Link Report for Games of Friday, June 22nd

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP R.A. Dickey at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Lindsay Gulin at Tennessee (Cubs), 6:00 PM pre-game; 6:10 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime; good chance it may be RHP Mike McClendon on the mound

 

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

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

 

West Virginia: LHP Brae Wright at home vs. Kannapolis (White Sox), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Helena: Just-turned 19-year-old RHP Evan Anundsen at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:55 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

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

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

[Mass Haas]

Tonight's Brewer starter, 2006 4th rounder Evan Anundsen, told Helena broadcaster Steve Wendt that he had a "dead arm" for most of his Arizona Rookie League season, but feels great now.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday'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_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_tenaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

[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 Thursday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 43 30 .589 - 26-11 17-19 W1 Iowa 41 31 .569 1.5 22-14 19-17 L1 Omaha 34 39 .466 9.0 24-12 10-27 L1 Memphis 33 41 .446 10.5 18-18 15-23 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 3 1 .750 - 3-1 0-0 L1 Tennessee 3 1 .750 - 3-1 0-0 W3 Huntsville 1 3 .250 2.0 0-0 1-3 L3 West Tenn 1 3 .250 2.0 1-3 0-0 W1 Carolina 0 3 .000 2.5 0-0 0-3 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 1 0 1.000 - 0-0 1-0 W1 Jupiter 1 0 1.000 - 0-0 1-0 W1 Vero Beach 1 0 1.000 - 0-0 1-0 W1 Daytona 0 1 .000 1.0 0-1 0-0 L1 Palm Beach 0 1 .000 1.0 0-1 0-0 L1 St. Lucie 0 1 .000 1.0 0-1 0-0 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 1 0 1.000 - 1-0 0-0 W1 Lakewood 1 0 1.000 - 1-0 0-0 W1 West Virginia 1 0 1.000 - 1-0 0-0 W1 Delmarva 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1 Greensboro 0 1 .000 1.0 0-1 0-0 L1 Hagerstown 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 L1 Hickory 0 1 .000 1.0 0-1 0-0 L1 Lexington 0 1 .000 1.0 0-1 0-0 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 2 1 .667 - 0-0 2-1 W1 Helena 2 1 .667 - 0-0 2-1 W1 Great Falls 1 2 .333 1.0 1-2 0-0 L1 Missoula 1 2 .333 1.0 1-2 0-0 L1

[parkside21]

Lately I've been getting into listening to minor league broadcasts while I'm just hanging around the house cleaning or playing MLB The Show when there is no big league game on, or before or after the Brewers games. It was great listening to Jeffress' gem last night. Thanks again for all the links Mass Haas.

 

Those first half standings sure were nice to look at the last couple months.

[DHonks]

nice to see Gamel with a homer. And does it seem like Salome is back to catching nearly fulltime? If those two keep it up, they should see Huntsville in late July or early August.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 8, Tennessee (Cubs) 1

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1234

 

Gulin Gets Job Done, Again

 

Lindsay Gulin worked seven strong innings and Huntsville broke out of its offensive doldrums in an 8-1 victory over Tennessee in the fifth of a six-game set Friday night at Smokies Park. The Stars ended a three-game losing streak and improved to 2-3 in the second half and 39-34 overall, while the Smokies dipped to 3-2 in the second half and 39-34 overall. Huntsville totaled 13 hits after being held to six or fewer in 10 of the last 14 games.

 

Adam Heether led off the second inning with a single, moved to second base on a ground ball out and scored on a two-out single by Alcides Escobar, who knocked in his first run at the double-A level. Tennessee starter Donnie Veal walked the bases loaded in the third before Lou Palmisano delivered a two-run single to extend the visitors lead to 3-0. Another Heether single loaded the bases again but Veal worked out of further trouble by striking out Brendan Katin and getting Ryan Crew to line out to center field.

 

Katin opened the sixth inning with a single, moved to second base on a Crew single and scored on a single by Escobar that knocked Veal out of the game. Gulin dropped down a bunt to advance the runners before Steve Moss followed with a two-run triple and scored on a Guilder Rodriguez base hit to make it 7-0. Katin added a solo home run in the seventh, his 12th, to complete the scoring for the Stars, who had not scored more than three runs in their last 10 games before tonight.

 

Gulin blanked the home side on three singles through six innings before the Smokies strung together three straight two-out singles in the seventh to produce their only run. Gulin walked one, fanned six and improved to 5-3 with his third straight strong outing. He has allowed only four runs over 23 innings in his last four turns. David Johnson and Marino Salas each worked a scoreless frame in relief.

 

The series wraps up on Saturday night, as southpaw Sam Narron will take the hill for Huntsville against Smokies? right-hander Justin Berg. 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:

It doesn't hurt the Brewers long-term that highly regarded Cubs LHP Donnie Veal, 22, has really struggled at AA this year; all eight position starters for the Stars had at least one base hit, and six reached base at least twice -- way to break out, at least for a game...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_tenaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Stars turn three double plays...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_tenaax_1

[Boy Jeenius]

Sarfate with 4 walks to take the loss. Jeepers, doesn't he know how hard we are all rooting for him?

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 7, Daytona (Cubs) 2

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Solid mound work, solid at the plate; Mat Gamel negates another error with his second HR; so far, everyone plays tonight, everyone hits -- like the Stars, every starter (plus the DH) with at least one base hit, again with six reaching twice; 12 ground ball outs for Manatee starter Mike McClendon, looking right at home since his promotion from West Virginia (1.42 ERA in 19 IP)...

 

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

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

[dadofandrew]

Dennis has simply completely fallen apart. One bad AFL outing, incredible Mexico, horrible ever since.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Kannapolis (White Sox) 6, West Virginia 3

You think it's a typo whenever the Power lose a game...

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

GARTRELL'S THREE RUN DOUBLE BURIES POWER

 

Stefan Gartrell?s second double on Friday night at Appalachian Power Park cleared the bases in the seventh inning and snapped a 3-3 tie as the Intimidators beat the Power 6-3 to take game two of the series.

 

Chris Carter ripped an RBI single in the top of the first inning to give Kannapolis an early lead. The Power scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the second. John Alonso doubled in the first two runs and scored later in the inning on Brad Miller?s groundout.

 

Carter led off the fourth inning with a solo home run, and Lee Cruz tied the game later in the inning on a run-scoring single.

 

In the seventh Jared Sutton issued walks to Archie Gilbert and Chris Carter before allowing a base hit to Brandon Allen to load the bases. Gartell cleared the bases with a three-run double to put the Intimidators ahead for good.

 

Justin Edwards (5-4) allowed three runs on three hits with five strikeouts over six innings and got the victory, Kanekoa Texeira (8) got the save while Sutton (0-2) was tagged with the loss. Power starter Brae Wright surrendered three runs on seven hits and struck out seven in six innings of work.

 

The Power fell to 49-21 overall and 1-1 in the second half, and the Intimidators improved to 33-39 overall and 1-1 in the second half with the win. The Power grounded into three double plays, including two inning-enders. Kenny Holmberg reached all four times up and John Alonso went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

 

The Power will continue the four game series against the Intimidators Saturday night. Right hander Alex Periard (3-1, 2.13) will start for the Power and Kannapolis will counter with right hander Jake Rasner (4-6, 6.65). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

NOTE: RHP Alex Periard will be activated from the DL prior to the game. No word yet on a corresponding roster move. It is likely that LHP's Zach Braddock and Luis Ramirez will formally be placed on the DL themselves, with Periard taking one of those spots. -- Mass

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Just-turned 21-year-old LHP Jose Romero strands two inherited runners and retires all eight men he faces...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

Brad Miller, representing the tying run in the 9th, grounded into a double play to end it; Stephen Chapman's GIDP in the 7th with two men on in the 7th hurt, too...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Tony Gwynn:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...206-22.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Final: Iowa (Cubs) 4, Nashville 2

Well, two out of three vs. the Cubs tonight isn't bad -- did you notice it was an "all-Chicago" Link Report tonight?

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for R.A. Dickey photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2403

 

Sounds Fall To I-Cubs In Homestand Finale

 

NASHVILLE ? The Nashville Sounds fell to the division-rival Iowa Cubs by a 4-2 count on Friday evening in front of 9,496 fans at Greer Stadium in the rubber match of a three-game series.

 

Despite the loss, the first-place Sounds (43-31) finished a successful homestand with five wins in seven games and maintain the best record in the Pacific Coast League.

 

Nashville lost the game despite outhitting the Cubs, 5-3. Sounds pitchers walked a season-high nine batters in the contest while striking out 11 hitters.

 

Iowa third baseman Scott Moore put the visitors on the board in the top of the third inning with a one-out solo homer to right off Sounds starter R.A. Dickey. The blast was the infielder?s ninth of the year.

 

Nashville tied the contest in the bottom of the fifth when Joe Dillon singled, moved to third on a Mike Rivera single, and scored on a J.R. Mathes two-out wild pitch.

 

The teams exchanged runs in the seventh to make it a 2-2 contest. After the Cubs grabbed the lead in the top of the frame when Moore scored from third on a passed ball charged to Rivera, the Sounds? catcher, Laynce Nix evened things in the home half of the inning by leading off with an opposite-field solo homer to left-center off Mathes, his seventh roundtripper of the year.

 

AUDIO: Laynce Nix Home Run --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...206-22.mp3

 

The Cubs broke through for a pair of runs against Nashville reliever Dennis Sarfate in the top of the eighth inning. The right-hander walked the bases loaded with one out, the third base on balls coming in intentional fashion, before Moore rolled a grounder to first base. Vinny Rottino threw wildly into left field while attempting a force out at second, allowing two runs to score on the play.

 

The Sounds brought the potential tying run to the plate with one out in the bottom of the ninth against Cubs closer Clay Rapada, but the sidewinding southpaw induced a Nix popup and a Dillon groundout to earn his team-leading 11th save in 11 opportunities for Iowa.

 

Rocky Cherry (2-0) was a beneficiary of the late Cubs rally and earned the victory after working a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.

 

Sarfate (1-5) took his fifth consecutive loss after allowing two runs (one earned) in his 1 1/3 innings of work. He did not allow a hit but walked four batters while striking out one.

 

The Nashville bullpen, which had allowed only seven runs in the club?s previous 17 games, combined to surrender three runs on the evening.

 

Dickey took a no-decision but turned in his second consecutive strong outing for Nashville. The knuckleballer allowed one run on three hits while striking out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings, his fourth quality start of the campaign.

 

The Sounds head out on a seven-game road trip tomorrow that includes stops in Round Rock, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico. PCL ERA leader Chris Oxspring (6-3, 2.87) will man the bump for Nashville in Saturday?s 7:05 p.m. CT series opener to face Express southpaw Philip Barzilla (6-5, 5.17).

 

Baseball returns to Greer Stadium on Saturday, June 30, when Nashville welcomes Round Rock for a four-game set.

 

Nashville Box Score:

If we're going to discuss Dennis Sarfate tonight, it's only fair to mention it was a surprisingly equally ugly evening for LH reliever Joe Thatcher...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Great Falls (White Sox) 10, Helena 2

Disappointing home opener...

 

Helena Box Score:

93 degrees in Helena; Evan Anundsen hit hard, but earns points for a 12-to-1 GB/FB ratio tonight -- in fact, everyone on both sides was beating it into the Kindrick Field turf; just six hits, one walk, and two HBP's for the H-Crew tonight -- they're just not cutting it at the plate after four games; after the first inning tonight, Helena had 17 hits on the season, five from Caleb Gindl; nice debuts in relief for Curtis Pasma and Robert Bryson...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

This had to be GIDP night for the organization; Anundsen allowed to pitch deep into the 6th, which skews his numbers on the night -- can't remember Helena starters going so deep into games their first time out...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...307_01.txt

 

Brewers drop home opener

By TOM COTTON, Helena Independent Record Sports Editor

 

The Great Falls White Sox made sure there was no late-inning magic for the Helena Brewers this time around.

 

After a thrilling three-game set with the Missoula Osprey, the Brewers were routed by the White Sox 10-2 Friday night in Helena's home opener.

 

The White Sox were solid in all facets of the game. Their pitching staff kept Helena's hitters at bay for the entire evening and their bats showed plenty of pop.

 

Offensively, the White Sox were powered by the bottom of their lineup with second baseman Dale Mollenhauer. Hitting in the No. 8 spot, he rapped two doubles and drove in four runs.

 

"The biggest thing is I am just relaxing," said the 17th-round pick from East Carolina. "I am getting pitches to hit and doing something with those pitches."

 

Mollenhauer's first double in the game came in the second inning and plated Great Falls' first run of the game. He took a fastball from Helena starter Evan Anundsen and drove it to the wall.

 

His second double was almost a carbon copy of the first, as he powered a fastball by Curtis Pasma to right field. That came with the bases loaded and brought home three runs.

 

That hit was the nail in the coffin for the Brewers and it spoiled a solid night for the Helena relief corps.

 

Those three runs were unearned, due to an error by shortstop Scotty McKnight with two outs earlier in the inning.

 

Pasma struck out three and walked one over two innings of work. He was lifted for Robert Bryson in the eighth inning, who struck out three over 1 1/3 innings.

 

"He has a live arm," said Helena manager Jeff Isom about Bryson. "He is a guy that is going to help us out down the road."

 

The White Sox also showed off some live arms, holding Helena to just six hits.

 

The biggest one of those came from the bat of Zach McAngus. McAngus, who last played in the Arizona League, crushed a shot over left-center field in the third inning.

 

"He is swinging the bat well lately," Isom said. "I have seen him hit for the last three months and he is capable of that."

 

That was the first home run of the young season yielded by the White Sox and they didn't give up anything else for the rest of the game.

 

Great Falls starter Kevin Skogley gave way to Leroy Hunt in the fifth. Columbia Falls native Josh Fields and Levi Maxwell closed out the game.

 

Helena scratched out three hits after McAngus' home run.

 

"They were throwing strikes and getting ahead of batters," said Mollenhauer. "That makes it tough on the other team."

 

McAngus was the only Brewer with two hits. Four White Sox collected two hits in the game. Seven Great Falls players scored at least one run.

 

"We scored two runs tonight and it wasn't quite enough," Isom said. "We can swing the bats, though."

 

The two teams will meet again tonight at Kindrick Legion Field at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central) for the second game of the three-game series.

 

George Lane, Helena Independent Record Staff Photographer

With the ball safely in his glove, Helena Brewers shortstop Scotty McKnight calmly waits for Great Falls White Sox player Greg Paiml to slide into second base during the Brewers? home opener at Kindrick Legion Field Friday.

 

http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2007/06/23/sports_top/b01062307_01.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link for Tony Gwynn photo while active, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS

 

Sounds lose to Iowa on error, passed ball

Mistakes cost shot at victory in series finale at Greer

By TYLER BLANK

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

The Nashville Sounds made two costly mistakes and walked nine in a 4-2 loss to Iowa Friday.

 

A crowd of 9,496 at Greer Stadium saw the Cubs win despite getting just three hits to close out the series and the Nashville homestand.

 

With the score tied 2-2, a throwing error by first baseman Vinny Rottino in the eighth inning allowed two runs to score. Rottino overthrew a force out at second base after the Sounds had intentionally walked the bases loaded.

 

"If we get the out there, we strike out the next guy and get out of the inning without them scoring another one," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said.

 

In the seventh inning, Sounds catcher Mike Rivera had a passed ball on a pitch by Dennis Sarfate (1-5) that allowed Scott Moore to score, giving Iowa a 2-1 lead. Sarfate had come in for reliever Joe Thatcher, who walked the bases loaded.

 

"Our relievers didn't do a very good job," Kremblas said. "Thatcher and Sarfate had some command problems."

 

Thatcher and Sarfate walked seven in 1 2/3 innings.

 

Former MBA and Tennessee standout R.A. Dickey was a bright spot for the Sounds in his return to the starting rotation. Dickey had eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings and gave up just one run ? a solo home run in the third to Scott Moore.

 

"I felt like I did pretty well," Dickey said. "I kept us in the game and that's what I was trying to do."

 

The home run was the ninth hit off Dickey this year ? a Sounds-high. Dickey rejoined the rotation after being in the bullpen since May 13.

 

An Iowa wild pitch by J.R. Mathes allowed Joe Dillon to score in the fifth inning for Nashville's first run.

 

Right fielder Laynce Nix hit his seventh home run of the year in the seventh inning to tie the game at 2-2.

 

What they said: "We made an error with the bases loaded to give them the extra run. But you've got to be able to come back and their relievers did a good job tonight." ? Kremblas

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS

 

Dickey strikes out eight in his return to rotation

By TYLER BLANK

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Former MBA pitcher and Tennessee star R.A. Dickey was happy with his return to the starting rotation in the Sounds' 4-2 loss to Iowa Friday night at Greer Stadium.

 

Dickey didn't get a decision but had eight strikeouts and allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings.

 

"I felt like I was in a good rhythm tonight, in a good tempo," Dickey said. "I feel like it was a real positive start."

 

Dickey made a spot start Sunday in Nashville's 5-2 win over Omaha, going seven innings, allowing one earned run while striking out six. The start came in relief of Yovani Gallardo, who was recently promoted to Milwaukee.

 

Dickey replaced Tim Dillard (3-4, 4.61 ERA) in the rotation.

 

While in the bullpen, Dickey was 3-0 with a 4.95 ERA in eight games. Dickey opened the season with a 1-4 record and 6.17 ERA in seven starts.

 

On a tear: Third baseman Joe Dillon has been rolling at Greer Stadium lately. He is batting .362 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs in his last 13 home games. He leads Nashville with a .337 home batting average.

 

Dillon co-leads the Pacific Coast League with 13 home runs.

 

Too close for comfort: Nashville has been involved in 40 games decided by one or two runs, which is second most in the PCL. The Sounds are 11-5 in two-run contests and 9-15 in one-run contests.

 

Walk this way: Reliever Joe Thatcher had walked three in 12 innings before walking the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh inning.

 

Gold strike: Nashville got 11 strikeouts Friday night, giving Sounds pitchers 114 in the past 11 games, which is an average of 10.4 strikeouts per game.

 

The pitching staff leads the PCL with 586 strikeouts on the year.

 

Heading west: Nashville starts a seven-game road trip tonight. The Sounds will play in Round Rock, Texas, for a four-game series, followed by a trip to Albuquerque for a three-game stand.

 

They return a week from today for a four-game homestand against Round Rock.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.knoxnews.com/kns/smok...29,00.html

 

Stars end offensive frustration against Smokies, 8-1

By NICK GATES, gates@knews.com

 

SEVIERVILLE - You know it's been a long night for the home team at Smokies Park when the crowd practices the wave.

The Huntsville Stars vented their pent-up offensive frustration against Tennessee pitching and the Southern League North Division first-half champions pounded Tennessee 8-1 in front of 5,079 to snap their three-game losing streak to the Smokies on Friday night.

 

"We kind of let the game get away in the sixth inning," Tennessee manager Pat Listach said referring to a four-run salvo by the Stars that padded Huntsville's lead to 7-0."

 

The 11-game homestand ends tonight with the finale of the six-game series.

 

The loss dropped the Smokies to 3-2 since the midseason restart.

 

Alcides Escobar, who will play for the International All-Stars in the Futures Game in San Francisco, is a smooth-fielding shortstop with offense as part of his game. He was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Steve Moss tripled in two runs for the Stars (2-3), who collected 13 hits. They managed 18 in the first four games of the series.

 

Veteran Lindsay Gulin (5-3) mesmerized the Smokies until Joe Simokaitis looped a run-scoring single in the seventh. The left-hander scattered six hits during his seven-inning stint with a walk and six strikeouts. He was aided by two of the three double plays Huntsville turned.

 

To say the starters had contrasting styles would be an understatement.

 

Tennessee's Donnie Veal is a 22-year-old left-hander whose fastball is clocked in the low 90s. The second-round pick of the Chicago Cubs in 2005 can have control issues as evidenced by his league-high 45 walks.

 

The well-traveled Gulin seems to have stunted a downward-spiraling career that included stints in Japan as well as independent ball. He was tantalizingly effective and the impatient Smokies frequently chased pitches out of the strike zone.

 

Walking the opposing pitcher is usually the kiss of death. Veal walked the bases full starting with Gulin in the third.

 

The free passes aggravated Listach but it was a pair of hits on two-strike pitches that really drew his ire.

 

"Walk the pitcher after he (Veal) was ahead two strikes and two base hits on 0-2 counts," Listach lamented. "Why work to get ahead 0-2 if you're not going to do something with it? You can't do that."

 

No-Hit Postscript: Tennessee pitcher Mark Holliman, who fired a no-hitter against Huntsville on Thursday, was the subject of good-natured ribbing by Smokies pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn and Chicago Cubs minor league pitching coordinator Alan Dunn.

 

"A.D. and I want to know if we could borrow a copy of the newspaper," Lewallyn asked Holliman. "I went through my apartment complex and there weren't any copies there and A.D. said there weren't any copies left at the Fairfield Inn, where he is staying."

 

They accused Holliman of scarfing up every copy.

 

The right-hander finally realized he'd been conned.

 

For the record, Holliman's no-hitter was the fifth under Lewallyn's watch as a minor league pitching coach.

[Mass Haas]

Helena Post-Game Show Interviews:

 

Catcher Jordan Swaydan and infielder Scotty McKnight (prior to being cut off at the end) -- KCAP audio date June 22nd, 2 hour, 52 minute mark

 

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