MassBrew

Sorry I targeted High Desert LH reliever Mike Kusiewicz the other day -- along with fellow Canadians Reggie Rivard and Ben Van Iderstine, there's fun to be had in this pre-game audio clip -- the beer talk's the best part; while moments of the four+ minute "bit" falls flat, I give the "Three Canucks" credit: www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Underground/6756/bd1.jpg

Final: Huntsville 6, Mobile (Padres) 5 Stars hang on; lots of wins in the Link Report the last couple of days... Huntsville Box Score: Rickie Weeks on base four more times; really, many of you have to get past the batting average -- here's a reminder of what out friend and Huntsville historian and season ticket holder David Weiser wrote earlier today: Even though most of the fans at Joe D. see only Rickie's .250 average, I see the wrists of Hank Aaron and the hands of Bill Mazeroski and that's no exaggeration. To see him play is to see a future major league All-Star in action....... The hits will come. They may not be coming enough to suit either me or the rest of the Huntsville fans, but they will come........ Weeks' OBP was .362 before tonight's performance... GAME DATE: 7/09/04 MOB at HVL MOBILE 5 AT HUNTSVILLE 6 YTD YTD MOBILE AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG K.Jones CF 4 1 0 0 .220 R.Weeks 2B 3 1 2 1 .253 M.Nettles LF 3 1 1 0 .227 A.Gwynn CF 2 1 0 0 .252 J.Cassel PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Fielder 1B 2 0 0 1 .256 J.Gerber PH 1 0 0 0 .241 B.Nelson LF 4 0 1 2 .276 A.Webb PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Gann RF 4 1 1 0 .333 R.Spiehs PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Barnwell 3B 4 1 1 1 .247 J.Barfield 2B 4 2 3 2 .246 O.Chavez SS 3 1 1 1 .219 R.Washington 3B 3 1 1 3 .288 J.Alvarado CAT 2 1 0 0 .152 B.Johnson RF 4 0 1 0 .231 G.Woolard PIT 2 0 0 0 .250 G.Sain 1B 3 0 0 0 .221 S.Rivera PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Merrill SS 4 0 1 0 .247 R.Knox PH 1 0 0 0 .257 N.Trzesniak CAT 4 0 0 0 .199 B.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.Ribas PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 R.Giron PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Bumstead PIT 0 0 0 0 1.000 J.Raburn PH 1 0 1 0 .271 J.Clements PH 1 0 1 0 .256 J.Novinsky PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Clements LF 2 0 0 0 .256 TOTALS 34 5 8 5 TOTALS 28 6 7 6 MOBILE 0 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 0- 5 8 1 HUNTSVILLE 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 X- 6 7 0 E--R.Merrill. DP--MOBILE 3, HUNTSVILLE 1. LOB--MOBILE 5, HUNTSVILLE 7. 2B--B.Nelson (22), J.Gann (2), C.Barnwell (15). HR--J.Barfield (12), R.Washington (2). CS--B.Johnson. HBP--K.Jones, R.Weeks 2, O.Chavez. SH--A.Gwynn. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA MOBILE G.Ribas (L,0-2) 3.1 6 6 6 5 2 0 15.63 M.Bumstead 0.2 0 0 0 0 2 0 6.00 J.Cassel 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.57 A.Webb 1.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.15 R.Spiehs 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.23 HUNTSVILLE G.Woolard 3.2 5 3 3 1 4 1 3.29 S.Rivera (W,1-0) 1.1 2 0 0 1 0 0 1.17 B.Adams 2.0 1 2 2 0 1 1 4.01 R.Giron 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1.25 J.Novinsky (S,10) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.38 HB--G.Ribas, J.Cassel 2, B.Adams. WP--B.Adams. PB--J.Alvarado. SO--K.Jones 2, J.Gerber, J.Barfield, B.Johnson, G.Sain 2, R.Merrill, B.Nelson, J.Gann 2, O.Chavez, G.Woolard. BB--R.Washington, G.Sain, A.Gwynn, P.Fielder 2, J.Alvarado 2. T--2:52. A--7129Huntsville Game Log: Doesn't look like there were any gifts from the Bears during that big second inning for the Stars... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12012

Dave had three hits yesterday, kid....

Final: Indianapolis 3, Ottawa (Orioles) 0, five innings, rain If Ben Hendrickson's AAA season ended today, it did so with a 2.27 ERA... Indianapolis Box Score: GAME DATE: 7/09/04 OTT at IND OTTAWA 0 AT INDIANAPOLIS 3 YTD YTD OTTAWA AB R H BI AVG INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG D.McDonald CF 1 0 0 0 .226 D.Krynzel CF 3 0 0 0 .241 M.Fontenot 2B 2 0 0 0 .274 P.Bergeron LF 3 0 0 0 .220 J.Cust DH 2 0 2 0 .265 C.Hart DH 1 1 0 0 .286 G.Gil CAT 2 0 0 0 .275 J.Liefer RF 2 0 0 0 .295 C.Mottola RF 2 0 0 0 .267 C.Coste 1B 2 2 2 2 .279 E.Guzman 3B 2 0 0 0 .262 T.Durrington 3B 2 0 1 0 .191 E.Garabito SS 2 0 1 0 .298 L.Figueroa SS 2 0 0 0 .259 A.Rios LF 1 0 1 0 1.000 A.Delgado CAT 2 0 1 0 .176 J.Hammond 1B 2 0 0 0 .224 S.Scarbrough 2B 1 0 0 0 .252 S.Bergman PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Hendrckson PIT 0 0 0 0 .167 TOTALS 16 0 4 0 TOTALS 18 3 4 2 OTTAWA 0 0 0 0 0- 0 4 0 INDIANAPOLIS 0 1 0 2 0- 3 4 0 DP--OTTAWA 1, INDIANAPOLIS 2. LOB--OTTAWA 3, INDIANAPOLIS 2. 2B-- C.Coste (12). HR--C.Coste (2). SB--C.Hart (13), T.Durrington (4). HBP--S.Scarbrough. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA OTTAWA S.Bergman (L,6-8) 5.0 4 3 3 1 2 1 5.07 INDIANAPOLIS B.Hendrckson (W,8-2) 5.0 4 0 0 2 1 0 2.27 HB--S.Bergman. WP--S.Bergman. SO--J.Hammond, C.Hart, J.Liefer. BB--D.McDonald, A.Rios, C.Hart. T--1:19. A--7237Indianapolis Game Log: Hendrickson uses a pickoff and two double-play balls to his advantage... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=13963

Beloit Game Summary from the Battle Creek Site: The Battle Creek Yankees dropped their third straight game 10-5 to the Beloit Snappers Friday night at C.O. Brown Stadium. Three Battle Creek errors led to three Beloit runs. Beloit jumped out to an early lead plating two runs in the first. Two throwing errors by Battle Creek allowed the two runs to come in. The Snapper scored three more in the third for a 5-0 lead. Battle Creek got on the board in the bottom of the third scoring one run on a sacrifice fly by Hector Made. The Yankees scored three in the fourth to cut the lead to 5-4. Jason VanMeetren had an RBI double and Willie Vasquez smacked a two-run home run. However, the Snappers came right back with three runs in the top of the fifth to stretch the lead to 8-4. Beloit added two more runs in the seventh for a 10-4 lead. The Yankees were able to score one more run in the eighth on a John Urick RBI double, making it 10-5. Yankees? starter Chase Wright (5-8) took the loss, giving up eight hits and eight runs ? only five of them earned ? in five innings of work. Ben Moore and Heath Castle each pitched two innings in relief. The Yankees now stand at 7-9 for the second half. The series continues Saturday night at 7. Brandon Harmsen will go for his ninth win of the season for Battle Creek. He will take on Brian Montalbo for Beloit.

Hate to take away from a Snapper win tonight, and it's real easy to bash on the kid, I suppose, because we've seen barely even a glimpse of promise. 2002 2nd rounder Josh Murray won't even be 20 until August, but without that glimmer of hope that he can muster any type of professional hitting, Murray is a $925,000 investment that remains the most puzzling selection of the Jack Zduriencik era. Hoping only to be taken by the fifth round, Murray's early second round selection left he and his family thrilled and us baffled, especially when you review here what we read at the time about the two incredibly significant injuries he sustained within a year's time. There's no reason to believe that Josh isn't a fine kid and hard worker, but I'd appreciate hearing madbad2000 or other Beloit regulars comment on whether they're even seeing the raw tools of a propsect at this point... Murray signs deal to chase dream St. Petersburg Times, Jun 29, 2002 by MIKE READLING There was no doubt in Josh Murray's mind that he was going to play baseball for a living. No doubt that one day he would sign a professional contract, head off to some faraway town to star for a minor-league team and then show up in a major-league stadium someday. "It was a dream of mine since I was a little kid," Murray said. "I remember my dad would always throw me batting practice and my mom and little sister would be in the outfield picking up the balls." Of course, when he began falling asleep to that dream, Murray had no idea of the obstacles he was going to have to overcome to make it a reality. The former Jesuit shortstop, selected in the second round (No. 48 overall) of the draft by the Brewers earlier this month, signed a contract Thursday. It included a signing bonus of $825,000 and a clause that the team will pay $100,000 for an education at the college of Murray's choice. The signing of the contract also signaled the successful conclusion of a two-year comeback from a pair of injuries that would have led most high school players to concentrate on academics. "It was quite a thrill considering he wasn't allowed to throw a ball just a year and a half ago," said Lauren Murray, Josh's mother. Murray's unusual route to professional baseball began in the middle of his sophomore year. During a game against rival Sarasota, Murray got plunked on the wrist by a fastball. Although the pain took a few minutes to kick in, Murray will never forget the sound. "It sounded like a wooden bat hitting a ball," Murray said. "I started walking down to first base and I realized I couldn't move my arm." The wrist was broken in three places and Murray's season - on the field - was over. He continued to show up at every practice and cheered as his teammates romped to the 2000 state championship. He called it one of the most difficult things he has ever endured. He didn't realize it was about to get worse. A few months before his junior season, Murray was warming up at a showcase in Sarasota conducted by Jesuit coach John Crumbley. That's when he felt the pop. Murray had a feeling something was wrong, but struggled through an inning anyway. Later, an MRI revealed a torn ligament in his elbow. His options were Tommy John surgery, one of the most risky operations an athlete can undergo, or the possible end of his career. "That was a tough decision," Murray said. "That was huge for my family. It took a couple of weeks for them to decide that we would do it. There was no decision for me, I didn't want my arm to hurt the rest of my life." Murray's father, Dennis, is a former minor-leaguer in the Blue Jays organization and managed to get his son an appointment with renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Andrews performed the surgery, which involved stretching a tendon from Murray's lower forearm and tying it through two holes drilled in his elbow. Typical recovery time is 12 to 18 months. Murray was back on the field in 10. "My parents pushed me real hard," Murray said. "And I was sick of sitting around. I thought of baseball every second, every single day that I was going to rehab I thought of it. Sitting on the bench watching the games was the worst part for me. I'm very competitive and it was hard to be on the bench." As a senior, Murray avoided major injuries and established himself as one of the best defensive shortstops in the nation. Murray entered the playoffs with a .410 average and finished the season hitting .392. By signing with Milwaukee, he gave up a full scholarship to the University of Maryland. In a whirlwind couple of days, Murray went from Auburn, Ala., where he was playing with his travel team Wednesday, to Tampa to sign a contract Thursday, to Milwaukee for a physical Friday and then off to Utah to join the Ogden Raptors, the Brewers' advanced rookie team in the Pioneer League. The Brewers are flying his parents to Ogden for his first game this weekend. Despite the pomp and circumstance sure to surround the team's second-round pick in his professional debut, Murray's mind-set will not be muddied. The last part of that small child's original goal is still out there. "Hopefully now I'll be able to make it to the majors as quick as possible," Murray said.

In progress: Indianapolis 3, Ottawa (Orioles) 0, in rain delay after five innings Y'know, even Ben Hendrickson will need a little run support in Milwaukee -- c'mon Brewers, sheesh....

Final: Beloit 10, Battle Creek (Yankees) 5 Beloit Box Score: Kenny Durost gets the start... GAME DATE: 7/09/04 BLT at BTC BELOIT 10 AT BATTLE CREEK 5 YTD YTD BELOIT AB R H BI AVG BATTLE CREEK AB R H BI AVG G.Rodriguez 2B 3 1 1 0 .269 N.Walsh DH 5 0 2 0 .333 T.Trofholz RF 4 2 2 0 .314 H.Made SS 2 0 0 1 .264 D.Anderson LF 5 2 1 0 .288 M.Carson RF 3 1 1 0 .331 L.Palmisano CAT 4 3 1 2 .310 E.Andrus CF 3 0 0 0 .263 V.Rottino DH 5 1 2 3 .287 J.Urick 1B 4 1 3 1 .264 A.Heether 3B 4 1 3 3 .259 J.Van Meetre LF 1 0 0 0 .325 S.Moss CF 5 0 2 1 .211 E.Cabrera PH 1 1 1 1 .077 M.Ramirez 1B 5 0 0 0 .263 E.Cabrera LF 2 0 0 0 .077 J.Murray SS 4 0 0 0 .165 W.Vasquez 3B 4 1 1 2 .236 K.Durost PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Santos CAT 4 1 2 0 .240 G.Kloosterma PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Cruz 2B 3 0 0 0 .233 T.Dillard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Wright PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Moore PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 H.Castle PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 39 10 12 9 TOTALS 32 5 10 5 BELOIT 2 0 3 0 3 0 2 0 0-10 12 0 BATTLE CREEK 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0- 5 10 3 E--H.Made, W.Vasquez 2. DP--BELOIT 1, BATTLE CREEK 1. LOB--BELOIT 7, BATTLE CREEK 5. 2B--L.Palmisano (15), V.Rottino (14), A.Heether (19), J.Urick (16), E.Cabrera (1). HR--W.Vasquez (5). SB--T.Trofholz (32), P.Santos (4). HBP--M.Carson. SF--A.Heether, H.Made. SH--E.Cruz. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BELOIT K.Durost 3.0 4 1 1 1 0 0 3.31 G.Kloosterma (W,2-5) 4.0 5 3 3 1 4 1 8.73 T.Dillard 2.0 1 1 1 0 1 0 4.02 BATTLE CREEK C.Wright (L,5-8) 5.0 8 8 5 2 0 0 5.44 B.Moore 2.0 2 2 2 1 4 0 4.50 H.Castle 2.0 2 0 0 1 2 0 6.75 HB--T.Dillard. WP--G.Kloosterma. SO--T.Trofholz, D.Anderson, V.Rottino, M.Ramirez, J.Murray 2, N.Walsh, E.Andrus, J.Urick, E.Cabrera, E.Cruz. BB--G.Rodriguez 2, T.Trofholz, L.Palmisano, H.Made, E.Andrus. T--2:39. A--2005Beloit Game Log: Josh Murray's OPS of .485 takes another hit; more on that below in a bit.... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12433

With Sheets and Santos going the next two days, who are we saving the bullpen for? Matt Wise couldn't pitch the 7th? No way Capuano should have led off the 6th! The Brewers absolutely must lead the league in called strikes looked at. Sucky, sucky Friday night so far. Gawd, that strike em out, throw em out Ginter-Hall play was hideous. Keith just can't be loking at a called third strike on a pitch that close on a 2-2 count. It almost looks like Bill Hall slows down as he prepares to slide into second each time. Did I say sucky, sucky Friday night so far?

Final: Arizona Brewers 4, Arizona Giants 3 The Baby B's move to .500 with another one-run win; details in the AM... FINAL R H E - - - ARIZ GIANTS 3 10 1 ARIZ BREWERS 4 9 2Jim Powell indicates that RHP Ben Diggins made his first rehab appearance in this game -- 1.2 IP, 31 pitches, good post-game reports...

Indianapolis Pre-Game Notes (adobe required to view): www.indyindians.com/pdf/gamenotes.pdf

Huntsville Times: Chicken's act has always played well in Huntsville Jerry Felts atjerryf@htimes.com He has spent 60 percent of his life watching baseball through a fuzzy mascot head, so it would be understandable if Ted Giannoulas confused a game in Huntsville with one in Helena, Mont. Then the man better known as The Famous Chicken mentions a Stars player who had the winning hit in a game at Joe Davis Stadium eight years ago - and remembers a record crowd was on hand - and you realize Giannoulas does indeed have fond memories of previous trips here. "I've had a lot of great experiences in the past in Huntsville," he says from his Chattanooga hotel room Thursday afternoon. "Maybe the best game I've ever attended in my life was a Fourth of July game (actually July 5, 1996). "It was a record crowd and the game went all the way to the bottom of the ninth inning against Birmingham. The bases were loaded with two out, and Charles Poe (a former Baron) came up and the count ran full, 3 and 2. Then the next six-to-eight pitches, they were all fouled back. "The pitcher was bringing fastballs and Charles was trying to tee it up," Giannoulas recalls. "Then he hit one that went deep over the center field fence rising, and the place went nuts. It was delirious." The Famous Chicken is back for his annual visit tonight at 7:05 when the Stars host Mobile for the second game of a four-game series. You've likely heard the story before: a $2 an hour gig as the mascot for radio station KGB in San Diego has evolved into a year-round job that's earned Giannoulas millions over the last three decades. An interest in comedy combined with his love of sports has created the most beloved mascot ever to grace stadiums and arenas. And the man inside The Famous Chicken continues to enjoy every minute of it. "When I first started I was just going by the seat of my tail," Giannoulas says. "I didn't know what I was doing. "Now I've got gags and routines that I do. I still improvise a little bit." Giannoulas is seldom at a loss for words, but inquire if there's a minor league ballpark he has never appeared in and there's a long pause as he ponders the question. He got rained out in Montgomery earlier this season, but plans to go there later this month. "I don't think I've missed a minor league town," he says. "The only major league town I've missed is Boston - I might be banned there and not even know it. "The Celtics almost had me in with Red Auerbach in charge years ago. The Boston Bruins have never had me in, no Boston colleges have had me there. I've never done a sports event in Boston. "That's the only one in all of North America. I've been from Anchorage all the way down to Mexico City and everybody in between." It's an act that continues to produce smiles. "I just try to lend a few laughs in there," Giannoulas says, "and it seems to play well with the audience."

Huntsville Times Game Story: A quote or two... Huntsville does almost everything right in 8-3 victory By MIKE EASTERLING Times Sports Staff mikee@htimes.com Outfielder Jamie Gann hit the club's first inside-the-park home run in at least four seasons. Prince Fielder, a 6-foot, 260-pound first baseman, legged out his first triple of the season and had two shots at becoming the first player in team history to hit for the cycle. Pitcher Jeff Housman tossed five shutout innings to whittle an earned run average that already ranked among the Southern League's top 10 down from 3.43 to 3.23. Third baseman Chris Barnwell made a dazzling stop to start a double play that at the time preserved a shutout. It all added up to a solid 8-3 win by the Huntsville Stars over the Mobile BayBears on Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium. An announced crowd of 1,254 looked on as Huntsville pieced together what had to be one of its more thorough wins of the season, a victory that moved the Stars into a first-place tie with Birmingham in the West Division. "Not a bad game,'' Huntsville manager Frank Kremblas said. "There were a couple of things we could've done better, but we were aggressive and we hit the ball pretty good.'' The Stars pounded out 13 hits, allowed just five and led 8-0 before Mobile scored three runs in the eighth inning long after the issue was settled. "We played good defense, threw strikes and hit the ball,'' said Gann, who has now hit safely in seven of his eight games with Huntsville. "When this team puts it together, we're a pretty tough team.'' Housman walked the game's leadoff batter, coaxed two outs and - after an error and an infield single - got out of a bases-loaded jam. He didn't allow another hit over the next four innings before giving way to reliever Paul Stewart. Housman (3-5) struck out four and walked three. He left the game early because he was battling sickness. "He worked out of (the first) and after that controlled his fastball better and mixed in his off-speed pitches,'' Kremblas said. Huntsville improved to 40-44 overall and 9-6 in the second half. Brian Whitaker (5-7) took the loss for Mobile (45-40, 5-9). The Stars, leading 1-0 behind Fielder's first-inning home run, broke the game open with the four-run third to take a 5-0 lead. Housman singled to lead off, and two outs later scored when Fielder tripled into the right-field corner. Brad Nelson followed with an RBI single and Gann hit his third home run with the Stars and first that didn't leave the park. He hit a line drive to center field, where the BayBears' Kennard Jones dove for the ball and missed. Gann only had to keep from falling as the ball rolled to the warning track. "Just keep stride and make sure to touch the bases,'' Gann said of his round trip. Fielder, who singled in the fifth after the homer and triple, had two more at-bats in an attempt to get the first cycle in the Stars' 20-year history. "I knew if I hit the ball hard I had a chance,'' he said. Instead, he grounded into a double play and flied out. In a pair of roster moves, Huntsville placed pitcher Chris Saenz (forearm) on the disabled list Thursday and activated outfielder Ryan Knox.

Link Report Bonus: Congrats to Huntsville LHP Jeff Housman, this week's Southern League Pitcher of the Week. Housman went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA, allowing six hits, one earned run and five walks while striking out 14 in 12 innings. Jeff Housman, giving 33rd round picks who have crappy first pro years, eternal hope -- still the most amazing transformation of any player in the organization for the past several years -- still only 22 years old (23 in August).

Friday's Daily Menu : All times Central except Arizona Rookie (local Mountain); pitchers subject to change; pre-game audio begins approx. 15 minutes prior to game time listed... INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Ben Hendrickson at home vs. Ottawa (Orioles), 7:00 PM -- hopefully Ben's final regular season minor league start -- ever; good luck trying to listen... Audio link: www.newstalk1430.com/ HUNTSVILLE: RHP Glenn Woolard at home vs. Mobile (Padres), 7:05 PM; just the fact that we'll be watching two projectable RHP's (Woolard and Carlos Villanueva) for a few years is fine reward for Wayne Franklin and Leo Estrella... Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ HIGH DESERT: RHP Jesse Harper at home vs. Lake Elsinore (Padres), 9:05 PM Audio link: www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm BELOIT: LHP Greg Kloosterman at Battle Creek (Yankees), 6:00 PM Audio link (Yankees' feed): www.battlecreekyankees.com/ HELENA: RHP Alvaro Martinez at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 8:05 PM; sorry, no online audio for this series http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif Got a kick out of the game summary from the Great Falls site for Thursday's game: The Sox would score twice in the top of the eighth inning to cut the score to 4-3. Then in the ninth with runners on the corners and two outs, pinch runner Jhonny Rivera would attempt to steal home plate. Catcher Charlie Lozada's glove sat on the first base side of the plate as Rivera slide in untagged. He was called out by plate umpire Matt Henzel to preserve the Brewers victory. It was the third blown call in two games, but the first to affect the outcome of a game. ARIZONA ROOKIE: TBD at home vs. the Giants' toddlers, 10:30 AM local Maryvale time...

Daily Press High Desert Game Story: Mavs' offense sputters in loss H.D.'s Bradley strikes out season-high eight By TIM HARAN/Staff Writer RANCHO CUCAMONGA ? The High Desert Mavericks are the definition of a struggling ballclub. "One day your offense will go out and get you seven runs and your pitchers will give up nine," High Desert manager Mel Queen said. "The next day your pitcher shuts them down, gives up one or two and you get one. That's what happens to a club that's struggling." Mavs' starter David Bradley pitched six strong innings Thursday, but the offense couldn't provide him with enough run support as Rancho Cucamonga edged High Desert 2-1 at the Epicenter and prevented the Mavericks from winning their first road series in 14 tries this season. Joe Saunders, who allowed one run in seven innings for the Quakes, picked up the win. "You've got to give (Saunders) credit," Queen said. "He was in some jams and if we could have come up with a base hit here or there, it's a different ballgame." Jeremy Frost led off the fifth inning with a double off the center field wall but was left stranded at third following a pair of groundouts and a fly out. The Mavs left fielder knocked a two-out single in the seventh and advanced to second on an error, but again was stranded. Bradley, who struck out a season-high eight, left with the game tied after allowing just one run on four hits. But in the seventh, Adam Pavkovich stroked a leadoff double off Mavs' reliever Nick Slack and later scored on a Reggie Willits infield single. High Desert shortstop Enrique Cruz gloved the ball, but couldn't get enough on the throw to beat out the speedy Willits. "Nothing against Willits, but their base hit, as far as getting the winning run was not exactly crushed," Queen said of the single hit off the end of the bat. Rancho Cucamonga's Erick Aybar, who hit the game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Wednesday, hammered his fifth home run of the season ? four of which have come against High Desert ? in the first inning of Thursday's series finale. Travis Hinton knotted the score in the top of the second. The High Desert slugger smacked his team-leading 15th home run, demolishing a Saunders pitch high off the scoreboard behind the right-center field wall. The second-inning blast marked the fifth straight game in which a Mavs player had homered and gave High Desert 75 on the year, tying the team with Visalia for the second most in the California League. Rancho Cucamonga loaded the bases in the third, but the Quakes, which are hitting a league-worst .185 with the bases full, couldn't capitalize. Jeff Eure, in his first game back after spending almost two months on the disabled list, handled a sharply hit Jared Abruzzo grounder and fired to first to end the inning. Slack struck out six Quakes batters in two innings, including ringing up four in the eighth after a called third strike got away from catcher Froilan Villanueva. NOTES: High Desert catcher John Vanden Berg left the game in the middle of the fourth inning after being hit in the right ear by a Bradley warm up pitch. He went to a local hospital to receive stitches and will likely miss some games, Queen said. ... The Mavs on Thursday wrapped up a four-game series against Rancho Cucamonga, a team that High Desert had faced in 11 of its last 20 games.

Helena Independent Record Game Story: Brewers thwart G.F. bid to steal home, tie game in 9th By KEVIN SHIVELY - IR Sports Writer - 07/09/04 It came down to a play at the plate when the Helena Brewers and the Great Falls White Sox played on Thursday night. Great Falls catcher Matt Deuchler tried stealing home with his team down one and two outs in the ninth, but Helena catcher Charlie Lozada was able to dive back at the plate for the tag, giving the Brewers a 4-3 win. "We found a way to win and that's the important thing," said Helena manager Johnny Narron. "That's what great ball clubs do and thats what we did tonight." Lozada, who was a defensive key in the game, was also an important element in the Brewer's offense. The catcher was 1-for-4 in the game, but his one hit was a triple that drove in two runs. He then scored on a single from Charlie Fermaint. Tony Festa, who was the first run driven in on the triple, was the only Brewer with a multiple-hit game. The third baseman had also doubled in the third inning, but was stranded on base. "There was some situational hitting that we just didn't get done," said Narron. "We stranded a few guys and had a bunt that didn't play out, but we got the runs we needed to get the job done." Derek DeCarlo picked up the win for Helena. He came in for Jared Theodorakos in the fourth after Deuchler doubled and got out of the inning without another baserunner. In fact, DeCarlo, who pitched through the seventh inning, allowed only one baserunner in his time on the mound, a walk to designated hitter Donny Lucy. Justin Wilson pitched the last two innings for Helena. The first two batters he faced singled and scored, but Wilson and the Brewers were able to get out of the inning and through the ninth without another run, giving Wilson his third save of the season. Ray Liotta started on the mound for the White Sox, but Josh Hurd, who took the mound in the fifth got the loss. Hurd gave up three earned runs in his two innings, and allowed five hits. The Brewers are up 2-0 in the series, and the two teams will meet at Kindrick-Legion Field again tonight at 7:00 PM (8:00 PM Central).

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com Huntsville update: THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURESandy Guerrero, the Stars hitting coach, on Robert Portnoy's pre-game show, was asked how the Stars could go from 17 hits one day to being shut out the next on five hits, and lose a four-game series to one of the worst teams in the league --- 8th in batting and 9th in ERA, and do well against Mobile, the first half champs, on the Stars' last homestand, winning three of four........Guerrero replied that it was all mental preparation. "You have to be... focused every night. The great ones, Pujols, Sosa, Griffey... they're prepared to play every game."........ Is it that the Stars just can't mentally prepare themselves for a last place team they think they can beat, and not have to prepare as hard as a team like Mobile?........ Truth be told, Mobile's players may be harboring the same thoughts about Huntsville. One night after scoring in every inning to beat the first-place Barons, 12-5, the Bay Bears were silenced to only two hits in the first seven innings against the Stars, a team much their equal in batting (.238-.242), pitching (3.82-4.02) and runs scored (653-641). About the only thing that sets Mobile apart is power and speed, although the Bay Bears on the basepaths do miss Freddy Guzman and Todd Donovan. And so it goes. After losing three of four to Montgomery on the road, the Stars were up for Mobile, again, dominating them from the start offensively and defensively.. Jeff Housman, 10th among Southern League ERA leaders, and coming off a ten-strikeout performance against Whitaker on July 3, struggled in the beginning, throwing his first five pitches in the game for balls and only 11 of 21 for strikes, but in the end, held the Bay Bears to just one hit........ After leaving runners on first and third in the opening inning, Housman retired 12 of the next 14 hitters, walking Ben Johnson and Greg Sain back-to-back in the 4th....... Housman's control of his breaking ball wasn't always there for him. Less than 60% of his pitches were for strikes in those last four innings, and in the end, 58% of his 73 pitches were in there. Still, after winning two of his last three starts, he has a 1.69 ERA with 18 Ks and five walks in 16 innings...... Paul Stewart did a fine job in relief of Housman, despite a pair of back-to-back first-pitch home runs by Josh Barfield to left-center next to the scoreboard and Rico Washington high over the top fence in right in the 8th inning. Stew still struck out five and got the benefit of a major league caliber 5-4-3 double play in the 7th, that spotlighted the quick footwork and wrist action of Rickie Weeks to complete the DP........ Even though most of the fans at Joe D. see only Rickie's .250 average, I see the wrists of Hank Aaron and the hands of Bill Mazeroski and that's no exaggeration. To see him play is to see a future major league All-Star in action....... The hits will come. They may not be coming enough to suit either me or the rest of the Huntsville fans, but they will come........ Jason Shelley finished the job with three fly outs in the 9th to end the game. With Birmingham's 6-2 loss to Chattanooga, the Stars regain a piece of first place thanks to a shared effort for the most part, but everyone left the ballpark on this Thirsty Thursday talking about Jamie Gann and Prince Fielder........ Fielder threatened to become the first player in the Stars' 20-year history to hit for the cycle, hitting home run # 14 over the second wall in left-center to put the Stars in front, 1-0 in the first, pulling an 0-1 pitch straight down the chalkline all the way to the right field corner for a triple to drive in Housman with the Stars' 2nd run in the 3rd that sparked a four-run rally, and a single to center in the 5th........ With one, maybe two at-bats to go, the message was relayed to Robert Portnoy for broadcast. For the fortunate below who were wearing radios or were cognizant anyway of the situation for Fielder, the waiting game had begun........But with the bases loaded in the 6th inning, Prince hit into a 4-6-3 double play, as he had done all too frequently this year...... In the 8th with two out, Ronnie Merrill threw a ball low and wild to Greg Sain allowing Tony Gwynn, Jr. to reach first, and Fielder one more chance at making Huntsville history. With a 3-and-0 count, it looked like he'd wind up on first with a walk, but reliever Rene Miniel (0-0, 3.75) got a strike over and Fielder was ahead on his favorite count -- 3-and-1........ Frank Kremblas has given the green light to Brad Nelson and Fielder to swing on 3-and-0 and 3-and-1 if they prefer, not necessarily because they're good at succeeding on those counts, but just to see what kind of player he has in those circumstances. Krem wants to know how his players handle failure......... Maybe that's what he was watching when Fielder flied out to shallow left-centerfield to end the 8th, and realistically, end his chances at the cycle......... The last Huntsville Star to fall a double short of the cycle was Kevin Barker on July 31, 2001. He went 6-for-6 with five RBI, four singles, a triple, and a HR in a 12-9 victory for the Stars at Hoover Met........ Fielder is the third player this year to get 3/4 of the cycle, following Kade Johnson on April 18 and Jason Belcher on May 20. There was one more rare sight tonight........ No one had hit an inside-the-park home run for the Stars since Scott Kirby did it on April 16, 2000 at the Joe vs. Greenville. Move over. Here comes Jamie Gann....... Gann hit his to cap the Stars' four-run 3rd inning that gave them a comfortable 5-0 lead........ Housman started the inning with a hard-hit grounder to the right side for a single. Josh Barfield dove on the run to his right to stop the ball near the bag, but failed to come up with the ball as it ticked off his glove and caromed into center. Stealing 2nd on a 1-1 pitch to Rickie Weeks, he had to wait for Fielder's two-out triple to cross the plate....... Brad Nelson then smashed an 0-1 pitch in the hole on the left side. Ronnie Merrill, whose play at short impresses me, ran full tilt to catch up to the ball on the bounce, but from the outfield grass, he tried to make one of those highlight-reel Derek Jeter-style, twist-and-throw plays to first, but at the last moment, thought the better part of it and held on to the ball. At least for the moment........ It slipped from his grip, but Nelson stuck to first........That set the stage for Gann........ On a 1-2 pitch, Gann lined the ball hard to straightaway center. Kennard Jones came in, waiting for the hop, but it was so hard-hit, it got right by Jones and rolled all the way to the deepest part of the park....... Jones was still chasing the ball as Gann flew around second and by the time he rounded third, it was impossible for a throw to come in to beat him. Three singles, two walks, and an error with one out in the 6th made it a laugher for the Stars....... If only Fielder had been a little more patient at the plate that inning. Glenn Woolard will get the start Friday night, as pitching coach Fred Dabney said, because he deserves it........ Woolie is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in 12 appearances this year. This will be his first start........ He also gets it because the scheduled starter, Chris Saenz, was put on the disabled list....... Saenz has complained all week of a dull, annoying ache in his forearm. He's going to Arizona to have it checked out. Fortunately, it's not a sharp pain, or there would really be something to worry about....... Anyway, he'll likely have the opportunity to work it out in the Arizona League, once it's diagnosed and treated....... To fill his spot on the roster, Ryan Knox was activated and grounded to third as a pinch-hitter in the 8th, although he did not look 100% running to first......... Mobile will start Gabe Ribas (0-1, 15.00), who did not face the Stars in their last homestand. The lower seats at Joe Davis have all been sold out and with the appearance of The Chicken and Friday fireworks, the Stars are expecting a big crowd to add to their avearge attendance of over 3,000, an improvement over last year. The Stars are on pace to draw over 211,000 at home........ The Chicken has appeared at the Joe at least once every year since 1985. He's scaling back his appearances after this year, but The Chicken has told management that Joe Davis Stadium is one of his five favorite ballparks, so perhaps fans won't see the last of Ted Giannoulas......... The largest crowd to see The Famous Chicken was 12,894 on July 3, 1998....... Last year on July 5, he drew only 4,418, the smallest crowd to see The Chicken in Joe Davis history. Granted it was a rainy night, and after a long rain delay, he didn't come out till nearly 10 o'clock. Monday morning in Houston, Prince Fielder will be on ESPN's "Cold Pizza", that network's version of the Today show. I've seen it a couple of times and it's pretty good....... Call me a name-dropper, but I once worked with Leslie Maxie, who does the news cut-ins when she was a sports intern at WHNT in 1998. She's the wife of former Stars manager Jeff Leonard, who managed Huntsville in 1998........ Fielder and Rickie Weeks are Huntsville's representatives in this year's Futures game between foreign-born and American minor league stars of the future.

Huntsville Site Game Summary: Is there anything more perplexing than hitting? One night, a club looks like the 1927 Yankees, pounding the ball all over the lot, turning the bases into a merry-go-round and ringing up a score fit for an arcade game. The next, all the club gets is an infield dribbler, a flare, the odd base on balls, shut down by a pitcher they thumped two weeks before. ?It?s all mental,? Stars hitting coach Sandy Guerrero said. ?You have to be ready and focused every night. The great ones, Pujols, Sosa, Griffey, guys like that, they?re prepared to play every game.? Huntsville was clearly ready Thursday night. After managing just five hits in a 1-0 loss to Montgomery, the Stars erupted for 13 hits and sprinted to an 8-0 lead in their 8-3 rout of Mobile at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville (9-6, 40-44) regained a share of first place in the Southern League West second-half standings. The Bay Bears (5-10, 45-40) managed only five hits and lost one night after rapping a season-high 19 hits in a 12-5 drubbing of Birmingham, the West co-leader. Prince Fielder began the Stars? barrage of base knocks with a no-doubt solo homer to right-center in the first, his 14th of the season. Fielder?s pursuit of Huntsville?s first-ever cycle began in earnest with his two-out, run-scoring triple in the third, plating Jeff Housman who had singled to start the inning. The Stars got two more two-out hits, Brad Nelson?s single that scored Fielder, and Jamie Gann?s inside-the-park two-run homerun, a line drive to center that skipped past Kennard Jones? diving attempt and rolled all the way to the 405-foot sign. Gann has three homers in eight games for Huntsville. Up 5-0 in the sixth, the Stars collected run-scoring hits from pitcher Paul Stewart and Tony Gwynn Jr., who extended his hitting streak to nine games. Rickie Weeks plated another run with a bases-loaded walk. All but one Stars starter had a hit, and Fielder fell one double shy of the cycle, singling in his third at-bat but coming up short on two chances for the double that would have made Huntsville history. Jeff Housman dazzled the Bears for the second straight outing, fanning four and permitting only an infield single and three walks in five shutout innings. Housman (3-5) has struck out 14 Bears and allowed one earned run over 12 innings while winning consecutive starts. Brian Whitaker (5-7) has lost his last two starts to Huntsville, Thursday surrendering seven hits and five earned runs over four frames. On Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium, Stars righty Glenn Woolard (2-0, 2.66), starts in place of Chris Saenz, who was placed on the disabled list with forearm tightness. The Bears counter with right-hander Gabe Ribas (0-1, 15.00). The Famous Chicken appears in Huntsville for the 20th straight season, and a Fireworks Friday spectacular follows the game. Start time is 7:05 p.m.

Indianapolis Post-Game Notes: Matt Erickson?s RBI single in the eighth inning driving in Jeff Liefer, proved to be the winning run Thursday night, as the Indians came from behind to defeat the Ottawa Lynx, 3-2. The Tribe improves to 41-45 and Ottawa falls to 40-49. Luis Figueroa sparked the Indians with an inside-the-park home run in the sixth inning. Dave Krynzel collected three hits and Corey Hart added two hits for a team-high 23rd multiple hit game. Dan Reichert (5-1) picked up the victory in relief. Former Indian Todd Williams (1-1) was pinned with the loss for the Lynx. QUOTE: Jeff Liefer on breaking out of his 0-28 slump: "It was a long time coming," said Liefer. "I just wanted to get the runner in. I saw they had the infield in and I just tried to get the ball up. It was a cutter or a slider. Something on the inner half and I pulled it down the line." Matt Erickson on game winning hit: "He threw it over the plate and I got the barrel on the ball and shot it to left," said Erickson. "I had some tough at-bats against their starting pitcher." Corey Hart on eighth inning triple: "I was really trying to prepare for that at-bat," said Hart. "I knew that it would be big to get on base. I was waiting for a slider and he left a fastball over the plate. The hit really gave us a boost, but we had confidence that we could win this game tonight." NOTES: Jeff Liefer?s eighth inning double broke a 0 for 28 slump. Steve Scarborough has hit safely in nine straight games. The Indians are 4-31 when trailing after seven innings. Ben Hendrickson has been named the starting pitcher for the International League in the 17th annual Triple-A All-Star Game to be held on Wednesday, July 14 at Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Hendrickson was also named Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June. Hendrickson posted a 3-0 record and 1.78 ERA.

WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 48 38 .558 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 48 40 .545 1.0 [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 41 45 .477 7.0[/b] LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 41 47 .466 8.0 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 9 6 .600[/b] BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 9 6 .600 WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 7 8 .467 2.0 MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 6 9 .400 3.0 *MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 5 10 .333 4.0 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB *LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 9 4 .692 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 9 5 .643 .5 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 8 6 .571 1.5 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 5 8 .385 4.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 5 9 .357 4.5[/b] WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 10 5 .667 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 9 5 .643 .5 *KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 9 6 .600 1.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 8 6 .571 1.5 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 7 7 .500 2.5[/b] PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 7 8 .467 3.0 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 6 8 .429 3.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 5 9 .357 4.5 NORTH DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]HELENA BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 13 7 .650[/b] GREAT FALLS WHITE SOX (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 10 9 .526 2.5 BILLINGS MUSTANGS (CINCINNATI) 9 9 .500 3.0 MISSOULA OSPREY (ARIZONA) 6 13 .316 6.5 W L PCT GB ROYALS (KANSAS CITY) 9 5 .643 MARINERS (SEATTLE) 9 5 .643 GIANTS (SAN FRANCISCO) 9 5 .643 RANGERS (TEXAS) 8 6 .571 1.0 PADRES (SAN DIEGO) 7 6 .538 1.5 [b]BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 6 7 .462 2.5[/b] ATHLETICS (OAKLAND) 6 8 .429 3.0 CUBS (CHICAGO CUBS) 4 10 .286 5.0 ANGELS (ANAHEIM) 4 10 .286 5.0

Arizona Brewer Box Score: Brewer score four in the top of the ninth; 2B Hernan Iribarren now beyond words -- on base four more times; catcher Nestor Corredor guns down three of five baserunners; RHP Jeff Garner's an independent league signee -- thought we'd see him elsewhere by now; thanks to jvrocksaz for his on-site report earlier in this thread focusing on RHP Mark Rogers... GAME DATE: 7/08/04 BRR at ANG BREWERS 5 AT ANGELS 4 YTD YTD BREWERS AB R H BI AVG ANGELS AB R H BI AVG S.Chapman CF 5 1 0 0 .178 D.Mcdowell LF 4 0 2 1 .250 H.Iribarren 2B 3 0 2 0 .492 J.Arredondo SS 4 0 1 0 .163 F.Parejo LF 5 1 1 0 .305 C.Pride DH 4 0 0 0 .000 C.Gallardo DH 4 1 0 1 .404 J.Cowles 3B 4 1 1 0 .245 F.De La Cruz 3B 4 1 1 0 .263 R.Shankle 1B 4 1 1 0 .200 A.Ayala 1B 3 0 1 0 .278 B.Martinez CAT 4 1 0 1 .240 J.Rivera PR 0 0 0 0 .115 D.Hernandez RF 3 0 1 1 .188 J.Rivera RF 0 0 0 0 .115 D.Reinhardt 2B 2 0 1 1 .152 B.Opdyke PH 0 1 0 1 .300 S.Smith CF 2 1 1 0 .133 B.Opdyke RF 0 0 0 0 .300 V.Moreno PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Corredor CAT 5 0 2 2 .360 B.Wilson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 L.Leclercq SS 4 0 2 1 .205 J.Rowe PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Blanc RF 3 0 1 0 .286 C.Roque PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Arias PH 1 0 0 0 .222 F.Arias 1B 0 0 0 0 .222 F.Tua 1B 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Rogers PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Garner PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Hawk PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Morrison PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 37 5 10 5 TOTALS 31 4 8 4 BREWERS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4- 5 10 3 ANGELS 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0- 4 8 1 E--H.Iribarren, A.Ayala, L.Leclercq, R.Shankle. DP--BREWERS 1, ANGELS 0. LOB--BREWERS 12, ANGELS 2. 2B--F.Parejo (7), F.De La Cruz (4), N.Corredor (2). 3B--S.Smith (3). SB--B.Martinez (3), S.Smith (2). CS--J.Rivera, D.Mcdowell 2, D.Hernandez. HBP--C.Gallardo, F.De La Cruz. SF--D.Reinhardt. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BREWERS M.Rogers 2.0 3 3 0 1 3 0 0.00 J.Garner 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.29 T.Hawk 3.0 2 1 1 0 2 0 5.40 T.Morrison (W,1-1) 2.0 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.24 ANGELS V.Moreno 5.0 3 1 1 1 2 0 3.00 B.Wilson 2.0 3 0 0 2 4 0 3.00 J.Rowe 1.2 2 3 3 1 3 0 7.71 C.Roque (L,0-1) 0.1 2 1 1 1 0 0 1.23 HB--J.Rowe 2. WP--M.Rogers, V.Moreno 2. SO--S.Chapman 3, C.Gallardo, N.Corredor, L.Leclercq, J.Blanc 2, F.Arias, D.Mcdowell, J.Arredondo, C.Pride 2, J.Cowles 2, R.Shankle, D.Hernandez. BB--H.Iribarren 2, A.Ayala, B.Opdyke, L.Leclercq, S.Smith. T--2:42.

Final: Rancho Cucamonga (Angels) 2, High Desert 1 Oh, well... High Desert Box Score: Nick Slack strikes out the side twice but takes the loss; Jeremy Frost with three of the team's four base hits; Travis Hinton's HR the only run-producing offense... GAME DATE: 7/08/04 HD at RC HIGH DESERT 1 AT RANCHO CUCAMONGA 2 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG RANCHO CUCAMONGA AB R H BI AVG K.Bibbs CF 3 0 0 0 .290 E.Aybar SS 4 1 1 1 .348 C.Crabbe 2B 4 0 0 0 .289 R.Willits CF 4 0 2 1 .258 J.Eure 3B 4 0 0 0 .225 G.Porter 3B 3 0 0 0 .309 T.Hinton 1B 4 1 1 1 .318 J.Sugden PH 1 0 0 0 .206 J.Vanden ber CAT 1 0 0 0 .292 J.Sugden RF 0 0 0 0 .206 F.Villanueva CAT 2 0 0 0 .240 M.Napoli CAT 3 0 1 0 .303 T.Farnsworth DH 3 0 0 0 .170 J.Abruzzo 1B 4 0 0 0 .280 B.Van Iderst RF 3 0 0 0 .355 D.Gates LF 2 0 0 0 .270 J.Frost LF 3 0 3 0 .272 M.Abram DH 4 0 0 0 .143 E.Cruz SS 3 0 0 0 .196 A.Pavkovich 2B 3 1 1 0 .208 D.Bradley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Pavkovich 3B 0 0 0 0 .208 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Weed RF 3 0 1 0 .263 B.Weed 2B 0 0 0 0 .263 J.Saunders PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Griffith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 V.Stertzbach PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 30 1 4 1 TOTALS 31 2 6 2 HIGH DESERT 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 1 4 2 RANCHO CUCAMONGA 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 X- 2 6 1 E--E.Cruz, N.Slack, B.Weed. DP--HIGH DESERT 0, RANCHO CUCAMONGA 0. LOB--HIGH DESERT 5, RANCHO CUCAMONGA 8. 2B--J.Frost (12), M.Napoli (17), A.Pavkovich (19). HR--T.Hinton (15), E.Aybar (5). SB--R.Willits (26), B.Weed (10). CS--K.Bibbs. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT D.Bradley 6.0 4 1 1 3 8 1 3.53 N.Slack (L,1-4) 2.0 2 1 1 0 6 0 4.62 RANCHO CUCAMONGA J.Saunders (W,8-7) 7.0 4 1 1 3 4 1 3.29 D.Griffith 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.26 V.Stertzbach (S,13) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.33 PB--F.Villanueva. SO--J.Eure 2, T.Hinton, T.Farnsworth, B.Van Iderst, E.Cruz, E.Aybar 2, R.Willits, G.Porter 2, J.Sugden, M.Napoli, J.Abruzzo 2, D.Gates, M.Abram 2, A.Pavkovich, B.Weed. BB--K.Bibbs, J.Vanden ber, T.Farnsworth, M.Napoli, D.Gates 2. T--2:37. A--4022High Desert Game Log: Leadoff double wasted in the 5th... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=19117

In progress: High Desert 1, Rancho Cucamonga (Angels) 1, after five innings It's all up to the Mavericks -- if they pull this one out, the minor league organization has its first 6-0 day; but, because of the Brewer loss, it can not be the holy grail of days -- 7-for-7.

Final: Helena 4, Great Falls (White Sox) 3 Helena Box Score: RHP Justin Wilson throws two wild pitches, makes an error, and still extends his career-starting 0.00 ERA streak to 14.2 IP (seven games, one unearned run); Brewers win despite three uncharacteristic errors and an 0-for-2 night on the basepaths -- good teams do those things and still win, and this is a good team... GAME DATE: 7/08/04 GRF at HEL GREAT FALLS 3 AT HELENA 4 YTD YTD GREAT FALLS AB R H BI AVG HELENA AB R H BI AVG A.Ricks 3B 4 1 1 0 .375 A.Escobar DH 4 0 1 0 .288 B.Berry 2B 4 0 0 1 .277 S.Sollmann 2B 3 0 1 1 .307 J.Hansen 1B 4 0 0 0 .222 A.Festa 3B 3 1 2 0 .323 T.Collaro RF 4 0 0 0 .183 G.Richardson 1B 3 1 0 0 .400 M.Deuchler CAT 4 0 2 0 .256 C.Lozada CAT 4 1 1 2 .333 S.Martin LF 3 0 0 0 .265 A.Mannon RF 4 0 0 0 .261 D.Lucy DH 1 0 0 0 .238 C.Fermaint CF 3 0 1 1 .250 D.Roberts CF 4 0 0 0 .382 C.De La Cruz LF 3 1 1 0 .167 D.McNeil SS 3 2 2 0 .213 G.Acosta SS 3 0 0 0 .192 R.Liotta PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Theodorako PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Hurd PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Decarlo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Johnson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Wilson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 31 3 5 1 TOTALS 30 4 7 4 GREAT FALLS 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0- 3 5 2 HELENA 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 X- 4 7 3 E--A.Ricks, J.Hurd, A.Mannon, G.Acosta, J.Wilson. DP--GREAT FALLS 1, HELENA 1. LOB--GREAT FALLS 5, HELENA 5. 2B--M.Deuchler (1), D.McNeil (5), A.Festa (8). 3B--C.Lozada (1). CS--M.Deuchler, A.Escobar, S.Sollmann. HBP--A.Festa. SH--S.Martin. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA GREAT FALLS R.Liotta 4.0 2 0 0 2 3 0 2.25 J.Hurd (L,1-1) 2.0 5 4 3 0 3 0 9.58 J.Johnson 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.72 HELENA J.Theodorako 3.1 2 1 1 1 1 0 4.76 D.Decarlo (W,1-0) 3.2 2 2 1 1 1 0 5.19 J.Wilson (S,3) 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 HB--R.Liotta. WP--R.Liotta 2, J.Wilson 2. SO--J.Hansen, T.Collaro, S.Martin, A.Escobar 2, A.Mannon, C.Fermaint, C.De La Cruz, G.Acosta. BB--D.Lucy 3, S.Sollmann, G.Richardson. T--2:43. A--1210Helena Game Log: Check out the last out of this one-run game -- say what?! www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=16564