Link Report Thur. 6/15 - Spend Your Morning with Mark Rogers

[molitor fan]

Let's hope it's a legit turnaround for Mark, and not just a solid 20 IP amid a rough season

 

I know everyone hopes Rogers is the real deal, but sometimes I wonder what causes people to be so guarded with praise. This 3 start stretch is amazing, perhaps the best stretch of 3 starts in the minors this year. Rogers/Gallardo is the best twosome in minor league baseball right now.

[brettac1]

I'm guarded because in the past 177.1 IP before this start, he had an ERA over 5.00 and 117 BB. It's not like I have a problem with Rogers or hope he fails, but when a guy pitched that poorly against competition he should dominate (a top 5 pick shouldn't have a 5.13 ERA in low-A, even if he's from Maine) you almost have to be a little skeptical. Also, it's tough to get too high on a guy (for me, at least) when he's at least two years away from MLB and only 20 with a lot of injury nexus to get through.

[molitor fan]

Also, it's tough to get too high on a guy (for me, at least) when he's at least two years away from MLB

 

 

Just a reminder that the guy that threw 6 shutout innings yesterday for the Brewers was at the same level a year ago at this time that Rogers is currently. He is not nearly as far away possibly as some conceive that he is. I guess the point I want to make mainly is that his last 3 starts were not just "solid" - they were dadgum spectacular.

[And That]

I guess the point I want to make mainly is that his last 3 starts were not just "solid" - they were dadgum spectacular.

 

Yes, but 20 innings of A-ball don't make a career. In Mark's case all they really do is get your ERA under 5.00. If he's truly "turned a corner," great, but we've all heard that line before. He'll need to pitch many more than 20 good (great, fantastic, whatever) innings in A-ball to have me thinking he's got a chance to pitch in the bigs next year, as you referenced:

 

Just a reminder that the guy that threw 6 shutout innings yesterday for the Brewers was at the same level a year ago at this time that Rogers is currently.

 

The differences between '05 Villanueva and '06 Rogers are vast. Villanueva was/is two years older than Rogers, and is a much, much, much, much more advanced pitcher because he has to rely on control. They are pretty much polar opposite pitchers, except for pitching with the same arm. Villanueva also was very good start to finish with Brevard, IIRC.

[molitor fan]

This last response is interesting - even after 3 great performances, many people, including those that know minors the best, are still focusing on the negatives with Rogers. Good grief, 21 innings and 5 hits and the most he can get from a large segment here is a begrudging "maybe he has turned the corner". Throwing out the differences in Villanueva and Rogers is not relevant really, as all I mentioned is that to say Rogers was not going to be ready till 2009 is not exactly written in stone. And lets be honest, if Rogers was doing this all season, some on this site would be talking about him coming up to replace Sheets by the all-star break.

[And That]

And lets be honest, if Rogers was doing this all season, some on this site would be talking about him coming up to replace Sheets by the all-star break.

 

But he hasn't been. He's been doing it, oh, about 20 innings or so. That's the crux of the point. It's all well and good to get amped at 20 good innings of ball, but in the context of a season, it can be (and usually is) pretty meaningless.

 

This last response is interesting - even after 3 great performances, many people, including those that know minors the best, are still focusing on the negatives with Rogers.

 

Not speaking for anyone else, I'm focusing on the big picture, not 3 starts that almost no one will remember a year from now. Mark Rogers has pitched mediocrely (at least statistically) throughout his pro career. We all know he has all the physical tools to be a #1 guy. 20 innings does not negate about 160 previous innings of general suckiness.

 

I don't know how to phrase it other than to say, great, he's had 20 good innings. Now let's see if he can keep it going or merely regress (or get injured) like the many before him have.

[Anders34]

Well, Justin Verlander had some pretty crappy results in college too, until they figured out his mechanics. Now look..........

[DHonks]

Well, Justin Verlander had some pretty crappy results in college too, until they figured out his mechanics. Now look

 

like I said last week (and others agreed with), Rogers is far ahead of Verlander at the same age

[DHonks]

also, it should be noted that Helling is throwing a gem so far

[JohnBriggs12]

Helling's line through 6: 1 Hit, 0 Runs, 0 BB, 5K.

Naturally, he too has no run support.

 

Rogers, Gallardo, Villanueva, Jackson, Parra.

 

The Fab Five? (Yes, I am knocking on wood)

[dadofandrew]

Great to see Helling doing well at AAA, like he should. It sure would be nice to be able to slowly work him into the rotation, with the small sample results of Zach and Carlos OK.

[bork]

Great to see Rogers turning it around. Hopefully, the Brewers will take it slow and keep him healthy.

[plowjockey]

Lost in all the Rogers hoopla - Jones with a very solid couple of innings after coming off the DL.

[DHonks]

Lost in all the Rogers hoopla - Jones with a very solid couple of innings after coming off the DL.

 

It could be good for him to work out of the pen for 20-30 pitches for the remainder of the year. He's a quality arm, and just needs some time--some injury free time--under his belt.

[brewmann04]

nice to jones throwing 2 innings today,hopefully he pitch the rest of the year without any trouble

[And That]

Great to see Rogers turning it around. Hopefully, the Brewers will take it slow and keep him healthy.

 

Exactly. Hopefully he keeps turning it around. If he keeps pitching this well, he may even find his innings limited towards the end of the year, as they should be.

 

I have aboslutely nothing against Mark Rogers. He has a boatload of talent, as much as Neugie and Gold, and I type that while remembering those two (even especially Gold at points) as my favorite prospects of all time. I temper my enthusiasm after witnessing firsthand the downfall of many numerous Brewers top HS pitching prospects before him, including to this point the guy that followed him today, Mike Jones. Hey, Jones even pitched 100+ innings in AA before getting derailed. The road to the bigs just doesn't seem to be a quick or easy one for young Brewers pitchers. Call me jaded if you want, but I just like to lay off of the fanboy praise until he'll show me more than a modicum of good innings pitched with his newfound mechanics.

 

Neugie and Gold also had reportedly refined their mechanics, and Jones had great mechanics coming out of high school. There's so much more than just being able to pitch well with a good motion. Young guys have to get through the injury nexus that Brett talked briefly about, and have to do it while learning how to pitch. It's a tough job to do. I wish Mark the best, and honest to God, I hope he's the savior of the rotation in a few years once we have to fill some holes there. I just won't put a crown on his head and lavish praise on him until I get something more than 20, 30, or even 50 good innings out of him, and probably more.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;lid=l116

 

Decorated veteran Helling takes hill tonight for Sounds

By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent

 

You could count on one hand the number of players to put on a Nashville Sounds uniform who had careers as accomplished as Rick Helling. After all, how many former Sounds can lay claim to a 20-win season in the big leagues, two World Series championship rings and have been members of a United States Olympic team?

 

Helling can. The hard-throwing right-hander won 20 games in 1998 with the Texas Rangers, has two rings as a member of the Florida Marlins and pitched for the U.S. at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.

 

Yet of all his achievements and accolades, Helling said perhaps his proudest accomplishment took place in 2005. That?s when he overcame a career-threatening elbow injury, earned his way back to the big leagues as a member of the Sounds, then had one of his most-efficient seasons in his 14-year career. Helling is on rehab assignment from Milwaukee and takes the mound tonight when the Sounds take on Omaha at Greer Stadium.

 

Helling was a non-roster invitee last spring for the Brewers. He found his way onto the Sounds opening day roster, then pitched well enough to earn a promotion. Helling went 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA last season in a variety of roles for Milwaukee.

 

?Up until I hurt my elbow [on April 16], the last year and a half is as good as I?ve ever thrown the ball in my entire career,? Helling said. ?That goes all the way back to when I was 20 years old. That?s the thing that made me the [proudest] about last year. I had to come down here to Nashville to pitch and prove to people I could still do it.?

 

Over the past two seasons in the Brewers organization, Helling has familiarized himself with Milwaukee?s best pitching prospects like Ben Hendrickson, Dana Eveland, Zach Jackson and Dennis Sarfate. All but Sarfate have been up this season thanks to injuries to Helling, Tomo Ohka and Ben Sheets. Only Jackson has had any degree of success so far, but Helling said all are certainly capable.

 

?The thing that?s happened this year is a lot of guys have gotten an opportunity and unfortunately most of those guys haven?t made the most of it,? Helling said. ?The potential is definitely there and the stuff?s there. They?re all good enough to pitch in the big leagues, it?s just a matter of the difference between big leagues and Triple-A is just consistency.?

 

Helling said he?s happy to give advice when the younger players seek him out, but his top priority now is prolonging his own career. Tonight figures to be his last rehab start before he?s promoted, and Helling said the plan is to just keep doing what he?s always done on the mound.

 

?People tell me I?m the most competitive guy they?ve ever met,? Helling said. ?My competitive fire and the fact that I?m still able to do it on the big league level is what [keeps me going]. It?s getting harder now because I have three kids so it?s harder being away from home.

 

?As long as I can keep getting guys out in the big leagues and still have that competitive fire in me, I?ll keep going out there as long as someone wants to give me the ball.?

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 6, Omaha (Royals) 2

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Rick Helling photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2005

 

Helling, Koonce Lead Sounds Past Royals

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Rehabbing pitcher Rick Helling twirled seven strong innings and Graham Koonce belted two home runs, including a grand slam, to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 6-2 victory over the division-rival Omaha Royals in front of 7,062 fans on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium in the finale of a four-game series.

 

With the victory, Nashville (37-30) notched its sixth winning home series in nine Greer Stadium sets after defeating Omaha in three of four this week. The Sounds are 24-12 at home this season.

 

Helling (1-0) was impressive in his second rehab start for Nashville as he recovers from a right elbow sprain. He allowed a game-opening single to Kerry Robinson, who finished 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, then retired 17 consecutive batters before allowing a Robinson two-bagger to lead off the seventh. Helling allowed one run on three hits and struck out five over seven innings of work. He threw 83 pitches, 53 for strikes.

 

The Milwaukee Brewers had several key baseball operations staff members in attendance to watch Helling?s rehab outing: Executive Vice President & General Manager Doug Melvin; Assistant General Manager Gord Ash; Jack Zduriencik, Special Assistant To The G.M. / Director of Amateur Scouting; and Dan O?Brien, Special Assistant To The G.M.

 

Sounds first baseman Graham Koonce, who drove in all six Nashville runs on the evening, broke a scoreless tie in a big way in the bottom of the sixth inning. The left-handed slugger belted a mammoth grand slam to right field off Royals reliever Donovan Osborne to put Nashville in front by a 4-0 margin. Tony Gwynn (double), Dave Krynzel (walk), and Brent Abernathy (hit by pitch) scored on the slam.

 

AUDIO: Graham Koonce's Grand Slam --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...206-15.wma

 

The grand slam was Nashville?s fourth of the year and second of this series. Vinny Rottino belted a grannie in Monday?s opener against Omaha.

 

Omaha got on the board in the top of the seventh when Robinson led off with a double and scored two batters later on a Ruben Gotay RBI bloop double to right off Helling.

 

Koonce, who finished with a personal season-high three hits to go along with his Sounds season-high six RBIs, slammed his second longball of the evening in the bottom of the eighth, a two-run shot off Joe Nelson. Nelson Cruz, who had legged out his team-leading 17th double of the season one batter earlier, scored on the blast, Koonce?s fifth of the year.

 

The two-homer contest was Koonce?s second of the season and the Sounds? fifth multiple-homer effort of the campaign. Koonce?s six RBIs were one shy of the Nashville single-game record.

 

Omaha closed out the evening?s scoring with a run against reliever Chris Mabeus in the ninth. Alejandro Prieto singled before Robinson ripped his second two-bagger of the evening to put runners on second and third with no outs. Chris Clapinski?s sacrifice fly brought in Prieto to make the score 6-2 before Mabeus retired Ruben Gotay and Aaron Guiel to end the contest.

 

Royals reliever Shane Loux (0-3) took the loss after loading the bases before Osborne surrendered Koonce?s grand slam. The right-hander gave up three runs in his 1 2/3 frames.

 

Omaha starter J.P. Howell matched Helling?s strong effort early on, allowing one hit and striking out five batters over four scoreless innings before being removed from the contest due to a pitch count.

 

The Sounds continue their homestand on Friday evening by welcoming the Oklahoma RedHawks (AAA-Rangers) to town for a four-game, three-day series that includes a doubleheader on Saturday.

 

Right-hander Dennis Sarfate (5-2, 2.85), a winner in his last three starts, takes the hill for Nashville in Friday?s 7 p.m. series opener. Oklahoma will counter with right-hander Nick Masset (1-3, 7.50).

 

Nashville Box Score:

Mike Rivera slumping at the plate a bit, finally under .300...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

Frank Kremblas has Rivera attempting to steal a base in the 2nd -- out, but it was a two-out get in scoring position thing; Vinny Rottino out trying to steal home in the 3rd with two out -- botched two-out squeeze with Dave Krynzel up?

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Helling sharp for Sounds

Koonce hits two homers, including grand slam

By JEFF LOCKRIDGE

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

The only thing that measured up to Rick Helling's precision pitching was Graham Koonce's sweet swing.

 

Both benefited the Sounds.

 

Helling looked sharp for four members of the Milwaukee Brewers front office who were in town Thursday night and Koonce blasted two home runs, including a grand slam, in a 6-2 win over the Omaha Royals before a crowd of 7,062 at Greer Stadium.

 

"I got the good part of the bat on it," said Koonce, who has five homers this season. "I wasn't trying to do too much. Some nights this kind of thing happens."

 

The Sounds open a three-day, four-game home series against the Oklahoma RedHawks at 7 tonight.

 

Making his second of two scheduled rehab starts with the Sounds, Helling (1-0) faced the minimum number of batters through six innings and left after seven, allowing one run on three hits. He struck out five.

 

Helling, 35, could come off the Brewers' 60-day disabled list for a sprained right elbow at any time and rejoin Milwaukee.

 

Brewers Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin was among those who watched Helling's start.

 

"He was aggressive with his fastball and getting ahead of the hitters," catcher Mike Rivera said. "He was using his cutter better than last time. That was a key."

 

Koonce, who finished 3-for-3 with six RBIs, provided all the support his pitcher needed with a towering grand slam over the right-field wall off Omaha reliever Donovan Osborne to snap a scoreless tie with two outs in the sixth. He added a two-run shot in the eighth.

 

"He hit it well," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "Those two-out RBIs are very big."

 

WHAT THEY SAID: "(Koonce) is getting a little more into the swing of things. It takes time to get things going." ? Kremblas

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

Get Jonah bobbleheads tonight

By JEFF LOCKRIDGE

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

The Sounds' game against Oklahoma at 7 tonight at Greer Stadium includes another biblical bobblehead giveaway.

 

The latest rendition of the popular Purity Faith Night series features a bobblehead of Jonah to the first 2,000 fans through the turnstiles. Gates open at 5:30.

 

The pregame Faith Night concert main act is the Peasall Sisters, a trio of siblings who made their national debut on the Grammy-winning soundtrack of the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

 

21 questions: The Sounds snapped a streak Thursday when catcher Mike Rivera threw out Omaha's Kerry Robinson trying to steal third in the top of the first inning.

 

The previous 21 baserunners who attempted to steal on the Sounds were successful, dating back to May 31. Robinson's out also stymied a potential Royals rally after he had reached second on a hit and an error with nobody out.

 

Cruzin' zone: Sounds outfielder/designated hitter Nelson Cruz continues to put up big numbers in June. After having an 11-game hit streak snapped Tuesday, Cruz went 2-for-3 Wednesday to improve his batting average for the month to .390 (16-for-41).

 

Cruz entered Thursday's game among the top five hitters in the PCL in home runs (14), RBIs (49) and runs scored (46). He went 1-for-4 Thursday.

 

Quick rise: Omaha pitcher J.P. Howell, who started Thursday vs. the Sounds, enjoyed the second-fastest rise to the majors in Kansas City Royals organization history in 2005 after being taken 31st in the 2004 draft out of the University of Texas.

 

Only Bo Jackson made a quicker trip through the ranks.

 

RedHawk blues: The Oklahoma RedHawks open the third of four season series with the Sounds tonight, and they'll be hoping to improve on past results.

 

Nashville has won six of seven games between the clubs, including a four-game sweep on April 14-17 at Greer Stadium.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=50493

 

Helling, Koonce carry Sounds to victory

By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent

 

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Rick Helling sparkled in his rehab start Thursday night against Omaha and Graham Koonce drove in every Nashville run to lead the Sounds to a 6-2 victory over the Royals in front of 7,062 fans at Greer Stadium.

 

The 35-year-old Helling, making his second rehab start for the Sounds, went seven innings and allowed one run on just three hits.

 

Helling, who has been on the disabled list since April because of an elbow injury, faced the minimum number of batters (18) through the first six innings.

 

He ran into trouble in the seventh when a pair of doubles gave the Royals (26-41) their first run. This figures to be Helling?s final start before he rejoins the Brewers.

 

?He was getting ahead on batters and he was spotting his pitches, especially his fastball and his cutter,? said Sounds catcher Mike Rivera, who shared the battery with Helling. ?It was good for him, especially since he was on a pitch count [of 90].?

 

Helling was receiving extended treatment in the training room after the game and was unavailable for comment.

 

?He looked really sharp,? Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said.

 

Nashville couldn?t figure out Omaha starter J.P Howell, who held the team scoreless through four innings. But Howell was on a pitch count of 60, so he came out after that and the Sounds took advantage of the Omaha bullpen.

 

Koonce hit a sixth-inning grand slam that landed onto Chestnut Street to give the Sounds their first four runs. He added another home run in the eighth, a two-run blast giving him his second two-homer game of the season. Koonce?s six RBIs are one shy of the team record.

 

?It looks like he?s coming around a little bit,? Kremblas said of Koonce, who was hitting .200 before going 3-for-3 on Thursday. ?His bat speed looks a little bit better. He did good.?

 

Happy Father?s Day, Sounds fans

 

In honor of Father?s Day, fans who attend Sunday?s game against Oklahoma will receive a voucher for a free TiVo unit ? which has a retail value of $220. Additionally, up to ten TiVo units, which are ready for usage, will be given away during the game. For more information on the promotion visit tivo.com/baseball.

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Tenn (Cubs) 4, Huntsville 1, completion of June 1st suspended game

 

Final: West Tenn (Cubs) 9, Huntsville 0, regularly scheduled game, scheduled for seven innings

 

Huntsville Site Game Summaries:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=878

 

Stars Swept by Diamond Jaxx

 

Chris Shaver tossed a complete game shutout and Scott Moore capped a seven-run seventh inning rally with a home run, as West Tenn shutout Huntsville 9-0 in the second game of a doubleheader Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium. The Diamond Jaxx came from behind to win the opener 4-1 to complete the game that was suspended on June 1st and improved to 41-27 to move to within a game and a half of North Division leading Chattanooga, while the Stars dropped to 24-43 on the season and 10-22 at home.

 

Nic Jackson?s bases loaded, bases clearing triple in the seventh extended the visitors lead to 6-0 and chased reliever Russ Rohlicek from the game. Matt Yeatman took over and yielded a run-scoring single to Brandon Sing and Moore?s tenth home run of the season on a ball that cleared all three tiers of signage in right field. Rohlicek was charged with six runs on five hits over an inning and a third against his former mates.

 

Miguel Negron led off the fifth inning against starter Steve Bray with a double, moved to third base on a Jose Reyes sacrifice bunt, stayed there when Gary Cates was intentionally passed and scored on a squeeze bunt by Shaver, who knocked in his second run of the year to give the Diamond Jaxx a 1-0 lead. Bray was charged with the loss after allowing one run on five hits and two walks in the first start of his career.

 

Shaver allowed five hits, walked three and fanned five to earn his fourth win of the season and second over the Stars, who suffered their worst defeat of the year. The West Tenn southpaw permitted only J.C. Boscan in the fifth and Jeff Eure in the sixth to reach third base. Huntsville was shutout for a ninth time this season and for the sevehth time at home.

 

Negron?s three-run double in the sixth inning in the first game gave the Diamond Jaxx a 3-1 lead against Travis Phelps, who took over for starter Jeff Housman when play resumed after a two-week delay. Negron would score on the back end of a double steal later in the inning to account for the inning's final run. Phelps had retired the first ten batters he faced before allowing the four runs in the sixth and suffered his fourth loss.

 

Juan Mateo blanked the Stars over four innings in relief to earn his fourth win of the year. Rocky Cherry tossed two scoreless frames and Clay Rapada retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his league-best 20th save. The loss extended the Stars? losing streak to 14, one shy of the league record, and also pushed their home losing streak to 14, both the worst marks in franchise history.

 

The series continues on Friday night with southpaw Jeff Housman starting for Huntsville against Diamond Jaxx right-hander Sean Gallagher. 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 Game One Box Score:

So much for all the momentum of a one-game winning "streak" -- 14 more scoreless innings Thursday...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Two Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Two Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Daytona (Cubs) 2, Brevard County 0, ten innings

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

 

Cubs outlast Manatees

 

Jeff Culpepper's RBI single in the 10th inning snapped a scoreless tie as visiting Daytona blanked Brevard County, 2-0, on Thursday afternoon.

 

Culpepper's single was just the Cubs' fourth hit of the ballgame. Nate Spears led off the decisive 10th with a single and advanced to second on Joseph Simokaitis' sacrifice bunt. After Sam Fuld drew a walk, Culpepper singled to right to plate Spears.

 

After a Brevard County pitching change, Jake Fox singled to bring home Fuld with an insurance run.

 

Adalberto Mendez (3-0) earned the win, striking out four over two perfect innings. Roberto Sotolongo started the game for the Cubs (34-33) and allowed just one hit over four shutout frames. It was the 23-year-old Cuban's Daytona debut and his first start in nine appearances this season. Matt Weber allowed one hit over four scoreless relief innings. The trio fanned 13.

 

Jeremy Lewis (1-3) was charged with both 10th-inning runs and took the loss, while Luis Pena allowed Fox's RBI single before inducing Matt Craig to ground into an inning-ending double play.

 

The Manatees (34-29) wasted a dominating outing from starter Mark Rogers, who did not allow a hit until Culpepper singled with two outs in the sixth inning. The 20-year-old fanned 10 for the second time in as many starts and has 84 strikeouts in 59 innings. -- Benjamin Hill/MLB.com

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Two golden sombreros in one game -- Charlie Fermaint and Ryan Phillips; sure would be nice if Ryan Braun were dominating this league -- he isn't...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Hagerstown (Mets) 4, West Virginia 1

 

Charleston Gazette:

 

Loss eliminates Power from first-half chase

 

Three first-inning errors led to the West Virginia Power?s 4-1 loss to the Hagerstown Suns Thursday in Hagerstown, Md.

 

The loss eliminates the Power from contention for the first-half championship in the South Atlantic League?s North Division.

 

Darren Ford had an RBI single in the third inning for the Power.

 

Dave Welch (2-4) took the loss despite yielding just one earned run in five innings in his first start since returning from the disabled list. Jeff Landing (3-9) won for the Suns, with Kevin Tomasiewicz getting the save.

 

The Power (37-29) finishes the first half with a three-game series against the Hickory Crawdads at Appalachian Power Park, beginning at 7:05 PM Friday (6:00 Central). Right-hander Ryan Marion (0-0, 5.86 ERA) starts for the Power against Hickory righty Nic Suero (0-0, 13.50).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Ryan Crew 3-for-3; middle infielder Mike Bell's error total of 26 is unreal when you consider he didn't join the Power until April 25th and has split time at both second and shortstop...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1

[Mass Haas]

No day games Friday -- because the Friday Link Report won't kick off until later Friday afternoon, we'll post updated standings for you here:

Manatees will need to sweep three games against St. Lucie after the All-Star Break and get some help because a hot Palm Beach club has snuck into second place; very nice first half for the Power finds them in 2nd place at the moment, unfortunately not enough for a first-half crown; no split-season in AAA; Huntsville, 0-0 is coming soon -- we always said that with High Desert, and then the Mavericks would immediately tank every second half as well...

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 37 30 .552 - 24-12 13-18 W2[/b] Iowa 29 37 .439 7.5 14-16 15-21 W1 Omaha 26 41 .388 11.0 16-19 10-22 L2 Memphis 24 42 .364 12.5 12-20 12-22 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 42 25 .627 - 24-11 18-14 W2 West Tenn 41 27 .603 1.5 18-17 23-10 W1 Tennessee 31 36 .463 11.0 18-14 13-22 L3 Carolina 31 37 .456 11.5 19-16 12-21 W1 [b]Huntsville 24 43 .358 18.0 10-22 14-21 L1[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 38 29 .567 - 20-14 18-15 L5 Palm Beach 37 30 .552 1.0 20-14 17-16 W8 [b]Brevard County 34 29 .540 2.0 18-15 16-14 L2[/b] Daytona 34 33 .507 4.0 20-12 14-21 W2 Jupiter 29 37 .439 8.5 13-19 16-18 L2 Vero Beach 25 40 .385 12.0 15-17 10-23 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lexington 42 24 .636 - 24-12 18-12 W1 [b]West Virginia 37 29 .561 5.0 19-12 18-17 L1[/b] Delmarva 36 29 .554 5.5 19-17 17-12 L2 Lakewood 35 31 .530 7.0 18-13 17-18 W2 Greensboro 35 32 .522 7.5 21-11 14-21 W2 Hickory 32 34 .485 10.0 18-15 14-19 W2 Lake County 28 39 .418 14.5 14-22 14-17 L1 Hagerstown 26 41 .388 16.5 14-15 12-26 W1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1

 

Stars' offense vanishes again

Huntsville scoreless in 14 innings and loses doubleheader

By BRAD SHEPARD

For The Huntsville Times

 

Two weeks ago, the Huntsville Stars were mired in a franchise-worst 13-game losing streak when rain suspended their June 1 game against West Tenn.

 

Unfortunately for the Stars, when that game resumed Thursday night after what amounted to a 334-hour, 5-minute rain delay, some of the leftover horror of that swoon followed.

 

Though Huntsville inherited a one-run lead when the game resumed in the top of the third, the Stars quickly gave it away in a 4-1 nine-inning loss.

 

The Stars failed to score a run in any of the 14 innings played Thursday, getting blown out 9-0 in the seven-inning nightcap of the doubleheader in front of an announced crowd of 1,682 at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

So much for any positive carryover from Wednesday's 12-0 win.

 

In what has been the story of Huntsville's first half, any momentum melts quicker than an ice cream cone at a day game.

 

With the Stars (24-43) clinging to a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning of the opener, West Tenn's Miguel Negron hit a two-out, two-strike double off Travis Phelps that kicked up chalk on the right-field line and drove in all three teammates on base.

 

The Stars didn't even pose a second-game scoring threat until the bottom of the sixth when J.C. Boscan struck out to end the inning with runners on first and third.

 

Thursday was groan-inducing for any Stars who thought Wednesday could be a fresh start. Instead, it only set up another disappointing chapter.

 

On Wednesday, for example, Jeff Eure drilled a home run and drove in four runs to ignite an offensive onslaught normally unseen by Joe Davis patrons this season.

 

On Thursday, the best - or worst - Eure could muster during his pinch-hit appearance in the ninth inning was a sharp ground ball into the Stars dugout that glanced off reliever Russ Rohlicek's back.

 

Rohlicek was OK. Huntsville's offense isn't. At least, not yet.

 

The only run Huntsville had to show for its two games Thursday came back on June 1, and was driven in by pitcher Jeff Housman.

 

Negron's night easily trumped that hit with two solid games.

 

Wednesday's loss devastated West Tenn, which entered Thursday night two games behind first-place Chattanooga in the Southern League North Division with four to play. The Diamond Jaxx got two much needed wins to keep any hope alive.

 

That hope is slim, however. The Lookouts won again Thursday, and West Tenn is 1 1/2 games back with two games to play.