Jim Goulart

Nashville Media Notes for Saturday (PDF format): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Sounds facing elimination following loss to RedHawks Trail Oklahoma 2-1 in best-of-5 playoff series By MAURICE PATTON Tennessean Staff Writer Coming up empty in a pair of late-inning bases-loaded situations, the Nashville Sounds' chances for postseason success were injured severely with last night's 2-1 loss to Oklahoma in Game 3 of the PCL American Conference playoffs. The Sounds trail 2-1 in the best-of-5 series after splitting the first two games at Oklahoma. In the franchise's 28-year history, the Sounds are 0-for-7 when trailing a postseason series 2-1. "It's tough to come home and have that kind of game," said Nashville starter Tommy Phelps, who struck out eight over 6 1/3 innings but gave up both runs. "I made a couple of mistakes and they made me pay." Down by a run, Nashville had a chance to break the game open in the sixth inning. Dave Krynzel and Tony Zuniga were hit by pitches from Oklahoma starter Josh Rupe, and Vinny Rottino singled up the middle. However, with the bases loaded and one out, Brad Nelson grounded into the Sounds' third inning-ending double play. In the ninth, Rottino hit a leadoff single off reliever Jose Veras, followed by a walk to Zuniga. Nelson flew out and Nelson Cruz struck out, but Rottino and pinch-runner Ryan Knox successfully executed a double steal. Warren Morris, who drove in the only Nashville run, was walked intentionally to bring Mike Rivera to the plate. On a full count, Rivera took a low offspeed pitch from Veras for strike three to end the game. "For him to throw a 3-2 curveball with the bases loaded and two outs, and make that pitch ? you just have to tip your hat to him," Rivera said. "He made a good pitch. "We were too aggressive all night. We chased a lot of bad pitches, trying to do too much. I think that's why we struggled." Nashville went ahead when Nelson led off the second with a single against Rupe, stole second and scored on a Morris base hit. The RedHawks tied the score with Ruddy Yan's solo home run in the third off Phelps. Oklahoma took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. After Morris misplayed Esteban German's one-out fly ball into a fielder's choice to force Jason Botts at second, the speedier German stole second and scored on Rashad Eldridge's base hit down the right-field line. "I was trying to throw that pitch in the dirt," the right-handed Phelps said. "With a left-handed hitter on deck and two outs, I wanted to make (Eldridge) chase or for it to be ball four. I got a little under it and he got a piece of it." What they said: "Our effort was great, but when you're hitting, you're not fighting. You've got to relax, get something to hit and put a good swing on it. We'll see what they're made of (tonight)." ? Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas. Ex-skippers face off: The two most recent former Nashville Sounds managers ? Trent Jewett (1998-2000, 2003-04) and Marty Brown (2001-02) are in opposing dugouts for the opening round of the International League playoffs. Brown, who took over the Buffalo helm after leaving Nashville, led the Indians' Triple-A affiliate to an 82-62 regular-season finish and the IL North Division title. Jewett moved to Indianapolis when the Pirates changed affiliations over the offseason and piloted his new team to a 78-66 record and the wild-card berth. Buffalo has a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 series. It won the opener 5-1 in Indianapolis on Wednesday and came from behind against Sounds all-time saves leader Mark Corey for a 6-5 win in the second game. Indianapolis won last night's game, 5-2. Maurice Patton covers the Nashville Sounds for The Tennessean. He can be reached at mopatton@tennessean.com.

Follow Saturday's action as it happens: Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

Saturday's Daily Menu: All starts Central Time -- Nashville: RHP Dennis Sarfate at home vs. Oklahoma (Rangers), 5:40 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime -- Redhawks lead best-of-five series, 2-1 Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Nashville Site Gamecast Feed: www.nashvillesounds.com/live/xlive.htm Helena: RHP Simon Beresford at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:00 PM -- Brewers lead best-of-three series, 1-0 Audio link (opponent's): www.billingsmustangs.com/

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Final: Oklahoma (Rangers) 2, Nashville 1 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Warren Morris phhoto, text follows - www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=1799 NASHVILLE ? The Nashville Sounds dropped their second straight game to the Oklahoma RedHawks on Friday evening at Greer Stadium, falling 2-1 in game three of the American Conference Finals. Down by a run with the bases full in the bottom of the ninth, the never-say-die Sounds -- who won 22 games in their last at-bat during the regular season -- were unable to work their magic as Oklahoma closer Jose Veras caught Mike Rivera looking at a 3-2 breaking ball for a strikeout to end the contest. With the loss, Nashville trails the best-of-five series by a 2-1 margin, a deficit that the Sounds have never recovered from in seven previous tries over the club?s postseason history. Warren Morris gave the Sounds a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning with a one-out RBI single to right off Oklahoma starter Josh Rupe. Brad Nelson, who opened the frame with a single, scored on the knock. AUDIO: Warren Morris' RBI Single -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%209-9.mp3 Ruddy Yan tied the contest in the third when the RedHawks outfielder smacked a solo homer to left-center off Sounds starter Tommy Phelps. Oklahoma grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth when Esteban German reached on a fielder?s choice, stole second, then scored on Rashad Eldridge?s RBI single down the right field line. The Sounds failed to capitalize on a solid scoring chance in the bottom of the sixth when Brad Nelson grounded into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded against Rupe. Rupe (1-0) limited the Sounds to one run on only four hits over his eight frames of work, striking out five along the way to earn the victory. Phelps (0-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings of work. He fanned a season-high eight batters in his outing, which was the southpaw?s longest of the season. Veras tossed a scoreless ninth to pick up his second save in as many nights. The Sounds look to stave off elimination on Saturday evening in the teams? 6 p.m. meeting at Greer Stadium. Righthander Dennis Sarfate (0-1, 2.25 in regular season) makes the start for Nashville to face Oklahoma righthander Kelvin Jimenez (4-6, 3.58 in regular season). Nashville Box Score: Shame to waste Tommy Phelps and Alec Zumwalt's stellar efforts... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Nashville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

Final: Helena 8, Billings (Reds) 4 Brewers lead best of three series 1-0; head home to Helena for Saturday night... Link while active, text follows: www.billingsgazette.com/i...stangs.inc Ponies can't handle Helena's hot hitting By MIKE SCHERTING Of The Billings Gazette Staff The Pioneer League's No. 1 offense rolled on Friday night, and now the Helena Brewers are one win away from rolling into the league's championship series. The Brewers pounded 17 hits and scored in six of the nine innings, beating the Billings Mustangs 8-4 at Cobb Field in the first game of the North Division playoffs. Over 2,600 fans, including a vocal pod of Brewers' fans, watched as the Mustangs simply couldn't keep pace with the prolific Helena hitters. Eric Eymann's solo home run to dead center earned the Mustangs a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the third, but after that it was all Helena as the Brewers scored five times between the fifth and eighth innings to pull away. The Brewers finished the regular season hitting .309 and averaged nearly seven runs and 11 hits per game, and they topped those numbers against six Mustangs pitchers. Four Helena hitters had at least three hits, including second baseman Kenny Holmberg, who finished 4-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs. He also hit a double and scored three times. And it could have been worse for the Mustangs. The Brewers stranded 11 base runners and had a runner reach at least second base in every inning but the ninth. Angel Salome, Mat Gamel and Michael Brantley all had three hits apiece for the Brewers, who finished with six extra-base hits. The Mustangs, who entered the game with the league's worst batting average (.258), had their share of extra-base hits (4), too. But after the third inning three Helena pitchers scattered six hits the rest of the way. Helena starter Will Inman, who went 6-0 in the regular season, appeared to be on the ropes in the third inning after Eymann led off with his homer and Brandon Roberts followed with a single and J.D. Reininger worked a walk. But Inman (1-0), a third-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers this spring, finished off the inning by striking out Jay Bruce and Adam Rosales and then getting J.D. Roberts to ground out to first base. Dane Renkert and Ronny Malave worked the final 3 2/3 innings for the Brewers. Bruce hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 2-2 after the Brewers struck in the top half of the inning on an RBI double by Holmberg, who later came around to score on a passed ball. Darren Ford also drove in two runs for the Brewers, while Gamel and Ned Yost added one each. It was Gamel's RBI double to score Salome in the fifth inning that broke the 3-3 tie. The win puts the Brewers in command of the best-of-three series, which now switches to Helena for Game 2 tonight. The Brewers are expected to start Simon Beresford (1-1, 2.55 ERA), while Billings is expected to throw Travis Wood (2-0, 1.82). Game 3, if necessary, will be Sunday afternoon in Helena. The winner of the North Division will play either Ogden or Orem for the league championship. Orem won 2-1 Friday night to take a 1-0 lead in that series. Helena Box Score: 22-year-old Kenny Holmberg, the Brewers' 22nd round pick this year, with two HR's and falls a triple short of the cycle -- wow; RHP Dane Renkert's scoreless streak (well, one unearned run) is at least 17 innings (and more if we were to go back to his early-season Helena stint)... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1 Helena Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1 The Kenny Holmberg File: You would think that Kenny Holmberg would need to be pushed to high-A in 2006 -- does that push Hernan Iribarren to Huntsville? What about Steve Sollman? And you won't see Callix Crabbe / Guilder Rodriguez in AAA, so who and where? Nice problem to have. Here's a reminder about Holmberg's monster season coming off of Friday's monster game... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...pid=446803

Nashville Media Notes for Friday (PDF format): MAKE OR BREAK GAME: In their previous 10 trips to the postseason, the Sounds have split the first two games of a series on 10 occasions. Nashville has won the third game on five occasions and have gone on to win all five of those series. The Sounds have never won a series when trailing 2-1, losing all seven times that it has occurred. HOME SWEET HOME?: Since June 1st, the Sounds finished just 19-25 when playing at Greer Stadium. Nashville logged a 28-18 record in road contests over that stretch. The Sounds held a 36-36 at home over the course of the regular season. www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

MILB.com: Helena vs. Billings (Best 2-of-3) REGULAR SEASON SERIES Front-running Helena won 10-of-16 games, not dominating but clearly having an edge. Helena hit .286 as a team as opposed to Billings' .236. The Brewers also posted a 3.52 ERA, while the Ospreys posted a 5.94 ERA. HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS Helena Angel Salome, who won the league's MVP award, hit .276 with two homers and seven RBIs at West Virginia and is back for the playoffs as is Mat Gamel (.395, two homers, 11 RBIs). Charlie Fermaint (.400, four homers, nine RBIs), who was also named to the postseason All-Star team, was not brought back for the postseason. Mike Bell hit .364 hit two homers and drove in 10. David Welch went 2-0 with a save and a 3.60 ERA in three appearances, while Robbie Wooley was 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in five starts, striking out 24 in 22 2/3 innings. Billings Adam Rosales hit .355 in seven games with two homers and seven RBIs. Mayker Sandoval added a pair of homers and 10 RBIs. Michael DeJesus was 2-for-32 (0.63) with 12 strikeouts. Aaron garrison was 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three games (one start) while Lecure struck out 17 batters in 14 1/3 innings. ON THE MOUND Helena Will Inman is 6-0 with a 2.00 in 13 games (five starts) and will get the call in Game 1. He's 3-0 as a starter with a 2.42 ERA. His ERA in his last four starts is 0.38. Over that stretch, he's struck out 30 and walked seven in 23 2/3 innings. Simon Beresford, who started the season in the bullpen with West Virginia in the Sally League, will start the second game. Overall, he's 2-2 with a 6.35 ERA in 26 games (four starts). He's 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA in seven games for Helena though his ERA in four starts is 1.72. Beresford has struck out 25 and walked only eight for Helena. Game 3, if needed, will be in the hands of Welch. Billings Jeff Stevens went 4-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 13 games (eight starts) and will get the call in the opener. He is 1-3 with a 2.88 ERA as a starter. Southpaw Travis Wood, the high school phenom who was Cincinnati's second-round pick this season, was 2-0 with a 1.82 ERA in six games (four starts) after coming up from the Gulf Coast Reds. He is 1-0 as a starter for Billings with a 2.04 ERA. Overall, he is 2-0 in 14 games (11 starts) with a 1.66 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings. Sam Lecure (5-1, 3.27) is slated to start the third game. He is 2-1 in six starts with a 2.28 ERA. He's allowed no earned runs in two of those starts and just one earned run in three others. AT THE PLATE Helena The Brewers led the league in hitting and were the only team to crack the .300 barrier at .309. They had the most hits (851) by more than 100, runs (531) and the second-fewest strikeouts. Salome, who hit .254 with four homers and 21 RBIs in 29 games with West Virginia of the Sally League, is back, bringing his .415 Pioneer League average with him. Gamel only hit .174 with the Power and returns with his .327 Pioneer League average to go along with 37 RBIs. Kenneth Holmberg led the league in hitting (.372) and finished third in RBIs (51). Billings Brandon Roberts finished ninth in the league in hitting at .318 and third with 32 stolen bases. Otherwise, the league-leader board is void of Mustangs, proving how much of a team effort went into getting this squad into the postseason. They have four players with 30 or more RBIs and a fifth with 28. J.D. Roberts leads the pack with nine homers and 39 RBIs. Billings was one of four teams to steal 100 bases this season. POINTS OF INTEREST Billings has reached the championship round in three of the last four years, losing in the finals to Provo last year but winning titles in 2003 and '01. Overall, Billings has won 14 crowns (three straight from 1992-94), the first of which came in 1950. Helena, meanwhile, won back-to-back titles in '95-96. SERIES COULD TURN ON The Mustang starters. If Billings is able to quiet the Helena bats early, a tone could be set and an upset could be in the offing. PREDICTION Helena has been the team to beat all season and now that it has some of its big guns back, watch out. The Brewers in three. Kevin T. Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Seems there's no reward to Helena for winning each half -- even though two-of-three are scheduled for Helena's park, it's tough to play the first of a three-game series on the road -- go Will Inman!

Follow Friday's action as it happens: Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

Friday's Daily Menu: All starts Central Time -- Nashville: LHP Tommy Phelps at home vs. Oklahoma (Rangers), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime -- best-of-five series tied, 1-1 Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Nashville Site Gamecast Feed: www.nashvillesounds.com/live/xlive.htm Helena: RHP Will Inman at Billings (Reds), 8:05 PM Central -- game one of a best-of-three series Audio link (opponent's): www.billingsmustangs.com/

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Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=44273 RedHawks down Sounds, pull even The Nashville Sounds unraveled in the bottom of the seventh inning and dropped Game 2 of the PCL American Playoffs 7-5 to host Oklahoma. The series is now tied 1-1 and will be decided in Music City. The third game of the series is Friday at 7 p.m. at Greer Stadium and Game 4 will take place Saturday at 6 p.m. Nashville held a tenuous 3-2 lead heading into the bottom half of the seventh, but was failed by its bullpen. Lefty Mitch Stetter came in and allowed three runs, two earned, while not retiring a single RedHawk batter. Stetter?s unearned run came as a result of his own fielding error. In addition to that error, Nelson Cruz committed an error in right that allowed a run to score. ?We?ll take [the split] but [it?s] not what we were looking for coming in here tonight obviously,? Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said. ?We messed up really bad in one inning and that was the difference in the game. We gave them a lot of extra chances and they took advantage of them, which is what a good team does.? Stetter left with the bases loaded and was spelled by Mike Adams, who fared no better. Jason Botts and Esteban German each notched RBI hits in the inning off Adams. Before it was over, Adams had also allowed two earned runs. The Sounds had taken the lead in the top half of the inning when center fielder Dave Krynzel hit a solo homer to right field. The loss spoiled a strong pitching effort by Sounds starter Ben Hendrickson, who left with the score tied at two apiece after six innings of work. Warren Morris paced the Sounds offense. He finished with three RBIs, including a two-run homer in the eighth. Nashville native R.A. Dickey scattered six hits for three runs over seven innings for Oklahoma. Nashville will turn to Tommy Phelps for the start Friday. Phelps has pitched well for Nashville, going 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA over the course of five games, including four starts.

Nashville Pre-Game Players Chat With Starting Pitcher Gary Glover: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%209-8.mp3 AUDIO: Warren Morris' Two-Run HR: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%209-8.mp3

Final: Great Falls (White Sox) 6, Helena 1 Link while active, text follows -- www.helenair.com/articles...905_03.txt White Sox down Brewers By TOM STUBER - IR Sports Writer The Helena Brewers nearly got skunked in their final regular season game, but their shortstop Michael Bell did however get punked. The Brewers were 6-1 losers to the Great Falls White Sox, but the highlight of the night came midway through the game during one of the Brewers' interactive fan promotions. Borrowing a page from MTV's program, "Punk'd", a pair of contestants threw baseballs through a tire, while Bell's shiny black pickup was wheeled onto the field. The PA announcer told the crowd that the winner of the contest would be driving home in a pickup donated by the Brewers. Winner Ross Johnson played the part well as he lept around the field with arms raised in triumph. Bell, meanwhile, was none too amused. "Yeah, they think we gave it away," Bell said as he shook his head at what he believed to be the foolishness of it all. "They told me they needed to move my truck because it was blocking something, so I gave them the keys. I knew they were just messing with me." Adding insult to injury, Bell was 0-for-4 in a game few will remember. The White Sox pounced on Helena for three runs in the first inning spurred by the base running of Evan Tartaglia, who led off with a walk, then stole second and third before scoring. Tartaglia went to steal two more bases for four on the night. He scored two runs. Great Falls scored two more in the fourth, then Rolando Acosta belted a solo homer in the seventh to cap off the scoring. "We haven't really played to our potential the last 10 games," Bell added. "We need to come out and get after in Billings." The Brewers travel to Billings today to start the Northern Division playoff series. Helena got a boost when Angel Salome, the league MVP, came back for the playoffs on Thursday. "It's good to have some players back," Bell said. "It'll make our bench deeper and give us some role players." Salome, who hit .417 on the season had one hit in four at-bats. He finished the year with eight homers and 50 RBI. The playoffs will come to Helena on Saturday with game two. If necessary, a third and deciding game will be played on Sunday. Helena Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1 Helena Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

Final: Oklahoma (Rangers) 7, Nashville 5, best-of-five series tied at 1-1 Nashville Site Game Summary: OKLAHOMA CITY ? The Oklahoma RedHawks scored five runs against the Nashville bullpen in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally for a 7-5 victory over the Sounds on Thursday evening at SBC Bricktown Ballpark, evening the best-of-five American Conference Finals at one game apiece. Esteban German ? who paced the Oklahoma offense with a 2-for-3, three-RBI effort ? gave the RedHawks their first lead of the series when he plated Drew Meyer with a two-out RBI single off Sounds starter Ben Hendrickson in the bottom of the first inning. Nashville tied it at 1-1 in the top of the fifth when Trent Durrington delivered his first hit of the postseason, a bases-loaded single up the middle that plated Warren Morris. Julio Mosquera, who broke up Music City native R.A. Dickey?s no-hitter with a single earlier in the frame, was thrown out at the plate by Oklahoma center fielder Ruddy Yan while trying to score a second run on the knock. Morris, who made his career postseason debut in the contest, put the Sounds ahead by a 2-1 count in the sixth with a two-out RBI single to left off Dickey, bringing home Tony Zuniga, who opened the frame with a double. Former Sound Keith McDonald quickly re-tied the game in the bottom of the frame with a two-out RBI single to left off Hendrickson. Dave Krynzel belted Nashville?s first home run of the playoffs in the top of the seventh, a one-out solo shot to right off Dickey, to put the visitors ahead by a 3-2 count. The RedHawks rallied once again in their half of the inning, this time against the Nashville bullpen. The first six batters in the frame reached base safely as neither Mitch Stetter nor Mike Adams could retire a batter as Oklahoma pulled ahead 7-3 with a five-run outburst. Oklahoma loaded the bases as the first three batters reached against Stetter, the third of which ? Chris Richard ? when the hurler mishandled his sacrifice bunt. Adams relieved the southpaw and Jason Botts blooped his first offering into center to tie the game at 3-3. German followed with a two-run double to the wall in left-center, giving the RedHawks a 5-3 lead. Rashad Eldridge followed with a single to right that plated two more and extended the advantage to 7-3. Mike Meyers, slated to start the fifth game of the series for Nashville, was summoned to stop the bleeding and recorded three outs without further damage. Morris pulled the Sounds within a pair in the eighth when he crushed a two-out, two-run homer to left field off Oklahoma reliever Kevin Gryboski. Nelson Cruz, who preceded Morris? at-bat with a single for his first hit of the postseason, scored on the roundtripper. Dickey (1-0), who left the contest on the short end of a 3-2 score, picked up his first victory in three starts against the Sounds this season following the late five-run outburst by the RedHawks offense. The right-hander allowed three runs on six hits in his seven frames. Stetter (0-1) failed to retire any of the three batters he faced in the decisive bottom of the seventh and was dealt the loss. Jose Veras closed out the contest for Oklahoma to pick up his first save of the postseason. Hendrickson took a no-decision after leaving with a 3-2 lead. The right-hander tossed his 11th quality start of the season, allowing two runs over his six innings of work. The action shifts to Nashville for the remainder of the best-of-five series. The teams resume competition at 7:00 p.m. CT Friday evening at Greer Stadium in game three. Nashville left-hander Tommy Phelps (1-0, 1.13) takes the hill to face RedHawks right-hander Josh Rupe (6-7, 6.25). Nashville Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1 Nashville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

Ben has pitched pretty well through three -- the Redhawks' hits have been scratch, and Ben's pitched out of trouble -- leadoff man on in each of the first three innings thus far, he can't keep doing that.

Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Helena 22 15 .595 - 10-8 12-7 L1[/b] Billings 20 17 .541 2.0 11-7 9-10 W3 Missoula 20 17 .541 2.0 12-7 8-10 L3 Great Falls 16 21 .432 6.0 9-10 7-11 W1Stats and League Leaders, USA Today (or go to MILB.com): www.usatoday.com/sports/b.../index.htm

Follow Thursday's action as it happens: Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

Thursday's Daily Menu: All starts Central Time -- Nashville: RHP Ben Hendrickson at Oklahoma (Rangers), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime -- Sounds lead the best-of-five series, 1-0 Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Helena: TBD at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 8:05 PM Central; sorry, no audio for this series...

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Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=44219 Bennett saves Sounds against RedHawks Nashville City Paper Staff report Who needs Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks or Corey Hart? While the highly touted trio is helping the Milwaukee Brewers try to get to .500, the Nashville Sounds began their run at the PCL title Wednesday night. Nashville won Game 1 of the PCL American Conference playoffs, downing host Oklahoma 5-4 in Oklahoma City. The win means the Sounds are two wins away from the PCL Championship Series. In addition to having their top three hitters in Milwaukee, the Sounds were deprived of two of their top relievers ? Jose Capellan and Kane Davis ? last month as well. That meant the closer?s duties fell squarely on the shoulders of Jeff Bennett, who delivered Wednesday. Oklahoma had the tying run on third base and the winning run on first with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. But Bennett fanned RedHawks slugger Jason Botts with a heater to save the game and secure the win for the Sounds. ?I threw a couple of sliders early then figured there it didn?t make sense to trick him and went to the fastball,? Bennett said. ?He swung through a fastball for strike two so I figured I?d come back with it again.? Starting pitcher Gary Glover earned the win for the Northern Division champs, who are up 1-0 in the best-of-five series. Nashville got on the board with three runs in the top of the third and never trailed thereafter. Third baseman Vinny Rottino had a two-RBI base hit in the inning to get the Sounds going. Tony Zuniga followed with a double, which plated Rottino. ?You try to think of [playoff] games as just another game but you can?t,? Rottino said. ?In the playoffs, every at-bat is so important.? Oklahoma answered with two runs in the third inning. In the fourth, Ryan Knox singled and scored to give Nashville some insurance. Nashville added another run in the sixth when catcher Mike Rivera doubled and eventually scored, but the RedHawks answered back with two more of their own in the bottom of the inning. Knox paced the Sounds offense. He collected three hits and scored a run to lead Nashville. Ben Hendrickson (6-12, 4.97 ERA) takes the hill tonight for the Sounds opposite MBA product R.A. Dickey (10-6, 6.07 ERA) for Oklahoma.

Link while active, text follows: www.helenair.com/articles...805_04.txt Brewers lose, still win title By KEVIN SHIVELY - IR Sports Writer The Helena Brewers couldn't keep their win streak going for more than two games, but thanks to some good luck, they still finished first in the league. The Brewers lost 7-3 to Great Falls Wednesday night, but Missoula also lost, and with one game left for each team, the Brewers are still two games up, locking in the second half of the season. Helena will play their last regular season game with Great Falls tonight and start their first playoff series against Billings Saturday. "We'll be alright," said Brewers designated hitter Kenny Holmberg. "We should come back tomorrow. We all want to pick up a win going into the playoffs." The Brewers held a 3-0 lead after four innings, but a four run fifth and three run eighth gave Great Falls a comfortable advantage. It wasn't that Great Falls outhit Helena. The Brewers had 11 hits to the White Sox 10, and there wasn't a single extra base hit by either team. The Sox were just able to get their hits with runners on base. In the fifth, J.J. Schmidt and Mike Landry hit a pair of singles off pitcher Tyler Morrison to start the inning. Schmidt scored on an error and then a single off the right field wall from Matt Tribble scored two more runs. After the fifth, the Sox didn't have a hit until the eighth, when five two-out singles in a row brought their run total to seven. The Brewers scored once in the second inning on an RBI single from Freddy Parejo off pitcher Paul Moviel. In the fourth, Holmberg started the inning with a textbook bunt up the third baseline, and scored on a single from Stephen Chapman. Parejo had another RBI to score Ned Yost. Holmberg and Yost each had a pair of hits in the game, ad catcher Clay Blevins was 3-for-4. Moviel (4-1, 4.04) pitched into the fifth inning when he injured his ankle making a play to first and took himself out of the game. The two teams will meet again tonight for their last regular season game. The Brewers will give the nod to right hander Ryan Marion, and Great Falls will send lefty Travis Doyle to the mound. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 (8:05 Central). Jon Ebelt IR Staff Photographer - The ball bounces away from Helena first baseman Ned Yost, left, as Great Falls baserunner Eric Hollis sprints to the bag Wednesday at Kindrick Legion Field. Hollis would advance to second on the misplay by the Brewers. http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2005/09/08/sports_top/b01090805_04.jpg

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Players Chat With Infielder Tony Zuniga: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%209-7.mp3 Nashville Game Audio -- Jeff Bennett Records Final Out Of Game: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%209-7.mp3