Jim Goulart

From Kyle Smith, Manatees GM: Manatees Fans, We've got good news and bad news: Bad News: Tonight's games vs. Tampa has been postponed due to wet field conditions. We will be taking on the Yanks Sunday for a double-header scheduled to begin at 1:05 PM (12:05 Central). Good News: During tonight's rainfall, Florida State League President Chuck Murphy announced to the fans that Brevard County will be playing host to the 2010 Florida State League All-Star Game. The Manatees last hosted the FSL ASG in 2008. This will be the third time the FSL ASG will be played at Space Coast Stadium. *** So both Huntsville and Brevard will be hosting All-Star Games in 2010.

Final: Helena 3, Billings (Reds) 0 Link while active, text follows: Brewers spoil fan night in Billings By MIKE SCHERTING Billings Gazette BILLINGS - It was Fan Appreciation Night at Dehler Park, but the Billings Mustangs couldn't give the 2,878 on hand a good going away present. Instead, the Mustangs took a 3-0 loss from the Helena Brewers on Saturday night, the final home game of the Pioneer League season for Billings. One night after sweeping the Brewers with dramatic walk-off home runs to end both games of a doubleheader, the Mustangs were shut out for the third time this season on seven hits. The loss dropped the Mustangs to 16-22 at Dehler Park, and 9-10 in the second half, though many in attendance didn't seem to care about the losing record. After Mark Fleury grounded out to end the game, many of the fans in the third-base side of the seats beyond the home team's dugout applauded and stood as the Mustangs made their walk to the clubhouse. Several of the players remained on the concourse for as long as 15 minutes or more following the game, autographing anything handed to them. "It's nice seeing the kids come out," said Mustangs third baseman Frank Pfister, who had one of the longest autograph sessions among the players. "It wasn't too long ago I was doing the same kind of thing at baseball games. It's definitely been an honor to be able to play here." Luca Panerati made his last start for the Mustangs and allowed three earned runs in six innings. The Brewers collected six hits off Panerati (3-7), the big blow being a two-run home run by Joey Paciorek that gave Helena a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Cutter Dykstra's sacrifice fly in the third scored Helena's first run. "I think overall I pitched pretty good," said Panerati, who allowed six hits, struck out six and walked none. "So there's nothing to regret. Both teams played a good game." Helena starter Del Howell and reliever Donald Brandt (2-0) both allowed three hits in four innings, and Robert Currie threw the ninth to earn his second save. Howell struck out five and walked none, while Brandt had seven strikeouts to one walk. "That's the first time we've seen (Howell) and he did a good job," Mustangs manager Julio Garcia said. "It would have been fun to keep it going from (Friday night), but that's the way it goes." Helena Box Score LHP Del Howell unscored upon in three pro appearances -- nice Helena debut; another lefty, non-drafted Donald Brandt, has a 32-to-5 K-to-BB ratio in 24.2 innings; first baseman Sean Halton doubled twice as part of a perfect day at the plate, on all four times... Helena Game Log Photo by PAUL RUHTER / Billings Gazette Staff Mustangs shortstop Christobal Rodriguez gets kicked in the face as Sean Halton of Helena slides safely back to second base during the fourth inning of play Saturday, September 5, 2009 at Dehler Park. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/billingsgazette.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/e/4d/698/e4d6985a-9abd-11de-aa47-001cc4c03286.image.jpg?_dc=1252225125

Final: Helena 8, Great Falls (White Sox) 7 Link while active, text follows: Brewers rally for win, keep hopes alive By TRENT MAKELA, Helena Independent Record A wild five-run sixth inning helped the Helena Brewers crawl out of an early 5-0 hole to nip the visiting Great Falls Voyagers 8-7 Sunday night at Kindrick Field, staving off mathematical elimination from the Pioneer League playoffs for at least one more day. Helena improved to 10-22 in league play while breaking a tie with Billings for last place in the Northern Division. The Brewers are now seven games behind the first-place Voyagers and two behind second-place Missoula with six games remaining on their schedule. "It was tough to get down early, but, thank God, it was early," Brewers manager Rene Gonzales said. "We chipped away with two big innings and it felt good. We haven't done that in awhile. It seems like we just let teams come back on us." Brewers starting pitcher Kyle Heckathorn, the club's first-round supplemental pick in 2009, lasted just four innings while allowing six hits and three earned runs before being pulled with his team trailing 5-0. Helena managed just two hits against Great Falls starter Jo Martinez during Heckathorn's time on the mound, but the home bats finally got fired up in the bottom of the fifth. Cameron Garfield, Joey Paciorek and Max Walla each singled to start the stanza. Garfield scored on a wild pitch and, two batters later, centerfielder Chad Stang singled to center to plate Paciorek and Walla. The Voyagers would push their lead to 6-3 in the top of the sixth on an RBI single from Matt Harughty, but the Brewers would again answer in the bottom. Scott Krieger, Sean Halton and Cutter Dykstra helped Helena lead off with three singles for the second inning in a row, again loading the bases. Garfield's following hard hopper was first bobbled by Harughty at shortstop and then thrown over the head of Voyagers second baseman Jeff Tezak. Krieger and Halton both scored on the errors, cutting the Great Falls lead to 6-5. Paciorek followed with a sacrifice fly to score Dykstra and knot the score. Three batters later, Stang came up clutch again, knocking a hard line-drive single to centerfield that zigged past the mitt of Great Falls' Kyle Colligan. The fielding error allowed Garfield and Mike Roberts to score from first and second, respectively, to cap Helena's scoring. "I've hit pretty good off of (Martinez) up in Great Falls, so I was waiting for something up in the zone to hit," Stang said. "He hung a curve for me and I knew Cameron was in. Then he (Colligan) couldn't get a hold of it and I knew Mike was pretty much the icing on the cake." A pair of leadoff doubles cut the lead to one run in the top of the seventh, but Brewers reliever Adrian Rosario picked off a runner at first base and then struck out two to end the threat. Rosario picked up the win in relief for Helena, improving to 3-7 on the season after lasting two innings with four hits and two runs. Martinez lasted into the sixth during his losing effort for Great Falls, falling to 3-4 on the year. He allowed 10 hits and all eight runs, though only five were earned. Five Voyagers errors hurt his cause. Stang finished 3-for-4 in the game with three RBIs to pace the Brewers' offense. Jeff Tezak, Jose Vargas and Harughty each finished with two hits for Great Falls. The two teams play tonight at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central) in the second game of this two-game series with former National League All-Star Chris Capuano (0-0, 0.00) making his second rehab start for Helena. He will face 2009 Pioneer League All-Star Terry Doyle (5-1, 3.16).before moving to Great Falls for three games starting on Tuesday. Helena Box Score LHP Kristian Bueno came on for the save, getting a ground ball double play on the only batter he faced; RHP Kyle Heckathorn's seasonal debut about as exciting as RHP Eric Arnett's -- bland and not very sexy... Helena Game Log Lots to digest, have at it...

Final: Jacksonville (Marlins) 2, Huntsville 0 Huntsville Site Game Summary Suns Slow Down Stars, Again Jacksonville Closer to Clinching Division Title By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Brad Stone spun five scoreless innings and teamed with five relievers on a six-hit shutout in Jacksonville's 2-0 victory over Huntsville Saturday night in the middle of the season-ending five-game at Joe Davis Stadium. The Suns improved to 45-23 and clinched at least a tie for the second half South Division title, while the Stars suffered a season-high seventh straight loss, all by one or two runs, to fall to 25-42 in the second half and 63-73 overall. The Suns lead the season series ten games to three and have won six of the eight in Huntsville. The Suns strung together three straight singles to load the bases with one out in the first inning but could not score after Josh Butler struck out Scott Cousins and got Chris De La Cruz to ground out to squash the threat. Cousins' double, a walk and a hit batter filled the bases for the visitors with one out in the fourth but they came up empty again, as Chris Hatcher and Stone struck out to end the inning. Butler departed after five frames, allowing four hits, walking one and punching out seven. He was followed to the hill by Mike McClendon, who retired the first four hitters he faced before Hatcher jumped on the first pitch he saw and clubbed his eighth home run of the season, and second at "the Joe," to break up a scoreless game and put the Suns in the lead. De La Cruz added a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded against Casey Baron in the eighth inning to give the Suns' a two-run cushion. McClendon suffered the loss to fall to 4-3 and gave up his first home run since July 5. Stone gave up three hits, walked three and struck out a pair. He has now thrown 11 innings in two turns against the Stars without allowing an earned run. Levale Speigner, who grabbed the win to go to 3-1, tossed a shutout sixth inning and was followed in the seventh by Dan Jennings, who gave up a leadoff double to J.R. Hopf and was removed in favor of Garrett Parcell. The right-hander stranded Hopf, who advanced on a ground out, at third base with one out after getting pinch-hitter Drew Anderson to foul out and Freddy Parejo to pop out. Kasey Olenberger worked a scoreless eighth inning for the visitors and gave way to Matt Peterson, who worked a perfect ninth inning to nail down his third save of the series and Southern League record-tying 36th of the season. The Stars have been blanked in three of their last four games and have scored four runs over the last six contests. Huntsville has scored one run on 13 hits in the three games against the Suns, who have received 8 1/3 scoreless innings from their bullpen in the series. The series continues Sunday afternoon with Huntsville sending right-hander Mark Holliman to the hill against Suns' right-hander Jarrett Santos. Coverage of the game begins at 12:45 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score Truly a broken record of offensive futility; Josh Butler's ability to work out of jams encouraging... Huntsville Game Log

Final: Jacksonville (Marlins) 7, Huntsville 1 Huntsville Site Game Summary Suns Down Stars to Win Second Half Title Santos and Bullpen Shut Down Huntsville By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Brad Davis and Kevin Randel hit home runs to back the solid pitching of Jarrett Santos in Jacksonville's 7-1 victory Sunday afternoon in a game delayed two hours at the start by rain at Joe Davis Stadium. The Suns improved to 46-23 and clinched the second half South Division title, while the Stars suffered a season-high eighth straight loss to fall to 25-43 in the second half and 63-74 overall. The Suns lead the season series eleven games to three and have won seven of the nine in Huntsville. Jacksonville broke out on top in the second inning on a three-run home run by Davis, his tenth of the season and 18th allowed by Huntsville hurler Mark Holliman. Huntsville got on the board in the fifth inning when J.R. Hopf led off with a double, moved to third base on a Yohannis Perez single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Holliman, who drove in his third run of the year, to cut the visitors lead to 3-1. Hopf's run ended the Stars' 21 1/3 inning scoreless drought and was only their second of the series. Randel's two-out solo shot in the sixth pushed the Suns' advantage to 4-1 and marked the fourth time Holliman has allowed multiple long balls in a start. The Stars' right-hander was lifted after six innings, giving up five hits, walking two and fanning four. He took the loss to fall to 7-10, his eighth straight losing decision. The Stars have scored three runs, covering 29 1/3 innings, in the time that Holliman has been on the hill over his last five turns. Santos was taken out after 5 1/3 innings worth of work during which he allowed seven hits, did not walk a batter and recorded one strikeout. He grabbed the win to improve to 5-3 and was followed by Levale Speigner, who got Corey Kemp to ground into a double play with runners at the corners to end the sixth inning. Speigner worked a scoreless seventh before Garrett Parcell took over in the eighth inning and tossed two shutout frames, striking out four, to preserve the win and earn his first save of the season. The Suns bullpen has now thrown a dozen shutout innings in the series. Jacksonville tacked on three runs in the ninth against Wes Littleton on a two-run double by Ryan Klosterman and a run-scoring single by Logan Morrison. The series and the regular season finishes Monday afternoon with Huntsville sending right-hander Cody Scarpetta to the hill against Suns' right-hander Elih Villanueva. Coverage of the game begins at 12:50 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score Ten Stars' base hits, but only the one run -- no walks drawn... Huntsville Game Log

Final: Beloit (Twins) 19, Wisconsin 8 Wisconsin Site Game Summary Beloit 19, Wisconsin 8 By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers BELOIT, WI - The Beloit Snappers blew out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 19-8 on Saturday night at Pohlman Field. Beloit scored in every inning except the first and eighth and had two different six-run innings. Rattlers pitchers walked 10 and threw four run-scoring wild pitches in the game as the Snappers racked up 16 hits. Ozzie Lewis led the onslaught with three this and five RBI. The loss was the fourth straight for the Rattlers. Wisconsin (58-79 overall, 24-43 second half) broke on top with a three-run third inning against Daniel Berlind. Derrick McPhearson walked and Kyle Dhanani singled to start the frame. Michael Vass and Shawn Zarraga followed with consecutive RBI singles. Later in the inning, Brock Kjeldgaard drew a bases loaded walk with two outs to make the score 3-0. The Rattlers would leave the bases loaded in the inning. Beloit (55-83, 28-40) scored one time in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI double by Jon Waltenbury. Then, they dropped the hammer in the fourth. Rattlers starting pitcher Maverick Lasker faced six batters in the third and did not retire any of them. All six would reach base and eventually score. The inning started with a walk and a single. Drew Thompson's double knocked in the first run of the inning. A walk loaded the bases. A grounder off the bat of Lewis was booted for an error and two runs scored to put the Snappers up 4-3. They weren't done. Danny Rams knocked Lasker out of the game with an RBI single. Liam Ohlmann came on and got the first two outs of the inning, but gave up a two-run double to Reggie Williams and the Snappers were ahead 7-3. Vass got the Rattlers a little closer with a solo homer in the top of the fourth. The home run was his seventh of the season. Beloit kept going in the bottom of the fourth as they added four more runs. The first two came in on a two-run double by Lewis. The next two crossed the plate on two separate wild pitches by Ohlmann. In the fifth, Nate Hanson singled in a run with two outs. In the sixth, Waltenbury launched a homer to right-center off Rigoberto Almonte and the Snappers went up 13-4. Wisconsin rallied in the top of the seventh inning. John Delaney doubled to start the inning. One out later, Brandon Sizemore singled him home. Jose Duran was next and his triple plated Sizemore. Then, McPhearson singled to drive in Duran to make the score 13-7. But, Thom Wright got a 5-4-3 double play to get out of the frame. Beloit really put the game out of reach in the bottom of the seventh. The first seven batters reached against two different Wisconsin relievers. Beloit scored their runs in the inning on an RBI double by Aaron Hicks off Almonte, a two-run double by Lewis of Corey Frerichs, a pair of wild pitches by Frerichs, and a bases loaded walk to Morales. Pedro Lambetus came into the game and struck out the next two batters to end the seventh. The Rattlers reliever would allow a hit but no runs in the bottom of the eighth. Snappers closer Billy Bullock struck out the first two Rattlers in the top of the ninth inning. Then, he hit three batters in a row and threw a wild pitch that allowed a run to score. A walk reloaded the bases. But, Bullock got the final out via another strikeout to finish off the 19-8 Beloit win. The Timber Rattlers and the Snappers meet again on Sunday evening at Pohlman Field. Daniel Meadows (13-6, 3.92) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Bruce Pugh (3-5, 3.04) is set to go for Beloit. Game time is 5:00 PM. Wisconsin Box Score Ugly with a capital "U", although there are some offensive nuggets you can mine... Wisconsin Game Log

Nice Fan Appreciation Video from the Rattlers -- Do You See Yourself? Final: Beloit (Twins) 4, Wisconsin 3 Wisconsin Site Game Summary Snappers shade Rattlers By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers BELOIT, WI - The Beloit Snappers beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4-3 on Sunday evening at Pohlman Field. Beloit starting pitcher Bruce Pugh pitched five scoreless innings and struck out 10 for the win. Beloit had a 3-0 lead and held off a late Wisconsin rally to send the Rattlers to their eightieth loss of the season. Nick Tyson made the emergency start for the Timber Rattlers (58-80 overall, 24-44 second half) and the Snappers got to him early. Aaron Hicks singled. Then, Drew Thompson tripled to send Hicks home. A sacrifice fly by Nate Hanson plated Thompson for a 2-0 lead. Tyson did not let the Snappers (56-83, 29-40) score again until the bottom of the fifth. Beloit strung together three straight one-out singles to tack a run on to their lead. Angel Morales had the third single of the sequence to knock in the run for a 3-0 advantage. Pugh left after five innings and turned the game over to the bullpen. That was when Wisconsin got on the scoreboard. Derrick Alfonso singled with one out, stole second, and went to third on a throwing error. An RBI grounder by Kyle Dhanani drove in Alfonso. The Rattlers had a great opportunity in the top of the seventh inning. They had runners on second and third with no outs against Brad Stillings. But Wisconsin could not cash in their chance. A fly ball to right for the first out was too shallow to score the run. A popup on the infield and a strikeout ended the frame. Beloit added an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh. Aaron Hicks was at second with two outs and broke for third on an attempted steal. He made it safely and scored when the throw sailed into left. Beloit was up 4-1. Wisconsin put together another rally in the top of the eighth inning against Steve Blevins. Brandon Sizemore was at second with two outs and Michael Vass doubled down the left field line to make the score 4-2. Then, Jose Duran sent a grounder towards right. Second baseman Drew Thompson made a sliding stop, but his throw to first was wild. Vass scored and Duran took second. Derrick McPhearson drew a walk to put the go ahead run on base for Alfonso. During Alfonso's at bat, Duran and McPhearson pulled a double steal and almost pulled the Rattlers even. The throw to third by Snappers catcher Jeffery Lanning was high and headed to left. But third baseman Nate Hanson made a leaping deflection to keep the ball on the infield. Blevins got Alfonso to fly out to right to end the inning. In the ninth, the Snappers brought closer Billy Bullock on for the save. Erik Miller started the inning with a single to get the tying run on base. But, Bullock got a force out, a strikeout, and a foul pop out to end the game. The Timber Rattlers and the Snappers conclude the 2009 season with an afternoon game on Labor Day. Evan Frederickson (3-8, 5.30) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Daniel Osterbrock (6-10, 5.40) will make the start for Beloit. Game time is 2:00 PM. Wisconsin Box ScoreLHP Brandon Ritchie had a wonderful season... Wisconsin Game Log The fateful 7th -- Wisconsin Top 7th Jose Duran singles on a ground ball to center fielder Aaron Hicks. With Derrick McPhearson batting, Jose Duran steals (14) 2nd base. Derrick McPhearson singles on a fly ball to center fielder Aaron Hicks. With Derrick Alfonso batting, Jose Duran steals (15) 3rd base. Derrick McPhearson steals (7) 2nd base. Derrick Alfonso flies out to right fielder Angel Morales. Erik Miller pops out to second baseman Drew Thompson. John Delaney strikes out swinging.

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Memphis 74 66 .529 - 41-27 33-39 W1 Nashville 73 68 .518 1.5 38-33 35-35 L1 Iowa 71 70 .504 3.5 43-26 28-44 L5 Omaha 64 77 .454 10.5 34-39 30-38 W6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 36 31 .537 - 17-18 19-13 W1 West Tenn 35 32 .522 1.0 19-13 16-19 L1 Chattanooga 34 33 .507 2.0 19-14 15-19 L2 Carolina 26 41 .388 10.0 12-20 14-21 W5 Huntsville 25 41 .379 10.5 13-18 12-23 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tampa 46 18 .719 - 19-12 27-6 W2 Brevard County 38 23 .623 6.5 22-13 16-10 W2 Dunedin 33 32 .508 13.5 18-13 15-19 W1 Clearwater 34 34 .500 14.0 18-18 16-16 L3 Daytona 29 37 .439 18.0 14-21 15-16 W2 Lakeland 25 38 .397 20.5 11-14 14-24 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 16 14 .533 - 6-8 10-6 W7 Missoula 15 16 .484 1.5 6-8 9-8 L1 Billings 10 21 .323 6.5 9-9 1-12 W1 Helena 8 22 .267 8.0 5-10 3-12 L2

Rattler Blog Update: Daniel Meadows is a scratch. He was feeling sick yesterday and did not come to the ballpark. He was on the bus, but was told to go back to his room and get some rest. Nick Tyson is the starter today and this will be his first start for the Timber Rattlers.

Follow Saturday'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. MiLB.com now has Gameday available for AA as well as AAA this season. Nashville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_09_05_nasaaa_nozaaa_1 Here are bonus links to the Memphis doubleheader games vs. Oklahoma City in Memphis (Redbirds lead the Sounds by 1 and 1/2 games): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t238&t=g_box&gid=2009_09_05_orhaaa_mrbaaa_1 http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t238&t=g_box&gid=2009_09_05_orhaaa_mrbaaa_2 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_09_05_jaxaax_hunaax_1&did=t559&sid=t559 Brevard County Game One: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2009_09_05_tbyafa_breafa_1&cid=503&t=g_box Brevard County Game Two: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2009_09_05_tbyafa_breafa_2&cid=503&t=g_box Wisconsin: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_09_05_wisafx_belafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_09_05_helrok_bilrok_1&did=t433&sid=t433

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated a few hours prior to gametime. Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): *** We're going to include the link to Kraig McNutt's Nashville blog in the same post as the Nashville media notes link going forward. *** "Voice of the Rattlers" Chris Mehring's informative and entertaining Rattlers Radio Blog includes game notes an hour or two before gametime. *** Midwest League Standings

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. MiLB.com now has Gameday available for AA as well as AAA this season. Nashville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_09_06_nasaaa_nozaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_09_06_jaxaax_hunaax_1&did=t559&sid=t559 Brevard County Game One: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2009_09_06_tbyafa_breafa_1&cid=503&t=g_box Brevard County Game Two: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2009_09_06_tbyafa_breafa_2&cid=503&t=g_box Wisconsin: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_09_06_wisafx_belafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_09_06_grfrok_helrok_1&did=t433&sid=t433

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated a few hours prior to gametime. Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): *** "Voice of the Rattlers" Chris Mehring's informative and entertaining Rattlers Radio Blog includes game notes an hour or two before gametime.

Saturday's Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Mike Jones at New Orleans (Marlins), 5:35 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Josh Butler at home vs. Jacksonville (Marlins), 5:45 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: TBD (times two) in a doubleheader at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 3:45 PM pre-game; 4:00 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Live Audio Link -- Thank You Stephen Smith of SpaceCoastBaseball.com Wisconsin: RHP Maverick Lasker at Beloit (Twins), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Live Audio Link Helena: LHP Del Howell at Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link Arizona Summer League: Season complete (12-16 first half, 13-15 second half, 25-31 overall) Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: Season complete -- the squad finished 27-43, 11th place in the 12-team division, 24.5 games behind the first-place DSL Giants. If it makes you smile, the DSL Cubs #2 squad finished last at 15-52, and lost their final 19 games of the season.

Sunday's Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Lindsay Gulin at New Orleans (Marlins), 5:35 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Mark Holliman at home vs. Jacksonville (Marlins), 12:45 PM pre-game; 1:00 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: RHP's Alex Periard and Michael Bowman in a doubleheader at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 11:50 AM pre-game; 12:05 PM gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Live Audio Link -- Thank You Stephen Smith of SpaceCoastBaseball.com Wisconsin: LHP Daniel Meadows at Beloit (Twins), 4:45 PM pre-game; 5:00 gametime Live Audio Link Helena: RHP Kyle Heckathorn at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link Arizona Summer League: Season complete (12-16 first half, 13-15 second half, 25-31 overall) Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: Season complete -- the squad finished 27-43, 11th place in the 12-team division, 24.5 games behind the first-place DSL Giants. If it makes you smile, the DSL Cubs #2 squad finished last at 15-52, and lost their final 19 games of the season.

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

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

A few more details from Billings -- Link while active, text follows: Mustangs sweep Helena with 2 game-winning home runs MIKE SCHERTING Of The Billings Gazette Staff In danger of rewriting the franchise history book - in a bad way - the Billings Mustangs are battling to the end of their frustrating Pioneer League season. Sean Conner and Cristobal Rodriguez both hit game-winning home runs, leading the Mustangs to a doubleheader sweep of the Helena Brewers Friday night at Dehler Park. Conner hit a grand slam to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning for an 8-4 win in the opener and Rodriguez lifted a three-run homer to left in the bottom of the 10th in the nightcap for an 8-5 win. Both games were scheduled to go seven innings per Pioneer League rules, and the 2,542 on hand got more than their money's worth. The victories lifted the Mustangs record to 22-47, a .319 winning percentage. The Mustangs, who were established in Billings in 1948 and who returned to the Pioneer League in 1969 after a brief hiatus, need to win three of their last seven games to avoid putting up the worst winning percentage in team history. The 1996 team went 23-49 (.319). Helena led the first game 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh before the first three Mustangs batters reached base. After Robert Currie struck out Tyler Stovall for the first out, Currie grazed Efrain Contreras with a pitch, forcing in Yen-Wen Kuo and knotting the score at 5-5. Conner then got ahead 2-1 in the count and launched Currie's next pitch deep to right field, giving the Mustangs just their fourth win in their last 17 games. It was Conner's sixth homer of the season. In the second game, the Mustangs scored five times in the third inning - capped by Frank Pfister's first home run, a two-run shot - and took a 5-3 lead into the top of the seventh. But Helena's Scott Krieger hit a deep drive to right that bounced off the top of the "D" on the Dehler Park scoreboard to even the score at 5-5, and the game went into extra innings. Finally in the bottom of the 10th, Pfister got a two-out single off Matt Costello and Mark Fleury followed with another two-out single. That brought up Rodriguez, who blasted a Costello pitch to left field for his first homer of the season and the victory. Rodriguez was mobbed by his teammates as he crossed home plate, and he tried to push through the crowd as his fellow players bopped him repeatedly on his batting helmet. NOTES: The first game was the completion of a game suspended Aug. 8 due to rain and hail. … James Walczak (2-2) earned the win in the first game with one scoreless inning, while Jake Wiley (1-1) threw three scoreless innings to win the second game. … Costello (0-1) was pitching in his first game for the Brewers, and Ben Jeffers (0-3) was tagged with the first-game loss. … Friday night's crowd pushed the Mustangs season attendance past the 100,000 mark. … Stovall was named the Most Popular Mustang before the second game, while Billings trainer Charles Leddon was honored as the Pioneer League's athletic trainer of the year. … Helena's Chris Ellington hit his 10th homer of the season in the second game. Krieger's homer was his 13th. … Tonight's game is the final home game of the season for the Mustangs.

Final, completion of suspended game: Billings (Reds) 8, Helena 4 Final, regularly scheduled game: Billings 8, Helena 5, ten innings, (scheduled for seven) Interestingly, the first game was actually a makeup game to begin witrh when it was rained out, so it only went seven innings, as it was scheduled for on August 8th... Link while active, text follows: Billings sweeps doubleheader from Helena By The Helena Independent Record The Billings Mustangs pushed the Helena Brewers further into the Pioneer League North division basement. The Brewers dropped a doubleheader, 8-4, 8-5, Friday night in Billings. Helena took a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the second game, but a five-run fifth inning gave Billings the advantage. The Brewers came back to tie it, but dropped the game in extras when the Mustangs' Cristobal Rodriguez had a three-run homer on a fly ball to left field. It was Rodriguez's only hit in the contest, after a 1-for-3 performance in the first game of the day. The second game of the day featured a number of long balls. Helena's Chris Ellington and Scott Krieger, playing his first game in a week after suffering a wrist injury, both had home runs. The Mustangs also had a pair. The Milwaukee Brewers first-round draft pick, Eric Arnett, started on the mound in the second game for Helena. The right-hander gave up five runs on six hits, just one of them earned, and struck out six in four innings of work. In the first game, Damon Krestalude struggled in the fourth and fifth innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and walking one. Reliever Ben Jeffers was tagged with his third loss of the season, giving up a hit and three earned runs in 1/3 of an inning. Rob Currie blew the save after giving up two runs in 1/3 of the seventh inning of the seven-inning contest. Sean Halton was 2-for-4 with a double in the second contest, while second baseman Cutter Dykstra was 1-for-4, stroking a triple. The Brewers didn't have a single extra-base hit in the first game of the doubleheader. Helena faces Billings again today in a 7:00 PM contest (8:00 Central), the final game of their three-game series. James Walczak (2-2) earned the win in the first game with one scoreless inning, while Jake Wiley (1-1) threw three scoreless innings to win the second game. Tonight's game is the final home game for the Mustangs. Helena Game One Box Score This one hurt, because the H-Crew actually led 4-3 going to the bottom half of the final inning -- after RHP Ben Jeffers managed to load the bases on a ground ball single to the mound, a walk, and then a sacrifice bunt in which no out was recorded (quite the rally), RHP Rob Currie was brought in to do the impossible -- after a strikeout to give hope, a HBP tied the game, which was followed by the walkoff slam; asking Jeffers and his 9.72 ERA to get the save would have been a nice confidence-booster for him, but not to be; a mix of names in the box score with the nearly 30 days between the start and finish -- the Helena newspaper mistakenly thought Jake Odorizzi started a second consecutive game -- I edited that out; MiLB.com places the stats for the game in their original date -- so you'll notice, for instance, that RHP Damon Krestalude actually pitched twice against Billings on August 8th... Helena Game One Game Log Helena Game Two Box Score LHP Kristian Bueno and RHP Ryan Platt, but LHP Ryan Costello, who was so effective in Maryvale, lost it in the 10th in his Helena debut, all after the first two men of the inning were retired... Helena Game Two Game Log SS Carlos George is finding that fielding in Helena is no easier than in Maryvale -- his two 3rd inning errors victimized Eric Arnett, but the first round pick was still hit around pretty good in the inning -- Billings Bottom 3rd Efrain Contreras singles on a line drive to center fielder Franklin Romero. Mariekson Gregorius reaches on fielding error by shortstop Carlos George. Efrain Contreras to 2nd. Yorman Rodriguez singles on a line drive to left fielder Chris Ellington. Efrain Contreras scores. Mariekson Gregorius to 3rd. With Yen-Wen Kuo batting, Yorman Rodriguez steals (5) 2nd base. Yen-Wen Kuo strikes out swinging. Christopher Richburg grounds out, third baseman Joseph Paciorek to first baseman Sean Halton. Mariekson Gregorius scores. Sean Conner reaches on throwing error by shortstop Carlos George. Yorman Rodriguez scores. Frank Pfister homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Sean Conner scores. Mark Fleury flies out to left fielder Chris Ellington.

Sounds fall in the playoff chase, Stars and Rattlers are anemic, and Helena loses twice -- once on a walkoff grand slam, and then on a walkoff three-run home run. Nothing like making them happy in Billings...

Link while active, text follows: As Midwest League season wraps up, some Rattlers will go straight to instructional league By Brett Christopherson Post-Crescent staff writer GRAND CHUTE - Sure, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers concluded the home portion of their Midwest League slate on Friday. And yes, the calendar says they'll put a bow on their entire season following Monday's finale at Beloit. But the baseball is far from over for some. "The 2009 season might be ending here in Wisconsin," Rattlers manager Jeff Isom said prior to Friday's 5-2 loss to Cedar Rapids at Fox Cities Stadium. "But 2010 starts." Like soon. Next on the docket for a select few wearing Rattlers duds is instructional league, which will send players, coaches and minor league coordinators within the Milwaukee Brewers' organization to their spring training complex in Phoenix for further, well, instruction. "I love it," said Brewers roving infield instructor Garth Iorg, in town for Friday's game. "That's kind of the rovers' thing. And to get invited to go to instructional league for the players is a nice thing. (It means) we think highly of them because there are limited spaces. It helps them get prepared to perform at a higher level for the next season." Isom said instructional league often involves an organization's upper-tier prospects and allows for more one-on-one tutelage than would be possible during a season. For example, Rattlers shortstop Josh Prince, selected by the Crew in the third round of June's annual draft, will be on hand and asked to work on transferring the ball to a slightly higher position while also tweaking his overall fielding mechanics. "There's a lot of minor things you can't do during the season because if they start focusing on these changes in games, it's not going to work," Isom said. "It's more individual work with the players. It's not necessarily team fundamental type stuff like bunt defense or cutoffs and relays." Prince said he's looking forward to the added knowledge he'll gain in working with Iorg under a more detailed setting. "I've probably spent a total of a couple hours with him on defense, and the things that I've learned just from that amount of time is as much as I've learned in a lifetime," Prince said. "I'm really, really excited about going to instructs and working with Garth and trying to learn as much as I can so I can get better and try to make the next level." The only downer is the month-long session is scheduled to begin shortly after the season comes to a close, leaving little time for those involved to catch much of a breather from the weeks of baseball they've already logged. Isom was selected to serve as the Brewers' bench coach during instructional league games and has been told he needs to report to Arizona on Sept. 13. So that means little time with family between the end of a long Midwest League season and the beginning of instructs. Prince, meanwhile, said he'll have just two days at home in Louisiana before he heads out to Arizona. But he also understands the sacrifices that come in working towards achieving a dream. "It's a yearlong process," he said. "Yeah, you get better from playing games, but the offseason is the most important time to gain weight, get bigger, get stronger and get more physical so you can produce the next year." Hitting coach and Appleton native Matt Erickson agreed. "With the money involved in the game now and the athletes, you have to be prepared, ready to go," said Erickson, who has been tabbed to manage the Brewers' instructional league club. "The competition is so great. And the turnover in minor league baseball is so great that you've got to come in ready to play and show that you've done something in the offseason or you'll be gone - coaches included."

Brett Christopherson at the Appleton Post-Crescent Turning point Cedar Rapids set up the decisive fourth inning with a pair of one-out singles. Gabe Jacobo's three-run triple came on a 3-1 offering. Stat pack 2: Losses needed by the Rattlers to reach 80 overall. They have lost at least 80 games in six of the past eight seasons. 253,240: Wisconsin's season attendance total - a franchise record. The previous mark of 233,797 was established in 1996. Mum's the word Rattlers manager Jeff Isom hasn't been told of his coaching assignment for the 2010 season but should know something within the next few weeks. "Obviously, my goal in this game is to make it to the major leagues," he said. "You'd like to move forward and move up in the organization. I don't know what's going to be available. I've had a great summer here. The fishing's been good. And we've had some good players come through here, as well. I've enjoyed it a lot, and I'm hoping to have the opportunity to come back." Isom is in his third season as a manager in the Milwaukee Brewers' minor league system. He spent last year guiding the West Virginia Power, the Crew's previous Low-A affiliate. 2009 record: 34-36 first half, 24-42 second half. 2008 record (as a Seattle Mariners affiliate): 31-35, 23-43. Friday's attendance: 5,452. Overall attendance through 68 dates: 253,240 (3,724 average). On deck Game time: Wisconsin vs. Beloit on Saturday at 7:00 PM at Beloit. Season series: Wisconsin leads 7-4. Up and throwing: Wisconsin - Maverick Lasker (1-0, 0.00 ERA); Beloit - Winston Marquez (0-2, 4.76 ERA).

Final: Cedar Rapids (Angels) 5, Wisconsin 2 Wisconsin Site Game Summary Home schedule ends with a loss By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - Will Smith was tough and the Cedar Rapids Kernels offense rode one good inning to a 5-2 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Friday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Smith allowed one run on two hits over eight innings for his tenth win of the season. The game was the home finale for the Rattlers. Gabe Jacobo broke the scoreless tie with a big, two-out, extra-base hit in the top of the third inning. The Kernels loaded the bases on three singles. Jacobo lined a 3-1 pitch from Rattlers starting pitcher Trey Watten to the gap in right-center for a three-run triple. Matt Crawford followed with a double to right and the Kernels (76-59 overall, 36-29 second half) led 4-0. Smith retired the first 11 batters he faced. Then, Brock Kjeldgaard broke up that string with one swing. The Rattlers outfielder hit the first pitch of his at bat in the bottom of the fourth over the fence in left for his twentieth home run of the season. Kjeldgaard joins two other Timber Rattlers in franchise history with a 20 homer season. Matt Hagen (2003) and Juan Silvestre (1999) each had 21 homers in their respective seasons of reaching the 20 mark. The Kernels got that run back in the top of the seventh inning. Alexi Amarista singled through the drawn-in infield to knock in Angel Castillo from third for a 5-1 advantage. Smith would give up one more hit to the Rattlers. Erik Miller's one-out single in the eighth put runners at second and third. But, Smith wrapped up by getting a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Rattlers (58-78, 24-42) loaded the bases with one out against Andy Taylor. John Delaney's sacrifice fly drove in Pete Fatse to make the score 5-2. But, Taylor got a strike out to close out the Timber Rattlers. Wisconsin begins a season-ending three-game series at Beloit on Saturday night. Maverick Lasker (1-0, 0.00) is scheduled to make the start for the Timber Rattlers. Beloit will send Winston Marquez (0-2, 4.76) to the mound. Game time in Beloit is 7:00 PM. Wisconsin Box Score Props to RHP Trey Watten, took the ball whenever asked (27 games, 24 starts, 133.2 innings); Watten allowed 90 runs on the season, 20 of them unearned -- need more help from his teammates, and needs to bail them out from time-to-time as well; roster is just overmatched right now, something that shouldn't be happening at the low-A level... Wisconsin Game Log

Final: Jacksonville (Marlins) 3, Huntsville 1 Huntsville Site Game Summary Suns Stave Off Late Rallies to Down Stars Huntsville's Offensive Frustration Continues By Brett Pollock Nic Ungs worked 6 2/3 solid innings and continued to spin his magic against his former team in Jacksonville's come from behind 3-1 win over Huntsville Friday night in the second of the season-ending five-game at Joe Davis Stadium. The Suns improved to 44-23 in the second half and maintained their two-game lead over victorious Birmingham in the South Division with three games left to go, while the Stars matched a season-high with a sixth straight loss, all by one or two runs, to fall to 25-41 in the second half and 63-72 overall. The Suns lead the season series nine games to three and have won five of the seven in Huntsville. Lorenzo Cain reached on a fielding error in the second inning, advanced to second base on a Chuck Caufield single and scored when J.R. Hopf doubled into right field. However, the Stars could not add on with runners at second and third base, as Michael Garciaparra grounded out and pitcher Brandon Kintzler struck out. The run was the first the Stars had scored against Ungs in 13 1/3 over his three starts against them. Matt Dominguez belted a one-out home run just to the left of straightaway center field to get the game tied in the fifth. The long ball snapped Kintzler's 9 1/3 innings shutout streak against the Suns and a 10 1/3 scoreless innings streak at home. The right-hander, working on three days' rest, was lifted after five frames, allowing four hits, not walking a batter and fanning a pair. Josh Wahpepah took over in the sixth for the Stars and issued two walks and allowed an infield hit that loaded the bases with nobody out. Mike Stanton followed with a broken bat base hit to right field to plate Bryan Petersen to give the Suns a 2-1 lead and drive the right-hander from the game after he could not retire any of the four batters he faced. Wes Littleton assumed the hill and gave up a scoring fly ball to Scott Cousins that pushed the visitors lead to 3-1. Wahpepah took the loss to fall to 1-2. Ungs retired seven in a row and 13 out of 14 before Taylor Green led off the home seventh with a double and moved to third base on a fly ball out. Ungs struck out Caufield and was lifted from the game and followed by left-hander JayVoss, who struck out the lefty-swinging Hopf to end the inning and thwart the Stars' threat. Ungs earned his tenth win of the year, and third over the Stars, allowing four hits and fanning two. The right-hander went 4-1 in seven starts with Huntsville last season. Pinch-hitter Freddy Parejo reached second base on a Chris De La Cruz throwing error with one out in the eighth and moved to third base on a Brad Davis passed ball but died there when Drew Anderson struck out and Shane Justis grounded out against Chris Leroux, who gave way to Matt Peterson in the ninth. The right-hander walked Green with one out in the ninth and hit Cain before retiring Caufield and Hopf on groundouts to end the game and record his 35th save of the year, one short of the Southern League record last set by former Stars' pitcher Joe Valentine, who did it with Birmingham in 2002. The series continues Saturday night with Huntsville sending right-hander Josh Butler to the hill against Suns' right-hander Brad Stone. Coverage of the game begins at 5:45 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score LHP Zach Braddock struck out two in a 1-2-3 8th, and RHP Rob Wooten walked one in a scoreless 9th; top three in the order 0-for-12 on another miserable offensive night... Huntsville Game Log

Final: New Orleans (Marlins) 4, Nashville 3 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Brendan Katin photo, text follows -- Zephyrs Top Sounds, 4-3, On Two Home Runs METAIRIE, La. - The Nashville Sounds lost to the New Orleans Zephyrs, 4-3, on Friday evening at Zephyr Field in the opener of a four-game series. With the loss, Nashville (73-68) falls to 1 ½ games behind Memphis in the PCL American Northern Division after the Redbirds defeated the Redhawks in Memphis earlier on Friday evening. New Orleans starting pitcher Clay Hensley (9-4) struck out nine over six scoreless innings for the win. In his Triple-A debut, New Orleans catcher Andy Jenkins hit a solo home run that put the Zephyrs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. First baseman Gaby Sanchez added to the lead in the next inning, belting his 15th homer of the season, extending the New Orleans lead to 4-0. The Sounds plated three runs to come within one run in the seventh frame. Third baseman Mat Gamel hit a leadoff single and scored on a Brendan Katin triple for the first run. Pitcher Sam Narron helped his own cause by hitting an RBI single, his first of the season. Tike Redman and Hernan Iribarren then drew consecutive walks to load the bases, followed by Joe Koshansky's team-leading 64th walk that scored the final run, making it 4-3. The Sounds were unable to do further damage the rest of the way, with Zephyrs closer Matt DeSalvo pitching a perfect ninth to earn his third save of the season. Sounds starter Chris Cody (8-8) took the loss, giving up four runs on six hits, including two home runs, while fanning seven in five innings. Narron tossed three scoreless innings in relief, allowing no hits with three strikeouts and a walk. In his first appearance on his rehab assignment, Brewers outfielder Corey Hart went 0-for-1 on the evening, grounding out to shortstop in the second and recording a walk his next time at the plate before departing in the bottom of the fourth. The Sounds and Zephyrs continue with the second game of a four-game series at 6:00 PM CT on Saturday evening at Zephyr Field. Sounds right-hander Mike Jones (1-1, 7.20) toes the rubber against New Orleans righty Brian Lawrence (6-4, 5.14). Nashville Box Score Angel Salome did not play; Jon Knott flied out to center to end the 7th after Joe Koshansky's bases-loaded walk made it 4-3... Nashville Game Log