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Final: Brevard County 5, @Lakeland 2Brevard County box score This is exactly what we've come to expect from Kyle Heckathorn (maybe an extra walk): 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 11/2 GO/AO. Look at that ground ball rate. Dan Meadows continues to be extremely effective, striking out four in two innings while allowing just a hit. The 'Tees fanned 13 times and only drew one walk, but it was enough today. Erik Komatsu was on three out of four trips with two singles and a HBP, and Matt Cline also had two hits. Shawn Zarraga, Scott Krieger, and Steve Braun all doubled, and Krieger even swiped a bag. All the runs in the game were scored in the first three innings Brevard County play-by-play Heckathorn had little trouble after a rocky beginning: Lakeland Bottom 1st Gustavo Nunez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Brent Wyatt strikes out swinging. With Jordan Lennerton batting, Gustavo Nunez steals (28) 2nd base. Jordan Lennerton hits a ground-rule double (10) on a fly ball to left-center field. Gustavo Nunez scores. Francisco Martinez singles on a ground ball to shortstop Juan Sanchez. Jordan Lennerton to 3rd. Daniel Fields walks. Francisco Martinez to 2nd. Bryan Holaday strikes out swinging. Samir Rijo walks. Jordan Lennerton scores. Francisco Martinez to 3rd. Daniel Fields to 2nd. Matthew Mansilla pops out to third baseman Matt Cline in foul territory.

Final (game one): Colorado Springs 6, @Nashville 1 (7 innings)Sox power past Sounds in twinbill opener Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Colorado Springs left fielder Cole Garner belted a pair of home runs to power the visiting Sky Sox to a 6-1 victory over the Nashville Sounds in the opener of a doubleheader on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium. Six of the eight Colorado Springs hits went for extra bases, including three home runs. The Sky Sox grabbed an early lead in the opener, plating a first-inning run against Sounds starter Sam Narron when Jay Payton and Matt Miller posted back-to-back two-out doubles off the outfield wall. Third baseman Mat Gamel continued his torrid August in the bottom of the opening frame, tying the contest at 1-1 with a two-out solo homer to right off Colorado Springs starter Kurt Birkins. The blast, which came on a 2-1 offering, was his 11th of the year. Colorado Springs jumped back in front in the third on the strength of back-to-back homers against Narron. Garner put the visitors back on top with a mammoth one-out solo homer to left-center that careened off the guitar-shaped scoreboard. Payton followed with a big fly to right-center off the top of the clubhouse building. The roundtrippers were their 11th and fourth of the year, respectively. Garner upped the Sky Sox advantage to 5-1 in the fourth with his second home run of the opener, a two-run bomb off the scoreboard in left-center. Kaz Matsui, who preceded Garner by drawing a two-out walk from Narron, also scored on the outfielder's 12th blast of the year. Payton - who finished 3-for-4 missed the cycle by a triple - tacked on the final Colorado Springs run of the opener in the seventh with a one-out RBI single to right off Sounds reliever Carlos Villanueva, who allowed a run for the third straight appearance. Birkins (5-7) picked up the victory for the visitors after holding the Sounds to one run on four hits over his 5 2/3 frames of action. The win snapped a personal three-game skid for the southpaw. Andy Graham recorded the final four outs for the Sky Sox to nail down his first save of the season. Narron (7-7) drew the loss after struggling for his third straight outing. The left-hander surrendered five runs on six hits (five for extra bases) over his six innings of work. Narron has dropped four of his last five starts (1-4, 5.79 ERA, 18er/28.0ip) after winning five straight outings from June 28 to July 3. Nashville box score Entering today, Gamel was hitting .400/.459/.631 this month. You can listen to his homer here. He did commit his 15th error (fielding). Eric Farris had two hits but was caught stealing. Carlos Gomez was 0-2 with a walk and a strikeout. Nashville play-by-play It's a pet peeve of mine when announcers look back at a bad baserunning play immediately preceding a hit that would have scored the runner were he still on base and cluck about it costing the team a run. Brian Anderson would have been all over this one: Nashville Bottom 1st Eric Farris singles on a line drive to center fielder Jay Payton. Carlos Gomez flies out to center fielder Jay Payton. With Mat Gamel batting, Eric Farris picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Kurt Birkins to first baseman Brad Eldred to shortstop Kazuo Matsui. Mat Gamel homers (11) on a fly ball to right field. Brendan Katin flies out to center fielder Jay Payton.

Books before pro baseball Chuck Slater/North County News It was a decision many baseball-loving youngsters would not make. Ossining's Chris Bates was drafted this spring, a 15th-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers. The tall youngster was the first left-handed pitcher Milwaukee chose and just the 17th high-school pitcher picked at that point. The Brewers then offered a signing bonus well beyond 15th-round status — "Way up there" according to Bates' father, also Chris Bates. Chris Bates, 18, did not take the money and run. Instead, he took a baseball scholarship to the University of Richmond. "He's an academic student," said Chris Bates Senior. Indeed, he is. In four years at Regis High School in Manhattan, an academically strong all-boys Catholic school, Chris Bates had a 3.5 GPA and hopes to study medicine or engineering. But that is not his only impressive number; pitching for Regis for four varsity seasons, he compiled a 14-2 record. His senior year, the earned run average was under 1.00 plus he had a 9-1 strikeout-walk ratio. And for the OTB Pirates, a crack amateur team whose home field is Rockland Community College, he compiled a 9-0 record this summer. And then he left for college, not the pros. "The decision was mostly my choice," said the Ossining teenager. "I need an education. You can't get by on athletic talent alone; one day it will run out." But does he want to play pro ball some day? "Definitely," he said. "And I think pitching is the best position in all of sports. "But I don't think I have my best shot at it now. I plan on getting better. I still haven't filled out." The Brewers thought so, too. They drafted the 6-5, 180-pound southpaw on his potential. "Mentally he's ready, physically he has a way to go," said Chris Bates, the father. "X-rays show he's still growing; he'll probably beef up to about 6-6 and 220 pounds." And, beef his fastball up to the low 90s. "He is extremely intelligent and extremely gifted, both physically and mentally," said Mike Rooney, the head coach for the OTB Pirates. Rooney, a pro pitcher for seven seasons, made it as high as triple-A baseball. It was he who told his brother, who is part of the Brewers' scouting organization, of this lefty with the big upside. "Yes, Chris is improving - he wasn't even a pro prospect as a junior," said Rooney. "But through hard work he became one. He has great mound presence and composure and a tremendous work ethic." Young Chris Bates also has a knee-buckling curveball, a fastball now in the 88-90 range, a changeup and super control. Plus a knack for being at his best against the best competition. "We took second overall at the top-level amateur tournament in California this summer," Rooney related. "We faced really good competition and Chris was phenomenal. He went 3-0." And there is room to keep improving. "He has a very easy delivery and very good arm action," Rooney said. "When the time comes to go pro, I'll be better than I am now," Chris Bates promised. And he probably will not have the arm problems which have plagued so many talented young pitchers who were pushed to do too much too soon. His father is making sure of that. "I played in the Atlanta Braves organization after being drafted in the 26th round in 1985," said Chris Bates Senior. A right-handed pitcher, Bates had excelled at Port Chester High and Florida Atlantic College. He went to rookie ball as a pro and ruined his arm that first year. "A torn scapula (a bone in the back of the shoulder)," he related. "The Braves told me I had gone from being an asset to being a liability." Goodbye, pro baseball. From the time young Chris started baseball at age 5 and particularly when he gravitated to pitching shortly before he was 14, his father has worked to make sure the same thing does not happen to his son. A lot of long-tossing. A lot of time between starts. A strict pitch count. "Regis was more academic than athletic so there was no pressure to pitch too much," said the younger Bates. "And I was on a pitch count, sometimes 75, never more than 90." Still, the college scouts saw the same potential the Brewers did. There were, both Chris Bates agree, many big-name college teams eager to put the tall lefty on their squad. The father was pleased with what the coaches at Richmond said. "They told me they would protect his arm," Chris Bates Senior said. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/ncnlocal.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/9/2c/961/92c961c2-abb1-11df-9666-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c6d6054ac968.image.jpg (Linda Bates)

Given Rogers' injury history, it would take several healthy years to put him on par with Jeffress in my mind.

Final: Casper 8, @Helena 6Helena box score Casper scored three in the 8th to break a five-all tie. Austin Ross had an eye-catching line: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 10 K, 1 HR, 1/4 GO/AO. He now has a 29/4 K/BB in 26 pro innings. Rob Currie let in four runs to take the loss. Cody Hawn stayed hot, 2-3 with a two-run homer and a walk. Helena play-by-play Nine of Ross's strikeouts were swinging.

Final: Beloit 14, @Wisconsin 7Beloit bombards Rattlers Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Beloit Snappers put up a big number in the top of the third inning on Wednesday night and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers couldn’t respond. Beloit scored eight times in the third inning to blow open a close game. Reggie Williams, who homered in the inning, had three hits and was a double shy of the cycle. Michael Gonzales drove in four runs and the Snappers moved to within a game of a playoff spot with their 14-7 win over the Rattlers at Time Warner Cable Field. Beloit (62-55 overall, 25-23 second half) quickly got out of the gate. Williams tripled on the second pitch of the game. James Beresford was next and he singled in Williams for a 1-0 lead. Beresford would steal second and move to third on a fly out to left. Then, Rattlers starting pitcher Damon Krestalude threw a wild pitch to let Beresford score for a 2-0 lead. Wisconsin (24-27, 50-69) scored an unearned run in the first. Scooter Gennett reached on an error. Two outs later, Hunter Morris doubled down the left field line to get Gennett home. The Rattlers took the lead by scoring twice in the bottom of the second inning. They loaded the bases with one out on a single by D’Vontrey Richardson, a walk to Joey Paciorek, and a single by Michael Marseco. Gennett singled in the tying run and kept the bases loaded. Then, Kentrail Davis put Wisconsin in front with a sacrifice fly. Beloit stormed back in the third inning. Krestalude walked the leadoff batter and gave up a single to the next hitter. The Rattlers starting pitcher got Steven Liddle to popout for the first out of the frame. The onslaught started with the next batter. Danny Rams doubled in both runners on base and the Snappers took a 4-3 lead. Then, Lane Ray doubled but, Rams only took third. Gonzales sent a high fly to medium center field for what appeared to be a routine out. However, centerfielder Richardson lost the ball in the lights and the ball dropped in well to Richardson’s right for a two-run double. Yorby Martinez followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Michael Harrington singled in Gonzales and chased Krestalude from the game. Santo Manzanillo relieved Krestalude and gave up a three-run homer to Williams. That made six consecutive hits for the Snappers to turn a 3-2 Rattlers lead into a 10-3 Beloit advantage. Ray doubled in a run in the sixth inning. Gonzales had a more conventional two-run double later in the inning. He would score on a single by Harrington and the Snappers were up 14-3. Wisconsin got a single run in the sixth on an infield grounder and another run in the seventh inning on a wild pitch. Chris Dennis doubled in a run in the bottom of the ninth and Cameron Garfield followed with an RBI single, but the Rattlers would not get any closer. Kane County and Clinton, the two teams tied for the two Western Division playoff spots in the second half, both lost on Wednesday night. So, the Rattlers are still only 3-1/2 games out of a playoff spot. However, Beloit is one game out and the Peoria Chiefs, who also won on Wednesday, is two games behind Kane County and Clinton. Game two of the series between the Rattlers and the Snappers is Thursday night. Hiram Burgos (4-5, 3.86) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Pedro Guerra (1-0, 2.45) is set to go for the Beloit. Game time is 7:05pm. Thursday night is a WIXX Thirsty Thursday. There are 22 oz. sodas and 16 oz. beers available for $2. Plus, the first 1,000 fans into the stadium will receive a poster of Kentrail Davis from Express Convenience Centers. Additionally, Thursday is Military Appreciation Night. Current military personnel and veterans with an ID receive a free ticket to the game. There is also a special group rate available for their family members military. If you can’t make it out to the ballpark, you may tune into the game on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. The game will also be available to Time Warner Cable subscribers on Sports 32. Wisconsin box score So, how about that Stars game? Gennett had two hits, Khris Davis doubled and walked, as did Dennis. Richardson tripled, singled, and walked, but also struck out twice. Paciorek added a triple to his walk as well. Wisconsin play-by-play Kentrail Davis was hit by a pitch in the 4th, took his next turn at bat in the 6th, but then was replaced by Erik Miller in the 7th. Just giving his hamstring a rest in a a blowout?

Final: Huntsville 17, @Birmingham 4Huntsville box score Wow. Every Stars batter had at least one hit, and seven, including the first six in the order, had multiple hits, highlighted by Taylor Green's 5-5 night, including a three-run homer. Zelous Wheeler also smacked a three-run homer as part of his three hits, and Chris Nowak finished a homer short of the cycle. Brett Lawrie was 2-5 with a walk, and Lee Haydel tripled twice. Huntsville play-by-play 11 runs between the 5th & 6th turned this one into a laugher: Huntsville Top 5th Chuck Caufield doubles (8) on a ground ball to left fielder Christian Marrero. Dayton Buller flies out to right fielder Salvador Sanchez. Chuck Caufield to 3rd. Lee Haydel triples (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Justin Greene. Chuck Caufield scores. Coaching visit to mound. Brett Lawrie walks. Zelous Wheeler homers (10) on a fly ball to left center field. Lee Haydel scores. Brett Lawrie scores. Drew T. Anderson singles on a line drive to left fielder Christian Marrero. Chris Nowak triples (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Justin Greene. Drew T. Anderson scores. Taylor Green out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Christian Marrero. Chris Nowak scores. Pitcher Change: Ricky Brooks replaces Justin Edwards. Anderson Machado singles on a ground ball to right fielder Salvador Sanchez. Chuck Caufield pops out to third baseman C. J. Retherford. Huntsville Top 6th Dayton Buller reaches on fielding error by shortstop Eduardo Escobar. Lee Haydel triples (5) on a fly ball to right fielder Salvador Sanchez. Dayton Buller scores. Brett Lawrie reaches on a fielder's choice out, third baseman C. J. Retherford to catcher Josh Phegley. Lee Haydel out at home. Zelous Wheeler singles on a ground ball to center fielder Justin Greene. Brett Lawrie to 2nd. Drew T. Anderson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Justin Greene. Brett Lawrie scores. Zelous Wheeler to 2nd. Chris Nowak flies out to right fielder Salvador Sanchez. Zelous Wheeler to 3rd. Taylor Green homers (11) on a fly ball to right center field. Zelous Wheeler scores. Drew T. Anderson scores. Anderson Machado walks. Chuck Caufield strikes out swinging.

Final: @Lakeland 9, Brevard County 2Brevard County box score Lakeland got all nine runs in the 6th inning. Darren Byrd had tossed five scoreless through that point, but couldn't get an out, and neither could Mike Ramlow; both surrendered three runs, as did Trey Watten, who at least retired a couple guys. Brandon Ritchie finally, mercifully, ended the inning, but the damage was done. Josh Prince was 2-4 with a double but was caught stealing for the 9th time. Sean Halton and Matt Cline also doubled, and Erik Komatsu singled before being pinch-hit for in the 7th. Brevard County play-by-play Lakeland Bottom 6th Jordan Lennerton homers (7) on a fly ball to left field. John Murrian doubles (14) on a fly ball to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Francisco Martinez singles on a fly ball to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. John Murrian to 3rd. Pitcher Change: Mike Ramlow replaces Darren Byrd. Daniel Fields walks. Francisco Martinez to 2nd. Christopher White walks. John Murrian scores. Francisco Martinez to 3rd. Daniel Fields to 2nd. Matthew Mansilla walks. Francisco Martinez scores. Daniel Fields to 3rd. Christopher White to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Trey Watten replaces Mike Ramlow. Christopher Sedon singles on a fly ball to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Daniel Fields scores. Christopher White scores. Matthew Mansilla to 2nd. Gustavo Nunez grounds out, second baseman Matt Cline to first baseman Sean Halton. Matthew Mansilla to 3rd. Christopher Sedon to 2nd. With Brent Wyatt batting, wild pitch by Trey Watten, Matthew Mansilla scores. Christopher Sedon to 3rd. Brent Wyatt walks. Jordan Lennerton strikes out swinging. John Murrian singles on a ground ball to third baseman Peter Fatse. Christopher Sedon scores. Brent Wyatt to 2nd. Francisco Martinez walks. Brent Wyatt to 3rd. John Murrian to 2nd. Daniel Fields singles on a fly ball to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Brent Wyatt scores. John Murrian scores. Francisco Martinez to 3rd. Christopher White walks. Daniel Fields to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Brandon Ritchie replaces Trey Watten. Matthew Mansilla flies out to center fielder Erik Komatsu.

Cameron will have season-ending surgery on his torn abdominal muscle.

Final: @DSL Cardinals 7, DSL Brewers 6 (11 innings)DSL Brewers box score The Brewers scored three in the 8th to take a 6-4 lead, but the Cards got two in the bottom of the 8th to tie it and won it in the 11th. 18-year-old Carlos Sosa posted the best line among pitchers, striking out four in three scoreless innings, though he did allow the tying run to score and was thus charged with a blown save. Ronny Puello had a second straight huge day, homering and doubling as part of his 4-5 day. Jose Pena had two hits, and Alejandro Mendoza doubled and walked. Mendoza, and 18-year-old shortstop, has shown a nice eye so far in his brief pro career, walking 10 times in 40 plate appearances. DSL Brewers play-by-play The Brewers wasted a chance to take the lead in the top of the 11th: DSL Brewers Top 11th Ronny Puello flies out to right fielder Andres Beras. Jose Pena singles on a fly ball to left fielder Ronard Castillo. With Jose R. Garcia batting, Jose Pena steals (4) 2nd base, . Jose Pena advances to 3rd, on throwing error by catcher Luis Perez. Jose R. Garcia pops out to first baseman Rafael Medina in foul territory. Deivi Mejia grounds out, third baseman Jorge Lopez to first baseman Rafael Medina.

Sounds, Sky Sox rained out WednesdayNashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tonight's scheduled 7:05 p.m. game between the Nashville Sounds and Colorado Springs Sky Sox at Greer Stadium has been postponed due to unplayable field conditions resulting from heavy rains throughout Middle Tennessee. The game will be made up as part of a 6:05 p.m. CT doubleheader tomorrow evening (August 19). Left-hander Sam Narron (7-6, 4.08) will take the hill for the Sounds in Thursday's opener to face Colorado Springs southpaw Kurt Birkins (4-7, 5.84). In the nightcap, Nashville right-hander Josh Butler (3-1, 6.65) will man the bump to take on Sky Sox right-hander Alan Johnson (10-7, 5.39). Tickets for tonight's game (August 18) may be exchanged for tickets of equal or lesser value, pending availability, to any remaining 2010 Sounds regular-season home game. Please visit the Greer Stadium box office to exchange your tickets.

Final: @DSL Brewers 13, DSL Athletics 4 (five innings)DSL Brewers box score This one was called after the top of the 5th, but as you can see, the outcome was not much in doubt at that point. The first four Brewers--Alejandro Mendoza, Ruben Sanchez, Raul Mondesi, and Ronny Puello--were never retired, reaching all 12 times. Puello in particular had a nice day, doubling and tripling and driving in five. Jorge de la Cruz also reached all three times. Jose Pena and Hitaniel Arias did not play. Starter Juan Santiago walked seven in 2.2 innings, which is a lot better than either of the A's pitchers fared. DSL Brewers play-by-play Four runs in each of the first three innings; check it out.

Final: Dunedin 7, @Brevard County 5BC drops finale to Blue Jays Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees VIERA, Fla. -The Brevard County Manatees battled out of an early 2-0 deficit, but ultimately lost its series finale with the Dunedin Blue Jays 7-5 on Tuesday night at Space Coast Stadium. The loss dropped the Manatees to 3 ½ games back of the division lead. After the Blue Jays (63-59 overall, 22-30 second half) scored twice in the top of the first, the Manatees (57-64, 30-22) answered right back with four of their own in the bottom of the frame. Brevard County sent all nine hitters to the plate and recorded five consecutive hits to start the inning. Dunedin answered again against Manatees starter R.J. Seidel as they tied the game up with two in the second on a Mark Sobolewski single. Seidel was chased in the third as he went just 2 2/3 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, while walking three. It was the second straight start where Seidel didn't make it out of the third and the fourth consecutive start in which he has allowed three or more runs. Down 4-3 in the sixth, the Manatees tied it up as Angel Salome drove in Matt Cline with a RBI single. Cline led off the inning with a double. But a two-run single by Kenny Wilson in the eighth inning off of Ruben Flores proved to be the difference in the ballgame. Brevard County had plenty of chances at the plate and had 13 hits, but went just 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base. The Manatees left at least one runner on base in eight of nine innings. Cline had another solid night out of the lead-off spot going 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Salome and Brock Kjeldgaard had two hits each, while Salome drove in two runs as well. The Manatees will open up a three-game series with the Lakeland Flying Tigers starting on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Joker Marchant Stadium. Lakeland will host the first two games of the series and Brevard County will host the finale of the three-game set on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Slated to take the hill for the Manatees in Wednesday's series opener is Darren Byrd (1-2, 3.96), while the Flying Tigers will counter with Mark Sorensen (8-11, 4.50). Brevard County box score Sean Halton doubled and walked, and Erik Komatsu and Shawn Zarraga each singled and walked. Komatsu stole his 23rd base but committed two errors, which is pretty amazing when you consider that he's an outfielder. Brevard County play-by-play Steve Braun replaced Sergio Miranda after Miranda grounded out in the 8th.

Final: @Nashville 7, Colorado Springs 5Sounds take series opener from Sky Sox, 7-5 Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds opened their four-game series against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox with a 7-5 victory on Tuesday evening at historic Greer Stadium. Marty McLeary (6-7) picked up the win for Nashville after authoring the Sounds' first quality start in the club's past 11 games. The right-hander allowed three runs on nine hits in his six innings of work to improve to 6-0 in seven home starts for the Sounds. Brendan Katin and Martin Maldonado each homered for Nashville in the contest. Colorado Springs grabbed an early lead against McLeary, plating three first-inning runs after the first two batters of the frame were retired. Cole Garner drilled a two-out double off the base of the batter's eye in center to start the rally. After Jay Payton walked, Chris Nelson plated the night's first run with a single to left. After Payton and Nelson executed a double steal, Sky Sox first sacker Mike Paulk drove home both baserunners with a line drive single to center that was just out of the reach of a diving Eric Farris. The Sounds got two of the runs back in the home half of the frame when Joe Koshansky (3-for-5) lined a two-out, two-run double to center off Colorado Springs starter Chaz Roe to make it a 3-2 contest. A pair of walks came back to haunt the right-hander as Carlos Gomez and Katin each drew a free pass in the frame before scoring on Koshansky's two-bagger, as he upped his team-leading RBI total to 67 on the year. Katin tied the game at 3-3 in the third with a one-out solo homer to left off Roe, his 17th roundtripper of the season. Maldonado gave the Sounds their first lead of the night in the fourth when he led off the inning with his fifth home run of the year, a solo shot to left-center off Roe that careened off the guitar-shaped scoreboard. The Sounds extended their lead to 5-3 later in the fourth. McLeary followed Maldonado's blast with a single to right. Norris Hopper and Gomez legged out consecutive bunt singles to load the bases for Mat Gamel, who lifted a sacrifice fly to left to plate the Sounds hurler. With runners on first and second, the inning ended with a bizarre double play as both runners broke on a 1-2 pitch to Katin, who was called out on strikes. Hopper successfully stole third on the play, but, as Gomez was hung up in a rundown between first and second, was then caught stealing home in a close play at the plate to end the frame. Nashville tacked on a run in the seventh against Sky Sox reliever Andrew Johnston when shortstop Luis Cruz drove a one-out RBI double to left-center to plate Katin, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the frame. The Sounds added one more run off Johnston in the eighth. With a runner on third and two outs, Colorado Springs skipper Stu Cole elected to intentionally walk Gamel to get to Katin, who made the visitors pay by delivering an RBI single to right. Colorado Springs made Sounds closer Chris Smith sweat in the top of the ninth, plating a pair of runs to draw back within 7-5 before the right-hander brought an end to the contest. The visitors loaded the bases with one out before plating a run on a Travis Metcalf groundout. Paul Phillips followed with an RBI single to left to draw the Sky Sox within a pair of scores before Smith struck out Brad Eldred to close out the game. Roe (7-12) took the loss after surrendering five runs on eight hits in his six frames of action for the Sky Sox. Gamel went 0-for-3 for the Sounds to snap his hitting streak at eight games. The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. matchup on Wednesday. Left-hander Sam Narron (7-6, 4.08) will take the hill for the Sounds to face Colorado Springs southpaw Kurt Birkins (4-7, 5.84). Nashville box score Katin also singled, so he was on four out of five times. You can listen to Koshansky's two-run double here. Nashville play-by-play

Another consideration is budget, especially since the Brewers will likely have a fairly high pick for their standard selection as well. The Brewers aren't small-time, but they aren't the Red Sox either, and they also haven't shown the willingness to crack their wallets wide open the way the Royals and Pirates have lately.

Final: @Helena 3, Casper 2Helena box score The H-Crew got three runs in the 8th to pull out a dramatic win. Jimmy Nelson, unexpectedly the Brewers' top 2010 draft pick, turned in three great innings, striking out three, walking none, and allowing just one hit to pick up the win. He also posted a 5/1 GO/AO. Evan Frederickson started and was decent, allowing a run in five innings with three walks and three strikeouts. Cody Hawn had a big game, with a two-run homer, a walk, and a HBP. Helena play-by-play The winning rally: Helena Bottom 8th Carlos George grounds out, third baseman Jose Rivera to first baseman Jordan Ballard. Robert Garvey triples (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Juan Crousset. Franklin Romero singles on a fly ball to center fielder Jeffrey Squier. Robert Garvey scores. Cody Hawn homers (10) on a fly ball to right field. Franklin Romero scores. Gregory Hopkins grounds out to first baseman Jordan Ballard. Shea Vucinich strikes out swinging. Very efficient.

Final: @Nashville 7, Salt Lake 6Sounds avoid sweep, defeat Bees 7-6 Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds scored seven straight runs to top the Salt Lake Bees, 7-6, on Monday evening at historic Greer Stadium in the finale of a four-game set. With the victory, the Sounds (64-59) avoided their second four-game series sweep in the last two weeks, but lost the season series, 3-1, to the visiting Bees. Continuing to stay hot for Nashville, Mat Gamel went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBIs in the victory, while Carlos Gomez and Brendan Katin each added two hits. Salt Lake took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Mark Trumbo moved to second place in the PCL with his 28th home run of the season, a three run shot over the wall in center field. Trumbo did more damage in the top of the third when the Bees right fielder smacked an RBI single down the left field line, driving home Kevin Frandsen for a 4-0 advantage. The Bees added two more runs in the fifth to make it 6-0, as Trumbo was in on the action again. After he recorded a two-out walk, Paul McAnulty crushed a two-run homer off the clubhouse beyond the wall in left center. Matching McAnulty in the next inning, Gamel brought the Sounds within two runs at 6-4 with a grand slam home run off the clubhouse himself. After Nashville loaded the bases on an Eric Farris single, Adam Stern fielder's choice, and Gomez hit-by-pitch, Gamel tattooed the 2-2 offering from Bees starter Amalio Diaz. The homer was Nashville's third grand slam on the year and Gamel's 10th long ball of the season. The Sounds had the opportunity to take the lead in the next inning, but scored only one run after loading the bases. With two outs in the inning, Farris and Martin Maldonado singled in two straight at-bats to bring in Barrett Browning into the game to replace Diaz. The reliever walked Stern to load the bases, and then allowed an infield RBI single to Gomez. After Farris scored Nashville's only run in the frame to bring the score to 6-5, Maldonado was given the green light by Sounds manager Don Money to come home from second base and was thrown out on the same play to end the inning with Gamel on deck. Gamel led off the next inning with a walk and moved to second on an Erick Almonte single. Katin then knocked a base hit to left field that brought Gamel home to score the game-tying run, but Bees left fielder Nick Gorneault threw out the runner for the first out of the inning. Ray Olmedo smacked a line drive off the leg of pitcher Bobby Cassevah on next play, who quickly picked up the ball to start the double play at second, but fired a bullet into center field that allowed Almonte to score the tying run. On a rehab assignment with the Angels, Salt Lake reliever Brian Stokes (0-1) entered the game in the bottom of the eighth gave up the go-ahead run for the loss. After the reliever recorded the first two outs in the frame, Gomez singled to left field and advanced to second on a throwing error by Gorneault. On the next play as Gamel hit a soft ball to the second baseman, the Bees tried to end the inning by throwing out Gamel at first, but the slugger beat the throw as Gomez rounded third and scored the game-winning run. Sounds starter Chase Wright allowed six runs (five earned) while scattering nine hits with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Brandon Kintzler (2-0) threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win, extending his shutout streak to 11 1/3 innings over his last eight games. Chris Smith picked his 23rd save of the season to tie the closer for the PCL lead with Las Vegas' Jeremy Accardo. The Sounds continue their homestand tomorrow by welcoming the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA-Rockies) to Music City for the first time since 2008. The teams split last season's series, 2-2, at Security Service Field in Colorado. Big Party Marty McLeary (5-7, 7.16) makes the start for the Sounds on Tuesday evening against Sky Sox right-hander Chaz Roe (7-11, 5.72). Nashville box score Everything's coming up Gamel! You can listen to Stu's call of his grand slam here. His third hit was a double, and his Nashville line now stands at .322/.397/.513. It's hard to look at Gamel with fresh eyes given all that's transpired (and supposedly transpired) in the last couple years, but here's a thought. You know how psyched everyone is about Khris Davis? Imagine how excited you'd be if, two years from now, he's hitting just as well at Nashville as he is right now at Wisconsin. We undersell Gamel a bit even now because of prospect fatigue. Kintzler struck out two, walked none, and allowed one hit; he threw 29 pitches, 22 of which were strikes. I'm glad Mike McClendon got a shot, but I want to see Kintzler more. Nashville play-by-play

Haudricourt:

Final: @Brevard County 4, Dunedin 1Merklinger dominates Dunedin Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees VIERA, Fla. - Manatees starting pitcher Dan Merklinger allowed just one run in eight innings of work as Brevard County shut down the Dunedin Blue Jays for a 4-1 win on Monday night at Space Coast Stadium. Merklinger mowed through the Dunedin (62-59 overall, 21-30 second half) line-up as he struck out five and did not walk a batter. The only trouble he ran into was in the fourth inning. A lead-off single by Anthony Gose turned into a run as he advanced to second on a wild pitch and was brought home by a RBI single by Jesus Merchan. That would be the only blip on the radar for Merklinger who threw 96 pitches - 56 of them for strikes. Brevard County (57-63, 30-21) got on the board with a big fifth inning as Scott Krieger and Sean McCraw led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After Josh Prince grounded out to move both runners up 90 feet, Matt Cline brought them home with a two-run double to left. Cline would then steal third and score on a Erik Komatsu ground out as the Manatees took a 3-1 lead. The Manatees would tack on one more run in the eighth on a RBI double by Sean Halton. Corey Frerichs pitched a scoreless ninth for his tenth save of the season. Halton led the way for Brevard County at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a RBI. Cline, Angel Salome and Sergio Miranda also had two hits each for the Manatees. With Brevard County's win and Daytona's loss to Tampa, the Manatees sit just one game out of second place in the North Division. Brevard County's four-game series with Dunedin will conclude on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Space Coast Stadium. R.J. Seidel (3-2, 4.21) is scheduled to take the mound for the Manatees in the series finale. Brevard County box score Great start from Merklinger. Sounds like he tried--or at least achieved--being a little more efficient tonight, and he got more grounders than usual: 9/4 GO/AO. Komatsu was 0-4. Cline stole his 13th base but was caught stealing for the 15th time. He and D'Vontrey Richardson are having a contest to see who can earn this year's Alex Sanchez Basepath Commando Award. Brevard County play-by-play Salome was thrown out at home in the 4th trying to score from second on Halton's single.

Stars' hitting coach Al Le Boeuf has spent the past 20 years improving baseball players' swings Brad Shepard/Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, AL -- When Huntsville second baseman and Milwaukee top prospect Brett Lawrie was struggling to make consistent contact during the first two months of this season, he turned to Stars hitting coach Al Le Boeuf. After all, when you've got a guy in your clubhouse that helped develop hitters such as Scott Rolen, Jimmy Rollins, Mike Lieberthal, Jose Reyes, David Wright and Billy Butler, you pick his brain as much as possible. "Al's a really good hitting coach in the sense that he doesn't change you," Lawrie said. "He just simplifies things. "One thing he's helped me with is just more staying on my back side and keeping my hands more inside the ball. He says if you can keep your hands inside the ball and you get cheated on a pitch and take a bad swing, you can still foul a ball off and stay alive." The result? Lawrie went from averaging nearly a strikeout per game early in the year to enjoying an all-star season. Partly because of the tutorial from Le Boeuf, Lawrie has looked like Baseball America's second-ranked prospect in the Brewers' organization. After a while of struggling, Lawrie approached Le Boeuf, and not the other way around. That's just the coach's style. He quietly observes the hitters, but he normally doesn't offer much advice on their swings. He takes meticulous mental notes, because he knows players will eventually come to him. It's an approach that has developed for Le Boeuf - nicknamed "Buffy" - over the course of a coaching career that has spanned 20 years, four organizations and stints as manager, hitting coach and even pitching coach for a season. Prior to coaching, Le Boeuf spent eight seasons as a hitting-heavy corner infielder and occasional outfielder. "Everybody has a philosophy of hitting, and there are a million of them out there," Le Boeuf said. "But all the good ones have the ability to take what they know and instill it in the individual and that has stuck with me throughout my career. I just observe. The main thing is when you're talking about guys with tremendous ability and who have had success, they'll basically tell you when you need to say something." Stars third baseman Taylor Green has worked with Le Boeuf this season on little things to help him hit left-handers better and calls him "one of the best guys I know and one of the best coaches I've ever had." Green leads the Stars in RBIs and is enjoying a stellar comeback season. "He's real good with just letting you do your own thing," Green said."He knows when you're searching for something, so he knows when to say something." That quiet approach comes from Le Boeuf's days as a minor leaguer with the Phillies, where he hit .270 with 54 home runs over an eight-year career. The last thing Le Boeuf wants to do is fill a hitter's head with so much that he tries to focus on too much at the plate. "The thing with Al is he's been a manager, a hitting coach and a player, so he's had the opportunity to be in all phases of baseball," outfielder Drew Anderson said. "He's the type of hitting coach you want. He doesn't tell you 50 different things when you're not worried about needing them." http://media.al.com/sports_impact/photo/al-leboeufjpg-fa896852023f6f95_large.jpg (Bob Gathany/Huntsville Times)

According to Tom Haudricourt, 13th-round RHP Michael White will be the only deadline signing. You can read colbyjack's scouting report on White here.

Final: @DSL Mariners 20, DSL Brewers 4DSL Brewers box score Uh, yeah. Each of the five Brewers pitchers--Manny Ruiz, Jose A. Garcia, Jairo Mejia, Christopher Roman, and Jean Capellan--was hammered. It was a very democratic demolition by the Mariners. The Brewers had only three hits and drew two walks but were hit by a pitch five times, including four in 2.2 innings by Mariners reliever Joan Vizcaino, who nevertheless got the win. DSL Brewers play-by-play I stopped reading after the back-to-back six-run innings in the 2nd & 3rd.

All minor leaguers are wearing that helmet starting this year.

Baseball Beginnings reports that Covey was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

So you're limiting yourself to a small percentage of the draft population--what if there are no college seniors that high on your draft board? You know it's a concern because signability is a concern--look at how much it drives normal draft choices already, with compensation.