Jim Goulart

Rattler Radio: June 29, 2010: Game Notes June 29, 2010: Tonight's Starting Pitcher June 29, 2010: Starting Lineup Cameron Garfield, Cutter Dykstra, and D'Vontrey Richardson get nights off after last night's 14-inning affair... *** Check for an update here shortly before game time: Huntsville Media Notes

PDF Document: Nashville Media Notes

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Iowa 42 36 .538 - - 22-20 20-16 5-5 L1 Memphis 42 36 .538 - - 21-16 21-20 5-5 L1 Nashville 42 36 .538 - - 21-16 21-20 5-5 W2 Omaha 40 36 .526 1.0 67 19-19 21-17 4-6 L3 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Chattanooga 5 1 .833 - - 5-1 0-0 5-1 W2 * Tennessee 4 3 .571 1.5 63 4-2 0-1 4-3 L2 West Tenn 3 4 .429 2.5 62 1-0 2-4 3-4 W1 Huntsville 2 4 .333 3.0 62 0-0 2-4 2-4 L3 Carolina 2 5 .286 3.5 61 0-1 2-4 2-5 L1 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Daytona 4 1 .800 - - 1-0 3-1 4-1 W3 Tampa 3 1 .750 0.5 66 0-0 0-0 0-0 W2 Brevard County 2 3 .400 2.0 64 2-2 0-1 2-3 L2 Clearwater 2 3 .400 2.0 64 1-1 1-2 2-3 W1 * Dunedin 2 3 .400 2.0 64 0-0 0-0 0-0 L1 Lakeland 1 3 .250 2.5 64 0-1 1-2 1-3 L3 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Quad Cities 3 1 .750 - - 2-1 1-0 3-1 W3 Wisconsin 3 1 .750 - - 3-1 0-0 3-1 L1 Beloit 2 2 .500 1.0 66 1-0 1-2 2-2 W1 * Cedar Rapids 2 2 .500 1.0 66 0-0 2-2 2-2 L1 Clinton 2 2 .500 1.0 66 2-2 0-0 2-2 L1 Kane County 2 2 .500 1.0 66 0-0 2-2 2-2 W1 Peoria 2 2 .500 1.0 66 1-2 1-0 2-2 W1 Burlington 0 4 .000 3.0 64 0-1 0-3 0-4 L6 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Helena 7 1 .875 - - 5-0 2-1 7-1 W3 Great Falls 4 4 .500 3.0 28 1-2 3-2 4-4 L3 Missoula 3 5 .375 4.0 27 3-1 0-4 3-5 W1 Billings 2 6 .250 5.0 26 1-3 1-3 2-6 L1 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak AZL Brewers 7 0 1.000 - - 0-0 0-0 0-0 W7 AZL Dodgers 4 3 .571 3.0 47 0-0 0-0 0-0 W3 AZL Reds 4 3 .571 3.0 47 0-0 0-0 0-0 L1 AZL Indians 1 6 .143 6.0 44 0-0 0-0 0-0 L4 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Cardinals 14 12 .538 - - 11-2 3-10 4-6 L2 DSL Mariners 14 12 .538 - - 9-5 5-7 6-4 W2 DSL Athletics 13 12 .520 0.5 47 7-4 6-8 5-5 L1 DSL Brewers 10 15 .400 3.5 44 8-5 2-10 4-6 W1

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 (Gameday also available) Huntsville (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin Helena DSL Brewers

Tuesday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Marty McLeary at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: RHP Cody Scarpetta at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link (Cubs' feed) Wisconsin: RHP Maverick Lasker at home vs. Quad Cities (Cardinals), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link Helena: RHP Matt Miller at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Idle DSL Brewers: at the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM

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Buck Rogers, Stars' GM: SOUTHERN LEAGUE ANNOUNCES 2010 NORTH DIVISION ALL-STAR TEAM MARIETTA, GA - The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs has announced the North Division roster for the 2010 Southern League All-Star Game, which is scheduled for July 12 at Joe Davis Stadium Huntsville, Alabama. Players were selected by a vote of Southern League field managers, radio broadcasters, general managers and print media. All players on Southern League rosters as of June 11 were eligible in the voting. The 2010 North Division All-Star team is listed by position alphabetically as follows: Pitchers: Austin Bibens-Dirkx Tennessee, Ryan Buchter Tennessee, David Cales Tennessee, Hung-Wen Chen Tennessee, Tom Cochran Carolina, Steven Hensley West Tenn, Kenley Jansen Chattanooga, Matt Klinker Carolina, Amaury Rivas Huntsville, Anthony Varvaro West Tenn Catchers: Robinson Chirinos Tennessee, Steve Clevenger Tennessee Infielders: 1B Johan Limonta West Tenn, 2B Jake Kahaulelio Carolina, 3B Corey Smith Chattanooga, SS Carlos Triunfel West Tenn, UTL IF Mike Costanzo Carolina Outfielders: OF Sean Henry Carolina, OF Lorenzo Cain Huntsville, OF Tony Campana Tennessee, OF David Sappelt Carolina, UTL OF Trayvon Robinson Chattanooga Designated Hitter: Blake Lalli Tennessee The Southern League will announce the South Division All-Star team on June 30. Starting lineups for the North Division will be released on July 1, followed by the starting lineups for the South Division on July 2. The following players were chosen for the North Division All-Star team but will be unable to participate due to a promotion received after voting began or selection to the Futures Game, which is scheduled for Sunday, July 11 in Anaheim, CA. P Jesus Castillo (P) Chattanooga, 3B Alex Liddi (F) West Tenn, SS Dee Gordan (F) Chattanooga, OF Carlos Peguero (F) West Tenn, P Brandon Kintzler (P) Huntsville, P Michael Pineda (P)West Tenn, 2B Brett Lawrie (F) Huntsville, OF TY Wright (P) Tennessee F - Futures Game P - Promoted

Link while active, text follows: Southern League Notebook: Huntsville's Cain raises eyebrows By Jeff Elliott, Jacksonville.com If Huntsville outfielder Lorenzo Cain could hit against the Jacksonville Suns more often, his rise to the major leagues would be quicker. The Madison County (FL) standout hit .500 against the Suns in the first series between the teams. He hit safely in the first four games of the current series, with a combined six hits in 18 at-bats, to give him a .421 average in nine games against Jacksonville this season. Cain's hot start against the Suns in April rose his average to .364 and it's been at least at .320 since the first week. He's currently at .321. "I have been pretty consistent. We all go through some slumps but I've just tried to stay consistent, not have big ups and downs and stay even-keel as much as I could," Cain said. "I'm still working on my plate discipline. That's something that can always improve, so I've been working hard on that." Cain, 24, is in his sixth season with the Milwaukee Brewers' organization since the Brewers drafted him in the 17th round of the 2004 draft. He was drafted a year before in the same round but elected not to sign, opting instead to attend Tallahassee Community College for a year. Cain said he didn't sign then because he wasn't prepared to begin his professional career. "I didn't start playing baseball until my sophomore year. I didn't play any sports at Madison County until then; I just helped out around my house," Cain said. "When I did start playing, it was for a 2A school, so I didn't feel I was ready for pro ball out of high school. "But I'm a fast learner and I've been able to pick it up since the Brewers selected me. Who would have ever thought I would be at this level right now? I've come a long way and I'm just trying to keep it going and keep moving up." Cain is listed among the team's top-10 prospects and was added to Milwaukee's 40-man major league roster this spring. Cain was also a fan favorite at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on Saturday as about 20 family members and friends made the trip from Madison to watch him play.

This article sheds some light on the baseball program at Elon University in North Carolina, with quotes from 29th round RHP Daniel Britt and 31st round catcher Michael Melillo.

Nashville RH reliever Jeff Bennett has been suspended five games by the Pacific Coast League for his actions from last Wednesday which were detailed in this post. Looks like it was handed down on Friday, so it may already be wrapping up.

Baseball America confirms some items we were aware of, but were awaiting official word on -- Placed on 7-day DL: RHP Cody Adams, C Brett Whiteside, 2B Mike Brownstein Placed on 60-day DL: RHP Luis Guerrero, LHP Jose Ramos Placed on temporarily inactive list: OF Dionis Hinojosa Whiteside, Guerrero and Ramos all had arm surgeries, believed to be Tommy John in all three cases; Adams is on his way back from shoulder surgery; don't believe we know of Brownstein's injury status... Hinojosa will play in the DSL when he makes his pro debut; his Brewerfan index page will be incomplete until we gather some vitals for him...

Link while active, text follows: Some text italicized, interesting note about change-ups throughout the organization... *** Odorizzi changes it up: New pitch may be ticket to majors for Highland grad BY NORM SANDERS, Belleville News-Democrat Like most pitchers drafted in the first round, Jake Odorizzi has an exploding fastball that reaches speeds well above 90 mph. The Milwaukee Brewers prized prospect also features several other quality pitches he began to develop while helping Highland High to the 2008 Class 3A state championship. But it's a pitch of deception -- the changeup -- that may help Odorizzi the most on his climb toward the Major Leagues. "I'm throwing more off-speed pitches now and that's probably the biggest difference," said Odorizzi, 4-1 with a 3.34 ERA in 14 games for the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Midwest League. "I'm throwing more changeups. People hit fastballs, so you have to mix in everything and become a complete pitcher instead just a pitcher that throws hard." Named the Brewers' ninth-best prospect in the entire organization earlier this year by Baseball America, the 32nd overall pick in the 2008 draft is living up to lofty expectations. Recently chosen to play in the Midwest League All-Star Game, Odorizzi (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) has allowed one run and eight hits over 11 innings in his last two starts. That includes a six-inning masterpiece June 26 against Burlington that featured 10 strikeouts and no walks. On May 25 against Kane County, Odorizzi threw a career-high seven shutout innings and struck out seven. "There were a lot of good things happening that day," he said. "That was my longest outing in pro ball and everything just came together really well that day. It was nice to have that total package for one game." Odorizzi also has 79 strikeouts, the fourth highest total in the Midwest League -- along with 23 walks in 64 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting just .218 against him and the hard-throwing right-hander has surrendered only one home run. Odorizzi, who passed up a baseball scholarship from Louisville to sign with the Brewers for just over $1 million, is opening a lot of eyes in the organization. "The best thing that he's done is command his fastball better and that's the key to his success," said Reid Nichols, the Brewers' director of player development who said all pitchers in the organization are required to throw 10 percent changeups during each appearance. "If they don't, then we cut their pitches back the next outing so it puts the onus on the pitcher and the pitching coach to monitor and make sure that they're throwing changeups." Odorizzi said a grip change has helped him add an effective changeup to an arsenal that includes a 93 mph fastball and sharp-breaking slider. "I didn't really have one, so I had to go through the whole thing of learning a new change," Odorizzi said. "It's a matter of trusting it and just throwing it." Nichols said the Brewers are impressed with Odorizzi's work ethic and his rapid development as a pitcher. "That's actually a very competitive league for where he is in his development and there's some pretty good hitters," Nichols said. "From top to bottom there's really not much break in the lineup, so he's done a good job. He's a hard worker and a great kid, very respectful. "We wish we had more like him." The Brewers said lowering pitch counts is another reason they like changeups. "It's sort of like a mental thing with young pitchers," Nichols said. "They like more swing-and-miss type pitches, but we want the batter to put the ball in play early in the count. It helps the pitcher throw less pitches and does a lot of good things for you." Back in the Midwest After pitching in Helena, Mont., last summer, Odorizzi is just six hours from his native Highland this year. The Rattlers are based in Appleton, Wis., and play in a league that includes two other area players. Former Wesclin and Eastern Illinois University standout Tyler Kehrer pitches for Cedar Rapids and Civic Memorial graduate Nick Wooley pitches for Burlington. "It has a Midwest feeling, so that's nice and something that I'm used to," Odorizzi said. "It's nice being a little closer to home. The family comes to watch the games and my girlfriend comes to watch a lot. It's nice to have some familiar faces coming." As one of the youngest players on the team, Odorizzi is used to having to prove himself all over again each summer in the minors. "You have to perform well. It doesn't matter if you're a first-rounder or a 48th-rounder," he said. Life in the minors With few days off, Odorizzi said his life in the summer basically consists of pitching, preparing to pitch and working out. The Timber Rattlers aren't staying in swanky hotels as they criss-cross the Midwest and its cozy baseball outposts. They travel to towns like Quad-Cities, Cedar Rapids and Burlington in Iowa, Peoria and Kane County in Illinois along with South Bend and Fort Wayne in Indiana. Many times a Best Western is about as good as the accommodations will get. Crazy ballpark promotions are commonplace and each new city has its own style. Charter buses are the typical mode of transportation and players do their best to make their typical meal money disbursement of $20 to $25 last all day. "A lot of places we go they don't have anything but fast food or something like that," Odorizzi said. "Subway is a very popular place to go. A lot of people go there because they don't want to eat fast food. That's usually what I get." There's plenty of big money to be made once players reach the major leagues, but most appreciate the long, strange trip it took to get there. "We get paid about $1,200 a month and that's what you live off of, your signing bonus plus that," Odorizzi said. "Everyone thinks that everybody's' got a lot of money, but it's not like that." Fringe benefits Odorizzi and his teammates got to play alongside a couple major-leaguers earlier this season when Brewers pitcher Jeff Suppan -- now with the Cardinals -- and outfielder Carlos Gomez were in Appleton on rehabilitation assignments. Odorizzi knew all about Suppan, who helped the Cardinals win the 2006 World Series title. "We really didn't get a chance to talk too much baseball with him," Odorizzi said. "He talked to us a little bit, but nothing really major about pitching or things like that. It was really neat just seeing him there, watching what he does and the things he likes to do before pitching." Brought along slowly The Brewers believe in bringing their high-school pitchers along slowly, which is why Odorizzi didn't see a high innings total last summer in the Pioneer League. He was 1-4 in 12 appearances -- including 10 starts --for Helena with a 4.40 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 47 innings. Odorizzi blew hitters away while starring for Highland, but those hitters were from Triad, Waterloo and Jerseyville. These days it's nothing but top-level prospects up and down the lineup while competing for jobs at the next level with everyone on his own squad. What's the biggest difference? "Probably just the hitters," he said. "Everyone's here for the same reason, they're all very good at baseball. This is a little bit more of a challenge now and you have to be able to adjust." Highland's Jake Odorizzi. - Provided/BND http://media.bnd.com/smedia/2010/06/29/05/odorizzi_1.embedded.prod_affiliate.98.jpg

As was mentioned in Monday's Link report, the Brewers have signed local product LHP Tony Butler, as was first mentioned over at BrewCrewball in this post (plus comments), which provides more detail. Also from Monday's action, a new RHP, Juan Francisco, was added to the DSL roster.

Local WBAY news did another Khris Davis video report last evening.

Link while active, text follows: Late-inning heroics rescue Brewers again By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record With the Billings Mustangs threatening to tie the game in the ninth inning on Monday, Helena Brewers second baseman Shea Vucinich scooped up a routine ground ball hit by Oliver Santos and tossed it to Cody Hawn for the final out. Afterward, Vucinich pumped his fist in relief. It may have been a routine play, but it came in a game that was anything but routine. “It was a big moment,” Vucinich said later. The Brewers battled back from a 5-1 deficit to beat Billings 8-7 in the series opener at Kindrick Field, but this comeback was unlike their previous three rallies at home this season. An odd eighth inning saw Billings second baseman Billy Hamilton get called out on batter interference, then more strange calls followed in the hosts’ half. Carlos George got aboard on a leadoff single, later advancing to third on a throwing error by pitcher Tyler Cline. John Dishon then hit an RBI bunt single down the third-base line to tie the game at 5-all. With another Helena comeback brewing, Franklin Romero Jr. laid down a timely, beautiful bunt, but was called out for running outside the first-base line. A livid manager Joe Ayrault was ejected from the game for arguing home plate umpire Nate White’s call, drawing boos from the 919 in attendance. “That’s one I haven’t seen called before on that type of bunt,” Ayrault said. “Usually, possibly on a ball down the foul line... but he was running straight down the line and for them to call obstruction right there, it would have been first and third with nobody out.” Instead, with one out, Ayrault back in the clubhouse and hitting coach Ned Yost at the helm, the Brewers (7-1) used an RBI single by Mike Walker and a two-run double to center by Vucinich to push across the go-ahead runs. The Mustangs (2-6) made things interesting by scoring two runs in the ninth off closer Brian Garman, but the end result rolled in the Brewers’ favor. This one was for their skipper. “When we start coming back and something like that happens, it gives you something inside that makes you want to win even more,” said Vucinich, who was 3 for 4 with a home run and two doubles for the first-place Pioneer League squad. “It was just one of those nights. I think everyone has it every once in awhile. Ball seems big and a little slower than usual.” Ayrault said he wasn’t nervous when the Mustangs started mounting a comeback of their own, saying he trusted that Yost would do a good job and that his players would step up in his absence. “It’s one of those things that happens and I’m glad the guys responded,” Ayrault said. “It fired them up and they did a good job in the end.” Prior to the ninth, all of Billings’ five runs had come in a big fourth inning off of Helena starter Seth Lintz. The Mustangs had four extra-base hits to jump out to a big lead. But the never-say-die Brewers scored five of their own in the eighth, despite calls not going their way. “You always say in baseball ‘never say never,’” Ayrault said. “Crazy stuff happens everyday. It’s one of those things you just go out there and keep battling.”

Final, Game Two: DSL Brewers 10, DSL Athletics 9 The boys scored four in the bottom of the 3rd to tie the game at 4-4 in this seven-inning nightcap, fell behind 7-4 after surrendering three runs in the top of the 6th, only to come back with six of their own in the bottom of the frame to grab a 10-7 lead, then finally held on with the potential tie run on third base... DSL Brewers Game Two Box Score 19-year-old 6'6" RHP Jairo Mejia has been lights out in his six tiny little outings this year, and got the save by retiring the one man he faced on a groundout; uneven to rough outings for the other three Brewer hurlers; the two teams' pitchers combined to allow all seven inherited runners to score until Mejia's game-ender; 3B Allixon Cequea was 2-for-4 with a three-run home run; despite the big run total, Hitaniel Arias' double was the only other Brewer extra-base hit, and only Cequea had multiple hits -- the D-Crew did draw six walks... DSL Brewers Game Two Game Log DSL Brewers Bottom 3rd Alejandro Mendoza walks. With Erickson Salaya batting, wild pitch by Jose Castillo, Alejandro Mendoza to 2nd. Erickson Salaya grounds out, third baseman Wilman Martinez to first baseman Michael Soto. Allixon Cequea singles on a line drive to left fielder Alfredo Sosa. Alejandro Mendoza to 3rd. Ronny Puello singles on a ground ball to first baseman Michael Soto. Alejandro Mendoza scores. Allixon Cequea to 2nd. Hitaniel Arias doubles (5) on a fly ball to center fielder Charli Blanco. Allixon Cequea scores. Ronny Puello to 3rd. Pitcher Change: Anderson Fortuna replaces Jose Castillo. Juan De Leon walks. Jose R. Garcia grounds into a force out, shortstop Wilfredo Solano to second baseman Rodolfo Penalo. Ronny Puello scores. Hitaniel Arias scores. Juan De Leon out at 2nd. Garcia advances to 2nd, on throwing error by second baseman Rodolfo Penalo. With Julio Sotelo batting, wild pitch by Anderson Fortuna, Jose R. Garcia to 3rd. Julio Sotelo called out on strikes. DSL Brewers Bottom 6th Juan De Leon walks. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Yonki Hernandez replaces Juan De Leon. Ruben Sanchez singles on a line drive to right fielder Anderson De La Rosa. Yonki Hernandez to 3rd. With Julio Sotelo batting, Ruben Sanchez steals (5) 2nd base. Julio Sotelo walks. Pitcher Change: William Bautista replaces Anderson Fortuna. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Orton Rodriguez replaces Joan Abreu. Orton Rodriguez grounds into a force out, shortstop Wilfredo Solano to second baseman Rodolfo Penalo. Yonki Hernandez scores. Ruben Sanchez to 3rd. Julio Sotelo out at 2nd. Orton Rodriguez to 1st. Alejandro Mendoza singles on a ground ball to third baseman Wilman Martinez. Ruben Sanchez scores. Orton Rodriguez scores. Alejandro Mendoza to 2nd. Throwing error by third baseman Wilman Martinez. Erickson Salaya walks. Allixon Cequea homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field. Alejandro Mendoza scores. Erickson Salaya scores. Ronny Puello grounds out, third baseman Wilman Martinez to first baseman Michael Soto. Hitaniel Arias strikes out swinging.

Final, Game One: DSL Athletics 6, DSL Brewers 0 DSL Brewers Game One Box Score Four of the runs allowed were unearned -- sloppy; 19-year-old 6'5" RHP Juan Francisco with a nice debut in relief -- that's a new signing we'll need to add to our database; seven walks, two HBP's, three errors, a passed ball; on offense, five harmless singles, nine K's, put this one to bed; on second glance, we'll give 6'4" third baseman Juan De Leon props for two singles and a walk, reaching all three times up... DSL Brewers Game One Game Log

Final: Arizona Brewers 8, Arizona Giants 2 Cant's touch this...7-0, baby! Arizona Box Score 109 degrees at game time doesn't describe how hot these kids are; four Brewer pitchers didn't walk a batter and struck out 19; yes, you read that right, a 19-to-0 ratio for the game! as noted above, 22-year-old 6'7" LHP Tony Butler is now a Brewer, he had struggled this season in the low-A South Atlantic League, as his stat page indicates; RHP's Dan Britt, Eric Arnett, and Eric Marzec combined to throw seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball, fanning 16 -- Marzec fell one batter short of matching Arnett's feat (six outs, six K's) when the first batter he faced lined out in the infield. Leadoff man CF Robbie Garvey tripled, cingled, walked, and added a sacrifice bunt; five Brewers had multiple-hit games and seven Brewers reached more than once; Jhonatan Javier caught the whole game, doubled, and added a sacrifce fly; his double was one of five extra-bas ehits including three triples (Garvey's, along with Demetrius McKelvie and T.J. Mittelstaedt); slugging first baseman Jason Rogers smoked a double and single; there are a bunch of reinforcements ready for Helena when their call comes; this team has a completely different dynamic from past years with so many of the raw DSL kids off the mainland... Arizona Game Log Max Walla another outfield assist, this time at third base... AZL Giants Bottom 1st Carlos Willoughby strikes out swinging. Wes Hobson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Robert Garvey. Joseph Staley singles on a ground ball to right fielder Maxwell Walla. Wes Hobson out at 3rd on the throw, right fielder Maxwell Walla to third baseman Justin Parker. With Brice Cutspec batting, Joseph Staley steals (2) 2nd base. Brice Cutspec strikes out swinging.

Final: Nashville 11, Round Rock (Astros) 2 Sounds Derail Express, 11-2 Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Left-hander Sam Narron tossed a quality start and first baseman Joe Koshansky belted a three-run homer to lead the Nashville Sounds to an 11-2 victory over the visiting Round Rock Express on Monday evening at historic Greer Stadium. Narron (2-3) held Round Rock to two runs on eight hits over seven innings of work to pick up the win. The quality start was the southpaw's third in four starts with the Sounds this season and resulted in his first win as a starter since August 24, 2008, also against Round Rock, snapping a 13-start victory drought in PCL action. Every member of the Nashville lineup recorded a hit in the contest, led by three two-hit efforts. Left fielder Trent Oeltjen (2-for-5) produced his third straight multiple-hit effort and is batting .403 (25-for-62) over his last 16 games, recording an extra-base knock in 12 of those contests. The Sounds jumped out to an early lead with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the first inning against Round Rock starter Andy Van Hekken. Oeltjen got things started when he led off with his team-leading 24th double of the year and scored the contest's first run when Norris Hopper followed with a single to right that was mishandled by Express right fielder Andrew Locke. After Mat Gamel followed with a double to center to put runners on second and third, Brendan Katin extended his longest hitting streak to five games and upped the Nashville lead to 2-0 with a run-scoring single to center. Koshansky capped off the frame's scoring when he belted a three-run homer onto the home run deck in right-center field, his ninth big fly of the year (audio is available at the link above). Round Rock put a pair of runs on the board in the fifth against Narron to pull within 5-2. Ramon Vazquez led off with a single and moved to third on a Locke double. David Cook plated the visitors' first run with a sac fly then Brian Esposito blooped an RBI single to shallow right that dropped just short of the reach of Katin. Nashville got one of the runs back in the bottom of the fifth when Oeltjen singled and later sprinted home on a Gamel sacrifice fly. The Sounds put the game of reach in the seventh, sending 10 batters to the plate against Express reliever Sergio Perez and plating five runs to stretch the lead to 11-2. Shortstop Ray Olmedo contributed a two-out, two-run single to highlight the frame for Nashville. David Johnson followed Narron with two scoreless innings to close out the win for the Sounds. Nashville catcher Anderson De La Rosa went 2-for-4 on the night and singled in the first inning for his first career Triple-A hit. Van Hekken (4-5) took the loss for the Express after allowing six runs on seven hits over his six frames of action. The teams wrap up the series with a 7:05 PM finale on Tuesday evening at Greer. Right-hander Marty McLeary (1-6, 12.14) will start for the Sounds to face Round Rock right-hander Shane Loux (2-4, 6.21). Nashville Box Score Nothing dampens an 11-2 win game summary like a reminder that Marty McLeary starts Tuesday night -- come back soon, Marco Estrada; anyway, Trent Oeltjen's super-hot streak comes at a fortuitous time for him -- he can opt out of his deal if not in the big leagues within 48 hours of July 1st; Sam Narron a nice pickup; every position player with at least one hit, and the one pinch-hitter, Adam Stern, singled; rare night off for Luis Cruz... Nashville Game Log Five run 1st and five-run 7th -- Nashville Bottom 1st Trent Oeltjen hits a ground-rule double (24) on a fly ball to center field. Norris Hopper singles on a line drive to right fielder Andrew Locke. Trent Oeltjen scores. Fielding error by right fielder Andrew Locke. Mat Gamel doubles (7) on a line drive to center fielder Brian Bogusevic. Norris Hopper to 3rd. Brendan Katin singles on a line drive to center fielder Brian Bogusevic. Norris Hopper scores. Mat Gamel to 3rd. Joe Koshansky homers (9) on a fly ball to right field. Mat Gamel scores. Brendan Katin scores. Ray Olmedo pops out to second baseman Ramon Vazquez. Johnny Raburn lines out to center fielder Brian Bogusevic. Anderson De La Rosa singles on a fly ball to center fielder Brian Bogusevic. Sam Narron grounds out to first baseman Tommy Everidge. Nashville Bottom 7th Pitcher Change: Sergio Perez replaces Andy Van Hekken, batting 9th. Anderson De La Rosa doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder David Cook. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Adam Stern replaces Sam Narron. Adam Stern singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Sergio Perez. Anderson De La Rosa scores. Throwing error by pitcher Sergio Perez. Trent Oeltjen lines out to center fielder Brian Bogusevic. Norris Hopper singles on a ground ball to right fielder Andrew Locke. Adam Stern to 3rd. With Mat Gamel batting, passed ball by Brian Esposito, Norris Hopper to 2nd. Sergio Perez intentionally walks Mat Gamel. Brendan Katin grounds out, third baseman Matt Kata to first baseman Tommy Everidge. Adam Stern scores. Norris Hopper to 3rd. Mat Gamel to 2nd. Joe Koshansky walks. Ray Olmedo singles on a ground ball to center fielder Brian Bogusevic. Norris Hopper scores. Mat Gamel scores. Joe Koshansky to 3rd. Johnny Raburn singles on a ground ball to right fielder Andrew Locke. Joe Koshansky scores. Ray Olmedo to 3rd. Anderson De La Rosa pops out to first baseman Tommy Everidge.

Getting to Know Series -- RHP Chris Smith

June 28 - Stu's Nashville Chat with 1B Joe Koshansky

Teams combined to go 5-for-32 with RISP in the Rattlers game. D'Vontrey Richardson walked once in seven trips but fanned five times (0-for-6). In Helena, John Dishon pinch-hit for Reggie Keen in the 5th. Both RH batters, so keep an eye out for Keen going forward.

Nice video via a Rattler Radio link -- Khris Davis Week Continues

Rattler Radio: June 28, 2010: Game Notes June 28, 2010: Tonight's starting pitcher June 28, 2010: Starting Lineup (the "usual")

As Ricky Ricardo would tell Lucy, "someone's got some splainin' to do". Similar to the thread we had in past years tracking the Linebrink three (Will Inman, Steve Garrison, and Joe Thatcher), this thread will track the results for and comments about the Brewers 2008 4th round pick, LHP Josh Romanski, who never threw a pitch for the Crew (he did appear as a DH in Pioneer League games in 2008). Romanski was released this spring and almost immediately signed a minor league deal with the Yankees, as he didn't have to go the independent league route. Never saw him pitch? You can in this video from his latest outing for the South Atlantic League's Charleston River Dogs (low-A), as he strikes out the side in an outing described below. Charleston starter Josh Romanski threw 5.1 innings of scoreless ball in the no-decision, surrendering just two hits. The former University of San Diego Torero fanned a career-high eight hitters and walked three. The Corona, Calif. native has allowed no earned runs and surrendered just three hits, with 12 strikeouts, in his last two starts at Riley Park, spanning 11.1 total innings. Here are his YTD stats after making five starts -- two were rough, particularly his first. This April 21st Yankee blog post sums things up well -- Via BA’s minor league transactions, the Yankees have signed lefthander Josh Romanski, who was released by the Brewers within the last few weeks. The 23-year-old was Milwaukee’s fourth round pick in 2008, but he missed the 2009 season with Tommy John surgery. He’s probably best known for spending three years as the number two starter behind Brian Matusz at The University of San Diego. I’ve been a fan of Romanski’s for quite some time, and even wrote him up as a potential draft target back in ‘08. I have no idea why the Brewers cut him after giving him a $247,000 signing bonus and footing the bill for his TJ rehab, but it’s the Yanks who benefit. It’s not every day that you can add a fourth round talent to your organization for basically nothing. So basically this is just a bizarre situation. The Brewers have stood by dozens of Tommy John candidates over the past decade, guiding them back to the mound even if the potential for a big rebound was iffy for several. So especially until we see a follow-up with comments from Gord Ash or Reid Nichlols via Tom H. or Adam McC (and you'll be able to guess which web site spurned their line of questioning http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif), it will be interesting to track Romanski's progress in this thread.