Link Report for Games of Friday, April 7th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! Why not listen to Mark Rogers' first Manatee start for an hour tonight before the big league game?

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Ben Hendrickson at Omaha (Royals), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 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_omaaaa_1

 

Huntsville: RHP Tim Dillard at Mississippi (Braves), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Mark Rogers at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.wele1380.com/

 

West Virginia: LHP Derek Miller at home vs. Delmarva (Orioles), 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_omaaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_msbaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section.../200604072

 

Can Power maintain the buzz?

Nick Scala, Charleston Gazette

 

THE FIRST season of baseball at Appalachian Power Park is fondly remembered for all the right reasons, but it took some time for the buzz to take full effect.

 

Remember this time last year, when we were still questioning the new venture?s viability? Doubting Thomases were everywhere.

 

For instance, hardly anyone immediately warmed to the team?s name. What?s a Power? We?re supposed to root, root, root for the Power? Besides its corporate connotations, there was the geographical question: Why did they dump hometown Charleston and replace it with the generic West Virginia?

 

Then there was the choice of color scheme, a mustardy gold that I suppose matched the Capitol dome in the distance but, on a ballcap or uniform, wasn?t aesthetically pleasing.

 

We wondered if the new East End ballpark would be ready for Opening Day. Anybody traveling up Brooks or Morris streets in the weeks leading up to it had to have doubts.

 

Remember, too, that the Power had seven road games before the inaugural home game ? and lost all seven. It looked for all the world that we?d be stuck with another lemon, on the field at least.

 

To be honest, it seemed as if every decision involved with the club was the wrong one.

 

And then ... they opened the gates.

 

And we saw it was good.

 

The visual splendor offered was just part of the appeal of the $23 million Appalachian Power Park. It didn?t take long before word of mouth was spread about the broad appeal of a visit to the new yard. It was as if Karl Rove was in charge of finding all the niches to bring in a wide variety of customers.

 

You?re a baseball fan? Win or lose, you?re not going to find it at a higher level than this without driving three hours, and don?t you want to be the one to spot which players will be earning a humongous check in the big leagues in two or three years?

 

You?re a family guy? From the Fun Zone to the multiple mascots, the club went out of its way to be kid-friendly.

 

Looking for a social night out, a chance to have a beer with friends? With crowds averaging 3,500, you can?t help but stumble across a few.

 

Still, after all the success of the opening season, there were ? and are ? doubters.

 

Was that success due to the novelty of the first-year ballpark, the curiosity factor, or was it something that would endure and be built upon?

 

More to the point, can the Power maintain the momentum of 2005 and add to it in 2006 and beyond?

 

In a best-case scenario, Appalachian Power Park will be the center of a revitalized neighborhood, with restaurants, bars, shops and housing springing up around the ballyard and creating an East End business climate with unlimited potential.

 

The first step in that regard has already been taken with the opening of the Power Alley Grill, the upscale bar/restaurant housed within the ballpark?s friendly confines. Before, during and after Thursday night?s opening game, the Grill was filled to the gills.

 

From all indications, the buzz around the ballpark is intact. Chilly, drizzly weather wasn?t enough to deflate the opening crowd, and attendance should only improve as the temperature climbs and the days grow longer.

 

Year two, though, is all about maintaining that buzz, for now and years to come.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes for Friday (pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

[And That]

Drew Anderson with a 2-run pop in the first inning for Huntsville. If this guy developed any power, he'd be a solid prospect. As it is, he's a corner outfielder with gap-ish power.

[And That]

Nothing allowed by Tim Dillard thru 3, not even a K. Sinker must be working well in the southern air tonight.

 

Brevard and WV both getting shut out midway through their games.

 

Jermaine Clark with a single and a run, Mark Johnson with a walk and run, and Vinny Rottino with an RBI for Nashville, up 2-0 on a Hendrickson shutout through 3.

[SheetsCyYoung04]

3.1 innings pitched 5 walks......

I thought Rogers had his "light" come onhttp://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/grin.gif

[Mass Haas]

Freddy Parejo grand slam for the Manatees in the 7th to put the boys up 4-3!

 

Single, single, walk, grand slam after top Cub prospect Sean Gallagher was removed to start the inning.

[Mass Haas]

Ben Hendrickson hasn't allowed a you-know-what through five innings, despite throwing only 44 strikes in 80 pitches.

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia trailing 1-0 in the 7th; it's counting a lot of chickens, but a Power comeback could mean an 11-0 start for the entire organization this season.

 

Of course, I just simultaneously jinxed five games still in progress...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 7, Daytona (Cubs) 3

It looked pretty bad until the 7th...

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Hurricane warning! Four singles in a perfect night for Hernan. Five RBI for Freddy Parejo, including the previously mentioned grand slam. Huge game for the bullpen, nice to see RHP Josh Alliston, who has basically lost the last two seasons to injury; Mark Rogers yet to master the art of the 1-2-3 inning...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1

[And That]

Ned Yost IV sac flies Ken Holmberg into score in the bottom of the 7th, and now we have a lightning delay in the top of the 8th. 1-1. A perfect night could still be intact.

 

Edit: Allan Simpson just coughed up the lead, partially thanks to an error by Enrique Cruz. 3-3 with Mike Adams pitching.

 

Edit: And Mike Adams gives up a 2-run single. Nashville now down 5-3.

[bthurley19]

Nashville Breaks up the perfect streak for the organization. Thanks to our old pal Mike Adams and also thanks to Enrique Cruz. 10-1 still sounds pretty sweet.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 4, Mississippi (Braves) 2

RHP Tim Dillard just dominant in his own Tim Dillard way; wind blowing out at up to 30 MPH in this one -- didn't bother Tim...

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Jeff Eure walked tonight with two hits, including a double -- he'll get that 3TO thing down yet; veteran Joe Winkelsas hangs on after allowing the cheapest of two hits in the 9th...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_msbaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Again, can't say enough about Dillard -- 2005 Brevard fans saw plenty of game logs like this...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_msbaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Omaha (Royals) 5, Nashville 3

There goes the championship repeat -- Sounds stink (sarcasm)...

 

Nashville Box Score:

Sounds site will have all the details soon enough...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_omaaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_omaaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia game back on -- check it out now that the Brewers have wrapped up; 1-1 in the 8th...

 

Audio link:

 

www.sportsjuice.com/broad...%2b1FLs%3d

[gregmag]

What the heck is the Brewers' organization feeding its starting pitchers? Unless I'm forgetting something, out of 11 games thus far the only less-than-fine start has come from Mark Rogers -- the organization's consensus top pitching prospect -- tonight.

 

I can never remember a season in which the minor league rotations were so stacked with guys who had realistic chances to make the show (not to mention one in which the big league rotation consisted entirely of guys who deserved to be there).

 

Greg.

[Mass Haas]

Power game delayed again, bottom of the 9th -- Kenny Holmberg is on 2nd base with two outs, but a real deluge came -- that's why you're hearing basketball sports talk on the audio feed as of this moment...

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site Game Summary:

 

Link for Ben Hendrickson photo, text follows:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1890

 

Sounds Blow Late Lead, Drop Opener 5-3

 

OMAHA ? The Nashville bullpen failed to protect a late lead, allowing five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, as the Sounds suffered a heartbreaking 5-3 loss to the division-rival Omaha Royals in their 2006 season opener on Friday evening at Rosenblatt Stadium.

 

The late Omaha comeback ruined an outstanding outing by Nashville starter Ben Hendrickson, who did not allow a hit over five scoreless innings before being removed due to a pitch count limitation. The 25-year-old, who was left with a no-decision for his effort, walked three and struck out five batters, allowing only two runners to reach second base.

 

The Sounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Second baseman Jermaine Clark recorded the first Nashville hit of 2006 when he led off the frame with a single to center off Omaha starter Bobby Keppel. Catcher Mark Johnson followed with a walk and Enrique Cruz moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt.

 

Tony Gwynn plated the first run of the season and gave Nashville a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly to center that brought in Clark. Following a Dave Krynzel walk, Vinny Rottino celebrated his 26th birthday with an RBI single to left to double the Sounds? advantage to 2-0.

 

Nelson Cruz upped the Nashville lead to 3-0 in the sixth with a one-out RBI single up the middle off Keppel that brought home Krynzel, who had singled and stolen second to open the frame.

 

Omaha finally recorded a hit in the bottom of the sixth when Kerry Robinson singled off Sounds reliever Jason Kershner, who worked two scoreless frames behind Hendrickson.

 

The Royals, who had been held to one hit through the first seven innings, broke through in the bottom of the eighth against the Nashville bullpen, plating five unearned runs during a two-out rally to take a 5-3 lead.

 

With one out, Omaha loaded the bases against Sounds reliever Allan Simpson on a Mike Aviles fielder?s choice, Andres Blanco single, and a fielding error by shortstop Enrique Cruz on a grounder by Robinson. Ruben Gotay followed with a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Aviles with the Royals? first run of the contest. After Aaron Guiel drew a walk to re-load the bags, Omaha cleanup hitter Chad Allen chased Simpson with a game-tying, two-run single to left.

 

Mike Adams relieved Simpson and didn?t fare much better, surrendering a go-ahead two-run double to Chip Ambres on his second pitch.

 

Omaha closer Joel Peralta stifled the Sounds? offense in the ninth to earn his first save of the year.

 

Joe Nelson (1-0) picked up the win as the beneficiary of the Omaha comeback after striking out the side in his lone inning of work. Simpson (0-1), who was charged with five unearned runs in his two-thirds of an inning, took the loss after blowing the save.

 

The Sounds and Royals will play a 4:05 p.m. CT doubleheader on Saturday evening to make up Thursday evening?s postponed season opener. A pair of southpaws take the hill for Nashville.

 

Zach Jackson, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the off-season, makes his Brewers organization debut in the opener for the Sounds and will face Royals left-hander J.P. Howell.

 

Dana Eveland will make his Sounds debut in the nightcap when he squares off against Omaha right-hander Kyle Snyder.

[Mass Haas]

Power game back on after rain delay # 3; hopefully Ryan Crew can end it with his AB here in a minute or two...

 

EDIT: Groundout; on to the 10th inning in front of a few West Virginia faithful at 11:35 local time -- listen in!

 

Update: LHP Rafael Lluberes surrenders a two-run HR amidst the raindrops in the top of the 10th. Power down to their last three outs down 3-1; Ned Yost just led off with a walk...

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=776

 

Dillard Does It All in Stars Win

 

Tim Dillard worked 6 1/3 strong innings, and chipped in with a run-scoring single, in Huntsville?s 4-2 win over the Braves Friday night at Trustmark Park. The Stars have taken the first two games of the season-opening five-game set in Mississippi.

 

Callix Crabbe started the game with a single, moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored when Drew Anderson belted the next pitch off of former big leaguer Dave Coggin for a home run to right field. Crabbe has reached and scored in the first inning of the first two games. Huntsville added a run in the fourth to make it 3-0 when Jeff Eure doubled with one out, moved to third on a fly ball out and scored on a swinging bunt base hit by Dillard, who picked up his first hit as a professional in his second at-bat.

 

The Huntsville right-hander retired the first nine hitters he faced in his double-A debut before Gregor Blanco led off the home fourth with a double. Yunel Escobar walked with one out but Dillard worked out of trouble by retiring Jarrod Saltalamacchia on a fly ball and getting Matt Esquivel to bounce into a fielder?s choice. The visitors made it 4-0 in the sixth when Eure singled with two outs and scored on a double by Ozzie Chavez, who picked up his first hit of the year. Eure has reached base five times and scored four times in the first two games.

 

Dillard retired the side in order in the fifth and sixth innings and was lifted with one out and a runner at first in the seventh. Steve Bray retired Esquivel for the second out but then surrendered a home run to Mike Rosamond that cut the lead in half. Dillard was charged with one run on two hits and struck out five to grab the win.

 

?My confidence came with the defensive play behind me. I know that they will make the plays and that allows me to throw the pitches I want to throw,? said Dillard.

 

?He picked up where he left off last year, a different league in a different stadium is all. He changes speed well and knows how to pitch, which makes my job enjoyable. He?s a great student and will take information and use it,? said pitching Rich Sauveur.

 

Joe Winkelsas, who pitched in only four games due to injury last season, earned the save with a scoreless ninth inning. He allowed a wind-aided infield, pop-up to Esquivel and a slow rolling single up the third base line to Rosamond with two outs before retiring pinch-hitter Dax Norris on a comebacker to end the game.

 

Corey Thurman takes the mound for the Stars Saturday night and will be opposed by Braves? left-hander Brady Endl. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 and can be heard on ESPN Radio 1450 AM locally and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County Game Summary from the Daytona Site:

 

Big Blast Lifts Brevard Over Daytona

Parejo grand slam caps comeback

 

[DAYTONA BEACH, FL] Freddy Parejo hit a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning to help Brevard County (2-0) comeback from a 3-0 deficit to defeat the Cubs 7-3 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

 

For six innings Daytona was in control and had everyting going in its favor. The Cubs (0-2) jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the second off of Manatee starter Mark Rogers. Matt Craig started the inning with a leadoff walk. Issmael Salas followed with a single to left putting runners at first and second. Salas was picked off at first by Rogers; however, the Brevard pitcher uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Craig to advance to third. Joe Simokaitis continued his clutch play with an RBI single to center to give the Cubs the early 1-0 lead. After a Nate Spears walk, Sam Fuld singled to center as well scoring Simokaitis and giving Daytona a 2-0 cushion.

 

The Cubs would add to their lead in the fourth. Rogers once again issued a leadoff walk, this time to Simokaitis. Nate Spears got his first base hit as a member of the Cubs organization, a single to left, to put runners at first and second. After a Fuld sacrifice bunt, the Manatees brought in David Johnson from the bullpen. The first batter he faced, Jemel Spearman, lifted a fly ball to deep center scoring Simokaitis on the play, and Daytona had a solid 3-0 lead.

 

The offense was more than enough for the 2006 Chicago Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year Sean Gallagher. He scattered five hits over six strong shutout innings stiking out eight while only walking one. In two career starts for Daytona, both against Brevard County, Gallagher has allowed just one run in 11 innings of work striking out 15 batters.

 

The game changed as soon as Gallagher was taken out before the start of the seventh. Carlos Perez (0-1) struggled as he allowed back-to-back hits to Hernan Iribarren and Steve Sollmann to start the inning. A walk to Travis Ezi loaded the bases for Parejo who crushed a 2-1 fastball to left center field to give the Manatees the lead for the first time. Brevard County would add three runs in the top of the eighth off of Jon Hunton to ice the game and give the Manatees a 7-3 win. Johnson (1-0) picked up the win in relief after throwing two-plus innings of scoreless ball.

 

Game three of the series will be tomorrow night as former Cubs first round pick Luke Hagerty is scheduled to face Yovani Gallardo.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Delmarva (Orioles) 3, West Virginia 1, ten innings

 

West Virginia Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

SHOREBIRDS ENDURE THREE RAIN DEALYS TO BEAT THE POWER

 

The rain came and went several times throughout the course of Friday night?s game between the Delmarva Shorebirds and West Virginia Power at Appalachian Power Park. It was Rob Marconi?s two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning that finally sealed the fate for the Power in a 3-1 Delmarva victory.

 

Ryan Finan hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning to snap the scoreless tie. The Power tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Kenny Holmberg scored on Ned Yost?s sacrifice fly. The game remained tied until Rob Marconi hit a two-run homer in the top of the tenth inning to give Delmarva the lead for good.

 

Josh Potter (1-0) earned the victory, Jim Hoey (1) earned the save and Rafael Lluberes (0-1) obtained the loss. The Power fall to 1-1 with the loss and the Shorebirds improve to 1-1 with the win.

 

The Power will continue the series with the Shorebirds on Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park. Right hander Will Inman will start for the Power and Delmarva will counter with right-hander Chorye Spoone. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).