MassBrew

WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 22 16 .579[/b] COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 19 19 .500 3.0 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 20 21 .488 3.5 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 19 21 .475 4.0 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 22 18 .550 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 22 18 .550 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 21 20 .512 1.5 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 21 20 .512 1.5[/b] MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 16 25 .390 6.5 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 25 16 .610 LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 22 17 .564 2.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 22 17 .564 2.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 19 20 .487 5.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 16 25 .390 9.0[/b] WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 25 15 .625 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 23 17 .575 2.0 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 23 17 .575 2.0 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 22 18 .550 3.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 22 18 .550 3.0[/b] QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 18 21 .462 6.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 18 22 .450 7.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 13 27 .325 12.0

Final: Huntsville 13, Birmingham (White Sox) 7 Huntsville Box Score: Five doubles and the Belcher HR; Chris Barnwell with two sac fly's -- that's something that's easily lost in a box score like this... GAME DATE: 5/20/04 HVL at BIR HUNTSVILLE 13 AT BIRMINGHAM 7 YTD YTD HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG R.Weeks 2B 5 1 0 0 .262 M.Spidale LF 1 1 1 0 .323 A.Gwynn CF 4 2 1 1 .239 J.Shaffer PR 0 0 0 0 .138 P.Fielder 1B 4 2 1 1 .272 J.Shaffer 3B 1 0 0 0 .138 B.Nelson LF 5 2 2 1 .285 R.Yan 2B 4 0 0 1 .267 J.Belcher DH 5 2 3 4 .316 R.Sasser 3B 4 1 1 1 .242 C.Barnwell 3B 3 1 1 2 .216 R.Sasser RF 0 0 0 0 .242 K.Johnson CAT 4 1 1 0 .225 C.Maldonado DH 3 1 0 0 .243 E.Cruz SS 4 1 2 2 .188 N.Murphy CF 4 0 0 0 .274 J.Raburn RF 5 1 3 2 .261 A.McNeal 1B 5 2 3 3 .250 R.Costello PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Bikowski RF 4 2 1 0 .263 P.Stewart PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Bikowski LF 0 0 0 0 .263 J.Shelley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Stewart CAT 4 0 2 2 .252 B.Adams PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.Reyes SS 5 0 1 0 .296 H.Phillips PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 K.Keller PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 39 13 14 13 TOTALS 35 7 9 7 HUNTSVILLE 0 3 0 0 6 0 1 0 3-13 14 1 BIRMINGHAM 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 2- 7 9 1 E--E.Cruz, M.Spidale. DP--HUNTSVILLE 0, BIRMINGHAM 0. LOB--HUNTSVILLE 6, BIRMINGHAM 11. 2B--B.Nelson (11), J.Belcher (6), C.Barnwell (6), E.Cruz (3), J.Raburn (4), R.Sasser (10), C.Stewart (5). HR--J.Belcher (2), A.McNeal (11). SB--M.Spidale (8), J.Shaffer (1), G.Reyes (2). HBP-- M.Spidale. SF--C.Barnwell 2, R.Sasser. SH--N.Murphy. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HUNTSVILLE R.Costello 3.0 4 4 4 3 1 0 4.26 P.Stewart (W,4-0) 2.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 2.56 J.Shelley 3.0 1 1 0 4 3 0 0.00 B.Adams 1.0 3 2 2 0 1 1 5.40 BIRMINGHAM H.Phillips (L,4-3) 4.1 9 9 8 1 2 1 4.11 K.Keller 4.2 5 4 4 4 1 0 8.61 HB--R.Costello. WP--R.Costello, B.Adams, K.Keller. SO--A.Gwynn, P.Fielder, B.Nelson, J.Shaffer, R.Yan, R.Sasser, C.Maldonado 2, N.Murphy, G.Reyes. BB--R.Weeks, A.Gwynn, P.Fielder, K.Johnson, E.Cruz, M.Spidale, J.Shaffer, R.Yan, C.Maldonado 2, S.Bikowski, C.Stewart. T--3:28. A--4010Huntsville Game Log: Welcome back, Jason Shelley; Paul Stewart's return has been a blessing for Stars' fans, but he needs to be in AAA... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=15641

Final: Columbus (Yankees) 5, Indianapolis 4, 13 innings Not quite a "perfect" night for the organization... Indianapolis Box Score: Corey Hart HR # 7; welcome back to Milwaukee soon, Chris Capuano... GAME DATE: 5/20/04 COL at IND COLUMBUS 5 AT INDIANAPOLIS 4 (EXTRA INNINGS) YTD YTD COLUMBUS AB R H BI AVG INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG B.Crosby CF 6 0 2 2 .317 R.Knox CF 5 1 1 0 .270 D.Bragg LF 6 0 0 0 .290 S.Scarbrough SS 4 0 0 0 .241 A.Phillips 3B 6 1 2 1 .343 M.Erickson 2B 2 0 0 0 .217 M.Vento RF 5 0 0 0 .266 C.Hart DH 5 3 1 2 .276 J.Deardorff DH 5 1 2 0 .276 J.Liefer 1B 4 0 0 0 .308 F.Escalona SS 5 0 1 0 .298 J.Nunnally RF 6 0 1 1 .270 C.Cosme 2B 5 2 1 0 .286 C.Magruder LF 5 0 3 0 .293 B.Myrow 1B 4 1 2 0 .257 S.Sheldon 3B 4 0 2 0 .190 S.Fasano CAT 3 0 1 1 .237 A.Delgado CAT 5 0 1 0 .115 J.Rodriguez PR 0 0 0 0 .250 L.Figueroa 2B 5 0 1 0 .267 D.Parrish CAT 2 0 1 1 .260 L.Figueroa SS 0 0 0 0 .267 A.Graman PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Capuano PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Mann PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 A.Hernandez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Proctor PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Childers PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Marsonek PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Childers PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Bean PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Erdos PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Bowles PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 47 5 12 5 TOTALS 45 4 10 3 COLUMBUS 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 1- 5 12 2 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0- 4 10 0 E--B.Myrow, A.Graman. DP--COLUMBUS 1, INDIANAPOLIS 2. LOB--COLUMBUS 12, INDIANAPOLIS 9. 2B--S.Fasano (5), R.Knox (5). HR--A.Phillips (5), C.Hart (7). SB--C.Hart (5). CS--M.Vento, C.Magruder, S.Sheldon. SH--F.Escalona, R.Knox, S.Sheldon. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA COLUMBUS A.Graman 6.0 4 2 0 2 5 0 2.76 J.Mann 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.63 S.Proctor 1.0 3 2 2 2 0 1 3.38 S.Marsonek 2.0 2 0 0 0 2 0 3.98 C.Bean (W,2-1) 3.0 0 0 0 1 3 0 1.05 INDIANAPOLIS C.Capuano 5.2 4 1 1 1 7 1 8.31 A.Hernandez 1.1 1 2 2 3 1 0 13.50 M.Childers 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 5.14 J.Childers 1.0 3 1 1 0 0 0 1.80 T.Erdos 3.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 5.68 B.Bowles (L,1-1) 1.0 2 1 1 2 0 0 5.91 SO--B.Crosby, D.Bragg, A.Phillips, M.Vento 2, J.Deardorff 2, F.Escalona, C.Cosme 2, R.Knox 3, S.Scarbrough 2, J.Liefer 2, J.Nunnally 2, A.Delgado. BB--B.Crosby, D.Bragg, M.Vento, J.Deardorff, C.Cosme, B.Myrow 2, S.Fasano, C.Hart, J.Liefer 2, C.Magruder, S.Sheldon. T--3:53. A--5428Indianapolis Game Log: Adrian Hernandez burned for two runs after walking the bases loaded in the seventh -- it may be a long while before we see Adrian again in Milwaukee, if ever, remember, he's off the 40-man now... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...meID=14124

Final: Beloit 4, Battle Creek (Yankees) 3 Dana Eveland made the start (oh boy, did he ever!), with Greg Moreira closing things out nicely... Beloit Site Game Blurb and Player of the Game Info: www.snappersbaseball.com/...me_id=1295 Beloit Game Summary (from the Yankees' site): Yes, Battle Creek has its very own Enrique Cruz... Battle Creek centerfielder Melky Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 16 games and his consecutive-game on-base streak to 28, but the host Beloit Snappers defeated the Yankees 4-3 in Midwest League baseball Thursday night. The start of the game was delayed 1 hour 45 minutes by rain, then the Snappers scored two runs in each of the first two innings to grab a 4-0 lead and held on for their sixth straight victory. The Yankees cut the gap in half with two runs in the sixth. Cabrera led off with an infield single, and Eric Duncan added a one-out single. Willie Vasquez then crushed a two-run single with two outs to make it 4-2. Battle Creek chased Beloit starter Dana Eveland (3-2) with a pair of one-out singles in the eighth. Enrique Cruz ? playing his first game for the Battle Creek Yankees ? laced an infield single and Duncan followed with a single. Erold Andrus lofted a sacrifice fly off reliever Greg Moreira to pull the Yankees within 4-3. Duncan then stole second, but a fly out ended the inning. The Yankees put runners on first and third with one out in the ninth on singles by Hector Made and Estee Harris, but failed to score and dropped their second straight game. Battle Creek starter Steven White (1-2) went six innings and was tagged with the loss. He issued four walks (all in the first two innings) and gave up five hits. T.J. Beam and Wilton Sevilla ? making his first appearance for the Battle Creek Yankees ? each pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Duncan, Harris and Made led the Yankees with two hits each. Cabrera?s on-base streak is the longest in the league this season, and his hitting streak is the second-longest. Juan Senreiso of Clinton hit in 18 straight games before that streak was snapped Sunday. BATTLE CREEK YANKEES at BELOIT SNAPPERS Friday ? RHP Tyler Clippard (3-3, 3.51) vs. RHP Carlos Villanueva (2-4, 4.84), 7:30 p.m. EDT Saturday ? LHP Chase Wright (4-3, 4.78) vs. RHP Kenneth Durost (2-3, 4.23), 7:30 p.m. EDT Sunday ? LHP Abel Gomez (4-0, 2.13) vs. RHP Luis Pena (4-0, 3.16), 3 p.m. EDT Beloit Box Score: GAME DATE: 5/20/04 BTC at BLT BATTLE CREEK 3 AT BELOIT 4 YTD YTD BATTLE CREEK AB R H BI AVG BELOIT AB R H BI AVG M.Cabrera CF 5 1 1 0 .351 G.Rodriguez 2B 3 1 0 0 .285 E.Cruz 2B 4 1 1 0 .250 T.Trofholz RF 4 1 3 1 .284 E.Duncan 3B 4 1 2 0 .307 D.Anderson LF 3 1 1 1 .267 E.Andrus LF 3 0 0 1 .257 L.Palmisano CAT 3 0 1 0 .319 W.Vasquez 1B 4 0 1 2 .277 V.Rottino DH 4 0 1 1 .329 H.Made SS 4 0 2 0 .277 A.Heether 3B 4 0 0 0 .234 P.Santos CAT 4 0 0 0 .232 S.Moss CF 2 0 0 0 .125 E.Harris RF 4 0 2 0 .232 C.Corporan 1B 3 0 0 0 .235 R.Rodriguez DH 3 0 0 0 .237 G.Acosta SS 3 1 0 0 .180 J.Urick PH 1 0 0 0 .226 D.Eveland PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.White PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 G.Moreira PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Beam PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Sevilla PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 36 3 9 3 TOTALS 29 4 6 3 BATTLE CREEK 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0- 3 9 0 BELOIT 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 X- 4 6 0 DP--BATTLE CREEK 1, BELOIT 0. LOB--BATTLE CREEK 7, BELOIT 5. 2B-- V.Rottino (11). SB--E.Duncan (4), T.Trofholz (7), D.Anderson (3). SF--E.Andrus. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BATTLE CREEK S.White (L,1-2) 6.0 5 4 4 4 3 0 4.24 T.Beam 1.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.98 W.Sevilla 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.00 BELOIT D.Eveland (W,3-2) 7.1 7 3 3 0 9 0 3.79 G.Moreira (S,1) 1.2 2 0 0 0 3 0 3.74 WP--S.White, D.Eveland. SO--M.Cabrera 2, E.Duncan, E.Andrus, W.Vasquez 2, H.Made, P.Santos, R.Rodriguez 3, J.Urick, G.Rodriguez 2, D.Anderson, V.Rottino, S.Moss, C.Corporan, G.Acosta. BB--G.Rodriguez, D.Anderson, L.Palmisano, S.Moss. T--2:20. A--417Beloit Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12480

Stars' RHP Jason Shelley, the pre-game guest of Robert Portnoy on Thursday's pre-game, underwent surgery in early February for the removal of 8-to-9 bone chips in his pitching elbow. Just within the past ten days, he's been working on modifications to his delivery in an effort to shorten things up.

Friday's Daily Menu -- begin your weekend, office workers, with Huntsville's pre-game at 10:45 AM... All times Central; pitchers subject to change; pre-game audio begins approx. 15 minutes prior to game time listed... INDIANAPOLIS: LHP Jorge de la Rosa at home vs. Durham (Devil Rays), 7:00 PM Audio link: www.newstalk1430.com/ Alternate audio link (Bulls' feed): www.sportsjuice.com/provi...ame=dbulls HUNTSVILLE: RHP Tim Bausher at Birmingham (White Sox), 11:00 AM Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ HIGH DESERT: RHP Forrest Martin at Lake Elsinore (Padres), 9:05 PM Audio link: www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm BELOIT: RHP Carlos Villanueva at home vs. Battle Creek (Yankees), 6:30 PM Audio link (Yankees' feed): www.battlecreekyankees.com/

Updates: In progress: Indianapolis 1, Columbus (Yankees) 0, after three innings In progress: Huntsville 9, Birmingham (White Sox) 4, Stars still batting in the top of the 5th Jason Belcher just hit a three-run shot as the Stars have scored six thus far in the fifth... The start of Thursday night?s Midwest League baseball game between the Battle Creek Yankees and Beloit Snappers was delayed 1 hour and 45 minutes by rain. The game started at 8:15 p.m. CDT at beautiful Pohlman Field in Beloit, Wis. In progress: Beloit 2, Battle Creek 0, after one inning Don't want to jinx it, but it's been a while since the Brewer organization had a "perfect record" for the day...

Indianapolis Game Notes: And pitching on Sunday, on normal four days' rest, Mr. Ben Hendrickson, basically done in by the weather in Puerto Rico; be patient, Ben, your time is coming.... www.indyindians.com/pdf/gamenotes.pdf

Final: High Desert 12, Inland Emoire (Mariners) 2 High Desert Site Game Summary: FOR PETE?S SAKE!High Desert Mavericks' designated hitter Pete Rasmusen enjoyed a breakout day at the plate for 2004, spearheading a late Mavericks offensive outburst in a 12-2 win over the Inland Empire Sixty Sixers in a Thursday morning affair, in front of 1,736 at Mavericks Stadium. Rasmusen, who was hitting .054 with only an RBI going into the game, broke through with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate and three RBI?s and two runs, including a bases-clearing triple in the eighth inning which broke the game wide open. The Mavs (16-25), who took two of three games from the Sixers and split their homestand at 3-3, nursed a 4-2 lead before exploding for eight runs in the eighth inning on Inland Empire relievers Melvin Pizarro and Darwin Soto to put the affair out of reach. Newcomer Troy Farnsworth, picked up by the Brewers recently via free-agency, rapped an RBI single to left for his second RBI on the afternoon, hiking the lead to 5-2. Two batters later, Rasmusen smashed a line-drive into right-center, clearing the bases on the three-run triple and increasing the Mavs advantage to 8-2. After Ozzie Chavez?s RBI single and a single to left by Callix Crabbe, Pizzaro was lifted in place of Darwin Soto. Dan Boyd immediately greeted Soto by depositing a Soto offering well over the left-field fence for a two-run homer, completing the eight-run outburst. Chavez? two-run single in the second off Sixers starter Bobby Livingston helped High Desert stake claim to a 2-0 lead. Inland Empire (25-16) got two back in the top of the third on back-to-back homers from Jesus Guzman and Hyung Cho, but the Mavs responded with two more in the bottom of the inning, on an RBI double by Travis Hinton and a Farnsworth RBI groundout. Khallid Ballouli (3-3) tossed perhaps his finest pitching effort of the 2004 season to pick up the win, allowing only two runs on four hits while striking out seven in six innings. In fact, despite the two-run, five-batter third inning, Ballouli sailed through most of the morning, retiring the last 10 batters he faced. Livingston (6-1) seemed to be affected by his first start in the high altitude of Mavericks Stadium, suffering his first loss of the season by allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings pitched. The Mavericks take to the road for four games this weekend, beginning Friday evening as they take on the Lake Elsinore Storm at The Diamond. Forrest Martin (1-3) will start for High Desert on Friday against Lake Elsinore ?s Jon Huber (3-2) at 7:05 PM (9:05 Central). High Desert Box Score: No walks for Ballouli... GAME DATE: 5/20/04 INL at HD INLAND EMPIRE 2 AT HIGH DESERT 12 YTD YTD INLAND EMPIRE AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG J.Guzman 3B 4 1 1 1 .295 C.Crabbe 2B 4 1 2 0 .279 H.Cho 2B 4 1 1 1 .302 D.Boyd LF 5 2 1 3 .293 G.Harris CF 4 0 1 0 .258 S.Candelaria RF 5 0 1 0 .233 T.Bohn RF 3 0 1 0 .308 T.Hinton 1B 4 2 1 1 .309 M.Rogelstad SS 4 0 0 0 .252 F.Villanueva CAT 5 1 2 0 .202 P.Balet DH 4 0 1 0 .283 T.Farnsworth 3B 4 1 1 2 .250 C.Arroyo LF 4 0 1 0 .305 K.Bibbs CF 2 2 1 0 .320 M.Hagen 1B 2 0 0 0 .211 P.Rasmusen DH 4 2 2 3 .098 B.Lentz CAT 3 0 0 0 .212 O.Chavez SS 4 1 2 3 .323 B.Livingston PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 K.Ballouli PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Watson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 H.Rivera PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Pizarro PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Soto PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 32 2 6 2 TOTALS 37 12 13 12 INLAND EMPIRE 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0- 2 6 2 HIGH DESERT 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 8 X-12 13 0 E--J.Guzman, M.Pizarro. DP--INLAND EMPIRE 0, HIGH DESERT 1. LOB-- INLAND EMPIRE 5, HIGH DESERT 5. 2B--G.Harris (3), T.Hinton (11), P.Rasmusen (1). 3B--P.Rasmusen (2). HR--J.Guzman (1), H.Cho (1), D.Boyd (4). SB--C.Crabbe (14), T.Hinton (2), K.Bibbs (13). HBP-- T.Bohn, C.Crabbe, K.Bibbs. SH--K.Bibbs. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INLAND EMPIRE B.Livingston (L,6-1) 6.0 7 4 2 0 4 0 1.59 T.Watson 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.08 M.Pizarro 0.0 5 7 6 1 0 0 4.11 D.Soto 1.0 1 1 1 0 0 1 7.24 HIGH DESERT K.Ballouli (W,3-3) 6.0 4 2 2 0 7 2 4.63 H.Rivera 2.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 N.Slack 1.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5.94 HB--B.Livingston, T.Watson, K.Ballouli. PB--F.Villanueva. SO--J.Guzman, H.Cho, M.Rogelstad 3, C.Arroyo, B.Lentz 2, C.Crabbe, S.Candelaria, T.Hinton 2. BB--M.Hagen, T.Hinton. T--2:22. A--1736High Desert Game Log: All eight runs in the eighth scored with none out... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=17907

Daily Press High Desert Game Story: A confirmation that new third baseman Troy Farnsworth has been assigned to High Desert... www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...8745,2381,

Thursday's Daily Menu -- something a little different for office fans today with a noontime broadcast of morning baseball from the West Coast... All times Central; pitchers subject to change; pre-game audio begins approx. 15 minutes prior to game time listed... INDIANAPOLIS: LHP Chris Capuano at home vs. Columbus (Yankees), 7:00 PM Audio link: www.newstalk1430.com/ Alternate audio link (Clippers' feed): www.wsmz.com/ HUNTSVILLE: LHP Ryan Costello at Birmingham (White Sox), 7:00 PM Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ HIGH DESERT: RHP Khalid Ballouli at home vs. Inland Empire (Mariners), 12:00 PM Audio link: www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm BELOIT: RHP Greg Moreira at home vs. Battle Creek (Yankees), 6:30 PM; pitching for Battle Creek is RHP Steven White, New York's 4th round pick in 2003. He's 1-1, 3.63 in three starts. White spurned the Brewers' overtures as a 2002 pick (Scott Boras client) after his junior year at Baylor. Audio link (Yankees' feed): www.battlecreekyankees.com/

High Desert Site Game Summary: An eighth inning run proved to be the difference as the High Desert Mavericks lost a heartbreaker in a 4-3 decision to the Inland Empire 66ers, in front of 1,280 at Mavericks Stadium on Wednesday night. Both teams had allowed a combined total of two hits in the middle innings and went into the eighth with the score tied at three. Jesus Guzman led off the inning with a double over centerfielder Callix Crabbe?s head, and scored the game?s deciding run on an RBI single by Hyung Cho, who came into the game two innings prior after Gary Harris was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. The Mavs (15-25) posed a minor threat in the bottom of the ninth when Chris Morris came on to pinch-run for Scott Candelaria with one out, who had reached on an error. But Morris was gunned down trying to steal second, preceding Jeremy Frost?s strikeout to end the game. Three first-inning runs helped the Mavs stake claim to a 3-0 lead, when Travis Hinton drilled a three-run homer to right-center, over the 415-foot sign, off Sixers starter Juan Sandoval. Inland Empire fought back in the second when Matt Hagen?s RBI single cut the lead to 3-1. Inland Empire tied the game in the fourth when the Sixers cashed in on two runs linked to three Mavericks errors ? one by Hinton, one by Mario Mendez, and one by Ozzie Chavez. High Desert then fell victim to a warmed-up Inland Empire pitching staff that ranks amongst the top in the California League, as Sandoval, Ryan Rowland-Smith, and Miguel Martinez combined to retire 12 Mavericks in a row, spanning the fifth through ninth innings. Rowland-Smith (2-0) collected the win with two relief innings of perfect ball, while Mavs reliever David Bradley (2-2) got pinned with the loss. Miguel Martinez faced the minimum six batters in the last two innings to pick up his third save for Inland Empire . The Mavericks wrap up their three-game series with Inland Empire and homestand in a 10:00 AM (Noon Central) morning affair, as Khalid Ballouli (2-3) will get the start for the Mavericks against Inland Empire ?s Bobby Livingston (6-0).

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com Huntsville update: JASON SHELLEY ACTIVATEDThe only things positive tonight we're hearing that Jason Shelley is ready to return to action and Prince Fielder snapped his 0-for-slide........ The Stars managed just four baserunners the whole night, but Fielder snapped an 0-for-19 slump with a single to center on a 3-2 pitch from Jim Bullard in the 1st inning...... Shelley has been rehabbing in Arizona after having bone chips removed during the winter. He'll be in uniform tomorrow (Thursday). Normally a middle reliever, Bullard made his second start of the season, a spot start after Tetsu Yofu was promoted to Class AAA Charlotte. He held the Stars to the only two hits they would get........ Tony Gwynn, Jr. singled to right, also in the 1st, but he would be erased trying to steal with Prince at the plate........ Bullard was 5-3 with a 3.69 ERA for Birmingham last year in 53 appearances, but he totally dominated the Stars....... Last year, he appeared in 12 games against the Stars, including two of his six starts, and was 2-1 with a microscopic 1.21 ERA in 22 1/3 innings, striking out eight of 17 in an August 26 start he won. Four relievers split the rest of the night, holding the Stars hitless for four innings, giving up just one walk, that from Wyatt Allen to Rickie Weeks in the top of the 6th........ I guess the pen needed the work, but the Barons have done this before, bringing out six pitchers on the last day of the 2002 season to beat the Stars, 1-0 in ten innings. With a 1-0 lead in the 5th and one out, and a .300 hitting Mike Spidale at the plate with runners on the corners, Birmingham manager Razor Shines crossed up the Stars by calling for the squeeze....... Spidale obliged on a 1-1 pitch with a perfect bunt in front of the plate. The bizarre call caught Chris Saenz flat-footed and he had to eat the baseball, but Saenz got out of the rest of the inning, striking out Nate Murphy and retiring Carlos Maldonado on a fly ball to left.......... Saenz threw 89 pitches tonight, 57 (64%) for strikes. The Barons made it 3-0 on a home run under the scoreboard in right-center by Aaron McNeal, one of a few veteran free agents signed by the Barons over the off-season. This is McNeal's 9th professional season. This is McNeal's 5th organization. He hit .291 in 59 games for the Mobile Bay Bears in 2001........ The Barons continued to score late and hand the Stars their 4th straight loss, one shy of their season high. The Stars have been outscored 24-7 during this recent slide and outhit 42-20. After a .241 April, the Stars are hitting just .229 this month........ Brandon Gemoll has replaced Fielder with the longest hitless streak, going 0-for-18 going back to May 12....... The shelf is full of empty at-bats. Joel Alvarado is 3-for-29 in his last nine games, Kade Johnson is 3-for-38 (.079) in May, and Jason Belcher is 1-for-10 in his last 4 games. Thursday night, Ryan Costello, who hurled six scoreless three-hit innings against the G'Braves in his last start, will face Heath Phillips (4-2, 2.81). Phillips is coming off a 1-0 loss to Mobile in a pitching duel with Brian Whitaker. Brad Thompson made minor league history before over 3,000 fans at Smokies Park in Kodak, Tennessee outside Knoxville, as his scoreless inning streak came to an end at a record 57 2/3 innings........ Mike Dzurilla singled in Richard Lewis in the 6th inning of an 11-2 win for the Smokies...... Thompson's record dates back to the 2003 season when he pitched for Peoria of the Midwest League and Palm Beach in the Florida State League.

David Weiser down in Huntsville reports that the Stars have activated RHP Jason Shelley from the disabled list. While not starting Thursday, he will be in uniform.

Indianapolis Star Game Story and Photo: Yes, actual coverage! Tribe pitchers stifle Clippers Liriano, Reichert combine to produce Indianapolis' 1st shutout of the season. By Terry Hutchens terry.hutchens@indystar.com In the first two games of their series against Columbus, the Indianapolis Indians amassed 27 runs and 31 hits while recording a pair of victories. Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field, Steve Scarborough and Jeff Liefer knocked in the only runs with eighth-inning doubles in a 2-0 victory over the Clippers. All of which came as no surprise to Tribe manager Cecil Cooper. He said it's simply the nature of the game. "Any time you get wild games where you score a bunch of runs or get a bunch of hits, usually the very next game it's two hits and maybe no runs," Cooper said. After winning 12-4 and 15-11 in the previous two games, the Indians won their third in a row with their first shutout this season. Indianapolis (22-15) leads Toledo by 3 1/2 games and Columbus by four in the International League's West Division. The Clippers entered the four-game series trailing the Tribe by one game, and had won six in a row. Pedro Liriano and Dan Reichert combined on the six-hit shutout, with Reichert recording his second victory this season. He pitched the final two scoreless innings and has posted 15 2/3 consecutive shutout innings in relief. He leads the International League with a 0.84 ERA. Liriano, despite earning his fifth no-decision in eight starts, tossed a gem. The sinkerball-throwing right-hander went seven innings, allowing four hits, no walks and striking out a season-high 10 batters. The most he has struck out in a game was 13 in the Dominican Summer League in 2000. "We don't expect Pedro to strike out guys like that," Cooper said. "That's not his game. He has to let his ball sink down into the zone. (Wednesday) he was down in the zone. He looked like he had a pretty decent (slider) and changeup and he stayed down. "We want him to get ground balls, not strikeouts. The glamour thing for a young guy is to strike guys out, but we don't want him to start thinking that way." Liriano, who entered with a 5.09 ERA, was just happy to get people out. He said Wednesday was easily his best performance of the season. "I had very good stuff," Liriano said. "I had good movement on my fastball and I felt like I had all three of my pitches working. It would be nice to get the win, but the most important thing is that I want to go out and do my job. It seems like a lot of times when I'm pitching well that we don't score a lot of runs, but I can't worry about that." The Tribe's record is 7-1 when Liriano starts, but his record is only 2-1. Columbus pitcher Brad Halsey matched Liriano for seven innings before giving way to reliever Scott Proctor. Halsey allowed six hits, walked two and struck out three. Call Star reporter Terry Hutchens at (317) 444-6469. Indians starter Pedro Liriano held Columbus scoreless for seven innings but did not earn a victory. -- Jae S. Lee / The Star http://www.indystar.com/images/pics2/image-147986-1679.jpg

WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 22 15 .595[/b] TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 20 20 .500 3.5 COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 18 19 .486 4.0 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 18 21 .462 5.0 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 22 17 .564 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 22 17 .564 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 21 19 .525 1.5 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 20 20 .500 2.5[/b] MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 15 25 .375 7.5 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 25 15 .625 LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 22 16 .579 2.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 21 17 .553 3.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 19 19 .500 5.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 15 25 .375 10.0[/b] WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 24 15 .615 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 23 16 .590 1.0 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 22 17 .564 2.0 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 22 17 .564 2.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 21 18 .538 3.0[/b] QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 18 20 .474 5.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 17 22 .436 7.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 13 26 .333 11.0

Final: Inland Empire (Mariners) 4, High Desert 3 Mavs go hitless over the final four innings; Chris Morris getting caught stealing in the ninth hurt; Manny Parra a victim of the defense, allowing three unearned runs...

In progress: Inland Empire (Mariners) 3, High Desert 3, after six innings

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 7, Huntsville 0 Stars go hitless over the final eight innings... Huntsville Game Summary (Sports Network): Jim Bullard threw five shutout innings and Mike Spidale turned in a three-hit performance to lead the Birmingham Barons over the Huntsville Stars, 7-0. The Stars (20-20) have lost four straight games, while the Barons (22-17) have reeled off two straight. Bullard picked up his second win of the season after he allowed two hits and no runs. He struck out five batters to improve to 2-1. The Barons' bullpen shut the door on the Stars as they did not allow a hit over the final three innings. Spidale went 3-for-4 with a run scored, a triple and two RBI to lead the Barons. Aaron McNeal knocked his 10th home run of the season, a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. Huntsville's Chris Saenz suffered his second loss of the year. He gave up nine hits, five earned runs, two walks and struck out four in six innings of work. He is 3-2. Anthony Gwynn and Prince Fielder were the only Stars to manage a hit in the effort. Huntsville Box Score: GAME DATE: 5/19/04 HVL at BIR HUNTSVILLE 0 AT BIRMINGHAM 7 YTD YTD HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG R.Weeks 2B 3 0 0 0 .272 G.Reyes SS 5 1 3 0 .318 A.Gwynn CF 4 0 1 0 .239 M.Spidale LF 4 1 3 2 .317 P.Fielder 1B 4 0 1 0 .272 N.Murphy CF 5 0 1 1 .282 B.Nelson RF 3 0 0 0 .281 C.Maldonado CAT 3 0 0 1 .250 J.Belcher DH 3 0 0 0 .296 S.Bikowski RF 4 0 2 1 .267 C.Barnwell 3B 2 0 0 0 .213 A.McNeal 1B 4 1 1 1 .238 B.Gemoll LF 3 0 0 0 .213 R.Sasser 3B 4 1 1 0 .242 J.Alvarado CAT 3 0 0 0 .189 C.Stewart DH 4 0 1 1 .242 E.Cruz SS 3 0 0 0 .175 J.Shaffer 2B 2 3 1 0 .140 C.Saenz PIT 0 0 0 0 .364 J.Bullard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Novinsky PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Allen PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.McNichol PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Smith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Bajenaru PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 28 0 2 0 TOTALS 35 7 13 7 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 2 0 BIRMINGHAM 0 0 1 0 1 1 3 1 X- 7 13 0 DP--HUNTSVILLE 0, BIRMINGHAM 0. LOB--HUNTSVILLE 3, BIRMINGHAM 8. 2B--R.Sasser (9). 3B--M.Spidale (2). HR--A.McNeal (10). SB--C.Barnwell (6). CS--A.Gwynn, S.Bikowski. HBP--C.Barnwell, M.Spidale. SF--C.Maldonado. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HUNTSVILLE C.Saenz (L,3-2) 6.0 9 5 5 2 4 1 4.58 J.Novinsky 2.0 4 2 2 0 3 0 4.34 BIRMINGHAM J.Bullard (W,2-1) 5.0 2 0 0 0 5 0 3.68 W.Allen 0.2 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.86 B.McNichol 1.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.09 M.Smith 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.21 J.Bajenaru 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.55 HB--J.Novinsky, J.Bullard. WP--J.Novinsky 2. SO--A.Gwynn, B.Nelson, J.Belcher, B.Gemoll 2, J.Alvarado, E.Cruz, G.Reyes, M.Spidale, N.Murphy 2, A.McNeal 2, C.Stewart. BB--R.Weeks, J.Shaffer 2. T--2:28. A--3538Huntsville Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=15640

Final: Indianapolis 2, Columbus (Yankees) 0 Indianapolis Post-Game Press Release: Indianapolis starter Pedro Liriano had his best outing of the season Wednesday afternoon as the Indians defeated Columbus, 2-0. Liriano pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out 10. Dan Reichert (2-0) finished the game, pitching two scoreless innings, earning the victory. Reichert now has a league-leading 0.84 ERA. Indianapolis improves to 22-15, Columbus falls to 18-19 giving the Tribe a four game lead in the IL West. The Indians scored both runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, keyed by Steve Scarborough?s run scoring double. TRIBE HIT PARADE: Ryan Knox, 1-3, R, BB Steve Scarborough, 1-4, R, 2B, RBI, SO Jeff Liefer, 3-4, 2B, RBI TRIBE HILL TOPPERS: Pedro Liriano, 7 IP, 4 H, 10 SO Dan Reichert, 2 IP, 1 H, BB, 2 SO QUOTES: Steve Scarborough, Indianapolis shortstop on game winning hit: "Their pitcher was the best left-hander that we have faced all year," said Scarborough. "You could tell he was getting tired. We knew that everybody?s bullpen was shot. At first, I tried to bunt but I fouled off a high fastball. Then, Knox stole second base. I hit a fastball over the outer half of the plate and the ball kept going. Both pitchers were really on today." Pedro Liriano, Indianapolis starting pitcher on today?s performance: "Today was very good," said Liriano. "The only pitch that was working for me was my fastball. I had a lot of movement today. I am very happy that we won. I?m just trying to help the team. We are all just working together. We are going to get better and better. We play together as a team." NOTES: Indianapolis had scored an average of 12.5 runs during the past four games at Victory Field. Liriano?s 10 strikeouts sets the individual season high in that category. Reichert has not allowed an earned run during his last 15.2 innings pitched. Liefer and Luis Figueroa extended their hitting streaks to six games. Indianapolis is 19-0 when leading after eight innings and is 11-7 at home. Thursday?s probables are LHP Chris Capuano (0-1, 21.00) and Columbus LHP Alex Graman (2-2 3.38). Graman is a native of Huntingburg, Ind. Indianapolis Box Score: GAME DATE: 5/19/04 COL at IND COLUMBUS 0 AT INDIANAPOLIS 2 YTD YTD COLUMBUS AB R H BI AVG INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG B.Crosby CF 4 0 0 0 .314 R.Knox LF 3 1 1 0 .276 D.Bragg LF 4 0 4 0 .304 S.Scarbrough SS 4 1 1 1 .253 A.Phillips 2B 3 0 0 0 .344 C.Hart RF 4 0 0 0 .279 M.Vento RF 4 0 0 0 .276 J.Liefer 1B 4 0 3 1 .318 J.Deardorff 3B 4 0 0 0 .263 J.Nunnally CF 3 0 0 0 .276 T.Betts DH 3 0 0 0 .272 C.Magruder DH 3 0 0 0 .281 C.Cosme SS 3 0 0 0 .289 S.Sheldon 3B 3 0 2 0 .173 B.Myrow 1B 3 0 1 0 .248 A.Delgado CAT 3 0 0 0 .095 S.Fasano CAT 3 0 0 0 .232 L.Figueroa 2B 3 0 1 0 .271 B.Halsey PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Liriano PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Proctor PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Reichert PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 31 0 5 0 TOTALS 30 2 8 2 COLUMBUS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 0 5 0 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 X- 2 8 1 E--C.Hart. DP--COLUMBUS 1, INDIANAPOLIS 2. LOB--COLUMBUS 5, INDIANAPOLIS 6. 2B--S.Scarbrough (8), J.Liefer (9). SB--R.Knox (4). CS--B.Myrow. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA COLUMBUS B.Halsey (L,2-2) 7.1 6 1 1 2 3 0 3.86 S.Proctor 0.2 2 1 1 0 2 0 1.86 INDIANAPOLIS P.Liriano 7.0 4 0 0 0 10 0 4.25 D.Reichert (W,2-0) 2.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 0.84 WP--D.Reichert. BALKS--P.Liriano. SO--B.Crosby, M.Vento 2, J.Deardorff 2, T.Betts 2, C.Cosme 2, S.Fasano 3, S.Scarbrough, C.Hart 2, J.Nunnally 2. BB--A.Phillips, R.Knox, J.Nunnally. T--2:08. A--5667

One problem with something like that is that more and more newspaper article links go dead very quickly now (or to paid archives). So how you would link something like that to a cut-and-paste procedure would be difficult. We currently try to keep non-game stories (meaning player profile articles) within the various "Your" threads (Your 2004 Indians, Stars, Mavs, Snappers, etc.). Beyond that, could be tricky to avoid the frustrating obsolete links.

Daily Press High Desert Game Story: Just an excellent account of the game, with quotes, a bit of Callix Crabbe trivia, and all the injury updates... www.vvdailypress.com/cgi-...921,18727,

WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 21 15 .583[/b] COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 18 18 .500 3.0 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 19 20 .487 3.5 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 18 20 .474 4.0 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 22 16 .579 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 21 17 .553 1.0 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 20 19 .513 2.5 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 20 19 .513 2.5[/b] MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 15 24 .385 7.5 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 24 15 .615 LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 22 15 .595 1.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 20 17 .541 3.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 19 18 .514 4.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 15 24 .385 9.0[/b] WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 24 15 .615 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 23 16 .590 1.0 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 22 17 .564 2.0 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 22 17 .564 2.0 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 21 18 .538 3.0[/b] QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 18 20 .474 5.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 17 22 .436 7.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 13 26 .333 11.0

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 6, Huntsville 3, game called with Birmingham still batting in the bottom of the 8th, rain David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com Huntsville update: BARONS END GAME BEFORE THE RAIN DOESHuntsville's play-by-play voice Robert Portnoy told me it was the dullest one-run victory he's seen, but I had much to say about Monday's game against Greenville at the Joe, for one thing, it was the last time fans would see the Greenville Braves at this stadium (they're moving to Mississippi next year)........ I wanted to explore how this would affect league alignment next year...... I had a lot to say about Dennis Sarfate's pitching, and despite some weaknesses in his game, I think I've seen few pickoff moves that were better........ I had plenty to say about Chris Barnwell, and why he's become the Gary Cooper of the Huntsville Stars........ It was also Pete Zamora's debut for the Stars, but I simply had to get some much needed sleep....... My working hours don't mix well with the time I used to spend on this site. There's little time for research anymore, because I'm trying to get this done on a deadline now....... The need for some sleep gets too demanding some nights and last night was one of them. As for Tuesday night, a light rain began falling at Hoover Met about fifteen minutes before the game....... There was some clearing in the distance, but only to tease the fans who came out, for it never really stopped. In the bottom of the 8th, it finally came down in buckets and the game was stopped and never restarted....... By then, though, with only three more outs for Huntsville to rally back, the Barons pretty well put an end to this with two runs in the 8th, after tying it in the 6th and going ahead in the 7th. Birmingham fans were watching whether starter Arnie Munoz could win his 13th straight decision, which would break a Southern League record that was set by a former Baron, Luis Andujar in 1995........ Munoz had thrown in 196 games without a start in his five-year career. He was 6-0 in the pen for the Barons in 2002, and for reasons unknown, it was decided to put him in the rotation this year........ This was sheer genius, for he's 2nd among SL ERA leaders right now, 2nd only to Tennessee's bewildering Brad Thompson and his 43-inning scoreless string........ Tonight, he was in position to break a string of his own that would put him in the record books. Opposing Munoz was a name Barons fans have been cursing probably during the off-season........ In game two of the Western Division Championship Series last year, Jeff Housman got the Stars back in the Series by pitching seven scoreless innings against the Barons, giving up two hits, and walking away with an important 3-0 victory........ Housman came in as this year's hard-luck pitcher. For the lack of run support, he is winless despite not allowing more than three runs per outing going back to April 24...... Trying to keep Housman's hard-luck reputation alive, Carlos Maldonado stepped in in the 1st inning with Ruddy Yan on 2nd and Rob Sasser, a former soldier in the Brewers' AAA organization, on 1st after a full-count walk. Maldonado hit a 2-1 pitch that nearly left the park near the foul pole in right, but instead came high off the wall close to the second level of billboards, driving in both runners for a 2-0 Birmingham lead. The Stars got on the scoreboard to go ahead in the 3rd inning, starting with a one-out single by Enrique Cruz......... To this point, Munoz had not been to a three-ball count to any hitter until Cruz on a 3-2 pitch. Then Johnny Raburn ripped a 2-1 pitch to the deepest part of the park....... Centerfielder Nate Murphy took an all-or-nothing stab at it, but it went over his glove all the way to the wall near the 405 mark. Cruz walked in and Raburn was on third with his first triple of the season. He hit six at High Desert last year........ Rickie Weeks then walked on five pitches to put runners on the corners........ Tony Gwynn, Jr. was at the plate when manager Frank Kremblas decided to start Weeks in motion. The Barons had him picked off, but Raburn broke for home and was, by the understanding of every fan there, out at the plate, but 3rd base ump R.J. Thompson indicated a balk and called Weeks safe, tying the game......... At this point, I think "Kill the Ump" could have been a justified epithet if you were a Barons fan. There were more than a few boos, but the Stars wouldn't get many breaks tonight. In the 8th, after Prince Fielder was hit by a pitch, Brad Nelson lined a 2-0 pitch that was going through for a hit, but it hit Fielder on the leg, which of course is an out, and in that inning, it just so happened to have been the third out........ Earlier that inning, Tony Gwynn doubled to left-center and was thrown out at third on a good throw by Ruddy Yan, the cut-off man. Anyway, back to the 3rd inning....... With Rickie Weeks on 2nd and the game even, Gwynn tried to drag a bunt, fouled one off, then got a 2-2 pitch back to Munoz. His errant throw on a cover play scored Weeks to give the Stars a 3-2 lead........ Fernando Rijo came on in the 6th after Jeff got behind on the last three hitters he faced.. The Barons tied the game in the 6th on a ground ball by Scott Bikowski, a veteran with the club the past two seasons, who was just sent down from Charlotte, scoring Nate Murphy, who doubled and advanced on an Aaron McNeal grounder........ They went ahead in the bottom of the 7th on a sacrifice fly and for good measure in the bottom of the 8th, while the rain poured, Nate Murphy homered to right center off Rijo to make it 6-3......... After Rijo walked McNeal, Reggie Rivard was called in from the bullpen, but the umps soon after called for the tarp. The Stars are now 2½ back and in 3rd place in the West after losing their third straight game......... They will face Jim Bullard on Wednesday instead of Tetsu Yofu, who was just promoted to Class AAA Charlotte (IL). Chris Saenz (3-1, 4.02) will start for the Stars. Saenz has been hit this month, giving up eight earned runs on 12 hits in 17 innings, but striking out 19 and walking just two....... The Stars are hitting .227 in their last seven games, but carrying the weight, interestingly enough, is Anthony Gwynn......... Gwynn, .236 so far in May, is hitting .357 during that span....... Prince Fielder has not had a hit now in his last six games. He hit two balls hard in Monday night's game, and two more fly balls to the outfield tonight, but has been empty for his last 22 at-bats, dropping his batting mark from the mid-.310s to .273........ Brandon Gemoll is also trying to snap an oh-fer --- 0-for-15 with four strikeouts.......... Kade Johnson is also struggling and has been for a long time. He is 3-for-38 for the entire month........ Brad Nelson continues to have a hot May, hitting .333 with four HRs and 12 RBIs. He's on a six-game hitting streak, going 10-for-23. Hopefully, Matt Ford will be back soon....... He says his arm feels the best it has ever felt. He threw 55 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday without any ill effects...... The Stars currently have an open roster spot and possibly he'll be ready to fill it before the Stars return home this weekend to play Jacksonville. Mike Adams made his major league debut Tuesday night vs. Montreal, coming on to pitch the 7th inning of a 3-2 loss.......He threw 12 pitches, half of them for strikes and struck out Termell Sledge for his first major league strikeout......... Following Chris Saenz, he's the 143rd Huntsville Star to make his major league debut, not counting those, of course, who had major league experience prior. Huntsville Box Score: GAME DATE: 5/18/04 HVL at BIR HUNTSVILLE 3 AT BIRMINGHAM 6 YTD YTD HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG R.Weeks 2B 2 1 0 0 .279 M.Spidale LF 3 0 0 0 .303 A.Gwynn CF 4 0 1 0 .239 R.Yan 2B 3 1 2 0 .274 P.Fielder 1B 3 0 0 0 .273 R.Sasser 3B 1 1 0 1 .242 B.Nelson LF 4 0 2 0 .287 C.Maldonado DH 4 1 2 2 .258 B.Gemoll DH 3 0 0 0 .222 N.Murphy CF 4 2 3 2 .286 C.Barnwell 3B 2 0 0 0 .216 A.McNeal 1B 3 0 0 0 .238 K.Johnson CAT 3 0 0 0 .224 S.Bikowski RF 3 0 0 1 .182 E.Cruz SS 3 1 1 0 .181 C.Stewart CAT 3 0 0 0 .242 J.Raburn RF 3 1 1 1 .234 G.Reyes SS 3 1 2 0 .235 J.Housman PIT 0 0 0 0 .333 A.Munoz PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Rijo PIT 0 0 0 0 .333 J.Fields PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Rivard PIT 0 0 0 0 .500 M.Smith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 27 3 5 1 TOTALS 27 6 9 6 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0- 3 5 2 BIRMINGHAM 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 2- 6 9 1 E--C.Barnwell, E.Cruz, A.Munoz. DP--HUNTSVILLE 0, BIRMINGHAM 0. LOB--HUNTSVILLE 4, BIRMINGHAM 6. 2B--A.Gwynn (6), C.Maldonado 2 (7), N.Murphy (4). 3B--J.Raburn (1). HR--N.Murphy (6). CS--C.Barnwell, C.Stewart. HBP--P.Fielder. SF--R.Sasser. SH--M.Spidale. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA HUNTSVILLE J.Housman 5.0 5 2 2 2 5 0 3.35 F.Rijo (L,0-2) 2.0 4 4 4 2 1 1 4.50 R.Rivard 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.79 BIRMINGHAM A.Munoz 6.0 3 3 2 3 5 0 1.51 J.Fields (W,2-0) 1.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.20 M.Smith (S,2) 0.1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.25 HB--M.Smith. WP--F.Rijo. BALKS--A.Munoz. SO--R.Weeks, A.Gwynn, B.Nelson, B.Gemoll, E.Cruz, M.Spidale 2, A.McNeal, S.Bikowski, C.Stewart 2. BB--R.Weeks 2, C.Barnwell, R.Yan, R.Sasser 2, A.McNeal. T--2:48. A--3354Huntsville Game Log: Top of the 8th was ultra-frustrating for the Stars. Down 4-3, Tony Gwynn, Jr. was out at third trying to stretch a double -- it was the second out of the inning, so it wasn't a cardinal sin, but with Prince Fielder due next, you had better be sure about advancing. Prince was then immediately HBP (leg, he wasn't happy), and then, for good measure, was hit a second time -- this time by the batted ball on Brad Nelson's single, ending the inning. http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=milb-south/scores/final/finallog.aspx?GAMEID=15639

Final: High Desert 7, Inland Empire (Mariners) 6 Easily the most entertaining Maverick game of the season -- miraculous diving stab of a ground ball and spinning throw to first base by SS Ozzie Chavez ends the contest. There were runners on second and third base at the time. Rather than summarize Roxy Bernstein's great call here, we'll just say it was super fun and we'll look forward to the Mavs' site game summary and Daily Press game story in the AM. Regardless of place in the standings or number of top-shelf prospects, there's still something wonderful about a well-played nailbiter -- it's a magical game, this baseball... High Desert Site Game Summary: MAVS TAKE ONE FROM THE EVIL EMPIREThe High Desert Mavericks rode an offensive wave of seven unanswered runs to stave off the South Division?s first-place Inland Empire 66ers in a 7-6 victory, in front of 1,007 at Mavericks Stadium on Tuesday night. The win, the Mavs? first over the 66ers in five games after getting swept in four last week in San Bernardino, pushes High Desert to within nine games of first place in the division. Callix Crabbe, who is now riding a seven-game hit streak, led the way for the Mavs, notching a 2-for-3 effort at the plate with a walk, RBI and two runs scored, including the final game-winning run. The Mavs (15-24) got the winning tally in a four-run seventh. Inland Empire starter T.A. Fulmer, who frustrated the Mavs in a 9-0 High Desert loss last Wednesday, was lifted for reliever David Viane while the 66ers secured a 4-3 lead. High Desert cashed in. The first five hitters of the inning reached base, with Ozzie Chavez tying the game on an RBI single to left. After Kennard Bibbs bunted safely on a fielder?s choice, Crabbe cashed in the winning runs on a two-run double to right, narrowly missing a homer by a foot. Right fielder T.J. Bohn?s wild throw into the dugout allowed Crabbe to score from second as well, putting the Mavs up 7-4. T.J. Bohn?s eighth inning homer and an RBI single by Juan Gonzalez cut Inland Empire?s deficit to a nail-biting 7-6 margin, but Mavs closer Nick Slack finished off his fourth save of the season by getting Jesus Guzman to ground out to short, in which Chavez made an acrobatic diving save and throw-out, with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. Down 4-0 going into the fourth, the Mavs got on the board with Froilan Villanueva?s team-leading fourth homer of the year, followed by two runs in the sixth to get back in the game. David Nolasco (3-2) picked up the win with two innings of relief, aided by a solid no-decision effort from Eric Henderson, who struck out five in his six innings of work, his second-longest stint of the year. Viane (0-1) took the loss for the Sixers. The Mavs and Sixers go head-to-head for game two of the series on Wednesday, with highly-touted Brewers prospect Manny Parra (0-1) getting the start for High Desert against Inland Empire?s Juan Sandoval (3-3). High Desert Box Score: Thanks for the earlier post, mls4! GAME DATE: 5/18/04 INL at HD INLAND EMPIRE 6 AT HIGH DESERT 7 YTD YTD INLAND EMPIRE AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG J.Gonzalez SS 4 0 1 1 .320 K.Bibbs CF 4 2 1 0 .310 J.Guzman 3B 5 1 1 0 .300 C.Crabbe 2B 3 2 2 1 .271 G.Harris CF 4 0 0 0 .263 D.Boyd LF 4 0 0 1 .306 T.Bohn RF 2 2 1 1 .315 T.Hinton 1B 3 0 0 1 .313 P.Balet DH 4 1 1 1 .295 F.Villanueva CAT 3 1 1 1 .191 R.Rivera CAT 4 2 3 3 .324 S.Candelaria 3B 4 0 1 0 .234 C.Arroyo LF 4 0 2 0 .310 J.Frost DH 4 1 1 0 .261 M.Hagen 1B 4 0 0 0 .204 M.Mendez RF 3 0 1 0 .229 H.Cho 2B 3 0 0 0 .292 O.Chavez SS 3 1 2 1 .323 M.Rogelstad PH 1 0 0 0 .262 E.Henderson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Fulmer PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Nolasco PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Viane PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 6 9 6 TOTALS 31 7 9 5 INLAND EMPIRE 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 1- 6 9 1 HIGH DESERT 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 0 X- 7 9 1 E--T.Bohn, C.Crabbe. DP--INLAND EMPIRE 0, HIGH DESERT 0. LOB--INLAND EMPIRE 5, HIGH DESERT 3. 2B--J.Gonzalez (5), J.Guzman (7), R.Rivera (11), C.Crabbe (5). HR--T.Bohn (5), R.Rivera (3), F.Villanueva (4). SB-- K.Bibbs (12), C.Crabbe (12). HBP--F.Villanueva. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA INLAND EMPIRE T.Fulmer 6.0 5 3 3 2 4 1 3.94 D.Viane (L,0-2) 2.0 4 4 2 0 1 0 2.31 HIGH DESERT E.Henderson 6.0 4 4 4 3 5 1 6.49 D.Nolasco (W,2-3) 2.0 2 1 1 0 2 1 7.48 N.Slack (S,4) 1.0 3 1 1 0 1 0 6.32 HB--T.Fulmer. SO--J.Gonzalez, J.Guzman, G.Harris 3, T.Bohn, M.Hagen, M.Rogelstad, C.Crabbe, D.Boyd 3, S.Candelaria. BB--J.Gonzalez, T.Bohn 2, C.Crabbe, T.Hinton. T--2:29. A--1007High Desert Game Log: www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=17905