Link Report for Friday, July 1st - Arizona Box Now Available

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Need your help!

 

Looks like we've lost our source for easy cut-and-paste text versions of the minor league box score and standings info, as USA Today goes to a new format.

 

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

 

So until we're pointed in another direction, be prepared to click away at all the box score info.

 

Also, on the Brewerfan home page, you'll see scores in the scoreboard section, but no longer box scores.

 

If you offer me suggestions, be sure they're valid starting with games of Thursday June 30th. Looks like major and minor league baseball are following through with a promise to be very proprietary when it comes to their box score info, making the simple text formats pretty rare. Thanks.

[Brian the Automator]

Perhaps SportsTicker finally discontinued their text feeds once and for all. I can't find any other sites that were using the pre-formatted text scores.

 

Perhaps it's finally time that I come up with a plan for storing game data in the database correctly instead of just pasting a box score. Ugh. This is going to take some effort.

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central, except for the Arizona League; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Ben Hendrickson at home vs. Memphis (Cardinals), 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: RHP David Bradley at West Tenn (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

If that link is down for bandwidth, use:

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

 

Brevard County: RHP Tim Dillard at home vs. St. Lucie (Mets), 6:00 PM; no audio for this series

 

West Virginia: RHP Mark Rogers at Delmarva (Orioles), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link:

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

 

Helena: LHP Rafael Lluberes at Billings (Reds), 8:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.billingsmustangs.com/...cfm?Listen

 

Arizona: TBD at home in Maryvale vs. the mini-Rangers, 11:30 AM Arizona time; never any audio for this league

[Mass Haas]

Links to follow Friday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wtdaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_delafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

 

Arizona:

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

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

USA Today's Minor League Index Page -- Standings, Stats, League Leaders:

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes for Friday (PDF format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

[jackalope02ca]

Wow, just checked the scores and Nelson is hitting .857. I realize it's just his second game but how often due you get to say a guy is hitting .857?

[Mass Haas]

St. Lucie at Brevard County, postponed, wet grounds

 

Brevard County Site Update:

 

VIERA, FL -- With heavy downpours all afternoon, tonight's game between the Manatees and the St. Lucie Mets has been postponed due to unplayable field conditions. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on August 12 with the time TBA.

[jvrocksaz]

Brad Nelson is currently 6 for 7 in his first two games with Huntsville!!! 5 of his 6 hits have been for xtra bases!!!!http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smokin.gif

 

Edit: make that 7 for 8!!!

[Mass Haas]

Final: Delmarva (Orioles) 8, West Virginia 5

Mark Rogers still looking for that elusive first professional win...

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Second consecutive start that Rogers cruised until the 5th, although the defense let him down here -- Mark is getting the ground balls as of late, however; four errors, two passed balls -- ugh; Grant Richardson on base four times -- nice; Josh Brady should be mashing in Brevard County -- instead, he struggles at West Virginia...

 YTD YTD WEST VIRGINIA AB R H BI AVG DELMARVA AB R H BI AVG A.Escobar SS 5 3 2 1 .302 F.Figueroa 2B 4 2 2 0 .313 H.Iribarren 2B 4 2 1 0 .324 G.Cates SS 4 2 2 3 .352 W.Lewis RF 4 0 1 3 .297 J.Duncan LF 4 3 3 2 .309 G.Richardson 1B 2 0 1 0 .253 J.Fransz DH 5 0 1 1 .280 J.Brady LF 5 0 0 0 .232 A.Rivas CF 5 0 0 0 .264 N.Corredor CAT 5 0 1 0 .204 P.Scalabrini 3B 3 0 1 1 .281 J.Murray 3B 4 0 1 0 .198 J.Gutierrez 1B 3 0 0 0 .233 F.Parejo CF 4 0 0 0 .231 M.Houston CAT 4 1 2 0 .281 A.Mannon DH 2 0 1 0 .148 Q.Ascencion RF 4 0 0 0 .252 M.Rogers PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Perez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Hinton PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Henry PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Barnes PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Cahill PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 H.Henington PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 5 8 4 TOTALS 36 8 11 7 WEST VIRGINIA 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1- 5 8 4 DELMARVA 1 0 0 0 4 0 1 2 X- 8 11 2 E--H.Iribarren, N.Corredor, J.Murray, J.Barnes, P.Scalabrini, M.Houston. DP--WEST VIRGINIA 1, DELMARVA 0. LOB--WEST VIRGINIA 10, DELMARVA 9. 2B--W.Lewis (13), J.Murray (5), J.Duncan (11), M.Houston (7). 3B-- J.Duncan (4). HR--A.Escobar (1), G.Cates (1). SB--A.Escobar (21), H.Iribarren (27). CS--F.Figueroa. HBP--W.Lewis. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA WEST VIRGINIA M.Rogers (L,0-6) 4.1 7 5 2 2 2 1 4.62 R.Hinton 1.2 2 0 0 0 1 0 3.11 J.Barnes 2.0 2 3 2 3 3 0 3.75 DELMARVA C.Perez (W,6-5) 5.0 6 4 4 3 3 1 3.84 P.Henry 2.0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1.13 C.Cahill 1.2 1 1 0 1 2 0 3.42 H.Henington (S,2) 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 HB--C.Cahill. PB--N.Corredor 2. SO--H.Iribarren, J.Brady, J.Murray, F.Parejo, A.Mannon, J.Fransz, A.Rivas, P.Scalabrini 2, J.Gutierrez, Q.Ascencion. BB--H.Iribarren, G.Richardson 3, A.Mannon 2, F.Figueroa, G.Cates, J.Duncan, P.Scalabrini, J.Gutierrez. T--3:14. A--2129

West Virginia Game Log:

Alcides Escobar homers to lead off the game, his first; Will Lewis a two-out, two-run double in the 2nd; Power had the bases loaded and the winning run at the plate with two outs in the 9th -- Nestor Corredor grounded out to end it...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_delafx_1

[BrewCrewKid]

Does anyone know why Brauns been DH'ing instead of playing everyday. Is it because he won't be in Helena for long?

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 5, West Tenn (Cubs) 2

I think we all cheer a bit harder for the Stars fan base than any other -- with us since 1999, they're the longest-tenured current affiliate and certainly have added to our knowledge here -- good to see there may be some second-half excitement there...

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Link for David Bradley photo, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=653

 

Stars Move Back Into Top Spot in Division

Brandon Gemoll drove in three runs and David Bradley put together another quality start to carry Huntsville past West Tenn 5-2 Friday night in the second game of a four-game set at Pringles Park. The Stars improved to 6-4 in the second half and regained sole possession of first place in the North Division over Carolina, which was rained out for a third straight scheduled night, and the Diamond Jaxx, who dropped to 5-5 in the second half.

 

Gemoll delivered a two-out, two-run double in the fourth inning to plate Vinny Rottino and Enrique Cruz with the first two runs of the game. Brandon Sing belted a solo home run off of Bradley in the fifth to trim the lead to 2-1. It was his 15th of the season and 101st of his minor league career. Bradley worked five innings in his third start of the year, allowing a lone run on three hits and a walk. The right-hander has totaled 14 innings in his three starts and has yielded one run in each of them, with two of the three runs coming on solo home runs.

 

The Stars pushed their lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning when Brad Nelson tripled home Rottino and then came into score on a base hit by Gemoll, who has knocked in runs in each of his last four starts. West Tenn starter Renyel Pinto was taken out after six innings after yielding a season-high four runs on a season-high seven hits and three walks. The left-hander suffered his first loss of the season and dropped to 4-1.

 

West Tenn plated an unearned run against Khalid Ballouli in the seventh to trim the lead to 4-2 but the Stars answered right back in the eighth with a run but missed out on a chance to score more. Ben Van Iderstine delivered a bases loaded single to plate Nelson but pinch-hitter Kennard Bibbs and Callix Crabbe followed by bouncing into force plays at the plate and Tony Gwynn, Jr. grounded out to end the inning. Gwynn is hitless in nine at-bats in the series with seven ground outs, while Bibbs has just one hit in his last 19 tries.

 

Mitch Stetter worked two scoreless frames to nail down his seventh save of the season and his fourth since June 9 at Chattanooga. Rottino collected three hits and scored twice and has five straight multiple hit games and eight in the first 10 games of the half, while Nelson singled, doubled and tripled and has reached base in nine of his 10 plate appearances in the series.

 

The series continues Saturday night with left-hander Ryan Costello taking the hill for the Stars against Diamond Jaxx right-hander Jae-kuk Ryu. Coverage of the game gets underway at 6:50 p.m. central time on ESPN 1450 AM and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Wow -- this bears repeating: Vinny Rottino collected three hits and scored twice and has five straight multiple hit games and eight in the first 10 games of the half; second consecutive night that Brad Nelson misses just one component of the cycle -- no HR tonight;

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wtdaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wtdaax_1

[Mass Haas]

In progress: Helena 6, Billings (Reds) 6, after seven innings

These two evenly-matched clubs locked in a good one as of 10:30 Central -- give a listen if you're around; Brendan Katin with his 3rd home run...

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER COMMIT FOUR ERRORS IN LOSS TO DELMARVA

Salisbury, MD ? The West Virginia Power had a 4-1 lead through four innings of Friday night?s game against the Delmarva Shorebirds, but committed four errors down the stretch and were outscored 7-1 from the fifth inning on and lost by the final score of 8-5.

 

Alcides Escobar began the ball game with a solo shot, which was his first home run of the season. Later in the inning Will Lewis drove in Hernan Iribarren on an RBI groundout to give the Power a 2-0 lead. The Shorebirds cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first inning on a Jason Fransz RBI single. Lewis delivered again in the top of the second inning on a two-run double to give the Power a 4-1 lead.

 

The Power took that lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Shorebirds sent nine batters to the plate, scored four runs to take the lead and never looked back. Gary Cates hit a three-run homer to tie the game at 4-4 and Patrick Scalabrini knocked in Jake Duncan on an infield single to give the Shorebirds a 5-4 lead.

 

In the seventh inning Fransz reached first base on a dropped third strike and Duncan scored from third during the play. Duncan delivered again in the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-run triple to give the Shorebirds an 8-4 advantage.

 

The Power made things interesting in the top of the ninth inning. They had the bases loaded with the tying run at the plate in Josh Brady with two outs. Brady hit a ground ball to the third baseman Scalabrini who booted the ball, allowing Escobar to score, making it an 8-5 ball game. Nestor Corredor grounded out during the next at bat to end the game.

 

Carlos Perez (6-5) earned the victory, Justin Henington (2) earned the save and Mark Rogers (0-6) obtained the loss. The Power fall to 3-5 in the second half with the loss and the Shorebirds improve to 5-3 with the win.

 

The Power will continue the series against the Delmarva Shorebirds at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Saturday night. The Power will throw LHP Greg Kloosterman (3-10, 4.20) and the Shorebirds will counter with RHP Luis Ramirez (3-4, 3.31). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 7, Memphis (Cardinals) 5

Nashville fans have to be thrilled with this winning and entertaining group...

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

 

Link for Corey Hart photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1665

 

NASHVILLE ? Sounds outfielder Corey Hart must have been singing ?Never Surrender? when he came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, as he ripped a two-run double to give Nashville a 7-5 victory over the second-place Memphis Redbirds on Friday evening at Greer Stadium.

 

Hart?s game-winning two-bagger completed a three-run Sounds rally in the frame, which was started by a game-tying Mike Rivera homer, and gave Nashville (45-37) its second straight win in the series as well as the team?s 13th victory this season in games in which it trailed in the seventh inning or later.

 

With the win, the Sounds extended their lead over the Redbirds to a season-high 4 ½ games in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

Rehabbing right fielder Russell Branyan spotted the Sounds an early 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI double to right in the bottom of the first inning. Nelson Cruz doubled the Nashville advantage to 2-0 in the fifth with a two-out RBI single to right to score Branyan, who preceded Cruz with his second double of the evening.

 

Branyan, 4-for-9 in four games on his rehab assignment, finished with two doubles and a walk in his three plate appearances before a scheduled early exit after six innings.

 

The Redbirds stormed back to take a 4-2 lead with a four-run sixth against Ben Hendrickson. With one out, John Gall reached on an infield single and moved to third on John Rodriguez?s double. Memphis third baseman Scott Seabol followed with a game-tying, two-run triple to deep center, then scored the go-ahead run a batter later on Chris Duncan?s RBI single up the middle. Catcher Cody McKay put Memphis up two with a two-out RBI double to left-center.

 

Memphis second baseman Bo Hart extended the lead to 5-2 with a one-out solo homer to left-center off Sounds reliever Mike Adams, the infielder?s fifth roundtripper of the year.

 

The Sounds creeped back within a run in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs against Redbirds reliever Tyler Johnson. With two outs, Hart walked and stole second before Chris Barnwell extended his hitting streak to a season-high four games with an RBI single. After Cruz walked, Sounds first baseman Tony Zuniga ripped an RBI double to center to plate Barnwell and make it a 5-4 contest. Cruz was thrown out at the plate on the play to end the inning while attempting to score the tying run.

 

Rivera, who went 3-for-4 with a homer and two doubles, tied the game at 5-5 in the eighth with a leadoff solo homer to center off Memphis reliever Josh Pearce. The blast was the backstop?s fifth of the season. After Steve Scarborough reached on a bunt single, Hart put the Sounds on top later in the frame with a two-out, two-run double to left-center off Vladimir Nunez. The two-bagger, Hart?s team-leading 24th of the year, extended the prospect?s hitting streak to 10 games.

 

Adams (1-1) picked up his first win after allowing one run and striking out four batters in two innings of work. Pearce (0-1) took a loss in his first decision of the year after surrendering two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Jeff Bennett worked a perfect ninth to pick up his team-leading ninth save.

 

The teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. meeting on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium. Left-hander Jeff Housman (3-6, 5.38) takes the hill for the Sounds to face Memphis right-hander Adam Wainwright (5-6, 3.58).

 

Nashville Box Score:

Catcher Mike Rivera's been a godsend since the Pat Borders trade; David Krynzel's .254 average and .330-ish OBP isn't cutting it, despite the HR and RBI production; Nelson Cruz on base in all four plate appearances...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

How about that Corey Hart -- 15 stolen bases in 21 attempts - it's only July 1st...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Arizona Rangers at Arizona Brewers

Three games in the Arizona League Friday -- two have been reported on; so far, this one falls in the "unreported" category

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 7, Billings (Reds) 6

 

Helena Box Score:

Kenny Holmberg joins Brendan Katin with a long ball; two passed balls for Angel Salome, now with five on the season -- let him rake and learn in the Pioneer League all summer...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

This one had a major-league feel to it as the managers mixed and matched in the bottom of the 9th...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

[cjbeatbox]

Another two hits for salome tonight along with a stolen bag. we know he has a cannon for an arm,though he cant seem to bring the ball in real well. is there any info out there about his speed? he has two stolen bags, its just rookie league,But a catcher with some speed would only ad to my man crush.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

miva.jacksonsun.com/miva/...7027346846

 

Holiday fireworks come early

Red-hot Stars ride Nelson to another win

By DAVID BRANDT

dbrandt@jacksonsun.com

 

For the second night in a row, Huntsville's Brad Nelson terrorized the Diamond Jaxx's pitching staff. It's not often you can look at the scoreboard and see a guy hitting .875 for the season.

 

The Stars cruised to a 5-2 victory at Pringles Park on Friday night, and it was Nelson doing most of the heavy hitting for Huntsville, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple and RBI.

 

A bruising 6-foot-2, 220-pound outfielder, Nelson struggled in Triple-A Nashville before recently being demoted to Huntsville. But now that he's down in Double-A, he's hitting .875 (7-for-8) with a home run, triple, two doubles and four RBIs in two games against the Jaxx.

 

After the game, even West Tenn's clubhouse had high praise for the power-hitting left-hander.

 

''That ball must look like a pumpkin for (Nelson) now,'' Ryan Theriot said shaking his head. ''That guy can hit. I'd be stunned if he's around Double-A much longer.''

 

In Nelson's final plate appearance of Friday night, it was obvious the Jaxx wanted no part of his bat, walking him on four straight pitches.

 

''Right now, everything is really slowing down for me when I'm hitting,'' Nelson said. ''It feels great. This entire team is swinging the bat really well.''

 

The Stars (35-44, 6-4) out-hit the Jaxx, 12-5. Vinny Rottino went 3-for-5 for his second consecutive three-hit night, while Brandon Gemoll was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

 

With the loss, the Jaxx (49-30, 5-5) dropped to third place in the Southern League's North Division.

 

Huntsville's David Bradley (3-1) worked five innings, giving up a solo home run to Brandon Sing in the fifth inning. But beside that one mistake, the right-hander's deliberate motion kept the Jaxx off-balance most of the night.

 

Stars' relievers Khalid Ballouli and Mitch Stetter, who picked up his seventh save of the season, combined to give up only four hits and one unearned run in four innings.

 

''We're playing Huntsville at the wrong time right now,'' Jaxx manager Bobby Dickerson said. ''Those guys are hot. Everything they hit is finding a hole, and everything we're hitting goes right at someone. That's just the way it is sometimes.''

 

Renyel Pinto (4-1) lost his first decision of the season, giving up four earned runs in six innings of work. After cruising through the first three innings, the big left-hander gave up two runs in both the fourth and sixth.

 

Coming into the game, Pinto had been one of the most effective pitchers in the Southern League with a 1.69 ERA.

 

''Renyel just didn't really have his stuff tonight,'' Dickerson said. ''His velocity was down early and then he started getting behind in a lot of counts. You can't pitch like that and Renyel knows that.''

 

Thomas Atlee gave up one earned run in two innings of relief and Jon Searles pitched a scoreless ninth, but the Jaxx's offense was never able to get a rally started. Outside of Adam Greenberg's 2-for-4 night, no one mustered more than one hit.

 

''(Huntsville's) pitchers had good stuff tonight,'' Theriot said. ''Every time we were hitting, it seemed like we were behind in the count.

 

Country singer George Jones was in Pringles Park for the game, but it did little to boost attendance. The crowd of 1,640 was just slightly above the season average of 1,569.

[Mass Haas]

Fast radar gun in Delmarva? Read on...

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.delmarvanow.com/apps/...20312/1006

 

'Birds catch up, run past Power

Delmarva rallies from an early 4-1 deficit

By Jason Barbato

Daily Times Sports Writer

 

SALISBURY -- It's becoming a pattern. The Delmarva Shorebirds simply play better baseball from behind these days.

 

For the second straight night, the visiting West Virginia Power jumped all over Delmarva, grabbing a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning and stretching it to 4-1 by the bottom of the second. Yet, as was the case in Thursday's series opener with the Power, the Shorebirds pitching settled in, while the offense awakened later in the contest, and Delmarva again bloomed late for an 8-5 victory at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Friday night.

 

The Shorebirds also fell behind 2-0 in the first inning Thursday, only to rally and edge West Virginia 5-4. Friday's victory marked back-to-back triumphs for the club, unbeaten in its first two home contests of the second half of the South Atlantic League season.

 

"We fell behind early, and there were a couple plays early we should have made," Shorebirds manager Gary Kendall said. "But I'll tell you, we've been swinging the bat pretty well, and we have a pretty good ballclub in here now. It's just kind of exciting with this team. We just go out there and try and play great defense and put the ball in play."

 

Delmarva starter Carlos Perez stumbled to a slow beginning to his six-inning effort, as Power shortstop Alcides Escobar took the game's second pitch over the left-field wall to make it 1-0. Perez would yield three more base hits in the first, as West Virginia would add a second run to grab the early two-run advantage.

 

"I came in confident, and I wanted to throw first-pitch strikes," Perez said. "But when the first hitter got to me, I don't know what happened. After that, I had to work on my location a little bit."

 

Designated hitter Jason Fransz knocked in Jake Duncan in the bottom of the inning to close the Shorebird deficit to one run, but Escobar and Hernan Iribarren would plate off Perez in the top of the second on a double by William Lewis to push the Power lead to 4-1. The SAL All-Star hurler would keep his cool, however, and turn back the next nine West Virginia hitters in order. He wouldn't allow another hit after the Lewis double, and scattered six hits, while striking out three on the night to pick up his sixth win of the year.

 

"I didn't throw fastballs in the middle anymore," Perez said. "I started working on my location. I was throwing fastball inside and away, and mixing in my slider. My manager came to the mound and told me that me to keep working hard, because I still had a chance to get a win. It felt pretty good to pull out the win, and I thank my team for playing well behind me."

 

Meanwhile, Delmarva finally solved West Virginia starter Mark Rogers, whose fastball registered at 100 and 101 miles per hour throughout the night, in the bottom of the fifth. Catcher Matt Houston led off the inning with a gap double, and Paco Figueroa reached first one batter later on the first of four Power errors in the game. Next, shortstop Gary Cates caught everyone off guard in his at-bat, lacing a three-run homer over the left-field wall to knot the game at four.

 

"It was a second and third situation, and he went low and off-speed with ball one, so I knew he had to come to me with a pitch down the middle," Cates said. The bomb was his first as a Shorebird in 2005. "It's great to get that first one out of the way, and it couldn't have come at a better time. It just made me feel good to help the team out, and get us back into the ballgame there."

 

The Cates blast knocked Rogers out of the game, and Patrick Scalabrini later singled in Duncan as the Shorebirds batted around in the fifth, and took a 5-4 lead into the sixth. The hot-hitting Duncan then generated Delmarva's final three runs of the game, first doubling and scoring on a wild pitch in the seventh, then tripling to score Figueroa and Cates in the eighth to make it 8-4. He finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored, and Cates, Figueroa and Houston each contributed two hits to pace the Shorebirds attack, which totaled 11 hits in the contest.

 

Relievers Paul Henry and Casey Cahill would shut down West Virginia into the ninth, and Justin Hennington stepped in and allowed one run, but cut the Power off with the bases loaded to end the game, and register his second save of the season.

 

"It's just all positive right now," Kendall said. "The guys believe that they can win, and they are going out there and proving it. Everything is going good right now, and I just want to keep it up."

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....1/SPORTS04

 

Sounds surge past Memphis

Nashville extends lead in standings to 4½ games

By CHIP CIRILLO

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

It was "Turn Back the Clock Night" at Greer Stadium last night.

 

So the Sounds got in the spirit by turning back Memphis with an old-fashioned rally en route to a 7-5 victory.

 

Nashville, Memphis and the umpires wore retro uniforms dating back to the late 1800s.

 

The Sounds fell behind 5-2 before rallying for two runs in the seventh inning and three more in the eighth in front of a crowd of 6,105.

 

Outfielder Corey Hart provided the winning hit with a two-run double in the eighth, giving the Sounds their fifth win in their last six games.

 

"That was on a sinker," Hart said. "(Vladimir Nunez) threw that pitch before, and it came in a lot. That one kind of flattened out and he left it over the middle for me."

 

The Sounds tied the score 5-5 on a leadoff homer by Mike Rivera in the eighth.

 

Former Gordonsville High star Jeff Bennett recorded his team-high ninth save for the Sounds by retiring three consecutive batters in the ninth.

 

The first-place Sounds increased their lead to 4½ games over Memphis in the Pacific Coast League's American Conference Northern Division.

 

Nashville built a 2-0 lead with an RBI double by Russell Branyan in the first and a one-run single by Nelson Cruz in the fifth.

 

Memphis rallied to take a 4-2 lead in the sixth on a two-run triple by Scott Seabol, an RBI single by Chris Duncan and an RBI double by Cody McKay.

 

Sounds starter Ben Hendrickson, the International League MVP last year, shut out the Redbirds during the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth when he gave up five hits.

 

The Redbirds increased their lead to 5-2 on a solo homer by Bo Hart in the seventh.

 

Nashville narrowed the deficit to 5-4 on RBI singles by Branyan and Tony Zuniga in the seventh.

 

The Sounds almost tied the score, but Cruz was thrown out by Duncan in a close play at the plate while trying to score from first on Zuniga's single.

 

Memphis starter Chris Gissell ? who needed 37 pitches to get through the inning ? walked the bases loaded in the third before striking out Zuniga to end the threat.

 

Cruz celebrated his 25th birthday by getting on base all four times with two walks, one single and one hit by pitch.

 

He was promoted from Double?A Huntsville on Wednesday.

 

Fantastic Fridays: The Sounds are 66-30 on Fridays since 2001, easily the team's most successful day during that span. Nashville is 10-3 on Friday's this season, including 6-0 at home.

 

Game at a glance

 

? Winning pitcher: Mike Adams (1-1).

 

? Big stick: Rivera went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and one RBI.

 

? How they won: The Sounds rallied from a 5-2 deficit with two runs in the seventh inning and three more in the eighth. Rivera tied the game with a solo homer in the eighth and outfielder Hart followed five batters later with a two-run double.

 

? What they said: "The two runs in the seventh came with two outs so that was big. Obviously the big, big hit was Rivera tying it up with no outs." ? Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas.

 

? Tonight's pitchers: Sounds ? LHP Jeff Housman (3-6, 5.38 ERA). Redbirds ? Adam Wainwright (5-6, 3.58).

 

Chip Cirillo is a staff writer for The Tennessean. He can be contacted at ccirillo@tennessean.com.

[H0FFY]

Meanwhile, Delmarva finally solved West Virginia starter Mark Rogers, whose fastball registered at 100 and 101 miles per hour throughout the night, in the bottom of the fifth.

 

I guess I can accept the loss if we have a 19 year old tossing em up there at 101.

[Mass Haas]

Not bad Link Report coverage today considering there was only a "home team" report from Nashville...

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Ponies fall again

By ED WEST

Of The Billings Gazette Staff

 

If the Billings Mustangs are going to be the kind of team manager Rick Burleson thinks they can become, they'll need to get better at certain things.

 

Like executing bunts.

 

The Mustangs missed a couple of chances to do that in Friday's 7-6 loss to the Helena Brewers at Cobb Field.

 

The victory gave Helena two wins in the three-game series and put the Brewers (9-1) two games ahead of the Mustangs (7-3), who leave for a six-game roadtrip that begins today in Missoula.

 

"It's a game of execution,'' Burleson said. "The teams that do that win.''

 

The Mustangs battled back twice from three-run deficits (3-0, 6-3) and had their chances in the late innings. In the eighth, Mayker Sandoval led off with a single, his third hit of the game and Burleson brought in the speedy Kenny Lewis to pinch run.

 

Chris Denove popped up a bunt attempt, but Lewis still managed to get to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball. He was left stranded when Josh Holden struck out and Brandon Roberts grounded to first.

 

After the Brewers successfully executed a sacrifice bunt and took the lead on a fly ball in the top of the ninth, the Mustangs had another opportunity to tie or win the game in their half.

 

Eric Eymann reached on a throwing error by shortstop Ryan Crew. Eymann got to second on a wild pitch, but Adam Rosales couldn't advance him by failing to put down a bunt. Rosales struck out and Ben Mummy also fanned. Jordan Belcher drew a walk before pinch-hitter James Langham grounded out to end the game.

 

Despite the loss, there were some positives for the Mustangs. Helena came into the game with a league-leading .364 team average and the Mustangs matched the Brewers' 10 hits.

 

Sandoval had three hits and drove in three runs, two with a second-inning homer. Belcher hit two doubles and knocked in a run. Mummy and Denove each had two hits.

 

Brendan Katin and Kenny Holmberg both homered to deep right center for the Brewers. Katin's two-run shot off starter David Wilson gave the Brewers a 3-0 lead in the second. Holmberg led off the fifth with a blast off Robert Wachman. Helena tacked on two more runs, aided by a throwing error by rightfielder Belcher for a 6-3 lead.

 

Wachman, however, did retire the Brewers in order the next two innings and before a Belcher double triggered a three-run sixth for the Mustangs. Sandoval and Denove contributed RBI singles and fly by Roberts brought in the tying run.

 

Helena took the lead in the ninth. Katin drew a walk and Crew put down a bunt that was fielded by Jose Rojas, who didn't make a throw. Holmberg singled to load the bases. Rojas struck out Darren Ford, but Charlie Fermaint's fly to left scored Stephen Chapman, who ran for Katin.

 

Mummy said the Mustangs have to be better at executing things like bunts.

 

"It's just playing baseball,'' Mummy said. "It's not like we're not trying. I think we're coming together as a team. The good teams are the ones that play well together.''

 

"It's great to play in a close game,'' Burleson said. "It will make us better. We had our chances. We didn't get it done.''

 

Kevin Roberts, the third of six Helena pitchers got the win and is 1-0. David Welch notched his second save. Jason Vecchio (0-2) was charged with the loss.

 

Photos by STEPHEN BRASHEAR/Billings Gazette Staff

Mustangs baserunner Chris Denove slides safely into home plate ahead of the tag of Helena catcher Angel Salome during their game at Cobb Field Friday night.

 

http://www.billingsgazette.com/rednews/2005/07/02/build//sports/images/30-mustangs.jpg

 

Billings shortstop Adam Rosales turns the double play as Helena?s Ryan Crew slides into second base during their game at Cobb Field Friday night.

 

http://www.billingsgazette.com/rednews/2005/07/02/stories/sports/images/mustangs2.jpg

[Mass Haas]

By the way, the Reds extended their agreement to play in Billings by four years through 2010. Theirs is one of the longest current affiliations in baseball, if not the longest, going back to 1974.

 

To our knowledge, all Brewer affiliations will expire after 2006, and we probably won't hear about two- or four-year extensions until next year.