Jim Goulart

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com/ WORST TO FIRSTSTARS CAP OFF GREATEST COMEBACK IN HISTORY It's the 1951 Giants, the 1967 Red Sox, the 1969 Mets and the 1973 Mets. It's all the miracles in baseball on a smaller stage. I hope this time, this moment, this season, will forever be remembered by the impassive community that is Huntsville toward their team as the year of the Stars' miracle comeback....... Certainly, their most ardent fans can never forget this 2006 season........ Ask anyone who comes to the ballpark and they'll tell you what it was like the first half -- the erstwhile feeling of doom even before the first pitch is thrown, and the constant stream of opportunities blown on the field when the bases were loaded or runners in scoring position, and the chances to take a lead that were never realized....... Fans will tell you of a team, rarely battered in games, that simply couldn't produce hits (the middle of the order could manage only a .211 average after 40 games) or score runs (2.73 per game in May)....... On June 22, Ryan Braun joind the team shortly after the 2nd half starts, but the Stars lose in 10 that night to Mobile, 8-7 in 10 innings. Three days later, Steve Hammond makes his debut with the Stars with a six-inning, three-hit effort won in the 9th inning, 1-0, on Lou Palmisano's two-out single to score Ron Acuna....... The next day, Yovani Gallardo makes his debut on the mound with seven scoreless innings, although the Stars lose 4-2. The Stars wake up in 5th place with a 3-5 record, but the three figures I've pointed to all along as being instrumental in this 2nd half success story are there. The Stars leave Birmingham on July 8th with an 8-12 record after Jorge de la Rosa beats the Barons, 8-1 for his first win in the third of six rehab starts, but Huntsville climbs now into 3rd for the first time.........Then they lose six of their next 10 games, and after an 8-2 loss at Five County Stadium on July 22nd, they're 11-18 and back into 5th place........ The pivotal game, I'd say, came there the next day when they beat the Mudcats, 3-2 in 10 innings. Travis Phelps survives a bases-loaded, none-out situation by striking out Patrick Arlis before Jon Acevas hits into a 4-6-3 double play, Callix Crabbe-to Guilder Rodriguez-to Jeff Eure, to end the game........ After that, the Stars were 28-7...... Phelps, who came in with a 4.26 ERA, registers his first save. (Since that time, Phelps has given up just three earned runs in 20 2/3 innings, a 1.31 ERA) On the emotional front though, it's a pair of 9-8 victories over the Chattanooga Lookouts on August 1-2, that mark the point, for me at least, where I thought, we can beat anyone now........ Corey Thurman, in a post-game interview, told Brett Pollock that one big reason for the 2nd half turnaround was the change in confidence level....... In both games, the Stars lost leads and had to come back in the 9th to win. That never happened in the first half. And at that moment, as you can see, the Stars found the confidence to win, and win they did indeed, going a record 22-5 in August......... After Friday night's division-clinching 6-5 victory, the Stars have won nine straight, their best winning streak since May 1992. About a dozen Huntsville fans, mostly Boosters, and members of the Stars office staff were in attendance at Hoover Met to witness the occasion......... The Birmingham Barons came in as a pretty battered team....... Thomas Collaro (11, 51, .213) and Ricardo Nanita (8, 42, .286) were both injured. Nanita was placed on the DL August 24. As a result, the Barons' outfield consisted of a catcher, Wally Roaa, playing out there for the first time and Stefan Gartrell skipping two levels of A ball to fill in after hitting .308 at Bristol (Appa.). Ryan Braun wasted no time getting the Stars in front after Steve Moss's leadoff single in the 1st inning. Braun blasted an 0-1 change-up high in the air to centerfield and over the 405' mark for a 2-0 lead. The Stars had a chance to pile on the damage after Brendan Katin singled, Brad Nelson walked, and Ron Acuna singled to load the bases, but Jeff Eure hit into a double play. The game became a see-saw affair after that...... Micah Schurstein's RBI single in the 4th made it 2-1 and in the 5th, the Barons went ahead, 4-2 with a three-run rally that was started when light-hitting Wally Rosa hit a 1-2 pitch for a double that went all the way to the warning track in left-center, scoring Stefan Gartrell, who had led off the inning with a single....... After Eric Hollis moved Rosa to third on a grounder, Corey Thurman tried to pick up Chris Getz's sacrifice bunt on the bare hand in front of the mound but could not, and it scored Rosa, putting the Barons in front, 3-2....... Getz stole second. Then with two out, Michael Myers, a 4-for-8 hitter against Thurman, grounded a single up the middle to score Getz to make it 4-2. But the Stars came back in the top of the inning to tie it back up, 4-4..... Brad Nelson drove Whisler's first pitch down the right field line toward the corner for a single. Ron Acuna sent him to third with a double to right on the first pitch he saw. Gartrell tried to make a diving catch, but in stretching out to make what nearly was a great catch, the ball got out of his glove and made its way to the wall....... After Jeff Eure struck out on a change, Lou Palmisano bounced a 1-0 pitch to the hole on the left side for a single, extending his hitting streak to a season-high six, and scoring Nelson........ Then with two out, Steve Moss knotted up the score with a double on a 2-1 pitch to Wally Rosa who made a long run for it in left, but the ball landed in front of him..... Callix Crabbe walked to load the bases, but Ryan Braun flied out on a long drive to right to end the inning....... At this point, the Stars had stranded eight runners. Gerrit Simpson came on in relief of Thurman in the 6th and quieted the Barons down, giving the Stars a chance to take the lead in the 7th with Dwayne Pollok now in relief for Birmingham....... Singles by Katin and Acuna set Jeff Eure up to make amends for hitting into a double play and striking out twice........ On a 1-for-20 slump, Eure bounced a timely double past a diving Myers at short, giving the Stars a 5-4 lead, his team-leading 54th RBI, but the Stars once more couldn't take advantage of the situation with Eure at 2nd and Acuna on 3rd. Palmisano and Chavez both grounded out to end the inning. Birmingham, of course, came back to tie the game in the bottom of the 8th........ With the bases loaded and one out, Chris Getz hit a ball to Ozzie Chavez that he could have caught on the fly, but Chavez risked everything on the double play by taking the ball on the hop, hoping he could get the double play, and retire Getz that way........ He didn't....... Getz, the team leader in stolen bases with 19, beat the relay to first and Stefan Gartrell scored to tie the game and eventually send it into extra innings, but all's well that ends' well. The Stars didn't rest on Saturday....... They went after the Barons, 11-1, in the first game of a double-header to make up for a July 28 rain-out, but lost the second game, 5-1, ending a 10-game winning streak --- the longest since July 1989. The record of 12, set in 1988, was also broken up by the Barons in a game that was televised. I still have the tape....... The game was not broadcast on ESPN-1450. I couldn't get it on Eyecentric, the Stars other internet link, nor could I pick the game up from the Barons' web site, so I can't tell you anymore about the game than you already know, unless you were there. But catcher Carlos Corporan made his Stars debut in the first game, hitting into a 2nd inning double play in his first at-bat in his new uniform. He did drive in a run in his next at-bat in a four-run 4th inning....... Corporan and pitcher Mike Jones joined the Stars on Friday after a chain reaction of events that started when the Brewers called up Dennis Sarfate and purchased the contract of Vinny Rottino from Nashville. In turn, the Stars sent Luther Hackman and J.C. Boscan to Nashville....... Rottino made his major league debut Friday, becoming the 162nd former Star to graduate to the majors. He appeared in the 9th inning, striking out as a pinch-hitter for Francisco Cordero....... Rottino appeared as a pinch-hitter Saturday night as well, hitting into a force to end the game, a 9-6 loss -- the 9th straight for the Brewers. Scott Martens, Business Manager for the Brewers' Minor League Operations and Development sent our Booster Club president Bill Billingsley his congratulations and gratitude for all the Boosters have done for the minor leaguers who have come through the system in the last seven years, and let him know in an e-mail message that the Brewers were extending their PDC with Huntsville........ The Brewers have also extended their relationship with Nashville, Brevard County, and Helena. Brevard got a four-year extension. At 9:00 AM on Tuesday, the Stars office will open for full season ticket holders to pick up their tickets to the playoffs. That's a part of the benefits season-ticket holders have. If they want additional tickets, they'll have to pay, but they get first crack....... The series against Chattanooga opens on Thursday at BellSouth Park. Game 2 is Friday, Game 3 is at the Joe on Saturday, with 4 and 5 if necessary at the Joe, Sunday and Monday....... Should the Stars advance to the Championship series, Games 1 and 2 would be at the Joe with dates and times yet to be determined.. If you haven't seen it, go to the standings page and see, in numbers, how the Stars made their miracle climb to the top in the Southern League: www.starsboxscore.com/standing.htm

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com/ WORST TO FIRSTSTARS CAP OFF GREATEST COMEBACK IN HISTORY It's the 1951 Giants, the 1967 Red Sox, the 1969 Mets and the 1973 Mets. It's all the miracles in baseball on a smaller stage. I hope this time, this moment, this season, will forever be remembered by the impassive community that is Huntsville toward their team as the year of the Stars' miracle comeback....... Certainly, their most ardent fans can never forget this 2006 season........ Ask anyone who comes to the ballpark and they'll tell you what it was like the first half -- the erstwhile feeling of doom even before the first pitch is thrown, and the constant stream of opportunities blown on the field when the bases were loaded or runners in scoring position, and the chances to take a lead that were never realized....... Fans will tell you of a team, rarely battered in games, that simply couldn't produce hits (the middle of the order could manage only a .211 average after 40 games) or score runs (2.73 per game in May)....... On June 22, Ryan Braun joind the team shortly after the 2nd half starts, but the Stars lose in 10 that night to Mobile, 8-7 in 10 innings. Three days later, Steve Hammond makes his debut with the Stars with a six-inning, three-hit effort won in the 9th inning, 1-0, on Lou Palmisano's two-out single to score Ron Acuna....... The next day, Yovani Gallardo makes his debut on the mound with seven scoreless innings, although the Stars lose 4-2. The Stars wake up in 5th place with a 3-5 record, but the three figures I've pointed to all along as being instrumental in this 2nd half success story are there. The Stars leave Birmingham on July 8th with an 8-12 record after Jorge de la Rosa beats the Barons, 8-1 for his first win in the third of six rehab starts, but Huntsville climbs now into 3rd for the first time.........Then they lose six of their next 10 games, and after an 8-2 loss at Five County Stadium on July 22nd, they're 11-18 and back into 5th place........ The pivotal game, I'd say, came there the next day when they beat the Mudcats, 3-2 in 10 innings. Travis Phelps survives a bases-loaded, none-out situation by striking out Patrick Arlis before Jon Acevas hits into a 4-6-3 double play, Callix Crabbe-to Guilder Rodriguez-to Jeff Eure, to end the game........ After that, the Stars were 28-7...... Phelps, who came in with a 4.26 ERA, registers his first save. (Since that time, Phelps has given up just three earned runs in 20 2/3 innings, a 1.31 ERA) On the emotional front though, it's a pair of 9-8 victories over the Chattanooga Lookouts on August 1-2, that mark the point, for me at least, where I thought, we can beat anyone now........ Corey Thurman, in a post-game interview, told Brett Pollock that one big reason for the 2nd half turnaround was the change in confidence level....... In both games, the Stars lost leads and had to come back in the 9th to win. That never happened in the first half. And at that moment, as you can see, the Stars found the confidence to win, and win they did indeed, going a record 22-5 in August......... After Friday night's division-clinching 6-5 victory, the Stars have won nine straight, their best winning streak since May 1992. About a dozen Huntsville fans, mostly Boosters, and members of the Stars office staff were in attendance at Hoover Met to witness the occasion......... The Birmingham Barons came in as a pretty battered team....... Thomas Collaro (11, 51, .213) and Ricardo Nanita (8, 42, .286) were both injured. Nanita was placed on the DL August 24. As a result, the Barons' outfield consisted of a catcher, Wally Roaa, playing out there for the first time and Stefan Gartrell skipping two levels of A ball to fill in after hitting .308 at Bristol (Appa.). Ryan Braun wasted no time getting the Stars in front after Steve Moss's leadoff single in the 1st inning. Braun blasted an 0-1 change-up high in the air to centerfield and over the 405' mark for a 2-0 lead. The Stars had a chance to pile on the damage after Brendan Katin singled, Brad Nelson walked, and Ron Acuna singled to load the bases, but Jeff Eure hit into a double play. The game became a see-saw affair after that...... Micah Schurstein's RBI single in the 4th made it 2-1 and in the 5th, the Barons went ahead, 4-2 with a three-run rally that was started when light-hitting Wally Rosa hit a 1-2 pitch for a double that went all the way to the warning track in left-center, scoring Stefan Gartrell, who had led off the inning with a single....... After Eric Hollis moved Rosa to third on a grounder, Corey Thurman tried to pick up Chris Getz's sacrifice bunt on the bare hand in front of the mound but could not, and it scored Rosa, putting the Barons in front, 3-2....... Getz stole second. Then with two out, Michael Myers, a 4-for-8 hitter against Thurman, grounded a single up the middle to score Getz to make it 4-2. But the Stars came back in the top of the inning to tie it back up, 4-4..... Brad Nelson drove Whisler's first pitch down the right field line toward the corner for a single. Ron Acuna sent him to third with a double to right on the first pitch he saw. Gartrell tried to make a diving catch, but in stretching out to make what nearly was a great catch, the ball got out of his glove and made its way to the wall....... After Jeff Eure struck out on a change, Lou Palmisano bounced a 1-0 pitch to the hole on the left side for a single, extending his hitting streak to a season-high six, and scoring Nelson........ Then with two out, Steve Moss knotted up the score with a double on a 2-1 pitch to Wally Rosa who made a long run for it in left, but the ball landed in front of him..... Callix Crabbe walked to load the bases, but Ryan Braun flied out on a long drive to right to end the inning....... At this point, the Stars had stranded eight runners. Gerrit Simpson came on in relief of Thurman in the 6th and quieted the Barons down, giving the Stars a chance to take the lead in the 7th with Dwayne Pollok now in relief for Birmingham....... Singles by Katin and Acuna set Jeff Eure up to make amends for hitting into a double play and striking out twice........ On a 1-for-20 slump, Eure bounced a timely double past a diving Myers at short, giving the Stars a 5-4 lead, his team-leading 54th RBI, but the Stars once more couldn't take advantage of the situation with Eure at 2nd and Acuna on 3rd. Palmisano and Chavez both grounded out to end the inning. Birmingham, of course, came back to tie the game in the bottom of the 8th........ With the bases loaded and one out, Chris Getz hit a ball to Ozzie Chavez that he could have caught on the fly, but Chavez risked everything on the double play by taking the ball on the hop, hoping he could get the double play, and retire Getz that way........ He didn't....... Getz, the team leader in stolen bases with 19, beat the relay to first and Stefan Gartrell scored to tie the game and eventually send it into extra innings, but all's well that ends' well. The Stars didn't rest on Saturday....... They went after the Barons, 11-1, in the first game of a double-header to make up for a July 28 rain-out, but lost the second game, 5-1, ending a 10-game winning streak --- the longest since July 1989. The record of 12, set in 1988, was also broken up by the Barons in a game that was televised. I still have the tape....... The game was not broadcast on ESPN-1450. I couldn't get it on Eyecentric, the Stars other internet link, nor could I pick the game up from the Barons' web site, so I can't tell you anymore about the game than you already know, unless you were there. But catcher Carlos Corporan made his Stars debut in the first game, hitting into a 2nd inning double play in his first at-bat in his new uniform. He did drive in a run in his next at-bat in a four-run 4th inning....... Corporan and pitcher Mike Jones joined the Stars on Friday after a chain reaction of events that started when the Brewers called up Dennis Sarfate and purchased the contract of Vinny Rottino from Nashville. In turn, the Stars sent Luther Hackman and J.C. Boscan to Nashville....... Rottino made his major league debut Friday, becoming the 162nd former Star to graduate to the majors. He appeared in the 9th inning, striking out as a pinch-hitter for Francisco Cordero....... Rottino appeared as a pinch-hitter Saturday night as well, hitting into a force to end the game, a 9-6 loss -- the 9th straight for the Brewers. Scott Martens, Business Manager for the Brewers' Minor League Operations and Development sent our Booster Club president Bill Billingsley his congratulations and gratitude for all the Boosters have done for the minor leaguers who have come through the system in the last seven years, and let him know in an e-mail message that the Brewers were extending their PDC with Huntsville........ The Brewers have also extended their relationship with Nashville, Brevard County, and Helena. Brevard got a four-year extension. At 9:00 AM on Tuesday, the Stars office will open for full season ticket holders to pick up their tickets to the playoffs. That's a part of the benefits season-ticket holders have. If they want additional tickets, they'll have to pay, but they get first crack....... The series against Chattanooga opens on Thursday at BellSouth Park. Game 2 is Friday, Game 3 is at the Joe on Saturday, with 4 and 5 if necessary at the Joe, Sunday and Monday....... Should the Stars advance to the Championship series, Games 1 and 2 would be at the Joe with dates and times yet to be determined.. If you haven't seen it, go to the standings page and see, in numbers, how the Stars made their miracle climb to the top in the Southern League: www.starsboxscore.com/standing.htm

Link, text follows: www.azcentral.com/arizona...s0903.html Former scout hired to fill void left by Rizzo Nick Piecoro The Arizona Republic WASHINGTON - Tom Allison was raised in Alaska, attended college in California, spent a few years scouting for the New York Mets in the southwest and seven more years with the Milwaukee Brewers living in Austin, Texas. "I've been a baseball gypsy," he said. But he had never met Josh Byrnes before interviewing for the Diamondbacks' scouting director's position. Now the two will be working side by side as Allison was named the club's new director of scouting Saturday. Allison, 38, was one of nine candidates interviewed and replaces Mike Rizzo, who in July accepted a position as assistant general manager of the Washington Nationals. "It was a very difficult decision," Byrnes said. "But we feel we found the right guy to keep this department moving in the right direction, as it has been for a long time." Allison made it far as Triple-A for the Mets before retiring as a player and taking a job as an assistant in New York's scouting department in 1994. The past seven years Allison was one of two national cross-checkers for Milwaukee, helping the Brewers replenish their farm system with players such as Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy and Prince Fielder. "He'll be absolutely terrific," Brewers scouting director Jack Zduriencik said. "I thought it was only a matter of time before somebody gave him an opportunity. Josh has a good one there." Allison said his first order of business will be to touch base with everyone in the Diamondbacks scouting department. "They have a staff in place that should be thoroughly commended on the job they've done," Allison said.

Link while active, text follows: www.floridatoday.com/apps...061/SPORTS Manatees, Brewers agree on four-year deal FSL season ends for Brevard today Scott Brown, Florida Today Roughly 3,500 tosses into the Brevard County Manatees' attempt Saturday to reclaim the world record for most pregame first pitches thrown, general manager Buck Rogers reflected on the team's first season under private ownership. Rogers talked excitedly about what is ahead for the Class A minor-league team based in Viera. First and foremost, Rogers said, the Manatees, who play their final game of the season this afternoon against the visiting Daytona Cubs, aren't going anywhere. That appears to be true on several fronts. The Manatees recently signed a four-year professional development contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, their parent club. The significance of this is that contracts between major-league organizations and minor-league teams generally run two years. The new agreement reflects a strong relationship between the Brewers and Manatees, and cooperation between the Manatees and Washington Nationals also appears to be good. The Nationals have new ownership, and representatives of that group have met with the Manatees, who now are owned by a group headed by Tom Winters, an Orlando-area physician. The two sides have had positive discussions about continuing what is certainly a unique situation: the Nationals training here in the spring but having their high Class A team based somewhere else, while another organization's high-A squad plays at Space Coast Stadium. "We're going to be at Space Coast Stadium for years into the future," Rogers said. That is a good thing for all of Brevard County, since minor- league baseball offers family-friendly entertainment and a chance to see future big-leaguers. Former Manatees who have made it to the majors include Edgar Renteria, Scott Podsednik, Kevin Millar, Ryan Dempster, Josh Beckett and Chad Cordero. Yovani Gallardo, a pitcher who opened the season with Brevard County, is sure to join that list sometime soon. Gallardo helped the Manatees win 10 of their first 11 games this season. That torrid start worked against Brevard County to some degree, as a bunch of key players, including Gallardo, earned early promotions. By the end of July, only one starting pitcher (Josh Wahpepah) who opened the season with the Manatees still was with the team. Brevard County did make a run at the Florida State League East Division title in the first half of the season. But the Manatees' late playoff push in the second half was blunted by bad weather. The Manatees, who took a five-game winning streak into Saturday's doubleheader, had four home games canceled this past week because of rain. "Everything was rolling until Mother Nature gave us a swift kick," Rogers said. Still, Rogers called the season a success. "We hate to see it end," he said.

Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Playoffs still eluding Sounds By JESSICA HOPP Tennessean Staff Writer Baseball typically reflects the three-strikes-and-you're-out rule. Lucky for the Sounds that rule didn't apply Saturday night. After failing in its third attempt to clinch the American Conference Northern Division title with a 14-3 loss to Round Rock in front of 6,436 fans at Greer Stadium, Nashville has not yet lost its chance at the playoffs. A win in either of its two final games, including one tonight at 6:00 PM against Round Rock, will advance Nashville to the postseason. Additionally, if Iowa ? which trails the Sounds by one game ? loses either of its last two games, Nashville advances. However, even with its playoff hopes still alive, the loss still stung. The 11-run difference was the Sounds' largest margin of defeat in more than three years. Nashville suffered a 16-2 loss against Oklahoma on Aug. 19, 2003. "We just have to go out and get the job done," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. After allowing just two seven-run innings all season, the Sounds gave up two back-to-back on Saturday. The damage began in the second when Sounds pitcher Dana Eveland (6-5), one of the team's most successful starters, hit three batters, walked three others and gave up two hits, allowing six Round Rock runs. Eveland was replaced by Jared Fernandez, who allowed an RBI single by Eric Munson before retiring the side with Round Rock holding a 7-0 advantage. The third inning didn't turn out much better as Round Rock hit three consecutive two-out doubles, followed by a home run by Hector Gimenez, which gave Round Rock a 14-0 lead. A single by Sounds second baseman Zach Sorensen in the fourth put Nashville on the board, driving in Drew Anderson. Anderson followed that with an RBI double in the fifth, scoring Chris Barnwell to make the score 14-2. Nashville scored one more in the eighth off an RBI single by newly acquired catcher J.C. Boscan. What they said: "They just found some holes and hit the ball decent. That usually happens when you get a big lead.'' ? Kremblas. ***Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Eveland misses qualifying for ERA leaders By JESSICA HOPP Tennessean Staff Writer Dana Eveland had a chance Saturday night to work himself onto the Pacific Coast League leaderboard and officially show the rest of the league his success as a starter. Unfortunately, it wasn't his night. In Eveland's shortest start of the year, the lefty hit three batters, walked three more and allowed six runs in the 14-3 loss to Round Rock. He was pulled after 1 2/3 innings. "Dana just lost his command," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "Unfortunately he couldn't get it back." As a result, Eveland will miss his chance at showing up in the league rankings because he has not pitched enough innings. He made five starts and had four relief outings with the Brewers, keeping his Triple-A inning count low. Had he pitched five innings at Greer Saturday, Eveland would likely have had enough innings ? getting to 112 for the season. Heading into Saturday night, Eveland led the Sounds with a 2.18 ERA in 18 starts. He had produced six quality starts in his last eight outings, including victories in his last three trips to the mound. Ouch: Hitting so many batters was unusual, but not unprecedented for Eveland. In 17 of his previous 18 starts he hit a total of three batters. The other start ? an Aug. 7 game at Sacramento ? Eveland hit three batters but didn't allow any runs. Streaks: With a single in the fourth inning, Sounds first baseman Graham Koonce extended his hitting streak to a season-best six games. On the flip side, Tony Gwynn ended a 12-game hitting streak going 0-for-4 Saturday night. Boscan behind the plate: J.C. Boscan made his debut for the Sounds on Saturday night as the starting catcher. He was 2-for-4, with a ground rule double in the sixth and an RBI single in the eighth. The 26-year-old, who was called up on Friday to help replace reliever Dennis Sarfate and utility man Vinny Rottino, had been in Huntsville since the start of this season where he hit .194 with no home runs and 14 RBI in 43 games. He also threw out 17 of 50 runners attempting to steal (34 percent). Iowa stays in it: With a 8-2 win at Omaha Saturday, Iowa didn't do Nashville any favors. The Cubs now trail the Sounds by one game in the American Conference North Division with two games remaining in the season. The only way for Iowa to pass Nashville in the standings is if the Sounds lose the final two games and Iowa wins both their games. Iowa plays Omaha again at 1:30 PM today. With the Sounds magic number remaining at one, a loss by the Cubs will give Nashville the title.

Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Playoffs still eluding Sounds By JESSICA HOPP Tennessean Staff Writer Baseball typically reflects the three-strikes-and-you're-out rule. Lucky for the Sounds that rule didn't apply Saturday night. After failing in its third attempt to clinch the American Conference Northern Division title with a 14-3 loss to Round Rock in front of 6,436 fans at Greer Stadium, Nashville has not yet lost its chance at the playoffs. A win in either of its two final games, including one tonight at 6:00 PM against Round Rock, will advance Nashville to the postseason. Additionally, if Iowa ? which trails the Sounds by one game ? loses either of its last two games, Nashville advances. However, even with its playoff hopes still alive, the loss still stung. The 11-run difference was the Sounds' largest margin of defeat in more than three years. Nashville suffered a 16-2 loss against Oklahoma on Aug. 19, 2003. "We just have to go out and get the job done," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. After allowing just two seven-run innings all season, the Sounds gave up two back-to-back on Saturday. The damage began in the second when Sounds pitcher Dana Eveland (6-5), one of the team's most successful starters, hit three batters, walked three others and gave up two hits, allowing six Round Rock runs. Eveland was replaced by Jared Fernandez, who allowed an RBI single by Eric Munson before retiring the side with Round Rock holding a 7-0 advantage. The third inning didn't turn out much better as Round Rock hit three consecutive two-out doubles, followed by a home run by Hector Gimenez, which gave Round Rock a 14-0 lead. A single by Sounds second baseman Zach Sorensen in the fourth put Nashville on the board, driving in Drew Anderson. Anderson followed that with an RBI double in the fifth, scoring Chris Barnwell to make the score 14-2. Nashville scored one more in the eighth off an RBI single by newly acquired catcher J.C. Boscan. What they said: "They just found some holes and hit the ball decent. That usually happens when you get a big lead.'' ? Kremblas. ***Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Eveland misses qualifying for ERA leaders By JESSICA HOPP Tennessean Staff Writer Dana Eveland had a chance Saturday night to work himself onto the Pacific Coast League leaderboard and officially show the rest of the league his success as a starter. Unfortunately, it wasn't his night. In Eveland's shortest start of the year, the lefty hit three batters, walked three more and allowed six runs in the 14-3 loss to Round Rock. He was pulled after 1 2/3 innings. "Dana just lost his command," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "Unfortunately he couldn't get it back." As a result, Eveland will miss his chance at showing up in the league rankings because he has not pitched enough innings. He made five starts and had four relief outings with the Brewers, keeping his Triple-A inning count low. Had he pitched five innings at Greer Saturday, Eveland would likely have had enough innings ? getting to 112 for the season. Heading into Saturday night, Eveland led the Sounds with a 2.18 ERA in 18 starts. He had produced six quality starts in his last eight outings, including victories in his last three trips to the mound. Ouch: Hitting so many batters was unusual, but not unprecedented for Eveland. In 17 of his previous 18 starts he hit a total of three batters. The other start ? an Aug. 7 game at Sacramento ? Eveland hit three batters but didn't allow any runs. Streaks: With a single in the fourth inning, Sounds first baseman Graham Koonce extended his hitting streak to a season-best six games. On the flip side, Tony Gwynn ended a 12-game hitting streak going 0-for-4 Saturday night. Boscan behind the plate: J.C. Boscan made his debut for the Sounds on Saturday night as the starting catcher. He was 2-for-4, with a ground rule double in the sixth and an RBI single in the eighth. The 26-year-old, who was called up on Friday to help replace reliever Dennis Sarfate and utility man Vinny Rottino, had been in Huntsville since the start of this season where he hit .194 with no home runs and 14 RBI in 43 games. He also threw out 17 of 50 runners attempting to steal (34 percent). Iowa stays in it: With a 8-2 win at Omaha Saturday, Iowa didn't do Nashville any favors. The Cubs now trail the Sounds by one game in the American Conference North Division with two games remaining in the season. The only way for Iowa to pass Nashville in the standings is if the Sounds lose the final two games and Iowa wins both their games. Iowa plays Omaha again at 1:30 PM today. With the Sounds magic number remaining at one, a loss by the Cubs will give Nashville the title.

What a mess for Manatees' management -- the promised fireworks were to be "spectacular"... Brevard County Site: The Brevard County Manatees scheduled 6:00 PM doubleheader on Saturday, September 2nd was postponed due to downpours and flooding of the outfield. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, September 3rd beginning at 12:00 PM (11:00 AM Central). The fireworks will not be made up due to the final game being in the afternoon. Fans can still enjoy baseball though, because anyone holding a ticket for the Saturday night game can use that ticket for admission to the noon doubleheader on Sunday. September 3rd is the final game of the 2006 Manatees season and this is the last chance for fans to use any rain-out stamped tickets or tickets which were dated for a rain-out game during the season.

What a mess for Manatees' management -- the promised fireworks were to be "spectacular"... Brevard County Site: The Brevard County Manatees scheduled 6:00 PM doubleheader on Saturday, September 2nd was postponed due to downpours and flooding of the outfield. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, September 3rd beginning at 12:00 PM (11:00 AM Central). The fireworks will not be made up due to the final game being in the afternoon. Fans can still enjoy baseball though, because anyone holding a ticket for the Saturday night game can use that ticket for admission to the noon doubleheader on Sunday. September 3rd is the final game of the 2006 Manatees season and this is the last chance for fans to use any rain-out stamped tickets or tickets which were dated for a rain-out game during the season.

Reid Nichols Interview, Part Three: OF's Lorenzo Cain and Darren Ford, RHP Robert Hinton, and LHP Joe Thatcher will be the club's four representatives in the brand new Hawaii Fall League, which is described as the Arizona Fall League for advanced-A ball. Where do I sign up for that duty? media.620wtmj.com/Desktop...ewsid=2874

Final: Helena 12, Billings (Reds) 3 MiLB.com Game Summary: Brewers batter Mustangs Andy Bouchie hit a grand slam and drove in a season-high five runs to power visiting Helena to a 12-3 victory over Billings on Saturday. The Brewers (19-14) scored seven times in the sixth to extend their lead to 12-1. Stephen Chapman delivered an RBI single, Cole Gillespie was hit by a pitch to force in a run and Bill Rowe drew a bases-loaded walk. Bouchie capped the inning with his sixth homer. Bouchie also plated a run with a groundout in the fourth. Gillespie slugged a solo shot in the fourth, while Chapman went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Helena starter Roque Mercedes (5-4) pitched six strong innings to get the win, yielding one run on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Mustangs starter Jordan Smith (6-3) was charged with five runs -- three earned -- on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 4 2/3 frames. Drew Stubbs crushed a solo shot in the first and Angel Colon homered in the ninth for the Mustangs (23-10), who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Their magic number for clinching the Pioneer League North Division title remained two. -- Eric Justic/MLB.com ***Link while active, text follows: www.billingsgazette.net/a...ponies.txt Helena slams Ponies Brewers end Billings 4-game win streak with 12-3 victory By MIKE SCHERTING Of The Billings Gazette Staff There's no way to soft sell what happened Saturday night at Cobb Field. Off to a good start when Drew Stubbs led off the home half of the first inning with a home run, the Billings Mustangs eventually absorbed one of their worst defeats of the season, losing 12-3 to the Helena Brewers to snap a four-game win streak. Helena scored two runs in the fourth, three runs in the fifth and then in the sixth it got really ugly: Helena's first seven batters scored, including four on a grand slam by Andy Bouchie, who knocked Misael DeJesus's 0-2 pitch deep over the left-field fence. "It's just one of those things tonight, we got whacked around," Mustangs manager Rick Burleson said. "They flat out-played us tonight." Brewers starter Roque Mercedes was solid after allowing Stubbs' lead-off homer. Mercedes (5-4) gave up just three hits in six innings and he struck out five. After Ryan Brown hit a bloop two-out double in the second inning, Mercedes retired 13 of the last 15 batters he faced. Facing the 11-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth, Burleson started to empty his bench, using three pinch-hitters in the bottom of the sixth to try and spark the Mustangs' offense. "Tonight, that guy did his job," Mustangs first baseman Logan Parker said, tipping his cap to Mercedes. "He was in and out, located his fastball, kept everything down. That was the main point from him. He never really elevated, got us anything good to hit. We made a couple first-pitch outs, myself included. We maybe chased a couple balls, but that guy did a really good job tonight, kept the ball down." The same couldn't be said for the first two Mustangs pitchers. Jordan Smith (6-3) allowed five runs, three of them earned, in 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out four before giving way to DeJesus. DeJesus struck out the only batter he faced in the fifth, but he fell apart in the sixth. Brad Miller led off the inning with a single, and six batters later DeJesus was walking back to the dugout after Bouchie's grand slam without getting an out. "We're pitching up in the zone too much and we're not making the pitches right now that we made all year," Burleson said. "When that happens you get whacked around." Both Smith and DeJesus overthrew first base on sacrifice bunt attempts by Taylor Green. Both times Green eventually came around to score. James Morris threw three innings of shutout relief and Adam Pointer threw a scoreless eight. Meanwhile, Juan Francisco contributed an RBI double and Angel Colon a solo home run in the ninth to provide at least a few Mustangs highlights. Just five games remain in the regular season. The Brewers have won six of their last seven games. "(The Brewers) have been playing good ball, I mean they're 19-14 (in the second half of the season," Burleson said. "They turned their season around the second half over there. They basically have played pretty solid baseball, the same as Missoula." NOTES: The loss was the first at Cobb Field in 12 games for the Mustangs, who are now 13-3 at home in the second half. Overall, the Mustangs are 23-10. ... Burleson used 15 position players during the game. ... Cole Gillespie also homered for the Brewers. ... The Mustangs collected just six hits off three Helena pitchers. ... The teams wrap up their regular-season series today at 4:00 PM (5:00 Central). The Mustangs lead the series 10-5. Helena Box Score and Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

Final: Helena 12, Billings (Reds) 3 MiLB.com Game Summary: Brewers batter Mustangs Andy Bouchie hit a grand slam and drove in a season-high five runs to power visiting Helena to a 12-3 victory over Billings on Saturday. The Brewers (19-14) scored seven times in the sixth to extend their lead to 12-1. Stephen Chapman delivered an RBI single, Cole Gillespie was hit by a pitch to force in a run and Bill Rowe drew a bases-loaded walk. Bouchie capped the inning with his sixth homer. Bouchie also plated a run with a groundout in the fourth. Gillespie slugged a solo shot in the fourth, while Chapman went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Helena starter Roque Mercedes (5-4) pitched six strong innings to get the win, yielding one run on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Mustangs starter Jordan Smith (6-3) was charged with five runs -- three earned -- on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 4 2/3 frames. Drew Stubbs crushed a solo shot in the first and Angel Colon homered in the ninth for the Mustangs (23-10), who had a four-game winning streak snapped. Their magic number for clinching the Pioneer League North Division title remained two. -- Eric Justic/MLB.com ***Link while active, text follows: www.billingsgazette.net/a...ponies.txt Helena slams Ponies Brewers end Billings 4-game win streak with 12-3 victory By MIKE SCHERTING Of The Billings Gazette Staff There's no way to soft sell what happened Saturday night at Cobb Field. Off to a good start when Drew Stubbs led off the home half of the first inning with a home run, the Billings Mustangs eventually absorbed one of their worst defeats of the season, losing 12-3 to the Helena Brewers to snap a four-game win streak. Helena scored two runs in the fourth, three runs in the fifth and then in the sixth it got really ugly: Helena's first seven batters scored, including four on a grand slam by Andy Bouchie, who knocked Misael DeJesus's 0-2 pitch deep over the left-field fence. "It's just one of those things tonight, we got whacked around," Mustangs manager Rick Burleson said. "They flat out-played us tonight." Brewers starter Roque Mercedes was solid after allowing Stubbs' lead-off homer. Mercedes (5-4) gave up just three hits in six innings and he struck out five. After Ryan Brown hit a bloop two-out double in the second inning, Mercedes retired 13 of the last 15 batters he faced. Facing the 11-run deficit in the bottom of the sixth, Burleson started to empty his bench, using three pinch-hitters in the bottom of the sixth to try and spark the Mustangs' offense. "Tonight, that guy did his job," Mustangs first baseman Logan Parker said, tipping his cap to Mercedes. "He was in and out, located his fastball, kept everything down. That was the main point from him. He never really elevated, got us anything good to hit. We made a couple first-pitch outs, myself included. We maybe chased a couple balls, but that guy did a really good job tonight, kept the ball down." The same couldn't be said for the first two Mustangs pitchers. Jordan Smith (6-3) allowed five runs, three of them earned, in 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out four before giving way to DeJesus. DeJesus struck out the only batter he faced in the fifth, but he fell apart in the sixth. Brad Miller led off the inning with a single, and six batters later DeJesus was walking back to the dugout after Bouchie's grand slam without getting an out. "We're pitching up in the zone too much and we're not making the pitches right now that we made all year," Burleson said. "When that happens you get whacked around." Both Smith and DeJesus overthrew first base on sacrifice bunt attempts by Taylor Green. Both times Green eventually came around to score. James Morris threw three innings of shutout relief and Adam Pointer threw a scoreless eight. Meanwhile, Juan Francisco contributed an RBI double and Angel Colon a solo home run in the ninth to provide at least a few Mustangs highlights. Just five games remain in the regular season. The Brewers have won six of their last seven games. "(The Brewers) have been playing good ball, I mean they're 19-14 (in the second half of the season," Burleson said. "They turned their season around the second half over there. They basically have played pretty solid baseball, the same as Missoula." NOTES: The loss was the first at Cobb Field in 12 games for the Mustangs, who are now 13-3 at home in the second half. Overall, the Mustangs are 23-10. ... Burleson used 15 position players during the game. ... Cole Gillespie also homered for the Brewers. ... The Mustangs collected just six hits off three Helena pitchers. ... The teams wrap up their regular-season series today at 4:00 PM (5:00 Central). The Mustangs lead the series 10-5. Helena Box Score and Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

Brevard County Press Release: Manatees Sign for Four Years with the Brew Crew The Milwaukee Brewers renew their Player Development Contract with the Brevard County Manatees until 2010 Dr. Tom Winters, owner of the Brevard County Manatees signed a four-year Player Development Contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. The new PDC ensures that the Manatees will be a Brewer's affiliate until 2010. This exciting agreement ensures fans will have the opportunity to see some of Milwaukee's best prospects play on the field at Space Coast Stadium for years to come. The four-year PDC is one of only a few in Minor League Baseball. The minimum, two-year contract is what most Major League clubs sign with their farm teams. The four-year contract demonstrates that an affiliate is happy with the facilities, staff and treatment of their minor league players. Winters said, "We have really enjoyed watching our players develop in one of the best farm systems in baseball. Central Florida Baseball Group appreciates very much the good faith commitment of the Brewers to extend a long term working relationship to the Manatees. We are proud to be part of the Brewers family." The Brevard County Manatees signed as the Brewers Affiliate in 2004 after the Washington Nationals moved their team to Potomac. In the last two seasons, Major Leaguers such as Ty Taubenheim, now with the Blue Jays; top prospects, such as Yovani Gallardo, a Futures Game All-Star; and First Round Draft Picks, such as Ryan Braun and Mark Rogers have played in a Manatees uniform. Fans will now have the opportunity to see many more of the Brewers best farm hands display their skills on the field for years to come. General Manager Buck Rogers said about the signing, "The Brewers are a first class organization to work for and I am thrilled that we have a guaranteed four years as their affiliate."

Standings through Friday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 75 66 .532 - 41-28 34-38 L2[/b] Iowa 73 68 .518 2.0 43-28 30-40 W1 Memphis 57 84 .404 18.0 34-39 23-45 L1 Omaha 53 88 .376 22.0 31-38 22-50 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Huntsville 40 25 .615 - 21-12 19-13 W9[/b] Chattanooga 37 30 .552 4.0 20-15 17-15 W2 Tennessee 36 31 .537 5.0 19-13 17-18 W1 West Tenn 29 38 .433 12.0 19-13 10-25 L10 Carolina 27 39 .409 13.5 19-12 8-27 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 36 27 .571 - 20-11 16-16 W2 St. Lucie 36 30 .545 1.5 19-15 17-15 W2 Daytona 35 30 .538 2.0 24-15 11-15 L3 [b]Brevard County 28 33 .459 7.0 13-13 15-20 W5[/b] Vero Beach 23 37 .383 11.5 14-16 9-21 L1 Jupiter 22 42 .344 14.5 12-20 10-22 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 45 21 .682 - 24-7 21-14 W1 [b]West Virginia 35 30 .538 9.5 21-12 14-18 W1[/b] Lake County 33 31 .516 11.0 17-16 16-15 W1 Greensboro 32 32 .500 12.0 16-18 16-14 L1 Hickory 32 34 .485 13.0 15-20 17-14 L2 Lexington 28 38 .424 17.0 18-14 10-24 W2 Delmarva 27 38 .415 17.5 17-16 10-22 L1 Hagerstown 26 40 .394 19.0 14-19 12-21 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 23 9 .719 - 13-2 10-7 W4 Missoula 20 12 .625 3.0 12-5 8-7 W3 [b]Helena 18 14 .563 5.0 11-6 7-8 L1[/b] Great Falls 8 24 .250 15.0 6-9 2-15 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 19 8 .704 - 6-3 13-5 W1 AZL Royals 19 9 .679 0.5 9-6 10-3 W2 AZL Padres 18 9 .667 1.0 11-4 7-5 L1 AZL Giants 16 11 .593 3.0 8-6 8-5 L1 AZL Athletics 14 13 .519 5.0 10-4 4-9 W3 AZL Cubs 11 16 .407 8.0 4-9 7-7 L2 AZL Mariners 11 16 .407 8.0 8-6 3-10 L3 AZL Rangers 8 20 .286 11.5 6-9 2-11 L4 [b]AZL Brewers 7 21 .250 12.5 5-9 2-12 W2[/b]

Standings through Friday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 75 66 .532 - 41-28 34-38 L2[/b] Iowa 73 68 .518 2.0 43-28 30-40 W1 Memphis 57 84 .404 18.0 34-39 23-45 L1 Omaha 53 88 .376 22.0 31-38 22-50 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Huntsville 40 25 .615 - 21-12 19-13 W9[/b] Chattanooga 37 30 .552 4.0 20-15 17-15 W2 Tennessee 36 31 .537 5.0 19-13 17-18 W1 West Tenn 29 38 .433 12.0 19-13 10-25 L10 Carolina 27 39 .409 13.5 19-12 8-27 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 36 27 .571 - 20-11 16-16 W2 St. Lucie 36 30 .545 1.5 19-15 17-15 W2 Daytona 35 30 .538 2.0 24-15 11-15 L3 [b]Brevard County 28 33 .459 7.0 13-13 15-20 W5[/b] Vero Beach 23 37 .383 11.5 14-16 9-21 L1 Jupiter 22 42 .344 14.5 12-20 10-22 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 45 21 .682 - 24-7 21-14 W1 [b]West Virginia 35 30 .538 9.5 21-12 14-18 W1[/b] Lake County 33 31 .516 11.0 17-16 16-15 W1 Greensboro 32 32 .500 12.0 16-18 16-14 L1 Hickory 32 34 .485 13.0 15-20 17-14 L2 Lexington 28 38 .424 17.0 18-14 10-24 W2 Delmarva 27 38 .415 17.5 17-16 10-22 L1 Hagerstown 26 40 .394 19.0 14-19 12-21 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 23 9 .719 - 13-2 10-7 W4 Missoula 20 12 .625 3.0 12-5 8-7 W3 [b]Helena 18 14 .563 5.0 11-6 7-8 L1[/b] Great Falls 8 24 .250 15.0 6-9 2-15 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 19 8 .704 - 6-3 13-5 W1 AZL Royals 19 9 .679 0.5 9-6 10-3 W2 AZL Padres 18 9 .667 1.0 11-4 7-5 L1 AZL Giants 16 11 .593 3.0 8-6 8-5 L1 AZL Athletics 14 13 .519 5.0 10-4 4-9 W3 AZL Cubs 11 16 .407 8.0 4-9 7-7 L2 AZL Mariners 11 16 .407 8.0 8-6 3-10 L3 AZL Rangers 8 20 .286 11.5 6-9 2-11 L4 [b]AZL Brewers 7 21 .250 12.5 5-9 2-12 W2[/b]

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated an hour or two prior to gametime: Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf Following Nashville's lead, Huntsville now makes its media notes available as well, nice: www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf NOTE: Huntsville notes haven't been updated as of this post since 8/24...

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated an hour or two prior to gametime: Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf Following Nashville's lead, Huntsville now makes its media notes available as well, nice: www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf NOTE: Huntsville notes haven't been updated as of this post since 8/24...

Follow Saturday'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_nasaaa_1 Huntsville Game One: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_1 Huntsville Game Two: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_2 Brevard County Game One: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1 Brevard County Game Two: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_2 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hicafx_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

Follow Saturday'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_nasaaa_1 Huntsville Game One: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_1 Huntsville Game Two: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_2 Brevard County Game One: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1 Brevard County Game Two: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_2 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hicafx_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

Saturday's Daily Menu: Happy and safe Labor Day weekend to all! All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Dana Eveland at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 5:40 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: TBD (times two) in a doubleheader at Birmingham (White Sox), 4:50 PM pre-game, 5:05 gametime; how will this 12-man staff staff be guided over 14 innings today, games Sunday and Monday, and then properly set up for the Chattanooga playoff series -- we'll see... Audio link: www.espn1450radio.com/ Brevard County: TBD (times two) at home in a double-dip vs. Daytona (Cubs), 5:00 PM -- TBD is busy today... Audio link (opponent's) -- www.daytonacubs.com/ West Virginia: LHP Brandon Parillo at Hickory (Pirates), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: RHP Roque Mercedes at Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Audio (click on "Listen Live"): www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php Arizona: Season completed

Saturday's Daily Menu: Happy and safe Labor Day weekend to all! All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Dana Eveland at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 5:40 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: TBD (times two) in a doubleheader at Birmingham (White Sox), 4:50 PM pre-game, 5:05 gametime; how will this 12-man staff staff be guided over 14 innings today, games Sunday and Monday, and then properly set up for the Chattanooga playoff series -- we'll see... Audio link: www.espn1450radio.com/ Brevard County: TBD (times two) at home in a double-dip vs. Daytona (Cubs), 5:00 PM -- TBD is busy today... Audio link (opponent's) -- www.daytonacubs.com/ West Virginia: LHP Brandon Parillo at Hickory (Pirates), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: RHP Roque Mercedes at Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Audio (click on "Listen Live"): www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php Arizona: Season completed

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Link while active, text follows: www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?fu...ryid=13681 Power will be back but maybe not with Brewers Story by Nicole Ward Fans who came out for the Power's last game of the season thought Mother Nature could have been a bit more gracious. "Oh yeah. I wanted to see them off tonight. They've given us a great season this year," said Charles Nichols, in the pouring rain outside Power Alley Grill. Nichols and his wife Karen came to 15 games this summer. Said Karen, "My daughter came with us when she was in from Houston and she was very impressed with the park -- she compared it to Minute Maid Park -- so that's a big compliment." Appalachian Power Park is becoming a crowd pleaser -- due in no small part to the major league team the Power is affiliated with, said General Manager Andy Milovich. "We've been happy with the Brewers -- we've had a great two years." But now it's time to look at whether to re-sign with each other -- or look for new affiliates. "You can re-up with the team you're currently with at any point during the season and then in September -- the first two weeks you can explore other teams -- the last two weeks you can sign contracts," explained Milovich. Milovich would not say whether the Power is looking to sign with other teams or not. But he does say they own the rights to a South Atlantic league franchise. So you can expect to see more baseball here for at least 18 more seasons. "There's no worries that the West Virginia Power won't be here." Good news for people like the Nichols.

Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Carlos Villanueva photo, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2139 Sounds Lose Heartbreaker To Express, 7-5 NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Carlos Villanueva carried a perfect game and a 5-0 lead into the eighth inning on Friday evening at Greer Stadium before the Round Rock Express shocked the Sounds by scoring seven runs over the final two innings of play to steal a 7-5 victory over Nashville in the opener of a four-game series. With the loss, Nashville (75-66) was forced to keep the champagne on ice for one more day as the second-place Iowa Cubs were also victorious on the evening (3-2 over Omaha), leaving the Sounds? magic number at one and reducing the lead in the American Conference Northern Division to two games with three to play. Villanueva, who retired the first 21 Express batters in order, was left with a no-decision after allowing two runs on two hits and striking out a season-high nine batters in the outing. Nashville entered the ninth holding a 5-2 lead as the bullpen was summoned to finish off a potential pennant-clinching victory. Chris Demaria relieved Villanueva and retired the first batter before running into trouble. Mike Rodriguez laced a triple to the base of the wall in center and scored one batter later on a groundout to make it a 5-3 contest. Brooks Conrad followed with a double off the right field wall to chase Demaria. Alec Zumwalt took over on the hill and was greeted by an RBI single off the bat of former Sound J.R. House to make it a one-run contest at 5-4. The Express rallied continued when the right-hander served up back-to-back home runs to Eric Munson, whose two-run shot improbably put the visitors on top, and Brian Gordon. Munson?s blast was his second of the contest and also his second of the season for Round Rock. Gordon's roundtripper was his 16th of the campaign. Zumwalt (0-3) was saddled with the loss after suffering his fourth blown save of the season. He allowed three runs on three hits while recording only one out. The last at-bat loss marked the 18th time that an opponent recorded a victory in its last at-bat against the Sounds and only the fourth time that Nashville suffered a defeat in a game it led after eight innings of play. The Sounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Express starter Taylor Buchholz. Tony Gwynn led off with a single to left that extended his hitting streak to 12 games, matching his longest of the year. After he stole second for his 30th theft of the campaign and advanced to third on a passed ball, Gwynn scored the game?s first run on Chris Barnwell?s RBI single. Neither team scored again until the bottom of the sixth when the Sounds plated three two-out runs to up the lead to 4-0. After the first two men were retired, Nashville loaded the bases with two outs against Buchholz on a Graham Koonce single and a pair of walks to Andrew Beattie and Jermaine Clark. The home team then unloaded them on Zach Sorensen?s two-run single to left coupled with a throwing error by Brian Gordon that allowed Clark to score from first on the play. AUDIO: Sorensen's Bases-Clearing Single -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%209-1.mp3 With his sixth-inning single, Koonce extended his hitting streak to five games, matching his longest of the season. Brent Abernathy pushed the Nashville lead to 5-0 in the seventh with a two-out RBI single to right off Express reliever Mike Gallo that scored Barnwell, who had reached with a two-out single of his own. Villanueva retired the first 21 Round Rock batters in order before House, who played in Music City in 2004, broke up the perfect game with a clean leadoff single to center to open the eighth. The crowd at Greer Stadium responded with an impromptu extended standing ovation saluting the right-hander?s effort. The following batter, Munson, ended the shutout bid with one swing of the bat. The catcher slugged a two-run homer to right, his first of the year, to make it a 5-2 game. Gallo (2-0) was the beneficiary of the late Round Rock heroics, earning the win after allowing one run in his two frames of work. Travis Driskill worked a perfect ninth to notch his 15th save of the year. The Sounds will try to lock up the division title against Saturday when the teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. meeting at Greer. Left-hander Dana Eveland (6-4, 2.18) will make the start for Nashville and face Round Rock right-hander Jared Gothreaux (8-9, 4.37). ***Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Sounds perfect game blown By MIKE ORGAN Tennessean Staff Writer A perfect game turned into a perfect mess for the Sounds. Nashville's Carlos Villanueva had pitched a perfect game Friday night before giving up two hits and two runs in the eighth inning. Villanueva, who recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts, retired the first 21 batters and had a five-run lead heading into the eighth inning. But Round Rock staged a furious rally, scoring seven runs, including five in the ninth, to claim a 7-5 win, which stunned a Greer Stadium crowd of 4,911. The loss prevented Nashville from clinching its second consecutive American Conference Northern Division title and a playoff berth. By virtue of Iowa's 3-2 win Friday over Omaha, the magic number for the Sounds (75-66) to earn a playoff berth remains at one with three games remaining. "We just made bad pitches, missing the middle of the plate,'' said Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas. "That's what happens. You've got to make pitches at that time.'' The poor pitching performance was a combined effort of Chris Demaria and Alec Zumwalt, who replaced Villanueva. Demaria pitched to four batters. He got two outs in the ninth, but Mike Rodriguez hit a triple and Brooks Conrad had a double. Alec Zumwalt then replaced Demaria and gave up a single to J.R. House, which scored Brooks Conrad and closed the gap to 5-4. Eric Munson gave the Express a 6-5 lead with a two-run homer. Brian Gordon added a solo homer. Travis Driskill got the save by retiring the side in the ninth. "It's really disappointing, but in a team way,'' said Villanueva, who had suffered his first AAA loss last Sunday in Memphis. "We really wanted it today. I tried to do my part the best that I could. This was just one of those days. Zumwalt has been so reliable all year. You just pat him on the back and he'll have our back tomorrow.'' ***Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Rottino, Sarfate join Milwaukee By MIKE ORGAN Tennessean Staff Writer The Sounds lost a pair of players Friday when major league rosters were expanded. Reliever Dennis Sarfate was recalled and utility man Vinny Rottino had his contract purchased by Milwaukee. Both will make their major league debuts with their first appearances with the Brewers. Rottino was eighth in the Pacific Coast League in hitting (.314) and Sarfate was 10th in ERA (3.67). To replace Sarfate and Rottino on the Sounds roster, right-handed reliever Luther Hackman and catcher J.C. Boscan were called up from AA Huntsville. Hackman, who was with the Sounds in 2004, posted a 3-0 record with a 0.66 ERA in eight relief outings in Huntsville. He signed with the Brewers on Aug. 11 out of the Independent League. The 31-year-old did not walk a batter and struck out 15 at Huntsville. Boscan, 26, had been in Huntsville since the 2006 season started. He was hitting.194 with no home runs and 14 RBIs in 43 games. He threw out 17 of 50 runners attempting to steal (34%). Gwynn still going: Sounds leadoff batter Tony Gwynn extending his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the first inning. It is Gwynn's longest hitting streak of the season. Gwynn stole second, then advanced to third on a passed ball. It was Gwynn's 30th steal, which marks the third consecutive season he has had at least 30. Gwynn scored on a Chris Barnwell single, giving Nashville a 1-0 lead. Camo auction: Fans attending tonight's game will have the opportunity to purchase the camouflage jerseys that the Sounds wore for each Sunday home game this season during a silent auction. The Sounds will wear the camouflage jerseys again for Sunday's game. Winning bidders will be able to get their jerseys after that. Proceeds will benefit an organization that helps families of deployed soldiers who are members of the Tennessee National Guard, which sponsored the Sounds' Sunday home games.

Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Carlos Villanueva photo, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2139 Sounds Lose Heartbreaker To Express, 7-5 NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Carlos Villanueva carried a perfect game and a 5-0 lead into the eighth inning on Friday evening at Greer Stadium before the Round Rock Express shocked the Sounds by scoring seven runs over the final two innings of play to steal a 7-5 victory over Nashville in the opener of a four-game series. With the loss, Nashville (75-66) was forced to keep the champagne on ice for one more day as the second-place Iowa Cubs were also victorious on the evening (3-2 over Omaha), leaving the Sounds? magic number at one and reducing the lead in the American Conference Northern Division to two games with three to play. Villanueva, who retired the first 21 Express batters in order, was left with a no-decision after allowing two runs on two hits and striking out a season-high nine batters in the outing. Nashville entered the ninth holding a 5-2 lead as the bullpen was summoned to finish off a potential pennant-clinching victory. Chris Demaria relieved Villanueva and retired the first batter before running into trouble. Mike Rodriguez laced a triple to the base of the wall in center and scored one batter later on a groundout to make it a 5-3 contest. Brooks Conrad followed with a double off the right field wall to chase Demaria. Alec Zumwalt took over on the hill and was greeted by an RBI single off the bat of former Sound J.R. House to make it a one-run contest at 5-4. The Express rallied continued when the right-hander served up back-to-back home runs to Eric Munson, whose two-run shot improbably put the visitors on top, and Brian Gordon. Munson?s blast was his second of the contest and also his second of the season for Round Rock. Gordon's roundtripper was his 16th of the campaign. Zumwalt (0-3) was saddled with the loss after suffering his fourth blown save of the season. He allowed three runs on three hits while recording only one out. The last at-bat loss marked the 18th time that an opponent recorded a victory in its last at-bat against the Sounds and only the fourth time that Nashville suffered a defeat in a game it led after eight innings of play. The Sounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Express starter Taylor Buchholz. Tony Gwynn led off with a single to left that extended his hitting streak to 12 games, matching his longest of the year. After he stole second for his 30th theft of the campaign and advanced to third on a passed ball, Gwynn scored the game?s first run on Chris Barnwell?s RBI single. Neither team scored again until the bottom of the sixth when the Sounds plated three two-out runs to up the lead to 4-0. After the first two men were retired, Nashville loaded the bases with two outs against Buchholz on a Graham Koonce single and a pair of walks to Andrew Beattie and Jermaine Clark. The home team then unloaded them on Zach Sorensen?s two-run single to left coupled with a throwing error by Brian Gordon that allowed Clark to score from first on the play. AUDIO: Sorensen's Bases-Clearing Single -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%209-1.mp3 With his sixth-inning single, Koonce extended his hitting streak to five games, matching his longest of the season. Brent Abernathy pushed the Nashville lead to 5-0 in the seventh with a two-out RBI single to right off Express reliever Mike Gallo that scored Barnwell, who had reached with a two-out single of his own. Villanueva retired the first 21 Round Rock batters in order before House, who played in Music City in 2004, broke up the perfect game with a clean leadoff single to center to open the eighth. The crowd at Greer Stadium responded with an impromptu extended standing ovation saluting the right-hander?s effort. The following batter, Munson, ended the shutout bid with one swing of the bat. The catcher slugged a two-run homer to right, his first of the year, to make it a 5-2 game. Gallo (2-0) was the beneficiary of the late Round Rock heroics, earning the win after allowing one run in his two frames of work. Travis Driskill worked a perfect ninth to notch his 15th save of the year. The Sounds will try to lock up the division title against Saturday when the teams continue the series with a 6 p.m. meeting at Greer. Left-hander Dana Eveland (6-4, 2.18) will make the start for Nashville and face Round Rock right-hander Jared Gothreaux (8-9, 4.37). ***Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Sounds perfect game blown By MIKE ORGAN Tennessean Staff Writer A perfect game turned into a perfect mess for the Sounds. Nashville's Carlos Villanueva had pitched a perfect game Friday night before giving up two hits and two runs in the eighth inning. Villanueva, who recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts, retired the first 21 batters and had a five-run lead heading into the eighth inning. But Round Rock staged a furious rally, scoring seven runs, including five in the ninth, to claim a 7-5 win, which stunned a Greer Stadium crowd of 4,911. The loss prevented Nashville from clinching its second consecutive American Conference Northern Division title and a playoff berth. By virtue of Iowa's 3-2 win Friday over Omaha, the magic number for the Sounds (75-66) to earn a playoff berth remains at one with three games remaining. "We just made bad pitches, missing the middle of the plate,'' said Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas. "That's what happens. You've got to make pitches at that time.'' The poor pitching performance was a combined effort of Chris Demaria and Alec Zumwalt, who replaced Villanueva. Demaria pitched to four batters. He got two outs in the ninth, but Mike Rodriguez hit a triple and Brooks Conrad had a double. Alec Zumwalt then replaced Demaria and gave up a single to J.R. House, which scored Brooks Conrad and closed the gap to 5-4. Eric Munson gave the Express a 6-5 lead with a two-run homer. Brian Gordon added a solo homer. Travis Driskill got the save by retiring the side in the ninth. "It's really disappointing, but in a team way,'' said Villanueva, who had suffered his first AAA loss last Sunday in Memphis. "We really wanted it today. I tried to do my part the best that I could. This was just one of those days. Zumwalt has been so reliable all year. You just pat him on the back and he'll have our back tomorrow.'' ***Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Rottino, Sarfate join Milwaukee By MIKE ORGAN Tennessean Staff Writer The Sounds lost a pair of players Friday when major league rosters were expanded. Reliever Dennis Sarfate was recalled and utility man Vinny Rottino had his contract purchased by Milwaukee. Both will make their major league debuts with their first appearances with the Brewers. Rottino was eighth in the Pacific Coast League in hitting (.314) and Sarfate was 10th in ERA (3.67). To replace Sarfate and Rottino on the Sounds roster, right-handed reliever Luther Hackman and catcher J.C. Boscan were called up from AA Huntsville. Hackman, who was with the Sounds in 2004, posted a 3-0 record with a 0.66 ERA in eight relief outings in Huntsville. He signed with the Brewers on Aug. 11 out of the Independent League. The 31-year-old did not walk a batter and struck out 15 at Huntsville. Boscan, 26, had been in Huntsville since the 2006 season started. He was hitting.194 with no home runs and 14 RBIs in 43 games. He threw out 17 of 50 runners attempting to steal (34%). Gwynn still going: Sounds leadoff batter Tony Gwynn extending his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the first inning. It is Gwynn's longest hitting streak of the season. Gwynn stole second, then advanced to third on a passed ball. It was Gwynn's 30th steal, which marks the third consecutive season he has had at least 30. Gwynn scored on a Chris Barnwell single, giving Nashville a 1-0 lead. Camo auction: Fans attending tonight's game will have the opportunity to purchase the camouflage jerseys that the Sounds wore for each Sunday home game this season during a silent auction. The Sounds will wear the camouflage jerseys again for Sunday's game. Winning bidders will be able to get their jerseys after that. Proceeds will benefit an organization that helps families of deployed soldiers who are members of the Tennessee National Guard, which sponsored the Sounds' Sunday home games.