Link Report for Games of Sunday, May 2nd

[MassBrew]

Happy Sunday, everyone! Enjoy your Daily Menu:

 

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

 

This is a good place to remind you as well, that all three affiliates provide pre-game shows that nearly always include a daily interview, plus it's a fine place to pick up injury and transaction news and injury analysis that is often not quite yet online.

 

INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Ben Hendrickson at home vs. Toledo (Tigers), 2:00 PM; gee, Ben's schedule has him lined up to nicely slide into Wes Obermueller's Brewer rotation spot on Friday http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif ...

 

Audio link:

www.newstalk1430.com/

 

HUNTSVILLE: RHP Dennis Sarfate and a second pitcher TBD at home vs. West Tenn (Cubs) in another twinbill, 2:00 PM

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

HIGH DESERT: RHP Khalid Ballouli at home vs. Lancaster (Diamondbacks), 5:05 PM -- tune in immediately after the Brewers' game today...

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: RHP Carlos Villanueva at Clinton, 2:00 PM -- no audio; sorry, I've been confused about the duration of this series all week -- the Snappers' website schedule is incorrect...

[MassBrew]

Hope the weather's nice where you are; here's my usual Sunday shout-out to staff and readers. Here's your link to click and find the appropriate league action (International, Southern, California, and Midwest):

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...ate=050204

 

I'll jump on board approx. 8:00 PM Central to fill in any blanks -- thanks...

[PeaveyFury]

Isn't Capuano supposed to be making a rehab start very soon? Could he be the TBA pitcher in the double-header?

[DHonks]

Peavey, Cappy was supposed to pitch yesterday but was scratched after not passing all his agility tests on Friday. I'm praying he gets back ASAP

[tyguy20204]

Sounds like a tough outing for Hendrickson. 5 runs after two if I heard correctly.

[DiscoStu]

The TBA pitcher might be Costello since he was just promoted yesterday.

[matthewcmeq]

Indy falls to Toledo, 5-6. Rough outing for Ben Hendrickson, 4 ER in 4 innings. Magruder with two hits.

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 5/02/04 TOL at IND TOLEDO 6 AT INDIANAPOLIS 5 YTD YTD TOLEDO AB R H BI AVG INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG N.Logan CF 5 2 3 3 .287 L.Figueroa 2B 5 0 0 0 .240 W.Morris 2B 5 1 0 0 .283 J.Hardy SS 3 1 1 2 .259 M.Thames RF 5 1 1 0 .275 C.Magruder LF 5 0 2 0 .319 A.Barkett DH 4 0 2 1 .284 J.Liefer 1B 5 1 1 0 .348 J.Vitiello 1B 4 0 1 2 .309 C.Coste CAT 4 0 1 1 .333 J.Smith 3B 4 0 1 0 .264 J.Nunnally CF 3 0 1 0 .192 D.Klassen SS 4 1 1 0 .240 C.Hart RF 3 1 0 0 .267 E.Owens LF 2 0 0 0 .179 S.Sheldon DH 3 0 0 0 .200 G.Rodriguez CAT 4 1 2 0 .178 M.Erickson PH 1 0 0 0 .240 A.Van Hekken PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Scarbrough 3B 3 2 2 0 .278 C.Mears PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Hendrckson PIT 0 0 0 0 .286 D.Cortes PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Reichert PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Dingman PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.German PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 37 6 11 6 TOTALS 35 5 8 3 TOLEDO 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0- 6 11 2 INDIANAPOLIS 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 0- 5 8 4 E--W.Morris, J.Smith, L.Figueroa, J.Hardy 2, S.Scarbrough. DP-- TOLEDO 1, INDIANAPOLIS 2. LOB--TOLEDO 8, INDIANAPOLIS 9. 2B--A.Barkett (6), J.Liefer (5), S.Scarbrough (3). 3B--S.Scarbrough (1). HR--N.Logan (1). SB--J.Nunnally (2), C.Hart (2). HBP--C.Coste. SF--J.Vitiello, J.Hardy. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA TOLEDO A.Van Hekken (W,1-2) 5.0 7 4 2 0 3 0 7.23 C.Mears 0.2 1 1 1 2 1 0 2.57 D.Cortes 1.1 0 0 0 1 2 0 2.25 C.Dingman 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.48 F.German (S,6) 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.90 INDIANAPOLIS B.Hendrckson (L,3-1) 4.0 9 6 4 2 5 1 2.81 D.Reichert 5.0 2 0 0 1 2 0 1.37 HB--A.Van Hekken. WP--A.Van Hekken 2. SO--M.Thames, A.Barkett, J.Vitiello, J.Smith 2, D.Klassen, E.Owens, C.Magruder, C.Coste, J.Nunnally, C.Hart 2, S.Sheldon 2. BB--A.Barkett, E.Owens 2, J.Hardy, J.Nunnally, C.Hart, S.Scarbrough. T--2:29. A--5867

Huntsville blanked by West Tennessee in game 1, 4-0. No box yet.

 

High Desert up 3-1 in top of 4.

 

Beloit loses 5-8 to Clinton. Vinny Rottino had two hits, Carlos Villanueva took the loss with 3 ER in 3 innings.

 

Beloit Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 5/02/04 BLT at CLN BELOIT 5 AT CLINTON 8 YTD YTD BELOIT AB R H BI AVG CLINTON AB R H BI AVG G.Rodriguez 2B 3 0 1 1 .347 J.Senreiso CF 5 1 3 1 .275 T.Trofholz CF 5 1 1 0 .279 L.Grayson RF 5 1 0 0 .230 D.Anderson LF 4 0 0 0 .262 I.Kinsler SS 4 1 1 1 .361 L.Palmisano CAT 3 1 0 1 .342 A.Wishy LF 4 1 1 1 .200 V.Rottino DH 4 1 2 0 .310 J.Kreuzer DH 4 1 1 2 .240 A.Heether 3B 4 1 1 3 .219 E.Frostad 3B 2 1 2 1 .250 C.Corporan 1B 3 0 0 0 .235 C.Benjamin 2B 2 1 0 0 .209 R.Deevers RF 4 0 0 0 .222 J.Hatcher CAT 4 0 1 1 .294 G.Acosta SS 4 1 2 0 .193 B.Jacobsen 1B 4 1 2 1 .226 C.Villanueva PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Lorenzo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.Moreira PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Chavez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Stetter PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Watts PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 34 5 7 5 TOTALS 34 8 11 8 BELOIT 0- 5 7 2 CLINTON 0- 8 11 1 E--L.Palmisano, G.Acosta, B.Jacobsen. DP--BELOIT 1, CLINTON 1. LOB--BELOIT 6, CLINTON 9. 2B--T.Trofholz (4), G.Acosta (3), A.Wishy (3), J.Kreuzer (6), E.Frostad (5), B.Jacobsen (2). 3B--V.Rottino (1). HR--A.Heether (1). SB--G.Rodriguez (4), J.Senreiso 2 (11), L.Grayson (3), I.Kinsler (6), B.Jacobsen (5). SF--I.Kinsler. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BELOIT C.Villanueva (L,1-4) 3.0 3 3 3 4 4 0 5.18 G.Moreira 3.0 6 5 5 2 3 0 5.68 M.Stetter 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 CLINTON M.Lorenzo (W,2-1) 5.0 2 1 1 2 8 0 1.44 J.Chavez 3.0 5 4 4 1 2 1 6.05 J.Watts (S,1) 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.70 WP--J.Chavez. BALKS--C.Villanueva. SO--G.Rodriguez, T.Trofholz 2, D.Anderson 2, L.Palmisano 2, V.Rottino, C.Corporan, R.Deevers, G.Acosta, J.Senreiso, L.Grayson, I.Kinsler, J.Kreuzer, C.Benjamin, J.Hatcher, B.Jacobsen. BB--G.Rodriguez 2, L.Palmisano, C.Corporan, A.Wishy, J.Kreuzer, E.Frostad 2, C.Benjamin 2.

MJC

[MassBrew]

Thanks, matthewcmeq!

 

Final, Game Two: Huntsville 5, West Tenn (Cubs) 1

Details later...

 

As of 6:45 Central, it's 9-7 Mavericks with High Desert threatening for more in the bottom of the 5th in Adelanto; check out this wild one at the link above...

[MassBrew]

Final: High Desert 9, Lancaster (Diamondbacks) 7

Big game for Travis Hinton; David Nolasco and Nick Slack close the door over the final four innings; Khalid Ballouli limited to a three-inning start in what was called a "cautionary move"...

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

The Stars and Diamond Jaxx played game one on Sunday afternoon, then someone used the Xerox machine to create the game two script, only the original was inverted. Though the scores were not identical, the two games mirrored each other. West Tenn (10-13) won the first, 4-0, after scoring three in the first and cruising behind lefty Renyel Pinto?s outstanding pitching. Huntsville (13-11) won the second, 5-1, after scoring two in the first and riding the left arm of newcomer Ryan Costello. The Stars moved one-half game in front in the Southern League West.

 

Costello (1-0), donning a Stars uniform for the first time, authored five shutout frames in game two, allowing four singles, two on the infield, while walking one and fanning five. He won his Southern League debut, pitching out of his only jam in the fifth, when the Jaxx loaded the bases with two outs on a bloop-single and two infield dribblers. Costello induced pinch-hitter Matt Criag to ground into a force play at third to end the inning.

 

Pinto, shelled by Huntsville over two innings on April 22 at West Tenn, dominated in game one despite issuing a season-high four walks over six innings. He surrendered only Prince Fielder?s first-inning double and fanned eight, also a personal season-high. Pinto (2-2) stranded five Stars runners, four in scoring position, over the first three frames, including pitching out of a two-on, none-out jam in the third, when Brad Nelson struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning. Pinto settled in, retiring the last 10 batters he faced and 12 of the last 13.

 

Rickie Weeks, Nelson, Tony Gwynn, Jr. and Fielder drove in game two runs for the Stars, and Huntsville?s final tally came on an unlikely double steal. With runners at first and third and two outs in the second, Fielder broke for second. The throw was late, and shortstop Josh Arteaga cut it off in front of the bag. Jason Belcher got a great jump and stormed down the line from third. Arteaga had no play, hanging on to the ball as Belcher scored for a 5-0 Stars lead.

 

The Stars and Jaxx play game five of the six-game series Monday at 12:05 p.m. at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville lefty Jeff Housman (0-2, 5.19) meets West Tenn righty Chadd Blasko (2-2, 4.75).

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Game Summary:

 

In a contest highlighted by six errors, Toledo (11-13) defeated Indianapolis (14-7), 6-5, behind the hitting of Nook Logan, who was three for five with three RBI and two runs scored.

 

Toledo scored five runs in the first two innings off Tribe starter Ben Hendrickson. Hendrickson (3-1) entered the outing with a league-leading three wins and fourth-best 1.66 ERA.

 

Logan led the charge for the Mud Hens with a leadoff single off Hendrickson in the first. Warren Morris reached base on an error, then Andy Barkett unloaded a two-run double to score Logan and Morris. In the second, Logan smashed a two-run homer to right field, sending the Mud Hens ahead 5-0.

 

"I got behind in the count and just put my barrell on the ball and hit it to right," said Logan. "With the wind blowing out to right this afternoon, anybody could have hit one out. It?s the first time that we beat these guys this year. I?ve been doing a lot of work in the batting cages with (coach) Bull Durham. I?m getting more consistent."

 

Indianapolis scored a single run in the second inning off Toledo starter Andy Van Hekken (1-2). Chris Coste singled to right field scoring Jeff Liefer, who had led off the frame with a double down the right field line.

 

Steve Scarborough tripled to right field for Indianapolis in the third. One out later, J.J. Hardy hit a sacrafice fly to score Scarborough to cut the Toledo lead to 5-2.

 

Toledo scored a single run in the fourth. This would prove to be the game winning run as Marcus Thames reached base on an error charged to third baseman Scarborough. He later came around to score on Joe Vitiello?s single to left field.

 

The Tribe made it interesting. Indianapolis scored a pair of runs in the fifth, keyed by Scarborough?s double to cut the margin to 6-4. Then, the Tribe scored its final run of the afternoon in the sixth inning off reliever Chris Mears as Corey Hart walked, stole second base and scored on Hardy?s infield single.

 

In the ninth, Toledo closer Franklin German walked Hardy to lead off the inning, but put down the next three Tribe hitters to earn his sixth save of the season.

 

The two teams meet again in the final game of a four-game series at 11 a.m. Monday on Baseball In Education Day. More than 8,000 school-age kids are expected to attend the game and participate in pre-game and in-game festivities.

[MassBrew]

High Desert Site Game Summary:

 

HINTON HOSES DOWN JETHAWKS

MAVS TAKE TWO OUT OF THREE FROM SOUTHERN DIVISION RIVAL

High Desert Maverick first baseman Travis Hinton comes from a family that fights fires, with his father and brother serving in the Phoenix, Arizona fire department.

 

Sunday, Hinton made sure he helped keep a Maverick offensive blaze burning, with the Mavs outslugging the Lancaster JetHawks 9-7 before 1,955 at Mavericks Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

 

Hinton led the Mavericks (10-14) attack, going 3-for-3 at the plate along with two RBI?s and a walk, including the game-winning hit in the fifth inning.

 

High Desert batted around for the third time in two games, this time sending nine men to the plate in the fifth to tally four runs off JetHawks reliever Enrique Gonzalez. Down 7-6, the Hinton?s two-run double for the Mavs highlighted the offensive flurry, smacking a Gonzalez pitch over the head of Lancaster centerfielder Jarred Ball, who severely misjudged the screaming fly-ball.

 

Mario Mendez added an insurance run two batters later, sending Hinton home on a fielder?s choice. Jeremy Frost got the inning going with an RBI single to center.

 

The Mavericks? rubber match victory capped off a wild weekend, where both teams combined to score 43 runs in the three games at Mavericks Stadium. After the Mavs scored first in the first inning on Jeff Eure?s RBI single, both teams scored the last 16 runs of the ballgame in the third through fifth innings.

 

After Lancaster (15-9) tied the score in the third, High Desert answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning, capped by an RBI single by Callix Crabbe to make it 3-2.

 

Mavericks starter Khalid Ballouli cruised along through the first three innings but had to exit early for precautionary injury reasons. Craig Breslow relieved Ballouli and surrendered four runs in the fourth, all on a Jamie D?Antona grand-slam to left to put Lancaster up 5-3. The Mavs got two back in the bottom of the inning on a bases-loaded walk drawn from Chris Morris, and an RBI sacrifice-fly by Crabbe.

 

Lancaster got two more runs in the fifth to go up 7-5, but the Mavs struck back in the bottom of the inning for the four decisive runs.

 

Breslow (1-0) who picked up the win for the Mavs, was followed by stellar bullpen relief from David Nolasco, who tossed three scoreless innings, and Nick Slack, who collected his second save with a scoreless ninth inning.

 

The Mavs take on the visiting Lake Elsinore Storm on Monday night, beginning a four-game series with the Storm at Mavericks Stadium. Eric Henderson (0-1) will take the mound for High Desert on Monday against Lake Elsinore counterpart Jon Huber (1-2), with the first pitch at 7:05 p.m (9:05 Central).

 

High Desert Box Score:

Technically, I believe the official scorer could have awarded the victory to a much more effective David Nolasco, but hey, it's a win; thanks, Pogokat, for posting this box earlier during the overnight...

 GAME DATE: 5/02/04 LNC at HD LANCASTER 7 AT HIGH DESERT 9 YTD YTD LANCASTER AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG J.Ball CF 5 0 2 1 .274 C.Morris LF 2 2 1 1 .284 N.Brown 2B 5 0 1 0 .318 C.Crabbe 2B 4 0 1 2 .256 C.Jackson LF 5 1 2 0 .308 J.Eure 3B 4 0 1 1 .217 C.Quentin RF 2 2 1 0 .250 F.Villanueva DH 5 1 1 0 .172 J.Cota 1B 3 2 1 1 .353 J.Vanden ber CAT 4 1 1 0 .353 J.D'Antona 3B 4 1 3 5 .273 J.Frost RF 4 1 1 1 .275 D.Tosca DH 4 0 0 0 .308 T.Hinton 1B 3 2 3 2 .365 M.Morgan CAT 3 1 1 0 .162 O.Chavez SS 4 1 1 1 .260 A.Haley SS 2 0 0 0 .195 K.Bibbs CF 2 1 0 1 .271 B.Simon PH 1 0 0 0 .160 M.Mendez CF 0 0 0 0 .190 K.Whatley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 K.Ballouli PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Gonzalez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Breslow PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Watson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Nolasco PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Wells PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.BULGER PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 34 7 11 7 TOTALS 32 9 10 9 LANCASTER 0 0 1 4 2 0 0 0 0- 7 11 2 HIGH DESERT 1 0 2 2 4 0 0 0 X- 9 10 0 E--N.Brown, C.Jackson. DP--LANCASTER 0, HIGH DESERT 0. LOB--LANCASTER 5, HIGH DESERT 7. 2B--C.Morris (5), F.Villanueva (5), T.Hinton (7). 3B--J.Cota (1). HR--J.D'Antona (5). SB--C.Jackson (2), C.Morris (18). CS--J.D'Antona, F.Villanueva. HBP--C.Morris. SF--C.Crabbe. SH-- K.Bibbs. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA LANCASTER K.Whatley 3.1 4 5 5 5 1 0 5.33 E.Gonzalez (L,1-1) 1.2 5 4 4 0 1 0 4.76 M.Watson 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.93 C.Wells 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.38 J.BULGER 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 HIGH DESERT K.Ballouli 3.0 4 1 1 0 1 0 4.32 C.Breslow (W,1-0) 2.0 4 6 6 4 2 1 15.32 D.Nolasco 3.0 2 0 0 1 0 0 8.04 N.Slack (S,2) 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 6.30 HB--E.Gonzalez. SO--J.Ball 2, D.Tosca 2, J.Eure 2, J.Vanden ber, J.Frost, O.Chavez. BB--C.Quentin 2, J.Cota, M.Morgan, A.Haley, C.Morris 2, J.Eure, T.Hinton, K.Bibbs. T--2:36. A--1955

[shelmark]

Technically, I believe the official scorer could have awarded the victory to a much more effective David Nolasco, but hey, it's a win...

 

 

Could the scored actually have given Nolasco the win? It was my understanding that the official scorer only has discretion when a starter does not go 5 innings and the winning team has not surrendered the lead. In this game the lead was surrendered and High Desert took the lead again before Nolasco was in the game. Just looking for clarification on this.

[pogokat]

Chris Morris has 17 walks in 81 ab's...holy crap...please dear lord, let that guy develop some kind of extra base power...he may be useful someday

 

next question...can hinton play a field position??? i know he is listed as a first baseman....but i also know his nickname is "Th the DH"

 

Glad to see the Mav's win...glad to see how much that team has been walking too!

[MassBrew]

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

 

STARS GO TO HIGH DESERT FOR ANOTHER ARM

Stars fans have yet to see ideal Sunday weather for baseball. Today was no exception for this double-header...... The game-time temperature was a brisk 54° thanks to a front that moved in 20 minutes after last night's game bringing rain that lasted all night into early morning. The sun came out to warm the patrons before the conclusion of the first game, but it warmed up above 59°......... Ideal running conditions though for some runners who participated in a "Fun Run" put on by the Huntsville Track Club after the first game, the third time they have put one on between halves of a double-header, and the earliest date for it I can remember. It was supposed to happen two weeks ago, but rain toook care of another Sunday that day.

 

With Ryan Miller and Mike Jones on the DL, with no timetable for return, and the bullpen overworked because of make-up doubleheaders, manager Frank Kremblas and pitching coach Fred Dabney found themselves in a dilemma........ Even after getting Ryan Costello today from High Desert, they could ideally afford to use no more than four pitchers in this twin-bill. Paul Stewart was now in the rotation, and the only pitcher they could use if they absolutely had to was Roberto Giron, who pitched two innings last night and an inning Thursday........ It never came to that. And it never came down to using non-position players, such as Johnny Raburn, who threw a scoreless inning Friday......... Fernando Rijo and Brian Adams were the only options the Stars had in the bullpen........ Frank's starters had to hang in and go as long as they could so the pressure was on Dennis Sarfate and newcomer Costello.

 

Ask Sarfate about pressure. After retiring the first two hitters, he loaded the bases in the 1st inning after a walk to Micah Hoffpauir (pronounced HOFF-power), an infield single by Matt Craig (that should have been an error charged to Rickie Weeks in all honesty), and another walk........ Up comes Mike Mallory as the Stars tried to squelch a rally. With Sarfate's pitch count already climbing after a series of 3-2 counts, Mallory hits a 1-2 breaking ball, blooping it into right-centerfield for a lazy hit. That scored Hoffpauir. Craig alertly scored as the throw came into third. Now Chris Barnwell decided he had a better chance to get the trailing runner at second, but the throw was not in time. Aron Weston never hesitated as he rounded third, scoring all the way from first........ Some alert baserunning by the Diamond Jaxx as the Stars could do nothing for all their throwing around the infield searching for an out.......... Just two hits in the inning, one of those questionable, gave the Diamond Jaxx a 3-0 lead........ The Stars really needed some mileage out of Sarfate, but after an inning, he threw 41 pitches....... Fortunately, he eventually settled down, retiring eight in a row, and fanned three in succession in the 3rd inning.

 

The Stars were never able to capitalize on Renyel Pinto's wildness, for it was all they had going for them...... Pinto gave up just one hit over his six innings, but walked four. The Stars left four runners in scoring position in the first three innings, including a two-on, none-out situation in the third, when Brad Nelson struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning....... Pinto settled in, retiring the last 10 batters he faced and 12 of the last 13......... He also put the stopper on Tony Gwynn Jr.'s 14-game hit streak, the longest since Steve Scarborough's 15 in 2002.

 

The second game was nearly a mirror image of the first....... Like the Diamond Jaxx in Game One, the Stars got all the runs they would need early, and even more importantly, a solid pitching performance from Ryan Costello, just at the right time....... Costello wasn't hit hard at all --- a single under the glove of a diving Chris Barnwell at third in the 2nd inning, and three really cheap hits in the 5th, two of them little squibs that landed in front of the plate, neither of which Kade Johnson could make a play on. It's rare to see an infield single to go so short a distance, let alone two in the same inning, yet it happened to Costello........

 

Costello may win himself a prolonged stay with the Stars after this appearance. Although his pitches didn't exactly burn a hole in Kade's glove, he had terrific command, using just 62 pitches and throwing 44 (71%) for strikes.

 

Ben Christenson, the Diamond Jaxx starter, pitched to only four Stars, then left the game with some shoulder discomfort. He's lost the better part of the last three seasons over this. The clock, I think, has ticked past his career. He's already 26....... Christenson went full on leadoff hitter Tony Gwynn, Jr., then walked him. Gwynn stole on a 3-2 pitch to Jason Belcher, who struck out, then Rickie Weeks slapped a ball past the glove of Jemel Spearman, who was leaning toward the third base bag when it became obvious to him the hit and run was on. Spearman wound up leaning the wrong way, allowing the ball to get through into left, and Gwynn scored. After walking Prince Fielder, Christenson called for the hook on himself.

 

Against new pitcher Jared Blasdell, who led the Florida State League in saves last season, Brad Nelson singled on an 0-1 pitch up the middle, scoring Weeks from second, but Blasdell retired the next two hitters........ In the 2nd inning, Enrique Cruz, who struck out twice in the first game after being inserted in a double-switch, and 3-for-40 in his last 14 games, hit Blasdell's 0-1 pitch into right-center, past Weston and all the way to the wall. Cruz, with lots of speed, made it into third standing up........ Costello struck out on a slider, but the Stars had some work to do........ Gwynn hit an 0-1 pitch up the middle to the right of the second base bag into center for a single to score Cruz. A single by Belcher moved Gwynn to second, then Blasdell hit Weeks on the fanny with a pitch to load the bases. In a little more than a week, Weeks has been plunked five times. Mike Kremblas, last year's HBP leader on the club, was plunked five times in three games against Carolina last August..

 

Prince Fielder, behind 0-2, hit one over the glove of Blasdell. Shortstop Josh Arteaga came in to short-hop the ball, then flipped the ball to 2nd baseman Richard Lewis behind him. Lewis was upended by Weeks, breaking up the double play, allowing Gwynn to score, making it 4-0. Belcher went to third.

 

Time for Frankieball. Fielder broke for 2nd on a 2-2 pitch to Brad Nelson. He stole without a challenge as Lewis came in to cut off the throw to second to get Belcher heading home, but it was much too late --- the easiest looking double steal you'll ever see. It's almost as if the Diamond Jaxx were ceding both runs....... In any case, Nelson struck out to end the inning and Blasdell would settle down and retire nine of the next 11 hitters to face him.

 

Micah Hoffpauir made the play of the game in the 5th inning of the second game and it's been a long while since I've seen a play I could put a star by, in contrast to last year, but anyway, Fielder hit a deep fly ball into the left corner I though may have a chance to go out if it stayed fair. The wind held it up and Hoffpauir was able to make a difficult sliding catch on his belly near the line........ Speaking of fielding excellence, the Stars have made just eight errors in their last 16 games going back to April 17 and three errors in their last 10. They haven't had a game where they've made more than one error since April 16. Quite a contrast to the start of the season when they made 17 errors in their first eight games!...... After all those errors, the Stars wound up making 24 in the month of April, the second fewest in Stars history for the first month of the season!...... On the other side of the coin, the Stars were 0-4 in shutout games in April, the worst record ever for that month.

 

The Stars got some good news from Milwaukee. Mike Jones' elbow has no structural damage after an MRI was performed while the Stars were in Chattanooga. Rehab is his next stop. He was placed on the disabled list retroactively dating back to April 30 to make room for Ryan Costello........ Ryan Miller, who was off to a fast start for the Stars (2.17 ERA in April), has some soft tissue irritation on the back side of his elbow. He was placed on the DL retroactive to the 27th of April to make room for Fernando Rijo, Friday.

 

The Stars continue this series at 12:05 tomorrow, with Jeff Housman (0-2, 5.19) to face Chadd Blasko (2-2, 4.74) for the first time. Blasko is the # 7 prospect in the Cubs' organization, right behind Bobby Brownlie, who was beaten in Saturday night's game by Reggie Rivard. Then the Stars will give a whole new meaning to day baseball when they finish this series Tuesday at 10:05 am, CDT. That means baseball with your early morning coffee and cereal for you fans on the West Coast, and the pre-game show will start 15 minutes prior, so you're looking at setting your alarm at --- oh, 7:45 am. Unreal...... It's supposed to be geared for a lot of schoolkids who will be getting bused to this game. If I'm lucky, I'll get to see the last inning when I get outta work, but it would have to be a three-hour game for that to happen.

 

The team photog for the Beloit Snappers was in town this weekend to take pix of some former players.

 

The Milwaukee Brewers acquired gadfly minor league pitcher Todd Erdos and assigned him to Indianapolis. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Erdos gave up the homer to Justin Bowles that tied up a desperately needed Game Four to keep the Stars alive in the 1997 Western Division Championship, a game that I chose in March as the greatest Stars game of all-time.

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Game One Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 5/02/04 WTE at HVL WEST TENN 4 AT HUNTSVILLE 0 YTD YTD WEST TENN AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG D.Bacon CF 4 0 0 0 .257 A.Gwynn CF 2 0 0 0 .242 R.Lewis 2B 4 1 1 1 .354 R.Knox LF 3 0 0 0 .255 M.Hoffpauir 1B 2 1 0 0 .276 P.Fielder 1B 3 0 1 0 .321 M.Craig 3B 3 1 1 0 .143 R.Weeks 2B 2 0 0 0 .286 A.Weston LF 2 1 0 0 .333 B.Nelson RF 2 0 0 0 .260 M.Mallory RF 3 0 1 2 .232 C.Barnwell 3B 2 0 0 0 .175 G.Soto CAT 3 0 1 0 .263 J.Alvarado CAT 3 0 0 0 .364 R.Cedeno SS 3 0 2 0 .262 J.Raburn SS 2 0 0 0 .206 R.Pinto PIT 2 0 0 0 .000 F.Rijo PIT 0 0 0 0 1.000 J.Spearman PH 1 0 1 0 .242 J.Belcher PH 1 0 1 0 .262 J.Van buren PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Sarfate PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Cruz SS 2 0 0 0 .155 TOTALS 27 4 7 3 TOTALS 22 0 2 0 WEST TENN 3 0 0 0 1 0 0- 4 7 0 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 2 0 DP--WEST TENN 0, HUNTSVILLE 0. LOB--WEST TENN 4, HUNTSVILLE 6. 2B--R.Cedeno (4), P.Fielder (4). HR--R.Lewis (3). SH--C.Barnwell. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA WEST TENN R.Pinto (W,2-2) 6.0 1 0 0 4 8 0 5.16 J.Van buren 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 HUNTSVILLE D.Sarfate (L,1-2) 4.0 4 3 3 2 5 0 6.63 F.Rijo 3.0 3 1 1 0 4 1 3.00 WP--R.Pinto. SO--D.Bacon, R.Lewis, M.Hoffpauir, M.Craig 2, A.Weston, M.Mallory, R.Pinto 2, R.Knox, P.Fielder, R.Weeks 2, B.Nelson 2, J.Alvarado, E.Cruz 2. BB--M.Hoffpauir, A.Weston, A.Gwynn, R.Weeks, B.Nelson, D.Sarfate. T--1:58.

Huntsville Game Two Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 5/02/04 WTE at HVL WEST TENN 1 AT HUNTSVILLE 5 DH GAME #2 YTD YTD WEST TENN AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG J.Spearman 3B 2 1 1 0 .242 A.Gwynn CF 3 2 1 1 .242 R.Lewis 2B 3 0 1 0 .354 J.Belcher RF 3 1 2 0 .262 M.Hoffpauir LF 3 0 0 1 .276 R.Weeks 2B 2 1 1 1 .286 M.Creighton 1B 3 0 0 0 .238 P.Fielder 1B 2 0 0 1 .321 A.Weston CF 3 0 2 0 .333 B.Nelson LF 3 0 2 1 .260 M.Mallory RF 3 0 1 0 .232 K.Johnson CAT 3 0 0 0 .320 J.Arteaga SS 3 0 0 0 .265 C.Barnwell 3B 2 0 0 0 .175 P.O'Toole CAT 3 0 1 0 .182 E.Cruz SS 3 1 1 0 .155 B.Christense PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Costello PIT 2 0 0 0 .000 J.Blasdell PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 B.Adams PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 M.Craig PH 1 0 0 0 .143 E.Fahrner PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 25 1 6 1 TOTALS 24 5 7 4 WEST TENN 0 0 0 0 0 1 0- 1 6 0 HUNTSVILLE 2 3 0 0 0 0 X- 5 7 0 DP--WEST TENN 2, HUNTSVILLE 1. LOB--WEST TENN 4, HUNTSVILLE 5. 2B--J.Spearman (3). 3B--E.Cruz (1). SB--A.Gwynn (8), J.Belcher (1), P.Fielder (1), C.Barnwell (4). HBP--R.Weeks, C.Barnwell. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA WEST TENN B.Christense (L,0-1) 0.1 1 2 2 2 1 0 4.91 J.Blasdell 3.2 5 3 3 0 3 0 4.72 E.Fahrner 2.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.92 HUNTSVILLE R.Costello (W,1-0) 5.0 4 0 0 1 5 0 0.00 B.Adams 2.0 2 1 1 0 1 0 3.29 HB--J.Blasdell, E.Fahrner. SO--J.Spearman, R.Lewis, M.Hoffpauir, M.Creighton, P.O'Toole, J.Blasdell, A.Gwynn 2, J.Belcher, B.Nelson, R.Costello, B.Adams. BB--J.Spearman, A.Gwynn, P.Fielder. T--1:58. A--913

[MassBrew]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 14 7 .667[/b] TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 11 13 .458 4.5 COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 9 13 .409 5.5 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 9 14 .391 6.0

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 13 11 .545[/b] BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 12 11 .522 .5 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 11 12 .478 1.5 WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 10 13 .429 2.5 MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 9 15 .375 4.0

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 16 8 .667 LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 15 9 .625 1.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 12 11 .522 3.5 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 11 12 .478 4.5 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 10 14 .417 6.0[/b]

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 14 9 .609 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 13 10 .565 1.0 KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 13 10 .565 1.0 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 13 10 .565 1.0 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 11 12 .478 3.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 11 12 .478 3.0[/b] BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 10 13 .435 4.0 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 9 14 .391 5.0

[MassBrew]

Could the scorer actually have given Nolasco the win? It was my understanding that the official scorer only has discretion when a starter does not go 5 innings and the winning team has not surrendered the lead. In this game the lead was surrendered and High Desert took the lead again before Nolasco was in the game. Just looking for clarification on this.

 

Thanks, Shelmark, you're right. I had forgotten that the Mavericks had come from behind in this one...

 

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

Details on the Ballouli injury (tightness)...

 

www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...981,43302,

[MassBrew]

Our first reports on the Snappers' visit to Clinton --

 

Beloit Daily News staff pieces together an account on the road action:

 

www.beloitdailynews.com/504/snap3.htm

 

Clinton newspaper account:

From the Lumber Kings' perspective, obviously, but it does provide additional details...

 

www.zwire.com/site/news.c...&rfi=6

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Times Game Story:

Best headline of the season!

 

A bat and Costello

Who's on first? Almost nobody against new Stars pitcher in split

By BROOKE MILAM

 

It didn't take long for left-handed pitcher Ryan Costello to make himself at home in Huntsville.

 

After being in town less than 24 hours, Costello earned his first win from the mound for the Huntsville Stars (13-11).

 

Costello started in Huntsville's 5-1 win over the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (10-13) in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader. West Tenn won the opener 4-0.

 

"My plane got in at like 12:30 last night. I didn't even have money for a cab because I wanted to go by an ATM, but I didn't have much time to pack up," Costello said.

 

Costello was on a fast track after being promoted from the Milwaukee Brewers' Single-A affiliate, the High Desert Mavericks, and he allowed West Tenn no runs in five innings, striking out five.

 

He had most recently been used in relief for the Mavericks, but he said a starting role with the Stars doesn't change his mindset.

 

"The last couple of outings I had at High Desert were of quality, so I was just hoping to continue that here," Costello said. "It's starting to set in that I'm in a new setting."

 

Two hits in the first inning produced two runs for the Stars and they sustained momentum in the second, adding three more runs for an early 5-0 lead.

 

West Tenn's lone run came in the sixth inning when a groundout by Micah Hoffpauir scored Jemel Spearman.

 

Centerfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. scored two runs for the Stars and knocked in another and right fielder Jason Belcher was 2-for-3 and scored.

 

Aron Weston was 2-for-3 for the Diamond Jaxx.

 

Behind newcomer Costello's pitching, the Stars had extra motivation in the win after being shut out by West Tenn in the first game of the afternoon.

 

The Diamond Jaxx had control early in that game after scoring three runs in the first inning.

 

"I'd say winning percentage for teams scoring first is really good," Stars manager Frank Kremblas said.

 

The Stars had a chance to regroup, but left the bases loaded in the third inning and left a total of six batters stranded in the game.

 

"I would like us to be a little more aggressive, but we are swinging at bad pitches," Kremblas said of his players' decisions at the plate. "You can't do that. We really chased some tough pitches and gave them a chance to play ahead."

 

Prince Fielder had a double and Belcher a single for the Stars' only two hits.

 

Richard Lewis homered in the fifth inning for West Tenn's final run and shortstop Ronny Cedeno was 2-for-3.

 

Dennis Sarfate (1-2) took the loss for the Stars and Renyel Pinto (2-2) struck out eight in earning the win.