Link Report for Games of Friday, June 4th

[MassBrew]

Friday's Daily Menu -- an eclectic group of hurlers this evening:

 

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

 

INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Pedro Liriano 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: LHP Jeff Housman at home vs. Chattanooga (Reds), 7:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

HIGH DESERT: RHP Khalid Ballouli at Visalia (Rockies), 9:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: RHP Simon Beresford -- g'day, mate! -- at home vs. South Bend (Diamondbacks), 7:00 PM

 

For the second consecutive series, no online audio available http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

[MassBrew]

Welcome back to newlywed Mark McCarter in Huntsville, with some preview notes for this evening:

 

Stars want to know the scores

They'll count on scoreboard to upate pennant race

By MARK McCARTER

Times Sports Staff markcolumn@aol.com

 

As pennant races simmer, there is a baseball cliche for what goes on. "Scoreboard watching,'' they call it.

 

For the Huntsville Stars and their fans, it takes on double meaning tonight as the club opens an eight-game homestand.

 

The Stars remain in contention for the Southern League West first-half title with 16 games remaining in the half. So an occasional glance at the progress of division-leading West Tenn in the coming weeks is not inappropriate.

 

For the fans, scoreboard watching has a different implication in tonight's 7:05 game against Chattanooga. After various delays caused by weather and other snafus, the new scoreboard at Joe Davis Stadium should be essentially fully operational for the first time tonight, according to general manager Bryan Dingo. Only a few minor bells and whistles for the elaborate new board are left to unveil.

 

The Stars return home at 28-26 and on a three-game losing streak, standing three games behind West Tenn after having lost 8-2 at Montgomery Thursday night.

 

The game marked the return of pitcher Matt Ford, sidelined since April 26 with a sore elbow. He pitched two innings and yielded one run and three hits.

 

The Brewers added to their minor league pitching pool Thursday by claiming right-hander Jesse Harper off waivers from the Blue Jays.

 

The 23-year-old Texan was a 13-game winner in low-A ball last season and has been sent to High Desert by the Brewers.

 

A fireworks show will follow tonight's game.

 

Baseballs will be presented to the first 1,500 kids 14 and under on Saturday and the first 1,500 fans will receive a minibat at Sunday afternoon's game.

[hardytheman]

Baseballs will be presented to the first 1,500 kids 14 and under on Saturday and the first 1,500 fans will receive a minibat at Sunday afternoon's game.

 

 

------------

 

Hopefully Milton bradley isnt in the stands tomorrow night.

[MassBrew]

The sausages are at Victory Field all weekend -- cool! The Brewers are obviously pulling out all stops to sweet-talk Indy into an extension agreement http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

 

http://www.indyindians.com/images/sausage.jpg

[MassBrew]

Sorry guys, I got ahead of myself taking notes during last night's Mavs' broadcast.

 

It's Khalid Ballouli tonight, not Eric Henderson.

 

I've adjusted it above.

[MassBrew]

Final: Rochester (Twins) 8, Indianapolis 2

Tribe scores a run in each of the first two innings for a 2-0 lead, but the Red Wings score at least once in each of the next five innings...

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

This confirms that RHP Paul Stewart is indeed still at AAA, despite web reports otherwise -- Stewart probably wishes he wasn't at the park tonight, ugh; Brandon Gemoll's going to get a prime opportunity to show what he can do while Jeff Liefer's in Milwaukee...

 GAME DATE: 6/04/04 ROC at IND ROCHESTER 8 AT INDIANAPOLIS 2 YTD YTD ROCHESTER AB R H BI AVG INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG A.Ojeda SS 5 0 0 0 .242 C.Magruder LF 3 1 2 1 .270 J.Kubel RF 5 2 3 1 .321 R.Knox CF 3 0 0 0 .263 J.Morneau 1B 5 1 1 1 .342 B.Gemoll 1B 4 0 1 0 .214 T.Tiffee 3B 4 2 2 1 .295 C.Hart RF 4 0 1 0 .282 M.Restovich DH 5 0 1 1 .239 L.Figueroa 3B 4 0 0 0 .286 J.Rabe LF 5 1 1 0 .262 S.Sheldon DH 4 1 1 0 .221 T.Dunwoody CF 3 1 1 0 .333 M.Johnson CAT 2 0 1 1 .279 L.Rodriguez 2B 3 0 1 1 .241 S.Scarbrough SS 2 0 0 0 .219 B.Marsters CAT 4 1 1 1 .167 M.Erickson 2B 3 0 0 0 .210 W.Eyre PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Liriano PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Beimel PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Stewart PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Schoening PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Giron PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Michalak PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 39 8 11 6 TOTALS 29 2 6 2 ROCHESTER 0 0 2 1 1 1 3 0 0- 8 11 0 INDIANAPOLIS 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 2 6 1 E--B.Gemoll. DP--ROCHESTER 2, INDIANAPOLIS 0. LOB--ROCHESTER 7, INDIANAPOLIS 4. 2B--J.Kubel 2 (8), J.Morneau (14), L.Rodriguez (15), B.Marsters (5), S.Sheldon (7). 3B--T.Tiffee (1). HR--T.Tiffee (5), C.Magruder (3). SB--J.Kubel (2), T.Dunwoody (1). HBP--T.Tiffee, T.Dunwoody. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA ROCHESTER W.Eyre (W,3-1) 6.0 6 2 2 3 0 1 3.84 J.Beimel 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.17 B.Schoening 2.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.89 INDIANAPOLIS P.Liriano (L,2-3) 5.0 4 4 4 1 3 0 5.12 P.Stewart 1.0 6 4 4 0 1 1 10.13 R.Giron 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.32 C.Michalak 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.12 HB--P.Liriano 2. WP--P.Liriano. SO--A.Ojeda, J.Morneau, M.Restovich, J.Rabe, B.Marsters, S.Sheldon. BB--L.Rodriguez, C.Magruder, R.Knox, M.Johnson, S.Scarbrough. T--2:34. A--9780

Indianapolis Game Log:

Corey Hart with busy early innings -- can't fault trying to stretch a two-out single in the first; he and Gemoll couldn't come through after a promising start to the third...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=13078

[MassBrew]

In progress: Chattanooga (Reds) 14, Huntsville 1, after seven innings

Gee, the Stars' pitching is really testing that new scoreboard tonight http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/ohwell.gif

[MassBrew]

Final: Beloit 4, South Bend (Diamondbacks) 3

 

Beloit Site Game Summary and Player of the Game Info:

 

www.snappersbaseball.com/...08a2c9cca9

 

Beloit Box Score:

A couple of middle infield errors, but it looks to be a solid effort all-around...

 GAME DATE: 6/04/04 SBN at BLT SOUTH BEND 3 AT BELOIT 4 YTD YTD SOUTH BEND AB R H BI AVG BELOIT AB R H BI AVG M.Goss DH 2 0 0 0 .268 T.Trofholz CF 4 2 3 0 .313 J.Kaplan PH 0 0 0 0 .276 S.Moss DH 4 1 1 0 .170 E.Bonifacio 2B 3 0 0 0 .268 D.Anderson LF 4 1 2 1 .280 A.Murillo 3B 4 0 0 1 .270 L.Palmisano CAT 3 0 0 0 .302 M.Montero CAT 4 0 0 0 .279 V.Rottino 2B 4 0 1 0 .296 A.Frazier LF 4 0 0 0 .265 A.Heether 3B 4 0 1 1 .260 J.Cook RF 4 1 2 0 .242 M.Ramirez 1B 4 0 2 0 .258 L.Garcia CF 4 0 0 0 .271 R.Deevers RF 4 0 2 0 .217 J.McCreery 1B 2 1 0 0 .140 G.Acosta SS 4 0 0 0 .165 E.Varela PH 1 0 0 0 .283 S.Beresford PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Gonzalez SS 3 1 2 2 .213 M.Stetter PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Muegge PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Dillard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Coffin PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 31 3 4 3 TOTALS 35 4 12 2 SOUTH BEND 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0- 3 4 0 BELOIT 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 X- 4 12 2 E--V.Rottino, G.Acosta. DP--SOUTH BEND 1, BELOIT 0. LOB--SOUTH BEND 5, BELOIT 8. 2B--J.Cook (6), T.Trofholz (6), M.Ramirez (8), R.Deevers (6). SB--E.Bonifacio (15), T.Trofholz 2 (17). SH--E.Bonifacio. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA SOUTH BEND D.Muegge (L,3-1) 6.0 10 3 3 0 5 0 2.94 R.Coffin 2.0 2 1 1 1 3 0 2.28 BELOIT S.Beresford 3.0 2 1 1 2 1 0 4.41 M.Stetter (W,2-0) 4.0 1 2 0 1 3 0 2.65 T.Dillard (S,4) 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.24 WP--D.Muegge, R.Coffin. SO--M.Goss, A.Frazier, L.Garcia, J.McCreery, E.Varela, S.Moss 2, D.Anderson, L.Palmisano, V.Rottino 2, G.Acosta 2. BB--M.Goss, J.Kaplan, J.McCreery, L.Palmisano. T--2:27. A--2437

Beloit Game Log:

Two Snapper runs scored on separate wild pitches...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12491

[madbad2000]

Not much to say tonight as I need to go to bed.

 

Terry Truffles is good and fast....2 stolen bases tonight...2nd then 3rd on the next pitch. Scored two runs as well. 3 for 4....nice night....keep an eye on him

 

A night of relief pitchers as Beresford got the nod...all looked well...Simon had a bit of trouble with the balls but was effective...unlike a Pena who seems to have every hitter with 2 strikes before k'ing them or they get a hit.

 

One hit wonder night, very nice crowd, Snappers win and fireworks...if you weren't there shame on you as you missed out.

 

Michael

[MassBrew]

Final: Chattanooga (Reds) 14, Huntsville 1

When you mix five errors in with 16 base hits allowed and six walks issued, that's not a good night; this probably qualifies as the worst game by a Brewer affiliate this season...

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Prince Fielder's three base hits (one double) the only positive to take out of this one; I'm thinking that until Kade Johnson's waiver situation is cleared up, Joel Alvarado is the team's lone catcher...

 GAME DATE: 6/04/04 CNG at HVL CHATTANOOGA 14 AT HUNTSVILLE 1 YTD YTD CHATTANOOGA AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG C.Durham RF 4 1 1 2 .261 R.Weeks 2B 4 0 0 0 .238 W.Bergolla 2B 5 2 1 1 .275 A.Gwynn CF 4 0 0 0 .255 E.Encarnacio 3B 4 2 3 4 .309 P.Fielder 1B 4 0 3 0 .253 J.Gutierrez 1B 5 3 2 1 .297 B.Nelson LF 3 1 0 0 .294 J.Bannon SS 6 2 2 2 .290 J.Raburn RF 4 0 1 0 .255 J.Hill CAT 6 2 2 0 .257 C.Barnwell 3B 4 0 2 0 .218 A.Beattie LF 6 0 3 1 .313 J.Alvarado CAT 2 0 0 1 .159 R.Moreta CF 4 1 1 0 .197 O.Chavez SS 4 0 0 0 .250 S.Kelly PIT 4 1 1 0 .067 J.Housman PIT 1 0 0 0 .308 D.Cesar PH 1 0 0 0 .297 G.Woolard PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 T.Shearn PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Rivard PIT 1 0 0 0 .333 B.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Belcher PH 1 0 0 0 .282 TOTALS 45 14 16 11 TOTALS 33 1 6 1 CHATTANOOGA 5 0 3 0 0 6 0 0 0-14 16 1 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0- 1 6 5 E--J.Bannon, R.Weeks, A.Gwynn, B.Nelson, C.Barnwell, R.Rivard. DP--CHATTANOOGA 0, HUNTSVILLE 1. LOB--CHATTANOOGA 11, HUNTSVILLE 8. 2B--J.Hill (4), P.Fielder (8). HR--E.Encarnacio (5), J.Gutierrez (9). SB--R.Moreta (5). HBP--C.Durham. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA CHATTANOOGA S.Kelly (W,4-3) 7.0 4 1 1 3 4 0 3.47 T.Shearn 2.0 2 0 0 0 2 0 4.60 HUNTSVILLE J.Housman (L,1-4) 3.0 8 8 4 1 2 1 3.54 G.Woolard 2.0 5 4 2 2 0 1 7.71 R.Rivard 2.0 2 2 0 2 1 0 5.14 B.Adams 2.0 1 0 0 1 3 0 4.78 HB--J.Housman. WP--S.Kelly. PB--J.Alvarado. SO--J.Gutierrez, J.Bannon, J.Hill, R.Moreta, S.Kelly, D.Cesar, R.Weeks, A.Gwynn 2, O.Chavez, G.Woolard, J.Belcher. BB--C.Durham, W.Bergolla, E.Encarnacio 2, J.Gutierrez, R.Moreta, B.Nelson, J.Alvarado 2. T--3:14. A--4398

Huntsville Game Log:

Here's your ticket to the carnage, maybe they should have gone bowling...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=11996

[batman]

Here's your ticket to the carnage, maybe they should have gone bowling...

 

Karma police, arrest this team...

 

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

 

~Bill

[950opsLHcatcher]

Karma police, arrest this team...

 

Do any of them have Hitler hair-dos, and if so, do they make you feel ill?

[wiscrules99]

And Weeks tests the patience of all Brewer fans for yet another night. C'mon, lets start earning our millions....

[batman]

Do any of them have Hitler hair-dos, and if so, do they make you feel ill?

 

No, but we have crashed their party... this is what you get when you mess with us.

 

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

 

~Bill

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Post-Game Notes:

 

GAME SUMMARY:

 

Chris Magruder led off the Indians first inning with a solo home run and the Tribe added another run in the second frame to take a 2-0 lead, but Rochester scored eight consecutive runs off Tribe starter Pedro Liriano and reliever Paul Stewart to take a 8-2 victory over Indianapolis Friday night.

 

The loss pulls the Tribe into a first-place tie with the Columbus Clippers, victors tonight over Buffalo. Indianapolis falls to 29-23, Rochester improves to 28-26.

 

Rochester out hit the Tribe, 11-6. Red Wings starter Willie Eyre (3-1) shut down the Tribe after a rocky start. He threw six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, walked three and struck out none.

 

Indianapolis starter Pedro Liriano (2-3) picked up the loss. He allowed four runs on four hits, walked one and struck out three in five innings.

 

The two clubs play Saturday night at Victory Field with first pitch set for 7 p.m.

 

QUOTES:

 

Cecil Cooper, Tribe manager on the loss: "Poor pitching execution tonight," said Cooper. "If you don?t pitch well, you don?t win. Offensively, we?re not the same team and we have to pitch well to win."

 

Jason Kubel, right fielder, Rochester: "I?ve tried to do what I?ve done all season," said Kubel. "I tried not to do too much and looked for something in the middle of the plate. My approach has remained the same with every pitcher. I

challenge them all equally."

 

NOTES:

 

Rochester pitching shut down Ryan Knox (0-3) halting a nine-game hitting streak.

 

Friday night?s attendance of 9,780 was a season-high for the Indians.

[MassBrew]

In progress: Visalia (Rockies) 10, High Desert 3, after six innings

The Oaks with a six-run fifth to break it open...

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Chattanooga (31-24) knocked out 16 hits and routed Huntsville (28-27), 14-1, on Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars dropped their fourth straight game but did not lose ground in the Southern League West, remaining three games out of first after West Tenn's 12-inning loss to Mobile.

 

The Lookouts scored five in the first, three in the third and six in the sixth for their third win in five meetings with the Stars this season. Edwin Encarnacion led the hit parade, going 3-for-4 with a homer, four runs batted in and two runs scored. Andrew Beattie added three hits and drove in one, and Jesse Gutierrez homered, singled and scored two. Jeff Bannon singled twice, knocked in two and scored a pair.

 

Prince Fielder paced Huntsville's six-hit attack, doubling and singling twice for his first multi-hit game since May 22. Chris Barnwell finished 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, and Joel Alvarado pushed across the Stars' lone run with a bases-loaded walk.

 

Steve Kelly (4-3) won for the second time in two starts against the Stars. He crafted seven strong innings, equaling his season-high, allowing just one run on four hits and three walks while fanning four. Jeff Housman (1-4) suffered his second straight loss, permitting eight runs, four earned, on eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts over three innings.

 

Game two of the series pits Huntsville righty Chris Saenz (4-2, 3.51) against Lookouts right-hander Brian Rose (4-2, 3.99) on Saturday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Game time is 7:05 PM.

 

Robert Portnoy's always perfect with these recaps, but not sure about this word:

 

paced Huntsville's six-hit attack

[MassBrew]

Final: Visalia (Rockies) 13, High Desert 4

 

High Desert Box Score:

OF Mario Mendez finishes up and is the most effective pitcher of the evening...

 GAME DATE: 6/04/04 HD at VIS HIGH DESERT 4 AT VISALIA 13 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG VISALIA AB R H BI AVG C.Crabbe 2B 3 1 2 1 .297 J.Salazar CF 4 2 2 3 .327 S.Candelaria RF 4 0 0 0 .262 K.Hendricks 2B 4 3 3 0 .279 D.Boyd LF 3 0 1 1 .287 J.Baker 3B 5 1 3 1 .335 T.Hinton 1B 4 0 2 0 .309 C.Fallon 1B 4 2 1 4 .286 F.Villanueva CAT 4 1 1 0 .248 S.Barker RF 5 1 1 2 .272 J.Frost DH 4 1 2 1 .287 R.Spilborghs LF 5 2 3 0 .295 K.Bibbs CF 4 1 1 1 .302 B.Gonzalez DH 3 1 1 1 .247 T.Farnsworth 3B 4 0 0 0 .167 A.Colina CAT 5 0 2 1 .215 E.Cruz SS 4 0 1 0 .226 D.Bernier SS 4 1 1 0 .245 K.Ballouli PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Asahina PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Nolasco PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Lynch PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Young PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Mendez PIT 0 0 0 0 .213 I.Pavlik PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 34 4 10 4 TOTALS 39 13 17 12 HIGH DESERT 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0- 4 10 1 VISALIA 0 1 3 0 6 0 3 0 X-13 17 1 E--T.Hinton, J.Baker. DP--HIGH DESERT 1, VISALIA 0. LOB--HIGH DESERT 5, VISALIA 8. 2B--J.Salazar (9), K.Hendricks (8), R.Spilborghs (12), B.Gonzalez (9). HR--J.Frost (3), J.Salazar (11), C.Fallon (5), S.Barker (6). SB--C.Crabbe (17), R.Spilborghs (3). SF--J.Salazar. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT K.Ballouli (L,3-6) 4.1 9 7 6 0 3 1 7.74 D.Nolasco 0.2 3 3 3 3 0 1 8.27 N.Slack 2.0 4 3 3 0 1 1 6.38 M.Mendez 1.0 1 0 0 2 2 0 9.00 VISALIA J.Asahina (W,1-2) 6.0 7 3 2 2 5 1 4.44 B.Lynch 0.1 3 1 1 0 0 0 27.00 C.Young 1.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.82 I.Pavlik 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.87 WP--K.Ballouli, D.Nolasco. PB--A.Colina. SO--S.Candelaria, D.Boyd 2, T.Hinton 2, J.Frost, T.Farnsworth, J.Baker, S.Barker, B.Gonzalez, A.Colina 2, D.Bernier. BB--C.Crabbe, D.Boyd, K.Hendricks, C.Fallon, B.Gonzalez 2, D.Bernier. T--3:04. A--1078

High Desert Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=18195

[huntsvillefan]

I know if I vent too much, I'll be patronised by the al knowing one, but I just have to share the highlight that summed the Huntsville game up!

In the 6th inning Encarnacion of the Lookouts (who had already homered in this inning) was standing on first, a ground ball was hit towards Chavez at shortstop.

Encarnacion started off from first to second at a brisk walk in a charitable effort to gift the Stars their third out and put a temporary halt to the carnage.

Chavez & Weeks reacted so slowly that Encarnacion had to actually stop between the bases and WAIT for them to get their act together and make the out.

At that point I left- even the promise of fireworks coudn't keep me there.

This years Pulitzer Prize for fiction goes to the official scorer who kept the error count to 5.

[huntsvillefan]

"until Kade Johnson's waiver situation is cleared up, Joel Alvarado is the team's lone catcher..."

 

What's happening with Kade?

Could someone post a link to the appropriate info please?

[JoeHova]

hvillefan-

 

 

they cut him from the 40 man to make room for Jeff Liefer.

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Times Game Story:

 

Stars forget to Lookout

Five errors play a role in disaster for Huntsville

By MARK McCARTER

Times Sports Staff markcolumn@aol.com

 

This was a lethal combination Friday, one of those 11th-grade chemistry class experiments that leaves you with your eyebrows singed and a hole in the ceiling tiles.

 

The Chattanooga Lookouts, the Southern League East leader, were batting .283 as a team. They were third in the league in runs scored and far-and-away tops in hits.

 

The Huntsville Stars pitching staff has been struggling of late in the three-game - make it four-game now losing streak.

 

Mix those two up and ...

 

Kaplowie!

 

The Lookouts mauled Huntsville 14-1 in an ugly performance that included five Stars errors, 16 Chattanooga hits, three runs scored on bases-loaded walks and another run produced by a passed ball.

 

Nice timing. The brand-new scoreboard, the video screen with its replay capability, all up and running - for this?

 

Bloody red numbers and nary a Huntsville highlight worth running. Fact is, the only Stars run came on a bases-loaded walk.

 

This was Girl Scouts Night, with troops of girls planning to camp out on the field after the game. Which meant that a bunch of restless girls had to sit through three-plus hours of this before pitching tents. Keep that in mind next year when the Ambers and Megans of the world come knocking on your door to sell Thin Mints and Tagalongs, and provide them pity.

 

The Stars pitchers have allowed 49 hits and 32 runs - only 20 earned thanks to sloppy defense - and six home runs in the last four games.

 

Afterward, manager Frank Kremblas dove into a plate of pasta at his office desk and took a "what's a guy to do?'' approach.

 

What can you say?

 

"Nothing,'' Kremblas said. "There's nothing to do. What can you do? We played bad and they played good and we got our butts kicked. I'm not going to get mad. We made some physical errors, some plays we should have made. But I don't think it helps to scream at everybody. If they're not giving the effort, yeah. But they were playing hard.''

 

Chattanooga had four runs before it even made an out. Huntsville starter Jeff Housman (1-4) hit outfielder Chad Durham with a pitch to begin the game - and it went downhill from there. Leftfielder Brad Nelson dropped a fly ball, then the Lookouts stitched together three singles and a walk and took advantage of a passed ball.

 

Jesse Gutierrez homered to trigger a three-run third in which the Lookouts got five more hits off Housman.

 

The Stars avoided the shutout with a fourth-inning run when Joel Alvarado drew a bases-loaded walk off Lookouts' starter Steve Kelly (4-3), who got his first win since April 28.

 

The Stars host the Lookouts tonight at 7:05, with Chris Saenz (4-2) facing Brian Rose (4-2).

 

Rose is the former big leaguer (Red Sox). -- MassBrew

[MassBrew]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 29 23 .558[/b] COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 29 23 .558 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 29 26 .527 1.5 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 26 28 .481 4.0

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 31 24 .564 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 28 27 .509 3.0 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 28 27 .509 3.0[/b] BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 27 28 .491 4.0 MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 24 31 .436 7.0

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 33 21 .611 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 31 24 .564 2.5 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 27 27 .500 6.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 27 27 .500 6.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 20 35 .364 13.5[/b]

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 32 21 .604 KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 32 22 .593 .5 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 32 22 .593 .5 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 29 26 .527 4.0[/b] CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 27 26 .509 5.0 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 23 27 .460 7.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 24 30 .444 8.5 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 17 38 .309 16.0

[MassBrew]

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

 

REID, WE NEED A BAT!

I know the minors are all about development and not so much the number of wins and losses and league titles your affiliates win, so I'm going to play the devil's advocate here........ So given that, one can possibly look past numbers to reason why a major league team makes what looks to you Stars fans like stupid decisions that affect its minor league affiliates.

 

Two days after pitcher Tim Bausher was waived by the Brewers, Kade Johnson has now been placed on waivers to make room on the Brewers' 40-man roster for former Birmingham Baron Jeff Liefer, who was called up to Milwaukee......... Kade is, in effect, no longer a member of the Huntsville Stars, and for the next three days, any major league team can sign him to a contract and assign him to their farm system........ If they all pass on Kade, and I think this is unlikely, Milwaukee can reassign him, probably back to Huntsville, or just release him........ Bausher is, I'm told, unclaimed with one day left.........

 

You're going to ask yourself what's going on with this organization, why decimate the Stars' roster when it's still desperately in a race, three games in back of 1st and a little more than two weeks to go in the first half....... The Brewers have never done what the A's used to do --- but from Milwaukee's point of view, this may have more to do with what they see as each player's potential for success in the organization with the amateur draft coming up Monday.....

 

Tim Bausher's 2.40 ERA in April made you think he was effective, but six of the ten runs he gave up in April were unearned. He continued to give up just two earned runs per start in May, but at the end of the month, his ERA for the month was 3.72. He also served up six home runs in 29 innings in May........ His last two starts (Mobile and Montgomery) were abysmal, giving up eight earned runs in a little over 11 innings........ While his strikeout ratio has been good (2.8-1), the league was hitting .272 against him........ Last week, before a game against Mobile, pitching coach Fred Dabney took him aside for a bullpen session with Joel Alvarado, worked with him one-on-one and tried to exorcise some bad habits that were poisoning him, and I think Dabs was trying, also, to shake out a losing attitude........ Who's to say who gave up on who now.

 

As for Kade, although he can really power the ball at any unexpected moment, there haven't been enough of those moments to really satisfy those who evaluate him. He just never hit for average as was expected........ It's bad timing, I believe, because it leaves the Stars with one experienced catcher, Alvarado, who is better defensively than Kade, but can't hit a grapefruit off a tee. We're in desparate straits behind the plate, but tomorrow, I'm told, the Stars will get a catcher......... Unfortunately, I've learned it won't be John Vanden Berg, Lou Palmisano, or even Charlie Lozado, who was called up during the playoffs last year to serve as a bullpen catcher and emergency backstop........ Brian Opdyke, the Brewers' 5th round draft pick last year? Who knows? I talked to Robert Portnoy who was told all this by Frank, but he forgot the name........

 

(Since David posted this, we've since learned that Nestor Corredor is the catcher named -- we've detailed his past in the Transactions thread for June, linked here, which many of you have probably already read. -- MassBrew)

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/viewtopic.php?t=2207.topic

 

Getting back to Kade, one other reason I can see for placing him on waivers was the talent trying to climb the ladder behind him, and specifically, it's those names I mentioned --- Vanden Berg, who is hitting .308 at High Desert, and Palmisano, the Brewers # 3 draft pick last year, who is in Beloit and has been on track. I know little about how he's done defensively, but Palmisano is a year away from joining the Stars, imho, so let's scratch him for now........ Also with the draft coming up, the Stars may want to make room....... Reportedly, they're going after a pitcher first and they have one of three from Rice University in their sights.........

 

Although the loss of Bausher and Johnson looks stupid on the surface, there may be some method to the Brewers' madness, but the loss of these two players is awful in its timing.

 

Although the Stars kept from sliding another game in back of the Diamond Jaxx tonight, it seems things have just gotten more sour in multiples......... The Stars have now lost four straight.........With just one player on the bench for the Stars (Thursday, they didn't have any), the Stars were routed Friday night for their worst loss since becoming a Milwaukee affiliate........ Not since May 31, 1998 had the Stars lost by 13 runs........

 

It was just a fiasco from start to finish. The Stars only run came on a bases-loaded walk to Alvarado, his 4th RBI on the year and his first since May 13........ But one play early in the game really set the tone........ Had Brad Nelson made a clean catch off William Bergolla in the 1st inning, there may not have been a five-run 1st and the whole complexion of the game may have changed....... Then again, maybe not........ Four more errors would follow and in the end, Stars pitchers would allow eight unearned runs.

 

In the 1st inning, after Jeff Housman hit Chad Durham on the rump with an 0-1 pitch, William Bergolla, on 2-2, sent a rather deep fly ball out to left not far from the line. Nelson kind of lost sight of it, then lost direction....... I've seen Tony Gwynn, Jr. get away with this and make the play without losing his equilibrium, but after turning one way, then another, Nelson was dizzied and the ball hit off the heel of his glove for a two-base error........ Make the catch, and Nelson, who is coming in on the ball at the last moment, would have had a chance to double up Durham, and you have two out and nobody on.

 

Instead this happens........ Edwin Encarnacion singles to left, scoring Durham from third and moving Bergolla to third........ Housman issues his only walk (to Jesse Gutierrez) to load the bases, then another key error comes into play........ Jeff Bannon hits a single to the gap in left-center, fielded by Gwynn. That easily scores Bergolla, but Gwynn bobbles and drops the ball before winging it home to get an aggressive Encarnacion. He scores, Gutierrez moving to third and Bannon to second on the throw........ On a 2-2 pitch to Jason Hill, Alvarado loses the ball behind him and Gutierrez scores to make it 4-0....... Although Hill strikes out looking at a breaking ball, Andrew Beattie singles through the left side of the infield into center, scoring Bannon......... 5-0........ Housman then gets Ramon Moreta on a first-pitch liner straight to Nelson, then strikes out starter Steve Kelly.

 

Good teams overcome this kind of lead......... They turn a 5-0 mountain into a 5-3 hill, then win in the end, 6-5. The Yankees did this recently........ Housman had a 1-2-3 2nd inning, thanks to fine plays by Tony Jr. on a deep fly ball to the track, and Ozzie Chavez, who made a nice play in the hole. But the errors continued, and when there weren't errors, there was just sloppy bad baseball. In the 3rd, Jason Hill hit a blooper that fell between Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, and Johnny Raburn for a double....... Hill would eventually score when an easy play by Chris Barnwell on a grounder by Steve Kelly, sailed away toward the dugout.........

 

Raburn, playing right, had a chance to double up Jason Hill on 1st in the 6th. Instead the throw was offline to Fielder and a Chattanooga rally continued....... In that same inning, a barely accurate throw by Weeks to first thwarted a double play....... There were pitches thrown by all four hurlers who took the mound for the Stars that were way inside and a whisker from hitting the batter...... There were so many mistakes in the field, some of them leading to runs, some not, that I don't have the time to mention them all........ The first pitch by Reggie Rivard, in relief of Glenn Woolard in the 6th, came back to him, but instead of getting an easy double play out of it, threw the ball wildly in the direction of Chavez, scoring a run and leading to another........

 

Jeff Housman was forced to struggle through all those mistakes, threw some of his own, and in the end, left after throwing 70 pitches, 44 (63%) for strikes. Housman came into this game 8th among SL ERA leaders....... Hitters on this team continue to struggle. Gwynn, Jr. is 3-for-18 in his last six games....... Weeks is 2-for-17 (.118) in his last five games and 7-for-52 (.135) in his last 15 games......... Fielder finally had his first three-hit game since May 10. He had four of these in April........ The Stars have now hit .204 for this month. We could use some bats.

 

Pitching coach Fred Dabney says Mike Jones has made excellent progress, and will pitch a simulated game tomorrow, and there's an outside chance he may pitch an inning or two on this homestand.

 

An uncharacteristic laugher at the Stars expense did not spoil the fans enjoyment of what is nearly a fully functional scoreboard........ The bright-red LED lights were turned down for better visibility, the balls and strikes were working, the new video board was just awesome and was used liberally to show the crowd between innings, and stats during the game, and even instant replays. The clarity is exceptional........ The only thing the Stars are still waiting is a part for the radar gun that will show the pitch speed between the two ad signs below the line score. That, hopefully, is expected to come Wednesday.

 

The Cubs released pitcher Ben Christensen, and signed with the Seattle Mariners, who assigned him to San Antonio......... The White Sox signed former Stars pitcher Ken Ray, who was 2-1, 2.93 in 31 games last year. So far with the Class A - Winston-Salem Warthogs, he's 3-0 with a 4.95 ERA in 11 games including one start.

[MassBrew]

High Desert Game Story:

The opponent's account in Visalia is all we'll get today...

 

www.visaliatimesdelta.com...80546.html