Link Report for Sat 7/7: Thanks for the ride, Mat (now over)

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Adam Pettyjohn at Oklahoma (Rangers), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Sam Narron at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 1:50 PM pre-game; 2:05 gametime -- it's Rickie Weeks Bobblehead Day

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Palm Beach (Cardinals), 4:50 PM pre-game, 5:00 gametime

 

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

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

 

NOTE: It's back to work for Kirk Agius and the Manatees broadcast team -- nice.

 

West Virginia: LHP Brae Wright at Lexington (Astros), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Helena: RHP Evan Anundsen at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Arizona: Idle

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday'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

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

 

Helena:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_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

 

Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Friday's action:

 

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 53 35 .602 - 29-13 24-22 W2 Iowa 48 40 .545 5.0 27-19 21-21 W2 Omaha 40 49 .449 13.5 27-16 13-33 L4 Memphis 38 51 .427 15.5 20-26 18-25 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 12 7 .632 - 6-4 6-3 W2 Tennessee 10 9 .526 2.0 7-3 3-6 L1 Carolina 8 11 .421 4.0 5-4 3-7 L1 Huntsville 8 11 .421 4.0 4-5 4-6 W1 West Tenn 6 13 .316 6.0 5-5 1-8 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 9 5 .643 - 4-4 5-1 W2 Brevard County 9 6 .600 0.5 3-2 6-4 W1 St. Lucie 7 7 .500 2.0 3-4 4-3 W2 Jupiter 6 8 .429 3.0 4-3 2-5 L1 Daytona 6 10 .375 4.0 5-6 1-4 L2 Vero Beach 3 12 .200 6.5 1-5 2-7 L12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 10 5 .667 - 5-1 5-4 L2 Lakewood 10 5 .667 - 7-2 3-3 W2 West Virginia 9 7 .563 1.5 5-3 4-4 W2 Hickory 8 8 .500 2.5 5-5 3-3 L1 Delmarva 7 8 .467 3.0 2-4 5-4 W3 Lexington 6 10 .375 4.5 5-3 1-7 W3 Greensboro 5 11 .313 5.5 4-4 1-7 W1 Hagerstown 3 12 .200 7.0 3-6 0-6 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 11 7 .611 - 7-3 4-4 W4 Helena 11 7 .611 - 3-5 8-2 W3 Billings 7 11 .389 4.0 4-5 3-6 L5 Missoula 7 11 .389 4.0 4-5 3-6 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 10 2 .833 - 8-0 2-2 W5 AZL Mariners 9 3 .750 1.0 4-1 5-2 L2 AZL Padres 7 5 .583 3.0 4-2 3-3 W3 AZL Cubs 6 6 .500 4.0 4-3 2-3 L1 AZL Rangers 6 6 .500 4.0 2-3 4-3 L1 AZL Giants 5 7 .417 5.0 3-3 2-4 L1 AZL Brewers 4 8 .333 6.0 1-5 3-3 W1 AZL Royals 4 8 .333 6.0 3-3 1-5 W1 AZL Athletics 3 9 .250 7.0 2-3 1-6 L3

[Minigoon]

The completion of the 7/3 suspended game between the BC Manatees and Palm Beach is currently playing. The regularly scheduled game will commence about 30 minutes after the completion of the 1st game. Game 2 will be a 7 inning game as is the suspended game.

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_2

[Mass Haas]

Final, completion of suspended game: Brevard County 8, Palm Beach 5

Thanks for the reminder, minigoon -- we had mentioned this earlier in the week, but then didn't get a needed reminder from any newspaper or online source this morning...

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Palm Beach at "home" in Space Coast Stadium; Game was delayed in such a way that starter Vince Perkins was able to pick things up from the second-inning delay, when the Manatees were down, 3-0; Palm Beach led at one point, 5-0, so a fine comeback victory; Mat Gamel did not play (wisely), so no impact on "the streak"; Yohannis Perez 3-for-3 with a walk (two doubles); Angel Salome a big pinch-hit two-run double, followed later with a sacrifice fly; Darren Ford, Cole Gillespie, and Ryan Barba with two-hit games, Barba with a double; closer E.J. Shanks three ground ball outs (naturally) to end it, a two-out single sandwiched within...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_2

 

Brevard County Game Log:

Things looked bleak in the 4th when the first two Manatees reached without a run scoring...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_2

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 7, Tennessee (Cubs) 1

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1261

 

Palmisano Powers Stars to Victory

 

Lou Palmisano hit a home run and drove in four to back the solid pitching of Sam Narron in Huntsville?s 7-1 victory Saturday in the last of a four-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars improved to 9-11 in the second half and 46-42 overall, while the Smokies dropped to 10-10 in the second half to fall two and a half games behind North Division leading Chattanooga, which plays later Saturday night at Mississippi.

 

Palmisano knocked in the game?s first run with a first inning sacrifice fly and Steve Moss?s solo home run in the second inning against Smokies? starter Donnie Veal made it 2-0 Huntsville. Another Palmisano sac fly in the third pushed the home team?s lead to 3-0 before Adam Heether and Brendan Katin doubled home runs later in the frame to make it 5-0. Veal was taken out after three innings, giving up five runs, four earned, on five hits to fall to 5-6 on the season with half his losses coming against the Stars.

 

Palmisano belted a two-run homer in the seventh, his seventh of the year, to finish off the scoring for the home side, which has produced at least six runs in seven of its? last nine games. Mel Stocker finished with three hits, two runs scored and two steals, while each of the top six hitters in the lineup collected at least one hit.

 

Narron blanked the Smokies through 6 1/3 innings before Tyler Colvin hit his second home run of the series to trim the Stars lead to 5-1. The southpaw gave up six hits and struck out seven over seven innings to earn his fourth win of the year. Luis Pena worked two scoreless, hitless innings to close out the win.

 

The Stars are off until Wednesday when they open a series at Chattanooga with right-hander Will Inman making the start against Lookouts? right-hander Sam LeCure. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

OF Mel Stocker 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot, two SB (now 20-for-23 in steals); Steve Moss walked three times after hitting his home run; Carlos Corporan's 111 Huntsville AB's (OPS .486) not nearly as pretty as his 80 2007 Brevard County AB's (.975 OPS); Guilder Rodriguez at shortstop, with Alcides Escobar off to Sunday's Futures Game...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

LHP Rafael Lluberes your starter in the Manatee nightcap.

[Boy Jeenius]

Has John Alonso done anything but hit since he signed? An anonymous .300 at every level he's been at. Still only 21. Hmmph.

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com:

 

Ford delivers for Manatees

 

Darren Ford delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning as visiting Brevard County topped Palm Beach, 8-5, in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader.

 

The Manatees (10-6) trailed, 5-3, in the seventh before Ned Yost and Freddie Parejo singled, Ryan Barba sacrificed and pinch-hitter Angel Salome stroked a two-run double. Ford, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored, followed with a base hit to left field.

 

Josh Wahpepah (6-4) picked up the win in relief after walking one and striking out two in two hitless innings. E.J. Shanks worked around a hit in the seventh for his eighth save with the Manatees (17th overall). Starter Vince Perkins allowed five runs on seven hits in four frames.

 

Brevard County's Mat Gamel, who is riding a Florida State League season-high 33-game hitting streak, did not play.

 

Brandon Buckman belted his second homer leading off the second and Nathan Southard and Jose Contreras each had two hits and two RBIs for the Cardinals (9-6).

 

Palm Beach starter P.J. Walters (2-1) surrendered six runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 5 2/3 frames. -- Alan Friedman/MLB.com

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 5, Lexington (Astros) 4

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER BRING THE "WRIGHT" STUFF TO LEXINGTON

 

West Virginia Power lefty Brae Wright tossed seven sensational innings at Applebee?s Park on Saturday night, retiring the first eleven batters he faced as the Power used a four run fourth inning to defeat the Lexington Legends 5-4.

 

Lexington left hander Polin Trindidad retired nine batters in a row to begin the game before allowing a leadoff walk to Charlie Fermaint in the fourth inning. Fermaint scored later in the fourth on Chuckie Caufield?s sacrifice fly. John Alonso capped the big inning with a three-run homer, his second of the week and his fourth of the season.

 

The Legends got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning with Drew Holder?s solo home run. West Virginia plated their final run of the game when Corey Bass walked Caufield with the bases loaded in the eighth inning. Tim Torres hit a solo blast in the bottom of the inning to bring the Legends within three. In the ninth, Holder?s sacrifice fly plated Jordan Parraz before Greg Buchannan?s groundout scored Brandon Caipen. The Legends had the bases loaded when Omar Aguilar struck out Eric Taylor to end the game.

 

Brae Wright (6-4) allowed a run on five hits and struck out six through seven innings in another great performance to get the win. Aguilar (7) got the save and Polin Trinidad (3-7) was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on four hits over seven innings. Trinidad had allowed only three runs over 19 innings in three previous starts against the Power.

 

The Power improved to 58-27 overall and 10-7 in the second half, while the Legends fell to 37-50 overall and 6-11 in the second half with the loss. There were no Power players with multi-hit games. Alonso led the way with three RBI and Caufield chipped in with two.

 

The Power will continue the three game series against Lexington Sunday afternoon. The Power will start right hander Alex Periard (4-1, 3.06) and the Legends will counter with right hander Bud Norris (0-3, 5.75). The first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 PM (3:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Fifth quality start in the last seven for Brae Wright...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Mat Gamel 0-for-2, just with a deep flyout; he may only get one more AB in this shortened game.

 

I'll catch you in the AM -- others tuning in (Manatee audio tonight), keep us filled in, thanks.

[Boy Jeenius]

Pasma passes the test. One semi-rough outing and 3 complete shut downs. Movin' on up son.

[molitor fan]

Sigh, it took an FSL all-star pitcher to do it, but Gamel's streak in done at 33.

 

Great job though...I just had the feeling Hart and Gamel would end their steaks on the same day.

[pogokat]

Final: Palm Beach (Cards) 2, BC 0

 

i kinda hate these 7 inning games just because you feel robbed when your team loses in a game this close...

 

Brevard Box Score:

 

Even though the hitting streak is over, give Mat credit for batting over 400 for more than a month now...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb..._pbcafa_breafa_1

 

Brevard Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb...pbcafa_breafa_1

[pogokat]

Final: Nashville 11, Oklahoma (Rangers) 3

 

Hey, a blowout on a rough night always brightens the spirits..

 

Nashville Box Score:

 

Joe Dillon is on the 40 Man...he deserves a shot at some point...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb..._nasaaa_orhaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb..._nasaaa_orhaaa_1

[hsvstarsfan]

David Weiser's

 

www.starsboxscore.com/

 

WEEKS GETS HIS BOBBLEHEAD, BUT PALMISANO HAS HIS DAY

 

Not to deny the job Sam Narron did today on the mound, or take away from remembering Rickie Weeks, whose bobblehead was given away at the gate, but the day belonged to Lou Palmisano, who snapped an 0-for-July to drive in four runs to help Narron come away with his first win since June 18..

 

Just slightly more than 1,700 showed up for about 1,500 Rickie Weeks bobbleheads on a mostly cloudy and humid 77° afternoon....... Maybe half of that crowd ever heard of Rickie Weeks and less than that ever saw him play in Huntsville, but the disattachment this city has toward its team and baseball in general has a lot to do with that. Perhaps there were too many people out at the lake today....... Perhaps The Joe can see 2,000 or more when they give away Prince Fielder bobbleheads on the 28th....... Perhaps 4,000 if they give away Jeff Gordon bobbleheads........ Maybe 5,000 or more if they can get Jesus Christ himself to show up....... The Stars office tries hard and they do all they can, but the obstacles they face to bring people in like they did in the '90s are growing more insurmountable every year the ballpark ages........ If anyone has any suggestions how to get the attendance up where it once was, send them to me, and I'll send them on to management. And if anyone in city government is listening, wake up, or you're going to lose a valuable asset to this city......... But on with the game..

 

On paper, it looked like it would be a high scoring affair with two starters with ERAs over 5.00, one that would be decided by the bullpen, one that would be decided by the long ball, but it turned into a game where one starter had his game on and the other didn't........ Sam Narron, who was clobbered by the Diamond Jaxx in his last start, and exited early in a crucial game before that one, had his best start since June 22......... When Narron's bad, he's really bad, but when he's good, the 6'7" hurler is tough. Of his 17 starts this season, seven have been quality starts, i.e., starts where he goes at least six IP and gives up three ER or less, and that's including Saturday's -- his first daytime start this year. (The Stars are now 18-8 in day games.)

 

Narron scattered a pair of hits over his first six innings -- a two-out double into the right field corner by Jake Fox in the 2nd and a slow, well-placed liner up the middle by Joe Simokaitis in the 3rd. He got the majority of his strikeouts on breaking balls. And he was economical with his pitches, never having to use more than 16 in an inning until the 7th, when he was wearing down. It was that inning that Tyler Colvin hit a curve ball -- his first pitch -- over the wall in right-center, roughly 380 feet, for the Smokies' only run of the game........ In the end, Narron threw 84 pitches, 55 for strikes (65.4%).

 

But the bigger day belonged to Palmisano, who came into the game on an 0-for-16 slump, his longest since an 0-for-17 spell early in June of last year....... His two sacrifice flies gave the Stars a 3-0 lead, sandwiching a Steve Moss HR over the Southern Jamm sign in left in the 2nd....... Thus he became the 2nd Huntsville Star this year with two in one game (Brendan Katin had two on April 23 vs. Montgomery), and the 5th in Stars history....... Adam Heether, 15-for-35 (.428) in his last nine games, and Katin capped a three-run inning to give the Stars a 5-0 lead with a double to the wall in center and a double to the gap in left, respectively.

 

Then to seal the deal in the 7th, Lou slammed a two-run HR off the Corr Wireless sign (the 2nd of three levels of signage in left) to make it 7-1 in the 7th........ With the win, the Stars (9-11) move into 3rd place in the North, past Carolina. The boys now take a rest for the All-Star break before reconvening in Chattanooga on Wednesday for a five-game series, then return home to play the Smokies again on July 17....... What a screwy schedule. The Stars saw this team, the team we were in contention with the entire 1st half, only once, and in early April at that. Now we're finally playing them -- a team in our division -- at home -- in July -- on consecutive homestands.

 

It was a victory for Sandy Guerrero, who took over as pilot today while skipper Don Money flew to San Francisco to take part in the Futures game as a coach (to be televised on ESPN, Sunday). Also missing was shortstop Alcides Escobar, whose spot at short was taken by Guilder Rodriguez, who is in an 0-for-9 slide....... Worse still is Carlos Corporan, who hasn't had a hit since June 20. He's 0-for-22. Corporan, who was promoted from Brevard County on May 2, peaked at .318 after May 12 and has gone 12-for-89 (.135) since....... Scott Sollmann, who for the first time this season Friday went hitless in consecutive games, was rested. It was his first break since June 20. No one since Bucky Jacobsen in 2001 has matched that kind of consistency, and Bucky's stay that year lasted just 27 games. Even among that great offensive team of 1997 (A's organization), only one player -- Ryan Christenson -- was able to do that ......

 

Mel Stocker raised his average almost 20 points since the start of the month with a big 3-for-5 day including a couple of steals in the 3rd that enabled Palmisano to pick up his 2nd sac fly and set off the Stars' big rally. That brought his total to 20. Callix Crabbe, who led the Stars with 32 stolen bases last year, didn't get his 20th until August...... Brendan Katin has struck out 105 times this season, but has also hit safely in nine of his last 10 games (12-for-40) with three doubles, two HRs, and 11 RBIs...... Brad Nelson, who struck out a team record 146 times in 2004, didn't register his 105th strikeout until July 29.

 

Will Inman will start the Stars' five-game series against Chattanooga after the break. He'll be followed in the rotation by Derek Miller, Lindsay Gulin, Mark DiFelice, and Narron.

 

3rd baseman Mat Gamel's 32-game hit streak was snapped Saturday, by Palm Beach pitcher Tyler Norrick, who held Brevard County to two hits over six innings as the Manatees were shut out, 2-0.

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com:

 

Norrick stifles Gamel, Manatees

 

Tyler Norrick ended Mat Gamel's hitting streak and tossed six dominant innings as Palm Beach blanked host Brevard County, 2-0, to split Saturday's doubleheader.

 

Gamel went 0-for-3 to end his 33-game run, which was the longest in the Florida State League since Joe Altobelli hit in a record 36 consecutive games in 1951.

 

Norrick (8-5), a 23-year-old left-hander, allowed only two hits and a walk while striking out six to lower his ERA to 2.96. Luke Gregerson worked around one hit while fanning two in the seventh to record his 18th save for the Cardinals (10-6), who dropped the opener, 8-5.

 

Norrick retired Gamel on a pop-up to shortstop in the first, a flyout to right in the third and another pop-up to short in the sixth.

 

James Rapoport lifted a sacrifice fly in the second and hit a run-scoring single in the sixth for Palm Beach.

 

Lorenzo Cain, Cole Gillespie and Ryan Barba had the hits for the Manatees (10-7).

 

Brevard County starter Rafael Lluberes (5-5) gave up an unearned run on eight hits while fanning three over five frames to lose for the first time since June 4. -- Alan Friedman/MLB.com

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Stars' Narron gives kin reason to smile

Cousin of fired Reds manager beats Smokies

By MARK McCARTER

Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com

 

The past week was hardly a time of joy for the Narron Family of Goldsboro, N.C.

 

On Sunday, Jerry Narron, one of eight members of the family to have played professional baseball, was fired as manager of the Cincinnati Reds.

 

On Monday, his cousin Sam Narron, a 6-foot-7 lefty for the Huntsville Stars, lasted only two innings and gave up six runs in a loss at West Tenn.

 

On Saturday, Sam brought back a little sunshine.

 

With the real estate mantra of "location, location, location," Narron pitched seven strong innings, striking out seven and allowing only six hits to lead the Stars over the Tennessee Smokies 7-1. The Stars have won three in a row going into the three-day All-Star break.

 

Despite Narron's struggles on Monday, pitching coach Rich Sauveur noted his two previous games had also been "outstanding. He just needs to pitch like that the rest of the half."

 

Catcher Lou Palmisano, in what he described as a "mini-rut" (0-for-17), jacked a two-run homer in the seventh after driving in a pair of runs early on two sacrifice flies. Steve Moss had a solo homer in the second and Brendan Katin and Adam Heether had RBI doubles in a three-run third.

 

Mel Stocker collected two stolen bases and daringly scored on Palmisano's first sac fly, in shallow left.

 

The Smokies are an aggressive team at the plate, making them even more vulnerable to Narron's off-speed pitches and modest fastball. He has a 1.29 ERA against Tennessee, with a 2-1 record and 14 strikeouts in 21 innings.

 

"I tend to do better against teams like that because I can change speeds, if I have command of my fastball," he said.

 

Narron, who sat out 2005 after elbow surgery and spent much of last year working out of the bullpen or starting with a limited pitch count, now feels as if he is pitching "with the reins off." Still, he dropped his first three decisions and had an ERA above 6 when he finally collected his first win, with eight innings of shutout ball May 4 against West Tenn.

 

"It's been up-and-down to say the least," Narron said. "I think we're on the upslope now."

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Laynce Nix photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2437

 

Nix Homers Twice, Sounds Rout RedHawks

 

OKLAHOMA CITY ? Laynce Nix went 4-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs to lead the Nashville Sounds to an 11-3 rout of the Oklahoma RedHawks on Saturday evening at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.

 

It was the third straight victory for the Sounds (54-35), who continue to lead the PCL American Conference Northern Division by five games.

 

Nix, who played for the RedHawks during the 2005 & 2006 seasons, paced a 15-hit Nashville attack that also included three-hit efforts from Chris Barnwell and Joe Dillon.

 

Oklahoma grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Freddy Guzman scored on a Nate Gold sacrifice fly.

 

The Sounds rallied for four runs in the top of the third inning against RedHawks starter Mike Wood, highlighted by run-scoring singles from Barnwell and Brad Nelson, who extended his longest hitting streak of the year to 11 games.

 

The RedHawks pulled within a run in the bottom of the frame with a pair of runs against Adam Pettyjohn, including a Guzman solo homer ? the outfielder?s fourth roundtripper of the year.

 

Nashville pulled ahead 8-3 in the fifth with another four-run inning against Wood. Nix plated the first score with an RBI double before scoring on Dillon?s team-leading 18th longball of the season, a two-run shot to left that was his second blast in as many games against Oklahoma. Vinny Rottino scored the inning?s fourth run in unearned fashion following a Wood throwing error.

 

AUDIO: Nix Doubles Off The Wall --

 

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

 

The Sounds reached double digits in the sixth when Nix belted a two-run homer off RedHawks reliever Steven Rowe, the outfielder?s 10th four-bagger of the season. The blast increased the Nashville lead to 10-3.

 

Nix went deep again in the eighth for Nashville, swatting a one-out solo homer to right off Chris Baker to notch the Sounds? eighth multi-homer game of the season (his first). The home run, Nix?s 12th of the year, brought the score to its final 11-3.

 

Pettyjohn (4-2) picked up the victory for the Sounds after allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits in five innings of work.

 

Wood (7-2), who entered the game with a Pacific Coast League-leading 2.44 ERA, was hammered for eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits in five frames to take the loss for the RedHawks.

 

The teams wrap up the series with a 2:05 p.m. CT finale on Sunday afternoon. All-Star right-hander Chris Oxspring (6-5, 3.84) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Oklahoma right-hander Alfredo Simon (3-7, 6.56).

[Mass Haas]

Final: Billings (Reds) 4, Helena 0

 

Helena Site Game Summary:

 

Mustangs shut out Brewers

 

HELENA -- Helena entered the evening off a three-game road sweep of Billings, but Mustang pitcher Luis Montano shut down the Brewers offensive production Saturday night. Montano threw eight shutout innings and allowed just five hits as Billings defeated Helena 4-0.

 

Billings scored three runs in the third inning and one more in the fourth inning, but the Mustangs needed just one run to defeat the quiet Brewer bats. Helena starter Evan Anundsen took the loss; he gave up six hits and four runs, and struck out six over five innings. Brewers reliever Curtis Pasma tossed four scoreless innings for another impressive relief stint. Pasma allowed two hits and struck out four Mustangs. Pasma also threw four shutout innings during his last outing July 2 against Great Falls.

 

Brewer left fielder Mike Goetz had the only multi-hit game of the night for the home squad going 2-for-3. Other Helena hitters who recorded a single hit included Lee Haydel, Jordan Swaydan, and Zach McAngus.

 

The loss drops Helena to 11-8 while Billings improves to 8-11. The Brewers will try to tie the series at 4:05 PM Sunday (5:05 Central) when they play host to the Mustangs.

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...807_01.txt

 

Brewers blanked by Billings Mustangs

By TOM COTTON, Helena Independent Record Sports Editor

 

Luis Montano provided the calm after the storm for the beleaguered Billings Mustangs pitching staff Sat-urday night.

 

The right-hander from the Dominican Republic silenced the Helena Brewer bats, giving up five hits in a 4-0 Billings win.

 

Montano, a free agent signee for Cincinnati in 2003, located his spots well, got ahead the count and mixed his pitches in eight innings of work.

 

"I liked what I saw," Brewers' manager Jeff Isom said of Montano. "He used both sides of the plate and just dominated our bats."

 

The Brewers never got a runner past second base in the game and this came on the heels of a three game sweep of Billings in the Magic City.

 

Helena scored 29 runs in the final two games of that series.

 

This game was just the second start of the season for Montano and he lowered his ERA to 2.22 after the outing.

 

He had to cool his heels for a while before game got underway.

 

Heavy rains and a howling wind greeted fans at the beginning of the contest and caused a 20-minute delay.

 

Once the game started, it took a while for both teams' bats to get warmed up.

 

Helena starter Evan Anundsen set down Billings in order and Montano followed suit, shutting down the Brewers 1,2,3 in the bottom of the first.

 

Anundsen was very solid throughout, allowing just two earned runs over five innings.

 

In the third, Billings got on the board when Michael Jones scored on a groundout.

 

Brandon Menchaca scored later in the inning on a double by Brandon Waring. Waring came home on a single by Michael McKinnon

 

The next inning, the Brewers gave up an unearned run when Jason Bour scored thanks to an error by Matt Cline. That was their second error of the game.

 

"In the third and fourth we gave them extra outs," Isom said. "It's hard enough to get three outs."

 

The four runs put up in those two innings were more than enough for Billings, who controlled the contest the rest of the way. Montano was sharp until he was replaced in the ninth by Scott Gaffney.

 

Curtis Pasma pitched well in relief for Helena.

 

Mike Goetz was the only Helena player with two hits. Fulton Kendrick had two hits for Billings.

 

Despite the loss, Helena remains in a first-place tie with Great Falls in the Pioneer League North Division standings.

 

The White Sox fell to Missoula Saturday night.

 

Billings and Helena will meet again today at 4:05 PM (5:05 Central) for the second game of their three-game set.

 

Helena Box Score:

UW-Milwaukee's Mike Goetz a 1.022 OPS in his first 12 Helena games...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Click on the "Katie King" link at the Lexington site to see LHP Brae Wright -- it's the Legends site, so unfortunately, you see the home run he gave up in a stellar effort:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p?sid=t495

[Mass Haas]

Helena KCAP Audio Pre-Game Interview with infielder Matt Cline:

Be sure you're on the July 7th archive, then go to the 20:00 minute mark --

 

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