Link Report for Games of Wednesday, April 23rd

[MassBrew]

Louisville (Reds) 3, Indianapolis 2

 

Indy Site Game Summary:

 

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky -- The Indianapolis Indians (7-12) finished up the longest road trip off the season on Wednesday night with a hard-luck 3-2 loss to the Louisville Bats (11-8 ). The Indians out-hit the Bats 7-6, but stranded eight runners and were unable to come away with the victory. The loss was the eighth suffered by the Tribe on the now completed nine-game road trip.

 

Felipe Crespo's two-out solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning off of Tribe reliever Mike Buddie (0-2) proved to be the deciding factor for Louisville. The homer was Crespo's first of the season, one less than he hit all of last year. Joey Hamilton (1-0) picked up the win for the Bats throwing 1.2 innings of hitless relief while walking one and striking out two.

 

David Manning made his first start of the season for Indianapolis, after six appearances out of the bullpen, lasting only 3.1 innings. Manning, who threw 41 pitches in the first inning alone, allowed only two hits and two runs, one earned, but accumulated a hefty pitch count which included four walks and six strikeouts.

 

Jason Conti led off the game with a single and later scored on Mark Smith's RBI groundout to open the scoring for the Tribe. Smith, who has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, finished 1-for-4 with one RBI. Conti, meanwhile, increased his team-leading total of stolen bases to five with two in Wednesday night's game.

 

Louisville tied the game at one in the bottom of the first thanks to an error by Steve Scarborough at second base and three walks issued by Manning, including a bases loaded walk to Crespo that forced Emil Brown home from third.

 

Brandon Larson, optioned to Louisville from Cincinnati earlier in the week, singled and stole second with one out in the third inning before giving the Bats a 2-1 lead on a Jacob Cruz two-out double. Larson, playing third base, was 1-for-4 in the game.

 

The Tribe's final run came in the top of the sixth inning when Pete Zoccolillo's pinch-hit sacrifice fly plated Joe Lawrence. Lawrence had previously reached base on a single while pinch-hitting for Scarborough.

 

The Indians will return home for a six-game homestand starting Thursday night when they face the Toledo Mud Hens. Also appearing at Victory Field on Thursday night will be Al Unser, Jr., and Kelley Racing teammate Tony Renna, the two drivers will be on hand to sign autographs for fans prior to the 7:00 p.m. game.

 

Indianapolis Boxscore:

 GAME DATE: 4/23/03 INDIANAPOLIS 2 AT LOUISVILLE 3 YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG LOUISVILLE AB R H BI AVG J.Conti CF 5 1 2 0 .245 W.Guerrero 2B 4 0 1 0 .324 S.Scarboroug 2B 2 0 1 0 .109 E.Brown CF 3 1 1 0 .264 J.Lawrence PH 1 1 1 0 .208 B.Larson 3B 4 1 1 0 .286 J.Lawrence 2B 0 0 0 0 .208 R.Branyan 1B 3 0 1 0 .381 M.Smith RF 4 0 1 1 .326 J.Cruz RF 4 0 1 1 .365 L.Estrella PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Crespo LF 3 1 1 2 .257 L.Stevens 1B 3 0 0 0 .356 J.Maxwell SS 3 0 0 0 .327 S.Seabol 3B 1 0 1 0 .184 C.Miller CAT 2 0 0 0 .237 S.Seabol LF 2 0 0 0 .184 L.Davis PIT 2 0 0 0 .000 W.Veras 3B 2 0 0 0 .184 J.Hamilton PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Zoccolillo PH 0 0 0 1 .289 W.Caceres PH 1 0 0 0 .000 P.Zoccolillo LF 1 0 0 0 .289 C.Almanzar PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.McKay CAT 4 0 0 0 .127 M.Watson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Hall SS 4 0 1 0 .172 D.Manning PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 M.Buddie PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 M.Budzinski PH 1 0 0 0 .347 M.Budzinski RF 0 0 0 0 .347 K.Luuloa PH 1 0 0 0 .105 TOTALS 33 2 7 2 TOTALS 29 3 6 3 INDIANAPOLIS 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0- 2 7 1 LOUISVILLE 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 X- 3 6 1 E--S.Scarboroug, R.Branyan. DP--INDIANAPOLIS 1, LOUISVILLE 0. LOB-- INDIANAPOLIS 8, LOUISVILLE 7. 2B--J.Conti (2), S.Seabol (1), R.Branyan (3), J.Cruz (3). HR--F.Crespo (1). SB--J.Conti 2 (5), B.Hall (1), B.Larson (1). SF--P.Zoccolillo. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS D.Manning 3.1 2 2 1 4 6 0 3.27 M.Buddie (L,0-2) 2.2 2 1 1 1 1 1 3.86 L.Estrella 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1.38 LOUISVILLE L.Davis 5.1 6 2 2 2 4 0 3.80 J.Hamilton (W,1-0) 1.2 0 0 0 1 2 0 3.52 C.Almanzar 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 15.00 M.Watson (S,3) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2.70 SO--J.Conti, L.Stevens, C.McKay, B.Hall 2, D.Manning, M.Buddie, M.Budzinski, E.Brown, B.Larson, R.Branyan, J.Cruz, J.Maxwell 2, L.Davis. BB--J.Lawrence, L.Stevens, S.Seabol, E.Brown, R.Branyan, F.Crespo, J.Maxwell, C.Miller. T--2:43. A--6822

[MassBrew]

Mobile (Padres) 6, Huntsville 3

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Can't begin to tell you how many times Danny Bravo terrorized High Desert pitching this year and last -- now he burns the Stars. Wasn't Danny Bravo Greg Brady's alter-ego? No, wait, that was Johnny Bravo http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . An insightful comment by pitching coach Stan Kyles on Pedro Liriano included here...

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...?newsid=44

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Nothing especially impressive nor ugly here...

 GAME DATE: 4/23/03 HUNTSVILLE 3 AT MOBILE 6 YTD YTD HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG MOBILE AB R H BI AVG R.Knox LF 4 0 1 0 .263 T.Donovan CF 3 0 0 0 .200 D.Krynzel CF 4 0 1 0 .284 R.Washington 3B 4 0 1 0 .291 J.Hardy SS 3 0 0 0 .315 K.Greene SS 4 0 0 0 .247 C.Hart 3B 4 1 2 0 .300 R.Gomez LF 3 1 0 0 .300 R.Paz 2B 2 2 0 0 .234 R.Tucker PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Gemoll 1B 3 0 1 1 .254 J.Knott 1B 3 1 0 0 .205 C.Guerrero RF 4 0 1 1 .175 D.Bravo 2B 4 3 2 3 .400 M.Kremblas CAT 4 0 0 0 .125 B.Johnson RF 4 0 1 0 .119 P.Liriano PIT 2 0 0 0 .000 R.Smith CAT 4 1 3 3 .267 R.Gripp PH 1 0 0 0 .194 R.Deago PIT 2 0 1 0 .167 M.Parker PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Oxspring PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Barnwell PH 1 0 1 1 .170 A.Fernandez LF 1 0 0 0 .313 TOTALS 32 3 7 3 TOTALS 32 6 8 6 HUNTSVILLE 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1- 3 7 1 MOBILE 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2 X- 6 8 2 E--B.Gemoll, J.Knott 2. DP--HUNTSVILLE 0, MOBILE 1. LOB--HUNTSVILLE 7, MOBILE 6. 2B--C.Hart (5), C.Guerrero (2), D.Bravo (1). HR--D.Bravo (1), R.Smith (1). SB--R.Knox (9), C.Hart (4), R.Gomez (5). CS--R.Knox, D.Krynzel. SH--C.Oxspring. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HUNTSVILLE P.Liriano (L,1-3) 6.0 4 4 3 2 6 1 4.29 M.Parker 2.0 4 2 2 1 2 1 3.00 MOBILE R.Deago (W,2-0) 6.0 5 2 2 2 3 0 2.11 C.Oxspring 1.2 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.13 R.Tucker (S,5) 1.1 1 1 1 2 2 0 1.54 WP--P.Liriano, R.Deago. PB--M.Kremblas. SO--R.Knox, D.Krynzel, C.Hart 2, P.Liriano, K.Greene 2, J.Knott, D.Bravo, B.Johnson 3, R.Deago. BB--R.Knox, J.Hardy, R.Paz 2, B.Gemoll, T.Donovan, R.Gomez, J.Knott. T--2:30. A--3067

[MassBrew]

Not a lot of groundbreaking news that Jim Powell can unearth in a 3-to-4 minute pregame conversation with Farm Director Reid Nichols, but in the "Huntsville" portion of the interview Nichols indicates that he definitely sees Ben Diggins as a closer when "he is in the prime of his career". Acknowledging the constant need for starting candidates, Nichols simply felt that Diggins' consistent 94-95 MPH fastball and sharp breaking slider meet the natural prerequisites you're looking for in a closer. Powell asked about current Huntsville closer Mike Adams, and while Nichols felt he's worthy of prospect status, admitted that his stuff isn't overpowering.

[MassBrew]

Inland Empire (Mariners) 13, High Desert 9

Daryl Clark 2-for-4, HR, six RBI, sac fly; Kade Johnson's hitting streak reaches 18...

 

High Desert Site Game Summary:

RHP Ryan Miller was the only 2002 full-season Maverick pitcher to "graduate" to AA for 2003; RHP David Nolasco, 24, was the Brewers' 23rd round pick in 2001. With only 79 K in 116 IP in Ogden and Beloit the past two seasons, it'll be tough for Nolasco to avoid the fate of so many High Desert hurlers who stall at the High-A level; the trick is to overcome and hope for a quick promotion (Ben Hendrickson, Mike Adams). Huntsville's Miller and Matt Parker are among the few pitchers to survive recent full seasons with the Mavs -- MassBrew

 

ADELANTO, CA ? After a rough couple of starts to the series, the 66ers finally got a lead and held on for their first victory over the High Desert Mavericks this year. The Mavs were unable to win their third straight game, as the 66ers won by a final score of 13-9 at Mavericks Stadium on Wednesday night.

 

The 66ers took their first lead of the entire series in the fourth inning, when Greg Jacobs? infield single knocked in Shin-Soo Choo for a 5-4 lead. It was a lead they would not relinquish, as they piled on eight more runs on the Maverick pen. David Nolasco (0-1) allowed seven runs in just three innings to take the loss. Justin Gordon allowed two runs, only one earned in his three innings of work.

 

The Mavs took the early lead in the first inning, as Daryl Clark, who finished the night with a season-high six RBIs, knocked in two men with a single for a 2-0 lead. Mark Ernster also picked up a run-scoring hit, as the Mavs took a 3-0 lead after one inning off 66ers starter Jared Thomas (2-1).

 

Mavs starter Brian Mazone couldn?t hold the lead as the 66ers rallied for three runs in the top of the second, keyed by a two-run single from Eddie Menchaca.

 

The 66ers took the lead in the fourth and never looked back, adding two in the fifth and four more in the sixth. The Mavs threatened in the ninth, but closer Mike Steele came on to get the final two outs for his fourth save of the year for the 66ers.

 

They were led offensively by John Williamson, who had three hits on the night, including his first home run of the year, and a season-best four RBIs. The 66ers hit a season-high three home runs on the night, all off Nolasco.

 

The Mavs and 66ers meet for the final time in the series as Danny Kolb (0-0) takes on Cha Seung Baek (1-1) at 7:05 at Mavericks Stadium.

 

High Desert Box Score:

RF Dan Boyd reaches base four times in a 3-for-4 night...

 GAME DATE: 4/23/03 INLAND EMPIRE 13 AT HIGH DESERT 9 YTD YTD INLAND EMPIRE AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG S.Choo LF 4 2 2 1 .222 C.Morris CF 5 1 2 0 .269 I.Castro 2B 5 0 1 0 .194 J.Raburn SS 5 2 2 0 .261 G.Jacobs CF 5 1 2 2 .345 K.Johnson DH 5 1 2 2 .361 H.Brown 3B 5 0 0 0 .275 D.Clark LF 4 2 2 6 .443 C.Pagan DH 5 3 2 2 .364 B.Foster CAT 4 0 0 0 .296 J.VanMeetren 1B 4 3 2 0 .271 M.Ernster 3B 2 0 1 1 .500 J.Williamson RF 3 1 3 4 .208 R.Santana 2B 3 0 0 0 .286 L.Oliveros CAT 5 1 2 1 .347 F.Villanueva 1B 4 0 0 0 .340 E.Menchaca SS 3 2 1 2 .250 S.Candelaria 2B 2 0 1 0 .286 J.Thomas PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Candelaria 3B 3 0 1 0 .286 E.Ulloa PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Boyd RF 4 3 3 0 .242 B.Strelitz PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Mazone PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Steele PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Nolasco PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Gordon PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 39 13 15 12 TOTALS 41 9 14 9 INLAND EMPIRE 0 3 1 1 2 4 1 0 1-13 15 3 HIGH DESERT 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 0- 9 14 1 E--I.Castro, H.Brown, J.Thomas, B.Mazone. DP--INLAND EMPIRE 0, HIGH DESERT 3. LOB--INLAND EMPIRE 10, HIGH DESERT 12. 2B--S.Choo (2), C.Pagan (2), C.Morris (6), K.Johnson (7). 3B--J.Williamson (1). HR--S.Choo (3), C.Pagan (1), J.Williamson (1), D.Clark (10). SB-- J.VanMeetren 2 (3), L.Oliveros (1), C.Morris (10). HBP--D.Boyd. SF--J.Williamson, D.Clark. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INLAND EMPIRE J.Thomas (W,2-1) 5.0 6 4 4 5 5 0 4.34 E.Ulloa 2.1 6 5 5 0 3 1 19.29 B.Strelitz 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2.38 M.Steele (S,4) 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.13 HIGH DESERT B.Mazone 3.0 5 4 4 4 2 0 9.19 D.Nolasco (L,0-1) 3.0 7 7 7 2 3 3 9.82 J.Gordon 3.0 3 2 1 4 3 0 7.62 HB--J.Thomas. WP--E.Ulloa 2, B.Mazone, J.Gordon. BALKS--E.Ulloa. SO--G.Jacobs 2, H.Brown 2, C.Pagan, J.VanMeetren 2, L.Oliveros, C.Morris, J.Raburn 3, D.Clark 2, B.Foster, R.Santana, S.Candelaria. BB--S.Choo 2, I.Castro, G.Jacobs, H.Brown, C.Pagan, J.VanMeetren, J.Williamson, E.Menchaca 2, C.Morris, J.Raburn, K.Johnson, B.Foster, F.Villanueva. T--3:23. A--1044

[MassBrew]

David Weiser's Huntsville Analysis:

 

OH, THOSE ERRORS

The Stars have played 20 games so far, so I thought it's worth a peek at the numbers and see how they compare to past seasons.

 

The going concern has been, of course, the glaring number of errors the Stars have piled up in their first 10 games....... After 10, they committed a record 22 errors. Another look after 20 shouldn't be taken as an indication on what course they're on, at least in the field. Baseball, after all, is such a streaky game......... To offer an example, the rate of errors has slowed considerably. The Stars have committed just 9 errors in their last 10 games. Quite an improvement for now...... And maybe it signifies that everyone is just settling down in their positions. Getting the shakes out.

 

The errors are spread pretty evenly, except at 3rd base, as you might guess........ The combination of Corey Hart (mostly Hart) and Ryan Gripp have committed 9 errors --- the most on any team after 20 games since 1991....... The Stars are 1-3 in games in which Corey makes an error (he made two, three times). Of those losses, he committed a rare 3-base error which resulted in 2 unearned runs in a 7-6 loss to Jacksonville. In another, his error broke Luis Martinez's scoreless inning streak in a 2-0 loss........ Another error did not result in an unearned run........ There was at least one, maybe two games that I did see that I think Corey should have been charged an error, or at the very least, was sloppy in making a play, but I can't recall whether it cost the Stars the game........ I'll tell you this, though, I've seen worse. Corey, at least, isn't consistently bad as a few 3rd basemen I've seen......... The combination of Bob Bafia and Joel Chimelis didn't work in 1991 and Mark McGwire in 1986 ---- forget it! There are some regulars at the park who still remember how bad he was........

 

The Stars have been errorless in only three games through the first 20. That's a much bigger cause of concern. You can't keep playing this kind of defense and expect to win. The Stars, by the way, won all three of the games they played flawlessly in the field......... Don't want to finish without mentioning J.J. Hardy. He's been responsible for the fewest errors at shortstop in the first 20 games since 1995, when the forgotten pair of Lauro Felix and Jimmy Waggoner patroled that position in the first month.......... A detailed table of how the Stars have done after 20 games, sans any fielding comparison, is on the complementary page, where you'll discover how well our pitching has shaped up.

 

www.starsboxscore.com/standing.html

 

Danny Bravo made his first start for the Mobile Bay Bears, celebrating his promotion from Class A - Lake Elsinore (Cal.) with a big 2-for-4 day, a double and a 3-run HR in the 6th inning off Pedro Liriano, that gave the Bay Bears a permanent lead........ The line of Liriano belies his effectiveness and his efficiency. He did not even go to three balls in the count until the 5th inning, when a passed ball and an error resulted in Mobile's first run....... Bravo was promoted after driving in 17 runs in 15 games for Lake Elsinore, returning to very familiar Southern League parks, where he played as a member of the Birmingham Barons for all or parts of four seasons....... "Liriano lost his concentration when he got the two quick outs in the 6th," said pitching coach Stan Kyles. "He found out you can't relax....... He was already thinking about the 7th inning, and he never got to see it."

 

The Stars continue to hit well in the clutch, getting a 2-out RBI double from Cristian Guerrero in the 2nd and a 2-out RBI single by Brandon Gemoll in the 4th, but the Stars still failed to take advantage of some opportunities....... In the 9th, after Chris Barnwell singled in a run with 2 out, Ryan Knox struck out with runners in scoring position to end the game.

 

In the 8th, R.D. Smith hit a 2-out HR on a 1-1 pitch from Matt Parker, who has given up 4 runs in 4 innings over two relief appearances after a stunning streak of effectiveness going back to last year....... Smith had just one hit previously over his first five games.

 

I think we can put up with Hart's learning experience at 3rd base as long as he puts up numbers like these: In his last 5 games, he is 11-for-23 with 10 RBIs. So long as he puts out like this, I can ignore that he has drawn only 2 walks in his last 15 games........ Knox extended his hit streak to a season-high 12 games.

[MassBrew]

Daily Menu:

 

Central times listed...

 

INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Mark Guerra at home vs. Toledo (Tigers), 7:00 PM

 

HUNTSVILLE: RHP Ben Diggins (1.46 ERA) at Mobile (Padres), 7:05 PM

 

HIGH DESERT: RHP Dan Kolb at home vs. Inland Empire (Mariners), 9:05 PM

 

BELOIT: TBA (probably RHP Calvin Carpenter) at Lansing (Cubs), 5:05 PM; don't see an online audio link via the Lugnuts' site -- pursue for yourself if you must...

[squarepusher]

DJ Clark is playing UNCONSCIOUS baseball right now. Whatever he was doing wrong in High Desert, he's certainly doing right this year.

 

With Christian Guerrero, and to a lesser extent, Ryan Knox scuffling at AA, it has to be edvident that DJ will be the first Mav moved up this year. Guerrero will probably be given a starting corner OF job over Knox because of his last name.

 

DJ also only has only 1 error. khttp://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif b ratio is about even. I'm becoming a believer.

[igor67]

I want to believe in the power of DJ, but it's hard to know how many of those HRs are real. He's always had the discipline and a respectable average, but how much power he has will ultimately determine where he goes as a corner man. I wouldn't say that Knox is scuffling, merely not showing anything to warrant him being promoted above AA. From what I've seen he's been doing a lot of those little things and has been an asset to Huntsville, but he'd definitely go into the 4th OF category while Guerrero continues to get his last chance most likely.

[clancyphile]

Kind of odd though. Diggins is posting a 1.46 ERA, not as dominating as Luis Martinez, but in both cases, we ought to work them both as starters until they hit the wall in the rotation.

 

To paraphrase from the Luis Martinez thread, Mariano Rivera is okay, but Curt Schilling is better. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[pogokat]

you can question some of Daryl Clark's bombs....but hes got 10 now....i think he might be leading professional baseball...i mean, take away 5 of them..and he is still off to a fantastic start...batting .443 good grief...this is quite possibly the hottest a brewers player has been in the last 5 years...on any level!

[MassBrew]

Daily Press High Desert Game Story:

Before we lavish any more praise on Daryl Clark, check out some of the home/road splits mentioned here and wait for the next road trip -- still impressive however, don't get me wrong; also, here's the tale of a near-disastrous in-game fan promotion...

 

www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...533,51331,

[MassBrew]

Baseball America's Daily Tribute to Daryl & Kade:

 

HIGH DESERT (CAL) OF DARYL CLARK continued his offensive tear, driving in six runs for the Mavericks, who lost a 13-9 slugfest against the Inland Empire 66ers. Clark laced a two-run single to right field during a three-run first inning, lifted a sacrifice fly in the second and crushed his fourth homer in a many days, a three-run blast, to cap a four-run eighth frame. The 23-year-old, who was born in Germany, has now hit safely in seven straight games and, through 19 games, leads the high level Class A California League in several offensive categories, including batting average (.443), home runs (10) and RBI with 24. During his current hitting streak, the University of North Carolina-Charlotte product has scored 15 runs, notched 16 hits, crushed six homers and racked up 15 RBI.

 

C KADE JOHNSON, who is currently second in the league with 21 RBI, went 2-for-5 with two RBI to extend his hitting streak to 18 straight games. The second-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1999 draft was held hitless over his first three plate appearances before ripping an RBI double in the sixth inning and added an run-scoring single in the eighth to notch his third straight multi-RBI game.