Link Report for Games of Thursday, May 18th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu: Big league matinee, everyone pick a game to check out tonight!

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Justin Thompson at home vs. Tacoma (Mariners), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Carlos Villanueva at Chattanooga (Reds), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:15 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Yo Gallardo at Lakeland (Tigers), 6:00 PM; sorry, no audio for this series

 

West Virginia: RHP Ronny Malave at home vs. Augusta (Giants), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

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

[Mass Haas]

Follow Thursday'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_cngaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_lakafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_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 Wednesday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 22 17 .564 - 11-5 11-12 L3[/b] Omaha 17 21 .447 4.5 11-11 6-10 L1 Iowa 15 22 .405 6.0 9-12 6-10 W2 Memphis 12 25 .324 9.0 8-8 4-17 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 25 16 .610 - 15-6 10-10 L4 West Tenn 24 17 .585 1.0 8-8 16-9 L2 [b]Huntsville 20 20 .500 4.5 9-10 11-10 W1[/b] Carolina 20 21 .488 5.0 13-8 7-13 W4 Tennessee 19 22 .463 6.0 12-8 7-14 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 23 15 .605 - 10-10 13-5 L1 Palm Beach 20 18 .526 3.0 8-9 12-9 L1 Daytona 19 20 .487 4.5 11-9 8-11 W5 [b]Brevard County 18 20 .474 5.0 6-10 12-10 L3[/b] Jupiter 18 21 .462 5.5 8-14 10-7 W3 Vero Beach 13 26 .333 10.5 8-13 5-13 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lexington 22 16 .579 - 13-7 9-9 L2 Delmarva 21 16 .568 0.5 10-9 11-7 L1 [b]West Virginia 19 18 .514 2.5 9-9 10-9 L1[/b] Lake County 20 19 .513 2.5 10-10 10-9 L1 Greensboro 19 19 .500 3.0 13-7 6-12 L1 Lakewood 19 19 .500 3.0 11-7 8-12 W1 Hagerstown 16 22 .421 6.0 9-9 7-13 W1 Hickory 15 22 .405 6.5 6-9 9-13 W1

[Mass Haas]

Photo from Wednesday's action:

 

Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Tom Hindman

Power outfielder Darren Ford (15) can?t keep a shot off the bat of Augusta?s Mike Mooney from clearing Appalachian Power Park?s center field wall.

 

http://www.dailymail.com/images/Dognight30518.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 10, Lakeland (Tigers) 3

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Ryan Braun (5) and Charlie Fermaint (2) with HR's; all nine in the lineup with at least one hit -- six players with two hits apiece; hack attack tonight -- 15 hits, no walks drawn; quality start for Yo Gallardo -- 11 ground ball outs in six innings; LHP Jeremy Lewis and RHP Josh Alliston continue their good work as well; a cozy 347 in attendance...

 

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

 

Brevard County Game Log:

Fermaint's HR led off the game; Braun's HR to the opposite field; Gallardo ended his stint with a double-play grounder; five consecutive Manatees singled in the 8th...

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Final: Chattanooga (Reds) 5, Huntsville 4

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=839

 

Late Rally Leads Lookouts Past Stars

 

Luis Bolivar doubled home the tying run as a pinch-hitter and scored the winning run in a seventh inning rally to lift Chattanooga to a 5-4 comeback win over Huntsville Thursday night at BellSouth Park. The Lookouts snapped a four-game losing streak and won for just the second time in eight games to improve to 26-16, while the Stars lost for a third time in four games to drop to 20-21 and fall five and a half games behind the division leading Lookouts.

 

Stars? starter Carlos Villanueva took a 4-3 lead into the seventh inning and struck out the lead off hitter Miguel Perez for his fifth punch out of the night. Villanueva then fielded a bunt attempt by Anderson Machado and first baseman Jeff Eure could not handle the throw, allowing Machado to reach base. With Machado breaking, Bolivar lined a 2-1 pitch just inside the left field line and the ball rolled into the corner for a double that plated the Lookouts? shortstop to tie the game at four and knock Villanueva out of the game.

 

Huntsville manager Don Money called on left-hander Russ Rohlicek and he allowed an infield hit to lefty-swinging Chris Dickerson that pushed Bolivar to third base. Noochie Varner then sent a ground ball off of Rohlicek?s glove toward second base that Callix Crabbe, moving to his right, could not come up with. The ball got past him out into center field for a single that pushed across Bolivar with the go-ahead run and sent Dickerson to third. Rohlicek avoided further trouble by striking out Joey Votto and retiring Aaron Herr on a ground out to third base.

 

Villanueva was charged with the loss after allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits and dropped to 4-3. It was his first loss in five outings on the road and the first time he had given up more than one run on the road. He had stingily surrendered only one run in 26.2 innings away from home.

 

Ozzie Chavez clubbed a three-run home run in the third inning, and Adam Heether doubled in a run to cap a four-run rally that staked the Stars to the early lead. It was Chavez?s first long ball of the year and his second straight game with three RBI. He had knocked in only one run all year as a right-hand hitter before the home run.

 

Votto hit a two-out solo home run to right-center field that just cleared the wall and the glove of leaping center fielder Steve Moss to get the home team on the board in the fourth. Herr doubled and scored on a Rick Asadoorian single three batters later to cut the Stars lead to 4-2. Javier Colina hit a solo home run to left-field in the sixth to trim the visitors lead to one and mark the first time since April 11 that Villanueva has allowed two round trippers in a game.

 

The Stars loaded the bases in the seventh against Carlos Alvarado on two walks and a bunt base hit by Chavez but were thwarted when Ron Acuna grounded out. Greg Sain drew a pinch-hit walk from Brock Till with one out in the ninth and pinch-runner Travis Ezi advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw by catcher Miguel Perez and to third on a Crabbe fly ball out before Chavez walked to put runners at the corners. Till earned his first save of the year and completed two scoreless frames by getting Drew Anderson to ground out to end the game.

 

The series continues Friday night when the Stars send right-hander Tim Dillard to the mound against Chattanooga right-hander Steve Kelly. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 p.m. central time and can be heard on ESPN Radio 1450 AM locally and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Reliever Steve Bray's update: 1.74 ERA, zero walks and 27 K's in 31 IP; Lookout reliever Carlo Alvarado a long-forgotten former Brewer farmhand (High Desert)...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cngaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Stars grounded into three double plays in the first five innings...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cngaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Tacoma (Mariners) 4, Nashville 1

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Justin Thompson photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1958

 

Sounds Open Homestand With 4-1 Loss

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? The Nashville Sounds opened their homestand with the club?s fourth consecutive loss on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium, falling 4-1 to the Tacoma Rainiers in the opener of a four-game series.

 

The four-game skid is the longest of the season for Nashville (22-18).

 

Tacoma took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on first baseman Greg Dobbs? sixth home run of the year, a leadoff solo shot to right-center off Sounds starter Justin Thompson.

 

Thompson (2-3) took a loss in his third straight start after giving up four runs during his complete-game outing. He struck out a season-best nine batters, matching the best single-game effort by a Sounds hurler this season (Ben Sheets also fanned nine in a rehab start on April 11). With his effort, Thompson became the first Nashville hurler to toss a nine-inning complete game since Nelson Figueroa on July 28, 2004 against Salt Lake.

 

The Rainiers doubled the lead to 2-0 in the fifth on Michael Garciaparra's one-out RBI double to left that brought in Asdrubal Cabrera.

 

Both offenses remained silent until the ninth when Cabrera belted a two-out, two-run homer off Thompson to double the visitors? advantage to 4-0. The blast, which came on a 3-2 pitch and scored Mike Morse, was the infielder?s second of the year.

 

Nashville broke up Tacoma?s shutout bid by pushing a run across in the bottom of the ninth. The Sounds loaded the bases with one out against Rainiers reliever Renee Cortez on three consecutive singles by Jermaine Clark, Chris Barnwell, and Mark Johnson. Tony Gwynn followed with a sacrifice fly to left that scored Clark to make it a 4-1 game.

 

Cortez recovered to retire Dave Krynzel on a game-ending groundout to avoid further damage and secure his first save of the year.

 

Tacoma starter Clint Nageotte (5-2) picked up his second straight win by holding the Sounds to only one hit over five scoreless innings of work. He did not allow a knock until Vinny Rottino?s double that led off the bottom of the fifth.

 

The teams continue the series on Friday evening with a 7 p.m. meeting. Nashville left-hander Zach Jackson (1-2, 2.70) mans the bump to face Tacoma right-hander Francisco Cruceta (1-3, 4.94).

 

Nashville Box Score:

73-pitch complete game for Justin Thompson in the loss -- 65 strikes -- wow, only eight balls missed the mark and were taken by Rainier batters...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

Chris Barnwell struck out in the 5th, one out, man on 3rd; huge chance in the 6th wasted, especially by a very untimely Brad Nelson strikeout...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Interestingly, as a result of all the transactions listed recently, it's not just the parent Brewers carrying 13 pitchers.

 

Nashville, even with Wilton Chavez added to the disabled list, now has 13 active pitchers.

 

The Sounds bench consists of a catcher, an infielder, and an outfielder (on most nights, Kennard Bibbs). In series when the DH is used, such as the current series against Tacoma, the bench is made up of one plus a catcher.

 

And then, of course, Justin Thompson throws a complete game on 73 pitches http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif .

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 8, Augusta (Giants) 4

 

West Virginia Box Score:

RHP Ronny Malave with a quality start, surrendering three runs on two HR balls; nice to see Robbie Wooley's return so soon; speedster Darren Ford with three stolen bases, now 16-for 19 on the season; Mat Gamel on base four times, Ford and Ned Yost three times each -- Yost's average climbing after the dreadful start; team defense (tonight Mike Bell and Angel Salome) still with much to be desired...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

In the 4th, Ford walks, steals two bases, and scores on the next batter, Lorenzo Cain's sacrifice fly -- speed kills; unique error on Salome in the 8th -- strikeout required a throw to first base, which was off-line...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

Power use four-run third inning to beat Augusta

 

The West Virginia Power fell behind the Augusta GreenJackets early in Thursday night?s game at Appalachian Power Park, but rallied in the third inning, scoring four runs and went on to win the final game of the series 8-4.

 

Mike Mooney hit his second home run in as many days, a two-run blast in the top of the first inning to give the GreenJackets the early advantage.

 

The Power answered with a pair in the bottom of the second. Tony Festa drove in the first run on a single and scored later in the inning on Ned Yost?s triple. Darren Ford began the four-run third inning with a single and scored on Angel Salome?s base hit. Mat Gamel followed Salome with an RBI triple and scored later in the inning on David Maroul?s error. Festa drove in the final run on an RBI double.

 

John Armitage hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning to bring the GreenJackets within five. In the bottom of the fourth inning Ford drew a leadoff walk, then stole two bases before scoring on Lorenzo Cain?s sacrifice fly. The Power plated their final run of the game in the fifth inning on Ford?s RBI single. Augusta scored the last run of the game in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI single from Mooney.

 

Ronny Malave (3-0) earned the victory, and Ronnie Ray (3-2) obtained the loss. The Power are 20-18 after the win and the GreenJackets fell to 21-17 with the loss.

 

The Power will begin a four game series against the Greenville Drive on Friday night at Appalachian Power Park. Greenville will start right hander Chris Jones (2-0, 1.71) and West Virginia will counter with right hander Kevin Roberts (2-5, 5.05). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

[wibadgers23]

Maybe a little off topic here, but what are your thoughts on Inman and Gallardo? Do you see them staying put this year and both starting in Huntsville beginning of next season? That would make for an interesting 1-2 punch for the Stars next year.

[DHonks]

And then, of course, Justin Thompson throws a complete game on 73 pitches

 

65 for strikes. Wow, talk about a tough luck loss

[Team Canada]

EIGHT balls?! Are you kidding me? That's unbelievable.

[Viva La Grinch]

Is Chuckie Carr the hitting coach for Tacoma?

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=49941

 

Sounds lose fourth straight; pitcher retires

By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent

 

The feast-or-famine Nashville Sounds are headed in the wrong direction. Nashville has now lost ten of its last 13 games after taking a 4-1 loss to Tacoma on Thursday night at Greer Stadium.

 

The Sounds, who have also lost four in a row, won 12 of 14 games before the current slide.

 

After the game Sounds starter Justin Thompson ?who pitched a complete game ? announced his retirement from baseball. Thompson has battled injuries the last several years. He informed his teammates in a 10-minute meeting.

 

Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said his team?s performance isn?t a carry-over from its 2-6 road trip.

 

Although the team dug itself a four-run hole before rallying in the bottom of the ninth, Nashville (22-18) had other chances to put runs on the scoreboard but couldn?t manage the clutch hit.

 

The only Sounds run came in the final inning on a bases-loaded fly ball to left from Tony Gwynn, which scored Jermaine Clark.

 

?It is not a carry-over,? Kremblas said. ?I thought we played well. [We had] two chances with guys on third base with less than two outs and we didn?t put the ball in play. We had [a few] chances to get a guy in with two outs and we just couldn?t come up with the big hit.?

 

Nashville could only manage a solitary hit through five innings off Tacoma starter Clint Nageotte, who Kremblas said benefited from a liberal strike zone.

 

?He threw a lot of off-speed pitches behind in the count, kept the ball down pretty well. He made pitches when he had to or got favorable strike calls early in the count to put us behind,? Kremblas said. ?[some of the pitches were] too low in my opinion. If they?re going to call that pitch a strike, it?s tough to play off some of his tougher pitches. Like I said, he kept the ball down and did a good job.?

 

Thompson?s complete game was Nashville?s first nine-inning complete game since 2004 ? but he took the loss. Thompson, who also struck out nine, allowed a home run in the second inning to Greg Dobbs and another in the ninth to Asdrubal Cabrera.

 

?I thought he did a great job,? Kremblas said of Thompson. ?He made the one mistake to Dobbs.?

 

Brand new Sounds: Nashville made a number of roster moves on Thursday. Outfielder Corey Hart was promoted to Milwaukee on Wednesday and Kennard Bibbs was promoted from Double-A Huntsville to take his place. Additionally, pitcher Jared Fernandez rejoined the team after accepting his outright assignment from Milwaukee. Reliever Chris Mabeus was also claimed off waivers from Sacramento.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Tacoma topples Sounds

Veteran Thompson retires following loss

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

At least the Nashville Sounds will eventually stop their losing streak, which extended to a season-high four games with Thursday's 4-1 loss to visiting Tacoma.

 

Justin Thompson, the Sounds' veteran left-handed pitcher who has battled arm problems virtually since pitching in the 1997 All-Star Game as a member of the Detroit Tigers, lost his third straight decision.

 

It'll be the last loss of the 33-year-old's career, as he announced his retirement immediately following the game.

 

"I could tell things weren't working," said Thompson, who pitched Nashville's first nine-inning complete game in nearly two years and allowed eight hits but struck out nine. "I'd been getting my butt beat in my last couple of outings.

 

"I kinda knew it was time. I'm glad I got one more to go out and give it all I had. They didn't have me on a pitch count; I just put the hammer down. I knew it was my last game. Of course I want to stay around. But physically, I just can't."

 

Thompson fell behind 1-0 on a second-inning leadoff homer by Greg Dobbs, then gave up another run on Michael Garciaparra's fifth-inning RBI double. In the ninth, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-out, two-run homer to extend the margin to 4-0.

 

The Sounds were no-hit through the first four innings before Vinny Rottino's bloop double led off the fifth. Nashville scored in the ninth when Tony Gwynn's bases-loaded sacrifice fly drove in Jermaine Clark.

 

"He felt like he was done, but he went out and pitched a hell of a game," Gwynn said of Thompson. "He didn't get the victory, but he went out in a good way."

 

"This is much bigger than the game at this point. You wanted him to throw a no-hitter. This is definitely not a typical loss."

 

Thompson fell to 2-3, with an earned run average of 6.11.

 

"He wasn't throwing like he wanted to, even though he can still pitch ? as he showed," Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas said. "But 16 years is a great career, and he's an even better person."

 

What they said: "It'll be one that'll stick in my mind for a while. I'll have a lot of time to think. I'm going to go home and rest for a while, spend some time with my family and get reacquainted with them." ? Thompson, who pitched a complete game before announcing his retirement.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2006051851

 

Power pounds out 14 hits in 8-4 win over Augusta

By Doug Smock

Charleston Staff writer

 

Let it be known: The basepaths at Appalachian Power Park survived the onslaught Thursday.

 

After Rice?s 26-6 pole-axing of Marshall, the West Virginia Power got a late start against the Augusta GreenJackets ? literally and metaphorically. But when the Buck Night festivities wound down past 11 p.m., the Power sent its four-game visitor off with an 8-4 thumping.

 

A crowd of 3,482 waited through a one-hour rain delay at the start. With the chilly weather, not many stayed to see the 44th run of the day cross home plate.

 

The Power (20-18) took three in the four-game series, and will welcome the Boston-affiliated Greenville Drive tonight for the first of four contests. First pitch tonight is 7:05 (6:05 Central).

 

Thursday night, the Power spotted the GreenJackets a 2-0 lead, then blew by them with two runs in the second and four in the third. All told, the Power pounded out 14 hits, with five players rapping out two or more. Mat Gamel went 3-for-4.

 

Starter Ronny Malave (3-0) was the beneficiary of all that offense. After yielding a first-inning home run to Mike Mooney, he held Augusta (21-17) scoreless through the rest of his six innings. Though he gave up another home run, to John Armitage in the fourth, he yielded a respectable three runs on six hits.

 

The Power essentially put the game away in the third inning, scoring four runs to break a 2-2 tie.

 

Darren Ford led off with a single and stole the first of his three bases. Angel Salome singled him in to put the Power ahead 3-2, then Gamel tripled to make it 4-2.

 

At that point, Augusta shortstop David Maroul made his contribution, committing errors on the next two batters and endearing himself to the hecklers. Tony Festa doubled in the final run of the inning, making it 6-2.

 

The Power made up the 2-0 deficit in the previous inning. Mike Bell led off with a single, moved to second and scored on a Festa single. The game was tied when second baseman Eugenio Velez muffed a Ned Yost pop-up. While Velez ran a distance to get to the ball, Yost was awarded a triple in one of the most generous hometown scoring decisions in recent Charleston minor-league history.

 

West Virginia extended its lead with a run in the fourth on a Lorenzo Cain sacrifice fly and in the fifth on a Ford single.

 

POWER POINTS: The Power has won nine of its last 12 games, and rapped out 47 hits in the four-game series against Augusta. ... Paid attendance for the season is 57,945 -- 3,219 per home date.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...006051930/

 

Malave pitches Power past the GreenJackets

Michael Dailey

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

The calendar may read middle May, but the weather at Appalachian Power Park Thursday evening was more suited for pigskin than rawhide.

 

Fortunately for the 3,482 fans on hand, the unseasonably chilly temperature and an hour-long rain delay before the game started, did little to cool the West Virginia Power's rapidly warming play.

 

While riding a solid pitching performance by starter Ronny Malave and a 14-hit attack, the Power scored early and often to top the visiting Augusta GreenJackets, 8-4.

 

The win gave the Power (20-18) a 3-1 series win over Augusta (21-17), which entered the series as one of the South Atlantic League's hottest clubs.

 

In the process, the Power continued its own hot play at home, winning for the ninth time in its last 13 games at Appalachian Power Park. That's significant considering the Power lost five of its first six home games.

 

"We are pretty happy with our performance lately," said Power Manager Mike Guerrero. "The guys are coming together and they're playing pretty good baseball right now.

 

"We're doing a lot of things right. We're playing more fundamentally sound baseball and we're doing the little things now. Once a team starts doing the little things and playing fundamentally, you're going to win more games.

 

"Pitching and defense go hand and hand and if you put them with good timely hitting, you've got a good chance to win games. Right now, we're starting to put all those things together."

 

After a sluggish first inning, Malave, in just his second start of the season, tossed six strong innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs while improving his record to 3-0.

 

Malave's ERA climbed from 3.38 to a still respectable 3.62.

 

After surrendering a leadoff single to Augusta's Ben Copeland, Malave allowed a one-out, two-run homer off the bat of Mike Mooney for a quick 2-0 deficit.

 

But Malave, a 20-year old Venezuelan native, settled down, allowing only four hits and one run over the next five innings.

 

Robbie Wooley tossed two scoreless innings in relief for the Power, before giving way to Joe Thatcher, who surrendered a run and a hit in the ninth.

 

The Power activated Wooley from the disabled list and assigned Brandon Parillo to extended spring training Thursday.

 

At the plate, the Power was paced by speedy leadoff man Darren Ford, who finished with two hits, two runs, one RBI and three stolen bases.

 

Ford, blessed with world class sprinter speed, is among the South Atlantic League leaders with 16 stolen bases.

 

"He can run, that's his best tool," said Guerrero of the 20-year old Ford. "He's going to use it and I'm going to use it. People are going to have throw him out because he's going to keep running.

 

"I'm going to keep sending him and we'll see what happens at the end of the year."

 

Designated hitter Mat Gamel also was solid at the plate with three hits, including a triple and RBI. Gamel's triple appeared to sail over the right centerfield fence, but was ruled in play by the umpiring crew after a lengthy on-field discussion.

 

Tony Festa, Angel Salome and Ned Yost each had two hits.

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's

 

www.starsboxscore.com/

 

BIBBS PROMOTED TO NASHVILLE

CARLOS RUNS OUT OF CHARM

Former Huntsville Star Noochie Varner singled off the glove of reliever Russ Rohlicek to score Luis Bolivar in the 7th inning, giving the Chattanooga Lookouts a comeback 5-4 victory over the Stars........ Carlos Villanueva came into the game with an astounding record of one earned run allowed over 26 1/3 innings on the road, and had just come off a rare nine-inning complete game one-hitter against the Smokies, one of only six ever pitched by the Stars in their history. For a complete list of the rest, and a history of Stars' one-hitters, click on the "standings" link

 

www.starsboxscore.com/standing.htm

 

........ But Villanueva met a frustrated Chattanooga team that is trying to hold onto 1st place in the Northern Division. They won for just the 2nd time in their last eight games.

 

Tim Dillard (2-3) will take the mound against Steve Kelly, Friday. Kelly is a minor league vet with a 20-11 record going into his 3rd season with the Lookouts.

 

According to rotoworld.com, the Toronto Blue Jays are expected to call up Ty Taubenheim from Class AAA-Syracuse (IL) to replace Gustavo Chacin, who was scheduled to pitch against the Colorado Rockies. Taubenheim was 2-2 with a 1.24 ERA in seven starts at Syracuse. He's going to have a challenging time making his big league debut at Coors Field........ Taubenheim, once he makes his debut, will be the 156th former Huntsville Star to make it to the majors........

 

The J.J. Hardy injury in Milwaukee has had a ripple effect. The Brewers called up Corey Hart from Nashville, and in return, Kennard Bibbs received his first promotion to Triple-A. The Sounds lost to Tacoma, Thursday, 4-1. Bibbs appeared as a pinch-runner for catcher Mark Johnson in that game....... As you've probably noticed from a look at the box score, the Stars welcomed back Travis Ezi, who was hitting .300 at Brevard County. Ezi hit .226 in 17 games last year for the Stars until he was sent back down to the Manatees on May 28.

 

Coming up this weekend, I'll tell you a sad story about former Huntsville Star Fausto Cruz, and I'll clue you as to who is leaving the most runners on base with two out at this point in the season, as well as who's hot and who's not.