Jim Goulart

Link while active, text follows: www.commercialappeal.com/...49,00.html Sounds' Gwynn making fantasy reality By Jim Masilak, Memphis Commecial Appeal Tony Gwynn Jr. has a major edge on the competition in what can be a cutthroat business. Whenever the Nashville Sounds outfielder needs advice -- whether in terms of preparation, strategy or execution -- all he need do is pick up the phone and call his famous father and Hall of Fame namesake. What's the most priceless pearl of wisdom former San Diego Padres star Tony Gwynn has passed on to his son? "Running backs," the younger Gwynn said Thursday afternoon after taking batting practice at AutoZone Park. "He's big on running backs. He says people put too much stock in big-name quarterbacks, and that you should always load up on running backs. You know they're going to get the ball." Fantasy football? This is what perhaps the greatest pure hitter of his generation, a man who hit .338 over 20 big-league seasons, spends countless hours talking about with his 23-year-old son, one of the top prospects in the Milwaukee Brewers organization? Absolutely. "He got me into fantasy football, and I got to my league championship last year under his tutelage," said Gwynn, recently selected as a starting outfielder for the Pacific Coast League in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star game in Toledo. "I had a major advantage because I had him as my strategic adviser. With him on my side, I figured I couldn't lose. And I didn't." Despite showing plenty of promise in his brief professional career, Gwynn, a second-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2003, knows he has a long way to go to reach his father's level. While Gwynn is still eagerly awaiting his first big-league call-up -- he's hitting .300 with two homers and 30 RBI in 81 games for the Sounds -- he is also looking forward to graduating to the upper echelons of the fantasy game. "We aren't in the same league," said Gwynn, who who was given the night off as the Sounds completed a three-game sweep of the Redbirds with a 5-3 win. "My dad, he had two big-money fantasy leagues he was in that I couldn't afford. I had to stick with my Triple-A league." Perhaps not for long. "He'll play in the big leagues, no question about that," said Redbirds manager Danny Sheaffer, who played against the elder Gwynn in the big leagues. "Tony could run when he was younger ... but I don't think Tony ever looked like this kid. He's your (quintessential) leadoff hitter." Gwynn, who played collegiately for Tony Sr. at San Diego State, shares more than a name with his father. He also boasts a sweet, lefthanded swing and speaks in a similarly gregarious, high-pitched tone. And, like his father in his younger days -- Tony Sr. was drafted by the NBA's San Diego Clippers on the same day he was chosen by the Padres -- the 6-0, 185-pound Tony Jr. is an athlete. His 21 stolen bases, for instance, rank second on a Nashville club that leads the PCL with 134 swipes. "When he was my age, he was an athletic guy. He could have been a leadoff guy, but when he came up (the Padres) had Alan Wiggins," Gwynn said. "Me, out of the gate, I'm a leadoff guy. I try to get on by any means necessary because I don't have the luxury of handling the bat the way he did. In this situation, I guess that's not a bad thing. He hit .300 19 straight years, and not many guys do that." Having grown up in major-league clubhouses, Gwynn is eager to make it back on his own merit. He's part of an impressive collection of prospects, along with Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder, Nelson Cruz and Corey Hart, that makes Milwaukee's farm system the envy of many. "It's a really exciting time for the organization," Gwynn said. "This is my first year in Triple-A and being in a beautiful park like this reminds you that you're a little bit closer now. It just makes you hungrier to get where you're going." Photo by Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal Tony Gwynn Jr. has the hitting stroke and the speed on the basepaths needed to be a successful leadoff hitter in the major leagues. Redbirds skipper Danny Sheaffer thinks he'll make it one day. http://mas.scripps.com/MCA/2006/07/07/7d1m_o.jpg

Pretty pumped about this well-deserved promotion -- we've been pointing out that awesome K-to-BB ratio all season (now at 57-to-7 in 63.1 IP). Good for the 25-year-old... Huntsville Press Release: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=910 Bray Earns Promotion to Triple-A The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that pitcher Steve Bray has been promoted to triple-A Nashville. The right-hander is expected to be in uniform for the Sounds when they open a weekend series at Round Rock on Friday night. Bray made two starts and 27 appearances in relief for Huntsville this season, compiling a record of 5-4 with a 2.70 earned run average and one save. He won four straight decisions between April 24 and May 28 and earned his lone save on May 6 at West Tenn. Bray threw 15 1/3 shutout innings between April 24 and May 11 and went 34 1/3 innings before issuing his first walk of the season. Milwaukee selected Bray from Kansas City in the minor league portion of the Rule V draft in December. RHP Steve Bray's Brewerfan Player Index Page: www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=877 http://www.huntsvillestars.com/images/news/Bray,%20Stephen%2036t.JPG

Pretty pumped about this well-deserved promotion -- we've been pointing out that awesome K-to-BB ratio all season (now at 57-to-7 in 63.1 IP). Good for the 25-year-old... Huntsville Press Release: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=910 Bray Earns Promotion to Triple-A The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that pitcher Steve Bray has been promoted to triple-A Nashville. The right-hander is expected to be in uniform for the Sounds when they open a weekend series at Round Rock on Friday night. Bray made two starts and 27 appearances in relief for Huntsville this season, compiling a record of 5-4 with a 2.70 earned run average and one save. He won four straight decisions between April 24 and May 28 and earned his lone save on May 6 at West Tenn. Bray threw 15 1/3 shutout innings between April 24 and May 11 and went 34 1/3 innings before issuing his first walk of the season. Milwaukee selected Bray from Kansas City in the minor league portion of the Rule V draft in December. RHP Steve Bray's Brewerfan Player Index Page: www.brewerfan.net/ViewPla...ayerId=877 http://www.huntsvillestars.com/images/news/Bray,%20Stephen%2036t.JPG

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Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...006070717/ Elkins native glad to be playing closer to home Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter Kyle Pawelczyk must feel like Lucky Starr, Hank Snow and Johnny Cash. Like the title of the chart-topping hit they all sang, it probably seems like he has been everywhere, man. Here is a list of the Elkins native's stops during his junior college and professional baseball careers: Marianna, Fla. Tempe, Ariz. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Provo, Utah. Evansville, Ind. Fort Wayne, Ind. Now, Pawelczyk (pronounced pa-WELL-check) can add one more town to that list: Charleston. Obviously, the West Virginian couldn't be happier. "It's always good to play at home," said Pawelczyk, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound left-handed pitcher who is the latest addition to the West Virginia Power roster. "This is the closest I have been to my house. "Everybody who is from my hometown and everybody who has read about me in the papers here can come see me pitch and see us play." Pawelczyk didn't pitch Thursday, as West Virginia split a South Atlantic League doubleheader with Asheville in front of an Appalachian Power Park crowd of 5,537. The Power won the first game, 5-1, behind the pitching of Will Inman (no runs, three hits, 10 strikeouts and one walk in five innings) and the hitting of Kenny Holmberg (2-for-4 with three RBI). The Tourists won the second game, 9-5, in extra innings, thanks to a six-run 10th. Chris Cook's grand slam in that inning proved to be the difference after the Power scored two runs in its final at-bat. As for Pawelczyk, his niche on the Power pitching staff has yet to be determined. "I'm not really sure what my role will be," said Pawelczyk, who throws four pitches -- a two-seam fastball (87-91 mph), a four-seam fastball (87-91 mph), a curveball (76-81 mph) and a changeup (78-81 mph). "They will get me in the games and see what I can do, then we will go from there." Pawelczyk was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2000 (25th round, 746th pick) after his final season at Elkins High School. Then, he was selected by the Montreal Expos in 2001 (11th round, 322nd pick) after his first season at Chipola College. But Pawelczyk didn't sign with either team. Next, he was drafted by Anaheim in 2002 (third round, 84th pick) after his second season at the Florida junior college and agreed to a contract with the Angels, receiving a $460,000 signing bonus in the process. Pawelczyk had accepted a scholarship from Louisiana State University and would have played for the Southeastern Conference perennial power if he hadn't signed with the Angels. The left-hander was a starting pitcher in his first two seasons (2002 and 2003), compiling a 4-6 record and a 4.91 earned run average with 74 strikeouts and 54 walks in 77 innings during stints with Angels' affiliates in the Arizona, Midwest and Pioneer leagues. He split time as a starter and reliever in his third season (2004), posting a 3-3 record and an 8.47 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 24 walks in 34 innings at Provo. The Angels released Pawelczyk last year during spring training. He caught on with the Evansville Otters of the independent Frontier League, where he compiled an 0-1 record and a 4.91 ERA with 14 strikeouts and 14 walks in 18 1/3 innings. The San Diego Padres signed Pawelczyk in February. He appeared in seven games with their Midwest League affiliate at Fort Wayne, Ind. He posted a 1-0 record and 5.56 ERA with six strikeouts and eight walks in 11 1/3 innings. San Diego released Pawelczyk, who then returned to Evansville. He compiled a 1-2 record and a 2.84 ERA with 25 strikeouts and five walks in 19 innings. His performance with the Otters this summer caught the attention of the Milwaukee Brewers, who signed Pawelczyk on Monday and assigned him to West Virginia on Wednesday. "It's really nice to get back into it," Pawelczyk said of playing minor league baseball with an affiliated team again. "I missed it -- the camaraderie, the atmosphere. It's a great group of guys. It's a joy to be here. "It's hard to get back (from an independent league). It takes a lot of work and a lot of dedication. You have to work your butt off and, hopefully, you get a door opened for you like I did." The 24-year-old Pawelczyk suffered a setback in 2003, when he had surgery to repair partial tears in the rotator cuff and labrum in his pitching shoulder. "It was really hard because I didn't know how I was going to come back from that," said Pawelczyk, who was a Class AAA All-State first-team selection at Elkins in 2000 after posting a 9-1 record with an 1.48 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings during his senior season. "There is a 50-50 chance you won't come back from that. "It takes a lot of hard work in rehab. Mentally, it drains you because your arm was healthy and then it isn't. Some guys come back fast; some guys come back slow. "It took me almost two years to get back to where I was. My velocity wasn't there and my control wasn't there. I just had to get back to what felt right for me." In addition to help from Chipola College Coach Jeff Johnson, Pawelczyk attributes his comeback to the Frontier League. "They let you do what you want to do and what you think you need to do," Pawelczyk said. "That helps you because you can get back to what feels right to you. "They are behind you and they help you out, but with an independent league team you are more on your own when it comes to working on stuff. But if they see something going wrong with you, they will help you." For Kyle Pawelczyk, of Elkins, his baseball travels finally have gotten him back to the Mountain State. Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Craig Cunningham http://www.dailymail.com/images/Pawelcz0707.jpg

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/barons/birming...amp;coll=2 Lights shine of Broadway DOUG SEGREST Birmingham News staff writer Yovani Gallardo, the Huntsville Stars' 20-year-old pitching prodigy, hasn't allowed an earned run in three Southern League starts. It didn't matter Thursday night. Shortstop Milko Jaramillo dropped a routine pop fly in the fifth inning, allowing Birmingham's Thomas Collaro to score the game's first run. That's all the help Barons starter Lance Broadway needed. The former TCU star pitched eight shutout innings as the Barons snapped a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory. Striking out seven and scattering six hits, Broadway (5-6) demoted the Huntsville offense from legendary to ordinary. Keep in mind, Broadway tamed an attack that scored 21 runs in the first two games of the series and averages 11 runs for each of its five wins at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. "He pitched a darn good ball game," pitching coach Richard Dotson said. "He got ahead, he got his breaking ball over for strikes." The Barons improved to 10-8 with the victory and remained one game off the pace off first-place Montgomery in the Southern League's South Division. Huntsville dropped to 7-11 before a crowd of 4,334 at the Met. For most of the season, Broadway and fellow starting prospects Ray Liotta and Tyler Lumsden have vied for the "wow" factor. ESPN's Peter Gammons predicted the trio would be the key to the success of the Chicago White Sox for years to come. Thus, each time out is a chance for one to get the upper hand on the others. "It's always a friendly rivalry," said Broadway. "But everyone wants to be the ace." That designation goes to Lumsden, tonight's starter. For now. "The good thing is, I don't have to challenge them," Dotson said. The competition for ace status "is already on. In fact, all five guys in our rotation have the potential to help the big-league team. "I think Lance took a step forward tonight, though. When you have a two-game skid where no one is pitching well, you need someone to step up. He did." The Barons threatened to blow the game open twice in the late innings. Chris Getz led off the seventh with a triple, but was stranded. An inning later, Cory Aldridge legged one out, as well, and scored on Collaro's third hit of the game, a double that smoked the left fielder. "He's more comfortable," hitting coach Andy Tomberlin said of the red-hot Collaro. "He's swinging at better pitches and he's learned to make adjustments at the Double-A level. He's picked us up a lot the last 10 days." As for Huntsville's Gallardo (0-1), he left in the fifth with his streak without allowing an earned run extended to 18 2/3 innings.

Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section.../200607071 Power splits K-filled twin bill By Jim Workman For The Charleston Gazette The Toastman really got a workout on Thursday night ? and early this morning. Power pitchers struck out 27 Asheville batters in a late-night doubleheader against the Tourists in a South Atlantic League doubleheader before 5,537 fans at Appalachian Power Park. The teams split, with the Power winning the first game 5-1 and Asheville taking the nightcap 9-5 in 10 innings. Power starter Will Inman struck out 10 batters in just five innings work in the first game of the doubleheader to pace the Power. In the second game ? both were scheduled seven-inning contests ? Asheville scored six runs in the 10th to rally for the win. Eric Young Jr. doubled in a run while Travis Becktel singled in a run to make it 5-3. Christopher Cook provided some insurance for the Tourists with a grand slam that sailed over the left-field fence just past the midnight hour. The Power answered with two runs in the bottom of the 10th but came up short. Tony Festa crossed the dish on an error and Darren Ford delivered an RBI single to cut the Asheville lead to 9-5. But the Power ran out of gas at 12:19 a.m. when the final out was recorded. Dexter Fowler got the scoring started in the third inning to give the Tourists a 1-0 advantage. The Power rallied for three runs in the fourth however to take a 3-1 lead. Mat Gamel tied it at 1-1 by stroking an RBI single to right. Michael Bell followed immediately with an RBI single, a flair to right, and Ken Holmberg drew a bases-loaded walk to round out the scoring. The Power missed more scoring opportunities in the fourth and fifth when the bases were left loaded. Asheville plated two runs in the sixth to tie it at 3. Becktel popped an RBI double and later scored from third on a wild pitch. The Power moves to 46-37 overall and 7-7 in the second half. Asheville is 45-40 overall, 10-4 in the second half. In the 5-1 Power win in the first game, Inman (4-1) gave up just three hits and walked just one. Power reliever Dane Renkert gave up an unearned run in the sixth as Hurricane, West Virginia native Daniel Carte singled, scoring a run when Power catcher Nestor Corredor dropped the ball upon contact with the runner. Renkert contributed another four Ks. Eight different Tourists batters went down via the punchout, prompting a flurry of toast showers. Bell and Holmberg were the offensive stars for West Virginia. Bell collected three hits including a double and an RBI while Holmberg went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Tony Festa added an RBI single in the fifth. Xavier Cedeno (5-5) took the loss for Asheville. The Power will conclude the current homestand tonight with a 7:05 game with Asheville (6:05 Central). It will be the final game in Charleston for the Tourists this season. Asheville manager Joe Mikulik has reached a level of familiarity with sports fans of late following his recent lengthy, colorful argument with an umpire that made several national sports highlight shows ? which also resulted in a 10-game suspension. He endured many friendly and imaginative heckles over the four-game series in Charleston.

Link while active, text follows: www.helenair.com/articles...706_01.txt Mustangs run roughshod over Brewers By JEFF WINDMUELLER - Independent Record Sports Writer The Helena Brewers suffered more errors than hits Thursday and fell to the Billings Mustangs 8-0 at Kindrick Legion Field. The Brewers had five errors to just three hits against the Pioneer League?s North Division leaders. The Brewers are now 7-10 while the Mustangs jump to 11-5. Not even the hour-long rain delay in the top of the third inning could give Helena a break from a Billings club that had timely hitting and solid pitching. Mustangs starter Dane Mason had two strikeouts and a no-hitter before the delay and extended his performance even further into the fifth inning, ending his perfect game when he hit Chris Errecart in the batter?s box. It was the first time a Helena batter got on base. ?(Mason) threw strikes, that?s the key,? said Mustangs manager, Rick Burleson. ?When you can locate like he did you?re going to be successful.? And his relievers were too. Kevin Gunter had a rough sixth inning against the Brewers, loading the bases for Stephen Chapman, the Brewers top hitter. But Gunter was able to strike out Chapman and then Andy Bouchie to end the inning. Jeremy Burchett closed the last two innings with only one hit for the Mustangs. The Brewers, meanwhile, didn?t have as much luck defensively. In the first inning, Jordan Swaydan missed Billy Rojo?s grounder to third for an error, then pitcher Roque Mercedes errored on a pick-off attempt to first. A wild pitch brought the runner to third and Justin Turner brought him home off a shallow-hit ball into centerfield. Turner would eventually come in off a double to centerfield by Chris Valaika, and Drew Stubbs would bring Valaika home on a nearly identical double as well. The Mustangs scored twice more in the third after the inning was interrupted by the delay. Danny Dorn and Drew Stubbs both scored in that inning, Stubbs batted in Valaika once again in the seventh and Logan Parker and Valiaka came home in the ninth off a bloop to right field by Jason Lowsma. The Mustangs finished with 11 hits on the evening and no errors. Two of the Brewers? three hits came in the sixth-inning jam that loaded the bases for Gunter. Taylor Green and Chuckie Caufield singled after David Parker walked. The final hit came in the eighth when Green singled to third. Swaydan had two of the team?s errors, but it was the first time that the Brewer played at third base. Swaydan is listed as a catcher, one of five on the squad. The Brewers will face Billings again at Kindrick Legion, today beginning at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

Final: Billings (Reds) 8, Helena 0 Details from the Helena press coverage in the AM... Helena Box Score and Game Log Link: More errors (five) than hits (three); not sure how much time if any catcher-by-trade Jordan Swaydan (two errors) has seen at third base; spots 3-9 combine to go 0-for-22 with a walk and an HBP; RHP Stuart Sutherland with a pretty strong relief effort; still waiting on RHP Roque Mercedes' promise; 23-year-old shortstop David Parker, released by the Padres after a struggling Arizona Rookie season last year, seems overmatched in the early going here as well... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

Batman's been toiling hard for us: www.brewerfan.net/ViewDai...Archive.do

Final: Nashville 5, Memphis (Cardinals) 3 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Brent Abernathy photo, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2042 Sounds Sweep Redbirds With 5-3 Victory MEMPHIS, Tenn. ? The Nashville Sounds finished off a sweep of the division-rival Memphis Redbirds with a 5-3 victory on Thursday evening at AutoZone Park in the finale of a three-game series. With the victory, Nashville (46-40) recorded its fourth win in its last five contests and the club?s first regular-season three game sweep on an opponent in over three years, dating back to July 4-6, 2003 against Oklahoma. The Sounds jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three consecutive RBI singles against Memphis starter Travis Smith in the top of the second inning. Graham Koonce walked to open the frame and Brent Abernathy (3-for-4) singled to right to put runners on the corners before Mark Johnson, Dave Krynzel, and Ozzie Chavez each produced a run-scoring knock in succession for Nashville. In the following at-bat, Krynzel was thrown out at the plate while trying to score on a grounder to third off the bat of Sounds pitcher Wilton Chavez. Memphis got on the board in the bottom of the frame with a two-out run against Chavez. After the first two batters were retired, John Gall reached on an infield single, moved to second on a Rico Washington walk, and came around to score the Redbirds? first run on Mike Rose?s RBI single to left, making it a 3-1 contest. Nashville tacked on an insurance run in the seventh when Jermaine Clark?s two-out single off Memphis reliever Brad Thompson brought home Kennard Bibbs to up the visitors? advantage to 4-1. Chavez worked four innings for the Sounds in a spot start while filling the rotation spot of the promoted Dana Eveland. The right-hander allowed one run on two hits while walking two and striking out four batters. Mike Meyers (3-4) followed Chavez with three scoreless frames of one-hit ball to pick up the victory. He struck out four batters in the outing and snapped a personal four-game losing streak with the win. The Redbirds pulled within a run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double by John Nelson and a pinch-hit RBI single off the bat of Derek Wathan. Both hits came against Sounds reliever Chris Demaria, who recovered to leave the potential tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position after Memphis had runners on second and third with only one out. The right-hander induced a groundout from Washington and a Rose flyout to escape the jam with Nashville?s 4-3 lead intact. Sounds RBI leader Nelson Cruz came through in the ninth to provide a valuable insurance when he plated Zach Sorensen with a two-out single to right off Orber Moreno. AUDIO: Nelson Cruz RBI Single -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%207-6.wma Demaria worked a scoreless ninth and induced a game-ending double play grounder from Skip Schumaker to ice his first save of the season for the Sounds. Smith (3-3) took the loss after surrendering four runs on eight hits over his 6 2/3 frames. The Sounds travel to Round Rock, Texas on Friday to continue their road trip with the 7:05 p.m. opener of a three-game series against the Express (AAA-Astros). Right-hander Ben Hendrickson (7-2, 1.77), who leads the Pacific Coast League in ERA, will make the start for Nashville in the series opener. Round Rock will counter with right-hander Jared Gothreaux (3-6, 4.24). Nashville Box Score and Game Log Link: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_mrbaaa_1

Final, Game Two: Asheville (Rockies) 9, West Virginia 5, ten innings (scheduled for seven) Details from the Power site in the early AM; long night for broadcaster Andy Barch and the boys, doubleheader just ended at 12:20 AM local time; tied 3-3 going into the 10th, normally solid RHP Wil Laureano surrendered six runs in the inning; amazingly, the Power brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the bottom of the 10th in the person of Angel Salome (ground ball force out) and then Mat Gamel (game-ending ground out). Tony Festa with three hits and a walk; Derek Miller struck out nine in five innings; Asheville's Eric Young, Jr. averages one stolen base attempt per game -- he's 58-for-77 this season, yikes... West Virginia Game Two Box Score and Game Log Link: Power 5th: bases loaded, no outs, no runs -- ugh... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_2

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 2, Huntsville 1 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=909 Broadway Lights Up and Beats Stars Lance Broadway worked eight shutout innings, as Birmingham slowed down the red-hot Huntsville offense in a 2-1 win Thursday night in the middle game of a five-game set at the Hoover Met. The Barons improved to 10-8 in the second half but could gain no ground on South Division leader Montgomery, which shutout the Tennessee Smokies. The Stars slipped to 7-11 in the second half and saw their two-game win streak brought to an end. Huntsville was held to seven hits and their lowest run total in Birmingham after producing 57 runs on 76 in the first seven contests. Ehren Wasserman took over for Broadway in the ninth inning and allowed a one-out double to Ryan Braun, who moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by J.C. Boscan to trim the lead to 2-1. Travis Ezi battled back from an 0-2 count to get to a full count but grounded out to end the game, as Wasserman recorded his 17th save in 22 tries. Broadway won for the first time since May 8 and did not allow an earned run for a sixth time in 18 starts. He struck out seven, did not walk a batter, permitted only one runner to reach third base and beat the Stars for a second time in three turns. Stars? starter Yovani Gallardo walked the bases loaded in the first inning but escaped trouble by getting Gustavo Molina to pop out to end the frame. He allowed two singles in the second inning but got out of that jam by getting Pedro Lopez to fly out to right field for the final out of the frame. Thomas Collaro singled with one out in the fourth and moved to second base when Michael Myers followed with a base hit. Chris Amador was called out on strikes for the second out before Chris Getz lifted a pop up to shallow left field that was dropped by shortstop Milko Jaramillo, allowing Collaro to score the game?s first run and Myers to advance to third base. Gallardo got Lopez to foul out to end the inning. Gallardo was taken out after 4 2/3 innings and suffered his first loss in three starts at the double-A level. He gave up four hits, walked five and struck out five and has not yielded an earned run in 18 2/3 innings since joining the Stars. Huntsville has not scored in the last 17 1/3 innings that the 20-year old right-hander has worked in. Gerrit Simpson tossed scoreless relief for 2 1/3 innings before Chris Mabeus gave up a run in the eighth inning on a double by Thomas Collaro that scored Cory Aldridge, who had led off the frame with a triple. The Barons have been held to three runs on 18 hits in the three games of the series. The series continues Friday night with right-hander Corey Thurman taking the hill against Barons? left-hander Tyler Lumsden. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1450 AM and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score and Game Log Link: Yo not quite himself as indicated above; reliever Gerrit Simpson deserves a shot at AAA before season's end; veteran backup catcher J.C. Boscan's roster spot seems tenuous at best at this time, what with recent signings and such... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_1

MLB.com, as discussed in the Draft Forum: MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers signed third-round draft pick Cole Gillespie on Thursday, the last of their top 10 picks in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft to sign. Gillespie was selected out of Oregon State, the College World Series champions. One of the team's co-captains, he led the national champs in batting average, runs, hits, doubles, RBIs, home runs, and finished second in stolen bases and triples. He was named a first-team All-American by Baseball America and was named the Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year. Though the Beavers listed him as an infielder/outfielder, Gillespie projects to play a corner outfield spot in the Brewers system. Gillespie will be assigned to Helena of the rookie league.

MLB.com, as discussed in the Draft Forum: MILWAUKEE -- The Brewers signed third-round draft pick Cole Gillespie on Thursday, the last of their top 10 picks in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft to sign. Gillespie was selected out of Oregon State, the College World Series champions. One of the team's co-captains, he led the national champs in batting average, runs, hits, doubles, RBIs, home runs, and finished second in stolen bases and triples. He was named a first-team All-American by Baseball America and was named the Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year. Though the Beavers listed him as an infielder/outfielder, Gillespie projects to play a corner outfield spot in the Brewers system. Gillespie will be assigned to Helena of the rookie league.

Outfielder Zach Clem, injured in an outfield collision in the first week of the Pioneer League season, back in the lineup at DH tonight for Helena.

LHP Derek Miller your nightcap starter for the Power -- that's a nice little parlay, Miller and Inman...

Final, Game One: West Virginia 5, Asheville (Rockies) 1 West Virginia Game One Box Score and Game Log Link: We've been wowed by young Brewer pitchers in years past, but never with the combination of polish and sheer dominance that we're seeing from Yo Gallardo, and at this level, Will Inman. A 2nd round pick (Yo), a 3rd round pick (Will), oh those choices are so important -- the future's so bright, we gotta wear shades (or sunglasses at night, for that matter); Inman put the lead man on in three of five innings, how's that for nit-picking... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

RHP Wilton Chavez is your Nashville spot starter in Dana Eveland's absence tonight.

Final: Arizona Brewers 11, Arizona Cubs 1 Just a warm-up for tonight's game at Miller Park... Arizona Brewer Box Score and Game Log Link: 20-year-old RHP Amaury Rivas with a very strong five-inning start; could have been a bigger rout -- Cubs turned four double plays; when does the organizational catcher shuffle begin with Carlos Lee toying with rookie ball pitchers? This squad has more advanced position players than in recent years, and the offense has reflected that as of late; clean defense, too -- this was a coaches' dream today for the A-Crew; a comfortable 88 degrees as well... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_cubrok_1

Final: Brevard County 9, Jupiter (Marlins) 3 Brevard County Site Game Summary: Manatees nail Hammerheads Alcides Escobar's three-run double highlighted Brevard County's five-run eighth inning as the visiting Manatees defeated Jupiter, 9-3, on Thursday afternoon. Brevard County (4-8) snapped a five-game skid, while Jupiter (5-9) saw its four-game winning streak come to an end. Escobar drove in four of Brevard County's nine runs. The 19-year-old shortstop hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning before breaking the game open with his bases-clearing two-bagger in the eighth. Hernan Iribarren laced an RBI triple in the sixth, while Freddy Parejo went 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored. Four of the Manatees' runs were a result of errors committed by Jupiter's infield. Second baseman Steve Gendron had two miscues, while shortstop Brian Cleveland and third baseman Grant Psomas were each assessed one. Jupiter got on the board in the fifth inning, as Jai Miller walked to lead off the frame and eventually scored on Dante Brinkley's groundout. Miller contributed a two-run double in the sixth. Josh Wahpepah (4-3) got the win, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on four hits over 5 1/3 innings. Joe Thatcher and Robert Hinton combined on 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Trevor Hutchinson (3-3) took the loss, surrendering four runs -- two earned -- on five hits over six innings. Harvey Garcia allowed five runs -- three earned -- on four hits while retiring four. -- Benjamin Hill/MLB.com Additional details from the Jupiter Site: Jupiter and Brevard played a wet one Thursday morning, and it took a Florida rainstorm to wash away the Hammerheads? four-game winning streak. Trevor Hutchinson started for the home team, and he went six, giving up five hits and four runs, although only two were earned. He walked none and struck out four. He also hit three batters. He had given up just one run before he came out for the sixth. He gave up three in that inning, highlighted by Hernan Iribarren?s RBI triple. Jai Miller had an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two and cutting the lead to 4-3 Brevard. The Hammerheads were in good position at that point, with runners on second and third with only one out. Steve Gendron was up next. He grounded into a fielder?s choice to third, with Dominick Ambrosini, the tying run, being thrown out at the plate. Catcher Greg Brown then flied out to end the inning. That would be the closest Jupiter came on Thursday, because the Manatees put up five in the eighth off Harvey Garcia. The game was then called in the top of the ninth with a rainstorm coming through Palm Beach County. Friday?s scheduled starters are RHP Gaby Hernandez for Jupiter and RHP Mike Jones for Brevard. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). Brevard County Box Score and Game Log Link: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_jupafa_1

Official Nashville Press Release: The Milwaukee Brewers have promoted Sounds left-hander Dana Eveland and All-Star catcher Mike Rivera to the big leagues. Eveland -- who was scheduled to start tonight's series finale in Memphis for Nashville -- has been nothing short of dominant in Pacific Coast League play this season, posting a 3-3 record and miniscule 1.78 ERA (13 ER / 65.2 IP) that is good for second among PCL hurlers, trailing only teammate Ben Hendrickson's 1.77 mark. Eveland made 11 starts for Nashville and struck out 74 batters while walking only 23 in his 65 2/3 innings of work. The left-hander's final outing for the Sounds was the best of his young career. On July 1 against Round Rock, Eveland struck out a career-best 12 batters while allowing just one hit over 7 1/3 scoreless innings but took a no-decision in the contest following a late collapse by the Nashville bullpen. Eveland, who went 0-3 with a 8.51 ERA (23 ER / 24.1IP) in five starts for the Brewers during an earlier stint with the club this season, was recalled to fill the spot of Carlos Villanueva on the Milwaukee pitching staff. Villanueva was optioned to Nashville and will join the Sounds in Round Rock on Friday. Rivera, who was voted as the starting PCL catcher for next week's Triple-A All-Star Game in Toledo, had his contract purchased by Milwaukee and will make his first Major League appearance since 2003 when he enters his first game. The 29-year-old backstop has spent the entire season with the Sounds and batted .297 (63-for-212) with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs in 59 games. He led Nashville with 14 multiple-RBI efforts and ranked second to Nelson Cruz in homers and RBIs. Rivera was adept at receiving the Sounds' league-leading pitching staff, which posted a spectacular 2.86 ERA when he was behind the plate. He threw out 12 of 40 attempted basestealers (30 percent). To clear a spot on their 25- and 40-man rosters for Rivera, the Brewers designated catcher Chad Moeller for assignment. Following today's transactions, the Sounds' active roster stands at 21 players, three short of the limit (the roster will be at 22, two short, once Villanueva reports Friday).

Official Nashville Press Release: The Milwaukee Brewers have promoted Sounds left-hander Dana Eveland and All-Star catcher Mike Rivera to the big leagues. Eveland -- who was scheduled to start tonight's series finale in Memphis for Nashville -- has been nothing short of dominant in Pacific Coast League play this season, posting a 3-3 record and miniscule 1.78 ERA (13 ER / 65.2 IP) that is good for second among PCL hurlers, trailing only teammate Ben Hendrickson's 1.77 mark. Eveland made 11 starts for Nashville and struck out 74 batters while walking only 23 in his 65 2/3 innings of work. The left-hander's final outing for the Sounds was the best of his young career. On July 1 against Round Rock, Eveland struck out a career-best 12 batters while allowing just one hit over 7 1/3 scoreless innings but took a no-decision in the contest following a late collapse by the Nashville bullpen. Eveland, who went 0-3 with a 8.51 ERA (23 ER / 24.1IP) in five starts for the Brewers during an earlier stint with the club this season, was recalled to fill the spot of Carlos Villanueva on the Milwaukee pitching staff. Villanueva was optioned to Nashville and will join the Sounds in Round Rock on Friday. Rivera, who was voted as the starting PCL catcher for next week's Triple-A All-Star Game in Toledo, had his contract purchased by Milwaukee and will make his first Major League appearance since 2003 when he enters his first game. The 29-year-old backstop has spent the entire season with the Sounds and batted .297 (63-for-212) with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs in 59 games. He led Nashville with 14 multiple-RBI efforts and ranked second to Nelson Cruz in homers and RBIs. Rivera was adept at receiving the Sounds' league-leading pitching staff, which posted a spectacular 2.86 ERA when he was behind the plate. He threw out 12 of 40 attempted basestealers (30 percent). To clear a spot on their 25- and 40-man rosters for Rivera, the Brewers designated catcher Chad Moeller for assignment. Following today's transactions, the Sounds' active roster stands at 21 players, three short of the limit (the roster will be at 22, two short, once Villanueva reports Friday).

In progress: Brevard County 1, Jupiter (Marlins) 0, bottom of the 5th in Jupiter Listen in, follow along with the game log, linked here; Josh Wahpepah one hit allowed through four... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_jupafa_1

Standings through Wednesday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 45 40 .529 - 28-19 17-21 W2[/b] Iowa 40 45 .471 5.0 21-20 19-25 L1 Memphis 36 49 .424 9.0 18-25 18-24 L2 Omaha 33 53 .384 12.5 19-20 14-33 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 11 6 .647 - 6-4 5-2 W2 Tennessee 11 6 .647 - 6-1 5-5 W3 West Tenn 9 8 .529 2.0 4-3 5-5 L2 Carolina 8 9 .471 3.0 5-5 3-4 W1 [b]Huntsville 7 10 .412 4.0 3-7 4-3 W2[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 10 2 .833 - 5-1 5-1 W1 Daytona 9 3 .750 1.0 5-3 4-0 L1 Jupiter 5 8 .385 5.5 4-4 1-4 W4 Palm Beach 5 8 .385 5.5 3-2 2-6 L4 Vero Beach 5 8 .385 5.5 1-4 4-4 W2 [b]Brevard County 3 8 .273 6.5 2-3 1-5 L5[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 10 4 .714 - 6-1 4-3 W3 Lake County 7 7 .500 3.0 4-3 3-4 L1 [b]West Virginia 6 6 .500 3.0 3-1 3-5 L1[/b] Hagerstown 6 7 .462 3.5 4-5 2-2 W1 Greensboro 6 8 .429 4.0 2-4 4-4 L3 Hickory 5 9 .357 5.0 4-6 1-3 L3 Delmarva 4 9 .308 5.5 2-2 2-7 L5 Lexington 4 10 .286 6.0 3-3 1-7 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 10 5 .667 - 6-2 4-3 W2 Great Falls 8 8 .500 2.5 3-5 5-3 L3 [b]Helena 7 9 .438 3.5 3-5 4-4 W3[/b] Missoula 6 9 .400 4.0 3-4 3-5 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Giants 8 4 .667 - 3-3 5-1 L3 AZL Mariners 8 4 .667 - 4-1 4-3 L1 AZL Royals 8 4 .667 - 3-3 5-1 W3 AZL Padres 6 5 .545 1.5 3-3 3-2 W1 AZL Angels 5 6 .455 2.5 3-4 2-2 W2 AZL Rangers 5 6 .455 2.5 2-3 3-3 L3 AZL Athletics 4 7 .364 3.5 2-2 2-5 L2 [b]AZL Brewers 4 7 .364 3.5 2-4 2-3 L1[/b] AZL Cubs 3 8 .273 4.5 1-5 2-3 W2