Link Report for Wednesday, August 24th - AZ Box Now Up

[Mass Haas]

Video Report: Nashville Sounds silence fireworks until investigation into Friday's mishap complete; fireworks mishap at Sounds game injures five

 

www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=3750526

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section.../200508251

 

Captains quiet Power bats in 1-0 win

By Jay Srinivasan

For the Charleston Gazette

 

The West Virginia Power pitchers did a great job Wednesday night. The problem was, Lake County?s pitchers performed even better.

 

Reid Santos allowed one hit over 6 2/3 innings to lead the Captains to a 1-0 victory in front of 2,948 paid fans at Appalachian Power Park.

 

Power manager Ramon Aviles lamented that his batters didn?t make any adjustments against Santos.

 

?Santos pitched a good game. But we kept trying to pull the ball instead of going up the middle or the other way like we are supposed to,? said Aviles. ?We?ve been telling them all year. But for some reason, they are hard-headed and they keep trying to pull and play into the pitcher?s hand.?

 

West Virginia raised hopes of a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Agustin Septimo led off, hitting closer Jesus Soto?s first pitch high and deep to center field. With the crowd gasping, Juan Valdes caught the ball a couple of yards from the fence.

 

Next up, Will Lewis bounced to third baseman Matt Whitney. Whitney added to the excitement with an errant throw into the crowd, advancing Lewis to second. Undeterred, Soto struck out Brendan Katin and then forced out Grant Richardson for his second save.

 

?We got a couple of chances with men in scoring position, but we were not aggressive at the plate,? said Aviles.

 

Lake County scored its only run in the top of the first. Wyatt Toregas singled to left off starter Mark Rogers, advanced to third on catcher Carlos Corporan?s throwing error and scored on a wild pitch.

 

As it turned out, that was enough for Santos. He came out with all guns blazing, striking out the first six batters. West Virginia?s first hit off Santos came in the fifth when Katin singled to center. But he retired the next eight batters in order before getting replaced.

 

In all, Santos (5-7) struck out 11 and walked one for the win.

 

?Santos did a pretty good job tonight,? said Captains manager Mike Sarbaugh. ?Starting with six straight strikeouts . . . I think he will take that every night.?

 

For the Power, Rogers (1-9) took the loss after yielding one earned run, three hits and four walks, while striking out seven.

 

?We couldn?t generate anything offensively,? said Power pitching coach Jim Rooney. ?So you?ve got to tip your hat to their pitchers. Their left-hander [santos] did an outstanding job.?

 

The Power has dropped eight of its last nine games and is 10 games behind first-place Delmarva.

 

Aviles maintained that his players aren?t losing their intensity levels down the stretch.

 

?The intensity is there,? said Aviles. ?It?s just that the concentration is not.?

 

West Virginia begins a four-game road series against the Lexington Legends tonight. The Power will throw right-hander Kevin Roberts (1-2, 6.30) against Legends righty Paul Estrada (4-7, 3.03). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 (6:05 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.casperstartribune.net...1ecb6f.txt

 

Marion mows down Rockies

By CORY MATTESON

Casper Star-Tribune staff writer

 

Ask anyone at Mike Lansing Field about Helena starting pitcher Ryan Marion's three-hit, one-run performance that helped the Brewers beat Casper 6-3 on Wednesday night and adulation for the right-hander's night would likely flow.

 

So Corey Wimberly, how 'bout that Marion?

 

"A lot of the times, hitters get theirselves out," the Rockies infielder said. "Of course he pitched a great game, but I never really praise the pitcher."

 

Regardless, Marion (4-1) settled in after escaping a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam in the bottom of the first with minimal damage -- a Cole Garner sac fly that scored Wimberly. In the process, he fanned two Rockies.

 

Marion recorded seven strikeouts on the night, and at one point retired 11 straight batters before Dexter Fowler reached on an error in the sixth. His night also included a stretch in which he K'd five of six batters he faced.

 

"We had a chance to open the game up again," said manager P.J. Carey, one night after the Rockies failed to capitalize on another opportunity with the bases loaded. "We weren't able to do it and gave him a chance to settle himself and get locked in. That happens."

 

Helena took control early on, capitalizing on every opportunity presented in the first four innings. And when you compile eight hits in those first four innings, opportunities abound.

 

The Brewers scored their six runs in various fashions, including an RBI triple, two sacrifice flies and even a botched rundown between third and home during which Kenny Holmberg scooted past Rockies catcher Ramon Rodriguez, who'd dropped the toss from Wimberly.

 

But the news was not all bad on Casper's side. The Pioneer Baseball League announced that Carey has been named Manager of the Year for his effort to keep the Rockies (12-12, 32-30) in the playoff hunt. It's the fourth time he's won such an award since joining the Rockies organization.Carey mentioned that managers get awards such as the one because of the players and coaches around him.

 

Mass Haas: And how did Helena Manager Ed Sedar not take this award?

 

Helena Independent Record:

 

Brewers trample Rockies

 

Helena built an early lead and went on to beat Casper 6-3 in a Pioneer League contest Wednesday.

 

Kenny Holmberg scored on Ned Yost's triple in the first inning for the first run of the night.

 

The Brewers would score in each of the first four innings with Michael Bell having two RBI in the span.

 

Bell has 34 RBI on the season.

 

Ryan Marion improved his record to 4-1 after pitching six innings with seven strikeouts while Brandon Durden took the loss for the Rockies, who remain in the lead in the Southern Division standings.

 

Will Inman also had a stellar night for the Brewers adding six strikeouts.

 

Helena returns to Kindrick Legion Field tonight at 7:05 p.m. (8:05 Central).

 

The Brewers will host Billings for a three game series before hosting Missoula for another three games before going back on the road to play Great Falls.

 

Missoula is five games behind the Brewers in the Northern Division standings followed by Billings who are only six back after a five game winning streak.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Long night for Stars

Mobile power proves too much for Huntsville

By MATTHEW NASCONE

For The Huntsville Times

 

The game started off nicely for the Huntsville Stars against the Mobile BayBears. Callix Crabbe got a triple in the first inning and later scored on a single by Brandon Gemoll to put the Stars quickly up 1-0.

 

Unfortunately, it went downhill from there as the BayBears proceeded to score the next eight runs en route to an 8-2 victory Wednesday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

"We scored in the first and they answered back in the second," said Huntsville manager Don Money. "They just kept adding to the lead and we don't score a lot of runs, so we couldn't deal with being down so many runs.

 

"We don't have a lot of power, so we can't sit back and wait for the three-run homer, like Earl Weaver did in Baltimore.

 

It was the third loss in a row for the Stars.

 

Mobile's scoring began with Joe Gerber's home run to tie the game at 1-1. Steve Baker made it 3-0 Bay Bears in the fourth inning with a line drive home run over the left field fence to score Jeff Duncan.

 

Gerber added a single in the fourth inning, finishing the night 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

 

Mobile added another run in the fifth, increasing its lead to 4-1. Peter Ramos walked to open the inning and Brian Whitaker laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Ramos to second base. Ramos scored on a single by Kennard Jones, who later scored on a single by Corey Smith. In the seventh, Luis Cruz hit another two-run homer for Mobile to make it 7-1.

 

In the eighth, Ramos reached on an error by Adam Heether. Ramos scored on a single by Jones to make it 8-1.

 

The Stars loaded the bases in the ninth inning, but could get only one run when Enrique Cruz scored on a sacrifice fly by Ben Van Iderstine to make it 8-2.

 

Crabbe went 2-for-4 and Cruz 2-for-3 to pace the Stars at the plate. Josh Habel (1-7) took the loss for the Stars, going 4 2/3 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits,

 

Brian Whitaker (8-11) went eight innings, giving up one run on six hits for the BayBears.

[SheetsCyYoung04]

Forget Rick Helling, I say Billy Inman to Milwaukee!!!!!

[bjamesw22]

MUCH better line from Mark Rogers. Still a little concerned about the number of walks given up but I guess it's kind of expected from a kid that young throwing so hard. I hope he can string 2-3 consecutive starts like this in a row before the season ends. It'd be an excellent carry over to next season! That a boy Mark!

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...005082544/

 

Power gives away game with miscues

Christopher Wade

For the Charleston Daily Mail

 

The West Virginia Power gift-wrapped Lake County starting pitcher Reid Santos a special birthday present Wednesday night.

 

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Santos needed it because the Captain hitters didn't provide him with an offensive explosion or even much run support.

 

However, Santos' left arm, Lake County's timely fielding, and a couple huge Power miscues gave Santos a victorious 23rd birthday and the Captains a 1-0 victory at Appalachian Power Park in front of a paid crowd of 2,948.

 

"This was one of the better birthdays I've had in a while," Santos said. "It seemed to be one of those days that I could throw my breaking ball at anytime."

 

Santos (5-7) entered the game with a 5.18 earned run average and in his last outing, gave up eight runs on nine hits in just three innings of work in a loss to Greensboro.

 

The Power, however, was only able to earn one hit off Santos in his 6 2/3 innings and the Power offense struck out 11 times during that span.

 

Adrian Schau and Jesus Soto combined for 2 1/3 innings of shutout relief to preserve the victory for Santos and the Captains (29-27).

 

Power right-handed pitcher Mark Rogers deserved a better fate as he allowed only three hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

 

Rogers' record falls to 1-9 while also in defeat for the Power (27-29), Dave Johnson and Robert Hinton pitched well in relief, allowing just two hits combined in their 3 2/3 innings of work.

 

"You rarely see a pitching performance from both teams like that, especially in the minor leagues," Santos said.

 

"Their pitcher (Rogers) did a great job, too. People like to come out and see an offensive explosion and don't seem to appreciate a good pitcher's performance."

 

Lake County scored the first and only run of the game in the first inning. With two outs and Wyatt Toreagas on first base, Power catcher Carlos Corporan attempted to pick off the Captain's catcher.

 

However, the ball sailed over the head of first baseman Grant Richardson and into the right field corner before hitting the tarp, allowing Toreagas to reach third base.

 

Following a walk, a Rogers wild pitch allowed Toreagas to score on a bang-bang play at the plate.

 

"We made a mistake and threw the ball away when we shouldn't even be throwing the ball anywhere anyway and then they score the game's only run on a wild pitch," Power Manager Ramon Aviles said.

 

"I thought the runner was out. Mark blocked the plate pretty good but the umpire didn't see it that way."

 

The first six Power players struck out. The Power didn't get its first hit until right fielder's Brendan Katin's bloop single to center field in the fifth inning.

 

The Power finally got past first base with a scoring chance in the seventh inning as with two outs, Katin walked, ending Santos' evening.

 

After Richardson singled to put Power runners on first and third with two outs, third baseman Matt Gamel -- in his first start with the Power after getting called up from Helena -- hit a line drive shot to left-center field.

 

It seemed as if the Power would tie the game and Gamel would earn his first hit with his new team, but Lake County center fielder Juan Valdez raced in and made a diving catch to preserve the lead.

 

"That was pretty much the ball game," Lake County Manager Mike Sarbaugh said.

 

"Gamel hit it right on a line. It looked like it may fall in but Juan made a great catch and somehow one run held up for us."

 

The Power had one last chance to tie the game in the ninth inning as Will Lewis hit an infield single and reached second on a throwing error.

 

However, with one out, Katin struck out and Richardson grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Mariners 7, Arizona Brewers 4

Team in freefall mode...

 

Weather: 100 degrees, clear.

Wind: 0 mph, None.

T: 2:42.

Att: 17.

 

Arizona Box Score:

Wow, Michael Brantley on base all five plate appearances, he's on fire -- he's only struck out 13 times in 165 AB's (21 walks); Brewers outhit Mariners 11-5 in losing effort, but lost the base on balls matchup 5-2; four members of the Latin mound staff combined on all the action; Milwaukee just might get a couple of bats out of this group way down the road...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_mrnrok_1

 

Arizona Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_mrnrok_1