Link Report for Tue. 6/29 -- Late Update on DSL game

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Tuesday's Daily Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Marty McLeary at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Huntsville: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Brevard County: RHP Cody Scarpetta at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime

Live Audio Link (Cubs' feed)

Wisconsin: RHP Maverick Lasker at home vs. Quad Cities (Cardinals), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

Helena: RHP Matt Miller at home vs. Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Idle

 

DSL Brewers: at the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM

[Mass Haas]

Follow Tuesday'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

 

Helena

DSL Brewers

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Iowa	42	36	.538	-	-	22-20	20-16	5-5	L1
	Memphis	42	36	.538	-	-	21-16	21-20	5-5	L1
	Nashville	42	36	.538	-	-	21-16	21-20	5-5	W2
	Omaha	40	36	.526	1.0	67	19-19	21-17	4-6	L3

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Chattanooga	5	1	.833	-	-	5-1	0-0	5-1	W2
*	Tennessee	4	3	.571	1.5	63	4-2	0-1	4-3	L2
	West Tenn	3	4	.429	2.5	62	1-0	2-4	3-4	W1
	Huntsville	2	4	.333	3.0	62	0-0	2-4	2-4	L3
	Carolina	2	5	.286	3.5	61	0-1	2-4	2-5	L1

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Daytona	4	1	.800	-	-	1-0	3-1	4-1	W3
	Tampa	3	1	.750	0.5	66	0-0	0-0	0-0	W2
	Brevard County	2	3	.400	2.0	64	2-2	0-1	2-3	L2
	Clearwater	2	3	.400	2.0	64	1-1	1-2	2-3	W1
*	Dunedin	2	3	.400	2.0	64	0-0	0-0	0-0	L1
	Lakeland	1	3	.250	2.5	64	0-1	1-2	1-3	L3

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Quad Cities	3	1	.750	-	-	2-1	1-0	3-1	W3
	Wisconsin	3	1	.750	-	-	3-1	0-0	3-1	L1
	Beloit	2	2	.500	1.0	66	1-0	1-2	2-2	W1
*	Cedar Rapids	2	2	.500	1.0	66	0-0	2-2	2-2	L1
	Clinton	2	2	.500	1.0	66	2-2	0-0	2-2	L1
	Kane County	2	2	.500	1.0	66	0-0	2-2	2-2	W1
	Peoria	2	2	.500	1.0	66	1-2	1-0	2-2	W1
	Burlington	0	4	.000	3.0	64	0-1	0-3	0-4	L6

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Helena	7	1	.875	-	-	5-0	2-1	7-1	W3
	Great Falls	4	4	.500	3.0	28	1-2	3-2	4-4	L3
	Missoula	3	5	.375	4.0	27	3-1	0-4	3-5	W1
	Billings	2	6	.250	5.0	26	1-3	1-3	2-6	L1

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Brewers	7	0	1.000	-	-	0-0	0-0	0-0	W7
	AZL Dodgers	4	3	.571	3.0	47	0-0	0-0	0-0	W3
	AZL Reds	4	3	.571	3.0	47	0-0	0-0	0-0	L1
	AZL Indians	1	6	.143	6.0	44	0-0	0-0	0-0	L4

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Cardinals	14	12	.538	-	-	11-2	3-10	4-6	L2
	DSL Mariners	14	12	.538	-	-	9-5	5-7	6-4	W2
	DSL Athletics	13	12	.520	0.5	47	7-4	6-8	5-5	L1
	DSL Brewers	10	15	.400	3.5	44	8-5	2-10	4-6	W1

[Mass Haas]

PDF Document:

 

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio:

June 29, 2010: Game Notes

 

June 29, 2010: Tonight's Starting Pitcher

 

June 29, 2010: Starting Lineup

Cameron Garfield, Cutter Dykstra, and D'Vontrey Richardson get nights off after last night's 14-inning affair...

 

***

 

Check for an update here shortly before game time:

 

Huntsville Media Notes

[TheCrew07]

D'Vo could use the night off as he struggled all the way around yesterday, Garfield on the other hand has been hitting well, .317 over his last 10.

 

Brett Jackson is one of the headlines today on MiLB.com because he's performed well in the 2 games since his promotion to AA. I've been warily eying the Cubs system for some time as it continues to improve. I hate it when they get positive press, that system certainly isn't the joke it was 3 years ago though.

[Kevbo74]

What's the Huntsville hub-bub. Lawrie got hit to start the game and the pitcher and Chattanooga manager get tossed?

I tuned in a bit too late. Was it retaliation for something? Was it at his head?

[DKM4Boston]

What's the Huntsville hub-bub. Lawrie got hit to start the game and the pitcher and Chattanooga manager get tossed?

I tuned in a bit too late. Was it retaliation for something? Was it at his head?

That's interesting. I do not recall any bad blood from earlier this year. Nothing jumps out at me looking at their previous meetings. And it's not like Lawrie could take exception to a previous pitch (since there was only 1 pitch thrown). Maybe they took exception to something Rogers did in the top half. Quick game for Chattanooga's pitcher though. 1 pitch, 1 hit batter. Ha!

[biedergb]

Almost equally quick for Rogers -- 9 batters faced, only 4 out and 3 earned runs. Not good. Just when we thought he was turning the corner, he starts to fall back again.

[sfl2hnq17]

maverick lasker had a really good game going too

[YoungGeezy]

Not going to say the two words but Maverick Lasker has something special going through 5!

[biedergb]

So far poor outing by Rogers, no show for Scarpetta, and Gallardo getting hit. At least Lasker is pitching well.

Edit: OK three posts in a row touting Maverick.

Edit 2: No hitter and shutout ended in the 6th. But Lasker has pitched 9 innings so far with 8K and 1BB. 3 R (1ER) and 3-3 game into the 9th.

[battlekow]

Final: Daytona 6, Brevard County 3

Brevard County box score

Instead of Cody Scarpetta, R.J. Seidel got the start and allowed two runs in 4.1 innings on five hits and two walks while failing to strike out a batter. The rest of the damage was charged to Corey Frerichs in his two innings of work. Josh Prince was on base three out of five times on two singles and a walk, and Angel Salome singled and doubled. Scott Krieger and Shawn Zarraga both homered for the Manatees; for Zarraga, touted for his power when he was drafted in 2007, that's the first homer since 2008. Erik Komatsu was 0-3 with a walk, and Sean Halton was 0-4.

 

Brevard County play-by-play

Krieger and Zarraga went back-to-back in the 4th.

[battlekow]

Final: Nashville 6, Round Rock 3

 

Nashville Beats Round Rock, 6-3, On Tuesday Night

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds topped the Round Rock Express, 6-3, on Tuesday evening at historic Greer Stadium in the finale of a four-game set.

 

Taking three of four games from Round Rock in the series, Nashville (43-36) moves back into first place in the PCL Northern Division with the victory after Memphis and Iowa took losses earlier in the evening.

 

Marty McLeary (2-6) threw his first quality start in his longest outing of the season to earn the win, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits on three walks and five strikeouts over seven innings.

 

McLeary allowed leadoff doubles to begin the first two innings on the mound for the Sounds, but the right-hander retired the Express offense in order to strand the runners on base to keep the game scoreless.

 

For the third consecutive game, Joe Koshansky crushed a home run over the right field wall that put the Sounds on the board, 1-0, in the bottom of the second inning. Koshansky's 10th home run tied him with Brendan Katin for the team lead. The last time a Sounds player hit a home run in three straight games with Katin from 9/5 to 9/7 to end last season.

 

Trent Oeltjen continued to stay hot for Nashville, homering to right center and extending the Nashville lead to 2-0. The Australian recorded a multi-hit game for the seventh straight contest, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

 

Round Rock came within one run in the next frame at 2-1 as Express first baseman Tommy Everidge hit his eighth home run off the guitar scoreboard.

 

The Express tied the contest at 2-2 at the top of the fifth inning. After a single and Nashville fielding error, McLeary intentionally walked Matt Kata to load the bases and then walked home the tying run as Luis Maza walked with one out in the inning. McLeary fanned the next two batters to end the inning, followed Brian Bogusevic getting ejected by home plate umpire Shaun Francis.

 

Round Rock again loaded the bases in the next inning, but failed to score and take the lead. After recording the first out, McLeary surrendered three consecutive singles, and then induced a double play to end the inning.

 

The Sounds took a 5-2 lead over the Express in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring three runs with two outs on Round Rock starter Shane Loux. Raburn singled to begin the scoring rally, moved to second on a groundout, then came home on a pinch-hit RBI double by Erick Almonte for his team-leading ninth pinch-hit this season. The Sounds added the other two runs on RBI singles from Oeltjen and Ray Olmedo. Johnny Raburn singled home Adam Stern in the bottom of the eighth inning that extended the Nashville lead to 6-2.

 

Kata hit his third home run on the year in the top of the ninth inning, but the Express were unable to score more runs before Brandon Kintzler stuck out Gary Majewski to end the game earn his third save on the year.

 

Loux (2-5) took the loss, giving up five runs on nine hits while fanning a season-high eight batters.

 

After a league-wide off day on Wednesday, the Sounds welcome the New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA-Astros) to Music City, for a three-game series beginning at 7:05 pm on Taco Bell Throwback Thursday. The Famous San Diego Chicken will also make an appearance at historic Greer Stadium that night. Left-hander Chris Waters (4-4, 3.36) will start for Nashville against New Orleans righty Tom Mastny (1-0, 1.71).

 

Nashville box score

Kintzler went the final two innings, allowing just Kata's solo homer while striking out two and walking none. Mat Gamel was 1-4.

 

Nashville play-by-play

[wibadgers23]

Maverick has been pitching pretty well lately. ERA now under 3 with 51 strikeouts and 22 walks on the year. He's the same age as Odorizzi too.

[homer]

I really hope the Brewers are about ready to make some promotions. Khris Davis is 22 and needs another challenge. I would think the Brewers would want to promote him and see what they have there.

[battlekow]

Final: Helena 5, Billings 3

Helena box score

When Matt Miller was drafted, the word was that he might be best used as a reliever, but his first two starts have been just fine. Tonight, he struck out eight and walked none in five innings, allowing three runs on five hits, though he did also hit three batters. Tyler Thornburg also pitched well in his second pro game, striking out four and walking one in two scoreless innings, though he did allow four hits. Alex Jones also impressed, striking out three over two perfect innings to close out the win. Franklin Romero's 3-4 night led the charge offensively. Romero doubled, as did Johnny Dishon (2-4, BB) and Cody Hawn (1-1, HBP). Hawn had only two plate appearances because he was removed for a pinch runner after his double; hopefully the IR's recap will let us know if that was related to the HBP. Shea Vucinich continued his extremely hot start by smacking his second homer. Greg Hopkins and Mike Walker were both 1-3 with a walk.

 

Helena play-by-play

Miller allowed a solo homer, but the other two came in a pretty unusual rally:

 

Billings Top 3rd

• David Vidal hit by pitch.
• Chris
  Berset singles on a ground ball to center fielder Franklin Romero.
  David Vidal to 2nd.
• Theo Bowe hit by pitch. David Vidal to
  3rd. Chris Berset to 2nd.
• Dayne Read out on a sacrifice fly
  to center fielder Franklin Romero. David Vidal scores. Chris
  Berset to 3rd.
• Jefry Sierra out on a sacrifice fly to right
  fielder John Dishon. Chris Berset scores.
• Yorman Rodriguez
  flies out to right fielder John Dishon.

Here's Hawn's exit:

 

Helena Bottom 3rd

• Carlos George lines out to left
  fielder Theo Bowe.
• John Dishon doubles (1) on a line drive to
  right fielder Yorman Rodriguez.
• Franklin Romero doubles (4) on
  a line drive to left fielder Theo Bowe. John Dishon scores.
• Cody
  Hawn doubles (4) on a fly ball to right fielder Yorman Rodriguez.
  Franklin Romero scores.
• Gregory Hopkins walks.
• Michael
  Walker singles on a ground ball to center fielder Dayne Read. Cody
  Hawn to 3rd. Gregory Hopkins to 2nd.
• Offensive
  Substitution: Pinch runner Connor Lind replaces Cody Hawn.
• Shea
  Vucinich strikes out swinging.
• John Bivens strikes out
  swinging.

[battlekow]

Final: Chattanooga 9, Huntsville 3

Stars fall at home to Lookouts

Huntsville Stars

 

The Stars trailed the entire way Tuesday night, falling in game one of a series opener 9-3 to the visiting Chattanooga Lookouts.

 

Dee Gordon led off the game with a single, stole two bases and scored on a sacrifice fly. Things took a strange turn after Stars pitcher Mark Rogers worked out of the inning with 29 pitches.

 

Lookouts starting pitcher Mario Alvarez only delivered one pitch before he was ejected from the game for hitting Brett Lawrie with a fastball. Home plate umpire Marcus Patillo then tossed Chattanooga manager Carlos Subero during the heated argument that followed. The Stars and Lookouts last played in Huntsville from April 26-29 and it’s possible Patillo felt the wayward pitch was a carryover from the previous series between the two squads. Lawrie did score as the lone run of the Stars first. Lawrie’s run tied the score and was credited to Alvarez, who did not record an out before being run from the contest.

 

Rogers did not last long either. One of the Stars hottest hurlers of late retired one and allowed one in the second before calling Stars pitching coach John Curtis out of the dugout. After examining Roger’s pitching hand, the decision was made to bring in reliever Donovan Hand. Roger’s threw 41 pitches through 1.1 innings, allowed three runs on two hits and walked three while striking out one.

 

The Stars bullpen did not fare much better, giving up six runs on 11 hits. Rogers picked up the loss, his sixth of 2010.

 

Huntsville’s best chance came in the third but could only take one run back. With one run already in, two outs and runners on the corners, Dayton Buller sent a fly ball to right field that Kyle Russell reeled in easily to end the frame.

 

A doubleheader is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. (CDT) in Huntsville on Wednesday. Huntsville will send Amaury Rivas (6-5 2.960 in game one and Lucas Luetge (1-0 1.00) in game two. Both games will be streamed live on huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville box score

Chad Anderson speculated that Rogers had a blister. Lawrie added two singles, both off left-handed pitchers, to his HBP. Lorenzo Cain had a tough night, striking out four times, though he did walk once. Caleb Gindl was 1-4 with a HBP, Taylor Green was 0-4, and Zelous Wheeler was on all four times with three singles and a walk.

 

Huntsville play-by-play

Down 6-2 in the 5th, Green had a chance to get the Stars back into the game but came up empty:

 

Huntsville Bottom 5th

• Mark Willinsky grounds out,
  pitcher David Pfeiffer to first baseman Jerry Sands.
• Brett
  Lawrie singles on a ground ball to center fielder Trayvon Robinson.
• Lorenzo
  Cain called out on strikes.
• Caleb Gindl hit by pitch.
  Brett Lawrie to 2nd.
• With Zelous Wheeler batting, Brett Lawrie
  steals (18) 3rd base. Caleb Gindl steals (4) 2nd base.
• Zelous
  Wheeler walks.
• Pitcher Change: Cole St. Clair replaces
  David Pfeiffer, batting 9th.
• Taylor
  Green called out on strikes.

Trivia: That was Willinsky's third career plate appearance and the first time he's put the ball in play.

[battlekow]

Final: Quad Cities 6, Wisconsin 4 (12 innings)

 

Rattlers and Bandits battle to extra innings...again

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Quad Cities River Bandits did it to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers again. For the second night in a row, the Bandits beat Wisconsin in extra innings. Michael Swinson had four hits and drove in four runs to pace Quad Cities to a 6-4 win in 12 innings at Time Warner Cable Field. The loss spoiled a terrific start by Rattler pitcher Maverick Lasker.

 

Chris Dennis cashed in the first scoring opportunity of the night for the Rattlers (29-44 overall, 3-2 second half). Wisconsin had runners at second and third with no outs in the first inning, but both runners were still there with two outs. Dennis dropped in a single to right to drive in both runners for a 2-0 lead.

 

In the third, Hunter Morris doubled in a run and Wisconsin had a 3-0 lead. That looked like more than enough for Lasker. The right-hander carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. But, he ran into trouble in that inning and some of it was of his own making.

 

Lasker committed an error with one out on a slow roller back to the mound off the bat of Luis Mateo. A wild pitch sent Mateo into scoring position. Swinson made the Rattlers pay the for the first time with an RBI single. An error on the play allowed Swinson to take second. He would score when Ryan Jackson, the next batter in the frame, singled.

 

One inning later, déjà vu struck. On Monday night, Frederick Parejo tripled with two outs and none aboard in the top of the fourteenth inning. He scored on a wild pitch. On Tuesday, Parejo tripled with two outs and none on in the top of the seventh. Lasker threw a wild pitch and Parejo scored the tying run.

 

Lasker went a career high nine innings and struck out eight batters, but he was not involved in the decision.

 

Swinson struck again in the top of the eleventh inning against Matt Costello. He drove an 0-1 pitch over the right field wall for a home run and the River Bandits were up 4-3.

 

Dennis answered right away in the bottom of the eleventh. He crushed the first pitch from Jason Novak just to the right of the batters’ eye in straightaway center for a game-tying home run. The home run was the eighth of the season for Dennis.

 

The Rattlers got two runners on with two outs later in the eleventh, but could not get the winning run home. It would cost them.

 

Costello got the first out of the twelfth, but a walk to Parejo and a single by Lara put two runners on base. A strikeout was recorded for the second out of the inning. Then, Costello walked Mateo on the 3-2 pitch to load the bases for Swinson.

 

Andy Sauter was summoned from the bullpen to face Swinson. The count ran to 3-2 and Swinson hit a soft popup to shallow left. Rattlers shortstop Michael Marseco made a diving attempt, but the ball barely dropped in for a two-run single and a 6-4 Quad Cities lead.

 

In the bottom of the twelfth, Novak retired the first two batters, but Morris singled and Dennis walked. Pinch hitter Cameron Garfield came up as the winning run, but Novak struck him out to end the game.

 

The River Bandits have played three consecutive extra inning games. They went 16 innings in a 4-3 win at home over the Kane County Cougars on Sunday night. Monday’s game was a 7-6 decision in 14 innings at Time Warner Cable Field.

 

The Rattlers are 0-9 in extra inning games this season. They are 0-for-12 in their last 12 games that have gone longer than regulation. The last Wisconsin win in an extra inning game was on July 24, 2009 when they beat Dayton 5-4 in 11 innings at Time Warner Cable Field.

 

Wisconsin and Quad Cities play the final game of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon at 12:05pm. Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Doug Davis will make a rehabilitation start for the Timber Rattlers. Eric Fornataro (5-6, 3.73) is the scheduled starter for the River Bandits.

 

If you can’t make it to the ballpark, you may listen to the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or www.timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:45am.

 

Wisconsin box score

Ah, it was nice to be able to listen to Mr. Mehring again, but it would have been even nicer to hear the Rattlers finally win an extra-inning game. Lasker walked but one and allowed only four hits; meanwhile, Sauter's allowed 22 hits in 9 innings this year. Dennis added another walk to complete a really nice night. With D'Vontrey Richardson getting the day off, Scooter Gennett was 1-5 with a sac bunt as the leadoff hitter. Kentrail Davis was 0-5 with a walk, and Khris Davis was 1-3 with three walks. Cutter Dykstra also was not in the starting lineup, but did see action as a pinch runner.

 

Wisconsin play-by-play

[battlekow]

Daytona wins fourth straight

Mike Rosa/Daytona Cubs

 

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - The Daytona Cubs (5-1, 39-37) continued their

dominance as they took down the Brevard County Manatees (2-4, 29-46)

Tuesday night by the score of 6-3. The Cubs were in an early three to

nothing hole but were able to pull their way out and score six

unanswered runs.

 

The Manatees struck first with a solo run in the top of the third

inning. Second baseman Sergio Miranda lined a one-out single into center

field off Cubs starter Brooks Raley. After a fly out by Erik Komatsu,

right fielder Angel Salome drove a double to right-center field to bring

home Miranda for the early lead.

 

 

Brevard County extended that lead to three runs in the top of the fourth

inning. With one out, designated hitter Scott Krieger and catcher Shawn

Zarraga blasted back-to-back solo home runs off of Raley. It was the

third home run of the season for Krieger and the first for Zarraga.

 

 

On his birthday, Brooks Raley lasted only 4.1 innings in the start. He

gave up the three runs on six hits and struck out two.

 

 

The Cubs got the offense going in the bottom of the fifth inning. Left

fielder David Macias led off the frame with an infield single. He was

forced out on a Junior Lake ground ball to third. Lake moved to second

on a passed ball and advanced to third on line-drive single from center

fielder Jose Valdez. With third baseman DJ LeMahieu at the plate, Valdez

stole second to put two runners in scoring position. The Cubs RBI

leader, DJ LeMahieu, picked up two more with a single to center field

that made it a 3-2 ball game.

 

 

Daytona tied the game at three the very next inning. Right fielder Kyler

Burke led off the inning with a double into the right field corner.

Michael Brenly brought Burke in with a single up the middle with his

nineteenth RBI of the season.

 

 

The Cubs did not waste any time to continue their rally as they scored

three more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. LeMahieu got

things started with a one out single to right field. Ryan Flaherty

stepped up to the plate next and drove LeMahieu in with a two-base-hit

that went all the way to the wall in right centerfield. With Flaherty

at second Rebel Ridling blasted his fifth home run of the season deep

over the centerfield wall.

 

 

The ballgame ended with a 6-3 final as the Daytona Cubs bullpen combined

for four and two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball. James Leverton

(2-0) was the winning pitcher of record in this contest with Corey

Frerichs (4-2) picking up the loss. Marco Carrillo slammed the door in

the ninth to pick up his third save of the season.

 

 

The Cubs next home game will be on the Fourth of July. Come out to

Jackie Robinson Ballpark to cheer on the Cubs and watch an out of this

world Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza in the Volusia County area

thanks to the U.S. Marines. For ticketing information contact the

Daytona Cubs at 386-257-3172.

 

[battlekow]

Brewers win fourth straight

Mark Vinson/Helena Independent Record

This time, there was no need for late-inning fireworks.

 

 

 

Shea Vucinich drilled a two-run homer into the face of a

gale-force wind and three Helena pitchers combined for 15

strikeouts as the first-place Brewers won their fourth straight

game, beating the Billings Mustangs 5-3 in a Pioneer League contest

witnessed by 864 fans at Kindrick Field on Tuesday night.

 

 

 

“We’re just playing hard-nosed baseball,” Helena manager Joe

Ayrault said. “Vucinich came up big with the home run.”

 

 

 

The Brewers’ 8-1 start ties their best since 2005, when they

finished 46-30. It’s also Helena’s second four-game winning streak

of the season after never winning more than three straight in

either of the past two years.

 

 

 

“We’re just doing the little things well,” said Vucinich, whose

home run was his second in as many nights.

 

 

 

The Brewers came from behind to win for the fifth time in the

young season, scoring one in the fourth inning to tie before

Vucinich’s line-drive shot to left field off Billings reliever

Daniel Wolford (0-2) put them ahead to stay in the bottom of the

fifth.

 

 

 

“It was a fastball inside,” Vucinich said. “I was trying not to

get under it. It felt good off the bat.”

 

 

 

Winds that gusted to more than 40 miles per hour played havoc

with fly balls all night and made life difficult for the pitchers

as well.

 

 

 

“There were a couple of points where the wind was coming at you

pretty good,” said Brewers starter and winner Matt Miller

(2-0).

 

 

 

Miller struck out eight and allowed five hits in five innings,

but did hit three batters, leading to a pair of Billings runs in

the third inning.

 

 

 

“They started crowding the plate a little more,” he said. “I

have to establish the inside corner. I was effective with the

fastball, got ahead in the count and got a couple on

curveballs.”

 

 

 

Tyler Thornburg and Alex Jones followed Miller and combined for

seven more strikeouts in four scoreless innings. Jones earned the

save with a pair of perfect innings and learned afterward he had

been promoted to Class AA Wisconsin.

 

 

 

“I knew I wanted to move up by the end of the summer, but I was

surprised it happened this quickly,” said the 6-6 rookie

righthander from Jacksonville (Ala.) State University.

 

 

 

After Billings took advantage of two hit batsmen and a single to

score twice in the third, Helena evened things in the bottom of the

frame on consecutive doubles by John Dishon, Franklin Romero and

Cody Hawn.

 

 

 

The Mustangs (2-7), who have lost four one-run games already

this season, took the lead in the top of the fourth on a solo home

run to right field by Trey Manz, before an aggressive play on the

bases tied the game.

 

 

 

Carlos George reached on a fielders’ choice, advanced on a

single by Romero and then stole third with the right-handed-hitting

Connor Lind at the plate. Billings catcher Chris Berset threw the

ball into leftfield, allowing George to score and tie the

contest.

 

 

 

Vucinich then provided the winning runs an inning later.

 

 

 

“For Vucinich to drive that ball threw the teeth of the wind was

incredible,” Ayrault said.

 

 

 

DIAMOND NOTES: Two more Brewers had to leave the game with minor

injuries. Hawn was hit in the ankle by a pitch and left the

game in the third inning. Catcher Brent Dean re-aggravated a

hamstring injury and also left the contest. Both are considered

day-to-day, as is outfielder Reggie Keen, who injured a hamstring

in the finale of the Great Falls series on Sunday.

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/d/37/705/d37705de-83fd-11df-96f9-001cc4c002e0-revisions/4c2ac4682b050.image.jpg

Brewers'

Shea Vucinich is greeted by his teammates after he hit a two-run homer

Tuesday night

against Billings at Kindrick Field. (Dylan Brown/Independent Record)

Five more photos from the IR here.

[Mass Haas]

Tyler Thornburg and Alex Jones followed Miller and combined for seven more strikeouts in four scoreless innings. Jones earned the save with a pair of perfect innings and learned afterward he had been promoted to Class AA Wisconsin.

***

 

Isn't it more likely that Jones is on his way to Appleton and not Huntsville, and that the writer simply mis-classified Wisconsin as "AA"? Maybe it's a situation like we saw with Nick Bucci and Damon Krestalude last year with a temporary rookie league bump to AA, but we'll find out today...

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' extra-inning woes continue

By Mike Woods, Post-Crescent staff writer

 

GRAND CHUTE — In the silver lining department, it wasn't another one-run loss.

 

But that's about all the good news you could locate after the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers dropped their second straight extra-inning game, 6-4, to Quad Cities in 12 innings Tuesday before 5,272 fans at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

Wisconsin is now 0-9 in extra-inning games this season.

 

"We had opportunities to win that ballgame and didn't take advantage of them," said Rattlers manager Jeff Isom, whose team was two-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

 

"You're playing against a pretty good Quad City team. They're a playoff club. We continue to talk about our club being a playoff club and we're right there with them. They haven't made a whole lot of changes since they won the first half. Happy with the way we're playing. But would like to see some of those runs get across the plate later in the game when we have opportunities."

 

As is the case with a team that hasn't had many things go its way this season, there was a bit of bad luck involved.

 

With runners at second and third and two out in a 4-4 game in the top of the 12th, the River Bandits' Michael Swinson hit a flair between third and short. Rattlers third baseman Cutter Dykstra and shortstop Michael Marseco each converged on the ball, which ended up hitting the glove of a diving Marseco and popping out, allowing two runs to score.

 

"It was just a great pitch by (Andy) Sauter and the kid fought it off," said Marseco. "A flair in the six hole. I should have made the play. I thought I was going to catch the ball. I dove and I was surprised as anyone I didn't catch it as well and also disappointed for myself, especially the way we battled to stay in that game. Everyone played great and I wish I could have that back, that cost us the game right there I believe."

 

Isom didn't exactly see it that way.

 

"It was a tough play," he said. "Cutter is going back on him and Marseco is trying to stay out of Cutter's way, he doesn't want any collision there. And it was in his glove and out of his glove. I thought it was a tough play."

 

The Rattlers battled back once in extra innings. Trailing 4-3 in the 11th, Chris Dennis led off with a home run to straight away center, his eighth of the season.

 

"I was looking for something up in the zone that I could hopefully do something with it and hit it hard. That was my goal," said Dennis, who reached it as he pointed to the ball's path as soon as it was hit. "I think he just made a mistake and left one up and I was able to capitalize. I put a good swing on the ball and it ended up going out."

 

But the Rattlers left a runner in scoring position that inning, and the next they were unable to produce another comeback.

 

"It's kind of hard," said Dennis. "Starting the second half, we kind of feel we have the team to do it. We've come so far from the first half. To lose back-to-back games in extra innings is kind of tough. But we have a good group of guys, resilient guys, and we'll be ready to go (today)."

 

***

 

Final thought at Post-Crescent blog

[Mass Haas]

No DSL result yet. All the other games on the island were played, so it's probably just a late submission to MiLB. We'll check later on.