Link Report for Games of Tuesday, August 25th

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 4, Albuquerque (Dodgers) 1

Nashville Site Game Summary:

Link for J.J. Hardy photo, text follows --

 

Sounds Take Finale From 'Topes, 4-1

ALBUQUERQUE -- Right-hander Mike Jones worked a quality start to notch his first career Triple-A win and shortstop J.J. Hardy belted a homer to lead the Nashville Sounds to a 4-1 victory over the Albuquerque Isotopes on Tuesday evening at Isotopes Park.

 

With the win, Nashville (68-63) took three of four from the 'Topes in the series and pulled back within 1 1/2 games of first-place Memphis in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

Jones (1-1) allowed one run on four hits while striking out seven batters over his 7 1/3 innings of work to notch his first Sounds win in his second Class AAA start.

 

Hardy gave the visitors a 1-0 lead with a two-out solo homer to left off Giancarlo Alvarado in the top of the first inning.

 

AUDIO: J.J. Hardy Home Run

 

Recent addition Tike Redman increased the Nashville advantage to 3-0 in the fifth when he laced a two-out, two-run single off Alvarado.

 

The Sounds plated their fourth and final run in the seventh when Corey Patterson singled home Patrick Arlis against Albuquerque reliever Josh Lindblom.

 

Albuquerque plated its lone run in the home half of the seventh on a two-out Jason Repko homer.

 

Chris Smith worked around a pair of baserunners in the ninth to secure the win and notch his team-leading 16th save of the year for the Sounds.

 

The Sounds continue their road trip on Wednesday in Round Rock, Texas, where they open a five-game series against the Express (AAA-Astros) at 7:05 PM. Left-hander Sam Narron (1-6, 5.74) will be on the hill for Nashville.

 

Nashville Box Score

Can't help but smile at Mike Jones' line -- nice job by RHP Dave Johnson stranding two of his runners in the 8th; Adam Stern on base four times from the leadoff spot; catcher Angel Salome idle -- he has played in only one game since August 11th...

 

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 11, Billings (Reds) 8

Link while active, text follows:

 

Halton, Dykstra go yard in Brewers win

By CURT SYNNESS, Helena Independent Record

The Helena Brewers had a case of the dropsies at Kindrick Legion Field Tuesday, as they committed six errors in their Pioneer League game against the Billings Mustangs.

 

But Helena was able to prevail despite the miscues, 11-8, thanks in part to a couple of home run balls that Sean Halton and Cutter Dykstra dropped over the left field fence.

 

"We won, that's all I can say. It wasn't pretty," said Brewers manager Rene Gonzales of the contest between two clubs who are battling to stay out of the Northern Division cellar.

 

In the first of a five-game home stand, the Brewers jumped out to an early 8-2 lead, scoring five runs in the opening inning, and three more in the third frame. The big blows were a pair of three-run homers by Halton and Dykstra.

 

Helena starter Eric Arnett, whose fastball was clocked at 93 miles per hour, worked three innings, allowed three hits and struck out two. He was relieved by Damon Krestalude in the fourth, who gave up four runs in two-thirds of an inning.

 

Jonathan Pokorny replaced Krestalude, recording the last out of the fourth, and proceeded to go the next 3.1 innings. He gave up a pair of runs in the fifth, and then settled down to shutout Billings in the next two stanzas.

 

Chris Ellington's single to center in the fourth brought home Chad Stang with the home team's ninth tally, which turned out to be the deciding run. Joey Paciorek added a couple of insurance runs with a two-RBI base knock in the eighth.

 

Picking up the save was Kristian Bueno, who relieved the final two scoreless innings. Bueno permitted just one safety, while fanning three. Pokorny earned the win.

 

Mustangs starter Oscar Castro was saddled with the loss.

 

One of the game's crucial defensive plays took place in the top of the sixth inning. With two out and Billings' William Stramp on first, Ellington dropped Joshua Garton's high fly ball in left field. This prompted Stramp, who never stopped running, to try to score all the way from first, but centerfielder Stang rifled a seed to catcher Cameron Garfield for the final out of the inning.

 

Garfield paced the Brewers offensively with three hits, while Mariekson Gregorius had three base knocks for the visitors. Dykstra's three errors were high.

 

"We had six errors and they only had one, and the hits were even at 11, and we still won. You don't see that very often. We just need to tighten up the ship," Gonzales said.

 

The Brewers and Mustangs are tied for last place for the second half of the season, both at 6-14. The two clubs meet again tonight at Legion Field, game time at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score

 

Helena Game Log

 

Photos by Lisa Kunkel, Independent Record

Brewers' Sean Halton is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a home run during Tuesday's game against Billings at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/1/cf/8b3/1cf8b32c-91e9-11de-853e-001cc4c002e0.image.jpg?_dc=1251254127

 

Brewers' Eric Arnett fires in a pitch

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/e/81/c80/e81c8044-91e7-11de-9a6c-001cc4c002e0.image.jpg?_dc=1251253609

[JohnBriggs12]

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.

It's the lack of guys that project as 3-5 major league starters at the upper levels that has Melvin stymied as much as not having 1's or 2's. Let's hope Rivas and a few others can fill that void in the next year.

[colbyjack]

Arnett's GO:FO ratio for the month of August is 11.00!

 

Here's Rivas' writeup in the BA prospect handbook:

 

Rivas had Tommy John surgery in December 2006 but quickly worked himself back to full strength last season, and it showed. After a solid showing in low Class A, the first real challenge of his career, he earned a late-season bump up to Brevard County. Rivas' fastball remains his best pitch, sitting regularly at 91-92 mph while reaching 95 at times. It also feature good movement. Once just a thrower with a good arm, he has begun to develop his slider and changeup, becoming more of a pitcher. His slider shows plus potential, while his changeup is a work in progress. He shows confidence and a bulldog approach on the mound. Rivas needs to continue to work on command of his secondary pitches to remain a starting pitcher. Otherwise, he might project as a setup man down the road. He'll return to high Class A to start the season.

 

Rivas' inning total at the high-A level is now at 158. I'm a little surprise he hasn't received a bump up, but the Brewers may want him to stay to help the 'Tees in the postseason. He could be due for stops at both Huntsville and Nashville next year.

[Never Outhustled]

Its awesomely encouraging that the same people that called his change-up a "work in progress" now call it the best in the FSL.