TooLiveBrew

I'm also glad to see Schafer has gotten off to a solid start. It must be heavenly for him to be playing again.

Final: Tennessee 7, @Huntsville 3 Huntsville Box Score A five-run 3rd inning was enough to doom the Stars to defeat tonight. Starter Dan Merklinger (6 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K) allowed just one hit & baserunner through the first two innings. However, the 3rd began with a hit batter, and then a throwing error by catcher Martin Maldonado. Merklinger got the next two hitters to flyout & popout, but then allowed an RBI infield single, and RBI single, & a three-run HR before recording the third out. The Smokies only managed two other runs, but the Huntsville bats could only muster three runs. Stars batters not named Schafer or Maldonado combined to go a brutal 4-28 (.143). Leadoff man & centerfielder Logan Schafer was 2-3 with two singles & a walk. Maldonado went 2-4. LF Steffan Wilson & 2B Sergio Miranda were both 1-4. 1B Sean Halton & 3B Zelous Wheeler were both 1-4 with doubles. Wheeler & SS Angel Gonzalez had the only two RBI for Huntsville. RP Jesus Sanchez worked the 7th inning & allowed a run. RP Roque Mercedes worked a scoreless 8th, allowing two hits & striking out two. RP Jim Henderson completed a flawless 9th, striking out two. Cubs prospect Josh Vitters was lifted from the game before the start of the bottom of the 5th -- he'd singled in the top of the 5th. Even after searching around a bit on the interwebs, I couldn't find any note as to why. Huntsville Play-by-Play Really wasn't much Huntsville offense to speak of, so here's a look at how that painful top of the 3rd went: Tennessee Top of the 3rd Luis Flores hit by pitch. Christopher Rusin reaches on force attempt, throwing error by catcher Martin Maldonado. Luis Flores to 2nd. Brett Jackson flies out to left fielder Steffan Wilson. Luis Flores to 3rd. Christopher Rusin to 2nd. Junior Lake pops out to shortstop Angel Gonzalez. Josh Vitters singles on a ground ball to shortstop Angel Gonzalez. Luis Flores scores. Christopher Rusin to 3rd. Rebel Ridling singles on a line drive to left fielder Steffan Wilson. Christopher Rusin scores. Josh Vitters to 2nd. Steve Clevenger homers (4) on a fly ball to left field. Josh Vitters scores. Rebel Ridling scores. Marwin Gonzalez flies out to right fielder Brandon Jones. Huntsville Gameday

Final: Iowa 7, @Nashville 5 I-Cubs Take Second Straight From Sounds, Win 7-5 Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but came up short in a 7-5 defeat to the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Wednesday night at Greer Stadium. With the loss, Nashville moves to 21-31 and is only 1-8 in the PCL American Northern Division this season. The top four batters in the Nashville lineup went a combined 1-for-18, while the 5-8 hitters collected nine hits. Catcher Mike Rivera went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Taylor Green went 3-for-4 with a homer, while Mat Gamel added two doubles. Iowa starter Jay Jackson (2-4) threw his best performance of the season against the Sounds for the win, surrendering one run on six hits in seven innings pitched. Iowa quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a Scott Moore three-run homer to right field. The long ball was Moore's fourth of the season. Marquez Smith made it 4-0 in the top of the third with his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot down the left field line. The Cubs made it 5-0 in the next frame, as catcher Welington Castillo singled and was doubled home by Jonathon Mota. Bobby Scales hammered a solo homer down the right field line in the next frame to make it 6-0. The Sounds got on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning as Gamel led off the frame with a double to right center, his second of the contest. Rivera then singled home Gamel with a hard hit grounder of the middle. Iowa tacked on another run in the top of the eighth inning on a Fernando Perez RBI double down the right field line. The Sounds scored four late runs before making and out in the bottom of the ninth inning on two home runs. After leading off the inning with a walk, Rivera tattooed a two-run homer to right field, his fourth of the season. Two batters later, Green smacked another two-run homer down the right field line after Caleb Gindl singled. After walking the next two batters, Iowa closer Esmailin Caridad struck out the go-ahead run to earn his fourth save of the season. Remaining winless on the season, Frankie De La Cruz (0-4) allowed six runs on seven hits with three home runs allowed in five innings for Nashville. The three homers were De La Cruz's most given up this season, while it also matched the most allowed by a Sounds pitcher in 2011. Sounds right hander Daniel Herrera struck out three batters over two innings in relief. Justin James allowed one run in one inning. In his fifth overall rehab appearance and third with the Sounds, left-hander Zach Braddock struck out one and walked one in one inning. Appearing in back-to-back days for the first time during his rehab, the southpaw tossed 17 pitches, 11 for strikes. The Sounds and Cubs will continue their four-game series at 7:05 pm CT on Taco Bell Throwback Thursday at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Josh Butler (3-3, 4.63) will toe the rubber for Nashville. Nashville Box ScoreAs the postgame article points out, the top four hitters in the Sounds lineup were a woeful 1-18. What the article doesn't point out is that, somehow, Mat Gamel, Caleb Gindl, and Taylor Green weren't hitting in the top 4 spots for Nashville, nor have they been recently, if my memory serves correctly. Brandon Boggs & Eric Farris were both 0-4 with a walk. Edwin Maysonet was 1-5 with a double. Gamel had a walk with his two doubles. Gindl was 2-4 with a double. Once again, no Emmy Lou Harris, no problem for Taylor Green, who finished with two RBI. She must've left him a lock of hair or something. The postgame article mistakenly refers to RHP Daniel Herrera. Obviously he's a lefty, but another strong outing from DRH is a bright spot on the pitching side. Braddock followed up his bad appearance last night with a solid effort tonight. Hang in there, Zach, & get back to Milwaukee asap http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif And hey, at least none of the Sounds pitchers had the night that Marcos Mateo did: 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 HR allowed, and zero outs recorded. Ouch! Nashville Play-by-Play The Sounds had doubles they failed to plate in the 3rd & 4th innings. After getting one run in the 7th, they had runners on 1B & 2B with one out, but the inning ended on a 6-4-3 double play. In the 8th, Maysonet doubled with two outs, but wasn't brought in to score. Wow, that sure was frustrating. At least they scored four runs in the 9th & the game didn't end frustratingly, right? Nashville Bottom of the 9th Pitcher Change: Marcos Mateo replaces Blake Parker, batting 9th. Mat Gamel walks. Mike Rivera homers (4) on a fly ball to left field. Mat Gamel scores. Caleb Gindl singles on a ground ball to right fielder Fernando Perez. Taylor Green homers (6) on a fly ball to right field. Caleb Gindl scores. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Erick Almonte replaces Zach Braddock. Erick Almonte walks. Pitcher Change: Esmailin Caridad replaces Marcos Mateo, batting 4th. Defensive Substitution: Bryan LaHair replaces pitcher Marcos Mateo, batting 9th, playing first base. Brandon Boggs strikes out swinging. Eric Farris walks. Erick Almonte to 2nd. Edwin Maysonet strikes out swinging. Brett Carroll strikes out swinging. Nope, disappointment in the 9th, too! Nashville Gameday

Yes. And no. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Quoted from a different thread: It's definitely a big salary. However, if you think longer-term, how much money might a prospect like Gamel or Thornburg (just two examples, not saying I've heard anything about them or matched up organizational depth) save the Brewers down the road? For example (only), if Gamel provides league-avg. production at 1B for the next three seasons for roughly $500K/season, you might make your money back right there. Meaning, as opposed to trading him for Reyes -- and again, that's purely for an example -- and having to sign a FA first baseman. The Brewers would likely only be asked to pay for the remaining value on the $12M contract -- it breaks down to roughly $2M/month. There are a couple other wrinkles to Furcal's contract (per Cot's): "may earn additional $1M annually based on health", & "limited no-trade clause (may block deals to specified clubs)". I would guess Furcal would probably be willing to waive his NTC if the Brewers were even on his no-trade list. No idea what, exactly, "health" means in this context, but it's probably a games played and/or PA threshold. He missed more than a month of games due to his broken thumb earlier this season, so I doubt he'll qualify for the full $1M bonus this season. If the Brewers bring Furcal in at the deadline, & the Dodgers wouldn't ask them to pay for any of his salary for games already completed, the Brewers would be adding about $4M in payroll. That's really not that much, in the MLB reality -- heck, the Crew is paying Betancourt $6M to be terrible this season ($2M buyout for '12). But in addition, for a team like the Brewers that doesn't project to just run away with the division or Wild Card, each win is *that* much more valuable. Imo the question is not merely, 'Is going from Betancourt -> Furcal worth the difference in contract?' -- although the answer to that question is probably yes, due to the Brewers being in the thick of a postseason chase. I think you have to also examine how much money can be saved (compared to spending in free agency) by not dealing away the kind of prospect(s) that it will take to land someone like Jose Reyes, who's also not cheap.

The sad thing is that Erick Almonte still appears to be ahead of Boggs on the depth chart. Boggs has started two of four games so far, meanwhile Almonte is rehabbing... aka heading back to the majors. What Melvin sees, I just don't. There's no comparison between the two imo, Almonte does nothing for a big-league club. I've always felt Melvin did a solid job identifying the right bats to assemble, but this season has me scratching my head so much it's getting raw.

Furcal is the one that's plausible to me, as long as the Dodgers would be as intent on moving the salary as everyone's assuming they are.

The impressions are worth the listen, no doubt about it.

Final: Iowa 7, @Nashville 2 Sounds Drop Opener To Iowa, Lose 7-2 Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds lost 7-2 to the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Tuesday night at Greer Stadium in the series opener of a four-game set. With the loss, Nashville moves to 21-30 and is only 1-7 in the PCL American Northern Division this season. Sounds catcher George Kottaras went 0-for-1 with three walks to snap a season-best nine-game hitting streak. Jeremy Reed went 2-for-4 with a walk. Iowa plated their first run in the top of the first inning as Marquez Smith smoked a two-out double to right field. Amaury Rivas recorded the next seven straight outs until Bryan LeHair singled in the top of the fourth inning. Iowa went up 2-0 later in the inning as Augie Ojeda and Matt Camp each singled with two outs. Two innings later in the seventh, the Cubs plated four more runs to go up 6-0. The first three batters reached base with the first run coming on a sacrifice fly from Chris Robinson. Casey Coleman doubled in the next run and removed Rivas from the contest. Bobby Scales followed with his team-leading 17th double, a two-run two-bagger off the top of the centerfield wall. In his first Triple-A start after being optioned by Chicago, Iowa starter Casey Coleman allowed one hit through the first five innings, before getting into trouble in the sixth. Eric Farris earned a nine-pitch walk, moved to second on a groundout, and scored easily on Mat Gamel's team-leading 15th double. Edwin Maysonet singled home Gamel for the other run to make it 6-2. Iowa scored an unearned run on Zack Segovia in the top of the seventh frame. With runners on first and third and one out, Camp hammered a line drive to Maysonet at shortstop, who misplayed the ball and allowed the run from the third to score. Coleman (1-0) allowed two runs on three hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings. He also went 2-for-3 with one RBI and runs scored from the dish. Rivas (3-5) gave up six runs while scattering nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. After beginning the season 3-1, the right-hander is now winless in his last seven decisions. Rivas waked in both of his plate appearances. Segovia gave up one unearned run in 1 2/3 innings in relief. Donovan Hand got out of a based load jam and followed with a scoreless frame. In his fourth overall rehab appearance and second with the Sounds, left-hander Zach Braddock walked three batters in 2/3 of an inning. The left-hander got Scales to fly out on the first pitch, and then walked three of the next four batters to load the bases before reaching his 20-pitch count (six for strikes). The Sounds and Cubs will play at 7:05pm CT on Thursday at Greer Stadium in the second game of a four-game series. Nashville right-hander Frankie De La Cruz (0-3, 4.14) looks for his first win against Iowa righty Jay Jackson (1-4, 7.56). Nashville Box Score In addition to his walk, Farris was 1-4 with a triple. Starting pitcher Amaury Rivas didn't register an official at-bat, but drew two walks -- one to lead off the 3rd inning, and the other to keep the 5th inning alive with two outs. Taylor Green went 0-4, Erick Almonte 0-3. Nashville play-by-play Nashville Gameday

Please, please, please turn into a very good prospect. The nickname is tooooooo easy!

I'm sure Keith Law has seen Thornburg pitch in person numerous times this season

Final: Oklahoma City 3, @Nashville 2 Sounds Lose Finale to RedHawks, 3-2 Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A ninth-inning rally came up just short as the Nashville Sounds had their season-best four-game winning streak come to a close with a 3-2 loss to the Oklahoma City RedHawks on Monday evening at Greer Stadium in the finale of a four-game series. Trailing 3-0 entering the ninth, the Sounds put a pair of runs on the board but couldn't complete the comeback and suffered their Pacific Coast League-leading 15th one-run defeat of the year. Despite the loss, Nashville (21-29) took three of the four games from the RedHawks in the series. Second baseman Edwin Maysonet went 2-for-4 to account for Nashville's lone multiple-hit effort on the evening. Oklahoma City took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Tommy Manzella drew a one-out walk from Sounds starter Sam Narron and later scored the game's first run on a Max Ramirez groundout. RedHawks center fielder Brandon Barnes upped the visitors' lead to 3-0 in the second when he slugged his eighth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left-center that struck the neck of the guitar-shaped scoreboard. Drew Locke, who had opened the frame with a double, also scored on the blast. In a spot start, left-hander Andy Van Hekken worked four scoreless innings for Oklahoma City, allowing only two singles while striking out six batters. RedHawks reliever Wesley Wright (1-0) followed Van Hekken with two scoreless innings of his own to pick up the victory. The Sounds broke up the Oklahoma City shutout bid in the bottom of the ninth, as Brett Carroll and Jeremy Reed opened the frame with back-to-back doubles off RedHawks reliever Fernando Abad. After Abad struck out Mat Gamel for the first out, right-hander David Carpenter came on to retire Maysonet on a popup before Mike Rivera stroked a two-out RBI single up the middle to plate Reed to make it a 3-2 contest. Carpenter then induced a game-ending groundout from Taylor Green to preserve the narrow win and earn his third save. Narron (3-2) allowed three runs on four hits over five frames of action, walking one batter and striking out five, to take the loss and snap his personal three-game winning streak. Outfielder Erick Almonte went 0-for-3 in seven innings of action on the evening and is hitting .286 (2-for-7) through three games on his rehabilitation assignment with Nashville. The Sounds continue their homestand on Tuesday evening by welcoming the division-rival Iowa Cubs to town for the 7:05 p.m. opener of a four-game series. It will be the first of 16 meetings between the clubs this season. Right-hander Amaury Rivas (3-4, 4.12) will man the bump for Nashville to face Iowa right-hander Casey Coleman, who will make his first Triple-A appearance of the year. Nashville box scoreBrandon Boggs went 0-4 with three strikeouts; Eric Farris was 1-4; Gamel was 0-3 with a walk; Green was 1-4 with a double. In just his second appearance with the Brewers organization, Daniel Ray Herrera worked one inning, struck out two, walked none, & allowed no hits. Herrera, Justin James, & Robert Hinton kept the RedHawks off the scoreboard for the final four innings. The trio allowed just two hits, one walk, & struck out five. Nashville play-by-play The Sounds' best shot at scoring prior to the 9th came in the 7th inning... Nashville Bottom of the 7th Pitcher Change: Daniel Meszaros replaces Wesley Wright, batting 9th. Erick Almonte strikes out swinging. Mat Gamel walks. Edwin Maysonet singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Daniel Meszaros. Mat Gamel to 2nd. Mike Rivera pops out to shortstop Tommy Manzella. Taylor Green flies out to left fielder Drew Locke. ... but wasn't happening. Nashville Gameday

I wouldn't call him even average, but he's not the total hack that he was. This is the best we're going to be able to do in this thread, even though it will inevitably go on for a few more pages. He's not awful, he's not average. Somewhere in between.

I went my whole life without seeing a 4-5 putout at third after a single. Then, it happens in consecutive innings. Baseball is a helluva drug

What are your expectations for the next week? I'll drink your Kool-Aid, too, and go with 4-3. But secretly I'll still hope for 5-2.

I suspect a manager is most important in how he handles and relates to players -- unless he's making obvious bonehead moves like killing his pitchers or sac bunting early in the game, which I don't see RR doing. He's had guys sac bunting pretty often in the early innings. Nyjer Morgan was asked to sac bunt in the first inning just today. He is what he is, a classic small-ball manager.

Errors may not tell the entire story but they absolutely do not mean nothing. He has zero. Braun has literally had a ball hit him in the glove & fall to the ground with no error charged this season. Errors for outfielders are almost 100% useless

This guy screams Milwaukee Brewers pick

Final: Huntsville 5, @Chattanooga 3 Huntsville Box Score Cody Scarpetta turned in another strong start: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, on a total of 99 pitches (62 strikes, 37 balls). He took a shutout into the 7th inning, but after getting the first out, he gave up back-to-back doubles, then a walk, & his night came to an end. Five of his outs were on the ground, five in the air. RF Erik Komatsu was 2-3 with a double, RBI, two walks, and a stolen base. CF Logan Schafer was hitless, with a walk & three strikeouts. 1B Sean Halton was the only other Stars player to go hitless on the night; Halton had a rough game, lining into an unassisted double play to the CF at second base in the 1st, and then grounding out in the 7th with the bases loaded & two outs. SS Angel Gonzalez went 2-3 with a double & a walk; C Anderson De La Rosa was 3-4 with a double. 2B Hanley Statia came up with a RBI on a sac fly in the 5th, and another RBI on a single in the 7th. 3B Steffan Wilson added an RBI single, & LF Lee Haydel executed on what looks like a squeeze play in the 7th for a bunt single & RBI. Huntsville play-by-play After Scarpetta ended the 6th inning with a strikeout, stranding two Lookouts runners, the Stars took a 3-0 lead into the 7th inning: Huntsville Top of the 7th Steffan Wilson walks. Anderson De La Rosa singles on a line drive to right fielder Kyle Russell. Steffan Wilson to 2nd. With Hainley Statia batting, passed ball by Matt Wallach, Steffan Wilson to 3rd. Anderson De La Rosa to 2nd. Hainley Statia singles on a line drive to left fielder Scott Van Slyke. Steffan Wilson scores. Anderson De La Rosa to 3rd. Pitcher Change: Justin Miller replaces Chris Withrow, batting 4th. Defensive switch from center field to right field for Alfredo Silverio. Defensive Substitution: Brad Coon replaces pitcher Chris Withrow, batting 9th, playing center field. Cody Scarpetta strikes out on missed bunt. Lee Haydel singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Justin Miller. Anderson De La Rosa scores. Hainley Statia to 2nd. Logan Schafer strikes out swinging. Erik Komatsu walks. Hainley Statia to 3rd. Lee Haydel to 2nd. Sean Halton grounds out, third baseman Elian Herrera to first baseman Brian Cavazos-Galvez. Now up 5-0, Scarpetta went back out to try & take his shutout effort through the 7th: Chattanooga Bottom of the 7th Alfredo Silverio grounds out, shortstop Angel Gonzalez to first baseman Sean Halton. Matt Wallach doubles (5) on a fly ball to center fielder Logan Schafer. Jaime Pedroza doubles (8) on a line drive to right fielder Erik Komatsu. Matt Wallach scores. Ivan Ochoa walks. Pitcher Change: Jesus Sanchez replaces Cody Scarpetta, batting 9th. Brad Coon singles on a line drive to center fielder Logan Schafer, deflected by shortstop Angel Gonzalez. Jaime Pedroza to 3rd. Ivan Ochoa to 2nd. Elian Herrera grounds into a force out, first baseman Sean Halton to shortstop Angel Gonzalez. Jaime Pedroza scores. Ivan Ochoa to 3rd. Brad Coon out at 2nd. Elian Herrera to 1st. Brian Cavazos-Galvez pops out to second baseman Hainley Statia. Looks like Gonzalez was almost able to make the play on Coon's single, so even though reliever Jesus Sanchez allowed the runner he inherited from Scarpetta to score, he seems to have done his job in the 7th. The Stars had a chance to tack on in the 8th, but couldn't come through. Fortunately, 5 runs was enough: Huntsville Top of the 8th Angel Gonzalez singles on a soft ground ball to pitcher Justin Miller. Steffan Wilson flies out to left fielder Scott Van Slyke. Anderson De La Rosa singles on a ground ball to left fielder Scott Van Slyke. Angel Gonzalez to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Wilkin De La Rosa replaces Justin Miller, batting 2nd. Defensive switch from left field to first base for Scott Van Slyke. Defensive Substitution: Anthony Jackson replaces pitcher Justin Miller, batting 4th, playing center field. Defensive switch from center field to left field for Brad Coon. Hainley Statia strikes out on foul tip. Jesus Sanchez lines out softly to left fielder Brad Coon. A ground-rule double & a couple of groundouts in the 9th produced the Lookouts' third & final run. Sanchez was credited with the save, working the final 2.2 IP with 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, & 1 K. Not only was his effort some solid relief work, but Sanchez gave the rest of the Stars 'pen the night off. Nicely done, Jesus. Announced attendance: 5,239 Huntsville Gameday

Wonder what Mark DiFelice did to get ejected. I'd suggest he was offering to cut the home plate umpire's hair and throw in a free pair of glasses from the bench, but he was tossed by the third base umpire, who is neither calling balls and strikes nor the umpire near the home dugout. It was about the hit from Erick Almonte in the bottom of the 1st. On the MiLB.tv feed, it looked pretty clearly to bang off the top level of advertising over Greer Stadium's LF wall. The wall proper is covered with billboards, but there's a second 'level' to the outfield wall, which is above the yellow line indicating the wall boundary (see image linked below). Anything hit over that yellow line is a HR, and Almonte's hit looked like it was an obvious HR. That would've been the 3B ump's call on HR or not, as best I could tell. I'm assuming DiFelice kept barking at him, & finally just got run. He was ejected between the bottom of the 1st & top of the 2nd. And, yes, after watching the call again, it was clearly a missed HR call. http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/AAA/greer.jpg

Dude, you've set the bar way too high with that analysis. Eric and I had been commenting behind the scenes all spring how difficult it was to make the AAA Sounds interesting. Nice maiden voyage, sir. With a lazy Memorial Day weekend evening, I was able to watch on MiLB.tv. I realize I won't be able to sustain that. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Not a fan of taking Cron (cousin of the famous Chad Moeller!) in the 1st round. You've convinced me. I'm against this pick. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Hah. I just came to this thread to post that the title has me hoping for some YouTube video submissions by BF.netters. Oof.

Be gentle, it's my first time... Final: @Nashville 8, Oklahoma City 3 Gamel Homers Twice, Sounds Down 'Hawks 8-3 Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - First baseman Mat Gamel belted a pair of home runs to power the Nashville Sounds to an 8-3 victory over the Oklahoma City RedHawks in front of 8,411 fans on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium. Nashville (20-28) recorded its third win in a row overall and its seventh victory in the club's last nine home contests. Gamel posted the Sounds' fourth two-homer effort of the year and drove in four runs on the night to continue his recent hot hitting. The infielder has hit safely in 15 of his last 22 games at a .378 clip (31-for-82). The Sounds took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when George Kottaras ripped a two-out double to right off Oklahoma City starter Gustavo Chacin then scored when Taylor Green (3-for-4) followed with an RBI single to left-center. Kottaras went 2-for-4 on the night to extend his longest hitting streak of the year to eight games. Gamel upped the Nashville advantage to 4-0 in the third when he belted a homer for the second straight night, slugging a three-run bomb to right to greet new RedHawks reliever Wesley Wright. Brett Carroll (single) and Erick Almonte (walk) also scored on Gamel's blast, the first baseman's seventh of the year. The Sounds added another tally in the fourth when Caleb Gindl's opposite-field single to left plated Green from second, as the infielder just beat Brian Bogusevic's throw to the plate to extend the lead to 5-0. Oklahoma City broke up the Sounds' shutout bid in the eighth when left fielder Brian Bogusevic launched a three-run homer to left off reliever Robert Hinton to make it a 5-3 contest. Gamel struck again in the home half of the frame, drilling a line drive solo homer to right off Francis Beltran for his eighth big fly of the year to up the Nashville lead to 6-3. The Sounds tacked on two more runs later in the inning. Pinch-hitter Brandon Boggs lined an RBI single up the middle in his first appearance for Nashville since mid-April. He had spent the previous five weeks with Milwaukee. With the bases loaded and two outs, Brett Carroll hit an RBI single to short to plate Green but Boggs was thrown out at the plate on the play to end the inning with the Sounds ahead by an 8-3 count. Sounds starter Josh Butler (3-3) picked up the victory by working six innings of scoreless, two-hit ball. It was the right-hander's second quality start of the year. Chacin (1-2) drew the loss in his first start of the year for the RedHawks. The southpaw was charged with three runs on four hits over 2 2/3 innings, coming out of the game in the middle of an at-bat in the third frame after reaching his pitch count limit. The teams continue the series with a 2:05 p.m. matinee on Sunday afternoon. Left-hander Chase Wright (1-4, 6.23) will toe the rubber for Nashville to face ex-Sound Nelson Figueroa (2-0, 2.63). The Oklahoma City right-hander spent the 2003 & 2004 seasons in Music City and ranks 8th in club history with 28 wins in those two years. Left-hander Zach Braddock is scheduled to make the first appearance of his rehabilitation assignment for the Sounds in the contest. Nashville box score- In an effort to allay Sessile Fielder's concerns, Mat Gamel hit two home runs tonight & bumped his 2011 SLG up to .522. As the article notes, he's been on a tear for almost all of May; over his past 10 games, he boasts an OPS of 1.016. - Taylor Green's 3-4 night came (to the best of my knowledge) without the assistance of Emmy Lou Harris, making it a particularly impressive 3-4. - Eric Farris singled, walked, stole a base, was picked off, & reached on a HBP. He also made a nice defensive play as a second baseman for the first out of the 4th. My note during the broadcast: Farris showed good range to his left to retire RedHawks LF Brian Bogusevic on a grounder in the hole. Dove/slid to his knees, spun around while on his knees, & threw out Bogusevic at 1B. - Butler was able to put up zeroes tonight despite not being particularly efficient with his pitches: 104 total, 57 strikes & 47 balls. Two well-timed double plays in the 5th & 6th innings helped him big-time. The DP in the 5th came on a 3-1 pitch, after Butler had surrendered a double & hit a batter to start the inning. - Hinton looked good in the 7th, with nothing hit hard against him -- a strikeout & two weak groundouts helped him work around a walk. Then he pitched the 8th inning. That didn't go so well. - If you haven't listened to Sounds broadcaster Stu Paul, and didn't know he was from Brooklyn, just listen to him once. You'll know after that. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Nashville play-by-play Nashville Bottom of the 3rd Caleb Gindl flies out to left fielder Brian Bogusevic. Eric Farris singles on a ground ball to second baseman Anderson Hernandez. With Brett Carroll batting, Eric Farris picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Gustavo Chacin to first baseman Koby Clemens to shortstop Tommy Manzella to pitcher Gustavo Chacin to second baseman Anderson Hernandez. Brett Carroll singles on a ground ball to center fielder Brandon Barnes. Erick Almonte walks. Brett Carroll to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Wesley Wright replaces Gustavo Chacin, batting 9th. Mat Gamel homers (7) on a fly ball to right field. Brett Carroll scores. Erick Almonte scores. Edwin Maysonet grounds out, third baseman Oswaldo Navarro to first baseman Koby Clemens. Gamel was an Eric Farris gaffe away from a grand slam... if you believe in the predetermined outcome. Oddly enough, 'Hawks SP Gustavo Chacin hit his pitch count limit after throwing ball one to Gamel, so on came the lefty Wright. Mat the Batt got a belt-high 2-0 fastball, and didn't miss. He hit it out to straightaway RF, and as Stu Paul noted in his HR call, it was a line drive HR. Definitely mislabeled in the game log as a fly ball. Okla. City Top of the 8th Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Brian Dopirak replaces Douglas Arguello. Brian Dopirak doubles (9) on a line drive to left fielder Jordan Brown. Anderson Hernandez singles on a soft pop up to shortstop Edwin Maysonet. Brian Dopirak to 3rd. Brandon Barnes strikes out swinging. Brian Bogusevic homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Brian Dopirak scores. Anderson Hernandez scores. Drew Locke grounds out, shortstop Edwin Maysonet to first baseman Mat Gamel. Koby Clemens flies out to left fielder Jordan Brown. After the Bogusevic 3-R homer in the top of the 8th, Sounds SS Edwin Maysonet made a fine play up the middle on a grounder off the bat of 'Hawks RF Drew Locke. My note: Nice play by Maysonet, going up the middle, spun & threw a 1-hopper to Gamel. Gamel stretched to his right & scooped the throw to just beat Locke at 1B. Naturally, Gamel & Maysonet were the next two hitters for the Sounds to begin the decisive bottom of the 8th, as the 'Hawks had just climbed back to a 5-3 deficit: Nashville Bottom of the 8th Mat Gamel homers (8) on a line drive to right field. Edwin Maysonet singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brian Bogusevic. George Kottaras pops out to third baseman Oswaldo Navarro in foul territory. Taylor Green singles on a line drive to right fielder Drew Locke. Edwin Maysonet to 3rd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Brandon Boggs replaces Robert Hinton. Brandon Boggs singles on a line drive to center fielder Brandon Barnes. Edwin Maysonet scores. Taylor Green to 2nd. Caleb Gindl flies out to center fielder Brandon Barnes. Eric Farris hit by pitch. Taylor Green to 3rd. Brandon Boggs to 2nd. Brett Carroll singles on a line drive to shortstop Tommy Manzella. Taylor Green scores. Brandon Boggs out at home, shortstop Tommy Manzella to catcher Max Ramirez. The Gamel HR here came on a 1-2 count; he knocked a hung curveball out to straightaway RF. Maysonet's single was hit under the glove of 'Hawks 3B Oswaldo Navarro. Both Boggs (6 pitches) & Gindl (10 pitches) turned in good PAs against 'Hawks righty Francis Beltran, fouling off several pitches. The Carroll single was a weakly-hit "liner" that Manzella gloved but couldn't catch; it skipped away from him, allowing Green to score. Boggs was out relatively easily at the plate, but given the nature of the play, his trying to score wasn't ill-advised in my opinion. Nashville Gameday

Saw the Miken Freak DST on sale for $100 at Scheels in Appleton today. Originally priced at $299.00, dropped to $199.00 & now down to $100.