Link Report for Wed 6/28 - Stars Survive Three Errors in 9th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Dennis Sarfate at home vs. Memphis (Cardinals), 11:40 AM pre-game, 12:00 PM gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Tim Dillard at home vs. Chattanooga (Reds), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450radio.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Josh Wahpepah at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 5:00 PM; the Manatees' site lists Wahpepah as your starter -- perhaps others have gotten their work in on the side during this wet spell...

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.palmbeachcardinals.com/

 

West Virginia: LHP Dave Welch at Augusta (Giants), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: RHP Roque Mercedes at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime

 

Audio (click on "Listen Live"):

www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php

 

Arizona: Former 40-man roster RHP Jesse Harper in a rehab start at home in Maryvale vs. the anything-but-ancient Mariners, 12:30 PM Central time, 10:30 AM local, never any web audio for the Arizona League

[Mass Haas]

Follow Wednesday'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_augafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_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 Tuesday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 42 35 .545 - 27-14 15-21 W1[/b] Iowa 36 41 .468 6.0 20-19 16-22 L1 Memphis 31 46 .403 11.0 18-23 13-23 L1 Omaha 30 47 .390 12.0 16-19 14-28 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 6 3 .667 - 3-2 3-1 W2 Carolina 5 4 .556 1.0 3-1 2-3 W3 Tennessee 5 4 .556 1.0 3-1 2-3 W2 West Tenn 5 4 .556 1.0 4-1 1-3 L2 [b]Huntsville 3 6 .333 3.0 1-3 2-3 L2[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 3 1 .750 - 0-0 3-1 W3 Daytona 3 2 .600 0.5 3-2 0-0 W1 Vero Beach 3 2 .600 0.5 0-0 3-2 W3 [b]Brevard County 2 2 .500 1.0 2-2 0-0 L1[/b] Palm Beach 2 3 .400 1.5 0-0 2-3 L1 Jupiter 1 4 .200 2.5 1-4 0-0 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 4 1 .800 - 2-0 2-1 W3 [b]West Virginia 3 2 .600 1.0 3-0 0-2 L2[/b] Greensboro 3 3 .500 1.5 2-2 1-1 L1 Lake County 3 3 .500 1.5 3-1 0-2 L2 Delmarva 2 3 .400 2.0 1-0 1-3 W1 Lexington 2 4 .333 2.5 2-2 0-2 L2 Hagerstown 1 3 .250 2.5 1-2 0-1 L2 Hickory 1 3 .250 2.5 1-3 0-0 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 5 3 .625 - 4-2 1-1 W1 Great Falls 5 3 .625 - 1-1 4-2 W3 Missoula 4 4 .500 1.0 1-1 3-3 L1 [b]Helena 2 6 .250 3.0 2-4 0-2 L5[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Giants 4 1 .800 - 1-1 3-0 W3 AZL Mariners 4 1 .800 - 2-1 2-0 L1 AZL Padres 3 2 .600 1.0 1-1 2-1 W1 AZL Rangers 3 2 .600 1.0 1-2 2-0 L1 AZL Royals 3 2 .600 1.0 1-1 2-1 W1 AZL Angels 2 3 .400 2.0 1-2 1-1 W1 AZL Athletics 2 3 .400 2.0 0-2 2-1 L1 [b]AZL Brewers 1 3 .250 2.5 1-1 0-2 W1[/b] AZL Cubs 0 5 .000 4.0 0-3 0-2 L5

[bork]

Not a good outing for Sarfate. I wonder how much of it had to do with Rottino being behind the plate?

[heresrobin]

Concerning the Crew's 2nd round pick Brent Brewer with Arizona: He got his first hit today after going 0 for 15 to start the season - but only 2 strikeouts during that little slump. Also, I may be mistaken but I don't believe he has done anything but DH so far in Arizona. Let's get the kid in the outfield!

[SheetsCyYoung04]

Between Peralta and Mercedes today our new "latin" signings have been "no bueno", perhaps "muy mal" so far.

[plowjockey]

Mercedes just mowing down Great Falls tonight. He's held them to a paltry 7 runs on 9 hits and he's pitched all the way to the 3rd inning! Toby, I still trust you. Hey, he did strike out a guy.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Augusta (Giants) 4, West Virginia 2

 

West Virgina Site Game Summary:

 

WELCH GIVES GREAT EFFORT IN LOSS TO AUGUSTA

 

Power lefty Dave Welch was spectacular on Wednesday night at Lake Olmstead Stadium against the Augusta GreenJackets tossing five and two thirds scoreless innings of work, but it was not enough as the Power lost their third straight game, falling to Augusta 4-2.

 

Mike Bell snapped a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning on a two-out double down the left field line to score Mat Gamel and give the Power a 1-0 lead. Gamel came through with a clutch two-out RBI single in the eighth inning to score Darren Ford and put the Power up 2-0.

 

The Augusta GreenJackets turned it on in the bottom of the eighth inning, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring four times to take the game away from the Power. David Maroul ripped a double down the left field line to score Antoan Richardson and cut the lead in half. Anthony Contreras brought in the tying run on a sacrifice fly and the GreenJackets took the lead on Mike Mooney?s RBI single. Money stole two bases and scored later in the inning on a single from Jose Yens.

 

Sergio Romo (6-2) earned the victory, Wayne Foltin (12) got the save and Kevin Roberts (4-8) obtained the loss. The Power are 42-33 overall and 3-3 in the second half after the loss and the GreenJackets improved to 44-33 overall and 4-2 in the second half after the wins.

 

Dave Welch started for West Virginia, allowing no runs on four hits, issued a pair of walks and struck out three through five and two thirds. Through four starts in June, Welch only allowed two earned runs through 22 1/3 innings of work.

 

The Power will continue the four game series against the GreenJackets Thursday night. Augusta will start right hander Dan Griffin (5-4, 3.65) and the Power will start left hander Rafael Lluberes (4-3, 2.90). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Darren Ford back after nursing his hamstring, steal # 34; rare day off for Angel Salome...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

Kenny Holmberg pinch-hit for Scotty McKnight awfully early (third inning); 2005 5th rounder Kevin Roberts hasn't been very good, but was victimized by a bunt single and a ground ball single leading off the troublesome 8th -- we can't see if hits are bloops or liners with our own eyes, but the game logs do help paint the picture...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_augafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 8, Arizona Mariners 7

Looks like our Jesse Harper fan was off by a day -- we're always, always better off going with TBD for Arizona Rookie ball pitcher projections...

 

Arizona Brewer Box Score:

Brewer catchers nail three of four trying to steal; national batting champ at UW-Milwaukee Mike Goetz off to a 1-for-15 pro start; teams combined for four triples and a three-run inside-the-park home run in spacious Maryvale, three sixth-inning triples by the good guys (HR was by the Mariners); right-fielder Chuckie Caufield with two errors but also an outfield assist to home plate; four of five pitchers with solid to very good outings; Wily Peralta's signing wasn't on a Rolando Pascual level, but it was heralded as significant by those in the know -- tough one today for Wily; 19 fans watched in the 105 degree sun...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

 

Arizona Brewer Game Log:

Marquise Liverpool -- great name for the rookie Mariner leadoff man; Jovanny Felix caught stealing 3rd base with two out in the 2nd -- yuck; Yonny Chaya worked so hard to get out of a man on third, no out jam (two K's), only to give the run away on a wild pitch; nice two-out RBI singles for the Crew in the 2nd and 3rd; thoroughly entertaining game log in a free-for-all way -- teams combined for two 1-2-3 innings...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

 

First inning:

 

With Jose Morban batting, Marquise Liverpool advances to 2nd on caught stealing error by Luis Ramirez, assist to catcher Brett Whiteside.

 

Did starter Luis Ramirez perhaps interfere with a thrown ball to second base on the steal attempt?

 

Same inning:

 

Gerardo Avila singles on a bunt ground ball to right fielder Charles Caufield.

 

Is the log guy messing with us?

[Mass Haas]

Until the Brewers heed my call (or until I exhaust myself from updating my profile), all Link Report Box Score / Game Log posts that involve Brewer affiliate losses will feature the smiling mug of Chad Moeller.

 

Brewer affiliate wins will be represented by the determined face of Mike Rivera.

 

Thanks for reading.

[DHonks]

boy this Dillard guy stinks. He should be moved to the pen since he obviously doesn't know how to finish a game. However, in seriousness, I wonder if he can still catch. I mean, we could ask him to start 34 times at pitcher. Would being a backup catcher for 20-30 games really be that tough? He can't hit worse than Moeller, and he WAS drafted as a catcher one of his 3 times.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Palm Beach (Cardinals) 6, Brevard County 5

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

 

Cardinals edge Manatees

 

Brandon Yarbrough's two-run triple capped a four-run eighth inning as Palm Beach defeated visiting Brevard County, 6-5, on Wednesday.

 

With the Cardinals trailing, 5-2, in the eighth, Joe Mather drew a leadoff walk and came home on a double by Michael Ferris. After Tyler Greene walked, Brandon Yarbrough delivered a triple off reliever Josh Alliston before scoring the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Juan Lucena.

 

Palm Beach reliever Zach Zuercher (2-2) got the win after allowing one run on three hits while striking out two in two frames. Mike Sillman notched his 17th save with a scoreless ninth.

 

Alliston (0-1) surrendered a run on one hit while recording two outs. Brevard County used five pitchers and none went more than three innings.

 

Steven Sollmann was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Manatees (2-3). -- Josh Cooper/MLB.com

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Brewer pitchers walk nine, strike out 14; official scoring rules deficient when Dave Johnson gets a "hold" for his poor night's work; starter Luis Pena only works two innings plus two batters -- Manny Parra gets in one inning (one run, three K's) while perhaps getting in a side session; Ryan Crew on base three times...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game Log:

Looks like Hernan Iribarren took too big a turn at first base on an RBI single in the 2nd; two Manatee outs in the 3rd caught stealing; Robert Hinton's relief effort worth noting; wasting a two-on, no-out situation in the 8th came back to haunt the 'Tees; three men had a chance to tie it with a man in scoring position in the 9th -- no go...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503

[Mass Haas]

Final: Great Falls (White Sox) 8, Helena 6

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...906_02.txt

 

Brewers woes continue

By JEFF WINDMUELLER - Helena Independent Record Sports Writer

 

The Helena Brewers have been battling for a win the past six games and Wednesday night was no exception.

 

The Brewers had two three-run innings, but the rally couldn?t pull them ahead of the Great Falls White Sox who left Kindrick Legion Field with an 8-6 win, sweeping their three-game series with Helena.

 

?They battled back, they?ve been doing that for most of the season excluding (Tuesday?s game),? said Brewers manager Ed Sedar. ?But they battled back, energy level was high and they played better baseball today.?

 

That included an improvement at bat where the Brewers were in the Pioneer League?s cellar with a .227 team batting average. They had ten hits Wednesday including a two-run homer from Fredy De La Cruz, which brought them within one run in the fifth inning.

 

The White Sox opened up a in the first inning when they scored four runs. After Santo Garcia grounded to first for the out, the White Sox had four straight hits off Brewers starter Roque Mercedes. The first three landed in center field, loading the bases for Great Falls? Chris Carter.

 

Carter doubled a grounder down the third base line to score all three runners, and he would later score the final run of the inning off a wild pitch.

 

The White Sox scored two more in the second inning off a line drive to centerfield by Lee Cruz, then another in the third inning after Tyler Reves doubled and then came in off a Franklin Batista hit to left field.

 

The Brewers were down 7-0 before coming up to bat in the bottom of the third and took advantage of waning Great Falls pitcher, Tim Murphey.

 

Murphey walked Stephen Chapman and Taylor Green on eight straight pitches, but there was no call for a warm-up in the White Sox bullpen.

 

Chris Errecart reached when his bouncer to Great Falls second baseman Franklin Batista bobbled out of the Sox?s glove. Batista scooped it back up and ran to second to get the force out but was late. Green slid in low and Batista fell backward over the Brewer before picking himself up and limping away.

 

The error allowed the Brewers to load the bases and for Chapman to score off a sacrifice fly by Andy Bouchie.

 

Green scored next on a wild pitch, but after taking advantage of a mistake the Brewers made one of their own.

 

D.J. Neyens doubled to right field, which brought in Chris Errecart for the third run and should have scored Fredy De La Cruz, but De La Cruz missed third base on his way home and was out on appeal. That ended the Brewers third inning.

 

Despite Murphey?s tiring arm and his defense?s inability to get a final out, Great Falls manager Bobby Tolan didn?t take the pitcher out until after the Brewers? big inning.

 

?We left him in there trying to see if he could get five innings, but once (Helena) got three runs, I?m not taking my chances,? Tolan said. ?We?ve got plenty of pitchers in the bullpen.?

 

The White Sox sent in Ryan Rote, who quickly dispatched three batters but then had the same problem as his predecessor in the fifth: getting the third guy out.

 

With two outs and a double Errecart, Carlos De La Cruz hit a hard grounder to Batista that popped off his chest and rolled to the ground. Batista picked it up and threw wide to the first baseman. The error allowed De La Cruz on first and Errecart to score.

 

With Carlos on, Fredy De La Cruz (not related) cracked a two-run homer over the left field wall. That brought the Brewers to trail 7-6, the closest they would come to the White Sox all evening.

 

?When he keeps his head down and swings he does well. When his head flies his swing gets long and he misses a lot,? Sedar said of Fredy De La Cruz. ?As long as he keeps his head down he does a nice job.?

 

It?s one of the fundamentals that the Brewers coaching staff have been working on with their players. And, if anything, Tuesday?s performance shows that they can learn and improve.

 

?(It was) a very good improvement. We swung the bat much better today, scoring multiple runs. We haven?t done that very often early in the season,? Sedar said.

 

Great Falls scored one more run in the sixth, but Helena relief pitcher Brandon Parillo was able to shut them out the last three innings.

 

The Brewers have lost their sixth game in a row and will need to keep improving as they head on the road for six straight road games. They play in Missoula tonight at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

The Brewers drop to 2-7 on the season while the White Sox improve to 6-3.

 

Helena Box Score:

Fredy de la Cruz on base four times; six innings of one-run relief from Travis Wendte and Brandon Parillo, Paillo's effort a nice bounce-back from his most recent appearance...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Jon Ebelt, Helena Independent Record Staff Photographer - Helena?s Carlos De La Cruz, left, looks to put the tag on Great Falls White Sox baserunner Christian Marrero on a close play at first base during Brewers action Wednesday. Marrero did make it back in time.

 

http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2006/06/29/sports_top/b01062906_02.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with RHP Stuart Sutherland (Select date for June 28th, skip to the 13:30 minute mark):

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with All-Star Pitcher Ben Hendrickson:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...206-28.wma

[Mass Haas]

Final: Memphis (Cardinals) 11, Nashville 4

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Vinny Rottino photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2025

 

Redbirds Hand Sounds, Sarfate 11-4 Loss

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? The Nashville Sounds dropped a Wednesday afternoon game, 11-4, to the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds at Greer Stadium.

 

Memphis starter John Webb (4-6) earned his fourth win of the season as he logged seven innings of work. He allowed three Nashville runs to score on eight hits.

 

The Redbirds offense jumped all over Sounds starter Dennis Sarfate early, plating a run or more in all three of his innings pitched. Sarfate (6-4) took his second consecutive loss after he logged his shortest outing of the year and allowed nine runners to cross home, matching the most allowed by a Sounds pitcher this year.

 

In the first inning, Memphis jumped in front by a 2-0 score by plating two unearned runs following a fielding error by Sounds third baseman Zach Sorensen.

 

The Redbirds struck again in the second, etching four runs. With two runners on, Chris Duncan hit a two-out, two-RBI double that increased the Redbirds lead to 5-0. Duncan scored during the next at-bat courtesy of a RBI single off the bat of Brian Daubach, who finished 3-for-5 on the afternoon.

 

The Sounds recorded their first run of the game in the home half of the second. Nelson Cruz started the inning off with a single and crossed home later in the inning on a Vinny Rottino RBI double, the catcher?s 12th of the year.

 

The Memphis offense continued to produce runs in the third inning. The visitors plated three more runners with the help of back-to-back-to-back hits to lead off the frame. All three of those runners eventually scored giving the Redbirds an eight-run lead at 9-1.

 

The Sounds offense tried to get back in the game as they recorded single runs in the fourth, fifth, and ninth innings.

 

The teams exchanged longballs in the ninth to close out the day?s scoring. Redbirds shortstop John Nelson, who went 3-for-3 on the afternoon, belted his 12th tater of the season to left off Sounds reliever Mike Meyers. In the bottom of the frame, Rottino belted a solo homer off Alan Benes over the left field fence for his sixth roundtripper of the year.

 

AUDIO: Vinny Rottino Solo HR --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...206-28.wma

 

Nashville reliever Chris Demaria, who came on after Sarfate, logged four innings of work, his longest outing of the season. Meyers came in to finish the game and threw two innings, allowed one run on one hit.

 

Even though the Sounds didn?t have much to cheer about on the afternoon, newly added shortstop Ozzie Chavez will remember this day. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Chavez hit a single into center field for his first hit at the Triple-A level.

 

The Sounds and Redbirds play the finale of the four-game series on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Nashville will give the ball to right-hander Justin Lehr (1-2, 3.65) and southpaw Chris Narveson (2-1, 2.87) will head to the mound for Memphis.

 

Nashville Box Score:

As noted earlier, Vinny Rottino at the plate (Mike Rivera at first base)...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Link for Ozzie Chavez photo while active, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....002/SPORTS

 

Redbirds hit Sounds' Sarfate hard

Memphis first to really tag pitcher this year at Greer

By JEFF LOCKRIDGE

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Sounds pitcher Dennis Sarfate had played the role of Eliot Ness at Greer Stadium.

 

He was anything but untouchable Wednesday.

 

The Memphis Redbirds roughed up Sarfate for nine runs over three innings and rolled to an 11-4 victory over Nashville before a matinee crowd of 3,979.

 

"He really wasn't wild, but everything he threw in the zone was up and hittable," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "He didn't have his control."

 

Sarfate (6-4) was 5-0 with a 1.89 ERA in his first seven starts at Greer this season. The poor outing caused his ERA to jump more than half a run to 3.43.

 

Memphis scored two in the first inning, four in the second and three in the third to chase Sarfate, who equaled the most runs surrendered by a Sounds pitcher in a game this year.

 

Chris Duncan's two-out, two-run double highlighted the second inning and gave the Redbirds a 5-0 lead. Brian Daubach followed with his second RBI single through the left side, beating a Sounds' shift that had the left-hander played to pull.

 

Redbirds shortstop John Nelson tacked on an RBI double in the third and a solo homer off Sounds reliever Mike Meyers in the ninth.

 

Memphis' 15 hits overshadowed a nice day at the plate for Vinny Rottino, who had an RBI double and hit his sixth home run in the bottom of the ninth.

 

"I felt pretty good today," Rottino said. "I just tried to go back to seeing the ball and reacting."

 

Zach Sorensen added two hits for the Sounds, who have lost six of their last nine.

 

The Sounds will try to earn a split in the four-game series with the Redbirds behind right-hander Justin Lehr in the series finale at 7 tonight.

 

Nashville's home stand runs through Monday.

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Gwynn has golden memories of All-Stars

By JEFF LOCKRIDGE

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Nashville Sounds centerfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. has all-star memories like few others.

 

His famous father, former Padres outfielder Tony Gwynn, was elected to 15 National League All-Star teams and will certainly join Cal Ripken Jr. as a Class of 2007 inductee into baseball's Hall of Fame.

 

The younger Gwynn was able to attend many of those all-star games.

 

"In Colorado (in 1998 ), that's the one that sticks out the most," he said. "There was a big roundtable discussion in the locker room with guys just talking baseball and strategy. There was Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds, Barry Larkin ? seven or eight all-stars talking baseball.

 

"I was probably around 13 or 14 years old at the time. I wasn't going to say anything. I just sat there, listened and tried to soak it all in."

 

Gwynn, a Double-A all-star last season, will be officially selected one of the starters to his first Triple-A All-Star game today. The game will be held July 12 in Toledo.

 

Three other Sounds ? Nelson Cruz, Ben Hendrickson and Mike Rivera ? will join Gwynn on the roster.

 

"I'm happy to go, although three days in San Diego would be nice around this time," Gwynn said. "But if you're going to have three days to do something, you might as well be at an all-star game."

 

Golden sombrero: Third baseman Rico Washington was about the only Memphis player who didn't enjoy a big day at the dish. He was 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.

 

Free bases: Redbirds outfielder Skip Schumaker swiped second base in the first inning of Wednesday's game, giving opposing baserunners 32 steals in their last 34 attempts against the Sounds.

 

Note: Yeah, I realize that doesn't help the Mike Rivera cause -- we'll just blame Mark Johnson and Vinny Rottino http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif -- Mass Haas

 

Firsts for Chavez: Sounds shortstop Ozzie Chavez got his first RBI in Triple-A on a groundout in the fifth and delivered a seventh-inning single for his first Triple-A hit.

 

By the numbers: The Sounds dropped to 7-2 on Wednesdays, 8-7 in day games and 27-15 at Greer Stadium.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=50707

 

Sarfate?s wild outing dooms Sounds

By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent

 

Dennis Sarfate has been walking a tightrope most of this season. The Sounds pitcher has shown off his vast repertoire of pitches while simultaneously being able to stifle a chronic lack of control problem that has plagued him in seasons past.

 

But the high-wire act ended Wednesday afternoon against Memphis, with the Redbirds chasing Sarfate in an 11-4 win at Greer Stadium.

 

Sarfate recorded just nine outs against nine runs on nine hits. He walked two in the three-inning stint. He was not around the locker room following the game to discuss the damage, but manager Frank Kremblas detailed the problems in his stead.

 

?Everything was up in the zone,? Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said. ?He didn?t make any quality pitches down in the zone. He got behind hitters, never worked ahead. Everything a pitcher can do when they get hit, he did.?

 

It was the most runs allowed by a Sounds starter this season and Sarfate?s ERA skyrocketed from just under 3.00 to 3.43. Sarfate (6-4) also spoiled his previously perfect 5-0 mark at Greer.

 

In the past, Sarfate has been the epitome of the term ?effectively wild,? leading the Pacific Coast League in walks while still rating among the best in ERA. But against Memphis, Kremblas said he actually threw too many pitches near the heart of the plate.

 

?He threw more strikes than he has,? Kremblas said. ?When he was missing, he was missing in the zone instead of out of the zone.?

 

Memphis tagged Sarfate for two runs in the first, four in the second and three more in the third before he was relieved by Chris Demaria.

 

Sarfate?s struggles meant doom for a Nashville offense, which did manage to end its streak of scoring three runs or less. The last time the Sounds scored more than three runs was 11 games ago on June 16.

 

Vinny Rottino led the Sounds offense, as he collected an RBI double and a solo homer for Nashville.

 

NEW SHORTSTOP MAKES MARK: Ozzie Chavez notched his first-ever Triple-A hit in the seventh inning of his Music City debut. Chavez was promoted last week from Huntsville to help fill in for Chris Barnwell, who was called up by Milwaukee. The 22-year-old Chavez collected his first Triple-A RBI in the fifth inning, when his grounder to first plated Dave Krynzel.

 

ROTTINO BEHIND THE DISH: Kremblas shuffled his lineup for the day game, with the most-notable change being Rottino getting the start behind the plate. It was Rottino?s fourth start at catcher this season. He gave up a passed ball, which led to a run in the third.

 

?I thought he did fine,? Kremblas said.

 

Other changes included Mike Rivera getting the start at first base for Graham Koonce and Chavez getting the start at shortstop. Kennard Bibbs started in right field, with Nelson Cruz sliding over to center and Tony Gwynn getting the day off.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 5, Chattanooga (Reds) 4

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link for Tim Dillard photo, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=899

 

Dillard Does It On the Hill and With the Bat

 

Tim Dillard threw 8 1/3 strong innings and chipped in with the bat, as well, by knocking in the go-ahead run in Huntsville?s 5-4 win over Chattanooga in the final game of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars won two of the five games for a second straight series in the second half, while the Lookouts dropped to 6-4 in the second half and into a tie with Tennessee for the top spot in the North Division.

 

Dillard was taken out after Joey Votto?s double with one out in the ninth and replaced by Khalid Ballouli, making his eighth appearance in relief. Aaron Herr was the first one to face the Huntsville right-hander and he belted a 2-0 pitch for a home run that cut the Stars? lead to 5-3. Herr knocked in seven runs over the last three games to push his season total to 10 against the Stars. Rick Asadoorian reached on a Callix Crabbe fielding error and Drew Anderson got to a Chris Dickerson fly ball in the gap in left-center field and couldn?t hold it for a two-base error that allowed Asadoorian to advance to third base. Pinch-hitter Noochie Varner reached on a fielding error by third baseman Ryan Braun that permitted Asadoorian to score to trim the lead to 5-4. Miguel Perez then bounced into a game-ending double play, as first baseman Brad Nelson scooped Crabbe?s relay throw out of the dirt on the backhand for the final out.

 

Dillard won his third straight start to improve to 6-4 on the season and struck out a season-high eight. He extended his scoreless innings streak to 20 1/3 before Luis Bolivar?s single in the fifth chased home Dickerson with the game?s first run. The Stars? right-hander earned his second win at home and just the third for Huntsville in the last 23 games at the Joe.

 

Dillard singled and scored in the fifth to tie the game at one and then came through with a two-out single in the sixth to score Nelson to give the home team a 2-1 edge. Lookouts? starter Travis Chick, facing the Stars for the eighth time since the start of last season, allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits over six frames and took the loss to drop to 4-5. He fanned six and walked three and was replaced by Jon Coutlangus, who gave up three runs in the seventh inning. Nelson delivered a two-run single with the bases loaded and Ron Acuna scored on a wild pitch to finish the rally.

 

The Stars open a five-game set with West Tenn on Thursday night, as Milwaukee southpaw Jorge De La Rosa will make a rehab start for Huntsville and will be opposed by Diamond Jaxx? right-hander Bobby Brownlie. 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.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Ryan Braun 0-for-4, two K's -- Double-A ain't easy...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Tim Dillard Photo courtesy of PonderPhoto.com via the Stars' site:

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Another pitcher perfect outing

Dillard delivers again in 5-4 win over Chattanooga

By MARK McCARTER

Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com

 

So many postgame demands on Tim Dillard. An on-field radio interview. Autograph seekers. Two more interviews. Then, most importantly, he had to dig into his locker for a Stars cap to give to his grandfather, visiting from Mississippi.

 

And, oh yeah, he could finally stop holding his breath after poor Huntsville defense very nearly blew a four-run lead.

 

Dillard allowed only four hits and struck out eight in 8 1/3 innings as Huntsville (4-6 in the second half) defeated Chattanooga 5-4 on Wednesday night. It was the fourth consecutive victory for Dillard, who was named this week to the Southern League All-Star Game.

 

Dillard also had a pair of hits against the Lookouts (6-4), scoring a run and driving home another, heeding the advice of his father, former major leaguer Steve Dillard.

 

"My dad always told me, 'Swing hard in case you hit it,' " said Dillard.

 

He also credits some other recent advice from Milwaukee pitching coordinator Jim Rooney, who told him "just execute the next pitch. I had found myself thinking three pitches ahead or two or three batters ahead," Dillard said.

 

The series was distinguished by wonderful pitching. Not merely Homer Bailey's six innings and 8 1/3 innings of no-hit pitching overall for the Lookouts on Tuesday, but also from Stars starters: Corey Thurman's seven innings with only three hits and one run on Tuesday. Yovani Gallardo's four-hit shutout pitching through seven on Monday. Six innings of shutout pitching from newcomer Steve Hammond on Sunday.

 

All told, Huntsville's starters allowed only five earned runs in 34 1/3 innings against the league's top-hitting team. "The starters, knock on wood, have been outstanding," said Huntsville manager Don Money.

 

The Stars go from big-league quality starting pitching to a big-league starting pitcher tonight. The Brewers' Jorge de la Rosa is making a rehab start for the Stars.

 

West Tenn, a winner in 12 of 15 meetings against Huntsville this season, arrives for a five-game series. Postgame fireworks are scheduled Friday and again on July 3, and The Famous Chicken makes an appearance Saturday.

 

Of Dillard, pitching coach Rich Sauveur said, "He's been lights out lately."

 

He went 4-0 in June, allowing only eight earned runs in 36-plus innings. In his previous start, he struck out seven Mobile batters in a three-hit complete game shutout.

 

He has added a slider to his arsenal - "he's worked night and day on the slider," Sauveur said - but Dillard said he had good success with a changeup Wednesday night.

 

The Lookouts took a 1-0 lead on Dillard when Chris Dickerson tripled and scored on a Luis Bolivar single in the fifth.

 

But Dillard led off the fifth with a single and later scored on a Drew Anderson single, then he singled home Brad Nelson with two outs in the sixth. In the seventh, Nelson drove in a pair of runs and Ron Acuna scored on a wild pitch as Huntsville padded its lead.

 

It needed the padding.

 

With one out in the ninth, Joey Votto doubled over Acuna's head. Exit Dillard, who had neared his 110-pitch limit. Enter reliever Khalid Ballouli, who served up a two-run homer to Aaron Herr.

 

Then came consecutive errors by second baseman Callix Crabbe, left fielder Anderson and third baseman Ryan Braun. Suddenly, it was 5-4, with the tying run on third and go-ahead run on first, when Ballouli got Miguel Perez on a game-ending double play.

 

"You get to where you start wondering what's going to happen next," Money admitted. "We miss the ground ball. They hit it to Drew Anderson - who doesn't drop fly balls - and he drops it. You're thinking, 'Man, what else can we do?' "

[Team Canada]

all Link Report Box Score / Game Log posts that involve Brewer affiliate losses will feature the smiling mug of Chad Moeller.

 

 

Absolutely brilliant. And now we can check game results by just looking at your avatar. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[clancyphile]

I've always felt Dillard was the best starting pitching prospect the Brewers had in the system.

 

On a pitch count, he racks up CGs. I'd say he could be better than Carlos Villanueva and Zach Jackson.

[Team Canada]

I've always felt Dillard was the best starting pitching prospect the Brewers had in the system.

 

Really? This has to be the first time you've ever mentioned you thought so. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif