Link Report for Sat. 7/31 -- Gamel starts in RF, homers; Lawrie has big night; Arnett roughed up

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Chase Wright at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 6:20 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Huntsville: RHP Andre Lamontagne at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 5:45 PM pre-game; 6:00 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Brevard County: RHP R.J. Seidel at home vs. Jupiter (Marlins), 6:05 gametime

Live Audio Link (Hammerheads' feed)

** It may be that the Jupiter feed is for their home games only -- if someone can test this tonight and let us know, thanks!

 

Wisconsin: RHP Eric Arnett at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime; RHP Hiram Burgos will also see action

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): at home vs. the not-so-artful Dodgers; 9:00 PM; never audio for games in this league

 

DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM; there's a good chance this will be a doubleheader, we'll keep you posted if so

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday's action as it happens:

Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Tab or New Window". Choose "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often.

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale)

 

DSL Brewers

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Iowa	59	47	.557	-	-	30-26	29-21	7-3	W1
	Memphis	58	49	.542	1.5	37	32-21	26-28	7-3	W2
	Nashville	56	50	.528	3.0	36	28-25	28-25	5-5	L3
	Omaha	56	51	.523	3.5	35	25-26	31-25	5-5	W3

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Tennessee	20	14	.588	-	-	12-7	8-7	8-2	W2
	Huntsville	18	16	.529	2.0	35	8-8	10-8	5-5	W1
	Carolina	17	17	.500	3.0	34	7-9	10-8	4-6	L1
	Chattanooga	15	18	.455	4.5	33	9-8	6-10	5-5	L2
	West Tenn	15	19	.441	5.0	32	8-7	7-12	7-3	L2

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Daytona	24	10	.706	-	-	12-4	12-6	10-0	W12
	Brevard County	22	12	.647	2.0	35	12-5	10-7	8-2	W7
	Tampa	20	12	.625	3.0	35	10-6	10-6	5-5	L1
*	Dunedin	15	19	.441	9.0	28	9-8	6-11	5-5	W1
	Lakeland	14	19	.424	9.5	28	11-8	3-11	6-4	W1
	Clearwater	14	21	.400	10.5	26	9-8	5-13	4-6	L1

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Quad Cities	20	11	.645	-	-	9-7	11-4	7-3	L2
*	Cedar Rapids	20	12	.625	0.5	-	9-5	11-7	8-2	L1
	Kane County	19	14	.576	2.0	37	12-3	7-11	4-6	W2
	Beloit	15	16	.484	5.0	33	8-7	7-9	7-3	L1
	Peoria	15	16	.484	5.0	35	10-7	5-9	6-4	W5
	Clinton	15	17	.469	5.5	34	10-8	5-9	2-8	W1
	Wisconsin	15	18	.455	6.0	33	9-6	6-12	5-5	L3
	Burlington	14	17	.452	6.0	33	11-6	3-11	3-7	W1

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Billings	0	0	-	-	-	0-0	0-0	0-0
*	Great Falls	0	0	-	-	-	0-0	0-0	0-0
	Helena	0	0	-	-	-	0-0	0-0	0-0
	Missoula	0	0	-	-	-	0-0	0-0	0-0

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Brewers	22	10	.688	-	-	7-5	6-5	6-4	W2
	AZL Indians	15	16	.484	6.5	19	5-5	7-3	5-5	W1
	AZL Dodgers	15	17	.469	7.0	18	5-6	5-5	4-6	L1
	AZL Reds	13	18	.419	8.5	17	4-4	4-7	5-5	L1

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Mariners	30	20	.600	-	-	17-7	13-13	7-3	L1
	DSL Cardinals	28	21	.571	1.5	22	21-4	7-17	5-5	W4
	DSL Athletics	22	28	.440	8.0	15	13-13	9-15	6-4	W1
	DSL Brewers	19	30	.388	10.5	13	12-12	7-18	2-8	L4

[DHonks]

Mass, just an FYI, but this has been a weird 2-3 weeks in Arizona with temperatures lately ONLY in the 90-degree range at gametime, but the humidity (due to monsoons) has been 45-55%. Normally the dry heat is really easy to play in compared to midwest muggy heat, but in this case it's been pretty disgusting. So if guys like Roberts come out early (like last night), it's probably due to the abnormally high humidity wearing them out.

[crewcrazy]

Mat Gamel is playing right field tonight. Interesting, to say the least.

[battlekow]

Nashville game notes

[dadofandrew]

Mat Gamel is playing right field tonight. Interesting, to say the least.

Hart is still unlikely to open next season in MIL, and Gamel has not impressed at 3B, with his defense or work ethic. I'm surprised it took this long. You also have to wonder if other teams may have prompted this, (Jack Z: How long before you make him an OF?).

[battlekow]

AZL Brewers postponed.

[And That]

Nashville third baseman Ray Olmedo committed an error in tonight's game. Maybe it's the position, not the player.

[Never Outhustled]

Mat Gamel is playing right field tonight. Interesting, to say the least.

Hart is still unlikely to open next season in MIL, and Gamel has not impressed at 3B, with his defense or work ethic. I'm surprised it took this long.

If he doesn't have the work ethic to get better at a position he played his whole life, how is he going to learn to play a position he never played before?

[ramssuperbowl99]

Matt Miller just threw 7 IP of shutout, 1 hit ball for Helena. His ERA to this point is a very pretty 2.5, and his control has been very good so far. He hasn't been striking out as many recently, however, and he gave up plenty of flyballs (8 I believe). What is the ceiling with this kid? I know he throws 92ish with some good life and he has a nice frame to work from, but do we think this is a guy who could advance through the system quickly?

[battlekow]

Final: Jupiter 3, @Brevard County 2

Hammerheads halt BC's win streak at 7

Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. -The Brevard County Manatees seven-game winning streak was snapped at the hands of the Jupiter Hammerheads 3-2 on Saturday night at Space Coast Stadium.

 

In a game that didn't have a single extra-base hit, the Manatees (49-55, 22-13) did record ten singles, but went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. The Hammerheads (34-68, 12-22) on the other hand had just three hits, but were able to produce runs by playing some small ball.

 

Jupiter scored twice in the second off of Manatees starter R.J. Seidel as Ernesto Manzanillo walked with one out and then stole second. Jake Smolinski also walked and then Thomas Hickman singled to right to score Manzanillo.

 

Daniel Pertusati then grounded into a fielder's choice that scored a run to give the Hammerheads a 2-0 lead.

 

The Manatees cut the lead in half in the third as Sergio Miranda singled with two outs to score Josh Prince.

 

The Hammerheads would score again in the fifth as Miguel Fermin led the inning off with a bunt single and then stole second and reached third on a wild pitch. He would then score on a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-1 Jupiter lead.

 

Brevard County's best chance to get back in the game was in the eighth as Sean Halton and Angel Salome led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Then Brock Kjeldgaard grounded into what seemed to be a routine 6-4-3 double play, but Pertusati's throw from first was in the dirt and bounced into the Manatees dugout as Halton scored to cut the lead to 3-2 and put Kjeldgaard at second.

 

The next batter was Scott Krieger and he ripped a pitch into the right center field gap, but Hickman was just able to cover enough ground to snag the ball and prevent Brevard County from tying the game. Shawn Zarraga struck out to end the inning.

 

Seidel was saddled with his first loss of the season as he went six innings and allowed three runs (all earned) on three hits and three walks, while striking out one. Trey Watten threw three innings of scoreless relief to keep the Manatees within striking distance.

 

Prince led the way out of the lead-off spot, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base. Miranda was the other Manatees with multiple hits, with two and he had the only Brevard County RBI.

 

Despite the loss, the Manatees completed their best month of the season by far by going 19-9 in July.

 

Brevard County and Jupiter will continue the series with a Sunday afternoon game at 1:05 p.m. at Space Coast Stadium. Darren Byrd (1-1, 4.35) will take the mound for the Manatees, while Joseph O'Gara (4-2, 3.12) will toe the rubber for the Hammerheads.

 

Brevard County box score

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted. Nice game from Prince, though he was also caught stealing once to go with his successful theft. Zarraga was 1-3 with the Manatees' only walk of the game, but he allowed four steals on defense without a single runner thrown out. Salome was pinch-run for again in the 8th. Erik Komatsu didn't start but pinch-hit in the 9th and flied out. Watten did his thing, getting seven ground outs against one air out in his three frames.

 

Brevard County play-by-play

Jupiter handed BC a gift rally-starter in the 2nd, but the Manatees couldn't do anything with it:

 

Brevard County Bottom 2nd

• Sean Halton reaches on fielding error by shortstop Ernesto Manzanillo.
• Angel Salome reaches on fielding error by third baseman Jake Smolinski. Sean Halton to 2nd.
• Brock Kjeldgaard strikes out swinging.
• Scott Krieger strikes out swinging.
• Shawn Zarraga grounds out, first baseman Ben Lasater to pitcher Brad Hand.

Prince's caught-stealing was huge:

 

Brevard County Bottom 9th

• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Erik Komatsu replaces Juan Sanchez.
• Erik Komatsu flies out to right fielder Thomas Hickman.
• Josh Prince singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jeremy Synan.
• With Matt Cline batting, Josh Prince caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Miguel Fermin to second baseman Daniel Pertusati.
• Matt Cline lines out to pitcher Ryan Tucker.

[battlekow]

Final: Clinton 10, @Wisconsin 0

Clinton shuts out the Rattlers

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers returned home after a long road trip to take on the Clinton LumberKings. But, it was the LumberKings who made themselves feel at home with a 10-0 victory at Time Warner Cable Field. Wisconsin has lost four straight games.

 

Clinton (53-49 overall, 16-17 second half) got out of the gate early by taking advantage of an error, a couple of walks, and a two-out hit. Rattlers starting pitcher Eric Arnett retired the first batter of the inning. James Jones was next and his grounder to second was booted for an error. Arnett walked the next two batters to load the bases, but was poised to get out of the inning after getting the second out on an foul pop. But, Mario Martinez lined a single back through the middle and two runs scored to give the LumberKings a 2-0 lead.

 

Mistakes with two outs got the Rattlers (41-61, 15-19) and Arnett in trouble in the top of the second inning. Clinton had a runner at third with two outs and Arnett uncorked a wild pitch that let the runner score. A walk was followed by an RBI triple from Nick Franklin. Then, Franklin scored on another wild pitch and the LumberKings were up 5-0.

 

Erasmo Ramirez scattered six hits, walked one, and struck out four over 6-2/3 innings to pick up his eighth win of the season for Clinton.

 

The LumberKings put the game away with a five run rally in the sixth inning. Matt Cerione started the inning with a homer off Arnett. Gabriel Noriega was next and he doubled to chase Arnett from the game. Tony Butler was welcomed back to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers with a single to right by Luis Nunez. Noriega scored on the play when the ball was misplayed in right.

 

Butler, who played for the Rattlers in 2007 when Wisconsin was an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, walked the next batter. He got the first out of the inning with a force out at second. That brought Blake Ochoa to the plate with runners at the corners.

 

Ochoa, who was briefly a teammate of Butler on the Timber Rattlers in 2007, smacked a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left for a three-run homer and a 10-0 lead for the current Midwest League affiliate of the Mariners.

 

A pair of Clinton pitchers tossed the final 2-1/3 innings to complete the shutout.

 

Scooter Gennett had three of Wisconsin’s seven hits.

 

The loss dropped the Rattlers to 20 games under .500 for the first time this season.

 

Game two of the series is Sunday afternoon at 1:05pm. Wisconsin has Nick Bucci (4-5, 3.73) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Taylor Lewis (3-1, 6.37) is set to start for the LumberKings.

 

Sunday is a Brewers presented by 107.5 The Fan and Timber Rattlers players will be wearing jerseys and caps based on those of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers. Plus, the first 500 fans into the stadium will receive a magnet from Lamers Bus Lines with a picture of former Timber Rattler David Ortiz. Fans may play catch on the field before the game and there is a scheduled post-game autograph session with the players for all fans. Additionally, Time Warner Cable subscribers may bring in their bill and receive up to four half priced reserve seat tickets.

 

If you can’t make it out to the ballpark, you may tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM. The Miller Lite Pregame Show starts at 12:45pm.

 

Wisconsin box score

Arnett's final line is ugly: 5 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 3 K, 1 HR, 2 WP, 89 pitches, 50 strikes. Mehring said, paraphrasing, that he seemed like the "old Eric Arnett" for the first time since his recall and that Arnett seemed pretty rattled on the mound at one point. On the bright side, Hiram Burgos tossed three shutout innings to finish the game, striking out five and walking two. Great game from Scooter, though he did commit an error. Hunter Morris was 1-3 with a walk, and Khris Davis was 0-3 with a HBP. Kentrail Davis was out of the lineup again while attending a family funeral; Chris said that he's expected back tomorrow.

 

Wisconsin play-by-play

[And That]

I'm intrigued by John Dishon - athletic, fast, probably some more power down the road, walks at a very good rate. OTOH, he strikes out more than a third of the time and hasn't played an inning of CF, even since Reggie Keen went down. Don't know what to think yet.

 

I've been impressed with Miller's command, too.

[battlekow]

Final: @Huntsville 5, Mississippi 0

 

Huntsville box score

In an interesting role reversal, Andre Lamontagne started and went five shutout innings, while Chris Cody came in and picked up the (four-inning) save. Both posted identical peripherals: three strikeouts, one walk, two hits, though Lamontagne also hit a batter. Very impressive first start of the year for the big righty out of Oral Roberts. He also took his first career plate appearances, striking out both times--did you know that he's a switch hitter? Brett Lawrie had a great night, 2-2 with a homer, his first in July, two walks, and his 28th stolen base. All that damage came against right-handed pitching, all but one of the walks coming off of prospect Randall Delgado. The Stars touched up Delgado for four runs in four innings, the second time in four games they've beat up on a top Braves pitching prospect. Taylor Green (3-4, double) and Zelous Wheeler (1-2, two walks) also had fine evenings. Caleb Gindl was 1-4 and stole a base.

 

Huntsville play-by-play

In uncharted territory pitch count-wise, Lamontagne faltered a bit to begin the 5th, but rallied nicely with the bottom of the order coming up:

 

Mississippi Top 5th

• Donell Linares hit by pitch.
• Orlando Mercado singles on a pop up to second baseman Brett Lawrie. Donell Linares to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Yasser
  Gomez grounds into double play, second baseman Brett Lawrie to first
  baseman Chris Nowak. Donell Linares to 3rd. Orlando Mercado out at
  2nd.
• Randall Delgado strikes out swinging.

Cody got right into the action in the 6th:

 

Huntsville Bottom 6th

• Taylor Green singles on a line drive to center fielder Antoan Richardson.
• Lee Haydel flies out to left fielder Yasser Gomez.
• Anderson De La Rosa flies out to center fielder Antoan Richardson.
• With Chris Cody batting, passed ball by Orlando Mercado, Taylor Green to 2nd.
• Chris
  Cody singles on a fly ball to center fielder Antoan Richardson.
  Taylor Green scores. Chris Cody out at 2nd on the throw, center fielder
  Antoan Richardson to catcher Orlando Mercado to second baseman Eric
  Duncan to first baseman Mauro Gomez.

[battlekow]

Final: Round Rock 7, @Nashville 4

Express plate three in 9th to take opener

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Round Rock Express scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to hang a 7-4 defeat on the Nashville Sounds in front of 6,901 fans on Saturday evening at historic Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

 

The loss was the fourth in a row for Nashville (56-51), which fell four games behind division-leading Iowa in the PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

After the Sounds came up empty after having the bases loaded and none out in the bottom of the eighth, Round Rock put up a three-spot against Nashville reliever Mike McClendon (4-3) in the ninth. The right-hander had allowed only two runs in 33.0 relief innings all season entering the contest.

 

Express catcher Edwin Bellorin turned in an outstanding at-bat to lead off the ninth against McClendon, fouling off 14 balls after he had two strikes on him before slapping an opposite-field double to right. Pinch-hitter Collin DeLome then ripped the first pitch he saw from the right-hander over the head of Mat Gamel in right field for an RBI double to give the visitors a 5-4 lead.

 

Shelton lifted a sacrifice fly and Locke added a two-out bloop RBI single later in the frame in increase the Round Rock cushion to 7-4.

 

Right-hander Tim Corcoran worked around a one-out Ray Olmedo triple in the bottom of the ninth to toss a scoreless frame and notch his eighth save of the year.

 

The late Express rally made a winner out of Gary Majewski (4-3), who had successfully worked into and out of the bases-loaded jam in the eighth in his lone frame of action.

 

Nashville second baseman Eric Farris went 0-for-4 in the contest to snap the Sounds' hitting streak of the season at 14 games.

 

Sounds starting pitcher Chase Wright helped his own cause in the third, driving a one-out RBI single up the middle off Express starter Josh Banks to give Nashville a 1-0 lead. Catcher Martin Maldonado, who preceded the hurler with a ground-rule double to center, scored on the knock.

 

Wright is hitting a healthy .333 (8-for-24) this season, while Maldonado has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 contests for the Sounds.

 

Right fielder Gamel doubled the Sounds' advantage an inning later, swatting a leadoff homer to right off Banks. The blast, which made it a 2-0 game, was his eighth longball of the year.

 

Round Rock finally got on the board in the top of the sixth, taking a 4-2 lead with a four-run rally. With one out, Wladimir Sutil, Brian Bogusevic, and Chris Shelton put together three consecutive singles, the last of which plated Sutil to cut the Nashville lead to 2-1 and chased Wright from the contest.

 

Right-hander Carlos Villanueva took over for Wright, making his first minor league appearance since 2007, and served up a go-ahead three-run homer to the first batter he faced. Express right fielder Drew Locke belted the blast to left on a 2-2 pitch, his 12th roundtripper of the year.

 

Sounds left fielder Adam Stern (2-for-4) evened the score at 4-4 in the home half of the sixth when he lined a two-run homer to right off Banks, his fourth tater of the season. Lorenzo Cain opened the frame with a single and scored on the blast.

 

The game was delayed for 62 minutes in the middle of the eighth inning due to rain.

 

As the game resumed, Nashville missed a golden opportunity to break the tie.

 

Pinch-hitter Norris Hopper singled to right off Majewski to open the bottom of the eighth and advanced to second when Locke misplayed the ball. Cain drew a walk and Stern blooped a single just over the outstretched glove of Sutil in shallow center to load the bases with none out.

 

Majewski recovered to strike out Gamel and Joe Koshansky consecutively before Luis Cruz grounded out to short to end the inning.

 

Neither starter factored in the decision. Wright took a no-decision for the Sounds after being charged with three runs on four hits over 5 1/3 innings, walking two batters and striking out five. Banks allowed four runs on seven hits, including a pair of homers, over his six frames of work.

 

The series continues with another 6:35 p.m. meeting on Sunday night. Right-hander Marty McLeary (5-6, 7.34), who has won five of his seven starts for the Sounds this season, will man the bump for Nashville to face Round Rock southpaw Andy Van Hekken (6-6, 4.31).

 

Nashville box score

So...right fielder Mat Gamel? Glad to see him slugging like a corner outfielder. Cain finished 2-3 with a walk. How about that Bellorin at-bat? The recap says he fouled off 14 balls, but Gameday says 10; either way, impressive. Villanueva went 1.2 innings, allowing the homer and another hit, no walks, and striking out one. He threw 18 of his 23 pitches for strikes.

 

Nashville play-by-play

Here's Villanueva's outing:

 

Round Rock Top 6th

• Jack Shuck strikes out swinging.
• Wladimir Sutil singles on a ground ball to center fielder Lorenzo Cain.
• Brian Bogusevic singles on a line drive to left fielder Adam Stern. Wladimir Sutil to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Chris Shelton singles on a ground ball to center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Wladimir Sutil scores. Brian Bogusevic to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: Carlos Villanueva replaces Chase Wright, batting 9th.
• Andrew Locke homers (12) on a line drive to left field. Brian Bogusevic scores. Chris Shelton scores.
• Oswaldo Navarro strikes out swinging, catcher Martin Maldonado to first baseman Joe Koshansky.
• Edwin Maysonet reaches on fielding error by third baseman Ray Olmedo.
• Edwin Bellorin singles on a line drive to center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Edwin Maysonet to 2nd.
• Josh Banks grounds into a force out, second baseman Eric Farris to shortstop Luis Cruz. Edwin Bellorin out at 2nd.

Round Rock Top 7th

• Jack Shuck flies out to left fielder Adam Stern.
• Wladimir Sutil lines out to left fielder Adam Stern.
• Brian Bogusevic grounds out, pitcher Carlos Villanueva to second baseman Eric Farris to first baseman Joe Koshansky.

[Mass Haas]

Mr. 333, Chase Wright, has his RBI single audio available at this link.

 

Also, LHP Chuck Lofgren's bullpen stay was brief, he'll slot into injured LHP Chris Waters' spot on Wednesday.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Helena 3, Billings (Reds) 2

 

Miller pitches a gem, Brewers win 3-2

By Brett Billings, Helena Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers opened the second half of the Pioneer League season with a 3-2 win over the Billings Mustangs. The big story of the night was the outing of Matt Miller. The fifth round pick out of the University of Michigan threw seven shutout innings of baseball and only allowed one hit.

 

Miller, who was used mostly as a midweek starter at Michigan, improved to 5-1 on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.51, which is good enough for fourth in the league. Hiram Burgos, who was promoted to Low A-Wisconsin two weeks ago, still ranks third with an ERA of 2.37.

 

Brent Dean accounted for the Brewers' first run of the game when he launched a home run over the left field fence, his first of the year. The call was originally ruled foul by home plate umpire Alex Ransom and overruled by first base umpire Mitch Quandt.

 

The Brewers scored two more in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. John Dishon tripled in Shea Vucinich, who singled earlier in the frame. Dishon later scored after a balk from Mustangs pitcher Stalin Gerson (2-2, 4.72).

 

Jimmy Nelson pitched the eighth and ninth to earn his first professional save. He allowed two unearned runs on three hits. He struck out two and walked one.

 

Helena will go for the series win Sunday afternoon at Kindrick Legion Field. The Mustangs are sending RHP Tyler Cline (1-1, 2.33) to the hill. The Brewers will start RHP Stosh Wawrzasek (0-3, 6.16).

 

***

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Miller shines in 2nd-half debut

By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record

 

Everything went the Helena Brewers' way Saturday as they kicked off the second half of the Pioneer League season with a win.

 

A phenomenal pitching performance by the Brewers’ fifth-round draft pick Matt Miller and a couple of controversial calls were the difference, as Helena edged the Billings Mustangs 3-2 in front of 506 fans at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

“We talked yesterday about starting everything over tommorrow so obviously today was a great way to start off,” said catcher Brent Dean, whose team improves to 20-19 overall, 1-0 to start the second half. “We had some weird weather too, so it was a little strange.”

 

A thunderstorm that ripped through Helena just hours before the game meant the teams were unable to get batting practice in. They’d combine for ten hits in the contest, but wouldn’t need much offense in what wound up being a pitcher’s duel.

 

Miller (5-1) got the start and didn’t give up a hit until the fifth inning, when third baseman Oliver Santos ripped a double down the right-field line. It was the only hit the 6-foot-6 right-hander would allow through seven innings, his longest outing of the season.

 

The brilliant effort was made even more special with Miller’s parents making the 1,600-mile trek from Zionsville, Ind., to see him throw for the first time as a professional.

 

“Today was a good game,” Miller said. “The defense obviously played a great game behind me, (Carlos) George made a couple of great plays behind me, and the outfield had a great game. Dean called a great game behind the plate. We just tried to pound the zone, and things went our way.”

 

Miller was efficient with his fastball and kept his throws low, pitching to contact for groundball outs. The 21-year-old out of the University of Michigan had just one strikeout in the contest, and did have a spell where he hit three batters. But after a quick chat with pitching coach Elvin Nina, Miller calmed down and set down the final seven he faced before being relieved by Jimmy Nelson, who got the save.

 

Helena struck first in interesting fashion, when a hard-hit shot by Dean cleared the left-field fence in the third inning. As Dean was already rounding second base, home plate umpire Alex Ransom said the ball fell foul. But after Brewers manager Joe Ayrault argued and Ransom consulted with base umpire Mitch Quandt, the call was reversed.

 

Dean said his first professional home run would be a memorable one.

 

“Honestly, I’ve never seen that happen before,” Dean said of the reversed call. “It was a good one. Joe went out there and fought for me on that one, I appreciate that.

 

“I thought he made the right call; it’s a tough one not having a third base umpire, but when I went back to catch the next inning, the umpire, Alex, said he didn’t even see it off the bat so he wasn’t sure where it was until after he saw it coming back down.”

 

The Brewers scored again in the fifth, when John Dishon’s RBI triple to the gap in right-center field scored Shea Vucinich all the way from first. In the next at-bat, Quandt called a balk on Billings starter Stalin Gerson, which brought home Helena’s final run to give the hosts a 3-0 lead.

 

“He was on the rubber, had the ball in his glove and then pulled the ball out of his glove,” Ayrault said. “It was definitely a balk.”

 

The Mustangs mounted a comeback in the final frames, when Billy Hamilton extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single, then stole second. The second baseman then came home on an errant throw by Dean.

 

Billings tacked on another run in the ninth on a wild play, when Helena shortstop Carlos George bobbled a ball hit by Santos, but was able to throw to Vucinich to tag out pinch runner Theo Bowe, who had overrun second.

 

“We got a fresh start,” Dean said. “Being 1-0, you can’t beat that right now.”

 

DIAMOND NOTES: Billings catcher Chris Berset caught for Helena ace Miller at Michigan. Miller said the two find it fun to play against one another now, and shared some words after Miller got out Berset in his first at-bat...Helena hitting coach Ned Yost IV’s father, Ned Yost III, signed a two-year contract extension with the Kansas City Royals earlier in the day...Dean has a remarkable .667 batting average against Billings.

 

Helena Box Score

Cody Hawn 0-for-4, four K's -- Hawn hit .262 in July with an .812 OPS; LF Robbie Garvey back in the starting lineup after exiting Friday's game mid-way -- he was caught rounding first base and then not getting back after a single in the 3rd; Carlos George is only 7-for-14 in SB attempts in 2010 -- in two prior seasons, 30-for-42; Matt Miller hit those three men within an eight-batter stretch in the 4th and 5th inings, worked around them all...

 

Helena Game Log

Wild way to end a one-run game --

 

Billings Top 9th

• Dominic D'Anna grounds out, third baseman Gregory Hopkins to first baseman Cody Hawn.
  
• Juan Duran flies out to center fielder Franklin Romero.
  
• Devin Lohman singles on a ground ball to center fielder Franklin Romero.
  
• Donald Lutz singles on a ground ball to right fielder John Dishon. Devin Lohman to 3rd.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Theo Bowe replaces Donald Lutz.
  
• Oliver Santos reaches on fielding error by shortstop Carlos George. Devin Lohman scores. Theo Bowe out at 2nd, second baseman Shea Vucinich.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: DSL Cardinals 14, @DSL Brewers 12, completion of suspended game

DSL Brewers Game One Box Score

Somehow this was the completion of an earlier suspended game, because they played a full nine innings; also starter Rolando Pascual just pitched two days ago, and recently suspended players are listed in the box score as starting the game -- via the game log, you can tell it was picked up after three innings, with the Brewers down, 6-0...

 

Pasqual was really roughed up, allowing six earned runs in his only inning, walking three, tossing two wild pitches, hitting two batters; the D-Crew fell behind 12-0 immediately in the 4th when two 18-year-old's, RHP Javier Belen and LHP Christopher Roman, combined to walk five in a six-run frame; LHP Jose A. Garcia missed most of the month of July -- he stranded three inherited runners in a one-out situation in the 6th, and then tossed an additional two scoreless...

 

The Brewers would score one in the 4th, then five more in the 5th to make it 12-6; it was 13-6 when the Brewers scored an additional six in the 6th to make it 13-12, yet after all that effort, the boys were shut out for the final three frames; when all was said and done, a few offensive lines stood out -- Yonki Hernandez's only hit was a 6th inning grand slam, his 2nd home run of the season, he walked his other three trips, batting average .216, OBP .392, Yonki being Yonki...

 

17-year-old infielder Jorge De La Cruz hit his first pro HR in a game where he reached base three times; DH Ronny Puello singled twice and walked; RF Jose Pena was 0-for-3 but walked three times, Juan Abreu was 2-for-5 and gets bonus points for moving from SS-to-CF-to-2B-back to SS in the contest...

 

DSL Brewers Game One Game Log

Team MVP Ruben Sanchez only appeared in this wild one in the 8th as a pinch-runner, with the team down by just one run -- it didn't go well:

 

DSL Brewers Bottom 8th

Joan Abreu grounds out, pitcher Hansel De Los Santos to first baseman Luis Perez.

Jose R. Garcia flies out to center fielder Victor Encanacion.

Andres Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Ruben Sanchez replaces Andres Martinez.

With Raul Mondesi Jr. batting, Ruben Sanchez picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, pitcher Hansel De Los Santos to first baseman Luis Perez to shortstop Daniel Barbuena.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Regularly Scheduled Game: @DSL Brewers 13, DSL Cardinals 2, seven innings as scheduled

 

DSL Brewers Game Two Box Score

It was a 1-1 game heading to the bottom of the 5th -- the DSL Cerveceros broke it open with four in the 5th and eight runs in the 6th; this was the 4th straight start of at least six innings by 18-year-old RHP Jeffrey Saba, who looks to have some polish to his game; Brewer batters drew five walks and were plunked four times; DH Orton Rodriguez and SS Juan Abreu each had three hits, Rodriguez doubled and the two combined for five RBI; RF Jose Garcia was 3-for-4 in SB attempts, now 12-for-16 on the season; the squad's best player, CF Ruben Sanchez, was hit by pitches twice, and the 2nd one may have been costly -- he immediately left the game in the 6th...

 

DSL Brewers Game Two Game Log

The four-run 5th --

 

DSL Brewers Bottom 5th

Juan De Leon strikes out swinging.

Julio Sotelo singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion.

Jorge De La Cruz singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Julio Sotelo to 3rd.

Joan Abreu singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Julio Sotelo scores. Jorge De La Cruz to 3rd.

With Ruben Sanchez batting, wild pitch by Anthony De La Cruz, Joan Abreu to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Stalyn Lopez replaces Anthony De La Cruz.

Ruben Sanchez reaches on fielding error by shortstop Robelys Reyes. Jorge De La Cruz scores. Joan Abreu scores. Ruben Sanchez to 2nd.

Orton Rodriguez doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Ruben Sanchez scores.

Ronny Puello reaches on a fielder's choice out, pitcher Stalyn Lopez to third baseman Daniel Barbuena. Orton Rodriguez out at 3rd.

Hitaniel Arias hit by pitch. Ronny Puello to 2nd.

Jose R. Garcia grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Daniel Barbuena. Ronny Puello out at 3rd.

The eight-run 6th:

 

DSL Brewers Bottom 6th

Juan De Leon grounds out, second baseman Jorge Lopez to first baseman Rafael Medina.

Julio Sotelo singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion.

Jorge De La Cruz walks. Julio Sotelo to 2nd.

Joan Abreu singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Julio Sotelo scores. Jorge De La Cruz to 2nd.

Ruben Sanchez hit by pitch. Jorge De La Cruz to 3rd. Joan Abreu to 2nd.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Jose Pena replaces Ruben Sanchez.

Orton Rodriguez singles on a ground ball to shortstop Robelys Reyes. Jorge De La Cruz scores. Joan Abreu to 3rd. Jose Pena to 2nd.

Ronny Puello walks. Joan Abreu scores. Jose Pena to 3rd. Orton Rodriguez to 2nd.

Hitaniel Arias doubles (9) on a fly ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Jose Pena scores. Orton Rodriguez scores. Ronny Puello scores.

With Raul Mondesi Jr. batting, wild pitch by Stalyn Lopez, Hitaniel Arias to 3rd.

Raul Mondesi Jr. walks.

Pitcher Change: Jean De La Cruz replaces Stalyn Lopez.

With Juan De Leon batting, Raul Mondesi Jr. steals (3) 2nd base.

Juan De Leon walks.

Julio Sotelo pops out to first baseman Rafael Medina on the infield fly rule.

Jorge De La Cruz walks. Hitaniel Arias scores. Raul Mondesi Jr. to 3rd. Juan De Leon to 2nd.

Joan Abreu singles on a ground ball to center fielder Victor Encanacion. Raul Mondesi Jr. scores. Juan De Leon to 3rd. Jorge De La Cruz to 2nd.

Jose Pena grounds out, third baseman Daniel Barbuena to first baseman Rafael Medina.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Lamontagne pitches Huntsville past Mississippi

Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times

 

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Andre Lamontagne has a name straight out of a French romance novel, the lean frame of a college shooting guard and pale blond looks denying a California upbringing.

 

He also has his first Southern League victory as a starting pitcher, after working exclusively as a reliever this season.

 

Lamontagne, pressed into service in the revolving door that is the Huntsville Stars' pitching rotation, pitched five innings of two-hit ball and combined with the recently stellar Chris Cody for a 5-0 win over the Mississippi Braves Saturday night.

 

The Stars' last meeting of the year with Atlanta's Class AA farm club comes today at 1 p.m., then Carolina arrives Monday for a five-game series. Huntsville has won three of four so far against Mississippi this series.

 

Lamontagne, who lives in the central California town of Santa Maria, pitched collegiately at Long Beach State, then finished his career at Oral Roberts. The Brewers tabbed him as an 11th-round draft pick in 2009 and it's been a meteoric climb through the system. After 13 games at rookie ball last year, he began this year at low-A Wisconsin Rapids, moved to Class A Brevard County and came to Huntsville on July 9.

 

Until Saturday night, he had made six relief appearances for the Stars, with a 2-0 record and one save.

 

Pitching coach John Curtis said he'll be a starter "for the time being," having replaced Michael Fiers, now on the disabled list, in the rotation.

 

"I kind of treated it like a long relief appearance," Lamontagne said, finding a quiet nook in the Stars' clubhouse away from the din of hip-hop blaring from the speakers. "I didn't stress about it too much. I've started before in the past, so I had an idea of what I needed to do."

 

Though he didn't allow a hit until two outs in the fourth, "You try not to get caught up that. You go out there and do your thing, pitch by pitch, inning by inning. Every time I come to an inning, I come in like it's zero-zero. And I try to put another zero up."

 

After he put up five of them, Cody followed with four more.

 

Cody, 5-7 on the season, is the most recent Southern League Pitcher of the Week, having struck out nine West Tenn Diamond Jaxx in 5 2/3 innings on July 17.

 

The nice little tidy bow he put on Lamontagne's win -- four innings of two-hit relief -- drops his July ERA to a waif-thin 1.12.

 

The duo benefited from a productive offense, with Taylor Green providing an RBI single and RBI double, and scoring himself on Cody's first hit of the season. Brett Lawrie chimed in with his seventh homer of the year.

 

After wrapping up the fifth inning, punctuating the night with a strikeout, Lamontagne was greeted in the dugout by Curtis, who had a simple message:

 

"Good job," he said. "Keep going out there putting up zeroes."

[Mass Haas]

Stars Shutout Opposition

Connor Shreve, Huntsville Stars

 

The Huntsville Stars guaranteed a series victory over Mississippi with a 5-0 victory Saturday night at "The Joe".

 

The Stars quickly gave starting pitcher Andre Lamontagne a cushion with two first inning runs. Brett Lawrie and Caleb Gindl both picked up hits to start the game. The two men at the top of the order also added a base to their resume by swiping a free bag on the same pitch. Lawrie scored on a deep sac fly by Chris Nowak, which may have easily sailed over the fence had it not been for near hurricane like winds with storms looming. The Stars' RBI leader, Taylor Green, brought home Gindl with a single before the inning came to a close.

 

Green continued his RBI tear in the third. A two-out double in the third baseman's next time up brought home Zelous Wheeler and added to Green's impressive night. The Stars' third baseman finished 3-4 with a run and two RBI. The 24-year-old Canadian national has now driven in 59 runs heading in to the final full month of the season, good for sixth in the league.

 

The hometown Stars scored more but the pitching staff didn't need any extra. Lamontagne and Chris Cody combined for a four-hit shutout. Lamontagne remains unbeaten with the Stars, moving to 3-0 while Cody seems to be embracing his new spot in the bullpen.

 

Cody started the sixth in his first appearance since being transferred to the pen on July 28 and threw four innings while notching his first save of the year. Each Huntsville hurler gave up two hits, walked one and struck out three M-Braves batters.

 

The Stars will play game five of the current ten game homestand Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM (CDT). A Huntsville win combined with a Tennessee loss in Kodak would bring the Stars to within one game of the first place Smokies.

 

The game can be heard live on www.huntsvillestars.com

[Mass Haas]

Economical Miller yields one hit

By Alex Raskin / Special to MLB.com

 

It took 4 1/2 hours and 15 innings for the Helena Brewers to beat the Great Falls Voyagers on Thursday night.

 

Helena won Saturday's game in less than half the time, thanks to Matt Miller's dominant performance.

 

The 2010 fifth-round pick allowed one hit -- a fifth-inning double by Oliver Santos -- over seven shutout frames as the Brewers edged the Billings Mustangs, 3-2, in 1 hour and 58 minutes.

 

"This is definitely a first for me, throwing 61 pitches in seven innings," Miller said. "It helps having [shortstop Carlos George] making a couple of nice plays and the outfield coming up with a couple of nice balls."

 

Nine of the 18 outs Miller recorded came on the ground, while seven were flyouts. He struck out one and walked one.

 

"I like to get a lot of ground balls, letting my defense work for me," he said. "I liked the way it worked out today. If it's a good game, I'm going to take it."

 

Miller retired nine of the first 10 batters before hitting Dayne Read in the fourth. He plunked two more Mustangs.

 

"On the first one, I tried to go up and in. I just went a little too far in, I got a little loose," the University of Michigan product said. "Then I came back and was able to get a ground ball after that."

 

Miller nearly paid for his control issues in the fifth, but his defense was able to keep Billings off the scoreboard. After the 21-year-old right-hander hit Devin Lohman to begin the inning, second baseman Shea Vucinich turned Donald Lutz's grounder into a double play. Santos doubled before Miller hit Chris Berset.

 

Fortunately for the Helena starter, Billy Hamilton grounded out to Vucinich to end the frame.

 

"My defense really stepped up for me when I needed them to," Miller said.

 

The Indiana native retired the final six batters he faced to improve to 5-1 with a 2.51 ERA. In addition to winning with grounders and popouts, Miller has the ability to miss bats. The 6-foot-6 righty has 31 strikeouts in eight starts and fanned eight over five innings in a June 29 win over the Mustangs.

 

"I go for the strikeout when I have the opportunity," he said.

 

Thanks to the rapidity with which he dismissed the Mustangs, Miller had more time to spend with his parents, who were visiting from Indiana.

 

"They had a couple of connections," he said. "It's a little tough getting out here."

 

Jimmy Nelson earned the save, despite allowing two runs (unearned) on three hits over two innings.

 

Although it was originally ruled foul, Brent Dean's third-inning homer gave Helena a 1-0 lead. John Dishon hit an RBI triple in the fifth and later scored on a balk by Stalin Gerson.

 

Matt Miller leads the Pioneer League in wins and is fourth in ERA. (Bill Mitchell/Four Seam Images)

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2010/08/01/fKOQhXuu.jpg

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

What a frustrating year it's been for Arnett. I wonder if the Brewers start him at Brevard County in 2011.