Link Report for Games of Tuesday, June 3rd

[MassBrew]

Yes, we'll all be distracted from Today's Menu by all the draft activity, but I'm sure you'll squeeze in some of the audio indicated here:

 

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

 

INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Pascual Coco at Toledo (Tigers), 6:00 PM

 

HUNTSVILLE: You know you want to check out Huntsville for at least a full hour before the draft fun kicks in. RHP Pedro Liriano is home vs. Mobile (Padres), game time at 12:05. We'll even make it easy for you today and include the link you've bookmarked here -- check out the pre-game and fill us in!

 

espn1450.com/

 

HIGH DESERT: So once Matt Kinney dominates the hapless Metropolitans tonight, what are you going to be listening to while staying up late reviewing all the Brewerfan.net draft coverage? I'm guessing it will be RHP Chris Saenz at Lancaster (Diamondbacks), 10:15 PM

 

www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm

 

BELOIT: If rotation form holds, it'll be RHP Dennis Sarfate vs. Kane County (A's) at home, 7:00 PM; Cougars' audio is available via their site:

 

www.kccougars.com/

 

Remember, the Cougars' audio is archived shortly after the game as well, so you can listen to Sarfate's effort on "tape delay". I heartily admit that the audio does lack for interest when provided by the opponent -- simply not enough between-pitch perspective on the Snappers.

[Kaukauna]

ESPN minor league scoreboard shows that Huntsville lost 6-3. Pedro Liriano got roughed up but I can't imagine the four Stars errors helped. Big news of the game would be J.J. Hardy with two home runs, numbers 6 and 7 on the year.

[MassBrew]

Thanks, Kaukauna!

 

Mobile (Padres) 6, Huntsville 3

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...?newsid=88

 

Huntsville Box Score (from BA, so no Hardy in "all caps" -- see below):

 GAME DATE: 6/03/03 MOBILE 6 AT HUNTSVILLE 3 YTD YTD MOBILE AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG T.Donovan CF 5 3 2 0 .205 N.Varner RF 4 1 2 0 .095 J.Gautreau 2B 4 1 1 0 .232 D.Krynzel CF 4 0 0 0 .321 R.Washington 3B 3 1 1 4 .293 J.Hardy SS 4 2 2 3 .320 J.Knott RF 3 0 0 0 .264 C.Hart 3B 4 0 0 0 .291 K.Greene SS 3 0 0 1 .265 B.Gemoll 1B 4 0 1 0 .245 H.Quintero CAT 4 0 0 0 .282 D.Clark LF 3 0 2 0 .283 Y.Haad 1B 4 1 1 1 .211 M.Kremblas CAT 3 0 0 0 .181 V.Faison LF 4 0 1 0 .218 C.Barnwell 2B 3 0 0 0 .235 S.Watkins PIT 2 0 0 0 .250 M.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Bravo PH 1 0 0 0 .218 P.Liriano PIT 1 0 0 0 .071 R.Tucker PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Gripp PH 1 0 0 0 .237 B.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Paz 2B 1 0 0 0 .268 TOTALS 33 6 6 6 TOTALS 32 3 7 3 MOBILE 2 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0- 6 6 0 HUNTSVILLE 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0- 3 7 4 E--J.Hardy, C.Hart 2, B.Gemoll. DP--MOBILE 1, HUNTSVILLE 1. LOB-- MOBILE 5, HUNTSVILLE 2. 2B--T.Donovan (5), V.Faison (10). HR--R.Washington (6), Y.Haad (1), J.Hardy 2 (7). SB--T.Donovan (15), B.Gemoll (3). CS-- R.Washington. SF--K.Greene. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA MOBILE S.Watkins (W,4-3) 8.0 7 3 3 0 6 2 4.57 R.Tucker (S,15) 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 2.22 HUNTSVILLE P.Liriano (L,4-6) 5.0 4 5 1 1 3 1 2.83 B.Adams 2.0 2 1 1 3 0 1 8.03 M.Adams 2.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.86 WP--P.Liriano. SO--T.Donovan, J.Gautreau, K.Greene, H.Quintero, Y.Haad, S.Watkins, D.Krynzel 2, J.Hardy, C.Hart, B.Gemoll, D.Clark, M.Kremblas 2, C.Barnwell. BB--J.Gautreau, R.Washington, J.Knott, S.Watkins. T--2:30. A--3079

[squarepusher]

Anyone have a feeling that JJ Hardy is going to be a special player?

[squarepusher]

Indianapolis 4, Toledo 2 (in progress)

 

 INTL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - INDIANAPOLIS 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 4 TOLEDO 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 (END 7) 9:02 PM ET 

[MassBrew]

It always strikes me as funny that the ESPN / USA TODAY box score (same feed) have always spelled J.J.'s name in all caps every single time out -- like they were trying to tell us something http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[squarepusher]

You cannot contain JJ with lowercase letters.

[MassBrew]

In Progress: Kane County 3, Beloit 1, after 4.5 innings in Beloit

 

Snapper pitchers Dennis Sarfate and Craig Breslow have combined to strike out ten but also walk five through five innings; RBI double in the 4th by Nic Carter; Cougars' runs all scored on a bases-loaded double in the 2nd...

[MassBrew]

Final: Beloit 8, Kane County (A's) 3

Snappers defeat the Cougars for the first time in nine attempts this year; Beloit tied it at 3--3 with two in the 5th on base hits by Travis Hinton and Prince Fielder; Kane County's defense fell apart in the 8th as the Snappers scored five runs to break it open, Hinton with another key hit; Fielder was intentionally walked twice in the latter innings; unlike Kane County, Beloit executed very well throughout the game. Except for the high walk count, Don Money has to feel good about this one.

 

The Cougars' announcer is excellent; serious without being too dry and a good radio voice which comes in on a nice clear web audio platform. He was up on the Snappers' tendencies, and wasn't afraid of taking a breath and letting a bit of dead air occur. Sometimes those occasional 5-10 second breaks are nice for the listener -- hey, still a fan of the Indy crew, and of course, Portnoy and Lindskog as well.

[MassBrew]

Final: Indianapolis 4, Toledo (Tigers) 3

 

Indy Site Game Summary:

 

TOLEDO, MI -- In the first of five games between the Toledo Mud Hens and Indianapolis Indians over a span of four days, the Indians held off a late rally to preserve a 4-3 victory at Toledo's Fifth Third Field on Tuesday night. Pasqual Coco turned in a brilliant pitching performance for the Tribe (21-35) and Bill Hall delivered a key two-out double to lead the Indians to the victory over the Mud Hens (27-28).

 

Coco (5-4) pitched 7.0 innings allowing only three hits while striking out a season-high nine Mud Hens batters. Coco held the Mud Hens to just two runs, only one of which was earned. In the bottom of the first inning, after a strikeout by leadoff hitter Andres Torres, Jhonny Perez and Warren Morris hit back to back singles off Coco putting runners on first and third. Ernie Young, who has been slowed by a hamstring injury in recent days, hit a ground ball to Wilton Veras at third base which had the makings of a certain double-play, but on the throw to second base by Veras, Hall dropped the ball allowing Perez to score and Morris to move into third base. Then, the next batter also grounded to Veras, this time the out was recorded at second, but Magee was safe at first allowing Morris to score the Mud Hens second run of the inning. Coco then struck out Mike Peeples to end the inning, and went on to allow only one hit the rest of the game.

 

The Indians answered in the top of the second inning when Veras doubled leading off the inning and later scored on an RBI single by Cody McKay, bringing the Indians to within a run at 2-1.

 

Toledo starter Nate Robertson flirted with disaster throughout the early goings of the game, stranding seven Indians baserunners in the first four innings of the game. It wasn't until the sixth inning that Indians finally broke through off Robertson (3-3), when McKay drew a two-out walk. Steve Scarborough, who extended his hitting streak to five games with a 3-for-4 night, singled to center before Mark Budzinski followed with an RBI single to left that scored McKay. With the game tied, Hall crushed a double off the wall in centerfield scoring both Scarborough and Budzinski and giving the Indians a 4-2 advantage.

 

Shane Nance relieved Coco by pitching a perfect eighth inning before Danny Kolb was called on to finish the Mud Hens in the ninth. Kolb struck out Perez to begin the inning, then allowed a single to Morris, a double to Young, and a walk to Magee loading the bases with only one out. Peeples grounded out weakly to Veras at third, with Morris scoring on the play, but then Kolb got A.J. Hinch to ground out to Scarborough at short to earn his second save of the season.

 

The Indians and Mud Hens will play a day-night doubleheader on Wednesday at Fifth Third Field before both teams travel to Indianapolis to play a two-game series at Victory Field on Thursday and Friday. In addition to the Mud Hens, the Blues Brothers will be making an appearance at Friday night's contest.

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 6/03/03 INDIANAPOLIS 4 AT TOLEDO 3 YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG TOLEDO AB R H BI AVG M.Budzinski LF 4 1 1 1 .273 A.Torres CF 4 0 0 0 .314 B.Hall 2B 5 0 1 2 .247 J.Perez SS 3 1 1 0 .217 J.Rushford 1B 5 0 1 0 .293 W.Morris 2B 4 2 2 0 .282 K.Luuloa DH 3 0 0 0 .255 E.Young 1B 4 0 1 1 .293 P.Zoccolillo RF 4 0 1 0 .269 W.Magee LF 3 0 0 1 .240 W.Veras 3B 4 1 1 0 .231 M.Peeples RF 4 0 0 1 .222 J.Conti CF 4 0 1 0 .223 A.Hinch 3B 3 0 0 0 .248 C.McKay CAT 3 1 1 1 .177 Y.Valera CAT 3 0 1 0 .229 S.Scarboroug SS 4 1 3 0 .197 C.Mears DH 3 0 0 0 .000 P.Coco PIT 0 0 0 0 .143 N.Robertson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Nance PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Anderson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Kolb PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 36 4 10 4 TOTALS 31 3 5 3 INDIANAPOLIS 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0- 4 10 1 TOLEDO 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1- 3 5 0 E--B.Hall. DP--INDIANAPOLIS 2, TOLEDO 1. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 8, TOLEDO 4. 2B--B.Hall (8), W.Veras (5), E.Young (12). SB--J.Perez (6). HBP-- M.Budzinski. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS P.Coco (W,5-4) 7.0 3 2 1 2 9 0 4.78 S.Nance 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.30 D.Kolb (S,2) 1.0 2 1 1 1 1 0 1.50 TOLEDO N.Robertson (L,3-3) 7.0 10 4 4 2 2 0 3.97 M.Anderson 2.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.58 HB--N.Robertson. WP--P.Coco. SO--M.Budzinski, P.Zoccolillo, J.Conti, A.Torres 2, J.Perez, E.Young 2, W.Magee, M.Peeples 2, A.Hinch, C.Mears 2. BB--K.Luuloa, C.McKay, J.Perez, W.Magee, A.Hinch. T--2:20. A--4762

Indianapolis Press Release:

No Brewer impact here, but a pretty big honor, moving on to open the brand new Philly stadiium...

 

www.indyindians.com/press..._0303.html

[MassBrew]

Beloit Site Game Summary:

Don't mess with OF Travis Hinton, as his Player of the Game picture indicates...

 

www.snappersbaseball.com/...me_id=1097

 

Beloit Box Score:

Snapper attendance is still unacceptably weak...

 GAME DATE: 6/03/03 KANE COUNTY 3 AT BELOIT 8 YTD YTD KANE COUNTY AB R H BI AVG BELOIT AB R H BI AVG M.McBeth CF 4 0 1 3 .291 K.Bibbs LF 5 1 2 0 .271 F.Gomez 2B 5 0 0 0 .254 C.Crabbe 2B 2 2 1 0 .212 J.Baker CAT 4 0 2 0 .306 J.Eure 3B 3 2 1 0 .248 N.Cruz RF 3 0 1 0 .263 P.Fielder 1B 3 1 1 1 .283 J.Basil 3B 4 1 1 0 .261 T.Hinton DH 5 1 2 3 .174 B.Colamarino 1B 2 0 0 0 .220 S.Moss CF 3 1 1 0 .255 J.McCurdy SS 4 1 1 0 .243 P.Esparragz CAT 5 0 1 1 .242 J.Schmidt LF 3 1 0 0 .187 N.Carter RF 5 0 1 1 .137 N.Rogers DH 2 0 0 0 .229 K.Bohanan SS 4 0 1 0 .186 J.Blanton PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Sarfate PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Leon PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Breslow PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Sierra PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Hall PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Kohn PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Alliston PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 31 3 6 3 TOTALS 35 8 11 6 KANE COUNTY 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 3 6 3 BELOIT 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 5 X- 8 11 0 E--F.Gomez, J.Basil, J.Schmidt. DP--KANE COUNTY 0, BELOIT 1. LOB-- KANE COUNTY 9, BELOIT 12. 2B--M.McBeth (3), T.Hinton (7), N.Carter (2). SB--K.Bibbs (24), J.Eure (13), S.Moss 2 (6), P.Esparragz (8). HBP-- J.Eure. SH--N.Cruz, C.Crabbe, S.Moss. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA KANE COUNTY J.Blanton 5.0 6 3 3 3 5 0 3.01 B.Leon 1.0 2 0 0 1 2 0 2.89 E.Sierra (L,1-2) 1.1 2 5 2 2 0 0 2.45 S.Kohn 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.50 BELOIT D.Sarfate 4.0 4 3 3 3 8 0 2.14 C.Breslow 3.0 2 0 0 4 3 0 2.78 B.Hall (W,2-1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.71 J.Alliston 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.08 HB--J.Blanton. SO--M.McBeth, F.Gomez, J.Baker, N.Cruz 2, J.Basil 3, B.Colamarino, J.Schmidt, N.Rogers, C.Crabbe, J.Eure, P.Fielder 2, T.Hinton, K.Bohanan 2. BB--M.McBeth, J.Baker, B.Colamarino 2, J.Schmidt, N.Rogers 2, C.Crabbe 2, J.Eure, P.Fielder 2, S.Moss. T--2:50. A--444

[biedergb]

How about a little love for Noochie Varner!

 

I think he set a team records for most hits by any player named Noochie tonight (previously 0 hits set by Noochie Varner in May 2003).http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[950opsLHcatcher]

That's a heckuva lineup choice Frank Kremblas has to make each night 1-6 with Noochie, Hardy, and Krynzel towards the top, and Hart, Clark, and Gemoll somewhere in the middle. It's nice to see a good fullseason ballclub every once in awhile.

 

BTW, where o' where is Chad Petty?

[MassBrew]

Lancaster (Diamondbacks) 7, High Desert 3

 

High Desert Site Game Summary:

 

LANCASTER, CA ? The High Desert Mavericks dropped their fifth straight game on Tuesday night, as the Lancaster JetHawks took the opening game of a three-game set, winning by a score of 7-3 at the Hangar in Lancaster.

 

After allowing three runs in the first two innings, JetHawks starter Matt Henrie retired 19 in a row and 22 of the last 23 men he faced. Henrie picked up his second straight complete game, going the distance, while allowing three runs on just four hits. The Mavs offense has now picked up just 21 runs on 38 hits over the first seven games of the current nine-game road trip.

 

Henrie (4-6), who suffered a complete game loss in his last start at Rancho Cucamonga, allowed a run in the first, as the Mavs scored without the aid of a hit. Chris Morris led off the inning with a walk and a stolen base. After moving to third on a sacrifice by Ralph Santana, Morris would score on a Dan Boyd ground out for a 1-0 lead.

 

The Mavs made it 3-0 in the second, as Joel Alvarado scored on an Ozzie Chavez single. Todd West, who also reached on a single, scored on a Morris hit for a 3-0 lead for High Desert.

 

Right-hander Chris Saenz allowed a two-run homer in the bottom of the second, as Jay Garthwaite hit his ninth of the year, to make it 3-2. The JetHawks tied it in the fifth with an unearned run. Jason Belcher misplayed a Marland Williams fly ball to right field, allowing Williams to reach third. Dan Uggla?s RBI single knocked in Williams to tie the game at 3-3. Saenz went seven strong innings, allowing just two earned runs on six hits, while striking out three.

 

The game remained tied until the bottom of the eighth when the JetHawks grabbed the lead with four runs off new Mavericks left-hander Chad Petty. Petty (0-1), appearing in his first game with the Mavs after being acquired in a trade with the Detroit Tigers last week, pitched for the first time in more than a week. He allowed four runs on four hits, while only recording one out.

 

Boyd walked to snap the string of 19 in a row retired by Matt Henrie to lead off the ninth inning. Henrie would retire the next three hitters though to earn the win and snub any attempt at a Mavericks rally.

 

All four Mavericks hits on the night were in the fourth inning, all singles. Morris, who reached base twice with a single and a walk, stole a pair of bases, giving him a league-leading 32 on the year.

 

With the loss, the Mavs are now fourteen games under the .500 mark for the first time this season at 22-36. With only 12 games remaining in the first half, the Mavs are now 10 games back of first place in the South Division.

 

On Tuesday morning it was announced that Mavs starting pitcher Jeff Robinson was promoted to AA Huntsville, where he?ll join the first place Huntsville Stars in the Southern League. Robinson is the fourth player to be promoted to AA Huntsville this season, following teammates Kade Johnson, Daryl Clark and Kenny Ray, who were all promoted in the month of May. Robinson, who was on the Opening Day roster in 2001 for the Mavs will be making his first career appearance in AA after battling through a number of arm injuries in the last three seasons.

 

The Mavs will try to end their losing streak on Wednesday night in Lancaster by sending Dan Hall (4-4) to the hill against Lancaster?s Justin Wechsler. Game time is 7:15 from the Hangar on Wednesday night.

 

The Mavs will return home on Friday to open up a three-game series with the Lake Elsinore Storm.

 

High Desert Box Score:

This is a kind of woe-be-gone affiliate right now...

 GAME DATE: 6/03/03 HIGH DESERT 3 AT LANCASTER 7 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG LANCASTER AB R H BI AVG C.Morris CF 3 1 1 1 .243 M.Williams CF 4 1 0 0 .280 R.Santana DH 3 0 0 0 .297 D.Uggla 3B 4 1 2 1 .323 D.Boyd LF 3 0 0 1 .313 J.Kroeger RF 3 0 3 0 .333 J.Belcher RF 4 0 0 0 .313 S.Santos SS 4 1 1 1 .285 J.Raburn 3B 4 0 0 0 .277 J.Jones DH 3 2 1 0 .317 J.Alvarado CAT 4 1 1 0 .148 J.Garthwaite LF 4 2 2 3 .307 T.West 2B 3 1 1 0 .255 B.Johnson 1B 4 0 0 0 .225 M.Ernster 1B 3 0 0 0 .273 M.DiRosa CAT 4 0 1 2 .236 O.Chavez SS 3 0 1 1 .208 D.Richar 2B 4 0 1 0 .299 C.Saenz PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Henrie PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Petty PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Hundley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 30 3 4 3 TOTALS 34 7 11 7 HIGH DESERT 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 3 4 1 LANCASTER 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 4 X- 7 11 0 E--J.Belcher. DP--HIGH DESERT 0, LANCASTER 0. LOB--HIGH DESERT 3, LANCASTER 5. 2B--J.Kroeger (21), J.Garthwaite (7). HR--J.Garthwaite (9). SB--C.Morris 2 (32). CS--D.Uggla, J.Kroeger. SH--R.Santana. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT C.Saenz 7.0 6 3 2 1 3 1 6.96 C.Petty (L,0-1) 0.1 4 4 4 1 0 0 108.00 J.Hundley 0.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 7.71 LANCASTER M.Henrie (W,4-6) 9.0 4 3 3 2 3 0 3.13 SO--J.Belcher, J.Raburn 2, M.Williams, J.Jones, J.Garthwaite. BB-- C.Morris, D.Boyd, J.Kroeger, J.Jones. T--2:07. A--1392

[MassBrew]

David Weiser's Huntsville Update:

 

J.J. HITS TWO... COSBEY DEPARTS

I had an on-line conversation with my friend and former Stars radio play-by-playmeister, Steve Kornya on Dave Krynzel. We had seen Miguel Tejada play here for the Stars. I stated that I see the same kind of success for Krynzel as I saw for Tejada, when I saw him play here in 1997....... Admittedly, I didn't think an MVP season was in the cards, but I saw a future All-Star in Tejada. I see the same for Krynzel, even if it's only based on his defensive play in the outfield........

 

While I was raving to him about Krynzel, the way I once raved about Tejada, Mr. Kornya saw only what he could see, having never seen Krynzel play --- 0 HRs and that caught stealing total that is destined to break an 18-year old club record....... I signed off before I could expand my defense --- the contributions he's made to the offense as the Stars' #2 hitter, the terrific job he's done in clutch situations, his gap power, his speed, his ability to spark rallies and keep them going. Dave is definitely not a rally-buster based on what I've seen. He has intangibles that cannot be quantified on stat sheets........

 

I never got a chance to impart those qualities to him, but he made me think....... Is his poor base-stealing percentage costing the Stars? I went to work to look at that. Krynzel has been caught 16 times so far --- twice in one game on one occasion........ Breaking down the games in which Dave has been caught, the Stars are 10-5. (The Stars won the game in which he was caught twice.)........ Two of those losses were by a single run........ In a 5-4 loss to the Diamond Jaxx on May 17, he was thrown out at second in the first inning, with J.J. Hardy and Corey Hart in the lineup ahead of him and in a 3-2 loss to Greenville three days later, Dave was caught stealing third base after Ryan Knox had scored the run that brought them to within a run........Steve may have a case if the Stars lose this first half, because if they do, the chances are pretty good the margin will be small, and then you can rightly speculate whether the price of his aggression was too high to pay....... Time will only tell if Steve has a case.

 

Before the game began, OF Chris Cosbey was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies. He will be assigned to high Class A-Clearwater (Fla. St.). Good luck to him. I'll be keeping a watch........ Lots of kids from area Boys Clubs filled the park this afternoon on what turned out to be a sunny day. The game was delayed just a little over an hour because of rain, but it was the last from a front that had started to go through yesterday. Sunny skies are expected for the next couple of days, but the Stars are off Wednesday as they await Chattanooga, traveling from Orlando........

 

The four-game sweep and season-high 5th straight victory was not in the cards today as Steve Watkins, who has been riding a personal hot streak of his own, contained all but Hardy today........ J.J. accounted for all three of the Stars runs, as he lined a solo HR to the right of the scoreboard in the 1st inning, and skied a 2-run HR over the Corr Wireless sign in left, about a 350-ft. shot, in the 6th....... Watkins (3-3, 4.73), had won two of his last three starts coming in to today's game, giving up just 3 runs in 20 innings for a 1.35 ERA, striking out 21 batters, and he's a better pitcher on the road than he is at Hank Aaron Stadium (1-2, 2.96).

 

For the 9th time this season, the Stars' dubious defense cost them a victory and it started with two errors before an out was even recorded........ Corey Hart's errors have come mostly from throwing and this was the case as Todd Donovan hit a sharp hopper to his right. Donovan went to second on the wild submarine-style throw to Brandon Gemoll. Jake Gautreau then hit a one-hopper that took Gemoll to his right, but he misplayed the ball badly, allowing it to come off his upper arm into right field, sending Donovan to third......... Donovan scored on a ball hit back to starter Pedro Liriano and Gautreau on a fly ball to center.........

 

Donovan reached again in the 5th on another ball thrown away by Hart. With two away, Rico Washington deposited a ball out of the park to left-center........ Hardy dropped a ball from his throwing hand in the 4th inning, after coming in on a dribbler hit by Humberto Quintero, but the mistake didn't hurt....... The Stars have now committed 71 errors in 56 games and 9 in their last 4. It has hurt both Luis Martinez, who is 5-3 and Liriano, now 4-6, the most........ Of the 27 runs Martinez has allowed, 12 have been unearned (44%) and of the 31 given up by Liriano, 11 have been unearned (35.4%). In his last two starts, Liriano has given up 12 runs in 9 1/3 innings, but 9 of those were unearned.

 

The Stars had never fallen behind in any inning to the Bay Bears in this series until today........ Noochie Varner snapped an 0-for-18 slump at the plate, to my recollection never getting a ball out of the infield, with an infield single off the glove of pitcher Steve Watkins in the 3rd inning, but in the 8th, he hit a sharp one-hop single to left-center. No cheap hit this time........ No matter how bad it gets for Noochie this month, it can't match the 0-for-22 start by Kerwin Moore in 1998. He finished the month of April, 2-for-38, and finished his season with a .214 average in his first season with Huntsville since 1994. That is the worst start for a Stars hitter ever..... This was Hardy's second 2-HR day this season. His first came April 18 vs. Birmingham. J.J. has a 6-game hit streak, going 7-for-24 with 5 RBIs and 7 runs scored......... Mike Kremblas was given his first start since his 4-for-5, 4 RBI night last Saturday......... D.J. Clark is hitting .324 in his last 10 games with 12 Ks in 34 ABs and 7 walks in his last 5 games........ Ryan Gripp is now 0-for-12 as a pinch-hitter this season. Away from that role, Gripp is hitting .279, but for the season, he's at .238........... Mike Adams has been very effective in his last 7 appearances, giving up just one earned run in 10 IP, striking out 14.

 

I love and look forward to the amateur baseball draft every year when it comes around every year. Some see it with an eye to the Milwaukee Brewers' future, but to me It's an eye to the future look of the Huntsville Stars........ Since we've become a Milwaukee affiliate in 1999, Ben Sheets, Dave Krynzel, Mike Jones, and Prince Fielder have been the #1 draft selections. Krynzel and Jones are now Huntsville Stars. Prince Fielder we'll probably see at the Joe in 2005, at least........

 

Today, the Brewers selected 2nd baseman Rickie Weeks as their #1 choice and Stars fans, but no one more than I, can start anticipating the day Weeks is on our opening day roster........ Weeks, from Southern University, has been judged by experts as the best five-tool (hits, hits for power, speed, arm, and fielding) player in college baseball and the best pure hitter available among college hitters. He's been compared in size and build to Gary Sheffield....... In the 2nd round, the Brewers took Tony Gwynn's son, Anthony, judged as the best defensive player among the college crop. Anthony Gwynn is from San Diego State. He's been described as a stronger version of the Pirates' Kenny Lofton, a former Southern Leaguer who played with Columbus........ Good luck to them on their careers and I'll be watching them closely here and report their progress....... The first 20 Brewer selections are on my standings link.

 

Starsboxscore.com Link:

Team pinch-hitting stats included here as well...

 

www.starsboxscore.com/standing.html

[MassBrew]

Helena Front Office Hopes To See Weeks, Even Briefly:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...403_02.txt

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

Nice to have beat guy Michael Rothstein back after not making the northern road trip; lengthy game story here with plenty of quotes; confirms Chad Petty will certainly be a starter; and nice use of the "Petty" and "Heartbreaker" connection -- can never have enough references to rock/pop culture in this organization....

 

www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...1319,4360,

 

That does remind me that I heard Stars' announcer Robert Portnoy mention his conversation with LHP Brian Adams down in Huntsville. Of course Adams mentioned that the '80's rocker puns are pretty tired (I imagine Corey Hart feels the same way), but seemed to take it with a good "not much I can do about it" attitude. Like "ha-ha, that's the first time I've heard that one" stuff. We'll try to limit the references going forward, or until a Rick Springfield signs...http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[MassBrew]

Beloit Daily News Game Story:

Quotes galore here as well....

 

www.beloitdailynews.com/603/snap4.htm

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Times Game Story:

Telling comments from Manager Frank Kremblas; a little J.J. thrown in here as well...

 

www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...219510.xml