Link Report for Games of Tuesday, August 25th

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Tuesday's Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Mike Jones at Albuquerque (Dodgers), 7:10 PM pre-game; 7:35 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Huntsville: RHP Brandon Kintzler at home vs. Montgomery (Rays), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Brevard County: RHP Amaury Rivas and LHP Lucas Luetge in a doubleheader at home vs. Clearwater (Phillies), 4:00 PM gametime

Sorry, no audio for this series...

 

Wisconsin: First, it's the completion of a game at Burlington (Royals) that was suspended on July 7. The score of that game is 1-1 and the Rattlers have a runner at first with no outs in the top of the sixth. Then, in the nine-inning nightcap, RHP R.J. Seidel takes the mound. LHP Efrain Nieves will also pitch -- 4:45 PM pre-game; 5:00 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Helena: RHP Eric Arnett at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Arizona Summer League: at the Giants' complex in Scottsdale; no more day games -- all games begin at 7:00 local time in the desert; no audio, naturally...

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers / Orioles: Season complete -- the squad finished 27-43, 11th place in the 12-team division, 24.5 games behind the first-place DSL Giants. If it makes you smile, the DSL Cubs #2 squad finished last at 15-52, and lost their final 19 games of the season.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Tuesday'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.

 

Nashville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_08_25_nasaaa_albaaa_1

 

Huntsville:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_08_25_monaax_hunaax_1&did=t559&sid=t559

 

Brevard County Game One:

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2009_08_25_clrafa_breafa_1&cid=503&t=g_box

 

Brevard County Game Two:

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2009_08_25_clrafa_breafa_2&cid=503&t=g_box

 

Wisconsin Completion of Suspended Game:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_07_07_wisafx_burafx_1

 

Wisconsin Regularly Scheduled Game:

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_08_25_wisafx_burafx_1&did=t572&sid=t572

 

Helena:

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=g_box&gid=2009_08_25_bilrok_helrok_1&did=t433&sid=t433

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale):

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_box&gid=2009_08_25_brrrok_giarok_1

[Mass Haas]

Six of the starting nine (seven of the starting ten including the pitcher) from the suspended July Timber Rattlers game have either been promoted or placed on the DL (John Delaney).

Here's the partial box score to reflect that until the game actually starts again.

****

The Sounds' series in Albuquerque is available for a fee via MiLB.TV -- sorry for not reminding Nashville diehards earlier.

[Mass Haas]

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated a few hours prior to gametime.

Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format):



***

We're going to include the link to Kraig McNutt's Nashville blog in the same post as the Nashville media notes link going forward.

***

"Voice of the Rattlers" Chris Mehring's informative and entertaining Rattlers Radio Blog includes game notes an hour or two before gametime.

[Mass Haas]

Midwest League Standings

 

Arizona League Standings

 

Dominican Summer League Standings

[Mass Haas]

[And That]

Nieves is pitching in the restart of the suspended game. That box score, now going into the 7th inning, is already pretty epic with all the lineup changes necessitated by the roster turnover Jim noted.

 

Rivas with - shock - another good outing so far.

[jvrocksaz]

Very nice bounce back game for Mike Jones thus far tonight!

[And That]

Rivas' last 10 starts:

 

5 IP, 3 ER

6 IP, 0 ER

6 IP, 3 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

6.1 IP, 0 ER

5.1 IP, 0 ER

7 IP, 0 ER

7 IP, 2 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

 

That's about as steady as it gets. While he may not have top of the rotation stuff, he's turning himself into a middle of the rotation prospect pretty quick.

[sfl2hnq17]

Holy Kintzler. Didn't see him having a performance of that quality. Very impressive.

[TheCrew07]

Arnett gives up another unearned run... wow. That's 9 unearned runs in 21 IP or so.

[battlekow]

Three more errors for Cutter Dykstra so far, 16 on the season at Helena now.

[And That]

Finally, Buddy Flores makes his long-awaited debut in the second Brevard game. One scoreless inning in high-A ball... take that, Bill Hall.

[jvrocksaz]

Mike Jones was dealing tonight!! 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K's, 108 Pitches... AAA ERA drops from 13.50 to 5.40... Awesome!

[TheCrew07]

Is it wrong if I pimp Rivas again?

 

I haven't rooted for anyone coming through the system as hard as I've rooted for Jones and Rogers this season. Keep up the good work Mike and next year when you start a game at Miller Park I'll send TH some hate mail, just don't make me look like a douche, I do that well enough on my own.

[True CryM]

Rivas' last 10 starts:

 

5 IP, 3 ER

6 IP, 0 ER

6 IP, 3 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

6.1 IP, 0 ER

5.1 IP, 0 ER

7 IP, 0 ER

7 IP, 2 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

6 IP, 1 ER

 

That's about as steady as it gets. While he may not have top of the rotation stuff, he's turning himself into a middle of the rotation prospect pretty quick.

I've read reports that say Rivas runs his fastball upwards of 95 mph and that his secondary stuff is what he'll need to improve in order to be an effective starter. After Baseball America gave him "best change up" in the FSL, I'm wondering what about his stuff isn't considered top of rotation?

[LouisEly]

Hooray Mike Jones!

 

Not sure why Aguilar is still in Brevard; his trip to the AFL is a good sign and must be in lieu of bringing him back up to AA so that both he and Wooten can close.

[And That]

Maybe one of our Florida posters can confirm this, but I thought Rivas was generally in the low 90's and didn't have a consistent breaking ball beside the changeup. I love him as a prospect, I just don't think I've heard his name paired with "#1 or #2" starter. Maybe he's just that unappreciated.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: Brevard County 2, Clearwater (Phillies) 1

Final, Game Two: Clearwater 6, Brevard County 4

Brevard County Site Doubleheader Summary

 

Manatees Split Doubleheader with Threshers

By Tyler Stover / Brevard County Manatees

(Viera, FL) The Brevard County Manatees earned a split in their doubleheader with the Clearwater Threshers on Tuesday night, winning Game 1, 2-1, but dropping the nightcap, 6-4.

 

Amaury Rivas (13-6) continued his dominant second half to win the first game. Rivas scattered four hits and three walks over six innings to allow just one run. He also struck out six Threshers. He has now won nine of his last ten starts. The Manatees struck first when Eric Farris belted a two-out triple in the third inning, and scored the first run of the game when Clearwater's Fidel Hernandez was unable to handle a hard grounder by Caleb Gindl. After the Threshers tied the game in the top of the sixth, the Manatees answered with a run of their own in the bottom half to take the lead back, 2-1. Steffan Wilson scored from second on a two-base throwing error by Hernandez on a relay throw after Chris Errecart's flyout. Omar Aguilar worked around a one-out triple by Luis Arzeno, striking out the final two batters to pick up his eighth save. Edgar Garcia (0-3) took the loss for Clearwater.

 

Brevard County Game One Box Score

Zelous Wheeler perfect at the plate, two singles and a walk; Martin Maldonado touted as a strong defensive catcher, but that's his 14th passed ball at Brevard...

 

Brevard County Game One Game Log

Clearwater rebounded to win Game 2, 6-4, despite three home runs by the Manatees. Clearwater jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning, and never relinquished the lead from that point. Gindl (15), Errecart (7), and Zelous Wheeler (7) each went deep for Brevard County, but it was not enough to complete the comeback. Lucas Luetge (6-7) was roughed up for four runs on five hits in four innings, taking the loss.

Chris Kissock (3-5) earned the win in relief for Clearwater, and Michael Schwimer pitched two hitless innings to earn his 20th save.

 

The teams continue the series Wednesday night. Michael Bowman (4-4, 2.92 ERA) will get the start for Brevard County. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

Brevard County Game Two Box Score

LHP Lucas Luetge has been bounced from starter to the pen, and there's been little consistency in his results to match -- he did settle down after the four-run 1st; Caleb Gindl no longer limited to DH duties...

 

Brevard County Game Two Game Log

 

Amaury Rivas continued his amazing second half, winning for the ninth time in his last ten starts. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2009/08/25/eSsFgCfF.jpg

[Mass Haas]

As for the rest of the "Report" (now a safe place for children to read now that Jeff Suppan's rehab stints are complete), we'll have all the rest later this AM....

[Mass Haas]

Final: Burlington (Royals) 2, Wisconsin 1, completion of suspended game

 

Sudden end

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

BURLINGTON, IA -- In a game that took almost two months to complete, the Burlington Bees made quick work of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the conclusion to a suspended game from July 7. Fernando Garcia's RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning was the difference in a 2-1 win at Community Field on Tuesday night.

 

Back in July, the Rattlers grabbed a 1-0 lead on an RBI grounder by Martin Maldonado in the top of the second. A home run by Juan Rivera in the bottom of the third inning tied the game.

 

The game resumed in the top of the sixth inning with Jose Duran at first base. The Rattlers designated hitter had been hit by a pitch by Burlington starting pitcher Mike Lehmann just before rain suspended play until today.

 

Neither team scored right away, but the Bees got going in the bottom of the eighth inning. Patrick Norris tripled into the let field corner with one out. Wisconsin brought the infield in to try to cut the runner down at the plate. However, Garcia smacked a single through the left side of the infield to drive in Norris and give the Bees the lead.

 

Justin Garcia allowed a one-out single to Erik Komatsu in the top of the ninth inning. The Rattlers sent Derrick McPhearson into the game as a pinch runner. However, Garcia picked McPhearson off first base and struck out Kyle Dhanani to end the game.

 

Justin Garcia tossed four scoreless innings to get the win. Efrain Nieves allowed four hits and one run in three innings to take the loss.

 

Wisconsin Game One Box Score

Yikes, that must have not been a fun walk back to the dugout for Derrick McPhearson; as noted above, one wild box score with all the names from July 7th...

 

Wisconsin Game One Game Log

 

Final: Burlington 12, Wisconsin 6, regularly scheduled game

Bees keep buzzing

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

BURLINGTON, IA - The Burlington Bees erased an early Wisconsin Timber Rattlers lead by scoring in each of the first five innings on their way to a 12-6 win Tuesday night at Community Field. Ryan Wood homered twice and knocked in five runs for the Bees, who won twice on Tuesday over the Rattlers. Burlington also won 2-1 in the conclusion of a suspended game from July 7 and they have grabbed control of the second half Midwest League Western Division Wild Card race.

 

Wisconsin (57-71 overall, 23-35 second half) collected three consecutive two-out RBI singles in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. Erik Komatsu, Jose Duran, and Sean McCraw each delivered to give Wisconsin the early advantage. Michael Vass also singled with two outs in the first inning, but McCraw was thrown out at the plate.

 

The Bees (58-70, 29-29) tied the game quickly. A single and a pair of walks loaded the bases in the bottom of the first. Jose Bonilla sent a grounder to third that should have been the final out with either a force out at third or a throw to first. But, the ball was missed (by Duran) and two runs scored.

 

In the bottom of the second, Wood blasted a pitch over the left field wall for his first professional home run. That long ball tied the game 3-3.

 

An error and a home run did in the Rattlers in the bottom of the third inning. A double, a walk, and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out for the Bees and set the stage. Jason Morales hit a grounder to third that was missed (Duran) and allowed Nick Francis, the runner at third, to score and the Bees were in front. Wood followed with his second professional homer, a three-run shot for a 7-3 Burlington lead.

 

Francis continued the onslaught with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth inning. Later in the frame an RBI single by Morales pushed Burlington's lead to 9-3.

 

An RBI double by David Wood in the bottom of the fifth inning made it 10-3 Burlington.

 

The Rattlers got a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning off Burlington reliever Riquy Pena. Michael Vass drove in the first run with a double and an RBI single by Derrick McPhearson sent Vass home. In the seventh, a sacrifice fly by Duran got the Rattlers to within 10-6.

 

The Bees took advantage of a dropped fly ball (by McPhearson in left field) to start the bottom of the eighth inning. The miscue was the fourth of the night by the Wisconsin defense and allowed Shawn Griffin to take second base. Morales knocked him home with a double and Wood followed with an RBI single for his fifth RBI of the night and a 12-6 lead and close out the scoring on the night.

 

By winning twice on Tuesday, the Bees picked up 1-1/2 games on their nearest competitors, the Clinton LumberKings. Clinton lost in Cedar Rapids and now trails Burlington by 3-1/2 games. The Rattlers have fallen eight games off the pace set by Burlington.

 

Wisconsin and the Bees continue their series on Wednesday night at Community Field. Trey Watten (5-13, 4.77) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Manauris Baez (7-5, 3.68) is set to go for Burlington. Game time is 6:30 PM.

 

Wisconsin Game Two Box Score

My text on who committed the errors is italicized above (Chris has to ride the bus with these guys, I don't); LHP Brandon Ritchie and RHP Nick Tyson did their jobs late, it's tough when you're down 10-3 after five innings; the Rattlers were actually quite effective with RISP (7-for-14); yes, the team has been picked over, but there are opportunities to be had here -- so who will be up to the challenge to be more than an organizational soldier in the years to come...

 

Wisconsin Game Two Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 8, Arizona Giants 3

 

Arizona Box Score

RHP Blake Billings went the five innings necessary for the win -- so many starters leave Maryvale with losing records, even top-performing prospects, because they don't get the pitch count freedom to go deep often, especially early in the season; RHP's Stosh Wawrzasek and Andrew Sauter finished up nicely; the Giants ran a bit, but 20-year-old Venezuelan catcher Jonathan Requena was able to nab two; 18-year-old outfielder Jose Garcia hit his first 2009 home run -- he hit three in Maryvale last season, many of you, unlike myself, have seen the Maryvale site -- I imagine the Arizona Summer League kids play on the main field the Brewers do in spring training; RF Max Walla had that run of four consecutive two-hit games last week -- unfortunately since then, he's 1-for-12 with (ouch!) ten K's, that's 80 strikeouts in 178 AB's...

 

Arizona Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 5, Montgomery 0

Huntsville Site Game Summary

 

Stars Blank Biscuits to Square Series

Three Huntsville Hurlers Combine to Strike Out 15

By Brett Pollock / Huntsville Stars

 

Brandon Kintzler spun six scoreless innings and combined with two relievers on a five-hit shutout in Huntsville's 5-0 blanking of Montgomery Tuesday night in the fourth of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars won a second straight to raise their second half mark to 23-35, while the Biscuits fell to 27-31 in the second half and 60-68 overall. The Stars beat the Biscuits for a third time in nine tries.

 

The Stars loaded the bases with two outs against Brandon Mann in the first inning but could not score. However, they broke through with the game's first run in the second when Yohannis Perez drew a leadoff walk and came around on Freddy Parejo's one-out double.

 

Huntsville added to its lead with three two-out runs in the fourth on consecutive scoring hits by Shane Justis, Lorenzo Cain and Jonathan Lucroy, who has hit safely in 24 of his last 25 games. The home team added its final run in the fifth when Parejo grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to score Chuck Caufield, who started the inning with a single.

 

Kintzler allowed only two hits and struck out eight to earn his first double-A win. Juan Sandoval tossed two scoreless innings during which he gave up a pair of hits and fanned four. Wes Littleton allowed a hit in the ninth and struck out the side to finish off the Stars' seventh shutout win of the season. Montgomery never advanced a runner to third base in getting blanked for a 13th time this season.

 

Mann suffered the loss to fall to 6-8 after yielding four runs on eight hits over four frames. It was the first time in nine starts dating to June 29 that he had allowed more than three runs in a starting assignment.

 

The series finishes Wednesday night with Stars' right-hander Mark Holliman making the start against Biscuits' right-hander Brian Baker. 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

In addition to the eight K's, RHP Brandon Kintzler, the recent independent league signee, did not walk a batter and induced nine ground balls and only one flyout -- wow; half of the Stars' 12 hits were doubles, with Lorenzo Cain and Yohannis Perez each with a pair; four Stars -- Cain, Jonathan Lucroy, Chuckie Caufield, and Freddy Parejo, reached three times apiece; Taylor Green at first base again with Shane Justis at third and Corey Kemp the DH -- the Brewers could be setting up Green to be a Lyle Overbay-type LH first base bat in the future, apparently he's going to see some Arizona Fall League time there...

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

David Weiser's starsboxscore.com

 

Sit down!

Three Stars pitchers strike out 15 in whitewash

 

Monday, the Stars showed up with a display of long ball, smacking three HRs to get a 6-4 win. Tonight, it was six doubles, two each from Lorenzo Cain and Freddy Parejo, but that was overshadowed by what Brandon Kintzler and two relievers did on the mound.

 

What was in that breakfast?...... Kintzler, who got past the 5th inning in just one of his three previous starts and never left a game without giving up at least four hits, threw 90 pitches, 62 for strikes, in pitching six scoreless innings against Montgomery, Tuesday night, allowing just two hits....... In addition, Kintzler struck out eight, most for a starter since Mike Jones fanned a season-high nine in six innings vs. Carolina on July 21...... Picking up where Kintzler left off, Juan Sandoval, who stretched his scoreless relief string to 4 1/3 innings, and Wes Littleton fanned an additional seven for at total of 15 strikeouts as the Stars blanked the Biscuits, 5-0...... The 15 Ks is the most by the staff since April 14 when six pitchers combined for 19 strikeouts in a 13-inning victory over the Braves, and the most in a nine-inning game this year....... The Stars did it against a team that was 4th in the league in striking out.

 

Overlooked, as I mentioned though, is the fact that the six doubles was a large part of their offensive support, a season-high matched twice previously this year, first on May 16 at Mobile, then a second time at home vs. Birmingham, June 2...... Freddy Parejo's first of two doubles in the 2nd inning, got the Stars off to a 1-0 start off Brandon Mann, pitching on three days rest to make his 2nd start of the season...... After escaping a bases-loaded situation in the 1st inning, Mann, walked Yohannis Perez to lead off the 2nd. Parejo then lifted a fly ball high to left-center that landed near the warning track, bouncing against the wall, enabling Perez to score.......

 

In the Stars big 4th inning in which seven batters came to the plate, Lorenzo Cain hit the second of his two doubles, scoring Shane Justis all the way from first to make it 3-0. Justis had already broken out of a 4-for-52 slump by singling in a run. Jonathan Lucroy then drove in Cain when Mann couldn't get to first base to take Matt Fields' toss to first on Lucroy's hard grounder....... The Stars final run in the 5th came in on a fielder's choice on an unorthodox 5-4 double play with the bases loaded....... Chuckie Caufield was stranded after his one-out double in the 7th. Likewise, Parejo, who led off with a double to left in the 8th.

 

Parejo had hit two doubles in a game back on June 25 vs. Chattanooga...... Cain hit two doubles in a game twice last year...... Taylor Green doubled in his 2nd straight game and is 6-for-16 (.375) in his last five games, and 12-for-32 in his last 10, breaking out of a 4-for-41 slump which saw his average slip to .244. Green, who was hitting over .300 a little over a month ago, is up to .259....... Drew Anderson, hitting .192 in his last seven games, got a rest tonight. Drew is still 6th among SL batting leaders at .309.

 

The win tonight officially eliminated Montgomery from the 2nd half race....... Mann made one previous start vs. Huntsville and that was not too long ago at Riverwalk Stadium on July 31st. He lasted 6 1/3 innings then in a 10-inning win for the Biscuits.

 

Mark Holliman, club leader in innings pitched (120 1/3), gets the start for the Stars Wednesday vs. Brian Baker. Holliman is 2-5 with a 5.06 ERA at home this year....... Baker (5-5, 4.56) lost to Mike Jones on July 27, 8-3, at Riverwalk...... The Stars get Thursday off, then face the two toughest teams in the standings right now -- Birmingham on the road, then Jacksonville for the final series of the year, at home, before the playoffs come to Joe Davis Stadium September 10.