MassBrew

Prince gets royal treatment Stars first baseman joins Nelson as All-Star starter By MARK McCARTER Times Sports Staff markcolumn@aol.com Not a bad jump for Prince Fielder. In two days' time, the Huntsville Stars first baseman went from being left off the Southern League All-Star team to the starting lineup. Mobile manager Gary Jones, who'll manage the SL West team in the July 13 All-Star Game in Chattanooga, has announced two Stars will be in his starting lineup. Fielder, who was added to the team as a substitute for an injured player, will bat third and left fielder Brad Nelson will bat fifth. The West batting order: CF Dwaine Bacon, West Tenn; 2B Josh Barfield, Mobile; Fielder; 1B Greg Sain, Mobile; Nelson; 3B Matt Craig, West Tenn; C Carlos Maldonado, Birmingham; RF Aron Weston, West Tenn; SS Ronny Cedeno, West Tenn. Jones has tabbed his ace Chris Rojas as the starter. The East lineup, as announced by Tennessee skipper Mark DeJohn: SS Josh Wilson, Carolina; 2B Willy Aybar, Jacksonville; 3B Edwin Encarnacion, Chattanooga; 1B Jason Stokes, Carolina; DH Jesse Gutierrez, Chattanooga; C Josh Willingham, Carolina; RF Papo Bolivar, Tennessee; CF Skip Schumaker, Tennessee; LF Adam Stern, Greenville. Brian Rose of Chattanooga will be the starting pitcher for the East.

Huntsville Site Game Summary: Newcomer Gann contributes defensively, too... Stars Win in Walk-Off Style, 6-5 in 10Another night, another comeback, another dramatic win at Joe Davis Stadium. This time, the Stars rallied from 2-0 down only to see Mobile tie the game in the eighth. Huntsville responded again, prevailing 6-5 in 10 innings on all-star Brad Nelson?s walk-off, run-scoring single. The Stars (6-3, 38-41) remained one game up in the Southern League West second-half standings with their second straight win over the Bay Bears (4-5, 44-35). Second-inning solo homers from Greg Sain and Steve Morales propelled Mobile to a 2-0 lead, but Huntsville answered in the bottom of the inning. Nelson led off with a single, the first of four straight hits off Bears all-star starter Chris Rojas. Jamie Gann ? one of Thursday?s heroes with three hits in his Southern League debut ? ripped his first homer, a two-run shot to right to tie the game. Chris Barnwell batted next and laced a solo homer to left, his fifth of the year. Johnny Raburn lashed a triple into the rightfield corner, and Joel Alvarado?s groundout scored Raburn for a 4-2 Stars lead. After Sain walked to start the fourth, Mobile rebounded with another long ball, Ben Johnson?s line-drive, two-run shot to left. Huntsville retook the lead in the sixth, when Rojas walked Nelson with one out. Nelson stole second, then Gann drew a walk. Alan Webb relieved Rojas, and Nelson and Gann pulled off a double steal. Barnwell received an intentional walk, and Raburn?s sacrifice fly plated Nelson for a 5-4 lead. In the eighth, Mobile tied the game against reliever Paul Stewart. Kennard Jones drew a one-out walk, and one out later Josh Barfield singled to left. A wild pitch pushed the runners to second and third, and Sain drew a walk. Rico Washington lined a single to right to score Jones, but rightfielder Gann gunned down Barfield at the plate. Joel Alvarado absorbed a heavy blow from Barfield and held onto the ball to end the frame. The Stars? 10th-inning rally was over as quickly as it started. Reliever Jack Cassel plunked leadoff hitter Tony Gwynn Jr., who quickly stole second base. Prince Fielder received an intentional walk, and Nelson lined a 2-2 pitch into right-center, scoring Gwynn with the game-winner. John Novinsky (6-0) notched his sixth win without a loss, fanning two in a perfect 10th. Cassel (2-1) suffered the defeat, surrendering one run on one hit, one walk and one hit batter without recording an out in the 10th. Stars lefty Jeff Housman (1-5, 3.64) meets Bears righty Brian Whitaker (5-5, 3.57) in the series finale at Joe Davis Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with an Independence Day Weekend Fireworks extravaganza.

Some interesting additional details from the Louisville newspaper coverage: Also note (I imagine to allow for each team to have 4th of July celebrations) that the teams swap venues, returning to Victory Field Saturday. By BRIAN BENNETT bbennett@courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal The Louisville Bats give new meaning to the term homesick. After putting together a five-game winning streak this week, the Bats made a quick trip to Louisville Slugger Field last night and turned in another pallid effort. The 8-2 loss to Indianapolis was Louisville's seventh defeat in its past eight home games. The Bats are 17-22 at home and 22-20 on the road. "It is strange," outfielder Aaron Holbert said. "We really can't figure it out either. For some reason, we're a better team on the road. Something hasn't worked out for us here at home." Defense didn't work out for Louisville last night either, especially in a disastrous third inning that saw Indianapolis score seven runs. Scott Randall (1-4) made his first start of the season for the Bats after the Cincinnati Reds called up Jesus Sanchez yesterday to pitch against Cleveland. Randall hadn't pitched since June24. The right-hander had a 2-0 lead after two innings but got no breaks in the third. Randall did not retire any of the seven batters he faced in the inning, although he kept the ball mostly on the ground and did not allow any hard hits. "He really didn't pitch as badly as it appeared," Louisville manager Rick Burleson said. But it turned out to be a really bad night for Randall. The Reds released him after the game, clearing room for Dustin Moseley to join the team from Double-A Chattanooga today. Two walks and three singles tied the score at 2 for the Indians, and then things really got ugly. With the bases loaded, Chris Coste singled past a diving Jim Chamblee at third, bringing in two. Left fielder Stephen Smitherman spotted Chris Magruder making a big turn toward third and fired to second base. Magruder then darted to third, and second baseman Ray Olmedo made a bad throw that allowed Magruder to score and let Coste get to second. The next batter, Alex Delgado, slapped a grounder back up the middle that handcuffed Olmedo. Center fielder Kenny Kelly's throw home skipped past catcher Corky Miller for the second error on the play and third of the inning. The Bats made four errors on the night. The highlight of the night for Louisville came courtesy of Holbert's daring baserunning in the first inning. He singled, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. With two out, he surprised all 12,396 in the stadium by stealing home, sliding headfirst under Delgado's tag. Pitcher Jorge De La Rosa worked from the windup with Holbert on third, and after watching one pitch, Holbert told Burleson he was going to go. "I told myself if he (De La Rosa) doesn't look, I'm going," Holbert said. "And he didn't look." It was his third career steal of home.

Indianapolis Post-Game Notes: Indianapolis scored seven runs in the third inning Friday night to defeat the Louisville Bats, 8-2. The victory snapped a two-game losing streak and ended a five-game winning streak for the Bats. The first seven Tribe hitters reached base in the third inning as the Indians produced five singles and two walks. It is the first time that the Indians have scored at least eight runs since June 6 when the club scored 13 runs against Rochester. Louisville jumped on the board in the first as Aaron Holbert stole home for the Bats first run off Tribe starter Jorge De La Rosa. Indianapolis bounced back to produce 14 hits, all singles except Steve Scarborough?s double. Travis Phelps (6-3) earned the win in relief for Indianapolis, pitching four scoreless innings as the Tribe improves to 38-41. Louisville starter Scott Randall (1-4) was tagged with the loss. The Bats fall to 39-42. QUOTES: Alex Delgado, Indians catcher on Tribe pitching Friday night: ?I am so glad to catch for De La Rosa,? Delgado said. ?Some day he?s going to be a great big leaguer. He has outstanding stuff. He threw 92 or 93 fastballs all night tonight and kept their hitters off balance. Phelps was unbelievable tonight. He had good command of all his pitches. Todd Erdos threw well in the ninth. Delgado on his hitting: ?I am happy to contribute tonight,? Delgado said. ?I?ve been hitting the ball hard recently and I got a break this evening.?

Final: San Jose (Giants) 4, High Desert 0 High Desert Box Score: Eight hits but no walks gets you no runs in this case; many of the Maverick batting averages look pretty, yet cumulatively they add up to inefficient production most nights... GAME DATE: 7/02/04 HD at SJ HIGH DESERT 0 AT SAN JOSE 4 YTD YTD HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG SAN JOSE AB R H BI AVG K.Bibbs CF 4 0 2 0 .304 F.Lewis CF 3 1 0 0 .305 C.Crabbe 2B 4 0 1 0 .302 N.Schierholt 3B 5 1 1 0 .320 D.Boyd LF 4 0 1 0 .291 A.Chavez SS 4 1 1 1 .300 T.Hinton 1B 4 0 2 0 .318 C.Sosa RF 2 1 0 0 .283 J.Vanden ber CAT 4 0 0 0 .304 D.Trumble LF 4 0 0 0 .273 B.Van Iderst RF 3 0 2 0 .571 B.Vericker 1B 4 0 2 2 .286 M.Mendez DH 3 0 0 0 .259 B.Buscher DH 4 0 2 1 .250 J.Frost 3B 3 0 0 0 .259 A.LaBarbera 2B 4 0 2 0 .305 E.Cruz SS 2 0 0 0 .203 K.Anderson CAT 2 0 0 0 .179 D.Bradley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Burres PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Kusiewicz PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Sadler PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Kolb PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Garcia PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 31 0 8 0 TOTALS 32 4 8 4 HIGH DESERT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 8 0 SAN JOSE 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X- 4 8 0 DP--HIGH DESERT 0, SAN JOSE 2. LOB--HIGH DESERT 5, SAN JOSE 10. 2B--D.Boyd (18), B.Van Iderst (3), A.LaBarbera (8). SB--C.Sosa (5). CS--K.Bibbs, C.Crabbe. HBP--E.Cruz. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HIGH DESERT D.Bradley (L,3-5) 5.2 7 4 4 3 7 0 3.70 M.Kusiewicz 1.1 0 0 0 2 2 0 4.66 D.Kolb 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 5.44 SAN JOSE B.Burres (W,3-0) 7.0 6 0 0 0 6 0 2.45 W.Sadler 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.55 J.Garcia 1.0 2 0 0 0 3 0 2.98 HB--J.Garcia. WP--D.Bradley. SO--K.Bibbs, C.Crabbe, D.Boyd 2, J.Vanden ber 2, M.Mendez 3, J.Frost, F.Lewis, N.Schierholt, A.Chavez, C.Sosa, D.Trumble 4, A.LaBarbera 2. BB--F.Lewis 2, C.Sosa 2, K.Anderson 2. T--2:24. A--3213High Desert Game Log: John Vanden Berg struck out representing the tying run in the ninth... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=18904

In progress: San Jose (Giants) 4, High Desert 0, after seven innings

Final: Huntsville 6, Mobile (Padres) 5, 10 innings Huntsville Box Score: The sometimes maligned Stars' bullpen has been incredible as of late... GAME DATE: 7/02/04 MOB at HVL MOBILE 5 AT HUNTSVILLE 6 (EXTRA INNINGS) YTD YTD MOBILE AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG K.Jones CF 3 1 1 0 .222 R.Weeks 2B 5 0 1 0 .247 R.Merrill SS 5 0 0 0 .253 A.Gwynn CF 4 1 1 0 .245 J.Barfield 2B 4 0 1 0 .241 P.Fielder 1B 3 0 0 0 .259 G.Sain 1B 2 2 1 1 .221 B.Nelson LF 4 2 2 1 .273 R.Washington 3B 4 0 1 1 .233 J.Gann RF 3 1 1 2 .571 B.Johnson RF 4 1 2 2 .222 C.Barnwell 3B 3 1 1 1 .239 S.Morales CAT 4 1 1 1 .253 J.Raburn SS 3 1 2 1 .272 J.Clements LF 4 0 1 0 .250 J.Alvarado CAT 4 0 1 1 .150 C.Rojas PIT 2 0 0 0 .250 M.Ford PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 A.Webb PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Rivera PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 M.Nettles PH 1 0 0 0 .200 G.Woolard PIT 0 0 0 0 .333 R.Spiehs PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 O.Chavez PH 1 0 0 0 .211 J.Gerber PH 1 0 0 0 .246 P.Stewart PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Cassel PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 K.Johnson PH 1 0 0 0 .224 J.Novinsky PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 34 5 8 5 TOTALS 33 6 9 6 MOBILE 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0- 5 8 0 HUNTSVILLE 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1- 6 9 0 DP--MOBILE 2, HUNTSVILLE 2. LOB--MOBILE 3, HUNTSVILLE 7. 2B--R.Weeks (16), A.Gwynn (11). 3B--J.Raburn (3). HR--G.Sain (23), B.Johnson (10), S.Morales (4), J.Gann (1), C.Barnwell (5). SB--A.Gwynn (23), B.Nelson 2 (8), J.Gann (1). CS--B.Johnson. HBP--A.Gwynn. SF--J.Raburn. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA MOBILE C.Rojas 5.1 5 5 5 2 3 2 3.69 A.Webb 1.2 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.78 R.Spiehs 2.0 3 0 0 1 0 0 2.06 J.Cassel (L,2-1) 0.0 1 1 1 1 0 0 4.11 HUNTSVILLE M.Ford 4.0 4 4 4 2 1 3 4.14 S.Rivera 2.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 G.Woolard 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 3.26 P.Stewart 2.0 2 1 1 2 0 0 2.68 J.Novinsky (W,6-0) 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.16 HB--J.Cassel. WP--P.Stewart. SO--K.Jones, S.Morales, J.Clements, C.Rojas, J.Gerber, R.Weeks, P.Fielder, J.Alvarado, S.Rivera, O.Chavez. BB--K.Jones 2, G.Sain 2, P.Fielder 2, B.Nelson, J.Gann, C.Barnwell. T--2:55. A--4169Huntsville Game Log: Brad Nelson drives in Tony Gwynn to win it; you can get an RBI when you hit into a double play --check out the Stars' sixth... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12009

Final: Great Falls (White Sox) 3, Helena 1 Helena Independent Republic Game Notes: White Sox silence heavy hitters for Brew CrewBy IR Staff GREAT FALLS ? Pitching and defense were paramount Friday night, it's just that the Great Falls White Sox had a little more of each. Great Falls outlasted the Helena Brewers (9-5) to win 3-1 Friday night at Legion Park, snapping Helena's three-game winning streak. Things looked good when left-handed batter Hasan Rasheed drove the first pitch of the game high over the right-field fence for a home run, but it was the Brewers' only offense in the game. Josh Baker pitched four solid innings as Helena's starter, allowing three hits and striking out five. Robert Hinton (0-1) relieved, giving up all three runs ? one each in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings ?- and allowing seven hits. The Brewers managed just four hits ? Rasheed's homer, two by Tony Festa and one by Adam Mannon. Helena made a run at late-game heroics once again in the ninth inning, but a fielder's choice by Mannon wiped out a leadoff walk and Clay Blevins hit into a double play to end the game. Helena Box Score: With three walks Friday, 1B Grant Richardson is getting on base at a .548 clip; each of leadoff man Hasan Rasheed's HR's this week have been described as "absolute bombs" -- but is that what we're looking for from him -- nice if it meshes with his speed tools... GAME DATE: 7/02/04 HEL at GRF HELENA 1 AT GREAT FALLS 3 YTD YTD HELENA AB R H BI AVG GREAT FALLS AB R H BI AVG H.Rasheed LF 4 1 1 1 .333 D.McNeil SS 3 0 0 0 .171 S.Sollmann 2B 4 0 0 0 .321 B.Berry 2B 4 1 2 0 .255 A.Festa 3B 4 0 2 0 .289 C.Kelly 3B 3 1 1 0 .353 G.Richardson 1B 1 0 0 0 .429 C.Kelly 1B 0 0 0 0 .353 A.Mannon RF 4 0 1 0 .293 T.Collaro RF 4 0 1 1 .195 C.Blevins CAT 4 0 0 0 .174 R.McCarthy DH 4 0 2 1 .500 C.Fermaint CF 3 0 0 0 .229 M.Deuchler CAT 4 0 0 0 .188 D.Bates DH 2 0 0 0 .370 J.Hansen 1B 2 0 0 0 .263 A.Escobar SS 3 0 0 0 .260 M.Perez PR 0 1 0 0 .214 J.Baker PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Perez 3B 0 0 0 0 .214 R.Hinton PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Roberts LF 3 0 3 0 .438 B.Murray PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Rivera CF 2 0 1 1 .189 T.Doyle PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Nachreiner PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.McGary PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Little PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 29 1 4 1 TOTALS 29 3 10 3 HELENA 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 1 4 2 GREAT FALLS 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 X- 3 10 1 E--S.Sollmann, R.Hinton, C.Kelly. DP--HELENA 1, GREAT FALLS 2. LOB--HELENA 5, GREAT FALLS 6. 2B--A.Festa (6), C.Kelly (4). HR-- H.Rasheed (2). SB--D.McNeil (2), D.Roberts (1). CS--C.Blevins, B.Berry, R.McCarthy, D.Roberts. SF--J.Rivera. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HELENA J.Baker 4.0 3 0 0 1 5 0 5.06 R.Hinton (L,0-1) 3.1 7 3 3 2 3 0 6.75 B.Murray 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.44 GREAT FALLS T.Doyle 5.0 3 1 1 2 7 1 3.65 M.Nachreiner (W,1-0) 2.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.50 G.McGary 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 J.Little (S,4) 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2.08 WP--B.Murray. BALKS--R.Hinton. SO--H.Rasheed 3, S.Sollmann, A.Mannon 2, C.Fermaint 2, D.Bates, D.McNeil 3, B.Berry, T.Collaro 2, R.McCarthy, J.Rivera. BB--G.Richardson 3, D.Bates, D.McNeil, C.Kelly, J.Hansen. T--2:26. A--3986Helena Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=19395

And you can score that Anna Benson triple play 36-24-34.

In progress: Mobile (Padres) 5, Huntsville 5, after nine innings

Final: Beloit 4, Fort Wayne (Padres) 2 Beloit Site Game Notes and Player of the Game Info: www.snappersbaseball.com/...me_id=1341 Beloit Box Score: Why did 3B Adam Heether exit so early? Nice bounce-back start for Luis Pena; LHP Mitch Stetter has been oh-so-good... GAME DATE: 7/02/04 FTW at BLT FORT WAYNE 2 AT BELOIT 4 YTD YTD FORT WAYNE AB R H BI AVG BELOIT AB R H BI AVG B.Wahlbrink RF 4 0 0 0 .255 T.Trofholz CF 4 1 1 0 .310 B.Burgamy 2B 4 0 0 0 .139 W.Lewis 2B 4 0 2 0 .382 J.Pickens LF 4 0 0 0 .253 D.Anderson LF 4 1 1 0 .277 F.Valenzuela 1B 3 0 1 0 .308 L.Palmisano CAT 2 1 1 0 .310 G.Kottaras CAT 4 1 1 0 .297 V.Rottino DH 3 1 2 1 .287 B.Bonvechio 3B 4 0 0 0 .262 A.Heether 3B 1 0 0 0 .252 C.Miller DH 4 0 0 0 .180 W.Campana 3B 3 0 2 1 .353 D.Macias CF 3 1 2 0 .290 M.Ramirez 1B 4 0 1 1 .264 J.Ciriaco SS 3 0 2 1 .239 R.Deevers RF 4 0 1 0 .220 C.Tierney PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Murray SS 4 0 0 0 .169 P.Abraham PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 L.Pena PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 H.Pence PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Stetter PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 33 2 6 1 TOTALS 33 4 11 3 FORT WAYNE 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0- 2 6 2 BELOIT 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 X- 4 11 0 E--B.Wahlbrink, D.Macias. DP--FORT WAYNE 1, BELOIT 0. LOB--FORT WAYNE 5, BELOIT 8. 2B--G.Kottaras (14), J.Ciriaco (11). CS--R.Deevers. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA FORT WAYNE C.Tierney (L,1-1) 6.0 7 3 3 2 2 0 2.88 P.Abraham 1.0 2 1 0 0 0 0 6.52 H.Pence 1.0 2 0 0 1 2 0 0.00 BELOIT L.Pena (W,7-3) 6.2 4 2 2 1 4 0 3.95 M.Stetter (S,4) 2.1 2 0 0 0 4 0 2.20 WP--L.Pena. BALKS--C.Tierney. SO--B.Wahlbrink, B.Burgamy 2, J.Pickens, F.Valenzuela, B.Bonvechio 2, C.Miller, D.Anderson, M.Ramirez, R.Deevers 2. BB--F.Valenzuela, L.Palmisano 2, V.Rottino. T--3:19. A--2175Beloit Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12500

You're welcome.

Let me play the role of JaNelson tonight by reminding the Brewers that the 13-man pitching staff is ridiculous already. Kieschnick, Wise, and Burba were all very rusty coming in -- heck, Kinney hasn't pitched in what, 13 days? Oh well, maybe we'll get a crowd shot of Mrs. Kris Benson Saturday night. http://www.annabenson.net/gallery/flash1.jpg

Final: Indianapolis 8, Louisville (Reds) 2 Indianapolis Box Score: Jorge de la Rosa should be "stretched out" by 2005; I still maintain (since April 1st) that switch-hitting Chris Magruder should have been with the Brewers all along -- can we end the 13-man staff in Milwaukee already? A John Vander Wal sighting... GAME DATE: 7/02/04 IND at LOU INDIANAPOLIS 8 AT LOUISVILLE 2 YTD YTD INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG LOUISVILLE AB R H BI AVG P.Bergeron CF 4 1 3 0 .230 A.Holbert RF 4 1 1 0 .274 T.Durrington 2B 4 1 1 0 .135 F.Lopez SS 2 0 0 0 .282 C.Hart RF 5 1 2 1 .281 S.Smitherman LF 4 0 0 0 .248 J.Liefer 1B 2 1 0 0 .328 C.Miller CAT 3 0 0 0 .288 C.Magruder LF 5 1 3 1 .280 J.Chamblee 3B 3 0 0 0 .262 C.Coste 3B 5 1 1 2 .273 G.Burnham 1B 4 1 1 0 .255 A.Delgado CAT 5 1 1 1 .163 K.Kelly CF 4 0 2 0 .231 S.Scarbrough SS 5 1 2 0 .234 R.Olmedo 2B 4 0 2 1 .258 J.De La Rosa PIT 2 0 0 1 .000 S.Randall PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Phelps PIT 1 0 1 0 .500 J.Cerros PIT 1 0 0 0 .000 L.Figueroa PH 1 0 0 0 .263 B.Reith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Erdos PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Vander Wal PH 1 0 0 0 .167 B.Mallette PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 39 8 14 6 TOTALS 30 2 6 1 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 7 0 1 0 0 0 0- 8 14 1 LOUISVILLE 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 2 6 4 E--A.Delgado, J.Chamblee 2, K.Kelly, R.Olmedo. DP--INDIANAPOLIS 2, LOUISVILLE 1. LOB--INDIANAPOLIS 10, LOUISVILLE 6. 2B--S.Scarbrough (16), K.Kelly (7). SB--A.Holbert 2 (22). CS--P.Bergeron. HBP--F.Lopez. SF--J.De La Rosa. SH--S.Randall. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INDIANAPOLIS J.De La Rosa 4.0 5 2 1 2 4 0 5.58 T.Phelps (W,6-3) 4.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 4.76 T.Erdos 1.0 0 0 0 0 2 0 8.28 LOUISVILLE S.Randall (L,1-4) 2.0 8 7 5 3 1 0 4.98 J.Cerros 4.0 4 1 0 2 3 0 3.00 B.Reith 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 B.Mallette 2.0 0 0 0 0 4 0 2.41 HB--J.De La Rosa. SO--P.Bergeron, T.Durrington, C.Hart, J.Liefer, C.Magruder 2, C.Coste, S.Scarbrough, A.Holbert, F.Lopez 2, S.Smitherman 2, K.Kelly, R.Olmedo 2. BB--P.Bergeron, T.Durrington, J.Liefer 3, F.Lopez, C.Miller, J.Chamblee. T--2:43. A--12396Indianapolis Game Log: Louisville steal of home in the 2nd? Obviously, a nice 7-spot for the Tribe... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12812

Man, if J.J. Hardy turns out to be a Jack Wilson clone, that'd be tremendous.

2004 4th round pick RHP Josh Baker is your Helena starter this evening.

Scouting director Jack Zduriencik also announced the signings of right-handed pitcher Derek DeCarlo, their ninth-round selection in last month's draft, and right-hander Richard Breshears, who wasn't drafted. Breshears was also assigned to Milwaukee's Arizona Rookie League affiliate. He attended Seminole State College in Oklahoma. If you're a Brewerfan faithful, then you know that this is --- O-L-D N-E-W-S http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

Would you rather be Wise or in a Fogg? See, it's obvious. Go Crew! You are in the Game Two thread -- don't be confused, kids...

C'mon peavey, the Pirates are using up all their runs in the first game here. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif This Brewer club's been awfully resilient -- Oliver Perez is soon to be the NL's Johan Santana -- no shame here. I am psyched about the nightcap. Look for Jenks to have a big night. Counsell, too. Shake this one off, man. It's better than beating our heads over a 5-4 nailbiting heartbreaker. 5-2 road trip after game one, it appears. Don't worry, be happy http://www.singers.com/jazz/jazzimages/BMcFerrinMug200.gif

Just an FYI through the grapevine that Mark Rogers was firing at a sweet 94 MPH consistently on Thursday. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Indianapolis Pre-Game Notes (adobe needed to view): www.indyindians.com/pdf/gamenotes.pdf Jorge de la Rosa has been exceptionally tough against left-handed hitters allowing a .130 batting average (3-for-23). Gee, maybe that LH relief specialist is on the 40-man roster after all -- might come in handy in September!

Huntsville Times Game Story: Newest Star enjoys triumphant return Sleep-deprived Gann gets three hits in debut By MARK McCARTER Times Sports Staff markcolumn@aol.com If a debut can also be a homecoming and a family reunion and a little dash of storybook sprinkled on top, that's pretty much what Jamie Gann was enjoying Thursday night. At game's end, Gann, the newest Huntsville Star, strolled past his teammates, exchanging high-fives and fist-knocks after a 10-7 victory over Mobile, then went straight to a gaggle of young fans gathered near the dugout in search of autographs - a gaggle of young fans that, two decades ago, could have included a young Jamie Gann. Gann, a 29-year-old veteran of eight-plus pro seasons and now in his 11th city, spent much of his childhood in the Huntsville area. He and his family lived in New Market for seven years before moving to Oklahoma in 1988. "I used to come to a lot of games,'' Gann said. On the occasion of this debut/homecoming, Gann was even joined by some cousins who came to watch. "Some of them,'' he said, "I haven't seen in six years.'' Gann made an immediate impact. He went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. The first pitch he saw, he drilled a run-scoring single. As catcher Kade Johnson aptly put it, walking past Gann in the dugout en route to the clubhouse, "Nice start.'' It was astounding not because it was the first pitch, but because he hadn't been to bed in some 36 hours. Gann had been playing with the Bridgeport (Conn.) Bluefish of the independent Atlantic League, where he batted .369. He went to the Bridgeport ballpark Wednesday morning to assist with a day camp for youngsters and was told that Milwaukee was making inquiries about him. By game time, the deal was done. He caught a late-night shuttle and spent Thursday traveling to Huntsville. He takes the roster spot left vacant when pitcher Mike Jones was placed on the disabled list with a sore shoulder. The Stars needed an offensive performance like they got Thursday the way Jamie Gann needs a "Do Not Disturb'' sign and 12 hours' sleep. They came from behind three times, the last time erasing a 7-6 deficit in the seventh on RBI singles by Prince Fielder and Brad Nelson. The Stars had 15 hits, two shy of the season high, and it was their first double-digit run game since May 22. Fielder had four hits, including a double, Rickie Weeks collected two doubles and a single, and Tony Gwynn Jr. had two hits. Johnny Raburn contributed a huge sacrifice fly that tied the game at 6-all. Starter Dennis Sarfate struggled for Huntsville, giving up five walks and five hits in 3 1/3 innings, but relievers Brian Adams, Glenn Woolard, Fernando Rijo and John Novinsky (with his seventh save) allowed only two hits and one run in the last 5 2/3. Greg Sain, the league's home run leader, and Joe Gerber both homered for Mobile. It was hardly a masterpiece. There were four wild pitches, two hit batters, three BayBears errors, two Stars miscues on potential double plays that later allowed runs to score, and a bases-loaded walk. But it was a memorable night for Gann, a 14th-round 1996 draft pick of the Diamondbacks out of Oklahoma. His past stops include Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada; South Bend, Ind.; High Desert, Calif.; an A-ball team in Phoenix; El Paso, Tucson, Lancaster, Calif.; Kelowna, British Columbia; Amarillo, Tex., and Bridgeport. He even got a serious look as a pitcher by the D-backs. "It's always good to help a team win,'' Gann said. "Any time you come in make a contribution from the get-go, it's good. "First impressions should be playing hard and going about it the right way,'' he added. "You can't control your hits. But you don't give your at-bats away. You can control how hard you play, and hope good things happen.'' As for first impressions, this is nothing compared to the way he shook up the folks at Kelwona, in the Canadian Baseball League. Gann debuted there in June 2003 and had hits in his first four games - all of them home runs. He had five homers in six games there, including a walk-off job. "Roy Hobbs,'' they were calling him there, after the character in "The Natural.'' Gann had been out of baseball for nearly a year before his agent contacted Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, the CBL commissioner, and earned Gann a look-see. "I just feel like I'm not done yet,'' Gann said. "I feel like I have more to offer. I'm still learning. I'm not young, but I've got the desire to play. I think there are things I can still do.''

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: LHP Jorge de la Rosa at Louisville (Reds), 6:15 PM Audio link: www.newstalk1430.com/ Alternate audio link (Bats' feed): www.sportsjuice.com/provi...name=lbats HUNTSVILLE: LHP Matt Ford at home vs. Mobile (Padres), 7:05 PM Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ HIGH DESERT: RHP David Bradley at San Jose (Giants), 8:30 Audio link: www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm BELOIT: RHP Luis Pena at home vs. Fort Wayne(Padres), 7:00 PM Audio link (Wizards' feed with former Brewers' Rookie League announcer Terry Byrom): www.wizardsbaseball.com/t...p?pageId=4 HELENA: TBD at Great Falls (White Sox), 8:00 PM; sorry, no online audio for this series http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif ARIZONA ROOKIE: IDLE

Suddenly Indianapolis is in last place -- sorry, Mr. Schumacher... WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 44 34 .564 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 43 38 .531 2.5 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 39 41 .488 6.0 [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 37 41 .474 7.0[/b] WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 5 3 .625[/b] WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 4 4 .500 1.0 *MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 4 4 .500 1.0 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 4 4 .500 1.0 MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 2 6 .250 3.0 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB *LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 6 1 .857 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 5 2 .714 1.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 4 3 .571 2.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 2 5 .286 4.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 2 5 .286 4.0[/b] WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 5 3 .625 *KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 5 3 .625 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 5 3 .625 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 5 3 .625 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 4 4 .500 1.0 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 4 4 .500 1.0 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 4 4 .500 1.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 2 6 .250 3.0[/b] NORTH DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]HELENA BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 9 4 .692[/b] GREAT FALLS WHITE SOX (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 7 5 .583 1.5 BILLINGS MUSTANGS (CINCINNATI) 6 6 .500 2.5 MISSOULA OSPREY (ARIZONA) 3 10 .231 6.0 W L PCT GB GIANTS (SAN FRANCISCO) 6 2 .750 ROYALS (KANSAS CITY) 5 3 .625 1.0 PADRES (SAN DIEGO) 5 3 .625 1.0 MARINERS (SEATTLE) 5 3 .625 1.0 ATHLETICS (OAKLAND) 4 4 .500 2.0 RANGERS (TEXAS) 3 5 .375 3.0 CUBS (CHICAGO CUBS) 3 5 .375 3.0 [b]BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 3 5 .375 3.0[/b] ANGELS (ANAHEIM) 2 6 .250 4.0

Helena Game Story from the Missoulian: Brewers outduel Osprey By JON KASPER A pitcher's duel or a slugfest, it doesn't seem to matter. The Helena Brewers have the Missoula Osprey's number. The Brewers earned their sixth win in seven tries against the struggling O's on Thursday night, riding the arm of lefty Edwin Walker to a 3-1 Pioneer League baseball victory in front of 2,083 fans at Play Ball Park. "They own us,'' said Missoula right fielder Travis Gulick, who doubled home Javier Brito in the second inning. "It's going to flip around. I've got a feeling." The two Northern Division rivals won't meet again until July 31. Helena, which drilled Missoula 14-8 on Wednesday, moved to 9-3 and remained in first place. Missoula dropped to 3-10, six games back in last place. Walker, a ninth-round pick in the 2002 draft, and Missoula's Shane Dove both pitched outstanding. Walker, who is coming off Tommy John elbow surgery, was just a tad better. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder struck out seven, surrendered two hits and walked one before being pulled with two outs in the sixth when he reached his pitch count of 75. Before exiting, he set down nine straight batters. "I didn't think I had it at the beginning,'' said Walker, who moved to 2-0. "When I got in the game everything started going well for me. It's tough to come out of those types of games because you never know what's going to happen when you come out. You just hope for the best. They keep us on a strict pitch count and they stick to it.'' Walker struck out four of the last five batters he faced, three on off-speed pitches. "He had a good changeup and kept us off balance,'' Missoula manager Jim Presley said of Walker. "His fastball has the velocity where he can get it in on you and he kind of had us off balance with the fastball and the changeup.'' Relievers Justin Wilson and Ryan Marion finished Walker's job, limiting to Missoula to two hits the rest of the way. Marion pitched the ninth to pick up his second save. Dove (1-2) was a tough-luck loser despite throwing seven solid innings. The left-hander from Tega Cay, S.C., allowed six hits, struck out four and walked one. Dove made a couple of minor mistakes in the second inning that ended up costing him. With one out, he walked Alberto Segura. Center fielder Charlie Fermaint followed with a colossal two-run home run to left field. Fermaint, a fourth-round pick last season, went deep on a 3-2 pitch. The homer might've trickled into the Clark Fork River if not for a black plastic fence erected above the river bank during construction of the new stadium. "I got behind in the count, which is what a hitter wants,'' Dove said. "I had to throw him a strike. He was ready for it and did his job. "In that second inning I was throwing across my body instead of coming down with it. I was falling off the mound a little bit. That's what getting behind does. You just want to stay ahead.'' Dove's performance was a drastic turnaround from Wednesday when Missoula starter Derik Nippert gave up seven runs in less than two innings of work. "(Shane) pitched great,'' Presley said. "He kept us right there. He was pretty impressive. That's what our starter has to do every night. He only gave up two runs. We should have scored more for him, but we didn't. We gave up that run in the last inning and that made it tough on us.'' Helena added an insurance run in the ninth when Segura singled home Grant Richardson, who was grazed by a pitch thrown by reliever Donald Julio. Richardson advanced to second on a Julio wild pitch. Segura's single came off of Esmerling Vasquez, who had allowed just one hit in his first 5 2-3 innings this season. Like Dove, Walker struggled in the second inning. With rain coming down hard, Javier Brito drilled a Walker offering to the wall in deep left-center field. After the double, the umpires halted play and tarps were placed over the batter's box and the mound. Roughly 30 seconds later, the rain stopped. "We're in Montana where (the weather) changes every three hours,'' Presley said. "That's what makes it beautiful.'' Five minutes after the rain delay began, Gulick laced a double to the wall in right field, scoring Brito to cut the lead to 2-1. Missoula advanced the tying run to second base in the sixth and eighth innings, but failed to get a key hit. "I thought it was a lot better,'' Presley said. "We didn't give up a bunch of runs in the inning, so that was good. Shane pitched real well, kept us in it. That's what we've got to do. That was a better performance, even though we lost. Better all the way around.'' Notes from the nest O's catcher Richard Mercado, a 12th-round pick out of Arizona, started for the first time since joining the club earlier this week. Mercado went hitless in four at-bats. He caught a foul pop in the seventh inning, although he didn't really catch it. Mercado trapped the ball against the net on the first-base side of home plate. Home plate umpire Jon Moynihan was blocked from seeing the trap and he called the batter out. Missoula Osprey outfielder Travis Gulick is tagged out by Helena third baseman Tony Festa after Gulick tried to stretch a second inning blast to the center field wall into a triple Thursday evening. Gulick drove in a run with the hit. MICHAEL GALLACHER/Missoulian http://www.missoulian.com/content/articles/2004/07/02/sports/sports01.jpg