Jim Goulart

Looks like all three streakers mentioned here maxed out at 14 on the season thus far. Oh joy...three-way ties...

Final: @Helena 7, Ogden 4 Helena closer locks up victory vs. Ogden by Amber Kuehn, Helena Independent Record Twice he was down to the final strike. Twice he hit batters to load the bases. But with Ogden bringing the potential go-ahead run to the plate, Sean Albury kept a cool demeanor. The Helena Brewers closer worked out of a jam, striking out Alexis Aguilar to extinguish the Raptors’ rally and help Helena win 7-4 Tuesday at Kindrick Legion Field. “You got your guy that’s been getting it done, five saves on the year for him, so he’s the guy you want out there to finish up a ballgame,” said Brewers manager Joe Ayrault. “In baseball it’s never easy. Any win is never easy.” Albury inherited a pair of base runners in the ninth when he entered in relief of Mark Williams, who was making his Helena debut. Williams struck out the side in the eighth, but struggled with his command for much of the ninth. After Ben McMahan made a sliding catch in left field for the second out of the inning, Albury hit back-to-back Raptors on 0-2 counts. “As a pitcher you want to be dependable, you don’t want to give up those runs,” Albury said. “There’s a ton of pressure. I hit two guys, but you stay focused and get the job done.” Dependable is what Albury’s been all season. In 13 appearances, the Nassau, Bahamas, native has still not allowed a run, has struck out 22 batters and owns a team-leading six saves. The rest of the pitching staff had plenty of confidence in Albury, said starter Andy Moye. “He’s been solid for us all year long,” said Moye, who earned the win after giving up just three runs on seven hits while striking out six through seven innings. Through six frames, Moye had only thrown 69 pitches. “I had no doubt in my mind.” The Brewers’ offense was reliable, too. Helena (5-11) wasted no time getting on the board, as John Dishon took a leadoff walk, Yadiel Rivera singled and Parker Berberet followed with a three-run homer to left. The Brewers are now 15-8 when scoring first. “They jumped out to an early lead for us, that makes the pitcher’s job a lot easier,” Moye said. “You don’t wanna get too comfortable, but when your team’s got your back it’s a big help.” Helena tacked on another run an inning later, when a sacrifice fly by Dishon scored Tyler Roberts, who reached on yet another leadoff walk by lefty Mike Thomas. But after being held hitless through two frames, Ogden (5-11) touched up Moye for the first time — back-to-back base hits by Matt Kirkland and Jeff Hunt set up Scott Wingo for a three-run shot to right to trim the Brewers’ lead to a single run. Moye was solid outside that inning, giving up just three hits the rest of the way and retiring nine of 10 in one stretch. “I knew I had to bear down,” the right-hander said, adding that his go-to pitch after giving up the long ball was his changeup. “After that I was also able to keep my fastball down in the zone which is a huge help. It’s much harder for them to hit when it’s located down at the knees.” Helena answered in the home half of the third, aided by the third straight free pass to lead off an inning, a throwing error by Kirkland and an RBI single by Roberts that doubled up the Raptors’ runs. Max Walla made it 7-3 in favor of the Brewers in the fifth, when he scored on a wild pitch after stroking a two-out double off the wall in left field. “We got some big at bats early in the ballgame,” said Ayrault, whose team pounded out 11 hits. “Guys used the whole field and came through in the clutch for us tonight.” The Raptors managed to push one run across in the ninth, but Albury made sure the threat ended there. “It’s a ton of relief,” he said. “It’s just a weight lifted off your shoulders. I’ve been in that situation before and I know how it feels to not come through. “But we got the ‘W’, and it’s a great feeling.” NOTES: The Milwaukee Brewers came to terms with their first two picks of the 2011 draft Monday night, just before the signing deadline. Top overall pick Taylor Jungmann, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Texas, went 13-3 with a 1.60 ERA in 19 games this year. Left-hander Jed Bradley, selected 15th overall, was 7-3 with a 3.49 ERA at Georgia Tech. Jungmann received a $2.525 million bonus, while Bradley got a bonus of $2 million ... Raptors second baseman Scott Wingo is the reigning College World Series MVP, after South Carolina won back-to-back titles. He was 2 for 2 Tuesday ... Ogden catcher Jan Vazquez had his four-game hitting streak snapped ... Raptors righty Raydel Sanchez (3-4, 6.23) gets the start tonight. Kevin Shackelford (1-3, 4.30) heads to the mound for the Brewers. Photos by Dylan Brown, Independent Record - Ogden's Scott Wingo slides safely back to first, as Brewers' Mike Nemeth catches the ball on an attempted pickoff Tuesday night at Kindrick Legion Field. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/b1/4b130856-c87f-11e0-84d2-001cc4c03286/4e4b328ab5094.image.jpg Brewers' Max Walla slides into third as Ogden's Jeff Hunt attempts to catch an overthrown ball http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/7c/77ccfe88-c87f-11e0-abc1-001cc4c03286/4e4b32d5bd961.image.jpg Helena Box Score See, that's why he's the "Mad Bahamian", mix in a couple of when-they-least-expect it 0-2 pitch HBP's with your save, Sean Albury; 15th round pick Andy Moye out of Georgia Southern will be 24 in a month, but he's given the H-Crew quality length in the rotation and only has to look up at the prior post for inspiration (Mike Fiers turned 24 the week he was drafted); five Brewers reached base at least twice, led by Parker Berberet, on base thrice, including his 6th HR; all-too-rare quality win all-around, guys -- good job... Helena Play-by-Play Welcome to affiliated professional baseball, former indy leaguer Mark Williams, your first inning one to remember -- Ogden Top of the 8th Pitcher Change: Mark Williams replaces Andrew Moye. Alexis Aguilar strikes out swinging. Joc Pederson strikes out swinging. Scott Schebler called out on strikes.

Final: @Nashville 3, Tucson 2 Sounds Score Late To Take Series Opener, 3-2 Mike Fiers Deals While Edwin Maysonet Goes 4-for-4 Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On his 25th birthday, catcher Martin Maldonado scored the winning run in the Nashville Sounds' 3-2 win over the visiting Tucson Padres in the opener of a four-game series. Deadlocked at 2-2 in the eighth, the Sounds recorded three straight one-out singles to load the bases off reliever Luis Perdomo (0-8). During the pinch hit-at bat to Brandon Boggs, Perdoma remained winless on the season after tossing a wild pitch that allowed Maldonado to trot home and score the winning run (audio). It was Nashville's PCL-leading 48th one-run contest and 13th last at-bat win this season. Shortstop Edwin Maysonet went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Maldonado added two hits, a walk and two run scored. Outfielder Caleb Gindl also had two hits. The Sounds took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on Tucson starter Samuel Deduno. After first baseman Erick Almonte and Maldonado singled, Maysonet lined a two-run double down the left field line. Tucson quickly tied the contest at 2-2 with two consecutive swings in the top of the fifth inning. Padres second baseman Pat McKenna broke up Mike Fiers' no-hit bid with a single to left field, followed by a two-run homer by Deduno on the first pitch. The long ball was Deduno's first hit of the season and also the second home run by an opposing pitcher this season after New Orleans' Elih Villanueva went yard on June 25th. Both starting pitchers recorded quality starts and took home no decisions. Fiers continued to perform well on the mound for the Sounds. The 25-year old threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings to open the game, including retiring the first 10 batters he faced. For the evening, Fiers took a no-decision after allowing two runs on four hits while fanning eight in 6 2/3 innings. It was also his third quality start and six consecutive outing surrendering two or less runs. Deduno countered with two earned runs on seven hits and five strikeouts in six innings. Reliever Mike McClendon (4-3) stranded both of his inherited runners while striking out one in 1 1/3 innings of work for the win. Donovan Hand allowed one hit in 1/3 of an inning. Randy Flores induced two groundouts while stranding the tying run on second base to convert his second save. The Sounds and Padres continue their series at 7:05 PM CT on Wednesday night at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Wily Peralta (1-0, 4.50) makes his second Triple-A start against Tucson righty Jon Leicester (5-6, 6.49). Nashville Box Score The man whose name will inspire bad puns throughout his career rolls on (actually, is there such a thing as a good pun?) -- Mike Fiers and his traditional but quality fastball, cutter, curveball, and changeup repertoire (Get to Know Him) instills faith among us in the Brewers' developmental staff and of course, Fiers himself. Suddenly, the Brewers look like geniuses for sticking Fiers in a AA middle-relief role to start 2011, which had us all scratching our heads. 22-year-old Caleb Gindl (23 soon) on base three times, a fantastic .384 OBP in his first AAA season. For once, I wasn't among those who questioned the move, but many did -- do we need to drag out the posts questioning why Martin Maldonado was added to the 40-man roster last fall? Because he was a 24-year-old defensive stud who had earned the right to walk in minor league free agency, Doug Melvin and staff took action, and Maldonado's offensive development is the frosting on that decision cake. Nashville Play-by-Play

From last night -- Sounds catcher Martin Maldonado (2-for-3) broke up the shutout bid in the seventh when he belted his fifth home run (audio) in his last nine games, a two-run blast to left-center off 51s reliever Rommie Lewis. Erick Almonte, who opened the Nashville seventh with a single, also scored on the blast, Maldonado's fifth of the year at the Triple-A level. Here's the video.

Huntsville's Media Notes indicate that the rotation for the next five days is LHP Chase Wright, followed by RHP's R.J. Seidel and Michael Bowman, then LHP Dan Merklinger and RHP Jesus Sanchez. Cody Scarpetta is on the DL and it appears the struggling Kyle Heckathorn will be skipped at least a partial turn.

From the can't-be-beat Nashville Media Notes -- HE’S ON FIERS: Right-hander Mike Fiers is a perfect 5-0 in five PCL starts this season, posting a 1.42 ERA (5 ER / 31.2 IP) with 35 strikeouts in his 31 2/3 innings; four of his five Sounds starts have come on the road (1.05 ERA). In his last 13 starts between Nashville and Double-A Huntsville, Fiers is 8-2 with a 1.70 ERA (14 ER / 74.1 IP), while limiting opponents to a .186 average against over that stretch. The 26-year-old co-leads the Brewers organization with 10 overall wins this year.

It's not a guarantee that Brownstein is out with a hand injury, but we pointed this out from yesterday's Rattlers broadcast -- With T. J. Mittelstaedt batting, Mike Brownstein picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Justin Edwards to first baseman Geoffrey Klein to shortstop Ronny Gil. Brownstein left after this 1/2 inning, the 5th. Chris noted he was shaking his hand as he departed. We'll follow over the next day or two.

Monday’s Prospect: Alex Jones The second in a weekly series of posts where Toby takes a look at a prospect in the Brewers’ minor league system.

Rogers has hand in recent success of Timber Rattlers by Tim Froberg , Post-Crescent staff writer GRAND CHUTE — The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' season in winding down, but Jason Rogers feels like he's just getting rolling. Rogers missed the first two months of the season while recovering from a hand injury and is finally starting to feel like the same hitter who set Columbus State University and Peachtree Conference single-season records for home runs (26) in 2010. Rogers, a right-handed hitting first baseman and outfielder, has collected five hits in his last eight plate appearances, and drilled two more Monday afternoon in Wisconsin's 7-5 victory over Quad Cities. "I feel like I'm getting comfortable — finally," said Rogers, who is hitting .277 with five homers and 26 RBI in 184 at-bats. "It's taken a long time for that injury to heal. It wasn't until the end of July that I really felt like I was starting to swing the bat well." Rogers needed surgery to repair a stress fracture in the hamate bone on his left hand. His problems originally started when he developed carpel tunnel syndrome in the hand area from extensive computer use. "Too much time on the computer," said Rogers, a Riverdale, Ga., resident who was the Milwaukee Brewers' 32nd-round selection in the 2010 major league draft. "I guess I was bored. Then the (hamate) bone popped out and I needed surgery." The powerful 6-foot-2, 267-pound Rogers is a line-drive hitter with plenty of sock in his bat. Mike Walker (.460) and T.J. Mittelstaedt (.441) are the only Timber Rattler regulars with higher slugging percentages than Rogers' .431 mark. "He's definitely put together some good at-bats in RBI situations the last couple days and I expect him to put together some good at-bats down the stretch,'" said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. "I haven't noticed anything different in him physically, but if he feels he's over that hand injury psychologically, that's great."

Appleton Post-Crescent: Jason Rogers was the lone Timber Rattler with multiple hits Monday, but he wasn't Wisconsin's only productive hitter. Reggie Keen and Nick Shaw ripped back-to-back triples to highlight a four-run fifth inning and the Rattlers had no trouble generating offense for the second straight day after a 12-run explosion Sunday. Wisconsin went a solid 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded just four runners, while Quad Cities was 2-for-11 in the RISP category and left 12 runners on base. "Those money at bats, when you need a quality at bat, we're finding some holes," said Manager Matt Erickson. "If look at the score sheet after the game and see what the winning and losing teams were with runners in scoring position, it tells you the entire ballgame. We were nine for 16 Sunday and they were two for 11. Up until a couple days ago, we had been struggling with runners in scoring position. We've talked about it and addressed it, and now they're executing in those situations."

Look for the Nashville media notes here as game time approaches. If Huntsville posts theirs (as they did yesterday), it will be found by placing your cursor over the "roster" banner at the Stars' home page.

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Omaha 67 55 .549 - - 36-28 31-27 5-5 W1 Memphis 63 59 .516 4.0 18 37-22 26-37 6-4 W3 Nashville 62 61 .504 5.5 17 36-27 26-34 7-3 L2 Iowa 55 68 .447 12.5 10 34-26 21-42 6-4 L3 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Chattanooga 29 20 .592 - - 13-12 16-8 6-4 L1 * Tennessee 27 23 .540 2.5 19 16-9 11-14 6-4 L2 Carolina 23 26 .469 6.0 15 12-13 11-13 5-5 W3 Jackson 23 27 .460 6.5 15 12-13 11-14 6-4 L1 Huntsville 21 28 .429 8.0 13 8-16 13-12 3-7 W1 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Dunedin 27 23 .540 - - 13-10 14-13 6-4 W1 Tampa 26 24 .520 1.0 20 13-13 13-11 5-5 L1 Clearwater 25 24 .510 1.5 19 17-9 8-15 5-5 L3 * Daytona 24 24 .500 2.0 18 12-11 12-13 5-5 W3 Brevard County 23 25 .479 3.0 17 8-13 15-12 6-4 L2 Lakeland 21 27 .438 5.0 15 10-14 11-13 4-6 W2 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Kane County 30 20 .600 - - 12-13 18-7 6-4 W3 Quad Cities 29 21 .580 1.0 - 15-9 14-12 4-6 L2 Clinton 27 23 .540 3.0 19 12-12 15-11 6-4 W3 Beloit 23 27 .460 7.0 15 12-14 11-13 5-5 L2 Wisconsin 21 29 .420 9.0 13 11-17 10-12 5-5 W2 Cedar Rapids 20 30 .400 10.0 12 11-14 9-16 3-7 L3 Peoria 20 30 .400 10.0 12 10-16 10-14 5-5 L3 * Burlington 19 31 .380 11.0 11 10-12 9-19 6-4 W2 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Missoula 9 6 .600 - - 6-2 3-4 7-3 W2 Billings 8 7 .533 1.0 23 4-3 4-4 6-4 L2 Great Falls 8 7 .533 1.0 23 4-3 4-4 4-6 L1 Helena 4 11 .267 5.0 19 1-7 3-4 2-8 L2 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak AZL Dodgers 27 17 .614 - - 14-8 13-9 8-2 W5 AZL Reds 26 19 .578 1.5 11 14-9 12-10 7-3 W5 AZL Indians 23 22 .511 4.5 8 13-9 10-13 5-5 W1 AZL Brewers 10 33 .233 16.5 E 5-17 5-16 2-8 W1 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Mariners 42 22 .656 - - 21-12 21-10 4-6 L2 DSL Brewers 40 24 .625 2.0 7 21-13 19-11 7-3 W2 DSL Cardinals 24 41 .369 18.5 E 15-16 9-25 3-7 L1 DSL Athletics 23 42 .354 19.5 E 13-17 10-25 4-6 W1

Follow Tuesday's action as it happens: Nashville (Gameday also available)http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t556&t=g_box&gid=2011_08_16_tucaaa_nasaaa_1 Huntsville (Gameday also available) Brevard Countyhttp://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2011_08_16_dbcafa_breafa_1&cid=503&t=g_box Helena Arizona Rookie (Maryvale) DSL Brewers

Tuesday's Daily Menu: Nashville: RHP Mike Fiers at home vs. Tucson (Padres), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Nashville feed from the MiLB main audio page MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Huntsville: LHP Chase Wright at Mississippi (Braves), 7:05 PM gametime -- Stars go up against old friend LHP Chris Cody Live Audio Link -- Select the Jackson feed from the MiLB main audio page Brevard County: RHP Hiram Burgos at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- It's the Cubs' feed... Wisconsin: Idle Helena: RHP Andy Moye at home vs. Ogden (Dodgers), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Indians' complex in Goodyear; 1:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Astros, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest -- first meeting between the Cerveceritos and the 23-39 Houston affiliate

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

Final: Ogden 7, @Helena 2 Nashville and Helena with dueling 7-2 home defeats... HURTIN' AT HOME: Ogden hands Brewers 7th home loss of the month Helena Independent Record The Helena Brewers’ hitting woes continued as they dropped a 7-2 Pioneer League decision to the Ogden Raptors at Kindrick Legion Field on Monday night. The Brewers, who went into the game hitting just .204 in their last 10 games, managed seven hits in the contest, but strung together two in the same inning just once. Helena’s bats were held in check by Raptors pitchers Braden Martinez and Yimy Queipo-Rodriguez, while Matt Kirkland and Alexis Aguilar sparked the visitors’ offense. Ogden, the Southern Division’s first-half champion, moves to 27-26 overall, and 5-10 in the second half. The Brewers slip to 22-31, 4-11. The Raptors scored all the runs they needed in the second inning on back-to-back-to-back doubles. After Kirkland singled and a walk to Pratt Maynard, second baseman Enlly Morales drove an RBI double down the left field line. Third baseman Aguilar then ripped a double to the fence in left centerfield, driving in Maynard and Morales. Shortstop Justin Boudreau follwed by stroking the Raptors’ third successive double, as Aguilar raced home for the insurance run. The Utah club, which is managed by former Atlanta Braves’ catcher Damon Berryhill, added three more runs in the seventh. Helena scored once in the fourth, when Kyle Dhanani reached on a walk, advanced to third after John Dishon singled and Michael Nemeth walked, and raced home on a wild pitch. The Brewers’ second and final run came in the sixth frame, on Dishon’s single and an RBI double by Nemeth. Helena’s only other extra-base hit was a double by catcher Parker Berberet. Berberet’s ancestors are from the Townsend and Toston areas. The Raptors’ Kirkland went 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored, while Aguilar was 2 for 5 with a double and two RBIs. Ogden starter Braden Martinez went four innings, allowing one run. The pencil-thin, 6-foot-3, 155 pound right hander from Fowler, Calif., gave up three hits, struck out six batsmen and walked four. Martinez, who attended Fresno City College, was a 2009 seventh-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Queipo-Rodriguez relieved in the fifth and also worked four frames for the Raptors. The Cuba native permitted three hits as well, striking out seven and walking none, for the win. Mike Strong took the loss for the Brewers. David Goforth relieved the final three scoreless stanzas, giving up two hits, whiffing three and walking none. Neither team committed an error, with perhaps the game’s best web gem belonging to Dishon. In the fifth inning, he made a spectacular diving catch of Scott Shebler’s sinking line drive in shallow left. Helena Box Score Lefty Mike Strong didn't come close to dazzling us with another 13 K, zero BB effort like last time out, and a check of his game lines reveals alternating big plus, big minus efforts; fireballer David Goforth's relief outing certainly is encouraging -- dude does throw strikes; Yadiel Rivera did walk once, but fanned twice, thus a really bad ratio improved slightly to 14 BB's and 101 K's in 335 AB's, with the ratio matching almost exactly to his Wisconsin - Helena at-bat splits... Helena Play-by-Play Even if the term "line drive" is absent, back-to-back-to-back doubles isn't what you want to see in a four-run Raptor inning-- Ogden Top of the 2nd Scott Schebler pops out to third baseman Kyle Dhanani in foul territory. Matt Kirkland singles on a ground ball to right fielder Max Walla. Pratt Maynard walks. Matt Kirkland to 2nd. Andrew Edge strikes out swinging. Enlly Morales doubles (4) on a ground ball to left fielder John Dishon. Matt Kirkland scores. Pratt Maynard to 3rd. Alexis Aguilar doubles (7) on a fly ball to left fielder John Dishon. Pratt Maynard scores. Enlly Morales scores. Justin Boudreaux doubles (3) on a fly ball to right fielder Max Walla. Alexis Aguilar scores. Joc Pederson grounds out to first baseman Michael Nemeth. To be fair to Strong, two of his runs allowed were unearned and scored after he left the game -- Ogden Top of the 5th Justin Boudreaux reaches on fielding error by third baseman Kyle Dhanani. Joc Pederson grounds into a force out, first baseman Michael Nemeth to shortstop Yadiel Rivera. Justin Boudreaux out at 2nd. Joc Pederson to 1st. With Noel Cuevas batting, Joc Pederson steals (20) 2nd base. Noel Cuevas singles on a line drive to center fielder Robert Garvey. Joc Pederson scores. Pitcher Change: Thomas Keeling replaces Michael Strong. Scott Schebler lines out to left fielder John Dishon. Matt Kirkland doubles (4) on a ground ball to center fielder Robert Garvey. Noel Cuevas scores. Pratt Maynard singles on a ground ball to left fielder John Dishon. Matt Kirkland scores. Pratt Maynard to 2nd on the throw. Andrew Edge strikes out swinging. Photos by Eliza Wiley, Independent Record - Helena Brewers' Kyle Dhanani makes it home safe putting Helena's first score on the board late in the fourth inning. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/0a/30a4a796-c7bb-11e0-9893-001cc4c002e0/4e49e98903805.image.jpg Helena Brewers short stop Yadiel Rivera makes the play at second, by tagging Raptors' Justin Boudreaux, and attempts to turn two. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/3a/43afafd4-c7bb-11e0-b420-001cc4c002e0/4e49e9a8eae92.image.jpg

Final: Las Vegas 7, @Nashville 2 Sounds 0-2 since we "talked up" their playoff chances... Sounds Fall To Las Vegas, 7-2 Teams Split Four-Game Season Series Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Right fielder Ricardo Nanita belted a pair of home runs to power the visiting Las Vegas 51s to a 7-2 win over the Nashville Sounds on Monday evening at Greer Stadium in the finale of a four-game series. With the victory, Las Vegas recorded a split of the team's four-game season series, winning the final two contests following a pair of Nashville triumphs on Friday and Saturday. Las Vegas took a 1-0 lead with an unearned run against Sounds starter Josh Butler in the top of the second inning. Ex-Sound Chris Woodward reached with one out when right fielder Caleb Gindl dropped his fly ball after avoiding a near-collision with center fielder Logan Schafer. Woodward later scored on catcher Brian Jeroloman's two-out single. The 51s doubled their advantage to 2-0 in the fourth when Manny Mayorson singled and came plateward on a groundout off the bat of Adeiny Hechevarria (3-for-5). The visitors increased the lead to 6-0 in the fifth with four-run frame against Butler. Ricardo Nanita's leadoff solo homer and a double-steal of home and second executed by Mayorson and Darin Mastroianni highlighted the scoring. Las Vegas continued the onslaught in the seventh when Nanita mashed his second roundtripper of the night, a one-out solo shot to right off Sounds reliever Daniel Meadows, to make it a 7-0 contest. Sounds catcher Martin Maldonado (2-for-3) broke up the shutout bid in the seventh when he belted his fifth home run (audio) in his last nine games, a two-run blast to left-center off 51s reliever Rommie Lewis. Erick Almonte, who opened the Nashville seventh with a single, also scored on the blast, Maldonado's fifth of the year at the Triple-A level. Right-hander Chad Gaudin (1-0) worked five innings of scoreless, four-hit ball for the 51s to earn a victory in his second start for the club. Butler (7-7) took the loss for the Sounds after giving up six runs (five earned) on nine hits in 4 1/3 in frames of action. Sounds first baseman Mat Gamel had his season-best 13-game hitting streak come to a close with an 0-for-4 effort. Schafer went 2-for-4 with a double for the Sounds, his 13th multiple-hit effort in 24 Triple-A contests. He has recorded a hit in 22 of his PCL 24 tilts. The Sounds continue their homestand on Tuesday by welcoming the Tucson Padres to town for the 7:05 PM opener of a four-game series, the lone meeting between the teams this season. Right-hander Mike Fiers (5-0, 1.42), a winner in each of his five Triple-A starts this season, will man the bump for the Sounds to face Tucson right-hander Samuel Dedino (3-3, 3.40). Nashville Box Score That Mike Fiers mention for Tuesday is really the most exciting aspect of that write-up; Josh Butler (yes, former big league Brewer Josh Butler, somtimes tough to remember) threw an amazing 112 pitches (67 strikes) in just 4.1 innings; Martin Maldonado's homer binge continued on his birthday eve, as he turns (just) 25 on Tuesday -- in addition to 3rd catcher duties, the most important function "the Barber" could serve as a September call-up would be to cut Ryan Braun's hair; Eric Farris 0-for-4 in Don Money's lineup of randomness, batting 3rd -- can't argue with the offense as of late however, but a return to sea level provided a dose of reality here... Nashville Play-by-Play

Stars Blank Generals on Monday Generals lose finale but take series over Huntsville, 3-2 By Chris Harris, Jackson Generals JACKSON, TENN. - The Generals loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Huntsville's Santo Manzanillo struck out Johermyn Chavez and Huntsville held on for a 1-0 win over Jackson at Pringles Park. The Stars got their lone run in the top of the first inning on a routine RBI ground out by Zelous Wheeler. The Generals clinched the series win yesterday with a 3-2 win, and Jackson wins three of five from Huntsville and leads the season series 9-6. The Generals and Stars meet again at Pringles Park, August 26-30. Scott Savastano extended his batting streak to nine with a hit in his last at-bat, going 1-for-4. Rich Poythress walked twice, but finished 0-for-2 and his nine game hitting streak came to an end. Vinnie Catricala had a double and led Jackson going 2-for-4. The Generals were shutout for the 10th time this season. General's starter Andrew Carrway (8-4) took a tough luck loss, giving the Generals another quality start from the rotation. Carraway dealt six innings and allowed just one run on four hits, striking out five and walking just one. Jesus Sanchez (3-5), the starter for Huntsville, tossed six scoreless and earned the win. Manzinillo locked down his third Double-A save with a scoreless ninth inning. The Stars' Lee Haydel led the game off in the first with a single and Matt Cline followed with a double, moving Haydel to third. Two batters later, Wheeler grounded out to second and brought home Haydel.

Huntsville Media Notes

Rattler Radio Post-Game Thoughts -- always insightful, but then again, Chris does have a pretty good seat for each game...

Final: @Wisconsin 7, Quad Cities 5 Wisconsin holds off Quad Cities for a winChris Mehring, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers beat the Quad Cities River Bandits 7-5 on Monday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Wisconsin grabbed the lead with a four-run fourth inning and held off the team with the best record in the Midwest League. The Rattlers (59-61 overall, 21-29 second half) took the lead early. Chad Stang tripled with two outs in the bottom of the second inning. Joey Paciorek’s infield single scored Stang for a 1-0 lead. Rattlers starting pitcher Matt Miller struggled with the strike zone and it caught up to him in the third inning. He walked Joey Bergman to lead off the inning. A walk to Nick Longmire put runners on first and second. Chris Edmondson’s fly ball to right sent Bergman to third base. Jonathan Rodriguez was at the plate and Longmire attempted to steal second. Paciorek’s throw to second went into center. This allowed Bergman to score and Longmire to take third. Miller would strike out Rodriguez for the second out, but Miller walked the next batter to end his day. The Rattlers starter walked six and struck out four in 2-2/3 innings before making way for Dan Britt. Britt would walk the first batter he faced to load the bases, but he got a grounder to first to end the inning and keep the game tied 1-1. Edmondson gave Quad Cities (69-50, 29-21) a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning. He lifted a home run to right off Britt with one out. Wisconsin responded in the bottom of the fifth against River Bandits starter Drew Benes. Paciorek was hit by a pitch with one out and Brandon Macias followed with a single. Reggie Keen was next and he lined a triple to right-center to score two runs and make it 3-2 Wisconsin. Benes was removed in favor of reliever Justin Edwards and Nick Shaw greeted Edwards with another RBI triple to right-center. Then, Mike Brownstein’s grounder to third was booted to let Shaw score and Wisconsin led 5-2. Alan Williams, who came on to get the final out in the top of the fifth inning, allowed an RBI single by Longmire in the sixth and a leadoff home run to Rodriguez in the seventh to let the Bandits get back to within a run. But, the Rattlers again responded in the bottom of the seventh. Shaw drew a walk with one out. Greg Hopkins doubled down the line in left to sent Shaw home. Hopkins took third on the throw to the plate. That allowed him to score on a sacrifice fly by T.J. Mittelstaedt for a 7-4 lead. Adrian Rosario came on to pitch the eighth and he gave up a run on a two-out single by Edmondson. Rosario recorded a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the Rattlers second straight win. The Timber Rattlers are off on Tuesday. They begin a seven game road trip with a game at Peoria on Wednesday night at 7:00 PM. Wisconsin Box Score Rattlers walked nine, hit one, yet won the game, perhaps on the strength of one of my favorite box score portions to review -- Inherited runners-scored: Britt 2-0, Williams, Al 2-0. Three triples and a big double makes for a happy game recap. Jason Rogers, playing first base today, singled twice and walked. Wisconsin Play-by-Play River Bandits nickeled and dimed their way with single runs in five innings, but stranded 12. Whew!

Nashville Media Notes *** Enjoying Chris Mehring's Rattlers broadcast all afternoon, in case it's not noted in the game log later -- With T. J. Mittelstaedt batting, Mike Brownstein picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Justin Edwards to first baseman Geoffrey Klein to shortstop Ronny Gil. Brownstein left after this 1/2 inning, the 5th. Chris noted he was shaking his hand as he departed. We'll follow over the next day or two.

Wisconsin Media Notes

Brad Krause with more Timber Rattlers notes and his as-always excellent photos. Nobody gets covered in the system like the Rattlers' kids, friends and family -- enjoy it while they are there, it gets pretty dry further up the chain media-wise.