Link Report Fri. 7/6 -- Gamel's Double Extends Streak to 33

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 14, Billings (Reds) 8

 

Helena Box Score:

40 hits in two games for the H-Crew; is this Arizona Rookie? 102 degrees in Montana; folks still can't touch closer Robert Bryson, shaping up as a nice DFE signing; remember how anemic these batting averages were after week one of the season? Jonathan Lucroy bringing back memories of Lou Palmisano's Pioneer League stint, on base five times; enjoy the linescores here --

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

 

More DP fun:

 

Billings Bottom 7th

 

- Justin Tordi singles on a ground ball to left fielder Mike Goetz. Michael McKennon scores. Kyle Maunus to 2nd.

- With Tyler Hauschild batting, Kyle Maunus steals (1) 3rd base.

- Tyler Hauschild pops out to first baseman Eric Newton in foul territory.

- With Michael Jones batting, wild pitch by Corey Frerichs, Justin Tordi to 2nd.

- Michael Jones flies into double play, right fielder Kurt Crowell to shortstop Matthew Cline. Justin Tordi doubled off 2nd.

 

***

We really hadn't provided any information on OF Kurt Crowell since draft day. Reader "molitor fan" gives us the following:

 

Crowell, who helped Cal State L.A. reach the NCAA Division II Championships and a spot in the national semi-finals, hit .340 for the Golden Eagles this past season with 12 home runs and 57 runs batted in. Crowell earned first-team ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region honors as well as Gold Glove recognition from that organization. He also earned first-team All-California Collegiate Athletic Association honors.

[Mass Haas]

I wonder if Luis Guerrero is related to Cristian/Vlad? He's from the same town in the Dominican.

 

We checked with the Brewers, and it doesn't appear so. Nor Mike and Sandy, Brewer organizational coaches.

[Boy Jeenius]

Well, because Parra got pushed back a day, I decided to stay in OKC one more day and go to the game tonight. I walked out and watched Parra warm up in the bull pen, and he was having trouble locating his breaking ball. He looked ok, but not razor sharp. He could not get the breaking ball over for a strike early on, and they got some good rips on him off his fastball. But once he found the duece, it was lights out. He was consistent 93/94 on fastball, 84 on the curve and an amazing 73 on his change up. When he had all 3 clicking, they had no chance.

I was VERY suprised that Tim Dillard threw as hard as he did. He was 93/94 with the fastball tonight. Unfortunately, I had to leave at 9pm to drive back to Dallas, so I did not see Dillard give up the run, nor see Aquino strike out the side.

NOTE: Callix Crabbe, playing RF tonight, made one of the best catches I have ever seen in my 45+ years going to the ball yard. Full extension diving backhanded catch into the RC gap to rob the guy of a triple. He also showed a average to above average arm in right, nearly throwing out Cruz going 1st to third on a hit. I was sitting 1st row by the dugout again and told him "nice catch Callix" as he came in. He stopped, gave me a big smile and said "thank you" as he tipped his cap to me. Nice gesture indeed.

By the way, Cruz had 2 opportunities to show off his arm and did not disappoint. Nashville, of course, knew his arm and did not run on him. He has an absolute cannon, and is dead on accurate.

Dillon's HR went all the way out of the stadium and into the parking garage behind the field. Left fielder did not even move.

Vinnie looked more than passable behind the dish, and swung the bat well too.

Brad Nelson just missed 2 HR's, wrapping a ball just outside both the left and right field foul poles. They were both way out of the yard. Then later he legged out an infield hit to extend his hitting streak.

That's all I can remember, so off to some sack time. Ni-night.

[Mass Haas]

Thanks, Boy Jeenius, for the first-hand report!

 

Helena KCAP Audio Pre-Game Interview with Assistant Director - Player Development/Training Center Tony Diggs:

Be sure you're on the July 6th archive, then go to the 5:00 minute mark --

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.billingsgazette.net/a...ounded.txt

 

Helena rocks Mustangs 14-8 to complete 3-game sweep

By MIKE SCHERTING

Of The Billings Gazette Staff

 

The good news is the Cincinnati Reds have signed their supplemental first-round pick, Todd Frazier of Rutgers, and he's scheduled to join the Billings Mustangs today in Helena.

 

The bad news? He's not a pitcher.

 

The Mustangs' staff could use a boost after yielding double-digit runs for the sixth time in the last eight games Friday night. This time the Helena Brewers clubbed 21 hits - nine for extra bases - in beating the Mustangs 14-8 at Cobb Field and completing a three-game sweep.

 

The numbers haven't been pretty the last two nights: Helena scored 29 runs on 40 hits. The Mustangs scored 22 runs on 27 hits the last two games, but all that wasn't enough to prevent them from losing their fifth straight.

 

"The old saying in baseball goes that winning's contagious, losing's contagious, pitching's contagious, hitting's contagious," said Mustangs manager Joe Kruzel, whose club has dropped eight of its last nine games. "Right now we're just not playing very good baseball all-around."

 

There's another number to consider. The Pioneer League reached the midway point of the first half of the season and the Mustangs find themselves four games out of first place in the North Division with 18 games to go. With three more games against the first-place Brewers starting tonight in Helena, the Mustangs feel there's plenty of time to right the ship.

 

"We just have to play better, that's all there is to it," said Mustangs first baseman Michael McKennon, who had two hits and drove in two runs. "We've got a good team, it's just a matter of doing what we're capable of. We've just got to play. It's been a rough stretch."

 

The Brewers struck early and often Friday night and it looked like the game might be a rout. But after trailing 6-0, the Mustangs put up four runs in the third and two more in the fourth to tie the score.

 

Helena, though, answered right back with a three-run fifth for a 9-6 lead and scored four more times in the top of the ninth after the Mustangs were within 10-8.

 

None of the four Mustangs pitchers escaped unscathed. Jeremy Horst, the second of the four, gave up three runs in 2 1/3 innings to pick up the loss.

 

Eric Farris drove in four runs for the Brewers, while Kurt Crowell and Mike Goetz both homered.

 

Pitching help could be right around the corner in the form of Scott Carroll, a third-round selection from Missouri State who joined the Mustangs after signing with the Reds. But Kruzel said Carroll, who had a 2.93 ERA with 81 strikeouts in 89 innings at Missouri State, won't be ready for at least a week, possibly up to 10 days.

 

"We're just having a tough time of locating the ball down right now," Kruzel said. "When you face good hitting teams - which Helena is a very, very good hitting team - they're going to make you pay for the mistakes you made. That's the thing we've run into is every mistake we make is hit extremely, extremely hard."

 

NOTES: Both teams turned three double plays. ... Anthony Romero was the third pitcher of the night for the Mustangs, meaning he's been removed from the rotation. Luis Montano (3-0) will take his place. ... Kruzel said Frazier, a shortstop who hit 22 home runs with 65 RBIs at Rutgers, likely won't join the lineup until after Tuesday's off day. ... Infielder Eli Rimes had surgery Friday on a broken hand he suffered in Missoula. He'll be out four to six weeks. ... Kel Jones had three hits for the Mustangs. ... Brewers closer Rob Bryson was the only pitcher in the game not to allow a run. He struck out three in two innings to pick up his third save.

 

PAUL RUHTER / Billings Gazette Staff

Helena's Matt Cline throws to first base for a double play to end the first inning as the Mustangs' Brandon Menchaca makes a late slide into second base.

 

http://images.townnews.com/billingsgazette.net/content/articles/2007/07/07/sports/local/20-pounded.jpg

[Mass Haas]

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Stars' bats come back vs. Smokies

Huntsville defense also steps up in 5-3 victory

By SKIP VAUGHN

For The Huntsville Times, skip.vaughn@htimes.com

 

It's an hour before game time Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville Stars left fielder Michael Brantley is sitting in front of his locker while a few other players mill around the dressing room.

 

The memory of the previous night's shutout loss to the Tennessee Smokies lingers, but it's another night and another chance against the Smokies.

 

"Just put the bat on the ball hard," Brantley says when asked his pregame thoughts. "Just try to hit 'em where they ain't."

 

He did just that and the Stars beat Tennessee 5-3 before an announced crowd of 2,515.

 

Brantley had an RBI hit, scored two runs and threw out a runner at home. His catch and assist completed an inning-ending double play in the seventh, one of the Stars' season-high four double plays on the night.

 

"We had a turnaround from yesterday which is always a plus," said Brantley, who went 2-for-4. "And hopefully we'll go on and win the series."

 

Adam Heether went 2-for-3 with a triple and scored two runs for the Stars.

 

"It's always good for a team that only gets two hits the previous night to come back and rally," Heether said.

 

Left-handed starter Derek Miller, making his Stars debut, went six innings with four strikeouts and allowed three runs, eight hits and four walks. Steve Hammond (4-7) got the win and Marino Salas earned his 15th save.

 

"I think they did a very nice job," Stars pitching coach Rich Sauveur said. "They made some quality pitches in some key situations. I thought Derek did a very nice job in his first game at Double-A."

 

Stars manager Don Money credited both pitching and hitting for the win. Money will miss today's game because he's flying to San Francisco this morning to help coach the U.S. squad in the Futures Game on Sunday during All-Star weekend.

 

"The pitchers held them down to three runs," Money said. "And we came back with the hitters and scored three runs (after trailing 3-2). So it was a combination of both."

 

Heether slammed a leadoff triple in the second and scored on Brantley's single up the middle for the game's first run against Tennessee's Mark Holliman (7-7). Brantley advanced to second on a wild pitch, went to third on Carlos Corporan's sacrifice bunt and scored on Alcides Escobar's sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.

 

Tennessee tied the score 2-all in the fourth on Matt Craig's two-run double. Gary Cates and Jake Fox both walked and scored on Craig's hit to center. Craig scored on Chris Robinson's double for a 3-2 Smokies lead.

 

Heether got a leadoff single in the seventh and advanced to second on Brantley's bunt single. Corporan moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt, and Escobar singled home Heether for a 3-all tie. Brantley scored on Ryan Crew's fielder's choice grounder for a 4-3 Stars lead. Escobar scored on Hernan Iribarren's sacrifice fly.

 

The Stars (8-11) and Smokies (10-9) are scheduled to play again today at 2:05 p.m. at Joe Davis Stadium with a "Rickie Weeks Bobblehead" promotion. Scheduled starters, both left-handers, are Huntsville's Sam Narron (3-6, 5.15) and Tennessee's Donnie Veal (5-5, 5.33).

[Mass Haas]

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www.wvgazette.com/section...2007070648

 

Jeffress back on track

First-round pick stifles Asheville in 8-2 Power victory

By Tommy R. Atkinson

Charleston Gazette Staff Writer

 

Friday night was important both personally and professionally in the young career of West Virginia Power pitcher Jeremy Jeffress.

 

First and foremost was the fact the 19-year-old right-hander needed to get back on track. After reeling off four straight victories, the South Boston, Va., resident has posted an 0-2 record in his last two starts, both of the ugly variety.

 

Secondly, Doug Melvin, the general manager of the parent Milwaukee Brewers, was at Appalachian Power Park and there?s nothing like impressing the boss who made you the team?s No. 1 selection in the 2006 June amateur draft.

 

Jeffress didn?t disappoint Friday, leading the Power to a dominating 8-2 victory over the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists in a South Atlantic League game. A crowd of 5,197 attended on fireworks night.

 

Jeffress (5-2) allowed an earned run on three hits in six innings, mixing in an overpowering fastball that regularly topped 90 mph with sharp curveballs and changeups. He struck out six, four of which had opposing batters watching the ball into the catcher?s glove, and walked a pair.

 

In Jeffress?s last outing, he surrendered six earned runs on seven hits in four innings. Before that was a disastrous start in which he didn?t get out of the first inning, giving up five earned runs on four hits.

 

Power pitching coach John Curtis, a former major leaguer, said it was beneficial in Jeffress?s development to work through his problems under the bright lights Friday.

 

?This is really a level where they?re meeting failure for the first time,?? said Curtis. ?They?re used to seeing a lot of swings and misses. He?s had to adjust to the fact [opposing batters are] going to lay wood on the ball, but you can?t be afraid of it. He?s not backed up an inch when that?s happened to him.??

 

The 6-foot, 175-pound Jeffress ran into trouble in the second and third innings, but navigated out of danger. Jeffress walked the first two batters in the second, but induced a groundout before fanning the last two hitters.

 

In the third, Jeffress recorded the first two outs on five pitches before giving up a triple to Asheville?s Hector Gomez, then Daniel Mayora followed with a run-scoring single to hand the Tourists a 1-0 lead.

 

After a balk moved Mayora to second, Jeffress didn?t get flustered and battled Asheville?s Michael Paulk before forcing a groundout on the sixth pitch to keep the inning from getting out of hand. Jeffress retired the final nine batters in order over his last three innings.

 

?It was an overpowering fastball early, but from the third on [it was] a mix of the curveball and changeup,?? Curtis said. ?His ability to mix [up his pitches] and take the pressure off the fastball I thought was exceptional.??

 

Andrew Lefave?s ground-rule RBI double in the bottom of third tied the game for the Power at 1-all. The Power plated six runs in the fifth, highlighted by John Alonso?s three-run double off the center-field wall, for a commanding 7-1 advantage.

 

Power relievers J.T. King, Jose Romero and Matt Kretzschmar shut down Asheville the rest of the way, combining to allow just one run on three hits in three innings.

 

Curtis said Jeffress?s career path to the major leagues is on similar track as that of former Power pitcher Yovani Gallardo, who made his major league debut last month with the Brewers after spending 2005 in Charleston.

 

?All the stuff is there,?? said Curtis of Jeffress. ?This kid can pitch.??

 

The Power (9-7) will play at the Lexington (Ky.) Legends at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central) in the first game of a three-game series. After an off day Tuesday, the Power returns home Wednesday for a brief three-game homestand with the Hickory (N.C.) Crawdads.

 

Power points

 

The Brewers chose Power manager Mike Guerrero to pitch to All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder in Major League Baseball?s Home Run Derby Monday. The competition will be televised live on ESPN from AT&T Park in San Francisco. Guerrero was Fielder?s hitting coach in 2003 at Class A Beloit (Wis.). ... Wheeler Bob was honored before Friday?s game as the second selection into the Power?s Wall of Fame. Wheeler Bob, who has been hawking his baseball wares in Charleston for 21 years, was presented with a plaque. The first selection was Rod ?The Toastman?? Blackstone. The team is planning to induct four more before the season?s end based on fan voting.

 

Charleston Gazette Photographer: Chris Dorst

Power shortstop Brent Brewer fires to first to complete a double play over Asheville?s Mike McHenry Friday night at Appalachian Power Park. Power second baseman Jimmy Mojica backs up the play.

 

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/dblplay.jpg

[Mass Haas]

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Garrison upstages streaking Gamel

By Danny Wild / Special to MLB.com

 

Steve Garrison flirted with a no-hitter and Mat Gamel extended his hitting streak to 33 games Friday as the Brevard County Manatees blanked the Jupiter Hammerheads, 3-0.

 

Garrison (5-4) did not allow a hit until James Guerrero doubled with one out in the bottom of the sixth. He ended up pitching a career-high 7 2/3 innings and gave up two hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.

 

The win was the 20-year-old left-hander's first in five starts since June 8. It may have been his best effort since allowing two hits over six scoreless frames for Class A West Virginia last Aug. 27.

 

Lorenzo Scott Jr. tried to break up the no-hitter with a leadoff bunt attempt in the sixth, but Garrison threw him out to keep it alive -- briefly. Guerrero followed with a line drive to left, then singled again in the eighth to chase the New Jersey native.

 

E.J. Shanks hit Kris Harvey but struck out Andrew Jenkins to end the inning.

 

Garrison, the Milwaukee Brewers' 10th-round pick in 2005, went 7-6 with a 3.45 ERA in 17 games for West Virginia last season.

 

Gamel stretched his hitting streak when he lined a two-run double in the first inning to give the Manatees a 2-0 lead. He later scored on Chris Errecart's single.

 

The 21-year-old third baseman is three games shy of matching the longest hitting streak in Florida State League history, set by Joe Altobelli in 1951. Gamel is 7-for-18 in July following a month in which he batted .421 with 12 doubles, four triples, two homers and 20 RBIs in 26 games.

 

Hammerheads starter Chris Volstad (7-7) allowed three runs on five hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in seven inning. It was his second loss in eight outings since May 22.

 

Steve Garrison had just one win in his previous eight starts before Friday's gem. (Photo by Jerry Hale/MLB.com)

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/07/07/EZjBvFDx.jpg

[brewmann04]

The Best news about JJ pouting last night is his development of the Curve and Change up. Sounds like he turning into a complete pitcher.

[Mass Haas]

The Best news about JJ pouting last night

 

Before folks read that incorrectly, our New York-based Brewer fan refers to Jeremy Jeffress as JJ, and he meant to type JJ's outing, not JJ pouting http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .