Link Report for Friday, April 9th -- Suppan opens Rattlers' season

[TheCrew07]

Bucci comes a little bit unglued in the first inning of the second game, he gives up a run without allowing a hit... 3 BBs and an error.

[YoungGeezy]

So what do ya'll think happens once Josh Prince is back from injury? With Brewer now repeating A+ for the third time do you feel they move him up to AA if he starts to hit or do they push Prince to AA? It seems like the Crew still want Brewer at SS so it is hard for me to see both those two switching off between SS/DH ( My guess at least 75% Prince) I like Wheeler and think he is a pretty good utility player but not an every day SS. Just something that is kinda bugging me.

 

Nice to see Soup get hit around by a bunch of low A players, not losing a step from getting pounded during spring training. He continues to prove why he needs to be the Brewers number 5 over Narveson and Parra, ughhh.... On the plus side good game for Paciorek, he is a guy I have been wondering about and if he could develop into a decent prospect. Congrats to D'Vontrey and Scooter one their first professional hits!!!

 

Peralta I am sorry that I consistantly think of you as a future RP or closer, you continue to prove me wrong,(Don't think I'll get to see my dream of Peralta in the 8th with Braddock in the 9th) Great outting! Wasn't their talk about Kentrail moving to a corner outfield spot after he was drafted? Anyway great to see him start out really well.

[battlekow]

Final: Nashville 5, Iowa 2

 

Nashville box score

Chuck Lofgren's Brewers debut was quite encouraging, as he struck out six and walked only one over 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Though both runs came on solo homers, he kept the ball down in general, getting six ground outs to four fly outs. John Axford picked up his first save for the Sounds, striking out one and walking one in the 9th. The wind must have been blowing out--the Sounds hit three homers to one-up the I-Cubs, with Angel Salome, Luis Cruz, and Joe Koshansky doing the honors. Salome and Cruz were each 2-4 overall.

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

2010 starts with a Rattlers win

Chris Mehring/TimberRattlers.com

 

Scooter Gennett’s two-out RBI

single in the bottom of the seventh gave the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers a

3-2

victory over the Kane County Cougars Friday night at Time Warner Cable

Field.

Wisconsin picked up the victory in game one of a doubleheader to open

the 2010

season.

 

 

 

Cameron Garfield gave the Timber Rattlers (1-0) the

lead in

the first inning. D’Vontrey Richardson started the Rattlers with an

infield single, took second on an error, and third on a wild pitch.

But,

Richardson was still at third base with two outs. Then, Garfield drove

him in with a single to center.

 

 

 

Kane County (0-1) broke through against Wisconsin

starting

pitcher Jeff Suppan in the top of the fourth inning. Chris Affinito

doubled and went to third on a single by Max Stassi. Mike Gilmartin

followed with an RBI single to tie the game 1-1. Suppan, who was making

a

rehab start for the Milwaukee Brewers, walked the next batter to load

the bases

with no outs. He would get out of the inning with a strikeout and a

1-2-3

double play.

 

 

 

Suppan went 4-1/3 innings on the evening, allowed

one run on

seven hits, walked three, and struck out four. But, he was not involved

in the decision.

 

 

 

The Cougars broke the tie in the top of the sixth

inning. Rattlers reliever Andre Lamontagne walked a pair of batters

with

one out. He would a strikeout for out number two, but a double steal on

strike three allowed the Cougars to get a runner to third. Conner

Crumbliss cashed in the go-ahead run with an infield single.

 

 

 

Wisconsin rallied back in the bottom of the sixth

inning.

Khris Davis walked to start the inning and went to second on an infield

grounder. Chris Dennis was next and he lined a single to left-center to

send Davis home with the tying run.

 

 

 

 

 

The winning rally started on Joey Paciorek’s

leadoff

single in the bottom of the seventh. A sacrifice bunt by Carlos George

moved Paciorek into scoring position. Franklin Romero, Jr. was walked

intentionally to set up the double play. However, Richardson was

retired

on a tapper in front of the plate that did not allow the Cougars to turn

two.

 

 

Gennett’s winning hit was a grounder that got past

the

mound. Crumbliss charged from his position at second base, but could

not

get Gennett. Paciorek crossed home with the winning run.

[battlekow]

Peralta I am sorry that I consistantly think of you as a future RP or closer, you continue to prove me wrong,(Don't think I'll get to see my dream of Peralta in the 8th with Braddock in the 9th) Great outting! Wasn't their talk about Kentrail moving to a corner outfield spot after he was drafted? Anyway great to see him start out really well.

Lots of talk since instructs about Peralta's improved changeup, so things look pretty good for now as far as him remaining a starter. After Davis was drafted, the scouting reports seemed skeptical about his ability to remain in center, but Seid said they were going to let him play there initially and see how he does, which I think is great--that's what the minor leagues are for. I'd like to see Gennett playing shortstop for now for the same reason.

[battlekow]

Kevin Goldstein:

Excellent report

from scout on Brewers

RHP Wily Peralta who went six scoreless at High-A. More on monday, but

the key word was "dominant."

[RockCoCougars]

A "rehabbing" Jeff Suppan

allowed a Suppanian 10 baserunners (seven hits, three walks) in 4.1

innings, though he only allowed one run and did strike out four

How can a major league pitcher get knocked around like this by mostly 19 and 20 year old kids? I don't want to hear any 'rust' excuses either, he's been pitching all spring.

[battlekow]

Sounds Beat Iowa, 5-2, On Three Homers

NashvilleSounds.com

 

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Nashville Sounds moved to 2-0 with a 5-2 win over

the division-rival Cubs on Friday evening at Principal Park. All five

runs were scored via the long ball, as catcher Angel Salome, shortstop

Luis Cruz, and first baseman Joe Koshansky belted their first home runs

of the season in the victory.

 

Nashville starter Chuck Logren (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits with

six strikeouts in his Sounds debut to earn the win.

Nashville's bullpen has shutout Iowa over the first two games of the

series, recording 6.1 innings of combined scoreless ball.

 

 

Salome put Nashville on the board in the top of the second inning with

his first home run of the season, a solo shot to left field off Iowa

starter Jay Jackson.

 

 

The Cubs tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning with a

Micah Hoffpauir home run off Sounds starter Chuck Lofgren.

 

 

After Salome reached on an infield single in the fifth, newly acquired

shortstop Luis Cruz jacked a two-run homer to left field that put the

Sounds back ahead at 3-1.

 

 

Left fielder Jason Dubois got another run back for the Cubs, bringing

Iowa within one run at 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, with his first

homer of the season. In his Triple-A debut, Sounds right-hander Mike

McClendon relieved Lofgren later in the inning and fanned Welington

Castillo to end the inning for his first strikeout victim.

 

 

After outfielder Brendan Katin was hit by a John Gaub pitch, first

baseman Joe Koshansky added insurance to the Sounds lead, hammering a

two-out, two-run homer over the right field wall for a 5-2 lead.

 

 

McClendon struck out three over two scoreless innings in relief.

Newcomer A.J. Murray recorded a crucial out in the bottom of the eighth

inning, while right-handed John Axford threw a scoreless ninth to pick

up his first save of the year.

 

 

 

Both teams continue with the third game of a four-game series at 6:35 pm

on Saturday night at Principal Park. Right-hander Marco Estrada, an

off-season waiver claim from the Washington Nationals, makes his Brewers

organization debut when he starts for the Sounds against Cubs

right-hander Thomas Diamond.

 

[battlekow]

Timber Rattlers beat snow in opener

Lindsay Veremis/WLUK-TV

GRAND CHUTE - A spring tradition was in full

swing Friday, as Brewers' minor league affiliate, the Wisconsin Timber

Rattlers opened their season with a double header. The team was

scheduled to open Thursday, but Spring Storm Ella had other plans and

forced a cancellation.

Oh, what a difference a day makes.

"We

had snow yesterday, game opener can't ask for anything better than a

double header and Suppan pitching the first game," Tyler Techlin said as

he stood over his grill.

Yesterday's hot cocoa, was passed over

for Friday's cold brew. Blankets were at the ready, but winter layers

slipped away. Fans said an opening day, even delayed, hadn't lost its

magic.

"The snow it puts a damper on it, but sunshine today makes

it all worthwhile," Adam Thomas of Appleton said.

The team will

play through quite a bit of bad weather, but President Rob Zerjav says

it couldn't trudge through snow.

"With this one it was obvious,"

he said. "When we woke up on Thursday morning there was nothing you're

gonna do, it was just the way it was. You roll with the punches and just

get ready for the next day."

Zerjav says it's not easy, but with

eager fans and players itching to get started, the game goes on.

"He

was a little disappointed but he's happy they're getting it in today,

he's ready to go," Tim Dennis said of his son, infielder Chris Dennis.

Dennis drove eight hours from Ontario to Chris play.

"It was

74 when I left there and when we came up here it was nice the first day,

but the second day you just got that unexpected four inches of snow,"

he said.

Dennis preferred Friday's weather and plenty would

agree.

"Whenever it's not snowing it's okay, sunshine is good,"

Thomas said.

The Timber Rattlers say the delay hurt opening day

attendance, but the team is expecting numbers will increase as the

season goes on. Last year the team set an attendance record.

[TheCrew07]

I captured the pre game and between games audio interviews for Huntsville and Wisconsin tonight. However it appears that Houndbite is now defunct so I need to find a new site to host the audio. Once I find a new place to host and the teams give me permission I will add the appropriate audio to each link report.

[homer]

It's hard to believe Peralta is only 20 years old since he's been in the system since 2006. He might have a huge year.

[YoungGeezy]

A "rehabbing" Jeff Suppan allowed a Suppanian 10 baserunners (seven hits, three walks) in 4.1 innings, though he only allowed one run and did strike out four

How can a major league pitcher get knocked around like this by mostly 19 and 20 year old kids? I don't want to hear any 'rust' excuses either, he's been pitching all spring.

Agreed he just pitched a 90 pitch simulated game 5 days ago and pitched 4 or 5 games right before that in which he was beat up the same way but the Brewers have decided because they owe him money it doesn't matter how bad he is, he is their man.

 

That walk off in the first game seems to have gotten Scooter going, he is now 2-2 with a double. Bucci 3.0IP 1H 2K's but 5 BB's..a little disappointing but i'm confident he will bounce back.

[Mass Haas]

Iowa Bottom 2nd

• Defensive Substitution: Norris Hopper replaces left fielder Adam Stern, batting 1st, playing center field.
  
• Defensive switch from center field to left field for Trent Oeltjen.

Stern singled leading off the game, was stranded at second base, and played defense in the bottom of the inning.

[Mass Haas]

Daytona Site:

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - Opening Night at "The Jack" hosted 4,945 fans, but the large crowd could not will the Daytona Cubs to victory as they dropped their second straight game by the final score 7-0.

Daytona Cubs' starter Chris Rusin got the nod on opening night. Rusin pitched four innings allowing seven hits and six runs. The damage started in the fourth inning when Brevard County's Matthew Cline appeared to be picked off, but a high throw from Ryne White sailed into center field aiding to a four run frame.

 

The Cubs offense appeared ready to break into the early deficit in the bottom of the fourth after a Josh Vitters leadoff single, but six pitches later he was picked off. The Cubs finished the game with just six hits.

 

Brevard County's starter Wily Peralta dazzled through six innings only allowing four base runners and struck out eight. Peralta picked up his first win of the early season and Chris Rusin gets the loss.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville broadcaster Chad Anderson's blog site:

Stars can't recover from early deficit

The Huntsville Stars failed to pull their 2010 record even by falling at Chattanooga on Friday night 3-2 in a late inning thriller.

 

In a departure from Thursday’s season opener, Chattanooga was the first to lead thanks to throwing errors by Zelous Wheeler and Brett Lawrie, respectively. One inning later, Elian Hererra singled home Lookouts third baseman Anthony Hatch to neutralize the Stars first inning score, a run credited to Chris Errecart. Errors have been commonplace for the Stars over the first two games this season. On Thursday, Amaury Rivas’ dazzling five inning effort was wasted; Huntsville gave up four unearned runs in a 4-2 loss.

 

After a pitching change, Caleb Gindl drew Huntsville to within one by plating Lee Haydel with a two out double in the Stars half of the seventh. Huntsville caught the break of the night in the eighth when Chattanooga catcher Lucas May missed a two out, opposite field home run by mere feet. He instead was relegated to a double. A wiley set of substitutions from new Manager Mike Guerrero, including putting Mike Jones on the mound, preserved the one run deficit as Jones worked his way back in the count against Thursday’s hero Scott Van Slyke to retire him on a soft grounder.

 

The Stars could not, however, take advantage of the momentum as the Lookouts 24 year old flamethrower Javy Guerra retired the stars in the ninth 1-2-3. The Stars are left hanging their heads as the lone Northern Division team to be without a win in 2010, leaving eight base runners on base Friday night. Alex Periard takes the loss for the Stars allowing three runs (two earned) over six full innings. Alberto Bastardo scattered seven hits over five innings while allowing one run in taking the win. Guerra picks up his second save in as many games.

 

Three games remain in the current five game series in Chattanooga before the Stars return home on Wednesday. Saturdays contest starts again at 6:15 while Sunday is a matinee affair with a first pitch scheduled for 1:15. Coverage of all Stars baseball games begins 15 minutes before the first pitch and can be heard on the Huntsville Stars Radio Network (AM-1450/92.9-FM WTKI Huntsville) or online at www.huntsvillestars.com, www.chadandersonweb.org and www.wtkiradio.com.

[Mass Haas]

Video highlights of Jeff Suppan and Scooter Gennett's game one game-winner for Wisconsin available here (video link on the left sidebar)

 

Video lowlights available here of Huntsville's loss -- not a pretty feed to short by Brett Lawrie here

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Cubs scoreless again in 1st game at home

By SEAN KERNAN, DAYTONA NEWS-JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

 

DAYTONA BEACH -- Friday night was perfect for baseball at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

 

Unfortunately for the crowd of 4,945 that turned out for the Daytona Cubs' home opener, the D-Cubs were far from perfect.

 

Daytona dropped its second straight game to the Brevard County Manatees, a farm club of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs have yet to score, losing 7-0 Friday on the heels of being one-hit in a 3-0 setback in Thursday's season opener at the Manatees' home park.

 

"It's hard to win if you don't score runs," Daytona manager Buddy Bailey said. "We have to hit more balls in play. We had 12 strikeouts (Friday night) and 11 strikeouts (Thursday night). That's 23 of 54 outs. That's way too high of a percentage. We're not putting pressure on anyone."

 

The Cubs were sluggish at the plate again, getting just six hits as Brevard County's Wily Peralta, Evan Fredrickson, Nick Tyson and Ruben Flores combined for the shutout.

 

Peralta struck out eight, didn't walk a batter and scattered four hits over six innings for the win.

 

"Peralta's pretty good, too," Bailey added. "But that's the kind of pitching you're going to see in this league. A lot of our guys haven't seen pitching at this level before. This is part of the learning process."

 

The Manatees jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning as they reached Cubs starter Chris Rusin (0-1) for four runs on four hits. Brevard County did its damage with two outs and while Daytona didn't make any errors, there were a couple of balls hit on the ground that shouldn't have made it to the outfield, but did.

 

Erik Komatsu bounced an RBI double past first baseman Ryne White for the 1-0 lead. Kentrail Davis hit a run-scoring single up the middle that went under diving shortstop Junior Lake. Anderson De La Rosa then grounded a two-run single between short and third.

 

Two more runs were charged to Rusin after he gave up a triple to Komatsu and a single to Davis in the fifth inning. Reliever Oswaldo Martinez yielded an RBI single, a walk and a grounder to third that resulted in a run to make it 6-0.

 

The Cubs are not going in panic mode after the slow start.

 

"It's only two games," Cubs third baseman Josh Vitters said. "I think we can get this rolling. It definitely felt nice to get out in front of the home crowd."

 

Vitters was signing autographs for a few youngsters, one of whom offered the following advice: "Maybe next time."

 

That could be tonight when the Manatees and Cubs play at 7:05 (6:05 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Des Moines Register:

 

The Iowa Cubs’ record took a beating on a Friday night when baseballs easily cleared the Principal Park fence.

 

Jason Dubois moved closer to becoming the franchise’s career homer leader, and Micah Hoffpauir came within two of cracking the top five.

 

Their performances came during a 5-2 loss against Nashville before an announced crowd of 7,010 that saw the Sounds hit three homers for the second game in a row.

 

“The ball flies out of here, especially when the wind blows like it did tonight,” Dubois said.

 

Iowa has losses in its first two games.

 

Big cheer: One of the biggest cheers of the night came when Nashville's Adam Heether struck out one pitch after inadvertently sending his bat into the stands on a swing-and-a-miss.

Fortunately, the bat landed in an empty row behind the Iowa Cubs' dugout.

 

[Mass Haas]

Nashville's broadcaster Stu Paul's blog post on the night in Des Moines

[Mass Haas]

No, we didn't forget http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif--

 

Final, Game Two: Wisconsin 6, Cedar Rapids (Athletics) 3

 

Wisconsin earns doubleheader sweep

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers erased an early deficit with a four run third inning and Hiram Burgos provided very solid relief for a 6-3 win over the Kane County Cougars. The victory in the second game of the Friday night doubleheader gave the Timber Rattlers, who won game one 5-4, a sweep of their division rivals to start the season.

 

It wasn't an easy start of the game. The Cougars (0-2) took advantage of early miscues by the Timber Rattlers to grab a 2-0 lead. In the top of the first, with two out and one on, Timber Rattlers starting pitcher Nick Bucci walked three consecutive batters to allow Kane County to take a 1-0 lead. In the top of the second, a botched 1-2-3 double play that could have ended the inning allowed a run to score.

 

Turnabout was fair play as Wisconsin got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second. Carlos George swung and missed strike three for what should have been the final out of the inning. But, the ball got to the backstop and George kept the inning alive by reaching first base. Franklin Romero, Jr. delivered an RBI triple to the right-centerfield gap to chase George home with Wisconsin's first run of the game.

 

The Rattlers (2-0) grabbed the lead with four runs off Cougars starter Robert Gilliam in the bottom of the third. A pair of singles by Scooter Gennett and Khris Davis and a walk to Chris Dennis loaded the bases with no outs. Sean Halton drove in Gennett with the tying run with a sacrifice fly.

 

Davis and Dennis pulled off a double steal with Joey Paciorek at the plate and Dennis raced home with the go ahead run when the throw to third base wound up in left field.

 

Austin Stockfisch drove in Dennis, who took third on the wild throw, with a sacrifice fly for a 4-2 lead. George sent Paciorek home with the final run of the inning with a two out double.

 

Wisconsin added one more run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Halton's RBI single drove in Dennis to pad the Rattler lead to 6-2.

 

Hiram Burgos, who took over for Bucci in the top of the fourth, shut down the Cougars in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. The right hander did not allow a hit until a leadoff double by Rashun Dixon in the top of the seventh inning. Kane County got to within 6-3 on an RBI double by Conner Crumbliss. A walk brought the tying run to the plate with one out. But, Burgos got a strikeout and a grounder to short to end the game.

Burgos allowed one run on two hits and struck out six over four innings to get the win.

 

The final game of the three game series is Saturday afternoon. Wisconsin has Efrain Nieves as the scheduled starting pitcher. LHP Del Howell is also slated to see action. Kane County sends Dan Straily to the hill. Game time is 1:05 PM.

 

Wisconsin Game Two Box Score

RHP Hiram Burgos picking up where he left off in the Puerto Rican Winter League, where he was Rookie of the Year -- he has to break into this team's starting tandems at some point; Chris Dennis drew three walks; looks like Scooter Gennett is indeed a second baseman for now, with Carlos George at short, and Michael Marseco also on the roster in reserve...

 

Wisconsin Game Two Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Appleton Post-Crescent Photo Gallery includes several player photos

[Mass Haas]

Brett Christopherson of the Post-Crescent

 

GRAND CHUTE — Surreal. Exciting.

 

Either will do just fine in summing up the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' Midwest League season-opener — or openers — on Friday at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

Surreal in that a major league pitcher was the first to take the mound in 2010.

 

Exciting in that the Rattlers had to rally in both games of the doubleheader to earn a sweep of Kane County.

 

Wisconsin followed a 3-2 win in the opener with a 6-3 triumph in the nightcap.

 

The doubleheader was added when an unexpected snowstorm postponed Thursday's scheduled game. Both games were played through seven innings.

 

"We play fundamental baseball," said Wisconsin second baseman Scooter Gennett, whose two-out, infield single in the seventh scored the game-winner in the opener. The Rattlers also used a four-run third to climb back from a 2-0 deficit in Game 2.

 

"We play together, and I think that's the most important thing," Gennett added. "We play with a lot of intensity. It's real fun to play on a team like that."

 

While it was a positive start for a Rattlers club featuring some of the top minor league prospects in the Milwaukee Brewers system, Friday was just as positive for Brewers hurler Jeff Suppan.

 

The veteran right-hander threw the first pitch of the season as part of a rehab assignment that had him starting Game 1.

 

Suppan, looking to round into form after cervical disk pain in his neck suffered during spring training landed him on the 15-day disabled list, struck out four, walked three, allowed an earned run and scattered seven hits over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision.

 

His outing included a pair of inning-ending double plays — one a 1-2-3 putout in the fourth in which he got the play started when he fielded a comebacker with the bags full and the game tied 1-1.

 

"What a way to start Opening Day with a big league guy on the mound," Rattlers manager Jeff Isom said. "I thought that we did a good job of playing defense behind them. … And we scored enough runs to win."

 

Five of the hits were singles, including a pair of infield hits in the first. One was a double and the other was a triple — a high fly to center that was misplayed by center fielder D'Vontrey Richardson when he backpedaled too far as the ball dropped in front of him.

 

Suppan said he came into the start with a specific gameplan.

 

"Basically, it was a lot of pitch sequences — cutter, sinker, changeup, on both sides of the plate," he said. "And there was a point where I started to work on some more curveballs. For the most part, I tried to go out there and just…it was my first night game, so it was a lot of fun.

 

"But basically working on pitch sequences. I thought it went pretty well. I think later in the game I started getting a little up with my fastball. So after that, I started working some more curveballs. But overall, I think I felt pretty good."

 

Suppan was slotted to toss between 70 and 75 pitches and wound up throwing 78 — 47 for strikes — before leaving with runners on first and second and one down in the fifth.

 

He's expected to rejoin the Brewers and assume the No. 5 spot in the rotation as he gears up for next Thursday's start against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

 

"I got out there, felt good, got some double plays, which is part of my game," said Suppan, who also made a rehab start with the Rattlers last August at Fox Cities Stadium — a rough 39-pitch outing that saw him surrender four extra-base hits, five hits overall and four earned runs in a 4-2 setback to Beloit. "(The neck's) feeling good. And I think with the treatment I've been getting, it feels a lot better."

 

Isom said it felt good to finally play some ball — particularly after Mother Nature's unwanted delay.

 

"It's about time," he said with a grin.

[Mass Haas]

Additional tidbits plus Doug Melvin comments on the Rattlers from earlier this week

[TheCrew07]

Video lowlights available here of Huntsville's loss -- not a pretty feed to short by Brett Lawrie here

That was shockingly horrible by Lawrie.

[jjgott]

Video highlights of Jeff Suppan and Scooter Gennett's game one game-winner for Wisconsin available here (video link on the left sidebar)

 

Is it just me or did the runner not touch home on that final play?