Jim Goulart

Final: Huntsville 8, Carolina (Marlins) 1 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Huntsville's High-Octane Offense Rolls Along Wright Outstanding in Pitching Stars Past Mudcats By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Alcides Escobar finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle and drove in three runs to power a 15-hit attack and Brae Wright threw eight strong innings in Huntsville's 8-1 victory over Carolina Thursday night in the third of a six-game set at Five County Stadium. The Stars improved to 5-4 in the second half and 46-33 overall, while the Mudcats dipped to 4-5 in the second half and fell to 42-37 overall. Huntsville has scored at least seven runs and collected at least 11 hits in each of the last six games and has totaled 44 runs on 80 hits during that stretch. Michael Brantley opened the game with a single, moved to third base when Mudcats' third sacker Gaby Sanchez couldn't handle an Escobar ground ball and scored when Mat Gamel doubled off the right field wall. Matt LaPorta walked to load the bases and starter Willie Glen uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Escobar to score as Cole Gillespie fanned for the first out. The right-hander then struck out Mike Bell and Chris Errecart with runners at second and third to end the frame. Escobar's two-run home run in the second inning, his first since May 31, extended the Stars' lead to 4-0 and LaPorta's two-out, run-scoring double in the fourth made it a 5-0 game. Gillespie followed with a walk and that spelled the end of the night for Glen, who was charged with five runs, four earned, on seven hits, while walking four and fanning five. He took the loss to drop to 4-2. Jacob Marceaux took over and recorded the last out in the fourth but surrendered two runs in the fifth on a wild pitch that scored Errecart and a run-scoring single by Escobar, who has knocked in a run in four straight games. Marceaux uncorked three wild pitches in the inning and was lifted after allowing four hits and walking one in 1 1/3 innings. Wright faced the minimum nine hitters through three and gave up his first hit to John Raynor leading off in the fourth, though that single was quickly erased when Cameron Maybin grounded into a double play. The Mudcats finally broke through in the sixth and scored their only run when Kris Harvey led off with a triple and scored on a groundout by pinch-hitter Grant Psomas. Chris Coghlan and Gaby Sanchez singled to open the seventh before Alberto Concepcion lined out to right field and Manuel Mayerson grounded into an inning-ending double play. Wright squared his record at 6-6 after fanning six and not walking a batter for the first time in 16 starts. The series continues on Friday night with right-hander Donovan Hand taking the hill against Mudcats' right-hander Chris Volstad. 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 Mat Gamel and Matt LaPorta celebrate their Futures Game assignments by combining for three doubles and four walks; in a huge "oh, by the way" game, Carlos Corporan reached all five times up with a double, three singles, and a walk, all while guiding Brae Wright to his masterful eight-inning performance; Wright got 12 ground ball outs in one of the best lines of the year, rivaled by a certain Manatee pitcher tonight we'll discuss shortly; on the down side, the Stars did strand 13 and Mat Gamel committed error #22, this one of the throwing variety... Huntsville Game Log

West Virginia Site Game Summary: LEGENDS EDGE POWER Thursday night's game at Appalachian Power Park included five lead changes and the Lexington Legends outscored the West Virginia Power 4-1 in the final three innings to take the first game of the series 8-7. Brian Pellegrini hit his first of two, two-run homers in the top of the first inning to give the Legends their first lead. Curt Rindal tied the game an inning later with a two-run blast, his fifth of the season. Matt Cline began the third inning with his third homer on the year to give the Power a 3-2 lead. Pellegrini belted his second two-run bomb of the game in the sixth to put the Legends ahead again. The Power scored three times with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Steffan Wilson began the two-out rally with a double and scored on Eric Fryer's base hit. Rindal doubled down the right field line to score Fryer and Uly Snijders belted a single to left that scored Rindal. Lexington came right back and tied the game with two in the seventh. Craig Corrado laid a bunt down with runners on first and second base and Roque Mercedes's errant throw allowed a run to score and put runners on second and third. Matt Cusick scored during the next at bat on Eric Taylor's groundout. In the eighth, Cat Everett singled in the go ahead run and Cusick's sacrifice fly plated Brandon Barnes. Rindal grounded into a 6-4-3 double play in the eighth inning and brought Wilson home in the process. Reid Kelly (2-1) allowed a run on four hits over an inning and a third to get the victory. Jordan Powell (3) pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn the save. Pedro Lambertus (0-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing a pair of runs on two hits with two walks. The Power fell to 36-41 on the year and 4-4 in the second half with the loss, while the Legends improved to 23-54 on the year and 2-6 in the second half with the win. Five Power players recorded multi-hit games including Eric Fryer who paced the Power with a 3-for-4 performance. Seven of West Virginia's 14 hits came with two outs. Haydel went 2-for-5 and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Wilson hit a pair of doubles to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. The Power will continue the four game series against the Lexington Legends at Appalachian Power Park on Friday night. Left hander Dan Merklinger (1-5, 7.50) will get the start for the Power and the Legends will counter with left hander Anthony Bello (2-3, 3.26). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score Steffan Wilson is having a heck of an offensive year, two doubles tonight; Eric Fryer's transformation into a sweet-swinging corner outfielder has been quite remarkable; after rallying to take a 6-4 lead, it was painful to listen to Roque Mercedes and Pedro Lambertus hand control back to the Legends just like that... West Virginia Game Log

Final: Lexington (Astros) 8, West Virginia 7 Was my audio choice for the night -- entertaining, although certainly frustrating, as you could sense via Voice of the Power Andy "Bull" Barch, details later on...

Baseball America discusses how the US Futures Team will factor into the Olympic roster considerations

Signing Bonuses Thus Far (Rank is Number of Draft Selection): Rank Club Player Pos. Class B-T HT WT School Hometown Birthdate Status Bonus 32. Brewers Jake Odorizzi RHP Sr. R-R 6-2 170 Highland HS Highland, Ill. 3-27-90 SIGNED $1,060,000 35. Brewers Evan Fredrickson LHP Jr. L-L 6-6 250 U. of San Francisco Oak Hill, Va. 9-23-86 SIGNED $1,010,000 54. Brewers Cutter Dykstra SS Sr. R-R 6-0 180 Westlake HS Thousand Oaks, Calif. 6-29-89 SIGNED $737,000 62. Brewers Cody Adams RHP Jr. R-R 6-2 180 Southern Illinois U. Viola, Ill. 11-26-86 SIGNED $653,000 94. Brewers Logan Schafer OF Jr. L-L 6-1 170 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Calif. 9-8-86 SIGNED $404,000 128. Brewers Josh Romanski LHP/OF Jr. L-L 6-1 185 U. of San Diego Corona, Calif. 10-18-86 SIGNED $247,000 158. Brewers Maverick Lasker RHP/3B Sr. R-R 6-3 190 Sandra D. O'Connor HS Glendale, Ariz. 2-18-90 SIGNED $176,000 188. Brewers Jose Duran SS Jr. R-R 5-11 190 Texas A&M U. Fort Worth, Texas 11-27-86 SIGNED $131,500 218. Brewers Trey Watten 3B/RHP Jr. R-R 6-3 195 Abilene Christian U. Coppell, Texas 12-16-86 SIGNED $100,000 248. Brewers Erik Komatsu OF Jr. L-L 5-10 190 Cal State Fullerton Camarillo, Calif. 10-1-87 SIGNED $130,000 278. Brewers Michael Bowman RHP Jr. R-R 6-3 195 Virginia Military Institute Richmond, Va. 5-2-87 SIGNED $85,000 308. Brewers Greg Miller RHP Jr. R-R 6-4 205 Seton Hall U. Hammonton, N.J. 2-8-87 SIGNED $75,000

Final: Arizona Brewers 11, Arizona Cubs 7 Brewers extra-motivated against those bratty Cub kids... Arizona Box Score Brewers overcome five errors and four unearned runs to win; rough pitching lines for Greg Miller and Shane Hill (Hill's 2008 debut), but Daniel Meadows and Edwin Linares each had excellent three-inning pro debuts; Brandon Rapoza struck out two in a 1-2-3 9th; big lefty bat Pedro Ramos now 1-for-13 with now walks and six K's, but his first pro hit was a triple in this one; Shawn Zarraga sporting a 1.470 OPS after three games -- yeah, that'll do, but Zarraga did have two throwing errors from behind the plate... Arizona Game Log Brewers trailed 7-5 entering the bottom of the 8th, but scored six runs as follows: - Brandon Drespling singles on a ground ball to third baseman John Contreras. - With Miguel Vasquez batting, Brandon Drespling steals (2) 2nd base. - Miguel Vasquez doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder TeWayne Willis. Brandon Drespling scores. - Carlos George walks. - Luis Sanchez singles on a fly ball to center fielder TeWayne Willis. Miguel Vasquez scores. Carlos George to 2nd. - Jose Rangel hit by pitch. Carlos George to 3rd. Luis Sanchez to 2nd. - Pitcher Change: Luke Sommer replaces Carlos Rojas. - Jonathan Requena singles on a line drive to left fielder Kurt Calvert. Carlos George scores. Luis Sanchez scores. Jose Rangel to 3rd. Jonathan Requena out at 2nd on the throw, left fielder Kurt Calvert to shortstop Starlin Castro to second baseman Dwayne Kemp. - Hitaniel Arias strikes out swinging. - Jose Garcia strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Luke Sommer. Jose Rangel scores. Jose Garcia to 1st. - Pedro Ramos triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Kevin Soto. Jose Garcia scores. - Brandon Drespling grounds out, third baseman John Contreras to first baseman Sean Hoorelbeke.

- With Mat Gamel batting, Michael Brantley steals (25) 2nd base. - Huntsville Stars center fielder Michael Brantley left the game due to an injured leg. Well, that officially stinks. We'll replay the audio late tonight...

29 pitches, can't escape the first inning... Round Rock Bottom 1st - Tomas Perez called out on strikes. - Edwin Maysonet hit by pitch. - J. R. House singles on a fly ball to right fielder Laynce Nix. Edwin Maysonet to 2nd. - Mark Saccomanno walks. Wild pitch by pitcher Eric Gagne. Edwin Maysonet scores. J. R. House to 3rd. - Coaching visit to mound. - Ray Sadler strikes out swinging. - Nick Gorneault singles on a line drive to left fielder Brendan Katin. J. R. House scores. Mark Saccomanno to 2nd. - Pitcher Change: Randy Choate replaces Eric Gagne, batting 9th. - Jonathan Ash lines out to left fielder Brendan Katin.

Link while active, text follows: Power's Rindal hunting, fishing for base hits, too by Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, West Virginia Power first baseman Curt Rindal became an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing as often as possible. Patience plays a pivotal part in both of those pastimes. The person waits on the animal or fish, not vice versa. And even then, there is no guarantee the person will bag a buck or catch a carp. Lessons learned in the woods and on the lake have helped Rindal on the baseball field, particularly at the plate. "Whether I'm hunting or fishing or playing baseball, I can't control what will happen out there," said Rindal, who is from Mount Vernon, Wash. "I can prepare and I can do my best to follow that plan, but I can't change the outcome. "It doesn't help to get frustrated. An 0-for day hurts and it ain't pretty, but it won't keep me from playing baseball or hunting or fishing." The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Rindal has needed an outlook like that this year. His batting average didn't top the .200 mark until April 22, 19 games into the South Atlantic League season. It stayed between .204 and .221 through May 31, twice dipping below .200 at .194 and .198. However, he has hit .313 in June compared to .228 in April and .214 in May to raise his batting average to .249 -- an increase of 28 percentage points in 18 games. "I think it had to do with me coming in here and expecting a lot," said Rindal, a 24-year-old University of Washington product whom the Milwaukee Brewers selected in the 35th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. "All of a sudden, I'm hitting balls hard, but they aren't falling. When your batting average isn't where you want it, it hurts your confidence. I know I'm capable of hitting. So, I stopped looking at it like, 'I'm 0-for-8 in my last three games.' Instead of three games, I look at it as one at-bat. "Now, every time I step up to the plate, I have a plan and a better approach. I'm definitely getting my swing off the way I want no matter what the outcome is. I'm not letting it bother me if I don't get a hit as long as I get a good swing and get the pitch I want. You can forget about it easier if you did what you were trying to do." Rindal has one triple, four home runs, 12 doubles, 23 runs and 25 RBI in 62 games. "For the most part," he said, "I feel like I'm in a groove right now." Teammate and roommate Steffan Wilson said Rindal preaches what he practices. "He's a positive influence when you're down on yourself," Wilson said. "He will tell you, 'There are so many more games and so many more at-bats left this season. What you did today doesn't matter.' He's good about pointing out the positive things that you did that day." "And he leaves everything at the clubhouse or in the dugout. He doesn't bring it home with him. This game can get the best of anybody for a split second. Everybody tries to pick each other up. He's very steady and very level." The Power will have an off day Wednesday, and Rindal wouldn't mind spending it on one of the Mountain State's beautiful lakes. "When I heard I was coming here, it definitely crossed my mind that this was a good place to go fishing," said Rindal, who used his signing bonus to buy a top-of-the-line shotgun for duck hunting. "I have been wanting to go since I got here, but I haven't had a chance. One of these days I plan to head out somewhere and go fishing."

Again from Huntsville: The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that Stars' LHP Derek Miller and RHP Robert Hinton have been placed on the Disabled List. Miller's placement on the DL is retroactive to June 25th and Hinton's is retroactive to June 24th. Taking their places on the Stars' roster will be RHP Nic Ungs and LHP Troy Cate. Ungs will be active for Thursday's game against the Carolina Mudcats. Cate will join the team tomorrow, and be active for Friday's game. *** Ungs had been on the Nashville disabled list since April 30th with a right sholder injury. We had reported Cate's signing from indy ball earlier in this thread. Although we don't have news on the nature of the Miller and Hinton injuries (Miller left his game this week after three scoreless innings), the fact that both injuries were back-dated bodes well. We'll see if we can learn more.

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 45 34 .570 - 25-14 20-20 L1 Memphis 41 38 .519 4.0 17-18 24-20 W3 Omaha 39 38 .506 5.0 15-19 24-19 W6 Nashville 30 49 .380 15.0 17-22 13-27 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 6 2 .750 - 4-2 2-0 W4 Carolina 4 4 .500 2.0 1-1 3-3 L1 Huntsville 4 4 .500 2.0 3-3 1-1 W1 Chattanooga 3 5 .375 3.0 3-3 0-2 L2 West Tenn 3 5 .375 3.0 0-2 3-3 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 6 1 .857 - 4-0 2-1 W4 Jupiter 3 2 .600 2.0 1-0 2-2 L1 Vero Beach 4 3 .571 2.0 1-2 3-1 W2 Daytona 3 3 .500 2.5 1-1 2-2 L1 Palm Beach 3 3 .500 2.5 3-2 0-1 W1 Brevard County 2 5 .286 4.0 1-4 1-1 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greensboro 5 2 .714 - 1-1 4-1 W1 Hagerstown 5 2 .714 - 2-1 3-1 W2 Delmarva 4 3 .571 1.0 1-3 3-0 W3 West Virginia 4 3 .571 1.0 0-0 4-3 L1 Hickory 3 4 .429 2.0 0-0 3-4 L1 Lakewood 3 4 .429 2.0 2-2 1-2 L2 Lake County 2 5 .286 3.0 0-3 2-2 L3 Lexington 1 6 .143 4.0 1-6 0-0 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 7 2 .778 - 4-2 3-0 W1 Billings 6 3 .667 1.0 0-0 6-3 W2 Helena 3 6 .333 4.0 2-4 1-2 L1 Missoula 2 7 .222 5.0 1-5 1-2 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 2 1 .667 - 1-0 1-1 L1 AZL Athletics 2 1 .667 - 1-1 1-0 W2 AZL Padres 2 1 .667 - 1-0 1-1 L1 AZL Rangers 2 1 .667 - 1-1 1-0 L1 AZL Giants 2 2 .500 0.5 1-1 1-1 W1 AZL Mariners 2 2 .500 0.5 1-1 1-1 W2 AZL Royals 2 2 .500 0.5 2-0 0-2 W1 AZL Cubs 1 2 .333 1.0 1-1 0-1 W1 AZL Brewers 0 3 .000 2.0 0-1 0-2 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 Thursday'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 "Log" or "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_06_26_nasaaa_rreaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_26_hunaax_cmcaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_26_breafa_ftmafa_1 West Virginia: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_26_lexafx_wvaafx_1 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_26_bilrok_helrok_1 Arizona: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_26_cubrok_brrrok_1

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Eric Gagne to be followed by LHP Sam Narron at Round Rock (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 PM 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: RHP Alex Periard at Fort Myers (Twins), 6:05 gametime Audio link via the Miracles' Sportsjuice network (game will not archive, however): http://www.sportsjuice.com/broadcaster2.aspx?bid=MTQ5-g%2fzH4cwYBjA%3d West Virginia: RHP Amaury Rivas at home vs. Lexington (Astros), 5:50 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: 2008 7th round Abilene Christian RHP Trey Watten at home vs. Billings (Reds), 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: 2008 10th round Seton Hall RHP Greg Miller, in Maryvale vs. the itty-bitty Cubbies, 10:30 AM local Mountain Standard Time Never any audio for the Maryvale Crew...

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

Watch as MLB.com reveals Futures Game rosters Mayo and Micucci host selection show at 3 p.m. ET Thursday

Huntsville Press Release: The Milwaukee Brewers have announced the promotion of Stars' RHP Joe Bateman to Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers have also assigned Nashville's RHP Steve Bray to Huntsville. Bray went 5-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 29 games with Huntsville in 2006 before being promoted to Nashville. Certainly not what many of us envisioned for Bray prior to spring training. Bateman's been solid all year, with ironically, one of his lesser outings being his most recent, on Tuesday of this week. This is the 28-year-old Bateman's first promotion to AAA, after six seasons in the Giants' system.

Final: Arizona Mariners 7, Arizona Brewers 5 The A-Crew has been competitive and respectable thus far, unlike some past Maryvale squads, but it never seems to translate to victories over the years for this group... Arizona Box Score Commit errors and turn double plays -- the lows and highs of an Arizona League infield; three youngsters in particular are off to hot starts at the plate -- second baseman Luis Sanchez (4-for-8), catcher Shawn Zarraga (3-for-5, two doubles and a walk), and SS Carlos George (4-for-7, two extra-base hits); high-schooler Damon Krestalude with all five outs via the strikeout in his pro debut, as noted above (three hits, two runs allowed)... Arizona Game Log

Helena Pre-Game Audio Interview with the Brewers Minor League Field Coordinator and Roving Catching Instructor Charlie Greene Point to the KCAP audio archive of June 25th, then browse to the 11:00 minute mark...

Final: Great Falls (White Sox) 12, Helena 6 Helena Independent Record: Brewers get blown out in seventh It was a close contest between the Helena Brewers and Great Falls Wednesday night, right up until the bottom of the seventh. Great Falls (7-2) scored seven runs in the seventh inning to rally back from a 6-5 Helena (3-6) lead and the Voyagers rolled to a 12-6 victory before 2,286 fans at Centene Stadium. Helena jumped to the lead when Logan Schafer and Brock Kjeldgaard hit back-to-back home runs in the third, scoring four. They added runs by Erik Komatsu and Corey Kemp, who advanced on a balk, in the fifth and sixth to reach their final score, but it was an error-filled seventh that cost the Brewers the most. The Voyagers' Brent Morel scored on a passed ball and Jordan Cheatham walked before Helena subbed in Jorge Crespo for Rolando Pascual on the mound. Crespo didn't have much more luck. He walked the first batter, Lyndon Estill, to load the bases, then Johny Celis reached on a fielding error by second baseman Jose Duran, scoring Doug Thennis. Crespo then hit batter Jesus Avila with loaded bases to score Cheatham. Kenneth Williams walked, scoring Estill, and then a throwing error from Crespo allowed Avila, Williams and Luis Sierra to score, basically putting the game away. Great Falls' Mike Grace popped out to finally end the disaster. Avila went 3-for-4, scoring three times and belting in two RBI as the offensive player of the game. Schafer's three-run homer was the highlight of the Brewers batters, none of them with more than one hit. Pascual (0-1) was given the loss and Crespo a blown save for their performances. Pascual finished 2 2/3 innings with three runs off five walked batters and two strike outs. He did not give up a hit. Great Falls pitcher Carter picked up his first win, allowing one earned run on no hits, one walk and four strike outs. The Brewers return to Helena today to face off with the Billings Mustangs at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central). Helena Box Score A seven-run 7th for the Voyagers in which they had not a single hit -- that is Bad News Bears (pre mid-movie transformation) ugly, and actually, pathetic; John Delaney, currently miscast at third base in Edgar Trejo's absence, is only 4-for-30 thus far, all singles, but his ten walks have placed his .350 OBP in the leadoff spot for now -- Massachusetts kid, so he'll get a plug whenever possible; Brock Kjeldgaard hit his first pro home run; the pitching and fielding lines (Jose Duran error # 5, apparently he played a lot more shortstop than second base at Texas A&M), those lines are simply not for young eyes... Helena Game Log

Final: Greensboro (Marlins) 8, West Virginia 7 West Virginia Site Game Summary: TWO-OUT HITS NOT ENOUGH IN POWER LOSS The West Virginia Power scored all seven of their runs on two-out hits in Wednesday's game at NewBridge Bank Park, but the Greensboro Grasshoppers erased a three-run deficit in the eighth inning on Matt Dominguez's grand slam to secure an 8-7 victory. Bryan Petersen blasted a solo home run with two outs in the first inning to give the Grasshoppers an early 1-0 lead. The Power answered quickly as Eric Fryer hit his fifth home run of the season with the bases empty and two out in the second inning to tie the game. The Power used the long ball to take the lead in the fourth, where Steffan Wilson extended his hitting streak to nine games with a two-run homer, his 14th of the season. The Power scored two more times with two outs in the fifth. Lee Haydel tripled in Curt Rindal and scored on Eric Farris's base hit. Greensboro plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a one-run game. Tyler Belcher's triple scored Ryan Anetsberger before Justin Jacobs delivered a two-out single to score Belcher. Jacobs scored later in the inning on a passed ball. Fryer singled in a run in the sixth inning and Zelous Wheeler delivered a two-out RBI single in the seventh to plate West Virginia's final run. With the bases loaded and nobody out in the eighth inning, Corey Frerichs got Petersen to pop out to shallow left field and then struck out Mike Stanton, the South Atlantic League's leader in home runs, on four pitches. Dominguez blasted a grand slam two pitches later to erase the three-run deficit and gave the 'Hoppers the lead for good. A.J. Battisto (5-0) retired all four batters he faced over an inning and a third to get the victory. Corey Madden (1) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the save. Frerichs (3-5) retired the first seven batters he faced before the eighth inning. He allowed four runs on a pair of hits and fanned four over three and a third but was tagged with the loss. The Power fell to 36-40 on the year and 4-3 in the second half with the loss, while the Grasshoppers improved to 43-34 on the year and 5-2 in the second half with the win. Every Power player reached safely and eight Power players hit safely. Four Power players recorded multi-hit games, including Farris who paced the Power with his second consecutive three-hit performance. Haydel extended his hitting streak to 11 games with his triple in the fifth and Steffan Wilson extended his road hitting streak to 11 games. The Power will begin a four game series against the Lexington Legends at Appalachian Power Park on Thursday night. Right hander Amaury Rivas (6-3, 3.48) will get the start for the Power and the Legends will counter with right hander Jeff Icenogle (1-5, 6.55). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). *** Link while active, text follows: Hoppers knock off Power with late slam By Rob Daniels Greensboro News-Record Staff Writer GREENSBORO -- If Matt Dominguez's blast to left-center field had been an airline flight, it would have included a movie and a three-course meal. Yes, even today. The Florida Marlins' top draft pick of 2007 hit a grand slam with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday to elevate the Grasshoppers over the West Virginia Power 8-7 and give them a 5-2 record in the South Atlantic League's second half. Dominguez, an 18-year-old third baseman who still has more pounds to his frame than pro at-bats to his name, bludgeoned a pitch over Natty's Hill as the Hoppers capitalized on late wildness by Power reliever Corey Frerichs. "You always think of that stuff being down by three runs," Dominguez said. "It's pretty cool to do that." The moment constitutes the biggest highlight in the young career of a player drafted 12th overall a year ago. Dominguez had signed with Cal State-Fullerton and was a few hours from being a Titan when he took the Marlins' contract offer Aug. 15, the last permissible day of the negotiating period. The Marlins shuttled him to the Gulf Coast League and then Jamestown in short-season Class A, but he played in only 15 games before the season ended. His arrival in Greensboro this season was postponed until late May after he contracted mononucleosis during spring training. So there Dominguez was Wednesday with the game on the line and a promising rally in jeopardy. The first three Hoppers batters had reached base. The next two had popped out and struck out, respectively. When Frerichs grooved one, Dominguez didn't pass up the chance to play Home Run Derby. "That same confidence will carry him in Double-A, Triple-A and the major leagues," manager Edwin Rodriguez said. The homer was the fourth of the year for Dominguez, who is hitting .327 with 16 RBIs in 107 at-bats. Drives of that length dominated last week's home run contest at the All-Star game, but they're rare in the pressurized world of three-run deficits. Then it was up to Corey Madden, the All-Star setup man given his first save situation of the year. Garrett Parcell, another All-Star and the Hoppers' usual closer, just went on the seven-day disabled list, and his job fell to a guy whose ERA has been hanging around 1.00 most of the season. Madden gave up a one-out single and a steal of second one out later, but he toyed with West Virginia's Eric Farris and ended it. Farris, who had three of the Power's 13 hits, fell behind in the count and futilely pursued a fastball out of the strike zone. "I'm not trying to throw anything over the plate," Madden said. "I'm going to try to make him chase. If I walk him, I can still go after the next hitter." Madden has fanned 68 batters in 42 innings. That translates into 14.57 strikeouts per nine innings, second in the minors to Anthony Slama of the Fort Myers Miracle. West Virginia Box Score Caleb Gindl on base three times -- OBP of .358 certainly acceptable; Corey Frerichs had been cruising in his extended relief outing of Mike Ramlow until the fateful 8th... West Virginia Game Log

Updates on the losses for West Virginia, Helena, and Arizona will be available by mid-morning.

Final: Dunedin (Blue Jays) 7, Brevard County 6 Brevard County Box Score Manatees couldn't recover from a disastrous and sloppy four-run Blue Jay 7th; LHP Casey Baron had a nice strikeout on the first batter he faced, to end the 6th, stranding two of Josh Butler's runners at 2nd and 3rd, but Baron was the victim of errors on three consecutive plays in the 7th -- two throwing errors by Brent Brewer, and a fielding error by Taylor Green; five Manatees had two hits apiece, but Lorenzo cain drew the team's only walk; Stephen Chapman hit his 9th home run, but it's going to take a while before his .204 season average gets to a reasonable level to salvage his season... Brevard County Game Log

Link Report Bonus -- McCarter in Atlanta Link while active, text follows: Braun continues to brew up big stats Ex-Star is in his second year in MLB but is second to none in natural ability Contact Mark McCarter at markcolumn@aol.com or visit his al.com blog at http://blog.al.com/mccarter Huntsville Times ATLANTA - Ryan Braun tugs at the gloves, pulls an imaginary wrinkle out of the shoulder of his jersey and takes his stance. He takes his initial pose at the plate, feet slightly wider than shoulder width, slightly leaning toward the pitcher, the bat held out defiantly at an angle in his left hand, like some sort of "I dare you" pose out of "Braveheart." He then settles back, confidently holding the bat high, like trying to entice a lightning bolt out of the sky. Why not? That seems appropriate, especially to reach for another movie image. "He looks like 'The Natural,' " said Jim Powell, the Milwaukee Brewers' radio voice. There is an arrogance to it all. There is a message to the pitcher from Braun that, odds be damned, I own this at-bat, this plate, this game. In this case, it is exuded by a 24-year-old with a mere 190 games in the major leagues. He's still supposed to be knock-kneed and fetching the doughnuts for the veterans, not up there acting he has Cooperstown on call-waiting. "From the day he came up he looks like the best major league hitter I've ever seen," Powell said. "We keep waiting for him to tail off, for the flaws to be exposed, the problems to emerge, and it's not happening." In 77 games this season, Braun is batting .287 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs. He's fifth in the National League in homers, sixth in RBIs, third in total bases, eighth in hits, fifth in extra-base hits. This after a .324 average with 34 homers and 97 RBIs in 113 games of his rookie season in 2007. "Come up your first year and just instantly start putting up the numbers he did, you don't see that. Guys don't do that," said Jim Skaalen, the Brewers' hitting coach. "The guy did it last year and he's doing it again this year," said teammate Rickie Weeks. "He's a great hitter now, and he's getting better and better." For big-picture stuff, Braun is the Brewers' left fielder, the 2007 National League Rookie of the Year and superstar in the making. To think locally, Braun will ultimately be considered the greatest major leaguer to have ever worn a Huntsville Stars uniform. Better than Jose Canseco, who became an inflated Marvel Comics character and nowhere near the all-around player he had been in Huntsville. Better than Mark McGwire, who had a season for the ages, but an inconsistent career. Braun played only 59 games for the Stars and, like McGwire (who played just 55 games for Huntsville), was a third baseman whose defensive skills did not bring to mind the word "smooth." Hence the Brewers have moved Braun to left. For the most part, he has made the transition nicely. For the most part. Apologies to lip-readers who caught the close-up Wednesday afternoon when a misjudged line drive soared over his head. "He's already started to look like a guy who has been playing left field for a long time," Powell said. There's one guy in particular, though, who isn't very impressed with Ryan Braun. Ryan Braun. "I'm disappointed in my performance so far," he said, sitting at his locker in the Brewers clubhouse. "I've got to keep working hard. I feel like I've swung the bat OK, but I feel like I can do a lot better than I've done." That's not false modesty. It's actually a little of that arrogance or confidence. "He's a nice kid, quite down to earth," Powell said. "He just knows he can play. I don't think he looks down his nose at anybody, but he knows he's a stud. And it's hard to argue with him." Said Braun, "I know what I'm capable of doing. I've always had high expectations for myself. My goals far exceed anybody else's expectations for me. I don't worry about what anybody else says." Naturally.

Final: Huntsville 7, Carolina (Marlins) 6 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Parejo Comes Through in Clutch For Stars Bullpen Outstanding in Shutting Down Mudcats in Late Win By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Freddy Parejo's pinch-hit double with two outs in the ninth inning knocked in the winning run in Huntsville's 7-6 see-saw victory over Carolina Wednesday night in the second of a six-game set at Five County Stadium. The Stars improved to 4-4 in the second half and 45-33 overall, while the Mudcats dipped to 4-4 in the second half and fell to 42-36 overall. Huntsville won for just a second time in seven games against the Mudcats, with five of the games being decided by either one or two runs. Mat Gamel opened the ninth inning with a single off Tim Corcoran, making his first appearance for Carolina, and moved to second base when Angel Salome was hit in the head with an 0-1 offering. Matt LaPorta was called out on strikes and Cole Gillespie went down swinging for the second out. Parejo stepped in and ripped Corcoran's first pitch on a line into left field to chase home Gamel with the go-ahead run. It was his third pinch-hit and third pinch-hit run-batted in of the season. Juan Sandoval retired the Mudcats in turn in the bottom of the inning to record his seventh save. Manuel Mayerson led off the home sixth with a double and advanced to third base on a Brad Davis sacrifice bunt that was thrown wildly past first base by Gamel, allowing Mayerson to score and Davis to reach second base. Chris Coghlan then dropped down a sacrifice bunt and Gamel's throw to first pulled second baseman Mike Bell off the bag allowing Coghlan to reach after Davis had advanced to third. John Raynor then bounced into a force out at second to score Davis to tie the game at six. Stars' starter David Welch was taken out with Raynor at third and two outs and replaced by David Johnson, who got Sanchez to ground out to end the frame. Jason Shiell then threw two scoreless frames to grab his second win. Gaby Sanchez singled with two outs in the home first and scored the game's first run when Alberto Concepcion doubled high off the wall in center field. The Stars answered with four runs in the second inning, all with two out, against Rick VandenHurk on a two-run home run by Chris Errecart and a two-run double by Alcides Escobar, who has hit safely in 21 of his last 22 games on the road. Carolina rallied to tie the game in the home third on a run-scoring single by Cameron Maybin and a two-run double by Andy Jenkins, who has knocked in five runs in the series. Welch walked Maybin and Sanchez to start the fifth before he struck out Concepcion for the first out. The runners pulled off a double steal with Jenkins at the plate before he fouled out to first base for the second out. Welch retired Grant Psomas on another foul out to first to get out of the inning and keep the game tied. VandenHurk was taken out after five frames, allowing four runs on nine hits, while walking two and striking out two. Matt Yourkin took over in the sixth and issued a walk to start the frame to Errecart, who advanced on a Welch sacrifice bunt and scored to give the Stars the lead on a Michael Brantley double. Brantley scored with two outs when Gamel singled into center field to put the visitors on top 6-4 with his league-best 67th run batted in. The series continues on Thursday night with left-hander Brae Wright taking the hill against Mudcats' right-hander Daniel Barone. 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 Michael Brantley, Mat Gamel and Chris Errecart all reached three times; first time in eight starts David Welch has allowed more than three earned runs... Huntsville Game Log