Link Report for Wed. 4/22 -- Walk-Off Drama, Good and Bad

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Reliever Trevor Hoffman (Part 2 of 2)

[Mass Haas]

A few more TimberRattler details from the Post-Crescent Blog

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for new Adam Heether photo, text follows --

 

Sounds Snap Five-Game Wining Streak At Memphis

 

MEMPHIS - The Nashville Sounds lost to the Memphis Redbirds on a score of 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Auto Zone Park in the second game of a four-game series, snapping a five-game winning streak.

 

The Sounds recorded seven hits during the game, but batters 2-5 in the lineup went 0-for-14 and struck out seven times.

 

Memphis starting pitcher Brad Thompson (2-0) earned the win by allowing one run on five hits in five innings of work. Jess Todd struck out three to pick up his third save of the year for the Redbirds.

 

Sounds starter Nick Green (1-1) pitched up his second consecutive quality start, but took the loss, surrendering three runs off six hits over six innings. Chris Smith followed, allowing just one hit in 2.0 innings.

 

Shane Robinson led off the bottom of the first inning with a single, and was brought home on an RBI double by Nick Stavinoha to make the score 1-0. David Freese followed and singled in Stavinoha to give the Redbirds a 2-0 lead. Memphis scored its third run on Matt Pagnozzi's first home run of the season in the second inning.

 

Adam Heether led the way for the Sounds, going 3-for-4 and scoring Nashville's only run in the fifth inning. Heether doubled to start the inning and was brought home on an RBI single by Carlos Corporan to make the score 3-1. Tony Gwynn extended his hitting streak to 12 games after going 2-for-4 this afternoon.

 

AUDIO: Carlos Corproan RBI Single

 

The two teams continue the series with a 7:05 PM matchup on Thursday evening. Right-hander Tim Dillard (2-0, 1.64) takes the hill for Nashville to face right-hander Blake Hawksworth (1-1, 3.60).

 

Nashville Box Score

With four AB's today, Adam Heether is up to only 16 AB's on the season -- that's got to be painful for Adam; Jason Bourgeois with two outfield assists, including one at the plate; Carlos Corporan another good day at the plate and throws out the only baserunner trying to steal -- just Carlos being Carlos; lots of effective strikes thrown by Nick Green and Chris Smith in efficient outings -- are you reading, Mr. Parra?

 

Nashville Game Log

The Redbirds' Jon Jay has an awesome autograph name, and really needs a trade to Toronto...

[WisconsinSportsRule]

It doesn't look like Rogers pitched for Brevard County tonight.

[twobrewers]

To call the Rattler's offense anemic is an understatement. They are just horrible...

(And I thought Zarraga was a break-out candidate!)

 

I need to get to Appleton to see Scarpetta pitch. I hope he doesn't get promoted too soon.

 

Do we have mis-information about Rogers' start - or did something happen?

(Paranoid - but well....I know the history)

[Never Outhustled]

To call the Rattler's offense anemic is an understatement. They are just horrible...

Very true, but do you remember how powerless the Power offense was to start last year? They were awesome by years end, this group could do the same, but they do need Komatsu back.

[rdf8585]

Hopefully, we've seen the last of Scarpetta coming out of the pen.

 

Overall, I believe 15/18 of his K's on the year were via swinging 3rd strikes.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 5, Tampa (Yankees) 4

Brevard County Box Score

We won't have to wait long to see if Mark Rogers' start was simply pushed back a day -- Brevard plays at 10:00 AM Central Thursday; lefty Lucas Luetge (middle initial "L", by the way) gutted out six innings for the win; eventful game for Brent Brewer, his name sprinkled liberally deep within the box score; oddity -- Steffan Wilson is a slugger, but all 12 base hits thus far are singles; catcher Martin Maldonado has a base hit in all ten games he's played -- exactly one hit nine times, two once; did you notice Cole Gillespie in left field for the first time -- hello, Nashville (soon), goodbye sore elbow; nice work, Mark Willinsky and Rob Wooten to finish up, not perfect but effective; it's Evan Anundsen's turn if Rogers doesn't go...

 

Brevard County Game Log

The basepaths were busy with Manatees, but only at a 60% success clip (3-for-5) -- hate how MiLB's box scores will list a "picked off" and a "caught stealing" trying to advance as if the runner was thrown out twice (see Brent Brewer here, out only once)....

[Mass Haas]

Appleton Post-Crescent Photo Gallery

Not identifying players in photos is weak, though -- but often we can figure it out; Cody Scarpetta (big kid) pictures galore; within the gallery, Michael Marseco (batting helmet) after the game-winner...

 

http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=U0&Dato=20090422&Kategori=APC0206&Lopenr=904220814&Ref=PH&Item=9&Maxw=600&Maxh=500

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Timber Rattlers end six-game Midwest League losing streak by edging Peoria

By Ryan Wilson

Post-Crescent staff writer

 

GRAND CHUTE - Even in a relatively dry month, weather has been no friend to baseball teams in this neck of the woods.

 

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers can attest to that. The team finally got back on the field Wednesday afternoon, beating Peoria 3-2 after not having played since Saturday.

 

The three days of rest were good and bad for the Rattlers. Good in that it provided respite for a team that was coming off six consecutive losses. Bad in that, in a game based so much on routine and repetition, there hasn't been any lately.

 

"You get tired of just sitting around and having batting practice and trying to get work in," Wisconsin manager Jeff Isom said. "The only way we're going to get better is to get out on the field."

 

The Timber Rattlers are hoping their return to the field Wednesday could be the beginning of the end of a brief slump. Wisconsin won when shortstop Michael Marseco tripled over the right fielder's head to score two runs with one out in the ninth.

 

For a team that has struggled with the bat, Wednesday's finish couldn't have come at a better time.

 

"We've been playing great defense as a team, but it is an individual game at times," Marseco said. "So to be able to contribute today and get a win, especially when the team has been struggling, is awesome."

 

But as Marseco pointed out, solid pitching and defense didn't escape the Rattlers during their break. Those two areas again kept the team in the game until he came up with his ninth-inning heroics.

 

"Our pitching and defense has played very well for us, and for us to even have a chance there at the end of the game with only two hits … you're usually not going to have an opportunity to win a game like that," Isom said. "We played solid defense and we got good pitching. So they gave us a chance to be in that situation."

 

Wisconsin starter Cody Scarpetta went six innings, giving up just one earned run on three hits, with 10 strikeouts and two walks, and catcher Sean McCraw kept Wisconsin in the game with two plays that saved a couple of runs.

 

McCraw threw out the lead runner on a sacrifice bunt attempt in the second inning. That play turned crucial when the next batter flied out to center on a ball that would have been deep enough to score a runner from third.

 

Then, in the seventh, McCraw threw out another runner at third for the second out when Peoria batter Junior Lake missed a bunt sign. The next pitch was wild, so the throw from McCraw eventually saved yet another run.

 

"On the bunt play, that was pretty much all I had," McCraw said. "It was a good read by (Rattlers third baseman John) Delaney for him to get back to the bag, because when I fielded it and threw it, I was just hoping he (was ready for it)."

 

On deck

 

Game time: Wisconsin vs. Peoria, doubleheader, today at 5:35 PM at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

Season series: The Rattlers lead 1-0.

 

Up and throwing: Game 1: Wisconsin - Efrain Nieves (1-1, 2.79 ERA); Peoria - Chris Archer (0-0, 1.13 ERA). Game 2: Wisconsin - Evan Frederickson (1-0, 4.91 ERA); Peoria - Alberto Cabrera (0-1, 6.35 ERA).

[Mass Haas]

At the same link for the article above, there is a video of pre-game activity in Appleton, including player warm-ups and such.

[Mass Haas]

Looks like Chris Mehring has found a way to archive more audio for us (including Reid Nichols), and the YouTube video is fun.

[bretsky07]

Actually, this is the third time Gillespie has played the outfield this year. He played out there two days in a row sometime last week.

[Never Outhustled]

Looks like Chris Mehring has found a way to archive more audio for us (including Reid Nichols), and the YouTube video is fun.

Thats great news, and a big thanks to Chris for finding a way to get this done. We've gleened some of our best info from these pre-game interviews last year with Nichols, Ash, Money...

[Mass Haas]

Actually, this is the third time Gillespie has played the outfield this year. He played out there two days in a row sometime last week.

Thanks, bretsky07 for the note -- we have lots of Link Report readers, please never hesitate (anyone) to point out tidbits like that if we fail to point them out.

[Mass Haas]

Chris Mehring doesn't miss a beat in keeping us informed:

A TRIPLE? YES, A TRIPLE: There were runners at second and third with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning when Michael Marseco lined the first pitch from Kevin Kreier over the head of right fielder Kyler Burke. Sean McCraw went back to tag and to not get doubled off in case of a catch. By the time he scored, Marseco was at third base and the official scorer properly ruled the play a game-winning triple.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

Was there a reason Rogers didn't pitch?

[Mass Haas]

Was there a reason Rogers didn't pitch?

Probably, and we're the first to admit we have no idea why. he's not on the DL, so if misses next time out as well, we'll as Adam McCalvy to pursue it for us.