Jim Goulart

Better now, thanks...

Final: West Tenn (Mariners) 2, Huntsville 0 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Thomas Twirls Complete Game Shutout Over Stars Down to Six Games to Determine Division Winner By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars Justin Thomas tossed a complete-game five-hit shutout Sunday evening to push West Tenn to a 2-0 win and back into a first place tie with Huntsville in the North Division. The two teams are tied at 38-26 with one game left in the five-game series and six in the first half. The Stars were blanked for the first time this season. Freddy Parejo tripled with one out in the third and was left stranded when Thomas got Michael Brantley to ground out to first base against a drawn-in infield and Alcides Escobar to ground out to end the frame and keep the game scoreless. Escobar led off the sixth with a single and advanced on a ground ball out before he was thrown out trying to steal third base. Thomas then retired the next 11 hitters to end the game and throw the second complete game shutout of his career. He fanned a season-high ten and has now struck out 17, without issuing a walk, over 14 2/3 innings in his two outings against the Stars this season. Huntsville starter Brae Wright allowed only two hits through five shutout frames before Mike Wilson launched a one-out home run, his 12th of the year, over the scoreboard in left-center field to break up the scoreless duel. Luis Valbuena singled with one out in the seventh and Wright was taken out of the game and replaced by Juan Sandoval, who gave up a hit and run single to Brent Johnson that pushed Valbuena to third. Mike Saunders then singled past a diving second baseman Mike Bell into right field to score Valbuena and advance Johnson to third, from where he tried to sneak home after the relay throw and was gunned down by Bell. Wright allowed two runs on five hits, while walking three and fanning six but suffered the loss to drop to 4-6. The series wraps up Monday night with right-hander Donovan Hand getting the starting nod for Huntsville against Diamond Jaxx right-hander Denny Stark. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 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 Complete game shutout aginst this lineup, walking none and striking out ten? Tip your proverbial cap -- how has 24-year-old Mariner prospect Justin Thomas posted rather pedestrian numbers all season... Huntsville Game Log

Final: Lexington (Astros) 16, West Virginia 8 West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER LOSE SLUGFEST IN LEXINGTON The West Virginia Power and Lexington Legends each homered four times on Sunday night at Applebee's Park, but the Legends outscored the Power 11-0 in the middle three innings of the game and erased an early 6-1 deficit to take the final game of the series 16-8. Lee Haydel began the game with a triple and scored on Matt Cline's sacrifice fly. Jonathan Lucroy followed with his tenth homer of the season to give the Power a 2-0 lead, extending his hitting streak to six games. Eric Farris's error allowed Collin DeLome to score in the second to cut the lead in half. Zelous Wheeler and Steffan Wilson both went deep in the third to put the Power ahead by five. Wheeler's three-run shot was his sixth of the season, extending his hitting streak to eight games and it was Wilson's first of two on the night, giving the Power a 6-1 lead. The Legends scored multiple runs in the next four innings and never looked back. DeLome hit a solo blast in the fourth and Ronald Ramirez doubled in the next two. Lexington scored five times in the fifth to take the lead. DeLome singled in the first run and Max Sapp hit Lexington's first of two grand slams to put the Legends ahead for good. Matt Cusick's triple scored Craig Corrado in the sixth inning before Eric Taylor hit a two-run blast. Corrado's fifth hit of the game was a grand slam in the seventh inning to bring in Lexington's final four runs. Wilson went deep again for the Power in the eighth inning, hitting a two-run blast to score West Virginia's final runs. Wilson is now the team leader with 11 bombs on the season. Jordan Powell (1-5) held the Power to just two hits over four scoreless innings of relief to get the victory. Nick Tyson (2-2) was tagged with the loss allowing four runs on three hits and failed to record an out in the fifth inning before being relieved by Roque Mercedes. Mercedes allowed three of Tyson's inherited runners to score when he surrendered the first Legend grand slam. The Power fell to 27-35 with the loss and the Legends improved to 20-42 with the win. The four home runs were the most in a single game this season for West Virginia. Wilson's multi-homerun game was also a first in '08 for the Power. Eight Power players hit safely at least once. Haydel, Lucroy and Wilson paced the Power with two hits each. The Power will begin a three game series with the Kannapolis Intimidators at Appalachian Power Park on Monday night. Right hander Amaury Rivas (5-1, 2.50) will get the start for the Power and the Intimidators will counter with right hander Jason Rice (1-5, 5.40). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score Steffan Wilson's OPS now up to .808; Jonathan Lucroy pushed his to .916 today; none of R.J. Seidel's numbers for the season are worth crowing about; 21-year-old Roque Mercedes and just-turned 20-year-old Jose Garcia are being consistently overpowered... West Virginia Game Log

Final: Albuquerque (Marlins) 8, Nashville 2 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Richie Gardner photo, text follows -- Isotopes Spoil Sounds' Sweep Attempt In Finale NASHVILLE - The Nashville Sounds offense had no answer for Albuquerque Isotopes starter Dallas Trahern in an 8-2 defeat on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium. Trahern (1-5) broke a five-game losing streak and earned his first victory of the season for the Isotopes after giving up only one run on four hits in seven innings of work. Taylor Tankersley pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Marcos Carvajal gave up one run in the ninth to hold the Nashville offense to two runs on six hits for the game. Richie Gardner (5-2) had a reversal of Trahern's fortune, snapping his five-game win streak to take his first loss in his last eight starts. He pitched six innings and only gave up three unearned runs to turn in his third quality start of the season but was a victim of poor run support. Nashville plated its first run in the bottom of the first inning when Callix Crabbe hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Hernan Iribarren from third. Iribarren had led off with a double, which extended his hit streak to a season-high seven games. After two scoreless innings to start his outing, Gardner ran into trouble when he gave up consecutive walks to Alberto Concepcion and Dante Brinkley to start the top of the third inning for the Isotopes. Dallas McPherson then moved the runners over on a sacrifice bunt, and on the next play, Jai Miller knocked a grounder to third baseman Adam Heether, who threw to home and got Concepcion stuck in a rundown. Unfortunately, Heether eventually overthrew Gardner at the plate and both Concepcion and Brinkley scored on the play. Another rundown followed during the next at-bat when a failed suicide squeeze bunt by Chris Barnwell got Miller caught trying to steal home for Albuquerque. Barnwell made up for the missed bunt by belting his fifth home run of the year over the left field wall on the very next pitch. The eventful inning finally ended when Tagg Bozied flied out, but not until after three unearned runs scored for Albuquerque. The Isotopes extended their lead in the top of the seventh inning after Barnwell hit an RBI single off Sounds reliever Jason Shiell to score Dante Brinkley from third. Barnwell, a former Sound who spent the last three seasons in Music City, finished the day 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Shiell's struggles continued in the top of the eighth when he gave up four more runs to the Isotopes off the help of three consecutive run-scoring singles from Chase Lambin, Concepcion, and Brinkley. Over his two innings pitched, Shiell gave up five runs on six hits before Erasmo Ramirez pitched a scoreless ninth to prevent any further scoring from the Isotopes. Albuquerque notched 13 hits on the day, surpassing their total of 12 over the last three games against the Sounds. Crabbe knocked an RBI double to score Gwynn in the bottom of the ninth to plate the only other Sounds run. A win would have marked the first series sweep on the season for the Sounds after they handed three straight losses to the Isotopes. AUDIO: Strike 'Em Out, Throw 'Em Out DP After spending nine days at home, the Sounds will hit the road for an eight-day trip and start a four-game series tomorrow with the Oklahoma RedHawks at 7:05 p.m. at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. Southpaw Sam Narron (3-0, 3.62) will start for Nashville against right-hander Dustin Nippert (4-1, 4.21) for Oklahoma. The Sounds will return to Greer Stadium on Tuesday, June 17, to start an eight-game homestand with series against the RedHawks and Memphis Redbirds. Nashville Box Score Nashville Game Log

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Pitcher Ben Howard

06-06-08 Jim Powell with Brett Lawrie, Brewers 1st round pick

The Brewers never send their college-age draft pitchers to full-season ball at all, but this Power staff could change their minds, especially based on the sheer number of pitchers drafted and (eventually) signed. Ugly night tonight for sure.

Brevard County Site Game Summary: Butler, Manatees Blank Miracle, 5-0 By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees (Viera, FL) Josh Butler and the Brevard County Manatees rebounded to shutout the Fort Myers Miracle Sunday, 5-0. Butler (2-7) battled through a rough first inning, in which he surrendered three walks and one hit, but escaped without allowing a run. He found his rhythm after that inning, pitching six shutout innings for the Manatees, allowing just four hits and striking out seven. Casey Baron and Mike McClendon finished off the shutout for Brevard County. Jeff Manship (7-3) suffered the loss for the Miracle, allowing three runs in six innings. Jimmy Mojica, Lorenzo Cain, and Stephen Chapman each had two hits and an RBI to lead the Manatees offensive attack. Charlie Fermaint continued his solid play in the series, knocking in two runs with a single and a sacrifice fly. The win gave the Manatees a 2-2 split in the four-game series against the best team in the FSL. The Manatees head west to Lakeland to begin a four-game set Monday, which will take them to the All-Star break. Bobby Bramhall (1-3, 3.15) will make his first start of the season, matching up against Jonah Nickerson (5-3, 3.99) of the Flying Tigers. Jimmy Mojica steals second base in the 4th inning of the Manatees 5-0 win. (MiLB.com Photo by Dennis Greenblatt) http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2008/06/08/CVmPJIzV.jpg

It was Dillon's plan to clear the heart of the Rockie order for the 8th and 9th. I heart Carlos.

Final: Brevard County 5, Fort Myers (Twins) 0 Game Summary from the Miracle's Site: VIERA, F.L. - After coming up scoreless on Saturday night, the Brevard County Manatees decided to return the favor to the Fort Myers Miracle by blanking the West Division's best team in a 5-0 win on Sunday afternoon. The top five hitters in the Manatees lineup combined to go 8-for-18 with all five RBI in the afternoon win at Space Coast Stadium. After Miracle starter Jeff Manship retired the Manatees three up, three down in the first three frames, the 'Tees were able to break through with three hits in their fourth for a 1-0 lead. Jimmy Mojica led off the inning with a base hit to center, quickly stole second, and later came around on a two-out single by Friday's hero, Charlie Fermaint, for the one-run advantage. A pair of runs in the Brevard sixth catapulted the Manatees out to a three-run lead after three-straight singles by Mojica, Lorenzo Cain and Taylor Green started things off. Fermaint would pick up his second RBI of the day with a groundout to second plating Mojica, while Stephen Chapman came through with a sacrifice-fly to center putting the Manatees up by three. Two in the seventh gave the Manatees their final runs of the day in another three-hit inning, this one capped off by Mojica's sac-fly to center and RBI-triple to right by Cain. All three innings in which the Manatees crossed the plate were apart of three-hit frames, with a total of 10 hits on the day. Base running miscues crippled the Miracle on Sunday as a caught stealing by Yangervis Solarte, two pickoffs at first of Danny Santiestiban and double play hit into by Wilson Ramos took the Miracle out of four potential run-scoring innings in the matinee. The Miracle also struck out 44 times in the four-game series, but were still able to leave Space Coast Stadium with a 2-2 split. Brevard County Box Score Surely Brewerfan had put the pressure on Josh Butler to pony up with a big effort -- nice job in his six innings, although he did walk three and hit one batter; Jimmy Mojica productive whie giving Brent Brewer a day off; Manatees win despite failing to draw a base on balls themselves... Brevard County Game Log

This article suggests 43rd round pick Dexter Price will be heading to Auburn -- Stay in school. It's overwhelmingly what Coloradans are planning to do after a 2008 season that was considered pedestrian by professionals in terms of senior talent. More pencils, more books and professors' looks are more realistic than beating the bushes in the minor leagues to chase their fields of dreams. After the 59th season in state annals, recent graduates agree the college route is the way for them, a nice, overall batch that includes two-time player of the year Andy Burns of Rocky Mountain (Kentucky), and Ron Burton Jr. (Pacific) and Dexter Price (Auburn) of Air Academy. The exception may be Mullen product Tyler Sample, who has signed with Arkansas, but was selected 80th in the MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals.

Link while active, text follows: Two-sport star says he won't leave U yet By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune Gophers two-sport star Eric Decker has been telling people the past few months that he intends to return to school this fall so he didn't expect to be selected in the major league baseball draft this week. But the Milwaukee Brewers took Decker in the 39th round Friday, allowing him to realize one childhood dream, even if it seems unlikely that he will sign with the team. "I was kind of surprised, to be honest," Decker said. Decker, a junior who is expected to be one of the top wide receivers in the Big Ten this season, said his plan is to play one more season of college football and baseball and then consider his options next spring. Decker said he isn't sure how much the Brewers might offer as a signing bonus, but it's doubtful that it would be enough to entice him to give up football. "I still think I can improve in football, and I'm looking forward to this season," said Decker, who caught a school-record 67 passes last season and returned to the football team last week for offseason workouts. "I'm definitely coming back for one more season in football and baseball." Decker resumed his baseball career this spring after a three-year hiatus and became the Gophers' starting left fielder. He hit .329 with three home runs and 28 RBI. The Brewers will lose their rights to Decker if they don't sign him by Aug. 15.

Komatsu (three hits, three stolen bases), Wooten (save), Duran and Scott all contributed on Saturday. Thanks for the schedule updates, PrimeTime!

One day after throwing 111 pitches, Jake Odorizzi came in with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and struck out Jarred Hippen and Tim Jacobs to end the game, as his team took the state title. "He just blew them away," said Highland's Corey Gall, whose two-run double in the second helped the Bulldogs build an early 3-0 lead. "He comes in and throws gas and gets everybody out," Gifford said. "No doubt, I knew it was over. I knew we'd won state right there." Highland coach Joel Hawkins said Odorizzi knew it, too. "The bases were loaded and I'm thinking come on Jake, let's get through this," Hawkins said. "But Jake knew it was over. I didn't have to, he's the one that goes out there -- and he knows." After Odorizzi pounded a fastball past Jacobs for the final out, he tossed his glove high into the air and was engulfed in a sea of celebrating Bulldogs. In a span of three days, Odorizzi was a supplemental first-round draft pick by the Brewers and helped Highland win its first state championship. It's tough for any graduation gift to top that double dose of distinction. Which one did Odorizzi consider a bigger accomplishment? "The state championship, because it's a team thing," he said. "It's a great thing for me to be drafted and all and I'm just ecstatic about that. "But it's real pleasing winning a state championship, no one will ever forget that. It's ours forever, and if I make it or don't make it in the pros, I'll always have a state championship." So will the Bulldogs.

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 34 27 .557 - 19-11 15-16 W4 Memphis 31 32 .492 4.0 12-15 19-17 L2 Omaha 29 31 .483 4.5 15-18 14-13 L3 Nashville 27 34 .443 7.0 15-15 12-19 W3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 38 25 .603 - 21-12 17-13 W1 West Tenn 37 26 .587 1.0 21-9 16-17 L1 Carolina 34 28 .548 3.5 16-11 18-17 W2 Chattanooga 33 30 .524 5.0 20-15 13-15 W2 Tennessee 26 37 .413 12.0 13-20 13-17 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 39 23 .629 - 24-9 15-14 L2 Brevard County 31 31 .500 8.0 20-14 11-17 L1 Vero Beach 31 31 .500 8.0 19-12 12-19 W1 Daytona 30 32 .484 9.0 15-16 15-16 W3 Jupiter 30 32 .484 9.0 17-12 13-20 W2 St. Lucie 15 47 .242 24.0 7-24 8-23 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 36 25 .590 - 15-15 21-10 L1 Lakewood 35 26 .574 1.0 19-14 16-12 W3 Delmarva 33 27 .550 2.5 20-11 13-16 L3 Greensboro 33 29 .532 3.5 13-18 20-11 L1 Hagerstown 29 31 .483 6.5 13-18 16-13 W1 Hickory 28 35 .444 9.0 12-17 16-18 L4 West Virginia 27 34 .443 9.0 8-18 19-16 W2 Lexington 19 42 .311 17.0 9-24 10-18 L4

Follow Sunday'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_08_albaaa_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_08_wtdaax_hunaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_08_ftmafa_breafa_1 West Virginia: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_06_08_wvaafx_lexafx_1

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): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

West Virginia's game at Lexington is also available for subscription viewing at MiLB.TV.

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Richie Gardner at home vs. Albuquerque (Marlins), 12:45 PM pre-game; 1:00 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: LHP Brae Wright at home vs. West Tenn (Mariners), 4:50 PM pre-game; 5:05 gametime Audio link via WUMP (game will also archive at this link): http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?sid=t559 Brevard County: RHP Josh Butler at home vs. Fort Myers (Twins), 12:00 PM gametime Audio link via the Miracle's SportsJuice site: http://www.sportsjuice.com/broadcaster2.aspx?bid=MTQ5-g%2fzH4cwYBjA%3d West Virginia: RHP R.J. Seidel at Lexington (Astros), 4:50 PM pre-game, 5:05 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: Sounds pitcher's starts come exactly 3 years apart By MAURICE PATTON, Tennessean Staff Writer If history is any indication, Ben Howard's next start probably will be June 7, 2011. The Sounds pitcher started Saturday against Albuquerque, breaking a string of 153 consecutive relief appearances. The Jackson, Tenn., native's last start was June 7, 2005 for the same Isotopes team he faced Saturday. Howard, the 12th different pitcher to start for the Sounds, filled the spot vacated when Chris Narveson went on the disabled list with an ankle injury. Howard threw a season-high 77 pitches in five innings and allowed one run on one hit with three strikeouts before he was lifted for a pinch-hitter in Nashville's 6-1 win. "I was inviting contact; that's what I wanted to do," said Howard, who took the loss in his 2005 start at Oklahoma. "I've had my day of trying to strike everybody out; that didn't work so well." Howard matched his season high with his five innings and reduced his ERA to 3.53. "He's got a good arm," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "He got a little wild, but he was able to make some pitches when he needed to, did a good job of damage control in the second inning." 17 and counting: Vinny Rottino raised his hitting streak to 17 straight games - the longest by a Sounds player in more than three years - with a bunt single in the seventh inning. Trent Durrington had a 17-game streak from June 7-Aug. 16, 2005. Rottino is only two-thirds of the way to matching the longest streak by a Nashville player since the team joined the Pacific Coast League in 1998. Adam Hyzdu posted the longest hitting streak in the minors in 2001, going 26 straight games (May 17-June 26). Family business: Sounds outfielder Mel Stocker will miss today's series finale against Albuquerque. He's returning to his home in Iowa for the birth of his first child. "I'm beyond excited," Stocker said. "We've been waiting for this day for a long time. It's a week early, so we hope everything goes well." Stocker will rejoin the Sounds in Des Moines for their four-game series with the Iowa Cubs that begins Friday. Longball battle: Brendan Katin's two-run home run in the sixth inning was his ninth of the season, tying him for the lead among current Sounds players with Brad Nelson. Russell Branyan hit 12 homers for Nashville before his contract was purchased by Milwaukee on May 25. In nine games since joining the Brewers, Branyan has hit five more home runs. Love and baseball: Between the top and bottom halves of the fifth inning, Chris Avery proposed to Alise Yates atop the first-base dugout. Yates said yes - much to Avery's relief, considering there was a Greer Stadium crowd of 6,501 watching.

Link while active, text follows: Sounds pitchers come together for 1-hit wonder Nashville trio sparkles in victory By MAURICE PATTON, Tennessean Staff Writer Three Sounds pitchers combined on a one-hitter Saturday night in a 6-1 victory over Albuquerque at Greer Stadium. The outing by Ben Howard, Steve Bray and Mitch Stetter marked the fewest hits allowed in a game by the Sounds this season and the second-fewest allowed in a Pacific Coast League game this year. Colorado Springs threw a seven-inning no-hitter May 11 in a 5-1 win over the same Isotopes. With the win, the Sounds have their fourth three-game winning streak this season. They will go for their first series sweep and first four-game string at 1 p.m. today. "We've got a great team; we've got the pitching, the fielding and the hitting," said Bray, who struck out a season-high four in his three perfect innings. "We just hadn't been able to piece it together." Howard, making his first start in three years, allowed the only hit in the second inning when Albuquerque took a 1-0 lead. Howard issued two walks along with the hit before giving up a sacrifice fly. "I'll take five innings and one hit any day," Howard said. "If I can just eliminate the walks (four), that's a complete outing right there. "I didn't realize it (was a one-hitter) until late in the game. I'm glad we kept it." Stetter closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning - though he provided a little drama by yielding a long fly ball that center fielder Tony Gwynn caught on the warning track for the second out. "You go in and you realize the pitchers ahead of you have only given up one hit, and you want to keep it intact," Stetter said. "You don't want to think too much about it, but it's in the back of your mind. "It's not a no-hitter, but it's something special." The combined outing resulted in the fewest hits allowed by the Sounds since Manny Parra's perfect game June 25. What they said: "To put a performance like that together against a team like that - our pitchers did an unbelievable job. Some of those (Albuquerque) guys have got some pretty good numbers." - Brendan Katin.

Link while active, text follows: Howard, Sounds one-hit Isotopes By Larry Fleisher / Special to MLB.com When Ben Howard gave up a run, he knew it wasn't the worst thing that could happen. Making his first start in exactly three years, Howard combined with two relievers on a one-hitter Saturday as the Nashville Sounds shut down the Albuquerque Isotopes, 6-1, at Greer Stadium. The 29-year-old right-hander had been used exclusively as a reliever by Nashville and had not gotten a start since June 7, 2005, when he pitched for Albuquerque. Coming out of the bullpen, he often faced pressure to keep the opponent off the scoreboard. "I feel like when I'm starting, I can have more of a game plan," Howard said. "It's nice to relax and know if I give up a run, it's not the end of the world." Howard, who made 132 Minor League starts in the the Padres organization from 1997-2003, allowed a second-inning single to Major League veteran Dallas McPherson and a sacrifice fly to John Baker. "It feels good," Howard said. "I've wanted to get back on the mound and, hopefully, I'll stick around. It's been a while [since I started], but I like it." The former second-round pick fanned three and walked four, throwing 43 of 77 pitches for strikes. He retired 13 of his final 16 hitters before Steve Bray (1-4) came on in the sixth. Bray struck out four in three scoreless frames and Mitch Stetter pitched the ninth, fanning McPherson on three pitches to end the game. "It was great," Stetters said. "It doesn't happen too often. It was a good feeling. For [Howard] to go in our rotation, he's been lights-out. It's a fun thing to be a part of." Bray said he was unaware that Howard had yielded just one hit. Instead of focusing on the scoreboard, the right-hander was busy going over the game plan with catcher Vinny Rottino. "It was pretty exciting," Bray said. "I've never been a part of a no-hitter (or) one-hitter in professional baseball. Ben went out there and really pitched his butt off." Howard did not get the win because his teammates struggled to get going against Chris Seddon (5-4). The Isotopes starter blanked Nashville for five innings, but the Sounds scored three times in the sixth. Brendan Katin put Nashville in front with a two-run homer, his ninth, and Ozzie Chavez lined an RBI single off reliever Ross Wolf. The Sounds added three runs in the seventh against Randy Williams. Katin had an RBI groundout and Adam Heether delivered a two-run single. Besides catching the gem, Rottino extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a bunt single in the seventh. Seddon (5-4) allowed three runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings and lost for the first time in three starts against Nashville this season. Ben Howard is 1-0 with a 2.30 ERA in his last six games, including one start. (Photo by Mike Strasinger/Nashville Sounds) http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2008/06/07/X4MkyweF.jpg

Final: Nashville 6, Albuquerque (Marlins) 1 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for new Steve Bray photo, text follows -- Three Sounds Combine On One-Hitter In 6-1 Win NASHVILLE - Three Nashville hurlers combined on a one-hitter to lead the Sounds to a 6-1 victory over the visiting Albuquerque Isotopes on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium. Sounds starter Ben Howard allowed the only knock of the night, a second-inning Dallas McPherson single to right field. Howard (5.0 IP) was followed by solid relief performances by Steve Bray (3.0 hitless IP) and Mitch Stetter (1.0 hitless IP). Nashville hurlers retired the final 13 Isotopes batters in order to close out the contest. Nashville (27-34) has won the first three games of the series, matching its longest win streak of the year. The Sounds will look for their first sweep of the season in Sunday afternoon's finale. Albuquerque grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on catcher John Baker's bases-loaded sacrifice fly. Tagg Bozied, who led off the frame by drawing a walk from Howard, scored on the play. Howard escaped further damage and stranded two Isotopes in scoring position when he induced an inning-ending groundout from pitcher Chris Seddon. Sounds right fielder Brendan Katin propelled the home team to a 2-1 lead in the sixth with a two-out, two-run homer to center, his ninth longball of the season. The blast, which also scored Vinny Rottino, came against Seddon. AUDIO: Brendan Katin's Go-Ahead HR Nashville added a run later in the frame. Adam Heether followed Katin's shot by drawing a walk, prompting an Isotopes pitching change. Chris Woodward drew a free pass to greet reliever Ross Wolf before Ozzie Chavez ripped an RBI single to left to increase the Sounds' lead to two. The Sounds gave themselves some breathing room in the bottom of the seventh with three runs against Albuquerque reliever Randy Williams, increasing the lead to 6-1. Rottino extended Nashville's longest hit streak of the season to 17 games with a bunt single in the bottom of the seventh inning, which loaded the bases with none out in the frame. After Brad Nelson struck out, Katin plated his third run of the evening with an RBI groundout. Heether followed with a two-run single to left, which chased Williams. Howard took a no-decision for the Sounds in a successful first start of the season. He allowed one run on one hit over five innings while walking four batters and striking out three in his 77-pitch effort. Bray (1-4) picked up his first victory of the year after working three hitless innings and striking out a season-high four batters. Seddon (5-4) absorbed the loss for the Isotopes after allowing three runs on three hits over his 5 1/3 frames. The teams wrap up the four-game set with a 1 p.m. finale on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Richie Gardner (5-1, 4.47) will start for the Sounds to face Albuquerque right-hander Dallas Trahern (0-5, 8.41). Nashville Box Score Vinny Rottino, after walking twice earlier, with the Pete Rose-like bunt to extend the hitting streak, nice; Sounds drew eight free passes; all 19 of Tony Gwynn's Nashville hits this season have been singles, so the .339 average is deceiving -- find a gap once, Tony; Steve Bray threw 36 pitches, 25 for strikes... Nashville Game Log

Nashville Pre-Game Chat with Albuquerque Broadcaster Robert Portnoy Nice to hear from Robert again, as many of you will remember his fine stint as Voice of the Stars in Huntsville...