batman

Thanks mls4. As for Grieve, I don't know yet... I started off as one of his bigger advocates on here, but even I'm starting to sour. If his absence gets Gint some more ABs, I guess I wouldn't mind seeing him on the bench. ~Bill

What just happened? I get that Sexson and Gonzo walked and were at first and second, but how'd they score on an error by Overbay? And why'd Davey Nelson get tossed? I'm lost - somebody please enlighten those of us watching the Gameday http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . ~Bill

Not sure. I would guess that this is just an attempt to get Brady Clark some playing time... hopefully JP will let us know if there's something more to it. Who else is going to take a nice long lunch today? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif ~Bill

Here are today's lineups: ARIZONA AT MILWAUKEE -- LINEUPS ARIZONA MILWAUKEE AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Steve Finley CF .182 1 4 Scott Podsednik CF .286 3 8 Matt Kata 2B .345 0 2 Craig Counsell SS .229 1 4 Luis Gonzalez LF .278 4 9 Junior Spivey 2B .309 2 12 Richie Sexson 1B .204 5 13 Geoff Jenkins LF .279 2 11 Alex Cintron SS .275 1 6 Lyle Overbay 1B .250 2 9 Danny Bautista RF .360 2 7 Wes Helms 3B .239 1 5 Chad Tracy 3B .000 0 0 Brady Clark RF .333 3 7 Rob Hammock C .000 0 0 Gary Bennett C .316 1 5 Brandon Webb RHP .250 0 2 Wes Obermueller RHP .500 0 1 (1-1, 3.00) (1-1, 6.43) EDIT: SlideBernieSlide beat me to it, but this has the Dbacks, too. ~Bill

Keith Ginter has 23 at-bats in the Brewer's first 15 games. That puts him on pace to get 248 at-bats this season. That's not real close to the 400-500 mark that Nedly established before the season, is it? Either Spivey's going to get traded or Ginter's going to have a hard time breaking thru the 300 AB barrier. Discuss. ~Bill

I think you nailed that lineup. Furthermore, I am really starting to wonder if Helms should be starting. I have been defending him for a long time but Ginter is a better player. Keith needs to start over Wes. I think we should alert the proper authorities... somebody has hacked into scoop's computer!!! Just kidding... I'm glad you're finally coming around. There's room for everyone on the Keith Ginter bandwagon http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . ~Bill

The Crew's hitters have been pretty not-good against Randy Johnson in their careers. H/AB AVG OBA SLG OPS -------------------------------------------------- Gary Bennett 2/10 .200 .200 .200 .400 Keith Ginter 1/7 .143 .143 .143 .286 Wes Helms 0/9 .000 .000 .000 .000 Scott Podsednik 0/4 .000 .000 .000 .000 Billy Hall 0/1 .000 .000 .000 .000 The three exceptions are: H/AB AVG OBA SLG OPS -------------------------------------------------- Brady Clark 3/3 1.000 1.000 1.333 2.333 Geoff Jenkins 4/6 .667 .667 .833 1.500 Ben Grieve 1/3 .333 .500 .333 .833 I thought Brady Clark only roughed up the Reds and Pirates? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif It'll be the first time the new Brewerbacks (I really hate that moniker, by the way) face Johnson, obviously. On the other side, Doug Davis has been masterful against the D-backs hitters. The eleven players on their roster with experience against him have combined to go 8 for 43, good for a .195 batting average and a .623 OPS. If Davis pitches well, it should be a good game. Johnson isn't the same pitcher he was five years ago and the Brewers should be able to increase his pitch counts enough to send him to the showers rather early. He's thrown 114 pitches in 6 innings, 111 pitches in 7 innings, and 116 pitches in 9 innings in his three starts thus far. Hopefully the Brewers can duplicate that first number so they can get three innings to hammer the Dbacks relief corps. Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled game thread, ~Bill

Sweet picture care of the Journal Sentinel: http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/sports/brew/img/apr04/4brew420.jpg ~Bill

This is one of the better two-person feuds we've had on BrewerFan in a while. Nicely done, fellas http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . ~Bill

Robert Portnoy, our man behind the mike, reports that the Milwaukee Brewers television network will be starting a farm report before every game and their first request was information on Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks. They also requested info on other Stars prospects. The Brewers broadcast team was also interested in excerpts of the Stars pre-game show....... Boy, I'm surprised no one thought of that before. It's not like Jim Powell has been doing a "Down on the Farm Report" for years, right? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif Still a good idea, just a little late coming is all. I just hope Bill Schroeder doesn't do the "analysis" and talk about how all of our hitters need to "be more aggressive" and "swing earlier in the count". Japanese journalists were at Pringles Park tonight, also interested in Fielder and Weeks. That's just weird. ~Bill

I'm going to go ahead and declare this the most off-topic game thread ever. Here's a couple game-related things to discuss: 1> Booing Richie Sexson would be about the stupidest thing I've ever heard a Brewer fan do. I mean seriously, he didn't do anything to draw our ire. 2> Keith Ginter is batting .391/.481/.696/1.177. Yeah it's a small sample, but that's just beautiful to look at. He's just a utility player and "at best a backup second baseman," though, right? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif ~Bill

Harsh. What a total buzzkill, man. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif ~Bill

To answer my own question from a while ago, RHP Greg Bruso is rehabbing a sore throwing shoulder. Tahoe Daily Tribune, "Bruso mending tender shoulder," Byline Steve Yingling, April 15: www.tahoedailytribune.com.../-1/SPORTS "Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll be throwing," Bruso said. "It'll take four to five weeks to get back into pitching shape, so I'll be here a month and a half at least ... it could take longer if there isn't a spot open for me." Very good article - worth a read. ~Bill

Grieve's signing would become silly if he was benched or released this early into the season. He is no-doubt a Butch Wynegar reclamation project... if we want to see results, we have to give that relationship some considerable time and wait it out. That was a strategic decision on the Nugget Miner's part - he felt that regular playing time, a no-pressure environment, and Butch Wynegar's tutelage would likely result in a return to form by Grieve. You've got to give him at least a few hundred at-bats before you can legitimately decide that the experiment has failed. We knew what we were getting into going in, so complaining about it already seems odd to me. I realize some people weren't (and aren't) in favor of the acquisition, but that's a different issue entirely. We've made our bed, and now we have to sleep in it. The only way I see Grieve losing playing time is if we acquire another outfielder in trade or via waivers.... absent that, I think we'll see Grieve get 3/4ths of the starts until at least June. $.02, ~Bill

That was 2002-esque. I mean, seriously... everybody's entitled to a bad game now and then, but this was pathetic. Podsednik sure is swinging the bat well, though... I just hope he doesn't get homer-happy and start yanking first pitches into right all the time. And Billy Hall looks like the "old" Billy Hall again, unfortunately. He needs playing time desperately, but the way he played today was certainly not something he should add to his resume. And Ginter is, of course, the man. Couldn't leave that out, could I? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif ~Bill

Nice job, JayBird! Very well written article... congratulations! ~Bill

Rancho Cucamongo (Angels) 11, High Desert 8 Can't sleep so here's your late-night/early-morning Mavericks fix. Dan Boyd had a nice evening, racking up 3 hits (a single, a double, and a triple) in 4 at-bats to go along with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. Chris Morris (the DH) and Callix Crabbe, the Mavs' 1-2 combo at the top of the order, drew 3 walks each and both stole 2 bases. Ryan Costello wants a mulligan, 'cause those 9 earned runs in 3 and a third don't look real pretty. Forrest Martin did well in relief, allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits in 4 and two-thirds. He also struck out 7, which is kind of amazing. This Rancho team played ugly - 3 errors and 9 walks. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to give the Good Guys the win. Bo Hall goes tomorrow for the Mavs. HDMavs.com Game Summary: The High Desert Mavericks nearly finished a remarkable seven-run comeback but fell short in late innings, as the Mavs dropped an 11-8 decision to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Wednesday night before 1,003 at Mavericks Stadium. Rancho Cucamonga leftfielder David Gates provided the difference for the Quakes, going 3-for-5 on the evening with two homers and five RBI?s. Down 10-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Mavs (2-5) spotted five runs on the board to rock Rancho Cucamonga starter Phil Wilson and reliever Ozzie Lugo (1-0). After back-to-back walks by Chris Morris and Callix Crabbe to leadoff the inning, Jeff Eure cashed the runners in on a two-run triple to right field, cutting the Rancho lead to 10-5. Travis Hinton knocked in Eure on a slow-rolling infield single down the third-base line to cut the lead to four, chasing Wilson from the ballgame. Dan Boyd greeted Lugo by smashing an RBI triple to right, cutting the Quakes lead to 10-7. Kennard Bibbs finished off the five-run flurry with an RBI sacrifice fly to left. Rancho Cucamonga (4-2) added a run in the eighth but the Mavericks threatened again in the last two innings, putting two runners on base in each frame before Quakes closer Richard Thompson earned his second save on the season by putting out the Mavs? fire. In fact, High Desert spotted runners on second and third with nobody out in the ninth, when Thompson proceeded to retire Scott Candelaria on a popout, and fanning Kennard Bibbs and John Vandenburg. The Mavericks staked a 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI fielder?s choice by Eure, and Gates followed by putting Rancho out front 2-1 in the second on a mammoth two-run homer off High Desert starter Ryan Costello (0-2). Rancho picked up four more runs in the third, three off the bat of Michael Napoli?s three-run homer to left off Costello. High Desert answered with two more runs in the bottom of the inning, when Chris Morris scored on an error by Wilson and Travis Hinton forced Callix Crabbe home on a double-play grounder. Gates then hit his second homer of the night in the fourth to increase the Rancho lead to 10-3, a two-run shot to left. High Desert attempts to salvage a series split with Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday night, when Bo Hall takes the hill for the Mavs against the Quakes? Joe Saunders. High Desert Box Score: RANCHO CUCAMONGA 11 AT HIGH DESERT 8 YTD YTD RANCHO CUCAMONGA AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG R.Willits CF 2 2 1 1 .182 C.Morris DH 2 3 0 0 .250 R.Melgarejo RF 5 1 1 0 .360 C.Crabbe 2B 2 2 1 0 .400 E.Aybar SS 5 0 1 0 .435 J.Eure 3B 5 1 1 3 .259 M.Napoli CAT 4 2 1 3 .429 T.Frost 1B 4 1 1 1 .263 G.Porter DH 3 2 1 0 .316 P.Rasmusen PR 0 0 0 0 .125 D.Gates LF 5 2 3 5 .333 D.Boyd LF 4 1 3 1 .423 J.Turner 1B 5 0 0 0 .059 S.Candelaria RF 5 0 0 0 .250 A.Pavkovich 3B 3 2 2 0 .333 K.Bibbs CF 4 0 1 1 .222 B.Weed 2B 3 0 0 0 .375 J.Vanden ber CAT 4 0 2 0 .333 P.Wilson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 O.Chavez SS 4 0 0 0 .185 O.Lugo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Costello PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Bilke PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Martin PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Thompson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 11 10 9 TOTALS 34 8 9 6 RANCHO CUCAMONGA 0 2 4 4 0 0 0 1 0-11 10 3 HIGH DESERT 1 0 2 0 5 0 0 0 0- 8 9 1 E--E.Aybar, B.Weed, P.Wilson, R.Costello. DP--RANCHO CUCAMONGA 2, HIGH DESERT 1. LOB--RANCHO CUCAMONGA 5, HIGH DESERT 9. 2B--G.Porter (2), A.Pavkovich 2 (4), D.Boyd (2). 3B--J.Eure (1), D.Boyd (1). HR-- M.Napoli (2), D.Gates 2 (3). SB--R.Willits 2 (3), M.Napoli (1), C.Morris 2 (8), C.Crabbe 2 (5). CS--R.Willits, D.Boyd. HBP--G.Porter. SF--K.Bibbs. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA RANCHO CUCAMONGA P.Wilson 4.0 5 7 7 6 2 0 10.57 O.Lugo (W,1-0) 2.0 2 1 1 1 2 0 4.50 A.Bilke 1.2 1 0 0 1 0 0 4.50 R.Thompson (S,2) 1.1 1 0 0 1 2 0 8.10 HIGH DESERT R.Costello (L,0-2) 3.1 5 9 9 5 4 2 21.94 F.Martin 4.2 4 2 2 2 7 1 2.79 N.Slack 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.00 HB--R.Costello. WP--R.Costello. BALKS--R.Costello 2. SO--R.Willits, R.Melgarejo 2, M.Napoli, G.Porter, D.Gates, J.Turner 3, A.Pavkovich, B.Weed 2, J.Eure, S.Candelaria, K.Bibbs, J.Vanden ber, O.Chavez 2. BB--R.Willits 3, M.Napoli, G.Porter, A.Pavkovich, B.Weed, C.Morris 3, C.Crabbe 3, T.Frost, D.Boyd, J.Vanden ber. T--3:15. A--1003High Desert Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=17888 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 4 2 .667 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 4 2 .667 LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 4 3 .571 .5 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 4 3 .571 .5 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 2 5 .286 2.5[/b]

Final: High Desert 8, Lancaster (Diamondbacks) 2 High Desert salvages a victory for the organization with an excellent win. Froilan Villanueva went yard at the Hanger and Nick Neugebauer is pitching tomorrow. How sweet is that? High Desert Box Score: GAME DATE: 4/11/04 HD at LNC HIGH DESERT 8 AT LANCASTER 2 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG LANCASTER AB R H BI AVG P.Rasmusen DH 4 1 1 0 .200 J.Ball RF 5 0 1 0 .400 C.Crabbe 2B 3 1 0 0 .385 K.De renne 2B 5 0 2 1 .267 J.Eure 3B 4 1 3 1 .375 C.Jackson LF 4 0 1 0 .333 D.Boyd LF 3 1 1 0 .375 J.D'Antona 3B 4 0 0 0 .313 S.Candelaria RF 4 1 2 2 .375 D.Tosca DH 2 0 0 0 .500 J.Frost 1B 4 1 0 0 .000 P.Avlas CAT 4 0 2 0 .700 T.Frost 1B 0 0 0 0 .364 M.Santana 1B 3 1 1 0 .313 C.Morris CF 3 1 1 1 .267 B.Simon CF 4 0 1 0 .250 K.Bibbs CF 0 0 0 0 .200 A.Haley SS 4 1 2 1 .500 O.Chavez SS 4 0 1 1 .313 K.Whatley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Villanueva CAT 4 1 1 2 .250 J.Wechsler PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Hall PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.McMachen PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 K.Ballouli PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 33 8 10 7 TOTALS 35 2 10 2 HIGH DESERT 0 2 1 0 0 2 2 1 0- 8 10 0 LANCASTER 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1- 2 10 3 E--C.Jackson, P.Avlas, K.Whatley. DP--HIGH DESERT 1, LANCASTER 2. LOB--HIGH DESERT 4, LANCASTER 10. 2B--J.Eure (1), S.Candelaria 2 (2). 3B--K.De renne (1). HR--F.Villanueva (1). SB--J.Eure (1), C.Morris 2 (3), C.Jackson (1). CS--O.Chavez, D.Tosca. HBP--P.Rasmusen, D.Boyd. SH--C.Crabbe. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT B.Hall 4.0 5 1 1 3 4 0 2.25 K.Ballouli (W,1-1) 4.0 3 0 0 1 2 0 6.00 N.Slack 1.0 2 1 1 0 1 0 4.50 LANCASTER K.Whatley (L,0-1) 5.1 7 5 3 2 5 1 5.06 J.Wechsler 1.2 2 2 1 0 1 0 5.40 C.McMachen 2.0 1 1 1 1 2 0 4.50 HB--K.Whatley, C.McMachen. SO--P.Rasmusen, C.Crabbe, D.Boyd, J.Frost 2, C.Morris, O.Chavez, F.Villanueva, J.Ball 3, C.Jackson, D.Tosca, P.Avlas, M.Santana. BB--C.Crabbe, J.Eure, C.Morris, C.Jackson, D.Tosca 2, M.Santana. T--2:38. A--1182High Desert Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=19008

Bill, I am a little confused. The box score shows all of Parker's runs being earned. Can you help me out? I think they really were earned... reading the game log, there were a couple wild pitches and strange plays (in terms of how many bases runners advanced), though, so I'm not sure. ~Bill

Final: Montgomery (Devil Rays) 9, Huntsville 7 Oh-for-two so far... not good. Brad Nelson is my hero again, though. Game Story: Huntsville, AL (Sports Network) - B.J. Upton went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI to lead the Montgomery Biscuits over Huntsville 9-7. Huntsville committed three errors and allowed three unearned runs in the top of the ninth, helping Montgomery take the final game of the series. Carlos Hines (1-0) got the win for Montgomery. Hines threw three innings, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out one. Mike Jones (0-1) took the loss for Huntsville. Jones allowed five runs on eight hits in four innings of work. Brad Nelson, Brandon Gemoll, and Alex Delgado all homered in the loss for Huntsville. Huntsville will host Carolina tomorrow night at 8:05 ET, while Montgomery will travel to Birmingham. HuntsvilleStars.com Game Story: Despite three more Stars homers, the Biscuits secured their first-ever win on Easter Sunday at Joe Davis Stadium. The Biscuits (1-3) banged out 11 hits and knocked off Huntsville, 9-7, for the first Montgomery professional baseball victory in 24 years. The Stars (3-1) have now homered nine times in their first four games. Trailing 5-1 in the seventh, Huntsville mounted a threat against reliever Carlos Hines. Brad Nelson singled on the infield and Chris Barnwell?s ground ball forced out Nelson at second. Brandon Gemoll followed with a first-pitch, two-run homerun to right, his first of the season. In the eighth, Enrique Cruz doubled to right, took second on Johnny Raburn?s sacrifice bunt and scored on Ryan Knox?s second sacrifice fly of the game, trimming the Biscuits? lead to 5-4. Two Stars errors helped Montgomery score four runs, three unearned, in a fateful ninth-inning rally. Pitcher Brian Adams? throwing error on a sacrifice bunt and Cruz?s misplay of a chopper hit by Brian Martin brought Huntsville?s season error total to 12 in four games. Huntsville?s miscues finally caught up with them Sunday. In the home ninth, the Stars? bats continued to smoke. With one down, Brad Nelson launched a solo bomb to dead-center, his second homer in as many days, doubling his homer output over 39 games in Huntsville last season. One out later, Gemoll singled to right for his first multi-hit game this year, and Alex Delgado launched a two-run shot to right, his first of the season. The ninth-inning fireworks ended there, as Josh Parker fanned Cruz to seal the game. Hines (1-0) notched the win in relief, giving up two runs on three hits with no walks and one strikeout in three innings. Mike Jones (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering five runs on eight hits and two walks while fanning one over four innings. Huntsville resumes play Monday night in a rematch of the 2003 Southern League Championship Series. The Carolina Mudcats (2-2), defending league champs, visit Joe Davis stadium for a three-game series. In the opener, Stars righty Chris Saenz makes his 2004 debut against Mudcats right-hander Peter Bauer, also making his first start of the year. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Box Score: GAME DATE: 4/11/04 MTG at HVL MONTGOMERY 9 AT HUNTSVILLE 7 YTD YTD MONTGOMERY AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG J.Gathright CF 4 2 1 0 .400 A.Gwynn CF 2 1 1 0 .250 B.Upton DH 5 0 3 3 .400 J.Raburn RF 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Velazquez 1B 5 1 1 1 .294 R.Knox CF 0 0 0 1 .364 J.Salas 3B 5 1 1 0 .294 R.Knox RF 2 0 0 1 .364 B.Martin RF 5 0 0 0 .071 P.Fielder 1B 4 0 0 0 .143 A.Clark LF 5 0 0 0 .000 R.Weeks 2B 4 0 0 0 .375 F.Cortez 2B 3 1 0 0 .077 B.Nelson LF 4 1 2 1 .444 I.Franco CAT 4 1 4 0 .364 C.Barnwell 3B 3 1 0 0 .071 R.Cancel PR 0 1 0 0 .167 B.Gemoll DH 4 2 2 2 .273 R.Cancel CAT 0 0 0 0 .167 A.Delgado CAT 4 1 1 2 .143 N.Perez SS 3 2 1 1 .250 E.Cruz SS 4 1 2 0 .417 W.Glen PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Jones PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Hines PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Stewart PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Coose PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Pruett PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Novinsky PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Parker PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 39 9 11 5 TOTALS 31 7 8 7 MONTGOMERY 1 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 4- 9 11 0 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 3- 7 8 3 E--E.Cruz, M.Jones, B.Adams. DP--MONTGOMERY 0, HUNTSVILLE 1. LOB-- MONTGOMERY 6, HUNTSVILLE 2. 2B--B.Upton (2), J.Salas (2), I.Franco (1), E.Cruz (1). HR--B.Nelson (2), B.Gemoll (1), A.Delgado (1). SB-- F.Cortez (1), A.Gwynn (4). CS--E.Cruz. SF--R.Knox 2. SH--N.Perez, J.Raburn. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA MONTGOMERY W.Glen 4.0 1 1 1 2 2 0 2.25 C.Hines (W,1-0) 3.0 3 2 2 0 1 1 3.60 A.Coose 0.2 1 1 1 0 0 0 16.20 J.Pruett 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 J.Parker 1.0 3 3 3 0 1 2 16.20 HUNTSVILLE M.Jones (L,0-1) 4.0 8 5 5 2 1 0 11.25 P.Stewart 2.0 1 0 0 0 4 0 6.00 B.Adams 2.1 1 2 1 0 1 0 2.70 J.Novinsky 0.2 1 2 0 0 1 0 0.00 WP--W.Glen, J.Novinsky 2. SO--J.Gathright, J.Salas, B.Martin, A.Clark 2, F.Cortez, N.Perez, A.Gwynn, P.Fielder, C.Barnwell, E.Cruz 2. BB-- J.Gathright, F.Cortez, A.Gwynn, C.Barnwell. T--2:45. A--791Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=11951

Final: Richmond (Braves) 4, Indianapolis 3 Not great, but good for De La Rosa. Double and a walk for J.J. Two doubles and a walk for Nunnally. Game Story: Richmond, VA (Sports Network) - Richmond came back from a three run deficit to beat Indianapolis 4-3 in International League action. Down 3-0, Richmond answered back with one in the fourth and one in the fifth to close the gap to one run. In the bottom of the seventh Joe DePastino singled home Pete Orr to tie the score. Damon Hollins followed with a sacfrice fly to take the lead. DePastino finished the game 4-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored. Jorge Velandia finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Braves. Indianapolis' Joe Nunnally provided the offense today by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two doubles and one RBI. Richmond's Buddy Hernandez (1-1) got his first win of the season by pitching two innings and not surrendering a run. Matt Whiteside pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his second save of the season. Indianapolis' Matt Parker (0-1) pitched 3.2 innigs of relief and gave up three runs, none earned, on seven hits to pick up his first loss of the season. Box Score: GAME DATE: 4/11/04 IND at RMD INDIANAPOLIS 3 AT RICHMOND 4 YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG RICHMOND AB R H BI AVG L.Figueroa LF 1 0 0 0 .000 P.Orr 3B 4 1 1 0 .222 L.Figueroa CF 4 0 0 0 .000 J.Velandia SS 4 2 2 0 .231 J.Hardy SS 4 1 1 0 .105 R.Branyan LF 2 0 1 0 .444 J.Nunnally LF 3 2 2 1 .500 J.Depastino CAT 4 1 4 2 .750 D.Krynzel CF 0 0 0 0 .083 D.Hollins RF 3 0 0 1 .143 C.Coste CAT 4 0 0 0 .222 L.Evans 1B 3 0 0 0 .125 J.Liefer 1B 4 0 1 1 .333 N.Green 2B 4 0 2 0 .231 C.Hart RF 3 0 1 1 .500 R.Langerhans CF 3 0 1 1 .091 S.Sheldon 3B 4 0 0 0 .182 B.Hernandez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Scarbrough 2B 4 0 2 0 .286 W.Betemit PH 1 0 0 0 .000 M.Childers PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Whiteside PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.De La Rosa PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 R.Aguilar PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 M.Parker PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 R.Jackson PH 1 0 0 0 .143 M.Erickson 2B 1 0 0 0 .067 R.Glynn PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Thomas CF 2 0 0 0 .250 TOTALS 34 3 7 3 TOTALS 32 4 11 4 INDIANAPOLIS 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0- 3 7 0 RICHMOND 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 X- 4 11 1 E--L.Evans. DP--INDIANAPOLIS 2, RICHMOND 0. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 8, RICHMOND 8. 2B--J.Hardy (1), J.Nunnally 2 (2), S.Scarbrough (1). CS--N.Green. SF--D.Hollins. SH--J.De La Rosa. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS J.De La Rosa 3.1 3 1 1 2 4 0 2.70 M.Parker (L,0-1) 3.2 7 3 3 1 3 0 7.36 M.Childers 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 RICHMOND R.Aguilar 4.0 7 3 3 0 4 0 6.75 R.Glynn 2.0 0 0 0 1 5 0 0.00 B.Hernandez (W,1-1) 2.0 0 0 0 2 2 0 4.50 M.Whiteside (S,2) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 WP--M.Parker 2, R.Glynn. SO--L.Figueroa, J.Hardy, J.Nunnally, C.Coste 2, C.Hart, S.Sheldon 3, S.Scarbrough, J.De La Rosa, M.Parker, P.Orr 2, R.Branyan, L.Evans, R.Langerhans 2, W.Betemit, R.Jackson. BB--J.Hardy, J.Nunnally, C.Hart, R.Branyan 2, L.Evans. T--2:44. A--2267Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=14047

And just curious, while I realize this is the "link" report, are box scores going to be posted within the threads themselves? I don't know about everyone else, but I really enjoyed having all of the box scores listed easily within one thread, especially when surfing at home on my painfully slow dial-up connection. I mentioned this on Thursday's report, I think, but as MassBrew pointed out the new box scores are only on SportsNetwork's site. Unfortunately, they're HTML tables and not plain text and so it would take a whole lot of time to copy them over to the threads. I'm still hoping we can find alternative sources that can be copied-and-pasted, but nothing yet. ~Bill

Final: Lancaster (Diamondbacks) 5, High Desert 4 I totally jinxed them with the premature in-game update... my bad. Forrest Martin owned the Jethawks, allowing 1 run on 3 hits in 5 innings, striking out 3 and walking 2. Ryan Costello, the Minor League Rule 5 pickup, came on in the sixth and got the loss after shoddy defense allowed three runs to score. The Jethawks loaded the bases in the sixth with two outs but Costello got someone to popup to short right center. Unfortunately, the trio of Callix Crabbe, Kenard Bibbs, and Scott Candelaria (2B, CF, and RF respectively) looked at each other and let the ball drop for a hit, scoring 3 to tie the game. The Jethawks added another run and held on to eek out a 5-4 win. I wanted to make sure to add that the Mavericks new play-by-play man, Roxy Bernstein, is a pleasant surprise. I was a huge fan of Mike Lindskog but Roxy is very talented... he's polished, well-prepared, consistent, and easy on the ears. Come to think of it, he reminds me a lot of Robert Portnoy, the excellent broadcaster for the Stars. Good stuff! More details pending. ~Bill

Final: Huntsville 9, Montgomery (Devil Rays) 7 Good to see Prince, Nelson, and Cruz go deep... this team is amazin'. Apologies for the incorrect score first time around - I switched over to the Mavs before the Seabiscuits (err, Biscuits http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif ) batted in the ninth. Game Story: Huntsville, AL (Sports Network) - Prince Fielder belted two home runs and Brad Nelson and Enrique Cruz each homered once as the Huntsville Stars opened the season with their third straight win, a 9-7 victory over the Montgomery Biscuits Saturday afternoon before 1,732 fans. Tim Bausher recorded his first win of the season in relief with three innings of shutout ball. Bausher surrendered just two hits, fanned five and walked two, and Roberto Giron notched his second save of the season. Jarod Matthews suffered the loss and was hit hard in his first start of the season, allowing five earned runs in six innings of work. Fielder, who had entered the game hitless on the season, wasted little time in belting a solo home run in the first inning and belting a two-run shot five innings later. He finished with three runs scored and three RBI. Nelson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI, two of which came on a fourth inning blast. Cruz also contributed a solo homer in the fifth. Joey Gaithwright, who entered the game batting just .143, went 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while teammate B.J. Upton went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI, raising his total to a team-leading fifth of the season. The Stars will go for the sweep Sunday afternoon by sending Mike Jones to the hill, while the Biscuits counter with Willie Glenn. Box Score: GAME DATE: 4/10/04 MTG at HVL MONTGOMERY 7 AT HUNTSVILLE 9 YTD YTD MONTGOMERY AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG J.Gathright CF 4 2 4 0 .455 A.Gwynn CF 4 1 1 0 .200 B.Upton SS 5 2 2 2 .300 R.Knox LF 4 2 1 0 .444 J.Velazquez 1B 5 1 2 2 .333 P.Fielder 1B 3 3 2 3 .200 J.Salas 3B 5 0 1 0 .333 R.Weeks 2B 4 0 0 0 .500 A.German LF 4 0 0 0 .182 B.Nelson DH 4 2 2 3 .400 B.Martin PH 1 0 1 1 .111 C.Barnwell 3B 4 0 1 2 .091 R.Cancel CAT 4 1 2 0 .167 J.Belcher RF 3 0 0 0 .111 A.Clark RF 4 0 0 0 .000 J.Raburn RF 1 0 0 0 .000 C.Isenia DH 4 0 1 1 .250 A.Delgado CAT 3 0 0 0 .000 N.Perez PR 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Cruz SS 3 1 1 1 .375 N.Perez DH 1 0 0 0 .000 D.Sarfate PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Cortez 2B 3 1 0 0 .100 T.Bausher PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Matthews PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Rivard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Nunez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Giron PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Flinn PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 40 7 13 6 TOTALS 33 9 8 9 MONTGOMERY 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 3- 7 13 1 HUNTSVILLE 1 0 0 2 1 2 0 3 X- 9 8 2 E--B.Upton, R.Weeks, E.Cruz. DP--MONTGOMERY 0, HUNTSVILLE 0. LOB-- MONTGOMERY 10, HUNTSVILLE 1. 2B--J.Gathright (1), B.Upton (1), J.Velazquez (1), R.Cancel (1), A.Gwynn (1), C.Barnwell (1). HR-- P.Fielder 2 (2), B.Nelson (1), E.Cruz (1). SB--J.Gathright (2). YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA MONTGOMERY J.Matthews (L,0-1) 6.0 5 6 5 0 2 4 7.50 F.Nunez 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0.00 C.Flinn 1.0 3 3 3 1 2 0 27.00 HUNTSVILLE D.Sarfate 4.0 4 3 2 2 5 0 4.50 T.Bausher (W,1-0) 3.0 2 0 0 2 5 0 0.00 R.Rivard 1.1 7 4 3 0 1 0 20.25 R.Giron (S,2) 0.2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 WP--R.Rivard. SO--B.Upton, J.Velazquez 2, J.Salas, A.German 2, A.Clark 3, F.Cortez 3, R.Weeks, B.Nelson, C.Barnwell, J.Raburn, A.Delgado, E.Cruz. BB--J.Gathright, R.Cancel, A.Clark, F.Cortez, P.Fielder. T--2:42. A--1732Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=11950

I can't remember the last time I saw Sheets pitch that well... might be never. His fastball was consistently in the mid-90s and his curveball was nearly unhittable. He got ahead of hitters, kept the ball down in the zone, and didn't seem to lose his focus for even a batter. *That* was the ace we all wish we had... And this offense continues to impress. I just wish they could have been this dominant on opening day in front of the huge crowd. Still a great game, though... I'm sure we'll forget it by September, but I bet this is going to prove to be one of the team's best performances in 2004. Hop on the bandwagon, folks! ~Bill