Link Report for Games of Monday, August 27th

[Mass Haas]

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

 

 

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP R.A. Dickey at home vs. Omaha (Royals), 5:45 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Lindsay Gulin at home vs. West Tenn (Mariners), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

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

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Jupiter (Marlins), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime

 

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

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

 

West Virginia: RHP Alex Periard at Lexington (Astros), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Helena: RHP Chad Robinson at Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

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

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

Arizona: TBD at home in the Maryvale complex against the not-so-Giants, 7:00 Central; never any audio for Arizona Rookie League games

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday's action as it happens:

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

 

Nashville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_27_omaaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_27_wtdaax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_27_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_27_wvaafx_lexafx_1

 

Helena:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_27_helrok_bilrok_1

 

Arizona:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_27_giarok_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

 

Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Sunday's action:

 

Arizona League 2nd Half Standings:

Arizona Rookie is 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 83 53 .610 - 45-23 38-30 W2 Iowa 75 61 .551 8.0 41-27 34-34 W2 Omaha 69 67 .507 14.0 45-27 24-40 W4 Memphis 54 82 .397 29.0 27-37 27-45 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 35 27 .565 - 18-14 17-13 W1 Chattanooga 32 30 .516 3.0 16-19 16-11 W2 Tennessee 32 30 .516 3.0 20-12 12-18 L6 Carolina 30 32 .484 5.0 15-15 15-17 L2 West Tenn 27 35 .435 8.0 12-18 15-17 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 34 28 .548 - 16-15 18-13 W1 Brevard County 31 32 .492 3.5 17-12 14-20 L2 Palm Beach 31 33 .484 4.0 16-18 15-15 L1 Jupiter 27 33 .450 6.0 15-13 12-20 W2 Daytona 24 40 .375 11.0 12-22 12-18 W1 Vero Beach 21 40 .344 12.5 12-19 9-21 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hickory 36 26 .581 - 22-13 14-13 L1 Lake County 31 28 .525 3.5 16-16 15-12 W4 Greensboro 33 30 .524 3.5 22-11 11-19 W2 Lakewood 30 30 .500 5.0 15-13 15-17 W1 Delmarva 30 32 .484 6.0 14-17 16-15 L4 West Virginia 29 32 .475 6.5 18-12 11-20 W1 Lexington 26 37 .413 10.5 16-14 10-23 L2 Hagerstown 22 40 .355 14.0 10-19 12-21 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 17 8 .680 - 9-3 8-5 L1 Helena 14 12 .538 3.5 6-8 8-4 W1 Billings 12 14 .462 5.5 6-7 6-7 L1 Missoula 12 14 .462 5.5 7-6 5-8 W1 

[Mass Haas]

The West Virginia series in Lexington is available via MiLB.TV for a small daily fee:

 

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

[colbyjack]

Final: Omaha 4, Nashville 11

 

Nashville Site Game Summary; Link, Text Follows:

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2534

 

Sounds Offense Comes Up Big In 11-4 Win

 

NASHVILLE - Nashville hitters combined for 11 runs on 12 hits in the Sounds' 11-4 victory on Monday evening during the opener of a four-game series against the Omaha Royals at Greer Stadium.

 

Drew Anderson went 2-for-4 on the evening, scoring three runs and knocking in another two as the PCL American Northern Division champions improved their record to 31 games above .500, their highest standing all season.

 

Shortstop Ozzie Chavez also had a good night, going 2-for-3 and reaching base four times by drawing two walks. Chavez has now hit safely in a season-high seven consecutive games and is batting .388 in those games.

 

Omaha (69-68) took an early lead in the top of the first inning after Mitch Maier drew a leadoff walk before Craig Brazell's 32 home run of the season made it a 2-0 game.

 

Nashville (84-53) was quick to take advantage of Omaha's sloppy defense in the bottom half of the first by scoring five runs on three hits and three errors. Callix Crabbe drew a walk to lead off the inning and was moved over after a Vinny Rottino single to left. Omaha third baseman Derek Wathan then misplayed a grounder from Anderson that scored Crabbe and moved Rottino to second.

 

One play later, second baseman Fernando Cortez's errant flip to second on a Brad Nelson grounder loaded the bases for Laynce Nix, who sent them all home with a double to the wall in right field. Nix now leads the team with 69 RBIs on the season. Nix would come in to score the fifth and final run of the inning thanks to Cortez's second throwing error of the inning, giving the Sounds a three run advantage.

 

The Sounds added more to their lead in the bottom of the second inning. Rottino led off with his second single of the game, a line drive up the middle before Anderson knocked him home with a double to left-center. Anderson came around to score three batters later thanks to another Cortez throwing error, this time on a lazy grounder from Nix, to give the Sounds a 7-2 lead.

 

The Royals came back to score single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Justin Huber hit his 16th homer of the season, a solo shot, in the fourth inning and Cortez knocked in Wathan with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to bring the score to 7-4 in favor of Nashville.

 

Nashville added two more runs in the sixth, one run in the seventh, and one run in the eighth thanks to Andy Abad's 12th home run of the year.

 

Nashville starter R.A. Dickey (12-6) earned the win for the Sounds to pull into a tie for the PCL victories lead. The knuckleballer allowed four runs on six hits while striking out three in seven innings. [/b]Marino Salas[/b] finished out the game by throwing two perfect innings of relief and striking out two.

 

Royals starter Matt Wright (9-5) took the loss after giving up seven runs (two earned) on six hits and striking out three in three innings. Anthony Bradley came in for relief in his Triple-A debut and gave up two runs in three innings while striking out one.

 

The Sounds continue their final regular season series at Greer Stadium in 2007 on Tuesday night when they take on the Omaha Royals for the second game of a four-game set. Sounds right-hander Carlos Villanueva (0-0, 0.00) will take the mound against Omaha left-hander Nate Hoelscher (5-2, 5.05).

 

Audio: Nix bases-loaded double:

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Highlight%208-27.mp3

 

Nashville Box Score:

11 runs on 12 base hits, although the Sounds take advantage of 4 Omaha errors. Nix with the biggest hit on the night, a bases-clearing double as the Sounds pile on early with 5 runs in the bottom of the first.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_27_omaaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

An ugly first inning for Omaha; The Sounds get out to a big lead, and put it away in the late innings as the bats go temporarily silent in the middle of the game.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_27_omaaaa_nasaaa_1

[colbyjack]

Final: West Virginia 6, Lexington 3

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

LAPORTA AND GREEN GO DEEP IN POWER VICTORY

 

Matt LaPorta snapped a scoreless tie in the sixth inning of Monday night's game at Applebee's Park with a three-run homer, and Taylor Green followed with a solo shot as West Virginia went on to defeat the Lexington Legends 6-3 to take the first game of the series.

 

Bud Norris and Alex Periard sizzled through five innings of the game but Norris ran out of gas in the sixth. He struck out ten Power batters through five innings but he allowed a double to Chuckie Caufield and walked Andrew Lefave before serving up the three run shot to LaPorta, his sixth of the year. Bryan Hallberg came out of the bullpen to relieve Norris and gave up a solo-shot to Taylor Green, his 14th.

 

Periard ran out of gas one inning later. The Legends had the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh when Ronald Ramirez dropped a single down the right field line to plate a pair of runs and cut the lead in half. The Power called on D.J. Lidyard to relieve Periard with the tying runs in scoring position and two out. Lidyard delivered as he struck out Eric Taylor on three pitches to end the inning. John Alonso singled in a pair of insurance runs in the top of the eighth inning and Koby Clemens scored the final run of the game as he smashed a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth.

 

Periard (7-7) allowed two runs on ten hits through six and two thirds to get the win, Matt Kretzschmar (2) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to get the save and Bud Norris (2-8) was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs on five hits over five and a third. Periard has now won two in a row after losing six straight.

 

The Power improved to 78-52 overall and 30-32 in the second half, while the Legends fell to 57-76 overall and 26-38 in the second half. West Virginia has homered in three of the four games on the trip and they've hit 12 homeruns in their last six games. Three Power players had multi-hit games including John Alonso and Andrew Lefave who both hit safely three times.

 

The Power will continue the four game series against the Lexington Legends at Applebee's Park on Tuesday night. The Power will start right hander Jeremy Jeffress (8-5, 3.32) and the Legends will start right hander Leandro Cespedes (0-0, 0.00) The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Matt LaPorta with one big hit, a 3-run bomb in the 6th to put the Power on the board with a big exlammation point. Taylor Green followed LaPorta in the 6th with his 14th HR (86 RBI) while also hitting his 27th double of the year for what has been a pretty impressive season for the young infielder. The first base/DH tandem of John Alonso and Andrew Lefave goes 6-8. Not a good day for Brent Brewer, who goes 0-4 with 4 Ks and his 46th error of the season.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_27_wvaafx_lexafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

Both teams get their leadoff batters on base to begin the game, only to have them wiped out on pickoff plays; 4 Legends baserunners erased by being caught stealing or pickoffs.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_27_wvaafx_lexafx_1

[colbyjack]

Final: Jupiter 3, Brevard County 9

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Ben Stanczyk with the start in tonight's game, his 4th start of the year, and while he didn't pitch horribly, 4 pitchers from the 'pen combine for 4.1 scoreless frames. Lorenzo Cain on base 4 times (2 hits, 2 walks) and hits his 21st double of the season.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_08_27_jupafa_breafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game Log:

The Manatees break open a 3-3 game with a 6-run bottom of the 8th amidst three hit batters, a passed ball, an intentional walk and one ejected pitcher. Lorenzo Cain with the biggest blow, a 2-run single.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_27_jupafa_breafa_1

[Minigoon]

19 year old Pedro Lambertus with an impressive outing so far tonight in Arizona. Through 6 innings, a 14-3 ground out to fly out ratio.

[colbyjack]

Final: West Tenn 5, Huntsville 3

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary; Link, Text follows:

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1335

 

Stars' Struggles Continue

 

Mike Wilson hit a home run and made a game-saving catch in West Tenn's 5-3 win over Huntsville Monday night in the middle game of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Diamond Jaxx improved to 28-35 in the second half and squared the season series at 11 games apiece, while the Stars dipped to 35-28 in the second half and saw their lead in the North Division over Tennessee trimmed to two games after the Smokies' win over Chattanooga. The Stars have dropped six out of eight on the current home stand and have scored more than three runs in two of the contests.

 

Mumba Rivera opened the ninth on the hill for West Tenn and issued one out walks to Mel Stocker and Steve Sollmann before the runners advanced on a Hernan Iribarren ground out. The West Tenn outfielders were then brought in a few steps with the potential tying run at second and the move paid off when Wilson came in to make a diving grab of Adam Heether's sinking fly ball in right field to end the game. Rivera converted his fourth straight save chance but only his sixth in 15 tries all season.

 

Matt Tuiasosopo's first inning sacrifice fly, a run-scoring single by Erick Monzon and Wilson's 10th home run since he joined the Jaxx staked the visitors to a 3-0 lead after five frames. Stars' starter Lindsay Gulin was lifted after five innings after allowing three runs on four hits and four walks, while fanning five. He suffered the loss to fall to 11-6 and was stalled for a fourth straight start in an attempt to win his 12th game of the year.

 

West Tenn starter Doug Fister blanked the Stars through 6 2/3 innings before Steve Moss blasted a home run to right field, his career-high 11th, that cut the lead to 3-1. Bo Hall retired the first seven hitters he faced after taking over for Gulin until walking the bases loaded in the eighth and being replaced by Robert Hinton, who uncorked a wild pitch on his first offering that scored Marshall Hubbard to make it 4-1. Monzon then singled in another run to push the visitors' lead to 5-1.

 

A fielding error by shortstop Jesus Merchan allowed Heether to reach with two outs in the eighth and score when Michael Brantley followed with a double. Lou Palmisano walked and David Asher was replaced by Juan Sandoval, who gave up a single to Alcides Escobar that scored Brantley to trim the lead to 5-3. Moss then fanned to end the frame.

 

The series continues Tuesday night with left-hander Steve Hammond taking the hill for Huntsville against West Tenn southpaw Justin Thomas. 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:

Michael Brantley goes 2-3 with a walk, both of his being doubles. Steve Moss hits his 11th dinger of the year. Hernan Iribarren now has been caught more times trying to steal a base (16) than he has been successful (15). Robert Hinton with his third consecutive scoreless appearance, but it is going to take him a long time to drop his ERA after a painful May, June and July. The Stars unable to make the most of 6 bases on balls.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_27_wtdaax_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

The Stars unable to take advantage of a couple of 1-out doubles early in the game. Their 2-run rally in the bottom of the 8th started with Heether reaching on an error with 2 outs. The had 2 on in the bottom of the 9th with one out thanks to a pair of walks, but again are unable to cash in as much as they could have.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_27_wtdaax_hunaax_1

[colbyjack]

Final: Helena 2, Billings 4

 

Helena Box Score:

LHP Dan Merklinger with his best outing as a pro to date, doing a fine job shutting down the Mustangs offense over 4 innings hoping the H-Crew could bounce back from an early 4-2 deficit. Starter Chad Robinson now 0-5 while giving up a pair of home runs (he's now given up 5 in 21 IP), as he opposed a former Brewers draftee, Drew Bowman. Not to much to report on the offense outside of a 2-hit night for Lee Haydel. Caleb Gindl did show off his arm in RF by gunning down a runner at home.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_27_helrok_bilrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

The way things started in the first it seemed as though the H-Crew were in for a big night offensively. The game moved extremely quick after the third, basically when Dan Merklinger entered the ballgame.

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_27_helrok_bilrok_1

[Mass Haas]

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

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%208-27.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070828/SPORTS0401/708280353/1328/SPORTS

 

Sounds won't let up after playoff berth

Nashville keeps its edge with romp over Omaha

By TOM KREAGER

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

There was no post-celebration hangover for the Sounds on Monday night.

 

A day after clinching a spot in the Pacific Coast League playoffs, Nashville rolled to an 11-4 victory over Omaha at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

 

"You don't want to lay off with the playoffs coming up," said Sounds right fielder Vinny Rottino, who had two hits and scored twice.

"Definitely some teams do that after they clinch. But it's the manager's duty to make sure that doesn't happen."

Nashville won its fifth straight over Omaha and leads the season series 7-6.

 

The Sounds (84-53) are a season-best 31 games over .500 with seven games remaining before postseason play. Only two Sounds clubs (1980 and 1983) have finished a season more than 30 games over .500.

 

Nashville is two wins away from tying a team record for most wins as a Triple-A team set in 1990. The overall team record is 97 wins in 1980 as a Double-A affiliate of the Yankees.

 

Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said he didn't have to say anything to get his team going into Monday's game.

 

"They are professionals," Kremblas said. "You don't have to say anything to them about it."

 

Laynce Nix's three-run double capped the Sounds' first inning for a 5-2 lead. Nashville added two more runs in the second and sixth innings.

 

The game was Omaha's sixth in four days and appeared to catch up with the Royals, who had four errors. Second baseman Fernando Cortez committed three errors in the first two innings.

 

Nashville chased Omaha starter Matt Wright (9-5) after three innings, tallying seven runs. Omaha inserted utility infielder Richard Lewis on the mound for the final two innings. Lewis gave up two runs.

 

"When you play five games in three days it may look like a travel day for them," Rottino said. "But this is a team that has played us tough this season."

 

What they said: "We want to try and win every game. We are trying to go into the playoffs on a roll." - Rottino

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070828/SPORTS0401/708280354/1328/SPORTS

 

Sounds pitchers named All-PCL

By TOM KREAGER

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Nashville Sounds starting pitchers R.A. Dickey and Adam Pettyjohn were named to the All-Pacific Coast League team Monday.

 

Dickey, a right-handed knuckleball pitcher, improved to 8-2 since rejoining the Sounds in June with the Sounds' 11-4 victory at Greer Stadium Monday night. He is 12-6 overall.

 

Pettyjohn is 11-4 with a 3.96 ERA in 16 starts. Pettyjohn joined Nashville on June 1 after Jose Capellan was promoted to Milwaukee.

 

The All-PCL team is selected by the league's managers and media members. Dickey and Pettyjohn are the first Sounds selected to the team since 2003 when outfielder John Barnes and reliever Mark Corey were selected.

 

Playoff fundraiser: The Sounds are offering all charitable organizations the opportunity to sell Pacific Coast League playoff tickets with all the proceeds going to the charity.

 

The ticket value is $10 and is good for reserved seat tickets.

 

For more information, call 615-242-4371 or go to nashvillesounds.com/playoffs.

 

Nashville RBI, an inner-city baseball and softball program, is among the charities that have taken advantage of the Sounds' offer. It is currently selling 1,000 tickets.

 

Hit streak: Sounds shortstop Ozzie Chavez extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single in the third inning off Omaha starter Matt Wright.

 

Bad night: Omaha second baseman Fernando Cortez entered Monday night with five errors through 74 games. However, Cortez recorded three errors in the first two innings against the Sounds.

 

Cortez received applause from the crowd after he threw out the Sounds' Drew Anderson in the fourth inning in the first chance he converted for an out.

 

Hochevar starting Wednesday: Former Tennessee pitcher Luke Hochevar is scheduled to start for Omaha in Wednesday's noon game at Greer Stadium. Hochevar is 1-3 with a 6.14 ERA this season. Zach Jackson (10-10) is scheduled to start for the Sounds.

 

First pitch: Miss Tennessee Grace Gore threw out the first pitch.

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com:

Manatees charge past Hammerheads

Chris Errecart scored the go-ahead run during a six-run eighth inning as Brevard County beat visiting Jupiter, 9-3, on Monday.

Mike Bell chased reliever Travis Talbott with a leadoff double in the eighth before Errecart was plunked by Jesus Silva, who was ejected by home-plate umpire Jordan Baker. Bell was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice before Errecart scored from third on a passed ball by John Purdom to give the Manatees (32-32) a 4-3 lead.

After Anderson De La Rosa and Darren Ford were plunked by Jacob Marceaux with the bases loaded, Lorenzo Cain smacked a two-run single and Mat Gamel capped the rally with an RBI groundout.

Reliever Kevin Roberts (6-3) got the win after pitching around a hit and two walks in the eighth.

The Hammerheads (27-34) scored in the fifth on Jonathan Fulton's sacrifice fly, Colin Roberson's RBI double and Andrew Jenkins' run-scoring single.

Talbott (1-3) took the loss after giving up one run on one hit while striking out three in two-plus innings. -- Michael Echan/MLB.com

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.al.com/stars/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/sports/1188292908281920.xml&coll=1

 

Stars' rally falters

By BRAD SHEPARD

For The Huntsville Times

 

The Huntsville Stars had the hitters up that they wanted against the pitcher they wanted. But they came up two runs and two inches shy of beating West Tenn on Monday night in a 5-3 loss.

 

Trailing by two in the bottom of the ninth, Huntsville faced erratic Diamond Jaxx reliever Mumba Rivera, who'd converted just five of 14 save opportunities. With runners on first and third and one out, Huntsville had Hernan Iribarren and Adam Heether - the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters - due up at the plate.

 

Instead of heroics, Huntsville had heartbreak.

 

Iribarren missed a double down the right-field line that could have scored two runs when the ball skipped foul by mere inches before he grounded out to second. Then, with runners on second and third and two out, right fielder Mike Wilson made a spectacular diving catch on a sinking liner by Heether to send an announced crowd of 896 at Joe Davis Stadium home unhappy.

 

"Off the bat, I thought it was going to fall," Heether said. "I expected it to fall. He made a great play though. What do you do?"

 

When the Stars start the playoffs in a little more than a week, they'll be very happy that West Tenn will be nowhere around.

 

Despite the fact that the Diamond Jaxx have as many wins (59) as Huntsville's losses, the two teams have now split 22 games this season.

 

They almost had to at least go into extra innings Monday.

 

"I think it just goes to show you if we're down, we can still come back and have a chance to win the game," Heether said. "That's the positive side."

 

The homestand hasn't been positive thus far. The Stars are 2-6 with two games left at Joe Davis before hitting the road. Amazingly, Huntsville has increased its lead in the North division by a game.

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com:

Mustangs power past Brewers

Brandon Waring slugged a pair of solo homers to power Billings past visiting Helena, 4-2, on Monday.

Waring's 15th and 16th roundtrippers propelled him into the Pioneer League lead, two ahead of Idaho Falls' Clint Robinson. Angel Cabrera delivered an RBI single and Justin Reed lifted a sacrifice fly for the Mustangs (13-14).

In his 13th start with Billings, Andrew Bowman (1-4) notched his first professional win after yielding two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings.

Anthony Romero tossed three perfect frames and Scott Gaffney pitched around a walk and fanned two in the ninth for his fourth save.

Lee Haydel singled and scored on a wild pitch in the first and David Fonseca lined an RBI double in the third for the Brewers (14-13), who dropped a game behind first-place Great Falls in the Pioneer League's North Division.

Helena starter Chad Robinson (0-5) surrendered four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two in three frames.

 

Helena's Caleb Gindl entered the game hitting .374, which was ranked second in all of Minor League Baseball. Gindl took an 0-for-4, dropping his average to .367 -- Michael Avallone/MLB.com

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Giants 6, Arizona Brewers 5

 

Arizona Box Score:

Brewers outhit, 11-5, although RF Ryan Jensen had a nice game; the most fascinating thing about this game -- only one ump, behind the plate, naturally...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_27_giarok_brrrok_1

 

Arizona Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_08_27_giarok_brrrok_1