Jim Goulart

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

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 59 45 .567 - 30-23 29-22 W3[/b] Memphis 52 53 .495 7.5 28-26 24-27 W1 Iowa 47 55 .461 11.0 31-25 16-30 L3 Omaha 46 59 .438 13.5 19-28 27-31 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Tenn 20 12 .625 - 10-6 10-6 W2 Carolina 19 12 .613 0.5 12-9 7-3 W1 Tennessee 16 17 .485 4.5 7-7 9-10 W1 [b]Huntsville 14 18 .438 6.0 4-9 10-9 L3[/b] Chattanooga 12 21 .364 8.5 5-10 7-11 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vero Beach 20 12 .625 - 11-6 9-6 W2 Palm Beach 21 13 .618 - 10-6 11-7 W1 St. Lucie 19 13 .594 1.0 8-7 11-6 L1 [b]Brevard County 18 14 .563 2.0 7-8 11-6 L2[/b] Jupiter 12 19 .387 7.5 10-8 2-11 L3 Daytona 12 20 .375 8.0 7-11 5-9 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 22 9 .710 - 15-1 7-8 W1 Hickory 20 12 .625 2.5 10-7 10-5 W1 Lexington 16 16 .500 6.5 11-8 5-8 L1 [b]West Virginia 16 16 .500 6.5 7-6 9-10 W1[/b] Lakewood 16 17 .485 7.0 10-9 6-8 W1 Lake County 14 18 .438 8.5 7-8 7-10 L1 Greensboro 13 19 .406 9.5 5-9 8-10 L1 Hagerstown 11 19 .367 10.5 4-9 7-10 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Helena 23 12 .657 - 10-6 13-6 L2[/b] Billings 21 14 .600 2.0 11-5 10-9 W2 Great Falls 14 21 .400 9.0 9-10 5-11 W2 Missoula 11 24 .314 12.0 5-14 6-10 L2Arizona League Standings: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...mp;lid=121 Stats and League Leaders, USA Today (or go to MILB.com): www.usatoday.com/sports/b.../index.htm

Links to follow Thursday's action as it happens: Nashville, Completion of Suspended Game: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Nashville, Regularly Scheduled Game: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1 Helena Game One: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1 Helena Game Two: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_2 Arizona: Not updated live, but usually later during the overnight... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_angrok_1

Thursday's Daily Menu: Eight, count'em, eight games for you today -- put the Link Report into overdrive! The night-time portion of the schedule begins for the Arizona kids -- why not all season?! All times Central except for Arizona Rookie; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: First, it's the completion of Wednesday's suspended game (Nashville leads 1-0 after three innings), then it's LHP Jeff Housman at home vs. Fresno (Giants) in a seven-inning nightcap, 4:40 PM pre-game; 5:00 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Nashville Site Gamecast Feed: www.nashvillesounds.com/live/xlive.htm Huntsville: LHP Josh Habel at home vs. West Tenn (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ If that link is down for bandwidth, use: specs.eyecentric.com/pres...opup.shtml Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 6:00 PM; no audio for this series West Virginia: LHP Greg Kloosterman at home vs. Hickory (Pirates), 6:05 PM Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: TBD (times two) at home in a doubleheader vs. Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:05 PM Audio link (opponent's): www.missoulaosprey.com/ Arizona: TBD at the Angels' complex to face the baby Bears, 7:00 PM local time; never any web audio for Arizona Rookie ball...

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Link while active, text follows: www.helenair.com/articles...805_05.txt Brewers still waiting By JOSH JORDAN - IR Sports Writer The Helena Brewers will have to wait at least one more day to celebrate a first-half Pioneer League title after falling 14-4 to the Billings Mustangs at Kindrick Legion Field Wednesday night. The Brewers (23-12) can clinch the North Division title with a win in either game of a double header against Missoula tonight in Helena. The Osprey fell to 11-24 on the year with a 2-1 loss to Great Falls on Wednesday. Helena can also fall into a tie with Billings with losses in both games of the twin bill and a Mustangs sweep of their double header at home against Great Falls today. "We're just going to follow the same routine we've been following all season," said Helena manager Ed Sedar who has seen his club open the year with seven straight wins and hold first place since the opening day. "Nothing changes, we do the same things to prepare after these last two losses as we do after a seven game winning streak." Helena opened the three-game series three games ahead of the Mustangs in the standings. A 12-0 win Monday pushed the Brewers' lead to four games, but back-to-back losses has brought Billings within two games with two games to play. The Mustangs won Wednesday behind a suddenly potent offense. Billings got hits from each place in the batting order and four Mustangs had three-hit games. The 14 runs and 20 hits tied season-bests for the club. Billings (21-14) jumped to a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run by Adam Rosales in the first inning and never trailed. The Brewers kept pace early when Charlie Fermaint ? who's streak of home runs to open games ended at two with a line-drive double off the left field wall ? scored on a single by Angel Salome. Billings scored four runs in the second inning, two of which came thanks to a throwing error by starter Ryan Marion on a come-backer to the mound. Marion left after Billings scored another in the third inning, but Helena answered again. Fermaint blasted his third home run in three games, and 11th of the year, to bring in Mike Bell in the third. Ned Yost followed with a solo home run in the fourth to cut the deficit to 7-4, but even the Brewers' offense couldn't keep pace with the Mustangs. Billings cushioned their lead with a run in the fifth and two in the sixth on an RBI single by Mayker Sandoval that made it 10-4. Salome and Mat Gamel reached base with one out in the bottom of the sixth but the Brewers could not bring them in. Billings put things out of reach with four runs on five hits in the eighth inning. Helena's offense did flash the bat with four players recording multi-hit games. But the Brewers never had more than two hits in an inning and Billings pitchers did not allow a walk in the game. The Brewers have given up 20 runs and allowed 34 hits in the two losses to Billings. "I told the pitchers, and they know, that if we can keep it in a reasonable deficit we always have a chance to come back," said Sedar. Notes ? Salome started a new hitting streak a night after ending his 19-gamer with a pair of hits. Helena Brewers second baseman Kenny Holmberg attempts to snare a high throw to the bag as Billings baserunner Michael DeJesus, right, is safe on the play Wednesday at Kindrick Legion Field. Jon Ebelt, Independent Record Staff Photographer http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2005/07/28/sports_top/b01072805_05.jpg

Link while active, text follows: www.kentucky.com/mld/kent...241491.htm Braun's shot in ninth wins it By Mark Maloney LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER With the Lexington Legends seemingly on the verge of a second straight successful late-inning rally, Ryan Braun went on a Power trip. Braun led off the top of the ninth with a home run, carrying West Virginia to a 5-4 victory last night at Applebee's Park. The Legends rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie, their final run coming in the eighth. Ryan Thompson (3-5), the winner in Tuesday's 9-8 win, came on in relief and got ahead of Braun 0-2. Braun wasted the next pitch by ripping a breaking ball over the left-field bleachers. "He (Thompson) hung it a little bit," Braun said. "I was able to stay back and make hard contact somewhere." The Legends wasted a spot start from Raymar Diaz, and four innings of shutout relief by Garrett Murdy and Chris Blazek. "It was one of those things where he thought he was throwing the right pitch and he obviously didn't execute the pitch," Bogar said of the pitch Thompson threw to Braun. "He wanted to show him a curveball and he just hung it. "I'd prefer that he would have gone with maybe his first- or second-best pitch and not his third-best pitch. But that's the way it goes. It's a learning process." Robert Hinton threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save. Derek DeCarlo (5-3) won with three innings of relief. Diaz gave up four runs, two earned, in the second inning. He went four innings, his longest outing of the year. The Power pooled three hits, two walks, an error, passed ball, wild pitch and sacrifice fly in the inning. Hernan Iribarren's two-out, two-run single was the key blow. Frankie Caraballo's two-run homer in the bottom of the inning halved the deficit. Caraballo's sacrifice fly in the fourth made it 4-3, and Lexington tied it in the eighth. Bryan Triplett walked, was bunted to second by J.R. Towles, then took third on Ryan Reed's fly to right. Drew Sutton tripled to the right-field corner, with thoughts of more. Bogar put up the stop sign. Sutton slipped and was caught in no-man's land, so he broke for home. "I rounded third base and I didn't get going again," Sutton said. "When my momentum's going, I can run pretty well. But once it stops, it takes me a little bit to get it started again. "I thought I had a pretty good chance to make it, but slipped coming back (to third) and slipped a little bit going back to home." He was thrown out by third baseman Braun.

Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section...2005072751 W.Va. Power notebook By Tommy R. Atkinson Charleston Gazette Staff writer The Power will be returning home with hotter than usual bats. In the first two games against Lexington the Power compiled 17 runs and 29 hits. ?We?ve been getting a lot of key hits with two outs,?? said Aviles. ?We didn?t hit very good early in the season. In the second half, we?ve been doing much better. The kids have been much more aggressive at the plate and at the same time they?ve been selective. ?In the first half I think they were trying too hard. They?ve been staying within themselves and not chasing bad pitches. They?ve been doing a lot of extra things before games to get better. They come early to the ballpark and work hard every day. It?s been paying off for them.?? Grant Richardson is the poster child for the offensive turnaround. The first baseman was carrying a paltry .211 batting average in 20 games when he went on the disabled list in May with a sore shoulder. At the All-Star break he was up to .249 and now stands at .287. The 6-1, 210-pound 14th-round draft pick by the Brewers last year also leads the club in home runs (nine) and is third in RBIs (40). ?Since he came off the DL, he?s been swinging the bat really well and driving in runs,?? Aviles said. ?He?s not chasing bad pitches like he used to do. He?s concentrating better at the plate. Before he was trying to hit the ball out of the ballpark and pulling everything. Now he?s using the whole field.?? Hernan Iribarren and Alcides Escobar have lived up to their All-Star status. Iribarren leads the team in hitting (.310) while Escobar is third (.290). The pair have combined for 29 doubles, 15 triples and 55 stolen bases. Hasan Rasheed is second in batting (.305) and leads in on-base percentage (.402) in 45 games. The increased offense hasn?t been turning into victories as the Power (15-16) continues to hover around the .500 mark. ?We?ve made errors in the crucial part of games that have really cost us,?? Aviles said. ?Overall our defense is really good. When we get good defense and good pitching, the guys are hitting enough to where we?re going to win the game.?? Game on The Power will begin a four-game series against the Hickory (N.C.) Crawdads (19-12) tonight at Appalachian Power Park. Tonight is Buck Night with hot dogs and drinks $1 each. Friday?s game will feature Military Appreciation Night with fireworks after the game. Jessica Lynch will throw out the first pitch. After Hickory, the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists (14-18) roll into town for a four-game set beginning Tuesday.

Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section...2005072751 W.Va. Power notebook: 6th-rounder passes through By Tommy R. Atkinson Charleston Gazette Staff writer When the West Virginia Power returns for an eight-game homestand tonight, there will be a new face in the crowd. West Virginia manager Ramon Aviles said left-handed pitcher Steve Hammond will be promoted today to Brevard County of the high Class A Florida State League. The Milwaukee Brewers? sixth-round pick in this June?s amateur draft posted a 3-0 record with a 2.45 ERA in four West Virginia games, including one start. In Hammond?s only start, Monday?s 9-2 win against the Lexington (Ky.) Legends, he allowed just two earned runs on five hits in six innings with four strikeouts and a walk. Hammond, who seems to be on a fast track, began the year at Helena (Mont.) of the rookie Pioneer League before getting called up to the Power in July. Derek Miller, a draft-and-follow signee from the 2004 draft, will be moving up from Helena to take Hammond?s spot. The 6-foot, 195-pound southpaw owns a 1-0 record with a 2.67 ERA and a save in eight games, including five starts. The 23-year-old has struck out 31 in 30 1/3 innings against four walks and opponents are hitting just .228 against him. The changes won?t stop there, according to Aviles. ?There?s going to be some changes in the next few days,?? said the manager. ?We?re going to get some players that?s going to help our offense.??

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1 Stars not up to challenge of facing Nolasco West Tenn ace is impressive in 8-2 victory By JOHN FERRY Times Sports Staff jferry@htimes.com It was not a good spot for the Huntsville Stars to be in. Decisive losers to West Tenn the night before at Joe Davis Stadium, the Stars had to tangle with right-hander Ricky Nolasco on Wednesday night. "He's probably the top pitcher in this league," Huntsville right fielder Ben Van Iderstine said. "We knew that." Nolasco, who won his first eight games this season and stood 9-1 going into the middle of a three-game series, pitched seven brilliant innings. He allowed two hits, one a bunt, the other a grounder that was too hot to handle, and his teammates gave him plenty of support. West Tenn coasted to an 8-2 victory. Huntsville fell six games behind the Diamond Jaxx, who lead the Southern League's Northern Division the second half after winning the first half. Nolasco walked three and struck out six before Victor Ramos took over in the eighth. Jon Searles pitched the ninth. Nolasco had a history of throwing fastballs and breaking balls. He was told he needed a third pitch. "I've developed a changeup," he said. "I've noticed a big difference. But it's not all about me, it's as long as the team wins." West Tenn pitching coach Alan Dunn, a former University of Alabama athlete who lives in Huntsville, has confidence in Nolasco. "He commanded his off-speed pitches," Dunn said. "For his game to continue, that's an area he has needed to improve on. He has gone out and attacked the hitters and pitched with confidence." While West Tenn improved to 64-37 overall and 20-12 for the second half, Huntsville fell to 43-58 and 14-18. "We've had a lot of bad luck lately," Van Iderstine said. "We lost some close games in Mobile and Birmingham. We haven't been getting any breaks lately, and we've been flat and kind of tired." Huntsville ended Nolasco's no-hit bid in the fifth with Enrique Cruz's hot shot off the chest of West Tenn shortstop Buck Coats. The Diamond Jaxx broke things open in the seventh with five runs. The big blows were a two-run single by Jose Reyes and a double by Casey McGehee that drove in two. Brandon Sing's single got the final run across. Huntsville's runs came in the ninth. With the team down 8-0, Vinny Rottino doubled and later scored on a wild pitch. Cruz doubled and was singled home by Van Iderstine. Huntsville starter Ty Taubenheim had a solid outing, going six innings. He gave up two hits and two earned runs.

Final: Billings (Reds) 14, Helena 4 Magic number still one with two games to play... Helena Box Score: 29 hits and no walks in this game -- that might be a first; Charlie Fermaint (again!) and Ned Yost with home runs; Angel Salome two singles... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1 Helena Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

Final: West Tenn (Cubs) 8, Huntsville 2 Listless and sinking fast... Huntsville Site Game Summary: Diamond Jaxx Deal Stars Another DefeatRicky Nolasco tossed seven scoreless innings and Casey McGehee knocked in four runs to lead West Tenn past Huntsville 8-2 Wednesday night in the second game of a three-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Diamond Jaxx improved to 20-12 in the second half and maintained a half game lead over victorious Carolina in the North Division, while the Stars lost for the seventh time in their last eight games to drop to 14-18 in the second half. Nolasco held the Stars hitless through the first four innings before Enrique Cruz laced a one-hop ground ball that caromed off the chest of shortstop Buck Coats into centerfield for a single. Cruz, however, was promptly picked off at first base for the first out of the frame. Tony Gwynn, Jr.?s bunt base hit in the sixth inning was the only other hit allowed by Nolasco, who did not permit a runner past first base. The right-hander improved to 10-1 on the season with his second win in as many starts against the Stars and increased his league-leading strikeout total to 126 by fanning six. Victor Ramos retired the side in order in the eighth and the Stars finally scored with two outs in the ninth against Jon Searles, who uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Vinny Rottino to cross the plate with the home team?s first run. Ben Van Inderstine then singled home Cruz, who had doubled, with two outs and has knocked in a run in four of his last five starts. McGehee delivered a two-run single in the third inning that gave the Diamond Jaxx a 3-0 lead against Huntsville starter and loser Ty Taubenheim, who then retired the next 11 hitters he faced before ending his night after six innings. The right-hander dropped to 0-2 after allowing three runs on only two hits and a pair of walks. Jerome Gamble took over for Taubenheim in the seventh and was roughed up for a two-run single by Jose Reyes, a two-run double by McGehee and a run-scoring hit by Brandon Sing, who knocked in the visitors first run in the first inning with a sacrifice fly. The series finishes up on Thursday night with southpaw Josh Habel taking the hill for the Stars against Diamond Jaxx right-hander Carlos Marmol. Coverage of the game gets underway at 6:50 p.m. central time on ESPN 1450 AM and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score: Enrique Cruz has made 30 errors, two in this one -- let's see, that's, um, not good; is Brad Nelson falling back to old habits again? www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

Final: Lakeland (Tigers) 7, Brevard County 3 This long stretch of home games (14 out of 15) isn't going as planned... Brevard County Box Score: Carlos Villanueva's night brief and ineffective; the Darwin Soto signing not going as planned; Adam Heether still hot... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1 Brevard County Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1

Final: West Virginia 5, Lexington (Astros) 4 West Virginia Site Game Summary: BRAUN'S BLAST LIFTS THE POWER IN 5-4 VICTORY Lexington, KY ? The West Virginia Power and Lexington Legends were tied at 4-4 going into the ninth inning of Wednesday night?s game at Applebee?s Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Ryan Braun began the top of the ninth inning with a solo shot, and Robert Hinton pitched a perfect bottom half of the ninth inning as the Power won the rubber match in the three game series by the final of 5-4. The Power scored four runs in the top of the second inning to take a 4-0 lead. Freddy Parejo drove in the first run on a sacrifice fly, Josh Brady scored the second run on a passed ball and Hernan Iribarren knocked in the final two with a single. The Legends cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run homer from Francisco Caraballo. Caraballo struck again in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly to bring the Legends within a run. In the bottom of the seventh inning the Legends tied the game on a two-out RBI triple from Drew Sutton. Braun delivered a solo shot in the top of the ninth inning, his third of the season with the Power, to give them the lead for good. Derek DeCarlo (5-3) earned the victory, Hinton (9) earned the save and Ryan Thompson (3-5) obtained the loss. The Power are 16-16 in the second half after the win and the Legends move to 16-16 with the loss. The Power will begin a four game series against the Hickory Crawdads at Appalachian Power Park on Thursday night. The Power will throw LHP Greg Kloosterman (3-14, 4.76) and the Crawdads will counter with RHP Matt Guillory (1-4, 3.22). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score: Ryan Braun a triple short of the cycle; Josh Brady three walks... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

Suspended: Nashville 1, Fresno (Giants) 0, after three innings Nashville Site Update: NASHVILLE -- Wednesday's game between the Nashville Sounds and Fresno Grizzlies was suspended due to rain at the conclusion of the third inning of play with the home team leading, 1-0. The game will be finished to its nine-inning completion on Thursday and will be followed by the teams' regularly-scheduled contest, which will be a seven-inning affair. Dave Krynzel scored the game's lone run in the top of the first inning when he scored on a double play grounder by outfielder Corey Hart. Due to potential damage to stadium lighting at Greer Stadium that occurred during the storm, Thursday's game time will be determined later Wednesday. Nashville Partial Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

Nashville Press Release on the Rick Helling purchase: Nashville Sounds right-hander Rick Helling had his contract purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers this morning and will be in uniform for the club for tonight's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Miller Park. The 34-year-old Helling, who went 9-3 with a 4.13 ERA (60er / 130.2ip) in 21 starts for Nashville, joins the fifth different major league team of his 14-year professional career and will wear # 30 for the Brewers. Helling leaves the Sounds tied for the Pacific Coast League lead with nine victories. In addition, he leads Nashville and ranks among the top five PCL hurlers in strikeouts (3rd-105) and innings pitched (2nd-130.2). The veteran accumulated a team-best ten quality starts for the Sounds, all coming in his final 15 outings (8-2, 3.36 ERA, 35er / 93.2ip). To make room on the 25-man and 40-man rosters for Helling, Milwaukee designated veteran reliever Ricky Bottalico for assignment. The right-hander went 2-2 with two saves and a 4.54 ERA (21er / 41.2ip) in 40 relief outings for the Brewers this season, his first with the club.

Nashville Media Notes for Wednesday: www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 59 45 .567 - 30-23 29-22 W3[/b] Memphis 51 53 .490 8.0 27-26 24-27 L3 Iowa 47 54 .465 10.5 31-25 16-29 L2 Omaha 45 59 .433 14.0 19-28 26-31 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Tenn 19 12 .613 - 10-6 9-6 W1 Carolina 18 12 .600 0.5 11-9 7-3 L1 Tennessee 15 17 .469 4.5 7-7 8-10 L2 [b]Huntsville 14 17 .452 5.0 4-8 10-9 L2[/b] Chattanooga 12 20 .375 7.5 5-10 7-10 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- St. Lucie 19 12 .613 - 8-6 11-6 W3 Vero Beach 19 12 .613 - 11-6 8-6 W1 Palm Beach 20 13 .606 - 9-6 11-7 L1 [b]Brevard County 18 13 .581 1.0 7-7 11-6 L1[/b] Jupiter 12 18 .400 6.5 10-8 2-10 L2 Daytona 11 20 .355 8.0 6-11 5-9 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 22 9 .710 - 15-1 7-8 W1 Hickory 19 12 .613 3.0 9-7 10-5 L1 Lexington 16 15 .516 6.0 11-7 5-8 W1 [b]West Virginia 15 16 .484 7.0 7-6 8-10 L1[/b] Lakewood 15 17 .469 7.5 9-9 6-8 L1 Lake County 14 17 .452 8.0 7-8 7-9 W1 Greensboro 13 18 .419 9.0 5-8 8-10 W2 Hagerstown 11 19 .367 10.5 4-9 7-10 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Helena 23 11 .676 - 10-5 13-6 L1[/b] Billings 20 14 .588 3.0 11-5 9-9 W1 Great Falls 13 21 .382 10.0 9-10 4-11 W1 Missoula 11 23 .324 12.0 5-13 6-10 L1Arizona League Standings: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...mp;lid=121 Stats and League Leaders, USA Today (or go to MILB.com): www.usatoday.com/sports/b.../index.htm

Links to follow Wednesday's action as it happens: Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_breafx_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times Central except for Arizona Rookie; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Gary Glover at home vs. Fresno (Giants), 11:40 AM pre-game; 12:00 PM gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Nashville Site Gamecast Feed: www.nashvillesounds.com/live/xlive.htm Huntsville: RHP Ty Taubenheim at home vs. West Tenn (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ If that link is down for bandwidth, use: specs.eyecentric.com/pres...opup.shtml Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 6:00 PM; no audio for this series West Virginia: RHP Yo Gallardo at Lexington (Astros), 6:05 PM Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: TBD at home vs. Billings (Reds), 8:05 PM Audio link: www.billingsmustangs.com/index.cfm Arizona: Idle

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Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=43156 Sounds tame Grizzlies late By Nate Rau, nrau@nashvillecitypaper.com The Nashville Sounds again displayed their flair for the dramatic, which has become the calling card of the 2005 squad. This time the hero was third baseman Tony Zuniga, who had two clutch extra-inning hits to lead the Sounds to a 5-4 win over Fresno in 12 innings. Nashville (59-45) now owns a season-best eight-game lead in the PCL American North Division. ?That?s the only way you can win, if you?re going to have a different guy step up each night,? Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said. Zuniga drove in the winning run in the 12th, when he plated Prince Fielder with a single to left field. In the tenth inning, with the Sounds down to their last out, Zuniga homered to extend the game. Fresno?s Todd Linden homered in the top of the tenth and Nashville had two outs in the bottom of the inning. The Sounds were down to their last strike when Zuniga hit a laser beam home run to tie the game. Fielder led off the 12th with a double, followed by a Nelson Cruz single to set the table for Zuniga. ?I guess in a way it was meant to be, I was just trying to do whatever I could to help the team,? said Zuniga, who said he was simply trying to make solid contact during his home run at-bat. Linden seemed to have won the game again in the top of the 12th, but right fielder Corey Hart robbed him of what would have been a two-run home run. ?I don?t know how Corey caught that ball,? Kremblas said. ?I guess because he?s 6-7.? Wes Obermueller was making his first Nashville start since being demoted by Milwaukee last week. Obermueller went 5.2 innings and gave up three runs, two earned, on four hits. He did strike out six batters, but left runners on the corners before being replaced by Clilnt Weibl, who allowed one run to score. ?He was just fair,? Kremblas said. ?His command wasn?t great, but he got better in the later innings.? The Sounds survived a tense top of the ninth inning, when Fresno loaded the bases with two outs off reliever Jose Capellan. But Capellan fanned Doug Clark to get the Sounds out of the jam. Fresno got on the board in the fourth when Mike Cervenak tagged a two-run triple off the centerfield wall. Cervenak?s hit scored Clark and Mickey Lopez. Nashville answered with a triple of its own. In the fifth inning, shortstop Steve Scarborough tripled home Zuniga to trim the deficit to 2-1. After Fresno took the lead in the sixth, the Sounds answered back. That?s when Hart singled home Ryan Knox. Hart?s 48th RBI of the season trimmed the Grizzlies? lead to 3-2. Mike Meyers earned the win for the Sounds, pitching a scoreless final inning. Nashville used six pitchers on the evening and the team?s bullpen surrendered just one run ? Linden?s home run off Kane Davis.

Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=43157 Sounds share spotlight with football fever By Willy Daunic, Nashville City Paper Commentary The countdown to football season in Nashville is on. Southeastern Conference football media days begin today in Birmingham where, as usual, expectations are high for Tennessee and low for Vanderbilt. Tennessee State begins a new era under James Webster. The Clinic Bowl will be reborn as a Kickoff Classic to ignite the High School season in a few weeks. And of course, the Titans start training camp on Friday, which will begin to provide at least partial answers to the off-season questions about Steve?s sternum, Calico?s knee and Pacman?s brain. The craving for pigskin is always high, and will eclipse everything else as it cranks up. But before you lock in to complete football mode, don?t forget about a local baseball team that is having a tremendous year. The Nashville Sounds (59-45) have the best record in the American Conference and are in prime position for a playoff run. They began an eight-game homestand last night and have a showdown with another Pacific Coast League power, Sacramento, this weekend. When it comes to minor league baseball, most fans in Nashville fall into the normal fan profile. They show up at the park for affordable entertainment. They aren?t particularly worried about where the Sounds are in the standings or who they are playing that night. Outside of one or two prospects, they don?t take the time to learn who the players are. The main topic surrounding the franchise is their quest for the new downtown ballpark. The typical Nashville sports fan is far more likely to weigh in on the park debate than on the talents of Gary Glover. That is how it should be, but this team has earned a closer look, and any baseball fan who chooses to do so will be rewarded. This Sounds team is never dull. They hit bombs and steal bags. They boot balls in the field and commit base-running blunders. But most of all, they are never out of a game, with well over a dozen wins in their final at-bat, including several improbable comebacks. The much-maligned Milwaukee Brewers organization has delivered on the pre-season hype of a stocked farm system, and is already seeing dividends on the parent club. Thus far, as any successful Triple-A team must do, manager Frank Kremblas? club has adjusted to depletions in the roster without any let up. The Sounds have survived the call-ups of phenom Rickie Weeks and speedster Trent Durrington, along with the departures of veterans Kevin Orie and Chad Paronto. In all likelihood they will have to deal with even more shuffling during the stretch drive depending on the needs of the Brewers. So as you prepare for your fantasy football draft, don?t forget to catch a glimpse of Prince Fielder?s power while he is still in Nashville. While you debate on whether Chris Brown or Travis Henry will get more carries, take a moment to appreciate the athleticism of Corey Hart. Before you are too submerged in your college football preview magazine, sneak right behind home plate at least one time to feel the heat of a Jose Capellan fastball. Inevitably, the Sounds spotlight will give way to the glare of the gridiron regardless of how well they play. However, this team is talented and deserves support down the stretch. A playoff run is always fun in any sport, especially when the team is exciting. We?ll see how many fans take advantage of the opportunity.

Final: Nashville 5, Fresno (Giants) 4, 12 innings Nashville Site Game Summary: Link for Tony Zuniga photo, text follows -- Zuniga Delivers Twice In Sounds' 12-Inning WinNASHVILLE ? Two innings after belting a game-tying two-out home run in the bottom of the tenth, Nashville third baseman Tony Zuniga delivered a game-ending RBI single in the twelfth as the never-say-die Sounds rallied from a pair of late deficits to post a 5-4, 12-inning victory over the visiting Fresno Grizzlies on Tuesday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series. With the win, Nashville (59-45) extended its lead over Memphis in the PCL American Conference Northern Division to a season-high eight games and improved to a season-best 14 games over .500. The last at-bat victory was Nashville?s 21st of the season and the win was the club?s 17th in a game in which it trailed in the seventh inning or later. Audio Link of Tony Zuniga's Game-Winner: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-26.mp3 After Corey Hart fouled out to open the bottom of the twelfth, Prince Fielder ripped a double to left-center off Fresno reliever David Lee. Nelson Cruz followed with a bloop single to put runners on the corners for Zuniga, who capped a season-best 4-for-5 evening with his game-ending RBI single, his second huge hit of the evening. With the game knotted at 3-3 in the tenth, PCL home run leader Todd Linden blasted the first pitch he saw from Sounds reliever Kane Davis over the wall in left field for his 26th roundtripper and a 4-3 Fresno lead. With Nashville down to its last out in the bottom of the frame, Zuniga smashed the first pitch he saw from Grizzlies reliever Jack Taschner deep to left for his fourth roundtripper of the year and, more importantly, a 4-all tie. Before the Sounds had a chance to post the game-winner in the bottom of the twelfth, Nashville right-fielder Corey Hart worked some magic of his own in the top of the frame, robbing Linden of a second longball by using every bit of his 6-foot-6 frame to make a leaping catch at the wall and maintain the tie game. The visitors took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on Mike Cervenak?s two-run triple off Sounds starter Wes Obermueller. Doug Clark and Mickey Lopez, who singled and walked to open the frame, scored on the three-bagger. Steve Scarborough, who continued his hot hitting with a 3-for-4 evening, put Nashville on the board with a two-out RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning. The three-bagger, which scored Zuniga, was the infielder?s first of the season. Fresno tacked on an unearned run in the sixth on Adam Shabala?s two-out RBI single to center, which followed a fielding error by Scarborough at shortstop and increased the Grizzlies? lead to 3-1. With one out in the bottom of the inning, Ryan Knox reached on a bunt single, stole second, and scored on a Hart single to pull the Sounds back within a run at 3-2. Nashville tied the game with an unearned run in the seventh stemming from Fresno shortstop Brian Dallimore?s mishandle of a potential double-play grounder off the bat of Mike Rivera. Zuniga, who reached second on the error, eventually scored the tying run on a Knox groundout to knot the game at 3-3. Neither team scored again in regulation and both clubs advanced to their 12th extra-inning contests of the season, respectively. With the win, the Sounds improved to 8-4 when engaging in free baseball. Reliever Mike Meyers (4-3) worked a scoreless inning to pick up the victory for Nashville, while Lee (0-2) absorbed the loss after allowing the game-winner in his 1 1/3 frames. Obermueller, who took a no-decision, allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits while striking out six over 5 2/3 frames in his first Triple-A start of the season. The teams continue the series with a noon meeting on Wednesday afternoon at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Gary Glover (3-1, 2.30) makes the start for Nashville. He?ll face Fresno right-hander Brian Cooper (5-7, 4.72). Nashville Box Score: Jose Capellan two scoreless relief innings... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Nashville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1

Final: Billings (Reds) 6, Helena 1 Link while active, text follows: www.helenair.com/articles...705_05.txt Brewers have to wait to clinch North By JOSH JORDAN - IR Sports Writer The Helena Brewers (23-11 Pioneer League North) found themselves on the wrong end of a five-hitter Tuesday night and failed to clinch the first-half crown in the Pioneer League North Division race in a 6-1 loss to Billings at Kindrick Legion Field. The second place Mustangs (20-14) kept hope alive by shutting down the Brewers potent order. One night after giving up five home runs to Helena, four Billings' pitchers combined to allow five hits, retiring 16 straight Brewers at one point in the game. "We need to go out and pitch well every night against Helena," Billings pitching coach Butch Henry said. "They're a good hitting ball club, a night like last night where every ball we threw them they out of the ball park. We need to attack these hitters like any others." Few pitchers have gotten to the Brewers, who entered the game with a league-leading .332 average, the way that Jeff Stevens did. The right-hander came in with a runner on in the top of the fourth inning and pitched four innings of hitless ball. He allowed one baserunner, a walk to the second batter he faced, and struck out six. The second and third outs of the fourth inning began a string of outs by Helena sluggers that didn't stop until two were retired in the ninth inning and Brad Willcutt hit a double to right field. Helena's lone run came on the fourth pitch in its half of the first inning when Charlie Fermaint lined a home run straight over the center field fence 400 feet away. It was the second consecutive night Fermaint has led off the game with a home run. Unlike last night, when the Brewers rolled to a 12-0 win to get within a win of the first-half title, the batters that followed Fermaint could not find a groove. So complete was Billings' control in the game that Angel Salome failed to get a hit for the first time in 19 games. It looked for an instant in the eighth inning like Salome might extend his streak, and get Helena's offense going, but a stellar defensive play put an end to that thinking. Billings pulled Stevens for Kenny Geiersbach in the middle of the eighth and the new Mustang's pitcher had the pleasant task of facing the league leader in batter (.426), RBI (47), hits (60) and doubles (16). Salome lined a one-hopper down the third-base line that looked like it might be a double when Billings third baseman Mayker Sandoval snagged it with a backhand stab and threw a strike at first for the out. Salome's hard-hit ball wasn't the only one that found the inside of a Mustang glove as the visitors made several strong defensive plays in the game to back up their pitching. "That's our plan in the (parent club, Cincinnati) Reds organization," Henry said. "To use our defense, to throw strikes and let them put the ball in play and tonight it worked perfectly." Helena's pitchers found some success against the Mustangs with 16 strikeouts in the game. But they also gave up 14 hits. The first five hitters in Billings' lineup each had at least two hits. Catcher Chris Denove also had two hits from the eighth place in the order, including an RBI double in the top of the second that tied the score. Adam Rosales and J.D. Roberts each drove in runs in the third inning when Billings took the lead 3-1. The Mustangs added two runs in the fifth and one in the eighth to end a four-game losing streak. The two teams will meet again today in Helena at 7:05 p.m. (8:05 Central). Helena has a three-game lead over the Mustangs with four left on the first half schedule. Notes: Former Helena Brewers pitcher Dana Eveland picked up his first major league victory Tuesday night with two scoreless innings as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2. Helena Box Score: RHP Kevin Roberts has struck out 34 in only 22.1 IP; LHP Brandon Parillo two scoreless innings in his Helena debut; three chances for Helena pitchers and Angel Salome to throw out Billings speedster Brandon Roberts, didn't happen -- he's 21-for-21 in SB attempts -- one throwing error for Angel, error # 11; Ned Yost and Darren Ford with two walks apiece... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1 Helena Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1