Jim Goulart

2005 Draft-and-Follow # 4 signs: Link while active, text follows: www.arkcity.net/stories/0...0001.shtml Tigers' Miller signs professional contract with Milwaukee By RAMA PEROO Cowley College Having put together two stellar seasons playing baseball at Cowley College, shortstop Brad Miller was recently rewarded for his efforts as he signed a professional contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Miller, who was drafted by the Brewers in the 39th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft, batted .326 with seven home runs and 39 runs batted in this past season. Miller was named the Jayhawk Conference Freshman of the Year his first year at Cowley, as he batted .379 with eight home runs and 77 RBI. He was twice named a first-team all-conference shortstop, and went 12-4 on the mound during his two years at the school. Miller, who also stole 44 bases in his career at Cowley, felt the offer from the Brewers was good enough to pass up the opportunity to play baseball at Oklahoma State University. "I had my mind set on what I wanted and I was lucky enough to get it," Miller said. Miller's signing included a signing bonus and the arrangement to pay for the remainder of his college tuition when his playing days are over. "I could not be happier for Brad, he is getting to live a dream," Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said. "He had the best of both worlds, to where if he did not get the package he was looking for he would get to play in the Big 12 with Oklahoma State." Miller will join former Tiger Josh Wahpepah in the Brewers' minor league system, while former Tiger Deik Scram was drafted by the Brewers in the 2004 draft, but did not sign. (Former Cowley catcher Clay Blevins was released by the Brewers earlier this spring - Mass Haas.) "That is a compliment to our players and our program," Burroughs said. Miller feels he owes a lot to the Tiger coaching staff. "I feel like I improved a lot at Cowley," Miller said. "All the coaches helped me and stuck with me. Coach Dave (Burroughs) is just tremendous." Miller will fly to Phoenix to begin working out, and will then join the Helena (Montana) Brewers in the Pioneer League. "I wanted to get into the minor leagues as soon as I could." Miller said. "I know it takes time to move up to the big leagues, but I know if I'm patient I can make it." Arkcity.net Photo by Donita Clausen: http://www.arkcity.net/images/052506/lphoto2.jpg

Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Sounds hand Brazelton a setback Hendrickson outduels former MTSU star By MAURICE PATTON Tennessean Staff Writer While all eyes were on Dewon Brazelton, Ben Hendrickson probably sneaked up on many of the 5,080 Greer Stadium fans at Thursday's Nashville Sounds game. Brazelton, the former Tullahoma High and MTSU pitching star, had his bid to return to the major leagues stalled, at the very least, with a 3 2/3 inning, five-run effort in Portland's 5-0 loss to the Sounds. "It obviously wasn't the fairy tale," Brazelton said of his performance. "But I felt good about it. They're a good team; they beat me. I was proud of the way I pitched and proud to be in Nashville. It wasn't the way I wanted, but that's life." Meanwhile, Hendrickson ? in his first start since rejoining Nashville after a disappointing stint with the Milwaukee Brewers ? threw 4+ innings of no-hit ball before David Matranga hit a double in the fifth. Hendrickson, who allowed just one hit over seven innings, and reliever Chris Demaria combined for the shutout, giving Nashville back-to-back mound gems for the first time since June 2003. Trouble struck for Brazelton on a second-inning Brad Nelson RBI double. Nelson later scored on a Tony Gwynn sacrifice fly. Nashville added three more runs in the third inning, two on a Nelson Cruz homer. "I tip my hat to them," Brazelton said. "You don't want to get embarrassed in front of your home crowd. But it doesn't always happen like that. There were a bunch of people here I hadn't seen in a long time; I'm happy about that." All in all, it was fun. I just wish we'd won the game." What they said: "Brad's swinging the bat much better. That first ball he hit was one of the hardest balls I've seen him hit." ? Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas on Nelson. ***Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Reliever Demaria back again By MAURICE PATTON Tennessean Staff Writer Chris Demaria, who began the season with the Nashville Sounds before going to Milwaukee on April 18, rejoined the Sounds prior to Thursday night's game. Acquired in an offseason trade with the Royals, Demaria went 0-1 with a 5.93 earned run average (nine earned runs, 13 2/3 innings) in 10 relief appearances for the Brewers. In two innings of relief Thursday night, Demaria allowed one hit with a strikeout. He was replaced on the Milwaukee roster by Chris Mabeus, who picked up a save in his only Sounds appearance on May 19 after being claimed on waivers by the Brewers. In a May 23 start for Double-A Huntsville, he allowed three runs in three innings and took the loss. Also set to arrive from Milwaukee is Justin Lehr, who will join the team for the Iowa series and start Saturday in Des Moines. Lehr was designated for assignment earlier this week, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Nashville by the Brewers. In 16 relief appearances with Milwaukee, Lehr went 2-1 with an 8.61 ERA. With the Sounds last season, he was 7-7 with a save and a 3.99 ERA in 27 games (11 starts), then went 1-1, 3.89 in 23 games out of the bullpen for the Brewers. To clear a spot on the Sounds roster for Lehr, reliever Brett Evert was reassigned to Huntsville. Evert was 1-1 with a 6.55 ERA in 13 appearances (one start) for Nashville. Demaria will fill the roster spot vacated when Corey Thurman was returned to Huntsville following Wednesday night's game. Two for two: Portland Manager Craig Colbert was ejected during the fourth inning of Thursday night's game after Dustin Delucchi was ruled to have fouled off a Hendrickson pitch when he was hit on the right hand on a bunt attempt. It was the second time in as many nights a Beaver staffer has left early. Hitting coach Bill Castro was tossed from Wednesday's contest following a Ben Johnson strikeout to lead off the ninth inning. The back-to-back ejections were the third and fourth of the season at Greer Stadium. Previously, Omaha Manager Mike Jirschele and Iowa infielder Brandon Sing were thrown out of games. The only Sounds ejection this year came at Las Vegas, when infielder Chris Barnwell was tossed on May 14. Out of bounds: Three fans came onto the playing surface toward the end of Thursday's game, with two apprehended by stadium security. According to Ken Thomas, director of stadium operations, the two that were caught have been banned from attending future Sounds games. "They don't realize how much trouble they're in until our state troopers (who provide off-duty security) step in," Thomas said. "It's pretty rare. We had a couple run onto the field last year, but that's about it." Spreading the wealth: Alec Zumwalt became the fifth different Nashville reliever to record a save when he retired Portland in order in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 1-0 win. Previously, saves have gone to Jared Fernandez and Allan Simpson (three each) and Mike Adams and Jason Kershner (two each). As a team, the Sounds have converted 11 of 17 save opportunities. Zumwalt, who had five saves in as many opportunities with Huntsville before joining the Sounds on May 11, has a 2.35 ERA in five games with Nashville. Between the Sounds and the Stars last year, he was 2-2 with four saves and a 4.25 ERA in 37 relief outings. Cruz-in': With his fourth home run in his last six games, Sounds outfielder Nelson Cruz moved back into a tie atop the Pacific Coast League in that category. Cruz and Albuquerque's Scott Seabol each have 12 longballs on the year. Cruz now has 39 RBIs to lead the league in that category as well, moving ahead of Portland's Justin Leone by one. Speaking of leaders: Nashville's Jermaine Clark and Tony Gwynn went into Thursday's play tied for the league lead in stolen bases ? along with Oklahoma's Freddy Guzman ? with 14 each.

Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=50086 Fans storm field at Greer on Thirsty Thursday By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent On two separate incidents, apparently inebriated fans hopped the fence and ran around the field at Greer Stadium without even being stopped by stadium security. The run-ins occurred in the ninth inning of the game between Nashville and Portland at the end of Thirsty Thursday night, in which fans are sold 12-ounce beers for $1. The first incident occurred before the top of the ninth, when two fans hopped the fence on the first base line and ran around aimlessly in the outfield before exiting in right field. Sounds outfielders Tony Gwynn and Nelson Cruz pointed out the fans to security, but no one came to escort them off the field. After the game, another fan ran onto the field and approached the first base umpire and again ran off the field without being apprehended by security. Sounds director of stadium operations Ken Thomas said no arrests were made, but two of the fans were caught and had their information taken down. Thomas said the fans are barred from Greer Stadium. Eight state troopers and one Metro police officer provide security on Thirsty Thursday nights, Thomas said. Gwynn said he had his fists clenched in case one of the fans approached him. ?It?s a scary situation when you feel threatened, I didn?t really feel threatened,? Gwynn said. ?They were just drunk [fans] running onto the field and running around.?

To make room for RHP Justin Lehr in Nashville, RHP Brett Evert joins Corey Thurman on the Nashville-to-Huntsville shuttle, according to Nashville press reports.

Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=50085 Hendrickson outduels Brazelton in Sounds? win By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent When Ben Hendrickson was optioned down to Nashville from Milwaukee earlier this week, the Brewers only had one piece of advice for the hard-throwing right-hander. ?[They told me to work on] the first inning. Take away the first inning and I had decent numbers,? said Hendrickson, who allowed 11 of his 16 earned runs in the first inning over the course of three starts for Milwaukee. So in his first start since rejoining the Sounds, Hendrickson took care of the first inning and then some, as he took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and led the Sounds to a 5-0 victory over Portland. Hendrickson threw seven shutout innings and allowed just one hit. He also outpitched former Middle Tennessee State All-American Dewon Brazelton, who lasted just 3.2 innings and surrendered five earned runs on eight hits. ?I struggled with my command a bit, but I worked through it,? Hendrickson said. ?The only one pitch I threw to hit, [Portland?s David Matranga] hit it right on the chalk [down the left field line for a double].? Hendrickson?s gem, which was finished off by Chris Demaria ? who threw two scoreless innings ? is the second straight outstanding performance by a Sounds starter. Zach Jackson pitched a two-hitter on Wednesday night, as the Sounds have collected two shutouts in a row. ?I told [pitching coach Stan Kyles], ?You get them to put up zeroes every night and we?ll win every game,?? Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said of his red-hot pitching. It was not a happy homecoming for Brazelton, who got tagged for two runs in the second and three more in the third before exiting. Brad Nelson?s RBI double and Nelson Cruz?s two-run homer, his 12th of the season, keyed Nashville?s offensive attack. ?I thought he threw well, I thought our guys did a good job of making him work,? Kremblas said of Brazelton. You?re outta here: Portland manager Craig Colbert was tossed in the fourth inning after arguing with the home plate umpire following a play in which Dustin Delluchi was hit on the hand while trying to bunt. The umpire ruled a foul ball and Delluchi left the game with an injury.

Final: Nashville 5, Portland (Padres) 0 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for new Ben Hendrickson photo, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1968 Hendrickson Leads Sounds To Another Shutout NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Ben Hendrickson tossed seven innings of one-hit scoreless ball to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 5-0 shutout victory over the Portland Beavers in the finale of a four-game series in front of 5,080 fans on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium. The victory was the Sounds? second consecutive shutout, marking the first time the club has accomplished that feat since June 12 and June 13, 2003, and gave Nashville (27-20) a series split against the Beavers as well as a winning homestand (5-3). Hendrickson (2-0) logged his best outing of the season to lower his ERA to 2.08 through five starts for Nashville. Chris Demaria, who arrived from Milwaukee earlier in the day after being optioned from the Brewers on Wednesday, worked the final two innings in scoreless, one-hit fashion to complete the Sounds? fourth shutout win of the year. The Sounds gave Tullahoma native Dewon Brazelton a rude welcome home as they pounded out five runs on 13 hits against the right-hander, who was a first round pick in the 2002 draft out of MTSU. Every Sounds position player, with the exception of Tony Gwynn (0-for-4 but with a sacrifice fly), recorded a hit on the night and five players racked up two-hit efforts: Dave Krynzel, Nelson Cruz, Vinny Rottino, Brad Nelson, and Chris Barnwell. Brazelton (0-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. Following his departure, Portland relievers Mario Ramos and Cla Meredith combined to throw 4 1/3 innings of shutout baseball against Nashville the remainder of the evening. The Sounds jumped on the Beavers early in the game, scoring two runs in the second inning. Rottino recorded the game?s first hit with a line-drive single just out of reach of third baseman Justin Leone. Nelson followed and drove Rottino in from first on a double that bounced off the base of the center field wall. The double marked the 100th two-bagger hit by a Sounds player this year. Nelson scored later in the inning off the Gwynn sacrifice fly to right field, which gave the Sounds a 2-0 lead. Cruz?s bat remained hot for Nashville as he pelted his fourth home run in six games to give the Sounds a five-run advantage in the third. With his two-run homer, a line-drive shot to left off Brazelton, Cruz moved into a tie for most home runs in the PCL, joining Albuquerque?s Scott Seabol with 12 longballs on the year. The two RBIs gave Cruz the most RBIs in the PCL with 39. Brent Abernathy, who singled to start the third, scored on the roundtripper. AUDIO: Nelson Cruz's PCL-Leading 12th HR -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...205-25.wma Portland?s offense struggled for the second night in a row as they were only able to put two hits on the scoreboard once again. The first hit came in the top half of the fifth in the form of a double off the bat of David Matranga. Matranga?s double broke up Hendrickson?s no-hitter and would be the only hit he allowed all game. Former Sound Bobby Hill was the only other Beaver to record a hit. The Sounds hit the road on Friday to take on the division-rival Iowa Cubs in a four-game series at Principal Park. The teams play game one of the series at 7:05 p.m. CT on Friday night. Nashville right-hander Dennis Sarfate (2-1, 3.09) will take the hill to face Cubs southpaw Ryan O?Malley (2-2, 3.41). Baseball returns to Greer Stadium on Tuesday, May 30, when the Sounds host the Iowa Cubs and the Albuquerque Isotopes in an eight-game homestand. Nashville Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Nashville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Starting Pitcher Zach Jackson: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...205-25.wma

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Tony Gwynn Jr. showing more signs of good ol' Dad Contact Mark McCarter at markcolumn@aol.com Huntsville Times NASHVILLE - He is batting .310. He has become numbingly consistent. He even has two home runs, an awesome display of power - for him. "The earliest I've ever had two home runs," Tony Gwynn Jr. confessed, sounding as amazed as if he'd found a dolphin doing tricks in the training room Jacuzzi. "It used to be flares to the left,'' said teammate Brad Nelson, doing the appropriate hand motion of a baseball taking an abrupt nosedive. "Now he's turning on it. It's coming off his bat a lot harder.'' So, finally, a breakout year for the career of Anthony Keith Gwynn Jr.? "That could be overdramatic right now,'' Gwynn laughed. "You have to understand it's only May.'' Gwynn was sitting in the third base dugout of the Nashville Sounds, his current employer. In three hours, he'd begin another typical night - two hits in five at-bats. Ho-hum. His average is more than 50 points higher than his .257 average over two seasons with the Huntsville Stars. But maturity, not magic. "I'm getting more experience, more confidence,'' Gwynn said. "I trust myself a little more. The things that are coming out of that I've always shown signs of being able to do. It's just better this year than it has been any other season.'' Said Gord Ash, the Brewers' assistant general manager, "He's more relaxed, more mature, more prepared at the plate than he was. "Sometimes," Ash continued, "when guys come out of college, especially with his pedigree, the expectations are higher. He may have done that to himself to some degree.'' About that pedigree... His father, Tony Gwynn, won eight National League batting championships. He had 19 seasons in which he batted more than .300. He is 17th all-time with a .338 career average. Next summer, he seems a lock to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Just don't tell Tony Sr. that. "It's funny, we just had our first conversation about that last week when we were in Las Vegas,'' Tony Jr. said. "It was kinda weird talking about the Hall of Fame, him getting prepared for it just in case it happens. I'm pretty sure it's going to happen, but he's one of those guys who says, 'It's not happening until they say my name, blah blah blah.' " The spotlight that comes from being Son of An Immortal hasn't been a negative. "That was the one thing I knew, if I was going to choose to play baseball, that was something I was going to have to deal with, regardless of how good I was, how bad I was,'' Gwynn said. "It was always going to be there. It was something I decided at an early stage wasn't going to be something I would have a hard time handling. And it hasn't. "I enjoy talking about my father. He played 19 years in the big leagues. He was really good at what he did. Why wouldn't I want to talk about it?'' Now, at .310, the ball leaping off his bat, Tony Jr. finally getting to the point he needed to be, the comparisons are getting easier to talk about, too.

Final: Jacksonville (Dodgers) 5, Huntsville 2 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=849 Late Rally Leads to Suns Win Justin Ruggiano?s pinch-hit single in the eighth inning drove in the go-ahead run and Mark Alexander recorded the final five outs to preserve Jacksonville?s 5-2 victory Thursday night in the third game of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Suns won their fourth in a row to improve to 29-19 but could gain no ground on first place Montgomery, a winner at Mobile, in the Southern League South Division, while the Stars suffered a season-high seventh straight defeat and fell to 20-27 on the season. Huntsville has lost its last six games at home and has been held to 10 runs in those defeats. Stars? starter Travis Phelps allowed a first inning run and blanked the Suns over the next six frames and departed after seven in a 1-1 game. He gave up five hits, walked five and fanned three in his longest outing since joining the team. Andy Pratt took over in the eighth inning and walked A.J. Zapp and hit Tony Abreu with two outs. Ruggiano, batting for Anthony Raglani, singled off the glove of a diving third baseman Adam Heether and the ball caromed into foul territory in left field, allowing Zapp to score and Abreu to advance to second base. Brad Cresse then hit a ball in a similar spot that was gloved by a diving Heether but his one-hop throw to first base got past Jeff Eure and that allowed Abreu to score to make it 3-1 Suns. Jacksonville starter Joel Hanrahan was taken out after seven innings, during which he allowed a run on two hits and two walks, while striking out six. Carlos Alvarez took over in the eighth and allowed singles to J.C. Boscan, Travis Ezi and Steve Moss to load the bases before Drew Anderson singled to center field to plate Boscan to make it 3-2 Suns and chase Alvarez from the game. Alexander came on and induced Heether to bounce into an inning-ending double play. Matt Smith gave up a run-scoring single to Andy LaRoche, the league?s leading run producer, and a sacrifice fly to Zapp in the ninth that extended the visitors lead and has yielded multiple runs in three of his four appearances with Huntsville. Alexander worked a scoreless ninth inning to record his ninth save of the year and preserve Hanrahan?s fourth win. The series continues Friday night when right-hander Matt Yeatman takes the mound for the Stars against Suns? right-hander Alvis Ojeda. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1450 AM and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: Stars scored a first inning run on a wild pitch, otherwise a double play in that inning hurt, but not as much as the 8th inning killer after four singles earlier in the inning; Adam Heether pops out after the first two reach in the 4th -- about as tough a night as it gets for Adam -- what a brutal spring he's had, unfortunately... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

Final: Fort Myers (Twins) 5, Brevard County, 4, ten innings Brevard County Game Summary from the Fort Myers Site: Thursday night?s game between the Fort Myers Miracle and the Brevard County Manatees had everything: a milestone home run, two collisions at the plate, extra innings and a dramatic ending and it was the Miracle who came out with a 5-4 victory in 10 innings at Hammond Stadium. With the score tied at four in the bottom of the 10th, Trevor Plouffe led off with a high chopper to second. Hernan Iribarren had the ball squirt out of his glove and Plouffe reached on the error. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Korey Feiner and then Miracle manager Kevin Boles went to his bench for his leading RBI man, left-handed hitting Garrett Guzman. The Manatees countered with their lefty reliever Jeremy Lewis. Guzman, who was hitting .308 against lefties and .400 with runners in scoring position, drove a 2-2 pitch into the right-center field gap for the game winning double. The Manatees jumped out to the early 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Steve Sollman reached on a fielders choice and Brendan Katin followed with a single to center. Ryan Braun battled Miracle starter Anthony Swarzak, fouling pitch after pitch off and then finally hit a three-run homer over the left field wall, his sixth of the season. The Miracle, who improved to a season high seven games over .500 at 27-20, would strike in the bottom of the inning on a momentous homer. With one out Justin Arneson reached on a throwing error by Braun. Alexi Casilla followed with a single to center and Matt Tolbert walked to load the bases. One out later Kevin West ripped a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall for his 100th career minor league home run, a grand slam, that gave the Miracle a 4-3 lead. The Miracle nearly got an insurance run in the seventh when Luke Hughes led off with a single, moved to second on a ground out and stole third. With the Manatee infield in, Feiner hit a grounder to second which Iribarren fired to the plate and Hughes tried to run over catcher C.J. Medlin, but he hung on to the ball for the out. The Miracle held onto that lead until the eighth when Iribarren led off with a double off of reliever Tim Lahey. He moved to third on a ground out and then Katin, a Fort Myers High graduate, singled him home to tie the game at four. The Manatees had a chance to take the lead in the ninth inning. Freddy Parejo led off with an infield single and Hasan Rasheed followed with a walk. Scott McKnight sacrificed the runners over. With the Miracle infield in Charlie Fermaint hit a slow shopper to second. Casilla threw the ball to the plate where Parejo barreled over Feiner, who dropped the ball. Parejo, however, never touched home plate. Feiner picked up the ball and tagged Parejo about 10 feet away from the plate towards the Manatees dugout. Lahey got out of the inning with a strike out of Iribarren. The same two teams meet Friday night for the finale of the four game series at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). The Miracle send RHP Kevin Slowey (2-1, 1.33) to the hill against Manatees LHP Steve Hammond (4-2, 3.29). Brevard County Box Score: Former 40-man LHP Sam Narron with an encouraging three-inning relief stint; there's that defense again -- both errors contribute towards all five Miracle runs; don't look for Manatees, such as Ryan Braun, to be bumped up until the first-half Florida State League schedule completes... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_ftmafa_1 Brevard County Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_ftmafa_1

Final: West Virginia 5, Kannapolis (White Sox) 4 West Virginia Site Game Summary: Miller fans nine in Power win Power lefty Derek Miller set a new season high striking out nine batters en route to his fifth victory of the season as the Power went on to beat the Kannapolis Intimidators 5-4 at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium on Thursday night. The Power took their first lead of the series scoring three times in the top of the first. After a leadoff double from Darren Ford, Angel Salome singled into left field to give the Power an early lead. Mat Gamel doubled off the wall in right center field to score Salome and Gamel scored later in the inning on Tony Festa?s two-out base hit. Kannapolis tied the game with a three-run third inning. Anderson Gomes singled in Brandon Johnson to bring the Intimidators within two runs. Salvador Sanchez reached first base on an infield single but Power second baseman Ryan Crew overthrew Ned Yost at first base, and the throwing error cost the Power a pair of runs as both Adam Ricks and Anderson Gomes scored on the errant throw to tie the game. The Power regained the lead in the top of the seventh inning on Lorenzo Cain?s run-scoring single. Cain crossed the plate later in the inning on Gamel?s triple down the left field line to give the Power a two-run lead. Kannapolis answered with an RBI single from Brandon Johnson in the bottom of the seventh, but that was the last hit the Intimidators recorded in the game. Derek Miller (5-1) allowed four runs, two earned and struck out nine to earn the victory, Dane Renkert (3) pitched three scoreless innings out of the bullpen to get the save and Clevelan Santeliz (0-2) obtained the loss. The Power are 24-21 after the win and the Intimidators fell to 10-36 with the loss. The Power will finish the four game series against the Intimidators on Friday night. Kannapolis will start left hander Clayton Richard (0-1, 4.38) and the Power will counter with left hander Dave Welch (1-2, 3.34). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 PM). West Virginia Box Score: 21 of 53 Mat Gamel's (2005 4th rounder) hits have been for extra bases; seven ground ball outs in three perfect innings of work by Dane Renkert; Ryan Crew's error was costly, but otherwise clean game for the Power... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_kanafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_kanafx_1

28-year-old RHP Saul Rivera made his major league debut in the Nationals' bullpen last night. Rivera posted a 1.62 ERA (avergae secondary numbers) in 26 relief appearances for Huntsville in 2004 after his acquisition from Washington (along with outfielder Peter Bergeron) for RHP Jason Childers and C/OF Jason Belcher. Eligible for minor league free agency at the end of 2004, he chose to re-sign with the Nationals' organization. At the time of the trade, Baseball America noted: Rivera originally signed with the Twins as a 1998 ninth-round pick out of the University of Mobile (Ala.). He went to the Mets on waivers in November 2001, then to Montreal in the Scott Strickland/Bruce Chen trade in April 2002. For a little guy (5-foot-11, 165 pounds), Rivera throws exceptionally hard (low-90s fastball), but his secondary pitches and command never have come around consistently.

MiLB.com mock draft: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp 16. Milwaukee Brewers: Joba Chamberlain, RHP, Nebraska The Brewers may have an interesting choice to make. A college pitcher might make the most sense, and there could be some intriguing arms available, including Chamberlain, Scherzer and last week's projection, Brooks Brown from Georgia. Brown, it seems, has become secondary and the Brewers will probably be all over the Big 12 tournament next week to see both formerly injured starters mentioned above. They're not afraid to go the high school route, either, and they do like Kasey Kiker's arm.

Standings through Wednesday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 26 20 .565 - 15-8 11-12 W1[/b] Iowa 19 25 .432 6.0 9-12 10-13 L1 Omaha 18 27 .400 7.5 11-11 7-16 L4 Memphis 14 30 .318 11.0 10-13 4-17 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 31 16 .660 - 19-6 12-10 W6 West Tenn 27 20 .574 4.0 11-11 16-9 L1 Carolina 23 24 .489 8.0 15-10 8-14 W1 Tennessee 21 26 .447 10.0 12-10 9-16 L3 [b]Huntsville 20 26 .435 10.5 9-12 11-14 L6[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 25 20 .556 - 11-12 14-8 L5 [b]Brevard County 24 21 .533 1.0 10-10 14-11 L1[/b] Daytona 24 22 .522 1.5 15-10 9-12 L1 Palm Beach 22 23 .489 3.0 10-12 12-11 L2 Jupiter 19 27 .413 6.5 9-15 10-12 W1 Vero Beach 17 29 .370 8.5 11-14 6-15 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 27 17 .614 - 16-9 11-8 W6 Lexington 27 18 .600 0.5 17-8 10-10 W1 Greensboro 25 20 .556 2.5 18-7 7-13 W1 [b]West Virginia 23 21 .523 4.0 13-10 10-11 L2[/b] Lakewood 23 22 .511 4.5 14-9 9-13 W1 Lake County 22 24 .478 6.0 12-11 10-13 L1 Hagerstown 18 27 .400 9.5 9-9 9-18 L2 Hickory 17 26 .395 9.5 8-11 9-15 L3

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_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_ftmafa_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_kanafx_1

Thursday's Daily Menu: No big league distarction tonight, four games to choose from, dig in! All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Ben Hendrickson at home vs. Portland (Padres), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: RHP Travis Phelps at home vs. Jacksonville (Dodgers), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ Brevard County: LHP Manny Parra at Fort Myers (Twins), 6:05 PM Audio link (opponent's): miraclebaseball.com/ West Virginia: LHP Derek Miller at Kannapolis (White Sox), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower.

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Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1 Bunts no sacrifice for visiting Suns Stars don't have much luck with them in 6-4 loss By MARK McCARTER Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com The most difficult simple play in the game. The bunt. Put the bat in front of the ball, let it plop softly to earth and everybody runs like the wind. It's practiced every day. On Wednesday afternoon, Jacksonville pulled off the bunt plays. Huntsville didn't. End of story in a 6-4 Stars loss, their sixth in a row. The Stars try to snap the streak tonight at 7:05 against the Suns, the Dodgers' Double-A affiliate. The Stars had their hot moments, and not just when pitching coach Rich Sauveur was ejected for arguing with the home plate umpire. After struggling much of the season at the plate, they exploded for 14 hits. There's the agony of defeat. Fourteen hits - and they still lose. "We didn't execute the little things,'' said manager Don Money. For a time, the hitting was timely. Adam Heether, Callix Crabbe and Drew Anderson all drove in runs with clutch two-out singles. Then, in a burgeoning sixth-inning rally, the game tied at 3-all, Crabbe bunted back to the pitcher on a squeeze play, leaving the Stars squeezed at home. They would recover enough to load the bases in the inning, but pinch-hitter Ron Acuna struck out and Travis Ezi flew out. With one aboard in the Suns seventh, Huntsville catcher Lou Palmisano barely tickled a Justin Simmons bunt that was easing down the first-base line. Instead of picking the ball up, he chose to let it roll foul - but the ump had already detected him touching the ball. A sacrifice bunt then put runners on second and third, and three singles produced a three-run inning. Even down 6-3, the Stars didn't fold. A fourth two-out RBI single - this by Jeff Eure in the seventh - made it 6-4, but Huntsville left two runners aboard in the eighth and two more in scoring position in the ninth. The Suns had scored their third run on a squeeze bunt. Money had even sensed the bunt play before it happened and yelled to Palmisano for a pitchout - an instant too late. "We didn't take advantage," said Money, "and they did."

RHP Corey Thurman back to Huntsville from Nashville is part one of the plan for now, as reported by Nashville news media.

Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Gwynn's run is enough Jackson and bullpen shut down Portland By MAURICE PATTON Tennessean Staff Writer Tony Gwynn's sixth-inning run and Zach Jackson's seven shutout innings led the Nashville Sounds to a 1-0 victory Wednesday night over visiting Portland. For Nashville, which stopped a two-game losing streak, it was the first nine-inning 1-0 win since April 9, 2002, against Fresno. The Sounds have won three seven-inning contests by that score over the last four-plus seasons. Gwynn, who posted his team-leading sixth game with at least three hits, led off the sixth inning with a base hit. He advanced to second on a Dave Krynzel bunt single and went to third when the ball was mishandled, before scoring on Brent Abernathy's short sacrifice fly to right field. "The game seemed like it was going to be a close one, a low-scoring one," said Manager Frank Kremblas, who also coaches third base for the Sounds. "I felt that was going to be our best scoring opportunity, and I was going to take a chance." Though Abernathy's fly ball may not have been deep enough under normal circumstances, and Portland right fielder Dustin Delucchi made an on-target throw, Gwynn was able to elude catcher Luke Carlin. It was just the fifth 1-0 nine-inning game in the Pacific Coast League this year. "It was one of those things where, if he set up on the inside (of the plate), I was going to slide to the outside," said Gwynn, listed at 6 feet and 185 pounds. "If he set up on the outside, as fragile as I am, I was going to have to go through him. Thankfully, I was able to take the slide route and get my hand in just before he tagged me." The cushion was enough for Jackson, who allowed just two baserunners in his first six innings and evaded a bases-loaded situation in the seventh inning before turning the game over to the Sounds' bullpen. Alec Zumwalt, the third Nashville reliever, retired Portland in order in the ninth to notch his first Class AAA save of the year ? and become the fourth Sounds pitcher with at least one. Domino effect: A series of roster moves throughout the Milwaukee organization was announced after Wednesday's game. Brewers reliever Chris Demaria was optioned to Nashville after their game at Cincinnati, with Corey Thurman ? tonight's originally scheduled Sounds starter ? reassigned to Double-A Huntsville. Chris Mabeus will join the Brewers from Huntsville. "It's just a chain reaction; we're trying to shuffle the deck, find the hot hand and try to get somebody out," said Milwaukee assistant general manager Gord Ash, who drove to Wednesday's Sounds game after watching Huntsville's game against visiting Jacksonville earlier in the day. The Brewers bullpen, in front of closer (and former Franklin High star) Derrick Turnbow, has been depleted by injuries to starters Tomo Ohka and Ben Sheets. As a result, Ben Hendrickson, who rejoined the Sounds on Monday after three weeks with the Brewers, will pitch tonight's series finale against visiting Portland. What they said: "We were taking some pretty good swings. I don't think we ever felt we'd score just one run." ? Gwynn

Brevard County Game Summary from the Fort Myers Site: The Fort Myers Miracle don?t want to make a habit out of relying on their bullpen to pitch the majority of innings during a game, but for the third consecutive night that was the case. Danny Powers and Chris Schutt answered the bell and the Miracle snapped the Brevard County Manatees six game winning streak with a 4-2 victory on Wednesday night at Hammond Stadium. Danny Powers entered the game with the Miracle on top 4-2 with two on and two out in the fourth. He walked the first batter he faced, but retired Hernan Iribarren on a fly ball to left to end the inning. He was spectacular over the next three innings allowing just a two-out single in the fifth to Steve Sollman. Powers went 3.1 shutout innings allowing one hit while walking one and fanning five and earning his second win of the season. Chris Schutt tossed two perfect innings to close out the game and earn his first save of the season. The Miracle faced the third best pitcher in the Florida State League, Josh Wahpepah, who came in with a 1.57 ERA, but he didn?t make it out of the second inning. Wahpepah struggled with his control and the Miracle took advantage of it. The Miracle, who improved to 26-20, sent 10 men to the plate and scored all four runs with two outs. Luke Hughes led off with a single to center. With one out Korey Feiner lined a single off of Wahpepah?s glove. With two outs Alexi Casilla walked to load the bases. Garrett Guzman forced home the first run with a walk and the Miracle made it 3-0 with back-to-back singles by Kyle Geiger and Kevin West. They finished the scoring when Matt Tolbert walked with the bases loaded. Miracle starter Colby Miller struggled with his control as well. He gave back a run in the third when he walked the lead off batter in the inning, Scott McKnight, gave up a double to Charlie Fermaint and an RBI ground out to Iribarren. He got out of the jam by striking out Ryan Braun and getting Brendan Katin to ground out. In the fourth he gave up a lead off single to Sollman who then stole second and went to third on Feiner?s throwing error. Miller walked C.J. Medlin and then got defensive help. Freddy Parejo hit a slow chopper to Plouffe at third and he gunned out Sollman at the plate. Miller then struck out Nestor Corredor, but couldn?t get out of the inning when he gave up an RBI single to McKnight, but the bullpen took over from there. The same two teams play Thursday night in the third game of a four game series at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). The Miracle send RHP Anthony Swarzak (2-3, 4.70) against Manatees LHP Manny Parra (0-1, 7.50).

With the announcement that RHP Chris Mabeus will be called up Friday and that RHP Chris Demaria is being optioned back to Nashville, look for something to happen this week with Huntsville's pitching staff, because apparently, Carlos Villanueva isn't heading back to the Stars right away. Huntsville only has nine pitchers on their roster now. Rubber-armed relievers Steve Bray and Gerrit Simpson have been very solid, but there's no way there's not a couple of moves in the next day or two to help those guys out.

Final: Fort Myers (Twins) 4, Brevard County 2 Brevard County Box Score: Let's here it for Bo Hall, Dave Johnson, and Josh Alliston -- 6 1/3 innings of shutout relief; Charlie Fermaint on base three times; golden sombrero for Ryan Braun -- yikes... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_ftmafa_1 Brevard County Game Log: The last 13 Manatee batters went down in order... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_ftmafa_1

Final: Kannapolis (White Sox) 8, West Virginia 0 West Virginia Site Game Summary: Intimidators shut out Power The West Virginia Power had not been shut out in their first 43 games of the 2006 season, but on Wednesday night they left runners stranded in scoring position in six different innings and were shut out for the first time all year, falling to the Kannapolis Intimidators by the final of 8-0 at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium. In the bottom of the first inning Adam Ricks scored on Mike Bell?s throwing error to give Kannapolis the early lead. Anderson Gomes drove in a run on an RBI groundout in the sixth inning and Brandon Allen knocked in the final run in the sixth with a two out single. Clutch two out hits helped the Intimidators in the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh Anderson Gomes ripped a two-out, two-run single to give Kannapolis a 5-0 lead. With two outs in the eighth inning Adam Ricks smacked a two run double and he scored later in the inning on a base hit from Salvador Sanchez. Derek Rodriguez (2-4) earned the victory, and Kevin Roberts (2-6) obtained the loss. The Power are 23-21 after the loss and the Intimidators improved to 10-35 with the win. The Power will continue the four game series against the Intimidators on Thursday night. Kannapolis will start left hander Noe Rodriguez (0-5, 6.29) and the Power will counter with left hander Derek Miller (4-1, 2.66). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score: Power couldn't take advantage of six early walks; Yost and Yoho have hit back-to-back on many nights -- nothing of significance except for the Yo-Yo combo -- hey, it was 8-0, what are you looking for? www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_kanafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: Passed ball and an error for Angel Salome; you know what might be fun is having Angel catch Jared Fernandez... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_kanafx_1