Link Report for Games of Friday, April 14th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: Nashville finally gets some "home" cookin'...

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Dana Eveland at home vs. Oklahoma (Rangers), 7:40 PM pre-game, 8:00 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: LHP Jeff Housman at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

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

 

Audio link (opponent's):

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

 

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

 

Audio link:

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

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday'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 Thursday's Games:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 5 3 .625 - 5-3 0-0 W1 Omaha 5 3 .625 - 5-3 0-0 W1 [b]Nashville 3 5 .375 2.0 0-0 3-5 L1[/b] Memphis 0 8 .000 5.0 0-0 0-8 L8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 6 2 .750 - 3-0 3-2 W3 West Tenn 6 2 .750 - 0-0 6-2 W1 Carolina 3 5 .375 3.0 0-0 3-5 L3 [b]Huntsville 3 5 .375 3.0 0-3 3-2 L3[/b] Tennessee 2 6 .250 4.0 1-2 1-4 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Brevard County 7 1 .875 - 3-1 4-0 W2[/b] St. Lucie 6 2 .750 1.0 4-1 2-1 W1 Palm Beach 5 3 .625 2.0 1-1 4-2 W1 Jupiter 4 4 .500 3.0 3-3 1-1 L1 Daytona 1 7 .125 6.0 0-5 1-2 L1 Vero Beach 1 7 .125 6.0 1-1 0-6 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 6 2 .750 - 2-1 4-1 W3 Lexington 6 2 .750 - 6-2 0-0 L1 Greensboro 5 3 .625 1.0 5-3 0-0 L2 Lake County 5 3 .625 1.0 1-0 4-3 W1 [b]West Virginia 4 4 .500 2.0 1-3 3-1 W2[/b] Hagerstown 3 5 .375 3.0 3-0 0-5 L1 Hickory 3 5 .375 3.0 1-3 2-2 W1 Lakewood 0 8 .000 6.0 0-1 0-7 L8

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

Link includes nice photo close-up of the Sounds' championship ring...

 

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

 

Sounds will try to defend title with speed

Likely to have less power than in '05

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

If the 2005 edition of the Nashville Sounds seemed suited to the managerial style of an Earl Weaver, the team that opens the home portion of the 2006 schedule tonight at Greer Stadium might be more a reflection of a Whitey Herzog.

 

Weaver, the legendary manager of the Baltimore Orioles, whose offensive approach was built around the three-run home run, would have fit in well with last year's team as it bashed 164 roundtrippers en route to the Pacific Coast League championship. However, with the Sounds listed on the opening-day roster accounting for just 113 longballs last season, it appears the "get 'em on, get 'em over, get 'em in" philosophy Herzog utilized with the St. Louis Cardinals will be standard operating procedure.

 

"What do I expect?" Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas asked rhetorically. "I expect us to play good defense, be good fundamentally and steal a lot of bases."

 

In fact, though the Sounds weren't afraid to exhibit their power stroke last season, they also ran often, finishing the year with 170 steals. Heading into tonight's homestand opener with Oklahoma, Nashville ranks second in the PCL with 12 stolen bases ? including six in Wednesday's 2-0 win at Iowa.

 

Kremblas said he'll encourage the team to run early and often. In fact, it'll be more a matter of when they shouldn't go than when they should.

 

"Everybody has the 'green light,' but they never run enough for me," he said.

 

With five different players that stole 10 or more bases in '05, though, that idea might be challenged.

 

Outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. swiped 34 bags at Class AA Huntsville, while Dave Krynzel had 24 for the Sounds. Infielder Zach Sorensen had 21 with Triple-A Salt Lake (Angels), outfielder Nelson Cruz compiled 19 between Huntsville and Nashville, and utilityman Jermaine Clark had 14 at Triple-A Sacramento (Athletics).

 

It won't be just the usual suspects in motion, though, according to Kremblas. A slimmed-down Brad Nelson ? "He's lost 35 pounds," Kremblas said ? will get the opportunity to build on his five steals from last year, and catcher Mike Rivera finished with three after joining the Sounds in May.

 

"Everybody runs," Kremblas said. Still, to make sure they don't run themselves into a bad situation, he said he'll let Nashville baserunners know when to stay put.

 

"I'll put the 'red light' up if I don't think it's a good time to go ? if there's a situation where we don't want an open base, or if they may be pitching out," he said.

 

All of that's not to say that the Sounds won't be capable of some punch. Cruz finished the year with 27 total home runs, while Rivera added 16 and Krynzel 11 with Nashville, and infielder Enrique Cruz hit another 14 at Huntsville. Between Nashville and Huntsville, Nelson hit 13.

 

The team looks to be versatile defensively as well as offensively. Though only three outfielders are listed on the active roster ? Cruz, Gwynn and Krynzel ? all but one of the seven infielders have seen time in the outfield and will likely do so at some point this year.

 

In fact, a defensive player has already made a pitching appearance for Nashville. Infielder Chris Barnwell, who threw 4+ scoreless innings and earned a win in four relief appearances last season, was the last pitcher in the Sounds' 7-6, 11-inning loss Monday at Iowa.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2006041341

 

Power welcomes Legends to APP Friday

Charleston Gazette

 

The West Virginia Power returns home from a short four-game road trip to Greensboro (N.C.) tonight to begin a weekend series with the Lexington Legends.

 

But if you can?t make it out to Appalachian Power Park for tonight?s 7:05 start (6:05 Central), don?t fret: You?ll have plenty of chances to see the Power and Legends lock up this season.

 

Thirteen chances, to be exact.

 

The Legends will be far and away the most frequent visitor to Charleston?s new park this season. Lexington is scheduled to make four stops in the Capital City, including a six-day, six-game layover May 2-7.

 

Hagerstown will play the second-most games in Charleston with eight, followed by Hickory with seven.

 

All told, the Power and Legends will meet 20 times this season, as West Virginia visits Lexington for seven games.

 

***

The Power offense has gotten off to a slow start through the first week of the season.

 

Entering Thursday?s game at Greensboro, West Virginia was in the middle of the pack in the South Atlantic League with a .248 team batting average and 26 runs scored. Catcher Angel Salome leads the way with a .357 average and a .991 OPS. Second baseman Kenny Holmberg, whose home run keyed the Power?s victory over the Grasshoppers Wednesday, is hitting .308 with a team-leading two homers. Holmberg, Salome and shortstop Ryan Crew have each driven in four runs.

 

Third baseman Mat Gamel hasn?t gotten off to such a hot start. Through seven games, Gamel has committed four errors and struck out 10 times in 24 at-bats. Outfielder Darren Ford (.219 avg., zero extra-base hits) and first baseman Ned Yost (.130 avg.) have also stumbled out of the blocks.

 

The Power pitching staff has fared a little better and sits in seventh with a 3.14 team earned run average. West Virginia pitchers have surrendered the fifth-fewest runs in the league (25) and are fourth in WHIP (1.14). The longball has been an issue, though, as the team is next to last in home runs allowed with eight.

 

Starting pitcher Derek Miller sports a 1.80 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 10 innings. Relievers Dane Renkert, Wilfrido Laureano and Ronny Malave have done the job out of the bullpen, combining for 161/3 innings and just one earned run with 16 strikeouts and no walks.

 

***

After three games with Lexington this weekend, the Power has an off-day Monday before hitting the road for seven games in seven days.

 

The trip starts with four games at Hagerstown, followed by three at Lexington.

 

The Power returns to the APP April 25 for a three-game set with Greensboro, including the season?s first Grand Slam School Day April 26. That day?s game will begin at 10:35 a.m (11:35 Central)..

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...006041423/

 

Power manager likes team's traits

Jacob Messer

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

West Virginia Power Manager Mike Guerrero noticed a never-give-up attitude in his team after its season-opening, four-game homestand against the Delmarva Shorebirds, who won the series with three victories.

 

"We could have been 4-0," Guerrero said of what became a 1-3 home start. "But the good thing is, we have battled every game."

 

That, as it turns out, has been a season-long trend.

 

The Power's first eight games (4-4) have been decided by a total of 16 runs.

 

* * *

CHARLESTON IS back home tonight to begin a three-game series against Lexington after taking three of four at Greensboro, finishing the series with a 6-3 win Thursday night.

 

Will Inman, the right-hander who was Milwaukee's third-round pick in last June's draft, worked five scoreless innings for his first South Atlantic League win.

 

Lorenzo Cain, on his 20th birthday, led West Virginia with two hits and an RBI, and the Power sealed the victory with two ninth-inning runs, after Scotty McKnight started the rally with a triple.

 

Left-hander Joe Thatcher, moved from extended spring training to the Power earlier this week, got the save.

 

* * *

PITCHING COACH John Curtis doesn't plan to use a piggyback system this season, like Milwaukee did in its first season in Charleston.

 

Here is how it worked: Two pitchers were linked to each other, with one serving as the starter and the other serving as a reliever when it was their turn in the rotation, then switching roles when it was their turn in the rotation again.

 

Of course, no one needs a definition because Curtis isn't using it this season.

 

"We will have a five-man rotation, and we will see how the bullpen comes along," Curtis said.

 

Curtis said the rotation, in order, is Kevin Roberts, a 6-foot, 190-pound right-hander who has an 85-pitch count; Derek Miller, a 6-0, 195-pound left-hander who has a 75-pitch count; Inman, a 6-0, 200-pound right-hander who has a 65-to-70-pitch count; Dave Welch, a 6-4, 215-pound left-hander who has a 65-to-70 pitch count; and Robbie Wooley, a 6-1, 190-pound right-hander who has a 65-pitch count.

 

* * *

WEST VIRGINIA has power at the plate -- from the guys behind it.

 

Catcher Angel Salome (.344 with one homer, three doubles, five runs and five RBI in eight games) leads the Power in batting average. Backup Brad Willcutt is at .250 with one double, two RBI and four runs in three games).

 

Salome is the Power's starting catcher, but Guerrero inserts him into the lineup as designated hitter when Willcutt plays behind the plate.

 

* * *

THE POWER drew 13,530 fans to its first four-game homestand, including 5,742 for the season opener. The first number is down from 17,685 and the second number is up from 5,354, compared to last season.

 

General Manager Andy Milovich said the combined attendance for the four-game homestand would have improved if the weather would have been better.

 

Rain ended the Power opener and delayed its second game three times. The temperature dropped to 38 degrees in its third game and reached 60 in its fourth game, but felt much cooler because of the wind.

 

"We would have liked to have had bigger crowds, but we were pleased considering the circumstances," Milovich said. "Given the weather, I wouldn't have come out to the games if I were a fan.

 

"We found out last year that most of our fans tend to buy tickets the day of the game. So, we are completely at the mercy of the weather."

 

West Virginia (3,382 per game) ranks sixth in the 16-team league in attendance, behind Greensboro (5,829), Greenville (5,117), Charleston, S.C. (4,979), Lexington (4,093) and Rome (3,856).

 

* * *

The Power will have out-of-the-ordinary promotions before each date in its three-game homestand against the Legends, tonight through Sunday.

 

Tonight is Organ Donor Night, when the Power, working with Charleston Area Medical Center, will try to recruit organ donors. Among those attending and participating will be former New York Mets and Kansas City catcher Ed Hearn, who has survived three organ donations.

 

Saturday will be Susan G. Komen Night. In honor of her cause (breast cancer), the Power will wear pink jerseys. Some of those jerseys will be autographed by the coaches and players and auctioned to raise money for her foundation.

 

There will be an Easter sunrise service Sunday at 6 a.m., eight hours before the game.

 

The service will be free, and the public is invited.

 

"This is just something we want to do for community goodwill," Milovich said.

[dogs with bees in their mo]

So WV isn't using the piggyback system anymore? The article states that their pitching coach doesn't plan to use it, but that's not really his call, is it?

[DHonks]

A big reason for the piggyback last year was that they had some very young starters, and also a lot of them. Didn't they open the year with Wooley, Rogers, Gallardo, Hinton, Stanczyk, Parillo, Beresford, Barnes...basically, they had about 8-9 starters and some (like Rogers) struggled to throw strikes.

This year the rotation is a bit older, and likely more efficient with their pitches. Plus, they probably only have 5-6 starters.

[plowjockey]

My daughter was at the game the Miller pitched. She said he looks taller and lankier than the 6'0'' / 195 he's listed at. She said he was real impressive, just pounded the strike zone(8ks in 5 innings). He gave up a solo shot while I was on the phone with her, and she said he came back right away with strike one to the next hitter. No pictures sent to me yet, as her college team had a doubleheader today and a single game Saturday. I should have the photos by Sunday afternoon.

[madbad2000]

Thanks for the report plowjockey. I saw Miller pitch last year and liked what I saw of him. The way he was pitching was similar to a Parra or Eveland. Not just because they are all lefties.

[dikapalooza]

3 errors so far for Salome? Will this kid be able to play another position because I love his bat. I would like to hear how they happened. Twice on a pickoff, one on a throw, plus a passed ball? Not good.

[DHonks]

nice hitting for Salome. He's still young, and adapting to pro curves, off-speed pitches, and movement. Wonder how he sees it so well batting, but not catching.

 

Also, Tony Festa is right up there with Cristian Guerrero for me as guys who had 1 fantastic year, and disappointing since. He was one of my guys to watch both this and last year

[bork]

Wow, nice line by Eveland. Only 71 pitches in 7 innings? No walks and 8 K's.

 

That Nashville rotation is going to be fun to watch.

 

EDIT: The boxscore just changed. It had Demaria in the 8th, but now it shows a complete game for Eveland. 97 pitch complete game, very impressive. And 11 K's.

 

With Fielder graduating from the Power 50 in the next couple weeks, is Eveland making a push for #1?

[Team Canada]

Wow, that's a fantastic game for Dana. Hope he's righted himself and is back to dominating.

[Brian the Automator]

Just got back from the Stars/Barons game. Beautiful night in Hunstville tonight... probably about 73 degrees with a light breeze. Not too many prospects down in H-ville, but here are the things that stood out to me:

 

Heether - Hit a couple of balls hard. Very, very steady with the glove. If Ryan Braun wasn't in the system, we'd probably be hearing more about him.

 

Housman - To be honest, I was disappointed that I didn't get to see a different starter... but I was absolutely shocked to see that he was popping the mitt at 93 mph on the fastballs. I thought I remembered him topping out at about 88.

 

Chavez/Rodriguez - Very, very nice defensively... MLB caliber leather for sure.

 

Mike Meyers - _wicked_ change-up. On one particular sequence, he threw 84 mph, 82 mph, 76 mph. I could tell if the first two were curves or changeups, but the batter was way out in front on all 3. The funniest part of the night was when "our" Mike Meyers was pitching to Mike Meyers of the Barons.

 

Alec Zumwalt - shut down a late rally by Birmingham and closed out the game... very poised, good command. Topped out at about 91-92, but had decent movement on his stuff.

 

That's all I got.... this is a pretty weak team, unfortunately... but hopefully they'll pull together as a group and perhaps some of the Brevard Co kids will come up mid-season.

 

The last time I was in Huntsville was about 3 years ago. Since then, they've made some REAL nice changes to Joe Davis stadium. They re-vamped all the seating and added a new LED scoreboard. It really made a world of difference, I think, to the experience. It no longer feels as run down as it used to... Everyone as always was very friendly... nothing beats Southern hospitality. 7 bucks for reserved seating and a real nice fireworks show. Great night. I'm very excited to head back tomorrow on our way out of Alabama.

[colbyjack]

Beautiful night in Hunstville tonight... probably about 73 degrees with a light breeze.

 

You know I hate to tell you this Brian, but it's about the same here right now believe it or not (maybe cooler right now, but it was amazingly warm earlier). I only bring that up because I always prefer that it's crummy where I live when I'm out of town http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . Although you're poised to enjoy many more 70+ degree days over the next week while we're poised for it to go downhill again.

 

Thanks for the reports. I look forward to more of them on your road-trip, although I now wonder why and how Housman hasn't gotten any further if he can throw 93...

 

And since it wasn't brought up, Josh Wahpepah had a big night for BC: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 6 K, 1 BB.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Sounds GM Glenn Yaeger:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-14.wma

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 11, Oklahoma (Rangers) 1

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Nelson Cruz photos, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1901

 

Sounds Trounce RedHawks In Home Opener

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? The Nashville Sounds put on a good showing in their home opener, posting an 11-1 victory over the Oklahoma RedHawks on Friday evening in front of 6,861 excited fans at Greer Stadium.

 

Sounds starter Dana Eveland kept the season-long run of strong outings by Nashville starting pitchers intact, carrying a perfect game into the sixth inning. Two Oklahoma infield singles in the top of the sixth spoiled his perfecto but the southpaw went on to strike out eight batters in his first victory of the year.

 

Chris Demaria came in to finish the game for Sounds. Demaria pitched two innings and didn?t allow a hit while striking out three batters. The 11 combined strikeouts marked the third time this year that Sounds pitchers have combined for a double-digit K total.

 

The offense did its part as well. Every Sounds batter in the lineup except Dave Krynzel recorded at least one hit as Nashville churned out a season-high 19 knocks.

 

The Sounds had six players with a multi-hit night. Four of those players recorded three hits in tonight?s contest: Nelson Cruz, Jermaine Clark, Brent Abernathy, and Chris Barnwell.

 

The Nashville bats first struck in the bottom of the second with three runs off RedHawks starter Jon Leicester (0-1), who took the loss. Clark led the inning off with a single and was followed but by a sacrifice bunt courtesy of Abernathy. Abernathy reached first on a RedHawks error, which allowed Clark to advance to second. The next two batters followed up with two hits to give the Sounds three runs.

 

Nelson Cruz had a red-hot night at the plate going 3-for-4. In the bottom of the sixth, he added a little salt on the RedHawks? wound with a two-run shot that just missed the handle of the guitar-shaped scoreboard. Cruz?s home run was his second of the year. Cruz?s other two hits of the game were both doubles driven to the wall. The slugger added three RBIs to his stats, giving him a season total of seven.

 

On Saturday evening, the Sounds play game two of the four-game series against the RedHawks. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. with right-hander Dennis Sarfate (0-0, 2.25) taking the mound to face RedHawks knuckleballer and Nashville native R.A. Dickey (1-0, 3.38).

 

Prior to the game, members of the 2005 Pacific Coast League champion Sounds squad will receive their championship rings in an on-field ceremony.

 

AUDIO: Brad Nelson Two-Run Double --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-14.wma

 

Nashville Box Score:

Mike Rivera clearly established as the primary catcher ahead of Mark Johnson now...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;did=milb

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Sounds win big in home opener

Eveland retires first 15 batters he faces, gets lots of offense

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

With the only pitcher ever to throw a perfect game for the Nashville Sounds in the Greer Stadium first-base dugout last night, Dana Eveland was looking to match the feat as the Sounds opened their home schedule against Oklahoma.

 

Eveland retired the first 15 RedHawks he faced before allowing three consecutive infield singles to open the sixth inning.

 

The base hits left Oklahoma's John Wasdin alone in the Nashville record book ? he accomplished the feat on April 7, 2003, against visiting Albuquerque ? and led to a run but hardly fazed the Sounds in an eventual 11-1 victory.

 

"You try not to think about it too much and just go after the next hitter," Eveland said after his first win in his second start of the year. "But it's hard not to think about it."

 

Improving to 20-9 in Greer Stadium openers, the win in front of 6,861 fans also raised the Sounds record to 4-5 on the young season.

 

Eveland exited after the seventh, having allowed just five hits with eight strikeouts. However, he had thrown 71 pitches ? 58 for strikes.

 

"He threw strikes, he kept the ball down for the most part and got a lot of groundball outs," Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas said.

 

Nashville pounded out 19 hits ? besting the 18 last year's team totaled on three occasions and falling five short of the franchise record of 24 that was set and tied on consecutive days, May 20-21, 2000.

 

"We got some seeing-eye groundball hits, and then we got some big hits at key times," Kremblas said. "The guys were feeling confident at the plate."

 

The Sounds scored in five of their eight at-bats. Nashville led 3-0 after the second, 6-0 after the third and led 7-0 before Oklahoma scored.

 

"It's nice pitching with a big lead," he said. "You can go after hitters, knowing that if a guy hits one out, it doesn't really matter. You try to stay aggressive and go after everybody."

 

"He was making good pitches, getting ahead, going at people," catcher Mike Rivera said. "I think that's why he was so good. He was effective going at people."

 

What they said: "You can't choose when and where; you just do what you do. That's the beauty of it; you've got to play the game that day." ? Kremblas, after his team combined a 19-hit attack with a five-hit, 11-strikeout pitching performance.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 4, Birmingham (White Sox) 3

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link for Alec Zumwalt photo, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=784

 

Stars Battle Back to Beat Barons

 

Adam Heether singled in the game-winning run to cap off a three-run seventh inning rally, as Huntsville came from behind to down Birmingham 4-3 Friday night in front of a season-high 5,171 fans at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars snapped a three-game slide to improve to 4-5 on the season and win at home for the first time, while the Barons lost a three-game win streak and dropped to 4-5. The Stars beat Birmingham for just the third time in 13 games since July of last season.

 

Corwin Malone left with a 3-1 lead after working six strong innings for the Barons, giving up one run, on a fifth inning home run by Lou Palmisano, allowing three hits and striking out six. Rusty Tucker took over in the seventh and allowed three runs on three hits and a walk, the first time the Barons bullpen had been scored on in the series after 11 scoreless frames.

 

Guilder Rodriguez started the inning with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch, stayed when Steve Moss walked and scored on a bloop single by Greg Sain, who picked up just his second hit of the season. Jeff Eure advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt and a ground ball out by Palmisano plated Moss to tie the game. Sain stole third base and scored when Heether smoked an 0-1 offering into center field to knock in his second run of the season. Palmisano?s home run broke up a 19 inning scoreless drought for the Stars.

 

Mike Meyers took over for starter Jeff Housman in the seventh inning and retired the first five hitters he faced before giving up back-to-back singles to Mark Quinn and Chris Getz and was replaced by Alec Zumwalt, making his second appearance in a save situation. The right-hander retired all four hitters he faced to end the game and earn his second save of the season and first since Opening Day. Housman allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out four in his second start of the season.

 

The Stars will send right-hander Khalid Ballouli to the mound in the final game of the five-game series on Saturday afternoon and he will be opposed by Birmingham left-hander Ryan Rodriguez. 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.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Outfield assists for Drew Anderson and Steve Moss...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Huntsville's good times finally roll

Stars rally from 3-0 deficit to put an end to three-game losing streak

By PAUL GATTIS

Times Sports Staff pgattis@htimes.com

 

After so much bad stuff over the last week, the good stuff came in a deluge Friday night for the Huntsville Stars.

 

Bloopers fell for run-scoring hits. A runner picked off at second instead steals third. And a Birmingham baserunner made a costly gaffe running the bases that cost the Barons a run.

 

And that's bad stuff for the Barons and good stuff for the Stars in a 4-3 victory before 5,171 at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

The Stars overcame a 3-0 deficit to snap a three-game losing streak and win for just the second time in their last seven games.

 

But a grind-it-out win like this, Stars manager Don Money said, is just what a slumping team needs.

 

"It's big plays that don't show up in the box score," Money said.

 

Indeed, the list was long for the Stars:

 

In the first, Barons shortstop Robert Valido appeared to score on a sacrifice fly but was called out after the Stars appealed to third base that he left before the ball was caught.

 

In the seventh, Greg Sain's well-placed blooper to center fell between a trio of Barons and scored Guilder Rodriguez for the first of three runs in the inning.

 

Later in the seventh, Sain looked to be picked off at second when Barons catcher Gustavo Molina threw behind him after a pitch. But Sain bolted for third without hesitation for the steal and scored the winning run on Adam Heether's single to center.

 

And, Money will quickly remind you, don't overlook the significance of Jeff Eure's sacrifice bunt in that seventh inning rally that moved the eventual tying and winning runs to second and third with one out.

 

"That's what you've got to do to win games," Money said. "And we have not been doing that."

 

It all came together after the Stars lost the first three games of the five-game series.

 

But it was still a little slow in arriving.

 

The Barons jumped on Stars starter Jeff Housman for a run in the first when Michael Myers opened the game with a double and scored on Thomas Callaro's one-out single.

 

But Robert Valido was called out on the appeal play on a Micah Schnurstein flyout to center.

 

The lead grew to 2-0 in the fourth when Collaro was hit by a pitch and pinch-runner Christopher Getz scored on a two-out single by Ricardo Nanita.

 

And it jumped to 3-0 in the fifth when Myers homered to left.

 

The Stars began their comeback in the bottom of the fifth when Lou Palmisano blasted a solo home run off the scoreboard in left field - temporarily sending it into a glitch of hieroglyphics. The homer ended a string of 19 scoreless innings.

 

The Barons went to their bullpen in the seventh and the Stars went to work against reliever Rusty Tucker (0-1). Rodriguez led off with a double down the right field line and Steve Moss walked.

 

Then Sain's bloop single scored Rodriguez and Eure's sacrifice bunt set the table. Palmisano's groundout tied the game and Heether followed with a line drive to center for the go-ahead run.

 

The pitching held up, too, with Housman allowing three runs in six innings and Mike Meyers (1-1) and Alec Zumwalt (second save) pitching three scoreless innings in relief.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 2, Vero Beach (Dodgers) 1

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

 

Braun's Bat Brings Manatees Big Win

Ryan Braun's final-inning single produces Brevard County's eighth win out of nine

By Jenny Rennie / Brevard County Manatees

 

In front of close to 2,000 fans on Friday night, the Brevard County Manatees rallied in the bottom of the ninth to overcome the Vero Beach Dodgers with a 2-1 victory.

 

Dodgers starter Matt Merricks was unstoppable through seven innings allowing the Manatees no runs and only three hits. It came down to the final inning of the game before Vero's Ramon Troncoso gave up a single to Charlie Fermaint before hitting Alcides Escobar with a pitch. With runners on first and second and no outs in the bottom of the ninth the Brewers 1st round draft pick of 2005, Ryan Braun, singled to right field scoring Fermaint. An untimely error by the Dodgers attempting to field Braun's hit brought Escobar in for the winning run.

 

Friday's contest was a duel on the mound with the Dodgers and Manatees pitchers combining for 26 strikeouts. Manatees starter Josh Wahpepah kept his ERA perfect as he threw six brilliant innings allowing four hits and no runs with five strikeouts. Ben Stanczyk earned his second win of the season by tossing three innings with only one earned run. Braun finished the night 2-for-4.

 

The Manatees continued their dominance of the Florida State League with their third win in a row and their eighth victory out of nine. Brevard County will attempt to complete the sweep of the visiting Vero Beach Dodgers on Saturday night beginning at 7:00 PM (6:00 Central). The game will feature a post-game fireworks show sponsored by Servicemaster with every ticket holder receiving an additional ticket to a future Manatees game.

 

Brevard County Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lexington (Astros) 9, West Virginia 2

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

Power commit four errors in loss to Lexington

 

The Lexington Legends took advantage of four West Virginia Power errors in Friday night?s game at Appalachian Power Park, and went on to beat the Power 9-2.

 

Angel Salome?s throwing error in the top of the first inning allowed Eric King to score the first run of the game. Later in the inning Mitch Einertson hit an RBI single to give the Legends a 2-0 advantage. King scored in the third inning on Salome?s second throwing error of the game. In the top of the fifth inning Ole Sheldon hit an RBI single to give the Legends a 4-0 lead. The Legends scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take an 8-0 lead. King, Eli Iorg and J.R. Towles hit RBI doubles and Towles scored later in the inning on a Mat Gamel error. The Power scored their runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on Salome?s two run single. The Legends added another run in the top of the ninth inning on a solo home run from Sheldon, his first of the year.

 

Sean Walker (2-0) earned the victory and Dave Welch (0-1) obtained the loss. The Power are 4-5 after the loss and the Legends improved to 7-2 with the win.

 

The Power will continue the series with Lexington at Appalachian Power Park on Saturday night. Right hander Robbie Wooley (0-0, 0.00) will start for the Power and Lexington will counter with left hander Brian Bogusevic (0-0, 0.00). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1