Link Report for Games of Saturday, May 17th

[MassBrew]

Indianapolis Media Notes for the Weekend:

Jayson Durocher scheduled to throw again today...

 

THIS WEEKEND: The Indians hit the road for an eight-game trip to Buffalo and Ottawa. This is the first trip to the IL North.

 

The Indians are coming off a 3-5 homestand. Buffalo took three of four from the Tribe before the Indians split a four-game series with Pawtucket. The Indians won the first two games against the PawSox, but dropped 6-5 contests on both Thursday and Friday after holding 5-0 and 3-0 leads, respectively. The Tribe's last three losses have been by one run.

 

Buffalo outscored the Indians 30-20 in the four-game set at Victory Field. The Bisons plated 13 runs in two of the contests. Last year, the teams split the eight-game series including the four games at Dunn Tire Park.

 

The Indians have scored five or more runs in 10 of the last 11 games going 5-6 in that span. The Indians have scored 70 runs (6.4 rpg) and are hitting .292 (112-for-384) in those games. The Tribe opposition has scored 59 runs and is hitting .273 (109-for-399) over the last 11 games.

 

ROSTER MOVE: RHP Francisco Campos has been loaned to the Campeche Pirates of the Mexican League.

 

FRIDAY: Julio Zuleta hit a grand slam home run in the third, and a game-winning single in the ninth as Pawtucket beat the Indians 6-5 for the second straight day. Mark Smith went 3-for-5 for the Tribe with 2 RBI while Pete Zoccolillo was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI.

 

DUROCHER ON REHAB: RHP Jayson Durocher is with the Indians on a rehab assignment. Durocher underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow to remove bone spurs on March 8. Durocher has made two starts working one inning each time. He's thrown 22 pitches - 17 of them for strikes. His next outing is scheduled for Saturday at Buffalo.

 

ON THE MOUND: Righthander David Manning makes his fifth start and 11th appearance Saturday for the Indians. Manning has gone 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA since joining the rotation on April 23. His last start was against the Bisons on Monday. He held Buffalo to two runs on four hits over six innings, but he did not get a decision in a 3-2 loss. Manning pitched shutout ball for the first five innings.

 

Righthander Dave Burba returns to Buffalo where he started this season going 1-3, 2.05 in four starts. Sunday will be Burba's third appearance and second start for the Indians. Burba came out of the bullpen Tuesday against Pawtucket after Jayson Durocher worked a scoreless first. Burba earned the win allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings. He fanned a season-high seven batters.

 

SMITH STILL STREAKING: Mark Smith's 14-game hitting streak was snapped Tuesday with an 0-for-3 performance, but he still has a streak alive. Smith has reached base safely in 18 straight games dating back to April 26. That's the seventh-longest such streak in the IL this season. Smith's hitting streak is the fourth-longest in the IL this season. Smith leads the Indians with a .331 average, 20 RBI and 11 multi-hit games. He was the Indians Player of the Month for April.

 

HOT AT THE PLATE: The Indians are hitting .279 in May and have scored 87 runs (5.4 rpg). Bill Hall leads the team with a .361 average, 14 runs (tie) and 22 hits. Keith Luuloa is hitting .341 with a team-high .683 slugging percentage. Mark Smith (.321) and Jason Conti (.311) are also swinging hot bats. Pete Zoccolillo (.306) leads the teams with 11 RBI in May. The Indians May average is the third-best in the league.

 

'KOLB' AS ICE: Opponents are hitting a frigid .189 against Tribe reliever Dan Kolb. Kolb has recorded a 1.31 ERA in 15 games allowing three earned runs in 20.2 innings. Kolb has struck out 19 batters in his last 12.0 innings (7 G).

 

ON THE BOARD EARLY: The Indians have scored a team-best 30 runs in the first inning. The Tribe has plated a first-inning run in 15 games this season, but is just 6-9 in those games. The ninth inning is the only inning in which the Indians have not scored in double figures (6). The Indians have scored just 30 runs over the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

 

UPCOMING PROBABLES:

Monday at Buffalo - RHP Pasqual Coco (3-4, 5.26) vs. RHP Jason Phillips (6-0, 2.70)

Tuesday at Buffalo - LHP Nate Teut (1-1, 3.86) vs. RHP Jamie Brown (3-1, 1.95)

[MassBrew]

Lansing (Cubs) 5, Beloit 0

 

Beloit Site Linescore and Game Notes:

 

www.snappersbaseball.com/...me_id=1078

[MassBrew]

Buffalo (Cleveland) 2, Indianapolis 0

 

Indy Site Game Summary:

 

BUFFALO, NY -- The Indianapolis Indians and Buffalo Bisons found themselves in the middle of a pitchers' duel from Dunn Tire Park on Saturday evening, as the two teams combined for only seven hits and a whopping 21 strikeouts in the game. The Bisons (26-13) were able to squeak out two early runs, and a trio of Buffalo pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts and only three hits allowed to claim the 2-0 victory over the Indians (15-26).

 

Buffalo took advantage of Indians starter David Manning's early wildness by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Manning allowed a bunt single to Coco Crisp to lead off the game, then walked three of the next four batters to force Crisp home from third on a one out free pass to Victor Martinez. Alex Escobar followed Martinez with a sacrifice fly scoring Zach Sorensen from third base giving the Bisons all the offense that they would need.

 

In his 7.0 innings pitched, Manning (2-1) allowed only four hits, two of which were bunt singles, but was hurt by an inability to locate the strike-zone in the first inning to take the hard-luck loss for Indianapolis. Jayson Durocher pitched the eighth inning for Indianapolis facing three batters and striking out one in his third appearance of a rehabilitation assignment with the Indians.

 

Meanwhile Jason Bere, making his third rehabilitation start of the season for Buffalo, struck out eight of the first nine Tribe batters in a truly dominating performance. Only Jason Conti was able to make contact off Bere the first time through the Indians order when he grounded out to first base in the first inning. Bere (1-0) did not allow a baserunner until Mark Smith reached base on Greg LaRocca's error leading off the fifth inning, and it wasn't until Keith Luuloa's infield single with one out in the fifth that the Indians got their first hit of the ballgame.

 

Bere ended his night with 11 strikeouts in only 6.2 innings while limiting the Indians to three hits and no runs before giving way to reliever Aaron Myette with two outs and Smith aboard in the seventh. Myette flirted with disaster by tossing two wild pitches in the inning, but settled down in time to retire Cody McKay on a groundout to short stranding Smith at third base.

 

After Myette struck out two in the eighth inning, Chad Paronto came on for the Bisons in the ninth to face the heart of the Indians order. Paronto first got Jim Rushford to ground out to shortstop then struck out Smith and Pete Zoccolillo to earn the save for Buffalo.

 

The two teams will play the second of a four-game series on Sunday afternoon in Buffalo when Dave Burba (2-3, 2.91) returns to Buffalo to face the team he started the season going 1-3 with a 2.05 ERA in four starts. Burba will be opposed by Brian Tallet (3-4, 4.50).

 

Indianapolis Box Score:

We've seen way too many offensive "performances" like this from the Tribe -- and yes, I mean offensive...

 GAME DATE: 5/17/03 INDIANAPOLIS 0 AT BUFFALO 2 YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG BUFFALO AB R H BI AVG M.Budzinski RF 3 0 0 0 .278 C.Crisp CF 3 1 2 0 .351 J.Conti CF 4 0 0 0 .248 Z.Sorensen 2B 3 1 1 0 .245 J.Rushford 1B 4 0 0 0 .000 G.LaRocca 3B 3 0 0 0 .320 M.Smith DH 4 0 1 0 .328 T.Hafner DH 3 0 0 0 .000 P.Zoccolillo LF 4 0 0 0 .273 V.Martinez CAT 3 0 0 1 .240 K.Luuloa 3B 2 0 1 0 .268 A.Escobar RF 3 0 0 1 .233 C.McKay CAT 3 0 0 0 .181 J.Peralta SS 3 0 1 0 .268 J.Lawrence 2B 3 0 0 0 .202 L.Garcia 1B 3 0 0 0 .194 S.Scarboroug SS 3 0 1 0 .130 S.Pratt LF 3 0 0 0 .194 D.Manning PIT 0 0 0 0 .200 J.Bere PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Durocher PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Myette PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Paronto PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 30 0 3 0 TOTALS 27 2 4 2 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 3 0 BUFFALO 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X- 2 4 1 E--G.LaRocca. DP--INDIANAPOLIS 0, BUFFALO 1. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 5, BUFFALO 7. SB--S.Scarboroug (1), C.Crisp 2 (14), J.Peralta (1). HBP--C.Crisp. SF--A.Escobar. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS D.Manning (L,2-1) 7.0 4 2 2 4 5 0 2.13 J.Durocher 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 BUFFALO J.Bere (W,1-0) 6.2 3 0 0 0 11 0 0.61 A.Myette 1.1 0 0 0 2 2 0 2.61 C.Paronto (S,5) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.75 HB--D.Manning. WP--D.Manning, A.Myette 2. SO--M.Budzinski, J.Conti, J.Rushford, M.Smith 2, P.Zoccolillo 3, K.Luuloa, C.McKay, J.Lawrence 3, S.Scarboroug 2, Z.Sorensen 2, A.Escobar, J.Peralta, L.Garcia, S.Pratt. BB--M.Budzinski, K.Luuloa, Z.Sorensen, G.LaRocca, T.Hafner, V.Martinez. T--2:42. A--6231

[MassBrew]

In Progress: High Desert 1, Rancho Cucamonga (Angels) 0, after 3.5 innings

 

RHP Chris Saenz, already among the California League leaders in K's, is perfect through three with 5 punchouts.

 

The Mavs have squandered opportunities, pretty much wasting four walks and a HBP through three...

 

EDIT:

In Progress Update: High Desert 9, Rancho Cucamonga 1, after 5.5 innings

 

High Desert scores eight in the sixth thanks to the generosity of Quake pitchers, who walked three consecutive batters with the bases loaded and have been wild all night, as the Mavs have nine runs on only four hits; Chris Saenz worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, just before the big rally...

[MassBrew]

West Tenn (Cubs) 5, Huntsville 4, 11 innings

Huntsville rallied late to tie, but not enough; it's up to High Desert to salvage the minor league evening...

[pogokat]

EDIT! Jim! make this look normal!

Thanx, brad

 

Lesson reminder:

Once you've pasted in the box score, drag over it so that itis selected and then click "code" over to the left -- MB

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

RHP Matt Parker will take Ben Hendrickson's spot in the rotation for now -- MB

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...?newsid=67

 

Huntsville Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 5/17/03 HUNTSVILLE 4 AT WEST TENN 5 (EXTRA INNINGS) YTD YTD HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG WEST TENN AB R H BI AVG R.Knox LF 6 0 1 1 .253 R.Sadler CF 4 1 0 0 .287 D.Krynzel CF 5 1 3 0 .292 B.Harris 3B 5 0 0 1 .290 J.Hardy SS 5 0 1 1 .341 J.Szuminski PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Hart 3B 4 1 2 1 .289 L.McKnight PH 1 0 1 1 .261 B.Gemoll 1B 4 0 1 0 .252 D.Leon 3B 1 0 0 0 .317 R.Paz 2B 4 1 1 0 .259 D.Leon LF 3 0 1 0 .317 K.Johnson CAT 4 0 0 1 .000 J.Dubois RF 4 0 1 0 .333 C.Cosbey RF 5 0 0 0 .218 J.Leicester PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 L.Martinez PIT 2 0 0 0 .000 J.Velazquez LF 1 0 0 0 .253 R.Gripp PH 0 1 0 0 .211 M.Dzurilla 2B 4 1 1 1 .286 B.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Ortiz SS 5 1 2 0 .312 D.Clark PH 0 0 0 0 .133 B.Sing 1B 5 0 1 0 .219 M.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Kopitzke CAT 3 1 2 1 .212 C.Barnwell PH 1 0 1 0 .241 S.Mitre PIT 1 0 0 0 .250 R.Miller PIT 0 0 0 0 .333 E.Brown PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Hamilton RF 2 1 1 0 .230 TOTALS 40 4 10 4 TOTALS 39 5 10 4 HUNTSVILLE 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0- 4 10 1 WEST TENN 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1- 5 10 1 E--C.Hart, S.Mitre. DP--HUNTSVILLE 1, WEST TENN 0. LOB--HUNTSVILLE 9, WEST TENN 10. 2B--J.Hardy (10), C.Hart (10), B.Gemoll (11), R.Paz (6), D.Leon (8), J.Hamilton (9). HR--M.Dzurilla (5). SB--C.Cosbey (8), R.Sadler (8). CS--D.Krynzel, C.Hart. HBP--R.Sadler. SF--C.Hart, K.Johnson. SH--S.Mitre 2. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HUNTSVILLE L.Martinez 7.0 7 4 2 2 5 1 1.31 B.Adams 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 M.Adams 2.0 0 0 0 2 2 0 4.74 R.Miller (L,0-2) 0.2 2 1 1 1 0 0 2.54 WEST TENN S.Mitre 7.0 5 2 2 1 7 0 4.08 E.Brown 0.2 2 1 1 0 0 0 1.73 J.Leicester 1.1 1 1 1 2 1 0 3.65 J.Szuminski (W,1-0) 2.0 2 0 0 1 2 0 0.00 HB--L.Martinez. WP--L.Martinez. BALKS--L.Martinez. SO--R.Knox, C.Hart, R.Paz, K.Johnson, C.Cosbey 4, L.Martinez 2, R.Sadler 2, B.Harris, D.Leon, M.Dzurilla, B.Sing, S.Mitre. BB--B.Gemoll, R.Paz, R.Gripp, D.Clark, R.Sadler, D.Leon, M.Dzurilla, C.Kopitzke 2. T--3:17. A--3545

[MassBrew]

Beloit Box Score:

 LANSING AB R H BI AVG BELOIT AB R H BI AVG F.Pie CF 5 0 2 0 .304 K.Bibbs LF 4 0 0 0 .273 R.Theriot 2B 4 1 1 0 .273 C.Terni SS 4 0 0 0 .270 B.Coats SS 4 0 1 1 .336 S.Moss CF 4 0 1 0 .237 D.Hood DH 5 1 1 1 .417 P.Fielder 1B 3 0 0 0 .313 K.Collins 1B 4 1 2 0 .198 J.Eure 3B 3 0 1 0 .255 K.Butler LF 3 1 3 1 .287 T.Hinton DH 2 0 0 0 .193 J.Johnson RF 4 1 0 0 .212 K.Bohanan PH 1 0 0 0 .217 J.Reyes CAT 4 0 0 0 .208 K.Bohanan DH 1 0 0 0 .217 R.Chirinos 3B 4 0 2 1 .287 M.Mendez RF 3 0 2 0 .270 A.Tavarez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Esparragz CAT 3 0 0 0 .278 R.Hill PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Crabbe 2B 3 0 1 0 .199 F.Baez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Wilhelmsen PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Gabriel PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Hall PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 37 5 12 4 TOTALS 31 0 5 0 LANSING 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 0- 5 12 1 BELOIT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 5 0 E--K.Collins. DP--LANSING 1, BELOIT 0. LOB--LANSING 8, BELOIT 6. 2B--B.Coats (9), K.Collins (5), R.Chirinos (4). HR--D.Hood (6), K.Butler (3). SB--K.Butler (7). CS--F.Pie, R.Chirinos. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA LANSING A.Tavarez (W,5-0) 6.0 5 0 0 1 3 0 2.04 R.Hill 2.0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2.18 F.Baez (S,2) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.18 BELOIT T.Wilhelmsen (L,4-1) 5.0 6 3 3 3 4 2 2.31 J.Gabriel 3.0 6 2 1 0 4 0 5.93 B.Hall 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.57 PB--P.Esparragz. SO--F.Pie, R.Theriot, B.Coats, D.Hood 3, J.Reyes 3, C.Terni, S.Moss, P.Fielder, K.Bohanan 2, M.Mendez, P.Esparragz. BB--R.Theriot, B.Coats, K.Butler, P.Fielder, J.Eure. T--2:21. A--2375

[MassBrew]

Final: High Desert 17, Rancho Cucamonga (Angels) 2

 

High Desert Site Game Summary:

 

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA ? One night after being lit up in the second game of a double-header, the High Desert Mavericks returned the favor, giving the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes their worst defeat of the season, a 17-2 drubbing on Saturday night at the Epicenter in Rancho Cucamonga.

 

Chris Saenz (4-3) and Aaron Dean combined to limit the Quakes to just two runs on six hits. The real story was the Quakes pitching staff though. Rancho's pitching staff walked 12 Mavs on the night, allowing six of them to score.

 

The Mavs offense, which had six less hits than runs on the night, finally took advantage in the sixth inning. With the game tied 1-1, the Quakes pitching staff impoloded. Froilan Villanueva and Todd West had back-to-back RBI singles to give the Mavs a 3-1 lead off Quakes starter Dan Mozingo (2-4). Four consecutive walks loaded the bases and pushed across three runs for a 6-1 lead. Mark Ernster then collected a two-run double as the Mavs made it 8-1. Johnny Raburn scored on a wild pitch to finish the inning, as the Mavs totaled eight runs in the sixth for a 9-1 lead.

 

After Nick Gorneault hit a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth, the Mavs got busy again. Joel Alvarado had a bases loaded two-run double, a ball that was actually misplayed by center fielder Nick Kimpton. After a walk loaded the bases, Jason Belcher hit a two-out grand slam to make it a 15-2 game. It's the Mavericks' first grand slam of the year, and the third homer of the year for Belcher.

 

Villanueva hit his first home run of the year to lead off the eighth to make it 16-2. After Ozzie Chavez tripled, he scored on an RBI single from Alvarado for a 17-2 lead.

 

On the other side of the coin, Saenz was brilliant, working three perfect innings, before allowing the Quakes a base runner in the fourth. After Saenz went six innings, Dean came on and worked three scoreless frames, allowing just one hit, for his first save as a Maverick.

 

For the Mavs, they tie their season-best for runs scored in a ballgame with 17. The Mavs are now just three games under .500 at 20-23 and have won five of their last seven road games. They are four games back of first place Lancaster.

 

They face the Quakes on Sunday in the fourth of eight straight meetings between the two clubs. The season series is now tied at 4-4. Dan Hall (4-2) goes to the mound on Sunday afternoon against Rancho's Steven Shell at 1:15.

 

The Mavs return home on Tuesday to take on the Quakes for three straight games. They are also home next weekend to battle the first place Lancaster JetHawks in a three-game set.

 

High Desert Box Score:

 GAME DATE: 5/17/03 HIGH DESERT 17 AT RANCHO CUCAMONGA 2 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG RANCHO CUCAMONGA AB R H BI AVG C.Morris CF 5 2 1 1 .274 T.Murphy SS 3 0 1 0 .274 J.Raburn 3B 2 2 0 1 .309 J.Aspito RF 3 0 0 0 .285 S.Candelaria PH 1 0 0 0 .296 D.McPherson 3B 3 1 0 0 .246 S.Candelaria 1B 0 0 0 0 .296 J.Mathis CAT 4 0 1 0 .299 M.Ernster DH 4 0 1 3 .337 C.Kotchman DH 3 0 1 1 .330 J.Belcher RF 4 2 1 4 .319 J.Turner PH 1 0 0 0 .225 D.Boyd LF 6 1 0 0 .281 N.Gorneault LF 4 1 1 1 .325 F.Villanueva 1B 4 3 3 2 .327 A.Corbeil 1B 4 0 0 0 .224 F.Villanueva 3B 0 0 0 0 .327 C.Smith 2B 4 0 1 0 .295 T.West 2B 4 2 2 1 .270 N.Kimpton CF 3 0 1 0 .234 O.Chavez SS 3 3 1 0 .333 D.Mozingo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Alvarado CAT 2 2 2 4 .125 M.O'Sullivan PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Saenz PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Wolensky PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Dean PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Griffith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 17 11 16 TOTALS 32 2 6 2 HIGH DESERT 1 0 0 0 0 8 6 2 0-17 11 0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0- 2 6 1 E--T.Murphy. DP--HIGH DESERT 1, RANCHO CUCAMONGA 1. LOB--HIGH DESERT 6, RANCHO CUCAMONGA 6. 2B--M.Ernster (7), J.Alvarado (1), T.Murphy (8). 3B--O.Chavez (1). HR--J.Belcher (3), F.Villanueva (1), N.Gorneault (6). SB--C.Morris (25), J.Belcher (2), D.Boyd (1), N.Kimpton (5). CS-- J.Raburn. HBP--J.Belcher. SF--M.Ernster. SH--T.West. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT C.Saenz (W,4-3) 6.0 5 2 2 3 7 1 6.97 A.Dean (S,1) 3.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8.28 RANCHO CUCAMONGA D.Mozingo (L,2-4) 5.1 2 4 3 6 3 0 6.34 M.O'Sullivan 0.0 1 5 5 4 0 0 8.55 D.Wolensky 1.1 5 6 6 2 2 1 9.17 D.Griffith 2.1 3 2 2 0 2 1 3.55 HB--D.Mozingo. WP--D.Mozingo, D.Wolensky. SO--C.Morris 3, S.Candelaria, M.Ernster, J.Belcher, O.Chavez, T.Murphy 2, D.McPherson, C.Kotchman, N.Gorneault, A.Corbeil, C.Smith. BB--C.Morris, J.Raburn 3, M.Ernster, J.Belcher, F.Villanueva, O.Chavez 2, J.Alvarado 3, T.Murphy, J.Aspito, D.McPherson. T--2:56. A--6114

[MassBrew]

Huntsville Times Stars' Weekly Notes Column:

 

www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...153810.xml

 

David Weiser's Huntsville Update:

 

STARS LOSE IN LAST AT-BAT AGAIN

For the second straight night, the Stars, one out away from finishing an inning, lose on the last at-bat of the game, the Stars' 5th loss in 7 games, their 3rd by a single run.

After rallying in the 8th and 9th innings to tie the game, reliever Ryan Miller got two quick outs in the 11th. Jon Hamilton then hit a ball throught the middle, took a chance, and slid into second for a double........ Ray Sadler, hitless tonight after going 5-for-7 in the first two games of this series, was walked to get a force play. Pinch-hitter Lukas McKnight failed to oblige the strategy, lining Miller's 0-and-1 pitch into left field for a hit and Hamilton easily scored standing.

 

For Luis Martinez, it's been a frustrating May........ His breaking ball wasn't working well tonight and he hung one in the 2nd inning that Mike Dzurilla drilled high over the left field wall for the Diamond Jaxx' 1st run, the first home run Luis has given up this season........ That was followed by three consecutive singles, the last a squeeze bunt by Casey Kopitzke that was perfectly placed to the right side of the diamond for a hit........ Even though his ERA is a nasty-looking 1.31, 2nd among SL ERA leaders and best among current pitchers in the league, his effectiveness is deceiving. He's 1-2 in May with a much more down to earth 2.42 ERA, and thanks to the fact that nearly half the runs he's given up this month have been unearned, his runs per 9 IP average is actually 2.62 this season......... He's given up 16 runs this season in 55 innings, half of them unearned........ I haven't seen a pitcher so plagued by shoddy fielding behind him since middle reliever Kevin Gunther in 1998. 40 percent of the runs he gave up that season were unearned........ I was suspicious that Corey Hart, who has made a throwing error in each of the three games of this series, was responsible for the lion's share of the Luis' unearned runs, but that isn't really the case. Ryan Knox was responsible for three of them, May 12 vs. the Smokies. Hart has been responsible for two and a couple of other players share the rest........ Hart is the first player since Wellington Sanchez in 2001 (August 24-26) to commit an error in three consecutive games. Eric Martins in 1996 was the last 3rd baseman to commit an error in three consecutive games played.

 

The Stars are 15-8 this season when they score first, but in three of the last four times, they have lost....... Hart, 6-for-13 in this series, led off the 2nd with a single to left. Brandon Gemoll followed with a double down the left field line, his 11th of the season....... Steve Scarborough, last year, hit 20 in the first 2 months of the and more than a half-dozen player since 1996 have hit 11 by this stage of the season. Don't know if 20 is a club record for the first two months, but it's worth checking out, but I honestly don't believe Brandon can come up with 9 more doubles before the end of the month....... Richard Paz then hit a ball to shallow right-center field, so shallow that 2nd baseman Mike Dzurilla backed up far enough to get the ball for the putout, but Hart used his speed and long stride to slide home for the run........ Martinez settled down, retiring 10 of 11 hitters from the 3rd to the 6th inning, but in the 7th, Casey Kopitzke, a .212 hitter led off with his 2nd key hit of the game, a single to left. After being sacrificed by pitcher Sergio Mitre, he scored when Hart threw Ray Sadler's grounder away to score Kopitzke. Sadler would reach 2nd when Martinez kicked and then turned to first without making a throw, resulting in a balk. Sadler stole third and scored on a ground ball by Brendan Harris.

 

That 4-1 lead for the D'Jaxx held until the Stars rallied in the 8th. Pinch-hitter Ryan Gripp, facing his former team for the first time this series, drew a walk. With one out, Dave Krynzel singled to through the right side of the infield into right, sending Gripp to second...... J.J. Hardy, back among the SL's top 10 batting leaders, then followed with a long blast over the head of Sadler in center field. That scored Gripp. Krynzel would score on Hart's fly ball to right....... The Stars tied the game in the 9th thanks to Paz and his eagle-eye at the plate........ He drew his 27th walk, far and above the club leader. Hardy and Krynzel, with 16, are the closest to him....... With two out, pinch-hitter D.J. Clark walked on a 3-and-2 pitch. Knox took an 0-and-1 pitch and drove it through short and into left to score Paz to tie the game

 

Left-hander Brian Adams made his debut with the Stars in this game, giving up a single to Nick Ortiz, but getting a double play to end the 8th inning.

 

Ben Diggins was officially placed on the disabled list by the Stars and will miss a couple of starts at least, with arm fatigue...... Hopefully, Ben Hendrickson won't follow him, but Ben was pulled after two innings on Friday. He says the discomfort in his right elbow is preventing him from letting go with his fast ball. He is probably out of the rotation for an indefinite period. Derek Lee (4-1, 2.40) has been inserted into the rotation and will start Monday when the Stars go to Greenville........ Pedro Liriano, who has won two of his last four starts with an accompanying 0.80 ERA, will try to save the Stars from losing their second straight series, Sunday afternoon. Mike Nannini (3-1, 4.20) will get the call for the Diamond Jaxx.

 

Paul Stewart, who didn't win his first game last year until May 10, won his first game of the season, beating Louisville on Saturday, 5-4, thanks to a 3rd inning grand-slam HR by former Diamond Jaxx 1st baseman Julio Zuleta. Stew went 5 2/3 innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits. Stewart is now 1-3 this season with a 4.30 ERA.

[MassBrew]

Daily Menu for Brewerfan FanFest Sunday at Beloit:

 

INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Dave Burba at Buffalo (Cleveland), 1:05 PM

 

HUNTSVILLE: RHP Pedro Liriano at West Tenn (Cubs), 2:05 PM

 

HIGH DESERT: RHP Dan Hall at Rancho Cucamonga (Angels), 3:15 PM

 

BELOIT: RHP Dennis Sarfate vs. Lansing (Cubs) at home, 2:00 PM

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

Jason Belcher on his grand slam among other quotes...

 

www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...680,29597,

 

Daily Press Weekly Mavericks' Notes Column:

 

www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...490,77524,

[MassBrew]

The Beloit Daily News doesn't run on Sundays, so we'll borrow from the Lansing site for additional details on Saturday's game:

 

BELOIT, Wis. - The Lansing Lugnuts ended their four-game losing streak Saturday night and played a good game in all aspects in a 5-0 win over the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field.

 

Anderson Tavarez (5-0) and relievers Rich Hill and Federico Baez collaborated on the four-hit shutout. It was Lansing's seventh shutout of the year. The pitching staff, at 2.50, has the lowest ERA in Minor League Baseball.

 

Tavarez pitched six scoreless innings, walking one and allowing all four hits. Center Fielder Felix Pie helped him to maintain the shutout in the fourth inning by throwing out Snappers center fielder Steve Moss at the plate as he attempted to score on a fly ball hit by designated hitter Travis Hinton.

 

Hill, the Midwest League's leader in both walks per nine innings and strikeouts per nine innings, walked the first man he faced in the seventh inning and then struck out the next three. He went through Beloit in order in the eighth. Baez worked a scoreless ninth, striking out Keith Bohanon to end the game.

 

A solo home run in the second by Donny Hood (his team-leading sixth) was all the offense the Lugnuts would need. It came off of Beloit starter Tom Wilhelmsen (4-1), who also entered the game at a perfect 4-0. Lansing tallied two more against the righthander, scoring in the third inning on an RBI double by Buck Coats that scored Ryan Theriot and in the fourth on a solo homer by left fielder Keith Butler.

 

It was one of three hits for Butler, who also walked and stole a base in the game. With the double, Coats extended his consecutive on-base streak to 33 games, now the longest streak in Minor League Baseball.

 

Lansing (22-16) touched reliever Justin Gabriel for two runs in the eighth frame. A double by Robinson Chirinos (2-for-4) scored J.J. Johnson and a passed ball scored Kevin Collins.

 

Beloit (20-20-1) had no extra-base hits and no hits in the game's last four innings.