Link Report for Games of Monday, August 8th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Stars notebook (through Friday's games)

Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

 

There are, they say, two kinds of pitchers. Those who have had surgery, and those who will. The list of surgeries for the Stars staff grows by two.

 

Manny Parra had surgery Thursday to clean up some frayed areas in his rotator cuff, nothing extensive and he'll be on an easy path to be ready for spring training 2006. Matt DeWitt will undergo Tommy John surgery on his elbow this week.

 

There is a long line of top pitching prospects in the Milwaukee organization to have significant arm problems, some of which have been career-ending or career-threating, including high-round draft picks like Mike Jones, Nick Neugebauer and J.M. Gold.

 

"It's alarming,'' farm director Reid Nichols said earlier this season. The Brewers brought together the trainers and medical staffs from all their teams last winter to brainstorm over the epidemic, but to some extent it's merely the hazard of pitching.

 

Whatever the case, it's thinned out the Brewers' home-grown pitching crop. Consider this: On Friday, the Stars used four pitchers. Glenn Woolard (acquired from Giants), Jerome Gamble (Red Sox), Andy Pratt (Braves and Cubs) and Brian Wolfe (Twins). On Thursday, Alec Zumwalt (Braves) got the save.

 

Elsewhere on the pitching injury front, Khalid Ballouli continues to rehab, with a chance he'll throw before the season ends. ...

 

Jeff Winchester was charged with four passed balls Friday, one shy of the Southern League record held by Terry Clapp of Asheville, in 1973. ... The Stars lead the Southern League in passed balls, with 26. But they'll (hopefully) fall short of the league record of 42. ... At least there's no steroid suspicion: The Stars had only 56 homers as a team going into Saturday, worst in the league (Mississippi was second-worst, at 64.) And only 33 of those homers are from players currently on the Huntsville roster. ...

 

Alumni update on two of the most popular ex-Stars: Bucky Jacobsen, recovering from knee surgery, will report this week to Seattle's Single-A team for a week, then move to Triple-A, with hopes of rejoining the Mariners in September. Derek Lee, the Stars' all-time leader in many pitching categories, was rescued from independent ball by the Texas Rangers, and is 3-1 at Triple-A Oklahoma with a 3.93 ERA in nine starts. Saturday's Fort Worth Star-Telegram, in Lee's hometown, reported the Rangers are considering him for a call-up to the majors.

 

Around the league

 

Ballots for MVP and Pitcher of the Year are due this week. Stars manager Don Money said he hesitates to vote for anyone who didn't spend nearly the entire season in the league, something that may hurt the chances of Montgomery's Delmon Young (.337, 20 HR, 71 RBIs), promoted on July 15. Well, that and Young's petulance may cost him some media votes. (He asked for "appearance fees" to do local TV interviews). ...

 

West Tenn's Ricky Nolasco (10-2, 3.33, league lead in strikeouts) is the favorite for the pitching award. ...

 

Montgomery's Elijah Dukes makes Young look like Miss Congeniality. He's been suspended again after his fifth ejection by umpires. ... West Tenn first baseman Brandon Sing was named the Southern League Player of the Month for July. ...

 

Brush with celebrity: Tennessee reliever Casey Daigle, husband of Olympian Jennie Finch, faced Carolina's Rex Rundgren, son of rocker Todd, Friday night. ...

 

The Smokies have been rained out at home this year on 5/5, 6/6 and 7/7. So they guarantee a game Monday (8/8) or fans can use the rain check for two future games.

[Mass Haas]

In Huntsville:

 

The announced crowd of 11,544 at Joe Davis Stadium enjoyed the sunny weather and a Christian concert by Scott Dawson ministries, "Safe at Home."

 

While in Charleston:

 

Pete Elliot, lead singer of Def Leppard, and guitarist Phil Collen belt out a song at Appalachian Power Park on Sunday. The rock band, whose hits included ?Pour Some Sugar On Me,? ?Foolin?? and ?Too Late for Love,? shared the bill with another ?80s icon, Bryan Adams.

Charleston Gazette Photographer: Chip Ellis

 

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/Lep2.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Limber up those pitching arms

Every fan will get to throw a 'first' pitch

Scott Brown, Florida Today

 

The creative minds at Space Coast Stadium obviously have shifted into another gear.

 

On Aug. 27, a Brevard County Manatees baseball game will be sandwiched by an attempt to break a record for first pitches thrown and a wedding at home plate followed by heart-shaped fireworks and a complete fireworks show.

 

What, no dancing elephants?

 

"You know us," Manatees general manager Buck Rogers said, laughing. "We're a little twisted here."

 

Rogers and his staff have planned a day that will have something for everybody.

 

The gate for the 7 p.m. game against Palm Beach will open at 2 p.m., and anyone who buys a ticket will have an opportunity to throw a pitch from the Space Coast Stadium mound.

 

It will be part of an effort to break the record recognized by Minor League Baseball for most first pitches thrown. Rogers said 1,200 balls will be available for the promotion.

 

The record, he said, is 1,160, and Rogers would know. He worked for the Daytona Cubs when the record was set there in 2002.

 

Participants will have an opportunity to throw as many pitches as they want, Rogers said. They simply have to go to the back of the line after their turn and wait to throw again.

 

An added bonus, Rogers said, is that anyone who throws a pitch gets to keep the baseball.

 

Rogers expects everyone from his staff to the Manatees players to take part in the quest.

 

"Anybody who wants to throw a first pitch can do it," Rogers said. "We invite everybody."

 

That will be the main attraction, but not the only one. A fireworks show will take place following the game -- and after a local man and woman exchange wedding vows at home plate.

 

In all, the final Saturday home game of the season for the Manatees promises to be entertaining.

 

"It's a fans day at its finest," Rogers said.

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central except for Arizona Rookie; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Jeff Housman at Salt Lake (Angels), 7:40 PM pre-game, 8:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Josh Habel at home vs. Mobile (Padres), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

If that link is down for bandwidth, use:

specs.eyecentric.com/pres...opup.shtml

 

Brevard County: First, it's the completion of Sunday's suspended game at St. Lucie (Mets), 4:00 PM, to be followed by the regularly scheduled game (pitcher TBD); RHP Carlos Villanueva pitched two scoreless innings Sunday as the Manatees lead 1-0 in the top of the third; no audio for this series

 

West Virginia: LHP Greg Kloosterman at Greensboro (Marlins), 6:00 PM; Kloos looking to avoid loss # 17...

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: RHP Robbie Wooley at Billings (Reds), 8:05 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.billingsmustangs.com/

 

Arizona: TBD at the rookie Rangers' complex, 7:00 PM local time; never any web audio for Arizona Rookie ball...

[Mass Haas]

Links to follow Monday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_slcaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County Completion of Suspended Game:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sluafx_1

 

Brevard County Regularly Scheduled Game:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sluafx_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_gboafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

 

Arizona:

Not updated live, but usually later during the overnight...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_rngrok_1

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 63 52 .548 - 31-29 32-23 L1[/b] Memphis 57 58 .496 6.0 30-30 27-28 W2 Omaha 54 61 .470 9.0 22-29 32-32 W2 Iowa 52 60 .464 9.5 33-27 19-33 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 26 14 .650 - 15-9 11-5 W3 West Tenn 25 17 .595 2.0 12-10 13-7 W1 [b]Huntsville 19 23 .452 8.0 7-13 12-10 L3[/b] Tennessee 18 24 .429 9.0 8-9 10-15 L5 Chattanooga 15 27 .357 12.0 8-16 7-11 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vero Beach 28 14 .667 - 14-7 14-7 W2 [b]Brevard County 24 17 .585 3.5 9-10 15-7 W3[/b] Palm Beach 25 19 .568 4.0 11-11 14-8 L2 St. Lucie 23 18 .561 4.5 10-10 13-8 L2 Daytona 18 23 .439 9.5 11-12 7-11 W1 Jupiter 14 26 .350 13.0 11-11 3-15 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 28 13 .683 - 17-3 11-10 W1 Hickory 25 17 .595 3.5 14-9 11-8 L1 Lexington 22 20 .524 6.5 14-11 8-9 W1 [b]West Virginia 22 20 .524 6.5 12-9 10-11 W1[/b] Lakewood 20 22 .476 8.5 12-11 8-11 W1 Lake County 19 23 .452 9.5 8-11 11-12 L1 Greensboro 18 24 .429 10.5 6-10 12-14 L1 Hagerstown 13 25 .342 13.5 5-12 8-13 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Helena 8 0 1.000 - 3-0 5-0 W8[/b] Billings 3 5 .375 5.0 1-2 2-3 L5 Missoula 3 5 .375 5.0 2-3 1-2 W1 Great Falls 2 6 .250 6.0 1-4 1-2 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Giants 7 1 .875 - 3-1 4-0 W6 AZL Mariners 7 2 .778 0.5 4-1 3-1 W2 AZL Athletics 5 4 .556 2.5 4-1 1-3 W3 AZL Rangers 5 5 .500 3.0 4-2 1-3 L2 [b]AZL Brewers 4 4 .500 3.0 1-3 3-1 L2[/b] AZL Padres 3 5 .375 4.0 1-3 2-2 W1 AZL Royals 3 5 .375 4.0 2-2 1-3 W1 AZL Angels 3 6 .333 4.5 1-1 2-5 L4 AZL Cubs 2 7 .222 5.5 1-4 1-3 W1

Standings, Stats and League Leaders, USA Today (or go to MILB.com):

 

www.usatoday.com/sports/b.../index.htm

[Mass Haas]

From the "we hope the Brewers know what they're doing" dept:

 

Manatees site --

 

RHP Tim Dillard, who has already tied two Brevard County Manatees franchise pitching records this season: two complete games and five shutouts, sports an 11-7 record and a 2.45 ERA. His 154.1 innings pitched is only 11 innings off the all-time Manatees record of 165.1 set by Ryan Dempster back in 1997.

[pogokat]

looking pretty much like it's about to rain alot in greensboro...i'll be at the game if it doesn't

[colbyjack]

A nice picture of Ryan Braun graces the homepage of Baseball America today, along with a nice feature in their Daily Dish:

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/images2005/rbraun450325.jpg

 

Quote:

---

Baseball America's Daily Dish

Compiled by Aaron Fitt, Chris Kline and Matt Meyers

August 8, 2005

 

GREENSBORO--As it's presently constituted, low Class A West Virginia is probably the most prospect-laden team in the South Atlantic League this season. Having featured Hernan Iribarren, Alcides Escobar, Mark Rogers and Yovani Gallardo all season, it recently added Charlie Fermaint and Angel Salome from Rookie-level Helena and 2005 first-rounder Ryan Braun. The Power prospects were in Greensboro yesterday to take on the Grasshoppers and of course, BA was there.

 

With Gallardo on the mound for West Virginia and lefthander Taylor Tankersley throwing for Greensboro, it offered the opportunity to see a 2004 second-rounder face off against a first-rounder. Tankersley opened the game by getting ahead of Fermaint 0-2. The Alabama product tried to sneak a 2-2, inside fastball by Fermaint and the 19-year-old turned on it to produce his second homer in eight SAL games and give the Power a 1-0 lead.

 

After that, Tankersley seemed unable to throw his fastball inside for strikes against righthanded hitters. In the second, he walked Salome to lead off the inning, as well as Josh Brady and Josh Miller, all righthanded. He managed to escape with only allowing one run, but he was clearly laboring as he was unable to command his fastball.

 

Tankersley got himself into trouble again in the third as Iribarren led off with a single and Escobar reached on an error. He got ahead of cleanup hitter Grant Richardson, but hung an 0-2 changeup that was smoked into center to load the bases. The lefthander managed to fan Braun for the second time on a looping inside curveball, but Salome sat on a first-pitch fastball and deposited it into the gap in right center to drive in two and put the Power up 4-0, a lead they never relinquished.

 

Tankersley's only saving grace was his curveball, a big 12-to-6 breaker around 74 mph he used to fan Braun three times, and six overall in five difficult innings. His fastball was erratic. Although it touched 92, he never seemed to control it and he was visibly frustrated as West Virginia hitters were extremely patient.

 

Gallardo, on the other hand, was in command from the start. He was using his fastball, which was sitting in the 88-92 mph range (and touched 93) to get ahead of hitters and his cutter to put them away. His cutter, which was coming in around 82-85, was giving righthanded hitters fits. The righthander went six innings and fanned eight while inducing twice as many ground balls as fly balls. The only blemish on his day was giving up a solo shot to Brad McCann with two outs in the sixth.

 

Gallardo struggled a bit during the first half of the season as he tried to strike everybody out. Now that he is trusting his fielders and challenging hitters with a wicked fastball-cutter combo, he is seeing success and the strikeouts are coming anyway. Since July 1, the 19-year-old is 4-0, 2.41 with 43 strikeouts and 15 walks in 41 innings.

---

 

And of course Will Inman's performance wasn't going to go unnoticed:

 

Quote:

---

Helena, with an eight-game winning streak, continued to dominate the Rookie-level Pioneer League, and it?s not just because of its hitters. Friday, four Brewers pitchers combined on a no-hitter in an 11-0 win against Billings. Sunday, righthander Will Inman, the Brewers' third-round pick in June, struck out 10 in seven hitless innings, and the Brewers finished with a combined one-hitter in a 5-1 victory against Billings. Inman, who walked one, improved to 4-0, 2.40 in his longest outing as a pro. The stocky 6-foot-1, 205-pounder, has a low-90s fastball and swing-and-miss curveball that helped him set the state of Virginia's all-time high school strikeouts record.

---

[CC Badger]

He was using his fastball, which was sitting in the 88-92 mph range (and touched 93) to get ahead of hitters and his cutter to put them away. His cutter, which was coming in around 82-85, was giving righthanded hitters fits.

 

For some reason I thought that Yo threw a bit harder than that. I'm ecstatic that he is having success in West Virginia and making the necessary adjustments to be an effective pitcher. Not only has Yo impressed me how about the top four pitchers drafted this year. Inman, Roberts, Hammond and Garrison have all been very good. I can't wait to see how these pitchers along with Mark Rogers do in the years to come.

[Mass Haas]

Good news for a Brewerfan favorite -- well-deserved:

 

Nashville Press Release:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1734

 

Corey Hart Named PCL Batter-Of-The-Week

Nashville Sounds All-Star outfielder Corey Hart ? the # 7 prospect of the Milwaukee Brewers ? has been named the Pacific Coast League?s Batter-of-the-Week for the August 1-7 period after showcasing his all-around skills in the batter?s box during the stanza.

 

In six games last week, the 23-year-old hit safely in each contest, batting .455 (10-for-22), and produced a PCL-best 12 RBIs (tied with teammate Prince Fielder) while leading the Sounds with 25 total bases, six extra-base hits (three triples, three home runs), eight runs scored, and posting a league-leading 1.136 slugging mark.

 

His week included a two-homer, six-RBI contest on Saturday at Colorado Springs and a league-leading four stolen bases, which gave Hart a career-high 28 thefts on the season as well as a share of the PCL lead in that department. The six-RBI night was his best of 2005 and one shy of the Sounds? single-game mark.

 

Hart, who was Nashville?s lone representative in July?s Triple-A All-Star Game, currently holds a seven-game hitting streak (11-for-26, .423) and is batting a solid .366 (90-for-246) over his last 59 contests.

 

For the season, the Bowling Green, Ky. native is hitting .308 (125-for-406) with 16 home runs and 66 RBIs in a team-high 107 games. The 23-year-old also has a team-best 28 doubles and co-team-leading nine triples to his credit.

 

With one additional triple, Hart will become the first Nashville player to post a double-digit total in each of the extra-base hit categories since second baseman Ray Durham in 1994 (33 2B, 12 3B, 16 HR) during his American Association MVP campaign.

 

On the year, Hart leads the Nashville offense in doubles, triples, stolen bases, runs scored (77), hits (125), and total bases (219), ranking second to Fielder in home runs, RBIs, and walks (45).

 

His award is the second accumulated by a Sounds player during the 2005 season. Fielder was selected as the PCL Batter-of-the-Week for the May 23-29 period.

 

The Nashville Sounds begin the second leg of their longest road trip of the season this evening in Utah with the 8:00 p.m. CT opener of a four-game series against the Salt Lake Stingers (AAA-Angels), a matchup of two of the Pacific Coast League?s four division leaders.

[Mass Haas]

More weekly honors -- press release likely to follow, but until then:

 

Pioneer League Offensive Player of the Week -- Agustin Septimo

 

Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week -- Will Inman

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio from earlier this weekend with Manager Frank Kremblas:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%208-5.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Meant to kick off today's Link Report with this, but as you can see above, there was a bunch of miscellaneous stuff to report:

 

My thanks to colbyjack for filling in so admirably on Link Report duties this weekend.

 

Had a great weekend in Philly -- saw many more Brewer fans than anticipated, and we sure enjoyed Tomo and Turnbow on Sunday.

 

Had a chance to speak very briefly with a few Brewers, including Dana Eveland -- kind of Brewerfan's adopted first big leaguer is a good way of putting it, I guess. Chris Capuano had a nice group of Massachusetts folks come down, and he was incredibly disappointed in his Saturday start but very gracious and appreciative of the support he had.

 

A special hello and thanks to two Brewerfan posters, first, Cyanogen05 (Mike, who somehow planned his wedding in two weeks in the middle of a wild card run), and whose fiance is accommodating enough to sit through all three games this weekend. Now that's a keeper, Mike -- you done good. gregmag (Greg) met up with us at both weekend games and he and his friend gave us an outstanding tour of South Street Sunday evening.

 

Can't forget radio voice Jim Powell, who showed his Brewerfan appreciation by allowing us to chat with him for a few minutes post-game Saturday night. He divulged his super-secret tip for keeping up on the minor league games during a broadcast -- opening a window to each minor league box score via the Link Report -- don't worry, Jim -- your secret's safe with us...uh, oops. Believe me folks, Jim's the ultimate in class act -- we're lucky to have him.

 

Finally, one of the Brewers I spoke with ever so briefly was third base coach Rich Donnelly. I no longer have the audio link of Rich's own voice to his story, unfortunately, but it's a story that deserves to be linked to once a year. I had mentioned to Rich how it had touched me and gave my best to his family and thanked him for sharing it. This article was originally written in 2000:

 

www.rockypreps.com/adams/0227adams.shtml

 

Edit: Forgot to add how Eveland, Capuano, Justin Lehr, Doug Davis, and Victor Santos were among several Brewer pitchers who were extra-generous with their time signing auographs and chatting with fans pre-game Sunday. Dana in particular must feel like he's in a dreamworld.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio with Farm Director Reid Nichols from Sunday:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%208-6.mp3

[homer]

Funny you mention Powell checking out the minorleague scores via Brewerfan - I was listening to the game Sunday and wondering if he used BF.net for his 'source'.

 

p.s. Hi Jim!

[molitor fan]

I met Rich Donnelley in spring training as well as his in-laws and they were all very nice people.....i remember that phrase, "chicken runs at midnight" from that '92 series, and that article Mass linked made me tear up a little bit.....

 

Everyone needs to read that article that is a few posts up, and a couple posters here need to remember it the next time a runner gets thrown out at home and they start throwing Donnelley under the bus.....it is just a game.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Audio Plays of the Week:

Very cool version...

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%208-7.mp3

 

Nashville Media Notes for Monday (PDF format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 10, St. Lucie 0, completion of Sunday's suspended game

No linescore or game log on these suspended follow-ups, but the box score is intact...

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Three relievers combine for seven innings of one-hit ball; RHP Kenny Durost, who's hung in there from early season misery and has pitched better as of late, gets the win - good for him; Manatees scored against all five Met pitchers; Steve Moss, Drew Anderson and Steve Sollman on base three times each; Moss and Robby Deevers with doubles among the Manatees' 16 hits...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sluafx_1

[homer]

Braun goes 4-5 with a dinger and a double. Avg up to .350.

[pogokat]

Just got home from the Power game...acouple of notes:

 

Rasheed looked pretty brutal in LF...he ran right past 2 balls, though i think he didn't get an error on either one...

 

Alcides badly missplayed a hit in the bottom of the 4th...he probably could've gotten the guy...maybe not..

 

Hernan's hr was only about 370 feet...but that guy is good...made a great diving stop later in the game...

 

I don't see this "hitch" in Braun's swing that everyone was talking about...the closest thing i noticed was that he turns his wrists over late...but i think that's probably where alot of his power comes from...anyway, his hr was waaaaay gone...i would say he's got a good eye, even without the walks...he just crushes almost every good pitch he sees...His K was two low and away questionable strikes followed by a huge swing at a ball that was in the strike zone...other than that, he just killed the ball

 

Klosterman is throwing beach balls up there...he walked the first two guys he saw..and everyone else hit it very hard...if the speed gun in Greensboro is to be believed, he only throws in the mid 80's...

 

Justin barnes looked impressive again...stancyzk did not...but both throw pretty hard

 

very entertaining game...i'm excited about tommorrow..

[Mass Haas]

Final: St. Lucie (Mets) 11, Brevard County 3, regularly scheduled game

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Not much redeeming here, let's move on with the split of the two games...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sluafx_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sluafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 10, Greensboro (Marlins) 8

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

Power offense erupts in 10-8 victory

Greensboro, NC ? On Monday night Ryan Braun smacked four hits, Grant Richardson extended his remarkable streak, the Power belted three home runs and they went on to beat the Greensboro Grasshoppers 10-8 at First Horizon Park in Greensboro.

 

Brad McCann hit a two-run single in the bottom of the first inning and he scored later in the first on Steve Gendron?s RBI base hit to give Greensboro a 3-0 lead. The Power took a 4-3 lead in the top of the second inning when Josh Murray hit the second Power grand slam of the season -- the home run was his eighth of the year.

 

Greensboro took the lead again in the bottom of the second after Beau McMillan scored on a double steal and J.T. Restko knocked in a run on a double. The Grasshoppers didn?t have the lead for long. In the top of the third inning Braun hit a two-run blast, his seventh home run with the Power, making it a 6-5 Power lead. The Grasshoppers tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the fourth inning on McCann?s sacrifice fly.

 

The Power pulled away scoring three times in the top of the fifth inning. Hernan Iribarren hit a solo shot, his fourth homer of the season, Richardson hit an RBI single and he scored later in the inning on Braun?s RBI double. In the top of the seventh inning Richardson crossed the plate for the third time in the game. Brendan Katin hit into what appeared to be an inning-ending double play, but McMillan?s low throw allowed Katin to reach, and Richardson to score. McCann hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to make it a 10-8 game. The game ended with the tying run on base for Greensboro for the second night in a row.

 

Richardson went 3 for 5 in the game, marking the 27th straight game that he has reached base safely.

 

Greg Kloosterman (4-16) earned the victory, and Zach Lerch (3-3) obtained the loss. The Power are 23-20 in the second half after the win and the Grasshoppers move to 18-25 with the loss.

 

The Power will conclude the four game series against Greensboro at First Horizon Park on Tuesday afternoon. The Power will throw RHP Derek DeCarlo (6-3, 4.44) and the Grasshoppers will counter with LHP Adam Brandenburg (4-6, 4.57). The first pitch is scheduled for 12:30 PM (11:30 AM Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

You could absolutely make the case that RHP Justin Barnes is this team's MVP -- Toby called this one, Barnes will be 2006's Ty Taubenheim at Brevard...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_gboafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_gboafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Mobile (Padres) 8, Huntsville 6

Down year for the Stars continues, pretty much playing for team pride and individual glory, but not a postseason berth...

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Enrique Cruz' errors are just unacceptable, and frankly, I'm tired of mentioning them; Stars get 19 baserunners on and lose; six and 1/3 impeccable innings from the pen -- nice job, guys; there's just no explanation for the passed balls from the Huntsville catching duo -- if you add in all of Vinny Rottino's from early in the season, the Stars must be approaching some obscure Southern League record...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Stars had a big chance in the 9th...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1