Link Report for Games of Saturday, April 24th

[MassBrew]

The four minor league games stagger by one hour each, with most of the action following the Brewers - Cardinals game today (a Brewerfan Fan Fest extravaganza -- wish I was there). Here's Saturday's Daily Menu -- enjoy!

 

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

 

INDIANAPOLIS: LHP Jorge de la Rosa at Columbus (Yankees), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.newstalk1430.com/

 

HUNTSVILLE: RHP Tim Bausher at home vs. Tennessee (Cardinals), 7:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

HIGH DESERT: RHP Forrest Martin at home vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Angels), 5:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: RHP Greg Moreira at home vs. Wisconsin (Mariners), 4:00 PM

 

Audio link (Timber Rattlers' feed):

www.sportsjuice.com/provi...wtrattlers

[DHonks]

ought to be a fun day for the minors as all of these pitchers are either getting results or are considered prospects

[MassBrew]

Beloit 6, Wisconsin (Mariners) 3

 

Beloit Site Game Summary and Player of the Game Info:

 

www.snappersbaseball.com/...me_id=1268

 

Beloit Box Score:

The box score is a bit off here, as the leadoff hitter was Terry Trofholz, so read it that way; fine pitching from RHP Greg Moreira, and outstanding work from LHP Dana Eveland...

 GAME DATE: 4/24/04 WIS at BLT WISCONSIN 3 AT BELOIT 6 YTD YTD WISCONSIN AB R H BI AVG BELOIT AB R H BI AVG J.Womack LF 4 1 1 2 .213 V.Rottino RF 4 0 2 3 .356 G.Sandel 2B 1 0 0 0 .214 A.Heether 3B 3 0 0 0 .245 M.Cox PH 1 0 0 0 .167 D.Anderson LF 4 0 1 0 .288 M.Cox 2B 0 0 0 0 .167 M.Ramirez 1B 4 0 0 0 .194 A.Jones 3B 2 0 0 1 .231 G.Rodriguez 2B 3 1 2 0 .333 A.Jones SS 0 0 0 0 .231 T.Trofholz CF 5 2 2 1 .281 C.Collins CAT 3 0 0 0 .182 G.Acosta SS 3 1 1 1 .171 C.Colton RF 4 0 0 0 .204 T.Marks DH 3 1 0 0 .281 W.Balentien CF 4 0 0 0 .220 L.Palmisano CAT 4 1 1 1 .321 B.Metheny 1B 3 0 1 0 .250 G.Moreira PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Bradford 1B 1 0 0 0 .125 D.Eveland PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Dutton DH 3 1 3 0 .196 O.Navarro SS 3 1 1 0 .200 E.O'Flaherty PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Perry PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Heaston PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 29 3 6 3 TOTALS 33 6 9 6 WISCONSIN 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0- 3 6 0 BELOIT 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 X- 6 9 0 DP--WISCONSIN 0, BELOIT 0. LOB--WISCONSIN 4, BELOIT 7. 2B--J.Womack (3), V.Rottino (5), T.Trofholz (2), G.Acosta (1). SB--G.Rodriguez (3). SF--A.Jones. SH--G.Sandel. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA WISCONSIN E.O'Flaherty 5.0 5 2 2 2 3 0 3.94 B.Perry (L,0-3) 2.1 4 4 4 1 0 0 7.20 B.Heaston 0.2 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.57 BELOIT G.Moreira 5.0 5 3 3 2 1 0 3.94 D.Eveland (W,1-1) 4.0 1 0 0 1 4 0 2.55 WP--E.O'Flaherty. SO--J.Womack, C.Colton, W.Balentien 2, B.Metheny, M.Ramirez, G.Rodriguez, L.Palmisano. BB--G.Sandel, A.Jones, C.Collins, A.Heether, G.Rodriguez, G.Acosta, T.Marks. T--2:40. A--494

Beloit Game Log:

You'll get a better sense of the batting order here until a proper box score is posted...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12468

 

By the way, RHP Brian Montalbo will be your starting pitcher for Day Two of Brewerfan's Fan Fest.

[MassBrew]

High Desert 5, Rancho Cucamonga (Angels) 3

Amazing what good pitching will get you...sweet! Mavs outhit the Quakes, 12-6; Mario Mendez and Chris Morris with key RBI hits...

 

High Desert Site Game Summary:

 

CATCHER IN THE RIGHT

Catchers may possess the ?tools of ignorance,? but equal the name in the category of good-play calling and timely hitting.

 

Meet John Vanden Berg?s performance on Saturday.

 

The High Desert Mavericks, led by Vanden Berg?s impressive all-around performance, stormed their way to a fourth win in five games by downing the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 5-3 on Saturday afternoon at Mavericks Stadium before 1,292.

 

High Desert (7-10), at the moment of victory and pending the results of the Lancaster/Inland Empire matchup, draws to within five games of the Jethawks for first-place in the California League?s South Division.

 

Vanden Berg led the Mavericks hitting attack with a 2-for-2 hitting effort, including a homer, two RBI?s, two walks and three runs scored. Vanden Berg got the Mavs on the scoreboard with a two-run blast to right off Quakes starter Jean Toledo (1-1), putting the Mavs out front 2-0.

 

With the score tied at 2-2, Vanden Berg drew a crucial two-out walk in the sixth, knocking Toledo from the game in favor of reliever James Carroll. Mario Mendez greeted Carroll by slashing an RBI double down the right-field line, knocking in Vanden Berg and giving the Mavs a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish.

 

Ozzie Chavez followed with an RBI single to expand the lead to 4-2.

 

Vanden Berg also transferred his all-around effort to his work behind the plate, helping Mavs starter Forrest Martin to a stellar five inning effort despite a no-decision, allowing two unearned runs on four hits and a strikeout. Dan Kolb got the win in relief, (1-0), and was followed by notable relief efforts by Ryan Costello in the eighth and Nick Slack in the ninth, who picked up his first save of 2004.

 

Rancho Cucamonga (7-8) tied the game in the fourth when Michael Napoli slugged a two-run homer to right off Martin, and drew to within a run at 4-3 seventh on B.J. Weed?s RBI single off Kolb.

 

The Mavericks, who are guaranteed a series victory over the Quakes with two wins in as many games thus far in the three-game set, send Bo Hall (1-1) to the hill in the final game of the series against Rancho Cucamonga?s Phil Wilson (0-2), with the first pitch set for 5:05 PM (Central Time). The Mavericks will be hosting their second Napa Auto Parts Little League Clinic prior to the game.

 

High Desert Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 4/24/04 RC at HD RANCHO CUCAMONGA 3 AT HIGH DESERT 5 YTD YTD RANCHO CUCAMONGA AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG R.Willits CF 2 0 0 0 .222 C.Morris DH 5 0 1 1 .278 R.Melgarejo RF 4 0 0 0 .273 C.Crabbe 2B 5 0 0 0 .254 E.Aybar DH 4 0 1 0 .414 D.Boyd LF 4 0 1 0 .315 J.Rodriguez SS 2 1 0 0 .231 T.Hinton 1B 3 0 2 0 .368 M.Napoli CAT 4 1 1 2 .370 J.Eure 3B 4 0 2 0 .243 G.Porter 1B 4 1 3 0 .327 S.Candelaria RF 4 1 1 0 .250 D.Gates LF 3 0 0 0 .220 J.Vanden ber CAT 2 3 2 2 .400 A.Pavkovich 3B 2 0 0 0 .289 M.Mendez CF 3 1 1 1 .195 J.Turner PH 1 0 0 0 .111 O.Chavez SS 3 0 2 1 .200 B.Weed 2B 3 0 1 0 .317 F.Martin PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Budde PH 1 0 0 0 .222 D.Kolb PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Toledo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Costello PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Carroll PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Thompson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 30 3 6 2 TOTALS 33 5 12 5 RANCHO CUCAMONGA 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0- 3 6 1 HIGH DESERT 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 X- 5 12 2 E--A.Pavkovich, M.Mendez, O.Chavez. DP--RANCHO CUCAMONGA 1, HIGH DESERT 2. LOB--RANCHO CUCAMONGA 6, HIGH DESERT 10. 2B--G.Porter (3), M.Mendez (1). HR--M.Napoli (5), J.Vanden ber (1). SB--J.Rodriguez (2). CS--J.Rodriguez 2, S.Candelaria. SH--M.Mendez, O.Chavez. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA RANCHO CUCAMONGA J.Toledo (L,1-1) 5.2 6 3 3 3 5 1 3.00 J.Carroll 1.1 3 1 1 1 1 0 6.75 R.Thompson 1.0 3 1 1 0 1 0 7.88 HIGH DESERT F.Martin 5.0 2 2 0 3 1 1 3.10 D.Kolb (W,2-0) 2.0 3 1 0 3 2 0 4.72 R.Costello 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 14.29 N.Slack (S,1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.43 SO--R.Willits, J.Rodriguez, M.Napoli, D.Gates, C.Morris 3, C.Crabbe 2, T.Hinton, J.Eure. BB--R.Willits 2, J.Rodriguez 2, D.Gates, A.Pavkovich, D.Boyd, T.Hinton, J.Vanden ber 2. T--2:45. A--1292

High Desert Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=17894

[brewcrewkid14]

Indianapolis or Huntsville updates yet?

[Cyanogen5]

Indianapolis lost 8 - 2, looks like JDLR gave up 6 of those runs. Huntsville is losing 5 - 1, errors led to most of Tennesse's runs

[MassBrew]

Final: Columbus (Yankees) 8, Indianapolis 2

LHP Jorge de la Rosa a disappointment in the early going...

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

Old friend Jeff Deardorff goes deep, over 12,000 in attendance...

 GAME DATE: 4/24/04 IND at COL INDIANAPOLIS 2 AT COLUMBUS 8 YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG COLUMBUS AB R H BI AVG D.Krynzel CF 3 1 0 0 .326 D.Bragg CF 4 1 0 0 .341 J.Hardy SS 3 0 1 1 .218 C.Cosme 2B 4 2 3 3 .408 C.Coste CAT 4 0 2 0 .348 M.Vento RF 4 0 1 0 .208 J.Liefer DH 3 0 1 1 .386 M.Kelly LF 3 0 1 2 .222 C.Hart RF 4 0 0 0 .314 J.Deardorff 3B 3 1 1 2 .231 J.Nunnally LF 4 0 0 0 .160 T.Betts 1B 4 1 1 0 .275 S.Sheldon 1B 4 1 1 0 .258 F.Escalona SS 4 1 1 0 .286 S.Scarbrough 3B 2 0 0 0 .174 H.Bush DH 2 2 1 0 .314 L.Figueroa 2B 3 0 1 0 .250 D.Parrish CAT 4 0 1 1 .200 J.De La Rosa PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Beal PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Mann PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Bowles PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Bean PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Childers PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 30 2 6 2 TOTALS 32 8 10 8 INDIANAPOLIS 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0- 2 6 0 COLUMBUS 1 4 0 0 0 2 1 0 X- 8 10 0 DP--INDIANAPOLIS 1, COLUMBUS 2. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 5, COLUMBUS 5. 2B--C.Cosme (3), M.Kelly (1). HR--J.Deardorff (3). SB--D.Bragg (2), C.Cosme (2). HBP--M.Kelly, H.Bush. SF--J.Hardy, J.Deardorff. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS J.De La Rosa (L,0-1) 2.0 5 5 5 1 4 0 8.71 M.Adams 3.1 2 2 2 0 5 0 5.11 B.Bowles 1.2 3 1 1 0 3 1 2.45 J.Childers 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2.57 COLUMBUS A.Beal (W,1-0) 6.0 5 2 2 3 1 0 7.20 J.Mann 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.74 C.Bean 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 HB--J.De La Rosa 2. SO--D.Krynzel 2, C.Hart, D.Bragg 3, M.Vento, M.Kelly 2, J.Deardorff, T.Betts 2, F.Escalona 2, D.Parrish 2. BB-- D.Krynzel, J.Liefer, S.Scarbrough, D.Bragg, H.Bush. T--2:19. A--12635

Indianapolis Game Log:

David Krynzel's led off more than a few games this year with a base on balls; de la Rosa's outings have been unusually short in addition to mediocre...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=14076

[MassBrew]

Final: Huntsville 8, Tennessee (Cardinals) 5

Stars score four in the eighth for the exciting come-from-behind win

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Always nice to draw nine walks; and isn't Prince's average starting to sneak back up...

 GAME DATE: 4/24/04 TEN at HVL TENNESSEE 5 AT HUNTSVILLE 8 YTD YTD TENNESSEE AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG S.Schumaker CF 4 0 0 0 .391 A.Gwynn CF 5 1 1 1 .208 P.Bolivar RF 1 0 1 0 .265 E.Cruz SS 3 2 1 1 .226 J.Hamilton RF 3 2 1 0 .207 P.Fielder 1B 4 2 2 0 .265 D.Moylan CAT 4 1 2 2 .316 R.Weeks 2B 4 1 1 0 .314 J.Colina 2B 3 1 0 0 .224 B.Nelson LF 3 0 2 1 .239 J.Kinney PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Nelson RF 0 0 0 0 .239 C.Cali PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Barnwell 3B 4 0 1 2 .176 N.Espy 1B 0 0 0 0 .217 K.Johnson CAT 3 1 1 0 .310 J.Nelson SS 4 1 1 0 .333 B.Gemoll RF 4 0 0 1 .143 C.Duncan 1B 4 0 1 2 .250 R.Giron PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Duncan LF 0 0 0 0 .250 T.Bausher PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Boyd LF 4 0 0 0 .200 J.Belcher PH 0 0 0 0 .214 E.Rust PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Novinsky PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 G.Johnson 3B 4 0 1 0 .116 J.Raburn PH 1 0 0 0 .333 C.Narveson PIT 2 0 0 0 .000 R.Rivard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Johnson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Knox PH 1 1 1 0 .278 C.Erickson 2B 1 0 0 0 .160 R.Knox LF 0 0 0 0 .278 TOTALS 34 5 7 4 TOTALS 33 8 10 6 TENNESSEE 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0- 5 7 3 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 4 X- 8 10 1 E--D.Moylan, C.Duncan, C.Erickson, P.Fielder. DP--TENNESSEE 0, HUNTSVILLE 0. LOB--TENNESSEE 6, HUNTSVILLE 12. 2B--C.Duncan (4), A.Gwynn (4), R.Weeks (5), B.Nelson (3), R.Knox (3). 3B--J.Hamilton (1). HR--D.Moylan (1). SB--E.Cruz (1), R.Knox (4). HBP--R.Weeks. SF-- E.Cruz. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA TENNESSEE C.Narveson 5.0 3 3 3 3 6 0 4.43 T.Johnson 1.1 0 0 0 2 2 0 6.75 J.Kinney 0.1 1 1 1 2 0 0 9.00 C.Cali (L,0-1) 0.2 2 2 2 1 1 0 5.40 E.Rust 0.2 4 2 2 1 2 0 4.91 HUNTSVILLE T.Bausher 3.0 5 3 0 2 4 0 1.80 J.Novinsky 3.0 2 2 2 2 5 1 4.66 R.Rivard (W,1-0) 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5.91 R.Giron (S,4) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 HB--C.Narveson. WP--J.Kinney. SO--S.Schumaker 2, J.Nelson, C.Duncan 2, S.Boyd 2, G.Johnson, C.Narveson 2, C.Erickson, A.Gwynn 2, P.Fielder, R.Weeks, B.Nelson, K.Johnson, B.Gemoll 3, J.Novinsky, J.Raburn. BB--S.Schumaker, J.Hamilton, J.Colina, C.Narveson, E.Cruz, P.Fielder, B.Nelson 2, C.Barnwell, K.Johnson 2, B.Gemoll, J.Belcher. T--3:02. A--2204

Huntsville Game Log:

Prince thrown at the plate in the 7th -- give that catcher a medal...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=11956

[bork]

Did the Huntsville bats finally come alive? Looks like they scored 7 runs in 3 innings to take an 8-5 lead after 8.

[Katuluu]

Nice to see Nelson draw a few walks as well. That offense might finally be starting to wake up.

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Game Notes:

 

Columbus (7-7) snapped a four-game Indianapolis (9-4) win streak Saturday night, turning back the Indians, 8-2, behind the timely hitting of Michigan City, Ind. native Jeff Deardorrf.

 

Deardorff, a former Brewers farmhand, went one for three, including a solo home run off Tribe reliever Brian Bowles in the Columbus seventh and a sacrifice fly in the home first.

 

?It?s always good to see the guys on the Indians,? said Deardorff. ?It?s always good to hit well against them and put some numbers against them. Cecil Cooper was responsible for drafting me and I love him to death. He can bring a lot to these kids.?

 

Indianapolis scored first in their initial at-bat. Dave Krynzel led off the contest with a walk against Columbus starter Andy Beal (1-0). J.J. Hardy singled to right field, advancing Krynzel to third. Jeff Liefer scored Hardy with a single to left field.

 

Columbus tied the score in the bottom half of the first off Tribe starter Jorge De La Rosa (0-1), who had trouble throwing strikes. De La Rosa gave up a double to Caonobo Cosme, a single to Mike Vento and hit Mike Kelly with a pitch to load the bases. Deardorff?s sacrifice fly to center field scored Cosme, making the game even at 1-1.

 

The Clippers jumped on De La Rosa in the second for four runs. Cosme produced a two-run single in the inning and later Mike Kelly came up with a two-run double for a 5-1 Columbus lead.

 

Indianapolis threatened in the fifth inning, but scored just one run. Scott Sheldon led off the inning with a single to left field and scored on Hardy?s sacrifice fly to center field.

 

Columbus busted the game open in the sixth inning, scoring a pair of runs off Tribe relievers Mike Adams and Bowles. Cosme again came through for the Clippers with an RBI single. For the night, he went three for four with three RBI.

 

The defeat was the Tribe?s largest of the season, having lost by more than one run just once this season. The team?s meet in the rubber game of the two-game series on Sunday. Indianapolis will start right-hander Travis Phelps (0-0, 13.50) against Columbus right-hander Buddy Carlisle (0-0, 12.00).

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Call them the cardiac Stars, the comeback kids, or the heart-stoppers. Late-inning rallies can be habit forming, and Huntsville is stuck in a pleasing pattern. For the third time in four games, the Stars (8-6) used an 11th-hour surge to claim victory, this one an 8-5 win over Tennessee (8-8) on Saturday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville remained one-half game behind Birmingham in the Southern League West.

 

Behind 5-1 in the sixth, Huntsville clawed back into the game. Prince Fielder singled and Rickie Weeks was hit by a pitch. Brad Nelson walked, then Chris Barnwell walked to force in a run. One out later, Brandon Gemoll?s groundout knocked in Weeks to pull the Stars within 5-3.

 

The seventh produced another Stars run, but Tennessee dodged a bullet. Enrique Cruz drew a one-out walk, stole second and took third on catcher Dan Moylan?s throwing error. Cruz scored on a wild pitch, then Fielder walked. Weeks doubled off the top of the wall in left-center, just missing a two-run homer. Fielder was gunned down at home on John Nelson?s relay throw, keeping the Smokies in front 5-4.

 

Finally in the eighth, Huntsville took its first lead and never looked back. Ryan Knox started the rally with a pinch-hit double to right. Knox stole third and scored on Tony Gwynn, Jr.?s double to left, tying the game 5-5. Cruz singled to left, where Chris Duncan overran the ball for an error, allowing Gwynn to score the go-ahead run. With two outs, Nelson and Barnwell produced run-scoring singles for an 8-5 Stars lead.

 

Reliever Reggie Rivard (1-0) notched his first win, tossing two perfect frames, fanning one. Carmen Cali (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering two runs on two hits and one walk in 2/3 inning. Roberto Giron picked up his fourth save in four chances with one strikeout in a spotless ninth.

 

The Stars and Smokies conclude the series with a doubleheader Sunday at 2:05 p.m. at Joe Davis Stadium. Game one pits left Matt Ford (1-1, 2.70) against Tennessee righty Jeremy Cummings (1-0, 1.96). In game two, Huntsville left-hander Jeff Housman (0-1, 5.56) meets right-hander Jeremy Cook (0-0, 0.00).

[MassBrew]

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

 

GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES

All that talk of a big crowd. Silly me. How wrong I was.

The management brought in The Zooperstars and dressed the Stars in NASCAR-themed uniforms that were auctioned off in the 7th inning, yet it attracted almost a quarter as many people to the ballpark on a Saturday night........ Yet put on a post-game fireworks show, something I've see a godzillion times, and they come out in droves.

 

Normally, the Zooperstars are very fun to watch, but unfortunately, their appearance was plagued by some very distorted and broken audio coming through the sound system, and I don't know whose or what the fault it was. The movements without the music was like trying to watch a movie on "mute" only worse, since no one wants an earful of popping, scratching, screeching, and indecipherable lyrics. I can't imagine that the troupe of performers dressed as Nomar Goosieaparra, Rusty Walrus, and Snail Earnhardt, Jr., et. al. were enjoying this. I was embarrassed for them.

 

Before the game, I heard someone say these custom-ordered uniforms were ugly, and I had a picture right away of all the sponsorships and loud colors that adorn the cars these drivers ride in. Now I'm not a NECKCAR, er NASCAR fan by any stretch, but the simple black and white color schemes were not bad looking. Black uniforms, white numbers, and checkered sleeves. Even the numbers on the back looked like a NASCAR-style font was used. And to add some novelty, each player used racing numbers of some of the popular drivers....... Prince Fielder wore # 97 for Kurt Busch, Tony Gwynn wore Matt Kenseth's # 17, Rickie Weeks wore Bobby Labonte's # 18, Brad Nelson wore Jimmie Johnson's # 48....... Opening bids started at $60, so I took a shot at this and bid on Kade Johnson's # 5, not because of the driver, whoever the hell it is, but for the fact that Kade's a favorite, and I didn't have $100-200 and up to throw on Fielder, Weeks, or Gwynn....... I don't know how it turned out, but I hope to find out Sunday

 

Oh, the game........ The flag was dropped at 7:07 pm under fast track conditions, an 82° temperature, but the Stars were left on the line..... While Tim Bausher was being knocked around, expending 63 pitches in 3 innings to 14 hitters for three runs on five hits and a pair of walks, Tennessee starter Chris Narveson was breezing through five innings, including the first six in a row........ He loaded the bases with no one out in the 3rd inning, but making an early habit out of not taking advantage of early opportunites, the Stars managed to score only one run --- that on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 3rd..........

 

The Smokies, however, did take advantage....... With one out in the 3rd inning, Jon Hamilton on 2nd and Dan Moylan on 1st, Javier Colina hit what looked like a sure inning-ending double play....... Enrique Cruz quickly fed a sharply hit two-hopper to Weeks to force Moylan, but Weeks' throw pulled Fielder off the bag. Wisely, however, Prince advanced with the ball on the middle part of the infield in front of the mound. Hamilton was caught in a rundown and looked like a dead duck as Fielder faked his throws to third. Finally, Fielder let go with Hamilton nearly on third, and lollipopped the ball over Chris Barnwell's head and into foul ground. Hamilton scored, Colina advancing to second. Shortstop Joe Nelson then handcuffed Cruz on a fast ball, stopping it actually from going through for an RBI single, Nelson was given an infield hit and runners were now on first and third with one out....... The next hitter, Chris Duncan then cleared the bases with a double to the left field wall to make it 3-0.

 

John Novinsky, who will have a birthday by the time you read this, put the Stars behind, 5-1 on a leadoff triple to centerfield by Jon Hamilton (who strangely entered the game in the bottom of the 1st for Papo Bolivar), and a first-pitch home run off the second wall in right field by Dan Moylan.......... The Stars after five innings, were being out-hit 7-2...

 

The Stars though started pecking away at Tennessee's bullpen........ Instead of throwing darts, as Narveson did, they threw duds....... After Narveson allowed the first two batters in the 6th to reach base, Dud # 1, Tyler Johnson, walked two straight hitters on 10 pitches, Barnwell walking in Fielder. Brandon Gemoll's ground ball scored Weeks, who was hit for the third time in two nights, to make it 5-3.

 

In the 7th inning, Jeff Kinney came in and walked the first two hitters. Actually, Cruz scored before Fielder had a chance to move him over 90 feet........ With a 2-2 count on Fielder, Cruz stole second and then on the next pitch, scored on a wild pitch. That made it 5-4, but the Stars could have taken the lead in this inning with ease......... On a double off the top of the centerfield wall by Weeks, Fielder was gunned down at the plate on John Nelson's relay throw from Skip Schumaker........ The Smokies made three errors in that inning, if you count a dropped foul ball off the bat of Gwynn, Jr. by left fielder Shaun Boyd........ Three errors, a double, and three walks --- and still the Stars, master of futility, leaving the bases loaded, could score only one run.

 

But call in the doctor....... The Stars, almost even with the bad boys on the inside track, pulled out the stoppers in the 8th........ For the third time in four games, they took a rather chunky deficit and performed another late-inning rally....... Ryan Knox started the rally with a pinch-hit double to the right field corner, then stole third....... Gwynn then doubled to left, and trotting home came Knox to tie the score at 5-5........ A single to left by Cruz followed, and Gwynn scored the go-ahead run when Chris Duncan overran the ball for an error........ With two outs, Brad Nelson and Chris Barnwell had the fifth and sixth hits of the inning to make it 8-5........ Brandon Gemoll ended the inning as he had started it --- by striking out.

 

Reggie Rivard posted his first win by retiring all six batters he faced, striking out one........ The best defensive play of the game came in the 1st inning with the # 3 batter, Dan Moylan at the plate........ Moylan popped a 3-1 pitch that was sailing high, dangerously close to the edge of the dugout. That didn't stop Kade Johnson from chasing after it, aware all the while how close he was to the dugout, but Barnwell had his back and as Kade made the catch on the edge of the steps, then tumbled forward, Barnwell and manager Frank Kremblas, kept him upright with the ball in his glove.

 

I was mistaken thinking that Chris Saenz would start on Sunday....... He actually started Saturday against the Cardinals and pitched a nearly trouble-free two-hitter over six innings to get the 3-1 victory in his major league debut........ Saenz struck out seven and gave up hits to Ray Lankford in the 1st and Albert Pujols in the 6th...... 58 of Saenz' 93 pitches were strikes (62.3%)....... Saenz' mother, Cheryl, and his girl friend flew to Milwaukee from Tucson to watch him pitch....... He's the first Milwaukee Brewer since Nick Neugebauer to win in his major league debut.

 

A victim once again of non-support, Derek Lee lost 4-0 to the Erie Sea Wolves, Saturday. The General, who is now 0-3 with an ERA of 5.40, gave up two runs on five hits in five innings, but also walked five........ Jeff Deardorff hit a two-run HR and former Tennessee Smokie Caonabo Cosme drove in three runs as Columbus beat Indianapolis in an International League game, 8-2.

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Times Game Story:

 

Stars claw back for victory

Four-run eighth spells doom for Smokies

By JENNIFER SEIGER

For The Times jseiger@excite.com

 

It was anything but quick.

 

After falling behind the Tennessee Smokies 5-1, the Huntsville Stars mounted a slow but methodical comeback that resulted in an eventual 8-5 victory before an announced crowd of 2,204 Saturday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

The game lasted three hours, two minutes. The first four innings went by relatively fast as they were completed in one hour. But a combined 13 walks, one hit batsman and the use of nine pitchers resulted in a long, drawn out affair by game's end.

 

"I don't know how many walks we had, but we had quite a few," Stars manager Frank Kremblas said.

 

They tallied nine, not including their hit batsman.

 

And then the hits finally came - albeit late - with the Stars coming through in thrilling fashion via an offensive landslide.

 

"We started getting some pitches to hit and we hit them pretty good," Kremblas said. "I think our bats were fine. We just weren't getting a whole lot to hit."

 

They certainly weren't. Huntsville (8-6) managed just four hits over the first seven innings before its offense resurrected itself in the eighth.

 

The Stars scored one run in the third, two in the sixth and another in the seventh to cut their deficit to one run. Huntsville then exploded for four runs in the eighth to complete its comeback bid.

 

Pinch hitter Ryan Knox knocked a deep double down the first base line with one out to get the rally started in the bottom of the eighth and then Tony Gwynn Jr. clubbed a double down the third base line to score Knox and tied the game 5-all. Enrique Cruz followed that with single to left field that the Smokies' outfielder snagged and then dropped, which allowed Cruz to pick up an extra base and Gwynn to score, putting the Stars up 6-5.

 

Huntsville scored two more runs in the inning, which yielded six hits and one walk.

 

Prince Fielder and Brad Nelson each had two hits to lead the Stars. Chris Barnwell had two RBIs to go with one hit.

 

Reggie Rivard picked up his first win of the season for the Stars, collecting one strikeout in two shutout innings during which he did not allow a hit. Teammate Roberto Giron earned the save, fanning one.

 

The teams play a doubleheader today at Joe Davis Stadium, starting at 2:05 p.m.

[MassBrew]

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 9 4 .692[/b] COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 7 7 .500 2.5 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 6 9 .400 4.0 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 6 10 .375 4.5

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 9 6 .600 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 8 6 .571 .5[/b] MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 8 8 .500 1.5 WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 6 7 .462 2.0 MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 5 11 .313 4.5

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 11 5 .688 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 10 6 .625 1.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 7 8 .467 3.5 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 7 9 .438 4.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 7 10 .412 4.5[/b]

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 10 6 .625 KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 9 7 .563 1.0 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 8 7 .533 1.5 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 8 7 .533 1.5 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 7 8 .467 2.5 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 7 9 .438 3.0[/b] QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 6 9 .400 3.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 6 10 .375 4.0

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

Quotes a-plenty...

 

www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...984,59497,

[lend d money]

Dana did an excellent job in his piggyback stint on Saturday. His pitches have a ton of movement(cover the whole plate) and he was throwing consistent strikes.