Link Report for 4/18: One Ugly Day for Entire Organization

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Injury update: Nashville outfielder Dave Krynzel will likely miss the next couple of days after colliding with the wall in right-centerfield during Monday's win against Oklahoma.

 

However, X-rays were negative on Krynzel's collarbone, which he broke in an off-field accident during the offseason.

 

-- the Tennessean

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

 

Royals end Sounds' win streak at 4

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

After losing three of four games at Omaha to open the season, the Nashville Sounds looked poised to reverse their fortunes when the Royals arrived yesterday at Greer Stadium for the opener of a four-game series.

 

No such luck.

 

Omaha, which leads the Pacific Coast League American Northern Division, extended its cushion to two games over the Sounds with a 6-2 victory.

 

For Nashville, the loss stopped a four-game winning streak as the Sounds opened the home portion of their schedule by sweeping Oklahoma.

 

"I don't think we played badly," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said.

 

"Our approach at the plate, against (Omaha starter) J.P. Howell wasn't good enough. Without guys in scoring position, our approach was pretty good. But we'd get guys in scoring position and we'd start swinging at balls in the dirt, early in the count."

 

Nashville, which had 56 hits against Oklahoma and 38 extra-base hits through its first 12 games, managed just seven singles against Howell (3-0) and relievers Frank Brooks and Adam Bernero.

 

"He's good," Sounds first baseman Brad Nelson ? who had two of the seven hits ? said of Howell. "But we've seen him before. We know what he has. He just executes, all the time."

 

The Royals staked Howell to a second-inning lead with a Justin Huber solo home run off Nashville spot starter Brett Evert, and Aaron Guiel added a fourth-inning leadoff homer in an eventual three-run rally.

 

That would be enough to doom the Sounds, as Nashville scored a run in the fourth and another in the fifth but left three runners in scoring position in both innings. The Sounds couldn't push a second run across following a bases-loaded, two-out situation in the fourth.

 

"It's awesome to get two-out RBI, but that was a tough situation," Nelson said.

 

Guiel hit his second homer of the night off Mitch Stetter , a two-out, two-run shot in the ninth .

 

"Those guys did a good job," Kremblas said of Evert ? pressed into duty as Zach Jackson was scratched ? Jason Kershner and Stetter. "We made mistake pitches and (Omaha) took care of them."

 

What they said: "Today's over; we've got tomorrow. We did some things right. We were asking a lot from our relievers, and they did a pretty good job." ? Nelson.

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Jeff Eure Photo from the Montgomery Press Coverage:

 

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J.C. Boscan Photo from the Montgomery Press Coverage:

 

www.montgomeryadvertiser....s=Itemnr=5

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Roasted umps: The Huntsville Stars pointed at two plays that could have changed the outcome of the Biscuits' 6-1 win Tuesday.

 

One was an apparent blown call by an umpire.

 

A foul call on an apparent home run by Huntsville's Greg Sain had the Stars and Biscuits talking about the replacement umpires.

 

The regular minor-league umpires are on strike. While they're out, teams are using local amateur-level umpires.

 

"We know they're not professional guys and we tell our guys to try to remember that," Huntsville manager Don Money said. "We just have to play the game like it is."

 

Minor League Baseball has ordered its teams to not identify the replacement umpires. The regular umpires didn't work spring training games and have been on strike since the start of the season.

 

"I never thought I would say this, but I can't wait until we get the (regular) umpires back," Biscuits left fielder Michael Coleman said. "We still have to play ball."

 

Coleman said he hit a ball at Jacksonville that hit the foul pole and was called foul. Money described the umpires that worked Huntsville's season-opening series at Mississippi as "rough."

 

The Stars even had a play at home last week where second baseman Callix Crabbe wanted to dispute a safe call on a force play. Crabbe instead motioned for Money to come argue.

 

"I went out and the umpire told me that (Crabbe's) right foot wasn't on the bag," Money said. "I said, 'Well, that's because we teach them to take that throw with their left foot on it.'"

 

On Tuesday, Money demonstratively argued the foul call on Sain's ball. Sain struck out on the next pitch.

 

"Definitely fair," said Sain, who homered in the first two games of the series.

 

"The minor-league umpires are in the minor leagues because they're not good enough to be in the big leagues yet, just like the players," Sain said. "(The replacements) are trying, but they're not at this level.

 

"The calls they are making are making things difficult for both the position players and pitchers."

 

Had it been a home run, Huntsville would have trailed only 4-3. The argument was the first noticeable spat involving the replacement umpires at Riverwalk Stadium.

 

"It was fair. He missed it," Money said. "He told me it went to the left of the pole. I said, 'You're wrong, you're flat out wrong, you missed it.'"

 

Other play: The Stars had another play that gave Montgomery three runs in the second inning.

 

Biscuits outfielder Jason Pridie hit a fly ball to left with two outs and the bases loaded. Stars left fielder Drew Anderson took a few steps in and then had to leap to try for the catch.

 

The ball clipped off Anderson's glove and three runs scored on the error.

 

"It's amazing how one play here or there can change an entire game," Sain said. "If Anderson catches that ball and they make the right call on my hit, we're up 3-1. Two plays like that and the game is completely different."

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"Drew Anderson took a few steps in and then had to leap to try for the catch.

 

The ball clipped off Anderson's glove and three runs scored on the error."

 

I was at the game yesterday. Drew had a rough day. The 3 run error and he left bases loaded twice and 2 on another time.