Jim Goulart

Final: Nashville 6, @Las Vegas (Blue Jays) 4 Nashville Scores Three In Ninth To Stun Las Vegas, 6-4 Erick Almonte Delivers Go-Ahead Two-Run Single LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Trailing 4-3 entering the ninth inning, the Nashville Sounds scored three runs to top the Las Vegas 51s, 6-4, on Wednesday night at Cashman Field in the finale of a four-game series. After Johnny Raburn singled to lead off the ninth frame and scored on a Ray Olmedo game-tying single, PCL saves leader and 51s closer Jeremy Accardo intentionally walked Mat Gamel to pitch to Erick Almonte, who delivered the game-winning two-run single to right field. The victory was Nashville's (62-56) 16th last-at bat win and ninth come-from-behind victory trailing in the seventh inning or later this season. The win also gave the Sounds a 3-5 record on the road trip and their first winning series against 51s in Las Vegas since joining the Pacific Coast League in 1998. Nashville's 36 runs scored against Las Vegas over the last four games were the most scored in a four-game series since the Sounds plated 41 at Fresno from August 3-6, 2008. Gamel had three hits for the third consecutive game. In the series with the 51s, Gamel hit .556 (10-for-18) with five doubles, three RBIs, and seven runs scored. The Sounds scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning as Gamel doubled to reach base and came home on an Almonte RBI single. The 51s tied the contest at 1-1 in the next frame when Jarrett Hoffpauir walked, stole second, and scored on a Jason Lane RBI single. Nashville regained the lead in the next inning by adding two runs off Las Vegas starter Robert Ray. Brendan Katin recorded a leadoff walk and moved to third on a Luis Cruz base hit. Raburn continued to stay hot since being activated last Friday, doubling home Katin for the first run of the inning. Catcher Martin Maldonado followed with an RBI infield groundout for the second run. Las Vegas trimmed the lead to one at 3-2 in the bottom of the second as Brad Emaus hit a leadoff triple to center field and scored in the following at-bat as Danny Perales singled to left field. The 51s duplicated the first inning to knot the contest at 3-3 as Lane drove home Hoffpauir again for the game-tying score. Mike McCoy gave Las Vegas the 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with a line drive solo home run over the left field wall. The long ball was McCoy's sixth home run of the season and second in consecutive nights. Ray went five innings while allowing three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Allowing three runs in 1 1/3 inning, it was Accardo's (2-1) second blown save of the season in the loss. In his first start facing his former squad, Sounds starter Marty McLeary surrendered four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in six innings pitched. Las Vegas native Brandon Kintzler threw a scoreless frame in relief. Chris Smith (4-3) earned the win, striking out four over two shutout innings. After a league-wide off day Thursday, Nashville will begin an eight-game homestand with the Salt Lake Bees (AAA-Angels) and Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA-Rockies), their lone meetings with the clubs this season. Left-hander Sam Narron (7-5, 3.93) will start Friday's 7:05 PM CT opener for the Sounds against Bees right-hander Matt Palmer (1-1, 1.00). Nashville Box Score However you want to slice the recent numbers, Mat Gamel is blazing hot -- he played third base here... Nashville Game Log

Quad City Online photo: Timber Rattlers pitcher Nick Bucci falls over River Bandits, Ivan Castro sliding into home after a wild pitch by Bucci helped Castro score a run in the bottom of the second inning. http://photos.qconline.com/bignails/08-08-10_08-14-10/08-11-10/bandits11/bandits11_10a.jpg?TB_iframe=true&height=1250&width=400

Link while active, text follows: Smokies shut down Stars, 2-0 Huntsville drops six games back with loss BY ADAM GREENE, sports@knoxnews.com SEVIERVILLE - After a week of big batting and crazy scores, the final game of the five-game series between the Huntsville Stars and Tennessee Smokies turned out to be some good, old fashioned baseball. The Stars were finally able to deliver on the pitcher's mound, but in the end it didn't matter. Tennessee took the series sweep with a 2-0 shutout victory at Smokies Park Wednesday night. "You want this so you know you can win those close games," Smokies left fielder Brandon Guyer said. "That's the kind of thing you need if you're going to be a championship team." The Smokies (30-16) hold a six-game lead over Huntsville (24-22) in the second half Southern League North standings with 23 games to go. Tennessee has won eight straight games. "The kids have played for that," Smokies manager Bill Dancy said. "We made the plays, we battled and at the end we got the key hit from (Marwin) Gonzalez." Guyer kept his 14-game hit streak alive with a single in the third inning. Entering the game Guyer was batting .471 with three home runs and 19 RBIs over his last 13 games. Smokies starter Rafael Dolis (3-2) kept it interesting through the first five innings, giving up five hits and two walks. Still, the right-hander from the Dominican Republic never let Huntsville put a run across the plate. Dolis had five strikeouts. "He (Dolis) had a good, live fastball and really a good rhythm on the mound," Dancy said. "Even we gave up back-to-back hits, he kept his composure and made some quality pitches." Huntsville finally found a pitcher who could keep the Smokies out of double digits. Unfortunately, they could put forth no offense of their own. Wily Peralta (0-1) took his first AA loss of the season, pitching seven innings, allowing four hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Tennessee's first run came on a Huntsville mistake. Smokies first baseman Blake Lalli reached base on a double. A throwing error from Stars third baseman Taylor Green sent Lalli across the plate to give the Smokies a 1-0 lead. The lead would hold, but Tennessee added an insurance run in the seventh on Gonzalez's RBI. Blake Parker picked up his first save of the season, pitching the final two innings. Parker gave up one hit, no walks and fanned four. Notes: Lalli's consecutive game hitting streak officially ended at 12 after a scorekeeper's review of the game tape of Monday night's 16-6 win over the Stars. Lalli's hit in the bottom of the eighth inning was ruled an error after further review.

Link while active, text follows: Brewers snap Birds' winning streak By MICHAEL HEINBACH of the Missoulian The Helena Brewers snapped a season-long three-game Pioneer League winning streak by the Missoula Osprey on Thursday, rallying to defeat the O's 6-4 at Ogren-Allegiance Park. The Osprey, 5-6 in the season's second half and 19-30 overall, squandered a strong effort from starting pitcher Kevin Eichhorn. He threw seven innings of seven-hit ball, allowing three runs without issuing a walk and striking out seven. Eichhorn left with a 4-3 lead. But reliever Victor Lara (1-5) entered in the eighth and allowed a controversial leadoff triple to Robbie Garvey that appeared to land foul just beyond the first-base bag before giving up a two-run homer to Franklin Romero Jr. Lara also allowed a run on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth and a single by Helena designated hitter Mike Walker before being removed. Trey Watt retired the final two Brewers in order. Despite his strong showing, Eichhorn wasn't pleased with surrendering solo home runs to Brent Dean, Cody Hawn and Garvey as the Brewers improved to 5-5, 24-24. "I feel like I fell behind too many hitters and made some bad pitches in hitters' counts and I paid for it," Eichhorn said. "The defense behind me was excellent tonight, but I just feel like I've got to work harder." The O's had their work cut out for them in facing Helena starting pitcher Matt Miller, arguably the league's top hurler who began the evening 6-1 with a 2.16 ERA. But after managing just two base runners over the first three innings, Missoula got to Miller with two outs in the fourth. Designated hitter Richie Rowland's single was followed by a double off the bat of Osprey second baseman Eric Groff. Third baseman Matt Helm then smacked a 1-2 delivery from Miller over the left-center field fence for his first home run with Missoula since being sent to the Osprey at the start of the second half of the season. That gave Missoula a 3-2 lead. "Finally, man," Helm said of slugging his first round-tripper in 35 at-bats for the Osprey. "But we're playing some good baseball right now, everybody is bonding and we feel like we should be able to handle a good starter like we saw tonight." Helena reliever Brian Garman earned the win in 1 1-3 innings of work to move his record to 2-1. He didn't allow a hit, walked one and struck out a pair. The Brewers' 10-hit effort was paced by right fielder John Dishon, who finished 3 for 4. Osprey first baseman Bobby Stone had a run-scoring double in the fifth as Missoula closed with seven hits, but only one over the final three innings. "We're just going to have to erase the memory of tonight's game and come back tomorrow ready to go," Eichhorn said. "We're playing some good ball right now and we just have to keep it up." Hawn's homer, his ninth of the season, broke a tie with Stone for second in the league's long-ball leaders.

Rattler Radio Blog: August 11, 2010: Midwest League Playoff Pitcure August 11, 2010: Game Notes August 11, 2010: Tonight's starting pitcher

St. John's University is waiting to see if he'll turn pro...

PDF document: Huntsville Media Notes

Here's the defensive games played breakdown for Matt this year -- 3B-49, 2B-37, SS-4, DH-1

PDF document: Nashville Media Notes

If the Brewers announce a signing of any Virgin Island ballplayer soon, we'll know it came from this pro day. Joe Salermo, who is in charge of all Latin American scouting for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was there along with scouts from the Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. The Major League Scouting Bureau, which scouts for all 32 MLB teams, also had representation at Lionel Roberts Stadium.

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Iowa 67 50 .573 - - 35-28 32-22 7-3 L2 Memphis 64 54 .542 3.5 24 34-23 30-31 5-5 W2 Omaha 64 54 .542 3.5 24 31-27 33-27 8-2 W4 Nashville 61 56 .521 6.0 22 31-26 30-30 5-5 L1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Tennessee 29 16 .644 - - 18-7 11-9 8-2 W7 Huntsville 24 21 .533 5.0 21 14-9 10-12 5-5 L4 Carolina 21 24 .467 8.0 18 10-12 11-12 4-6 L2 West Tenn 21 24 .467 8.0 18 10-9 11-15 6-4 L1 Chattanooga 19 25 .432 9.5 17 10-12 9-13 4-6 W2 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tampa 28 14 .667 - - 13-7 15-7 8-2 W1 Daytona 28 16 .636 1.0 27 15-7 13-9 4-6 L1 Brevard County 27 18 .600 2.5 25 13-8 14-10 5-5 L1 Lakeland 20 23 .465 8.5 20 12-9 8-14 6-4 W1 Clearwater 19 26 .422 10.5 17 12-9 7-17 5-5 L1 * Dunedin 19 26 .422 10.5 17 11-13 8-13 4-6 W1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Quad Cities 26 16 .619 - - 9-11 17-5 5-5 W2 Kane County 26 17 .605 0.5 - 16-6 10-11 7-3 W3 * Cedar Rapids 25 18 .581 1.5 27 12-9 13-9 5-5 W2 Clinton 23 20 .535 3.5 25 12-10 11-10 7-3 L2 Beloit 21 21 .500 5.0 22 13-9 8-12 6-4 L2 Peoria 20 22 .476 6.0 23 11-10 9-12 4-6 L2 Wisconsin 20 24 .455 7.0 21 12-10 8-14 5-5 W2 Burlington 15 26 .366 10.5 17 11-9 4-17 1-9 L7 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Great Falls 6 4 .600 - - 4-2 2-2 6-4 L1 Missoula 5 5 .500 1.0 28 2-2 3-3 5-5 W3 Billings 4 5 .444 1.5 28 3-3 1-2 4-5 L2 Helena 4 5 .444 1.5 28 2-1 2-4 4-5 L2 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak AZL Brewers 25 15 .625 - - 8-8 8-7 5-5 L2 AZL Dodgers 21 19 .525 4.0 13 8-7 8-6 7-3 W3 AZL Reds 20 20 .500 5.0 12 7-6 8-7 7-3 W1 AZL Indians 19 22 .463 6.5 10 7-8 9-6 4-6 L4 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Mariners 35 24 .593 - - 19-10 16-14 5-5 L2 DSL Cardinals 33 26 .559 2.0 12 22-7 11-19 5-5 W1 DSL Athletics 26 33 .441 9.0 5 16-16 10-17 5-5 W2 DSL Brewers 25 36 .410 11.0 2 14-15 11-21 5-5 L1

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Tab or New Window". Choose "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often. Nashville (Gameday also available) Huntsville (Gameday also available) Wisconsin Helena Arizona Rookie (Maryvale) DSL Brewers

Wednesday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Marty McLeary at Las Vegas (Blue Jays), 8:50 PM pre-game; 9:05 gametime Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Wily Peralta at Tennessee (Cubs), 6:00 PM pre-game; 6:15 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: Idle Wisconsin: RHP Nick Bucci at Quad Cities (Cardinals), 6:40 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Live Audio Link Helena: RHP Matt Miller at Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the baby Cubbies; 9:00 PM; never audio for games in this league; we had also expected this game, which was suspended with one out remaining, to be completed, but MiLB.com has now assigned W, L, and SV information to the contest although the box still says "suspended" one out short -- odd... DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Mariners, 9:30 AM

The folks over at Baseball Insiders had the chance to talk to 4th round pick and 2010 SEC Player of the Year, Wisconsin first baseman Hunter Morris, about his career at Auburn, talking with Bo Jackson, some Milwaukee Brewers prospects, and playing professional baseball. LINK

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Manatees' Komatsu benefiting from lifestyle changes By Lee Diekemper / Special to MLB.com DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Most Minor Leaguers consider good statistics and a bump up the organizational ladder a successful season. Just the fact that Brevard County Manatees center fielder Erik Komatsu is playing makes this season a success. It doesn't hurt that Komatsu is tagging the ball with regularity. Entering Tuesday's game against Dunedin, the Cal State-Fullerton product was second in the Florida State League with a .321 average. Last year, Komatsu was just hoping to get in a game; he battled the injury bug and the bug won. "My main goal this season was just to stay healthy," Komatsu said. "Last year, I was hurt all year. I only played in 26 games." Komatsu's series of injuries actually began before the 2009 season opened. Selected by the Brewers in the eighth round of the 2008 Draft, he was set to play for Class A Wisconsin of the Midwest League when, facing a college team in an exhibition game, he suffered a concussion during a collision at third base. When he was finally cleared to play, Komatsu wasn't healthy for long. On the first swing of his first at-bat of the season, he snapped a bone in his wrist. While rehabbing in the Rookie-level Arizona League, he blew out his hamstring. Perhaps trying to rush back, Komatsu repeatedly pulled the same muscle. "I was pulling my hamstring and I did it so much I tore it," he said. So when he reported for Spring Training this year, Komatsu had one simple goal -- staying healthy. "This is really my first full [professional] season," he said. "I always felt like my talent would show if I could only stay healthy." And it has. In an attempt to avoid injuries, Komatsu changed his lifestyle. He went through a heavy lower-body weight-lifting regime during the offseason to make sure his hamstrings would withstand the rigors of a full spring and summer. Then, Komatsu made a concerted effort to eat right. It's made a significant difference, he said. "I try to eat as healthy as I can. Sometimes, it's hard," he admitted. "You get out of the stadium at 11 p.m. and there's not much open but fast food and [pizza]. You have to find a way to eliminate as much as possible the bad stuff you are putting in your body. You have to hydrate and eat well for the next day. "In this [Florida] climate, you have to sleep with a gallon of water by your bed." So far, the precautions have paid off, much to the chagrin of FSL pitchers. "I can't afford to miss another 100 games," Komatsu said. Erik Komatsu is second in the league in batting, OBP and runs scored. (Photo by Scott Jontes/MiLB.com)http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2010/08/11/Zk3NX3Pa.jpg

Manatee Press Release: VIERA, Fla. --- The Florida State League announced this morning that the Brevard County Manatees and the Dunedin Blue Jays will play a doubleheader on Sunday, August 15 at 5:05 PM (6:05 Central) at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. The doubleheader was scheduled due to a rain out between the two clubs on August 10 in Dunedin. Since the two clubs will not play again in Dunedin this season, the decision was made to make-up the game at Brevard County. The Manatees will be the home team for both games of the twin-bill and as with all Florida State League doubleheaders, both games will be seven innings long.

Link while active, text follows: Pittsfield Lefty Pitching for Brewers' Rookie Team Nichole Dupont, iBerkshires Staff (North Adams, MA) PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It was not Charly Bashara’s dream to be a pitcher. In fact, the 23-year-old Pittsfield native was more interested in hitting the baseball than throwing it. “At first I didn’t want to be a pitcher, I wanted to hit,” Bashara said in a phone interview last week. “I would pout on the mound, but my coaches and my parents kept me going. Everybody pulled the lefty card because there are so few of us. For me, it took a couple of really good outings to want to pitch.” Apparently all of that hard work has paid off for the Berkshire County southpaw. Bashara signed a professional contract on June 15 with the Milwaukee Brewers to play on the Brewers’ rookie league affiliate in the Arizona League. Since play began last month, Bashara has accumulated a 4-1 record during ten appearances in the Arizona Summer League. He has pitched 39 innings, carrying a 2.54 ERA with 41 strikeouts to just ten walks. But, according to Bashara, his greatest challenge isn’t the competition, it’s the Arizona heat. “We call it the daily grind. The coaches tell us every day that we’ve got to take care of our bodies,” he said. “It’s 100-plus degrees out every day and we can’t treat our bodies poorly.” According to Kevin Stannard, based on what he’s seen so far, Bashara is treating himself pretty well. Stannard, who has coached varsity baseball at Taconic High School (Bashara’s alma mater) for the past 18 years, said, “Charly has never looked better.” “He’s in the best shape I’ve ever seen him,” Stannard said. “He’s working as hard as he can. He’s always been very competitive and he expects a lot from himself. He’s worked hard to get where he is.” Indeed, there have been no breaks for the Pittsfield lefty. Bashara began playing baseball in the YMCA’s Coaches’ Pitch when he was just eight. At the time, he said, it was just for fun. “I think when I was really little baseball was more of just a fun activity,” he said. “My mom and dad wanted to get me into sports. My dad is a big Red Sox fan. As I got older I began to see something to strive for and I felt like I was getting closer to it.” Mary Vasquez-Slack and Charly's brother Jeff had a chance to see him play last month. "We took a trip to the Grand Canyon and the next day we lucked out and saw him start his first game," she said. "He pitched seven innings [the most in a single game], struck out seven batters and got the win against the Mariners!" Her son's loved playing ball since Little League, when, she said, he first showed signs of talent. "I am beyond proud of him and his accomplishments, but what impresses me most is his persistent pursuit to fulfill his dream," said Mary Bashara. "I think he's an amazing person and great ball player and look forward to see him move up the ranks." As Charly Bashara focuses on perfecting his game, Stannard was proudly watching the progression of his star player. “He hit third for us and played outfield when he wasn’t pitching. He was actually a pretty good hitter,” Stannard said. “But you could tell he was going to pitch. He had good velocity. Most teams around here didn’t want to face him. He pitched in the high 70s and low 80s. He topped out at 91 miles per hour.” After graduating from Taconic, Bashara went on to play college ball at Northeastern University, where he became a four-year varsity contributor for the Huskies finishing with a career 7-6 record and racking up 117 strikeouts. When school was out of session, Bashara spent summers playing ball for the Pittsfield Dukes in the New England Collegiate Baseball League and the Geneva Red Wings in the New York Collegiate Baseball League. He said the last four years have readied him for his newfound career with the Brewers. “Northeastern definitely prepared me for this level of competition,” Bashara said. “The last five years have helped me see what kind of talent is coming in. Sure, I have a little ‘nerves.’ But you definitely see how you’re going to fit in with the team pretty quickly. I’m actually one of the older players so that keeps me on a pretty even keel. Right now I’m still having fun. I like it when I’m out there performing and doing what I do best. Playing ball is what I want to do.” Charly Bashara on the mound against the Mariners last month in this photo taken by his mother, Mary. http://www.iberkshires.com/UserFiles/Image/charly%20brewers%201.jpg

Dunedin Site: No makeup date has been announced yet; however, if there is a makeup date, it will likely take place during Dunedin's trip to Brevard County August 15-17.

Link while active, text follows: Storms halt Brewers, Mustangs for second straight night By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record Tropical Night at Kindrick Legion Field? More like a tropical storm. Strong winds and rain ripped through Helena just 14 minutes after Tuesday’s first pitch, causing the grounds crew to roll out the tarp for the second straight night. It seemed Mother Nature was determined to prevent the Helena Brewers and Billings Mustangs from finishing their two-game set, as the game was eventually postponed. No makeup date has been determined, as the two teams must wait for the Pioneer League president to decide if and when the games will be made up. Tuesday was slated to be the final matchup between the Brewers and Mustangs. The only conceivable makeup date would be Aug. 31, which was scheduled to be a day off for both clubs. What began as a beautiful, dry, sunny day turned into an eery evening, as lightning flashed in grey skies in every direction when the game got underway, picking up where Monday’s game left off in the top of the fourth inning. Watch a brief video of the lighning strikes here -- be sure to go to "full-screen" mode, always love seeing the Kindrick Field backdrop. Fourteen minutes was just enough time for the Mustangs to add to their 2-0 lead. Billy Hamilton hit an RBI single to center off Helena pitcher Jimmy Nelson to score Devin Lohman, who reached on a double the previous night. The Brewers were again held without a hit, as Mike Walker’s league-leading 40th walk gave the hosts their only baserunner in the bottom of the fourth. With a 2-2 count to leadoff batter Stephen Hunt in the fifth, the umpires called the players off the field as lightning continued to inch closer. Only moments later, just seconds after the grounds crew began laying the tarp down, a heavy rain began to fall. Crew members struggled to keep the tarp down as strong winds began to blow. “I was just worried about their safety,” Helena manager Joe Ayrault said of the grounds crew. “Hats off to Darren (Jibben) and the grounds crew for getting that down.” The National Weather Service reported wind gusts up to 52 miles per hour, and the Helena Airport got .57 of an inch of rainfall within the hour. Suspensions are nothing new to Ayrault. “I’m used to the Florida State League where you get rain everyday,” he said. “For this to be our first back-to-back rainouts, that’s not bad. “You get them all the time. It’s one of those things, it’s just part of summer baseball.” The game was just six outs away from being able to become official in Billings’ favor when the contest was called. The teams were originally scheduled to play another seven-inning game following the finish of Monday’s suspended contest. Both teams keep identical second-half records, at 4-5. Helena next begins a home-and-home series with Missoula, returning to Kindrick on Friday for a two-game set. The Brewers visit the Osprey today, with Matt Miller getting the nod. The Mustangs head to Great Falls. Tuesday night’s promotion was, fittingly, Tropical Night. Fans who dressed in Hawaiian attire received $2.00 off admission. Ticket stubs to the game will be honored at any remaining home game. Chamber of Commerce tickets will be good for Friday, August 13, when the Brewers take on Missoula. Photos by Dylan Brown, Independent Record Brewers' Jimmy Nelson throws a ball to first in an attempted pick Tuesday night against Billings at Kindrick Legion Field. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/c/c5/5ee/cc55eec4-a4fe-11df-8f35-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c62236e880ce.image.jpg The Brewers' Brent Dean hits a grounder, against Billings, at the beginning of Tuesday night's torrential downpour at Kindrick Legion Field. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/b/ca/cf0/bcacf01c-a4fe-11df-a34b-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c62235448f57.image.jpgLightning amidst a torrential downpour ends Tuesday night's game between the Brewers and Billings. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/d/c6/a20/dc6a201e-a4fe-11df-a293-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c622386c2838.image.jpg

Link while active, text follows: Archer on target as Smokies extend lead to five Tennessee continues beating up Stars, 7-1 BY ADAM GREENE. sports@knoxnews.com SEVIERVILLE - Chris Archer was the last person the Huntsville Stars wanted to see at Smokies Park on Tuesday night. The much-maligned Huntsville pitching staff should have been taking notes as Archer gave up just one hit to help keep the Smokies' home winning streak alive with a 7-1 victory. Tennessee (29-16) now has a five-game lead over the Stars (24-21) in the second-half Southern League North standings. The Smokies' 71 wins during the two halves of this season with 24 games to go are more than their entire win total of 2009 (70-43). The franchise record for wins is 88, set in 1978 by the Knoxville Sox. "He (Archer) had good velocity and stayed on top of the ball to get it down," Smokies manager Bill Dancy said. "He had a good change-up and if he keeps going higher up, the change-up's going to be a big plus for him because he's a power pitcher." Archer's only mistake was in the top of the second inning when he gave up a solo home run to Huntsville's Chris Nowak. Archer (7-1) bounced right back, holding Huntsville hitless and scoreless the rest of the way, through seven innings worked. "You prepare yourself throughout the season to battle," Archer said. "You have to know it's going to happen, it's a solo home run, but you have to brush it off and continue to pitch." Archer walked two and fanned eight. Archer's ERA this season now sits at a ridiculous 0.58. Huntsville can only dream of seeing that kind of performance from a pitcher as this series with the Smokies has been nothing short of a nightmare. In four games, Tennessee has scored 45 runs against the Stars' pitching staff. Huntsville starter Andre Lamontagne (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season thanks to giving up two quick runs in the first inning on RBI doubles from Russ Canzler and Robinson Chirinos. "We got the runs in the first and that got our momentum going right out of the shoot," Dancy said. Lamontagne left the game in the fifth trailing 3-1 and his replacements fared no better. Reliever Nick Green gave up four more runs, two in the sixth and two in the seventh to let Tennessee coast to the win. Notebook: The Smokies have plenty of streaks going. In addition to an eight-game home winning streak, Tennessee has won its last seven games. . . . First baseman Blake Lalli has recorded a hit for 14 consecutive games after going 2-for-4 with and RBI on Tuesday. . . . Center fielder Brandon Guyer has a 13-game streak going. Guyer was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Final: Arizona Padres 12, @Arizona Brewers 2 Arizona Box Score The three lefty's that tag-teamed all failed to impress, as Dane Amedee, Marques Kyles, and Travis Stortz combined to surrender 18 hits, four walks and three wild pitches; first baseman Jason Rogers hit a solo home run, his third of the season; the A-Crew did draw seven walks, but failed to capitalize; permanent Maryvale resident Jody Gerut singled in four trips... Arizona Game Log Amedee induced double play grounders in three consecutive innings...

Link while active, text follows: Palo Verde product resurrects his career Nashville's Kintzler on verge of majors after 2006 release By TODD DEWEY, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Buried on baseball's scrap heap with a bum shoulder after getting released by the San Diego Padres in 2006, Palo Verde High School graduate Brandon Kintzler has since made a remarkable comeback. A right-hander who throws in the mid-90s, Kintzler had two strikeouts for the Nashville Sounds on Monday in a scoreless inning against the 51s at Cashman Field and is on the cusp of breaking into the big leagues with the parent Milwaukee Brewers. "He's got to learn a little more about things, but stuff-wise, I don't have any doubt he would have a good chance to go up and get major league hitters out," Nashville pitching coach Rich Gale said Tuesday before the Sounds' 19-8 loss to Las Vegas. "He's been a wonderful, pleasant surprise." The 6-foot-1-inch, 180-pounder started this season at Double-A Huntsville, where he was a dominant closer, and earned his first promotion to Triple A on June 7. He was placed on the disabled list July 14 with a strained oblique muscle but returned to action Friday, pitching a perfect inning against the Reno Aces. Kintzler is 2-0 overall this season with a 1.19 ERA, 13 saves, 37 strikeouts and three walks in 37 2/3 innings. "I'm just trying to challenge them," he said. "The main thing is throwing strikes and staying healthy." After playing a year apiece for Pasadena (Calif.) City College and Utah's Dixie State College, the Las Vegas native spurned a scholarship offer from UNLV to sign with the Padres, who drafted him in the 40th round in 2004 despite concerns about his shoulder. But Kintzler, who turned 26 on Aug. 1, was released after two seasons in the Padres organization. "I never had a healthy season," said Kintzler, who pitched with a frayed labrum and rotator cuff in his right shoulder. "Finally they said they were going to let me go because they were getting impatient." Kintzler didn't play in 2006, when he had surgery on his shoulder. He signed with Winnipeg six months after surgery and toiled in virtual obscurity there in 2007 and 2008. At his request, he was traded to the St. Paul Saints last season and finally managed to attract the attention of some scouts. A day after he started the American Association All-Star Game and hit 94 mph on the radar gun, the Brewers offered him a contract and sent him to Double A, where he went 1-2 with a 4.54 ERA as a starter. Moved to the bullpen this season, Kintzler has thrived. "It's kind of amazing to see a kid with this kind of arm and this kind of stuff that was in independent ball last year that some organization hadn't picked up on him," Gale said. "He throws 94 to 96 (mph), which is a very (legitimate), live major league fastball." Kintzler, who worked at Wynn Las Vegas as a driver last offseason, can barely believe his good fortune. "It's still unreal," he said. "A little over a year ago I was taking 16-hour bus rides in independent ball making zero money. Now we're taking airplanes and playing in Vegas."

The Maryvale Brewers had an off-night and were thumped, 12-2. Details on that game and whatever media reports we find from last night's action will be out by mid-morning.

Final: @Las Vegas (Blue Jays) 19, Nashville 8 High-Scoring Series Continues, Sounds Fall Nashville Sounds LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Nashville Sounds entered the record books in the wrong way on Tuesday evening, matching the highest single-game run total allowed in franchise history in a 19-8 loss to the Las Vegas 51s at Cashman Field. The 19 Las Vegas runs marked the third overall time an opponent has produced that output against Nashville in the Sounds' 33-year history and the first time since the Iowa Cubs plated 19 on August 21, 1989. The 51s' 20 hits on the night were one shy of the most ever produced by a Sounds opponent in a single game. Las Vegas broke open a 5-5 game with a nine-run sixth inning en route to its victory. The clubs combined for 27 runs and 33 hits in the contest, including 19 extra-base knocks. Nashville's seven doubles, including three by Mat Gamel, matched a season high and were one shy of the single-game franchise record. The teams combined for 11 individual multiple-hit efforts in the tilt. Las Vegas shortstop Mike McCoy went 5-for-5, including a home run and a double, to lead all batters. Each of the three games in the series has seen the victory post a double-digit run total; Nashville plated 10 and 12 runs on Sunday and Monday evenings, respectively. The Sounds jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Las Vegas starter Shawn Hill, who lasted only an inning in the contest. Gamel and Erick Almonte recorded back-to-back one-out RBI doubles before shortstop Luis Cruz plated the frame's third run with a two-out single. McCoy led off the home half of the first by belting his fifth home run of the year to center against Sounds starter Chase Wright. Las Vegas sent nine batters to the plate during a four-run third inning against Wright to grab a 5-3 lead. Jarrett Hoffpauir highlighted the inning with a two-run homer, his 14th longball of the year. Nashville first baseman Joe Koshansky knotted the score at 5-5 in the fifth when he swatted his team-leading 20th home run of the season, an opposite-field, two-out shot to left off Josh Roenicke (audio of that call is available via the above link). After Ray Olmedo opened the top of the sixth inning with a triple but never made it plateward as the Sounds ultimately left the bags full against Roenicke, the 51s blew the game open in the bottom of the frame with a nine-run outburst after the first two batters were retired. Fourteen batters came to the plate for Las Vegas in the big inning, which matched the highest output allowed in a single frame by the Sounds all season, as six different players recorded RBI knocks for the 51s. Wright gave up a go-ahead single to McCoy and left runners on first and second before the 51s thumped Sounds reliever Donovan Hand for eight more runs in the inning; the right-hander was charged with six of those scores in just one-third of an inning of work. The Sounds made it a 14-7 game with a pair of scores off Jesse Carlson in the seventh. Koshansky and Cruz legged out consecutive one-out doubles before Olmedo contributed a two-out RBI single. 51s third baseman Brad Emaus got those two runs right back with one swing of the bat in the home half, crushing a two-run homer to left off David Johnson. Nashville got a run back in the eighth when Ben Johnson scored on a double play groundout to make it a 16-8 contest before Las Vegas concluded the night's scoring in the bottom of the frame when Mike Jacobs smashed a three-run homer off Johnson to bring the score to its final 19-8 standing. Roenicke (7-0) was the beneficiary of the mid-game offensive outburst by Vegas and picked up the win. He allowed two runs in his two frames of relief work. Wright (7-8) took the loss after surrendering eight runs on nine hits in his 5 2/3 innings of action. The teams will wrap up the series with a 9:05 PM CT finale on Wednesday night. Right-hander Marty McLeary (5-7, 7.25) will toe the rubber for the Sounds to face Las Vegas right-hander Robert Ray (5-5, 5.30). Nashville Box Score Hopefully the 2011 AAA Brewers don't end up in one of these West Coast PCL outposts (available list), it would just be no fun trying to skew down the ridiculous numbers each evening; Mat Gamel was in right field this time out -- that's four spots in the last four games (3B, DH, 1B, RF); RHP Donovan Hand had been very good in his first taste of AAA -- don't worry, Donovan, what happens in Vegas, well, you know the rest... Nashville Game Log It's a really tall game log...