Link Report for Games of Monday, June 9th

[MassBrew]

Daily Menu for Monday:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change; pre-game audio available approx. 15 minutes prior to game time listed; there is no Beloit audio available from the opponents' site tonight...

 

INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Dave Burba at Syracuse (Blue Jays), 6:00 PM

 

HUNTSVILLE: RHP Pedro Liriano at Birmingham (White Sox), 7:00 PM

 

HIGH DESERT: Idle

 

BELOIT: RHP Dennis Sarfate at Clinton (Rangers), 7:00 PM

[squarepusher]

Indianapolis 13, Syracuse (Blue Jays) 5

Darn if a little roster tinkering hasn't made a world of difference here -- nice job, boys...

 

Indy Site Game Summary:

 

SYRACUSE, NY -- The Indianapolis Indians scored at least one run in six of the first seven innings Monday night as they defeated the host Syracuse SkyChiefs 13-5. For the Indians (26-36), it was their eighth win in the last 10 games, and their sixth straight road win.

 

The Indians sent exactly six batters to the plate in each of the first seven innings. The Tribe got off to a rough start when they loaded the bases with one out in the first inning but couldn't score. The SkyChiefs (26-32) came back and took a 1-0 lead without a hit in the bottom of the first.

 

The Tribe tied the game on Cody McKay's solo homer in the second inning, and then took the lead for good with three runs in the third. Doug Jennings drove in two with a triple and then scored on McKay's sacrifice fly.

 

Mark Smith's sixth home run of the year, a two-run shot in the fourth, made it a 6-1 game.

 

Jennings was hit by a pitch and scored in the fifth, and later delivered a three-run homer in the sixth as the Indians took a 10-4 lead. Jennings finished 2-for-4 with five RBI.

 

Three more runs crossed the plate in the seventh. Two men came home on Pete Zoccolillo's second double of the evening. Zoccolillo scored the Tribe's 13th run, a season high, on a single by Keith Luuloa.

 

The Indians' 16 hits were one shy of their season high. Every Indian except Jim Rushford had at least one hit. Rushford, who came into the game with a nine-game hitting streak, was 0-for-4 with a walk and was hit by a pitch. Smith and Jason Conti each had three hits while Zoccolillo, Luuloa, Jennings and McKay each had two base hits.

 

Tribe starter Dave Burba (4-6) earned the win. He allowed four runs, three earned, over five innings.

 

The loss went to Doug Linton (1-8) who gave up seven runs on 10 hits and two walks in 4.1 innings.

 

The Indians will go for their first four-game series sweep in the finale Tuesday night. Lefthander Travis Miller (3-1) will toe the slab against Vinny Chulk (2-2)

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 6/09/03 INDIANAPOLIS 13 AT SYRACUSE 5 YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG SYRACUSE AB R H BI AVG J.Conti CF 6 1 3 0 .229 R.Thompson LF 2 1 1 0 .250 B.Hall SS 4 1 1 0 .238 R.Thompson CF 2 0 1 0 .250 J.Rushford 1B 4 1 0 0 .317 D.Wise CF 3 0 1 0 .212 M.Smith DH 5 2 3 2 .303 G.Williams LF 2 0 0 0 .227 P.Zoccolillo RF 4 2 2 2 .281 M.Colangelo DH 5 1 2 1 .314 K.Luuloa 2B 4 2 2 1 .303 T.Zuniga 3B 5 0 1 0 .294 D.Jennings LF 4 3 2 5 .417 R.Ryan RF 4 1 1 1 .248 C.McKay CAT 4 1 2 2 .186 K.Cash CAT 3 0 2 0 .247 W.Veras 3B 5 0 1 0 .240 G.Burnham 1B 4 1 1 1 .224 D.Burba PIT 0 0 0 0 1.000 J.Alvarez 2B 4 0 1 0 .250 J.Foster PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Moriarty SS 2 1 1 2 .230 R.Marquez PIT 0 0 0 0 .500 D.Linton PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Young PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Reichert PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Bowles PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 40 13 16 12 TOTALS 36 5 12 5 INDIANAPOLIS 0 1 3 2 1 3 3 0 0-13 16 0 SYRACUSE 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0- 5 12 0 DP--INDIANAPOLIS 1, SYRACUSE 1. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 8, SYRACUSE 9. 2B--B.Hall (10), M.Smith (15), P.Zoccolillo 2 (14), M.Colangelo 2 (9), K.Cash (10), G.Burnham (10). 3B--D.Jennings (1). HR--M.Smith (6), D.Jennings (2), C.McKay (3), M.Moriarty (3). SB--R.Thompson (1). CS--M.Moriarty. HBP--J.Rushford, D.Jennings, R.Thompson, M.Moriarty. SF--C.McKay, R.Ryan. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS D.Burba (W,3-3) 5.0 6 4 3 2 5 1 6.49 J.Foster 2.0 3 0 0 0 2 0 2.25 R.Marquez 2.0 3 1 1 0 3 0 3.80 SYRACUSE D.Linton (L,1-8) 4.1 10 7 7 2 3 2 7.30 T.Young 1.0 2 3 3 2 1 1 6.75 D.Reichert 1.2 4 3 3 1 2 0 5.13 B.Bowles 2.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.14 HB--D.Burba, R.Marquez, D.Linton 2. WP--T.Young, D.Reichert. PB-- C.McKay. SO--J.Conti, B.Hall, J.Rushford, M.Smith, K.Luuloa, D.Jennings 2, W.Veras, G.Williams, T.Zuniga 3, R.Ryan 2, K.Cash, J.Alvarez 3. BB--B.Hall 2, J.Rushford, P.Zoccolillo, K.Luuloa, K.Cash, M.Moriarty. T--3:19. A--4932

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Media Notes for Monday:

 

TONIGHT: The Indians continue a four-game series at P&C Stadium in Syracuse where they have won the first two games of the series. This is the Tribe's only trip to Syracuse where they went 0-4 last year. The SkyChiefs swept the season series from the Indians last season. Since joining the IL in 1998, the Indians are 18-24 against the SkyChiefs. The Tribe won the season series in 2001 and 1999.

 

The Indians are in the midst of their best stretch of the season having won seven of their last nine games. The Tribe has won five straight road games dating back to May 25. That's the team's longest road winning streak since a six-game stretch from April 9-14 of last season.

 

YESTERDAY: Keith Luuloa went 4-for-4 and drove in the winning run as the Indians beat Syracuse 5-4. Luuloa also homered and scored two runs as his average rose to a season-high .297. Mark Smith and Doug Jennings also homered for the Indians who had their second three-homer game of the season. Shane Nance and Dan Kolb worked three scoreless innings of relief allowing just one baserunner as the Indians picked up the one-run win.

 

ON THE MOUND: Righthander Dave Burba takes the mound for his 11th appearance and 10th start of the season. It will be his seventh appearance and sixth start for the Indians since signing with the team on May 4. Burba has not faced Syracuse this season. Burba struggled in two outings in late May giving up 10 runs in 6.2 innings, but rebounded in his last start. He earned the win against Toledo last Wednesday allowing four runs (three earned) in six innings.

 

NOW THAT'S A RELIEF: In the last 10 games, the Tribe relief corps has allowed just seven earned runs in 43.1 innings (1.45 ERA).

 

'KOLB' AS ICE: Opponents are hitting a frigid .176 against Tribe reliever Dan Kolb. Kolb has recorded a 1.30 ERA in 23 games allowing five earned runs in 34.2 innings. Kolb has struck out 38 batters in his last 26.0 innings (15 G). He was selected as the Brewers minor league pitcher of the month for May after recording a 1.47 ERA with 22 strikeouts and just three walks in 18.1 innings.

 

LUULOA'S BAT STAYS HOT: Keith Luuloa, who hit .304 with 14 RBI in May, continues to swing a hot bat. In 14 games since May 25, he is hitting .396 (19-for-48) with 11 runs scored and 13 RBI. He has seven doubles, three triples and four home runs for a .917 slugging percentage. Luuloa was overlooked for IL Batter of the Week honors this past week despite hitting .476 with a 1.095 slugging percentage and 8 RBI. He helped the Tribe go 5-2 with three multi-hit games and three-multi-RBI games.

 

WHAT A RUSH: Jim Rushford has been on a tear putting back-to-back nine-game hitting streaks together in hitting safely in 18 of his last 19 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 19 games, Rushford is hitting .382 (26-for-68). Rushford was the Tribe's MVP in 2002.

 

ON THE BOARD EARLY: The Indians have scored a team-best 41 runs in the first inning. The Tribe has plated a first-inning run in 22 games this season, but are just 11-11 in those games. The first and second innings are the only innings in which the Indians have outscored their opponents. The Indians have scored just 48 runs over the seventh, eighth and ninth innings and are 2-30 when trailing after six innings.

 

UPCOMING PROBABLES:

Tuesday at Syracuse - LHP Travis Miller (3-1, 4.24) vs. RHP Vinny Chulk (2-2, 5.17)

Wednesday - Off Day

[MassBrew]

Birmingham (White Sox) 2, Huntsville 1

Pedro Liriano the tough luck loser, surrendering two runs, only one earned, in seven innings; Stars outhit Barons, 6-5; more details later on...

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 6/09/03 HUNTSVILLE 1 AT BIRMINGHAM 2 YTD YTD HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG R.Knox LF 4 0 0 0 .248 C.Durham CF 4 0 0 1 .266 D.Krynzel CF 4 0 1 0 .312 D.Sandoval 2B 3 0 1 0 .250 J.Hardy SS 4 0 1 0 .306 R.Hankins 3B 3 0 0 0 .300 C.Hart 3B 4 0 1 0 .310 G.Alvarez 1B 3 0 1 0 .325 B.Gemoll 1B 4 0 1 0 .254 S.Bikowski RF 3 1 1 0 .329 R.Paz 2B 3 0 0 0 .264 D.Ingram DH 3 0 1 1 .202 D.Clark DH 3 0 0 0 .243 C.Maldonado CAT 3 0 0 0 .288 K.Johnson CAT 3 0 0 0 .159 J.Piniella LF 3 1 1 0 .275 N.Varner RF 3 1 2 0 .222 G.Reyes SS 3 0 0 0 .188 P.Liriano PIT 0 0 0 0 .071 E.Pacheco PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Miller PIT 0 0 0 0 .250 J.Bajenaru PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Ring PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 32 1 6 0 TOTALS 28 2 5 2 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0- 1 6 2 BIRMINGHAM 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 X- 2 5 1 E--D.Krynzel, R.Paz, C.Maldonado. DP--HUNTSVILLE 0, BIRMINGHAM 0. LOB--HUNTSVILLE 5, BIRMINGHAM 3. 2B--N.Varner (2). SB--D.Krynzel (25), N.Varner (2), S.Bikowski (2), J.Piniella (5). CS--B.Gemoll, D.Sandoval. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HUNTSVILLE P.Liriano (L,4-7) 7.0 5 2 1 0 5 0 2.67 R.Miller 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1.87 BIRMINGHAM E.Pacheco 6.0 6 1 1 0 3 0 2.60 J.Bajenaru (W,4-1) 2.0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2.79 R.Ring (S,14) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.62 WP--E.Pacheco. SO--D.Krynzel, C.Hart, B.Gemoll, D.Clark 2, K.Johnson, N.Varner, C.Durham 2, G.Alvarez, C.Maldonado, J.Piniella, G.Reyes. BB--R.Paz, D.Sandoval. T--2:14. A--1740

[950opsLHcatcher]

Holy Doug Jennings, Batman.

 

Yah, as Jim pointed out, a couple new guys have really made a lot of difference so far in the Indy lineup. Let's hope the fix is a long-term one (aka rest of the season) and not just a spurt for a couple of games.

 

And how about Keith Luuloa? A 978 OPS from a 28 year old AAA utility man that is generously listed at 6'0, 180? Wowsa. The heck with Clayton. The heck with Cruz. Let's get Luuloa in there, stat!

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

www.oursportscentral.com/...seid=34210

[MassBrew]

Clinton (Rangers) 11, Beloit 7

The good news here is that RHP Dennis Sarfate pitched a strong five innings; he's almost striking out too many (72 in 64 IP), pumping up the early pitch counts -- that's hardly a complaint...

 

Beloit Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 6/09/03 BELOIT 7 AT CLINTON 11 YTD YTD BELOIT AB R H BI AVG CLINTON AB R H BI AVG K.Bibbs LF 5 1 1 0 .271 C.Coughlan LF 3 1 0 0 .260 C.Terni SS 4 1 0 0 .233 C.Ringe SS 5 1 2 2 .208 J.Eure 3B 4 1 0 0 .253 H.Lebron DH 5 3 3 1 .313 P.Fielder 1B 4 0 1 1 .285 P.Quero 1B 5 1 3 1 .296 T.Hinton DH 3 1 0 0 .190 J.Senreiso RF 4 1 2 2 .258 S.Moss CF 3 1 1 1 .279 N.Gold 3B 5 1 2 2 .251 P.Esparragz CAT 4 1 2 2 .255 G.Delgado 2B 4 1 1 0 .254 N.Carter RF 4 1 1 1 .151 C.Jaile CAT 3 1 2 2 .229 C.Crabbe 2B 3 0 1 0 .237 O.Cruz CF 4 1 1 1 .235 D.Sarfate PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.Smiley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Bausher PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Urena PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Hall PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 O.Beltre PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Alliston PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Gabriel PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 34 7 7 5 TOTALS 38 11 16 11 BELOIT 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1- 7 7 2 CLINTON 1 0 0 0 0 3 1 6 X-11 16 2 E--P.Esparragz, C.Crabbe, C.Ringe, G.Delgado. DP--BELOIT 0, CLINTON 0. LOB--BELOIT 5, CLINTON 8. 2B--H.Lebron (9), J.Senreiso 2 (9), N.Gold (17), C.Jaile (10). 3B--P.Esparragz (1). SB--K.Bibbs (27). CS--S.Moss. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BELOIT D.Sarfate 5.0 5 1 1 2 6 0 2.11 T.Bausher 0.2 3 3 3 1 0 0 16.20 B.Hall 1.1 2 1 1 1 1 0 3.45 J.Alliston (L,2-5) 0.2 6 6 2 1 0 0 2.45 J.Gabriel 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.46 CLINTON G.Smiley 5.0 3 3 2 3 3 0 3.54 S.Urena 2.0 2 3 3 2 0 0 5.83 O.Beltre (W,1-0) 2.0 2 1 0 0 2 0 0.00 WP--J.Alliston. BALKS--B.Hall. PB--P.Esparragz. SO--K.Bibbs, C.Terni, T.Hinton 2, P.Esparragz, C.Coughlan 2, C.Ringe, H.Lebron, J.Senreiso, N.Gold, G.Delgado. BB--C.Terni, J.Eure, T.Hinton, S.Moss, C.Crabbe, C.Coughlan 2, J.Senreiso, G.Delgado, C.Jaile. T--2:57. A--774

[MassBrew]

David Weiser's Huntsville Update:

 

LIRIANO'S CURSE

As it is in most pitching duels, a game comes down to one or two critical plays......... Pedro Liriano pitched his longest and arguably his best start of the season. Errors have always plagued his starts ---- 35.3% of the runs he's given up are unearned ---- but they've never figured into his losses, until his last two starts...... Pedro took his Southern League-leading 7th loss tonight on a run that tied the game for Birmingham.

 

In the 3rd inning, Juan Piniella singled and stole 2nd base. After Guillermo Reyes struck out on a questionable checked swing, Chad Durham came up to the plate........ On a 1-0 pitch to Durham, Liriano turned to make a quick pick-off throw to second. Richard Paz hurried the tag without having a good handle on the ball and it rolled out of his glove into center field. Piniella took third and scored on a grounder by Durham......... The Barons grabbed the lead in the 7th after Scott Bikowski singled up the middle and stole second. Liriano, pitching into uncharted territory this season, appeared to have struck out Southern League veteran Darron Ingram on a 2-2 breaking ball, but umpire Andy Roberts gave the call to Ingram. Ingram wound up ripping a 3-2 fastball to center, scoring Bikowski........ Dave Krynzel overran the ball, for which he was charged an error, allowing Ingram to reach second, but the error did not hurt, as Liriano retired the next two hitters.

 

The Stars, looking to reduce their magic nuimber from four, got off to an early 1-0 lead. Noochie Varner, on an 8-for-19 (.421) rampage after an 0-for-18 start, singled with one out. Following a fly out to right by Ryan Knox, Krynzel hit an infield single........ With J.J. Hardy at the plate, the Stars pulled off, as they have so often this year, a successful double steal........ Catcher Carlos Maldonado's errant throw to get Varner sailed down the right field line, and Varner picked himself up and scored. J.J. singled, advancing Krynzel to 3rd, but Corey Hart grounded to third, ending the inning.........

 

For Krynzel, it was his league-leading 25th, and his 38th as a Huntsville Star, tying him for 17th place with Steve Howard (Stars '87-'88) among the Stars' all-time stolen base leaders........ In all the attention I've focused on Krynzel's climb, I neglected the fact that Ryan Knox has 46 stolen bases, tying him for 12th on the list, and one away from cracking the top 10......... J.J. Hardy missed a home run in the 8th with a long drive that sent Juan Piniella with his back to the wall, but he made the catch.

 

The Barons are now 4-5 against the Stars this season........ Liriano, 9th among SL ERA leaders, took his 3rd straight loss. He has taken the decision in 11 of his 13 starts....... Derek Lee will try for his 8th victory of the season, tomorrow night...... With Neal Cotts on the disabled list for the Barons (whew!), Lee could have the lead all for himself if Mudcats' pitcher Sean Fesh does not vulture a win from their starter, Donnie Bridges, tomorrow. Fesh is 7-0 in 21 relief appearances........ Daryl Clark, after another hitless day at the plate, is 0-for-10 with 6 Ks and 4-for-22 with 11 Ks........ Brandon Gemoll doesn't seem suited for basestealing. He's been nabbed in 4 of 6 attempts after tonight........ Ryan Miller has given up just 1 ER in his last 15 innings of relief. He's 0-3 with 2 saves, but with a 1.88 ERA......... Dave Krynzel is back among the top 10 Southern League batting leaders, 10th with a .312 average........

 

One High Desert Maverick made the California League All-Star team --- reliever Bobby Bystrowski, 3rd among save leaders. Bystrowski is a former outfielder who was drafted in 1997 by the Houston Astros, hitting .385 in the independent Western League two seasons ago...... Jason Belcher, batting .317 as of the moment for High Desert, was snubbed, likely due to the glut of inflated averages among outfielders in what is a hitter's league......... Former Huntsville Star Jim Rushford, batting .317 for the Indianapolis Indians, went hitless Monday night, ending his 8-game hit streak, but he has hit safely in 18 of his last 19 games.

 

For 17 seasons, the Stars have always had a Baseball Card Night on the schedule........ Burger King dropped their sponsorship this year, but I've been told that although it's not on their printed schedules, there will be a Baseball Card night this year. Huntsville Hospital has stepped up to the plate to sponsor it....... I've always wondered why one of the independent card companies never stepped in.

[igor67]

Been awhile since I made any minor league comments. It's really been quite a difference in the Indians since Rushford returned and all of the moves that came afterward. Glad to see we're not going to have to put Cecil on suicide watch. Speaking of Jim he hasn't hit quite as many extra base hits as he usually does, but he's hitting for average and getting on base like always. Him and Zocco are very similar players and I'd like to see at least one of them rewaded with an extended look in a supporting role. There's 3 different pinch hitting situations 1) Starting off an inning just looking for a guy to get on base usually. 2) Close game men in scoring position just looking for a base hit (or as we call it the why on earth are you letting Jose K hit with Lo on the bench situtation). 3) The spot where you've put guys on and your best bet to get back into the game/win is the HR. 1 and 2 are more common than 3 though being able to hit a HR is an asset in all 3 situations. The point is that as occaisonaly replacements, but primary pinch hitters both players have good skill sets for what your going to be trying to accomplish in those late innings.

 

More on .300 hitters, this time Huntsville where JJ, Corey, and Dave are all hitting above that line. Dave is in the top 10 for the league at .312 and the others are only a couple of points behind that. All of which enforces that they are really good hitters in a pretty good pitchers league, though it probably helps a little that they don't have to face their own staff http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . JJ just keeps on stroking the ball over the fence and taking an awesome amount of walks (pace of about 100 in a full season) not striking out much at all. Dave we've talked alot about all the thigns he's doing and the few things that could use a little work. Corey is really the least advanced of the trio though. He hasn't shown quite the power he did in HD last year and his plate discipline hasn't been very good. He's still hitting over .300 which is good, but I'm hoping that after he's not so focused on learning 3rd that he can develop a more advanced approach and be looking to drive his pitch more often. Have him talk to Richie!