Jim Goulart

Final: Ogden (Dodgers) 6, Helena 5, 11 innings Link while active, text follows: Raptors edge Brewers By CURT SYNNESS - Helena Independent Record The Helena Brewers played the Ogden Raptors even-up for over three hours Tuesday at Kindrick Legion Field, before three Raptors' doubles in the 11th inning lifted the visitors to a 6-5 victory. With the score tied at 3-3 going into the top of the 11th, ripping two-baggers for Ogden were Brian Ruggiano, Anthony Delmonico and Kyle Russell. Ogden pushed across a trio of runs to take a 6-3 advantage into the bottom of the frame. The home team struck back to get within one in their last at-bat, as Corey Kemp singled and Derrick Alfonso delivered a two-run homer over the left field fence. But the Raptors were able to seal the win as the tying run was stranded on second base to end the game. Kindrick Field held a legendary flair to it, with the presence of names like Dykstra and Yount. No it wasn't Lenny Dykstra and Robin Yount, but rather Cutter Dykstra and Austin Yount. Although the latter are bloodlines to those stars of yesterday, as Cutter is Lenny's son, and Robin Yount is Austin's uncle. The Capital City squad registered their first score in the third frame. Another player with big legaue connections, No. 9-hitter Steven Braun, led off with a triple, on a long drive to right-center which took a weird bounce and got past Raptors centerfielder Nick Buss. Braun, whose brother Ryan started out in Helena and now stars for Milwaukee then came home on a towering sacrifce fly down the right field line by John Delaney. The Raptors extended their lead to 3-1 in the fourth on a solo home run by Steve Caseres. Caseres went yard twice and drove in seven runs in the first game of the series, giving him three homers in two nights. Helena closed to within one in their half of the fifth frame, on back-to-back doubles by Delaney and David Fonseca. They then knotted it up in the eighth, when Fonseca singled and Dykstra walked. Next, Erik Komatsu lofted a fly ball out to right, with Fonseca tagging up and sprinting plateward. The game was even after regulation and stayed that way until the 11th. The starting pitcher for the visitors was Jonathan Dutton, who went six innings, giving up five hits, two runs, while striking out 13. He fanned all three Brewers in the fifth inning, and struck out two batters in the first, second and fourth frames. Luis Garcia relieved the last three innings to earn the win. Wily Peralta started for Helena, going three stanzas. He was relieved by, in order, Trey Watten, Brandon Rapoza and Garrett Sherrill. Rapoza worked the 7th through 10th innings, allowing one hit and no runs. Sherrill took the loss. The Brewers pulled a key double play in the eighth to help keep them in the game. With one out and a man on first, third baseman John Delaney snagged a pop fly and fired over to Brock Kjeldgaard to double up the runner. The Raptors improved to 14-8 in the second half and 33-27 overall, while the Brew Crew fell to 7-15 and 27-33. The two clubs close out their three-game series tonight at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central) at Kindrick Field. Helena Box Score What wasn't mentioned above was that Trey Watten and Brandon Rapoza shined in their outings, while Garrett Sherrill did not... Helena Game Log

Link while active, text follows: Tourists snap Power win streak By Mike Whiteford Charleston Gazette Staff writer CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Even in a sport noted for devilish unpredictability, it seems a good bet the Power will continue its two-month trend and, beginning in two weeks, be playing in the postseason. Since mid-June, the Power has set itself apart as the best hitting club in the South Atlantic League and has amassed a victory total accordingly. Despite a walk-filled 10-6 loss to Asheville Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park - a loss that ended a five-game winning streak achieved on the road - the Power holds a 2 1/2-game lead over Lakewood in the Northern Division's second half. Twelve games remain in the regular season, and the Power is 39-19 in the second half. If a playoff berth is in the Power's immediate future, it will intensify each at-bat, bring greater meaning to everything that happens on the field. And besides, dealing with playoff pressure is good for the player-development process. "You'd like to think you can get just as amped up for every game for 140,'' said Power first baseman Steffan Wilson, "but it's just not the case. In the playoffs, it's a great time, and you just feel it. Those are the kinds of games you want to be playing in. It's been our singular goal.'' Wilson, who played at Helena in last year's Pioneer League playoffs, launched a towering grand slam onto Smith Street in the eighth inning to cut the Asheville lead to 10-6 and give the Power a glimmer of hope. It also raised his team-leading RBI total to 95. In his three previous at-bats against Asheville starter Bruce Billings, Wilson struck out twice and popped to first. The grand slam came against reliever Edgmer Escalona. "I was kind of glad [billings] got pulled,'' said Wilson. "He was moving the ball in and out and keeping it down. And he had some good off-speed pitches.'' Pitching against the league's best offensive team in a hitter-friendly park, Billings allowed just six hits and two runs in seven innings. A pitcher in Billings' situation Tuesday night knows to pay heed to good fundamentals. "In a hitting ballpark,'' said Asheville manager Joe Mikulik, "you've got to keep the ball down and throw strikes and get ahead of the hitters.'' Facing a team like the Power in a park like APP, he added, has its advantages. "I think it's good sometimes for pitchers to pitch in this kind of ballpark,'' he said. "It teaches you how to pitch. Sometimes you can make a good pitch and somebody will hit a popup and it'll go out, but you can't worry about it. You have to get back on the mound and throw strikes.'' The Power's other two runs came on Logan Schafer's RBI triple in the sixth and Caleb Gindl's homer in the seventh. POWER POINTS: Former major-league pitcher Dave Stewart, who is now a player agent, attended Tuesday's game. In the early 2000s, Stewart spent time in Charleston as an executive for the Blue Jays, who were the Alley Cats' parent club in those days. ... Power pitchers yielded nine walks and a hit batsman Tuesday. Link to Reed Dickert Photo

Final: Asheville (Rockies) 10, West Virginia 6 West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER HIT FIRST GRAND SLAM IN LOSS TO ASHEVILLE Steffan Wilson hit West Virginia's first grand slam of the season in the bottom of the eighth inning of Tuesday night's game against the Asheville Tourists at Appalachian Power Park, but it was not enough as the Tourists snapped West Virginia's five-game winning streak with a 10-6 victory. Asheville scored their first two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Darin Holcomb started the inning with a double and scored on Helder Velazquez's single. Kevin Clark capped the inning with a solo shot, his 17th of the season. Asheville took a 6-0 lead with a four-run sixth inning. Velazquez delivered another RBI single, Clark knocked in the next run on a sacrifice fly and David Christensen smacked a two-run homer, his eleventh of the year. Logan Schafer drove in West Virginia's first run on a two-out triple in the bottom of the sixth. Asheville scored four more times in the seventh to pull away. Velazquez smacked his third run-scoring single of the night and Christensen cleared the bases with a three-run double. Caleb Gindl smacked his tenth homer of the season to plate West Virginia's lone run in the seventh, and Wilson hit the grand slam in the eighth inning. Bruce Billings (9-10) allowed a pair of runs on six hits over seven innings and struck out six in a winning effort. Reed Dickert (2-3) allowed a pair of runs on four hits over four innings and struck out seven but was tagged with the loss. The Power fell to 71-56 on the year and 39-19 in the second half with the loss. The Tourists improved to 78-50 on the year and 32-26 in the second half with the win. Schafer went 2-for-4, turning in the only multi-hit game for the Power. Wilson has knocked in 95 runs this season and is seven RBI away from tying the franchise record set by Jason Parsons in 1997. The Power will continue the four-game series against Asheville Wednesday night. The Power will start left hander Dan Merklinger (7-8, 5.63) and the Tourists will counter with right hander Connor Graham (10-6, 2.39) The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score Two otherwise promising RH relievers, Corey Frerichs and Pedro Lambertus, both really struggled; 1-2-3 9th inning with two K's for LHP Evan Frederickson... West Virginia Game Log

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 7, Huntsville 5, 11 innings Huntsville Site Game Summary: Walk-Off Win for Barons in Eleven Mercedes Makes History By Hitting for Second Career Cycle By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Victor Mercedes drilled the game-winning home run in the bottom of the eleventh inning to lift Birmingham to a wild 7-5 win over Huntsville Tuesday night in the second of a five-game set at Regions Park. The Barons improved to 28-28 in the second half, while the Stars fell to 27-30 in the second half and 68-59 overall. The Stars fell to 3-9 in extra innings game this season. Brian Omogrosso retired the first five hitters he faced in relief before Mat Gamel singled with two outs in the eighth and Cole Gillespie walked. Jon Link took over and struck out Chris Errecart but a passed ball allowed him to reach to load the bases. Mike Bell then followed with a double over C.J. Lang in left field to drive in all three runners to give the Stars a 4-3 lead. Link, with a minor league leading 33 saves, blew a save chance for only a fifth time and for a second time against the Stars. Mike Jones threw three scoreless innings in relief of starter Donovan Hand and turned the game over in the bottom of the ninth to closer Juan Sandoval, who gave up a single to the leadoff man Lee Cruz, who was bunted to second base. Cruz advanced to third on a wild pitch before Robert Hudson walked and stole second. Erick San Pedro then sent a line drive into the alley in left-center field that Lorenzo Cain got his glove on but could not hold. Cruz scored to tie the game but Hudson was thrown out at the plate for the second out. Cain then made a spectacular diving catch on a fly ball hit to right-center field by Miguel Negron to send the game into extra innings. Ryan Rote took over on the hill for the Barons in the tenth and hit Gillespie with one out. He stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on another wild pitch that was ball four to Errecart to put the Stars back on top at 5-4. The Barons tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Mercedes led off with a triple and scored on a Lang sacrifice fly. Birmingham loaded the bases against Robert Hinton with two outs before Hudson bounced into a force at third to end the inning. San Pedro led off the bottom of the eleventh with a walk before Mercedes lined a 1-1 offering from Hinton over the wall in right field for the decisive blow and his 11th home run of the season. Mercedes also hit for the cycle on June 10 of last season, becoming the first Barons' player to do so since Reggie Jackson in 1967. Fernando Hernandez (6-4) grabbed the win with a scoreless inning of work, while Hinton dropped to 3-4. Hudson's two-out, two-run double in the fourth pushed the home side's lead to 3-0. Hand was lifted after five innings, giving up nine hits and recording two strikeouts. Gillespie ended an 0-for-15 drought with a run-scoring single in the sixth that got the Stars on the board. Barons' starter Aaron Poreda lasted six innings, giving up six hits, walking two and fanning six but remained winless at home in seven starts. The series continues Wednesday night with left-hander Brae Wright taking the mound for Huntsville against Barons' right-hander Justin Cassel. Coverage begins at 6:50 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at and . Huntsville Box ScoreMichael Brantley 0-for-6 with two K's, there's a once-a-season phenomenon; six blown saves for Juan Sandoval within a Stars' bullpen that has blown untold games all season; Mat Gamel K'd three times and dropped to .333, which while fantastic, is less superhuman each day; passed ball # 13 for Angel Salome... Huntsville Game Log

Link while active, text follows: Sounds' ugly year could be the worst By STEVE SILVER Tennessean Staff Writer As the Sounds open their final homestand of the season tonight, they will not be battling for a division championship or even a wild-card spot in the playoffs. This year, instead of trying to win a title, the Sounds are hoping to avoid one - the distinction of worst team in franchise history. With a 54-76 (.415) record entering Tuesday's game, the Sounds have to win 10 of their last 14 games to steer clear of posting the worst season in the Nashville team's 30-year history. "I certainly think we knew that the success wouldn't continue, but I'm not sure anyone envisioned it falling off as badly as it has," said Gord Ash, vice president of baseball operations for the Milwaukee Brewers, the Sounds' major-league affiliate. Despite winning three consecutive Pacific Coast League American North division titles and making an appearance in the PCL championship series last year, part of the Sounds' woes this year stem from the natural cycling of talent in minor league baseball. The Brewers (72-54 entering Tuesday) have successfully built their club into National League Central division title contenders through their farm system, which means they inevitably had to raid the Sounds of top prospects such as Manny Parra and Ryan Braun. "Unfortunately you're going to have these types of years," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "As players move up, they leave voids. That's not an excuse, but we had a number of guys who took longer to progress at this level than we thought." The most glaring deficiency this season has been their lack of offense. Through 130 games, the Sounds are batting just .259 - the second-worst average in the PCL. They have also hit a league-low 100 home runs. Sounds stats are off That's why the Sounds have outscored 685-594. The slugging stats are a far cry from the 159 home runs and 718 runs the Sounds notched last season. "It was certainly one of the more rough seasons I've ever been a part of," said outfielder Tony Gwynn, who is batting .266 with 23 RBIs. "We just couldn't seem to get everything going at once. The pitching and the offense never matched up." Although the Sounds' pitching staff hardly shut down opponents, it did provide for some of the brighter spots of an otherwise dreary season. Tim Dillard is 6-0 with a 1.83 ERA in 34 appearances and Mark DiFelice is 5-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 12 starts. Even journeyman Lindsay Gulin, who is 6-7, managed to maintain a 3.84 ERA in 124 innings. "There were certainly some highlights in the pitching," Ash said. "This season should not be seen as a total loss because we have players progressing to where they can and already have helped the major league team succeed." Derailed in April In the standings, the 2008 season seemed doomed from the start. The Sounds dropped nine of their first 10 games and finished the opening month of April 7-18 (.389). "We obviously started out rough and we went into a downslide that we have never really recovered from," Kremblas said. At 25-38, the Sounds are tied for the worst home record in the PCL. They have nine more games at Greer Stadium before closing out in New Orleans. "I'm really not sure why they didn't play as well at home as they have in the past," play-by-play announcer Chuck Valenches said. "I think what really happened is they got off to a bad start at home and it grew from there. It was something that just stuck in their minds all season when they prepared for home games." The Sounds are averaging 5,437 fans per game, down from the average of 5,885 last season, but still good enough for the ninth highest attendance in the 16-team PCL. Sounds' records since joining Pacific Coast League. Brewers affiliation started in 2005. Year Record (Pct.) Playoffs 1998 67-76 (.469) No 1999 80-60 (.571) No 2000 63-79 (.444) No 2001 64-77 (.454) No 2002 72-71 (.503) No 2003 81-62 (.566) Yes 2004 63-79 (.444) No 2005 75-69 (.521) Yes 2006 76-68 (.528) Yes 2007 89-55 (.618) Yes 2008 60-84 (.417)* No

Link while active, text follows: Round Rock comes up short, loses to Sounds By Mark Swanson AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN CORRESPONDENT ROUND ROCK - Right now, the Express can't beat much of anyone, be it a Pacific Coast League team or the weather. Again, Round Rock was shelled in the first inning, but this time heavy rains kept it from possibly staging a late-inning rally, as Nashville won 8-5 Tuesday night in a game called in the bottom of the seventh. After scoring a combined 13 first-inning runs in the first three games of the series, the Sounds touched up Express starter Runelvys Hernandez for three more first-inning runs on four hits Tuesday. Tony Gwynn, Hernan Iribarren and Joe Dillon all singled before Jay Gibbons' double scored two. For the four-games series, Nashville averaged four runs and a .645 batting average in the opening frame. "Well, at least it wasn't five runs, so we at least had a chance to come back," Express manager Dave Clark said. "We're going to see these guys the rest of the week, so we've seen almost everyone they've got. Hopefully we've learned something." The Express led for just four innings of its four games against the Sounds. Round Rock did climb back into the game Tuesday. The Express matched Nashville with three singles in the first while scoring two runs. Round Rock even held a brief lead after Ray Sadler's two-run homer in the third. Nashville scored the tying run in almost embarrassing fashion. Nashville's soft-tossing, slow-footed starting pitcher, Sam Narron, blooped a sixth-inning single to right center that somehow fell between Sadler and Yordany Ramirez. Chris Woodward scored all the way from first on the play to tie the game at 4. Iribarren doubled home two more runs later in the inning to make it 6-4. The Sounds tacked on two more in the seventh before the rains came. Nashville (55-76) has the PCL's worst record this season, but the Express is just 7-10 in August and has lost five of its past seven. The two teams will start a five-game series today in Nashville, Round Rock's final road trip.

Final: Nashville 8, Round Rock (Astros) 5, completed early, 6.5 innings, rain Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Hernan Iribarren photo, text follows -- Sounds Win Rain-Shortened Finale In Texas, 8-5 ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Nashville Sounds wrapped up their brief road trip with a rain-shortened 8-5 victory over the Round Rock Express on Tuesday evening at The Dell Diamond in the finale of a four-game series. The game was called due to rain after being delayed in the middle of the seventh inning. Nashville (54-76) took three of the four contests from the Express in the series. The Sounds jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning when four of the first five batters in the contest singled off Round Rock starter Runelvys Hernandez, including RBI knocks by Joe Dillon and Jay Gibbons (two-run single). The Express responded in the bottom of the frame with three consecutive singles to start the frame and posted two runs in the inning to reduce the deficit to 3-2. Round Rock grabbed a 4-3 lead in the third when Ray Sadler belted his 20th home run of the year, a two-run shot to left off Sam Narron that also plated Mark Saccomanno. Nashville pulled back in front with a three-run sixth against Hernandez. Chris Woodward opened the inning with a single before scoring the tying run from first on Narron's RBI single to right as the Sounds hurler helped his own cause. After Tony Gwynn reached on a bunt single, Hernan Iribarren ripped a two-run double to right to stake the visitors to a 6-4 advantage. AUDIO: Iribarren Go-Ahead Two-Run Double The Express got a run back in the bottom of the sixth on Danny Klassen's RBI single before the Sounds tacked on two more in the seventh to extend the lead to 8-5. With one out, Adam Heether, Woodward, Carlos Corporan, and pinch-hitter Callix Crabbe put together four consecutive singles against Round Rock reliever Fernando Nieve, the last two of those knocks plating runs. Narron (8-4) earned his team-leading eighth win for Nashville after allowing five runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings of work. Hernandez (7-7) took the loss after giving up six runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 frames. Both teams travel to Nashville on Wednesday to begin a five-game series at Greer Stadium. Left-hander Chris Narveson (5-12, 5.13) will start Wednesday's 6 p.m. contest for the Sounds and face Round Rock right-hander (8-7, 4.80). Nashville Box Score Chris Woodward 10-for-his-last-18; Sam Narron now 14-5 between AA and AAA... Nashville Game Log Wouldn't Erasmo Ramirez earn the save, not the hold, based on the early final?

Youngest non-Latin player, yes, but Francicso Rivero of Venezuela is younger. But I think that's what you meant. Maverick Lasker is the youngest American player.

Recruiting Sheets Roy Oswalt promises to deliver yet another recruiting pitch to Milwaukee Brewers righthander Ben Sheets, who is expected to be one of the top pitchers on the free-agent market this winter. "Yeah, this is the last time we see him," Oswalt said. "I'm going to say something to him and see where he's at." Oswalt and Sheets are close friends, dating to their time together on the American baseball team that won the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics. Lance Berkman also wants Sheets to know his presence would be appreciated in Houston. "I'd love to have him," Berkman said of Sheets, who will start for the Brewers tonight against the Astros.

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 77 52 .597 - 46-22 31-30 W7 Memphis 69 60 .535 8.0 33-30 36-30 W1 Omaha 54 75 .419 23.0 25-38 29-37 L2 Nashville 54 76 .415 23.5 25-38 29-38 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 35 21 .625 - 18-8 17-13 L1 Tennessee 28 28 .500 7.0 13-17 15-11 W2 Huntsville 27 29 .482 8.0 14-16 13-13 W1 West Tenn 24 31 .436 10.5 11-18 13-13 W1 Chattanooga 23 33 .411 12.0 11-15 12-18 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 31 22 .585 - 20-9 11-13 W2 Jupiter 32 23 .582 - 15-11 17-12 L2 St. Lucie 29 24 .547 2.0 12-11 17-13 W1 Palm Beach 28 27 .509 4.0 16-13 12-14 L1 Brevard County 26 30 .464 6.5 12-16 14-14 L1 Vero Beach 16 40 .286 16.5 6-22 10-18 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 39 18 .684 - 20-6 19-12 W5 Lakewood 36 21 .632 3.0 18-12 18-9 W1 Delmarva 32 24 .571 6.5 16-14 16-10 W5 Lake County 27 29 .482 11.5 12-14 15-15 L1 Greensboro 23 34 .404 16.0 10-16 13-18 L1 Hagerstown 21 36 .368 18.0 9-18 12-18 L6 Lexington 19 37 .339 19.5 9-18 10-19 L4 Hickory 17 40 .298 22.0 6-23 11-17 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 12 5 .706 - 9-3 3-2 L2 Great Falls 11 10 .524 3.0 6-4 5-6 W2 Helena 7 14 .333 7.0 2-8 5-6 W1 Missoula 5 16 .238 9.0 5-5 0-11 W1

Arizona League Standings

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated several hours prior to gametime. Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):

Follow Tuesday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, 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. Nashville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_19_nasaaa_rreaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_19_hunaax_biraax_1 West Virginia: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_19_ashafx_wvaafx_1 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_19_ogdrok_helrok_1 Arizona: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_08_19_pdrrok_brrrok_1

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times Central except Arizona League; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Sam Narron at Round Rock (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link via WNSR, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t556 Huntsville: RHP Donovan Hand at Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link via WUMP, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?sid=t559 Brevard County: Idle West Virginia: RHP Reed Dickert at home vs. Asheville (Rockies), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link via WSWW, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t525 Helena: RHP Wily Peralta at home vs. Ogden (Dodgers), 7:55 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Audio link via KCAP, be sure to select the proper date (game will also archive at this link): http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t433 Arizona: TBD vs. the Padres' kids at home in Maryvale, 7:00 PM local Mountain Standard Time Never any audio for the Maryvale Crew

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

Southern League Hitter of the Week ANGEL SALOME, C, HUNTSVILLE STARS Salome collected a league-high 13 hits in just five games during the week to build a big lead in the Southern League batting race. Bidding to become the first catcher to win a batting title in the Southern League since Chattanooga's Jason LaRue did it in 1998, Salome hit .684 during the week to raise his overall mark to .364. His closest competition with 15 games remaining, teammate Alcides Escobar, ended the week with a .341 average. The 22-year-old Salome caught both ends of a doubleheader sweep against Chattanooga on Wednesday, recording three hits and scoring three runs. He added four hits and two RBI the next day before launching a three-run homer in the first inning of a 3-1 victory on Friday. The resident of New York capped the week with three hits, including a solo homer, and a stolen base in an 8-7 loss on Saturday. Salome needs just one more homer and five RBI to match his career highs of 12 and 85, respectively.

Final: Arizona Giants 6, Arizona Brewers 0 Arizona Box Score Fantastic pitching lines for still 17-year-old Stosh Wawrzasek and 18-year-old Jake Odorizzi, while another 17-year-old, Venezuelan RHP Francisco Rivero allowed an inherited runner to score, but has now tossed 7.2 scoreless innings to begin his career; LHP Kristian Bueno surrenedered all six runs in relief and took the loss; Brewers stranded ten while getting shutout, what a long summer in Maryvale... Arizona Game Log

Audio Alley: Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Infielder/Outfielder Callix Crabbe Such a classy kid... Helena Pre-Game Audio Interview with Coach Ned Yost IV Click on the KCAP archive of August 18th, then browse to the 04:30 minute mark -- there's been a "Moustache Mania" in the clubhouse, and the fun focus of the conversation is on that -- Frito Bandito, Freddy Mercury, Tony Orlando, love the comparisons...

Final: Nashville 8, Round Rock (Astros) 2 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Lindsay Gulin photo, text follows -- Sounds Use Big First Inning To Derail Express ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Nashville Sounds put up six runs in the top of the first inning and cruised to an 8-2 victory over the Round Rock Express on Monday evening at The Dell Diamond. Five Nashville hitters turned in multiple-hit efforts in the club's 13-hit output as the Sounds won for the third time in their last four games. Lindsay Gulin (6-7) turned in his seventh quality start of the year to notch the victory for the Sounds. He allowed one run on seven hits while striking out six batters over six innings of work. The Sounds got out of the gates quickly, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring six runs in the top of the first inning against Express starter Jack Cassel. Hernan Iribarren - who recorded a pair of hits in the frame to become the first Nashville player to accomplish that feat since 2006 - led off the game with a triple and scored the first run on Joe Dillon's one-out RBI single. Jay Gibbons added a run-scoring single before Chris Woodward delivered the frame's biggest knock, a bases-loaded, three-run triple to center to make it a 5-0 contest. Vinny Rottino plated the sixth Sounds run with a sacrifice fly. AUDIO: Chris Woodward Three-Run Triple Round Rock got on the board in the third against Gulin when Tommy Marzella led off with a bunt single and later scored on Ray Sadler's two-out RBI single to reduce the Nashville lead to 6-1. Gibbons increased the Sounds' advantage to 7-2 in the top of the seventh with a one-out RBI double off Ray King that scored Dillon before Round Rock got the run back in the home half of the frame on Chris Johnson's two-out RBI single against Luis Pena. The Sounds tacked on their final run in the eighth when Vinny Rottino led off with a walk off Nick Regilio, moved to second on a Brendan Katin single, and scored on Tony Gwynn's one-out RBI single. Joe Bateman worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings behind Pena before Tim Dillard took over for Nashville and kept the Express off the board in the ninth. Cassel (8-4) was saddled with the loss after giving up six runs on eight hits in six innings. The teams wrap the series with a 7:05 p.m. CT finale on Tuesday. Left-hander Sam Narron (7-4, 4.64) will make the start for Nashville to face Round Rock right-hander Runelvys Hernandez (7-6, 4.56). Nashville Box Score Brad Nelson, Adam Heether, and Chris Woodward on base three times apiece; Luis Pena attmpting to get back on track in non-closing situations... Nashville Game Log

Final: Helena 16, Ogden (Dodgers) 10 Link while active, text follows: Brewers outslug Raptors By CURT SYNNESS - Helena Independent Record After dropping their previous four games, the Helena Brewers took out their frustrations on Ogden Raptors pitching Monday, clouting 21 hits in a 16-10 victory at Kindrick Legion Field. In a contest that lasted 3 hours, 8 minutes, the only thing hotter than the 90-plus degree temperature were the Brewers' bats. Things didn't look real promising for the local squad early on, as the Raptors scored three runs in the first inning and two in the second to take a 5-1 lead going into the third frame. But the Brewers rallied for four scores in their half of the third to knot things up, and then burst ahead 8-5 in the next inning. The home team tallied all four of their third-stanza runs before Ogden starter Robert Boothe was able to record an out. After John Delaney reached on a base on balls, the Brewers ripped off five straight singles by Cutter Dykstra, Erik Komatsu, Brock Kjeldgaard, Chris Dennis and Corey Kemp. Dennis' line drive barely tipped off of the glove of a leaping second baseman. Kemp's two-RBI base rap just escaped the grasp of a diving shortstop into the hole, bringing Komatsu and Kjeldgaard plateward. In Helena's three-run fourth stanza, Delaney and Komatsu both singled, ahead of Kjeldgaard's two-run double to center. The lanky first baseman then came home on a two-bagger by Dennis. The Capital City group kept the momentum going in the fifth, powered by a grand-slam by Komatsu. With David Fonseca, Miguel Vasquez and Delaney on base with two outs, Komatsu's 11th tater cleared the right field wall and the sacks. This gave manager Rene Gonzales' crew a 14-6 lead. But the visitors proved they weren't ready to give up yet, pushing across four runs of their own in the seventh. The most impactful blast was Steven Casares' three-run homer. Helena's Kjeldgaard scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to make it 15-10. The locals added another run in the eighth, with Delaney's double driving home Fonseca. Komatsu finished with a 4-for-6 performance, raising his batting average to .353. Kjeldgaard was 3-for-4, with two doubles and four RBI. Dennis also rapped out three base knocks. Collecting two hits each were Delaney, Dykstra, Erik Miller, Mike Roberts and Fonseca. Every single batter in the home team's lineup registered a base hit. And their run total may have even been higher, considering they had two base runners thrown out at the plate on the night. Liam Ohlmann started for Helena. He was replaced in the fourth frame by Adam Arnold. Arnold went 1 1/3 innings and picked up his second win of the year. Brandon Ritchie and Mark Willinsky relieved the rest of the way. Javier Solano took the loss. Helena moves to 7-14 in the second half and 27-32 overall. The Raptors and Brewers meet again tonight at Kindrick at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central) in the second of their three-game series. Helena Box Score A real feast for the eyes, at least offensively, behold crooked numbers galore... Helena Game Log

Link while active, text follows: First-place Power starts homestand By Mitch Vingle Charleston Daily Mail Sports Editor CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- If your September calendar is reserved for football, you can still get a taste of the South Atlantic League baseball playoffs - even before they begin. The Asheville Tourists, first-half winners of the Southern Division, hit Charleston today for the first of a four-game homestand against the current Northern Division-leading West Virginia Power. Tonight's game at Appalachian Power Park will match a hot Power team that holds a three-game lead over Lakewood in the Northern Division against a Tourists team now stuck in third place in the Southern. In the Sally League playoffs, Asheville will probably face current Southern leader Augusta, while a successful Power team would face first-half Northern winner Lake County. The winners would face each other in the finals. So consider these four games at The APP as trailers for what could be the marquee event. West Virginia has been led by Eric Fryer, a 6-foot-2 left fielder / catcher from Ohio State, with a .348 batting average - tops in the league. First baseman Steffan Wilson has a .291 batting average with 18 homers and 91 runs batted in. Wilson is closing in on the franchise record of 102 RBI. Asheville (30-26) has been led by third baseman Darin Holcomb, who had a .323 average with 13 homers and 90 RBI. He played collegiately at Gonzaga. The pitching matchup is expected to be West Virginia righty Reed Dickert (2-2, 1.86 ERA in 48 1/3 innings) and Asheville righty Bruce Billings (8-10, 4.09 in 143 innings). West Virginia has won four home games in a row and is 20-6 in home games over the second half

Final: West Virginia 8, Greenville (Red Sox) 3 West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER SWEEP DRIVE The first six batters in the order hit safely twice and R.J. Seidel tossed six scoreless innings on Monday night at Fluor Field as the West Virginia Power won their fifth game in a row, sweeping the Greenville Drive with an 8-3 victory. Eric Fryer gave West Virginia an early lead for the second night in a row, with an RBI single in the first inning. Zelous Wheeler doubled West Virginia's lead with a two-out RBI double in the fourth. The Power scored four times with two outs in the fifth inning. Michael Almamzar's fielding error allowed Logan Schafer to score the first run of the inning. Wilson scored on a wild pitch, and Caleb Gindl and Wheeler ripped back-to-back RBI singles to finish the inning. The Power added a pair of runs in the seventh inning. Curt Rindal's bases loaded base single scored Steffan Wilson and Lee Haydel walked with the bases loaded to score Gindl. The Drive got on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning on a two-run homer from Will Vazquez. Greenville scored one final time in the ninth on Almanzar's sacrifice fly, which brought in Oscar Tejada. Seidel (8-5) allowed just four hits over six scoreless frames and fanned two to get his first victory since July 18th. Terumasa Matsuo (5-5) allowed six runs, only one earned on nine hits over four and two-thirds and was tagged with the loss. The Power improved to 71-55 on the year and 39-18 in the second half with the win. The Drive fell to 64-62 on the year and 24-32 in the second half with the loss. Eric Farris, Schafer, Fryer, Wilson, Gindl and Wheeler all hit safely twice. Fryer went 2-for-5, giving him six straight multi-hit games. He went 14-for-34 on the road trip. The Power will begin a four-game series against the Asheville Tourists at Appalachian Power Park on Tuesday night. The Power will start right hander Reed Dickert (2-2, 1.86) and the Tourists will counter with right hander Bruce Billings (8-10, 4.09) The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score Eric Fryer is like found money for the Brewers -- they didn't even have a place for him to play in all of April -- unbelievable, really; R.J. Seidel one run over his last 14 innings, and much more economical in this one; three-game lead as they begin their homestand, the kids must be psyched... West Virginia Game Log

Darren Ford with only pinch-hit AB's in recent games, his Cal League numbers mirror his numbers with Brevard County Steve Hammond OK for a win in his most recent start (two runs in the 7th took away a "quality start")

93 pitches in five innings (and a loss) for Will Inman in his most recent start

Link while active, text follows: LaPorta sees stars Ex-Huntsville player takes pitch to head vs. ChinaHuntsville Times Contact Mark McCarter at mark.mccarter@htimes.com or visit his al.com blog at http://blog.al.com/mccarter BEIJING - Table tennis was a catalyst in bringing the United States and China together in the 1970s. Baseball just set back diplomatic relationships between the two nations three decades. Quick. Somebody get Henry Kissinger out of retirement. It may not be too late to save it. I went to a baseball game Monday night and an international incident broke out. Blame the full moon, I guess. Peace and harmony? Wiped out on a collision at the plate. One World One Dream? One 87 mph fastball to the head flushed that away. The Red Sox and Yankees are a company picnic sack-race compared to this. The United States beat China 9-1 to improve its Olympic record to 3-2. Aside from simply wanting to check out a baseball game, part of the reason to attend was to catch up with Matt LaPorta, the outfielder who began the season with the Huntsville Stars. (He was traded to Cleveland in July for pitcher CC Sabathia to help the Brewers' pennant run.) You'll notice a significant lack of LaPorta quotes. He was led off the field with little planets and stars circling his head, the way it does in the comics. He was the victim of the aforementioned 87-mph fastball to the noggin. LaPorta was taken to a hospital for a CAT scan, and it was determined he has a slight concussion. Here is LaPorta's Olympics: One-for-15 at the plate (the hit was a home run) A nasty tumble in the outfield when he tripped over center fielder Nick Schierholtz. A collision at home with catcher Wang Wei that started the ugliness. A pitch to the head. A Michael Phelps Olympics he is not having. The Americans broke open a 1-0 game in the fifth on Taylor Teagarden's two-run double, with LaPorta scoring the second run by plowing shoulder-first into Wang Wei's chest, who had to be helped off the field. Chinese manager Jim Lefebvre, the former Dodger second baseman and major league manager, complained immediately and was ejected. He complained later, before bolting abruptly from a press conference that never really got started, that "it was an illegal slide. The umpire should have ejected (LaPorta)." Jason Donald was hit by a pitch moments immediately after the play, then Schierholtz, a Giants' Triple-A outfielder, was hit in the sixth. He exacted his revenge by creaming Yang Yang at home. Schierholtz claimed Yang was blocking the plate, which would have made a slide dangerous. Yang, understandably, got up and said something challenging to Schierholtz, who turned to confront him. "It's baseball, said Schierholtz, who carried himself with something of defiant air. "They've got to accept that. It's not my problem." We were close to a bench's clearing brawl. On another stage, it'd have been automatic. "It's a little different here, I guess," Schierholtz said. LaPorta, leading off the seventh, was hit by Kun Chen. Hitting LaPorta would be forgivable. It's baseball. But not in the head. And not at 87 mph. As with most Olympic venues, there has been much Americanization of the event, up to and including a heavy reliance on the theme from "Green Acres" for between-pitches bumper music. The game got Americanized, too, with aggressive baseball took over. Both sides had their cheap-shot moments. Both are equally guilty of the international incident. Both could calmly ease the tension if they cared to. It'd just take a couple of games of Ping-Pong.