Jim Goulart

Early observations -- Nine up, nine down for Jeremy Jeffress, seven via the K, all seven swinging. Those Flying Tigers must be muttering to themselves given the Braddock - Jeffress back-to-back combo. (Technically ten batters, as one reached on a passed ball as he struck out.) First nine Stars set down in order -- the prime time lineup is in place. I'm all for giving everyone their day, but it says something about the Power roster that utility infielder David Fonseca and his .443 OPS (68 AB's) gets the nod at DH tonight -- and that there aren't obvious oversights as options. All three games are through three innings -- the only run scored by the Power, up 1-0.

If any of these kids turn into Ben Sheets on the mound and at the plate, I'd do cartwheels. Have them focus on mound work until AA, just as it is now.

Final: Oklahoma (Rangers) 8, Nashville 6 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Vinny Rottino photo, text follows -- Sounds Suffer Third Straight Loss To RedHawks OKLAHOMA CITY - The Nashville Sounds dropped their third straight game to the host Oklahoma RedHawks, falling 8-6 on Wednesday afternoon at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. Nashville (27-38) fell to 0-7 against the RedHawks this season despite out-hitting them 13-12 in the contest. Catcher Vinny Rottino went 2-for-5 on the day to extend the Sounds' longest hitting streak of the year to 20 games. Outfielder Tony Gwynn turned in a season-best 4-for-5 effort in the loss for Nashville. The Sounds took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Laynce Nix led off the frame with his eighth home run of the year, a solo shot to right off RedHawks starter Matt Harrison. Rottino followed with a single and scored Nashville's second run later in the frame on an Ozzie Chavez RBI groundout. AUDIO: Laynce Nix Solo Homer Oklahoma responded with a three-spot in the bottom of the frame against Jeff Weaver to grab a 3-2 advantage. Nate Gold, Travis Metcalf, and Drew Meyer opened the inning with three consecutive doubles to tie the score before Ryan Roberts delivered a go-ahead, two-out RBI single to put the RedHawks in front. The RedHawks added a run in the third when John Mayberry doubled and scored on a Metcalf RBI single. The inning ended with a strange double play that saw Gold thrown out at the plate while trying to score from second on Metcalf's hit, then Metcalf being thrown out by Rottino at second while attempting to advance an extra base. Nashville pulled within a run at 4-3 in the top of the fifth on outfielder Lorenzo Cain's first career Triple-A hit, a two-out RBI infield single that plated Chavez. For the second time in the game, Oklahoma answered the Sounds' score with a rally of their own in the bottom of the frame. After Nelson Cruz singled and Chris Davis walked, Mayberry brought them both plateward with a two-run double to left off Weaver to push the lead to 6-3. The RedHawks tacked on two more runs against Weaver in the sixth as a pair of inning-opening walks came back to haunt the veteran right-hander. Drew Meyer and Kevin Richardson drew free passes before Jason Ellison slapped an RBI single to right and Roberts delivered a sacrifice fly to make it an 8-3 contest. The Sounds got three runs back in the eighth off Oklahoma reliever Brian Gordon to pull within 8-6. Nix led off with a double and later scored on Adam Heether's RBI single. Chris Woodward followed Heether's knock with one of his own, which loaded the bases with no outs. After Chavez struck out and Warner Madrigal took over on the hill, Callix Crabbe lifted a sacrifice fly into the left field corner to plate Rottino, who scored in unearned fashion after reaching on an error. Gwynn followed with a soft single to center, which brought home Heether and put the potential tying run on the basepaths. Madrigal recovered to fan Cain to escape the inning and leave a pair of ducks on the pond. Harrison (1-0) earned his first career Triple-A victory with a quality start in his second Class AAA outing. He allowed three runs on seven hits in six frames. Madrigal recorded the final five outs to notch his fourth save of the year for Oklahoma. Weaver (2-4), who had turned in quality starts in his previous two outings, took the loss after surrendering eight runs on 11 hits over six innings. He walked four batters and struck out four. His ERA through nine starts with Nashville stands at 6.22. The Sounds will look to avoid being swept by the RedHawks for the second time this season when the teams wrap up the series with a 7:05 p.m. finale on Thursday evening. Right-hander Ben Howard (2-1, 3.53) will make his second start of the year for Nashville and face Oklahoma right-hander Steve Rowe (1-2, 4.60). Nashville Box Score Way to go, Tony Gwynn, keep building up that trade value; Vinny Rottino 27-for-76 (.355) during his hit streak; somehow Jeff Weaver squeezed a lot out of 94 pitches, except what he squeezed was rancid -- 11 hits, eight runs, four walks -- I did listen in and several of the doubles were just inside the lines, and as Chuck Valenches said, "He didn't pitch as bad as the numbers would indicate", but still, that's not a pretty line... Nashville Game Log

Link while active, text follows: Former Warren Central star drafted by Milwaukee Brewers By ROB HERBST, The Bowling Green (KY) Daily News, rherbst@bgdailynews.com Derrick Alfonso had been waiting for Friday's phone call since he was five. The former Warren Central standout spent years dreaming and preparing to be a professional baseball player. On Friday, Alfonso became part of the Milwaukee Brewers organization when he was selected in the 26th round of the MLB Draft. "It was nerve-racking," Alfonso said about Friday. "I had no expectations, but it was a dream come true." Only weeks after wrapping up his senior season at the University of Louisville, Alfonso is already on his journey with the Brewers. After inking his contract, which included a $1,000 signing bonus, on Monday in Louisville, Alfonso immediately flew to Arizona for a week of camp. He'll then head to Helena, Mont., on Saturday, where he'll join the Helena Brewers - the Brewers' Rookie League team. "I'm going to work hard to try and turn some heads," Alfonso said. "Who knows?" But Alfonso didn't truly believe he was selected until he heard from Brewers scout Mike Farrell. Alfonso didn't want his mind on the draft and elected not to follow it on the Internet. But his mother, Nancy, did and called home from work when she found out. "My mom called and I heard people screaming in the background, then I got a couple text messages from some of my teammates saying congratulations," Alfonso said. "I figured something was up but I didn't want to know until I got the call from (Farrell). And I did like ten minutes later. But it kept getting more nerve-racking as the day went by and thank God I went where I did or it would have been horrible." Alfonso's selection Friday helped ease the frustrations of his senior season. He played in only 33 of 62 games after breaking his throwing hand in a contest against the University of Kentucky. Although Alfonso figured he had done enough throughout his Cardinals career to warrant being drafted, he didn't know where because his playing time had been limited. "I think I would have had a much better grasp on (the situation) had I played all year and been healthy at Louisville and had a season I expected to have," Alfonso said. "But all of the coaches were real optimistic and real helpful. They told me I had done enough at the university for four years to be drafted, no matter what happened this year." But according to his father and high school coach Rick Alfonso, one final collegiate at-bat didn't hurt. Alfonso homered off Georgia relief pitcher Josh Fields in the NCAA Tournament. Fields was the 20th overall pick by the Seattle Mariners in this year's draft. And watching Alfonso's homer off the first-round pick was Farrell. "He called him and he really, really wanted him and do everything in his power to get him," Rick Alfonso said. "It's crazy how that happens because Derrick wasn't due up until like sixth that inning." Derrick Alfonso's bat could ultimately determine how far he makes it. Defense is his strong suit. He threw out 20 of 32 batters in his senior season and gunned down 47.7 percent of runners throughout his four years. He was on the Johnny Bench Award watch list heading into his senior year. "The question is going to be whether he can be patient enough at the plate," Rick Alfonso said. "He attacks everything. He's got to learn to be more patient. They have no doubt he can hit a 95 mph fastball. He swings at a lot of bad pitches." If Alfonso can progress through the Brewers' minor league system, he could be a part of a Bowling Green daily double in Milwaukee. Former Greenwood standout Corey Hart was an 11th round draft pick of the Brewers in 2000 and has turned into a solid starting outfielder in Milwaukee. "I wish I had an answer as to (what my chances are)," Alfonso said. "Hopefully you'll see me and Corey Hart playing together in five years. Who knows? I knew him well in high school. He's a great guy and has done fantastic." More, including colbyjack's Brewerfan.net Scouting Report, can be found here http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y155/colbyjack/2008%20Draftees/derrick_alfonso.jpg

Southern League Press Release: Topps Southern League Player of the Month Award MARIETTA, GA - Huntsville Stars third baseman Mat Gamel has been named the Topps Player of the Month for May, as selected by the Southern League field managers. The Topps Company of New York, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, presents the award each month to the top performer in each of the 10 full-season leagues. Batting third in one of the minors' most potent lineups, Gamel ranked third in the Southern League with a .387 average and second with 28 RBI during the month. He also paced all of Double A with 48 hits and 83 total bases for the Stars, who batted .306 in May to become the Southern League's first team to collectively hit over .300 for a full calendar month since June of 2005. Gamel singled on May 1 to extend a hitting streak to 16 games, a mark that stands as the longest in the league this season. He also singled on May 31 to extend his on-base streak to 46 games - a streak that was lengthened to a minor league season-best 53 games before being broken on June 8. In between those singles, Gamel pounded out 19 extra-base hits and produced 17 multi-hit games, including a dozen in the month's final 19 days. A native of Neptune Beach, FL, Gamel established a personal season high with five RBI in an 11-3 victory at Montgomery on May 4. Four days later, he began an 11-game hitting streak that featured five homers and 11 RBI. Another double-digit hitting streak was born on May 22, when he singled twice to kick off a 13-game streak. Consistency is nothing new to Gamel, who put together a 33-game streak while with Class-A Brevard County last year. It fell just three games shy of matching the longest hitting streak in the Florida State League's history. In 2008, Gamel has accounted for three of the league's first 16 hitting streaks lasting more than 10 games. The 22-year-old Gamel homered in three straight games both from May 8-10 and May 28-30, and his 13 home runs through the season's first two months left him just four shy of matching his career high. Gamel had nine home runs in 128 games with Brevard County last year before topping Hawaii Winter Baseball with eight during the offseason. In his first full campaign after being selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth round of the 2005 draft, Gamel belted 17 home runs for West Virginia of the South Atlantic League in 2006. An integral piece to Huntsville's drive for a fourth consecutive half-season title in the Southern League's North Division, Gamel hit safely in all 11 games against division rivals in May. Through June 10, he was leading the Southern League with a .376 average and 59 RBI while ranking second with 14 homers for the first-place Stars.

Huntsville RHP David Johnson has been placed on the seven-day DL, retroactive to June 9th, with an undisclosed injury. Taking his place on the Stars' roster is RHP Josh Wahpepah, the soon-to-be 24-year-old 3rd round 2003 draft pick, up from Brevard County. We're told that the 25-man Brevard roster limit will likely remain at 23 for the rest of this week, with the Florida State League All-Star festivities set for the Manatees' Space Coast Stadium this weekend. Brevard lost Lorenzo Cain, and now Wahpepah, this week. Look for those spots to fill quickly early next week.

As our reader "battlekow" was kind enough to post elsewhere within our forums (thanks!), we'll archive the text of this article here for future reference: Bucci a Brewer SARNIA NATIVE SIGNS WITH MLB TEAM Posted By BY DAVE BORODY, THE OBSERVER Until yesterday, Sarnia's Nic Bucci was a Toronto Blue Jays fan. That all changed Tuesday night. The 18-year-old pitcher signed a professional baseball contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Jay Lapp, a Brewers major league scout from London (ON), came to the Bucci home on Southern Avenue with a contract in hand. Bucci signed a six-year contract (commonly referred to as a standard minor league contract - Mass Haas) with the Brewers along with a signing bonus. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "This is a dream come true," said the soft-spoken Bucci. "It's a little bit overwhelming. It's been a long process and to finally have this happen is very exciting." Bucci will graduate from St. Pat's in a week's time and then report to the Brewers rookie team in Phoenix, Ariz., where he will begin play in the rookie league there. A few months ago Bucci signed a national letter of intent to attend Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., on a full baseball scholarship. Then came the major league draft a week ago where the Brewers selected Bucci in the 18th round of the 50-round draft, 549th overall. "I was at home following the draft on the computer, but after the 15th round I went out on the porch. But my dad kept watching and then I heard a big yell a few minutes later. I knew then something had happened." As for signing with the Brewers, Bucci admitted it was a tough decision. "This was the biggest decision of my life to sign with the Brewers. My family and I went over the pros and cons of everything and we decided to sign with the Brewers and to get into their system as quickly as possible." Bucci knows the journey to the major leagues is just beginning. "For most players it takes four to five years to move through the system. Hopefully if I keep working hard it will just be a matter of time." Bucci stands six feet, two inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. He says he throws three pitches, a fastball between 87 and 90 mph, a curve ball and changeup. Last year he played for Team Ontario and the Canadian national junior team and played in tournaments throughout the United States. Lapp said he saw Bucci pitch many times. "Nic is different than a lot of other players in that he has a competitive nature you can't teach. He has no fear on the mound and goes right after players. In Canada I have the unique opportunity to see high school kids like Nic play against players who have already been drafted and signed." Lapp added, "I've been watching Nic since he was 15. He's made steady progress each year and as a scout that's what you like to see." Parents Maurizio and Sandy Bucci are proud of their son. "It's very exciting," said Sandy. "I'm going to miss my baby, but it gives us somewhere new to visit. It's always been his dream since he was a little boy to play professional baseball. The next step is up to him." Maurizio said Father's Day came early this year. "It's all a little overwhelming. Nic has always excelled in baseball and after he made the Canadian national junior team there were a lot of major league scouts and schools calling him. I'm glad this part is over. We are very proud of him." Bucci says pitchers Dustin McGowan of the Toronto Blue Jays and Tim Hudson of the Atlanta Braves are his favourite players. Bucci had several people to thank. "First my parents. The Sarnia Braves program where I grew up. Murray Marshall, coach of Team Ontario, and Greg Hamilton, coach of the Team Canada juniors." More, including colbyjack's Brewerfan.net Scouting Report, can be found here http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y155/colbyjack/2008%20Draftees/nick_bucci.jpg

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Lorenzo Cain Our first chance over the years to listen to one of Lorenzo's archived interviews...

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 37 27 .578 - 19-11 18-16 W7 Memphis 32 34 .485 6.0 13-17 19-17 L2 Omaha 30 33 .476 6.5 15-19 15-14 W1 Nashville 27 37 .422 10.0 15-16 12-21 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 39 26 .600 - 22-13 17-13 W1 West Tenn 38 27 .585 1.0 21-9 17-18 L1 Carolina 35 30 .538 4.0 17-13 18-17 L2 Chattanooga 35 30 .538 4.0 20-15 15-15 W4 Tennessee 26 39 .400 13.0 13-22 13-17 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 41 24 .631 - 26-9 15-15 W2 Brevard County 34 31 .523 7.0 21-14 13-17 W3 Jupiter 32 33 .492 9.0 18-12 14-21 W1 Vero Beach 32 33 .492 9.0 20-12 12-21 L2 Daytona 31 34 .477 10.0 15-17 16-17 L1 St. Lucie 18 47 .277 23.0 9-24 9-23 W3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 39 25 .609 - 17-15 22-10 W3 Greensboro 36 29 .554 3.5 16-18 20-11 W3 Delmarva 34 29 .540 4.5 20-11 14-18 L2 Lakewood 35 30 .538 4.5 19-15 16-15 L4 Hagerstown 32 32 .500 7.0 16-19 16-13 W3 West Virginia 28 36 .438 11.0 9-19 19-17 W1 Hickory 28 37 .431 11.5 12-18 16-19 L6 Lexington 20 44 .313 19.0 10-24 10-20 L2

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 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". 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_11_nasaaa_orhaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_11_hunaax_jaxaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_11_breafa_lakafa_1 West Virginia: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_11_kanafx_wvaafx_1

Nashville's game at Oklahoma is also available for subscription viewing at MiLB.TV. Gee, do you think a few folks in the Brewer front office might pony up a few dollars to watch this one online? Jeff Weaver hopes so...

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Jeff Weaver at Oklahoma (Rangers), 10:50 AM pre-game; 11:05 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: LHP Steve Hammond at Jacksonville (Dodgers), 5:50 PM pre-game; 6:05 gametime Audio link via WUMP (game will also archive at this link): http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?sid=t559 Brevard County: RHP Jeremy Jeffress at Lakeland (Tigers), 6:00 PM gametime Sorry, no audio for this series... West Virginia: RHP Evan Anundsen at home vs. Kannapolis (White Sox), 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): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

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

Link while active, text follows: G-a-r-c-i-a-p-a-r-r-a spells pressure By BRAD SHEPARD, For The Huntsville Times When your big brother is a six-time all-star and you're hailed as his clone coming out of high school, the expectations can feel like a vice-grip. Such was the lesson for the so-called next Nomar. He has the same facial features, the same dark complexion and the same sportswriter's spelling nightmare last name. But the Huntsville Stars' newest addition - reserve infielder Michael Garciaparra - wants to make one thing clear to folks, and it's something he had to realize for himself: He isn't Nomar. "People expect you to live up to that name, but you don't have to put up those numbers to be in the big leagues," said Garciaparra, the 25-year-old brother of the six-time all-star Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman. "I'm Michael, and that's what you get. That name's not going to get you to the big leagues. It's just a name on the back of your jersey." After seven seasons, four organizations and 11 minor league towns, now it's just another name fighting for a roster spot. Following an oblique injury this season, Garciaparra was waived by Baltimore. He recently signed with the Brewers organization, where he's had two hits in four at-bats so far with Huntsville. "We needed a versatile player willing to accept the role of an occasional participant," Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said. "Mike had the ability and experience to handle the job." Throughout the younger Garciaparra's career, the name he's so proud of has been an albatross of sorts. As a first-round draft pick of Seattle back in 2001, the then-160-pound shortstop was immediately saddled with expectations. In addition to being a first-rounder and signing a $2 million bonus, the organization instantly compared him to his brother. "He doesn't run as fast as Nomar, but he really looks a lot like him when he takes ground balls," Mariners vice president of scouting and player development Roger Jongewaard told USA Today. "He hits like him (Nomar)." Nevermind that he was a raw, undersized 18-year-old fresh out of high school. "Absolutely, it was extra pressure," Garciaparra said, "and I added it to myself." He struggled during his first full season in Wisconsin in 2003, hitting .243 with two homers and 50 errors. When injuries hampered him in 2004, his stock plummeted. Even when he hit .298 with six home runs in 84 games during 2005, he battled injuries. When he really broke out in 2006, going from rookie ball to Triple-A with the Mariners and hitting over .300 at every stop through 74 games, he again got hurt. After a while, his trips to the disabled list became as frequent as Nomar's. "They're really weird injuries, too," said Garciaparra, who trains with his brother in the offseason. "It's not like we don't take care of our bodies and work out a lot and do everything right, either. It's one of those things you can't control." Despite the injuries, Philadelphia picked him up off waivers after 2006 and added him to its 40-man roster. Just when his major-league goal seemed within reach, Garciaparra couldn't relax and saw flashes of his old self, the one who enlisted help from sports shrinks and thought too much. "I reverted back to the old status because I was trying to do a little too much - seeing Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins and knowing that I could be that next guy," Garciaparra said. "I was doing well about halfway through the season and just hit a wall." On Monday, Garciaparra sat in a Double-A dugout, talking about making it to the place where guys like Craig Griffey and Brad McCann couldn't - the same league as their more-famous brothers. "I think if you're the younger brother of a guy in the big leagues, there's got to be some added pressure," Stars manager Don Money said. "Whatever Nomar is doing, they expect you to do everything as good or better. "Sometimes, the switch goes on later for other people, and for others, sometimes the switch is stuck down." Garciaparra is trying to generate enough at-bats to flip that switch. Though he still battles the doubts, he constantly reminds himself he's only 25. "There's a guy like Chris Coste who I played with last year," Garciaparra said of the Phillies' 35-year-old catcher. "With stories like that and guys like that ... you can still stick around this game and play for a while. There's still time, and there's still hope."

Link while active, text follows: Merklinger throws fastball for strikes, helps Power to win by Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter Mired in a season-long slump, West Virginia Power pitcher Dan Merklinger needed an outing like this. Merklinger allowed two runs on four hits in four-plus innings Tuesday night to help his team earn a hard-fought 7-6 South Atlantic League baseball victory over visiting Kannapolis (N.C.) at Appalachian Power Park. Merklinger, who fanned three and walked three, entered the game with an 0-5 record and 7.82 earned run average in nine appearances. "Yes, I definitely needed to turn the corner and make some strides," said Merklinger, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound left-hander who throws a two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup. "I think tonight I gave our team a chance to win. I did my job." Merklinger pointed to his fastball command -- or lack of it -- when asked to explain his struggles. Power pitching coach John Curtis offered the same assessment. "He wasn't throwing fastballs for strikes," Curtis said of Merklinger, a New Jersey native and Seton Hall product who the Milwaukee Brewers selected in the sixth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. "He was up in the zone when he got behind (in the count) and he got beat up." Although he left with the lead, Merklinger didn't get the win because he didn't pitch five innings. "It was decent," Merklinger said of his outing. "It could have been better. It could have been worse." Curtis called it Merklinger's best performance this season. "This was important for his confidence more than anything," Curtis said. "I'm sure he's disappointed he wasn't able to close it out and get a win, but he mixed (his pitches) up very well tonight." The 22-year-old Merklinger missed the team's first 23 games while he recovered from an elbow injury he suffered during spring training. "He tried to field a ground ball in his last pitching stint in spring training, and the ground ball came back and bent these two fingers back into his hand," Curtis said. "After that happened, he had no feeling in his hand. Instead of saying something, he continued to pitch. "He threw a curveball at the end of the game and the nerve in his elbow probably jumped out of the groove. There was some pain the next day. So, we were very precautious about it. We kind of nursed him back. It has been rough for him. Those numbers (his record and earned run average) ... that's the hardest part. "He was out for the first month and, boy, that's a rough month to miss. All of that work you did in spring training goes down the drain. He has been getting himself back into shape, but that's no excuse. He has had plenty of opportunities to get it back on track. Tonight was a positive step for him. It's something he can build on when we go to the mound and do our workout." The Power took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a pair of two-out singles by Jonathan Lucroy and Zelous Wheeler. The Intimidators tagged Merklinger for two runs in the third, but the Power regained the lead with three runs in the fourth. Caleb Gindl drew a leadoff walk, then scored on Steffan Wilson's double. Wilson crossed the plate on Eric Fryer's triple. Scott Houin followed with a single to score Fryer and chase Kannapolis starter Charlie Shirek (1-3), who took the loss. Power Manager Jeff Isom pulled Merklinger after he issued a pair of two-out walks in the fifth and replaced him with Rob Bryson, who induced an inning-ending groundball. Bryson (3-2) got the win despite allowing four runs in the ninth. Mike Ramlow recorded the final three outs to pick up his seventh save. Fortunately for Bryson, West Virginia scored three insurance runs in the eighth -- and the Class A club needed every one of them. Lucroy led off the inning with a double. Wheeler came through with an RBI single. Gindl reached on a fielder's choice and Wilson followed with a single. Both scored on Curt Rindal's double. Lucroy, Wheeler and Wilson each had two hits for the Power. Wheeler extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Lucroy has collected a hit and scored a run in eight consecutive games. The South Atlantic League teams will complete their three-game series tonight. West Virginia (28-36) will start right-hander Evan Anundsen (4-4, 4.15). Kannapolis will go with right-hander Miguel Socolovich (0-2, 7.41).

Final: Brevard County 9, Lakeland (Tigers) 5 Braddock locks up Tigers paddock By Steve Conley / Special to MLB.com Zach Braddock has gone more than five innings only once in eight starts this season. But that hasn't kept him from piling up strikeouts at a rapid pace. Braddock fanned 10, allowing a run on two hits over five frames as the Brevard County Manatees topped the Lakeland Flying Tigers, 9-5, on Tuesday at Joker Marchant Stadium. Braddock (3-3) worked around a pair of singles in the opening frame by striking out the side swinging. After struggling with control problems in the second that led to three walks and a hit batsman (Louis Ott) to forced in a run, Braddock struck out Cale Iorg swinging to escape further damage. The 20-year-old left-hander retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced, striking out two in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Six of the 10 strikeouts were on swings, leaving four batters caught looking at strike three. It was the third double-digit strikeout performance that gave Braddock his second win in three starts. He began the season by fanning 13 batters in six innings over two starts for the Class A West Virginia Power. He fanned 10 over four frames April 27 against the Delmarva Shorebirds and whiffed 11 over six innings May 31 against the Vero Beach Devil Rays. In 11 outings on the season -- including eight starts -- the New Jersey native has struck out 56 in 41 innings. Milwaukee's 18th round pick in 2005, Braddock went 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA in 10 games -- nine starts -- for West Virginia last season and was named a South Atlantic League Midseason All-Star. Kenny Holmberg delivered a two-run single in the first, Brent Brewer singled twice and had two RBIs and Taylor Green went 3-for-5, driving in a run and scoring one for the Manatees (34-31). Jeramy Laster homered, doubled and scored twice and Brennan Boesch went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI single for the Flying Tigers (32-33). Lakeland starter Mark Brackman (0-3) gave up four runs on six hits and one walk with one strikeout while recording just five outs. Brevard County Box Score Taylor Green (eight-game hit streak, 13-for-32) getting a bit of a break DH'ing some as of late... Brevard County Game Log

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Brendan Katin

Final: Oklahoma (Rangers) 4, Nashville 3 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Callix Crabbe photo, text follows -- RedHawks Steal 4-3 Win From Sounds OKLAHOMA CITY - Joaquin Arias stole home to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Oklahoma RedHawks and hang a disappointing 4-3 defeat on the Nashville Sounds on Tuesday evening at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. After Zach Jackson retired the first batter of the ninth, Arias and ex-Sound Nelson Cruz posted back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. With Chris Davis at the plate, Cruz broke for second and drew a throw before Arias sprinted home to barely elude a tag from Vinny Rottino and end the contest. The Sounds had rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the final two innings, including tying the game in the top of the ninth on Callix Crabbe's two-out, two-run triple. Nashville (27-37), which lost for the sixth time in six games against the RedHawks this season, fell to a season-low 10 games out of first. The RedHawks took a 1-0 lead when Davis led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run to right off Lindsay Gulin, the first baseman's third longball of the year. Left fielder John Mayberry doubled the home team's advantage to 2-0 in the fifth with a leadoff solo homer to left off Gulin, his sixth big fly of the season. Oklahoma tacked on its third run in the seventh against Jackson. Davis drew a two-out walk and scored when Mayberry followed with an RBI double to left. After being held to four hits through seven scoreless frames by three Oklahoma hurlers, Nashville finally got on the board in the eighth when newly-added outfielder Lorenzo Cain recorded his first career Triple-A RBI, driving in Crabbe from third on a fielder's choice groundout against Kazuo Fukumori. With the Sounds down to their last out, Crabbe knotted the contest at 3-3 in the top of the ninth with a two-out, two-run triple off RedHawks reliever Wes Littleton, plating Brendan Katin and Chris Woodward. The three-bagger was Crabbe's third in 21 PCL games, tying him for the team lead. AUDIO: Crabbe Game-Tying Triple In 9th After intentionally walking Tony Gwynn and allowing a steal of second, Littleton struck out Cain to avoid further damage and strand a pair of Sounds runners in scoring position. Littleton (3-1) backed into the win for Oklahoma after suffering his first blown save of the year but benefitting from the bottom of the ninth rally. Jackson (1-5) was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs on three hits over three innings of work. Rottino (2-for-4) singled in the top of the second inning to extend Nashville's longest hitting streak of the season to 19 games. The teams continue the series with an 11:05 a.m. meeting on Wednesday morning. Right-hander Jeff Weaver (2-3, 5.51) will man the bump for Nashville to face Oklahoma left-hander Matt Hairston (0-0, 6.75). Nashville Box Score Lindsay Gulin walked six; Zach Jackson pitched well until the tough-luck 9th; Lorenzo Cain 0-for-5 in his AAA debut with the RBI groundout; Vinny Rottino's hit streak should begin to garner some national attention -- he's up to .270 now... Nashville Game Log

Andy "Bull" Barch and Jacob Messer of the Charleston Daily Mail discuss the Power on the "Bull on Baseball" pre-game show Go to the WSWW audio archive of June 10th, then to the 26:00 minute mark... West Virginia Pre-Game Audio Interview with Catcher Jonathan Lucroy (same link as above) Go to the WSWW audio archive of June 10th, then to the 34:00 minute mark...

Final: West Virginia 7, Kannapolis (White Sox) 6 West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER USE TWO BIG INNINGS TO BEAT KANNAPOLIS The West Virginia Power scored three runs in the fourth inning and did the same in the eighth inning of Tuesday night's game against the Kannapolis Intimidators to take the second game of the series 7-6, setting up the rubber match on Wednesday night. Zelous Wheeler extended his hitting streak to ten games with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first. Kannapolis used sacrifice flies from Sergio Morales and Mark Fleisher in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead. Caleb Gindl began the fourth inning with a walk and scored on Steffan Wilson's double. Eric Fryer brought Wilson home with a triple and scored later in the inning on Scott Houin's base-hit. West Virginia added three big insurance runs in the eighth inning. Wheeler singled in another run and Curt Rindal drove in the last two with a double to right field. The Kannapolis Intimidators made things interesting in the top of the ninth with a four-run frame. Matt Inouye, Joe Persichina and Sergio Miranda hit three consecutive doubles to start the inning. Persichina and Miranda both brought in runs with their two-baggers before Morales's groundout plated Miranda. Jim Gallagher brought in the final run of the inning with an RBI single. Rob Bryson (3-2) allowed just one base runner through his first three and a third innings of relief before allowing all four runs in the ninth, but still secured the victory and fanned five in the process. Mike Ramlow (7) relieved Bryson in the ninth inning to secure the save. Charlie Shirek (1-3) was tagged with the loss after surrendering four runs on six hits over three and a third. Dan Merklinger came an out away from getting the decision, allowing just two runs on four hits over four and two-thirds. The Power improved to 28-36 with the win and the Intimidators fell to 28-37 with the loss. Seven Power players hit safely. Wheeler, Wilson and Jonathan Lucroy paced the Power with two hits apiece. Lucroy extended his hitting streak to eight games and has scored a run in eight straight as well. Wilson has driven in a run in each of his last five games. Caleb Gindl did not record any hits but he reached twice and has reached safely in every game this month. The Power will finish the three game series with Kannapolis Wednesday night. Right hander Evan Anundsen (4-4, 4.15) will get the start for the Power and the Intimidators will counter with right hander Miguel Socolovich (0-2, 7.41). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). *** Link while active, text follows: Power hangs on for rare home win By Tommy R. Atkinson Charleston Gazette Staff writer Yes, that was cheering you heard coming from Appalachian Power Park Tuesday night. Eric Fryer drove in the go-ahead run and closer Mike Ramlow extinguished a late-inning rally as the West Virginia Power held on for a 7-6 victory over the Kannapolis (N.C.) Intimidators. A paid crowd of 4,374 attended the South Atlantic League matchup. Fryer lined an 0-2 pitch into the right-field corner for a run-scoring triple to give the Power the lead for good at 3-2 in the fourth inning. West Virginia seemed as if it would cruise to only its ninth win at home this season, taking a 7-2 advantage into the ninth. But nothing ever comes easy for the Power at home this season. Kannapolis (28-37) pushed across four runs in the top of the ninth, closing its deficit to 7-6. Ramlow entered with runners on first and second base with none out and promptly induced the first two batters to ground out, although the latter pushed across a run. After giving up an RBI single to the Intimidators' Jim Gallagher to narrow the Power's edge to 7-6, Ramlow forced Kannapolis' Mark Fleisher to hit a grounder to West Virginia third baseman Steffan Wilson, who flipped to second for the force out and the win. Victories at home have been few and far between for the Power (28-36) this season. West Virginia entered Tuesday with an 8-19 home record, the fewest home wins in the 16-team Sally League. West Virginia has posted a respectable 19-17 mark on the road. "It felt nice,'' said Fryer of giving the fans something to cheer about. "We pulled out the 'W'. [We] had a pretty nice crowd, they were loud and they were behind us. It's nice to get good fan support at home. That's what makes it nice playing at home [and] having the fans cheer for you. "We've been playing real well on the road, [but] we just haven't really been able to put it together at home. We have a long home stand coming up and if we can just keep adding on to [Tuesday's game] then things will start turning our way.'' Power starting pitcher Dan Merklinger turned in one of his best performances despite not getting the win. Merklinger (0-5, 7.82 ERA), who needed one more out to qualify for the victory, allowed two runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. West Virginia reliever Rob Bryson (3-2) picked up the win, allowing four earned runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings. Bryson tossed shutout ball from the sixth through the eighth but ran into trouble in the ninth, allowing three consecutive doubles and a walk before Ramlow, who earned his seventh save, quelled the uprising. Steffan Wilson went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Wilson's RBI double off the right-field wall in the fourth knotted the game at 2-all. Zelous Wheeler singled in a run and Curt Rindal doubled in two in the eighth to provide West Virginia with much-needed insurance and a 7-2 advantage. "The last couple of weeks I think we've really turned the corner,'' Fryer said. "We're playing a lot better baseball all around, even games where we don't pull out [the win]. I think our bats are getting better [and] our pitching's getting better. Everything seems to be going in the right direction.'' POWER POINTS: Wheeler, who finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a two-out RBI single in the first. He also made a diving stop in the field in the second that prevented a run from scoring. ... Power catcher Jonathan Lucroy (2-for-3) extended his hitting streak to eight games. ... West Virginia designated hitter and leadoff man Lee Haydel saw his six-game hitting streak come to an end after an 0-for-4 performance. ... The Power didn't commit an error Tuesday after turning in a season-high five in Monday's 8-5 loss to the Intimidators. ... Charleston Gazette Photo by Chip Ellis Caleb Gindl slides home safely, beating the throw to Kannapolis catcher Matt Inouye. http://www.wvgazette.com/images/thumbs275/WVPower_G0806103cqz1y.jpg West Virginia Box Score West Virginia Game Log

Link while active, text follows: The Brews are on Adams By: Ian Preston, SIUDE.com Culture shock might be one factor that would weigh on the mind of someone moving from a small town such as Viola to major city such as Milwaukee. However, that transition is one SIU junior pitcher Cody Adams hopes he'll be making in the next few years. Adams made history when the Milwaukee Brewers drafted him in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft Thursday. Selected with pick 62, the Saluki right-hander became the highest-drafted SIU baseball player in head coach Dan Callahan's 14 years at the university. "It's going to be a nice pay day for Cody," Callahan said. "I'm real proud and happy for him." Despite struggles in the first half of the season, Adams finished with a 6-4 record and an ERA of 3.75 in 2008. He also led the Salukis in strikeouts for the second year in a row with 78. "I have no problem with the Brewers," Adams said. "They're actually one of the teams that I wanted to go to because their farm league, their coaching staff and the way they do things. I really liked." Adams still has a long way to go before he gets to put on a major league cap. First he'll be sent to one of the three rookie league teams in the Brewers' organization in West Virginia, Montana or Arizona. From there, it could be on to the Brewers' Class A affiliate in Florida, the Brevard County Manatees. "It's different," Adams said. "I have to start all over from scratch and work my way up. I'm really excited though to be picked up." Adams features a fastball that tops out in the mid-90s and a changeup that he said is his go-to pitch to get outs. However, hitters can hit fastballs in the 90s and adjust to changeups at the pro level. Callahan said Adams needs to work on his 2-seam fastball, keep improving his slider and continue to "learn how to pitch." "What made him so good was he learned the concept of how to pitch," Callahan said. "He's using both sides of the plate and changing speeds. He's learning how to compete, not just throw." It has been a long, strenuous process for Adams to get to this point in his career. For the last two seasons, squadrons of pro scouts armed with speed radar guns stalked Adams every time he took the mound. "It got really old after a while and got really repetitive with all the phone calls and the meetings," Adams said. "It was just part of the process though, and I just tried to get through it without it bothering me or the team." Adams says it was an exciting moment to hear his given name called - Thomas Adams - even if it was the one he doesn't like to hear. "I've never gone by it unless I'm in trouble," Adams said. "I just kept thinking, man, they better not of just called me Thomas."

We'll clean up the Draft Official Selection Thread during the overnight. Brewerfan Player Index Pages will be in place by the start of the Helena / Arizona seasons. Some of these names we listed on the forum here earlier as having signed. 19 are draft picks, Drespling is an undrafted free agent. MILWAUKEE BREWERS - Agreed to terms with LHP Evan Frederickson, OF Cutter Dykstra, LHP Josh Romanski, RHP Maverick Lasker, RHP Trey Watten, RHP Michael Bowman, RHP Greg Miller, SS Michael "Mikey" Marseco, RHP Garrett Sherrill, C Corey Kemp, RHP Mark Willinsky, RHP Damon Krestalude, RHP Liam Ohlmann, RHP Ben Jeffers, LHP Brandon Ritchie, SS John Delaney, C Derrick Alfonso, RHP Brandon Rapoza, OF Michael Vass and INF-OF Brandon Drespling. We'll try link to colbyjack's scouting reports during the overnight as well, although you can go directly to our Official Draft Selection Thread here.

John Sickels revisits Brantley's profile

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 36 27 .571 - 19-11 17-16 W6 Memphis 32 33 .492 5.0 13-16 19-17 L1 Omaha 29 33 .468 6.5 15-19 14-14 L5 Nashville 27 36 .429 9.0 15-16 12-20 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 39 26 .600 - 22-13 17-13 W1 West Tenn 38 27 .585 1.0 21-9 17-18 L1 Carolina 35 29 .547 3.5 17-12 18-17 L1 Chattanooga 35 30 .538 4.0 20-15 15-15 W4 Tennessee 26 39 .400 13.0 13-22 13-17 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 40 24 .625 - 25-9 15-15 W1 Brevard County 33 31 .516 7.0 21-14 12-17 W2 Vero Beach 32 32 .500 8.0 20-12 12-20 L1 Jupiter 31 32 .492 8.5 18-12 13-20 W3 Daytona 31 33 .484 9.0 15-17 16-16 W1 St. Lucie 17 47 .266 23.0 8-24 9-23 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 37 25 .597 - 15-15 22-10 W1 Delmarva 34 27 .557 2.5 20-11 14-16 W1 Lakewood 35 28 .556 2.5 19-15 16-13 L2 Greensboro 35 29 .547 3.0 15-18 20-11 W2 Hagerstown 30 32 .484 7.0 14-19 16-13 W1 Hickory 28 36 .438 10.0 12-17 16-19 L5 West Virginia 27 36 .429 10.5 8-19 19-17 L2 Lexington 20 43 .317 17.5 10-24 10-19 L1