Link Report for Games of Friday, June 11th

[MassBrew]

Friday'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 Charlotte (White Sox), 6:15 PM

 

Audio link:

www.newstalk1430.com/

 

Alternate audio link (Knights' feed):

www.charlotteknights.com/.../index.htm

 

HUNTSVILLE: LHP Ryan Costello at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 7:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

HIGH DESERT: RHP David Bradley at Inland Empire (Mariners), 9:11 PM

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: RHP Brian Montalbo at Cedar Rapids (Angels), 7:00 PM

 

Audio link (Kernels' feed):

www.kernels.com/radio.html

[DHonks]

Wow, a rather uninspiring group of pitchers going today....yuck!

[BigT48]

no less inspiring than the rest of these guys that got alot more $$$...

[batman]

Final: Indianapolis 2, Charlotte (White Sox) 1

The Indians grab a much-needed win tonight. Clint Weibl with an outstanding performance - he went seven and two-thirds and allowed only one run on three hits and four walks while striking-out 5. The lone run came on a bomb by Bryant Nelson. Roberto Giron picked up his second save.

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

Seven hits, four of which were doubles, and three walks... and only two runs? C'mon, fellas...

 GAME DATE: 6/11/04 IND at CHR INDIANAPOLIS 2 AT CHARLOTTE 1 YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG CHARLOTTE AB R H BI AVG P.Bergeron CF 4 2 1 0 .222 A.Torres LF 3 0 0 0 .287 C.Magruder LF 4 0 2 1 .271 J.Reed CF 4 0 1 0 .273 C.Hart RF 4 0 1 1 .284 B.Nelson 2B 4 1 1 1 .319 J.Nunnally DH 2 0 0 0 .247 B.Smith SS 3 0 0 0 .264 C.Coste 3B 4 0 0 0 .312 J.Borchard RF 4 0 0 0 .278 M.Johnson CAT 3 0 0 0 .285 M.Bell 1B 3 0 0 0 .213 L.Figueroa SS 4 0 0 0 .274 M.Valenzuela DH 3 0 1 0 .232 B.Gemoll 1B 3 0 1 0 .244 J.Aceves CAT 3 0 0 0 .286 M.Erickson 2B 3 0 2 0 .228 R.Paz 3B 1 0 1 0 .258 C.Weibl PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Grilli PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Michalak PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Sanders PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Giron PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 31 2 7 2 TOTALS 28 1 4 1 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0- 2 7 0 CHARLOTTE 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0- 1 4 1 E--B.Nelson. DP--INDIANAPOLIS 1, CHARLOTTE 1. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 5, CHARLOTTE 4. 2B--P.Bergeron (2), C.Magruder (13), B.Gemoll (3), M.Erickson (12), J.Reed (11). HR--B.Nelson (12). SB--C.Hart (9), M.Erickson (6). CS--C.Magruder, C.Hart, M.Johnson, B.Smith. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS C.Weibl (W,2-0) 7.2 3 1 1 4 5 1 1.77 C.Michalak 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.86 R.Giron (S,2) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.50 CHARLOTTE J.Grilli 7.0 5 1 1 3 2 0 3.82 D.Sanders (L,0-1) 2.0 2 1 1 0 2 0 6.04 SO--C.Hart, J.Nunnally, M.Johnson, M.Erickson, A.Torres 2, M.Bell 2, M.Valenzuela. BB--J.Nunnally 2, M.Johnson, A.Torres, B.Smith, R.Paz 2. T--2:11. A--4073

Indianapolis Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=14163

[MassBrew]

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 8, Huntsville 2

Stars allow four runs in the 8th, three more in the ninth...

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Some nice work from the lower half of the order but the big four up top go 1-for-16 with no walks..

 GAME DATE: 6/11/04 BIR at HVL BIRMINGHAM 8 AT HUNTSVILLE 2 YTD YTD BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG M.Spidale CF 4 1 1 1 .299 R.Weeks DH 4 0 1 0 .241 R.Yan 2B 3 1 1 0 .271 A.Gwynn CF 4 0 0 0 .244 M.Morse SS 4 1 1 3 .300 P.Fielder 1B 4 0 0 0 .266 A.McNeal 1B 5 2 4 1 .290 B.Nelson RF 4 0 0 0 .292 N.Murphy RF 5 0 3 0 .302 R.Knox LF 4 1 2 0 .276 C.Maldonado DH 5 0 0 0 .253 C.Barnwell 3B 4 1 2 0 .243 N.Martel LF 5 1 3 1 .338 J.Raburn 2B 4 0 3 1 .252 R.Sasser 3B 4 1 1 0 .229 K.Johnson CAT 4 0 0 0 .226 C.Stewart CAT 4 1 2 0 .232 O.Chavez SS 3 0 2 0 .221 D.Ulacia PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Costello PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Smith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Rivard PIT 0 0 0 0 .250 P.Zamora PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 39 8 16 6 TOTALS 35 2 10 1 BIRMINGHAM 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 1 3- 8 16 1 HUNTSVILLE 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0- 2 10 3 E--C.Stewart, J.Raburn, K.Johnson 2. DP--BIRMINGHAM 1, HUNTSVILLE 2. LOB--BIRMINGHAM 8, HUNTSVILLE 6. 2B--A.McNeal (14), C.Barnwell (10), O.Chavez (4). HR--M.Morse (11), N.Martel (3). SB--R.Yan 2 (14), J.Raburn (9). CS--R.Knox. HBP--R.Yan. SF--M.Morse. SH--M.Spidale. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BIRMINGHAM D.Ulacia (W,4-3) 6.1 8 2 1 0 6 0 3.64 M.Smith (S,3) 2.2 2 0 0 0 2 0 1.18 HUNTSVILLE R.Costello (L,3-1) 6.1 10 3 3 1 5 0 4.69 R.Rivard 0.1 2 1 1 0 0 0 5.68 P.Zamora 2.1 4 4 3 0 1 2 4.97 HB--R.Rivard. WP--D.Ulacia, M.Smith. PB--K.Johnson. SO--M.Spidale, M.Morse 2, C.Maldonado, R.Sasser, C.Stewart, R.Weeks 2, A.Gwynn, P.Fielder, B.Nelson 2, K.Johnson 2. BB--R.Yan. T--2:56. A--5713

Huntsville Game Log:

What a hideous homestand -- I blame the new scoreboard...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12003

[MassBrew]

Final: Cedar Rapids (Angels) 12, Beloit 11

Oh no -- closer Tim Dillard blows the save for the second consecutive night in this series -- this one after Vinny Rottino's almost game-winning heroics in the top of the ninth...

 

Beloit Box Score:

Cedar Rapids provides a fine game summary; we'll wait for that before trying to analyze too much here, although the Kernels' third baseman hit three solo HR's off three different Snapper pitchers!

 GAME DATE: 6/11/04 BLT at CR BELOIT 11 AT CEDAR RAPIDS 12 YTD YTD BELOIT AB R H BI AVG CEDAR RAPIDS AB R H BI AVG W.Lewis 2B 2 2 1 4 .316 N.Kimpton CF 5 0 2 1 .275 S.Moss CF 4 1 0 0 .211 M.Pali LF 3 1 1 0 .294 A.Heether 3B 4 1 1 1 .255 B.Wilson 1B 5 2 3 2 .309 L.Palmisano CAT 5 1 2 1 .303 B.Wood SS 5 1 1 0 .274 V.Rottino DH 5 1 1 2 .299 A.Peel DH 4 1 2 1 .245 D.Anderson LF 4 1 1 0 .262 S.Rodriguez 2B 4 0 0 0 .265 M.Ramirez 1B 5 1 1 0 .281 M.Brown 3B 4 3 3 3 .255 J.Murray SS 3 2 0 0 .187 B.Balkcom RF 5 2 3 2 .274 R.Deevers RF 4 1 2 1 .235 T.Duenas CAT 4 2 3 3 .222 B.Montalbo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Touchstone PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Grybash PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Smith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.McKenna PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Austen PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Dillard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Hindman PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Hedden PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Zimmermann PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 36 11 9 9 TOTALS 39 12 18 12 BELOIT 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 4 2-11 9 0 CEDAR RAPIDS 0 2 2 1 1 3 1 0 2-12 18 3 E--B.Wood, M.Brown 2. DP--BELOIT 2, CEDAR RAPIDS 2. LOB--BELOIT 6, CEDAR RAPIDS 7. 2B--L.Palmisano (10), R.Deevers 2 (9), M.Pali (9), B.Wilson (11), B.Balkcom 2 (13), T.Duenas 2 (9). HR--W.Lewis (1), V.Rottino (7), B.Wilson (4), M.Brown 3 (14), T.Duenas (5). SB-- S.Moss (3), R.Deevers (4), N.Kimpton (8). CS--A.Peel. HBP--J.Murray, M.Pali, A.Peel. SH--W.Lewis, S.Moss, S.Rodriguez. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BELOIT B.Montalbo 3.2 10 5 5 0 0 1 5.31 D.Grybash 1.1 5 4 4 1 1 3 5.73 D.McKenna 3.0 1 1 1 0 3 1 7.11 T.Dillard (L,1-3) 0.1 2 2 2 1 0 0 4.21 CEDAR RAPIDS N.Touchstone 3.0 3 4 2 2 1 0 4.24 J.Smith 1.2 1 1 1 2 1 0 6.47 D.Austen 2.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.17 S.Hindman 0.2 2 4 4 1 2 1 6.53 W.Hedden 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.49 B.Zimmermann (W,4-4) 1.0 2 2 1 0 0 1 2.05 HB--B.Montalbo, T.Dillard, S.Hindman. WP--S.Hindman. SO--S.Moss 2, V.Rottino, R.Deevers 2, M.Pali, A.Peel, S.Rodriguez, B.Balkcom. BB--W.Lewis 2, A.Heether, D.Anderson, J.Murray, M.Pali, M.Brown. T--3:13. A--3617

Beloit Game Log:

Will Lewis with a grand slam -- he's really been a huge spark since his promotion last week; the game log reveals Dan McKenna bailed the club out of an inherited jam as part of his three strong innings pitched...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12633

[MassBrew]

In progress: High Desert 2, Inland Empire 0, top of the sixth in San Bernadino

Don't want to jinx it, but the only two 66'er baserunners to reach thus far against RHP David Bradley are via the walk, if you know what I mean!

 

For some reason, the Mavs aren't broadcasting this potential piece of history here, so here's the Inland Empire audio link -- join me -- I'm used to staying up this week!

 

www.sportsjuice.com/provi...tname=ie66

[MassBrew]

Fly ball base hit drops in after 5.1 hitless.

 

I've got to find a better way to invite listeners to ongoing no-no's.

 

pogokat and/or other late-nighters, do me the High Desert honors later on -- thanks, kids.

 

G'night, John-boy. (Although I was always an Erin fan.)

[pogokat]

Final: Inland Empire (Mariners) 3, High Desert 2

 

High Desert Box Score:

Good pitching wasted...

 GAME DATE: 6/11/04 HD at INL HIGH DESERT 2 AT INLAND EMPIRE 3 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG INLAND EMPIRE AB R H BI AVG K.Bibbs CF 5 1 1 0 .303 J.Gonzalez SS 4 0 2 2 .316 C.Crabbe 2B 4 0 2 0 .305 J.Guzman 3B 4 0 0 0 .296 D.Boyd LF 4 0 2 0 .306 G.Harris CF 4 0 0 0 .270 T.Hinton 1B 4 0 1 0 .320 J.Nelson LF 3 0 0 0 .303 S.Candelaria RF 4 1 1 1 .251 M.Rogelstad 2B 3 0 0 0 .257 J.Vanden ber CAT 4 0 1 0 .313 T.Bohn RF 4 1 1 0 .286 T.Farnsworth 3B 2 0 0 1 .193 C.Arroyo DH 3 1 1 0 .333 P.Rasmusen DH 4 0 1 0 .221 M.Hagen 1B 4 1 1 1 .222 E.Cruz SS 4 0 0 0 .203 R.Rivera CAT 3 0 1 0 .266 D.Bradley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Hernandez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Alliston PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Viane PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Kusiewicz PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Castillo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Breslow PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 2 9 2 TOTALS 32 3 6 3 HIGH DESERT 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0- 2 9 0 INLAND EMPIRE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1- 3 6 1 E--J.Gonzalez. DP--HIGH DESERT 0, INLAND EMPIRE 0. LOB--HIGH DESERT 8, INLAND EMPIRE 7. 2B--D.Boyd (13), T.Hinton (18), S.Candelaria (6), P.Rasmusen (4). HBP--C.Arroyo. SF--T.Farnsworth. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT D.Bradley 6.0 1 0 0 2 7 0 3.88 M.Kusiewicz 2.0 3 2 2 0 3 0 5.87 C.Breslow (L,1-3) 0.1 2 1 1 0 1 0 8.47 INLAND EMPIRE F.Hernandez 6.0 7 2 1 1 9 0 3.31 D.Viane 2.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 4.74 R.Castillo (W,1-0) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 HB--M.Kusiewicz. WP--C.Breslow. SO--C.Crabbe, D.Boyd, T.Hinton, S.Candelaria, J.Vanden ber 2, T.Farnsworth, P.Rasmusen, E.Cruz 2, J.Guzman 2, G.Harris 4, J.Nelson, M.Rogelstad, T.Bohn, M.Hagen 2. BB--T.Farnsworth, J.Nelson, M.Rogelstad. T--2:47. A--3691

High Desert Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=18053

[MassBrew]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 32 27 .542 [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 31 28 .525 1.0[/b] TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 32 30 .516 1.5 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 30 31 .492 3.0

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 34 28 .548 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 34 28 .548 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 32 30 .516 2.0 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 30 32 .484 4.0[/b] MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 26 36 .419 8.0

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 38 23 .623 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 35 26 .574 3.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 31 30 .508 7.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 29 32 .475 9.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 21 41 .339 17.5[/b]

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 37 23 .617 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 37 23 .617 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 36 24 .600 1.0 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 32 27 .542 4.5 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 32 29 .525 5.5[/b] QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 27 30 .474 8.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 26 34 .433 11.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 19 42 .311 18.5

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Post-Game Notes:

Charlotte plays in Fort Mill, South Carolina?

 

FORT MILL, S.C. -- Clint Weibl held Charlotte to one run and three hits in 7 2/3 innings Friday night to lead the Indianapolis Indians to a 2-1 International League victory.

 

Charlotte did not get its first hit until the fifth inning.

 

Indianapolis snapped a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning on an RBI double by Chris Magruder.

 

"The pressure is really off . . . we can relax and start chasing Columbus," Magruder said in a statement released by the team.

 

The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Indians (31-28) , who trail the Columbus Clippers (32-27) by one game in the West Division.

 

"Our pitching and defense were superb . . . it's a good remedy for a win," Indians manager Cecil Cooper said.

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

The Barons scored eight for the third straight game to capture their third in a row from the Stars, 8-2, on Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville (30-32) has lost nine of its last 11 to drop four games out of first with just eight remaining in the first-half playoff chase. Birmingham (32-30) remains two back of the Southern League West co-leaders, West Tenn and Mobile, as the Barons travel to West Tenn for four against the Diamond Jaxx.

 

In the decisive seventh, the powerful Barons rallied on Mike Spidale?s run-scoring infield single, Michael Morse?s sacrifice fly, and Aaron McNeal?s bloop-single. In all, four singles produced three runs to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead.

 

Birmingham returned to its proven formula in the eighth and ninth, the long ball. After homering three times the night before, the Barons went deep twice to seal the contest. Normand Martel?s solo blast in the eighth, his third of the season, made it 5-2, Birmingham. Morse launched a deep opposite-field shot to right-center, a two-run bomb that put the Barons up, 7-2, and an unearned tally accounted for the game?s final run.

 

Huntsville held a brief lead of 1-0 and a 2-1 advantage that held until the seventh. With runners at first and third and two outs in the second, Johnny Raburn broke for second on the pitch. Catcher Chris Stewart elected to whip a throw to third, where Ryan Knox scrambled back to the bag. The ball grazed Knox and third baseman Rob Sasser?s glove before bounding into foul territory. Knox motored home for the Stars? first run. In the fourth, Chris Barnwell doubled with two outs, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on Raburn?s two-out single to center.

 

Dennis Ulacia (4-3) picked up his fourth win, permitting two runs, one earned, on eight hits and no walks while fanning six in 6 1/3 innings. Ryan Costello (3-1) absorbed his first loss, surrendering ten hits and three runs with one walk and five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Mike Smith notched his third save, allowing two hits and fanning two over 2 2/3 scoreless frames.

 

Huntsville now travels to Tennessee to take on the Smokies Saturday night. Right-hander Dennis Sarfate (3-5, 4.42) meets an unannounced Tennessee starter in game one of a four-game series at Smokies Park. Game time is 6:15 p.m. CT.

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Times Game Story:

 

Giving away chase

Stars hopes for first-half title fading away after 8-2 loss to Barons

By PAUL GATTIS

Times Sports Staff pgattis@htimes.com

 

It looked a lot like the other games in recent days, an encore performance that seemingly won't end.

 

The Huntsville Stars, desperately chasing the first-half title in the Southern League's Western Division, endured another whipping Friday night by the Birmingham Barons.

 

The Barons scored seven runs in the last three innings in their 8-2 victory, their third straight win over the Stars and by a combined score of 24-6.

 

The game went from bad to simply ugly for the Stars in the ninth inning. They committed three errors on wild throws before an announced crowd of 5,713 at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

The Stars dropped four games back of first place Mobile and West Tenn with just eight games to play in the first half. And all eight are on the road.

 

The Stars have now dropped nine of their last 11 games.

 

The Barons, meanwhile, remain two games out of first after collecting 16 hits off three Stars pitchers.

 

"It's disappointing," Stars manager Frank Kremblas said. "But you've got to be rational. We don't have a whole lot of experience at this level with our position players - especially the top of the lineup guys."

 

Indeed, the highly regarded trio of Rickie Weeks, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Prince Fielder are in their first Double-A season.

 

But Kremblas also pointed to a dangerous combination of an inconsistent offense meshed with a pitching staff that "tries to cover for them."

 

"The pitchers want to come in and shut them out and they put too much pressure on themselves," Kremblas said.

 

Stars starter Ryan Costello (3-1) held the Barons off for six innings. But after allowing back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh, he was relieved by Reggie Rivard - who allowed both runners to score as well as one of his own in working just 1/3 of an inning.

 

Then Pete Zamora pitched the final two innings and surrendered two home runs and four runs.

 

Birmingham's Aaron McNeal, who hit two home runs Thursday and drove in six, was 4-for-5 with two runs scored. Michael Morse had a two-run homer and drove in three.

 

The Stars scratched out a 2-1 lead with runs in the second and fourth innings. In the second, Ryan Knox singled and scored on a throwing error by Barons catcher Chris Stewart. Then in the fourth, Chris Barnwell doubled and scored on a single by Johnny Raburn, who had three hits.

 

But that was all the runs the Stars could produce with their 10 hits against Dennis Ulacia (4-3) and reliever Matt Smith, who got his third save.

 

"I see our guys making adjustments," Kremblas said. "And the young guys (Weeks, Gwynn and Fielder) are doing a pretty good job and they have good at-bats.

 

"But right now, we're scattering our hits too much. We're not going to be a team that puts up a lot of runs."

[MassBrew]

Beloit Game Summary (Cedar Rapids' Site):

 

Matt Brown hit three home runs in a game for the second time this season against the Beloit Snappers. But it was Blake Balkcom?s second double of the game that proved to be the big blow for the Kernels on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium

 

Balkcom?s one-out, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Kernels past the Beloit Snappers, 12-11, in a Midwest League baseball game played before a season-high crowd of 3,617.

 

Brown?s third home run of the night, a solo blast in the seventh inning, gave the Kernels a 10-5 lead that appeared comfortable.

 

But Will Lewis? eighth-inning grand slam cut the Kernels? lead to 10-9 and Vinny Rottino?s two-run blast in the ninth put Beloit ahead, 11-10.

 

The Kernels, who rallied in the ninth to beat the Snappers 7-5 on Thursday, did it to them again on Friday. Brandon Wood singled and Aaron Peel was hit by a pitch to start the Kernels ninth. Sean Rodriguez?s sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position. Brown was intentionally walked, loading the bases.

 

Balkcom then rifled a 2-0 pitch from Tim Dillard (1-3) into the right-field gap for his game-winning hit.

 

The win was the Kernels? eighth in nine games and moved them into second place in the Western Division, pending the outcome of a pair of late games Friday night. The Kernels (37-23) trail Kane County, which beat Quad Cities 7-1 in the first game of a doubleheader, by one-half a game. They moved past Peoria, which lost its doubleheader opener to Clinton 4-3, by one-half game.

 

The Kernels tied their season highs for hits (18) and extra-base hits (10).

 

Brown also hit three home runs against Beloit on May 13 in the first game of a doubleheader. Two of his homers in that game came off Beloit?s Brian Montalbo, who was on the mound for the Snappers again Friday night. Brown touched Montalbo again, lining a second-inning home run down the left-field line.

 

Brown later hit solo home runs off Dan Grybash, in the sixth inning, and Dan McKenna in the seventh. He has hit six of his 14 home runs and accumulated 11 of his 46 RBI against Beloit.

 

Brown is not the only Kernel feasting on Snappers. The Kernels have hit 16 home runs in six games against Beloit. Bobby Wilson and Tommy Duenas also hit home runs Friday night. Both men also had three hits.

 

Speaking of feasting, tacos are on the menu Saturday at Cedar Rapids area Taco Bell restaurants. The Kernels hit the Taco Bell ?10 Spot?? eighth time this season. Patrons mentioning the Taco Bell ?10 Spot?? on Saturday will receive 39-cent beef tacos, with a limit of 10, at Cedar Rapids Taco Bell restaurants.

 

NIBLETS ? The Kernels continue their four-game series against Beloit on Saturday night at 7. The series concludes Sunday at 2 p.m. with McDonalds Baseball Glove Day. The first 1,000 children 12-under will receive a free Louisville Slugger glove.

[molitor fan]

3 random thoughts.....

 

1. Cecil Cooper stated that good pitching and defense were a good remedy for a win....ugh Coop, i think you meant recipe....

 

2. Anyone else think it is cool that the Inland Empire RF is in the boxscore as T. Bohn Talk about a great built in nickname

 

3. David Bradley has had some dominating 6 inning performances....i think he is a Saenz like name to watch down in High Desert.

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

 

Heartbreak loss

Mavs squander Bradley's solid outing

By TIM HARAN/Staff Writer

 

SAN BERNARDINO ? The High Desert Mavericks took a two-run lead late into the game, holding Inland Empire to just one hit through eight innings, but the struggling club couldn't close the deal.

 

The Mavericks' last win on the road came in a classic pitchers' duel at Arrowhead Credit Union Park on May 28. In that game the Mavs edged the Inland Empire 66ers 2-1 before embarking on a season-long losing streak that came to an end Thursday.

 

It was in San Bernardino on Friday night that High Desert failed to win its second straight game ? in another pitchers' duel. Inland Empire scored twice in the eighth inning and again in the ninth to top the Mavs 3-2.

 

High Desert (21-41) sent David Bradley to the mound against the 66ers' Felix Hernandez, the Seattle Mariners' top pitching prospect. Bradley won the duel, pitching four perfect innings before surrendering a pair of walks to Inland Empire's Jon Nelson and Matt Rogelstad in the bottom of the fifth, but he didn't factor into the decision.

 

The High Desert right-hander kept the no-hitter in tact through 5 1-3 innings before giving up a single to shallow right.

 

"I finally got some things to fall into place in my last outing that really helped me today," Bradley said of his June 6 no-decision against Visalia. "I did a better job in my last outing of getting my off-speed stuff over for strikes and that really helped me out today as far as my confidence."

 

The Mavs' bullpen, which had several strong showings in the Lancaster series, couldn't get the job done Friday.

 

Left-hander Michael Kusiewicz retired the 66ers in order in the seventh but struggled in the eighth, hitting the leadoff batter and giving up two runs on three hits.

 

The Mavs were six outs away from recording their first shutout of the season before the 66ers loaded the bases with no outs and shortstop Juan Gonzalez hit a two-run single to left field to tie the game.

 

Kusiewicz, after allowing the runs, struck out the side to get out of the jam.

 

In the ninth, Mavs' reliever Craig Breslow surrendered a single to the right by T.J. Bohn, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. The next batter, Carlos Arroyo, sent a shot up the middle that shortstop Enrique Cruz knocked down but couldn't make a play on.

 

Inland Empire's Hagen then hit a chopper to short, but Cruz's throw to the plate was too late to catch a sliding Bohn. Though the winning run crossed in the ninth, High Desert manager Mel Queen said the eighth inning was the Mavs' undoing.

 

"There were some things we didn't do in that one inning," he said. "We hit the leadoff hitter, a left-handed hitter, and then we didn't get an out on the bunt.

 

"Bradley should have had a win in that game."

 

Bradley (3-3) allowed one hit and no runs while striking out seven in six innings of work. For his part, Inland Empire's Hernandez (6-3) allowed just two runs ? one earned ? and struck out nine in six innings.

 

The Mavs scored their two runs when Scott Candelaria drove in Kennard Bibbs in the first inning and Troy Farnsworth hit a sacrifice fly to left in the sixth the score Candelaria.

 

Dan Boyd, who went 2-for-4, extended his hit streak to eight games.