Link Report for Games of Tuesday, June 30th

[TheCrew07]

It looks like the young pitchers in Helena are going to be up and down this season, a very tough 2nd for Krestalude.

 

Billings Top 2nd

 

* Sean Conner singles on a line drive to center fielder Michael Roberts.

* Humberto Sosa singles on a line drive to center fielder Michael Roberts. Sean Conner to 3rd.

* Shane Carlson walks. Humberto Sosa to 2nd.

* Mauricio Pimentel singles on a line drive to right fielder Scott Krieger. Sean Conner scores. Humberto Sosa scores. Shane Carlson to 3rd. Mauricio Pimentel to 2nd on the throw.

* Alexis Oliveras walks.

* Tyler Stovall grounds into a force out, second baseman Cutter Dykstra to shortstop Joshua Prince. Shane Carlson scores. Mauricio Pimentel to 3rd. Alexis Oliveras out at 2nd. Tyler Stovall to 1st.

* Yen-Wen Kuo out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Michael Roberts. Mauricio Pimentel scores.

* Christopher Richburg doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Scott Krieger. Tyler Stovall scores

[uwisfan]

whats the scoop on Garfield.. hasnt been in the lineup last couple games.. this just to get zarraga some games or because he's a young catcher?

[TheCrew07]

Juan Sanchez makes a diving catch and nearly doubles the runner off of 2B... I like that kid even though his BA is low. He's versatile defensively, I've seen him play 3 positions CF, SS, and 2B, he's also played LF and 3B on the season... he just plays hard and doesn't make mistakes.

[wvpowerblkwel]

Somebody do me a favor, and look at the defensive stats for Lucroy and Salome, and explain to me why Lucroy is just so defensively superior to Angel? While the sample size is bigger, I just don't see the great difference. Angel doesn't necessarily play everyday in Nashville, but his numbers are not that horrendously different than Lucroy's are they? I'm not one to understand all the defensive stats, but if someone can explain it for me I'd appreciate it. I just don't see the number of passed balls, or the #CS or SB to be that big a deal for Salome.

[TheCrew07]

Helena Bottom 2nd

* Edgar Trejo singles on a ground ball to right fielder Sean Conner.

* Shawn Zarraga singles on a ground ball to right fielder Sean Conner. Edgar Trejo to 2nd.

* Hitaniel Arias walks. Edgar Trejo to 3rd. Shawn Zarraga to 2nd.

* Joshua Prince grounds out, shortstop Shane Carlson to first baseman Christopher Richburg. Edgar Trejo scores. Shawn Zarraga to 3rd. Hitaniel Arias to 2nd.

* Mike Brownstein lines out to second baseman Mauricio Pimentel.

* Scott Krieger flies out to center fielder Alexis Oliveras.

 

RF Edgar? It must be a typo!

[TheCrew07]

whats the scoop on Garfield.. hasnt been in the lineup last couple games.. this just to get zarraga some games or because he's a young catcher?

Steve checks the forum, if you're listening in he may well answer the question, he did for me last night.

[TheCrew07]

Somebody do me a favor, and look at the defensive stats for Lucroy and Salome, and explain to me why Lucroy is just so defensively superior to Angel? While the sample size is bigger, I just don't see the great difference. Angel doesn't necessarily play everyday in Nashville, but his numbers are not that horrendously different than Lucroy's are they? I'm not one to understand all the defensive stats, but if someone can explain it for me I'd appreciate it. I just don't see the number of passed balls, or the #CS or SB to be that big a deal for Salome.

Lucroy's pop times were much better, apparently Salome had a hitch in his delivery to second in the past (maybe corrected over the winter?), but Angel has the better arm. Lucroy had many defensive questions when he was drafted and made pretty decent improvement last season, but he's regressed a little bit this season. The biggest difference is the way they handle pitchers at this moment in time, but I still feel Lucroy is superior defensively and just had a rough start to the season. Our opinions are probably more positive towards Lucroy's defense given the reports about him from MLB camp, and Macha specifically.

[clancyphile]

Cody didnt do so well in his start for the Sounds tonight, 5 IP 5ER 2BB/3SO. Im pulling for this kid, I hope he figures it out and becomes a Capuano for us.

First bad start all year. I'm not thinking Capuano - I'm hoping for a Jamie Moyer.

 

EDIT: Cole Gillespie hit another homer. I think he's getting back on track.

[trwi7]

Somebody do me a favor, and look at the defensive stats for Lucroy and Salome, and explain to me why Lucroy is just so defensively superior to Angel? While the sample size is bigger, I just don't see the great difference. Angel doesn't necessarily play everyday in Nashville, but his numbers are not that horrendously different than Lucroy's are they? I'm not one to understand all the defensive stats, but if someone can explain it for me I'd appreciate it. I just don't see the number of passed balls, or the #CS or SB to be that big a deal for Salome.

 

Chances:

 

Salome - 2,085

Lucroy - 1,558

 

Errors:

 

Salome - 44

Lucroy - 16

 

Fielding%:

 

Salome - .979

Lucroy - .990

 

RF/G:

 

Salome - 7.11

Lucroy - 7.95

 

CS%:

 

Salome - 29%

Lucroy - 42%

 

Not the best stats, but the best stats we have available and Lucroy comes out better in all of them.

[battlekow]

Lucroy's pop times were much better, apparently Salome had a hitch in his delivery to second in the past (maybe corrected over the winter?), but Angel has the better arm. Lucroy had many defensive questions when he was drafted and made pretty decent improvement last season, but he's regressed a little bit this season. The biggest difference is the way they handle pitchers at this moment in time, but I still feel Lucroy is superior defensively and just had a rough start to the season. Our opinions are probably more positive towards Lucroy's defense given the reports about him from MLB camp, and Macha specifically.

Salome also apparently hasn't mastered the art of pitch-calling yet.

[TheCrew07]

No Cain for the AZ Brewers tonight, but Komatsu is in the lineup.

 

WI just gives up 2 runs on a single to RF, Vass' throw to home goes up the line, Kemp tries to get the runner advancing to 2nd and promptly throws the ball to Sanchez in CF... boo. WI down 4-2 with runners at the corner. Ritchie is hitting 92 on the stadium gun, but if memory serves the stadium gun likes his delivery and usually is pretty close to stalker. He doesn't get enough love around here, he's having an excellent season.

[clancyphile]

Gillespie with a second K, but with three fouls - a five-pitch AB.

 

So, in the ten pitches in his two strikeouts, Gillespie fouled five off, swung and missed three times, and two balls. I'd call them good ABs, even if they were Ks, particularly since he took it to at least five pitches - and in half of those ten pitches, he made contact.

[twobrewers]

I would say the biggest "knock" on Salome's defense has been recent quotes from his manager, Don Money, questioning his ability to play catcher at the major league level.

[trwi7]

Gillespie with a second K, but with three fouls - a five-pitch AB.

 

So, in the ten pitches in his two strikeouts, Gillespie fouled five off, swung and missed three times, and two balls. I'd call them good ABs, even if they were Ks, particularly since he took it to at least five pitches - and in half of those ten pitches, he made contact.

Five pitches for a strikeout isn't particularly impressive for a hitter. It's only two over the minimum number of pitches.

[TheCrew07]

Helena has closed the gap to 6-3. Arias has walked twice today, his plate discipline appears to be much better this season.

 

Nashville goes down quietly, 5-1, only 3 hits.

 

A budding 9th inning rally in WI, 1st and 2nd with no outs.

 

edit. I lied, it was 1st and 2nd with 1 out, Vass flied out to deep Right Center and then Sanchez K'd to end it.. WI loses 4-2

[Godspeed]

Gillespie with a second K, but with three fouls - a five-pitch AB.

 

So, in the ten pitches in his two strikeouts, Gillespie fouled five off, swung and missed three times, and two balls. I'd call them good ABs, even if they were Ks, particularly since he took it to at least five pitches - and in half of those ten pitches, he made contact.

Five pitches for a strikeout isn't particularly impressive for a hitter. It's only two over the minimum number of pitches.

That and 37.5% of his swings in those 2 ABs made absolutely no contact. I'm rooting for Cole Gillespie but without knowing the competition, that's not exactly an encouraging sign.

[BrewPackBuck]

This year Ive been excited to look at the Arizona Brewers boxscore which before I wouldnt even do that some nights. Just looking at the system and it is loaded with talent which is awesome to see.

[Mass Haas]

We've added the second half of the Doug Melvin interview with Chuck Valenches in Nashville to the post in the beginning of today's Link Report.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Oklahoma City (Rangers) 5, Nashville 1

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Jason Bourgeois photo, text follows --

 

NASHVILLE - The Nashville Sounds lost to the Oklahoma City RedHawks 5-1 on Tuesday in the final game of a four-game series at Historic Greer Stadium.

 

On a Major League rehab assignment, RedHawks starter Dustin Nippert (1-0) earned the win, surrendering one run on two hits with six strikeouts in five innings of work.

 

The Sounds were limited to three hits on the evening, with Jason Bourgeois going 2-for-4 with a double, recording his 13th multi-hit contest in his last 20 games.

 

Sounds outfielder Cole Gillespie hit his sixth home run of the season that gave Nashville a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Gillespie's long shot was his second in three games and sixth hit at Historic Greer Stadium.

 

AUDIO: Cole Gillespie Home Run

 

After Greg Golson singled, Esteban German put the RedHawks ahead at 2-1 with a two-run shot to left field in the next frame.

 

Oklahoma increased their lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth on a Kevin Richardson solo homer, and extended it to 4-1 on a sacrifice fly by German that scored Joaquin Arias.

 

The RedHawks managed to load the bases on Sounds starter Chris Cody later in the inning, and brought home another run for a 5-1 lead on a Brandon Boggs groundout.

 

Cody (2-3) took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits over five innings. Matt Ginter and David Johnson added a combined four scoreless innings in relief.

 

The first place Sounds travel to Round Rock tomorrow for the opener of a three-game series at 7:05 PM CT at the Dell Diamond against the Express. Southpaw Lindsay Gulin (3-4, 5.09) takes the mound for Nashville against right-hander Bud Norris (3-5, 2.17).

 

Nashville Box Score

Ten baserunners allowed in five innings for Chris Cody; lots of offensize zeroes in the box score, except for K's (11 of those)...

 

Nashville Game Log

[DHonks]

BrewPackBuck, I agree. The AZ team is possibly going to surpass their win totals for '08 and '07 combined...by August 1st!

[Mass Haas]

Final: Tennessee (Cubs) 7, Huntsville 2

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary

 

Six Different Players Knock in a Run in Tennessee Victory

Smokies Send Stars to Second Straight Defeat

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

 

Hung-Wen Chen tossed six solid innings and Tennessee used a four-run sixth inning rally to break away and down Huntsville 7-2 Tuesday night in the third of a six-game set at Smokies Park. The Smokies won their second straight to improve to 5-4 in the second half and move into a first place tie in the North Division with the Stars, who dropped to 5-4 in the second half and 43-35 overall. The Smokies won for the fifth time in 13 games in the season series.

 

The Stars scored in the first inning for a third straight game when Johnny Raburn hit a home run to right field. It was his first of the season, just the sixth of his career and his first since August 11, 2007 at Jacksonville while playing for the Carolina Mudcats. The home side came right back to score two times in the bottom of the inning on run-scoring hits by Tony Thomas and Doug Deeds, who was the fourth straight hitter in the inning to collect a hit against Bobby Bramhall. The Stars left-hander worked out of further trouble by getting Ty Wright to ground into an inning-ending double play.

 

Raburn singled with one out in the sixth, advanced to second base on a groundout and scored to tie the game on a two-out single by Kevin Melillo. The Smokies answered back in their half of the inning to regain the lead for good when Marquez Smith led off with a home run to left-center field, his sixth of the season. Deeds followed with a double and scored on a one-out single by Jim Adduci that made it a 4-2 game and knocked Bramhall out of the contest. Juan Sandoval took over and uncorked a wild pitch that moved Adduci to third from where he scored on a two-out Wellington Castillo single. Castillo moved to third base when Raburn misplayed a Blake Lalli ground ball and scored on a single by Jonathan Mota that finished off the decisive rally. Bramhall took the loss to drop to 4-5 after yielding five runs on eight hits, while walking two and fanning one.

 

Chen allowed two runs on seven hits to pick up his first win since June 6. He did not walk a batter and did not record a strikeout in lifting his record to 4-6. Marco Carillo followed and retired all six hitters he faced, including striking out four. Brian Schlitter took over in the ninth and set down the Stars in order, as the trio combined to retire the last 10 Huntsville hitters.

 

The series continues Wednesday evening with right-hander Mark Holliman starting for the Stars against Tennessee left-hander Jeremy Papelbon. 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

Outside of Jonathan Lucroy's work throwing out baserunners; a very non-descript game; you'd be hard-pressed to find a less interesting combination of AAA and AA action on any night this season thus far...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

PORT CHARLOTTE - Tuesday's Florida State League game between the Charlotte Stone Crabs and Brevard County Manatees was cancelled due to heavy rains and unsafe field conditions. The game will be made up Wednesday as part of a doubleheader starting at 5:00 PM (4:00 Central).

 

Charlotte and Brevard County will play a pair of seven-inning games. A 30-minute interval will follow the end of the first game before the second game begins.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Clinton (Mariners) 4, Wisconsin 2

 

Wisconsin Site Game Summary

 

Eighth inning again unkind to Rattlers

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - On Sunday afternoon, the Peoria Chiefs scored nine times in the top of the eighth inning and went on to beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 15-6. On Tuesday night, the Clinton LumberKings scored twice in the top of the eighth inning to break a tie and defeat the Rattlers 4-2 at Time Warner Cable Field. Nate Tenbrink delivered the decisive hit for the visitors with two outs in the pivotal inning.

 

Wisconsin had the early advantage. Corey Kemp's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first inning gave the Rattlers (37-38 overall, 3-2 second half) a 1-0 lead.

 

Clinton (43-32, 3-2) tied the game in the third. Terry Serrano tripled to lead off the frame. An RBI grounder by Scott Savastano knocked in Serrano.

 

The LumberKings went up 2-1 in the top of the fourth. Denny Almonte singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Blake Ochoa.

 

The Rattlers tied the game thanks to some sloppy Clinton defense in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kemp was at first after a one out single. John Delaney sent a hard grounder to Savastano at third. Kemp was running on the play, so Savastano's only play was to first base. The throw was wild and the Rattlers catcher chugged around to score the tying run.

 

Delaney took third on the play and Wisconsin had a great opportunity to take the lead. But, the next two batters were retired, Delaney was stranded, and the game entered the later innings tied 2-2.

 

In the top of the eighth, the Rattlers gave the LumberKings a hand. Reliever Liam Ohlmann hit Savastano with one out and walked Sanchez to put two runners on base. Brandon Ritchie relieved Ohlmann and got a strikeout for the second out. But, Tenbrink lined a single to right to score Savastano with the tie-breaking run. A throwing error on the play allowed Sanchez to score an insurance run.

 

The LumberKings did not need the insurance. Cheyne Hann tossed a scoreless eighth inning. Clinton's all-star closer Ruben Flores allowed a walk and a hit in the bottom of the ninth, but got the final three outs for his fifteenth save of the year.

 

The series continues Wednesday afternoon. Wisconsin sends Evan Frederickson (3-4, 4.64) to the hill as the starting pitcher. Clinton has Maikel Cleto (0-0, 2.08) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Game time is 12:05 PM.

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Who schedules an Appleton matinee opposite a Brewer matinee? Pete Fatse, the UConn second baseman, made his Timber Rattler debut patrolling left field, singled in four AB's; no matter how you slice it, catcher Corey Kemp (OPS .797) has had a very solid offensive season -- three singles here...

 

Wisconsin Game Log

Brock Kjeldgaard's 6th inning K was particularly painful...

[Mass Haas]

Link Report Bonus:

Timber Rattlers fans have made their choice, Lawrie to be bobblehead

[Mass Haas]

Final: Billings (Reds) 9, Helena 6

Helena Box Score

Brewers down 6-1 after an inning and a half -- three 9th inning runs made it look competitive; none of the four pitching lines impressive, but give Joel Morales credit for stranding three of Rico Salmon's baserunners and not allowing an earned run; Josh Prince was picked off and caught stealing on the same play in the first -- MiLB.com box scores still list those as two distinct events, a real pet peeve; Mike Brownstein has walked 12 times -- he has only 25 official AB's; catcher Michael Roberts again roaming CF -- unless Roberts is the next Craig Biggio, that tells us Khris Davis is sidelined; six of Chris Ellington's 15 hits have gone for extra bases (1.197 OPS); after appearing in each of the first six games as catcher or DH, we do miss Cameron Garfield's line, although Shawn Zarraga is 3-for-7 with a walk the past two nights...

 

Helena Game Log

Cutter Dykstra with four errors already, the young man's game isn't exactly trending upward in 2009...