Link Report for Thursday, August 4th -- AZ Box Is Up :)

[SoCalBrewfan]

Let it be said that I wondered what the heck we were doing by drafting Hammond, who despite my doubts has nothing but good results to show at three stops so far. I reserve the right to criticize Jack Z every now and again, but apparently they know a thing or two about what they're doing...

 

Also let it be said that a 'next wave' appears to have formed in WV, setting off tsunami warnings in the mountains. Though I also hope that they stop talking about waves and let guys move at individual paces rather than keeping cohorts together.

[LouisEly]

Rogers only went 1.2 IP... didn't see anything in the game notes. Please tell me it's a blister (or an ejection) and not a shoulder or an elbow.

[Thunnis]

Took himself out. Beginnings of a blister and decided maybe hold off rather than another finger problem. Throwing well 98 and hit triple numbers.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...505_06.txt

 

Winning determination

By JOSH JORDAN - IR Sports Writer

 

Billings pitcher Logan Ondrusek won't be writing home about his Thursday night start in Helena.

 

Agustin Septimo lined Ondrusek's first pitch deep over the center field wall and Michael Bell followed with a home run to left field on the right-hander's third pitch as the Brewers jumped to an early lead and cruised to a 10-4 win over the Mustangs.

 

Helena improved to 5-0 in the second half of the Pioneer League season and moved two games ahead of the Mustangs in the North Division standings.

 

"We're getting different contributors every night in the second half," Helena manager Ed Sedar said. "The boys came out really focused; the hitters came out focused and the pitchers came out focused."

 

Septimo and Bell weren't done as the two hitters at the top of the Brewers' order each went deep twice in the game.

 

Bell's home run in the first was his first as a professional and he added a three-run shot in the fourth inning when Helena took a 6-1 lead.

 

"It feels great, it feels good to get the monkey off my back," Bell said about his first home runs. "I feel like I've dropped fifty pounds off my back."

 

Billings threatened to get back in the game with two runs in the top of the sixth but Septimo hit his fourth home run of the season, a two-run line drive to left, to keep the Brewers lead comfortable at 8-3.

 

"Both of those guys have been working really hard on their hitting," Helena hitting coach Bobby Randall said. "It's good to see them have some success, they really had good nights."

 

Helena's hot start to the second half comes after it lost five of its top players after they were called up to the Brewers' Class A team in West Virginia last week. That call up included three of the top hitters in the league, but other players have been able to fill the void caused by their loss.

 

"It's great because now some of us need to step up and fill their roles," Bell said. "Everyone is jumping at the chance, it's a great opportunity for all of us."

 

Helena starter Mathew Kretzschmar is also making the most of his opportunity. The right-hander, who was recently called up from the Brewers' Arizona affiliate, pitched four strong innings in his first start in Helena.

 

Two days after his 19th birthday, Kretzschmar carried a no hitter into the fourth inning before Mayker Sandoval ended it with a home run to right-center field.

 

Kretzschmar gave up three hits and a walk with three strikeouts after watching his team take the early lead. He has now pitched six innings and holds a 2.96 ERA in two appearances for the Brewers.

 

"He's thrown well every time out," Sedar said. "I've got to believe it doesn't matter if he has a lead or not, he's going to go after them."

 

Rafael Lluberes picked up the win with one-and-two thirds innings of relief and Ronny Malave and Brandon Parillo closed the door over the final three-and-a-third.

 

Helena added two runs on a hit, three walks and a hit batter in the bottom of the seventh. Billings pitchers hit four Helena batters in the game.

 

The Mustangs added a run in the eighth to give the game its final score.

 

The two teams meet again tonight before moving to Billings for a three-game stand.

 

"Billings is always going to be an important series," Bell said. "We know it's going to be tough competition and it's always real important to get the wins against them."

 

Eliza Wiley IR Staff Photographer - Helena Brewer Bryan Opdyke scrambles back to first as the ball comes flying in to Mustang first baseman Ben Mummy during the Brewers home game Thursday night at Kendrick Legion Field.

 

http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2005/08/05/sports_top/b01080505_06.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2005080444

 

Fermaint delivers in Power win

By Tommy R. Atkinson

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

 

West Virginia Power outfielder Charlie Fermaint may not have mastered the English language, but the Puerto Rican native is becoming well versed in baseball.

 

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Fermaint provided what proved to be the winning margin with a two-run single in the sixth inning to propel the Power past the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists 4-3 Thursday night. A paid crowd of 4,024 attended the South Atlantic League game at Appalachian Power Park.

 

The Power (21-18) entered the bottom of the sixth trailing 3-1 before rallying. Brendan Katin laced a one-out single to left, Carlos Corporan followed with a walk and Josh Murray delivered a run-scoring double down the third-base line to cut the deficit to 3-2.

 

Hasan Rasheed had an infield ground out for the second out, bringing the leadoff hitter Fermaint to the plate. The 19-year-old worked a 1-1 count before depositing a breaking ball between third base and shortstop for a two-run single and a 4-3 edge.

 

?He said he?s very happy that he?s able to help as soon as he gets here,?? said Fermaint through Power manager Ramon Aviles, who served as interpreter. ?He said he?s very comfortable at the plate and he?s very relaxed and seeing the ball really good.??

 

Fermaint, who just joined the Power over the weekend from Helena (Mont.) of the rookie Pioneer League, entered Thursday?s game with a .381 batting average in 21 at-bats with a home run and six RBIs.

 

Aviles said Fermaint, who has been the leadoff hitter since arriving in Charleston, was scheduled to start the season with the Power but a shoulder injury kept him in extended spring training.

 

?The guys that were here were doing OK so they decided to send him to Helena,?? said the Power manager. ?[Fermaint] was having a good year there.??

 

After the Power took the 4-3 lead after the sixth, relievers Justin Barnes and Robert Hinton didn?t allow a run in the next 4 1/3 innings to close out the victory. Barnes (8-1) picked up the win and now leads the staff in victories, while Hinton earned his 10th save.

 

West Virginia right-handed starter Mark Rogers, the Milwaukee Brewers first-round draft pick last year, was limited to 1 1/3 innings because of a blister and will likely miss his next start, according to Aviles. Rogers spent time on the disabled list earlier in the season with the same problem.

 

The Power grabbed an early 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first on Grant Richardson?s bloop run-producing single to left. Asheville took a 3-1 lead with a three-run fifth, highlighted by Jose Valdez?s two-out, two-run homer.

 

Tourists starter Sam Deduno baffled the Power with a dozen strikeouts and just three hits in five innings. After he left, West Virginia plated its runs off reliever Jarrett Grube (5-5), who took the loss.

 

?Right now we?ve got a more balanced lineup,?? said Aviles. ?Tonight was Fermaint, another night [Angel] Salome won with a home run, [Ryan] Braun won with a home run. We?ve got different guys contributing.??

 

Power points

 

Power all-star Hernan Iribarren stole three bases and now has 34 on the season. ... Richardson extended his on-base streak to 23 games. ... Before the three-run sixth, the Power stranded four runners in scoring position in the previous three innings ... Power third baseman Braun was a last-minute scratch in the starting lineup because Aviles decided he needed a day off. ... Asheville leads the league in homers (130) and is second in batting average. ... West Virginia owns a 5-2 record on the eight-game homestand. ... The Power will play host to the Tourists (17-23) in the finale of the four-game series tonight with fireworks following the game.

[Mass Haas]

Nothing reported yet on the Arizona Brewers -- later today, most likley...

[Kraft4a3]

Well no loses for the organization yesterday (pending the Arizona game). Nice 180 from last year when High Desert couldn't find a win to save their lives.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...005080535/

 

Power's success comes against Tourist bullpen

Christopher Wade

For the Charleston Daily Mail

 

West Virginia Power Manager Ramon Aviles is accustomed to making the long stroll out to the pitcher's mound to bring on a relief pitcher.

 

While it's no easy managerial task to try and determine when or when not to make the call to the bullpen, Aviles watched with interest as his counterpart, Asheville Manager Joe Mikulik, made the sometimes gut-check decision.

 

Aviles and the rest of the Power liked what they saw when Mikulik decided to relieve Tourist starting pitcher Sam Deduno in the sixth inning.

 

That's because Deduno was baffling Power hitters to the tune of 12 strikeouts in five innings of work. The first 10 Power outs all came on strikeouts.

 

However, due to a high pitch count, when the Power came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning trailing by two runs, Mikulik had relieved Deduno, a 6-foot-1, right-hander.

 

The Power was able to get to the bullpen and score the final three runs of the game to post a 4-3 victory at Appalachian Power Park in front of a paid crowd of 4,024 Thursday evening.

 

"I was glad to see him (Deduno) leave the game," said Aviles. "He's tough and has a great arm. He kept the hitters off balance all night, pitched ahead in the count and did a great job."

 

Mikulik also was impressed by Deduno.

 

"That was one of the better performances of the year," said the Asheville manager. "When Sam is on like that, he's tough to beat. Anytime you get 12 strikeouts, your pitch count is going to be high. Sam's was high and we were concerned about that."

 

The Power did score a run off Deduno in the first inning, as Hernan Iribarren had an infield single, stole second and scored on a bloop RBI single by Grant Richardson.

 

The Power lost starting pitcher and first-round draft pick Mark Rogers in the second inning due to a blister on his hand.

 

"It was the same hand as earlier in the year and he will probably miss his next start," said Aviles, who watched a similar injury send Rogers to the disabled list earlier in the season. "But it's not as bad as the first one was."

 

Asheville scored three runs in the fifth inning. With two outs and the game tied at 1-1, Tourist second baseman Jose Valdez hit a shot to right-center field that hit the top of the wall and bounced over for a two- run homer.

 

With Deduno gone, the Power took quick advantage and answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the sixth inning, which proved to be the game-winning runs.

 

With one out, Brendan Katin singled, Carlos Corporan walked and third baseman Josh Murray, who had struck out his previous two at-bats against Deduno, doubled down the left field line, driving in a run and cutting the deficit to 3-2.

 

Then, after Hasan Rasheed grounded out to first base, setting up runners at second and third with two out, Power center fielder Charlie Fermaint, who also had struck out twice, laced a single to left field to drive in the game-winning runs.

 

"We had a couple huge hits," said Aviles. "Josh did a nice job of hitting with two strikes and hit a shot down the left field line that set up Charlie's big hit to score two runs. They provided the difference in the game."

 

Aviles got no argument from Mikulik.

 

"You have to tip your hat to their hitters," said the Tourist manager. "They had been struggling off Sam, but took advantage of some pitches thrown over the plate. Murray had a huge hit down the line and, then, they got two more runs and that was enough."

 

While the Tourist bullpen certainly had its fair share of problems, the same wasn't true of Power relievers Justin Barnes and Robert Hinton. They slammed the door on Asheville.

 

Barnes earned the win, improving his record to 8-1. He owns the most wins on the team, despite the fact that all 20 of his appearances have been in relief.

 

Then, Hinton picked up his 10th save as the Power relievers combined for 4 1/3 innings of shutout ball allowing only two hits.

 

Fermaint, Murray and Katin each had two hits to lead the Power attack, while Iribarren reached base all four times on a single, two walks and an error. Irribarren also stole three bases.

 

The Power improves to 21-18 on the second half of the season, while Asheville falls to 17-23. They will conclude their four-game series Friday night at Appalachian Power Park.

[Mass Haas]

Undefeated Thursday for the organization!

 

Final: Arizona Brewers 12, Arizona Mariners 11

Once again, no linescore or game log; box score intact otherwise...

 

Weather: 104 degrees, clear. -- Night Game!

Wind: 0 mph, None.

T: 3:02

 

Arizona Box Score:

Tough outing for young Canadian RHP Mark James; outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Michael Brantley combine to reach base nine times; three catchers see action in the heat for this wild one; looks to me like the A-Crew scored six times in the top of the ninth to eek out the victory!

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_mrnrok_1