Link Report Tue. 8/21

[Mass Haas]

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

 

 

[Mass Haas]

Tuesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Mark DiFelice at Round Rock (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Derek Miller at home vs. Carolina (Marlins), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: LHP Brae Wright and TBD in a doubledip at St. Lucie (Mets), 3:45 PM pre-game, 4:00 gametime

 

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

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

 

West Virginia: LHP Luis Ramirez at home vs. Lexington (Astros), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Helena: RHP Chad Robinson at home vs. Ogden (Dodgers), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Arizona: Idle

[Mass Haas]

Follow Tuesday'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_21_nasaaa_rreaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_21_cmcaax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County Game One:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_21_breafa_sluafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game Two:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_21_breafa_sluafa_2&did=t503&sid=t503

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_21_lexafx_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_21_ogdrok_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 Monday's action:

 

Arizona League 2nd Half Standings:

Arizona Rookie is 16-32 overall...

 

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

 

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 79 50 .612 - 42-20 37-30 W6 Iowa 72 58 .554 7.5 41-26 31-32 W2 Omaha 65 65 .500 14.5 41-25 24-40 L3 Memphis 51 79 .392 28.5 27-37 24-42 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 33 23 .589 - 16-10 17-13 L3 Tennessee 32 24 .571 1.0 20-10 12-14 W5 Chattanooga 29 27 .518 4.0 15-16 14-11 L5 Carolina 27 29 .482 6.0 15-15 12-14 W2 West Tenn 23 33 .411 10.0 12-18 11-15 W3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 30 25 .545 - 13-13 17-12 W8 Brevard County 28 27 .509 2.0 17-10 11-17 L3 Palm Beach 27 30 .474 4.0 15-17 12-13 L1 Jupiter 23 30 .434 6.0 13-11 10-19 W1 Daytona 21 36 .368 10.0 10-19 11-17 L1 Vero Beach 18 37 .327 12.0 10-18 8-19 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hickory 34 22 .607 - 20-12 14-10 L1 Lakewood 28 26 .519 5.0 15-11 13-15 W1 Delmarva 28 28 .500 6.0 12-16 16-12 L1 Greensboro 28 29 .491 6.5 17-10 11-19 W2 Lake County 26 27 .491 6.5 11-15 15-12 L1 West Virginia 26 29 .473 7.5 16-11 10-18 W1 Lexington 24 33 .421 10.5 16-14 8-19 W1 Hagerstown 19 37 .339 15.0 10-18 9-19 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 15 6 .714 - 8-1 7-5 W2 Helena 11 10 .524 4.0 5-7 6-3 W2 Billings 10 11 .476 5.0 5-5 5-6 L1 Missoula 9 12 .429 6.0 6-5 3-7 L3

[wvpowerblkwel]

LaPorta hits dingers in the 4th, and the 5th.....4 RBI's not a bad 1/2 a game!

 

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/701257c9ec7afedfc56ec953903e70f1c3d5eb7.jpg

[homer]

LaPorta now with 10 extra base hits out of 13 total at WV. He might be pretty good.

 

And Gillespie with four hits in his first 5 ABs between the two games. He's pretty much en fuego - average climbs over .270 for now.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: St. Lucie (Mets) 4, Brevard County 3, eight innings (scheduled for seven)

MiLB.com:

 

Mendez, Mets outlast Manatees

Victor Mendez hit an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning as St. Lucie edged Brevard County, 4-3, in the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader.

Ambiorix Concepcion led off the decisive frame with a base hit to right field, advanced on Nick Evans' single and moved to third on a passed ball. After Dan Murphy was intentionally walked and Sean McCraw struck out, Mendez legged out an infield single to send the Mets (31-25) to their season-high ninth straight win.

Mendez also contributed an RBI double in the fourth and Joshua Peterson hit a two-run homer in the seventh to force extra frames for St. Lucie, which extended its lead over the Manatees (28-28) to three games in the Florida State League East Division.

Mets reliever German Marte (4-3) yielded one hit and struck out three over two scoreless innings for the win. Starter Deolis Guerra yielded a run on two hits and fanned five in four frames.

Manatees reliever Patrick Ryan (2-3) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two in 1 1/3 innings. Starter Brae Wright gave up two runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in six frames.

Michael Bell went 2-for-3 with a solo homer, his 12th, and two RBIs and J.R. Hopf added a run-scoring single for Brevard County, which has lost four straight. -- Chip Haunss/MLB.com

Brevard County Game One Box Score:

Second baseman Mike Bell, again in the cleanup spot, with his 12th roundtripper; Manatee hitters fail to draw a walk, that doesn't help; Darren Ford just having a miserable time; fantastic start for Brae Wright, with an 11-to-3 GB/FO ratio; not so for Patrick Ryan, with an uncharacteristic HR allowed (only the 5th in 76 IP) to tie the game in the 7th, what could have been the final "save" inning...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_21_breafa_sluafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game One Game Log:

Ryan takes the loss in the first extra inning, but a Nestor Corredor passed ball played a big part; Mat Gamel a one-out strikeout with a man on 3rd and only one out way back in the 1st...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_21_breafa_sluafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 5, Lexington (Astros) 1

West Virginia Box Score:

We'll have some fun later on and tell you where to go within the audio for both "Jack-Jackety-Jack" calls from Andy Barch on each of Matt LaPorta's two home runs; the second wonderful starting pitcher effort in this early portion of the Link Report, this one from RHP Alex Periard, who got the nod despite earlier reports it'd be LHP Luis Ramirez; four players (LaPorta, Jimmy Mojica, Chuckie Caufield, and Charlie Fermaint) combined for all eight Power hits with two apiece; Brent Brewer returned from bereavement leave, walked, scored, but also committed his 43rd error...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_21_lexafx_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

Wright pitched out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the 2nd -- nice...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_21_lexafx_wvaafx_1

[colbyjack]

Brevard County all over St. Lucie in game two. That will be a fun box score to gander at when its all said and done.

 

Near-useless nuggest of knowledge: St. Lucie's catcher, Sean McCraw, is a former Brewers DFE candidate from the '05 class that included Lorenzo Cain, Darren Ford and Derek Miller.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Catcher Mike Rivera:

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%208-21.mp3

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

LAPORTA HOMERS TWICE IN POWER WIN

 

Charleston, WV - Matt LaPorta hit a pair of home runs on Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park and Alex Periard tossed six strong innings to snap his six game losing streak as West Virginia defeated the Lexington Legends 5-1 to take the first game of the series.

 

The Legends scored their lone run in the top of the second inning when Koby Clemens crossed the plate as Greg Buchannan reached on a fielder's choice. Laporta's first home run was a solo shot to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. His second bomb was a three-run shot that came with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to give the Power the lead for good. Charlie Fermaint reached on a fielder's choice and scored Chuckie Caufield in the eighth.

 

Periard (6-7) tossed six solid innings, allowing an unearned run on six hits to get his first win since July 14th. Sergio Severino (5-7) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits over four and a third. Mike Ramlow and Donovan Hand combined to toss three scoreless innings of relief.

 

The Power improved to 75-48 overall and 27-29 in the second half, while the Legends fell to 55-73 overall and 24-34 in the second half. LaPorta, Fermaint, Caufield and Jimmy Mojica all had multi-hit games for the Power.

 

The Power will continue the three game series against Lexington Wednesday night. The Power will start right hander Chris Toneguzzi (6-3, 5.47) and the Legends will counter with right hander Bud Norris (2-7, 5.12). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game Two: Brevard County 12, St. Lucie (Mets) 1

Brevard County Game Two Box Score:

Manatees bang out 15 hits in this seven-inning contest; Darren Ford doubles, singles, walks, and drives in four after reading our comment in the Game One post; Ned Yost 3-for-4 with two doubles and drives in three; Freddy Parejo 2-for-3 with a double, sacrifice bunt, and an outfield assist at home plate; Ryan Barba, Cole Gillespie, and Anderson Delarosa also all had two-hit games -- Gillespie also walked; Mat Gamel drove in two; Mike Marksbury stranded two Josh Wahpepah runners, the two pitchers teamed with Kevin Roberts to allow only five hits...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_21_breafa_sluafa_2

 

Brevard County Game Two Game Log:

Enjoy...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_21_breafa_sluafa_2

[Katuluu]

Here is a better version of that LaPorta picture. Figured it might be wanted by a few of us.

 

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8321/laportapl9.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 4, Round Rock (Astros) 3

Man, this team is good...

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Brad Nelson photo, text follows --

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2523

 

Red-Hot Sounds Sweep Away Express, 4-3

 

ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Nashville Sounds completed a four-game sweep of the Round Rock Express with a 4-3 victory on Tuesday evening at The Dell Diamond in the finale of a four-game series.

 

Nashville (80-50) improved to a season-best 30 games over .500 and reduced their magic number to five to clinch their third consecutive division title. The Pacific Coast League's best team has won its last seven games, matching the club's longest winning streak of the season.

 

Nashville's lead over Iowa improved to a season-best 8 ½ games in the PCL American Conference Northern Division, as the Cubs lost to Memphis earlier in the day.

 

The Sounds took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Callix Crabbe (3-for-4) led off with a double and later scored on a Drew Anderson sacrifice fly. Round Rock answered in the bottom of the frame when Tim Raines, Jr. belted a two-out solo homer off Mark DiFelice to tie the contest.

 

Round Rock grabbed a 2-1 advantage in the second on a two-out RBI double off the bat of Barry Wesson.

 

The back-and-forth battle continued in the fifth as Nashville sprinted back ahead by a 3-2 count thanks to a pair of two-out hits. Ozzie Chavez singled with one out and was sacrificed to second by DiFelice. Crabbe followed with his team-leading seventh triple of the year, which tied the contest, then scored the go-ahead run on Tony Gwynn's subsequent RBI single.

 

Brad Nelson (2-for-4) extended the visitors' lead to 4-2 in the sixth when he led off the frame with his 20th home run of the season, a solo shot to right off Express starter Chan Ho Park. The blast matched the slugger's career high for home runs in a single season (also in 2002).

 

AUDIO: Brad Nelson Home Run

 

Humberto Quintero pulled the Express back within a run at 4-3 in the bottom of the frame with a one-out solo homer to left that chased DiFelice from the contest. It was the backstop's fifth longball of the season and provided the final run of the evening scored by either club.

 

DiFelice (4-1) earned the victory after he allowed three runs on six hits while striking out five batters over his 5 1/3 frames of action.

 

Four Nashville relievers combined to work 3 2/3 innings of scoreless ball behind DiFelice. Greg Aquino capped things off with a scoreless ninth to notch his sixth save of the year and second in two nights.

 

Park (6-13) suffered his PCL-leading 13th loss of the year after giving up four runs on eight hits over six innings for the Express.

 

Nashville outfielder Laynce Nix extended his season-best hitting streak to 10 games with a second-inning single but had his home run streak come to a close at six games, which matched a franchise record.

 

The red-hot Sounds return to Music City tomorrow to begin their final homestand of the 2007 regular season. Nashville opens a six-game series with the Oklahoma RedHawks (AAA-Rangers) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday evening at Greer Stadium. The Sounds have won nine of the 12 previous meetings between the clubs this season.

 

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (11-5, 3.59) will start on three days' rest for Nashville and face Oklahoma right-hander Eric Hurley (3-6, 4.19).

 

Nashville Box Score:

Plenty of contributions up and down the box score, both at the plate and on the mound; Mitch Stetter strands two as he continues to do his best Brian Shouse impersonation...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_21_nasaaa_rreaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_21_nasaaa_rreaaa_1

[TheCrew07]

WV...

 

If you linked your photobucket account something must not be correct because all the pictures are 90 degrees the wrong way. That being said, please keep them coming! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

edit. I'm dumb and didn't read the entire thread before posting, Kat already took care of it.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Carolina (Marlins) 7, Huntsville 2

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1328

 

Mudcats Make It Four Straight Over Stars

 

Eric Riggs had three hits and delivered what turned out to be the game-winning double in support of Chris Seddon in Carolina's 7-2 victory Tuesday night in the second of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Mudcats improved to 28-29 in the second half and just 22-40 on the road, while the Stars dropped a season-high fourth straight game to slip to 33-24 in the second half but maintained their one game lead in the North Division over Tennessee, which lost at Mobile.

 

The Stars scored first in the second inning and added to their lead in the fourth on an Adam Heether solo home run, his first since July 31, to make it 2-0. It would turn out to be the home team's last hit in the game. Seddon retired eight of the last nine batters he faced to earn his third win with the Mudcats. He allowed one earned run on two hits, walked one and fanned seven in his six inning stint.

 

Derek Miller blanked the Mudcats on one hit through four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth with two outs when he fielded a Seddon tapper near the third base line and threw past first base, allowing Rex Rundgren to move from first to third base and Seddon to reach safely. The southpaw then hit Dante Brinkley to load the bases before Riggs cleared them with a double into the alley in left-center field to give the visitors the lead for good at 3-2. Riggs has four hits, including two grand slams, in five bases loaded at-bats with 13 runs knocked in.

 

Lee Mitchell and Jai Miller opened the sixth with singles, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and stayed put when Jonny Raburn flied out to shallow right field. Right-hand pitcher Bo Hall was then brought on to face the righty-swinging Rundgren, who foiled the strategy by singling into center field on a 3-2 pitch to drive in both runners to push the Carolina lead to 5-2. He had just two hits in 19 prior at-bats with two outs and runners in scoring position. Miller was charged with five runs, two earned, on five hits and suffered the loss for a second straight start after winning five in a row.

 

Vince Perkins struck out pinch-hitter Frank Moore and Dante Brinkley with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning but gave up back-to-back run-scoring singles to Brett Hayes and Raburn in the ninth that made it 7-2. Chris Mobley retired all three Huntsville hitters in the seventh and Jesus Delgado set down all six he faced to earn his first save. The Mudcats' bullpen has thrown seven scoreless innings in the series, giving up two hits and striking out six.

 

The series continues Thursday night with left-hander Lindsay Gulin taking the hill for Huntsville against Carolina right-hander Gaby Hernandez. 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:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_21_cmcaax_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_21_cmcaax_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Helena heads to the home 9th tied at 2-2.

 

By the way, that vein in Matt LaPorta's forearm is thicker than my entire arm, I hate to admit. http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/smile.gif

[Mass Haas]

Walk-off HR, Curt Rindal! Helena, 3-2!

Details later -- we'll find that audio for you later, too...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 3, Ogden (Dodgers) 2

 

Helena Box Score:

LHP Casey Baron three shiny innings of relief for the win; Steffan Wilson's two-run triple in the 1st was all the Brewer scoring until Curt Rindal's walk-off bomb to left...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_21_ogdrok_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

LHP Dan Merklinger limited the damage to one unearned run, but walked five in his three innings...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_21_ogdrok_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Helena Site Game Summary:

Rindal Provides Heroics, Gives Helena Another Walk-off

HELENA - For the second consecutive night Helena had a walk-off victory over Ogden. Brewer Curt Rindal stepped to the plate as the leadoff man in a 2-2 game during the bottom of the ninth inning and delivered a home run to left field on an 0-2 count.

The Brewers quickly scored two runs in the first inning, but did not muster any more runs until the ninth inning with Rindal's winning hit. In the first inning Steffan Wilson continued to haunt Raptor pitchers with a two-run triple to right field.

Ogden bounced back with a run of its own in the second inning to cut the deficit in half. Justin Fuller's double knocked in the run. Starter Chad Robinson went three innings and allowed the lone run to Fuller. Reliever Dan Merklinger entered and took over after Robinson. Merklinger tossed three innings and allowed the Raptors' only other run in the sixth inning on a fielder's choice. Pitcher Casey Baron earned the win and threw the final three innings. Baron allowed just one hit and struck out four.

Besides Rindal's home run he collected two other hits to go 3-for-4 on the night. Lee Haydel also finished with a multi-hit game as he went 2-for-4. Others with hits included Caleb Gindl and Zelous Wheeler.

With the win the Brewers (38-22, 12-10) have now won three straight games and remain undefeated against the Raptors (25-34, 8-14) with a 6-0 season record. The Brewers are also 16 games over .500 for the first time this season. Helena and Ogden play the last of a four-game series Wednesday night at 7:05 PM (8:05 PM).

 

***

 

Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio with the Strength & Conditioning Coordinator for the entire minor league system, Jeff Mester:

Be sure you're on the archive date of August 21st, go to the 10:00 minute mark --

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/multimedia/audio.jsp

 

Use the same link for Steve Wendt's call of Curt Rindal's walkoff home run, go to the 3 hour, 7 minute mark.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/08/22/sports_top/b01082207_01.txt

 

Rindal's walk-off homer lifts Brewers over Raptors

By CURT SYNNESS, Helena Independent Record Sports Writer

 

For the second night in a row, the Helena Brewers beat the Ogden Raptors in their last at-bat. The Brewers swept a three-game set from the Raptors at Kindrick Legion Field, with two of the victories coming by way of walk-off home runs. Monday it was Steffan Wilson turning the trick, and last evening Curt Rindal took a turn being the hero.

 

With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Rindal led off for the home team and crushed the apple over the left field fence in approximately the same area as Wilson's the night before.

 

Helena (38-22) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Jonathan Lucroy got aboard via an error and Caleb Gindl walked. Then both streaked home when Wilson powered a two-run triple down the right field line. Ogden scored one in the second off Brewer starter Chad Robinson, and tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth with a tally off reliever Dan Merklinger.

 

Casey Baron came in and pitched the last three innings to record the win. He allowed but one safety - erasing that runner with a pickoff at first - while striking out four, and did not walk a batter.

 

Helena's defense came up with several critical plays, throwing out a run at the plate in the fifth and getting the lead runner at third in the sixth.

Ogden had the bases loaded with none out in the fifth, but Merklinger was able to work out of the jam unscathed.

 

The Brewers had chances to score in the seventh and eighth frames, putting runners on third in both innings. In the seventh, Rindal was called out at home on a safety squeeze bunt by Mike Goetz. It appeared that he may have beaten the tag, and Helena manager Jeff Isom had a long conversation with the umpire regarding the decision.

 

In the eighth, Lee Haydel was on third with two out, when Wilson fouled out on a fine catch by the outfielder in deep right next to the picnic fence.

 

The game was a tight pitching match-up, with Helena's Robinson, Merklinger and Baron surrendering only six hits. Helena collected eight hits, as Haydel, Wilson and Rindal collected two base knocks apiece.

 

Ogden (25-35) reliever Johnny Carraballo took the loss. Austin Gallagher had two singles for the Raptors.

 

Rindal's dramatic homer cleared the Brewers' bench, with his teammates greeting him at home and pounding on his back as he crossed the plate. The celebration continued throughout Kindrick Field, and even Helena general manager Paul Fetz was seen dancing a victory jig in the grandstands.

 

Photo by George Lane, Helena Independent Record Staff Photographer - Brewer shortstop Matt Cline waits for the throw from catcher Jonathan Lucroy as Raptors outfielder Travis Vetters slides safely into second base.

http://images.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/articles/2007/08/22/sports_top/b01082207_01.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.wvgazette.com/section/Sports/2007082137

 

LaPorta homers twice in Power win

By Michael Polak

For The Charleston Gazette

 

Matt LaPorta hit two home runs Tuesday night, leading the West Virginia Power to a 5-1 victory over the Lexington Legends.

 

LaPorta's first shot, a solo blast in the fourth inning which put the Power on the board and tied the game at 1, bounced off the scoreboard in center field, possibly causing damage to its top left corner.

 

When asked if the team might take a cut of his paycheck to fix the scoreboard, LaPorta quipped, "I hope not."

 

LaPorta, who went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, put the Power in the lead for good in the fifth with a three-run shot, which scored Charlie Fermaint and Brent Brewer.

 

"It was important," LaPorta said, "because it builds confidence for the pitcher and the other players."

 

LaPorta, a Gainesville, Fla., native, now has four home runs in his 10 games for the Power. In his first professional at-bat for the Pioneer league Helena Brewers, LaPorta hit a shot on his first swing.

 

The Legends scored the first run of the night in the second when Koby Clemens, son of Roger Clemens, scored on an RBI groundout.

 

The Power got an insurance run in the eighth on a Fermaint RBI grounder, which scored Chuckie Caufield.

 

Alex Periard improved to 6-7 with the win for the Power. He went six innings, allowing six hits and one run while striking out three. Sergio Severino (5-7) took the loss after going 4 2/3 innings and allowing four hits and three runs while striking out four.

 

The Power improved to 27-29 in the second half and 75-49 overall.

 

The Legends dropped to 24-34 in the second half. A crowd of 2,398 attended.

 

The teams resume their three-game series tonight at Appalachian Power Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

***

 

Be sure you're on the archive for August 21st, then go to the 1 hour, 6 minute mark for Matt LaPorta's first home run ("That's what we like to call a freaking bomb" -- said Andy Barch on color commentary, as intern Matt Gatjka, who did such a nice job on the Power videos we recently linked to on this forum, had the two play-by-play calls), and then, just 30 minutes later at the 1 hour, 36 minute mark, home run # 2:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/multimedia/audio.jsp

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's

 

http://www.starsboxscore.com/

 

TAILSPIN CONTINUES

STARS LOSE 4th STRAIGHT, 7th OF LAST 10

 

Again, it looked good at the start, but a small crowd watched a 2-0 lead melt away again in the middle innings for the 2nd straight night as the Stars lost their 4th straight for the second time in a month. (A four-game losing streak preceded an eight-game win streak to start the month of August.)

 

A double by Lou Palmisano, a dropped fly ball, and a home run to left by Adam Heether....... That was the Stars' sum total of offense tonight from a team that was hitting .301 in the last nine games, six of which they had lost........ Even more distressing is that the Stars have lost five of their last seven to the two worst pitching staffs in the league (Carolina is ranked 9th with a 4.25 ERA and West Tennessee is 10th with a 4.53 mark)........ After Heether's home run gave the Stars a 2-0 lead, the most exciting moment for the Stars was seeing pitching coach Rich Sauveur "carjack" Homer's four-wheeler between innings, and race it at high speed around the warning track and out of the groundskeepers' exit in right field. (Homer, the team mascot, makes a nightly show of showing off in the vehicle and racing it around the dirt periphery of the field, kicking up dust as he goes.)

 

Palmisano, after taking a two-day rest, connected off Chris Seddon's first pitch in the 2nd, lining the ball to left field, just inside the foul line, then bouncing into Joe Davis's spacious foul territory for an easy stand-up double....... After striking out Brendan Katin on three pitches for the 2nd out, Steve Moss lined a 2-2 pitch to shallow center. Jai Miller ran in and gloved the ball, but dropped it, allowing Palmisano to score........ In the 4th, Heether hit his first home run of the month and his 9th of the season, almost in the same spot Steve Sollmann had deposited his in left field, Monday night. And that was it.........Carolina pitchers held the Stars hitless for the rest of the game -- 5 2/3 no-hit innings...... Seddon walked Sollmann in the top of the 6th, followed by a successful sacrifice by Alcides Escobar that puts the team within one of tying the club record for sac bunts in a season, but that was all the Stars would get the rest of the game. .

 

Had the pitching held, the Stars, with a 2-0 lead, would have been fine with Carolina's stinginess, but Eric Riggs, whose two-run HR tied Monday's game, hit a bases-loaded double in the 5th to give the Mudcats the lead they would never relinquish........ Derek Miller appeared to be fine after Rex Rundgren forced Johnny Raburn at 2nd for the 2nd out. Chris Seddon should have been the third out........ But Seddon hit a tapper back to Miller on a 2-2 pitch and he threw the ball away, moving Rundgren to 3rd. Then Miller, on another 2-2 pitch, hit Dante Brinkley just above the elbow to load the bases...... Riggs, now with a .425 average since August 10, blasted a 2-0 pitch to the gap in left center, hitting off the wall, clearing the bases for a 3-2 lead........ He added another double in the 7th inning off Bo Hall, but it turned out to be harmless..

 

The Stars still have a game lead over the Tennessee Smokies after they lost to Mobile tonight, 6-1, but now the Mudcats, winners of three straight, are just five in back of the Stars. The race, with 13 games left, is tightening up....... Derek Miller is now 2-2 in August with a 4.81 ERA...... Lindsay Gulin will try again for his 12th victory, Wednesday against right-hander Gaby Hernandez. Both pitchers are among the Southern League's top 10 ERA leaders. Gulin is 4th (3.31) and Hernandez, the Marlins' 3rd-ranked prospect, is 10th (3.62)

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070822/SPORTS0401/708220451/1328/SPORTS

 

Sounds to open season's final homestand today

Team says it will be back at Greer in '08

By JEFF LOCKRIDGE

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

In the shadow of football season starting and an uncertain future in Nashville, the Sounds open a 10-game, nine-day homestand tonight that could produce yet another playoff berth.

 

The Sounds maintain the largest divisional lead of any Pacific Coast League team and could wrap up their third consecutive divisional title by this weekend.

 

The homestand features six games, including a Saturday doubleheader, with the Oklahoma Redhawks and four games with the Omaha Royals.

Sounds General Manager Glenn Yaeger said there is no reason to think the team's last homestand of the 2007 regular season will be its last ever at 30-year-old Greer Stadium.

 

The team has been at odds with Mayor Bill Purcell's administration, its former architect and its bank since the deal for a new downtown ballpark fell apart last spring.

 

"We have a lease through 2008 at Greer Stadium, so our expectation is to fulfill our obligations of the lease and play there in 2008," Yaeger said. "We certainly expect the city to fulfill their obligation under the lease. There is a $250,000 (annual) maintenance contribution, which they are one year behind on, and we're asking them to meet their obligation. But we're committed to baseball in Middle Tennessee."

 

If the Sounds make the playoffs, they would open the American Conference finals on the road before returning to host Game 3 on Sept. 7 and games 4-5, if necessary, Sept. 8-9.

 

The PCL Championship Series, which the Sounds won in 2005, would open Sept. 11 at Greer Stadium if the team advances that far.

 

The Sounds have pledged that all playoff ticket revenue will be donated to area charities.

 

"We're not going to make any additional profits," Yaeger said. "The biggest benefit of making the playoffs is the awareness it creates in the community. When the team is successful, people tend to notice what you're doing."

 

Moves: The Brewers called up right-hander Seth McClung early Tuesday morning and demoted Carlos Villanueva.

 

McClung went 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA in five games for the Sounds after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization July 27. He earned Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week honors for the Aug. 6-12 period.

 

Villanueva had spent the entire season with Milwaukee and posted a 6-3 record and 4.68 ERA in 53 appearances. He earned his first major league save with three perfect innings Monday, then was optioned in a planned move.