Link Report for Thurs. 4/23 -- Four One-Run Wins; Only Manatees Fall

[battlekow]

Final: Huntsville 2, Carolina (Reds) 1

 

Details later tonight from Brett; listened in to the latter innings as Mike McClendon barely held on for the save...

Why is McClendon closing over Aguilar?

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 7, Memphis (Cardinals) 6

 

Details from the Sounds later on; Ryan Houston bails out Chris Narveson for a one-batter save --- tight games abound tonight...

[Mass Haas]

Why is McClendon closing over Aguilar?

No specific reason given on audio, perhaps just a way to ease him back from the oblique; Mike McClendon's peripherals have always been weak, but the Brewers seem to like his makeup, he's got classic 6'5" size.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Bullpen Brilliant Behind Welch

Stars Scratch Out Another One-Run Win

By Brett Pollock / MiLB.com

Derrick Ellison spun 2 1/3 innings of shutout relief, as three relievers combined to shut out Carolina to preserve Huntsville's 2-1 victory Thursday night in the fourth of a five-game set at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, NC. The Stars evened their record at 7-7 but remain a half game behind Tennessee in the North Division, while the Mudcats dipped to 6-8. All seven of the Stars' wins have been decided by one run, as they have played in nine one-run games and 12 games decided by three runs or fewer.

 

The Stars loaded the bases on two singles and a walk against James Avery in the first inning and scored the game's first run on a Vinny Rottino groundout but wound up leaving the bases full. The Mudcats tied the game in the home half when Chris Heisey led off with a double and scored when Zach Cozart singled to drive in his fourth run of the series.

 

Huntsville reclaimed the lead in the second inning when Kevin Melillo drove in a run with a groundball out with the bases loaded after a diving grab of his two-hopper made behind the bag by Logan Parker, the first baseman. Cozart, the Mudcats' shortstop, then made a diving grab on a Rottino ground ball that looked like it was headed into center field and threw him out at first base to end the rally. Huntsville left eight runners on in the first four innings, stranded at least one runner in seven innings, and left a dozen runners on in the game.

 

David Welch got Eric Eymann to ground into a double play with two runners on in the fourth to squash a rally and was relieved with two runners on and two out in the fifth in his longest outing of the season. Ellison took over and retired Todd Frazier to end the frame and then set down six of the next seven hitters he faced to grab his first double-A victory. Omar Aguilar worked a perfect eighth inning before Mike McClendon gave up back-to-back two-out singles in the ninth and then induced Michael Griffin to bounce into a force out at second base to end the game. Welch allowed six hits, walked two and struck out three.

 

Avery suffered the loss after giving up both runs on four hits and five walks over four frames. He made his tenth start against Huntsville since the opening of the 2007 season and is now 2-6 against the Stars. Alexander Smit, Derrick Lutz and Sean Watson blanked the visitors over the final five frames.

 

The series concludes Friday night with Stars' right-hander Mark Holliman making the start against Mudcats' right-hander Misael DeJesus. Coverage of the game begins at 6:00 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

Adam Stern certainly isn't a AA player, 4-for-5 here with his 7th stolen base in as many chances; Jonathan Lucroy 2-for-4 with a walk -- yes, he and Stern combined for all six Stars' hits at the top of the lineup, how about that; Lorenzo Cain 0-for-14 with three walks and six K's in the four games he's been back; kudos to the bullpen, indeed...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[battlekow]

Hey hey, Lawrie with yet another XBH, this time a home run. Given the generous scoring of his "double" earlier today, he now has 9 career hits, 8 of which were for extra bases. Man.

[uwisfan]

Hey hey, Lawrie with yet another XBH, this time a home run. Given the generous scoring of his "double" earlier today, he now has 9 career hits, 8 of which were for extra bases. Man.

I think you missed the fact that he hit for the cycle today! (technically)

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link, text follows --

 

Sounds Hang On To Edge Redbirds, 7-6

MEMPHIS - The Nashville Sounds picked up their sixth victory in the club's last seven contests on Thursday evening at AutoZone Park, coming from behind to defeat the host Memphis Redbirds by a 7-6 count in the third game of a four-game series.

 

Mat Gamel and Brendan Katin each drove in three runs to power the Sounds to victory.

 

After the Sounds took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Tony Gwynn scored on a Gamel sacrifice fly, the host Redbirds posted a four-spot in the bottom of the frame using only one hit against Nashville starter Tim Dillard to grab a 4-1 advantage.

 

Nashville pulled ahead for good in the fourth with a five-run frame against Memphis starter Blake Hawksworth. After Dillard helped his own cause with an RBI single, Gamel and Katin produced back-to-back two-out, two-run singles to push the visitors in front by a 6-4 margin.

 

AUDIO: Mat Gamel Two-Run Single

 

Katin plated a very important insurance run in the top of the ninth when his groundout scored Alcides Escobar from third to stretch the lead to 7-4.

 

The Redbirds didn't go down without a fight in the home half of the final frame. Joe Mather led off with a double against former Memphis hurler Chris Narveson, who was seeking his team-leading fourth save of the year for Nashville. After the next two batters were retired, pinch-hitter Nick Stavinoha delivered a two-out RBI single to center to make it a 7-5 game.

 

Narveson walked the next two Redbirds batters to load the bases for Jon Jay, who made it a one-run contest with an RBI infield single that chased Narveson. Right-hander Ryan Houston was summoned to the hill for Nashville and struck out David Freese to leave the bases loaded and preserve the victory, notching his first save of the year in the process.

 

Dillard (3-0) picked up his third win in three starts for Nashville, allowing four runs (three earned) on just two hits over his six innings of work. Hawksworth (1-2) took the loss for Memphis after surrendering six runs on six hits in four frames.

 

Gwynn went 1-for-3 on the evening to extend the PCL's longest active hitting streak to 13 games for the Sounds.

 

The teams wrap up the series with a 7:05 PM finale on Friday evening. Left-hander Lindsay Gulin (1-0, 13.00) will take the hill for Nashville to face Memphis right-hander Clayton Mortenson (1-0, 1.50).

 

Nashville Box Score

Tony Gwynn also walked twice in addition to extending his hitting streak; Angel Salome just 6-for-36 with eight K's to start his campaign, a passed ball here; three Sounds hit-by-pitch; Tim Dillard now 3-0 despite the very shaky first inning; Ryan Houston almost certainly one of the Brewers' most obscure upper level farmhands, a 29-year-old longtime Blue Jay farmhand pitched for Houston in AAA in '08 (7.54 ERA in 39 relief stints)...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Starting Pitcher Chase Wright

Texas drawl speaks well of the organization's welcome for him...

[battlekow]

Hey hey, Lawrie with yet another XBH, this time a home run. Given the generous scoring of his "double" earlier today, he now has 9 career hits, 8 of which were for extra bases. Man.

I think you missed the fact that he hit for the cycle today! (technically)

Oh yeah, I definitely missed the single in the second game. Damn, the XBH% is down to 80.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game Two: Wisconsin 8, Peoria (Cubs) 7

Tons of details and coverage in the AM; Evan Frederickson walks seven in a sub-par start, but the T-Rats offense, particularly Erik Miller (on base all four times in the leadoff spot), Brett Lawrie, and Corey Kemp rally and come back twice for the win...

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Site Game Two Game Summary

 

Lawrie launches Rattlers to sweep

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI -- Brett Lawrie's long two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth put the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in front to stay for an 8-7 win over the Peoria Chiefs in game two of a doubleheader on Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Field. The back-and-forth game decisively turned Wisconsin's way on the late home run by the #1 pick of the Milwaukee Brewers from the 2008 draft.

 

Peoria (5-7) broke on top in the second inning. They loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a single. David Macias singled with two outs to drive in two runs for a 2-0 lead. That lead didn't last.

 

Wisconsin (6-6) scored three times in the bottom of the second to go in front. Juan Sanchez and Shawn Zarraga drew walks to start the inning. A balk by Alberto Cabrera put runners on second and third. Michael Marseco drove in Sanchez with a grounder. Erik Miller and John Delaney finished off the rally with back-to-back RBI singles.

 

The Rattlers added a run in the bottom of the third. Mike Vass doubled and was bunted to third by Sanchez. A sacrifice fly by Zarraga sent Vass home for a 4-2 lead.

 

Lawrie ripped an RBI triple to left-center in the bottom of the fourth inning. Then, he scored on a wild pitch and the Rattlers were up 6-2. But, that lead didn't last.

 

Rattler starting pitcher Evan Frederickson ran into trouble in the top of the fifth. He gave up a leadoff walk, a single, and an RBI double to Rebel Ridling. After getting the first out, Frederickson walked Luis Flores to load the bases. Then, Frederickson issued his seventh walk of the night. This one -- to Kyler Burke -- forced in a run to make the score 6-4 and knocked the Rattler lefty out of the game.

 

Brian Meadows entered and got a strikeout for out number two. But, Cliff Andersen lined a triple to right-center to drive in three runs and put the Chiefs in front 7-6. This lead did not last.

 

Miller reached on an infield single to start the Rattler half of the sixth inning. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second base to set the stage for Lawrie.

 

He worked the count to 3-1 against Chief reliever Mike Perconte and got a pitch to drive. Lawrie hammered the offering deep into the night for his second homer of the season and an 8-7 advantage. This lead would last.

 

Rattler closer Jim Henderson worked a scoreless ninth for his third save of the season.

 

The Rattlers and Chiefs wrap up their four game series with a change of venue for Friday's game. The teams will participate in the Border Battle at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wily Peralta (0-1, 1.00) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Aaron Shafer (2-0, 1.50) is set to start for Peoria. Game time is 7:05 PM.

 

Wisconsin Game Two Box Score

CF Erik Miller 3-for-3 in stolen bases; Brett Lawrie is slugging .641; some of those averages are starting to sneak back to respectability...

 

Wisconsin Game Two Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Post-Crescent Blog with News and Notes from Thursday's doubleheader, including a "Brenly" sighting