Link Report for Sun. 8/26 - Sounds Join Brewer Affiliate Postseason Parade

[Mass Haas]

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

Congratulations to your 2007

Pacific Coast League

Northern Division Champions,

the Nashville Sounds!

See you in the postseason in September!

 

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Mark DiFelice at home vs. Oklahoma (Rangers), 5:45 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Corey Thurman and LHP Derek Miller in a twinbill at home vs. West Tenn (Mariners), 4:50 PM pre-game; 5:05 gametime

 

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

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Jupiter (Marlins), 11:45 AM pre-game, 12:00 PM gametime

 

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

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

 

West Virginia: LHP Mike Ramlow 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 Rob Bryson at Great Falls (White Sox), 4:45 PM pre-game, 5:00 gametime

 

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

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

 

Arizona: Idle; final day off -- four games remain for the Maryvale bunch

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday'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_26_orhaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville Game One:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_26_wtdaax_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Two:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_26_wtdaax_hunaax_2

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_26_jupafa_breafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

West Virginia:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_26_wvaafx_hicafx_1

 

Helena:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t581&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_26_helrok_grfrok_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 Saturday's action:

 

Arizona League 2nd Half Standings:

Arizona Rookie is 18-34 overall...

 

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

 

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 82 53 .607 - 44-23 38-30 W1 Iowa 74 61 .548 8.0 41-27 33-34 W1 Omaha 68 67 .504 14.0 44-27 24-40 W3 Memphis 54 81 .400 28.0 27-37 27-44 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 34 26 .567 - 17-13 17-13 L1 Tennessee 32 29 .525 2.5 20-11 12-18 L5 Chattanooga 31 30 .508 3.5 16-19 15-11 W1 Carolina 30 31 .492 4.5 15-15 15-16 L1 West Tenn 26 34 .433 8.0 12-18 14-16 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 33 28 .541 - 16-15 17-13 L2 Brevard County 31 31 .500 2.5 17-11 14-20 L1 Palm Beach 31 32 .492 3.0 16-17 15-15 W2 Jupiter 26 33 .441 6.0 15-13 11-20 W1 Daytona 23 40 .365 11.0 11-22 12-18 L2 Vero Beach 21 39 .350 11.5 12-19 9-20 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hickory 36 25 .590 - 22-12 14-13 W2 Lake County 30 28 .517 4.5 15-16 15-12 W3 Greensboro 32 30 .516 4.5 21-11 11-19 W1 Delmarva 30 31 .492 6.0 14-17 16-14 L3 Lakewood 29 30 .492 6.0 15-13 14-17 L3 West Virginia 28 32 .467 7.5 18-12 10-20 L2 Lexington 26 36 .419 10.5 16-14 10-22 L1 Hagerstown 22 39 .361 14.0 10-18 12-21 W3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 17 7 .708 - 9-2 8-5 W1 Helena 13 12 .520 4.5 6-8 7-4 L1 Billings 12 13 .480 5.5 6-6 6-7 W1 Missoula 11 14 .440 6.5 7-6 4-8 L1 

[MrBoozer]

Off on assignment for the next few days so please give Pete Martinez a nice welcome on the Manatees radio network.

 

Don't forget that the Manatees radio network email address is manateesvoice@yahoo.com

 

Big thank you to all those who have written myself as I greatly appreciate the listening audience. Stay with us throughout the playoff run starting

Tuesday, September 4th.

 

Kirk Agius

Voice of the Manatees

[Mass Haas]

That's a great reminder that the Manatees are the only early afternoon game today -- if weather or otherwise have you stuck inside this summer Sunday, give the Manatees broadcast a tune-in.

[Mass Haas]

The Sounds will need to win on their home turf tonight to clinch, as it should be.

 

The Iowa Cubs come back from an 8-3 deficit after six innings to defeat New Orleans, 9-8.

 

Nashville is still home starting Monday, facing Omaha.

 

Do it tonight, boys.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 1, Oklahoma (Rangers) 0

Nashville Site Game Summary:
Link, text follows --

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2531

Sounds Clinch Third Straight Division Title!

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/images/news/divisionchamps07.jpg

AUDIO: Sounds Are Champs Again

NASHVILLE - The Nashville Sounds wrapped up their third consecutive division title and fourth in five years with a 1-0 victory over the Oklahoma RedHawks on Sunday evening at Greer Stadium in the finale of a six-game series.

The Sounds (83-53), the three-time defending PCL American Conference Northern Division champions, will make their 13th postseason appearance in the franchise's 30-year history.

Nashville, which has eight games remaining in the regular season, advances to face the yet-to-be-determined American Conference Southern Division champions in the best-of-five PCL Conference Finals during the first week of September.

Mark DiFelice (6.2 IP) and Chris Spurling combined on the four-hit shutout, the club's league-leading 11th of the season.

The Sounds broke a scoreless tie in the seventh against former Nashville closer Luther Hackman, who took over for a dominant Edinson Volquez to open the inning. Laynce Nix walked to open the frame and was sacrificed to second before Ozzie Chavez singled and Chris Barnwell was hit by a pitch to load the bases with only one out.

After Randy Williams relieved Hackman, Callix Crabbe greeted the left-hander by lifting a sacrifice fly to right to plate Nix with the game's first run and a 1-0 Sounds lead.

Both starters engaged in a pitcher's duel as the teams played six scoreless innings to open the contest. DiFelice worked 6 2/3 scoreless frames, allowing only three hits and striking out six batters. His effort was matched by Volquez, who lowered his ERA to 1.41 with six shutout innings that included eight punchouts.

Spurling (2-0) took over on the Nashville hill in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on base, worked out of that jam, and held the RedHawks off the board over the final two frames to earn his second victory of the season.

Hackman (1-3) took the loss after allowing the game's only run in his second appearance for the RedHawks after joining the club earlier in the week. He spent the majority of the year with Nashville before being released on August 18.

The division-champion Sounds continue their homestand on Monday evening with the 6 p.m. opener of a four-game series against the division-rival Omaha Royals. Right-hander R.A. Dickey (11-6, 3.74) will man the bump for Nashville to face Omaha right-hander Matt Wright (9-4, 4.11).

Nashville Box Score:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_26_orhaaa_nasaaa_1

Nashville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_26_orhaaa_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Brewers Special Asst. To The GM Dan O'Brien (Part 1 of 2):

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%208-26.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070827/SPORTS0401/708270344/1328/SPORTS

 

Sounds' division title streak hits three

Sacrifice fly scores only run, clinches a playoff berth

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Callx Crabbe made sure the money he invested in a pair of Speedo goggles was worth it.

 

The Sounds outfielder's bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the seventh inning scored Laynce Nix and gave Nashville a 1-0 win over Oklahoma, clinching a third consecutive PCL American Conference Northern Division title.

 

A Greer Stadium crowd of 3,555 watched the wild celebration that took place after Chris Spurling struck out Nate Gold to end the game.

 

Crabbe pulled the swim goggles from his pocket that he bought to keep the champagne out of his eyes and then jumped into the mix.

 

"I knew this was coming so I came prepared,'' Crabbe said. "I'm so happy. It's a long season; we've picked each other up. There's nothing like making it to the playoffs. Ultimately we want to get to the big leagues, but if you win here that's just going to make everything better."

 

After eight more regular season games the Sounds will swing into the playoffs for the 13th time in franchise history.

 

"You play all year to get into the playoffs and it's a good time,'' said Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas. "You get a new adrenaline level and it's a whole different ballgame. Your emotions are elevated and you learn a lot about guys in the playoffs."

 

It was Nashville's 11th shutout victory of the year, which leads the PCL.

 

Iowa's 9-8 win earlier Sunday over New Orleans meant Nashville controlled its own destiny in the last of the four-game series with Oklahoma.

What they said: "If you get one-run games that means you've got a chance to win them all.'' - Kremblas, on Nashville's 48th game being decided by one run.

 

Photo by GEORGE WALKER IV / THE TENNESSEAN

Andy Abad pours champagne on Callix Crabbe, who drove in the only run for the Sounds' third consecutive division title.

http://cmsimg.tennessean.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20070827&Category=SPORTS0401&ArtNo=708270344&Ref=AR&Profile=1328&MaxW=525&MaxH=390&title=1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070827/SPORTS0401/708270345/1328/SPORTS

 

Sounds' home attendance tops 400,000 for 14th time

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Sunday night's Greer Stadium crowd of 3,555 pushed the Sounds past the 400,000-fan mark for the season.

 

In 66 home games a total of 400,575 have shown up this year, marking the 14th year in franchise history the total attendance has been more than 400,000.

 

With four home games left in the regular season Nashville is averaging 6,069 fans.

 

That would be the best average per game in paid attendance for the Sounds in 16 seasons.

 

Resting up: R.A. Dickey is scheduled to take the mound today when the Sounds open a four-game series against Omaha, meaning he will have pitched three times in nine days. Pitchers usually pitch three times in a span of 11 days.

 

He pitched twice last week after the Brewers called up Seth McClung. The ex-Montgomery Bell Academy and UT star pitched on short rest last week, but hasn't been on the mound since Wednesday.

 

Familiar face: Relief pitcher Luther Hackman, who spent the season with the Sounds before being released earlier this month, took the mound in the seventh inning for Oklahoma on Sunday and picked up the loss. Hackman was picked up by the RedHawks last Friday. He made an appearance against the Sounds last week.

 

Hackman hit the Sounds' Chris Barnwell with a pitch on the left shoulder and was replaced after one out in the seventh by Randy Williams. Hackman stuck around long after the game congratulating his former teammates.

 

Another close game: The Sounds have played 48 games decided by one run. They are 21-27 in those games.

 

Limited homers: The Sounds have surrendered 110 home runs this season, the fewest allowed in the PCL.

 

Fouling away: The RedHawks' Victor Diaz hit six consecutive foul balls off Nashville's Mark DiFelice before DiFelice finally struck him out in the seventh inning.

 

Bironas spotted: Titans placekicker Rob Bironas attended Sunday night's game.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: West Tenn (Mariners) 2, Huntsville 1

Final, Game Two: Huntsville 4, West Tenn 0

 

Huntsville Site Doubleheader Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1334

 

Stars and Jaxx Split Sunday Twin Bill

Derek Miller and E.J. Shanks combined on a four-hit shutout in a 4-0 win in game two to give Huntsville a doubleheader split with West Tenn Sunday at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars sit at 35-27 in the second half, three games ahead of Tennessee and Chattanooga with eight games left in the regular season, while the Diamond Jaxx dropped to 27-35 and eight games behind after winning the opener 2-1. The Stars lead the season series 11-10 and have won five of the seven games at the Joe.

 

Miller allowed only three hits, walked two and struck out six to improve to 6-2 and gain a measure of revenge against the visitors, who handed him his first double-A loss 11 days ago. He worked around a leadoff single by Brent Johnson in the first and a leadoff double in the fourth by Mike Wilson, the only West Tenn runner to reach third base. Shanks tossed a scoreless seventh inning to wrap up the Stars' eighth shutout of the season.

 

Steve Sollmann tripled to lead off the home second and scored on a base hit by Michael Brantley, who stole second, moved to third on a bunt base hit by Alcides Escobar and scored on a two-out double by Carlos Corporan. Diamond Jaxx starter Chris Jakubauskas took the loss after allowing those two runs on four hits over four innings. The Stars tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth against Michael Hrynio on another run-scoring double by Corporan and a run-producing hit by Guilder Rodriguez.

 

Stars starter Corey Thurman was once again victimized by a lack of support in game one and a couple of key errors in suffering his eighth loss of the season. The Stars inability to record an out on a potential double play ball led to the game's first run in the second when Jeff Frazier, who remained alive on the bases on a miscue, scored on a double by Luis Oliveros. Thurman then stranded runners at second and third to get out of the inning down by only a run. Adam Heether's fielding error on a Wilson grounder in the third allowed him to reach and eventually come around to score on a Frazier sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. Thurman allowed six hits, struck out six and did not walk a batter.

 

Travis Chick, making his 12th start against Huntsville since the start of the 2005 season, squared his season record at 6-6 with the win in the opener after giving up an unearned run on two hits and a walk, while fanning three. Lou Palmisano hit a fly ball to shallow center field in the fourth that shortstop Jesus Merchan broke back on and center fielder Mike Saunders came in on. Merchan got his glove on the ball but it popped out when the two collided at full speed and allowed Hernan Iribarren to score from third. Saunders left the game with a concussion and Merchan was removed with a deep thigh bruise. The Stars left runners at first and second with one out in that inning against Chick and with nobody out in the sixth against Brodie Downs, who went two scoreless innings to record his second save with the Diamond Jaxx.

 

The series continues Monday night, as left-hander Lindsay Gulin takes the hill for Huntsville against Diamond Jaxx' right-hander Doug Fister. 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 Game One Box Score / Game Log

Huntsville Game Two Box Score / Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Jupiter (Marlins) 4, Brevard County 2, ten innings

 

MiLB.com:

Hammerheads outlast Manatees

Angel Molina smacked a two-run single in the 10th inning to lift Jupiter past host Brevard County, 4-2, on Sunday.

Colin Roberson drew a leadoff walk and advanced on John Purdom's sacrifice and Gaby Sanchez's fly ball. Kevin Randel was intentionally walked and stole second base ahead of Molina, who delivered a base hit to right.

Former Brewer farmhand Agustin Septimo lifted a sacrifice fly in the seventh and Andrew Jenkins had two hits for the Hammerheads (27-33).

Jupiter starter James Brauer yielded two runs on eight hits and struck out six without issuing a walk over eight innings. Kurt Koehler (3-1) fanned one in a perfect ninth for the win, and Todd Doolittle struck out one in a 1-2-3 10th for his 26th save.

Manatees reliever Josh Wahpepah (9-5) surrendered two runs on one hit and two walks in the 10th for the loss. Starter Mike McClendon gave up a run on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts over seven frames.

Ryan Barba had a two-run double in the fifth for Brevard County (31-32), which trails first-place St. Lucie by 3.5 games in the Florida State League's East Division. -- Chip Haunss/MLB.com

 

Brevard County Box Score / Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 5, Hickory (Pirates) 3

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER AVOID SWEEP IN HICKORY

 

Hickory, NC - The West Virginia Power fell behind the Hickory Crawdads 3-0 through four innings on Sunday night at L.P. Frans Stadium but scored the final five runs of the game and avoided the three game sweep with a 5-3 victory.

 

Danilo Sanchez doubled in a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning to give the Crawdads an early lead. In the third, Jonel Pacheco smacked a two-out double to score Albert LaBoy who had his second four hit game of the series.

 

West Virginia tied the game in the fifth inning when Taylor Green hit a three-run homer off Jared Hughes. It was Green's 13th home run of the season. Matt LaPorta drove in the winning runs with a two-out single in the sixth inning that plated Jimmy Mojica and Chuckie Caufield.

 

Shawn Ferguson (4-1) tossed a pair of scoreless innings of relief to get the win, Donovan Hand (4) earned the save and Henry Cabrera (4-6) was tagged with the loss after surrendering a pair of runs on three hits over two innings out of the pen. Ferguson, Jared Sutton and Hand combined to toss five scoreless innings of relief. The Power bullpen has thrown eight straight scoreless frames.

 

The Power improved to 77-52 overall and 29-32 in the second half, while the Crawdads fell to 63-66 overall and 36-26 in the second half. Five Power players had multi-hit games, including Steve Chapman who went 7-for-11 in the series.

 

The Power will begin a four game series against the Lexington Legends at Applebee's Park on Monday night. The Power will start right hander Alex Periard (6-7, 3.59) and the Legends will start right hander Bud Norris (2-7, 4.73). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM. (6:05 Central).

 

***

Notes fro the Hickory Record:

 

The Crawdads, who have seven games to play, had beaten the Power 7-5, after building a 7-2 lead in the first three innings, Saturday night.

On Sunday, however, the Crawdads left 11 runners on base after the third inning.

"We wasted some chances tonight," manager Gary Green said.

Hickory led 3-0 after Danilo Sanchez hit a two-run double in the second inning and Jonel Pacheco batted in his 90th run of the season with a double in the third.

The Crawdads then left the bases loaded in the fourth and fifth, failed to score after their leadoff batter reached in the sixth and seventh and stranded two runners in the eighth and two more in the ninth.

"We had a chance late, but we weren't able to get some things done," Green said.

The West Virginia offense, which leads the South Atlantic League in batting and runs scored, wasn't exactly a model of efficiency either. The Power had nine base runners, none of whom scored, in the first four innings against pitcher Jared Hughes.

The Power broke through in the fifth, when Taylor Green hit a game-tying, three-run homer with none out after Hughes walked one batter and hit another.

"He was flirting throughout," Gary Green said of Hughes. "It caught up to him.

"You can't keep dodging bullets like that, especially against a good-hitting team."

The Power took the lead 5-3 when Matt LaPorta, the Milwaukee Brewers' first-round selection in the June draft, hit a two-run double off Henry Cabrera (4-6) in the sixth.

Each team finished with 13 left on base.

Four West Virginia batters were hit by pitches Sunday ... Four Hickory batters were hit by pitches Saturday.

West Virginia Box Score / Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 7, Great Falls (White Sox) 6

 

Helena Independent Record:

Brewers end Great Falls series with win

BILLINGS - Helena put another tick on their win tally with a victory on the road against the Great Falls White Sox Sunday, bringing their record to 14-12 and holding onto second place in the Pioneer League's Northern Division.

The Brewers began their drive in the second when Anthony Wycklendt homered on a fly ball to center field. That was their only tally in that inning, but they scored three each in the third and fourth.

Great Falls pitcher Johnnie Lowe (who later left the game with an injured leg) walked Zach McAngus, then the Brewers' Scott McKnight went out on a sacrifice bunt, driving McAngus to second. A single by Mike Goetz brought McAngus all the way around the bases.

Steffan Wilson brought his home run tally to eight, smacking one to right center field, driving in Goetz as he scored.

In the fourth frame, Wycklendt (2-for-5) hit his second homer of the game, a fly ball to right center. Eric Fryer, who reached on a walk, and McAngus, right behind him with a single grounder, were driven in on a single to right field hit by Eric Farris.

Great Falls pitcher Leroy Hunt replaced Wascar Segura near the end of the inning, throwing the third out, and he and the remaining pitching staff rendered the Brewers scoreless for the rest of the game.

Helena starter Robert Bryson kept the White Sox scoreless for the first five innings, striking out five and allowing five hits. It was when Bryson came out in the top of the sixth inning, relieved by Curtis Pasma, that things started to pick up for the Great Falls bats.

The Sox brought in five runs in the sixth inning to bring the score to 7-5.

Their scoring began when Christian Marrero singled on a line drive to right field, driving in Salvador Sanchez, who had reached on one of Bryson's last pitches.

Andrew Mead followed that up with a double, sending Jim Gallagher home.

A John Curtis single then drove in Marrero and Mead. Curtis scored as Greg Paiml batted a single line drive before C.J. Retherford struck out to end the inning.

Bobby Bramhall replaced Pasma in the seventh and allowed only one more run before keeping the Sox scoreless in the final two innings.

The Great Falls team's late surge wasn't enough to overcome the Brewers, and Helena came out on top in the series, with two wins to Great Falls' one.

The Brewers stay on the road for a three-game series in Billings before hosting the Mustangs at home. They play in Billings today at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score / Game Log

[tigerbrew]

Congrats to the Sounds for winning their third consecutive division title with 8 games to spare. Great job by Frank Kremblas again and again. Hope he gets the callup to replace Ned Yost immediately.

[tyguy20204]

Well you can't really ask for a better debut for LaPorta, can you? Of course his Ks are a bit high.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.al.com/stars/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/sports/118820626827910.xml&coll=1

 

Stars pitch well in doubleheader split

By JOHN FERRY

Huntsville Times Sports Staff, john.ferry@htimes.com

 

No earned runs allowed.

 

A split of a doubleheader.

 

That was the story for the Huntsville Stars on Sunday at Joe Davis Stadium against West Tenn.

 

Derek Miller (6-2) pitched three-hit ball over six innings in the nightcap, Carlos Corporan drove in two runs with doubles and the Stars took a 4-0 victory.

 

West Tenn captured the opener on the first day of the rain-delayed series, 2-1.

 

The split left Huntsville with a magic number of six to win the Southern League North's second half. If that happens, all but one game in the first round of next week's playoffs would be at home.

 

"I had fastball command and threw off-speed pitches for strikes," Miller said. "We also had great defense and good calls (by Corporan)."

 

In the second inning, Michael Brantley singled home one run and Corporan doubled in another. In the fifth, Corporan's double made it 3-0. Guilder Rodriguez got the final run across with a single.

 

In the opener, the Stars were hitless until the fourth inning, then had several chances to take control.

 

Hernan Iribarren stroked a one-out double in the fourth, and Adam Heether singled him to third. Lou Palmisano blooped one to short center, and West Tenn's Mike Saunders and Jesus Merchan collided while going for it, allowing Iribarren to score.

 

Saunders, the center fielder, sustained a concussion and Merchan, the shortstop, received a thigh bruise, finishing them for the night.

 

Huntsville left two runners on in the fourth and Mel Stocker on third in the fifth In the sixth, Iribarren and Heether singled but were stranded.

 

Brendan Katin was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh. Steve Moss tried to bunt him over but was called out for interference.

 

Alcides Escobar had a two-out single but Katin, who had to return to first on the interference call, only got as far as second. Iribarren then grounded out to end the game.

 

West Tenn began the scoring in the second when Jeff Frazier singled, advanced to second on an error and scored on a double by Luis Oliveros.

The Diamond Jaxx made it 2-0 in the third. Mike Wilson reached on an error, Marshall Hubbard and Matt Tuiasosopo singled, and Frazier hit a sacrifice fly.

 

Travis Chick (6-6) picked up the win. He went five innings, allowed two hits, an unearned run, walked one and struck out three.

 

Brodie Downs finished up, going two scoreless innings and giving up three hits.

 

Corey Thurman (6-8) took the loss. He allowed six hits and no earned runs in six innings, striking out six with no walks.

 

Iribarren and Heether led Huntsville with two hits each.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070827/SPORTS/708270316/1006

 

Brew Crew cut: Sox can't dig out of big hole

By MIKE TOWNE

Great Falls Tribune Sports Writer

Even if Greg Paiml had stayed at third base, giving Great Falls two runners in scoring position with no outs, there was no guarantee the Sox would have tied it up or pulled out a dramatic victory over the Helena Brewers.

Still, though, White Sox Manager Chris Cron was livid with his decision to wave home Paiml, who was nailed for the first out in the ninth inning of Great Falls' 7-6 loss Sunday at Centene Stadium.

"That (defeat) is on me. I cost us the game," Cron said. "It was a bonehead mistake, a serious mistake."

Paiml led off Great Falls' half of the ninth with a single to center. C.J. Retherford then lashed a Corey Frerichs pitch to the right field corner. As Retherford raced toward second base with his 26th double of the season, Cron gave Paiml the green light to try for what would have been the game-tying run.

Brewers right fielder Caleb Gindl fired a strike to the relay man, second baseman Eric Farris, and he threw to catcher Eric Fryer, who tagged out Paiml. The play wasn't even close.

"You don't get the first out at the plate," Cron said. "It hurts to make a mistake like that. It's a tough pill to swallow. There's no worse feeling you can have.

"I have to learn from it and come back tomorrow."

Following the play at the plate, Steven Turner pinch ran for Retherford. He advanced to third on Dale Mollenhauer's ground-out to Farris, but was stranded when Helena shortstop Scotty McKnight threw out Salvador Sanchez.

"I give credit to my team for giving us a chance to win," Cron said. "It wasn't pretty early, but we battled back and got the momentum on our side."

For a long time it looked like the Sox would do well just to avoid a shutout. The Brewers built a 7-0 lead through the first five innngs behind three home runs, two by Anthony Wycklendt, and three-hit pitching by right-hander Robert Bryson.

But Great Falls erupted for five runs on six hits in the bottom of the sixth, then added a run in the seventh, to finally give Sox fans something to cheer about.

Back-to-back singles by Sanchez and Jim Gallagher with one in the sixth spelled the end for Bryson. Christian Marrero greeted Curtis Pasma with a single to right, scoring Sanchez for the Sox's first run.

After Lyndon Estill struck out, Andrew Mead brought home Gallagther with a double to right center.

John Curtis, who had taken over the catching duties in the top of the inning, then singled past McKnight to score both Marrero and Mead and whittle the deficit to 7-4.

Curtis advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single to left by Paiml.

"Everyone has to contribute in an inning like that," Cron said.

In the seventh, Mollenhauer tripled to deep center on the first pitch he saw from Bobby Bramhall. He scored on a ground-out by Sanchez, pulling the Sox within a run.

Helena failed to score in the final five frames, as Leroy Hunt, Kevin Skogley and Adam Bowling combined to allow the Brewers just two hits. "Our bullpen kept us in the game," Cron said.

Hunt worked out of a jam in the sixth inning and Bowling helped Skogley get out of a pickle in the eighth, as he got Farris to fly out to Sanchez in center, leaving runners on first and third.

Helena took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, on the first of two booming home runs by Wycklendt.

The Brewers added three runs in both the third and fourth frames to forge a 7-0 advantage.

In the third, Mike Goetz singled home Zach McAngus and Steffan Wilson, facing reliever Wascar Segura, followed with a two-run home run.

Wycklendt hit a one-out solo homer in the top of the fourth. Farris made it 7-0 when he singled home both Freyer and McAngus.

Marrero led Great Falls' 12-hit attack with a double and two singles. Gallagher and Paiml each had a pair of hits.

Despite the loss, Great Falls' magic number for winning the second-half Northern Division fell to eight, thanks to the Billings Mustangs' 14-9 loss to the Missoula Osprey.

Helena improved to 14-12 in second-half play, 3 1/2 game behind the Sox in the race for the second-half championship. The Brewers won the first-half title, so they're already guaranteed a playoff berth.

It was the final regular-season game between the two clubs. Great Falls won nine of the 15 games.

[Mass Haas]

Graet Falls TRIBUNE PHOTO/MATT EICHNER

Great Falls White Sox runner Greg Paiml is tagged out behind home plate by Helena Brewers catcher Eric Fryer during the ninth inning on Sunday.

 

http://cmsimg.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=G1&Date=20070827&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=708270316&Ref=AR&Profile=1006&MaxW=290

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070826&content_id=295041&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

 

Another division title Sounds great

By Michael Blinn / Special to MLB.com

The Sounds can turn it down a notch now that they've wrapped up another Pacific Coast League playoff spot.

Mark DiFelice and Chris Spurling combined on a four-hitter Sunday as the Nashville Sounds clinched their third straight American North Division title with a 1-0 blanking of the Oklahoma RedHawks.

"We've limped in over the past couple of years," Sounds manger Frank Kremblas said. "It's nice to be in this early."

DiFelice scattered three hits and a walk over 6 2/3 innings, striking out six. He retired the first 12 batters before Nate Gold led off the fifth with a single.

"I was trying to get outs and get my team back up to hit," DiFelice said. "I wanted to put my team in a position to win the game."

The right-hander, who turned 31 on Thursday, is 3-1 with a 0.98 ERA in six home starts. It was the fifth time this season he has thrown at least five shutout innings.

"I was just trying to do the same things I've been doing all season," DiFelice said. "I like pitching here, it's a nice atmosphere. I love our mound. I went to school in North Carolina and I have friends that live in Tennessee that come and watch me play."

DiFelice also credited his teammates for playing strong defense behind him.

"This is the best team I've ever played on," he said. "We gel on and off the field. We do the little things well."

Spurling (2-0) pitched around a hit and fanned three over 2 1/3 frames. He struck out Gold to end the game and set off a celebration near the mound at Greer Stadium.

"We have a great bullpen and once I handed the ball over to Spurling, I knew it was over," DiFelice said.

Laynce Nix walked and scored on Callix Crabbe's sacrifice fly in the seventh to break the scoreless tie for Nashville (83-53), which is headed to the playoffs for the 12th time in franchise history.

"Everybody knew what the magic number was," Kremblas said. "You know you're going to win one more game. It was just a good ballgame."

Reliever Luther Hackman (1-3) gave up a run on a hit and a walk, retiring one of the four batters he faced. RedHawks starter Edinson Volquez yielded four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over six scoreless innings. He lowered his ERA to 1.41 in eight PCL starts.

"[Volquez] was dealing, too," DiFelice said. "He was keeping us off-balance and throwing hard. I just wanted to match him."

Gold and Guillermo Quiroz had two hits apiece for Oklahoma (69-66), which fell one game behind first-place Albuquerque in the American South Division.