Link Report for Games of Wednesday, April 14th

[MassBrew]

Here's your Daily Menu for Wednesday:

 

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

 

INDIANAPOLIS: Idle

 

HUNTSVILLE: LHP Matt Ford and LHP Jeff Housman at home in a twinbill vs. Carolina (Marlins), 12:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

HIGH DESERT: LHP Ryan Costello vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Angels), 9:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: RHP Greg Moreira at home vs. Peoria (Cardinals), 6:30 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.sportsjuice.com/provi...me=pchiefs

[gregmag]

Huntsville down 1-0, middle of 4th. Ford went three innings, pitching (mostly) out of trouble the whole time; Stewart in for a scoreless fourth. It sounds from the broadcast like the Stars are hitting a lot of balls on the screws, but right at people.

 

Where does that expression come from, by the way? Balls don't have screws.

 

Greg.

[gregmag]

Okay -- end of 6, and the Mudcats' Trevor Hutchinson is NO-HITTING the Stars. That's a little disturbing, that a AA team with Fielder, Weeks, and Nelson can get no-hit. One more inning to save their honor, and maybe even win the game -- it's only 2-0.

 

Greg.

[NastyTwig]

The Stars were no hit...

[MikeRizzo]

Dana is pitching in tonights game for Beloit, against his good friend John Santor . That should be fun to see how he pitches him or if he will knock him down.

They work out together in the off season but in High school they played against each other. Santor also went to school with our other pitcher Kenny D.

 

I will miss the first part of the game due to Danas brother also will be playing so if someone can post how things are going I would apprecate it so I can catch up when I get back .

 

Thanks

 

Mike

[lend d money]

He is but not starting. Morreira told me at Saturday's game that he and Dana were switching piggyback roles tonight.

[MikeRizzo]

Oh Im not sure I just assumed when he said he was pitching I thought he was starting.

 

Mike

[MassBrew]

Final, Game One: Carolina (Marlins) 5, Huntsville 0, seven innings

Final, Game Two: Carolina 5, Huntsville 1, seven innings

Stars have scored one run on seven hits in last 23 innings...

 

Game One Recap:

 

Huntsville, AL (Sports Network) - Trevor Hutchinson and Kevin Cave combined on the minor league's second no-hitter of the season, as the Carolina Mudcats blanked the Hunstville Stars, 5-0, in game one of a doubleheader.

 

It was the third no-hitter in Mudcats history. On Monday, two pitchers from the Single-A Burlington Bees - Dusty Hughes and Jake Mullis - shutout the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 1-0.

 

Hutchinson (1-0) pitched the first six innings, while Cave struck out Chris Barnwell for the final out and the no-hitter. Hutchinson threw over 70 pitches in six innings and was lifted for a pinch-hitter.

 

Several defensive standout plays helped keep the no-hitter in tact, as Joe Dillon made a great leaping catch in the third inning and a heads-up play in the fourth to throw out Rickie Weeks. Also, in the seventh, Cave played hockey goaltender and stopped a one-out shot off his right foot to prevent a possible base hit by Brad Nelson.

 

Game One Box and Log not available as of "post time"...

 

Game Two Recap:

 

Huntsville, AL (Sports Network) - Joe Dillon collected four hits and drove in two runs and Eric Reed added three hits, as the Carolina Mudcats completed a doubleheader sweep of the Huntsville Stars, 5-1.

 

Dillon leads the team in hitting at .545, home runs with four and RBI with 10.

 

The Mudcats added their final two runs in the seventh, as Pat Magness belted a pinch-hit homer and Dillon's RBI single.

 

Pete Hartmann (1-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Nic Ungs, who went the first 4 2/3rd innings. Jeff Housman (0-1) took the loss for the Stars.

 

Game Two Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 4/14/04 CAR at HVL CAROLINA 5 AT HUNTSVILLE 1 DH GAME #2 YTD YTD CAROLINA AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG E.Reed CF 4 2 3 0 .400 J.Raburn SS 4 0 1 0 .167 J.Wilson SS 4 1 1 0 .222 R.Knox CF 2 0 0 0 .286 J.Dillon 3B 4 1 4 2 .545 P.Fielder 1B 3 0 0 0 .150 J.Stokes 1B 4 0 1 1 .353 R.Weeks 2B 4 0 0 0 .250 C.Ambres LF 3 0 0 0 .227 B.Nelson RF 3 0 0 0 .333 M.Tucker 2B 3 0 0 0 .182 C.Barnwell 3B 2 0 2 0 .150 J.Kavourias RF 2 0 0 1 .235 B.Gemoll LF 3 0 0 0 .200 D.Anderson CAT 3 0 1 0 .167 K.Johnson CAT 3 1 1 0 .333 N.Ungs PIT 2 0 0 0 .250 J.Housman PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Hartmann PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Miller PIT 0 0 0 1 .000 P.Magness PH 1 1 1 1 .333 B.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Messenger PIT 0 0 0 0 1.000 J.Belcher PH 1 0 1 0 .154 J.Novinsky PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Gwynn PH 1 0 0 0 .176 TOTALS 30 5 11 5 TOTALS 26 1 5 1 CAROLINA 2 1 0 0 0 0 2- 5 11 1 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 1 0 0 0 0- 1 5 1 E--J.Kavourias, J.Raburn. DP--CAROLINA 0, HUNTSVILLE 1. LOB--CAROLINA 6, HUNTSVILLE 9. 2B--E.Reed (1), J.Dillon 2 (3), J.Raburn (1). HR-- P.Magness (1). SB--E.Reed (3), R.Knox (3), K.Johnson (1). SF--R.Miller. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA CAROLINA N.Ungs 4.2 3 1 0 2 2 0 5.19 P.Hartmann (W,1-0) 1.1 1 0 0 0 4 0 2.08 R.Messenger 1.0 1 0 0 2 2 0 9.00 HUNTSVILLE J.Housman (L,0-1) 1.2 5 3 2 2 3 0 2.70 R.Miller 2.1 2 0 0 0 3 0 1.29 B.Adams 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2.08 J.Novinsky 2.0 3 2 2 0 2 1 3.86 SO--J.Stokes, M.Tucker 2, J.Kavourias 2, D.Anderson 2, N.Ungs, J.Raburn 2, P.Fielder, R.Weeks, B.Nelson 2, B.Gemoll, A.Gwynn. BB--C.Ambres, J.Kavourias, R.Knox 2, P.Fielder, C.Barnwell. T--2:27.

Game Two Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=11954

[MassBrew]

Quite the numbers from the Carolina site:

 

The Carolina Mudcats tossed their third no-hitter in franchise history, then watched Joe Dillon go 4-4 in the nightcap as the Mudcats swept two games from the Huntsville Stars 5-0 and 5-1 at Joe Davis Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. Trevor Hutchinson (W, 1-0) and Kevin Cave combined on the opening game no-hitter for the Mudcats, their first since April 9, 2003 against Mobile. Dillon made two sparkling defensive stops in the game to set up club history. In the seventh, Cave kicked down a blast from Brad Nelson for the second out of the inning, denying the Stars' first hit. Eric Reed went 3-4 in the opener, scoring the game's first run in the first inning after singling, stealing second, taking third on an overthrow and scoring on a grounder by Josh Wilson. Leading 2-0 in the seventh, Jimmy Goelz hit his fourth career homerun to right-center, followed four batters later by a two-run blast to right-center by Josh Willingham.

 

In the nightcap, Carolina (5-2) jumped on Jeff Housman in the first inning for two runs. Jason Stokes singled home Wilson with one out, then a bases loaded walk from Housman issued to Jim Kavourias forced Dillon home. Huntsville (3-4) did not pick up its first hit of the day until the fourth inning of game two, a two-strike single by Chris Barnwell coming off of Nic Ungs. Ungs worked 4 2/3 innings, but could not qualify for the win. Pete Hartmann (W, 1-0) notched the win from the bullpen by fanning four over 1 1/3 innings, including Prince Fielder with two on and two out in the fifth inning, guarding a 3-1 lead. Dillon went 5-5 in the doubleheader, reaching his two other plate appearances by a walk and hit batsman and is hitting .565 (13-23) for the season.

 

The Mudcats held the Stars vaunted offensive quartet of Fielder, Tony Gwynn Jr., Nelson and Rickie Weeks to 2-35 with no RBI in the series. The Stars offense collectively batted just .092 (7-76) in the three-game sweep to Carolina, and was outscored by the Mudcats 15-1. Huntsville's lone run in the series came on a sacrifice fly by pitcher Ryan Miller in the third inning of game two.

[MassBrew]

Final: Beloit 9, Peoria (Cardinals) 5

What a bonus it'll be if 2001 10th round RHP Greg Moreira breaks out this year -- in his 4th pro season, he won't be 21 until next month; and who's this guy in 2B Guilder Rodriguez' uniform ?

 

Beloit Box Score:

 PEORIA 5 AT BELOIT 9 YTD YTD PEORIA AB R H BI AVG BELOIT AB R H BI AVG A.Monegan RF 4 1 1 0 .333 T.Trofholz CF 5 1 2 1 .316 M.McCoy 3B 4 0 0 0 .174 R.Deevers RF 3 0 0 1 .143 C.Haerther LF 4 0 2 1 .296 D.Anderson LF 2 0 1 1 .364 T.Evans CF 4 1 1 1 .190 G.Acosta LF 1 1 0 1 .250 J.Santor 1B 4 1 1 0 .174 L.Palmisano CAT 4 2 2 0 .444 K.Boyer 2B 4 0 0 0 .227 V.Rottino DH 4 1 3 2 .316 B.Rosenthal CAT 4 1 2 0 .500 A.Heether 3B 3 1 1 2 .190 T.Parker DH 4 1 1 3 .160 C.Corporan 1B 4 1 1 0 .250 M.Jaramillo SS 3 0 0 0 .190 J.Murray SS 4 0 0 0 .190 J.Pals PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.Rodriguez 2B 3 2 2 0 .467 J.Mondesir PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.Moreira PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Brey PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Eveland PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Jordan PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 5 8 5 TOTALS 33 9 12 8 PEORIA 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3- 5 8 0 BELOIT 0 6 0 0 2 1 0 0 X- 9 12 0 DP--PEORIA 0, BELOIT 0. LOB--PEORIA 4, BELOIT 6. 2B--A.Monegan (1), C.Haerther (1), L.Palmisano (3), V.Rottino (2). 3B--A.Heether (1). HR--T.Evans (3), T.Parker (2). SB--T.Trofholz (3), G.Rodriguez (2). CS--R.Deevers, G.Rodriguez. HBP--R.Deevers. SF--G.Acosta. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA PEORIA J.Pals (L,1-1) 4.1 10 8 8 1 6 0 8.71 J.Mondesir 1.2 1 1 1 2 1 0 4.91 J.Brey 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 B.Jordan 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 27.00 BELOIT G.Moreira (W,1-0) 5.1 5 2 2 0 2 1 4.00 D.Eveland (S,1) 3.2 3 3 3 1 4 1 4.70 HB--J.Pals. WP--J.Pals. BALKS--J.Pals, G.Moreira. PB--B.Rosenthal. SO--A.Monegan 2, J.Santor, K.Boyer, B.Rosenthal, T.Parker, R.Deevers, D.Anderson, V.Rottino, A.Heether 2, C.Corporan 2, J.Murray, G.Rodriguez. BB--M.Jaramillo, R.Deevers, G.Acosta, A.Heether, G.Rodriguez. T--2:35. A--417

Beloit Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12466

 

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 5 1 .833 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 4 2 .667 1.0 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 4 2 .667 1.0 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 3 3 .500 2.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 3 3 .500 2.0[/b] WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 2 4 .333 3.0 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 2 4 .333 3.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 1 5 .167 4.0

Just Underway: High Desert 1, Rancho Cucamonga (Angels) 0, after one inning

Only show in town at this hour -- listen while you browse!

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Doubleheader Summary:

And look who's your starting pitcher on Friday...

 

Under a welcome blue sky at Joe Davis Stadium, it became clear the reigning Southern League champs are serious about defending their title. Carolina swept two from host Huntsville, including a combined no-hitter in game one. Victories of 5-0 and 5-1 gave the Mudcats (5-2) a three-game sweep of the Stars (3-4), who have lost four straight games to fall out first place in the Southern League West.

 

Trevor Hutchinson (2-0) - a Stars tormenter in the last year's league final - tossed six no-hit innings to secure his second win, and closer Kevin Cave finished off the no-no with a hitless seventh to secure the 5-0 shutout. It was Carolina's third no-hitter and first since April of 2003.

 

Hutchinson fanned four while allowing just two baserunners on a walk and an error. Cave walked the leadoff hitter in the seventh, but Huntsville's best bid for a hit in the inning, Brad Nelson's one-out come-backer, caromed off Cave, who ran it down and threw out Nelson.

 

Carolina broke up a taught 1-0 game with Chip Ambres' run-scoring, sixth-inning double and a pair of seventh-inning homers, Jimmy Goelz's solo drive and Josh Willingham's two-run shot.

 

Huntsville lefty Matt Ford (1-1) suffered the loss, permitting one run on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in three innings.

 

In game two, the Mudcats raced to a 3-0 lead as Jason Stokes and Jim Kavourias knocked in first-inning runs, and Joe Dillon doubled home another in the third. Dillon finished the doubleheader a perfect 5-for-5 with two doubles, two runs batted in and two runs scored.

 

Huntsville scored its only run of the series in the third, with the help of Kavourias' drop in rightfield. Kade Johnson's drive carried to the wall, where Kavourias had it glance off his glove for a three-base error. Ryan Miller's sacrifice fly plated Johnson to get the Stars within two.

 

With Carolina still up 3-1 in the seventh, Pat Magness launched a pinch-hit solo homer and Dillon singled in his final run to cap the scoring.

 

Pete Hartman (1-0) picked up the win, fanning three in 1 1/3 innings of one-hit relief. Jeff Housman (0-1) absorbed the defeat, permitting three runs on five hits and two walks while fanning four over 1 2/3 innings.

 

After the Stars rest Thursday, Huntsville righty Tim Bausher makes his first start of the season on Friday against the Biscuits in the first-ever game at Montgomery's brand-new Riverwalk Stadium. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Stars baseball can be heard on ESPN 1450 WTKI or on the web at www.huntsvillestars.com. The broadcast begins at 6:50 p.m. with the FPH Financial Pre-game show.

[MassBrew]

Beloit Site Game Summary and Player of the Game Info:

 

www.snappersbaseball.com/...me_id=1257

[Al the Thinking Man]

Obviously, they are giving Bauscher every chance to succeed, by giving him innings.

[MassBrew]

LHP Ryan Costello with a pretty horrific outing control-wise, as the Mavs now trail 6-1 heading to the bottom of the third.

 

For all we comment about California League pitching conditions, we've listened to and read about a ton of walks issued during the High Desert - Maverick relationship.

[madbad2000]

Not sure what happened but Drew Anderson was replaced by Gilberto Acosta fairly early...like 2nd or 3rd inning.

 

Moreira was looking sharp. Except for a dinger to Terry Evans. Evans is a cf...knocks the crap out of it.

 

Guilder Rodriguez....the man keeps getting on base and no bunt hits either.

 

Vinny with some nice hitting tonight. Atta boy Vinny.

 

Nothing really stands out to me. The homer by Parker in the top of the ninth was with 2 outs and an absolute shot to centerfield.

 

How long till a Snapper hits a homer? 6 games and counting. Oh and this is the first game with no errors. Keep that up boys.

 

Perfect night for baseball and not a huge crowd....come on out folks.

[colbyjack]

Michael, how did Eveland look? His line in the box score isn't the prettiest, but I'm curious once again to learn how he did via first-hand observations.

[madbad2000]

Eveland looked pretty good. The shot by Parker was a blast and IIRC he had him on the ropes for the last out. Dana was cruising until the 9th that's for sure. Not sure how fast he was throwing.

[ItsCotter]

Eveland was hitting high 80's to low 90's,topping out at 91-92 MPH,I believe.

I was sitting right behind home plate looking at what most the pitchers were being clocked at.

 

 

Oh yeah,I talked with Steve Moss,who was in a black boot cast,and he said he'll be out 2-4 weeks. . . he hopes

[MassBrew]

Update: Bottom of the 6th in the Desert, Rancho Cucamonga 10, High Desert 8

 

And no, I won't be hearing the tail end of this one here on the East Coast http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

 

RHP Forrest Martin continues to impress, despite giving up a HR upon entering the game that at the time made it 10-3.

 

The Quakes defense and wildness on the mound are keeping the Mavs in this Coors Lite battle.

 

G'night, John-Boy...

[colbyjack]

Thanks Michael, and thanks as well to ItsCotter for the first-hand reports. I'm itching to get down to Beloit this year, although it probably won't happen for me until FanFest.

[batman]

Rancho Cucamongo (Angels) 11, High Desert 8

 

Can't sleep so here's your late-night/early-morning Mavericks fix. Dan Boyd had a nice evening, racking up 3 hits (a single, a double, and a triple) in 4 at-bats to go along with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. Chris Morris (the DH) and Callix Crabbe, the Mavs' 1-2 combo at the top of the order, drew 3 walks each and both stole 2 bases. Ryan Costello wants a mulligan, 'cause those 9 earned runs in 3 and a third don't look real pretty. Forrest Martin did well in relief, allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits in 4 and two-thirds. He also struck out 7, which is kind of amazing. This Rancho team played ugly - 3 errors and 9 walks. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to give the Good Guys the win. Bo Hall goes tomorrow for the Mavs.

 

HDMavs.com Game Summary:

The High Desert Mavericks nearly finished a remarkable seven-run comeback but fell short in late innings, as the Mavs dropped an 11-8 decision to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Wednesday night before 1,003 at Mavericks Stadium.

 

Rancho Cucamonga leftfielder David Gates provided the difference for the Quakes, going 3-for-5 on the evening with two homers and five RBI?s.

 

Down 10-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Mavs (2-5) spotted five runs on the board to rock Rancho Cucamonga starter Phil Wilson and reliever Ozzie Lugo (1-0). After back-to-back walks by Chris Morris and Callix Crabbe to leadoff the inning, Jeff Eure cashed the runners in on a two-run triple to right field, cutting the Rancho lead to 10-5.

 

Travis Hinton knocked in Eure on a slow-rolling infield single down the third-base line to cut the lead to four, chasing Wilson from the ballgame. Dan Boyd greeted Lugo by smashing an RBI triple to right, cutting the Quakes lead to 10-7. Kennard Bibbs finished off the five-run flurry with an RBI sacrifice fly to left.

 

Rancho Cucamonga (4-2) added a run in the eighth but the Mavericks threatened again in the last two innings, putting two runners on base in each frame before Quakes closer Richard Thompson earned his second save on the season by putting out the Mavs? fire. In fact, High Desert spotted runners on second and third with nobody out in the ninth, when Thompson proceeded to retire Scott Candelaria on a popout, and fanning Kennard Bibbs and John Vandenburg.

 

The Mavericks staked a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI fielder?s choice by Eure, and Gates followed by putting Rancho out front 2-1 in the second on a mammoth two-run homer off High Desert starter Ryan Costello (0-2).

 

Rancho picked up four more runs in the third, three off the bat of Michael Napoli?s three-run homer to left off Costello. High Desert answered with two more runs in the bottom of the inning, when Chris Morris scored on an error by Wilson and Travis Hinton forced Callix Crabbe home on a double-play grounder. Gates then hit his second homer of the night in the fourth to increase the Rancho lead to 10-3, a two-run shot to left.

 

High Desert attempts to salvage a series split with Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday night, when Bo Hall takes the hill for the Mavs against the Quakes? Joe Saunders.

 

High Desert Box Score:

 RANCHO CUCAMONGA 11 AT HIGH DESERT 8 YTD YTD RANCHO CUCAMONGA AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG R.Willits CF 2 2 1 1 .182 C.Morris DH 2 3 0 0 .250 R.Melgarejo RF 5 1 1 0 .360 C.Crabbe 2B 2 2 1 0 .400 E.Aybar SS 5 0 1 0 .435 J.Eure 3B 5 1 1 3 .259 M.Napoli CAT 4 2 1 3 .429 T.Frost 1B 4 1 1 1 .263 G.Porter DH 3 2 1 0 .316 P.Rasmusen PR 0 0 0 0 .125 D.Gates LF 5 2 3 5 .333 D.Boyd LF 4 1 3 1 .423 J.Turner 1B 5 0 0 0 .059 S.Candelaria RF 5 0 0 0 .250 A.Pavkovich 3B 3 2 2 0 .333 K.Bibbs CF 4 0 1 1 .222 B.Weed 2B 3 0 0 0 .375 J.Vanden ber CAT 4 0 2 0 .333 P.Wilson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 O.Chavez SS 4 0 0 0 .185 O.Lugo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Costello PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Bilke PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Martin PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Thompson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 11 10 9 TOTALS 34 8 9 6 RANCHO CUCAMONGA 0 2 4 4 0 0 0 1 0-11 10 3 HIGH DESERT 1 0 2 0 5 0 0 0 0- 8 9 1 E--E.Aybar, B.Weed, P.Wilson, R.Costello. DP--RANCHO CUCAMONGA 2, HIGH DESERT 1. LOB--RANCHO CUCAMONGA 5, HIGH DESERT 9. 2B--G.Porter (2), A.Pavkovich 2 (4), D.Boyd (2). 3B--J.Eure (1), D.Boyd (1). HR-- M.Napoli (2), D.Gates 2 (3). SB--R.Willits 2 (3), M.Napoli (1), C.Morris 2 (8), C.Crabbe 2 (5). CS--R.Willits, D.Boyd. HBP--G.Porter. SF--K.Bibbs. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA RANCHO CUCAMONGA P.Wilson 4.0 5 7 7 6 2 0 10.57 O.Lugo (W,1-0) 2.0 2 1 1 1 2 0 4.50 A.Bilke 1.2 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.50 R.Thompson (S,2) 1.1 1 0 0 1 2 0 8.10 HIGH DESERT R.Costello (L,0-2) 3.1 5 9 9 5 4 2 21.94 F.Martin 4.2 4 2 2 2 7 1 2.79 N.Slack 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.00 HB--R.Costello. WP--R.Costello. BALKS--R.Costello 2. SO--R.Willits, R.Melgarejo 2, M.Napoli, G.Porter, D.Gates, J.Turner 3, A.Pavkovich, B.Weed 2, J.Eure, S.Candelaria, K.Bibbs, J.Vanden ber, O.Chavez 2. BB--R.Willits 3, M.Napoli, G.Porter, A.Pavkovich, B.Weed, C.Morris 3, C.Crabbe 3, T.Frost, D.Boyd, J.Vanden ber. T--3:15. A--1003

High Desert Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=17888

 

 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 4 2 .667 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 4 2 .667 LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 4 3 .571 .5 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 4 3 .571 .5 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 2 5 .286 2.5[/b]

[MassBrew]

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

 

PLENTY OF NOTHING

After winning the deciding Game Five of the Southern League Championship Series for the Mudcats, throwing six scoreless innings in Game One, and winning the MVP of the series, Trevor Hutchinson returned to stick it to us again......... On a sunny but brisk Wednesday afterrnoon, he combined with reliever Kevin Cave to pitch the first no-hitter at Joe Davis Stadium since June 1, 1996.

 

Hutchinson had little trouble with a troubled offense that was 10-for-60 in their last two losses (to Montgomery and Carolina). The only thing coming close to a hit in the six innings that Hutchinson worked was a wicked two-hopper by Rickie Weeks in the 4th that Joe Dillon took on the short hop, then quickly making an off-balance throw to get the speedy Weeks....... In the 5th inning, Chris Barnwell hit a tricky hopper to Dillon, who had trouble controlling the backspin in his glove. It hopped out, but he was able to catch the ball off the ground on the bounce. But when he fired the ball to first to get the hustling Barnwell, his throw hit the dirt and Dillon was charged with an error.

 

Hutchinson had an 85-pitch limit, but was pulled out by manager Ron Hassey after 72. The way he was pitching, I think he could have retired the Stars in the 7th under or near 13 pitches, making him the first Mudcat pitcher in history to throw a no-hitter without any assistance, but Kevin Cave came on in the 7th and after walking Weeks on a 3-2 pitch, got Prince Fielder on a tapper halfway between the mound and the first base line unassisted, then another bouncer back to the mound by Brad Nelson, and finally a strikeout on Barnwell swinging to end the game.

 

The day started out totally polar to Tuesday afternoon's depressing imitation of January....... The skies today were absolutely cloudless, and even though the gametime temperature was 53°, the sun provided extra warmth as long as you were dressed for it (read no short sleeves), and it even warmed the seats. It reached 60° sometime around 3:00 PM ........ Most of the nearly 2,500 who filled the seats were schoolkids who were bused in from Decatur and Chapman Elementray in Huntsville, perhaps other areas, but there was as a good-sized adult crowd as well, a refreshing change from the understandably record low crowd on Monday, anxious to get out of the house after three very miserably cold and rainy days.

 

For the third time in their last four games, the Stars let the other side get the upper hand....... After an error-free Monday, the Mudcats took advantage of a throwing error by catcher Alex Delgado, who trying to throw out leadoff hitter Eric Reed....... His throw sailed east of Rickie Weeks' glove and into right-center field. Reed had no trouble advancing to third........ On a 2-2 pitch, Josh Wilson grounded out to Weeks, acquiescing the run.

 

Although that would be all the scoring for the Mudcats in the 1st inning, it was an adventurous and busy inning for starter Matt Ford, who threw 35 pitches........ With two out and runners on 1st and 2nd, Enrique Cruz tried to short hop Chip Ambres' grounder. Moving in on the play, the ball got in under his glove, and the bases were loaded, but Ford worked himself out of trouble by striking out Jim Kavourias on three pitches.

 

Travis Buckley of Chattanooga threw the last no-hitter seen by Huntsville fans. It came, as I mentioned on June 1, 1996. For Carolina, it was their second no-hitter in as many seasons, and the 3rd in their history.

 

The Mudcats went right to work in the second game, as Jeff Housman had a tougher time than Ford in getting the Mudcats retired in the 1st....... Housman wound up throwing 43 pitches that inning, facing eight batters, and leaving the bases loaded when he struck out catcher Dennis Anderson....... After getting pesky Eric Reed to fly out to Brad Nelson, he was victimized by a single up the middle, a double to right center, a single through the left side, and a walk......... All this producing two runs, enough to decide this game........ Housman reached his pitch limit, would you believe, in the 2nd inning with two out, and was finally removed. By that time, though, he had already allowed another run on Joe Dillon's second double....... Dillon, already hitting .545 with four HRs and eight RBIs this season, added his fourth hit of the day in the 7th, an RBI single to left that made it a 5-1 final.

 

Being shutout for 14 innings is one thing, but when Chris Barnwell singled to left in the 4th inning of this game, it ended an embarrassing string of 14 no-hit innings for the Stars' opponents --- a club record, but the scoring drought for the Stars --- 18 innings --- ended in the 3rd when Kade Johnson scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Ryan Miller. Johnson had reached third on a huge error by right fielder Jim Kavourias, who let a wind-blown fly ball tip off his glove.

 

The Stars had two big scoring opportunites in the second game....... With one out in the 5th, Johnny Raburn's double over the first base bag --- his first hit for Huntsville --- sent pinch-hitter Jason Belcher, who had singled, to third, but both runners were stranded........ Carolina reliever Peter Hartmann came in to strike out Prince Fielder on a slider to end that inning, then used the slider to fan three more Stars' hitters in the 6th....... In the 7th, the Stars loaded the bases against Hartmann on a broken-bat single by Kade Johnson, and subsequent walks to Ryan Knox and Fielder, but facing Randy Messenger, Rickie Weeks grounded out to second baseman Michael Tucker for the third time in the second game.

 

The Stars take a day off, then christen Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery on Friday........ The game has long been sold out and about 300 SRO tickets have already been sold. Dennis Sarfate (0-0, 4.50) will make his second start for the Stars.......

 

Of the 33 runs the Stars have given up this season, only 22 have been earned........ The Stars have now committed 15 errors in seven games. The record for the first ten games of the season is 21, which was set last year. Eight of the errors have come from the left side of the infield, three from the right side. Pitchers and catchers have made two apiece........ As if that's not bad enough, the Stars are hitting .140 in their last four games. The holy trinity of Weeks, Fielder, and Tony Gwynn, Jr. are 12-for-68 (.176) with seven RBIs and 16 Ks. Gwynn is 3-for-20 with a double and no RBIs...... In spite of his excruciating bungling at shortstop, Enrique Cruz is leading Stars hitters with a .357 average.

 

The Oklahoma Redhawks of the Pacific Coast League had four former Stars in action Wednesday night in a 5-3 win against Iowa --- Pete Zoccolillo, who had two hits, including a double, Dave Newhan (Stars '97), Danny Ardoin (Stars '97-'98), and pitcher John Wasdin (Stars '94)....... Allen Levrault was picked up the Mariners after his release from St. Louis, got the win in San Antonio's 8-0 victory over El Paso in a Texas League game, Wednesday night. Noochie Varner, playing for El Paso, doubled and drove in a run...... Former University of Alabama-Huntsville outfielder David Gates homered twice for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes as they went on to beat High Desert, 11-8.

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

 

www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...296,21798,

 

James Quigg/Victor Valley Daily Press Staff Photographer

The Mavericks' Chirs Morris collides with Rancho Cucamonga catcher Michael Napoli at the plate Wednesday evening in Adelanto. Napoli dropped the ball in the collision, and Morris was safe.

 

http://www.vvdailypress.com/storypics2/041504_mavs.jpg

[igor67]

Nice shot Chris, going straight for the gut. Forrest Martin two 7K outings. Looks like an early candidate for a breakout. Nice to see Sweet Lou continuing with the bat.

[MassBrew]

Beloit Daily News Game Story:

 

www.beloitdailynews.com/404/snap15.htm