Link Report for Games of Sunday, June 28th

[jjfanec]

Braddock and Wooten both help close down the game. Wooten pitches a scoreless 9th for the save. He gave up one hit and struck out one. Stern hit a solo shot in the first and the ninth to pace Huntsville.

 

It is fun to have pitching prospects moving up leagues and pitching well. I am looking forward to Anundsen and hopefully Rogers getting bumped up later.

[Minigoon]

Helena bats are awake tonight. Scott Krieger and Chris Ellington go back-to-back in the 5th. Helena now leads 9-7.

[Minigoon]

Scott Krieger just hit his 3rd 2 run home run tonight!

[TheCrew07]

I might have to tune in Helena, Krieger might hit 4 out the way he's going.

[TheCrew07]

Parra's outing just got ugly.

 

Nashville

Player IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA

Parra, M 4.2 5 7 6 5 5 0 4.08

[battlekow]

Chiefs 15, Timber Rattlers 6

Brett Christopherson

 

It was an explosive inning for the Peoria Chiefs.

For the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, it was an absolute nightmare.

The Chiefs pounded out seven hits and sent 13 batters to the plate to fuel a nine-run eighth as they turned a one-run deficit into a resounding 15-6 romp over Wisconsin on Sunday at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.

All nine batters in the lineup scored in a decisive frame that opened with three straight hits and didn't see the first out recorded until the first nine reached safely.

Right-hander Rigoberto Almonte entered the game to open the seventh and was battered for seven runs - six earned - and six hits in one official inning.

He yielded four of his six hits in the eighth and was unable to record an out in the inning before giving way to fellow righty Nick Tyson, who didn't fare much better in allowing all three inherited runners to score and surrendering three more hits and three runs.

Peoria had managed to score just four total runs the three previous games of the Midwest League series as Wisconsin took three out of four.

Eight players drove in runs for the Chiefs, who finished with 17 hits and took advantage of four Rattlers errors to score three unearned runs.

Rebel Ridling, the home run champion as part of last week's Midwest League all-star festivities, pushed across three runs to pace Peoria.

The first baseman doubled twice in the win, one a run-scoring shot to right-center in the eighth for an 11-6 lead.

Wisconsin's offensive highlight took place in the sixth when it scored four times to grab a 6-4 advantage.

The big hit was Juan Sanchez's two-out single to right that drove in a pair. The other two runs were scored on bases loaded walks.

Rattlers first baseman Brock Kjeldgaard belted a solo home run to left in the fourth - his team-leading 11th of the season.

Turning point

Miscommunication between Wisconsin second baseman Brett Lawrie and right fielder Michael Vass allowed Mario Mercedes' lazy fly ball to right to fall in safely. The Chiefs catcher wound up with a double, advanced to third on a balk and then scored on a bloop single to left by Drew Rundle. That tied the game at 6-6 and ignited Peoria towards its huge inning.

Stat pack

2: Earned runs allowed by Tyson on Sunday, his first of the season. He came into the game having tossed 15 1/3 scoreless innings over 11 appearances.

10: String of road losses snapped by the Chiefs. Their last road victory had been an 8-1 decision at Kane County on June 6. 14: Innings the Rattlers needed to outlast Peoria on Saturday - a 2-1 decision. The last 14-inning game played at Fox Cities Stadium was June 4, 2003 against Fort Wayne. Wisconsin also prevailed in that contest by the same score.

17: Most runs allowed this season by the Rattlers. Quad Cities whipped Wisconsin 17-7 in the back end of a doubleheader on April 27 at Davenport, Iowa, to sweep the two games.

Adams due back

Rattlers right-hander Cody Adams is scheduled to start Tuesday's series opener against Clinton. The 22-year-old was placed on the seven-day disabled list last Tuesday. According to Rattlers manager Jeff Isom, the move was made not because of injury but to allow Adams to refine his mechanics. Adams is 1-5 with a 5.64 ERA in 12 games this season. Nine of his appearances are starts. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of last June's draft and is rated by Baseball America as the 28^th best prospect in the Brewers' system. His line includes 30 Ks, 26 walks and 55 hits allowed through 44 2/3 innings.

[battlekow]

Stars Continue Their Success Against Smokies

Brett Pollock

 

Adam Stern belted the game-winning home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to lift Huntsville past Tennessee 3-2 Sunday evening in a rain delayed, rain interrupted game at Smokies Park. The Stars improved to 5-2 in the second half and 43-33 overall, while the Smokies fell to 3-4 in the second half and 35-42 overall. The Stars have won eight straight games in Sevierville and lead the season series 8-3.

 

Jonathan Lucroy and Kevin Melillo opened the eighth inning with singles against Todd Blackford before Vinny Rottino lined out to third baseman Marquez Smith, who doubled off Lurcoy at second base. Tennessee catcher Mark Reed committed two passed balls that allowed Melillo to advance to third from where he scored to tie the game on a single by Michael Garciaparra, who picked up his first hit since rejoining the team. Blackford was charged with the unearned run on four hits over three innings behind starter Marcos Mateo.

 

Jake Muyco took over in the ninth and struck out the first two hitters he faced before Stern walloped his first offering over the wall in right field for his second homer of the game and third of the season. Rob Wooten came on to throw a scoreless bottom of the ninth to preserve the one-run win and earn his first save at the double-A level. Zach Braddock set down all six hitters he faced to earn his first double-A win.

 

The game was delayed 36 minutes at the start and once it began, Stern belted Mateo's fourth pitch for a home run to right field to give the Stars the early lead. Shane Justis singled and moved to third base on a one-out double by Melillo but the visitors could not add to their lead, as Vinny Rottino popped out and Garciaparra struck out. The Stars stranded a runner in scoring position in each of the first four innings against Mateo, who allowed a run on five hits over five frames.

 

Donovan Hand kept the Smokies hitless through four innings and had set down 11 in a row before Doug Deeds and Tyler Colvin singled to start the fifth. Jonathan Mota advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt before play was halted due to heavy rain with Hand having thrown a first pitch strike to Blake Lalli. Action was resumed 44 minutes later and the Stars elected to walk Lalli to load the bases. The strategy paid off initially when Reed skied out to shallow right field for the second out but was spoiled when pinch-hitter Ty Wright doubled into left field on the first pitch he saw to plate Deeds and Colvin to give the home side a 2-1 lead. Hand finished six innings, giving up three hits, walking one and fanning two in his sixth start of the season.

 

The series continues Monday evening with left-hander David Welch starting for Huntsville against Tennessee right-hander Casey Coleman. 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

Jonathan Lucroy was 1-3 with a HBP. Zach Braddock and Rob Wooten continue to get it done out of the pen, not missing a beat since their promotion; sadly, Braddock didn't get an at-bat tonight. Adam Stern's career high in homers is eight, and as Brett Pollock mentioned, he had only one on the year coming into today, so his two-homer performance is certainly a surprise. I didn't realize Stern was Canadian until just now--they're everywhere!

Huntsville play-by-play

Much like Jeff Suppan, Donovan Hand almost got out of a jam in the 5th before letting a couple runs in after all:

Tennessee Bottom 5th

• Doug Deeds singles on a line drive to center fielder Adam Stern.
• Tyler Colvin singles on a ground ball to right fielder Vinny Rottino. Doug Deeds to 2nd.
• Jonathan Mota out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Michael Garciaparra to second baseman Shane Justis. Doug Deeds to 3rd. Tyler Colvin to 2nd.
• Donovan Hand intentionally walks Blake Lalli.
• Mark Reed flies out to right fielder Vinny Rottino.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Ty Wright replaces Marcos Mateo.
• Ty Wright doubles (10) on a line drive to left fielder Chuck Caufield. Doug Deeds scores. Tyler Colvin scores. Blake Lalli to 3rd.
• Tony Thomas flies out to left fielder Chuck Caufield.

[twobrewers]

Parra's outing just got ugly.

I guess we should look at this as practice. We didn't send Parra to the minors to work on his "stuff" - we sent him to learn how to recover and minimize damage when things go wrong.

[battlekow]

RedHawks Stomp Sounds 12-1

NashvilleSounds.com

 

NASHVILLE - The Nashville Sounds lost to the Oklahoma City RedHawks 12-1 on Sunday evening at Historic Greer Stadium.

 

The Sounds went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

 

Oklahoma City started the rally in the top of the fourth by loading the bases with no outs off Sounds starter Manny Parra. Joaquin Arias reached base on a throwing error, followed by walks to Esteban German and Max Ramirez.

 

Brandon Boggs then brought home Arias and German on a single to center field to put the RedHawks ahead at 2-0. Parra was able to get out of the inning with no further damage forcing a groundout, followed by a strikeout, and a pickoff.

 

Oklahoma City loaded the bases again with no outs in the top of the fifth and added five more runs to their lead on a three-run double of the center field wall by Arias and an RBI-single by German. Royce Huffman joined in with a base-knock off reliever Sam Narron that made the score 7-0 Oklahoma City.

 

Outfielder Cole Gillespie put the Sounds on the board with a solo shot to left field off Orlando Hernandez, his fifth of the season. All five home runs from Gillespie this season have come at Historic Greer Stadium.

 

The RedHawks added four insurance runs in the eighth on an infield fielding error and five singles that gave Oklahoma City an 11-1 lead.

 

Pedro Borbon hit his second homer of the season in the top of the ninth, a solo shot to right field that extended the RedHawks lead to 12-1.

 

RedHawks starter Luis Mendoza allowed four hits over four scoreless innings. Hernandez (1-0) earned the win, striking out one in one inning of work.

 

Parra (0-2) took the loss in his third minor league start this season, allowing six earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts and five walks.

 

The first place Sounds continue their series with the RedHawks at 7:00 pm CT on Monday night at historic Greer Stadium. Right-hander Tim Dillard (7-3, 4.11) makes the start for Nashville against Oklahoma City righty Josh Rupe (1-4, 5.77).

 

http://nashvillesounds.com/images/news/gillespie.jpg

Cole Gillespie

 

Nashville box score

Just what you want to see after the big league performance today, eh? Manny Parra's final line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 5 K; the walks are definitely the most frustrating thing there, but it's just Manny being Manny. All three other Sounds pitchers allowed at least one run, too. I guess Alcides Escobar got a day off. Angel Salome went 0-4 and allowed three stolen bases (all with Parra on the mound; Manny did have one pick-off) and committed a passed ball. Cole Gillespie provided the sole ray of prospect sunshine by going 1-3 with that homer and a walk. Joe Koshansky's 0-4 night drops him to .212/.319/.429 on the year; he's probably the first guy to lose his 40-man spot if the Brewers need it, don't you think?

Nashville play-by-play

Manny bent but didn't break after a tough beginning to the 4th:

 

Okla. City Top 4th

• Joaquin Arias reaches on throwing error by shortstop Adam Heether.
• With Esteban German batting, Joaquin Arias steals (15) 2nd base.
• With Esteban German batting, passed ball by Angel Salome, Joaquin Arias to 3rd.
• Esteban German walks.
• With Max Ramirez batting, Esteban German steals (23) 2nd base.
• Max Ramirez walks.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Brandon Boggs singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jason Bourgeois. Joaquin Arias scores. Esteban German scores. Max Ramirez to 2nd.
• Greg Golson grounds into a force out, shortstop Adam Heether to second baseman Hernan Iribarren. Max Ramirez to 3rd. Brandon Boggs out at 2nd. Greg Golson to 1st.
• Royce Huffman strikes out swinging.
• With Casey Benjamin batting, Greg Golson picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Manny Parra to first baseman Joe Koshansky to shortstop Adam Heether to second baseman Hernan Iribarren to first baseman Joe Koshansky.
  

And then broke completely in the 5th:

• Casey Benjamin doubles (6) on a ground ball to right fielder Drew T. Anderson.
• Jose Vallejo walks.
• With Julio Borbon batting, wild pitch by Manny Parra, Casey Benjamin to 3rd. Jose Vallejo to 2nd.
• Julio Borbon walks.
• Joaquin Arias doubles (8) on a line drive to center fielder Jason Bourgeois. Casey Benjamin scores. Jose Vallejo scores. Julio Borbon scores.
• Esteban German singles on a line drive to left fielder Cole Gillespie. Joaquin Arias scores.
• Max Ramirez strikes out swinging.
• Brandon Boggs strikes out swinging.
• Greg Golson walks. Esteban German to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Pitcher Change: Sam Narron replaces Manny Parra.
• Royce Huffman singles on a line drive to left fielder Cole Gillespie. Esteban German scores. Greg Golson to 3rd on the throw.
• Casey Benjamin grounds out, second baseman Hernan Iribarren to first baseman Joe Koshansky.

[battlekow]

Final: Helena 15, Missoula 10

Helena box score

Wow, where to start? Well, obviously with Scott Krieger's three home runs, and he almost had a fourth, flying out to the warning track in his last at-bat. Steve Wendt said (and total of 10 home runs between the two teams confirms) that weather conditions were very favorable for long balls today, but still, very impressive. Cutter Dykstra, Chris Ellington, and Joey Paciorek each also homered for the H-Crew; Paciorek's was to dead center over the batter's eye. Dykstra also had two errors, both throwing. Josh Prince notched another steal, his 10th already. As Wendt noted, Kristian Bueno gets his first professional win after going 0-10 cumulatively the last two years in Maryvale. Wendt said Chad Robinson was working at 88 and touched 90 once, which is disappointing; Robinson was given $500K to sign as a 12th-round draft-and-follow in 2006 and could really bring it before his shoulder surgery.

 

Helena play-by-play

Not sure why Cameron Garfield was removed from the game; he grounded out in the top of the 4th and then was replaced by Shawn Zarraga behind the plate in the bottom of the inning. After going 1-2-3 in the first, Helena scored two runs in each of their next three innings and then three runs in each of the three innings after that.

[battlekow]

Smokies seeing Stars

Stern's homer difference for Huntsville, 3-2

Nick Gates

 

SEVIERVILLE - Second verse same as the first? Sure looks that way.

Huntsville's Adam Stern led off the game with a home run and won it with another solo blast onto the berm in right field in the ninth inning and the Stars rallied for a rain-delayed 3-2 Southern League victory over the Tennessee Smokies on Sunday night.

"He has had some big at-bats against us," Tennessee manager Ryne Sandberg said.

The Hall of Famer was right on. Stern bats leadoff and has seven RBIs in 11 games against the Smokies.

The Milwaukee Brewers' Class AA farmhands have won eight in a row over Tennessee at Smokies Park. The previous seven laid the foundation for Huntsville's North Division first-half championship.

Stern was at the head of the Stars' traditional post-game handshake line and his smile said it all.

"I doesn't happen too often that I hit balls out of the ballpark," said the 29-year-old Canadian, who has three homers this season. "Obviously it's fun."

Stern deposited a 2-1 pitch from starter Marcos Mateo onto the berm. He connected again against reliever Jake Muyco (2-2).

"I just wanted to get myself on second base," said Stern, who turned on a first-pitch fastball for his second homer.

Did the stars align properly for Stern or is there more to it than that?

"I don't know what it is," he answered. "Maybe it was the four-hour bus ride. Getting up (early) and not getting any sleep. Who knows?"

One thing is certain, the Stars (5-2) have the Smokies' number.

Pinch hitter Ty Wright delivered a two-run double off Huntsville ace Donovan Hand to put Tennessee up 2-1 in the fifth. But Michael Garciaparra tied the game 2-2 with a run-scoring single in the eighth off Tennessee reliever Todd Blackford.

"We just got him a couple of days ago," Stern said. "He knows what is expected of him."

Garciaparra, a former University of Tennessee signee and the brother of Oakland A's corner infielder Nomar Garciaparra, and Rob Wooten, who got the final three outs for his first save, are Stars' newcomers.

Nevertheless the beat down on Tennessee (3-4) goes on.

"It's our attitude on the bench," Stern said. "We just don't give up. Everyone seems to come up with keys hits."

Tony Thomas - the first Smoky Hand faced - reached on an error. The right-hander retired the next 11 in order.

Doug Deeds, who had half of Tennessee's four hits, singled to open the fifth and ruined Hand's no-hit bid. Tyler Colvin bounced a single to right and Jonathan Mota advanced the runners into scoring position with a bunt.

Donovan threw a strike to Blake Lalli before the game was stopped because of rain for 44 minutes. The .305 hitter was intentionally walked after the delay to fill the bases.

Mark Reed flied to shallow right but Wright yanked Donovan's first pitch into the left-field corner.

[battlekow]

Brewers go deep to subdue Osprey

Nick Lockridge

Right field was the place to be - and the position to play - to fully enjoy the home run derby that broke out at Sunday's Missoula Osprey baseball game.

 

The Helena Brewers blasted the Osprey 15-10 in a Pioneer League game that featured 10 home runs. The Brewers (3-3) hit six, including three homers by right fielder Scott Krieger, and the Osprey (3-3) hit four.

 

A few of the homers got a boost from the wind that was blowing out to right field, which plays a measely 287 feet down the line. The fence is 24 feet high, but it did little to stop some of the pop-fly homers that went just about as high as they did deep.

http://adsys.townnews.com/59142348/creative/missoulian.com/sports+middle.1/170787-1239310017.gif

"A few didn't even clear the second fence back there," said Osprey right fielder Bobby Stone, talking about the chainlink fence that guards the railroad tracks immediately behind the ball field's boundaries. "There were a few 290-foot home runs. Between the sun and the wind, it was a tough day in right field."

 

Sunday was the first 5 p.m. start time of the season, so the different angle of the sun made things tricky as well.

 

Stone hit the final homer of the day, a two-run blast in the seventh inning that cut Helena's lead to 15-9. It was the third straight game Missoula's No. 3 hitter went yard. If Stone hits one in Monday's game at Great Falls, the lefty will tie an Osprey record for home runs in consecutive games. Jeff Stanek (2002) and Johe Acosta (2003) are the only O's players to hit four taters four days in a row.

 

Stone, who's tied for the team lead in homers, was in position to send another one toward the tracks in his last at-bat in the eighth, but he struck out with two runners on base. Missoula already plated one run in the frame and the crowd, sensing the moment and the trend of homers for the day, rose to their feet to cheer on Stone.

 

"It's nice they think enough of you that you'll get it done," Stone said. "It would have been nice to get those three (runs). Personal stats are nice to look at, but at the end of the day W's and L's are what matters."

 

The Brewers nearly tied a Pioneer League record for homers. The most by one team in a game is seven. The other Helena batters to go long were Chris Ellington, Cutter Dykstra and Joseph Paciorek. Krieger homered in three straight at-bats in the third, fifth and sixth innings and finished with six RBIs. His last homer gave Helena a 12-7 lead.

 

For Missoula, Keon Broxton, Paul Goldschmidt and David Narodowski went deep. Narodowski hit two bombs in Saturday's 16-7 win, which featured seven home runs, including five by the Osprey.

 

Sunday was another rough day on the pitchers. Helena reliever Kristian Bueno wound up with the win. He avoided the offensive explosion better than the others by pitching just one inning, a scoreless fifth, to get his first win.

[JohnBriggs12]

Parra's outing just got ugly.

I guess we should look at this as practice. We didn't send Parra to the minors to work on his "stuff" - we sent him to learn how to recover and minimize damage when things go wrong.

Practice?? Parra's down there to prove he belongs in the majors and help the Brewers. That means stringing together good starts. This type of start certainly pushes back his return (if indeed he ever makes it back).

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County Site Game Summary

 

Manatees Storm Back to Defeat Cards, 7-4

By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees

 

(Viera, FL) The Brevard County Manatees found their bats just in time on Sunday afternoon, scoring five runs in their final two times at bat to rally for a 7-4 victory over Palm Beach. By winning today, the Manatees earn a split in the four-game series, and wrap up the season series with a 6-2 advantage over Palm Beach.

 

The Manatees took an early 2-0 lead behind an RBI single by Sergio Miranda and a sacrifice fly from Zelous Wheeler. The Cardinals stormed back with a solo homer from Tommy Pham in the fifth inning, followed by Paul Vazquez's RBI single in the sixth inning to tie the game. Palm Beach took the lead in the top of the seventh inning on Aaron Luna's two-run blast to left field.

 

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Manatees tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. Chris Errecart smacked a single up the middle to score Logan Schafer and move Lee Haydel to third base. Four pitches later, a balk from pitcher Jorge Rondon allowed Haydel to cross the plate, tying the game at 4-4.

 

The Manatees took the lead in the eighth on Schafer's two-out RBI double down the right field line. Haydel followed with a shot right back at pitcher Casey Mulligan, knocking off his glove. Haydel was safe at first by the time Mulligan recovered, and Derrick Alfonso scored, making it a 6-4 game. Haydel then stole second base, and Vazquez's throw sailed into center field, allowing Schafer to score on the play to provide the final margin.

 

Mark Rogers pitched three-plus no-hit innings as the Brevard County starter before being relieved by Rafael Lluberes. Mark Willinsky (3-2) picked up the win by pitching a perfect eighth inning, and Omar Aguilar pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first save since returning to the Manatees. Mulligan (1-2) took the loss, allowing three unearned runs in his only inning.

 

After seven straight games at home, the Manatees head back on the road Monday. They take on the Charlotte Stone Crabs in a four-game series. Michael Bowman (2-2, 4.09) is expected to take the mound for Brevard County in the opener.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Starting Pitcher Chase Wright

 

***

 

Midwest Amateur Area Scout Harvey Kuenn, Jr. sytling with a Huntsville cap in Appleton -- Brett Christopherson column

 

Photo for The Post-Crescent by Wm. Glasheen

 

http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=U0&Date=20090629&Category=APC021102&ArtNo=906290559&Ref=AR&Profile=1009&MaxW=550&MaxH=650&title=0

[Thunnis]

Odd that the hit batters were involved in a confrontation prior to the break and just after the first a sealed deal for the Manatees!

[aintbize]

Braddock is on a 3 day rotation as far as anyone can tell. Look for him to throw MR tonight =)