battlekow

At Brevard County, IF Steve Braun goes on the DL, and IF Kyle Dhanani comes off it. Also, LHP Tony Butler was activated off the DL at Wisconsin from his Helena rehab assignment.

Wheeler having success with Huntsville Stars Heather Baggett/The Daily Home After spending a couple of years in different parts of the country, Childersburg native Zelous Wheeler is happy to be back in Alabama while still living out the dream of playing professional baseball. Wheeler, a 19th round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, now plays for the Huntsville Stars. “It feels good,” Wheeler said of being back in Alabama. “I’m glad to be back in my home state.” Wheeler hasn’t wasted any time making a name for himself in the minor leagues. He was a mid-season All-Star with the West Virginia Power in 2008 and with the Brevard County Manatees in 2009. Since moving up to the AA-affiliate, Wheeler has been one of the offensive leaders. The 5-10, 215-pound shortstop has nine home runs, 51 RBIs and seven stolen bases so far this season. Wheeler is batting .276 and has an on-base percentage of .378. The Stars are vying for the top spot in the Southern League standings. Huntsville (16-15) is tied for second with Carolina in the Southern League, two games behind leader Tennessee in the North Division. “We’re going to try to make the playoffs in the second half,” Wheeler said. “We’re going to try to keep this thing going and play through September.” Wheeler said there is a good camaraderie on the team. “This is a good group of guys,” he said. “We’ve been together for a while now.” The Stars begin a five-game home stand against the Mississippi Braves tonight at 7 p.m.

Final: @Nashville 16, Omaha 2Sounds blow out Royals in series opener Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Right-hander Marty McLeary continued his recent dominance on the hill and was backed by the Sounds' highest run total in six seasons in Nashville's 16-2 rout of the division-rival Omaha Royals on Tuesday evening at historic Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series. McLeary (5-6) hurled 6 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, allowing only four hits while striking out nine batters to pick up his fifth win in seven outings for Nashville. In his last five starts, the veteran has posted a 4-0 record and 1.21 ERA (4er/29.2ip). McLeary's nine strikeouts in the contest matched the most by a Sounds starter all season. Doug Davis previously fanned nine in a rehab start on June 24 in Memphis. The 16 runs scored by the Sounds were the club's most in six years, dating back to a 16-13 win in Oklahoma City on April 20, 2005. Nashville posted 17 hits on the night, including three-hit efforts by each of their 3-4-5-6 hitters (Mat Gamel, Brendan Katin, Joe Koshansky, Erick Almonte). Gamel and Almonte each drove in four runs in the contest. The victory was the fifth in the last six games for Nashville (56-47) and was the club's fourth straight win over the Royals. The Sounds jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead against Omaha right-hander Luis Mendoza. Katin provided the big hit of the frame when he belted a two-out, two-run homer to left, his 14th longball of the season. Almonte (3-for-4) plated the other run of the inning with a two-out RBI double to bring home Koshansky. Nashville increased its lead to 5-0 with a pair of runs in the sixth off Mendoza. Katin drew an inning-opening walk and scored two batters later on an Almonte double to left. The second run scored in unearned fashion following a two-out fielding error by Royals shortstop Ed Lucas. The Sounds put the game out of reach in the seventh with a six-run outburst against the Omaha bullpen. Two of the runs came courtesy of Almonte's third double of the night - a two-run two-bagger off Manauris Baez that struck the top-middle portion of the 24-foot high batter's eye in dead center. Adam Stern and Ray Olmedo contributed RBI singles later in the frame before Gamel drove in a pair with a two-out single of his own. Gamel (3-for-6) and second baseman Eric Farris (2-for-4) each extended their longest hit streaks of the year to 11 games. Omaha first baseman Kila Ka'aihue broke up the Sounds' shutout bid in the top of the eighth when he crushed a two-run homer to right-center off Mitch Stetter, the slugger's team-leading 23rd roundtripper of the year. Royals designated hitter Scott Thorman took the hill for the visitors in the bottom of the eighth inning to make the first pitching appearance of his 11-year professional career and it played out as one would expect. Nashville wrapped up its scoring with a five-run frame against Thorman, highlighted by two-run singles off the bats of Lorenzo Cain and Gamel. Mendoza (5-8) took the loss for Omaha after allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits over his six innings of work. Catcher Martin Maldonado had his team-best 13-game streak come to a close with an 0-for-3 effort on the night for the Sounds. The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. meeting on Wednesday night. Left-hander Sam Narron (6-3, 3.61), who has won each of his last five starts, will toe the rubber for the Sounds to face Omaha southpaw Blaine Hardy (2-3, 2.03). Nashville box score Nice game. I think just about everyone on the roster got a mention in that recap. Gamel is now hitting .300/.383/.468. Cain's hit is credited as a double in the box score, and he also walked three times, so that's awesome. The Sounds in total drew nine walks, so that's 26 baserunners. No wonder they scored 16 runs. Stetter's had a rough year in AAA; it must be tough for him to be down there after spending all of last year in MLB. Nashville play-by-play All three of Gamel's singles were line drives.

Final: Brevard County 2, @St. Lucie 0Brevard County box score Darren Byrd, Dan Meadows, and Corey Frerichs outdueled Mets pitching prospect Jeurys Familia. Scott Krieger struck out three times in four trips, but the one time he didn't, he knocked it out of the park for a solo homer. I love that guy. Matt Cline was 1-2 with two walks, and Erik Komatsu was 1-4 with his 21st steal. The Manatees are now 6-3 with one game to go on their 10-game road trip. Brevard County play-by-play It looked like the Mets would get a run right off the bat, but Byrd bore down: St. Lucie Bottom 1st Pedro Zapata singles on a ground ball to shortstop Josh Prince. Michael Fisher singles on a ground ball to right fielder Scott Krieger. Pedro Zapata to 3rd. Wilmer Flores pops out to third baseman Peter Fatse in foul territory. Stefan Welch pops out to third baseman Peter Fatse in foul territory. Juan Lagares strikes out swinging. They tried again in next inning but still couldn't get a run in: St. Lucie Bottom 2nd Rafael Fernandez grounds out, second baseman Matt Cline to first baseman Sean Halton. Hector Pellot doubles (5) on a fly ball to right fielder Scott Krieger. Richard Lucas reaches on fielding error by second baseman Matt Cline. Hector Pellot to 3rd. With Jean Luc Blaquiere batting, Hector Pellot caught stealing home, catcher Sean McCraw to second baseman Matt Cline to catcher Sean McCraw, Richard Lucas to 2nd. Jean Luc Blaquiere flies out to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Josh Prince got a little greedy here leading off the 5th: Brevard County Top 5th Josh Prince singles on a ground ball to center fielder Juan Lagares. With Peter Fatse batting, Josh Prince steals (36) 2nd base. With Peter Fatse batting, Josh Prince caught stealing 3rd base, catcher Jean Luc Blaquiere to third baseman Richard Lucas.

Adam McCalvy reports that the Brewers' players will be part of the Surprise Rafters, who will be managed by Huntsville skipper Mike Guerrero.

Final: @AZL Brewers 5, AZL Reds 3 AZL Brewers box score The Brewers got four in the 5th and rode that to victory. Dane Amedee allowed just an unearned run in four innings, and Travis Stortz worked the next four, allowing two runs (one earned), for the win. Putting in a relief appearance for the Reds was RHP Lucas O'Rear, who will be more familiar to you as F Lucas O'Rear from the University of Northern Iowa basketball team. The Brewers struck out 13 times but compensated by drawing eight walks; in fact, everyone but Kenny Allison and Jhonatan Javier coaxed a free pass, and Allison compensated by doubling and driving in three, while Javier was 2-4. Javier, though, committed two throwing errors and a passed ball. T.J. Mittelstaedt was 2-3 with a double. Jody Gerut, in his first rehab appearance, was 0-2 with two walks. AZL Brewers play-by-play AZL Brewers Bottom 5th Demetrius McKelvie walks. Jhonatan Javier singles on a line drive to right fielder Juan Silva. Demetrius McKelvie to 2nd. Nick Shaw strikes out swinging. With Yadiel Rivera batting, wild pitch by Ismael Guillon, Demetrius McKelvie to 3rd. Jhonatan Javier to 2nd. Yadiel Rivera strikes out swinging. Jody Gerut walks. Kenneth Allison doubles (6) on a line drive to center fielder Kurtis Muller. Demetrius McKelvie scores. Jhonatan Javier scores. Jody Gerut scores. Pitcher Change: Po-Cheng Chi replaces Ismael Guillon. Thomas Mittelstaedt walks. Wild pitch by pitcher Po-Cheng Chi. Kenneth Allison scores. Maxwell Walla lines out to shortstop Junior Arias.

Final: @Orem 10, Helena 2 Owlz bats Brew up win Orem Owlz After two games of struggling bats the Owlz found their offense in a 10-2 victory over the Helena Brewers on Monday night. The Owlz would jump on the Brewers by putting up 8 of their runs in the first four innings. Andrew Heid led off the first inning with a single and after a stolen base and Travis Witherspoon's single to move Heid to third, Kole Calhoun drove in Heid with a sacrifice fly. The second inning saw Rolando Gomez hit a solo home run off of the top of the scoreboard in right-center field. The five-foot seven Gomez has now hit three home runs on the season. "I'm short and quick to the ball. I use legs and hips to generate my power. As you can see, I'm not that big," said Gomez. The Owlz would double their lead to four in the bottom of the third after a two out, two-run home run by Thomas Nichols. "Nichols comes up with two strikes and two outs and hits a two run homer. That was large," Owlz manager Tom Kotchman said. "One of the biggest hits tonight." Orem would keep up the doubling trend plating another 4 runs in the bottom of the fourth. Ricky Alvarez started off the inning with a double and was moved over to third on an Andrew Oldfield sacrifice bunt. Alvarez would score on a Heid sac fly the next at-bat. A walk for Travis Witherspoon would chase starting pitcher Stosh Wawrzasek. Reliever Robert Currie would walk Calhoun and Brandon Decker would drive in both Witherspoon and Calhoun on a hard hit double down the right field line. A Nichols single to right in the next at-bat would plate Decker for the fourth run of the inning. The only runs for Helena would come in the top of the fifth off of Owlz starter Max Russell. Helena would string together 4 consecutive hits to start the inning to put their two runs on the scoreboard. With men on second and third, and the Brewers looking to chip further into the Owlz lead, Russell would shut down that threat getting a fly-out and back to back strikeouts to end the inning. "When [Russell] gave up the two runs, and he had men on second and third and nobody out, he put it in another gear to get out of that inning with no more runs being scored," said Kotchman. Russell would leave after the fifth inning and be replaced by Bryant George. In keeping with the recent trend the bullpen was stellar again. George would pitch three scoreless innings only giving up four hits and striking out two. Four walks and a hit batter would give the Owlz the last two runs of the game in the bottom of the 8th. Carmine Giardina would pitch the ninth giving up two hits but would strand both runners to end the game. The final game of this series with the Brewers is tomorrow night at 7:05 PM. This is the final game of the seven game home stand before the team hits the road for four games in Casper and Idaho Falls. Helena box score Ouch. Wawrzasek allowed six runs in 3.2 innings, and Thomas Keeling's control continues to be mostly rumor, as he walked three of the four batters he faced at hit the other, two of home came in to score. Keeling has barely recorded more outs than walks, having handed out 19 free passes in 6.2 innings to start his career. The diamond in the rough is Austin Ross's sterling relief outing, three perfect innings with four strikeouts. The Brewers tallied 11 hits and were very democratic about it: no one had more than two, and only Franklin Romero went hitless. Unfortunately, only two of the 11 hits were for extra bases, and they drew no walks. Helena play-by-play I'm glad I wasn't listening to this; I might have had a stroke: Orem Bottom 8th Pitcher Change: Thomas Keeling replaces Austin Ross. Andrew Oldfield walks. Andrew Heid walks. Andrew Oldfield to 2nd. Travis Witherspoon walks. Andrew Oldfield to 3rd. Andrew Heid to 2nd. Kole Calhoun hit by pitch. Andrew Oldfield scores. Andrew Heid to 3rd. Travis Witherspoon to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Ryan Bernal replaces Thomas Keeling. Brandon Decker walks. Andrew Heid scores. Travis Witherspoon to 3rd. Kole Calhoun to 2nd. Thomas Nichols called out on strikes. Wes Hatton strikes out swinging. Ryan Broussard pops out to second baseman Shea Vucinich.

Stars miss multiple opportunities, fall to Suns Aaron Morse/Huntsville Stars Matt Dominguez hit a walk-off single in the ninth as the Jacksonville Suns (17-14, 57-44) edged the Huntsville Stars (16-15, 49-52) by a final score of 2-1 Monday night. Huntsville left 13 men on base in the contest and the Stars were only 2-19 with runners in scoring position. The lack of production wasted a great Double-A debut from Wily Peralta as he went six innings, scattering six hits, giving up a lone run while walking four and striking out five. The Stars got on the board first in the second inning. Chris Nowak led-off with a double. One out later Chuckie Caufield drew a walk. That’s when Lee Haydel came up big with a RBI single to give Huntsville the 1-0 lead (audio). But the Suns responded right away against Peralta in the bottom half of the frame. With two away Tim Torres singled to center and John Otness doubled him home. The play at the plate was very close but Torres just slid in under Anderson De La Rosa’s tag to even things at one (audio). Neither team scored again until the ninth, but it’s not like the Stars didn’t have their fair share of chances. In fact, they got a runner in scoring position every inning from there on out with the exception of the ninth, yet they were unable to score. Perhaps their best opportunity came in the fifth when they couldn’t take advantage of a lead-off triple off the bat of Brett Lawrie. The Suns finally made the Stars pay in the ninth against Lucas Luetge (1-2) and Robert Hinton. Lorenzo Scott singled off Luetge to start the inning. Ryan Curry bunted him over to second and the Stars decided to intentionally walk Vinny Rottino. Mike Guerrero called on Hinton to try and get Southern League All-Star Game MVP Matt Dominguez out. He was unable to as Dominguez singled up the middle, driving in Scott for the walk-off win (audio). With the loss, the Stars fall to two games back of the Tennessee Smokies in the north division. The Stars are off Tuesday before returning to Joe Davis Stadium on Wednesday to open a 10-game home stand. The Mississippi Braves are in town and you can hear all the action on www.huntsvillestars.com. First pitch on Wednesday is at 7:00 PM central time. Edit: for audio

Final: @Jacksonville 2, Huntsville 1Dominguez walk-off single lifts Suns over Huntsville J.P. Shadrick/Jacksonville Suns Jacksonville, Fla. - In a game that featured 26 combined runners left on base, Matt Dominguez scored Lorenzo Scott from second base with a ninth inning single, sending the Jacksonville Suns (57-44, 17-14) to their sixth walk-off win of the season, for a 2-1 final over the Huntsville Stars (49-52, 16-15) in front of 5,283 Monday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Suns reliever Jose Ceda (3-0) picked up the winning decision, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning. Stars reliever Lucas Luetge (1-2) fell in the loss after being charged with the game-winning run. Huntsville and Jacksonville traded second inning runs. Chris Nowak led off the top of the second with a first pitch double off Suns starter Andrew Miller. Lee Haydel later singled Nowak in for a 1-0 score. In the bottom of the inning Tim Torres followed a double-play groundout with a single and scored on a John Otness double to left-centerfield for a 1-1 deadlock. Andrew Miller allowed one run with five hits, five walks and six strikeouts over five and two-thirds innings without factoring in the decision. Huntsville left 13 runners on base, including bases loaded in the second and fifth innings. Huntsville finished 2-for-19 with runners in scoring position. Jacksonville opened the ninth inning with a Lorenzo Scott single. Ryan Curry then sacrificed Scott to second base before an intentional walk of Vinny Rottino. Reliever Robert Hinton entered from the bullpen and allowed a Matt Dominguez single to centerfield, bringing in Scott from second base just ahead of center fielder Caleb Gindl's throw to the plate for the 2-1 win. Suns RH Jeff Allison will face Carolina Mudcats LH Travis Webb in game one of the series at Five County Stadium on Wednesday July 28. Live radio coverage will be available on WFXJ-AM 930 and online at jaxsuns.com. Huntsville box score Wily Peralta's AA debut went decently: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 5 K, 6/5 GO/AO, 91 pitches, strikes. As you can tell from the walks and the percentage of strikes, Peralta struggled with his control, but hopefully that was just debut jitters. Chad Anderson said Peralta was sitting 92-93 in the 1st inning and hitting 96. Lee Haydel had the best night, 3-3 with a walk and two steals. Brett Lawrie was 1-4 with an intentional walk and his league-leading 13th triple. Caleb Gindl doubled once in five trips, and Taylor Green took the collar. Huntsville play-by-play Clutch pitching: Jacksonville Bottom 4th Brandon Tripp hit by pitch. Jason Delaney walks. Brandon Tripp to 2nd. Tim Torres singles on a ground ball to left fielder Lee Haydel. Brandon Tripp to 3rd. Jason Delaney to 2nd. Coaching visit to mound. John Otness pops out to second baseman Brett Lawrie. Andrew Miller lines out to shortstop Zelous Wheeler. Lorenzo Scott strikes out swinging. Jacksonville Bottom 6th Jason Delaney grounds out, third baseman Taylor Green to first baseman Chris Nowak. Tim Torres walks. John Otness singles on a ground ball to left fielder Lee Haydel. Tim Torres to 2nd. With Jeff Corsaletti batting, Wily Peralta picks off Tim Torres at 2nd on throw to Zelous Wheeler. Jeff Corsaletti strikes out swinging. Unclutch hitting: Huntsville Top 5th Brett Lawrie triples (13) on a fly ball to left fielder Vinny Rottino. Caleb Gindl strikes out swinging. Zelous Wheeler walks. Chris Nowak walks. Zelous Wheeler to 2nd. Taylor Green grounds into a force out, first baseman Jason Delaney to catcher John Otness. Brett Lawrie out at home. Zelous Wheeler to 3rd. Chris Nowak to 2nd. Taylor Green to 1st. Chuck Caufield grounds out, third baseman Matt Dominguez to first baseman Jason Delaney. Lawrie hit the ball hard a couple other times besides his triple, grounding out sharply to the pitcher once (Anderson described it as a "look what I found" type of play where the pitcher throws his glove up just to protect himself) and lining out another.

"Westlonder Marcelino"--I love it.

Final (game one): @South Bend 4, Wisconsin 3 (7 innings)Hawks swoop in for game one win Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers SOUTH BEND, IN – David Nick’s two run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning gave the South Bend Silver Hawks a lead they would not give up. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Silver Hawks traded the lead three times before the decisive homer by Nick in game one of a doubleheader on Monday night at Coveleski Stadium. Wisconsin (40-57 overall, 14-15 second half) scored in the first inning. Scooter Gennett singled with one out. Kentrail Davis followed with a double off the left field wall and the Rattlers were up 1-0. There was a chance for more. Chris Dennis singled to right with two outs and Davis was waved home, but the throw to the plate just got Davis for the final out. Rattlers starting pitcher Nick Bucci cruised through the first three innings. But, he ran into trouble in the fourth. Nick tripled off the top of the wall in left field. A one out walk to Matt Davidson put runners at the corners. A wild pitch by Bucci moved Davidson into scoring position. Bucci got the second out on a liner to third. However, the first pitch to Errol Hollinger crossed up catcher Cameron Garfield and it went as a passed ball to allow Nick to score the tying run. Later, Hollinger lined a 3-2 pitch to center to knock in Davidson to give the Silver Hawks (41-55, 11-17) a 2-1 lead. That lead did not last long. South Bend starting pitcher Mike Belfiore walked the first two Rattlers of the top of the fifth inning. Wisconsin had only moved the runners to second and third with two outs. D’Vontrey Richardson stepped to the plate and sent a high chopper to short. The speedy center fielder hustled down the line and forced a hurried throw that pulled the first baseman off the bag. Both runners scored and the Rattlers were back in front 3-2. Bucci got the first two outs of the bottom of the fifth inning. However, Bucci walked Keon Broxton to bring Nick back to the plate. The South Bend second baseman hit one over the wall in left for a two-run homer and a 4-3 Silver Hawks lead. Kevin Munson, a 4th round pick out of James Madison, got the final out of the top of the fifth inning and worked a 1-2-3 top of the sixth. He picked up his first professional win when Yonata Ortega struck out three Rattlers in order in the top of the seventh to end the game. The save for Ortega was his 21st of the season. Wisconsin box score Bucci's line: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2/6 GO/AO, 76 pitches, 49 strikes. Matt Costello worked the last inning. Richardson is now 0 for his last 19. He does get some points for putting the ball in play during the at-bat Chris highlighted above; he'd struck out twice already in the game and at a ferocious pace in general this season. As to how the runner from second was able to score on the play, the South Bend first baseman came down awkwardly, twisting his ankle and landing in a heap, and was thus unable to get anything on his throw. Gennett finished 1-2 with the walk, the only Rattler on base more than once, and his one out was a long fly ball to the track that Mehring though had a shot to get out. Nice to see Garfield draw another walk. Wisconsin play-by-play

Final: Nashville 12, @Albuquerque 6Sounds take finale from Isotopes, 12-6 Nashville Sounds ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Nashville Sounds powered past the Albuquerque Isotopes, 12-6, on Monday afternoon at Isotopes Park in the finale of a four-game set. With the victory, Nashville (55-47) splits the season series with Albuquerque, 8-8, for the second consecutive season. The Sounds erupted for seven runs in the opening frame as the Sounds batted around for the sixth time this year, highlighted by outfielder Lorenzo Cain hitting two triples off Albuquerque starter Alberto Bastardo in the same inning. Cain led off the contest with his first triple to right field and scored the first run on a Norris Hopper RBI single in the next at-bat. Bastardo then offered up a two-run home run to Joe Koshansky over the right field wall for a 3-0 lead. Koshansky's homer was his team-leading 17th of the season and his second straight game with a long ball. Bastardo then allowed three consecutive singles to Nashville, as catcher Martin Maldonado extended his season-long hitting streak to 13 games with an RBI base hit to center to score Ray Olmedo. After a Chase Wright walk, Cain smacked a two-out bases-clearing triple to center for a 7-0 Sounds advantage. Cain's accomplishment marked the fourth time that any player in the minor leagues has recorded two triples in the same inning since 2005: Peter Bourjos of the Rookie Orem Owlz in 2006, Dayton Buller of the Double-A Connecticut Defenders in 2007, and Carl Uhl of the Single-A Williamsport Crosscutters in 2009. It was also the 11th time in Sounds history a player has tripled twice in a game, as Dave Krynzel was the last to do so on April 16, 2006 vs. the Oklahoma RedHawks. Former Sounds outfielder Trent Oeltjen doubled to begin the next frame for Albuquerque and later scored on a Jay Gibbons RBI single to put the Isotopes on the board. Nashville added a run in the next inning for an 8-1 lead. Brendan Katin was hit a Bastardo pitch, moved to second on a fielder's choice, advanced to third on an Olmedo single, and then came home on an Eric Farris infield groundout. Nashville scored two more runs in the next inning as Cain singled to begin the Nashville third and advanced on to third on an Albuquerque fielding error. Mat Gamel recorded an RBI for the eighth straight contest by driving home Cain from third with a line drive base hit, followed by Nashville's 10th run of the contest coming on a Jesus Rodriguez wild pitch that allowed Hopper to score. The Isotopes plated three runs on four hits in the next frame to come within six runs with RBIs from Justin Sellers, Gibbons, and Jamie Hoffmann. The Sounds got a run back in the top of the fifth inning as the club recorded three consecutive base hits off reliever Josh Lindblom. Hopper singled to center to lead off, moved to second on a Gamel base hit, and came home on a Katin RBI base knock. Albuquerque scored its final two runs in the next frame from RBI doubles from Lucas May and Oeltjen. Maldonado scored Nashville's 12th run on a two-out solo homer in the top of the eighth inning. The Sounds catcher belted the first pitch he saw from Ramon Troncoso for his third long ball of the season. Sounds starter Chase Wright (7-6) got the win, allowing six runs while scattering 11 hits with five strikeouts over five innings thrown. In his fourth rehab appearance for the Brewers, reliever LaTroy Hawkins gave up two hits in two scoreless innings. Donovan Hand also threw a scoreless frame in relief. Bastardo (4-2) was roughed up for eight runs (four earned) on six hits in 1 1/3 innings pitched to take the loss for the Isotopes. Farris and Gamel each added two hits to extend their identical hitting-streaks to 10 games. The Sounds travel back to Music City to open an eight-game homestand, beginning at 7:05 pm CT tomorrow evening at historic Greer Stadium against the division-rival Omaha Royals. Right-hander Marty McLeary (4-6, 8.13) takes the mound for Nashville against Omaha right-hander Luis Mendoza (5-7, 4.97). http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2010/07/02/ciJcvnda.jpg(Mike Strasinger/Nashville Sounds) Nashville box score How about that Lorenzo Cain? You can listen to Stu call the second triple: "Two triples, and I repeat, two triples in one inning for Lorenzo Cain!" Cain also added a walk to go with his three hits. Also, how crazy is it that Dayton Buller of all people is one of the few recently minor leaguers to accomplish the same feat? Hawkins struck out none and walked none, throwing 21 of his 28 pitches for strikes. It's strange looking at the line score and seeing that the home team, trailing, didn't get to bat in the bottom of the 9th. Nashville play-by-play It's almost like the rain waited for Cain to take a curtain call before closing in. This is how the game ended: Nashville Top 9th Lorenzo Cain walks.

MLB press release: Discuss in the DSL Brewers thread.

ESPN's Jorge Arangure reports that three DSL Brewers were suspended for positive drug tests: IF Allixon Cequea, OF Erickson Salaya, and RHP Leonard Lorenzo.

Chad Anderson interviews hot-hitting Taylor Green.

Per MLB.com's Jordan Schelling, Jeremy Jeffress was promoted to Huntsville and will report on Wednesday. Discuss in the Jeffress thread.

Here's a photo gallery of some of the AZL Brewers, from the same Bill Mitchell. You can see what some of the newest Brewers look like, plus some other mystery men like Brooks Hall and Jhonatan Javier.

Kevin Goldstein said Pokorny was 91-93.

Final: AZL Brewers 8, @AZL Mariners 3AZL Brewers box score Charly Bashara started and went seven strong innings, allowing three runs (two earned). Dexter Bobo finished up the last two frames. Second baseman Nick Shaw had a great night, 4-5 with two doubles. Shaw had been doing a great job singling and taking walks, but had only five extra-base hits entering today. Jason Rogers was also a force, homering to go with two doubles of his own. The 6'2", 250-pound first baseman had displayed even less power than Shaw coming in, with just four extra-base knocks to his name, so it's nice to see him start flexing his muscles and take advantage of the hot Arizona air. Tyler Roberts continues to hit well, also doubling twice and drawing a walk. Roberts committed no passed balls but did have a throwing error. T.J. Mittelstaedt, 3-4 tonight, continues to rebound from his slow start. Max Walla was 1-4 with a double and three strikeouts. It had been reported that Jody Gerut would begin a rehab assignment in Arizona tonight, but he did not. AZL Brewers play-by-play Two out thunder from the Brewers in the 4th: AZL Brewers Top 4th Tyler Roberts doubles (10) on a line drive to left fielder Jean Acevedo. Jason Rogers doubles (3) on a ground ball to left fielder Jean Acevedo. Tyler Roberts scores. Maxwell Walla strikes out swinging. Yadiel Rivera called out on strikes. Thomas Mittelstaedt singles on a line drive to center fielder Alfredo Morales. Jason Rogers scores. Thomas Mittelstaedt to 2nd on the throw. Derrick Shaw doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Guillermo Pimentel. Thomas Mittelstaedt scores. Nick Shaw doubles (5) on a fly ball to left fielder Jean Acevedo. Derrick Shaw scores. John Bivens strikes out swinging. I guess Roberts was trying to pick off the runner here: AZL Mariners Bottom 4th Carlos Ramirez walks. Ji-Man Choi singles on a fly ball to center fielder Kenneth Allison. Carlos Ramirez to 2nd. Jose Flores singles on a fly ball to right fielder Maxwell Walla. Carlos Ramirez to 3rd. Ji-Man Choi to 2nd. Guillermo Pimentel grounds out, shortstop Yadiel Rivera to first baseman Jason Rogers. Carlos Ramirez scores. Ji-Man Choi to 3rd. Jose Flores to 2nd. Jean Acevedo grounds out, shortstop Yadiel Rivera to first baseman Jason Rogers. Ji-Man Choi scores. Jose Flores to 3rd. Jose Flores scores. Throwing error by catcher Tyler Roberts. Alfredo Morales strikes out swinging.

Despite that report, Gerut was not in the starting lineup for the AZL Brewers.

Final: @Albuquerque 14, Nashville 2 (7 innings)Sounds trounced by Isotopes in rain-shortened game Nashville Sounds ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Nashville Sounds had their three-game winning streak snapped with a rain-shortened 14-2 loss to the Albuquerque Isotopes on Sunday evening at Isotopes Park. The game was called due to rain at the conclusion of the seventh inning, following a 30-minute delay. Isotopes starter John Ely turned in a quality start and Albuquerque hitters belted a trio of three-run homers on the evening to contribute to the victory. Ely (4-1) was credited with a complete game as he held the Sounds to two runs on five hits over seven innings, striking out five batters in the outing. The Sounds (54-47) took a short-lived lead in the top of the first inning as Lorenzo Cain opened with contest with double to center off Albuquerque starter John Ely then scored on Mat Gamel's one-out RBI single. Gamel's run-scoring knock increased his longest hitting streak of the year to nine games. Nashville starter Chris Waters struggled in the opening frame for the second consecutive outing, giving up four runs in the bottom of the inning as the Isotopes stormed out to a 4-1 lead. Jamie Hoffmann and Russ Mitchell singled before John Lindsey (4-for-4) smashed a three-run homer to center off Waters, the first baseman's 16th roundtripper of the year, to put the home team on top by a 3-1 count. Former Sound Jay Gibbons followed with a double and, after Waters walked a pair of batters to load the bases, scored the fourth run of the frame on a Justin Sellers sacrifice fly. Sellers drove in a game-high five runs on the night for Albuquerque. The Isotopes upped their advantage to 7-1 in the fourth with their second three-run homer of the night, this one coming off the bat of Mitchell against Waters. Hoffmann drew a one-out walk and Ivan DeJesus, Jr. singled before both scored on Mitchell's 17th longball of the season. Waters (5-8) drew a loss for the fourth straight start after giving up seven runs on nine hits over just four innings of work. He walked a season-high five batters for the second straight outing. The left-hander has posted just one victory in his last 12 trips to the hill for the Sounds (1-7, 5.86 ERA, 38er/58.1ip). Left-hander Chuck Lofgren took over on the Nashville hill in the fifth and fared no better than Waters, giving up seven runs (five earned) over three innings in his first relief inning of the season. The Isotopes greeted Lofgren with a three-run fifth. Hoffmann contributed an RBI single before Gibbons plated two unearned runs with a single later in the frame as Albuquerque stretched its lead to 10-1. The Isotopes tacked on their 11th run in the sixth when Sellers doubled home Michael Restovich, who had drawn an inning-opening walk from Lofgren. First baseman Joe Koshansky led off the seventh inning with his team-leading 16th home run of the year for Nashville, a blast to center off Ely that made it an 11-2 contest. Sellers walloped the home team's third three-run homer of the night in the seventh off Lofgren, the infielder's fifth big fly of the year. Second baseman Eric Farris led off the second with a single for the Sounds to extend his PCL hitting streak to nine games. He is 3-for-7 in two games with Nashville since returning from the D.L. The teams wrap up the series with 1:05 p.m. CT contest on Monday afternoon. Left-hander Chase Wright (6-6, 4.25) will man the bump for the Sounds to take on Albuquerque southpaw Alberto Bastardo (4-1, 4.24). Nashville box score Both Cain and Gamel finished 1-3. You can listen to Koshansky's blast here. Ugly line from Lofgren. But hey, we scored first! Nashville play-by-play

Final: Helena 4, @Orem 2Owlz drop from first half contention Orem Owlz The Owlz dropped out of contention for the first half title with a 4-2 loss to the Helena Brewers Sunday night. Cody Hawn hit two home runs in the game to power the Brewers. Hawn's two-run home run in the first inning put the Brewers out in front and they never looked back. The Brewers tacked on another run in the second inning to go ahead 3-0. Travis Witherspoon chipped away at the lead with a solo home run(6) in the sixth inning, but Hawn's second home run of the game in the top of the ninth put the Brewers up 4-1. Thomas Nichols led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run but the comeback was cut short as Helena closer Brian Garman retired three of the next four Owlz batters. Nichols broke out of a slump by going 3-for-4 on the day with a single, a double, and the home run. Matt Miller, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 draft, started the game for the Brewers and pitched six innings giving up only four hits and one earned run. He was relieved by 2010 second rounder Jimmy Nelson who threw 2.1 innings and gave up three hits and one earned run. "We gave up two runs in the first inning and in this league that shouldn't beat you," Owlz Manager Tom Kotchman said, "but when you are facing [Helena's] fifth and second rounder, it can be good enough to beat us." The Owlz squandered away a couple of big rallies early in the game by grounding into three double plays in the first four innings. Kevin Johnson made his first start of the season on the mound and threw five strong innings only giving up four hits and three earned runs. "Johnson did a good enough job to win, but we just didn't do it," Kotchman said. "That's been the story of this club this season, we've played just good enough to lose." Helena box score Hawn finished 3-4 and bumped his line to .326/.409/.593. Awesome. Johnny Dishon also had a nice game, 2-3 with a walk and his 10th steal. Those two tallied five of the Brewers' six hits. Shea Vucinich was hitless but walked and was hit by a pitch. Miller walked four and struck out three, while Nelson had two of each. Both kept the ball on the ground well, 11/4 GO/AO for Miller and 4/1 for Nelson. Helena play-by-play The recap is wrong: Garman came on with one out and one on in the 9th and retired the only two batters he faced. He's allowed only one earned run in 15.2 innings this year. Miller induced double-play grounders to get out of jams in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th. His best Houdini act was the 2nd: Orem Bottom 2nd Brandon Decker walks. Michael Sodders singles on a line drive to center fielder Franklin Romero. Brandon Decker to 2nd. Thomas Nichols singles on a line drive to right fielder John Dishon. Brandon Decker to 3rd. Michael Sodders to 2nd. Ryan Broussard strikes out swinging. Jesus Campos grounds into double play, shortstop Shea Vucinich to second baseman Connor Lind to first baseman Cody Hawn. Thomas Nichols out at 2nd.

Final: Wisconsin 7, @South Bend 1Rattlers call down the thunder Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers SOUTH BEND, IN – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers turned in solid to special performances in their 7-1 win on Sunday over the South Bend Silver Hawks. The Wisconsin offense knocked out nine more hits, including two-run homers from Scooter Gennett and Hunter Morris. The defense turned in their third error free game out of four in their current road trip with a couple of spectacular plays for good measure. Eric Arnett continued his resurgence with three scoreless innings for a save. And starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi topped it all. Gennett started the scoring for Wisconsin (40-56 overall, 14-14 second half) with a long two-run homer to right-center with two outs in the top of the third inning. Wisconsin tacked on three runs – with a little help from the Silver Hawks (40-55, 10-17) – in the top of the fourth inning. Khris Davis scored from third on a wild pitch. Morris scored from third on a passed ball. Michael Marseco knocked in Cutter Dykstra from third with a safety squeeze bunt and the Rattlers were up 5-0. Odorizzi retired the first nine batters he faced. The final out of that streak came on an incredible diving catch by D’Vontrey Richardson in right-center. The Rattlers center fielder raced back on a ball hit by Ender Inciarte and laid out for the ball turned away from the infield to secure the third out of the third inning. The streak ended when Odorizzi allowed a leadoff triple to Keon Broxton and an RBI double to David Nick to start the fourth inning. Then, the Rattlers starter retired the next three batters to allow the Wisconsin hitters a chance to extend the lead. Davis started the two out rally in the fifth with a single. Morris followed with a home run to right and the Rattlers went up 7-1. Odorizzi pitched seven innings, allowed one run on three hits, and struck out eight before turning the game over to the bullpen. The bullpen on Sunday was Arnett, who came in and tossed three scoreless innings to pick up his first Midwest League save. Arnett struck out a pair and made a play on a hot line drive hit back to him to end the game. Wisconsin and South Bend will conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader on Monday. Game one, a seven-inning contest, begins at 4:00pm CDT and features Nick Bucci (4-4, 3.63) as the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers against Mike Belfiore (1-8, 3.93). The starting pitching matchup in game two, also a seven inning contest, is Hiram Burgos (1-5, 5.40) for the Rattlers against Diogenes Rosario (4-4, 3.57) for the Silver Hawks. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 3:40pm CDT. Wisconsin box scoreOutstanding game from Odorizzi. Gennett finished 2-5, adding a double to his homer and almost knocking another ball out on a long fly out. Morris was 2-4 but left the game in the 7th after fouling a ball off his foot. Khris Davis was also 2-4, with a double and HBP. Kentrail Davis was 1-5. What are the odds that Cameron Garfield would draw the Rattlers' only walk? Garfield also had a single and was hit by a pitch. Wisconsin play-by-play The first five strikeouts for Odorizzi were of the called variety. After allowing three straight hard-hit fly balls, starting with Richardson's catch to end the 3rd, Odorizzi was faced by South Bend's two-headed 3B monster, Bobby Borchering and Matt Davidson, who were both first-round picks last year: South Bend Bottom 4th Keon Broxton triples (16) on a fly ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. David Nick doubles (18) on a fly ball to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Keon Broxton scores. Bobby Borchering strikes out swinging. Matthew Davidson strikes out swinging. Ramon Castillo grounds out, shortstop Michael Marseco to first baseman Hunter Morris. Niiiice.

Well, Money did seem to be implying a lack of effort.

Forgot to mention this the other day. This is from Bill Mitchell, a photographer in Arizona who sees a lot of AZL games: