Jim Goulart

Butler does it again, gets rewarded with win Josh Butler (2-4) scattered five hits over seven innings of shutout baseball as the Huntsville Stars (7-8, 40-45) knocked off the Tennessee Smokies (8-7, 50-34) by a final score of 3-0 in Tuesday’s rubber match of their three game set. For Butler it was his third outing in his last four trips to the mound where he did not surrender an earned run. Last time out he took a no-decision as the Stars lost in 15 innings to the Lookouts. Tuesday was different. He did not have a 1-2-3 inning until the fifth, but the Smokies left six men on base and the Stars turned three double plays behind him on defense. For awhile he was going toe to toe with Smokies’ starter Craig Muschko, who tossed five shutout innings of his own. Once Muschko left the game, the Stars’ offense finally pushed a run across in the sixth against reliever Jeremy Papelbon (1-1). Brett Lawrie, who became the first player in the SL this year to reach 100 hits as he went 2-5 today, tallied hit number 101 with a lead-off single to left. Caleb Gindl followed with a single of his own. One out later the Stars showed off some of their trademark aggressiveness as they pulled off a double steal. The move turned out to be huge as Steffan Wilson smacked a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Lawrie and giving the Stars a 1-0 lead. Butler worked around a lead-off single in the sixth and a two-out single in the seventh. His last pitch of the game was a beauty that left pinch hitter Blake Lalli standing at the station. He finished the day with six strikeouts, while he only walked two. Huntsville feasted on the Smokies’ bullpen again in the eighth inning. Zelous Wheeler pinch hit for Butler and singled to left against new pitcher Ryan Buchter. A wild pitch advanced him to second and one out later Gindl drew a walk. Buchter suffered from more wildness as he hit Drew Anderson to load the bases. Wilson, already with the Stars’ lone RBI of the day singled to left, plating Wheeler and Gindl and extending the Stars’ lead to 3-0. Nick Green tossed a scoreless eighth and Jim Henderson picked up his second save in as many nights and fifth on the year with a perfect ninth inning. With the win the Stars take two of three from the Smokies and improve to 6-7 on the year against the Cubs’ affiliate. It marks the Stars’ first series victory of the second half as they dropped four of six to Jacksonville and split a six-game set with Chattanooga previously. It’s the Stars’ first series win on the road since they took four of five from Birmingham back in late April, early May. Huntsville heads to Chattanooga Wednesday for a four-game series before the All-Star break. Set your alarms as the game starts at 10:15 AM central time on the Stars Radio Network.

Here's the link to the full Rattler Radio blog. All the game notes and such are underneath the initial post, which you may choose to enjoy as well.

Smokies' bats go silent in 3-0 loss Tuesday By Rennie Leon / Tennessee Smokies KODAK, Tenn. - Looking to reverse last night's lackluster showing at the plate, the Tennessee Smokies were once again stymied by Huntsville pitching Tuesday afternoon. The Smokies were only able to muster six hits in a 3-0 loss to the Stars, in front of 3,407 fans on "Summer Splash Day" at Smokies Park. The loss dropped the Smokies to 8-7 in the season's second half, 50-34 overall. The Smokies had their chances against Huntsville starter Josh Butler, but had trouble with runners in scoring position. With one out and runners on first and second in the 2nd inning, Butler got Tony Thomas to ground into a force out and then struck out Marwin Gonzalez to end the early threat. In the fifth, Tennessee again found themselves with runners on first and second, this time with no outs. Butler again was able to get out of a jam, getting Steve Clevenger to hit into a 4-6-3 double play and end another potential Smokies threat. Tennessee starter Craig Muschko kept pace with Butler, holding Huntsville to three hits through the first five innings. He struck out two and walked only one, with 50 of his 72 pitches going for strikes. Muschko would be relieved in the sixth by reliever Jeremy Papelbon. Huntsville pounced on the lefty immediately with consecutive singles by Brett Lawrie and Caleb Gindl. After a successful double-steal by the two, Steffan Wilson plated Lawrie with a sacrifice fly to left to make it 1-0 Huntsville. Wilson came through again for the Stars in the eighth, delivering a two-run single off Tennessee reliever Ryan Buchter to pad Huntsville's lead to 3-0. The lead was more than enough for Huntsville's bullpen and reliever Jim Henderson (S, 5), who preserved the win for Butler (2-4) with a scoreless ninth. Papelbon (1-1) took the loss for Tennessee. Huntsville Box Score Kudos to Josh Butler -- 93 pitches, 55 strikes, that ratio improved as he got deeper into his seven-inning stint; SS Anderson Machado was 2-for 3 with a walk and was part of all three double play grounders the Stars turned, including one for Nick Green in his scoreless 8th inning; Caleb Gindl, again in center field, also singled twice and walked, lifting his OBP to .355; RF Drew Anderson reached twice (BB, HBP); Brett Lawrie's name peppered throughout the box score, both for good and bad in an eventful day for him, as detailed a bit in our early posts... Huntsville Game Log

From the notes linked above -- JOHNSON COMPLETES REHAB STINT, REJOINS SOUNDS: Catcher Ben Johnson -- who has been out of action since June 1 while on the disabled list -- has been activated by the Sounds today after a one-game rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona League, where he went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts yesterday. The 28-year-old opened the season by hitting .153 in 21 games for Nashville. He fills the roster spot vacated yesterday when Adam Stern was placed on the temporary inactive list. *** Stern is a new dad -- congrats!

PDF Document: Nashville Media Notes

Standings may reflect matinee games played on Tuesday afternoon in certain leagues: PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Memphis 46 38 .548 - - 24-16 22-22 7-3 L1 Nashville 45 38 .542 0.5 61 23-18 22-20 6-4 W1 Iowa 44 38 .537 1.0 61 23-21 21-17 5-5 W1 Omaha 43 39 .524 2.0 60 20-20 23-19 4-6 L2 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Chattanooga 9 5 .643 - - 6-2 3-3 6-4 L1 * Tennessee 8 7 .533 1.5 55 5-4 3-3 4-6 L2 Carolina 7 7 .500 2.0 55 4-2 3-5 6-4 W1 Huntsville 7 8 .467 2.5 54 3-3 4-5 5-5 W2 West Tenn 5 9 .357 4.0 53 3-3 2-6 3-7 L4 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tampa 7 2 .778 - - 4-1 3-1 7-2 L1 Daytona 8 4 .667 0.5 60 5-0 3-4 7-3 W3 Clearwater 6 7 .462 3.0 57 5-1 1-6 5-5 L3 Brevard County 5 6 .455 3.0 58 4-3 1-3 5-5 W1 * Dunedin 4 6 .400 3.5 58 3-3 1-3 4-6 L1 Lakeland 2 7 .222 5.0 57 1-2 1-5 2-7 W1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Clinton 7 4 .636 - - 4-2 3-2 7-3 W2 Quad Cities 7 4 .636 - - 3-2 4-2 7-3 W1 Burlington 6 5 .545 1.0 59 5-1 1-4 6-4 L1 * Cedar Rapids 6 5 .545 1.0 59 3-2 3-3 6-4 W1 Beloit 5 6 .455 2.0 58 3-3 2-3 4-6 L1 Kane County 5 6 .455 2.0 58 3-2 2-4 4-6 W1 Wisconsin 5 6 .455 2.0 58 4-2 1-4 4-6 L1 Peoria 3 8 .273 4.0 56 1-4 2-4 2-8 L4 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Helena 10 5 .667 - - 6-1 4-4 6-4 L1 Great Falls 8 6 .571 1.5 23 3-4 5-2 5-5 W1 Missoula 6 9 .400 4.0 20 5-4 1-5 5-5 W1 Billings 5 9 .357 4.5 20 2-4 3-5 4-6 L1 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak AZL Brewers 9 3 .750 - - 0-0 0-0 0-0 L1 AZL Dodgers 6 6 .500 3.0 42 0-0 0-0 0-0 L1 AZL Reds 6 6 .500 3.0 42 0-0 0-0 0-0 W1 AZL Indians 3 9 .250 6.0 39 0-0 0-0 0-0 L3 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Cardinals 18 14 .563 - - 14-2 4-12 5-5 L1 DSL Mariners 17 15 .531 1.0 40 12-5 5-10 5-5 W3 DSL Brewers 15 17 .469 3.0 38 11-5 4-12 6-4 W2 DSL Athletics 14 18 .438 4.0 37 8-7 6-11 3-7 L6

Follow Tuesday'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 Game One (Gameday also available) Nashville Game Two (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Arizona Rookie (Maryvale) DSL Brewers

The rest of Tuesday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Chris Waters and RHP Marty McLeary in a doubleheader at Oklahoma City (Rangers), 4:45 PM pre-game; 5:00 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link Wisconsin: RHP Kyle Heckathorn at Cedar Rapids (Angels), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime Live Audio Link Helena: RHP Tyler Cravy at Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Athletics' complex in Phoenix; 9:00 PM; never audio for games in this league DSL Brewers: at the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM

Nashville diehards can view the entire series in Oklahoma City via a subscription to MiLB.TV.

Oh no -- hothead Lawrie disputes another call and gets tossed to end the 9th -- pick your battles, Brett. Apparently the ump was walking away but Brett wouldn't let up (thought he had beat out a grounder).

Huntsville audio was functioning as the game began, but you could tell the quality was poor. The guys must have bailed out based on the technical issues. As an alternative, just search for the Tennessee audio here, 3-0 Stars as they head to the 9th at 1:25 PM central. Details later, but Steffan Wilson all three RBI. You will never again see a fruitless inning quite like this. I can picture how it happened, but it's still unique. Huntsville Top 3rd Josh Butler called out on strikes. Brett Lawrie triples (11) on a fly ball to right fielder Matthew Spencer. Caleb Gindl singles on a ground ball to third baseman Josh Vitters. Drew T. Anderson grounds into double play, second baseman Tony Thomas to shortstop Marwin Gonzalez to first baseman Russ Canzler. Caleb Gindl out at 2nd.

Huntsville audio working for anyone?

ODORIZZI IS FANS' CHOICE FOR BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAY GRAND CHUTE, WI - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fans have made their decision. Jake Odorizzi was selected to be immortalized as a bobblehead in an on-line vote that recently ended. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers All-Star pitcher's bobblehead will be given away to the first 1,000 fans into Time Warner Cable Field for the game on Thursday, September 2. Odorizzi had a slight edge over fellow Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect Kyle Heckathorn in the poll that was conducted at TimberRattlers.com. The Fans' Choice Bobblehead giveaway is part of the final homestand of the regular season for the Timber Rattlers. Game time is 6:35 pm. Tickets for the Jake Odorizzi Bobblehead night and for any game over the remainder of the 2010 home schedule may be purchased three ways: Over the phone at (800) WI-TIMBER or (920) 733-4152; in person at the Time Warner Cable Field Box Office; or online at www.timberrattlers.com. Chris Mehring Director of Media Relations/ Radio Announcer Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Class A Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers

Well, it could all be a hoax and look-a-like Randy Wolf will accept the honors on his behalf.

We'll fill in the rest later on -- Huntsville: RHP Josh Butler at Tennessee (Cubs), 10:45 AM pre-game; 11:00 gametime Live Audio Link *** Huntsville (Gameday also available) *** SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Chattanooga 9 5 .643 - - 6-2 3-3 6-4 L1 * Tennessee 8 6 .571 1.0 56 5-3 3-3 5-5 L1 Carolina 7 7 .500 2.0 55 4-2 3-5 6-4 W1 Huntsville 6 8 .429 3.0 54 3-3 3-5 4-6 W1 West Tenn 5 9 .357 4.0 53 3-3 2-6 3-7 L4*** PDF Document: Huntsville Media Notes

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Link while active, text follows: O's douse Brewers By TROY WARZOCHA for the Missoulian With many of the fans in attendance long gone because of heavy rain throughout the sixth and seventh innings, the Missoula Osprey gave those who remained a treat, beating the Helena Brewers 8-4 Monday at Ogren-Allegiance Park. "It's great for our pitcher to hold (Helena's) offense for the whole game," said O's manager Hector De La Cruz. "Our offense came and put up six runs (in the seventh) and that was a huge part of the game right there." The O's took a pitchers' duel into the seventh inning and turned it into a confortable victory, scoring six runs in the frame and pounding Helena's pitchers into submission. The win improves the O's to 6-9 in the Pioneer League's North Divison and leaves them four games back of the first-place Brewers, who fell to 10-5 with the loss. In the decisive inning, the O's sent 11 hitters to the plate, scoring six runs on three hits and five walks. Third baseman Eric Groff punctuated the offensive outburst with two-run home run to left. Before the O's reached for their bats in the seventh, they were feeling the momentum as reliever Randy Hamrick wiggled out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the top of the inning. After allowing two singles and hitting a man, the O's got down to business using a combination of slick fielding and Brewer offensive ineptitude to take the wind out of Helena's sails. "It was confidence right there in that inning," De La Cruz said. O's second baseman Antonio Sepulveda caught a fly ball on the run in right field, Hamrick then stabbed a comebacker and nailed the force out at home with an off-balance throw, and shortstop Raul Navarro was able to finish off the Brewers with an easily fielded put-out at second. Hamrick came on in relief of starter Robby Rowland and pitched brilliantly. The 19th-round pick pitched five strong innings, giving up only one run on six hits while striking out three. "He was outstanding," De La Cruz said. "You couldn't ask for more." With Hamrick excelling on the mound, the Osprey bats were able to heat up on a cold, rainy night. Designated hitter Richie Rowland kept up his incredible hot streak with his second home run in as many games and a pair of RBIs. Rowland also extended his team-high hitting streak to 12 games. "I'm just trying to get into fastball counts," Rowland said. "I'm just trying to find a good place to hit in the strike zone. Luckily, I'm getting the pitches to hit and I'm not missing them." Left fielder Adam Eaton laced a two-RBI single in the seventh to complement Groff's two-run dinger. However, the big seventh would not have happened if center fielder Chris Jarrett had not legged out a potential inning-ending double play early in the inning. Hamrick got the win for the O's and Helena pitcher Stosh Wawrzasek took the loss for the Brewers. Wawrzasek gave up four runs on four hits and three walks in 4 1-3 innings of work. The O's wrap up their current homestand against the Brewers on Tuesday at 7:00 PM (8:00 Central). Missoula Osprey Richie Rowland gets past Shea Vucinich as the Helena shortstop prepares to field a grounder hit by the Osprey’s Antonio Sepulveda Monday evening at Ogren-Allegiance Park. Photo by LINDA THOMPSON/Missoulian http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/missoulian.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/a/79/457/a79457f4-88ae-11df-b83a-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c32a30f543f2.image.jpg

Just a wonderful collection of photos taken at Monday's Manatee doubleheader by Stephen C. Smith. I had forgotten that SS Josh Prince is 6'0" -- looks taller even, he doesn't make Matt Cline look his listed 5'10'. This just in -- Angel Salome still 5'7".

This blog post indicates that the Brewers will likely have interest in Oklahoma City as a new AAA home come this fall.

At the Don Money link just above, a second portion of the interview is now in place, he discusses Luis Cruz' defense, and the fact that both Cruz and Adam Stern are brand new dads, the team is playing extremely short right now...

Audio links have now been added to the Huntsville game summary posted earlier in this thread.

Huntsville LHP Lucas Luetge, an effective swing man for the Manatees and now the Stars, is interviewed by Aaron Morse

We'll have any all the media reports we can find during the morning hours, but just a note to remind you as you plan your office day, prepare for Huntsville audio at 10:45 AM Central. Cap things off for now listening to Mat Gamel's clutch two-run base knock, courtesy of Stu and the Sounds via this link.

Tampa tops 'Tees in first game of doubleheader By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees VIERA - In the first game of a doubleheader - and the first game for the Manatees since Friday - Brevard County fell 2-1 to the Tampa Yankees in nine innings of a scheduled seven-inning game. BC reliever Mike Ramlow gave up a one-out solo homer to Tampa's Melky Mesa in the top of the ninth, that was ultimately the difference. The Manatees got on the board first in the top of the third when with one out and runners on the corners, Sergio Miranda lined out to Yankees shortstop Jose Pirela and Pirela tried to double up Matt Cline going back to first, but his throw was wild, allowing Cline to move to second and Josh Prince to score. Manatees starter Wily Peralta kept Tampa in check all evening, at one point retiring 11 batters in a row, but ran into some trouble in the sixth as he allowed three straight one-out singles as the Yankees tied the game at 1-1. Tampa had runners on first and second with one out, but Peralta forced Zolio Almonte to ground into a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning. For the day, Peralta went seven innings and allowed just the one run on five hits, while striking out five and walking just two. Brevard County had a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and one out, but Prince struck out looking and Cline flied out to right to send the game to extra innings. Ramlow sat the Yanks down in order in the eighth as the Manatees threatened again in the bottom of the inning as Angel Salome reached on a two-out double. After an intentional walk to Sean Halton, Brock Kjeldgaard flied out to left to leave the runner stranded. After Tampa took a one run lead in the top of the ninth, Brevard County looked to get something going in the ninth and Franklin Romero singled with one out, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. That would be the last runner to reach base as Tampa pulled out the 2-1 win. Cline and Romero each had two hits for the Manatees. *** BC takes game two of doubleheader, 4-1By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees VIERA - In the second game of Monday night's doubleheader, the Manatees scored four in the fourth and that would be all they need to defeat the Tampa Yankees 4-1 in a seven-inning game. Brevard County sent seven hitters to the plate as three of the Manatees four hits in the game came in the fourth. The scoring started with one out and runners on second and third as Sean Halton hit a ball that went right under the glove of Yankees first baseman Bradley Suttle, to score Sergio Miranda and send Erik Komatsu to third. Next up would be Scott Krieger and he would clear the bases with a triple to center field to make it a 3-0 lead for the Manatees. Michael Roberts then came up and drove in Krieger with a single to right to make it 4-0. The Manatees pitching staff took care of the rest as starter R.J. Seidel threw five shutout innings and allowed just two hits and one walk, while striking out two. Jeremy Jeffress then came in to finish the game and went two innings and struck out three, while walking two and allowing the only Yankees run on a RBI ground out in the top of the seventh. Komatsu, Krieger, Roberts and Angel Salome each had one of Brevard County's four hits, with Salome's and Kriger's being extra-base hits. Seidel earned his third win of the season and his ERA is now at 2.54. Brevard County and Tampa will close out their three-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central) at Space Coast Stadium. For those who can't make it out to the Wednesday night's game, Stephen C. Smith of SpaceCoastBaseball.com will be doing a live webcast from Space Coast Stadium with all the action.

Final, Game Two: DSL Brewers 7, DSL Athletics 5 DSL Brewers Game Two Box Score Brewers led 7-0 after 4.5 innings, then held on; closer Rigoberto Almonte entered the game with one on and one out, tieing run at the plate (is it tying or tieing -- you'd think I'd know after ten years of Link Reporting) and sealed the deal; 6'7" LHP Eliezer Montano pitched around trouble early on but was touched for three runs in the 5th and called it a day after that; still just 18 years old for another month, RHP Joel Dicent did not pitch decent, mixing in three wild pitches into his 1.1 innings and prompting Almonte's beckoning; big target first baseman Hitaniel Arias completed a successful twinbill with a 2-for-4 day, on base five times Monday; Raul Mondesi, Jr. was 2-for-4 as well; SS Andres Martinez sat out both games Monday... DSL Brewers Game Two Game Log