Jim Goulart

Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Nelson Cruz photo, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1994 Sounds Fall To Zephyrs In Road Trip Opener METAIRIE, La. -- Josh Labandeira's seventh-inning RBI single lifted New Orleans to a 6-5 victory over visiting Nashville on Thursday evening at Zephyr Field in the opener of a four-game series. After Brandon Larson scored the tying run on a double play, Labandeira delivered a grounder up the middle to give New Orleans the lead for good. The Zephyrs won their fifth straight game while the Sounds suffered their third consecutive defeat. Both teams put up two runs in the first. Nelson Cruz and Mike Rivera hit RBI singles for the Sounds, while Larry Broadway delivered a run-scoring single and Henry Mateo scored on an error by third baseman Jermaine Clark for the Zephyrs. Broadway went 3-for-3. An RBI single by Graham Koonce and a sacrifice fly by Rivera in the third gave Nashville a 4-2 lead. Cruz added a run-scoring double in the fifth. AUDIO: Nelson Cruz RBI Double -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%206-8.wma In the bottom of the fifth, Mateo scored on a forceout by Larson. Brandon Harper's RBI single brought the Zephyrs within 5-4. Reliever Kevin Gryboski (3-4) earned the win after striking out one in a perfect seventh. Roy Corcoran tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up his fourth consecutive save and Minor League-leading 20th of the season. Sounds reliever Mitch Stetter (2-3) took the loss after surrendering two runs on three hits in one inning. ***Sounds leave bases loaded to end game The Nashville Sounds left the bases full in the top of the ninth inning as the New Orleans Zephyrs hung on to win 6-5 Thursday night. The game saw Zephyrs Manager Tim Foli depart in the second inning with heat-related problems. The former major leaguer was taken to an area hospital and there was no word on his condition. Both teams are now 33-27 going into game two of the four-game series tonight. Trailing 5-4, New Orleans scored the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the seventh. After back-to-back singles by Zephyrs Brandon Larson and Larry Broadway, Sounds pitcher Mitch Stetter hit Brandon Harper to load the bases. Larson scored when Kenny Kelly ground into a double play. Then after Alec Zumwalt replaced Stetter, Josh Labandeira drove in the winning run with a single to right that scored Broadway. Nashville wasn't done yet. Still down a run in the top of the ninth, Dave Krynzel drew a one-out walk off new reliever Roy Corcoran and Brent Abernathy followed with a single to right to put runners at the corners. Abernathy then stole second and Nelson Cruz walked to load the bases. Graham Koonce then struck out swinging for the second out, leaving it up to Mike Rivera to keep the Sounds' hopes alive. But Rivera flied out to left fielder Henry Mateo, ending the threat. Both teams scored twice in the first inning. Nashville got on the scoreboard first. Tony Gwynn led off with a walk and Krynzel followed with a single. Both runners advanced on Abernathy's sacrifice bunt up the first base line and Cruz then flied to left, scoring Gwynn with the first run. Krynzel then scored to make it 2-0 when Rivera singled to right field. The Zephyrs evened the score at 2-2 after back-to-back walks to open the bottom half of the inning put Henry Mateo and Bernie Castro at first and second, respectively. Castro then scored on Larry Broadway's single to left. Mateo stole third and scored on an error by Sounds third baseman Jermaine Clark. Nashville went up 4-2 in the top of the third and led 5-2 before New Orleans cut into the deficit with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Sounds' third inning saw Krynzel open with a single, advance to second on a walk to Cruz and then score on a Koonce single to right field. That put Cruz on third and he then scored on Rivera's sacrifice fly. In the top of the fifth, Nashville added a run when Abernathy bunted back to the mound and then reached second on a throwing error by Zephyrs pitcher Billy Traber. Abernathy then scored on a Cruz double to left. New Orleans answered with two in the bottom of the fifth. Mateo singled, took second on a passed ball, stole third and scored on a forceout at second. Brandon Larson reached first and later scored on Brandon Harper's single to left.

Final: Hagerstown (Mets) 6, West Virginia 4, regularly scheduled game (seven innings) Sweep a crushing blow to first-half title hopes... West Virginia Site Summary: SUNS TAKE TWO FROM POWER The Hagerstown Suns took two games from the West Virginia Power in a double header at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, Maryland, winning 1-0 in the first game and 6-4 in the second. In game one Hagerstown scored the only run of the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-out RBI double from Leivi Ventura. The Power had runners on first and second base when Ryan Crew flew out deep into right field to end the game. The 1-0 loss marked the third time this year that the Power have been shut out. In game two the Suns jumped on top 3-0 in the first inning. Joe Holden scored the first run on a wild pitch and Nick Evans knocked in the next two runs with his ninth home run of the season. In the second inning Ned Yost led off with a double and scored on a wild pitch. Evans ripped an RBI double in the bottom of the third to give the Suns a 4-1 lead and the Suns scored their final two runs on RBI singles from Jon Schemmel and Jonathan Sanchez. Angel Salome brought the Power within two on a pinch-hit three-run double in the top of the seventh inning. The game ended when Michael Brantley hit a ball deep into left center field where center fielder Fernando Martinez made a terrific diving catch. In game one Eric Brown (3-2) pitched a complete game shutout to earn the win and Rafael Lluberes (3-3) obtained the loss despite only allowing a run on four hits through five innings. In game two Deolis Guerrera (1-3) earned the victory, German Marte (3) earned the save and Robbie Wooley (2-2) obtained the loss. The Power are 32-27 after the losses and the Suns improved to 23-37 with the wins. The Power will begin a three game series against the Hickory Crawdads at L.P. Frans Stadium in Hickory, North Carolina on Friday night. Hickory will start right hander Joe Bauserman (3-4, 3.75) and the Power will counter with left hander Derek Miller (6-1, 2.95). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM (6:00 Central). West Virginia Game Two Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1 West Virginia Game Two Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1

Final: Hagerstown (Mets) 1, West Virginia 0, completion of April 21st suspended game West Virginia Game One Box Score: Disregard the YTD averages and ERA's -- incorrect, back to April... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1

Final: New Orleans (Nationals) 6, Nashville 5 Details in the AM... Nashville Box Score: Sounds led 5-2 at one point; Nelson Cruz on base four times, Dave Krynzel three times; Dana Eveland largely ineffective; when was the last time Mitch Stetter impressed at all? www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nozaaa_1 Nashville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nozaaa_1

Final: Jacksonville (Dodgers) 10, Huntsville 7 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=871 Seventh Inning Rally Lets Suns Eclipse Stars A.J. Zapp and Justin Ruggiano delivered back-to-back two-run singles in a four-run seventh inning, as Jacksonville overcame a seven-run deficit to down Huntsville 10-7 Thursday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. The Suns have won all seven games against the Stars this season and improved to 42-20, while the Stars lost their fourth straight to fall to 23-37 overall and 14-18 away from home. Chin-Lung Hu reached with one out in the seventh on an Ozzie Chavez fielding error, Tony Abreu reached base on a Callix Crabbe misplay and Tydus Meadows walked to load the bases. Zapp then grounded a 2-2 Khalid Ballouli pitch into right field to score Hu and Abreu to give the Suns an 8-7 lead and move Meadows to third. Zapp advanced to second base on a throwing error to the plate by right fielder Travis Ezi and scored along with Meadows on Ruggiano?s line drive single to center field. The seven run comeback was the Suns biggest of the season and gave the home team 17 wins in their last 18 games. Ballouli was tagged with the loss after allowing four unearned runs over an inning and two-thirds of relief work. Alvis Ojeda tossed scoreless relief in the sixth and seventh innings to earn the win and Carlos Alvarez retired all six hitters he faced and fanned four to earn his first save. The Suns have recorded a save in all seven wins over Huntsville. Ozzie Chavez knocked in a second inning run with a sacrifice fly to give the visitors the lead and starting pitcher Tim Dillard capped a four-run fourth inning rally with a two-out, three-run home run, the first by a Stars? hurler this season. Adam Heether and Lou Palmisano had run-scoring hits in the fifth inning to push the visitors? advantage to 7-0. Jacksonville starter Danny Muegge yielded all seven runs on nine hits and was removed after five innings. Dillard blanked the Suns on three singles through the first four innings before giving up five runs in the fifth. Abreu finished the rally with a three-run home run, his second in three days, and the first off Dillard since Tennessee?s Alex Frazier?s two-run blast on April 28 at Joe Davis Stadium. Dillard was taken out after 5 1/3 innings during which he allowed six runs on nine hits and one walk. He has lasted at least five innings in each of his last seven starts. The five-game series continues Friday night with Stars? right-hander Travis Phelps taking the mound against Suns? right-hander Heath Totten. Coverage of the game begins at 5:50 p.m. central time and can be heard on ESPN Radio 1450 AM locally and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score: Brad Nelson, Lou Palmisano three hits apiece... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_jaxaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_jaxaax_1

Final: Jupiter (Marlins) 4, Brevard County 2 Brevard County Site Game Summary: Hernandez tames Manatees Gabriel Hernandez gave up two hits while striking out eight over six innings as Jupiter held off Brevard County, 4-2, on Thursday at Space Coast Stadium. Hernandez allowed one unearned run and one walk but did not figure in the decision. The 22-year-old right-hander has 69 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings. Jesus Delgado (2-3) picked up the win with a hitless frame. Scott Nestor walked four batters and threw a run-scoring wild pitch in the eighth, but Harvey Garcia fanned three of the five batters he faced to complete the two-hitter and pick up his 11th save. The Manatees (32-26) took the lead on center fielder Dante Brinkley's error in the first, but the Hammerheads (27-32) knotted it in the fifth on a run-scoring single by J.T. Restko. Brett Carroll smacked an RBI single and Grant Psomas added a two-run double in the eighth to put Jupiter up for good. Brevard County starter Mark Rogers (1-3) allowed one unearned run -- on two hits and two walks over seven innings. He fanned 10 to lift his season total to 74 in 52 frames. -- Max Lance/MLB.com Brevard County Box Score: Been a while since we've seen the Escobar - Iribarren combo at the top of the order... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1 Brevard County Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

Nashville Media Notes: Right-hander Rick Helling, who spent a portion of the 2005 season with Nashville, will rejoin the Sounds tomorrow when he begins a rehabilitation stint. It is scheduled to be the first of two starts he makes for Nashville. The veteran hurler is currently on Milwaukee?s 60-day D.L. due to a sprained right elbow. Helling was initially placed on the Brewers? 15-day D.L. on April 16 and then transferred to the 60-day list on June 1. Prior to joining Nashville, his rehab included a pair of starts at the Brewers? extended spring training complex in Arizona. Helling threw 62 pitches in his most recent start, an extended spring training game at Maryvale Baseball Park in Phoenix. He is expected to get to the 80-85 pitch range in his next start. Right-hander Dennis Sarfate, who was scheduled to start on Saturday, will piggy-back Helling during his Nashville starts.

Reminder, the thread linked below will tell you when update articles have been posted for a particular player. This way, you won't have to scan the entire thread when there's an update, you'll know where to look: p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...=901.topic

June 8th updates: 31st rounder Rob Bryson 35th rounder Sanduan Dubose 42nd rounder Matt Peck (draft day no-hitter) 48th rounder Brandon Owens (added photo)

We learn more about the tall LHP signed as a draft-and-follow from the 2005 draft last week: Link while active, text follows -- toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs...2/0/SPORTS Ramlow signs deal with Brewers By MARK MONROE TOLEDO BLADE SPORTS WRITER Maumee (Ohio) native Mike Ramlow, a tall, lanky pitcher, has signed a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Ramlow, a 6-foot-7, 170-pound left-hander, recently wrapped up a career at Owens Community College, where he pitched in 11 games this spring, posting a 3-2 record with one save and a 1.74 earned-run average. He also recorded 70 strikeouts in 50 innings. "It's always been my dream since the first grade," Ramlow said. "My teachers asked me what I wanted to be, and I always said, 'A pro baseball player.'" In 2005, Ramlow went 5-1 with a 1.18 ERA in eight games for the Express. He notched 61 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings and was named the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference player of the year. Owens coach Bob Schultz said Ramlow's fastball reaches 92 to 93 miles per hour. "Mike throws hard and he can throw it past people, but he also has a nice curveball that drops 12 to 6," Schultz said. "He also has a polished change-up." Ramlow, 20, was drafted on June 8, 2005, in the 24th round by the Brewers. After his second season at Owens ended last month, Ramlow received college offers from Youngstown State, Cincinnati, and Michigan State. He signed to play at Central Michigan but opted to go professional. "I thought it was time to start," said Ramlow, who described the contract and signing bonus as too attractive to pass up. "It's like a regular job and I wanted to get an early start so I can work my way up quickly." He will report to the Single-A Helena Brewers later this month. Helena (Mont.) plays in the Pioneer League, an advanced rookie league that plays a short season. "I feel like the best is yet to come," Ramlow said. "I plan to put on 30-40 pounds." In his senior year at Maumee High School, he had an 8-2 record and a miniscule 1.13 ERA. He had 109 strikeouts and gave up just 43 hits in 74 innings. "He has all the intangibles,'' Maumee coach Cam Coutcher said. "He has things that you just can't coach. "He came into his own as a senior and dominated."

Apparently RHP Robbie Wooley will be starting the regularly scheduled Power game tonight. Now, with three no-hit innings thus far in the suspended game, is it painfully obvious that Wooley should just continue with that game, get in his six innings tonight (and potentially) make a little history? Instead, as noted above, Rafael Lluberes takes over in the suspended game. *sigh* (nothing against Lluberes...)

Link while active, text follows: www.herald-mail.com/?modu...ormat=html Nall brews up a shot for Power by BOB PARASILITI bobp@herald-mail.com When Brandon Nall is on, he's like espresso. On a good day, everything the Hagerstown Suns' reliever throws ends up being hot, potent and well grounded. Nall was on Wednesday and, because of that, the West Virginia Power will probably be up all night. Nall used his sidearming motion to fire 3 1/3 innings of effective relief to help the Suns protect a lead and pick up a 2-1 win over the Power, the top hitting team in the South Atlantic League. "That's my forte is throwing sidearm," said Nall (1-2), who got the win in relief of starting newcomer Nelson Portillo. "If I'm on, I get movement and ground balls. I guess it was moving good today. (The Power) haven't faced me much before and they were way out in front on their swings." It wasn't a picture-book ending for Nall, but it was everything the Suns needed for a win. He relieved Portillo with two outs in the fifth and got the benefits of the Suns' do-it-yourself, built-from-scratch two-run rally in the bottom of the inning. The movement off Nall's sidearm delivery forced West Virginia to hit grounders on seven of the 10 outs he recorded, including four that were bounced in front of the plate where either he or catcher Tony Piazza made the plays. "He did a real good job," Suns manager Frank Cacciatore said. "He was able to keep the ball on the ground and that's his style. When he doesn't have good stuff, that ball is usually in the air. He's done a great job for us from day one. He gets in there, rears back and throws." Nall got the first weak grounder from Ned Yost in the sixth with the Power threatening. West Virginia had runners on first and second when Yost bounced back to Nall, who fired to first for the out. Despite a walk to load the bases, Nall struck out Ryan Crew to end the threat. After three consecutive grounders - including two nubbers - to complete the seventh, Nall struggled through, but survived the eighth. After recording the first two outs, Nall issued walks to Mike Bell and Yost before Tony Festa cut the lead in half with a single to right. With runners on first and third, Nall uncorked a wild pitch past Piazza. Yost attempted to score from third, but he was tagged out at the plate by Nall. "Other than the last inning when I exploded, I was getting ahead in the count with my fastball," Nall said. "They were swinging early, but getting that first strike with my fastball was the key. In the end, I didn't lose focus ... I just lost the feel for the strike zone." The Suns took a 2-0 lead in the fifth, using bunts, sacrifices and aggressive running to construct the runs off starter Steve Garrison (1-1). Piazza started the rally with his second double of the night and took third, sliding just ahead of the throw off Elvis Cruz's bunt and scored on Joe Holden's sacrifice fly. With two outs and after Leivi Ventura walked, Nick Evan grounded to second base, but reached safely when first baseman Yost dropped the throw from Crew to let what became the winning run score. Kevin Tomasiewicz pitched the ninth to earn his fourth save. "Tomasiewicz did his job," Nall said. "I was able to come in and set up for him and was fortunate to hold the lead and that gave Tomasiewicz the chance to do his job. This was totally a team victory."

Brevard County third baseman Ryan Braun has been out of the lineup this week because he's on bereavement leave. Our best to Ryan at this time.

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Trying to get out of line A baseball prospect better create - rather than wait - his turn By MARK McCARTER Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com What are you going to do? Sitting up there in the big leagues, playing the same position as you, there's Prince Fielder. Or J.J. Hardy. Or Rickie Weeks. Or maybe down the bench from you is Randy Johnson. Or coming up behind in the organization, there are Larry Bowa and Mike Schmidt. Or you were a fifth-round pick as a shortstop after the team's previous two No. 1 choices were also shortstops. What chance do you have? Larry the Cable Guy will get invited to Buckingham Palace easier than you'll get to the big leagues. Up ahead - or even creeping up behind - is an uber-prospect. And you're not. "I was that person,'' says Huntsville pitching coach Rich Sauveur, who came up alongside Johnson, then a generation later found himself behind Oakland prospects Mark Mulder and Barry Zito - but still made it to The Show. "You're looking at one right now," says West Tenn manager Pat Listach. He was the aforementioned No. 5 pick, after Milwaukee had earlier selected Gary Sheffield, then a skinny shortstop, and Bill Spires with No. 1 choices. "I said I'd never get a chance to play," Listach admits. Thing is, Sheffield got traded. Spires got hurt. In 1992, Pat Listach was the American League Rookie of the Year. "You've got to be lucky," he says, "but you've got to be ready." Don Money is the Stars manager. He was once a Philadelphia infielder, with Bowa and Schmidt behind him on the ladder. He was swapped to Milwaukee, became one of the Brewers' immortals. That Schmidt fellow turned out OK in Philly, too. "A guy asks me how do I make myself a prospect? I say, keep putting the numbers on the board," Money says. "Go out and do your job. That's it." It's more than numbers, though. Nashville Sounds pitching coach Stan Kyles, previously a Stars coach, says, "a lot of guys are so result-oriented, they find themselves in a vicious cycle. "Instead of guys trying to become big league pitchers, they're just trying to get to the big leagues. There's a difference. It's no secret if you have a big league guy ahead of you, or a big prospect, it puts an awful lot of pressure on you,'' Kyles says. "This game is hard enough to put up numbers that it becomes difficult if you don't have the right kind of approach.'' That approach, Money says, is "don't worry about things you can't control." Baseball needs a version of "The Serenity Prayer," the one about accepting things that can't be changed. Do your job. Don't worry about everybody else. "Make it tough," says Money, "on the people making the decision." "I've got to do my own thing and worry about playing hard," says Brad Nelson. He's the Huntsville first baseman, a fourth-round pick in 2001 who has also done some time in Triple-A. The year before, Milwaukee picked first baseman Corey Hart, who suddenly became a star. The next year, the Brewers grabbed Prince Fielder No. 1. "Frustrating? No," Nelson says. "That's just the way the game works, I guess. Who knows what's going to happen?" Nelson says he watches Fielder's stats, not selfishly but "to see if he's doing well. He's a teammate and a friend." Infielder Chris Barnwell was a 25th-round pick in 2001. The same year, Milwaukee drafted Hardy No. 2. Hardy hit the fast track. Barnwell got "utility player" and "good organization man" stenciled on his forehead. Like the blind date who's a good cook and makes her own clothes. "I think it'd be more difficult (with talent stacked above) for guys who have been prospects before," says Barnwell, three hours before his Triple-A Nashville Sounds take the field. "I've always been somewhere like a non-prospect. "It's just like anything in baseball. You've got to take care of what you're doing. Taking care of the team standpoint. Have good at-bats. Make the right plays.'' The other reality, as Barnwell puts it, "You've got to look for more than just the Brewers." Other teams watching On any given night, you may be playing for one major league organization, but you're auditioning for 29 others. At virtually every game is a scout, checking out players for possible acquisition. This week brings another reminder of the haves and have-nots, with the annual major league baseball draft. Some players have been anointed prospects. Scouts have stuck their necks out to tell their bosses that certain players should become major league players. Obscene checks with long rows of zeroes have been written. Baseball America has made them celebrities, the seamheads' version of Brangelina and TomKat. "If you're doing your job, I don't believe in prospect or non-prospect," Sauveur says. "Other than money. If you get a lot of money up front, that organization is going to make sure that guy has every opportunity to do well." That is the economic reality of the game. The other reality is that, ultimately, perseverance and talent and fortune can prevail. Chris Barnwell can be still playing where half the players drafted before him are not. Pat Listach can be rookie of the year. Be ready, as Listach suggested. And be lucky.

Standings through Wednesday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 33 26 .559 - 21-11 12-15 L2[/b] Iowa 25 32 .439 7.0 12-13 13-19 W1 Omaha 25 34 .424 8.0 16-15 9-19 W2 Memphis 21 37 .362 11.5 11-17 10-20 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 37 23 .617 - 24-11 13-12 W1 West Tenn 35 25 .583 2.0 15-16 20-9 L1 Tennessee 29 32 .475 8.5 18-12 11-20 L2 Carolina 28 33 .459 9.5 17-14 11-19 W1 [b]Huntsville 23 36 .390 13.5 9-19 14-17 L3[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 35 24 .593 - 17-14 18-10 W6 [b]Brevard County 32 25 .561 2.0 16-11 16-14 W1[/b] Daytona 30 29 .508 5.0 18-11 12-18 L2 Palm Beach 29 30 .492 6.0 14-14 15-16 L3 Jupiter 26 32 .448 8.5 13-17 13-15 W2 Vero Beach 23 36 .390 12.0 13-17 10-19 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lexington 36 22 .621 - 21-11 15-11 W2 Delmarva 34 23 .596 1.5 17-12 17-11 W2 [b]West Virginia 32 25 .561 3.5 17-12 15-13 L1[/b] Greensboro 32 26 .552 4.0 21-9 11-17 L2 Lakewood 29 29 .500 7.0 17-13 12-16 L2 Hickory 26 30 .464 9.0 14-11 12-19 W2 Lake County 25 34 .424 11.5 12-17 13-17 L2 Hagerstown 21 37 .362 15.0 11-14 10-23 W1

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

Follow Thursday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". 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_nozaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_jaxaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1 West Virginia Completion of Suspended April 21st Game: You likely will not get a linescore or game log for this one, but the box score should get updated -- Robbie Wooley threw three shutout innings back in April... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1 West Virginia Regularly Scheduled Game: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Dana Eveland at New Orleans (Nationals), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: RHP Tim Dillard at Jacksonville (Dodgers), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ Brevard County: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. Jupiter (Marlins), 6:00 PM Audio link (opponent's): www.jupiterhammerheads.com/ West Virginia: LHP Rafael Lluberes and TBD at Hagerstown (Mets), 4:55 PM pre-game, 5:05 gametime; the teams will first pick up the April 21st game in the bottom of the fourth inning tied 0-0. The game was suspended due to rain. A regularly scheduled game will follow. I may be mistaken, but the suspended game will play until its nine-inning conclusion, and the nightcap will be a seven-inning affair. Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower.

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Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=50293 First baseman?s first baby comes first By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent To hear Graham Koonce tell it, being a slave to the game of baseball or its schedule was no longer in the cards. Two weeks ago, Koonce was signed by Milwaukee and given the starting first base job for the Nashville Sounds. But the path that led him to Music City included a two-month hiatus from the game he loved, a time where retirement was a consideration. In March, Koonce was in spring training with the New York Yankees, who told the veteran first baseman he would be headed to their Double-A affiliate in Trenton, N.J. Later that day, Koonce received a phone call from his pregnant wife Aubrey, who was calling from the hospital in California. Aubrey told her husband that doctors were going to induce labor and she would have their first child sometime in the next 24 hours. Koonce was faced with a conundrum. Baseball or family? To Koonce, 31, it wasn?t a choice at all. Major League Baseball teams give players 72 hours leave for events like the birth of a child. That wasn?t enough for Koonce, so he went to the Yankees and asked for his release. Then he called Aubrey to say he was on his way home. ?It was shocking,? Aubrey said. ?I was in labor and you have your husband call you at the hospital and say, ?I asked for my release.? I was like, ?Oh my gosh, we don?t have a job.?? And Koonce himself knew the risk he was taking, forfeiting a paycheck and a chance to play for the most illustrious franchise in American sports. But being there for the birth of his first child ? a beautiful baby girl named Addison who is now 11 weeks old ? outweighed the honor of wearing a Trenton Thunder uniform. ?For my first child, I didn?t want to come back three days later,? Koonce said. ?So I wanted to go home, spend a couple months with my new baby and my wife. ?It?s been a total blessing.? ?She?s my everything? Koonce said he felt like he ?owed? his wife after she?d been by his side through the peaks and valleys of his professional career. The couple has been together nine years, married the past five. Over that time, Koonce has accomplished a great deal ? including a cup of coffee with the Oakland A?s in 2003. ?It?s really cruel to put your wife and family through this lifestyle,? Koonce said. ?Having to pack up every five months and move everything and relocate. It takes somebody very special to stick with you and support you and be by your side the entire time. Fortunately, I have somebody who does that. She?s my everything.? For her part, Aubrey said her husband makes more of her sacrifices than she does. Plus, she knew what she was signing up for when she married him five years ago. ?I think he feels worse than I do about it,? Aubrey said. ?Being married, you make sacrifices. I?ve always supported him. When I met him, this is what he did and I told him, ?If you want to do this for the next 20 years, I?ll support you.?? No help wanted Still, it was bittersweet for the Koonces while they raised Addison and waited for somebody, anybody, to call for the bulky 6-5 power hitter?s services. Aubrey likened this offseason, which saw several of their baseball friends struggle to find work, to the Great Depression. After all, Koonce has big-league experience, has crushed the ball wherever he?s gone, and was the Pacific Coast League?s Most Valuable Player in 2003. Yet the phone didn?t ring. ?It was difficult, so many of our close friends were free agents and not getting calls,? Aubrey said. ?You start to think, ?What next??? Koonce said the possibility he already played his last game crossed his mind. ?For me personally, there were a few times where it did cross my mind and I talked to my wife about it,? Koonce said of moving on from baseball. He listed becoming a firefighter or finishing his degree and becoming a physical therapist as his options. Music City comes calling The Milwaukee Brewers had an opening in their organization for a Triple-A first baseman after Brad Nelson got off to a stumbling start and was demoted to Huntsville. Milwaukee signed up Koonce, who?s already had an impact. He hit two homers in the team?s win over Albuquerque on Sunday. In the past three months, Koonce has gotten to be there for his wife and newborn and he?s landed on his feet as a ballplayer, too. ?It?s been great, everybody here from the staff to the coaches to my teammates,? Koonce said of playing for the Sounds. ?I?m so grateful for my opportunity. Everything has really worked out for the best.?

West Virginia Site Game Summary: SUNS SHUT DOWN POWER The Hagerstown Suns held the West Virginia Power offense in check allowing only a run on five hits in a 2-1 victory over the Power on Wednesday night at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown. Hagerstown scored twice in the fifth inning to take a 2-0 lead. Joe Holden drove in Tony Piazza on a sacrifice fly and Elvis Cruz scored on Ryan Crew?s throwing error. The Power scored their only run of the game in the eighth inning on Tony Festa?s two-out RBI single. During the next at-bat Ned Yost was thrown out at home plate trying to score the tying run on a wild pitch. In the ninth inning Crew led off with a base hit and eventually made his way over to third base where he was left stranded at the end of the game. Steve Garrison and Patrick Ryan combined to pitch a five-hitter for the Power. Garrison started and allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts over five innings. Ryan tossed three scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Ryan has not allowed a run in his last thirteen and two thirds innings of work. Brandon Nall (1-2) earned the victory, Kevin Tomasiewicz (4) earned the save and Garrison (1-1) obtained the loss. The Power are 32-25 after the loss and the Suns improved to 21-37 with the win. The Power will play two games against the Hagerstown Suns on Thursday night. They will pick up the April 21st game in the bottom of the fourth inning tied 0-0. The game was suspended in the fourth inning due to rain. In that game Hagerstown will start right hander Eric Brown (0-2, 3.86) and the Power will counter with left hander Rafael Lluberes (1-0, 5.23). The first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM (5:05 Central).

Final: Jacksonville (Dodgers) 4, Huntsville 1 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=870 Suns Continue Mastery Over Stars T.J. Nall worked seven strong innings and Craig Brazell provided some late insurance with a home run as Jacksonville downed Huntsville 4-1 and clinched the South Division first half title after Montgomery was defeated by Carolina. The Suns have won all six games against the Stars this season and have done so by outscoring Huntsville 29-12. The Stars lost their third straight and fell to 23-36 in the first half and 14-17 away from home. Justin Ruggiano led off the second inning with a double, moved to third base on a Tony Abreu ground out and stayed there when Anthony Raglani drew a walk. Brad Cresse hit what looked to be a potential inning-ending double play ball that was fielded by shortstop Ozzie Chavez but his throw to second base went off the glove of Callix Crabbe and allowed Raglani to reach safely. Ruggiano scored the first run of the game, as Cresse was given credit for a run batted in and a fielder?s choice. The error would prove costly when Wilkin Ruan singled to left with two outs to score Raglani to make it 2-0. The Stars scored their lone run in the fourth when Drew Anderson singled, moved to second on a Brad Nelson ground out, to third on a Ron Acuna single and scored on a fly ball by Adam Heether, who knocked in his 17th run. Nall then retired the next six in a row and nine of the last 10 he faced, including six straight outs by strikeout. The right-hander fanned a season-high 10, did not walk a batter and earned his third win in his longest outing of the year. The Suns have won 16 of their last 17 and 21 of their last 26 to surge past the Biscuits and win the first half division title for a second straight season. Casey Hoorelbeke took over in the eighth inning and retired Anderson on a ground ball to end the inning with runners at the corners and two down. He has tossed six scoreless innings in four outings against the Stars and has allowed one earned run all season. Stars? starter Corey Thurman was replaced in the bottom of the eighth by Russ Rohlicek, who walked Chin-Lung Hu to open the frame and then surrendered Brazell?s blast, his ninth of the year. Thurman suffered the loss despite holding the league?s top hitting team to four hits and a pair of runs. Mark Alexander yielded consecutive two-out singles to Heether and Lou Palmisano in the ninth before retiring Chavez on a ground ball to end the game and earn his 13th save in 14 chances. He has recorded a save in all four appearances against the Stars and the Suns have recorded a save in each of their six wins over Huntsville. The five-game series continues Thursday night with Stars? right-hander Tim Dillard taking the mound against Suns? right-hander Danny Muegge. Coverage of the game begins at 5:50 p.m. central time and can be heard on ESPN Radio 1450 AM locally and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score: Corey Thurman has deserved so much better -- the Stars must hold a patent on 4-1 losses, it seems... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_jaxaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: Brad Nelson's GIDP in the first a killer... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_jaxaax_1

Final: Brevard County 6, Vero Beach (Dodgers) 4 Brevard County Game Summary from the Vero Beach Site: Brevard County scored four runs in the first inning and held on for a 6-4 victory over the Vero Beach Dodgers Wednesday night at Holman Stadium. Cory Dunlap and Cole Bruce hit home runs for the Dodgers during a failed late-inning comeback attempt. The Manatees put up their early runs on Jonathan Figueroa, who made his second start of the year off the disabled list. Charlie Fermaint drew a walk to lead off the game and Alcides Escobar doubled him home. One out later Brendan Katin was hit by a pitch and Kyle Phillips doubled in Escobar. Katin came home on C.J. Medlin's single to left and Hernan Iribarren followed with an RBI single to make it 4-0. Freddy Parejo led off the second inning with his fourth home run of the season before Figueroa settled down. Following the homer, the lefty set down eight in a row. However, in the fifth he walked Steve Sollman with one out and Phillips later singled him in. That gave the Manatees a commanding 6-0 lead at the game's mid-point. Meanwhile, Brevard starter Steve Hammond cruised through six innings. He shut out the Dodgers and allowed only three singles and one walk. He struck out seven and earned the win to improve to 6-3. Dunlap greeted reliever Robert Hinton with an opposite field home run in the seventh. It is Dunlap's 6th home run in 22 games. He hit only seven dingers in 121 games last year in Vero Beach. The eighth inning began with Ryan Russ reaching on a dropped infield fly. Adolfo Gonzalez then doubled to bring home Russ. After a strikeout Bruce launched his fifth home run of the year to bring the Dodgers within the final score of 6-4. The bullpen kept the Dodgers within striking distance. Kyle Wilson turned in perhaps his most dominant performance of the year. The UCLA product struck out the first four hitters he faced and ended up with 3 1/3 nearly perfect innings. He hit one batter for the only baserunner against him and struck out a total of five. Mike Megrew made his return to the hill for the Dodgers. In 2/3 of an inning he walked three batters but did not allow a run to score. After he walked the bases loaded in the ninth, Julio Pimentel entered the game and struck out Katin to keep it a two-run deficit. Brevard County Box Score: We'll drop a note to our friends in Brevard about the missing Ryan Braun; reliever Robert Hinton has struggled as of late... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_vbdafa_1 Brevard County Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_vbdafa_1

Final: Hagerstown (Mets) 2, West Virginia 1 This team just can't play defense, and tonight it cost them -- well, that, and only scoring one run... West Virginia Box Score: Steve Garrison continues to impress, and I'm sure pitching coach John Curtis would say middle reliever Patrick Ryan has been an MVP in his eyes... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: First inning and sixth inning chances wasted; looks like Ned Yost out at home on a wild pitch in the 8th -- ugh! Tying run in scoring position with one out in the 9th -- no dice... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hagafx_1

As noted on the draft forum, 2nd round pick, SS Brent Brewer, has signed his pro contract. West Virginia Press Release: The West Virginia Power, Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers have made another roster move. Today, left handed pitcher Dave Welch was placed on the disabled list, and right hander Steve Palazzolo was called up from extended spring training. Dave Welch was scratched from the starting lineup on Tuesday night due to back spasms and he is now the fourth member of the West Virginia Power roster on the disabled list, joining RHP's Will Inman and Ronny Malave and infielder Kenny Holmberg. (Technically, RHP Josh Baker, yet to appear in a game this season, is also on the Power D.L.) Welch was 2-3 with a 3.15 ERA over 10 appearances and seven starts before being placed on the disabled list. Palazzolo re-joins the Power after spending the last two months in extended spring training. Palazzolo went 0-0 with a 9.72 ERA over seven appearances with the Power. He surrendered nine runs, all earned, on 13 hits over eight and a third innings of work out of the bullpen.