Link Report for Games of Monday, June 16th

[MassBrew]

Daily Menu for Monday:

 

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

 

INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Joe Roa makes his first start for the Tribe at home against Syracuse (Blue Jays), 7:00 PM; remember, AAA dosen't have split-season titles...

 

HUNTSVILLE: RHP Mike Jones at home vs. West Tenn (Cubs) at 7:05 PM as the Stars officially close out the first half

 

HIGH DESERT: It's a brand new season, or half-season, anyway. Interestingly, to kick things off, the Mavericks' starter is TBD for Monday, as the new pitcher will take recently-released LHP Brian Mazone's rotation spot. It might be a "bullpen" game, or it might be more of a long-term assignment for tonight's starter. Possibility is RHP Aaron Dean, but that's just a guess. Anyway, it'll be vs. Lancaster (Diamondbacks) at home, 9:05 PM.

 

BELOIT: Idle for the All-Star break; the All-Star game is Tuesday with plenty of Snapper representation, especially on the mound.

[MassBrew]

Syracuse (Blue Jays) 9, Indianapolis 3

 

Indy Site Game Summary:

 

INDIANAPOLIS -- Tony Zuniga led an offensive assault as the Syracuse SkyChiefs looked for revenge by way of a 9-3 victory over the Indians on Monday night. After having swept the SkyChiefs at Syracuse last weekend, the Tribe has now dropped five of the first six games on this eight-game homestand.

 

Joe Roa took the loss for Indianapolis (28-40), making his first start for the Tribe since signing with the team last week. Roa pitched only 3.2 innings allowing nine hits and seven runs, five of which were earned.

 

Syracuse (28-36) scored four runs in the top of the third inning off of Roa to take an early 5-0 lead, as Zuniga picked up the first two of his team-high four RBI. Zuniga picked up two more RBI with a single in the top of the fourth to chase Roa from the ballgame trailing 6-2.

 

Four SkyChiefs batters combined to score all nine of the team's runs, as Kurt Keene scored three while Rich Thompson, Mike Colangelo and Gary Burnham each crossed the plate twice.

 

The Indians scored two runs in the home half of the third inning thanks to a Bill Hall RBI double and an RBI single by Mark Smith. Syracuse starter Vinny Chulk lasted only 2.2 innings for the SkyChiefs, as he was removed with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the third. Scott Cassidy retired Cody McKay to strand all three runners and hold off the Tribe threat.

 

In the fourth, the Indians again loaded the bases with two outs and one run already home, but Cassidy again was able to pitch out of the jam by getting Pete Zoccolillo to ground sharply to first base.

 

Dan Reichert pitched a scoreless two frames of relief for Syracuse to earn the win and improve to 1-1.

 

Hall and Jim Rushford were the only Indians players to have multiple hit games, as both finished with three hits.

 

The two teams will continue the four-game series on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. when Ben Ford (0-2, 5.79) pitches for the Tribe against Syracuse's Josh Towers (2-4, 3.65).

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 6/16/03 SYRACUSE 9 AT INDIANAPOLIS 3 YTD YTD SYRACUSE AB R H BI AVG INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG R.Thompson CF 4 2 2 0 .406 B.Hall 2B 5 1 3 1 .259 M.Colangelo RF 4 2 2 1 .308 J.Rushford 1B 4 0 3 1 .337 G.Burnham DH 4 2 0 1 .216 M.Smith LF 4 0 1 1 .301 T.Zuniga 3B 5 0 3 4 .295 P.Zoccolillo RF 4 0 1 0 .294 R.Ryan LF 5 0 2 2 .251 D.Jennings DH 3 0 0 0 .296 K.Cash CAT 5 0 1 0 .254 C.McKay CAT 4 0 0 0 .197 M.Moriarty SS 5 0 0 0 .218 W.Veras 3B 3 1 0 0 .230 K.Huckaby 1B 4 0 0 0 .212 J.Conti CF 4 1 1 0 .217 K.Keene 2B 3 3 2 0 .667 S.Scarboroug SS 4 0 1 0 .196 V.Chulk PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Roa PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Cassidy PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Foster PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Reichert PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Kolb PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Wiggins PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Giron PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 39 9 12 8 TOTALS 35 3 10 3 SYRACUSE 1 0 4 2 0 2 0 0 0- 9 12 0 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0- 3 10 2 E--W.Veras, J.Roa. DP--SYRACUSE 2, INDIANAPOLIS 3. LOB--SYRACUSE 7, INDIANAPOLIS 12. 2B--M.Colangelo (10), K.Cash (13), K.Keene (1), B.Hall (12). SB--R.Thompson (3), J.Conti (8). HBP--P.Zoccolillo. SH--R.Thompson. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA SYRACUSE V.Chulk 2.2 4 2 2 2 3 0 5.45 S.Cassidy 2.1 2 1 1 3 2 0 3.51 D.Reichert (W,1-1) 2.0 2 0 0 0 2 0 4.50 S.Wiggins 2.0 2 0 0 1 2 0 6.15 INDIANAPOLIS J.Roa (L,0-1) 3.2 9 7 5 1 3 0 11.57 J.Foster 2.1 2 2 0 1 2 0 1.42 D.Kolb 2.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1.37 R.Giron 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.42 HB--V.Chulk. WP--S.Cassidy. SO--M.Colangelo, R.Ryan 2, K.Cash, M.Moriarty 2, K.Huckaby, B.Hall, M.Smith, D.Jennings, C.McKay, J.Conti 3, S.Scarboroug 2. BB--M.Colangelo, G.Burnham, K.Keene, J.Rushford, M.Smith, D.Jennings 2, C.McKay, W.Veras. T--3:10. A--6138

Here's the media notes from prior to the game regarding the Tribe's two offensive stars Monday:

 

Bill Hall has tied his season-high with a seven-game hitting streak. He was moved to the lead-off spot in the lineup Saturday and has gone 3-for-8 (.375) with two runs scored, a double, a walk and a stolen base in two games. During his seven-game hitting streak, Hall is 10-for-29 (.345) with six runs, three doubles and four walks. Hall's previous seven-game hitting streak came May 29-June 4 giving him at least one hit in 14 of his last 16 games. In that period, he's batting .292 (19-for-65).

 

Jim Rushford has been on a tear putting back-to-back nine-game hitting streaks together in hitting safely in 21 of his last 25 games. Rushford signed with the Tribe on May 15, and after going hitless in his first four games and 10 at-bats, has broken out in a big way. Over the last 25 games, Rushford is hitting .356 (32-for-90). Rushford was the Tribe's MVP in 2002.

 

No doubt Jim Rushford wears the uniforms within the Brewers' organization well. Wonder what happened with Texas this spring...

 

Will the move to leadoff help jumpstart Bill Hall's career prospects? He's walked 17 times in 228 AB's in 2003.

[MassBrew]

West Tenn (Cubs) 5, Huntsville 3

Mike Jones only goes five tonight; Stars score early but not late; the first half officially ends...

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/s...newsId=158

 

David Weiser's Huntsville Update:

David in fine form despite the Stars' defeat...

 

THE REAL STORY

Sunday, I related a tale that happened in Saturday's game, where Noochie Varner was introduced over the P.A. system to the crowd of over 5,000 as "Hoochie Mama". Well, there's more and I've got the definitive story..........

 

I blamed our own P.A. guy, but it turns out it was Luis Martinez... Luis was charting pitches in the seats behind home when he decided to sneak up to the 3rd floor in the 5th inning to have a little fun. He entered the room next to the Press Box and asked if he could announce a name over the system. Of course, his intentions were premeditated, because to call Martinez simply quite a character is to call Paul Newman just another actor....... It was Martinez, who ran the basepaths Friday night like it was a playground, running halfway from first to third on a fly ball to left, and was looking to have a little fun with the strangest name on the club........

 

The Lookouts have names like Sardinha, Senjem, and Schramek --- all we have is Noochie Varner, so when you're the only player on the team with a unique handle, you're going to be the target of the one joker on the club....... It surprised and cracked up our radio guy, Robert Portnoy, who was doing his job, paying half attention to the P.A. that night ........ "Did I just hear Noochie Varner introduced down below as Hoochie Mama?"........ It amused everyone but coach Sandy Guerrero, who wanted to strangle our P.A. guy, Todd, not knowing it was Martinez. A kangaroo court was held, and Martinez got a light fine, that I'm sure will go toward the party at the end of the year when the Stars win the Southern League Championship.

 

Fans and players waited out a one hour, 33-minute rain delay Monday, as a strong thunderstorm came through the area shortly after six o'clock. Using some logic, I was sure this game would be called. The Stars have to leave for Greenville, a series that starts Wednesday, and there was nothing left for the Stars to prove and the Diamond Jaxx were anxious for a fresh start. They would need one since Carolina was the next team on their schedule.........

 

But as assistant general manager Cliff Pate stated over the air during the game, "There's always someone in the park who is seeing a game for the first time, and it's our job to see that we don't disappoint them." Saturday, the Stars had visitors from Silver Spring, Maryland, who were on a summer trek to see every major and minor league park in the country. Cliff's point was made right there. These people had traveled a long distance to see a game, and it's just not good policy to arbitrarily postpone or cancel a game just because the weather six hours or an hour before gametime, doesn't look promising....... It was absolutely pouring down rain one hour before gametime, Monday night, yet there was an obligation not to disappoint 1,500 people who were taking part of their time and money to stay and be entertained and watch a game.

 

Oh yes, the game......... Mike Jones tonight looked like the old Jonesy who had walked 17 batters in 25 2/3 innings last April...... He got through the first two innings easily, throwing 24 pitches, but struggled in the third after getting the first two hitters out........ He walked Jon Hamilton and Brendan Harris on 3-and-0 and 3-and-1 counts. John Powers then got the green light on a 3-and-0 pitch and lined it into right-center for a run-scoring single. He threw six pitches to Mike Dzurilla and walked him before getting the dangerous Ray Sadler to go fishing on a high fastball for strike three..........

 

In all, 31 pitches for Jones in the 3rd inning....... He was done in five, after throwing 92 pitches. By this time, Diamond Jaxx starter John Webb had a huge home run to tie the game, a shot off Jones that left the park over the right side of the big Star that's the club's major advertising vehicle in left field......... Dave Krynzel collided with the right-center field wall in the 6th, chasing Jon Hamilton's triple for the go-ahead run........ Kryznel was all right, but he wasn't the only one who kissed the wall, tonight. Noochie Varner hit the wall rather hard in the 4th inning on a long drive to right, that brought out the trainer, Greg Barajas........ Varner couldn't come up with the ball as former Star, Jackson Melian, led off with a triple, scoring on Josh Arteaga's ground ball.

 

The Stars scored their three runs in the 2nd inning as Webb took 38 pitches to face the entire order......... Ryan Gripp, Richard Paz, and Varner all hit back-to-back singles to load the bases......... Kade Johnson hit a ground ball to Powers, beating out the throw, but forcing the lead runners up a base to make the score, 1-0........ A ground ball hit by Jones went off the glove of shortstop Josh Arteaga, vaulting in the direction of Powers, who, if he had a luckier break, or was a better fielder, could have gotten an out at second, first or both, but he kept the ball in front of him, preventing a run, but loading the bases again.......... Ryan Knox's grounder to short scored Paz, forcing Jones at second. Johnson would score after walks to Krynzel and J.J. Hardy.

 

Everybody gets Tuesday off, including me. The Stars will begin the second half of the season, facing a hot Greenville team that has won 8 of their last 10 ballgames, then returns home to face the Carolina Mudcats for the first time this season, so that's quite a challenging start for the Stars....... Jeff Robinson (0-0, 7.56) will kick it off for the Stars Wednesday. Chris Waters (2-0, 3.25) will go for Greenville........ Pitcher Chuck Smith, (briefly Brewer property in spring training this season before failing a physical - MassBrew), who spent portions of two seasons with the Florida Marlins in 2000-01, was signed by Atlanta as a minor league free agent and will join the G'Braves as their second half begins.

 

The Stars will host the first round of the Western Division playoffs at Joe Davis Stadium on September 3-4........ Ballots for the Southern League All-Star game to be held in Jacksonville are out. The results of the balloting will be announced at the end of June starting with managers and coaches on the 27th, I believe. I'll have to check the facts when I go to work in an hour......... My good buddy at the WHNT sports desk, sports director Tom Perkins, left his ballot empty, so I filled it in last night. He already knows, doesn't care, and doesn't mind. Hope I don't cause a celebrated scandal......... See y'all when the season begins again on Wednesday. Throw to the plate.......... I'M OUT!

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Can't complain when Krynzel and Hardy each draw two walks...

 GAME DATE: 6/16/03 WEST TENN 5 AT HUNTSVILLE 3 YTD YTD WEST TENN AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG J.Hamilton RF 4 1 2 2 .266 R.Knox LF 4 0 1 0 .254 B.Harris 3B 3 0 2 0 .281 D.Krynzel CF 3 0 1 0 .319 J.Powers 2B 5 0 2 1 .295 J.Hardy SS 3 0 0 1 .314 M.Dzurilla 1B 4 0 0 0 .283 C.Hart 3B 5 0 1 0 .297 R.Sadler CF 4 0 0 0 .295 R.Gripp 1B 4 1 1 0 .242 J.Melian LF 4 1 2 0 .172 R.Paz 2B 3 1 1 0 .244 J.Arteaga SS 4 1 1 1 .235 N.Varner RF 3 0 1 0 .276 L.McKnight CAT 2 1 0 0 .213 K.Johnson CAT 4 1 0 1 .167 J.Webb PIT 2 1 1 1 .304 M.Jones PIT 2 0 0 1 .136 J.Leicester PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Parker PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Dubois PH 1 0 0 0 .304 D.Clark PH 0 0 0 0 .244 E.Brown PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Cash PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Gemoll PH 1 0 0 0 .245 M.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 33 5 10 5 TOTALS 32 3 6 3 WEST TENN 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 1 0- 5 10 2 HUNTSVILLE 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 3 6 0 E--J.Arteaga, J.Webb. DP--WEST TENN 2, HUNTSVILLE 0. LOB--WEST TENN 9, HUNTSVILLE 10. 2B--R.Knox (15). 3B--J.Hamilton (1), J.Melian (1). HR--J.Webb (1). SB--B.Harris (4), J.Powers (2), R.Knox (23), D.Krynzel (26), R.Paz (6), N.Varner (5), D.Clark (2). CS--J.Hamilton, J.Melian. HBP--D.Clark. SH--L.McKnight, J.Webb. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA WEST TENN J.Webb (W,3-7) 5.2 5 3 2 5 3 0 4.34 J.Leicester 1.1 1 0 0 1 1 0 3.24 E.Brown 1.0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1.86 D.Cash (S,6) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.67 HUNTSVILLE M.Jones 5.0 6 3 3 4 2 1 2.61 M.Parker (L,5-2) 1.0 1 1 1 2 0 0 2.15 B.Adams 2.0 2 1 1 0 0 0 6.23 M.Adams 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.72 HB--J.Webb. SO--M.Dzurilla, R.Sadler 2, L.McKnight, R.Knox, D.Krynzel, J.Hardy, N.Varner 2, K.Johnson, M.Jones, B.Gemoll. BB--J.Hamilton, B.Harris 2, M.Dzurilla, R.Sadler, L.McKnight, R.Knox, D.Krynzel 2, J.Hardy 2, R.Paz, N.Varner. T--2:58. A--1571

[MassBrew]

High Desert 13, Lancaster (Diamondbacks) 3

As predicted, the Mavs get a bounce from a clean slate -- the first win in what will undoubtably be an undefeated second half; fine pitching from starter Aaron Dean and Justin Gordon; big night in a nice offensive year for Todd West; Andy Tomberlin off to a nice start as High Desert's new Hitting Coach; Farm Director Reid Nichols will make his first visit to the desert this week...

 

High Desert Site Game Summary:

 

ADELANTO, CA ? The High Desert Mavericks are in first place! Even though the second half is only one game in, the Mavs put on a show for the home fans. The 13-3 blow-out of the Lancaster JetHawks was one of their most impressive wins this year, on Monday night at Mavericks Stadium.

 

Aaron Dean (4-2) and Justin Gordon combined to give the Mavs solid pitching, holding the top offense in the Cal League to just three runs on seven hits. Offensively, each of the nine men in the lineup had a base hit, with Todd West leading the way with a 3-4 night and Jason Belcher picking up a team-high three RBIs.

 

The Mavs scored three in the first as Scott Candelaria had a run-scoring single. After the JetHawks got a run-scoring hit from Kyle Nichols in the fourth, the Mavs answered with three more in the bottom of the inning. Brian Foster and Johnny Raburn each had an RBI double to highlight the inning. The Mavs went up 9-1 with three more in the fifth, as Foster again picked up an RBI double. That was followed by an Ozzie Chavez RBI double and a run-scoring fielder?s choice by Brad Nelson.

 

The JetHawks got their second run off of Dean in the sixth as Chris Snyder knocked in a run with a two-out RBI hit, scoring Jason Gorman. The Mavs again answered by scoring two in the seventh and two more in the eighth for a commanding 13-2 lead. Justin Gordon earned his fourth save, allowing a run over the final three innings of work.

 

Brad Nelson had two hits and two RBIs on the night, in just his second game back from the disabled list.

 

Former Maverick (Diamondback organization) Scott Barber (5-4) took the loss with just four innings of work.

 

The Mavs are now 1-0 in the second half, but 26-45 overall. They face Lancaster again on Tuesday night, as Danny Kolb (3-4) takes the hill against Lance Cormier (5-5) of the JetHawks. First pitch is 7:05 (9:05 Central) from Mavericks Stadium.

 

High Desert Box Score:

2B Todd West reached base five times...

 GAME DATE: 6/16/03 LANCASTER 3 AT HIGH DESERT 13 YTD YTD LANCASTER AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG T.McAndrews RF 4 0 0 0 .000 J.Raburn RF 6 2 2 1 .289 D.Uggla 3B 2 1 0 0 .294 T.West 2B 4 2 3 0 .281 B.Johnson 3B 0 0 0 0 .230 B.Nelson 1B 5 2 2 2 .395 K.Nichols 1B 2 0 1 1 .321 S.Candelaria 3B 5 1 1 2 .306 C.Snyder DH 4 0 1 1 .321 J.Belcher DH 5 0 2 3 .319 J.Garthwaite CF 4 0 0 0 .302 C.Morris CF 5 0 1 1 .257 M.DiRosa CAT 4 1 2 0 .259 R.Santana LF 3 2 2 0 .284 M.Thiessen LF 4 0 2 1 .250 B.Foster CAT 5 2 2 2 .197 D.Richar SS 4 0 0 0 .306 O.Chavez SS 5 2 1 1 .220 J.Gorman 2B 3 1 1 0 .333 A.Dean PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Barber PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Gordon PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Trejo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Medlin PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 31 3 7 3 TOTALS 43 13 16 12 LANCASTER 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1- 3 7 4 HIGH DESERT 3 0 0 3 3 0 2 2 X-13 16 0 E--K.Nichols, M.Thiessen, D.Richar, J.Gorman. DP--LANCASTER 0, HIGH DESERT 3. LOB--LANCASTER 6, HIGH DESERT 13. 2B--M.DiRosa (3), J.Raburn (4), T.West 2 (14), B.Foster 2 (8), O.Chavez (1). SB-- D.Uggla (14), M.Thiessen (2), J.Raburn (18), R.Santana (18). HBP-- S.Candelaria, R.Santana. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA LANCASTER S.Barber (L,5-4) 4.0 6 6 4 4 1 0 5.51 F.Trejo 2.0 3 3 3 1 1 0 4.76 C.Medlin 2.0 7 4 3 0 0 0 7.41 HIGH DESERT A.Dean (W,4-2) 6.0 4 2 2 2 3 0 6.96 J.Gordon (S,4) 3.0 3 1 1 3 2 0 6.07 HB--S.Barber, F.Trejo. WP--C.Medlin. SO--D.Uggla, J.Garthwaite 2, M.DiRosa, J.Gorman, J.Belcher, C.Morris. BB--D.Uggla, B.Johnson, K.Nichols 2, J.Gorman, T.West 2, B.Nelson, J.Belcher, R.Santana. T--2:56. A--1047

[Katuluu]

I wonder how much Todd West's grandmother is lobbying now that he has a .280 average. I think Toby's Mega bias is keeping Todd off the Power 50.

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

Listen to that Eddie Van Halen guitar riff (oh, and Michael)...

 

www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...968,58592,

[squarepusher]

What's this? Billy Hall about to crack .260?

 

http://www.clearblue.cx/images/pig.gif

[Katuluu]

What's this? Billy Hall about to crack .260?

 

Rickie Who???

[xisxisxis]

I related a tale that happened in Saturday's game, where Noochie Varner was introduced over the P.A. system to the crowd of over 5,000 as "Hoochie Mama".

 

 

Noochie seems to be finding his bat in Huntsville (up to .276 BA) after a rough start. He even has a BB now! He also seems to have found his speed as he's 5 for 5 in SB attempts.

 

 

 

Brad Nelson had two hits and two RBIs on the night, in just his second game back from the disabled list.

 

Really nice to see Brad picking up where he left off before the injury. While Prince may get lots of props, Brad keeps on raking, and raking, and raking, and......

[squarepusher]

Brad still needs to get his power going, especially in a place like High Desert. With a gaudy batting average like .395, he's still only slugging .419.

 

Don't get me wrong... he's "raking", but he needs to be "mashing" http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/happy.gif

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Times Game Story:

No news is good news to the Stars' fans regarding roster maneuvers...

 

www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...325090.xml

 

Huntsville Manager Frank Kremblas: The "We Suck" Article

Gotta love Kremblas' insistence on improved mental toughness among his physically gifted squad...

 

www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...325090.xml