BRANDON KINTZLER PART OF AN 11-WALK NO-HITTER

A few odds and ends while getting ready for this week's Independent Baseball Insider
column on Thursday:

Brandon Kintzler's season has not been what he expected because of early-season injuries, but he will have one oddball game--a no-hitter, no less--to talk about when he looks back on the year.

Now closing games for Milwaukee's Double-A farm club in Huntsville, AL, the righty finished up a 3-1 no-hit win against Chattanooga, TN (Dodgers) over the weekend.

He was the last of five hurlers who worked for the Stars, and the stars in the sky must have had an unusual alignment because the four who appeared ahead of Kintzler walked 11 batters. Yes, 11 walks and still a no-no. Kintzler, whose Independent experience came at St. Paul, MN (American Association) and Winnipeg (before the Goldeyes left the Northern League for the Association), struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to earn his seventh save.

SAD TO SEE CHRISTIAN SENT DOWN

With San Francisco still very much in the thick of a postseason berth and also continuing to tinker with its roster, Justin Christian was a victim, going back to Triple-A Fresno, CA. But since the outfielder is still on the 40-man roster one would have to believe he will be back to the National League team, at least come September 1.

Christian started in pro baseball in the Frontier League (River City, O'Fallon, MO) and later played for Southrn Maryland (Waldorf) in the Atlantic League.

BASEBALL TAKES BACK SEAT TO MOM, EDUCATION

Defending Frontier League champion Joliet, IL probably will not make this year’s playoffs, but the Slammers took a body blow nevertheless recently when all-star second baseman Hector Pellot left for home in Puerto Rico for the remainder of the season for two noble reasons. He is an only child and his mother, Nivea, has been diagnosed with cancer and has other medical issues and Pellot, who spent five years in the New York Mets chain, plans to start studying physics at the University of Puerto Rico.

“I was a good student all my life,” the 25-year-old told The Chicago Sun-Times. “I would like to go to medical school. That’s going to be my goal.” Pellot’s .319 regular season average and a .500 batting average along with two homers and five RBI were key to Joliet’s first-year playoff run.

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