Link Report for Games of Wednesday, May 19th

[MassBrew]

Wednesday's Daily Menu -- if you're ambitious, you could probably listen to Huntsville, Indy, Milwaukee, and High Desert back-to-back-to-back-to-back and perhaps not miss a single pitch -- who's up for it? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

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. Columbus (Yankees), 2:00 PM; good luck getting either audio link to actually work...

 

Audio link:

www.newstalk1430.com/

 

Alternate audio link (Clippers' feed):

www.wsmz.com/

 

HUNTSVILLE: RHP Chris Saenz at Birmingham (White Sox), 11:00 AM

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

HIGH DESERT: LHP Manny Parra at home vs. Inland Empire (Mariners), 9:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: Idle

[BrewCrewInMN]

some big time starters going for us today. Can't wait to see what Manny can do in his second start back. Also a big start for Saenz as he tries to prove that cup o' coffee in Milwaukee was no fluke after he has been hit his last few starts. Question for you guys, what will it take for Parra to get to Huntsville, or is that just an inevitability after a few more starts, regardless of how he pitches?

[hardytheman]

This will be mannys third start back, FYI.

 

second, Expect parra to move to huntsville after another month.

[flbrewer]

Anyone going to be listening to the Huntsville game, if so I would appreciate an update or two?? Thanks if advance.

[deeswan]

Huntsville audio link not working, Eyecentric has the game starting at 8:00 pm EST, not sure if that has something to do with it or not. Anyone else having trouble??

 

The Birmingham website also list the game as starting at 8:00 EST; both the Huntsville site and Sportsnetwork.com list the game at 11:00 CST. Anybody have any idea which is correct. At this point I'm inclined to believe the evening time.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I just got the Huntsville link to work, and a conservative talk show is on the air...no stars game. I think it must be tonight then.

[huntsvillefan]

The radio just confirmed 7.00pm CST start (that's what the Atars' schedule says too)

[Kraft4a3]

The Columbus audio link is working nicely. Still can't get the Indy feed. Columbus announcer sounds solid. I can give updates until 2:45. I am going to miss or butcher a lot of the Columbus names.

 

Top of 1st

Crosby lined out

Bragg solid single

Phillips flies out to warning track

(Pedro balks Bragg to 2nd. Didn't come set.)

Clean-up batter K

 

Bottom 1

Knox - Walks

Scarborough 6-4-3

Hart 1st pitch bouncer 5-3.

 

Top 2

Dierdorf - 5-3

Next Batter K

Kosmay K

 

Bottom 2

Liefer Looping Single

Nunnally F-6

Magruder Flies Out

Sheldon Singles up the middle.(Liefer to 3rd)

Delgado 6-4

 

Top 3

Myro 1-2 pitch is singled sharply to center

(Delgado throws out Myro) Failed Hit & Run?

Fasano K's on next pitch

Crosby jammed F-8

 

Bottom 3

Figueroa 6-3

Knox U3

Scarborough K (not happy about call)

 

Top 4

Bragg another solid single

Phillips (Diving catch by Knox on the line in Left)

Bento (Sheldon with a diving stop to cut the lead runner)

Dierdorf K

 

Bottom 4

0-0 gotta go

 

Top 5

Pedro set em down 1-2-3 I gather

 

Pick it back up in the Bottom 5

Sounded like the Tribe had runners at 1st and 3rd one out and Knox grounded into a well turned DP

Still 0-0

 

Top 6 (Sounds like some great D being played.)

Fasano K

Crosby F-4

Bragg singles (now 3-3)

Phillips E-9 (Hart Drops a running catch, jinxed 'em)

Runners 1st & 3rd

Bento K

 

Pedro is starting to pile up the K's on a team that doesn't K often. Still 0-0 thru 5 1/2

 

Bottom 6

Scarborough F-8

Hart K (Pitching him inside effectively)

Liefer sharp single (Now has 7 hits in the series)

Nunnally K

 

Top 7

Dierdorf K

Betts K (Looking, not happy of course)

Kosmay (Nice play by Scott to take 1b away)

 

Pedro with 10 K's for Indy. Individual and Team highs for the year.

 

Bottom 7

Magruder F-8

Sheldon Fouls Out

Delgado 1st pitch 4-3

 

Top 8

Pedro Out. Dan Reichert In.

Myro 4-3

Fasano K (looking on a bender)

Crosby K

 

Still 0-0

 

Bottom 8

(Brad Hulsy still in and pitching well)

Figueroa F-6

Knox Solid Single (Knox Steals 2nd)

(Hulsy out, Scott Procter in)

Scarborough doubles over the wall

(Knox scores on Ground Rule Double)

Hart K

Liefer lines one over the right fielder

(Scarborough Scores)

Nunnally K

 

2-0 Indy

 

Top 9

(Reichert still in)

Bragg Singles (4-4 today, advances to 2nd on WP)

Phillips BB

Bento (Indy almost turns a game ending triple play, Figueroa's throw to 1st is high) 5-4 DP

Dierdorf Singles (2 men on 2 out)

Betts 5-3

 

Indy wins 2-0 on a nice outing by Pedro, and some solid defense.

[Member]

Nice job on the Indy game, Kraft4a3.

[huntsvillefan]

Lost 0-7.

Prince got a hit !

Saenz perhaps confirming that the Brewers were right to take Ben up. His trip to the show hasn't helped him here he gave up 5 ER in 6 innings (though apparently 2 of them might have been counted as errors on bunts)

[MassBrew]

Final: Indianapolis 2, Columbus (Yankees) 0

 

Indianapolis Post-Game Press Release:

 

Indianapolis starter Pedro Liriano had his best outing of the season Wednesday afternoon as the Indians defeated Columbus, 2-0. Liriano pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out 10. Dan Reichert (2-0) finished the game, pitching two scoreless innings, earning the victory. Reichert now has a league-leading 0.84 ERA.

Indianapolis improves to 22-15, Columbus falls to 18-19 giving the Tribe a four game lead in the IL West. The Indians scored both runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, keyed by Steve Scarborough?s run scoring double.

 

TRIBE HIT PARADE:

 

Ryan Knox, 1-3, R, BB

 

Steve Scarborough, 1-4, R, 2B, RBI, SO

 

Jeff Liefer, 3-4, 2B, RBI

 

TRIBE HILL TOPPERS:

 

Pedro Liriano, 7 IP, 4 H, 10 SO

 

Dan Reichert, 2 IP, 1 H, BB, 2 SO

 

QUOTES:

 

Steve Scarborough, Indianapolis shortstop on game winning hit: "Their pitcher was the best left-hander that we have faced all year," said Scarborough. "You could tell he was getting tired. We knew that everybody?s bullpen was shot. At first, I tried to bunt but I fouled off a high fastball. Then, Knox stole second base. I hit a fastball over the outer half of the plate and the ball kept going. Both pitchers were really on today."

 

Pedro Liriano, Indianapolis starting pitcher on today?s performance: "Today was very good," said Liriano. "The only pitch that was working for me was my fastball. I had a lot of movement today. I am very happy that we won. I?m just trying to help the team. We are all just working together. We are going to get better and better. We play together as a team."

 

NOTES:

 

Indianapolis had scored an average of 12.5 runs during the past four games at Victory Field. Liriano?s 10 strikeouts sets the individual season high in that category.

 

Reichert has not allowed an earned run during his last 15.2 innings pitched.

 

Liefer and Luis Figueroa extended their hitting streaks to six games.

 

Indianapolis is 19-0 when leading after eight innings and is 11-7 at home.

 

Thursday?s probables are LHP Chris Capuano (0-1, 21.00) and Columbus LHP Alex Graman (2-2 3.38). Graman is a native of Huntingburg, Ind.

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 5/19/04 COL at IND COLUMBUS 0 AT INDIANAPOLIS 2 YTD YTD COLUMBUS AB R H BI AVG INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG B.Crosby CF 4 0 0 0 .314 R.Knox LF 3 1 1 0 .276 D.Bragg LF 4 0 4 0 .304 S.Scarbrough SS 4 1 1 1 .253 A.Phillips 2B 3 0 0 0 .344 C.Hart RF 4 0 0 0 .279 M.Vento RF 4 0 0 0 .276 J.Liefer 1B 4 0 3 1 .318 J.Deardorff 3B 4 0 0 0 .263 J.Nunnally CF 3 0 0 0 .276 T.Betts DH 3 0 0 0 .272 C.Magruder DH 3 0 0 0 .281 C.Cosme SS 3 0 0 0 .289 S.Sheldon 3B 3 0 2 0 .173 B.Myrow 1B 3 0 1 0 .248 A.Delgado CAT 3 0 0 0 .095 S.Fasano CAT 3 0 0 0 .232 L.Figueroa 2B 3 0 1 0 .271 B.Halsey PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Liriano PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Proctor PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Reichert PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 31 0 5 0 TOTALS 30 2 8 2 COLUMBUS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 5 0 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 X- 2 8 1 E--C.Hart. DP--COLUMBUS 1, INDIANAPOLIS 2. LOB--COLUMBUS 5, INDIANAPOLIS 6. 2B--S.Scarbrough (8), J.Liefer (9). SB--R.Knox (4). CS--B.Myrow. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA COLUMBUS B.Halsey (L,2-2) 7.1 6 1 1 2 3 0 3.86 S.Proctor 0.2 2 1 1 0 2 0 1.86 INDIANAPOLIS P.Liriano 7.0 4 0 0 0 10 0 4.25 D.Reichert (W,2-0) 2.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.84 WP--D.Reichert. BALKS--P.Liriano. SO--B.Crosby, M.Vento 2, J.Deardorff 2, T.Betts 2, C.Cosme 2, S.Fasano 3, S.Scarbrough, C.Hart 2, J.Nunnally 2. BB--A.Phillips, R.Knox, J.Nunnally. T--2:08. A--5667

[MassBrew]

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 7, Huntsville 0

Stars go hitless over the final eight innings...

 

Huntsville Game Summary (Sports Network):

 

Jim Bullard threw five shutout innings and Mike Spidale turned in a three-hit performance to lead the Birmingham Barons over the Huntsville Stars, 7-0. The Stars (20-20) have lost four straight games, while the Barons (22-17) have reeled off two straight.

 

Bullard picked up his second win of the season after he allowed two hits and no runs. He struck out five batters to improve to 2-1. The Barons' bullpen shut the door on the Stars as they did not allow a hit over the final three innings.

 

Spidale went 3-for-4 with a run scored, a triple and two RBI to lead the Barons. Aaron McNeal knocked his 10th home run of the season, a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth.

 

Huntsville's Chris Saenz suffered his second loss of the year. He gave up nine hits, five earned runs, two walks and struck out four in six innings of work. He is 3-2.

 

Anthony Gwynn and Prince Fielder were the only Stars to manage a hit in the effort.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 5/19/04 HVL at BIR HUNTSVILLE 0 AT BIRMINGHAM 7 YTD YTD HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG R.Weeks 2B 3 0 0 0 .272 G.Reyes SS 5 1 3 0 .318 A.Gwynn CF 4 0 1 0 .239 M.Spidale LF 4 1 3 2 .317 P.Fielder 1B 4 0 1 0 .272 N.Murphy CF 5 0 1 1 .282 B.Nelson RF 3 0 0 0 .281 C.Maldonado CAT 3 0 0 1 .250 J.Belcher DH 3 0 0 0 .296 S.Bikowski RF 4 0 2 1 .267 C.Barnwell 3B 2 0 0 0 .213 A.McNeal 1B 4 1 1 1 .238 B.Gemoll LF 3 0 0 0 .213 R.Sasser 3B 4 1 1 0 .242 J.Alvarado CAT 3 0 0 0 .189 C.Stewart DH 4 0 1 1 .242 E.Cruz SS 3 0 0 0 .175 J.Shaffer 2B 2 3 1 0 .140 C.Saenz PIT 0 0 0 0 .364 J.Bullard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Novinsky PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Allen PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.McNichol PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Smith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Bajenaru PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 28 0 2 0 TOTALS 35 7 13 7 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 2 0 BIRMINGHAM 0 0 1 0 1 1 3 1 X- 7 13 0 DP--HUNTSVILLE 0, BIRMINGHAM 0. LOB--HUNTSVILLE 3, BIRMINGHAM 8. 2B--R.Sasser (9). 3B--M.Spidale (2). HR--A.McNeal (10). SB--C.Barnwell (6). CS--A.Gwynn, S.Bikowski. HBP--C.Barnwell, M.Spidale. SF--C.Maldonado. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HUNTSVILLE C.Saenz (L,3-2) 6.0 9 5 5 2 4 1 4.58 J.Novinsky 2.0 4 2 2 0 3 0 4.34 BIRMINGHAM J.Bullard (W,2-1) 5.0 2 0 0 0 5 0 3.68 W.Allen 0.2 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.86 B.McNichol 1.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.09 M.Smith 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.21 J.Bajenaru 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.55 HB--J.Novinsky, J.Bullard. WP--J.Novinsky 2. SO--A.Gwynn, B.Nelson, J.Belcher, B.Gemoll 2, J.Alvarado, E.Cruz, G.Reyes, M.Spidale, N.Murphy 2, A.McNeal 2, C.Stewart. BB--R.Weeks, J.Shaffer 2. T--2:28. A--3538

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=15640

[MassBrew]

In progress: Inland Empire (Mariners) 3, High Desert 3, after six innings

[lend d money]

I was very impressed with his live arm last year during my trips to Huntsville. However, he seemed to tire after 5 or 6 innings, perhaps due to his slender build. Nice to see him post 10K's and go 7 innings.

[MassBrew]

Final: Inland Empire (Mariners) 4, High Desert 3

Mavs go hitless over the final four innings; Chris Morris getting caught stealing in the ninth hurt; Manny Parra a victim of the defense, allowing three unearned runs...

[mls4]

Disappointing Mavs game, especially after leading 3-0 in the 1st on a 3-run HR by Hinton, they couldn't score afterwards. Inland Empire scored the winning run in the 8th, I believe it was off David Bradley for the loss.

[Al the Thinking Man]

Liriano has to be the most underrated SP prospect the Crew has. Nothing but raves about him from Yost and staff this spring, has done nicely at each level, and he's still rarely mentioned as even a possible part of the future, even as a reliever.

 

And while it's AAA, and .366/.367 isn't all that impressive, the idea that Scarborough was nothing but a AA wonder seems to have been a bit premature. His ceiling appears to be no higher than a utility player, but I'd sure love to have that possibility.

[pogokat]

High Desert Box Score:

TH/DH Goes Yawd...

 GAME DATE: 5/19/04 INL at HD INLAND EMPIRE 4 AT HIGH DESERT 3 YTD YTD INLAND EMPIRE AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG J.Gonzalez SS 4 0 0 0 .311 K.Bibbs CF 4 0 2 0 .317 J.Guzman 3B 4 1 1 0 .297 C.Crabbe 2B 3 1 1 0 .273 G.Harris CF 3 0 0 0 .258 D.Boyd LF 3 1 0 0 .297 H.Cho 2B 1 0 1 1 .306 T.Hinton 1B 4 1 1 3 .311 T.Bohn RF 3 1 0 0 .307 J.Vanden ber CAT 4 0 0 0 .330 T.Bohn CF 0 0 0 0 .307 S.Candelaria 3B 4 0 1 0 .235 P.Balet DH 4 2 0 0 .284 C.Morris PR 0 0 0 0 .298 R.Rivera CAT 4 0 0 0 .312 J.Frost DH 4 0 1 0 .261 M.Rogelstad 2B 4 0 1 0 .261 M.Mendez RF 3 0 0 0 .221 M.Rogelstad LF 0 0 0 0 .261 O.Chavez SS 2 0 0 0 .317 M.Hagen 1B 4 0 2 1 .214 M.Parra PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Arroyo LF 4 0 1 0 .308 D.Bradley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Arroyo RF 0 0 0 0 .308 J.Sandoval PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Rowland-Sm PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Martinez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 4 6 2 TOTALS 31 3 6 3 INLAND EMPIRE 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 0- 4 6 1 HIGH DESERT 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 3 6 4 E--M.Hagen, T.Hinton, M.Mendez, O.Chavez 2. DP--INLAND EMPIRE 2, HIGH DESERT 1. LOB--INLAND EMPIRE 5, HIGH DESERT 4. 2B--J.Guzman (8), M.Hagen (7), K.Bibbs (4). HR--T.Hinton (4). SB--C.Crabbe (13). CS--C.Morris. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INLAND EMPIRE J.Sandoval 5.0 6 3 3 3 4 1 4.91 R.Rowland-Sm (W,2-0) 2.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.98 M.Martinez (S,3) 2.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 5.14 HIGH DESERT M.Parra 6.0 3 3 0 1 4 0 4.15 D.Bradley (L,2-2) 3.0 3 1 1 0 3 0 3.86 WP--D.Bradley. SO--G.Harris 3, R.Rivera, M.Rogelstad, M.Hagen, C.Arroyo, K.Bibbs, D.Boyd 2, J.Vanden ber 3, J.Frost 2, M.Mendez. BB--T.Bohn, C.Crabbe, D.Boyd, O.Chavez. T--2:27. A--1280

High Desert Game Log:

That's an outstanding performance for Manny Parra, you realize especially so after reviewing the game log -- MB

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=17906

[MassBrew]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 22 15 .595[/b] TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 20 20 .500 3.5 COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 18 19 .486 4.0 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 18 21 .462 5.0

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 22 17 .564 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 22 17 .564 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 21 19 .525 1.5 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 20 20 .500 2.5[/b] MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 15 25 .375 7.5

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 25 15 .625 LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 22 16 .579 2.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 21 17 .553 3.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 19 19 .500 5.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 15 25 .375 10.0[/b]

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 24 15 .615 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 23 16 .590 1.0 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 22 17 .564 2.0 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 22 17 .564 2.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 21 18 .538 3.0[/b] QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 18 20 .474 5.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 17 22 .436 7.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 13 26 .333 11.0

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Star Game Story and Photo:

Yes, actual coverage!

 

Tribe pitchers stifle Clippers

Liriano, Reichert combine to produce Indianapolis' 1st shutout of the season.

By Terry Hutchens

terry.hutchens@indystar.com

 

In the first two games of their series against Columbus, the Indianapolis Indians amassed 27 runs and 31 hits while recording a pair of victories.

 

Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field, Steve Scarborough and Jeff Liefer knocked in the only runs with eighth-inning doubles in a 2-0 victory over the Clippers.

 

All of which came as no surprise to Tribe manager Cecil Cooper. He said it's simply the nature of the game.

 

"Any time you get wild games where you score a bunch of runs or get a bunch of hits, usually the very next game it's two hits and maybe no runs," Cooper said.

 

After winning 12-4 and 15-11 in the previous two games, the Indians won their third in a row with their first shutout this season. Indianapolis (22-15) leads Toledo by 3 1/2 games and Columbus by four in the International League's West Division. The Clippers entered the four-game series trailing the Tribe by one game, and had won six in a row.

 

Pedro Liriano and Dan Reichert combined on the six-hit shutout, with Reichert recording his second victory this season. He pitched the final two scoreless innings and has posted 15 2/3 consecutive shutout innings in relief. He leads the International League with a 0.84 ERA.

 

Liriano, despite earning his fifth no-decision in eight starts, tossed a gem. The sinkerball-throwing right-hander went seven innings, allowing four hits, no walks and striking out a season-high 10 batters.

 

The most he has struck out in a game was 13 in the Dominican Summer League in 2000.

 

"We don't expect Pedro to strike out guys like that," Cooper said. "That's not his game. He has to let his ball sink down into the zone. (Wednesday) he was down in the zone. He looked like he had a pretty decent (slider) and changeup and he stayed down.

 

"We want him to get ground balls, not strikeouts. The glamour thing for a young guy is to strike guys out, but we don't want him to start thinking that way."

 

Liriano, who entered with a 5.09 ERA, was just happy to get people out. He said Wednesday was easily his best performance of the season.

 

"I had very good stuff," Liriano said. "I had good movement on my fastball and I felt like I had all three of my pitches working. It would be nice to get the win, but the most important thing is that I want to go out and do my job. It seems like a lot of times when I'm pitching well that we don't score a lot of runs, but I can't worry about that."

 

The Tribe's record is 7-1 when Liriano starts, but his record is only 2-1.

 

Columbus pitcher Brad Halsey matched Liriano for seven innings before giving way to reliever Scott Proctor. Halsey allowed six hits, walked two and struck out three.

 

Call Star reporter Terry Hutchens at (317) 444-6469.

 

Indians starter Pedro Liriano held Columbus scoreless for seven innings but did not earn a victory. -- Jae S. Lee / The Star

 

http://www.indystar.com/images/pics2/image-147986-1679.jpg

[MassBrew]

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

 

JASON SHELLEY ACTIVATED

The only things positive tonight we're hearing that Jason Shelley is ready to return to action and Prince Fielder snapped his 0-for-slide........ The Stars managed just four baserunners the whole night, but Fielder snapped an 0-for-19 slump with a single to center on a 3-2 pitch from Jim Bullard in the 1st inning...... Shelley has been rehabbing in Arizona after having bone chips removed during the winter. He'll be in uniform tomorrow (Thursday).

 

Normally a middle reliever, Bullard made his second start of the season, a spot start after Tetsu Yofu was promoted to Class AAA Charlotte. He held the Stars to the only two hits they would get........ Tony Gwynn, Jr. singled to right, also in the 1st, but he would be erased trying to steal with Prince at the plate........ Bullard was 5-3 with a 3.69 ERA for Birmingham last year in 53 appearances, but he totally dominated the Stars....... Last year, he appeared in 12 games against the Stars, including two of his six starts, and was 2-1 with a microscopic 1.21 ERA in 22 1/3 innings, striking out eight of 17 in an August 26 start he won.

 

Four relievers split the rest of the night, holding the Stars hitless for four innings, giving up just one walk, that from Wyatt Allen to Rickie Weeks in the top of the 6th........ I guess the pen needed the work, but the Barons have done this before, bringing out six pitchers on the last day of the 2002 season to beat the Stars, 1-0 in ten innings.

 

With a 1-0 lead in the 5th and one out, and a .300 hitting Mike Spidale at the plate with runners on the corners, Birmingham manager Razor Shines crossed up the Stars by calling for the squeeze....... Spidale obliged on a 1-1 pitch with a perfect bunt in front of the plate. The bizarre call caught Chris Saenz flat-footed and he had to eat the baseball, but Saenz got out of the rest of the inning, striking out Nate Murphy and retiring Carlos Maldonado on a fly ball to left.......... Saenz threw 89 pitches tonight, 57 (64%) for strikes.

 

The Barons made it 3-0 on a home run under the scoreboard in right-center by Aaron McNeal, one of a few veteran free agents signed by the Barons over the off-season. This is McNeal's 9th professional season. This is McNeal's 5th organization. He hit .291 in 59 games for the Mobile Bay Bears in 2001........ The Barons continued to score late and hand the Stars their 4th straight loss, one shy of their season high.

 

The Stars have been outscored 24-7 during this recent slide and outhit 42-20. After a .241 April, the Stars are hitting just .229 this month........ Brandon Gemoll has replaced Fielder with the longest hitless streak, going 0-for-18 going back to May 12....... The shelf is full of empty at-bats. Joel Alvarado is 3-for-29 in his last nine games, Kade Johnson is 3-for-38 (.079) in May, and Jason Belcher is 1-for-10 in his last 4 games.

 

Thursday night, Ryan Costello, who hurled six scoreless three-hit innings against the G'Braves in his last start, will face Heath Phillips (4-2, 2.81). Phillips is coming off a 1-0 loss to Mobile in a pitching duel with Brian Whitaker.

 

Brad Thompson made minor league history before over 3,000 fans at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tennessee outside Knoxville, as his scoreless inning streak came to an end at a record 57 2/3 innings........ Mike Dzurilla singled in Richard Lewis in the 6th inning of an 11-2 win for the Smokies...... Thompson's record dates back to the 2003 season when he pitched for Peoria of the Midwest League and Palm Beach in the Florida State League.

[MassBrew]

High Desert Site Game Summary:

 

An eighth inning run proved to be the difference as the High Desert Mavericks lost a heartbreaker in a 4-3 decision to the Inland Empire 66ers, in front of 1,280 at Mavericks Stadium on Wednesday night.

 

Both teams had allowed a combined total of two hits in the middle innings and went into the eighth with the score tied at three. Jesus Guzman led off the inning with a double over centerfielder Callix Crabbe?s head, and scored the game?s deciding run on an RBI single by Hyung Cho, who came into the game two innings prior after Gary Harris was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

 

The Mavs (15-25) posed a minor threat in the bottom of the ninth when Chris Morris came on to pinch-run for Scott Candelaria with one out, who had reached on an error. But Morris was gunned down trying to steal second, preceding Jeremy Frost?s strikeout to end the game.

 

Three first-inning runs helped the Mavs stake claim to a 3-0 lead, when Travis Hinton drilled a three-run homer to right-center, over the 415-foot sign, off Sixers starter Juan Sandoval. Inland Empire fought back in the second when Matt Hagen?s RBI single cut the lead to 3-1.

 

Inland Empire tied the game in the fourth when the Sixers cashed in on two runs linked to three Mavericks errors ? one by Hinton, one by Mario Mendez, and one by Ozzie Chavez.

 

High Desert then fell victim to a warmed-up Inland Empire pitching staff that ranks amongst the top in the California League, as Sandoval, Ryan Rowland-Smith, and Miguel Martinez combined to retire 12 Mavericks in a row, spanning the fifth through ninth innings.

 

Rowland-Smith (2-0) collected the win with two relief innings of perfect ball, while Mavs reliever David Bradley (2-2) got pinned with the loss. Miguel Martinez faced the minimum six batters in the last two innings to pick up his third save for Inland Empire .

 

The Mavericks wrap up their three-game series with Inland Empire and homestand in a 10:00 AM (Noon Central) morning affair, as Khalid Ballouli (2-3) will get the start for the Mavericks against Inland Empire ?s Bobby Livingston (6-0).

[Kraft4a3]

Quote:

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Nice job on the Indy game, Kraft4a3.

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It is amazing what you will do to avoid work. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

A confirmation that new third baseman Troy Farnsworth has been assigned to High Desert...

 

www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...8745,2381,

[lend d money]

I would have to agree with you on Scarborough. I always liked his defensive ability. Now, they have him playing 3B. In the past, he has played 2B very well and Ok at SS. This makes him potentially valuable to a National League organization. If we were still in the AL(not you, but the league)http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif , I would say he probably would much less value.