Link Report for Tue. 6/22 -- Helena Walks Off (Again)

[YoungGeezy]

Wow, Hawn, Hopkins, and George literally carried the team in the come from behind victory also have to hate to see another rough start by a helena SP.

 

Orginally the box score had Hall pitching 4 innings then it was corrected to 1 inning in which he gave up 3 hits and 3 unearned runs 0bb;s and k's.

 

I will be so unhappy with baseball america if they stiff Lawrie again for prospect hot sheet....at least needs to be in the photo! He is tearing up AA pitching right now and has sky rocketed his average by over .40 in the last month not to forget his remarkable OPS during that span. Cain no surprise, I said it to months ago, I said it last month and I'll say it again.. Cain doesn't belong in AA, absolutely no reason to have him continue to play in huntsville. I'd promote Cain to AAA, Komatsu AA, Khris Davis A+, then you have guys like Fatse and Dennis who can play the OF or maybe Romero can be brought back up. The only reason I picked Komatsu is because Salome still hasn't really played the OF or fo that matter anything beside DH.

[Mass Haas]

For the 2nd consecutive night, Helena 4th outfielder Reggie Keen enters the 9th inning as a pinch-runner and gets to get mobbed at the plate after scoring the walk-off win.

[Mass Haas]

Late Inning Drama

By Brett Billings, Helena Brewers

 

If you came to Kindrick Field tonight or last night expecting serenity, you would have been disappointed. If you left early either night, you would have been even more disappointed. The Helena Brewers scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win 9-8 Tuesday night in front of a crowd of 979. This win marks the second time in as many days that the Brewers have won in the last inning. Helena finished the 2009 season 4-33 when trailing after eight innings.

 

The Brewers took the lead in the first inning when Cody Hawn hit his first career home run. Hawn, a 6th round draft choice from the University of Tennessee, launched another home run later in the game against Missoula's Sammy De Los Santos. He's now batting an even .500 with two home runs in his first two games of his professional career. Hawn is listed third on Tennessee's all-time home run list with 36 after only two seasons.

 

Helena starter Hiram Burgos ran into some trouble in innings 2,3 and 4. He gave up six runs, two in each frame. Burgos would leave the game after the fourth inning after surrendering six runs on nine hits. He struck out six Missoula batters without giving up a walk.

 

Missoula added two more runs in the top of the seventh. Chris Jarrett led off the inning with a walk against Brewers right-hander Chad Robinson. Jarrett reached second base on a sacrifice bunt by Raul Navarro. After a Missoula triple and double, the deficit widened to an 8-3 Missoula advantage.

 

Robinson left the game in the middle of the seventh after allowing two runs on two hits, while striking out two.

 

Everything would change in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Brewers batted around after four walks, two hit batsmen, four wild pitches, a Missoula error, and one Carlos George double. Shea Vucinich started the inning with a walk and ended the game at the plate when Missoula's pitcher, Victor Lara, threw a wild pitch over the head of catcher Roidany Aguila to score Reggie Keen who had pinch run for Hawn earlier in the frame.

 

Robert Currie received the win by pitching a scoreless top half of the ninth inning, before the Brewers rally.

 

Action returns to Kindrick Field Wednesday night as the Brewers try to take the first three games of the four-game series. Helena will send RHP Seth Lintz (0-0,0.00) to the mound. RHP Kevin Eichhorn (0-0, 0.00) is scheduled to get the start for Missoula. Gates open at 6:00 with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 (8:05 Central).

 

***

 

And yes, it's great that a gentleman named Billings is writing game recaps for Helena...

[Mass Haas]

The DSL Brewers were rained out, as seven of 16 games on the island were postponed.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 6, Memphis (Cardinals) 3

 

Sounds Homer Three Times, Beat Memphis 6-3

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds topped the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds, 6-3, on Tuesday evening at AutoZone Park in Memphis in the opener of a four-game series.

Hitting three home runs for the fifth time this season and first time in more than a month, Nashville (39-32) takes over first place in the PCL Northern Division with the victory.

 

Sounds starter Chase Wright (6-3) beat the Redbirds for the second time in less than a week, scattering a season-high ten hits while allowing three runs and striking out two in six innings.

 

The Sounds jumped on the board in the second inning, scoring two runs off Memphis starter Evan MacLane. After Erick Almonte and Luis Cruz recorded consecutive singles to reach base, Norris Hopper brought home Almonte from second for the club's first run. Catcher Martin Maldonado then followed with a sacrifice fly to center to score Cruz and make the score 2-0.

 

Cruz smacked a solo home run to left center in the top of the fourth inning to give the Sounds a 3-0 lead. It was the shortstop's sixth long ball of the season and second consecutive game with a home run.

 

The Redbirds got to Wright in the bottom of the next frame, reducing the Nashville lead to one run at 3-2. Allen Craig and Joe Mather led off the inning with singles to reach base. Daniel Descalso then upped his team-leading RBI total as he grounded out and brought home Craig from third. Later in the inning, James Rapoport hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate Descalso for Memphis' second score.

 

After Ray Olmedo led off the top of the sixth inning with a line drive base hit to left field, Brendan Katin extended the Nashville lead to 5-2 after crushing his eighth homer over the center field wall (audio for the blast available at the link heading this post).

 

Memphis got one run back to cut the lead to 5-3 in the next frame as catcher Matt Pagnozzi hit an RBI single to right field.

 

In the top of the seventh inning, leadoff batter Maldonado belted MacLane's first pitch of the frame over the left field wall and extended the Nashville lead to 6-3.

 

MacLane (4-7) went the distance for Memphis and took the loss, surrendering six runs on nine hits with four strikeouts.

 

Back in a relief role for the Sounds, Mike McClendon tossed two shutout innings while fanning one after Wright departed the contest after the sixth. Joining the Sounds today from Milwaukee, closer Chris Smith pitched a perfect ninth inning to collect his PCL-leading 17th save.

 

The Sounds and Redbirds will play two seven-inning contests as part of a scheduled doubleheader on Wednesday evening, with Nashville left-hander Sam Narron (1-2, 3.57) starting against Memphis right-hander Lance Lynn (4-5, 4.84) in game one beginning at 6:05 PM CT. Sounds righty Marty McLeary (1-5, 11.07) will toe the rubber against Redbirds right-hander David Kopp (NR) in the nightcap.

 

Nashville Box Score

Chase Wright sporting quite the 'stache in the photo on the Sounds' home page this morning; kind of on the fence on handing Chris Smith his closer role back -- enjoyed seeing Brandon Kintzler in the role, but hey, setting up didn't hurt John Axford; 20 (!) ground ball outs from Sounds pitchers; Mat Gamel 0-for-4; some will continue to question Luis Cruz' ownership of a 40-man spot (I haven't all season, but I can see why others may debate it), but you can easily make the case he's been the team MVP (slugging .454 overall, posting an .899 OPS with runners on) -- surely he's done exactly what Doug Melvin had hoped, namely stabilized the AAA SS spot when the organization had zero alternatives inked otherwise...

Nashville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 7, Arizona Indians 6

 

Arizona Box Score

Washington State RHP Seth Harvey allowed two runs in the 9th but managed to get the save as the A-Crew moves to 2-0; RHP Brooks Hall, the heralded 2009 South Carolina high school draft pick, 20 years old later this week, finally makes his pro debut, facing eight batters and allowing three singles in the 1st inning -- an inning that would have been 1-2-3 if not for two infield errors; RHP Jose Oviedo (five innings of one-run ball, four walks, three K's) and newcomer LHP Charly Bashara (two scoreless innings) held the fort wonderfully, combining for 12 ground ball outs and five K's; the two first inning errors were the only miscues by the Brewer defense...

 

In addition to Hall and Bashara, three players in the lineup made their pro debut -- T.J. Mittelstaedt (tripled and singled), listed as an OF on draft day but playing third base here, LF Derrick Shaw (RBI single), and undrafted free agent C Gerard Ogrinc, who played a full game with the temperature listed at 99 at first pitch; the Brewers plated two runs in each of the 1st, 4th, and 5th innings, with Tyler Roberts doubling in the eventual winning run in the 7th -- the young catcher Roberts was 3-for-4 as the DH tonight, his second season in the desert looks primed to be huge; CF Kenny Allison and 1B Jason Rogers each singled twice with an RBI; mighty mite Robbie Garvey, RF tonight, already 3-for-3 on the basepaths...

 

Arizona Game Log

The Maryvale gang strung together four fly ball singles in the two-run 5th --

 

AZL Brewers Bottom 5th

• Pitcher Change: Ryan Morris replaces Felix Sterling.
  
• Nick Shaw flies out to center fielder Henry Dunn.
  
• Yadiel Rivera singles on a fly ball to center fielder Henry Dunn.
  
• Kenneth Allison singles on a fly ball to right fielder Aaron Siliga. Yadiel Rivera to 2nd.
  
• Tyler Roberts singles on a fly ball to right fielder Aaron Siliga. Yadiel Rivera scores. Kenneth Allison to 2nd.
  
• Jason Rogers singles on a fly ball to right fielder Aaron Siliga. Kenneth Allison scores. Tyler Roberts to 2nd.
  
• Gerard Ogrinc grounds out, pitcher Ryan Morris to first baseman Jesus Aguilar. Tyler Roberts to 3rd. Jason Rogers to 2nd.
  
• Thomas Mittelstaedt lines out to shortstop Nicholas Bartolone.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Battle-back Brewers

By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record

 

Just two games into the season and the Helena Brewers have already provided an onslaught of ninth-inning drama.

 

Helena scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth off just a single hit, as Missoula closer Victor Lara walked four batters to help the Brewers battle back for the second night in a row, winning 9-8 Tuesday night.

 

After Lara issued a bases-loaded walk to Mike Walker, the right-handed rookie then walked Greg Hopkins to bring in the tying run. With Shea Vucinich at the plate and the count at 2-2, pinch runner Reggie Keen came home on an air-mail fastball to give Helena its second straight walk-off win.

 

“I said to them they’re the “Cardiac Kids,” an ecstatic first-year manager Joe Ayrault said, referencing the nickname given to the Cleveland Browns of the 1980s. “These guys, it was just the same attitude as yesterday ... it’s all about character.

 

“Ned (Yost IV’s) quote will be on the board tomorrow: ‘Effort knows no score.’”

 

The Brewers (2-0) trailed the Osprey (0-2) 8-3 heading into the ninth and Helena closer Rob Currie didn’t allow any more damage to be done in the visitors’ final at-bats. That’s when Lara, a 34th-round draft pick this year, came in to try to get the save, just as he had done three times at Keystone College. But after issuing a walk, then an error by Eric Groff, and finally hitting Brent Dean with a pitch, the bases were loaded.

 

Carlos George stroked a two-run double to center to trim the deficit, bringing new life to the crowd of 979 at Kindrick Field. After that it was walks and wild pitches the whole way to get the win, making for a professional start few rookies expected.

 

“That was unbelievable,” said Helena first baseman Cody Hawn, whose two home runs in the contest got the Brewers on the board early. “We battled, finally got some walks and good things happened from there. Just never give up — we all believe in each other.

 

“I’ve never been apart of two straight walkoffs,” said the sixth-round pick out of the University of Tennessee. “I don’t know how we’re going to top this.”

 

Currie earned the win for Helena, while Lara was tagged with the loss and blown save. Derek Eitel got the no decision after a fabulous start for Missoula.

 

Roberto Rodriguez led the Osprey at the plate for the second night in a row, going 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and an RBI. Hawn was 2-for-3 for Helena, with both of his hits coming in long-ball form.

 

Right-hander Seth Lintz gets the start for the Brewers tonight, while Kevin Eichhorn gets the nod for Missoula.

 

All photos by Dylan Brown, Helena Independent Record

 

Helena's Cody Hawn hits a home run Tuesday night against Missoula at Kindrick Field. Helena won 9-8.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/3/66/417/366417c2-7e81-11df-9d4c-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c218fdbc8d5b.image.jpg

 

Helena's Carlos George misses a catch Tuesday night at Kindrick Field, allowing Missoula’s Roberto Rodriguez to slide safely into second.

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/d/2d/e69/d2de69cc-7e81-11df-bb41-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c2190e50977d.image.jpg

 

Helena's Cody Hawn, center, celebrates with his teammate after he hit a home run Tuesday night at Kindrick Field.

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/8/bc/58d/8bc58dae-7e81-11df-a60c-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c21906bbd904.image.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Reminder as you plan your day -- noontime audio with Chad and Huntsville; new Link Report up just before gametime...

[JohnBriggs12]

Luis Cruz continues his solid year putting himself in position to be a nice cheap utility option next season in Milwaukee.

[molitor fan]

I want to be the driver of the Cody Hawn bandwagon (hence the avatar change). I think he is going to be schmacking some serious dinger totals until he gets to Wisconsin in about a month. He is just as ready as Morris in my opinion