Link Report 7/12 - Updates Braddock, LaPorta; Jeffress Photo

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP R.A. Dickey at home vs. Memphis (Cardinals), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Derek Miller at Chattanooga (Reds), 6:00 PM pre-game; 6:15 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: LHP Steve Garrison at Sarasota (Reds), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime

 

NOTE: Sorry, no audio for this Brevard County series

 

West Virginia: RHP Jeremy Jeffress at home vs. Hickory (Pirates), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link (game will also archive at this link):

www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

 

Helena: RHP Evan Anundsen at Idaho Falls (Royals), 8:00 PM pre-game, 8:15 gametime

 

Audio link (game will also archive at this link):

www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

 

Arizona: Idle

[Mass Haas]

Follow Thursday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Log". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often.

 

Nashville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cngaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_sarafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_idarok_1

[Mass Haas]

These links will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally they are updated an hour or two prior to gametime, with Nashville's usually earlier:

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

 

Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Wednesday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 55 35 .611 - 29-13 26-22 W4 Iowa 50 40 .556 5.0 29-19 21-21 W4 Omaha 42 49 .462 13.5 27-16 15-33 W2 Memphis 39 52 .429 16.5 21-27 18-25 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 12 9 .571 - 6-5 6-4 L2 Tennessee 11 10 .524 1.0 8-3 3-7 W1 Huntsville 10 11 .476 2.0 5-5 5-6 W3 Carolina 8 13 .381 4.0 5-5 3-8 L3 West Tenn 8 13 .381 4.0 6-5 2-8 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 12 8 .600 - 5-3 7-5 L1 Jupiter 10 9 .526 1.5 5-4 5-5 W2 Palm Beach 10 9 .526 1.5 4-6 6-3 L3 St. Lucie 8 11 .421 3.5 3-7 5-4 L2 Daytona 8 12 .400 4.0 5-6 3-6 L1 Vero Beach 4 15 .211 7.5 2-7 2-8 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 12 7 .632 - 7-2 5-5 L1 Lake County 11 8 .579 1.0 6-4 5-4 W1 Hickory 11 9 .550 1.5 8-5 3-4 L1 West Virginia 11 9 .550 1.5 6-3 5-6 W1 Delmarva 9 10 .474 3.0 4-6 5-4 W1 Lexington 8 12 .400 4.5 7-5 1-7 L1 Hagerstown 6 13 .316 6.0 3-6 3-7 L1 Greensboro 6 14 .300 6.5 4-4 2-10 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 14 8 .636 - 8-3 6-5 W3 Helena 13 9 .591 1.0 5-6 8-3 L1 Billings 9 13 .409 5.0 5-5 4-8 W1 Missoula 8 14 .364 6.0 5-7 3-7 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Mariners 13 3 .813 - 7-1 6-2 W4 AZL Angels 12 4 .750 1.0 10-2 2-2 W1 AZL Padres 10 6 .625 3.0 5-2 5-4 L1 AZL Cubs 8 8 .500 5.0 5-3 3-5 W2 AZL Giants 7 9 .438 6.0 4-4 3-5 L1 AZL Royals 7 9 .438 6.0 3-4 4-5 W1 AZL Rangers 6 10 .375 7.0 2-5 4-5 L5 AZL Athletics 5 11 .313 8.0 3-4 2-7 W1 AZL Brewers 4 12 .250 9.0 1-7 3-5 L4

[Never Outhustled]

My new favorite, Darren Ford, with a leadoff jack tonight. 1-0 'Tees.

[Boy Jeenius]

Jeffress 5 k's after 3 complete. Welcome to the "check Darren Ford's box first" club, X.

[Kevbo74]

I was in a great mood looking at Jeffress' line throught the thrird. Then I refreshed it to see the 4th. :-(

 

Here's hoping for a nice 5th - Go Power!

 

Liking the Manatees game though, - Go Tees!

 

I didn't look at the others, But Go everyone!

 

Mat Gamel still has time to put another hit streak together.

[pogokat]

---Cole Gillespie is still batting over .400 in July, which could possibly mae up for his batting .191 in July

 

---Lou Palmisano on pace for about 15 homes in Huntsville...i know he's cooled off lately, but so long as he hasn't upset anyone, he could still be the brewers starting catcher in 2009

 

---Jeffress gives up 3 runs...but he k'd 5, and he only allowed 6 base runners through 5, even though he walked threee...for a kid who's only a year removed from high school, this is pretty remarkable..

 

--Derek Miller is having a prretty good start tonight in Huntsville...derek has been lost in the shadow of will inman, steve garrison, and others, but he's pitched well every where he's been...he's 25, so you won't see him on any top prospect lists...but he has value to the brewers---he could easily be included in whatever rade Melvin's working on...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 11, Sarasota (Reds) 3

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Nice to remember LHP Steve Garrison won't be 21 years old until September; ten Manatees came to the plate in the 1st...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_sarafa_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

Robert Hinton with a scoreless inning in which he allowed three baserunners and was aided by a line drive double play; yes; closer E.J. Shanks did get a double play grounder...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_sarafa_1

[wvpowerblkwel]

Watched Jeffress pitch tonite, and said the hell with the stadium gun and went in search of the stalker gun in the 2nd and 3rd. JJ constantly was bringing 98 on the gun with just about every fastball thrown with bad intentions! I was taking pictures and asked the guy with the gun what the top he had hit was, and he showed me 98 on the gun, then would turn the gun after every fastball, and it was almost always dead on 98....he was bringing some heat! Of course what came in at 98 in the third, must've gone out at about 105 as it headed over the centerfield fence in the 4th, but man can this kid bring it!

[Mass Haas]

Final: Hickory (Pirates) 7, West Virginia 3

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

HICKORY SURGES LATE TO DEFEAT POWER

 

The Hickory Crawdads outscored the West Virginia Power 4-0 in the final three innings of Thursday night?s game, defeating the West Virginia Power 7-3, getting their first victory of the year at Appalachian Power Park to set up the rubber match on Friday night.

 

Jonel Pacheco hit a towering two-run blast to snap a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning. Later in the inning Albert Laboy?s sacrifice fly plated Jared Keel to give the ?Dads a 3-0 lead.

 

Chuckie Caufield doubled with two outs and scored on Taylor Green?s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. The Power tied the game with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. John Alonso walked with the bases loaded and Steve Chapman?s sacrifice fly scored Caufield.

 

Jim Negrych ripped an RBI single to snap the 3-3 tie in the seventh inning. Eddie Prasch hit a two-run bomb with two outs in the top of the eighth inning and Bobby Kingsbury drove in the final run with a single in the ninth.

 

Steve McFarland (3-2) got the win, and Jeremy Jeffress (5-3) was tagged with the loss despite another strong outing, allowing four runs on five hits with seven strikeouts over six and two thirds.

 

The Power fell to 59-30 overall and 11-10 in the second half, while the Crawdads improved to 39-49 overall and 12-9 in the second half with the win. Andrew Lefave, Caufield and Green all had two hits for the Power.

 

The Power will finish the three game series against Hickory Friday night. The Power will start left hander Brae Wright (6-4, 5.70) and the Crawdads will counter with right hander Jared Hughes (7-6, 4.04). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Productive middle of the order, no surprise there...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

Lots of Power balls in play -- only one K...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Never Outhustled]

Quote:

---

Watched Jeffress pitch tonite, and said the hell with the stadium gun and went in search of the stalker gun in the 2nd and 3rd. JJ constantly was bringing 98 on the gun with just about every fastball thrown with bad intentions!

---

 

Thanks for the awesome update wvpowerblkwel. 98 is absolute smoke for a starter. Thats Verlander type stuff. I guess you made the right decision to dump the stadium gun.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 8, Chattanooga (Reds) 5

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1265

 

Escobar Delivers Decisive Blow in Stars' Win

 

Alcides Escobar tripled in two runs and scored in a three-run eighth inning rally that lifted Huntsville to an 8-5 come-from-behind win in a see-saw affair Thursday night over Chattanooga in the second of a five-game set at AT&T Field. The Stars won their fourth straight and for a fifth time in six games to improve to 11-11 in the second half and 48-42 overall, while the first place Lookouts dropped to 12-10 in the second half but maintained their one game lead over Tennessee after the Smokies fell at home to Mobile. The Stars have won five of seven in Chattanooga and lead the season series 10-8.

 

Justin Mallett, who had thrown 10 scoreless innings against the Stars over four prior appearances, took over in the eighth in a 5-5 game and gave up a leadoff double to Lou Palmisano and walked Adam Heether before Brendan Katin bunted into a force out at third base. Ryan Crew flied out to right field to advance Heether to third and Escobar followed with his first extra-base hit since joining the Stars to plate the go-ahead runs. Mel Stocker laid down a perfect bunt to chase home Escobar and drive in his third run as a pinch-hitter.

 

Luis Pena worked two scoreless, hitless innings to record his third save of the season and protect the win for Bo Hall, who worked two perfect innings in relief of starter Derek Miller.

 

Jay Garthwaite?s leadoff long ball in the second staked the Lookouts to the early lead before Lou Palmisano?s two-run home run, his second in as many nights, second of the year against Chattanooga starter Camilo Vazquez and ninth of the season, tied the game at two in the fourth inning. The Lookouts regained the lead in the home half of the fourth on a fielding error by Heether at third base that allowed Craig Tatum to score.

 

A Tatum passed ball allowed Crew to score from third to tie the game and a Guilder Rodriguez sacrifice fly plated Escobar to give the Stars their first lead at 4-3 in the fifth. However, the lead was short-lived, as Garthwaite walloped his second home run of the game, a two-run shot, in the bottom of the inning to put the home team back on top. The Stars tied the game at five in the top of the sixth on a run-scoring single by Crew but left Katin stranded at third when Escobar and pinch-hitter Michael Brantley struck out.

 

Miller was charged with five runs, four earned, on nine hits, while striking out seven over five innings, while Vazquez was tagged with four runs, three earned, on four hits and a pair of walks in his five inning stint.

 

The series continues Friday night with southpaw Lindsay Gulin taking the mound for the Stars against Lookouts? right-hander James Avery. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Adam Heether's numbers more impresive remembering his .132 April; Ryan Crew with back-to-back multi-hit games...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cngaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cngaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Manager Frank Kremblas:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-12.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 7, Memphis (Cardinals) 1

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for R.A. Dickey photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2448

 

Sounds Take Down Redbirds In Series Opener

 

NASHVILLE ? Nashville native R.A. Dickey continued his recent dominance from the hill, working seven strong innings to lead the Sounds to a 7-1 victory over the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

 

The victory was the fifth in a row for Nashville (56-35) and increased the club's lead to a season-high six games in the PCL American Conference Northern Division as second-place Iowa fell in extra innings.

 

The Sounds have won 13 of their last 16 contests overall to improve upon the best record in Triple-A baseball.

 

Dickey (7-4) earned the victory after allowing one run on five hits over seven innings of work. In six starts since rejoining the Sounds? rotation in mid-June, the knuckleballer has posted a 3-0 record and 1.62 ERA (7 ER / 39.0 IP) while working quality starts in each of the outings.

 

Memphis starter Randy Keisler was perfect through four innings before Sounds cleanup hitter Joe Dillon belted his team-leading 19th home run of the year, a line-drive solo shot to left that opened the fifth. Dillon has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 contests for Nashville.

 

AUDIO: Dillon's Team-Leading 19th HR --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-12.mp3

 

The Sounds increased the lead to 3-0 in the sixth with a pair of runs off Keisler. Jose Macias dropped a squeeze bunt that plated Chris Barnwell, who had opened the inning with a double, from the frame?s first run. Laynce Nix followed with a double and Dillon was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs. With Mike Rivera at the plate, Keisler uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Macias to race home with Nashville?s third run of the evening. Rivera drew a walk to re-load the bags for Vinny Rottino, who ripped a line drive to right that was snagged by a diving Joe Mather to end the inning.

 

Memphis put its lone run on the board in the seventh when Mather opened the frame with a double off Dickey and later scored on a Brian Esposito groundout.

 

Sounds reliever Grant Balfour worked into and out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the top of the eighth inning, stifling the Redbirds? best scoring opportunity of the evening. He induced an infield fly popout from Jarrett Hoffpauir then got some assistance from Rivera behind the plate as the catcher picked Mather off first base to escape the inning unscathed.

 

Nashville iced the game in the bottom of the eighth with a four-run inning against the Memphis bullpen. Rottino got things started by ripping a two-run double into the left field corner off Memphis reliever Kelvin Jimenez to plate Nix and Dillon for a 5-1 Sounds lead. The second pair of runs scored later in the inning when Rivera scored on a Barnwell RBI groundout and Rottino followed him to the plate when Redbirds first baseman Tagg Bozied committed a throwing error.

 

Keisler (7-6) took the loss for Memphis after he allowed three runs on three hits while walking three batters and striking out six over his six innings of action.

 

The teams continue the series with another 7 p.m. meeting on Friday evening at Greer. Left-hander Zach Jackson (9-4, 4.81), who co-leads the Pacific Coast League with nine victories, will man the bump for the Sounds and face Memphis right-hander Mike Parisi (5-7, 5.13).

 

It will be another Purity Faith Night at Greer Stadium. Former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kent Bottenfield, now a contemporary Christian recording artist, will take the stage as the opening act before headliner Jeff Deyo takes the stage. The pre-game concert begins when gates open at 5:30 p.m.

 

Fans are invited to stay for a postgame fireworks show presented by Your Select Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealers.

 

Nashville Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 6, Idaho Falls (Royals) 3

 

MiLB.com:

 

Brewers double up Chukars

 

Evan Anundsen tossed seven scoreless innings as visiting Helena defeated Idaho Falls, 6-3, on Thursday.

 

Anundsen (2-2) surrendered two hits and a walk while striking out three. The 19-year-old right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA in his last four starts.

 

Robert Bryson notched his fourth save, despite yielding three runs -- two earned -- on two hits with three strikeouts over the final two frames.

 

Lee Haydel singled and scored the game's first run on shortstop Manni Juan's throwing error in the sixth. He added an RBI single in the seventh and scored in the ninth. Mike Goetz knocked in two runs and Jonathan Lucroy went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs for the Brewers (14-9).

 

Chukars starter Benjamin Norton (1-1) took the loss after giving up an unearned run on two hits and two walks while fanning four in 5 2/3 innings.

 

Todd Balduf ripped a two-run homer, his first, to put Idaho Falls (16-7) on the board in the eighth and Nick Van Stratten tripled and scored in the ninth. Adrian Ortiz went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. -- Ryan McConnell/MLB.com

 

Helena Box Score:

We noted in the new Power 50 about Evan Anundsen's excellent ground ball ratio -- 16 ground ball outs in his seven innings vs. two fly balls in this one, nice! Ratio now at a Brandon Webb-like 4.36 on the season...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_idarok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_idarok_1

[Mass Haas]

Helena KCAP Audio Pre-Game Interview with OF Kurt Crowell:

Be sure you're on the July 12th archive, then go to the 21:00 minute mark --

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section...2007071259

 

Power?s Thursday streak stopped

By Tommy R. Atkinson

Charleston Gazette Staff Writer

 

In general, baseball players are a superstitious lot, but don?t count West Virginia Power?s Andrew Lefave among those.

 

The Power saw its streak of seven straight Thursday-night wins come to an end as the Hickory (N.C.) Crawdads took a 7-3 decision to earn their first victory at Appalachian Power Park this season. A paid crowd of 6,267 attended the South Atlantic League matchup.

 

Lefave, the Power?s first baseman, was unaware of the team?s unusual winning streak, much less that today is Friday the 13th.

 

?I don?t even know what day it is half the time,?? said Lefave, who finished 2-for-5 and entered Thursday as the Sally League?s top hitter with a .344 average. ?I was kind of surprised [about the winning streak].

 

?I try not to look at my stats for the most part. I don?t even like to know what I?m doing. I try to keep all that stuff out of my head. When it comes down to it, it?s just going out there and playing the game hard. I thought we played hard [Thursday night].??

 

The Power?s luck ran out on a Thursday night, where the team had posted a 14-1 record. Power starter Jeremy Jeffress, the Milwaukee Brewers? No. 1 pick in last year?s amateur draft, seemed to be working on a special outing through the first three innings.

 

Jeffress needed only 32 pitches in setting down the first nine Crawdads batters in order, striking out five with a fastball that was clocking in the mid-90s. It all fell apart in the fourth inning as Jeffress was roughed up for three runs, including a two-run home run by Hickory?s Jonel Pacheco that caromed off the top of the main scoreboard, giving the Crawdads a 3-0 lead.

 

Jeffress, who allowed one run on three hits in six innings in his previous start, regained his composure and only allowed one more run the rest of the way. The Power bullpen, however, served up three earned runs over the final 2 1/3 innings. Hickory (12-9 in the second half) took the lead for good in the top of the seventh on Jim Negrych?s two-out, run-scoring single for a 4-3 edge.

 

The Power (11-10) knotted the game at 3-all in the bottom of the sixth on Steve Chapman?s sacrifice fly and seemed to be on its way to one of its trademark come-from-behind victories. From the seventh on, the Power stranded half of its 10 baserunners, leaving four in scoring position.

 

Lefave said because of the Power?s success this year, the team doesn?t get discouraged when the hits fail to come. Wednesday night the Power rallied for a 9-8 win after falling behind 4-0 after the top of the fourth.

 

?We know we can win under any circumstance,?? he said. ?I think this is the kind of team that will come out the next day with a little bit more.??

 

Jeffress (5-3) took the loss, allowing four earned runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings with seven punchouts and six walks with three of those free passes scoring.

 

The Power?s Chuckie Caufield went 2-for-5 with a double and scored two runs and Taylor Green pounded out a pair of hits and drove in a run. A trio of Hickory relievers shut out the Power over the last three innings.

 

The Power will play host to Hickory at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central) in the final game of the three-game series. The Power will start left-hander Brae Wright (6-4, 5.70 ERA) while the Crawdads will counter with righty Jared Hughes (7-6, 4.04 ERA). There will be fireworks after the game, weather permitting.

 

How will Lefave deal with playing on Friday the 13th?

 

?It probably won?t effect me too much,?? he said. ?I?ll just go out there and take it like another day.??

 

Charleston Gazette Photographer: Chris Dorst

Power outfielder Charlie Fermaint is tagged out by Hickory?s Jim Negrych on a stolen-base attempt.

 

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/WVP1.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link for R.A. Dickey photo, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....YdQ80RA%3D

 

Dickey makes most of second chance

Sounds pitcher leads win over Memphis

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

For R.A. Dickey, the second time has been the charm.

 

Since returning to the Sounds' starting rotation, the veteran right-hander has been virtually unhittable. He posted his sixth consecutive quality start Thursday night, allowing just one run in seven innings in a 7-1 win over visiting Memphis.

 

"I just think it's about me maturing a little as a knuckleballer, believing in what you've got, thinking it's good enough to get people out," said Dickey (7-4), who has given up seven earned runs in 39 innings since re-entering the rotation June 17. Dickey has won each of his last three decisions.

 

"I think I leaned on my fastball in tough situations before, but this last two-and-a-half months, I've tried to commit to throwing (the knuckleball). I think it's paid off. It moves a little better and I've got a better feel for it. I think that's the difference."

 

The former Montgomery Bell Academy and Tennessee standout, who was 1-4 when he was removed from the rotation, held Memphis scoreless through six innings, allowing his offensive teammates to break through against Redbirds starter Randy Keisler with a fifth-inning leadoff home run by Joe Dillon. Nashville tacked on a pair of runs in the sixth, cashing in on doubles by Chris Barnwell and Laynce Nix.

 

Memphis broke up Dickey's shutout bid in the seventh, with Joe Mather hitting a leadoff double and scoring on a fielder's choice. However, Dickey stranded runners at first and second to avoid any further damage.

 

"R.A. pitched around some walks, made some pitches when he needed to," said Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas, who was in his first game back with the team since his mother's death July 5. "He got some plays behind him, and a couple of double plays always helps."

 

With the victory, and Omaha's 11-inning 4-3 win over visiting Iowa, the Sounds extended their lead to a season-high six games over Iowa in the Pacific Coast League's American Northern Division.

 

In the top of the eighth, reliever Grant Balfour created a bases-loaded, one-out situation before getting an infield fly from Jarrett Hoffpauir; catcher Mike Rivera then threw behind Mather at first base for an inning-ending pickoff.

 

Nashville scored four runs in its half of the eighth to break the game open. Memphis relievers Hugo Castellanos and Kelvin Jimenez each hit a Sounds batter before Vinny Rottino doubled to drive in a pair of runs.

 

Memphis threatened in the ninth, putting a pair of runners on against reliever Luther Hackman with two outs, before Hackman struck out Rick Ankiel for the final out of the game.

 

What they said: "These guys are mature enough; they don't necessarily need a manager out there during games. They know what they need to do, and they do a good job of doing it." ? Kremblas.

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....YdQ80RA%3D

 

Sounds call up DiFelice to replace Oxspring

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Chris Oxspring's spot on the Sounds' roster was filled by former Huntsville pitcher Mark DiFelice, a move made prior to the Sounds' game Thursday against visiting Memphis.

 

Oxspring, who had been scheduled to start for the Pacific Coast League in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star game in Albuquerque, had his contract sold by the Milwaukee Brewers to the LG Twins of the Korean Professional Baseball League on Monday and did not participate in the game.

 

DiFelice, meanwhile, started for the North Division in Monday's Southern League All-Star game after going 6-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 26 appearances. Monday's start was just his fourth of the season, as he had come out of the bullpen for Huntsville for the majority of the season. He moved into the starting rotation in late June and allowed just two earned runs in 16 1/3 innings (1.10 ERA).

 

At Huntsville, DiFelice struck out 60 hitters in 66 2/3 innings while issuing just six walks.

 

He is scheduled to start Sunday's series finale against Memphis.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.dailymail.com/story/S...n-Arizona/

 

Power falls, Braddock will rehab in Arizona

Jacob Messer

Charleston Daily Mail Sportswriter

 

The headline-grabbing news at Appalachian Power Park on Thursday had nothing to do with which team won or lost.

 

Instead, it focused on which players are coming and going.

 

More on that later.

 

First, the formalities.

 

Although they finished with nine strikeouts and three errors, the Hickory Crawdads got the hits and made the plays when they had to in a 7-3 baseball win over the West Virginia Power.

 

It was a disappointing result for the Buck Night crowd of 6,267.

 

But none of those fans left the East End stadium as upset as Power pitcher Zach Braddock, a hard-throwing left-hander who was one of the South Atlantic League's most dominant pitchers in the first half.

 

The Milwaukee Brewers have decided to send Braddock to their spring-training complex in Arizona to rehabilitate his arm. Soreness and tightness have sidelined the 6-foot-4, 230-pound southpaw since June 15.

 

When West Virginia placed Braddock on the disabled list last month, Power pitching coach John Curtis said the 19-year-old prospect wouldn't take the mound again until August.

 

Now, who knows?

 

"I don't know how long I'll be down there," said Braddock, who has a 3-1 record and 1.15 earned run average with 68 strikeouts compared to 15 walks in 47 innings this season. "They don't know what's wrong with it. I'll be back, though."

 

Braddock was scheduled to fly to Phoenix today.

 

On the opposite side of the transaction spectrum, former University of Florida slugger Matt LaPorta is preparing to arrive in Charleston within the next two weeks.

 

Some sources say the 22-year-old power hitter could be here as early as July 21, when West Virginia is scheduled to begin an eight-game homestand (four against Delmarva and four against Hagerstown).

 

LaPorta, the Brewers' 2007 first-round draft pick, is in Arizona rehabilitating an injury of his own (strained right quadriceps).

 

"The trainers are doing a great job getting me healthy and ready to play," LaPorta said. "We don't want to rush anything."

 

LaPorta had a .323 batting average and hit 74 home runs in his four-year college career. The 6-1, 215-pound prospect was a catcher in high school and a first baseman in college, but he will play left field in the pros.

 

"I'm excited about coming there and starting my career," LaPorta said.

 

As for Thursday's on-the-field action, the Power collected more hits (8-7) and committed fewer errors (0-3) than the Crawdads.

 

But a pair of two-run homers from right fielder Jonel Pacheco and third baseman Eddie Prasch and three insurance runs were enough for Hickory (12-9, second half) to beat West Virginia (11-10).

 

"The two home runs, the two-out RBI, the leadoff walks, the stolen bases in clutch situations ... they did a pretty good job and you have to tip your hat to them," said Power Manager Mike Guerrero, whose team stranded 10 runners.

 

"Even with the errors, they made good plays. They had a couple of diving plays that took away hits. They did what they needed to do."

 

West Virginia starter Jeremy Jeffress (5-3) took the loss after surrendering four runs on five hits and six walks in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out seven batters, including five of the first nine he retired.

 

Right fielder Chuckie Caufield, third baseman Taylor Green and first baseman Andrew Lefave each had two hits for the Power.

 

Caufield scored two of West Virginia's runs; LeFave scored the other. Its RBI came from Green (two-out single), designated hitter John Alonso (bases loaded walk) and left fielder Stephen Chapman (sacrifice fly).

 

Power plugs -- The teams will conclude their three-game series Friday night. The Power will start left-hander Brae Wright (6-4, 5.70). The Crawdads will throw right-hander Jared Hughes (7-6, 4.04). ... Saturday marks the start of a seven-game road trip (three in Greensboro and four in Lakewood) for West Virginia. ... The Power entered the game with a 14-1 record on Thursdays and a 7-1 mark against the Crawdads this season. ... Anyone whose dream is to play Major League Baseball will have a chance to make it happen next week. Power General Manager Ryan Gates said the Brewers will hold an open tryout one week from today at 10 a.m. at Appalachian Power Park. Milwaukee scouts will attend.

 

Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Tom Hindman

West Virginia Power pitcher Jeremy Jeffress surrendered four runs on five hits with six walks in the Power?s 7-3 loss to Hickory on Thursday.

 

http://www.dailymail.com/images/071307Jeffress.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Link Report will be out late this afternoon.

[TheCrew07]

Braddock... *sigh*

 

I've resigned myself to hoping that 1 out of 2 pitchers that shows something will make the majors at some point. I usually pair them up in my mind. Though maybe I should group them by 4s and I'd be less disappointed.

 

Jones and Parra

Rogers and Yo

Braddock and Jeffress

Periard and Seidel

Bryson and Tyson (it rhymes, had to be done)

Inman is the only one I oddly didn't pair with anyone, maybe because of the year he was drafted. Will stands alone baby!

 

I have no idea what to make of Robinson as he hasn't pitched yet, and I should probably included some of the Latin kids, but none of them have struck me yet.

 

Am I the only one that pairs up prospects like this for sanity's sake?

[bretsky07]

I'm not sure why, but I do a lot of pairing in my head as well.

 

-I stopped pairing up Jones and Parra this year, and instead pair up Parra and Thatcher who will hopefully be dominant lefties out of the pen this September in the majors.

-I usually pair up Gallardo and Inman, as I see them taking pretty much the same path to the majors, with Will a year behind.

-Rogers and Jeffress, as twin 1st round fireballing high schoolers.

-And this year, Braddock and McClendon, low level guys I knew nothing about before the year but who have so far dominated A ball.

[Chio151]

Man, can I start getting excited about Jeffress now....

 

cmon, please?