Link Report Fri. 5/18 - McClendon Falls Just Short of No-No

[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: LHP Zach Jackson at home vs. Albuquerque (Marlins), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Sam Narron at home vs. West Tenn (Mariners), 6:55 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: TBD at home vs. St. Lucie (Mets), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime; it'll probably be LHP Derek Miller, it's his turn in the rotation -- it's clear that the Manatees Media Relations Dept. is still getting re-organized, as they have not been providing rotation info to MiLB.com or other sources lately...

 

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

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

 

West Virginia: RHP Mike McClendon at Asheville (Rockies), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

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

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

[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:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_ashafx_1

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

 

Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Standings through Thursday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 23 17 .575 - 14-6 9-11 W2 Nashville 21 19 .525 2.0 11-5 10-14 W3 Memphis 19 22 .463 4.5 13-8 6-14 L2 Omaha 18 22 .450 5.0 15-9 3-13 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 20 19 .513 - 8-10 12-9 L1 Huntsville 19 19 .500 0.5 9-11 10-8 L2 Chattanooga 19 22 .463 2.0 11-10 8-12 W1 West Tenn 18 22 .450 2.5 10-10 8-12 W1 Carolina 16 25 .390 5.0 9-11 7-14 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 24 16 .600 - 13-6 11-10 W2 Palm Beach 22 18 .550 2.0 11-12 11-6 W1 Daytona 20 19 .513 3.5 12-7 8-12 L4 Vero Beach 20 20 .500 4.0 14-7 6-13 L1 Jupiter 17 23 .425 7.0 6-11 11-12 W1 St. Lucie 16 24 .400 8.0 8-13 8-11 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 25 12 .676 - 13-7 12-5 L1 Greensboro 25 15 .625 1.5 13-5 12-10 L2 Lakewood 19 18 .514 6.0 7-11 12-7 W1 Lake County 19 19 .500 6.5 11-10 8-9 L1 Lexington 17 24 .415 10.0 8-13 9-11 L2 Hagerstown 16 23 .410 10.0 10-12 6-11 W1 Hickory 15 22 .405 10.0 6-9 9-13 L3 Delmarva 15 23 .395 10.5 6-10 9-13 L1

[Mass Haas]

First baseman Chris Errecart not in the Manatee lineup (left last night's game after a swinging third strike in the 5th).

[Mass Haas]

Wow to that West Virginia box score after five innings -- keep an eye on it, wink-wink...

 

EDIT: Six innings...

 

EDIT # 2: Seven innings, not quite as "pristine" as before, but still worth noting -- approx. 85 pitches after seven...

 

EDIT # 3: Eight innings down, one inning to go -- you may want to tune in...

[wvpowerblkwel]

McClendon's no - hit effort has gone complete through eight with no hits and 2 walks as the only blemish....he is over 100 pitches now though....Power is up 8-0!

[Mass Haas]

Well, that post will put the jinx theory to the test -- even "Bull" Barch hadn't uttered those words yet, wvpowerblkwel.

 

Let's see what happens, it won't be McClendon in the 9th, looks like submariner E.J. Shanks...

[Mass Haas]

Holy Cow -- after 107 pitches, McClendon is back! Reid Nichols is in attendance tonight.

[Mass Haas]

Brent Brewer E-6, poor throw -- c'mon Dude, that's an extra out that's needed.

[Mass Haas]

Base hit with one out, great job, Mike McClendon! Too bad.

[iluvlamp]

well, good show anyway

[brewerjamie15]

Jim Powell mentioned this thread on the air during his broadcast. Thanks for the plug Jim.

A no-no would have been great, but that was still one heck of a start.

[pogokat]

Final: West Virginia 8, Asheville 1 (Rockies)

 

MCCLENDON MOWS DOWN TOURISTS

 

Mike McClendon came two outs away from tossing a no hitter against the Asheville Tourists at McCormick Field on Friday night. McClendon held Asheville to a run on one hit as the Power took the second game of the series 8-1.

 

Andy Bouchie hit a Grand Slam with two outs in the top of the first inning to put West Virginia ahead. In the second inning Michael Brantley singled in two runs to make it a 6-0 Power lead. Andy Bouchie doubled with one out in the third inning and scored on Jimmy Mojica?s groundout. The Power scored their final run of the game in the top of the fifth on Darren Ford?s run scoring single.

 

Mike McClendon retired the first 19 batters he faced. Hector Gomez spoiled the perfect game by drawing a one out walk in the bottom of the sixth inning. Gomez spoiled the no-hit bid as well with Asheville?s only hit of the game, which came with one out in the bottom of the ninth. The Tourists scored their lone run in the ninth when Daniel Mayora reached on a fielder?s choice to plate Jay Cox who reached on an errant throw to begin the inning.

 

Mike McClendon (3-1) went eight and a third, allowed an unearned run on one hit while walking two and striking out three to get the victory and Andrew Kreidermacher (2-1) was tagged with the loss.

 

The Power improved to 26-12 with the win and the Tourists fell to 29-11 with the loss. Eight Power players hit safely, all nine in the starting lineup reached safely, and four Power players had multi-hit games. Andy Bouchie paced the Power with three hits, coming a triple away from the cycle. His Grand Slam was the third of the year for the Power, and it was his second homerun of the season.

 

The Power will continue the four game series against the Asheville Tourists at McMormick Field on Saturday night. The Power will start left hander Zach Braddock (2-1, 1.56) and the Tourists will counter with right hander Andy Graham (4-2, 5.06). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

 

WV Box Score:

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb..._ashafx_1

 

WV Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb..._ashafx_1

[pogokat]

Final: Albuequerque 6 (Marlins), Nashville 4

 

Nashville Game Site Summary

 

Sounds Fall To Isotopes, 6-4

Date Posted: 5/18/2007

 

NASHVILLE ? The Albuquerque Isotopes jumped out to an early 4-0 lead on Friday evening and held on to post a 6-4 victory over the Nashville Sounds in front of 9,874 fans at Greer Stadium.

 

The loss snapped a three-game win streak for Nashville (21-20).

 

Former Sounds slugger Chad Hermansen put Albuquerque on the board in the top of the third inning with a two-out, two-run home run to left off Nashville starter Zach Jackson. The blast, which scored Robert Andino and gave the visitors a 2-0 lead, was Hermansen?s fifth of the year and his first against the club with which he logged 468 games played from 1998-2002.

 

The Isotopes increased the lead to 4-0 against Jackson in the fourth. Scott Seabol drew an inning-opening walk then scored a batter later on Brett Carroll?s RBI triple to left-center. Carroll later came home on a Chris Ashby groundout.

 

Nashville pulled within 4-3 in the sixth with three runs against Isotopes reliever Ben Julianel. Drew Anderson, who recorded a season-best three hits on the evening, started the frame with a single, moved to third on an Ozzie Chavez bunt single, and scored on pinch-hitter Joe Dillon?s sacrifice fly to put the Sounds on the board. After Callix Crabbe walked, Chris Barnwell floated a two-run double to left-center to make it a one-run contest.

 

Albuquerque got a run back in the top of the seventh when Eric Reed scored on a Val Pascucci groundout, increasing the advantage to 5-3.

 

The Sounds rallied again to pull within a run in the home half of the seventh as Brad Nelson led off with a single, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Vinny Rottino groundout.

 

Isotopes reliever Nate Field stifled an eighth-inning Sounds rally after Charles Thomas led off with a pinch-hit double to right and was sacrificed to third. The right-hander struck out Barnwell and induced an inning-ending lineout from Laynce Nix to keep Nashville at bay.

 

Albuquerque plated an insurance run against Steve Bray in the eighth, extending the lead to 6-4 on Carroll?s two-out RBI single to center.

 

Isotopes starter Jeff Fulchino (3-0) worked five scoreless innings to earn the victory. He allowed six hits, walked three batters, and struck out two.

 

Field worked the final two innings in scoreless fashion to notch his fourth save of the year.

 

Jackson (5-3) lasted only four innings for Nashville and took the loss after throwing 84 pitches and allowing four runs on six hits while walking four batters and striking out three on the evening.

 

Left-hander Joe Thatcher made his career Triple-A debut for Nashville and worked a scoreless two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout.

 

The clubs combined to leave 21 runners on base in the contest, finishing 3-for-27 with runners in scoring position between them. The Sounds left a season-high 11 runners on the basepaths.

 

The teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. meeting on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Jose Capellan (3-2, 3.18) will make his first non-rehab start since the middle of the 2005 season when he toes the rubber for Nashville. Albuquerque will counter with right-hander Ricardo Rodriguez (1-3, 8.02).

 

Nashville Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb..._nasaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb..._nasa

 

Edit: Accidental emoticon

[pogokat]

Final: Huntsville 4, West Tenn (Mariners) 0

 

Hunstville Site Game Summary:

 

Narron Nails Down His First Win by Shutting Down DJaxx

 

Sam Narron tossed eight scoreless innings in Huntsville?s 4-0 blanking of West Tenn Friday night in the opener of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars ended a two-game slide and improved to 20-19 on the season, while the Diamond Jaxx fell to 18-23 on the year. Huntsville won only two of 15 home games last year against West Tenn, who was then affiliated with the Chicago Cubs.

 

Narron, who entered the game 0-3 with a 6.08 earned run average, allowed a two-out single in the first inning and a one-out base hit to Charlton Jimerson before he set down the next 14 batters he faced, including seven by strikeout. Prentice Redman led off the seventh with a double and never advanced, as the southpaw retired the next three hitters to end the frame. Rene Rivera led off the eighth with a single and was wiped out when Chris Minaker grounded into an inning-ending double play. Narron did allow a runner past second base in his longest outing since August 11, 2004 and earned his first win of the season. He struck out a season-high eight and did not walk a batter. Robert Hinton completed the Stars third shutout of the season with a scoreless ninth inning and got Jeff Frazier to bounce into a double play after Sebastian Boucher reached on a fielding error by Hernan Iribarren.

 

Yohanis Perez and Steve Sollmann opened the home third with singles, advanced on an Iribarren sacrifice bunt and scored to make it 2-0 on a single by Lou Palmisano, who had bunted into a double play with two runners on base and nobody out in the first. Steve Moss then completed the three-run rally with a two-out triple to right field to collect just his fourth hit in 33 at-bats. Brendan Katin and Adam Heether opened the fourth inning with a single and moved up on a Perez sacrifice bunt before Katin scored on a fielder?s choice grounder off the bat of Sollmann.

 

Justin Thomas suffered the loss for the Diamond Jaxx and fell to 0-2 in five starts. He gave up a season-high four runs on a season-high eight hits over five frames, while walking one and fanning three. Chad Fillinger and Kam Mickolio tossed a combined three innings of shutout relief.

 

The series continues on Saturday afternoon, as Huntsville will send southpaw Manny Parra to the hill against West Tenn right-hander Andy Baldwin. Coverage of the game begins at 1:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 AM WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb..._hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/_hunaax_1

[pogokat]

Final: Brevard County 10, St. Lucie (Mets) 5

 

Brevard Box Score:

 

Alcides and Lorenzo both on base 4 times...but all singles or walks...I know it's very hard to get extra bases at Space Coast Stadium, but it's frightening how little power this group has displayed after hitting well last year...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb..._breafa_1

 

Brevard Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb..._breafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS

 

Hermansen hits just like old times

Sounds HR leader helps new team win in Nashville

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Former Sound Chad Hermansen made himself at home Friday night, helping Albuquerque hand Nashville a rare home loss.

 

The Sounds, who had won 10 of their previous 11 home games, lost 6-4.

 

Hermansen spent five years (1998-2002) with Nashville and is the Sounds all-time home run leader with 92.

 

Friday night he reminded Sounds fans of his hitting power when he knocked a two-run homer over the left field wall in the third inning.

 

The Sounds, who trailed 4-0 after four innings, finished with 11 hits, but left a season-high 11 runners on base. The previous high was nine runners.

 

"All their pitchers really made pitches they needed to make with two outs,'' Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "We got a lot of hits before two outs, but just couldn't get that two-out hit."

 

Hermansen was traded in 2002 to the Chicago Cubs organization and then to the Dodgers in 2004. After a stint in the Mexican League and the Independent American Association (Sioux City), Hermansen joined Albuquerque in this past offseason.

 

Hermansen also singled to right field in the seventh inning.

 

"It was nice to be back here in front of some old fans," Hermansen said. "It was nice to get some runs on the board tonight because we came out with nothing Thursday night. I think that (home run) got us going a little bit."

 

In the sixth inning, Nashville scored three runs, helped by a two-run double to center field by Chris Barnwell.

 

Albuquerque stretched the lead back to 5-3 on Val Pascucci's sacrifice RBI in the seventh, but Nashville answered in the bottom of the inning when Brad Nelson scored from third on Vinny Rottino's grounder.

 

Nelson had reached second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

 

Trailing 5-4, the Sounds failed to tie the score in the eight even after leadoff batter Charles Thomas doubled to right and then reached third.

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS

 

Weather, victories increase Sounds attendance this year

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

The combination of ideal weather and a strong home winning percentage has helped Nashville boost its average attendance at Greer Stadium.

 

The Sounds have averaged 6,575 fans for 17 home games this season. That ranks sixth among the 16 Pacific Coast League clubs and is an increase of about 600 per game from a year ago when Nashville averaged 5,950 per contest. Attendance for Friday night's game against Albuquerque was 9,874.

 

Rotation change: Right-hander Jose Capellan will replace R.A. Dickey as tonight's starting pitcher for the Sounds. It will be Capellan's first start.

 

Capellan, who was the Sounds' Opening Day starter in 2005, reportedly considered retirement earlier this season and also demanded a trade from the Brewers.

 

He last started a non-rehab game on June 9, 2005, against Iowa. He has made 99 consecutive relief appearances between Nashville and Milwaukee since that start. Capellan is 3-2 this season with a 3.18 ERA.

 

Dickey, a former Montgomery Bell Academy and Tennessee standout, is scheduled to be the first pitcher to replace Capellan tonight.

 

Pinch me: Jose Macias' single in the fourth inning Friday made Sounds pinch hitters 9-for-25 (.360) this season.

 

Joe Dillon pinch hit for the Sounds in the sixth and hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Drew Anderson.

 

Zach attack: Sounds pitcher Zach Jackson wasn't nearly as effective in Friday's start as he was in his previous start at Greer Stadium.

 

Friday he allowed six hits, four runs and struck out only three on 84 pitches. On May 7 Jackson pitched a complete game, one-hitter on 89 pitches against Round Rock.

 

Not this time: The last time Jackson stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded he hit a three-run double. Friday he got another chance in the second inning, but grounded out.

 

It's a steal: Trying to steal bases has not paid off for Sounds' opponents this year. Heading into Friday's game half of the 34 runners attempting to steal had been thrown out, the second-best caught stealing percentage in the PCL.

 

That didn't stop Albuquerque's Val Pascucci from trying in the second inning. After being walked Pascucci stole second and then third.

 

Making no mistakes: Nashville's defense has committed a PCL low 24 errors, which leads the league with a .984 fielding percentage. Last year the Sounds led the league with a .982 fielding mark.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Chris Barnwell Two-Run Double --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...205-18.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1

 

Narron allows nothing at plate

Stars' 6-foot-7 lefty throws eight shutout innings in 4-0 win

By BRAD SHEPARD

For The Huntsville Times

 

West Tenn players flailed and missed. Nearly every pitch was located perfectly. A "vacancy" sign could have been hung on third base during the top half of every inning.

 

Yeah, Stars pitcher Sam Narron looked nothing like a pitcher with a 6.08 earned-run average Friday night.

 

The 6-foot-7 lefty worked eight shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out eight to lead Huntsville to a 4-0 win in front of 3,188 fans at Joe Davis Stadium. In addition, Narron had 11 ground-ball outs and no walks in his first win of the season.

 

"I tweaked something a little mechanically - nothing big - but it felt like it made all the difference in the world," said Narron, who noted he lengthened his stride. "It just didn't feel like I was using everything I could before."

 

The minor mechanical change put up major results.

 

On a night when the Stars (20-19) welcomed a former major leaguer to their roster, Narron had a major-league outing. The Milwaukee Brewers promoted Ruben Mateo to Huntsville following extended spring training.

 

He started in left field - a spot major leaguer Laynce Nix occupied last home stand on a rehab assignment - and went 0-for-4. To make room, the Brewers released outfielder Ulyses Davenport. In 876 major league at-bats, Mateo hit 21 home runs and drove in 89 runs with a .250 batting average.

 

"I expect him to be here all year unless something happens," Stars manager Don Money said. "This isn't a rehab assignment."

 

Also on Friday, the Brewers promoted left-handed reliever Joe Thatcher and his 0.55 ERA to Nashville and sent Luis Villareal (1.93 ERA in six outings) from Nashville back to Huntsville.

 

"I hope we don't see him again at all until spring training," Money said of Thatcher.

 

"He deserved (the call-up). He's got good stuff."

 

Narron did too Friday, but he wants to inject a little consistency into this year.

 

After getting shelled to open the season, he had a quality outing against Jacksonville. Then, he was hit hard against Montgomery before three solid performances - where he boasted a 2.50 ERA.

 

Before Friday night's best, he had his worst game of the year, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs in four innings against Carolina.

 

"That last one was ugly," Narron said.

 

"Hopefully, that was an anomaly."

 

While Narron wants Friday's outing to be more the norm, the Stars' offense wouldn't mind that, either. They scored four runs in the first four innings and staked Narron to a comfortable lead.

 

Following a pair of singles by Yohannis Perez and Steve Sollmann to lead off the third, Lou Palmisano roped a two-run single to right. He came through after failing in the first, when he bunted into a double play with two on and no outs.

 

"It was a 3-2 breaking ball, and I was really just trying to hit a ground ball because they were playing in and basically giving us a run," Palmisano said of his hit. "I really wanted to make up for screwing up that bunt."

 

Narron more than made up for his last bad outing, and Manny Parra will try to duplicate his teammate today at 2:05 when he will face West Tenn's Andy Baldwin.

 

***

David Weiser's

 

www.starsboxscore.com/

 

NARRON'S NIGHT

The Huntsville Stars made some roster changes prior to their weekend homestand with the new Seattle-affiliated Diamond Jaxx....... Outfielder Ruben Mateo is joining the Stars from extended spring training, replacing Ron Davenport, who has been released....... Also, one of the toughest relief pitchers in Stars history, Joe Thatcher, is going up the ladder to Nashville. Luis Villareal, who started the season with the Stars, is returning......... According to brewerfan.net, the Stars are going to get another pitcher -- right-hander Luis Pena -- from Brevard County. Pena has a 5-0 mark and 2.08 ERA in 18 appearrances for the Manatees.

 

Mateo is coming back from a hamstring injury and has been on the Brewers' temporary inactive list. He was signed by Milwaukee on April 10. Mateo has played for four different major league teams (Rangers, Reds, Pirates, and Royals) going back to 1999, hitting .250 with 21 HRs and 89 RBIs in 876 major league at-bats........ Davenport never got his average above the Mendoza line, leaving with a .197 average, although he hit .313 in the Stars' most recent series against Carolina........

 

Thatcher leaves the Stars with a 0.55 ERA in 16 1/3 innings over 14 appearances. Over two seasons, the lefty has thrown 21 2/3 innings in 17 games, and allowed just 13 hits and two earned runs for an incredible 0.83 ERA....... Without researching, it would be ridiculous to find anyone who has had a lower ERA given the number of innings. Thatcher earned his promotion to the Stars from Brevard County last year by allowing just one earned run in 30 1/3 innings over 16 appearances for a 0.29 ERA!....... Villareal was promoted to Nashville after going 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in eight appearances in April, but he made six appearances for the Sounds and came away with a 1.93 ERA...... He was the winning pitcher in a 4-3 win on Opening Day vs. Mississippi.

 

Well, was Sam Narron this good all along, or are the Diamond Jaxx, (last in batting, last in ERA) that bad?........ Sam had his best night ever in a Stars uniform, throwing eight scoreless innings tonight after giving up 11 runs in 17 innings in his last three starts ....... 67 of his 96 pitches went over for strikes and 21 were first pitch strikes to the 27 batters he faced...... One thing's for sure -- this Diamond Jaxx team isn't anything like last year's Cub-affiliated talent that ran us into the ground (24 stolen bases - more than any other opponent last year) and won 18 of 25 games.

 

Narron scattered four hits on this slightly chilly 68° night...... The D'Jaxx didn't even get a runner into scoring position until the 7th inning, and that became their only scoring opportunity of the night........ Prentice Redman led off with a double down the left field line on Narron's first pitch. Marshall Hubbard, 3-for-18 in WT's last series, grounded sharply to Adam Heether, playing slightly in, holding Redman........ Matt Tuiasosopo did likewise for the 2nd out...... Narron then struck out Charlton Jimirson, a Sally League All-Star back in 2002, called up from extended spring training 10 days ago........ The Diamond Jaxx put their leadoff men on in the 8th and 9th, but in both cases (catcher Rene Rivera and DH Sebastien Boucher), they were forced out on double play grounders....... Narron went full on just four hitters. Three of them struck out.

 

The Stars missed their first scoring opportunity in the 1st inning after leadoff hitter Steve Sollmann doubled down the left field line and Hernan Iribarren was hit on the hand on Justin Thomas's first pitch, but Lou Palmisano, with one hit in his last 12 at-bats, tried to sacrifice them into scoring position. Instead, the Captain bunted the ball squarely back to the pitcher in front of the mound, who wheeled to third and turned a 1-5-3 twin killing, killing the inning........ Palmisano made up for it, though in the 3rd.

 

Yohannis Perez led off with a two-hopper to right for a hit and Sollmann followed with a single through short. This time, Iribarren moved the runners into scoring position with a beautifully deadened bunt....... 3rd baseman Matt Tuiasosopo, whose father and brother played in the NFL, made a fine barehand pickup and in one motion, fired to 1st to get him by a step....... On a 3-and-2 pitch, Palmisano rapped a hit to right-center, scoring both runners and putting the Stars in front, 2-0....... With two out, Steve Moss, who had struck out looking in the 2nd, banged his first pitch off the wall in right field to score Palmisano. ending an 0-for-13 slump...... Moss struck out 33 times in 78 at-bats last year against Diamond Jaxx pitching......... Brendan Katin scored the Stars final run in the 4th, making the trip around the bases after a leadoff single to right-center, and coming home on a fielder's choice.

 

In their last four innings, the Stars were held to just two hits, but Narron was untouchable, retiring 14 straight hitters at one point........ He managed tonight to lower his ERA by a run........ If Narron could do this well against this team, imagine what Manny Parra might be capable of......... Parra is 4-1 with a 2.76 ERA. Unfortunately, I won't get to watch it. I'll be in Nashville to watch the Sounds play Albuquerque in run-down Greer Stadium........ Right-hander Andy Baldwin (0-3, 4.67) gets the start for WT. He's given up 28 hits in 15 innings in his last three starts.

 

Making his debut tonight for the Stars, Ruben Mateo went 0-for-4, but hit the ball hard three times, hitting one ball to the warning track in left field in the 5th......... Robert Hinton has now given up a run in only two of his 14 relief appearances........ The Stars have committed 13 errors this month. The record low for May is 24........ It's "Salute to Armed Forces" Day at the Joe, Saturday. Expect to see a lot of camo.

[Mass Haas]

Incredible, a Manatees story --

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.floridatoday.com/apps...002/SPORTS

 

Manatees red hot, lead way in FSL

BY JIM CAWLEY

FLORIDA TODAY

 

Fans who attended Thursday night's Florida State League game between Brevard County and St. Lucie at Space Coast Stadium got a glimpse of the Manatees' season in a nutshell: tie game in the bottom of the ninth, RBI single, 'Tees win.

 

It was outfielder Cole Gillespie's turn to deliver the big hit Thursday, but he's had plenty of company this season.

 

"We've been able to do some things late in games where other teams will shut down, we continue to get after it," Brevard County manager John Tamargo said. "We've come back in several ballgames and that's the test of a true team and guys not wanting to lose -- and that's what I've been seeing here the whole year."

 

The Manatees have been particularly hot of late, winning nine of their past 10 games. They are 25-16 and hold a two-game lead over the Palm Beach Cardinals atop the East Division.

 

"For the most part, we're just playing relaxed," Gillespie said. "Our pitchers are giving us a real good chance to win and we're putting up runs for them, so things are coming together right now."

 

According to second baseman Mike Bell, a portion of the success stems from attitude. A number of Manatees players have moved up through the ranks together, playing in the championship in rookie ball two seasons ago and spending much of last season in first place at the Low Class-A level.

 

"We're accustomed to winning," Bell said.

 

"The main thing is you want to win -- especially with this group of guys. It's more of a team thing, and that's hard to find in the minor leagues."

 

A veteran manager, Tamargo knows camaraderie when he sees it.

 

"They play together, they like each other; there really is good chemistry on this club," Tamargo said. "They play hard -- that's the big thing. They don't like to lose and you appreciate that as a manager."

 

The Manatees lead the FSL with a 2.82 earned-run average and are second in the league in batting average (.263) through Thursday's games.

 

Will Inman's 1.12 ERA is tops among starters, while Luis Pena (5-0, 2.08 ERA) is tied for the league lead in wins. Brevard County boasts nine pitchers with an ERA below 2.80.

 

"Our bullpen has been solid all year, our starters are getting deeper into games and our offense has been pretty good all year," Tamargo said. "It just shows that the guys are starting to put it all together. And hopefully that will continue."

 

Offensively, the Manatees have continued to roll without top-hitting catcher Carlos Corporan, who was called up to Double-A Huntsville on April 30. Corporan batted .363 in 23 games for Brevard County before his promotion.

 

First baseman Chris Errecart leads the team in batting average (.308) and RBIs (22) and is tied for the team lead in home runs (3) and doubles (10). Shortstop Alcides Escobar is hitting .302 and leads the team in hits (49) and stolen bases (12).

 

And there have been a number of timely hits -- like Gillespie's game-winner on Thursday -- that have the Manatees skipper excited about the future.

 

"I'm looking forward to seeing how these guys react throughout the rest of the year," Tamargo said. "This is a tough league; it's a pitcher's league . . . The way the makeup of the club is right now, I really don't see anything that is a downside to it."

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com's Brevard County Game Notes:

 

Escobar, Bell lift Manatees

 

Alcides Escobar's four hits and Michael Bell's four RBIs propelled Brevard County to a 10-5 win over St. Lucie on Friday at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Escobar opened the game with a single and came home on Bell's groundout as the Manatees (25-16) scored once in the first inning, four times in the third and twice in the seventh to build a 7-0 lead.

 

A 20-year-old shortstop, Escobar collected three more singles for his second consecutive four-hit night. He went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base. Over his last three games, Escobar is 9-for-15 (.600) with a triple, a double, three RBIs and six runs scored.

 

Bell ripped a two-run double and scored in the third. The double extended the second baseman's hitting streak to eight games and gave him 14 RBIs in the last 10 contests.

 

Lorenzo Cain chipped in three hits, two RBIs and scored twice.

 

Manatees starter Derek Miller (1-1) earned his first victory in nine tries after tossing six innings to extend his scoreless streak to 17. He allowed four hits and one walk as he struck out five.

 

Dan Murphy's two-run double highlighted a five-run eighth for St. Lucie (16-25).

 

Mets starter Jose De La Torre (2-5) went five innings and gave up five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and a walk while striking out six. -- Michael Echan/MLB.com

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com on Mike McClendon's effort:

 

McClendon flirts with no-hitter

 

Mike McClendon came within two outs of the first no-hitter in team history as visiting West Virginia rolled to an 8-1 victory over Asheville on Friday.

 

The 22-year-old right-hander mowed down the first 19 Tourists before Hector Gomez drew a one-out walk in the seventh. Victor Ferrante also walked with two outs in the eighth.

 

McClendon (3-1) took his no-hit bid to the ninth, becoming the first West Virginia hurler this season to throw more than 100 pitches in a game.

 

"[The coaches] let me know that if I give up a hit, I'm coming out," he said. "They wanted it just as much as I did."

 

Jay Cox reached on a throwing error by shortstop Brent Brewer leading off the ninth, but McClendon got Anthony Jackson to pop out to third baseman Taylor Green in foul territory.

 

Gomez followed with a clean single through the hole on the left side of the infield.

 

"Our defense was spectacular tonight. They took away six or seven hits. They carried me into the sixth, seventh and eighth innings," McClendon said. "There was continuous talk with [catcher Andy Bouchie]. We put together a game plan and we were clicking right away."

 

Gomez's hit ended the night for the 2006 10th-round draft pick, who struck out three and lowered his ERA to 2.30. Daniel Mayora spoiled the shutout bid with an RBI groundout.

 

"I've been struggling in the first inning recently," said McClendon. "I tried to sink the ball and got it moving both ways. I've been getting inside real good; this is the first time this season I've had good command on the outer half."

 

Bouchie also helped his batterymate with a grand slam in the opening inning, part of a 3-for-5 night.

 

Starter Andrew Kreidermacher (2-1) went 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs -- three earned -- on 10 hits for Asheville (29-11). He walked three and struck out three. -- Michael Blinn/MLB.com

 

Mike McClendon has given up one earned run or fewer in five of his eight starts. Photo from Seminole (FL) Community College

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/05/19/dDgJRjoB.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.citizen-times.com/app...0770518122

 

Power pitcher almost perfect

By Keith Jarrett

KJARRETT@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM

 

ASHEVILLE ? After flirting with a perfect game and a no-hitter, West Virginia pitcher Mike McClendon had to settle for a gem Friday night at McCormick Field.

 

McClendon, a 22-year-old right-hander from Orlando, retired the first 19 batters he faced and took a no-hitter into the ninth inning to key an 8-1 win over Asheville in a battle of divisional leaders.

 

McClendon lost his bid for a perfect game when he walked shortstop Hector Gomez on a 3-2 count with one out in the seventh.

 

When Gomez came up again, with one out and one on in the ninth, the no-hitter was gone on a grounder between third and short.

 

The Tourists (29-11) avoided a shutout later in the inning on Daniel Mayora?s RBI groundout.

 

?I knew something was going on about the fourth inning, when everybody stopped talking to me in the dugout,? McClendon said.

 

?The defense made some unbelievable plays behind me; there could have been six or seven hits,? said McClendon.

 

?I?m not ... disappointed about not getting something like a perfect game or no-hitter. I?m just happy I went out and pitched well.?

 

Never throwing a pitch more than 86 mph, McClendon mixed a change-up and curve with a regular and two-seam fastball in his 116-pitch effort. He walked two batters, struck out three and faced just 29 batters in his 8.1 innings.

 

Power manager Mike Guerrero took McClendon out of the game immediately after Gomez?s hit.

 

?He threw a tremendous game but his pitch count was up,? Guerrero said. ?He had a great repertoire of pitches tonight.?

 

?It was a straight fastball,? Gomez said through an interpreter of his team?s only hit. ?He was very confusing because he kept throwing off-speed pitches and keeping us off balance.?

 

The loss ended a winning streak of six straight for the Tourists, who lead the South Atlantic League?s Southern Division.

 

The Power (26-12), leaders of the Sally League?s Northern Division, put the game away early by scoring seven runs in the first three innings off loser Andrew Kreidermacher (2-1), who entered the game with an ERA of 0.39.