Link Report for Fr. 8/24 -- Villanueva Just Fine; Wild Nights for Manatees and Power

[Mass Haas]

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

 

 

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

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

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Sam Narron at home vs. Carolina (Marlins), 7:05 PM gametime

 

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

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

 

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

 

Brevard County: LHP Rafael Lluberes at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM 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: LHP Luis Ramirez at Hickory (Pirates), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime

 

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

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

 

Helena: RHP Evan Anundsen at Great Falls (White Sox), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:00 gametime

 

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

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

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Log". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often.

 

Nashville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_24_orhaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_24_cmcaax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_24_breafa_dbcafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_24_wvaafx_hicafx_1

 

Helena:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t581&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_24_helrok_grfrok_1

 

Arizona:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_24_brrrok_mrnrok_1

[Mass Haas]

These links will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally they are updated an hour or two prior to gametime, with Nashville's usually earlier:

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

 

Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Thursday's action:

 

Arizona League 2nd Half Standings:

Arizona Rookie is 17-33 overall...

 

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

 

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 81 51 .614 - 43-21 38-30 W1 Iowa 73 60 .549 8.5 41-27 32-33 W1 Omaha 65 66 .496 15.5 41-26 24-40 L4 Memphis 53 80 .398 28.5 27-37 26-43 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 34 25 .576 - 17-12 17-13 W1 Tennessee 32 27 .542 2.0 20-10 12-17 L3 Chattanooga 30 29 .508 4.0 16-18 14-11 L1 Carolina 29 30 .492 5.0 15-15 14-15 L1 West Tenn 25 34 .424 9.0 12-18 13-16 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 33 26 .559 - 16-14 17-12 W2 Brevard County 30 30 .500 3.5 17-10 13-20 L1 Palm Beach 29 32 .475 5.0 16-17 13-15 L1 Jupiter 25 32 .439 7.0 15-12 10-20 W1 Daytona 23 38 .377 11.0 11-20 12-18 W1 Vero Beach 19 39 .328 13.5 11-19 8-20 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hickory 34 25 .576 - 20-12 14-13 L4 Greensboro 31 29 .517 3.5 20-10 11-19 W5 Lakewood 29 28 .509 4.0 15-11 14-17 L1 Delmarva 30 29 .508 4.0 14-17 16-12 L1 Lake County 28 28 .500 4.5 13-16 15-12 W1 West Virginia 28 30 .483 5.5 18-12 10-18 W1 Lexington 25 35 .417 9.5 16-14 9-21 L1 Hagerstown 20 39 .339 14.0 10-18 10-21 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 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]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.dailymail.com/story/Sports/+/2007082444/Power+roster+won%27t+resemble+first+half/

 

Power roster won't resemble first half

Jack Bogaczyk

Charleston Daily Mail Sports Editor

 

The West Virginia Power's personnel plans for the upcoming South Atlantic League baseball playoffs have nothing do with flipping a coin.

 

It's more like venerable comedian Flip Wilson's portrayal of "Geraldine."

 

What you see is what you get.

 

The Power won the South Atlantic League's Northern Division first-half title, and is likely to meet Hickory -- with a comfortable second-half lead -- in the divisional best-of-three semifinal round. The Power heads to Hickory for a three-game series starting tonight.

 

The Power playoff first round is scheduled Sept. 5 on the road and Sept. 7 and 8 (the latter, if necessary) at Appalachian Power Park.

 

West Virginia's playoff roster won't be close to as strong as the one that won the first-half title with a 48-20 record. A minor league baseball rule prohibits teams from moving players down in the final 20 days of the regular season.

 

"It's pretty simple," Power General Manager Ryan Gates said. "We can have a player moved up (by Milwaukee) from Helena, but we can't get a (Power first-half cogs) Darren Ford or (Michael) Brantley moved back to us."

 

Any player movement downward in a farm system after last week, playoff team or not, must be approved by a Minor League Baseball officials, through farm directors. That isn't likely to happen.

 

The mid-August roster lock-in rule likely contributed to the West Virginia arrival of Milwaukee's No. 1 June draft pick, outfielder Matt LaPorta, on Aug. 8. The seventh overall pick in the draft gave the Power a needed bat.

 

There's another reason the Power wasn't likely to get any players back even before the Aug. 16 cutoff date. All three Brewer farm teams above West Virginia also are playoff-bound, so helping one club versus another wasn't much of an option.

 

The Power (28-30 second half) already is tinkering with its pitching rotation to get it aligned for the playoffs. Pitching coach John Curtis said Thursday that two of the first-round starting berths would be filled by right-handers Jeremy Jeffress (8-5) and Alex Periard (6-7).

 

"We've absolutely done some mapping and moving to try and figure it out," Curtis said. "It's a little early to try and pin it down, and I'm not sure we want to tip our hand now, but what it comes down to is when is Jeffress going to pitch.

 

"You can trot out Jeffress for Game 1, which would be most likely, because then you could have him back early in the championship series. Who gets Game 2 back here? Do you pitch your third guy in Game 2, saving your No. 2 for the third game?"

 

Curtis said the likely candidates for an SAL series start besides Jeffress and Periard are two other righties, Shawn Ferguson (3-1) and Chris Toneguzzi (6-3).

 

The Power pitching coach said those decisions will be made by Manager Mike Guerrero, Curtis and hitting coach Corey Hart, although there will be consultation with Milwaukee's farm department.

 

"I remember when I played, it was always that you kind of went with who had the hot hand," Curtis said. "With (a 13-man staff), once you get to the playoffs after the starters, it's kind of 'Give us an inning and put up a zero.' "

 

The best-of-five SAL Championship Series is scheduled Sept. 10-15, with Games 1 and 2 at the Northern Division champion's park, then a travel day, and Games 3-5 set for the Southern Division's home.

 

Augusta won the Southern first-half crown. Columbus has a half-game lead over Charleston (S.C.) in the second half with 10 dates left in a regular season that ends Labor Day.

[Minigoon]

I know Darren Ford is considered the fastest in the Brewers system, but I would like to know how he scored from first on a single!

 

Brevard County Top 1st

• Darren Ford walks.
• Lorenzo Cain singles on a fly ball to right fielder Ryan Harvey. Darren Ford scores.
• With Mat Gamel batting, Lorenzo Cain caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Steven Clevenger to shortstop Jonathan Mota.
• Mat Gamel strikes out swinging.
• Michael Bell called out on strikes.

I guess I should have tuned in.

[Boy Jeenius]

Boy, West Virginia is sure missing Knucklescraper and Wendte. Donovan Hand gets pushed around a bit for the loss. Tough loss. On the other hand, Carols V allows 1 hit in 4 innings w 4k's. Decent enough.

[BrewPackBuck]

Is Tyson gonna come up as a reliever or as a starter?

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with First Baseman Andy Abad (Part 1 of 2):

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%208-24.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Final: Oklahoma (Rangers) 3, Nashville 2

Nashville Site Game Summary:
Link for Carlos Villanueva photo, text follows --

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2528

RedHawks Come Back To Edge Sounds, 3-2

NASHVILLE - The Oklahoma RedHawks edged the Nashville Sounds by a 3-2 count on Friday evening at Greer Stadium.

Despite the loss, the magic number for Nashville (81-52) to clinch their third consecutive division title dropped to two as second-place Iowa lost to New Orleans. Nashville's lead remains a season-best 8 1/2 games over the Cubs.

The game was the Sounds' 46th one-run contest of the season, which ties for the highest total in the Pacific Coast League.

Nashville took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Chris Barnwell led off with a double and scored on an Ozzie Chavez RBI single. The Sounds doubled the advantage an inning later when Vinny Rottino opened the frame with a double and later came home on a Mike Rivera sacrifice fly.

AUDIO: Ozzie Chavez RBI Single

Carlos Villanueva turned in a solid start for the Sounds, allowing only one hit while striking out four batters over four scoreless frames. He threw 53 pitches, 34 for strikes.

Zach Jackson took over on the Nashville hill in the fifth and Oklahoma took immediate advantage. Four of the first five batters in the frame singled to produce the visitors' first run and leave the bases loaded with one out. Jackson worked out of the jam with no further damage, however, by catching Tug Hulett looking at strike three then picking Freddy Guzman off first.

The RedHawks took a 3-2 lead with a pair of runs against Jackson in the top of the seventh. After Chris Stewart singled with one out, Guzman followed with an RBI triple to the wall in left-center to knot the contest. The speedy outfielder put the visitors in front when he scored on a groundout later in the inning.

Nashville had a couple of chances to knot the score late in the contest. The home team loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but Oklahoma starter and former longtime Milwaukee farmhand Derek Lee induced an inning-ending flyout from Tony Gwynn.

The Sounds threatened again in the eighth, putting a runner on third with only one out after Vinny Rottino singled, stole second, and moved to third on a wild pitch by former Nashville hurler Luther Hackman. The right-hander escaped the jam when he induced a lineout double play off the bat of Rivera.

Outfielder Laynce Nix finished 0-for-3 on the evening to snap his longest hitting streak of the year at 12 games.

Lee (1-2) earned his first victory of the season after allowing two runs on eight hits over seven innings of work. Franklyn German struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to notch his sixth save of the year.

Jackson (10-10) absorbed the loss for Nashville after allowing all three RedHawks runs on 11 hits over his five relief innings behind Villanueva.

The teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday evening that will consist of a pair of seven-inning games. The twinbill was necessitated by an April 11 rainout.

Left-hander Adam Pettyjohn (11-3, 3.69) will man the bump for the Sounds in the opener to face Oklahoma right-hander Chris Baker (4-3, 5.71). Right-hander Steve Bray (5-1, 1.57) will make a spot start for Nashville in the nightcap and oppose RedHawks southpaw A.J. Murray (3-2, 3.25).

Nashville Box Score:
Wonderful four innings for Carlos Villanueva; Mike Rivera down to .216; Derek Lee now 33 years old --only debuted on August 3rd this season...

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_24_orhaaa_nasaaa_1

Nashville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_24_orhaaa_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Carolina (Marlins) 3, Huntsville 2

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1332

 

Mudcats Finish Off Strong Series Against Stars

Chris Volstad worked seven strong innings and got all the support he needed on a Jai Miller home run to push Carolina past Huntsville 3-2 Friday night in the last of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Mudcats took four out of five in the series to boost their second half record to 30-30 and move to within four games of the Stars, who dipped to 34-26 in the second half but maintained their two-game lead over Tennessee in the North Division after the Smokies fell to Mobile. Huntsville was held to seven runs, and no more than two in any game, and 15 hits total in the four losses.

 

Lou Palmisano's home run in the second inning, his 11th of the season and first since July 20, staked the Stars to the early lead but it didn't last long. Rex Rundgren singled with one out in the third, Lee Mitchell walked with two outs and Miller blasted his 14th long ball of the season, and second in as many nights, just to the right of straightaway center field to give the visitors a 3-2 lead. The Stars have allowed a home run in nine of their last 10 games and 15 total during that stretch. Narron was saddled with the loss after yielding three runs on five hits, walking three and striking out five. He is 7-8.

 

Volstad set down nine in a row after Palmisano before a single by Brendan Katin but he was doubled off at first base to end the fifth on a Steve Moss line drive. The right-hander, ranked as Florida's number one prospect entering the season, walked pinch-hitter Mel Stocker in the sixth but stranded him at third base and gave up a two-out single to Palmisano in the seventh before fanning Katin to end the frame. He yielded three hits, walked one and struck out five to pick up his third win in five starts at the double-A level. The 20-year-old right-hander, who went 8-9 with a 4.50 ERA in 21 outings for Class A Advanced Jupiter, lowered his ERA to 1.04 in five starts for the Mudcats (30-30). He has limited Southern League opponents to three earned runs while striking out 20 over 33 2/3 innings.

 

Moss led off the eighth inning with a home run, his tenth and first since July 18, to greet Ben Julianel, who then retired the next three hitters. Brandon Villafuerte gave up an infield hit with one out in the ninth to Hernan Iribarren, who was then tagged out returning to the bag after making an apparent move toward second base, before retiring Heether to end the game. The Mudcats, who had blown 30 save opportunities this season, recorded a save in all four wins with Villafuerte grabbing three. Villafuerte lowered his ERA to 0.96.

 

The Stars open a five-game series Saturday night against West Tenn with right-hander Corey Thurman taking the hill against Diamond Jaxx' right-hander Travis Chick. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 pm 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_24_cmcaax_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_24_cmcaax_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 11, Daytona (Cubs) 10

 

Daytona Site Game Summary:

[align=center]

Manatees Outslug Cubs, 11-10 in Rubber Match

Daytona's Late Surge Falls One Run Short[/align]

By: Matt Martinez

 

[DAYTONA BEACH, FL] Faith and Family Night at "The Jack" featured a game doused with runs, hits, and late-inning heroics. Unfortunately for Cubs' fans, Daytona fell one run short of the rival Manatees in a wild game that lasted over three and a half hours.

 

Greg Reinhard started for the Cubs and was anxious to improve upon his seven consecutive scoreless innings pitched. But, in the first inning he was touched up for a run on one base hit to give Brevard a 1-0 edge.

 

Daytona, coming off a twelve-run outburst a day ago, continued right where they left off. The Cubs sent nine men to the plate in the home half of the first against Manatee southpaw starter Rafael Lluberes. Matt Matulia legged out an infield single, Steve Clevenger followed with a ground-rule double and Brian Dopirak brought Matulia home via the fielder's choice. Ryan Harvey ripped an RBI double to score Clevenger and Jeffrey Rea reached on a fielder's choice to extend the inning. Jonathan Mota took advantage of his at-bat as he laced a two-run double down the line and Yusuf Carter emulated Mota with a run-scoring double of his own to cap off the five-run first. After only one inning of play, Daytona led, 5-1.

 

The lead was short-lived as the Manatees piled on five runs of their own in the top of the second, highlighted by a three-run, bases clearing double off the bat of Lorenzo Cain. Manatees up, 6-5.

 

Brevard added to their lead in the top of the fifth, putting a two spot on the board on three base hits to make it a 8-5 advantage.

 

After a scoreless inning and a half, Daytona's bat awoke. Carter uncorked a two-run triple to score Rea and Mota to bring the deficit to the slimmest of margins, 8-7 Brevard.

 

In his second inning of relief, Tim Layden allowed three runs to come home in the ninth on three singles to put the lead presumably out of reach, 11-7.

 

The Cubs would perform valiantly in the bottom of the ninth to keep the crowd of nearly 3,000 in it. Ryan Harvey led off with a solo shot to left field that would make Dopirak jealous. Rea pounded a single, as did Mota and Carter reached on a throwing error by the pitcher to load of the bags. With one out and the top of the lineup rolling around, things were beginning to look interesting for the Cubs. Matt Camp hit a sharp single to right field to score Rea and close the lead to two runs. Matulia followed suit, but as his would-be single was finding it's way through the infield, it kicked off the leg of Camp which retired the batter and left the bases loaded with two down. Clevenger drew a five pitch walk in a huge situation to score Mota and it became a one-run ballgame. Brian Dopirak became the ninth batter of the inning in the most demanding spot of the marathon of a game. Dopirak hammered a ball up the middle but it took a Manatee ricochet off the pitchers glove and the second baseman, Mike Bell, took it to the bag for the final out.

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Has to be the wildest Manatee game of the season; Josh Wahpepah with a scoreless 5th inning gets the win; relievers Rusty Tucker and Kevin Roberts each credited with a "hold" despite poor pitching lines, Patrick Ryan with the clutch save -- the 24-year-old Ryan has been nothing but stellar for two seasons now, and maintains a gaudy 3.65 ground ball ratio in 49 IP with the 'Tees; Darren Ford walks four times after only drawing 30 walks in 251 Brevard AB's prior - he scored three times; Mat Gamel tied for 2nd in the Florida State league with 34 doubles -- he, along with the entire middle of the lineup, posted crooked numbers -- please take a peek to review...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_24_breafa_dbcafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_24_breafa_dbcafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Hickory (Pirates) 12, West Virginia 11

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary / MiLB.com:

 

POWER LOSE SLUGFEST IN HICKORY

 

Charleston, WV - The West Virginia Power and Hickory Crawdads combined to score 23 runs on 37 hits at L.P. Frans Stadium on Friday night and Danilo Sanchez hit a walkoff pinch-hit two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to catapult the Crawdads in a 12-11 victory.

 

The Power scored three times with two outs in the first inning. Taylor Green ripped an RBI single and scored with Kenny Holmberg on Steve Chapman's double. Jim Negrych scored on Holmberg's errant throw in the bottom of the first. Andy Bouchie led off the second inning with a solo home run and drove in a run with a single in the third. In the bottom of the third Kent Sakamoto smacked a two-run double and scored on Kris Watts's two-run homer. The Power plated three runs in the top of the fourth inning on back-to-back home runs from Andrew Lefave and Matt LaPorta. Lefave's was a two-run shot, his 17th and LaPorta's was a solo shot, his sixth. Lefave went 2-for-4 with three RBI. The 23-year-old first baseman, who also homered Thursday, leads the South Atlantic League with a .347 batting average.

 

The Hickory Crawdads came from behind to tie the game at 8-8. Watts grounded into a double play and knocked in Albert Laboy in the fifth inning before the 'Dads scored three to tie it in the sixth. Negrych ripped an RBI single to plate the first run in the sixth and Sakamoto singled in the final two. The Power scored three times in the seventh and regained the lead. Chuckie Caufield singled in a pair of runs and scored on Lefave's double. Negrych and Jonel Pacheco ripped RBI doubles for Hickory in the eighth inning before Danilo Sanchez's walkoff two-run homer in the ninth.

 

Chris Castorri (4-2) earned the victory and Donovan Hand (1-2) was tagged with the loss. Power starter Luis Ramirez surrendered four runs on eight hits and a walk while fanning two in four innings.

 

The Power fell to 76-51 overall and 28-31 in the second half, while the Crawdads improved 62-65 overall and 35-25 in the second half. Every Power player hit safely while four Power players hit safely three times and seven players had multi-hit games. Caufield was 4-for-6 with three runs scored and two RBIs. West Virginia has homered seven times in their last two games.

 

The Power will continue the three game series against Hickory Saturday night. The Power will start right hander Chris Toneguzzi (6-3, 5.47) and the Crawdads will counter with right hander Rafael De Los Santos (1-2, 3.00). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM (6:00 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Middle relievers J.T. King and Matt Kretzschmar failed to do the job as well -- if even one pitcher had stepped up tonight, it'd have been a Power victory; as noyed above, offensive performances throughout the lineup were good, but excuse me for singling out 20-year-old third baseman Taylor Green again, on base four times and now sporting a .411 OBP and a .503 SLG for a .914 OPS -- the kid is going to get serious consideration for Organizational Player of the Year, amazing; nearly 4,000 Hickory fans were entertained to the end, almost a four-hour game...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_24_wvaafx_hicafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_24_wvaafx_hicafx_1

 

Listen to the Andrew Lefave / Matt LaPorta "back-to-back jack-jackety-jacks" on consecutive pitches, preceded by a Chuckie Caufield double:

Be sure you're on the archive of August 24th, then go the 38:30 minure mark --

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 5, Great Falls (White Sox) 2

MiLB.com:

Brewers rally past White Sox

Evan Anundsen and Nick Tyson combined on a three-hitter as visiting Helena rallied for a 5-2 win against Great Falls on Friday.

Anundsen allowed two runs on three hits while striking out four and walking two over six innings. Tyson (4-1) fanned four and walked one in three hitless frames.

The Brewers (13-11) trailed, 2-0, when Eric Farris ripped a two-run double in the eighth. Curt Rindal lined a single up the middle to plate Farris and, two outs later, Zelous Wheeler delivered an RBI double. Rindal added a run-scoring single in the ninth, while Lee Haydel and Matt Cline each collected two hits and a run scored.

White Sox reliever Alexander Woodson (4-2) didn't record an out and was charged with three runs on three hits in the eighth. Starter Juan Moreno scattered five hits and struck out seven over seven scoreless frames.

Christian Marrero doubled home two runs in the first for Great Falls (16-7). -- Marc Jimenez/MLB.com

Helena Box Score:
Brewers couldn't touch the White Sox starter but garnered eight hits over the game's final two innings; Lee Haydel back in the leadoff spot with two hits...

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_24_helrok_grfrok_1

Helena Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_24_helrok_grfrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Mariners 8, Arizona Brewers 6

 

Arizona Box Score:

Six runs on offense is nice, but 19 K's while earning only one walk! 19! RHP Rolando Pascual with two innings (two runs, four K's) in his second outing of the season; LHP Tony Drinkard loses a late lead with an ugly three-run 8th inning; two 18-year-olds, RF Chris Dennis and 1B Joey Paciorek, remain hot with two singles apiece -- I'm digging these two kids; three-run HR for Scott Houin, who is toying with Arizona league pitching since being signed out of the independent league ranks two weeks ago...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_24_brrrok_mrnrok_1

 

Arizona Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_24_brrrok_mrnrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070825/SPORTS0401/708250360/1328/SPORTS

 

Sounds gain ground on title despite losing

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Even after a 3-2 loss to Oklahoma Friday night, the Sounds can clinch a playoff berth tonight in a doubleheader against the RedHawks.

 

The Sounds entered Friday's game, played before a Greer Stadium crowd of 4,613, needing a combination of three Nashville wins or three Iowa losses to secure the PCL American Conference North Division title. Iowa lost to New Orleans 7-0 Friday.

 

Nashville's magic number is now two with 11 games to play.

 

"I'm glad we have a doubleheader (today),'' said Nashville's Vinny Rottino, who scored the Sounds' last run. "Since we have a doubleheader we don't have to depend on Iowa losing. We just take care of our business and we'll be celebrating."

 

The Sounds took a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Mike Rivera's sacrifice fly to center field scored Rottino.

 

It appeared Nashville's magic number would drop to one until the seventh inning when two of Oklahoma's first three batters got hits. The Redhawks tied it 2-2 on Freddy Guzman's triple, which scored Chris Stewart. Guzman later scored on a groundout by Tug Hulett, giving the RedHawks a 3-2 edge.

 

Nashville loaded the bases in the seventh and got a man to third in the eighth, but could not score.

 

"We had a chance to get guys in from third and we didn't do it and that's why we lost,'' said Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas.

 

Oklahoma missed a chance to expand its lead in the ninth. A strong gust of wind pushed Victor Diaz's shot, which appeared to be a home run, into foul territory.

 

Zach Jackson (10-10) later walked Diaz, which loaded the bases with two outs.

 

Oklahoma's Nate Gold then grounded out, however, to end the inning.

 

Relief pitcher Luther Hackman, who was released by the Brewers on Aug. 17 and signed by the Rangers Friday, entered the game for the RedHawks in the eighth. Hackman led the Sounds with 18 saves before being released.

 

Rottino got a hit and advanced to third on a stolen base and wild pitch, but Mike Rivera hit a line drive to second baseman Hulett and Rottino was tagged out trying to get back to third.

 

Franklin German replaced Hackman in the ninth for Oklahoma and struck out the side to pick up his sixth save.

 

What they said: "Yeah, the strong wind affected the game. (Oklahoma's) Victor Diaz's foul ball (in the ninth) probably would have been a home run, which would have put us further behind." - Rottino.

[Mass Haas]

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Volstad shows why Marlins prize him in Stars' setback

Towering pitcher outduels Narron in 3-2 decision

By BRAD SHEPARD

For the Huntsville Times

 

With 6 feet and 7 inches coming at them in a blur of knees and elbows, Friday night was not an ideal time to be a Huntsville or Carolina hitter.

 

Especially one from Huntsville.

 

Mudcats starter Chris Volstad - the top prospect in the Florida Marlins organization according to Baseball America - outdueled fellow giant Sam Narron for a 3-2 win in front of 3,931 fans at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

Though Narron's only mistake resulted in a two-out, three-run homer in the third inning by Carolina center fielder Jai Miller, that was one too many.

 

Volstad allowed only three hits in seven sterling innings.

 

"Look at him," said Stars catcher Lou Palmisano, who touched Volstad for a second-inning, first-pitch homer. "He's like 7-10 or 8-feet tall on the mound. If he's hitting his spots, he's hard to hit."

 

At times, it seemed almost impossible to put a good swing on the prospect.

 

Volstad looked like he was worth every penny of $1.6 million he signed for two seasons ago.

 

Though the 20-year-old's motion was smooth and easy, his fastball rushed out of his right hand in the low-90s, and he had a terrific biting curve ball.

 

He only struck out five, but he was in command all night. Coupled with No. 3 prospect in the system Gabby Hernandez, who beat the Stars earlier in the week, the Mudcats have a formidable pair of aces.

 

"Our lockers are beside each other down in Carolina," Volstad said of Hernandez. "When I first got up here I talked to him a little bit about the ins and outs of Double-A. He gave me some pointers."

 

Though he only went 8-9 with a 4.50 earned run average for Single-A Jupiter Hammerheads, those pointers are working since the promotion.

In five starts, Volstad is now 3-1 and his ERA actually rose Friday night from 1.01 to 1.07.

 

"Everything's coming together," Volstad said.

 

The moment Volstad left the game, the Stars took advantage. Steve Moss belted a home run to left-center field to shave the lead to 3-2 in the eighth.

 

In the ninth, a potential rally was killed by a questionable call.

 

Hernan Iribarren legged out an infield single, but after the second baseman threw errantly to first, umpire Matt Schaufert ruled that Iribarren turned toward second base. He was tagged out, prompting an argument from Stars manager Don Money.

 

"He said he turned toward second. He might've gone like this," said Money, lunging. "If that's what he did, (the umpire) was wrong. But you shouldn't do it, anyway."

 

Carolina finished Volstad's stellar effort by getting the final out.

 

After the game, a Mudcats teammate was yelling throughout the locker room toward Hernandez: "Things change, Gabby. Volstad's the future now."

 

The Marlins no doubt have room for both, and the Stars are glad they're leaving town.

[Mass Haas]

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Manatees rally past Cubs

By RANDY RORRER

Daytona News-Journal Staff Writer

 

DAYTONA BEACH -- Friday was Faith Night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, but it was hard for the Cubs' fans to keep much faith in the hometown team when its starter couldn't take advantage of a healthy lead early in the game and its bullpen couldn't keep things close at the end.

 

As a result, the Brevard County Manatees banged out 14 hits and overcame a 5-1 deficit en route to an 11-10 victory over Daytona.

 

"Doggone it," Daytona manager Jody Davis said. "For all the things that happened in that game, and to lose that way is tough."

 

Things started poorly for Daytona starter Greg Reinhard, as Brevard County leadoff hitter Darren Ford walked in the first inning and scored on a single by Lorenzo Cain.

 

The Cubs bounced right back, however, roughing up Manatees starter Rafael Lluberes for five runs on five hits in the bottom of the first.

 

The Cubs first was highlighted by four doubles. Steve Clevenger bounced a double over the center field fence. Ryan Harvey drove in a run with a double, Johnathan Mota knocked in two with a double and Yusuf Carter doubled home a run to stake Reinhard to a 5-1 lead.

 

It was short-lived. The Manatees answered with five runs in the second inning to go back on top, 6-5.

 

Brevard County extended its lead to 8-5 with two more runs off Reinhard in the fifth.

 

Daytona made it close with two runs in the seventh when Carter knocked in two runs with a two-out triple to make it 8-7.

 

Cubs reliever Tim Layden surrendered three more runs in the ninth after walking the first three batters in the inning to give the Manatees an 11-7 lead.

 

The Cubs weren't done, however. Harvey blasted a tape-measure homer to lead off the inning, Matt Camp knocked in a run with a single and Clevenger forced a runner home by drawing a walk with bases loaded to make it 11-10.

 

Prior to Clevenger's walk, Matt Matulia appeared to have ripped a single through the right side of the infield but it hit Camp as he was advancing toward second. Camp was called for the Cubs second out. With two out and bases loaded, Brian Dopirak smashed a grounder up the middle. Brevard County's fifth pitcher, Patrick Ryan, got a glove on it and deflected it to Manatees second baseman Mike Bell, who stepped on second for the game's final out.

 

The Daytona Cubs hired a Christian rock band called Rush of Fools to perform a concert after the game. It seemed ironic, since the teams seemed to be in no rush to end the game which took three hours and 39 minutes.

 

Daytona News-Journal Photo by Ji-Eun Lee

Daytona Cubs catcher Steve Clevenger gets the ball before Brevard County Manatees Mat Gamel makes it to home at Jackie Robinson Ballpark Friday.

 

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