Link Report for Games of Wednesday, June 16th

[MassBrew]

Sorry, folks -- a bit late; the matinee is already underway; check out the Durham link unless you can get Indy's to work!

 

Wednesday's Daily Menu :

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change; pre-game audio begins approx. 15 minutes prior to game time listed...

 

INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Clint Weibl at Durham (Devil Rays), 12:00 PM

 

Audio link:

www.newstalk1430.com/

 

Alternate audio link (Bulls' feed):

www.sportsjuice.com/provi...ame=dbulls

 

HUNTSVILLE: IDLE

 

HIGH DESERT: RHP Bo Hall at Rancho Cucamonga (Angels), 9:15 PM

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: RHP Brian Montalbo at home vs. Clinton (Rangers), 7:00 PM

 

No audio for this series http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Pre-Game Notes:

 

www.indyindians.com/pdf/gamenotes.pdf

[MassBrew]

Final: Durham (Devil Rays) 7, Indianapolis 3

We might be approaching one of those Cecil Cooper blow-off-some-steam moments...

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

Tribe falls to .500; Trent Durrington picking up where he left off in Milwaukee, both at the plate and in the field...

 GAME DATE: 6/16/04 IND at DUR INDIANAPOLIS 4 AT DURHAM 7 YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG DURHAM AB R H BI AVG P.Bergeron CF 4 0 1 1 .200 J.Gathright CF 3 0 1 0 .311 M.Erickson 2B 4 0 1 0 .241 B.Upton SS 3 2 1 0 .303 C.Magruder LF 2 0 0 0 .258 J.Cantu 2B 4 1 2 1 .298 C.Hart RF 4 0 0 0 .275 M.Cummings DH 3 2 1 1 .317 M.Johnson DH 4 0 0 0 .265 M.Diaz RF 4 1 2 2 .317 C.Coste CAT 3 1 1 0 .295 J.Sandberg 1B 3 0 1 3 .221 T.Durrington 3B 3 1 0 0 .077 P.LaForest CAT 4 0 1 0 .201 B.Gemoll 1B 4 2 2 1 .254 L.Ordaz 3B 4 0 0 0 .237 S.Scarbrough SS 4 0 2 1 .223 C.Gipson LF 3 1 0 0 .309 C.Weibl PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Standridge PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Erdos PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Corcoran PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Childers PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Carnes PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Minix PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Fortunato PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 32 4 7 3 TOTALS 31 7 9 7 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3- 4 7 1 DURHAM 0 1 0 3 0 0 3 0 X- 7 9 0 E--T.Durrington. DP--INDIANAPOLIS 0, DURHAM 1. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 7, DURHAM 5. 2B--B.Gemoll (4), J.Gathright (5), J.Sandberg (9). 3B-- M.Cummings (3). CS--J.Gathright. HBP--C.Gipson. SF--J.Sandberg. SH--J.Gathright. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS C.Weibl (L,2-1) 6.0 6 4 3 2 3 0 2.39 T.Erdos 1.0 3 3 3 0 0 0 7.71 M.Childers 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.74 DURHAM J.Standridge (W,2-0) 5.0 3 1 1 2 3 0 3.72 T.Corcoran 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.15 M.Carnes 2.0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2.08 T.Minix 0.1 2 3 3 2 0 0 8.31 B.Fortunato (S,5) 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.60 HB--T.Erdos. BALKS--J.Standridge. SO--M.Erickson, M.Johnson, C.Coste, T.Durrington, B.Upton, M.Cummings, P.LaForest, C.Gipson. BB--P.Bergeron, M.Erickson, C.Magruder 2, C.Coste, T.Durrington, B.Upton, M.Cummings. T--2:33. A--7244

Indianapolis Game Log:

Please come back, David Krynzel!

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=14178

[brewcrewkid14]

Man-O-Man, don't blow up on me or anything anyone, but as of now we only have one team above .500 and the rest are at or below it. Was our farm system a little overrated?

[deeswan]

The strength of the system is never going to be in the wins & losses, its going to be in the number of high-ceiling prospects in the system. The teams are underperforming for a number of reasons.

1. Poor performances by the healthy prospects. I'm not going to go into any detail here, suffice it to say our top guys have not necessarily adjusted well to the leagues they are in yet this season.

2. Injuries. We are currently missing several prospects due to injury (Hardy, Krynzel, Jones, Ford, etc.), although some have just come back off the DL.

3. The biggest reason in my mind is that the Brewer brain trust has chosen not to sign many (if any) career minor leaguers to levels below AAA. I'm sure this has to do both with philosophy and numbers of prospects. In any case, successful teams in the minors usually have a fair amount of guys who are not prospects, who are old for their league, and just hanging on. These guys produce at whatever levels they are at and help their teams win, they just have no future in the majors.

Anyway, I think it's a little too early to say much about the state of the farm system. However, if injuries continue to erode the depth and/or some of our high level prospects that are healthy don't improve their production in the 2nd half of their seasons then it's certainly fair to ask the question.

[Member]

Man-O-Man, don't blow up on me or anything anyone, but as of now we only have one team above .500 and the rest are at or below it. Was our farm system a little overrated?

 

Possibly, tho I don't think it is necessarily the case. Just like people shouldn't get overly excited about Milwaukee's start, they shouldn't get overly worried about the minors starts.

 

There are a number of things that should be pointed out:

 

1) The more prospects you have, the fewer "old, not prospect yet good minor league" players you have.

 

What was it, 2000, when Indy won the AAA WS? I don't know if they had a single prospect on their roster when they did. They had a bunch of guys like Liefer and Rushford and Ebert. I'd rather have this team, even if they finish the season .500, than that one.

 

2) The rosters are filled with players jumping from one level to another, with some of the players skipping an entire level. Most players are going to stuggle initially as they adjust to the next level of competition, new places to live, new teammates, etc, and some players will flame-out.

 

As with last year, I'd be more inclinded to look at the second half of the season and see how the teams/players are doing. That gives the players some time to adjust.

 

While we may not see Helena AND Beloit AND Huntsville win titles, I don't think it would be out of the question to see one of them win something.

 

3) Milwaukee might have the best minor league system, but that isn't based upon wins and losses. Its based upon the players in the system and how they'll contribute to Milwaukee's success down the road.

 

4) Huntsville only has 6 position players on their roster. They have no chance of winning.

 

At this point I think it is too early to draw too many conclusions. With each passing day, tho, these concerns become a little harder to ignore.

 

August 1 might be a good time to revist things.

[igor67]

It's also worth pointing out that last year's farm success was rather rare. One of the thngs going into that season I talked about was the jump. We had climbed the prospect charts largely through having a number of years where none of our top prospects was "lost" guys that failed to succeed at the next level. In many ways that was an incredible string since the only major bad events last year where Nelson's wrist, and Hendrickson and Jones missing half a season. So far this half we've gotten a little more than our fair share of struggles, but nothing earth shattering. There's something to be said for tasting failure in the minors before the majors.

[brewcrewkid14]

deeswan

BlazinWings The Kiss of Death

 

I see your points. I didn't think before I posted that and I should have. Many players indeed, have gone on to the next leval and may struggle. Here's to having a better second half coming up!

[thorn]

I seen where Hall is supposed to start for the Mavericks tonight. I thought that we were going to see Harper again tonight. Any info out there?

[MassBrew]

In progress: Beloit 7, Clinton (Rangers) 2, after four innings

Now that's a crooked number -- Snappers score six in the 2nd...

[MassBrew]

Final: Beloit 9, Clinton (Rangers) 8

Snappers hang on...

 

Beloit Site Game Summary and Player of the Game Info:

Who needs Rickie Weeks? This organization has Will Lewis http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif ...

 GAME DATE: 6/16/04 CLN at BLT CLINTON 8 AT BELOIT 9 YTD YTD CLINTON AB R H BI AVG BELOIT AB R H BI AVG A.Bourassa CF 4 1 2 0 .248 T.Trofholz RF 5 1 0 1 .303 D.Bubela RF 3 2 0 0 .276 S.Moss CF 5 0 0 0 .198 M.Furtado 2B 3 1 1 0 .353 D.Anderson LF 3 1 1 2 .267 J.Fransz DH 4 0 1 1 .293 L.Palmisano CAT 3 1 1 1 .306 J.Kreuzer 1B 3 0 1 2 .243 V.Rottino DH 4 1 2 0 .298 A.Wishy LF 4 2 2 2 .254 A.Heether 3B 4 1 1 1 .270 K.Richardson CAT 4 1 1 2 .218 C.Corporan 1B 4 1 1 0 .270 E.Frostad 3B 4 1 2 1 .189 W.Lewis 2B 4 2 3 2 .455 A.Sandoval SS 3 0 1 0 .167 J.Murray SS 4 1 2 2 .200 M.Lorenzo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Montalbo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Frydendall PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Stetter PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Herrera PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.McKenna PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Taubenheim PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 32 8 11 8 TOTALS 36 9 11 9 CLINTON 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3- 8 11 2 BELOIT 0 6 0 1 0 0 1 1 X- 9 11 0 E--J.Kreuzer, E.Frostad. DP--CLINTON 0, BELOIT 3. LOB--CLINTON 8, BELOIT 5. 2B--D.Anderson (10), W.Lewis (4), J.Murray (2). HR--A.Wishy (8 ), K.Richardson (4), E.Frostad (3), W.Lewis (2). SB--A.Sandoval (2). HBP--L.Palmisano. SF--J.Fransz, J.Kreuzer 2. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA CLINTON M.Lorenzo (L,3-6) 5.2 9 7 7 0 5 1 4.23 C.Frydendall 1.1 1 1 1 1 0 0 4.71 C.Herrera 1.0 1 1 0 0 3 0 5.40 BELOIT B.Montalbo (W,4-3) 6.0 7 2 2 5 4 0 5.10 M.Stetter 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.14 D.McKenna 0.2 2 3 3 2 0 2 8.77 T.Taubenheim (S,6) 1.1 2 3 3 1 2 1 4.24 HB--M.Lorenzo. WP--C.Frydendall. SO--A.Bourassa, D.Bubela, M.Furtado 2, A.Wishy, K.Richardson, A.Sandoval, T.Trofholz 2, S.Moss, L.Palmisano 2, C.Corporan 3. BB--A.Bourassa, D.Bubela 2, M.Furtado 2, A.Wishy, K.Richardson, A.Sandoval, D.Anderson. T--2:47. A--632

Beloit Box Score:

It's not a work of art, but it's a win...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12494

 

Beloit Game Log:

Ty Taubenheim always makes it an adventure -- in this case, credit him for a big strikeout in the 8th prior to his troubles in the 9th...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12494

[biedergb]

Just as Josh Murray gets over the Mendoza Line with a 2-4 performance, Steve Moss goes 0-5 and drops below. Be nice if both these guys start to heat up.

 

Good to see Heether with a decent performance 1-4, no K's in follow up of his 2-HR game. Seems he usually gets hot for a game or two, then starts have 0-fer's with a couple of K's.

 

Sweet Lou is steady as a rock. Keeps gettin' on base day in, day out.

[homer]

Jeez, who is this Will Lewis guy? He's been tearing it up. Not bad for a 30+ round draft pick.

[pogokat]

Final: High Desert 4, Rancho Cucamonga (Angels) 2

Hey, High Desert won, Jesse Harper pitched a gem and no one even bothered to mention the game...

 

come on guys!

 

High Desert Box Score:

Travis Hinton celebrates his All-Star selection with a HR -- MassBrew

 GAME DATE: 6/16/04 HD at RC HIGH DESERT 4 AT RANCHO CUCAMONGA 2 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG RANCHO CUCAMONGA AB R H BI AVG C.Crabbe 2B 4 0 0 0 .300 E.Aybar SS 4 0 1 0 .335 S.Candelaria 3B 4 0 0 0 .251 R.Willits CF 4 0 0 0 .232 D.Boyd LF 3 1 1 0 .294 G.Porter 3B 4 1 1 1 .318 T.Hinton 1B 3 2 1 2 .317 M.Napoli DH 3 0 0 0 .326 J.Vanden ber CAT 3 0 0 0 .312 D.Gates LF 4 0 0 0 .301 J.Frost RF 4 0 1 0 .255 J.Abruzzo 1B 3 0 0 0 .288 T.Farnsworth DH 3 0 0 0 .182 R.Budde CAT 3 1 0 0 .231 M.Mendez CF 4 0 1 1 .220 A.Pavkovich 2B 3 0 0 0 .197 E.Cruz SS 4 1 1 1 .204 R.Melgarejo RF 3 0 3 1 .276 J.Harper PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Posey PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Kolb PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Wilson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 H.Rivera PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Wilhite PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Thompson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 32 4 5 4 TOTALS 31 2 5 2 HIGH DESERT 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1- 4 5 1 RANCHO CUCAMONGA 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0- 2 5 0 E--S.Candelaria. DP--HIGH DESERT 0, RANCHO CUCAMONGA 0. LOB--HIGH DESERT 5, RANCHO CUCAMONGA 3. 2B--D.Boyd (14), R.Melgarejo (7). HR--T.Hinton (10), E.Cruz (3), G.Porter (5). SB--M.Napoli (2). CS--E.Aybar. HBP--D.Boyd. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT J.Harper (W,1-0) 6.0 3 2 1 0 8 1 2.61 D.Kolb 2.0 2 0 0 1 1 0 5.21 H.Rivera (S,3) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.86 RANCHO CUCAMONGA M.Posey (L,1-2) 6.0 4 3 3 0 4 2 4.43 P.Wilson 1.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 7.97 M.Wilhite 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.98 R.Thompson 1.0 1 1 1 2 2 0 4.46 HB--M.Posey. WP--D.Kolb. SO--D.Boyd, J.Vanden ber, J.Frost, T.Farnsworth 2, E.Cruz 3, E.Aybar, R.Willits, G.Porter 2, M.Napoli 2, D.Gates, J.Abruzzo 3, A.Pavkovich. BB--T.Hinton, J.Vanden ber, T.Farnsworth, M.Napoli. T--2:07. A--2544

High Desert Game Log:

Rancho ran into an out during their only real threat in the 8th; the log really verifies Harper's dominance in this one -- MB...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=19106

[950opsLHcatcher]

Yah, that Harper kid threw a seed today, even if it wasn't in Adelanto. A few more starts like this and off to Huntsville to compete with 10 other pitchers for 1 spot in the rotation and 3 spots in the lineup.

 

Note to Mel Queen: Callix Crabbe is a #2 hitter, not a leadoff hitter.

[MassBrew]

I seen where Hall is supposed to start for the Mavericks tonight. I thought that we were going to see Harper again tonight. Any info out there?

 

Yeah, the "Daily Menu" put blind faith in the Sports Network site's listing of Bo Hall. That's a mistake. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/embarassed.gif

 

As you've read by now, Jesse Harper did indeed justify his 40-man status again this evening, as the Epicenter in Rancho is another infamous California League bandbox.

[MassBrew]

We might be approaching one of those Cecil Cooper blow-off-some-steam moments...

 

That was posted before we knew about this:

 

Indianapolis Post-Game Notes:

 

Indianapolis dropped its fourth consecutive game Wednesday afternoon as Durham raced past the Tribe, 7-4. The game was delayed by rain for 19 minutes in the third inning and 17 minutes in the eighth inning.

 

After limiting Indianapolis to four hits Tuesday night, Bulls pitching allowed five hits in the first eight innings before the Tribe rallied for three runs in the final frame.

 

Indianapolis falls to 32-32, Durham improves to 35-29.

 

Tribe manager Cecil Cooper was ejected for the first time this season, objecting to a potential run scoring hit, which was ruled foul in the third inning.

 

Clint Weibl (2-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season. Bulls starter Jason Standridge (2-0) picked up the victory and Bartolomeo Fortunato earned the save.

 

QUOTE:

 

Rightfielder Matt Diaz on the Bulls pitching:

 

"All year long, our pitching and defense has stepped up," Diaz said. "When we get good pitching and defense, our offense takes care of itself. "

 

Diaz on Tribe starter Clint Weibl:

 

"Clint has some good movement on his pitches," said Diaz. "He?s got some good stuff and he pitched real well."

 

NOTES:

 

Indianapolis is at the .500 mark for the first time this season. The Tribe has played above .500 the entire season since its Opening Day win on April 8 at Norfolk.

 

The Tribe has scored just six runs in the past three games.

 

Entering today?s game, Indianapolis had posted a 3-7 mark in its last 10 games, hitting .240 and posting a 5.20 ERA.

[MassBrew]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 34 30 .531 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 34 32 .515 1.0 [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 32 32 .500 2.0[/b] LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 32 34 .485 3.0

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 37 29 .561 WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 36 29 .554 .5 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 33 32 .508 3.5 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 30 36 .455 7.0[/b] MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 28 38 .424 9.0

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 43 23 .652 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 38 28 .576 5.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 32 34 .485 11.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 30 36 .455 13.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 23 43 .348 20.0[/b]

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 39 26 .600 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 38 27 .585 1.0 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 38 27 .585 1.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 36 30 .545 3.5[/b] CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 33 31 .516 5.5 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 30 32 .484 7.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 29 36 .446 10.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 21 45 .318 18.5

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

 

High Desert's Harper rattles Quakes

Hinton, Cruz homer to lead Mavs past Rancho

By TIM HARAN/Staff Writer

 

RANCHO CUCAMONGA ? The High Desert Mavericks don't mind sending Jesse Harper to the mound.

 

After picking up the 6-foot-4 right-hander off waivers earlier this month, the Mavs have won both times Harper has started, including Wednesday's 4-2 victory over Rancho Cucamonga.

 

That's not to say that the Quakes didn't do their part to make it interesting late in the game.

 

Trailing by a run in the eighth, Rancho Cucamonga tallied a pair of singles off Mavs reliever Dan Kolb to put runners on first and third with one out. But a deftly called pitchout allowed catcher John Vanden Berg to gun down speedy Erick Aybar trying to steal second. Travis Hinton then knocked down a hard shot at first to end the inning.

 

The Mavs added an insurance run in the ninth on a two-out single by Mario Mendez to drive in Hinton.

 

Against the Quakes, Harper (1-0) allowed two runs ? one earned ? on three hits in six innings of work. Though he came away with a no-decision in his Mavs debut against Lancaster on June 10, he did help the team snap its season-high 11-game losing streak.

 

"Tonight I thought he had a little more pop in his fastball and his location, which we have reason to believe is always good," High Desert pitching coach John Curtis said. "He said last time out he was a little disappointed in how he spotted the ball, but tonight he was right there."

 

High Desert (23-43) jumped in front early on a first-inning, two-run homer by Hinton. Recently named to the California League all-star team, Hinton blasted a Micah Posey (1-2) fastball deep over the left field wall. He drove in Dan Boyd, who had reached base after being hit by a pitch.

 

Shortstop Enrique Cruz extended the Mavs their lead in the third inning with a solo, line drive home run to left. Now with three home runs on the year, Cruz has homered in each of his last two games.

 

"Last year I didn't play that much in the big leagues, but now I'm playing every day and trying to get my rhythm back," said Cruz, who saw some playing time in 2003 with the Milwaukee Brewers. "I'm trying to put the ball in play more and just go out there and play hard."

 

Harper had retired eight straight Quakes hitters to start the game before giving up a single that shot past a lunging Scott Candelaria.

 

In the fourth, Quakes third baseman Greg Porter smashed a solo home run to put Rancho Cucamonga on the board. The Quakes further cut into the Mavs' lead in the fifth on a double by right-fielder Ransel Melgarejo to drive in Ryan Budde.

 

But the Mavs' bullpen held the Quakes scoreless. Kolb allowed two hits in two innings, and Homero Rivera pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his third save.

 

Harper struck out eight batters, which included striking out the side in the second. His total was one shy of this season's team high set by Bo Hall in April.

 

It's the sixth straight solid performance for High Desert starters.

 

"I'm hoping that this is the kind of pitching you'll see from us in the second half," Curtis said. "We really think our staff can hold up under this kind of run pressure."

[MassBrew]

Beloit Daily News Game Story:

 

Snappers sizzling

By Ryan Frey

Daily News correspondent

 

In a game dominated by offense, the Beloit Snappers outplayed and outlasted the Clinton LumberKings by a 9-8 score in Midwest League action at Pohlman Field Wednesday night.

 

With the reports of thunderstorms threatening to halt the game, the humid and hot weather engulfing Beloit and the surrounding area subsided, but the bats of the Snappers stayed hot.

 

The victory extended their series lead to 3-0, with one game left. Beloit will finish out the first half of the season with three games at Quad Cities.

 

After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Snappers exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second inning.

 

Lou Palmisano was hit by a pitch from LumberKings hurler Matt Lorenzo, opening the offensive floodgates. After three consecutive singles by Vinny Rottino, Adam Heether, and Carlos Corporan produced one run, diminutive William Lewis had his first chance to extend his hitting streak and the Snappers' rally. Lewis' soft single drove in designated hitter Rottino to tie the game at 2-2.

 

Lewis' hit extended his hitting streak to nine straight games since being called up to replace injured Guilder Rodriguez at second base.

 

Commenting on his hot streak, Lewis flashed his modesty by saying, ``I have been getting great pitches to hit, especially batting low in the order.''

 

Number nine batter Josh Murray also added to the offensive barrage that was led by the bottom half of the order with his first RBI hit of the night.

 

Starting pitcher Brian Montalbo (4-3), who struggled in the first inning, giving up two hits and two walks, pitched strong the rest of the game until he was replaced by righty Mitch Stetter to start the seventh inning.

 

Montalbo pitched six solid innings, giving up two earned runs, while striking out four. The only problem in his outing was the lack of control he often displayed. He walked the leadoff batter three times during the game.

 

Fortunately, the only walk that came back to hurt Montalbo was the first walk of the game in the first inning. He scored when Clinton took its 2-0 advantage.

 

The Snappers helped their cause by adding solo runs in the fourth, seventh, and eighth innings, following the advice Snappers head coach Don Money preaches to his players.

 

``I tell my players to never give up and to always add on,'' Money said.

 

In the fourth inning, hot-swinging Lewis displayed this little guy can hit. He would personally follow Money's directions and crush a solo home run, his second of the year.

 

``Opposing pitchers see someone of my size step to the plate and give me great pitches to drive,'' he said. ``They seem to think I can't hit the ball for power.''

 

Lewis proved that his home run was not a fluke as he added a line-drive double in the sixth inning, while flashing his speed in the ninth inning by scoring from first on a double by Murray. That was Beloit's ninth and final run - a run that proved to be pivotal.

 

Proving Money's point that you can never have too many runs, the LumberKings did not give up without a fight. They unveiled themselves as the storm on the Beloit horizon, unleashing three runs in the eighth and ninth innings.

 

Although Clinton's comeback was one run from tying the game, the Snappers and their fans walked away with the satisfaction of victory, as reliever Ty Taubenheim picked up his sixth save.