Jim Goulart

Huntsville Site Doubleheader Summary Stars Sweep Twin Bill from Smokies Stars Storm Back to Win Game Two After Low Scoring Win in Opener By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Drew Anderson drove in the tying and go-ahead runs in a five-run fifth inning rally and Casey Baron tossed three scoreless innings in relief to lead Huntsville to an 11-5 win in game two and a doubleheader sweep over Tennessee Thursday night at Smokies Park. The Stars have won the last four games of the eight-game set, after dropping the opener, to improve to 25-20 and push their lead over Carolina to three games and to five games over the Smokies in the North Division. Kevin Melillo's two-run home run in the third inning tied game two at two and gave him four home runs in the last week. Tennessee regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning against Mike McClendon with three runs, highlighted by a Marquez Smith two-run single. McClendon retired the side in order in the fourth and left trailing after four frames in his first start, giving up five runs on seven hits while striking out three. The Stars strung together three straight singles to open the fifth inning and chase starter Jesse Estrada from the game. John Gaub took over and walked Adam Stern to force in a run that cut the lead to 5-3. Taylor Green's sacrifice fly then plated Johnny Raburn and moved pinch-hitter Chuckie Caufield to third base. Stern stole second and scored, with Caufield, when Anderson delivered a base hit to center field to give the visitors their first lead of the game. Anderson swiped second base and scored when Darwin Barney, who replaced Smith at third base, threw away a Vinny Rottino ground ball to make it 7-5. Gaub suffered his first loss of the season, allowing two runs on one hit and a walk. The Stars tacked on four runs in the seventh against Todd Blackford, as a Rottino single and two fielders' choice grounders chased home runs. Anderson finished with three hits and three runs driven in, while Stern scored three times and reached in all four of his at-bats. Baron allowed a leadoff single to Jim Aducci in the fifth and then retired the next eight hitters he faced to close out his longest performance of the season. He struck out two and improved to 4-0 with his first win in 23 days. Huntsville Game Two Box Score Adam Stern's OBP at .411; Drew Anderson an .886 OPS; the error mentioned earlier in the thread charged to Vinny Rottino on a play at first base was switched to Mike McClendon (dropped throw from Vinny)... Huntsville Game Two Game Log Rottino led off the second inning in the opener for the Stars with a single, moved to second base on a Melillo base hit and scored when Green followed with a double that also moved Melillo to third base. Yohannis Perez flied out to center field to plate Melillo but the throw to the plate skipped away from the catcher Blake Lalli, who picked up the ball and threw to starting pitcher Casey Coleman at the plate, as Green slid in safely around the tag to make it a 3-0 game. Coleman blanked the Stars on two hits over the next four frames and matched his longest outing of the season by throwing seven innings. He dropped to 4-2 after yielding seven hits, walking one and striking out three. Stars' starter Bobby Bramhall struck out Coleman with the bases loaded to end the second inning and was touched for the lone run he allowed in the third. Barney drew a two-out walk, moved to third base on a Lalli single and scored when Russ Canzler followed with a base hit. Ty Wright singled to load the bases before Smith flied out to end the frame. Bramhall retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings and was lifted with one out and a runner at first in the sixth and followed by Juan Sandoval, who got Smith to bounce into a double play to end the frame. Bramhall earned his first double-A win by allowing a run on four hits, walking four and fanning three. Omar Aguilar threw a scoreless seventh inning and nailed down his fifth save of the year by getting Barney to fly out with two runners on to end the 3-1 victory. The series continues Friday night with the third scheduled twin bill between the teams. The Stars will send right-hander Mark Holliman to the mound in game one and right-hander Josh Wahpepah will take the hill in game two, while the Smokies will counter with right-hander Jay Jackson in the opener and southpaw Jeremy Papelbon in the nightcap. Coverage of the game begins at 4:15 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

Final, Game Two: Huntsville 11, Tennessee (Cubs) 5 Nice to see the Cubbies and Manager Ryne Sandberg swept... Full report soon, but can't say enough about 24-year-old LHP Casey Baron (numbers), who pitched three scoreless, seemingly effortless innings to get the save -- we've been singing his praises on the Link Report for some time, sentiments echoed by Stars field management in the recent Huntsville Times article we linked to earlier; Brett Pollock commented on just how much Baron's pitches move, making it very difficult for any batter who hasn't faced him previously...

Final: Brevard County 4, St. Lucie (Mets) 3 Brevard County Box Score Jeremy Jeffress struck out nine and walked five in five eventful innings (three hits and two runs allowed); Rafael Lluberes and Rob Wooten (16th save) closed it out for winner Roque Mercedes (one run allowed in two innings); Chris Errecart homered and doubled; Eric Farris a two-run shot as one of our "game bloggers" noted above -- thanks, guys; Logan Schafer, Lee Haydel, and Martin Maldonado each reached base twice... Brevard County Game Log Errecart's home run to left-center in the 8th was the game-winner; Steffan Wilson a two-out RBI single in the 5th...

Final: Dayton (Reds) 5, Wisconsin 0 Wisconsin Site Game Summary FAIREL QUIETS WISCONSIN BATS By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers DAYTON, OH -- Dayton Dragon starter Matt Fairel tossed six shutout innings in a 5-0 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Thursday night at Fifth Third Field. Carlos Mendez and Kevin Coddington provided most of the offensive support as both had a pair of RBI. Mendez, who had four hits in Wednesday's game, got the Dragons (19-28) on the scoreboard first. Rattler starting pitcher Trey Watten got the first two outs of the fourth inning. But, he allowed a single by former Milwaukee Brewer farmhand Stephen Chapman. Watten got ahead of Mendez, but hung a 2-2 pitch that Mendez drove out of the ballpark for his second homer of the season and a 2-0 lead. The Dragons manufactured a run in the bottom of the fifth. Frank Pfister singled to start the frame. Watten was charged with a balk that moved Pfister to second and a grounder to the right side sent Pfister to third. A sacrifice fly by Dave Sappelt drove in the run to make the score 3-0. The duo of Chapman and Mendez combined to set up another two-out rally for the Dragons in the sixth. Chapman reached on an error and Mendez singled to put runners at the corner. Then, Coddington tripled into the right field corner to drive in both runners. Fairel called it a night after six innings. He allowed four hits and struck out five to put himself in position to win his fourth game of the season. Wisconsin (21-26) had their chances. They had six hits and Dayton pitchers walked four, but Wisconsin stranded 10 runners in the game and got shut out for the third time this season and for the second time on their current road trip. The loss dropped Wisconsin's record to 4-5 on the first nine games of their current road excursion. The Rattlers continue their tour of the Midwest League and start a three-game series with the Eastern Division Leading West Michigan Whitecaps in Comstock Park, Michigan. Evan Frederickson (1-3, 7.06) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. West Michigan sends Mark Sorenson (0-1, 2.25) to the hill. Game time is 5:35 PM CDT. Wisconsin Box Score Brett Lawrie 0-for-4, down to .270, 3-for-his-last-22; Erik Miller (triple), Corey Kemp, and Jose Duran each reached base twice; Rigoberto Almonte an impressive relief performance; both starters had the groundball working (19 vs. 2 combined); Stephen Chapman 8-for-8 in SB's for the Dragons in just 18 games --really? Wisconsin Game Log Former Brewer rookie baller Mark James pitched two scoreless innings for the Reds' low-A squad...

When the game log for a half-inning looks like a lengthy paragraph, that can be very good (and fun to listen to) -- five-run 5th gives the Stars a 7-5 lead: Huntsville Top 5th Freddy Parejo singles on a line drive to center fielder Brandon Guyer. John Raburn singles on a line drive to right fielder James Adduci. Freddy Parejo to 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Chuck Caufield replaces Mike McClendon. Coaching visit to mound. Chuck Caufield singles on a line drive to left fielder Ty Wright. Freddy Parejo to 3rd. John Raburn to 2nd. Coaching visit to mound. Pitcher Change: John Gaub replaces Jesse Estrada, batting 9th. Adam Stern walks. Freddy Parejo scores. John Raburn to 3rd. Chuck Caufield to 2nd. Kevin Melillo called out on strikes. Taylor Green out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Brandon Guyer. John Raburn scores. Chuck Caufield to 3rd. With Drew T. Anderson batting, Adam Stern steals (22) 2nd base. Drew T. Anderson singles on a line drive to center fielder Brandon Guyer. Chuck Caufield scores. Adam Stern scores. With Vinny Rottino batting, Drew T. Anderson steals (2) 2nd base. Vinny Rottino reaches on throwing error by third baseman Marquez Smith. Drew T. Anderson scores. Vinny Rottino to 2nd. J. R. Hopf grounds out, shortstop Jonathan Mota to first baseman Russ Canzler.

Huntsville now trails 5-2, a Vinny Rottino error at first base didn't help things, although all three runs in the inning were earned. Mike McClendon hasn't been shelled, or at least it hasn't seemed so, but the score says otherwise. Bobby Bramhall didn't overly impress earlier, yet surrendered only one run. Kind of gives us insight on how we read and interpret the box scores and game logs on a day-to-day basis. There must be days when the players are reading our comments and must think, "if they only knew"...

In progess: Huntsville 2, Tennessee (Cubs) 2, bottom of the 3rd in Tennessee OK, let's see -- Stars facing the Cubs' 25-year-old, 6'8", 260-pound behemoth Jesus Estrada, down from AAA Iowa Kevin Melillo just hit his 4th HR in eight games, a two-run shot, to tie the game in the 3rd Starter Mike McClendon described as tough, aggressive, mixes it up, by the coaching staff -- his slider seems to be a key pitch, electric thus far, but a key wild pitch on it as well Drew Anderson was 1-for-18 prior to a bunt base hit in the 2nd Melillo back at his natural second base position with Shane Justis getting the night off -- Melillo has played first base for the past week As I've typed, the Smokies have loaded the bases on McClendon with none out in the 3rd, including two bunt hits -- stay tuned...

Link while active, text follows: Stability keys Sounds' surge By Maurice Patton THE TENNESSEAN It's easy to look at the Nashville Sounds and say their improvement this season is because they're hitting and pitching better than last year. Less obvious - but maybe just as important - is the fact that the team's roster has been more settled. On the way to a 26-21 record prior to Thursday's road-trip finale at Tacoma, the Sounds had recorded just 36 player transactions. Through 47 games last season, there had been 57 player moves. Predictably, the team was 19-28. The roster shuffles continued through last year, and so did the losses. By the end of the 2008 season, Nashville had 137 transactions and its worst finish in franchise history - 59-81. "You have to be healthy, not just at this level, but at the big league level," reliever Chris Narveson said as he and his teammates prepared to return to Greer Stadium Friday for an eight-game homestand against Omaha and Iowa. Both teams are chasing the Pacific Coast League American North-leading Sounds. "I think last year's team, we went through a hard stretch where some injuries and things brought us down. If both sides are healthy, everybody's able to play well and work off each other, knowing the same players are going to be playing next to them every day." The Milwaukee Brewers - the Sounds' parent club - have made fewer moves through the first two months of the season while staying near the top of the National League Central Division. The trickle-down effect has been clear. "I think everybody's jelled together," said Narveson, who has adapted to a relief role and contributed a win and four saves after going 6-13 last year as a starter. "Everybody messes around together. We're a little more loose. There's a little more of a 'let's go out and perform, we know we can win,' and going out and doing it. "Winning is done on the field, but it's a lot of what you do off the field - players getting along, hanging out off the field. It makes it a lot easier when you go to the park to know you're ready to play and do what you have to do." In the box score, the Sounds' .278 batting average is eighth in the PCL and the team's 4.09 ERA is fifth. Nashville has scored six fewer runs through 47 games than it did last year, but has allowed 16 fewer. "I think we're playing more consistent baseball," said outfielder Brendan Katin, among the team leaders in home runs and RBIs last season and this year as well. "Last year, it seemed like a lot of the games we lost, we'd pitch well and not hit, or we'd hit well and pitch badly. We're working together (this season). We're definitely swinging the bats, but when we're not scoring runs, we're shutting them down. "I think the offense and the pitching is working together." Another telling statistic: The Sounds are 12-9 in games decided by two runs or less. Through their first 47 games of last season, they were 5-12 in two- or one-run decisions. "I think this team is talented and we think we can come back at any time," infielder Adam Heether said. "There's some fight in these guys."

My "nap" caused me to miss Wisconsin's Chris Mehring's blog game notes links, but he did post this ticket giveaway. Perhaps it's all done (first 24 respondents to him), but if not, it'd be nice if Link Report readers could take advantage. Check out the other blog posts to catch up on his game notes for the day, including reminding us how well Nick Tyson has pitched in his four brief relief appearances since being added to the roster.

Final, Game One: Huntsville 3, Tennessee (Cubs) 1 Full details from Brett Pollock with the recap later tonight... LHP Bobby Bramhall (Chris Cody-like but without the polish Cody has on his stuff quite yet, according to Brett) gets his first victory of the season, and was 2-for-2 at the plate. All the Stars' scoring here -- Huntsville Top 2nd Vinny Rottino singles on a line drive to center fielder Brandon Guyer. Kevin Melillo singles on a line drive to right fielder James Adduci. Vinny Rottino to 2nd. Taylor Green doubles (3) on a line drive to right fielder James Adduci. Vinny Rottino scores. Kevin Melillo to 3rd. Yohannis Perez out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Brandon Guyer. Kevin Melillo scores. Taylor Green scores. Throwing error by center fielder Brandon Guyer. Bobby Bramhall singles on a line drive to left fielder Ty Wright. Adam Stern flies out to left fielder Ty Wright. Shane Justis grounds out, second baseman Jonathan Mota to first baseman Russ Canzler. On the odd sacrifice fly scoring two, Taylor Green with a nice bit of baserunning and an athletic slide to sneak in just ahead of the retrieval throw on the center fielder's throwing error. All three of those base hits to open the inning were ripped. Juan Sandoval threw three pitches to get an inning-ending double play on the only man he faced in the 6th, and Omar Aguilar needed 28 pitches to sweat out the save in the final inning (several foul balls, one lengthy AB walk). Sorry for the lack of additional broadcast insight -- Brett was a pro as always, but I admit to cranking up the audio and stretching out (and occasionally zoning out), recovering from spreading mulch all day -- a bit sore, and beat. Stars take 3-of-the-first-4 in this eight-game set. I should also be available for the nightcap (audio-wise), perhaps a bit more insightful. Huntsville Game One Box ScoreBramhall stranded the bases loaded in both the 2nd and 3rd innings (allowed his one run in the 3rd) -- in the 2nd, he was fortunate to face the pitcher (strikeout) to end the inning, in the 3rd, Jonathan Lucroy gunned down an attempted steal and a two-out single with men on 1st and 2nd was hit too hard to left field to score a runner; Bramhall threw only 48-of-88 pitches for strikes, walking four and hitting a batter in 5.1 innings, and also saw nine fly ball outs vs. three on the ground, so yes, a win, but not overly inspiring... Huntsville Game One Game Log

I plan on doing quite a bit of computer work while listening to the Stars' twinbill tonight. Do we have any volunteers to listen in best they can to the TimberRattlers, Sounds, or even the Mets' broadcast of the Manatees tonight? Maybe keep a notebook nearby and jot down any tidbits from the broadcasters that might not make their way to the game summary. Even if it's just a note or two, I'm sure many would appreciate reading about it here. Jump in roll call-style and let us know you're listening if possible. Thanks.

Brock Kjeldgaard Profile on YouTube

This is where Brett Lawrie keping his blog up-to-date might be more helpful. There really is no way to get further confirmation, but we do know (we've learned) that Lawrie's early departure last night was not injury-related. Keep in mind that earlier this season, Lawrie was benched for not running out a ground ball. In Wednesday's game, he was not allowed to return to the field after coming back to the dugout after the bottom of the first inning, an inning in which he was charged with his 9th error. So if this was indeed "manager's choice", we need to hear more from Jeff Isom. Unfortunately, with the Rattlers on the road yet for a while, we'll need to sit back and wait. Did Lawrie have a tirade that was such he was kept out of the game? Was the anger, if that was the case, directed at himself, the official scorer, anyone? The only thing we do know for sure is that it's not injury-related. Perhaps Brett received urgent family news off the field. It's possible, and just an example of why until we learn more, we should tread carefully. Bottom line -- other than the broken nose, Lawrie's healthy.

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 26 21 .553 - 12-11 14-10 W1 Memphis 23 21 .523 1.5 13-8 10-13 W1 Iowa 23 22 .511 2.0 12-11 11-11 W1 Omaha 21 25 .457 4.5 10-13 11-12 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 23 20 .535 - 10-11 13-9 W2 Carolina 22 24 .478 2.5 10-12 12-12 L1 Tennessee 21 24 .467 3.0 10-13 11-11 L2 Chattanooga 18 26 .409 5.5 10-15 8-11 L6 West Tenn 17 26 .395 6.0 8-11 9-15 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 28 12 .700 - 12-6 16-6 L1 Clearwater 21 20 .512 7.5 9-12 12-8 L1 Daytona 19 21 .475 9.0 8-9 11-12 L2 Lakeland 18 20 .474 9.0 11-11 7-9 L1 Tampa 19 24 .442 10.5 11-13 8-11 L1 Dunedin 17 25 .405 12.0 5-16 12-9 W2

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):

Midwest League Standings

Follow Thursday'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_05_28_nasaaa_tacaaa_1 Huntsville Game One: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_05_28_hunaax_tenaax_1 Huntsville Game Two: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_05_28_hunaax_tenaax_2 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2009_05_28_breafa_sluafa_1 Wisconsin: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_05_28_wisafx_dayafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572

Thursday's Daily Menu -- It's All Road Cooking Today, Hopefuly Not Roadkill... All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Link here for the live audio choices - audio will no longer archive. For the Brevard County series, you can click on the audio link for the St. Lucie (Mets) feed. Nashville: RHP Mike Burns at Tacoma (Mariners), 8:35 PM pre-game; 9:00 gametime Huntsville: LHP Bobby Bramhall and RHP Mike McClendon in a doubleheader at Tennessee (Cubs), 4:15 PM pre-game; 4:30 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Brevard County: RHP Jeremy Jeffress at St. Lucie (Mets), 6:00 PM gametime Wisconsin: RHP Trey Watten at Dayton (Reds), 5:40 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime

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David Weiser's starsboxscore.com All it takes is one Stars get just three hits, but Justis belts grand-slam Mike Jones supplied the arm and Shane Justis the muscle...... With the bases loaded and one out, Justis found Hung-Wen Chen's first pitch to his liking and belted it out to the berm in left field for the Stars' first grand-slam of the season. It was the first against Tennessee since Pete Zoccolillo sent one out at Smokies Park off Hugo Castellanos, August 27, 2002..... Chen had blanked the Stars on just one hit and had retired 12 in a row before Yohannis Perez worked a one-out walk in the 6th. On a bunt attempt by Jonesy, shortstop Darwin Barney dropped a throw at 2nd base to put him on, and Adam Stern loaded them up with a single to right...... Justis, who is hitting .458 in his last 13 games, then stroked one out...... The Stars had only one hit prior and one after, but it took just one blow to decide this game and give the Stars a 2½-game lead over Carolina, who lost to Montgomery, and 3 over the Smokies. The first half ends June 21....... It's good to see Jones come through with another excellent start. He reportedly hit 94 mph on the gun and looks like the Mike Jones we saw in 2003, when he was 7-2, 2.40 in 17 starts. He picked up his first win, his 10th as a Huntsville Star, since August 2 of last year...... The Stars have now won seven of their last nine. Robert Hinton returned to form with two strikeouts in an inning of work after giving up five runs on six hits in an inning and a third over two appearances. Prior to that, he had appeared in 11 straight games without giving up a run. With his 20th appearance, he has moved into 10th place, bumping Mark Stancel, in the number of career pitching appearances for the Stars, now numbering 89. He remains 11th in relief innings (134 2/3)....... Although he has just one hit in his last 15 at-bats, Drew Anderson, over three seasons with the Stars (2006, 07, 09) has a .308 average, and now has enough at-bats to qualify for the all-time leadership in batting. As it stands, he's tied for 7th with the late Mike Coolbaugh and is one of just 10 hitters in the Stars' 25-year history to join the .300 club...... Vinny Rottino also has enough at-bats to qualify for the all-time list. With a .289 average presently over two seasons, Rottino is tied for 19th with Luis Polonia. Rottino has more hits than Anderson (178-175), but both are still a distance away from the 221 hits belonging to 20th-place Ray Thoma...... Omar Aguilar picked up his 3rd save in as many appearances and now has four on the season. He's been unscored upon in four straight games, lowering that ERA which was 11.82 on May 5 to 6.08. Yohannis Perez made a nifty game-saving catch, diving to his right with a runner on to end the game. The victory puts the Stars (23-20) three games over .500 for the first time since May 11. The Stars this season have never gone four games over .500. That will be left up to Bobby Bramhall (0-3, 7.36) Thursday in the first game of another double-header at Smokies Park. Mike McClendon (3-1, 1.72) will get his first start of the season in the second half...... McClendon started five games for Brevard last season out of his 47 appearances, going 1-1 with a 7.27 ERA. They all came at the start of the year, after which he was moved to the bullpen where he found better success. It'll be interesting to see what transpires....... I would have thought the Stars would look to Brevard for a quick start from, perhaps, one of their starters -- Amaury Rivas, Lucas Luetge, Josh Butler, or Evan Anundsen, but they instead took a pitcher off the Helena roster -- Nick Bucci -- whose season has not started yet. Bucci was an 18th round pick in last year's amateur draft. In the Arizona League last year, he was 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA in four starts totaling 11 innings. Something like this happens once in awhile. The Stars call up someone from the Pioneer League and he's gone before you know it. That happened in early June when the Stars picked up outfielder Anthony Wycklendt from Helena while they were on the road. Four days later, he was assigned to West Virginia, played two games, and was released at the end of the season...... Bucci is arm insurance, clear and simple. Adam Heether hit two HRs and drove in six runs to lead the Sounds over Tacoma in their trip out west, 8-6. Heether is hitting .338 for Nashville...... The Stars are now hitting .258 as a team -- 3rd best in the Southern League behind Birmingham and Mobile. They're hitting .284 for May....... The Stars' next win over the Smokies will be their 200th against this club dating back to 1985. Only Chattanooga (230) and Birmingham (211) have won more games against the Stars...... Shane Justis's last home run came in the 3rd game of the season and despite going 14-for-32 (.438), he did not have an extra-base hit in his nine previous games....... Taylor Green is in a 1-for-13 slide. Felix Jose, who played the outfield for the Stars in 1987, is off to a 13-for-26 start for Schaumberg in the independent Northern League....... Former Stars pitcher and major leaguer Ken Ray was 4-0 for Long Island in the Atlantic League and 10th among ERA leaders, befor having his contract purchased by the Cleveland Indians organization, where he will be assigned to AAA.

Josh, what is hurting Brent Brewer? Some missed games, and an early removal (after one inning defensively) last night... Thanks.

Nashville Site Audio Chats with Tacoma's (Mariners) Brad Nelson and Callix Crabbe

Nashville Site Audio Chats with Tacoma's (Mariners) Brad Nelson and Callix Crabbe

Final: Nashville 8, Tacoma (Mariners) 6 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Adam Heether photo, text follows -- Heether Powers Sounds Past Rainiers TACOMA, Wash. - The Sounds trailed early for a third consecutive game against the Rainiers, but Adam Heether's ninth inning home run gave Nashville an 8-6 win on Wednesday afternoon in Tacoma. Heether, playing shortstop on the afternoon, went 2-for-3 with a season-high two home runs and six RBIs. Outfielder Brendan Katin also extended his hitting streak to a season-best 12 games, going 2-for-5 with two doubles. Tacoma began the game scoring multiple runs in the opening frame for the third straight game. Former Sound Brad Nelson's two-run single put the Rainiers on the board first, followed by an RBI-double by Mike Morse for a 3-0 Tacoma lead off starter Lindsay Gulin. Heether started the second inning off with a walk and moved to third after an Erick Almonte double. Carlos Corporan then knocked in Heether with an RBI-single, making the score 3-1 Tacoma. Tacoma was able to do more damage loading the bases against on Gulin in the bottom of the fifth. Chris Shelton hit an RBI-single, with Gulin then walking home another run for a Rainiers 5-1 lead. The Sounds returned in the next frame with a leadoff single by Joe Koshansky. Katin then doubled for a second time on the afternoon, moving Koshansky to third. Heether then hit a sacrifice fly to right field that trimmed the Rainiers lead to 5-2. The Rainiers responded in the next frame with an RBI-single by Chris Woodward off R.J. Swindle to extend the lead to 6-2. Hernan Iribarren led off the top of the eighth inning with a walk off pitcher Jared Wells. Koshanksy then cut the lead in half with his double to center field that scored Iribarren. Heether followed with a two-run homer to center field, his second on the year, cutting the Tacoma lead to 6-5. With the Sounds trailing to begin the ninth, Alcides Escobar singled to start the rally. Koshansky then walked, with Heether belting a three-run homer for the second time on the day, giving the Sounds their first lead at 8-6. Chris Smith came into the ballgame in the bottom of the ninth to lock it up and earn his 10th save of the year. David Johnson (2-0) earned the win for Nashville, throwing an inning of scoreless ball, striking out one. Justin Thomas (0-1) got the loss for Tacoma, giving up two runs in the ninth. Nashville starter Gulin threw five innings for the Sounds, giving up five runs on seven hits, while striking out five. Tacoma starter Gaby Hernandez surrendered two runs on seven hits over six innings. The Sounds wrap up their eight-game road trip with the Rainiers tomorrow night's 9:00 PM CT game in Tacoma. Right-hander Mike Burns (6-1, 2.56) makes the start for Nashville against southpaw Ryan Rowland-Smith (0-0, 2.25). Nashville Box Score Adam Heether tripled his RBI total for the season (from 3 to 9) -- what a game; for all his .221 troubles, Joe Koshansky does have 29 RBI; as in the first Manatee game, contributions up and down the Sounds' lineup; Brendan Katin en fuego, five multiple-hit games in his last eight, plus the long hit streak noted above; Pitching Coach Chris Bosio ejected in the 5th inning; R.J. Swindle's AAA ERA at 0.48 -- allowed an unearned run here... Nashville Game Log Sounds wasted a first inning opportunity, Tacoma did not; Heether's game-winner came with two out; Chris Smith's save was not without tension...

Final: Huntsville 4, Tennessee (Cubs) 2 Huntsville Site Game Summary Huntsville Lengthens Division Lead Justis is Served as Stars Down Smokies By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Mike Jones spun seven solid innings and Shane Justis belted the game-winning grand slam to power Huntsville to a 4-2 win over Tennessee in the third of an eight-game series at Smokies Park. The Stars improved to 23-20 and increased their lead to two and a half games over Carolina and pushed the 21-24 Smokies three games behind in the North Division. Huntsville improved to 13-9 on the road in defeating Tennessee for a second time in five meetings. Russ Canzler led off the Smokies' second inning with a double and scored when Jim Aducci followed with a single to give the home team the early lead. The Smokies loaded the bases in the third on three singles before Canzler sent a ground ball back through the middle that deflected off Jones' glove for an infield hit that scored pitcher Hung-Wen Chen, who had led off the frame with a single, to make it a 2-0 game. Jones worked out of further trouble by getting Aducci to bounce into a force out at the plate and Ty Wright to fly out to center field. Meanwhile, Chen had blanked the Stars on one single through five innings and had retired 12 in a row before Yohannis Perez worked a one-out walk in the sixth and stayed alive on the bases when shortstop Darwin Barney dropped a throw at second base from Chen on a Jones bunt attempt. Adam Stern singled to load the bases before Justis jumped on Chen's first pitch and drove it on to the grassy berm area above the wall in left field for his second home run of the season and first since April 11. Chen wound up throwing seven innings and suffered the loss to fall to 2-4 and remain winless since April 16. He allowed only three hits, walked two and fanned one. Jones gave up only one hit after the third inning and finished his longest outing in a Stars' uniform since 2003 by allowing seven hits, walking one and fanning two. He grabbed his first double-A win of the season and was followed to the hill by Robert Hinton, who worked a perfect eighth inning. Omar Aguilar took over in the ninth and gave up a two-out single before getting Marquez Smith to line out on a diving catch by the shortstop Perez to end the game. Aguilar recorded his fourth save, with three coming in the last week. The series continues Thursday night with the second scheduled twinbill between the teams. The Stars will send left-hander Bobby Bramhall to the mound in game one and right-hander Mike McClendon in game two, while the Smokies will counter with right-hander Casey Coleman in the opener and righty Jesse Estrada in the nightcap. Coverage of the game begins at 4:15 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score One swing of the bat the difference in the game -- thanks, Shane Justis; pitchers working quickly -- two hours, 18 minutes with the home team batting in the 9th as well; Mike Jones so efficient -- 85 pitches in seven innings, eight baserunners allowed; Jonathan Lucroy still taking walks, but the hits aren't falling (.231), still batting third (here) or cleanup, though... Huntsville Game Log