Link Report for Games of Tuesday, May 11th

[Katuluu]

Taubenheim should be starting in Beloit. Especially until Kloosterman gets everything sorted out.

[madbad2000]

You know Kat I agree....but I also want to see Stetter given a shot at going longer. Kloosterman is so smooth I wonder what is wrong...if he's overly trying to locate instead of pitch or what. Taubenheim just keeps on dealing and Stetter reminds me of a Kelly Wunsch type, tall lefty with a sweeping curve and a heck of a fastball.

 

6'7" 240....hmmm not sure if I can believe that...Pena looks to be the tallest in my memory. I'll try to look out for that tomorrow if I go to the game.

[brewcrewkid14]

EDIT**

7th inning: Huntsville 5, Mobile 3

 

Mobile score 2 in the opening inning. Stars came up in the 3rd and score 2 runs to tie it up. Mobile then came back in the bottom of the inning and scored 1 to make it 3-2 Mobile. Then in the top of the 4th, 3 Stars touch Home plate to make it 5-3 Huntsville.

 

9th inning: Beloit 7, Cedar Rapids 3

 

CR scores in the top of the 8th to cut to a 4 run deficit.

[DHonks]

madbad, what can you report on Dillard? Is he a groundball machine like was reported last year? How hard is he throwing? I guess his sinker (from what I've read) intrigues me. He could be someone to succeed in HD.

[MassBrew]

Final: Ottawa (Orioles) 3, Indianapolis 2

 

Sports Network Game Wrap:

 

Mike Fontenot drove in the go-ahead run and Jose Leon homered twice to lift the Ottawa Lynx to a 3-2 victory on Tuesday over the Indianapolis Indians.

 

Indianapolis (18-12) led 2-0 as the game headed into the bottom of the fifth inning. Leon's homer off Indians' starter Mike Adams cut the lead in half.

 

In the seventh, Leon blasted his eighth homer of the season to tie the game at 2-2. After Darnell McDonald struck out, Eddy Garabito and Tim Raines, Jr. followed with singles to put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Fontenot stroked a base hit to center and plated Garabito to put the Lynx on top.

 

Dave Borkowski (3-3) pitched seven strong innings and notched his third win of the year. He allowed two runs on five hits, struck out six and did not issue a walk.

 

Darwin Cubillan struck out the side in the ninth to convert his seventh save of the season.

 

Chris Michalak pitched two innings in relief and suffered the loss. Michalak dropped to 2-4 on the year.

 

Indianapolis continues its road trip in Rochester on Wednesday.

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

Jeff Liefer not exactly celebrating his Brewerfan award as of late...

 GAME DATE: 5/11/04 IND at OTT INDIANAPOLIS 2 AT OTTAWA 3 YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG OTTAWA AB R H BI AVG R.Knox CF 4 0 1 1 .296 T.Raines CF 4 0 1 0 .192 M.Erickson 2B 4 0 1 0 .235 M.Fontenot 2B 4 0 2 1 .280 C.Magruder LF 4 0 0 0 .287 C.Mottola DH 4 0 2 0 .301 J.Liefer 1B 3 0 0 0 .290 C.Mendez 1B 4 0 0 0 .243 J.Nunnally RF 3 1 1 0 .235 R.Machado CAT 4 0 0 0 .289 S.Sheldon DH 3 0 0 0 .169 P.Swann LF 4 0 0 0 .352 L.Figueroa 3B 3 0 1 1 .250 J.Leon 3B 3 2 3 2 .316 A.Delgado CAT 3 0 0 0 .000 D.Mcdonald RF 2 0 0 0 .200 S.Scarbrough SS 3 1 1 0 .283 E.Garabito SS 2 1 2 0 .314 M.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Borkowski PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Michalak PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Rakers PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Erdos PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Cubillan PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 30 2 5 2 TOTALS 31 3 10 3 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0- 2 5 0 OTTAWA 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 X- 3 10 0 DP--INDIANAPOLIS 2, OTTAWA 1. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 1, OTTAWA 6. 2B-- M.Erickson (3), J.Nunnally (6), L.Figueroa (4), S.Scarbrough (6). HR--J.Leon 2 (8). CS--R.Knox, E.Garabito. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS M.Adams 5.0 4 1 1 2 3 1 2.48 C.Michalak (L,2-4) 2.0 6 2 2 0 1 1 3.27 T.Erdos 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.59 OTTAWA D.Borkowski (W,3-3) 7.0 5 2 2 0 6 0 4.00 A.Rakers 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.92 D.Cubillan (S,7) 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 4.30 SO--R.Knox, M.Erickson 2, C.Magruder, J.Liefer, S.Sheldon 3, A.Delgado, S.Scarbrough, T.Raines, M.Fontenot, D.Mcdonald 2. BB--D.Mcdonald, E.Garabito. T--2:13. A--1341

Indianapolis Game Log:

Man, it's been one ugly Indy line-up with the kid trio unavailable...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...meID=13836

[brewcrewkid14]

Man, it's been one ugly Indy line-up with the kid trio unavailable...

 

Man now that we only have one prospect that'll play every day at Indy they won't be as fun to follow. Gosh, those two injuries are pretty huge I would say. Just our luck.

[MassBrew]

Final: Inland Empire (Mariners) 9, High Desert 3

Bo Hall's pest effort of the season imploded by David Nolasco...

 

High Desert Box Score:

Ten Mavs' hits in the first six innings, but no walks for the game; John Vanden Berg (DH'ing) and Ozzie Chavez continue their hot ways...

 GAME DATE: 5/11/04 HD at INL HIGH DESERT 3 AT INLAND EMPIRE 9 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG INLAND EMPIRE AB R H BI AVG K.Bibbs CF 5 0 2 1 .304 J.Gonzalez SS 5 2 2 0 .320 S.Candelaria 2B 4 0 0 0 .241 J.Guzman 3B 3 1 0 0 .283 F.Villanueva CAT 4 0 1 0 .184 G.Harris CF 3 1 1 2 .254 T.Hinton 1B 4 0 0 0 .333 J.Nelson LF 4 1 1 3 .298 J.Eure 3B 4 1 2 0 .220 P.Balet DH 4 1 2 0 .329 J.Frost RF 4 0 1 1 .265 M.Rogelstad 2B 4 2 2 2 .255 J.Vanden ber DH 4 0 2 0 .338 R.Rivera CAT 3 1 0 0 .299 P.Rasmusen LF 4 1 1 0 .071 M.Hagen 1B 4 0 1 1 .236 O.Chavez SS 3 1 2 1 .311 C.Arroyo RF 4 0 2 1 .303 B.Hall PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Hernandez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Nolasco PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Pizarro PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Jimenez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 36 3 11 3 TOTALS 34 9 11 9 HIGH DESERT 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0- 3 11 1 INLAND EMPIRE 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 7 X- 9 11 0 E--S.Candelaria. DP--HIGH DESERT 0, INLAND EMPIRE 2. LOB--HIGH DESERT 7, INLAND EMPIRE 4. 2B--J.Eure (6), J.Vanden ber (5), O.Chavez (4), J.Gonzalez (4), M.Rogelstad (4), C.Arroyo (4). 3B--P.Rasmusen (1). HR--J.Nelson (4), M.Rogelstad (2). SB--J.Gonzalez 2 (9). CS--K.Bibbs, C.Arroyo. HBP--O.Chavez, R.Rivera. SF--G.Harris. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT B.Hall 7.0 4 2 2 0 6 1 6.82 D.Nolasco (L,1-3) 1.0 7 7 7 1 0 1 8.37 INLAND EMPIRE F.Hernandez 6.0 10 3 3 0 2 0 2.87 M.Pizarro (W,2-0) 2.0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0.63 C.Jimenez 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.14 HB--D.Nolasco, C.Jimenez. WP--F.Hernandez, C.Jimenez. SO--K.Bibbs, F.Villanueva, T.Hinton 2, J.Frost, P.Rasmusen 2, O.Chavez, J.Guzman, G.Harris, R.Rivera 2, M.Hagen 2. BB--J.Guzman. T--2:23. A--2413

High Desert Game Log:

Believe it or not, Nolasco retired the first two men in the eighth -- talk about a two-out rally...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=18037

[brewcrewkid14]

Is Louis Pena considered a Pitching prospect. It looks like he had a good outing tonight.

[MassBrew]

Final: Beloit 7, Cedar Rapids (Angels) 3

 

Beloit Site Game Blurb and Player of the Game Info:

Luis Pena really benefiting from repeating the Midwest League...

 

www.snappersbaseball.com/...e2f7474587

 

Beloit Box Score:

Third baseman Adam Heether has bounced back nicely in recent weeks; attendance 312 -- sheesh...

 GAME DATE: 5/11/04 CR at BLT CEDAR RAPIDS 3 AT BELOIT 7 YTD YTD CEDAR RAPIDS AB R H BI AVG BELOIT AB R H BI AVG Q.Cosby CF 4 1 1 1 .248 G.Rodriguez 2B 3 0 0 0 .301 B.Wood SS 3 0 0 0 .250 T.Trofholz CF 5 0 1 1 .289 M.Pali LF 3 0 0 1 .348 D.Anderson LF 3 0 0 0 .248 M.Brown 3B 3 0 1 0 .253 L.Palmisano CAT 2 2 1 0 .314 B.Balkcom RF 4 0 1 0 .276 V.Rottino DH 4 1 2 2 .345 C.Maher 1B 4 1 1 1 .200 A.Heether 3B 3 2 3 0 .257 S.Rodriguez 2B 4 0 0 0 .233 R.Deevers RF 3 2 1 1 .224 T.Duenas CAT 4 0 2 0 .131 M.Ramirez 1B 4 0 1 2 .206 A.Peel DH 4 1 2 0 .221 G.Acosta SS 4 0 0 0 .173 C.Hunter PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 L.Pena PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Touchstone PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Beresford PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Dillard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 33 3 8 3 TOTALS 31 7 9 6 CEDAR RAPIDS 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0- 3 8 1 BELOIT 0 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 X- 7 9 0 E--B.Wood. DP--CEDAR RAPIDS 1, BELOIT 1. LOB--CEDAR RAPIDS 7, BELOIT 7. 2B--M.Brown (7), T.Duenas (3), A.Peel (4), A.Heether (10). HR-- C.Maher (2), V.Rottino (4). CS--D.Anderson. HBP--A.Heether. SF-- M.Pali. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA CEDAR RAPIDS C.Hunter (L,1-1) 4.0 9 7 5 5 2 1 3.46 N.Touchstone 4.0 0 0 0 1 4 0 4.11 BELOIT L.Pena (W,3-0) 6.0 4 1 1 1 7 0 3.56 S.Beresford 1.0 1 2 2 2 0 1 5.59 T.Dillard 2.0 3 0 0 0 1 0 3.86 HB--N.Touchstone. WP--C.Hunter, L.Pena, S.Beresford 2, T.Dillard. SO--B.Wood 2, M.Pali, M.Brown, B.Balkcom 2, C.Maher, T.Duenas, G.Rodriguez, T.Trofholz 2, R.Deevers 2, M.Ramirez. BB--Q.Cosby, B.Wood, M.Brown, G.Rodriguez 2, D.Anderson, L.Palmisano 2, R.Deevers. T--2:37. A--312

Beloit Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12476

[MassBrew]

In progress: Huntsville 5, Mobile 5, top of the 10th in Mobile

Same score as the Brewer game for now; Stars couldn't hold a ninth-inning lead

[madbad2000]

Dhonks...not really sure on Dillard...haven't seen him pitch much...didn't go tonight and he doesn't stand out in my memory of past games.

 

Luis Pena...very smooth pitcher with movement. This year's Snappers squad may not boast a Parra/Wilhelmsen/Sarfate power trio but is solid top to bottom and I can easily see many of these guys pulling a Saenz or maybe even a Hendrickson type ascent through the system.

[MassBrew]

Final: Huntsville 8, Mobile (Padres) 5, 11 innings

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Jason Belcher on base four times; Rickie Weeks HBP two more times...

 GAME DATE: 5/11/04 HVL at MOB HUNTSVILLE 8 AT MOBILE 5 (EXTRA INNINGS) YTD YTD HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG MOBILE AB R H BI AVG R.Weeks 2B 3 0 0 0 .268 F.Guzman CF 5 1 2 0 .311 A.Gwynn CF 6 1 0 0 .213 T.Donovan LF 5 2 2 1 .317 P.Fielder 1B 5 2 2 1 .319 J.Barfield 2B 5 0 1 1 .237 B.Nelson LF 5 2 2 1 .264 G.Sain 3B 5 0 0 0 .235 J.Belcher RF 4 1 2 2 .298 J.Roman 1B 5 1 1 1 .203 K.Johnson CAT 6 0 1 2 .250 B.Johnson RF 4 1 1 0 .191 C.Barnwell 3B 6 1 1 0 .202 N.Trzesniak CAT 5 0 1 1 .228 J.Raburn SS 5 0 2 2 .255 A.Webb PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Bausher PIT 2 0 0 0 .000 R.Merrill SS 5 0 1 0 .200 B.Gemoll PH 1 0 1 0 .281 C.Rojas PIT 2 0 1 0 .182 F.Rijo PIT 1 0 0 0 .500 M.Thompson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Stewart PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Clements PH 1 0 0 0 .259 E.Cruz PH 0 1 0 0 .169 R.Spiehs PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Novinsky PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Gerber PH 1 0 0 0 .286 M.Hampton PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Baker PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Morales CAT 1 0 0 0 .161 TOTALS 44 8 11 8 TOTALS 44 5 10 4 HUNTSVILLE 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3- 8 11 1 MOBILE 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0- 5 10 1 E--C.Barnwell, T.Donovan. DP--HUNTSVILLE 1, MOBILE 1. LOB--HUNTSVILLE 11, MOBILE 10. 2B--B.Nelson (8), J.Belcher (3), C.Barnwell (2), J.Barfield (8), B.Johnson (4). HR--B.Nelson (6), T.Donovan (2), J.Roman (3). SB-- J.Raburn (2). HBP--R.Weeks 2, B.Nelson. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HUNTSVILLE T.Bausher 5.0 5 3 2 3 3 0 2.81 F.Rijo 2.2 2 1 1 1 4 1 3.00 P.Stewart (W,2-0) 2.1 1 1 1 0 0 1 3.23 J.Novinsky (S,1) 1.0 2 0 0 0 1 0 4.02 MOBILE C.Rojas 5.0 6 5 5 3 6 1 4.76 M.Thompson 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1.20 R.Spiehs 2.0 1 0 0 0 4 0 2.65 M.Hampton 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.00 B.Baker 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 A.Webb (L,0-1) 1.0 1 3 3 2 0 0 4.50 HB--C.Rojas, M.Thompson, A.Webb. WP--T.Bausher. BALKS--T.Bausher. SO--R.Weeks, P.Fielder, B.Nelson 2, J.Belcher, K.Johnson 4, C.Barnwell 2, J.Raburn 2, T.Bausher, F.Guzman, T.Donovan, G.Sain 2, B.Johnson, N.Trzesniak, R.Merrill, S.Morales. BB--R.Weeks, P.Fielder, J.Belcher 2, E.Cruz, F.Guzman, T.Donovan, J.Barfield, B.Johnson. T--3:36. A--2041

Huntsville Game Log:

Johnny Raburn with a big two-run base hit in the 4th...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...meID=15772

[Anders34]

How on earth is Rickie Weeks supposed to get comfortable at the plate. He got hit 2 more times tonight. That guy must have bruises all over the place. I wonder if this could be what is causing him to struggle. I was pretty much against the "retaliation" strategy, but I think I have changed my mind. They are clearly throwing at him.

[jaybird2001wi]

Went to the Snappers game tonight as a fan. Luis Pena had a nice outing, 1 ER through 6 innings. He did a good job. My fellow homeboy Vinnie Rottino hit a two-run jack. But Gilberto Acosta needs to raise his atrocious batting average. He is well below the Mendoza Line. Palmisano has a good eye at the plate, drew a couple walks. But you'd think Palmisano would knock some out of the yard because he looks really strong and built.

[NastyTwig]

The two hits tonight bring Rickie's total to 14 for the year. The next closest guy in the Southern League has 6.

 

I was listening to a Stars game a while back and Portnoy said that Rickie wears Bonds-like armor at the plate. I like him in the leadoff role for the Stars. Always finds a way to get on base.

[Frank Mallon]

I also wonder how many of those HBP were off that pad? Maybe he's been leaning in on offspeed pitches like Biggio.

[DuWayne Steurer]

A few of our Huntsville posters have chimed in, as I recall, that Rickie does indeed lean in on inside pitches, much like Fernando Vina and Craig Biggio do.

 

I can't possibly fathom retaliation pitching when a guy is TRYING to get hit with a pitch.

 

Not to mention that it's petty, and proves nothing.

[clancyphile]

Anders34

 

I agree. This is getting ridiculous, folks.

 

Hasn't ANYONE on the Huntsville staff heard of something called "chin music" for situations such as this?

[DuWayne Steurer]

Like some have said. Rickie is standing over the plate and leaning into pitches. Retaliation (especially at lower levels, where guys control isn't the best) is silly, petty, and most of all, dangerous.

 

The best way to get back........score the runner.

[huntsvillefan]

Anyone who thinks that they're deliberately throwing at Weeks is badly in need of medication and a darkened room!

Their rationale with Prince in the line up would be - what???????????

Lets throw at the guy wearing the body armor and then pitch to the guy with the much higher average and better slugging ability that comes behind him!!!!!!!!!!!

Some people are so in love with the thought of deliberately hitting batters that they refuse to engage their brains.

RICKIE LEANS INTO PITCHES -RICKIE HAS NOT BEEN HURT!

The only action the umps should really take is to refuse to give him his walk on the grounds that he isn't trying to avoid being hit (or am I mistaken in my rule interpretation there?)

[Highroller720]

Here is the link.

 

Shortstop Hardy suffers injury

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Huntsville let another late lead slip away, but for the second time on their current road trip, the Stars proved resilient in extra innings. After watching Mobile hit two solo homers to erase a 5-3 deficit, Huntsville scored three in the 11th for a dramatic 8-5 win on Tuesday night at Hank Aaron Stadium. For the first time since games on April 24 and 26, Huntsville (17-15) posted consecutive victories to claim sole possession of second place in the Southern League West, one-half game behind West Tenn.

 

Jason Belcher set the early tone with a two-run, first-inning double. The Bay Bears (16-16) rallied for a 3-2 lead, but Huntsville pushed back in front with a three-run third on Brad Nelson?s solo homerun and Johnny Raburn?s two-run single. Solo homers by Jesse Roman in the eighth and Todd Donovan in the ninth tied the game and set the stage for the Stars? 11th-inning rally.

 

Pinch-hitter Enrique Cruz led off with a walk and Rickie Weeks drew a base on balls. Tony Gwynn, Jr.?s ground ball forced out Weeks at second. With runners at first and third, Prince Fielder hit a high chopper back to the mound, and Cruz broke for the plate. Pitcher Alan Webb leapt to field the ball, but his throw home was high, and Cruz slid in with the go-ahead run. After Webb plunked Nelson to load the bases, Belcher?s bouncer to short forced out Gwynn at the plate. Kade Johnson, 0-for-5 with four strikeouts as he stepped to the plate, delivered the big blow, ripping a 3-0 pitch into left for a two-run single and an 8-5 advantage.

 

Paul Stewart (2-0) picked up his second win, permitting one run on Donovan?s homer over 2 1/3 innings. Webb (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering three runs on one hit, two walks and one hit batter in one inning. John Novinsky appeared for the first time since April 30 after rehabbing from elbow soreness, picking up his first save while allowing two hits and fanning one in a scoreless 11th.

 

Game three of the series matches Huntsville righty Dennis Sarfate (1-2, 5.87) against Bears righty Steve Watkins (1-2, 6.03) on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Hank Aaron Stadium.

[MassBrew]

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

 

A GWYNN WIN

The tide of bullpen injuries seem to have run its course, even though there are some DLs, but John Novinsky, who wasn't expected to pitch until Wednesday, is back....... Reggie Rivard is back....... Ryan Miller is expected to return during the homestand........ And as a chart shows on my link, things are looking better.

 

In the first 11 games, the Stars, with a healthy bullpen, had an ERA of 3.32 in 46 innings...... In the next 11 games, when the situation was becoming a crisis, the pen shot up to a 3.66 ERA in 46 2/3 IP....... The strikeout-walk ratio went from 49:10 to 49:14....... In the last 10 games, the Stars bullpen owns a 2.75 ERA with a strikeout-walk ratio of 41:11 in 39 1/3 innings.

 

http://www.starsboxscore.com/standing.html

 

But the latest problem was discussed in a closed-door morning meeting between the hitters, who were asked to be more patient at the plate with runners on base and the bases loaded....... This discussion was probably provoked by Sunday's game in which 17 runners were left on base, and the Stars lost to Jacksonville by a run in extra innings, despite the fact that the Stars had 14 hits, five walks, and three hit batters to work with, and still generated just three runs........ Even though the Stars won in 11 tonight, they could not put away this game, despite loading the bases in the 5th and the 6th innings and coming away empty....... The Stars have taken the lead in nine straight games, yet have lost four and won two when it went into extra innings.

 

Rickie Weeks will inevitably win the Ron Hunt award in this league (remembering the former Met second baseman from my youthful days as a Met fan) for sticking his body out over the plate to win a trip to first........ Inevitably, he will break the club, and Rusty Crockett's league record of 32 trips to first base this way......... Weeks was hit twice again in this game, 14 times now on the season. That's as many as six other teams in the league........ For the 4th time, he was hit to lead off the game........ As a club, the Stars have been hit 25 times to lead the league....... Weeks was erased on a force play, but with two out and Tony Gwynn, Jr. on 2nd and Prince Fielder on 1st, Jason Belcher ripped a 2-2 pitch from starter Chris Rojas down the right field line for a double. Fielder was windmilled home, giving the Stars a 2-0 lead....... Belcher is 9-for-20 in May and hitting .298 after hitting .216 in April....... This was Rojas' 64th appearance with Mobile, going back to 2002, and his 50th start, and needless to say, he's pitched a few games against this team....... I'm curious to know what his record is against us, but I don't have the time.

 

Mobile came back to take the lead, 3-2 in the 3rd, after a Nick Trzesniak RBI single in the second, an RBI double by Josh Barfield in the third, and a run scoring wild pitch later in the same inning...... The Bay Bears had runners on first and third, but Tim Bausher got Jesse Roman to fly out to center, then struck out Ben Johnson to end the inning.

 

Brad Nelson found the magnet out there in the left-center field alley for his 6th home run to lead off the 4th, tying the game. After Jason Belcher walked, Chris Barnwell, 5-for-8 lately, pushing his average finally over the Mendoza line, hit a 3-1 pitch down the left field line for a one-out double, moving Belcher to 3rd......... Johnny Raburn then singled up the middle to score two and the Stars led, 5-3.

 

As I mentioned, the Stars had a chance to put this away in the 5th and 6th innings....... After Belcher was intentionally walked to load the bases in the 5th with one out, Rojas struck out Kade Johnson and Chris Barnwell and in the 6th, they loaded them up with nobody out and Tony Gwynn hit into a force and to symbolize the Stars' frustration lately, Prince Fielder hit a squibbler in front of the plate and the Bay Bears' Trzesniak turns it into a rare unassisted double play, stepping on the plate to force Brandon Gemoll, then tagging an incredulous Fielder who never got out of the batter's box.

 

Meanwhile, Mobile came up with a pair of solo HRs late in the game....... Jesse Roman hit a 3-1 pitch off Fernando Rijo that kept carrying until it hit the porch in the right field corner at the 310 mark......... Todd Donovan electrified the Mobile crowd with a game-tying opposite-field home run off the top of the clubhouse in right to send this game into extra-innings, two outs shy of a Stars victory in regulation, but Mobile might have won it instead in regulation, if it were not for two sensational catches by Tony Gwynn, Jr.

 

Up until now, Tony's defense was nowhere near Dave Krynzel's last year, recently failing to make a throw to the plate in a one-run loss that may have decided Sunday's game........ At no time have I seen the kind of catches I saw Krynzel make last year, and neither confessed radio voice Robert Portnoy......... Finally tonight, he made two game-saving catches reminiscent of Krynzel's play last year......... With one out after a walk to Ben Johnson, Trznesiak hit a drive to dead center. Going full tilt toward the wall, he robbed him with an over-the-shoulder catch before slamming into the wall, hanging onto the ball. After a Ronnie Merrill single that advanced Johnson to second, pinch-hitter Joe Gerber drove one to the track in center and Gwynn chased it down in front of the wall to end the inning.

 

A pair of walks to start the top of the 11th gave the resilient Stars a reason to win.......Gwynn forced Rickie Weeks at second, but Prince Fielder broke the 5-5 tie when he chopped a ball back to pitcher Alan Webb. The throw from Webb to the plate was high. Trzesniak had to bring the glove down, giving Cruz that extra time. He slides under the tag and breaks the tie......... Kade Johnson, in a 1-for-29 slump, capped the inning with some insurance ---- a two-run single hammered through the left side to make it 8-5........ John Novinsky, who wasn't supposed to pitch till Wednesday, came on in the bottom of the 11th, gave up a couple of two-out singles, advancing a runner to 3rd, but got Josh Barfield to line out to Gwynn to end the game.

 

For the first time since late April, the Stars have won two in a row.

 

Huntsville sends righty Dennis Sarfate against righty Steve Watkins tomorrow at 7:05 CDT.

 

According to General Manager Bryan Dingo, the target date on the new scoreboard is May 28, moved up from the first week of June by my last report......... During last week's afternoon games, crews were already drilling holes and doing other work in preparation for the scoreboard. Workers are scheduled to construct a control booth for the scoreboard this Tuesday. On May 24, they are scheduled to take down the existing scoreboard........ For two or three games, there will be an old-style manual scoreboard in place in left field........ Additionally, the bid for replacing many of the upper-level grandstand seats is expected to be awarded Thursday.

[MassBrew]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 18 12 .600[/b] TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 16 17 .485 3.5 COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 14 16 .467 4.0 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 14 18 .438 5.0

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 17 14 .548 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 17 15 .531 .5[/b] BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 16 15 .516 1.0 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 16 16 .500 1.5 MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 12 20 .375 5.5

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 21 12 .636 LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 19 12 .613 1.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 17 14 .548 3.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 14 17 .452 6.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 13 20 .394 8.0[/b]

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 19 13 .594 KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 18 14 .563 1.0 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 18 14 .563 1.0 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 17 15 .531 2.0 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 16 16 .500 3.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 16 16 .500 3.0[/b] WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 14 18 .438 5.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 12 20 .375 7.0

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

Another fine account; find out what opened the floodgates in the disastrous eighth inning...

 

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