Link Report for Tue. 5/11 -- Rogers helps Stars snap three-game skid; Gennett's slam powers Rattlers

[battlekow]

Stars broadcaster Chad Anderson has his recap of this afternoon's game at his blog.

[Mass Haas]

Sounds Open Homestand With Extra-Inning Victory

 

Link includes audio to Ray Olmedo's first home run of the season...

[Mass Haas]

Audio highlights from Huntsville's matinee victory on Tuesday --

 

Caufield SAC Fly (1-0) - MTG Error (2-0) - Maldonado Homer (4-0)

[igor67]

Given that it is Gennet's first full year or pro ball and he is still plenty young, I kind of expect the team to let him keep raking. Brevard is so hard on the hitters they could be concerned about trashing his confidence if they promote him too quick. Let him slump for the first time at an easier level.

[Mass Haas]

All photos by Julie Bennett, Montgomery Advertiser

Huntsville infielder Andy Machado throws to first base during Grand Slam School Day at the Montgomery Biscuits baseball game Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at Riverwalk Stadium.

 

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100511&Category=SPORTS01&ArtNo=5110804&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&Item=1&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

 

Mark Rogers

 

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100511&Category=SPORTS01&ArtNo=5110804&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&Item=9&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

 

Montgomery's Chris De La Cruz slides back to first past Huntsville infielder Chris Errecart

 

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100511&Category=SPORTS01&ArtNo=5110804&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&Item=13&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

 

Brett Lawrie throws to first base

 

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100511&Category=SPORTS01&ArtNo=5110804&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&Item=14&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

 

infielder Andy Machado

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100511&Category=SPORTS01&ArtNo=5110804&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&Item=17&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

 

Celebrating runs

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100511&Category=SPORTS01&ArtNo=5110804&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&Item=4&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

 

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100511&Category=SPORTS01&ArtNo=5110804&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&Item=18&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

 

Montgomery infielder Chris De La Cruz outs Huntsville's Martin Maldonado

 

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100511&Category=SPORTS01&ArtNo=5110804&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&Item=32&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

 

Andy Machado outs Montgomery's Greg Sexton at second base

 

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100511&Category=SPORTS01&ArtNo=5110804&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&Item=37&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

 

Huntsville infielder Brett Lawrie outs Montgomery's Matt Fields at second base

 

http://cmsimg.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=DS&Date=20100511&Category=SPORTS01&ArtNo=5110804&Ref=PH&Profile=1002&Item=44&Maxw=542&Maxh=352&q=60

[Mass Haas]

More by mid-morning, including Wednesday's Link Report...

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Rising Stars shoulder load, shut down Biscuits

By A. Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser

 

Mike Jones initially didn't realize the irony of the way Huntsville's pitching stacked up Tuesday.

 

Starter Mark Rogers gave way to Jones after five innings, but there's more to it than that. Both are former first-round draft picks who have had their careers marred by shoulder in­juries. Each has missed a full season -- and Rogers missed two -- plus a lot of time before and after their lost years.

"Persistence at its finest," Jones said after he, Rogers and Brandon Kintzler combined on a four-hitter in Huntsville's 4-0 win over the Montgomery Bis­cuits at Riverwalk Stadium.

"You have to be resilient in this game and Mark and I refuse to give up," Jones said. "It's nice to get a win, but when you look at the bigger picture and every­thing he and I have been through, it's pretty super."

Jones was the 12th overall pick in 2001 and was soon con­sidered one of Milwaukee's top prospects. Within two years, at 19 years old, he was already with Double-A Huntsville.

But he missed time that year, threw just 23 2/3 innings in 2004 and missed all of 2005 due to shoulder surgery. His next full season was 2008.

Rogers' story is similar. He was the fifth overall pick out of a Maine high school in 2004 and went down in the middle of the 2006 season. He returned last year, though he was limited to just 64 2/3 innings.

Still considered a top pros­pect, Rogers is in his first Dou­ble-A season at 24 years old.

"It was tough, but you can only be frustrated for so long," Rogers said. "You have to put all your thoughts and efforts into getting back on the mound."

Rogers (2-2), who allowed one hit over five innings Tuesday, admits he's learned from Jones about how to recover from shoulder surgery. Jones gave up two hits in three innings Tues­day.

"He's a great role model for what it takes to get back to 100 percent," Rogers said. "There's no good way to say it -- I was for­tunate to learn from someone like him, but it's unfortunate that it had to happen to him.

"He's been very good about sharing his experiences with me."

Right now, they're sharing their experiences while playing together for the Stars. One day, they may be able to decide which one is the bigger story.

"Whoever makes it to the big leagues," Jones said. "That's where we're trying to get. This isn't the end for us. Whatever else we accomplish is icing on the cake."

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Stars' Maldonado has skill beyond catching

By A. Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser

Huntsville catcher Martin Maldonado played a powerful role in the Stars' 4-0 win over the Biscuits on Tuesday.

 

He also plays a part in how his teammates appear.

 

Maldonado hit a two-run home run and had three hits Tuesday, but he's also the team barber.

 

"Give him 10 bucks, he'll cut yours," manager Mike Guerrero said. "He's pretty good."

 

Maldonado, 23, is a licensed barber in Puerto Rico and has used those skills in the Milwaukee organization. He was the preferred haircut choice by Milwaukee's major-league players this spring and remains so with the Stars.

 

"If they let him, he must be pretty good," Guerrero said.

 

Brewers infielder Alcides Escobar was a roommate of Maldonado's for two years. He vouched for Maldonado's haircutting to the other major leaguers, Maldonado said.

 

"I just do it for fun," he said. "Some guys saw me do it and they wanted me to cut their hair, too."

 

Stars' Wheeler felt joy in city in 2002

 

Huntsville third baseman Zelous Wheeler has some good memories of Montgomery, thanks to the state championship he won with Childersburg High.

 

He was a mere freshman in 2002 when Childersburg beat Bibb County for the Class 4A crown at Paterson Field.

 

"Running onto that field was great," Wheeler said. "We felt like winners and all that hard work paid off."

 

Wheeler was an All-State football player as a senior in 2004. He was Milwaukee's 19th-round draft pick in 2007 out of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.

[Mass Haas]

Manatees rally in eighth to top Mets

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

The Brevard County Manatees relied on small ball for a comeback win against the St. Lucie Mets 3-2 on Tuesday night in Viera.

 

Despite just getting six hits on the night, back-to-back bunts in the eighth for the Manatees and a couple of errors by the Mets, completed the rally.

 

David Riske, a ten-year Major League veteran who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, made a rehabilitation start for the Manatees and threw one inning, walked one and struck out one.

 

Wily Peralta relieved Riske in the second and after getting the first out, allowed four consecutive singles, leading to a run for St. Lucie. The Mets would get one more in the inning on a RBI ground out to make it 2-0 St. Lucie.

 

The Manatees got one run back in the bottom of the second, as first baseman Sean Halton, who was recently brought up from Wisconsin, led the inning off with a triple. Halton scored on a RBI ground out off the bat of Sergio Miranda.

 

After giving up the two runs in the second inning, Peralta would settle down and not allow a run for the next seven innings, keeping Brevard County within striking distance.

 

Brevard County would get one runner on in the third, fourth and fifth innings but were unable to push a run across.

 

Small ball would pay off for the Manatees in the bottom of the eighth as Anderson De La Rosa started the inning off with a bunt single. Josh Prince would follow with a sacrifice bunt attempt that would end up with him reaching first, as Mets pitcher Manuel Alvarez misplayed the ball.

 

Matt Cline was up next and also looking to bunt, but was drilled by the first pitch to load the bases. Erik Komatsu would ground into a fielder's choice, but De La Rosa scored to tie the game.

 

Kentrail Davis grounded into what looked to be an inning ending double play, but a bad throw by St. Lucie's Wilfredo Tovar allowed Prince to score to give the Manatees the lead.

 

In the bottom of the ninth, Nick Green would come in and strike out the side to get his fifth save of the season.

 

The Manatees continue their four-game series with the Mets as they travel to Port St. Lucie for the final two games. Brevard County and St. Lucie will get right after it on Wednesday with first pitch set for 10:35 AM (9:35 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Stu with a meaty blog post on a variety of topics, and gives you a sense that just because the Sounds fly (instead of bus), it isn't always easy.