Link Report for Games of Thursday, June 24th

[MassBrew]

Final: Helena 13, Missoula (Diamondbacks) 3

Brewers sweep four-game home series to move to 5-2 on the season...

 

Hopefully the Helena press will write about it at some point, but there's apparently a Texas-based camera crew folllowing the Helena club around for a reality-based or documentary-type television production -- coming off the plane from Arizona, the road trip to Billings, etc. A "life in the low minors" thing. Should be a fun view once completed...

[MassBrew]

Final: High Desert 9, Inland Empire (Mariners) 4

Mavs go to 2-2 with the win -- nice; Cal League All-Star Travis Hinton with two HR's -- Jeremy Frost and the very-hot Mario Mendez chip in with one HR each; Manny Parra did get the victory, as Dan Kolb finishes up with the Empire leaving the bases loaded in the ninth (audio did return late, Roxy)...

 

High Desert Box Score:

Parra just refuses to give in as of late, again with zero walks...

 GAME DATE: 6/24/04 INL at HD INLAND EMPIRE 4 AT HIGH DESERT 9 YTD YTD INLAND EMPIRE AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG J.Gonzalez SS 3 1 0 0 .299 C.Crabbe 2B 5 0 0 0 .296 C.Arroyo LF 0 0 0 0 .340 S.Candelaria 3B 5 0 0 0 .232 J.Guzman 3B 5 0 2 0 .299 D.Boyd LF 3 2 1 0 .293 J.Guzman SS 0 0 0 0 .299 T.Hinton 1B 4 3 4 3 .314 G.Harris CF 3 0 0 0 .277 J.Vanden ber CAT 4 0 1 1 .307 J.Nelson LF 5 1 2 2 .305 J.Frost RF 4 1 1 2 .258 J.Nelson 1B 0 0 0 0 .305 M.Mendez CF 4 2 2 1 .269 P.Balet DH 5 1 1 0 .292 E.Henderson DH 3 1 0 0 .174 T.Bohn RF 4 0 2 1 .283 T.Farnsworth PH 0 0 0 0 .167 R.Rivera CAT 4 1 1 0 .264 E.Cruz SS 2 0 1 2 .208 M.Hagen 1B 4 0 2 0 .213 M.Parra PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Hagen 3B 0 0 0 0 .213 R.Rivard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Rogelstad 2B 4 0 0 1 .249 D.Kolb PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Sandoval PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Martinez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 37 4 10 4 TOTALS 34 9 10 9 INLAND EMPIRE 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0- 4 10 1 HIGH DESERT 1 0 0 4 3 0 1 0 X- 9 10 1 E--J.Gonzalez, S.Candelaria. DP--INLAND EMPIRE 0, HIGH DESERT 1. LOB--INLAND EMPIRE 10, HIGH DESERT 5. 2B--P.Balet (10), T.Hinton (21), E.Cruz (6). HR--J.Nelson (8), T.Hinton 2 (14), J.Frost (5), M.Mendez (5). SB--G.Harris (15), M.Hagen (4). CS--E.Cruz. HBP--J.Gonzalez, D.Boyd. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INLAND EMPIRE J.Sandoval (L,5-7) 5.0 9 8 7 0 5 3 4.92 M.Martinez 3.0 1 1 1 3 3 1 6.11 HIGH DESERT M.Parra (W,4-1) 5.0 8 4 4 0 5 1 3.91 R.Rivard 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 D.Kolb 2.0 1 0 0 2 2 0 5.58 HB--J.Sandoval, M.Parra. WP--R.Rivard. BALKS--J.Sandoval. SO--G.Harris, J.Nelson 2, P.Balet, R.Rivera 2, M.Hagen, M.Rogelstad, C.Crabbe, S.Candelaria, D.Boyd, J.Vanden ber 2, J.Frost 2, E.Henderson. BB-- C.Arroyo, G.Harris 2, T.Farnsworth, E.Cruz 2. T--2:39. A--1190

High Desert Game Log:

Mendez' hit streak now at ten games; would Dan Boyd and/or Travis Hinton prefer getting 4-5 plate appearances each night in High Desert or an occasional start and plenty of pinch-hit opportunities in Huntsville, where the DH is rarely needed?

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=17918

[MassBrew]

Five wins, one loss for the affiliates tonight, with only a one-run defeat by the infant Brewers in Arizona a blemish

[MassBrew]

Helena Box Score:

Brewer pitchers with 11 K's and zero walks -- you know management loves that; Brewer defense finally falters a bit (three errors); three Helena HR's on a homer-happy night for Brewer affiliates; do you think Adam Mannon has a chance at Pioneer League Player of the Week honors -- six RBI tonight (triple, HR, walk) gives him 13 in these first seven games!

 GAME DATE: 6/24/04 MSO at HEL MISSOULA 3 AT HELENA 13 YTD YTD MISSOULA AB R H BI AVG HELENA AB R H BI AVG D.Bruce 3B 5 0 1 0 .235 H.Rasheed LF 5 2 2 2 .400 F.Rodriguez 2B 5 0 2 1 .263 J.Serfass LF 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Castillo CAT 5 1 2 0 .320 S.Sollmann 2B 5 1 2 0 .333 M.Matos CF 4 1 1 1 .375 A.Septimo 2B 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Gulick LF 4 0 1 0 .333 C.Fermaint CF 5 2 3 0 .417 J.Centeno DH 4 0 3 1 .474 G.Richardson 1B 5 1 2 1 .474 J.Brito 1B 4 1 1 0 .167 A.Festa 3B 3 3 2 1 .263 M.Townsend RF 4 0 0 0 .000 C.De La Cruz 3B 1 0 0 0 .000 J.Olivares SS 4 0 1 0 .174 A.Mannon RF 4 2 2 6 .250 D.Nippert PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Blevins CAT 5 0 1 0 .111 A.Howard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Bates DH 4 1 2 1 .407 S.Jackson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Escobar SS 4 1 2 1 .364 E.Duran PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.Acosta SS 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Barnes PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Wahpepah PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Garcia PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 39 3 12 3 TOTALS 41 13 18 12 MISSOULA 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1- 3 12 2 HELENA 3 0 3 4 0 1 2 0 X-13 18 3 E--D.Bruce, M.Matos, C.Fermaint, C.De La Cruz, C.Blevins. DP--MISSOULA 0, HELENA 1. LOB--MISSOULA 9, HELENA 6. 2B--M.Matos (3), J.Centeno (2), C.Fermaint (1), A.Festa (2), D.Bates (3). 3B--W.Castillo (2), A.Mannon (1). HR--H.Rasheed (1), A.Festa (1), A.Mannon (1). CS--A.Escobar. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA MISSOULA D.Nippert (L,0-2) 4.0 12 10 10 2 2 2 11.70 A.Howard 2.0 3 1 1 0 3 0 4.50 S.Jackson 1.0 3 2 2 0 0 1 18.00 E.Duran 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 HELENA J.Barnes 4.0 5 2 2 0 6 0 3.68 J.Wahpepah (W,1-0) 4.0 5 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 M.Garcia 1.0 2 1 0 0 2 0 20.25 SO--D.Bruce 2, F.Rodriguez, M.Matos, T.Gulick 2, J.Centeno, J.Brito, M.Townsend 3, H.Rasheed 2, C.Fermaint, G.Richardson, A.Festa. BB-- A.Festa, A.Mannon. T--2:36. A--1205

Helena Game Log:

Mannon's grand slam adventure is in the 4th...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=16560

[MassBrew]

Final: Arizona Padres 6, Arizona Brewers 5, 10 innings

Brewers tied it with two in the ninth; unlike their Helena counterparts, these kids walked nine today, hit three batters, and threw four wild pitches; the proper "de la Cruz" for Arizona, Fredy and not Carlos, is listed today; catcher "J Lopez" must be Yonnata Lopez, perhaps with a nickname of some sort; 2003 15th round pick and draft-and-follow OF Joel Rivera makes his debut -- the Padres have a "J Rivera" as well -- we're thinking theirs struck out three times, Joel once; control was not an issue for RHP Tyler Morrison last season (nine walks in 40.1 IP), so this line is a tough one to see this morning; three hours, 38 minutes with all the free passes and such -- it really is rare you see a "clean" game at this level, so many of these kids are so raw...

 

Arizona Rookie Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 6/24/04 BRR at PDR BREWERS 5 AT PADRES 6 (EXTRA INNINGS) YTD YTD BREWERS AB R H BI AVG PADRES AB R H BI AVG H.Iribarren 2B 5 1 3 3 .500 K.Vazquez 2B 4 0 2 1 .556 S.Chapman CF 4 0 1 0 .111 J.Rivera SS 6 0 2 0 .333 F.Parejo LF 5 0 2 2 .333 W.Killian CAT 4 1 1 0 .222 C.Gallardo 1B 4 0 1 0 .375 Medley PH 1 1 1 0 1.000 F.De La Cruz 3B 4 0 0 0 .125 N.Whitney RF 4 0 1 0 .286 A.Ayala DH 5 1 0 0 .375 D.Jones 1B 3 2 0 0 .167 L.Leclercq SS 3 2 0 0 .333 L.Lopez CAT 0 0 0 0 .250 J.Lopez CAT 1 0 0 0 .000 P.White 3B 5 1 1 0 .125 F.Arias PH 0 1 0 0 .000 B.Figueroa PH 0 0 0 0 .667 F.Tua CAT 1 0 0 0 .000 J.Cruceta LF 5 1 4 3 .500 F.De La Cruz RF 1 0 0 0 .125 Y.Ramirez CF 3 0 2 0 .429 J.Rivera PH 1 0 0 0 .000 L.Sanchez DH 4 0 0 0 .000 J.Rivera RF 2 0 0 0 .000 L.Steidlmayr PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Lluveres PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Delabar PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 V.Arias PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Shanks PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Malave PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Steik PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Morrison PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Tucker PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Baca PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 36 5 7 5 TOTALS 39 6 14 4 BREWERS 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 0- 5 7 2 PADRES 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 1- 6 14 1 E--F.De La Cruz, J.Lopez, P.White. DP--BREWERS 0, PADRES 1. LOB-- BREWERS 9, PADRES 18. 2B--F.Parejo (1), K.Vazquez (1), J.Cruceta 2 (2). 3B--J.Cruceta (1). SB--F.Parejo (1). CS--H.Iribarren. HBP--L.Leclercq, D.Jones, Y.Ramirez, L.Sanchez. SH--J.Lopez 2, N.Whitney. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BREWERS R.Lluveres 3.0 3 1 0 2 2 0 0.00 V.Arias 2.2 3 1 1 2 1 0 3.38 R.Malave 2.1 5 3 2 1 3 0 7.71 T.Morrison (L,0-1) 1.1 3 1 1 4 0 0 6.75 PADRES L.Steidlmayr 3.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 S.Delabar 3.2 2 3 1 4 4 0 2.45 E.Shanks 0.1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 R.Steik 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 R.Tucker 0.2 2 2 2 1 1 0 6.75 D.Baca (W,1-0) 1.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 HB--V.Arias 2, R.Malave, S.Delabar. WP--V.Arias, R.Malave, T.Morrison 2, R.Steik. SO--H.Iribarren, F.Parejo 2, C.Gallardo, F.De La Cruz 2, A.Ayala, J.Rivera 3, J.Rivera, W.Killian, D.Jones 2, J.Cruceta, L.Sanchez. BB--S.Chapman, C.Gallardo, F.De La Cruz, L.Leclercq, F.Arias, K.Vazquez 2, W.Killian, N.Whitney, D.Jones, L.Lopez, B.Figueroa, J.Cruceta, Y.Ramirez. T--3:38.

[MassBrew]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 40 31 .563 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 38 36 .514 3.5 [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 35 36 .493 5.0[/b] LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 34 39 .466 7.0

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB *MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 2 0 1.000 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 2 0 1.000[/b] BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 2 0 1.000 WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 0 1 .000 1.5 MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 0 2 .000 2.0

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB *LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 4 0 1.000 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 2 1 .667 1.5 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 2 2 .500 2.0[/b] LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 1 2 .333 2.5 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 1 2 .333 2.5

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 1 0 1.000 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 1 0 1.000 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 1 0 1.000 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 1 0 1.000 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 1 0 1.000[/b] WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 0 1 .000 1.0 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 0 1 .000 1.0 *KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 0 1 .000 1.0

 NORTH DIVISION W L PCT GB BILLINGS MUSTANGS (CINCINNATI) 5 2 .714 [b]HELENA BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 5 2 .714[/b] GREAT FALLS WHITE SOX (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 3 4 .429 2.0 MISSOULA OSPREY (ARIZONA) 1 6 .143 4.0

 W L PCT GB ROYALS (KANSAS CITY) 3 0 1.000 GIANTS (SAN FRANCISCO) 3 0 1.000 MARINERS (SEATTLE) 2 1 .667 1.0 PADRES (SAN DIEGO) 1 1 .500 1.5 ANGELS (ANAHEIM) 1 1 .500 1.5 ATHLETICS (OAKLAND) 1 2 .333 2.0 RANGERS (TEXAS) 1 2 .333 2.0 [b]BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 0 2 .000 2.5[/b] CUBS (CHICAGO CUBS) 0 3 .000 3.0

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Stars Capture Third Straight Win, 3-1

For the first time in the month of June, the Stars have a winning streak. For the first time since May, the Stars have won a series. Behind stellar pitching from five different hurlers, Huntsville (34-38, 2-0) secured its third straight victory, 3-1, over Tennessee (39-33, 0-2) on a rainy Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

Lefty Ryan Costello (4-1) delivered an outstanding start, permitting just two singles and one unearned over five innings, fanning four and walking four. Costello picked up his fourth win with help from four relievers whose pitching lines were identical. Brian Adams, Glenn Woolard, Fernando Rijo and closer John Novinsky each provided a scoreless frame, allowing one hit and fanning one. Novinsky nailed down his sixth save and second straight in the series.

 

Huntsville benefited from an unearned run in the first, and Tennessee received one of its own in the second. The Stars regained the lead in the bottom of the second, as Johnny Raburn walked and scored on Ozzie Chavez's double down the leftfield line. In the third, Prince Fielder snapped a four-game hitless streak (0-for-14). Fielder launched a Luis Martinez 3-2 fastball over the batter's eye in dead center, more than 405 feet from home plate, to give Huntsville a 3-1 lead.

 

Martinez, an all-star in Huntsville a year ago, lost for the first time in three starts against his old team. Martinez (6-7) suffered his seventh defeat of the season, surrendering three runs, two earned, on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts in six innings.

 

Righty Dennis Sarfate (3-7, 4.71) takes the mound Friday night as Huntsville goes for a three-game sweep. Tennessee counters with right-hander Jeremy Cook (2-2, 4.73). Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Joe Davis Stadium, with Cooter and the General Lee appearing on Dukes of Hazzard Night and a commemorative Stars 2003 Season To Remember CD free to the first 1500 fans. A fireworks spectacular follows the game.

[MassBrew]

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com Huntsville update:

 

PITCHING AND A WHOLE LOT OF DEFENSE

I heard it said to me during the game about Luis Martinez: "We should never have let him get away."

 

I don't suppose there are many Tennessee Smokie fans saying that about John Novinsky, who was 2-0 with a 4.38 ERA last year in 18 appearances, and was hit for a .320 average by Southern League batters. But for the second straight night, Novinsky preserved a 3-1 lead for the Stars, to give them a 2-0 jump on the season........ I think I'll take Novinsky, his 5-0 record, 3.44 ERA and six saves, and .244 average against the league for now over the famously inconsitent Martinez (6-7, 4.38 ERA, .278 average for SL opponents).

 

The right-hander deserves the closer role exclusively now....... Although he allowed a leadoff single to Javier Colina in the 9th inning, his night wasn't quite as suspenseful as Wednesday's when he had a runner on third to worry about and one out........ Skip Schumaker came up as a pinch-hitter, made good wood as they say, but it became just an easy fly out to right-center for Tony Gwynn......

 

On a 1-1 pitch to Milko Jaramillo, Colina stole 2nd uncontested, but Jaramillo would foul out to Prince Fielder in front of the Tennessee bullpen on an unbelievable play, colliding with right fielder Johnny Raburn in the process. It was tougher than the play Fielder failed to make in the 9th inning of last night's game, in which he tried to make an over-the-shoulder grab with his back to the plate....... This time he was trying to do all that and avoid Raburn who had once again a better look at the ball. Still, while clipping Raburn's leg, causing them both to tumble, he held onto the ball in the webbing and miraculously held onto it....... Fielder came up limping while Raburn, getting the worse of the collision, seemed to have no after-effects. It was a big out, nonetheless, for the Stars....... Novinsky got behind pinch-hitter Dan Moylan (who as I mentioned last night homered off him earlier this year), 3-and-0, but came back to strike him out to end the game....... For Novinsky, it was his third straight save in as many appearances. The last Stars pitcher to do that was Matt Childers in July 2002, who actually strung a record five straight saves in as many appearances before being promoted to Indianapolis.

 

For Ryan Costello, his start looks better on paper, but he was coming off a start against Birmingham during the Rickwood Classic, in which he was plastered for eight hits in four innings on a sweltering afternoon....... The weather conditions couldn't have been more opposite this time. It was 73° at game time, overcast, and drizzled constantly the whole game, not enough to call off the game, but enough to delay the game for 11 minutes and bring out the umbrellas ...... Costello was frequently saved by his defense, especially by dazzling plays from Ozzie Chavez........ In the 1st inning, Pedro Bolivar dropped a bunt midway between the mound and home for a hit, reached 2nd on a walk, then stole third, but Ozzie ranged over to the middle of the infield to take away a hit from Dee Haynes on a 3-2 pitch, stepped on 2nd then fired to Fielder who scooped the low throw for a double play........ In the 2nd inning, Chavez did it again after a walk to Gabe Johnson and a single by Javier Colina. Corey Erickson hit a two-hopper to Rickie Weeks, who fed to Chavez, who went to Fielder for the easy DP........ That moved Johnson to third, but he would score when Chavez threw the a potential third out grounder away. The Smokies would get only one more runner to reach third the rest of the game.

 

Chavez, once again, showed his incredible range on consecutive plays in the 4th inning........ After Costello hit Gabe Johnson with a pitch, Chavez dug a ball out of the hole in short to his right, spun around, and was on target to Weeks for the force on Johnson. Then Chavez, on a 1-2 pitch to Corey Erickson, went up the middle to steal a hit away and fired in one motion to Fielder for the out....... Chavez started a double play in the 6th to erase a leadoff hit up the middle by Haynes, and attempted a double play in the 7th that turned into a three-man putout instead........ A busy and productive night for Ozzie who gets six assists, two putouts, a double, and the go-ahead RBI......... Let it be learned that even though the Stars can't score an average of six runs a game, you can still win with pitching and defense.

 

The Smokies found that out in the 1st inning....... Weeks led off the Stars' 1st by stretching a single into right-center into a double with pure speed. Going to third on a passed ball third strike to Fielder, Weeks scored on a ball hit by Brad Nelson to 1st baseman Chris Duncan -- an easy straight line grounder, but Duncan booted the pickup, then recovered too late to help Luis Martinez, who came over to cover........ In the 2nd, Raburn scored all the way from first after a leadoff walk on Ozzie's double to the left field corner........ Fielder, patient at the plate all night seeing 3-and-2 and 2-2 counts, snapped an 0-for-15 slump by hitting Luis' fastball over the 405 mark in dead center for his 13th home run........Weeks is another player who remained patient at the plate tonight, seeing three full counts and a 1-2 pitch in the 7th before flameballer Tyler Johnson struck him out........ Johnson may have had a lofty 8.06 ERA coming in, but he's held the Stars to seven scoreless innings now, giving up just two hits, while striking out 10.

 

For the Stars, they're won three straight for the first time in a month, and assured of their first series victory in a month........ Tomorrow, Dennis Sarfate (3-7, 4.71) will get the start for the Stars against right-hander Jeremy Cook (2-2, 4.73)....... It's Dukes of Hazzard Night (who cares?), fireworks, and a special commemmorative CD of the 2003 Stars season to be given away to the first 1,500 fans. The forecast however is even worse than Thursday's: an all-day soaker.

[MassBrew]

Helena Independent Republic Game Story:

 

Brewers sweep 4 from Missoula

By TOM COTTON - IR Sports Editor - 06/25/04

 

After a string of one-run games, the Helena Brewers made sure that Thursday's outing against Missoula wasn't as dramatic.

 

The Brewers pounded out 18 hits in a 13-3 rout of the Osprey in a Pioneer League contest at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

The win ended a three-game set in which Helena won each game by one run. It also gave the Brewers a four-game sweep of the Osprey and kept Helena in a first-place tie with the Billings Mustangs.

 

"All four games developed differently and we found a way to win," said Brewers manager Johnny Narron. "That goes back to the heart of this team."

 

The heart of the team offensively, at least against Missoula, has been right fielder Adam Mannon.

 

Mannon drove in six runs Thursday night, giving him 13 for the four-game series. He hit a grand slam and an RBI triple and was 2-for-4 at the plate.

 

"(The key has been) having 13 guys on base to knock in," Mannon said. "If you have guys on, you get some better pitches."

 

Mannon launched a shot over the right-center field wall off of Missoula's Derik Nippert in the fourth.

 

It was Mannon's first grand-slam since last season, when he hit one for the Arizona League Brewers.

 

Mannon's shot gave Helena a 10-2 advantage and essentially put the game away.

 

Nippert was touched up for 10 runs over the first four innings.

 

The Brewers were able to use the long ball against the Osprey, hitting two other home runs ? a solo blast by Tony Festa in the third and a two-run home run by Hasan Rasheed in the seventh. The Brewers had seven extra-base hits in the game, and Narron gave much of the credit for the offensive explosion to Helena's hitting coach, Paco Martin. He said that Martin has made the Brewers selective hitters, but he also has coached them to be aggressive when they get a pitch they like.

 

"Paco Martin has spent a lot of time working with the hitters," Narron said. "If you watch them, they have a plan. They are not just up there swinging."

 

Helena also got solid pitching from Justin Barnes and Josh Wahpepah. Barnes struck out six over four innings, and Wahpepah gave up two runs in four innings to get his first professional win.

 

"Barnes stayed after the strike zone as much as he could," Brewers pitching coach Mark Littell said.

 

Photo by Eliza Wiley IR Staff - Third baseman Tony Festa makes the catch for an out, beating a Missoula baserunner back to the bag Thursday. Helena finished a four-game sweep of the Osprey at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2004/06/25/sports/b01062504_03.jpg

[BigT48]

David,

 

Good article, as usual.

When are you going to start believing in Ryan Costello?

The guy gets here a month into the season, goes 4-1 to date on an offensive team that is really overmatched most nights, takes the ball every 5th day, and is now 4th on the team in K's.

He has made 11 appearances for Huntsville. By my stats. they are 10-1 in those games . They have won 34 total. He seems to give the team a chance to win.

 

He may not throw 95+, have a 3 million dollar contract and be on Toby's Power 50, but at 6'6", 220 lbs. and left handed, I want him on my team.

 

Considering he spent '03 in low A as a reliever (!!??), I have to compliment his effort to date.

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

 

H.D. downs 66ers

By KRIS REILLY/Staff Writer

 

ADELANTO ? Don't get too excited. The High Desert Mavericks have no plans of transforming themselves into power-hitting beasts.

 

Nonetheless, they defied their small-ball reputation Thursday night, hitting four home runs in a 9-4 trouncing of Inland Empire at Mavericks Stadium.

 

High Desert has hit 10 homers in its last two home games, and Thursday's four home runs were the most given up by the 66ers pitching staff all season.

 

First baseman Travis Hinton went 4-for-4 and left the yard twice, and outfielders Mario Mendez and Jeremy Frost each homered.

 

"I don't know what the reason or rhyme is, but we're getting them in that wind and they're going," said Hinton, who has hit 14 home runs this season and fell a triple shy of the cycle.

 

With two of High Desert's speedsters ? Chris Morris and Kennard Bibbs ? out of the lineup, the long ball has come in handy, but Mavericks manager Mel Queen says no conscious effort has been made to change the team's strategy.

 

"If it were that easy to say 'we're going to hit home runs,' everybody would do it," Queen said. "Pitchers are making some mistakes, and we're capitalizing on them."

 

High Desert broke a 1-1 tie with a four-run fourth inning. Hinton led off the inning with a double off the wall in dead center, followed by a one-out, two-run homer to right by Frost.

 

Mendez extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an infield single, and High Desert designated hitter Eric Henderson reached base on a fielding error charged to 66ers shortstop Juan Gonzalez.

 

Mavs shortstop Enrique Cruz came to the plate and smacked a line drive to the gap in right center, scoring Mendez and Henderson to give High Desert a 5-1 advantage.

 

Inland Empire stormed right back in the top of the fifth with three runs on three hits, including a two-run home run by outfielder Jon Nelson.

 

That ended the night for High Desert starting pitcher Manny Parra, who improved to 4-1 on the season, allowing four earned runs on eight hits, striking out five and walking none.

 

"I was sub-par, in my opinion," Parra said. "I didn't control my fastball well, which forced me to throw my curveball way too much. I threw way too many pitches and got behind in the count, and that's why I gave up four runs."

 

Hinton and Mendez helped preserve Parra's chance at a victory with homers in the fifth, and Hinton sent a towering shot to right field to give High Desert a 9-4 lead in the seventh.

 

Things got a bit scary in the ninth for High Desert reliever Dan Kolb, who gave up a single and walked two to load the bases with one out. Kolb responded by striking out two straight batters swinging to ice the victory for the Mavs.

 

NOTES: In Wednesday night's game at Rancho Cucamonga, Mavs outfielder Mario Mendez tied a record that was set before the U.S. entered World War II. Mendez executed 11 putouts from center field, tying the California League record set by Fred May of Merced against Santa Barbara on May 16, 1941. ... Outfielder Dan Boyd was hit by a pitch for the 15th time this season on Thursday, breaking the High Desert franchise record of 14 HBPs in a single season, set by catcher Kade Johnson in 2001.

 

Photo by Aaron J.H. Walker / Victor Valley Daily Press Staff Photographer

High Desert second baseman Callix Crabbe, top, jumps over an Inland Empire player after turning the first part of a double play Thursday.

 

http://www.vvdailypress.com/storypics2/062504_mavs.jpg

[hsvstarsfan]

David,

 

Good article, as usual.

When are you going to start believing in Ryan Costello?

 

Chris Saenz was a tough act to follow. Costello went deep on quite a few batters that night and walked four. If it hadn't have been for some particularly sharp defense, there's a good chance the Smokies would have pulled that one out.

[BigT48]

That's right...

But if a pitcher can make hitters hit ground balls, that's why we have an infield.

Anybody can make a routine play.

[shelmark]

Um...can we call the 2nd round selection of Josh Murray clearly a mistake now. He is hitting .176 at low A. I remember when they drafted him I couldn't find any info on Baseball America about him. He wasn't listed in the top 100 and we took him in the second round. Don't get me wrong I'm not upset about this as this happens to every organization...but the guy is a bust.

 

On the other hand I can't help but be excited about a guy named Fermaint.

[MassBrew]

Beloit Daily News Game Story:

 

Snappers start 2nd half strong

Beloit holds off Kane County

By Ryan Frey

Daily News correspondent

 

After a relaxing Midwest League All-Star break, the Beloit Snappers showed they were eager to get back to work as they opened the second half with a 6-4 victory over Kane County Thursday night.

 

The Snappers not only started off on the right foot, they knocked off the first-half Western Division champions in the process at Pohlman Field.

 

Beloit staked starting pitcher Brian Montalbo (5-3) to a 3-1 lead against Cougar All-Star Steve Bondurant (10-4).

 

The Snappers were able to jump start their offense behind the bats of none other than spark plugs Terry Trofholz and Will Lewis.

 

With two outs in the bottom of the third inning, Trofholz illustrated no signs of second-half complacency as he started a two-run rally with Beloit's first hit of the evening.

 

``I had a nice break at the All-Star Game in Cedar Rapids, but I wanted to get back to work,'' said Trofholz, who hit .308 in the first half of the season. ``It was the second time through the order, and I made my adjustments, and Bondurant left a change-up high in the zone. It was the perfect pitch to get our offense going.''

 

Lewis followed with his sixth double of the season (in only 49 AB's) to drive in the fleet-footed Trofholz from first base to tie the game at 1-1. Fellow All-Star Lou Palmisano extended the clutch hitting with a single to score in Lewis.

 

``Two-out hits are very important,'' Beloit Manager Don Money said. ``Defense is also very important, and tonight's game was a great way to start out the second half. Kane County has a good team.''

 

The solid defense was on display in the third inning as Beloit shortstop Josh Murray made an excellent play up the middle to rob the Cougars of a hit, and the potential rally came to a screeching halt. Murray's web-gem closed out the inning and didn't go unnoticed by Money.

 

``Murray made some fine defensive plays for us all game,'' he said. ``If he doesn't make the plays he did, the outcome could have been different.''

 

Beloit center fielder Steve Moss made it 3-1 with a solo home run in the fourth inning - his fourth of the season.

 

``Steve's battling through injuries, and is trying to get some kind of rhythm going,'' Beloit Hitting Coach Tony Diggs said. ``He's got quick bat speed, so its just a matter of time before he finds his comfort zone.''

 

In the sixth inning, Beloit added two more runs after Murray reached on an error to start off the inning. He moved to second on a balk by Kane County's Brigmer Leon and Trofholz followed with his first RBI-single of the night. Lewis kept the rally alive with a hit of his own, and scored on Palmisano's RBI single to left field.

 

The Snappers plated one more run in the eighth inning to wrap up their scoring. Manuel Ramirez's double, followed by Trofholz's second RBI-single proved to be enough offense for the Snappers, as Mitch Stetter came in to close the game for Beloit.

 

Stetter did allow three earned runs over the last inning and a third, but was able to hold on for his second save of the year.

 

``It feels great to win the first game,'' said Trofholz, who went 3-for-4 on the night with two RBIs and two runs scored. ``Tomorrow night will be another test.''

 

NOTES: The Snappers will face the Cougars in the second game of the series at 7:00 tonight at Pohlman Field. ...Ty Taubenheim pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for Beloit. Montalbo allowed five hits and one run with four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. ...Palmisano was also 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

[MassBrew]

Doesn't look like Ned Yost's rules about clubhouse music apply all the way down in Huntsville...

 

Huntsville Times Game Story:

 

The beat goes on in Stars' victory

Fielder blast, solid pitching propel Huntsville past Smokies, 3-1

By MARK McCARTER

markcolumn@aol.com

 

To enter the Huntsville Stars clubhouse after a win is to climb into the backseat of one of those cars that always seems to pull up next to you at the traffic light. If, well, those cars had a pasta buffet.

 

You know the ones. The cars that boom and thunder and shake with something akin to music. The ones for which installation of those nuclear speakers doubled the value of the cars.

 

After a win, the music is always louder. The food always a little better. And, after two in a row, it was downright optimistic and giddy. And the music boomed, deep bass noise with lyrics equal parts profane and indecipherable to the untrained ear.

 

In the middle of it sat Prince Fielder, who was pretty much in the middle of much that happened in the Stars' 3-1 victory over Tennessee Thursday night.

 

First, a monstrous, 460-foot home run to dead center, his 13th of the season. Such distance do Fielder homers travel, he's now getting frequent flyer mileage.

 

Second, a stolen base. Though manager Frank Kremblas promised Fielder he'd "get 20 bags this season,'' this was only his fifth theft.

 

Third, a spectacular defensive play that helped reliever John Novinsky nail down his sixth save of the season and second in two nights. Smokies shortstop Milko Jaramillo launched a soft pop in foul territory well behind first. Fielder had missed a similar catch the previous evening.

 

This time, he hauled in the catch, just as he collided with a sliding right fielder Johnny Raburn and stumbled. Considering Raburn's lean 160 pounds, Fielder looked like a man running through a dark garage and tripping over a rake.

 

It made for a cool replay on the new scoreboard.

 

Raburn, for one, wasn't watching. "I was still trying to get my composure,'' he said.

 

Fielder limped it off. Though he hardly seemed ready to go steal 15 more bases at the moment, he was at least ambulatory, if a bit bruised.

 

Much the way one could describe the Stars at the end of the first half, when they folded up like an aluminum lawn chair. Now, two nights into the second half, it's as if the Stars had an exorcism performed.

 

Nothing so dramatic.

 

"We got good pitching,'' Kremblas said.

 

Starter Ryan Costello (5-1) allowed only two hits in five innings, then Brian Adams, Glenn Woolard and Fernando Rijo each pitched an inning of scoreless relief before turning the ball over to Novinsky.

 

"It's pitchers going out there, being confident in themselves,'' Costello said. "I've always been under the impression pitching wins ball games. So if our pitchers go out there tonight like we did, and not give the other hitters too much credit and be aggressive, the offense is going to come through.''

 

It wasn't a terrific offensive performance - Rickie Weeks doubled to lead off the first inning and scored on a two-out error and Ozzie Chavez had an RBI single in the second before Fielder's homer in the third - but was plenty efficient.

 

The Stars' first-half offense is mirrored in Fielder's electrocardiogram of a performance chart.

 

He was hitting .161 on April 17, then hit .424 while hitting safely in 13 of 17 games. An 0-for-21 stretch. A period of hitting safely in nine of 13 games. A 1-for-19 skid.

 

Underneath the soundtrack of booming hip-hop, Fielder explained the philosophy behind the Stars' U-turn - and perhaps his own.

 

"We're just going out there playing hard and not going to worry about what happens,'' Fielder said. "All you can do is put a good swing on the ball and catch the ball. Early, we were trying to make ourselves do things we can't. We were trying too hard to make things happen.

 

"This half, we know we can't worry about results as long as we do what we know is right.''

 

For his own hitting, Fielder isn't worried about home run numbers. "I just want to hit the ball hard, hit line drives,'' he said.

 

And, if those line drives have a steep parabola on them and travel 460 feet, well, you can't worry about that either.

 

Considering Raburn's lean 160 pounds, Fielder looked like a man running through a dark garage and tripping over a rake.

 

Mr. McCarter always paints quite the picture for us, doesn't he? Good stuff...

[lend d money]

I don't see Ryan in the Huntsville lineup. Did I miss something or he is somehow in Frank's doghouse?

[MassBrew]

Posted from David Weiser's site earlier this week:

 

Ryan Knox will be out 7-10 days with a strained hip flexor, but he will be available for pinch-hit duties