Jim Goulart

In progress: Brevard County 1, Palm Beach 0, bottom of the 3rd at Palm Beach Small crowd on a nice Florida evening, Cardinal broadcaster sounds like a young man, doing OK -- I'm enjoying all the "Wah-pepper"'s; I missed his email addy earlier, if you hear him give it again, drop a note letting him know you're following the Manatees via Brewerfan.net...

Final: Arizona Padres 8, Arizona Brewers 2 Brewers draw five walks, but strike out 14 times; encouraging three-inning stint for Rolando Pascual; catcher Brett Whiteside in left field, keeping his bat in the lineup -- Arizona, like Helena, not overflowing with true outfielders; four batters listed as catchers in the lineup, in fact, including first baseman Isaac Palencia and DH Ulrich Snijders; second baseman Jovanny Felix has been a real adventure defensively... Arizona Brewer Box Score and Game Log Link: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

Follow Sunday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". 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 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_ogdrok_1 Arizona: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

Monday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: Idle Huntsville: Idle; All-Star Game Monday night -- see thread on that topic for details Brevard County: RHP Josh Wahpepah at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 6:05 PM Audio link (opponent's): www.palmbeachcardinals.com/ West Virginia: Idle Helena: TBD at Ogden (Dodgers), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Audio (click on "Listen Live"): www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php Arizona: RHP Evan Anundsen at home in Maryvale vs. the rookie Padres, 12:30 PM Central time, 10:30 AM local, never any web audio for the Arizona League

Link for Zach Braddock photo while active, text follows: www.courierpostonline.com...002/SPORTS Braddock off to smooth start for Brewers in Montana By JESSICA RYAN Courier-Post Staff The transition from New Jersey to Montana has been a smooth one for Zach Braddock. Braddock, a 2005 Gloucester Catholic High School (New Jersey) graduate, attended the Milwaukee Brewers' extended spring training in Maryvale, Ariz., prior to being assigned to the rookie-level Helena Brewers based in Montana. "It's beautiful," Braddock, a left-handed pitcher, said of the state. "It's like South Jersey with mountain terrain." Heading to spring training before reporting to Helena helped Braddock with the transition. Two of his coaches, including pitching coach Mark Littell, were in Arizona with him. "My adjustment hasn't been as hard as with other guys," said Braddock, who played last year at Burlington County College. "The extended spring training made the transition easier." In the short time that Braddock has been with the team, he's already learning a lot. "The level of play is heightened," he said. "A lot of it is the mental side. Pitching to the hitter and letting them get themselves out. "A major thing is that my pitching coach has put me in a mind-set that this is a lot easier than it looks and there's a confidence level that comes with that. It's a lot more mental and I've just done a few mechanical things." Through Thursday, Braddock has pitched 8 2/3 innings, and is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA. Braddock said he's currently on an 80-40 pitch rotation. In this rotation, he'll start a game and go until he throws 80 pitches and then four or five days later, throw 40 pitches in relief. Also preparing him for this opportunity, Braddock said were his various coaches over the years and his family. "I want to thank my parents for providing a lot for me over the years and my coaches at Gloucester Catholic, even Little League, Dennis and Joe Barth, Sr. And I'm very lucky to have my girlfriend." While Braddock is well on his way to his career in baseball, he might also have another career path. The first day that Braddock got his uniform, he was asked to be in a commercial for the team promoting Military Tuesdays. In his camouflage home jersey he and other players held their bats like guns in a salute and even sang a jingle in cadence. He also has participated in pre- and post-game interviews that were broadcast on the radio. Fans can listen to Braddock's games live at www.helenabrewers.net.

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Thurman's back on track in career All-Star pitching well even if record doesn't show it By MARK McCARTER Times Sports Staff markcolumn@aol.com Eight losses, two wins - and going to an All-Star Game? Who did that math? You start sending 2-8 pitchers to an All-Star Game, next you start awarding Oscars to Keanu Reeves and Grammys to that guy in the infomercials who plays the pan-flute. Thing is, for some voters, Corey Thurman of the Huntsville Stars was the first name scribbled on the Southern League All-Star ballot on the blank line next to P. So it is that he, along with fellow pitcher Tim Dillard and catcher Lou Palmisano, will be representing Huntsville in tonight's Southern League All-Star Game, a North vs. South affair, at Montgomery's Riverwalk Stadium (7:05). Thurman may be the best eight-loss pitcher in Southern League history. He may be 2-8, but his ERA is a thong-sized 2.62, seventh-best in the league. Trouble is, he's gotten less support than a Libertarian presidential candidate. The Stars' bats have been quiet all season, as a rule. When Thurman goes to the mound, they turn into Marcel Marceau. In 13 starts in which he either got the loss or a no-decision, the Stars' offense scored 19 runs; five of those came Friday when the bullpen wasted a lead he built with five shutout innings. The Stars have been shut out three times in his starts. "I don't like to think about that," Thurman said. "I just want to think about the zeros I want to put up. That's what matters. As long as I can keep the team in the game, that's all I can ask for from a personal standpoint." The 27-year-old Thurman, a native of Augusta, Ga., who now lives in Warren, Mich., was snatched up by the Brewers as a free agent in the off-season. He's been with the Stars much of the season, save a brief assignment to Triple-A Nashville. "He's been a very, very big plus for us both on the field and off the field," said pitching coach Rich Sauveur. "The young players take in the things he says, the way he prepares himself. Nobody works any harder. He's done a great job. He just hasn't gotten much support this year." His status as a team leader is something that comes naturally for Thurman, who always seems to be a just-uncorked champagne bottle. "I'm a loud person by nature," Thurman said. "My parents always tell me to be quiet, even now when I go home. "Being yourself is the most important thing. I like to talk a lot. I love to laugh. It's just my personality. Hopefully I have some good things to say. The most important thing for the young guys to learn is that baseball is a grind and you have to be the same person every day. I think they would say Corey was the same person every day, and that's very important to me." Thurman was a big-league pitcher in 2002 and 2003, for the Toronto Blue Jays, mostly working out of the bullpen. A story from 2002 that was related earlier this year bears repeating. After Thurman walked in the winning run on a questionable call, The Toronto Sun reported how he "squatted on the ... mound for at least 20 seconds ... part anguish in letting his team down, part shock and part disbelief.'' "If only,'' the story said, "every player in the uniform cared as much.'' That hasn't changed. But so much else has. Thurman's shoulder went kaput. He eventually had surgery, having spiraled from the majors down to six games at Florence, Ky., in independent ball last season before going on the shelf. "For me being able to come here and get a chance to throw every five days has been a blessing," Thurman said. "To go out and have an opportunity to pitch well and get recognized, no matter what your record is, no matter what, it's a positive." It's not unusual to find players in Double-A who have big-league tenure seemingly more hungry to reach the majors again than those who have never been there. Thurman is among them. "Having that taste in the big leagues makes me that much more hungry," he said. "The bottom line is that if you have talent to be able to play in the major leagues, why would you want to go sit at a computer all day? With the money they're throwing at guys in the majors, why would you not want to do that? "I got a taste of it for one year and some change. I want to get back there and solidify myself for hopefully the next 10 or 15 years. "I love the game. I don't want anything to change until I'm 40-something years old."

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1 Covering the bases Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times Stars newcomers Ryan Braun and Yovani Gallardo participated in the Futures Game in Pittsburgh. Brett Evert, now on the Stars' staff, played in 2002. Former Stars chosen for the game include Prince Fielder, Bill Hall, J.J. Hardy, Corey Hart, David Krynzel, Jackson Melian, Nick Neugebauer, Ben Sheets and Rickie Weeks. ... Bon voyage to Joe Winkelsas, the former Stars' reliever. After being promoted from Huntsville to Milwaukee, then ultimately demoted to Nashville, Winkelsas announced his retirement last week. "Wink" endured a troubled personal life through much of his career, including a battle with drugs about which he has been very open but recently gained much peace through his faith. Here's hoping for the best. ... Stephen Bray was promoted from Huntsville to fill his spot. He was 5-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 27 appearances. ... Likely the Stars will fish from the Brevard County roster to fill Bray's spot. A choice could be Manny Parra, who already has Double-A experience, and who could be used as a starter. ... Big leaguer Tomo Ohka is tentatively scheduled to pitch a rehab start at Huntsville this week. ... It's tough to keep track of the Milwaukee-Nashville shuttle, especially with pitchers, but Dana Eveland is back in the big leagues. Surely reliever Alec Zumwalt (seven saves) has to be a candidate soon. ... Gallardo has yet to allow an earned run in three starts in Huntsville. ... Ex-Star Sheets is making a rehab start today in Round Rock for Triple-A Nashville. Baltimore's Miguel Tejada is the lone former Huntsville player selected for the Major League All-Star Game in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. He was the game's MVP last year. Huntsville has been represented by at least one player in every All-Star Game since 1985 - either by a former Star or by Huntsville native Jimmy Key. Around the league The Southern League was nicely represented in the Futures Game. Besides Huntsville's Braun and Gallardo, other from the league include Homer Bailey of Chattanooga, Eric Patterson of West Tenn, George Kottaras and Luis Cruz of Mobile, Yunel Escobar of Mississippi, Ching Lung Hu of Jacksonville and Joey Votto of Chattanooga. ... Former Stars pitching coach Stan Kyles is on the U.S.A. coaching staff, working with manager Gary Carter and Chattanooga's Jayhawk Owens. Jacksonville's John Shoemaker will assist World manager Ferguson Jenkins. ... Jeffrey Latter and Ria Cortesio, a pair of Southern League umps, will work the game. ... The broadcast of the Southern League All-Star Game will be available on Gameday, through mlb.com. ... Doug Segrest of The Birmingham News relates a lovely story this week about White Sox star Joe Crede buying a World Series championship watch with 20 diamonds and sending to Barons manager Chris Cron for his help in Crede's development. Brewings (through Friday's games) Triple-A Nashville Sounds (46-41 before Saturday's play, first place in Pacific Coast League American Division): P Ben Hendrickson, OFs Nelson Cruz and Tony Gwynn Jr. selected to PCL All-Star team for Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game. Single-A Brevard County Manatees (5-8, fourth in Florida State East Division this half): OF Brendan Katin 8 HRs, 51 RBIs, .285. Single-A West Virginia Power (7-8, fourth in South Atlantic League Northern Division this half): 3B Mat Gamel 9 HRs, 49 RBIs, .278. On deck The Stars are on a three-day All-Star break, returning to action on Wednesday with the first visit of the year by the Mississippi Braves. Watch for Mississippi shortstop Yunel Escobar, a slick-fielder with a .282 average rated as Atlanta's third-best prospect.

6:05 Central Time: MiLB.com's Southern League All-Star Page: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;lid=l111 Live Gameday, box score and game log links available via this link later on: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...mp;lid=111 The game is not available via MiLB.TV. Live and archived audio of the game: If archived, be sure to select July 10th as your date... www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

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Final: Arizona Giants 21, Arizona Brewers 8 Arizona Brewer Box Score and Game Log Link: As "And That" indicated above, deserves your scrutiny, but be forewarned -- it's as ugly as can be... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

Final: West Virginia 12, Lexington (Astros) 9 West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER ERASE EIGHT RUN DEFICIT, SNAP THREE GAME SKID The Lexington Legends sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on six hits in the bottom of the first inning of Sunday night?s game against the West Virginia Power at Applebee?s Park. The West Virginia Power answered by scoring twelve straight runs and overcame their largest deficit of the season with a 12-9 victory over the Lexington Legends to snap their three-game losing streak. In the first inning Josh Flores led off with a single, and two Power errors followed to load the bases for Mark Ori who knocked in the first run of the game on a single. Mitch Einertson brought in the second run with a bases loaded walk. Koby Clemens and Pedro Espinoza both hit two-run doubles and the scoring stopped in the eight-run first on back-to-back RBI singles from Flores and Wladimir Sutil. The Power started their comeback in the third inning. Mat Gamel ripped a single into right field with two runners on base. Darren Ford scored easily on the base hit and Eli Iorg bobbled the ball in right allowing Angel Salome to score as well. The Power pulled within two scoring four times in the fifth inning. Mike Bell ripped a two-out RBI single and Tony Festa hit his second home run of the season, a three-run shot, to complete the four-run fifth. In the sixth inning Gamel tied the game with a two-run homer, his tenth of the season and his first since May 30th. Festa and Ned Yost began the seventh inning with back-to-back singles. With runners on first and third, Michael Brantley reached on a fielder?s choice and knocked in the go-ahead run. The Power continued their offensive onslaught in the eighth inning, plating three more runs. Salome and Yost both crossed the plate on wild pitches and Brantley ripped his third single of the game to knock in Festa. Lexington scored the final run of the game in the ninth inning on Tommy Manzella?s sacrifice fly. Josh Louis (1-0) pitched four scoreless innings of one hit ball out of the bullpen to earn the victory while Chris Campos (1-4) obtained the loss. The Power are 47-39 overall and 8-9 in the second half after the win and the Legends fell to 51-36 overall and 7-11 in the second half after the loss. The Power are off on Monday but will begin a four-game series against the Lakewood BlueClaws at First Energy Park on Tuesday night. Big Leaguer Randy Wolf will make a rehab start for Lakewood, the left hander has a career 65-60 record and a 4.14 career ERA over seven seasons with the Phillies. The Power will start right hander Will Inman (4-1, 1.37). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). ***Link while active, text follows: www.kentucky.com/mld/kent...003653.htm Lexington blows huge early lead LEGENDS LOSE MOMENTUM AFTER 8-RUN FIRST By Mark Maloney LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER Too bad Jack Lind couldn't call for help from the Applebee's Park stands to have someone put out a fire or handcuff the opposition. Local police and firemen were on hand for the annual Guns and Hoses softball game yesterday, but not available for the Lexington Legends manager to use. What unfolded was a maddening 12-9 loss to the West Virginia Power. And the Legends led 8-0 after sending 13 batters to the plate in the first inning. "Sunday afternoons, there's always something going to be weird," Lind said. "Very few Sunday afternoon games in Low A ball are going to produce clean, sane games. There's something insane going to happen." Why is that? "I think it's the phenomenon of day game after night game," Lind said. "They haven't learned how to adjust their mental concentration, their emotion." West Virginia snapped a three-game losing streak and gained a split of the two-game series. Lexington had a four-game winning streak halted. The Power piled up 15 hits, including three each by Ned Yost and Michael Brantley. Tony Festa was among four others with two hits, also scoring three times and driving in three with a homer. "We fell behind Hickory 5-0 (and won), and we've been on the other end where we jumped out ahead and given it back," Festa said. "It's hard in baseball. You've got to keep your focus every single inning within each game. A lot of times it's easy to let down when you get a lead. "We were able to build some momentum, whereas their momentum kind of stopped after the first inning. We fed off each other. The pitching was phenomenal." Lefty Rafael Lluberes survived the first -- only one run was earned -- to fire three no-hit innings before giving way to Josh Louis (1-0). Louis added three more no-hit innings before yielding an eighth-inning single to Mitch Einertson. By then, West Virginia was sitting on a 12-8 lead. The Legends' big first was helped by two errors. Koby Clemens and Pedro Espinoza each lined two-run doubles. Mark Ori, Josh Flores and Wladimir Sutil had run-scoring singles. Einertson drew a bases-loaded walk. Lexington's Sean Walker left after 4 2/3 innings, leading 8-3 with two men aboard. Garrett Murdy was tagged with Festa's homer. "He was not aggressive at all," Lind said of Walker. "He had an eight-run lead, and he was out there trying to fiddle around and get them to swing at balls instead of making them swing at strikes. So he paid the price. He ran out of pitches. He didn't get a chance at the win because he couldn't throw strikes." West Virginia tied it on Mat Gamel's two-run homer off Murdy in the sixth. Festa scored the go-ahead run in the seventh, off Chris Campos (1-4), on a fielder's choice. Jamie Gant gave up three runs in the eighth. West Virginia Box Score and Game Log Link: Unheralded RHP Josh Louis now unscored upon in 7 1/3 West Virginia innings (two hits, three walks, five K's)... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1 Kentucky.com Photo by Brian Tietz Lexington?s Pedro Espinoza slid home safely as West Virginia?s Angel Salome tried to catch the ball in the first inning yesterday. http://www.kentucky.com/images/kentucky/kentucky/15002/225073714828.jpg

Final, Game One: Brevard County 3, Palm Beach (Cardinals) 1 Final, Game Two: Palm Beach (Cardinals) 5, Brevard County 1 Brevard County Site Doubleheader Summary: Unfortunately, all we have from the pathetic media coverage provided in most locales in the Florida State League... Cards gain split with Manatees Nick Webber tossed five strong innings as Palm Beach beat visiting Brevard County, 5-1, in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader. Webber (4-3) allowed one run on five hits, struck out two and issued four walks. The 6-foot-7 right-hander won his first start since beating Clearwater on May 6. Matthew Scherer worked around a single and a walk in a scoreless sixth inning, and Troy Cate blanked the Manatees (6-9) in the seventh. Juan Lucena and Colby Rasmus had two RBIs apiece for the Cardinals (7-9), and Joe Mather capped a three-run fifth with a sacrifice fly. Manatees starter Luis Pena (2-3) gave up two runs on five hits in three innings, fanning four. Bo Hall surrendered three runs on two hits in 1 1/3 frames. He struck out two and issued a pair of walks. Brendan Katin led off the fourth with his ninth homer for Brevard County, which beat Palm Springs, 3-1, in the earlier game. Hernan Iribarren went 3-for-3 with a walk to raise his batting average to 321. -- Christopher Heine/MLB.com Brevard County Game One Box Score and Game Log Link: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_1 Brevard County Game Two Box Score and Game Log Link: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_2

Final: Round Rock (Astros) 4, Nashville 3 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Graham Koonce photo, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2045 Sheets, Sounds Lose To Express, 4-3 ROUND ROCK, Texas ? The Nashville Sounds entered the All-Star break on a down note on Sunday evening at The Dell Diamond, dropping another one-run road decision in a 4-3 loss to the Round Rock Express in the finale of a three-game series. With the defeat, Nashville (47-42) suffered its Pacific Coast League-leading 23rd one-run loss and fell to just 5-18 in one-run road games this season. The Sounds lost two of the three games against the Express in the series. Nashville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Round Rock starter Brandon Backe when Dave Krynzel, who led the Sounds with a 2-for-5 evening, singled home Tony Gwynn. Express shortstop Cody Ransom evened the contest at 1-1 in the home half of the second with a one-out solo homer to left off Sounds starter Ben Sheets. The blast was the infielder?s ninth of the year. The teams exchanged runs in the third as Nashville RBI leader Nelson Cruz plated Gwynn in the top half before Brooks Conrad plated Backe with an RBI two-bagger in the bottom of the inning. Sheets (1-1), who made his first game appearance since May 2, was pulled in the top of the fourth inning after reaching his 65-pitch count on a leadoff walk to Ransom. The right-hander took the loss after working three-plus innings and allowing three runs on three hits while walking three batters and striking out two. Backe (1-1) continued to help his own cause in the fourth when he gave the Express a 4-2 lead with a two-run double against Nashville reliever Justin Lehr. It was the pitcher's second two-bagger of the night. The rehabbing Houston Astros right-hander earned his first victory for Round Rock after allowing two runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked three batters and struck out five while throwing 93 pitches, 58 for strikes. Nashville pulled within a run in the eighth when first baseman Graham Koonce led off the frame with a solo homer to right off Express hurler Ezequiel Astacio, his seventh roundtripper of the year. The Sounds missed a chance to tie the contest later in the frame when Brent Abernathy reached second with no outs but didn't advance further as the next three batters were retired in order by Astacio. AUDIO: Graham Koonce's 8th-Inning HR -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%207-9.wma The Sounds also put the potential tying run on in the ninth when Zach Sorensen drew a one-out walk from closer Roberto Giron but the Express reliever struck out Krynzel and Sorensen was thrown out attempting to steal second to end the game. Giron earned his 10th save following his scoreless inning of work. The Sounds join the rest of the 30 Triple-A teams for the All-Star break over the next three days before resuming their schedule on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium with the 7 p.m. opener of a four-game series against the division-rival Memphis Redbirds. Right-hander Jared Fernandez (4-2, 2.54) will make the start for Nashville in Thursday?s series opener. ***Link while active, text follows: www.statesman.com/sports/...press.html Backe also a threat with bat Houston pitcher making rehab start gets best of Milwaukee ace Sheets on mound, at plate By William Wilkerson AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN CORRESPONDENT ROUND ROCK ? Brandon Backe was hot, literally. "Man, it's hot in here isn't it," he said as he adjusted a fan toward himself in the Express clubhouse on Sunday. The enormous ice bag that was covering his right elbow should have cooled him down a bit as he packed his equipment bag. But with the way the Express right-hander was swinging the bat against Nashville, it was understandable why he was still sweating 20 minutes after he left the mound. Backe, who has been on Houston's disabled list since April 14 with a sprained right elbow, deflected the attention away from his pitching performance toward his plate appearances in a showdown with Milwaukee Brewers ace Ben Sheets, who was rehabbing his right shoulder. He collected two doubles, drove in two and scored once in the Express' 4-3 victory. "It was fun," Backe said. "I enjoy hitting. I take it very serious when I am up there. But the most important thing is how I perform on the mound." Backe (1-1) threw 93 pitches ? 58 for strikes ? in 5 2/3 innings, while allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out two. "I felt good, no pain. I am pain free," said Backe, who will start his fourth and final rehab appearance on July 14 in New Orleans. Sheets (1-1), who is heading to Phoenix for a workout on Thursday, threw his scheduled 65 pitches in three innings and gave up three runs on three hits, while walking three and striking out two. "I just need to pitch, get some innings," said Sheets, who left to a heavy applause. "I felt good, better than I thought I would." All-star center fielder Tony Gwynn did just what he is supposed to do as a leadoff hitter in the first inning by getting on base. After falling behind 0-2, the son and namesake of the San Diego Padres great received four straight balls from Backe, stole second base, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Zach Sorensen to put the Sounds in position to take an early lead. "You can't mess around with a hitter like Tony Gwynn when he is leading off," Backe said. Dave Krynzel hit a single to bring Gwynn home. Facing an early 1-0 deficit against the Brewers' single-season strikeout record-holder (264 in 2004) didn't seem to faze Cody Ransom, who sent his 1-0 offering from Sheets to the upper deck in left field to tie the game. After Nelson Cruz's RBI single gave the Sounds a 2-1 lead in the third, Backe, a career .246 hitter in the major leagues, laced a double off Sheets to put the Express in position to tie the game. "I'm just glad he threw me a fastball," Backe said. "I didn't want to face that nasty breaking ball." Backe was driven home on a double from Brooks Conrad. With two on in the fourth, Backe hit his second double down the third-base line to put Round Rock up 4-2. He received a standing ovation as he left the mound and headed for the dugout, where he was greeted with high fives from his teammates. But he was the one giving praise ? to Sheets ? after the game. "I hope he feels as good as I do," Backe said. "I hope he gets back up to Milwaukee, their fans deserve to see him." Nashville Box Score and Game Log Link: Vinny Rottino behind the plate; Carlos Villanueva gets in an inning of work, his first at AAA... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_rreaaa_1 Photos by Ricardo B. Brazziell, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN Round Rock's Brooks Conrad, left, slides into third base as Nashville's Zach Sorensen loses the ball during the third inning Sunday. http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/04/09/83/image_4583094.jpg Ben Sheets gave up three runs on three hits in three innings. http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/02/09/83/image_4583092.jpg

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Manager Frank Kremblas: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%207-9.wma

Saturday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with RHP Shawn Ferguson (Select date for July 8th, skip to the 15:00 minute mark): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

Link while active, text follows: www.helenair.com/articles...906_02.txt Mustangs run over Brewers in seventh By JEFF WINDMUELLER - Independent Record Sports Writer The Helena Brewers battled the Billings Mustangs to the very end, but the local boys couldn?t conquer their foes Saturday night, losing 4-3 at Kindrick Legion Field. Even after the Brewers? Cole Gillespie batted into a double play to end the game, the fight wasn?t over. Helena?s Stephen Chapman and Billings? Justin Turner had some choice words that prompted both teams to clear the dugouts and flood the field. They were able to pull their players back and prevent the shouting match from developing into anything worse, but they couldn?t hide how much they both wanted the win that would end their three-game series. After Thursday?s 8-0 loss to the Mustangs, the Brewers rallied to win 6-5 Friday night in the ninth inning and Saturday night it looked like it might happen again. The Mustangs were the first to score when Jason Lowsma cracked an 0-2 pitch to the centerfield wall bringing in Chris Valaika and Danny Dorn. The Brewers hit back the next inning when Fredy De La Cruz singled to center and advanced on a bouncer to third by David Parker. Taylor Green laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position but only De La Cruz would come in during the inning off Chuckie Caufield?s grounder to first. The Brewers then prevented the Mustangs from scoring the next two innings off some outstanding defensive plays. Pitcher Jose Beltre struck out two batters over his two innings, but his most impressive performance came when he was able to collect himself after taking a shot to the chest. With teammate Valaika on second, Billings? Drew Stubbs cracked a hit that bounced hard into Beltre?s midsection. The ball fell to the ground and Valaika headed to third, hoping to take advantage of Beltre?s pain. But the pitcher only stopped for a second after the blast and quickly picked up the ball and threw to third, getting the tag out. Helena catcher Andy Bouchie then rifled a throw to second to catch Stubbs stealing and ending the inning. ?They?re very heads up,? said Brewers manager Ed Sedar of his team. ?There aren?t many pitchers that after taking that have the sense to all of a sudden look and try to still get the guy at third.? The Brewers couldn?t hold Billings for much longer, however. Danny Dorn hit a triple and would eventually score along with Chris Heisey. Helena matched the two runs when Gillespie blooped a hit into centerfield to allow Parker and Green to score. Both teams ended the eighth with three batters apiece and after Billings was dispensed in the top of ninth it was Helena?s last chance to score. With Green and Caufield on base, Chapman walked and Gillespie came to bat, but loaded bases turned out to be a disadvantage. Gillespie?s grounder went right to the third baseman who quickly fired to second to begin a double play. ?They?re trying to do too much when they have chances to score,? Sedar said. ?The last thing you want to do is ... to keep trying to drill it into their heads.? The final outs sparked a powder keg of emotion that seemed to be developing over the long game. Mustangs? manager Rick Burleson was thrown out in the top of the ninth arguing a play that would?ve given Billings an extension on their lead, and Chapman took a pitch to the cheek in the fifth that remained red and swollen to the end. Now, the Brewers (8-11) will have some time to cool off. They have Sunday off before returning to play Monday in Ogden, Utah.

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com/ OL' MAN RIVERSTARS SLOG THEIR WAY TO A 4th-PLACE TIE Presumably, this is the last rehab start here for Jorge de la Rosa........ De la Rosa, who went on the DL June 9, was sent here because of a blister on a middle finger on his pitching hand, is the first on such an assignment to last more than three games. He finished up with a 2.84 ERA in 12 2/3 innings, giving up 11 hits, striking out four and walking one....... In the 12+ innings he worked, he retired the side in order seven times. The Stars roster of pitchers will be reduced to 10 if de la Rosa is reassigned to Nashville or taken off the DL and joining Milwaukee. That's counting the recent subtraction of Steve Bray, who made his debut with Nashville tonight, pitching a 1-2-3 6th inning in relief of Dennis Sarfate in the Sounds' 5-4 win at Round Rock........ When the Stars resume their schedule at Joe Davis Stadium, Wednesday vs. the Braves, we'll probably see a new pitcher or two. Fans will see former Stars outfielder Bobby Darula, Wednesday. Darula was signed by the Braves from the Bridgeport Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League. Since June 24, he's hit .260 for the M'Braves, mostly as a leadoff hitter, although he's frequently hit 6th in their lineup....... Darula played for the Stars in 2000-01, hitting .253 in 57 games, then made minor league stops at Chattanooga from 2002-04, hitting .325 to win the Southern League batting championship in 2002 -- barely -- in 96 games. Former Stars outfielder Ryan Knox is also back in the Southern League........ Knox snapped a 3-for-35 slump with a home run in the Biscuits' 6-1 win over Tennessee tonight. he rejoins former Stars teammate Johnny Raburn, who is hitting .285. The Stars won their first series, taking the Barons in three of five games, outscoring Birmingham 34-14 and outhitting them, .328 -.230. Tim Dillard failed to hold onto a 4-2 lead in the 7th inning Friday, but Ryan Braun must share some of that blame, and the other loss was by one run, so the Stars generally played well enough to sweep, but didn't......... The Stars have hit .275 in July and .261 since the start of the 2nd half, well enough to put them in a 4th place tie with Carolina, thanks to their double-header loss to Jacksonville........ Ron Acuna went 6-for-16 in the series and hit safely in the four games he played in, breaking an 0-for-19 slump....... Drew Anderson went 10-for-21 in the series and drove in five runs. Against the Barons this year, he's hit .340 with 14 RBIs, and since May, he's hit .308....... Ryan Braun got the day off (headed to the Futures Game), but he's hit safely in five straight, going 9-for-19 (.474) to raise his average to a healthy .271. He's scored seven of his 11 runs this year in his last four games, but there's the matter of his seven errors, four which came in Stars losses........ Callix Crabbe pepped up his average a little by going 7-for-21 in the series. He also made what voice of the Stars Brett Pollock described as the "play-of-the-year" in Friday's game. In the 4th inning, ranging far to his right, he snagged a Thomas Collaro grounder on the backhand behind the bag at second base, and from shortstop territory, threw across his body in time to get the final out. Crabbe goes down in my book as the best defensive 2nd baseman in Stars history since Gary Jones in 1986 (A's organization, eight errors in 88 games)........ Jeff Eure's improvement at the plate has been noteworthy. His strikeout rate has jumped a little. From .235 the first three months, it's gone up to .247 (10 Ks in 30 ABs this month), but he's hit .356 since June, best on the club with 17 RBIs -- more than his first two months, and he's on a six-game hitting streak, going 11-for-26 (.423)....... Travis Ezi raised his average from .195 to .225 by going 5-for-12 (.417) in his last three games with two triples....... Steve Moss started the 1st half hitting .251 and hasn't raised it higher than 267 since........ Brad Nelson had his first three-hit game since June 14. He's 5-for-24 (.208) this month........ Lou Palmisano, who hit .269 in May, has hit .208 since June 1........ Guilder Rodriguez is just 2-for-22 this month........ Greg Sain is hitting just .154 since joining the Tampa (Fla. St.) Yankees on June 9. He was released by the Stars on May 31. Former Huntsville Stars Bucky Jacobsen, Jose Herrera, Jose Ortiz, and Lance Burkhart were named to the independent Atlantic League All-Star team. Their All-Star game will be played this Wednesday in Bridgeport, CT.

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1 Southern League All--Stars shine a bit less Reputations aren't as big, but there's plenty of talent By MARK McCARTER Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com The Southern League All-Star Game may lack some luster of past years, when mega-prospects filled up the rosters. The "can't-miss kids" are few and far between for Monday's game at Montgomery's Riverwalk Stadium. Only 18 of the 46 All-Stars are ranked by Baseball America in their respective organizations' top 30 prospects list; none of these All-Stars is on the magazine's list of top 100 prospects in the game. Nonetheless, the SL All-Star Game isn't intended to be a showcase for those considered to have potential somewhere down the road. It's to showcase and reward those who have produced at this level. To that end, witness: Chattanooga's Joey Votto, whose 19 homers have him on pace to surpass the 30-homer total, something only 30 Southern League hitters have done since '71, and who is gunning for a Triple Crown. He also leads the league with 56 RBIs and a .327 average. His league-leading 109 hits have him in position to threaten ex-Lookout Kevin Rhomberg's 25-year-old league record of 187. West Tenn's Chris Walker, with 34 stolen bases and a .309 average and 104 hits. Montgomery's Jim Magrane, with a league-leading 10 wins and, having pitched Friday, the likely honor of starting for the South. Mississippi's Matt Wright, with a 2.19 ERA and seven wins. Chattanooga's David Shafer, with 23 saves, on pace for a league record. Among the All-Stars are three Huntsville Stars - pitchers Tim Dillard and Corey Thurman and catcher Lou Palmisano. Dillard is 6-5, ending a long stretch of effective pitching with a disastrous relief stint on Friday. Thurman is 2-8, but has a remarkable 2.62 ERA. Palmisano is batting a modest .232, but that's good for sixth among everyday catchers. He's certainly considered much higher when it comes to defense. As Huntsville manager Don Money says, "Palmisano's numbers aren't great, but he's hitting OK and his defense has really been solid.'' The original North starting lineup was shaken up Thursday when Chattanooga third baseman Aaron Herr was promoted. Moving into that spot will be West Tenn's Miguel Negron, who completes an infield of Chattanooga first baseman Votto and Tennessee second baseman Danny Richar and shortstop Jerry Gil. Tennessee's Miguel Montero is the starting catcher, with ex-Star Noochie Varner, now with Chattanooga, in the outfield along with West Tenn's Nic Jackson and Walker. West Tenn's Scott Moore is the DH. Reserves are Palmisano, Tennessee's Jamie D'Antona, West Tenn's Eric Patterson and Carolina's Jose Campusano, a late-minute fill-in for injured teammate Alejandro De Aza. The North pitching staff includes Dillard, Thurman, West Tenn's Rocky Cherry, Juan Mateo, J.R. Mathes and Chris Shaver, Tennessee's Ross Ohlendorf and Chattanooga's Jon Coutlangus and David Shafer. Host Montgomery starts third baseman Wes Bankston and second baseman Elliott Johnson on the South squad. Shortstop Chin-Lung Hu, first baseman Craig Brazell, utility infielder Tony Abreau and outfielder Justin Ruggiano represent Jacksonville. Mobile's George Kottaras catches while Birmingham DH Corey Smith and outfielder Ricardo Nanita round out the lineup. Either Mississippi's Barbaro Canizares, a replacement for Jacksonville's Wilkin Ruan, or Mobile's Drew Macias will be in the other outfield spot. Reserves are Mobile's Luis Cruz and Montgomery catcher Ryan Christianson. The South pitchers are Jacksonville's Mark Alexander, Casey Hoorelbeke and T.J. Nall, Birmingham's Lance Broadway, B.J. LaMura, Tyler Lumsden and Ethan Wassermann, Mississippi's Wright and Montgomery's Magrane.

Standings through Saturday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 47 41 .534 - 28-19 19-22 W1[/b] Iowa 43 45 .489 4.0 24-20 19-25 W3 Memphis 37 51 .420 10.0 19-27 18-24 L1 Omaha 34 55 .382 13.5 19-20 15-35 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 12 8 .600 - 7-3 5-5 L1 West Tenn 12 8 .600 - 7-3 5-5 W3 Chattanooga 11 9 .550 1.0 6-4 5-5 L3 Carolina 8 12 .400 4.0 5-5 3-7 L3 [b]Huntsville 8 12 .400 4.0 3-7 5-5 W1[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 11 3 .786 - 7-3 4-0 W2 St. Lucie 10 3 .769 0.5 5-1 5-2 L1 Palm Beach 6 8 .429 5.0 3-2 3-6 W1 [b]Brevard County 5 8 .385 5.5 2-3 3-5 W2[/b] Jupiter 5 10 .333 6.5 4-6 1-4 L2 Vero Beach 5 10 .333 6.5 1-5 4-5 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 12 5 .706 - 6-1 6-4 W2 Greensboro 9 8 .529 3.0 5-4 4-4 W3 Lake County 9 8 .529 3.0 4-3 5-5 W2 Hagerstown 7 9 .438 4.5 5-7 2-2 L2 [b]West Virginia 7 9 .438 4.5 4-3 3-6 L3[/b] Lexington 7 10 .412 5.0 6-3 1-7 W4 Delmarva 5 11 .313 6.5 3-4 2-7 L2 Hickory 5 12 .294 7.0 4-8 1-4 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 12 6 .667 - 6-2 6-4 W1 Great Falls 10 9 .526 2.5 3-5 7-4 L1 [b]Helena 8 11 .421 4.5 4-7 4-4 L1[/b] Missoula 7 11 .389 5.0 4-6 3-5 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Giants 9 4 .692 - 4-3 5-1 W1 AZL Royals 9 4 .692 - 3-3 6-1 W4 AZL Mariners 9 5 .643 0.5 5-2 4-3 W1 AZL Padres 8 5 .615 1.0 4-3 4-2 W3 [b]AZL Brewers 6 7 .462 3.0 2-4 4-3 W2[/b] AZL Angels 6 8 .429 3.5 4-6 2-2 L2 AZL Rangers 6 8 .429 3.5 3-3 3-5 W1 AZL Athletics 5 9 .357 4.5 2-3 3-6 L1 AZL Cubs 3 11 .214 6.5 1-6 2-5 L3

Follow Sunday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Activate the Nashville Gameday. For the other links, 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. It's sweet! Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_rreaaa_1 Brevard County Game One: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_1 Brevard County Game Two: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_pbcafa_2 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1 Arizona: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

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

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: Rehabbing RHP Ben Sheets at Round Rock (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: Idle Brevard County: Rehabbing RHP Tomo Ohka and TBD (probably LHP Manny Parra) in a doubleheader at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 1:05 PM Audio link (opponent's): www.palmbeachcardinals.com/ West Virginia: LHP Rafael Lluberes at Lexington (Astros), 4:55 PM pre-game, 5:05 gametime Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: Idle Arizona: TBD at home in Maryvale vs. the rookie Giants, 12:30 PM Central time, 10:30 AM local, never any web audio for the Arizona League

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Final: Billings (Reds) 4, Helena 3 Helena Box Score and Game Log Link: Just a crushing loss as Cole Gillespie grounds into a bases-loaded, inning-ending double play to end it; in the 7th, Andy Bouchie grounded into an inning-ending double play with runners on 1st and 3rd; the benches cleared as the game ended when Stephen Chapman got tangled at second base trying to break up the double play, no punches thrown, thankfully.. www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

Final: Lexington (Astros) 1, West Virginia 0 West Virginia Site Game Summary: GARRISON FANS EIGHT IN LOSS TO LEXINGTON Steve Garrison and Raymar Diaz thrilled a crowd of 6,936 at Applebee?s Park in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday night with a fantastic pitchers duel in which neither starting pitcher allowed an earned run. The Lexington Legends held the Power scoreless and sent them to their third straight loss with a 1-0 victory. The only run of the game crossed the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning. Josh Flores and Wladimir Sutil reached on back-to-back bunt singles to begin the inning and those were the only two hits that Garrison surrendered all night long. With runners on first and second, Tommy Manzella hit a ground ball to short which went through the legs of Mike Bell and into left field allowing the only run of the game to score. Raymar Diaz struck out the first six Power batters of the game, and retired the first eight in a row before Michael Brantley reached on a two-out single in the third inning. The Power hit into three inning-ending double plays and had only two runners in scoring position all night long. The 1-0 loss marks the fifth time that the Power have been shutout this season, all five shutouts have come on the road. Raymar Diaz (7-4) earned the victory pitching seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and struck out nine, while Sammy Gervacio (8) pitched a pair of scoreless innings to get the save. Power lefty Steve Garrison (3-3) suffered perhaps the worst hard luck loss of the season, pitching six fantastic innings, allowing only two bunt singles and an unearned run with a season high eight strikeouts. The Power are 46-39 overall and 7-9 in the second half after the loss and the Legends improved to 51-35 overall and 7-10 in the second half after the win. The Power will finish the two game series against the Legends Sunday night. Lexington will start right hander Sean Walker (6-4, 2.61) and the Power will start left hander Rafael Lluberes (3-2, 3.31). The first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM (5:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score and Game Log Link: You can't blame just him when the team gets shut out, but Mike Bell's 30th error of the season leads to the second Power loss in a week in which a Bell error was responsible for the losing run; three crushing double plays stymie the Power -- hey, that's my first use of "stymie" this season... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1