MassBrew

In progress: Billings (Reds) 15, Helena 7, after seven innings This one's featured some very ugly mound performances by some nervous youngsters making their Helena debuts -- in particular, RHP's Miguel Garcia and Garrett Berger both struggled, hitting five batters between them among other misdeeds; 17-year-old Venezuelan SS Alcides Escobar is flashing the leather -- you know the Brewers like him, as they'd always be hesitant to place a player this young outside of Arizona; the two new signees, non-drafted free agents OF Jake Serfass and LHP Brandon Murray, have each made their Brewer debuts...

Final: High Desert 12, San Jose (Giants) 7 HR's from Callix Crabbe, Travis Hinton, John Vanden Berg, Mario Mendez, Enrique Cruz, and LHP aka DH Eric Henderson -- yes, folks, that's six High Desert home runs; Khalid Ballouli's line -- six IP, four hits (two HR's), three runs, two BB's, seven K's... High Desert Box Score: GAME DATE: 6/20/04 SJ at HD SAN JOSE 7 AT HIGH DESERT 12 YTD YTD SAN JOSE AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG A.Hornostaj SS 4 2 1 1 .238 C.Crabbe 2B 4 1 2 1 .300 A.LaBarbera 2B 4 0 1 0 .273 S.Candelaria 3B 4 0 0 0 .240 F.Lewis CF 3 0 0 1 .308 T.Farnsworth 3B 0 0 0 1 .182 D.Trumble LF 4 1 2 2 .289 D.Boyd LF 5 0 1 0 .303 B.Vericker 1B 5 1 2 2 .294 T.Hinton 1B 4 2 2 1 .312 R.Walter RF 5 0 0 0 .281 J.Vanden ber CAT 3 3 2 1 .317 B.Buscher DH 2 0 0 0 .214 J.Frost RF 4 1 2 2 .267 N.Schierholt 3B 3 1 1 0 .222 M.Mendez CF 4 1 2 2 .235 S.Holm CAT 3 2 1 1 .236 E.Henderson DH 4 2 2 2 .200 B.Stirm PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Cruz SS 4 2 2 2 .194 B.McNiven PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 K.Ballouli PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Waddell PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Kolb PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Sadler PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Kusiewicz PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 H.Rivera PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 33 7 8 7 TOTALS 36 12 15 12 SAN JOSE 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 0 1- 7 8 1 HIGH DESERT 1 1 0 4 2 2 1 1 X-12 15 0 E--W.Sadler. DP--SAN JOSE 1, HIGH DESERT 1. LOB--SAN JOSE 8, HIGH DESERT 4. 2B--A.Hornostaj (5), A.LaBarbera (5), D.Trumble (14), B.Vericker (16), C.Crabbe (14), J.Frost 2 (10), E.Cruz (4). 3B--N.Schierholt (2). HR--B.Vericker (10), S.Holm (4), C.Crabbe (2), T.Hinton (11), J.Vanden ber (4), M.Mendez (4), E.Henderson (1), E.Cruz (4). SB--A.LaBarbera (4), C.Crabbe (21). HBP--A.LaBarbera, N.Schierholt. SF--F.Lewis, T.Farnsworth. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA SAN JOSE B.Stirm (L,4-6) 3.1 6 6 6 2 2 5 4.26 B.McNiven 1.2 6 4 4 0 0 1 4.65 J.Waddell 1.0 0 1 0 1 0 0 6.00 W.Sadler 2.0 3 1 1 0 0 0 2.80 HIGH DESERT K.Ballouli (W,4-8) 6.0 4 3 3 2 7 2 8.19 D.Kolb 0.1 2 3 3 1 1 0 5.87 M.Kusiewicz 1.2 1 0 0 1 3 0 5.00 H.Rivera 1.0 1 1 1 2 0 0 4.26 HB--K.Ballouli 2. SO--A.LaBarbera 2, F.Lewis, D.Trumble 2, B.Vericker, R.Walter 2, B.Buscher 2, S.Holm, S.Candelaria, E.Cruz. BB--A.Hornostaj, F.Lewis, D.Trumble, B.Buscher 2, S.Holm, C.Crabbe, T.Hinton, J.Vanden ber. T--2:53. A--1268High Desert Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=17917

Final: Beloit 4, Quad City (Twins) 0 RHP Luis Pena may not pitch Tuesday in the All-Star game, although it looks as though he was held back with just five innings today -- where, oh where, is the Power 50 love for the 21-year-old Pena? Toby? Beloit Game Summary from the Quad City Site: The Beloit Snappers silenced the Swing?s red-hot bats on Sunday afternoon, as Beloit scored a 4-0 victory over the Swing of the Quad Cities before a crowd of 4,044 at John O?Donnell Stadium. The Snappers win snapped a five-game winning streak for the Swing, who finish the first half with a 33-33 record. Scott Tyler got the loss for the Swing despite a very strong outing. The 6'5" righty struck out five and allowed only one hit in his five innings of work. Lou Palmisano had the only hit for the Snappers, a two-out single in the top of the first inning that scored William Lewis, who had walked with one out. Beloit added two runs in the sixth frame, as Terry Trofholz scored on a sacrifice fly and Palmisano doubled and scored on Adam Heether?s single. The Snappers added an unearned run in the sixth inning. Four different relief pitchers worked for the Swing. All star reliever Julio DePaula allowed two runs on three hits in his one inning of work. Billy Mauer worked 1.2 frames, and was charged with an unearned run while striking out two men. Righties Tristan Crawford and T.J. Prunty, who were both added to the roster Saturday after spending the 2003 season in the Quad Cities, each worked 0.2 innings of scoreless baseball. Crawford coaxed a pair of groundouts, while Prunty struck out one while allowing just an infield single. Beloit Box Score: Will Lewis has 15 RBI in just 46 AB's; southpaw Mitch Stetter continues his strong work out of the pen... GAME DATE: 6/20/04 BLT at QC BELOIT 4 AT QUAD CITY 0 YTD YTD BELOIT AB R H BI AVG QUAD CITY AB R H BI AVG T.Trofholz RF 4 2 2 0 .308 J.Taylor SS 4 0 0 0 .284 W.Lewis 2B 2 1 0 1 .391 J.Arneson CF 4 0 0 0 .244 V.Rottino DH 4 0 0 0 .294 K.Phillips DH 3 0 1 0 .231 L.Palmisano CAT 4 1 2 1 .308 B.Peterson 1B 4 0 1 0 .256 A.Heether 3B 4 0 1 1 .261 O.Burgos 3B 4 0 1 0 .269 D.Anderson LF 3 0 0 0 .271 M.Zamojc LF 3 0 0 0 .224 S.Moss CF 2 0 1 0 .213 S.Whitrock RF 3 0 1 0 .256 C.Corporan 1B 4 0 0 0 .250 K.Geiger CAT 2 0 0 0 .000 J.Murray SS 3 0 0 0 .183 A.Garcia 2B 3 0 1 0 .233 L.Pena PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Tyler PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Stetter PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.DePaula PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.McKenna PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Mauer PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Grybash PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Crawford PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Prunty PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 30 4 6 3 TOTALS 30 0 5 0 BELOIT 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0- 4 6 0 QUAD CITY 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 5 4 E--O.Burgos, K.Geiger 2, A.Garcia. DP--BELOIT 1, QUAD CITY 1. LOB-- BELOIT 4, QUAD CITY 5. 2B--L.Palmisano (12). SB--T.Trofholz 2 (24), S.Moss (4). CS--S.Moss, O.Burgos. SF--W.Lewis. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BELOIT L.Pena (W,6-2) 5.0 2 0 0 1 2 0 3.30 M.Stetter 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 1.80 D.McKenna 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 8.16 D.Grybash 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.45 QUAD CITY S.Tyler (L,1-1) 5.0 1 1 1 3 5 0 3.42 J.DePaula 1.0 3 2 2 0 0 0 2.98 B.Mauer 1.2 1 1 0 1 2 0 4.00 T.Crawford 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 T.Prunty 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 WP--S.Tyler, J.DePaula. SO--W.Lewis, L.Palmisano, A.Heether, C.Corporan 4, J.Murray, J.Taylor 2, J.Arneson, K.Phillips, O.Burgos, S.Whitrock. BB--W.Lewis, D.Anderson, S.Moss 2, K.Phillips, K.Geiger. T--2:20. A--4044Beloit Game Log: Nice to see the Cap'n behind the plate and still raking... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=15017

When does the Arizona Brewers team start its season? Tuesday the 22nd...

Final: Huntsville 4, Birmingham (White Sox) 2 Huntsville Box Score: Stars draw five walks to match their five base hits... GAME DATE: 6/20/04 HVL at BIR HUNTSVILLE 4 AT BIRMINGHAM 2 YTD YTD HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG R.Weeks 2B 4 0 1 1 .240 M.Spidale CF 4 0 0 0 .287 A.Gwynn CF 3 0 0 0 .243 R.Yan 2B 4 0 0 0 .253 P.Fielder 1B 3 0 0 0 .260 N.Murphy RF 4 0 1 0 .288 B.Nelson LF 4 1 1 1 .282 B.Becker 1B 3 1 0 0 .267 R.Knox DH 4 1 0 0 .264 J.Aceves CAT 3 0 0 0 .231 C.Barnwell 3B 2 1 1 0 .251 R.Sasser DH 3 0 0 0 .231 J.Raburn RF 3 1 1 1 .253 R.Paz 3B 1 0 0 1 .000 O.Chavez SS 4 0 1 0 .208 N.Martel LF 4 1 1 1 .310 J.Alvarado CAT 2 0 0 0 .136 G.Reyes SS 3 0 0 0 .286 M.Jones PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 H.Phillips PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Housman PIT 0 0 0 0 .308 E.Pacheco PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 K.Honel PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Smith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 29 4 5 3 TOTALS 29 2 2 2 HUNTSVILLE 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1- 4 5 2 BIRMINGHAM 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0- 2 2 1 E--C.Barnwell, M.Jones, G.Reyes. DP--HUNTSVILLE 1, BIRMINGHAM 1. LOB--HUNTSVILLE 4, BIRMINGHAM 6. 2B--C.Barnwell (13). HR--B.Nelson (13), N.Martel (4). SB--R.Knox (6), C.Barnwell (8). CS--A.Gwynn, M.Spidale. HBP--R.Paz 2. SH--J.Raburn. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HUNTSVILLE M.Jones (W,1-4) 5.0 1 1 1 4 2 0 4.18 J.Housman (S,1) 4.0 1 1 1 0 4 1 3.59 BIRMINGHAM H.Phillips (L,5-6) 4.2 5 3 3 1 0 1 3.86 E.Pacheco 2.1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0.00 K.Honel 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5.40 M.Smith 1.0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1.12 HB--M.Jones, J.Housman. SO--O.Chavez, M.Spidale, N.Murphy, J.Aceves, R.Sasser, N.Martel, G.Reyes. BB--A.Gwynn, P.Fielder, C.Barnwell 2, J.Alvarado, B.Becker, J.Aceves, R.Sasser, R.Paz. T--2:30. A--2530Huntsville Game Log: Mike Jones and Jeff Housman each plunked former teammate Rich Paz... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=15654

As noted elsewhere in the forum, LHP Pete Zamora was released from Huntsville to make room for newly-acquired RH reliever Saul Rivera.

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com Huntsville update: ZAMORA NO MORAI decided to make the trip to Hoover Met, isolated from Birmingham in the far-flung suburb of Hoover........ The Barons scheduled The Chicken tonight in competition with Birmingham's City Stages, and pulled only 5,195 --- a good crowd for the Stars, but not for more populous Birmingham. A waste of a good drawing card, if you ask me........ I should explain to those that read this and are not from this area that City Stages is Birmingham's most popular annual civic event. It's a three-day big block party......... They close off some of their downtown streets and replace the cars with stages from which some big-name music performers from a variety of genres entertain, surrounded by hot dogs, funnel cakes, gyros, and generally it's just a carnival atmosphere....... Huntsville's own minor league version --- the Big Spring Jam --- is an annual success every September. The Stars released 27-year old minor league nomad Pete Zamora to make room for Saul Rivera, the right-hander acquired from the Expos in the trade that sent .289-hitting Jason Belcher and Indy closer Jason Childers to Montreal........ Some bill of goods, huh?........ Doug Melvin should have sent Reggie Rivard back to Canada, but it still wouldn't have made this a square deal......... Rivard, a winter pick-up from the Texas Rangers recommended by Melvin, formerly the Rangers' GM, seems to be writing his own ticket out of Huntsville. Rivard has now allowed 13 runs (nine earned) in 7 1/3 innings in his last five appearances. The Stars kept the ballgame tight, down 2-1, until the 8th inning. After Glenn Woolard gave up a one-out worm-killer to Rob Sasser that slithered through the hole on the left side for a single, then walked Brian Becker on a 3-2 pitch, Rivard was called in to relieve the weary Woolie who had thrown 50 pitches in just 2 1/3 innings........ Rivard served up a single to right on his first pitch to Nate Murphy, scoring Sasser, and a single to left to Jon Acevas, scoring Becker. Before the inning was done, Rivard, responsible for Woolard's two baserunners, had put the Stars in a 6-1 hole, which is where they stayed....... After giving up a single to Brad Nelson in the 9th, Brad Murray, just back from Winston-Salem, retired the Stars on three fly outs to end the game......... The Stars have now lost nine of ten and are 4-15 in June. Matt Ford dominated this game early, throwing just 23 pitches in a perfect three innings of work. After getting the first out of the 4th, Ford gave up a single up the middle to Ruddy Yan that took a high hop over his glove....... He hit Rob Sasser with a 1-and-2 pitch, but got dangerous 6'7" Becker to hit into a double play around the horn to end the inning....... Just as it looked as if Ford could go seven innings tonight, he threw half his pitch limit of 60 in trying to get the Barons out in the 5th......... A leadoff single to Nate Murphy was followed by a four-pitch walk to Jon Acevas, one of several new additions to Birmingham's roster this weekend. A 1-1 pitch to Carlos Maldonado went way inside. Both runners were moving and Joel Alvarado's throw to 2nd was low and jammed inside the runner. Johnny Raburn could not come up with the ball and it skipped into centerfield for an error, sending runners to 2nd and 3rd........ Maldonado hit a shallow pop to right, the putout made by Nelson after a long run by Rickie Weeks, but Normand Martel, on 3-1, singled into the hole on the left side of the infield past a diving Raburn to tie the game at 1-1....... Guillermo Reyes (another returnee) followed on a 2-2 pitch with a slowly hit ball to short. Raburn was playing at double-play depth, taking him just a little bit longer to make the play on the ball, otherwise Acevas would have been dead at the plate had he been playing in with the score tied........ As a result, the Barons took their first lead, which they would never relenquish. The Stars scored their only run on a leadoff HR by Ryan Knox, his first for the Stars since opening day, that just cleared the first level of billboards in left field.......... I have to give credit for the play of the day to Birmingham 2nd baseman on a rare unassisted out at first........ In the 8th with Ozzie Chavez on third, Tony Gwynn on first and two out, Prince Fielder hit a ball to the right side, not sharply hit, that found its way past Becker, looking like it would find a hole........ Yan came over on the outfield grass to field the ball, then realized with no one covering first, he'd either have to make the play himself or allow a run, so it was off to the races........ Yan slid into the base, ball in hand, just in time to get the oncoming Fielder, who tripped over him and fell in foul territory........ Fielder protested, but had no case. There was no interference since Yan was not blocking the bag or the baseline in the process. Manager Frank Kremblas came over to argue along with Fielder, but it was short-lived. Sunday, Mike Jones (0-4, 4.82) will get a 60-pitch limit as he meets Birmingham lefty Heath Phillips in the finale of the first half. Game time is 2 pm CDT.... The Stars then take a couple of days off and then they get a whole new start Wednesday when they face the Tennessee Smokies at the Joe.

So I was thinking about the Ben Ford situation, and if I'm right we have to send someone down to bring him off the DL. Ben Ford could be activated from the disabled list and then designated for assignment all in one fell swoop. The Brewers will not need to clear a roster spot just to then move Ford himself.

Daily Press High Desert Game Story: Mavs get gem from Parra Boyd, Frost homer in High Desert's shutout of Giants By TIM HARAN/Staff Writer ADELANTO ? Scouts were out in force at Mavericks Stadium for the second straight night. This time, though, the radar guns were fixated on High Desert hurler Manny Parra. The talented left-hander, rated in the preseason as the Milwaukee Brewers' top pitching prospect by Baseball America, didn't disappoint. Parra (3-1) pitched the Mavericks' first complete game of the season and led the team to a 4-0 victory Saturday over the Giants on a night when the Mavs notched their first sellout of the year (3,867). "They don't take too many swings and miss," Parra said of the Giants' hitters. "They're a tough team to strike out. And when they put the ball in play like that, you can go deep in the game without throwing too many pitches per batter." Parra threw 106 pitches, gave up just five hits, struck out a season-high nine ? including the side in the ninth ? and has yet to allow an earned run at home this season. During one stretch he retired 14 straight San Jose batters. Parra's previous longest outing this year was a seven-inning effort against Inland Empire on June 13. "Usually at the end of their time (on the mound) I'll shake hands, but (at the end of the eighth inning) I gave him the (fist) bump and he said, 'I'm going back out there, I'm going back out there,' " High Desert pitching coach John Curtis said. "I don't think he would have given up the ball if we had gone out and asked for it anyway. "He's pitching to a higher standard." The Giants (37-32) mustered a pair of hits with two outs in the ninth before Parra struck out Randy Walter to end the game. "He winds up giving a total of five hits, including two weak hits in the ninth," High Desert manager Mel Queen said. "He could have gotten out of there with a three-hit shutout." Providing Parra with run support, High Desert's (24-45) Dan Boyd blasted the first pitch he saw in the fourth inning over the center field wall. The left fielder's 10th home run this season tied him with Travis Hinton for the team lead. It could have been potentially a two-run shot had San Jose right fielder Carlos Sosa not made a remarkable grab, nearly tumbling over the fence to catch a slicing foul ball hit by previous batter Scott Candelaria. Jeremy Frost, left standing in the batter's box in the fourth as the Giants gunned down Froilan Villanueva on a delayed steal attempt, returned to the plate in the fifth with a flourish. He launched a solo home run over the left field wall. Boyd would add another RBI in the eighth, driving in Callix Crabbe on a single to right off Giants reliever Jason Waddell. Following a pair of singles, Boyd scored on a Frost sacrifice. Julio Pavon (0-1) made his first start for San Jose and allowed two runs in five innings. The Mavericks, which lead the California League in stolen bases with 87, were 0-for-3 Saturday in swipe attempts. The Giants, meanwhile, were tagged out in a pair of key rundowns. San Jose in the first inning had runners on the corners with one out. But the Mavs were able to pick off Anthony LaBarbera trying to score after catching Walter in a rundown between first and second. NOTES: Parra faced just 30 batters on the night. ... The Mavericks are now 3-11 this season against North Division teams. ... In celebration of Father's Day, children can play catch with their fathers on the field at Mavericks Stadium from 1-2 p.m. before today's series finale against San Jose.

The usual from me again this Sunday -- hope to catch the Brewer PC archive this evening before checking in on the day's minor league action. Folks can click on the appropriate league (International, Southern, California, Midwest, Pioneer) at this link to catch the day's activity until we catch up here: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...ate=062004 Once again, Happy Father's Day! Go have a catch (the new Field of Dreams DVD is out, you know http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif )

Happy Father's Day, Dad's! I know I'll enjoy mine! Sunday's Daily Menu: High Desert and Helena are post-game Milwaukee listening choices today... All times Central; pitchers subject to change; pre-game audio begins approx. 15 minutes prior to game time listed... INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Pedro Liriano at Buffalo (Indians), 12:05 PM; consistently inconsistent, that Pedro... Audio link: www.newstalk1430.com/ Alternate audio link (Bisons' feed): www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=bbisons/ HUNTSVILLE: RHP Mike Jones at Birmingham (White Sox), 2:00 PM; won't it be nice when Mike and Matt Ford can go without worrying about a pitch count less than 100 -- much less than that, still, for Jones today... Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ HIGH DESERT: RHP Khalid Ballouli at home vs. San Jose (Giants), 5:05 PM; the Mavs the only home affiliate again today... Audio link: www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm BELOIT: RHP Luis Pena at Quad City (Twins), 2:00 PM; madbad2000, any word on why the Snappers went with a bullpen game Saturday? Carlos Villanueva wasn't a go? Audio link (Swing's feed): www.swingbaseball.com/live/ HELENA: LHP Edwin Walker at Billings (Reds), 5:00 PM; Walker was the Brewers' 9th round pick in 2003 out of a San Antonio high school; arm injury has sidelined him, but it's very exciting seeing that the now 20-year-old is ready to go... Audio link (Mustangs' feed): www.billingsmustangs.com/

WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 36 31 .537 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 37 33 .529 .5 [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 33 34 .493 3.0[/b] LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 32 37 .464 5.0 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 39 30 .565 WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 37 31 .544 1.5 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 35 33 .515 3.5 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 31 38 .449 8.0[/b] MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 29 40 .420 10.0 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 43 24 .642 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 38 32 .551 6.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 33 35 .485 10.5 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 33 36 .478 11.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 24 45 .348 20.0[/b] WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 42 26 .618 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 41 27 .603 1.0 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 38 30 .559 4.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 37 32 .536 5.5[/b] CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 35 32 .522 6.5 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 33 32 .508 7.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 30 38 .441 12.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 22 47 .319 20.5 NORTH DIVISION W L PCT GB GREAT FALLS WHITE SOX (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 2 0 1.000 [b]HELENA BREWERS (MILWAUKEE) 1 1 .500 1.0[/b] BILLINGS MUSTANGS (CINCINNATI) 1 1 .500 1.0 MISSOULA OSPREY (ARIZONA) 0 2 .000 2.0

Final: Helena 6, Billings (Reds) 2 Helena Game Story from the Billings Gazette: Brewers take first win at expense of Ponies No gifts came from the Helena Brewers Saturday night. In fact, the Brewers were in a taking mood, practically taking the bats out of the Billings Mustangs' hands. The Mustangs, who won Friday's Pioneer League season opener on a Helena error in the bottom of the ninth, were shut down by three Brewers' pitchers in a 6-2 loss in front of 3,091 at Cobb Field. The Brewers banged out 14 hits and took advantage of two Billings errors to even each team's record at 1-1. For the most part, the Mustangs got decent pitching from their four players who took the mound. But they couldn't match the effort the Brewers got from Josh Wahpepah, Justin Barnes and Ryan Marion. The trio combined to scatter eight Mustangs hits. Three of those hits came in the fifth inning, but Billings pushed across just one run in the inning on a two-out RBI single by Philip Gentry that pulled the Mustangs to within 3-2. One night after striking out 12 times, the Mustangs went down 13 times Saturday. That included three straight whiffs in the bottom of the ninth after Bobby Mosby and Craig Tatum had started the inning with back-to-back singles. The Mustangs were retired in order three times during the game, and two more times they sent only four batters to the plate. To make matters more feeble for the Mustangs, the top six hitters in the lineup were just 3-for-22. Travis Kaats, making his first start in center field, had two hits for the Mustangs, as did shorstop Paul Janish. Janish drove in the Mustangs' first run with a double in the third inning. Barnes (1-0), the second of the three Brewers' pitchers, got the win in relief of Wahpepah. Marion threw the final 2 2/3 innings for the save. Tyler Pelland (0-1) started for the Mustangs and gave up two earned runs in 31/3 innings. Derek Hawk, who played in Billings last season, was the most effective of the four pitchers, throwing 3 1/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief. Charlie Lozada had three hits for Helena, while Steven Sollman, Grant Richardson, Dallas Bates and Alcides Escobar all had two apiece. Escobar drove in three runs, including two in the top of the ninth on a bases-loaded, two-out bloop single that put the Brewers ahead 6-4. NOTES: Right-hander Ranier Feliz starts for the Mustangs today against Helena lefty Edwin Walker. ... Right fielder Cody Strait had what was probably the Mustangs' highlight, throwing out Richardson at home plate with a one-hop throw in the ninth inning. Helena Box Score: GAME DATE: 6/19/04 HEL at BIL HELENA 6 AT BILLINGS 2 YTD YTD HELENA AB R H BI AVG BILLINGS AB R H BI AVG H.Rasheed CF 5 2 1 0 .375 P.Gentry LF 4 0 1 1 .111 S.Sollmann 2B 4 0 2 1 .333 D.Phillips 2B 4 0 1 0 .250 A.Mannon RF 5 0 1 0 .222 M.Levering 3B 3 0 0 0 .000 G.Richardson 1B 4 0 2 1 .571 B.Roberts 1B 4 0 0 0 .143 N.Corredor CAT 4 0 0 0 .000 R.Mosby DH 4 0 1 0 .375 A.Festa 3B 3 1 1 0 .200 J.Mejia PR 0 0 0 0 .200 C.Lozada DH 5 2 3 0 .333 C.Tatum CAT 3 0 0 0 .000 D.Bates LF 5 1 2 0 .333 T.Campos PR 0 0 0 0 .667 A.Escobar SS 5 0 2 3 .286 W.Strait RF 4 0 1 0 .333 J.Wahpepah PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Kaats CF 4 2 2 0 .500 J.Barnes PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Janish SS 4 0 2 1 .333 R.Marion PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Pelland PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Hawk PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Griffin PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Kupper PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 40 6 14 5 TOTALS 34 2 8 2 HELENA 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 2- 6 14 1 BILLINGS 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0- 2 8 2 E--G.Richardson, B.Roberts, D.Griffin. DP--HELENA 1, BILLINGS 0. LOB--HELENA 13, BILLINGS 7. 2B--A.Mannon (2), A.Festa (1), A.Escobar (1), P.Janish (1). SB--H.Rasheed 2 (2). HBP--G.Richardson. SH--N.Corredor. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HELENA J.Wahpepah 3.0 2 1 0 0 4 0 0.00 J.Barnes (W,1-0) 3.1 4 1 1 0 5 0 2.70 R.Marion (S,1) 2.2 2 0 0 2 4 0 0.00 BILLINGS T.Pelland (L,0-1) 3.1 6 3 2 2 5 0 5.40 D.Hawk 3.1 1 0 0 1 3 0 0.00 D.Griffin 1.0 3 1 0 0 1 0 0.00 D.Kupper 1.1 4 2 2 1 0 0 13.50 HB--D.Hawk. WP--D.Hawk. SO--H.Rasheed, S.Sollmann, A.Mannon, N.Corredor 3, A.Festa, D.Bates, A.Escobar, P.Gentry, M.Levering 2, B.Roberts 2, R.Mosby 3, C.Tatum, W.Strait 2, T.Kaats, P.Janish. BB--H.Rasheed, S.Sollmann, A.Festa 2, M.Levering, C.Tatum. T--3:05. A--3091Helena Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=16520

Beloit Game Summary from the Quad City Site: Adam Harben equaled a career-best with seven solid innings and Scott Whitrock tripled twice and scored twice as the Swing of the Quad Cities upended the Beloit Snappers, 3-2, on Saturday night at John O?Donnell Stadium. The win was the fifth straight for the Swing (33-32), and moved them above .500 for the first time since May 16. The Snappers jumped out to the early lead, as Vinny Rottino hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning. But the Swing answered in the fourth inning, as Mark Zamojc started the rally with a single into right. Whitrock followed with a run-scoring double into right, and then stole third. The Swing took the lead on Kyle Geiger?s sacrifice fly to right. The Swing scored in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Scott Whitrock split the left-center gap with his second triple of the game. For the second time, Geiger followed with a sacrifice fly, putting the Swing on top, 3-1. The Snappers got the run back in the top of the seventh frame. Terry Trofholz was hit by a pitch, Steve Moss doubled and Drew Anderson was clunked. Rottino hit into a run-scoring double play off of Kevin Culpepper to make it a one-run game, but Brandon coaxed a popout from Adam Heether to keep the rally to one run. Brandon worked a perfect ninth inning ? throwing only four pitches ? to pick up his second professional save. Harben was the winning pitcher for the Swing, allowing only three runs on five hits for the Swing. He struck out seven and walked three while improving to 3-4 on the season. The Swing have scored a total of five runs in Harben?s three wins this season. NEXT HOME GAME: The Swing and Snappers close out the first half on Sunday afternoon, as Scott Tyler (1-0, 3.86) goes to the hill against Luis Pena (5-2, 3.55). First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., and pregame coverage on Great Country 105 will begin at 1:45.

High Desert Site Game Summary: PARRA THROWS COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUT IN FRONT OF SELLOUT CROWD AT MAVERICKS STADIUMThe High Desert Mavericks jumped on the back of starting pitcher Manny Parra and rode the Brewers? # 4 ranked prospect to a 4-0 victory over the San Jose Giants on Saturday night, before the Mavericks? first sellout of the season, 3,867 at Mavericks Stadium. Parra (3-1), who tossed a complete-game, five-hit shutout gem while picking up win number three on the season, retired 17 Giants in a row at one point during the game, and mowed down 26 of 27 hitters, spanning between the third out of the first inning and the second out of the ninth inning. Parra?s only blemish on the record during that run was a Keith Anderson one-out single to left in the sixth. Parra, who seemed to have exceptional command of his fastball, curveball, and array of off-speed pitches all night, struck out nine hitters on the night, including a punch-out of the side in the ninth despite yielding an infield single to Anthony LaBarbera and a double to Aaron Hornostaj, both with two out. Parra preceeded those hits by striking out Juan Benavidez on a 1-2 curveball, and fanning Keith Anderson. Randy Walter was Parra?s last victim of the night, taking an off-speed pitch right down the middle for strike three to end the game. The Mavs (24-45) jumped on the board in the fourth after Giants starter Julio Pavon retired the first nine of 10 hitters he faced, beginning with Dan Boyd?s 10th homer of the year, a one-out bomb to right-center. Jeremy Frost helped High Desert expand the lead to 2-0 in the fifth on a leadoff homer to left, his third on the campaign. After the Mavericks chased Julio Pavon (0-1) following the fifth, High Desert notched two more insurance runs in the eighth on an RBI single by Boyd, and an RBI groundout by Frost. Parra, who amazingly improved on his best outing (win at Inland Empire on June 13 ? seven innings, one run on five hits with seven strikeouts) before Saturday, tossed his second complete-game in his professional career. Parra tallied his first complete-game in 2003 with the Beloit Snappers. The Mavs look to take two of three from the Giants (37-32) on Sunday, as the Mavericks send out Khalid Ballouli to the mound against San Jose ?s Brian Stirm (4-5) at 3:05 pm (5:05 Central) at Mavericks Stadium. Tickets are still available and can be purchased in-person at the Mavericks Stadium box office, or by calling (760) 246-MAVS. The game?s radio broadcast can be heard live on 910-AM KRAK and on the internet at www.hdmavs.com.

Huntsville Times: Mark McCarter takes a look at former Stars currently toiling elsewhere, including Milwaukee... www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...118620.xml

Huntsville Site Game Summary: Huntsville took an early 1-0 lead Saturday night in Birmingham. Lefty Matt Ford started brilliantly, retiring the first 10 Barons hitters. Momentum turned suddenly on a single play in the bottom of the fifth. After a single and a walk began the frame, Stars catcher Joel Alvarado opened the door with a throwing error, and Birmingham barged through. The Barons (35-33) scored twice to grab the lead and sealed the game with a four-run eighth in their 6-1 defeat of Huntsville on Saturday night at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. The Stars (31-38) have lost nine of their last 10 games. Ryan Knox launched a leadoff homer in the second, his second of the season, to put Huntsville up, 1-0. Nate Murphy led off the Barons? fifth with a single to center, and Jonathan Aceves drew a walk. Alvarado?s errant pick-off throw to second bounced into centerfield, sending Murphy to third and Aceves to second. Carlos Maldonado popped out to shallow right, but Normand Martel singled home Murphy and Guillermo Reyes? infield hit plated Aceves for a 2-1 Barons lead. In the eighth, Rob Sasser singled with one out and took second on Brian Becker?s walk. After Reggie Rivard relieved Glenn Woolard, Murphy singled in Sasser and Aceves singled to drive in Becker. One out later, Martel?s single scored Murphy, and Reyes? bloop-hit to right knocked in Aceves to give the Barons a 6-1 lead. Ryan Meaux (3-5) picked up his third win, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts over seven innings, his longest outing of the season. Matt Ford (1-2) suffered his second defeat, surrendering two runs, one earned, on four hits and one walk while fanning three in five frames. Brad Murray notched his first save with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, permitting only a single in the ninth. Stars righty Mike Jones (0-4, 4.82) meets Barons lefty Heath Phillips (5-5, 3.72) in the finale of the series and the first half Sunday at the Met. Game time is 2:00 p.m. The FPH Financial Services Pre-game Show stars at 1:45 p.m. Stars baseball can be heard on ESPN 1450 and at www.huntsvillestars.com.

Incredible -- not in a good way... RHP Jeff Farnsworth's most recent two starts for Indy combined: 4.2 IP, 19 H, 19 R (hey, only 17 earned), 4 BB, 3 K

Indianapolis Post-Game Notes: Corey Hart's OPS is now .895; reasonable K's (43 in 220 AB's); just a few more walks (19 for a .350 OBP) would be nice, but c'mon guys, he's having a phenomenal first AAA season! -- MassBrew The Indians drop the first of a four-game series with the Buffalo Bisons, 16-6, behind the Bisons? abundant hitting. Buffalo?s leadoff hitter Brent Abernathy went 3-5, tallying two doubles, a walk, one RBI and a modern franchise-record five runs scored. After the game, Abernathy commented, ?I?m just trying to get on base, and everyone seemed to be swinging well. We?ve been trying to pick each other up, and we?ve had some good pitching that have gotten us some quick innings so that we can get back and swing the bats aggressively.? When asked about his route back to the Major Leagues after spending all of 2002 as a Tampa Bay Devil Ray, Abernathy said, ?I find that I learn more when I fail than when I succeed. I can?t ever quit and I just want to make the most of every moment.? Jeff Farnsworth, the Indians? starter, lasted just 2.2 innings, leaving after giving up eleven hits, ten runs (eight earned), walking three and striking out two. The Indians used five pitchers in the contest, which got out of hand quickly as Buffalo scored ten runs in the first three innings. Corey Hart was a bright spot in the Indians lineup, going 3-4 with a walk, two doubles, belting his eleventh home run of the season and finishing with one run scored and four RBI. The loss drops the Indians to 33-34, as the club falls below .500 for the first time all season. The Indians face Buffalo again Sunday at 12:05 p.m. as Pedro Liriano (2-6) takes the mound for the Tribe.

Despite a few losses, great Link Report, guys! Nice contributions from all -- we must have been on an overnight high from the Brewers' win! And Madbad, can't say enough about your first-hand Beloit accounts (especially road trip!) and your dedication to the Snappers this year.

Dan Kolb pitched the ninth inning Saturday for his 21st save. Kolb hasn't allowed an extra-base hit in 32 games and hasn't allowed a homerun in 52 games. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eek.gif

Updates from me till morning: In progress: Buffalo (Indians) 15, Indianapolis 5, after eight innings In progress: Birmingham (White Sox) 2, Huntsville 1, after five innings Just underway: San Jose (Giants) at High Desert In progress: Quad City (Twins) 3, Beloit 1, after six innings Underway, but no in-game online update available: Helena at Billings (Reds) Have a great overnight, folks...

Win or lose tonight, this team is an absolute joy to watch. What a spring they've given us. Summer's in two days -- keep it up, boys!

Fans of the minor league transaction thread, be sure to keep an eye on this thread in the 2004 Draft Forum -- we're at that slightly awkward time where draft signings and transactions blur -- a couple of non-drafted free agents are discussed here as well (LF and LHP). Thanks. p082.ezboard.com/fbrewers...mp;stop=40

LHP Brandon Murray (note different spelling than cnnsi.com provided) pitched at Avery Point Community College in Connecticut before moving on to Flagler College in Florida. Murray (6'3", 225) is coming off his senior year, so again, there's a good chance he'll see Helena before the season's over. From his hometown paper in Norwich, CT: Not that Brandon Murray wanted his teammate to get hurt, but things certainly took a turn in the former Norwich Free Academy standout's favor recently. While playing for NAIA Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., a scout from the Milwaukee Brewers was there to watch one of the Saints pitch. When he got hurt after just one inning, Murray -- a 2000 NFA graduate -- stepped in and impressed. So much so that the Brewers went after Murray and late Tuesday night signed him to a contract. Murray will join the Rookie League Helena (Mont.) Brewers Friday morning. Their first game is Friday night. "It was being in the right place at right time," Murray said Wednesday. "I went in to pitch when the guy got hurt and the scout was impressed. I threw strikes and that goes a long way." After a solid career at NFA, the left-handed Murray spent two years with Roger Bidwell at Avery Point, then the last two at Flagler. He went 4-0 this season, including an impressive win over Division II Florida Southern. "I knew playing professionally was a real possibility since I was in 11th grade," Murray said. "There were always scouts around. I've looked at the guys that have been drafted and they throw as hard as I do (86-87 m.p.h.) but they threw more strikes. I needed to get more consistent and throw more strikes." The trip to Big Sky country will be the first for Murray, who has been to Canada and up and down the East Coast. "I'm looking forward to it," he said. "I'm not really too nervous. I'm really excited to start."