Jim Goulart

That's likely it from me until deep into the overnight. Staff or others will keep you posted about transaction or other news, we know we can count on our readers for that sort of thing.

Link while active, text follows: Jeffress tosses shutout BY JIM CAWLEY FLORIDA TODAY Jeremy Jeffress had everything going for him Tuesday night at Space Coast Stadium. The Brevard County Manatees 20-year-old flame-thrower tossed a complete-game, seven-inning shutout against the Dunedin Blue Jays. Jeffress struck out eight and walked two in the 2-0 victory. "Pretty much all the pitches were working," Jeffress said. "My mechanics were on; it felt good." Jonathan Lucroy homered and drove in both Brevard County runs. Martin Maldonado doubled in the win. The Manatees lost the second game of the doubleheader 6-1. Taylor Green hit his ninth homer of the season for Brevard County's lone run. Jeffress threw in the mid- to high-90s throughout the game, dialing it up to 99 mph on more than one occasion. That prompted the question, "Is that radar gun correct?" from one fan in attendance. But while many fans were keeping tabs on the fastball, Jeffress wasn't. "Not really. It's not how hard you throw, it's execution and where you place it," Jeffress said. "But it's a plus for me to know when I need to gas it up, I can -- and it's there." Jeffress improved to 3-3 on the season, lowering his ERA from 5.71 to 4.75 with Tuesday's outing. The 6-foot, 197-pounder has now struck out 56 batters in just 41 1/3 innings. "Staying focused is the key," Jeffress said. "It's repetition; you gotta do it next time, and the next time."

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 5 2 .714 - 4-2 1-0 W3 Carolina 4 3 .571 1.0 1-0 3-3 W1 Chattanooga 3 4 .429 2.0 3-3 0-1 L1 Huntsville 3 4 .429 2.0 3-3 0-1 L1 West Tenn 3 4 .429 2.0 0-1 3-3 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 5 1 .833 - 3-0 2-1 W3 Jupiter 3 2 .600 1.5 1-0 2-2 L1 Daytona 3 3 .500 2.0 1-1 2-2 L1 Vero Beach 3 3 .500 2.0 1-2 2-1 W1 Palm Beach 2 3 .400 2.5 2-2 0-1 L1 Brevard County 2 4 .333 3.0 1-3 1-1 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greensboro 4 2 .667 - 0-1 4-1 L1 Hagerstown 4 2 .667 - 1-1 3-1 W1 West Virginia 4 2 .667 - 0-0 4-2 W3 Delmarva 3 3 .500 1.0 1-3 2-0 W2 Hickory 3 3 .500 1.0 0-0 3-3 W2 Lakewood 3 3 .500 1.0 2-2 1-1 L1 Lake County 2 4 .333 2.0 0-2 2-2 L2 Lexington 1 5 .167 3.0 1-5 0-0 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 6 2 .750 - 3-2 3-0 L1 Billings 5 3 .625 1.0 0-0 5-3 W1 Helena 3 5 .375 3.0 2-4 1-1 W1 Missoula 2 6 .250 4.0 1-4 1-2 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 2 0 1.000 - 1-0 1-0 W2 AZL Padres 2 0 1.000 - 1-0 1-0 W2 AZL Athletics 2 1 .667 0.5 1-1 1-0 W2 AZL Rangers 2 1 .667 0.5 1-1 1-0 L1 AZL Cubs 1 2 .333 1.5 1-1 0-1 W1 AZL Giants 1 2 .333 1.5 0-1 1-1 L2 AZL Mariners 1 2 .333 1.5 0-1 1-1 W1 AZL Royals 1 2 .333 1.5 1-0 0-2 L1 AZL Brewers 0 2 .000 2.0 0-1 0-1 L2

Helena's Brock Kjeldgaard hustles to the bag as Great Falls first baseman Johny Celis waits for the throw during Pioneer League action Tuesday night at Centene Stadium. Celis was unable to field the ball cleanly and Kjeldgaard was ruled safe, which proved to be a controversial call that Great Falls manager Chris Cron argued. (GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE PHOTO/KELLY BLACK) http://cmsimg.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=G1&Date=20080625&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=806250326&Ref=AR&Profile=1006&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

Link while active, text follows: Sounds find new power hitters By MIKE ORGAN Tennessean Staff Writer Brad Nelson's home run to lead off the fifth inning trimmed Memphis' lead to 5-4 on Tuesday night, and tied the Sounds' first baseman with outfielder Brendan Katin as the active team leader with 11. Russell Branyan had a team-leading 12 home runs for the Sounds before being called up by the Milwaukee Brewers on May 25. Branyan already has 10 home runs with the Brewers. Rehabbers galore: Milwaukee closer Eric Gagne is the latest in a long list of Brewers who have spent time on rehab assignments with the Sounds. Gagne, who started the game on Tuesday and is scheduled to start Thursday at Round Rock, is dealing with rotator cuff tendinitis in his right shoulder. He is the sixth Brewer to join the Sounds this season. The others were pitchers Yovani Gallardo, David Riske and Randy Choate, and outfielders Mike Cameron and Tony Gwynn. Gagne became the 16th pitcher to start a game for the Sounds this season. Last year Nashville used only 15 starters. That is the most players to spend time rehabbing with the Sounds since they became a Brewers affiliate three years ago. From 2005-07 Nashville had a total of only seven players on rehabilitation assignments. Chavez's best: Nashville shortstop Ozzie Chavez had a season-high three RBIs. He hit an RBI double in the fifth and got the other two RBIs on groundball outs. Mather gets another: Joe Mather's home run Tuesday gave the Redbirds' outfielder five in 12 games against the Sounds this season. Golf tournament: With the team having a day off today before beginning Thursday's four-game series at Round Rock the 2008 Nashville Sounds Charity Golf Scramble will be played today at the Legacy Course in Springfield. Several Sounds players will participate in the tournament, which is a fundraising event to benefit the Nashville Sounds Foundation. Proceeds promote youth baseball, education and literacy in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. A silent auction and raffle will accompany the event.

Link while active, text follows: Brewers' reliever takes first step back to majors By MIKE ORGAN Tennessean Staff Writer Eric Gagne is optimistic he is on his way to regaining the top form he enjoyed on the mound during his Cy Young Award-winning season in 2003. Gagne started for the Sounds in Tuesday's 8-6 loss to Memphis, his first appearance since going on the disabled list on May 23. He is scheduled to start again in the team's next game Thursday at Round Rock and hopes to be back with the Milwaukee Brewers by next week. The 32-year-old relief pitcher is spending a rehabilitation stint with the Sounds because of rotator cuff tendinitis in his right shoulder. "I think I will be back up (with the Brewers) Monday if all goes well,'' Gagne said. "I really feel like I'm close to getting back to where I want to be." He pitched only the first inning against Memphis. On 14 pitches (nine for strikes) he allowed no runs and no hits while recording one strikeout. "It was good. I went out there at about 80 or 90 percent and it was good to have some good competition,'' Gagne said. "My shoulder feels good, it feels really good. I threw a lot of good strikes and that's really what I am trying to focus on. There isn't one particular pitch I am working on. I'm just working on my health." After Gagne, the Sounds used five pitchers who gave up a total of 11 hits and three home runs in front of a Greer Stadium crowd of 4,884. Manager Frank Kremblas liked what he saw from Gagne. "He looked better than he did in the spring to me,'' Kremblas said. "His curveball looked really good. He threw a good (splitter) on the last strikeout of (Joe Mather). His fastball command was pretty good." Gagne, wearing his familiar black goggles, left the dugout in the third inning to have his shoulder iced. "I'm looking forward to pitching again Thursday and seeing how my shoulder feels,'' Gagne said. "I think it's going to feel pretty good." What they said: "That happens, other teams come back like that. Sometimes you've got to work through that. We got guys on late in the game we just didn't get any hits then.'' - Kremblas.

Link Report Bonus -- Mark McCarter in Atlanta Link while active, text follows: Contact Mark McCarter at markcolumn@aol.com or visit his al.com blog at http://blog.al.com/mccarter Huntsville Times 'Captain Contusion' shining for Brewers Former Huntsville Star Parra owns 6-game win streak ATLANTA - Manny Parra has won six games in a row. Lucky devil. "It all started when my car got a flat tire," Parra began, standing by his locker in the Milwaukee Brewers clubhouse. Turns out, somewhere along the line, he picked up a loose screw. As opposed to having a loose screw, an affliction some might have accused the left-hander of. "Then I tried to start it and a cap was off the battery and it wouldn't start. I had to call AAA." As opposed to being called up from Triple-A, which happened last July. The car in question, for the record, a 2003 Cadillac Escalade. "The car I had to have," Parra said. "Then I got hit with a ball in the outfield while we were shagging during batting practice. It came off Tim Dillard's glove and hit me in the head," Parra continued. "Then in Houston, (Astros shortstop Miguel) Tejada hit a ball off my stomach. In the same game I got hit by Tejada, I hit a ball off my leg (while batting). "After that, I was in the outfield in Colorado and a ball hit me in the shin. They called me 'Captain Contusion.' " The prologue to that saga took place last August when he broke his left thumb while trying to bunt. You start hearing all this, you slink farther and farther away from Parra, a 25-year-old from Roseville, Calif. Somewhere, a loose bit of Turner Field rafter may have his name on it. He's getting dressed as he talks, and you want to suggest bubble-wrap instead of that white linen shirt and jeans. It was barely a year ago - June 15, 2007 to be precise - that Parra was promoted from the Huntsville Stars to Triple-A Nashville. He was leading the Southern League in ERA and helped lead the Stars to the first-half SL North championship. He spent parts of four seasons in Huntsville, with the 2005 season cut short because off rotator cuff surgery, going 15-10 in 37 starts. Parra (7-2) said his success has come from "making pitches when I need to make them," but his six-game streak has not necessarily a gallery of masterpieces. On Sunday against Baltimore, for instance, he walked six and gave up five hits in five innings. Manager Ned Yost admitted "I just had to put my seatbelt on and get through it," and not pull the plug on Parra. "They're scoring a lot of runs for me," Parra said. "If I'm a little off, the defense has really picked me up. And the bullpen has been lights-out when they come in for me." Parra said "it took me about six weeks (to feel as if he belonged in the majors). I had a little success. I was learning I could do what I did before, confidently, and get outs instead of having to be perfect." If we don't have enough evidence already that Parra does things a little backward, that things happen a little screwy for him, there is this: When he was sent to Huntsville near the end of the 2004 season, a little thought crossed his mind. "Maybe I'll meet me a Southern belle," he said. Last June, after he learned he was being promoted, on his last night living in Huntsville, he went out with friends. They introduced him to Kelsie Jones, a Huntsville native. Magic happened. They're still dating. Only took him four years, but he found his Southern belle. Lucky devil.

Link while active, text follows: Brewers get win against Voyagers By Helena Independent Record The Helena Brewers finally found a way to beat Great Falls on Tuesday: let the Voyagers do all the work for them. Helena (3-5) took advantage of five errors to propel themselves to a 5-3 win in front of 2,816 fans at Centene Stadium. The Brewers were 0-4 against the Voyagers (6-2) heading into Tuesday's game, losing their three-game opening series and a road game Monday, which ended on a walk-off grand slam by Great Falls' Lyndon Estill. However, it was all Helena Tuesday after Michael Vass reached on a throwing error by Great Falls' third baseman Brent Morel in the sixth, pushing Chris Dennis to second. Jose Duran loaded the bases with a bunt toward third and Michael Marseco scored their second run of the night on a sacrifice fly to center, tying the game up 2-2. Morel again erred, allowing John Delaney to reach first and Vass score, and after Erik Komatsu was hit by a pitch, Logan Schafer hit a sacrifice fly to center to score the winning run. The Brewers scored their first run in the fifth when Brock Kjeldgaard struck out swinging but advanced to first on the missed catch by Voyagers' catcher Danny Jordan, and a missed throw to first. Komatsu scored on the play. Marseco added insult to injury when he came home in the eighth on a wild pitch by Stephen Sauer. The Brewers recorded only one earned run in the victory. Komatsu went 2-for-4 and scored a run to lead Helena. Great Falls' Jordan Cheathem was 2-for-4 as well. Michael Bowman (1-0) finished with the win on the mound allowing two runs on four hits over five innings. He had seven strike outs and one walk while giving up a home run to Estill in the second inning. The Brewers will finish up their three-game road series with Great Falls today at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

6/24 Jim Powell & Mark McCarter, reporter for the Huntsville Times, talk about the Brewers Huntsville Stars AA Club Good stuff, enjoy...

Helena Pre-Game Audio Interview with Minor League Pitching Coordinator Jim Rooney Make sure you go the KCAP audio archive of June 24th, then browse to the 03:15 minute mark...

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". 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. Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_25_hunaax_cmcaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_25_dunafa_breafa_1 West Virginia: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_25_wvaafx_gboafx_1 Helena: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_25_helrok_grfrok_1 Arizona: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_25_brrrok_mrnrok_1

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: Idle Huntsville: LHP David Welch 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: TBD (it's RHP Josh Butler's turn) at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:00 gametime Sorry, no audio for this series... West Virginia: LHP Mike Ramlow at Greensboro (Marlins), 11:20 AM pre-game, 11:30 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 Great Falls (White Sox), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:00 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 at the Mariners' complex in Peoria, 10:30 AM local Mountain Standard Time Never any audio for the Maryvale Crew...

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Final: Helena 5, Great Falls (White Sox) 3 Wow, the scoreboard on our home page sure looks full... Helena Box Score 2008 9th round RHP Michael Bowman now has two nice Pioneer League starts under his belt; converted catcher Nestor Corrdor with his best mound work thus far, and Canadian Adam Arnold had a clucth four-out save, stranding two inherited runners; the H-Crew actually only scored one earned run, as the Voyagers committed five errors; 6th round second baseman Jose Duran needs to tighten up the defense, four errors already; Manager Rene Gonzales finally realized stud LF Erik Komatsu is not an 8th or 7th place hitter, batting second in this one (2-for-4); the position players on this squad can't complain about playing time -- in a league that always uses the DH, there's only one current healthy backup (whoever is not catching each night), that's considering that Brett Whiteside and Cutter Dykstra are what we believe are day-to-day, and Edgar Trejo is likely done for the season... Helena Game Log Gift after gift given to the Brewers, but credit them for taking advantage...

Final: Memphis (Cardinals) 8, Nashville 6 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for new Eric Gagne photo, text follows -- Sounds Drop Slugfest In Series Finale NASHVILLE - A strong offensive output was not enough for the Nashville Sounds to take down the Memphis Redbirds as they lost 8-6 on Tuesday night at Greer Stadium. The Sounds recorded five doubles but surrendered three two-run home runs to drop their third straight game to the Redbirds. Richie Gardner gave up five earned runs off seven hits in 3 1/3 innings of relief work for the Sounds after coming into the game posting six wins in his last 10 trips to the hill. Eric Gagne made a rehab start for the Sounds and pitched a perfect first inning, throwing nine out of 14 pitches for strikes and retiring the only three batters he faced on two flyouts and a strikeout. Gagne is scheduled to make one more rehab start for the Sounds on Thursday against Round Rock before rejoining the Brewers. The Redbirds plated the first run of the game in the top of the second inning when Rico Washington singled then scored on a double from D'Angelo Jimenez to center field. The run came against Gardner, who came in to relieve Gagne to start the second inning. Nashville responded in the bottom half when Vinny Rottino scored on a groundout from Ozzie Chavez off Memphis starter Brad Thompson. Rottino previously singled then moved to third on a double from Adam Heether. Jimenez struck again in the top of the fourth inning when he crushed a two-run homer to right field on a 1-1 pitch from Gardner. The longball was his fourth on the year and scored David Freese after he singled to start the inning. Nashville evened things at 3-3 when it plated two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Heether led off with another double and then moved to third on a single from Callix Crabbe. Chavez then notched another RBI groundout in the next at bat to score Heether from third, and Crabbe later scored on a throwing error from Redbirds shortstop Brian Barden. The scoring continued in the fifth inning when Mather knocked a two-run homer off Gardner over the right field wall. The homer was his 14th of the year, and his fifth against the Sounds in 12 games this season. Brad Nelson responded with a solo shot to start the bottom half of the inning. It was his 11th on the year, which ties him with Brendan Katin for the active team lead. Chavez then recorded a season-high third RBI when he doubled to center field off Memphis reliever Hugo Castellanos to score Rottino, who also doubled to center. Pinch hitter Mel Stocker added the third double of the inning to score Chavez from second and give the Sounds the lead. AUDIO: Brad Nelson Home Run The balls kept flying out of the park when Washington belted a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning for Memphis off Sounds reliever Erasmo Ramirez. The home run was Washington's fourth of the year and scored Mather, who singled in the previous at bat. Mather added a third RBI to his 4-for-5 night to extend the lead to two for the Redbirds in the top of the eighth inning. He singled in former Sounds catcher Mark Johnson who singled off Sounds reliever Tim Dillard to start the inning. The teams combined to use 12 pitchers in all for the game. Ramirez (1-3) took the loss for the Sounds after surrendering two runs in two innings. Matt Clement (1-0) earned the win for the Redbirds after pitching a scoreless sixth inning in a rehab outing for Memphis, and Thompson gave up four earned runs off nine hits in four plus innings as the Memphis starter. The Sounds will enjoy a league-wide day off tomorrow before heading to Round Rock for a four-game series against the Express on Thursday. Eric Gagne (0-0, 0.00) will make another rehab start for the Sounds against right-hander Ron Chiavacci (1-1, 6.88) for the Express. Baseball will return to Greer Stadium on Friday, July 4, when the Sounds return home for a three-game Independence Day weekend homestand against Round Rock. Nashville Box Score Sounds fall to 30-49, ouch; Tony Gwynn three singles, hitting .333 in 120 AAA at-bats; Nashville pitching has been consistently weak all season, a major generalization I realize, but wow, have there been some ugly outings... Nashville Game Log

Please keep in mind that there are multiple articles and interview links posted in the Draft Pick Signing Thread on this Minor League Forum. We imagine that if you're interested in this thread, you've already reviewed all the news there. If not, be sure to do so. Link while active, text follows: Coppell product Watten drafted by Brewers, solid in debut BY JUSTIN THOMAS, Star Community (Plano, TX) Staff writer Former Coppell pitcher and shortstop Trey Watten thought there was a chance the Milwaukee Brewers would select him on Day 2 of the 2008 Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft. But, he didn't know for sure until he saw his name scroll across a draft tracker on the internet. Milwaukee selected the Abilene Christian University pitcher with the 218th pick of the draft. He was the 16th selection of the seventh round and the 16th pick on Day 2. "The Brewers called me in the morning and let me know they were thinking about picking me in the earlier rounds of the day," Watten said. "I've been waiting my whole life for a chance to play baseball professionally so when I saw my name come across my family and I were real excited. Everyone was jumping around. I would say it was half a feeling of excitement for getting drafted and the other half relief that I was drafted. Now, I can just go out and play." Watten said he spoke to many teams and filled out what seemed like hundreds of questionnaires, but he thought the Brewers showed the most interest all along. Once he was drafted, it didn't take Watten long to figure what he wanted to do. "I signed the day I got drafted," Watten said. "I liked the contract they offered and I wanted to get out and start playing. I flew out two days later to start rookie camp." Following camp Watten was assigned to play advanced rookie ball for the Helena, Mont. Brewers. Watten said many of the draftees with collegiate experience go to the advanced rookie team in Helena, while many high school draftees head to the Arizona Brewers, a rookie team in Phoenix. Watten was selected following a successful junior season at ACU that saw him post 10 wins with a 2.56 ERA in nearly 100 innings. He was the second-highest player selected from ACU. Bill Gilbreth was selected in the third round by the Detroit Tigers in 1969. Watten said one of the biggest changes since being drafted is changing his priorities. "I'm enjoying playing everyday as a job," Watten said. "It's a full day at the ballpark and a different mindset. For the first time, I am putting baseball ahead of school. Usually, it is get your school work done and then you can go play baseball." Making transitions is something Watten has become accustomed to. At Coppell, Watten was a pitcher, but was mainly the Cowboys starting shortstop. It was in the infield where Watten played his freshman year at ACU, before transitioning to the mound for his sophomore and junior seasons. It appears Watten is making the transition to rookie ball as well. He earned the win in his first start with Helena, tossing six shutout innings June 20 in a 10-0 win against Missoula. He surrendered just three hits and didn't walk anyone while striking out four. "I'm facing the best of the best now," Watten said. "I'm not facing players with medal bats anymore, but Montana is 5,000 feet up there so the ball can carry. Guys can hit it out with one swing of the bat. My goal is to keep my mind focused and make as good of pitches as I can."

Brevard County Site Doubleheader Summary and Photo: Manatees Split Doubleheader By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees (Viera, FL) Jeremy Jeffress pitched a seven-inning, complete game shutout to lead the Brevard County Manatees to a 2-0 victory in the first game of their doubleheader Tuesday evening. Jeffress (3-3) shut down the Dunedin offense all night, allowing just three hits while striking out eight. Lorenzo Cain helped stake Jeffress to an early lead in the first inning. After a single to right field, Cain quickly stole second base and moved up to third on a throwing error. He came into score on Jonathan Lucroy's RBI groundout. Lucroy added an insurance run in the sixth inning, when he smashed Kenny Rodriguez's pitch over the berm deck in left field for a solo home run, his second since joining the Manatees. Rodriguez (5-7) allowed just two runs (one earned) on four hits while also pitching a complete game, but it was not enough to beat Jeffress and the Manatees. Dunedin bounced back to win the second game, 6-1, to earn a split for the night. Dunedin jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning. Their first three batters reached base, loading the bases. Brian Dopirak hit a ground ball back to Manatees pitcher Zach Braddock, who threw home to get the force out, but Lucroy committed a throwing error while attempting to throw out Dopirak at first base, scoring a run. Matthew Lane followed with a three-run blast to right field, giving Dunedin a four-run lead that they would not relinquish. Braddock (3-4) was tagged with the loss, allowing five runs in three innings. Julio Pinto (3-0) earned the win for Dunedin, pitching five innings while holding the Manatees to just one run. Photo by Dennis Greenblatt http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2008/06/24/sTUk2WZT.jpg

I'm often amazed at what our readers remember and/or note and track -- thanks for the info. It's nice to know there are diehard followers of each and every prospect out there...

Huntsville Press Release: Mudcats Rally Late to Down Stars 10-GAME ROAD TRIP OFF TO ROUGH START Alberto Concepcion scored the game-winning run on a throwing error in the bottom half of the eighth inning, as Carolina came back to defeat Huntsville 9-8 Tuesday night in the opener of a six-game set at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats improved to 4-3 in the second half and 42-35 overall, while the Stars dipped to 3-4 in the second half and 44-33 overall. Carolina has won five of the six meetings this year with four of the five wins by either one or two runs. Omar Aguilar opened the hill for the Stars in the eighth with a one-run lead. John Raynor and Cameron Maybin singled to begin the frame before Chris Coghlan struck out and Gaby Sanchez fouled out for the second out. Concepcion reached on an infield single on a diving stop up the middle by second baseman Mike Bell to load the bases. Mayerson then singled into center field to plate Raynor and Maybin to tie the game. Concepcion was on his way to third base when Michael Brantley's throw from the outfield hit him and caromed away into foul territory in left field allowing Concepcion to slide in with the go-ahead run. Chris Mobley came on to strike out all three hitters he faced in the ninth to preserve the win and earn his 11th save of the season and third against the Stars. Aguilar suffered his third loss since joining the team and his second in as many outings. The Stars battled back from a 6-5 deficit to score three runs in the top half of the eighth on consecutive run-producing hits by Brantley, Alcides Escobar and Mat Gamel. Mudcats' reliever Carlos Martinez, who gave up all three runs, was taken out with an injury after falling behind Angel Salome two balls and no strikes. Jacob Marceaux came on to get the Huntsville catcher to ground out to end the inning and pick up the win. Josh Johnson, making the first of two scheduled rehab starts in the series, retired the Stars in order in the first inning before Salome led off the second inning with a double, moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a Matt LaPorta sacrifice fly. The Mudcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but could not score after Johnson took a called third strike and Raynor flied out to end the frame. Stars' starter Derek Miller was lifted after three scoreless innings during which he gave up three hits, walked two and struck out one. Joe Bateman took over and issued two walks around a Mayerson single that loaded the bases for Johnson, again. This time, the pitcher helped his own cause with a ground out that scored Mayerson with the tying run. Cole Gillespie led off the fifth with an infield single, stole second base, advanced to third on a Mike Bell ground out and scored on a single by Chris Errecart, who then moved up on a Bateman bunt and scored to make it 3-1 on a fielding error by Concepcion, the first baseman. The Stars added another run in the sixth when Gamel led off with a double and scored on a single by Salome, who has knocked in a run in five of his last six games. Johnson retired LaPorta on a fly ball for the first out and was lifted after reaching his pitch limit and was charged with four runs, three earned, on six hits. Jeff Gogal took over and gave up a double to Gillespie that pushed Salome to third. However, the Stars could not add to their lead as Bell grounded out, Errecart was passed intentionally and Bateman fouled out. Mayerson led off the home half of the inning with a single and Bateman issued walks to Brett Hayes and Kris Harvey to load the bases before being taken out and replaced by Patrick Ryan, who gave up a pinch-hit, three-run double to Andy Jenkins that tied the game at four. Maybin doubled with one out to drive in Jenkins and then scored on a Gamel throwing error with two outs to make it 6-4 Mudcats. The series continues on Wednesday night with southpaw David Welch taking the hill against Mudcats' right-hander Rick Vanden Hurk. 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 Six Stars had multiple hit games, including Chris Errecart, who singled three times and walked; Stars were also 4-for-4 on the basepaths -- how'd they lose this game again? The bullpen's individual numbers aren't terrible, but collectively each member has failed to a varying degree at the worst possible time -- the Stars have tried several closers this season, I hear Eric Gagne's available... Huntsville Game Log

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Pitching Coach Stan Kyles Includes an Eric Gagne discussion, and Luis Pena in save vs. non-save situations...

Nashville Site: Getting To Know Your Sounds: Tim Dillard

Final: Carolina (Marlins) 9, Huntsville 8 Ugh -- details from Brett Pollock shortly, Omar Aguilar lost the save by allowing three 8th inning runs, two earned, obviously there will be much more to read about shortly. Total speculation by me, but LHP Derek Miller was pulled after three scoreless innings; hopefully he's OK, if he is, perhaps it means a callup to Nashville is forthcoming, since Julian Tavarez unexpectedly refused his designated assignment to the Sounds' rotation...

Interesting piece by Adam McCalvy, nice job. And while it may be old news in some sense, it's certainly new and pertinent in the official way they'll execute it here. It'll make for some interesting notations for starting pitchers in our Link Report menus, for sure. Also news to note an eventual six-man rotation at AA coming up, a bit odd considering those starters outside of Donovan Hand are all older, and Hand hasn't been over-extended this season. Mike Jones' odd staus probably has something to do with that plan as well.

Final: West Virginia 11, Greensboro (Marlins) 0 West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER DOMINATE GRASSHOPPERS The West Virginia Power scored 11 runs on 16 hits and recorded their second shutout of the season on Tuesday night at NewBridge Bank Park to defeat the Greensboro Grasshoppers 11-0, tying them with the 'Hoppers for first place in the Northern Division. Eric Farris singled in the first run of the game in the top of the first inning and scored on Steffan Wilson's sacrifice fly. Lee Haydel began the third inning with a single and scored on Ozzie Martinez's throwing error before Caleb Gindl hit a two-run homer, his seventh of the season, to cap the three-run frame. Haydel's third single of the game brought in Uly Snijders in the fourth inning. The Power did most of their damage in the fifth inning where they scored four times on three hits. Wilson extended his hitting streak to nine games with an RBI single and scored later in the inning on Snijders's double. Scott Houin's groundout plated Eric Fryer and Matt Cline doubled in Snijders to complete the inning. Cline struck again in the seventh inning with his second RBI double of the game to bring in West Virginia's final run. Evan Anundsen (7-4) pitched eight scoreless innings of four-hit ball and fanned six batters to get the victory. He induced a pair of inning-ending double play balls, and has gotten the victory in his last four starts. Alex Sanabia (2-2) was tagged for ten runs on eight hits over four and a third and got the loss. The Power improved to 36-39 on the year and 4-2 in the second half with the win, while the Grasshoppers fell to 42-34 on the year and 4-2 in the second half with the loss. Eight Power players hit safely, and every position player reached more than once. Six Power players recorded multi-hit games, including Farris and Haydel who paced the Power with three hits apiece. Haydel has hit safely in ten straight games and Wilson extended his hitting streak to ten games. The Power will finish the brief two game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon. Left hander Mike Ramlow (2-3, 2.82) will get the start for the Power and the Grasshoppers will counter with right hander Brett Durand (7-3, 4.64). The first pitch is scheduled for 12:30 PM (11:30 AM Central). West Virginia Box Score Evan Anundsen with 15 ground ball outs and only three fly ball outs, improving on his already wonderful 2.25 ratio coming in -- my goodness, he's fun to follow -- as we've noted in the past, if you could map out the standard progression of a fairly high draft pick pitcher out of high school, the just-turned 20-year-old 2006 4th round pick has followed it perfectly (and we know it's still early, but it's nice to see); with 24 Power baserunners via hit, walk, or HBP, plus three Grasshopper errors helping out, we'll let you digest all the pretty crooked offensive numbers rather than try to highlight them here, as Andy Barch did a nice job in his game summary... West Virginia Game Log That's how you quiet an opposing crowd of over 5,600 -- 11-0, baby...

Final, Game Two: Dunedin (Blue Jays) 6, Brevard County 1 Brevard County Game Two Box Score Zach Braddock dug the boys a four-run hole in the first inning, from which it never got close -- Zach ended up going three, allowing five runs, walking two and hitting a batter; four relievers got in an inning of work each from within a previously well-rested bullpen; Taylor Green hit his 9th home run, has only struck out 38 times in 264 AB's while drawing nearly as many walks (36), and is hitting .299 -- oh yeah; Chuckie Caufield was 3-for-3 with three singles but didn't factor in the scoring -- coming into the game, Caufield was hitting .145 in June after a .177 May... Brevard County Game Two Game Log Darren Ford called out on strikes with the bases loaded to end the 3rd inning, Jimmy Mojica called out on strikes with two men on to end the 4th, so the 'Tees had two major chances to close the gap...