Link Report for Sun. 6/29 -- Jeffress Goes Today

[twobrewers]

Is there any chance for Jeffress to pitch in AA this year?

 

He seems completely legit. I would prefer that wherever he pitches - it is with the best pitching coach possible.

[Never Outhustled]

Is there any chance for Jeffress to pitch in AA this year?

 

I would think AA is a possibility. Jeffress just dominated for the month of June, posting a 2.29 ERA with 43 Ks in 37 innings. He was a groundball machine, and averaged just over 6 innings a start. His only hiccup this month was a game he pitched in the rain, and he was dominant for the 1st 4 innings of that start too.

 

If Jeffress can spend some time in AA this year, and then make up for lost time in the AFL, he could be in AAA as early as next year. Jeffress is a different pitcher than Gallardo, but they have similar results, and could be on the same timeline.

[battlekow]

Anyone know why Anundsen left the game after 2.7 innings?

[bretsky07]

Anyone know why Anundsen left the game after 2.7 innings?

A long rain delay.

[gregmag]

Laynce Nix, although I think nothing of him as a prospect, is notably on fire.

 

What more can Mat Gamel possibly do? Other than throw, I mean.

 

Best game ever for Roque Mercedes?

 

Is it too early to think about moving Komatsu up? He's just toying with people -- 4 walks against one K to go with all his thunder.

 

Greg.

[And That]

If there wasn't a dearth of OFers between Arizona and Helena, Komatsu might be considered for a promotion pretty quickly. There isn't anyone to replace him with at the moment however.

 

And yes... that was the best performance of Mercedes' career.

[battlekow]

Is it too early to think about moving Komatsu up? He's just toying with people -- 4 walks against one K to go with all his thunder.

I was literally just going to post this, along with the response below, that it was too bad about how few position players there are in Helena. He's really looking like he could use some more advanced competition.

 

[Katuluu]

Isn't that two good performances in a row for Mercedes? For him that is practically white hot.

[ELCABALLO45]

I went to see how the D-Train did today for Lakeland and the game right now is in the 17th.

 

Willis by the way 2ip 1h 1er 3bb's

[LouisEly]

Minor league teams often run low on bodies. That's the way it is, as there isn't a magical reserve team somewhere to draw from.

 

But don't the rookie league teams have greater roster limits than the others? Aren't they allowed something like 30 players on the rookie league teams? Please correct me if I'm wrong here.

 

If they have guys hurt, there is a magical reserve to draw from - undrafted college seniors and independent league ranks. Now the latter is usually only useful for pitchers, as most of the hitters are either washed up major leaguers or never could hit worth a lick to begin with or don't meet the age limits. But for the former, just ask the guys you drafted if they know of any college seniors who didn't get drafted and sign them for two weeks and put the injured guys on the 7-day DL. In general college baseball is equal to A-ball, so any undrafted college seniors can hold their own in Helena. Heck, look and see if anyone at UW-M didn't get drafted and sign them.

 

Edit - it also didn't help that they drafted 30 pitchers and only 15 position players. A little more balance there in rounds 30+ would have been nice.

[TheCrew07]

With all the discussion today about Helena I was looking at the draftees again... I refuse to believe Marseco played college ball, the young man's picture looks like he's 14 years old... only 145 pounds... geez. I've come across dogs that weighed more than that.

[Mass Haas]

Audio Alley:

 

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Coaches Chat with Hitting Coach Harry Spilman

Kind words for Brad Nelson...

 

Huntsville Pre-Game Audio Interview with Starting Pitcher Nic Ungs

Click on the WUMP archive of June 29th, then browse to the 03:00 minute mark...

 

Helena Pre-Game Audio Interview with 8th Round Outfielder Erik Komatsu of Cal State-Fullerton

Click on the KCAP archive of June 29th, then browse to the 17:00 minute mark...

[Mass Haas]

Good discussion on the Helena situation in the posts above.

I urge everyone interested in clicking on Helena broadcaster Steve Wendt's audio link from the Erik Komatsu interview above, then browse to the 26:15 minute mark. Steve explains how Chris Dennis was hurt (ankle twisted lunging for the first base bag in the 4th inning Saturday night), but that Chris felt he was able to play Sunday.

Steve goes on to explain that there also is no backup catcher now, which forced Corey Kemp to catch a third consecutive game Sunday and has him behind the plate until further notice. Derrick Alfonso was injured in a bullpen session, getting hit on the wrist. His short and/or long-term status is not known.

So with a pitcher at DH again on Sunday (Josh Romanski, 2-for-4 on Sunday with two doubles), the Helena roster was without a single extra position player.

[Mass Haas]

dadofandrew wrote:

6 minor league teams, so 5 other teams. They are all there to develop players for the bigs. The concern seems to be poor Helena, playing with only 9 or 10 position players...who cares? Stressing out over stuff like that is a complete waste of time.

 

Al, you might also want to know that Steve Wendt also told his listeners that the sole remaining catcher, 2008 14th rounder Corey Kemp, is nursing a sore shoulder. If you think he'd be playing every single inning right now under normal circumstances, then I'm not sure what to think.

[Mass Haas]

Thanks for your patience everyone, as I obviously focused on audio links this AM while getting my bearings after a full day away Sunday. All the game and media updates will be posted at various points of the mid-morning. Of course, box score links are available at the very top of this thread, thanks.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Round Rock (Astros) 7, Nashville 2

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link while active, text follows --

 

Nix Hits Two More HRs But Sounds Lose 7-2

ROUND ROCK, Texas - Laynce Nix continued his recent power surge by belting two home runs for the second straight night during a 3-for-4 evening, but his efforts were not enough to help the Nashville Sounds avoid a 7-2 loss at the hands of the Round Rock Express on Sunday at The Dell Diamond.

 

The Nashville slugger - who accounted for half of the Sounds' six hits on the evening - has belted five home runs in his last three games and is batting .440 (11-for-25) during his current six-game hitting streak.

 

With the loss, the Sounds (32-51) settled for a series split with the Express after recording wins in the first two contests.

 

After the second inning, only two Sounds players other than Nix reached base against Express pitching (J.R. Hopf, 7th-inning walk; Brendan Katin, 8th-inning PH double).

 

Nix got the evening's scoring started when he crushed his team-leading 14th longball of the season in the top of the first inning, a two-out solo shot to right-center off Round Rock starter Chad Reineke.

 

Round Rock tied the contest in the third when Yordany Ramirez led off with a single against Sounds starter Chris Narveson, was sacrificed to second, and scored on an Edwin Maysonet single.

 

The Express grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Mark Saccomanno singled and later scored on a Ramirez sacrifice fly.

 

Round Rock gave itself some breathing room in the fifth with a four-run rally against Narveson keyed by a pair of home runs. J.R. Towles pushed the Express lead to 3-1 when he homered for the second straight night, belting a one-out solo shot to left for his fourth roundtripper of the season. Later in the frame, a J.R. House single and Saccamanno walk put a pair of ducks on the pond for Nick Gorneault, who slugged a two-out, three-run homer to left for his ninth tater of the year.

 

The Express longball barrage continued in the sixth as Ramirez greeted Sounds reliever Erasmo Ramirez with a solo shot to left, his third longball of the year.

 

Nix struck again in the top of the seventh when he led off with his second home run of the night, a solo shot to right-center off Reineke that reduced the deficit to 7-2.

 

AUDIO: Another Laynce Nix Homer

"Halfway to Mexico!"

Sounds centerfielder Tony Gwynn went 0-for-4 to bring an end to his season-best eight-game hitting streak.

 

Reineke (4-8) turned in a quality start to notch the victory for the Express, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six in his seven frames of action. Nick Regilio and Ray King each tossed a scoreless relief inning to close out the Round Rock win.

 

Narveson (2-10) took his PCL co-leading tenth loss after surrendering six runs on eight hits over his five innings of work.

 

The Sounds travel to Memphis on Monday to complete their road trip with a four-game stop at AutoZone Park against the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds.

 

Right-hander Richie Gardner (6-2, 4.26) is scheduled to start Monday's 7:05 p.m. CT series opener for the Sounds. He'll face Memphis right-hander Brad Thompson (1-1, 7.82).

 

Nashville Box Score

Chris Narveson has done nothing with his golden opportunity in 2008 outside of his fine work in spring training, a regular season nightmare for him, actually...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 6, Carolina (Marlins) 5

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Gamel Gets Offense Going Again in Win Over Carolina

Stars Head to Sevierville After Series Split

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

Mat Gamel collected five hits, scored twice and knocked in a run to pace a 17-hit attack in Huntsville's 6-5 win over Carolina Sunday afternoon to wrap up a six-game set at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The Stars improved to 6-6 in the second half after gaining a series split, while the Mudcats dropped to 6-6. The Stars have won four of 11 against Carolina this season, with seven of the contests decided by either one or two runs.

 

Gamel's double moved Mike Bell to third base with one out in the first inning but the Stars could not score against Josh Johnson, making his second rehab start with the Mudcats, who struck out Matt LaPorta and induced Cole Gillespie to fly out. Troy Cate, making his first start for the Stars, gave up a one-out single to Manuel Mayorson, who advanced to third base on a single by Chris Coghlan. Gaby Sanchez then lined out to the third baseman Gamel, who made an errant, one-hop throw to first base to try to double off Coghlan that allowed Mayorson to score the game's first run.

 

Chris Errecart singled to lead off the second inning and Carlos Corporan singled with one out before Cate dropped down a bunt base hit, in a sacrifice situation, to load the bases. Freddy Parejo grounded out to push in Errecart to tie the game at one. Gamel led off the third with a single and advanced to third base on a single by LaPorta, who moved to second base when nobody was at the bag to take Cameron Maybin's throw back to the infield. Gillespie grounded out to score Gamel and move LaPorta to third before Errecart singled to drive in LaPorta to give the Stars a 3-1 lead. Gamel's two-out RBI hit in the fourth scored Mike Bell to give the visitors a 4-1 advantage.

 

Carolina crept back into the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run single by Bryan Peterson, who was playing in his first game at the double-A level. Cate struck out the next two hitters to end the inning and worked around a leadoff hit by Maybin in the fifth and was lifted after allowing three runs on six hits, walking one and fanning six.

 

Bell singled with two outs in the sixth and Johnson was taken out after reaching his pitch limit and replaced by Tim Corcoran, who suffered the loss in relief on Wednesday. Gamel greeted him with a single that moved Bell to third base and both scored when LaPorta followed with a double to make it 6-3. Johnson took the loss after allowing five runs on 11 hits, while Cate grabbed the win.

 

Steve Bray threw scoreless relief for two innings before another two-run single by Peterson in the eighth cut the lead to 6-5 with his fourth hit of the day. Bray struck out Brett Hayes and was replaced by Jason Shiell, who got pinch-hitter Grant Psomas to fly out to end the inning. Juan Sandoval retired the side in order in the ninth with three ground balls to earn his second save of the series and eighth of the season.

 

The Stars open a four-game series against Tennessee Monday night with southpaw David Welch making the start against Smokies' left-hander James Russell. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 pm central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com and www.730ump.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

Mat Gamel at .379 / .442 / .636 (OPS 1.078); pinch-hit appearance only, but Alcides Escobar has now played in 80 of 82 games, that's fine...

 

Huntsville Game Log

It looks as though rather than waste a pinch-hitter to lead off the 6th, David Welch hit for starting pitcher Troy Cate, who was going to be removed regardless...

[wvpowerblkwel]

Gindl is really starting to heat it up....hitting the ball hard, even when he gets out....keep an eye on him!

 

Edit: thanks for the link, John. I replaced it below as I didn't see your post, first, thanks.

[Mass Haas]

Final: West Virginia 3, Lexington (Astros) 2, ten innings

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

POWER DEFEAT LEGENDS IN 10

Caleb Gindl had three hits in Sunday night's game at Appalachian Power Park between the Power and Lexington Legends. His third hit was a game-winning RBI triple in the bottom of the tenth inning in West Virginia's 3-2 victory.

Gindl's first hit of the night was a leadoff double in the bottom of the second. He scored later in the inning on Curt Rindal's two-out single. It started raining hard in the top of the third with two outs and the bases clear when Matt Cusick hit a solo homer to tie the game. After the homer, the game was delayed an hour and 15 minutes. When play resumed, Brian Pellegrini hit his fourth homer of the series to give the Legends their only lead of the night.

The Power trailed 2-1 until Zelous Wheeler doubled down the left field line with two outs in the fifth inning to score Eric Farris. Farris began the tenth inning with a base hit and scored the winning run on Gindl's triple down the right field line. The victory marked the second time that the Power won in their final at-bat this season.

Curtis Pasma (3-2) tossed two scoreless innings to get the win while allowing just a pair of hits and struck out three. Fernando Abad (0-3) allowed a run on two hits over an inning and a third and was tagged with the loss. Roque Mercedes provided five and a third innings of relief for the Power, allowing just a run on two hits and struck out nine batters in the process. Pasma, Mercedes and Evan Anundsen combined to strikeout 15 Legends batters.

The Power improved to 39-41 on the year and 7-4 in the second half with the win, while the Legends fell to 23-57 on the year and 2-9 in the second half with the loss. The first four batters for West Virginia went 8-for-20. Gindl paced the Power with his 3-for-5 performance while Rindal, Farris, Lee Haydel and Eric Fryer all chipped in with two hits apiece.

The Power will begin a two game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at Appalachian Power Park on Monday night. Left hander Mike Ramlow (2-3, 3.07) will get the start for the Power and the Grasshoppers will counter with right hander Brett Durand (7-3, 5.01). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

***

Link while active, text follows:

Power wait out the rain for win
by Jacob Messer
Charleston Daily Mail sportswriter

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Caleb Gindl brought a long game to an abrupt end.

Four hours and 18 minutes after the South Atlantic League baseball game began, Gindl delivered the game-winning RBI in the West Virginia Power's 3-2, extra-inning victory over the visiting Lexington (Ky.) Legends.

Gindl's one-out double down the right field line scored Eric Farris in the bottom of the 10th inning Sunday night, sending the Appalachian Power Park crowd of 3,921 home happy.

"It was a long game," said Gindl, whose clutch hit came on a 1-2 delivery from Lexington reliever Fernando Abad (0-3). "We have been out here since 6 and it's 10:30 now.

"We hung with them. We knew if we kept putting the ball in play, good things would happen. With two strikes and Farris on first, I'm doing nothing but trying to put the ball in play, put a decent swing on it and see what happens.

"Look what happened ... a lucky bounce over (Lexington first baseman Jonathan Fixler's) head. We'll take it all day."

Gindl was 3-for-5 with two doubles. Farris and Lee Haydel were 2-for-5. Eric Fryer and Curt Rindal were 2-for-4. Gindl and Farris also accounted for West Virginia's other runs.

Gindl gave the Power (39-41 overall, 7-4 in the second half) a 1-0 lead in the second. Gindl smacked a leadoff double and scored two outs later on Rindal's RBI single.

West Virginia tied the score at 2-2 in the fifth. Farris delivered a two-out single and Zelous Wheeler followed with an RBI double.

"We were looking for some momentum," Gindl said. "You look at the scoreboard and we got 13 hits but only three runs."

The Power stranded nine runners.

"We couldn't get any momentum all night," Gindl said. "It wasn't very timely hitting except at the end. It's just one of those things. You just have to stay focused and hang with it."

Power starter Evan Anundsen allowed a two-out solo shot to Matt Cusick in the third, but the umpires issued a rain delay before he could throw another pitch.

It was the only run allowed by Anundsen, who surrendered five hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Power reliever Roque Mercedes replaced Anundsen after the 75-minute rain delay.

Brian Pelligrini smashed Mercedes' second pitch off the top of the scoreboard for his fourth home run in the series and his 12th on the season. Pelligrini's clout gave the Legends (23-57, 2-9) a 2-1 lead.

Mercedes settled down after that, however. He allowed only one more hit, walked one and fanned nine in 5 1/3 innings.

Power reliever Curtis Pasma (3-2) pitched two scoreless innings to pick up the mound win. He gave up two hits but no runs in the eighth and ninth.

West Virginia's walk-off win - its second this season - was its third victory in a row.

"Guys are relaxing a little more now," said Gindl, who is hitting .383 with one home run, six doubles, eight runs and 11 RBI in the second half. "We're starting to play better as a team. Things are starting to click."

West Virginia will start a two-game series against Greensboro (N.C.) at 7:05 (6:05 Central) tonight.

The Power will start left-hander Mike Ramlow (2-3, 3.07). The Grasshoppers will throw right-hander Brett Durand (7-3, 5.01).

After an off day Wednesday, Hagerstown will come to Charleston for a four-game series to complete West Virginia's 10-game homestand at the East End ballpark.

The second-place Power trails the first-place Suns by one game in the Northern Division's second-half standings.

***

West Virginia Box Score

West Virginia Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Nice photo of Evan Anundsen here

[Mass Haas]

Final: Missoula (Diamondbacks) 10, Helena 8

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Missoula rallies to beat Helena

By TOM STUBER - Helena Independent Record

 

The Helena Brewers suffered a late-inning breakdown, Sunday falling to Missoula 10-8 and dropping back below .500 in the process.

 

It was a tough loss to swallow, considering the Brewers were in control throughout the game and had a solid outing from starting pitcher Michael Bowman.

 

"We got ahead, but they put in that lefty and we couldn't come back," said hitting coach Paco Martin, who is filling in for manager Rene Gonzalez.

 

Keny Sosa, the southpaw pitcher, came on with Missoula trailing 5-1 and allowed just one hit and a walk in 5 1/3 innings to set the 331 in attendance on their heels.

 

The Brewers' Bowman gave up just one earned run in his six innings, while striking out six to stay out of serious trouble.

 

Helena reliever Rolando Pascual picked up where Bowman left off as he retired four straight batters after hitting the first man he faced.

 

Everything went south from there as Nelson Gomez hit a solo homer in the eighth to cut the lead to 5-3. Pascual walked the next two batters and gave way to Garrett Sherrill, who walked the first batter he faced.

 

Sherrill had a chance to get out of the bases loaded jam after striking out Tyrell Worthington, but allowed a two-run, game-tying single to leadoff batter Ollie Linton.

 

The Brewers went down in order in their half of the frame, while Missoula continued to pile it on in the ninth.

 

The first two Osprey batters reached safely and Gomez hammered his second long ball in two innings nn this one a three-run homer to left. Missoula scored two more runs to take a 10-5 lead.

 

Helena didn't go quietly, however, as Michael Marseco led off by reaching on an error and John Delaney got his first hit of the game. Erik Komatsu followed with a home run to right to make the score 10-8.

 

"That's how we are," Martin said. "We never give up and are ready to go all the time."

 

The Brewers were looking at a bases empty, two-out situation when Corey Kemp reached on an error and Michael Vass singled, but Jose Duran grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

 

Helena built its 5-1 lead on a pair of solo homers by Komatsu and Chris Dennis, while Duran hit a three-run shot in the third.

 

Game notes: Evan Frederickson, Milwaukee's No. 1 draft pick, was moved up to the Class A West Virginia Power.

 

Manager Rene Gonzales attended a family wedding and missed his second straight game.

 

Brandon Ritchie is today's probable starting pitcher for Helena, while Mile Reagan is expected to throw for Missoula.

 

Helena Box Score

That outing will skew Garrett Sherrill's pitching line for quite a while...

 

Helena Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Fort Myers (Twins) 3, Brevard County 2, ten innings

 

Game Summary from the Miracles' Site:

FORT MYERS, F.L.- A throwing error in the bottom of the tenth inning resulted in the Fort Myers Miracle securing a 3-2 win over the Brevard County Manatees on Sunday afternoon. With the bases loaded and one out in the tenth, a groundball to third by Danny Berg, resulted in Taylor Green hitting base runner Garrett Olson allowing him to slide in safely with the game-winning run.

 

An infield-single to second by Olson started the Miracle tenth, followed by a bunt base hit by Yancarlos Ortiz, sacrifice bunt from Steve Singleton and intentional walk to Edward Ovalle. That set the table for Berg to score Olson with his groundball to third, sparking more controversy at the end of the matinee. Brevard County argued that Olson ran out of the baseline, resulting in Taylor hitting him, which should have been interference and no run scored. The Manatees argued to no avail with the game coming to an end.

 

Midway through in a scoreless ball game, the Miracle crossed the plate first in the fifth as Danny Lehmann snagged an RBI with his groundout to short. The first bit of arguing from 'Tees skipper Mike Guerrero came as Yangervis Solarte was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Guerrero argued that Solarte leaned into the pitch, which should have been called a ball instead of allowing Solarte to reach first, but again, the Manatees to argued to no avail with the Miracle going on top 1-0.

 

It didn't take long for Brevard County to respond offensively as Lorenzo Cain smashed a solo home run to left in the sixth, squaring the contest at a run apiece. After a one-out single by Stephen Chapman in the ninth and an RBI fielder's choice by Jimmy Mojica, the Manatees found themselves three outs away from a 2-1 win. Until Berg led off the home half of the ninth with a single to center, moved to second on Solarte's bunt, and later scored the game-tying run on Eli Tintor's single to center.

 

Brevard County Box Score

Yay, Jeremy Jeffress -- 6 IP; 3 H, 3 BB, 9 K's, 1 R; Lorenzo Cain on base three times; reliever Casey Baron's been solid...

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Rangers 9, Arizona Brewers 3

Arizona Box Score

First pro home run for 17-year-old right-handed hitting Dominican left fielder Jose Garcia...

 

Arizona Game Log

[battlekow]

Gamel made BA's Daily Dish yesterday as a result of his 5-5 game on Sunday:

Prospect Of The Day

Matt LaPorta has his usual good game, going 2-for-5 at Carolina, but the Huntsville (Brewers) right fielder couldn't match the performance of teammate Mat Gamel. The third baseman went a perfect 5-for-5, scoring two runs and hitting his 27th double. There were approximately a dozen scouts in attendance throughout the course of this series, nearly eight more than I've seen at a game at Carolina all season. Part of that is because the draft is over, giving the area scouts an opportunity to do more pro coverage, but with a month to go before the trading deadline, teams were also in town to check out LaPorta and Gamel. With Prince Fielder at first base, Ryan Braun in left field and Gamel still struggling defensively at third base (he made his 22nd error yesterday and struggled throghout the series with his throws and fielding actions), it's unclear how both Gamel and LaPorta will fit into the Brewers' future plans.

[Never Outhustled]

With Prince Fielder at first base, Ryan Braun in left field and Gamel still struggling defensively at third base (he made his 22nd error yesterday and struggled throghout the series with his throws and fielding actions), it's unclear how both Gamel and LaPorta will fit into the Brewers' future plans.

The Brewers really need to just move Gamel off 3rd. They've never been able to coach a guy into being worthwhile defensively, and its not happening with Gamel. Gamel needs to start getting reps at 1B so he's ready to be an asset defensively there when he gets promoted to the bigs. Taylor Green is an underrated prospect, with a patient approach that would be a great addition to the 2 hole in the Brewers lineup. Promote him to AA to fill the 3B hole. If you curve Green numbers for the league he's in, you get an outstanding hitter.