Jim Goulart

Jupiter tops BC in rain-shortened game By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees VIERA, Fla. - With the tying run on and no outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Brevard County Manatees were looking to start a rally, but Mother Nature had other plans. A 58 minute rain delay turned into Sunday afternoon's game being called early with the Jupiter Hammerheads edging the Manatees 2-1 at Space Coast Stadium. Josh Prince led off the eighth with a walk with Peter Fatse - who was 2-for-3 at that point - coming to bat. The Hammerheads (34-68, 13-22) decided to make a pitching change and bring Ryan Tucker into the game, but Tucker never threw a pitch as the tarp went on the field and the game was eventually called. Jupiter got on the board first in the second as Jake Smolinski tripled to left to score Ben Lasater. The Manatees (49-55, 22-14) had a chance to answer right back in the bottom of the inning as Sergio Miranda and Scott Krieger led off with back-to-back singles. Sean McCraw then advanced them both 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt. But Brock Kjeldgaard flew out to center and Kyle Dhanani grounded out to third to end the threat. Brevard County finally got on the board in the sixth as Miranda drove in Erik Komatsu on a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Krieger was up next with a runner on second and singled to left as Sean Halton tried to score from second but was gunned down by Javier Guzman for the final out of the inning. Manatees starter Darren Byrd's day finished in the seventh as he left the game with two on and two out. Brandon Ritchie came in and his second pitch went to the backstop, allowing Brett Hayes and Thomas Hickman to advance to second and third respectively. Pinch hitter Jeremy Synan then singled to left to score Hickman and give the Hammerheads a 2-1 lead. Byrd allowed two runs (both earned) on five hits, while walking three and striking out two in 6 2/3 innings. Krieger was 3-for-3 on the afternoon, while Fatse and Miranda each had two hits, with Miranda driving in the lone Manatee run. Game three of the four-game series will be Monday at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). The Manatees will send Dan Merklinger (5-4, 4.10) to the mound to try and end Brevard County's two-game losing streak.

Mat Gamel's back at third base tonight -- yay for inconsistent plans!

Final: @Wisconsin 6, Clinton (Mariners) 1 BUCCI & RICHARDSON HELP RATTLER GET BACK ON WINNING TRACK Chris Mehring, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - Nick Bucci and D'Vontrey Richardson led the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to a 6-1 victory over the Clinton LumberKings on Sunday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Bucci struck out eight over six scoreless innings for his fifth win of the season. Richardson had three hits - including a homer - and scored three runs to help the Rattlers snap a four-game losing streak. Richardson started the Wisconsin first inning with a double. One out later, Hunter Morris singled in Richardson for a 1-0 lead. There were two outs and none on base in the bottom of the second inning when Michael Marseco reached on an error and Erik Miller walked to bring Richardson to the plate. The Rattlers centerfielder lifted a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left for a three-run homer and a 4-0 Wisconsin lead. The home run was the first for Richardson since May 24. Wisconsin (42-61 overall, 16-19 second half) added their final runs of the game in the fourth inning. Miller doubled and Richardson walked to put two on base. Scooter Gennett doubled in both runners and the Rattlers were up 6-0. The six-run lead was more than enough for Bucci. The starter cruised through six innings by allowing three hits and striking out eight. No LumberKing passed second base while Bucci was in the game. Clinton (53-50, 16-18) did get a run in the seventh inning on a two-out RBI single by Matt Cerione. However, Richardson picked up an outfield assist on the play as he threw Cerione out as the LumberKing tried to stretch his hit into a double. Richardson has 14 outfield assists this season. Matt Costello, who allowed the run in the top of the seventh, worked a scoreless eighth. Jon Pokorny pitched a scoreless ninth inning with three strikeouts. The series concludes on Monday night at 7:05 PM. Wisconsin sends Jake Odorizzi (6-1, 2.98) to the mound as the starting pitcher. Clinton has Tom Wilhemlsen, a former Milwaukee Brewers farmhand, making his first Midwest League start of the season in Monday's game. Also, the first 1,000 fans into the ballpark will receive a mouse pad from the Rattlers and Rasmussen College. If you can't make it to the game, you can tune into the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM. The Miller Lite Pregame Show begins at 6:45 PM. Wisconsin Box Score The bulldog Nick Bucci, positive results far more often than not, a stellar outing here; powerful Khris Davis, with two steals here, now 13-for-20 in that category; swap D'Vontrey Richardson's walk for a triple and he'd have a cycle -- great game, but speaking of stolen base attempts, Richardson has been successful on less than half of his, only 13-for-27; only Cameron Garfield failed to reach base, so click the box score link to check out everyone's efforts... Wisconsin Game Log Bucci pitched out of mini-jams in the 3rd and 4th -- Clinton Top 3rd Daniel Carroll called out on strikes. Matthew Cerione walks. Gabriel Noriega singles on a line drive to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Matthew Cerione to 2nd. Luis Nunez grounds into double play, first baseman Hunter Morris to shortstop Michael Marseco to pitcher Nicholas Bucci. Gabriel Noriega out at 2nd. Clinton Top 4th James Jones bunt grounds out, pitcher Nicholas Bucci to first baseman Hunter Morris. Nick Franklin singles on a line drive to right fielder Erik Miller. With Tim Morris batting, wild pitch by Nicholas Bucci, Nick Franklin to 2nd. Tim Morris walks. Henry Contreras flies out to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Mario Martinez grounds into a force out, shortstop Michael Marseco to second baseman Ryan Gennett. Tim Morris out at 2nd.

It's 4:20 Central time, the Stars and Braves head to the bottom of the 9th in Huntsville, a chance to listen in live here if you're on the forum at this time.

Now resolved...

Link Report Bonus: Nice video report on one dedicated Helena Brewers fan, who just happens to be blind -- cameos by John Dishon and Voice of the H-Crew Steve Wendt Kudos to you, sir!

We've notified our webmaster Brian -- it appears the server that hosts the main site is in need of a bounce. Fortunately the Yuku forums here are hosted separately. Thanks.

Final, completed early: Jupiter (Marlins) 2, @Brevard County 1, seven plus innings, rain That must have been one heck of a rain system coming through for this game to be called at the point it was. Bottom of the 8th, speedster Josh Prince with a leadoff walk, and that's it. If the delay had come before the game became official, it would have been suspended. Game Time Weather: 89 degrees, sunny. Wind: 7 mph, R to L. T: 2:10 (:58 delay). Brevard County Box Score Only one run for the Tees' despite a 2-for-3 day from Peter Fatse in the 2-spot as the DH, and perfect games from 2B Sergio Miranda and RF Scott Krieger, batting 5th and 6th, respectively... Brevard County Game Log Brock Kjeldgaard failed with less than two out in the 2nd -- Brevard County Bottom 2nd Sergio Miranda singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kevin Mattison. Scott Krieger singles on a ground ball to left fielder Javier Guzman. Sergio Miranda to 2nd. Sean McCraw out on a sacrifice bunt, catcher Brett Hayes to first baseman Ben Lasater. Sergio Miranda to 3rd. Scott Krieger to 2nd. Brock Kjeldgaard flies out to center fielder Kevin Mattison. Kyle Dhanani grounds out, third baseman Paul Gran to first baseman Ben Lasater. The 'Tees tied it at 1-1 in the 6th, but the frame ended on a play at the plate going for the lead -- Brevard County Bottom 6th Peter Fatse singles on a line drive to center fielder Kevin Mattison. Erik Komatsu grounds into a force out, first baseman Ben Lasater to shortstop Emilio Ontiveros. Peter Fatse out at 2nd. Erik Komatsu to 1st. Sean Halton singles on a line drive to left fielder Javier Guzman. Erik Komatsu to 3rd. Sergio Miranda out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Javier Guzman. Erik Komatsu scores. Sean Halton to 2nd. Scott Krieger singles on a line drive to left fielder Javier Guzman. Sean Halton out at home on the throw, left fielder Javier Guzman to catcher Brett Hayes. The winning surge was a two-out rally for Jupiter -- LHP Brandon Ritchie couldn't bail out RHP Darren Byrd... Jupiter Top 7th Ernesto Manzanillo flies out to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Jake Smolinski flies out to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Thomas Hickman doubles (4) on a line drive to right fielder Scott Krieger. Darren Byrd intentionally walks Brett Hayes. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jeremy Synan replaces Emilio Ontiveros. Pitcher Change: Brandon Ritchie replaces Darren Byrd. With Jeremy Synan batting, wild pitch by Brandon Ritchie, Thomas Hickman to 3rd. Brett Hayes to 2nd. Jeremy Synan singles on a ground ball to shortstop Josh Prince. Thomas Hickman scores. Brett Hayes to 3rd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Todd Muecklisch replaces Jeremy Synan. Kevin Mattison grounds out to first baseman Sean Halton.

Rattler Radio Blog: August 1, 2010: Lineup Kentrail Davis, Chris Dennis off... August 1, 2010: Today's pitcher August 1, 2010: Game Notes Maverick needs your vote

Check these just prior to respective game times -- PDF documents: Nashville Media Notes Huntsville Media Notes

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Iowa 60 47 .561 - - 30-26 30-21 7-3 W2 Memphis 59 49 .546 1.5 36 33-21 26-28 7-3 W3 Nashville 56 51 .523 4.0 34 28-26 28-25 5-5 L4 Omaha 56 52 .519 4.5 33 25-26 31-26 5-5 L1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Tennessee 21 14 .600 - - 13-7 8-7 8-2 W3 Huntsville 19 16 .543 2.0 34 9-8 10-8 6-4 W2 Carolina 17 18 .486 4.0 32 7-10 10-8 4-6 L2 Chattanooga 15 19 .441 5.5 31 9-8 6-11 5-5 L3 West Tenn 15 20 .429 6.0 30 8-7 7-13 6-4 L3 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Daytona 25 10 .714 - - 13-4 12-6 10-0 W13 Tampa 21 12 .636 3.0 34 10-6 11-6 5-5 W1 Brevard County 22 13 .629 3.0 33 12-6 10-7 7-3 L1 * Dunedin 15 20 .429 10.0 26 9-8 6-12 4-6 L1 Lakeland 14 20 .412 10.5 26 11-8 3-12 6-4 L1 Clearwater 14 22 .389 11.5 24 9-8 5-14 3-7 L2 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Quad Cities 21 11 .656 - - 9-7 12-4 7-3 W1 * Cedar Rapids 20 13 .606 1.5 - 9-6 11-7 7-3 L2 Kane County 20 14 .588 2.0 37 13-3 7-11 4-6 W3 Peoria 16 16 .500 5.0 35 10-7 6-9 7-3 W6 Clinton 16 17 .485 5.5 34 10-8 6-9 3-7 W2 Beloit 15 17 .469 6.0 32 8-8 7-9 6-4 L2 Wisconsin 15 19 .441 7.0 32 9-7 6-12 4-6 L4 Burlington 14 18 .438 7.0 32 11-6 3-12 3-7 L1 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Helena 1 0 1.000 - - 1-0 0-0 1-0 W1 * Great Falls 0 0 - 0.5 38 0-0 0-0 0-0 Missoula 0 0 - 0.5 38 0-0 0-0 0-0 Billings 0 1 .000 1.0 37 0-0 0-1 0-1 L2 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak AZL Brewers 22 10 .688 - - 7-5 6-5 6-4 W2 AZL Indians 16 16 .500 6.0 19 6-5 7-3 5-5 W2 AZL Dodgers 15 17 .469 7.0 18 5-6 5-5 4-6 L1 AZL Reds 14 18 .438 8.0 17 5-4 4-7 5-5 W1 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Mariners 31 20 .608 - - 18-7 13-13 7-3 W1 DSL Cardinals 29 22 .569 2.0 20 21-4 8-18 6-4 L1 DSL Athletics 22 29 .431 9.0 13 13-13 9-16 5-5 L1 DSL Brewers 20 31 .392 11.0 11 13-13 7-18 2-8 W1

Follow Sunday'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) Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Arizona Rookie (Maryvale)

Sunday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Marty McLeary at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 6:20 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Wily Peralta at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 12:45 PM pre-game; 1:00 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: RHP Darren Byrd at home vs. Jupiter (Marlins), 12:05 gametime Live Audio Link (Hammerheads' feed) Wisconsin: RHP Nick Bucci at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 12:45 PM pre-game; 1:05 gametime Live Audio Link Helena: RHP Stosh Wawrzasek at home vs. Billings (Reds), 1:50 PM pre-game; 2:05 gametime Live Audio Link Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the baby Angels; 9:00 PM; never audio for games in this league DSL Brewers: Idle

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

Economical Miller yields one hit By Alex Raskin / Special to MLB.com It took 4 1/2 hours and 15 innings for the Helena Brewers to beat the Great Falls Voyagers on Thursday night. Helena won Saturday's game in less than half the time, thanks to Matt Miller's dominant performance. The 2010 fifth-round pick allowed one hit -- a fifth-inning double by Oliver Santos -- over seven shutout frames as the Brewers edged the Billings Mustangs, 3-2, in 1 hour and 58 minutes. "This is definitely a first for me, throwing 61 pitches in seven innings," Miller said. "It helps having [shortstop Carlos George] making a couple of nice plays and the outfield coming up with a couple of nice balls." Nine of the 18 outs Miller recorded came on the ground, while seven were flyouts. He struck out one and walked one. "I like to get a lot of ground balls, letting my defense work for me," he said. "I liked the way it worked out today. If it's a good game, I'm going to take it." Miller retired nine of the first 10 batters before hitting Dayne Read in the fourth. He plunked two more Mustangs. "On the first one, I tried to go up and in. I just went a little too far in, I got a little loose," the University of Michigan product said. "Then I came back and was able to get a ground ball after that." Miller nearly paid for his control issues in the fifth, but his defense was able to keep Billings off the scoreboard. After the 21-year-old right-hander hit Devin Lohman to begin the inning, second baseman Shea Vucinich turned Donald Lutz's grounder into a double play. Santos doubled before Miller hit Chris Berset. Fortunately for the Helena starter, Billy Hamilton grounded out to Vucinich to end the frame. "My defense really stepped up for me when I needed them to," Miller said. The Indiana native retired the final six batters he faced to improve to 5-1 with a 2.51 ERA. In addition to winning with grounders and popouts, Miller has the ability to miss bats. The 6-foot-6 righty has 31 strikeouts in eight starts and fanned eight over five innings in a June 29 win over the Mustangs. "I go for the strikeout when I have the opportunity," he said. Thanks to the rapidity with which he dismissed the Mustangs, Miller had more time to spend with his parents, who were visiting from Indiana. "They had a couple of connections," he said. "It's a little tough getting out here." Jimmy Nelson earned the save, despite allowing two runs (unearned) on three hits over two innings. Although it was originally ruled foul, Brent Dean's third-inning homer gave Helena a 1-0 lead. John Dishon hit an RBI triple in the fifth and later scored on a balk by Stalin Gerson. Matt Miller leads the Pioneer League in wins and is fourth in ERA. (Bill Mitchell/Four Seam Images)http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2010/08/01/fKOQhXuu.jpg

Link while active, text follows: Shut down By Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com Canada’s Cinderalla story has come to an unhappy ending at the World Junior Baseball Championship in Thunder Bay. With 5,000 or so fans looking on, Chinese-Taipei plated a pair of runs in the seventh inning of Saturday’s semifinal to knock off the host country 3-1 and earn a berth in Sunday’s gold medal game against Australia. Canada, instead, will fight for bronze against a Cuban team that beat them 3-0 during round-robin play. Out-hit 10-3, manager Greg Hamilton said his troops simply couldn’t master the pitching of Lo Kuo Hua, who went the distance, striking out 10, the only run he allowed coming in the fourth when Dalton Pompey’s fielder’s choice proved enough to score Alex Calbick from third. “Their guy on the mound was outstanding,” Hamilton said. “You tip your caps sometimes. We had one kick at him and we couldn’t get him. What it really came down to was he was real good.” The Canadian's best opportunity, other than the run they scored, came in the eighth, trailing by a pair. Rowan Wick, the two-homer hero against Italy the night before, doubled to start the inning. Justin Atkinson followed with a walk. Hamilton pored over his stats and then called on Emmanuel Forcier to move them over. But after pulling back from two bunt attempts and working a 2-0 count on a struggling Hua, Canada left the bunt sign on. Forcier laid down a perfect sacrifice, moving the runners, but gave up an out. Calbick, who took over the lead-off spot for Canada, struck out and then Brandon Dailey was walked intentionally to load the bases for two-time hero Dalton Pompey. This time fate was against the Toronto Blue Jays' draft pick and a ground ball to third made easy work of Dailey at second. The loss was a devastating one, said a disheartened Kellin Deglan, choking back tears during the post-game scrum with media. “Their pitcher threw a really good game,” he said, stepping back to regroup his thoughts. Regrouping is exactly what the team plans to do on Sunday the Canadian catcher added, aware the Cubans don’t like to lose and have that much more reason to win having lost a title they felt already belonged to them. “We should be all right. We’ve got some pitching left. We’ve got (Tom) Robson who will probably go tomorrow. We’ll be ready for tomorrow, so we’ll come out hard and play a good game.” A shot at gold just wasn’t meant to be, said DH Philip Diedrick, who leads Canada with 10 RBI during the world juniors. “We had our chance late in the eighth inning, but we kind of blew it, so there was nothing we could do about it,” said Diedrick, who authored an 0-for-3 night at the plate. “It just comes down to (Hua) made his pitches and we didn’t really adjust to the curveball he was throwing. Unless you adjust to it, that’s the way things are going to turn out.” Like Australian James Murphy earlier, Hua was perfect through three, but ran into trouble in the fourth when Calbick doubled and Dailey singled, leading to the game’s first run. But with runners on first and second, Diedrick hit into an inning-ending double play. Chinese-Taipei evened it up in the fifth, manufacturing a run when No. 9 hitter Ou Ya-Tsung walked off Canadian starter Evan Grills and stole second, then scored on Lin-Tzu Wei’s single, his second of four hits on the day. Grills was equally effective in five innings of work, allowing just three hits and one run before giving way in favour of Mike Ellis. Canada avoided further trouble in the sixth, thanks to some brilliant defensive work by Deglan. Back-to-back singles had Chinese-Taipei runners on first and second. Lin-Chih Hsien followed with a single of his own to load the bases, but Ko-Chih Wei was nailed at the plate when Deglan blocked his access and laid the tag after a perfect throw from Calbick. Deglan then nailed Yang-Hong Sheng trying to steal third, deflating the threat. The Chinese-Taipei team took its first lead in the seventh off Ellis, who would be saddled with the loss, giving up a pair of unearned runs. Lin-Chia Ching reached on a one-out error by Atkinson and rounded third and scored on Lin Ting-Yen’s double down the left-field line. “I was very happy, I was very excited,” Ching said through an interpreter. “I was very nervous.” Wei, who is hitting .607 for the tournament, said he’s told his teammates not to put too much pressure on themselves heading into the gold medal game. Win or lose, they’ve already achieved the goal they set out for themselves, he said. “If we can win a championship, that’s good,” he said through an interpreter. “But if unfortunately we lost, I told them to let it go, not think too much.” Game time Sunday night at Port Arthur Stadium is 4:30 PM (3:30 Central). Canada and Cuba will play for bronze at 12:00 PM (11:00 AM Central). Fans can watch both games by visiting: http://www.ibaf.org/en/ar...a-4891-abf3-2f25bcd59461 for details (ESPN3.com for U.S. audiences).

Stars Shutout Opposition Connor Shreve, Huntsville Stars The Huntsville Stars guaranteed a series victory over Mississippi with a 5-0 victory Saturday night at "The Joe". The Stars quickly gave starting pitcher Andre Lamontagne a cushion with two first inning runs. Brett Lawrie and Caleb Gindl both picked up hits to start the game. The two men at the top of the order also added a base to their resume by swiping a free bag on the same pitch. Lawrie scored on a deep sac fly by Chris Nowak, which may have easily sailed over the fence had it not been for near hurricane like winds with storms looming. The Stars' RBI leader, Taylor Green, brought home Gindl with a single before the inning came to a close. Green continued his RBI tear in the third. A two-out double in the third baseman's next time up brought home Zelous Wheeler and added to Green's impressive night. The Stars' third baseman finished 3-4 with a run and two RBI. The 24-year-old Canadian national has now driven in 59 runs heading in to the final full month of the season, good for sixth in the league. The hometown Stars scored more but the pitching staff didn't need any extra. Lamontagne and Chris Cody combined for a four-hit shutout. Lamontagne remains unbeaten with the Stars, moving to 3-0 while Cody seems to be embracing his new spot in the bullpen. Cody started the sixth in his first appearance since being transferred to the pen on July 28 and threw four innings while notching his first save of the year. Each Huntsville hurler gave up two hits, walked one and struck out three M-Braves batters. The Stars will play game five of the current ten game homestand Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM (CDT). A Huntsville win combined with a Tennessee loss in Kodak would bring the Stars to within one game of the first place Smokies. The game can be heard live on www.huntsvillestars.com

Link while active, text follows: Lamontagne pitches Huntsville past Mississippi Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Andre Lamontagne has a name straight out of a French romance novel, the lean frame of a college shooting guard and pale blond looks denying a California upbringing. He also has his first Southern League victory as a starting pitcher, after working exclusively as a reliever this season. Lamontagne, pressed into service in the revolving door that is the Huntsville Stars' pitching rotation, pitched five innings of two-hit ball and combined with the recently stellar Chris Cody for a 5-0 win over the Mississippi Braves Saturday night. The Stars' last meeting of the year with Atlanta's Class AA farm club comes today at 1 p.m., then Carolina arrives Monday for a five-game series. Huntsville has won three of four so far against Mississippi this series. Lamontagne, who lives in the central California town of Santa Maria, pitched collegiately at Long Beach State, then finished his career at Oral Roberts. The Brewers tabbed him as an 11th-round draft pick in 2009 and it's been a meteoric climb through the system. After 13 games at rookie ball last year, he began this year at low-A Wisconsin Rapids, moved to Class A Brevard County and came to Huntsville on July 9. Until Saturday night, he had made six relief appearances for the Stars, with a 2-0 record and one save. Pitching coach John Curtis said he'll be a starter "for the time being," having replaced Michael Fiers, now on the disabled list, in the rotation. "I kind of treated it like a long relief appearance," Lamontagne said, finding a quiet nook in the Stars' clubhouse away from the din of hip-hop blaring from the speakers. "I didn't stress about it too much. I've started before in the past, so I had an idea of what I needed to do." Though he didn't allow a hit until two outs in the fourth, "You try not to get caught up that. You go out there and do your thing, pitch by pitch, inning by inning. Every time I come to an inning, I come in like it's zero-zero. And I try to put another zero up." After he put up five of them, Cody followed with four more. Cody, 5-7 on the season, is the most recent Southern League Pitcher of the Week, having struck out nine West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in 5 2/3 innings on July 17. The nice little tidy bow he put on Lamontagne's win -- four innings of two-hit relief -- drops his July ERA to a waif-thin 1.12. The duo benefited from a productive offense, with Taylor Green providing an RBI single and RBI double, and scoring himself on Cody's first hit of the season. Brett Lawrie chimed in with his seventh homer of the year. After wrapping up the fifth inning, punctuating the night with a strikeout, Lamontagne was greeted in the dugout by Curtis, who had a simple message: "Good job," he said. "Keep going out there putting up zeroes."

Nashville's Chuck Lofgren -- bullpen referneces, but he's penciled back in to the rotation for Wednesday

Final, Regularly Scheduled Game: @DSL Brewers 13, DSL Cardinals 2, seven innings as scheduled DSL Brewers Game Two Box Score It was a 1-1 game heading to the bottom of the 5th -- the DSL Cerveceros broke it open with four in the 5th and eight runs in the 6th; this was the 4th straight start of at least six innings by 18-year-old RHP Jeffrey Saba, who looks to have some polish to his game; Brewer batters drew five walks and were plunked four times; DH Orton Rodriguez and SS Juan Abreu each had three hits, Rodriguez doubled and the two combined for five RBI; RF Jose Garcia was 3-for-4 in SB attempts, now 12-for-16 on the season; the squad's best player, CF Ruben Sanchez, was hit by pitches twice, and the 2nd one may have been costly -- he immediately left the game in the 6th... DSL Brewers Game Two Game Log The four-run 5th -- DSL Brewers Bottom 5th Juan De Leon strikes out swinging. Julio Sotelo singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Jorge De La Cruz singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Julio Sotelo to 3rd. Joan Abreu singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Julio Sotelo scores. Jorge De La Cruz to 3rd. With Ruben Sanchez batting, wild pitch by Anthony De La Cruz, Joan Abreu to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Stalyn Lopez replaces Anthony De La Cruz. Ruben Sanchez reaches on fielding error by shortstop Robelys Reyes. Jorge De La Cruz scores. Joan Abreu scores. Ruben Sanchez to 2nd. Orton Rodriguez doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Ruben Sanchez scores. Ronny Puello reaches on a fielder's choice out, pitcher Stalyn Lopez to third baseman Daniel Barbuena. Orton Rodriguez out at 3rd. Hitaniel Arias hit by pitch. Ronny Puello to 2nd. Jose R. Garcia grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Daniel Barbuena. Ronny Puello out at 3rd. The eight-run 6th: DSL Brewers Bottom 6th Juan De Leon grounds out, second baseman Jorge Lopez to first baseman Rafael Medina. Julio Sotelo singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Jorge De La Cruz walks. Julio Sotelo to 2nd. Joan Abreu singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Julio Sotelo scores. Jorge De La Cruz to 2nd. Ruben Sanchez hit by pitch. Jorge De La Cruz to 3rd. Joan Abreu to 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Jose Pena replaces Ruben Sanchez. Orton Rodriguez singles on a ground ball to shortstop Robelys Reyes. Jorge De La Cruz scores. Joan Abreu to 3rd. Jose Pena to 2nd. Ronny Puello walks. Joan Abreu scores. Jose Pena to 3rd. Orton Rodriguez to 2nd. Hitaniel Arias doubles (9) on a fly ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Jose Pena scores. Orton Rodriguez scores. Ronny Puello scores. With Raul Mondesi Jr. batting, wild pitch by Stalyn Lopez, Hitaniel Arias to 3rd. Raul Mondesi Jr. walks. Pitcher Change: Jean De La Cruz replaces Stalyn Lopez. With Juan De Leon batting, Raul Mondesi Jr. steals (3) 2nd base. Juan De Leon walks. Julio Sotelo pops out to first baseman Rafael Medina on the infield fly rule. Jorge De La Cruz walks. Hitaniel Arias scores. Raul Mondesi Jr. to 3rd. Juan De Leon to 2nd. Joan Abreu singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Raul Mondesi Jr. scores. Juan De Leon to 3rd. Jorge De La Cruz to 2nd. Jose Pena grounds out, third baseman Daniel Barbuena to first baseman Rafael Medina.

Final, Game One: DSL Cardinals 14, @DSL Brewers 12, completion of suspended game DSL Brewers Game One Box Score Somehow this was the completion of an earlier suspended game, because they played a full nine innings; also starter Rolando Pascual just pitched two days ago, and recently suspended players are listed in the box score as starting the game -- via the game log, you can tell it was picked up after three innings, with the Brewers down, 6-0... Pasqual was really roughed up, allowing six earned runs in his only inning, walking three, tossing two wild pitches, hitting two batters; the D-Crew fell behind 12-0 immediately in the 4th when two 18-year-old's, RHP Javier Belen and LHP Christopher Roman, combined to walk five in a six-run frame; LHP Jose A. Garcia missed most of the month of July -- he stranded three inherited runners in a one-out situation in the 6th, and then tossed an additional two scoreless... The Brewers would score one in the 4th, then five more in the 5th to make it 12-6; it was 13-6 when the Brewers scored an additional six in the 6th to make it 13-12, yet after all that effort, the boys were shut out for the final three frames; when all was said and done, a few offensive lines stood out -- Yonki Hernandez's only hit was a 6th inning grand slam, his 2nd home run of the season, he walked his other three trips, batting average .216, OBP .392, Yonki being Yonki... 17-year-old infielder Jorge De La Cruz hit his first pro HR in a game where he reached base three times; DH Ronny Puello singled twice and walked; RF Jose Pena was 0-for-3 but walked three times, Juan Abreu was 2-for-5 and gets bonus points for moving from SS-to-CF-to-2B-back to SS in the contest... DSL Brewers Game One Game Log Team MVP Ruben Sanchez only appeared in this wild one in the 8th as a pinch-runner, with the team down by just one run -- it didn't go well: DSL Brewers Bottom 8th Joan Abreu grounds out, pitcher Hansel De Los Santos to first baseman Luis Perez. Jose R. Garcia flies out to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Andres Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Ruben Sanchez replaces Andres Martinez. With Raul Mondesi Jr. batting, Ruben Sanchez picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Hansel De Los Santos to first baseman Luis Perez to shortstop Daniel Barbuena.

Final: @Helena 3, Billings (Reds) 2 Miller pitches a gem, Brewers win 3-2 By Brett Billings, Helena Brewers The Helena Brewers opened the second half of the Pioneer League season with a 3-2 win over the Billings Mustangs. The big story of the night was the outing of Matt Miller. The fifth round pick out of the University of Michigan threw seven shutout innings of baseball and only allowed one hit. Miller, who was used mostly as a midweek starter at Michigan, improved to 5-1 on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.51, which is good enough for fourth in the league. Hiram Burgos, who was promoted to Low A-Wisconsin two weeks ago, still ranks third with an ERA of 2.37. Brent Dean accounted for the Brewers' first run of the game when he launched a home run over the left field fence, his first of the year. The call was originally ruled foul by home plate umpire Alex Ransom and overruled by first base umpire Mitch Quandt. The Brewers scored two more in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. John Dishon tripled in Shea Vucinich, who singled earlier in the frame. Dishon later scored after a balk from Mustangs pitcher Stalin Gerson (2-2, 4.72). Jimmy Nelson pitched the eighth and ninth to earn his first professional save. He allowed two unearned runs on three hits. He struck out two and walked one. Helena will go for the series win Sunday afternoon at Kindrick Legion Field. The Mustangs are sending RHP Tyler Cline (1-1, 2.33) to the hill. The Brewers will start RHP Stosh Wawrzasek (0-3, 6.16). *** Link while active, text follows: Miller shines in 2nd-half debut By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record Everything went the Helena Brewers' way Saturday as they kicked off the second half of the Pioneer League season with a win. A phenomenal pitching performance by the Brewers’ fifth-round draft pick Matt Miller and a couple of controversial calls were the difference, as Helena edged the Billings Mustangs 3-2 in front of 506 fans at Kindrick Legion Field. “We talked yesterday about starting everything over tommorrow so obviously today was a great way to start off,” said catcher Brent Dean, whose team improves to 20-19 overall, 1-0 to start the second half. “We had some weird weather too, so it was a little strange.” A thunderstorm that ripped through Helena just hours before the game meant the teams were unable to get batting practice in. They’d combine for ten hits in the contest, but wouldn’t need much offense in what wound up being a pitcher’s duel. Miller (5-1) got the start and didn’t give up a hit until the fifth inning, when third baseman Oliver Santos ripped a double down the right-field line. It was the only hit the 6-foot-6 right-hander would allow through seven innings, his longest outing of the season. The brilliant effort was made even more special with Miller’s parents making the 1,600-mile trek from Zionsville, Ind., to see him throw for the first time as a professional. “Today was a good game,” Miller said. “The defense obviously played a great game behind me, (Carlos) George made a couple of great plays behind me, and the outfield had a great game. Dean called a great game behind the plate. We just tried to pound the zone, and things went our way.” Miller was efficient with his fastball and kept his throws low, pitching to contact for groundball outs. The 21-year-old out of the University of Michigan had just one strikeout in the contest, and did have a spell where he hit three batters. But after a quick chat with pitching coach Elvin Nina, Miller calmed down and set down the final seven he faced before being relieved by Jimmy Nelson, who got the save. Helena struck first in interesting fashion, when a hard-hit shot by Dean cleared the left-field fence in the third inning. As Dean was already rounding second base, home plate umpire Alex Ransom said the ball fell foul. But after Brewers manager Joe Ayrault argued and Ransom consulted with base umpire Mitch Quandt, the call was reversed. Dean said his first professional home run would be a memorable one. “Honestly, I’ve never seen that happen before,” Dean said of the reversed call. “It was a good one. Joe went out there and fought for me on that one, I appreciate that. “I thought he made the right call; it’s a tough one not having a third base umpire, but when I went back to catch the next inning, the umpire, Alex, said he didn’t even see it off the bat so he wasn’t sure where it was until after he saw it coming back down.” The Brewers scored again in the fifth, when John Dishon’s RBI triple to the gap in right-center field scored Shea Vucinich all the way from first. In the next at-bat, Quandt called a balk on Billings starter Stalin Gerson, which brought home Helena’s final run to give the hosts a 3-0 lead. “He was on the rubber, had the ball in his glove and then pulled the ball out of his glove,” Ayrault said. “It was definitely a balk.” The Mustangs mounted a comeback in the final frames, when Billy Hamilton extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single, then stole second. The second baseman then came home on an errant throw by Dean. Billings tacked on another run in the ninth on a wild play, when Helena shortstop Carlos George bobbled a ball hit by Santos, but was able to throw to Vucinich to tag out pinch runner Theo Bowe, who had overrun second. “We got a fresh start,” Dean said. “Being 1-0, you can’t beat that right now.” DIAMOND NOTES: Billings catcher Chris Berset caught for Helena ace Miller at Michigan. Miller said the two find it fun to play against one another now, and shared some words after Miller got out Berset in his first at-bat...Helena hitting coach Ned Yost IV’s father, Ned Yost III, signed a two-year contract extension with the Kansas City Royals earlier in the day...Dean has a remarkable .667 batting average against Billings. Helena Box Score Cody Hawn 0-for-4, four K's -- Hawn hit .262 in July with an .812 OPS; LF Robbie Garvey back in the starting lineup after exiting Friday's game mid-way -- he was caught rounding first base and then not getting back after a single in the 3rd; Carlos George is only 7-for-14 in SB attempts in 2010 -- in two prior seasons, 30-for-42; Matt Miller hit those three men within an eight-batter stretch in the 4th and 5th inings, worked around them all... Helena Game Log Wild way to end a one-run game -- Billings Top 9th Dominic D'Anna grounds out, third baseman Gregory Hopkins to first baseman Cody Hawn. Juan Duran flies out to center fielder Franklin Romero. Devin Lohman singles on a ground ball to center fielder Franklin Romero. Donald Lutz singles on a ground ball to right fielder John Dishon. Devin Lohman to 3rd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Theo Bowe replaces Donald Lutz. Oliver Santos reaches on fielding error by shortstop Carlos George. Devin Lohman scores. Theo Bowe out at 2nd, second baseman Shea Vucinich.

Mr. 333, Chase Wright, has his RBI single audio available at this link. Also, LHP Chuck Lofgren's bullpen stay was brief, he'll slot into injured LHP Chris Waters' spot on Wednesday.

Thanks, Stephen! This is the video of Scarpetta you get to see, minus most of the between-pitch delays: St. Lucie Top 3rd Hector Pellot singles on a line drive to right fielder Peter Fatse. Pedro Zapata grounds into a force out, shortstop Josh Prince to second baseman Matt Cline. Hector Pellot out at 2nd. Pedro Zapata to 1st. Michael Fisher strikes out swinging. With Jordany Valdespin batting, Pedro Zapata steals (2) 2nd base. Jordany Valdespin strikes out swinging. I'm trying to think who has a "posterior" similar to Cody. It's certainly significant and his upper leg strength undoubtedly helps him generate his power. As my wife likes to say, "all a bum is, is the top of two legs".

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Iowa 59 47 .557 - - 30-26 29-21 7-3 W1 Memphis 58 49 .542 1.5 37 32-21 26-28 7-3 W2 Nashville 56 50 .528 3.0 36 28-25 28-25 5-5 L3 Omaha 56 51 .523 3.5 35 25-26 31-25 5-5 W3 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak * Tennessee 20 14 .588 - - 12-7 8-7 8-2 W2 Huntsville 18 16 .529 2.0 35 8-8 10-8 5-5 W1 Carolina 17 17 .500 3.0 34 7-9 10-8 4-6 L1 Chattanooga 15 18 .455 4.5 33 9-8 6-10 5-5 L2 West Tenn 15 19 .441 5.0 32 8-7 7-12 7-3 L2 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Daytona 24 10 .706 - - 12-4 12-6 10-0 W12 Brevard County 22 12 .647 2.0 35 12-5 10-7 8-2 W7 Tampa 20 12 .625 3.0 35 10-6 10-6 5-5 L1 * Dunedin 15 19 .441 9.0 28 9-8 6-11 5-5 W1 Lakeland 14 19 .424 9.5 28 11-8 3-11 6-4 W1 Clearwater 14 21 .400 10.5 26 9-8 5-13 4-6 L1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Quad Cities 20 11 .645 - - 9-7 11-4 7-3 L2 * Cedar Rapids 20 12 .625 0.5 - 9-5 11-7 8-2 L1 Kane County 19 14 .576 2.0 37 12-3 7-11 4-6 W2 Beloit 15 16 .484 5.0 33 8-7 7-9 7-3 L1 Peoria 15 16 .484 5.0 35 10-7 5-9 6-4 W5 Clinton 15 17 .469 5.5 34 10-8 5-9 2-8 W1 Wisconsin 15 18 .455 6.0 33 9-6 6-12 5-5 L3 Burlington 14 17 .452 6.0 33 11-6 3-11 3-7 W1 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Billings 0 0 - - - 0-0 0-0 0-0 * Great Falls 0 0 - - - 0-0 0-0 0-0 Helena 0 0 - - - 0-0 0-0 0-0 Missoula 0 0 - - - 0-0 0-0 0-0 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak AZL Brewers 22 10 .688 - - 7-5 6-5 6-4 W2 AZL Indians 15 16 .484 6.5 19 5-5 7-3 5-5 W1 AZL Dodgers 15 17 .469 7.0 18 5-6 5-5 4-6 L1 AZL Reds 13 18 .419 8.5 17 4-4 4-7 5-5 L1 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Mariners 30 20 .600 - - 17-7 13-13 7-3 L1 DSL Cardinals 28 21 .571 1.5 22 21-4 7-17 5-5 W4 DSL Athletics 22 28 .440 8.0 15 13-13 9-15 6-4 W1 DSL Brewers 19 30 .388 10.5 13 12-12 7-18 2-8 L4