Link Report for Games of Friday, July 18th

[MassBrew]

Friday's Daily Menu -- we'll be plugging in the standings for playoff-contending Huntsville, Beloit, and Helena within the Daily Menu while pertinent; Huntsville's fighting for a second-half crown that would provide additional home field advantage in the playoffs; Beloit's looking to qualify with a second-half division championship, and Helena's looking for a first-half title (their first-half ends Sunday, July 27th).

 

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

 

INDIANAPOLIS: LHP Derek Lee at Rochester (Twins), 5:05 PM; Derek really needs to get his early-inning troubles under control

 

Audio link:

www.newstalk1430.com/

 

HUNTSVILE: RHP Ryan Miller with a spot start vs. West Tenn (Cubs) at home, 7:05 PM

 

Audio link:

espn1450.com/

 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 14 11 .560 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 13 11 .542 .5 [b]*HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 13 11 .542 .5[/b] WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 13 12 .520 1.0 CHATTANOOGA LOOKOUTS (CINCINNATI) 11 15 .423 3.5

HIGH DESERT: RHP Dan Kolb at home vs. Inland Empire (Mariners), 9:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: RHP Luis Pena at home vs. Peoria (Cardinals), 7:05 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's):

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

 WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 17 10 .630 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 16 11 .593 1.0[/b] PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 15 12 .556 2.0 *KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 15 12 .556 2.0 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 13 14 .481 4.0 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 12 15 .444 5.0 %WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 11 15 .423 5.5 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 11 16 .407 6.0

HELENA: RHP Greg Moreira at home vs. Billings, 8:05 PM

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.billingsmustangs.com/

 NORTH DIVISION W L PCT GB GREAT FALLS WHITE SOX (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 18 10 .643 [b]HELENA BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 18 11 .621 .5[/b] BILLINGS MUSTANGS (CINCINNATI) 17 11 .607 1.0 MISSOULA OSPREY (ARIZONA) 15 14 .517 3.5

ARIZONA: The Brewers host the rookie Mariners this AM in Maryvale; no Brewer starting pitcher info available on this one...

 

Hey Toby, what do the Arizona kids wear on their hats / uniforms? An "A" with the wheat stalk? Probably not, more likely just Milwaukee caps and Brewer jerseys...

[squarepusher]

[ Hey Toby, what do the Arizona kids wear on their hats / uniforms? An "A" with the wheat stalk? Probably not, more likely just Milwaukee caps and Brewer jerseys... ]

 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/tee-ball-02/images/400-teeball2-02.jpg

 

(note to parents and players, I'm only kidding)

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Media Notes for Friday:

Bill Hall's recent numbers continue to sparkle, even amaze...

 

THIS WEEKEND: The Indians play the final three games of the season against Rochester and against an IL North opponent. The Indians need to win all three games to even the season series against the Red Wings, and to finish above .500 against Northern foes.

 

The Indians dropped three of four to the Red Wings in Indianapolis in May. Rochester hit .351 in that series. The Indians were 0-4 at Frontier Field last season, and have not earned a win at the ballpark since June 16, 2001. Overall since 1998, the Indians are just 19-26 against the Red Wings and have won the season series only one time (1999). The Indians are 21-23 against IL North clubs this season.

 

The Indians have lost four straight games. Three of the four setbacks have been by one run. If they were to lose all three games this weekend, it would match a seven-game losing streak from April 13-20 as the longest of the season.

 

After going 19-10 in June, the Indians are off to a 3-11 start in July. The team is hitting .272, but the pitching staff has a 5.37 ERA.

 

THURSDAY: Rochester scored four times in the second inning and then held on for a 4-3 win. Todd Sears his a two-run homer for the Wings. The Indians got two hits from Steve Scarborough.

 

ON THE MOUND: Lefthander Derek Lee will start on Friday. Lee opened the season at Double-A Huntsville and went 11-3 with a 3.40 ERA before being promoted to the Indians on July 4. He has made two starts for the Tribe, working 5.0 innings both times. His most recent start came on July 11 against Norfolk. He allowed two earned runs on five hits and three walks as he suffered the defeat.

 

Righthander Wes Obermueller makes his third start for the Indians on Saturday. Obermueller led the Pacific Coast League with 10 wins and had been selected to the All-Star team with Omaha before being traded to the Tribe on July 2. His first start was interrupted by a long rain delay. He came back on July 13 and worked six innings at Louisville. He took the loss despite allowing just two earned runs.

 

Southpaw Doug Davis makes his Tribe debut Sunday afternoon. Davis is pitching for his third organization in 2003. He started the season with the Rangers. He made four starts for Triple-A Oklahoma (3-0, 3.25) and one for Texas before being claimed off waivers by Toronto on May 1. Davis made 11 starts and one relief appearance for the Blue Jays going 4-6 with a 5.00 ERA. He refused assignment on July 12 and signed with Milwaukee on July 14. Davis started for Huntsville on Tuesday and earned the win by holding Mobile to two runs over six innings.

 

ALL-STAR SELECTION: Outfielder Mark Smith represented the Indians at the Triple-A All-Star Game Wednesday night. Smith pinch hit for Louisville's Brandon Larson in the fifth and drew a walk. He came around to score as the IL took a 7-6 lead. Smith singled in the sixth and drew another walk in the seventh before striking out in the ninth. Smith was also an IL All-Star with Rochester in 1993 and 1995.

 

ON THE LEADER BOARD: Bill Hall is fourth in the IL with 55 runs scored.

 

TOP OF THE ORDER: Hall was moved into the lead-off spot in the lineup June 7 and has gone 42-for-124 (.339) with 27 runs scored, 14 doubles, two home runs, 11 walks and six stolen bases in 30 games since. Hall has hit safely in 37 of his last 43 games. In that period, he's batting .320 (58-for-181). Hall, who had two eight-game hitting streaks in June, brings a season-long, 10-game streak into the weekend.

 

HOT AT THE PLATE: Over the last 54 games Jim Rushford is hitting .342 (69-for-202). Since May 19, Rushford has not gone more than two games without getting a hit. In 18 games since June 21, Cody McKay is hitting .404 (23-for-57). Dating back to June 3, McKay has hit safely in 13 consecutive road games, which is the longest active streak in the IL.

 

LAST CHANCE: The Indians are 0-23 on the road when they are trailing after eight innings. The last time the Tribe rallied to win in that situation was July 7, 2002 at Toledo. The Indians tied the game with a run in the ninth, and won with two in the 10th.

 

UPCOMING PROBABLES:

Friday - LHP Derek Lee (0-2, 5.40) vs. RHP Willie Eyre (0-1, 7.50)

Saturday - RHP Wes Obermueller (5-4, 3.86) vs. RHP Matt Carnes (2-3, 4.56)

Sunday - LHP Doug Davis (NR) vs. LHP Brad Thomas (0-1, 1.13)

Monday vs. Columbus - RHP Christian Parker (3-6, 6.27) vs. LHP Nate Teut (2-3, 3.58)

Tuesday vs. Columbus - LHP Brandon Claussen (2-1, 2.17) vs. RHP Pasqual Coco (8-5, 4.53)

[batman]

Hey,

 

Friday - LHP Derek Lee

Saturday - RHP Wes Obermueller

Sunday - LHP Doug Davis

 

That's pretty crazy. All three weekend starters were not with Indy a month ago and two were not even with the organization. At least the Indians' fans are getting to see some new faces.

 

~Bill

[MassBrew]

Turns out the Arizona Rookie kids get to play under the lights tonight for a change. Maybe AzBrew or our other Phoenix-based readers will spend a lovely Friday evening in Maryvale and provide us a scouting report.

 

Or maybe squarepusher has already moved to Phoenix. How's that move going? It's a dry heat, y'know. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

* risks taking Link Report off course *

 

Please use restraint http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

[clancyphile]

Checking out the Carolina League this weekend. Potomac Cannons - fireworks and in the humid heat of the DC area...

 

I might post some observations here about some of the players I've seen. There are a couple who look pretty sharp.

[MassBrew]

From BA's Chat Today:

 

Q: Jim Goulart from Assonet, MA asks:

Prince Fielder -- Minor League Player of the Year Candidate?

 

A: Josh Boyd: He's getting there, and it will take a ton of bombs for a low Class A prospect to win the award. Only Andruw Jones has won the award spending the whole year in low Class A. Gregg Jefferies and Tom Gordon are the only other two who have started the year at that level.

 

Q: Jim Goulart from brewerfan.net asks:

Where was the love for AA Huntsville in BA's recent discussion of the most prospect-laden minor league squads? J.J. Hardy, David Krynzel, Corey Hart, Mike Jones, Ben Hendrickson, Luis Martinez, Pedro Liriano -- and a nice group of supporting players like Noochie Varner, Daryl Clark, Alejandro Machado -- have I made my point yet? Thanks!

A: Josh Boyd: You're right on. I think we've been promoting that group all year long though.

 

Who's this "Jim" guy? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[batman]

LOL. I put in a question about Chad Petty but he didn't get to it. Maybe next time... this Jim guy seems to be a favorite, though http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/happy.gif.

 

~Bill

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis 5, Rochester (Twins) 4, 11 innings

 

Actually tuned into this one in time to hear the Tribe rally for two runs in the top of the ninth to force extra innings. Very entertaining finish as the winning run scored on a wild pitch during an intentional walk (yeah, pretty weird). Nice contributions from Scarborough, Rushford, Childers, and Foster -- others as well, most likely, but we'll let the folks in Indy fill us in later tonight / Sat. AM.

 

Indy Site Game Summary:

The Bill Hall Summertime Lovefest rolls on...

 

ROCHESTER, NY -- The Indianapolis Indians committed three errors which led to three unearned runs, but it was two miscues by the Rochester Red Wings in the 11th inning that gave the Tribe a 5-4 come-from-behind win Friday night.

 

Jason Conti drew a two-out walk off of Adam Johnson (3-11) in the top of the 11th. With a 2-0 count on Jim Rushford, Conti swiped his ninth base of the season and continued on to third as catcher Rob Bowen's throw sailed into right field. The Red Wings decided to intentionally walk Rushford, but Johnson's final offering went to the backstop allowing Conti to race home with the winning run.

 

The Indians (42-55), who had trailed 4-1 at one point, scored two runs in the top of the ninth to force extra innings. Steve Scarborough walked and Bill Hall singled to start the inning against Red Wings closer Juan Padilla. After Conti grounded out to first advancing both runners into scoring position, Rushford delivered a two-run double to tie the game. The late-inning heroics marked the first time the Indians had rallied to win on the road when trailing after eight innings since July 7, 2002.

 

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Doug Jennings led off with a double and then later scored on a sacrifice fly by Scarborough.

 

The Tribe made three errors in the next two innings, however, as the Red Wings (46-52) scored four times. Third baseman Wilton Veras dropped a ball during a rundown in the fourth as Rochester scored once. The Red Wings added three runs in the fifth. Veras threw a ball wildly on a force out at second base, and catcher Cody McKay dropped a throw at the plate to make two of the runs unearned.

 

Three Indians relievers worked six shutout innings to give the Tribe offense a chance to come back. Roberto Giron was perfect in the sixth and seventh recording three strikeouts. Jason Childers retired six of the seven batters he faced in the eighth and ninth, including four by strikeouts. John Foster (2-1) closed out the effort with two innings. He pitched around a lead-off double by Shane Andrews in the 10th, striking out two in the inning. He also fanned clean-up hitter Todd Sears to end the game.

 

The win by the Indians snapped two dubious streaks. The Indians had lost six straight games at Frontier Field, and hadn't won there since June 16, 2001. The Tribe also snapped an overall four-game losing streak.

 

Hall extended his hitting streak to 11 games. He opened the game with a triple, and added the single in the ninth.

 

The Indians and Red Wings continue the series Saturday evening at 6 p.m.

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

 INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI ROCHESTER AB R H BI B Hall 2B 6 1 2 0 C Green CF 6 0 1 0 J Conti CF 4 1 1 0 L Rodriguez 2B 5 1 3 0 J Rushford 1B 5 0 2 2 M Restovich RF 4 1 0 0 M Smith LF 3 0 1 0 T Sears 1B 5 1 0 0 R Knox LF 1 0 0 0 S Andrews 3B 5 1 3 0 K Luuloa PH 1 0 0 0 M Ryan LF 4 0 2 2 P Zoccolillo RF 4 0 0 0 D Lamb DH 5 0 0 0 D Jennings DH 5 2 2 0 R Bowen C 4 0 1 0 W Veras 3B 4 0 0 0 A Prieto SS 5 0 0 0 C McKay C 4 0 2 0 S Scarborough SS 2 1 0 2 TOTALS 39 5 10 4 TOTALS 43 4 10 2 INDIANAPOLIS 000 101 002 01-- 5 ROCHESTER 000 130 000 00-- 4 E--W Veras 2, C McKay, R Bowen. DP--ROCHESTER 1. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 10, ROCHESTER 12. 2B--D Jennings 2, J Rushford, M Ryan, S Andrews. 3B--B Hall. SB--J Conti 1 (9). CS--J Rushford, L Rodriguez. S--M Ryan. SF--S Scarborough 2. IP H R ER BB SO HR INDIANAPOLIS D Lee 5 8 4 1 3 4 0 R Giron 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 J Childers 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 J Foster (W,2-1) 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 ROCHESTER W Eyre 5 5 1 1 2 6 0 J Palki 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 M Nakamura 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 J Padilla 1 2 2 2 1 1 0 A Johnson (L,3-11) 2 0 1 0 2 1 0 WP--D Lee, A Johnson. HBP--J Conti by W Eyre. SO--IND: P Zoccolillo 2, M Smith 2, S Scarborough 2, J Rushford, K Luuloa, W Veras, J Conti, D Jennings, R Knox. ROC: T Sears 3, A Prieto 3, M Restovich 2, R Bowen 2, C Green, L Rodriguez, S Andrews, D Lamb. BB--IND: C McKay, P Zoccolillo, J Rushford, W Veras, J Conti, S Scarborough. ROC: M Restovich 2, T Sears, R Bowen, L Rodriguez. T--3:53. A--10,268.

[MassBrew]

West Tenn (Cubs) 5, Huntsville 3

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=222

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Alejandro Machado heating up; Matt Childers has been so streaky on the mound -- in a really good way as of late...

 WEST TENN AB R H BI HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI A Weston LF 5 1 1 0 A Machado 2B 4 1 2 0 M Dzurilla 2B 5 2 3 1 D Krynzel CF 3 0 0 0 B Harris 3B 4 1 1 1 J HARDY SS 4 0 1 1 J Dubois 1B 4 0 2 2 C Hart 3B 4 1 1 0 R Sadler CF 4 0 1 1 B Gemoll 1B 4 1 1 1 J Melian RF 4 0 0 0 N Varner RF 3 0 0 0 R Theriot SS 4 0 1 0 D Clark LF 3 0 1 1 C Kopitzke C 3 1 2 0 K Johnson C 3 0 0 0 M Nannini P 1 0 0 0 R Miller P 1 0 0 0 D Hood PH 1 0 0 0 M Childers P 1 0 0 0 D Cash P 0 0 0 0 C Barnwell PH 1 0 0 0 J Szuminski P 0 0 0 0 K Ray P 0 0 0 0 TOTALS 35 5 11 5 TOTALS 31 3 6 3 WEST TENN 230 000 000 -- 5 HUNTSVILLE 110 000 100 -- 3 E--J HARDY. DP--WEST TENN 1, HUNTSVILLE 1. LOB--WEST TENN 8, HUNTSVILLE 2. 2B--D Clark, J Dubois 2, M Dzurilla. HR--B Gemoll 1 (10) (off M Nannini). SB--A Machado 1 (3), C Hart 1 (16), M Dzurilla 1 (4). S--D Krynzel, M Nannini 2, B Harris. IP H R ER BB SO HR WEST TENN M Nannini (W,8-6) 7 6 3 3 0 6 1 D Cash 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 J Szuminski (S,2) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 HUNTSVILLE R Miller (L,0-5) 3 2-3 9 5 4 1 3 0 M Childers 4 1-3 1 0 0 1 2 0 K Ray 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 SO--WTN: R Sadler 2, A Weston, R Theriot, B Harris. HUN: D Krynzel, M Childers, K Johnson, B Gemoll, A Machado, J HARDY, R Miller. BB--WTN: C Kopitzke, J Dubois. T--2:35. A--6,397.

[batman]

From Tom Haudricourt's Most Recent "Notes" Column:

 

First baseman Prince Fielder, the Brewers' first-round draft pick in 2002, has been terrorizing Midwest League pitchers of late with Class A Beloit. In 15 games this month entering Friday night, Fielder was batting .354 with 10 home runs and 24 runs batted in.

 

Overall, Fielder was batting .312 with 22 home runs and 81 RBI in 95 games. With 54 walks, he had a .410 on-base percentage.

 

Tony Gwynn Jr., the Brewers' second-round pick in June, has gotten off to a big start with Beloit. Entering Friday, he was batting .368 with seven stolen bases in eight attempts and a .473 on-base percentage.

 

Lefty Manny Parra, a draft-and-follow from 2001, is performing well for Beloit, too. Through 18 starts, Parra is 9-2 with a 2.88 earned run average and an amazing strikeout-walk ratio of 97-14.

 

At Class AA Huntsville, lefty Luis Martinez continues to pitch well, with an 8-4 record and 2.38 ERA through 19 starts, with 113 strikeouts in 109 innings.

 

Good to see some coverage in the paper. Kudos, Tom!

 

~Bill

[batman]

High Desert 6, Inland Empire (Mariners) 5

 

Heck of an exciting game tonight. The Mavs snap a 7-game losing streak with only their second win of July. The tying run got to third base in the ninth on a weird fielder's choice play but Aaron Dean got out of it.

 

The win also brings to an end the Mavs' 7-game home losing streak. On "50 cent Feast Night", the hometown fans finally got something to cheer about in Adelanto.

 

Congrats, HD!

 

Details to follow, I'm sure.

 

~Bill

[MassBrew]

Peoria (Cardinals) 3, Beloit 2

 

Beloit Site Game Summary and Player of the Game Info:

 

www.snappersbaseball.com/...c9e0c49795

 

Beloit Box Score:

Catcher Pedro Esparragoza and the pitchers combine to nail all four Chief baserunners attempting to steal; like in Huntsville, the bullpen did their best to keep things close in a losing effort; also like in Huntsville tonight, no one draws a walk at the plate for the "good guys"...

 PEORIA AB R H BI AVG BELOIT AB R H BI AVG M.Lemanczyk LF 5 1 2 0 .287 K.Bibbs LF 4 1 2 0 .296 M.Jaramillo SS 4 0 1 1 .211 C.Crabbe 2B 4 1 1 1 .255 R.Gorecki CF 4 1 2 0 .289 T.Gwynn CF 4 0 1 1 .363 T.Hanson 3B 3 0 1 0 .272 P.Fielder 1B 3 0 1 0 .312 J.Hileman RF 4 1 1 1 .261 T.Hinton DH 4 0 1 0 .207 J.Santor 1B 1 0 0 0 .290 J.Eure SS 4 0 0 0 .253 T.Durham 2B 3 0 0 0 .266 A.Heether 3B 4 0 0 0 .217 M.McCoy 2B 0 0 0 0 .229 M.Mendez RF 4 0 2 0 .251 T.Lemon DH 4 0 1 1 .250 P.Esparragz CAT 3 0 1 0 .254 J.Motte CAT 4 0 2 0 .125 L.Pena PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Teekel PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Hall PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Scalamandr PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Huizinga PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Julianel PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Cavazos PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 32 3 10 3 TOTALS 34 2 9 2 PEORIA 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0- 3 10 1 BELOIT 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 2 9 3 E--M.Jaramillo, J.Eure, A.Heether, L.Pena. DP--PEORIA 0, BELOIT 1. LOB--PEORIA 7, BELOIT 6. 3B--C.Crabbe (4). SB--K.Bibbs 2 (43). CS--M.Lemanczyk, J.Santor, T.Lemon, J.Motte, K.Bibbs, P.Esparragz. HBP--P.Fielder. SH--T.Durham. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA PEORIA J.Teekel (W,4-4) 6.0 7 2 2 0 7 0 2.28 R.Scalamandr 1.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.60 B.Julianel 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.17 A.Cavazos (S,5) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.42 BELOIT L.Pena (L,1-4) 5.0 7 3 2 2 4 0 3.46 B.Hall 3.0 2 0 0 2 4 0 3.10 J.Huizinga 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.00 HB--J.Teekel. WP--J.Teekel, L.Pena. SO--M.Lemanczyk 3, M.Jaramillo, T.Durham 2, T.Lemon 2, J.Motte, K.Bibbs, T.Gwynn, P.Fielder 2, T.Hinton 2, J.Eure, A.Heether, P.Esparragz. BB--T.Hanson, J.Santor 3. T--2:43. A--1423

[MassBrew]

Helena 7, Billings (Reds) 5

 

Helena Line Score:

 PIO FINAL R H E - - - BILLINGS 5 7 4 HELENA 7 11 3

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Times Game Story:

A new pitch for Matt Childers...

 

www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...243900.xml

[MassBrew]

Heck of an exciting game tonight.

 

That was a truly clutch performance by the Mavs' Aaron Dean on the mound in 9th, as Tim Blackwell chose to bypass struggling Bobby Bystrowski. Amazing how a tight final inning like that can entertain so thoroughly, even for a 30-67 ballclub...

 

High Desert Site Game Summary:

 

Woo-Hoo! Mavs Rally for 6-5 Win

ADELANTO, CA ? The High Desert Mavericks put an end to a seven-game losing streak overall and a seven-game losing streak at home, beating the Inland Empire 66ers on Friday night by a final score of 6-5 at Mavericks Stadium.

 

Three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning were enough for Mavs reliever Aaron Dean (5-4), who worked out of a ninth-inning jam, leaving the tying run just 90 feet away.

 

The Mavs loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh inning, as 66ers reliever Justin Blood (0-2) walked two consecutive men. An inside pitch to Jason Belcher hit off the glove of the catcher Chris Collins, as Johnny Raburn scored on the passed ball. With runners at second and third, Belcher hit a ground ball that was headed for center field. After second baseman Evel Bastida backhanded the ball, his throw from second got off the glove of first baseman Blake Bone, allowing both runners to score. Belcher picked up one RBI on the infield hit, while the go-ahead run scored on the throwing error.

 

In the ninth, Dean allowed the first two men to reach. With runners at first and second, Dean struck out Dustin DeLucchi, then got Bastida to hit into a fielder?s choice as Jeremy Frost made a great stop at first base. With runners at first and third, and leading 6-5, Dean got the Cal League?s leading hitter, Greg Jacobs, to pop up to Todd West to end the game and end the losing streak.

 

The 66ers got on the board first, as Hunter Brown homered in the second inning off Mavs starter Danny Kolb for a 1-0 lead. Kolb went 5 + innings, leaving with the bases loaded and no outs in the sixth. Dean came out of the pen and allowed just one of the three inherited runners to score.

 

Frost?s two-run home run to left field off 66ers starter Tim Rall put the Mavs in front at 2-1. West collected a two-out RBI hit, which gave the Mavs a 3-1 lead in the fifth.

 

High Desert is now just 5-22 in the second half and 30-67 overall.

 

The Mavs and 66ers meet in the third game of the four-game set on Saturday night, as Chad Petty (0-6) goes for High Desert, while Ryan Ketchner (10-4) throws for Inland Empire. Game time is 7:05 (9:05 Central).

 

High Desert Box Score:

Jeremy Frost continues to prove that an additional bat in the Mavs' lineup proved very worthwhile; surely he wasn't expected to produce as he has since his promotion from Helena...

 INLAND EMPIRE AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG D.Delucchi CF 5 2 2 0 .348 J.Raburn CF 5 1 1 0 .274 E.BstdaMrtnz 2B 3 2 0 0 .254 T.West 2B 4 0 1 1 .263 G.Jacobs LF 4 0 2 3 .362 B.Nelson LF 2 1 1 0 .310 J.Castellano DH 4 0 1 0 .305 S.Candelaria 3B 3 2 1 0 .302 H.Brown 3B 2 1 1 2 .267 J.Belcher RF 3 0 1 1 .320 B.Bone 1B 4 0 1 0 .269 J.Frost 1B 4 1 2 2 .327 C.Guerrero RF 4 0 0 0 .251 B.Foster DH 4 0 0 0 .178 C.Collins CAT 3 0 2 0 .276 J.Alvarado CAT 4 0 0 0 .112 I.Castro PR 0 0 0 0 .250 O.Chavez SS 2 1 0 0 .219 E.Menchaca SS 3 0 0 0 .235 D.Kolb PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.VanMeetren PH 1 0 1 0 .269 A.Dean PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Rall PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Rowland-sm PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Blood PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Done PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 33 5 10 5 TOTALS 31 6 7 4 INLAND EMPIRE 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0- 5 10 1 HIGH DESERT 0 0 0 2 1 0 3 0 X- 6 7 0 E--E.BstdaMrtnz. DP--INLAND EMPIRE 0, HIGH DESERT 1. LOB--INLAND EMPIRE 7, HIGH DESERT 7. 2B--D.Delucchi (9), G.Jacobs (34), J.Raburn (6), S.Candelaria (19). HR--H.Brown (12), J.Frost (3). SB--D.Delucchi (8), O.Chavez (3). HBP--G.Jacobs, C.Collins, B.Nelson. SF--H.Brown. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INLAND EMPIRE T.Rall 4.2 3 3 3 2 2 1 5.79 R.Rowland-sm 2.0 2 1 0 1 1 0 3.97 J.Blood (L,4-2) 0.0 1 2 2 2 0 0 2.66 J.Done 1.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.44 HIGH DESERT D.Kolb 5.0 7 3 3 2 0 1 6.06 A.Dean (W,5-4) 4.0 3 2 2 1 4 0 6.39 HB--T.Rall, D.Kolb, A.Dean. BALKS--T.Rall. PB--C.Collins. SO--D.Delucchi, B.Bone, C.Guerrero, E.Menchaca, J.Raburn, J.Belcher, B.Foster 2. BB--E.BstdaMrtnz 2, H.Brown, B.Nelson, S.Candelaria, J.Belcher, O.Chavez 2. T--3:07. A--2172

[MassBrew]

Helena Independent Record Game Story:

Insightful quotes from Manager Ed Sedar here; yes, Captain Lou's hitting streak continues -- he's six games shy of tying the all-time Pioneer League record -- the league has been around since 1939, folks!; obviously, though, this is much more than a one-man squad -- read on...

 

www.helenair.com/articles...903_02.txt

 

Helena Box Score:

Soon, we hope -- delayed today...

[MassBrew]

Arizona Brewers 5, Arizona Mariners 4

Walk-off win for the Crew probably was badly needed for the team's psyche...

 

Arizona Box Score:

OF Dallas Bates in his second season, yet still only turns 19 on Sunday (tomorrow); SS Gilberto Acosta 0-for-3, but still walks twice...

 

Here's a bit of box score wondering for you: 2003 4th round OF Charlie Fermaint walks, steals a base, and then apparently leaves the ball game for Francisco Plasencia, if one attempts to read this correctly -- here's hoping that slide into second base was uneventful for the 17-year-old; we'll look for his name in the lineup over the next couple of days before contacting the Brewers should he not be listed...

 

 MARINERS AB R H BI AVG BREWERS AB R H BI AVG C.Craig LF 4 1 1 1 .364 D.Bates LF 5 1 3 1 .276 M.Rogelstad SS 4 1 1 0 .408 C.Fermaint CF 0 0 0 0 .373 B.Metheny 2B 1 1 1 1 .340 F.Plasencia CF 4 0 2 1 .270 E.Cruz RF 0 0 0 0 .273 B.Opdyke DH 5 0 1 0 .204 M.Wilson CF 4 0 1 0 .367 A.Mannon RF 4 1 0 0 .304 L.Soto 1B 2 0 0 1 .300 G.Acosta SS 3 0 0 0 .403 L.Soto CAT 1 0 0 0 .300 C.Corporan CAT 4 1 1 0 .224 C.Wu DH 4 0 1 0 .361 R.Pijuan 1B 3 1 2 0 .278 P.Ozoria 3B 3 0 0 0 .333 C.Lozada 3B 4 0 1 0 .400 C.Quintero CAT 2 0 0 0 .235 B.DePaula 2B 4 1 0 1 .189 B.Schweiger 1B 2 0 1 0 .294 E.Walker PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Hymon RF 3 1 0 0 .104 H.Pruett PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Hymon 2B 0 0 0 0 .104 C.Gittings PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Flores PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Martinez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.James PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Bernat PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.O'Flaherty PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 30 4 6 3 TOTALS 36 5 10 3 MARINERS 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0- 4 6 4 BREWERS 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 1- 5 10 2 E--M.Rogelstad 2, P.Ozoria, J.Hymon, A.Mannon, C.Corporan. DP-- MARINERS 0, BREWERS 1. LOB--MARINERS 5, BREWERS 11. 2B--C.Craig (4), D.Bates 2 (4). SB--C.Fermaint (6), F.Plasencia (5). CS--B.Metheny. HBP--A.Mannon, C.Corporan. SF--B.Metheny, L.Soto. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA MARINERS R.Flores 2.0 1 0 0 1 3 0 0.00 R.Martinez 4.0 6 2 0 1 2 0 9.75 C.James 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4.72 D.Bernat (L,1-1) 1.1 1 3 2 2 2 0 7.11 E.O'Flaherty 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.74 BREWERS E.Walker 4.0 2 2 1 3 3 0 6.00 H.Pruett 4.0 3 2 2 1 4 0 2.81 C.Gittings (W,1-2) 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6.30 HB--C.James, D.Bernat. WP--C.James, D.Bernat. PB--L.Soto, C.Corporan. SO--C.Craig, M.Wilson 2, P.Ozoria 2, J.Hymon 2, D.Bates, F.Plasencia, B.Opdyke, A.Mannon, G.Acosta, C.Lozada, B.DePaula. BB--B.Metheny, E.Cruz, P.Ozoria, J.Hymon, C.Fermaint, G.Acosta 2, R.Pijuan. T--2:52.

[MassBrew]

Helena Box Score:

Finally tracked one down...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...asp?id=724

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

Blood "spatters" -- that's just a brutal pun, Mike Rothstein http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif ...

 

www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...139,98297,

[MassBrew]

Beloit Daily News Game Story:

Ready, set, quotes!

 

www.beloitdailynews.com/703/1spt19.htm

[MassBrew]

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

 

THIS ISN'T WORKING

Mike Adams has been moved back to the bullpen to resume his closer's role, which is where he belongs. Nothing against Mike. He's been great there. But this "experiment" if you want to call it that, isn't working.

 

With the exception of Derek Lee, who is not truly a bullpen pitcher, I isolated the four relief pitchers who have been called upon to start this season for the Stars. Matt Parker is the only one who didn't start any games in July, so getting him out of the way, Matt was 2-1 with a 3.95 ERA in three starts, skewed by a rather terrible outing on June 23........

 

Taking a look at the remaining three, Adams, Matt Childers, and most recently, Ryan Miller, they combined in July to go 0-3 with a 5.52........ Like I said, this didn't work. So I'm happy to see things change and Adams move back to the pen and Jeff Housman added to the rotation. Now with the addition of Jason Shelley (see Transactions thread -- MassBrew), the Stars have a full 11-man pitching staff........

 

The rotation still isn't set in stone, but for the weekend, Luis Martinez (8-4, 2.39) will start Saturday against Sergio Mitre (6-7, 3.79), followed by Jeff Housman and either Matt Parker (6-4, 2.85) or the newcomer Shelley in Sunday's 5 PM double-header. After that, Pedro Liriano and Ben Hendrickson will be set to go again.

 

The Diamond Jaxx wasted no time in getting to Ryan Miller Friday night before a big crowd, enticed by the Miguel Tejada bobble-head giveaway and fireworks, a much better fireworks show, incidentally, than the July 4 show. I don't want to get too far off the subject, but the rain interruption during that game had a lot to do with it .........

 

OK. Aron Weston, brought up from Class A two weeks ago, led off and hit Ryan's 1-2 pitch over the third base bag for a single. A tough error on J.J. Hardy on a failed force play from Alejandro Machado put runners on first and second. Brendan Harris loaded the bases when Miller couldn't make a play on a little bleeder to the third base side of the mound......... The Diamond Jaxx did this all night --- dinky hits and dunkers. Few balls were actually well hit by the Diamond Jaxx, but they were timely and although Mike Nannini had an impressive line, he pretty much stuck to the fast ball and slider all night.

 

Next, Jason Dubois hit a tough, hard hit grounder to Corey Hart who made a fine throw to force out Harris, but that was all the Stars would get as Weston scored. Ray Sadler's single to left scored Mike Dzurilla, to cap the scoring........ The D'Jaxx scored all three of their 2nd inning runs on 2-out hits by Mike Dzurilla, Brendan Harris, and Dubois --- a double to right that went to the wall........

 

Kade Johnson failed on consecutive occasions to nail the runner at the plate on throws from David Krynzel. The first one, I believe the runner would have scored anyway, but the second throw to get Harris to Dubois' double proved to be too hot to handle as it bounced off Kade's glove, danced around his shoulder, then fell in front of him as Harris scored.

 

The Stars were able though to answer back feebly in the first and second innings........ Machado led off the Stars first with a bloop single to left. Krinkles moved him over on a sacrifice, and Hardy followed with a single to left center to score Machado. That was it, though, as Hart, hitting .194 in his last 9 games, hit into a double play........

 

Brandon Gemoll led off the 2nd inning with a huge 420-ft. HR deep to right-center field. Ray Sadler mounted the wall in a vain attempt, but it was high over the RSC sign, his team-leading 10th HR. After that, Mike Nannini retired 14 of the next 15 hitters. Machado had a 3rd inning single to left-center, and finishing the game 2-for-4, his average cliimbs to .259.........

 

Daryl Clark hit a two-out double over the head of former Star Jackson Melian in right field in the 7th inning that scored Hart with the Stars final run. After that, the Stars couldn't get a knock off their pitching....... Mike Nannini threw 70 pitches, an incredible 78.5% for strikes after 5 innings of work.

 

The Stars' defense prevented another run, maybe more, in the 9th inning. After Mike Dzurilla doubled all the way to the left field wall to lead off the inning, he turned on the burners with a desire for three bases, but the throw from D.J. to J.J. to Corey nailed him for the first out........ With two out, Noochie Varner made the play of the game to end the inning. Jason Dubois' liner deep to right was hooking toward the line and appeared it would drop in for a double, but Varner dived and made a back-hand, shoestring grab, sliding on his belly for the final out.

 

While the Ryan Miller experiment didn't go very well, Matt Childers pitched 4 1/3 no-hit innings in relief, extending his scoreless string in relief to 11 1/3 innings.......

 

After hitting .273 in April, .347 in May, and .327 in June, Dave Krynzel is struggling in July, hitting .188.......Brandon Gemoll, of all people, is setting the offensive pace with a .302 average, but after an 0-for-6 game against Birmingham on July 2, he's hit .351 with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs....... Daryl Clark is hitting .318 in his last 6 games with 5 RBIs.

 

Taking a peek at the progress of some former Stars, Cristian Guerrero is hitting .258 for Inland Empire of the Class A - California League, with 5 HRs and 20 RBIs in 47 games, 4 errors in 37 games in right field........ Chad Green is hitting .256 for the Rochester Red Wings, the Twins top farm team in Class AAA-Rochester (IL), but with only 16 walks, his OBP is only .294. Understand what I'm talking about here, Stars fans?....... Jeff Deardorff is hitting .298 for Class AA - New Britain, the Twins AA farm club and has a .506 slugging pct.......