Link Report for Sat. 5/22 -- Rogers, Heckathorn Among Evening Starters

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Kameron Loe at Fresno (Giants), 8:50 PM pre-game; 9:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Huntsville: RHP Mark Rogers at Mississippi (Braves), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Brevard County: LHP Dan Merklinger at Charlotte (Rays), 6:05 PM gametime

Live Audio Link (Stone Crabs' Feed)

Wisconsin: RHP Kyle Heckathorn at home vs. Burlington (Royals), 6:20 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime

Live Audio Link

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday'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.

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

 

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

[Mass Haas]

Despite continuing to play well enough, the division is heating up on Nashville. It'd be great to see Huntsville come through with another first-half title despite all the injuries, call-ups, etc. Remember, there are split seasons in all but AAA, that's especially good news for Brevard and Wisconsin.

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nashville 24 16 .600 - 9-9 15-7 W1 
Iowa 22 18 .550 2.0 9-10 13-8 W4 
Memphis 22 18 .550 2.0 13-7 9-11 W6 
Omaha 19 20 .487 4.5 7-13 12-7 W1 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tennessee 25 17 .595 - 10-12 15-5 L1 
West Tenn 23 19 .548 2.0 9-13 14-6 W2 
Huntsville 22 20 .524 3.0 8-12 14-8 W4 
Carolina 20 22 .476 5.0 9-11 11-11 W2 
Chattanooga 17 25 .405 8.0 10-12 7-13 L4 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Florida State League (A+) - FSL North Division Standings
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clearwater 26 16 .619 - 14-8 12-8 L2 
Dunedin 25 17 .595 1.0 9-11 16-6 W3 
Lakeland 24 17 .585 1.5 12-9 12-8 W6 
Tampa 22 20 .524 4.0 11-11 11-9 W2 
Daytona 17 25 .405 9.0 6-13 11-12 L1 
Brevard County 16 25 .390 9.5 9-14 7-11 L2 

[Mass Haas]

MID Western (click column headers to sort)
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Beloit	25	17	.595	-	13-10	12-7	6-4	L1
	Cedar Rapids	24	17	.585	0.5	14-4	10-13	7-3	W4
	Peoria	24	18	.571	1.0	14-5	10-13	5-5	L1
	Quad Cities	23	18	.561	1.5	13-6	10-12	4-6	W1
	Clinton	21	20	.512	3.5	11-9	10-11	8-2	W1
	Kane County	20	22	.476	5.0	12-7	8-15	4-6	L3
	Burlington	15	25	.375	9.0	8-13	7-12	4-6	W2
	Wisconsin	13	28	.317	11.5	9-17	4-11	4-6	L3

[TheCrew07]

It would really make my day if both Rogers and Heckathorn had good outings tonight.

[Mass Haas]

PDF document:

 

Nashville Media Notes

[TheCrew07]

It would really make my day if both Rogers and Heckathorn had good outings tonight.

[Mass Haas]

PDF document:

 

Huntsville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio:

 

May 22, 2010: Game Notes

 

May 22, 2010: Tonight's Pitchers

 

May 22, 2010: Lineup

[packfan79]

I haven't been listening but the box score shows Heckathorn only giving up 1 earned through 6.

[trwi7]

Heckathorn with 7 IP, 1 ER (4 R), 2 BB, 5 K and 12 groundouts to only 3 flyouts. A little too hittable with 9 allowed, but still a fairly good outing.

 

Rogers with a great outing. 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K and he threw 50 of his 65 pitches for strikes.

[wibadgers23]

Great outing by Rogers tonight, but why only 65 pitches? Is that his pitch limit?

[trwi7]

Great outing by Rogers tonight, but why only 65 pitches? Is that his pitch limit?

It's weird. There were 1st and 2nd with two outs in the 6th inning and Rogers hit for himself (popped out) and then Willinsky replaced him. Maybe he got jammed on the pop up and they just took him out as a precaution?

 

 

[TheCrew07]

I haven't been listening but the box score shows Heckathorn only giving up 1 earned through 6.

I didn't make it through the first and he created his own mess... and how does Dennis have 5 errors at 1B already? I was already irritated with the walk and the error, then I just shut off the game with the Dennis error.

 

Burlington Top 1st

• Gerard Hall reaches on throwing error by pitcher Kyle Heckathorn.
• Deivy Batista singles on a line drive to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Gerard Hall to 2nd.
• William Myers walks. Gerard Hall to 3rd. Deivy Batista to 2nd.
• Joey
  Lewis singles on a line drive to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson.
  Gerard Hall scores. Deivy Batista to 3rd. William Myers to 2nd.
• Carlo
  Testa reaches on force attempt, throwing error by first baseman Chris
  Dennis. Deivy Batista scores. William Myers to 3rd. Joey Lewis to 2nd.
• Rene
  Oriental grounds into double play, shortstop Michael Marseco to second
  baseman Ryan Gennett to first baseman Chris Dennis. William Myers
  scores. Joey Lewis to 3rd. Carlo Testa out at 2nd.
• Jose Bonilla singles on a line drive to right fielder Erik Miller. Joey Lewis scores.
• Fernando Cruz grounds out to first baseman Chris Dennis.

[battlekow]

Final: Wisconsin 8, Burlington 4

Rattlers recover to beat Bees

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

Grand Chute, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers spotted the Burlington Bees four runs in the top of the first inning. Then, they rallied for an 8-4 win Saturday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Michael Marseco drove in three runs for Wisconsin to pace the comeback. Kyle Heckathorn recovered from a shaky start to pitch seven solid innings for the win.

 

Heckathorn committed an error on a bunt by Burlington leadoff batter Gerard Hall to start the game. The next two batters reached to load the bases. Joey Lewis singled in a run. A fielder’s choice by Carlo Testa, a 6-4-3 double play, and a single by Jose Bonilla accounted for the next three runs. But, that was it for the Bees’ scoring on the night.

 

Wisconsin (13-28) scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the first. Scooter Gennett doubled with one out to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. One out later Chris Dennis singled in Gennett. Cameron Garfield’s double knocked in Dennis to make the score 4-2.

 

Marseco struck with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth. His single to left drove in two runs to tie the game 4-4.

 

The Rattlers took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Pete Fatse tripled to start the inning. The Bees had the infield in with one out and Marseco sent a slow grounder to second. Fatse beat the throw home for a 5-4 lead.

 

Erik Miller delivered a hit-and-run single and Marseco scored when the ball was overrun by right fielder Rene Oriental. Miller scored later in the inning on a wild pitch for a 7-4 lead.

 

Heckathorn became the first Timber Rattler starting pitcher to pitch into the seventh inning. But, the Bees loaded the bases with a double, a single, and a walk. Heckathorn kept Burlington (15-26) off the scoreboard by striking out Lewis looking to end the inning. The Rattlers starter allowed four runs (one earned) on nine hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

 

Fatse knocked in the final Rattler run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth.

 

Maverick Lasker pitched two shutout innings to close out the game.

 

The series continues on Sunday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Nick Bucci (2-1, 1.65) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Keaton Hayenga (1-0, 0.00) is set to start for the Bees.

 

It is a Brewers Sunday presented by 107.5 The Fan. Timber Rattlers players will be wearing jerseys and caps based on those of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers. Fans may play catch on the field before the game. There is also a post-game autograph session with the players. Additionally, Time Warner Cable subscribers may bring in their bill and receive up to four half priced reserve seat tickets.

 

If you can’t make it to the game, you can catch the action on AM1280, WNAM. The Miller Lite Pregame Show starts the broadcast at 12:45pm. Game time is 1:05pm.

 

Wisconsin box score

Really nice second act for Heckathorn. Lasker's only worked two innings in each of his last two games. D'Vontrey Richardson was 0-3 with two punchouts, dropping his average to .228, but he did walk twice. He's drawn a respectable 17 free passes in 192 plate appearances this year, but has struck out 59 times. Khris Davis was 0-3 with a walk, and Cutter Dykstra was 1-4.

 

Wisconsin play-by-play

Look at Chris Dennis, manufacturing a run all by himself:

 

Wisconsin Bottom 7th

• Chris Dennis walks.
• Cameron
  Garfield strikes out swinging.
• With Peter Fatse batting,
  Chris Dennis steals (4) 2nd base, Chris Dennis to 3rd. Wild pitch by
  pitcher Scott Kelley. Chris Dennis to 3rd.
• Peter Fatse out
  on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Carlo Testa. Chris Dennis
  scores.
• Cutter Dykstra strikes out swinging.

[battlekow]

Final: Mississippi 4, Huntsville 3

Huntsville box score

Shoddy relief work from Mark Willinsky and Robert Hinton spoiled a fine start from Mark Rogers as the Braves scored four runs in the final two innings to steal away the win. Rogers went five efficient shutout innings, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out six and needing just 65 pitches to do it, 50 of which were strikes. As pointed out, he hit for himself in the top of the 6th and then was removed for Willinsky, an odd move. Perhaps someday in the future we'll all be relaxed when it comes to Rogers' health, but that day is not today. Brett Lawrie was, as usual, 1-4, and Caleb Gindl was 0-4 in his return to action. Lorenzo Cain did not play, with Lee Haydel taking over in the leadoff spot and in center field and going 1-5. Zelous Wheeler and Andy Machado both doubled and walked.

 

Huntsville play-by-play

Here's the end of Rogers' day:

 

Huntsville Top 6th

• Chris Errecart strikes out
  swinging.
• Chuck Caufield called out on strikes.
• Anderson
  Machado walks.
• Martin Maldonado singles on a line drive to
  right fielder Willie Cabrera. Anderson Machado to 2nd.
• Mark Rogers pops out to first baseman Mauro
  Gomez in foul territory.

Mississippi Bottom 6th

• Pitcher

  Change: Mark Willinsky replaces Mark Rogers, batting 9th.

[battlekow]

Final: Charlotte 5, Brevard County 4 (15 innings)

Brevard County box score

Wow. I tuned in just in time to hear the walk-off run score for Charlotte--figures. BC tied it at four in the 8th, and that was all the scoring until the 15th. Amazingly, the Manatees used only three pitches, Dan Merklinger for 5.1 innings, Dan Meadow for 4.2, and Brandon Ritchie for the final 4.1. Sergio Miranda posted the best offensive line of the day, 3-6 with a double and a walk. Kentrail Davis started the game 1-2 with two walks but went 0 for his last 5. Erik Komatsu was 2-8 with a double, Brock Kjeldgaard and Shawn Zarraga were each 2-6 with a walk, and Mat Gamel was 1-4 with a walk before coming out in the 10th inning. Josh Prince was 2-7 but left the bottom of the 13th; I'm not sure why.

 

Brevard County play-by-play

The final frame:

 

Charlotte Bottom 15th

• Greg Sexton singles on a ground
  ball to right fielder Erik Komatsu.
• Michael Sheridan out on a
  sacrifice bunt, pitcher Brandon Ritchie to first baseman Sean Halton.
  Greg Sexton to 2nd.
• With Kyeong Kang batting, wild pitch by
  Brandon Ritchie, Greg Sexton to 3rd.
• Brandon Ritchie
  intentionally walks Kyeong Kang.
• Brandon Ritchie intentionally
  walks Matthew Hall. Kyeong Kang to 2nd.
• Isaias Velasquez
  singles on a line drive to pitcher Brandon Ritchie. Greg Sexton
  scores. Kyeong Kang to 3rd. Matthew Hall to 2nd.

[battlekow]

Final: Nashville 2, Fresno 1

Sounds score game-winner in 9th to beat Fresno

Nashville Sounds

 

FRESNO, Calif. - The Nashville Sounds plated a run in the top of the

ninth inning to eke out a 2-1 victory over the PCL-leading Fresno

Grizzlies on Saturday night at Chukchansi Park.

 

With the win, Nashville (25-16) improved to 15-4 in games decided by one

or two runs this season.

 

 

Neither team scored over the first five innings as Nashville's Kameron

Loe and Fresno's Matt Kinney engaged in a pitchers' duel.

 

 

The Sounds finally broke the scoreless deadlock in the sixth against

Grizzlies reliever Henry Sosa, who took over for Kinney after the

right-hander worked five scoreless frames. Josh Anderson greeted Sosa

with a double to center and came around to score two batters later on

Trent Oeltjen's ground-rule double that hopped over the right field

wall.

 

 

Fresno knotted the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh. With

runners on the corners and two down, the Grizzlies executed a double

steal with reliever A.J. Murray on the hill for Nashville. On the play,

Jesus Guzman swiped second and then Ben Copeland stole home following

the throw to second to tally the game-tying run.

 

 

Nashville pulled back ahead, 2-1, in the top of the ninth thanks to some

aggressive baserunning by Oeltjen. The Sounds' left fielder led off

with a walk against Fresno reliever Alex Hinshaw then stole second, his

eighth theft of the year. Following a Joe Koshansky strikeout, Oeltjen

swiped his second bag of the inning, taking third, and hustled home to

score on Adam Heether's sacrifice fly to center.

 

 

Loe turned in his team-leading sixth quality start of the year for

Nashville but took a no-decision for his efforts. The big right-hander

held Fresno to one run on two hits over 6 2/3 solid innings of work. Loe

walked five batters and struck out four in lowering his team-leading

ERA to 2.70.

 

 

Rehabbing right-hander David Riske (1-0) followed Loe to the hill and

worked a 1-2-3 eighth, including a strikeout, to earn a victory in his

first appearance for the Sounds.

 

 

Chris Smith took over in the ninth for Nashville and worked around a

two-out walk to notch his league-leading 15th save of the year.

 

 

Hinshaw (0-2) took a tough-luck loss for the Grizzlies after allowing

the game-deciding run despite not giving up a hit in his two innings of

work.

 

 

Nashville second baseman Ray Olmedo went 0-for-4 on the night to snap

his longest hit streak of the year at 11 games.

 

 

The teams wrap up their four-game season series with a 4:05 p.m. CT

matinee on Sunday afternoon. Left-hander Chris Capuano (1-1, 1.88) makes

his third Triple-A start of the year for Nashville. Fresno will counter

with southpaw Madison Bumgarner (3-1, 3.64).

Nashville box score

Hey, a Matt Kinney sighting! Nashville only had three hits, but hey, whatever works. Josh Anderson returned after a three-game absence; meanwhile Drew Anderson didn't play for the second straight game.

 

Nashville play-by-play

[Mass Haas]

Josh Prince was 2-7 but left the bottom of the 13th; I'm not sure why.

 

Ejections: Brevard County Manatees Manager Bob Miscik ejected by 1B umpire Luke Hamilton (12th); Brevard County Manatees shortstop Josh Prince ejected by HP umpire Allen Alvarez (13th).

 

Brevard County Top 13th

• Pitcher Change: Neil Schenk replaces Sergio Espinosa.
  
• Josh Prince called out on strikes.
  
• Brevard County Manatees shortstop Josh Prince ejected by HP umpire Allen Alvarez.

[Mass Haas]

Stone Crabs Win in 15th Inning

By Jonathan Gantt, Charlotte Stone Crabs

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- It took more than four hours and 35 minutes, but the Charlotte Stone Crabs finally put away the Brevard County Manatees 5-4 in the 15th inning in front of the largest crowd of the season at Charlotte Sports Park on Saturday night.

 

Charlotte blew a one-run lead in the top of the eighth inning, and the teams traded six scoreless innings before the Stone Crabs finally broke through with the game-winning run in the 15th inning.

 

The teams combined to leave 33 men on base before Isaias Velasquez hit a hard groundball back to the pitcher with one out that scored Greg Sexton from third. Sexton had previously tied Henry Wrigley with his franchise-high fifth hit of the game.

 

The epic game set franchise records for longest game time and innings played, and the Stone Crabs pitchers also struck out a franchise-high 20 batters.

 

Stone Crabs starter Matt Moore gave up three runs in five innings and struck out eight, but he also walked five and gave up five hits. He threw 104 pitches with 65 for strikes.

 

Beckham energized the sellout crowd with a two-run homer to left field on a 2-1 pitch from Brevard starter Daniel Merklinger. The longball was Beckham's fifth of the season and third in his last seven games.

 

The Manatees then took the lead with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Moore threw 25 pitches and gave up two walks (both scored) and two hits in the inning.

 

Wrigley evened things back up in the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo shot that bounced off the left field boardwalk. The Charlotte outfielder has battered Brevard pitching through the first three games of the series, going 7-for-12 with two home runs and seven RBIs. The Stone Crabs then took the lead with some help from the Manatees battery on what appeared to be an inning-ending strikeout. Brevard reliever Daniel Meadows struck out Kyeong Kang with two outs, but the wild pitch knocked off Shawn Zarraga's pads at the plate and before he could recover the ball, Sexton had scampered home and Kyeong had reached first base safely.

 

A late-inning lead usually translates to a sure win for Charlotte, but the Stone Crabs bullpen blew just their second save of the season when standout closer Zach Quate gave up a two-out, RBI-single to Josh Prince that tied the game in the top of the eighth.

 

The teams conclude the series tomorrow with a 5:35 PM (4:35 Central) matinee at Charlotte Sports Park. Right-hander Shane Dyer (0-1, 1.50) will man the bump for Charlotte against fellow righty Cody Scarpetta (2-3, 4.30) for Brevard.

[Mass Haas]

Yeah, lots to digest in that Manatee game.

 

Switch-hitting Sergio Miranda's hit streak is now up to 16 games.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville's Stu Paul lets us know about a couple of outstanding defensive plays that allowed Friday's 3-1 vicory to happen.

[Mass Haas]

Stars take early lead, but fall to Braves

By Aaron Morse, Huntsville Stars

 

The Huntsville Stars (22-21) got a tremendous performance from Mark Rogers, but blew a 3-0 lead as they fell 4-3 to the Mississippi Braves (21-22) Saturday night.

 

Rogers walked a season low one batter while striking out six in what was arguably his best outing of the season. The Stars would get him some run support right away.

 

With one out in the first inning, Caleb Gindl was hit by a pitch. Brett Lawrie followed that up with a single up the gut. A Zelous Wheeler RBI double (audio) made it 1-0 Stars. Friday night’s hero Chris Errecart followed that up with an RBI grounder to plate Lawrie (audio) and extend the advantage to 2-0.

 

The lone difficult inning for Rogers came in the bottom of the second. An error, a single and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. But Rogers caught a break when Alejandro Machado lined a shot right back to the mound. Rogers caught it and doubled off the runner at second base. He would get the next hitter to ground-out and got out of the jam unscathed.

 

Rogers helped his own cause in the top of the fourth. With one away Chuckie Caufield reached on a bunt single to extend his hitting streak to six games. With two away, Martin Maldonado drew a walk. That’s when Rogers laced a single to center to drive home Caufield (audio).

 

After Rogers departed, Mark Willinsky took over and worked a very quick sixth inning.

 

But the Braves got two runs back in the bottom of the seventh on a couple of singles, and some shaky Stars defense. A Juan Gonzalez single plated Donell Linares, who had also singled, and the Stars’ lead was 3-1 (audio). Then things got crazy. With runners at the corners and two down, Alex Romero hit a grounder to Andy Machado. Machado’s throw to Lawrie at second base was wide and got away. One run scored, but Cody Johnson was gunned down at the plate by Chris Errecart (audio). Johnson was immediately ejected from the game as he slammed his helmet down in anger. Braves’ manager Phillip Wellman would also be ejected. When the dust cleared, the Stars held on to a razor-thin one-run lead.

 

Huntsville nearly got an insurance run in the top of the eighth, but Wheeler was thrown out at the plate trying to score on an Andy Machado fly ball to end the inning.

 

Robert Hinton relieved Willinsky in the eighth inning and ran into trouble. He gave up a single and hit a man with nobody out. But a failed sacrifice bunt allowed the Stars to get the lead runner at third. A Donell Linares two-RBI double would give the Braves a 4-3 edge (audio).

 

Hinton (0-2) took the loss while Juan Abreu (1-0) got the win for Mississippi. Lee Hyde worked a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the year.

 

With the loss the Stars drop to four games back of the Smokies in the North Division. It also snaps their four-game winning streak. It’s also only the second time all year the Stars have lost when leading after six innings.

 

The Stars are back in action Sunday afternoon as they’ll send their ace Amaury Rivas (5-2, 2.05 ERA) to the mound. First pitch is at 2:05 PMCentral Time. You can tune in on www.huntsvillestars.com.

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio:

 

Picture of a win