Link Report for Thurs. 8/23 -- Update: Nice Blog Entry from the Power Game

[Mass Haas]

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

 

 

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Tim Dillard at home vs. Oklahoma (Rangers), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

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

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Ben Stanczyk and TBD in a doubleheader at Daytona (Cubs), 4:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

NOTE: The audio for this series is from the Cubs' staff.

 

West Virginia: RHP Jeremy Jeffress 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: Idle

 

Arizona: TBD at the mini-Padres' complex in Peoria, 7:00 Central; never any audio for Arizona Rookie League games

[Mass Haas]

A reminder, it's pronounced "Jeffers", despite the spelling...

[Mass Haas]

Follow Thursday'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_23_orhaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_cmcaax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County Game One:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_breafa_dbcafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game Two:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_breafa_dbcafa_2&did=t503&sid=t503

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_lexafx_wvaafx_1

 

Arizona:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_brrrok_pdrrok_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 Wednesday's action:

 

Arizona League 2nd Half Standings:

Arizona Rookie is 16-33 overall...

 

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

 

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 80 51 .611 - 42-21 38-30 L1 Iowa 72 60 .545 8.5 41-27 31-33 L2 Omaha 65 66 .496 15.0 41-26 24-40 L4 Memphis 53 79 .402 27.5 27-37 26-42 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 33 25 .569 - 16-12 17-13 L5 Tennessee 32 26 .552 1.0 20-10 12-16 L2 Chattanooga 30 28 .517 3.0 16-17 14-11 W1 Carolina 29 29 .500 4.0 15-15 14-14 W4 West Tenn 24 34 .414 9.0 12-18 12-16 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 32 26 .552 - 15-14 17-12 W1 Brevard County 29 29 .500 3.0 17-10 12-19 L1 Palm Beach 28 31 .475 4.5 15-17 13-14 L1 Jupiter 24 31 .436 6.5 14-12 10-19 W1 Daytona 22 37 .373 10.5 10-19 12-18 L1 Vero Beach 19 38 .333 12.5 11-19 8-19 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hickory 34 24 .586 - 20-12 14-12 L3 Lakewood 29 27 .518 4.0 15-11 14-16 W1 Delmarva 30 28 .517 4.0 14-16 16-12 W2 Greensboro 30 29 .508 4.5 19-10 11-19 W4 Lake County 27 28 .491 5.5 12-16 15-12 L1 West Virginia 27 30 .474 6.5 17-12 10-18 L1 Lexington 25 34 .424 9.5 16-14 9-20 W1 Hagerstown 19 39 .328 15.0 10-18 9-21 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 16 6 .727 - 8-1 8-5 W3 Helena 12 11 .522 4.5 6-8 6-3 L1 Billings 11 12 .478 5.5 5-5 6-7 W1 Missoula 10 13 .435 6.5 7-6 3-7 L1 

[Mass Haas]

There's no official word out of MiLB.com, and perhaps their schedule info is wrong (again), but no game audio or updates out of Daytona yet, and no weather issues.

[brewswinga2]

Wow, crazy 1st inning for Jeffress.

 

0 Hits, 2 Wild Pitches, a Passed Ball, a Walk, and 4 Ks

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: Brevard County 2, Daytona (Cubs) 1, eight innings (scheduled for seven)

 

Brevard County Game One Box Score:

Wow, LHP David Welch and RHP Patrick Ryan combine to strike out 13 while walking zero, allowing only four hits; Michael Bell's leadoff HR in the 7th sent the game into extra innings -- once there, Yohannis Perez knocked in the game-winner with a sacrifice fly, scoring Lorenzo Cain who reached base on a two-base error and then stole third, his 22nd steal in 30 attempts this season...

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_breafa_dbcafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game One Game Log:

Heck, the Manatees win despite getting only two base hits, Bell's HR and Perez' 3rd inning two-out single...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_breafa_dbcafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

[bullox]

Jeffress line:

 

8Ks, 4 IP, 0 hits allowed. Not too shabby.

 

4BBs, 2ER. A little shabby.

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 12, Lexington (Astros) 5

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

CHAPMAN SNAPS FRANCHISE RECORD IN POWER VICTORY

 

Steve Chapman homered twice to snap the franchise record for home runs in a single season on Thursday night at Appalachian Power Park, as the Power defeated the Lexington Legends 12-5 to take the rubber match.

 

Brent Brewer ripped an RBI double down the left field line in the bottom of the first to give the Power an early lead. In the third, the Legends scored twice to take their only lead of the game. Jimmy Van Ostrand walked with the bases loaded to plate the first run and Ronald Ramirez scored on a ground ball hit by Koby Clemens to give the Legends the lead. The lead didn't last long as Kenny Holmberg hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the third, his 15th of the season, to give the Power the lead.

 

In the fourth Brewer doubled in a pair of runs and scored from second base on Matt LaPorta's sacrifice fly. Chapman's first of two home runs was a solo shot in the sixth inning and his second was a two-run shot in the seventh, giving him 22 on the year, passing Jason Parsons, who previously held the franchise record with 20 in 1997. Andrew Lefave hit West Virginia's fourth homer of the game, a two-run shot in the eighth inning, giving him 16 on the season. Lexington scored three runs in the ninth inning but it was too little, too late.

 

Jared Sutton (1-2) earned the victory tossing three scoreless innings of relief, while Bryan Hallberg (2-5) was tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits over four and two thirds. Jeremy Jeffress tossed four hitless innings before being relieved. He allowed a pair of unearned runs, walked four and struck out eight.

 

The Power improved to 76-50 overall and 28-30 in the second half, while the Legends fell to 56-74 overall and 25-35 in the second half. Every Power player hit safely while five Power players had multi-hit games and four knocked in multiple runs.

 

The Power will begin a three game series against the Hickory Crawdads at L.P. Frans Stadium on Friday night. The Power will start left hander Luis Ramirez (1-2, 5.66) and the Crawdads will counter with right hander Mike Crotta (10-5, 4.07). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM (6:00 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Reliever Jared Sutton hadn't piched since the 12th, but he's allowed only two runs in his last 18 innings; none of the five runs Brewer pitching allowed was earned; as noted above, offensive heroes abound, enjoy the box score; over 4,400 in Charleston -- impressive...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_lexafx_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_23_lexafx_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Manager Frank Kremblas:

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%208-22.mp3

 

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Pitcher Carlos Villanueva:

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%208-23.mp3

[Mass Haas]

The Arizona Brewers up 9-0 early with a flawless effort thus far -- several of the same position players we've mentioned in recent days (Brett Whiteside, Edgar Trejo, Chris Dennis, Joey Paciorek) are having a big night; that lineup is kind of establishing a bit of a rhythm the last couple of weeks, and the club appears to have a shot at sending several to Helena next year with a chance to succeed, something that wasn't evident a month ago, for sure. Details in the AM...

[wvpowerblkwel]

Strange night for Jeffress....saw the gun at 97 tonite, but control was really "odd". Fantastic nite for Chapman with No 21 and 22!

 

http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/6581579479eac5ef49448a6a5f9fe69dc11b34e.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game Two: Daytona (Cubs) 12, Brevard County 0

 

Brevard County Game Two Box Score:

Shortstop Ryan Barba's four errors wasn't the reason for the loss, but they'll stand out in a box score; RHP Travis Wendte finally allows an earned run with Brevard...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_breafa_dbcafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game Two Game Log:

Should we read anything into Nestor Corredor pinch-hitting for Lorenzo Cain in the final inning? Corredor had caught the first game. Cain did have to run down three base hits in right field the prior inning, hopefully he's OK...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_breafa_dbcafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com Game One Wrap:

Perez, Manatees overcome Cubs

Yohannis Perez lifted a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning as visiting Brevard County edged Daytona, 2-1, in Thursday's doubleheader opener.

Lorenzo Cain reached second on a throwing error by shortstop Jonathan Mota and stole third before snapping a 1-1 deadlock on Perez's fly ball to right field.

The Manatees (30-29) were held to one hit over six innings by Cubs starter Joel Santo, but broke through when Michael Bell opened the seventh with a homer off Darin Downs.

Brevard County reliever Patrick Ryan (3-3) gave up a hit and struck out four over three scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 1.86. Starter David Welch allowed a run on three hits while matching a career high with nine strikeouts over five frames.

Matt Matulia cranked a two-out solo shot, his third, in the second for the Cubs (22-38), who were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.

Downs (3-6) surrendered two runs -- one earned -- on one hit and a walk with one strikeout over two innings. Santo struck out five and walked one while lowering his ERA to 4.72. -- Marissa Rega/MLB.com

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 8, Oklahoma (Rangers) 5

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Vinny Rottino photo, text follows --

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2526

 

Big Inning Lifts Sounds Past RedHawks

 

NASHVILLE - The Nashville Sounds used a seven-run fifth inning to hang an 8-5 defeat on the Oklahoma Redhawks on Thursday night at Greer Stadium.

 

With the victory, the Sounds once again improve to 30 games over .500 and maintained their 8 1/2 game division lead over the Iowa Cubs, who won their game against New Orleans earlier in the evening. Nashville's magic number was reduced to three to clinch their third consecutive division championship.

 

Sounds outfielder Laynce Nix continued his hot hitting with a three-run bomb in the fifth inning. Nix set a new career high with the blast as he has now hit 24 homers between Double-A Huntsville and Nashville this season. The shot also extended Nix's hitting streak to a season-high 12 games.

 

Oklahoma (67-64) jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning when Freddy Guzman (2-for-3) led off with a drag bunt. He stole his PCL-leading 49th base of the season before Tug Hulett sent Tim Dillard's pitch over the left-centerfield wall giving the Redhawks a 2-0 lead.

 

Nashville (81-51) lowered the deficit in the bottom half of the inning after Tony Gwynn was hit by a pitch. He advanced to second on a Drew Anderson groundout before Brad Nelson singled to knock him home and make the score 2-1.

 

The Redhawks would score three runs over the next four innings before the Sounds mounted an offensive assault in the bottom of the fifth. Vinny Rottino (2-for-3) led the inning off with a towering solo homer on a 1-0 pitch from Oklahoma starter Steve Rowe. Chris Barnwell and Callix Crabbe were then issued back-to-back walks before Gwynn knocked them both in with a triple to left-center.

 

AUDIO: Vinny Rottino Home Run

 

Gwynn would score one batter later on a hard-hit Anderson double down the right field line. Andy Abad reached with Nashville's third walk of the inning before Nix hit his eighth home run in nine games to cap off the Sounds seven-run fifth.

 

Dillard (6-4) got the win for Nashville in a spot start, giving up five runs in five innings of work and striking out one. Nashville's bullpen was solid with four shutout innings of relief, including Greg Aquino's seventh save of the season.

 

Oklahoma's Ezequiel Astacio (2-5) took the loss after giving up three earned runs in 2/3 of an inning of relief for the visitors

 

The Sounds continue their series against the Redhawks at Greer Stadium on Friday evening. Nashville right-hander Carlos Villanueva (NR) is scheduled to make his 2007 Sounds debut at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow. He will oppose Redhawks right-hander Alfredo Simon (5-10, 6.43).

 

Nashville Box Score:

Laynce Nix, cowabunga! Sounds draw eight walks; Greg Aquino has been superb in little bite-size pieces for over a month now...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_orhaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_23_orhaaa_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 9, Carolina (Marlins) 6

Huntsville Box Score:

Steve Hammond struggled, but the bullpen threw six innings of one-run ball -- details from the Stars' site later on; six years in the system, and it's doubtful utility infielder Guilder Rodriguez ever drove in four runs in a game prior to this contest...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_cmcaax_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_23_cmcaax_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1331

 

G-Rod Guides Stars to Victory

 

Guilder Rodriguez knocked in a season-high four runs and the bullpen was outstanding for six innings in Huntsville's 9-6 come from behind win over Carolina Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium that snapped a five-game losing streak. The Stars improved to 34-25 in the second half and pushed their lead over Tennessee to two games in the North Division, while the Mudcats slid to 29-30 and five games behind with 11 to go in the regular season. The Stars also snapped a five-game losing streak to the Mudcats.

 

Jai Miller's two-run home run capped a five-run third inning that gave the visitors a 5-2 lead. Carolina starter Blake McGinley walked Brendan Katin to load the bases with two outs in the home half before he walked Steve Moss on four pitches to force in a run that cut the lead to two. Rodriguez followed with a two-run single to left field, his first multi-RBI hit of the season, to tie the game. Pinch-hitter Michael Brantley then singled into left field to deliver Moss to give the Stars a 6-5 and knock McGinley out of the game. The southpaw took the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits and dropped to 6-9.

 

E.J. Shanks took over for starter Steve Hammond and worked a scoreless fourth and fifth innings and was aided when Brad Davis was thrown out at the plate to end the fourth trying to score from second base on an infield single. Shanks was lifted with runners at second and third and one out in the sixth and replaced by David Johnson, who gave up a sacrifice fly to pinch-hitter Frank Moore that cut the Stars lead to 7-6.

 

The Stars tacked on two runs in the sixth against Chris Mobley on a run-scoring double by Steve Sollmann and a wild pitch that allowed Adam Heether to score from third base. The Mudcats bullpen, which had worked eight shutout frames in the first three games, was tagged for three runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings tonight. Rodriguez, who finished with three hits, entered the game with eight runs batted in all season and only one at home. Heether finished with three hits and scored twice and Katin wound up scoring three times.

 

Meanwhile, Johnson wound up retiring all eight batters he faced, fanning five, and Luis Pena worked a perfect ninth to close the game and record his 12th save. Shanks picked up the win after yielding three hits, walking two and recording a strikeout.

 

The series wraps up Friday night with left-hander Sam Narron taking the hill for Huntsville against Carolina right-hander Chris Volstad, the top ranked prospect in the Florida organization. There will be no radio or internet coverage of the game.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 11, Arizona Padres 10

Whoa nelly!

 

Arizona Box Score:

Padres score all ten runs in the final four innings as the A-Crew barely hangs on; Padre pitchers threw seven wild pitches, five by their starter; three home runs for the Brewers, including Chris Dennis' 5th, an impressive number for this league -- the soon-to-be 19-year-old Canadian OF has a seven-game hit streak, three consecutive multi-hit games, and is sporting an .837 OPS...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_23_brrrok_pdrrok_1

 

Arizona Game Log:

Tying run was on first base when Patrick Lawler was summoned for the strikeout and the save; truly wild five-run first inning for the Brewers at the plate as the Padres bumbled and stumbled...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_23_brrrok_pdrrok_1

 

MiLB.com story on the Padre kid who hit for the cycle in the game:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070824&content_id=293906&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.al.com/stars/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/sports/1187947276131860.xml&coll=1

 

Rodriguez provides rare pop for Stars

Utility player has four RBIs as team ends slide in 9-6 win

By BRAD SHEPARD

For The Huntsville Times

 

Strolling around the clubhouse, it's not uncommon to see Guilder Rodriguez horsing around with teammates or jumping on their backs.

 

Thursday night was Rodriguez's turn to carry the team on his.

 

What the 24-year-old super utility player lacks in pop, he makes up for in placement. He delivered three solid singles and four RBIs Thursday to help snap the Stars' slump in a 9-6 win over Carolina.

 

Adam Heether added three hits and scored twice.

 

In games when Rodriguez drives in a run this year, the Stars are 8-1. Now, in games when he drives in more, they're 1-0.

 

"I broke my record," Rodriguez said with a laugh while being congratulated by teammates for his four RBIs, "for my whole life."

 

Rodriguez is a clubhouse clown, a consummate teammate and the center of the show off the field. When the team had a "Dancing with the Stars" promotional night on the last homestand, Rodriguez was the player ballroom dancing on the dugouts.

 

Starting at second base and hitting eighth against Carolina, he did his dancing around the bases. After opening with an RBI single, he came up again with two outs and his team down two in the third.

 

In the clutch, "GRod" roped a two-run single into left and later hustled from first to third on a Michael Brantley go-ahead RBI single to left.

 

In the fifth, he provided an insurance run with another RBI single. Of his 46 hits this year, just one has gone for extra bases, but soft singles still count.

 

"I'm no power hitter," Rodriguez said. "I just concentrate on putting the ball in play."

 

Added first baseman Steve Sollmann, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI: "He's a critical part of this team. He's a high-energy guy whether he's in the game or not, and when he gets in the game, he takes advantage of it."

 

His teammates added two insurance runs in the sixth to the delight of 1,240 fans at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

The win ended a dismal streak that had seen Huntsville drop six of seven games and watch its lead in the North Division shrink to one game.

 

After starter Steve Hammond struggled, the bullpen preserved the lead with a little help from the defense.

 

Human vacuum cleaner Alcides Escobar nearly made one of the year's most jaw-dropping plays in the fourth. It ended up being one of the most unique - and a highlight-reel result, after all.

 

With the Stars ahead by one, Carolina's Eric Riggs sent a high hopper through the middle with a runner on second. Rather than the ball sneaking through, Escobar - Huntsville's sparkling shortstop - stabbed it in mid-air after it ricocheted off the pitcher's glove and threw just late to first.

 

Mudcats catcher Brad Davis tried to score, anyway. But an alert Sollmann turned and fired to Lou Palmisano, who applied the tag in time. The play went in the scorebook as the season's first 1-6-3-2 putout, and it was huge at the time.

 

"It's time for the team to get going," Rodriguez said. "It's time to get some momentum going into the playoffs."

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070824/SPORTS0401/708240439/1328/SPORTS

 

Seven-run fifth gives Sounds comeback win

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Vinny Rottino, Tony Gwynn Jr., Drew Anderson and, of course, Laynce Nix helped pull the Sounds out of hitting slump Thursday against Oklahoma in a key 8-5 win.

 

Rottino led off the fifth inning with a home run; Gwynn crushed a two-run triple; Anderson added an RBI double; and Nix hit a three-run homer to erase a 5-1 deficit.

 

The seven runs scored in the fifth tied a season-high for the Sounds. And Nix's homer was his eighth in nine games.

 

A Greer Stadium crowd of 3,773 watched the Sounds bounce back from Wednesday's 10-2 loss to the RedHawks.

 

Iowa beat New Orleans 10-2 Thursday, meaning Nashville needs three victories in its final 12 games clinch the PCL American Conference Northern Division championship and make its third consecutive playoff appearance.

 

"We don't pay attention to the number of games we need to win at all,'' Nix said. "We have a lot of fun and we're playing well and we're pretty confident we're going to do that every day, so there's no need to keep up with how many games we need to win. It will work out."

 

Oklahoma right fielder Kevin West could have prevented some of the damage. He dropped Gwynn's hit on the warning track in right-center.

 

Along with the three hits, four Sounds were walked in the fifth.

 

Nix was intentionally walked on his next time at the plate in the seventh inning with two outs and Drew Anderson in scoring position on third. It was only the third time Nix has been intentionally walked this season.

 

"It was a good decision,'' Nix said. "I've hit a home run eight out of nine days, so, you know."

 

Chris Spurling relieved Sounds starter Tim Dillard and did not allow a hit in the sixth or seventh innings. Dennis Sarfate came on in the eighth and didn't allow any hits while striking out two.

 

After Mitch Stetter got two outs in the ninth for the Sounds closer Greg Aquino picked up his seventh save by forcing Victor Diaz to pop up.

 

What they said: "I'm hitting the ball solid every day. That's the way you practice." - Nix on homering in eight of the past nine games.

[dixieflatline]

Hey guys. I was at the WV Power game last night and wrote it up at my blog. It is too long to copy and paste here but you can check it out if you want.

[Mass Haas]

Hey Dixie, thanks for posting that link. I really enjoyed reviewing it and look forward to any further reports you can make, be sure to bring them to our attention!

[wvpowerblkwel]

For what it's worth, they said LaPorta did damage to the scoreboard the night before with a jackety, jack jack so that blue streak of lights isn't so bad if you know where it came from!