Jim Goulart

Of course, David probably realizes he's giving us his Top "11" games of 2005. It's kind of like the Big Ten since Penn State arrived...

David Weiser's Top Ten Games of 2005(# 3A) July 6 at Joe Davis Stadium Stars 6, Barons 5 ](# 3B) July 23 at Joe Davis Stadium Stars 5, Barons 3 (10 innings) The Stars beat the Barons only twice this season in 11 matches, the worst season, percentage-wise ever against Birmingham, but in both games, they came in the final inning. In a game that deserves to stand side-by-side in the # 3 position, the Stars, on July 23, beat the Barons, 5-3 when Tony Gwynn, Jr. hit a two-run triple to win it. After Callix Crabbe tied the game in the 9th on a single dumped over a drawn-in infield scoring Guilder Rodriguez, the Barons managed to load the bases in the bottom half off Jerome Gamble, who was just starting to turn his season around...... Brian Wolfe was brought in to face Chris Stewart with two out and got him to fly out to send the game into extra innings....... The Stars performed a similar come-from-behinder on July 6th, chasing Daniel Haigwood from the game to score three times in the 8th to take a 4-3 lead on an off-on rain throughout this Saturday night. Mitch Stetter, however, could not protect it in the 9th, as Ryan Sweeney stepped up to deliver a two-out double off the right field wall to give the Barons a 5-4 lead. Josh Fields, the next hitter, lined the ball hard to left for a single, but Brad Nelson, who hit the game-winning two-out, two-run homer in the 9th for the Stars' 6-5 win, saved the game defensively by rifling the ball to John Vanden Berg, who held onto the ball after a collision with Sweeney. The Barons had two runners thrown out at the plate and two runners at third in this game. Box Scores and Game Logs from MILB.com: July 6th: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 July 23rd: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_1

The Brewers and Rockies have finalized the deal that sent 25-year-old RH middle reliever Gerrit Simpson to the Brewers in July, with Colorado accepting cash instead of a PTBNL. Simpson pitched well in 13 relief appearances with Huntsville. He's Brewer property for two more seasons. Career stats for the 2001 5th round Rockie pick: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...pson.shtml

Message actually from user getpaddled -- moved to this thread instead of a separate thread... I have been trying to get that book you want. (Its impossible to get, but still trying) Here is something I came across. espn.go.com/mlb/s/transan...rimer.html www.businessofbaseball.com/docs.htm sorry

David Weiser's Top Ten Games of 2005(# 4) September 3 at Joe Davis Stadium Stars 2, Lookouts 1 After dealing with high humidity for much of the summer season, this final home game was ideal in a number of ways --- the night air was as comfortable as you'd expect in a dream, former GM Bryan Dingo and former longtime announcer Steve Kornya, of all people, made a visit to the old guard of fans at the Joe, and promotional freebies on an unofficial Fan Appreciation night, welcomed the crowd of nearly 3,000 who saw one of the best games of the year -- a scoreless duel for seven innings, a well-pitched and well-played game....... Facing Chattanooga's tough Phil Dumatrait and later, Bubba Nelson, the Stars managed only to get a single in the 1st and one in the 2nd, unable to get a runner past second base....... Meanwhile, middle reliever Keith Stamler, making his first start, while not as stingy, surprised the crowd by holding the Lookouts scoreless for six innings, taken off the hook in the 2nd inning with runners on first and third by a double play. Chattanooga broke the ice and took a 1-0 lead in the 8th, but Brandon Gemoll, leading off the 8th, singled up the middle, was sacrificed to second by Nelson Castro, and scored after John Vanden Berg lined a ball off Nelson's foot. The ball took a crazy carom and on the fly, ended up on the outfield grass behind the dirt between first and second. Taken by surprise at the freakish hop, no one was in position to field the ball until right fielder Junior Ruiz came in and fired the ball to home plate. But Gemoll, hustling all the way on the play, glided across the plate to score the tying run........ After Jerome Gamble retired the Lookouts in order in the 9th, Enrique Cruz followed a one-out walk to Adam Heether with a single into left-center and with Heether now in scoring position, Gemoll, the batting hero of the 8th, lined David Shafer's first pitch over the head of Ruiz deep to right for the game-winning double, a perfect capper to an otherwise disappointing year. Box Score and Game Log from MILB.com: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Link Report for that date includes David Weiser's full commentary from that night: p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...3295.topic

Whew, if ever a thread proved that those silly emoticon in the subject thingy's was unnecessary, it's this one. Enough angry red faces, anyone?

David Weiser's Top Ten Games of 2005(# 5) April 28 at Joe Davis Stadium Stars 14, Smokies 13 Only 763 braved a chilly 55°, off-and-on rainy night at the Joe for this. I'll admit that I stayed home for this one, and it's doubtful that since I had to work the next morning, I wouldn't have stayed to see what would become a 3½ hour, 10-inning affair and one of the best games of the year. After the Smokies scored three in the 1st, the Stars began taking control of the game, first against starter Sergio Lizarraga, then Doug Slaten, getting eight runs on 10 hits off them in five innings. Still, the Stars nursed only an 8-6 lead until the 7th when singles by Enrique Cruz and Kennard Bibbs gave them an 11-6 lead....... But leadoff hitter Marland Williams, who went 5-for-5 and hit for the cycle, hit a two-run HR in the 8th and added a triple to complete the cycle in a five-run 9th that put the Smokies in front, 13-11....... For those who stayed, the chill was put aside when the Stars got hot. Enrique Cruz greeted new pitcher Mike Schultz with a single. John Vanden Berg followed with a pinch-hit double to score Cruz and it was 13-12. Bibbs then laid down a bunt. Catcher Phil Avlas picked up the ball and sailed it into the bullpen area down the right field line. In came Vandy to tie the game and Bibbs was sitting at third, the potential winning run. Tony Gwynn, Jr., a hot hitter all year when in the # 2 hole, was put on base to pitch to Vinny Rottino, on a 13-for-25 streak coming into the game. Against a drawn-in infield, Vinny flied to Williams in centerfield. He unleashed a one-hop throw to the plate that cut down a sliding Bibbs for the final out of the inning........ Seeming almost anti-climatic was Nelson Cruz's home run in the 10th on a 1-0 pitch from Schultz to win the game, and the Stars climbed from a 1-7 start to .500 for the first time, handing Tennessee their 11th straight loss on the road. Box Score and Game Log from MILB.com: A very un-Dana Eveland-like effort... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

Top Ten Games of 2005(# 6) June 23 at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile Stars 14, Bay Bears 3 Dennis Sarfate not only won his 7th game to go 7-3, he also homered and drove in four runs. That alone is credential enough for this list. But what set this game apart in this radio broadcast was the 12-run 5th inning, which was the biggest inning for the Stars since April 17, 1988, and the most scored in one inning by the Stars on the road. trailing 1-0 in the 5th inning, the Stars sent 17 batters to the plate. The tally: 11 hits, 3 walks, and an error. Sarfate knocked in the first run with a bases-loaded grounder that scored Enrique Cruz, who started the inning with a single. Nelson Cruz, the only hitter not to get a hit in that inning, hit into a double play with the bases loaded to make it 5-1, but it went on and on and on and on. Vinny Rottino knocked in the 12th run before Nellie struck out to end the inning. John Vanden Berg scored three times and Callix Crabbe had his finest game, going 3-for-5 and driving in four runs. Incredibly the next day, the Stars beat Mobile again by the same 14-3 score! Box Score and Game Log from MILB.com: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_mobaax_1 Link Report for that date includes David Weiser's full commentary from that night: p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...mp;stop=40

The Nashville site has a detailed Year in Review column posted: www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1812

Top Ten Games of 2005(# 7) August 23 at Joe Davis Stadium Bay Bears 7, Stars 4 It's not often that a game is remembered more for the glovework witnessed than the suspense built on an at-bat or a key hit with runners on base, but this one was eye candy, and deserved to be mentioned. In spite of noteworthy defensive plays by Nelson Castro and Tony Gwynn, Jr. and two plays by the middle infield on the other side, it will be remembered more for the delayed triple play --- the second in Stars history...... With the Stars ahead, 2-1, Mobile had loaded the bases in the 4th on a single by Chris Duncan and a pair of walks to Corey Smith and George Kottaras. The count was 1-2 to Steve Baker when he hit a ball back to pitcher Ty Taubenheim in front of the mound. Instinctively, Taubenheim threw to the plate for the first out, then Jeff Winchester fired to Brandon Gemoll at first for what the crowd of 1,205 thought was the end of a convenient 1-2-3 double play, but Gemoll alertly saw that Corey Smith, in rounding the bag at third, was far enough off to be caught. Gemoll fired across the diamond to Castro, who tagged him out diving into the bag...... Adam Heether made his Stars debut in this game. Box Score and Game Log from MILB.com: TP: (Gemoll-Castro-Winchester-Gemoll); Ty Taubenheim continued to struggle a bit at AA... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Link Report for that date includes "huntsvillefan's" first-hand account: p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...3269.topic

Looking forward to cranking these sounds (no pun intended) up tonight upon the return home. Enjoy! www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1592

Top Ten Games of 2005(# 8) April 21 at Joe Davis Stadium Stars 6, Bay Bears 5 The Stars won their 6th straight to go to 7-7, in handing Mobile their record 10th straight loss. For much of the game, it looked as if they would snap it, too, scoring twice in the 3rd, once in the 4th, and once more in the 7th to take a 4-0 lead. Mobile starter Mike Bumstead was cruising with a shutout. He had allowed two hits in the 1st, then nothing for five straight innings....... Then the Mobile meltdown as Callix Crabbe, Nelson Cruz, and Tony Zuniga led off with walks. Jeff Winchester singled in two runs and with one out, Vinny Rottino, pinch-hitting for Alec Zumwalt, singled in two more. The last run would score on a bases-loaded walk to Crabbe. On top, 5-4, Mobile tied the game in the 9th when Mitch Stetter could not close the door, despite getting the first out. Four consecutive Bay Bears reached base and Ronnie Merrill's double tied the game before Jerome Gamble struck out Mike Richardson and Luis Cruz to end the 9th. But Enrique Cruz stirred the Stars with a leadoff double, then went to third on a wild pitch, and with one out, Crabbe, who walked three times, knocked in Cruz with a sacrifice fly to right on a 3-2 pitch for the winning run. Box Score and Game Log from MILB.com: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Link Report for that date includes David Weiser's full commentary from that night: Always fun and sometimes humorous to re-read the posts from early in the season, not necessarily just on the Huntsville game... p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...2883.topic

An interesting return to the fold, as it were, as Jonathan Phillips, a native of South Africa and a representative on the country's World Cup entry that just completed play, appears to have been signed to a 2006 contract. Phillips is primarily a third baseman, but saw action as well at 2B, SS, and LF in World Cup action, going 6-for-29 with one walk. Phillips had just turned 17 years old in 2003 when he was a member of the Arizona Brewers, going 13-for-68 (eight walks) in limited action. Now 19 years old, if nothing else, Phillips gives writers in Helena, West Virginia, and perhaps beyond an interesting story line over the next few seasons. Unsure about the nature of Phillips' contract status, you would think that he's on a year-to-year basis since his original affiliated seven-year contract was broken upon his release after the 2003 season. Carl Michaels and Paul Bell, fellow South Africans and former Brewer property as well, participated in the World Cup alongside Phillips. There are a handful of minor leaguers (less than five) from South Africa currently active.

More quotes: By Nate Rau, nrau@nashvillecitypaper.com Portions of story listed here to avoid some duplication... The Sounds had 22 come-from-behind wins in the regular season, so it was fitting the team won with a last-breath blast from Nelson Cruz. ?There?s no question that what defines this team in my mind is the late-inning comebacks,? Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said. Players came and went this season, but the one constant for the Sounds was Kremblas, whose aggressive managerial style also defined the team. Even though his team won the league title, the 38-year-old Kremblas said he didn?t ace the season. ?I?d give myself probably a ?B,?? Kremblas said. It?s hard to imagine what more the Brewers could have asked of Kremblas. Besides winning, he helped various players like Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, Kane Davis, Jose Capellan, Rickie Weeks and Justin Lehr make the leap to the big leagues. Kremblas said he?ll be back next season, but he expects the above-mentioned prospects to remain in Milwaukee. ?This was a weird year for Triple-A teams, you had all these guys that could play who were young,? Kremblas said. ?All those guys are going to be up there next year for the most part. [We are] probably going to have a team of older players.?

Top Ten Games of 2005(# 9) May 23 at Five County Stadium Stars 6, Mudcats 3 Following a 3-0 loss to Chattanooga before what was then the largest home crowd of the season, the Stars took to the road to face the Carolina Mudcats at Five County for the first time since their embarrassing season-opening series sweep, in which the Stars were outscored in four games, 11-1 and outhit, 27-14. Additionally, the Stars were carrying a five-game losing streak. But Enrique Cruz became a one-man show, belting two home runs and driving in all six runs to back Glenn Woolard's six-inning, three-hit performance. With an RBI double in the 2nd, a three-run HR in the 7th, and a two-run blast in the 9th, Enrique upped his average from .282 to .294, and became the first Huntsville Star since Brad Nelson on April 18 of 2004 to drive in six runs. Box Score and Game Log from MILB.com: Kennard Bibbs a HR shy of the cycle in this one... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cmcaax_1 Link Report for that date includes David Weiser's full commentary from that night: p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...2995.topic

We'll count down, one game a day, Huntsville Stars' historian and super fan David Weiser's Top Ten Games of the Stars' season: The Stars had the worst first half finish (29-40) since 1991, when they posted a 28-44 record, but thanks to the Smokies and Lookouts, they avoided the ignominy of falling into sole possession of last place at any point, although they shared the cellar a couple of times with them....... The Stars awoke in the second half after the most miserable May in the club's history (9-20). They won four of their first five and was 12-9 and in 1st place as late as July 15th when they went into their nose-dive, going 19-30 the rest of the way........ Along this winding road from 1st to almost worst were some memorable games nonetheless --- the double-header that attracted more than 11,000, the 19-inning, 2-1 loss to Mobile, Carlos Villanueva's five-innings of no-hit pitching, which he lost, Dennis Sarfate's 6 2/3 scoreless innings vs. Chattanooga, and their record 10-game home win streak that stretched into May. But these were the games I thought particularly memorable enough to list in a top ten. Top Ten Games of 2005(# 10)April 30 at Joe Davis Stadium Stars 13, Smokies 6 A record-setting game as the Stars won their 9th straight game at home, beating Tennessee, 13-6, helped by seven Tennessee errors --- a record tied --- one for most errors made by an opponent. After taking a 4-3 lead, the Smokies melted down completely in the bottom of the 3rd inning, making four errors leading to six unearned runs to give the Stars a 9-4 lead. The Stars scored all 13 of their runs without the benefit of a single extra-base hit. Box Score and Game Log from MILB.com: Not Manny Parra's finest day; perhaps they changed the ruling on an error that day -- box score now reads six... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 We'll also link to the Link Report for that day when possible, but it looks like this one was lost during the great EZ Board fiasco of 2005.

Trent Durrington and Nelson Cruz to Milwaukee, and some interesting comments, particularly about David Krynzel and his maturity level, from Cecil Cooper of the Astros' coaching staff: www.brewersradionetwork.c.../index.asp

Plenty of new quotes in this article: Link while active, text follows -- www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp Sounds capture PCL championship By Tim Leonard / MLB.com The waiting is over. After 23 years, the Nashville Sounds are champions again. Nelson Cruz launched a three-run homer off Cha Seung Baek with two outs in the 13th inning that sent the Sounds to a 5-2 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers on Friday and a sweep of the Pacific Coast League Championship Series. "I needed something to drive. I'd been looking all game," said Cruz, who also won the PCL title last season with Sacramento. "I looked for a fastball and I got it, a little bit away. I knew it was going." The championship drought ended in Nashville's first season as an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Nashville was a Southern League affiliate of the New York Yankees the last time the Sounds won a title in 1982. Among the players on that team were Buck Showalter, Otis Nixon, Rex Hudler, Wayne Garland and Brian Dayett. The manager was Johnny Oates. "I'm happy for Nashville," Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said. "It's our first year with them down there. I'm sure they're very happy that someone finally got them a title. It's a good start." The decisive inning started when Corey D. Hart reached on shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera's two-out throwing error. Tony Zuniga worked the count full before drawing a walk from reliever Andrew Lorraine. Baek came in to face Cruz, who drove a 1-0 pitch well over the left-center field fence. "We were the only people cheering at that point," Kremblas said. "The guys just battled, just like they've done all year. They kept battling and battling and got things done when they needed to." The go-ahead blast came an inning after Sounds reliever Brett Evert escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam. Wiki Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk and pinch-runner Michael Garciaparra raced to third on Hunter Brown's one-out single. Evert intentionally walked T.J. Bohn Jr. to load the bases before getting Rene Rivera on a foul popout. Cabrera ended the inning on a comebacker. "That gave us a big lift mentally," Kremblas said. Evert (1-0) struck out five and allowed two hits over three innings for the win. Nashville's bullpen yielded two hits and three walks over the final 6 1/3 innings. Evert fanned Bucky Jacobsen to set off the celebration. "After the third out, I was standing there in right field and saying, 'Thank God,'" Cruz said. "Then I ran to the mound and celebrated. I knew I was going to get the game if we got somebody on base." Nashville took the lead when Steve Scarborough led off the third with a homer off Tacoma starter Damian Moss. The Sounds made it 2-0 in the sixth as Cruz took second on a two-out error by Brown at second base and scored on a single by Mike Rivera. Scarborough and Rivera each had two of Nashville's eight hits. "I have a set lineup for when a left-handed pitcher starts and when a right-handed pitcher starts," explained Kremblas, who said members of the left-hander lineup refer to themselves as "The Grunts." "The Grunts, those guys won two of the three games," the manager added. "They were also in for two of the three when we won the first series, too. They did a great job." Nashville starter Gary Glover was nearly untouchable through six shutout innings, retiring 16 of the first 17 batters he faced. The right-hander allowed only a one-out single in the third to Rene Rivera, who also doubled in the sixth. The Rainiers showed signs of life in the seventh, when Gonzalez and Aaron Rifkin hit consecutive one-out singles. After Brown struck out, Bohn ripped a two-run double that tied the score. Alec Zumwalt replaced Glover and walked Rene Rivera before getting Cabrera to ground out. Cabrera was the first of seven straight batters Zumwalt set down. Mike Adams retired all three Rainiers in the 10th. Moss gave up two runs -- one earned -- in six innings. The Rainiers bullpen was outstanding as Emiliano Fruto, Jeff Heaverlo and Sean Green combined to allow one hit and three walks in 6 1/3 frames. Lorraine (0-1) was charged with two unearned runs.

Chuck Valenches' game-ending audio call is now available: It's too bad the game didn't take place in Nashville (or end before 1:00 AM Central)... www.nashvillesounds.com/a...209-16.mp3

First, a link to the now-closed August / September in-season transaction thread: p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...mp;stop=76 An organization "owns" a player for seven years upon that player signing his first contract with an affiliated ballclub. That "ownership" is transferable via trade. However, that "ownership" is broken once a player is released by that original organization. After that, players are almost exclusively signed to one-year deals, giving the player the right to look elsewhere (or hope the organization will ask him back and re-sign him). As our free agent list (also pinned to the top of this forum) shows, the Brewers have already signed several of the players who would have been eligible for free agency to minor league deals for 2006. They are utilityman Corey Hart, LHP Sam Narron, RHP Darwin Soto, RHP Brian Wolfe, LHP Jeremy Lewis and catcher C. J. Medlin. We'll post career and 2005 numbers for these players later this weekend in this thread.

Oh my, I'm completely remiss in not thanking a few more folks -- after all, without them, there's nothing to link to: The affiliate broadcasters and staff responsible for putting together the game summaries on the team websites -- we had game summaries within minutes of completion just about all around, awesome. In a couple of weeks, we're going to present our annual "Behind the Microphone" series of interviews -- all four play-by-play men are on board. All the local sportswriters, particularly those in Nashville (Mo Patton and Nate Rau), Huntsville (the wonderful Mark McCarter and the Times Staff), West Virginia (how cool was it to have two daily newspapers on the scene at the low-A level), and the guys at the Helena Independent Record -- thanks again. It was also very cool to have Michael (madbad2000) kick off his "Farm Hops" series this season -- it really added to our minor league coverage. And there's no denying the king of all Brewerfan favorites, the ol' Power 50, a cherished staple here thanks to And That (Toby).

Games begin October 4th. Right now the only online schedule appears to be this hard-to-read PDF version -- we'll keep an eye out for a better one... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...ail830.pdf

How fitting that the final photo in the year's final Link Report is of Steve Scarborough, the 27-year-old 18th round pick of the Brewers back in 1999. Seven years a Milwaukee Brewer farmhand, always the class guy. Farm directors are always on the lookout for guys who can handle multiple infield positions as well as Steve does, and there's no doubt Scar will be active somewhere in 2006 and beyond. While there's always a chance Scarborough could re-sign with the Crew, Steve, you and your agent choose wisely, and if so, you'll be on a big league field before you know it. And a special hello to Brewerfan poster BrewMoon (you know who you are) -- we enjoyed having you with us all these years. Similarly, the Brewers have another "seven-year graduate" and another first-class guy off the championship Nashville squad in outfielder Ryan Knox (1999, 24th round). Knoxie has made fans in every Brewer outpost along the way with his attitude, effort, and production. Here's a wink to Ryan http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif , who is "aware" of what we do here at Brewerfan. By all accounts, a fantastic teammate, hopefully we'll see Ryan on a baseball field again in 2006, although we believe he's hinted at spending more time with his band, HighwayJ. www.highwayj.com/ Later today, Toby and I will release the list of 2005 Brewer farmhands who are free agents as of this off-season, including several members of this Nashville squad. Brett Evert and Alec Zumwalt, two of the bullpen heroes down the stretch, unfortunately won't be Brewer property in 2006 unless they reach new deals with Milwaukee. There are many others many of you would like to see back based on their production, and we'll detail the complete list and kick off discussion before Saturday night's out. On a personal note, 3400 individual posts from me this summer - I think all except 50 or so dedicated to the Link Report and Transaction updates. A labor of love, but it's always a bit of a relief to call it a season. Thanks to everyone who has acknowledged my efforts this season, whether you did so here on the forum or in the several private messages I've received. The acknowledgement is not something I need or seek out, but it is appreciated. While I'll keep busy working with the rest of the "staff" here to keep you posted on all the off-season moves, another season's daily grind is complete, and there's several months to rest up now for 2006. I'm looking forward to catching up on the Major League side of things, it's my understanding they've been doing OK this season. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif Here's to a fantastic off-season for everyone, and thanks again for visiting and reading.

Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Cruz, Sounds win PCL in 13 Sweep Tacoma for title with three-run homer By JASON CHURCHILL Special to The Tennessean TACOMA, Wash. ? Nelson Cruz handed Nashville the Pacific Coast League Championship on a silver platter. Cruz?s three-run home run in the top of the 13th inning capped off a series sweep of the Tacoma Rainiers with a 5-2 win at Cheney Stadium last night, crowning Nashville a champion. The marathon third game of the championship series lasted more than four hours and consisted of solid pitching on both sides. But the Sounds? bullpen lasted one batter longer than the Rainiers relief corps. That batter was Cruz, who finished the series with three home runs and 11 RBI. "This team can do anything," Cruz said. "It's no surprise (winning late). We have done this all year, all of the guys." Nashville started off the scoring in the third when shortstop Steve Scarborough hit a solo home run off Tacoma starter Damian Moss and added a second in the sixth on a single by Mike Rivera. The lead stood until the seventh inning when Tacoma?s T.J. Bohn doubled in a pair to tie the score at two, eventually sending the game into extra innings. Sounds starter Gary Glover tamed the Rainiers for six innings until Bohn?s two-out double. Glover allowed five hits in 6-2/3 innings, walking just one and striking out six. "Our pitching was terrific tonight," Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas said. "We didn't end the year with the same club, but these guys battled every day." Cruz?s heroics may never have been if not for a throwing error by Cabrera, the Rainiers? shortstop, with two outs. Corey Hart reached after Cabrera?s throw was low and wide of first baseman Aaron Rifkin. Tacoma Manager Dan Rohn replaced southpaw Andrew Lorraine with right-hander Cha Seung Baek, specifically to face Cruz. Cruz sent Baek?s 1-0 pitch deep into the left-field night, enticing an eruption from the Sounds dugout as Cruz rounded the bases. "I knew it was gone," Cruz said. Nashville?s bullpen tossed 6-2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits with Evert, a former Tacoma Rainier, striking out Bucky Jacobsen for the final out of the ballgame. Strike three was delayed due to Jacobsen?s check swing, but as soon as home plate umpire Kevin Kelley raised his right arm, Rivera raced to the mound to leap into the arms of Evert, starting the celebration. "I was just relieved. I sighed in relief," Evert said. "This is great. To do it here with this team, it couldn't get any better."

Link while active, text follows: www.thenewstribune.com/sp...3313c.html Extra effort, but a sweep COREY BROCK; The Tacoma News Tribune After two games of offensive fireworks, there was no indication the Pacific Coast League championship series would be decided by pitching. For the most part, it was. Nashville showed its softer side Friday night in a 5-2, 13-inning victory over the Tacoma Rainiers that gave the Sounds a three-game sweep and their first league title. In front of 5,233 at Cheney Stadium, the Sounds prevailed thanks in large part to the pitching of Gary Glover and relievers Alec Zumwalt, Mike Adams and Brett Evert. Which isn?t to say the Sounds didn?t hit. Especially when it mattered most. Nelson Cruz?s three-run home run in the 13th inning - all three runs were unearned because of a throwing error by Tacoma shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera - off Cha Seung Baek set off Nashville?s celebration. The Sounds - who won a Class AA Southern League title in 1982 - lost the 2003 PCL championship series to Sacramento. The Rainiers, co-champions of the PCL in 1978 and again in 2001, were trying to win their first outright title since 1969. Tacoma had a chance to win it in the 12th, loading the bases with one out, but Evert worked out of the jam by getting Reñe Rivera to pop out in foul territory and Cabrera on a comebacker. Glover and the three relievers tamed a Rainiers lineup that mashed six home runs in the first two games of the series. Tacoma had two runs on just six hits. Glover - the lone PCL pitcher with more than one victory (he now has three) in the postseason - kept the Rainiers? attack grounded by mixing his pitches and hitting corners. Glover allowed a single to catcher Rivera in the third and retired the next eight hitters before Rivera doubled with one out in the sixth. Tacoma finally got to Glover in the seventh. With one out, Wiki Gonzalez and Aaron Rifkin reached base on consecutive singles. Glover then struck out Hunter Brown but allowed a two-run double by T.J. Bohn to the wall in right-center field. Tacoma returned to Cheney Stadium after allowing a combined 19 runs in the first two games of the series. But pitching wasn?t so much to blame Friday. Damian Moss entered the game with a 7.50 ERA in two postseason appearances but was in command against Nashville. The 28-year-old Australian allowed one earned run on six hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out two. Moss got some help from his teammates on several occasions. After committing five errors in Wednesday?s 11-5 loss in Game 2, Tacoma?s defense came up with a big play in the second inning to thwart a possible scoring opportunity for the Sounds. Nashville designated hitter Tony Zuniga lined a low shot off Moss, and Rainiers left fielder Shin Soo Choo tried to make a sliding catch. Instead, the ball scooted past Choo for a double. Cruz then lifted a fly ball into center field that Bohn - who has an above-average arm - settled under. Seeing Zuniga tag up, Bohn then fired a one-hop strike to Justin Leone at third base to nab Zuniga by roughly five feet. The Rainiers? defense came up big again in the fifth when the Sounds loaded the bases with one out. That?s when Moss uncorked a pitch that sailed high and wide to the backstop. Nashville?s Ryan Knox - who reached on a walk to start the inning - took off for home and appeared to get a hand on the plate just before Moss, covering on the play, dropped a tag on him. But plate umpire Kevin Kelly saw it differently and called Knox out. Dave Krynzel then grounded out to Brown at second to end the inning. No amount of good defense could prevent the Sounds? first run from scoring in the third, though. Steve Scarborough, Nashville?s No. 9 hitter, got hold of a 0-1 fastball from Moss and sent it well over the fence in left field for a 1-0 Nashville lead. Tacoma?s otherwise strong defense played a role in the Sounds? second run of the game in the sixth. With two out and none on, Cruz sent a towering pop fly to short right field that Brown tracked all the way. But the ball seemed to drift on him at the last second, falling fair beyond his reach for an error. Cruz alertly took second on the play and scored on Mike Rivera?s bloop single to center for a 2-0 lead. Nashville's Trent Durrington, left, congratulates Steve Scarborough after Scarborough hit a two-run homer. The Sounds defeated Tacoma 5-2 in 13 innings to win the Pacific Coact League championship. THE TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE http://www.thenewstribune.com/images/unisys-images/20050917-images/spt0917_rainiers_p3.JPG