Link Report for Mon. 6/15 -- Anundsen With Another Stellar Start

[Mass Haas]

Final: Burlington (Royals) 7, Wisconsin 4

 

Wisconsin Site Game Summary

 

Rattlers leave a bunch

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

BURLINGTON, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers offense stranded 14 runners and struck out 14 times in a 7-4 loss to the Burlington Bees Tuesday night at Community Field. Wisconsin's defense also committed two errors in the game that eventually led to three unearned runs.

 

Burlington (27-37) staked themselves to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Patrick Norris reached on an error and stole second to start the inning. Then, Rattlers starter Alex Periard, in his first action of the season, gave up a single to Nick Van Stratten and a two-run triple to Eric Hosmer. Nick Francis capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to knock in Hosmer.

 

Periard settled in after the shaky start. He retired nine of the final ten batters he faced. That allowed the Rattler bats to get going against Burlington starter Tim Melville.

 

Brett Lawrie, who was activated off the Timber Rattlers disabled list earlier in the day, doubled in the third inning to drive in Juan Sanchez with the first Wisconsin run of the game.

 

Burlington's defense betrayed the Melville in the top of the fourth. Jose Duran reached on an error. Sean McCraw singled to move Duran to second. Duran had stopped at second, but right fielder Nick Francis threw wildly to third and both runners advanced on the overthrow.

Sanchez sent a grounder to third that was misplayed for an error. Both Duran and McCraw scored on the play to tie the score 3-3 while Sanchez took second. Michael Marseco put the Rattlers (31-33) in front with an RBI double.

 

That double by Marseco was the last hit by a Rattler with a runner in scoring position. On the evening, Wisconsin went 2-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

 

Nick Tyson pitched a scoreless fourth inning in relief of Periard to run his scoreless streak to 10 innings over eight appearances, but the Bees would rally against Dan Merklinger in the fifth.

 

Antonio Jimenez tripled to start the inning and scored on a one-out single by Norris to tie the game.

 

The Bees retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a crucial error that started the rally. David Wood reached on a dropped throw to Merklinger at first with one out. Salvador Perez followed with a double to send Wood home with the go ahead run. One out later, Jimenez singled to drive home Perez for a 6-4 lead.

 

In the top of the eighth, the Rattlers had two runners on with one out against reliever John Thompson. He struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

 

Chase Fontaine grounded into a 4-3 double play with runners at the corners in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the Bees up 7-4.

 

In the top of the ninth, the Rattlers made it interesting against Thompson. Lawrie started the inning with a single, his third hit of the night. Thompson walked the next two hitters to load the bases. Then, Thompson struck out the next three batters to close out Wisconsin.

 

Thompson struck out six over the final 2-1/3 innings to earn his fourth save.

 

Game three of the series is Tuesday night. Cody Adams (1-4, 4.91) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Sam Runion (2-4, 6.60) is set to start for the Bees. Game time is 6:30 PM.

 

Wisconsin Box Score

For the most part, the Wisconsin pitchers who go back-and-forth between piggyback starts and reliever stints post significantly lower ERA's as starters -- it must be a mentality thing, like closers in non-save situations; Michael Marseco's double "lifts" his OPS to .470 in a pretty big sample (206 AB's) -- the kid posted a sterling .775 OPS in Helena last season, you can't say the jump in playing level is that severe; Brett Lawrie hardly missed a beat, huh?

 

Wisconsin Game Log

The log of un-clutchiness...

[Mass Haas]

Final: DSL Brewers / Orioles 9, DSL Yankees (#1 squad) 4

 

DSL Brewers / Orioles Box Score

17-year-old 6'7" LHP (can't type that often enough) Eliezer Montano struggled some in his one inning, which we'll paste below; Mr. 0.00 ERA, Edwin Linares, was called on for the save, striking out his only man with the bases loaded and the tying run on deck; breakout game for 17-year-old SS Andres Martinez (4-for-5 with a double and two RBI) -- won't it be something in six years when Alcides Escobar is a year from free agency and you'll say, "I remember when that Mass Haas guy typed about Andres Martinez back when he was just 17", although Escobar was in the Pioneer League at that age; 6'6" RF Ronny Puello (Corey Hart, anyone?) was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI, but was lifted for a pinch-hitter late with another RH bat; 16-year-old LF Luis Chirinos two singles and an RBI; catcher Jhonatan Javier reached and scored twice; 17-year-old CF Juan Barrini (3-for-24) tripled his season's hit count with two singles and two runs scored; Martinez committed an error, and Javier had two passed balls, but obviously a fun numbers day for the DSL youngsters...

 

DSL Brewers / Orioles Game Log

 

DSL Yankees1 Bottom 8th

• Pitcher Change: Eliezer Montano replaces Yancorix Adrian.
• Carlos Urena hit by pitch.
• Edwin Fulgencio strikes out swinging.
• With Edwin Beard batting, wild pitch by Eliezer Montano, Carlos Urena to 2nd.
• Edwin Beard walks.
• Yeicok Calderon grounds into a force out, shortstop Andres Martinez to third baseman Felix Bido. Carlos Urena out at 3rd. Edwin Beard to 2nd. Yeicok Calderon to 1st.
• Josue Rodriguez triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Juan Barrini. Edwin Beard scores. Yeicok Calderon scores.
• Ronald Morillo walks.
• Jerison Lopez flies out to center fielder Juan Barrini

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

First-half title nearly checked off for Stars

Slim divisional lead will be tested with series at Birmingham

By Paul Gattis

Huntsville Times Sports Staff

Almost immediately after splitting a doubleheader Monday against Jacksonville, the Huntsville Stars began packing for their biggest road trip of the season.

 

With six games remaining in the first half, the Stars lead the Southern League North Division by 1 1/2 games over Carolina.

 

Hang on to that lead for the next six games at Birmingham - the first-half South champs - and the Stars will clinch a playoff spot.

 

"We've played hard all first half and we deserve it," Stars infielder/outfielder Vinny Rottino said bluntly.

 

That the Stars are in such an envious position may come as a surprise. The team is 14-16 before the home crowd at Joe Davis Stadium while going 23-10 on the road.

 

And the home crowd is a bit of a misnomer. The Stars have by far the worst attendance this season in the Southern League and typically plays before gatherings of less than 1,000 people.

 

Nevertheless, a balanced offense that's second in the league in batting average and runs scored has the Stars in position to make the postseason for the third time in four years.

 

"I would like to see them win it," first-year manager Bob Miscik said. "They've done everything right, the way they've prepared themselves and how they approach the games.

 

"I would feel good, for them, if they won it. I'd like to see them finish it off and I told them that today."

 

The Stars inched closer on Monday, winning the first game 7-2 as catcher Jonathan Lucroy went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Shane Justis had two hits, scored two runs and knocked in one.

 

And starting pitcher Bobby Bramhall allowed two runs in five innings.

 

"He pitched the best he's pitched all year," Miscik said.

 

The Suns won the second game 4-3 in eight innings even as Justis had two more hits and another RBI.

 

The Stars had the winning run at third with two outs in the seventh but Drew Anderson struck out to end the threat.

 

But the Stars burgeoning confidence is evident in the clubhouse.

 

"We know where we stand," Justis said. "It's in our hands. We keep playing like we did today, we'll be fine."

 

Birmingham is among the winningest teams in the minor leagues this season, splitting four games against the Stars this season.

 

"We can play with them for sure," Justis said. "We can play with anybody."

 

Rottino described the Stars as "a team full of grinders" and there is more grinding to be done. Shortstop Yohannis Perez is out with a sore hamstring and isn't expected to return until Friday's doubleheader at the earliest.

 

The Stars have also lost top pitcher Chris Cody to a promotion to Triple-A Nashville and will get a start on Wednesday from righty Josh Butler - who was sent down last week from Nashville as a replacement for injured starter Mike Jones.

 

"We're going to go and do what we've done for the first 63 games," Miscik said. "If you try harder, that doesn't work in this game. You just go play baseball and take what it gives you."

 

Said Rottino, "We've got a bunch of winners on this team and we're going to win."