Jim Goulart

Huntsville Site: Rain Suspends Suns and Stars in Ninth By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars The Stars and Suns were suspended in the ninth inning Sunday evening in a 9-9 game with runners at second and third and two outs and a two ball, two strike count to Rene Rivera. The game will be completed Monday morning at 11 AM and the regularly scheduled game will begin 30 minutes after the completion of the first game and played to a full nine innings. Angel Salome's home run in the eighth inning gave the Stars a 9-8 lead and Huntsville called on Joe Bateman to start the ninth in a save situation. He retired the first two hitters as the rain started to fall before he hit Juan Gonzalez on a 2-2 pitch. Shane Justis came in to run and advanced to second base when pinch-hitter James Tomlin reached on an infield single. Lucas May was then hit with the next pitch to load the bases before Bateman uncorked a wild pitch with Rivera at the plate that allowed Justis to score to tie the game. The increasingly heavy rain forced the teams off the field and the decision was made 37 minutes later to suspend the game. Huntsville left-hander Sam Narron will take the mound in the final game of the series against Suns' right-hander Mario Alvarez. Coverage of the game begins at 10:55 am central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com and www.730ump.com. Huntsville Partial Box Score Ugly outing for Robert Hinton -- his prospect progress has been frustrating at times... Huntsville Partial Game Log

Final: West Virginia 7, Delmarva (Orioles) 4 West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER SPLIT SERIES WITH DELMARVA The West Virginia Power used a two-run first inning to take an early lead on Sunday afternoon and they plated three runs in the sixth inning to pull away from Delmarva, as they defeated the Shorebirds 7-4 to split the four game series. Zelous Wheeler singled in Lee Haydel in the bottom of the first and Wheeler scored later in the inning on Jonathan Lucroy's groundout. Matt Tucker cut the lead in half when he scored on a passed ball in the top of the fourth. Curt Rindal began the fifth inning with a solo homer, his third of the season to give the Power a 3-1 lead. In the sixth, the Power scored three runs on four hits to pull away. Caleb Gindl doubled in the first run before Steffan Wilson and Uly Snijders smacked run-scoring singles to complete the frame. Delmarva plated three runs in the seventh to make it a two-run game. Brendan Monaghan reached on a fielder's choice and brought in Joe Nowicki. Matt Angle and Kieron Pope both knocked in runs on groundouts. The Power added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on Gindl's two-out RBI single. Jose Garcia (1-1) allowed three runs on three hits over two innings of relief and got the win. Zach Britton (1-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on eight his over five frames. Wes Etheridge (4) tossed a pair of scoreless innings and got the save. Zach Braddock started the game for the Power and allowed just a run on two hits with 10 strikeouts over four innings. The Power improved to 9-15 with the win and the Shorebirds fell to 12-12 with the loss. Wheeler, Lucroy, Gindl and Scott Houin paced the Power with two hits apiece. Wheeler went 6-for-15 in the series with six runs and three RBI. The Power are off on Monday but will begin a four-game series with the Hagerstown Suns at Municipal Stadium on Tuesday night. Right-Hander R.J. Seidel (1-0, 3.86) will get the start for the Power. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM (5:35 Central). West Virginia Box Score Now Brewer fans lay us down to sleep, Zach Braddock's arm healthy please do keep... West Virginia Game Log

Final: Vero Beach (Rays) 2, Brevard County 1, 13 innings Brevard County Box Score Shawn Ferguson had control issues with two outs in the 13th, ultimately led to the losing rally; Mike Jones extended to three innings for the first time this season -- his tandem buddy, John Axford, allowed a solo home run, but otherwise pitched scoreless ball as well; lefty Bobby Bramhall was lights-out through four himself; Manatees batters struck out 18 times while walking twice; backup catcher Anderson de la Rosa always seems to do well in his limited opportunities; tough day for Stephen Chapman, 0-for-5 with four K's; seven combined errors in the game, yet no unearned runs -- more credit to fine pitching... Brevard County Game Log Mike Jones shut the door after a leadoff double in the 3rd; Chuckie Caufield thrown out at home to end the 4th; Bobby Bramhall was huge in the 9th with men on base; Yohannis Perez could have won it in the 12th -- he grounded to third base with the winning run on 3rd and only one out; why did Jimmy Mojica pinch-hit for Taylor Green in the 13th against a right-handed pitcher? Mojica's been fantastic in part-time action, but otherwise the move seems odd...

A game for the ages in Huntsville is suspended in the 9th inning tied at 9-9. They'll complete things as part of their Monday matinee. The Suns are batting having just tied the game on a wild pitch -- men on 2nd and 3rd, two out. Mat Gamel with two triples, a home run, and a base on balls; Angel Salome 3-for-4, a triple shy of the cycle; Michael Brantley on base three more times... We'll have an update from Huntsville soon and will provide a complete post, if not a complete game, at that time.

Final: Omaha (Royals) 3, Nashville 2 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Russell Branyan photo, text follows -- Sounds Close Out Road Trip With 3-2 Loss OMAHA - The Nashville Sounds closed out their road trip with a 3-2 loss to the division-rival Omaha Royals on Sunday afternoon at Rosenblatt Stadium. Nashville (5-17) finished the trip with a 2-5 record, but dropped to 0-9 in games decided by one or two runs with Sunday's defeat. The Sounds took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when J.R. Hopf, Ozzie Chavez, and Hernan Iribarren opened the frame with three consecutive singles off Omaha starter Jorge De La Rosa, the last of which brought in Hopf with the game's first run. AUDIO: Hernan Iribarren RBI Single Omaha rallied to grab a 2-1 lead against Sounds starter Chris Narveson in the bottom of the fourth. Mitch Maier led off with a single then scored the tying run when Mike Aviles followed with an RBI double to right. Royals right fielder Shane Costa put the home team in front when he plated Aviles with a run-scoring single to left. Royals shortstop Angel Berroa stretched the lead to 3-1 in the fifth with a one-out solo homer to center on a 3-2 offering from Narveson, the infielder's third longball of the year. Nashville pulled back within a run in the top of the sixth when Joe Dillon drew an inning-opening walk, stole second, and scored on Russell Branyan's two-out RBI single. Both teams left the bases loaded in the seventh. Omaha reliever Neal Musser struck out Brad Nelson on three swings to escape a jam unscathed in the top of the frame. In the home half, Narveson caught David Matranga looking at strike three on a 3-2 pitch to keep the Sounds within a run. Musser worked the final 2 2/3 innings in hitless fashion to notch his fifth save. De La Rosa (3-0) earned the win for Omaha after he held the Sounds to two runs on seven hits while striking out eight batters over 6 1/3 innings of work. Narveson (0-4) turned in his second straight quality start, allowing three runs on five hits over seven frames, but took the loss and remains winless through five starts. Sounds catcher Vinny Rottino led off the fourth inning with a single to extend his hitting streak to nine games, the longest by a Nashville player this season. The Sounds return to Greer Stadium on Monday to begin an eight-game homestand with the 6 p.m. opener of a four-game series against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA-Rockies). Right-hander Richie Gardner (0-0, 5.40) will man the bump for Nashville and face Colorado Springs southpaw John Koronka (0-2, 6.33). Nashville Box Score Mike Cameron a single and a walk; Brendan Katin with his 4th error of the season in right field; 105 pitches in Chris Narveson's solid but not spectacular seven innings... Nashville Game Log

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Mike Cameron (Part 2 of 2)

At West Virginia, soon-to-be 25-year-old RHP Jared Sutton, signed out of independent ball in '07, has been released. Taking his spot is LHP Dan Merklinger, the 6th round pick out of Seton Hall last June, activated off the disabled list.

Notes from the Journal-Sentinel today: Weaver getting closerVeteran right-hander Jeff Weaver, signed to a minor-league deal recently, will report Monday to Class AAA Nashville, according to assistant general manager Gord Ash. Weaver has been working out in extended spring training in Phoenix. "He'll go there and throw a bullpen session, then move into the rotation either the 1st or 2nd (Thursday or Friday)," said Ash. "Our report was that he threw the ball well the other day. "We have to bear in mind that he basically had a two-week spring training. So, he's got some work to do." Ash said left-hander Chris Capuano is currently on an interval throwing program, during which he throws for a few minutes from 50 feet, then a few minutes from 75 feet. Capuano suffered an elbow injury in spring training and is trying to avoid reconstructive surgery with physical therapy and the throwing program. "The proof will be in the longer durations and distances," said Ash. "If he passes all those intervals, he'll move on to the mound. He reports that he's feeling very good so far. "My experience is that (injured pitchers) don't feel pain until they get to the mound, if there's going to be any. That's the real test." Left-handed reliever Randy Choate, who broke the ring finger on his pitching hand in camp, still has not resumed throwing. Ash said Choate is back in Phoenix continuing physical therapy and is expected to start throwing again soon. LaPorta surgingClass AA Huntsville outfielder Matt LaPorta, the Brewers' first-round draft pick last year, is ranked No. 1 this week on Baseball America's "Prospect Hot Sheet." Thanks to recent surge, LaPorta leads the Southern league in both home runs (six) and RBI (22). He had a .971 OPS (on-base plus slugging) entering play Saturday. After a slow start, shortstop Alcides Escobar also has begun to hit at Huntsville. Escobar collected three hits Saturday to boost his average to .280. Right-hander Josh Butler, the minor-league pitcher the Brewers received from Tampa Bay in exchange for outfielder Gabe Gross, made his debut Friday night with Class A Brevard County. Butler pitched four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out four.

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com Stars Turn 3 A Saturday game played at a Sunday pace. It took roughly a half-hour to get through each full inning during the middle portion of the game..... But it was a wonderfully warm day to catch some day baseball, and to watch the Stars march over Southern League competition, particularly the Southern Division...... The Stars, who have now won seven of their last nine, are 11-2 vs. South teams...... But North or South, what does it matter? This team is playing like it can beat anyone....... Just point to any one of a number of offensive categores...... They are hitting .289, their best April at the plate in their history -- by far...... They are 15-8 -- one loss more than the best W-L Pct. in their history. One more victory and they tie a record for April that was set in 2003, when they got off to a 16-10 start....... They have ten or more hits in ten games. One more, and they set a record for April....... The Stars lead the Southern League in runs scored with 133. The Stars didn't score that many last year until May 10, and they didn't have a bad season last year.......They have led in more games after five innings (13-2), six innings (13-1), and seven innings (14-1) than any team in the league...... They lead the league, not just in batting, but in slugging (.439) and on-base percentage (.364) as well...... Still, in a very strong and competitive division this year, they are a game in back of Carolina, a team with the best pitching in the league (2.63)...... The Stars staff is .78 runs behind, and still has a very respectable 3.41 ERA. It should be a very interesting series when the Mudcats come to the Joe in the middle of May. The Stars won their 3rd straight against Jacksonville, which they haven't done since the 2001 season, when they won four straight over the course of two series....... In so doing, the Stars have hit .333 and outscored the Suns, 23-9........ Even the pitchers are hitting well, driving in five runs in the last eight games, although the season mark is .219...... Two hitting streaks to watch for Sunday -- Mat Gamel 's 12-game hitting streak is, along with Chattanooga's B.J. Szymanski, the longest current streak in the league. Gamel raised his average from .256 when the streak started to .341, going 21-for-52 (.404)....... Alcides Escobar is on a smaller nine-game streak (16-for-39, .410), raising his average from .185 when it began to .280. David Welch pitched himself out of some jams before the Stars started to pile on the runs in the middle innings...... After spotting the Suns a run in the 1st on Greg Jacobs' single to right-center, Welch retired Russ Mitchell and Rene Rivera on fly balls to right and with a runner in scoring position in the 2nd, Welch, who sparingly strikes out hitters, got James Tomlin swinging at strike three to end the inning...... But he owed a lot to his defense, which came up with two double plays, which snuffed out leadoff hits in the 5th and 6th innings, and a triple play in the 4th -- the 3rd in Stars history. I thought, like Stars announcer Brett Pollock, that it was the 2nd triple play in Stars history. It was actually the 3rd....... Oddly enough, they all were at home. The first one came August 2, 2002 vs. Jacksonville in the 1st inning. Bubba Crosby hit into a 9-4-6-3 TP, Cristian Guerrero-Keith Luuloa-J.J. Hardy-Jeff Deardorff....... The 2nd came against Mobile, August 23, 2005 when Steve Baker hit into a 1-2-3-5 TP with the bases loaded in the 4th inning, Ty Taubenheim-Jeff Winchester-Brandon Gemoll-Nelson Castro turned that one, with an alert Gemoll firing to third to get the runner, whose momentum had taken him too far off the bag. Historical footnote: The Stars, as part of the A's organization at the time, turned a controversial triple play vs. Greenville, July 26, 1993 that was offically erased from the books after manager Bruce Kimm's protest was recognized by the league. It came in the 2nd inning. Interestingly enough, Greenville had pulled a triple play on the Stars earlier that season on May 27. Tim Gillis opened the inning with a single to center. Lee Heath then bunted past pitcher Scott Baker for an infield hit. On a 3-2 pitch to Ed Giavanola, the runners took off. Giavanola sliced a liner into the gap in left-center. Chris Hart ran the ball down for the first out, then threw to Francisco Matos, who doubled up Gillis for the second out. Matos threw to first to try and complete the triple-killing on the returning Heath. His throw was low, skipping past 1st baseman Jim Bowie. Heath had taken second on contact, but Manager Casey Parsons came out of the dugout and appealed. Heath was thumbed out for not retouching second base as he returned to first. Greenville manager Bruce Kimm filed a protest and the game was replayed, wiping out HRs by George Williams and John Kuehl and giving Fausto Cruz a second chance at breaking the club hit streak record Jim Bowie established at 19. The game was replayed two days later. Huntsville won, 5-3, but Fausto Cruz went 0-for-3. The Stars got on board in the 2nd when Cole Gillespie, carrying a .210 average, homered to left, just clearing the wall. Freddy Parejo, who continues to have a record bat for April, drove in the 2nd run in the 4th with a soft two-out liner to left-center, bringing in Carlos Corporan who walked, took 2nd on a sacrifice by Welch, and 3rd on a wild pitch.......Parejo stole second, then scored on Escobar's line single to left-center, making it 3-1...... Parejo needs just three at-bats to officially have the hottest April in the record books for the Stars. Even if he goes 0-for-3, Parejo will end up with a .460 average, far outdistancing Marcos Armas, who hit .415 in April of 1992 - the best April to date. The Stars put this one out of reach in the 5th when they scored three times to make it 6-1.....Against Rick Asadoorian, the former Chattanooga outfielder-turned-pitcher, Matt LaPorta, Chris Errecart, and Gillespie loaded the bases on a walk, a single to right, and another walk. It looked like Asadoorian would escape this jam, getting Michael Bell to foul out near the Chattanooga dugout and Corporan to strike out on 2-and-2, but Welch, with his parents in attendance, singled up the middle on a 3-2 count, scoring LaPorta and Errecart...... Then Parejo, behind 0-and-2, hit a one-hop liner that fell in left, bringing in Gillespie to make it 6-1...... Mat Gamel, who had hit just one home run, lined one in the 5th inning off the Cook's Pest Control sign in right, the second level of signage out there, for the Stars' 7th and final run.......... Gamel is doing a better job in the field than last year, according to GM Buck Rogers, who saw him play at Brevard last year. Affirming that, he has made five errors this month, compared to 11 in April of 2007. Don't know which is brighter, the afternoon sun or the Suns' bright yellow uniform tops. They're a sight to see. Michael Bell hit his first double since April 7 in the 2nd inning, following Gillespie's homer...... Cole Gillespie has left 10 on base in 12 at-bats in this series........ In the first major transaction this season, the Stars released Rusty Tucker, who was trying to comeback after two elbow surgeries, and added former West Tennessee pitcher Juan Sandoval, who made his Stars debut in this game. 2:05 game tomorrow, if the rain holds off...... Brae Wright (1-2, 3.27) will face right-hander Jesus Castillo (0-1, 2.79). Reggie Rivard, the Canadian reliever from Alberta who was 3-1 with a 6.55 ERA in 22 appearances for the Stars in 2004, is pitching again in the indy leagues this year for Calgary in the Golden League. For the past three seasons, he has been with Edmonton, his hometown, in the Northern League, where he was 13-17 with a 5.73 ERA. With the success of "3Rs for the Stars" GM Buck Rogers wants to take this a step further in Huntsville next year...... Taking an idea he implemented at Brevard County, Rogers wants to incorporate baseball with the students' education at every grade level but high school (and he's not averse to that idea)....... As he did at Brevard, Rogers wants to solicit the ideas and suggestions of teachers and school board members for a teachers' guide, similar to one used successfully at Brevard........ Students would learn, of course, how math is applied to baseball, but also geometry, geography, science, social studies, and language arts, as well....... For instance one of the tasks Buck described to me is how the kids would have to identify the places the Stars are from on an outlined map...... It would presumably be called Education Day at Joe Davis Stadium. Buck told me he plans to present his ideas as early as September.

Link while active, text follows: Crossing the diamond Trade forces pitcher to switch sides before his scheduled start BY JIM CAWLEY FLORIDA TODAY Josh Butler's normal pregame routine quickly became highly abnormal about an hour before Tuesday's scheduled start against the Brevard County Manatees. The 6-foot-5 Vero Beach right-hander was stretching out with the trainer at Holman Stadium when he was summoned for an important meeting. "I knew they wanted to talk to me about something -- but I didn't know if it had something to do with the game," Butler said. "Once I saw six guys sitting around in a circle, I kind of had a feeling it was something serious." Butler learned he had been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers organization for major-league outfielder Gabe Gross. The trade meant scrapping his scheduled start and reporting to the Brewers' Florida State League affiliate -- Brevard County. The trade, in this case, meant reporting to the other side of the diamond. "That was the weirdest part, that I had to switch locker rooms, and that was my new team," Butler said. "I was supposed to be throwing against them. It was weird at the time. I didn't really know what to do." What Butler did do was turn in his Vero Beach uniform and spend a little time in each dugout. He said goodbye to former teammates and hello to new ones. Then he sought neutral ground. "For the rest of the game, I kind of hung out in the stands," Butler said. "I just sat in the stands and didn't really root for anybody. I was on the phone a lot anyway." The California native and former University of San Diego star spoke with family members and his agent, while still trying to absorb the surprising news. The Manatees were caught off guard as well. "Getting prepared for a guy, and him being traded over to your side . . . it's kind of weird," Brevard County second baseman Kenny Holmberg said. "It's nothing you expect. It's a funny game, and sometimes some funny things happen." Butler's new teammates immediately began prodding him for information about Vero Beach pitchers. Then they had some fun with him. "A couple of guys were telling him how lucky he was that he got sent over, or he might have had a rough outing," Holmberg said. "But it's all fun. We have a loose clubhouse; we've got some guys who like to have some fun, and I'm sure he's going to enjoy his time over here with us." Butler made his first start with the Manatees Friday night at Space Coast Stadium against the Jupiter Hammerheads. Placed on a pitch count in the 70-range, he struck out four and walked none in four shutout innings. Brevard County won the game 4-1. "It was definitely a relief. I didn't want to come out here and get blown up my first outing," Butler said. "It went well, and we got a 'W' out of the game." Butler was 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in three starts with Vero Beach this season. He was called up to the Florida State League's Devil Rays from the Columbus Catfish of the South Atlantic League after the All-Star break last season. Gross, who spent the past two seasons with Milwaukee, is a career .243 hitter in the major leagues. This season, he was batting .209 with three doubles and two RBIs in 16 games. Butler is a sinkerball pitcher, who has a slider, curve and changeup in his repertoire. He also has the task of living up to the expectations of being traded straight up for a big-league player. "I wasn't expecting that; it was quite an honor," Butler said. "It obviously means the Brewers think highly of me." Manatees manager Mike Guerrero echoed that belief. "He's going to be an important part of, not just this team, but of the organization," Guerrero said. "Every time you have an opportunity to open eyes . . . I hope he takes advantage of the opportunity." But like the players, Guerrero couldn't resist taking a shot at his newest player's uncanny trade circumstances. "Baseball is like that -- it will surprise a lot of people," said Guerrero, who jokingly added "he got lucky." Photo by Paul Kantz, for FLORIDA TODAY Brevard County Manatees pitcher Josh Butler, who was traded to the team on Tuesday, delivers a pitch during Friday's game against the Jupiter Hammerheads at Space Coast Stadium. http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20080427&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=804270333&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Omaha 12 8 .600 - 8-5 4-3 L1 Iowa 11 10 .524 1.5 6-7 5-3 W4 Memphis 9 14 .391 4.5 2-6 7-8 L3 Nashville 5 16 .238 7.5 2-5 3-11 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 16 7 .696 - 8-2 8-5 L1 Huntsville 15 8 .652 1.0 11-2 4-6 W4 West Tenn 15 8 .652 1.0 8-2 7-6 W5 Chattanooga 13 10 .565 3.0 8-5 5-5 W1 Tennessee 9 14 .391 7.0 5-8 4-6 L5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 16 7 .696 - 11-3 5-4 L1 Brevard County 14 9 .609 2.0 8-4 6-5 W3 Daytona 14 9 .609 2.0 6-5 8-4 W4 Jupiter 12 11 .522 4.0 7-2 5-9 L3 Vero Beach 10 13 .435 6.0 7-4 3-9 L4 St. Lucie 3 20 .130 13.0 3-9 0-11 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 15 7 .682 - 5-3 10-4 W2 Delmarva 12 11 .522 3.5 6-6 6-5 W1 Greensboro 12 11 .522 3.5 5-8 7-3 L5 Hickory 12 11 .522 3.5 6-5 6-6 W2 Hagerstown 11 12 .478 4.5 3-5 8-7 W3 Lakewood 11 12 .478 4.5 5-7 6-5 L1 West Virginia 8 15 .348 7.5 4-9 4-6 L1 Lexington 7 16 .304 8.5 2-11 5-5 W1

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

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_04_27_nasaaa_omaaaa_1 Huntsville: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_27_jaxaax_hunaax_1 Brevard County: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_27_vbdafa_breafa_1 West Virginia: http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2008_04_27_delafx_wvaafx_1

Brevard County Site Game Summary: Manatees Ride Hot "Hand" to Victory By Tyler Stover / MLB.com While the Florida State League is widely considered a league that favors strong pitching, the Brevard County Manatees did not seem to care about this early in the season, riding their hot bats to victories instead. In recent games, however, the Manatees pitching staff has stepped up to the challenge, with Donovan Hand's Saturday night masterpiece the latest example. Hand (3-1) gave Brevard County 7.2 dominant innings in their 5-1 victory over Vero Beach, earning his third win of the season. Hand scattered eight hits in the game, allowing just one run while walking zero Devil Rays. Hand appeared to be in for a rough night early on, as he allowed five consecutive hits to start the game. He managed to escape the inning with only one run allowed, though, as catcher Martin Maldonado helped the cause by gunning down Vero Beach's Garrett Groce on an attempt to steal second base. Hand came up with a key strikeout, and then forced Matthew Fields to ground out to end the inning. Hand settled down after the rough first inning, allowing no runs and just three hits the rest of the way. The Manatees, as they have all season, responded quickly. Stephen Chapman started off the second inning with a walk, followed by a double by Charlie Fermaint. This brought up Matt Cline, who entered the game in the first inning after an injury to starter Kenny Holmberg. Cline rose to the occasion, lining a single to right field to score both baserunners. He later came around to score on a wild pitch. The Manatees added their other two runs in the fourth inning, as Yohannis Perez and Lorenzo Cain each added an RBI single sandwiched between three Vero Beach errors. Hand breezed through the Devil Rays lineup all the way to the 8th inning, retiring 12 straight batters at one point. After allowing two Vero Beach hitters to reach base, he was finally replaced by left-hander Casey Baron. Baron walked the first hitter he faced to load the bases, but induced a groundout to end the threat. He stayed in to pitch a perfect ninth inning, earning his first save of the season. After tonight's performance, Donovan Hand is now 2-0 with only one run allowed in 14.1 innings over his last two outings. Heath Rollins (0-1) took the loss for the Devil Rays, allowing five runs (three earned) in six innings of work. Quinn Stewart's home run (3) in the first inning represented the only run for Vero Beach. The Devil Rays have now lost four consecutive games. Mike Jones (0-0, 5.63) faces off against Jeremy Hellickson (2-0, 0.78) in tomorrow's matchup, starting at 1:00 PM (12:00 Central). Lorenzo Cain takes a lead during Brevard County's 5-1 victory. (MiLB.com Photo by Dennis Greenblatt) http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2008/04/26/tdeszrG7.jpg

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Chris Narveson at Omaha (Royals), 1:15 PM pre-game; 1:35 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: LHP Brae Wright at home vs. Jacksonville (Dodgers), 1:50 PM pre-game; 2:05 gametime Audio link via WUMP (game will also archive at this link): http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/multimedia/audio.jsp?sid=t559 Brevard County: RHP Mike Jones at home vs. Vero Beach (Rays), 12:00 PM gametime Sorry, no audio for this series... West Virginia: LHP Zach Braddock at home vs. Delmarva (Orioles), 12:50 PM pre-game, 1:05 gametime Audio link via WSWW, be sure to select the proper date (games will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

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Final: Nashville 13, Omaha (Royals) 9 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Russell Branyan photo, text follows -- Offense Stays Hot As Sounds Topple Royals OMAHA - The Nashville offense continued its recent success on Saturday evening at Rosenblatt Stadium, producing a season high-tying 13 runs in a 13-9 victory over the division-rival Omaha Royals. Designated hitter Brad Nelson (3-for-4, three RBIs) and first baseman Russell Branyan (4-for-4, five RBIs) continued their sizzling start to the seasons, combining to drive in and score 12 of Nashville's 13 runs on the evening. Catcher Vinny Rottino homered and drove in three runs in extending his hit streak to eight games, matching the longest by a Sound in 2008. Sounds hitters belted three home runs on the evening, the club's third straight contest with at least three longballs and its tenth in a row with at least one big fly (20 home runs over that stretch). Nashville (5-16) continued its recent trend of quick starts, plating three runs in the top of the first inning for the fourth straight contest on its current road trip. Nelson plated the game's first run with a two-out RBI infield single before Rottino smacked his fourth home run of the year, a two-run shot to left off Omaha starter Matt Wright. All three runs came in unearned due to a fielding error by Royals left fielder Chris Lubanski. Omaha got a run back in the bottom of the first on a two-out Shane Costa homer off Zach Jackson and pulled within a run at 3-2 with a second-inning sacrifice fly before grabbing a 5-3 advantage with a three-run third against the southpaw. Mike Aviles, Ryan Shealy, and Matt Tupman all touched Jackson for solo longballs in the frame. The Sounds rallied to reclaim the lead in the following half-inning with a four-run outburst that chased Wright from the ballgame. After Rottino opened the frame with a walk, Branyan and Brendan Katin connected on back-to-back home runs, their fourth and third roundtrippers of the year respectively. Nashville added its fourth run of the inning when Abraham Nunez scored on a double-play grounder. AUDIO: Russell Branyan Home Run The Royals responded with another rally against Jackson, chasing the left-hander with three runs in the home half of the fourth to grab an 8-7 lead. The outburst was highlighted by a two-run Mitch Maier homer. Nashville evened things at 8-8 in the fifth when Nelson singled, stole second, and score on a Branyan RBI double, the veteran's team-leading ninth two-bagger of the year. The Sounds retook an 11-8 lead in the sixth against the Omaha bullpen. With one out, Hernan Iribarren doubled then Mike Cameron and Joe Dillon drew walks from Brad Salmon, who was replaced by Jeff Fulchino. Nelson greeted the right-hander with a two-run, go-ahead single to right and Branyan added a two-out RBI single later in the stanza. Omaha pulled within two at 11-9 in the bottom of the seventh with an unearned run stemming from a Nunez fielding error. Nashville tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the eighth as a pair of walks again came back to haunt Royals relievers. With one out, Dillon and Nelson drew free passes from Fulchino. Rottino and Branyan followed with consecutive RBI singles that stretched the Nashville lead to 13-9. Veteran left-hander Erasmo Ramirez (1-0) earned the victory after he cooled off the Royals' offense upon taking over for Jackson. He worked an efficient 2 2/3 innings, during which he allowed only one hit and threw 38 pitches. Salmon (2-1) took the loss for Omaha after giving up four runs on three hits in his 1 1/3 innings of relief work. Neither starter was especially effective in the contest but both took no-decisions. Jackson allowed eight runs on nine hits over 3 1/3 innings and saw his season ERA increase to 8.89 through five starts. Wright allowed seven runs (four earned) on six hits over his four frames of action. Nashville will look to score its first series victory of the year when the wrap up the weather-shortened three-game series with a 1:35 p.m. finale on Sunday afternoon. Left-hander Chris Narveson (0-3, 4.29) will make the start for the Sounds to face Omaha southpaw and former Milwaukee Brewer Jorge De La Rosa (2-0, 1.15). Nashville Box Score Brad Nelson is slugging nearly .700 -- he's absolutely raking, the decision the Brewers made to add him to the 40-man last October, instead of allowing him to walk in minor league free agency, was questioned by many (my hand is raised), but you have to be psyched for Brad; Nelson's OPS is 1.122, Russell Branyan's is 1.199; fantastic bullpen work, while Zach Jackson -- not so much... Nashville Game Log

Audio Alley -- West Virginia Pre-Game Audio Interview with Brewers' Field Coordinator and Roving Catcher Instructor Charlie Greene: Nice discussion, including talk on Jonathan Lucroy and Angel Salome -- make sure you are on the archive link for April 26th, go to the 36:30 minute mark... Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Outfielder Mike Cameron (Part 1 of 2) Huntsville Pre-Game Audio Interview with Dodgers' 19-year-old Top Prospect LHP Clayton Kershaw Make sure you select the WUMP archive of April 26th, go to the 3:45 minute mark...

Final: Delmarva (Orioles) 9, West Virginia 7 West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER RALLY FALLS SHORT The West Virginia Power fell behind the Delmarva Shorebirds 9-1 after six and a half innings of Saturday night's game at Appalachian Power Park, and though they scored the final six runs of the game, they fell two runs short as Delmarva took the third game of the series 9-7. Evan Anundsen held the Shorebirds hitless through the first three and two-thirds before they put together three straight two-out hits, capped by a two-run double from Anthony Martinez. Matt Angle, Tyler Henson and Joe Mahoney all ripped RBI singles in the fifth to give Delmarva a 5-0 lead. Brendan Monaghan brought in Kieron Pope on a groundout in the sixth inning to extend the lead. The Power got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Caleb Gindl's groundout scored Brent Brewer. Delmarva scored three more runs in the seventh. Mahoney ripped his second RBI single of the game to plate the first run before Henson scored on a passed ball and Mahoney scored later in the inning on Joe Nowicki's sacrifice fly. The Power rallied for four runs in the bottom of the inning. Lee Haydel tripled in three runs and scored on Jonathan Lucroy's groundout. Steffan Wilson hit a two-run homer in the eighth to pull the Power within two, but that was as close as they would get. John Mariotti (3-1) lasted seven innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and got the win. Anundsen (2-2) allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings and was tagged with the loss. Mick Mattaliano (5) finished the job in the ninth inning to get the save. The Power fell to 8-15 with the loss and the Shorebirds improved to 12-11 with the win. Steffan Wilson paced the Power with three hits and Zelous Wheeler chipped in with two. The Shorebirds have out-hit West Virginia 39-27 in the first three games of the series. The Power will finish the four game series with Delmarva Sunday afternoon. Left hander Zach Braddock (0-0, 0.00) will get the start for the Power and the Shorebirds will counter with left hander Zach Britton (1-1, 3.10). The first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM (1:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score Four of the nine runs the Power allowed were unearned -- four errors in all, all in the infield, although that same crew turned three double plays; Zelous Wheeler sees a lot of pitches as he's at an .894 OPS, but he's also K'd 23 times in 75 AB's -- he's a bit unique... West Virginia Game Log

Final: Brevard County 5, Vero Beach (Rays) 1 Kenny Holmberg was injured in the first inning on a defensive play at second base: - Garrett Groce singles on a line drive to left fielder Darren Ford. - With Quinn Stewart batting, Garrett Groce caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Martin Maldonado to second baseman Kenneth Holmberg. - Defensive Substitution: Matt Cline replaces second baseman Kenneth Holmberg, batting 7th, playing second base. - Brevard County Manatees second baseman Kenneth Holmberg left the game due to an injured hand/wrist. Brevard County Box Score Donovan Hand is fantastic again, walking absolutely no one, is able to again pitch deep into a game -- in 90 pro innings, Hand has walked nine batters, though he did hit two batters tonight, establishing his domain; Casey Baron with a nice save, stranding two of Hand's runners in the 8th; former Brewer Al Reyes pitched the first inning for Vero Beach on a rehab stint; Charlie Fermaint two doubles on a 3-for-4 night... Brevard County Game Log

RHP Jose Capellan is back in the big leagues, with Colorado.

Final: Huntsville 7, Jacksonville (Dodgers) 2 Huntsville Press Release: HUNTSVILLE TURNS TRIPLE PLAY IN COMEBACK WIN David Welch spun seven strong frames, chipped in with a big two-run single and had history made behind him in Huntsville's 7-2 win over Jacksonville Saturday afternoon in the middle of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars won their fourth in a row to improve to 15-8 on the season and 11-2 at home, while the Suns dropped to 10-13. The win by the Stars sewed up a fourth series win in five tries. The Suns struck in the first inning when Greg Jacobs singled home Ivan DeJesus, Jr. to get the scoring started. Welch stranded runners at the corners by getting Russell Mitchell and Rene Rivera to fly out to right field to end the inning. Cole Gillespie's leadoff home run in the second inning, his third of the year, got the game knotted at one. Mitchell opened the fourth with a single and moved to second base on a walk to Rivera. The runners were in motion on a 3-2 pitch to Jamie Hoffman, who sent a line drive to right that was caught by Matt LaPorta, who doubled off Mitchell at second base with a throw to Alcides Escobar, who then threw on to first base to triple off Rivera. The Stars turned their second-ever triple play and their first since 2002. Huntsville then took the lead for good in the home fourth when Freddy Parejo singled in Carlos Corporan with two outs, stole second base and scored on an Escobar base hit. Suns' starter Marlon Arias was lifted after four frames and took the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits and a pair of walks. The Stars loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth against Rick Asadoorian, who had a chance to work out of trouble after getting Mike Bell to foul out and fanning Corporan. However, Welch bounced a 3-2 pitch past the converted outfielder into center field to drive in LaPorta and Chris Errecart before Parejo singled home Gillespie to cap the rally. Mat Gamel lined a leadoff long ball of Yhency Brazoban in the sixth to finish the scoring for the home team, which collected 14 hits. Gamel, who pushed his hitting streak to 12 games, Escobar, who extended his to eight straight, and Parejo all finished with three hits. Welch benefited from an inning-ending double play grounder in the fifth and another in the sixth before retiring the side on three fly ball outs to deep right in the seventh. He earned his third win after yielding a lone run on eight hits, while walking one and striking out three. The series continues Sunday afternoon with Huntsville left-hander Brae Wright taking the mound against Suns' right-hander Jesus Castillo. Coverage of the game begins at 1:50 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 1.138 OPS for Freddy Parejo in 47 AB's despite just one walk-- this is wonderfully bizarre; walks, hits, extra-base hits, defense -- all fantastic; David Welch a wonderful day, as noted above; season debut for Juan Sandoval (see transaction thread)... Huntsville Game Log

Huntsville LHP Rusty Tucker was released by the Brewers Friday in a bit of a surprise. Tucker, 27, a former member of the 40-man rosters of the Padres and White Sox, was signed by the Brewers out of indy ball last summer. He had pitched effectively in six short relief stints for the Stars this spring, and LH bats were 1-for-10 against him with two walks and four K's. Taking his place is RHP Juan Sandoval, taken in the minor league pahase of the Rule 5 draft last winter. He was in extended spring after visa issues delayed his arrival. Here's what we posted last December: RHP Juan Sandoval has an amazing story -- his name seemed hauntingly familiar: Profiles in Courage and Grit.... RHP Juan Sandoval Feb 28, 2007 A little over a year ago, then 25 year old Mariners' pitching prospect Juan Sandoval was having dinner with his girlfriend in his native Dominica, overhearing an argument between a security guard and a drunken customer. The next thing he knew, he heard the sound of a shotgun being pumped nearby, then the pain of richocheting buckshot carving into his face and right eye. Doctors in the local hospital were unable to do anything for him, so he was transferred to a facility in the capital city of Santo Domingo, where he underwent several surgeries over the next six months. The eye was "saved" but his vision in that side was permanently lost. Prior to this year, Sandoval last pitched for the AA San Antonio Missions, who are no longer part of the Mariners' organization, with a record of 9-11 and a 4.03 ERA. He is now a non-roster invitee to the major league spring training camp in Peoria AZ, where he has already thrown in an intersquad game on Tuesday. He gave up a 500+ foot home run to outfield prospect Mike Wilson, but otherwise pitched well for his first attempt in nearly two years. He has put in a lot of hard work since his accident and surgeries, both in the Dominican and in Seattle. He knows that he is not likely to make the 40 man out of spring training, but is hoping to be assigned to AAA Tacoma for the minor league season. From where I sit, it takes a lot of guts to be a one eyed pitcher, and the M's are to be congratulated for standing behind him and letting him come back to try and get back into the game. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2003585066_mari23.html Shotgun blast ruins eye, but M's prospect returns By Geoff Baker Seattle Times staff reporter February 23, 2007 PEORIA, Ariz. -- Counting the bounces of ground balls hit his way is something Juan Sandoval would have scoffed at a year ago. "One, two, three ... glove!" That stuff was for little kids . Certainly not for him, a professional pitcher and rising prospect hoping for a promotion to Class AAA by the Mariners. But that all changed Feb. 4, 2006, when Sandoval was dining at a restaurant in his Dominican Republic hometown of Bonao. There was a nearby argument between the restaurant's bouncer and a drunken man. The man left, but returned moments later with a shotgun. Sandoval heard the gun's pump-action, turned to see what was happening and took a blast to the upper torso and face. Three of the shotgun pellets lodged in his right eye, leaving it permanently blind. Nearly a full year, a pair of surgeries, two visits to a retinal specialist in Seattle and plenty of guts later, the 26-year-old is on a field here with the Mariners as a non-roster invitee to spring training. He's learned to pitch and field his position with only one eye, using tips like "one, two, three ... glove!" to gauge the speed and closeness of grounders and compensate for his lost depth perception. Sandoval has improved his fielding to the point where he no longer has to count the bounces, only his blessings. "When I got shot, I didn't know if I was going to keep playing baseball, keep my eye, or lose my vision," says Sandoval, whose carefree smile conceals just how much he's gone through. "I was just lucky to be alive. That was the only thing I cared about." "One, two, three ... glove!" The words are a reminder to Sandoval of where he's been and how far he's come. "I don't like to be around a lot of people now," he says. "Especially when I'm back home and I go out somewhere. If I go to a restaurant to eat, I like only a few people to be there. I don't want to go where it's crowded, where something can happen." He recalls the fear that gripped him as the pellets struck his face, causing him to leap from the table where he'd been sitting with his girlfriend, Elisa, and her aunt and uncle. They too, were slightly hit, but suffered minor injuries. Sandoval could feel blood gushing down his face and remembers grabbing a restaurant patron in a panic and screaming: "Is my eye still there? Is my eye still there?" Sandoval was rushed to a local hospital. Three days later, he had surgery to take the pellets out of the eye -- arranged by the Mariners -- in a better-equipped facility in the capital of Santo Domingo. "They also cleaned it, got the blood out of there and did all they could to make it look normal," he says. "The doctors told me that if I'd waited another day, I would have lost the eyeball." Only a slight reddish tinge remains, a hint at the trauma his eye sustained. But saving it permanently, after the first surgery, meant spending three weeks in a darkened area of his parents' home to avoid the sun's glare. It meant having his meals spoon-fed to him in order to keep his head upright so that the eye wouldn't shut tight. It took three months for his eye to strengthen, completely open and be free of swelling. Sandoval underwent more surgery on July 17 to have a dose of silicone implanted in the eye to prevent the eyelid from forcing itself closed. Though it now looks almost completely normal again, his tear duct is dried up and the eye is dead from a vision standpoint. Baseball had been an afterthought. "It was a long time before I could even try to play again," Sandoval said. "But I love baseball. I wanted to try to play again." In October, he began playing catch from a distance of only five feet at a stadium in his hometown. "It was really strange," he said. "I couldn't tell how deep the background was. I had to keep my glove right up near my face. " Sandoval later headed to the nearby Mariners training complex in a compound behind the home of fabled super-scout Epy Guerrero. He took ground balls with other players, did some running and threw bullpen sessions -- not yet medically cleared to pitch. "He had to re-learn everything," said Mariners head trainer Rick Griffin. "He'd completely lost his depth perception. He lost the ability to catch and judge a ball coming toward him on the mound. He had to re-learn balance." The biggest concern, one that remains to this day, was how well he'd field comebackers to the mound. "I had trouble judging the distance of the ball, so [pitching coach Manuel Marrero] told me to count the bounces," Sandoval said. "So, I would count, 'One, two, three ... ' and the ball would go into my glove." Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi saw Sandoval throw a bullpen session during an early December trip to the Dominican Republic. Sandoval later told Bavasi he'd like the opportunity to attend big-league camp. "We had already made an internal decision that we'd invite him if he got medical clearance to pitch," Bavasi said. "He was very eager and seemed ready to give it a try." "One, two, three ... glove!" Sandoval has tried to put those words and the past behind him. He takes pride in how he did regular, on-field workouts with other players during his recovery. He never asked for special treatment and doesn't want any. The man who shot him claimed the gun went off accidentally. He was dirt poor, with a wife and family and had spent a week in jail when Sandoval finally talked to the police. "I told them I didn't want to press charges, so they let him go," he said. "He was very poor and he made a mistake. Having him in jail wasn't going to change anything for me." Sandoval used to run his fastball into the low 90s, with a smooth, loose delivery. He was 9-11 with a 4.03 earned-run average for Class AA San Antonio in 2005, but needed to resolve some control issues. Like the rest of his recent past, though, none of that matters now. Out here, it truly is a new beginning for a pitcher keeping his remaining eye focused straight ahead. "I'm just very happy to be here right now, in my first big-league camp," he said. "I know how lucky I am to be here and I'm going to do my best. I do everything like the other players now. I'm no different than they are." http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2007/02/22/2003584814.jpg A baseball bounces off the chest of pitcher Juan Sandoval after he misses catching it during a drill. Sandoval is blind in one eye. AP Photo by Elaine Thompson

Link while active, text follows: Stars rally late to eclipse Suns After ace Kershaw leaves, Huntsville goes on to win 5-4 By BRAD SHEPARD For The Huntsville Times As if pitching in historic Dodgertown and wearing the Los Angeles uniform wasn't enough for Clayton Kershaw to soak in this spring, one moment was even more surreal. There was the 20-year-old left-handed prospect anointed as the Dodgers' future, pitching as franchise southpaw Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax critiqued him. When you think of Dodgers' left-handed pitchers, you think Sandy Koufax," Kershaw said after his start against Huntsville on Friday. "I just tried to stay as quiet as I could and listen. "He was a fastball-curveball pitcher like me, and he was really adamant on just attacking hitters." Kershaw put Koufax's advice to use Friday. He struck out eight and allowed just two hits in six shutout innings, consistently getting ahead of and disposing of Stars. But true to Kershaw's tough-luck form this year, Huntsville rallied back to tie the game against Jacksonville's bullpen and won in a wild comeback, 5-4. Mat Gamel had a clutch two-run double in a four-run eighth, and after Freddy Parejo reached on an error to lead off the ninth, he was driven in by Alcides Escobar to spoil Kershaw's outing. "The guy knows how to pitch," Gamel said. "He's a first-round pick for a reason. But we just have a lot of guys on this team who play until the end of the game." Since being selected seventh overall in the 2006 draft, Kershaw has lived up to massive expectations - regardless of record. He spent the past two springs wowing Dodgers brass and the past two seasons baffling minor leaguers. Though his record is 0-3 this year, he whittled his earned run average to 1.40. He's also struck out 31 in 25 2/3 innings, prompting L.A. fans and media to call for his promotion. Renowned L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke's Friday story repeated the same phrase over and over: "Bring up Clayton Kershaw." "His nickname this spring was 'The Truth," Jacksonville third baseman Andy LaRoche said, "and he's done everything to back that up. "The way he pitches - not by looking at his baby face - you'd think he's spent 8-10 years in the big leagues. He's the whole package." But Kershaw isn't the toast of Tinseltown just yet. Instead, he was pitching to the Stars in front of 2,517 fans that included his aunt Karon Albright, who lives in Huntsville, and his mother, Marianne, who came to town to watch. "There are about 30 people in my name here tonight," Kershaw said with a laugh.

http://i.tsn.com/i/p/magazine/subs/maglanding_mainmag.gif I have been a Sporting News subscriber for over 30 years, and boy did I smile when I saw this in my mail Friday. It's an all-time keeper. If you can't make it out, the byline is "Prince Fielder, vegetarian and 9 other fascinating facts about baseball's most interesting team" Online article on Prince The other "facts" involved shorter "stories" on: Ned Yost & Dale Earnhardt Ryan Braun's Mom at Anheuser-Busch Three Formerly Retired (Dillon, Kapler, Torres) -- that counts as three items Ben Sheets, Olympian Rickie Weeks, All-Time NCAA Batting Champ Craig Counsell's Championship Exploits Their Chances in '08 (Kendall, Cameron)