Jim Goulart

The Maryvale kids trail late, 2-1 -- 23-year-old LHP Matt Costello with a nice line, and needs to find his way to Helena or Wisconsin at the next opportunity...

Final: Great Falls (White Sox) 12, Helena 1 Helena Box Score Full details in the AM, disappointing to see RHP Adrian Rosario struggle, RHP Ryan Platt did what he could to stem the tide in the middle innings; almost as many Helena errors (four) as hits (five); Joey Paciorek has had it rough in the field in those instances when he's been asked to play third base... Helena Game Log

Final: Wisconsin 5, Dayton (Reds) 4, 11 innings Wisconsin Site Game Summary: SPEED SLAYS DRAGONS Chris Mehring, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - Derrick McPhearson's speed was the difference. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers outfielder raced home from first base after a throwing error to score the winning run in the bottom of the eleventh inning on Friday night. Wisconsin's 5-4 win over the Dayton Dragons at Time Warner Cable Field stopped a three-game winning streak in its tracks. McPhearson had two hits, scored a pair of runs, and drove in a run for Wisconsin. Brett Lawrie gave the Rattlers the lead in the first inning with a sacrifice fly. But, the Dragons responded in the second inning with a two-out solo homer by Tony Brown. Wisconsin (47-49 overall, 13-13 second half) went up 3-1 in the bottom of the second. Michael Vass reached on an error. McPhearson followed with an RBI double to left center and took third on the throw to the plate. Juan Sanchez knocked in McPhearson with an infield single and Wisconsin was up by a pair of runs. Pete Fatse made it a 4-1 Rattlers with an RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth. Wisconsin starting pitcher R.J. Seidel, who was making his Timber Rattlers debut, worked through 4-1/3 innings and struck out seven while allowing the one run on five hits. Dayton (40-57, 12-15) pulled a little closer in the top of the sixth inning with a pair of runs off Liam Ohlmann. Cody Puckett reached on a bunt single and moved up to third on a throwing error. An RBI grounder by Kevin Coddington knocked in Puckett. Then, Tony Brown and Kevyn Feiner had back-to-back doubles to make the score 4-3. But, Ohlmann got out of the inning without another run. Efrain Nieves worked two scoreless frames and turned the game over to Brandon Ritchie for the top of the ninth. But, Feiner singled to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second and a wild pitch allowed him to go to third. Ritchie would strike out Miguel Rojas, but a walk to Carlos Mendez brought up Byron Wiley for a lefty-lefty battle. Wiley singled to right on a 1-1 pitch and Feiner scored the tying run. The teams went to extra innings. Nick Tyson pitched a scoreless tenth and a scoreless eleventh for the Timber Rattlers. In the bottom of the eleventh, McPhearson singled off the glove of third baseman Carlos Mendez with one out. The single by McPhearson was the first hit by a Rattler since the seventh inning. Dayton pitchers had retired 13 Timber Rattlers in a row up to that point. Sanchez was next and he dropped a bunt single down the third base line. Pitcher and former Brewer farmhand Mark James fielded the ball near the foul line, turned, and fired wildly to first. McPhearson sped around the bases and scored the winning run without a play. The Rattlers start a six-game road trip on Saturday night with a game at O'Brien Field against the Peoria Chiefs. Cody Scarpetta (2-6, 3.06) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs will counter with Jeff Beliveau (4-3, 3.82). Game time is 6:30 PM. Wisconsin Box Score Brett Lawrie's OBP is .347, walked twice here; over 5,200 in attendance on the same evening Miller Park is full... Wisconsin Game Log

Final: Carolina (Reds) 7, Huntsville 5 Huntsville Site Game Summary Francisco Powers Carolina to Victory Over Stars Mudcats Blast Three Long Balls in Second Straight Win By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Juan Francisco belted two home runs and Jerry Gil tossed four scoreless innings in relief to guide Carolina past Huntsville 7-5 Friday night in the fourth of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Mudcats have taken three of four in the series to lift their record to 12-17 in the second half and 49-49 overall, while the Stars slipped to 12-17 in the second half and 50-47 overall. The Stars have lost eight of their last nine at home to fall to 19-25 on home soil. Todd Frazier belted a two-out, two-run home run in the first inning to put the Mudcats in the lead. The Stars strung together three singles to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the second before a power surge took down the lights and delayed play for 15 minutes. Michael Garciaparra struck out for the second out when play resumed. Mudcats' right-hander Scott Carroll, making his double-A debut, then walked pitcher Mark Holliman and Adam Stern to force in the tying runs before he uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Kevin Melillo to score to put the Stars in the lead. Carolina tied the game in the third inning on a run-scoring ground out by Frazier. Carroll gave up a single to Drew Anderson, who extended his hitting streak to six games, and walked Jonathan Lucroy to open the home third before leaving due to an injury. Gil took over and got out of the jam and wound up grabbing his first double-A win. Francisco's first homer of the night, a searing line drive two-run shot just to the right of straight away center field, in the fifth broke the tie and gave him 17 on the year and three against Holliman, who was taken out when Frazier followed with a double. Zack Cozart would double off Mike McClendon to knock in Frazier to make it 6-3. The Stars loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth on two errors and a hit but Gil got Shane Justis to foul out to end the inning and his performance during which he allowed two hits and recorded one strikeout. Francisco also singled twice and walked and reached base in each at-bat. Holliman suffered the loss to fall to 7-5 after allowing six runs on six hits, while walking three and fanning three over four-plus innings. Robert Hinton took over for McClendon in the seventh and Francisco demolished his first pitch for a home run to right-center field, his fourth off of Stars pitching this year, to push the visitors lead to 7-3. Sean Watson opened the seventh on the hill for Carolina and gave up a Vinny Rottino sacrifice fly and a Melillo run-scoring double that trimmed the lead to two. Watson retired pinch-hitter Chuck Caufield with two runners on to end the inning and was followed by Enerio Del Rosario, who worked a perfect eighth inning, and Logan Ondrusek, who tossed a perfect ninth inning to record his seventh save of the season. The series wraps up Saturday evening with southpaw David Welch taking the hill for the Stars against Mudcats' left-hander Camilo Vazquez. 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 Taylor Green with 0-for-5's each of the past two Friday's; over 2,700 on hand, which is better, but certainly not rewarding the faithful as of late... Huntsville Game Log

Final: Oklahoma City (Rangers) 9, Nashville 5 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Mat Gamel photo, text follows -- Sounds Drop Series Opener to RedHawks, 9-5 OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Oklahoma City Redhawks erupted for nine runs in the last three innings to overcome the Nashville Sounds 9-5 on Friday night at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. RedHawks starter Luis Mendoza moved to 3-4 after allowing two earned runs on seven hits over eight innings pitched. Shortstop Alcides Escobar reached base on a fielding error to start the rally in the top of the first inning, followed by a single to centerfield by third baseman Mat Gamel that advanced Escobar to third. Outfielder Brendan Katin and Hernan Iribarren both chimed in with RBI base knocks to give the Sounds an early 2-0 advantage. First baseman Joe Koshansky added another run when he scored Katin on a sacrifice fly, making it 3-0. Katin and Iribarren both reached base again in the sixth inning with base hits to start another Sounds charge. Third baseman Adam Heether brought home Katin for a 4-0 Nashville lead. Oklahoma City got to Sounds pitcher Chris Narveson in the next frame after the Sounds allowed three singles and three walks in the inning. Dave Johnson came in to relieve Narveson with one out and runners on first and second, but allowed a bases loaded two-run single to Julio Borbon that tied the game at 4. After Jason Bourgeois doubled to left field in the next inning, Escobar untied the game with an RBI base hit to centerfield to score Bourgeois and give Nashville a 5-4 lead. AUDIO: Jason Bourgeois Double The RedHawks quickly tied the game in the next frame on two extra-base hits off reliever Matt Ginter. Esteban German started the inning with a triple and later scored on a double by Brandon Boggs. Oklahoma City's runs scored against Ginter were his first allowed in his last 12 appearances. Oklahoma City exploded for six more base hits in the bottom of the eighth inning off Ginter and put the game out of reach, extending the RedHawk lead to 9-5. In his second start for the Sounds, Narveson allowed three runs on four hits over 5 and 2/3 innings while striking out eight. Ginter (2-3) took the loss after giving up five earned runs on eight hits in 1 and 2/3 innings in relief. The Sounds and RedHawks continue with the second-game of the four-game series at 6:05 PM CT on Saturday night at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. Lefthander Chase Wright (6-5, 3.83) takes the hill for Nashville against RedHawks right-hander Josh Rupe (3-6, 5.91). Nashville Box Score Nashville Game Log

Here's some nice news to cheer you: RHP Kyle Heckathorn signed a contract Friday with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to his agent. Victor Menocal of Career Sports & Entertainment confirmed that Heckathorn, who was drafted in the supplemental round after a successful three seasons at Kennesaw State University, signed and will report to the Brewers' Helena, Mont., short season rookie league Monday. He will be introduced in Milwaukee Saturday at the Brewers' game against Atlanta. Brewerfan Scouting Page on Heckathorn

Enjoy that DSL win, folks -- Wisconsin is tied late, but the Dominican win may be the organization's only one tonight. Cardinals win, Cubs win, Astros win, Brewers are pitiful and fall to .500. What an evening. Go Rattlers, salvage something for us, because the DSL squad is only half-ours.

Final: DSL Brewers / Orioles 4, DSL Pirates 2 DSL Brewers / Orioles Box Score Catcher Jhonatan Javier with two hits and a sacrifice fly, hitting .390 in July after a .357 June -- a beast; 17-year-old LF Juan Barrini doubled but also K'd three times; 19-year-old closer Edwin Linares has been nearly as impressive on the mound as his teammate Javier has been at the plate -- save # 9 here, retired all four men he faced, stranded two runners for the Oriole starter in the 8th... DSL Brewers / Orioles Game Log

Final: St. Lucie (Mets) 12, Brevard County 5 Brevard County Box Score Evan Anundsen finally with a clunker, allowing nine runs (no cheapies, all earned) in just 1.2 innings; Jim Henderson and Rafael Lluberes combined for four shutout innings late, but the horse was long out of the barn; Manatees actually out-hit the Mets, so several players did boost individual offensive numbers here -- Caleb Gindl doubled, singled, and drove in a run, Brent Brewer doubled twice... Brevard County Game Log

Angel Salome sitting a second consecutive day for Nashville. His mini-vacations are frustrating. Lorenzo Cain a night off in Huntsville -- no DH opportunity in that series. He's been busy, so a night to sit. College second baseman Peter Fatse is playing CF for the Rattlers tonight, with Derrick McPhearson and Michael Vass flanking him.

Brevard CF Logan Schafer already guaranteed a productive night, 2-for-2 after two innings. Evan Anundsen will have to be tough if he's to avoid giving up more than three runs in a start for the first time in 17 starts this season, two runs in the 1st, including two HBP's.

To make room for newcomer RHP Brandon Kintzler in Huntsville, LHP Casey Baron has been placed on the 7-Day Disabled List, retroactive to July 22, with an undisclosed injury.

That's odd, the standings link Brian provides me isn't functioning tonight -- we'll try again later. You can see them all here via MiLB.com.

Midwest League Standings Arizona League Standings Dominican Summer League Standings

The Nashville game at Oklahoma City is available via the MiLB.TV subscription package

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.

Follow Friday'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_07_24_nasaaa_orhaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_07_24_cmcaax_hunaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2009_07_24_breafa_sluafa_1 Wisconsin: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_07_24_dayafx_wisafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_07_24_grfrok_helrok_1&did=t433&sid=t433 Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_07_24_brrrok_cubrok_1 Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_07_24_dobrok_dpirok_1

Friday's Menu: TGIF! Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Chris Narveson at Oklahoma City (Rangers), 6:40 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Mark Holliman at home vs. Carolina (Reds), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: RHP Evan Anundsen at St. Lucie (Mets), 6:00 PM gametime Live Audio Link (Mets' Feed) Wisconsin: RHP R.J. Seidel at home vs. Dayton (Reds), 7:05 gametime; LHP Efrain Nieves will also pitch in this game Live Audio Link Helena: RHP Adrian Rosario at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link Arizona Summer League: at the Cubs' complex in Mesa; no more day games -- all games begin at 7:00 local time in the desert; no audio, naturally... Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: at the DSL Pirates (see this thread for some roster background) -- all games are 10:30 local time in the Dominican, and no need to ask about web audio; we usually won't see updated box scores until the overnight...

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

Just moved this to combine with this thread, rather than begin a separate discussion....

Link while active, text follows: La Crosse's Seidel looks to give Timber Rattlers a boost Brett Christopherson, Appleton Post-Crescent Grand Chute -- It's about an hour before first pitch, and R.J. Seidel leans his 6-foot-5 frame against a large trunk inside the indoor batting cage at Fox Cities Stadium. That he's actually there, decked out in his Wisconsin Timber Rattlers black warm-up top and talking about taking the bump in today's Midwest League series finale against the Dayton Dragons is as unlikely as it is remarkable. "With the advancement of surgery, the rehab - nowadays, you can come back a lot quicker than you used to," the right-hander said. "They kept telling me I was ahead of schedule the whole time. I just kept working hard and really wanted to get some innings in this year." The Milwaukee Brewers grabbed the La Crosse native in the 16th round of the 2006 June draft, wowing area scout Harvey Kuenn Jr. with a stat line that included an 8-2 record, 90 strikeouts and a 0.99 ERA during a standout senior season at Central High School. Of course, there was also that lottery ticket just waiting to be cashed in the form of a full scholarship offer to play college ball at the University of Arkansas, but Seidel bypassed the calls of "Pig Suey!" for the chance to chill with the home state Crew and has since pitched well in his two minor-league seasons. So well that he entered 2009 rated by Baseball America as the 18th-best prospect in the Brewers' system after producing minor-league totals of 13 wins, 117 strikeouts and a 4.15 ERA in 38 appearances, 33 of which were starts, over the past two seasons. That included a 9-5 showing, 81 strikeouts and a 4.51 ERA in his first full season last year at West Virginia, the Brewers' previous Class-A affiliate. "He's a quality arm and has pretty good sink and command of three pitches," said Rattlers skipper Jeff Isom, who managed Seidel the past two years at rookie level Helena, Mont., and West Virginia. "He's got size. He's a guy whose fastball will continue to get better and will continue to get better the older he gets." But first came a crushing injury. And, with it, a tricky road back. It's December, two days after Christmas, and Seidel is jogging along a trail somewhere in La Crosse when his right leg slips on a patch of ice, causing him to land awkwardly on his left leg. He crumples to the ground but manages to hobble back to his car and call his father. A trip to the hospital doesn't seem to indicate any substantial damage, but an MRI reveals a nightmare: a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Surgery follows in late January. Then comes a lingering bout with sickness because of the medication, which results in a 15-pound weight loss and leaves him weakened at 185 pounds. And then comes an arduous rehab program that taxes the mind and body but leaves nary a dent on his soul. "I couldn't even walk a week after surgery, and usually, you're supposed to," said the 21-year-old Seidel, who called some of his early rehab work, like being forced to fully extend his reconstructed knee, the worst pain he has ever experienced. "It was grueling," he added. "I was sweating beads, dripping. To think I'm here right now and ready to pitch in a game …" His voice trails off at the thought of being handed the ball against the Dragons, who earned a 4-1 victory over the Rattlers on Thursday and will be looking to sweep the three-game series with a win today. Seidel, who arrived in town on Wednesday following a rehab stint with the rookie level Arizona Brewers, is considering his start his official season-debut, one with an allotted pitch count of 85 pitches. Family and friends are expected to be on hand. But so, too, is an opportunity to prove he's fully recovered - just six months after major knee surgery - and ready to reclaim his status as an up-and-comer within the Brewers' system. Admittedly, his fastball is still about four miles shy from reaching last season's high of 93 mph. And yeah, he got knocked around a bit in Arizona, surrendering 21 earned runs and 43 hits and failing to win a decision in three tries over six starts spanning 28 1/3 innings. But he was using the stint as something of an abbreviated spring training to refine his mechanics, sharpen his command and stretch out his arm. Everything feels fine - physically and mentally. "I think the injury made him stronger," said Seidel's father, Dick, who spent two seasons (1982 and '83) as a pitcher in the New York Yankees system. "Once something is taken away from you, you realize you really want it, and he has worked pretty hard to get to this point. " I know R.J. is a pretty focused individual and a pretty tough kid - resilient. I figured he'd be out there quicker than this, but I know the Brewers like to take their time. And they did the right thing, making sure he was 100 percent." It's about 21 hours before Seidel will scrape his foot against the rubber, kick and fire. He rises from his Fox Cities Stadium box seat seven rows behind home plate after charting pitches during Thursday's loss. He scoots toward the Rattlers' clubhouse and then drives off to wherever he calls home these days. The time has come to prepare for his first meaningful start in what seems like forever. Finally. "Back in January, looking ahead and seeing how much rehab I had in front of me, it was going to be a long time," Seidel said. "It's hard to believe I'm already back in the game." R.J. Seidel of La Crosse will make his first start for the Timber Rattlers Friday night. Photo for The Post-Crescent by Wm. Glasheen http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20090724&Category=APC021102&ArtNo=907240488&Ref=AR&Profile=1009&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

We're always thanking the broadcasters -- how about Jason Scott, who has done a real nice job in the Helena newsaper this year for us? Link while active, text follows: Brewers fend off Voyagers By JASON SCOTT - Helena Independent Record Michael Fiers found himself in what has become a familiar situation Thursday night. He was on the mound in the bottom of the ninth with an opportunity to get another save, as the Brewers were ahead 7-5. Fiers did what he does best, striking out the side to seal up the third consecutive Helena victory, this time over the Great Falls Voyagers at Kindrick Legion Field. So what is it like to get the call for a save opportunity? "It feels great," he said. "It's good to know that your coaches and teammates rely on you for those last three outs. My goal is to throw strikes, work in and out, get guys to swing early and when you get two outs try to strike them out." Fiers came in at the end of a thrilling game. Over 1,200 fans braved the heat and humidity to see the Brewers in the first of two home games against the Voyagers. They weren't disappointed, as the two teams racked up 25 total hits, along with 22 strikeouts, 15 of them Helena's, the three most exciting belonging to Fiers. "Fiers did nice; he always does," Brewers manager Rene Gonzales said. "That's his role for us. He doesn't throw extremely hard, but he's tough to pick up because his arm comes late. He's all over the strike zone and he's down. He's rarely up. It's what works for him." The Brewers got ahead first, thanks to four straight singles in the third inning that netted them two runs. They added three more to the total in the sixth when Great Falls committed two errors and allowed a big double from Edgar Trejo. Brewers starting pitcher Damon Krestalude pitched well, (surviving despite) allowing nine hits over 5 2/3 innings, including a fifth-inning home run to Jose Vargas. Joel Morales got the win for Helena after pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Great Falls starter Matt Wickswat didn't factor in to the decision despite going five strong innings, scattering eight hits and striking out 10 while allowing two earned runs. "It's a win," Gonzales said. "We had a lot of strikeouts tonight. We had a lot of key at-bats, too." The Brewers defense was solid all night, suffering one error but benefiting from two timely double plays in the fifth and sixth innings. The win keeps Helena in first place in the Pioneer League North division, one game ahead of the 15-13 Missoula Osprey. The Brewers, who moved to 16-12 on the year, take on the Voyagers (14-14) again tonight at Kindrick before heading to Great Falls to finish the four-game series. "We just need to do the same thing," Fiers said of his team's recent success. "Every day we come out and work hard, and we just need to keep getting better."

From Wednesday: Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Third Baseman Mat Gamel Includes discussion about his defense while with Milwaukee, which was pretty good... From Thursday: Nashville Pre-Game Chat with Pitcher Tim Dillard No mention of his possible Tuesday start in Milwaukee, but good stuff nonetheless...

Final: Helena 7, Great Falls (White Sox) 5 Full report from the Helena media in the AM, but thanks to Steve Wendt, an enjoyable evening online for this listener -- fascinating game... Helena Box Score A game of odd extremes -- Brewer batters struck out 15 times; Brewer baserunners were 8-of-9 on the basepaths, including Cutter Dykstra with three steals and Edgar Trejo with two -- Josh Prince stole one and was picked off (again) once; RHP Damon Krestalude allowed only two runs in 5.2 innings, yet allowed 12 baserunners; 33 baserunners in the game via hit or walk, plus the teams combined for four errors, just one by the H-Crew; nice work by RHP Joel Morales in middle relief, and RH closer Michael Fiers K'd the side in order in the 9th for the save; one more extreme -- 99 degrees at game time, what is this, Maryvale? Helena Game Log

Yeah, that Braun guy is OK. What I didn't make clear is that Drew Anderson's age, experience, and performance would normally have him in left or right field at AAA. But with Mat Gamel, Alcides Escobar, and Hernan Iribarren all at possible Adam Heether spots, Heether is manning left field and getting the playing time (and subsequent versatiity challenge) he deserves.