Link Report for Fri. 8/6 -- Another Walk-Off Win for the Stars

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Marty McLeary at Reno (Diamondbacks), 8:50 PM pre-game; 9:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Huntsville: RHP Wily Peralta at home vs. Carolina (Reds), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Brevard County: RHP Darren Byrd at Bradenton (Pirates), 6:00 gametime

Live Audio Link (Marauders' feed)

Wisconsin: LHP Del Howell at home vs. Peoria (Cubs), 6:45 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime; RHP Nick Bucci is scheduled to tandem

Live Audio Link

 

Helena: RHP Stosh Wawrzasek at Great Falls (White Sox), 7:45 PM pre-game; 8:00 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the not-so-giant Giants; 9:00 PM; never audio for games in this league

 

DSL Brewers: at the DSL Athletics, 9:30 AM; another doubleheader possibility...

[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
	Iowa	64	48	.571	-	-	32-26	32-22	7-3	W2
	Memphis	62	51	.549	2.5	30	34-23	28-28	6-4	W2
	Omaha	60	53	.531	4.5	28	27-26	33-27	7-3	W4
	Nashville	59	53	.527	5.0	28	31-26	28-27	4-6	L2

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Tennessee	24	16	.600	-	-	14-7	10-9	7-3	W2
	Huntsville	23	17	.575	1.0	30	13-9	10-8	7-3	W1
	Carolina	19	21	.475	5.0	26	8-10	11-11	3-7	L1
	West Tenn	18	22	.450	6.0	25	8-7	10-15	5-5	W3
	Chattanooga	17	22	.436	6.5	25	10-11	7-11	4-6	L3

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tampa	26	12	.684	-	-	12-6	14-6	8-2	W6
	Daytona	26	14	.650	1.0	31	14-6	12-8	6-4	L4
	Brevard County	24	16	.600	3.0	29	13-8	11-8	6-4	L1
*	Dunedin	18	21	.462	8.5	24	10-8	8-13	5-5	W1
	Lakeland	17	22	.436	9.5	23	11-8	6-14	5-5	L2
	Clearwater	17	24	.415	10.5	21	11-8	6-16	5-5	W2

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Quad Cities	23	14	.622	-	-	9-10	14-4	5-5	L3
	Kane County	23	16	.590	1.0	-	16-5	7-11	6-4	W1
*	Cedar Rapids	21	17	.553	2.5	31	9-8	12-9	4-6	L1
	Clinton	20	18	.526	3.5	30	10-8	10-10	6-4	W4
	Beloit	19	18	.514	4.0	28	12-9	7-9	7-3	W4
	Peoria	18	19	.486	5.0	29	10-7	8-12	7-3	W1
	Wisconsin	18	21	.462	6.0	27	12-9	6-12	4-6	L1
	Burlington	15	22	.405	8.0	25	11-6	4-16	2-8	L3

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Great Falls	4	2	.667	-	-	2-1	2-1	4-2	W2
	Billings	3	3	.500	1.0	32	2-1	1-2	3-3	L1
	Helena	3	3	.500	1.0	32	2-1	1-2	3-3	W1
	Missoula	2	4	.333	2.0	31	0-0	0-0	0-0	L2

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Brewers	24	12	.667	-	-	8-6	7-6	7-3	W2
	AZL Dodgers	18	18	.500	6.0	15	7-7	6-5	5-5	W1
	AZL Indians	18	18	.500	6.0	15	7-6	8-4	6-4	W2
	AZL Reds	17	19	.472	7.0	14	7-5	5-7	5-5	L1

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Mariners	33	22	.600	-	-	18-9	15-13	6-4	W2
	DSL Cardinals	31	23	.574	1.5	17	21-5	10-18	7-3	W1
	DSL Athletics	23	31	.426	9.5	9	13-15	10-16	4-6	L2
	DSL Brewers	22	33	.400	11.0	7	13-15	9-18	3-7	L1

[Mass Haas]

Chris Mehring posted several worthwhile video links on the Rattler Radio blog -- strongly suggest the Jeff Isom video, the July highlight countdown, the Miracle League video. Spiderman -- you decide.

 

Rather than link individually, simply scroll through the first page of the blog tonight. It's also where all the usual game notes will be posted just prior to game time.

 

Thank you, Chris, and the Rattlers' production staff!

[Mass Haas]

PDF document:

 

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

PDF document:

 

Huntsville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog:

 

Timber Rattlers outfielder Khris Davis will be away from the team for a few days to attend a funeral for his grandfather.

 

***

 

Our condolences to Khris and the Davis family.

[Tedaldtada]

We have good MiLB pitching. More good ones tonight.

[Mass Haas]

LHP Dan Merklinger, not Darren Byrd, is starting for the 'Tees tonight.

 

And yes, he's dealin' again, at least through three innings.

 

Maybe we should temper our enthusiasm just a bit, but it can not be stated enough that the player development staff has done a tremendous job in 2010 of placing pitchers in the roles apparently most suitable, and then having the hurlers make appreciable gains through whatever means available.

 

We can point to nearly all the top 30 pitching arms as being considered "successful" this season, with a minimum of injury time lost (notable exceptions Periard, Anundsen in an otherwise incredible season pitching health-wise overall).

 

What a difference June and July has made over April and May, and the direction is positive.

 

Nice job, everyone involved.

 

Surely we just jinxed this final month.

[DHonks]

Big Brock nearly cracking the .250 barrier. He's been pretty hot lately. He seems to always be a 2nd half player

[sfl2hnq17]

Wily haven't an off day it seems like today.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Bradenton (Pirates) 2, Brevard County 0

Pitch a two-hitter and lose two nights after Helena throws a one-hitter and falls...

 

Brevard County Box Score

Lefty Dan Merklinger was on cruise control until there were two out in the 6th, when one pitch got away, and then one pitch left the ballpark -

 

Bradenton Bottom 6th

• Shelby Ford strikes out swinging.
  
• Robbie Grossman grounds out, third baseman Sergio Miranda to first baseman Sean Halton.
  
• Starling Marte hit by pitch.
  
• Quincy Latimore homers (14) on a fly ball to left field. Starling Marte scores.
  
• Calvin Anderson strikes out swinging.

Merklinger walked only one and struck out six, although he hit CF Starling Marte twice with pitches. Merklinger left after the 6th, fellow southpaw Daniel Meadows retired all six men he faced to finish up.

 

Brevard could only muster six singles, each by a different Manatee, one walk, and hit into one GIDP. That adds up to seven men stranded and 0-for-5 with RISP. CF Erik Komatsu and SS Juan Sanchez the only two 'Tees not to reach, but that's faint praise to the others when it's a shutout; night off for Josh Prince and Angel Salome...

 

Brevard County Game Log

Not surprisingly, over in two hours, 11 minutes -- early East Coast start, no contest on which report was going to be filed first tonight...

 

The boys had three base hits in the 2nd but didn't score --

 

Brevard County Top 2nd

• Sean Halton singles on a line drive to right fielder Robbie Grossman.
  
• Sergio Miranda grounds into double play, second baseman Shelby Ford to shortstop Adenson Chourio to first baseman Calvin Anderson. Sean Halton out at 2nd.
  
• Brock Kjeldgaard singles on a fly ball to center fielder Starling Marte.
  
• Sean McCraw singles on a line drive to left fielder Quincy Latimore. Brock Kjeldgaard to 2nd.
  
• Scott Krieger flies out to right fielder Robbie Grossman.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: @DSL Athletics 4, DSL Brewers 3, seven innings as scheduled

 

DSL Brewers Game One Box Score

Oh, errors will kill a pitcher, and it's suicide when they're his own. Still just 18 years old until next month, the Brewers must have seen something from RHP Jeffrey Saba from the spring, because all ten of his appearances have been starts, and the rail-thin (6'2", 152 -- that'll change in time) Saba has shown quite a bit of polish, but some rough edges were exposed tonight in the form of two costly throwing errors on pickoff attempts and two wild pitches.. This was the 5th consecutive start Saba's gone at least six innings, and in a road team doubleheader game loss, he gets credit for a complete game here. Saba has walked 17 and struck out 35 in 52 innings with a decent GB ratio.

 

RF Raul Mondesi and 1B Hitaniel Arias (still a great first name for a ballplayer) smacked two doubles apiece; DH Ronny Puello, sandwiched between them in the 3-hole, had two singles, and four others had base knocks, including leadoff CF Dionis Hinojosa's first pro hit, a triple. Yet with all that, the Brewers drew no walks, and could only score single runs in the 1st, 6th, and final inning, the 7th.

 

DSL Brewers Game One Game Log

Must have been a nice throw from right field here --

 

DSL Brewers Top 4th

Hitaniel Arias doubles (11) on a line drive to left fielder Jose Sayegh.

Jose R. Garcia strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Andres Astacio. Hitaniel Arias to 3rd. Jose R. Garcia to 1st.

Deivi Mejia flies into double play, right fielder Luis Baez to catcher Reynaldo Mateo. Hitaniel Arias out at home on the throw.

Juan De Leon strikes out swinging.

Should have scored more than one run here --

 

DSL Brewers Top 6th

Raul MondesiJr. doubles (3) on a fly ball to center fielder Charli Blanco.

Ronny Puello singles on a fly ball to center fielder Charli Blanco. Raul MondesiJr. to 3rd.

Hitaniel Arias grounds into a force out, shortstop Wilfredo Solano to second baseman Franklin Contreras. Raul MondesiJr. scores. Ronny Puello out at 2nd. Hitaniel Arias to 1st.

Jose R. Garcia singles on a ground ball to right fielder Luis Baez. Hitaniel Arias to 2nd.

Deivi Mejia singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Jose Rosario. Hitaniel Arias to 3rd. Jose R. Garcia to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Victor Trinidad replaces Andres Astacio.

Juan De Leon flies out to center fielder Charli Blanco.

Andres Martinez strikes out swinging.

Close, but no cigar --

 

DSL Brewers Top 7th

Joan Abreu grounds out, pitcher Victor Trinidad to first baseman Jose Rosario.

Dionis Hinojosa triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Charli Blanco.

Raul MondesiJr. doubles (4) on a ground ball to right fielder Luis Baez. Dionis Hinojosa scores.

Ronny Puello strikes out swinging, catcher Reynaldo Mateo to first baseman Jose Rosario. Raul MondesiJr. to 3rd on the throw.

Hitaniel Arias grounds out, second baseman Franklin Contreras to first baseman Jose Rosario.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Huntsville 6, Carolina (Reds) 5

Anderson ties a record and Stars get another dramatic win

By Aaron Morse, Huntsville Stars

Drew Anderson tied the Stars’ franchise record with his 71st career double, Caleb Gindl smacked a walk-off double off the leg of the pitcher, and the Huntsville Stars (24-17, 57-54) stunned the Carolina Mudcats (19-22, 49-61) in come-from-behind fashion by a final score of 6-5 Friday night.

 

Carolina got on the board with a solo home run off the bat of Dave Sappelt in the first (audio). They’d tack on one more in the second thanks to a bases-loaded wild pitch uncorked by Stars’ starter Wily Peralta (audio).

 

Peralta ran up a high pitch count, going only 4.1 innings, giving up six hits and two runs, both earned. He walked two and struck-out two. Peralta threw 93 pitches, 53 of them for strikes.

 

Meanwhile Huntsville gave him the lead in the fourth. Tom Cochran retired the first nine batters he faced, but that changed big time the second time around the order. Gindl drew a lead-off walk and Brett Lawrie played some small ball, reaching on a bunt single. Andy Machado lined a single up the gut to load the bases for Anderson. The slugger crushed his 15th double of the year, clearing the bases and launching himself into the Stars’ record books. It was Anderson’s 71st career double as a Star, tying him with Jason Wood for the most doubles in franchise history (audio).

 

The 3-2 lead became a 4-2 lead when Lawrie doubled home Lee Haydel in the fifth (audio).

 

Nick Green got the Stars out of a big jam in the fifth and worked a scoreless sixth inning. But the right-hander ran into trouble in the seventh.

 

With one away he walked Mike Costanzo and Luis Terrero followed with a single to right. Normally a visit to the mound from pitching coach John Curtis does wonders, not this time as Devin Mesoraco launched a three-run bomb to propel the Mudcats ahead by a score of 5-4 (audio). That was it for Green as Jim Henderson entered and got the final two outs of the inning.

 

The Stars finally got some offense going against reliever Bradley Boxberger in the ninth inning. Chris Nowak led-off with a single to center. Taylor Green came back from an 0-2 count to draw an eight-pitch walk. Mike Guerrero instructed Patrick Arlis to bunt the runners over and he did exactly that.

 

Then the Mudcats took a risk by intentionally walking Haydel to get to the dangerous Zelous Wheeler. Wheeler was pinch hitting for pitcher Eddie Morlan and he looked a bit rusty as he struck-out, leaving it up to Gindl.

 

Caleb had not been having a good series, having gone 1-17 entering the AB. But the law of averages took over. Gindl lined a ball off the leg of Boxberger and the ball bounced into no-man’s land on the infield. Gindl improbably got a two-RBI double out of the play as Nowak and Green came around to score and the Stars walked off as winners again (audio).

 

Morlan’s (2-2) scoreless ninth inning was good enough for the Win and Boxberger (1-2) took the loss.

 

Lawrie, Machado, and Haydel all tallied multi-hit games for the Stars while Anderson and Gindl combined to drive in five of Huntsville’s six runs.

 

The Stars remain one game back of the division-leading Tennessee Smokies in the Southern League North. They take on Tennessee in a huge five game series beginning Saturday night at 5:15 PM central time. Tune in to the Stars Radio Network beginning at 5:00 PM for the Window World Pre-Game Report. Michael Bowman (8-8, 5.28 ERA) takes on Chris Carpenter (7-5, 3.21 ERA).

 

Huntsville Box Score

How 'bout 'dem Stars?! Just over 1,100 in attendance -- many area fans missed out on a heck of an exciting series, but good for those who showed up; that Tennessee series is on the road now; add two wild pitches and an HBP to RHP Wily Peralta's third AA start line, a bit uneven as indicated above; you know who is having a nice little season is Lee Haydel, who reached three times here -- the just-turned 23-year-old has his OBP at .341, not tremendous, but way up from previous seasons -- all the splits for the LH bat are remarkably consistent (stats), although only 17 of his 103 hits have gone for extra bases, and he's not seeing a lot of CF (although we shouldn't be upset that Caleb Gindl is getting plenty of action there); Taylor Green 0-for-2 but walked twice; Brett Lawrie 2-for-4 with both hits highlighted above...

 

Huntsville Game Log

Certainly a fun team fo follow both from a prospect and a won/loss point of view -- the boys must be having a blast at the moment...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Peoria (Cubs) 3, @Wisconsin 1

 

Twin killings stop Rattlers

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The double play was the best friend of the Peoria Chiefs on Friday night. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers hit into four double plays and the Chiefs held on for a 3-1 victory at Time Warner Cable Field. Jae-Hoon Ha's three-run homer gave the Chiefs all then offensive support they needed. The teams split the four game series.

 

Michael Marseco put the Rattlers (44-64 overall, 18-22 second half) in front with an RBI ground rule double in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 1-0.

 

Wisconsin had several opportunities in the game. Peoria pitchers walked six and hit one while allowing five hits. But double plays bailed them out almost every time.

 

In the second inning, Wisconsin loaded the bases with one out on a pair of singles and a hit batsman. But, Marcus Hatley got a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.

 

In the fourth, a one out walk by Nick Struck was erased on a 3-6-3 double play.

 

Perhaps the most frustrating double play of the night came in the fifth inning. Marseco had already driven in the run and the bases were loaded with one out. Scooter Gennett lined a ball that was ticketed for the right field corner. But, first baseman Justin Bour snagged the line drive and stepped on first for an unassisted double play.

 

The Chiefs (57-50, 19-19) went in front in the top of the sixth. There were two on with one out when Ha lined a three-run homer into the Peoria bullpen beyond the wall in left-center and Peoria took a 3-1 lead. Those were the only runs allowed by Rattlers starting pitcher Del Howell. But, the damage was done.

 

The bottom of the sixth inning saw another double play and controversy that led to an ejection. Hunter Morris drew a leadoff walk, but Struck got a 6-4-3 double play for two outs. Chris Dennis doubled to get into scoring position. Cutter Dykstra sent a grounder to third, but George Matheus throw to first was wild and Dennis attempted to score.

 

However, Dennis was out at the plate to end the inning. Rattlers manager Jeff Isom, who was coaching at third, raced down the line behind Dennis to argue that Matheus had obstructed Dennis's attempt to score. After a lengthy and animated argument, home plate umpire Nick Mahrley gave Isom the thumb.

 

Wisconsin had one more chance. Morris singled with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Kentrail Davis drew a walk and that knocked Struck out of the box.

 

Peoria brought Corey Martin into the game to face Dennis. The Chiefs closer struck out Dennis to end the threat. Then, Martin worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

 

Wisconsin went 3-4 on their just-completed seven game homestand.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin a seven game road trip on Saturday night with a game against the Clinton LumberKings at Alliant Energy Field. Damon Krestalude (2-7, 6.19) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. The LumberKings have Tom Wilhelmsen (1-0, 0.00) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 7:00 PM. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:40 PM.

 

***

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Despite loss, Timber Rattlers looking to make a push for Midwest League playoffs

By Ricardo Arguello, Post-Crescent staff writer

 

GRAND CHUTE — Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager Jeff Isom was upbeat late Friday night.

 

Staying positive might be just what his team needs heading into a critical seven-game road trip that may decide its playoff fate following a tough 3-1 loss to Peoria at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

The Rattlers are 3½ games behind Clinton in the race for a Midwest League wild-card spot. Wisconsin (44-64, 18-22 second half) plays the LumberKings in a four-game set starting today and then has a three-game set with Quad Cities, which qualified for the playoffs in the first half of the season.

 

"It's definitely a big road trip for us," Isom said. "Looking at the standings, we're battling Clinton for a playoff spot. If we're going to make up ground, we're going to have to do it right now.

 

"Then after that, we have Quad Cities, who is already in the playoffs. It's a tough road trip, but we have to take care of our business."

 

Wisconsin hit the ball with authority off Peoria pitchers Marcus Hatley and Nick Struck, but the Timber Rattlers hit into double plays in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth to short-circuit potential scoring rallies.

 

None hurt more than the double play in the fifth. With Wisconsin ahead 1-0 off a RBI ground-rule double from Michael Marseco, a walk then loaded the bases, only to have a laser off the bat of Scooter Gennett find the glove of Peoria first baseman Justin Bour for an unassisted double play.

 

"I think it was just the baseball gods weren't in our favor tonight," Gennett said. "We're hitting the ball hard, pitching the ball well and we're in every game; we just can't seem to find that hole. We're hitting it right at guys."

 

Wisconsin also had a chance to score in the sixth, when Cutter Dykstra reached on third baseman George Matheus' errant throw and the Rattlers' Chris Dennis attempted to score from second.

 

Dennis ran into what appeared to be interference on the base paths and was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

 

That sent Isom into an intense discussion with the umpires and he was later ejected.

 

"I saw contact at third base," Isom said. "They didn't see it and it is a tough call with a two-man umpiring crew."

 

The Rattlers' ability to get good wood on the ball has Isom believing it's only a matter of time before his team gets moving in the right direction.

 

With a month remaining in the season, there is time to make a final playoff push.

 

"We had a lot of hard-hit outs," Isom said. "If we can get good (contact) on a nightly basis, that will give us a chance to win a lot of ballgames."

 

Wisconsin Box Score

LH starter Del Howell walked two, hit two, and allowed seven hits, but wasn't scored upon until the 6th inning three-run home run; RHP Nick Bucci struck out four in three scoreless innings in a planned relief stint, balancing out his innings load for the season; Kentrail Davis singled and walked twice to lift his Wisconsin OBP to .431 after 127 AB's -- the recently-turned 22-year-old should be a candidate to begin at Huntsville in 2011; Kentrail, Austin Stockfisch, and Chris Dennis were the victims of the painful GIDP's...

 

Wisconsin Game Log

Speaking of GIDP's, Howell used them to escape jams in the first two innings, and he also stranded the bases loaded in the 5th -- lived dangerously but survived -- up to that point...

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Reno (Diamondbacks) 6, Nashville 2

 

Sounds Drop Third Straight To Reno

 

RENO, Nev. - The Nashville Sounds dropped its third straight contest to the Reno Aces, 6-2, on Friday evening at Aces Ballpark in the third game of a four-game set.

 

Reno starter Matt Torra (8-6) tossed 8 1/3 innings for the win, holding the Sounds scoreless with only one extra-base hit through the first eight innings. Torra allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits and two strikeouts on the night.

 

The loss put Nashville (59-54) six games behind division-leading Iowa in PCL American Conference Northern Division.

 

The Aces did damage in the opening frame, scoring four runs on Sounds starter Marty McLeary to take a quick 4-0 lead. After recording the first out of the game, McLeary surrendered three straight base hits, capped by a two-run single by Reno second baseman Tony Abreu.

 

The Aces added two more runs in the next two innings for a 6-0 advantage. Doug Deeds tripled and scored on a two-out Ryan Roberts single in the second inning. Former Sound Cole Gillespie singled in the next frame and scored on an RBI double from Abreu for the other run.

 

The Sounds were able to only plate two runs in the final inning on Torra before Joe Marte was brought into the game to record the final two outs. Norris Hopper hit a leadoff single followed by Mat Gamel reaching on a Reno fielding error. Brendan Katin then doubled home Hopper from third base for the club's first run, with Joe Koshansky bringing home Gamel on an infield groundout.

 

In his ninth start for Nashville this season, McLeary (5-7) took the loss and allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts in five innings pitched.

 

In his first appearance since returning from the disabled list, Brandon Kintzler tossed a scoreless inning in relief. Carlos Villanueva walked one batter in his shutout inning thrown.

 

Left-handed reliever Mitch Stetter's scoreless inning moved him to second on the all-time games list in Sounds history with 161 career appearances, trailing only Joey Vierra who leads with 238 games.

 

The Sounds will wrap up their four-game series with the Aces with tomorrow night's 9:05 PM CT finale at Aces Ballpark. Nashville left-hander Sam Narron (7-4, 3.50) will take the mound against Aces left-hander Zach Kroenke (3-3, 4.15).

 

***

 

Reno Gazette:

 

Matt Torra (8-6) has pitched six complete games in his career and owns one of two in Reno franchise history, which came against Las Vegas on July 1. He was pulled in the ninth following Brendan Katin’s double, but received a standing ovation to cap a night in which he threw 106 pitches — 73 for strikes — and walked only one batter.

 

Torra was the beneficiary of a strong defensive effort from Reno, which turned four double plays. The defensive highlight of the night came in the first inning, when Nashville was threatening with runners on second and third with one out. Katin popped up foul down the first baseline and Brandon Allen made an over-the-shoulder catch, then turned and threw a perfect one-hop strike to home plate after Nashville’s Eric Farris tagged up and attempted to score. Catcher Carlos Corporan tagged Harris out for the inning-ending double play and Reno rode the momentum to its 51st win of the season.

Nashville Box ScoreOld friend Carlos Corporan hit .382 in June, .333 in July (yes, it's the West Coast PCL, but still), and surely the D-Backs are pleased with the defensive work of the 26-year-old; Mat Gamel a double and single, just assume he's at third base each game unless we tell you otherwise; real nice to see RHP Brandon Kintzler back; scoreless inning here, but Carlos Villanueva must be counting the days until September 1st call-ups...

 

Nashville Game Log

Big hole early, not a lot of fun...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 6, @Great Falls (White Sox) 3, 13 innings

No report from the home town newspaper yet, the Independent Record does its best to summarize the road game --

 

Hopkins, Brewers edge Great Falls in 13th

 

GREAT FALLS — The Helena Brewers pushed across three runs in the 13th inning Friday at Centene Stadium, beating the Great Falls Voyagers in extras for the third time this season.

 

Helena won the Pioneer League contest 6-3, despite recording five errors.

 

With the score tied at 3 in the 13th, a two-out base hit by Cody Hawn began Helena’s winning rally. Some heads-up baserunning by the Brewers 6-foot-1, 205-pound first baseman was the difference. Hawn advanced to second on a wild pitch then made it to third on another ball in the dirt, setting up Greg Hopkins for an RBI infield single.

 

Mike Walker jolted a two-run opposite shot homer on the first pitch he saw off Voyagers reliever Doug Murray to give Helena the extra cushion.

 

Eric Marzec (3-3) earned the win in relief, pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out five.

 

The Brewers (23-22, 4-3) briefly took their first lead of the game in the 11th, after Robbie Garvey reached on a leadoff double, Shea Vucinich walked and Garvey came home on a throwing error by Voyagers catcher Mike Blanke.

 

But Helena allowed the hosts to come back and tie it in their half of the inning, when Randall Thorpe struck an RBI single to right to bring home Blanke, who had doubled over John Dishon’s head in right field to lead off the inning.

 

Dishon’s second home run of the year, off Great Falls’ Steven Upchurch, tied the game at 2 in the seventh frame.

 

Thorpe led the Voyagers offensively, with a 3-for-6 performance.

 

The two teams proved evenly matched and combined for 20 hits in the contest, one night after each club’s pitchers hurled a one-hitter.

 

Helena Box Score

Greg Hopkins ended a 15-inning affair with a home run not long ago, an infield single in a road win isn't quite as exciting, but surely it was enjoyed -- this squad has been involved in some amazing games this season; Brewer pitchers struck out 13 in the 13 innings and walked only one -- just fantastic; there are positives in each of the stat lines for Stosh Wawrzasek, Austin Ross (Ross especially), Caleb Thielbar (in his first Helena appearance of the season after 30 in Wisconsin), and Eric Marzec. It says something about their resiliency here in that five Brewer errors did not lead to a single unearned run. That's three consecutive extra-sweet lines from Ross (stat page).

 

Brewer batters fanned 15 times, drew three walks; Cody Hawn singled twice and walked; 21-year-old CF Robbie Garvey doubled and singled, he's 5-for-9 in the last two games...

 

Helena Game Log

13-inning game logs are always a hoot -- there were no frames with more than a single run until the H-Crew's final at-bat...

[Mass Haas]

And now, the Great Falls report is up, naturally --

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Three-run 13th inning boosts Brewers over Voyagers

By MIKE TOWNE, Tribune Sports Writer

 

The Great Falls Voyagers and the Helena Brewers went to extra innings for the fourth time Friday night at Centene Stadium. And thanks to a three-run uprising in the top of the 13th, the Brewers won the third of those four meetings.

 

Helena went up 4-3 when Greg Hopkins plated Cody Hawn with an infield single, and Mike Walker added two insurance runs with a home run as Helena earned a 6-3 victory in the first game of a three-game intradivision Pioneer League series.

This past Sunday in Helena, the Brewers defeated the Voyagers 10-8 in a 15-inning affair. Great Falls won 4-3 in 11 innings on July 7 in Helena and, two nights later at Kindrick Legion field, the Brewers prevailed 7-6 in 10 innings.

Overall, the Voyagers are 3-3 in extra-inning games this summer.

Helena scored in the top of the 11th inning to take a 3-2 lead, but Great Falls answered in its half to knot the game up for the second time. A solo home run by the Brewers' John Dishon tied it a 2-2 in the top of the seventh.

Robbie Garvey stroked a double down the right field line on Doug Murray's first pitch of the 11th inning. He went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Carlos George and, after Shea Vucinich drew a walk, scored on an error by catcher Michael Blanke. The ball slipped out of Blanke's hand and rolled about 10 feet as he attempted to make a pickoff attempt at first, allowing Garvey to score.

Blanke quickly atoned for his mistake, leading off Great Falls' half of the 11th with a sharp double to right. Pinch-runner Jeff Tezak advanced to third when Rafael Vera grounded out and scored the tying run on a bloop single to right by Randall Thorpe.

Thorpe advanced to second on a wild pickoff attempt by Caleb Thielbar and took third on a ground-out by Ryan Lee before Eric Marzec, the fourth Helena pitcher, struck out Michael Earley for the third out.

Hawn singled off Murray with out outs in the top of the 13th. He advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches and scored on Hawn's second hit in five at-bats.

Walker followed with his third home run of the season, a two-run shot.

 

The loss spoiled fine pitching performances by both Steve Upchurch and Addison Reed, who held Helena to two runs on five hits in the first nine innings.

 

Upchurch worked seven solid frames, giving up two runs on five hits while walking one and striking out five. Reed retired all six batters he faced, striking out the side in the eighth inning and fanning two in the ninth.

Upchurch walked Brandon Sizemore with two outs in the fifth and he later scored on a single by Garvey, cutting Great Falls' lead to 2-1.

Dishon homered on the first pitch in the top of the seventh inning, tying the game at 2-2.

Blanke gave the Voyagers a 1-0 lead in the second, ripping a double to left center and scoring on Thorpe's single to right.

In the bottom of the fourth, Andy Wilkins singled up the middle, went to second on a wild pitch and scored when Thorpe doubled to center. Garvey tried to make a diving catch but the ball bounced out of his glove.

Blanke and Thorpe each had three hits to lead Great Falls' 10-hit attack. Thorpe drove in three runs.

Hawn and Garvey each had a pair of hits for Helena, which also finished with 10.

The Voyagers fell to 4-3 in second-half play and 27-18 on the season.

The Brewers improved to 4-3 and 23-22 overall.

Right-hander Charles Delk (3-2, 3.86) will get the start tonight against Helena. Right-hander Tyler Thornburg (0-0, 1.29) is the scheduled starter for the Brewers.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Giants 6, Arizona Brewers 1

Arizona Box Score

Brewers led, 1-0, after four innings; 20-year-old RH starter Brooks Hall did fine work until he was undone by some bad luck on ground ball base hits and a bit of sloppiness on his part in a three-run Giant 5th, which we'll detail below; RHP Kevin Shackelford's three-run Giant 7th inning came via the more direct route, a three-run home run, with all the trouble coming after the first two men were retired; Washington State RHP Seth Harvey hasn't allowed an earned run since his first relief appearnce of the season, ten mound trips ago...

 

The A-Crew managed only four base hits, one walk, and an HBP; you know the rookie league bats didn't fare well when two of the hits, the walk, and the Brewers' only RBI came from Jody Gerut (Gerut's 27 Maryvale at-bats is approaching his big leaue number for 2010, 71).

 

One item of note -- down 6-1 in the top of the 8th, Demetrius McKelvie hit for 3B T.J. Mittelstaedt; McKelvie took over for Jason Rogers at first base, with Rogers moving over to the hot corner, his first appearance there all season...

 

Arizona Game Log

Off of Brooks Hall --

 

AZL Giants Top 5th

• Robert Haney singles on a bunt ground ball to catcher Tyler Roberts.
  
• With Josh Lopez batting, Robert Haney advances to 2nd on a balk.
  
• Josh Lopez flies out to left fielder Derrick Shaw.
  
• Johnathan DeBerry singles on a ground ball to left fielder Derrick Shaw. Robert Haney to 3rd.
  
• Carlos Willoughby singles on a ground ball to right fielder Maxwell Walla. Robert Haney scores. Johnathan DeBerry to 3rd.
  
• Charles Jones walks. Carlos Willoughby to 2nd.
  
• Brice Cutspec singles on a ground ball to right fielder Maxwell Walla. Johnathan DeBerry scores. Carlos Willoughby to 3rd. Charles Jones to 2nd.
  
• Rafael Rodriguez out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Kenneth Allison. Carlos Willoughby scores.
  
• Jose De La Cruz flies out to center fielder Kenneth Allison.

Off of Kevin Shackelford --

 

AZL Giants Top 7th

• Johnathan DeBerry grounds out, third baseman Thomas Mittelstaedt to first baseman Jason Rogers.
  
• Carlos Willoughby called out on strikes.
  
• Charles Jones walks.
  
• With Brice Cutspec batting, Charles Jones steals (5) 2nd base.
  
• Brice Cutspec singles on a ground ball to right fielder Maxwell Walla. Charles Jones to 3rd.
  
• Rafael Rodriguez homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Charles Jones scores. Brice Cutspec scores.
  
• Jose De La Cruz walks.
  
• Eric Sim hit by pitch. Jose De La Cruz to 2nd.
  
• Robert Haney flies out to left fielder Derrick Shaw.

Earlier, Hall did a nice job here --

 

AZL Giants Top 3rd

• Josh Lopez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kenneth Allison.
  
• With Johnathan DeBerry batting, wild pitch by Brooks Hall, Josh Lopez to 2nd.
  
• Johnathan DeBerry out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Brooks Hall to first baseman Jason Rogers. Josh Lopez to 3rd.
  
• Carlos Willoughby grounds out to first baseman Jason Rogers.
  
• Charles Jones grounds out, pitcher Brooks Hall to first baseman Jason Rogers.

[Mass Haas]

Although listed as a doubleheader on the DSL scoreboard at MiLB.com, no results for a nightcap have been posted yet.