Link Report for Fri. 7/3 -- Latest: Rattler Photos

[Diskono]

Didn't you hear? We are grooming every good pitching prospect we have to be a reliever. Every good prospect we have under AAA seems to be limited to 4 innings or less a game. They won't get stretched out until AAA and even then it will be 3-4 years before they can be counted on to pitch 180+ innings. I know that Mike Jones, Mark Rogers, JM Gold, Neugebauer, Etc, Etc, Etc has scared the front office a bit but I think they are babying everyone a bit too much. They are never going to know if Rogers/Braddock can handle a larger workload if they don't try. I say if they are 100% healthy that you let them go 70-80 pitches or so the rest of the year. There is just now way that either of those two guys can be part of the Brewers rotation anywhere in the next 2 years simply because they won't have the endurance built up.

I don't think that's necessarily true. Most guys are better than Manny Parra at stretching out and building up endurance.

[trwi7]

Parra with a very nice performance. 7 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, 9-5 GO/AO and only 86 pitches.

[TheCrew07]

I think that most pitchers are going to stretch out at 20-25 innings per year because it's proven as the safest way to develop pitchers thus far.

[Postseason2006]

Escobar's overall growth and game reminds me alot like Jose Reyes.

[dadofandrew]

Escobar would be a pretty good prospect if he was just an ok fielder, being 22 and always being young for his level.

 

He's top 5 in MLB by the end of the year.

[TheCrew07]

There's always a couple of commercials that I have extreme feelings for either way in a given season between the affiliates. For example during the Huntsville broadcasts last year they had a Bellesarios (I'm sure I butchered the spelling) commercial, I grew to despise the commercial in about 4 days. This year the "Rent a Wreck" commercial on the Helena broadcasts makes me chuckle for whatever reason, maybe it's the "... and no they aren't wrecks, they are nice used cars" line.

[TheCrew07]

Prince CS again on the first pitch, a pitch out, he's going to have to get better about picking his spots as he moves up and continues his career.

[TheCrew07]

Wow what drama in Helena. The lead off batter in the bottom of the 9th skies a ball to shallow CF, I mean absolutely skies one and Dykstra drops it, lead off runner on 2nd. Billings sacrifices the runner from 2nd to 3rd. 0-2 count the pitch goes off Zarraga's glove, Fiers rushes home and blocks the plate, Zarraga gets him the ball and he tags out the runner to maintain the 1 run lead. Then Fiers K's the batter on the next pitch to end the game.

 

I like this Fiers, 8 Ks in 5 IP now.

[BrewPackBuck]

Escobar would be a pretty good prospect if he was just an ok fielder, being 22 and always being young for his level.

 

He's top 5 in MLB by the end of the year.

What makes you think he isnt a good fielder?

[TheCrew07]

He's saying that even if Escobar was just an average defender he'd still be an exciting prospect with his offensive numbers as he's always been young for his league.

[Hammer]

Brutal start to the WI game this evening. I'll have a full first-hand point of view tomorrow morning w/ pictures. Good game overall though...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 3, Round Rock (Astros) 1

 

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for Manny Parra photo, text follows --

 

Parra Solid In Sounds' 3-1 Win Over Express

 

ROUND ROCK, Texas - Left-hander Manny Parra worked seven strong innings to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 3-1 victory over the Round Rock Express on Friday evening at The Dell Diamond in the finale of a three-game series.

 

Parra (1-2) allowed only two hits and struck out seven batters over seven scoreless frames in picking up his first Triple-A victory in four starts this season. The southpaw continued his mastery of the Express, improving to 3-0 with a miniscule 0.64 ERA (2 ER / 28.0 IP) in four career starts against them.

 

Sounds shortstop Alcides Escobar (3-for-4) led the offensive attack by posting a "triple double" in the contest, legging out a trio of two-baggers to account for half of Nashville's six hits on the evening.

 

The first-place Sounds (46-36) took two of three from Round Rock on their brief road trip, the club's first winning road series since early June.

 

Nashville grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third against Round Rock start Mark McLemore when Escobar and Hernan Iribarren put together back-to-back two-out doubles off the left-hander.

 

The Sounds doubled the advantage to 2-0 in the fifth. With one out, Parra drew a walk from McLemore and moved to third when Escobar doubled to left. Iribarren drove in his second run of the night when he followed with a sacrifice fly to center that plated Parra.

 

Round Rock took advantage of Parra's departure in the eighth, halving the lead to 2-1 against the Sounds' bullpen. After David Johnson retired the first two batters of the frame, pinch-hitter Jason Smith laced a double to right and scored on Brian Bogusevic's subsequent RBI single to right.

 

After a throwing error by Nashville catcher Martin Maldonado allowed Bogusevic to advance to third on the play, southpaw R.J. Swindle was summoned from the Nashville 'pen and induced an inning-ending flyout from Tommy Manzella to escape the frame with a one-run lead intact.

 

Pinch-hitter Joe Koshansky provided Nashville with an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning when he belted a two-out solo home run to right-center off Express reliever Casey Daigle. The slugger's 16th roundtripper of the season and the Sounds' first pinch-hit tater of the year increased the visitors' lead to 3-1.

 

Ryan Houston worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to secure the win and earn his third save of the year for Nashville. It was the Sounds' first save since June 16, a span of 16 contests.

 

McLemore (2-4) took a hard-luck loss for Round Rock following a quality start. He allowed two runs on five hits while striking out five batters in his 6 2/3 frames of action.

 

The Sounds return to Music City on Saturday to begin a nine-game homestand with the 6:00 PM opener of a four-game series against the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA-Dodgers) at historic Greer Stadium.

 

Nashville right-hander Tim Dillard (8-3, 3.86) will make the start to face Albuquerque right-hander Charlie Haeger (8-5, 3.75) in a battle of the PCL's winningest pitchers this season.

 

The first 2,000 fans through the turnstiles will receive a complimentary cooler, courtesy of CMT, and a special Independence Day fireworks show will light up the sky following the contest.

 

Nashville Box Score

Alcides Escobar in the leadoff spot, where he added a walk to his three doubles -- what a prospect, what an incredible prospect; the "Where's Angel?" game continues; Manny Parra better be building confidence fast, or better yet, building a proper mental game plan and his pitching IQ under Chris Bosio...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Tennessee (Cubs) 5, Huntsville 3

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary

 

Tennessee Makes It Through Shaky Last Frame

Stars and Smokies Split Six-Game Set

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

 

Marcos Mateo worked six solid innings and Tennessee survived a wild ninth inning to get past Huntsville 5-3 Friday night in the last of a six-game set at in front of 7,655, the largest crowd ever at Smokies Park. The Smokies evened their second half record at 6-6 and moved to within a game of the North Division leading Stars, who slipped to 7-5 in the second half and 45-36 overall. The Stars claimed 10 of the 14 games in Sevierville and 10 out of 16 in the season series.

 

Tyler Colvin reached on a fielder's choice grounder in the first inning, stole second and came into score the game's first run when Marquez Smith singled into center field. The Stars got the game tied in the bottom of the inning when Kevin Melillo drew a leadoff walk, moved to second base on a Mateo balk, advanced to third base on a Vinny Rottino single and scored on a J.R. Hopf base hit.

 

Tennessee regained the lead in the fourth inning when Smith doubled with one out and scored on a single by Blake Lalli, who was awarded third base on an errant throw back to the infield by Stars' center fielder Freddy Parejo. The next pitch from Nick Green was a wild one, going back to the screen behind the plate and allowing Lalli to score to make it a 3-1 game.

 

Mateo retired the last 11 batters he faced and departed having allowed a run on three hits, while walking one and fanning five. He held the Stars to two runs over 11 innings in his two starts in the series and won for the first time since beating Mississippi on May 9. Marco Carillo tossed two scoreless frames and has blanked the Stars over 6 1/3 innings in his three outings against them.

 

Green lasted 6 2/3 innings in his first start with the Stars, allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits, while walking one and striking out four. He had started the season at triple-A Nashville and made nine turns before suffering an injury that necessitated him going to the Arizona Rookie League before joining the Stars. Josh Wahpepah allowed a two-run pinch-hit single by Russ Canzler in the eighth inning that accounted for the Smokies' final runs of the game.

 

Brian Schlitter walked two batters and then walked Hopf to load the bases with two out in the ninth before he put pinch-hitter Jonathan Lucroy on board with a base on balls to force in a run to make it 5-2 and force his exit from the game. Jayson Ruhlman took over and walked Johnny Raburn to force in Rottino before Adam Stern grounded out on a very close play at first base to end the game. Ruhlman recorded his first save of the season.

 

The Stars return home Saturday to begin a four-game series with West Tenn with right-hander Mike Jones starting for the Stars against Diamond Jaxx' right-hander Luis Munoz. Coverage of the game begins at 6:45 PM central time and can be heard through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

The Cubs' starter, Marcos Mateo, is the only AA player on their 40-man roster; Smokies' manager Ryne Sandberg ejected for the second time in the series, and will likely draw a suspension for bumping the umpire; Stars box scores are bland without Jonathan Lucroy, Taylor Green, and Lorenzo Cain in the starting lineup -- Michael Garciaparra hit 3rd, yikes...

 

Huntsville Game Log

Double-switch positional fun --

 

Tennessee Bottom 7th

• Welington Castillo grounds out, second baseman Shane Justis to first baseman J. R. Hopf.
• Jonathan Mota strikes out on foul tip.
• Nate Samson reaches on fielding error by second baseman Shane Justis.
• Defensive switch from right field to center field for Adam Stern.
• Defensive switch from third base to first base for Kevin Melillo.
• Defensive switch from catcher to right field for Vinny Rottino.
• Defensive switch from first base to catcher for J. R. Hopf.
• Pitcher Change: Joshua Wahpepah replaces Nick Green, batting 8th.
• Defensive Substitution: John Raburn replaces pitcher Nick Green, batting 9th, playing third base.
• Tyler Colvin walks. Nate Samson to 2nd.
• Marquez Smith strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 4, Daytona (Cubs) 2

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary

 

Errecart Blast Boosts Manatees over Cubs

Manatees Win Fourth Straight over Rival Daytona

By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees

 

(Viera, FL) Chris Errecart got Brevard County started early with a first-inning homer, and the Manatees were able to hold off the Daytona Cubs for a 4-2 victory. After Manatees' starter Alex Periard battled out of a bases-loaded jam in the top half of the inning, Lee Haydel and Steffan Wilson reached base on consecutive singles. Errecart followed with a rocket over the left field fence to give Brevard County the early 3-0 lead.

 

Daytona got on the board in the third inning on Jake Opitz's RBI single. One pitch into the bottom of the fourth inning, the rain began falling in buckets, forcing the teams off the field for a one hour, eighteen minute rain delay. The Manatees added another run in the fifth inning when Haydel scored on a wild pitch by the Cubs' Henry Williamson.

 

Jim Henderson (1-0) took over for Periard after the delay, allowing just one run on one hit in three innings to earn his first win as a Manatee. Roque Mercedes worked out of an eighth-inning jam, then struck out the last three batters of the ninth inning to get the save, his fourth of the season. Daytona starter James Leverton took the loss, falling to 5-8.

 

Brevard County has re-taken the lead in the I-95 Battle for the Roadside Trophy series, 5-4. The teams meet again Saturday, with Mark Rogers (0-1, 1.37) of the Manatees taking on Daytona's Dan McDaniel (4-5, 4.45). There will be an even larger fireworks show following the game Saturday night, brought to you by MetroPCS. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

Brevard County Box Score

Alex Periard danced around four walks in four innings (one run); no suspension at all (at least not yet) for Carlos Corporan following Thursday's ejection; Brent Brewer now a third baseman, apparently; over 4,500 in Space Coast for fireworks...

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

Chris Errecart launches a three-run homer in the first inning of Friday's win. (MiLB.com photo by Dennis Greenblatt)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2009/07/03/krZmWJ7B.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Final: Clinton (Mariners) 9, Wisconsin 7

 

Wisconsin Site Game Summary

 

Wisconsin comeback falls short

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI -- The Clinton LumberKings scored nine times in the first two innings. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers scratched and clawed their way back to within three runs in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run at the plate with no outs. But, Clinton held on for the 9-7 win Friday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Steve Moss had a three-run homer to put the L-Kings up nine in the top of the second inning and that proved to be too much for Wisconsin.

 

Clinton (44-34 overall, 4-4 second half) jumped on Wisconsin starting pitcher Efrain Nieves right away. A bunt single on the first pitch of the game, a walk, and another single loaded the bases with no outs. Nieves would get the first out, but Jake Shaffer lined a double to right that cleared the bases for a 3-0 Clinton lead. Later in the inning, Nate Tenbrink singled in the final run for a 4-0 advantage.

 

The Rattlers (39-39, 5-3) went down in order in the bottom of the first inning and the LumberKings went to right back to work in the top of the second inning.

 

Daniel Carroll tripled with one out in the top of the second inning and would score when the throw into the infield got away. Denny Almonte's RBI fielder choice with the bases loaded drove in a run. Then, Moss lifted his three-run homer to left and the LumberKings were up 9-0.

 

Wisconsin rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. John Delaney doubled in the first run and an RBI single by Michael Vass made the score 9-2.

 

The Rattlers chipped away again in the bottom of the fourth inning. Michael Marseco tripled in a run with one out and would score on a Juan Sanchez RBI grounder to make the score 9-4.

 

Marseco delivered again in the fifth inning. His two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the fifth cut the Clinton lead to three runs.

 

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Lorenzo Cain drew a leadoff walk against LumberKing closer Ruben Flores. Brett Lawrie followed with a double to put runners at second and third with no outs and the Rattlers down 9-6. Corey Kemp knocked in Cain with a grounder to short and Lawrie took third on the play that made it 9-7.

 

But, Flores struck out the next two batters to preserve the win, get his sixteenth save of the season, and give the LumberKings a split of the four game series.

 

Wisconsin starts a four game series with the Burlington Bees at Community Field on Saturday night. Trey Watten (3-6, 3.91) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Mike Montgomery (1-1, 1.93) is set to start for the Bees. Game time in Burlington, Iowa is 6:30 PM.

 

The Rattlers return home for a six-game homestand against a pair of Eastern Division teams July 8-13. The West Michigan Whitecaps and South Bend Silver Hawks are in for three games each.

 

Wisconsin Box Score

There will be little chance for a respectable 2009 ERA for Efrain Nieves now -- others fared better after his departure; despite a very big game, Michael Marseco's OPS still below .500...

 

Wisconsin Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 6, Billings 5

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Helena leaves Billings with sweep of Mustangs

GREG RACHAC Of The Billings Gazette Staff

 

As soon as the ball got past Helena catcher Shawn Zarraga, Alex Oliveras saw a golden opportunity to give his team the lift it desperately needed.

 

Per the Billings Mustangs' current trend, however, what looked like a sure thing was their downfall in a 6-5 loss to the Brewers Friday night at Dehler Park.

 

Representing the tying run at third base in the bottom of the ninth inning, Oliveras was thrown out trying to score on a Michael Fiers pitch that eluded Zarraga and went to the backstop.

 

As Oliveras bolted for home, Zarraga got to the ball and flipped it to Fiers covering at the plate, where he tagged Oliveras for the second out of the inning.

 

And following a Yen-Wen Kuo strikeout a few pitches later, the Mustangs went home on the short end yet again.

 

"Talking to Delino, he said, 'Are you going to go if the ball gets through?'" Oliveras said. "I thought the ball was going to go a little bit farther."

 

The Delino in this equation was Mustangs' third base coach Delino DeShields.

 

No matter what advice the veteran of 13 major league seasons could provide Oliveras, the Mustangs' center fielder made what he considered to be the right move as a base runner.

 

"It's just part of the game," Oliveras said. "You're just thinking about winning. We've had a rough couple days, just ups and downs."

 

Indeed, the Mustangs have struggled mightily to open the season. The loss served as their third in a row - all at home to Helena - and sent their plummeting record to 2-9 at the bottom of the Pioneer League's North Division.

 

A night after a ninth-inning marred by errors and poor pitching derailed their chance to find the win column, the Mustangs looked ready to turn the tables on Helena.

 

Oliveras got a break leading off the ninth when second baseman Cutter Dykstra dropped his pop fly in shallow right field.

 

With Oliveras on second base, designated hitter Mark Fleury laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt and Billings was in business.

 

"It's a good play by Oliveras," said Mustangs manager Julio Garcia. "As soon as he saw that ball get through he took off. It was a good reaction by the catcher and obviously a good play by the pitcher holding on to the ball."

 

Fleury, making his professional debut after the Cincinnati Reds made him a fourth-round selection in the MLB draft in June, had a single and an RBI.

 

Fleury, out of the University of North Carolina, should figure into the Mustangs' catching rotation with Chris McMurray and Trey Manz still sidelined with injuries.

 

Humberto Sosa has been Billings' regular catcher thus far, and he continued to swing a torrid bat.

 

Sosa went 2-for-4 with a single and a double and drove in a run. He is 11-for-23 in his last six games.

 

Starter Leonardo Astorga gave up eight hits and four earned runs in three innings and did not figure into the decision.

 

Helena starter Nick Bucci earned his second victory while Fiers locked down his second save.

 

NOTES: Helena DH Joey Paciorek was ejected in the seventh inning by home plate umpire Derrick Brooks for arguing balls and strikes. Helena's Edgar Trejo was ejected a night earlier.

 

Helena Box Score

Brewers made the most of seven walks, two HBP's, two sacrifice flies; Scott Krieger and Shawn Zarraga each reached thrice...

 

Helena Game Log

Eventful 5th inning defensively for Krieger, with a throwing error and an outfield assist...

 

All photos by PAUL RUHTER/Billings Gazette Staff

Josh Garton of Billings slides back to first base as Helena's Hitaniel Arias misses a wild throw during play Friday, July 3, 2009 at Dehler Park. Garton was thrown out at third when he attempted to advance to bases on the play.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/billingsgazette.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/2/94/16a/29416aaa-6860-11de-9933-001cc4c002e0.image.jpg?_dc=1246687309

 

Helena Brewers pitcher Nick Bucci stretches out to make a catch at first base for an out on Josh Garton of Billings during the fourth inning of play.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/billingsgazette.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/a/06/19c/a0619c40-6860-11de-8bf7-001cc4c002e0.image.jpg?_dc=1246687508

[Mass Haas]

Final: DSL Brewers / Orioles 9, DSL Angels 8, 12 innings

 

DSL Brewers / Orioles Box Score

19-year-old RHP Edwin Linares (again with a heavy day-to-day workload, something you'd never see in Maryvale with these pitchers) blew the save but earned the win while working three innings; tall (but not big) 6'7", 170-lb. lefty Eliezer Montano a decent relief effort; three of the Brewers' kids were HBP -- a frequent event in this league; bring catcher Jhonatan Javier state-side already -- on base all five times up, plus a sacrifice fly, now with a .970 OPS...

 

DSL Brewers / Orioles Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Interestingly in the DSL game, closer Edwin Linares was forced to bat twice as the designated hitter was lost when Jhonatan Javier moved behind the plate mid-game.

[Mass Haas]

A bit of Nick Green video here from Friday's game.

[igor67]

What a stretch by the pitcher!

[juancastillo3]

Here's a few pictures from last night's Timber Rattlers game:

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs156.snc1/5820_105396102749_102499962749_2566437_5029361_n.jpg
Lorenzo Cain & Derrick McPhearson

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs136.snc1/5820_105396107749_102499962749_2566438_4246964_n.jpg
Brandon Ritchie

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs136.snc1/5820_105396112749_102499962749_2566439_612150_n.jpg
Brett Lawrie

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs156.snc1/5820_105396117749_102499962749_2566440_3942768_n.jpg
Nick Tyson

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs156.snc1/5820_105396122749_102499962749_2566441_24899_n.jpg
Lorenzo Cain

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs156.snc1/5820_105396127749_102499962749_2566442_511039_n.jpg
Brock Kjeldgaard

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs156.snc1/5820_105396132749_102499962749_2566443_4485893_n.jpg
Rattlers

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs136.snc1/5820_105396137749_102499962749_2566444_5785564_n.jpg
Lorenzo Cain