Link Report Fri 9/7 - No-Hitter for Huntsville! Dramatic Stay-Alive for Nashville

[Mass Haas]

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

 

 

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Mark DiFelice at home vs. New Orleans (Mets) in Game Three of a Best-of-Five series, 6:45 PM Central pre-game, 7:00 gametime; Zephyrs lead the series, 2-0 , it's do or die

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Corey Thurman at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime; Game Two of a Best-of-Five, Smokies lead, 1-0

 

Audio link:

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: Idle, Florida State League Finals begin at Space Coast Stadium Saturday night

 

West Virginia: RHP Shawn Ferguson at home vs. Hickory (Pirates), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime; Game Two of a Best-of-Three, Power lead, 1-0, can wrap up the series tonight

 

Helena: RHP Craig Langille at home vs. Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime in the regular season finale; Best-of-Three First Round Series begins Saturday night in Great Falls

 

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

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

Arizona: Season complete

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday's action as it happens:

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

 

Nashville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_07_nozaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_07_tenaax_hunaax_1

 

West Virginia:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_07_hicafx_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_07_misrok_helrok_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]

Pioneer League Second Half Standings through Thursday's action:

 

 Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 26 9 .743 - 14-4 12-5 W7 Helena 21 16 .568 6.0 10-9 11-7 W7 Billings 16 20 .444 10.5 9-8 7-12 L6 Missoula 13 24 .351 14.0 7-12 6-12 L8

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.dailymail.com/story/Sports/+/2007090761/Power+coaches+will+%91stay+out+of+the+way%27/

 

Power coaches will 'stay out of the way'

Michael Dailey

Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

 

West Virginia Power hitting coach Corey Hart, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on Wednesday, had just one simple request on his gift list.

 

All the Oklahoma City resident wanted was a win in the opening game of the best-of-three South Atlantic League Northern Division championship series.

 

As it turned out, Hart not only was granted his wish, but was treated to an offensive explosion by his Power hitters.

 

The Power, which had collected 78 hits in six regular season games at Hickory, tacked on 17 more in a 12-2 pasting of the Crawdads at L.P. Frans Stadium on Wednesday evening.

 

"Wednesday was my birthday and I told the guys the only thing I wanted was a 'W,' " said Hart. "I didn't care if we got one hit as long as we won, but it was really sweet the way it happened.

 

"To get 17 hits in the first game was a real nice bonus."

 

Eight of the nine Power starters collected hits while taking the first game of the series, which moves to Appalachian Power Park for Game 2 at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central) today.

 

A third game will be played, if necessary, on Saturday at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

Hart has a simple plan to keep his Power batters, who led the SAL with a .281 average, hitting with such efficiency.

 

"You don't want to fix something that's not broken," said Hart. "We'll just turn them loose and see what they can do.

 

"We really weren't trying to do too much. We just stayed with our game plan. We had a good approach at the plate and it paid off."

 

Power Manager Mike Guerrero also likes that approach.

 

"I think we were just seeing the ball well," said Guerrero of his team's Wednesday night parade. "Our ball club can swing the bat and I know what they can do, so I wasn't surprised.

 

"We'll just stay out of their way. Stay out of the way and just guide them a little when they get out of line. Our guys know what to do."

 

Power pitching coach John Curtis also was pleased with the team's pitching performance in the win.

 

Starter Alex Periard, tossed seven strong innings, allowing just one earned run, before giving way to reliever D.J. Lidyard, who tossed a pair of scoreless innings.

 

"I didn't think he'd go seven," said Curtis of Periard's outing. "I anticipated two or three pitching changes, but he mixed up his pitches very well and they never really figured him out.

 

"The hold card we had working for us is that they hadn't seen Periard all season. In a matchup where the pitcher's unknown, the pitcher has the advantage."

 

But just as important is the fact that the solid pitching outing helped keep the Power bullpen rested.

 

While Periard and Lidyard handled the mound duty for the Power, Hickory was forced to use four pitchers.

 

"They allowed us not to use pitchers, which is an advantage to us," said Curtis. "We still have guys out there (in the bullpen) that they haven't seen and that will be our hold card Friday night (tonight)."

 

The Power will send right-hander Shawn Ferguson (5-1) to the mound tonight against Hickory's Matt McSwain (3-2).

 

"He's not unlike Periard," said Curtis of Ferguson. "He's a groundball pitcher with terrific action on his fastball. I expect him to have similar results.

 

"The thing for us is that now we're dealing with a cornered animal. They're fighting for their lives right now, so I expect quite a tussle.

 

"But I think Fergie's up to the task and the bullpen is rested and ready to go. I really couldn't feel any more confident about it."

 

The winner of the North Division championship will host the first game of the best-of-five SAL championship series on Monday with game two slated for Tuesday.

 

The series will shift to the South Division winner's home field for game three on Thursday, with games four and five slated for Sept. 14th and 15th, if necessary.

 

***

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.dailymail.com/story/Entertainment/+/2007090742/Power+fans+pumped+for+pos--season+play/

 

Power fans pumped for post-season play

Matthew Thompson

Charleston Daily Mail staff

 

For a normal West Virginia Power baseball game, Rod "Toastman" Blackstone hurls up to two loaves worth of toasted, sliced bread into the crowd at Appalachian Power Park.

 

Blackstone, assistant to Charleston Mayor Danny Jones, has heckled opposing players and thrown his patented burned toast into the crowd from a seat behind home plate for 15 years.

 

With the Power hosting its first South Atlantic league playoff game tonight, Blackstone has upped his usual bread order to five loaves.

 

He's ready for the playoffs.

 

"It's all very exciting," Blackstone said. "It's a great thing not only for the baseball team, but for the city as well."

 

Game 2 of the first-round playoff series between the Power and the Hickory Crawdads begins at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). The Power leads the best-of-three game series 1-0. The score of Wednesday's game at Hickory was 12-2.

 

Tickets for the game are still on sale. The price for box seats is $8, and general admission tickets are $6.

 

Power General Manager Ryan Gates said seats are selling at a brisk pace.

 

"Traditionally for this town, it's usually a walk-up community. People get their tickets right before the game," Gates said. "But all of a sudden we've seen an uptick. The fans are very excited for the game."

 

It's the first time since 2004 that the Charleston team has been in the playoffs.

 

During that season the team, then known as the Charleston Alley Cats, played the opening playoff round at the old Watt Powell Park in Kanawha City.

 

Hickory, also that year's opponent, handed the team a first-round loss.

 

With a win tonight, the Power can wrap up a trip to the league championship. If unsuccessful, the team has one more shot to clinch a title Saturday at home.

 

If the Power makes the championship, the team will face either the Augusta Greenjackets or the Columbus Catfish.

 

Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-five championship would be at Appalachian Power Park, with the final three games taking place on the road.

The championship series would kick off at 7:05 PM Monday (6:05 Central).

 

The last time a Charleston team won a minor league championship was in 1990. The team, known then as the Charleston Wheelers, won the title by sweeping the Savannah Cardinals.

 

For the championship, Blackstone plans to attend the games dressed in a tuxedo. It's the outfit Blackstone usually wears to home openers.

 

In late 1992 Blackstone worked as an aide for then Rep. Bob Wise, D-W.Va. On the eve of the January 1993 inauguration of President Bill Clinton, Blackstone decided to buy a tuxedo to wear at various formal events around Washington, D.C.

 

The alterations to the tuxedo were not finished in time for the galas.

 

Blackstone decided to make the best of his purchase by wearing it to another high-profile event a few months later.

 

"I wore it to the Wheelers home opener in April 1993," he said. "I've worn it to every home opener since."

 

Gates said workers are preparing the park for a possible championship run. The stadium, which opened in April 2005, seats about 4,500 people.

 

Gates admits the Saturday football game between West Virginia University and Marshall University has hindered public interest in the baseball game.

 

Fans who aren't making the trip to Huntington for the football game are invited to watch it on the scoreboard screen at Appalachian Power Park on Saturday.

 

But Gates is still hoping people will come out and support the baseball team.

 

"With this being our first playoffs, we think it will be a great showcase to draw in the true baseball fans," Gates said.

 

Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Craig Cunningham

Ben Sanger, 23, of Nitro holds a West Virginia Power playoff ticket like the ones on sale at Appalachian Power Park. Sanger is a recent University of Charleston graduate in athletic management and is serving an internship with the team.

 

http://www.dailymail.com/images/PwrTick2.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.wvgazette.com/section/Sports/2007090642

 

Power out to clinch series

By Mike Whiteford

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

 

The season's first half brought a franchise record for victories and set the tone for a nice collection of milestones that would follow.

 

The next logical step would be a South Atlantic League championship. In tonight's game at Appalachian Power Park, the Power needs a victory over the Hickory Crawdads to complete a sweep of the best-of-three Northern Division playoff and earn a berth in the best-of-five championship against the Southern Division winner.

 

If Hickory wins tonight, the series will conclude with a game Saturday at APP.

 

The Power opened the series Wednesday with a 12-2 victory at Hickory, collecting 17 hits to take a 1-0 lead. Thursday was an off day.

 

The Power's first big step in what has been a memorable year came on June 17 when the team wrapped up the season's first-half Northern Division title with 48 victories. The half-season win total was the most for a Charleston team since the city joined the Class A South Atlantic League in 1987. The Power's first-half record was 48-20, good for a winning percentage of .706.

 

Since then, the Power has gone on to additional achievements, individually and collectively:

 

A team batting average of .281, which led the SAL and wiped out the franchise mark of .277 set last year;

 

A league-leading total of 805 runs;

 

A batting championship for first baseman Andrew Lefave, who hit .345 and set a franchise record, smashing the old single-season mark of .315 set by Jason LaRue in 1997;

 

A franchise home run record of 24 for Steve Chapman, surpassing the previous franchise high of 20 by Jason Parsons in 1997;

 

A paid attendance of 248,766, the most in the city's history, beating the record of 239,722 achieved last year.

 

"The first half was pretty unbelievable,'' said Chapman, a 22-year-old resident of Raleigh, N.C.

 

In addition to the Power's statistical successes, the season brought some intangibles that contributed to the on-the-field milestones. The statistics and the intangibles undoubtedly complemented each other.

 

Power manager Mike Guerrero noted that, although his players know they must produce individually to climb baseball's professional ladder, they played as a team this season.

 

"Baseball is a selfish game,'' said Guerrero, "but you need your teammates to be successful in this game. You play for yourself, but you have to play as a team. Players who can think about themselves and also think about their teammates and the team bring good chemistry. We've been blessed in the way the players have come together.''

 

It's difficult to determine, of course, whether the superb first half brought the togetherness or whether the players arrived here in April with a win-one-for-the-team attitude.

 

Whatever the case, the only thing that matters is the team's present state of mind.

 

"We're all together,'' said right-hander Alex Periard, the winning pitcher in Wednesday's game in Hickory. "The thing that makes us win is that everyone is together. It's not like little parts here and there. We have good team spirit.''

 

POWER POINTS: Right-hander Shawn Ferguson, who's been a reliever for most of the season, will start tonight for the Power. The 23-year-old Houston native is 5-1 with a 3.08 ERA and in three relief appearances against the Crawdads is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA . . . The best-of-five SAL championship series is scheduled for Sept. 10-11 and 13-15 . . . Hickory outfielder Jonel Pacheco won the league RBI title with 99 in 119 games and hit 27 homers and batted .315 . . . Power outfielder Matt LaPorta hit 10 home runs in just 23 games. LaPorta, the seventh overall pick by Milwaukee in the June draft, led the nation with 26 home runs as a sophomore at the University of Florida two years ago. A first baseman in college, LaPorta is now playing the outfield, largely because Prince Fielder is expected to be the Brewers' first baseman for years to come . . . The 1990 Charleston Wheelers, the last Charleston team to win the SAL championship, included future big-leaguers Trevor Hoffman, Dan Wilson, Scott Pose, Bobby Ayala, Tim Pugh and Jerry Spradlin. The Reds' Danny Jackson made a rehab start for the Wheelers at Watt Powell Park that year . . . The Crawdads are a Pirates affiliate.

 

Charleston Gazette Photographer: Lawrence Pierce

Right-hander Shawn Ferguson will start tonight for the Power in Game 2 of the South Atlantic League playoffs at Appalachian Power Park.

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/POWRP5.jpg

[colbyjack]

Well Toby, it seems as though you were right about Gindl, unless he makes a pinch hitting appearance this evening http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

 

I commented in yesterday's link report about how little they used Dan Merklinger in last night's game, possibly saving him for the Pioneer League playoffs. I'm guessing they're doing the same with Roque Mercedes by having Langille start this evening's game.

 

If true, and it makes sense to me, it's a savvy move by the Brewers.

[brewman04]

nashville 6-5

[bretsky07]

nashville 6-5

 

On a 2-out bottom of the 10th bases loaded single by none other than J.R. Hopf, who also homered in the game.

[homer]

So I guess Huntsville threw a no hitter. Yay.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 5, Tennessee (Cubs) 0

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1355

 

Stars Toss No-Hitter in Win Over Smokies!

Corey Thurman, David Johnson and Luis Pena combined on the first home no-hitter in franchise history in Huntsville's 5-0 win over Tennessee Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium in the second game of the North Division Playoff series. The Stars evened up the best-of-five series at a game apiece after exploding for all five runs in the sixth inning against Smokies' starter Justin Berg.

 

Thurman issued two walks in the first inning before getting Issmael Salas to fly out for the final out of the frame. From there, the right-hander retired the side in order in each of the next five innings, recording six of his seven strikeouts in the game. Berg had blanked the Stars on three singles through five frames before the Stars broke through in the sixth.

 

Hernan Iribarren and Adam Heether opened the inning with singles before Lou Palmisano dropped down a sacrifice bunt attempt that third baseman Kyle Reynolds fielded but his throw to first base pulled second baseman Nate Spears off the bag, allowing Palmisano to reach to load the bases. Michael Brantley then grounded the next pitch into right field to chase home the first two runs of the night. Steve Moss singled with one out to reload the bases and force manager Don Money to make a decision whether or not to leave Thurman in the game. The skipper opted to send up pinch-hitter Mike Goetz, who made the move pay off by chopping a single over a leaping shortstop Robinson Chirinos for a two-run single to push the lead to 4-0. Steve Sollmann's fielder's choice grounder plated Moss with the final run of the night.

 

Johnson took over for Thurman and walked Tyler Colvin with one out in the seventh before getting Salas to ground into a broken bat, inning-ending double play. He then struck out the side in the eighth before turning the game over to Pena, who saved 12 games during the regular season. The hard-throwing right-hander retired Eric Patterson on a grounder to second, Jorge Cortes on a comebacker and got Casey McGehee to ground out to second base on an 0-1 offering to finish off the third no-hitter in Stars' history. Dana Allison tossed a no-hitter at Birmingham on August 3, 1992 and Tanyon Sturtze kept Chattanooga hitless on June 13, 1993 at Engel Stadium.

 

The series continues Saturday afternoon with southpaw Derek Miller taking the hill for Huntsville against Smokies' right-hander Jeff Samardzija. Coverage of the game begins at 3:50 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 reached base all four times up; Steve Sollmann hit leadoff; pitching, what can we say? Wow, and congrats, guys!

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_07_tenaax_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_07_tenaax_hunaax_1

 

http://www.huntsvillestars.com/images/news/No%20Hitter%20Cropped.JPG

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 6, New Orleans (Mets) 5, ten innings

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for J.R. Hopf photo, text follows --

 

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/news/news.asp?newsId=2552

 

Hopf Leads Sounds Past Zephyrs, 6-5 In 10

NASHVILLE - J.R. Hopf got a chance to be the hero twice on Friday evening at Greer Stadium, belting a game-tying home run in the ninth inning before delivering a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the tenth to propel the Nashville Sounds to a dramatic 6-5 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs.

 

With the exciting win, Nashville accomplished the task at hand in staying alive in the best-of-five PCL American Conference Finals, cutting the Zephyrs' lead to two games to one.

 

After New Orleans grabbed a 5-4 lead with a run in the bottom of the ninth, Hopf (3-for-4), who joined the Sounds late in the season following Vinny Rottino's September callup to Milwaukee, squelched the Zephyrs' celebration plans by leading off the frame by crushing a 2-0 Ivan Maldonado offering over the right-center fence to even the score at 5-5.

 

Marino Salas (1-0) worked a scoreless top of the tenth for Nashville before the Sounds rallied to extend the series with a run in the bottom of the stanza.

 

Chris Barnwell led off with a single against Ryan Cullen (0-1) and moved to second on a sacrifice. After Brad Nelson and Andy Abad drew walks to load the bases, Laynce Nix bounced into a grounder to first that forced Barnwell at the plate for the second out. Hopf followed by slapping an 0-1 Cullen offering through the left side of the Zephyrs infield for his opposite-field game-winning hit.

 

AUDIO: Hopf's Game-Winning Single

 

For the third straight game in the series, New Orleans grabbed a first-inning lead. After Sounds starter Mark DiFelice retired the first two batters, Jason Alfaro drew a two-out walk and Andy Tracy singled before Chip Ambres belted a three-run homer off the scoreboard in left-center to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.

 

Abad made it a 3-2 contest in the bottom of the second when he slugged an opposite-field two-run blast to left off Z's starter Brian Lawrence. The longball, which scored Nelson who had singled, was the Sounds' first extra-base hit of the postseason.

 

New Orleans extended the lead to 4-2 in the top of the fourth with another two-out tally against DiFelice. With two outs, Jesus Feliciano singled to right, stole second, and scored on a Robinson Cancel RBI single.

 

Hopf pulled the Sounds back within a run in the bottom of the frame with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly that plated Nelson from third.

 

Nashville evened things in the seventh when Ozzie Chavez led off with a triple to center off reliever Joe Smith and scored on pinch-hitter Jose Macias' sacrifice fly, knotting the score at 4-4.

 

New Orleans manager Ken Oberkfell took a page out of Frank Kremblas' aggressive playbook in the top of the ninth inning as the Z's took a 5-4 lead. With two outs in the frame, Anderson Hernandez singled off reliever Kenny Ray then was waved all the way home from first when Fernando Tatis followed with a bloop double down the right field line. Nashville right fielder Jose Macias' throw beat Hernandez to the plate but he adeptly avoided a Hopf swipe tag about ten feet up the line to score the go-ahead run.

 

The teams continue the series with Game 4 at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium. Left-hander Zach Jackson (11-10, 4.46) will man the bump for the Sounds to face New Orleans right-hander Kevin Mulvey (1-0, 0.00).

 

Nashville Box Score:

Brad Nelson on base five times, wow; Andy Abad four times; big contributions from the pen -- Tim Dillard, Steve Bray included; 24-year-old J.R. Hopf is a second-year pro, an undrafted free agent -- his placement at AAA earlier this season and again recently had all to do with the need for backup -- the fact he's produced as he has in the role he's been thrust into makes for a great story line, that's for sure...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_07_nozaaa_nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_07_nozaaa_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

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

http://www.nashvillesounds.com/audio/2007/Interview%209-7.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Final: Hickory (Pirates) 13, West Virginia 7

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

HICKORY FORCES GAME THREE

 

The Hickory Crawdads scored ten of their 13 runs in the first three innings of Friday night's game at Appalachian Power Park and outlasted the Power in a 13-7 slugfest to force a decisive game three on Saturday night.

 

Jim Negrych drove in a run on an RBI double in the first inning and scored on Jonel Pacheco's base-hit. Hickory added to their lead in the second inning on Bobby Kingsbury's three-run homer. The Power plated their first run on Andy Bouchie's RBI groundout in the bottom of the second. Hickory took a 10-1 lead with a five-run third inning. Albert Laboy's second of four hits was an RBI double and he scored later in the inning on Kingsbury's single. Pacheco capped the inning with a three-run bomb.

 

The Power began the fourth inning with three straight singles and Steve Chapman's sacrifice fly brought in the first of three runs. Bouchie knocked in the second run of the inning with his first of two singles and Charlie Fermaint knocked in the final run with a sacrifice fly. Pacheco put the game away with his second three-run homer of the night. Pacheco drove in seven runs.

 

In the bottom of the seventh the Power plated their final three runs. Fermaint hit a solo shot to drive in the first run, Matt LaPorta doubled in a run and John Alonso singled in the final run.

 

Rafael De Los Santos (1-0) sat down nine in a row before running out of gas in the seventh, but still managed to get the win after giving up three runs on four hits over three and a third innings of relief. Shawn Ferguson (0-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering five runs on six hits over an inning and two-thirds.

 

The series is now tied 1-1 and will be decided on Saturday night. The two teams combined to score 20 runs on 29 hits. The first four batters for Hickory drove in all 13 runs. Four Power players had multi-hit games including Alonso and LaPorta who had three hits each.

 

The Power will conclude the first round of the playoffs at Appalachian Power Park against Hickory Saturday night. Right hander Donovan Hand (1-2, 2.16) will start for the Power and the Crawdads will counter with right hander Jared Hughes (8-9, 4.64). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

Brent Brewer committed three errors, all fielding -- ugh; Andrew Lefave could only pinch-run (wrist); Shawn Ferguson's early exit was followed by two guys who started most of the year, Mike Ramlow and Chris Toneguzzi -- there will be lots of pressure on Donovan Hand, the recent Helena Brewer, on Saturday...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_07_hicafx_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_07_hicafx_wvaafx_1

[bthurley19]

Nice game from Hopf, any further story on this kid? Any hope for a catching prospect beyond Salome would be great.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 5, Missoula (Diamondbacks) 2

 

Helena Site Game Summary:

 

Brewers End the Season Strong

 

The Helena Brewers finished off the season strong Friday night, winning 5-2, and sweeping the series against the Missoula Osprey. The win is also the Brewers' eighth in a row. The game got started off quick in the bottom of the first with two runs, and Helena managed to tack on two more in the next two innings, including an Eric Newton home run in the bottom of the third. Newton was the star of the night for Helena putting up a bunch of twos on the stat sheet. He had two hits in two at bats, scored twice, had two RBI and two walks, and had a double to go along with his solo shot.

 

Craig Langille pitched well in his first start of the year for the Brewers going 5.2 innings, giving up two runs on five hits and getting three strikeouts, for the win. Cristian Beltre got hit with the loss for the Osprey, pitching six innings, giving up three runs on six hits.

 

Coming up next is the playoffs for the Brewers. They will be playing the Great Falls White Sox, starting Saturday September 8 in Great Falls. The next two games on Sunday the 9th, and Monday the 10th will be played in Helena. On Sunday the game will start at 5:05 PM (6:05 Central), and on Monday if the game is necessary will be played at 7:05 (8:05 Central) at Kindrick Field in Helena.

 

Helena Box Score:

Nice %@*, Craig Langille, 11 ground ball outs, no walks; a lot of starters rested in this one...

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_09_07_misrok_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2007_09_07_misrok_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com's coverage of the Huntsville no-hitter:

Unfortunately, the audio linked is from the Smokies' broadcast, so we don't hear Brett Pollock's call. Huntsville, like Nashville, does not archive their audio with MLB Advanced Media. Hopefully next year...

 

Thurman, Stars no-hit Smokies

By Michael Echan / Special to MLB.com

There was no way Corey Thurman was going to let his Huntsville Stars teammates fall into a 0-2 hole in their Southern League first-round playoff series.

Pitching with that mind-set, Thurman combined with two relievers on the third no-hitter in Southern League postseason history Friday as the Stars silenced the Tennessee Smokies, 5-0, in Game 2.

Huntsville was coming off a 6-3 loss in the series opener when Thurman (1-0) took the hill and took command. After walking two of the first four hitters he faced, he set down Issmael Salas on a flyout to begin a string of 16 consecutive batters retired.

"After last night's loss, we knew we couldn't go 0-2 at home," Thurman said. "The thing about everyone here is that no one gets uptight, win or lose. We wanted to send a message that even though we lost last night, we weren't just going to roll over and let them walk over us at home."

Thurman delivered that message convincingly as he matched a season high with seven strikeouts in six innings.

"Luckily, I had real good command of my fastball tonight," Thurman said. "The biggest thing about that was it allowed me to set up all my other pitches -- my changeup, my slider, my curve. I also enjoyed pitching to the home plate umpire, Jason [bradley]. He definitely called a good game behind the plate, didn't squeeze anybody and kept the game moving."

The 28-year-old right-hander has progressed greatly over the last two seasons, missing nearly all of the 2004 and 2005 campaigns following rotator cuff surgery that robbed him of a high-90s fastball. When he was warming up in the bullpen before the game, Thurman noted that his shoulder felt fairly loose while his delivery was free and easy.

But the biggest key was his ability to maintain focus, despite the efforts of one particular Smokies' fan.

"I think it was either the fourth or fifth inning when I noticed some guy in Tennessee gear behind our dugout," Thurman said. "He was yelling at me, 'Hey Corey' or 'Hey No 37, you got a no-hitter going on! Don't lose it.' It wasn't anything mean or like that, but I tried not to look him in the eye or give him too much attention.

"By the time we went to the sixth, though, he was cheering for us, so it was all good."

The Stars scored all their runs in the bottom of the sixth. Michael Brantley broke the scoreless deadlock with a bases-loaded, two-run single. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Mike Goetz delivered another two-run single before Steve Sollmann capped the scoring with a fielder's choice.

Brantley went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

Dave Johnson took over for Thurman, who had pitched more than six innings just once this season, striking out three and walking one in two innings. Luis Pena followed with a perfect ninth as the Stars tied the best-of-5 series at 1-1.

It was the first postseason no-hitter in the Southern League since Chad Billingsley and Jonathan Broxton combined on one for Jacksonville on Sept. 8, 2005 against Birmingham. Greenville's Mike Hostetler went the distance in no-hitting Knoxville on Sept. 8, 1993.

Tyler Colvin was the only %%%$$% for the Smokies to reach base more than once as he drew a pair of walks in three trips to the plate.

Tennessee starter Justin Berg (0-1) allowed all five runs -- two earned -- on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts over six innings in the defeat.

Thurman is confident his teammates will be able to keep the momentum as the series shifts to Tennessee.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to get this feeling going into tomorrow," he said. "I'm confident that our guy, Derek Miller, will be able to continue the good pitching and prove why we were able to win both halves of the season."

Audio: Hear the final out

[Mass Haas]

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Stars throw heat to no-hit Smokies

Thurman, 2 relievers combine on playoff gem

By MARK McCARTER

Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com

 

Paybacks are hell, they say.

 

On June 21, Huntsville pitcher Corey Thurman yielded a home run to Tennessee pitcher Mark Holliman, who went on to pitch a no-hitter against the Stars.

 

On Friday night, Thurman was one of three Huntsville pitchers to turn the tables on Tennessee, combining for a no-hitter in a 5-0 Stars victory in game two of the Southern League North playoffs.

 

"After Holliman threw his no-hitter, I was thinking tonight, I'd much rather do it now," said Thurman.

 

Thurman struck out seven in six innings, walking only two, before being lifted for a pinch-hitter. Dave Johnson followed with two innings of hitless relief before turning the game over to Stars closer Luis Pena, who hit 100-plus mph on four of his ninth-inning deliveries.

 

A couple were - honest - so hot they loosened the strings on catcher Lou Palmisano's mitt.

 

It was the first no-hitter for Stars pitchers at Joe Davis Stadium in franchise history and the team's first since 1993.

 

With the series evened at 1-1, the playoffs move to Smokies Park in Sevierville today at 4:05 p.m., with Huntsville sending Derek Miller (6-2) against Tennessee's Jeff Samardzija (3-3).

 

Thurman approached Tennessee cautiously, walking a pair of batters in the first rather than giving in with hittable pitches. He was even more cautious once he left the game.

 

After being removed, he returned to the clubhouse for his routine arm exercises, then watched the game from a breezeway outside the Stars' clubhouse.

 

"I didn't want go to back down to the dugout and do anything different and jinx it," said Thurman, who retired 16 in a row after his first-inning walks.

 

It was reminiscent of last year's playoff debut, when he threw seven innings of shutout ball in Chattanooga, outdueling Cincinnati bonus $+%% Homer Bailey. Said Thurman that night, "The focus was at a whole 'nother level because this was a playoff game and they're a good hitting team."

 

Ditto this time.

 

"All day I had that nervous, anxious energy," Thurman said. "I was anxious. I wanted to go out and see what would happen. I couldn't wait for 7:05."

 

"He did what he did all last year," said pitching coach Rich Sauveur, who confessed to "having a tear in my eye" at game's end. "He threw strikes, he had command of his changeup, command of his fastball."

 

More than simply winning the game, the Stars hope for some oomph from the no-hitter. "I think the kids needed this for momentum," said Sauveur.

 

The Stars broke open the shutout with a rat-tat-tat sixth inning against Smokies starter Justin Berg, 7-7 on the season, 0-2 in two previous starts against Huntsville.

 

Hernan Iribarren led off with a slicing single to left, then Adam Heether drilled a smash between third and short. Palmisano parachuted a bunt down the third base line and reached when Kyle Reynolds' throw to first bounced.

 

Michael Brantley swatted the first pitch through the right side, scoring Iribarren and Heether, then Steve Moss hit a high chopper up the middle, reloading the bases.

 

Then came sentiment vs. strategy. Thurman's turn to bat. He had his no-hitter going. But his pitch count was growing high. And he had only one hit in 14 previous at-bats this year. And there was blood in the water for the Stars.

 

Mike Goetz, a recent call-up from rookie league Helena and 0-for-5 in his brief Stars career, was called on to pinch-hit. He hit a Super Ball chopper over shortstop to drive in two runs. Steve Sollmann followed with an infield hit to bring in the fifth run.

[Mass Haas]

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Sounds survive elimination

Hit in 10th keeps playoff hopes alive

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Thanks to a 6-5 extra-inning win over the New Orleans Zephyrs on Friday, the Sounds stayed alive in the Pacific Coast League American Conference playoffs.

 

But the Sounds still must win tonight and Sunday night to take the best-of-five series after losing the first two games in New Orleans.

 

A Greer Stadium crowd of 5,087 came to its feet when J.R. Hopf, with the bases loaded, hit a two-out single in the bottom of the 10th inning to score Brad Nelson.

 

It capped a come-from-behind win and marked the first time the Sounds led in the series.

 

"(Ryan Cullen) threw a fastball in and I just stayed inside of it and luckily I found a hole the other way,'' said Hopf, a catcher who has been with the Sounds since only Aug. 31 when he was called up from Class A Brevard County to replace Vinny Rottino. "I was just looking for something in the strike zone, trying not to strike out basically."

 

It also was Hopf who sent the game into extra innings. His leadoff home run in the ninth tied the score at 5.

 

The Sounds lost the first game of the series 3-2 and the second game 5-1.

 

The series continues at 6 tonight at Greer Stadium. The final game Sunday, if necessary, also will be at Greer.

 

Winning such a tight game late with so much on the line can provide extra momentum, Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said.

 

"This time of the year it's a little different,'' Kremblas said. "Everybody's got a lot of emotions riding on the game in the postseason playoffs and it can affect you differently.

 

"There can be some (residue) leftover headed into the next game."

 

New Orleans led through the first six innings. The Sounds tied it 4-4 when Ozzie Chavez hit a triple and Jose Macias scored him with a single.

 

The Zephyrs retook the lead again 5-4 in the top of the ninth on Fernando Tatis' double, which scored Anderson Hernandez from first.

 

What they said: "We slug the bats much better. Down there (New Orleans) we didn't hit the ball very good. We hit the ball hard a couple of times, but they caught them. We didn't hit it consistently." - Kremblas.

 

***

 

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Power outage ends for Sounds

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Andy Abad's two-run homer in the second inning of Game 3 of the Pacific Coast League semifinals was the first for the Sounds in the playoffs.

 

The first baseman's shot scored Laynce Nix and trimmed Nashville's deficit against New Orleans to 3-2.

 

It was the first home run for Nashville since catcher J.R. Hopf hit a solo shot in the regular season finale on Labor Day in the fourth inning at Memphis.

 

Abad had 12 home runs in the regular season.

 

Streak extended: Abad also extended his hitting streak to five games. He was 2-for-3 Friday and is now 9-for-18 over the last five games.

 

Better bats: Nashville collected only 11 total hits in the first two games of the playoffs. On Friday night, the Sounds had 14 hits.

 

Blown chance: The Sounds scored only one run after loading the bases with no outs in the fourth inning. Nix scored on a sacrifice fly by Hopf. After that, however, second baseman Ozzie Chavez hit into a double play to end the inning.

 

Best crowd: Friday's attendance at Greer Stadium (5,087) was larger than either of the two playoff games played in New Orleans, which drew 2,042 and 3,295.

 

Dickey returns: If the Sounds win tonight, former Montgomery Bell Academy and Tennessee pitcher R.A. Dickey will pitch in Game 5 on Sunday. The knuckleballer was named the PCL Pitcher of the Year and was the losing pitcher in Game 1.

 

Playoff experience: Twenty-one of the 23 Sounds had participated in a professional postseason. The exceptions were catchers Hopf and Brian Munhall.

 

Eight Sounds have won a league title, including three members of the 2005 Sounds (Chris Barnwell, Brad Nelson and Alex Zumwalt).

 

Old friend: Former Sounds pitcher Kevin Jarvis (Pirates' organization), who lives in Franklin, attended Friday's game.

 

Welcome back: Former Sound Chad Hermansen (Pirates' organization) hit a long fly ball to the warning track at center field for New Orleans, which was caught, but advanced Jason Alfaro to third with the score tied 4-4 in the seventh. Jesus Feliciano, however, grounded out with the next at-bat.

 

New Orleans support: Several buses, RVs and cars filled with Zephyrs fans made the trip from New Orleans.

[Mass Haas]

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One for the finals

Power's 13-7 loss sets up deciding game

By Jim Workman

For Saturday Gazette-Mail

 

If it wants to advance to the South Atlantic League championship series, the West Virginia Power will need a victory tonight.

 

The Power dropped a 13-7 contest to the Hickory Crawdads in the second game of the best-of-three South Atlantic League Northern Division championship series Friday night in front of 2,190 fans at Appalachian Power Park, forcing a deciding game at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central).

 

Tonight's winner at the APP will take on the Columbus Catfish, winners of the Southern Division championship. Columbus swept Augusta in two games, by scores of 11-2 Wednesday and 7-1 Friday.

 

The Sally League's best-of-five game championship series is scheduled to begin Monday. If the Power wins tonight, the first two games are scheduled to be played in Charleston.

 

The Power committed four costly errors Friday night.

 

"When you're not able to make plays on defense, it makes it tough on you," said Power manager Mike Guerrero. "We have one to play [tonight], so we'll see what happens."

 

The Crawdads had a one-%+@ wrecking crew in Jonel Pacheco, who pounded two three-run home runs in a 3-for-5, and seven-RBI night.

Bobby Kingsbury also swung a hot bat for Hickory with two hits, including a round-tripper and four RBIs.

 

Matt LaPorta led the Power offensively, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs.

 

Hickory wasted no time, getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. The Crawdads posted two runs on an RBI double from Jim Negrych and a run-scoring single by Pacheco to take a 2-0 lead.

 

Kingsbury gave the Crawdads three more runs with one stroke of the bat in the second, blasting a home run onto Morris Street with two runners on to lift the Hickory advantage to 5-0.

 

John Alonso doubled and scored the first Power run in the second inning on a ground out by Andy Bouchie.

 

The Crawdads took advantage of a couple of Power fielding miscues in the third to plate five more runs and @$@% the game open. Hickory's Albert Laboy popped a fly ball to center field but Power outfielder Charlie Fermaint lost it in the lights and allowed it to drop harmlessly to the ground. The hit scored Mike Ambrose from second.

 

Kingsbury added a RBI single and Pacheco drilled a three-run shot just inside the right-field foul pole to increase the Hickory advantage to 10-1.

 

In the fourth, the Power struck back with three runs to cut the Hickory lead to 10-4. Steve Chapman and Fermaint each contributed a sacrifice fly and Bouchie singled in a run.

 

Pacheco struck again in the seventh, swatting a three-run homer that clanked off the scoreboard in left-center to raise the Crawdad lead to 13-4.

 

The resilient Power cranked its offense up again in the bottom of the seventh, trimming the lead to 13-7 by plating three more runs. Fermaint hit a solo homer, LaPorta added an RBI double and Alonso chipped in with an RBI single for West Virginia.

 

Rafael De Los Santos was credited for the win while Power starter Shawn Ferguson was tagged with the loss.

 

Charleston Gazette Photographer: Lawrence Pierce

Power pitcher Shawn Ferguson makes a putout at first base, retiring Hickory's Eddie Prasch as first baseman John Alonso looks on.

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[Mass Haas]

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Brewers end season with win

By JEFF WINDMUELLER, Helena Independent Record Sports Writer

 

Brewers manager Jeff Isom got exactly the game he wanted Friday night as Helena won their eighth straight, capping off the regular season with a 5-2 win over Missoula.

 

"I don't think we could ask for a better situation than where our guys are right now," Isom said. "We gave our starters a day off today so they're well rested, and we kept our bullpen in check."

 

Meanwhile, the 27-11 Great Falls White Sox, whom the Brewers will visit in their first game of the playoffs at 7:00 PM Saturday (8:00 Central), just finished up a doubleheader that they split with Billings.

 

That isn't changing Isom's feelings about Pioneer League Northern Division's top team the second half of the season.

 

"I'm a little nervous about them, to tell you the truth," he said. "They're a great team. Their 3-4-5 guys in their lineup - Sanchez, Gallagher and Marrero - we have to be careful with them and make sure nobody else is on base when they come up to bat."

 

The Brewers might have the advantage after Friday, however. Their lineup, consisting mostly of backups, was hitting well while their defense escaped without an error.

 

Plus, they kept Missoula from any late-game heriocs like Thursday night when Sean Coughlin hit a three-run homer to tie the game up 10-10 in the top of the ninth.

 

Coughlin had his chance again in the eighth inning Friday when the Osprey trailed by three, but the Brewers' Brock Kjeldgaard kept him at bay.

 

Kjeldgaard, who came in to relieve Craig Langille in the middle of the sixth inning, kept the ball away from Coughlin, walking the Osprey catcher with two runners on base, two out and a full count. Coughlin had already hit a home run in the game and finished 1-for-2 with a walk and a hit-pitch.

 

Though he loaded the bases, Kjeldgaard only had to deal with Jose Dijol, who had grounded out three times previously in the night and would strike out on three straight pitches to retire the side.

 

"That changed the game," Isom said. "A base hit and they were back in it."

 

Though their pitching held the Brewers late in the game, Eric Newton did much of the dirty work early on. Helena's first baseman hit an RBI double in the first to score Scotty McKnight before belting a solo home run in the third.

 

"Newton's been swinging the bat well," Isom said. "He was injured for part of this year, but tonight was a good opportunity for those guys who didn't get to hit so much to get up to the plate and show us what they've got."

 

Newton went 2-2, walking in his two last at-bats. He also scored in the first inning to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead to start.

 

Scott Houin scored for the Brewers in the second, thanks to some Missoula errors. With McKnight up to bat, Houin stole second, only to look up and find the ball sailing high overhead.

 

He sprinted to third and was waved home when centerfielder Tyrell Worthington, who backed up the shortstop, bobbled the ball.

 

It was the second inning in a row that a Brewer advanced two bases on a bad throw. McKnight did much the same in the first inning, reaching third when Missoula starter Christian Beltre missed first base on a pick-off attempt.

 

In the seventh, McKnight would score the final run for the Brewers when he advanced on a broken-bat single to left and was brought home on Zach McAngus' fielder's choice.

 

The Brewers' bullpen, meanwhile, kept the Osprey scoreless over the final three innings. After Langille allowed just two runs on five hits in the first 5 2/3 innings, Kjeldgaard would give up two hits while striking out two and walking one.

 

Pedro Lambertus closed the eighth without giving up a hit.

 

Andrew Fie led the Osprey at the plate, going 3-4 and scoring the Osprey's only other run in the top of the sixth.

 

Isom said he was happy he was able to rest his bullpen. The Brewers are expected to start Roque Mercedes Saturday. Mercedes is their top starter, going 7-4 on the season with a 3.75 ERA.

 

Isom is looking for a strong outing from his players as they begin the best two-out-of-three series with Great Falls.

 

"Over the course of the season, we swung the bats really well, we've played really good defense and when we have gotten good pitching we've won those games," Isom said. "That's what we've got to do in the playoffs."

[Mass Haas]

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A NO-HITTER FOR THE HOME CROWD

THURMAN RETURNS HOLLIMAN'S FAVOR

 

Back on May 11 of this year, on a sunny 64° afternoon at Joe Davis Stadium, closer Marino Salas was one out away from history........ No Stars pitcher or combination of pitchers had ever thrown a no-hitter at Joe Davis Stadium in its 23-year history....... Salas, looking for his 7th of what would be 17 saves before going to Nashville on July 17th, got Mobile's first two hitters out on fly balls to right, then walked first baseman Cesar Nicolas on a 3-2 pitch before facing third baseman Mark Reynolds, who would in five days, go on to the Arizona Diamondbacks...... One strike away from history, Reynolds ended the Stars' no-hit bid when he lashed Marino's 1-2 pitch to right for a single....... The Stars won that game, 2-1 (Mobile scored in the 4th on a walk, and error, and Reynolds' subsequent steal of home), but who would ever have guessed the chance would come again for Corey Thurman, who on that day, in relief of Lindsay Gulin (making his Stars debut), contributed three no-hit innings in what ended up as a one-hitter.

 

After being on the losing end of Mark Holliman's no-hitter at Smokies Park on June 21st, Thurman got his second shot at Stars' history tonight, this time as the starter, pitching six no-hit innings in an all-important playoff game. The Stars were in danger of falling two games down in this best-of-five series, but Thurman, who definitely had his game on tonight, combined with David Johnson and Luis Pena, who threw 16 pitches in the 9th, for a 5-0 no-hit victory in Game 2 of the Northern Division Playoffs, evening this series at one apiece as the teams head to Smokies Park tomorrow........

 

It marks the first time the home town fans have seen their team pitch a no-hitter at Joe Davis Stadium. It's just the third no-hitter for the good guys in their 23-year history....... Dana Allison, Todd Smithberg, and Todd Revenig combined to pitch a 10-inning 1-0 no-hitter against the Barons on August 3, 1992 --- but it was in Birmingham........ Tanyon Sturtze pitched the Stars' 2nd no-hitter a year later, but the 5-0 gem, the only no-hitter authored by one pitcher, came at Chattanooga's old Engel Stadium........ So this marks the first no-hitter for the Stars as a Brewer affiliate.

 

Thurman's only shaky inning was the first, when he threw 25 pitches, only 12 for strikes...... He pitched to five hitters, walking two, sandwiched between the outs...... He went deep on nearly every one, going full on Jorge Cortes before walking him, Tyler Colvin, whom he also walked, and Issmael Salas who flied to left on Thurman's 7th pitch, ending the inning. But in his five innings after that, he threw no more than 12 pitches, retiring the side in order each time.

 

Justin Berg, meanwhile, was keeping this a suspenseful game, scoreless through five innings....... Steve Moss had a chance to put the Stars on the board in the 2nd after Michael Brantley dropped a bunt single in front of the plate (one that Berg and catcher Casey McGehee couldn't agree on to pick it up). Brendan Katin then lined a low one-hopper to right for a single, but Moss flied out to center on the first pitch from Berg to end the inning...... In the 4th, Berg, lost his control momentarily, walking Lou Palmisano and Brantley, but Katin hit into a double play to end the inning.

 

The Stars finally got to Berg, who has lost to the Stars twice this year, in the 6th inning........ Before Berg could get an out, Hernan Iribarren, a mere .226 hitter vs. Tennessee during the season, hit a 1-2 pitch on the ground sharply to left for a single. The Stars then started jumping early on Berg's deliveries....... Adam Heether got his first hit of the playoffs with a hard grounder past Reynolds into left and Palmisano loaded the bases when Kyle Reynolds throw to first on a bunt attempt went wide for an error........ Brantley, 0-for-3 on Thursday, then let loose on Berg's first pitch and rapped it through the right side, scoring Iribarren and Heether....... After Katin hit a high fly to left for the first out, Moss was given credit for a single that Robinson Chirinos unsuccessfully tried to make a force play on at 2nd. That loaded the bases again for Mike Goetz, making the jump from the Pioneer League to Huntsville, pinch-hitting for Thurman........ Goetz, after lining a couple of pitches sharply foul --- one into the Stars dugout and another into the stands on the 3rd base side -- picked the right time to get his first hit for the Stars -- dropping a 1-2 pitch over short into left field. Palmisano scored easily and Brantley raced in to make the score 4-0. A force out by Steve Sollmann scored Moss with the Stars final run before he was caught stealing to end the 6th.

 

David Johnson's relief outings have been unpredictable this year......... In his last two, against West Tennessee and Birmingham, he gave up six hits and three runs in two innings, but he had two saves and a 3.86 ERA in August....... We got the good side of Johnson tonight....... Tyler Colvin drew a walk on a 3-1 pitch in the 7th, but was erased quickly when Salas hit into a broken bat 5-4-3 double play to end the inning...... In the 7th, Nate Spears reached 1st on a wild pitch on a third strike, then with two out, went to 2nd without drawing a throw on a 1-2 pitch to pinch-hitter Alan Rick, but Johnson struck out Rick swinging on an 80 mph curve to keep the no-hitter alve.

 

We go to the 9th........ Now the crowd of over 2,100, diluted by Friday night football in the city, anticipating the usual post-game fireworks show on this night, is standing....... Luis Pena, in a non-save situation, gets the call. Pena has pitched twice since August 24th....... He's firing smoke like I've never seen, including a strike at 100 mph and a fast ball of 102 that misses -- the highest reading I've ever seen on the radar gun at the stadium...... Eric Patterson fouls off a 2-2 pitch, then Pena, who was prone in July to lose hitters, goes full on the hitter. But Patterson fouls off two more pitches before hitting a soft ground ball to Iribarren. One out........ Jorge Cortes is the next hitter and the rhythmic clapping begins...... Pena gets the count even and Cortes fouls off a pitch. Then Cortes swings and just gets a piece of the ball, which dribbles toward Pena who comes off the mound. He bends his 6'5" frame, picks up the ball, and throws it carefully and accurately to Sollmann...... Two down....... Now it's Casey McGehee. McGehee hit just .217 vs. the Stars this season. I'm reliving May 11 as Pena throws his first pitch at 98 mph for a strike. Pena sets, blows out the tension, and hurls....... McGehee swings and chops it solidly, but on the ground to Iribarren who backhands the ball, spins around and throws to first ---- and the Stars have their first no-hitter before a home crowd in their history -- the 3rd in Southern League post-season history.

 

Thurman, at 28, a former major leaguer, was left with nothing on his fast ball after rotator cuff surgery that robbed him of a high-90s burner. And it cost him nearly all of the 2004 and 2005 seasons...... The Blue Jays gave up on him and he rewarded the Brewers and Stars fans last year with a fine season. Although it was punctuated by non-support in a 5-9 season, he had a 2.96 ERA in 140 innings and in the first game of the 2006 Northern Division Playoffs against Chattanooga, he hurled a seven-inning, two-hit shutout for a 2-0 win over acclaimed prospect Homer Bailey....... As he walked to the dugout after finishing his final inning tonight, Thurman acknowledged the standing cheers of Stars fans....... Whatever Thurman's future in the organization, he's always been popular and always will be a fond memory as long as true ardent Stars fans will think of him in name. A pitcher who could come through in the clutch.

 

Oddly enough, the umpires in the Stars' near no-hitter against Mobile on May 11 -- Jason Bradley, Jeff Latter, and Justin Vogel --- worked tonight's game.

 

The series now goes to Smokies Park Saturday, with Derek Miller (6-2, 3.86) going to the hill for the Stars. Miller, in his two starts this year against Tennessee, is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA. He faced the Smokies in his Stars debut on July 8, just before the All-Star break, giving up eight hits over six innings. His one victory came ten days later and it was his first as a Huntsville Star. This time he went seven innings, giving up three hits, one of them a home run by Matt Craig........ Jeff Samardzija (3-3, 3.41), once an accomplished wide receiver for Notre Dame, and the 4th best prospect in the Cubs' organization, will be facing the Stars for the first time. He has a 91-94 mph fast ball, but has touched 99. Watch for his slider, which sits in the low 80s. It's inconsistent, but if it's on -- the Stars will be in trouble....... He's drawn comparisons to John Smoltz...... Samardzija lost his last three starts after winning his first three...... Also his home-road splits are interesting: 2-1, 1.86 at Smokies Park as opposed to a 1-2, 5.40 record away from home....... Michael Brantley's three-hit day was his 2nd as a Huntsville Star. He had a four-hit day against the Diamond Jaxx on July 3 in the 2nd game of a double-header.

 

Ron Potesta, the booming voice of the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx, has won, in his last season, the league's Radio Broadcaster-of-the-Year award. Potesta is parting ways with the team to pursue opportunities closer to Springfield, Illinois, where he resides with his wife Kim and dog Mincer. Potesta spent five entertaining seasons as the voice of the Diamond Jaxx. He is the first member of the Diamond Jaxx to win the award.

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com:

 

J.R. Hopf hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning Friday as the Nashville Sounds staved off elimination in their Pacific Coast League first-round series with a 6-5 win over the New Orleans Zephyrs.

 

One inning after cranking a leadoff homer to tie the game, 5-5, the 24-year-old catcher laced a two-out, bases-loaded single to plate Brad Nelson with the winning run.

"I just got lucky," Hopf said. "I got some pitches I was able to hit. I actually thought Laynce Nix was going to get a hit [before me]. I thought the pressure was on him."

Hopf also lofted a sacrifice fly in the fourth for the Sounds, who trail the best-of-5 PCL American Conference series, 2-1. Game 4 is Saturday in Nashville.

"I'm just glad to put the team in a position to keep on playing," he said. "We battled. We could have just come home 0-2 and rolled over. We're going to have the same mind-set we had today. It's a great feeling."

 

(Photo by Mike Strasinger)

J.R. Hopf is 4-for-7 with a home run and three RBIs in the first three games of the series.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/09/08/haTHqBfo.jpg