Link Report for Games of Saturday, July 3rd

[MassBrew]

Saturday's Daily Menu :

 

All times Central except Arizona Rookie (local Mountain); pitchers subject to change; pre-game audio begins approx. 15 minutes prior to game time listed...

 

INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Adrian Hernandez at home vs. Louisville (Reds), 7:00 PM

 

Audio link:

www.newstalk1430.com/

 

Alternate audio link (Bats' feed):

www.sportsjuice.com/provi...name=lbats

 

HUNTSVILLE: LHP Jeff Housman at home vs. Mobile (Padres), 7:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

HIGH DESERT: RHP Jesse Harper at San Jose (Giants), 8:30

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: LHP Greg Kloosterman at home vs. Fort Wayne (Padres), 7:00 PM

 

Audio link (Wizards' feed with former Brewers' Rookie League announcer Terry Byrom):

www.wizardsbaseball.com/t...p?pageId=4

 

HELENA: LHP Jared Theodorakas at Great Falls (White Sox), 8:00 PM; sorry, no online audio for this series

 

ARIZONA ROOKIE: RHP Oscar Montes, the 2003 18th round pick who made his pro debut last week, vs. the Angels' rookies at home in Maryvale, 10:30 AM Phoenix time...

[MassBrew]

So do they, like, run round the bases? The warning track?

 

Horse Race to Be Held During San Jose Game Saturday

The San Jose Giants announced that they have added to the festivities that fans will enjoy at the July 3rd Fireworks Extravaganza game with a special live horse race that will be held in between innings during the Giants game versus the High Desert Mavericks.

 

The two-horse race will feature ?Majic? and ?Dijon,? a pair of retired thoroughbred race horses that live at the Willow Pond Ranch in Soquel, CA. Fans will be able to meet the two horses up close prior to the race and have the opportunity to make a donation to the horse rescue program.

 

All fans that make a one dollar donation will receive a red or blue raffle ticket that will match up with one of the two horses. At the conclusion of the race, the number of the winning ticket will be announced and that fan will split the donation money with the Willow Pond Ranch. Other prizes that night will include horse riding lessons at Willow Pond Ranch.

 

Willow Pond Ranch is a horse sanctuary where retired racing and non-racing horses are cared for and placed in a program that bring people closer to these beautiful animals. Willow Pond Ranch offers a variety of riding programs for children and adults to participate in that include Western, English, Dressage and Jumping classes.

 

?This is a wonderful opportunity for or fans to see these horses up close...learn something about them and then see them in action with a live race across the Municipal Stadium outfield,? said San Jose Giants General Manager Mark Wilson.

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Pre-Game Notes include a team award for Corey Hart:

 

www.indyindians.com/pdf/gamenotes.pdf

[MassBrew]

Arizona Angels 8, Arizona Brewers 3

Once again, the hits and errors don't tell the whole story -- the Brewer kids lost a game last week where they played clean baseball and the opponent made seven errors; boxscore for this one in the AM...

 

 FINAL R H E - - - ARIZ ANGELS 8 9 4 ARIZ BREWERS 3 11 0

[MassBrew]

Fort Wayne (Padres) at Beloit, postponed, rain

 

Beloit Site Update:

 

The Snappers and Wizards were rained out tonight. These two teams will play a doubleheader on Wednesday July 14. Game one of the double dip will start at 6:00.

[MassBrew]

Final: Huntsville 5, Mobile (Padres) 3

Stars now 7-3 in the second half; LHP Jeff Housman strikes out a Stars' 2004 team-high ten batters, including six in a row at one point -- Housman's first eight outs in this game were via the K...

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Despite the win, tough night for Rickie Weeks; only one earned run against Housman...

 GAME DATE: 7/03/04 MOB at HVL MOBILE 3 AT HUNTSVILLE 5 YTD YTD MOBILE AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG K.Jones CF 4 0 0 0 .212 R.Weeks 2B 5 0 0 0 .243 R.Merrill SS 4 0 0 0 .247 A.Gwynn CF 3 1 2 0 .249 J.Barfield 2B 4 1 0 0 .237 P.Fielder 1B 3 1 1 0 .260 G.Sain 1B 2 1 1 0 .223 B.Nelson LF 3 1 2 1 .277 R.Washington 3B 4 0 2 0 .265 J.Gann RF 4 1 1 1 .455 B.Johnson RF 4 1 0 0 .219 C.Barnwell 3B 4 0 2 2 .243 N.Trzesniak CAT 3 0 1 2 .208 O.Chavez SS 4 0 0 0 .205 M.Nettles LF 3 0 1 1 .214 K.Johnson CAT 3 1 2 0 .233 E.Huerta PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Housman PIT 1 0 0 0 .222 M.Bumstead PIT 0 0 0 0 1.000 F.Rijo PIT 0 0 0 0 .286 J.Gerber PH 1 0 0 0 .241 B.Whitaker PIT 2 0 0 0 .235 J.Clements LF 2 0 0 0 .245 TOTALS 33 3 5 3 TOTALS 30 5 10 4 MOBILE 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0- 3 5 1 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 X- 5 10 2 E--B.Whitaker, O.Chavez 2. DP--MOBILE 3, HUNTSVILLE 0. LOB--MOBILE 8, HUNTSVILLE 8. 2B--N.Trzesniak (10), J.Gann (1). SB--K.Johnson (5). SF--N.Trzesniak. SH--J.Housman, F.Rijo. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA MOBILE B.Whitaker (L,5-6) 5.2 9 5 4 3 1 0 3.77 E.Huerta 0.1 0 0 0 2 1 0 5.79 M.Bumstead 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.91 HUNTSVILLE J.Housman (W,2-5) 7.0 5 3 1 2 10 0 3.43 F.Rijo (S,1) 2.0 0 0 0 2 2 0 4.06 SO--K.Jones 2, J.Barfield, R.Washington 2, B.Johnson 2, N.Trzesniak, M.Nettles 2, B.Whitaker 2, R.Weeks, P.Fielder 2. BB--K.Jones, R.Merrill, G.Sain 2, A.Gwynn, P.Fielder, B.Nelson, K.Johnson, J.Housman. T--2:30. A--8264

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12010

[MassBrew]

Final: Louisville 5, Indianapolis (Reds) 1

RHP Matt Childers tweaked his groin in May during a fine start; since his return (and the trade of brother Jason), Matt has struggled in the late-inning role...

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

Corey Hart on base three times; the 4-5-6 hitters went 0-for-12, five K's, no walks...

 GAME DATE: 7/03/04 LOU at IND LOUISVILLE 5 AT INDIANAPOLIS 1 YTD YTD LOUISVILLE AB R H BI AVG INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG J.Clark 2B 4 1 0 0 .266 P.Bergeron CF 3 1 1 0 .233 J.Clark RF 0 0 0 0 .266 T.Durrington 2B 4 0 2 0 .161 F.Lopez 3B 4 1 1 0 .282 C.Hart RF 3 0 2 0 .285 F.Lopez SS 0 0 0 0 .282 J.Liefer LF 4 0 0 0 .321 A.Holbert 1B 4 1 2 1 .278 C.Coste CAT 4 0 0 0 .266 J.Vander Wal RF 3 0 1 0 .185 B.Gemoll 1B 4 0 0 0 .211 J.Chamblee 3B 1 0 0 0 .261 L.Figueroa 3B 4 0 0 0 .258 S.Smitherman LF 4 1 2 2 .252 S.Scarbrough SS 2 0 1 0 .236 D.Sardinha CAT 2 0 0 0 .273 A.Hernandez PIT 2 0 0 0 .000 K.Kelly CF 4 1 1 1 .232 M.Erickson PH 1 0 0 0 .262 R.Olmedo SS 2 0 1 1 .261 M.Childers PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Olmedo 2B 0 0 0 0 .261 C.Michalak PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Moseley PIT 3 0 0 0 .000 A.Delgado PH 1 0 0 0 .161 B.Shacklford PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Miller PH 1 0 0 0 .286 J.Valentine PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Myette PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 32 5 8 5 TOTALS 32 1 6 0 LOUISVILLE 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 0- 5 8 1 INDIANAPOLIS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 1 6 1 E--D.Sardinha, C.Coste. DP--LOUISVILLE 1, INDIANAPOLIS 0. LOB-- LOUISVILLE 8, INDIANAPOLIS 8. 2B--J.Vander Wal (2), K.Kelly (8), P.Bergeron (5). 3B--S.Smitherman (1), S.Scarbrough (3). SB--J.Clark (14), C.Hart (12). CS--T.Durrington. HBP--A.Holbert, D.Sardinha. SH-- J.Chamblee. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA LOUISVILLE D.Moseley 6.1 5 1 1 3 7 0 1.42 B.Shacklford (W,5-1) 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.19 J.Valentine 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.44 A.Myette 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.51 INDIANAPOLIS A.Hernandez 7.0 3 1 1 5 8 0 5.98 M.Childers (L,3-3) 1.0 5 4 4 0 0 0 5.76 C.Michalak 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.05 HB--M.Childers, C.Michalak. WP--B.Shacklford. BALKS--A.Hernandez. SO--J.Clark 2, F.Lopez, A.Holbert, S.Smitherman 2, D.Sardinha, D.Moseley 2, J.Liefer 2, C.Coste, B.Gemoll 2, L.Figueroa, A.Hernandez. BB--J.Clark, F.Lopez, D.Sardinha, R.Olmedo 2, P.Bergeron, C.Hart, S.Scarbrough 2. T--2:57. A--8444

Indianapolis Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12837

[MassBrew]

In progress: San Jose (Giants) 1, High Desert 1, after six innings

RHP Jesse Harper has struck out eight in the six innings in an outstanding outing thus far; Maverick runs always tough to come by on the road against the Northern Division teams, where the run-friendly weather and park conditions are absent for the most part...

[MassBrew]

Final: High Desert 2, San Jose (Giants) 1

Nice solid win for the Mavericks here against the Giants' incredible Merkin Valdez (12 K's, zero walks). The boys will take it any way they can, even if the winning run in the ninth was unearned...

 

High Desert Box Score:

Awesome performance by RHP Jesse Harper and LHP Eric Henderson; newcomer Ben Van Iderstine has been hot from the get-go -- the two independent league pick-ups last week (Jamie Gann in Huntsville) have been breaths of fresh air for their respective line-ups...

 GAME DATE: 7/03/04 HD at SJ HIGH DESERT 2 AT SAN JOSE 1 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG SAN JOSE AB R H BI AVG K.Bibbs CF 5 0 0 0 .297 F.Lewis CF 4 0 0 0 .300 C.Crabbe 2B 4 1 2 0 .305 A.Chavez SS 4 0 1 0 .286 D.Boyd LF 3 0 1 1 .291 N.Schierholt 3B 4 0 2 0 .333 T.Hinton 1B 4 0 1 0 .317 C.Sosa LF 4 0 0 0 .277 F.Villanueva CAT 4 0 1 0 .241 B.Vericker 1B 4 1 2 0 .290 J.Frost 3B 4 0 1 0 .259 R.Walter RF 3 0 0 0 .267 B.Van Iderst RF 4 1 3 0 .636 B.Buscher DH 3 0 1 1 .252 M.Mendez DH 4 0 0 0 .252 S.Holm CAT 2 0 0 0 .253 E.Cruz SS 4 0 0 0 .197 A.Hornostaj 2B 1 0 0 0 .231 J.Harper PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Valdez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Henderson PIT 0 0 0 0 .148 A.Pannone PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 36 2 9 1 TOTALS 29 1 6 1 HIGH DESERT 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1- 2 9 1 SAN JOSE 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0- 1 6 1 E--J.Frost, A.Chavez. DP--HIGH DESERT 3, SAN JOSE 0. LOB--HIGH DESERT 8, SAN JOSE 4. 2B--D.Boyd (19), J.Frost (11), B.Van Iderst (4), B.Vericker 2 (19). CS--A.Chavez. SH--S.Holm, A.Hornostaj. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT J.Harper 6.0 5 1 1 1 8 0 4.97 E.Henderson (W,4-4) 3.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 6.53 SAN JOSE M.Valdez 7.0 7 1 1 0 12 0 2.67 A.Pannone (L,2-4) 2.0 2 1 0 1 3 0 4.76 SO--K.Bibbs, C.Crabbe, D.Boyd, T.Hinton 3, F.Villanueva, J.Frost, B.Van Iderst, M.Mendez 3, E.Cruz 3, F.Lewis 2, A.Chavez 3, N.Schierholt 2, R.Walter 2, B.Buscher 2. BB--D.Boyd, A.Hornostaj. T--2:23. A--4236

High Desert Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=18905

[MassBrew]

Final: Helena 8, Great Falls (White Sox) 4

Robbie Wooley was 2003's 6th rounder, the first pitcher Milwaukee took from that draft, the top high school pitcher out of Indiana, and he hasn't disappointed at all -- either in Arizona last summer or here in Helena -- nice...

 

Helena Box Score:

The Brewers win despite striking out 17 times, including six against former Milwaukee draft pick Ray Liotta; they also drew eight walks -- you think a few pitches were thrown in this one? CF Charlie Fermaint with a HR and a double; we may learn more from the game stories, but a box score glance reveals relatively early exits for LHP Jared Theodorakas and SS Alcides Escobar...

 GAME DATE: 7/03/04 HEL at GRF HELENA 8 AT GREAT FALLS 4 YTD YTD HELENA AB R H BI AVG GREAT FALLS AB R H BI AVG G.Acosta DH 5 2 1 0 .286 D.McNeil SS 4 0 1 1 .178 S.Sollmann 2B 3 1 0 0 .304 B.Berry 2B 3 0 1 0 .260 A.Festa 3B 4 1 1 1 .286 C.Kelly 1B 4 1 1 0 .345 G.Richardson 1B 3 2 2 3 .442 T.Collaro RF 4 1 1 2 .200 A.Mannon RF 5 0 0 0 .270 R.McCarthy DH 4 0 0 0 .250 C.Lozada CAT 5 1 2 1 .333 S.Martin LF 4 0 2 0 .324 C.Fermaint CF 5 1 2 3 .250 D.Lucy CAT 3 1 0 0 .167 J.Serfass LF 3 0 0 0 .000 D.Roberts CF 4 1 3 1 .500 A.Escobar SS 1 0 0 0 .255 M.Perez 3B 4 0 1 0 .219 A.Septimo SS 3 0 0 0 .000 G.Hansen PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Theodorako PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Liotta PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Decarlo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Johnson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Wooley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Banks PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Everly PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 37 8 8 8 TOTALS 34 4 10 4 HELENA 1 0 0 1 0 2 3 1 0- 8 8 0 GREAT FALLS 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0- 4 10 2 E--D.McNeil, M.Perez. DP--HELENA 2, GREAT FALLS 0. LOB--HELENA 10, GREAT FALLS 5. 2B--G.Richardson (5), C.Fermaint (2), S.Martin (2), D.Roberts (1). 3B--G.Acosta (1). HR--C.Fermaint (2), T.Collaro (3). SB--C.Lozada (1), D.Lucy (3), M.Perez (2). CS--S.Martin. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HELENA J.Theodorako 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.63 D.Decarlo 1.2 4 3 3 1 2 1 7.20 R.Wooley (W,1-0) 5.1 5 1 1 1 4 0 2.70 GREAT FALLS G.Hansen 2.0 2 1 1 1 2 0 5.40 R.Liotta 3.0 2 1 1 3 6 0 4.50 J.Johnson (L,1-1) 1.2 3 5 4 2 5 1 4.70 D.Banks 1.1 1 1 0 1 2 0 2.57 E.Everly 1.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 7.50 WP--J.Johnson. BALKS--R.Wooley. SO--G.Acosta 2, S.Sollmann, A.Festa, A.Mannon 3, C.Fermaint 3, J.Serfass 3, A.Escobar, A.Septimo 3, D.McNeil 3, R.McCarthy, S.Martin, D.Lucy, M.Perez. BB--S.Sollmann 2, A.Festa, G.Richardson 2, J.Serfass 2, A.Septimo, B.Berry, D.Lucy. T--2:57. A--3423

Helena Game Log:

Grant Richardson on base four more times; the former Washington State 1B continues to make himself at home among Pioneer League kids...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=19396

[MassBrew]

Arizona Brewer Box Score:

Nine walks issued, six by starter Oscar Montes; another 2003 high schooler, Tyler Morrison (10th round) is making progress this season; the young Brewers aren't drawing enough walks of their own; David Krynzel is padding his career stat line against these opposing kids http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif ; ho-hum, 2B Hernan Iribarren with three more hits -- it's for real, the Venezuelan prospect hit .326 in 426 Dominican Summer League AB's the past two years -- his numbers far outshined those of any of the Latin youngsters brought to Maryvale this spring, but 21-for-41 this summer is a pace that will be tough to keep up...

 ANGELS 8 AT BREWERS 3 YTD YTD ANGELS AB R H BI AVG BREWERS AB R H BI AVG A.Rosario LF 3 2 1 2 .389 D.Krynzel CF 4 0 3 0 .500 B.Martinez 1B 5 0 3 0 .206 J.Blanc RF 1 0 0 0 .250 S.Smith CF 3 1 0 0 .118 H.Iribarren 2B 5 0 3 0 .512 J.Cowles RF 3 1 0 0 .219 F.Parejo LF 5 0 0 0 .279 L.Rivera DH 4 1 1 2 .240 C.Gallardo 1B 4 0 1 0 .514 D.Mcdowell PH 0 0 0 0 .143 F.De La Cruz 3B 4 1 0 0 .269 R.Shankle 3B 4 2 1 3 .182 S.Chapman CF 1 0 1 0 .212 D.Reinhardt 2B 5 0 2 1 .167 S.Chapman RF 3 1 1 0 .212 D.Hernandez CAT 2 0 0 0 .125 B.Opdyke CAT 4 0 1 1 .200 M.Maldonado CAT 2 1 1 0 .429 A.Ayala DH 1 0 0 0 .240 J.Arredondo SS 4 0 0 0 .111 O.Angulo PH 1 0 0 0 .333 A.Whittingto PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 O.Angulo DH 2 0 1 0 .333 B.Wilson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 L.Leclercq SS 3 1 0 0 .148 H.Pena PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 O.Montes PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Rowe PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Fermin PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Morrison PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Laureano PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 8 9 8 TOTALS 38 3 11 1 ANGELS 0 0 5 0 1 0 0 2 0- 8 9 4 BREWERS 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0- 3 11 0 E--S.Smith, R.Shankle, J.Arredondo 2. DP--ANGELS 2, BREWERS 0. LOB--ANGELS 9, BREWERS 9. 2B--L.Rivera (2), D.Reinhardt (1). 3B-- S.Chapman (1). HR--A.Rosario (1), R.Shankle (1). SB--A.Rosario (6), H.Iribarren (4), F.De La Cruz (2), O.Angulo (1). CS--F.Parejo, O.Angulo. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA ANGELS A.Whittingto (W,1-1) 5.0 6 2 1 0 2 0 0.64 B.Wilson 2.0 3 1 0 1 2 0 3.86 H.Pena 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 8.31 J.Rowe 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.00 BREWERS O.Montes (L,0-2) 2.1 1 3 3 6 3 0 7.56 J.Fermin 2.2 3 3 3 2 2 1 14.09 T.Morrison 3.0 4 2 2 0 4 1 4.26 W.Laureano 1.0 1 0 0 1 3 0 5.40 WP--J.Rowe, T.Morrison. SO--A.Rosario, B.Martinez, S.Smith, J.Cowles, L.Rivera, R.Shankle 2, D.Reinhardt, D.Hernandez, M.Maldonado, J.Arredondo 2, J.Blanc, H.Iribarren, F.Parejo, S.Chapman 2, B.Opdyke 2. BB--A.Rosario 2, S.Smith 2, J.Cowles 2, D.Mcdowell, R.Shankle, D.Hernandez, L.Leclercq. T--2:42.

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Post-Game Notes:

 

Louisville tallied four runs in the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie Saturday night to defeat the Indianapolis Indians, 5-1.

Tribe starter Adrian Hernandez and Bats starter Dustin Moseley dueled through seven innings. Hernandez pitched all seven innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking five and striking out eight. Moseley threw 6.1 innings, giving up one run on five hits, walking three and striking out seven.

 

Stephen Smitherman?s two-run triple off Tribe reliever Matt Childers in the eighth, sent the Bats on a scoring flurry, which including two more runs in the frame on a run producing double from Kenny Kelly and an RBI single from Ray Olmedo.

 

The Tribe could generate just six hits, two each from Trent Durrington and Corey Hart. The Indians fall to 38-42, Louisville improves to 40-42. Brian Shackelford (5-1) earned the win in relief, while Childers (3-3) picked up the loss.

 

QUOTE:

 

Steven Smitherman on game winning hit:

 

"I was just trying to get a pitch that I could handle," said Smitherman. "The ball was just falling my way tonight."

 

NOTES:

 

Indianapolis falls into last place in the IL West Division behind the Bats.

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Behind an outstanding start from lefty Jeff Housman, the Stars took their third straight from first-half champ Mobile, downing the Bay Bears 5-3 on Saturday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville (7-3, 38-41) has won eight of its last 11 and remains one game up in the Southern League West second-half standings.

 

Housman (2-5) opened with a dominant stretch, tossing three no-hit innings, fanning the first eight batters he retired, including a stretch of six straight hitters, two off the Southern League record. He authored seven solid innings for his second win, permitting three runs, one earned, on five hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts, the Stars? single-game season high. Housman threw 100 pitches, 64 for strikes, for his first win since May 23.

 

After rallying for dramatic victories the previous two nights, Huntsville broke through first against Mobile starter Brian Whitaker. Five straight batters reached safely with one out in the third. Tony Gwynn Jr. bunted for a hit and Prince Fielder drew a walk. Brad Nelson singled home Gwynn and sent Fielder to third. Jamie Gann?s double scored Fielder and pushed Nelson to third. Chris Barnwell blooped a single to right-center to plate both Nelson and Gann for a 4-0 Stars lead.

 

After the Bears scored two unearned tallies in the fourth, Huntsville added one of its own the bottom half for a 5-2 advantage. Kade Johnson led off with a walk and took second on Housman?s sacrifice bunt. Gwynn hit a two-out chopper in front of the plate, and Whitaker pounced but threw low to first, sending the ball up the rightfield line. Johnson scored and Gwynn took third. Fielder fanned to end the frame.

 

Whitaker (5-6) suffered his sixth defeat, surrendering five runs, four earned, on nine hits and three walks with one strikeout over 5 2/3 innings. Fernando Rijo notched his first save, walking two and fanning two over two scoreless, hitless innings.

 

Huntsville travels to face Montgomery in the opener of a four-game series on Sunday night at Riverwalk Stadium. Righty Chris Saenz (5-5, 4.15) throws for the Stars. Game time is 6:35 p.m. and the FPH Financial Services Pre-game Show starts at 6:20 p.m. Stars baseball can be heard on ESPN 1450 and at www.huntsvillestars.com.

[MassBrew]

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

 

HOT NIGHT FOR HOUSMAN

A picturesque evening before a packed house, the 2nd largest crowd of the season, needing only 58 more bodies to match the April 23 game against the Smokies, a Fireworks Friday........ Quite the opposite of the dark, stormy backdrop for Friday night's game....... I'm told that two miles in every direction from the Stadium, it poured down in torrents, yet Joe Davis Stadium was practically dry throughout the entire ten innings....... It's no stretch to see this as one of a number of good omens I see in my crystal ball........ The Stars are off to a 7-3 start, and they've done this against the two first-half winners.

 

This night was simply one of Jeff Housman's finest....... Housman's first eight outs were all strikeouts, all but one of them on sliders. There were a pair of walks sandwiched in, in the 1st inning to Ronnie Merrill and Greg Sain, giving him 18 walks in the 1st inning in his 13 starts this year, but he still defied a personal jinx --- an 8.31 ERA in the opening frame........ I still would refrain from making what would seem like the superlative of calling this his finest start of the year, because of a scoreless seven inning performance against the Jacksonville Suns on May 8 in which he struck out nine -- the previous high for a Stars pitcher this year, but Housman's 10 Ks was a personal high for his pro career.

 

The strikeout string ended with a fly out by Merrill to end the 3rd and the frequency of strikeouts diminished dramatically after that --- one strikeout in the 4th and one in the 6th on Marcus Nettles, on his 90th pitch........ When not striking out, Mobile hit most of Housman's pitches in the air.

 

Jeff's dominance was broken in the 4th inning after Ozzie Chavez took Josh Barfield's sharp one-hopper just above his breadbasket to lead off the inning........ Chavez, taken aback by the suddenness of the hop, awkwardly got rid of the ball and forced Prince Fielder to leap for the ball....... Barfield took the opportunity to cross the bag at the same time and Chavez was charged with a throwing error...... Rico Washington, with one out, dumped a blooper in front of Tony Gwynn, Jr. in left-center field for a hit, moving Barfield to second........ Barfield went to third on a force play and scored on a double by Nick Trzesniak that went all the way to the wall in front of the Yellow Book sign....... Trzesniak came into the game hitting just .160 vs. the Stars........ Ben Johnson, who reached on the force, scored when Nettles blooped Housman's first pitch in front of Gwynn in center......... A pair of sacrifice flies in the 6th inning brought home Greg Sain in the 6th for Mobile's final run.

 

In contrast to Housman, Mobile starter Brian Whitaker (5-5, 3.57) has most often gotten into trouble in the middle innings, allowing opposing batters to hit for a .317 average in the 4th and 5th innings combined........ However, it was the 3rd inning that ruined his night.

 

With one out, Tony Gwynn executed a drag bunt to the 1st base side with Whitaker covering first, but there was no chance at all to get Gwynn, whose father was the master of the drag bunt......... Gwynn was going on 3-and-0 when Whitaker walked Prince Fielder. The "stolen base" became moot........ Next, Brad Nelson lined a 1-0 pitch for a single that looked a lot like his game-winner of the previous night. Gwynn scored with the Stars' first run and Fielder moved to third........ Next, Jamie Gann, whose debut as I mentioned previously draws a strange parallel to Ryan Christenson's in 1997, doubled on a 3-1 pitch toward the right field line, cut off by Ben Johnson before it could reach the corner. Fielder scored to make it 2-0 and Nelson held up at third....... Gann swung on the first pitch in his three failed plate appearances. This worked in his debut when he singled Thursday on first pitches, and on Friday, when he homered in his first at-bat on a first pitch from Chris Rojas, but he's 0-for-4 now on first pitch swings....... Perhaps he does not want opposing pitchers to get a good bead on him, but it's not working anymore.

 

Chris Barnwell's two-run single, looped into shallow center, provided the Stars with the decision-maker...... Nelson scored easily, but Gann had a great break off second and seeing the ball drop in, he knew he had a chance to score, and he did without a throw in.

 

Housman's bunt to the right side of the infield in the 4th set up the insurance run for the Stars....... Frank Kremblas is, like former Oriole manager Earl Weaver, not a proponent of the sacrifice bunt. Housman's was only the 8th executed by a Stars pitcher this season, and defying that trend, Fernando Rijo made it nine in the 8th inning....... The sacrifice moved Kade Johnson, who walked, to second....... With two out, Gwynn hit a chopper in front of the plate. Whitaker came in to handle it, but threw low to first, sending the ball skipping down the right field line for a three-base error, scoring KJ.

 

Frank had Roberto Giron warming up in the bottom of the 6th, but he went with Fernando Rijo to close out the game....... Rijo, who has now given up just one run in eight innings of relief in his last six appearances, picked up his 1st save....... The Stars have now converted 22 of 26 save appearances this year...... The game ended rather strangely when Mobile manager Gary Jones was inexplicably thrown out of the game after a ball was thrown for a 3-1 count to Kennard Jones........ You can rule out the last pitch on Jones. It was in his favor. Yet Jones was tossed it seems by 3rd base ump John Woods, who has a notoriously quick thumb anyway....... After the game, I talked to Mobile's radio voice, Tom Nichols, who believed Jones was still fuming over a strike call, but it's still puzzling, since it was of no consequence in that inning........ I heard also it was because a balk wasn't called. Both Huntsville pitchers were fast workers. But the earliest that could have happened to Mobile's advantage was in the 7th inning........ And above all else, it's a mystery that Jones would go into hysterics, getting in the face of home plate ump Scott Chamberlain and 3rd base ump Woods, with the game one out away from being finished. I don't get it. The fans didn't get it. Stars voice Robert Portnoy didn't get it. But it was all in the name of frustration, I guess....... The Stars had won this series from Mobile, and they get to do it again at the Joe next weekend.

 

Sunday, the Stars travel down I-65 to Montgomery for the start of a four-game series before a sold-out Independence Day crowd at Riverwalk Stadium........ Chris Saenz (5-5, 4.15) will get the nod for the Stars against the Biscuits' Chris Seddon (4-4, 3.86). The Stars are 6-5 against Montgomery this year, who have started the second half with a 2-7 record.

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have released Matt Parker, who was such a fine middle reliever for the Stars last year (8-6, 3.10), yet was released by the Brewers before the season started. The Stars did not see Parker in their most recent three-game series against the Smokies at the end of May. Parker was 2-2 with a 5.05 ERA in 25 games for the Smokies at the time of his release.

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Times Game Story:

Now some quotes...

 

Stars create their own pyrotechnics

By SKIP VAUGHN

For The Times skipv@htimes.com

 

Huntsville Stars manager Frank Kremblas says there's something different about Fourth of July weekend.

 

"Obviously it's more fun because there's more fans in the stands. That's one thing that's good," he said before Saturday night's game against Mobile. "It's great because of the fan support and the fans that come out. It seems like they're a little more into the games and more excited."

 

The Stars gave the announced crowd of 8,264 plenty to get excited about by beating the BayBears 5-3 at Joe Davis Stadium. It was Huntsville's third straight win.

 

Left-hander Jeff Housman (2-5) earned the victory with ten strikeouts, five hits, three runs (one earned) and two walks in seven innings. Fernando Rijo earned his first save with two innings of relief.

 

"I thought Housman threw the ball well," Kremblas said. "He had a little rough spot there in the fourth and then recovered."

 

"I was throwing my sinker probably the most tonight," Housman said. "I was getting ahead pretty good. And I had a lot of movement. I think that was probably the biggest reason (for the successful outing)."

 

The Stars (7-3) opened the scoring with a four-run third inning.

 

Tony Gwynn Jr. reached on a one-out bunt single, Prince Fielder walked and Brad Nelson delivered an RBI single. Hometown hero Jamie Gann followed with a run-scoring double that brought home Fielder. Chris Barnwell then added a two-run single.

 

"Pretty routine," said Gwynn, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored. "That's what I'm supposed to do, set the table for the big guys behind me. As long as I keep getting on base, we're going to keep scoring runs."

 

"Anytime you can win at home is great," said Gann, a former New Market resident. "We should take advantage of the home games."

 

Nelson, Barnwell and Kade Johnson added two hits apiece for the Stars' ten-hit fireworks.

 

Mobile (4-6) struck back with two unearned runs in the fourth. Shortstop Ozzie Chavez's errant throw enabled Josh Barfield to reach first and he scored on a double by Nick Trzesniak. Marcus Nettles added an RBI single to score Ben Johnson, who had reached on a fielder's choice.

 

The Stars went ahead 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth with an unearned run of their own, courtesy of a throwing error by pitcher Brian Whitaker (5-6), allowing Johnson to score from second. Johnson had drawn a leadoff walk, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Housman and scored when Whitaker threw wild to first after fielding Gwynn's grounder.

 

But the BayBears cut the deficit in the sixth when Greg Sain got a leadoff hit, advanced on Rico Washington's single and scored on Trzesniak's sacrifice fly.

 

"The team played well," Gann said. "We had some key hits, the pitching was outstanding."

 

"Overall good job," Kremblas said.

 

The Stars travel to Montgomery for a four-game series against the Biscuits starting tonight at 6:35.

[MassBrew]

High Desert Game Summary from the Giants' Site:

 

The San Jose Giants were defeated by the High Desert Mavericks 2-1 Friday evening at Municipal Stadium in front of 4,236 fans on a night that featured postgame fireworks.

 

Giants starter Merkin Valdez was dominant as he struck out 12 in seven innings of work. Valdez gave up one run and did not allow a walk in an outing where he hit as high as 98 miles per hour on the radar gun. Both teams were held scoreless until Brian Buscher drove in San Jose¹s first run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Buscher hit an RBI single to score Brad

Vericker who had lead off the inning with a double. However, High Desert fought back in the top of the sixth as they tied the game on a Dan Boyd double that scored Callix Crabbe.

 

In the seventh, the Mavericks rallied again as Jeremy Frost led off the inning with a double down the left field line which was then followed by a Ben Van Iderstine single to right field giving them men on first and third with no outs. Valdez then shut down the threat by striking out the next two batters and getting Kennard Bibbs to hit a harmless dribbler to second base.

 

The deadlock continued until the top of the ninth inning when Giants shortstop Angel Chavez committed a costly error when he over threw first baseman Brad Vericker after fielding a routine ground ball which would have been the third out of the inning. The throwing error allowed Van Iderstine to score from second base to give the Mavericks a one-run lead.

In the bottom the ninth, the Giants threatened when Nate Schierholtz led off the inning with a single. However, Schierholtz was forced out at second on when Carlos Sosa attempted to sacrifice bunt. Brad Vericker then hit a

sharply hit grounder to Mavericks first baseman Travis Hinton who started the 3-6-3 double play to end the game.

[MassBrew]

Helena Game Summary from the Great Falls Site:

 

Tonight the Great Falls White Sox were defeated by the Helena Brewers 8-4 at Legion Park. For the Sox, JD Johnson (1-1) took the loss in relief. Robbie Wooley (1-0) picks up the win for Helena.

 

After a brief 19-minute rain delay to start the game, the Brewers started off the scoring in the top of the first inning. A leadoff triple by Gilberto Acosta put a man on third and no one out. Acosta was later singled home by first baseman Grant Richardson.

 

At the end of the second inning another rainstorm came in, delaying the game for another two hours and three minutes. When we got back to playing baseball the Sox would take the lead on a two-run home run by Tom Collaro. The lead only lasted two innings, as Helena would get a two-run home run of their own by Charlie Fermaint. The Brewers would score three in the seventh and once more in the eighth to take the 8-4 victory.

 

On a side note, tonight's game was the last professional baseball game to end, anywhere in the country.

 

Tomorrow night's Fourth of July contest is the third of this three game series with the Brewers. The starters for tomorrow night's game night are: Garry Bakker (RHP) for Great Falls and Alvaro Martinez (RHP) for Helena.

[gregmag]

David Weiser writes that Housman's two walks in the first inning last night gave him 18 first inning walks on the year, in 13 starts. That's terrible, but I love it, because Housman has only walked 21 guys all season. Given that his overall control has been outstanding (82K/21BB in 79 innings), his concentration of walks in the first inning screams "correctable."

 

The other funny thing about Housman and walks is that he draws them -- 3 in 24 PA this year, for a .381 OBP.

 

Lou Palmisano's secondary average is down below .200. Any thoughts?

 

Amazing Ben Hendrickson stat I did not know: only three unearned runs all year (against 24 earned). In other words, that 2.48 ERA is legit.

 

Greg.

[MassBrew]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 45 36 .556 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 45 39 .536 1.5 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 40 42 .488 5.5 [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 38 42 .475 6.5[/b]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 7 3 .700[/b] WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 6 4 .600 1.0 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 6 4 .600 1.0 *MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 4 6 .400 3.0 MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 2 8 .200 5.0

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB *LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 7 2 .778 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 6 3 .667 1.0 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 5 4 .556 2.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 3 6 .333 4.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 3 6 .333 4.0[/b]

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 6 3 .667 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 6 4 .600 .5 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 6 4 .600 .5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 5 4 .556 1.0 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 5 4 .556 1.0 *KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 5 5 .500 1.5 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 4 5 .444 2.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 3 6 .333 3.0[/b]

 NORTH DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]HELENA BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 10 5 .667[/b] GREAT FALLS WHITE SOX (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 8 6 .571 1.5 BILLINGS MUSTANGS (CINCINNATI) 8 6 .571 1.5 MISSOULA OSPREY (ARIZONA) 3 12 .200 7.0

 W L PCT GB ROYALS (KANSAS CITY) 7 3 .700 MARINERS (SEATTLE) 7 3 .700 PADRES (SAN DIEGO) 6 3 .667 .5 GIANTS (SAN FRANCISCO) 6 4 .600 1.0 RANGERS (TEXAS) 5 5 .500 2.0 ATHLETICS (OAKLAND) 4 6 .400 3.0 [b]BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 3 6 .333 3.5[/b] CUBS (CHICAGO CUBS) 3 7 .300 4.0 ANGELS (ANAHEIM) 3 7 .300 4.0