Link Report for Games of Sunday April 22nd

[pogokat]

Quote:

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I assume you mean besides Braun?

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i meant in the minors...

[DHonks]

I love seeing Dillard's 13 GO v 5 FO. I think he's gonna be key for us in August/September when he'd inducing inning ending GIDP's from the bullpen. I have always liked him as a starter, but if we stay in the race, then it's time to look at some of these guys as short term solutions for the pen.

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER EXTEND STREAK WITH SIX RUN SIXTH

 

Trailing the Hickory Crawdads 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning of Sunday afternoon?s game at Appalachian Power Park, the West Virginia Power scored six runs on six hits to take the lead and defeated the Crawdads 8-5 to win their ninth game in a row.

 

Jamie Romack?s two-out single in the top of the first inning gave Hickory their first lead of the game. In the bottom of the first, Brent Brewer doubled, stole third and then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game. Hickory regained the lead on Romack?s RBI double in the third and added to their lead later in the inning on Jim Negrych?s run-scoring single. Kent Sakamoto ripped an RBI single in the fourth inning and Hickory plated their final run in the same frame when Wanell Macia crossed the plate as Alex Presley grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

 

Hickory right hander Jared Hughes had retired 15 of the last 17 batters he faced, before the Power got to him in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Chuckie Caufield hit a groundball to Hickory shortstop Angel Gonzalez. Gonzalez booted the ball, allowing Taylor Green to score. The next batter, John Alonso, brought the Power within a run on a two-run double, and Michael Brantley followed Alonso with a two-run double of his own. Kenny Holmberg capped the six-run frame with a run-scoring double.

 

The Power added their final run on Holmberg?s solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was Holmberg?s second of the year, and West Virginia?s first home run in ten days.

 

In his first outing of the season, J.T. King (1-0) tossed three scoreless innings of two-hit ball out of the bullpen to get the win, E.J. Shanks (2) tossed a scoreless ninth inning to get the save and Jared Hughes (1-1) suffered the loss.

 

The Power improved to 11-3 with the win and the Crawdads fell to 7-7 with the loss. Holmberg and Brewer both had three hits for the Power while Green chipped in with two. Holmberg, Alonso and Brantley all knocked in two runs a piece for the Power.

 

The Power will continue the four game series against the Crawdads Monday morning. The Power will start left hander Brae Wright (1-0, 2.93) and the Crawdads will counter with right hander Mike Crotta (0-0, 4.00). The first pitch is scheduled for 10:35 AM (9:35 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1119

 

Katin's Homer and Four Pitchers Carry Stars to Victory

 

Brendan Katin?s two-out home run in the 11th inning proved to be the winning run in Huntsville?s tense 2-1 victory over Montgomery Sunday afternoon at Riverwalk Stadium. The Stars stopped a three-game slide and improved to 7-8 on the season, while the Biscuits fell to 9-8 and lost for just a second time in seven home games.

 

The Biscuits bullpen trio of Richard De Los Santos (three perfect innings), Nick DeBarr and Brian Henderson had not allowed a hit since the fifth inning before Katin lofted his game-winner over the wall in left field for his second long ball of the season. The Stars are now 2-1 in extra inning games and won for a first time when scoring fewer than four runs.

 

Joe Thatcher retired Chris Nowak on an infield pop up to end the tenth inning and gave up a bunt base hit to Shaun Cumberland to open the eleventh. Josh Arhart dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Cumberland to second base and Thatcher followed by fanning Jason Pridie for the second out of the inning. Marino Salas was called on to close out the game and that he did by retiring pinch-hitter Gabriel Martinez on a fly ball out to Katin in right field. Salas earned his second save in as many opportunities.

 

Nowak?s two-out single in the first chased home Brooks Badeaux to give the Biscuits the early lead and mark the 10th time in 15 games the Stars have been scored on in the first frame. Katin tied the game in the fourth with a run-scoring double and advanced to third base with nobody out on a Lou Palmisano single but was doubled off the bag after shortstop Reid Brignac snared Steve Moss?s line drive.

 

Manny Parra went seven strong innings, the longest outing by a Stars' starter this season, allowing a run on five singles while fanning seven. Mark DiFelice struck out Evan Longoria with runners at first and third and one out in the eighth and retired Nowak on a ground out to end the threat and keep the game tied. He struck out Josh Asanovich with Pridie at second base to end the ninth inning and gave way to Thatcher, who went 1 2/3 scoreless innings to record his first win.

 

The series in Montgomery continues Monday night with southpaw Adam Pettyjohn taking the hill against Biscuits? left-hander James Houser, Jr. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 AM WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Reliever Mitch Stetter:

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-22.mp3

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Chris Barnwell photo, text follows --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2276

 

Barnwell Single Gives Sounds 2-1 Win In 10th

 

NASHVILLE ? Chris Barnwell delivered a two-out RBI flare single to right in the bottom of the tenth inning to plate Ozzie Chavez and give the Nashville Sounds a dramatic 2-1 victory over the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium.

 

The win, the fifth in a row for Nashville (11-6), gives the Sounds 10 victories in the club?s last 12 contests and extends the team?s lead to two games over the I-Cubs in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

It was the Sounds? second last at-bat victory and the club?s first extra-inning game of the season. The five-game winning streak matches the longest of the year for Nashville.

 

Both teams struggled in scoring opportunities all afternoon, combining to go just 1-for-18 with men in scoring position; the lone hit was Barnwell?s game-winner. Nashville and Iowa combined to hit into five inning-ending double plays, all of which came with a runner on second or third.

 

Nashville third baseman Ryan Braun broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning when he crushed a 1-0 pitch from Iowa starter Ryan O?Malley over the left field wall for a solo homer, his team-leading sixth roundtripper of the season. Braun, who has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, has ripped 13 of his 18 hits on the year for extra bases.

 

AUDIO: Ryan Braun's Home Run --

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-22.mp3

 

Iowa shortstop Mike Fontenot tied the game at 1-1 with a two-out home run to right off Sounds reliever Mitch Stetter in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was the infielder?s second longball of the season and resulted in Stetter?s second blown save in two chances.

 

Tim Dillard turned in an outstanding outing for the Sounds, allowing only two hits over seven scoreless frames, but was denied his first win of the year due to the blown save. The right-hander walked two batters and struck out three in his 94-pitch outing.

 

Reliever Dennis Sarfate (1-0) was awarded the victory for Nashville following Barnwell?s heroics. The right-hander worked two scoreless frames but needed inning-ending double plays to escape both frames unscathed.

 

Cubs reliever Ben Howard (0-1) took the loss after allowing the game-winning run in his two-thirds of an inning of work.

 

Vinny Rottino (2-for-4) and Chavez (2-for-3) each recorded a multiple-hit effort for the Sounds for the second straight game. Jose Macias went 1-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to five games, his longest effort of the year.

 

The teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. meeting on Monday evening. Right-hander Chris Oxspring (1-1, 2.35) will make the start for the Sounds and face veteran Iowa left-hander Les Walrond (2-0, 1.06).

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=55793

 

Barnwell comes through in clutch for Sounds

By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent

 

In a game in which seemingly neither team wanted to win, Chris Barnwell flared a single into shallow right field to score Ozzie Chavez and give the Nashville Sounds a 2-1 10-inning victory over Iowa at Greer Stadium on Sunday.

 

Barnwell?s fortunate hit ended ten innings of futility for both teams. The Sounds went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, while the Cubs were 0-for-9.

 

?We had our chances. Their guys made some good pitches in those situations,? Sounds managers Frank Kremblas said of Iowa starter Ryan O?Malley and the Cubs relievers.

 

Conversely, Sounds starter Tim Dillard made some good pitches for Nashville. Dillard is still searching for his first Triple A win, but he turned in his best start of the season on Sunday. Dillard went seven innings, surrendering just two hits and no runs.

 

Barnwell?s clutch hit and Dillard?s stellar day on the mound led Nashville to its fifth win in a row.

 

?It was finally good to get everything to come together,? said Dillard, who added he wasn?t frustrated by the no decision. ?It doesn?t matter to me. As long as there?s a ?W? by Nashville, that?s fine with me. The other four starters throw well, they get the win. I?m thinking, ?I want to win too. I don?t want to be the guy that messes up.??

 

The win opens up a two-game lead in the PCL Northern Division over the Cubs (9-8). Iowa, which is loaded with starting pitching as well, figures to be the Sounds? top competition for the division crown.

 

?You look at their pitchers and their lineup, I?ve faced those guys before and I haven?t always done so well,? Dillard said.

 

Nashville (11-6) broke a scoreless game in the sixth when Ryan Braun hit his Pacific Coast League-leading sixth homer of the year. Braun?s home run was a solo shot that rocketed out of the park past the left field foul pole.

 

Dillard yielded to Mitch Stetter in the eighth and that?s when the Cubs got even. Mike Fontenot hit a solo home run off Stetter to tie the game at one apiece. It was Stetter?s second blown save of the season for the Sounds.

 

The two teams meet again tonight at Greer at 6 p.m.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=55794

 

Capellan?s petulance costs him promotion

By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent

 

The Jose Capellan saga is dragging on.

 

The Milwaukee Brewers tried to teach Jose Capellan a lesson on Saturday. Whether he goes to the task of learning it or not will remain to be seen.

 

Capellan demanded to be traded after he didn?t make Milwaukee?s opening day roster. There were reports that he contemplated retirement and debated not even reporting to Nashville to begin the season.

 

Capellan has been distant from his Sounds teammates and hasn?t relented from his trade request. Then, last week Capellan took his anger to another level. He skipped out on two games during the Sounds? road trip to Oklahoma. During that time, Capellan went without pay and he eventually reported before the road trip ended.

 

On Saturday, Capellan paid for his whining ways. Even though he?s been the Sounds? top reliever this year, displaying his trademark top-flight stuff and not yielding a run in six appearances, Capellan was passed over for a promotion to the Brewers on Saturday.

 

Instead, Milwaukee called up Chris Spurling (1.86 ERA) from Nashville to replace Greg Aquino.

 

Brewers manager Ned Yost flat out said Capellan would have gotten the promotion had he not bailed on his Sounds teammates last week.

 

Spurling, who benefited from Capellan?s petulance, said Sounds were insulted by his no-show.

 

?We were all pretty upset about it,? Spurling said on the Brewers? team site. ?It was kind of a slap in the face to us, but the guy is going to do what he wants to do. You can?t really say anything about it.?

 

Aquino?s status in question: Aquino will arrive in Nashville today, though it is unclear when he?ll be added to the roster. He was experiencing tightness in his throwing arm, but the Brewers said he should be available to pitch after a few days of rest.

 

Aquino had a 5.87 ERA for the Brewers before being demoted.

 

In order to add Aquino to the Sounds roster, Milwaukee will have to clear a roster spot.

 

Reliever Lindsay Gulin replaced Spurling on the Sounds roster.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Sounds win fifth in a row

A two-out hit tops Cubs in 10

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Chris Barnwell hit a soft line drive to right field with two outs in the 10th to score Ozzie Chavez and give the Sounds a 2-1 win Sunday over Iowa.

 

It was Nashville's first extra inning game of the season and came before a Greer Stadium crowd of 5,885.

 

The victory extended the Sounds win streak to five games, which ties their longest of the year. Nashville has won 10 of its last 12 games.

 

Barnwell's hit landed in a gap between the first baseman and right fielder.

 

"It was the perfect hit because it's hard to throw somebody out on that kind of ball,'' Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "It was well-placed and we needed it."

 

The victory gave Nashville a two-game lead over Iowa in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

Both teams failed throughout the game to capitalize after getting runners on bases. Iowa was 0-for-7 and the Sounds 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

 

Iowa got in position to take the lead in the ninth and 10th.

 

In the ninth Iowa's Scott Moore and Geovany Soto reached first and second with one out.

 

But Buck Coats hit into a double play to end the inning.

 

In the 10th, Angel Pagan and Eric Patterson reached first and second with only one out. But Mike Fontenot hit into a double play.

 

Barnwell was 0-for-4 before his game-winning hit.

 

"It was a fastball in and I kept my hands inside and luckily it fell in between everyone,'' Barnwell said. "It's good to win in extra innings. Anytime it's a close game you definitely want to win them. You can build a lot of momentum off of that. You don't ever want to come close and lose one. It's good to get wins here at home and kind of pull away with the lead in the division if you can.''

 

***

Link while active, text follows:

 

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

 

Braun's six homers tied for PCL lead

By MIKE ORGAN

Tennessean Staff Writer

 

Sounds third baseman Ryan Braun stayed hot at the plate in Sunday's 2-1 win over Iowa.

 

Braun's home run in the sixth inning gave the Sounds a 1-0 lead.

 

It was Braun's sixth homer of the season, which is tied for the PCL lead.

 

He has had a hit in 10 of his last 12 contests and is 13-of-18 for extra bases (seven doubles, six home runs).

 

Gulin activated: Left-hand pitcher Lindsay Gulin was activated Sunday from the disabled list by the Sounds to fill the open roster spot created Saturday when pitcher Chris Spurling's contract was purchased by Milwaukee.

 

Gulin has spent all season on the Sounds' disabled list and will make his first appearance in the PCL since 2003 when he was with Las Vegas.

 

Aquino's arrival: Pitcher Greg Aquino, optioned to Nashville on Saturday, will be in town today. The Sounds must make a roster move to make room for Aquino, 29, who posted a 5.87 ERA in eight relief appearances for Milwaukee. All five of Aquino's runs were surrendered in his last two appearances.

 

First run: Iowa's Mike Fontenot's home run over the right-field wall, which tied the score 1-1 in the eighth inning, was the first run scored against Sounds' reliever Mitch Stetter this season in eight appearances. It was Fontenot's second homer.

 

Nashville has three blown saves this year and two were by Stetter. The other was by Spurling. Dennis Sarfate (1-0) relieved Stetter in the ninth.

 

Ouch: In the seventh inning Iowa pitcher Cory Bailey was hit in the foot off a hit by Vinny Rottino. The shot ricocheted off Bailey's left foot and rolled nearly to the third baseline. Rottino reached first on an infield single and Bailey was able to stay in the game.

[Mass Haas]

Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Craig Cunningham

 

West Virginia Power pitcher Roque Mercedes fires a pitch during the Power?s 8-5 win Sunday over the Hickory Crawdads. Mercedes pitched three innings, giving up nine hits and five runs before J.T. King came on in relief.

 

http://www.dailymail.com/images/POWER%20PITCHER0423.jpg

[miwokE]

Don't see many pitchers sporting shades...

 

could that be the problem?

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.montgomeryadvertiser..../704230330

 

Huntsville's Katin able to block out distractions

By Stacy Long

Montgomery Advertiser

 

The cloud caught onto Brendan Katin's trail last weekend. Katin thought it was a depraved joke when he was first told he had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, filed an appeal and played the last week with that cloud hovering over him.

 

Katin, whose 11th-inning home run gave the Huntsville Stars a 2-1 win over the Montgomery Biscuits on Sunday, is awaiting word of his final judgment, though he's positive he'll be cleared. "I have no clue how long it will be," Katin said. "I'm not worried about it."

 

Katin was told last weekend of his positive test and remains eligible while Major League Baseball processes his appeal. A spring training drug test put Katin in line for a drug-related suspension, despite his full belief of innocence.

 

"He knows he's a clean kid and we all believe him," Stars hitting coach Sandy Guerrero said. "He doesn't even take vitamins. He's just a naturally strong kid."

 

It was already a trying season for the outfielder.

 

Katin entered Sunday with a .208 average and nine RBIs -- but much of that was from one game. Without last Tuesday's 4-of-6, six-RBI night, his average would have been .140.

 

Sunday's game helped his numbers. He hit an RBI double in the fourth inning and homered in the 11th, taking a 1-0 pitch from Brian Henderson over the left-field wall.

 

"I've been trying too hard," Katin said. "I've been trying to hit home runs instead of focusing on hitting it up the middle and letting the home runs come. I have to let things happen."

 

Henderson started Katin with a curveball and came back with another that Katin didn't miss. The two-out homer was Huntsville's first hit since the fifth inning.

 

Henderson walked the next hitter and had only those two blemishes on a two-inning appearance.

 

"Aside from that one pitch, (Henderson) did a good job," Biscuits manager Billy Gardner said.

 

Said Henderson: "If you look at the bright side, I guess I did all right except for one pitch. I still let the team down."

 

Montgomery scored in the first inning and rested on its laurels for the final 10. The Biscuits stranded 11 runners and were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.