Link Report for Games of Tuesday, April 25th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Tuesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Dennis Sarfate at Oklahoma (Rangers), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Nashville Game Day Feature from MILB.com:

Please note that GameDay links will not become active until approximately 1-2 hours before game time

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

 

Huntsville: RHP Khalid Ballouli at home vs. Mobile (Padres), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Josh Wahpepah at home vs. St. Lucie (Mets), 6:00 PM; sorry, no audio for this series

 

West Virginia: LHP Dave Welch at home vs. Greensboro (Marlins), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link:

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

[Mass Haas]

Follow Tuesday'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_orhaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_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 Monday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 11 7 .611 - 7-1 4-6 L1[/b] Omaha 11 8 .579 0.5 7-4 4-4 W1 Iowa 7 12 .368 4.5 5-6 2-6 L7 Memphis 5 14 .263 6.5 4-4 1-10 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 12 7 .632 - 6-3 6-4 L1 West Tenn 12 7 .632 - 3-2 9-5 W1 [b]Huntsville 11 8 .579 1.0 5-4 6-4 W3[/b] Tennessee 8 11 .421 4.0 5-4 3-7 W2 Carolina 7 12 .368 5.0 2-3 5-9 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Brevard County 13 5 .722 - 5-3 8-2 L2[/b] Palm Beach 11 6 .647 1.5 4-3 7-3 L1 St. Lucie 11 6 .647 1.5 4-3 7-3 W2 Daytona 7 10 .412 5.5 5-7 2-3 W2 Vero Beach 5 12 .294 7.5 4-3 1-9 W1 Jupiter 5 13 .278 8.0 3-8 2-5 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lexington 12 6 .667 - 8-3 4-3 W2 Lake County 11 7 .611 1.0 4-4 7-3 W5 Delmarva 9 6 .600 1.5 4-4 5-2 L1 Greensboro 10 8 .556 2.0 8-3 2-5 W3 Hagerstown 7 10 .412 4.5 5-4 2-6 L3 [b]West Virginia 7 10 .412 4.5 2-5 5-5 L2[/b] Lakewood 6 10 .375 5.0 5-2 1-8 W1 Hickory 6 11 .353 5.5 2-5 4-6 L3

[Mass Haas]

Link for Ramon Aviles photo, text follows:

 

www.floridatoday.com/apps...002/sports

 

Managers have different goals

In minors, you work your way up or take one for the team

BY SCOTT BROWN

FLORIDA TODAY

 

VIERA - His tanned face and strapping build allow Gary Carter to fit comfortably into his moniker, "Kid," even at the age of 52.

 

The St. Lucie Mets manager doesn't move as well as he did when he first got the nickname, and scars on his knees reveal just how much he abused them during a big-league playing career that spanned nearly two decades.

 

The former catcher has had 11 knee surgeries, which make the bus rides that are a staple of minor league baseball tougher on him than most others. Maybe that is why he is giving himself another year after this one to return to the big leagues before walking away from managing.

 

After getting as high as Triple-A as a manager, Brevard County Manatees skipper Ramon Aviles is no longer focused on getting back to the big leagues.

 

He and Carter may be on opposite career paths but they do have something in common: both have to strike a balance between developing players and trying to win. That fine line is even trickier to walk at the high Class-A level (and the ones below it) since the importance attached to player development often influences managers' decisions.

 

Earlier this season in Jupiter, the Manatees were nursing a two-run lead in the ninth inning when right-handed pitcher Josh Alliston allowed a base runner.

 

With a left-handed hitter coming to the plate and southpaw Jeremy Lewis throwing in the Manatees' bullpen, the obvious move would have been for Aviles to take Alliston out of the game.

 

Instead, he said to Brevard County pitching coach Fred Dabney, "We've got to see what Josh can do with this situation."

 

Alliston ended up getting the final outs for the save.

 

On Sunday, Aviles left starting pitcher Mark Rogers in the game even though the Mets roughed him up in an eventual 7-3 win. The reason Aviles stayed with Rogers longer than he would have if winning were his only concern: the Manatees are trying to build up the former first-round pick's arm strength and wanted him to throw close to 100 pitches.

 

"If I teach the guys to play the game right and they go out and do what we teach them, the winning is going to come," said Aviles, whose team fell to 13-5 after losing 5-4 to the visiting Mets on Monday night at Space Coast Stadium. "My priority is helping them develop into major league players."

 

That is Carter's first priority as well.

 

Mike Pelfrey, who started Monday night for the Mets, could have been pitching a perfect game and the tall right-hander still would not have been allowed to finish it.

 

The Mets have the ninth overall pick of last year's amateur draft on a pitch count and for good reason. They gave Pelfrey, who threw 94 pitches and six innings against the Manatees, more than $3 million to sign and are protecting their investment.

 

The handling of Pelfrey shows what it is like for skippers who manage in the present but also have to keep one eye clearly fixed on the future.

 

Carter, who hit 324 homers during a career distinguished enough had made the Hall of Fame on his first try, does not know what the future holds for him.

 

He makes it clear that he wants to manage in the big leagues, though he acknowledges that it probably won't happen for the organization that he helped lead to a world championship 20 years ago.

 

Willie Randolph is in his second season managing the New York Mets and has the team off to one of the best starts in baseball.

 

Carter, for all intents and purposes, is auditioning for a big-league managing job with another organization, though that is not how he looks at it.

 

"First of all, I love the game and have a great passion for the game and I love to work with these kids," said Carter, who led the Mets' Gulf Coast League team to a 37-16 record last season. "Hopefully my time will come.

 

"I would love nothing more than to lead a team to the World Series. If nothing opens up, I'll find something else to do and maybe baseball doesn't want me."

[Mass Haas]

Nelson Cruz and Mark Rogers in Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet for different reasons today:

 

www.baseballamerica.com/t...61122.html

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...006042536/

 

Power pitchers hope to put lid on Grasshoppers

Jacob Messer

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

Wish the West Virginia Power pitchers luck.

 

They might need it this series against Greensboro Grasshoppers third baseman Gabriel Sanchez, who could accomplish a rare feat this season if he continues his hot hitting.

 

Sanchez could become the third player to win the South Atlantic League Triple Crown. He ranks first in homers (seven), first in RBI (20) and second in batting average (.412) through Monday's games.

 

He also leads the league in hits (28), runs (15) and slugging percentage (.750).

 

"It is still early in the season," Power Manager Mike Guerrero said, "but he is having a pretty good start."

 

The only SAL Triple Crown winners are former Asheville Tourists stars Patrick Putnam (.361/24/142 in 1976) and David Rivera (.346/26/118 in 1977), who coincidentally did it in back-to-back seasons.

 

Former Nitro High School and West Virginia University quarterback J.R. House nearly did it in 2000 when he played for the Hickory Crawdads.

 

He ranked first in hitting (.348), first in homers (23) and fourth in RBI (90) despite missing a month with mononucleosis.

 

Resurrecting his professional baseball career after a one-year stint in college football, House now plays for the Houston Astros' Class AA affiliate, the Corpus Christi (Texas) Hooks.

 

The Power (7-10) begins a three-game homestand with the Grasshoppers (10-8) Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park. Wednesday's game is a 10:35 AM (9:35 Central) Grand Slam School Day start.

 

The Power will start left-hander Dave Welch (0-1, 1.38) tonight. The Grasshoppers will counter with right-hander Dan Barone (2-0, 0.49).

 

* * *

THE POWER will play nine of its next 12 games at home, where Guerrero and his players can "start working on our fundamentals."

 

"We haven't had a long homestand yet," Guerrero said. "We need to go home and get to work."

 

AH, THE APP ... home sweet home.

 

That's except for Power third baseman and designated hitter Tony Festa, who is batting .000 (0-for-10 in three games) at home compared to .300 (6-for-20 in six games) on the road.

 

"I don't know what it is," said Festa, who is hitting .200 (6-for-30 in nine games) overall. "I guess I was putting too much pressure on myself, playing in front of the home crowd and trying to do too much."

 

Considering he has five hits in his last three games, chances are good Festa will pick up his first home hit tonight.

 

"Everything is coming together," said Festa, who had only one hit in his first six games. "Now, I'm focusing on carrying it over to the homestand."

 

* * *

THE NINTH inning has been a nightmare -- and a recurring one, at that -- for the Power.

 

West Virginia's opponents have batted in the final inning in 14 of its 17 games and scored 22 runs in those at-bats.

 

The Power has lost six games because of its opponents' ninth-inning rallies, including a 4-3 loss to the Lexington (Ky.) Legends on Monday.

 

The Legends scored two runs (both unearned) on two hits and two errors in the ninth to collect the come-from-behind victory.

 

"We have been playing pretty good, but we haven't been able to close games out," said Guerrero, whose team allowed eight ninth-inning runs to the Hagerstown Suns in a three-game series last week.

 

"That is the way it has been all season. We just need to learn how to play all 27 outs."

 

Blame falls on the bullpen and the defense, both of which have been shaky at times.

 

Case in point: Power relievers have allowed 46 runs (36 earned) in 75 2/3 innings, and Power fielders have committed 28 errors.

 

"We have to be able to execute" in the field and on the mound, Guerrero said.

 

There is no quick-and-easy solution, pitching coach John Curtis said.

 

"You just send them back out there, and, hopefully, they will right the ship," Curtis said. "It isn't something you can sit down and say, ?Do this differently' or ?Do that differently.'

 

"The pitchers have to learn how to close out games. The team has to learn, too."

 

* * *

CATCHER AND designated hitter Angel Salome has proven he is clutch this season.

 

Salome is hitting .385 with nine RBI with runners on base, including .333 with all of his RBI with them in scoring position. All are team highs in those categories.

 

The key? Salome said he simply treats each appearance -- runners or not -- like batting practice, just like hitting coach Mike Lum advises him.

 

"You take the same approach," Salome said. "You stay focused, and you look for your pitch. If they don't throw it to you, you don't swing."

[1e Corbeau]

Quote:

---

Nelson Cruz and Mark Rogers in Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet for different reasons today:

---

 

I have to say I'm a little disappointed that Yo! didn't make the list. A 20 year old in A+ with a 2.18 ERA, 32:6 K:BB, 1.06 WHIP, and 1 HR allowed deserves a little love, IMO. And, I think he out-duelled Pelfry, too.

 

Maybe another strong outing or two will garner him some attention. I assume to Power 50 will have much more love for the man.

[homer]

Corbeau,

In fairness to BA, I think that list came out before Yo!'s performance yesterday.

[DHonks]

It's interesting to see Mike Stodolka on there from the Royals. He was on the '04 Fall League squad that I worked as a part of. Nice guy, quite, but has always battled arm injuries.

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Site Update:

 

Power and Grasshoppers will double up on Buck Night

 

Charleston, WV (APRIL 25, 2006) ? The first Two for Tuesday at Appalachian Power Park was washed away earlier this evening, as the first game of the series between West Virginia Power and Greensboro Grasshoppers was postponed due to rain.

 

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday night, for the first Buck Night of the 2006 season at Appalachian Power Park.

 

The first game on Thursday night will begin at 6:05 PM (5:05 Central). Tomorrow morning?s game will be a regular nine inning game as it was originally scheduled and it will not be effected by tonight?s postponement.

 

The Power will now begin the three game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday morning. Left hander Dave Welch (0-1, 1.38) will start for the Power and the Grasshoppers will counter with right hander Dan Barone (2-0, 0.49). The first pitch is scheduled for 10:35 AM (9:35 Central).

[Cyanogen5]

So what's up with Sarfate? He seemed to find his command for a while, but now he is walking batters at an alarming rate.

[SheetsCyYoung04]

So what's up with Sarfate? He seemed to find his command for a while, but now he is walking batters at an alarming rate.

 

No offense to Dennis, but this is very discouraging. I doubt his future with this organization is as a starter. He is probably fourth on the AAA depth chart right now. If he cannot throw strikes, I cannot imagine he last in the pen. He is out of options after this season. His future with the Brewers is probably cloudy at best.

[Mass Haas]

Final: St. Lucie (Mets) 4, Brevard County 3, ten innings

Ninth innings have been a bit disastrous within the A-ball level, high and low, as of late...

 

Brevard County Box Score:

How sweet is the Yovani Gallardo - Josh Wahpepah back-to-back combo? Ryan Braun's power bat is heating up, but a costly error in a crazy 9th inning...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

Another game log that deserves your full review, particularly in the late innings; horrible top of the 9th for the Manatees, then a tying rally but a wasted opportunity for the win in the bottom of the inning; Robert Hinton watched ground balls find holes in the 10th...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 9, Mobile (Padres) 5

A seven-run 8th inning and five innings of one-run work from the pen add up to a big come-from-behind win for the Stars -- details shortly...

 

Huntsville Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Obviously, the Huntsville 8th worth checking out...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 9, Oklahoma (Rangers) 4

Frankie-Ball is running wild; Sounds site details shortly...

 

Nashville Box Score:

Nelson Cruz goes "boom" for the 6th time and reaches base four times; 75 pitches (five walks) in three innings for Dennis Sarfate; three relievers, six innings, no walks the rest of the way...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

Yes, we've been pushing the game log reviews lately, but this one really givs you a sense of the havoc Frank Kremblas is authorizing on the basepaths, usually (but not always) with positive results...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1919

 

Sounds Come Back To Knock Off RedHawks, 9-4

 

OKLAHOMA CITY ? Nelson Cruz belted his team-leading sixth homer and drove in three runs to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 9-4, come-from-behind victory over the host Oklahoma RedHawks on Tuesday evening at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.

 

With the win, Nashville (12-7) recorded a 2-1 series victory and improved to 6-1 on the year against Oklahoma. The first-place Sounds -- who have won 11 of their last 14 games -- stole four bases and ripped four of their eight hits for extra bases.

 

Sounds catcher Mike Rivera broke a 2-2 tie and extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a two-run single to highlight a four-run sixth inning.

 

Outfielder Tony Gwynn upped his team-best hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the top of the ninth inning, finishing 1-for-5 on the night.

 

Oklahoma designated hitter Erubiel Durazo gave the home team a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with a leadoff home run to right off Sounds starter Dennis Sarfate. The blast was his second roundtripper of the year.

 

The RedHawks doubled the advantage in the third when Sarfate issued four consecutive two-out walks to force home Jason Botts with the game?s second run.

 

Sarfate ? who took a no-decision ? suffered through an erratic three-inning outing, his shortest start of the young season. The right-hander threw 75 pitches but only 34 for strikes, and issued five walks while allowing two runs on two hits. Through four starts (16.1 IP), Sarfate has totaled 16 walks and only 12 strikeouts.

 

Nashville jumped on the board in the top of the fourth when Corey Hart (2-for-5) ripped a one-out double to right off Oklahoma starter John Hudgins and scored when Nelson Cruz followed with an RBI single, making the score 2-1.

 

The Sounds tied the contest at 2-2 in the fifth on Enrique Cruz?s two-out RBI double off RedHawks reliever Kevin Walker, which scored Brad Nelson. Cruz has hit safely in eight of his last nine games.

 

The visitors? offense kept rolling and plated four runs in the top of the sixth to grab a 6-2 lead. Rivera gave the Sounds a 4-2 lead with a two-run single off Kelvin Jimenez. Jermaine Clark and Nelson Cruz, who had drawn walks from Walker then each stole a base, scored on the knock. Brent Abernathy followed with an RBI double to right to bring in Rivera then scored the frame?s final run on a Jimenez wild pitch.

 

AUDIO: Rivera Go-Ahead Two-Run Single --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-25.wma

 

Oklahoma cut the lead in half with one swing of the bat in the bottom half of the inning when Rashad Eldridge slugged a two-run homer to right off reliever Wilton Chavez. The longball, which plated Jamie Burke, was his second of the season.

 

The Sounds tacked on three insurance runs with a two-out rally in the top of the ninth against rehabbing Texas Rangers hurler Brian Shouse. After Clark reached on a fielder?s choice that erased Gwynn, the second baseman swiped his team-leading eighth bag of the year then scored on a Hart RBI single. Nelson Cruz followed with a two-run shot to left to cap off the evening?s scoring and up the Nashville lead to its final 9-4.

 

Chavez (2-1) picked up the victory after striking out six batters while allowing two runs in his 3 2/3 innings of work. Walker (0-2) took his second loss of the series after getting touched for two runs in his two-thirds of an inning.

 

After joining the entire Pacific Coast League with an off day tomorrow, the Sounds continue their road trip on Thursday in New Orleans, where they?ll take on the Zephyrs in the clubs? first of four series this season. Nashville won the 2005 season series by an 11-5 margin but the teams split their eight meetings at Zephyr Field.

 

Left-hander Justin Thompson (0-0, 5.79) will start the 7:00 p.m. CT series opener for the Sounds on Thursday night. New Orleans will send right-hander Kyle Denney (0-1, 3.18) to the hill.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=799

 

EIGHTH INNING EXPLOSION LIFTS STARS TO VICTORY

 

Callix Crabbe?s two-run single topped off a seven-run eighth inning rally that carried Huntsville past Mobile 9-5 Tuesday night at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars came from behind for a fourth straight day to win a fourth consecutive game to improve to 12-8 on the season, while the BayBears slumped to 7-13. The Stars matched their longest winning streak of the year and established a season-best home win string by claiming the last four games of the five-game set.

 

Crabbe and Ozzie Chavez opened the decisive frame with singles off of Geoff Jones, who was then replaced on the hill by Leo Rosales, making his second appearance of the series. He walked Steve Moss to load the bases and walked Greg Sain to force in Crabbe to trim the visitors lead to 4-3 and was then lifted in favor of Dale Thayer, who led the Southern League in saves last season. Ron Acuna lined his first pitch into right field for a base hit to score Chavez with the tying run and Moss scored the go-ahead run when Steve Baker?s throw back to the infield got past the catcher George Kottaras, which also allowed the other runners to advance a base. Mobile walked Adam Heether to reload the bases before Lou Palmisano doubled down the left field line against a drawn-in infield to score two to push the home team?s advantage to 7-4. Crabbe?s two-run single with the bases loaded closed the Stars biggest scoring inning of the year, one day after they had posted six runs in the fifth inning of an 8-4 win.

 

Moss extended his hitting streak to seven games, the longest of any Huntsville hitter this season. Every starter picked up a hit save for Sain and every starter scored except for Drew Anderson, who had scored in seven of the last nine games.

 

Alec Zumwalt picked up the win with two innings of relief work during which he allowed a solo home run by George Kottaras, who left the yard twice and drove in all five Mobile runs. He hit a three-run home run in the first inning and finished the series with hits in all five games, three long balls and six driven in. Kottaras has hit four of his six double-A home runs at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

Khalid Ballouli started for the Stars and gave up Kottaras?s first home run in the first inning, marking the ninth time in his 12 starts he had been scored on in the first inning. He left after four frames and was followed by Russ Rohlicek, who tossed two scoreless innings, and Matt Yeatman, who worked a scoreless seventh.

 

The Stars are off on Wednesday and open a five-game series Thursday night against the Tennessee Smokies, who will send Huntsville native Adam Bass to the mound against Stars right-hander Carlos Villanueva. 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.

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County Site Game Notes:

 

Mets top Manatees in extra

 

Alhaji Turay knocked in the go-ahead run with a single to right in the 10th inning as visiting St. Lucie beat Brevard County, 4-3, on Tuesday.

 

With two outs in the 10th, Shawn Bowman and Joshua Peterson hit consecutive singles off Robert Hinton (2-1) setting up Turay's RBI. Hinton blew a 2-1 lead earlier in the ninth for the Manatees (13-6).

 

Turay was hit by a pitch by Hinton in the ninth, and Mike Carp reached on an error by third baseman Ryan Braun and both runners moved over on a wild pitch. Yasmil Bruce then hit a grounder to shortstop Steven Sollman, who threw home but catcher Nestor Corredor couldn't hold on to the ball, allowing two runs to score and putting St. Lucie (12-6) up 3-2.

 

Carlos Corporan hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extras.

 

Carlos Muniz (2-0) picked up the win for the Mets. Edgar Alfonzo earned his third save by holding the Manatees scoreless in the ninth.

 

St. Lucie starter Blake Eager allowed two runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. Josh Wahpepah allowed one run on six hits over six innings for Brevard County. He walked two and struck out six. Bo Hall pitched two perfect innings of relief for the Manatees before Hinton entered in the ninth.

 

Hasan Rasheed went 3-for-4 for the Manatees. St. Lucie's Shawn Bowman was 3-for-5.

 

Brevard County visits Verona for three games beginning at 7:00 PM (6:00 Central) on Wednesday. -- Max Lance / MLB.com

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's

 

www.starsboxscore.com/

 

HOUSMAN PUT ON DL

The Stars have placed LHP Jeff Housman on the disabled list with a strained pitching shoulder. No word on a replacement, but in a little more than a week, the roster must be trimmed by one and the Stars may deal with that situation a little earlier than they wanted.

 

Well, another beautiful night for a ballgame........ 81° at gametime with a few more clouds in advance of what looks to be some rain for tomorrow, but the Stars will be off anyway, and there's simply nothing like the sounds of baseball at Joe Davis Stadium -- gloves popping, cell phones ringing, crickets chirping....... 819 the paid attendance tonight, though you could count way fewer than that in the stands. 30 minutes before gametime, I'd say there were a dozen in the seats, not counting ushers......... Perhaps the Friday crowd will be much, much larger. Right now, school is still in session. The Little Leaguers will come once school is over, and perhaps we won't see these embarrassing displays of support here........ What can you do? It's Hicksville.

 

For the 4th straight night, the Mobile Bay Bears were first to score, but in the end, the Stars won their 4th straight game and have won nine of their last 12 to give them a 12-8 record. Two more wins will give them the best start since 1999........

 

The Stars did, though, set a record tonight. After 20 games, they have made just eight errors in the field, fewest on record at this stage of the season. In fact, they destroyed it, breaking the record of 16 set only last season. Despite the fact that Ozzie Chavez and Callix Crabbe have made most of them, and you expect that to happen from middle infielders, their defense and plate work have been exceptional. A marked improvement over last year and two years ago in Ozzie's case and the two have been the best clutch hitters on the club........ Callix is hitting .258 and Ozzie .286 so far this season.......

 

Still waiting to see Adam Heether, Drew Anderson, and Greg Sain get hot....... Although Sain's HRs and RBI's have come in clutch situtations, Sain is hitting only .200....... Lou Palmisano? Perhaps tonight's three-run double was the spark that will set him on fire.

 

The Stars were trailing 4-2 going into the bottom of the 8th. In the three previous five-game series, the Stars could come away with no more than three wins, while division-leading Chattanooga and West Tenn were hot, and it looked like it would be another 3-2 series win, but the top of the order was coming up.

 

Callix got it going........ On a 2-0 count from reliever Geoff Jones, Crabbe hit a slow grounder up the middle. Both Luis Cruz at second and Juan Ciriaco at short were able to get their glove on it just in front of the bag at second, but neither one could come up with a clean play. Ciriaco finally conceded the hit......... Chavez then lined a hit to center and Crabbe moved to third......... Mobile manager Gary Jones made his move and brought Leo Rosales from the bullpen. Rosales walked Steve Moss on six pitches to load the bases for Sain, who was fresh off a grand-slam HR in Monday's game. Another would give him three for the month, something no Huntsville Star had ever done, and would have writers scrambling for the phones to the Southern League office for an answer league-wide........ Sain took three balls high, then swung at a fourth and belted it deep --- but foul toward the ever-lonely cheap seats way out in left field. Fifth pitch was ball four to score Crabbe. That was all for Rosales, and now in comes Dale Thayer, who led the SL in saves last year.......

 

Ron Acuna touched his first pitch for a sharp ground-hugger to right for a single that would at least score two, but Steve Baker's throw to the infield was wild, and got past certain All-Star catcher George Kottaras, and scored Chavez and Moss, who would have likely scored, but Sain held up at third........ Acuna took second on the error, and although he might have made it there on a decent throw home, he puts the Stars ahead, 5-4........ Adam Heether was walked intentionally to fill the bases....... Keep in mind now, there's still nobody out six batters deep into the inning........ Now it's Sweet Lou........ Palmisano sees three straight balls from Thayer, then takes two strikes....... The infield is in. Next pitch is inside, but Palmisano gets around and lines a ball straight down the left field line. No one is near the third base bag and the ball goes all the way to the corner. The bases are cleared easily and it's now 8-4........

 

Drew Anderson is now intentionally walked........ Eight batters come up and eight batters reach safely. That streak ends with Alec Zumwalt, at the plate for the first time this season. He strikes out, though it takes six pitches. 36 pitches have now been thrown by three Mobile pitchers and back to the top of the order we go...... Crabbe gets behind 0-and-2, but lines a 2-2 pitch to right field, scoring Palmisano. Baker makes amends somewhat and makes a strong throw to Brett Bonvechio, who runs down Anderson and tags him. Crabbe makes 2nd on the throw........ Chavez walks on seven pitches and Moss ends the seven-run inning, largest this season for the second game in a row, and hits into a force at third......... Unbelievably, all the runs are earned. Even more remarkable is this is the last we'll see at the Joe of Mobile this year. Same will go when Tennessee leaves after this next series, starting Thursday.

 

A rough outing for Khalid Ballouli, who has given up, much as he did last year, a run in the 1st inning for the second time in four starts. Last year, he did that in eight of his nine starts. He threw 81 pitches in his four innings of work, 48 for strikes (59.2%)........ Talk about Crabbe's defense earlier, he made a diving stop of a hard ground ball hit by pitcher Sean Thompson in the 2nd inning, throwing from his knees, his momentum causing him to fall spread eagle on the dirt. And still his throw, while not in time, was on target.

 

The Stars wait now for the Tennessee Smokies to come in Thursday....... Carlos Villanueva (2-2, 3.92) will face former University of Alabama-Huntsville Charger and Huntsville native Adam Bass......... Bass is the UAH record-holder in wins and strikeouts and is in his 2nd season with the Smokies, sporting a 2-1 record and 3.43 ERA. I'm expecting a pretty decent crowd for this one, even for a Thursday, which also happens to be a Thirsty Thursday for all you sots...... Bass finished his career at UAH with a 29-7 mark.

 

That's all. Time for some sleep.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Stars come to life ... finally ... to pull out victory

Huntsville scores seven runs in 8th inning to beat BayBears

By PAUL GATTIS

Huntsville Times Sports Staff, pgattis@htimes.com

 

You should've been at Joe Davis Stadium on Tuesday night and seen the doubleheader.

 

And all in one game.

 

In the first game, the Huntsville Stars had three hits through six innings and seemingly had a termite-infested bat rack.

 

In the second game, the Stars couldn't do anything wrong in scoring seven runs in the eighth inning and Mobile couldn't do anything right.

 

It all added up to a 9-5 victory for the Stars - extending the Stars' winning streak to four games - before an announced gathering of 819.

 

It was, indeed, a goofy game.

 

Mobile catcher George Kottaras, rated the No. 2 prospect in the San Diego Padres minor league system, hit two homers and drove in all five runs for the BayBears. Starting pitcher Sean Thompson lugged a 6.43 ERA into the game but surrendered just three hits through six innings and allowed a baserunner past first base only twice.

 

But the Stars cut their 4-0 deficit in half with two runs in the seventh, then took advantage of five BayBears walks in the eighth to score seven runs for their biggest inning of the season.

 

Huntsville leadoff hitter Callix Crabbe had two hits in the decisive eighth inning, scoring one of the seven runs and knocking in two others.

 

And the Stars, at 12-8, are now tied for second with West Tenn and one game behind Chattanooga in the Southern League North Division.

 

It seemed such an unlikely outcome for a game that began so miserably for the Stars. Mobile's first two hitters singled and scored when Kottaras blasted a three-run homer to right-center off starter Khalid Ballouli for a 3-0 lead.

 

The BayBears added another run in the second when Thompson reached on an infield single and scored on a Kottaras fielder's choice.

 

Ballouli settled down, though, and held Mobile scoreless for the next two innings. And the bullpen trio of Russ Rohlicek, Matt Yeatman and Alec Zumwalt allowed two hits and one run in five innings.

 

That run was also harmless enough, with Kottaras going deep off Zumwalt to lead off the ninth.

 

The Stars' bats awoke in the seventh for two runs when Steve Moss and Ron Acuna singled. Moss scored on an error by Mobile second baseman Luis Cruz and Acuna came around on a Lou Palmisano single.

 

The Stars sent 12 batters to the plate in the eighth, scoring the seven runs.

 

Palmisano had a three-run double and Crabbe a two-run single in the highlights of the rally.

 

Zumwalt (1-0) got the win while reliever Leonel Rosales (0-2) got the loss as Mobile's bullpen allowed six hits and seven runs in 1 2/3 innings.

[clancyphile]

Krynzel wasn't doing too bad before he got hurt. when he gets back, it could be interesting...