Link Report for Fri. 5/1 -- Rattlers Win Despite Bizarre Play at Plate

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Update from Nashville:

 

Sounds, Royals Rained Out Tonight

 

Tonight's scheduled 7 p.m. game between the Nashville Sounds and Omaha Royals at Greer Stadium has been postponed due to rain.

 

The game will be made up as part of a 5 p.m. CT doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, May 2nd.

 

Right-hander Mike Burns (2-0, 3.91) will make the start for Nashville in Saturday's first game to face Omaha left-hander Lenny DiNardo (1-0, 3.00). Sounds left-hander Chase Wright (1-2, 4.09) will toe the rubber in the nightcap to square off against Royals right-hander Luke Hochevar (4-0, 1.44).

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

All times Central; pitchers subject to change --

Link here for the live audio choices - audio will no longer archive.

Sorry, no audio for this Brevard County series.

Nashville: Rained out

Huntsville: LHP Chris Cody at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

Brevard County: RHP Josh Butler at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 6:05 PM gametime

Wisconsin: RHP Cody Scarpetta at home vs. Great Lakes (Dodgers), 6:20 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Tab or New Window". Choose "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often.

 

MiLB.com now has Gameday available for AA as well as AAA this season.

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t559&t=g_box&gid=2009_05_01_tenaax_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&t=g_box&gid=2009_05_01_lakafa_breafa_1

 

Wisconsin:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_05_01_swmafx_wisafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572

[Mass Haas]

Midwest League Standings

[Mass Haas]

[TheCrew07]

Cody and Scarpetta yay... interesting to see if Butler can keep it going without good secondary numbers.

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog:

 

Pitching Matchups (vs. Lansing) (starting Saturday)

 

May 1, 2009 Game Notes -- includes this --

 

NUMBER NINE: Rattler outfielder Erik Miller went 1-for-2 last night to extend his current hitting streak to nine games, the longest streak by a Rattler this season. He is 12-for-34 (.353) during the streak. This hitting streak is Miller's longest streak as a professional.

 

May 1, 2009 Starting Pitcher (Cody Scarpetta coming off a tough relief stint)

 

May 1, 2009 Starting Lineup

 

Sports Bubbler -- Chris Mehring on the Rattlers' week and middle of the night bus arrivals

[Mass Haas]

Cody and Scarpetta yay...

Of course, you could be cheering Cody's first name and last name, or well, if Scarpetta actually found out he was Chris' long lost brother, he'd be Cody Cody...

[uwisfan]

nice start for Butler & Scarpetta early

[BoKnowsBall]

nice start for Butler & Scarpetta early

Well for Scarpetta more so after the first inning

[TheCrew07]

Huntsville postponed btw.

 

I'm not too pleased with all the BBs Scarpetta has been issuing lately, they came out of nowhere... this whole WI staff has been like that, bad pitches in bunches, like once it starts it doesn't stop. He did a nice job getting out of the inning and righting the ship though.

 

Has anyone else noticed the relative ease that opposing batters are swiping bases against WI this season? Is there a site with updated defensive numbers for 2009? I'm really curious about the percentages in the running game but my usual sites baseball ref, cube, minor league splits, all have nothing for 2009.

[Never Outhustled]

Zack is Back! Its a Cinderella story. He starts off with a scoreless inning with 2Ks.

[TheCrew07]

Butler with a much better effort tonight and Braddock comes in and gets 2 swinging strike outs in his first inning. Brewer with his 9th error of the season. Haydel, Farris, and Miranda especially with nice days at the plate.

 

The pitching in the WI game doing a decent job and the hitters who've gotten hits all have 1 hit a piece thus far. Lawrie with an unassisted DP.

[uwisfan]

BC has put 15 runners on with 2 runs to show for it http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

[battlekow]

Haydel, Farris, and Miranda especially with nice days at the plate.

Yeah, what got into Miranda? He's collected his season allotment of doubles the past two nights.

[TheCrew07]

Wooten has some crazy peripherals... check out this line.

 G IP H R ER BB K ERA 9 9.1 8 3 1 3 14 0.96 

[And That]

Rob Wooten is too good for A-ball. He doesn't have to work on locating his fastball or throwing offspeed stuff - he's beyond the rudimentary stuff. He just needs to learn how to be successful as an offspeed pitcher against good competition. I thought they might put him in AA to open 2009... he'll be there for sure at some point.

 

I'm keeping an eye on Juan Sanchez. I'd like to know the story of how he was available in the Rule 5 draft, and why/how the Brewers decided to get him. I'm sure some Brewers scout is smiling.

[battlekow]

I guess we'll know if the Brewers see anything in Sanchez by whether or not he gets a midseason bump, given that he's already almost 22.5; however, the infield situation at Brevard County may make even a warranted promotion difficult to effect.

[Mass Haas]

Just wanted to say that all the comments like the ones above are always appreciated, all are insightful and really add to the Link Report overall. To both our Link Report regulars and any newbies who wish to chime in likewise, thanks!

 

Stars and Smokies Washed Out

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

 

Due to heavy rain throughout the day, the Huntsville Stars and Tennessee Smokies have been rained out on Friday night.

 

The teams will play two seven inning games on Saturday afternoon beginning at 4 pm central time. Coverage of Stars baseball can be heard at www.huntsvillestars.com and will begin at 3:45 PM central time on Saturday afternoon.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 2, Lakeland (Tigers) 0

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary

 

Butler, Manatees Blank Flying Tigers, 2-0

By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees

 

Josh Butler pitched six scoreless innings, and the Brevard County bullpen took care of the rest Friday night as the Manatees shut out Lakeland, 2-0. With the win, Brevard County has now won four straight games, and 14 of their last 16. At 15-6, the Manatees have opened up a three-game lead over second-place Clearwater in the FSL North Division.

 

Butler (4-0) continued his strong season, allowing just three hits and one walk to the Flying Tigers while striking out three. He is now tied for the FSL lead in wins with Darin Downs of Charlotte. Zach Braddock, John Axford, and Rob Wooten combined to allow just one hit in their three innings out of the bullpen, and struck out five. Wooten earned his sixth save in as many attempts, tying him for the FSL lead. He has allowed just one run in 9.1 innings, and has fanned 14.

 

The Manatees piled up 12 hits on Lakeland, but struggled to string together a rally. They pushed across the first run of the game when Sergio Miranda doubled to center field, scoring Lee Haydel. Zelous Wheeler also tried to score on the play, but was gunned down at the plate.

 

The Manatees added their second and final run in the fifth inning, when Haydel roped a single to right field, scoring Eric Farris from second. Both runs were charged to losing pitcher L.J. Gagnier, who dropped to 1-2.

 

Miranda and Farris led the Manatee offense with three hits apiece. Miranda also had two doubles for the second consecutive game, while Farris stole three bases, giving him 12 for the season, second-most in the FSL. Haydel and Wheeler each added two hits.

 

The two teams meet again Saturday night. Mark Rogers (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will look to extend the Manatees' winning streak, as he takes on the Flying Tigers' Andrew Hess (1-1, 2.25 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

Brevard County Box Score

Eric Farris 12-for-12 in steals -- last season at West Virginia he was 32-for-42; is Steffan Wilson being labeled a DH already -- Sergio Miranda seeing action at first base as of late...

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

Josh Butler continued his strong season, improving to 4-0 and lowering his ERA to 2.96. (MiLB.com photo by Dennis Greenblatt)

 

http://brevardcounty.manatees.milb.com/images/2009/05/01/2gcDvEqe.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Final: Wisconsin 6, Great Lakes (Dodgers) 4

 

Wisconsin Site Game Summary

 

Duran rocks Loons

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Jose Duran had three hits and three runs in his first start at Time Warner Cable Field to help the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to a 6-4 win over the Great Lakes Loons on Friday night. Duran, the 6th round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2008 draft, collected a triple and two singles in the Rattler victory.

 

Wisconsin (9-11) got a pair of runs in the third inning. Duran, who just joined the Timber Rattlers from extended spring training on Monday evening, tripled to start the inning and Sean McCraw drove him in with a sacrifice fly. Michael Marseco doubled and Cutter Dykstra singled to put two on with one out. Juan Sanchez drove in Marseco with a single while Dykstra moved to second.

 

Brett Lawrie was next and he lined a pitch to the gap in right-center. That was when the confusion started. Dykstra went back to second to tag up in case the ball was caught. But, Sanchez was running all out to second on contact. Dykstra reversed course and headed for third as rightfielder Jerry Sands tracked down the ball at the wall.

 

Both Dykstra and Sanchez rounded third and headed for home as the relay from second baseman Jaime Pedroza came to the plate. Catcher Tony Delmonico tagged out Dykstra who slid to the back side of home plate and Sanchez who slid to the front side of the plate within a split second for an inning ending double play.

Delmonico got the Loons (11-10) to within a run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single.

 

Wisconsin rallied for a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI fielder's choice by Duran. But, the Loons made it a one run game again on an RBI single by Austin Gallagher in the top of the fifth.

 

The score remained 3-2 until the bottom of the sixth inning. Duran delivered a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded to give Wisconsin a little breathing room. A wild pitch later in the inning allowed a run to score and give the Rattlers a 6-2 lead.

 

A balk by Rattler reliever Brandon Ritchie allowed a Great Lakes run to score in the top of the seventh.

 

Rattler closer Jim Henderson allowed a run on a two-out single by Pedroza in the ninth, but he collected his sixth save of the season by getting the final out.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin a three game series with the Lansing Lugnuts on Saturday night. Trey Watten (1-2, 3.45) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Lansing counters with Henderson Alvarez (1-3, 5.21) game time is 6:35 PM.

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Cody Scarpetta walked three in the first, stranded them all; not sure why the Great Lakes outfielder wasn't given two assists on the bizarre play at the plate...

 

Wisconsin Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Timber Rattlers' Duran breaks out with a solid night in victory over Great Lakes

By Cory Jennerjohn

Post-Crescent staff writer

 

GRAND CHUTE - It was a night of firsts for Jose Duran.

 

The kid with the catchy last name - if you're a fan of a certain 80s band - got his first hit and first RBI in a Timber Rattlers uniform Friday night as Wisconsin beat Great Lakes 6-4.

 

Duran ignited the Timber Rattlers offense in the bottom of the third with a leadoff triple to right-center that one-hopped the 405-foot fence.

 

"He had a tough first game, but he proved what kind of character he has and comes back in a second chance and makes the most of it," said designated hitter Corey Kemp, noting Duran's zero-for-three outing in his Rattlers debut on April 28 compared to going three-for-four with three RBI on Friday. "He's the all-star of the game tonight."

 

One inning later, he notched his first RBI with a fielder's choice ground ball to score Kemp.

 

But Duran wasn't finished.

 

He laced a two-out single to right to score Juan Sanchez and Kemp in the sixth, giving the Rattlers much-needed insurance. That prompted the former Texas A&M star and 2008 Big 12 player of the year to smack his hands at second.

 

"The base hit there to score two runs kind of opened up that game for us," said Wisconsin manager Jeff Isom. "A welcome addition to our club and he came up with a big one right there."

 

Duran, 22, joined the club after being a sixth-round draft choice last year and playing for the rookie league Helena Brewers. Despite not making the Rattlers' opening-day roster, he has remained "Hungry Like The Wolf."

 

"Your initial reaction is you're a little down because you didn't make the team," said Duran. "Unfortunately, (John) Delaney got hurt and then they called me up. But you just got to work hard, try and try to get out there every day."

 

The baseball bloodlines run deep for Duran. His 24-year-old brother German is a third baseman for the Texas Rangers. He admitted that they don't talk much after each one has a lousy game, but coyly said that he would be sending his brother a text message after raising his average from .000 to .429 as a Timber Rattler.

 

Aside from Wisconsin (9-11) winning its second straight home series, it made a glaring mistake. In the third, after Brett Lawrie singled to right, Cutter Dykstra was called out at the plate trying to score from second and Sanchez, who was trailing Dykstra by about 10 feet, also found the same fate from the umpire while trying to score from first.

 

"It comes down to bad baserunning in that situation," Isom said. "We've got to be able to score that first run easily and I would've probably held up the second run."

[LouisEly]

is Steffan Wilson being labeled a DH already

 

I believe he is DHing because he is not 100% from being injured about a week ago. IIRC he came out of a game in the 4th inning (I think after a double, and was PR for), missed the next game, and has been the DH since.

[Mass Haas]

is Steffan Wilson being labeled a DH already

 

I believe he is DHing because he is not 100% from being injured about a week ago. IIRC he came out of a game in the 4th inning (I think after a double, and was PR for), missed the next game, and has been the DH since.

Thanks, Louis. I'm very serious when I say thanks to everyone for their contributions. The Link Report is a community effort in that way. I can't possibly always remeber details such as the one here (although I try), and when folks like you bring them to our attention and remind us of such, it adds to the overall Report. Awesome...