Jim Goulart

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Link while active, text follows: 'Gonzo' uses vast baseball experience to lead Brewers By JASON SCOTT - Helena Independent Record Rene Gonzales knows a thing or two about baseball. He's a former major leaguer who started playing pro ball in 1982. He played for 15 years at the highest level and for eight teams. Now he's in his second year as manager of the Helena Brewers. He also coaches in the Arizona League during extended spring training. "Gonzo," as he is called around the ballpark, is a baseball guy, through and through. Last year, in his "rookie" season in Helena, Gonzales coached the Brewers to a 35-41 record to place sixth in the Pioneer League. It's a statistic he is hoping to improve, starting Tuesday, when the Brewers host the Missoula Osprey in the season opener. The Brewers feel that this season, they'll be more prepared when things kick off. They showed up early for a minicamp that will culminate this weekend in a three-game scrimmage. "We got off to a slow start last year," Gonzales said. "The minicamp should make the difference. I tell you we're going to be better coming out." Gonzo said that sometimes a coach has to work on his feet as the short season approaches. Sometimes teams don't get a chance to gel before opening day, making a fast start tough. "You really don't know your team," Gonzales said. "Everyone gets there and the season starts three days later. Here we have seven, eight days to see what we have. "Guys are hanging out with each other, playing on their home field, and living with each other at the hotel. That will help big-time." Gonzales, who hails from southern Califonia and played for Cal-State Los Angeles, said he feels his team should be tough to beat this year, highlighting the players' size and athleticism. "I like what I see, I like our size. We're pretty big this year," he said, adding that his team's conditioning isn't a question at all. "They've been playing all year. If anything, you've got guys playing more than they ever have in their career. It's new territory." That's for certain. The players drafted out of college are, by definition, the best on their teams. That means they've gotten the most innings throughout the collegiate season, innings that are hard work. Now they come to the pros where they'll be expected to play at that same high level every day. He said that a 4-for-4 performance one day doesn't mean a thing the next. "It's a grind. It's not college life anymore," Gonzales said. "They're getting paid to play baseball. They're professionals. It's perform or go home. I think once they get awakened to that idea, they'll be OK. But you have to show up every day." Gonzales is used to that kind of hard work. He played a large chunk of his career in the middle infield. While in Baltimore, he was part of a big shortstop-second base combo, one that included Gonzo and the Iron Man himself, Cal Ripken Jr. The duo together measured 12-feet, 7-inches and 425 pounds. That's a formidable double-play pair. "They made a big deal of that when we played together," Gonzales said of his and Ripken's size. "They said, 'That's the biggest middle infield ever.' " Now Gonzales looks to continue bringing knowledge to young pro ballplayers who are on their way up the minor league ladder. It means working on an individual level with each player as well as the team as a whole. "I am used to it. I did it my whole career," Gonzales said of the fine line he walks. He added that his workdays get long during the year. "I come in between noon and 1 and don't leave 'til 11 or midnight. But the four or five hours out on the field are the best part." The next few days will help Gonzo finalize his starting lineups and rotations. The intra-squad games might give some insight into who is ready for game time. "I have a lineup," he said. "It's in pencil, but I got a feel for what I see. Scouting reports help me out big-time. Guys work out practice differently than they play. I'll figure that out right away, as the season gets going." The scrimmage tonight starts at 6:00 PM. Players will be at Kindrick Legion Field prior to the game for a barbeque with their host families. The intra-squad game is open to the public. Helena Brewers manager Rene Gonzales hits ground balls to infielders during minicamp Tuesday afternoon at Kindrick Legion Field. (Lisa Kunkel Independent Record) http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2009/06/20/sports/local/55spl_090620_gonzo.jpg

In case you had not clikcked the Midwest League standings link and were wondering, Chris Mehring let us know -- IT'S OVER…AT LEAST FOR THIS HALF: The Rattlers were eliminated from first half playoff contention on Wednesday night. There are three games left in the first half. By winning all three the Rattlers would get a winning record in a half for the first time since 2005. Plenty more from Chris with the week that was here.

RATTLERS AND COUGARS RAINED OUT GENEVA, IL - Friday's scheduled Midwest League between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Kane County Cougars at Elfstrom Stadium was rained out. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday. Game one, scheduled for seven innings, will start at 4:30 PM. Game two, also scheduled for seven innings, will follow the conclusion of game one by 30 minutes. Wisconsin has Alex Periard (0-0, 6.00) scheduled to pitch the first game and Evan Frederickson (3-3, 5.16) to start game two. Kane County has slated Matt Fitts (2-5, 4.86) as the starting pitcher in game one. Anthony Capra (1-4, 4.04) is scheduled to star the nightcap for the Cougars.

From Huntsville's Buck Rogers: If the Stars and Carolina Mudcats end up tied for the lead we will settle it right here at The Joe on Monday, July 21st when the Mudcats come to play. It would be winner-take-all just like the West Tenn game last season. Two years in a row would be something right out of The Twilight Zone.

Final: DSL Red Sox 4, DSL Brewers / Orioles 3 DSL Brewers / Orioles Box Score Walk-off loss for RHP Edwin Linares on an unearned run -- in the 8th inning, Linares lost the save when he surrendered his first earned run of the season; lefty Jose Ramos didn't retire any of the three batters he faced in the 7th as the Brewers / Orioles lost a 3-0 lead after six innings; 17-year-old SS Andres Martinez struck out swinging in the top of the 1st, and then was pulled before taking the field in the 2nd; 21-year-old catcher Jhonatan Javier continues to hit well, .321 with an .837 OPS, two hits with a triple here; 16-year-old OF Luis Chirinos 3-for-4 as the DH; LF Juan Barrini came in late, was HBP and stole a base... DSL Brewers / Orioles Game Log

Final, Game One: Birmingham (White Sox) 4, Huntsville 2, nine innings (scheduled for seven) Final, Game Two: Birmingham 11, Huntsville 0 Huntsville Site Game Summary Two Games, Two Days to Decide Division Winner Barons Sweep Twin Bill From Stars By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Matt Zaleski spun five scoreless innings and Birmingham broke open a close game with nine late runs in an 11-0 victory in the nightcap to complete a doubleheader sweep of Huntsville Friday night at Regions Park. The Stars have matched a season-high with five straight losses to fall to 37-30 and into a first place tie in the North Division with Carolina, which lost in the bottom of the ninth at Tennessee, while the Barons improved to 47-20, the most wins for any team in organized professional baseball. Christian Marrero reached in the second inning on a fielder's choice and advanced to third base on a single by Javier Colina, who moved to second base when Drew Anderson overran the ball in left field. Lee Cruz flied out to Anderson, who sent a throw to the plate that hit a sliding Marrerro, allowing him to score. Pitcher Josh Wahpepah picked up the loose ball and threw home to Vinny Rottino, who appeared to have tagged out a sliding Colina, who was ruled to have moved safely around the tag to give the home side a 2-0 lead. Zaleski got J.R. Hopf to pop out with the bases loaded to end the first inning and got Taylor Green to ground out with runners at the corners to end the fifth inning. He allowed four hits, walked three, hit a batter and fanned three to pick up the win to improve to 4-0. Matt Long worked around two hits to toss a scoreless sixth inning and Ryan Rote gave up two hits and issued a walk but left the bases loaded in seventh, as the Stars stranded 11 runners in being blanked for a third time this season. Christian Marrero's three-run triple off of Derrick Ellison, who surrendered five runs without recording an out, was the big blow in a nine-run sixth inning, the most runs the Stars have allowed in any single frame this season. Omar Aguilar gave up four runs on five hits while recording two outs before Juan Sandoval came on to record the final out in the Barons' biggest scoring inning of the season. Huntsville Game Two Box Score What can you say about the 40-man roster's Omar Aguilar at this point? If your pitchers are going to get rocked, you may as well get six errors out of the way and get ready for weekend action; because third catcher J.R. Hopf was already the second game designated hitter, Vinny Rottino's early ejection forced Jonathan Lucroy back behind the plate in the Birmhingham heat and humidity after an 11-inning opener -- thanks, Vinny, yikes... Huntsville Game Two Game Log Adam Stern started the opener with a triple, his first hit in 15 at-bats, and scored when Shane Justis followed with a double. Jonathan Lucroy singled in Justis to give the visitors a 2-0 lead three batters into the game. Barons' starter John Ely then settled down by retiring the next 18 batters in succession before issuing a leadoff walk to Anderson in the seventh that was quickly erased when Green grounded into a double play. Ely went seven frames, giving up three hits, walking one and fanning six. Stefan Gartrell's two-run home run in the fifth inning, his 11th, tied the game at two. It came two batters after Dayan Viciedo had reached when Green and Rottino collided trying to make the catch on an infield pop up. Stars' starter David Welch then gave up two singles before retiring Robbie Hudson and John Shelby to end the inning. Welch went six innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits, while fanning three. John Lujan earned the win, his first, with two scoreless hitless innings, as Huntsville did not collect a hit after the first inning. Casey Baron took over for Welch and tossed a scoreless seventh inning and then struck out Tyler Flowers with two on to end the eighth inning. He walked David Cook with one out in the ninth before Gartrell drove a 3-2 offering over the wall in straightaway center field to give the Barons their second straight walk-off win and seventh of the season. It was the second home run allowed by Baron this season and the first since May 14. The series continues Saturday night with Huntsville southpaw Bobby Bramhall taking the hill against Barons' right-hander Daniel Hudson. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Game One Box Score Bobby Bramhall has pitched better as of late, but this AA White Sox club is just ridiculous -- it's going to be tough Saturday night... Huntsville Game One Game Log

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Reliever Wes Littleton Final: Nashville 14, Oklahoma City (Rangers) 3 Link for Adam Heether photo, text follows -- Sounds Pound RedHawks, 14-3 OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Nashville Sounds put on an offensive show in a decisive 14-3 victory over the Oklahoma City RedHawks on Friday night at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. The Sounds (41-28) had two five-run innings in the contest while recording a season-best 19 hits and equaling a season high with 14 runs scored. Every Sound reached by a base hit, and six different players had multi-hit games, paced by three-hit games by near cycles by Brendan Katin, Angel Salome, and Adam Heether. Katin and Salome were home runs shy of the cycle, while Heether needed a triple. Nashville took a five-run lead in the top of the first inning off Oklahoma City starter Elizardo Ramirez. Nine batters went to the plate in an inning that featured a five hits, including a team cycle, keyed by a two-run home run by Heether. The Sounds added runs in the second, fourth, and two in the fifth to build a 9-0 lead. The RedHawks plated their first run in the sixth inning when Nate Gold drove in Joaquin Arias with a base hit. Nashville scored five in the eighth off Oklahoma City reliever Luis Mendoza. Six of the first seven batters in the inning reached on base hits. The RedHawks closed out the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Sounds starter Chris Cody (2-1) allowed two runs over eight innings and earned the win in his third Triple-A outing, working his third straight quality start for Nashville. Ramirez (3-6) took the loss after allowing the first nine runs of the game in his four innings of action for Oklahoma City. The contest also featured four hit batters and a warning to both dugouts by home plate umpire Jeff Macias. Oklahoma City and Nashville will square off in the third game of the series at 7:05 PM on Saturday night at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. Right-hander Mike Burns (7-2, 2.69) will toe the rubber for the Sounds to face RedHawks right-hander Bryan Corey (3-2, 4.75). Nashville Box Score This is a huge start for Mike Burns Saturday night -- but isn't everybody else thinking that southpaw Chris Cody is really planting seeds in the minds of the brass? Alcides Escobar reached four times (two HBP's); incredible amount of crooked numbers for you to digest offensively -- enjoy... Nashville Game Log

Please keep in mind that this Helena roster could still be in a state of flux prior to Tuesday's Helena opener and Sunday's Maryvale opener. We won't even attempt to notify you about an official "Maryvale" roster until Monday, because that's when MiLB.com will update its AZL Brewer roster page (we believe). Our Brewerfan Player Index won't include all updates until after next Tuesday as well. But the good folks in Helena passed this roster as of June 18th along to us, and "Voice of the Helena Brewers" Steve Wendt (great to have Steve back for another season), also informs us that Shawn Zarraga has been working out as a catcher, not a first baseman as the Helena newspaper press reported, so we'll see how that develops. For the links below, 2009 draftees will be linked to their official post in our draft forum, and others will be linked to their MiLB.com Player Page, which includes 2008 stats -- Pitchers (14) Arnett, Eric Bucci, Nick (Brief suspension for an HBP at Huntsville is apparently complete, Bucci should be officially transferred off the Stars' roster soon) Bueno, Kristian Burgos, Hiram Currie, Robert Herrera-Rusova (Rusova), Ivan -- former Pirates farmhand Jeffers, Ben Krestalude, Damon -- brief time with Brevard complete Lamontagne, Andre Odorizzi, Jake Pokorny, Jonathan Robinson, Chad Rosario, Adrian Salmon, Rico Catchers (3) Alfonso, Derrick Garfield, Cameron Zarraga, Shawn Infielders (6) Dhanani, Kyle Dykstra, Cutter Fatse, Peter Paciorek, Joey Prince, Josh Trejo, Edgar Outfielders (4) Arias, Hitaniel Ellington, Chris Krieger, Scott McPhearson, Derrick Now there are probably some members of the organization that you may have questions about, players that you'd expect to be in Helena vs. Maryvale, that you don't see listed here. Let's not speculate on any releases or such until things shake out next week. Heck, you might even see players listed above shifted back to Arizona. We'll find out for you. Players could be held back by injury as well. Thanks.

Our regulars (and newcomers always welcome) can continue with their nightly updates before the full game summaries roll along, that's working out great. Thanks to a certain former-Brewer-now-Brave broadcaster who appreciated our efforts here, my daughter and I will be taking in Braves-Sox at Fenway tonight. Catch you during the overnight, and thanks, JP. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 40 28 .588 - 23-15 17-13 L1 Iowa 36 32 .529 4.0 19-14 17-18 W3 Memphis 31 36 .463 8.5 19-15 12-21 L3 Omaha 26 41 .388 13.5 11-21 15-20 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 37 28 .569 - 14-16 23-12 L3 Carolina 37 29 .561 0.5 21-14 16-15 W1 Tennessee 29 38 .433 9.0 16-19 13-19 L1 Chattanooga 28 38 .424 9.5 15-17 13-21 W3 West Tenn 26 41 .388 12.0 13-19 13-22 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 40 21 .656 - 15-11 25-10 L3 Daytona 31 31 .500 9.5 16-13 15-18 L2 Clearwater 31 32 .492 10.0 15-16 16-16 W1 Dunedin 30 34 .469 11.5 12-21 18-13 L1 Lakeland 27 33 .450 12.5 15-17 12-16 W1 Tampa 28 36 .438 13.5 15-21 13-15 L5

Midwest League Standings Dominican Summer League Standings

Be sure to check out Chris Mehring's blog posts, with specific Timber Rattler pre-game updates for tonight available shortly before gametime.

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. *** AAA All-Star voting is here with your MiLB.com online account.

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_06_19_nasaaa_orhaaa_1 Huntsville Game One: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_06_19_hunaax_biraax_1 Huntsville Game Two: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_06_19_hunaax_biraax_2 Wisconsin: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_06_19_wisafx_kccafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572 Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&gid=2009_06_19_dobrok_drsrok_1&cid=3130&t=g_box

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Link here for the live audio choices - audio will no longer archive. For this Brevard County series, you can pick up the Hammerheads' audio via this link. Nashville: LHP Chris Cody at Oklahoma City (Rangers), 6:40 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Huntsville: LHP David Welch and LHP Josh Wahpepah in a doubleheader at Birmingham (White Sox), 4:45 PM pre-game; 5:00 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Brevard County: Idle until Monday; FSL All-Star Game Saturday night, which we'll cover in the Manatees' own thread this weekend Wisconsin: LHP Evan Frederickson at Kane County (Athletics), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime; RHP Wily Peralta will back Frederickson up Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: at the DSL Red Sox (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...

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Some pronunciation fun from the Manatees, may surprise you: Evan AN-und-son (I always thought "a-NUND-sen" in my head) Rafael you-BEAR-es (and I always read it as "lou-BEAR-es") Lucas LOOT-gey (OK, I think I read that one correctly before) Jeremy JEFF-furs (Now I know I've mentioned this one before, and that's how the family pronounces "Jeffress". When (crossing fingers) Jeremy sees the big show, that will be botched by all far and wide.

Nice for the locals to see the 'Tees -- we've asked if these might be tied into MiLB.TV at all, which would provide folks an opportunity to pay for a live or archived feed, but unless we mention it again, plan on that not being the case.

Bright House Sports Network to Broadcast Four Manatees' Games (Viera, FL) Bright House Sports Network is teaming up with the FSL North first half champion Brevard County Manatees to broadcast four games at Space Coast Stadium. The following games are scheduled to be broadcast: Saturday, June 27 - Palm Beach Cardinals at Brevard County Manatees, 7:00pm Saturday, July 11 - Lakeland Flying Tigers at Brevard County Manatees, 7:00pm Thursday, July 23 - St. Lucie Mets at Brevard County Manatees, 7:00pm Thursday, August 13 - Dunedin Blue Jays at Brevard County Manatees, 7:00pm "Bright House Sports Network is excited about partnering with the Brevard County Manatees on a broadcast schedule this summer," said Paul Kosuth, station manager for Bright House Sports Network. "We are enthusiastic about bringing these Florida State League games to our viewers and exposing them to the Manatees' competitive play." Manatees' general manager Kyle Smith is enthusiastic about the opportunity, adding, "We are looking forward to bringing one of the premiere teams in baseball to the television sets of Central Florida." The Manatees enter the All-Star break with the best record in the Florida State League, and the fourth best record in all of baseball, at 40-21. They are sending a league-high ten players to the FSL All-Star Game, although two have been promoted and will not participate. Be sure to tune in to Bright House Sports Network next Saturday, June 27, to catch the Manatees in action! For more information, please contact: Tyler L. Stover Director of Media Relations Brevard County Manatees

Infielder Chris Woodward called up to help out in Seattle. I know -- exciting, but we strive for accuracy for you...

Infielder Chris Woodward called up to help out in Seattle. I know -- exciting, but we strive for accuracy for you...

Final: DSL Dodgers 13, DSL Brewers / Orioles 0 DSL Brewers / Orioles Box Score Will it ever happen for 20-year-old RHP Rolando Pascual, the Brewers' most expensive Latin signing ever? Doesn't seem so; 17-year-old RHP Eliezer Montano then struggled late; SS Andres Martinez and DH Luis Chirinos each 1-for-4; catcher Jhonatan Javier (two passed balls, six on the young season) played half the game; LF Ronny Puello (.345) 0-for-3... DSL Brewers / Orioles Game Log

Final: Wisconsin 6, Kane County (Athletics) 1 Wisconsin Site Game Summary Watten gets a 'W' By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GENEVA, IL -- Timber Rattler starting pitcher Trey Watten had made three starts in June before Thursday's win against the Kane County Cougars at Elfstrom Stadium. Despite allowing just one run in those three previous starts, Watten had only three no decisions to show for his effort. Steve Braun and Juan Sanchez came through with big hits and Watten continued his stellar month in a 6-1 win over the Cougars. The Rattlers (33-34) scored three times in the top of the fourth inning off Kenny Smalley, who was the Midwest League leader in ERA coming into the game. Smalley walked two of the first three batters he faced in the inning. Then, Braun doubled into the right field corner for an RBI and a 1-0 lead. Sanchez followed with an RBI single. Michael Marseco drove in the final run of the inning with a fielder's choice. Wisconsin added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning. Brock Kjeldgaard doubled to drive in the first run of the inning. Later in the frame, Braun singled in another run for a 5-0 lead. Watten gave up an RBI double to Petey Paramore in the bottom of the sixth inning, but he finished off the inning with the Rattlers still up 5-1. Watten was done after the sixth inning. He had scattered seven hits and three walks over six innings to put himself in position for his third win of the season. Thursday's start was Watten's fourth in the month of June. He is 1-0 and in 23 innings this month Watten has allowed two runs for an ERA of 0.78. The Rattlers got the five run cushion back in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Sanchez. Nick Tyson took over for Watten in the bottom of the seventh inning and pitched three scoreless innings for his second save of the year. Tyson has not allowed a run in 13 innings with the Timber Rattlers this season. He finished the game by getting the Cougars to hit into their fourth double play of the night. The Cougars fell into a first place tie with the Cedar Rapids Kernels with their loss and a Cedar Rapids win over Clinton on Thursday. Both the Cougars and Kernels are 39-28 with three games left to play. Clinton is still in the hunt for a playoff spot as they are 38-29, one game behind both Kane County and Cedar Rapids. Game two of the series is set for Friday night. Evan Frederickson (3-3, 5.16) will get the start for the Rattlers. Matt Fitts (2-5, 4.86) is set to start for the Cougars. Game time is 6:30 PM. Wisconsin Box Score Rattler middle infield of Steve Braun and Michael Marseco turned four double plays, impressive; big Brock Kjeldgaard rumbled for his 7th stolen base in 12 attempts; five doubles among the nine Wisconsin hits; Rattlers stranded 13; wow, has Trey Watten turned the corner; opponents hitting .152 with only one walk (WHIP 0.62!) in Nick Tyson's 13 scoreless innings... Wisconsin Game Log

David Weiser's starsboxscore.com Slip-sliding away? 4-3 lead gone in 9th after Melillo error... Lead now ½ game It happened last year and it's coming so close to happening again....... The Stars, with a double-header coming up Friday, and two weekend games ahead, have just a half-game lead to defend before a first-half champion in the Northern Division can be declared. Last year, the Stars had a five-game lead after a 3-2 win over the Tennessee Smokies on May 14. They came home to play Carolina and proceeded to lose 11 of their next 16 games. Their five-game lead turned to a game-lead in less than a week. Ten days after they came home to play the Mudcats, they lost their lead, and although they would get it back, their lead up to the final series of the first half was never more than a game. They lost three of five to Jacksonville, forcing a one-game playoff against the Diamond Jaxx, which was a lethargic 5-1 loss. Fast forward to the present. A three-and-½ game lead has melted away and the Stars, in the middle of an important six-game series with the 45-20 Western Champs, the Birmingham Barons, may be a day away from losing first place, a spot they've held since May 21, at the wrong time....... Friday, David Welch and Josh Wahpepah will try and hold that lead while Carolina, 11-5 so far this month, sends Dallas Buck (2-1, 3.56) against Tennessee's Hung Wen-Chen (3-5, 6.19). Chen has not had a great month. He's given up 16 runs on 26 hits in 12 1/3 innings. So it seems incumbent on our pair to sweep, if they possibly can, a very tough team....... Welch is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in two June starts. Wahpepah (1-0, 2.94) will be making his second start. He blanked Tennessee over five innings in his one start on May 29, although he did not get the decision. The Stars were behind for most of this game, 3-0. Donovan Hand, who had given up just two home runs in his previous 49 innings, gave up that many in his 5 2/3 inning start. Christian Marrero hit the very first Double-A pitch he saw in the 2nd inning to give the Barons a 2-0 lead. Then Tyler Flowers, the Braves' #12 minor league prospect a year ago, hit his 10th home run of the season in the 3rd...... Lucas Harrell, who has been tough against the Stars, blanked the Stars on two singles through six innings. Shane Justis led off the 4th with a single, stole second and moved to third on a one-out single by Drew Anderson, but Vinny Rottino hit into a double play to finish the threat....... But the Stars who have won a couple of games this year after being behind after seven innings, rallied in the 7th. Jonathan Lucroy, hitting .356 in his last 13 games, led off with a single off the glove of right fielder Stefan Gartrell. Anderson bounced a grounder to 3rd baseman Viciedo, but his throw hit a sliding Lucroy in the back. With runners on 1st and 2nd and no one out, Rottino's fly ball moved Lucroy to third. Taylor Green then blasted a game-tying home run on the first pitch he saw from Harrell. It wasn't over........ Kevin Melillo followed with a double. A single by Freddie Parejo moved him to third and knocked Harrell from the game. Johnny Raburn's sacrifice fly off Jhonny Perez, drove in the go-ahead run. John Axford did a creditable job in silencing Birmingham for 2 1/3 innings, leaving the save opportunity to Robert Hinton, who has not allowed an earned run this month in 8 2/3 innings over six appearances. But with one out in the bottom of the 9th, Robert Hudson reached first on a fielding error by Melillo. Then he stole second and third base....... Hinton struck out John Shelby for the 2nd out, but Shelby scored as C.J. Retherford laced Hinton's first pitch for a double into the left field corner, scoring Hudson with the tying run. Hinton intentionally walked Flowers to get to Dayan Viciedo, a .308 hitter against Stars pitching. Viciedo lined a 1-1 pitch to left field in front of Drew Anderson, who tried in vain to make a diving catch. The Stars have now lost five of their last seven games...... Hinton made his 98th pitching appearance as a Huntsville Star. By pitching 2/3 of an inning, he moved into 7th on Huntsville's all-time list of relief innings leaders. Sadly, I've discovered through some browsing the death of a former Stars outfielder (Oakland organization)...... Roy Johnson, who hit .344 in 52 games in 1986, died of cancer, January 26 of this year in Campeche, Mexico. Johnson came out of Tennessee State University, was signed in the 5th round by the Montreal Expos in the 1980 draft and made his major league debut with the Expos in 1982. He made additional appearances for the Expos in 1984 and 1985, but hit just .171 in 36 games over his three seasons. He was a Southern Leaguer for the Jacksonville Expos in 1985, hitting .252 in 78 games, then was released by Montreal as spring training broke in 1986. The A's signed him April 23, 1986 and three days later, he made his debut for the Stars, ironically against Jacksonville, picking up a double and an RBI in two at-bats....... He was promoted to Tacoma on June 22, leaving a .344 average, an unofficial all-time high (he had only 183 at-bats) until Angel Salome hit .360 last year. The Brewers' top draft pick this year, 6'5" right-hander Eric Arnett from Indiana University, signed with the Brewers last Sunday for a $1.2 million signing bonus. Arnett will be assigned to Helena when the Pioneer League season begins in a little more than a week from now. http://www.cbs58.com/bin/ImgShow.php?aid=7928 Arnett was the first pitcher from Indiana to be named Big 10 Pitcher-of-the-Year and win All-American honors. He was 12-2 with a 2.50 ERA for the Hoosiers. Funny, but Arnett's agent is Joe Speed. Juan Sandoval has been taken off the disabled list. To make room, pitcher Josh Butler was assigned to Helena, for the time being at least.