Link Report for Mon 8/20 - Lots of Late Tuesday Afternoon Updates

[Mass Haas]

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

 

 

[Mass Haas]

From the Power:

 

Today's double header between the Captains and Power has been cancelled. The games will not be made up because the two teams do not meet again this season.

 

The Power will open up a three game series against the Lexington Legends at Appalachian Power Park on Tuesday night. West Virginia will start left hander Luis Ramirez (1-2, 5.66) and the first pitch will be delivered at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Adam Pettyjohn at Round Rock (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Corey Thurman at home vs. Carolina (Marlins), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: LHP Rafael Lluberes at St. Lucie (Mets), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime; RHP Pedro Martinez faces the Manatee kids -- the Manatees' site lists today as a doubleheader day, but apparently that's Tuesday instead...

 

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

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

 

Helena: TBD times two in a doubleheader at home vs. Ogden (Dodgers), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime

 

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

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

 

Arizona: TBD times two at the Athletics' Scottsdale complex, 7:00 Central; never any audio for Arizona Rookie League games; the first game is the completion of a game suspended earlier this season with the Brewers down 3-0 in the first inning

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday'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_20_nasaaa_rreaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_cmcaax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_breafa_sluafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Helena Game One:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_ogdrok_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Two:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_ogdrok_helrok_2

 

Arizona Completion of Suspended Game:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_07_31_brrrok_athrok_1

 

Arizona Regularly Scheduled Game:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_brrrok_athrok_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 Sunday's action:

 

Arizona League 2nd Half Standings:

Arizona Rookie is 15-31 overall...

 

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

 

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 78 50 .609 - 42-20 36-30 W5 Iowa 71 58 .550 7.5 40-26 31-32 W1 Omaha 65 64 .504 13.5 41-24 24-40 L2 Memphis 51 78 .395 27.5 27-37 24-41 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 33 22 .600 - 16-9 17-13 L2 Tennessee 31 24 .564 2.0 20-10 11-14 W4 Chattanooga 29 26 .527 4.0 15-15 14-11 L4 Carolina 26 29 .473 7.0 15-15 11-14 W1 West Tenn 22 33 .400 11.0 12-18 10-15 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 29 25 .537 - 12-13 17-12 W7 Brevard County 28 26 .519 1.0 17-10 11-16 L2 Palm Beach 26 29 .473 3.5 15-17 11-12 L1 Jupiter 22 30 .423 6.0 12-11 10-19 L5 Daytona 21 35 .375 9.0 10-19 11-16 W1 Vero Beach 17 36 .321 11.5 9-17 8-19 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hickory 34 21 .618 - 20-12 14-9 W1 Lakewood 27 26 .509 6.0 14-11 13-15 L1 Delmarva 28 27 .509 6.0 12-15 16-12 W3 Greensboro 28 29 .491 7.0 17-10 11-19 W2 Lake County 26 27 .491 7.0 11-15 15-12 L1 West Virginia 26 29 .473 8.0 16-11 10-18 W1 Lexington 23 33 .411 11.5 16-14 7-19 L3 Hagerstown 19 37 .339 15.5 10-18 9-19 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 14 6 .700 - 8-1 6-5 W1 Billings 10 10 .500 4.0 5-5 5-5 W2 Helena 9 10 .474 4.5 3-7 6-3 L1 Missoula 9 11 .450 5.0 6-4 3-7 L2 

[colbyjack]

Final, Game One: Odgen 3, Helena 4

 

Helena Box Score:

Steffan Wilson wins this game in walkoff fashion, hitting a solo shot in the bottom of the 8th (of a 7 inning contest), the only batter Ogden reliever Chales Dasini faced. R.J. Seidel with a nice start, going 4 strong, while Eric Farris, Caleb Gindl and Wilson each record two hits. Gindl's 2 hits were doubles, one of which drove in the game-tieing run, and he also added a walk.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_ogdrok_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

An odd 2-out rally in the bottom of the 7th allows Helena to push this contest to extra innings. Jose Garcia tosses three 1-2-3 innings, as he and Seidel, just like the rest of the H-Crew staff, continue to induce a ton of ground balls.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_20_ogdrok_helrok_1

[colbyjack]

Final: Brevard County 3, St. Lucie 4

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Chris Errecart and Cole Gillespie each go 2 for 4, accounting for 4 of the team's 5 hits. With only one walk and no extra-base hits, the Manatees relied on a few St. Lucie errors to touch Pedro. There's a good chance you'll be able to catch a glimpse at some of the Brevard County hitters on Baseball Tonight this evening.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_breafa_sluafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game Log:

The Manatees have an exciting rally in the 9th cut short when Yohannis Perez grounds into a game ending double play with 2 on and 1 out.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_20_breafa_sluafa_1

[colbyjack]

Bobby Bramhall is starting for Helena in game 2 of tonight's DH. If everything holds as how it has been going, Rob Bryson should come on in relief in piggy-back fashion.

[Mass Haas]

D.J. Neyens with one of the more impressive evenings of the season, managing to play both in Helena and Scottsdale. Gotta love those suspended games...

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Reliever Chris Spurling:

Is it just me, or does Spurling manage to squeeze every possible excuse for a 12th/13th pitcher on staff into this conversation?

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%208-20.mp3

[colbyjack]

Final: Carolina 3, Huntsville 2

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary, Link, Text follows:

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1327

 

Mudcats Make the Most of Their Hits to Beat Stars

 

Jai Miller's sacrifice fly knocked in the winning run in the seventh inning, as Carolina downed Huntsville 3-2 Monday night in the opener of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Mudcats improved to 27-29 in the second half and just 21-40 on the road, while the Stars dropped a third straight game to slip to 33-23 in the second half and saw their lead in the North Division trimmed to a game after Tennessee defeated Mobile.

 

Steve Sollmann's two-out, two-run home run, his first since May 12 at Carolina, gave the Stars a 2-0 edge in the fourth inning. Carolina tied the game in the sixth inning on a two-run long ball by Eric Riggs, his 11th of the season. It was also the 17th allowed by Stars' starter Corey Thurman, who has given up the second most home runs of any pitcher in the league.

 

Grant Psomas doubled off the top of the wall in left field leading off in the seventh, advanced to third on a Frank Moore sacrifice bunt and came in with the decisive run on the Miller scoring fly ball. Thurman suffered the hard luck loss after yielding three runs on four hits over a season-best eight innings. He matched a season-high with seven strikeouts and walked three.

 

Mudcats' starter James Russ lasted five innings, allowing two runs on four hits and fanning three. Scott Nestor tossed two scoreless innings in relief to gain the win and was followed by Ben Julianel, who worked a perfect eighth inning, and former big leaguer Brandon Villafuerte, who tossed a shutout ninth to earn his second save.

 

The series continues Wednesday night with left-hander Derek Miller taking the hill for Huntsville against Carolina southpaw Chris Seddon. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Steve Sollmann accounts for the Stars offense this evening by slugging a 2-run shot in the 4th inning. Hernan Iribarren, who was on base for Sollmann's home run, with another two-hit night, doing his best to start a 1-out rally in the 9th. Corey Thurman didn't pitch all that bad, striking out 7 in 8 innings of work, allowing only 4 hits in the process.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_cmcaax_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

An overall well played game. These are the types of close games, even when you're team claims the early lead, that you can't get too upset about when that team is playing so well.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_20_cmcaax_hunaax_1

[colbyjack]

Brevard County MiLB.com Game Wrap:

 

Martinez solid in latest rehab start

 

Pedro Martinez took another step toward returning to the Majors, tossing five strong innings as St. Lucie edged visiting Brevard County, 4-3, on Monday.

 

Martinez (1-1) allowed two unearned runs on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts in his third rehabilitation start. The 35-year-old right-hander, who is working his way back from shoulder surgery, was reached for eight runs on nine hits in seven innings over his previous two rehab outings.

 

Joe Hietpas followed with two hitless innings and Jose De La Torre recorded his seventh save, despite allowing a run on three hits over the final two frames.

 

Sean McCraw drilled a two-run single in a three-run first and Dan Murphy and Emmanuel Garcia drove in the other runs for the Mets (30-25), who have won eight in a row.

 

Manatees starter Rafael Lluberes (6-9) surrendered four runs on nine hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six innings. He has lost five of his last six decisions.

 

Cole Gillespie went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a run scored for Brevard County (28-27), which dropped two games behind first-place St. Lucie in the Florida State League's East Division.

[colbyjack]

Final: Nashville 6, Round Rock 5

 

Nashville Site Game Summary, Link/Text follows:

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2521

 

Sounds Rally Late To Knock Off Express, 6-5

 

ROUND ROCK, Texas - Andy Abad delivered a two-run seventh-inning single to give the Nashville Sounds a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over the Round Rock Express on Monday evening at The Dell Diamond.

 

With their sixth consecutive victory, the Sounds (79-50) improved to a season-best 29 games over .500 and reduced their magic number to seven to clinch their third consecutive division title.

 

Nashville's lead over Iowa remains at 7 1/2 games in the PCL American Conference Northern Division, as the Cubs defeated Memphis in their last at-bat later Monday evening.

 

Adam Pettyjohn (11-3) pulled into a tie for the minor-league lead by earning his 15th overall victory of the year. The left-hander allowed five runs on six hits while striking out seven batters over his six innings of work. Pettyjohn is 13-3 in his last 17 starts between Nashville and Double-A Huntsville.

 

Every Sounds starting position player recorded at least one hit in the contest, including outfielder Laynce Nix, who homered in his sixth consecutive game to tie a team record.

 

Round Rock took a 1-0 lead when Jesse Garcia led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run for the second consecutive evening. The solo shot off Pettyjohn was the shortstop's eighth longball of the season.

 

The Sounds jumped in front with a three-run fifth, highlighted by catcher Mike Rivera's 18th home run of the season - a leadoff solo shot to left off Express starter Chad Reineke.

 

Nix etched his name in the Music City record books an inning later when he homered in his sixth consecutive contest to tie a club record. The outfielder's 21st blast of the year, a solo shot to center, greeted reliever Jose Rodriguez and extended Nix's season-best hitting streak to nine games while making it a 4-1 contest.

 

Round Rock rallied to regain a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the frame with four runs off Pettyjohn. Tim Raines, Jr. led off with a double and scored the inning's first run on a Hunter Pence RBI single. Three batters later with the bases loaded, Mark Saccomanno ripped an 0-2 Pettyjohn offering to left for a three-run, go-ahead double.

 

Abad put the Sounds right back on top in the following half-inning with a one-out, two-run single off Rodriguez that plated Tony Gwynn and Chris Barnwell.

 

Steve Bray (2.0 IP) and Greg Aquino combined to work three scoreless innings behind Pettyjohn to secure the Sounds victory. Aquino retired the Express in order in the bottom of the ninth to notch his fifth save in five opportunities.

 

Rodriguez (3-4) took the loss for Round Rock after giving up three runs in five hits in his two innings of work.

 

The teams wrap up the series with a 7:05 p.m. CT finale on Tuesday evening. Right-hander Mark DiFelice (3-1, 2.88) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Round Rock right-hander Chan Ho Park (6-12, 3.38).

 

Nashville Site Audio: Nix makes it six in a row:

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Highlight%208-20.mp3

 

Nashville Box Score:

Not as pretty of a line for Pettyjohn this time out, but he still goes deep enough to hand the game over to the bullpen, with Steve Bray and Greg Aquino combining for 3 scoreless frames. Tony Gwynn Jr. with 2 hits and 2 walks. Oh yeah, that Laynce Nix guy keeps up his incredible HR streak with his 21st of the year. Overall, another solid offensive performance.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_nasaaa_rreaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

The Sounds do a nice job rebounding from a rough bottom of the 6th with 2 runs in the top of the 7th, a lead that they wouldn't give up again. Andy Abad with the hit of the night for the second consecutive day.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_20_nasaaa_rreaaa_1

 

[Mass Haas]

Final, completion of suspended game: Arizona Athletics 11, Arizona Brewers 6

Arizona Box Score:

Brewer pitchers walked 10, although only 18-year-old LHP Kristian Bueno truly had a bad night; four of the nine Brewer hits went for extra bases...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2007_07_31_brrrok_athrok_1&t=g_box&did=milb

 

Arizona Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_07_31_brrrok_athrok_1

[TheCrew07]

Spurling just made my crap list. Whining about errors and inherited runners scoring? Like he held every inherited runner when he came in? "Dry Humps" being the reason he misses high? Come on Chris, you miss high regardless of how many times you get up or how often you pitch... that's what you do... regretting even listening to that interview now it ticked me off so much.

[Minigoon]

Rolondo Pascual is starting the 2nd game for the Arizona Brewers tonight. This will be his 1st game action of the season.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Carolina (Marlins) 3, Huntsville 2

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1327

 

Mudcats Make the Most of Their Hits to Beat Stars

 

Jai Miller's sacrifice fly knocked in the winning run in the seventh inning, as Carolina downed Huntsville 3-2 Monday night in the opener of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Mudcats improved to 27-29 in the second half and just 21-40 on the road, while the Stars dropped a third straight game to slip to 33-23 in the second half and saw their lead in the North Division trimmed to a game after Tennessee defeated Mobile.

 

Steve Sollmann's two-out, two-run home run, his first since May 12 at Carolina, gave the Stars a 2-0 edge in the fourth inning. Carolina tied the game in the sixth inning on a two-run long ball by Eric Riggs, his 11th of the season. It was also the 17th allowed by Stars' starter Corey Thurman, who has given up the second most home runs of any pitcher in the league.

 

Grant Psomas doubled off the top of the wall in left field leading off in the seventh, advanced to third on a Frank Moore sacrifice bunt and came in with the decisive run on the Miller scoring fly ball. Thurman suffered the hard luck loss after yielding three runs on four hits over a season-best eight innings. He matched a season-high with seven strikeouts and walked three.

 

Mudcats' starter James Russ lasted five innings, allowing two runs on four hits and fanning three. Scott Nestor tossed two scoreless innings in relief to gain the win and was followed by Ben Julianel, who worked a perfect eighth inning, and former big leaguer Brandon Villafuerte, who tossed a shutout ninth to earn his second save.

 

The series continues Wednesday night with left-hander Derek Miller taking the hill for Huntsville against Carolina southpaw Chris Seddon. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Two more hits for the Hurricane, as Iribarren's moniker is a little less "cute' this time of year, just ask those in Jamaica and Cancun...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_cmcaax_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Last real chance was Brendan Katin's strikeout with Michael Brantley on 2nd to end the 7th inning...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_20_cmcaax_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

The awkward thing about the Spurling interview was that the only excuse he didn't make (and one that would have been legitimate) was his child's close call in the swimming pool accident.

 

Other than that, you can sense him catching himself, but not really, throughout the "bitter" interview.

 

Either don't accept the invitation to speak, or put yourself in the proper frame of mind before opening your mouth. Awkward indeed...

[Mass Haas]

Final, Regularly Scheduled Game: Arizona Brewers 8, Arizona Athletics 3

 

Arizona Box Score:

Bonus baby Rolando Pascual debuts, as noted above -- one IP, two BB's, one K; 22-year-old non-drafted free agent signee (non-bonus baby) Tony Drinkard with a nice three-inning stint for the win; Patrick Lawler gets the one-out save by stranding the bases loaded, inducing a pop-out; recent independent league signee Scott Houin is raking Arizona League pitching, now 11-for-21, adding his 2nd HR here; long day for catcher Brett Whiteside among others -- started the day facing Ben Sheets, ended it behind the plate for a doubleheader nightcap...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_brrrok_athrok_1

 

Arizona Game Log:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_20_brrrok_athrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game Two: Helena 6, Ogden (Dodgers) 4

 

Helena Site Doubleheader Summary:

 

HELENA - One day after being washed out the Helena Brewers took a double-dip from the Ogden Raptors on Monday night at Kindrick Field. Brewer Steffan Wilson provided a game-winning base hit in extras to win 4-3 during the first game then Helena took the second game as well 6-4.

 

In the opener, Helena led 2-1 entering the sixth inning of the scheduled seven-inning game until Jaime Pedroza hit a two-run home run off pitcher Jose Garcia to give Ogden the lead. With two out in the bottom of the seventh Eric Farris reached by error and Caleb Gindl followed with a game-tying RBI double to right field. After Garcia sent the Raptors down in order in the eighth inning Wilson led off the bottom half of the inning for the Brewers. With a 2-0 count he knocked a solo home run to left field and trotted home to his eager teammates as the winning run -- a walkoff victory.

 

During the second game Helena did not waste time getting on the scoreboard by scoring four runs in its first at-bat thanks in part to two Ogden errors. Eric Fryer had an RBI ground out and Kurt Crowell had an RBI single as well in the first inning. The Raptors scored one run in the top of the third inning, but the Brewers kept the lead at four with their own run in the bottom half of the inning on an Anthony Wycklendt RBI single.

 

For the second straight game the Ogden Raptors struck big in the sixth inning. Parker Dalton ripped a three-run home run to pull within two runs. Ogden could not pull any closer, however, and left two runners on base in the seventh and final inning as Helena won 6-4.

 

In the first game starter R.J. Seidel went four innings and gave up one run on two hits while Garcia pitched four innings in relief for the win. Garcia allowed two runs on two hits and struck out two as well. During the second game Bobby Bramhall started and allowed one run on one hit while striking out five in four innings. Robert Bryson earned the win by tossing the final three innings. Bryson gave up three runs on four hits and struck out four.

 

Game 1 offensive leaders included Farris (2-for-4), Gindl (2-for-3, one RBI), Wilson (2-for-4, two R, one HR, one RBI), Curt Rindal (1-for-2, one RBI), and D.J. Neyens (1-for-2, one RBI).

 

Game 2 offensive leaders included; Lee Haydel (3-for-3, one R, one BB), Jonathan Lucroy (2-for-4, one RBI), Crowell (1-for-3, one RBI), and Wycklendt (2-for-3, one RBI).

 

Helena (37-22, 11-10) and Ogden (25-33, 8-13) will play the third game of a four-game series at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central) Tuesday night.

 

***

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/08/21/sports/b01082107_03.txt

 

Brewers sweep Raptors in doubleheader

By CURT SYNNESS, Helena Independent Record Sports Writer

 

The Helena Brewers swept the Ogden Raptors in a doubleheader at Kindrick Legion Field Monday evening, 4-3 and 6-4.

 

The action lasted well into the night, ending at 10:25 PM.

 

Helena's Steffan Wilson won the first game with a walk-off home run in extra innings. Helena held a 2-1 advantage over the visitors after four frames. The Brewers scored one in the second when Wilson singled and scored on Curt Rindal's double.

 

In the fourth, Caleb Gindl doubled and came home on D.J. Neyens' base rap.

 

In the top of the sixth, the Raptors' Jaimie Pedroza hit a two-run home run off Brewers reliever Jose Garcia to put his team on top 3-2. The Brewers tied it up in the bottom of the seventh, when Eric Farris got on by an error, coming home on Gindl's long two-out double to right field, but Gindl was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.

 

It was the third out of the frame and the contest went into overtime.

 

With the score knotted 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Wilson took the first pitch he saw and deposited it high over the left field fence for the game-winning tater.

 

Helena's R.J. Seidel worked the first four innings, giving up two hits and one run.

 

Reliever Garcia picked up the win, going four stanzas and also permitting a couple hits. Brewers shortstop David Fonseca made three dazzling plays on defense.

 

At the plate, Brewers posting two base knocks apiece were Gindl (two doubles), Wilson (a homer and a single) and Farris (two singles and a run).

 

In the second game, the home team scored four times in the first stanza, on three hits, two errors and a wild pitch. The Brewers (11-10) built a 6-1 lead going into the top of the sixth, until Ogden's Parker Dalton hit a three-run blast make it 6-4. Things got a little scary in the seventh as Ogden put two men on with one out before Robert Bryson was able to nail down the final two outs.

 

Helena's Bobby Bramhall started and went four frames, allowing one run on one hit and whiffing five.

 

Bryson relieved in the final three stanzas for the victory. Helena's offense produced 10 hits, led by Lee Haydel (3-for-4), Anthony Wycklendt (2-3) and Jonathan Lucroy (2-4).

 

Helena Game Two Box Score:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_20_ogdrok_helrok_2

 

Helena Game Two Game Log:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_20_ogdrok_helrok_2

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://wvgazette.com/section/Sports/2007082027

 

Power record likely

Attendance mark should fall again

By Mike Whiteford

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

 

Beginning tonight, the West Virginia Power plays eight of its final 13 regular-season games at Appalachian Power Park.

 

At stake are momentum for the South Atlantic League playoffs, which begin Sept. 5, and a third straight franchise attendance record.

 

Momentum is always fragile and fleeting, but the attendance mark seems highly likely. The Power enters a three-game homestand against the Lexington Legends at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central) with a season attendance of 225,284 and needs just 14,438 paid admissions to reach last year's record of 239,722.

 

If the team maintains its per-game average of 3,818, it would draw 30,544 in its final home games and finish at more than 255,000.

Attendance in late August and early September, however, traditionally falls off somewhat.

 

The Power locked up a playoff spot with a first-half Northern Division title and, after a recent slump, has won six of eight. The Power lost eight of 10, including five in a row in late July and early August, and takes a 26-29 record into the homestand.

 

"We've been getting timely hitting,'' said Power manager Mike Guererro.

 

The Power, however, has lost 20 points off its team batting average but still leads the league comfortably with a .281 mark and ranks first in runs with 727.

 

"We don't have the horses we once did,'' said Guererro, referring to outfielders Michael Brantley and Darren Ford, both of whom were hitting .335 when they were promoted late in the season's first half.

 

Losing Brantley and Ford not only deprived the Power of strong hitting but reduced the team's overall speed.

 

"Speed creates a lot of problems in a lot of situations,'' said Guererro. "Once you take those guys out of the lineup, it becomes easier to pitch to the other guys.''

 

POWER POINTS: The Power's scheduled doubleheader at Lake County Monday was rained out and will not be made up. ...The three games against the Legends - tonight, Wednesday and Thursday - will start at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

The Power will then visit Hickory for three games and Lexington for two before returning home Aug. 30 for the final five regular-season games of the season - two more against Lexington and three against Greensboro. ...The opening round of the playoffs is a best-of-three series scheduled for Sept. 5, 7 and, if necessary, 8. The championship series is best-of-five beginning Sept. 10. ...Outfielder Steve Chapman entered Monday's play with 20 home runs, tying him for most by a Charleston player since the city entered the South Atlantic League in 1987. Jason Parsons hit 20 for the 1997 Charleston Alley Cats.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.al.com/stars/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/sports/118768803791340.xml&coll=1

 

Close, but no victory

Stars' Thurman looks sharp in 3-2 loss to Mudcats

By MARK McCARTER

Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com

 

Any season that begins with food poisoning, you kind of figure it's not going to go your way. So it has been with Corey Thurman, a Southern League All-Star a year ago.

 

He has skipped between the starting rotation and the bullpen, never quite able to gain the consistency of a year ago.

 

On Monday, it was a good news, bad news scenario. It was Corey Thurman, 2006 version, on the mound for the Stars. Alas, the Carolina Mudcats snatched a 3-2 victory from Huntsville.

 

The loss, coupled with Tennessee's win at Mobile, cut the Stars' lead to one game in the Southern League North. The crowd was announced at a generous 1,048. Perhaps pennant fever had everyone bedridden.

 

A few weeks back, when Thurman returned to the starting rotation, pitching coach Rich Sauveur met with him. He reminded him that, despite the difficult start and rocky path along the way, there was time to salvage something.

 

"That's pretty much the conversation we had," Sauveur said. "Show me what you can do. Show somebody what you can do in another organization. Go out and show people what you can do and get back to the form you had last year. Simple as that."

 

It is especially pleasing considering, Sauveur said, "I've got to put my playoff rotation together and it's good to see he can go out there and throw eight strong innings."

 

A combined 5-10 record between the starters may not have predicted a pitchers' duel, but Thurman and the Mudcats' James Russ obliged.

 

The Stars got to Russ in the fourth when Hernan Iribarren singled with one out, extending his hit streak to 12 games. Steve Sollmann blasted a two-out homer to left for a 2-0 lead.

 

After Frank Moore bunted to break up Thurman's no-hitter in the fifth, ex-Star Johnny Raburn singled with one out in the sixth and Eric Riggs followed with a homer. Right fielder Brendan Katin climbed the fence to try to bring it down; all he did was bring down one of the vinyl outfield signs.

 

Grant Psomas doubled off the fence to open the Carolina seventh and was bunted to third by Moore. Jai Miller launched a sacrifice fly to center for the 3-2 lead. Thurman would leave after eight innings, having allowed only four hits and striking out seven. "Just a couple of bad pitches," manager Don Money said.

[Mass Haas]

Even though Pedro Martinez didn't have the fastball of his youth - he topped out at 89 mph - he still forced batters to respect the pitch, as he demonstrated on his second- to-last pitch of the game, which spun Lorenzo Cain off the plate.

"That was a fastball in," he smiled. "That was the one I really wanted to make a statement with."

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com quotes from Laynce Nix:

Laynce Nix homered for the sixth consecutive game as visiting Nashville edged Round Rock, 6-5, on Monday.

 

Nix launched his 21st home run over the center-field wall to lead off the sixth inning and extend his hitting streak to nine games. He went 1-for-2 with a walk.

 

"I usually start hitting around July and August," Nix told MiLB.com on Sunday. "I've honed my approach and I'm relaxing more. I'm seeing the ball well." The 26-year-old outfielder is batting .563 during his hitting streak and .630 (17-for-27) in his last eight games. He has 12 RBIs and the Sounds (79-50) are undefeated during the long ball barrage.

 

"I really haven't noticed [the other streaks]. But at this part of the season, you have your swing grooved. You've had 300-400 at-bats. It should be kind of natural," said Nix, who matched Ryan Royster of the Class A Columbus Catfish for the longest homer streak in the Minor Leagues this season.

 

Nashville Media Notes:

 

Nix's homer streak matches the longest by a Nashville player in franchise history (John Wehner -- July 1-5, 1999) and is one short of the existing Pacific Coast League mark. Albuquerque's Claude Westmoreland went deep in seven straight games from June 27 to July 3, 1977 to set the league standard.