Link Report for Sat 7/21 - History in Huntsville; Helena Hot

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP R.A. Dickey and TBD in a doubleheader at Iowa (Cubs), 5:50 PM pre-game; 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Sam Narron at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: TBD at Daytona (Cubs), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

NOTE: Audio link above is for the Daytona feed only.

 

West Virginia: RHP Chris Toneguzzi 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 Roque Mercedes at home vs. Idaho Falls (Royals), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Arizona: TBD at home vs. the Ranger runts in the Maryvale complex, 10:30 AM local time in Arizona, 12:30 Central; never any audio for Arizona Rookie League games

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday's action as it happens:

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

 

Nashville Game One:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_iowaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Two:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_iowaaa_2

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_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]

Video feeds of Nashville's series in Iowa this weekend are available via MiLB.TV for a small daily fee:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c.../video.jsp

[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:

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

 

Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Friday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 61 38 .616 - 32-14 29-24 W2 Iowa 55 45 .550 6.5 32-21 23-24 L1 Omaha 47 53 .470 14.5 31-17 16-36 W1 Memphis 41 59 .410 20.5 22-30 19-29 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 18 11 .621 - 9-5 9-6 W11 Chattanooga 15 14 .517 3.0 6-9 9-5 W1 Carolina 14 15 .483 4.0 7-7 7-8 W1 Tennessee 13 16 .448 5.0 10-5 3-11 L4 West Tenn 12 17 .414 6.0 6-9 6-8 W4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 16 12 .571 - 7-5 9-7 W1 Jupiter 13 15 .464 3.0 6-4 7-11 W2 Palm Beach 13 15 .464 3.0 7-11 6-4 L3 St. Lucie 12 16 .429 4.0 4-9 8-7 W2 Daytona 11 17 .393 5.0 6-10 5-7 L3 Vero Beach 6 22 .214 10.0 3-12 3-10 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 17 10 .630 - 10-5 7-5 W3 Hickory 17 12 .586 1.0 9-7 8-5 W4 Lake County 15 12 .556 2.0 8-8 7-4 L2 West Virginia 15 14 .517 3.0 7-4 8-10 L3 Lexington 14 15 .483 4.0 8-6 6-9 L1 Delmarva 12 16 .429 5.5 5-11 7-5 L4 Greensboro 10 19 .345 8.0 5-6 5-13 W2 Hagerstown 9 19 .321 8.5 5-11 4-8 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 21 9 .700 - 14-3 7-6 W1 Helena 20 10 .667 1.0 7-6 13-4 W6 Billings 15 15 .500 6.0 10-6 5-9 W1 Missoula 14 16 .467 7.0 6-8 8-8 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Mariners 17 7 .708 - 10-2 7-5 W1 AZL Angels 15 8 .652 1.5 13-3 2-5 L1 AZL Padres 15 8 .652 1.5 8-2 7-6 L1 AZL Giants 13 11 .542 4.0 8-4 5-7 W1 AZL Cubs 11 12 .478 5.5 6-5 5-7 L4 AZL Royals 11 13 .458 6.0 5-6 6-7 W2 AZL Rangers 9 14 .391 7.5 4-7 5-7 L1 AZL Athletics 8 15 .348 8.5 5-6 3-9 W1 AZL Brewers 6 17 .261 10.5 2-9 4-8 L1

[SheetsCyYoung04]

West Virginia could sure use a little Matt Laporta to make up those three games

[DHonks]

West Virginia could sure use a little Matt Laporta to make up those three games

 

doesn't matter, since W. Va can't qualify for the playoffs twice

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Rangers 6, Arizona Brewers 4, ten innings

 

Arizona Box Score:

2007's 33rd round pick, Canadian OF Ryan Jensen, made his pro debut in this one, at DH; Brett Whiteside getting AB's elsewhere (first base today) when not catching; just-turned 17-year-old Aliixon Cequea with three hits, including a HR, maybe this Venezuelan will develop into "one to watch"; 23-year-old catcher Matt Czimskey now 9-for-23 (.391); 12 hits for the A-Crew, but no walks (11 K's)...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

 

Arizona Game Log:

Brewers tried to win it in the bottom of the 9th, but pinch-runner Charlie Iacono was thrown out at the plate; Whiteside, who had the game-tying hit in the 8th, couldn't come through in the 10th, striking out with one out and two men on -- then Chris Dennis grounded back to the pitcher to end it...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

RHP Steve Bray will get a spot start in Game Two of tonight's doubleheader. With rehabbing Elmer Dessens going Sunday, the Sounds staff will be taxed, although Nashville is off Monday.

[DHonks]

RHP Steve Bray will get a spot start in Game Two of tonight's doubleheader. With rehabbing Elmer Dessens going Sunday, the Sounds staff will be taxed, although Nashville is off Monday.

 

I would think it's Dickey for a CG no matter what then. He might just also relieve in game 2. Either that, or Barnwell or Rottino could get in as pitcher

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with First Baseman/Outfielder Brad Nelson (Yes, A New One):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-21.mp3

 

Final, Game One: Nashville 5, Iowa (Cubs) 1

 

Nashville Site:

 

Dickey Leads Sounds To 5-1 Win In Opener

 

DES MOINES ? Nashville native R.A. Dickey worked a seven-inning complete game and contributed a two-run double to lead the Sounds to a 5-1 victory over the division-rival Iowa Cubs in the opener of a doubleheader on Saturday evening at Principal Park.

 

AUDIO: Dickey Two-Run Double --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...7-21-1.mp3

 

The complete game was the second of the year for Dickey (8-5), who improved to 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA (12 ER / 53.0 IP) in eight starts since returning to the rotation in mid-June.

 

With the win, Nashville (62-38) increased its divsion lead to a season-best 7 1/2 games over the I-Cubs.

 

Complete results will be posted following the conclusion of tonight's on-field action.

 

Nashville Game One Box Score:

Joe Dillon on base all four times up, Ozzie Chavez on base all three times...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_iowaaa_1

 

Nashville Game One Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_iowaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com:

 

Manatees, Cubs rained out

 

Saturday night's Florida State League game between the Brevard County Manatees and Daytona Cubs was postponed due to rain.

 

It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 23.

 

NOTE: LHP David Welch would have been your starting pitcher.

[Boy Jeenius]

Gindl hits one off the left field wall to give the Brewers an early lead. Announcer Steve Wendt remarked concerning Gindl, "He's good at baseball." Made me laugh out loud.

[Boy Jeenius]

Alcides Escobar with a 2 run jack. A hint of power? Cool.

[DHonks]

great to see Roque Mercedes pitching well. Comparing his number in Helena this year to last year show some improvement, especially in strikeouts. Hopefully next year as a 21 year old, the SAL goes better. If it does, he could find a mid-season promotion in line.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 5, Tennessee (Cubs) 4

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1281

 

Moss Makes Magic Happen!

 

Steve Moss doubled in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Huntsville to a dramatic 5-4 comeback and franchise-record tying 12th straight win over Tennessee Saturday night in front of 7,296 at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars also won a season-best seventh consecutive home game, all over the Smokies, dating back to July 6. Huntsville's longest win streak had previously been established between April 30 and May 12, 1988.

 

Hernan Iribarren led off the home ninth with a single off Jim Henderson, moved to second base on an Alcides Escobar sacrifice bunt and scored on a Michael Brantley pinch-hit single to tie the game at four. Moss then drove a 3-1 offering into the alley in left-center field for the decisive blow and was mobbed by his teammates in between second and third base. The Stars picked up their seventh walk-off win of the season.

 

Joe Simokaitis belted a leadoff home run in the top of the ninth, his second of the series and third of the year, off Bo Hall, to give the Smokies a 4-3 edge. Tennessee mustered only eight runs in the series and has now dropped to 13-17 in the second half and six games behind the Stars in the North Division.

 

Run-scoring singles by Issmael Salas in the third and Nate Spears, who collected his first double-A hit and RBI, in the fourth staked the visitors to a 2-0 lead. Escobar blasted a two-run long ball in the bottom of the fourth off Ryan O?Malley, who gave up his 20th homer of the season, to tie the game. Tyler Colvin singled in Casey McGehee in the sixth to put Tennessee back on top but the lead lasted only until the bottom of the inning when Iribarren smacked his third home run of the season to knot the game at three.

 

Stars? starter Sam Narron went seven innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on seven hits, while fanning five. He has not issued a walk over 20 innings in his last three turns. O?Malley went five frames, giving up two runs on six hits, while striking out six.

 

The Stars begin a five-game series in Jacksonville on Monday night with right-hander Will Inman taking the hill against Suns? right-hander Jimmy Norrito. Coverage of the game begins at 5:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Michael Brantley hitting .407 in his last ten games; Sam Narron was 2-for-2 at the plate as well...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Steve Moss is 12-for-50 with eight RBIs in 15 games against Tennessee this season. (Photo by Jerry Hale/MLB.com)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/07/22/UEFhG8DN.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Helena KCAP Audio Pre-Game Interview with LHP Curtis Pasma, the Brewers' 2007 36th round pick out of Pacific:

Be sure you're on the July 21st archive, interview begins right off the top:

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 4, Idaho Falls (Royals) 3

 

MiLB.com:

 

Mercedes tames Chukars

 

Roque Mercedes tossed five solid innings as host Helena edged Idaho Falls, 4-3, on Saturday.

 

Mercedes (3-1) yielded two runs -- one earned -- on six hits and two walks while striking out five to win his third straight decision and lower his ERA to 3.20.

 

Bobby Bramhall allowed an unearned run on two hits in three innings before Corey Frerichs pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save.

 

Caleb Gindl ripped an RBI double in the first and scored on an error and Matt Cline delivered a run-scoring single in the second for the Brewers (21-10).

 

Chukars starter Clegg Snipes (1-3) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on four hits in four frames, fanning three and walking two.

 

Clint Robinson and Alvi Morel hit RBI singles for Idaho Falls (19-13). -- Steve Conley/MLB.com

 

***

Helena Site Game Summary:

 

Brewers Defeat Chukars for Seventh in a Row

 

HELENA--Brewers fans waited on the edge of their seats until the final out of the game, but Helena prevailed 4-3 to capture its seventh consecutive win on Saturday night. Helena lead 3-0 early in the game, but Idaho Falls threatened to end the Brewers winning streak by putting the tying run on base in the ninth inning.

 

Reliever Corey Frerichs walked the leadoff batter in the ninth inning, but bared down to grab the save. Helena scored two runs in the first inning and one in the second, but did not score again until the fifth inning after Idaho Falls had cut the deficit to one run.

 

Caleb Gindl provided the game's first run on a RBI double and the Brewers added a second run in the first inning on an Idaho Falls error. Matt Cline singled in Zelous Wheeler during the third inning to take a 3-0 advantage. The Chukars scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to come within one run, but the Brewers retaliated with a lone run in the sixth inning, the eventual winning run. Lee Haydel gave Helena a 4-3 lead when a fielder's choice allowed Mike Goetz to score.

 

Roque Mercedes earned his third win of the season; he gave up two runs over five innings. Reliever Bobby Bramhall got his first hold of the season, pitching three innings of one-run ball. Frerichs recorded his first save of the season by retiring three consecutive batters after he walked the first Chukar he faced.

 

Helena (21-10) moves into a tie for first place after a Great Falls 8-2 loss to Ogden. The Brewers will look to complete a four-game series sweep of the Chukars when the two teams face-off Sunday afternoon at 4:05 PM (5:05 Central).

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...2207_1.txt

 

Back in first: Brewers win 7th straight to catch Great Falls

By JEFF WINDMUELLER, Helena Independent Record Sports Writer

 

The Helena Brewers finally caught up to those pesky White Sox.

 

The Brewers are now in a two-way tie for first in the Pioneer League North Division after winning their seventh game in a row, the third against Idaho Falls, 4-3 Saturday night at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

The Brewers and Great Falls are tied at the top of the division after the White Sox dropped their road game with the Ogden Raptors 8-2. Both teams are 21-10.

 

The Brewers are looking good for the first half of the season crown, which would assure them a spot in the playoffs at the end of the season, but they have seven games left with their final three at Great Falls.

 

The Brewers lost four out of their six previous games with the White Sox.

 

Helena manager Jeff Isom said he and the ballclub aren?t worrying about the final results just yet.

 

?If it works out for us, it works out for us. If we keep winning out and they keep winning out, so be it,? he said. ?We?re worried about our task at hand.?

 

That task was a tough one Saturday night. After one-running the Chukars over the previous two games, the Brewers gave up two runs on account of errors while their 25-inning streak without an earned run came to an end.

 

Helena relied on closer Corey Frerichs, who came in at the top of the ninth and had Isom and the crew a little edgy.

 

Frerichs walked Anthony Seratelli to start the inning before O.D. Gonzalez laid down a sacrifice bunt to put the Chukar in scoring position.

 

?In one-run games you?re always nervous and then he walks the first guy, that?s not how you really want to start the inning off,? Isom said.

 

It didn?t help that with just one out and the tying run in scoring position, Frerichs faced Idaho Falls clean-up batter Clint Robinson, who was .380 with five home runs heading into the game.

 

Good thing Frerichs didn?t know who he was pitching to.

 

The Brewer kept his pitches low and struck out Robinson in five, then capped off the evening by striking out Eigsti in three straight pitches.

 

?Some of the players were kind of laughing at me because I didn?t know Clint Robinson was one of the guys I struck out. I told them I didn?t know it was him until he walked away,? Frerichs said. ?I was throwing more like a ?slurve? and I was just trying to keep that low.?

 

Helena?s offense, meanwhile, was able to hold off Idaho Falls by hitting early and hard.

 

Caleb Gindl cracked a double to left field to score Jonathan Lucroy and would came home when Kurt Crowell reached on an error in the first inning.

 

The next inning, Zelous Wheeler walked on a payoff pitch by Idaho Falls starter Clegg Snipes. Wheeler was driven in by Matt Cline?s blooper to right.

 

Mike Goetz would score the winning run in the fifth after he was hit by a pitch and drove in on a fielder?s choice by Lee Haydel.

 

The Chukars made the game interesting when they scored one run over each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

 

Eigsti scored in the fourth when Zach Evangelho hit a line drive that passed through the glove of Helena first baseman Curt Rindal.

 

After Clint Robinson?s single to center scored Adrian Ortiz in the fifth ? ending the Brewers? earned run streak ? the Chukars got one more run when Evangelho got on for the second time in the sixth, this time when shortstop Matt Cline couldn?t come up with the grounder. Evangelho would score off a blooper to center by Alvi Morel.

 

?When you give teams extra outs, they?re going to take advantage of it.? ?That?s not the way we?ve been playing lately.?

 

Isom noted that Cline made up for the early error when he made a diving stop behind third base and was able to get off the throw to beat Ortiz at first. The incredible out ended the inning and kept what would have been the game?s tying run stranded at third.

 

Cline was also the only Brewer with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 from the plate with an RBI.

 

The Chukars ended with 11 runners left on base to the Brewers six. Helena starter Roque Mercedes and reliever Bobby Bramhall were able to team up with the defense to get the lead and prevent a rally.

 

Mercedes (3-1) got the win after going five innings with six hits and two runs. He struck out five while walking two.

 

Bramhall finished his three innings with two hits and one run while striking out one and walking one.

 

It was Frerichs? first save.

 

The Brewers host Idaho Falls (19-12) again at 4:00 PM (5:00 Central).

 

Helena Box Score:

In addition to striking out five in five innings, Roque Mercedes had a 9-to-1 GB/FO ratio...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Photo By George Lane, Helena Independent Record - Brewers base runner Curt Rindal is tagged out by Idaho Falls third baseman Zach Evangelho after Rindal was caught in a rundown.

 

http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2007/07/22/sports_top/b01072207_1.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Charleston Gazette:

 

Saturday night's game against the Shorebirds began an eight-game homestand for the Power, who began play Saturday three games behind Lakewood in the South Atlantic League?s Northern Division.

 

After taking the first game of a four-game set with the division-leading BlueClaws Tuesday, the Power lost the next two by a combined 10 runs. Friday?s contest against Lakewood (another Power loss) was the final meeting of the season between the two contending clubs.

 

Following the four-game series with Delmarva, the Power welcomes Hagerstown to Appalachian Power Park for four games. The eight-game homestand matches the longest remaining homestand on West Virginia?s schedule. The club will also be home for eight straight games Aug. 8-15 against Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C.

 

On Saturday night, the stars will be out to welcome the Power back to APP tonight ? cartoon stars, that is.

 

Any fan dressed as a cartoon character will receive free admission to the game against Delmarva. Cast members from ?The Flintstones? and ?Scooby-Doo? will make an appearance at the park, as will ?The Clown Prince of Baseball,? Myron Noodleman.

 

***

Link while active, text follows --

 

www.wvgazette.com/section//2007072035

 

Crowds up for Power, and winning doesn?t hurt

By Nick Scala

Charleston Gazette Staff Writer

 

Root, root, root for the home team

 

If they don?t win, it?s a shame . . .

 

But if they do win, at least on a consistent basis, does it affect the bottom line in minor-league baseball?

 

If you?re the West Virginia Power, winning seems to help ? at least in terms of attendance at Appalachian Power Park.

 

The Power has clinched its first South Atlantic League playoff berth since moving into the three-year-old East End ballpark, thanks to a Northern Division first-half title after putting up a league-best 44-17 record.

 

Coincidentally, the Power is on pace to see an increase in attendance for the third year in a row.

 

?Winning definitely helps,? said Power general manager Ryan Gates. ?But whether or not winning has a big effect on attendance is an age-old question of minor-league ball. I don?t know if a family of four, when deciding to go to a ballgame, I don?t know if they?re thinking about whether the team is 44-17 or 17-44. I think they?re still out here regardless.?

 

?But when they?re [winning], it helps because it raises the atmosphere and level of excitement. That gets people coming back.?

 

They?re coming back in bigger numbers than ever since clinching that playoff spot.

 

A little more than a month ago, the Power was lagging behind its attendance pace of 2006, when the season total was 239,722 and the average was 3,745 fans per game.

 

But since the start of the second half, the Power has drawn an average of 5,236 fans in 11 home dates, increasing the year-to-date total to 174,471. The average crowd per home date is up to 3,967, and the club needs to average just 2,677 the rest of the way ? 24 home dates ? to match last year?s numbers.

 

The numbers might?ve been even more impressive if not for horrible weather at the start of the season, when rain, cold and even snow kept fans away in droves. The first homestand in April saw average paid attendance of 2,028, which included season-ticket-holding no-shows. The actual number of fans in the stands at most of those games remained in triple digits.

 

The Power, though, has been making up ground ever since the slow start.

 

Andy Milovich, Gates? predecessor as Power general manager and now the executive vice president of Palisades Baseball (the club?s ownership group), agrees that winning adds to the attendance numbers at the ballpark, and knows that Charleston seems to like a winner.

 

?There was a study in which we were involved,? Milovich said. ?They were measuring the fans? interest in the team on the field, and the study showed our fans identified personally with the team more than the other fans in the other cities. It showed that they took losses or wins more personally than the fans of the teams in other cities.

 

?People here seem to get into that more. I think [winning] does make a difference, but I don?t know if you can quantify it.?

 

In any event, the Power?s surging attendance figures run contrary to the belief, widely held when the franchise moved its home base from Watt Powell Park to Appalachian Power Park, that attendance would fade once the novelty of the new ballpark wore off.

 

Unless attendance drops off dramatically through the remaining 24 home dates, the numbers from the inaugural season at the APP in 2005 ? 229,243 total, 3,532 average ? will be the low point in the park?s three years.

 

?More and more, this has become a place to go,? Gates said. ?You?ve got a mix of everyone out here. Within this city block, you?ve got all these little social pockets ? some college kids, some business guys, some families sitting in the seats, you?ve got kids playing in the fun zone. It all adds up.?

 

It?s a far cry from the atmosphere at the franchise?s prior home, Watt Powell Park, where the distant outfield fence is the last standing reminder of the Kanawha City ballyard built in 1948. Average attendance in Watt Powell Park?s last season (2004) was 1,853, and that number got a boost from nostalgic feelings during the ballpark?s final season and, yes, a winning team that reached the playoffs.

 

In fact, Gates said the new ballpark?s popularity has surpassed the expectations of Charleston?s baseball-watching community.

 

?I remember when Andy said in a speech that we hoped to average 3,500 per game, and I read in the Gazette that they said, ?No way,? ?? Gates said. ?And here we are. We?re ahead of that, and I don?t feel we?ve hit that peak yet. We?re waiting for the peak to happen and trying to be creative and proactive to get more people out here, pulling out the stops to create that ?wow? factor, where they want to see what we do next.?

 

Indeed, non-baseball events ? from the Chili Cookoff to concerts to boxing events and televised football games on the scoreboard?s Jumbotron video screen ? have added to Appalachian Power Park?s exposure.

 

?People in Charleston and southern West Virginia need entertainment and places to go,? Milovich said. ?We don?t have the entertainment opportunities you get in a major market, so if we continue to improve, invest, stay sharp and change what we?re doing ? improve our service, improve our value ? I think it can continue to grow.?

 

How high?

 

?Can we make the jump to 5,000 a game?? Milovich said. ?I have no idea. But I think we can keep from leveling off or falling backward. Every year we want to raise the bar and expectations a little higher.?

 

?I?m still amazed by the amount of people who have yet to visit the park,? Gates said. ?That just tells me there?s still room for growth. They know we?re here, but we haven?t been able to reach out and grab them. Things like the chili cook-off, people experience the park in a different setting, and the hope is that it drives them to come out and see a baseball game.?

 

The bigger crowds add to the ballclub?s revenue stream, which includes food and drink concessions and souvenirs. And when the crowds grow, the team can justify an increase in the rates of other revenue producers such as corporate sponsorship, signage and suites.

 

Gates and Milovich were both around during the franchise?s final years at Watt Powell Park, and they marvel at the changes since the move from Kanawha City to Charleston?s East End.

 

?At the old park, at around 5:30 during days when the games started at 6, we?d have 10 staff members,? Gates said. ?We?d all be out in the parking lot playing hacky-sack because there was nothing for us to do.?

 

Gates reached into a desk drawer at his office in the Morris Street building adjacent to Appalachian Power Park, and he pulled out an old hacky-sack.

 

?There?s so much stuff to get done nowadays,? Gates said, tossing the small bean-bag ball up and down, ?and this thing hasn?t come out of my desk since then.?

[Mass Haas]

Final: Delmarva (Orioles) 8, West Virginia 4

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER LOSE FOUR IN A ROW

 

The Delmarva Shorebirds let a 4-0 lead slip away on Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park, but they scored four times in the eighth inning to snap a 4-4 tie to take the first game of the series 8-4, sending the Power to their fourth consecutive loss.

 

Delmarva began the game with a four-run first inning. Brandon Snyder brought in the first run on a sacrifice fly. Billy Rowell followed with a two-run bomb and Miguel Abreu capped the inning with a solo home run. The Power got on the board in the bottom of the first on Chuckie Caufield?s RBI single. In the fifth inning Andrew Lefave reached on a fielder?s choice scoring Jimmy Mojica.

 

The Power tied the game with a pair of runs on the seventh. Mojica scored the first run on Michael Pierce?s throwing error and Charlie Fermaint scored on Lefave?s sacrifice fly. The Shorebirds answered quickly with a four-run eighth inning. Danny Figueroa doubled in the first two runs and David Cash singled in the last two.

 

Luis Lebron (1-1) allowed two runs on two hits out of the bullpen to get the victory while Matt Kretzschmar (0-2) was tagged with the loss.

 

The Power fell to 63-35 overall and 15-15 in the second half, while the Shorebirds improved to 47-49 overall and 13-16 in the second half with the win. The four-game losing streak is a season high. The win for Delmarva snapped their four-game skid. Fermaint and Kenny Holmberg both had two hits apiece for the Power.

 

The Power will continue the four-game series against Delmarva Sunday evening. The Power will start right hander Jeremy Jeffress (6-3, 3.33) and the Shorebirds will counter with right hander Zach Clark (1-1, 0.90). The first pitch is scheduled for 5:05 PM (4:05 Central).

 

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Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2007072135

 

Four-run eighth inning sends Shorebirds past Power

By Nick Scala

Charleston Gazette Staff Writer

 

A pair of fours was in the cards for Delmarva, carrying the Shorebirds to an 8-4 win over the West Virginia Power Saturday night at Appalachian Power Park.

 

In the opener of the Power?s eight-game homestand, Delmarva scored four times in the top of the first and, after the Power clawed back to tie it at 4 in the bottom of the seventh, the Shorebirds put up another four-spot in the top of the eighth.

 

A crowd announced at 3,923 saw the Power drop to 15-15 in the second half with its third consecutive loss. Delmarva (13-15) snapped a three-game losing streak in the first game of a four-game series.

 

Billy Rowell, a first-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in the 2006 draft, and Miguel Abreu smacked home runs in the four-run first inning off Power starter Chris Toneguzzi. In the eighth, Danny Figueroa?s bases-loaded double put the Shorebirds ahead for good, and David Cash followed with his third hit of the night, a two-run single to close out the scoring.

 

After the shaky start, Toneguzzi settled down and kept Delmarva off the board for the next three innings, and Jose Romero came on to throw three scoreless frames of relief. Meanwhile, the Power chipped away at Delmarva?s lead, scoring once in the bottom of the first on Chuckie Caufield?s RBI single up the middle and another in the fifth when Jimmy Mojica reached on an error, moved to third on a perfect hit-and-run single by Kenny Holmberg and scored on Andy Lefave?s fielder?s-choice grounder.

 

Delmarva?s Pedro Beato left after six innings with a 4-2 lead, but the Power pulled even in the seventh, scoring twice off reliever Luis Lebron. Mojica got it started again with an opposite-field single to right, and Charlie Fermaint followed with a hit to the same spot. The two runners then pulled off a double-steal, and both moved up another base ? Mojica crossing the plate with the Power?s third run ? when Delmarva catcher Michael Pierce?s throw to third sailed into left field. After a walk to Holmberg, Fermaint scored the tying run on Lefave?s sacrifice fly to left.

 

But Delmarva got the lead right back in the top of the eighth. Matt Kretzschmar (0-2) walked the only two batters he faced, prompting another call to the Power bullpen, this time for Travis Wendte. After a bunt single by Pedro Florimon loaded the bases, Figueroa unloaded them with a double down the left-field line. Cash?s single up the middle scored Florimon and Figueroa to give the Shorebirds an 8-4 lead.

 

The Power threatened in the bottom of the eighth when Lebron walked John Alonso and Mojica. But Delmarva closer Chad Thall entered and needed just one pitch to get out of trouble, retiring Fermaint on a grounder to second.

 

Thall then retired the Power in order in the ninth to record his 16th save, third best in the South Atlantic League.

 

Lebron (1-1) got the win despite allowing five baserunners and two runs in 1 2/3 innings.

 

POWER POINTS: Caufield entered the game with 74 RBIs, one behind league leader Mike Paulk of Asheville. ... A Power threat in the bottom of the sixth was snuffed out when Taylor Green was picked off at second base by Delmarva catcher Pierce. ... The series resumes at 5:05 p.m. today (4:05 Central). Right-hander Jeremy Jeffress (6-3, 3.33 ERA) will start for the Power against Delmarva righty Zach Clark (1-1, 0.90).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Chris Toneguzzi really has to get over his first-inning troubles...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game Two: Iowa (Cubs) 1, Nashville 0

 

Nashville Site Doubleheader Summary:

Link for R.A. Dickey photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2465

 

Sounds Split Twinbill With I-Cubs

 

DES MOINES ? The Nashville Sounds split a doubleheader against the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Saturday evening at Principal Park, winning the opener by a 5-1 count before being blanked 1-0 in the nightcap.

 

The Sounds (62-39) maintained their 6 ½ game lead over the second-place Cubs in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

In the opener, Nashville native R.A. Dickey (8-5) worked a seven-inning complete game and improved to 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA (12 ER / 53.0 IP) in eight starts since returning to the rotation in mid-June. The complete game was Dickey?s second of the year; both have come in doubleheader contests against Iowa.

 

The Sounds took a 1-0 lead when Joe Dillon scored an unearned in the top of the second inning. After singling to lead off the frame, Dillon was rounding the bases in attempt to score on a Mike Rivera double when he was interfered with by Cubs second baseman Eric Patterson. As a result, he was awarded home and scored the night?s first run.

 

Nashville doubled its lead to 2-0 in the third when Dillon plated Callix Crabbe with a two-out RBI single off Iowa starter Randy Wells.

 

The Sounds blew the game open in the fourth with a three-run outburst against Wells to up the advantage to 5-0. Andy Abad doubled to open the frame and scored on Brad Nelson?s one-out two-bagger. After Ozzie Chavez singled to put runners on the corners, Dickey helped his own cause with a two-run double to the wall in right-center. All three of Dickey?s career RBIs have come against Iowa.

 

Iowa jumped on the board in the bottom of the fourth when Ronny Cedeno plated Geovany Soto with a two-out RBI single to left off Dickey.

 

Wells (5-5) took the loss for the Cubs after allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits over four innings of action.

 

Iowa rebounded with a five-hit, 1-0 shutout in the evening?s second contest as four pitchers combined to keep Nashville off the scoreboard for only the fifth time this season.

 

Eric Patterson gave Iowa a quick 1-0 lead in the nightcap when he led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run to left on an 0-2 offering from Sounds starter Steve Bray. The blast was the infielder?s 14th of the year and would turn out to be the only run scored in the second seven-inning contest between the clubs.

 

Les Walrond started the nightcap for the Cubs and worked two scoreless innings before turning things over to John Webb (4-6), who earned the victory after tossing three innings of one-hit scoreless ball and striking out four batters. Rocky Cherry added a scoreless frame before Clay Rapada finished off the shutout in the seventh to earn his team-leading 14th save of the year.

 

Nashville?s best scoring chance came in the top of the first when Vinny Rottino bowled over Cubs catcher Tony Richie at the plate while attempting to score on a two-out Dillon double, but the Iowa backstop held onto the ball for the final out of the inning.

 

Bray (5-2) allowed one run on four hits while striking out five batters over three innings of work in his spot start, his first of the year for the Sounds.

 

Dillon went 2-for-2 for Nashville in the nightcap to continue his hot hitting and record two of the club?s five hits in the game.

 

The teams wrap up the series with a 1:05 p.m. CT finale on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Elmer Dessens (0-0, 0.00) will make his second rehab start for the Sounds. Iowa will counter with former Nashville hurler (Pirate organization) Cory Bailey (2-1, 2.63).

 

Nashville Game Two Box Score:

Tim Dillard three innings of scoreless relief behind Steve Bray...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_iowaaa_2

 

Nashville Game Two Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_iowaaa_2

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

desmoinesregister.com/app...003/SPORTS

 

Cubs gain split with stingy end

BY ANDREW LOGUE

DES MOINES REGISTER STAFF WRITER

 

Grit and guile enabled the Iowa Cubs to salvage a split of Saturday's doubleheader.

 

The Nashville Sounds won the opener at Principal Park 5-1, but Iowa rebounded with 1-0 victory in the nightcap.

 

Catcher Tony Richie provided the grit when he held on to a relay throw from Ronny Cedeno after being bowled over at the plate by Nashville's Vinny Rottino in the top of the first inning.

 

Moments later, the Cubs' Eric Patterson drove a pitch over the left-field wall for the only run of the game.

 

"I really didn't want to try and do too much," Patterson said of his 14th homer of the season. "I just got enough of it to carry it out."

 

Four Iowa pitchers combined to keep Nashville out of sync.

 

The Sounds managed just five hits and left six runners stranded.

 

John Webb earned the win after striking out four and allowing one hit in a three-inning relief appearance.

 

"You've got to give a lot of credit to the guys who threw the ball," Patterson said. "In this league and this ballpark, it's not often you see a 1-0 ballgame."

 

It was the Sounds (62-39) who bolted to an early lead in the first game.

 

Brad Nelson, who grew up in Algona, doubled in the fourth inning as Nashville went ahead 3-0.

 

"I had a good barbecue with my family this afternoon," Nelson said, "and some of that Iowa sweet corn that you always miss."

 

Nelson and Nashville catcher Mike Rivera provided an offensive spark Friday as the Sounds rallied to beat Iowa 5-3.

 

Rivera ignited things again Saturday, with a run-scoring double in the second inning.

 

"Whatever it is (we're doing), we've got to keep it up," Nelson said. "I think positive things are just carrying over."

 

Nashville pitcher R.A. Dickey, who had just one hit in his previous 24 at-bats, followed Nelson's double with a two-base hit that left the Cubs trailing 5-0.

 

"He's been getting some good swings, I don't know if they've been falling," Nelson said of Dickey. "When you help yourself like that, it's got to be a great feeling."

 

Iowa (56-46) enters Sunday 6 1/2 games behind Nashville in the PCL's American North Division.

 

"We're not too worried about where we are in the standings," Patterson said. "If we pitch like we're capable, hit like we're capable and play defense like we're capable, we're going to win a lot of games."

[Boy Jeenius]

7,000+ attend at Joe Davis Stadium? Wow, good for Huntsville. I've been to games there where I would have sworn I was the only one there, it's so spacious.

[bullox]

Escobar is RAIL thin, surprised he was able to jack one. He does have a very good throwing arm though.