Link Report for Thurs. 5/13 -- Capuano Dazzles! Rivas, Bucci, Braddock with strong efforts

[wibadgers23]

Dumb question - I have tickets to the Rattlers regularly scheduled game tomorrow night. Does that mean we can watch the rest of the suspended game too? Or just the regularly scheduled game? Thanks

[Mass Haas]

Dumb question - I have tickets to the Rattlers regularly scheduled game tomorrow night. Does that mean we can watch the rest of the suspended game too? Or just the regularly scheduled game? Thanks

It's a one-gate doubleheader (no suspended game involved). Those who had tickets to the April 25th rainout could exchange those tickets for any other (I beleive, you can check with the ticket office Friday AM). But go and enjoy both games, 5:05 start!

 

[battlekow]

Final: Montgomery 2, Huntsville 0

Huntsville box score

Amaury Rivas must be doing something different, because for the third time in four outings, he was a ground-ball machine, this time getting 11 ground outs against only one air out. He also picked up the strikeouts, tallying five in his six innings while walking none, allowing two runs on seven hits. Unfortunately, those two runs were too much for the depleted Huntsville offense to overcome; hopefully the return of Lorenzo Cain next game will spark some life. Brett Lawrie got back to his 1-4 ways, and Caleb Gindl matched him, with Gindl's hit being a double. That's the third straight game with a two-bagger for Gindl--it's nice to see him getting the power stroke working again. Andy Machado also had a nice night, 1-2 with two walks.

 

Huntsville play-by-play

The Stars got two leadoff doubles but couldn't score:

 

Huntsville Top 5th

• Chuck Caufield doubles (1) on a
  line drive to right fielder Cody Strait.
• Scott Krieger grounds
  out, shortstop Omar Luna to first baseman Matt Fields.
• Martin
  Maldonado called out on strikes.
• Brett Lawrie singles on a
  line drive to left fielder John Matulia. Chuck Caufield out at home on
  the throw, left fielder John Matulia to catcher Nevin Ashley.

Huntsville Top 6th

• Caleb Gindl doubles (10) on a line
  drive to center fielder Emeel Salem.
• Zelous Wheeler grounds
  out, third baseman Greg Sexton to first baseman Matt Fields. Caleb
  Gindl to 3rd.
• Chris Errecart grounds out, pitcher Alexander
  Torres to first baseman Matt Fields.
• Anderson Machado grounds
  out, second baseman Drew M. Anderson to first baseman Matt Fields.

[Mass Haas]

Wow, I apologize. I'll have to set up calendar reminders for myself, because other means of remembering just aren't working. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/ohwell.gif

 

Thursday's Rattler game was a Time Warner Channel 32 contest.

 

At least I can tell you that you have two chances to DVR Nick Bucci's six shutout innings and D'Vontrey Richardson's three-hit night.

 

Saturday, May 15: 12-3pm

Sunday, May 16: 7-10pm

 

I hope those of you with the will and opportunity, do just that.

 

Wet noodle lash to me...

[battlekow]

Final: Wisconsin 3, Beloit 0

Rattlers shutout Snappers

Chris Mehring/Timber Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE,

WI – Three Wisconsin pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout of the

Beloit Snappers Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Nick Bucci,

Del Howell, and Andre Lamontagne pitched the Rattlers to a 3-0 victory

over

their in-state rivals. D’Vontrey Richardson had a hand in all three

Wisconsin runs as the Rattlers won their second straight game.

 

 

 

 

 

Wisconsin (11-22)

got out front with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third courtesy of

the

top two hitters in the order. Michael Marseco, the #8 hitter in the

lineup, reached on an error to start the inning. One out later,

Richardson doubled off the wall in left-center to drive Marseco home

from

first. Scooter Gennett followed with a single to left and Richardson

scored

for a 2-0 lead.

 

Richardson

and Gennett teamed up to set up the third Wisconsin run of the night.

Both singled with two outs in the fifth inning. Khris Davis completed

the

trifecta of three straight two-out hits to send Richardson home with a

run to

make the score 3-0.

 

 

 

 

 

Bucci had a

little hiccup in the first inning when he loaded the bases with two

outs, but

he got out of that early jam. Then, he cruised until the sixth inning.

Bucci walked the first batter and appeared to get the first out of the

inning

on a routine fly ball. However, the ball dropped in untouched for a

double to put runners on second and third with no outs.

 

Bucci buckled

down and went strikeout, popout, strikeout to end the threat and his

evening.

Bucci allowed three hits over his six shutout innings and turned the

ball over

to Howell for the seventh.

 

 

 

 

 

Howell pitched

two innings and worked around a pair of walks in the eighth to keep the

Snappers (19-14) off the scoreboard.

 

Lamontagne pitched

a scoreless ninth for his second save.

 

 

 

 

 

The Rattlers

and the Snappers will play a doubleheader on Friday night to make up for

a

rainout back on April 25. Wisconsin will have Damon Krestalude (1-1,

3.68) as the starting pitcher in game one and Jake Odorizzi (1-1, 4.37)

as the

starter in game two. Beloit sends Brad Stillings (1-2, 5.33) to the

hill

in game one and BJ Hermsen makes his Midwest League debut for the

Snappers in

game two.

 

Friday night

is a North Shore Bank Family Night in conjunction with momslikeme.com. That

means children 12 and under eat free as part of North Shore Bank Family

Night

in conjunction with momslikeme.com.

After the second game of the

doubleheader, ThedaCare Orthopedics presents Kids Run the Bases for

children 14

and under.

 

 

 

The first

game of the doubleheader begins at 5:05pm. The second game will follow

the conclusion of game one by 30 minutes. Both games are scheduled for

seven innings and may be heard on AM 1280 WNAM starting with the Miller

Lite

Pregame Show at 4:45pm.

Wisconsin box score

Except for Brevard County, each home team won tonight in a shutout; glad the Rattlers were at home. Great game from Bucci, who struck out seven, and it's nice to see Howell, who struck out two and allowed one hit, get his ERA under 9. Baby steps from him and Richardson. Davis added another hit to finish 2-4, and Chris Dennis and Cameron Garfield were each 1-4.

Wisconsin play-by-play

Bucci's Houdini acts:

Beloit Top 1st

 

• Aaron Hicks grounds out, second baseman
  Ryan Gennett to first baseman Chris Dennis.
• Brian Dozier
  strikes out swinging.
• Steven Liddle doubles (5) on a fly ball
  to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson.
• Angel Morales hit by
  pitch.
• Anderson Hidalgo walks. Steven Liddle to 3rd.
  Angel Morales to 2nd.
• Michael Gonzales grounds out to first
  baseman Chris Dennis.

Beloit Top 6th

• Steven Liddle walks.
• Angel
  Morales doubles (7) on a fly ball to right fielder Franklin Romero.
  Steven Liddle to 3rd.
• Anderson Hidalgo strikes out swinging,
  catcher Cameron Garfield to first baseman Chris Dennis.
• Michael
  Gonzales pops out to third baseman Peter Fatse in foul territory.
• Tobias
  Streich strikes out swinging.

[battlekow]

Final: St. Lucie 6, Brevard County 5 (10 innings)

Brevard County box score

Cody Scarpetta allowed four runs, all in the 1st inning, and though BC rallied to tie the game, they'd eventually fall in extra innings. Scarpetta pitched well thereafter, striking out five while walking one and surrendering seven hits. Dan Meadows pitched well while soaking up innings, and Nick Green worked a scoreless 9th before giving up the winning run in the 10th. Josh Prince, in a welcome surprise, led off the game with his first home run of the year and just the Manatees' second (wow). Prince finished with two hits, as did Erik Komatsu, Sean Halton (plus a walk), and Anderson de la Rosa, while Sergio Miranda had three. Kentrail Davis was hitless but reached base three times on two walks and a HBP, the fifth time he's been hit in only 69 plate appearances.

 

Brevard County play-by-play

St. Lucie outfield Emmanuel Garcia picked up two outfield assists,

killing Halton at home in the 1st and Miranda at second in the 5th, both

ending innings.

 

Scarpetta's painful 1st:

 

St. Lucie Bottom 1st

• Emmanuel Garcia grounds out,
  second baseman Sergio Miranda to first baseman Sean Halton.
• Reese
  Havens singles on a fly ball to center fielder Kentrail Davis.
• Eric
  Campbell doubles (9) on a fly ball to center fielder Kentrail Davis.
  Reese Havens to 3rd.
• Sean Ratliff singles on a ground ball to
  right fielder Erik Komatsu. Reese Havens scores. Eric Campbell
  scores.
• Joshua Satin singles on a ground ball to left fielder
  Brock Kjeldgaard. Sean Ratliff to 2nd.
• Stefan Welch singles
  on a ground ball to center fielder Kentrail Davis. Sean Ratliff
  scores. Joshua Satin to 2nd.
• Richard Lucas singles on a
  line drive to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Joshua Satin to 3rd.
  Stefan Welch to 2nd.
• Juan Centeno out on a sacrifice fly to
  center fielder Kentrail Davis. Joshua Satin scores.
• Wilfredo
  Tovar lines out to third baseman Matt Cline.
  

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Timber Rattlers get a big lift from Bucci in victory over Snappers

By Brett Christopherson, Post-Crescent staff writer

 

GRAND CHUTE — Five sterling innings were on the verge of being unraveled by a leadoff walk and a fluke double to right.

 

So as Nick Bucci surveyed the potential damage and began hatching a plan to pitch himself out of the jam, he quickly surmised he had just one option.

 

"I just felt like this was my time and I needed to bear down," the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers right-hander said. "I didn't want to let those five innings go to waste, and I wanted to pick up my team right there."

 

He did, landing the starring role in a 3-0 Midwest League victory over the Beloit Snappers on Thursday at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

The 19-year-old Canadian continued a season-long string of impressive performances, with seven strikeouts and only three hits allowed over six scoreless innings en route to his first victory of the year.

 

Overall, Bucci has surrendered just six earned runs and 16 hits through 26 2/3 innings for a 2.02 ERA — lowest among the Wisconsin starters.

 

"He's right there at the top of that list (in terms) of consistency," Rattlers manager Jeff Isom said. "He did a good job of attacking the zone early, working in and out and changing speeds. And the fun thing is, he works quick so the defense never gets on its heels.

 

"He did an outstanding job to allow us to get a lead, and then he held onto it and the bullpen ends up holding on, as well."

 

The six innings marked the longest of the season for a Rattlers pitcher. Meanwhile, Bucci's outing was the team's first official quality start in 33 games, as he provided some needed relief to a staff that entered with a league-worst 5.06 ERA.

 

The key was his ability to command a low 90 mph, four-seam fastball while mixing in a curveball and changeup that kept the Snappers batters off-balance and had them typically battling from behind in the count.

 

"His fastball command tonight was fantastic," catcher Cameron Garfield said. "He could go out, in — whatever you want. And his changeup, he could throw it as well as his fastball. Those two pitches were fantastic tonight, and when you have those two pitches, you don't really have to go to a third. But then he also had a curveball.

 

"And when you mix that third in pitch, too? Great game."

 

Bucci was at his best the two times Beloit was a hit away from cashing in on a big inning.

 

The Snappers filled the bags, all after two outs, in the opening frame, which prompted an early mound visit by pitching coach Chris Hook.

 

Bucci responded by inducing a dribbler to first to escape the mess, the first of 12 straight he would retire.

 

"He just told me to bear down," Bucci said of his conversation with Hook. "I had two outs, so if I got that guy, it was over. And that's kind of what we did. I just went out there and was aggressive with that guy, and we got an out."

 

The young pitcher relied on that same mindset to work out of a sticky situation in the sixth that was marred when a lazy fly ball to right was misplayed and wound up dropping in safely for a double.

 

That put runners on second and third with nobody out and Wisconsin's 3-0 lead about to be pierced.

 

But Bucci set down the next three in order on a strikeout, a pop out to third in foul territory and another strikeout swinging on a 90 mph outside fastball.

 

The final out prompted a hard fist pump from Garfield, who called Bucci's outing one of the best he has caught this season.

 

"I just told him, 'You're pitching great,' " Garfield said during that sixth-inning sequence. " 'That wasn't a true hit. You got him out there. This inning's huge, and you need to get these guys.' And he did. He buckled down and got it. That was a huge inning, the biggest we needed to overcome to win that game."

 

Bucci was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18th round of the 2008 draft and entered 2010 rated by Baseball America as the 29th-best prospect in the Brewers' system.

 

He said he gained added confidence and experience pitching for Team Canada in last September's International Baseball Federation World Cup, where he opened eyes by tossing five shutouts innings in a 9-1 win against South Korea.

 

And that was coming off a minor-league season in which he finished tied for second in the Pioneer League in wins (six), fourth in strikeouts (66) and fifth in ERA (4.41) in 13 appearances at rookie level Helena, Mont.

 

"He's a prospect in our eyes," Isom said. "At times, he needs to learn how to slow games down. There are times when he gets wound a bit too tight. But that's not a bad thing. I'd rather it be that way than trying to get guys pumped up.

 

"He just has to learn to stay within himself and not try to do too much — at times. But we see him as a big-league-type pitcher."

[Mass Haas]

More from Brett:

D'Vontrey Richardson, Scooter Gennett and Khris Davis provided the offensive muscle to back a strong outing from Nick Bucci as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers topped the Beloit Snappers on Thursday at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.

 

The trio, batting in the top three spots of the lineup, combined to collect seven of the Rattlers' 10 hits and drive in all three runs as Wisconsin won two straight for the first time since April 21-22.

 

"Seven-for-12 they ended up being," Rattlers manager Jeff Isom said. " 'D-Vo,' he's been hit-and-miss at times, and tonight, we ended up getting three hits out of him, and that was a big one in the first to get things rolling.

 

"It kind of relaxes guys when they see 'D-Vo' getting on base."

 

Richardson put the Rattlers on the board in the third inning on a double to left center that scored Michael Marseco from first. Gennett then singled in Richardson for a 2-0 advantage.

 

Davis added a two-out single to left in the fifth to push across the final run. Richardson finished with three hits and two runs scored in four trips to the plate, while Gennett and Davis each had a pair of singles.

 

Bucci, meanwhile, struck out seven and scattered just three hits in a solid six-inning effort to notch his first victory of the season.

[Mass Haas]

Considering the usual dearth of Florida State League newspaper coverage (Florida Today yet to post a single quote, photo or feature since before Opening Day), the Huntsville Times' surprising reduced online coverage, and the fact that neither of the two Nashville sports sections have sent a media representative to Greer Stadium in weeks, how lucky are we to have the Post-Crescent's Brett Christopherson and the commitment from the paper's sports editor?

 

The media relations staffs put together their media notes, make available multiple copies in their respective press rooms, and I can just picture some family members of local "media" occupying those seats with no intention of covering the game, but enjoying a sandwich or two on the team's tab.

 

Now apparently Huntsville has had recent coverage in their printed newspaper that hasn't found its way online within the antiquated al.com website, and we've been in touch with folks at the Times to get that rectified during the next homestand. The Tennessean and City Paper in Nashville have no excuse, just pitiful.

 

All that being said, Brett's blog post from last night has several additional quotes and statistical tidbits for you. Thanks Brett, and here you go, readers.

[Mass Haas]

Linkwhile active, text follows:

 

Outfield arm helps Biscuits to shutout

By A. Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser

 

Two pitchers and an out­fielder helped the Biscuits re­cord their fifth shutout of the season Thursday, a 2-0 win over the Huntsville Stars.

 

Left-hander Alex Torres threw seven innings and combined with Dane De La Rosa on a four-hitter, while left fielder John Matulia threw out a runner at the plate.

 

Matulia gunned down Chuckie Caufield in the fifth in­ning when he tried to score from second on a Brett Lawrie single. It preserved Montgom­ery's 1-0 lead.

 

"That was the biggest play of the game," Torres (4-2) said. "If they score there, it's a tie game and everything is differ­ent."

 

Matulia's throw was the op­posite of what's caused a long-running joke between Matulia and catcher Nevin Ashley.

 

Ashley says Matulia is regu­larly off-target. "Whenever I throw it right to him in prac­tice, he makes a big deal out of it," Matulia said.

 

Matulia says Ashley can't catch his throws. "I think I showed that I could snag it from him," Ashley said.

 

Matulia tripled to lead off the third inning and scored on a Cody Strait groundout. In the sixth, Chris Nowak doubled, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

 

Torres allowed three hits, walked two and struck out three. De La Rosa picked up his first save.

 

Hand high in support of alma mater's team

 

Huntsville Stars pitcher Don­ovan Hand was unsure whether he'd be able to see his high school's softball team play at Lagoon Park this week, but he was sure of his support.

 

Hand is a Hatton High grad­uate and the Hornets are a reg­ular participant in the tourna­ment.

 

"I keep up with baseball more, but I keep with them, too," Hand said. "I probably know half the team."

 

Hand, who played in the state baseball finals in 2003 when Hatton lost to Gordo, said Hatton's now-retired but longtime coach Rebecca Lee has actively tracked his career. Since he plays not too far from home, Hatton fans have been known to turn out for Hand's starts.

 

"She's been a big supporter of mine, but a lot of people have been very supportive," Hand said. "I wish them the best this week."

 

***

 

Biscuits left-hander David Newmann starts in the final game of Montgomery's 10-game homestand.

 

Newmann (1-1, 3.03 ERA) surrendered two runs on six hits in five innings to lose his last start. He's issued four walks in each of his last two outings.

 

Huntsville right-hander Alex Periard (1-2, 4.15) took a no-de­cision in his last appearance, despite giving up five runs and three home runs in six innings.

[Mass Haas]

Dumb question - I have tickets to the Rattlers regularly scheduled game tomorrow night. Does that mean we can watch the rest of the suspended game too? Or just the regularly scheduled game? Thanks

It's a one-gate doubleheader (no suspended game involved). Those who had tickets to the April 25th rainout could exchange those tickets for any other (I beleive, you can check with the ticket office Friday AM). But go and enjoy both games, 5:05 start!

 

Krestalude and Odorizzi your starters tonight, that is a sweet double-dip.

[FVBrewerFan]

From what I heard, Capuano was at 82-86 with his fastball in Brevard.

Now that you bring it up, I think that is about where he was before (in the majors), maybe a little faster. I don't think he was in the low 90s. Am I correct?

Is it a slow gun in Brevard? I know Cappy was never a low 90s guy, but 82-86 range sounds low. Would like to see that at 85-88 or so. Either way, if he can make it back and earn a start in Milwaukee I'll be there, and it will be a bright light in an otherwise dissapointing season.

 

 

[Never Outhustled]

Bucci was real impressive last night, topping out at 92 on the stadium gun.

[TooLiveBrew]

Whoa, Capuano looking incredible sporting the knee-high stirrup socks! Those are a must if he's called up to Milwaukee http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Hofbraunhaus]

I am really excited for Cappy. I hope he can keep this up. I am having flashbacks to 5 years ago when I was relieved to have an off day for the Brewers to get a break from frustration and the most excitement was coming from the minor leagues.