Jim Goulart

Final: Nashville 3, Round Rock (Astros) 1 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Manny Parra photo, text follows -- Parra Solid In Sounds' 3-1 Win Over Express ROUND ROCK, Texas - Left-hander Manny Parra worked seven strong innings to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 3-1 victory over the Round Rock Express on Friday evening at The Dell Diamond in the finale of a three-game series. Parra (1-2) allowed only two hits and struck out seven batters over seven scoreless frames in picking up his first Triple-A victory in four starts this season. The southpaw continued his mastery of the Express, improving to 3-0 with a miniscule 0.64 ERA (2 ER / 28.0 IP) in four career starts against them. Sounds shortstop Alcides Escobar (3-for-4) led the offensive attack by posting a "triple double" in the contest, legging out a trio of two-baggers to account for half of Nashville's six hits on the evening. The first-place Sounds (46-36) took two of three from Round Rock on their brief road trip, the club's first winning road series since early June. Nashville grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third against Round Rock start Mark McLemore when Escobar and Hernan Iribarren put together back-to-back two-out doubles off the left-hander. The Sounds doubled the advantage to 2-0 in the fifth. With one out, Parra drew a walk from McLemore and moved to third when Escobar doubled to left. Iribarren drove in his second run of the night when he followed with a sacrifice fly to center that plated Parra. Round Rock took advantage of Parra's departure in the eighth, halving the lead to 2-1 against the Sounds' bullpen. After David Johnson retired the first two batters of the frame, pinch-hitter Jason Smith laced a double to right and scored on Brian Bogusevic's subsequent RBI single to right. After a throwing error by Nashville catcher Martin Maldonado allowed Bogusevic to advance to third on the play, southpaw R.J. Swindle was summoned from the Nashville 'pen and induced an inning-ending flyout from Tommy Manzella to escape the frame with a one-run lead intact. Pinch-hitter Joe Koshansky provided Nashville with an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning when he belted a two-out solo home run to right-center off Express reliever Casey Daigle. The slugger's 16th roundtripper of the season and the Sounds' first pinch-hit tater of the year increased the visitors' lead to 3-1. Ryan Houston worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to secure the win and earn his third save of the year for Nashville. It was the Sounds' first save since June 16, a span of 16 contests. McLemore (2-4) took a hard-luck loss for Round Rock following a quality start. He allowed two runs on five hits while striking out five batters in his 6 2/3 frames of action. The Sounds return to Music City on Saturday to begin a nine-game homestand with the 6:00 PM opener of a four-game series against the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA-Dodgers) at historic Greer Stadium. Nashville right-hander Tim Dillard (8-3, 3.86) will make the start to face Albuquerque right-hander Charlie Haeger (8-5, 3.75) in a battle of the PCL's winningest pitchers this season. The first 2,000 fans through the turnstiles will receive a complimentary cooler, courtesy of CMT, and a special Independence Day fireworks show will light up the sky following the contest. Nashville Box Score Alcides Escobar in the leadoff spot, where he added a walk to his three doubles -- what a prospect, what an incredible prospect; the "Where's Angel?" game continues; Manny Parra better be building confidence fast, or better yet, building a proper mental game plan and his pitching IQ under Chris Bosio... Nashville Game Log

Corporan hitting the umpire with a ball in anger.

That's it for yours truly until late this evening -- everyone enjoy the start of the holiday weekend -- be safe (unless you're an opposing baserunner, then be out).

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 45 36 .556 - 25-17 20-19 L1 Iowa 41 39 .513 3.5 24-17 17-22 W1 Memphis 37 42 .468 7.0 22-16 15-26 L2 Omaha 32 48 .400 12.5 15-23 17-25 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 7 4 .636 - 4-2 3-2 W2 West Tenn 6 5 .545 1.0 3-2 3-3 W1 Chattanooga 5 6 .455 2.0 3-2 2-4 L1 Tennessee 5 6 .455 2.0 2-3 3-3 L2 Carolina 3 8 .273 4.0 1-5 2-3 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clearwater 7 1 .875 - 0-0 7-1 L1 Tampa 5 1 .833 1.0 2-1 3-0 W4 Dunedin 4 2 .667 2.0 4-2 0-0 W1 Brevard County 4 3 .571 2.5 2-2 2-1 L1 Daytona 4 4 .500 3.0 1-3 3-1 L3 Lakeland 2 5 .286 4.5 0-3 2-2 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 6 4 .600 - 4-1 2-3 L3 Helena 6 4 .600 - 3-2 3-2 W2 Missoula 6 4 .600 - 4-1 2-3 W3 Billings 2 8 .200 4.0 1-4 1-4 L2

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 Arizona League Standings Dominican Summer League Standings

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_03_nasaaa_rreaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_07_03_hunaax_tenaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2009_07_03_dbcafa_breafa_1 Wisconsin: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_07_03_cliafx_wisafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t433&gid=2009_07_03_helrok_bilrok_1&cid=433&t=g_box Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&gid=2009_07_03_dobrok_danrok_1&cid=3130&t=g_box

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF (Holiday Weekend Buffet!) Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Manny Parra at Round Rock (Astros), 6:40 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Nick Green at Tennessee (Cubs), 6:00 PM pre-game; 6:15 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: TBD (either RHP Alex Periard or RHP Mark Rogers) at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime Live (Opponent's) Audio Link Wisconsin: LHP Efrain Nieves at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime; RHP Cody Scarpetta will pitch in relief Live Audio Link Helena: RHP Nick Bucci at Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link Arizona Summer League: Idle -- find some air conditioning, guys Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: at the DSL Angels (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

Thanks to TheCrew07 for his audio work -- awesome addition.

Look for a Carlos Corporan suspension soon at a store near you -- Manatees catcher Carlos Corporan was ejected in the bottom of the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes. He tossed a ball that hit home plate umpire Joe Hannigan before departing the field. The kind of news only a "Link Report" will bring you http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

Final, Game Two: Charlotte (Rangers) 2, Brevard County 1 Walk-off loss... Doubleheader Summary from the Charlotte Site Stone Crabs, Manatees Split Twin Bill By Jonathan Gantt PORT CHARLOTTE - Fla. -- The Charlotte Stone Crabs split a twin bill with the Brevard County Manatees on Thursday night at Charlotte Sports Park with a 9-4 loss in the opener and a 2-1 walkoff victory in the nightcap. Game 1 saw 13 runs scored on 24 hits between the two teams in a seven-inning contest that lasted two hours and 36 minutes. Charlotte starter Jesse Darcy (2-7) had an outing he'd like to forget after giving up eight runs in just four innings of work for his seventh loss of the season. Henry Wrigley went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, and John Matulia went a perfect 3-for-3 to pace the Stone Crabs offense, but the early deficit was too much to overcome. Game 2 was quite the opposite as Austin Hinkle (Charlotte) and Evan Anundsen (Brevard County) only gave up one run on three hits each, but neither starter earned a decision for their respective teams. The only difference between the two pitchers was Hinkle took just 65 pitches to get through five innings while Anundsen needed 109 to get through six. The teams battled to a 1-1 tie until Emeel Salem knocked an infield single that scored Christian Lopez from third base in the bottom of the seventh inning for a walkoff victory for the Stone Crabs. Salem barely managed to leg out the groundball that went to second baseman Eric Farris but was called safe and subsequently mobbed by his teammates at first base. Matt Gorgen (4-0) picked up the win after pitching a pair of scoreless innings in relief of Hinkle. Brevard County Game Two Box Score As noted above, incredible groundball ratio for sinkerballer Evan Anundsen (13-to-1 here); Brandon Rapoza allowed four base hits in the fateful final inning, all but one of the "cheap" variety; the Zelous Wheeler at short / Brent Brewer at third base look is definitely something to watch going forward... Brevard County Game Two Game Log Charlotte's John Matulia steals second base during the first inning of the first game of the doubleheader against Brevard County at Charlotte Sports Park. Manatees second baseman Eric Farris takes the throw. HeraldTribune.com Photo by Dennis Maffezzoli http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=SH&Date=20090702&Category=ARTICLE&ArtNo=907029900&Ref=AR&Profile=2050

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Cole Gillespie

Final: Round Rock (Astros) 7, Nashville 5 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Joe Koshansky photo, text follows -- Last At-Bat Express Homer Sinks Sounds, 7-5 ROUND ROCK, Texas - Round Rock first baseman Mark Saccomanno belted a two-run, game-ending home run off Nashville reliever Wes Littleton in the bottom of the ninth inning to power the Express to a 7-5 victory over the Sounds on Thursday evening at The Dell Diamond. The loss marked the fifth time that Nashville (45-36) has suffered a last at-bat loss this season. Tommy Manzella opened the bottom of the ninth by drawing a walk from Littleton. Following a strikeout of Jason Smith, Saccomanno delivered his game-winning blast on a 1-1 offering from the right-hander, his ninth roundtripper of the season. The Express grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first against left-hander Sam Narron, who made a spot start for the Sounds in place of scheduled starter Chase Wright, a gametime scratch. PCL veteran John Gall drove in both runs with a double to left. After Nashville plated a run in the second on a Martin Maldonado groundout, Round Rock extended the lead to 4-1 in the third on RBI singles from Saccomanno and Chris Johnson. Narron allowed four runs on 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings of work in his spot start for the Sounds, taking a no-decision. The Sounds rallied to tie the contest at 4-4 in the middle innings with a single run in the fourth courtesy of a Joe Koshansky solo homer, his 15th blast of the year, and back-to-back RBI doubles from Jason Bourgeois and Alcides Escobar in the top of the fifth. Nashville reliever John Axford walked the bases loaded in the sixth and the Express took advantage by grabbing a 5-4 lead when Lou Santangelo scored on a Gall groundout. The Sounds answered in the next half-inning, knotting the contest at fives in the top of the seventh on Hernan Iribarren's RBI single to right off Round Rock reliever Samuel Gervacio. Ex-Sound Chad Paronto (2-1) was the beneficiary of Saccomanno's late heroics and picked up the win for Round Rock after working a scoreless top of the ninth. Littleton (0-4) took the loss for Nashville after surrendering the game-ending blast to conclude his 2 1/3 innings of action. The teams wrap up the series with a 7:05 PM finale on Friday night. Sounds left-hander Manny Parra (0-2, 4.08) takes the hill for the Sounds at The Dell Diamond for the first time since twirling a perfect game against the Express on June 25, 2007. Round Rock will counter with southpaw Mark McLemore (2-3, 4.31). Nashville Box Score Chase Wright intrigue -- knicked up, or rotation juggling to position starters for major league moves? Only Alcides Escobar's 6th error as a shortstop -- he quickly committed five others during the second base experiment; 22-year-old Martin Maldonado has started three of four games as we again ponder the day-to-day status of Angel Salome; Maldonado follows Carlos Corporan in that Puerto Rican catcher pipeline throughout baseball; Escobar tripled, doubled, walked, and sacrificed -- all due respect to Mat Gamel, but I personally bumped Alcides back to # 1 in my Power 50 rankings again after a one-time vote for Mat -- is there really any doubt? Nashville Game Log

Link while active, text follows: Garciaparra burns Smokies Huntsville rallies in seventh, 4-3 By Nick Gates, Knoxville News SEVIERVILLE - A year ago Michael Garciaparra said he played minor league baseball for seven years because he was having fun. Nothing has changed for the Seattle Mariners' first-round draft pick in 2000. Garciaparra was 3-for-5, including a game-winning two-run double off Tennessee reliever Alex Maestri in the seventh inning, and the Huntsville Stars came from behind to beat the Smokies 4-3 on Thursday night at Smokies Park. "I'm still here," the younger brother of major league star Nomar Garciaparra said. "If I wasn't having fun I wouldn't be here." Garciaparra, who signed a baseball scholarship with the University of Tennessee before signing with Seattle, started the season with the Class AAA Nashville Sounds. But he was returned to Huntsville by the Milwaukee Brewers on June 27. "They needed a player and I came down," the shortstop said. Maestri replaced Todd Blackford (1-3) with two on and two out. Garciaparra sliced a line drive to right-center. "It felt a little better," said Garciaparra, who came into the game hitting .167. "I tried to work the ball up the middle and I got some pitches to work with. I didn't want to over-swing." The Stars (7-4) moved two games up on the Smokies (5-6) in the second half and their latest addition could be be just what the Southern League North Division first-half champions need to win the second half. "I'm just trying to help the team," Garciaparra said. He redeemed himself for a throwing error that allowed Tennessee to go up 3-2 in the sixth. The error was farthest things from his mind when he dug in against Maestri. "If you're thinking about that error while you're at the plate and how you can make up for it - which I've done in the past - you're going to overswing," he said. Garciaparra doesn't feel his window of opportunity to reach the major leagues is closing. "As long as they give me a jersey, I'll keep playing," he said. "I'm only 26 years old. You'd be surprised at how many rookies over 30 years old (are in the big leagues). It's happening more and more. They still had the dream and the desire, and so do I." The pitching duel between Tennessee's Jay Jackson and Josh Butler came to an unexpected end after the Huntsville right-hander threw a first-pitch ball to Mark Reed in the third. The 6-foot-5 right-hander, who the Brewers obtained in a trade last year for former Smokies outfielder Gabe Gross (2001-02), appeared to tweak his back or pull a muscle. Huntsville manager Bob Miscik wasn't taking any chances with the second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2006. Butler came out after 25 pitches. Marquez Smith, Doug Deeds and Reed had two hits each for Tennessee. Smith doubled in a run. Tennessee had nine hits and is second in the league in hitting with a .263 average. But Only Mississippi has scored fewer runs.

Final: Helena 5, Billings (Reds) 4 Errors, wild pitches help Helena score twice in 9th inning to beat Billings, 5-4 By GREG RACHAC Of The Billings Gazette Staff For what it's worth, the Billings Mustangs played better than they did 24 hours earlier, but that was of little consolation Thursday night. Shortstop Shane Carlson and second baseman Mauricio Pimentel made crucial errors, closer Donnie Joseph unleashed a pair of wild pitches and Helena scored two runs without the benefit of a hit in a wild ninth inning. The outcome was a familiar one at Dehler Park: Brewers 5, Mustangs 4. The loss was Billings' eighth in its first 10 games of the season. The team made four more errors, stretching its total to eight in its last two. A night after walking 10 Helena batters, the Mustangs' pitching staff was far better, striking out 14 while walking just one. But the final score cast a pall over a silent clubhouse afterward. "It's been kind of tough for us to close out games of late," said Mustangs manager Julio Garcia. "In situations like that we need somebody to step up and make a play. Tonight we couldn't do it." Billings took the lead following a three-run sixth inning and a 43-minute rain delay, highlighted by catcher Humberto Sosa's two-RBI triple to deep center field. A shutdown performance in middle relief by hard-throwing Daniel Corcino - who didn't allow a hit and struck out five in two innings - gave the Mustangs a chance to end the game with Joseph, the Cincinnati Reds' third-round pick in the June draft. It didn't turn out as planned. "We're trying to win every day and play hard every inning, but we didn't have any luck in the ninth inning, starting with the throwing error," Sosa said. "But we have to keep going. We have to keep fighting and try to win tomorrow." Carlson's error didn't come without controversy. Helena's Chris Ellington led off the ninth with a grounder to short, but Carlson's throw was high and field umpire Derrick Brooks ruled it pulled first baseman Chris Richburg off the bag. The call drew questioning from Garcia, but stood. From there, Cutter Dykstra earned a one-out walk and Kyle Dhanani reached on a bungled throw by Pimentel that scored Ellington. Dykstra later scored the go-ahead run on Joseph's second wild pitch. The Mustangs then went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth against RHP Michael Fiers. Sosa finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Mustangs' offense. Third baseman Frank Pfister scored two runs. Though he was in line to be a hard-luck loser, Jonathan Pokorny got the win for Helena. Despite striking out seven and allowing no earned runs, a two-out error set the stage for the Mustangs' three-run sixth. "Today's game was a whole lot better," Garcia said. "I was obviously pleased by the better effort. "But we need to do a little bit more to finish out on top." NOTES: The Mustangs halted their scoreless innings streak at 14 on Sosa's RBI double in the fifth. ... Ellington hit a solo homer off Mustangs reliever Ezequiel Infante in the sixth. It was the first run allowed by Infante in 20 appearances dating back to last season. … Brewers third baseman Edgar Trejo was ejected by home plate umpire Matt McCoy for arguing after striking out looking in the seventh. Helena Box Score Brewer pitchers only walk one -- always a plus with the rookie ball kids; H-Crew 5-for-5 in SB attempts, now an amazing 28-of-31 on the season; Helena batters only reached base six times outside of Mustang errors... Helena Game Log Photos by PAUL RUHTER/Billings Gazette Staff Mike Brownstein of Helena steals second base during the first inning as a ball gets past Mauricio Pimentel. Brownstein also advanced to third base on the play and later scored the Brewers' first run of the game. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/billingsgazette.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/b/72/24e/b7224e90-679b-11de-a41f-001cc4c03286.image.jpg?_dc=1246602937

Link while active, text follows: Timber Rattlers hitters come through on two-strike counts to edge LumberKings By Ryan Wilson Post-Crescent staff writer GRAND CHUTE - Two strikes with two outs. For batters, that equates to living on the edge. If that's the case, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers enjoyed the edge Thursday night in front of 2,674 fans at Fox Cities Stadium. Wisconsin turned three two-strike counts in their favor - two of those run-producing singles with two outs in the fourth inning - to defeat Clinton 4-3 in a Midwest League game. "We've been working on (hitting with two strikes) in the cage," said Michael Vass, who picked up an RBI with a single up the middle on a full count in the fourth. "Good things happen when you put the ball in play. They could throw the ball away or you can just put pressure on the defense. (Clinton pitcher Bobby LaFromboise) had me three-two, and the last thing I wanted to do there was strike out." Batting with two strikes takes a fighter's mentality, and players often dig in, choke up on the bat, and stand closer to the plate to take away the pitcher's ability to throw the outside strike. So what method worked for Wisconsin (5-2 second half, 39-38 overall) on Thursday night? "Everybody has their own way to go," said Brock Kjeldgaard, who had two RBI with two-strike counts, one a solo home run that banged off the scoreboard above the video screen for the eventual game-winning run. "I like to get a little wider with my stance. I'm looking fastball and still trying to adjust to anything else because if you're looking for something else, you can't pick up the fastball." Wisconsin trailed Clinton 2-0 into the bottom of the fourth when Brett Lawrie beat out a throw with one out. Corey Kemp's double off the left field wall scored Lawrie and the LumberKings' lead was cut to 2-1. After Kemp moved to third on a fly out to right field, Kjeldgaard connected on a two-strike pitch down the third base line for a double to score Kemp and tie the game 2-2. Vass then collected his full-count hit up the middle to score Kjeldgaard and the Rattlers led 3-2. Kjeldgaard added his long home run with one out in the sixth to give Wisconsin a two-run advantage. "I ran hard out of the box, because you never really know if it's gone or not," said Kjeldgaard of his blast in the sixth. "Just two strikes, the pitch was in a bit and I got my hands down and put a good swing on it." Wisconsin pitching kept the LumberKings off the board except for the third and eighth innings. In the third, Clinton used an error, a sacrifice bunt, and two ground-ball hits to plate two runs. The LumberKings' run in the eighth came when Denny Almonte scored from third on a double play. Clinton stranded the tying run at second base in both the eighth and ninth innings. Rattlers starter Dan Merklinger (2-2) went two outs into the seventh inning, giving up eight hits and two earned runs in his time on the mound. Brandon Ritchie and Nick Tyson came on in relief, with Tyson picking up his third save of the season. Bobby LaFromboise (5-3) took the loss for Clinton.

Final: Wisconsin 4, Clinton (Mariners) 3 Wisconsin Site Game Summary Wisconsin wins another close one By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have won five games in the second half. Four of those wins -- including Thursday's 4-3 win over division rival Clinton -- have been by a single run. Brock Kjeldgaard doubled, homered, and drove in a pair of runs for the Rattlers. Dan Merklinger pitched 6-2/3 solid innings for the win and Nick Tyson got the final four outs for the save. The LumberKings (43-34 overall, 3-4 second half) scored first. Terry Serrano drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Daniel Carroll's bunt single. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners up a base. Back-to-back RBI singles by Scott Savastano and Denny Almonte put the LumberKings up 2-0. Wisconsin (39-38, 5-2) rallied in the fourth and Brett Lawrie started it. The Rattlers second baseman beat out a grounder to short for a one-out single. Corey Kemp was next and he lined a double of the wall in left to knock in Lawrie with the first Rattlers run. One out later, Kjeldgaard doubled on a 1-2 pitch to send Kemp home with the tying run. Michael Vass put the Rattlers in front with an RBI single to center. Kjeldgaard struck again in the bottom of the sixth inning with a long homer to left-center. The slugger's twelfth homer of the season came with one out and put the Rattlers in front 4-2. The home run provided the Rattlers with an insurance run they would need. Merklinger needed a little help to get out of the seventh inning. The Rattlers starting pitcher struck out two in the frame, but had walked one and allowed a two-out single. Brandon Ritchie relieved Merklinger and got Savastano to fly out to left to end the inning. In the eighth the LumberKings got a leadoff walk, a stolen base and a single to put runners on first and third. Ritchie got former Brewer farmhand Steve Moss to ground into a 6-4-3 double play that let the runner from third score. He would leave after a two-out walk and Tyson would enter. The right-hander allowed a single to the first batter he faced, but got a groundout to end the inning with the Rattlers still leading 4-3. Tyson got the first two outs of the ninth inning, but allowed a walk and a single to put the tying and lead runs on base. Tyson picked up his third save of the season by getting Jake Shaffer to flyout to right to end the game. Wisconsin's record in games decided by one run in 2009 improves to 12-7. The final game of the four game series is Friday night. Efrain Nieves (2-4, 5.63) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Clinton will send Alfredo Venegas (2-3, 3.69) to the mound. Game time on Friday night is 7:05 PM. There will be an appearance by Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man on Friday night. He will be signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans during the North Shore Bank Family Night. Children 12 and under eat free before the game. Children 14 and under may run the bases after the scheduled post-game fireworks display. Friday is also Military Appreciation Night at Time Warner Cable Field. Active duty or retired military personnel will receive a free reserved seat ticket by showing a military ID at the box office. Wisconsin Box Score Dan Merklinger's peripherals are similar to those of his disappointing 2008 season, but the Seton Hall lefty has lowered his ERA significantly; four Clinton SB's in as many attempts, but catcher Corey Kemp picks a man off 3rd base... Wisconsin Game Log

Final: Arizona Brewers 3, Arizona Rangers 1 Arizona Box Score Lorenzo Cain continues his rehab; zero earned runs allowed for the four Brewer pitchers -- Pedro Lambertus gets the save in his first post-suspension appearance; non-drafted free agent RHP Mitch Miller, who will be 24 years old in November, does exactly what a "kid" that age has to do -- impress to eventually make up for lost time and bump levels, induced two GIDP's and pitched out of a 3rd inning jam; two more RHP's, Jose Oviedo and Maverick Lasker, tossed the middle innings -- be sure to scan Oviedo's two Houdini-like frames in the log; with Mike Brownstein now in Helena, just-turned 22-year-old first baseman Sean Halton wears the crown of most-advanced Maryvale hitter; third baseman Wayne Dedrick finding the baked infields tough this summer; two Brewers tripled... Arizona Game Log Max Walla out at home in the 6th; Franklin Romero stayed in a pickle long enough to score a 7th inning run...

Swear to goodness, within ten seconds of tuning in to the Sounds, Wes Littleton surrenders a walk-off bomb. Ten seconds!

Final: DSL Red Sox 13, DSL Brewers / Orioles 10 DSL Brewers / Orioles Box Score Brewers down 9-0 after an inning and a half, so a respectable effort after that; big lefty Jose Ramos and 19-year-old RHP Edwin Linares combined to throw the final four innings, and the game was actually tied 10-10 to the 9th when the Red Sox touched Linares for three runs; SS Andres Martinez left the game after just one at-bat -- it was just after the 9-0 deficit unfolded, perhaps an opportunity for rest; 2B Joan Abreu the beneficiary of that playing time -- double, single, walk; catcher Jhonatan Javier managed to drive in four runs on a 1-for-6 night; CF Juan Barrini singled, walked, and scored twice; OF Ronny Puello still MIA, as is RHP Francisco Rivero (last pitched June 8th)... DSL Brewers / Orioles Game Log

Final: Huntsville 4, Tennessee (Cubs) 3 Huntsville Site Game Summary Stars Win Another Close Game Over Smokies Huntsville Relievers Outstanding in Comeback Victory By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Michael Garciaparra doubled home the the tying and winning runs in the seventh inning and the bullpen logged seven innings to carry Huntsville past Tennessee 4-3 Thursday night in the fifth of a six-game set at Smokies Park. The Stars improved to 7-4 in the second half and pushed their lead in the North Division to two games over the Smokies, who fell to 5-6 in the second half and 37-44 overall. The Stars are now 45-35 overall with 23 of their wins decided by either one or two runs. Stars' starter Josh Butler threw two scoreless innings and was lifted with an injury after his first pitch to Mark Reed in the third inning was taken for ball one. Mike McClendon took over and gave up a single to Reed, who moved to second base on a Jay Jackson sacrifice bunt, to third on a passed ball and scored the game's first run when Jim Adduci bounced into a forceout at second base. Marquez Smith followed with a double to plate Adduci to push the home team's lead to 2-0. Butler allowed one hit and struck out one after throwing 25 pitches. Vinny Rottino singled with one out in the fourth, moved to second base on a Garciaparra base hit and scored on a Chuck Caufield single that cut the lead to 2-1. Jackson was lifted after four frames and 76 pitches, allowing four hits, walking two and fanning five. In the bottom half of the inning, Tyler Colvin singled with one out, moved to second base on a Reed single and was thrown out at the plate for the final out by Caufield on a Jackson single to left field. J.R. Hopf's bases loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth off of Todd Blackford tied the game at two before the Smokies regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning on a Colvin fielder's choice grounder and errant throw back to first base by Garciaparra that allowed Doug Deeds to score. Juan Sandoval took over for McClendon in the sixth and was charged with the run before he threw a perfect seventh inning to grab his first win since May 29 at Tennessee. McClendon had thrown three innings, giving up two runs on five hits, behind Butler. Kevin Melillo doubled with two outs in the seventh before a walk to Rottino chased Blackford from the game. Alex Maestri took over and gave up the game-deciding hit to Garciaparra, who drove a 1-0 offering into the alley in right-center field for his first extra-base hit since joining the team. Blackford was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on four hits. Casey Baron took over for Sandoval and threw a scoreless eighth inning and was lifted after getting Colvin to fly out to begin the ninth. Rob Wooten came on to strike out Tony Thomas and pinch-hitter Blake Lalli to end the game and record his second save of the series. The four Huntsville relievers allowed three runs on eight hits, walked one and fanned three. The series concludes Friday night with right-hander Nick Green starting for the Stars against Tennessee right-hander Marcos Mateo. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score Trying to picture Jonathan Lucroy in Milwaukee with nine passed balls on July 2nd -- it would be a major story; 25 RBI for Chuck Caufield in only 151 AB's -- it's apparent he's graduated from "Chuckie"; oblique perhaps for Josh Butler? Check that Chinese calendar -- Year of the Oblique? Rob Wooten -- so money... Huntsville Game Log

Final, Game One: Brevard County 9, Charlotte (Rays) 4 Brevard County Game One Box Score 16 hits and four walks for Manatee batters in the seven-inning affair; Zelous Wheeler with a double, two singles, sacrifice fly; Steffan Wilson and Caleb Gindl each with three hits, including a double; Eric Farris reached base three times; Logan Schafer and Sergio Miranda each reached base twice, Miranda drove in three runs... Brevard County Game One Game Log Fun read, as you might imagine; Caros Corporan replaced for the final half-inning after running the bases in the top half -- probably not a concern...

Guilder Rodriguez of the Frisco RoughRiders broke his career-long homerless streak -- spanning nine seasons and 1,729 at-bats -- by going yard in late May against Northwest Arkansas.

Guilder Rodriguez of the Frisco RoughRiders broke his career-long homerless streak -- spanning nine seasons and 1,729 at-bats -- by going yard in late May against Northwest Arkansas.