Bernie Brewer gets slide burns

Bernie Brewer must have injured his skin in the seventh inning with burns from sliding so often as the Brewers cruised to a 10-4 win over the Pirates.
The game was close going into the Brewer seventh at 4-3,but neither Denny Bautista or Sean Burnett could stop the Milwaukee offense as six runs crossed the plate for the Brewers.
Zach Duke allowed four runs in six innings and was credited with another loss in dropping to 4-12.
The Pirates led two to nothing early as Ryan Doumit's first inning fielders choice and Duke's single in the second each produced a run.
It was pretty much a rear kicking from there on with the exception of a seventh inning homer by Brandon Moss (3) that brought the Pirates within one run.
I missed the game due to the late start (central time),but tonight's game starts an hour earlier,so will be able to see this one.

Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh:Tom Gorzelanny (6-7 6.57 ERA) at Milwaukee:Jeff Suppan (8-7 4.62 ERA) 7"05

Bullpen Notes

As you gleaned from above,the Pirates have recalled Tom Gorzelanny from Indianapolis.
Romulo Sanchez was returned to the I-Tribe.

Matt Capps will also return to the roster today and someone must go to make room,but no announcement as of this writing.

Before yesterday's loss,Doug Mientkiewicz was placed back on the roster from the bereavement list and Steve Pearce was returned to Indianapolis.
I was disappointed that Pearce was sent down instead of Nyjer Morgan until I found out that Nate McLouth is fighting off Mono and Morgan is needed to play center.
I understand it,but still feel that Pearce needs to have as many at bats as possible.

The Ashland Arrows crushed the visiting Willard Crimson Flashes 51-13 in Ashland behind a school rushing record by Shane Kipp.
Kipp ripped off 323 yards on 23 carries to lead the Arrows to the win and added four touchdowns to boot.
Ashland will receive a sterner test next Friday in the Bellevue Redmen.

The New Jersey Devils placed veteran Vitali Vishnevski on waivers yesterday.
The hard hitting veteran spent just one year in New Jersey,scoring two goals with five assists.
Devils GM Lou Lamoriello saved some space on the salary cap release and continues to clear extra room for possible deals as the season progresses.

I spoke to a source about the Hagerstown Suns not releasing their schedule as early as other teams and the answer was that they release in September.
It seems to me that it is later than that,but I could be mistaken.
I also brought up the fact that Rome and Charleston had released their sked for 2009.
The retort was that a rule was thought to be in place that prohibits a release until after August 30th.
If that is the case,there are many teams violating that rule!

A terrific article over at Wooden's World of Baseball looks at the bias that the affiliated baseball world has toward those on the Independent circuit.
As someone that admits to having such biases,it is certainly thought provoking.

And finally,a brief shout out to Suns fan "Tony Clifton".
This is not the real Tony Clifton,one of the late Andy Kaufman's alter egos,just a guy that attends all the Suns games and looks just like the Clifton character.
He is not an obnoxious fan or anything,but just seeing him at the games makes me think of all the laughs that Kaufman and manager Bob Zmuda gave me from one of my all time favorites!

This clip is from the Andy Kaufman movie,not the "real" Tony Clifton.


Volare'!

Until tomorrow

Photo Credits
Brewers:Darren Houck-AP Photo