Link Report for Games of Saturday, June 5th

[MassBrew]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

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

 

INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Adrian Hernandez at home vs. Rochester (Twins), 7:00 PM

 

Audio link:

www.newstalk1430.com/

 

Alternate audio link (Red Wings' feed):

www.redwingsbaseball.com/...bcast.html

 

HUNTSVILLE: RHP Chris Saenz at home vs. Chattanooga (Reds), 7:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

HIGH DESERT: LHP Eric Henderson at Visalia (Rockies), 9:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: RHP Brian Montalbo at Dayton (Reds), 7:00 PM

 

Audio link (Dragons' feed):

www.daytondragons.com/str...games.html

 

The Dayton feed also archives should there be a special moment we wish to review...

[MassBrew]

Not to be confused with the Brewers' Organization Player of the Month Award:

 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Indianapolis Indians infielder Luis Figueroa has been named the Tribe?s Windsor Jewelers Player of the Month, it was announced today by the Indians.

 

Figueroa, 30, hit .320 during the month of May, producing 31 hits, one home run and 16 RBI. In 26 games, he maintained a .412 slugging percentage and .340 on-base percentage. The 5-9, 140-pound native of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico, established a team-high hitting streak of 12 games during the month.

 

Figueroa will be recognized prior to Friday night?s game with Rochester at Victory Field and will be rewarded with a custom-made Indians watch, courtesy of Windsor Jewelers.

[MassBrew]

Archived brewersradionetwork.com interviews with Ben Hendrickson and Jeff Liefer:

 

www.brewersradionetwork.c.../index.asp

[MassBrew]

Final: Chattanooga (Reds) 4, Huntsville 0

Who thought we'd be using the word "overmatched" to describe Rickie Weeks and Prince Fielder this season? And how silly does the "100 win" or even "90 win" talk look now? What were we thinking?

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Huntsville (28-28) equaled its longest losing streak of the season with a 4-0 loss to Chattanooga (32-24) on Saturday night at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars' fifth straight loss dropped them into third place in the Southern League West, three games behind leader West Tenn.

 

The Lookouts got all their runs with five straight hits in the third, and pitcher Brian Rose started the rally with a one-out double to left-center. Andrew Beattie's single to center moved Rose to third, and William Bergolla singled home Rose. Edwin Encarnacion's single scored Bergolla, then Jessie Gutierrez homered for the second straight night, a two-run shot to right-center.

 

Jason Belcher paced the Stars' offense with two singles in four at-bats. Brad Nelson, Chris Barnwell and Chris Saenz each singled once. Huntsville had one runner thrown out at home plate and stranded six runners in the ballgame, four in scoring position.

 

Brian Rose (5-2) shut out the Stars over seven superb innings, requiring just 91 pitches to record 21 outs. Rose permitted only four hits and one walk while fanning six for his fifth victory. Saenz (4-3) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out eight in seven frames. Chris Booker pitched the final two stanzas for Chattanooga, allowing a single and fanning three. Fernando Rijo and Pete Zamora each tossed a scoreless inning of relief for Huntsville.

 

Huntsville lefty Ryan Costello (3-0, 4.20) meets Lookouts righty Dustin Moseley (2-0, 1.91) in game three of the series Sunday at Joe Davis Stadium. Game time is 2:05 p.m.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 6/05/04 CNG at HVL CHATTANOOGA 4 AT HUNTSVILLE 0 YTD YTD CHATTANOOGA AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG A.Beattie LF 4 0 2 0 .319 R.Weeks 2B 4 0 0 0 .233 W.Bergolla 2B 4 1 1 1 .274 A.Gwynn CF 4 0 0 0 .250 E.Encarnacio 3B 4 1 1 1 .308 P.Fielder 1B 3 0 0 0 .249 J.Gutierrez 1B 4 1 2 2 .301 B.Nelson LF 4 0 1 0 .294 J.Bannon SS 4 0 0 0 .283 J.Belcher RF 4 0 2 0 .289 C.Durham RF 3 0 1 0 .262 C.Barnwell 3B 4 0 1 0 .218 B.Peterson CAT 4 0 0 0 .295 J.Alvarado CAT 3 0 0 0 .152 R.Moreta CF 4 0 1 0 .200 O.Chavez SS 3 0 0 0 .234 B.Rose PIT 3 1 1 0 .462 C.Saenz PIT 2 0 1 0 .350 C.Booker PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Rijo PIT 0 0 0 0 .400 J.Raburn PH 1 0 0 0 .252 P.Zamora PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 34 4 9 4 TOTALS 32 0 5 0 CHATTANOOGA 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0- 4 9 2 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 5 2 E--A.Beattie, W.Bergolla, C.Barnwell, O.Chavez. DP--CHATTANOOGA 0, HUNTSVILLE 2. LOB--CHATTANOOGA 4, HUNTSVILLE 6. 2B--B.Rose (3). HR--J.Gutierrez (10). SB--C.Saenz (1). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA CHATTANOOGA B.Rose (W,5-2) 7.0 4 0 0 1 6 0 3.49 C.Booker 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0.79 HUNTSVILLE C.Saenz (L,4-3) 7.0 9 4 4 1 8 1 3.70 F.Rijo 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.32 P.Zamora 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.32 BALKS--C.Saenz. SO--W.Bergolla, E.Encarnacio 2, J.Gutierrez, J.Bannon, B.Peterson 2, R.Moreta, B.Rose, R.Weeks, A.Gwynn 2, P.Fielder, B.Nelson, J.Alvarado 2, O.Chavez, C.Saenz. BB--C.Durham, P.Fielder. T--2:21. A--4913

Huntsville Game Log:

Double -- single -- single -- single -- HR! Ouch, ugly five batter stretch for Chris Saenz in the 3rd...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=11997

[MassBrew]

Final: Beloit 9, Dayton (Reds) 7

Wow -- Snappers score six in the ninth!

 

Dayton Site Game Summary:

 

Calvin Medlock was masterful in Saturday night?s series opener with the Beloit Snappers (30-26), but the Dayton Dragons (23-33) had trouble out of the bullpen, as Omar Segovia, Trey Rice, and Carlos Guevara allowed nine runs after Medlock pitched six innings of shutout baseball. The Snappers scored six in the top of the ninth and took the first game of the series by a 9-7 score.

 

After a 1-2-3 top half of the first inning, the Dragons gave their starter plenty to work with offensively, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first, one in the second and two more in the fifth. A 5-0 lead to work with heading to the sixth was more than enough for Medlock, who surrendered just three hits. No Snappers ever advanced past first base and he left the game looking like a lock for his seventh win of the season. He finished his outing by recording one of his six strikeouts to end the sixth before Alonso Powell brought on Omar Segovia to face the Snappers in the seventh inning.

 

Beloit began to chip away at the Dragons lead with a single tally off Segoiva in the seventh inning to make it a 5-1 game. The two teams traded two spots in the eighth inning, with Beloit closing to 5-3 on a two RBI single by Lou Palmisano. The Dragons restored the four run advantage with eighth inning RBI doubles by Kyle Smith and Miguel Perez to run the lead back to four at 7-3.

 

Heading into the night, the Dragons were 19-0 when leading after eight innings. That however would change as the Snappers shocked the 9,029 fans at Fifth Third Field with a six run top of the ninth to steal the win. Trey Rice began the inning issuing a double to Adam Heether. Manuel Ramirez followed with an RBI single to close the gap to 7-4. An error on the play by Himes moved Ramirez to second and with one down a wild pitch moved him to third. Will Lewis drew a walk and Rice was lifted in favor of Dragons closer Carlos Guevara. Terry Trofholz got home a run with a sacrifice fly to center to close the Snappers to within 7-5. Steve Moss blooped a single into center field good for another hit and RBI to make it a one run game. Chris Dickerson?s diving effort to end the game on Moss? hit came up just short and Beloit was still alive.

 

Guevara looked like he had the game won, striking out Drew Anderson, but a wild pitch on the strikeout allowed Anderson to reach and the Snappers once again had life with two down. Palmisano was hit by a pitch and the bases were loaded for Vinny Rottino with two down and Beloit trailing 7-6. Rottino delivered a bases clearing three RBI double into the left field corner and the comeback was complete as the Snappers took a 9-7 lead.

 

Tim Dillard pitched a one, two, three, ninth inning and the Dragons fell in the first game of the series in shocking fashion. Dillard picked up his fifth save of the season and preserved the win for Dan McKenna who won his first of the year despite giving up two runs in two innings of work.

 

The Dragons continue their four game series with the Beloit Snappers Sunday afternoon with a 2 PM (1:00 PM Central) first pitch at Fifth Third Field. The Dragons will start RHP Brock Till; Beloit will counter with LHP Dana Eveland.

 

Beloit Box Score:

2B Will Lewis walks and makes an error in his 2004 debut...

 GAME DATE: 6/05/04 BLT at DTN BELOIT 9 AT DAYTON 7 YTD YTD BELOIT AB R H BI AVG DAYTON AB R H BI AVG T.Trofholz RF 3 1 1 1 .313 C.Dickerson CF 5 1 1 0 .301 S.Moss CF 4 2 2 1 .185 W.Hudson SS 3 2 0 0 .200 D.Anderson LF 5 1 1 0 .278 J.Votto 1B 4 1 1 0 .293 L.Palmisano CAT 4 1 1 2 .301 W.Olmstead 3B 3 1 1 2 .265 V.Rottino DH 5 1 2 3 .298 B.Himes RF 4 0 1 2 .241 A.Heether 3B 5 1 1 0 .258 K.Smith LF 4 1 2 1 .224 M.Ramirez 1B 4 1 2 1 .266 J.Piepkorn DH 4 1 1 0 .194 J.Murray SS 4 0 0 1 .205 M.Perez CAT 4 0 1 1 .238 W.Lewis 2B 3 1 0 0 .000 E.Conley 2B 3 0 1 1 .316 B.Montalbo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Medlock PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Taubenheim PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 O.Segovia PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.McKenna PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Rice PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Dillard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Guevara PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 37 9 10 9 TOTALS 34 7 9 7 BELOIT 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 6- 9 10 3 DAYTON 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0- 7 9 2 E--S.Moss, L.Palmisano, W.Lewis, B.Himes, C.Medlock. DP--BELOIT 2, DAYTON 1. LOB--BELOIT 6, DAYTON 5. 2B--V.Rottino (13), A.Heether (15), M.Ramirez (9), K.Smith (13), M.Perez (4). SB--T.Trofholz 2 (19), S.Moss (1). CS--B.Himes. HBP--T.Trofholz, L.Palmisano, W.Hudson. SF--T.Trofholz. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BELOIT B.Montalbo 5.0 6 5 5 2 3 0 4.85 T.Taubenheim 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.67 D.McKenna (W,1-0) 2.0 2 2 2 2 2 0 8.38 T.Dillard (S,5) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.15 DAYTON C.Medlock 6.0 3 0 0 0 6 0 1.82 O.Segovia 2.0 3 3 3 1 2 0 3.42 T.Rice 0.1 2 3 3 1 0 0 7.71 C.Guevara (L,1-2) 0.2 2 3 3 0 1 0 4.63 HB--B.Montalbo, O.Segovia, C.Guevara. WP--C.Guevara 2. PB--M.Perez. SO--T.Trofholz, D.Anderson 3, L.Palmisano 2, A.Heether, M.Ramirez, W.Lewis, C.Dickerson, W.Hudson, B.Himes, K.Smith, J.Piepkorn, M.Perez. BB--S.Moss, W.Lewis, W.Hudson, J.Votto, W.Olmstead, E.Conley. T--3:02. A--9029

Beloit Game Log:

Huge three-run double by Vinny Rottino in the 9th; the inning was only kept alive when Drew Anderson reached on a wild pitch after striking out...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=13449

[MassBrew]

Final: Rochester (Twins) 12, Indianapolis 1

Y'know who would look good in the Indy rotation? Wes Obermueller; for the first time this year, the Tribe's not in first place -- Max Schumacher and Indy management can officially begin whining mode...

 

Indianapolis Post-Game Notes:

 

For the second consecutive evening, Rochester pounded Indianapolis pitching for 16 hits as the Red Wings defeated the Indians, 2-1.

 

Jason Kubel collected four hits in the contest and has seven in the three-game series, which Rochester leads 2-1.

 

With the loss, Indianapolis falls out of first place for the first time since the road opening win at Norfolk on April 8. The Tribe drops to 29-24, while Rochester improves to 29-26.

 

Rochester scored at least one run in the first five innings to take an 8-1 lead. The lone Tribe tally came in the bottom of the first, a Corey Hart RBI single, scoring Ryan Knox.

 

QUOTE:

 

Michael Restovich, left field, Rochester Red Wings:

 

"I wasn?t looking for any particular pitch," Restovich said. "I got lucky and was able to hit the ball the other way. When I am playing well, I hit the ball to the opposite side of the field. Tonight was a big win for us."

 

NOTES:

 

Indianapolis has fallen into second place for the first time this season.

 

Saturday night?s attendance of 10,365 was a season-high mark for the Tribe.

 

Sunday?s final matchup of the Rochester series is Bob Uecker Bobblehead Day. The first 4,000 fans will receive a Bob Uecker bobblehead, courtesy of Marsh, O?Malia?s and The Indianapolis Star.

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

Corey Hart with two hits...

 GAME DATE: 6/05/04 ROC at IND ROCHESTER 12 AT INDIANAPOLIS 1 YTD YTD ROCHESTER AB R H BI AVG INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG L.Rodriguez SS 5 1 2 2 .245 C.Magruder LF 4 0 0 0 .265 L.Rivas 2B 6 0 1 0 .167 R.Knox CF 4 1 1 0 .262 J.Morneau 1B 3 1 1 1 .342 B.Gemoll 1B 4 0 1 0 .219 T.Tiffee 3B 4 1 0 0 .283 C.Hart RF 4 0 2 1 .287 M.Restovich LF 4 3 3 2 .249 M.Johnson CAT 4 0 1 0 .278 J.Kubel RF 5 2 4 1 .361 M.Johnson 3B 0 0 0 0 .278 J.Rabe DH 5 1 1 3 .260 S.Sheldon DH 4 0 1 0 .222 B.Simmons CF 4 1 1 2 .220 L.Figueroa 3B 2 0 0 0 .282 B.Marsters CAT 4 2 3 1 .195 A.Delgado CAT 1 0 0 0 .130 H.Bonilla PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Scarbrough SS 2 0 0 0 .215 J.Palki PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Erickson 2B 3 0 0 0 .206 B.Kemp PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Hernandez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Crain PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Phelps PIT 0 0 0 0 .333 T.Erdos PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Michalak PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 40 12 16 12 TOTALS 32 1 6 1 ROCHESTER 1 1 2 1 3 0 0 4 0-12 16 0 INDIANAPOLIS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 1 6 0 DP--ROCHESTER 1, INDIANAPOLIS 2. LOB--ROCHESTER 8, INDIANAPOLIS 6. 2B--L.Rodriguez (16), J.Morneau (15), B.Simmons (9), B.Marsters 2 (7), R.Knox (9). HR--M.Restovich (13), J.Rabe (1). SB--J.Kubel (3). HBP--T.Tiffee, M.Restovich. SF--J.Morneau. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA ROCHESTER H.Bonilla (W,1-0) 6.0 6 1 1 0 4 0 1.50 J.Palki 1.0 0 0 0 2 1 0 6.06 B.Kemp 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 J.Crain 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.81 INDIANAPOLIS A.Hernandez (L,0-2) 3.0 6 4 4 2 0 1 7.04 T.Phelps 2.0 6 4 4 0 0 0 5.44 T.Erdos 2.1 2 0 0 2 1 0 6.30 C.Michalak 1.2 2 4 4 0 1 1 5.94 HB--C.Michalak 2. PB--A.Delgado. SO--J.Rabe, B.Marsters, C.Magruder 2, R.Knox, B.Gemoll 2, S.Scarbrough 2. BB--L.Rodriguez, J.Morneau, B.Simmons, B.Marsters, A.Delgado, S.Scarbrough. T--2:34. A--10365

Indianapolis Game Log:

Why did 3B Luis Figueroa leave abrubyly in the 5th?

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=13079

[MassBrew]

In progress: Visalia (Rockies) 6, High Desert 4, after four innings

The Oaks (11) and Mavericks (7) combining for 18 hits in the first four frames...

[MassBrew]

I'm not sure, but it appears as though you may have to wait a day before being able to play the Beloit archive. That ninth inning rally should be a fun listen...

[MassBrew]

Final: Visalia (Rockies) 9, High Desert 7

Mavs make a game of it...

 

Visalia Site Game Summary:

 

Sean Barker hit two home runs and collected five RBI as the Oaks held on for a 9-7 win over High Desert. Barker?s first home run, a two-run blast broke a 3-3 tie in the fourth inning. His solo shot gave the Oaks a valuable insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Barker also had a two-run double in the sixth that made the lead 8-4.

 

High Desert?s Callix Crabbe hit his first home run of the season in the top of the eighth to trim a four run deficit to one at 8-7.

 

After Crabbe?s home run, Eudy Morel and Mike Cosgrove combined to retire the last seven Mavericks batters in the game. Cosgrove pitched a perfect ninth to earn his eleventh save, which ranks him second in the California League.

 

Jeff Baker hit a two-run homer before Barker in the third tow tie the game, 3-3. Baker went 4-for-5 with 3 RBI. K. J. Hendricks also went 4-for-5 and has seven hits over the first two games of the series.

 

Mavericks starting pitcher Eric Henderson pitched four innings, allowed six runs and took the loss.

 

High Desert Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 6/05/04 HD at VIS HIGH DESERT 7 AT VISALIA 9 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG VISALIA AB R H BI AVG K.Bibbs CF 4 1 2 0 .306 J.Salazar CF 5 0 0 0 .320 C.Crabbe 2B 4 2 3 3 .307 K.Hendricks 2B 5 2 4 0 .293 D.Boyd LF 5 0 1 1 .285 J.Baker 3B 5 2 4 3 .348 T.Hinton 1B 5 0 2 0 .311 C.Fallon 1B 4 1 1 0 .285 J.Vanden ber CAT 3 1 2 0 .317 S.Barker LF 5 2 3 5 .280 S.Candelaria RF 5 1 1 2 .260 R.Spilborghs DH 4 0 2 0 .300 J.Frost DH 4 1 0 0 .278 B.Gonzalez RF 5 0 2 0 .252 T.Farnsworth 3B 4 1 1 1 .174 A.Colina CAT 1 1 1 0 .220 E.Cruz SS 5 0 0 0 .207 K.Reinking CAT 4 0 0 0 .194 E.Henderson PIT 0 0 0 0 .167 D.Bernier SS 4 1 2 1 .255 C.Breslow PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Gallagher PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Kusiewicz PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Cable PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Mendoza PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Morel PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Cosgrove PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 39 7 12 7 TOTALS 42 9 19 9 HIGH DESERT 0 2 1 1 0 0 3 0 0- 7 12 2 VISALIA 0 1 4 1 0 2 0 1 X- 9 19 0 E--T.Farnsworth 2. DP--HIGH DESERT 0, VISALIA 0. LOB--HIGH DESERT 11, VISALIA 11. 2B--D.Boyd (10), J.Vanden ber (8), J.Baker (16), S.Barker (12), A.Colina (7). HR--C.Crabbe (1), S.Candelaria (2), T.Farnsworth (3), J.Baker (5), S.Barker 2 (8). SB--K.Bibbs (20), C.Crabbe (18), J.Frost (3), K.Hendricks (14). HBP--J.Vanden ber, J.Frost. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT E.Henderson (L,2-4) 4.0 11 6 6 2 2 2 7.02 C.Breslow 2.0 5 2 2 0 4 0 8.81 M.Kusiewicz 2.0 3 1 1 0 1 1 6.16 VISALIA B.Gallagher 4.1 9 4 4 2 2 2 8.01 T.Cable (W,3-2) 1.2 2 0 0 1 2 0 4.68 M.Mendoza 0.2 1 3 3 1 2 1 13.50 E.Morel 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.24 M.Cosgrove 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.49 HB--T.Cable, M.Mendoza. PB--J.Vanden ber. SO--K.Bibbs, D.Boyd 2, T.Hinton, S.Candelaria, T.Farnsworth, E.Cruz 2, C.Fallon 3, R.Spilborghs, K.Reinking 2, D.Bernier. BB--K.Bibbs, C.Crabbe, J.Vanden ber, T.Farnsworth, C.Fallon, R.Spilborghs. T--3:21. A--1698

High Desert Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=18196

[MassBrew]

By the way, just click on June 5th when you reach the Dayton audio link in the initial post above. The Snappers' ninth inning rally begins at the 3 hour, 3 minute mark.

[MassBrew]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 30 23 .566 [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 29 24 .547 1.0[/b] TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 29 27 .518 2.5 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 26 28 .481 4.5

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 31 25 .554 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 29 27 .518 2.0 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 28 28 .500 3.0[/b] BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 28 28 .500 3.0 MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 24 32 .429 7.0

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 34 21 .618 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 31 25 .554 3.5 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 28 27 .509 6.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 27 28 .491 7.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 20 36 .357 14.5[/b]

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 33 22 .600 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 33 22 .600 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 32 22 .593 .5 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 30 26 .536 3.5[/b] CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 28 26 .519 4.5 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 24 27 .471 7.0 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 24 31 .436 9.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 17 39 .304 16.5

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Times Game Story:

 

Stars fizzling in pennant race

Huntsville shut out by Lookouts for fifth straight loss

By SKIP VAUGHN

For The Times skipv@htimes.com

 

It's not how you want to enter the final two weeks of a pennant race.

 

The Huntsville Stars entered Saturday night's game against Chattanooga in the throes of a losing streak while trailing first-place West Tennessee by three games in the Southern League Western Division with 15 games left in the first half. But Stars manager Frank Kremblas wasn't overly concerned about this particular game.

 

"It's no more important than the others," he said beforehand. "We're either going to play better or we're not. Whether we win the first half or not has nothing to do with tonight. It's whether we play better baseball overall or not."

 

But the Stars didn't get it done this time and lost 4-0 to Chattanooga before an announced crowd of 4,913 at Joe Davis Stadium. There was a moment of silence before the national anthem in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, who died Saturday.

 

Brian Rose (5-2) outdueled Huntsville's Chris Saenz (4-3) as the Stars lost their fifth straight, equaling their high this season. Rose pitched seven shutout innings with six strikeouts and allowed four hits and one walk.

 

"We got people in scoring position but we never could get that two-out base hit to score some runs," said Stars right fielder Jason Belcher, who had two of Huntsville's five hits.

 

The Lookouts (32-24) went up 4-0 in the third inning on run-scoring singles by William Bergolla and Edwin Encarnacion and a two-run homer by Jesse Gutierrez.

 

"The one inning they scored their runs, they got some pitches up in the zone and these guys, they're a good team," Kremblas said. "And you make mistakes, they're going to make you pay for them."

 

Saenz went seven innings with eight strikeouts and allowed four runs, nine hits, one walk and committed a balk.

 

"I thought it was pretty good," Kremblas said of his starter's outing. "He had that one bad inning where he got the ball up in the zone. You make mistakes against these guys, you're going to pay for them. You've got to be on your game 100 percent of the time or you're going to get beat. But the rest of the time, he did good."

 

Kremblas said he still wasn't concerned about the losing streak. "We're not playing bad. It all comes down to you have one lapse and you have one bad inning, it's tough to come back from."

 

He said he thinks the Stars can catch West Tennessee but he's not worried about the pennant race. "I'm more concerned about us playing better baseball. And if we catch them, we catch them."

[MassBrew]

Mark McCarter's Huntsville Times' Stars' Notebook:

 

Covering the bases

 

Milwaukee has left the Stars short-handed offensively with the promotion of Brandon Gemoll and having designated catcher Kade Johnson for reassignment from the Brewers' 40-man roster. While Johnson will likely return to the club if no major league teams claims him off waivers, a short bench won't let the Stars take full advantage of being able to use the designated hitter in eight of their last 12 games of the half, against Birmingham, one of only two American League-affiliated teams in the Southern League.

 

While the Stars limped away from the ballpark Friday night after a 14-1 catastrophe against Chattanooga, they were at least catching a break 350 miles away. Division-leading West Tenn, which rallied with a two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth to force extra innings at Mobile, lost in the 12th on a Ben Johnson sacrifice fly. It left the Stars still three games behind with 15 to play, headed into Saturday's action. The least-concerned person about West Tenn's progress is Huntsville manager Frank Kremblas. "I'm not worried about them. I'm worrying about us,'' he said. When it was suggested to him the Stars need a six-out-of-eight win streak, Kremblas said, "We need more than that.'' ...

 

Mike Jones threw a simulated game Saturday. Depending upon how well his elbow responds after that, he'll likely have one more such game, then make a start before the end of the first half on June 20. ... John Novinsky is putting together All-Star type numbers. He entered Saturday's play at 5-0 and 3.16, with two wins, two saves, 15 strikeouts and a 1.64 ERA in his last six appearances.

 

Around the league

 

Cal Ripken may become part of the Southern League. The ex-Baltimore Oriole star is part of an ownership group looking to buy a franchise in Florida. He was in Jacksonville this week, throwing out the first pitch before a game and meeting with Suns ownership to discuss a possible purchase. ... Kenny Kelly of Chattanooga, the league's leading hitter, was promoted to Triple-A this week. The ex-Miami quarterback was batting .356. The Lookouts didn't seem to miss a beat when they arrived in Huntsville, racking up 16 hits Friday. ... Birmingham pitcher Arnie Munoz fell one win shy of a Southern League record for consecutive wins. He won six in a row in relief in 2002 then, after spending 2003 in Triple-A, began this year with a 6-0 record. But he lost 3-2 last Sunday in Jacksonville when his team left the potential tying run on third in the ninth inning. He then made it two in a row with a 3-2 loss to West Tenn on Thursday. ... Mobile outfielder Todd Donovan, the BayBears' leading hitter, broke his thumb Wednesday and is likely out until August. ... West Tenn's Matt Craig was named the BC Powder Southern League Player of the Week after batting .407 with 11 RBIs. ... Mobile's Tim Stauffer was Pitcher of the Week, allowing only one run in 15 innings with 14 strikeouts. ... Florence's Josh Willingham, playing for Carolina, is having a terrific season. He's batting .273 with 11 homers and 32 RBIs.

 

Brewings (after Friday's games)

 

Triple-A Indianapolis (29-23, second place in International League West): OF Corey Hart .282, 8 HR, 29 RBI.

 

Single-A High Desert (20-35, fifth place in California League South): Six-game losing streak. IF Travis Hinton .305.

 

Single-A Beloit (29-26, fourth in Midwest League West): OF Terry Trofholz .313.

 

On deck

 

The Stars host Chattanooga today at 2:05, and mini-bats will be given to the first 1,500 fans. Birmingham visits for a four-game series beginning Tuesday, with a 12:05 game set for Wednesday.

[MassBrew]

Perhaps the most popular Star ever, this former Brewer farmhand:

 

Mathis never out of position

Popular Star played every spot on field in one game

By MARK McCARTER

Times Sports Staff markcolumn@aol.com

 

Sometimes, he still has dreams about baseball. He's even playing in the big leagues in those dreams.

 

Most of the time, though, "It seems like I haven't played in 20 years,'' says Jared Mathis.

 

In truth, it's been only two years since Mathis last played for the Huntsville Stars.

 

Much has happened since. Mathis has settled in back home in Port Orange, Fla., adjacent to Daytona Beach. He and wife Brittany have an 11-month old daughter, Macy. Jared is working as an insurance broker for commercial real estate property.

 

As with so many retired players, he doesn't miss so much the games as he does everything surrounding the game.

 

"I miss hanging around D-Lee (pitcher Derek Lee) and Bucky (Jacobsen), just sitting around the apartment,'' Mathis says. "I don't miss the bus rides and all that.''

 

There have been fewer players more popular with fans in recent years than Mathis.

 

And there have been fewer places more popular with Mathis than Huntsville.

 

"He sure has a lot of good memories about that place,'' says an old friend in Daytona, Johnny Goodrich, now the head baseball coach at Mathis' old high school.

 

He wasn't a high-dollar prospect, but you got more than your money's worth out of him. He hustled, he was versatile and he ended up looking like the "Peanuts" character Pigpen, smothered in dirt, most any time he played. Fans related to and appreciated his work ethic.

 

Too many players at this level create a moat between the dugout and the stands. Not Mathis. He created friendships instead. And there probably isn't an autograph with less value in Huntsville history than that of Mathis, since he signed more than anybody.

 

Sure, longevity helped. He spent parts of four seasons here. But the force of his personality was bigger than his numbers.

 

"I think it was just that I could appreciate what (the fans and boosters) were doing for us,'' Mathis says. "It's only fair. If somebody's going to support us, we should support them.''

 

As Mathis recalls Huntsville, he first recalls the impact of 9-11, and the eventual cancellation of the Southern League playoffs as a result, and the Stars' championship. He remembers the Fourth of July holiday games, with fireworks and packed houses.

 

And he remembers a nice bit of history he made.

 

It was a memorable laborious Labor Day, Sept. 4, 2000. Manager Carlos Lezcano proclaimed it "Jared Mathis Day.''

 

Mathis had already proved over the course of his Huntsville career to have more uses than a Swiss Army knife. On this season finale, Lezcano decided to put them all out for display at once, an idea he had concocted as early as spring training. He had Mathis play every position on the field.

 

It may have been Mathis' greatest blessing and curse. Utility players this versatile are priceless. But few players advance without having a definite position. And few players advance to the big leagues from such meager beginnings. Mathis played collegiately at Embry-Riddle in Daytona, a school more known for aerospace technology than athletics, and had been playing in an independent league when the Brewers signed him.

 

The previous day had begun memorably enough. During the Stars' Sunday morning team chapel meeting, a drawing was held for a ball autographed by Joe Dimaggio. Mathis won the drawing. The ball still rests on a shelf in his house.

 

Mathis began Labor Day as the Stars' starting pitcher. He even struck out John Powers with an 81 mph fastball. ''All my dad is going to talk about is the strikeout," said Mathis afterward. "He thinks I should be pitching in the big leagues."

 

He singled in the game's first run and finished with three hits. He was also plunked in the helmet with a pitch. He scored the game-winning run in the 12th, doubling and hustling home on a Toby Kominek single.

 

"It was awfully fun," said Mathis, pronouncing the benediction on the day. "It made the game go by really quick. I wasn't in the same place too much. I recommend it. It kept me on my toes."

 

Mathis still looks back at that day as something special. Except for some good-natured scolding from his dad.

 

"I hadn't shaved in about a week, and you could tell it in the pictures in the paper,'' Mathis says. "My dad said, 'It'd have been great if you had just shaved.' "

 

The events of that day still come up regularly in conversation.

 

"People see on my resume that I played baseball, or it comes up,'' Mathis says. "Then they always ask, 'What position did you play?' "

 

On one memorable day, he can tell them, he played them all.

 

But Stars fans will tell you his best position was simply being Jared Mathis.

[MassBrew]

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

 

A ROSE IS ANYTHING BUT A ROSE

The fans love coming out on Saturday and the Stars have been used to obliging them this year with a win. In Saturday games going into tonight, the Stars were 7-2 and eager to snap a four-game losing streak......... No such luck........ The Stars are currently deep in the dumpster with their biggest batting slump in two years and a five-game losing streak, their longest of the season........ Since the start of the month, the Stars have hit .195 while going 1-5......... Two years ago, on August 11-22, 2002, the Stars hit just .163 in an 11-game stretch, but still managed to go 4-7......... Remember, things could be worse..... It's too early to start talking about the monster losing season of all time -- the 1988 campaign -- until the Stars show how truly bad they want to be, and the issue is not average, anyway -- it's scoring. Even that team that hit .163 in that 11-game stretch was outscored only by a 32-29 margin........ The Stars after tonight have been outscored 36-5 and outhit 58-28 over this five-game streak........

 

I could go on and on with the litany of problems, but I think we know what they are....... Briefly, we have one experienced catcher who has hit .117 since the start of May, a centerfielder on an 0-for-13 slump and 3-for-his-last-22, a shortstop who is 2-for-17 in June, and a slugging first baseman with eight extra-base hits in his last 35 games, and a .174 average since May 27, and, oh yes, a much-prized second baseman, hitting .125 in his last 16 games.......And if things weren't bad enough, this team that has set fielding marks in the early going, has made seven errors in the last two games, not including some that were given the benefit of the doubt.

 

One bad inning spoiled the whole bunch for Chris Saenz........ Without the 22-pitch 3rd inning, Saenz gives up just three hits in six scoreless innings....... After striking out Ramon Moreta on a 1-2 breaking ball (which was working well for him tonight. Saenz struck out Jeff Bannon on three of them in the 6th inning), pitcher Brian Rose should have been a quick memory........ Instead, Rose drove the first pitch to the the gap in left, all the way to the wall for a double....... Andrew Beattie's short single to right-center put runners on the corners....... Beattie should be intentionally walked every time he comes up to the plate. He's now 11-for-23 (.478) vs. the Stars this season....... William Bergolla roped a 3-1 pitch to left-center for a double, scoring Rose, but Ozzie Chavez's relay from Tony Gwynn, Jr. to Joel Alvarado beat Beattie at the plate, even though the throw was high, owing more to Chavez's arm than his accuracy. Alvarado made the sweep tag down just in time to get Beattie.

 

But that didn't stop the Lookouts......... With two out, Edwin Encarnacion singled on a 3-and-2 pitch to score Bergolla, then Jesse Gutierrez hit his 10th home run of the season, just clearing the RSC sign in right-centerfield --- roughly a 395-ft. shot to make it 4-0, finishing the scoring for this game......... For the remaining six innings, the pitching combination of Saenz-Fernando Rijo-Pete Zamora allowed just two hits.........

 

There was one play at the plate. That came in the 6th inning. Leadoff hitter Gutierrez slapped a hard grounder to Chris Barnwell near the line, but his throw to first came on the short hop and Prince Fielder couldn't come up with it cleanly. Barney was charged with a throwing error....... Breaking balls retired Jeff Bannon and Chris Peterson on strikeouts, then Ramon Moreta singled on a 1-0 pitch....... Gutierrez, who reached 2nd earlier on a balk, tried to score, but Alvarado was guarding the plate like a Marine when the throw from Brad Nelson came in right on target.. Gutierrez was cut down cold like Bonnie and Clyde....... After that, nine straight Chattanooga hitters were retired to end the game.

 

The Stars did their best to make the most of five hits....... In the 2nd inning, Jason Belcher and Barnwell put together back-to-back singles with one out, but Alvarado struck out, as he is so accustomed to doing (20 Ks in 66 ABs -- a .303 SO avg.), and Ozzie flied to center....... In the bottom of the 6th, Saenz became a .350 hitter this season with a clean single to right-center, then stole 2nd on the strikeout of Gwynn, Jr....... Fielder took six pitches, then drew a walk to put runners on first and second....... Nelson went 2-and-0 before hitting a single through the right side, but Saenz ran Frank Kremblas' stop sign at third and was a dead duck at the plate.......

 

Two errors on one play put Barnwell on third with two out in the 7th, but Chavez struck out on a breaking ball by Rose......... You don't often see things like this........ Andy Beattie came in on Barnwell's low liner to left, but dropped it. He recovered the ball and fired it in to first baseman Gutierrez, who now had Barney trapped between first and second. Gutierrez threw to shortstop Jeff Bannon, who was stationed in front of the bag all ready to tag Barnwell, except he dropped the ball, too and Barney snuck in safely behind him.

 

Rickie Weeks made the play-of-the-game in the 9th inning -- an incredible play to start the inning....... Chad Durham hit a ball to the right side that looked like a sure single. Fielder left his position to try to field the ball, but got there too late, but from out of nowhere, Weeks ranged over in the outfield grass and in one motion, got in front of the ball, and in motion, made a difficult, awkward, and impossible throw, more lobbed than actually thrown, to Pete Zamora, who was alert enough to cover the bag for the putout on what became a bang-bang play in the Stars' favor....... Zamora retired the side in the 9th on just four pitches.

 

The line score shows two errors for the Stars tonight, but I think they should have been charged for three....... In the 2nd inning with Jesse Gutierrez on first, Durham hit a two-hopper to Weeks running in direction of the 2nd base bag. He naturally went for the force, with no play at first even if he tried, but his throw to Ozzie Chavez was wide. To me, Weeks should have been given an error, but scorer Don Rizzardi gave Durham the hit, explaining to me that, after a lot of discussion in the press box, Durham would have been safe anyway. Weeks had no chance to get Durham, thus Gutierrez would have reached second safely as well...... I disagree with that........ Weeks intended to get the force and failed with a bad throw to Chavez.

 

Missed Robert Portnoy in the radio booth tonight....... He came down with a sinus infection upon returning from Montgomery and left the booth duties to his right-hand man, Bryan Neece, who has a show on ESPN-1450, and is improving steadily since interning last year, but still isn't very newsy. Not a mention of the Stars' new catcher, Nestor Corredor, just turned 20, up from extended spring training to plug that catching hole for the time being....... Corredor hit .218 with 5 HRs and 31 RBIs in the Dominican Summer League last year....... Kade Johnson is eligible to come off the waiver wire, Tuesday. If he clears, Kade will probably be back. If not, it's not very likely Corredor will have a regular job all of a sudden with the Stars, and I'd love to see what John Vanden Berg, hitting .317 for High Desert, can do.......... Tim Bausher, also put on waivers, is set to take his turn in the rotation on Monday, provided he remained unclaimed at the end of Saturday....... Sunday, Ryan Costello (3-0, 4.20) will face Dustin Moseley (2-0, 1.91). Moseley lost four times to the Stars last season, only one of five pitchers ever to lose that many to the Stars in a season in their history.

 

My favorite scoreboard moment tonight: Seeing a clip from Ferris Bueller's Day Off on the video board -- the scene in which Ferris and Cameron are at Wrigley Field and Cameron is yelling "hey, batter, batter, batter, kannidy, kannidy, kannidy, kannidy.... (sp?)" ........ The Stars always ran the audio version of that, but now we have the images of what is one of my favorite movies.

[Al the Thinking Man]

Cameron is yelling "hey, batter, batter, batter, kannidy, kannidy, kannidy, kannidy.... (sp?)" ........ The Stars always ran the audio version of that

 

Oof. By far the most overplayed audio clip ever, and one that shows how teams are afraid of silence, the perfect example of playing a generic noise.

 

I might have thought it was funny...then I turned 8. No one seems to get the fact it's funny in the movie because it's so stupid.

[huntsvillefan]

"I might have thought it was funny...then I turned 8."

 

Is this the same Al who lists Weekend at Bernie's as a favorite movie?

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/roll.gif

[Al the Thinking Man]

WaB is funny, see, no one else can tell he's dead.http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

Actually, it's funny because it's in such poor taste.