Jim Goulart

Huntsville's audio calls from Tuesday night's 11-2 rout -- 06/01/10 - HSV v MOB - Cowgill homer (0-1) - Haydel single (2-1) - McCraw single (3-1) - Hand double (5-1) - Gindl single (6-1) - Green homer (10-1) - Gindl homer (11-1) - Hankerd homer (11-2) - Final Out (11-2)

Jupiter Leaves 11 On Base in 6-1 Defeat It took an inning for Bryan Evans to settle in, but once he did, the rust came off quickly. The same couldn't be said for the Hammerheads bats, which left 11 men on base in a 6-1 loss to Brevard County. As if pitching at his third level in just seven days wasn't hard enough, rain pushed back Evans' first pitch by an hour and thirteen minutes. It didn't take nearly as long for Brevard to pounce, as the Manatees didn't hit into a non-sacrifice out until their #9 hitter. The first inning saw just about as many outcomes as there are in baseball: hits, walks, a hit-by-pitch, a reach on an error, an intentional walk, a sacrifice fly, a groundout and a strikeout. But the only outcome that truly matter are the four runs the Manatees scored that inning. From there, however, Evans kept things quiet. After a ground-rule double to lead off the 2nd inning, the right-hander didn't give up a hit for another 16 batters, until Josh Prince's single led off the 7th inning. Going into that frame, the score was still 4-1, with Jake Smolinski's double in the 1st inning setting him up to score on Ben Lasater's single. But Lasater wouldn't move beyond first base, the first of five straight innings in which the Hammerheads left a man on base. In fact, despite only having the one run to show for it, all nine Jupiter starters reached base. But after that 7th inning began to get away from Evans, with Brevard chasing him to the tune of two more runs, Jupiter put together its most promising comeback attempt. After two quick outs, Brevard's Brandon Ritchie began to experience control issues. He hit catcher Jose Ceballos, tossed a wild pitch that allowed Ceballos to reach second, and then walked each of the next two batters to load the bases. But Smolinski couldn't keep the rally going, flying out to end the inning. It would be a similar tale in the 8th and 9th innings for Jupiter. In each, wild pitches would advance runners into scoring position, but strikeouts would ensure no runs scored. In the 8th, again with two outs already gone, Chris Dunn singled and advanced, with Thomas Hickman walking behind him. Both would be stranded by Jeremy Synan's strikeout. In the final frame, Ceballos actually got things started early, with a lead-off single. After a pop-out, he advanced on the wild pitch. But consecutive strikeouts by Daniel Pertusati and Smolinski would end the game, with the Hammerheads having left men on base in all but one inning, stranding six over the final three frames.

Nashville shortstop Luis Cruz at the June 1st audio link

The audio link via the Related Content section here has Stu Paul's call of Norris Hopper's game-winning infield hit.

Ten-run 2nd inning for the Stars, wow -- first nine men reached on six base hits and three walks, including a two-run double by relief pitcher Donovan Hand. Taylor Green capped the scoring with a three-run blast, nice!

The Huntsville game story from Monday night has now been updated with Chad's multiple audio links, including Lorenzo Cain's home run, Taylor Green's grand slam, and the controversial out call at home and subsequent ejections of Brett Lawrie and Manager Mike Guerrero.

Chad interviews Huntsville Pitching Coach John Curtis Discusses the process of raising RHP Josh Butler's arm slot to three-quarters; RHP Amaury Rivas' DL stint as precautionary; the difficult work he's faced in putting together effective middle relief...

PDF document: Huntsville Media Notes

The Menu post has been updated to indicate that RHP Mike McClendon will make the spot start for Nashville tonight. Here's the Nashville media notes, which summarizes all the recent AAA transactions, and tells us that Mark Rogers will make his AAA debut on Wednesday.

Catcher Ben Johnson has been placed on the 7-day DL at Nashville with an undisclosed injury. Catcher Martin Maldonado is bumped up from AA Huntsville to fill Johnson's spot, which also frees up playing time for both he and Angel Salome (in Huntsville now, prior post). Normally we could say that Johnson's DL stint is a "convenience" to preserve depth (with Johnson in the Patrick Arlis role -- Arlis now teamed with Maldonado at AAA), but to be fair to Johnson, we have to assume he's banged up enough to warrant a DL stint.

By the way, the plan at this time is to start a second-half of season transaction thread around the time that the minor league All-Star Games begin. We understand this one may be getting a bit unwieldy for some.

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere on the interwebs as of yet, but Brewerfan has learned that RHP Mark Rogers is on his way to Nashville for what is being termed (for now) a two-to-three start stint. That helps allow for the promotion of LHP Dan Merklinger to AA (prior post) as well. We imagine if Mark does really well, he could stick in AAA, but given the described context, keep in mind this may be a situation based on current staff levels, with a return to AA possible later this month. Either way, good luck to Mark with the Sounds!

DSL S.D. North (click column headers to sort) Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Brewers 1 0 1.000 - 0-0 1-0 1-0 W1 DSL Cardinals 1 0 1.000 - 1-0 0-0 1-0 W1 DSL Athletics 0 1 .000 1.0 0-0 0-1 0-1 L1 DSL Mariners 0 1 .000 1.0 0-1 0-0 0-1 L1

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 29 21 .580 - 12-10 17-11 W1 Omaha 27 22 .551 1.5 15-15 12-7 L1 Memphis 27 23 .540 2.0 15-9 12-14 W2 Iowa 26 24 .520 3.0 12-13 14-11 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 29 21 .580 - 12-13 17-8 L1 West Tenn 27 23 .540 2.0 9-15 18-8 W3 Huntsville 24 27 .471 5.5 10-16 14-11 L1 Carolina 23 28 .451 6.5 11-14 12-14 L3 Chattanooga 22 29 .431 7.5 12-14 10-15 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dunedin 31 20 .608 - 12-14 19-6 L2 Lakeland 29 21 .580 1.5 14-10 15-11 L2 Clearwater 29 22 .569 2.0 14-11 15-11 L1 Tampa 27 24 .529 4.0 13-13 14-11 W2 Daytona 24 27 .471 7.0 9-15 15-12 L2 Brevard County 18 32 .360 12.5 11-18 7-14 W1

MID Western (click column headers to sort) Club W L PCT GB Home Away L 10 Streak Cedar Rapids 33 18 .647 - 18-4 15-14 9-1 W6 Quad Cities 31 20 .608 2.0 18-7 13-13 8-2 W3 Clinton 30 22 .577 3.5 17-10 13-12 8-2 L1 Peoria 28 23 .549 5.0 17-8 11-15 4-6 W1 Beloit 26 25 .510 7.0 13-13 13-12 1-9 L1 Kane County 22 30 .423 11.5 14-12 8-18 2-8 W1 Wisconsin 18 33 .353 15.0 12-17 6-16 5-5 L5 Burlington 17 34 .333 16.0 9-16 8-18 2-8 L3

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 DSL Brewers (Box score won't update until late evening / overnight)

Tuesday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Mike McClendon at home vs. Albuquerque (Dodgers), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime; this was to be RHP Kameron Loe's start Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Michael Bowman at home vs. Mobile (Diamondbacks), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: RHP Wily Peralta at Jupiter (Marlins), 5:35 PM gametime Live Audio Link (Hammerheads' Feed) Wisconsin: RHP Kyle Heckathorn at Fort Wayne (Padres), 5:50 PM pre-game; 6:05 gametime Live Audio Link DSL Brewers: at DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM

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

The DSL Brewers home game vs. the DSL Athletics was rained out Monday. The next time they host that team is Monday the 7th; we may see two seven-inning games that day, although the DSL has been known to surprise us. It is true that the Brewers' division has every Sunday off during the season, and last year MiLB.com's website fooled us just like this year, by listing the game on its own scoreboard this past Sunday.

Link while active, text follows: Stars' comeback comes up short Green's big night not enough to propel team to victory By Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times Sports Staff For Taylor Green, it was a memorable yet bittersweet comeback. For the Huntsville Stars, there were far too many unforgettable moments that prevented a comeback. Green bashed an eighth-inning grand slam and a two-out, two-run ninth-inning single, both times leading Huntsville back to the brink of a lead that it could never capture. Instead, it was an evening of ejection and dejection as the Stars dropped an 8-7 decision to the Mobile BayBears Monday. Huntsville manager Mike Guerrero and second baseman Brett Lawrie were both thrown out after a controversial call at home plate. It could have been a storybook game for Green, the Stars' 23-year-old infielder from British Columbia. He had been placed on the disabled list May 13 with a pinched nerve in his back (don't believe we had that info previously), then reinstated Saturday. He was hitless in two at-bats since his return. "Getting better every day, good enough to play" is Green's simple medical report. The Stars were trailing 6-1 when he came to bat in the eighth, after starter Alex Periard gave up four runs in the first. Green walloped a Kyler Newby 3-2 pitch over the right-field fence for the grand slam. "They kinda had the game in hand, and it was one of those big hits that gets the team back in the game," Green said. It was 8-5 in the ninth - after a Green error put a runner aboard and Konrad Schmidt homered off reliever Nick Green - when he came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs and thoughts of a grand slam "sneaks in there for sure," he said. "But you have to stick with your approach. Whatever happens, happens." What happened was a two-run single, but he was left stranded when pinch-hitter Sean McCraw grounded out to end the game. "It's great to have him back," Guerrero said of Green. "Especially swinging the bat like he's doing." Guerrero wasn't just pleased with Green's comeback. He liked his team's comeback, too. Despite the frustration over the loss, "I'm encouraged by the approach our guys took at the plate. They never gave up," he said. After Green's slam, Lawrie singled, followed by a 10-pitch at-bat from Lorenzo Cain that resulted in a single to left, Lawrie hustling all the way to third. When Cain stole second, the throw briefly eluded shortstop Jake Wald and Lawrie - who scored the game-winner on a wild pitch Sunday afternoon - sped home. Though replays showed his left hand reaching home plate before the tag by catcher Konrad Schmidt, Lawrie was ruled out by plate ump Quinn Wolcott. An irate Lawrie slammed his helmet to the ground - automatic grounds for ejection - and Guerrero was soon thrown out as well after pointing out the mark left by three fingers sweeping through the dirt over home plate. "He missed the call," Guerrero flatly said. Of course, had Periard not allowed the first six men he faced to reach base - three hits and three walks - and had the bullpen held the BayBears and the Stars not left 12 runners on base after ringing up 15 hits, it'd have been little more than a footnote, as Guerrero noted. "I'm not going to blame the umpire," he said. "We needed to do our job."

He struck out in 45% of his AA at-bats (18 of 40).

Also with tidbits worth your perusal -- Huntsville Media Notes

Rattler Radio blog: May 31, 2010: Game Notes May 31, 2010: Today's Starting Pitcher (uneven or not, the last Eric Arnett effort was statistically pleasing, build on that, Eric!) May 31, 2010: Lineup (Looks like scheduled days off for Cameron Garfield and Cutter Dykstra) Memorial Day in Cedar Rapids

RHP Mike McClendon is scheduled to start Wednesday for Nashville. Learn this and how incredibly very hot veteran RH stick Erick Almonte has been for the Sounds (hmmm, a veteran RH bench bat) -- all in the always chock-full Nashville media notes.

RHP Josh Butler's formal 30-day rehab while on the major league disabled list is complete. Butler has been activated from the major league disabled list and optioned to AA Huntsville. This was the first of Butler's three available career options (one per year) off of the major league roster. Unfortunately, RHP Amaury Rivas has been placed on the 7-day minor league disabled list. As soon as we learn the reasons for that, we'll let you know.