Jim Goulart

These links will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally they are updated an hour or two prior to gametime, with Nashville's usually earlier: Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Zach Jackson at Oklahoma (Rangers), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: RHP Mike Jones at home vs. Jacksonville (Dodgers), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.huntsvillestars.com/ Brevard County: RHP Jesse Harper at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp West Virginia: LHP Zach Braddock at home vs. Greensboro (Marlins), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

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Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1116 Suns Slug Their Way to Second Win in Series Anthony Raglani and Luke Allen belted long home runs and Jacksonville?s bullpen tossed five scoreless innings in a 10-4 win over Huntsville Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium. The Suns evened the series at two games apiece and their season record at 7-7, while the Stars dropped to 6-6 and were denied their first three-game win streak of the season. The visitors jumped on Huntsville starter Steve Hammond for four runs in the first inning on a run-scoring double by Marshall McDougal, who has knocked in at least one run in all four games in the series, and Raglani?s three-run long ball, his fourth of the year, which matches him with teammate John Lindsey for the league lead. It was also the seventh time in nine home games that the Stars have been scored on in the first inning and third time they have allowed at least four runs in the first frame. The Stars received four walks in the first inning and scored on a Mike Carlin sacrifice fly but left the bases loaded with one out. They wasted a leadoff triple by Yohannis Perez in the second inning and clawed to within 5-3 in the third on a Carlin home run and throwing error by Chin-Lung Hu that allowed Steve Sollmann to score. Lou Palmisano drove in a run with a fourth inning double to trim the Suns? lead to 5-4 but was left stranded at second base with one out. The visitors would add two runs in the fifth and chase Hammond from the game with back-to-back run-scoring hits by Wilkin Ruan and Cory Dunlap. The southpaw suffered his second loss, both at home, after allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits with six strikeouts. The seven runs were the most Hammond has yielded in any of his 16 starts since joining the Stars last season. Jacksonville put the game away with three runs in the eighth on a two-run home run by Allen and a run-scoring double by Hu, who has seven hits in the last two games after going hitless in 10 tries in the first two games. B.J. LaMura picked up the win with three scoreless, hitless innings and Matt Riley closed things out with two shutout innings. The trio of Alvis Ojeda and the two relievers issued 15 walks but stranded 15 runners. The Suns have handed out 15 free passes in two games in the series and won both of them, while the bullpen has worked 23 2/3 innings and allowed only one run. The series wraps up Friday night with Huntsville right-hander Mike Jones taking the hill against Suns? left-hander Mike Megrew. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 AM WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score: Leadoff man Mel Stocker with four of the 15 walks; Steve Sollmann's OBP still well over .500; need to get Steve Hammond back on track... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Brad Nelson photo, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2272 Nelson Homers Again, Sounds Edge 'Hawks 3-1 OKLAHOMA CITY ? Brad Nelson homered for the second straight day and Yovani Gallardo fanned seven batters during a quality start in leading the Nashville Sounds to a 3-1 victory over the Oklahoma RedHawks on Thursday evening at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. The win was the seventh in the last nine contests for Nashville (8-6), which remains in a tie for first place in the PCL American Conference Northern Division. All four Sounds hits in the contest went for extra bases. The Sounds grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Jose Macias opened the game by reaching on a fielding error then scored unearned three batters later on a J.D. Closser sacrifice fly. Nelson (2-for-4) doubled the advantage an inning later when he belted his second home run in as many games, a solo shot to right that came on a 3-2 pitch from Oklahoma starter Alfredo Simon. It was the slugger?s second longball of the year and extended Nelson?s hitting streak to seven games, the longest by a Nashville player this season. AUDIO: Brad Nelson Belts A Home Run -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-19.mp3 The Sounds added another run in the second after Chris Barnwell reached base the hard way, taking a Simon fastball off his helmet, and scored on a Macias two-out RBI triple into the right field corner, making it a 3-0 contest. The RedHawks got a run back against Sounds starter Yovani Gallardo in the bottom of the second when Marlon Byrd tripled off the wall in right-center and scored a batter later on a Desi Relaford groundout. Gallardo (2-1) allowed one run on three hits while striking out seven batters and walking one over his six innings of work. The 21-year-old lowered his ERA to 2.65 through three starts for Nashville. Simon (1-2) was nearly as effective but took the loss after surrendering three runs (two earned) on three hits in seven frames. He walked two batters and fanned five. Luther Hackman worked two scoreless frames behind Gallardo before allowing a leadoff single to Freddy Guzman in the ninth. Mitch Stetter was summoned from the bullpen and walked the only batter he faced, Ramon Vazquez, to put the potential tying run on base. Dennis Sarfate took over on the hill for Nashville and fanned the first two batters he faced before inducing a game-ending groundout from Byrd to secure the win and notch his team-leading third save in three opportunities. The teams wrap up the four-game series with another 7:05 p.m. meeting on Friday evening. Left-hander Zach Jackson (2-1, 2.35) will man the bump for Nashville to face Oklahoma right-hander Josh Rupe (0-1, 3.00). Nashville Box Score: Ozzie Chavez looking overmatched this spring... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1 Nashville Game Log: Ryan Braun never touched the ball on defense in this one... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with First Baseman Andy Abad: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...204-19.mp3

Final: West Virginia 2, Greensboro (Marlins) 1, ten innings West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER OUTDUEL GRASSHOPPERS FOR SOLE POSSESSION OF FIRST PLACE Runs were tough to come by at Appalachian Power Park during Thursday night?s game between the Greensboro Grasshoppers and West Virginia Power. In a game where pitching dominated, it was Steve Chapman?s hustle which proved to be the difference as the Power won their sixth game in a row by defeating the Grasshoppers 2-1 in 10 innings to take sole possession of first place in the South Atlantic League?s Northern Division. In the first inning Chuckie Caufield drove in Brent Brewer on a sacrifice fly to put the Power ahead 1-0. Greensboro tied the game in the top of the sixth on Hunter Mence?s solo home run. With runners at the corners and one out in the bottom of the tenth inning, Chapman hit a ground ball deep in the hole on the right side of the infield. Greensboro second baseman Chris Coghlan got to the ball quickly and threw the ball to second base to get the force out, but Chapman beat Carlos Piste?s relay throw to first base as Jimmy Mojica scored the winning run. The Power pitching staff held the Grasshoppers to one run on nine hits. Power starter Mike McClendon was fantastic through five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits, a walk and he struck out five. Greensboro starter Kyler Winters was solid through six allowing just a run on three hits with three strikeouts. E.J. Shanks (2-0) pitched two and a third scoreless innings out of the pen to earn the win, and Brad Stone (0-2) took the loss. Michael Brantley was the only Power player with a multi hit game, he went 2 for 4 with a pair of singles. The Power improved to 8-3 with the win and the Grasshoppers fell to 8-5 with the loss. The 2-1 victory for the Power was their seventh decided by a run. The Power will finish the three game series against Greensboro Friday night. Greensboro will start right hander Derell McCall (0-0, 8.31) and the Power will counter with left hander Zach Braddock (0-0, 0.00). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score: Stephen Chapman is only 2-for-22 on the season, so beating out the game-winning grounder was big... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: E.J. Shanks bailed the struggling Roque Mercedes out of an 8th inning bases loaded jam... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

Final: Jacksonville (Dodgers) 10, Huntsville 4 As Brett Pollock and Bryan Neece discussed on the broadcast, in one of the most amazing statistical oddities you'll ever see, the Stars have played two games this week in which they have walked 15 times (in each game!) and lost both games -- details later...

Final: Nashville 3, Oklahoma (Rangers) 1 Dennis Sarfate enters the game with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs in the 9th, and proceeds to go strikeout, strikeout, 6-4 forceout -- nice job Dennis, details later...

In progress: Nashville 3, Oklahoma (Rangers) 1, bottom of the 7th in Oklahoma Yovani Gallardo's final line -- 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 87 pitches, 54 strikes, nice!

Walk-off fielder's choice for Stephen Chapman! Well, it was exciting if you were there http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif . Sixth straight win for the Power, details later...

In progress, Greensboro (Marlins) 1, West Virginia 1, bottom of the 9th in Charleston Former Brewer farmhand Tony Festa is in the booth with Bull Barch, feel free to tune in as of 8:30 Central time for the late-inning action...

Junior Spivey signed with the Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League. 29-year-old LHP Brian Adams (2003 - 2004) signed with Somerset (N.J.), also of the Atlantic League.

I wish I could link directly or post the photo, but as of 4:30 Central time today, MiLB.com's home page has a great photo of Yovani Gallardo "blowing away" folks -- you'll see it if you go there now. It's one of the six boxes you can click in the rotating banner headline system they have: web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp

MiLB.com: Manatees edge Cards in ninth Pinch-hitter Carlos Corporan's two-run double in the ninth inning lifted visiting Brevard County to a 3-1 win over Palm Beach on Thursday afternoon. Corporan's clutch two-out two-bagger brought home Charlie Fermaint and Ned Yost, and extended his hitting streak to 11 games. The Manatees (7-6) plated their first run in the fourth inning, as Mat Gamel singled to lead off the frame and eventually scored on Nestor Corredor's groundout. The Cardinals (7-6) pushed across a run in the eighth inning to briefly tie the game at 1-1. Allen Craig's two-out single to center plated Jose Contreras, who had legged out an infield single to begin the frame. Luis Pena (2-0) earned the win after blowing an eighth-inning save opportunity. The 24-year-old righty allowed a hit and a walk over 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Starter Steve Garrison scattered five hits over five scoreless innings while striking out five. Michael Cooper (1-1) started the ninth inning for Palm Beach and took the loss, allowing two runs on a hit and a walk while retiring two batters. Jon Mikrut came on in relief and surrendered Corporan's game-winning double before striking out Ryan Crew. The Cardinals wasted a fine effort from starter Adam Daniels, who yielded a run on seven hits over eight innings while striking out seven. -- Benjamin Hill/MLB.com

By the way, the Manatees' Alcides Escobar now has an 11-game hitting streak. Nashville fans with the MiLB.TV subscription can watch this evening -- it's also available on a per-pay basis if you want to watch Yovani tonight: web.minorleaguebaseball.c.../video.jsp

These links will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally they are updated an hour or two prior to gametime, with Nashville's usually earlier: Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

Follow Thursday'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". 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: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

The rest of Thursday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Yo Gallardo at Oklahoma (Rangers), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: LHP Steve Hammond at home vs. Jacksonville (Dodgers), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.huntsvillestars.com/ West Virginia: RHP Mike McClendon at home vs. Greensboro (Marlins), 6:05 PM gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

Final: Brevard County 3, Palm Beach (Cardinals) 1 Carlos Corporan laced a pinch-hit two-out, two-run double in the top of the 9th; Corporan, Ned Yost, and Chris Errecart all still over .400, and each actually raised their averages today; 20-year-old LHP Steve Garrison (already in high-A, nice) with an 11-to-2 K/BB ratio thus far, scoreless five innings today; clean defense, nice... Brevard County Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_1 Brevard County Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_1

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/story/S...2007-team/ Power manager likes makeup of 2007 team Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail Sportswriter He might not have a Ryan Braun in his batting order or a Will Inman on his pitching staff, but West Virginia Power Manager Mike Guerrero likes the players he has on his roster this season. And for good reason. His team, the Milwaukee Brewers' low Class A affiliate, extended its winning streak to five games Wednesday with a 4-3 victory over the Greensboro (N.C.) Grasshoppers in front of an Appalachian Power Park crowd of 1,439. West Virginia (7-3) and Greensboro (8-4) are tied atop the South Atlantic League's Northern Division standings. With a group of unheralded players -- only six were drafted within the first 10 rounds -- the Power has a winning record after its first 10 games for the first time in its three-year history. West Virginia started the 2005 season with a 1-9 record and the 2006 campaign with a 4-6 mark. "I feel happy about this group because they work hard and play hard," Guerrero said after his team earned its sixth one-run victory this season. "They are out here every day at one o'clock. They don't complain. They just work their tails off. "They are starting to grow up physically and mentally. They are figuring out what we want them to do as a team. It will be nice to watch them develop throughout the season." West Virginia starter Brae Wright (1-0) got the win. The left-hander allowed three runs on six hits in six innings. He finished with six strikeouts and one walk. Power closer Omar Aguilar pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his second save. Greensboro starter Michael Hyle (1-1) took the loss. The right-hander yielded four runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six batters and walked three others. The Power had 11 hits, including at least one from six of its nine batters. Third baseman Jimmy Mojica led West Virginia with three hits. Left fielder Michael Brantley, right fielder Chuckie Caufield and first baseman Andrew LeFave added two hits apiece. "We are starting to swing the bat a lot better," said Guerrero, whose team has a .264 batting average. "Once they get more comfortable, they are going to swing the bat even better than they are now." The Power erased a two-run deficit with a four-run fifth. LeFave and Mojica started the inning with back-to-back singles, then stole third and second, respectively. Center fielder Darren Ford followed with a sacrifice fly to score LeFave. Hyle walked shortstop Brent Brewer, then surrendered a run-scoring double to Caufield. One out later, Brantley delivered a two-run single to score Brewer and Caufield. "We got the key hits when we needed them," Brantley said. "We have been doing that lately. That's why we're on this nice little streak." The Grasshoppers scored two of their runs on homers -- a solo shot by third baseman Jacob Blackwood in the second and another by right fielder Colin Roberson in the fourth. Their other run was unearned. Roberson struck out in the sixth, but catcher Andy Bouchie dropped strike three and misfired on his throw to first base. Roberson reached second on Bouchie's error and scored on catcher Chris Hatcher's double. "Brae really battled," Power pitching coach John Curtis said of the southpaw, who remained in the game after a line drive ricocheted off his right knee in the second. "He got hurt on a couple of pitches that were up (in the strike zone). But he did his job. He held them." With his team clinging to a one-run lead in the seventh, Power reliever Dustin Lidyard escaped a jam. The Grasshoppers loaded the bases with one out on a pair of singles by shortstop Daniel Garcia and left fielder John Raynor followed by a walk to second baseman Chris Coghlan. But Lidyard retired designated hitter Spike McDougall on a strikeout and Blackwood on a flyout to thwart the threat and end the inning. "Lidyard was a little bit shaky there," Curtis said, "but he got out of it." POWER POINTS: The teams will play the second of their three-game series at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central). The Power will start right-hander Mike McClendon (0-0, 1.00). The Grasshoppers will throw right-hander Kyle Winters (0-0, 8.31). ... Field umpire Matt Pridemore ejected Greensboro Manager Edwin Rodriguez and first baseman Logan Morrison in the top of the eighth after they argued a close call at first base. ... Power players and coaches wore pink jerseys to promote the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, an annual event that raises funds for breast cancer research. Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Tom Hindman The West Virginia Power?s Michael Brantley is tagged out on a steal attempt at second base by Greensboro?s Chris Coghlan at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday. http://www.dailymail.com/images/Power0419.jpg

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/story/S...ic-League/ Ford has Power on fast track in South Atlantic League Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter As fast as West Virginia Power center fielder Darren Ford is, it is no surprise that his contributions have come quickly this season. In the seven days since he was activated from the disabled list, Ford has shown how much difference a player can make on a team. In his case, it is a lot. Without Ford, the Power was 2-3. With him, it is 5-0. Ford has a .368 batting average and .409 on-base percentage with two RBI, four runs and five stolen bases in five games. "It's a totally different team (with him in the lineup)," Power Manager Mike Guerrero said of Ford, a Vineland, N.J., native who was selected in the 18th round (526th overall pick) of the 2004 draft. "What he brings to the table is contagious. All of the guys who have speed start picking it up a little bit. He just makes everybody else around him better with the way he plays the game." His colleagues -- right fielder Chuckie Caufield and left fielder Michael Brantley -- agree. "He's a great weapon," Caufield said. "He changes the whole game at the top of the lineup with his bunting and hitting," Brantley added. "When he is on the bases, he is a real threat. That means more fastballs for the hitters behind him because they don't want him running. But with that kind of speed, you can't stop him from stealing bases." South Atlantic League teams learned that lesson last year, when Ford set a franchise record with 69 stolen bases. He posted a .283 batting average and .361 on-base percentage with three triples, seven home runs, 24 doubles, 54 RBI and 93 runs in 125 games. He also finished with 133 strikeouts compared to 56 walks, which is one of the reasons he returned to low Class A West Virginia for a second season. "He's a Major League center fielder right now," Milwaukee Brewers professional scout Larry Aaron said of Ford, whom Baseball America lists as the organization's fastest runner. "He can go get anything that's hit out there. "But he needs to work on his hitting -- more contact and less strikeouts. He needs to realize that his power isn't going to take him to the Big Leagues; his speed is. He needs to take advantage of what God gave him." What God gave him is the primary reason Ford is the Brewers' 13th-ranked overall prospect in their minor league system, according to Baseball America. He also is their second-ranked center field prospect behind 12th-ranked overall prospect Charlie Fermaint, who is playing at high Class A Brevard County (Fla.). In its 2007 Prospect Handbook, Baseball America calls the 6-foot-1, 195-pound, 21-year-old Ford "a prototype center fielder/leadoff hitter" because of his "top-of-the-scale speed." "A three-sport star in high school, he's still developing his approach to hitting," the article reads. "He remains undisciplined at the plate, striking out on pitches out of the zone and not drawing enough walks. Ford improved his pitch selection as the year progressed (in 2006), and he showed flashes of the type of impact player he can be. "The Brewers have stressed the importance of bunting and hitting the ball on the ground as often as possible, though Ford does have some sock in his bat. With a strong, solid body type, he's built for both speed and durability. He often beats out routine ground balls, flustering infielders into making poor throws. Ford can be brought along slowly, but needs to cut down on his strikeouts and make more contact to hit atop the order and take full advantage of his speed." Milwaukee and West Virginia officials alike expect Ford to join Fermaint in Brevard County before the season ends. That, of course, depends on whether he develops in the areas they desire. For now, however, he is happy to be here and helping his teammates. "Wherever they want me to be, I will be," Ford said.

Scott Pinner of the Manatees reported in the pre-game today that infielder Mike Bell has been activated from the disabled list and fellow infielder Ryan Barba is now on the seven-day DL retroactive to the 17th with an undisclosed injury.

Standings through Wednesday's action: Three first place clubs, and the 'Tees only a half-game out! Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 7 6 .538 - 4-2 3-4 W1 Nashville 7 6 .538 - 3-4 4-2 W1 Memphis 6 8 .429 1.5 5-3 1-5 L2 Omaha 5 9 .357 2.5 3-3 2-6 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 6 5 .545 - 4-4 2-1 W2 Tennessee 6 5 .545 - 1-2 5-3 W4 Chattanooga 5 8 .385 2.0 3-5 2-3 L4 West Tenn 5 8 .385 2.0 1-2 4-6 W1 Carolina 4 9 .308 3.0 2-1 2-8 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 7 5 .583 - 3-4 4-1 W4 Daytona 7 6 .538 0.5 5-3 2-3 L1 Jupiter 7 6 .538 0.5 2-3 5-3 L1 Brevard County 6 6 .500 1.0 2-4 4-2 W1 St. Lucie 6 6 .500 1.0 2-4 4-2 L4 Vero Beach 4 8 .333 3.0 2-3 2-5 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 7 3 .700 - 5-3 2-0 W5 Greensboro 8 4 .667 - 6-2 2-2 L1 Hickory 6 4 .600 1.0 2-3 4-1 W1 Lakewood 5 4 .556 1.5 2-2 3-2 W2 Lexington 7 6 .538 1.5 5-4 2-2 L1 Lake County 5 7 .417 3.0 2-2 3-5 W1 Hagerstown 4 9 .308 4.5 1-4 3-5 L2 Delmarva 3 8 .273 4.5 0-2 3-6 L3

Follow Thursday'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". 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. Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_1