Link Report for Fri. 7/23 -- Gamel homers twice, Rogers continues to battle control

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Sam Narron at Albuquerque (Dodgers), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Huntsville: RHP Mark Rogers at Jacksonville (Marlins), 5:50 PM pre-game; 6:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Brevard County: TBD at Fort Myers (Twins), 6:05 PM gametime

Live Audio Link (Miracle's Feed)

Wisconsin: First, it's the completion of Thursday's suspended game (summary thus far is here), then it's a seven-inning nightcap at West Michigan (Tigers), 5:40 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime; RHP Damon Krestalude will pitch in one of the contests

Live Audio Link

 

Helena: RHP Jose Oviedo at Ogden (Dodgers), 7:45 PM pre-game; 8:00 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Dodgers' complex in Goodyear; 9:00 PM; never audio for games in this league

 

DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM -- actually, all game activity on the island has already been postponed for the day -- real difficulty there, as it appears many of you Milwaukeeans are dealing with now as well

[Mass Haas]

For Nashville diehards, the entire four-game series in Albuquerque can be viewed via an MiLB.TV subscription.

[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 Completion of Suspended Game

 

Wisconsin Regularly Scheduled Game

 

Helena

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale)

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Iowa	54	45	.545	-	-	30-26	24-19	6-4	L1
	Nashville	52	46	.531	1.5	45	27-22	25-24	5-5	W1
	Omaha	51	46	.526	2.0	45	23-22	28-24	4-6	W1
	Memphis	52	47	.525	2.0	44	28-21	24-26	4-6	L1

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Tennessee	15	12	.556	-	-	10-6	5-6	7-3	W3
	Carolina	14	13	.519	1.0	43	6-7	8-6	5-5	W1
	Huntsville	13	14	.481	2.0	42	6-7	7-7	5-5	L4
	Chattanooga	12	15	.444	3.0	41	7-7	5-8	2-8	L1
	West Tenn	11	16	.407	4.0	40	5-6	6-10	5-5	W4

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tampa	17	8	.680	-	-	8-4	9-4	7-3	W1
	Daytona	17	10	.630	1.0	44	8-4	9-6	6-4	W5
	Brevard County	15	12	.556	3.0	42	10-5	5-7	6-4	L2
	Clearwater	12	16	.429	6.5	38	9-5	3-11	4-6	L1
*	Dunedin	11	16	.407	7.0	38	7-6	4-10	4-6	L2
	Lakeland	9	17	.346	8.5	37	6-7	3-10	4-6	W1

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Quad Cities	16	8	.667	-	-	8-5	8-3	7-3	W3
	Kane County	16	10	.615	1.0	-	12-3	4-7	7-3	L2
*	Cedar Rapids	15	10	.600	1.5	45	9-5	6-5	7-3	W4
	Clinton	13	11	.542	3.0	44	9-6	4-5	5-5	L2
	Burlington	12	12	.500	4.0	42	10-4	2-8	4-6	L1
	Wisconsin	12	13	.480	4.5	42	9-6	3-7	6-4	W2
	Beloit	11	14	.440	5.5	40	8-7	3-7	4-6	L1
	Peoria	10	14	.417	6.0	41	7-7	3-7	6-4	L1

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Great Falls	18	13	.581	-	-	7-7	11-6	6-4	W1
	Billings	16	15	.516	2.0	6	9-5	7-10	6-4	W2
	Helena	15	16	.484	3.0	5	10-7	5-9	3-7	L2
	Missoula	12	19	.387	6.0	2	9-8	3-11	4-6	L3

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Brewers	17	9	.654	-	-	5-5	3-4	5-5	W1
	AZL Dodgers	13	13	.500	4.0	27	4-4	4-3	4-6	W2
	AZL Indians	12	14	.462	5.0	26	3-4	6-2	6-4	L3
	AZL Reds	12	14	.462	5.0	26	3-4	4-3	5-5	L1

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Mariners	24	17	.585	-	-	15-6	9-11	8-2	W5
	DSL Cardinals	23	18	.561	1.0	31	18-3	5-15	5-5	L3
	DSL Athletics	18	24	.429	6.5	25	10-11	8-13	4-6	W3
	DSL Brewers	17	23	.425	6.5	26	11-8	6-15	4-6	L5

[Mass Haas]

PDF Document:

 

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

PDF Document:

 

Huntsville Media Notes

 

Tough starter facing the Stars -- let's go, Mark!

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Suns win fight-marred game against Huntsville

By Jeff Elliott, Jacksonville.com

 

Baseball players can rarely be accused of having short memories. And that's what may have prompted a bench-clearing brawl Thursday night between the visiting Huntsville Stars and Jacksonville Suns and resulted in the ejection of a Suns pitcher at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

 

The exchange between the teams overshadowed the game that the Suns (56-41 overall, 16-11 in the second half) won in 12 innings when pinch hitter Elih Villanueva drew a bases-loaded walk to force home a run and give the Suns a 6-5 win in front of 7,193. But there was more to this game that the two teams will remember the remainder of the series.

 

The sixth-inning skirmish started when Suns relief pitcher Dan Jennings' first pitch to Huntsville starting pitcher Michael Bowman sailed behind him. That prompted an immediate ejection of Jennings by home plate umpire Tripp Gibson.

 

Jennings had words with Gibson before Suns manager Tim Leiper intervened.

 

While Leiper and Gibson were talking, Suns starting pitcher Jeff Allison, who was in the Suns dugout, exchanged words with Bowman. Allison took several steps out of the dugout, which prompted players from both benches and bullpens to converge at home plate.

 

A few minutes later when it appeared that the situation was under control, there was a more heated exchange of words and several players had to be restrained.

 

The skirmish likely dated back to Huntsville's last appearance in Jacksonville on June 27.

 

In that game, Bowman was the Stars' starting pitcher and in a rain-shortened six-inning game, he hit two Suns players, Matt Dominguez and Jason Delaney.

Here's Chad Anderson's call of the action and the aftermath -- nice job by Chad, fills over seven minutes of audio as the sole man in the booth in fine detail.

[battlekow]

Rattler Radio:

 

Game notes

 

Game two pitcher

[Mass Haas]

Courtesy of Tropical Depression Bonnie -- all things considered, Brevard has had uneventful weather this season thus far:

 

The Fort Myers Miracle announced that today’s (Friday, July 23) game against the Brevard County Manatees has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game has been rescheduled and will be played tomorrow (Saturday, July 24) at 5:05 PM (4:05 Central) as part of a doubleheader (both games will be seven-innings in length).

[trwi7]

Gamel is a triple away from the cycle and is guaranteed at least one more at bat and Isotopes Park is a great place for triples.

[tyguy20204]

Gamel also committed an error.

 

Taylor Green with three doubles on the night, he's on fire right now.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Completion of Suspended Game: Wisconsin 3, @West Michigan (Tigers) 2

Rattlers top Whitecaps

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers held on for a 3-2 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps Friday night in the conclusion of a suspended game from Thursday at Fifth Third Ballpark. Santo Manzanillo got out of a pair of jams and Chris Dennis hit a big home run to lead the Rattlers to their third straight win.

 

The Rattlers (39-55 overall, 13-13 second half) led 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning on Thursday and starting pitcher Del Howell was cruising through the West Michigan lineup. However, as threatening weather loomed Howell gave up a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The game was halted by lightning and rain after Howell threw a ball to Luis Alberto Sanz.

 

When the game was picked up again on Friday night, Manzanillo replaced Howell, but threw three straight balls to Sanz and fell behind 3-0. After a strike, Sanz lined the next pitch off Manzanillo and the ball deflected to Joey Paciorek at third. Paciorek threw to the plate and got the force play. Jamie Johnson got a run home with a sacrifice fly, but Manzanillo got the final out to keep Wisconsin in front.

 

Dennis launched a long solo home run to right-center with one out in the top of the sixth inning to put the Rattlers back up by a pair of runs. The long ball was his twelfth of the season.

 

But Manzanillo got into a jam of his own making in the bottom of the sixth. Wade Gaynor doubled with one out. Tony Plagman followed with a single. Then, Avisail Garcia singled in Gaynor to make the score 3-2. Michael Rockett singled for a fourth straight hit off Manzanillo and the Whitecaps (33-62, 7-19) loaded the bases with one out. Then Manzanillo did another escape act as he got the next two hitters on infield popouts to keep the Rattlers in front.

 

In the bottom of the ninth, closer Jon Pokorny struck out the first two batters, but walked Johnson to put the tying run on base. Pokorny appeared to have retired Hernan Perez on a fly ball to center for the final out, but he had been called for a balk to move Johnson into scoring position. Pokorny shook off the misstep and struck out Perez to nail down his ninth save.

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Congrats to all involved here, as the Rattlers played clean defense as well to secure the tight win; Santo Manzanillo, still just 21 years old despite having five years in the system, came up big for the victory -- he did not walk a batter in his 3.1 innings; all three outs recorded by LHP Jon Pokorny for the save were swinging strikeouts; Hunter Morris was uncharacteristically on the move in the early innings last night, successful on two stolen base attempts, although he was thrown out at home after a subsequent Chris Dennis single in the 3rd; Joey Paciorek was 3-for-4 and had his running shoes on as well; Kentrail Davis walked three more times -- OBP is a sick .464 in 24 Rattler games; Cameron Garfield singled twice and walked; 38 of Dennis' 82 hits have been for extra bases; the Rattlers were never retired 1-2-3 but stranded 11, so the pitching had to be clutch, and was...

 

Wisconsin Game Log

Venezuelan brothers, born 3 1/2 years apart (recent article), made up the Whitecaps' battery, which is why you see this extended text in the box score:

 

BASERUNNING

SB: Paciorek 2 (3, 2nd base off Sanz, Luis Angel/Sanz, Luis Alberto, 2nd base off Sanz, Luis Angel/Sanz, Luis Alberto), Morris 2 (3, 2nd base off Sanz, Luis Angel/Sanz, Luis Alberto, 2nd base off Sanz, Luis Angel/Sanz, Luis Alberto).

CS: Gennett (4, 2nd base by Sanz, Luis Angel/Sanz, Luis Alberto).

[trwi7]

No cycle for Gamel, he did hit another homer though. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[battlekow]

Final: Huntsville 3, @Jacksonville 2

 

Stars edge Suns to break four-game skid

Aaron Morse/Huntsville Stars

Chris Nowak singled home Drew Anderson in the eighth and Taylor Green tied a club record for doubles in a game with three as the Huntsville Stars (14-14, 47-51) snuck past the Jacksonville Suns (16-12, 56-42) by a final score of 3-2 Friday night.

 

Each team put up two runs in the second inning. With one away, back-to-back doubles from Green and Lee Haydel (audio) gave Huntsville a 1-0 edge. Then with two away, Stars’ starter Mark Rogers helped out his own cause with a double of his own to drive in Haydel and give the Stars a 2-0 lead (audio).

 

But the advantage would be short-lived as the Suns came back in their half of the frame. Former Star Vinny Rottino singled to lead things off. He stole second base and Lee Mitchell drew a walk. One out later Ryan Curry doubled home Rottino, putting runners at second and third with one out (audio). John Otness grounded out, driving in the tying run in the process (audio). Rogers walked another batter but was able to get out of the inning with no further damage when he got the next batter to ground back to the mound.

 

It was another shaky night for Rogers, who is always tough to hit, but continues to have control issues. He went 4.2 innings, giving up two runs on only two hits, but he walked five and struck out four. It took him 88 pitches to get through his night and he was replaced after he walked Rottino with two outs in the fifth inning. Lucas Luetge entered and walked the first man he faced but was able to get out of the inning unscathed.

 

Unlike in previous games, the battle of the bullpens went the Stars’ way. Suns’ starter Tom Koehler tossed six innings, giving up two runs on six hits. He walked two and struck-out six.

 

Dan Jennings (4-2), fresh off his ejection the previous night, entered in the seventh and threw a shutout inning before the Stars got to him in the eighth. With one away Anderson drilled the Stars’ sixth double of the night. Nowak followed with a jam-shot single that scored Anderson, putting the Stars ahead 3-2 (audio).

 

Green etched his name in the Stars’ record book with his third double of the night, tied for the most in a single game by a Star, but he was left stranded. He’s the first Star to tally three doubles in one game since Corey Hart did it in 2003.

 

Andre Lamontagne (2-0) picked up where Luetge, who went an inning and a third of scoreless ball left off. The big right-hander bounced back from his rough outing the other day to go two scoreless innings and pick up his second win of the season for the Stars.

 

Robert Hinton, recently reassigned to Huntsville from Nashville, pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season (final out).

 

Green and Nowak tallied multi-hit games and of the Stars’ nine hits, seven of them were doubles.

 

With the victory, the Stars remain two games back of Tennessee for first place in the Southern League north division. They send their ace, Amaury Rivas, to the mound Saturday night as they look to take a two games to one lead in their five game set with Jacksonville. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. central time and all the action can be heard on the Stars Radio Network.

 

Huntsville box score

I know a certain Brewerfan staff member who will be very pleased to note Green's three doubles. Green was also hit by a pitch to complete a perfect night at the plate. Caleb Gindl was 0-4 with a walk, and Brett Lawrie was 1-4 with a sac bunt (?). It's pretty frustrating to watch Rogers' continued struggles with his control; in those 88 pitches, he threw only 44 strikes, and he also hit a batter. But hey, at least he's healthy and pitching. Nice to see Hinton pad that gaudy AA strikeout rate. Also nice to see Vinny Rottino have a nice game, even at the Stars' expense: 1-2 with two walks and two steals.

 

Huntsville play-by-play

Interesting decision by Lawrie (unless it was called, but I doubt it) to bunt here with the team needing an insurance run:

 

Huntsville Top 9th

• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Anderson Machado replaces Andre Lamontagne.
  
• Anderson Machado walks.
  
• Brett Lawrie out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Jose Ceda to second baseman Ryan Curry. Anderson Machado to 2nd.
  
• Caleb Gindl strikes out on foul tip.
  
• Zelous Wheeler walks.
  
• Drew T. Anderson flies out to center fielder Jeff Corsaletti.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Regularly Scheduled Game: @West Michigan (Tigers) 14, Wisconsin 8, seven innings

 

BIG WEST MICHIGAN INNING PLAGUES RATTLERS By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps jumped out to a big lead thanks to a seven-run third inning and ran off to a 14-8 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the regularly scheduled game at Fifth Third Field on Friday night. Tony Plagman went 3-for-3 with a homer, four runs, and four RBI to lead the way for West Michigan.

 

The Whitecaps (34-63 overall, 8-19 second half) scored a pair of runs in the second inning. Avisail Garcia doubled in the first run. A two-out wild pitch by Damon Krestalude allowed the second run to score.

 

West Michigan took control of the game in the bottom of the third. The first nine batters of the inning reached base. There were five hits, three walks, and a fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt attempt that did not retire anyone. The Whitecaps scored seven runs against a pair of Wisconsin pitchers to go up 9-0.

 

Krestalude gave up a walk and a single to start the inning. Then, Corey Jones tried to bunt both runners up a base. Instead, the throw to third was late and the bases were loaded. Wade Gaynor singled in a pair of runs and the Whitecaps were off to the races.

 

Another walk reloaded the bases for West Michigan. Then, Krestalude gave up another two-run single, this one to Garcia. One more walk reloaded the bases and knocked Krestalude out of the game.

 

Adrian Rosario relieved Krestalude and gave up consecutive RBI singles to Alexis Espinoza and Jimmy Gulliver. The final run of the inning scored on the first out of the inning. Jamie Johnson's sacrifice fly made the score 9-0.

 

The Rattlers (39-56, 13-14) got a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. Kentrail Davis doubled in the first run. He scored on a Khris Davis sacrifice fly.

 

But, the Whitecaps were not done. They added a pair of runs in the fourth on an RBI single by Plagman and a Timber Rattlers error. In the fifth, Plagman struck again. His long, three-run homer to right-center put West Michigan up 14-2.

 

Wisconsin plated four runs in the top of the sixth inning. An RBI single by Joey Paciorek got the first run home. Austin Stockfisch followed with a bases loaded double to the right field corner to unload the bases and make the score 14-6.

 

Cutter Dykstra's two-run single in the top of the seventh accounted for the final runs of the game.

 

The Timber Rattlers continue their road trip by starting a three-game series at South Bend against the Silver Hawks. Hiram Burgos (1-5, 5.40) makes his first start of the season for Wisconsin after returning to the team from the Pioneer League earlier this week. South Bend has Adam Worthington (3-1, 1.17) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 4:30 PM CDT. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280 WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame show at 4:10 PM.

 

Wisconsin Game Two Box Score

Just turned 21-year-old RHP Damon Krestalude has definitely had rough outings as of late and a good April is a very distant memory (May 19th -- 2 IP, 6 ER, July 5th -- 2.1 IP, 5 ER, tonight, July 23rd -- 2 IP, 9 ER); looks like manager Jeff Isom made the right choice of relievers on the night in terms of the tight game and the blowout game-- RHP Santo Manzanillo did a nice job picking up the club to begin the suspended game, and RHP Adrian Rosario allowed all three Krestalude runners he inherited to score. If those two had been reversed, it may have been a double loss for the Rattlers on the evening; unfortunately, it's at the point where 24-year-old LHP Andy Sauter and his 12.00 ERA can't even provide quality mop-up innings...

 

Cutter Dykstra reached another three times, with his two-out, two-run single, a walk, and an HBP -- all as the designated hitter as Chris Dennis sat; Khris Davis walked twice and had a sacrifice fly...

 

Wisconsin Game Two Game Log

Over 6,700 on hand loved this --

 

West Michigan Bottom 3rd

• Jamie Johnson walks.
  
• Jeff Rowland singles on a fly ball to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Jamie Johnson to 2nd.
  
• Corey Jones hits a sacrifice bunt. Jamie Johnson to 3rd. Jeff Rowland to 2nd. Corey Jones to 1st.
  
• Wade Gaynor singles on a ground ball to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Jamie Johnson scores. Jeff Rowland scores. Corey Jones to 2nd.
  
• Tony Plagman walks. Corey Jones to 3rd. Wade Gaynor to 2nd.
  
• Avisail Garcia singles on a ground ball to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Corey Jones scores. Wade Gaynor scores. Tony Plagman to 2nd.
  
• Robert Brantly walks. Tony Plagman to 3rd. Avisail Garcia to 2nd.
  
• Pitcher Change: Adrian Rosario replaces Damon Krestalude.
  
• Alexis Espinoza singles on a ground ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Tony Plagman scores. Avisail Garcia to 3rd. Robert Brantly to 2nd.
  
• Jimmy Gulliver singles on a ground ball to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Avisail Garcia scores. Robert Brantly to 3rd. Alexis Espinoza to 2nd.
  
• Jamie Johnson out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Robert Brantly scores.
  
• Jeff Rowland grounds into a force out, first baseman Hunter Morris to shortstop Michael Marseco. Alexis Espinoza to 3rd. Jimmy Gulliver out at 2nd. Jeff Rowland to 1st.
  
• Corey Jones flies out to left fielder Khristopher Davis.

[battlekow]

Final: Nashville 11, @Albuquerque 8

Gamel powers Sounds past Isotopes, 11-8

Nashville Sounds

 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Third baseman Mat Gamel belted a pair of homers and drove in four runs to lead the Nashville Sounds to an 11-8 victory in a slugfest against Albuquerque on Friday evening at Isotopes Park in the opener of a four-game series.

 

The win was the second in a row against the Isotopes for Nashville (53-46). The Sounds went an efficient 7-for-9 with runners in scoring position in the contest.

 

Gamel paced a 14-hit Sounds attack with his 4-for-5 evening that including four RBIs, four runs scored, and his sixth and seventh roundtrippers of the season.

 

Left-hander Sam Narron (6-3) picked up a victory in his fifth straight start for Nashville, the longest win streak by a Sounds hurler this season. The 6-foot-7 southpaw allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits over 5 2/3 frames in the hitter-friendly environment.

 

The teams exchanged two-run frames in the first inning before the Sounds erupted for a six-run rally in the top of the fourth to take an 8-2 lead.

 

Luis Cruz led off the Nashville fourth with a single and moved to third on Ray Olmedo's double to center off Albuquerque starter Jesus Castillo. Catcher Ben Johnson followed with a go-ahead RBI single and Narron added a sacrifice fly. Later in the frame, Norris Hopper lined a run-scoring single to center to give the Sounds a 5-2 lead and chase Castillo from the contest.

 

Gamel greeted Isotopes reliever Jesus Rodriguez by belting his sixth home run of the season, a three-run shot to left that made it an 8-2 contest.

 

After Ivan DeJesus Jr. plated a run for the Isotopes with a two-out single off Narron in the fifth, the Sounds' Brendan Katin matched with a two-out RBI knock of his own in the top of the sixth to extend the Nashville lead to 9-3.

 

Albuquerque chased Narron from the contest with a five-run rally in the home half of the sixth that pulled the Isotopes within a run at 9-8. Catcher A.J. Ellis plated two of the runs with a triple in the frame.

 

The Sounds answered with a run of their own in the top of the seventh when Olmedo and Johnson ripped back-to-back doubles off Isotopes reliever Ramon Troncoso to increase their cushion to 10-8.

 

Gamel struck again in the eighth, swatting a one-out solo homer to left off Jon Link, to make it an 11-8 contest.

 

In his third rehab appearance for the Sounds, reliever LaTroy Hawkins closed out the contest with a pair of scoreless innings to earn his first save of the year, marking back-to-back appearances for the veteran.

 

He retired the side in order in the bottom of the eighth on three consecutive groundouts, tossing just five pitches in the frame. In the ninth, the right-hander allowed a one-out single to Russ Mitchell (4-for-5) before inducing a game-ending double play grounder from John Lindsey [listen to the double play here].

 

In his three PCL outings, Hawkins has allowed two singles in 4 1/3 scoreless frames.

 

Castillo (1-4) absorbed the defeat for Albuquerque after surrendering seven runs on eight hits in just 3 1/3 innings.

 

The teams continue the series with another 8:05 p.m. CT contest on Saturday. Right-hander Josh Butler will make his first Triple-A appearance of the year when he starts for the Sounds. Albuquerque will counter with right-hander Seth Etherton (3-2, 4.55).

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2010/06/25/NnyAfjsS.jpg

Yes, Mat Gamel can still hit.

(Mike Strasinger/Nashville Sounds)

 

Nashville box score

Gamel's become a bit of a forgotten man, but this should jog everyone's memory. Way to go, Mat. Lorenzo Cain was 1-4 with a walk in his return to the Sounds' lineup after his Milwaukee (well, Atlanta/Pittsburgh) adventure. Talk about backing your way into a win, jeez--Narron owes some steaks after tonight.

 

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: Helena 13, @Ogden 4

Brewers slam Raptors

Brandon Hart/Ogden Raptors

 

During the recent winning streak, the Ogden Raptors have used big innings to get to the top of the Northern Division of the Pioneer League. Friday, the tables were turned as the Helena Brewers scored seven runs in the fourth inning, winning 13-4 at Lindquist Field.

 

Trailing 1-0 in the fourth, Robbie Garvey led off the inning with a double to right-center. Franklin Romero Jr. then hit his second home run of the year out to left to give the Brewers the lead. Next, Cody Hawn walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Three batters later, Mike Walker singled him home to left and moved to second on the throw to the plate. After John Dishon was hit by a pitch, Tony Pechek walked to load the bases. Carlos George then hit a grand slam out to left to give the Brewers a 7-1 advantage.

 

The Brewers hit two more homers in the game. Greg Hopkins in the fifth, added a solo shot for the Brewers, his third of the season. In the sixth, Tony Pechek hit a two-run homer, his first of the season.

 

Eric Marzec got the win for Helena with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless innings out of the bullpen. He struck out four and didn't walk a batter.

 

The Raptors will host the Brewers for the final game of a four-game series Saturday. Garrett Gould will start for Ogden against Evan Fredrickson. Game starts at 7:00.

 

Helena box score

Helena finally beats Ogden this year. Congrats to George on the slam and Pechek on his first professional circuit clout. Awesome relief work by Marzec, too; Jose Oviedo was the starter, but he allowed four runs in 4.2 innings. Romero's been hitting a ton in his stints at Helena this year, but his walk today was just his second in 86 PA, against 21 strikeouts. Dishon was somehow hit by three pitches (from three different pitchers) after being nailed just once coming into the game. He also doubled and has been a nice surprise as a toolsy outfielder who didn't get much playing time at LSU, though his strikeout rate is also high. Cody Hawn and Shea Vucinich were each 0-4 with a walk; Vucinich fanned thrice for the second time in three games.

 

Helena play-by-play

There might have been some tension created by the hit batters. Dishon was hit in the 4th and 6th, and after Marzec hit a batter in the 7th, again in the 9th, after which the Ogden pitcher was ejected.

[Mass Haas]

Calling out the opposing manager, not cool...

 

***

 

Linkwhile active, text follows:

 

Tense atmosphere as Stars edge Suns 3-2

By Jeff Elliott, Jacksonville.com

 

One night after both dugouts stormed the field and Suns pitcher Dan Jennings was ejected, there were no incidents in Friday's game between the Huntsville Stars and the Jacksonville Suns.

 

But the tense atmosphere was raised to another level after the Stars' 3-2 win when Suns manager Tim Leiper questioned whether Huntsville skipper Mike Guerrero has control of his team.

 

The two teams have played a number of close games this season. For the sixth time in the last nine meetings, the margin of victory was one run.

That might help explain why there seems to be a growing feud between the two clubs.

 

On Thursday night, both dugouts emptied in the sixth inning when Suns reliever Jennings threw a pitch behind Huntsville's Michael Bowman. The Stars starting pitcher had hit a Suns batter an inning before after he had been hit by a pitch two innings earlier.

 

In Friday's game, three more batters were hit by pitches, including Suns first baseman Lee Mitchell, who was hit on his left elbow. Mitchell will have the swollen elbow examined today.

 

The repercussions from the Thursday night's game hit home for the Suns early Friday when Jennings was fined $100 and suspended three games by Southern League president Don Mincher.

 

Neither team had been warned about throwing at batters in that game, but home plate umpire Tripp Gibson ruled that Jennings intentionally threw at Bowman, resulting in the automatic fine and suspension.

 

"It's a little bit tough to swallow, but you basically just have to wear it for the team," Jennings said. "I don't even hit the guy, and no warnings are issued and the next thing you know it's a three-game suspension and a fine.

 

"Nobody likes to have a suspension, not to mention $100 out of your wallet. It's tough."

 

Leiper tried to downplay the five batters who were hit in the first two games of the series, but did question whether Guerrero has control of his team.

 

"It's a non-issue. I know I have control of my team," Leiper said. "They [the Stars] did some things earlier that. ... You've got to control your team, you've got to manage your players. And when you're irresponsible and you don't pay attention to the small stuff and you act like nothing's going on, then I think it's completely irresponsible.

 

"I know our guys in our [clubhouse] know what's going on. For them over there, I have no idea. Some of the things they do, it just makes me shake my head. But our job is to go play baseball and we're just going to go play."

 

Huntsville earned the win against the Suns on Friday with two eighth-inning doubles by Drew Anderson and Taylor Green.

 

The five-game series resumes tonight with Suns right-hander Jose Rosario (3-2, 3.88) facing Stars right-hander Amaury Rivas (8-5, 2.58).

 

Photo by JOHN PEMBERTON/The Times-Union

Huntsville shortstop Zelous Wheeler gets Jacksonville's Lee Mitchell out but can't make the double play on Friday night at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

http://jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/editorial/images/images/mdControlled/cms/2010/07/24/682046488.jpg

[battlekow]

Final: AZL Brewers 12, @AZL Dodgers 5

AZL Brewers box score

Well, I was definitely surprised to see Brooks Hall listed as tossing the first two innings when I loaded the box score, given that he pitched yesterday. Errors do happen, but this one--if it is an error--hasn't been fixed yet. Whoever it was struck out two, walked two, and allowed a hit in two scoreless innings before giving way to R.J. Johnson, making his second pro appearance. Johnson struggled, walking four and surrendering three runs in 1.2 innings. We had read that Johnson was also going to given 10-15 at-bats a week as a two-way player, but he hasn't taken a single swing yet. Travis Stortz struck out four in three scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win. John Bivens led the Baby Brewers with three hits, including a homer and a double, and a HBP. Jason Rogers and T.J. Mittelstaedt also homered, the first pro round-tripper for both--congratulations, guys. Rogers and Kenny Allison were both 2-5 with a walk, Demetrius McKelvie was 2-4 with a HBP, and Max Walla was 2-5 with a double, a sac fly, and yet another outfield assist. and . Something was in the air, because neither McKelvie nor Walla struck out. The Dodgers committed five errors and allowed the Brewers to steal six bases with only one caught stealing.

 

AZL Brewers play-by-play

Big six-run 4th:

 

AZL Brewers Top 4th

• Maxwell Walla doubles (7) on a line drive to center fielder James Baldwin.
• Justin Parker reaches on fielding error by third baseman Bladimir Franco. Maxwell Walla scores. Justin Parker to 2nd.
• Demetrius McKelvie singles on a line drive to right fielder Alexis Aguilar. Justin Parker to 3rd.
• Jhonatan Javier reaches on throwing error by pitcher Marlon Urriola. Justin Parker scores. Demetrius McKelvie to 3rd.
• With
  Thomas Mittelstaedt batting, Jhonatan Javier steals (3) 2nd base,
  Demetrius McKelvie scores. Jhonatan Javier to 3rd. Throwing error by
  catcher Tony Delmonico.
• Thomas Mittelstaedt walks.
• Pitcher Change: Roberto Feliciano replaces Marlon Urriola.
• Nick Shaw strikes out swinging.
• With
  John Bivens batting, Thomas Mittelstaedt steals (2) 2nd base, Jhonatan
  Javier scores. Throwing error by pitcher Roberto Feliciano.
• John Bivens hit by pitch.
• With Kenneth Allison batting, Thomas Mittelstaedt steals (3) 3rd base. John Bivens steals (1) 2nd base.
• Kenneth
  Allison singles on a ground ball to center fielder James Baldwin.
  Thomas Mittelstaedt scores. John Bivens to 3rd.
• Jason Rogers walks. Kenneth Allison to 2nd.
• Maxwell Walla out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder James Baldwin. John Bivens scores. Kenneth Allison to 3rd.
• Justin Parker grounds out, second baseman David Iden to first baseman Tae-Hyeok Nam.

[Mass Haas]

Audio highlights, including Mark Rogers' double, have been added to the Huntsville game recap above, since it was originally posted during the overnight.

[Mass Haas]

Well, I was definitely surprised to see Brooks Hall listed as tossing the first two innings when I loaded the box score, given that he pitched yesterday. Errors do happen, but this one--if it is an error--hasn't been fixed yet.

The Brewers never allow Arizona League pitchers to throw consecutive days, it seems, or not certainly multiple innings, even if it's just a combined 4.2 innings, so Brooks Halls' starting assignment seems really out-of-place in this box score.

 

It's still not adjusted -- it's just a thought, but 20-year-old RHP Blake Billings has made only one appearance for this club, a start on June 26th. Might one of these two Brooks Hall appearances have been Billings coming back from whatever injury he faced? Perhaps. We're not going to sweat over it at this point, just pointing out the oddity.

 

[pete]

I wonder how many of Gamel's throwing errors are the charging in and throwing off balance kind, how many are errant when he's set and how many are in the dirt and might be picked by a better 1st baseman.

[homer]

tyguy20204 wrote:

Taylor Green with three doubles on the night, he's on fire right now.

Agreed. His last ten games he's hitting .417/.465/.833 (1.298 OPS). His overall OPS is up to .821. It'd be really encouraging to see him get it in the mid or upper .800's by the end of the year.

 

 

[LouisEly]

Rumors of Gamel's demise have been greatly exagerated. A well balanced .847 OPS with a .379 OBP.

 

In the odd stat department, Michael Walker has a .413 OBP with only a .243 BA; what's odd is that the BA has come up significantly courtesy of 7 hits in his last four games, but for a while he had an OBP that was roughly .200 greater than his BA. I think his coaches told him, we know you can take walks, start swinging the bat - you'll need to show you have some power too to move up.

 

Rumors of Max Walla's demise may be greatly exaggerated too as he has a 8 game hitting streak and 9 hits in his last 5 games. Unfortunately no home runs in his last 8 games, and only 1 BB to 12 Ks. One step at a time...