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R.J. Seidel had pitched a scoreless inning before the game was rained out in the bottom of the 1st Sunday's Manatees/Cubs game postponed Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees VIERA, Fla. --- The scheduled game on Sunday, August 22 between the Brevard County Manatees and the Daytona Cubs has been postponed due to inclement weather and poor field conditions. Since the Manatees will not host the Cubs for the rest of the regular season, the game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Monday at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach beginning at 5:05 p.m. Fans with tickets from Sunday afternoon's game can exchange them at the Space Coast Stadium ticket office for any other remaining Manatees regular season home game. For more information, please visit manateesbaseball.com or call (321) 633-9200.

Salome keys Manatees' 12-run inning Robert Emrich/Special to MLB.com By the time most Cubs' fans got settled in their seats Saturday, the Brevard County Manatees had put the game out of reach. Angel Salome hit a grand slam to cap a 12-run first inning Saturday as Brevard County rolled to a 15-2 thrashing of Daytona. Salome, the Brewers' fifth-round pick in the 2004 Draft, opened the scoring with a bases-loaded single. With one out and the Manatees in front, 8-0, the 24-year-old designated hitter deposited a pitch over the left-field wall for his second career grand slam and first since May 2, 2006. "I was just trying to put the ball in play," Salome said. "I was trying not to put pressure on myself, the game is hard enough. I got the pitch I was looking for and drove it out of the ballpark." The first four Manatees reached base to start the game. After Salome's base hit made it 1-0, Sergio Miranda lifted a sacrifice fly, Sean Halton reloaded the bases with a single and Scott Krieger doubled to build a 4-0 cushion. After Chris Siegfried relieved starter Dae-Eun Rhee (5-13), Sean McCraw was hit by a pitch and Juan Sanchez followed with an RBI single. Peter Fatse and Matt Cline drew back-to-back walks and Erik Komatsu was plunked to force in another run and set the stage for Salome. "Well, I've had good games before, but the way the game was going today, everybody just kept hitting," he said. "For that, you need chemistry and luck." Salome went 2-for-3 and fell an RBI shy of the career high he established on June 3, 2008 at Double-A Huntsville. The native of the Dominican Republic began this season with Triple-A Nashville and batted .333 in five games. He left the team in late April for the birth of his child and was reassigned to the Brewers' training facility in Arizona, citing mental struggles. "I'm not sure about (returning to Triple-A), I'm just playing the game and enjoying the game and trying to get the best out of it," Salome said. Salome joined the Manatees in June and, after a sluggish start, is batting .329 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 19 games this month. "When I first came to High-A, I wasn't playing for a while. And in baseball, even four days is a lot of days," he said. "My timing was messed up, and now I am getting in a groove and having a good approach." Dan Merklinger (7-5) won for the fourth time in his last five decisions after striking out 12 -- one shy of a career high -- over eight innings. He allowed a run on five hits without walking a batter.

Final: @Iowa 4, Nashville 3Sounds drop series opener in Iowa, 4-3 Nashville Sounds DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa Cubs scored four unanswered runs to hang a 4-3 defeat on the Nashville Sounds on Saturday evening at Principal Park in the opener of a four-game series. With the win, the first-place I-Cubs stretched their lead over Nashville (66-61) to seven games in the PCL American Conference Northern Division, matching the Sounds' largest deficit of the season. The Nashville bullpen was unable to protect a 3-0 lead for Sounds starter Chase Wright, who took a no-decision and has notched just one victory in his last 11 trips to the hill. Sounds first baseman Joe Koshansky gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when he slugged his team-leading 21st home run of the season, a one-out shot to left-center off Iowa starter Jeff Samardzija. Nashville doubled its advantage in the fifth when shortstop Luis Cruz doubled with one out and later scored on a Martin Maldonado groundout to make it a 2-0 contest. The lead increased to 3-0 in the sixth as the Sounds manufactured a run. Adam Stern led off with a walk and Eric Farris singled before Ray Olmedo laid down his team-leading 13th sacrifice bunt of the year to advance the runners a base. Brendan Katin then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to plate Stern. The Sounds' lead evaporated with one Mitch Stetter pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning as Cubs third baseman Marquez Smith greeted the southpaw reliever by tattooing a three-run homer to left-center, his 13th longball of the year. James Adduci and Ty Wright opened the frame with consecutive singles off Nashville starter Wright before Stetter was summoned from the bullpen to face Smith. Iowa took its first lead of the night in the eighth against Sounds reliever Chuck Lofgren when Micah Hoffpauir drew a one-out walk and later scampered home to score the game-winning run on a two-out wild pitch by the left-hander. The Sounds didn't go down without a fight, however. Maldonado led off the Nashville ninth with a double off Brian Schlitter. The Cubs reliever recovered to retire pinch-hitter Erick Almonte on a flyout before walking Stern and allowing a single to Farris to load the bases with one out. Olmedo followed with a grounder to first that resulted in a forceout at the plate for the second out of the frame. Schlitter struck Katin out swinging to leave the bags full and preserve the Cubs' victory, earning his 13th save of the year. The late Cubs run made a winner out of reliever Scott Maine (3-1), who tossed a scoreless inning. Lofgren (7-8) was saddled with the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run in his lone frame of action. The teams continue the series with a 1:05 p.m. matinee on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Marty McLeary (6-7, 6.98) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Iowa right-hander Jay Jackson (9-8, 4.29). Nashville box score Mat Gamel did not play. Stern added a single to his two walks, and Cruz drew just his 14th free pass of the year. Despite what the recap says, the box score has Lofgren pitching two innings, striking out three and walking three. Nashville play-by-play

Final: Huntsville 2, @Birmingham 1Huntsville box score We thought Andre Lamontagne was going to be the starter, but it was Chris Cody instead, and he pitched very well, allowing a run on three hits in 6.1 innings while striking out eight and walking just one. Eddie Morlan and Robert Hinton finished off the Barons. Zelous Wheeler tripled, singled, and walked in four trips to lead the Stars, and Drew Anderson added a double and single. Brett Lawrie was 0-5, Taylor Green 0-3 with a walk, and Caleb Gindl 0-1 after entering the game as pinch hitter in the 8th. Huntsville play-by-play In a 1-1 game, the Stars were lucky to escape unscathed here: Birmingham Bottom 7th Jim Gallagher singles on a line drive to center fielder Lee Haydel. Christian Marrero hit by pitch. Jim Gallagher to 2nd. Coaching visit to mound. Josh Phegley out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Chris Cody to second baseman Brett Lawrie. Jim Gallagher to 3rd. Christian Marrero to 2nd. Chris Cody intentionally walks Cole Armstrong. Pitcher Change: Eddie Morlan replaces Chris Cody. C. J. Retherford lines out to shortstop Zelous Wheeler. John Shelby III flies out to right fielder Drew T. Anderson. They took the lead in the next half inning: Huntsville Top 8th Brett Lawrie grounds out, third baseman C. J. Retherford to first baseman Jim Gallagher. Zelous Wheeler triples (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Christian Marrero. Drew T. Anderson doubles (18) on a fly ball to center fielder Justin Greene. Zelous Wheeler scores. Coaching visit to mound. Chris Nowak grounds out, third baseman C. J. Retherford to first baseman Jim Gallagher. Henry Mabee intentionally walks Taylor Green. Pitcher Change: Gregory Infante replaces Henry Mabee. Anderson Machado walks. Drew T. Anderson to 3rd. Taylor Green to 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Caleb Gindl replaces Chuck Caufield. Caleb Gindl called out on strikes.

Final: @Cedar Rapids 11, Wisconsin 1Pena quiets Wisconsin Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Ariel Pena learned a little since his last start. Pena was the starting pitcher against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Time Warner Cable Field on August 15 and gave up six runs on five hits over five innings. On Saturday night at Perfect Game Field, Pena made the most of his rematch against the Rattlers by pitching a complete game and striking out 12 in an 11-1 Cedar Rapids rout of the Rattlers. Hunter Morris had two of the three hits in the game for Wisconsin. Jeremy Cruz started the scoring with a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the first inning. Cruz lined a 1-1 pitch from Rattlers starting pitcher Del Howell just over the wall in right for an opposite field home run and a 1-0 Kernels lead. Cedar Rapids (73-48 overall, 30-23 second half) got to Howell for four runs in the bottom of the second inning. Randal Grichuk started the inning with a double off the wall in left. One out later, Carlos Ramirez singled in Grichuk. Jon Karcich singled to put two runners on base. Jean Segura followed with a two-run triple. Matt Long’s RBI single concluded the string of four straight hits and the scoring for the inning. The Kernels added two more runs in the bottom of the third. Grichuk doubled in a run and scored on an RBI grounder by Eric Oliver. That was more than enough for Pena. The Kernels starting pitcher gave up a two-out double to Morris in the top of the first inning. Then, Pena retired the next 16 batters in a row. In the top of the seventh, Pena walked Kentrail Davis, gave up a single to Morris, and hit Chris Dennis to load the bases with no outs. Austin Stockfisch drove in Davis with a sacrifice fly, but Pena retired the next two Rattlers to keep the score at 7-1. In the bottom of the seventh, Rattlers reliever Rigoberto Almonte allowed three straight hits to start the inning and the Kernels had the bases loaded with no outs. Almonte struck out the next two batters. But, Karcich knocked in a run with an infield single and Segura drew a walk on four pitches to force in a run and knock Almonte out of the game. Rattlers reliever Andy Sauter came into the game and got Long to send a high pop into short right-center. The ball dropped just out of the reach of second baseman Connor Lind for a two-run single and an 11-1 Kernels lead. Pena pitched a scoreless eighth and a scoreless ninth to earn the complete game. He walked two and hit one batter and earned his seventh win of the season. Wisconsin (25-29, 51-71) did not lose any ground to the two teams currently holding the second half playoff spots in the Western Division. Both Kane County and Clinton lost on Saturday. However, the Rattlers are running out of time as there are just 16 games left in the regular season. Game two of the series is Sunday afternoon. Nick Bucci (5-6, 3.85) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Max Russell (1-2, 5.95) is set to start for the Kernels. Game time is 2:05pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 1:45pm. Wisconsin box score I can't believe that's the same Ariel Pena I watched walk the ballpark last week. Howell's final line: 5 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 4 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 8/3 GO/AO, 98 pitches, 65 strikes--still waiting for his stuff to show up in games. The position-player version of Howell, D'Vontrey Richardson's on-base streak ended with an 0-4 performance; D'Vo struck out three times. As MH mentioned, Khris Davis, Scooter Gennett, and Cameron Garfield did not play. Wisconsin play-by-play

Fate, draft system conspire to hurt Dylan Covey Tom Haudricourt/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Neither side was at fault in the Milwaukee Brewers' failed attempt to sign first-round draft pick Dylan Covey. It certainly wasn't Covey's fault that he developed Type 1 diabetes at 18 without realizing it. If not for a physical examination arranged by the Brewers, Covey still might not know, putting his health in peril. And it certainly wasn't the Brewers' fault that they selected the highly ranked prep right-hander with the 14th pick of the June draft. At the time, there was no reason to think Covey was anything but a perfectly healthy pitcher with a bright future. Because Covey had a bit of a fall-off in some of his outings toward the end of his senior season - now attributable to the onset of diabetes - some suggested red flags should have gone up for the Brewers. What that amounts to is the worst kind of second-guessing. "The kid didn't know (he had diabetes); the parents didn't know," said Brewers general manager Doug Melvin. "How could we know? (Scouting director) Bruce Seid is beat up over this, but it's just a very unfortunate situation. "It might have been a worse situation if we had signed him first (before the diagnosis)." Even with the diagnosis, the Brewers tried to sign Covey, who instead chose to attend the University of San Diego to stay close to home and work on getting his dramatically changed lifestyle in order. They offered less money than the $2 million the Coveys originally sought, but considering the circumstances, it was a commendable effort. In the end, it was the system that worked against both the Coveys and the Brewers. Most of the top picks waited until the Aug. 16 deadline, hoping it would drive up their signing bonuses. Because the commissioner's office didn't want one player to use the bonus of another to drive up his asking price, teams were asked to wait as long as possible to make concrete offers. That led to a flurry of last-minute signings, and to the chagrin of baseball executives, most of the teams spent far more than the recommended bonuses anyway. Covey didn't get his diabetes diagnosis until a couple of days before the deadline. That stunning news left little time to process the information and decide whether it was best to go pro or wait. As it was, the Covey family tried to digest as much information on the condition as possible. They talked to medical experts, and Dylan even chatted via telephone with Toronto's Brandon Morrow, who pitches with Type 1 diabetes. After the deadline passed, Darrell Covey, father of Dylan, spoke with Melvin for 45 minutes over the phone. "He said once they found out (Dylan) had diabetes, money didn't mean anything," said Melvin. "He said if they had a couple of weeks to digest everything, it might have been different. They were still in shock over it. "Waiting this long hurts everybody in the draft. The Coveys asked for an extension (of the deadline), but they wouldn't give them one. We came in with a last-ditch effort, but there was no exchanging of figures. "We were just trying to convince (Dylan) he could do it. We even told him he could wait until February to report to give him time to deal with this. It wasn't about the money at that point." This situation provided another example of how broken the draft system is. Because high picks hold out until the last minute and teams wait to make firm offers, players miss out on their first year of pro ball. Next year, MLB plans to hold a pre-draft player combine, à la the NFL and NBA, with physicals that will prevent a last-minute diagnosis such as Covey received. But look for management to insist on hard-slotting bonuses in the next labor negotiation as well as earlier deadlines to sign. The Brewers will get the 15th pick in the first round of the 2011 draft as compensation for not signing Covey, as well as their own pick. Should Covey never approach his previous form while dealing with Type 1 diabetes, the Brewers will be better off with the future pick. Assigning blame in this situation is pointless. Stuff happens. In this case, unfortunate, unpredictable stuff happened. Still high hopes Though losing Covey was a blow, Seid remains high on the Brewers' 2010 draft. He believes second-rounder Jimmy Nelson, a right-hander out of University of Alabama, third-rounder Tyler Thornburg, a righty out of Charleston Southern University, and fifth-rounder Matt Miller, a righty out of University of Michigan, have potential to pitch in the majors. All three are pitching for the Brewers' rookie club in Helena, Mont. Nelson, who throws regularly in the low 90s while touching 95 mph, is 2-0 with a 4.58 ERA and two saves in eight appearances, with seven walks and 22 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings. Thornburg, who throws in the mid- to high 90s despite his slight 5-11, 185-pound frame, has a 1.42 ERA in seven appearances with 23 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings. Miller is 6-1 with a 3.47 ERA in 11 starts, with 19 walks and 39 strikeouts in 57 innings. "We wanted to sign Dylan Covey, no question," said Seid, who included seven pitchers among picks Nos. 2 through 13. "But we still think this is going to be a good draft for us. We picked up some good arms." If it does turn out to be a good draft for the Brewers, it will be at a bargain price. Because they didn't sign Covey, they spent only $2.43 million in signing bonuses, the lowest figure among the 30 clubs.

Final: Brevard County 15, @Daytona 2Brevard County box score This is the very best kind of game: a blowout from the get-go, a dominant pitching performance, and it comes against a Cubs affiliate. The Manatees got 12 runs in the first inning, highlighted by an Angel Salome grand slam, and then Dan Merklinger did the rest: 8 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K, 8/4 GO/AO. He's just been so strong over the last two months. Salome finished 2-3 with a walk before giving way to Brock Kjeldgaard in the 6th. Matt Cline was on five times (three singles, two walks), and Pete Fatse, Erik Komatsu, Sean Halton, Scott Krieger, and Juan Sanchez were all on at least three times. The 'Tees had 26 total baserunners, including four HBPs (no one was ejected, so they must speak more to poor control than flaring tempers). Brevard County play-by-play Guess which inning I'm going to highlight? Brevard County Top 1st Peter Fatse hit by pitch. Matt Cline singles on a line drive to center fielder Evan Crawford. Peter Fatse to 2nd. Erik Komatsu walks. Peter Fatse to 3rd. Matt Cline to 2nd. Angel Salome singles on a line drive to right fielder Kyler Burke. Peter Fatse scores. Matt Cline to 3rd. Erik Komatsu to 2nd. Sergio Miranda out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Greg Rohan. Matt Cline scores. Sean Halton singles on a ground ball to third baseman Ryan Flaherty. Erik Komatsu to 3rd. Angel Salome to 2nd. Scott Krieger doubles (8) on a line drive to right fielder Kyler Burke. Erik Komatsu scores. Angel Salome scores. Sean Halton to 3rd. Pitcher Change: Chris Siegfried replaces Dae-Eun Rhee. Sean McCraw hit by pitch. Juan Sanchez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Greg Rohan. Sean Halton scores. Scott Krieger to 3rd. Sean McCraw to 2nd. Peter Fatse walks. Scott Krieger scores. Sean McCraw to 3rd. Juan Sanchez to 2nd. Matt Cline walks. Sean McCraw scores. Juan Sanchez to 3rd. Peter Fatse to 2nd. Erik Komatsu hit by pitch. Juan Sanchez scores. Peter Fatse to 3rd. Matt Cline to 2nd. Angel Salome hits a grand slam (4) to left field. Peter Fatse scores. Matt Cline scores. Erik Komatsu scores. Sergio Miranda flies out to right fielder Kyler Burke. Sean Halton strikes out swinging. One and a half times through the order, the only out the Cubs recorded was a sac fly!

Final (game one): AZL Dodgers 2, @AZL Brewers 0 (7 innings)AZL Brewers box score Terrible in relief, Kevin Shackelford has actually been very good in his five starts; tonight he went the (abbreviated) distance, allowed two runs (one earned) on just one hit in seven innings, fanning six and walking two. Unfortunately, Brewers batters were similarly handcuffed by Dodgers pitching, managing just four baserunners. Kyle Dhanani accounted for two of those, with a single and a walk. Nice to see Yadiel Rivera draw a free pass. Tyler Roberts and Demetrius McKelvie were 0-3, with McKelvie whiffing three times; he's now struck out 51 times in 109 plate appearances. AZL Brewers play-by-play The A-Crew actually put a runner in scoring position in each of the first three innings, thanks to three stolen bases, but couldn't come up with a clutch hit.

Final: @DSL Brewers 8, DSL Cardinals 5DSL Brewers box score Hey, way to end the season on a high note, guys. RHP Manny Ruiz sent them out in style with an outstanding outing, fanning eight and walking just two in six shutout innings. Who knows what kind of stuff he's got, but his strikeout rate was absurdly high this year (as was his walk rate). Jose R. Garcia was 2-3 with a homer and walk, Ronny Puello also homered, and Orton Rodriguez was also 2-3 with a walk. Raul Mondesi doubled and walked, and Jose Pena was 1-4. Ruben Sanchez did not play; he'll have to wait until next season to get into his first game as a 19-year-old. Be sure to check out MH's overview of the season in the DSL thread. DSL Brewers play-by-play A four-run 6th allowed the Cerveceritos to carry the day: DSL Brewers Bottom 6th Yonki Hernandez triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Jose Pena. Joan Abreu out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Jose Pena. Yonki Hernandez scores. Raul MondesiJr. walks. With Hitaniel Arias batting, Raul MondesiJr. caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Fernando Baez to second baseman Jorge Lopez. Hitaniel Arias reaches on throwing error by third baseman Jose Agustin. Jose Pena singles on a ground ball to center fielder Amaury Capellan. Hitaniel Arias to 3rd. With Ronny Puello batting, passed ball by Fernando Baez, Jose Pena to 2nd. Ronny Puello homers (4) on a fly ball to left center field. Hitaniel Arias scores. Jose Pena scores. Jose R. Garcia walks. Pitcher Change: Jefferson Segundo replaces Victor De Leon. Orton Rodriguez pops out to second baseman Jorge Lopez.

Unsurprisingly, given that Tyler Roberts is catching at Arizona and three undrafted free agents are for Helena, Rafael Neda gets the bump to the Pioneer League after two AZL games.

Baseball Beginnings has a review of the Brewers' draft up, but it's not particularly relevant since it was written before the deadline and assumes that Dylan Covey signed. It doesn't help that the "guy who might surprise", Scott Matyas, didn't sign either.

Final: @DSL Athletics 6, DSL Brewers 0DSL Brewers box score Second straight game the D-Crew was shut out. Juan Francisco and Rolando Pascual were knocked around, but Jean Capellan tossed three scoreless innings. The Brewers had as many errors as hits (fours). Raul Mondesi again flashed the ol' family arm by throwing a runner out at home. DSL Brewers play-by-play

Final: @AZL Brewers 6, AZL Reds 3AZL Brewers box score Dane Amedee posted the best pitching line here, whiffing six and walking none in three innings of relief, allowing a run on four hits. Yadiel Rivera and John Bivens each had two hits, and Rivera and Derrick Shaw each doubled. T.J. Mittelstaedt, who's been quietly solid for the Baby Brewers, was 1-2 with two walks and two steals. Tyler Roberts started at catcher and was 0-3 with a walk, while Rafael Neda DHed and was 0-4. AZL Brewers play-by-play The Brewers got three each in the 5th and 7th: AZL Brewers Bottom 5th Thomas Mittelstaedt walks. Tyler Roberts flies out to center fielder Kurtis Muller. Rafael Neda flies out to center fielder Kurtis Muller. Derrick Shaw doubles (4) on a fly ball to left fielder Kyle Waldrop. Thomas Mittelstaedt scores. Yadiel Rivera hits a ground-rule double (7) on a fly ball to left-center field. Derrick Shaw scores. John Bivens singles on a fly ball to left fielder Kyle Waldrop. Yadiel Rivera scores. Nick Shaw walks. John Bivens to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Po-Cheng Chi replaces Ismael Guillon. With Kenneth Allison batting, wild pitch by Po-Cheng Chi, John Bivens to 3rd. Nick Shaw to 2nd. Kenneth Allison strikes out swinging. AZL Brewers Bottom 7th Pitcher Change: Lucas O'Rear replaces Po-Cheng Chi. Derrick Shaw grounds out, second baseman Ronald Torreyes to first baseman Robert Maddox. Yadiel Rivera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kurtis Muller. John Bivens singles on a ground ball to left fielder Kyle Waldrop. Yadiel Rivera to 2nd. Nick Shaw walks. Yadiel Rivera to 3rd. John Bivens to 2nd. With Kenneth Allison batting, wild pitch by Lucas O'Rear, Yadiel Rivera scores. John Bivens to 3rd. Nick Shaw to 2nd. With Kenneth Allison batting, wild pitch by Lucas O'Rear, John Bivens scores. Nick Shaw to 3rd. Kenneth Allison reaches on fielding error by shortstop Junior Arias. Nick Shaw scores. Jason Rogers grounds out, third baseman David Vidal to first baseman Robert Maddox. Kenneth Allison to 2nd. With Thomas Mittelstaedt batting, wild pitch by Lucas O'Rear, Kenneth Allison to 3rd. Thomas Mittelstaedt walks. With Tyler Roberts batting, Thomas Mittelstaedt steals (8) 2nd base. Tyler Roberts walks. Pitcher Change: Jose Marizan replaces Lucas O'Rear. Rafael Neda lines out to shortstop Junior Arias. Apparently Kenny Allison induces wild pitches.

Final: @Helena 4, Idaho Falls 3Brewers down Chukars 4-3 Brett Billings/Helena Brewers The Helena Brewers defeated the Idaho Falls Chukars 4-3 on Friday night at Kindrick Legion Field. The Brewers got on the board early, scoring three in the second inning to take an early lead. Mike Walker, who finished 2 for 4, led the frame off with a solo shot, his second in as many games. A batter later, Brandon Sizemore hit a double to left field, and scored when Idaho Falls' shortstop Geulin Beltre air milled a throw into the Brewers' dugout. Robbie Garvey had an RBI single later in the inning. Brewers' starter Jose Oviedo was perfect through four innings, but ran into trouble in the fifth surrendering three runs on four hits. Catcher Gerald Ogrinc, who doubled one inning earlier, was replaced by Tony Pechek after a collision at the plate. Eric Marzec relieved Oviedo with one out in the fifth and pitched through the sixth. He didn't allow a run and struck out two. The score stayed nodded at three apiece until the bottom of the eighth, and the Brewers scored in the most bizarre way. After Greg Hopkins singled with one out, Walker came to the plate looking to stay hot. On a 2-2 pitch outside, Walker trotted towards first thinking it was ball four. Hopkins followed suit and headed to second. Chukars' catcher, Travis Jones, was alert on the play and threw down to second in an attempt to throw out Hopkins. The only problem was nobody was there. Hopkins went from first to third and was credited with a stolen base on the play. Walker struck out on the following pitch, and Sizemore drove Hopkins in with a double to right field to give the Brewers the 4-3 lead. RHP Stosh Wawrzasek, who entered the game in the seventh, recorded the first out of the ninth and was replaced by LHP Brian Garman to face Idaho Falls' 6'7", 275 lb first baseman, Murray Watts. He walked Watts and eventually loaded the bases with two outs, but he stranded them there and recorded his seventh save of the season. Wawrzasek was earned the win. With the win, the Brewers remain in first place in the Pioneer League North entering the final three weeks of the season. They face Idaho Falls again tomorrow night at 7:05 with gates opening at 6:00. LHP Evan Frederickson will start for the Brewers. The Chukars are sending LHP Scott Alexander to the mound. Helena box score Cody Hawn, Hopkins, and Sizemore also had two hits, and Hopkins added a walk. In addition to the doubles previously mentioned, Hawn and Shea Vucinich also tallied two-baggers. Nice to see Pechek; I ask and he appears. Wawrzasek pitched very well, fanning five in his 2.1 perfect innings, with the only two non-strikeout outs coming via grounders. Helena play-by-play Not to be a downer, but this is ugly: Helena Bottom 6th Michael Walker doubles (8) on a line drive to right fielder Reggie Taylor. Brandon Sizemore strikes out swinging. Shea Vucinich strikes out swinging. Tony Pechek strikes out swinging.

Final: Lakeland 5, @Brevard County 4'Tees rally falls short in extras Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees battled back from a 4-0 deficit only to see it erased by one swing from Lakeland's Jordan Lennerton as the Manatees fell 5-4 in 10 innings to the Flying Tigers on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium. After tying the game in the bottom of the eighth on a Sean McCraw RBI single, the game would go to extra innings and with one out in the top of the tenth, Lennerton took the 1-1 offering from Mark Willinsky and deposited it just over the outstretched arm of Brock Kjeldgaard and just over the left field fence. Lakeland (64-59 overall, 27-26 second half) took the early advantage against Manatees starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta who allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, while walking three and striking out four, in just four short innings. Brevard County (58-66, 31-24) finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as Scott Krieger hit a two-run homer to right, his ninth of the season, to cut the Manatees' deficit in half, 4-2. The Manatees would plate another run in the fifth to make it a 4-3 game, on a RBI single by Sergio Miranda that scored Erik Komatsu. Manatees reliever Ruben Flores kept Brevard County in the game as he threw three shutout innings and allowed just two hits, while striking out three. It was the longest relief appearance of the year for Flores and in 12 innings of work against the Flying Tigers, Flores has not given up a single earned run. The Manatees completed its comeback and tied the game up in the eighth on a two-out RBI single from McCraw. Brevard County had a chance to win it in the ninth as Matt Cline led off the inning with a single and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Komatsu, but Angel Salome struck out swinging and then Miranda grounded out to end the inning. Then in the top of the tenth, with Brevard County reliever Willinsky going into his third inning of work, he gave up the solo homer to Lennerton as Lakeland regained the lead, 5-4. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Krieger tried to get a rally going with two outs as he laced a single to right-center field, but McCraw would pop up to end the game as the Manatees dropped two of three to the Flying Tigers. Cline, Krieger, McCraw and Sean Halton all had multi-hit games for the Manatees as Cline picked up three hits, while Krieger, McCraw and Halton had two each. Brevard County - still 3 ½ games back of the North Division lead - will now square off with the Daytona Cubs in a pivotal three-game series to see who will take hold of second place going into final two weeks of the season. The Manatees are 2 ½ games behind the Cubs for second place. Brevard County is just 5-11 against Daytona (67-57, 33-21) this season. The three-game set will open in Daytona Beach on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. as Dan Merklinger (6-5, 3.89) will take the hill for the Manatees. The series will then come back to Viera on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. and then conclude back in Daytona on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. Brevard County box score Scarpetta must have thrown a lot of pitches in those four innings. Komatsu singled once in four at-bats, plus the sacrifice. Josh Prince was 0-5 and committed his 20th error. Brevard County play-by-play

Final: @Nashville 5, Colorado Springs 1Dillard deals, Sounds close homestand with win Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tim Dillard tossed eight magnificent innings on the hill as the Nashville Sounds closed out their penultimate homestand with a 5-1 victory over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in front of 7,409 fans on Friday evening at Greer Stadium. With the series finale win, Nashville (66-60) took three of four from the Sky Sox and finished its homestand with a 4-4 mark. The Sounds have temporarily pulled within 5 ½ games of the first-place Iowa Cubs, who they visit for a crucial series beginning on Saturday. Dillard (4-6) held Colorado Springs to one run on only two hits over his eight innings of work to improve to 3-1 in five starts for the Sounds. The right-hander struck out seven batters and walked none in his 98-pitch outing, allowing his lone run on a Brad Eldred homer. Six of the Sounds' 11 hits on the evening were doubles as Nashville out-hit Colorado Springs, 11-3. Mat Gamel continued his torrid hitting with a 2-for-3 night, which included two doubles, before being ejected at the conclusion of the seventh inning for arguing a forceout call while on the basepaths. He is batting an impressive .403 (52-for-129) with 39 RBIs over his last 33 games. After going hitless through the first three frames, the Sounds broke through to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth against Colorado Springs starter Josh Muecke. Carlos Gomez (2-for-4) opened the inning with a single then scored from first on Gamel's double into the right field corner. After advancing to third on a Brendan Katin single, Gamel scored the second run on a Luis Cruz sacrifice fly. Eldred put the visitors on the board in the fifth with a massive one-out solo homer to left off Dillard, the slugger's team-leading 28th roundtripper of the season. Nashville got that run right back in the home half of the frame when Dillard helped his own cause by leading off with a double to right then scoring later in the inning on Gamel's second RBI two-bagger of the night, a two-out rip off Muecke that made it a 3-1 contest. The Sounds' scoring continued in the fifth as Cruz led off with a single and came all the way around to score on Ray Olmedo's double into the left field corner, narrowly beating a swipe tag at the plate by Sky Sox catcher Michael McKenry. After Olmedo moved to third on a passed ball, the Sounds executed a perfect suicide squeeze to increase the lead to 5-1. With Olmedo breaking on a 1-0 pitch, Martin Maldonado laid down a bunt in front of the mound and Muecke's flip to the plate was late. Nashville missed a pair of chances to put the game out of reach in the late innings, leaving the bases loaded in both the seventh and eighth frames as the Sky Sox bullpen deftly worked into and out of jams. Muecke (5-7) drew the loss for the Sky Sox after surrendering five runs on seven hits in his six innings of action. The Sounds travel to Des Moines, Iowa tomorrow to open a four-game road trip against the division-leading Iowa Cubs. Left-hander Chase Wright (7-7, 5.00) will start Saturday's 7:05 p.m. series opener for Nashville. Iowa will counter with right-hander Jeff Samardzija (10-2, 3.05). Nashville box score Excellent work by Dillard. Listen to Gamel's second double here. Gomez also drew a walk. Adam Stern had a pinch-hit double for Dillard in the 8th. David Johnson worked a scoreless 9th. Nashville play-by-play

Yeah, a point in Wheeler's favor is that he actually plays shortstop, however well. Farris's future depends on what else he can do. If he can play third base and some outfield, he could have a utility career. As long as he's only playing second base, he's going to be doing it at AAA.

Final: AZL Brewers 6, @AZL Angels 5AZL Brewers box score The Baby Brewers got three in the 9th to pull this one out, and I'm guessing some of the Angels' four errors had something to do with it. Kenny Allison was 2-4 with his second homer, 10th-round catcher Rafael Neda went 1-3 in his pro debut, and Tyler Roberts went 1-1 after coming on for Neda late. Okay, AZL Brewers play-by-play Wow! Check out how the Brewers got their 9th-inning runs: AZL Brewers Top 9th Thomas Mittelstaedt grounds out, second baseman Taylor Lindsey to first baseman Jerod Yakubik. Tyler Roberts singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Bolden. Steve Felix flies out to right fielder Gary Mitchell. Yadiel Rivera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Bolden. Tyler Roberts to 2nd. Kyle Dhanani reaches on fielding error by third baseman Michael Bolaski. Tyler Roberts to 3rd. Yadiel Rivera to 2nd. John Bivens reaches on fielding error by center fielder Chevez Clarke. Tyler Roberts scores. Yadiel Rivera scores. Kyle Dhanani scores. John Bivens to 3rd. Nick Shaw grounds out, first baseman Jerod Yakubik to pitcher Chad Yinger. Clarke was the 30th overall pick by the Angels this year. I hope he makes it to the big leagues so I can point out this game years down the line.

Final (game two): @Nashville 8, Colorado Springs 7 (7 innings)Luis Cruz hits walk-off home run in Sounds 8-7 nightcap win Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Luis Cruz sent the Sounds home happy with a walk-off home run that gave Nashville a 8-7 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in the doubleheader finale on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium. The Sounds 18th last at-bat win this season gave the two teams a split in the doubleheader after Nashville dropped the first game, 6-1. Cruz went 3-for 4 three RBIs and two runs scored in the second game, while Adam Stern added three hits. Brendan Katin crushed a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning of the nightcap, a tape-measure shot over the stadium lights in left field. Katin's 18th home run of the year gave the Sounds the early 1-0 lead. Colorado Springs scored two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 2-1 lead. Sky Sox second baseman Kaz Matsui drew a two-out walk from Josh Butler and proceeded to steal second base. Centerfielder Chris Frey then looped a lazy single on the left field line for the first run, followed by right fielder Matt Miller painting the right field line to score Frey for the go-ahead run. The Sky Sox added another run in the next frame for a 3-1 advantage, as the inning began with a Ray Olmedo fielding error. Later in the inning with the bases loaded, third baseman Travis Metcalf grounded into a double play that brought home Brad Eldred for the unearned run. Nashville knotted the score at 3-3 with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. After Joe Koshansky singled, Cruz smacked an RBI double to score the first baseman from first, with Cruz advancing to third on a throwing error. In the next at-bat, Johnny Raburn tied the game at three with a sacrifice fly with Cruz coming home and sliding under the tag. The Sounds tacked on four more runs in the next inning to take a 7-3 lead. Stern singled and scored on Olmedo's fifth triple of the season. Mat Gamel then followed with a lazy fly ball single over the shortstop in shallow left center that scored Olmedo for the club's second run. Left-hander Scott Rice came into the game to relieve starter Alan Johnson and allowed an RBI single by Cruz, and then surrendered a five-pitch base loaded walk to Raburn to plate the final run of the inning. The Sky Sox scored a run on right-handed reliever Donovan Hand to cut the Sounds' lead to three runs. Miller singled to begin the inning, advanced to third on a Chris Nelson base hit, and scored on a Hand wild pitch. Colorado Springs plated three runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie game, as Sounds reliever Brandon Kintzler blew his fourth Triple-A save in seven chances this year. Cole Garner hit a leadoff double and scored the first run on a one-out RBI single by Miller. Brad Eldred followed with a double over the head of center fielder Carlos Gomez, with Nelson grounding into the shortstop to bring home the tying run from third. Butler threw five innings in his fifth start for Nashville this season, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with three strikeouts. It was the third time in five Triple-A starts that Butler gave up just two runs. Hand allowed one unearned run on two hits in one inning thrown. Kintzler (3-0) backed into the win after snapping an eight-game scoreless outing streak. The right-hander gave up three runs on three hits in the top of the seventh inning. Colorado Springs starter Alan Johnson took the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched. Edgmer Escalona (2-5) took the loss after giving up the home run to Cruz. The teams wrap up the series with a 7:05 p.m. finale on Friday evening. Right-hander Tim Dillard (3-6, 5.04) will man the bump for the Sounds to face off against Colorado Springs left-hander Josh Muecke (5-6, 5.33) Nashville box score Cruz's bat has been a modest surprise this year for the Sounds. Who knows, maybe it will keep him from getting DFA'd in the winter. Butler walked two and posted a 5/6 GO/AO, throwing 50 of his 78 pitches for strikes. Gomez went 0-2 after entering the game in the 5th as a pinch hitter. Nashville play-by-play

Final: Beloit 5, @Wisconsin 3Gem by Burgos is marred in the end Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI – Hiram Burgos pitched eight outstanding innings for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The right-hander struck out nine and allowed two runs on five hits without a walk. Cameron Garfield had a pair of hits and three RBI to give the Rattlers a 3-2 lead. But, the Beloit Snappers spoiled the party by scoring three times in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Rattlers 5-3 on Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Field. A two-run double by Lance Ray in the ninth broke a 3-3 tie and sent Wisconsin to its third straight loss. James Beresford gave Beloit (63-55 overall, 26-23 second half) a 2-0 lead in the third inning. The Snappers shortstop blooped in a double to left with two outs to give the Snappers their only runs off Burgos. The Rattlers starter gave up three hits in the third inning. He allowed only two the rest of the game. Beloit did not get a runner to second base after the third inning as Burgos waited for the Rattlers offense to get going. Chris Dennis started the Wisconsin half of the fourth inning with a triple. Then, Garfield delivered an RBI single to cut the Beloit lead to 2-1. A walk to D’Vontrey Richardson put runners at first and second with no outs, but a strikeout and a 6-3 double play ended the threat. Wisconsin (50-70, 24-28) kept threatening throughout the game. In each of the first six innings, Wisconsin stranded at least one runner in scoring position. In the seventh, Kentrail Davis started the inning with a single. He went to second on a wild pitch, but was still there with two outs. Dennis drew a walk to bring Garfield to the plate. The catcher got a chance with runners at second and third after another wild pitch moved both runners up a base. Garfield sent a grounder up the first base line that was just fair and both Davis and Dennis scored for a 3-2 Rattlers lead. Burgos went back out for the top of the eighth and worked a 1-2-3 frame. He finished his outing with a flourish by striking out Reggie Williams to end the eighth. In the bottom of the eighth, Wisconsin had a runners at second with one out, but could not cash in the insurance run. Closer Jon Pokorny came on for the top of the ninth inning. He got Beresford to pop out on a bunt attempt for the first out. Then, the Snappers rallied. Aaron Hicks walked. Steven Liddle singled to right to send Hicks around to third with the tying run. Danny Rams sent a high pop to shallow right field. Kentrail Davis charged in from right and made a dive, but the ball dropped just out of his reach. Richardson, who was also charging the high fly ball, picked up the ball and had a chance to get Hicks at the plate, because Hicks went back to third to tag up on the catch. However, Richardson’s through was high and wide and Hicks just beat the tag of Garfield at the plate to tie the game. Ray was next and the left-handed hitter dropped in a 2-2 pitch just inside the left field line for a two-run double and the Snappers were up 5-3. Wisconsin went down in order in the ninth inning. The ninth was the only inning on Thursday in which the Rattlers were set down 1-2-3. The biggest statistical difference in the game on Thursday night was how the respective teams did with runners in scoring position. Beloit went 3-for-6. Wisconsin was 2-for-16. The Rattlers fell further off the playoff pace of Clinton and Kane County. The two teams that are tied for the top two second half playoff spots in the Western Division both won on Thursday night and Wisconsin is now 4.5 games out with 18 games remaining in the regular season. The Rattlers conclude the series with the Snappers on Friday night. Maverick Lasker (7-4, 3.55) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Martire Garcia (1-0, 5.79) will get the start for Beloit. Game time is 7:05pm. Friday night is North Shore Bank Family Night with children 12 and under eating free in conjunction with momslikeme.com. After the game, there is a fireworks display sponsored by 95.9 KISS-FM. After the fireworks, ThedaCare Orthopedics presents Kids Run the Bases for children 14 and under. The first 1,000 fans into Time Warner Cable Field on Thursday night will receive a special baseball featuring a photo of Timber Rattlers mascot Fang from Baycom. If you can’t make it out to the ballpark, you can tune into the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm Wisconsin box score Listening to a whole game called by Bob Brainerd and Jerry Augustine was almost worse than the outcome. Too bad they couldn't get Telly Hughes as the third guy. Rams' pop-up that dropped between Ke. Davis, Richardson, and Connor Lind should have been caught, and to me it looked like Davis's ball all the way, though Augustine said it was Richardson's fault for not directing traffic. As uwisfan mentioned, a good throw still would have gotten Hicks at the plate, but the throw was way high, with Garfield making an amazing play first to just get to the ball and second to come down acrobatically and almost tag Hicks out. Apart from the throw, Richardson had a perfect night, 2-2 with two walks. Garfield also drew a walk, which is always a welcome sight. Hunter Morris, usually a first baseman, rang up an outfield assist. Wisconsin play-by-play Scooter Gennett's last plate appearance was a strikeout in the third; Lind replaced him to being the 5th. The only thing I can think of is that he was earlier involved in a play at second base where he should have been picked off but ended up going to third on a wild throw; maybe diving back in to the base shook him up somehow.

Final: @Helena 12, Casper 2Helena box score Excellent night for the Helena staff. Tyler Cravy struck out nine and walked none in 5.2 innings, and then, after Ryan Bernal got an out to end the 6th, Tyler Thornburg tossed three perfect innings to end the game, fanning three. In total, that's 12 strikeouts against no walks--phenomenal. Cravy did allow eight hits and two runs, but the H-Crew's bats had an answer for that and plenty more. Mike Walker led the charge with a 4-5 night that included a three-run homer, Brandon Sizemore homered and walked, Greg Hopkins had three hits, and Cody Hawn singled and walked twice. I wonder what happened to Tony Pechek, who hasn't played since the 29th of July. The Helena undrafted catching monster has been down to two heads for the whole month of August! Helena play-by-play I lied, Thornburg allowed a ROE. The Brewers' biggest inning was the 6th: Helena Bottom 6th Carlos George flies out to right fielder Robert De La Cruz. Robert Garvey singles on a fly ball to left fielder Corey Dickerson. Franklin Romero singles on a fly ball to right fielder Robert De La Cruz. Robert Garvey to 2nd. Cody Hawn singles on a ground ball to left fielder Corey Dickerson, deflected by pitcher Christian Bergman. Robert Garvey scores. Franklin Romero to 3rd. Pitcher Change: Nelson Gonzalez replaces Christian Bergman. Gregory Hopkins singles on a fly ball to center fielder Rafael Ortega. Franklin Romero scores. Cody Hawn to 2nd. Brandon Sizemore pops out to catcher Ryan Casteel in foul territory. Brent Dean singles on a line drive to left fielder Corey Dickerson. Cody Hawn scores. Gregory Hopkins to 3rd on the throw. Michael Walker homers (5) on a fly ball to right field. Gregory Hopkins scores. Brent Dean scores. John Dishon strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Nelson Gonzalez. John Dishon to 1st. Carlos George strikes out swinging.

Final: @Birmingham 4, Huntsville 3Huntsville box score The Barons scored a run in the 8th off Robert Hinton to break a three-all tie and take the game. Mark Rogers started and pitched well enough, though he gave up some hits: 5 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 WP, 6/4 GO/AO, 99 pitches, 61 strikes. He threw a decent amount of strikes, and it's always nice to see a low number in the walks column from him. Taylor Green homered for the second straight night, a two-run shot, Andy Machado tripled, singled, and walked, and Chris Nowak was also on three times with a single and two walks. Brett Lawrie was 1-4, and Caleb Gindl returned to the lineup--again hitting 8th--and drew two free passes. Huntsville play-by-play The Stars got all their runs in the 2nd: Huntsville Top 2nd Drew T. Anderson flies out to center fielder John Shelby III. Chris Nowak singles on a line drive to center fielder John Shelby III, deflected by pitcher Matt Long. Taylor Green homers (12) on a line drive to right field. Chris Nowak scores. Anderson Machado triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Salvador Sanchez. Caleb Gindl walks. Coaching visit to mound. Dayton Buller flies into sacrifice double play, left fielder Jim Gallagher to catcher Cole Armstrong to shortstop Eduardo Escobar. Anderson Machado scores. Caleb Gindl out at 2nd on the throw. Buller hit into a more conventional double play in the 6th to kill a rally: Huntsville Top 6th Chris Nowak walks. Taylor Green strikes out swinging. Anderson Machado singles on a ground ball to right fielder Salvador Sanchez. Chris Nowak to 3rd. Caleb Gindl walks. Anderson Machado to 2nd. Coaching visit to mound. Dayton Buller grounds into double play, shortstop Eduardo Escobar to first baseman Christian Marrero. Caleb Gindl out at 2nd.

That's what TheCrew07 thought post-draft last year as well. Who knows how hard Burgos was really throwing, though, given that those speeds uwisfan quoted were from the stadium gun. Suffice to say, however, he has a below-average fastball.

Interview with Huntsville pitching coach John Curtis, who discusses Michael Bowman and Mark Rogers. He attributes Rogers' rough last start to his blister, as we speculated, and he predicts that Rogers' command will improve as his shoulder continues to strengthen and he's able to pitch on the side between starts more often.

Final: DSL Mariners 9, @DSL Brewers 0DSL Brewers box score The teams entered with almost mirror-image records, 41-26 for the Mariners and 27-41 for the Brewers, so the outcome is no surprise. Six of the runs came off Jeffrey Saba. My guy Osmel Perez allowed three runs in four innings but posted nice peripherals, five strikeouts against one walk and four hits. The Ceveceritos managed just two hits and drew three free passes, so the box score is a sea of zeroes. DSL Brewers play-by-play