Link Report for Games of Sunday, July 8th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Chris Oxspring at Oklahoma (Rangers), 1:50 PM pre-game; 2:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: Idle - we'll direct you to coverage of Monday's Southern League All-Star Game tomorrow

 

Brevard County: RHP Mike McClendon at home vs. Palm Beach (Cardinals), 11:50 AM pre-game, 12:00 PM gametime

 

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

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503

 

West Virginia: RHP Alex Periard at Lexington (Astros), 2:55 PM pre-game, 3:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Helena: RHP Donovan Hand at home vs. Billings (Reds), 4:50 PM pre-game, 5:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Arizona: Just-turned 19-year-old Dominican RHP Pedro Lambertus makes his fourth appearance and second start at the Angels' complex in Tempe, 10:30 AM local time in Arizona, 12:30 Central; never any audio for Arizona Rookie League games

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday's action as it happens:

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

 

Nashville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

 

Helena:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Arizona:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_angrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville's games in Oklahoma this week are available for viewing via the MiLB.com video subscription, on a per-day basis if you wish:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c.../video.jsp

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Saturday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 54 35 .607 - 29-13 25-22 W3 Iowa 49 40 .551 5.0 28-19 21-21 W3 Omaha 41 49 .456 13.5 27-16 14-33 W1 Memphis 38 52 .422 16.5 20-27 18-25 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 12 8 .600 - 6-4 6-4 L1 Tennessee 10 10 .500 2.0 7-3 3-7 L2 Huntsville 9 11 .450 3.0 5-5 4-6 W2 Carolina 8 12 .400 4.0 5-5 3-7 L2 West Tenn 7 13 .350 5.0 5-5 2-8 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 10 6 .625 - 4-5 6-1 W3 Brevard County 10 7 .588 0.5 3-3 7-4 L1 Jupiter 8 8 .500 2.0 4-3 4-5 W2 St. Lucie 7 9 .438 3.0 3-6 4-3 L2 Daytona 6 11 .353 4.5 5-6 1-5 L3 Vero Beach 4 12 .250 6.0 2-5 2-7 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 10 6 .625 - 5-2 5-4 L3 Lakewood 10 6 .625 - 7-2 3-4 L1 West Virginia 10 7 .588 0.5 5-3 5-4 W3 Hickory 9 8 .529 1.5 6-5 3-3 W1 Delmarva 8 8 .500 2.0 3-4 5-4 W4 Lexington 6 11 .353 4.5 5-4 1-7 L1 Greensboro 5 12 .294 5.5 4-4 1-8 L1 Hagerstown 4 12 .250 6.0 3-6 1-6 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 11 8 .579 - 7-3 4-5 L1 Helena 11 8 .579 - 3-6 8-2 L1 Billings 8 11 .421 3.0 4-5 4-6 W1 Missoula 8 11 .421 3.0 5-5 3-6 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 10 3 .769 - 8-1 2-2 L1 AZL Mariners 10 3 .769 - 5-1 5-2 W1 AZL Padres 8 5 .615 2.0 5-2 3-3 W4 AZL Cubs 6 7 .462 4.0 4-3 2-4 L2 AZL Giants 6 7 .462 4.0 4-3 2-4 W1 AZL Rangers 6 7 .462 4.0 2-3 4-4 L2 AZL Royals 5 8 .385 5.0 3-3 2-5 W2 AZL Brewers 4 8 .333 5.5 1-5 3-3 W1 AZL Athletics 3 10 .231 7.0 2-3 1-7 L4

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.floridatoday.com/apps...002/SPORTS

 

Ex-Cy Young winner faces Manatees today

BY JIM CAWLEY

FLORIDA TODAY

 

VIERA - Minor league teams are known for their creative promotions aimed at attracting fans.

 

Here's one that shouldn't need too much selling: Come out to Space Coast Stadium today to see a Cy Young Award winner.

 

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter, a two-time All- Star who won the Cy Young Award two seasons ago, will start for Palm Beach in today's 1:00 PM game (12:00 Central) against the Brevard County Manatees.

 

The 6-foot-6, 230-pound right-hander is making his second rehab start since having bone spurs removed from his

elbow in early May. He is expected to throw 40-45 pitches today.

 

"My elbow recovered fine, which I'm happy with," Carpenter said Saturday at Space Coast Stadium. "I'm looking forward to (today), building up my pitch count and getting myself prepared to get back up to the big leagues."

 

Carpenter's first rehab start came against the Manatees in Palm Beach on July 3. In that game, he went 1 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs.

 

Of course, rehab assignments are rarely about the statistics.

 

"He threw strikes; we didn't catch the ball well behind him," Palm Beach manager Gaylen Pitts said.

 

"He's been able to spot his fastball both sides of the plate. But his arm strength has got to get there -- that's the thing he's looking for. Every time out will be another step in that direction."

 

Carpenter started the major league opener on April 1, marking the last time he pitched for the Cardinals. In that game -- a 6-1 loss to the Mets -- he allowed five earned runs in six innings.

 

After having the surgery, Carpenter said he "didn't do anything" for a month and a half and then started playing catch.

 

He plans to make three more starts for Palm Beach (including today), after which he will be evaluated for his big-league return.

 

"I'm trying to get comfortable on the mound and get my arm back strong to start lasting some innings," Carpenter said. "Hopefully (today), my command will be a little better than it was the other day. But I'm looking forward to just going out and competing again."

 

On Saturday, the 32-year-old Carpenter was mixing it up with his temporary teammates before the game, shagging balls and joking with players in the outfield.

 

Pitts sees that example as a big positive for his team.

 

"It's always good to have a big-league guy down here -- especially a guy in a class like him," Pitts said. "They see him working hard . . . here's a Cy Young Award winner and it has gotta rub off on people."

 

Carpenter pitched in the Florida State League in 1995 and recalls taking the mound at Space Coast Stadium when the Manatees were an affiliate of the Florida Marlins.

 

The 10-year, major-league veteran also recalls the feeling of being a Class-A player with big-league aspirations.

 

"I was just talking to them (Saturday) and I told them, 'I started where you're at, too, and everybody has to work their way up to get to the big leagues,' " Carpenter said.

 

"So, hopefully, these kids keep working hard and we'll see some of them up there soon."

[Boy Jeenius]

I know we have a thread or 2 every year about who's box score we check first every day(mine has been Darren Ford for 2 years.) But Edgar Trejo's line has caught my attention since the first day. A 17 year old kid at 6'3'' 195 lbs, he seems to put the bat on the ball with some pop already, and only 2 errors so far. I know it's early and small sample size, but so far,pretty cool.

[Mass Haas]

Sorry, it's Mike McClendon, not Robert Hinton, who started for the Manatees today -- menu adjusted above...

[Boy Jeenius]

Is Laynce Nix in the zone or what? I have a feeling the next pitch he sees is going to hit him square in the ribs.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 5, Palm Beach (Cardinals) 4

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Cole Gillespie three hits, J.R. Hopf on bas three times, Chris Errecart two base hits; Errecart and Darren Ford singled against Chris Carpenter, Ford's was a bunt...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

[gregmag]

I'm not sure what's more amazing about the 3-2 lead the AZ Brewers have at this moment (top of 7th) -- the fact that their pitchers have walked nine while their batters have drawn only one walk; or the fact that they're one of five in SB attempts. They may give us an answer to that eternal puzzler: How many baserunners can you give away and still win a game?

 

Greg.

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Starting Pitcher R.A. Dickey:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%207-7.mp3

 

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Oklahoma Outfielder & Former Sound Nelson Cruz:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%207-8.mp3

[TheCrew07]

Is it just me or does my man crush Brewer either get a hit or strikeout at the plate? He's on pace for some rather loftty strike out totals by year's end here.

[gregmag]

Fun with small samples: Helena's Donovan Hand, as of this moment (end of the third), has pitched 14 innings and given up 12 hits with 13 strikeouts and no walks. Shiny.

 

In other news, the Baby Brewers' answer to the question about how many baserunners you can give away and still win turned out to be "not that many."

 

Greg.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 7, Oklahoma (Rangers) 0

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Chris Oxspring photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2438

 

Sounds Blank RedHawks For 4th Straight Win

 

OKLAHOMA CITY ? Chris Oxspring worked seven innings of two-hit scoreless ball and the Nashville offense scored all of its runs on homers in the Sounds? 7-0 shutout of the Oklahoma RedHawks on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in the finale of a five-game series.

 

Nashville (55-35) improved to a season-best 20 games over .500 with its fourth consecutive win, the club?s longest road winning streak of the year.

 

The red-hot Sounds, winners of 12 of their last 15 contests, enter the All-Star break with the best record in Triple-A baseball and a five-game lead over the Iowa Cubs in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

Oxspring (7-5), who will serve as the PCL?s starting pitcher in Wednesday?s Triple-A All-Star Game, halted a four-start winless stretch with a dominant performance to earn the victory. The Aussie allowed only a Jason Botts triple and Dave Matranga single over his seven sharp frames and struck out seven RedHawks batters while lowering his ERA to 3.56.

 

Joe Thatcher followed Oxspring with a scoreless eighth inning, working around a pair of Oklahoma hits, and Greg Aquino kept the RedHawks off the board in the ninth to finish the shutout.

 

The three hurlers held Oklahoma to five hits on the afternoon in posting the Sounds? league-leading sixth shutout win of the year.

 

Nashville?s four home runs in the contest matched the club?s highest total this season.

 

Former RedHawk Laynce Nix continued a strong series against his old club when he gave Nashville a 1-0, first-inning lead with a two-out solo homer to right off Oklahoma starter Alfredo Simon. The blast was his 12th of the year and third in the last two games.

 

The Sounds used two more longballs to push the lead to 4-0 in the third. After Ozzie Chavez (3-for-4) led off the frame with a single, the red-hot Drew Anderson belted a two-run homer to right off Simon, his second roundtripper of the season. Chris Barnwell followed with a solo shot to left two batters later to increase the Nashville advantage to four.

 

AUDIO: Chris Barnwell Home Run --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%207-8.mp3

 

Mike Rivera got into the act in the sixth when he made it a 7-0 game with a three-run homer to left that scored Joe Dillon and Brad Nelson. The home run was his 13th of the year.

 

Nelson preceded Rivera with a single to extend his hitting streak to 12 games, equaling the best effort by a Sounds player this season (also Andy Abad and Dillon).

 

Simon (3-8) was saddled with the loss for Oklahoma after surrendering seven runs on nine hits, including four home runs, over his five innings of work.

 

The Sounds take the next three days off during the Triple-A All-Star break before welcoming the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds (AAA-Cardinals) to Greer Stadium on Thursday for a four-game series.

 

Nashville native R.A. Dickey (6-4, 4.39), who has posted a 1.69 ERA over his last five starts, will take the hill for the Sounds in Thursday?s 7 p.m. series opener and face Memphis southpaw Randy Keisler (7-5, 4.52).

 

Nashville Box Score:

Joe Thatcher strikes out the side in his inning (around two singles, as noted above)...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

[Boy Jeenius]

Thatcher comes in and strikes out both lefties - again. Then k's Botts too. Boy's a future LOOGY for sure.

 

Helena up 12 - 0. Donavon Hand finally gives up a hit in the 5th.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Angels 6, Arizona Brewers 5, ten innings

 

Arizona Box Score:

Brewers outhit the baby Halos 12-5, but commit five errors (three unearned runs), have a passed ball, issue 12 bases on balls, hit two batters, and throw five wild pitches; nothing super-exciting evolving here in 2007, we just look for glimpses like the Luis Guerrero outing the other day...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_angrok_1

 

Arizona Game Log:

Nothing like 3 hours, 34 minutes in the Arizona sun, especially when you lose - yuck; you'll notice in nearly every game, management swaps out the catchers in the middle innings to keep them fresh...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_angrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lexington (Astros) 6, West Virginia 2

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

LEGENDS KNOCK OUT POWER WITH FIVE-RUN INNING

 

The Lexington Legends trailed the West Virginia Power 2-1 through five and a half innings of Sunday afternoon?s game at Applebee?s Park, but scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth inning as they took the second game of the series 6-2.

 

West Virginia jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning on Andrew Lefave?s RBI double. Lexington tied the game in the bottom of the third on a solo home run from Nick Moresi. Steve Chapman began the top of the sixth inning with a triple and scored on Charlie Fermaint?s two-out base hit to give West Virginia their second lead of the game.

 

D.J. Lidyard walked the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the sixth inning before Koby Clemens laid down a bunt single that scored Tim Torres to tie the game. Ralphie Henriquez ripped a two-out RBI single to give the Legends the lead. The Legends added to the lead later in the sixth on a two-run double from Moresi and a run-scoring triple from Brandon Caipen.

 

Reid Kelly (1-1) allowed a run on three hits over two and a third out of the pen to get the win and Lidyard (3-2) was tagged with the loss. Power starter Alex Periard gave up a run on four hits with three strikeouts through five innings.

 

The Power fell to 58-28 overall and 10-8 in the second half, while the Legends improved to 38-50 overall and 7-11 in the second half with the win. Fermaint, Lefave and Brent Brewer all hit safely twice for the Power.

 

The Power will finish the three game series against Lexington Monday afternoon. The Power will start left hander Mike Ramlow (4-3, 6.91) and the Legends will counter with left hander Sergio Severino (2-4, 3.86). The first pitch is scheduled for 12:05 PM (11:05 AM Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Top three in the order productive, reaching three times apiece; Power batters K ten times; Taylor Green 3-for-his-last-20, stop bouncing him around the lineup, though that's certainly not his excuse; lefty Jose Romero, asked to get one key out in the 6th, allows a double and triple instead...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

[Boy Jeenius]

Etheridge and Bramhall make their debuts tonight. Etheridge gives up a hit and gets a k in the 8th. Bramhall strikes out two, walks two in the 9th. Talk is Merklinger debut forthcoming.

Haydel after starting out 1 for 20, now on a 13 game hitting streak.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 13, Billings (Reds) 1

 

Helena Site Game Summary:

 

Brewers Bounce Back

 

HELENA--One night after being shut out, Helena hitters racked up 13 runs while Brewer pitching held the Billings Mustangs in check. Although the Brewer batters provided Helena pitchers with plenty of run support, the Helena pitchers were near flawless as they won 13-1. Starting pitcher Donovan Hand pitched five shutout innings and earned his first win of the 2007 season. Hand allowed just one hit and struck out five.

 

Reliever Nick Tyson threw two innings of one-run ball and pitchers Wes Etheridge and Bobby Bramhall made their professional debuts with one inning pitched apiece. Bramhall struck out the first two batters he faced in the ninth inning.

 

Helena struck early in the bottom of the first inning with six runs. Twelve Brewers stepped to the plate during the inning and wrapped out a total five hits in the inning. Mustang starter Andrew Bowman went just one-third of an inning, but Helena continued to find holes in the defense after his departure.

 

The Brewers added a single run in the third inning and erupted for another rally in the fourth inning with five runs to take a 12-0 lead. The Mustangs got on the board with a single tally in the seventh inning to erase the shutout. Helena increased the lead back to 12 with another run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

 

Offensively, eight Helena hitters combined for 15 hits. Steffan Wilson led the way for the Brewers going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Catcher Eric Fryer had two hits and knocked in three runs as well. Lee Haydel continued his hot hitting by going 2-for-5, which extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

 

The win ensures that Helena (12-8) will maintain at least a tie for first-place in the Pioneer League North Division with Great Falls. Billings drops to 8-12. The Brewers and Mustangs will play again 7:05 PM Monday (8:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score:

Jonathan Lucroy a beast, on base all four times up as the DH; SS David Fonseca on base all three plate appearances...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

Only 407 on hand to see it -- Helena, last in the league in attendance (also the smallest "market", I believe) was averaging 1215 in nine dates before tonight...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1

 

Covering the bases

Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

 

Keep an eye out today for Stars manager Don Money and shortstop Alcides Escobar. They're on opposite sides of the field in the Futures Game, which kicks off the Major League All-Star festivities in San Francisco. Money is serving on the coaching staff for the U.S. team while Escobar is on the International squad. The game will be on ESPN2 at 3:00 PM. Money and Escobar flew to the West Coast Saturday morning and missed the Stars' win over Tennessee. ...

 

Former Stars manager Frank Kremblas was to have served on the U.S. staff as well, but will miss the game because of the death of his mother on Friday. ... Ex-Star Prince Fielder is one of the participants in Monday's Home Run Derby before the Major League All-Star Game. ... Fielder will start Tuesday for the National League in the All-Star Game. The last former Huntsville player to start in an All-Star Game was Baltimore shortstop Miguel Tejada in 2005. ...

 

The Stars have a large delegation for the Southern League All-Star Game on Monday in Pearl, Miss, outside of Jackson. Coach Sandy Guerrero will serve as the North manager, with Money having been assigned Futures Game duties, and the staff of pitching coach Rich Sauveur and trainer Dave Yeager will also be going. All-Star team members include catcher Lou Palmisano, first baseman Steve Sollman, outfielders Brendan Katin and Steve Moss, and pitchers Mark DiFelice, Lindsay Gulin and Marino Salas.

 

Around the league

 

The Southern League will be represented by 20 "graduates" in Tuesday's Major League All-Star Game. The list includes the three ex-Stars, along with the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez (Jacksonville), Detroit's Magglio Ordonez (Birmingham), Oakland's Dan Haren (Tennessee), the White Sox's Bobby Jenks (Birmingham), Texas' Michael Young (Tennessee), Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford (Orlando), the Dodgers' Russell Martin (Jacksonville), Milwaukee's Francisco Cordero (Jacksonville), San Diego's Trevor Hoffman (Chattanooga), San Diego's Jake Peavy (Mobile), Atlanta's Brian McCann (Mississippi), the Cubs' Derrek Lee (Memphis), Arizona's Orlando Hudson (Tennessee), Florida's Miguel Cabrera (Carolina), Colorado's Matt Holliday (Carolina), Houston's Carlos Lee (Birmingham) and Philadelphia's Aaron Rowand (Birmingham).

 

On deck

 

The Stars are off until Wednesday for the All-Star break. They resume play Wednesday at Chattanooga. The next home game is Tuesday, July 17, against Tennessee.

[Mass Haas]

One of the more interesting pre-game interviews we've heard --

 

Helena KCAP Audio Pre-Game Interview with Strength and Conditioning Coach Eric McMahon:

Be sure you're on the July 8th archive, then go to the 9:00 minute mark --

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...907_01.txt

 

Brewers blast Billings Mustangs

By JASON SCOTT, Helena Independent Record Sports Writer

 

What a difference a day makes.

 

Less than 24 hours after the Brewers were shut down by Billings Mustangs pitcher Luis Montano, their bats came alive.

 

Steffan Wilson and Eric Fryer each drove in three runs as Helena pounded Billings 13-1 at Saturday Kindrick Legion Field.

 

Not to be outdone by the hitting, Helena hurler Donovan Hand was in top form, holding the Billings offense to one hit in five innings. The 6-foot-4 righty was throwing his heater in the low 90s and using his offspeed pitches well.

 

Hand, picked in the 14th round this year by the Brewers, is out of Jacksonville State in Alabama, his home state. He was perfect for over three innings until he drilled Mustang Brandon Menchaca in the leg with an errant fastball with one out in the fourth.

 

Hand struck out six. The one hit he gave up was a short single to right field by Brett Bartles in the fifth. The next inning, Hand stayed in the dugout in order to give the bullpen some action.

 

"Hand threw very well," said Brewers manager Jeff Isom. "He located his fastball well and got them swinging at the offspeed stuff. We got ahead of hitters and that's what we've been talking about doing."

 

The Brewer bats provided a welcome backdrop to the defense. Helena came up with 15 hits, including doubles by seven different Brewers.

 

"We scored some runs early," said Isom.

 

Early indeed. The first six Brewers that came to the plate scored after Billings starter Andrew Bowman had some control issues. A single by left fielder Kurt Crowell brought home leadoff man Lee Haydel, who had reached on an infield hit. After Zelous Wheeler reached on an error, Wilson had a two-run single. Wilson was 3-for-4 on the night with a double and two runs scored.

 

After Wilson's hit, Bowman struck out Anthony Wycklendt, then was pulled for Matt Klinker, who lasted until the fourth.

 

"It's good to see, especially after last night," said Isom. "We went to right field, which we've been working on."

 

The hits kept coming for the Brewers.

 

Helena chased Klinker after the first four batters reached safely. The Brewers hit three doubles in the inning, bringing in five more runs.

 

Helena batted around twice in the game, once in the first and again in the fourth.

 

Nick Tyson, Wes Etheridge and Bobby Bramhall all pitched relief for the Brewers.

 

"The bullpen needed work. They pitched well." Isom said.

 

Helena went to 12-8 on the season. The Brewers will finish their series with Billings on Monday, then travel to Idaho for a three-game set with Idaho Falls.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.kentucky.com/271/story/118830.html

 

Clemens' RBI bunt ignites five-run rally

By Mark Maloney

MMALONEY@HERALD-LEADER.COM

 

Baseball is a funny game and, for winners at least, fun. Yesterday, the Lexington Legends experienced both.

 

Koby Clemens' bunt single scored Tim Torres -- from second -- to tie the game and trigger a five-run sixth inning as the Legends overpowered West Virginia 6-2 at Applebee's Park.

 

"I like looking for things like that," Torres said of his two-base dash home. "Baseball, unexpected things happen. ... When you play hard, things like that are possible."

 

The Legends won for a fourth time in five games.

 

Trailing 2-1, the Legends sent 10 batters to the plate in the five-run sixth.

 

Reliever D.J. Lidyard (3-2) opened the inning by walking Torres and Jordan Parraz.

 

Clemens bunted hard, just past Lidyard. By the time shortstop Brent Brewer got to the ball, Torres already was well past third.

 

"When I saw the ball get past the pitcher, I knew I had a chance," Torres said. "And I took an extra peek to see if anybody else was around, as I was running full speed. I never hesitated or slowed down."

 

Torres slid in with his left foot, under the tag of catcher Andy Bouchie. Parraz and Clemens advanced an extra base on Brewer's throw.

 

Lidyard struck out Drew Holder, and Bouchie withstood a body block by Parraz for a force play at the plate.

 

But Ralphie Henriquez lashed an RBI single to center.

 

Nick Moresi, whose third-inning homer tied things at 1, greeted reliever Jose Romero with a two-run double.

 

He scored when Brandon Caipen ripped a triple.

 

"Two-out RBI," Manager Gregg Langbehn said. "That's what you need to do. You've got to pick each other up. ... Guys are a little more confident than they were earlier in the season."

 

Clemens finished 3-for-3 and also walked. Moresi and Caipen each had two of the Legends' nine hits.

 

Moresi's fifth homer of the season was the only run allowed by starter Alex Periard.

 

"He threw me two sliders before that, so I was able to read it a little bit," Moresi said. "He threw me one inside and I just kind of reacted, let my hands go and made pretty good contact."

 

Legends starter Bud Norris was effective through 4 2/3 innings. With 90-degree heat at game time, he gave up a run on five hits and four walks. He stranded five runners in the first two innings. The run scored as Charlie Fermaint and Brewer singled to open the game, ahead of Andy Lefave's double.

 

"I just felt like I needed to go out and throw strikes, and they put a couple good swings on the ball," Norris said. "Obviously I worked myself in a jam. But (strikes) is how you make big pitches and get out of jams, and I felt in the first inning that's exactly what I did."

 

Norris left with two outs and the bases full in the fifth.

 

Reid Kelly (1-1) got Bouchie on one pitch, which was lined to Torres at shortstop.

 

West Virginia took a 2-1 lead in the sixth, but stranded two more runners, leaving 13 on base for the game.