Link Report for Games of Monday, August 8th

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Mobile Makes Most of Two Big Innings

Ronnie Merrill knocked in four runs and Mobile withstood a middle innings rally and ninth inning threat to down Huntsville 8-6 Monday night in the opener of a three-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The BayBears improved to 16-24 in the second half by winning their fourth straight over the Stars, who lost their fourth straight game to fall to 19-24 in the second half. The Stars have lost nine of their last 12 at home and scored more than four runs in a game for the first time since beating Montgomery 11-3 on July 31.

 

Vinny Rottino singled to open the ninth inning against Dale Thayer, who began the frame on the hill as Mobile?s fifth pitcher of the night, and moved to second base on a one-out single by Enrique Cruz, who collected his third hit of the game. Ben Van Iderstine walked with two outs to load the bases before Jeff Winchester grounded into a force play at second base to end the game. Thayer recorded his league best 21st save.

 

Mobile tallied three times in the first inning on a run-scoring single by George Kottaras and a two-run double by Merrill. Huntsville starter Josh Habel retired the side in order in the second inning but was roughed up for five runs in the third and suffered the loss to drop to 1-5. Merrill started the third inning charge with a two-run single that was followed by a Joe Gerber single that knocked in a run. Kennard Jones capped the uprising with a two-out, two-run single that pushed the visitors lead to 8-1 and bounced Habel from the game.

 

Cruz belted a leadoff, opposite field home run to right field in the fourth to trim the visitors lead to 8-2. It was his 13th of the year, eighth straight at home and first since July 7. The Stars rallied for four runs in the fifth inning, all with two outs, on run-scoring singles by Brandon Gemoll and Winchester and a two-run triple by Van Iderstine, his third of the year. Paul Abraham came on to strike out pinch-hitter Nelson Castro for the final out of the frame and worked a scoreless sixth inning to earn his second win of the year.

 

Gerrit Simpson worked two and a third innings of scoreless relief behind Habel and was followed by Alec Zumwalt, who retired all nine hitters he faced. Jerome Gamble worked a perfect ninth, as the bullpen trio retired the last 13 hitters it faced. Kennard Jones was the last Mobile batter to reach base with a two-out single in the fifth. The Stars outhit Mobile 16-9, as Rottino, Cruz, Winchester and Tony Gwynn, Jr. each had three safeties.

 

The series continues Tuesday night with right-hander Dennis Sarfate starting against BayBears? right-hander Brian Whitaker. Coverage of the game gets underway at 6:50 p.m. central time on ESPN 1450 AM and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

[Mass Haas]

As mentioned above, Player of the Week Updates:

 

Pioneer League

Agustin Septimo, Helena

6 G, 24 AB, 7 R, 9 H, 0 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .375 AVG, .833 SLG, 1 SB

 

Perhaps inspired by the arrival of August (and September), the autunmally-named Agustin Septimo had the finest week of his career since being signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2002. The Brewers' jack-of-all-trades had a pair of three-hit games, a pair of three-RBI games and his first three-bagger since June of 2003. He also corked three home runs in two games against Billings, eclipsing by one the number he'd hit in his first two professional seasons. The 5-foot-11 Dominican helped Helena extend its winning streak to a season-long eight games and was also on the field -- in left field -- for the first no-hitter in Brewers history, on August 5 against the Mustangs. Septimo has played every position except catcher and first base this year and is now hitting .320 in 30 games with Helena.

 

Pioneer League

Will Inman, Helena

2 G, 1 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 11.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 14 SO, 0 SV

 

Four of Inman's teammates may have combined for a no-hitter on Friday night, but the Brewers' right-hander threw seven no-hit innings himself on Sunday to take the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week honors. Just two days after the Brew Crew tossed the first no-hitter in the 27-year history of Helena baseball, Inman helped the same pitching staff come within four outs of replicating the feat. The 18-year-old third-round pick of Milwaukee was on an 80-pitch count and was lifted after throwing 82 pitches in seven innings. Ryan Marion replaced him and got two quick outs before issuing consecutive four-pitch walks and an RBI single. Inman grabbed the win, striking out a career-high 10 and raising his record to a perfect 4-0. He also tossed four innings of one-hit ball in his previous outing, a piggyback relief effort against Great Falls on August 2.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville trying to hold on late, Helena's monster performance is continuing, perhaps soon will come more recognition as the most dominant team at any level of the minors in 2005 rolls on; all the details in the AM...

[EdgarDiazRocks]

Quote:

---

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...

---

 

I would like to point out that Bartlett Anchorage High School product Jamar Hill did go yard for the 13th time for St. Lucie in this game.

 

Us Alaska boys gotta stick together.

[huntsvillefan]

Nelson Cruz with a DP, throwing the runner out at home in Nashville's win.

(feeling obliged to report instances of good D by Cruz & TGJ)

[clancyphile]

On Enrique Cruz:

Yeah, he's making errors, but there's also an .844 OPS in a pitcher's league on the table as well.

[Kraft4a3]

Interesting line for Capellan. 1.0 1 hit, 2 walks, 3 K's, 0 runs

[molitor fan]

On Enrique Cruz:

Yeah, he's making errors, but there's also an .844 OPS in a pitcher's league on the table as well.

 

 

Good point Clancy

 

(falling off chair)

[huntsvillefan]

Cruz is very similar at SS to how Rickie was at 2B here, except for some reason Enrique actually gets charged for all his errors. But like Rickie he has a lot of tools, good range and does some very good things too.

Perhaps he is the Brewers next CF!

 

This whole team is brutal defensively, it really is like someone has said 'just forget about your D this year guys'.

Callix Crabbe is a great example. I believe that last year he was his leagues' best defensive 2B, this year he is struggling (to put it very kindly). On lookin at the boxscore, I can't believe he wasn't charged an error for one he let go under his glove last night.

 

I keep wondering if they are struggling to learn some new defensive system or something here. It really is impossible to believe that so many toolsy guys can play D so badly all of a sudden!

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 10, Billings (Reds) 3

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.billingsgazette.com/i...stangs.inc

 

Helena completes sweep of Mustangs

By GREG RACHAC

Of The Billings Gazette Staff

 

The offensive explosion continued Monday for the Helena Brewers. That meant the scuffling continued for the Billings Mustangs.

 

With a 17-hit onslaught and another solid pitching performance that produced an equal number of strikeouts, Helena rolled over the Mustangs 10-3 at Cobb Field.

 

The win completed a three-game sweep of Billings and marked the ninth victory in a row for the Brewers, who continued their perfect start to the second half of the Pioneer League season.

 

It was the sixth consecutive loss for the Mustangs, who had to endure much of the same struggles they've been experiencing of late.

 

As it has for the majority of the season, the Brewers' offense again looked like a juggernaut. Right from the start of the game, Helena made the Mustangs play catch-up. Ryan Crew and Stephen Chapman led off with singles, then Mat Gamel doubled them in as Helena jumped to a lead.

 

Gamel later scored in the inning on a Freddy Parejo sacrifice fly.

 

It didn't stop there.

 

The Brewers pushed three more across in the third on a two-RBI single from Michael Bell and a run-scoring single by Parejo.

 

On the other side of the coin, the Mustangs woes at the plate continued. Billings entered the game hitting .067 (6-for-89) in the team's last three games versus the Brewers. While the Mustangs were able to muster six hits on Monday, they were already well behind and looked out of the game by the time they scored a run.

 

Catcher Chris Denove had a notable game for Billings at the plate. In the fourth inning, with his team trailing 7-0, Denove blasted a double off the top of the wall in straightaway center field that scored Jamie Langham for the team's first run of the game.

 

Then in the ninth, Denove connected for his second home run of the season, a high drive over the left-field barrier that capped the scoring for the Mustangs.

 

Helena starter Robbie Wooley improved his record to 5-3 with a five-hit, nine-strikeout effort through five innings. His performance set the tone for the Brewers' bullpen, which continued the strikeout trend. Wooley and relievers Wilfredo Laureano, Luis Bernal and Christopher Jean combined to strike out 17 Mustang hitters, nine of which were caught looking.

 

It was not a typical display of pitching by Billings starter Carlos Fisher, who entered the game with a 4-1 record and a 3.24 earned run average. Fisher gave up seven runs - five of them earned - through 3 1/3 innings of work. The Mustangs finished with four errors defensively.

 

Reliever Brandon Camardese started out well when he entered in the fourth inning, but had trouble in the seventh inning and couldn't close Helena out. The Brewers put another three-spot up on the board in that frame.

 

Offensively, Helena was led again by Gamel, the team's hot- hitting third baseman. Gamel came into the day with a .348 average, and came through with two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored. Chapman also had three hits for the Brewers, as did Parejo.

 

Billings was led by Denove's two hard hits and two RBIs, while Langham, Brandon Roberts, Michael DeJesus and J.D. Roberts all contributed singles.

 

Helena Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

 

Mustangs second baseman Michael DeJesus tags out Brewers baserunner Michael Bell.

Photo by STEPHEN BRASHEAR/Gazette Staff

 

http://www.billingsgazette.com/rednews/2005/08/09/stories/sports/images/mustangs.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Stars dig hole too deep

Huntsville trails 8-1 after 3 innings en route to 8-6 loss

By TRAVIS DOWNEY

Huntsville Times Correspondent

 

Despite scoring more runs Monday night than they had the previous three games, the Huntsville Stars dropped their fourth straight outing Monday night.

 

The Mobile BayBears claimed an 8-6 victory after taking an 8-1 lead after three innings.

 

The evening got off to an ominous start as Stars starting pitcher Josh Habel struggled with his command and miscues in the field led to a deficit the Stars never could overcome.

 

After a leadoff error by Huntsville first baseman Brandon Gemoll and a passed ball, Mobile shortstop Ronnie Merrill smashed a double down the third base side past a diving Vinny Rottino, giving the Bay Bears an early 2-0 lead.

 

Much like the weekend series with Mississippi, the Stars' defensive miscues haunted them. After Peeter Ramos reached on a throwing error by Enrique Cruz, catcher George Kottaras singled to left before Merrill cleared the bases by lining a rocket into left-center field.

 

The BayBears tacked on three more runs in the inning, prompting Stars manager Don Money to pull his starter.

 

"He gave up some hits," Money said. "But we had some errors that didn't help either."

 

Habel took the loss after lasting only 2 2/3 innings. He gave up eight runs, only two of which were earned.

 

"He's not overpowering," Money said. "If he has his control, he does better. He has to be pinpoint."

 

While Habel was far from pinpoint, the Stars' play in the field did not make things any easier. With three of the four starting infielders among the Southern League leaders in errors at their respective positions, the Stars' defensive lapses once again were at the root of their problems.

 

Cruz gave the Stars hope in the bottom of the fourth with a lead-off home run, his 13th of the season, to cut the margin to 8-2.

 

The Stars erupted for four runs in the fifth with some clutch two-out hitting. A Brad Nelson walk was followed by consecutive singles by Cruz and Gemoll before right fielder Ben Van Iderstine's triple drove in two more to bring the Stars' within two runs.

 

But with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, catcher Jeff Winchester grounded out to short, ending the Stars hopes of a comeback.

 

"We battled hard," Money said. "We had the opportunity to tie or win the game at the end but just couldn't get a hit. You've got to make plays."

 

Paul Abraham (2-1) picked up the win in 1 1/3 innings.

 

The loss drops the Stars to 19-24 on the half. Huntsville remains eight games behind Carolina in the Southern League's North Division.

 

Mobile moved to 16-24 in the second half.

 

Game two of the series starts at 7:05 tonight.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 8, Salt Lake (Angels) 5

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

 

Seven Unanswered Runs Net Sounds 8-5 Win

SALT LAKE CITY ? The Nashville Sounds scored seven unanswered runs to post an 8-5 victory over the Salt Lake Stingers on Monday evening in the first game of a four-game set at Franklin Covey Field.

 

With the win, Nashville (64-52) re-extended its lead to seven games in the PCL American Conference Northern Division over Memphis, which lost an extra-inning affair in Colorado Springs.

 

The Sounds? never-say-die offense, which trailed 5-1 in the sixth and 5-3 one frame later, rallied to post the club?s 18th victory in a game in which it trailed in the seventh inning or later. Chris Barnwell delivered the go-ahead hit, a one-out RBI double in the top of the seventh.

 

Every Nashville batter recorded a hit in the game, led by first baseman Tony Zuniga?s 4-for-5 effort, as the club matched its season high for knocks with 18, just two days after setting the mark in Colorado Springs.

 

Three Sounds batters extended season-best hitting streaks during the contest: Dave Krynzel (eight games), Warren Morris (seven games), and Mike Rivera (five games). In addition, outfielder Corey Hart pushed his current hit streak to eight games.

 

The win was Nashville's 12th in its last 13 series openers.

 

The Sounds missed a big opportunity to take an early lead in the second when they loaded the bases with none out against Salt Lake starter Chris Hunter. However, the youngster induced three consecutive outs, including a forceout of Prince Fielder at home, to escape the jam unscathed.

 

Stingers first baseman Zach Sorensen put the home team on the board in the bottom of the second with a two-out, three-run homer to left off Nashville starter Jeff Housman, his second longball of the year. Former Sounds Luke Allen and Curtis Pride scored on the roundtripper after singling and walking, respectively.

 

Fielder put the Sounds on the board in the third when he plated Krynzel with a two-out RBI single.

 

Salt Lake moved ahead 5-1 in the fifth following another two-out rally against Housman. Chris Prieto plated Pride with an RBI single before scoring on a run-scoring double off the bat of Alberto Callaspo.

 

Rivera pulled the Sounds back within a pair in the sixth with a two-run homer off Stingers reliever Dusty Bergman, who was greeted one batter earlier by a Zuniga single. The blast was the backstop?s 11th of the season.

 

The Sounds rallied for three more against Bergman in the seventh to grab a 6-5 lead. Hart opened the frame with a bunt single, which extended the All-Star?s hitting streak to eight games. Fielder followed with an RBI double to left to pull Nashville within a run at 5-4. One out later, Rivera and Zuniga recorded back-to-back singles off Bergman, the second of which tied the game when Fielder lumbered home.

 

Barnwell gave Nashville its first lead of the evening when he followed with a double to left to bring in Rivera for a 6-5 Sounds advantage.

 

Right fielder Nelson Cruz, who went 2-for-4 on the evening, provided the defensive play of the game in the bottom of the seventh, throwing out Sorensen at the plate while attempting to score the tying run on a Prieto flyout.

 

AUDIO: Cruz Throws Out Runner At Plate

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%208-8.mp3

 

Cruz continued to make an impact by using the lumber in the following half-inning, smacking a two-out RBI double off Stingers reliever Jonathan Rouwenhorst then scoring a second insurance run on Zuniga?s RBI single to extend the lead to its final 8-5.

 

Stingers third baseman Dallas McPherson, who joined Salt Lake earlier in the day to begin a rehab assignment, continued his career struggles against Nashville, going hitless in four at-bats to fall to 0-for-15 all-time with 12 strikeouts against Sounds pitching.

 

Housman (5-10) snapped a personal two-game skid with the victory after giving up five runs and striking out eight in his 6 1/3 innings of work. Bergman (7-4) drew the loss after allowing five runs in his two frames of action and blowing a save. He had surrendered only 14 runs in his first 59.0 innings entering the contest.

 

Jose Capellan came on and loaded the bases with only one out before striking out Brian Specht and pinch-hitter Brian Gordon to earn his sixth save of the year.

 

Due to Bergman?s blown save, Hunter missed an opportunity to pick up his second win in two Triple-A starts this season for Salt Lake after allowing one run on seven hits in his five innings.

 

The teams play the second game of the series on Tuesday evening at 8:00 p.m. CT. Right-hander Wes Obermueller (2-0, 1.53) will start on three days? rest for Nashville and face Stingers southpaw Clayton Andrews (6-6, 6.06).

 

Nashville Box Score:

Gotta figure out how to get Kane Davis on the 40-man and in Milwaukee...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_slcaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_slcaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 6, Arizona Rangers 3

 

Arizona Box Score:

Player of the Game -- Nova Scotia, Canada RHP Craig Langille...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_rngrok_1

 

Arizona Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_rngrok_1

[JoeHova]

Rivera is really hitting for some great power down in Nashville. His OBP is low, but if he could slug .440 in the majors, he would look real nice on a lot of teams in the majors as their backup catcher. I think he could probably do a .280/.440. I wonder if that is worthwhile at the MLB level. It seems like it would be a lot better than what many teams have as their backup backstop. For example, Moeller is at .260/.340 right now. I hope Rivera gets a shot. Swapping Moeller and Rivera may not be a bad idea.

[LouisEly]

HR: Murray (8, 2nd inning off Lerch, 3 on, 1 out), Braun (7, 3rd inning off Lerch, 1 on, 2 out)

 

Lerch?? Would this kid be offspring of Randy Lerch? (With two dingers given up, wouldn't surprise me if he was a son of a Brewer pitcher).