Jim Goulart

Now it's just getting nasty (from WKRN): "Fund Dispute Between Sounds, City Heats Up" Nashville Sounds' General Manager Glenn Yaeger notified the Major League Baseball League Thursday that the city of Nashville has not yet made its yearly contribution for maintenance at Greer Stadium. "We notified them today that the city has not made its contribution for the maintenance at Greer Stadium and we don't know how that's going to impact us," Yaeger said Thursday. It is no secret that the relationship between the Nashville Sounds and Nashville City Hall went sour about the time the deal fell through for a new ballpark earlier this year. Now, it seems to some, including Yaeger, that the spat is costing the Sounds a quarter of a million dollars. Yaeger said, "We were expecting and the city is required to make a contribution towards that maintenance and without it, it impacts our ability to play baseball here." The $250,000 annual payment from Metro Government is part of the lease agreement and goes toward maintenance and upkeep. So far this year, the check hasn't arrived. "We found out at 5 p.m. July 31 which was the date it was due, through a letter from Metro Legal that they were not making the payment," said Yaeger. Metro Finance Director David Manning said the money wasn't paid because the Sounds haven't paid their rent and because some of the expenses the Sounds included in their report were architectural fees associated with a new ballpark. Yaeger said even without those fees, because the Sounds haven't shown a profit, they're not obligated to pay the city any rent. He said, "It is clear to us that we are not in a position to pay rent in 2005 or 2006 and to use that as a basis to withhold the maintenance contribution has no basis." Yaeger has hoped for a new ballpark and Election Day is a day he's been looking forward to for a long time. He hopes a new mayor and new administration will make baseball a priority in the cityof Nashville. Manning told News 2 there is no animosity from the administration directed to the Sounds and said they simply have questions regarding the Sounds' financial statement given to the city. He said, "There are some expenses in the audited report that they give to us under the lease that appear to us to be expenses that are not associated with Greer Stadium." Late Thursday afternoon, Yeager sent the city an amended report that omits the costs associated with the new ballpark proposal. Manning said his department hasn't had time to review the amended report. *** Link while active, text follows: http://www.fairviewobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/NEWS02/708020390/1321/MTCN06 Metro halts funds to Sounds City says $250,000 withheld because team may owe rent By BRAD SCHRADE Tennessean Staff Writer Metro has withheld $250,000 in maintenance funds from the Nashville Sounds, a move that the team's general manager says is "mean-spirited" and might prevent the team from continuing to play in Greer Stadium this year. Glenn Yaeger said Metro lawyers notified him Tuesday that they were withholding the funds. The annual payment was part of a new lease agreement from 2002 designed to help offset the Triple-A minor league team's costs at the aging stadium. "It puts us in a very difficult position to play baseball out here in Greer Stadium by not receiving that money in a timely manner," Yaeger said. "What's the reason?" Yaeger said. "I think they are being mean-spirited." Metro Finance Director David Manning said the city was simply protecting its interests under the lease. The Sounds pay the city rent based on how much money the team generates. And the latest financial documents the team submitted show that the Sounds may owe the city rent, he said. "Nobody is being mean-spirited," Manning said. "The issue is one of, simply, the financials they provided us appear to us to have costs included in them that are not allowable under the lease." Relations between the Sounds and Mayor Bill Purcell's administration have been strained since a deal for a new stadium downtown fell through in April. Yaeger said Major League Baseball said earlier this year that Greer must be upgraded or the team may not be able to continue to play there. It's doubtful that would happen this year, with 17 home games left in the season, but he said he couldn't rule that out. "It's a real possibility, if we can't find an alternative source to fund our maintenance costs, then we may have to play our home games on the road."

Link while active, text follows: http://wvgazette.com/section/Sports/2007080238 A work in progress First-round pick Jeffress trying to find consistency By Tommy R. Atkinson Charleston Gazette Staff writer More than Jeremy Jeffress's fastball, which can effortlessly touch the mid-90-mph range, West Virginia Power pitching coach John Curtis thinks the 19-year-old's toughness is his best asset. "His mound presence, he's virtually unshakable,'' said Curtis, a veteran of 15 major league seasons as a pitcher. That has served Jeffress well as he has made the transition from the rookie Arizona League to the more advanced Class A South Atlantic League this season and its 140-game schedule. "The starts come quicker in this league,'' said Jeffress, a South Boston, Va., native who was the Milwaukee Brewers' No. 1 selection in last year's June amateur draft. "You would get to watch six or seven games and then come back and pitch again [in the Arizona League]. In a five-day rotation, the starts come quick. "You've got to throw strikes in this league, too. In rookie league they're free-swinging. Here, guys get that 3-2 pitch to hit in a full count. They've got a good batting eye. In rookie league, you can throw one high and they'll whiff at it. Every level is a big adjustment, working on your mechanics.'' Jeffress is still a work in progress, but that is all part of the development process for a player who was throwing to high school hitters a little more than a year ago. After winning his first four starts for the Power, he has posted a 3-4 mark. There have been disastrous outings, such as when the 6-foot, 175-pound right-hander didn't get out of the first inning, giving up five earned runs, or last Friday, when he mowed down the Hagerstown (Md.) Suns in the first four innings, striking out nine in a row at one point, before allowing five earned runs the next frame and taking the loss. Then there are times when he exhibits all the traits that show why he was the 16th player taken in the first round, such as Wednesday night, when he surrendered just one earned run on four hits with five punchouts and no walks in six innings. "He's held his own I think and shown all the things I think reflect on the promise this kid has and gives us every right to believe that he's going to show up in the big leagues some day,'' said Curtis. Jeffress, who helped the Power to the Northern Division first-half title and accompanying playoff spot, owns a 7-4 record in 13 starts with a 3.34 earned run average. He has struck out 63 in 62 innings with 32 walks and allowed just 47 hits. Jeffress struggled in the Arizona League last year, posting a 2-5 mark with a 5.88 ERA. "I'm certainly satisfied with what I've seen,'' said Curtis. "He's had a few very bright moments and some not so bright, but I think for a 19-year-old that's pretty much what you expect. I talked to a scout who saw him in high school and [he] said that his stuff has improved since he saw him. "His breaking ball [and] his changeup is much better so he's progressing, but there's clearly some road to travel. We're continuing to work on things we feel he's going to need to make the jump to the next level.'' What separates Jeffress and has him ranked as the Brewers third-best pitching prospect is a blazing fastball. That is also Jeffress's downfall at times. "We're continuing to work on his fastball command,'' Curtis said. "When he gets into trouble that's usually what is happening. "We think he's throwing a little across his body right now. We're trying to straighten out his line to home plate and smooth out that delivery. Get his tempo a little better, but get that line to home plate a little cleaner. He's been a good listener [and] he works hard.'' Jeffress confessed that he sometimes falls in love with the strikeout. "Let hitters get themselves out, that's the biggest thing I've learned,'' he said. "Let my defense work.'' Jeffress is hoping to follow the same path as former Power pitcher Yovani Gallardo, who after playing for the Power two years ago is now a regular in the Brewers' starting rotation. "What stood out for me with Yovani was not so much the stuff as it was how he used it,'' said Curtis, who also tutored Gallardo. "The command that he had of his pitches; I always thought of Yovani as a 20-year-old with a 30-year-old head on his shoulders. "I think Jeremy has the faster fastball, but I think Yovani at the same stage had more movement and he knew how it was going to behave and he worked it accordingly. Jeremy's got a better curveball than Yovani had and a better changeup. Yovani had the ability to work in that strike zone the way that Jeremy doesn't. Stuff-wise [Jeffress] compares favorably, but his pitching isn't in Yovani's class.'' At least not yet, but Jeffress is getting there. "Fastball command is what you have to have,'' said Jeffress. "If I get my fastball command down it'll be perfect. That's all I need.'' Charleston Gazette Photographer: Chip Ellis Jeremy Jeffress, a first-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2006, won his first four starts for the West Virginia Power but is just 3-4 since then. http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/Jeffress.jpg

Will Inman's first full start (non-rain interrupted), gets the win: Inman (1-0) yielded a run on three hits and five walks while fanning four in six innings. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2007_08_01_sanaax_coraax_1

Baseball America honors Sollmann, Parra: http://www.huntsvillestars.com/news/news.asp?newsId=1304

Link while active, text follows: http://www.al.com/sports/huntsvilletimes/mmccarter.ssf?/base/sports/1186046274299890.xml&coll=1 Mention Dad and watch son shine Tony Gwynn Jr. never tires of bragging on father Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times NASHVILLE - His dad was a little bit shaky. The entire morning, there were butterflies in every stomach in the family. The son was getting concerned. "He was emotional, more emotional than I've ever seen him," said the son. Then, said the son, "just like he did on the baseball field, he settled down and he knocked it out." You'll find fewer larger shadows cast than the father's. You'll find fewer Juniors who more eagerly, proudly and comfortably embrace that suffix than does the son. "Why wouldn't you want to talk about your father when he's done what he's done?" the son will often say. So, once again, Tony Gwynn Jr. was called upon to talk about his father, Tony Gwynn Sr., one of the two latest inductees into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Tony Jr. - Anthony to his father, Little Tony to mom Alicia - was sitting at his corner locker in the Nashville Sounds' clubhouse, his jersey removed, his uniform pants a palette of orange-red dirt from a head-first slide. Tony Jr., one of the classiest guys ever in a Huntsville Stars uniform (2004-05) was back to work, having taken a weekend's trip to Cooperstown for his father's enshrinement. "Unbelievable," he began. "There are no words to describe what it was like to go there for the first time and be surrounded by so many greats. If you're a baseball fan, it's the closest thing to heaven on earth you'll run across." As for his dad's speech, "He was way better than I expected. He was rock-solid on the podium. He had a few crack-ups, but you're supposed to. I don't know if I'm being biased because it was my father, but it was one of the better speeches I've heard. "The toughest part for me was when he got choked up. Then I got choked up. But when he held strong, I held strong." Though Tony Jr. was recently sent back to Triple-A Nashville, he began the year with the Milwaukee and batted .274 in 59 games as the Brewers' fifth outfielder; he's had two different tours with both teams. "At the beginning of the year, nobody expected me to even be up there," Tony Jr. said. "I was destined for Triple-A. And when I made the team, I don't think anybody expected me to do as well as I did. It was a learning experience, my first time starting a year in the big leagues, getting a steady job in the big leagues. I feel like I'm only going to get better because of that." The up-and-down between Milwaukee and Nashville hasn't worn on Tony Jr. as it has on a certain Hall of Fame outfielder. "It's been tougher on him than it has on me," Tony Jr. said. "He never had to fool with anything like that. For him to have his son go through it, it's been rough at times. But he's doing a job of keeping positive." Of his father's 27-minute speech, what resonated most with Tony Jr. were actually words from his grandfather. "I'm a big believer in whatever you want, if you want something out of this game, you've got to put the work in it," Tony Sr. said Sunday. "You've got to work hard. My father said 'You work hard, good things will happen.' Boy oh, boy he was absolutely right." "I remember him telling me that when I was 15 years old," Tony Jr. said. "And that sticks in my head every day." To see the record crowd sprawled across the field at Cooperstown, to see the impact Tony Gwynn Sr. had with the San Diego Padres, where he was an eight-year batting champ, he was obviously a hero to thousands. Then you talk to Tony Jr. And you see the biggest thing was what a hero he was in his own home.

Adding Nelson to the 40-man again would allow the Brewers to keep him over the winter months. But he'd have to make the 25-man roster next April, and if he didn't, he'd have to be outrighted. He'd be claimed and kept on another team's 25-man (unlikely), would choose free agency, or would accept the outright assignment. It's not going to happen. Brad will move elsewhere this October.

Link while active, text follows: http://www.al.com/stars/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/sports/118595985364490.xml&coll=1 A bullpen blowup Stars' relievers waste Heether's power hitting in 5-4 loss to Lookouts By BRAD SHEPARD For The Huntsville Times With every scratch of his head and squirm from his perch atop the dugout steps, Stars manager Don Money agonized over his relievers' inability to throw strikes. First, it was E.J. Shanks who couldn't find the zone. Then, David Johnson worked from behind in the count before allowing several key hits. Finally, with two outs and two on and a one-run lead in the eighth, Money called on closer Luis Pena. He walked a Chattanooga player to load the bases before shortstop Luis Bolivar guided a two-run, game-winning single into right field. What had been unraveling in front of Money and a nice midweek crowd of 2,480 at Joe Davis Stadium became reality: Lookouts 5, Stars 4. A 4-1 lead wasted away at the hands of a normally reliable bullpen, and so did the Southern League North division lead. The Stars and Lookouts are now tied with 22-17 records. After Chattanooga went ahead in the eighth, however, the Stars had two chances to at least tie in the final two innings. They put two runners on with two outs in the eighth, but Hernan Iribarren grounded deep in the hole between first and second and was thrown out to end the threat. But the one that really hurt was the ninth, when Huntsville failed at the situational hitting it thrived on just one night before. Michael Brantley led off with a walk, but Steve Sollmann failed in trying to bunt him over, popping out to the pitcher. After an Adam Heether single, pinch hitter Lou Palmisano struck out, and defensive replacement Steve Moss struck out looking to end the 3-hour, 42-minute marathon. Heether was brilliant all night at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. It appeared he would be the hero in helping the Stars build a 4-1 lead before the bullpen collapse. After Lookouts catcher Craig Tatum gave Chattanooga a 1-0 lead in the fourth, Heether followed by blasting a go-ahead two-run homer over the left-field wall. Then, he strode to the plate the next inning, reached out and guided an outside pitch down the right-field line for a two-run double. It seems not to matter where the opposition throws the ball when Heether is at the plate lately. After a ridiculous stretch where he was 28-for-56, Heether has cooled a little, but he is still hitting .368 during his last 27 games. Starter Steve Hammond continued his second-half resurgence as well. The lefty gave the Stars their second strong five-inning performance in a row. He allowed one run off five hits, and deserved a better fate than he received. Instead, the bullpen folded to drop the Stars into a first-place tie. All of that was insignificant for a few moments in the bottom of the ninth. A very scary moment took place when Sollmann squared to bunt. He fouled it off, and it hit home plate umpire Jason Dunn underneath the mask. Dunn stayed down for several minutes before regrouping to finish the game. Too bad the Stars bullpen couldn't finish the win.

Jaybird, Moss has been in Huntsville's lineup nearly every day. Time to catch up on Link Reports, eh? Trofholz retired. Tim Marks isn't active this year, from what I've seen.

Joe Thatcher optioned to AAA Portland Wednesday. He could face Nashville over the next three days.

Tuesday's Helena KCAP Audio Pre-Game Interview with Manager Jeff Isom: Be sure you're on the July 31st archive, go to the 17:00 minute mark: Good stuff -- on RHP Chad Robinson, among others: "He's a big human being, can bring the ball in there quite firm." web.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Sounds pitchers combine to shut out Sacramento By MAURICE PATTON Tennessean Staff Writer Mark DiFelice and the Nashville Sounds bullpen teamed up for the team's eighth shutout of the season ? a Pacific Coast League high ? in a 2-0 victory Tuesday night over visiting Sacramento. DiFelice, lifted after five innings of no-hit ball, was backed up by Seth McClung and Mitch Stetter as Nashville salvaged a split of the four-game series with its second shutout in as many nights. The Sounds won 4-0 on Monday night. "He looks a lot different than he did a couple of years ago in New Orleans," Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas said of DiFelice, 2-0 since his July 11 callup from Double-A Huntsville. "He makes pitches, he keeps the ball down. He's doing a great job for us." DiFelice, who spent the last half of the 2005 season and all of 2006 in the independent Atlantic League after the Washington Nationals released him, has now won his last six decisions, dating back to June 4. DiFelice, who put together a streak of 36 scoreless innings there before arriving in Nashville on July 11, now has a 13-inning streak with the Sounds. Sacramento spoiled the Sounds' no-hit bid as Gregorio Petit led off the sixth with a single off Nashville reliever Seth McClung. In seven starts this season ?three at Huntsville and four with the Sounds ?DiFelice has an 0.89 ERA. Meanwhile, the rare hook in the middle of a no-hitter was necessitated by an inactive bullpen. Adam Pettyjohn went the distance for the Sounds in Monday's win. "We needed to get some guys some work," Kremblas said. "McClung has to leave for a couple of days (due to family issues), and Stetter hadn't thrown in three or four days." Before his three-inning, two-hit effort, the right-handed McClung had not pitched more than two innings in a game this season. Nashville took a 1-0 lead on Mike Rivera's solo home run in the fourth inning off Sacramento starter Dan Meyer, then added a run in the eighth inning when a two-out throwing error allowed pinch-runner Charles Thomas to score from third base. The Sounds, now 11-3 in home series finales, head to the West Coast for an eight-game trip against Portland and Tacoma. ***Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Brewers call up hot-hitting Dillon to help offense By MAURICE PATTON Tennessean Staff Writer Nashville Sounds veteran infielder Joe Dillon was called up by the Milwaukee Brewers following Tuesday's 2-0 win over Sacramento. Dillon, who spent the 2006 season with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, was added to the Brewers' 40-man roster last month after establishing himself as one of the Sounds' top offensive performers. Entering Tuesday night's play, the 31-year-old was hitting .320 with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs ? leading the team in the latter two categories and ranking eighth in the Pacific Coast League in the former. Primarily a third baseman, where he has played 54 games this season, Dillon has also played 10 games at first base, two at second base and 17 in the outfield. In his only other major league appearance, played 27 games with the Marlins during the 2005 season (.167, 1 HR, 1 RBI). The Brewers had not announced their roster move to make room for Dillon at press time. However, speculation has centered on second baseman Rickie Weeks being optioned out. Weeks, who spent the first 2 ½ months of the 2005 season with the Sounds, has hit .212 with five home runs and 19 RBIs in 74 games this season. Saving up: Mitch Stetter worked a perfect ninth inning to earn the save. He is the ninth different Nashville pitcher with at least one save this season. Luther Hackman leads the team ? and is tied for fifth in the PCL ? with 14. Making music: Sounds catcher Mike Rivera hit his 14th homer of the season in the fourth, a solo shot off the guitar-shaped scoreboard beyond the left-field fence. As part of a promotion with Nashville-based Copley Guitars, any Sounds player that homers off the scoreboard is presented a guitar. It was Rivera's third guitar shot of the season, following blasts on May 6 and on May 20, and his fifth in three seasons. For the year, the Sounds have hit nine guitar-winning homers.

Tennessean Photo Gallery from the Sounds Game: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....amp;Ref=PH

Dillon promoted, Sounds earn win Veteran gets his dream call: A chance to play in a big-league pennant race BY NATE RAU, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent Pennant chases are nice and all, but at the Triple A level guys are hoping for one thing ? a promotion to the big leagues. Nashville?s Joe Dillon got the call every minor leaguer hopes for after the Sounds? 2-0 win over Sacramento on Tuesday. Dillon was promoted to the majors by the Milwaukee Brewers. It is an especially satisfying promotion for Dillon because at 31-years old, a player never knows if a call-up will happen. Dillon was up once before for a cup of coffee with Florida two years ago. Since then, Dillon spent last season in Japan and then asked to be released by the Marlins during spring training this year. But by hitting .317 with 20 homers and 72 RBIs ? all Sounds bests ? Dillon was promoted. He also joins a team in a pennant race as the Brewers are currently in first in the National League Central. ?Obviously I?m happy,? Dillon said. ?That?s what all our goals are, is to get up there. I?m just looking forward to getting up there and doing whatever I can do to contribute to the team.? The first-place Sounds (65-46) picked up the win thanks to outstanding pitching by starter Mark DiFelice and a solo shot by catcher Mike Rivera. DiFelice threw five hitless innings, before being replaced ? to his chagrin ? because other relievers needed extra work. Rivera ended a scoreless tie in the fourth with a solo homer that ricocheted off the guitar scoreboard in left. It was the third time this season Rivera hit a homer off the scoreboard this season. Every Sounds player who hits a homer off the scoreboard wins a guitar courtesy of Copley. DiFelice threw five hitless innings before giving way to Seth McClung, who was acquired last week from the Tampa Bay organization. DiFelice came out of the game after throwing 78 pitches. The Brewers wanted to see McClung throw two innings, which is why DiFelice was removed during the no-hit bid. McClung gave up a single to the first batter he faced to end the Sounds? no-hit bid. After allowing the hit to Danny Putnam, McClung did the job out of the pen. He threw three scoreless innings for Nashville. Nashville added an insurance run in the eighth inning that came courtesy of two throwing errors by the River Cats. Mitch Stetter threw a perfect ninth to earn the save for Nashville. Tony Gwynn played well in his second game since returning to the Sounds. He went 4-for-4, including a triple and two stolen bases. The only negative for Gwynn was that his right leg cramped up following his steal of third in the eighth inning and he had to be replaced by Charles Thomas. Mark DiFelice had a 36 2/3-inning scoreless streak for Double-Huntsville earlier this year. (Photo by Tom Priddy/MLB.com) http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/08/01/sZhUv3FI.jpg

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com/ THE RACE IS ONBULLPEN FAILS HAMMOND... TOP SPOT DEADLOCKED AGAIN Adam Heether finished a red-hot July (33 hits, eight doubles, five HRs, .359) hitting for 3/4 of the cycle and driving in four runs, but E.J. Shanks and Luis Pena combined to shred a 4-1, and later a 4-3 lead to place the Stars back in a tie for 1st place on the eve of the anniversary of the Stars' greatest comeback in history. A ton of pitches were thrown in this molasses-paced game on this final, steamy night in July....... Steve Hammond gave up a hit in every inning, but was successful in holding the Lookouts to just a run -- a first pitch homer to Craig Tatum to the right of and past the flagpole in left field in the 4th inning. Hammond, however, never got through an inning without throwing less than 16 pitches on this 89° night, and was gone after throwing 95, 57 for strikes (60%) in five innings. But Hammond already had a 4-1 lead, thanks to a two-run HR by Heether in the bottom of the 4th, that didn't get the distance, but was hit in the same direction, off the top wall in left (the Corr Wireless sign), and a two-run, one-out double down the right field line in the 5th...... After a walk to Brendan Katin and a hit batter loaded the bases, however, Alcides Escobar grounded out to Drew Anderson to end the inning........ Steve Sollmann (0, 7, .235 in July), a .233 hitter vs. Chattanooga, set the 4th up with a hard liner to right for a single, then reached base again in the 5th on a botched double play attempt by Luis Bolivar to Anderson...... That was all the scoring Huntsville fans would see from their team, as they watched the Lookouts' bullpen outperform the Stars'. Fans got their first look at submariner E.J. Shanks, a former independent league pitcher (6-1, 1.78 in the Golden League a year ago), whose curious delivery is remindful of Kent Tekulve and Chad Bradford....... It didn't win much confidence from fans, though, after going 3-and-0 on Mike Griffin before he came back at 3-and-2 to walk him, then 1-and-0 on Craig Tatum before he singled through the right side, and 3-and-0 again on former Montgomery Biscuit Shaun Cumberland, who also walked to load the bases........ Fortunately, Marland Williams became an easy out for Shanks. With a strikeout rate of 42.4%, higher than that of Brendan Katin's 35.6%, he struck out swinging at 73 mph junk........ Williams struck out swinging four times tonight, and now is 8-for-56 against the Stars with 29 strikeouts (.517). It's hard to believe now that he once hit for the cycle on an inclement April night in 2005 in a 14-13 Stars victory........ With one out, Caonabo Cosme chopped a 3-2 pitch to Steve Sollmann. Sollmann dived to stop the ball, but threw wildly to shortstop Alcides Escobar, allowing Griffing and Tatum to score, closing the Lookouts' gap to one run. Dave Johnson (0-1, 5.82 in July) came in to relieve Shanks and walked Adam Rosales on a 3-2 pitch, but Escobar got him out of the inning on a grounder that was headed up the middle. He swiftly cut the ball off on top of the bag, hopped to avoid the runner, then threw in the same motion to Sollmann to complete the double play to get Johnson out of the inning. Johnson was one out away from getting out of the 8th inning, still protecting a 4-3 lead, when Cosme lined a single to left. After walking Rosales, manager Don Money called for his closer, Luis Pena, the fireballer whose heater will either hit its mark or not........ This time, it didn't......... He walked Drew Anderson to fill the bases before Luis Bolivar's opposite-field single to right scored Cosme and Rosales for the game-decider. Home plate ump Jason Dunn was hit in the mask by a foul tip off the bat of Steve Sollmann on Carlos Guevara's first pitch to him in the 9th....... Dunn was knocked backwards and knocked out for a moment, causing some tense moments, especially in the wake of Mike Coolbaugh's fateful accident which also came in the 9th inning of a Tulsa-Arkansas game in Little Rock, ten days ago...... Both trainers came out of their respective dugouts, and after a few minutes to recover, Dunn was able to continue the game. It takes great hand-eye coordination to be the fine third baseman Heether is, but he is proving it in the clubhouse as well as the unofficial ping-pong champ. It seems they have a round-robin tournament going down there, and no one can seem to touch him. Since this series began on Saturday, the Lookouts have been a busy team on the transaction wire....... Pitchers Brock Till (1-0, 9.82 vs. Huntsville) and Tyler Pelland (1-0, 3.18 vs. Huntsville) were promoted to Louisville, Carlos Bohorquez and Pedro Viola were called up from Sarasota, outfielder Shaun Cumberland was acquired from the Biscuits, 6'8" Australian righthander Dushan Ruzic was added to the roster tonight, and Wednesday, Matt Maloney, acquired from the Phillies for pitcher Kyle Lohse, will make his debut for the Lookouts to start against Sam Narron........ Narron had his best month in July with a 2-0 record in five starts and a 3.14 ERA. He has given up just four runs (three earned) in 19 2/3 innings in his last three starts....... Maloney was 9-7 with a 3.94 ERA for the Class AA-Reading (East.) Phillies and 6-3, 3.34 in his last ten starts. He was a 3rd round pick by the Phillies in 2005. Some instruction is starting to pay off, as Hernan Iribarren is starting to go with the pitch a lot more. He pulled a one-hopper to right for a hit in the 3rd, but he is still having a hard time hitting left-handers. He was 13-for-84 (.155) going into the game......... Huntsville catchers Lou Palmisano and Carlos Corporan have allowed just four passed balls all season, tying Huntsville for the fewest in the league. (Max St. Pierre, who started the season as Lou's backup, had none). The all-time season low for the Stars is 11 by the 1987, 1992, and 2006 teams. Nashville pitcher Mark DiFelice and two relievers, Seth McClung and Mitch Stetter, held the Sacramento River Cats to two hits Tuesday night, as the Sounds won 2-0 at Greer Stadium. DiFelice, who threw 24 scoreless innings for the Stars in June, threw five innings of no-hit ball. Gregorio Petit broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single off McClung in the 6th......... Huntsville and Chattanooga supplied the Southern League with the players-of-the-week for this week. Despite losing 4-of-5 to the Jacksonville Suns, and losing the opener to the Lookouts, Derek Miller was named pitcher-of-the-week with a 2-0, 2.13 record that included the lone victory against the Suns....... Caonabo Cosme, the Lookouts' shortstop, hit .414 (12-for-29), and was instrumental in three victories for Chattanooga. Milwaukee's #1 pitck in June, Matt LaPorta, made his pro debut for Helena Monday night, and homered in his first at-bat....... Brewers' 2nd baseman Rickie Weeks, nursing a sore wrist and hitting just .212, has been sent down to Nashville. The Brewers, to fill his spot on the roster, called up Joe Dillon, the 32-year old former Carolina Mudcat, who was hitting .320 for the Sounds.

Link while active, text follows: Osprey stomp Brewers By CURT SYNNESS, Helena Independent Record Sports Writer When you're hot, you're hot. And when you're not, you ought to be. Going into Tuesday night's Pioneer League contest at Kindrick Legion Field, the Helena Brewers had been on a hot streak over the last few weeks, while the visiting Missoula Osprey were suffering through a nine-game losing streak. But, the Osprey rapped the Brewers 11-0, behind the stellar pitching of Tom Layne, and the awakened offense of the visitors. Layne hurled eight sparkling innings, permitting four hits and a walk while striking out five. He did not allow a Brewer baserunner past first base. The Missoula lefty faced but 28 men - only four over the minimum - with the help of an errorless defense behind him, which also turned two double plays. Luke Prehoda closed in the ninth, preserving the shutout for Layne while surrendering a single. Meanwhile the Missoula hitters pounded out 15 hits off of four Helena pitchers, helping their club to its first win in 10 games. Tom Clifford, Jimmie Principie and Gerardo Bustamante each homered for the Garden City group, all three taters being solo shots. Principie's blast actually cleared the netting high above the left field wall. Missoula's big inning was the seventh, when they tallied eight runs. Collecting two hits apiece on the night for the Osprey were Eli Rumler, Taylor Harbin, Bustamante and Reynaldo Navarro. Harbin posted three runs batted in. Eric Farris' two singles and a walk led the Brewers at the plate, with Zelous Wheeler, Curt Rindal and Eric Fryer each stroked base knocks. Defensively, outfielders Lee Haydel and Caleb Gindl both made difficult running catches on long fly balls near the warning track. Chad Robinson started on the bump for the home team and received the loss. Robinson went 3.2 innings, giving up three hits and three runs. Helena's relievers consisted of Craig Langille, Dan Merklinger and Brock Kjeldgaard. Manager Jeff Isom's Helena club is now 27-13 overall and 1-1 for the second half. Missoula is 15-25 and 1-1. The two clubs engage each other again tonight at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central) at Kindrick Field. Eliza Wiley, Helena Independent Record Staff Photographer - Helena Brewer Dan Merklinger fires from the mound Tuesday night during a smokey and disappointing loss to the Missoula Osprey. Missoula won the game 11-0 for the Brewers? first loss of the second half of the Pioneer League season. http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2007/08/01/sports_top/b01080107_01.jpg

Final: Missoula (Diamondbacks) 11, Helena 0 Helena Site Game Summary: Helena Bats Silenced at Home HELENA ? Helena's newest addition Matt LaPorta started in the field for the first time in his young professional career, but Missoula pitcher Tom Layne stifled him as well as the rest of the Brewer hitters. The Brewers collected just five hits and no Helena runners advanced past first base in an 11-0 loss. Layne pitched eight innings and did not walk a batter to earn the win. Brewer pitcher Chad Robinson made his first professional start in just his third appearance of the season. Robinson had previously thrown three innings in two appearances out of the bullpen. The right-hander went three and two-thirds innings and allowed three runs on three hits. Missoula added eight more runs to its 3-0 lead in the seventh inning for an 11-0 advantage. Gus Bustamante hit a home run on the first pitch of the inning to start the Osprey rally. Taylor Harbin and Chance Wheeless also provided big hits for Missoula; each provided their team with a two-run double. For the Brewers Eric Farris had two hits on the night and reached on a walk as well. Eric Fryer, Curt Rindal, and Zelous Wheeler each collected a hit in the loss. Reliever Craig Langille paced the pitching staff by throwing one and one-thirds innings of scoreless baseball; he allowed one hit and struck out two. The win snaps a nine-game losing streak for the Missoula Osprey. The Brewers (27-13, 1-1) and Osprey (15-25, 1-1) play the rubber match of a three-game series Wednesday at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central). Helena Box Score: Brewers drew only one walk too; 6th rounder Dan Merklinger of Seton Hall with a forgettable night... web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1 Helena Game Log: web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

Suspended Game: Arizona A's 3, Arizona Brewers 0, first inning -- lightning, then rain Partial Box Score: web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_athrok_1 The A-Crew's only other visit to the Athletics' complex is August 20th, but with no attendance implications, I imagine this one could be made up in Maryvale on the 22nd as well. Go with the 20th until told otherwise.

Final: Chattanooga (Reds) 5, Huntsville 4 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1300 Late Rally Leads Lookouts to Victory Luis Bolivar?s two-out, two-run opposite field single in the eighth inning turned out to be the game-winning hit in Chattanooga?s 5-4 comeback win over the Stars Tuesday night in the fourth of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Lookouts improved to 22-17 in the second half and pulled back into a first place tie in the North Division with the Stars, who fell to 22-17 in the second half and had a modest two-game win streak snapped. The Stars lost for just a fourth time in 51 games when leading after seven innings. David Johnson retired the first two hitters in the eighth before Caonobe Cosme singled and Adam Rosales walked to force a pitching change. Luis Pena walked Drew Anderson on four pitches to load the bases before Bolivar delivered his decisive blow into right field on a 3-2 offering from the Stars? closer, who blew a save chance for a second time in seven opportunities. Carlos Guevara took over in the ninth for Chattanooga and walked leadoff man Michael Brantley and yielded a one-out single to Adam Heether. However, the Lookouts closer slammed the door by striking out pinch-hitter Lou Palmisano and Steve Moss to end the game. Heether?s two-run home run in the fourth, his eighth of the season, gave the Stars a 2-1 and his two-run double in the fifth extended the home team?s edge to 4-1. Heether finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle for a second time this month, both against the Lookouts, and matched a season-high with his four runs batted in. Stars? starter Steve Hammond allowed one run, on a Craig Tatum home run, over five innings and was replaced by E.J. Shanks, who opened the sixth by walking Mike Griffin and Shaun Cumberland and allowing a single to Tatum to load the bases with nobody out. Cosme then chopped a ground ball that was gloved by a diving Steve Sollmann at first base but his throw to second base was errant, allowing Griffin and Tatum to score to draw the visitors to within 4-3. Johnson took over and walked Rosales before Anderson grounded into a double play to end the inning. Johnson suffered his first loss of the season after yielding two runs on two hits and three walks over 2 1/3 innings. The series wraps up Wednesday evening with left-hander Sam Narron taking the hill against Lookouts? southpaw Matt Maloney, who was just acquired by the Reds in the deal that sent veteran pitcher Kyle Lohse to Philadelphia. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score: So proud of Adam Heether after last year's struggles; this game appeared to have nearly as much drama as the parent club's affair... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

Congrats to Nashville's Joe Dillon, on his way to Milwaukee for Wednesday's game. At least there will be a RH bat off the bench vs. LH pitching now. No corresponding Brewer move made yet.

RH bat -- no corresponding move announced yet.

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Tony Gwynn, Jr.: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-31.mp3

Final: Nashville 2, Sacramento (A's) 0 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Mike Rivera action photo, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2482 Sounds Blank River Cats Again, 2-0 NASHVILLE ? The Nashville Sounds closed out their homestand with their second straight shutout victory over visiting Sacramento, blanking the River Cats in a 2-0 contest on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium. Three Sounds hurlers combined on a two-hitter, which was the club?s Pacific Coast League-leading eighth shutout of the season. Nashville (67-43) finished its homestand with a 5-3 record and earned a split of the four-game series with the River Cats. The Sounds' lead in the PCL American Conference Northern Division increased to 7 1/2 games with their win and an Iowa loss in Salt Lake. Nashville starter Mark DiFelice (2-0) earned the win after he worked five hitless innings to open the contest before departing after throwing 72 pitches. His ERA as a starter dropped to 0.89 this season (4 ER / 40.1 IP) through seven starts between Nashville and Double-A Huntsville. Including Tuesday?s outing, DiFelice has worked 13 consecutive scoreless innings for the Sounds dating back to his start on July 20 at Iowa. He set a Huntsville franchise record with 36 consecutive scoreless frames for the Stars earlier this season in a separate streak. Recently-acquired reliever Seth McClung followed on the hill and worked three scoreless innings, his longest outing of the year. The fireballer allowed two hits and struck out three batters. Mitch Stetter came on to work a flawless ninth to notch his first save of the year. The left-hander became the ninth different Sounds hurler to earn a save in 2007. Sounds catcher Mike Rivera broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning when he belted a mammoth two-out solo homer off the guitar-shaped scoreboard in left-center. The blast, which came against Sacramento starter Dan Meyer, was the backstop?s 13th homer of the year. He received his third Copley guitar of the season after the game as a reward. AUDIO: Rivera Homers Off The Guitar -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-31.mp3 The Sounds added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the River Cats bullpen. Tony Gwynn led off the frame with a single, moved to second on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt by Ron Flores, stole third, then scored in unearned fashion with two outs when Sacramento shortstop Gregorio Petit fielded Vinny Rottino?s grounder cleanly but threw wide of first base for the visitors? second error of the inning. Gwynn went 4-for-4 with a pair of stolen bases for the Sounds but left the contest early after suffering a leg cramp during a steal of third in the bottom of the eighth inning. Meyer (6-2) absorbed a tough-luck loss for Sacramento after allowing one run on seven hits and striking out seven batters in his seven innings of action. The Sounds head to the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday to open an eight-game road trip that includes stops in Portland, Oregon and Tacoma, Washington. Right-hander Elmer Dessens (1-0, 1.54) makes his fourth rehab start for the Sounds in Wednesday?s 9:05 p.m. CT series opener at PGE Park in Portland. He?ll face Beavers right-hander Mike Thompson (3-9, 6.46). Baseball returns to Greer Stadium on Friday, August 10, when the Sounds open another eight-game homestand. Nashville Box Score: Pettyjohn, DiFelice, Dickey, Gulin -- could the Brewers have done any better with their reclamation projects this year? Exciting outing for Seth McClung... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Nashville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

Walk, walk, walk, triple -- not how you want to begin the Arizona Rookie game...

Final: Columbus (Devil Rays) 4, West Virginia 0 West Virginia Site Game Summary: CATFISH SHUT POWER DOWN The Columbus Catfish scored all of their runs in the first inning of Tuesday night?s game at Golden Park and held the Power to just three hits as they tossed their seventh shutout of the season, defeating the Power 4-0 to take the second game of the series. In the first inning, Desmond Jennings doubled down the left field line and scored on a single from Cesar Suarez. Later in the inning Ryan Royster hit a three-run homer, his 16th of the season, to cap the four-run frame. West Virginia had four baserunners the entire game. Andrew Lefave went 3-for-3 and recorded every Power hit, while Taylor Green reached on a walk to begin the second. The Power had just one runner in scoring position through the entire contest. Heath Rollins (12-4) pitched seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball and struck out five to get the win while Chris Toneguzzi (4-2) got the loss. Toneguzzi was pulled after the third inning. Though he gave up four runs on three hits in the first inning, Toneguzzi settled down allowing just one hit the rest of the way. Jared Sutton, Luis Ramirez and J.T. King combined to toss five scoreless innings of one-hit ball out of the bullpen. The Power fell to 66-41 overall and 18-21 in the second half, and the Catfish improved to 63-44 overall and 22-15 in the second half with the win. The Power will continue the four game series against Columbus Wednesday night. The Power will start right hander Donovan Hand (1-0, 1.80) and the Catfish will counter with right hander Will Kline (0-1, 2.57). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM (6:00 Central). West Virginia Box Score: Andrew Lefave is a machine... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_clmafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_clmafx_1

Former Huntsville outfielder Ruben Mateo, recently released, was signed by Newark of the independent Atlantic League.