Link Report for Games of Tuesday, July 26th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Tuesday's Daily Menu:

 

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

 

Nashville: RHP Wes Obermueller at home vs. Fresno (Giants), 6:40 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Nashville Site Gamecast Feed:

www.nashvillesounds.com/live/xlive.htm

 

Huntsville: TBD at home vs. West Tenn (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

If that link is down for bandwidth, use:

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

 

Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 6:00 PM; no audio for this series

 

West Virginia: RHP Josh Wahpepah at Lexington (Astros), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: TBD at home vs. Billings (Reds), 8:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.billingsmustangs.com/index.cfm

 

Arizona: TBD at the Cubs' complex to face the baby Bears, 10:30 AM local time; never any web audio for Arizona Rookie ball...

[Mass Haas]

Links to follow Tuesday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Arizona:

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

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_cubrok_1

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 58 45 .563 - 29-23 29-22 W2[/b] Memphis 51 52 .495 7.0 27-25 24-27 L2 Iowa 47 53 .470 9.5 31-25 16-28 L1 Omaha 45 58 .437 13.0 19-28 26-30 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 18 11 .621 - 11-8 7-3 W2 West Tenn 18 12 .600 0.5 10-6 8-6 L1 Tennessee 15 16 .484 4.0 7-7 8-9 L1 [b]Huntsville 14 16 .467 4.5 4-7 10-9 L1[/b] Chattanooga 11 20 .355 8.0 5-10 6-10 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 20 12 .625 - 9-5 11-7 W3 Vero Beach 18 11 .621 0.5 11-6 7-5 W3 [b]Brevard County 18 12 .600 1.0 7-6 11-6 W1[/b] St. Lucie 18 12 .600 1.0 7-6 11-6 W2 Jupiter 12 17 .414 6.5 10-8 2-9 L1 Daytona 11 19 .367 8.0 6-10 5-9 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 21 9 .700 - 14-1 7-8 L1 Hickory 19 11 .633 2.0 9-6 10-5 W1 Lexington 15 15 .500 6.0 10-7 5-8 L3 [b]West Virginia 15 15 .500 6.0 7-6 8-9 W1[/b] Lakewood 15 16 .484 6.5 9-8 6-8 W3 Lake County 13 17 .433 8.0 7-8 6-9 L1 Greensboro 12 18 .400 9.0 4-8 8-10 W1 Hagerstown 11 18 .379 9.5 4-9 7-9 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Helena 23 10 .697 - 10-4 13-6 W1[/b] Billings 19 14 .576 4.0 11-5 8-9 L4 Great Falls 12 21 .364 11.0 9-10 3-11 L1 Missoula 11 22 .333 12.0 5-12 6-10 W1

Arizona League Standings:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...mp;lid=121

 

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

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes for Tuesday (PDF format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 5, Arizona Cubs 3

 

Weather: 101 degrees, sunny.

Wind: 1 mph, Varies.

T: 2:45

 

Arizona Box Score:

3B Jose Jimenez continues to be the "it" guy in Arizona this season, 3-for-5 with a double; Lenny Leclercq three SB's; lefty Steve Garrison and RHP Matt Kretzschmar impressive, walking zero over six innings combined; unlike recent years past, there seems to be a stable of at least capable catchers in Maryvale, both at the plate and behind it -- Isaac Palencia now 18-for-46 (four doubles)...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_cubrok_1

 

Arizona Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_cubrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Only one Brewer farmhand on the latest Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet, coming in at # 9:

 

www.baseballamerica.com/t...t2005.html

[bork]

Cruz in CF? Could they be testing him to see if he can replace Magruder as the 4th OF?

[NlGHTWlNG]

Cruz doubled somebody off of first it looks like. With Krynzel hurting, I like this adjustment.

[pogokat]

If nelson cruz can play a serviceable CF, then he will start next year for the Brewers...Man, Having him in center with a .850+ ops. would be awesome...

 

The Brewers could trade Carlos Lee and bring up Corey Hart to play a corner..Man..that would be a very good allocation of talent for the crew...

 

I sincerely hope this works out.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lexington (Astros) 9, West Virginia 8

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Adam Mannon with a grand slam; Ryan Braun's fine (left last night's game early), a single and double in this one; the young middle infield duo of Iribarren and Escobar have combined for 49 errors, costly in this one; Iribarren on base four times...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

LEGENDS WIN IN FINAL AT BAT

Lexington, KY ? The West Virginia Power and Lexington Legends were tied at 8-8 going into the bottom of the ninth inning of Tuesday night?s game at Applebee?s Park, when Beau Torbert, who was hitless in his first four plate appearances, knocked in the winning run with a single and the Legends beat the Power 9-8.

 

The Power scored the first run of the game in the top of the third inning on Hernan Iribarren?s RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. The Legends took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run double from Lou Santangelo and an RBI double from Drew Sutton.

 

The Power scored five times in the top of the fourth inning to regain the lead. Clay Blevins delivered a two-out RBI single and Adam Mannon hit his fourth home run of the year, a grand slam, the second of the season for the Power, and they went up 6-3.

 

The Legends pulled within a run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-run homer from Bryan Triplett to make it a 6-5 ball game. Grant Richardson delivered an RBI double in the top of the fifth inning to give the Power a 7-5 advantage, but the Legends brought themselves within a run again, on Francisco Caraballo?s solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Iribarren drove in his second run of the game with a single in the top of the eighth inning to give the Power an 8-6 lead.

 

The Legends scored twice in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game. Triplett knocked in the first run on a single, and Edwin Maysonet?s sacrifice fly tied the game at 8-8. Torbert delivered the two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game.

 

Ryan Thompson (3-4) earned the victory, and Ben Stanczyk (4-2) obtained the loss. The Power are 15-16 in the second half after the loss and the Legends move to 16-15 with the win.

 

The Power will conclude the three game series against the Legends at Applebee?s Park on Wednesday night. The Power will throw RHP Yovani Gallardo (4-3, 2.99) and the Legends will counter with RHP Raymar Diaz (1-3, 5.03). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Cantral).

[pogokat]

He may not walk much, but Mike Rivera has been killing the ball in AAA...I don't think the brewers should swap him for Chad Moeller quite yet, but i sure hope he sticks with the team and that they can keep him around as insurance next year as well..

 

<900 Ops, .575 Slugging...cool

[CC Badger]

Only one Brewer farmhand on the latest Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet, coming in at # 9

 

Interesting that the Angels have the top three spots this week.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lakeland (Tigers) 5, Brevard County 0

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

 

Tigers Shut Out Manatees

Team Stays Within One Game of First Place

 

The Brevard County Manatees were unable to score any runs in being shut out by the Lakeland Tigers 5-0. After two games of worrying about the Tigers offense, it was the Tiger pitching that proved to be too much for the Manatees Tuesday night.

 

Tigers starter Nathan Bumstead confounded the Manatees lineup with his deceptive wind up through six innings. He allowed only three hits and struck out four while improving his record to 11-2.

 

Manetees starter Ryan Costello pitched six effective innings striking out five, and allowing only two earned runs on five hits and two walks. Offensively, Wandel Campana continued his hot hitting by going 2-4.

 

The Manatees look to take the final game of the series against the Tigers tomorrow night at 7:00 pm (6:00 Central).

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Hard to generate offense when the heart of the order in Steve Moss, Adam Heether and Lou Palmisano goes 0-for-11 (one walk)...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1

[Past Member]

According to jsonline.com Manny Parra is done for the year. Disappointing to hear. Here's to figuring out what's wrong with his shoulder (surgery possible?) and coming back strong in 2006.

[hsvstarsfan]

Final: West Tenn (Cubs) 10, Huntsville 1

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Brandon Sing homered and knocked in four runs and Renyel Pinto tossed seven strong innings to power West Tenn to a 10-1 victory over Huntsville Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Diamond Jaxx improved to 19-12 in the second half and moved into first place in the North Division a half game ahead of Carolina, which fell in 11 innings to Chattanooga, while the Stars lost for a sixth time in their last eight games to fall to 14-17 in the second half.

 

Sing?s three-run home run with two outs in the ninth capped off the scoring and pushed him into the league lead with 21, one better than Delmon Young, formerly of Montgomery and now playing at the triple-A level. Aaron Sisk belted a solo shot in the eighth off of Stars pitcher Brett Evert, who has allowed six home runs since joining the team, four of which have been hit by West Tenn.

 

The visitors loaded the bases with one out in the second inning against starter Glenn Woolard on a walk to Sing, a Buck Coats double and a walk to Matt Creighton, playing in his first game against the Stars. Jose Reyes collected an infield single to push across Sing with the game?s first run before Pinto struck out for the second out of the frame. Dwaine Bacon then tripled into the right field corner to clear the bases and extend the visitors lead to 4-0. Bacon had driven in only 10 runs all season prior to his three-run, three-bagger.

 

Enrique Cruz doubled with one out in the fourth, moved to third base when Brandon Gemoll followed with an infield single and scored when shortstop Coats threw wildly past first base. Gemoll reached second base on the error but was left stranded there as the inning ended. Pinto then retired 10 of the next 12 hitters to close his performance and earn his sixth win of the year. The southpaw permitted one unearned run and lowered his league leading earned run average to 2.14. Pinto led the Southern League in earned run average and strikeouts last season and set a Diamond Jaxx franchise record with his 179 strikeouts.

 

Woolard, who had allowed only four runs over 21 innings in his last three starts was charged with the loss after yielding six runs on six hits over five innings. The right-hander matched a season-high with seven strikeouts but saw his record drop to 4-9. Keith Stamler worked two scoreless frames in front of Evert.

 

The series continues Wednesday night with right-hander Ty Taubenheim taking the hill for the Stars against Diamond Jaxx right-hander Ricky Nolasco. 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.

 

www.starsboxscore.com/

 

A tropical --- and typical Tuesday

A good crowd for this steamy night, the best in fact since July 4th. The Stars won't have many more chances for a crowd like this. The kids go back to school next week........ But it wasn't just the kids tonight. On this sultry 92° night, the club was offering two-fers: two of anything for the price of one and the concession lines were busy and stayed that way well into the middle of the game as the fans filled up on cokes, beers, hot dogs, and whatever they could fit inside their fat stomachs........The sun's long been down, pal, it's past midnight, and still it's 82° in Huntsville.

 

It was not only tropical, you could say it was almost typical tonight....... The Stars hadn't won on a Tuesday since May 10, so this makes 10 straight Tuesday losses for the Stars....... They've been outscored, 76-31, and are now 3-12 on Tuesdays this year....... This was also the 10th time this year the Stars have given up 10 or more runs in a loss. That's the most since 2000, when they lost 12 times to an opponent that had scored 10 or more runs........ As bad as this may sound, it doesn't come close to many other past seasons, and in 1998, they lost 22 games in which their opponent had scored 10 or more times.

 

The Stars have now lost eight of their last 11 after starting the 2nd half 6-5. They are now three games below .500 and in 4th place behind Tennessee, who were shutout by Jacksonville for the 2nd straight night. The Stars have hit .244 in that span.

 

Renyel Pinto started out 21-31, 4.22 over his first five pro seasons, but he broke out last year with the Diamond Jaxx (11-8, 2.92) winning the ERA title in the Southern League last year, and has become one of the Stars' most formidable opponents....... Now after seven starts, Pinto is 5-1 with a 1.79 ERA going back to last year. This was the 4th time that Pinto has not allowed an earned run against the Stars.

 

The Stars scored their only run, unearned, in the 4th inning after Enrique Cruz legged out a double on a hard grounder into left-center. Brandon Gemoll then beat out an infield hit to short, but Buck Coats' throw to first was high and it allowed Cruz to score and Gemoll to take second, but Gemoll was stranded there and Pinto went on to retire 10 of the next 12 hitters...... Pinto lowered his ERA to a league-leading 2.14 ERA, as he goes after a repeat of his ERA title.

 

The Diamond Jaxx, by then, were already in front, 4-0....... Glenn Woolard had a 1-2-3 inning in the first, but threw 27 pitches trying to get out of the 2nd inning....... Gemoll allowed the first run when he held on to the ball in his indecisiveness with the bases full. Jose Reyes had just hit a soft roller to the right side. Gemoll had come in on the infield grass and fielded it cleanly. His first impulse was to throw home, but with Brandon Sing charging hard at the plate, he opted for first, then discovered no one was covering. Sing scored and the bases were loaded once again with one out....... Renyel Pinto struck out to make him 0-for-18 at the plate for the year. ..... Dwayne Bacon would have been an important out, for the Diamond Jaxx' big lead started with this inning and specifically with Bacon....... He nailed a 1-1 pitch by Gemoll inside the line. It rolled all the way to the corner where Vinny Rottino, playing in right for the first time since April 25, wound up being played by the ball than the other way around as it caromed off the base of the wall. All three runners scored and it was 4-0........

 

The D'Jaxx made it 6-1 in Woolard's last inning after Brandon Sing's sacrifice fly scored Casey McGehee, who had reached third on a wild pitch by Woolard......... Woolard threw 90 pitches in five innings, 51 (56.7%) for strikes........ Aaron Sisk's 420'-HR almost to dead center, and Brandon Sing's 21st home run, both of Brett Evert, made it 10-1, Pinto's most one-sided victory against the Stars........ Four of the six home runs Evert has given up this year have come from the Diamond Jaxx., all off a different hitter.

 

Brandon Bushee is now a crew chief after umpire Scot Chamberlain was promoted to Triple-A...... Brad Laird was promoted from the Florida State League and now joins Bushee's crew with Steve Cummings, who is nursing a calf injury, so he was replaced at 3rd base by local replacement Matt Wilbanks......... Sandy Guerrero led the Stars tonight. Don Money was in Milwaukee Monday night to be inducted into the Brewer Walk of Fame in a pre-game ceremony with former manager Harvey Kuenn. Kuenn received 69 votes in the balloting, Money 64....... George Bamberger was next with 48 and was out of the running.

 

I'll be in my native New Jersey tomorrow for a week's stay visiting relatives while the Stars continue their series with Ty Taubenheim facing another tough cookie, Ricky Nolasco. Although it seems I've been "on vacation" a lot this year, it's really only been because of my job. I've chosen rest over this web site. But this time, it really is a vacation. I'm not abandoning this site, now in its 10th year, but I wish I had more time for it....... In five years, if the Stars are still here, and if I'm still here, I will.

 

Derek Lee went five innings in his start tonight against Iowa, and although the Redhawks won 6-4, The General was not at his best, throwing five innings and giving up 4 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks.

 

Mobile pitcher Travis Chick was one of the two minor league pitchers the Padres sent to Cincinnati to get Joe Randa (a former Southern League 3rd baseman with Memphis)........ Chick, the Padres' top pitching prospect, strugged with the Bay Bears, going 2-9 with a 5.27 ERA in 19 starts. In four starts against the Huntsville Stars this season, he was 1-2 with a 9.64 ERA, but we'll have a chance to pick his tree some more when the Lookouts come into the Joe, August 16-19 and then again at the end of the season in a road-home series.

 

Our former radio voice Robert Portnoy and his wife Tami, have a new baby sister for their first child, Dana. Her name is Alyssa. She was born Friday and comes in at a healthy (to say the least) nine pounds. Everyone in Indianapolis is doing fine. Robert will be back at the mike Tuesday.

 

More from David Weiser:

 

www.starsboxscore.com/standing.html

 

Huntsville Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Huntsville manager doesn't miss anything

Stars score only one run while Money is in Milwaukee

MATTHEW NASCONE

Times Staff Writer eintern@htimes.com

 

As manager Don Money was honored with induction into the Brewers Walk of Fame in Milwaukee, the Huntsville Stars did nothing worthy of posterity Tuesday night, losing 10-1 to West Tenn at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

It was the Stars' seventh loss in their last 10 games.

 

Money was inducted into the Walk of Fame along with Harvey Kuenn. Ten other Brewers icons have been inducted, including Hall of Famers Hank Aaron and Robin Yount, since the tradition was started in 2001 with the opening of Miller Park.

 

"It is a great honor for him; I remember watching him playing years ago when I was growing up," said Huntsville pitching coach Rich Sauveur.

 

He didn't have as much fun watching the Stars on Tuesday. It didn't take West Tenn long to start the scoring in front of a crowd of 6,586. The Diamond Jaxx got four runs in the top of the second inning off the bats of Jose Reyes and Dwaine Bacon.

 

Reyes knocked in a run with an infield single and Bacon hit a bases-clearing triple down the right field line.

 

The Stars threatened to score on Diamond Jaxx starting pitcher Reynel Pinto in the second and third innings, but the threat was ended in each inning when they grounded into double plays. Pinto (6-2) allowed one run on seven hits, striking out two and walking one.

 

Thomas Atlee and Ryan O'Malley combined to one-hit the Stars for the final two innings.

 

Glenn Woolard (4-9) took the loss for Huntsville. He threw five innings, allowing six runs on six hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

 

"I thought Woolard threw the ball exceptionally well; a key play in that second inning hurt us, but things like that happen," Sauveur said. "We have to bounce back and that didn't happen.

 

"It was just one of those nights where we didn't make the right move and it came back to hurt us."

 

The Stars got a run across in the bottom of the fourth inning as Brandon Gemoll reached on an infield single, scoring Enrique Cruz.

 

West Tenn answered with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to make its lead 6-1. Casey McGehee knocked in Bacon with a single and Brandon Sing hit a sacrifice fly to left field, plating McGehee.

 

Bacon was 2-for-5 on the game with two runs scored, three RBIs and a stolen base.

 

After two innings of no scoring, Diamond Jaxx second baseman Aaron Sisk hit a home run over the center field fence in the top of the eighth inning. West Tenn added three more runs in the ninth inning with a Sing home run launched over the left field fence, pushing their lead to 10-1.

 

Sing went 1-for-3 for the game with a home run, four RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. For the Stars, Enrique Cruz went 3-for-4 with a run scored.

 

The Diamond Jaxx improved to 19-12 in the second half and moved into first place in the North Division, a half game ahead of Carolina, which fell in 11 innings to Chattanooga. Huntsville fell to 14-17 in the second half.

[Cyanogen5]

So, with Parra done for the year, do we bother putting him ont he 40-man this off season? When he is on, he is on, but his injury history really scares me. Would we be better of protecting someone else with his spot?

[Mass Haas]

Final: Billings (Reds) 6, Helena 1

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...705_05.txt

 

Brewers have to wait to clinch North

By JOSH JORDAN - IR Sports Writer

 

The Helena Brewers (23-11 Pioneer League North) found themselves on the wrong end of a five-hitter Tuesday night and failed to clinch the first-half crown in the Pioneer League North Division race in a 6-1 loss to Billings at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

The second place Mustangs (20-14) kept hope alive by shutting down the Brewers potent order. One night after giving up five home runs to Helena, four Billings' pitchers combined to allow five hits, retiring 16 straight Brewers at one point in the game.

 

"We need to go out and pitch well every night against Helena," Billings pitching coach Butch Henry said. "They're a good hitting ball club, a night like last night where every ball we threw them they out of the ball park. We need to attack these hitters like any others."

 

Few pitchers have gotten to the Brewers, who entered the game with a league-leading .332 average, the way that Jeff Stevens did. The right-hander came in with a runner on in the top of the fourth inning and pitched four innings of hitless ball. He allowed one baserunner, a walk to the second batter he faced, and struck out six.

 

The second and third outs of the fourth inning began a string of outs by Helena sluggers that didn't stop until two were retired in the ninth inning and Brad Willcutt hit a double to right field.

 

Helena's lone run came on the fourth pitch in its half of the first inning when Charlie Fermaint lined a home run straight over the center field fence 400 feet away. It was the second consecutive night Fermaint has led off the game with a home run.

 

Unlike last night, when the Brewers rolled to a 12-0 win to get within a win of the first-half title, the batters that followed Fermaint could not find a groove.

 

So complete was Billings' control in the game that Angel Salome failed to get a hit for the first time in 19 games.

 

It looked for an instant in the eighth inning like Salome might extend his streak, and get Helena's offense going, but a stellar defensive play put an end to that thinking.

 

Billings pulled Stevens for Kenny Geiersbach in the middle of the eighth and the new Mustang's pitcher had the pleasant task of facing the league leader in batter (.426), RBI (47), hits (60) and doubles (16).

 

Salome lined a one-hopper down the third-base line that looked like it might be a double when Billings third baseman Mayker Sandoval snagged it with a backhand stab and threw a strike at first for the out.

 

Salome's hard-hit ball wasn't the only one that found the inside of a Mustang glove as the visitors made several strong defensive plays in the game to back up their pitching.

 

"That's our plan in the (parent club, Cincinnati) Reds organization," Henry said. "To use our defense, to throw strikes and let them put the ball in play and tonight it worked perfectly."

 

Helena's pitchers found some success against the Mustangs with 16 strikeouts in the game.

 

But they also gave up 14 hits. The first five hitters in Billings' lineup each had at least two hits.

 

Catcher Chris Denove also had two hits from the eighth place in the order, including an RBI double in the top of the second that tied the score.

 

Adam Rosales and J.D. Roberts each drove in runs in the third inning when Billings took the lead 3-1.

 

The Mustangs added two runs in the fifth and one in the eighth to end a four-game losing streak.

 

The two teams will meet again today in Helena at 7:05 p.m. (8:05 Central). Helena has a three-game lead over the Mustangs with four left on the first half schedule.

 

Notes: Former Helena Brewers pitcher Dana Eveland picked up his first major league victory Tuesday night with two scoreless innings as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2.

 

Helena Box Score:

RHP Kevin Roberts has struck out 34 in only 22.1 IP; LHP Brandon Parillo two scoreless innings in his Helena debut; three chances for Helena pitchers and Angel Salome to throw out Billings speedster Brandon Roberts, didn't happen -- he's 21-for-21 in SB attempts -- one throwing error for Angel, error # 11; Ned Yost and Darren Ford with two walks apiece...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

[H0FFY]

I am sure Parra is exactly the guy you pick up in a rule V draft and hide him on the MLB roster. You can DL him quite a while, then you can rehab him in the minors, and then hide him for a month on the 25 man, then hide him again when rosters expand.

 

I read you can pick hurt (high ceiling) pitchers and really only carry them a month on the 25 man roster (the month of July - Aug mainly).

 

I would like the Crew to try that every year! (gaining, not losing)

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 5, Fresno (Giants) 4, 12 innings

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

 

Link for Tony Zuniga photo, text follows --

 

Zuniga Delivers Twice In Sounds' 12-Inning Win

NASHVILLE ? Two innings after belting a game-tying two-out home run in the bottom of the tenth, Nashville third baseman Tony Zuniga delivered a game-ending RBI single in the twelfth as the never-say-die Sounds rallied from a pair of late deficits to post a 5-4, 12-inning victory over the visiting Fresno Grizzlies on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

 

With the win, Nashville (59-45) extended its lead over Memphis in the PCL American Conference Northern Division to a season-high eight games and improved to a season-best 14 games over .500.

 

The last at-bat victory was Nashville?s 21st of the season and the win was the club?s 17th in a game in which it trailed in the seventh inning or later.

 

Audio Link of Tony Zuniga's Game-Winner:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-26.mp3

 

After Corey Hart fouled out to open the bottom of the twelfth, Prince Fielder ripped a double to left-center off Fresno reliever David Lee. Nelson Cruz followed with a bloop single to put runners on the corners for Zuniga, who capped a season-best 4-for-5 evening with his game-ending RBI single, his second huge hit of the evening.

 

With the game knotted at 3-3 in the tenth, PCL home run leader Todd Linden blasted the first pitch he saw from Sounds reliever Kane Davis over the wall in left field for his 26th roundtripper and a 4-3 Fresno lead.

 

With Nashville down to its last out in the bottom of the frame, Zuniga smashed the first pitch he saw from Grizzlies reliever Jack Taschner deep to left for his fourth roundtripper of the year and, more importantly, a 4-all tie.

 

Before the Sounds had a chance to post the game-winner in the bottom of the twelfth, Nashville right-fielder Corey Hart worked some magic of his own in the top of the frame, robbing Linden of a second longball by using every bit of his 6-foot-6 frame to make a leaping catch at the wall and maintain the tie game.

 

The visitors took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on Mike Cervenak?s two-run triple off Sounds starter Wes Obermueller. Doug Clark and Mickey Lopez, who singled and walked to open the frame, scored on the three-bagger.

 

Steve Scarborough, who continued his hot hitting with a 3-for-4 evening, put Nashville on the board with a two-out RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning. The three-bagger, which scored Zuniga, was the infielder?s first of the season.

 

Fresno tacked on an unearned run in the sixth on Adam Shabala?s two-out RBI single to center, which followed a fielding error by Scarborough at shortstop and increased the Grizzlies? lead to 3-1.

 

With one out in the bottom of the inning, Ryan Knox reached on a bunt single, stole second, and scored on a Hart single to pull the Sounds back within a run at 3-2.

 

Nashville tied the game with an unearned run in the seventh stemming from Fresno shortstop Brian Dallimore?s mishandle of a potential double-play grounder off the bat of Mike Rivera. Zuniga, who reached second on the error, eventually scored the tying run on a Knox groundout to knot the game at 3-3.

 

Neither team scored again in regulation and both clubs advanced to their 12th extra-inning contests of the season, respectively. With the win, the Sounds improved to 8-4 when engaging in free baseball.

 

Reliever Mike Meyers (4-3) worked a scoreless inning to pick up the victory for Nashville, while Lee (0-2) absorbed the loss after allowing the game-winner in his 1 1/3 frames.

 

Obermueller, who took a no-decision, allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits while striking out six over 5 2/3 frames in his first Triple-A start of the season.

 

The teams continue the series with a noon meeting on Wednesday afternoon at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Gary Glover (3-1, 2.30) makes the start for Nashville. He?ll face Fresno right-hander Brian Cooper (5-7, 4.72).

 

Nashville Box Score:

Jose Capellan two scoreless relief innings...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

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Sounds share spotlight with football fever

By Willy Daunic, Nashville City Paper Commentary

 

The countdown to football season in Nashville is on. Southeastern Conference football media days begin today in Birmingham where, as usual, expectations are high for Tennessee and low for Vanderbilt. Tennessee State begins a new era under James Webster. The Clinic Bowl will be reborn as a Kickoff Classic to ignite the High School season in a few weeks. And of course, the Titans start training camp on Friday, which will begin to provide at least partial answers to the off-season questions about Steve?s sternum, Calico?s knee and Pacman?s brain.

 

The craving for pigskin is always high, and will eclipse everything else as it cranks up. But before you lock in to complete football mode, don?t forget about a local baseball team that is having a tremendous year.

 

The Nashville Sounds (59-45) have the best record in the American Conference and are in prime position for a playoff run. They began an eight-game homestand last night and have a showdown with another Pacific Coast League power, Sacramento, this weekend.

 

When it comes to minor league baseball, most fans in Nashville fall into the normal fan profile. They show up at the park for affordable entertainment. They aren?t particularly worried about where the Sounds are in the standings or who they are playing that night. Outside of one or two prospects, they don?t take the time to learn who the players are. The main topic surrounding the franchise is their quest for the new downtown ballpark. The typical Nashville sports fan is far more likely to weigh in on the park debate than on the talents of Gary Glover.

 

That is how it should be, but this team has earned a closer look, and any baseball fan who chooses to do so will be rewarded. This Sounds team is never dull. They hit bombs and steal bags. They boot balls in the field and commit base-running blunders. But most of all, they are never out of a game, with well over a dozen wins in their final at-bat, including several improbable comebacks.

 

The much-maligned Milwaukee Brewers organization has delivered on the pre-season hype of a stocked farm system, and is already seeing dividends on the parent club.

 

Thus far, as any successful Triple-A team must do, manager Frank Kremblas? club has adjusted to depletions in the roster without any let up. The Sounds have survived the call-ups of phenom Rickie Weeks and speedster Trent Durrington, along with the departures of veterans Kevin Orie and Chad Paronto. In all likelihood they will have to deal with even more shuffling during the stretch drive depending on the needs of the Brewers.

 

So as you prepare for your fantasy football draft, don?t forget to catch a glimpse of Prince Fielder?s power while he is still in Nashville. While you debate on whether Chris Brown or Travis Henry will get more carries, take a moment to appreciate the athleticism of Corey Hart. Before you are too submerged in your college football preview magazine, sneak right behind home plate at least one time to feel the heat of a Jose Capellan fastball.

 

Inevitably, the Sounds spotlight will give way to the glare of the gridiron regardless of how well they play. However, this team is talented and deserves support down the stretch.

 

A playoff run is always fun in any sport, especially when the team is exciting. We?ll see how many fans take advantage of the opportunity.

[Mass Haas]

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Sounds tame Grizzlies late

By Nate Rau, nrau@nashvillecitypaper.com

 

The Nashville Sounds again displayed their flair for the dramatic, which has become the calling card of the 2005 squad. This time the hero was third baseman Tony Zuniga, who had two clutch extra-inning hits to lead the Sounds to a 5-4 win over Fresno in 12 innings.

 

Nashville (59-45) now owns a season-best eight-game lead in the PCL American North Division.

 

?That?s the only way you can win, if you?re going to have a different guy step up each night,? Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said.

 

Zuniga drove in the winning run in the 12th, when he plated Prince Fielder with a single to left field. In the tenth inning, with the Sounds down to their last out, Zuniga homered to extend the game.

 

Fresno?s Todd Linden homered in the top of the tenth and Nashville had two outs in the bottom of the inning. The Sounds were down to their last strike when Zuniga hit a laser beam home run to tie the game.

 

Fielder led off the 12th with a double, followed by a Nelson Cruz single to set the table for Zuniga.

 

?I guess in a way it was meant to be, I was just trying to do whatever I could to help the team,? said Zuniga, who said he was simply trying to make solid contact during his home run at-bat.

 

Linden seemed to have won the game again in the top of the 12th, but right fielder Corey Hart robbed him of what would have been a two-run home run.

 

?I don?t know how Corey caught that ball,? Kremblas said. ?I guess because he?s 6-7.?

 

Wes Obermueller was making his first Nashville start since being demoted by Milwaukee last week. Obermueller went 5.2 innings and gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits. He did strike out six batters, but left runners on the corners before being replaced by Clilnt Weibl, who allowed one run to score.

 

?He was just fair,? Kremblas said. ?His command wasn?t great, but he got better in the later innings.?

 

The Sounds survived a tense top of the ninth inning, when Fresno loaded the bases with two outs off reliever Jose Capellan. But Capellan fanned Doug Clark to get the Sounds out of the jam.

 

Fresno got on the board in the fourth when Mike Cervenak tagged a two-run triple off the centerfield wall. Cervenak?s hit scored Clark and Mickey Lopez.

 

Nashville answered with a triple of its own. In the fifth inning, shortstop Steve Scarborough tripled home Zuniga to trim the deficit to 2-1.

 

After Fresno took the lead in the sixth, the Sounds answered back. That?s when Hart singled home Ryan Knox. Hart?s 48th RBI of the season trimmed the Grizzlies? lead to 3-2.

 

Mike Meyers earned the win for the Sounds, pitching a scoreless final inning. Nashville used six pitchers on the evening and the team?s bullpen surrendered just one run ? Linden?s home run off Kane Davis.