Link Report for Games of Saturday, April 10th

[MassBrew]

Saturday's Daily Menu: No conflict with the Brewers tonight, so check out the Stars and Mavericks this evening...

 

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

 

INDIANAPOLIS: TBD at Richmond (Braves), 3:00 PM; we may get game notes from Indy later today with pitcher info; interesting that the schedule went from Friday night in Norfolk to Saturday afternoon in Richmond. Could be a tough day for the Indy bats -- this from Richmond:

 

Richmond plays Indianapolis today. Thursday's opener commenced at the same time, and hitters and catchers offered another hitting problem: being unable to pick up the ball because of shadows on the field and reflections off the batter's eye in center field.

 

"We'll have a bunch of guys volunteering to pitch," Braves manager Pat Kelly said.

 

Veteran RHP Chuck Smith, almost a Brewer once (failed physical), starts for the R-Braves.

 

Audio link:

www.newstalk1430.com/

 

Backup audio link (Richmond feed):

oursportscentral.com/services/netcasts/

 

HUNTSVILE: RHP Dennis Sarfate at home vs. Montgomery (Devil Rays), 7:05 PM; the Stars only need to go 98-40 now to reach the 100-win mark!

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

HIGH DESERT: RHP Forrest Martin at Lancaster (Diamondbacks), 8:30 PM; the Mavs will break through tonight!

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: RHP Carlos Villanueva at home vs. Quad City (Twins), 2:00 PM; Villanueva's one of the two kids from the Wayne Franklin / Leo Estrella deal (High Desert's RHP Glenn Woolard the other)

 

Audio link (Swing's feed):

www.swingbaseball.com/live/

[batman]

BELOIT: RHP Carlos Villanueva at home vs. Quad City (Twins), 2:00 PM; Villanueva's one of the two kids from the Wayne Franklin / Leo Estrella deal (High Desert's RHP Glenn Woolard the other)

 

Any locals planning on taking this one in at lovely Pohlman Field? I was hoping to get down there this weekend but unfortunately its not to be... Regardless, it would be great to get a first-hand report about Villanueva - not much info circulating about him and he's an intriguing latin prospect (one of very few in the organization). If you're there, don't be shy - let us know how he looks!

 

Forrest Martin > You,

~Bill

[lynchmobster]

...interesting that the schedule went from Friday night in Norfolk to Saturday afternoon in Richmond. Could be a tough day for the Indy bats....

It's only about a two hour drive between Norfolk and Richmond up I-64. If I get really bored this afternoon, maybe I'll drive down....

[lend d money]

I will be in Beloit. With Easter, I have a busy weekend. It might be late Sunday or early Monday before I get back to you.

[lend d money]

BTW, I asked the president of the MWL if the entire league had off for Easter Sunday and he said yes. I also asked if they planned on doing this futuristically, to which he also responded in the affirmative.

[MassBrew]

Jim Powell just reported that RHP Pedro Liriano gets the starting nod for Indy at Richmond this afternoon.

[MassBrew]

Final: Quad City (Twins) 6, Beloit 4

 

Five runs in the third for the Swing, shoddy defense from the Snappers -- details both from online and first-hand accounts just a bit later on...

[MassBrew]

Promising debut for RHP Carlos Villanueva, who deserved a better fate, it seems...

 

Beloit Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 4/10/04 QC at BLT QUAD CITY 6 AT BELOIT 4 YTD YTD QUAD CITY AB R H BI AVG BELOIT AB R H BI AVG D.Span CF 5 1 0 0 .077 R.Deevers RF 4 1 1 1 .250 S.Whitrock RF 4 1 0 0 .000 D.Anderson LF 3 1 1 1 .364 M.Moses 3B 4 1 2 2 .333 L.Palmisano DH 4 0 2 1 .500 B.Peterson DH 3 0 0 0 .364 T.Marks CAT 4 0 1 0 .250 D.Gomon 1B 4 0 0 0 .083 A.Heether 3B 4 0 0 0 .222 A.Garcia SS 4 1 1 0 .200 C.Corporan 1B 4 0 1 0 .250 B.Pattee 2B 4 0 0 0 .143 S.Moss CF 2 1 0 0 .000 J.Johnson CAT 3 1 2 0 .667 J.Murray SS 4 0 0 0 .100 R.Spataro LF 4 1 1 1 .143 G.Acosta 2B 3 1 1 0 .333 E.Simonitsch PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Villanueva PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Tautor PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Beresford PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 K.Culpepper PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Taubenheim PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 6 6 3 TOTALS 32 4 7 3 QUAD CITY 0 0 5 0 0 1 0 0 0- 6 6 2 BELOIT 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0- 4 7 4 E--B.Pattee, R.Spataro, T.Marks, A.Heether, S.Moss, J.Murray. DP-- QUAD CITY 3, BELOIT 1. LOB--QUAD CITY 4, BELOIT 4. 2B--J.Johnson (1). HR--M.Moses (1). HBP--B.Peterson. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA QUAD CITY E.Simonitsch 4.2 6 3 3 3 2 0 5.79 P.Tautor (W,1-0) 2.1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 K.Culpepper (S,1) 2.0 1 1 1 0 1 0 4.50 BELOIT C.Villanueva (L,0-1) 5.0 3 5 2 1 3 1 3.60 S.Beresford 3.0 3 1 1 0 1 0 3.00 T.Taubenheim 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 HB--C.Villanueva. SO--S.Whitrock, D.Gomon, A.Garcia 2, R.Deevers, A.Heether, C.Corporan 2, J.Murray, G.Acosta. BB--J.Johnson, D.Anderson, S.Moss 2. T--2:12. A--731

Beloit Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12463

 

It's Richmond 1, Indianapolis 0, bottom of the sixth -- Pedro Liriano in trouble though, 4:30 Central -- tune in (Indy's link is working)

[Anders34]

A J.J. Hardy single just plated 2 runs. This was his first hit in AAA (0 for 12). Hopefully this will get J.J. going.

[MassBrew]

Final: Indianapolis 3, Richmond (Braves) 2, 11 innings

 

3-and-0, baby! Three one-run wins, two in extra frames.

 

What pitching thus far -- and the long-anticipated debut of Jorge de la Rosa on Sunday.

 

Details soon...

[brewcru1]

3-2 in extra frames. Sheldon with the big double to score Hart. Jason Childers nails down his 2nd save

[Anders34]

1-0 after 1 inning in Huntsville. Prince crushed an opposite field HR in the first. Sarfate on the mound. A little shaky in the first with a walk and a hit but did pick off a guy at first AND struck out Upton on a nasty curveball.

[MassBrew]

Richmond, VA - Scott Sheldon's RBI double in the top of the 11th inning lifted the Indianapolis Chiefs over the Richmond Braves, 3-2, before 3,169 fans Saturday afternoon. It was the Chiefs third straight win of the season, after opening the year with a pair of wins over Norfolk.

 

Chris Michalak (1-0) earned the victory with two innings of scoreless relief. Michalak fanned three and walked two, and allowed just one hit. Jason Childers registered his second save of the season, striking out two in an inning of work.

 

Sean Fesh took the loss and fell to 0-1.

 

After getting the first out, Fesh hit Corey Hart with a pitch. Hart stole second and scored on Sheldon's two-out double.

 

The Indians send Jorge De La Rosa to the hill Sunday, while the Braves counter with Ray Aguilar.

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 4/10/04 IND at RMD INDIANAPOLIS 3 AT RICHMOND 2 (EXTRA INNINGS) YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG RICHMOND AB R H BI AVG M.Erickson 2B 4 0 0 0 .071 P.Orr 2B 3 1 1 0 .200 D.Krynzel CF 2 0 0 0 .083 P.Orr 3B 1 0 0 0 .200 J.Nunnally LF 2 0 1 0 .333 J.Velandia SS 3 1 1 0 .111 C.Coste CAT 0 0 0 0 .286 R.Branyan LF 2 0 1 0 .429 C.Coste 1B 5 0 1 0 .286 D.Hollins RF 5 0 1 1 .182 C.Hart RF 3 2 1 0 .538 R.Jackson 1B 5 0 1 1 .154 M.Johnson CAT 3 1 0 0 .167 T.Drew PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Scarbrough PH 1 0 0 0 .000 W.Betemit 3B 3 0 0 0 .000 S.Scarbrough 3B 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Romano PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Sheldon 1B 0 0 0 0 .286 M.Whiteside PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Sheldon 3B 4 0 2 1 .286 R.Langerhans PH 1 0 0 0 .000 J.Hardy SS 5 0 1 2 .067 S.Fesh PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Liriano PIT 2 0 0 0 .000 J.Depastino 1B 1 0 1 0 .500 J.Liefer PH 1 0 0 0 .364 C.Thomas CF 5 0 2 0 .333 B.Bowles PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Terveen CAT 5 0 0 0 .000 L.Figueroa PH 1 0 0 0 .000 C.Smith PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 C.Michalak PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 L.Evans PH 1 0 0 0 .200 J.Childers PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Colon PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Green 2B 2 0 0 0 .111 TOTALS 33 3 6 3 TOTALS 38 2 8 2 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1- 3 6 0 RICHMOND 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0- 2 8 0 DP--INDIANAPOLIS 0, RICHMOND 2. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 8, RICHMOND 10. 2B--S.Sheldon 2 (2). SB--D.Krynzel (1), C.Hart (1), P.Orr (1). HBP--C.Hart. SH--D.Krynzel, S.Sheldon, J.Velandia. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS P.Liriano 6.0 6 2 2 2 2 0 3.00 B.Bowles 2.0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0.00 C.Michalak (W,1-0) 2.0 1 0 0 2 3 0 0.00 J.Childers (S,2) 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 RICHMOND C.Smith 5.0 2 0 0 2 3 0 0.00 R.Colon 1.0 1 2 2 3 1 0 18.00 M.Romano 2.0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0.00 M.Whiteside 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 S.Fesh (L,0-1) 1.2 0 1 1 1 1 0 4.50 T.Drew 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 HB--S.Fesh. SO--M.Erickson 2, C.Hart, M.Johnson 2, S.Sheldon, P.Liriano, P.Orr, R.Branyan, D.Hollins, R.Jackson, W.Betemit, C.Thomas, B.Terveen, L.Evans, N.Green. BB--M.Erickson, D.Krynzel 2, J.Nunnally 3, C.Hart, M.Johnson, P.Orr, J.Velandia, R.Branyan 3, N.Green. T--3:22. A--3169

Indianapolis Game Log:

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=14044

[DHonks]

Nice to see Krynzel's 2 walks and steal. Hart with a 3-game hitting streak to open his time in AAA.

And also doesn't that mean Prince's first hit at each level has been a homer?

Also, usatoday.com lists that as Jason Childers' first save. Baseball America credited the first one to Matt. So perhaps they have no set closer, with late inning duties being shared by both Childers brothers and Adams

[batman]

Final: Huntsville 9, Montgomery (Devil Rays) 7

 

Good to see Prince, Nelson, and Cruz go deep... this team is amazin'. Apologies for the incorrect score first time around - I switched over to the Mavs before the Seabiscuits (err, Biscuits http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif ) batted in the ninth.

 

Game Story:

Huntsville, AL (Sports Network) - Prince Fielder belted two home runs and Brad Nelson and Enrique Cruz each homered once as the Huntsville Stars opened the season with their third straight win, a 9-7 victory over the Montgomery Biscuits Saturday afternoon before 1,732 fans.

 

Tim Bausher recorded his first win of the season in relief with three innings of shutout ball. Bausher surrendered just two hits, fanned five and walked two, and Roberto Giron notched his second save of the season. Jarod Matthews suffered the loss and was hit hard in his first start of the season, allowing five earned runs in six innings of work.

 

Fielder, who had entered the game hitless on the season, wasted little time in belting a solo home run in the first inning and belting a two-run shot five innings later. He finished with three runs scored and three RBI.

 

Nelson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI, two of which came on a fourth inning blast. Cruz also contributed a solo homer in the fifth.

 

Joey Gaithwright, who entered the game batting just .143, went 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while teammate B.J. Upton went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI, raising his total to a team-leading fifth of the season.

 

The Stars will go for the sweep Sunday afternoon by sending Mike Jones to the hill, while the Biscuits counter with Willie Glenn.

 

Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 4/10/04 MTG at HVL MONTGOMERY 7 AT HUNTSVILLE 9 YTD YTD MONTGOMERY AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG J.Gathright CF 4 2 4 0 .455 A.Gwynn CF 4 1 1 0 .200 B.Upton SS 5 2 2 2 .300 R.Knox LF 4 2 1 0 .444 J.Velazquez 1B 5 1 2 2 .333 P.Fielder 1B 3 3 2 3 .200 J.Salas 3B 5 0 1 0 .333 R.Weeks 2B 4 0 0 0 .500 A.German LF 4 0 0 0 .182 B.Nelson DH 4 2 2 3 .400 B.Martin PH 1 0 1 1 .111 C.Barnwell 3B 4 0 1 2 .091 R.Cancel CAT 4 1 2 0 .167 J.Belcher RF 3 0 0 0 .111 A.Clark RF 4 0 0 0 .000 J.Raburn RF 1 0 0 0 .000 C.Isenia DH 4 0 1 1 .250 A.Delgado CAT 3 0 0 0 .000 N.Perez PR 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Cruz SS 3 1 1 1 .375 N.Perez DH 1 0 0 0 .000 D.Sarfate PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Cortez 2B 3 1 0 0 .100 T.Bausher PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Matthews PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Rivard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Nunez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Giron PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Flinn PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 40 7 13 6 TOTALS 33 9 8 9 MONTGOMERY 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 3- 7 13 1 HUNTSVILLE 1 0 0 2 1 2 0 3 X- 9 8 2 E--B.Upton, R.Weeks, E.Cruz. DP--MONTGOMERY 0, HUNTSVILLE 0. LOB-- MONTGOMERY 10, HUNTSVILLE 1. 2B--J.Gathright (1), B.Upton (1), J.Velazquez (1), R.Cancel (1), A.Gwynn (1), C.Barnwell (1). HR-- P.Fielder 2 (2), B.Nelson (1), E.Cruz (1). SB--J.Gathright (2). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA MONTGOMERY J.Matthews (L,0-1) 6.0 5 6 5 0 2 4 7.50 F.Nunez 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 C.Flinn 1.0 3 3 3 1 2 0 27.00 HUNTSVILLE D.Sarfate 4.0 4 3 2 2 5 0 4.50 T.Bausher (W,1-0) 3.0 2 0 0 2 5 0 0.00 R.Rivard 1.1 7 4 3 0 1 0 20.25 R.Giron (S,2) 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 WP--R.Rivard. SO--B.Upton, J.Velazquez 2, J.Salas, A.German 2, A.Clark 3, F.Cortez 3, R.Weeks, B.Nelson, C.Barnwell, J.Raburn, A.Delgado, E.Cruz. BB--J.Gathright, R.Cancel, A.Clark, F.Cortez, P.Fielder. T--2:42. A--1732

Game Log:

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=11950

[batman]

Final: Lancaster (Diamondbacks) 5, High Desert 4

 

I totally jinxed them with the premature in-game update... my bad. Forrest Martin owned the Jethawks, allowing 1 run on 3 hits in 5 innings, striking out 3 and walking 2. Ryan Costello, the Minor League Rule 5 pickup, came on in the sixth and got the loss after shoddy defense allowed three runs to score. The Jethawks loaded the bases in the sixth with two outs but Costello got someone to popup to short right center. Unfortunately, the trio of Callix Crabbe, Kenard Bibbs, and Scott Candelaria (2B, CF, and RF respectively) looked at each other and let the ball drop for a hit, scoring 3 to tie the game. The Jethawks added another run and held on to eek out a 5-4 win.

 

I wanted to make sure to add that the Mavericks new play-by-play man, Roxy Bernstein, is a pleasant surprise. I was a huge fan of Mike Lindskog but Roxy is very talented... he's polished, well-prepared, consistent, and easy on the ears. Come to think of it, he reminds me a lot of Robert Portnoy, the excellent broadcaster for the Stars. Good stuff!

 

More details pending.

 

~Bill

[colbyjack]

And also doesn't that mean Prince's first hit at each level has been a homer?

 

Wasn't Prince's first hit in his first AB as an Ogden Raptor an infield single? I know he hit a grand slam in his first game, but I thought that came later in the game.

 

While Weeks & Fielder are the names to watch on the Huntsville team, it's nice to see Nelson & Cruz with early contributions. Nelson obviously is out to prove that the 2003 season wasn't a true gauge of what he can do at the plate after his hamate injury, while Cruz just needs to prove that he can indeed hit after being outmatched at the big league level last season.

 

And just curious, while I realize this is the "link" report, are box scores going to be posted within the threads themselves? I don't know about everyone else, but I really enjoyed having all of the box scores listed easily within one thread, especially when surfing at home on my painfully slow dial-up connection.

[batman]

And just curious, while I realize this is the "link" report, are box scores going to be posted within the threads themselves? I don't know about everyone else, but I really enjoyed having all of the box scores listed easily within one thread, especially when surfing at home on my painfully slow dial-up connection.

 

I mentioned this on Thursday's report, I think, but as MassBrew pointed out the new box scores are only on SportsNetwork's site. Unfortunately, they're HTML tables and not plain text and so it would take a whole lot of time to copy them over to the threads. I'm still hoping we can find alternative sources that can be copied-and-pasted, but nothing yet.

 

~Bill

[Katuluu]

Unfortunately, they're HTML tables and not plain text and so it would take a whole lot of time to copy them over to the threads.

 

I think I speak for all the selfish jerks on this board when I say, "So?" http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[colbyjack]

Thanks Bill. I do remember reading that. I'm catching up somewhat after missing all of yesterday due to opening day. It's not just a game, it's a holiday!

[Mike2k33]

USAToday.com has the old style boxscores. Although, you have to wait around longer for those to come out.

[MassBrew]

High Desert Box Score:

All 12 Maverick hits were singles, contributing to 10 men LOB...

 GAME DATE: 4/10/04 HD at LNC HIGH DESERT 4 AT LANCASTER 5 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG LANCASTER AB R H BI AVG C.Morris DH 5 1 1 0 .250 K.De renne SS 2 1 0 0 .200 C.Crabbe 2B 4 1 2 0 .500 N.Brown 2B 3 0 0 0 .250 J.Eure 3B 3 0 2 0 .250 C.Jackson LF 2 1 0 1 .364 T.Frost 1B 4 1 1 1 .364 C.Quentin RF 3 1 0 0 .182 D.Boyd LF 3 1 1 0 .385 J.D'Antona 3B 4 2 2 0 .417 K.Bibbs CF 3 0 1 1 .200 D.Tosca DH 1 0 0 0 .667 P.Rasmusen PH 1 0 0 0 .000 D.Brooks PH 1 0 0 0 .000 M.Mendez CF 0 0 0 0 .125 D.Brooks DH 1 0 0 0 .000 J.Vanden ber CAT 4 0 1 0 .273 M.Santana 1B 4 0 2 3 .308 S.Candelaria RF 4 0 1 0 .250 M.Morgan CAT 2 0 0 1 .200 O.Chavez SS 4 0 2 0 .333 P.Avlas CAT 0 0 0 0 .833 F.Martin PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Ball CF 3 0 1 0 .500 R.Costello PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Bass PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Gonzalez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Wells PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Glant PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 4 12 2 TOTALS 26 5 5 5 HIGH DESERT 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0- 4 12 0 LANCASTER 0 1 0 0 0 3 1 0 X- 5 5 2 E--J.D'Antona, M.Santana. DP--HIGH DESERT 2, LANCASTER 0. LOB-- HIGH DESERT 10, LANCASTER 5. 2B--J.D'Antona (1). SB--C.Crabbe (3), M.Santana (1). CS--O.Chavez, M.Morgan. HBP--C.Crabbe, C.Quentin. SF--C.Jackson. SH--T.Frost, N.Brown. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT F.Martin 5.0 3 1 1 2 3 0 1.80 R.Costello (L,0-1) 2.0 2 4 4 3 0 0 18.00 N.Slack 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 LANCASTER A.Bass 4.1 7 4 3 3 1 0 6.23 E.Gonzalez 1.2 1 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 C.Wells (W,1-0) 1.2 4 0 0 1 0 0 0.00 D.Glant (S,1) 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 HB--R.Costello, A.Bass. WP--R.Costello. SO--C.Morris, D.Boyd, S.Candelaria 2, K.De renne, C.Jackson, J.Ball. BB--J.Eure 2, D.Boyd 2, K.De renne 2, C.Jackson, D.Tosca, M.Morgan. T--2:46. A--2353

High Desert Game Log:

You must check out the High Desert 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 8th innings -- talk about wasted opportunities for big innings; this game was right out of 2003, unfortunately -- c'mon, Mavs, make something happen! Nice outing for Forrest Martin, as noted...

 

www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=19007

[MassBrew]

Thanks, Highroller, for overnight boxes; I swapped them out for the more detailed Baseball America boxes in the AM.

 

Regarding box scores, here's the scoop. On game nights, the link will be provided to the very timely Sports Network boxes.

 

I will attempt to copy-and-paste the Baseball America boxes the following morning. These are more detailed than the ESPN or USA Today boxes (especially at AAA and AA).

 

So it's links in the evening, non-links the next day.

 

Game logs will not be cut-and-paste.

 

Got it? Good. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

On Saturday night, Stars fans had to pinch themselves, just to make sure it was not a dream.

 

With father Cecil signing autographs in the stands at Joe Davis Stadium ? where Cecil once played against Huntsville in the Stars? inaugural season of 1985 ? Prince Fielder recorded his first Southern League hit, an opposite-field solo homer to left.

 

In the sixth, with his dad offering commentary on the radio broadcast, Fielder muscled up again, this time a gargantuan two-run blast to dead-center. Two hits, two homers, three runs batted in for Fielder, and the Stars notched their third straight win over Montgomery, 9-7. Huntsville (3-0) goes for a series sweep of the Biscuits (0-3) on Sunday.

 

The Stars scored nine runs on eight hits and stranded just one runner, the result of four long balls, bringing the team?s season total to six in three games. Fielder?s first-inning solo drive began the barrage, and Brad Nelson, like Fielder a powerful left-handed batter, hit a rope to right for a two-run shot that tied the game, 3-3. Enrique Cruz?s fifth-inning solo homerun put Huntsville up for good, 4-3. Fielder?s two-run bomb came in the sixth, and the Stars added three critical runs in the eighth.

 

Up 6-4, Huntsville rallied against reliever Chris Flinn. Tony Gwynn, Jr. led off with a double and took third on Ryan Knox?s flyout to left. After Fielder was intentionally walked, Rickie Weeks ? Friday?s hero with a 4-for-4 night ? struck out. Nelson delivered a two-out run-scoring single, and Chris Barnwell?s first hit this season proved crucial, a two-run double to left-center for a 9-4 lead.

 

The Biscuits scored four against Stars reliever Reggie Rivard, but Roberto Giron came on to record the final two outs with runners at second and third to seal the game. Giron?s second save in three games cemented the win for Tim Bausher (1-0), who tossed three scoreless innings of relief, permitting two hits and two walks while fanning five. Jarod Matthews (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering six runs, five earned, on five hits with two strikeouts in six innings.

 

On Sunday at Joe Davis Stadium, Stars right-hander Mike Jones makes his first start of the season against Biscuits righty Willie Glen, also taking the mound for the first time in 2004. Game time is 2:05 p.m. for the series finale.

 

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

 

TWO POPS FOR POP

You get four weathercasters and you get four forecasts, and they all predicted rain, differing only when they would occur. Well, the most I saw tonight were a few droplets right before the game, ending after the National Anthem. Most of the day was actually sunny and off to the west I could still see some blue sky, as it started to replace the grey that the weathermen said would dominate the day........ I don't know why these people wasted their money to become meteorologists......... Anyway, the week-long threat of rain had a subduing effect on the attendance tonight, as I predicted it would.

 

This team is starting to resemble the 1985 team in terms of power and speed. That team, if you're old enough to remember, had Rob Nelson's 32 HRs and Jose Canseco's 25 in just a little more than half a season; and behind them to take the extra base, steal, and score were Luis Polonia and Stan Javier. They went together like hand and glove to propel the first year Stars to a League Championship........ Now it's Gwynn and Weeks, Fielder and Nelson (what a coincidence... another Nelson)....... And once my suspicions of the connection were aroused, they were confirmed when I quickly checked through the box scores and learned the six HRs the Stars hit in their first three games is the most since 1985, when that team also hit six.

 

With father Cecil in the crowd behind home plate tonight, Prince Fielder sent two of them in flight, snapping an 0-for-7 start to his season....... Prince's first home run was his first hit of the season ---- lined --- that's right, lined --- 435 feet over the wall in the power alley in left-center field, the so-called black hole, while his father was signing autographs......... His second came in his 3rd at-bat, in the 7th inning with Ryan Knox on base. He uppercut this one and it went over the center field wall, to the right of the 405 mark where he had nearly powered one out Friday night, while his father was up in the radio booth doing commentary with Stars' voice Robert Portnoy.

 

It was a night of home runs for the Stars who sent four into orbit for the first time since May 6 of last year........ Brad Nelson and Enrique Cruz, of all people, joined the party. Cruz destroyed a 2-0 hanging pitch that soared over the Corr Wireless sign in left field, going I guess about 365 feet...... Huntsville HRs accounted for six of the Stars' nine runs tonight.

 

When he wasn't watching his pitches fly out of the park, Biscuit starter Jared Matthews was setting down 14 of 15 hitters, giving up only a bunt hit to Knox in the 4th inning, but Knox would score two outs later on Nelson's homer off the top of the third wall in right field, some 345 feet away to make it Stars 3, Biscuits 3........

 

Montgomery put their runs on the board in the 3rd when B.J. Upton hit a 2-2 fastball for a two-run double and a throwing error on a valiant play behind the second base bag by Cruz, scoring Upton...... Dennis Sarfate put out the fire by striking out Amado German on a 1-2 change-up....... Sarfate threw 26 pitches that inning, hastening his exit. In the end Sarfate threw 72 pitches, two-thirds of them for strikes....... Sarfate was throwing about 92 tonight (thanks to Jim Sandoval for the radar gun information). His fastball had good downward movement, but lacked consistency with his curve. Some were thrown too hard to have much break. It's easy to see he'll have to work more on his breaking stuff. He got off easy tonight, and could have been pounded.

 

In any event, the Biscuits saved their best effort for last off Reggie Rivard, making his debut for the Stars........ Rivard got two quick outs in the 8th, then former Star, Robinson Cancel, hit a grounder to the right side that scooted under the glove of Weeks, who had forever-and-a-half to get to the ball. On the next play, Weeks got a chance at another grounder, this one hit by Aaron Clark, but Weeks dropped the ball from his throwing hand for an error........ Rivard's wild pitch put runners on second and third, but Rivard struck out Fernando Cortez on a 1-and-2 breaking ball to end the inning........

 

Rivard wasn't so lucky in the 9th, facing the top of the order. A double, and single, and a double sent two runners across the plate to make the score, once a rout, now 9-6........ Manager Frank Kremblas ordered Roberto Giron to throw in the bullpen....... Rivard got Juan Salas to bounce one back to him, but then pinch-hitter Chris Martin hit one up the middle to drive in Jose Velazquez, and Cancel doubled down the left field line, putting the tying run on first........ Finally, Giron came in to save the day, striking out Clark for the 3rd time on the night, and getting Nestor Perez to pop one up to Chris Barnwell inside the third base line to end the game....... Once again, it was Barnwell who provided the insurance runs tonight, breaking an 0-for-10 start to the season with an 8th inning double off the Gibson's BBQ sign in left field, to score Fielder, who was intentionally walked and Nelson, who had singled over the glove of Fernando Cortez.

 

The 3-0 Stars are now off to their best start since 1995, when they opened the season by sweeping Chattanooga at home....... The seven hits given up in relief by Reggie Rivard is the most since Matt Childers gave up 8 hits in 1 1/3 innings vs. Birmingham last July 3, 2003 in a 10-0 loss to Birmingham........ Knox, who hit the first home run of this season on Opening Day, hit the first home run of last season, as well.......Just for the record, Cecil Fielder hit .276 against the Stars in 1985. In just seven games, he hit two singles, two doubles, a triple, and two home runs --- both at the Joe (off Tim Belcher and Bill Mooneyham), and drove in nine runs. In just seven games........ Francisco Matos, who played shortstop for the Stars from 1990-93, is still in Huntsville working out before he goes to Florida to train with six other clubs from the independent Northern and Atlantic Leagues. Matos now makes Huntsville his home, after marrying a local girl.

 

Sunday, Mike Jones offically makes his first start of the season against Montgomery righty Willie Glen........ With Jonesy on the mound, I would say we have an excellent chance of sweeping this series, but I hear Montgomery manager Charlie Montoyo really went into a tirade after the game in the clubhouse. It wasn't pretty, I was told by an insider. So don't be surprised if the Biscuits are inspired enough to give the Stars a bit of their own medicine, Sunday. We'll see.

 

Huntsville Times Game Story:

 

Proud papa sees Fielder's big night

Two home runs in one night

By JENNIFER SEIGER

For The Times jseiger@excite.com

 

Not bad for a young guy's first two Double-A hits with his father watching from the stands and later in the press box.

 

The youngster in question is Prince Fielder, the son of former major leaguer Cecil Fielder.

 

"It's great," the elder Fielder said while watching his son. "You kind of replay the game in your mind a little bit. We got to see quite a few games last year. We try to see him as much as we can."

 

The younger Fielder had a solo shot to left field in the first inning and a two-run homer to center in the sixth as Huntsville held on to claim a wild 9-7 decision over the Montgomery Biscuits in a game that produced 21 hits before an announced crowd of 1,732 Saturday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

"I think he's on his own now," said Cecil Fielder, who himself went through the Southern League playing for the Knoxville Blue Jays on his way to the majors. "He's got it covered. No one can play for him but him."

 

Cecil Fielder - who played 14 seasons in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees before retiring in 1998 - missed his son's first home run that put the Stars up 1-0.

 

"They told me when I pulled up in the car," he said.

 

His son didn't know he was coming. That's OK, though. Cecil Fielder had no idea another second generation baseball player - Tony Gwynn Jr. - was with the Stars.

 

He later watched as his son was intentionally walked in the bottom of the eighth. The next batter? Rickie Weeks, who's hitting over .500.

 

"You missed it man," Cecil Fielder said to a caller to his cell phone as he sat in the press box. "He hit two home runs tonight."

 

"I was just trying to hit a line drive up the middle, get a base hit," Prince Fielder said. "That's my game plan for the year, not to do too much with the ball, just try to hit it and whatever happens happens."

 

Stars manager Frank Kremblas has been pleased with his young first baseman's progress thus far.

 

"He's been hitting the ball pretty good lately, especially the last couple of games," Kremblas said.

 

Montgomery (0-3) took a 3-1 lead in the third, but Huntsville (3-0) came back to score five runs over the next three innings to take a 6-3 advantage. They went up 9-4 in the eighth, but things got interesting in the top of the ninth inning when the Biscuits roared back to score three runs.

 

With runners on second and third and just one out, however, the Stars turned to reliever Roberto Giron. The right-hander came through for Huntsville, sitting down the only two batters he faced - the first on a strikeout and the second on a popup to third to earn the save.

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Game Story:

Except for High Desert, road game coverage from the affiliate newspapers is almost non-existant:

 

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Indianapolis Indians are making a habit of giving up early leads and scoring late to force extra innings.

 

The Tribe (3-0) fought back from a 2-0 deficit Saturday to defeat the Richmond Braves 3-2 in 11 innings behind the clutch hitting of veteran Scott Sheldon. It was the Tribe's second consecutive extra-inning victory.

 

Richmond (1-2) scored runs in the fourth and sixth innings off Tribe starter Pedro Liriano.

 

Braves starter Chuck Smith and Roman Colon shut down the Tribe for six innings before they tied the score.

 

J.J. Hardy broke an 0-for-12 slump with a two-run single to center, scoring Corey Hart and Mark Johnson.

 

In the 11th inning, Hart was hit by a pitch from reliever Sean Fesh, then stole second base. After pinch hitter Steve Scarborough lifted a deep fly to right field for the second out, advancing Hart to third, Sheldon hit a shot off the left-field wall off Tim Drew for be the game-winning hit.