by Graham Koonce and an RBI single by Vinny Rottino.

 

What they said: "We had a two-run lead but really didn't make a whole lot of pitches in the ninth. There were too many fastballs in the middle of the plate and they did what you're supposed to do with them." ? Kremblas.

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Home-plate tiff livens up action in first inning

By BRYAN MULLEN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

The weather wasn't the only thing that was hot on Saturday at Greer Stadium.

 

Tempers flared in the first inning between Nashville's Brent Abernathy and Round Rock catcher Humberto Quintero. The two exchanged words after Abernathy took a pitch from Express starter Mark McLemore. Abernathy and Quintero jawed back and forth and had to be separated by home plate umpire Jason Kiser.

 

The two returned to civility moments later and Abernathy grounded out to first base.

 

Birthday boy: It's safe to say Nelson Cruz had a better birthday last year.

 

The Sounds' all-star outfielder turned 26 on Saturday and popped out, struck out and grounded into a fielder's choice in his first three at-bats. On Cruz's birthday last year he reached base in all four of his plate appearances.

 

Nice to see you again: Minor league baseball teams are accustomed to playing the same teams frequently. But this is borderline ridiculous.

 

From June 21 to July 16, the Sounds will play 23 games and will face only Memphis and Round Rock.

 

Welcoming July: When Nashville lost 8-2 to Round Rock on Friday, it marked the Sounds' second set of consecutive losing months (13-14 in June, 13-17 in May) in four years. The last time that happened was in April and May 2002.

 

Showing their colors: The Sounds will wear blue flag-themed jerseys during Monday's 7 p.m. game (the final of an eight-game homestand) to celebrate the Fourth of July. Fans can purchase the jerseys by participating in a silent auction during the game. Proceeds will go to charity.

 

The Sounds will also have a fireworks show after Monday's game because they will be at Memphis on Tuesday.

 

The hits keep coming: Nashville's Tony Gwynn had his 30th multi-hit game of this season, tops on the team. It was announced on Thursday that Gwynn would be a starting outfielder in the Triple-A All-Star game on July 12 in Toledo, Ohio.

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Tenn (Cubs) 1, Huntsville 0

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=902

 

Shaver and Company Shut Out Stars

 

Chris Shaver and three relievers combined on a six-hit shutout, as West Tenn held off Huntsville 1-0 Saturday night in the middle game of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Diamond Jaxx won their second straight game to improve to 7-6 in the second half, while the Stars dropped to 5-8 in the second half and fell for an eleventh time in 13 home meetings with the visitors. Huntsville was blanked for a 12th time on the season, for a ninth time at home and for a third time by the Diamond Jaxx at the Joe.

 

Steve Bray took over for starter Yovani Gallardo in the eighth inning and Scott Moore lined his first pitch for a double to right field. Jake Fox grounded out to advance Moore to third and Carlos Rojas then looped a fly ball to shallow right field that landed behind drawn in infielders Callix Crabbe and Jeff Eure and in front of right fielder Ron Acuna for a hit to push across the game?s only run. Rojas had been hitless in nine tries in the series and 4-for-43 against Stars pitching before the decisive hit.

 

Carmen Pignatiello pitched a scoreless eighth inning in relief before walking Drew Anderson to open the ninth. Ryan Braun grounded into a double play before Lou Palmisano doubled to right to keep the inning going and knock Pignatiello out. Rocky Cherry came on and got Guilder Rodriguez to ground out to end the game and earn his second save of the season.

 

Gallardo worked seven scoreless innings for a second straight start at the double-A level, allowing three hits, walking one and fanning 10. The 20-year old right-hander got Fox to bounce into an inning-ending double play with runners at the corners in the second inning and got him to line into an inning-ending double play with Miguel Negron at third base in the fifth. Gallardo has not been involved in the decision in his two turns despite not giving up a run.

 

Chris Shaver went six scoreless innings and has blanked the Stars over 13 frames in his last two starts against them. He allowed four singles, and only one runner past first base, and struck out a season-high 10.

 

The series continues on Sunday evening with right-hander Corey Thurman getting the starting nod for Huntsville against Diamond Jaxx right-hander Juan Mateo. Coverage of the game begins at 5:50 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:

91.2 IP for Yovani Gallardo, 119 K's while walking only 25 -- find better numbers anywhere in pro baseball; Yo won't be 21 until next February...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Ron Acuna, with 11 extra-base hits all season (215 AB's) is your Huntsville clean-up hitter -- pretty much tells you what you need to know...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Daytona (Cubs) 1, Brevard County 0

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

 

Cubs clip Manatees

 

Four pitchers combined on a four-hitter and Olin Wick smacked an RBI single in the ninth inning as visiting Daytona edged Brevard County, 1-0, on Saturday.

 

Starter Roberto Sotolongo yielded two hits over five innings while striking out four. He retired 11 straight before Steve Sollmann's two-out single in the fifth.

 

Grant Johnson gave up one hit over two innings and Jon Hunton (4-3) allowed a single before striking out the side in the eighth to record the victory. Paul Schappert tossed a perfect ninth for his third save.

 

Ryan Harvey led off the ninth for the Cubs (7-2) with a walk and advanced on a sacrifice by Matthew Ciaramella, setting the stage for Wick's only hit. Daytona has won five straight games.

 

Mike Jones (0-1) absorbed the loss after surrendering a run on two hits and a walk while striking out two in three innings. Starter Sam Narron also allowed two hits in three innings before Dave Johnson walked two in three frames.

 

Sollman contributed two hits for the Manatees (3-5). -- Louice Thomas/MLB.com

 

Additional details from the Daytona Site:

 

The Daytona Cubs (7-2) did not get much offense Saturday night against the Brevard County Manatees (3-5), but they got just enough to pull out a 1-0 win and extend their current winning streak to five games.

 

After several missed opportunities through the first eight innings of the game, the Cubs scored when it mattered most, the ninth. Ryan Harvey walked to lead off the inning. Matt Ciaramella dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner into scoring position. Olin Wick, who hit his second homer of the season the night before, came up with a clutch single into center scoring Harvey who was coming home all of the way with the lone run of the game.

 

Daytona again got exceptional pitching as starter Roberto Sotolongo shut down the Brevard County offense through five innings allowing just two hits and striking out four while walking none. For Sotolongo, he has not allowed a run in nine innings of work against the Manatees.

 

Relievers Grant Johnson, Jon Hunton (4-3), and Paul Schappert combined to hold Brevard County scoreless for the final four innings of the game surrendering just two hits while striking out six. The Cubs have not allowed the Manatees to score a run in the last 27 innings between the two teams. Daytona started the season going 1-7 against their rivals to the south, but have won the last three meetings by a combined score of 5-1.

 

The second game of the home-and-home series will take place Sunday at Space Coast Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM (3:00 Central).

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Manatee pitchers work around three Hernan Iribarren fielding errors; Manatee lineup K's 11 times without drawing a walk; over 5,200 on hand in the drizzle for the holiday festivities...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

Freddy Parejo saves Sam Narron (and Iribarren) a run in the 1st with a throw home from left field; three Manatees strike out swinging after Steve Sollman reaches second base to lead off the 8th -- my, oh my, what a depressing Link Report thus far...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Missoula (Diamondbacks) 16, Helena 1

No heartbreak loss here, huh?

 

Helena Game Summary from the Independent Record:

 

Osprey fly past Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers couldn?t battle their way out of this one.

 

The Missoula Osprey had 19 hits and pummeled the Brewers bullpen Saturday night in their 16-1 victory in Missoula.

 

Helena falls to 4-8 in the Pioneer League.

 

The Osprey kicked off an early lead with a four-run second inning that capitalized on some Brewer mistakes.

 

After Andrew Fie reached second off a fielding error by right fielder Jordan Swaydan, John Hester and Jose Dijol were hit by pitches to loaded the bases.

 

Then, Sean Smith singled to bring in Fie and Tyler Jones grounded into a forced out but brought in Hester. Daniel Perales and Gerardo Parra both singled to bring in the final two of the inning.

 

Helena responded in the top of the next inning to score their only run on the night. Brad Miller reached first on a fielding error by shortstop Matthew Oxendine and was able to advance on the bases on a passed ball, allowing him to score.

 

That brought the score to 4-1, but Miller?s run was quickly negated in the bottom of the same inning when Justin Brashear scored on a fly ball to center by Hester.

 

Three scoreless innings later, Missoula pounded in six more runs. After the Osprey were benefited by a walk, a run scored on a passed ball, another on a single and another walk, the Brewers pulled reliever Brae Wright from the mound.

 

Wright had come in for Shawn Ferguson in the fifth before Stuart Sutherland took his place. Carlos De La Cruz, who has recently been playing first base, came in to finish the game with 1 1/3 innings.

 

The changes couldn?t help the Brewers woes ? they had 10 walks on the night ? and the Osprey scored two more runs in the seventh and three in the eighth.

 

The Brewers will take on the Osprey again this afternoon in Missoula. The first pitch is set for 4:00 PM (5:00 Central). Great Falls will challenge the Brewers Monday and Tuesday. Helena returns to Kindrick Legion Field Wednesday to finish the three-game series.

 

Helena Box Score:

There is absolutely no excuse for Milwaukee brass having two catchers and an infielder seeing outfield time in this one -- the two catchers make errors; yes, we know Zach Clem is hurting...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_misrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

Missoula scored 16 and stranded 16 more -- yowza!

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_misrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with Trainer David Lake (Select date for June 29th, skip to the 12:30 minute mark):

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Thank you, West Virginia, for allowing Mike Rivera to make one appearance for today's Report rather than Chad Moeller...

 

Final: West Virginia 7, Greenville (Red Sox) 2

 

West Virginia Game Summary from the Greenville Site:

 

Drive Shocked By Power, 7-2

 

Greenville, SC - Reliever Kyle Fernandes (2-4) was rocked for five runs, three of which were unearned, in the top of the seventh as the Drive fell to the West Virginia Power 7-2 Saturday night at West End Field. With the loss Greenville falls to 7-3 in the second half and into a three-way tie for first with the Augusta GreenJackets and Asheville Tourists.

 

The Drive got off to an early start, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on two hits. Jay Johnson led off the inning with a double off the Green Monster and advanced to third on Matt Mercurio's sacrifice bunt. Yahmed Yema then followed with a single to left, plating Johnson.

 

West Virginia tied the game at 1-1 with their first run in the top of the third. With one out Michael Brantley reached on a bunt single to third. He then stole second with two outs during Lorenzo Cain's at bat. Cain then singled to right, allowing Brantley to advance to third. Angel Salome collected his first RBI of the evening when he singled home Brantley.

 

With a run in the bottom of the fifth, the Drive regained the lead at 2-1. Zak Farkes led off the inning with a solo shot to leftfield over the Green Monster. It was Farkes' first homer of the season.

 

However, after tossing a shutout sixth inning, the floodgates opened on Fernandes in the seventh. Brantley hit a one-out single to center and advanced to second on a passed ball. A fielding error by Farkes then allowed Darren Ford to reach base. Brantley would score as Cain followed with a single to left. Ford and Cain would each move up a base on the play as the throw from Chris Turner went home.

 

Salome ran his RBI total for the night to three as he tripled to right center, knocking in Ford and Cain. Salome then scored on Mat Gamel's sacrifice fly. The Power would plate their final run of the seventh on a double by Michael Bell who then scored on Ned Yost's single.

 

West Virginia would add one more run off of Hunter Jones in the eighth, expanding their lead to 7-2. With two outs Ford singled to left and scored when Cain followed with a double to left.

 

Knuckleballer John Barnes looked sharp in his first start in a Drive uniform, tossing 5.0 innings surrendering one run on three hits and four walks while striking out four.

 

The Drive and Power continue their four-game series with left-hander Michael Rozier going to the hill as West Virginia will counter with right-hander Matt Kretzschmar.

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

greenvilleonline.com/apps...20334/1050

 

Seventh inning dooms Drive

By Willie T. Smith III

Greenville News STAFF WRITER

 

What began as a pitcher's duel, turned into a nightmare for the Greenville Drive Saturday night.

 

Holding a one-run lead going into the seventh, Greenville was hit by a West Virginia Power five-run outburst, propelling them to a 7-2 victory in front of 5,641 at West End Field.

 

The loss, which ended a three-game winning streak, dropped the Drive to 7-3 in the second half of the South Atlantic League season. West Virginia improved to 5-4.

 

Greenville is now in a three-way tie for first place in the Southern Division with Asheville and Augusta.

 

"That's a good hitting ball club," said Greenville manger Luis Alicea. "We didn't execute. We didn't make good pitches when we had to. We made a couple mistakes in that inning that ended up costing us some runs."

 

Just when it appeared the Drive were en route to winning their third straight low-scoring game, West Virginia exploded.

 

The Power scored five runs on five hits and an error in the seventh against Greenville reliever Kyle Fernandes.

 

"We made a couple of mistakes in that inning that ended up costing us some runs," said Alicea. "(Starting pitcher Derek Miller) is a tough lefty. We faced him (in West Virginia) and he beat us over there. When he goes deep into the game, it's tough."

 

Greenville took the early lead, scoring one in the first. Right fielder Jay Johnson doubled off the Green Monster in left. He advanced to third on a sacrifice by second baseman Matt Mercurio. An infield single by Yahmed Yema allowed pushed him across the plate.

 

The Power tied things in the third when left fielder Michael Brantley reached on a bunt single, stole second, advanced to third on a Lorenzo Cain single to right and scored on an Angel Salome single to left.

 

The score remained until the sixth when third baseman Zak Farkes opened with a home run over the Green Monster to give the Drive a 2-1 advantage.

 

Miller (8-1) kept the Drive off-balance throughout his seven-inning stint. He allowed both Greenville runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out four.

 

Reliever Kevin Roberts was just as impressive, keeping the Drive at bay over the final two innings without allowing a hit or walk.

 

Prior to West Virginia's first run, Greenville pitchers had allowed only one run in 20 innings.

 

Barnes, who played 11 games in 2000 and nine in 2001 with the Minnesota Twins as an outfielder, pitched well.

 

Now attempting to make the major leagues as a knuckle ball pitcher, he allowed one run on three hits and four walks, while striking out four in five innings.

 

"I thought he did a great job," said Alicea. "You're never sure if you're going to have that one inning (where the knuckleball is wild), but he made adjustments and got through."

 

The teams play the third of their four-game series today at 5:05 PM (4:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Lorenzo Cain reaches in all five plate appearances; 60 RBI for Angel Salome...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_capafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_capafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Gallardo has right stuff in Stars loss

Huntsville wastes good outing in 1-0 loss to West Tenn

By BRAD SHEPARD

For the Huntsville Times

 

Superman came to Huntsville theaters Wednesday in a new blockbuster movie.

 

But the Stars may argue he arrived at Joe Davis Stadium a couple of days earlier in the form of 20-year-old pitcher Yovani Gallardo.

 

He was back in superhero form Saturday against West Tenn. For the second consecutive game, Gallardo and his right arm went seven shutout innings, but run support again was his Kryptonite.

 

He received his second straight no-decision as the offense couldn't muster any production in a 1-0 loss.

 

"He had good enough stuff to win the game," said shortstop Guilder Rodriguez, who was 0-for-4.

 

"I was trying to have good at-bats," he continued through an interpreter, "it just didn't happen."

 

On a night when The Famous Chicken entertained the crowd of 4,476, Huntsville's offense laid yet another egg.

 

Twice, the Stars (29-53, 5-8 in second half) had prime opportunities to put the go-ahead run on the board.

 

But after the leadoff batter singled and was sacrificed to second in both the sixth and seventh innings, Huntsville's bats went silent.

 

In the ninth, third baseman Ryan Braun narrowly missed a double down the left-field line that bounced foul following Drew Anderson's leadoff walk.

 

Braun later grounded into a double play.

 

And after a double by Lou Palmisano kept things interesting, Rodriguez grounded out weakly to second to end the game.

 

"When you're going good, the double to left is fair," Stars manager Don Money said. "When you're going bad, it's foul.

 

"We had three chances, but I question some of our at-bats when we have opportunities to drive in runs.

 

"We're taking a lot of hittable pitches and putting ourselves in a hole."

 

The Diamond Jaxx (50-33, 7-6) didn't waste their chance.

 

After the Stars pulled Gallardo following the seventh inning, West Tenn's Scott Moore led off the eighth with a double off reliever Steve Bray. Moore later scored on a bloop single by Carlos Rojas.

 

Chris Shaver went six shutout innings for West Tenn, and Federico Baez got the win in relief.

 

Bray, meanwhile, couldn't continue the precedent set by Gallardo's three-hit, 10-strikeout performance.

 

After two starts, Gallardo and Chattanooga's Homer Bailey - the top prospect in Cincinnati's organization - look like the next big things in Southern League pitching.

 

"He looks like the Real McCoy," Money said of Gallardo. "He pitched out of a couple of jams tonight. He just doesn't seem to get rattled out there."

 

On two different occasions, a Diamond Jaxx player stood on third with less than two outs, but Gallardo induced a pair of double plays to stifle the threats.

 

In his two starts, Gallardo has blanked the North Division's top two teams from the first half - Chattanooga and West Tenn.

 

"I'm real excited about that," he said. "I just tried to come up here and do what I was doing at Brevard County and not change a thing."

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's

 

www.starsboxscore.com/

 

PITCHERS' DUEL

GALLARDO, SHAVER COMBINE FOR 19 Ks

Here comes July and a chance to leave May and June behind. A new slate......... The Stars, who had the worst May in history (7-23), as well as the worst month ever, also had the worst June in history (9-19)....... But the Stars, invigorated perhaps by recent additions from Brevard, are playing somewhat better, winning four of their last nine ballgames and hitting .272, and if one addition has outshined the others, it would no doubt have to be Yovani Gallardo.

 

Gallardo was on the hill for his second start and just like the first, he kept the opposition scoreless, and pitched like he knew his business. In fact, I don't know, as one fan next to me said, what he could learn by being here, but I'm glad he is........ Gallardo just looks so polished......... He even, as he did the first time, came from behind on 3-and-0 and 2-and-0 and strike out hitters. He obviously has control and seems to have command of what he throws....... He pounded the strike zone the last time out, topping at 94 mph on third strike pitches in the 4th inning on June 26 vs. Chattanooga, striking out the side, and tonight, finished his night striking out five of the last eight hitters to face him, giving up a walk and a ground-rule double to Scott Moore....... If he hit 94, I didn't see it tonight. I think 92 is what he topped out on the scoreboard speed-o-meter, or whatever you want to call it.

 

But what he didn't get tonight, as well as last June 26, was support........ Gallardo, who left with a 2-0 lead last Monday (the Stars lost 4-2), couldn't get a run behind him this time. But what he did get was great defensive support......... Maybe some harbinger came in the 1st, when he backhanded a sharp broken-bat liner right back at him off the bat of Eric Patterson. In the 2nd, after Miguel Negron and Moore hit back-to-back singles to right, Guilder Rodriguez turned Jake Fox's grounder into an inning-ending double play........ In the 4th, Steve Moss made an inning-ending over-the-shoulder catch deep in center field about 402 feet away off Brian Dopirak, and in the 5th, Miguel Negron's lead-off triple was wasted when Moore lined out to Jeff Eure, and the highlight --- Fox lining into a double play to Ryan Braun, who dove to the bag ahead of Negron to end the inning.

 

For seven quick innings it went on --- Gallardo striking out 10 and West Tenn's Chris Shaver fanning nine....... Drew Anderson hit a single behind the bag at second base with one out in the 2nd, but was stranded........ Gallardo lined a hit to left in the 3rd. He was stranded........ Lou Palmisano had the first of his two hits in the 5th, again with one out, but was forced out to end the inning.

 

In the 6th and 7th, the Stars blew their best chance to score. Both times, Pat Listach's strategy of intentionally walking the hitter following a sacrifice worked........ Eure was walked in the 6th to get to Ron Acuna, who has hit well with runners on this year (.290), and even better with them in scoring position (.323). But he chased an outside change-up and struck out and Anderson, who fought back from an 0-and-2 situtation, flied out easily to left........ In the 7th, Braun led off with an infield single and was sacrificed to 2nd. Rodriguez, still without an RBI in 65 at-bats, struck out. Listach ordered reliever Federico Baez to walk pinch-hitter Brad Nelson to pitch to Moss, whose family was a row in front of me tonight........ Moss struck out on a 91-mph slider............ The Stars would get only one more runner to 2nd base after that --- a two-out 9th inning double by Palmisano.

 

The Stars were blanked for the 12th time this year, the 9th time at home,and the 3rd time against this team....... The Diamond Jaxx won this in the 8th after Steve Bray came on in relief of Gallardo....... Scott Moore greeted him with a first-pitch ground-rule double to right. Jake Fox moved him over on a sharp ground ball to G-Rod....... Carlos Rojas, a .220 hitter with runners in scoring position, hit Bray's first pitch to right for a run-scoring single........ Negron is hitting .361 vs. the Stars this year in 12 games.

 

Sunday, the Stars send Corey Thurman, who should sue for non-support, against Juan Mateo (4-4, 2.71). Mateo is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA vs. the Stars in two starts against them this year.

 

Bray was 1-1 with a 1.57 ERA in only eight appearances in June, but he pitched more innings than any other month this year, owing to a pair of fine starts........Gerrit Simpson's "out" pitch this year is his slider, something he's worked on. His curve was his big pitch last year......... It's hard to gauge Steve Hammond's performance to last Sunday when he blanked Chattanooga for six innings. WT was very anxious at the plate in the early going Friday night. His control and command are still items he's working on with pitching coach Rich Sauveur, but Sauveur emphasized after the game that Hammond's major problem was holding runners....... The Diamond Jaxx stole five bases against the Stars Friday night, four of them by All-Star Chris Walker.

[Team Canada]

If Yo absolutely dominates through July, is there any chance he goes to AAA yet this year?

[Never Outhustled]

If Yo absolutely dominates through July, is there any chance he goes to AAA yet this year?

 

Thats a really intriguing question. Past pitchers who were bumped to AA, like Ty Taubenhiem and Carlos Villanueva, initially struggled, so Yo's dominance is a little suprising. I would think Yo would definately be a candidate for AAA, considering Nashville will likely qualify for the playoffs, and they will have a roster shortage when rosters expand Sept 1.

[DHonks]

Past pitchers who were bumped to AA, like Ty Taubenhiem and Carlos Villanueva, initially struggled, so Yo's dominance is a little suprising

 

exactly. I can't recall dominance without high walk totals since Steve Woodard.

 

I would hope he gets 5-7 starts in AA, at least. Plus if Ohka and Sheets get back, that means Jackson and Villanueva will likely go down.

[JohnBriggs12]

"If Yo absolutely dominates through July, is there any chance he goes to AAA yet this year?"

 

AAA? If he absolutely dominates through July, it's going to be very tempting to see what he can do in the majors yet this year. The reports are that not only is he dominating hitters, but that he's showing poise well beyond his years and the level he's playing at.

 

As for Eveland, I think he deserves another, longer look very soon. I thought he threw the ball fine when he was up but seemed to always let an inning get away from him when he was a pitch or two from escaping. He's got the stuff to be a successful starter in the major leagues. He just needs to get over that hump

 

I never remember the Brewers being this deep in young starting pitching. Jackson, Villanueva, De la Rosa, Eveland, Gallardo, Rogers, Inman, Parra, not to mention the baby Brewers. If half of them reach their potentials, it bodes very well.