Jim Goulart

Matt LaPorta an 0-for-5 night, no K's Darren Ford is making his debut tonight in San Jose -- groundout to short, called out on strikes, walk, stolen base, scored on a double -- final update later... EDIT: Ford walked again in the 8th...

Final: Tacoma (Mariners) 5, Nashville 2 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for new Mark DiFelice photo, text follows -- Sounds Open Homestand With 5-2 Loss NASHVILLE - The Nashville Sounds opened their homestand on the short end of a 5-2 loss to the Tacoma Rainiers on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series. Tacoma took advantage of a two-out dropped fly ball by Tony Gwynn in center field to grab a 2-0 lead against Mark DiFelice in the top of the first inning. Wladimir Balentien doubled to left before Gwynn failed to glove a Victor Diaz fly to allow the first run to score. Shawn Garrett followed with an RBI double to right-center that increased the visitors' advantage to two. The Sounds tied the contest in the sixth against Tacoma reliever Tracy Thorpe. Gwynn led off with a single and moved to second on a Joe Dillon single before both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Brad Nelson walked to load the bases. Laynce Nix halved the Rainiers' lead to 2-1 with a sacrifice fly to center that plated Gwynn before Vinny Rottino delivered a game-tying, two-out RBI single to right later in the frame. The visitors quickly re-took the lead in the top of the seventh when they erupted for three runs against the Nashville bullpen. Rob Johnson and Luis Valbuena opened the frame with consecutive doubles off reliever Troy Cate to give Tacoma a 3-2 lead. After a flyout, Joe Bateman took over on the hill and was greeted by another set of back-to-back RBI doubles off the bats of Matt Tuiasosopo and Balentien that brought the score to 5-2. Thorpe (2-3) picked up the win for the Rainiers despite being charged with a blown save as he allowed two runs on four hits in a season-high three innings of work. Cate (1-2) took a loss in his Sounds debut after giving up two runs on four hits over 1 1/3 innings. Neither starter factored in the decision despite a pair of solid efforts. DiFelice allowed two unearned runs over his five frames of action for the Sounds to lower his ERA to 2.92 through eight starts with the club. Tacoma left-hander Jake Woods struck out five batters over his five scoreless innings for the visitors. The teams continue the series with a noon matinee on Wednesday afternoon. Left-hander Lindsay Gulin (5-4, 3.67) will man the bump for Nashville to face Rainiers right-hander Andy Baldwin (6-5, 5.40). Nashville Box Score Tony Gwynn dropped a second ball in the 7th-- two of his three errors this season came in this game... Nashville Game Log

Updating from above -- The Stars dropped to 17-14 in the second half and a game and a half behind division leading Tennessee, pending the outcome of their game, while the Mudcats improved to 16-15 in the second half. Tennesse lost, Stars still one game out...

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Brewers Minor League Field Coordinator and Roving Catching Instructor Charlie Greene Vinny Rottino, Carlos Corporan, Angel Salome, Martin Maldonado, Jonathan Lucroy among those discussed...

Huntsville Pre-Game Audio Interview with Manager Don Money Click on the WUMP archive of July 22nd, then browse to the 09:15 minute mark; discussion on Mat Gamel's recent struggles, new catcher Martin Maldonado, and a refreshingly honest statement on just-traded Steve Hammond -- Money was not a big fan of his stuff or potential...

Jay Gibbons signing is official -- in fact, he debuted with Huntsville Tuesday night, grounding out as a pinch-hitter. Jay Gibbons Career Statistics Link, text follows: Brewers sign Gibbons to Minors deal By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com ST. LOUIS -- Veteran outfielder Jay Gibbons passed a physical in Huntsville, Ala., on Tuesday afternoon and cleared the final obstacle on his long road back to organized baseball. The Brewers inked a Minor League contract with Gibbons, a left-handed hitter who belted 121 home runs for the Orioles from 2001-07. He was released in March and had been playing in an independent league. Gibbons, 31, will spend at least the next 10-14 days with Double-A Huntsville as a replacement for outfielder Michael Brantley, who aggravated an ankle injury and was to be placed on the disabled list when Gibbons is activated. When Brantley returns, Gibbons is expected to get a promotion to Triple-A Nashville. "He's a little rusty, self-admittedly rusty," Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said. "The idea is to get him some Minor League at-bats and then evaluate as we go along." Gibbons appeared in Huntsville's 3-2 loss Tuesday night to the host Carolina Mudcats. He made his first appearance as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and grounded out to short in his only at-bat Gibbons was one of the players mentioned in former Sen. George Mitchell's report on performance-enhancing drugs that was released in December. He later admitted to using human growth hormone to speed his recovery from a wrist injury. In a move to find work after Baltimore released him, Gibbons was forthright about his past indiscretions in a letter sent to the Brewers and 28 other teams. Gibbons was in New York during the All-Star break and met with Ash and Brewers amateur scouting director Jack Zduriencik. The Brewers subsequently dispatched a scout to see Gibbons play for the Independent Long Island Ducks, where one of his teammates was former Brewer Alex Sanchez, another former Major Leaguer linked to performance-enhancing drugs. "He was very straightforward about his situation off the field," said Ash, who was the Blue Jays' GM when that team drafted Gibbons in the 14th round in 1998. The Orioles snatched him away in the 2000 Rule 5 Draft. "They sat down and basically interviewed him," Brewers GM Doug Melvin said. "Gord is familiar with him from Toronto, and [Gibbons] wants to get back and playing. I don't know exactly what his [off-the-field] issues were, but they were not enough to not give a guy a second chance. He's always been a good guy with a good work ethic." The Orioles are paying Gibbons nearly $12 million this season and next. Unless someone is traded before the July 31 nonwaiver deadline, Gibbons would join a slew of other left-handed outfield bats at Nashville with Major League experience, a list that already includes Tony Gwynn Jr., Laynce Nix and Hernan Iribarren. Melvin said that Gibbons has a good chance for a September callup to Milwaukee.

Final: Carolina (Marlins) 3, Huntsville 2 Huntsville Press Release: Mudcats Grab Opener of Series BULLPEN BLANKS STARS OVER FINAL THREE FRAMES Gaby Hernandez worked six solid innings and drove in what turned out to be the game-winning run in Carolina's 3-2 decision over Huntsville Tuesday night in the opener of a five-game set at Five County Stadium. The Stars dropped to 17-14 in the second half and a game and a half behind division leading Tennessee, pending the outcome of their game, while the Mudcats improved to 16-15 in the second half. Carolina has taken eight of the 12 games between the two teams this season. Cole Gillespie walked to begin the ninth inning against Chris Mobley, who took over on the hill for Todd Doolittle to start the frame, and advanced to second base on a Michael Garciaparra sacrifice bunt but stayed there after Freddy Parejo flied out and Martin Maldonado took a called third strike to end the game. Mobley earned his 19th save of the season and sixth against the Stars. Gillespie's one-out home run in the second inning gave the Stars a 1-0 lead. It was his 13th long ball of the year and third against the Mudcats. Mike Bell started the fourth with a double, moved to third base on a bunt base hit by Alcides Escobar and scored on a Gillespie fielder's choice grounder to push the visitors lead to 2-0. Gaby Sanchez drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, moved to third base on a single by Bryan Peterson, who took second on the throw back to the infield, and scored on a Brae Wright wild pitch to cut the lead to 2-1. Brad Davis walked to put runners at the corners before Smelin Perez doubled to drive in Peterson to tie the game and move Davis to third base with just his third hit in 34 double-A at-bats. Hernandez then sent a line drive to right field deep enough to plate Davis with the go-ahead run. Hernandez was removed after J.R. Hopf's leadoff single in the seventh and was replaced by Jesus Delgado, who retired the next three hitters to end the inning. Hernandez improved to 2-0 after allowing six hits and fanning six. Doolittle tossed a scoreless eighth inning, allowing a hit and ended the frame by striking out Mat Gamel, who for the first time has gone four games in a row without a hit and is hitless in his last 15 at-bats. Wright took the loss, going six innings and yielding six hits, while walking four and striking out five. Huntsville has scored only four runs while he has been in the game over his last three starts, which have resulted in two losses and a no-decision. Steve Bray tossed two scoreless innings behind Wright. The series continues Wednesday night with Stars' right-hander Donovan Hand taking the hill against Mudcats right-hander Willie Glen. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com and www.730ump.com. Huntsville Box Score Jay Gibbons made his Brewer organization debut, grounding out in a pinch-hit appearance; Lorenzo Cain 1-for-4 with a double, hitting leadoff and playing center field in Michael Brantley's absence... Huntsville Game Log

Final, Game Two: Brevard County 16, Tampa (Yankees) 2 First time in 100 games this season the Manatees have scored in double figures... Brevard County Game Two Box Score Before we credit the bats, here's to LHP Mike Ramlow, winning his first high-A start (2nd appearance); five doubles among the 16 Manatee hits (in only seven innings, remember); Brent Brewer a career game, 4-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, five RBI, and a stolen base; Jonathan Lucroy and Taylor Green on base four times apiece; Mel Stocker 3-for-5 with a double; Charlie Fermaint, Chuckie Caufield, Kenny Holmberg and Stephen Chapman each reached twice; 11 of the RBI came with two out... Brevard County Game Two Game Log Enjoy!

Stephen Chapman hitting 9th in the second Manatee game, against a right-hand pitcher. What a fall in value this season. Mike Ramlow starting Game Two, why did MiLB.com even bother listing starters today?

Final, Game One: Tampa (Yankees) 4, Brevard County 2 Brevard County Game One Box Score Kenny Holmberg and Chuckie Caufield two hits each, Caufield with a double; Amaury Rivas was your starter, making his high-A debut (3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR)... Brevard County Game One Game Log Double play grounders ended the Manatee 1st and 2nd; Jonathan Lucroy continues to throw well, nailing the one runner who tried to steal; single-single-home run, that did in Rivas in the 2nd; Caufield gunned down a runner at the plate from right field to end the 5th; Brevard got two on with one out in the final inning, but Scott Houin (now 2-for-15, six K's with the Manatees) struck out swinging and Yohannis Perez flew out to end it...

Infielder Steve Braun's Player Profile Page from the preseason at the University of Maryland site

Follow-up with more at brewcrewball.

Considering Angel Salome has a 1.062 OPS in July hitting cleanup behind Gamel most nights, Mat is still plenty protected. Mat's numbers simply needed to level off a bit at some point.

Taylor Green again at DH today -- perhaps he's tweaked something that's keeping him off the field on defense. Brent Brewer again at third base.

For the moment, Huntsville is one short of filling their 24-man allowed roster, and West Virginia is thin, playing with 23 (25 allowed). It's not as if Helena can spare position players to send to Charleston right now.

Mark DiFelice activated from the DL at Nashville -- see Tuesday's Link Report -- and Derrick Turnbow placed on the DL to make room, with an undisclosed injury. Turnbow has been sent to the Brewers' extended spring training facility in Phoenix to rehab.

Some good news from Nashville as per their media notes, where RHP Mark DiFelice has been activated from the disabled list after the minimum stay -- he had left his most recent start on July 12 against New Orleans as a precautionary measure after experiencing stiffness. He is starting tonight, as Lindsay Gulin gets bumped to Wednesday.

Getting To Know Your Sounds: LHP Erasmo Ramirez

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 62 41 .602 - 38-18 24-23 W1 Memphis 56 46 .549 5.5 26-21 30-25 W1 Omaha 47 55 .461 14.5 22-29 25-26 W1 Nashville 40 62 .392 21.5 19-27 21-35 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 18 12 .600 - 9-6 9-6 W1 Huntsville 17 13 .567 1.0 8-7 9-6 L1 Carolina 15 15 .500 3.0 5-5 10-10 L1 Chattanooga 13 17 .433 5.0 6-9 7-8 L1 West Tenn 11 19 .367 7.0 4-11 7-8 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 16 12 .571 - 8-5 8-7 L1 St. Lucie 16 12 .571 - 8-5 8-7 W1 Jupiter 14 14 .500 2.0 7-6 7-8 L4 Palm Beach 14 15 .483 2.5 10-6 4-9 L6 Brevard County 12 17 .414 4.5 6-10 6-7 W4 Vero Beach 11 19 .367 6.0 5-10 6-9 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 22 9 .710 - 12-4 10-5 W1 Lakewood 21 10 .677 1.0 9-5 12-5 W6 Delmarva 17 14 .548 5.0 6-8 11-6 W2 Hagerstown 14 17 .452 8.0 5-10 9-7 L1 Greensboro 12 19 .387 10.0 6-10 6-9 W2 Lake County 12 19 .387 10.0 5-10 7-9 L3 Hickory 11 20 .355 11.0 3-12 8-8 L7 Lexington 9 21 .300 12.5 6-11 3-10 W4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 21 12 .636 - 10-2 11-10 W2 Helena 18 15 .545 3.0 9-9 9-6 W2 Great Falls 17 16 .515 4.0 10-8 7-8 W1 Missoula 6 27 .182 15.0 3-15 3-12 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 16 6 .727 - 8-4 8-2 W1 AZL Cubs 14 9 .609 2.5 9-2 5-7 W4 AZL Rangers 14 9 .609 2.5 7-5 7-4 W4 AZL Royals 13 11 .542 4.0 9-3 4-8 W1 AZL Padres 12 11 .522 4.5 7-4 5-7 L1 AZL Giants 12 12 .500 5.0 6-6 6-6 L1 AZL Athletics 9 14 .391 7.5 4-7 5-7 L4 AZL Mariners 9 14 .391 7.5 5-6 4-8 W1 AZL Brewers 5 18 .217 11.5 5-7 0-11 L3

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_07_22_tacaaa_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_22_hunaax_cmcaax_1 Brevard County Game One: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_22_breafa_tbyafa_1 Brevard County Game Two: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_22_breafa_tbyafa_2 West Virginia: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_22_romafx_wvaafx_1 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_07_22_helrok_casrok_1

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times Central except Arizona League; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Lindsay Gulin (UPDATE -- RHP Mark DiFelice) at home vs. Tacoma (Mariners), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 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: LHP Brae Wright at Carolina (Marlins), 6:00 PM pre-game; 6:15 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: LHP Bobby Bramhall and RHP Josh Wahpepah in a twinbill at Tampa (Yankees), 4:00 gametime; each contest seven innings Sorry, no audio for this series... West Virginia: RHP Roque Mercedes at home vs. Rome (Braves), 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: LHP Brandon Ritchie at Casper (Rockies), 7:50 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: Idle

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

News from Huntsville (Brewerfan notes in parentheses): The Milwaukee Brewers announced today that Stars' LHP Troy Cate has been promoted to Triple-A Nashville (well-earned) to take the roster spot of former Huntsville Star Steve Hammond who was traded to the San Fransisco Giants in a package for 2B Ray Durham. Replacing Cate on the Stars' roster will be RHP Alex Periard from Single-A Brevard County (reported yesterday). The Brewers also placed OF Michael Brantley on the disabled list (we imagine a re-aggravation of his ankle injury, but that's not confirmed), and released INF Ryan Crew (who had been on the suspended list). The Stars roster currently stands at 23, one shy of full capacity. News from Brevard County: The Manatees roster gets filled by the transfer of Nashville OF Mel Stocker to Brevard County. (Seems like a chance for Stocker to get some AB's, and relieve the Nashville outfield glut.)

Link while active, text follows: Fryer comfortable behind plate for Power by Derek Taylor Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter Eric Fryer has found his home behind the plate for the West Virginia Power. How long the 24-year old catcher-turned-outfielder-turned catcher stays at his original position in Charleston depends largely on the time it takes for someone in his team's parent system to pluck the second-year pro from the low Class A level squad. After spending 50 games in left field for West Virginia, Fryer has returned to the position he played throughout his high school and college careers thanks to the promotion of former Power catcher Jonathan Lucroy. "We needed an extra bat in our lineup," Power Manager Jeff Isom said after his team's 6-5 win over Rome in 11 innings on Monday night at Appalachian Power Park. "(Fryer) came up from (rookie-level Helena) and we had Jonathan Lucroy to start the season so Jonathan was going to get the bulk of the playing time behind the plate. "We needed to find a position for Eric the way he was swinging the bat, so we put him in the outfield." That spot -- left field -- gave Fryer a home early in 2008 and was where the former Ohio State Buckeye star spent his most productive week as a pro. Fryer was named the South Atlantic League's Player of the Week for June 30-July 6 when he hit .682 (15-for-22). "Now he's opening some eyes in the organization," Isom said. Fryer's right-handed bat has cooled of late. He was hitting .250 in his last 10 games before Monday's win. The Milwaukee Brewers' 10th-round pick of the 2007 draft went 3-for-5 with two RBI on Monday, improving his batting average to .345. As important as his bat was on Monday -- Fryer gave the Power their first run with a first-inning RBI single -- it was his improving defense that was part of a crucial play late in the game. With one out and the bases loaded in the top of the 11th, Fryer was the linchpin in a 1-2-3 double play to retire a speedy Michael Fisher at first base and allow the Power to escape the inning with the game still tied at 5-5. "Early on I was more comfortable back there and then I got pretty comfortable in left field," Fryer said of his nomadic positioning since turning pro. "Now, I felt a little rusty the first couple games but tonight I felt really good back there. I was blocking balls real well, so hopefully I'll keep getting better and building up on it." West Virginia's fourth double play of the night quickly gave way to the game's final scenario. Lee Haydel opened the bottom of the 11th with a single. Matt Cline followed with a bunt that was fielded cleanly by Braves reliever Tommy Palica, but then thrown wide of first base. Haydel didn't look up until he was on his way home from third with the game's winning run. "I've got to give Lee Haydel all the credit in the world right there," Isom said. "Because I looked up to see where (Rome defenders) were at and he was almost right at me. "So I said, 'Okay, we'll take a chance' and he scored it." Power reliever Curtis Pasma (4-2) got the win after pitching two innings of one-hit baseball. The West Virginia bullpen totaled five innings in relief of starter Evan Anundsen and gave up just one run. Palica (6-5) took the loss for Rome. West Virginia maintained its one-game lead for first place over Lakewood in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division. Isom suggested he wouldn't be surprised to lose a second catcher to promotion before too long. Lucroy is hitting .321 at Class A Brevard County and Fryer could be hitting the ball even better. "He's only had 12 games behind the plate (before Monday) but he's going to have many more in the future," Isom said. "If he continues to swing the bat who knows what's going to happen. "I do know he's going to have quite a bit of the reps behind the plate the remainder of the season."