Link Report for Mon. 7/23 -- Final Update: Helena Audio

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: Idle

 

Huntsville: RHP Will Inman at Jacksonville (Dodgers), 5:50 PM pre-game; 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: LHP Rafael Lluberes at home vs. St. Lucie (Mets), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:00 PM gametime

 

Audio link (game will also archive at this link):

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503

 

West Virginia: LHP Brae Wright at home vs. Delmarva (Orioles), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link (game will also archive at this link):

www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

 

Helena: RHP Evan Anundsen at home vs. Casper (Rockies), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

Audio link (game will also archive at this link):

www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

 

Arizona: Canadian RHP Travis Nevakshonoff, who just turned 18 years old on Sunday, will make his first pro start and third overall pro appearance at home in the Maryvale complex vs. the Angels' kids , 10:30 AM local time in Arizona, 12:30 Central; never any audio for Arizona Rookie League games

 

NOTE: Bill Hall, playing CF for the A-Crew, scheduled to get a couple of AB's.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". 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.

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_jaxaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Arizona:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

These links will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally they are updated an hour or two prior to gametime, with Nashville's usually earlier:

 

Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Sunday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 62 40 .608 - 32-14 30-26 L2 Iowa 57 46 .553 5.5 34-22 23-24 W2 Omaha 49 53 .480 13.0 33-17 16-36 W3 Memphis 41 61 .402 21.0 22-30 19-31 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 19 11 .633 - 10-5 9-6 W12 Carolina 15 15 .500 4.0 8-7 7-8 W2 Chattanooga 15 15 .500 4.0 6-9 9-6 L1 Tennessee 13 17 .433 6.0 10-5 3-12 L5 West Tenn 13 17 .433 6.0 6-9 7-8 W5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 17 13 .567 - 8-6 9-7 W1 Jupiter 14 15 .483 2.5 6-4 8-11 W3 Palm Beach 13 16 .448 3.5 7-12 6-4 L4 Daytona 12 18 .400 5.0 6-10 6-8 L1 St. Lucie 12 18 .400 5.0 4-11 8-7 L2 Vero Beach 8 22 .267 9.0 3-12 5-10 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hickory 19 12 .613 - 11-7 8-5 W6 Lakewood 17 12 .586 1.0 10-5 7-7 L2 Lake County 16 13 .552 2.0 8-8 8-5 L1 Lexington 15 16 .484 4.0 9-7 6-9 W1 West Virginia 15 16 .484 4.0 7-6 8-10 L5 Delmarva 14 16 .467 4.5 5-11 9-5 W2 Greensboro 12 19 .387 7.0 7-6 5-13 W4 Hagerstown 9 21 .300 9.5 5-11 4-10 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Helena 22 10 .688 - 9-6 13-4 W8 Great Falls 21 11 .656 1.0 14-3 7-8 L2 Billings 16 16 .500 6.0 10-6 6-10 W1 Missoula 14 18 .438 8.0 6-10 8-8 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Mariners 18 7 .720 - 10-2 8-5 W2 AZL Angels 16 9 .640 2.0 14-4 2-5 W1 AZL Padres 15 10 .600 3.0 8-3 7-7 L3 AZL Giants 14 11 .560 4.0 8-4 6-7 W2 AZL Cubs 12 13 .480 6.0 6-6 6-7 L1 AZL Royals 11 14 .440 7.0 5-7 6-7 L1 AZL Athletics 10 15 .400 8.0 6-6 4-9 W3 AZL Rangers 10 15 .400 8.0 4-7 6-8 L1 AZL Brewers 6 18 .250 11.5 2-10 4-8 L2

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Helena KCAP Audio Pre-Game Interview with RHP Roque Mercedes:

Be sure you're on the July 22nd archive, go to the 16:30 minute mark:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

 

Way to go on the english, Roque! You might remember his first interview from 2006, in which he was anxious to be on air for the very first time.

[jvrocksaz]

At least it looks as though Bill Hall will get plenty of chances to shag balls in CF with the AZ Brewers pitching staff!!!http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Angels 16, Arizona Brewers 0

Wow, just wow...

 

Arizona Brewer Box Score:

Wow, just wow...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

 

Arizona Brewer Game Log:

Wow, just wow...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

 

Anyway, here's Bill Hall's day:

 

AZL Brewers Bottom 1st

 

- Bill Hall lines out to first baseman Seth Loman.

 

AZL Angels Top 2nd

 

- Ryan Mount flies out to center fielder Bill Hall.

- Hank Conger flies out to center fielder Bill Hall.

 

AZL Angels Top 3rd

 

- Anthony Norman singles on a line drive to center fielder Bill Hall. Angel Castillo to 3rd. Anthony Norman to 2nd on the throw.

- Clayton Fuller singles on a line drive to center fielder Bill Hall. Darwin Perez scores.

- Ryan Mount singles on a line drive to center fielder Bill Hall. Clayton Fuller to 2nd.

 

AZL Angels Top 4th

 

- Anthony Norman flies out to center fielder Bill Hall.

 

AZL Brewers Bottom 4th

 

- Bill Hall walks.

- Carlos Hereaud grounds out, third baseman Michael Wing to first baseman Seth Loman. Bill Hall to 2nd.

 

AZL Angels Top 5th

 

- Darwin Perez flies out to center fielder Bill Hall.

- Hank Conger singles on a line drive to center fielder Bill Hall. Clayton Fuller scores.

 

AZL Brewers Bottom 6th

 

- Bill Hall flies out to center fielder Clayton Fuller.

 

AZL Angels Top 7th

 

- Defensive Substitution: Jose Rangel replaces center fielder Bill Hall, batting 2nd, playing center field.

[Mass Haas]

Game Suspended: Brevard County 2, St. Lucie (Mets) 0, after three innings

 

MiLB.com:

 

Monday's Florida State League game between St. Lucie and Brevard County was suspended due to rain at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Play was halted in the top of the fourth with Brevard County leading, 2-0. The game will resume at 5:00 PM ET (4:00 Central) on Tuesday, followed by the teams' regularly scheduled game.

 

Brevard County Partial Box Score:

Yohannis Perez still hot, we really need to start paying more attention to LHP Rafael Lluberes...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503

[Mass Haas]

Final: Jacksonville (Dodgers) 2, Huntsville 1

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

Stars' Win String Halted in Heartbreaking Fashion

 

Juan Gonzalez belted the game-winning home run in the eighth inning that lifted Jacksonville to a 2-1 decision over Huntsville and ended the Stars bid for a franchise record 13th consecutive win Monday night at the Baseball Grounds. The first place Suns improved to 22-9 in the second half and 63-38 overall to maintain their lead over Montgomery in the South, while the Stars slipped to 19-12 in the second half and 56-43 overall. The Stars suffered their first loss since July 5 and fell to the Suns for a 14th time in the last 16 meetings dating back to last season.

 

Stars? starter Will Inman had retired 16 out of the last 17 hitters he had faced before Gonzalez launched his game winning blast into the bleacher seats in right field for his fifth home run of the season. Inman then walked pinch-hitter Jimmy Rohan and was taken out of the game after seven and a third innings in his longest turn since joining the Stars. He allowed two runs on three hits, walked two and fanned five but fell to 1-5. Inman has allowed a long ball in two straight starts and in six out of his last seven.

 

Mark Alexander took over on the hill for the Suns in the ninth and walked Hernan Iribarren before Alcides Escobar failed on a bunt attempt and struck out. Mel Stocker singled into right field before Steve Moss hit a ground ball back to the mound that Alexander fielded on the front slope of the hill on his knees. His throw to second base pulled Gonzalez off the bag, allowing Stocker to reach safely and Moss to reach to load the bases. However, the right-hander preserved the lead by striking out Michael Brantley and retiring Steve Sollmann on a fly ball out to end the game and the Stars? attempt at re-writing history.

 

Greg Miller, making his first start at the double-A level this season, walked Moss to begin the game before Brantley singled to left and Sollmann legged out a bunt base to load the bases. Lou Palmisano struck out before Adam Heether walked to force in Moss with the game?s first run. Miller worked out of further trouble by fanning Brendan Katin and Iribarren to end the inning. The Stars also stranded Escobar at second base with one out in the second and at third with two outs in the fifth.

 

Gonzalez led off the home third with a double, moved to third base on a Greg Miller sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Xavier Paul that tied the game at one. Inman retired the next nine hitters before a two-out single in the sixth by Blake DeWitt. Alvis Ojeda picked up the win with 4 1/3 shutout innings in relief, allowing three hits and striking out three. He induced Escobar to bounce into an inning-ending double play with two runners on in the sixth.

 

The series continues Tuesday night with Stars southpaw Derek Miller taking the hill against Suns? right-hander James McDonald. Coverage begins at 5:50 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Ugh -- this game matches the Brewers game in frustration-ness, there's a word for you...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_jaxaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_jaxaax_1

[Mass Haas]

OK, who are these imposters in West Virginia Power uniforms?

 

Final: Delmarva (Orioles) 6, West Virginia 1

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

BASCOM BAFFLES POWER

 

Tim Bascom shut down the West Virginia Power with seven fantastic innings on Monday night at Appalachian Power Park as the Delmarva Shorebirds sent the Power to their sixth straight loss with a 6-1 victory.

 

The Shorebirds scored three runs in the top of the second inning to take an early lead. Victory Castillo, Danny Figueroa and Todd Davidson all ripped run-scoring singles. Delmarva plated three more runs in the third inning. After Brae Wright struck out Brandon Snyder and Billy Rowell to begin the inning, Miguel Abreu hit a solo home run and Victor Castillo doubled in a pair of runs.

 

The Power scored their only run on Brad Miller?s solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. It was Miller?s second of the year and his first at Appalachian Power Park. The Power had seven hits in the game and five came with two outs.

 

Tim Bascom (2-0) allowed one run on six hits and struck out seven over seven innings to get the victory, while Brae Wright (6-6) was tagged with the loss after surrendering six runs on nine hits over three innings. D.J. Lidyard, Jared Sutton and Travis Wendte combined to toss six scoreless innings of relief.

 

The Power fell to 63-37 overall and 15-17 in the second half, while the Shorebirds improved to 49-49 overall and 15-16 in the second half with the win. The Power have now lost six in a row. Brad Miller and Charlie Fermaint had two hits apiece for the Power.

 

The Power will finish the four game series against Delmarva Tuesday night. The Power will start right hander Alex Periard (5-2, 3.32) and the Shorebirds will counter with right hander Kyle Schmidt (3-8, 4.32). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Reliever D.J. Lidyard stellar over four innings...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Two nice photos of Adam Heether, taken by Jerry Hale of MiLB.com, today:

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/07/22/mqP9yoKd.jpg

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/07/23/yqSOZY9R.jpg

[wibadgers23]

Wow, how long before Gindl gets promoted? Also nice to see Inman with another strong outing.

[colbyjack]

It may not matter how well Gindl hits this summer, as a high school draftee he may play the entire summer with Helena.

 

Plus, he's only been back in the lineup for a few games now, and the OF glut ahead of him doesn't exactly allow for an easy fit. It would take a chain reaction of promotions for an OF spot to become available at WV, and a chain reaction of promotions relating to OF prospects in the system already took place over a month ago (and no one above him is really deserving).

 

In addition, Helena has a one game lead entering this evening over Great Falls, with five more games left to play before Helena rounds out the first half of the season, the last three of those coming against Great Falls.

 

The second half of the Pioneer League schedule starts a week from today on June 30th. If it happens for Gindl, I doubt we'll see it before then.

 

EDIT: And if anyone is deserving of a promotion from the Helena squad, it has to be Rob Bryson, who has been absolutely dominant so far. I having a feeling he too will spend the remainder of the season with the H-Crew.

 

EDIT #2: I also should add Pasma as a candidate to be promoted before a certain Pasma fan jumps in http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

[colbyjack]

Final: Casper 4, Helena 10

The H-Crew have now won nine in a row. The Orem Owls did their best to help the Brewers add to their one game lead over Great Falls by scoring a run in the bottom of the ninth to send that game into extra innings, but Great Falls went on to win 3-2 after 10, despite the Owls making things interesting in the bottom of the final frame, to keep Helena's lead at one game.

 

Helena Box Score:

As noted above, Caleb Gindl stays hot with a 4-4 night. Evan Anundsen with a good, not great start, while continuing to induce ground balls, Bryson with three more dominant innings and Lee Haydel continues to be effective atop the lineup. Steffan Wilson hit his fourth home run of the year.

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

In addition to the ground ball outs Evan Anundsen recorded, take a peak at the game log to see that a few of the singles he allowed also game on the ground. Anundsen just doesn't seem to allow opposing hitters to elevate the ball against him (aside from the home run he allowed, only the second he's given up this year).

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

[miwokE]

This may have been asked before, but why isn't Bryson getting a chance to start at Helena?

[DHonks]

Wow...Gindl!!! I'd assume he might be in position to jump to BC next year if we had less OF talent ahead of him. Still, those numbers are incredible. We've already seen a Hurricane season, and he's playing one level too high for AZ, but it is Monsoon season here in AZ. There's a chance some rainouts might occur for the AZ team...not from rain during games, but from mud from the previous night

[MTBrew]

Re Gindl, taking nothing away from what he has accomplished thus far, I don't think he should move up. I have watched himthe past month and there are parts of his game he needs to work on. He does not hit left handed pitching as well as right ~ .270 ave. His fielding, particulary picking up ground balls needs work as does his base running. These are all things he can improve on while in Helena without the pressure of having to produce at the next level or worse sitting on the bench or playing sporadically. Having watched Caufield, Fermaint and Chapman here they are all much much better defensively. Going 4 for 4 tonight was good but it was a "soft" hitting night. The guy who is really spanking the ball is Wilson.

Neither Bryson or Anundsen were as dominant as they have been but hung in there and pitched well without their best stuff. Probably learned alot tonight.

I think that it is way to premature to think that anyone will be called up any time soon, barring a season ending injury at the next levels.

The only guy that I see that is ready is Swaydan. These players are have yet to work their way thru the entire league and are just now seeing opposing pitchers for a second time.

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's

 

www.starsboxscore.com/

 

On May 12, 1988, 1st baseman Greg Sparks tied a Southern League record by recording 20 putouts as the Huntsville Stars won their 12th straight game, beating Birmingham at Hoover Met, 9-4...... 2nd baseman Mike Bordick, near the end of a 16-game hitting streak, went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs as the Stars. He's since retired after a 14-year major league career ........ It's been that long since the Stars have won 12 straight, and tonight, July 23, 2007 -- it came to an end again.

 

Juan Gonzalez collected two of Jacksonville's three hits, scored both runs, and hit the game-winning HR in the 8th inning into the right field bleachers, to give the Suns a close 2-1 victory, their 3rd straight against the Stars....... Will Inman, the hard-luck loser, gave up all the hits, and although he has lost two of his last four starts this month, he owns a 2.74 ERA....... Call Run Support, Will. You've had six runs in back of you in the 23 innings you've pitched (or 2.34 per 9 innings). Talk about hard luck. In the one game (July 11) he had a 3-0 lead, he was taken out after four innings with a rising pitch count. Talk about hard luck. Seven hitters went to the plate for the Stars in the 1st inning -- yet out of it came just one run -- and that on a bases-loaded walk by left-hander Greg Miller to Adam Heether....... Miller, a reliever with a 2.18 ERA in his last 10 appearances, struck out seven in 3 2/3 innings (his best strikeout total since fanning five vs. Birmingham, June 25). After walking Heether, he proceeded to fan Brendan Katin on a 1-and-2 fastball and Hernan Iribarren, a .160 hitter vs. lefties, on an 0-and-2 fastball.

 

The Stars left runners on second in the 2nd and 3rd innings, but Miller ended both frames with strikeouts...... After Miller left the game in the 4th with two out and Steve Moss coming to bat with Alcides Escobar at 3rd (he was on a 60-pitch count), Alvis Ojeda finished off Moss, with eight pitches....... The Stars picked up back-to-back one-out singles by Katin and Iribarren in the 6th, but Escobar hit into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play........ Finally in the 8th, a wild pitch by Ojeda put Lou Palmisano on second. Palmisano reached on a fielder's choice after a leadoff single by Steve Sollmann. But Brendan Katin, who had an 0-2 count on him at the time of the wild pitch, struck out swinging......... The clutch had given out on the Stars.

 

Meanwhile, Will Inman was having no problem subduing the Suns....... A two-out walk to Kevin Howard in the 1st was meaningless. In the 3rd, Juan Gonzalez (called up with the departure of Chin-Lung Hu to Las Vegas before the All-Star break) hit a leadoff double to right. Then a sac bunt set up the Suns' first run on a sacrifice fly by Xavier Paul. After that, Inman set down nine straight batters before Blake Dewitt's two-out single in the 6th. Then Inman set down five more batters before facing Gonzalez again........ He got behind the hitter 2-and-0, but evened the count before he launched a home run into the bleacher seats in right field, giving the Suns their 2-1 margin.

 

With one last chance to preserve the streak, closer Mark Alexander walked Hernan Iribarren........ Alexander was deadly as the Suns' closer last year, saving 26 games and logging a 0.96 ERA....... After Escobar failed to move the runner over, Mel Stocker, who entered the game on a double-switch in the 8th, singled to right. When Moss hit a comebacker on an 0-2 count to Alexander, Stocker broke up a double-play attempt by sliding hard into Gonzalez, safe, and inflicting some pain on Gonzalez in a bargain.......... The bases were loaded for Michael Brantley, the Stars' hottest hitter during the streak (.407, 7 walks), but Alexander struck him out on a 1-2 pitch, then retired Steve Sollmann, on the second pitch, on a long fly ball to left to end the game.

 

During the 12-game hitting streak, the Stars hit .262, while the staff held opponents to a 1.53 ERA. Six pitchers had ERAs of zero. Adam Heether led the offense with 17 hits, 11 runs, 11 RBIs, and nine walks (with Steve Moss), but is 1-for-12 in his last four games, and one RBI, which was the bases-loaded walk in the 1st.

 

With the loss, the Stars are 19-12. Chattanooga edged Mississippi, 6-5, as Craig Tatum singled in the 8th to break a tie and reduce the Stars' lead to three games......... Tuesday, the Stars will send lefty Derek Miller, who won his first game last Wednesday, to face James McDonald (2-0, 0.82).

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2007072330

 

Power losing streak hits six in a row

By Mike Whiteford

Charleston Gazette Staff Writer

 

It?s part of baseball?s inevitability, a slump that afflicts even the best of teams.

 

After a near-flawless first half that produced a division title, the Power has encountered a malaise, an offensive skid in which runs suddenly are as infrequent as big crowds at old Watt Powell Park.

 

The Power suffered its season-worst sixth straight loss Monday night at Appalachian Power Park, a 6-1 decision to the Delmarva Shorebirds, and collected just seven hits. A quiet crowd of 2,479 attended.

 

In those six losses, the Power scored just 16 runs and averaged seven hits a game, numbers uncharacteristic of a team that?s led the South Atlantic League in hitting all season and, despite the slump, still holds a comfortable lead in runs.

 

?I just think we?re down on ourselves a little bit,?? said Power first baseman Andrew Lefave, who leads the league with a .338 mark. ?We?re used to putting up some runs in the first and second innings and getting comfortable.??

 

Instead, it was the Shorebirds who started fast. They scored three runs in the second and three more in the third off Power starter Brae Wright and never allowed the home team much hope.

 

For the Power, second baseman Brad Miller contributed the only scoring by lofting a home run down the left-field line and onto Smith Street in the seventh inning.

 

?People go through slumps,?? said Lefave, ?but we?ll be all right. We?re the type of team that can turn this around at any minute. We just go out every day and play the game hard like we?re supposed to and, hopefully, things will turn around.??

 

Delmarva manager Gary Kendall knows things can change quickly.

 

?With the age of these guys,?? said Kendall, ?you?re going to go through some peaks and valleys. I know they?re going to get it together sooner or later, hopefully after we?ve left town. Any day now, they?re going to come out of this. I see a team that?s very well coached. You?re not going to find better baseball men than [Power manager] Mike Guerrero and [pitching coach] John Curtis.??

 

Delmarva starter Tim Bascom, a former Central Florida University pitcher, yielded just six hits, a walk and a run in seven innings to pick up the victory.

 

Bascom was a fourth-round Baltimore selection in the June draft and joined the Shorebirds a month ago. In 37 innings, he?s allowed just 25 hits and seven earned runs.

 

?He?s a quality kid who goes about his business,?? said Kendall. ?The thing that strikes me the most about him is his professionalism. He?s got very good composure.??

 

Power relievers D.J. Lidyard, Jared Sutton and Travis Wendte blanked the Shorebirds on one hit and a walk through the final six innings.

 

BRIEFLY: The Power will conclude the four-game Delmarva series with a 7:05 game tonight (6:05 Central) and play host to the Hagerstown Suns in a four-game series beginning Wednesday. ... Power right fielder Chuckie Caufield and catcher Martin Maldonado teamed up for the defensive play of the night. Caufield threw a strike to Maldonado to nail the Shorebirds? Danny Figuerora, who was trying to score on Todd Davison?s single in the second inning. Davison delivered a nasty hit on Maldonado, who went sprawling but held onto the ball.

[Mass Haas]

Helena Site Game Summary:

 

Helena Sinks Casper for Ninth Straight Win

 

HELENA--As the first-half of the season winds down the Brewers continue to play solid fundamental baseball, winning for the ninth consecutive time Monday night. The Brewers scored in five separate innings and eventually won 10-4 over Casper.

 

For the second night in a row Helena jumped ahead early. Caleb Gindl singled in the game's first run in the first inning and Eric Farris extended the lead to 3-0 on a two-run double during the second inning. During the third inning Zelous Wheeler brought Gindl home on a triple and Jordan Swaydan hit a sacrifice fly as the Brewers took a 5-0 advantage.

 

Helena starting pitcher Evan Anundsen cruised until the third inning, but surrendered two runs in the fourth inning and one run in the fifth before exiting. The Rockies, therefore, pulled within two runs, but the Brewers pulled away on an unusual four-run play in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and two outs Scotty McKnight hit a grounder to the Casper shortstop who threw on to second base. The throw, however, missed the target and went into right field allowing all three base runners to score. The third runner, Mike Goetz, collided with the catcher and scored safely after the ball popped from the catcher's glove. The ball rolled away from the plate to allow McKnight to come in from third base. The play put Helena ahead 9-3.

 

The Rockies scored a lone run in the sixth inning, but could not come any closer. The Brewers' Steffan Wilson gave Helena a six-run lead again when he hit a home run to dead-centerfield in the bottom of the sixth inning.

 

Reliever Robert Bryson followed Anundsen on the mound and tossed three innings while Casey Baron pitched the ninth inning to close out another Brewer victory. Anundsen improves his record to 4-2.

 

With the win Helena (23-10) secures its spot in first-place for at least one more game. The Brewers will look to extend their winning streak to 10 games Tuesday night at 7:05 Pm (8:05 Central) when they play host to the Rockies.

[igor67]

I'm going to rain a little on Gindl's parade. He's only had 80ABs and a lot of his value is that ridiculously high batting average. His walk rate is lower than you would like though his strikeout rate is quite good for the power he's shown. Remembering this is the Pioneer league I think there is little harm in letting him finish the year and work on refining some of his defensive skills and his batting eye.

[captkirk16]

Igor, you're not raining on Gindl's parade. Let's not forget that no matter how we nit pick on his game, let's remember he is still the steal of the draft, period. The kid can play! The organization has quite a bit of talent in the OF and remember he was clocked throwing the ball in from the OF at 97 MPH. Refine the defense, let the speed of the game slow down a little bit on the base paths and all will be fine. Ah, to be 18 again!

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Helena KCAP Audio Pre-Game Interview with SS David Fonseca, the 2007 8th round pick out of Los Angeles Pierce College:

Be sure you're on the July 23rd archive, go to the 7:30 minute mark:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp