Link Report for Games of Saturday, April 15th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Dennis Sarfate at home vs. Oklahoma (Rangers), 5:40 PM pre-game, 6:00 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_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville: RHP Khalid Ballouli at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 1:50 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Mike Jones at home vs. Vero Beach (Dodgers), 6:00 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

 

West Virginia: RHP Robbie Wooley at home vs. Lexington (Astros), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link:

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

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday'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_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 Friday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Omaha 6 3 .667 - 5-3 1-0 W2 Iowa 5 4 .556 1.0 5-3 0-1 L1 [b]Nashville 4 5 .444 2.0 1-0 3-5 W1[/b] Memphis 0 9 .000 6.0 0-1 0-8 L9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Tenn 7 2 .778 - 0-0 7-2 W2 Chattanooga 6 3 .667 1.0 3-1 3-2 L1 Carolina 4 5 .444 3.0 0-0 4-5 W1 [b]Huntsville 4 5 .444 3.0 1-3 3-2 W1[/b] Tennessee 2 7 .222 5.0 1-3 1-4 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Brevard County 8 1 .889 - 4-1 4-0 W3[/b] St. Lucie 7 2 .778 1.0 4-1 3-1 W2 Palm Beach 6 3 .667 2.0 1-1 5-2 W2 Jupiter 4 5 .444 4.0 3-4 1-1 L2 Daytona 1 8 .111 7.0 0-6 1-2 L2 Vero Beach 1 8 .111 7.0 1-1 0-7 L5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 7 2 .778 - 2-1 5-1 W4 Lexington 7 2 .778 - 6-2 1-0 W1 Greensboro 6 3 .667 1.0 5-3 1-0 W1 Lake County 6 3 .667 1.0 2-0 4-3 W2 [b]West Virginia 4 5 .444 3.0 1-4 3-1 L1[/b] Hagerstown 3 6 .333 4.0 3-0 0-6 L2 Hickory 3 6 .333 4.0 1-4 2-2 L1 Lakewood 0 9 .000 7.0 0-2 0-7 L9

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 6, Birmingham (White Sox) 2

Let's not write off Huntsville's season yet, kids; Stars at 5-5...

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Nice work by the bullpen; Stars 2-0 with our fearless webmaster in attendance -- look for his report later on...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Brian the Automator]

Had a great time under the hot hot Hunstville sun.

 

Ballouli - I have to think it might be best to move him to relief. He had better stuff in the 1st inning than he did throughout the rest of the game. Popped the glove at 94 mph during his warmups, but was throwing 91 mph fastballs for the most part. His breaking ball looked good at times, but he was getting hit pretty hard.

 

Acuna - Not as slick of a RFer as Bibbs, but he has a cannon, and nailed a Baron at 2B.

 

Unfortunately, not too much else to report on the game. No real memorable moments, but it was nice to see a team that has less talent than it did in the past play sound fundamental baseball and win the game.

 

Had a nice lengthy chat with Huntsvillefan from about the 5th to the end of the game. Very nice to finally meet you, and had a very good time chatting it up... was also able to see hvstarsfan after the game and chat briefly.

 

Another great day in Huntsville for me, where i'm 3-0 lifetime. I'm more than likely sunburned, but it was definately worth it.

[M Skjellyfetti]

Good to see Mike Jones pitched decently for Brevard County today. Good 5-1 Gb-Fb ratio, and nothing he could do about those errors. Hope to see him back on track in the future.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=785

 

'Pen Pitches Stars Past Barons

 

Gerrit Simpson, Andy Pratt and Matt Yeatman tossed four scoreless innings in relief to pitch Huntsville past Birmingham 6-2 Saturday afternoon at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars took the last two games of the five-game set to square their season record at 5-5, while the Barons dipped to 4-6 and head home to being a series with Tennessee.

 

Simpson took over for starter Khalid Ballouli to open the sixth inning and retired all seven hitters he faced, striking out three. Pratt, the lone left-hander in the bullpen, then retired left-handed hitting Ricardo Nanita on a ground ball for the second out of the eighth inning. Yeatman took over and allowed a Mark Quinn single before striking out Micah Schnurstein to end the frame. He gave up a leadoff single to Mike Myers in the ninth before Josh Hansen flied out to right field and Ron Acuna threw out Myers trying to tag and advance to second base. Myers beat the throw but slid past the bag and was tagged out by shortstop Ozzie Chavez. The final out of the game came when Chris Amador grounded out. Yeatman recorded his first save of the season, since he entered the game with Stars leading 4-2.

 

Chavez singled home Jeff Eure in the bottom of the third to tie the game at one and the home side took the lead one batter later when Callix Crabbe delivered a sacrifice fly to plate J.C. Boscan, who had doubled. Birmingham tied the game in the fifth inning when Robert Valido doubled home Amador, who had singled. Valido finished the series with a home run and five runs batted in.

 

Huntsville regained the lead for good in the home fifth on a sacrifice fly by Boscan that chased home Drew Anderson, who opened the inning with a walk. The Stars did not have a sacrifice fly in their first nine games. Greg Sain hit an opposite field home run to right in the sixth inning to push the lead to 4-2. Adam Heether, who knocked in the game winning run on Friday, singled home a run and Anderson grounded out to drive in a run in the eighth to complete the scoring.

 

Ballouli earned the win with five innings of work during which he allowed two runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out five and avoided allowing runs in the first inning for the first time in nine starts, dating back to April 22 of last season.

 

The Stars will send right-hander Carlos Villanueva to the mound to open a five-game series on Sunday afternoon in Montgomery against Biscuits? right-hander Andrew Sonnanstine. Coverage of the game begins at 1:50 p.m. central time and can be heard on ESPN Radio 1450 AM locally and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 9, Vero Beach (Dodgers) 4

Ezi does it...

 

Brevard County Box Score:

RHP Luis Pena had become a bit of an afterthough after his brief 40-man roster gig and injury woes in 2005; lefty Jeremy Lewis strikes out the side in the 9th; Steve Sollman now 13-for-27 -- three of the 13 hits are of the extra-base variety, including tonight's home run; Travis Ezi 4-for-5 with a triple; yes, that's the Pat Borders...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

Borders GIDP in the 2nd helped Mike Jones out of a jam; no need for a double switch at the low-A level, so odd that catcher Carlos Corporan replaced Nestor Corredor midway through the 5th...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lexington (Astros) 9, West Virginia 4

Power still need to play better at home...

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

Holmberg goes 3 for 4 in loss to Lexington

 

Kenny Holmberg recorded three of West Virginia?s twelve hits on Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park, but it was not enough to beat the Lexington Legends, who went on to win 9-4.

 

The Power took their only lead of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Mat Gamel singled into left field. The ball was bobbled by left fielder Ryan Reed, allowing Ryan Crew to score on the play.

 

Lexington answered quickly, plating three runs in the top of the second inning. Mitch Einertson tied the game with an RBI double, and the Legends took the lead when Eric Cavers singled into left field, scoring both Einertson and Koby Clemens.

 

The Power came within a run in the bottom of the second inning on Brad Willcutt?s RBI groundout, but Lexington pulled away in the top of the third inning when Clemens hit a three-run homer, his first of the year, to give Lexington a 6-2 advantage. Holmberg drove in a run with a single in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Ned Yost hit a solo shot, his first of the year, in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 6-4 ballgame.

 

The Legends scored in the seventh inning on an RBI single from Eli Iorg, and then added two more runs in the top of the ninth. Eli Iorg brought in the first run on a sacrifice fly, and Ole Sheldon knocked in the second run with an RBI single.

 

Raymar Diaz (1-0) earned the victory and Robbie Wooley (0-1) obtained the loss. The Power are 4-6 after the loss and the Legends improved to 8-2 with the win.

 

The Power will finish the series with the Legends at Appalachian Power Park on Sunday afternoon. Right hander Kevin Roberts (1-1, 5.00) will start for the Power and Lexington will counter with right hander Tip Fairchild (1-1, 3.86). The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM (1:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

2003 6th rounder Robbie Wooley has shown flashes, but we're still waiting for a nice consistent top-notch string of outings; I believe hulking 6'10" newcomer Steve Palazzolo has been scored upon in each of his four outings thus far with single run...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Pitcher Dana Eveland:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-15.wma

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 11, Oklahoma (Rangers) 5

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1903

 

Sounds Win Big Again Over RedHawks, 11-6

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? The Nashville Sounds offense continued to roll on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium as the home team pounded out 18 hits in an 11-6 victory over the Oklahoma RedHawks.

 

Every member of the Nashville lineup recorded a hit and all but two posted a multiple-hit effort. Leading the way was centerfielder Tony Gwynn, who missed the cycle by a triple during a 3-for-4 evening that included three RBIs, three runs scored, and his first career Triple-A home run.

 

The offensive onslaught continued a recent trend for the surging Nashville bats, which hammered out a season-best 19 hits on Friday in the club?s home opener against the RedHawks. In the last four games, the Sounds are batting a healthy .380 (57-for-150).

 

With the win, Nashville (5-5) squared its record at .500 for the first time this season.

 

The offenses were active in the early going. Oklahoma jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Sounds starter Dennis Sarfate. A two-run double by Erubiel Durazo highlighted the flurry.

 

Dave Krynzel slugged his first home run of the season in the bottom of the inning, a two-run shot to left off Oklahoma starter R.A. Dickey that pulled the Sounds within 3-2.

 

Nashville knotted the score in the second on Gwynn?s two-out RBI double and took a 4-3 lead an inning later when Krynzel singled, stole second, and later scored on a throwing error by RedHawks first baseman Jason Botts.

 

Gwynn?s solid night continued in the fourth when he belted his first career Triple-A homer, a two-out shot to right off Dickey to push the Nashville lead to 6-3. The Sounds had plated a run earlier in the frame when Brad Nelson scored on an Enrique Cruz double play grounder.

 

AUDIO: Tony Gwynn's 1st Triple-A HR --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-15.wma

 

Oklahoma pulled back within a run at 6-5 with a two-run rally in the top of the fifth. Former Sound Adam Hyzdu, who had a sacrifice fly in the second, drove an RBI single to right to score Durazo, who had singled and moved to second on a Jamie Burke walk. Nashville rightfielder Nelson Cruz?s throw to the infield was off-target, allowing Burke to come home with an unearned run.

 

The Sounds pulled away for good in the sixth when they sent 10 men to the plate and put up a five-spot against RedHawks reliever John Hudgins. Gwynn opened the scoring with an RBI single before Vinny Rottino stroked a two-out, two run double, Nelson Cruz ripped a run-scoring single, and Mike Rivera finished out the frame with an RBI two-bagger.

 

Burke closed out the evening?s scoring with a solo homer, his second longball of the year, off Mike Adams in the top of the ninth inning.

 

Reliever Jason Kershner (2-0) picked up the victory with 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of Sarfate, who allowed five runs (four ER) in 4 1/3 frames and did not qualify for a decision. Dickey (1-1) took the loss after surrendering six runs on 11 hits in his five innings of work. The Nashville native dropped to 3-10 all-time against the Sounds.

 

The Sounds and RedHawks continue their series with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium. Left-hander Justin Thompson (0-0, 27.00) takes the hill to make his second start of the year for Nashville. He?ll face Oklahoma right-hander Robinson Tejeda (0-1, 9.00).

 

Nashville Box Score:

All nine batters reached base at least twice -- how often do you see that? Mike Rivera rakes from the DH spot and the # 5 hole -- guess that's why Chad Moeller's approach at the plate is better in the early going in Milwaukee...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

Dennis Sarfate's night could have been worse -- he loaded the base on two walks and a HBP in the 2nd, but no runs scored...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Vero Beach Site Game Summary:

 

(Viera, FL) - Brevard County scored in all but two innings to defeat the Vero Beach Dodgers 9-4 Satuday night at Space Coast Stadium. The Manatees improved their league-best record to 9-1, while the Dodgers dropped their sixth straight and fell to 1-9.

 

Zach Hammes started in place of Chris Malone for the Dodgers and ran into trouble in the first inning. A walk and a single to the first two batters set up the Manatees first two runs. Josh Murray then homered to start the second and make it 3-0 Brevard County.

 

The Dodgers took advantage of two errors in the third. Ryan Russ delivered a single to score the beneficiaries Jimmy Rohan and David Nicholson to pull Vero Beach within a run. The Dodgers gave one of those runs back in the fourth, but tied the score in an eventful 5th.

 

Reliever Bo Hall notched two quick outs before Blake DeWitt drilled a double into the right-center gap. Cole Bruce followed with a single to plate DeWitt. Ryan Carter singled Bruce to third and Pat Borders rapped a base hit to center to score Bruce and tie the game at four.

 

In the bottom of the 5th, Brevard County went right back on top. Travis Ezi, who finished 4-5, led off with triple against Wesley Wright. Cleanup hitter Brendan Katin singled him home to make it 5-4. The Manatees would add another run in the 7th and three more in the 8th to seal it.

 

DeWitt, Bruce and David Nicholson each recorded two hits in the loss. Adam Thomas dealt a scoreless relief inning.

[Team Canada]

Zach Hammes started in place of Chris Malone

 

His nickname's gotta be Zackhammer, doesn't it?

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

Link, then text --

 

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

 

Manatees Sweep Vero Beach and Remain On Top

Brevard County holds best record in Minor League Baseball

By Jenny Rennie / Brevard County Manatees

 

On a night when the skies above Space Coast Stadium was lit up with Fireworks, the Brevard County Manatees won their fourth game in a row and grasped the honor of the holding the best record in Minor League Baseball. The Manatees have started the season with nine wins and only one loss. Close to 3,000 fans watched the home team's bats knock down the visiting Vero Beach Dodgers 9-4 before viewing a post-game show in the sky.

 

Brevard County started off hot by scoring two runs in the first inning with Josh Murray adding a solo shot homer in the second. Steve Sollmann, who leads the league with a .481 batting average, connected three out of four times on the night including a solo home run. Travis Ezi dominated the Dodgers pitching staff going 4-5 with two runs scored. Five Manatees pitchers aided in the win by striking out 14 Vero batters while David Johnson picked up his third win of the season. Manatees starter Mike Jones tossed two innings of two-hit ball and no earned runs.

 

Brevard County hits the road to extend their winning streak as they visit Palm Beach and Jupiter and then return home on April 23rd for a three-game set with St. Lucie.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Sounds see hits abound

Pound out 18 more for 37 in two games

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

The Nashville Sounds didn't score first last night, but they scored often in an 11-6 win over visiting Oklahoma.

 

Nashville, which posted the Pacific Coast League's best early-scoring percentage by drawing first blood in eight of its first nine games, rallied from a three-run first inning deficit in decisive fashion ? scoring in each of its first four at-bats to win for the second straight night and for the fourth time in its last five games .

 

After getting 19 hits in Friday's 11-1 win, the Sounds pounded out 18 hits last night. Prior to this homestand, Nashville had 60 hits in its first eight road games.

 

"More than likely, a team is going to start slow offensively," said Sounds centerfielder Tony Gwynn, who finished the night a triple short of the team's first cycle since J.R. House accomplished the feat on May 21, 2004. "But you start settling in, start picking out the pitches you want to hit and start locking in."

 

Gwynn, who also walked and scored in the first, is tied for the team lead in RBIs with eight and leads the team with eight runs scored. In addition to his RBI double in the second inning , he had a solo home run ? his first of the season ? in the fourth.

 

Gwynn had an RBI single in the sixth, then reached on an infield error in the seventh.

 

"Before I got in the on-deck circle, I was thinking about the triple," he said. "But once you get in the circle, you focus so much you don't think about it."

 

Seven Nashville hitters had multi-hit games, with Dave Krynzel matching Gwynn's three.

 

"I've never been on a team where hitting wasn't contagious," Gwynn said.

 

"When you've got two or three guys hitting, the other guys start feeding off them and it becomes a real contagious thing."

 

Over their last four games, the Sounds are hitting .380 (57-150).

 

"It's still early," Gwynn said. "It wouldn't surprise me if we stayed hot for about a week, then kinda leveled out to where we want to be. But it wouldn't bother me if we stay this hot the rest of the season."

 

Despite the early offense, Nashville starter Dennis Sarfate wasn't able to take advantage. Sarfate was lifted after 4 1/3 innings, with reliever Jason Kershner pitching 2 2/3 innings to earn his team-leading second win.

 

"It would have been nice to have gotten him through five," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said of Sarfate, who allowed four earned runs on seven hits. "But he ran out of gas in the fifth."

 

Deja Helling: Sarfate didn't arrive in Nashville from Class AA Huntsville last season until after the May 27 broken bat incident that saw Rick Helling's left forearm impaled by a shard of wood, but many Sounds had to have had flashbacks last night.

 

In the second inning, Erubiel Durazo's bat broke as he hit a groundball to the right side. The bat head helicoptered past Sarfate's head as he went over to cover first base, but the pitcher avoided the wood and took the throw from first baseman Brad Nelson to end the inning.

 

Runnin' wild: With three stolen bases in four attempts last night, the Sounds improved to 17-for-22 ? the PCL's second-best mark behind New Orleans' 21. Nashville outfielder Krynzel stole his sixth base of the year, ranking him second in the league as well.

 

Pinch-trainer: David Lake was in the dugout with the Sounds last night in place of trainer Jeff Paxson, who had to leave the team due to a death in his family. Lake is assigned to the Milwaukee Brewers' rookie-league team in Helena, Mont., which does not begin play until June. Paxson is expected to rejoin the Sounds before the end of the current homestand.

 

What they said: "We hit some balls in the gaps, and folks busted their butts out of the (batter's) box like they're supposed to. I think we're doing a better job of pitch selection." ? Kremblas.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.floridatoday.com/apps...061/SPORTS

 

Manatees establish winning foundation

Bulk of team may remain together for whole season

Scott Brown, Florida Today

 

The Cape Fear Crocs of Fayetteville, N.C., opened the 1998 season with 15 consecutive wins.

 

Brevard County Manatees general manager Buck Rogers worked in media relations for the Crocs, a South Atlantic League team, when they put together the streak that included eight road wins.

 

Brevard County only made it a third of the way to matching that feat before losing its sixth game. But Rogers sees similarities between the Manatees and the team that had future major-leaguers such as Milton Bradley, Jorge Julio and Brian Schneider.

 

"These guys expect to win," Rogers said of the Manatees, who took an 8-1 record into Saturday's game against visiting Vero Beach, "and I've never seen that except for the '98 Crocs."

 

The Crocs' blistering start ultimately worked against them to some degree.

 

"The middle of May," Rogers said, "we were gutted."

 

Julio and Schneider, now the Washington Nationals' starting catcher, were promoted before the end of the first half of the season. Bradley was gone shortly after the start of the second half.

 

Rogers doesn't expect the early success of the Manatees to translate into a mass exodus from Brevard County.

 

The team's parent club, Milwaukee, has one of the best farm systems in baseball.

 

The Brewers can afford to err on the side of caution when determining whether a prospect is ready to advance to the next level -- in this case Double-A ball in Huntsville, Ala.

 

Rogers said Brewers officials have told him they want to keep the Manatees together for the most part to build up the confidence of the players and let them experience success.

 

Many of those players still are very young -- highly regarded prospects Alcides Escobar, Hernan Iribarren and Ryan Braun are 19, 21 and 22, respectively. So there is no reason to rush them.

 

Such thinking and the Manatees' early play has Rogers thinking that he might be able to experience postseason play -- the division winners in the first and second half of the season advance to the Florida State League playoffs -- for the first time since 1999.

 

"Our guys walk out there with confidence where they just expect to win," Rogers said.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2006041536

 

Clemens? son hits key homer as Legends down Power 9-4

By Chris Wade

For Sunday Charleston Gazette-Mail

 

The West Virginia Power showed plenty of fight on Breast Cancer Awareness night, but in the end, Lexington?s offense was too much as the Legends earned a 9-4 victory Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park in front of a crowd of 3,165.

 

Koby Clemens, the son of legendary pitcher Roger Clemens, smacked a three-run homer to right-center field in the third inning.

 

The Power (4-6) got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first inning with the help of a Lexington error. With one out, shortstop Ryan Crew and catcher Angel Salome both singled.

 

Power cleanup hitter Mat Gamel also singled to left field. Power manager and third base coach Mike Guerrero held up Crew rounding third base, but Lexington left fielder Ryan Reed bobbled the ball, allowing Crew to score and give the Power the early 1-0 lead.

 

The Legends quickly responded in the second inning by plating three runs of their own. Ole Sheldon and Mitch Einertson led off the inning with doubles to tie the game at 1.

 

Later in the inning with runners on first and second and two out, Lexington catcher Eric Cavers drove in Einertson with a single. On the play, Power right fielder Lorenzo Cain let the ball get past him, allowing another Lexington runner to score.

 

The Power cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI groundout by designated hitter Brad Willcutt, but it didn?t take Lexington long to respond as the Legends plated three more runs in the top of the third.

 

With one out in the third, Eli Iorg singled, Einertson walked with two outs, and then Lexington third baseman Clemens delivered his three-run homer.

 

?It?s always nice to get runs early. We hit the ball well tonight,? said Lexington manager Jack Lind. ?That was a big home run Koby hit and was huge for us.?

 

The Power wouldn?t go away quietly, though, plating solo runs in the fifth and sixth innings to cut the Lexington lead to 6-4.

 

In the fifth inning, Salome reached base for the third consecutive at-bat on the night, drawing a walk and promptly stealing second base. Gamel grounded out to shortstop, allowing Salome to reach third, and then Power second baseman Kenny Holmberg also grounded out, driving in a run.

 

In the sixth inning, Power first baseman Ned Yost led off the inning with his first home run of the season, a solo shot, to cut the deficit to 6-4.

 

Lexington, however, plated a run in the seventh inning and two more in the ninth to round out the scoring and improve to 8-2 on the season.

 

?All I can ask for is for the guys to keep fighting and battling hard, and we did that tonight,? Guerrero said.

 

?We cut it to 6-4 and had our chances but [Lexington] got better rallies than we did and those three runs they scored late really hurt and put the game away.?

 

For the Legends, Sheldon collected three hits while Cavers, Iorg, and Josh Flores each had two hits as Lexington pounded out 12 hits.

 

The Power also collected 12 hits as Holmberg and Yost led the way with three hits each and Salome added two hits.

 

West Virginia Power?s Michael Brantley was caught in a rundown by Lexington?s Tommy Manzella (with ball) and Ole Sheldon (23), but Brantley made it safely back to first base when the Legends mishandled the play. The Power was wearing pink uniform tops in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Day.

Charleston Gazette Photographer: Chip Ellis

 

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/WVPower.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Bully for Ballouli

Starter gets first win of season as Stars hit in clutch

By MARK McCARTER

Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com

 

At the far end of the Stars' clubhouse, music was spilling from nuclear-powered speakers. The decibel level was somewhere between "jet engine" and "warning: will cause permanent loss of hearing."

 

Khalid Ballouli was mimicking a few fancy dance steps, encouraged by fellow pitcher Corey Thurman. Elsewhere, there was similar - if not quite as demonstrative - joy in Huntsville's headquarters.

 

Because:

 

(1) The Stars had finished a game in 2:10.

 

(2) With the rare afternoon game, it meant a Saturday night off.

 

(3) And, oh yeah, there was the matter of the 6-2 victory over Birmingham by the stubborn Stars, who wrapped up their first 10 games of the year at 5-5 by winning back-to-back against the Barons.

 

Designated hitter Greg Sain jacked a home run, backup catcher J.C. Boscan drove in one run and scored another and the Stars' offense capitalized on opportunities, something it failed to do in the three earlier losses to the Barons.

 

The Stars were 4-for-4 with runners on third and less than two outs, enabling them "to pick up runs where you should,'' said manager Don Money.

 

With reason for celebrating was Ballouli, the 26-year-old righty from Austin, Texas, by way of Texas A&M. He survived an inning of goofs - a misplayed fly, a walk and a pair of wild pitches, the second scoring a run - in the third and collected his first win of the season.

 

A year ago was a struggle. He was a starter to begin the season, but had trouble avoiding jams in the early innings. Ballouli was eventually relegated to the bullpen, then put on the shelf in July with a strained muscle. Final numbers: 4-7 record, 4.82 ERA, a strikeout-to-walk ratio barely better than 2-to-1, after 4-to-1 in '04.

 

"Confidence plays a big part,'' he said. "Last year was my first year in Double-A. Instead of seeing one or two prospects in the (opposing) lineup, you're seeing four and five. The guys in the seventh and eighth hole can hurt you. I think I was just overwhelmed last year. I tried to do too much, tried to throw too hard and work too many corners.''

 

Lesson learned:

 

"A year in Double-A teaches you to trust your stuff, throw your stuff,'' he said. "It's a mental game.''

 

His stuff Saturday afternoon was gauged "a good outing" by Ballouli and "he threw the ball good, but he got some balls up" by Money.

 

"I couldn't locate my fastball where I wanted to, but Boscy (Boscan) and I had the pitches working pretty good in and out,'' Ballouli said.

 

He gave up four hits and two runs in five innings, striking out five and walking - yikes - four.

 

For the fourth straight game, Huntsville went at least 0-for-7 to start the game. This time it was 0-for-8, with that eighth man, Jeff Eure, reaching on an error. Boscan followed with a double to right, then Ozzie Chavez singled in Eure. A Callix Crabbe sacrifice fly scored Boscan to make it 2-1.

 

Boscan added a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, Sain homered in the sixth and the Stars plated two more in the eighth on an Adam Heether single and Drew Anderson groundout.

 

"This team is going to hit late,'' Ballouli said. "You can't give up on our team. You just have to (as a starter) keep the score close.''

 

The Stars now head to Montgomery for a five-game series beginning Sunday afternoon.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

A&M leaves 1 standing

Covering the bases

Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

 

Ten games into the season, the Stars are 5-5. And the assessment of the team is pretty much 50-50.

 

The pitching, said manager Don Money, "has been pretty decent for the most part.'' The defense "has been solid.''

 

The offense, though, "has been a little suspect,'' Money said. The Stars typically start five players who have yet to play a full season of Double-A ball. So the younger players "are still searching.'' The Stars are hitting .229 as a team, but still waiting on players like Drew Anderson (6-for-34), Jeff Eure (7-for-36), Adam Heether (8-for-36) and Steve Moss (8-for-35) to break out.

 

"They've been holding their own, but now after 10 games, the guys should be getting their feet on the ground and know basically what to expect,'' Money said.

 

For what Moss had in his pocket, he'll have something else removed from there. The Stars center fielder had his sunglasses stuffed in his pocket instead of wearing them, and then lost a fly ball in the sun for a double Saturday. Not using sunglasses during day games prompts a fine from Money.

 

The Huntsville starters are working longer pitch counts this year, because most of them had more work in spring training than in 2005. This enables them to work deeper into the game, puts less strain on the bullpen and even allows for the occasional situational relief stint, as lefty Andy Pratt had Saturday, facing only one hitter, the lefty Ricardo Nanita. ... Among Saturday's visitors, Robin Bellizzi, the popular former Stars ticket manager, now director of catering for the Barons. ... No end is in sight for the umpires' strike as negotiations have stalled. ... A survey on the umpires' Web page asks, "Will fans honor the strike and not attend games?" A resounding 60 percent responded, "no one will even care."

 

Around the league

 

It's still too early to judge whether the Southern League's five-game series format is good or bad. But for now, until rotations begin to change, it puts a heavy burden on each staff's No. 1 starter, as he opens each series and faces teams without benefit of seeing the opponent before. ... The Stars will be facing the league's top hitter on their trip to Montgomery. Infielder Gabriel Martinez was batting .481, with three homers and seven RBIs, going into Saturday's games. ... West Tenn went to the SL championship series last year on the strength of its pitching, and it's carrying the Diamond Jaxx now. West Tenn was 7-2 with a team batting average of .249 with only two homers and 28 runs scored, but with a 1.61 team ERA. ... Tennessee reliever Casey Daigle was promoted quickly to the majors after pitching three scoreless innings for the Smokies, taking the spot of injured Terry Mulholland. Daigle is husband of Olympic softball star Jennie Finch.

 

Brewings (through Friday's games)

 

Triple-A Nashville Sounds (4-5, third place in Pacific Coast League American Division): P Dana Eveland (1-0, 1.50 ERA) with perfect game through six innings in Sounds home opener Friday.

 

Single-A Brevard County Manatees (8-1, first in Florida State East Division): 2B Stephen Sollman .435, .552 on-base percentage.

 

Single-A West Virginia Power (4-5, fifth in South Atlantic League Northern Division): C Angel Salome .367, 7 RBIs.

 

On deck

 

The Stars play the Biscuits at Montgomery today at 2:05, the first of a five-game series. It'll also mark the start a 10-game, 11-day homestand.

 

Watch for

 

Mobile catcher George Kottaras is considered San Diego's top prospect among position players.

[dadofandrew]

Let's not write off Huntsville's season yet, kids; Stars at 5-5...

 

 

 

Mass, was there anyone giving up on a team after a week? Really?

[DHonks]

Mass, was there anyone giving up on a team after a week? Really

 

Al, I'll say that when I look up boxscores, Huntsville is the 5th team I'll look at this year. Heck, I tend to look at Tucson's before Huntsville

[dadofandrew]

I find that odd, as there are plenty of prospects there, though not a lot of high ceiling ones.

 

I haven't glanced at the minor league stats, as they don't mean a thing until the end of the month, and realistically, mid-May. Of course, lots of guys lose jobs based on a tiny sample, so, you could almost imply life isn't fair, huh?

[DHonks]

Al, it's because the only guys I really get excited about on that squad are really Heether, Dillard, Moss, Villanueva, and Anderson. Palmisano has talent, but hasn't produced since Helena, so I'm not expecting much. I may have missed a name or two, but it's not like years past