Link Report for Thursday 9/4 - Two Playoff Wins!

[MassBrew]

Thursday's Daily Menu :

 

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

 

HUNTSVILLE: LHP Jeff Housman at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 6:05 PM; Barons lead the best-of-five, 1-0

 

Audio link:

espn1450.com/

 

BELOIT: RHP Khalid Ballouli in Apple-ton at Wisconsin (Mariners), 6:35 PM; Snappers will win the best-of-three with a victory tonight

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.sportsjuice.com/provi...wtrattlers

 

HELENA: RHP Kenny Durost at Missoula (Diamondbacks), 8:00 PM; two games left in the regular season

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.1340kylt.com/Happenin...0A8052A72}

[DHonks]

might not be the right spot to post this, but I have to wonder if a better alternative for Luis Martinez would have been to send him to the Huntsville playoffs. With Diggins, Jones, etc all hurting, why not add him to the roster to bolster the staff?

[Member]

I think Huntsville would have needed permission from Birmingham to have him added to their roster, since he would have been demoted rather than promoted.

[deeswan]

ESPN shows Huntsville up 3-0. I can't get the audio and am listening to Beloit, so does anyone have an update?

[rluzinski]

What's the Beloit score?

[dman]

snappers lead it 6-2 goint to the top of the 9th. huntsville won 3-0

[dman]

well boys i think we are moving on cause there are 2 outs in the top of the 9th and snappers lead it 11-2.

[MassBrew]

Huntsville 3, Birmingham (White Sox) 0

Best-of-five tied at one game apiece...

 

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama (Ticker) -- Jeff Housman combined with two relievers on a three-hit shutout as the Huntsville Stars blanked the Birmingham Barons, 3-0, and evened the best-of-five, Southern League Western Division Playoffs at one game apiece.

 

Housman (1-0), who started the season in the Class A Midwest League, allowed two singles, issued three walks and struck out five batters over seven scoreless frames to earn the win. Jeff Hundley fanned a pair in 2/3 of an inning and Mike Adams followed with a scoreless 1 1/3 innings to earn his first save of the postseason.

 

Noochie Varner and Chris Barnwell each produced an RBI single in the second inning, and Brandon Gemoll delivered his second base hit of the game to plate another run in the third for Huntsville, which edged Birmingham in the 2001 playoffs, three games to two. Carlos Castillo (0-1) surrendered three runs -- two earned -- and six hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out eight in the losing effort for the Barons, who lost for the first time in their last six meetings with the Stars.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 9/04/03 BIRMINGHAM 0 AT HUNTSVILLE 3 YTD YTD BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG D.Sandoval 2B 4 0 0 0 .143 A.Machado 2B 4 0 0 0 .000 J.Piniella LF 4 0 1 0 .375 D.Krynzel CF 4 0 0 0 .000 J.Reed CF 4 0 0 0 .000 J.Hardy SS 4 1 1 0 .143 G.Alvarez 1B 2 0 0 0 .000 C.Hart DH 3 1 1 0 .400 S.Bikowski RF 2 0 0 0 .200 B.Gemoll 1B 4 1 2 1 .286 C.Maldonado DH 3 0 0 0 .000 N.Varner RF 4 0 1 1 .143 S.Morales CAT 4 0 1 0 .250 B.Nelson LF 3 0 0 0 .167 G.Reyes SS 2 0 0 0 .167 K.Johnson CAT 3 0 0 0 .000 T.Nicholson 3B 2 0 1 0 .200 C.Barnwell 3B 3 0 1 1 .333 C.Durham PH 1 0 0 0 .000 J.Housman PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Shaffer 3B 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Hundley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Castillo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Bajenaru PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 28 0 3 0 TOTALS 32 3 6 3 BIRMINGHAM 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 3 2 HUNTSVILLE 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 X- 3 6 0 E--D.Sandoval, C.Castillo. DP--BIRMINGHAM 0, HUNTSVILLE 2. LOB-- BIRMINGHAM 7, HUNTSVILLE 6. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BIRMINGHAM C.Castillo (L,0-1) 7.0 6 3 2 1 8 0 2.57 J.Bajenaru 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.00 HUNTSVILLE J.Housman (W,1-0) 7.0 2 0 0 3 5 0 0.00 J.Hundley 0.2 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.00 M.Adams (S,1) 1.1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0.00 WP--J.Housman. PB--S.Morales. SO--D.Sandoval 2, J.Piniella, J.Reed, C.Maldonado, G.Reyes, T.Nicholson, C.Durham, D.Krynzel 3, J.Hardy, C.Hart, B.Gemoll, N.Varner, B.Nelson 2, K.Johnson 2. BB--G.Alvarez 2, S.Bikowski 2, C.Maldonado, G.Reyes, C.Hart. T--2:17. A--1119

[deeswan]

After last night's game it was nice to see Huntsville explode on offense with 6 singles and a walk. Also, another nice game at the plate for Krynzel, with an 0 for 4 with 3 Ks. Man, these guys are in a funk.

 

Also, it's now 11-6 with 2 out in the 9th with 2 on base. Bausher has faced 9 guys this inning and walked the last 2 before being pulled for Huizenga. Come on, put this one away!

[MassBrew]

W-L RECORD: 1-3

ERA: 8.07

GAMES: 16

GAMES STARTED: 5

SAVES: 0

INNINGS PITCHED: 32.1

HITS: 55

RUNS: 38

EARNED RUNS: 29

HOME RUNS ALLOWED: 5

HIT BATTERS: 2

WALKS: 12

STRIKEOUTS: 23

ROLE IN COLLEGE: Relief Pitcher

ROUND DRAFTED: 33rd

 

That was LHP Jeff Housman's world, 2002.

 

Fast forward one year to tonight -- two-hit shutout ball for seven innings in a must-win playoff battle three levels higher at the exact age of 22 years, one month.

 

Something like this might happen only once to a player within a specific organization every five or ten years, but it just proves that you can't nor shouldn't dismiss any kid at the lowest levels of the system until his ride ends.

 

I'm not sure what the future holds for Jeff, but darn if he'll ever forget his 2003 season.

[huntsvillefan]

A night for unsung heroes!

The Jeff Housman Smoke and Mirrors show was genuine big time magic 7 innings 2 hits 0 runs.

Brandon Gemoll with a run and rbi.

Chris Barnwell some fine plays at 3B and a superb bunt single that brought Gemoll home for the second run and dented Birmingham spirits.

Brad Nelson, forget the lack of hits, he was doing Dave Krynzel impersonations in the outfield. Two great catches, one of which he turned into a double play.(If I ever criticized his defense - please please please forgive me!)

Everyone played hard and contributed in some way.

A very different team from last night. Perhaps game MVP should really go to the non-playing Mike Kremblas for starting the 'brawl' last night??

[MassBrew]

Beloit 11, Wisconsin (Mariners) 6

Snappers win series, 2-0 -- on to the league semifinals...

 

Beloit Line Score:

 MID FINAL R H E - - - BELOIT 11 13 0 WISCONSIN 6 12 4

[MassBrew]

Based on Thursday's results and with a little help from the Snappers site, here's the scoop on future action:

 

Kane County (A's) and Clinton (Rangers) are tied at one game apiece with the deciding game Friday night.

 

If the Snappers face the Kane County Cougars, the series will open at Beloit on Saturday, September 6 at 6:00 p.m. and game two and three would be played at Kane County on Sunday and Monday.

 

If the Snappers advance to face the Clinton LumberKings, the series will open at Clinton on Saturday with games two scheduled for Beloit on Sunday, September 7 at 4:00 p.m. and, if necessary, game three would be played at Beloit on Monday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Should the Snappers reach the Championship Series, the series would start with the first two games at the Eastern Division opponent -- either Lansing (Cubs) or Battle Creek (Yankees) -- with games three through five scheduled at Beloit. Because the finals are a best of five series, the only guaranteed home date would be Thursday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets will go on sale for each event only after the game is certain to happen. For more information, please call 1-888-SNAP-2-IT.

[MassBrew]

Helena 5, Missoula (Diamondbacks) 1

One game left in the regular season before the playoff fun begins for the Helena bunch -- details in the AM...

[molitor fan]

Just got back from the Beloit game, and here are a couple of impressions.

 

One, Gwynn and Weeks impressed the heck out of me tonight...my, oh my can Gwynn stroke it in the clutch, and Weeks swing is so sweet, and his eye is so acute that I think we have a Lofton/Sheffield duo in these two.

 

Two, Prince hit an opposite field homer in the first....personally, I think Prince can make a lot of improvements yet....he still has a lot of work to do on several aspects of the game.....and that is what is scary....if he improves the way I think he can, he can be Willie McCovey

 

Third, Bausher was pathetic.....I went down to the bullpen area to watch him warmup as the Snappers scored 5, and he started throwing a hissy fit when the T-Rats manager pulled his own pitcher with 2 outs in the 9th - as Bausher felt the game was over, so why bother.....well he proceeded to come in and stink up the joint, leaving Huizenga the task of finishing up the game....

 

Fourth, I think Rich Sauveur - the pitching coach is major league quality....I got a chance to see him work with the pitchers and was impressed - maybe Housman owes some success to him...

 

All in all, a very fun game to watch.

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Times:

Actually a game one recap of the extra-curricular activities, but paints a picture nonetheless of the atmosphere for game two, won by the Stars...

 

www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...171410.xml

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Jeff Housman in the accompanying photo...

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=319

[keller55555]

I shot the Snapper game for work tonight and came away very excited about the Brew Crew. A couple observations I took from the game: Rickie Weeks can fly on the bases, he went from first to third on a basehit to left. The throw to third got away(I believe it hit Weeks) allowing Rickie to come home. He's very aggressive on the bases. At the plate, his immense potential was clear. Very patient with a good eye and as advertised his swing is absolutely beautiful. I was also surprised to see how filled out he is. Prince's opposite field shot was a no doubter, but it didn't even seem like he hit it that well. His potential at the plate is scary. He also made a sweet play at first, snaring a grounder and making a nice throw to Ballouli covering. It's only one play, but it shows he has the ability at first. The first five guys in the order(Bibbs, Crabbe, Gwynn, Fielder, and Weeks) all have some strong abilities when it comes to hitting.

 

I also asked Melvin a few general questions about various topics on camera for the station. He was very accommodating and even started to talk to me about the club off-camera. We didn't talk long, but I came away extremely impressed with him. The Brewer's future looks to only get better!

[MassBrew]

Game Summary from the Timber Rattlers' Site:

 

FOX CITIES STADIUM -- The Beloit Snappers jumped out to the early lead with four runs in the first inning and held off a late Wisconsn Timber Rattler rally to defeat the Rattlers 11-6 Thursday night at Fox Cities Stadium. Beloit won the first round Midwest League Playoff series 2-0. Prince Fielder homered and drove in three runs for the Snappers. Tony Gwynn drove in two runs and scored three times. Khalid Ballouli was the winning pitcher.

 

Kennard Bibbs drew a walk to start the game and was sacrificed to second by Callix Crabbe. Gwynn singled to left and Carlos Arroyo misplayed the ball allowing Bibbs to score. Fielder homered to left center to make the score 3-0.

 

Rickie Weeks, the next batter in the inning, drew another walk. Travis Hinton singled to left-center and Arroyo tried to get Weeks at third. The throw glanced off Weeks' helmet and into the Rattler bullpen to allow Weeks to score the final run of the inning.

 

The Rattlers rallied for a run in the bottom of the first. TJ Bohn drew a two-out walk. Jon Nelson singled to send Bohn to third. Arroyo singled in Bohn. Wisconsin would load the bases when Rene Rivera was hit by a pitch, but Ballouli got a strike out to end the frame. Ballouli worked five innings allowing six hits and striking out six for the win.

 

Beloit chased Wisconsin starter TA Fulmer in the top of the fourth after an RBI single by Gwynn. Miguel Martinez came out of the bullpen and got Fielder to ground into an inning ending double play.

 

Gary Harris drove in Wisconsin's second run with a single in the bottom of the fourth.

 

Weeks put the Snappers back up by four runs with an RBI double in the top of the seventh. Beloit scored five times in the ninth against three different relievers.

 

Wisconsin put four runs up in the bottom of the ninth inning against Tim Bausher. Harris doubled in a run and Nelson hit a three run homer. Jon Huizinga came on to get the final out and end the Rattler season.

 

Beloit Box Score:

Nice job by Arizona League call-up RHP Forrest Martin following up Khalid Ballouli while the game was still relatively tight...

 GAME DATE: 9/04/03 BELOIT 11 AT WISCONSIN 6 YTD YTD BELOIT AB R H BI AVG WISCONSIN AB R H BI AVG K.Bibbs LF 2 2 0 0 .333 G.Harris CF 5 1 2 2 .375 C.Crabbe DH 3 1 2 0 .571 M.Garciaparr SS 5 1 2 0 .222 T.Gwynn CF 4 3 3 2 .625 T.Bohn RF 4 1 1 0 .286 P.Fielder 1B 5 1 2 3 .375 J.Nelson DH 5 1 2 3 .250 R.Weeks 2B 3 2 1 1 .167 C.Arroyo LF 5 0 2 1 .444 T.Hinton RF 4 0 2 0 .500 R.Rivera CAT 2 0 0 0 .000 M.Mendez RF 0 0 0 1 .000 B.Metheny 1B 4 1 1 0 .250 J.Eure 3B 5 1 1 1 .200 M.Hagen 3B 5 0 1 0 .125 P.Esparragoz CAT 5 0 1 1 .200 C.Harrington 2B 3 1 1 0 .333 C.Terni SS 5 1 1 0 .500 T.Fulmer PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 K.Ballouli PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Martinez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Martin PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Viane PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Bausher PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 O.Delgado PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Huizinga PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Heaston PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 36 11 13 9 TOTALS 38 6 12 6 BELOIT 4 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 5-11 13 0 WISCONSIN 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4- 6 12 4 E--M.Garciaparr, C.Arroyo 2, M.Martinez. DP--BELOIT 1, WISCONSIN 1. LOB--BELOIT 7, WISCONSIN 11. 2B--R.Weeks (1), G.Harris (1). 3B-- C.Crabbe (1), J.Eure (1). HR--P.Fielder (1), J.Nelson (1). CS-- R.Weeks. SF--M.Mendez. SH--K.Bibbs, C.Crabbe. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BELOIT K.Ballouli (W,1-0) 5.0 6 2 2 3 6 0 3.60 F.Martin 3.0 2 0 0 1 3 0 0.00 T.Bausher 0.2 4 4 4 2 1 1 54.00 J.Huizinga 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 WISCONSIN T.Fulmer (L,0-1) 3.1 7 5 4 3 5 1 10.80 M.Martinez 4.2 1 1 1 2 6 0 1.93 D.Viane 0.0 1 2 2 1 0 0 UDF O.Delgado 0.2 4 3 3 0 0 0 40.50 B.Heaston 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 WP--T.Bausher. BALKS--M.Martinez. PB--P.Esparragoz. SO--K.Bibbs 2, T.Gwynn, P.Fielder, T.Hinton 2, J.Eure 3, P.Esparragoz, C.Terni, G.Harris, M.Garciaparr 2, J.Nelson, C.Arroyo 2, R.Rivera, B.Metheny 2, M.Hagen. BB--K.Bibbs 2, C.Crabbe, T.Gwynn, R.Weeks 2, T.Bohn, R.Rivera 3, B.Metheny, C.Harrington. T--3:14. A--2137

[igor67]

I wonder how valuable these playoff games are to the minor league franchises as extra income? I sure hope that the playoffs can rekindle some interest in Huntsville and Beloit. The Stars should be able to look forward to seeing some more great pospects next year and I would imagine a pretty good team and Beloit should be pretty good too next year.

 

I can't say that the Stars will win their playoff series, but I think their big offensive funk is largely over. Krynzel is still down from earlier in the year, but he's doing OK and Hart and Hardy are still out there doing there thing. This never was an offensive powerhouse team at all this season, so we need to keep that in mind.

[squarepusher]

I'm surprised Bausher didn't fare better, considering he has a "major league arm".

[MassBrew]

Helena Independent Record Game Story:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...503_03.txt

 

Helena Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 9/04/03 HELENA 5 AT MISSOULA 1 YTD YTD HELENA AB R H BI AVG MISSOULA AB R H BI AVG G.Rodriguez 2B 5 0 1 0 .226 J.Kaplan CF 4 0 1 0 .272 A.Gomez SS 5 0 2 0 .225 C.Gonzalez RF 4 1 1 0 .256 T.Trofholz CF 3 2 2 0 .353 M.Montero CAT 3 0 1 0 .301 M.Melo PH 1 0 0 0 .259 O.Mercado CAT 1 0 0 0 .200 M.Melo RF 0 0 0 0 .259 A.Mottram 1B 4 0 2 1 .267 M.Ramirez DH 3 1 2 2 .324 J.Acosta LF 4 0 3 0 .255 V.Rottino 1B 2 1 0 0 .318 J.Brito DH 4 0 0 0 .242 V.Rottino 3B 1 0 0 0 .318 J.McStoots 3B 4 0 2 0 .222 R.Deevers CF 0 0 0 0 .324 J.Olivares SS 4 0 1 0 .220 R.Deevers RF 3 1 1 0 .324 E.Bonifacio 2B 3 0 0 0 .204 C.Lozada CAT 4 0 2 3 .200 T.Yamaguchi PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Barnes 3B 3 0 0 0 .244 M.Cuevas PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Whitney 1B 1 0 0 0 .273 D.Nippert PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Carter LF 2 0 0 0 .265 A.Cremidan PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Anderson PH 1 0 0 0 .324 D.Anderson LF 1 0 1 0 .324 K.Durost PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Dillard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Eveland PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 5 11 5 TOTALS 35 1 11 1 HELENA 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 0- 5 11 1 MISSOULA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0- 1 11 1 E--C.Lozada, M.Montero. DP--HELENA 2, MISSOULA 1. LOB--HELENA 6, MISSOULA 8. 2B--A.Gomez (7), M.Ramirez 2 (19), C.Lozada (1). 3B-- D.Anderson (3). SB--T.Trofholz (38). CS--A.Gomez. SF--M.Ramirez. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HELENA K.Durost (W,3-5) 5.0 5 0 0 0 3 0 5.26 T.Dillard 2.0 3 0 0 1 2 0 0.00 D.Eveland 1.0 3 1 1 0 1 0 2.08 N.Slack 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2.19 MISSOULA T.Yamaguchi (L,6-7) 6.0 9 5 5 1 2 0 4.54 M.Cuevas 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8.07 D.Nippert 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4.96 A.Cremidan 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.46 WP--T.Dillard, D.Eveland. PB--C.Lozada. SO--R.Deevers, J.Barnes, J.Kaplan, A.Mottram, J.Brito 3, J.McStoots, J.Olivares 2, E.Bonifacio. BB--V.Rottino, R.Deevers, E.Bonifacio. T--2:21. A--1234

[MassBrew]

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

 

AIN'T MISBEHAVIN'

The Stars definitely responded to the challenge........ After hitting just .165 in losing nine straight to Birmingham, the Stars needed this win to avoid trying to win three at Hoover Met......... Jeff Housman rose to the occasion, answering Enemencio Pacheco's two-hitter with a two-hit performance of his own on a beautifully breezy and dry evening at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

Tonight's game was significantly tamer than the bench-clearing eruption that was the coda of last night's ballgame........ The crew chief for the four umps working this game, I think it was John Woods, warned both Wally Backman and Frank Kremblas that there would be serious consequences if anyone dared leave their dugout seat with the notion of challenging the opposition at the very least, to a vocabulary contest, let alone any physical contact........ That's perhaps why neither catcher from Game One was behind the plate tonight.

 

Birmingham's chunky junkballer, Carlos Castillo, retired 14 of the last 15 Stars hitters to face him, Alejandro Machado reaching in the 7th on a dropped grounder....... But the Stars had already gotten what they needed for the night, scratching out three runs on six hits and a walk........When I say the Stars scratched for those runs, I mean it.

 

Corey Hart got the 2nd inning going with by rapping Castillo's first pitch up the middle for a single....... Brandon Gemoll followed that with a single to left........ Before making the first pitch to Noochie Varner, Castillo tried to catch Hart off base, but his throw went instead to the first base side of the bag into center field, and both runners moved up....... . Noochie then drove in Hart from third on a softly stroked hit up the middle.........The Stars had an excellent chance to pile on some runs with Gemoll on 3rd and Varner on 1st, but Brad Nelson struck out on three pitches, the last two on changeups. Nelson never got the bat off his shoulder........ Kade Johnson worked the count to 2-2 before he swung out......... Chris Barnwell came up to keep the inning alive, and he fooled everyone on the first pitch by perfectly deadening a bunt that landed on the dirt in front of the plate on the 3rd base side....... Gemoll was off like a rabbit running the train, while catcher Steve Morales and Castillo fumbled to make the play on the ball. Castillo finally flipped the ball to Morales, but Gemoll had already crossed the plate, giving the Stars a 2-0 lead........ It was their first lead over Birmingham in six games, going back to August 3rd.

 

After Dave Krynzel struck out to start the 3rd inning (Krinkles fanned three times tonight on 1-2 counts), J.J. Hardy lined a 1-2 pitch past Castillo and 2nd baseman Danny Sandoval for a hit. Hart drew the only walk the Barons allowed to put runners on 1st and 2nd......... Gemoll then continued the inning, blooping Castillo's first pitch to left. J.J. sped home for the Stars final run......... It was last hit the Stars would get in this game. They would have only two more baserunners after that --- Machado, as I already mentioned, and Gemoll in the 8th, who reached first when Jeff Bajenaru's third strike was tipped off the helmet of catcher Morales and to the backstop.

 

After last night's spectacular defensive a la carte by the Stars, there was a couple tonight by the least possible suspect to come up with them........ Brad Nelson, in the 5th, ran into centerfield and in front of Dave Krynzel, who was also going after Steve Morales' dying quail, slid on his rump to make the catch for the first out of the inning....... In the 3rd inning, Nelson caught up to a fly ball hit by Danny Sandoval and made a nice looking scoop, then threw to J.J. who relayed it to first to catch leadoff hitter Tom Nicholson getting back, for a 7-4-3 DP. After that, Housman retired 10 of the next 11 Barons to face him, walking Gabe Alvarez on four pitches in the 4th.

 

Housman's night was not without a little drama....... With two out in the 2nd, he walked Carlos Maldonado and then Morales lined a single over the glove of Hardy, but Guillermo Reyes tapped Housman's first pitch right to third baseman Barnwell, who stepped on the bag to force Maldonado.......

 

The Stars bullpen was responsible for some anxious moments......... Jeff Hundley walked Reyes, the first batter to face him when he came on in relief in the 8th. After striking out pinch-hitter Chad Durham and Danny Sandoval, Juan Piniella singled over a mistimed leap by Barnwell....... Mike Adams was brought in to face left-hander Jeremy Reed, even though Adams is a righty. Reed hits lefties better than righties but not by much --- something like ..429 to .403....... No matter how you try to get any kind of advantage against Jeremy Reed, though, Reed still looks good. He hit .467 against Stars pitching this season, but Reed, who was 1-for-3 against Mike during the season, struck out swinging after fouling off a 1-2 pitch....... Jeremy Reed is now 0-for-7 in the playoffs, and that's scary as the Stars must win this at Hoover Met.......... Adams walked the first two batters in the 9th, Gabe Alvarez and Scott Bikowski, but Carlos Maldonado hit his first pitch right at J.J. Hardy, who turned a 6-5-4 double play. Steve Morales ended the game with a broken bat grounder to Machado.

 

Like Pacheco the night before, Housman never threw more than 18 pitches in any one inning he worked. He threw 93 pitches, 62 for strikes (66.7%)........ This series will go to four games. Friday, Jason Shelley (3-2, 2.63) will go up against Tetsu Yofu, who was 3-2 with a 1.86 ERA against the Stars during the regular season....... Neal Cotts and Corwin Malone will go in games four and five, if necessary for Birmingham, but expect Pacheco to return on three days rest for Game 5......... The Stars will counter with Pedro Liriano (9-13, 3.65) and Greg Bruso (1-1, 3.60).

 

Now that the season is over, I've been able to revise the all-time Top 20 leaderboard........ I counted 28 jumps in various batting and pitching categories....... This season, Derek Lee took over the #1 spot in HRs given up, hit batters, and games pitched. Luis Martinez came out of nowhere to become the Stars' #2 strikeout leader of all-time (235), and three pitchers, Matt Parker, Matt Childers, and Luis Martinez, entered the top 20 ERA leaderboard --- 6th, 13th, and tied for 19th respectively....... Corey Hart broke into the batting (.296) and slugging categories (.442) at a tie for 9th and a tie for 17th respectively and Dave Krynzel finishes 7th in stolen bases (56), but tied for 4th in most times caught stealing (26).

[colbyjack]

Congrats to everyone involved with the Beloit Snappers. Best of luck & skill as you move onto round 2.

 

Thanks as well to those that posted for the first-hand accounts from both the Snappers game & the Stars game. Hearing about Brad Nelson's stellar play in LF is something we don't get in the box scores.

[Al the Thinking Man]

I'll be posting an in depth recap of each Snappers player later today. A short preview...Prince, Rickie, and Tony...3 can't miss guys.

 

I also saw Mr. Melvin and wished him luck. Several (5-10) gentlemen in Brewers' jackets were there, a nice representation.

 

And to the poster doing the interview AND holding the camera, I told my wife, "That's a talented guy".http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif