=== Daily Dugout Chatter - Tuesday, August 31st === (Games from Monday, August 30th)
From The My Sportsbook
STUNG!
Gary Johnson's grand slam highlighted a seven-run sixth inning that broke open a 5-1 game and Scott Dunn hurled six strong innings as the Salt Lake Stingers crushed the Tucson Sidewinders 12-2 Monday. Johnson went 1-for-3 on the day with four RBI and two runs scored to pace the offense. Dunn (10-4) allowed just one earned run on six hits in his six innings of work to pick up the win. He walked one batter and struck out nine more. Matt Henrie (1-4) was tagged for five earned runs in only four innings of work to take the loss for Tucson. Henrie gave up six hits and walked two in the outing. Andres Galarraga added a three-run homer, his fourth, in the sixth inning to cap the scoring for Salt Lake. Galarraga finished 1-for-5 with three RBI and one run scored in the win. Wil Nieves added three hits, including a double, one RBI, and two runs scored. Josh Kroeger provided all the offense for the Sidewinders. He smacked a solo home run in the sixth inning, his 10th, and added an RBI sacrifice fly in the eighth.
SCRAPPIN' FOR A WIN
Brett Parker led an offense that scored eight runs over the final two innings to erase a 7-4 deficit and help the Mahoning Valley Scrappers defeat the Williamsport Crosscutters 12-7 in New York-Penn League action Monday. Parker went 3-for-5, including a three-run homer in the ninth inning, knocked in four runs, and scored two more in the win. Michael Hernandez (1-0) picked up the win in relief. He tossed two perfect innings and struck out two batters in the win. Dustin Craig (1-6) gave up three runs, all unearned, in just 1/3rds of an inning to take the loss for Williamsport. Tim Montgomery and Teodoro Encarnacion chipped in two RBI apiece for Mahoning Valley. Montgomery doubled and finished 1-for-4 and Encarnacion smacked his fourth homer and also finished 1-for-4. Brian Bixler went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI to pace the Crosscutters offense.
BEAVERS TOPPLE METS
Sheldon Fulse had three hits and three Portland pitchers combined on a five- hitter for a 3-0 shutout of the Binghamton Mets Monday night. Kason Gabbard (3-6) allowed just two hits over five innings to earn the victory. He fanned two and walked four during his stint. Phil Seibel hurled two innings of shutout relief and Juan Perez finished up to register his sixth save of the season. Jason Scobie absorbed the loss and dropped to 5-4, despite allowing just one run and six hits in six innings of work. Juan Nieves struck the first blow with a lead-off homer opening the third inning, his third of the year. Portland tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh keyed by Fulse's two-out, RBI single. Portland (65-70) has won three straight, while the Mets (76-59) have dropped two straight and find themselves three back of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
BRAVES TAKE DURHAM DEEP
Mike Hessman hit a two run homer in the top of the ninth inning to give the Richmond Braves an extra inning victory over the Durham Bulls in the first game of today's doubleheader. Ryan Langerhans hit a homer and drove in three runs in the first inning to give the Braves an early lead. Jason Maxwell hit an two run double for Durham followed by an RBI double by Luis Ordaz that tied the score at 3-3 in the fifth. For Richmond Luis Lopez went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Buddy Hernandez earned the win pitching one shutout inning of relief. He walked one and struck out one batter. Matt Whiteside earned his 37th save of the season with a perfect ninth inning. Starter Jose Capellan pitched well giving up three runs in seven innings pitched but didn't figure into the decision. Chad Gaudin took the loss for Durham allowing two earned runs in one inning pitched. His record fell to 1-3.
RAMIREZ GETS HIS FIRST
Elizardo Ramirez dominated Birmingham batters for nine innings to lead the Chattanooga Lookouts to 1-0 victory over the Barons on Monday evening. Ramirez threw a complete game shutout to earn his first victory for Chattanooga. He allowed only three hits and three walks while striking out five. Jesse Gutierrez drove in the games only run with an RBI single in the first inning. Edwin Encarnacion scored the run and finished the day 2-for-2 with a double and two walks. Tony Blanco also had two hits for the Lookouts. For Birmingham Dennis Ulacia took the loss pitching seven strong innings and allowing only one earned run. He allowed six hits and four walks as he struck out six batters. With the win Chattanooga improves to 45-18. They are currently in first place in the Southern League's East Division. Birmingham drops to 37-26 with the loss, still six games ahead of Huntsville in the Southern League's West Division. The two teams could meet in the playoffs.
FORMER PHIL ROPES THE WRANGLERS
Ezequiel Astacio and Mike Burns combined on a four-hitter, while Luke Scott accounted for the only run of the game as the Round Rock Express eeked out a 1-0 victory over the Wichita Wranglers Monday night. Astacio (12-10), the key to the Houston Astros trade of Billy Wagner to Philadelphia in the off-season, displayed why he is considered to be such a top-flight prospect. The right- hander surrendered just three hits, striking out six and walking two to earn the win. Burns finished up with two innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three batters. The only run of the game came right in the first inning. Mike Rodriguez stroked a one-out double to left field and following a fly ball, Scott dropped a single to right field scoring Rodriguez. Brett Groves had two hits to pace Wichita. The first-place Express (37-27) have won two straight and five of their last six games, while the Wranglers (33-31) have lost three straight and five of their last six.
WILSON SINGS SOLO
Tom Wilson's solo home run in the top of the eleventh inning propelled the Las Vegas 51s to a 4-3 extra-inning win over the Edmonton Trappers. Wilson, who went 3-for-5, had three RBI on the night. He led off the 11th, crushing his solo shot to right-centerfield off of Edmonton reliever Jeremy Fikac. Luis Garcia contributed a 3-for-3 performance, with a solo home run and two runs scored. Garcia's blast was his 30th of the season. TJ Mathews (1-0) tossed two perfect innings in relief to pick up the win. Mike Venafro allowed two hits in the bottom of the eleventh, but managed to secure the win and earned his first save. Fikac suffered the loss and fell to 5-5. He allowed the home run to Wilson in his only inning of work. Val Pascucci, Matt Cepicky, and Brendan Harris each drove in a run for the Trappers in the loss.
