Link Report for Games of Saturday, August 4th

[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 Portland (Padres), 8:50 PM pre-game; 9:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Derek Miller at Mississippi (Braves), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: LHP Brae Wright at home vs. Vero Beach (Devil Rays), 4:45 pre-game, 5:00 gametime

 

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

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?cid=503&sid=t503

 

West Virginia: RHP Alex Periard at Rome (Braves), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime

 

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

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

 

Helena: RHP Robert Bryson makes his first start after 11 dominant relief outings, at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Arizona: TBD at the Mariners' complex in Peoria, 7:00 PM local time in Arizona, 9:00 Central; never any audio for Arizona Rookie League games

[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:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_nasaaa_poraaa_1

Huntsville:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_hunaax_msbaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_vbdafa_breafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

West Virginia:

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_wvaafx_romafx_1

 

Helena:

 

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_grfrok_helrok_1

 

Arizona:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_brrrok_mrnrok_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 Friday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 68 45 .602 - 37-17 31-28 L1[/b] Iowa 62 52 .544 6.5 36-23 26-29 W2 Omaha 57 57 .500 11.5 36-18 21-39 W3 Memphis 47 67 .412 21.5 26-34 21-33 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 24 17 .585 - 13-7 11-10 W2 Chattanooga 23 19 .548 1.5 12-10 11-9 L1 Tennessee 22 20 .524 2.5 15-7 7-13 L1 Carolina 20 21 .488 4.0 12-9 8-12 W1 West Tenn 16 25 .390 8.0 9-16 7-9 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 22 16 .579 - 12-7 10-9 W2 Palm Beach 19 21 .475 4.0 11-14 8-7 L2 Jupiter 17 20 .459 4.5 9-6 8-14 L5 Daytona 18 23 .439 5.5 10-11 8-12 W2 St. Lucie 17 22 .436 5.5 6-12 11-10 W3 Vero Beach 10 27 .270 11.5 5-13 5-14 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hickory 25 16 .610 - 15-9 10-7 L2 Lake County 21 19 .525 3.5 10-11 11-8 L1 Lakewood 21 19 .525 3.5 12-8 9-11 W2 Greensboro 20 22 .476 5.5 12-7 8-15 L1 Lexington 19 23 .452 6.5 12-10 7-13 L1 West Virginia 19 23 .452 6.5 10-9 9-14 L2 Delmarva 18 23 .439 7.0 6-15 12-8 L1 Hagerstown 13 28 .317 12.0 8-13 5-15 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 3 2 .600 - 2-0 1-2 W2 Missoula 3 2 .600 - 2-0 1-2 W2 Billings 2 3 .400 1.0 2-1 0-2 L2 Helena 2 3 .400 1.0 2-1 0-2 L2 

[Mass Haas]

Arizona League Standings:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...;period=h2

[TheCrew07]

I'll probably tune in and listen to Bryson's start, but I like Periard too.

[wvpowerblkwel]

Where has all the Power (hitting that is) gone? Can't wait for these guys to get home....hopefully the bats will come alive again...any chance on us seeing LaPorta this year? Mass....it is great to see Axe hanging out along side of your name!

[TheCrew07]

Rough start to the game for Bryson, 3ER through 4. Of course I missed the start of the game because the because the Brewer game got interesting...

 

edit... dang he had some tough luck after reviewing the game log, he's given up a bunch of hits but a BB and HBP came around to score, and the other run scored on a Balk, that's a tough outing for his first start. Then as I'm typing this Pasma gives up back to back no doubters to center and left, Helena down 5-0.

[colbyjack]

Final: Vero Beach 4, Brevard County 5

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary:

 

Link, text follows

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_wra&gid=2007_08_04_vbdafa_breafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Gamel lifts Manatees

Mat Gamel stroked a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh inning as Brevard County edged visiting Vero Beach, 5-4, on Saturday.

 

Anderson De La Rosa and Darren Ford singled before Lorenzo Cain's run-scoring base hit in the seventh cut the Manatees' deficit to 4-3. Gamel followed with a single to right field off reliever Chris Kelly (3-4).

 

It was the only hit for the 22-year-old third baseman, who has homered twice and driven in five runs in his last three games.

 

Chris Errecart's run-scoring single put the Manatees (23-16) on the board in the first and Cole Gillespie added an RBI groundout in the sixth.

 

Reliever Josh Wahpepah (8-4) won his seventh straight decision after walking four and fanning two in three hitless innings before Kevin Roberts fanned one in a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save. Brevard County starter Rafael Lluberes yielded four runs -- three earned -- on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five frames.

 

Kelly (3-4) gave up a run on three hits with a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings. Devil Rays starter Jeff Kamrath surrendered two runs on three hits and four walks while fanning two in 5 2/3 frames.

 

Sergio Pedroza slugged a three-run homer, his team-leading 16th, for the Devil Rays (10-28).

 

Brevard County Boxscore:

No extra base hits for the Manatees hitters, but Gamel is on base three times, and Cain chips in a couple of hits and a couple of runs. Josh Wahpepah and Kevin Roberts do an excellent job pitching 4 combined scoreless innings to allows the 'Tees to win this game late.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_vbdafa_breafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game Log:

The 7th inning was the big one for Brevard County in this game, with Mat Gamel getting the big hit driving in 2 of the 3 runs that came in this frame. Wahpepah and Roberts make quick work of Vero Beach in the 8th and 9th innings after the Manatees took the lead.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_04_vbdafa_breafa_1

[colbyjack]

Final: West Virginia 1, Rome 3

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER DROP THIRD STRAIGHT

Brent Brewer hit his third homerun of the road trip at State Mutual Stadium on Saturday night, but it wasn't enough for the West Virginia Power to overcome Rome right-hander Jamie Richmond who retired 15 batters in a row and sent the Power to their third straight loss as Rome took the second game of the series 3-1.

 

Brewer hit his homerun in the top of the third inning to give the Power their first lead of the series. The homer was his ninth of the season. With two outs and runners on first and third in the bottom of the fifth, Brad Miller had trouble handling a ground ball off the bat of Yohan Silva which allowed Chase Fontaine to score the tying run.

 

Fontaine struck again in the seventh with a one out triple. Robert Marcial then executed the squeeze as he laid a bunt down the first base line and scored Fontaine to give the Braves the lead. Rome added an insurance run in the eighth inning on a two out RBI single from Tyler Flowers.

 

Jamie Richmond (6-5) allowed a run on six hits over seven and two thirds to get the win, Tyler Wilson (5) held the Power scoreless through an inning and a third to secure the save and Alex Periard (5-5) was tagged with the loss despite an outstanding performance. Periard allowed two runs, one earned on three hits over seven innings.'

 

The Power fell to 67-43 overall and 19-23 in the second half, while the Braves improved to 52-60 overall and 23-19 in the second half with the win. Andrew Lefave and Brent Brewer both had multi-hit games for the Power. Brewer went 2-for-4 with a single and a homerun while Lefave went 2-for-4 as well with a pair of base-hits.

 

The Power will continue the four game series against the Rome Braves at State Mutual Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Power will start right hander Chris Toneguzzi (4-2, 6.23) and the Braves will counter with right hander Chris Vines (1-0, 2.00). The first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM.

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Brent Brewer with 2 hits tonight, including his 9th dinger of the year, which accounted for the only Power run of the game as the bats continue to be silent. The lack of offense spoils another strong start by Alex Periard, who goes 7 innings to pick up the hard-luck loss.

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_wvaafx_romafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

The Power had a few chances to score more runs in the first three innings, and manage only 2 baserunners from the 4th inning on.

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_04_wvaafx_romafx_1

[colbyjack]

Final: Huntsville 6, Mississippi 5

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Katin collects two hit, including his 19th home run of the year, always an impressive feat in the Southern League. Plenty of happy lines for the Stars offense on the night, including a big 3-hit, 4 RBI night for the surging Adam Heether, who also draws a walk. Steve Sollmann also with 3 hits, as the Stars pound out 15 hits in total. Derek Miller picks up his 4th consecutive win with another strong performance despite giving up 2 solo shots. Luis Pena picks up his 7th save on the year, his 5th in his last 9 appearances.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_hunaax_msbaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Despite staying hot with 2 hits, Iribarren gets thrown out twice on the basepaths, once trying to steal, the other time trying to stretch a double into a triple. Overall Don Money definitely has carried his aggressive approach on the basepaths to the Stars, which likely cost them a few extra runs in this one. They made up for this in the 7th, taking advantage of an error and a few walks, scoring 4 runs in the frame, 3 of which courtesy of Adam Heether's base-clearing triple. Vince Perkins makes quick work of the Braves in the 7th, always a nice way to respond to a big inning. Things get a little hairy in the 9th, as Luis Pena allows a couple of Bo Hall's inherited runners to score, but the Stars squeeze by.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_04_hunaax_msbaax_1

[pogokat]

---John

 

One of the relief guys (JT King, I think) told me that they had heard Lporta was going to play out the season with helena...he's not a great source, but he's closer to this situation than we are...

 

ask coach hart or mike guerrero and let us know what they say

 

-brad

[TheCrew07]

Wow this Helena game is great, Tyson with a huge strikeout, 2 out top of Nine.

 

edit. Ohh no, a little league inside the park home run with the aid of an error and Helena down 1.

[JoeHova]

wow, Gabe Gross with 2 home runs tonight. Weeks and Rottino are both 3 for 4. Good hitting night for the Sounds so far, 10-4 in the 7th.

[clancyphile]

Methinks Weeks, Gwynn, and Gross are recovering nicely. They'll be back sooner than we know it. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[brewmann04]

Hopefully they will also find room for Rottino

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Coaches Chat with Manager Frank Kremblas:

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%208-4.mp3

 

Final: Nashville 10, Portland (Padres) 9

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Gabe Gross photo, text follows --

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2489

 

Sounds Earn Series Split With 10-9 Victory

 

PORTLAND, Ore. - Gabe Gross paced a 12-hit attack with a pair of home runs and Adam Pettyjohn was victorious in his sixth consecutive start as the Nashville Sounds defeated the Portland Beavers, 10-9, on Saturday evening at PGE Park in the finale of a four-game series.

 

With the win, Nashville (69-45) gained a series split and maintained its 6 ½ game lead over Iowa in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

The Sounds jumped out to an 8-0 lead and withstood a late Portland comeback to hang on for the victory.

 

Nashville grabbed a 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning against rehabbing Portland starter Shawn Estes. Tony Gwynn got things started with a bases-loaded, two-run double that scored Vinny Rottino (3-for-5) and Chris Barnwell, who opened the frame with consecutive singles. Gross followed with a three-run homer to center, his second longball as a Sound and of the series, to extend the advantage to five.

 

AUDIO: Gabe Gross Three-Run HR --

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Highlight%208-4.mp3

 

Barnwell made it a 6-0 contest in the third when he belted his seventh home run of the year, a one-out line-drive shot to left off Estes.

 

Gross continued his solid night in the fourth with his second longball of the night, a solo shot to right off Estes. His two-homer effort is the 10th multiple-longball game by a Sounds batter in 2007. Nashville added another run later in the frame on Vinny Rottino's two-out RBI single off Portland reliever Steve Watkins that brought in Rickie Weeks (3-for-4) for an 8-0 lead.

 

Portland halved the Nashville lead in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out rally against Pettjyohn. Royce Huffman broke up the shutout with a bases-loaded RBI single, bringing the score to 8-1. Watkins made it an 8-4 contest when he cleared the bases with a two-RBI single to center that was coupled with a fielding error by Charles Thomas, who replaced Gwynn in center in the third inning.

 

The Sounds got a pair of runs back in the sixth against Portland reliever Will Startup. Gross scored on a throwing error by Beavers rightfielder Hiram Bocachica to increase the lead to 9-4 and Mike Rivera plated Weeks later in the frame with a two-out RBI single.

 

Former Sound Frank Menechino (Pirates' organization) closed the gap to 10-6 in the bottom of the seventh with a bases-loaded, two-out, two-run single off Tim Dillard.

 

Portland continued its comeback in the ninth, pulling within a run. Menechino struck again with a two-run triple off Mitch Stetter then scored on a Pete Laforest groundout to make it 10-9 contest.

 

Sounds closer Luther Hackman was summoned from the bullpen and retired Craig Stansberry on one pitch to notch his team-leading 16th save of the year.

 

Pettyjohn (9-2) pulled into a tie for the team wins lead with Zach Jackson by earning his ninth victory of the year. The southpaw allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits over six frames.

 

Estes (0-1) took the loss after being tagged for eight runs on eight hits in just 3 1/3 innings of work. He threw 74 pitches, 41 for strikes, in his first Triple-A rehab outing.

 

Following Saturday's game, the Sounds take a 2 1/2 hour drive up I-5 to Tacoma, Washington, where they'll wrap up their road trip with a four-game series against the Rainiers (AAA-Mariners), the clubs' lone meeting this season.

 

The teams begin the series with a 3:35 p.m. CT opener on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Mark DiFelice (2-0, 1.13) will man the bump for Nashville to face Tacoma southpaw Jake Woods (3-7, 7.21).

 

Nashville Box Score:

This team is pretty amazing, there is a lot of help waiting for Milwaukee at this level, as Joe Dillon is proving -- September 1st should be great for call-ups; Rickie Weeks 3-for-4, plus Joe Thatcher plunked him -- Thatcher pitched a scoreless 8th inning; Gabe Gross on fire, as you know; I imagine Tony Gwynn was given a breather in the 4th with an 8-0 score at that time; Tim Dillard is kind of a mess right now...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_nasaaa_poraaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_04_nasaaa_poraaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1307

 

Heether's Hot Bat Comes Through for Stars

 

Adam Heether's bases loaded, bases clearing triple with two outs in the seventh inning snapped a tie and Huntsville survived a late rally to pull off a 6-5 comeback win over Mississippi Saturday night in the second of a five-game set at Trustmark Park. The Stars improved to 25-17 in the second half and lengthened their lead over Chattanooga in the North Division to two and a half games, while the Braves slumped to 14-28 in the second half and 14 ½ games behind front-running Jacksonville in the South Division. The Stars took a four to three lead in the season series and improved to 29-26 on the road.

 

Ryan Crew worked a two-out walk as a pinch-hitter before Diory Hernandez could not cleanly field a sharply hit one-hopper by Hernan Iribarren that allowed the inning to continue. Mississippi hurler Rich Scalamandre, who got the last out in the sixth inning, uncorked a wild pitch that advanced the runners and then walked Michael Brantley to load the bases. Steve Sollmann legged out an infield single to Hernandez at short before Heether drove a 2-1 offering into the alley in right-center field off the glove of a diving center fielder Carl Loadenthal for his fifth three-base hit of the season to make it 5-2. Heether singled in a run in the ninth to give the visitors a seemingly comfortable 6-2 edge, marking the third time this year he has driven in four runs in a game.

 

Bo Hall worked a scoreless eighth inning and was replaced by Luis Pena with the bases loaded and nobody out in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Mark Jurich grounded out to third to score a run and advance the other two runners and trim the lead to 6-3. Clint Sammons struck out for the second out of the frame but Mike Rozema followed with a single to center field to score Josh Burrus and Matt Young to slice the lead to 6-5. Pena then struck out J.C. Holt to end the game and nail down his second save in the series and seventh in nine chances with the Stars. Derek Miller started for Huntsville and lasted six innings, giving up two runs on four hits and earned a win for a fourth straight start. He struck out five and did not walk a batter and has issued only four free passes in his last five starts over 30 2/3 innings.

 

The Stars collected three singles in the first inning but could not score against Ryan Baerlocher, as both Hernan Iribarren and Steve Sollmann were thrown out trying to steal. Diory Hernandez blasted his sixth home run of the season, and first since June 25th, with two outs in the bottom of the inning to stake the home team to the early 1-0 lead.

 

Brendan Katin's home run to left field, his 19th of the season, tied the game in the top half of the second inning. The Stars had runners at the corners and two outs before Josh Burrus made a diving grab of an Iribarren line drive to end the inning and keep the game knotted at one. Burrus drove a 2-1 pitch from Miller over the wall in left field with two outs in the fourth to give the Braves the lead back at 2-1.

 

The series continues Sunday afternoon with left-hander Lindsay Gulin taking the hill for the Stars against Braves' right-hander Charlie Morton. Coverage begins at 12:50 pm central time and can be heard on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Great Falls (White Sox) 8, Helena 7

 

Helena Site Game Summary:

 

Helena Loses Third Straight to Great Falls

 

HELENA - Down one run in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Helena Brewers sent the heart of the order to the plate, but could not manage to advance a base runner past first base and lost 8-7 to the Great Falls White Sox. Great Falls pitcher Aaron Poreda looked as if he would cruise to an easy victory over Helena, but the Brewers scored seven runs in the final four innings to make for an exciting game.

 

Brewer pitcher Robert Bryson made his first professional start after working most of the season as the team's closer. The right-hander went four innings for his longest outing of the year; he allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out four. Relievers Curtis Pasma and Bobby Bramhall each pitched two innings and gave up two runs apiece.

 

Helena failed to get on the board until the sixth inning when the Brewers put up a pair of runs against Juan Morales. Curt Rindal brought in a run on a sacrifice fly and Kurt Crowell had an RBI single during the rally as well. The Brewers scored three more runs in the seventh inning and two in the eighth inning to take a 7-6 lead.

 

During the seventh inning the Brewers loaded the bases to begin the inning. A Caleb Gindl groundout brought in the inning's first run and two more runs scored on a fielding error later in the inning when Zelous Wheeler grounded to the third baseman and he made a throwing error.

 

The Brewers scored two more runs in the eighth inning to take a 7-6 advantage heading into the ninth inning. Matt Cline singled in the tying run and Mike Goetz provided the go-ahead run on a single to left field. Bramhall left in the ninth inning after giving up a lead-off double to Jim Gallagher. Nick Tyson entered after the hit. White Sock Lyndon Estill later tripled to bring in the tying run and scored on a throwing error by Goetz.

 

Helena had its No. 3,4, and 5 hitters scheduled for the bottom of the ninth inning, but could do no more damage than a Zelous Wheeler walk.

The Brewers will look to end their three-game losing streak when they begin a three-game series against the Billings Mustangs at 4:05 PM (5:05 Central) Sunday.

 

***

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/08/05/sports/b080507_03.txt

 

Brewers bow to White Sox again

By TOM STUBER, Helena Independent Record Sports Writer

 

In a game that was like tossing and turning all night, the Helena Brewers dropped an 8-7 decision to Great Falls that they'll probably lose some sleep over.

 

Playing in front of the second largest crowd - 1,821 fans - of the season, Helena started its relief ace, fell behind 5-0, rallied to take a 7-6 lead in the eighth, then lost on a two-out RBI triple and error in the ninth.

 

Helena (2-4) managed just three hits off White Sox first round draft pick Aaron Poreda, who was pulled in the fifth after allowing a walk and single.

 

Great Falls (4-2) seemed to take command when it scored two runs in the sixth to grab a 5-0 lead after Helena reliever Curtis Pasma gave up back-to-back home runs to Lyndon Estill and Matt Inouye. Helena finally showed some life off White Sox reliever Ronnie Morales, scoring two runs, but they could have had more.

 

The Brewers loaded the bases and scored on a sacrifice fly by Curt Rindal and single by Kurt Crowell.

 

The inning came to an abrupt end when Jordan Swaydan hit into a double play. The Brewers gave up a run in the seventh to get in a 6-2 hole, but caught a break in their half of the inning.

 

Zelous Wheeler appeared to ground out to end the inning, but an errant throw by Great Falls third baseman Joe Pershichina allowed two runs to score and the Brewers were suddenly within one run at 6-5.

 

Helena kept swinging away at the Great Falls relievers as they scratched out two runs in the eighth to take a 7-6 lead. Lee Haydel ran for Rindal, who had singled, and advanced to third on pinch hitter Jonathon Lucroy's base hit. Haydel scored on No. 9 hitter Matt Cline's single to tie the game, and Lucroy scored on Mike Goetz's single for the lead.

 

None of that mattered, however, as the White Sox got a leadoff double from Jim Gallagher to start the ninth. Gallagher would take third on a ground out and it looked as if he would get no further after Nick Tyson struck out Dale Mollenhauer for the second out.

 

Estill then ripped a shot to the base of the left-center field wall to tie the game, but he wasn't done after beating the throw to third as the ball skipped past the bag and Estill raced home with the go-ahead run.

 

Helena managed to get a two-out walk in the ninth, but Zach McAngus struck out to end the game.

 

The Brewers will host the Billings Mustangs today at 4:05 PM (5:05 Central) at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

Helena Box Score:

Eric Farris three hits, including a double...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_grfrok_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_04_grfrok_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Mariners 5, Arizona Brewers 0

 

Arizona Box Score:

Only four Brewer base hits, only one walk, 11 K's; 21-year-old Canadian RHP Adam Arnold left after only facing two batters to start the game, so something's wrong there...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_04_brrrok_mrnrok_1

 

Arizona Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_04_brrrok_mrnrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.al.com/stars/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/sports/1186305583145160.xml&coll=1

 

Stars notebook

Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

Covering the bases

 

On Tuesday in Nashville, former Stars pitcher Mark DiFelice pitched five shutout innings to continue a stunning streak. In seven starts, four in Nashville and three in Huntsville, his ERA is 0.89. He had 13 consecutive scoreless innings for the Sounds, after having posted a team-record 36 scoreless innings in Huntsville. He also pitched almost 57 innings without walking a batter.

 

Performances like DiFelice's - obviously not all quite so stunning - were the reason the Stars won the Southern League North first-half title and their Triple-A brethren in Nashville seem headed to a third consecutive postseason appearance.

 

Considering the impact promoted Stars like DiFelice have had in Nashville, Sounds coach Harry Spilman exclaimed before a recent game, "How did (the Stars) ever lose a game in the first half?"

 

"It starts with pitching. We all know that," said Sounds manager Frank Kremblas, a former Huntsville skipper. "In 2005, we just outhit our bad defense at times. Then last year we pitched and played defense really well and that always kept us in the game. We didn't have a lot of power but we were able to make some things happen. This year we have a combination. Some power, we get big two-out hits, and obviously the defense and pitching have been good."

 

The Sounds committed only 69 errors in their first 113 games. Compare that to 88 in Huntsville. Kremblas said refining defense has been a major priority in pregame work.

 

The Sounds have been impacted by a number of former Huntsville players. Second baseman Callix Crabbe is at .295 with six homers and 28 RBIs after having only average numbers in Huntsville. First baseman Brad Nelson (.265/16 HR/52 RBIs) draws raves from Kremblas for his improvement. Chris Barnwell continues to play a steady shortstop and is batting .251. Drew Anderson has U-turned from his miserable start with the Sounds, coming to Huntsville and batting .444, and now is up to .266 on the year. Vinny Rottino is hitting .279 with 40 RBIs. And Tony Gwynn Jr. is back for a second tour after spending much of the season in the majors.

 

Eight former Huntsville pitchers are on the Sounds staff: Luther Hackman (1-1, 15 saves), Steve Bray (5-2, 1.72 ERA), Tim Dillard (4-4, 4.58), Marino Salas (4.32 in only six appearances), Dennis Sarfate (2-7, 5.70 and on the DL), Mitch Stetter (1-0, 4.32), Adam Pettyjohn (8-2, 3.33) and DiFelice (2-0, 1.13). ...

 

This could be a big juncture of the season for the Stars to make hay. While they're at Mississippi, with the worst record in the league, their strongest competition in the Southern League North, Chattanooga, is playing at Jacksonville against the best team in the league. ... Tickets for the SL playoffs are currently on sale at the Stars offices or by phone, 882-2562. ...

 

Alert reader Bob Mulkey pointed out a more recent trade-to-help-the-pennant-race involving the Stars than one mentioned in this space last week. In 1991, Stars Russ Cormier and Matt Grott were swapped from Oakland to Montreal for Ron Darling to help the A's pennant drive. ... Though the Stars pitching staff has been jumbled, it's not nearly as much as last year. They have had only 10 different pitchers start games this year, compared to 18 a year ago. ... Pitcher Sam Narron had a key RBI in a game last week and his .269 average (in 26 at-bats) is higher than four starting position players. ... Hernan Iribarren took a 15-game hit streak into Saturday night's play.

 

Brewings

 

Triple-A Nashville Sounds (68-45 before Saturday's play, first place in Pacific Coast League American Division): The Sounds are 6 1/2 games ahead of second-place Iowa.

 

Single-A Brevard County Manatees (22-16, first place in second half in Florida State East Division): OF Darren Ford 27 SBs, .257.

 

Single-A West Virginia Power (19-23, fifth in South Atlantic League Northern Division this half): OF Andrew Lefave .362, 11 HR, 64 RBIs.

Rookie league Helena (2-3 in second half in Pioneer League North): Clinched first-half division title last week with eight innings of two-hit pitching by Evan Anundsen.

 

Rookie league Arizona Brewers (8-25): Five errors, 22 walks cost them in a 22-4 loss to Padres' rookies Friday.

 

On deck

 

The Stars continue their series at Mississippi with a 1:05 game today. They return home Wednesday to host Birmingham. On Friday, it will be "Dancing With The (Huntsville) Stars Night," with infielder Guilder Rodriguez scheduled to join some between-inning performances from Madison Ballroom Dance Studio.