Jim Goulart

STARS WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT WITH VICTORY OVER PENSACOLA Huntsville Stars PENSACOLA, FL. – On Thursday night, the Huntsville Stars edged out the Pensacola Blue Wahoos by a score of 3-2 at Blue Wahoos Park for their fifth consecutive victory. Trying to rebound from two straight losses, Pensacola took an early lead off of Stars starting pitcher Josh Stinson. In the second inning, left fielder Donald Lutz launched his second home run on the season over the right field wall to give the Blue Wahoos a 1-0 lead. In the third inning though, the Stars were able to even up the ballgame. With one out, center fielder Josh Prince doubled off of Blue Wahoos starter Daniel Corcino. As shortstop Tommy Manzella stepped into the batters box, Prince drew a balk from Corcino to take third base. Later on in the at-bat, Manzella singled home Prince to tie it up at 1-1. The score remained that way until the fourth inning where each team traded runs. In the top half of the frame, Stars left fielder Khris Davis hit a solo home run to put the Stars up 2-1. For Davis, the homer was his fourth in as many games and his seventh on the season. However, in the bottom half of the frame, David Vidal began the comeback for Pensacola with a one-out double. After advancing to third on a single by Lutz, a throwing error on a pickoff attempt by Stinson allowed Vidal to score to tie up the ballgame again. With the score remaining tied until the seventh inning, the Stars played some small ball for their last run. To begin the inning, third baseman Hainley Statia and right fielder Kentrail Davis led off with back-to-back singles. They then advanced to second and third respectively on an error by Pensacola shortstop Billy Hamilton on a Domnit Bolivar grounder. With the bases loaded, Prince put down a successful suicide squeeze that scored Statia to put Huntsville up for good. On the pitching side, Stinson improved to 11-5 on the season after giving up two runs and six hits in six innings of work. The win moved the 24-year-old righty into a tie for the league lead in victories with Tennessee Smokies starting pitcher Nick Struck. Aside from Stinson, the Stars got two innings of scoreless relief from RHP Darren Byrd and a scoreless ninth from RHP Brandon Kintzler for his sixth save on the year. For the Stars, their five straight wins is their second-longest winning streak of the season. The five straight wins on the road is their longest such streak away from Joe Davis Stadium this year. The Stars and Blue Wahoos will continue their series on Friday night with game four of a five-game set. First pitch is at 7:00 PM.

Undrafted free agent RHP Taylor Mangum (stats thus far), the American Fork, Utah and Utah Valley University product, tweeted that he's been bumped from Maryvale to Helena. We introduced you to Mangum upon his signing with the link to this article. The 23-year-old will be pitching for the home folks during an upcoming roadtrip.

Peralta strikes out career-high 11 Top Brewers prospect back in typical form in Nashville victory By Jonathan Raymond / Special to MLB.com July has far and away been Wily Peralta's best month, and his outing Thursday was just the gem to prove it. Peralta (6-9) struck out a career-high 11, scattering two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings in Triple-A Nashville's 7-3 win over Memphis. The right-hander's 11 punchouts bested his season high of eight from a May 1 win over Omaha. Those two are his only starts this year in which he's struck out more than six, after he fanned at least seven in all five of his outings with the Sounds at the end of last season. Thursday's effort represented the highlight to what's been a turnaround month for the Dominican Republic native. He ended June with a 5.94 ERA and since has managed to lower it just over one full run to 4.92. His 100 strikeouts in 106 innings are seventh-best in the Pacific Coast League. In five July outings, Peralta went 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 33 strikeouts while walking eight in 28 2/3 innings. It was his first month averaging at least a strikeout per inning after he struck out 157 in 150 2/3 innings between Nashville and Double-A Huntsville in 2011. This year proved difficult in the early going for Milwaukee's top prospect. He allowed five or more runs in four straight starts from May 17-June 1 and then allowed four in just two-thirds of an inning June 22 against Oklahoma City. But since then, he's thrown 34 1/3 frames across six starts for a 2.10 ERA with 37 strikeouts and 11 walks. That seemed more like the prospect who went 11-7 with a 3.17 ERA across 26 starts and two levels last year -- including a 2.03 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 31 innings after his callup to the Sounds. Overall, Peralta has managed to bring his ERA down from a high of 6.83, where it stood June 1 after he went 1-4 with an 8.78 ERA in May. In his first 13 starts this year, the 23-year-old was 1-8. In his next eight outings, he went 5-1. He also threw one inning of relief in the Majors for the Brewers earlier this year. On Thursday, third baseman Andy Gonzalez powered Nashville offensively, going 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. No. 15 Milwaukee prospect Caleb Gindl added a double, two walks and two runs scored. Wily Peralta went 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA in July for the Sounds. (Mike Strasinger/Nashville Sounds) http://www.milb.com/images/2012/07/27/UyrkyIRG.jpg

Wisconsin Media Notes

Via the Manatees: ROSTER MOVES: RHP Brooks Hall & OF Franklin Romero Jr. placed on DL. RHP Andy Moye & C Parker Berberet activated from DL. Hall was lifted after a shaky three innings on Wednesday. Hopefully a minor issue, good to see Moye back so quickly -- always a breath-holder with any sidelined pitcher.

Nashville Media Notes

LHP Mitch Stetter with an overdue bump from AA to AAA, via his own tweet.

To see tweets as to when the Link Report has been technically "completed" with available links, as well as to know when the new day's Report has been posted, please follow @Mass_Haas on Twitter.

STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League North Division High-A - Florida State League North Division A - Midwest League Western Division Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division Rookie - Arizona Summer League DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris Division *** NOTE: AAA Nashville does not play a split schedule. The other leagues, including the rookie leagues, do. When you click on a standings link for Huntsville, Brevard County or Wisconsin, you'll then be able to choose 1st half and/or overall standings in addition to the current 2nd half standings.

Follow Thursday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin DSL Brewers

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Wily Peralta at home vs. Memphis (Cardinals), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Jeff Hem is the new play-by-play voice of the Sounds; follow him on Twitter @jeffhempbp; we'll link to his blog updates at On the Air…and Off MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Nashville games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $39.99 season-long package ($9.99 to pay for a single month). We imagine the audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. ********** Huntsville: RHP Josh Stinson at Pensacola (Reds), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page Alex Cohen is the new play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. It's fantastic that Huntsville is returning to what will be a traditional broadcast format this year. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast. MiLB.TV subsciption note: Huntsville road games in four locales (Mississippi, Tennessee, Jacksonville and Pensacola) will be broadcast. ********** Brevard County: RHP Brandon Williamson at Fort Myers (Twins), 6:05 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Daytona feed from the MiLB main audio page Once again this season, Brevard does not have its own audio coverage. It appears two teams in the Manatees North Division (within which the majority of games are played) have audio, and all six teams in the South Division have audio (at least for their home games), so there will be opportunities to listen to approx. 70% or Brevard's games this season, just all from the opponent's perspective. There are no Florida State League games on MiLB.TV this year. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Chad Pierce at Kane County (Royals), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime Free Live Audio Link - 1280 AM WNAM Chris Mehring is back to do his customary fantastic work as the Voice of the Rattlers. Follow him on Twitter @CMehring; we'll link to Chris' infamous blog often -- Rattler Radio. MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; Wisconsin is one of only two (Great Lakes) Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV; Chris' call provides the audio. So for the $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, all Timber Rattlers home games, and Stars' road games from four Southern League locales, plus one July Helena series (11th-13th). ********** Helena: Idle ********** Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Idle ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Angels, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

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Local pitcher gets call up to majors By Marco Vigliotti, High River Times (Alberta, Canada) Assistant Editor Former Okotoks Dawgs RHP Jim Henderson is finally getting the chance to play in the majors after spending eight years in the minor league ranks and transforming into one of the Milwaukee Brewers’ top pitching prospects. Henderson, 29, was called up from the Nashville Sounds (AAA) Wednesday night. He is expected to be in the lineup for the Brewers when they play host to the NL leading Washington Nationals on Thursday night. Henderson phoned Okotoks Dawgs coach Brandon Newell to tell him about the major league call up late Wednesday night. The team immediately took to Twitter to announce the news. The Calgary native is in the midst of a breakout year with the Sounds, posting a 1.67 ERA and 15 saves in 35 appearances. Earlier in the month, Henderson was selected to the Pacific Coast League (PCL) All-Star team. The 6’5 relief pitcher helped Canada win baseball gold at the 2003 Pan-Am Games in the Dominican Republic. He played most of his youth baseball in the Okotoks Dawgs system. Henderson was selected in the 26th round by the now relocated Montreal Expos in the 2003 MLB amateur draft. He has played in the minors since 2003, mostly in the triple-A leagues. Coincidentally, Henderson is expected to make his MLB debut against the franchise he was originally drafted by. The Montreal Expos relocated to Washington and became the Nationals in 2005. Henderson’s name has been bandied about in Milwaukee baseball circles all season long as a possible solution for the team’s struggling bullpen. Their bullpen boasts a dreadfully .276 batting average against, and have given up 145 walks, the third most in the NL. The bullpen woes have required some intensive attention from the coaching staff, including a closed door meeting between the pitching staff and Brewers manager Ron Roenicke, early Wednesday morning. The Brewers currently sit nine games under .500 and have lost seven of their past ten games.

Jim Henderson to the bigs -- Oh, Canada! Tom Haudricourt with the back story... Major League thread for discussion on the topic

Jim Henderson to the bigs -- Oh, Canada! Tom Haudricourt with the back story... Major League thread for discussion on the topic

Some Huntsville photos in the Pensacola News-Journal gallery

Brevard County sweeps Daytona Cubs in doubleheader By Rob Ullery, Daytona Beach News Journal DAYTONA BEACH -- A glimmer of hope that the Daytona Cubs may be turning the corner in the second half was quickly dashed by the Brevard County Manatees on Wednesday. The Cubs snapped a four-game slide Tuesday with a 4-2 win over the host Manatees, then jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of a doubleheader Wednesday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. But then things came undone. The Manatees rallied for four runs in the top of the second inning and went on to sweep the Cubs 6-4 and 3-0 in a Florida State League matchup. "The first game, we had a couple of opportunities to break the game open and didn't," Daytona manager Brian Harper said. "Then the second game we just didn't get much going offensively." With the help of four walks, the Cubs (43-58, 13-20 in the second half) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opener, only to see the Manatees erase that -- and then some -- in the top of the second on a double, two singles and two walks. The teams traded home runs in the third inning. Reggie Keen drove a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall in the top of the inning to give the Manatees (48-53, 19-14) a 5-2 lead. Daytona's Rafael Lopez did him one better with a two-run shot -- his first of the season -- over the right-field fence in the bottom half to cut the deficit to 5-4. The Cubs missed a golden opportunity to erase the Manatees' 6-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth when they loaded the bases with no outs. Rebel Ridling and Lopez drew walks, then Elieser Boone laid down a perfect bunt down on the third-base line to load the bases. However, Taylor Davis hit a grounder to Manatees third baseman Mike Walker, who threw home to force one Cubs runner, then relayed to first baseman Jason Rogers to complete the double play. Tim Saunders then lined out to end the threat. Bonne went 4-for-4 with two doubles -- giving him nine for the season -- in the opener. "(I'm) more focused now on the game and on (my) swing," Bonne, who came into the game hitting .277, said through an interpreter. "I've been working with (my) hitting coach and with the coaches and (I'm) more focused now." In the nightcap, Brent Dean's two-run high chopper over a drawn-in Matt Cerda at third in the seventh inning was all the Manatees needed. Dean came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs. With the infield drawn in, he slapped a high chopper over the leaping third baseman that found its way into left field for the winning runs. Matt Szczur went 2-for-5 -- 2-for-3 in the second game -- with four stolen bases for the Cubs, giving him a league-leading 38 for the season. The Cubs stole six bases on the night to give them a league-best 152. Cubs starter Frank Del Valle allowed just one hit over five innings in the nightcap. He struck out four and walked three but left with a no-decision. "It was unfortunate we didn't win the first game, and the second one we just couldn't put the ball in play," Harper said. "It turned out to be a bad day, but we didn't play as bad as it looks."

Nashville's Wily Peralta was the pre-game guest with Joe Block of the Brewers

For those of you who visit the Link Report only via the Twitter link, keep in mind there are multiple feature threads on this Minor League Forum, including this post from last night on Huntsville RHP Darren Byrd, back home this week in Pensacola.

Second-chance kid Pine Forest grad Darren Byrd given new life by Brewers in Huntsville by Brady Aymond, Pensacola News Journal For a while, everything was going great for Pine Forest High graduate Darren Byrd. Byrd, selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 18th round of the MLB draft, was rapidly ascending the minor league ladder in the Phillies’ farm system. Then Philadelphia made back-to-back World Series appearances in 2008 and ’09 — winning it all in the first trip against the Tampa Bay Rays. Normally, that would be a good thing, especially for a pitcher in the Phillies’ farm system. But for Byrd, it was the exact opposite, as the club made wholesale changes after the 2009 season, one of which included releasing Byrd. Byrd spent a few weeks in the Independent Northern League with Fargo-Moorhead before the Milwaukee Brewers gave him another shot at his dream of playing in the big leagues. And Byrd has made the most of that second chance, as he’s currently pitching for the Double-A Huntsville Stars of the Southern League. Byrd and his Stars are in Pensacola for a five-game series against the Blue Wahoos, giving the native son a chance to see friends and family again and play at home for the first time in his professional career. “I haven’t been back here since February,” Byrd said. “This is my first time seeing the park. It’s nice, real nice.” Never in his wildest dreams did Byrd ever think he’d play professional baseball in his hometown. In fact, at one point, he was sort of hoping to avoid that option. “When I (was in high school) we had the Independent League team (Pensacola Pelicans) and I was hoping I’d never have to go that route,” Byrd said. “Once I heard they were opening a Double-A place here, I got excited about the chance to play here. “Obviously, my goal in spring training was to go to Triple-A, but once I knew I was going to be back in Double-A, I was excited that I was going to be able to play in front of some family and friends.” Despite the minor bump in the road, Byrd has made the most of his professional career. He’s in his eighth season and feels he’s on the right track. “I got off to a quick start and moved pretty fast with the Phillies,” Byrd said. “I had a couple of years in High-A, then they won the World Series and had a lot of changes. Unfortunately, I was a part of that. “I got an opportunity with the Brewers and I’m happy with where I’m at right now.” Byrd opened his career as a starting pitcher, but has transitioned into a reliever. He currently sports a 2-5 record with a 3.25 ERA and three saves. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-hander was virtually untouchable at the end of June as he put together five consecutive scoreless outings. He struck out nine batters in 5.1 innings of work during that stretch. “I’m happy with where I’m at,” Byrd said. “I know a lot of people don’t get the opportunity to play. Obviously, everyone’s goal is to play in the big leagues, and I feel like I’m still on the right path. “And I’m young enough that if I do get consistent with it, I think I have a chance.” As for now, Byrd is focused on helping Huntsville get through a five-game series with his hometown Blue Wahoos. Byrd had the night off on Tuesday as starter Hiram Birgos went the distance in a 6-1 win. Byrd had his Pensacola debut in Wednesday’s game and was welcomed by a warm ovation from the crowd. He worked a perfect eighth inning, which included a strikeout. “It’s exciting,” Byrd said. “You don’t get an opportunity like this often. I want to try to get everything taken care of early with tickets and everything so I can focus on playing when that’s over with. “I’ve already had quite a few (ticket requests). I know by the end of the week, there’s going to be a lot of people, probably about 20-30.” Pine Forest High graduate Darren Byrd was on the outside looking in at affiliated baseball following his release by the Philadelphia Phillies after the 2009 season. But Milwaukee gave him a chance the next year and Byrd is making the most of it as a member of the Double-A Huntsville Stars. / Bruce Graner Photo http://cmsimg.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DP&Date=20120726&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=307260016&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Second-chance-kid The Darren Byrd file • 2005 graduate of Pine Forest High School; selected by Philadelphia Phillies in the 18th round (No. 547 overall) of the 2005 MLB draft. • Went 3-1 with 2.66 ERA in 2005 with the Phillies’ Gulf Coast League rookie team. • Opened 2006 season in Gulf Coast League and went 2-1 with 3.22 ERA before being promoted to Short-Season A Batavia of the New York-Penn League. Went 2-0 with 2.30 ERA for Batavia. • Spent 2007 season with Low-A Lakewood of the South Atlantic League and compiled a 9-11 record with a 4.04 ERA. • Started 2008 in Lakewood and went 1-1 with 2.80 ERA before moving up to High-A Clearwater of the Florida State League. Was 4-8 with a 4.88 ERA for Clearwater. • Spent 2009 season in Clearwater, where he began his transition to a relief pitcher. Went 5-7 with one save and an ERA of 3.99 in 24 games. After the season, Byrd was released with a large group of other players as the Phillies made wholesale changes in the offseason. • After four games in the Independent League with Fargo-Moorhead, Byrd was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers and sent to High-A Brevard County of the Florida State League. Went 2-4 with 4.18 ERA in 13 games with Brevard. • Promoted to Double-A Huntsville in 2011 and went 5-3 with 2.95 ERA and one save in 41 appearances. • Currently 2-5 with 3.25 ERA and three saves in 36 appearances for Huntsville. Did you know? Darren Byrd was in the same draft class of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005 as former Blue Wahoos player Mike Costanzo. While Byrd was selected in the 18th round, Costanzo — now with the Cincinnati Reds’ Triple-A affiliate in Louisville — was selected in the second round. http://cmsimg.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DP&Date=20120726&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=307260016&Ref=H1&MaxW=300&Border=0&Second-chance-kid

Stars launch four homers in 6-2 win over Wahoos by Brady Aymond, Pensacola News Journal Balls were flying out of the yard with regularity Wednesday night at Pensacola’s bayfront stadium, and it wasn’t a good thing for the host Blue Wahoos. A night after hitting two home runs in a 6-1 win, the Huntsville Stars blasted four more homers in taking game two of the five-game series by a 6-2 margin in front of 4,631 at Community Maritime Park. Hunter Morris blasted two of those homers to up his season total to 18, helping the Stars improve to 50-52 overall and 15-17 in the second half of the Southern League season. The Wahoos (52-49) dropped to 18-14 in the second half to remain behind Montgomery in the South Division standings. “A couple of ballgames now that they’ve really swung the bat well and pitched well,” Wahoos manager Jim Riggleman said. “We’re just not really on the top of our game.” Pensacola right-hander Kyle Lotzkar (4-5, 5.32 ERA) continued to struggle in the second half of the season, giving up four runs and three homers in the loss. Lotzkar is 1-4 with a 9.67 ERA in his last seven starts. “His fastball was getting hit,” Riggleman said. “His breaking ball was extremely effective — that’s where he got his strikeouts. But his fastball, they were on it.” Billy Hamilton staked the Wahoos to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after drawing a leadoff walk, stealing second and advancing to third on an errant throw by the catcher on the steal. Hamilton scored on Bryson Smith’s infield single. The steal was Hamilton’s 113th of the season, keeping him on pace for Vince Coleman’s professional baseball record of 145 set in 1983 with Macon. But the Stars rallied, led by Morris, who clubbed solo homers off Lotzkar in the second and fourth innings. Kentrail Davis went back-to-back with Morris in the fourth as Huntsville scored three times to take control with a 4-1 lead. Lotzkar gave way to Wilkin De La Rosa in the fifth inning and the deep balls kept flying for the Stars, this one a solo shot by Khris Davis for a 5-1 lead. The Wahoos pulled to within three runs with an RBI single by Josh Fellhauer in the fifth, but the Stars got that run back in the top of the sixth with an RBI bunt single by Tommy Manzella. The teams will square off in the middle game of the five-game set at 7:05 p.m. today. Daniel Corcino (7-5, 3.25 ERA) is set to take the mound for the Wahoos in hopes of turning the series around. “It starts with pitching,” Riggleman said. “We just have to pitch good. Two nights in a row, we haven’t really pitched good, and if you want to win, you have to do that. Hopefully we’ll pitch better tomorrow.” The Blue Wahoos' Billy Hamilton slides safely under a high throw to Huntsville second baseman Scooter Gennett for steal No. 113 this season / Bruce Graner Photo http://cmsimg.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DP&Date=20120726&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=307260020&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Stars-launch-4-homers-6-2-win-over-Wahoos

Audio from Music City — “Talking Pitching with Fred Dabney” Jeff Hem's note -- Tonight’s interview is with Sounds pitching coach Fred Dabney, who discusses the Sounds’ pitching staff (ranked 4th in the PCL in team earned run average and 1st since June 1), including the progression this year from guys like Mark Rogers, Wily Peralta and Jim Henderson.

Nashville Sounds deal out the fun Card game allows players to relax in team's off hours by Greg Sullivan, The Tennessean Nashville pitching coach Fred Dabney needed a rally, but the Sounds’ game was more than an hour away. “Rally cap!” Dabney called out. Dabney wasn’t getting any good cards. His opponents in a clubhouse card game of pluck — outfielder Logan Schafer and first baseman Jordan Brown — hardly looked up to see him adjust his hat. “Haven’t you been wearing it like that the whole time?” Schafer asked Dabney. “We’re about to get even now,” Dabney said, laughing. Pluck, a spades-like card game, has been a staple for years in professional baseball clubhouses, allowing players to trash talk at one another, to let off steam and — just as important — kill time. “At home you hit batting practice first,” Schafer said. “You’re typically off the field much earlier so the visiting team gets to hit. You have a good two hours, and card games help pass the time.” Pluck, played in teams of two, is hands-down the most popular card game among the Sounds card players. Some of them refuse to play any other game. “You get to talk smack. That’s basically why we do anything,” Brown said. “To try to beat somebody, talk smack and make them feel small. That’s the whole reason why we play.” Getting to pick at Dabney is another reason. For players, it’s like getting to make your boss splash into the water at a company-picnic dunking booth. “I’ve never had a coach that’s played cards,” Brown said. “Any time we get in (the clubhouse) we like to go into the coach’s office and get him because he likes to get in on it. “Anyone that talks smack and can take it, that’s who you want to play with.” Dabney, who played pluck when he played professional baseball from 1988-96, said he enjoys playing cards just like the players. “Playing cards, having fun with the guys, killing time, that’s what it’s all about, but you can get a lot accomplished,” Dabney said. “I ask my main questions to the guys every now and then, sneak ’em in, see how everybody’s feeling. We did more card-playing in my playing days. You learned how people think.” The 44-year-old former Sounds pitcher still gets in some of the better jabs, as well. “(Outfielder) Caleb Gindl was around the table (in Memphis) and he was looking at us playing,” Dabney said. “He was like, ‘Oh, do this. You should’ve done this, done that ...’ He did that for 15 or 20 minutes so I finally looked at him and said, ‘What are you, the Pluck Whisperer?’ ” Who is the best pluck player? “Me. Of course,” Gindl said, smiling. “They are calling me the Pluck Whisperer.” “Hey, you know we were kidding when we called you that right?” Brown said. “I wasn’t kidding. I haven’t seen you beat me yet, Browny,” Gindl said. “I don’t think there’s a day we haven’t played. We play on the plane sometimes. We play in the airport. We play at 6 o’clock in the morning sometimes.” All the Sounds who play pluck said the game is something that’s picked up when a baseball player becomes a professional. It seems to be therapeutic. Second baseman Eric Farris said the pluck games can be entertainment for all the players in the clubhouse, even the ones who don’t play cards. “I don’t even know what’s going on, but it’s fun to see how those guys get,” Farris said. From left, Sounds players Jordan Brown, Andy Gonzalez and Logan Schafer as well as pitching coach Fred Dabney play a card game called pluck while they wait for game time. The card game has become a hit in the team's locker room. John Partipilo / The Tennessean http://cmsimg.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DN&Date=20120726&Category=SPORTS04&ArtNo=307260054&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Nashville-Sounds-deal-out-fun

Brewers comeback and defeat Ogden 9-6 Helena Brewers For three and a half innings it appeared as though the Ogden Raptors would cruise for an easy victory at Kindrick Legion Field. However, the Brewers tallied five runs in the bottom of the fourth and never looked back winning 9-6. In the bottom of the fourth, the Brewers loaded the bases thanks to singles by Adam Giacalone and Michael Turay, which were followed by an error by Ogden third baseman Alex Santana. Ruben Ozuna then brought the Brewers back into the game when he blasted a 2-0 pitch for a bases clearing triple. Ozuna finished the game going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. The Brewers finished the contest plating nine runs, seven of which were unearned. The Raptors committed four errors Wednesday evening, two of which were charged to Santana. Pitcher Kazuki Nishijima was also charged with an error on a pickoff attempt as well as Malcom Holland on a grounder. In addition to the error, Nishijima was credited with his first loss of the season dropping his record to 5-1. For Helena, Brent Suter poured in another solid outing. The lefty threw five innings allowing no earned runs and just one hit. The performance improved Suter's record to 3-2 and dropped his ERA to 4.40. Also of note, Giacalone clubbed his first professional home run. Friday, the Brewers will head on the Billings Mustangs for the first game in a three game series. First pitch is slated for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

'Tees blank Cubs to sweep twin bill Brevard scores three in the seventh to break scoreless tie By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - A two-run single by Brent Dean in the bottom of the seventh broke a scoreless tie as the Brevard County Manatees shut out the Daytona Cubs, 3-0 in the second game of Wednesday night's doubleheader at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The Manatees have played three doubleheaders in the month of July and have swept all three. Eric Marzec (1-2, 2.45) got the spot start for the 'Tees (19-14 second half, 48-53 overall) and blanked Daytona (13-20, 43-58) for five innings as he allowed just two hits and two walks, while fanning five. In his two spot starts this season, Marzec has thrown nine scoreless innings and has allowed just four hits, while striking out 11 hitters. Daytona starter Frank Del Valle was just as impressive as he allowed one hit and three walks in five innings of work. With Cubs closer Scott Weismann entering the game in the top of the seventh, Brock Kjeldgaard greeted him with a single to left to lead off the inning. Cody Hawn then singled to right to put two on with no outs. Hector Gomez then stepped in and was trying to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but Weismann got behind on him and Daytona decided to walk Gomez and set up a force at any base. Dean would make the Cubs regret that decision as he chopped a single to left field that scored Kjeldgaard and Hawn and gave Brevard a 2-0 lead. After a sacrifice bunt from Nick Shaw, the 'Tees would manufacture another run on a sacrifice fly by Reggie Keen to make it 3-0. Alan Williams, who entered the game in the sixth and threw a scoreless inning, looked to end the evening in the seventh. After allowing a one-out walk, Williams would do just that as he retired the side and the Manatees evened up their season series with the Cubs 8-8. Brevard County will now hit the road for a four-game series with the Fort Myers Miracle (16-18, 44-57), beginning on Thursday night at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). The Manatees took three of four from the Miracle in the middle of May. Brandon Williamson (2-7, 6.71) will get the ball for the 'Tees in the series opener. In his only other start against Fort Myers, Williamson allowed just one unearned run in five innings of work and struck out five back on May 19. The Miracle will counter with Tom Stuifbergen (3-3, 5.34). Stuifbergen has not been defeated in his last five starts. The 'Tees have swept three twin bills in July. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography) http://www.milb.com/images/2012/07/25/ygR7yPxj.jpg