Link Report for Games of Saturday, July 9th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central except for Arizona Rookie; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Justin Lehr at Round Rock (Astros), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Glenn Woolard at Mississippi (Braves), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

If that link is down for bandwidth, use:

specs.eyecentric.com/pres...opup.shtml

 

Brevard County: TBD at Clearwater (Phillies), 6:05 PM; no audio for this series

 

Threshers' Site Hurricane Update: As of 11:45pm on Friday, July 8th, the Clearwater Threshers are still planning on playing the ballgame against the Brevard County Manatees on Saturday, July 9th as originally scheduled.

 

Friday's ballgame against the Manatees was completed after a 1 hour and 19 minute rain delay.

 

West Virginia: RHP Josh Wahpepah at home vs. Hagerstown (Mets), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: RHP Kevin Roberts at Billings (Reds), 8:00 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.billingsmustangs.com/

 

Arizona: TBD vs. the not-so-giant Giants at home in the Maryvale complex, 11:30 AM local time in the Arizona sun; never any audio for this league...

[Mass Haas]

Links to follow Saturday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_rreaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_msbaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_clrafx_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

 

Arizona:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 50 39 .562 - 25-19 25-20 W1[/b] Memphis 46 42 .523 3.5 24-19 22-23 W5 Iowa 41 47 .466 8.5 26-22 15-25 W1 Omaha 40 49 .449 10.0 15-22 25-27 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 9 6 .600 - 7-5 2-1 W2 [b]Huntsville 9 8 .529 1.0 3-5 6-3 W1[/b] West Tenn 8 8 .500 1.5 4-4 4-4 L2 Tennessee 7 9 .438 2.5 3-5 4-4 W2 Chattanooga 7 10 .412 3.0 3-5 4-5 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Brevard County 12 4 .750 - 3-1 9-3 W3[/b] St. Lucie 9 7 .563 3.0 4-5 5-2 W1 Palm Beach 9 8 .529 3.5 5-5 4-3 L2 Vero Beach 8 8 .500 4.0 3-4 5-4 L2 Jupiter 6 9 .400 5.5 5-2 1-7 L1 Daytona 4 12 .250 8.0 3-6 1-6 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 11 4 .733 - 7-0 4-4 L1 Hickory 9 5 .643 1.5 4-3 5-2 L1 Lake County 8 7 .533 3.0 5-4 3-3 W1 Lakewood 8 7 .533 3.0 5-3 3-4 L4 Lexington 8 7 .533 3.0 6-4 2-3 W3 Greensboro 6 8 .429 4.5 1-3 5-5 L1 [b]West Virginia 6 9 .400 5.0 4-1 2-8 W1[/b] Hagerstown 4 11 .267 7.0 2-4 2-7 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Helena 14 3 .824 - 5-1 9-2 W3[/b] Billings 10 7 .588 4.0 3-5 7-2 L1 Great Falls 6 11 .353 8.0 5-6 1-5 W1 Missoula 4 13 .235 10.0 1-8 3-5 L2

Arizona League Standings:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...mp;lid=121

 

Stats and League Leaders, USA Today (or go to MILB.com):

 

www.usatoday.com/sports/b.../index.htm

[Mass Haas]

Charleston Gazette:

 

Power looks to get back on track at home

 

The second half of the South Atlantic League season hasn?t begun especially well for the West Virginia Power.

 

Since the All-Star break, the Power has dropped six of nine and trails Northern Division leader Delmarva by five games. West Virginia was 3-3 in the second half before the break.

 

Looking at the statistics, it?s easy to see why the Power has stumbled out of the gate.

 

In the six losses since the break, the Power averaged just under four runs per game, including three games with two or fewer runs.

 

The opposition, however, scored an average of six runs during that same stretch. The defense has contributed to the struggles with 12 errors.

 

Individually, several players have fallen into midseason slumps, including all-stars Hernan Iribarren and Alcides Escobar.

 

After a slow start, Iribarren closed the first half of the season on a tear, raising his batting average over .320. But since the All-Star break, the second baseman has collected just nine hits in 36 at-bats (.250) and driven in one run. His 34 first-half RBIs were second only to Will Lewis for the team lead.

 

Escobar has gone 6-for-35 since the break (.171) with only one extra-base hit. He led the club with 20 extra-base hits in the first half.

 

Greg Kloosterman has seen the biggest dropoff among the Power pitchers. In eight innings since the break, the left-hander is 0-2 and has allowed 17 hits and 10 runs. His earned-run average has climbed more than 30 points to 4.52.

 

Not all the news has been bad for the Power offense, though.

 

Outfielder Hasan Rasheed has raised his batting average by going 8-for-25 since the break (.320). His on-base percentage has jumped 22 points to .407.

 

Grant Richardson has produced ten hits in 28 at-bats to raise his season average to .263 ? he was hitting .249 before the break.

 

***

The Power returns to Appalachian Power Park tonight to begin a brief two-game home stand against the Hagerstown Suns.

 

Tonight?s promotion is Jennifer Garner Baby Shower night, with any fan bringing a ?shower gift? such as diapers, baby food or baby clothes receiving a free ticket to the game.

 

Charleston native Garner and new husband Ben Affleck have been invited to attend the game, along with the Garner family.

[Mass Haas]

Clearwater Site:

 

As of 2:00pm on Saturday, July 9th, the Clearwater Threshers game against the Brevard County Manatees scheduled for 7:05pm tonight has been canceled due to the effects of Hurricane Dennis.

 

This game will not be made up since this is the only time the Threshers and Manatees were scheduled to play this half.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Giants 7, Arizona Brewers 1

Baby B's outhit 14-4...

 

Weather: 110 degrees, sunny.

Wind: 0 mph, None.

T: 2:38

 

Arizona Box Score:

Very, very little to get excited about with this bunch thus far; dry air or not, 110 degrees is not good...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

 

Arizona Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[H0FFY]

Should we start to be worried why the Arizona Brewers get clobbered EVERY game. Do we have a talent black hole waiting to move up the organisational chain?

[Mass Haas]

Final: Hagerstown (Mets) 6, West Virginia 0

The Power returns home on a summer Saturday night and lays another egg; this is not what Power fans and management had in mind for the new stadium -- these folks have not seen good baseball, exciting baseball, or certainly winning baseball; the tone was set here when the boys couldn't score Alcides Escobar after a leadoff triple in the 1st -- for good measure, similar stuff in the 2nd, and the 6th, and the 7th, and the 8th...

 

West Virginia Box Score:

If SS Escobar's 28 errors don't lead all of minor league baseball, it must be close; RHP Brian Montalbo was a seventh round pick in 2003 -- he's 23 years old and struggling in relief in low-A, not good...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

Nestor Corredor gunned down three of five baserunners attempting to steal; if this team gets nothing from the middle of the order, it has no chance -- there's just no threat low in the order...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Brian the Automator]

[ Should we start to be worried why the Arizona Brewers get clobbered EVERY game. Do we have a talent black hole waiting to move up the organisational chain? ]

 

I'm wondering how it's possible to judge talent at all when games are being played in 110 degree weather.

[Mass Haas]

Both Nashville's Nelson Cruz and West Virginia's Hernan Iribarren absent from this weekend's lineups as they are in Detroit for Sunday afternoon's Futures Game.

[Mass Haas]

Should we start to be worried why the Arizona Brewers get clobbered EVERY game. Do we have a talent black hole waiting to move up the organisational chain?

 

First off, I'll point out to everyone that HOFFY spelled organizational correctly in his native Aussie tongue.

 

I don't think the Arizona League failures can create an entire gap. Last year's club was 24-32, but it gave us Hernan Iribarren at .439 in 189 AB's. And it gave Angel Salome and Mark Rogers a chance to get their feet wet.

 

The 2003 Arizona team was awful (18-37), but it's where Tim Dillard and Charlie Fermaint initially saw action.

 

The 2002 team was 26-30, but is where Steve Moss broke in.

 

In 2001 (27-29), it was Brad Nelson's debut.

 

There's just little compelling with this current batch of 18 and 19-year-old's, at least quite yet.

 

Last year's 8th round pick, high school LHP Brandon Parillo, was awesome in his 23.2 2004 Arizona innings (12 hits allowed, 1.52 ERA, 25-to-9 K/BB ratio), and he's off to a great start in Maryvale again this year.

 

With only one Arizona pitcher with more than 40 IP last year, the league is more just a proving ground to see who will surround next year's Helena's starters, most of which will be drafted next June, a la this year.

 

Actually, it's pretty amazing to go back and review these Arizona rosters and look for current key contributors up the chain. So often future key players begin in Helena. It's really just one or two players each year, so as long as that occurs, the Brewers should be fine.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 6, Mississippi (Braves) 2

 

Huntsville Box Score:

RHP Glenn Woolard threw only 83 pitches in his eight outstanding innings -- now that's the guy most of us have been looking for all season; Brad Nelson still raking, on base three times; SS Enrique Cruz is slugging nearly .500, he really has had a heck of an offensive Southern League season -- he'll be 24 in November, and guess what, he might be a prime Rule 5 pick (again) for some team....

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_msbaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_msbaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Round Rock (Astros) 3, Nashville 1

 

Nashville Box Score:

Old friend Roberto Giron with a spot start, shuts down several of his former teammates; Prince Fielder's HR tied it briefly in the 7th -- Steve Scarborough's error (# 17) opened a tough bottom of the inning; LHP Mitch Stetter a perfect 9th in his AAA debut...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_rreaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_rreaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Delayed by lightning, top of the 4th in Billings: Helena 1, Billings (Reds) 1

Brendan Katin drove in Darren Ford for the Helena run; Katin has two hits, Ford two walks, but Darren was thrown out on a steal attempt for the first time this season...

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

WAHPEPAH THROWS SIX STRONG INNINGS IN POWER LOSS

Charleston, WV ? Josh Wahpepah allowed only two runs on six hits in six innings of work on Saturday night against the Hagerstown Suns, but it was not enough as the Suns shutout the Power 6-0 at Appalachian Power Park.

 

Ambiorix Concepcion smacked an RBI triple and Jim Burt ripped an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning to give the Suns a 2-0 lead. Grant Psomas added a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning to put the Suns up 3-0. In the top of the ninth inning, the Suns scored the final three runs of the game. Corey Coles knocked in the first run of the inning on an RBI single. Coles scored later in the inning on an errant throw from Alcides Escobar. Grant Psomas drove in the final run of the inning on an RBI groundout.

 

Jose Sanchez (11-3) earned the victory, and Wahpepah (4-4) obtained the loss. The Power are 6-10 in the second half after the loss and the Suns move to 5-11 with the win.

 

The Power will conclude the four game series with the Suns at Appalachian Power Park on Sunday afternoon. The Power will throw RHP Yovani Gallardo (2-3, 3.61) and the Suns will throw RHP Tim Worthington (2-1, 1.48). The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM (1:05 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Link for Glenn Woolard photo, text follows:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=661

 

Woolard Pitches Stars Past Braves

Glenn Woolard worked eight strong innings and Kennard Bibbs collected three hits and knocked in two runs to lead Huntsville to a 6-1 win over Mississippi Saturday night in the second game of a four-game set at Trustmark Park. The Stars won a third straight road game for just the second time this season to improve to 10-8 in the second half and pull into a first place tie in the North Division after West Tenn defeated Carolina 4-3 in 10 innings. The Stars have won their second straight over the Braves after dropping 11 of the first 14 games of the season series.

 

Bibbs singled with one out in the first inning and scored when Vinny Rottino doubled off of Braves? starter Brian O?Connor, facing the Stars for a third time on the season. Rottino has collected a run-scoring single, double and triple against O?Connor in nine at-bats. The Stars pushed the lead to 2-0 in the second inning when Bibbs singled home Ben Van Iderstine with two outs.

 

Wes Timmons hit a two-out, solo home run in the third to get the Braves on the board and trim the visitors lead to 2-1. It was his fifth of the season and third against the Stars.

 

Huntsville tacked on another run in the fourth when Bibbs doubled with two outs to score Woolard, who went two-for-four and has collected all three of his hits this season at Trustmark Park. The Stars loaded the bases in the fifth inning on singles by Brad Nelson and Enrique Cruz and a walk to Brandon Gemoll, the fourth issued by O?Connor. Van Iderstine bounced into a force out at second base to score Nelson to push the lead to 4-1 and chase O?Connor from the game. However, the Stars could not add any more runs in the frame as Cruz was thrown out at the plate on a Jeff Winchester ground ball and Woolard bounced into a force out at second base.

 

O?Connor suffered the loss to drop to 5-6 after allowing four runs on eight hits and four walks. The left-hander has lost his last two starts against Huntsville and was followed by Glen Tucker, who threw 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. The visitors tacked on two runs in the seventh against Casey DeHart on a run-scoring single by Cruz and a sacrifice fly by Van Iderstine, who knocked in two runs in a game for the second time all season and for the first time since April 11 at Jacksonville.

 

Woolard allowed a double to Josh Burrus after the Timmons home run and then proceeded to retire 13 of the next 14 hitters through the seventh inning. The right-hander picked up his first win since May 23 by holding the home team to a lone run on five hits with three strikeouts. Woolard did not issue a walk for the first time in 18 appearances and threw only 83 pitches.

 

The series continues Sunday afternoon with right-hander David Bradley taking the mound against Braves left-hander Chuck James. Coverage of the game gets underway at 4:50 p.m. central time on ESPN 1450 AM and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

[Mass Haas]

In progress: Billings (Reds) 2, Helena 1, after seven innings

As of this post, he's the losing pitcher of record, but it was definitely cool to find out that Helena RHP Luis Bernal (2004 33rd round, Arizona junior college) is a knuckleballer -- the 22-year-old had been getting hit hard this spring, and he had been experimenting with the knuckleball in the bullpen as recently as about two weeks ago, and pitching coach Mark Littell is just now encouraging him to use it in games. His two innings were pretty solid tonight, and as long as he's getting it over, he has a chance to baffle some of these rookie ball kids...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Billings (Reds) 2, Helena 1

Offense finally stifled; night off for Charlie Fermaint and Angel Salome -- coincidence?

 

Helena Box Score:

Knuckleballer Luis Bernal finished up with three IP, one earned run -- it was interesting listening to the audio call about his story -- good luck to him...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.billingsgazette.com/i...rewers.inc

 

Mustangs slip past Brewers

By GREG RACHAC

Of The Billings Gazette Staff

 

A night after their bullpen failed to close out a two-run lead in the ninth inning against Helena, the Billings Mustangs turned the tables.

 

This time, Mustang relievers combined to throw 5 1/3 shutout innings after a 56-minute rain delay to stave off the Brewers 2-1 Saturday night at Cobb Field.

 

A crowd of 3,844 watched Billings starter Rafael Gonzalez hold Helena to just one run on four hits through 3 2/3 innings, then ran for cover as lighting and heavy rain forced the near-hour suspension in the top of the fourth.

 

Regardless, the Mustangs never appeared to lose focus, and took the lead in the bottom of the seventh when centerfielder Brandon Roberts tripled home catcher Chris Denove with one out. Roberts' hammered a Luis Bernal pitch high and deep to right field, and nearly cleared the wall for a two-run homer. But all the Mustangs needed was that one run.

 

After that, the bullpen kept up its good work. Aaron Garrison, who was credited with his second victory of the season, shut down Helena in three-up, three-down fashion in the top of the eighth, and was followed by Abe Woody, who did the exact same thing to the Brewers in the ninth to earn his first save of the year.

 

The game marked the professional debut for the hard throwing Woody, a 2005 draft pick out of Baylor University.

 

The Mustangs struck first in the bottom of the second inning. James Langham led off that frame with a double down the right-field line, and was followed by Jarrett Reininger, who drove him in with a double of his own.

 

In the third inning the Brewers answered to tie the game when Darren Ford walked and scored on Brendan Katin's RBI single.

 

The outcome of the game was in stark contrast to Friday night, when Billings couldn't keep an 8-6 lead in the ninth. The Brewers fought back to tie the game in the ninth inning, and then got the runs they needed in the 10th on a two-run Agustin Septimo home run.

 

After the rain subsided on Saturday, Garrison picked up the Mustangs' pitching load and threw 4 1/3 innings, giving up just one hit while striking out three and not rendering a single walk. Garrison allowed only two runners to reach scoring position.

 

Kevin Roberts got the start for Helena and threw 2 2/3 innings. Roberts gave up one run on two hits, struck out two and walked two.

 

The loss moves Helena's road record to a very respectable 9-3 and they lead the Northern Division by three games.

 

Helena will resume play Monday which will begin a seven game home series against Ogden and Orem. The Brewers are 5-1 at home.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2005070937

 

Suns blank Power

By Tommy R. Atkinson

Charleston Gazette Staff Writer

 

Josh Wahpepah turned in another consistent performance. Unfortunately, the same couldn?t be said for the West Virginia Power offense.

 

Wahpepah surrendered just two earned runs in six innings, but the Power couldn?t generate any run support as the Hagerstown (Md.) Suns came away with a 6-0 victory Saturday night.

 

A paid crowd of 4,248 attended the South Atlantic League game on Jen and Ben Baby Shower Night at Appalachian Power Park. Fans who donated a baby shower gift or whose first name was Jennifer were admitted free.

 

The promotion benefited the baby pantry for Starting Points, a nonprofit organization serving children and the families of children under age eight.

 

The shower was for Charleston native Jennifer Garner, who stars in the ABC hit drama ?Alias,?? and movie star husband Ben Affleck, who were recently married and are expecting their first child. The couple didn?t attend the game, but were on hand for the Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles game earlier Saturday afternoon.

 

Wahpepha (4-4), the Milwaukee Brewers? third-round draft pick last year, entered Saturday?s game on a 10 2/3 innings scoreless streak. In the Shawnee, Okla., resident?s last two starts, which have been no-decisions, he?s allowed just six hits with nine strikeouts and two walks. Against the Suns (5-11), he gave up six hits and three walks.

 

?He?s been about as consistent a starter as we?ve had all year,?? said Power pitching coach John Curtis, a former veteran major league pitcher. ?He struggled a little bit with certain aspects of his pitching but two runs over six innings, you can?t argue with that. He kept us in the ballgame.

 

?His pitching has really been one of the brighter spots for our club. You kind of expect those things with him out there. Right now he?s been so consistent there really hasn?t been one major adjustment. He has a tremendous changeup [and] good command of his fastball. Our only concern now is making sure the number of innings doesn?t weigh him down too much. This is only his second full season.??

 

It looked as if the 6-foot-5, 195-pound Wahpepah?s scoreless streak would come to an end in the first inning, but he worked out of a bases-loaded situation by forcing a ground out. He gave up a leadoff double in the second, but remained unscathed.

 

After a 1-2-3 third, the Suns finally caught up to Wahpepah. After inducing a leadoff ground out, he hit the next batter and Ambiorix Concepcion followed with a run-scoring triple. Jim Burt added an RBI single for a 2-0 advantage.

 

Although Wahpepah faced nine batters in his final two innings, he didn?t give up a run and kept the Power right on the Suns? heels.

 

?I?m trying to keep the ball down,?? said Wahpepah. ?I didn?t have my best stuff so I just tried to go out there and battle for us. The other guy just did a little better job than me.

 

?I think hitters are getting a little bit tired and I?m just trying to throw strikes and get ahead. I?m just trying to do the same thing every time out. Just try and repeat the same things. Just try to throw the ball down in the zone and just hope things work out well, and they usually do.??

 

The Power?s leadoff hitters reached safely the first two innings but couldn?t dent the plate. Shortstop Alcides Escobar led off the first with a triple and was left stranded, then Will Lewis began the second with single, stole second and moved up to third before suffering the same fate.

 

Suns starter Jose Sanchez (11-3) retired the Power in order in the third, fourth and fifth before turning the game over to two relievers, who matched his shutout effort in the final four innings. The Power had runners at first and second with one out in the sixth and the bases loaded with one out in the seventh and came up empty each time. The Suns plated a run in the seventh and three in the ninth to put the squeeze on the Power (6-10).

 

Escobar and left fielder Hasan Rasheed each went 2-for-4 and were the only players with multiple hits. The Power only managed one extra-base hit, Escobar?s triple in the first.

 

The Power, which has dropped seven of 10 since the All-Star break, will play host to Hagerstown in the finale of the brief two-game series at 2:05 p.m. today (1:05 Central). West Virginia is off Monday before embarking on a six-game road trip.

 

Power points

 

Power third baseman Ryan Braun, the Brewers first-round pick in June?s amateur draft who was called up from rookie league Wednesday, lined his first pitch at Appalachian Power Park about 350 feet foul down the third base line. Braun, a former University of Miami (Fla.) standout, finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts but came up with two nice fielding plays on short hops and started a double play with another grounder. ... Power general manager Andy Milovich said 410 fans gained entrance to the game by bringing baby shower items. ... Power catcher Nestor Corredor gunned down three would-be base stealers.

[molitor fan]

Just to pull out a nice mention of Braun's fielding.....which we do not always get...

 

Braun, a former University of Miami (Fla.) standout, finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts but came up with two nice fielding plays on short hops and started a double play with another grounder.