Link Report Sunday 6/25: Big Money Dominican Pascual Debuts

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Jared Fernandez at Round Rock (Astros), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Steve Hammond at home vs. Chattanooga (Reds), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

Brevard County: LHP Manny Parra at home vs. St. Lucie (Mets), 3:00 PM; sorry, no web audio for this series

 

West Virginia: RHP Matt Kretzschmar at home vs. Kannapolis (White Sox), 2:55 PM pre-game, 3:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: LHP Mike Ramlow at Billings (Reds), 5:05 PM

 

Audio (click on "Listen Live"):

www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php

 

Arizona: Heralded 17-year-old RHP Rolando Pascual at the mini-Mariners, 12:30 PM Central time, 10:30 AM local, never any web audio for the Arizona League

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday'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_rreaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

 

Arizona:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_mrnrok_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 Saturday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 40 34 .541 - 26-13 14-21 L2[/b] Iowa 34 40 .459 6.0 19-19 15-21 L2 Omaha 30 45 .400 10.5 16-19 14-26 W2 Memphis 29 45 .392 11.0 17-23 12-22 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 4 2 .667 - 3-2 1-0 W1 West Tenn 4 2 .667 - 4-1 0-1 L1 Tennessee 3 3 .500 1.0 1-0 2-3 W1 Carolina 2 4 .333 2.0 0-1 2-3 L1 [b]Huntsville 2 4 .333 2.0 0-1 2-3 L1[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Brevard County 2 1 .667 - 2-1 0-0 W1[/b] Daytona 2 1 .667 - 2-1 0-0 L1 St. Lucie 2 1 .667 - 0-0 2-1 W2 Jupiter 1 2 .333 1.0 1-2 0-0 L2 Palm Beach 1 2 .333 1.0 0-0 1-2 L1 Vero Beach 1 2 .333 1.0 0-0 1-2 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]West Virginia 3 0 1.000 - 3-0 0-0 W3[/b] Lake County 2 1 .667 1.0 2-1 0-0 L1 Lakewood 2 1 .667 1.0 0-0 2-1 W1 Delmarva 1 2 .333 2.0 0-0 1-2 W1 Greensboro 1 2 .333 2.0 1-2 0-0 W1 Hagerstown 1 2 .333 2.0 1-2 0-0 L1 Hickory 1 2 .333 2.0 1-2 0-0 W1 Lexington 1 2 .333 2.0 1-2 0-0 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 3 2 .600 - 3-2 0-0 W2 Missoula 3 2 .600 - 0-0 3-2 W2 Great Falls 2 3 .400 1.0 0-1 2-2 L2 [b]Helena 2 3 .400 1.0 2-2 0-1 L2[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Mariners 3 0 1.000 - 1-0 2-0 W3 AZL Giants 2 1 .667 1.0 0-1 2-0 W1 AZL Rangers 2 1 .667 1.0 1-1 1-0 L1 AZL Royals 2 1 .667 1.0 1-0 1-1 W2 AZL Angels 1 1 .500 1.5 0-1 1-0 L1 AZL Padres 1 1 .500 1.5 1-0 0-1 W1 AZL Athletics 1 2 .333 2.0 0-2 1-0 L1 [b]AZL Brewers 0 2 .000 2.5 0-1 0-1 L2[/b] AZL Cubs 0 3 .000 3.0 0-2 0-1 L3

[TheCrew07]

Not so good for Pascual or Jimenez... Pascual with 2.2 and 3 earned runs, Jimenez with .1 and 4 earned runs sporting that 108 ERA. From the box score looks pretty shoddy defense though all the way around for the littlest Brewers.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Mariners 15, Arizona Brewers 3

Six Brewer pitchers (all Latin kids in today's game) walk 15, hit three batters, throw two wild pitches, and allow six of seven inherited runners to score; the game log is tortuous to review -- believe me, I did; such a level of instruction must have to take place for these raw athletes...

 

Arizona Brewer Box Score:

SS Ryan Metcalf, an undrafted signee, reaches all four plate appearances; why is 2006 2nd rounder Brent Brewer (now 0-for-13, but only two K's) seeing time at DH this weekend? Anthony Wycklendt with a home run...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_mrnrok_1

 

Arizona Brewer Game Log:

Attendance = 15, big walk-up today; Rolando Pascual's early innings weren't bad at all once you review the circumstances here...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_mrnrok_1

[plowjockey]

Wow. Hammond lights out in his Huntsville debut.

[Mass Haas]

In progress: Chattanooga 0, Huntsville 0, bottom of the 9th in Huntsville

Ron Acuna on 3rd base with one out, the Stars can't let another sparkling pitching performance go to waste -- Ryan Braun is up, he's K'd in all three prior at-bats tonight...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 1, Chattanooga (Reds) 0

Walk-off two-out infield RBI single for Lou Palmisano after Ryan Braun had K'd for the fourth time, first walk-off win of the season for the Stars, good for them; 2nd win in last 20 home games -- an incredible figure, but hey, enjoy the post-game buffet, boys...

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Palmisano 3-for-4; Steve Hammond (six innings), Khalid Ballouli (two IP) and Gerrit Simpson combine on the five-hit shutout...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Ugly 2nd inning at the plate for the Stars with a man on second base and no out (three K's); Stars loaded the bases in the 5th, Lookouts in the 6th -- obviously, neither team capitalized...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Maybe David Weiser can research this a bit, but it seems Steve Hammond's stellar debut in the pitching-friendly Southern League isn't the first in Brewer-Huntsville memory.

 

Remember the Jeff Housman / Jason Shelley double-debut double-shutout doubleheader in 2003? I would imagine nothing possibly tops that...

[Mass Haas]

In progress: Nashville 1, Round Rock 0, after seven innings

Wow, what pitching for both teams in this series -- Jared Fernandez three hits, no walks in seven innings thus far; still time as of 9:15 Central for you to tune in...

[brettac1]

If Khalid doesn't watch it, he's going to make himself into a big league relief pitcher before too long.

[Mass Haas]

Final: St. Lucie (Mets) 8, Brevard County 1

The Mets need to promote this Mike Devaney out of the Florida State League -- this is the dude that knocked the 'Tees out of the playoffs last week...

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

 

Devaney de-lovely for Mets

 

Mike Devaney tossed five scoreless innings as visiting St. Lucie crushed Brevard County, 8-1, on Sunday.

 

Devaney (7-3) allowed six hits, struck out four and walked three in extending his scoreless streak to 30 innings. The 23-year-old last yielded a run on June 5 in an 11-1 victory over Palm Beach. The right-hander has won his last three decisions for the Mets (3-1).

 

Enrique Cruz ripped a two-run double into right field in the third inning to get the Mets on the board. He capped a six-run sixth with an RBI double to center.

 

Jesus Flores, who went 2-for-4, crushed a two-run homer in the sixth, his 12th of the season. Corey Coles, who scored two runs, added a two-run double in the sixth.

 

Manny Parra (1-2) allowed two unearned runs on two hits for the loss. He struck out five and walked three over four innings for the Manatees (2-2).

 

Brendan Katin had two hits, including a solo homer in the sixth, for Brevard County. -- Chip Haunss/MLB.com

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Manny Parra walks three and hits a batter in his four innings; Ben Stanczyk's recent fine outing trumped by an implosion today; Charlie Fermaint 3-for-5 with two doubles -- he's the real deal; Steve Sollman at third base -- he's one versatile infielder...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

Double play with the bases loaded ends a third inning Manatee threat; Ben Stanczyk's 6th inning saw him allow six hits, five for extra bases...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=893

 

Palmisano Legs Out Hit for Dramatic Win

 

Steve Hammond, Khalid Ballouli and Gerrit Simpson combined on a five-hit shutout and the Stars picked up their first walk-off win of the year in a 1-0 victory over Chattanooga Sunday night in the second game of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville improved to 3-4 in the second half and won for just the second time in 20 games at home, while the Lookouts dropped to 4-3 in the half and saw their five-game win streak over the Stars snapped.

 

Ron Acuna led off the home ninth with a bad hop double down the left field line that got past third baseman Aaron Herr, who tried and could not make the play on the backhand. Drew Anderson dropped down a sacrifice bunt to push Acuna to third before Ryan Braun struck out for the second out of the inning. Lou Palmisano worked the count to 3-1 and hit a ground ball that was fielded in the hole by shortstop Anderson Machado, who made a leaping throw to first base that was not in time to get the Stars? catcher, who collected three hits in a game for the third time this season. Palmisano knocked in his first run since June 8 at Jacksonville and his first against the Lookouts in six games.

 

Hammond scattered three hits, walked three and struck out five in his first start at the double-A level. He worked out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth inning by retiring Miguel Perez on a line out to center field. He did not allow a runner past second base in the other five frames he finished. Ballouli worked two shutout innings, allowing one hit and fanning two in his second straight scoreless appearance at home. Simpson allowed a two-out single in the ninth before striking out Luis Bolivar to end the inning. It was the Stars? fifth shutout of the year and just the third time they have won scoring fewer than four runs.

 

Tyler Pelland worked six scoreless innings for Chattanooga, allowing four hits and fanning seven. One-time Brewer farmhand Carlos Alvarado worked a shutout seventh inning before Guevara took over in the eighth.

 

The series continues Monday evening with Stars? right-hander Yovani Gallardo making his double-A debut against Lookouts right-hander Eddy Valdez. 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.

 

Lou Palmisano photo courtesy of PonderPhoto.com via the Stars' site:

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 1, Round Rock (Astros) 0

Three-hit shutout for Jared Fernandez, 15 groundouts for the knuckleballer...

 

Nashville Box Score:

Nelson Cruz in an 0-for-18 skid, but walked and scored the game's lone run; Tony Gwynn on base three times...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_rreaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

7th inning was a challenge for Fernandez...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_rreaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Kannapolis (White Sox) at West Virginia, cancelled, rain

Only Mother Nature can slow down the Power; the game will not be made up...

[Mass Haas]

The big league Brewers, Nashville, Huntsville, Brevard County and Helena score a grand total of three runs combined today yet manage to go 2-3 -- of course, we'd trade the AAA and AA wins for the parent club if we could...

 

Final: Billings (Reds) 2, Helena 0

 

Helena Box Score:

Tough-luck loss for southpaw Mike Ramlow, who has already earned Power 50 respect from Toby; Zach Clem not in the lineup after Saturday's outfield collision; Steve Chapman two more hits...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

Mild Brewer threats in the 3rd and 4th innings, that's it...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Tony Gwynn:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...206-25.wma

[geothite]

It is good to see Parra and Mike Jones throwing from a mound again.

I know it too soon to get excited.

However, the bad luck the Brewers have had with young arms has to change.

If you get Parra and Jones healthy and pitching like top-shelf prospects all of the sudden we will have pitching depth in our minor league system.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Jared Fernandez photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2020

 

Fernandez Tosses Three-Hit Shutout For Sounds

 

ROUND ROCK, Texas ? Knuckleballer Jared Fernandez tossed a gem on Sunday evening, hurling a three-hit shutout to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 1-0 victory over the Round Rock Express at The Dell Diamond in the finale of a five-game series.

 

The three-hitter was the right-hander?s second straight complete game and Nashville?s first complete game shutout in nearly two years, dating back to a Nelson Figueroa (Pirates organization) three-hit shutout on July 18, 2004 against Salt Lake.

 

Fernandez (3-1), who earned a win for the second straight start, retired the first 13 batters in order before giving up a double to Royce Huffman with one out in the fifth inning and ultimately retired 27 of the 30 batters he faced on the evening. He threw 103 pitches, 71 for strikes.

 

He recorded seven strikeouts and did not walk a batter in his second career shutout. His first was also a three-hitter that came on July 5, 2001 for Louisville against Toledo.

 

AUDIO: Fernandez Completes His Shutout --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...206-25.wma

 

Nashville (41-34) was able to score the victory despite producing a season-low three hits against Express pitching. The Sounds were held to four hits or fewer in three of the five games in the series against Round Rock.

 

The shutout was the Sounds? seventh of the season, which equals the most by any Pacific Coast League club in 2006.

 

The teams scored a total of only 18 runs between them over the course of the five-game series, which included four one-run contests. Round Rock won the series, three games to two.

 

Nashville scored the only run it would need Sunday night when Nelson Cruz, who had drawn a walk, scored on Mike Rivera?s sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning.

 

Center fielder Tony Gwynn paced the Sounds with a 2-for-3 evening, his team-leading 28th multiple-hit game of the season.

 

Round Rock starter Chris Baker (8-3) also turned in a solid outing, holding the Sounds to one run on two hits over seven innings of work, but took a tough-luck loss.

 

The Sounds return home to Greer Stadium on Monday to being an eight-game homestand with the 7 p.m. opener of a four-game series against the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds.

 

Left-hander Dana Eveland (3-3, 2.06) will toe the rubber for the Sounds in the opener and face Memphis right-hander Travis Smith (2-2, 3.86).

[Mass Haas]

Reminder that all Helena games from KCAP radio will be archived this season; Steve Wendt's pre-game show is included. Sunday's audio includes an interview with red-hot outfielder Stephen Chapman, skip to the 17-minute mark...

 

Remember, you may need to click on "Select Date" and choose the proper date depending on when you are planning on listening in:

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with 18-year-old LHP Zach Braddock (Select date for June 24th, skip to the 5:00 minute mark):

Very well-spoken and insightful for someone so young...

 

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

 

Friday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with Hitting Coach Johnny Narron (Select date for June 23rd):

 

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

 

Thursday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with Assistant Director of Scouting Tony Blengino (Select date for June 22nd, skip to the 21:00 minute mark):

Mark Rogers, Angel Salome, Darren Ford, Derek Miller, Steve Garrison and Zach Braddock among his finds -- nice listen, recommended...

 

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

 

Wednesday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with Pitching Coach Mark Littell (Select date for June 21st, skip to the 5:30 minute mark):

Littell's known to be quite the character...

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.billingsgazette.net/a...stangs.txt

 

Trio of Mustangs pitchers, solid defense leads way for 3rd straight win

By GREG RACHAC

Of The Billings Gazette Staff

 

If the Billings Mustangs continue to pitch and play defense like they did Sunday afternoon, they're going to win some baseball games.

 

The Mustangs made countless plays in the field -- some of them spectacular -- and got a shutout from a trio of pitchers to claim a 2-0 win over Helena at Cobb Field.

 

With the victory, the Mustangs claimed both games of a quick two-game series with the Brewers, and also finished up their season-opening homestand on a three-game winning streak.

 

"It was a great effort by the pitchers, and we got solid defense," explained center fielder Drew Stubbs, the organization's first-round draft choice from the Texas Longhorns. "We were sound in the field today, making every play we could."

 

Starting pitcher Daniel Guerrero upped his record to 2-0 with a six-inning gem.

 

Guerrero held the Brewers to just four hits and struck out a pair. He didn't walk a batter.

 

In relief Marcos Mateo allowed one hit in two innings of work, then hard-throwing closer Terrell Young (who touched 97 MPH in the game) closed out Helena in the ninth.

 

In addition, the Mustangs' pitching staff allowed just one free pass for the second straight game and only one Helena base runner got as far as second base.

 

But the success on the mound wouldn't have been possible without the stellar plays in the field.

 

"There were some defensive plays out there that I didn't think we could make," Billings manager Rick Burleson said.

 

For instance, third baseman Jason Louwsma made a classic play on Taylor Green, falling into foul territory on a grounder to snag the ball and make the throw to first base.

 

An inning later, Stubbs made a diving catch in center off the bat of Chris Errecart to rob a hit, then in the ninth shortstop Chris Valaika made the second of two great stops, going into the hole for the ball to get Errecart at first.

 

Guerrero also made a solid play in the field, helping himself on the mound in the sixth inning by knocking down a line drive off the bat of -- you guessed it -- Errecart to initiate a 1-6-3 double play.

 

"Whenever you play a tight game late into the game, there's so much pressure on every play," Burleson said. "Our kids made some outstanding plays under pressure. It was a pleasure to watch."

 

At the plate, the Mustangs delivered nine hits and scored bookend runs in the first and eighth innings.

 

Stubbs drove in both the Mustangs' runs, the first with a base hit in the opening frame to plate leadoff man Billy Rojo, the second in the team's last turn to bat with an opposite-field triple that scored Valaika.

 

In between, the Brewers made some adjustments facing a Billings lineup that was virtually identical to the one a night before in a 9-1 Mustangs' win.

 

The Mustangs didn't have near the number of base runners on Sunday, nor did they benefit from the same amount of walks.

 

But Billings did get another strong showing from the top of its batting order, as 1-2-3 hitters Rojo, Valaika and Stubbs each collected a pair of hits.

 

Chris Heisy also had two hits for the Mustangs.

 

"We got base runners on and were able to put them across when we needed to," Stubbs said. "I think we're starting to play as a team. Hopefully we can go out on the road and continue to play solid baseball."

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.statesman.com/sports/...press.html

 

Nashville gets past Express 1-0

Fernandez too much for Express

By William Wilkerson

Austin AMERICAN-STATESMAN

 

ROUND ROCK ? Nashville starter Jared Fernandez's knuckleball repeatedly baffled Round Rock batters and Mike Rivera hit an RBI sacrifice flay to put the Sounds over the Express 1-0 at Dell Diamond on Sunday.

 

"That was some freak pitch," Express manager Jackie Moore said. "He could throw it in any count. I am sure a lot of our players have never faced a knuckleball before."

 

Round Rock was held to just three hits in the loss and dropped its second game of the nine-game homestand.

 

"What a series this has been," Moore said. "All the games came down to just one pitch or one play."

 

Nelson Cruz drew a walk to lead off the second and Graham Koonce followed with a single to right field, which moved Cruz to third base.

 

Cruz was then brought home on a sacrifice fly from Rivera.

 

Wade Robinson scooted a bunt single passed Fernandez to lead off the seventh inning and supply the Express with its best chance to even the game.

 

After a Brooks Conrad singled to right field, it looked as thought the Express were primed for a breakout inning with two on and no outs. But Fernandez notched two strikeouts and a fielder's choice to preserve the 1-0 lead.

 

Round Rock's starter Chris Baker (8-3), who was trying to become the Pacific Coast League's first nine-game winner, only allowed two hits through seven innings.

 

Fernandez, a former product of the Houston Astros from 2003-2004, dipped into speeds in the high 50s and displayed uncanny control for a pitch that is often dubbed as uncontrollable. He threw 103 pitches, 71 of which were called strikes.

 

Fernandez threw seven strikeouts.

 

"That was pretty impressive," Moore said. "Sometimes you just have to tip your hat and go on."