Link Report for Fri. 5/4 - Inman Awesome, Corporan Loses It

[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 Tim Dillard at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: LHP Adam Pettyjohn at home vs. Chattanooga (Reds), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.huntsvillestars.com/

 

Brevard County: RHP Will Inman at home vs. Palm Beach (Cardinals), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime

 

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

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

 

West Virginia: LHP Brae Wright at home vs. Lexington (Astros), 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_wvaafx_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 Friday's action:

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 15 12 .556 - 7-4 8-8 W1 Memphis 15 13 .536 0.5 12-4 3-9 L2 Omaha 13 15 .464 2.5 11-5 2-10 W2 Iowa 12 15 .444 3.0 8-4 4-11 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 13 12 .520 - 6-6 7-6 W4 Tennessee 12 13 .480 1.0 5-8 7-5 L1 Carolina 12 15 .444 2.0 7-5 5-10 W3 West Tenn 12 15 .444 2.0 6-6 6-9 W3 Chattanooga 11 16 .407 3.0 7-8 4-8 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 16 10 .615 - 7-6 9-4 W3 Brevard County 15 12 .556 1.5 7-6 8-6 L3 Daytona 14 13 .519 2.5 8-5 6-8 W1 St. Lucie 12 15 .444 4.5 5-9 7-6 L1 Vero Beach 11 14 .440 4.5 8-6 3-8 W2 Jupiter 11 15 .423 5.0 4-8 7-7 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 19 5 .792 - 11-3 8-2 W1 Greensboro 16 11 .593 4.5 11-4 5-7 W1 Lake County 14 12 .538 6.0 9-4 5-8 L1 Lakewood 12 12 .500 7.0 6-7 6-5 W1 Lexington 12 15 .444 8.5 7-8 5-7 L1 Hickory 11 14 .440 8.5 4-3 7-11 W1 Hagerstown 10 17 .370 10.5 6-8 4-9 L1 Delmarva 9 17 .346 11.0 4-8 5-9 L1

[chowyo123]

Nice to see Salome get that first hit out of the way since being back... not bad that it was a HR either.

[Cyanogen5]

Yep...and Inman being Inman...I love this kid!

[DHonks]

I can't wait for Inman to get to AA, because I suspect he'll have some awesome quotes about batting, too.

[TheCrew07]

7.0 and 9Ks, 3H, 0ER for Inman.

 

Since I stink at Haiku, I'm sticking to the Minor League side today.

[Mass Haas]

Inman is just amazing when he puts himself in the slightest bit of trouble. What a joy to follow this kid...

 

Palm Beach Top 3rd

 

- Nathan Southard hits a ground-rule double (9) on a fly ball to center field.

- Casey Rowlett grounds out, first baseman Chris Errecart to pitcher William Inman. Nathan Southard to 3rd.

- Jose Contreras called out on strikes.

- Shane Robinson grounds out, third baseman Mat Gamel to first baseman Chris Errecart.

 

Palm Beach Top 5th

 

- Mark Hamilton doubles (4) on a fly ball to right fielder Freddy Parejo.

- Dan Nelson lines out to center fielder Lorenzo Cain.

- Nathan Southard grounds out, second baseman Michael Bell to first baseman Chris Errecart. Mark Hamilton to 3rd.

- Casey Rowlett called out on strikes.

 

Palm Beach Top 6th

 

- Jose Contreras strikes out swinging.

- Shane Robinson singles on a ground ball to shortstop Alcides Escobar.

- With A. J. Van Slyke batting, Shane Robinson steals (9) 2nd base.

- A. J. Van Slyke strikes out swinging.

- Allen Craig lines out to right fielder Freddy Parejo.

[Rightomac13]

I came across this pretty cool article about Will Inman while attempting to find his high school batting statistics. I remember hearing he hit a HR in the state championship game, so I wanted to see his season stats.

 

Will Inman article

[TheCrew07]

After years of pitchers that for the most part hit like crap, I really hope Inman is near the same level as Yo. It would be nice to be on the other side of that fence watching our pitchers knock in runs.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 6, Palm Beach (Cardinals) 2

 

Brevard County Box Score:

Reminder -- Will Inman won't be 21 until February...

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503

 

Brevard County Game Log:

 

web.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Lexington (Astros) 3, West Virginia 2

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

LEGENDS EDGE POWER

 

On the one year anniversary of their record setting offensive onslaught where the Power set a league record by hitting seven home runs, the Power bats were silenced by Lexington lefty Dave Qualben as the Legends took game one of the series 3-2.

 

The Power scored early in the contest on Chuckie Caufield?s two out RBI single to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Lexington tied the game in the third inning when Greg Buchanan crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Koby Clemens gave Lexington the lead in the fourth inning on a solo home run, his first of the year.

 

Cesar Quintero scored Lexington?s final run on a solo home run in the fifth. West Virginia scored one final time on Brent Brewer?s first home run of the season, a solo home run in the sixth inning.

 

The game ended for West Virginia with the tying run on third base when Lexington?s closer Santo Luis struck out Steve Chapman. The Power were held to just four hits, a season low.

 

Dave Qualben (4-1) allowed just two runs on four hits over six innings to get the win. Santo Luis (7) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save and Brae Wright (1-2) was tagged with the loss. West Virginia used Patrick Ryan and E.J. Shanks out of the bullpen and they combined to toss four scoreless innings of relief.

 

Darren Ford recorded two of West Virginia?s four hits and stole two bases to give him 17 on the year.

 

The Power fell to 19-6 with the loss and the Legends improved to 13-15 with the win.

 

The Power will continue the four game series with the Lexington Legends at Appalachian Power Park on Saturday night. The Power will start right hander J.T. King (3-0, 0.00) and the Legends will counter with left hander Doug Arguello (1-2, 5.40). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

J.T. King will be the 8th Power pitcher to start a game when he throws Saturday night; Darren Ford on base three times; over 4,400 in Charleston...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

Missed opportunity in the 3rd, with a man on third base and only one out...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Suspended, bottom of the 5th in Nashville: Round Rock (Astros) 1, Nashville 0

 

Nashville Site Update:

Link for Tim Dillard photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2300

 

Sounds-Express Suspended Due To Rain Friday

 

NASHVILLE ? Friday night?s game between the Nashville Sounds and Round Rock Express was suspended due to heavy rain with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning and the Express holding a 1-0 lead at Greer Stadium.

 

Round Rock first baseman Mark Saccomanno gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when he belted his third home run of the season, a two-out solo shot to left off Sounds starter Tim Dillard.

 

Shortly before the action was halted, the Sounds made an attempt to tie the contest when Andy Abad, who opened the bottom of the fifth with a single, attempted to score on Mike Rivera?s double off the center field wall, but Round Rock centerfielder Eric Bruntlett combined with shortstop Danny Klassen on a relay throw to nail Abad at the plate. Rivera advanced to third on the throw and will be stationed there with Brad Nelson at the plate when play resumes on Saturday evening.

 

Rainshowers began in the third inning and became more intense as the game wore on, prompting the umpires to pull the teams off the field in the fifth. The suspension was announced following a 48-minute delay.

 

The rain-shortened contest was Nashville?s second weather-affected game in succession. The club?s scheduled road trip finale in Des Moines on Thursday night was rained out.

 

The suspended game will completed to its nine-inning entirety on Saturday evening beginning at 6 p.m. The Sounds and Express will follow that contest with their regularly-scheduled game, which will be shortened to seven innings.

 

In Saturday's seven-inning contest, right-hander Chris Oxspring (2-1, 2.39) will toe the rubber for the Sounds to face Round Rock left-hander Philip Barzilla (3-1, 5.96).

 

Nashville Partial Box Score:

Seven ground ball outs and five K's for Tim Dillard in five strong innings...

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/s...a_nasaaa_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Chattanooga (Reds) 4, Huntsville 3

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1139

 

Lookouts' Bullpen Locks Down Stars

 

Cody Strait and Jeremiah Piepkorn hit home runs and Mike Bumatay worked out of a big jam in the ninth inning to preserve Chattanooga?s 4-3 win over Huntsville Friday night in off and on rain at Joe Davis Stadium. The Lookouts improved to 12-16 on the season and won for the first time in three games in the series, while the Stars fell to 13-13 on the season and into a first place tie in the North Division with Tennessee after the Smokies routed the Barons in Birmingham. The Stars lost a season-high four-game win streak and dropped to 6-7 at home.

 

Bumatay took over for Calvin Medlock to open the ninth and started the inning by walking Jeff Eure and mishandling a sacrifice bunt attempt by Yohannis Perez that put runners at first and second base with nobody out. Hernan Iribarren advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt but Bumatay battled back to strike out Steve Sollmann, who lost a six-game hitting streak after going hitless in five tries, and retire pinch-hitter Ulyses Davenport on a comebacker. Bumatay earned his second save of the season.

 

Strait hit the second pitch of the game from Adam Pettyjohn over the wall in left field for his third home run of the season, marking the ninth time in 13 games the Stars have been scored on in the first inning. Huntsville tied the game in the home second when Brendan Katin blasted a solo home run, his second in as many nights and team-high fifth of the season.

 

Pettyjohn uncorked a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the third inning that allowed Paul Janish to score to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Piepkorn then hit a ground ball to the third baseman Sollmann, who threw home to try to cut down Enrique Cruz but catcher Lou Palmisano couldn?t handle the throw and Cruz scored to make it 3-1. Piepkorn hit his first double-A long ball in the fifth to extend the Lookouts lead to 4-1. Pettyjohn suffered the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, on nine hits, including the first two round-trippers he had yielded this season, over five frames. Bo Hall, Jeff Housman and Corey Thurman blanked Chattanooga over the last four innings.

 

Steve Moss doubled home two runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth to trim the lead to 4-3 but the rally was squelched when Marland Williams made a sliding catch of a sinking line drive off the bat of Palmisano. Chattanooga starter Camilo Vazquez recorded his second win of the year, and first since his first turn on April 7, after permitting three runs on six hits over five frames. He walked three and struck out a season-high six before Medlock tossed three scoreless innings in relief.

 

The series continues Saturday afternoon with left-hander Steve Hammond making the start for Huntsville against Lookout?s right-hander Sam LeCure. 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:

Nice to see Brendan Katin's power bat coming alive -- that's his main selling point; Guilder Rodriguez on base three times; Mike Carlin two doubles...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

Carlos Corporan ejected after getting called out on strikes in the 4th; Steve Sollman's the guy you'd want up in that clutch 9th inning situation -- not to be tonight, though...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Stars' Corporan loses his cool

New rule yields called third strike, angry outburst

By BRAD SHEPARD

For The Huntsville Times

 

It wasn't as bad as the notorious Delmon Young incident, but the Huntsville Stars barely dodged a national nightmare Friday night.

 

What they couldn't avoid was a ugly situation.

 

In the fourth inning of a 4-3 loss to Chattanooga, Stars first baseman Carlos Corporan was called out on strikes by umpire Brent Rice when he stepped out of the batter's box.

 

Because of a new rule implemented this year to speed up the game - Rule 6.02© - a player cannot step out of the box without cause. There are nine documented circumstances in which it is allowed.

 

With two strikes already against Corporan, Rice - calling his first Double-A game behind the plate this year - called the third strike when the player stepped out. After an argument, Corporan erupted in front of 2,337 fans.

 

First, he slammed down his bat, drawing an ejection. As Rice was walking off, Corporan slammed his bat again, snapping it directly behind the umpire.

 

He was eventually restrained by hitting coach Sandy Guerrero just before he broke his helmet.

 

"It crushes my soul to see that," said Southern League president and former Stars owner Don Mincher. "Emotions of the game take over, and it's a new rule that's very hard to enforce. We knew it would create problems, but umpires have to call it."

 

When asked after the game whether he wanted to comment, Corporan, who made his first start after being called up, said, "Not really."

 

Stars manager Don Money just shook his head after describing the tough rule.

 

"He just went a little berserk there," Money said. "He looked like he was going to throw (the bat) pretty hard there for a second.

 

"It's hard to figure guys out sometimes."

 

After reviewing the play on video several times, Mincher said Rice "made the right call." Mincher said it was too early to speculate any punishment for Corporan, but he would wait on a report from the umpire.

 

Nobody justified Corporan's reaction, however.

 

"If you ever act like you're going to assault an umpire, it's very serious trouble," Mincher said. "From what I saw, it didn't look like he did anything to assault an umpire. He wasn't throwing the bat at him."

 

Still, the Corporan situation revived memories of Young, the Tampa Bay rookie outfielder who was suspended for 50 Triple-A games early last season for hitting a replacement umpire in the chest with a bat.

 

Watching the game from the concourse, Lookouts pitcher Justin Mallett had a unique take on Corporan's blowup and conduct in baseball in general.

 

Mallett spoke from experience, having served a 50-game suspension last year for failing a test for performance-enhancing drugs.

 

"I had a lot of time to think about it," Mallett said with a chuckle.

 

"There is a right time and a wrong time for anger, and definitely, the wrong time is on the field, because it's going to be a suspension or a fine. And I like my money."

 

Huntsville fell behind 4-1 early, and it began with a leadoff home run from Chattanooga's Cody Strait.

 

The Lookouts added three more runs before Steve Moss' two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the fifth brought Huntsville within one.

 

That's where the rally ended though, as the Stars put runners on second and third with one out in the ninth but failed to take any of the sting off a tough night.

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's

 

www.starsboxscore.com/

 

JAM SESSION

Mostly cloudy skies and the forecast of rain kept away a better crowd tonight. It came down lightly, but steadily in the bottom of the 6th, and then on through the game........ Those who stayed away missed a good game, even though the Stars came out on the wrong end. It had a little bit of everything.

 

Don Money mixed his lineup some, starting Steve Sollmann at 3rd base, playing newcomer Carlos Corporan at 1st, resting Hernan Iribarren, and putting G. Rod (Guilder Rodriguez) at 2nd........

 

Lookouts' manager Jayhawk Owens did likewise. We saw catcher Dan Conway for the first time, Enrique Cruz started at short, Luis Bolivar started at 2nd instead of Drew Anderson, the Southern League's best fielding 2nd baseman at the moment, and Cody Strait led off....... Even though Strait is 4-for-his-last-27, the move worked...... He met Adam Pettyjohn's second pitch of the game and sent it over the left field wall for an instant 1-0 Chattanooga lead...... Pettyjohn gave up a one-out single to Cruz, who stole 2nd on a 1-2 pitch, but escaped a 2-0 deficit when Brendan Katin took Jeremiah Piepkorn's one-hop single to right and fired it home to Lou Palmisano, who had no problem tagging him out.

 

The rap on Chattanooga starter Camilo Vazquez is occasional control problems...... That wasn't evident from the very start, as he struck out the first four Stars to face him. It was peculiar that Conway dropped third strikes on Sollmann and Rodriguez, and had to throw him out at first........ Up to the plate was potential strikeout #5 -- Brendan Katin -- who has struck out in every game but one this season. (He made it twice tonight)....... Katin, instead, got hold of a 1-1 pitch from Vazquez. Jay Garthwaite just looked up as the ball sailed high over the left field wall...... 1-1 Stars....... Mike Carlin followed and belted a 1-2 pitch off the left field wall for the first of two doubles for him on the night. Carlin now has four doubles in his last four games....... But after a two-out walk to Yohannis Perez, Pettyjohn struck out looking to end the threat.

 

The Lookouts, who have taken the lead in every game in this series, took a 3-1 lead in the top of the 3rd, as Pettyjohn, who did not look sharp tonight, threw 27 pitches (79 pitches in five innings, 44 for strikes)...... After retiring Strait on a grounder to short, he loaded the bases on consecutive singles. Then a wild pitch on a 1-2 count on Piepkorn scored Paul Janish, moving Cruz to third and Garthwaite to 2nd....... Piepkorn then pounded Pettyjohn's 10th pitch to Steve Sollmann, who threw the one-hopper to the plate. Palmisano had him dead. The throw was a little wide, but on time. However, Palmisano dropped the ball. It went behind him and Cruz scored........ Palmisano, previously errorless, now has an error in consecutive games. No one since Kade Johnson on May 27-28, 2004 had done that.

 

There was no peep from Piepkorn, tonight...... In the 5th inning, he hit Pettyjohn's 0-1 pitch high and out to left for a home run and the decisive 4-1 lead....... Steve Moss made it a one-run ballgame in the 5th on a two-out, two-run double off the left field wall that chased home Sollmann, who beat out a double play grounder to reach, and Rodriguez, who walked on four pitches, but Palmisano couldn't get Moss in, lining the ball sharply to center for the 3rd out.

 

The Stars had plenty of time to rally, though, and it looked as if the Stars would. You could almost feel it. After all, they were riding a four-game win streak and they had momentum on their side, but Lookouts reliever Calvin Medlock (0-1, 1.80) was going on his own momentum........ In three innings of relief, he held the Stars to a Katin two-hop single to left in the 6th, and a two-out walk to G. Rod in the 7th.

 

Mike Bumatay, unscored upon in nine of his ten relief appearances came on to close the door, but it was work....... Jeff Eure led off with a walk, then Yohannis Perez laid a bunt down on the right side of the infield. Bumatay ran off the mound, picked it up, and dropped it behind him....... Now Hernan Iribarren, who loves to bunt, even tries it, with mixed success, to reach base on a hit, sacrificed perfectly to the left side, putting the runners in scoring position with just one out......... But Steve Sollmann, who seldom strikes out (14 times in 81 at-bats after tonight), riding a six-game hitting streak, and ahead on the count, 3-and-1, did just that, swinging big at strike two and strike three........ That left the game up to Ron Davenport, 3-for-5 in the first two games of this series........ On a 1-1 pitch, he lined it hard right back at Bumitay. Easy out? Not at first glance...... His throw to Jeremiah Piepkorn was high and nearly over his head. The 6'3" 1st baseman brought it down and landed, to our misfortune, right on the bag. First base ump Jeff Latter thumbed him out on a close play to end the game.

 

166 pitches were thrown by both pitchers through the first five innings. Vazquez, who showed no control problems through the first four innings, started losing it some in the 5th, giving way to Medlock....... Jeff Housman made his first appearance since June 22 of last year, giving up two-out hits to Luis Bolivar and Dan Conway, but getting away cleanly, nonetheless, throwing at least 15 pitches, 10 for strikes.The news on Housman is good. He says his shoulder feels better than it has in years and he's looking forward to his new relief role.

 

Saturday and Sunday are day games, and the weather forecast looks good, with temperatures in the mid-80s, although it will be humid and a small chance of scattered showers........Steve Hammond (2-3, 5.79), who pitched a complete game six-hit shutout over Birmingham his last time out, will start for the Stars against Sam LeCure (3-0, 2.63). LeCure, 7-12, 3.43 at Class A-Sarasota (Fla. St.) last year, is ranked 12th among the Reds' top prospects, according to Baseball America..... LeCure, according to BA, sits at 90-91 with his fastball, peaks at 93, and has an average slider and change. He does a good job of busting hitters inside........ We'll see how his average stuff fares with Moss, Sollmann, and Palmisano.

 

Sollmann (.368) and Palmisano (.362) are now 2-3 in the Southern League batting race and 1-2 in on-base percentage........ The Stars have stolen 33 bases now in 25 games, and are one of three teams to draw over 100 walks........ Carlos Corporan made two outstanding plays in the game --- back-to-back in the 2nd inning -- the first, on a stretch to take Sollmann's less-than-accurate throw, and then a spectacular diving stop on a liner by Vazquez to end the inning, springing in the air, fully extended, and landing prone on the dirt.

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com Brevard County Game Notes:

 

Inman, Pena deck Cardinals

 

Will Inman and Luis Pena combined for 13 strikeouts as Brevard County beat visiting Palm Beach, 6-2, on Friday at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Inman (2-2) allowed three hits over seven scoreless innings for the win, lowering his ERA to 1.51, which ranks second in the Florida State League. He also matched a season high by fanning nine batters and grabbed the FSL lead with 43 strikeouts.

 

Vince Perkins relieved Inman to start the eighth but was charged with two runs without retiring a batter. Pena set down six of the last seven batters he faced, fanning four, for his third save.

 

Angel Salome had two hits and gave the Manatees (16-12) an early lead when he belted a two-run homer in the first. Michael Bell also contributed a pair of hits, including an RBI single.

 

The Cardinals (16-11) spoiled the shutout bid in the eighth, when Jose Contreras singled home Nathan Southard. Shane Robinson followed that with another RBI single to get Palm Beach within 5-2.

 

Starter Trey Hearne (1-2) took the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings. -- Michael Echan/MLB.com

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Trade means Rottino likely to catch more

By MAURICE PATTON

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

With Friday's trade between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Oakland Athletics that sent Sounds catcher J.D. Closser packing, Vinny Rottino figures to see more time behind the plate.

 

Rottino, one of the final cuts coming out of spring training by the Brewers, is a "super sub" in training. The 27-year-old has played four positions for Nashville ? 11 games in right field, four in left field, one at first base and seven at catcher.

 

Closser caught 12 games for the Sounds, with Mike Rivera working behind the plate in eight games. The position figures to be a two-player rotation indefinitely.

 

Last season, Rottino started 77 games at third base, 15 at catcher, six in left field, five in right field, two at first base and one at designated hitter for the Sounds.

 

In exchange for Closser, the Brewers received outfielder Charles Thomas, who will be assigned to Nashville and should join the team before the end of this weekend's series with Round Rock. Thomas opened his career with the Braves organization, before being traded with pitchers Juan Cruz and Dan Meyer for Tim Hudson in December 2004.

 

Closser is expected to be assigned to Class AAA Sacramento.

 

Thunder from "down under": The recent callup of reliever Grant Balfour from Double-A Huntsville, after Mitch Stetter was placed on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, gives the Sounds a pair of Australian pitchers. Chris Oxspring ? tonight's starter ? is from Queensland, and Balfour is from New South Wales.

 

Both have represented their country in international play, as Balfour pitched in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and Oxspring went 2-0 in the 2004 Athens Games and won a silver medal.

 

More moves: Reliever Luis Villareal joined the Sounds prior to Friday's game, filling the roster spot created when outfielder Joe Dillon was placed on the DL with a strained left hamstring. Villareal, whose first Sounds appearance will mark his Triple-A debut, posted an 0-1 record with a 6.75 ERA in eight games with Huntsville.

 

Spreading the wealth: Five pitchers have combined for Nashville's seven saves. Dennis Sarfate leads the way with three (in four opportunities), with Jose Capellan, Luther Hackman and Alec Zumwalt adding one each before Balfour did so Wednesday at Iowa.

 

The Sounds have converted 7-of-12 save opportunities.

 

Getting the call: Angel Campos served as third-base umpire and crew chief for Friday, one night after making his major league debut. Campos worked at first base for the Yankees-Rangers game in Arlington, Texas, as a fill-in umpire.

 

Campos is an eight-year veteran and has been in the Pacific Coast League since 2004.

[Will Inman Fan]

Will Inman Rocked last night... nice to see him back to HIS game! Don't know if anyone else is keeping up with this but... he is missing a K on the Stats page... When he pitched 2 games ago (against Jupiter On April 18 ) he actually had 8 K's and not 7... Just thought that I would throw that in... and by the way... Inman knows how to hit.. TRUST ME! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/glasses.gif

[LouisEly]

Nathan Southard hits a ground-rule double (9) on a fly ball to center field.

 

This is the first time I have ever seen anyone in any sport at any professional level with the same last name as me.