Link Report for Sun. 9/2 -- Huntsville Nabs Both Season Titles!

[Mass Haas]

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

 

 

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Tim Dillard at Memphis (Cardinals), 6:25 PM pre-game; 6:40 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Lindsay Gulin at Birmingham (White Sox), 4:50 PM pre-game; 5:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: LHP Brae Wright and TBD in a doubleheader at Daytona (Cubs), 3:15 PM pre-game, 3:30 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 the Manatees' twinbill will be from the Cubs' staff. These games conclude the Brevard County regular season.

 

West Virginia: LHP Mike Ramlow at home vs. Greensboro (Marlins), 3:55 PM pre-game, 4:05 gametime

 

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

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

 

Helena: RHP Roque Mercedes at Missoula (Diamondbacks), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime

 

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

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

Arizona: Season complete

[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_09_02_nasaaa_mrbaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_02_hunaax_biraax_1

 

Brevard County Game One:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_09_02_breafa_dbcafa_1&did=t503&sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game Two:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2007_09_02_breafa_dbcafa_2&did=t503&sid=t503

 

West Virginia:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_02_gboafx_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_02_helrok_misrok_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 games:

Arizona's standings reflect the final year both halves combined...

 

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 87 55 .613 - 48-24 39-31 W1 Iowa 79 63 .556 8.0 43-27 36-36 L1 Omaha 71 71 .500 16.0 45-27 26-44 W1 Memphis 56 86 .394 31.0 30-40 26-46 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 37 30 .552 - 18-16 19-14 W2 Tennessee 37 31 .544 0.5 22-13 15-18 W3 Chattanooga 36 32 .529 1.5 16-19 20-13 W4 Carolina 30 38 .441 7.5 15-18 15-20 L8 West Tenn 29 38 .433 8.0 12-21 17-17 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 37 30 .552 - 19-15 18-15 W3 Palm Beach 34 35 .493 4.0 17-18 17-17 L2 Brevard County 33 34 .493 4.0 19-14 14-20 W1 Jupiter 32 36 .471 5.5 20-15 12-21 W3 Daytona 25 43 .368 12.5 13-22 12-21 L3 Vero Beach 23 44 .343 14.0 12-19 11-25 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hickory 41 26 .612 - 24-13 17-13 W5 Lakewood 36 31 .537 5.0 19-13 17-18 L1 Lake County 33 33 .500 7.5 17-16 16-17 W1 Greensboro 33 35 .485 8.5 22-13 11-22 L5 West Virginia 32 34 .485 8.5 19-14 13-20 W1 Delmarva 32 35 .478 9.0 15-18 17-17 L1 Lexington 28 40 .412 13.5 16-17 12-23 L1 Hagerstown 24 43 .358 17.0 12-22 12-21 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 22 9 .710 - 11-4 11-5 W3 Billings 16 16 .500 6.5 9-7 7-9 L2 Helena 16 16 .500 6.5 8-9 8-7 W2 Missoula 13 19 .406 9.5 7-9 6-10 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Mariners 37 19 .661 - 24-4 13-15 W1 AZL Angels 33 23 .589 4.0 20-8 13-15 L1 AZL Giants 33 23 .589 4.0 17-11 16-12 W9 AZL Padres 28 28 .500 9.0 17-11 11-17 W1 AZL Royals 28 28 .500 9.0 15-13 13-15 L1 AZL Cubs 27 29 .482 10.0 14-14 13-15 W3 AZL Athletics 25 31 .446 12.0 14-14 11-17 L1 AZL Rangers 22 34 .393 15.0 11-17 11-17 L3 AZL Brewers 19 37 .339 18.0 10-18 9-19 W1 

[Mass Haas]

Nashville's series in Memphis is available via MiLB.TV for a small fee:

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Buck Rogers, Manatees GM:

And then there were four.

 

As the rest of the 2007 FSL regular season schedule is played out today and this evening, four FSL teams are making their plans for the start of Tuesday's playoffs: In the Eastern Division it'll be the Brevard County Manatees that will travel south to face the St Lucie Mets; in the Western Division the Sarasota Reds will face the Clearwater Threshers in Clearwater. Both series will be best-of-three with the Manatees and Reds hosting games #2 and #3, if necessary.

 

That's four NL affiliates, two from both the NL's Central and East Divisions.

 

For those that were wondering why last night's fireworks show was cut short: mortar canisters holding the shells tipped or fell over in the middle of the show and set off another rack of shells. The nightmare was just beginning as the shells exploded on two employees of Pyrotechnico, one who was seriously injured and had to be medevaced to the Orlando Regional Medical Center. A second employee was knocked unconscious. We received a call this morning from Pyrotechnico who informed us that both individuals will be OK. The one with the more serious injuries was going into surgery this morning to repair multiple fractures in his hands. The umpires deemed the field unplayable last night after the rains passed thru and we waited until nightfall to shoot the fireworks. We passed along our best wishes for speedy recovery to these men from the Manatees extended family this morning.

 

The Manatees wrap up the regular season at Daytona Beach this afternoon with a doubleheader at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on City Island.

 

The Manatees offer season ticket holders free home playoff tickets as part of the season ticket package. Florida State League passes can be used for games, but are void for All-Star Games, Playoffs and Special Events. We contacted the other teams and inquired into possibility of implementing an exception to policy for season ticket holders for the playoffs this season. Unfortunately the other teams are not interested, hence, season ticket holders must pay for their road playoff tickets if they plan to travel to watch the 'Tees. With the price of gas, the Manatees offered to reward season ticket holders from other teams if the Manatees season ticket holders would be offered similar perks.

 

If you're bidding on a Manatees game jersey, bidding ends at noon on Wednesday, September 5th. You can check out the entire list of current bids and auction rules at www.bcmanatees.net. Those jerseys that aren't bid upon will be sold for replacement value ($115 for the blue mesh alternate jerseys and $150 for the white and gray home and road jerseys).

 

There are five of the Milwaukee Brewers teams that have clinched playoff berths:

 

AAA: Nashville

 

AA: Huntsville

 

A+: Brevard County

 

A: West Virginia

 

Rookie+: Helena

 

Although the final MiLB playoffs haven't been decided yet, it's hard to imagine another organization having five of its six teams in the playoffs and the parent club in the hunt for post-season play as well. If you're a Brewers fan, the future's so bright you gotta wear shades.

[bobskube]

Mass Haas,

 

Thanks for getting rid of those mascots as your avatar. It was kinda freaking me out. Like you are one of those bizarro Trekkies or something.

 

Anyway, keep up the good work.

[Mass Haas]

Manatees, Cubs washed out

Sunday's Florida State League doubleheader between Brevard County and Daytona was canceled due to rain at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

The games will not be made up.

 

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Reliever Kenny Ray:

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%209-2.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 3, Greensboro (Marlins) 1

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER SEND 'HOPPERS TO SIXTH STRAIGHT LOSS

 

Matt LaPorta's RBI single in the third inning of Sunday's game at Appalachian Power Park extended his hitting streak to 13 games and it provided a big insurance run as the West Virginia Power defeated the Greensboro Grasshoppers 3-1, sending the 'Hoppers to their sixth straight loss.

 

Logan Morrison provided Greensboro's only run of the game with a solo shot off Mike Ramlow in the top of the second inning to give the 'Hoppers and early edge. It was Morrison's 24th home run of the season.

 

West Virginia took the lead in the bottom of the inning on a pair of RBI singles. Steve Chapman's run-scoring base hit tied the game and Martin Maldonado's single gave them the lead. LaPorta's RBI single came in the third inning to plate the final run of the contest.

 

Ramlow (5-5) pitched five solid frames to secure the victory, allowing just a run on five hits with five strikeouts. Jose Romero (1) tossed a pair of scoreless innings to get the save and Marc Lewis (2-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs on seven hits over four innings.

 

The Power improved to 81-54 overall and 33-34 in the second half, while the Grasshoppers fell to 71-68 overall and 33-36 in the second half. The Grasshoppers left ten runners on base in the contest.

 

The Power and 'Hoppers conclude the regular season at Appalachian Power Park on Monday afternoon. West Virginia will send righty Patrick Lawler (0-0, 0.00) to the rubber. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM (12:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Mike Ramlow, Jared Sutton, and Jose Romero combine to strike out 12 without issuing a walk, sweet!

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_02_gboafx_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

Matt LaPorta an outfield assist at home in the 3rd...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_02_gboafx_wvaafx_1

[molitor fan]

Great job by Efrain Nieves tonight for Helena - not bad for a 17 year old.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 4, Missoula (Diamondbacks) 3

Game Summary from the Osprey Site:

Missoula, MT - Curt Rindal drew a bases-loaded walk with two out in the top of the ninth inning, helping the Helena Brewers overcome a two-run deficit to beat the Missoula Osprey, 4-3, here at Ogren Park Allegiance Field on Sunday.

 

The Osprey (13-20, 27-44) overcame a first-inning Brewer run with two runs in the home half of the third and another in the fourth. Jimmy Principe homered to start the two-run, two-out rally in the third, while Reynaldo Navarro singled and scored on a Tyrell Worthington groundout in the fourth.

 

Principe and Worthington both made diving catches in the top of the fifth to keep Cristian Beltre in the lead. Beltre scattered six hits and allowed two runs in five innings of work. Josh Blake (1-3) allowed just two hits, but walked three and gave up two runs (one earned) in suffering the loss.

 

Blake had allowed two runners to reach after getting the first two outs in the top of the ninth, the second on a walk by Eric Farris. Josh Ellis came in out of the bullpen and yielded a single by Jonathan Lucroy and a walk to Rindal, the latter allowing Lee Haydel to score what turned out to be the game-winning run.

 

Ariel Urena went 3-for-3 with a walk, while Navarro added a pair of hits, as the Osprey finished the game with nine baseknocks. Anthony Smith, Eli Rumler and Andrew Fie added the other Osprey singles.

 

The Osprey and Brewers will play game two of their three-game series at Ogren Park Allegiance Field on Monday. Jason Durst (1-8, 7.63) will get the call for the Osprey, while Evan Anundsen (6-5, 5.10) will pitch for Helena.

 

Helena Box Score:

Roque Mercedes strands the bases loaded in a scoreless 2nd inning; the young lefty from Puerto Rico, Efrain Nieves, outstanding in middle relief, as noted above...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_02_helrok_misrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

Scott Houin doubles on a pop up to catcher Sean Coughlin -- you don't see that very often...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_02_helrok_misrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 7, Birmingham (White Sox) 3

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1350

 

Stars Win Second Half, Make History!

 

Lindsay Gulin worked six shutout innings and Alcides Escobar and Brendan Katin each delivered three-run hits to power Huntsville to a 7-3 win over Birmingham Sunday in the fourth game of a season-ending five-game set at Regions Park. The Stars improved to 38-30 in the second half and clinched the second half North Division title after Tennessee fell at Carolina and became the first team in the 23-year history of the franchise to win both halves in the same season. The Stars have won three straight games for the first time since their eight-game win streak ended on August 10 at home against the Barons.

 

Barons' starter Kyle McCulloch walked Steve Sollmann to open the second inning, put Brendan Katin on with a free pass with one out and walked Michael Brantley to load the bases loaded with two outs before Escobar smacked a sharply hit ground ball just inside the third base bag down the left field line to chase home all three runners. Escobar pushed his hitting streak to eight straight games during which he has collected 12 hits. McCulloch, the White Sox first round choice last year, was lifted after two frames in his last start of the year after giving up three runs on four hits and three walks.

 

Steve Moss doubled in a run in the sixth and Brendan Katin seemingly ended any suspense with a line drive three-run home to center field in the seventh to push the visitors lead to 7-0. Katin took over sole possession of the league lead in home runs with 24 and pushed his league-best runs batted in total to 93. Katin has hit four of his home runs against the Barons.

 

Gulin gave up a pair of two-out singles in the first inning before retiring the next 10 batters he faced. Chris Kelly led off the fifth with a single before the veteran left-hander set down the next four batters. Gulin then issued back-to-back one out walks to Victor Mercedes and David Cook but finished his performance by retiring Shawn Garrett and Cory Aldridge to end the sixth inning. He allowed three hits, walked two and fanned six to earn his 12th win of the season. Gulin had not won since earning his seventh victory in a row at Mississippi on August 5th.

 

Bo Hall worked a scoreless seventh inning before Jeff Housman gave up three runs in the eighth on a David Cook sacrifice fly and a two-run double by Cory Aldridge and was lifted after recording only one out. Robert Hinton took over and retired Chris Kelly and Ricardo Nanita to end the threat. Luis Pena retired the side in order to close out the Stars' 11th victory in 19 games with Birmingham.

 

The series and regular season come to an end Monday afternoon with left-hander Steve Hammond taking the hill for the Stars against Barons' right-hander Jack Egbert. Coverage begins at 12:50 pm central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Hernan Iribarren 4-for-5, all singles, steals two bases...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_02_hunaax_biraax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_02_hunaax_biraax_1

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's

 

http://www.starsboxscore.com/

 

STARS GRAB 2nd HALF TITLE

SMOKIES FALL TO CAROLINA... GULIN WINS 12th

 

For the first time in their history, the Stars have captured both halves of the division title, and will bring to Joe Davis Stadium, Thursday, a home advantage they have never had in their history, and the possibility of winning the Southern League Championship at home for the first time since 1994....... The Lookouts had already been eliminated with a loss to the Diamond Jaxx, 10-8, while the Stars were protecting a lead they would never relinquish. After Brendan Katin had already sealed a win with a line drive three-run HR off Josh Fields' first pitch in the 7th, the Mudcats rallied from a 5-1 deficit at Five County Stadium with a four-run 7th capped by a two-run triple from Frank Moore. In the 8th, an RBI single by Eric Riggs put Carolina up by a run and Chris Mobley struck out Kyle Reynolds with runners on 1st and 3rd in the 9th to end Tennessee's shot at the title, but not a playoff berth, since the Smokies had the 2nd best overall record during the season.

 

Lindsay Gulin, who after winning his 11th game on August 5th, giving him a decent chance to pass Dan Eskew and Bobby Chouinard for most wins in a season (14), finally won his 12th. Gulin becomes the first Stars pitcher since Paul Stewart in 2002 to win 12 games in a season....... Gulin worked six shutout innings for the first time since July 19 (against Tennessee). He lowered his ERA to 3.29 - 6th best in the league -- the only Stars pitcher among the top 10...... Brendan Katin, with his 24th home run that demoralized the Barons, took over the home run leadership in the league from Charlton Jimerson, now with the Mariners. It was Katin's first home run since August 16th. Katin, incidentally if you're looking forward to Thursday, hasn't hit one out at home since August 8 (against Birmingham). He now has four HRs vs. the Barons this year........ Katin had five HRs in every month but April (he started with three). Katin's HR was the Stars' 74th of the year, one fewer than last year's total.....

 

Hernan Iribarren, who was robbed from a place on the Southern League All-Star team, had four empty hits to raise his average to .307 -- tying him with Evan Longoria (Montgomery) for 6th among SL batting leaders...... He's only hit .376 since July, leading the Stars' 2nd half march with Adam Heether, who was hitting .332........ If not for his 20 errors (the most since Chris Barnwell's 26 in 2004), I'd put Heether on the All-Star team, but every night it seems he has come up with an amazing save or two at 3rd base.

 

Alcides Escobar put the first runs across for the Stars in the 2nd inning with a two-out, three-run double to the corner in left. Steve Moss doubled in Steve Sollmann to give Gulin a 4-0 lead in the 6th before Katin ended the suspense. Gulin gave up a pair of singles in the 1st, then retired 10 in a row...... Jeff Housman, trying to bounce back this year from shoulder and elbow problems, was rocked in the 8th after Adam Heether committed his 20th error of the year on a ball hit by leadoff hitter Chris Getz. After what would have been the 1st out for Housman, Victor Mercedes singled him over to 3rd and David Cook drove in Getz with a long fly to right....... Then Shawn Garrett singled and Cory Aldridge doubled in two runs to end Housman's night. Robert Hinton, who was 1-1 with two saves and a 1.84 ERA in August, closed the door on Birmingham for good, getting Chris Kelly to ground out and Ricardo Nanita to go out swinging on strikes........

 

The Stars, with a 1½-game lead, end their regular season Monday with Steve Hammond going to the mound against 12-game winner Jack Egbert (3rd among SL ERA leaders), but there had been talk circulating that, if the situation was right, Guilder Rodriguez would pitch and play all nine positions. Jeff Eure became the 2nd player in Stars history to do this last year in the season finale against Birmingham.

 

The Stars have stolen 143 bases this year, the most since 2003, and 28 more than last year. They were caught 61 times, matching last year's total........ Stars hitters were plunked at the plate 77 times this year -- the most since 2000 and two shy of the record set in 1999. Steve Sollmann was hit for the 26th time today, 2 short of the record Rickie Weeks set in 2004........ The 2007 Stars set two club records --- triples (47) and sacrifice bunts (89). Both records had hung around since 1989, when the Stars won 82 games, which is still a record. This year's version is 75-61......... Although I don't keep such records, the Stars were 16-2 on Sunday's this year. That would be hard to match. And their record in day games is 21-10 -- a .677 percentage.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 5, Memphis (Cardinals) 4

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Laynce Nix photo, text follows --

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2546

 

Nix Comes Up Big Early And Late In 5-4 Win

 

MEMPHIS - Laynce Nix highlighted a four-run Nashville first inning with a two-run homer then made a game-ending diving catch in the bottom of the ninth to lead the Sounds to a 5-4 victory over the Memphis Redbirds on Sunday evening at AutoZone Park.

 

With the win, Nashville (88-55) improved to a season-best 33 games over .500. The one-run contest was the Sounds' 51st of the year, matching the club's single-season record (fourth occurrence).

 

Nashville jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Redbirds starter Randy Keisler, highlighted by a two-out, two-run homer to right by Nix (2-for-4). It was the slugger's 24th home run of the year for the Sounds and 25th tater overall. Earlier in the inning, Drew Anderson and Mike Rivera produced consecutive one-out RBI singles.

 

AUDIO: Laynce Nix Two-Run HR

 

The Redbirds got a run back in the bottom of the third when shortstop Chris Barnwell mishandled Edgar Gonzalez's one-out, bases-loaded grounder, allowing Danny Ardoin to score to make it a 4-1 contest. Sounds starter Tim Dillard escaped the jam without further damage but inducing an inning-ending, bases-loaded double play grounder from Tagg Bozied.

 

Memphis continued its comeback in the fifth against Dillard with two more runs to pull within 4-3. Ardoin opened the frame with a walk before moving to third on a Keisler double, the hurler's second hit of the evening. Mike McCoy reduced the Nashville lead to 4-2 when he followed with an RBI single. After McCoy was caught stealing second, Brian Barden made it a one-run game by plating Keisler with a sacrifice fly to center.

 

The Sounds increased the lead to 5-3 in the top of the sixth when Rivera and Andy Abad opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Jose Macias (2-for-4) delivered a one-out RBI single on a hot shot to third base, bringing Rivera plateward.

 

Dillard (8-4) earned a win in his second spot start of the last two weeks after allowing three runs on five hits while walking three batters and striking out four in his five innings of action.

 

Steve Bray worked two scoreless frames behind Dillard before Marino Salas worked into and out of a two-on jam to post a goose egg in the eighth.

 

The Redbirds didn't go down without a fight, however, and made things interesting against Dennis Sarfate in the bottom of the ninth.

 

The right-hander issued consecutive walks to Ardoin and Jarrett Hoffpauir to begin the inning before McCoy sacrificed the runners to second and third. With one out, Barden slapped a run-scoring single to right to bring home Ardoin and pull the home team within a run at 5-4. Sarfate followed up by striking out Gonzalez for the second out.

 

The final out of the night came on a spectacular diving catch by Nix in the right-center gap, which robbed Bozied of a game-tying extra-base hit.

 

Sarfate notched his fourth save of the year following the dramatic ending.

 

Keisler (8-11) was saddled with the loss after the southpaw gave up five runs on eight hits over six frames.

 

The teams wrap up the 2007 regular season with a 1:10 p.m. Labor Day finale on Monday afternoon. Left-hander Zach Jackson (10-10, 4.62) will toe the rubber for the Sounds to face Memphis right-hander Mike Parisi (8-12, 5.04).

 

Nashville Box Score:

As noted in the pre-game audio, what else does Steve Bray have to do to get to Milwaukee? Man, Laynce Nix is on fire...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_02_nasaaa_mrbaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_02_nasaaa_mrbaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

It will be New Orleans (Mets) in the first round of the playoffs for the Sounds (details from the Nashville site here).

 

Nashville and Brevard County (St. Lucie) will take on Mets' affiliates in the first round, Huntsville the Cubs (Tennessee), West Virginia the Pirates (Hickory), and Helena the White Sox (Great Falls).

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070903/SPORTS/709030334/1002/SPORTS

 

Manatees hit playoffs

Second-half swoon no big reason to worry for first-half champions

BY JIM CAWLEY

FLORIDA TODAY

 

Timing isn't everything.

 

If it was, the Brevard County Manatees wouldn't feel confident heading into Tuesday night's Florida State League Eastern Division playoff game at St. Lucie.

 

The Manatees, who qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2001, are 13-18 in August, and just 8-17 since Aug. 8.

 

But this is a team that won the first-half division championship featuring a core group of players who have moved up together through the minor-league ranks.

 

"The feeling is real good," shortstop Mike Bell said. "Maybe we got a little too relaxed and fell off a little bit there at the end, but everyone is starting to get excited again and gear up."

 

According to All-Star third baseman Mat Gamel, the team just needs to catch its second wind.

 

"A bunch of guys are hungry and want to get a ring," Gamel said. "So we've just got to play complete games; play like we did in the first half."

 

Brevard County did just that Friday night, getting an offensive boost in an 11-2 victory against Palm Beach. That was an encouraging sign for manager John Tamargo.

 

"We've been going through the motions a little bit and we've got to turn it up," the FSL Manager of the Year said. "From what I saw (Friday) from the offense, I think we're going to do that.

 

"We've got a good club here and they're going to be ready to play in the playoffs."

 

Tuesday's Game 1 of the best-of-three series is at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie at 7 p.m. The next two games -- Wednesday and Thursday (if necessary) -- will take place at Space Coast Stadium at 7:00 PM (6:00 Central).

 

If the Manatees advance, they will host the Western Division champion on Friday and Saturday, and then hit the road for the remaining three games (if necessary) in the best-of-five series for the league championship.

 

If you put a lot of stock in records, the Manatees have a favorable first-round opponent in St. Lucie. Brevard County went 12-6 against the Mets this season, and seemed to match up well against their pitching.

 

"We can't take that for granted," Gamel said. "We've still got to come out and execute to beat them. We've handled their pitchers well; hopefully we can do it again."

 

Outfielder Lorenzo Cain is taking the same approach.

 

"We're just relaxed right now; trying to get our heads right," Cain said. "We just have to play more consistent baseball -- and go get St. Lucie."

Cain is second on the team in stolen bases with (24) and hits (133). He also is fourth in doubles with 21.

 

Gamel, who put together a 33-game hitting streak earlier this season, leads the team in six offensive categories, including batting average (.300), doubles (37) and slugging percentage (.472). Bell is the team leader in home runs (13) and RBIs (71).

 

The Manatees also have had solid offensive contributions this season from outfielder Cole Gillespie -- who leads the team in walks and on-base percentage -- stolen base leader Darren Ford (36) and first baseman Chris Errecart, who is third in home runs and fourth in RBIs.

 

David Welch leads Brevard County starters with a 3.40 earned-run average. The 6-foot-4 lefty from Sydney, Australia, also flirted with a no-hitter this season.

 

The Manatees are particularly strong in the bullpen, where they have six pitchers carrying an ERA below 3.60. Patrick Ryan has been lights out with a 1.75 ERA in 34 appearances. Former starter Josh Wahpepah is 9-5 with a 3.26 ERA in 41 games.

 

"It's a short series -- anything can happen," Tamargo said. "But I feel good with the guys we have here offensively. And if our pitching comes through, we should be fine. I don't think there's any question that we're going to be up for the games."

 

Brevard County GM Buck Rogers believes the fans are up for it, too.

 

"It's been a dry run (since the 2001 playoffs) and I think a lot of season-ticket holders and fans have waited for this," Rogers said. "They know this team is the best team they're going to see in quite a while around here, so it's now or never."