Link Report for Games of Friday, June 30th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Jared Fernandez at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Steve Hammond at home vs. West Tenn (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450radio.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Josh Wahpepah at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.palmbeachcardinals.com/

 

West Virginia: RHP Will Inman at Greenville (Red Sox), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: LHP Zach Braddock at Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime

 

Audio (click on "Listen Live"):

www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php

 

Arizona: RHP Evan Anundsen at the Royals' 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". 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_pbcafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_capafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_misrok_1

 

Arizona:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_royrok_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 42 37 .532 - 27-16 15-21 L2[/b] Iowa 38 41 .481 4.0 20-19 18-22 W2 Memphis 33 46 .418 9.0 18-23 15-23 W2 Omaha 30 50 .375 12.5 16-19 14-31 L5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 6 5 .545 - 4-2 2-3 W1 Chattanooga 6 5 .545 - 3-3 3-2 L2 Tennessee 6 5 .545 - 4-1 2-4 L1 [b]Huntsville 5 6 .455 1.0 3-3 2-3 W2[/b] West Tenn 5 6 .455 1.0 4-1 1-5 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 5 1 .833 - 2-0 3-1 W5 Daytona 5 2 .714 0.5 3-2 2-0 W3 [b]Brevard County 3 3 .500 2.0 2-2 1-1 W1[/b] Palm Beach 3 4 .429 2.5 1-1 2-3 L1 Vero Beach 3 4 .429 2.5 0-2 3-2 L2 Jupiter 1 6 .143 4.5 1-4 0-2 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 5 2 .714 - 3-1 2-1 L1 [b]West Virginia 4 3 .571 1.0 3-0 1-3 W1[/b] Hickory 4 4 .500 1.5 4-4 0-0 W3 Lake County 4 4 .500 1.5 3-1 1-3 W1 Delmarva 3 4 .429 2.0 1-0 2-4 W1 Greensboro 3 5 .375 2.5 2-2 1-3 L3 Lexington 3 5 .375 2.5 2-2 1-3 L1 Hagerstown 2 4 .333 2.5 2-3 0-1 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 7 3 .700 - 4-2 3-1 W3 Great Falls 6 4 .600 1.0 1-2 5-2 L1 Missoula 4 6 .400 3.0 1-3 3-3 L3 [b]Helena 3 7 .300 4.0 2-5 1-2 W1[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Giants 6 1 .857 - 2-1 4-0 W5 AZL Royals 5 2 .714 1.0 2-1 3-1 W3 AZL Mariners 4 3 .571 2.0 2-1 2-2 L3 AZL Rangers 4 3 .571 2.0 2-2 2-1 W1 AZL Padres 3 3 .500 2.5 1-2 2-1 L1 AZL Athletics 3 4 .429 3.0 1-2 2-2 W1 AZL Angels 2 4 .333 3.5 1-3 1-1 L1 [b]AZL Brewers 2 4 .333 3.5 2-1 0-3 L1[/b] AZL Cubs 1 6 .143 5.0 0-4 1-2 L1

[Mass Haas]

In progress: Arizona Brewers 4, Arizona Royals 4, after two innings

Starter Evan Anundsen had a high-pitch count first inning and his day ended after one; HR # 3 for Anthony Wycklendt, # 2 for John Alonso; here's your wild game log thus far:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_royrok_1

[1e Corbeau]

Third straight game that Salome hasn't played in (thus far). Promotion? Leave?

 

And a strong outing for Inman, who still must be on a strict pitch count.

 

Also, Katin seems to be missing his former 'Cane mate, as he's making a statement that he needs a bigger challenge.

 

And the real Hurricane is up over .300, too.

[colbyjack]

I think Jim noted the other day that we're not used to following a lackluster Helena squad, and I think the arrival of Cole Gillespie will be exactly what the team needs. He's the type of hitter opposing teams pitch around, which should give the necessary protection ahead and behind him to give his mates some good pitches to hit. The pitching seems to be pretty good (without looking at the numbers, and looking beyond Braddock's shaky start tonight), so a little better offense could make for a much better team.

 

Inman roolz.

[DHonks]

Inman roolz.

 

just seeing the word/name "Inman" makes me smile

[bork]

The offense-phobia seems to be spreading. Nashville has it bad now. They were tearing up the league earlier, now they're getting outscored by Huntsville.

[plowjockey]

First 6 hitters in Brevard's order combine for 10 hits and they get shut out. Only in the minors.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 13, Arizona Rangers 7

Bang-out crowd of 31...

 

Arizona Brewer Box Score:

The A-Crew bangs out 23 hits, eight for extra bases, including two John Alonso home runs -- only one team walk, hackin' shoes today; bonus baby Rolando Pascual walked four in his two-inning stint...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_royrok_1

 

Arizona Brewer Game Log:

As chock-full as you'd expect...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_royrok_1

[Mass Haas]

When you're reading these Arizona box scores, keep in mind that tonight's Brewer starter Carlos Villanueva was plucked from San Francisco via this very lowest rung of the minors, not even from an advanced rookie league. As is evident from Carlos' Arizona League stats over two seasons (see link), it's not as if his numbers were off the chart.

 

Kudos to whoever from within the ranks recommended Carlos to Doug Melvin. Perhaps the Brewers had just missed on signing him two years prior, or he had dazzled in particular in a rookie league game against the Brewers. Very, very unusual to pluck a nugget from that level (thank you Wayne Franklin and Leo Estrella!)

 

Carlos Villanueva Brewerfan Player Index Page

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 7, Missoula (Diamondbacks) 4

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.missoulian.com/articl...orts01.txt

 

Missoula bullpen fails to hold lead for second straight game

By MICHAEL HEINBACH of the Missoulian

 

The Missoula Osprey might have found out their most pressing issue early on in this Pioneer League season.

 

For the second consecutive game, the O's bullpen failed to hold a significant lead as Missoula dropped its fourth straight, a 7-4 defeat at the hands of the Helena Brewers on Friday night at Ogren-Allegiance Park.

 

The Osprey offense teamed with starting pitcher Jordan Norberto to stake Missoula to a 4-0 lead through five innings.

 

But four Missoula relievers allowed five earned runs the rest of the way and the O's went hitless in the final four frames as the Osprey dropped to 4-7.

 

?Our bullpen had trouble throwing in the strike zone tonight,? said Missoula manager Hector De La Cruz. ?As you can see, we're going to have a couple of projects and some young guys that we'll need to work with to make them better. But I believe the guys are going to be all right and they're going to come around.?

 

The relief corps wasted a strong starting effort by Norberto. The 5-foot-11 lefty from Nagua, Dominican Republic, tossed five innings of one-hit ball, struck out five and walked four.

 

Norberto's catcher, Stanford product John Hester, believed the Osprey starter wasn't having as easy a time as it appeared.

 

?He came out and was a little shaky in his bullpen session before the game, so we didn't know quite what to expect,? said Hester, who had one of Missoula's four hits. ?He came out and didn't really have it from top to bottom, but he came in, got it done and found a way.?

 

The Brewers (3-7) erased their deficit in two innings off losing pitcher Clay Zavada (0-1), the O's first sub out of the pen. He surrendered three consecutive one-out singles and a run-scoring fielder's choice in the sixth as the Osprey lead was reduced to 4-2.

 

In the seventh, Helena backstop Andy Bouchie's run-scoring infield single was followed by a two-run double by Chris Errecart. The inning ended when Errecart was thrown out by center fielder Daniel Perales trying to stretch the hit to a triple, but Helena had its first lead of the night.

 

Matt Krohe allowed two more runs - one earned - on three hits in the eighth before Giorneale Sena struggled with control in the ninth.

 

Sena walked two and hit a batter in a nightmarish 17-pitch stint.

 

Missoula escaped the inning unscathed when Jorge Perez induced Eric Newton to ground into a bases-loaded 4-6-3 double play on his first offering.

 

?I think some of those guys out of the pen were a little nervous or a little anxious,? Hester said. ?That can translate into them being a little bit wild and not having real good command of their pitches.?

 

Brock Kjeldgaard got the victory for the Brewers. He tossed 2 1-3 hitless innings to move to 1-0.

 

Errecart, who began the evening batting just .128, led the Brewers' bats, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. Carlos De La Cruz and Bouchie each went 2-for-4 and drove in a run for Helena.

 

Conner Janes drove in two for Missoula. Perales, Matt Oxendine, Andrew Fie and Hester all had singles for the Osprey.

 

?We're struggling right now, there's no question about that,? Hester said. ?But this whole season is going to be something of a learning experience. So every game we're going to treat as something to learn from and hopefully we'll improve on it the next day.?

 

Helena Box Score:

Stephen Chapman fails to get a hit for the first time this season; four two-out RBI, nice; three solid bullpen efforts after wildness forces Zach Braddock out (inning's pitch count) before the first ends...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_misrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

Chris Jean comes with two on and one out in the 8th and promptly gets the double play grounder...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_misrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Greenville (Red Sox) 2, West Virginia 1

Walk-off loss -- bummer...

 

West Virginia Game Summary from the Greenville Site:

 

Greenville, SC - Despite a lackluster performance for the first eight innings, the Greenville Drive provided some ninth-inning fireworks to defeat the West Virginia Power 2-1 in the series opener Friday night at West End Field. The victory improved Greenville to 7-2 in the second half of the regular season and 42-37 overall.

 

Sally League All-Star MVP Mat Gamel got the Power going in the top of the fourth with a leadoff double. Gamel later advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on Mike Bell's triple to deep center.

 

The Drive threatened in the bottom of the fifth but were unable to plate a runner. Chris Turner led off with a single off the Green Monster but was thrown out as he tried to stretch the hit into a double. Logan Sorensen then singled and advanced to third on Matt Mercurio's double. With one out Jay Johnson hit a one hopper to Gamel at third who quickly fired the ball home to get Sorensen out at the plate. Dominic Ramos then struck out to end the threat.

 

However, Greenville would not be denied a victory as they scored twice in the bottom of the ninth for their seventh walk-off victory of the season. Joe Thatcher struck out Yahmed Yema to lead off the inning but then was relieved by Dane Renkert (5-3). Mark Wagner reached base by a walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Tony Granadillo's fly out to right allowed Wagner to tag up and advance to third. With two outs, Bubba Bell hit a grounder to shortstop Mike Bell who mishandled it allowing the Drive to tie the game at 1-1. Chris Turner then provided the heroics by doubling to right field, knocking in Bell.

 

Starting pitcher Ryan Phillips earned a no-decision despite pitching five solid innings. Phillips surrendered one run on four hits and three walks while striking out four. Randy Newsom, who was received earlier in the day from Wilmington (Advanced-A), picked up the win tossing 4.0 shutout innings allowing just two hits. Two double-plays helped Newsom face the minimum 12 batters for the outing.

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

greenvilleonline.com/apps...SPORTS0601

 

Greenville wins in 9th

By Willie T. Smith III

STAFF WRITER

wtsmith@greenvillenews.com

 

The Greenville Drive were the recipients of a little luck thanks to a West Virginia Power miscue Friday night.

 

Then the Drive made their own luck.

 

A two-out ninth-inning double by leftfielder Chris Turner allowed the Drive to score the winning run in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over West Virginia in front of an overflow West End Field crowd of 6,422.

 

Turner's hit capped a rally that began when a Michael Bell error at shortstop on a ground ball by centerfielder Bubba Bell, allowed catcher Mark Wagner to score from third.

 

Then Turner drove a ball over the head of West Virginia right fielder Lorenzo Cain, scoring Bubba Bell from first with the winning run.

 

"I'm still like this," Turner said, extending a trembling hand. "I'm still excited about it. That's something, to come back in the last inning with two outs. We got the key hits. I think we only had seven hits, but we got them when we needed them."

 

Thanks to lights-out pitching by West Virginia starter Will Inman, followed by relievers Wilfrido Laureano and Joe Thatcher, Greenville hitters were rendered powerless through much of the game.

 

The Drive, though, got outstanding pitching of their own.

 

Greenville starter Ryan Phillips and reliever Randy Newsom limited West Virginia to six hits and three walks.

 

West Virginia broke the scoreless string in the fourth. Third baseman Mat Gamel led off with a double down the left field line. He immediately advanced to third on a Mark Wagner passed ball.

 

With one out, shortstop Michael Bell tripled off the center-field wall, scoring Gamel.

 

"We faced good pitching tonight, very good pitching," said Greenville manager Luis Alicea. "The guy starting for them (Inman) is probably one of the best pitchers in the league ... The guy pitching after him (Laureano) was tough, too."

 

For the second night Greenville's pitching was also up to the test. After shutting out Lexington in 11 innings on Thursday, Drive pitchers were again solid.

 

Particularly impressive was Newsom who allowed only two hits and one fly ball in four innings after arriving in Greenville from Wilmington earlier in the day to help an over-worked bullpen.

 

He is expected to return to Wilmington after the series.

 

"(Newsom's performance) was huge," said Alicea. "He's the guy that came in here just to help the ball club get through these days."

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Yeah, Mike Bell drove in the Power's only run, but when you've made 28 errors since your call-up in late April, one of them is bound to directly cost your team a game, and this one did -- harsh reality; Wil Laureano and Joe Thatcher on top of their games out of the pen; offense needed to do more in the end...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_capafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_capafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Palm Beach (Cardinals) 1, Brevard County 0

By the way, we're told Adam Heether is with the squad...

 

Garcia, Cards blank Manatees

 

Jaime Garcia and two relievers combined on an 10-hitter as Palm Beach blanked visiting Brevard County, 1-0, on Friday.

 

The 19-year-old Garcia (1-1), making his second Palm Beach start, gave up all 10 hits and struck out five over seven innings.

 

Dennis Dove recorded two outs in the eighth before Mike Sillman struck out Ryan Crew to end the inning. Sillman worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to notch his Florida State League-leading 18th save.

 

Sean Danielson doubled home Matt Shepherd in the seventh to put the Cardinals (4-4) ahead. Danielson went 3-for-4.

 

Brendan Katin went 3-for-4 with his 23rd double, while Crew, Hernan Iribarren and Charlie Fermaint each had two hits for the Manatees (3-4).

 

Brevard County reliever Jeremy Lewis (1-5) allowed a run on three hits while striking out one in 1 1/3 frames. Starter Josh Wahpepah went five innings, giving up four hits and four walks with four strikeouts. -- Ryan McConnell

 

Brevard County Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

Palm Beach wasted huge chances, too -- check out Josh Wahpepah's escape acts in the 1st, 4th, and 5th innings -- yikes; despite ten hits, the Manatees never had a man on 3rd base with less than two out -- really an unusual game log here...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Tenn (Cubs) 5, Huntsville 4

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=901

 

Stars' Comeback Bid Falls Just Short

 

Scott Moore hit a home run and knocked in two runs and the bullpen tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings to preserve West Tenn?s 5-4 win over Huntsville Friday night in front of 8,155, the biggest crowd of the season at Joe Davis Stadium. The Diamond Jaxx ended a four-game losing streak and improved to 6-6 in the second half, while the Stars dropped to 5-7 in the second half and fell for a tenth time in 12 home meetings with the visitors. The teams have split the first two games of a five-game series.

 

Moore hit a solo home run in the second inning to give West Tenn the early 1-0 lead. It was his 13th of the season and third against the Stars, who fell two games behind North Division leading Tennessee. Richard Lewis singled, stole second base and scored on a Tony Richie double to make it 2-0 after an inning and a half. The Diamond Jaxx tallied twice in the third on a Brian Dopirak sacrifice fly and a single by Moore that plated Eric Patterson to make it 4-0. Nic Jackson?s run-scoring triple in the fifth inning scored Chris Walker, who stole four bases in the game, to push the lead to 5-0. Stars? starter Steve Hammond was charged with all five runs, two earned, on six hits and suffered his first loss at the double-A level in his second start.

 

J.R. Mathes blanked the Stars on three singles through 5 2/3 innings before Jeff Eure blasted his seventh home run of the year to get the home team on the board. Ryan Braun belted a two-run home run in the seventh to cut the lead to 5-3. Guilder Rodriguez singled with one out in the seventh to chase Mathes from the game and bring on Ed Campusano, who gave up a hit to pinch-hitter Brad Nelson and a single to Travis Ezi that scored Rodriguez to trim the lead to 5-4. Callix Crabbe struck out for the second out of the inning and Rocky Cherry was brought on to replace Campusano, who had just been promoted from Peoria in the low single-A Midwest League. Jeff Eure reached on an infield single to load the bases before Cherry fanned Ron Acuna to end the inning.

 

Drew Anderson led off the eighth inning with an infield single, his third hit of the night, stole second and moved to third base on a Lou Palmisano ground out on a fine play by Patterson at second base. Rodriguez hit a chopper to Patterson, who waited on the ball, fielded and threw to first just in the nick of time to get Rodriguez for the final out of the inning. Andy Shipman, who nailed down 15 saves for West Tenn last season, retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his first save since rejoining the Diamond Jaxx.

 

The series continues on Saturday night with right-hander Yovani Gallardo getting the starting nod for Huntsville against Diamond Jaxx left-hander Chris Shaver. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1450 AM and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Stars' rally falls just short

West Tenn leads 5-0 and holds on for 5-4 victory

By PAUL GATTIS

Huntsville Times Sports Staff, paul.gattis@htimes.com

 

It's progress, at least.

 

Yes, the Huntsville Stars fell 5-4 on Friday night to West Tenn before the biggest crowd of the season at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

But to Stars manager Don Money, it's progress.

 

"We had a chance," Money said. "We gave ourselves a chance to win the game. One more hit or one bad play, we win the game."

 

These are the baby steps forward for a team that has struggled all season.

 

Money saw the progress, though, in standing at the brink of winning after falling behind 5-0. Money saw the progress in the opportunity at victory - something that's happening with more and more frequency these days.

 

A month ago, Money was just begging his players to have a chance.

 

"Now we're giving ourselves a chance," Money said.

 

But whether by one run or five, a loss still shows up as a loss.

 

The DiamondJaxx jumped on Stars starter Steve Hammond for five runs in five innings - though only two of the runs were earned.

 

West Tenn got two in the second and third innings and tacked on what proved to be the eventual winning run in the fifth when Chris Walker reached on a Hammond error and scored on Nic Jackson's triple to right-center field.

 

Money also pointed to West Tenn's six stolen bases as a factor. Walker - who came into the game third in the Southern League in steals - stole four bases. Four of the five runs the DiamondJaxx scored were by runners who stole a base. The exception was Scott Moore, who clubbed a two-run homer in the second.

 

"With all of that," Money said, "we still had a chance to win the game."

 

But then the Stars put a charge in the announced crowd of 8,155. Jeff Eure - who was 4-for-4 - homered to left with two outs in the sixth.

 

In the seventh, the Stars batted around and pushed across three runs to pull within one at 5-4. But the rally died when Ron Acuna struck out with the bases loaded.

 

Drew Anderson led off the seventh with a single and scored when Ryan Braun followed with a two-run homer. Guilder Rodriguez looped a single to right with one out and pinch-hitter Brad Nelson laced another single to right.

 

Rodriguez scored when Travis Ezi singled to center. Eure reached on an infield single to load the bases with two outs and then Acuna went down.

 

The Stars got the tying run into scoring position in the eighth when Anderson singled and stole second with one out. But West Tenn relievers Rocky Cherry and Andy Shipman combined to retire the final six Stars.

 

J.R. Mathes (8-4), who was named to the Southern League all-star team last week, got the win while Shipman picked up his first save. After pitching six scoreless innings in his Stars debut on Sunday, Hammond (0-1) took the loss.

 

Still, it's progress.

 

Unspectacular progress, maybe, but progress to Money.

 

"If we had gotten (another) base hit in the seventh," Money said, "we had a chance to win."

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Five of the six Diamond Jaxx stolen bases with southpaw Steve Hammond on the mound -- did he give Lou Palmisano any help? Jeff Eure has had more productive games in terms of run production, but 4-for-4's don't come along very often for the slugging corner infielder, good job...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Ryan Braun's throwing error leading off the 3rd led to two unearned runs -- my, oh, my...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Manager Frank Kremblas (Part 1):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...206-30.wma

 

Final: Round Rock (Astros) 8, Nashville 2

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for new Mark Johnson photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2029

 

Sounds Drop Series Opener To Express, 8-2

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? The Nashville Sounds took a loss for the first time in a Faith Night game this season, falling 8-2 Friday night to the Round Rock Express in the opener of a four-game series in front of 7, 912 fans at Greer Stadium.

 

The Sounds (42-38) recorded seven hits on the night but catcher Mark Johnson supplied three of those knocks, going 3-for-3 at the dish. Johnson recorded two singles in his first two at-bats and then plated the team?s only two runs in the bottom of the ninth with a one-out home run off Express reliever Travis Driskill. Coming into the game, Johnson had been hitless in his previous 15 at-bats.

 

The Sounds attempted to take the first lead of the game in the fourth inning with a little help from All-Star outfielder Nelson Cruz. The slugger hit a deep fly ball down the left field line that landed beyond the left field fence. At first glance, the ball looked to have wrapped around the foul pole for a home run and was initially ruled as a longball, but after a short deliberation by the umpires, the crew corrected their ruling to a foul ball to leave the game tied at zeroes.

 

AUDIO: The Nelson Cruz HR That Wasn't --

"Horrible call - brutal"...

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...206-30.wma

 

The Express broke the scoreless deadlock in the top of the fifth. With Cody Ransom on third and Joe McEwing on first, Johnson let a Jared Fernandez knuckleball get away from him and roll towards the Sounds dugout. Ransom was able to cross home on the passed ball to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

 

Round Rock doubled its lead in the visiting half of the sixth inning. With one out, first baseman Royce Huffman hit a solo home run just over the fence in left field. The longball, which came against Fernandez, was his ninth of the season.

 

The Sounds threatened in the following half inning. With the bases full and two outs, Vinny Rottino hit a hard line drive that deflected of the glove of Express starter Jason Hirsh and rolled to Ransom, the shortstop, who stepped on second for the final out of the inning.

 

Ransom increased the Round Rock lead to 4-0 in the top of the eighth when he hit his seventh home run of the year, scoring Humberto Quintero from second. The roundtripper came against Sounds reliever Allan Simpson.

 

The Express continued to add to their lead in the top of the ninth. With the bases loaded, Ransom (3-for-4) hit a bases-clearing double to the gap in left center, giving Round Rock an eight-run lead. With that hit, Ransom recorded his fifth RBI of the night. Wilton Chavez, who entered the game with a sparkling 0.73 ERA in the month of June, allowed the final three Round Rock runs in just two-thirds of an inning.

 

The Sounds added some offense of their own in the bottom of the ninth, courtesy of Johnson. With Dave Krynzel on the basepaths, Johnson hit his second home run of the season to bring the score to its final 8-2.

 

Hirsh (9-2) pulled into a tie for the Pacific Coast League lead by earning his ninth victory in the contest. The right-hander held the Sounds scoreless over six innings of work, striking out eight batters in the process.

 

Driskill worked the final three frames for the Express to notch his 11th save of the year.

 

Fernandez (3-2) took the loss for Nashville after allowing two runs (one earned) on eight Round Rock hits over his six innings of work.

 

The Sounds and the Express face off again on Saturday night at 6 p.m. Nashville will give southpaw Dana Eveland (3-3, 2.01) the starting nod. Left-hander Philip Barzilla (4-3, 4.18) will man the mound for Round Rock.

 

Nashville Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Sounds' struggles continue

Lose 8th out of 11; HR gets overturned

By JESSICA HOPP

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

In the end, it wouldn't have made a difference.

 

Regardless, having a flyball hit by Nelson Cruz first called fair, then called foul in the fourth inning on Friday made the Sounds hotter than the humid Nashville night. The game's result made it even worse.

 

The Sounds lost 8-2 to Round Rock in front of 7,912 fans at Greer Stadium.

 

It was the Sounds eighth loss in the last 11 games. They narrowly avoided a shutout ? which would have been only their second of the year ? when Mark Johnson hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth.

 

But it was the home run that didn't happen that set the tone for the game.

 

"You take runs away from the team and that affects the whole game," Manager Frank Kremblas said. "That can't happen."

 

The controversy played out in the bottom of the fourth with the game still scoreless. Cruz seemed to hit a two-out shot down the left field line, and the third base umpire emphatically signaled fair.

 

After an argument by several Round Rock players and acting Manager Spike Owen, the umpires huddled and the home run call was overturned.

 

"First they thought it was (fair), then they decided it wasn't," Kremblas said. "It's beyond me how they could know. It was close. I couldn't tell, but there is no way that they're sure either. That's why I was disappointed in the change of call."

 

Cruz ? who said he couldn't see if his hit was fair or foul because he running to first ? then struck out.

 

He ripped off his batting glove and threw his bat hard to the ground near the on-deck circle before heading into the dugout.

 

Eventually, he had words with the umpire.

 

"I told them I was sorry," Cruz said. "I threw my bat, so I apologized."

 

Round Rock took a 1-0 lead in the fifth as Cody Ransom scored on a passed ball.

 

A solo home run by Royce Huffman extended that lead to 2-0 in the sixth. The hit was down the left field line similar to Cruz's, and as the third base umpire signaled a fair ball, a round of boos elicited from the Greer Stadium fans.

 

The fans continued to be edgy in the eighth when Ransom hit a two-run home run. Despite the fact that the ball was well in play, fans chanted "Foul ball. Foul ball."

 

What they said: "We are really struggling. We have got to get up and do the best we can to get out of this slump."?Cruz.

 

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Fernandez just misses milestones

By JESSICA HOPP

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Sounds starting pitcher Jared Fernandez ? a knuckleballer who heading into the Friday's game ranked eighth in the PCL with a 2.62 ERA ? was looking for both his 100th career victory and his 1,000th career strikeout.

 

But the 8-2 loss left him without the milestone win. Fernandez, 34, is in his 13th season of minor league baseball.

 

"To be around that long shows you still have use to a lot of people," Manager Frank Kremblas said.

 

With four strikeouts in six innings, Fernandez needs just five more to reach 1,000.

 

Heading into Friday's contest, Fernandez had thrown complete games in his last two outings, including a nine-inning shutout at Round Rock on June 25.

 

Falling back: What was once a substantial lead for the Sounds in the American North Division is quickly dwindling.

 

With a Nashville loss and an Iowa win on Friday night, the Sounds hold just a three-game advantage over the Cubs. It is the smallest difference between the two teams since May 1 when Nashville had a 2½ -game edge, and a significant difference from the eight-game lead the Sounds held from June 3-5.

 

Top two: Friday night featured a matchup of the two best pitching staff's in the Pacific Coast League with Nashville averaging a league-best 3.42 ERA and Round Rock flashing a second-best 3.50 ERA.

 

But the Sounds' pitching staff gave up eight runs off of 14 Round Rock hits. Reliever Wilton Chavez allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning in the top of the ninth.

 

Going into the game, Chavez was sixth-best among PCL pitchers for June allowing one run in 10 innings pitched for a 0.73 ERA.

 

Have a little faith: Friday night marked the fifth Faith Night of the year at Greer Stadium. The Sounds had been 4-0 in Faith Nights this season, with an overall mark of 18-9 since the inception of the event in 2002.

 

Johnson back on: Sounds catcher Mark Johnson was 3-for-3 after going 0-for-15. His two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth prevented a shutout.

 

Such a steal: With a pair of consecutive steals by Round Rock's Charlton Jimerson in the second inning and another by Humberto Quintero, Sounds opponents have been successful in 37 of their last 40 steal attempts.

 

Crazy calendar: The Sounds are scheduled to play seven of their next 10 games against Round Rock, beginning with Friday night's loss.

 

It is the continuation of a weird scheduling quirk that has Nashville playing only Memphis and Round Rock from June 21 to July 16 ? which is a total of 23 consecutive games against just two teams.

 

Missing manager: Round Rock Manager Jackie Moore was absent Friday night and is expected to miss tonight's game as well for personal reasons. In his place was coach Spike Owen.