Link Report for Fri. 7/2

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF -- 4th of July Weekend!

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Chuck Lofgren at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Huntsville: LHP Chris Cody at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Brevard County: TBD at Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:00 PM gametime

Live Audio Link (Blue Jays' feed)

Wisconsin: LHP Del Howell at Burlington (Royals), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:30 gametime

Live Audio Link

Helena: RHP Hiram Burgos at Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the baby Reds; 10:30 AM local time; never audio for games in this league -- Surprise! This is the only scheduled early day game on the Arizona schedule all season...

 

DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday'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

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale)

 

DSL Brewers

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Nashville	44	36	.550	-	-	23-16	21-20	6-4	W4
	Omaha	42	36	.538	1.0	65	19-19	23-17	5-5	W2
	Memphis	43	37	.538	1.0	64	22-16	21-21	6-4	W1
	Iowa	42	37	.532	1.5	64	22-21	20-16	4-6	L2

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Chattanooga	7	3	.700	-	-	5-1	2-2	7-3	W1
	Carolina	5	5	.500	2.0	59	3-1	2-4	5-5	W3
*	Tennessee	5	5	.500	2.0	59	4-2	1-3	5-5	L1
	West Tenn	5	5	.500	2.0	59	3-1	2-4	5-5	W1
	Huntsville	4	6	.400	3.0	58	2-2	2-4	4-6	L1

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tampa	4	1	.800	-	-	0-0	0-0	0-0	W3
	Daytona	5	2	.714	-	-	2-0	3-2	5-2	L1
	Brevard County	4	4	.500	1.5	62	3-2	1-2	4-4	W2
	Clearwater	4	4	.500	1.5	62	3-1	1-3	4-4	W2
*	Dunedin	3	5	.375	2.5	61	2-3	1-2	3-5	L2
	Lakeland	1	5	.167	3.5	61	0-2	1-3	1-5	L5

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Clinton	5	2	.714	-	-	0-0	0-0	0-0	W3
	Quad Cities	5	2	.714	-	-	2-1	3-1	5-2	W1
	Wisconsin	4	3	.571	1.0	63	0-0	0-0	0-0	L1
	Beloit	3	4	.429	2.0	62	0-0	0-0	0-0	L2
	Burlington	3	4	.429	2.0	62	3-1	0-3	3-4	W3
*	Cedar Rapids	3	4	.429	2.0	62	0-1	3-3	3-4	L1
	Peoria	3	4	.429	2.0	62	1-2	2-2	3-4	W1
	Kane County	2	5	.286	3.0	61	0-0	0-0	0-0	L3

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Helena	8	3	.727	-	-	6-1	2-2	7-3	L2
	Great Falls	6	5	.545	2.0	26	1-3	5-2	6-4	L1
	Billings	4	7	.364	4.0	24	2-3	2-4	3-7	W2
	Missoula	4	7	.364	4.0	24	3-3	1-4	4-6	W1

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Brewers	8	1	.889	-	-	0-0	0-0	0-0	L1
	AZL Dodgers	5	4	.556	3.0	45	0-0	0-0	0-0	W1
	AZL Reds	4	5	.444	4.0	44	0-0	0-0	0-0	L3
	AZL Indians	3	6	.333	5.0	43	0-0	0-0	0-0	W2

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Cardinals	17	12	.586	-	-	13-2	4-10	5-5	W3
	DSL Athletics	14	14	.500	2.5	42	8-6	6-8	5-5	L2
	DSL Mariners	14	15	.483	3.0	41	9-5	5-10	4-6	L3
	DSL Brewers	12	16	.429	4.5	40	9-5	3-11	5-5	W2

[Mass Haas]

The DSL Brewers only play the three teams in their division all season -- that must get old, with some posssible bad blood boiling just based on familiarity. Anyway, here's how the D-Crew has fared thus far:

 

vs. Mariners: 3-7

 

vs. Athletics 5-4

 

vs. Cardinals 4-5

[Mass Haas]

PDF Document:

 

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Reds 8, Arizona Brewers 4

 

Arizona Box Score

21-year-old LHP Kristian Bueno made a one-inning start, his first action since 2009 -- Bueno was selected in the 9th round of the 2007 draft out of a Texas high school -- he appeared in 28 games for Helena last season; just-turned 20-year-old RHP Brooks Hall followed with three scoreless innings, walking none while fanning three -- no earned runs (three unearned) in six innings for Hall thus far this summer; Marshall University draft pick Kevin Shackelford (21st round) allowed four runs on five hits in the 5th to watch a 2-2 game become a 6-2 game, a deficit the Crew never overcame; Brewers outhit, 14-9...

 

Offensively, 22-year-old catcher Jhonatan Javier, the unquestioned MVP of last season's DSL team, remains an intriguing farmhand -- he tripled, singled twice, and was HBP in this one; catching the whole game and throwing out both baserunners who attempted to steal second base, although he was charged with two errors, both on catcher's interference calls; Javier has at least one base hit in each of his six games thus far -- welcome to the USA, Jhonatan! Rehabbing Joey Paciorek reached twice in four trips; CF Robbie Garvey singled twice and walked; it's not working for 1B Demetrius McKelvie right now -- a super-golden sombrero here, 0-for-5, five K's, McKelvie has struck out 20 times in his first 37 AB's, but the former high school football star does have five extra-base hits as well...

 

Arizona Game Log

No line drives mentioned in Kevin Shackelford's rough inning, four runs is four runs...

 

AZL Reds Top 5th

Pitcher Change: Kevin Shackelford replaces Brooks Hall.

Adam Muenster grounds out to pitcher Kevin Shackelford.

Juan Silva singles on a ground ball to center fielder Robert Garvey.

Junior Arias doubles (4) on a fly ball to right fielder Maxwell Walla. Juan Silva to 3rd.

Dominic D'Anna singles on a ground ball to center fielder Robert Garvey. Juan Silva scores. Junior Arias to 3rd.

Danny Hernandez reaches on a fielder's choice out, third baseman Joseph Paciorek to catcher Jhonatan Javier. Junior Arias out at home. Dominic D'Anna to 2nd.

Sean Conner singles on a ground ball to right fielder Maxwell Walla. Dominic D'Anna scores. Danny Hernandez to 2nd.

Robert Maddox doubles (3) on a fly ball to right fielder Maxwell Walla. Danny Hernandez scores. Sean Conner scores.

Danny Vicioso grounds out, third baseman Joseph Paciorek to first baseman Demetrius McKelvie.

[battlekow]

Nashville media notes

Huntsville media notes

 

Rattler Radio:

 

Game notes

 

Tonight's pitcher

 

Starting lineup

 

[battlekow]

Mehring just said that Odorizzi's turn would be skipped next time through the rotation.

[battlekow]

Final: DSL Brewers 1, DSL Cardinals 0

DSL Brewers box score

Jeez, don't see too many 1-0 gems in the DSL, do you? A day after being the starting DH, Rolando Pascual tossed six shutout, one-hit frames; he walked four and struck out four. 21-year-old lefty Manuel Ruiz continued to carve up the DSL naifs, fanning five over the last three innings to pick up a long save. 18-year-old CF Ruben Sanchez continues to rake, 2-4 today to bump his line to .356/.467/.458 through the first 21 games of his pro career. Yonki Hernandez, Allixon Cequea, and Joan Abreu all also had two hits. Jose R. Garcia and Jose Pena, both struggling mightily, were 0-3. Hitaniel Arias and Andres Martinez did not play.

 

DSL Brewers play-by-play

The lone run:

 

DSL Brewers Bottom 6th

• Yonki Hernandez flies out to
  right fielder Jose Pena.
• Ruben Sanchez singles on a fly ball
  to right fielder Jose Pena.
• With Allixon Cequea batting, Ruben
  Sanchez steals (8) 2nd base.
• Allixon Cequea singles on a
  ground ball to third baseman Rafael Medina. Ruben Sanchez to 3rd.
• Juan
  De Leon singles on a line drive to left fielder Eduardo Celestino.
  Ruben Sanchez scores. Allixon Cequea to 2nd.
• Pitcher
  Change: Edouard Estalis replaces Delvi Rodriguez.
• Jose Pena
  hit by pitch. Allixon Cequea to 3rd. Juan De Leon to 2nd.
• Jose
  R. Garcia flies into double play, right fielder Jose Pena to catcher
  Luis Perez. Allixon Cequea out at home on the throw.

[YoungGeezy]

Another nice game for Howell, bet he wishes he could have April back (16 runs in 10 innings)

 

Since May 1st he has a line of: (5 of the 11 games are starts)

41.1 IP 30H 14ER 20BB 30K 3.07 ERA 1.22 WHIP

 

As a starter since May 1:

 

5GS 27.2 IP 24H 9ER 10BB 16K 2.98ERA 1.25WHIP

 

He still needs to improve his K/BB ratio but other than that I am glad to see him turn the corner and get it rollin. Hard not to like a starting staff the puts Odorizzi, Heckathorn, Bucci, Howell and Lasker out there every 5 games.

 

Edit: spoke a little too soon as the T-Rats brought him back out in the 7th and he gave up a unearned run and Theilbar came in and gave up a 2 out 2 run triple

Burlington Bottom 7th

• Jose Bonilla walks.
  
• Fernando Cruz singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Cutter Dykstra. Jose Bonilla to 2nd.
  
• Luis Del Rosario out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Del Howell to first baseman Hunter Morris. Jose Bonilla to 3rd. Fernando Cruz to 2nd.
  
• Julio Aparicio pops out to shortstop Michael Marseco.
  
• Gerard Hall reaches on fielding error by shortstop Michael Marseco. Jose Bonilla scores. Fernando Cruz to 3rd.
  
• Pitcher Change: Caleb Thielbar replaces Del Howell.
  
• J. D. Alfaro triples (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Fernando Cruz scores. Gerard Hall scores.
  
• Carlo Testa flies out to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson.

[battlekow]

Final: @Dunedin 3, Brevard County 2 (11 innings)

 

Brevard County box score

The Manatees took a 2-0 lead into the 9th inning only to lose it on a two-out, two-run homer and then lose the game on a series of wild pitches in the 11th. Cody Scarpetta, after getting a few extra days off, came back with a vengeance, ringing up five shutout, one-hit innings with eight strikeouts and two walks. According to Dunedin's announcer, Scarpetta got by mostly with his fastball, throwing only two of his trademark curveballs, both times using them to get strikeouts. Mike Ramlow struck out four in two scoreless innings of relief, followed by a scoreless frame for Darren Byrd in his Brewers debut, before Andre Lamontagne gave up the game-tying blast. Corey Frerichs then came in and picked up the loss. Erik Komatsu singled and doubled in five trips, the only Manatee with multiple hits. Angel Salome celebrated his outrighting with a single and a walk, and Steve Braun doubled and walked. Scott Krieger was 1-4, which actually raised his batting average to .183, but the one was a homer--nine of Krieger's 16 hits this year have been for extra bases (four doubles and five homers).

 

Brevard County play-by-play

Lamontagne struck out the side in the 9th, but...

 

Dunedin Bottom 9th

• Pitcher Change: Andre
  Lamontagne replaces Darren Byrd.
• Tyler Pastornicky walks.
• Brad
  McElroy strikes out swinging.
• With Brian Van Kirk batting,
  Tyler Pastornicky steals (22) 2nd base.
• Brian Van Kirk strikes
  out swinging.
• Michael McDade homers (15) on a fly ball to
  right field. Tyler Pastornicky scores.
• Jon Talley strikes
  out swinging.

Dunedin Bottom 11th

• Tyler Pastornicky singles on a
  line drive to center fielder Erik Komatsu.
• Brad McElroy out
  on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Corey Frerichs to first baseman Sean
  Halton. Tyler Pastornicky to 2nd.
• Brian Van Kirk flies out
  to center fielder Erik Komatsu.
• Corey Frerichs intentionally
  walks Michael McDade.
• Jon Talley strikes out swinging. Wild
  pitch by pitcher Corey Frerichs. Tyler Pastornicky to 3rd. Michael
  McDade to 2nd. Jon Talley to 1st.
• With Mark Sobolewski
  batting, wild pitch by Corey Frerichs, Tyler Pastornicky scores.
  Michael McDade to 3rd. Jon Talley to 2nd.

[battlekow]

Final: @Burlington 6, Wisconsin 1

Bees sting Rattlers with another rally

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

BURLINGTON, IA – A crucial Wisconsin Timber Rattler error in the bottom of the seventh inning allowed the Burlington Bees score the go-ahead run Friday night at Community Field. The Bees tacked on four more runs to defeat Wisconsin 6-1. Three Burlington pitchers combined to hold Wisconsin to one run on three hits. The Bees had also rallied late to defeat the Rattlers on Thursday night.

 

Khris Davis gave Wisconsin a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning. D’Vontrey Richardson and Scooter Gennett had back-to-back doubles to start the inning, but Richardson did not score on the double by Gennett because there was a chance that the ball would be caught in right-center and he had gone back to tag up. Davis’s sac fly made sure that Richardson scored.

 

Jose Bonilla brought Burlington back to even with a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the fourth. Rattlers starting pitcher Del Howell fell behind Bonilla 2-0 and the Bees catcher cracked the next pitch over the wall in right-center for his first home run of the season.

 

The Rattlers (30-46 overall, 4-4 second half) tried to put together a rally with two outs against Burlington starting pitcher Sugar Ray Marimon in the sixth inning. Kentrail Davis was hit by a pitch. Khris Davis singled. Hunter Morris walked. But, Marimon got a popout to keep the game tied. Marimon allowed one run on three hits over six innings, but was not involved in the decision.

 

Burlington (26-51, 4-4) took the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Howell walked Bonilla to start the frame. Fernando Cruz dropped a sacrifice bunt up the third base line, but none of the three Rattler defenders around the ball fielded it. The play went for a single. Luis Del Rosario was next and he dropped a sacrifice bunt to move runners to second and third.

 

Howell got the next batter to pop out for the second out of the inning.

 

Then, Gerard Hall sent a grounder to short for what should have been the final out of the inning. But, the usually sure-handed and slick-fielding Michael Marseco did not come up with the grounder and was charged with an error as Bonilla scored the go ahead run.

 

Rattlers reliever Caleb Thielbar entered the game at this point and gave up a two-run triple to JD Alfaro that put Burlington up 4-1.

 

Rene Oriental hit a two-run homer of Thielbar after a lead-off walk in the bottom of the eighth inning and Burlington grabbed a 6-1 lead.

 

Sam Runion pitched retired all six batters he faced over the seventh and eighth innings to pick up his first win of the season. Scott Kelly pitched a scoreless ninth to close out Wisconsin.

 

Game three of the series is set for Saturday night at 6:30pm. The Timber Rattlers have Nick Bucci (3-3, 3.46) as their scheduled starting pitcher. The Bees have Nick Wooley (2-5, 6.93) set to start. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or www.timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm.

 

Wisconsin box score

Thielbar and the Rattlers' defense really distorted what was a fine effort from Howell, whose final line was 6.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. Morris, who walked twice, and Kentrail Davis, with a single in addition to his HBP, were the only Rattler to reach more than once. A note about Davis's HBP--it actually hit him twice, ricocheting off his shoulder and hitting him in the ear flap, knocking his helmet off. Sounded like the shoulder took the brunt of the blow, but with the luck he's had on HBP this year, you don't like to hear stuff like that. In fact, Mehring said that Kentrail's moved back from the plate since coming to Wisconsin after getting hit so much at Brevard County. Cameron Garfield was the player who popped out with the bases loaded to end the 6th. He sounded pretty upset with himself, approximately as upset as Chris was with the infield on the bunt "single" in the 7th.

 

Wisconsin play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: @Huntsville 4, Chattanooga 1

Chris Cody stellar on the hill

Huntsville Stars

 

The Huntsville Stars guaranteed at least a series split Friday night with a 4-1 win over Chattanooga at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville.

Drew Anderson broke a five and a half inning stalemate with a sixth inning single and his first stolen base of the season. With one out, Lee Haydel continued the hitting with a single that moved Anderson to third base. The hero of Wednesday’s double header, Andy Machado again came through for the Stars with a sac fly for the first run of the contest (audio). Sean McCraw followed with a walk, and after throwing his sixth shutout inning of the night, Chris Cody showed his offensive prowess by launching a run-scoring double over the head of Lookouts right fielder Jerry Sands (audio). Chattanooga’s relay that followed was executed to perfection to cut down McCraw at home to end the inning.

 

Anderson again struck one inning later with a double that scored Huntsville All Star Brett Lawrie (audio). He then chugged home from second base on a passed ball to extend the Stars lead to four runs (audio).

 

Stars starting pitcher Cody carried the offense for much of the game with his best start of the year. Cody dealt 97 pitches over eight shutout innings. Not known as a strikeout artist, Cody fanned eight lookouts and walked only two while scattering four hits. Nearly 70 percent of Cody’s throws were strikes.

 

Huntsville plays host Saturday in the final game at “The Joe” before the Southern League All Star game comes to Huntsville on Monday July, 12. First pitch is set for 6:00 CDT. All Stars games are streamed live online at www.huntsvillestars.com .

 

Huntsville box score

Sounded like Cody had some really excellent breaking stuff working. Haydel was 4-4, with two singles being of the conventional line-drive variety and two being of the infield variety, one of those on a bunt. Lawrie was 2-5, with both singles coming off right-handed pitching, a welcome sight. Gindl and Anderson also both had two hits. Great to see Taylor Green pinch-hit late in the game, showing he wasn't hurt too badly the other day.

Huntsville play-by-play

You read that right in the recap--Anderson scored from second on a passed ball:

 

Huntsville Bottom 7th

• Brett Lawrie singles on a line drive to left fielder Andrew Lambo.
  
• Caleb Gindl grounds out to first baseman Eduardo Perez. Brett Lawrie to 2nd.
  
• Zelous Wheeler grounds out, second baseman Jaime Pedroza to first baseman Eduardo Perez.
  
• Drew T. Anderson doubles (6) on a fly ball to center fielder Trayvon Robinson. Brett Lawrie scores.
  
• With Steffan Wilson batting, passed ball by Jessie Mier, Drew T. Anderson scores.
  
• Steffan Wilson walks.
  
• Lee Haydel singles on a ground ball to pitcher Bobby Blevins. Steffan Wilson to 2nd.
  
• Anderson Machado grounds out, first baseman Eduardo Perez to pitcher Bobby Blevins.

[battlekow]

Final: Helena 4, @Billings 1

Helena box score

Hiram Burgos was outstanding, allowing one run in seven innings on four hits with his trademark outstanding K/BB ratio, 8/0 tonight. He really needs to get another shot at Wisconsin before the year's over. Franklin Romero drove the Brewers' offense, 3-3 with two triples; Romero wasn't even in the starting lineup but came on as a pinch runner when Carlos George left the game after being hit by a pitch to begin the game. Shea Vucinich started the game in left field but shifted to shortstop after George's injury--nice to know he's at least the backup shortstop. Vucinich was 0-3 with a sac fly, Cody Hawn was 0-4, and Greg Hopkins was 1-4 with a double.

 

Helena play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: New Orleans 4, @Nashville 3

Sounds lose 4-3 to Zephyrs on Friday

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds lost to the New Orleans Zephyrs, 4-3, in front of 6,373 fans on Friday night at historic Greer Stadium in the second game of a three-game series.

 

New Orleans scored the winning run in the top of the ninth inning to go-ahead, 4-3. With one out in the inning, reliever Chris Smith fanned Gookie Dawkins, but a wild pitch allowed Dawkins to reach first. After next batter Logan Morrison walked, Brendan Katin dropped a fly ball, but threw in time to second for the second out. Danny Richar then followed with a line drive double to left field that allowed Dawkins to score the go-ahead run.

 

In his 2010 Sounds season-debut, center fielder Lorenzo Cain went 2-for-5 with a double. Mat Gamel and Katin each hit solo home runs for Nashville (44-37), as it was the eighth consecutive game that the club has hit a home run this season.

 

Sounds starter Chuck Lofgren got into trouble to begin the game, walking the first two New Orleans hitters on a combined 14 pitches. After Morrison flew out for the first out of the frame, Lofgren got Hector Luna to fly out to shallow left field to Norris Hopper, who then doubled up Dawkins at first base for an inning-ending double play.

 

Donnie Murphy hit his 12th home run of the season in the top of the second inning to put New Orleans on the board, a solo shot to centerfield for a 1-0 Zephyrs lead.

 

Katin crushed a solo home run over the out-of-town scoreboard in left field to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, his team-leading 11th homer of the season. The Sounds tacked on another run to go up 2-1 thanks to an RBI double by Ray Olmedo later in the inning.

 

With runners on second on third with two outs in top of the sixth inning, Tim Dillard came in to relieve Lofgren and got Brett Carroll to ground out and end the jam.

 

New Orleans tied the contest at 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning. Scott Cousins doubled to left field to begin the inning and scored on a two-out RBI single to left field by Bryan Petersen. The Zephyrs took a 3-2 lead in the top of the eighth inning, beginning with Carroll recording a two-out single to reach base. Catcher Neil Wilson then doubled down the third base line to score Carroll and put New Orleans ahead.

 

In the next frame, Gamel belted a deep, game-tying homer to right center off Adalberto Mendez, his third long ball on the year and first since June 16.

 

Lofgren took a no-decision, allowing one run on four hits and four walks with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

 

Dillard added 1 1/3 innings, giving up one run on two hits in relief. For the first time in his last five outings, David Johnson allowed one run on two hits and a walk in one inning pitched. Smith (2-3) took the loss, allowing one run on one hit with two strikeouts in one inning pitched.

 

New Orleans starter Sean West surrendered two runs on five hits with a season-high seven strikeouts in six innings thrown. Mendez (3-1) backed into the win, with Armando Benitez picking up his second save of the season.

 

The Sounds and Zephyrs will play the 6:35 pm CT finale of a three-game series on Saturday evening at historic Greer Stadium. Left-hander Chase Wright (6-3, 4.01) takes the mound for Nashville against New Orleans righty Tom Mastny (1-0, 1.71). A spectacular Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza will follow the action on the field.

 

Nashville box score

Gookie Dawkins! Wow, there's a name that hadn't crossed my mind in awhile. You can listen to Gamel's homer here. Nice successful debut for Cain, who hit .158/.273/.158 in six games for the Sounds in 2008.

 

Nashville play-by-play

[Mass Haas]

Gotta love statistical oddities --

 

In the DSL game, the Cardinals stole six bases in a 1-0 loss; they were 6-for-7 on the basepaths (the out coming at home); Pascual and Ruiz combined to walk six and hit three, but bore down when it counted (pitching under stress) as the Cardinals were 0-for-16 with RISP!

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers' chain has had a lot more games like this fall in the loss column than the good way -- must be demoralizing...

***Jays win wild one in 11, 3-2

By Tim Livingston / Dunedin Blue Jays

Even on a night where he wasn't at his best, Mike McDade found a way to give Dunedin a puncher's chance in the end.

Down to their last strike in the ninth inning, McDade hit a game-tying two-run homer to send the game to extra innings, where a wild pitch brought home Tyler Pastornicky with the winning run in the 11th inning for Dunedin in their 3-2 victory over Brevard County.

During a week where the offense had struggled to the tune of nine runs and 23 hits over their previous five games, it was more of the same on Friday night, with Dunedin having only one hit through the first seven innings of the ball game.

Falling behind 2-0 to Brevard County (31-47, 4-5 2nd half), Dunedin had seen their bullpen keep them in the game to give them a chance to come back. Pastornicky led off the inning with a walk to bring the tying run to the plate.

Against Andre Lamontagne, Bradley McElroy struck out. Then, after Pastornicky stole second base, Brian Van Kirk did the same, bringing McDade to the plate as the last hope with two outs.

To this point, McDade had struck out three times on the evening, one of three Dunedin (45-34, 4-5) players to do that in the game, but the fact that he led the Florida State League with 14 home runs gave the Blue Jays some hope that the slugging first baseman would come through.

After falling behind 1-2, McDade fouled off three straight pitches before he found one he could handle. He parked a high fastball from Lamontagne deep and out to right field for the game-tying home run, his league-high 15th blast on the season that brought him into a tie for second place in the Blue Jays organization with Triple-A Las Vegas outfielder Adam Calderone.

The game went into extra innings and stayed tied until the 11th inning, where Pastornicky led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by McElroy. After Van Kirk flew out to center field, McDade came to the plate and was intentionally walked with first base open.

That brought Jon Talley to the plate. He was having a night to forget, having struck out in all four of his at-bats, and was now in a position to redeem himself like McDade did.

Instead, Talley struck out for the fifth time against Corey Frerichs (4-3), but Frerichs' third strike was a wild pitch that got away from catcher Michael Roberts, allowing Talley to reach and extend the inning when it should have been over.

With Mark Sobolewski at the plate, Frerichs and his wild slider once again found the dirt in front of Roberts and scooted away, allowing Pastornicky to fly home with the winning run and end the game in the most peculiar of fashions.

Dunedin's offense is still trying to find its rhythm. They had only four base hits in the game, giving them a total of 27 over their last six games. Miraculously, they have won three of those games on a total of 13 hits.

Talley's five strikeouts were a team high, but McDade and Van Kirk each struck out three times themselves, as the Blue Jays had 16 strikeouts in all. Brevard County had 14, including three from Brock Kjeldgaard, who now leads the FSL with 102 whiffs on the season.

Kjeldgaard drove in a run with an RBI double in the sixth and Scott Krieger had a solo home run in the fifth for Brevard's offensive output. Erik Komatsu went 2-for-5 with a double, as well.

The win went to Matt Daly (1-1), who pitched a perfect 11th inning for his first win of the season.

Dunedin and Brevard County will play the finale of their three game series at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday

[Mass Haas]

After last night's Huntsville's report was posted, audio became available which have since been inserted here, so go back to the Stars' post above and check out the various calls from Aaron Morse, including the odd pitch in which Drew Anderson scored from second base on a passed ball (assist to a helpful ricochet off the umpire).

[Mass Haas]

Link Report Bonus:

 

Interesting Post-Crescent feature article on Rattler GM Rob Zerjaz, includes this:

Every once in a while, Zerjav will field a call from the Brewers asking his opinion on a player. It happened recently regarding minor-league pitcher Tony Butler, a 6-foot-7 left-hander who was released by the Baltimore Orioles last month.

Butler was drafted by the Seattle Mariners and spent time with the Rattlers in 2007 when the team was an affiliate of Seattle.

Doug Melvin didn't ask Zerjav about Butler's arm or talent, but instead wanted to know what kind of character he displayed.

"I just gave him my feedback," Zerjav said. "The fact that he looks for that type of thing when he's looking at players, it's not always about their physical attributes. It's how they are made up mentally and are they a good person. I think that's where we help a little bit in giving feedback."

 

***

 

Full article at the link.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Hamilton provides highlights, but offense sputters in Mustangs’ loss

MIKE SCHERTING Of The Billings Gazette Staff

 

That Billy Hamilton, he can play some second base.

 

The defensive efforts of the 19-year old Hamilton weren’t enough to save the day for the Billings Mustangs, but they were enough to send a buzz through the 3,783 on hand at Dehler Park and give his teammates something to talk about after the Helena Brewers skipped town with a 4-1 win and a split of the brief two-game series.

 

Hamilton saved at least two runs with spectacular plays in the first and fifth innings, the second of which drew the highest of praise from Mustangs manager Delino DeShields, who was an infielder for 13 big league seasons.

 

“That’s one of the best plays I’ve seen in baseball,” DeShields said. “I mean, that was a big-league play.”

 

The play came after Franklin Romero, Jr. led off the fifth inning with his second triple of the game. Shea Vucinich then lofted a high looping pop fly into no-man’s land beyond second base and as shortstop Devin Lohman and center fielder Jefry Sierra converged on the play, Hamilton belly-flopped fully extended into short center to make the catch.

 

Hamilton then popped up and threw to third baseman Oliver Santos to double up Romero, who had wandered too far off the bag.

 

“No one thought he was going to get it,” Lohman said with a chuckle. “But he made a good play.”

 

Second base is new terrain for Hamilton. The second-year pro — he was drafted in the second round of last year’s First-Year Player Draft by the Cincinnati Reds — said he’s been playing shortstop exclusively since his sophomore year in high school. But with the arrival of Lohman, whom the Reds drafted in the third round this year, the Reds are giving Hamilton a shot at second where he’s been for five games.

 

“Ah, man, second base is like a new home,” said Hamilton, who nailed Connor Lind in the first inning on a high chopper that he fielded behind the bag and eventually threw from the shortstop side of second. “It’s a good start for me. I really like it.”

 

Unfortunately for the Mustangs, their defensive heroics — Hamilton almost made a third outstanding play but Lind beat out his throw in the seventh inning — didn’t extend to the offensive side.

 

Helena’s Hiram Burgos and Robert Currie limited the Mustangs to five hits and neither pitcher allowed more than one hit in an inning. Burgos (2-0), the Pioneer League leader in strikeouts, went seven innings and struck out eight, giving him 23 punch outs in 17 1/3 innings. Currie got the last six outs for his second save.

 

“(Burgos) pitched a hell of a game tonight,” DeShields said. “That was basically the difference in the game tonight. Whenever we tried to get something going, he made quality pitches and he did it all night.”

 

Friday’s crowd in Billings of 3,783 was the biggest of the season.

[Mass Haas]

Why Franklin Romero wasn't in the starting lineup:

 

NOTES: Romero was 3 for 3 with two RBIs on a night he wasn’t even supposed to play. Romero was a scratch from the original lineup after tweaking a shoulder in batting practice, but he was forced into the game when Helena leadoff batter Carlos George was hit near his left elbow on the third pitch of the game and had to leave.

 

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Billy Hamilton of the Mustangs makes a diving catch near center field before getting up and making a throw to third base for an out against Helena on Friday, July 2, 2010. Helena won the game 4-1.

 

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Here's a video report from the Billings Gazette on the game. It shows both remarkable plays by Mustangs' second baseman Billy Hamilton as detailed above. The opening play ranging behind the bag on the ground ball was indeed superb, it's hard to believe he could nip the runner. Then the catch in center field is just insane, because immediately after the dive, catch, and pop back to his feet, he's wise enough to look immediately all the way to third base for the double play on a laser throw. Be sure to watch it all in full-screen view.

 

Almost as impressive as all that is the quality of the Gazette's video post-game reports. Don't know if they are produced by the team in conjunction with the newspaper or not, but you've got captions, the manager's post-game office interview quotes, player interview snippets, pretty amazing. Kudos.

 

Meanwhile, we have non-existent coverage in Nashville (embarrassing), articles when they feel like posting it at the Huntsville Times (which had decent reports for years up until this spring), and of course, the black hole that is Florida Today. Thank goodness for reports from Appleton and Helena.

 

Oh yeah, the two horseshoes forming an "M" for Mustangs is sweet...

 

Photos by PAUL RUHTER / Billings Gazette Staff

Sorry about the reverse chronological order here....

 

Devin Lohman of the Mustangs tags John Dishon of Helena at second base

 

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Franklin Romero of Helena is called safe at third base, after hitting his second triple, before Oliver Santos of the Mustangs can make a tag.

 

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Mustangs catcher Chris Berset tags Helena runner Cody Hawn during the first inning

 

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Franklin Romero of Helena hits his first triple

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[Mass Haas]

The Independent Record does more to analyze a road game than Nashville, Huntsville, and Brevard online newspaper staffs do on home games.

 

***Link while active, text follows:

 

Burgos shines on mound as Brewers beat Billings

By The Helena Independent Record

 

BILLINGS – Hiram Burgos allowed one run in seven innings while striking out eight and the first-place Helena Brewers defeated the Billings Mustangs 4-1 in a Pioneer League baseball game on Friday night at Dehler Field.

 

Burgos (2-0) scattered four hits and did not walk anyone.

 

Helena (9-3) took the lead in the first inning when Greg Hopkins’ double scored Franklin Romero. The Brewers increased their lead to 3-0 in the second when Connor Lind singled, Romero tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Shea Vucinich.

 

Billings (4-8) got its only run in the bottom of the second when Oliver Santos led off with a double and eventually scored on an infield groundout by Juan Duran.

 

Burgos retired 14 of the next 16 batters he faced, allowing only Devin Lohman’s one-out single in the fifth in addition to a hit batsman.

 

Helena added an insurance run in the seventh when John Bivens led off with a walk and eventually scored on Romero’s single to center.

 

Romero finished 3 for 3, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs for the Brewers, who ended a two-game losing streak.

 

Robert Currie allowed just one hit in the final two innings for the save.

 

Daniel Corcino (0-1) was the losing pitcher for Billings, allowing three runs (two earned) and three hits in four innings.

 

Helena travels to Missoula to open a four-game series tonight. The Brewers swept four games from the Osprey in Helena to open the season last week.