Link Report for Sun. 8/15 -- Splits leave Stars and Manatees stagnant in the standings

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:
Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

Nashville: RHP Tim Dillard at home vs. Salt Lake City (Angels), 6:20 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime
Live Audio Link

Huntsville: RHP Amaury Rivas and TBD (likely RHP Andre Lamontagne) in a doubleheader at home vs. West Tenn (Mariners), 10:45 AM pre-game; 11:00 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings
Live Audio Link

Brevard County: RHP's Cody Scarpetta and Trey Watten in a doubleheader at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 4:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings
Sorry, no audio for this series...

Wisconsin: RHP Efrain Nieves at home vs. Cedar Rapids (Angels), 12:45 PM pre-game; 1:05 gametime
Live Audio Link

Helena: Idle

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

DSL Brewers: Idle

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday'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 Game One (Gameday also available)

 

Huntsville Game Two (Gameday also available)

 

Brevard County Game One

 

Brevard County Game Two

 

Wisconsin

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale)

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Iowa	69	51	.575	-	-	35-29	34-22	7-3	W2
	Memphis	66	55	.545	3.5	21	36-23	30-32	6-4	W2
	Omaha	66	55	.545	3.5	21	32-27	34-28	8-2	L1
	Nashville	62	58	.517	7.0	18	31-28	31-30	3-7	L2

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Tennessee	32	17	.653	-	-	19-7	13-10	9-1	W2
	Huntsville	25	23	.521	6.5	16	15-10	10-13	3-7	W1
	West Tenn	23	25	.479	8.5	14	11-9	12-16	7-3	L1
	Carolina	22	27	.449	10.0	12	10-13	12-14	3-7	W1
	Chattanooga	21	27	.438	10.5	12	11-14	10-13	4-6	L2

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Daytona	31	17	.646	-	-	18-8	13-9	5-5	L1
	Tampa	29	17	.630	1.0	23	14-7	15-10	5-5	L1
	Brevard County	28	20	.583	3.0	20	14-9	14-11	5-5	W1
	Lakeland	22	24	.478	8.0	16	13-9	9-15	6-4	L1
	Clearwater	21	27	.438	10.0	13	14-9	7-18	6-4	W1
*	Dunedin	20	28	.417	11.0	12	11-13	9-15	3-7	W1

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Quad Cities	28	18	.609	-	-	10-13	18-5	5-5	W1
*	Cedar Rapids	27	20	.574	1.5	-	14-10	13-10	6-4	L1
	Kane County	27	20	.574	1.5	-	16-7	11-13	5-5	L3
	Beloit	24	21	.533	3.5	20	14-9	10-12	7-3	W3
	Clinton	25	22	.532	3.5	22	14-11	11-11	6-4	L2
	Wisconsin	23	25	.479	6.0	19	13-10	10-15	5-5	W3
	Peoria	21	24	.467	6.5	19	11-12	10-12	4-6	W1
	Burlington	16	29	.356	11.5	13	11-10	5-19	1-9	L1

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Great Falls	8	6	.571	-	-	5-3	3-3	6-4	W1
	Helena	7	6	.538	0.5	25	3-2	4-4	5-5	W1
	Billings	6	7	.462	1.5	24	4-4	2-3	5-5	L1
	Missoula	6	8	.429	2.0	23	2-4	4-4	4-6	L1

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Brewers	27	16	.628	-	-	9-9	9-7	5-5	L1
	AZL Dodgers	24	19	.558	3.0	11	10-7	9-6	8-2	W6
	AZL Reds	22	22	.500	5.5	8	8-7	9-8	6-4	L2
	AZL Indians	19	25	.432	8.5	5	7-10	9-7	3-7	L7

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Mariners	39	26	.600	-	-	22-11	17-15	6-4	W1
	DSL Cardinals	35	29	.547	3.5	5	22-9	13-20	4-5	L1
	DSL Athletics	29	35	.453	9.5	E	16-17	13-18	6-4	W2
	DSL Brewers	26	39	.400	13.0	E	15-17	11-22	3-6	L3

[Mass Haas]

Click on the links below just prior to the respective game times; not sure if the Stars will update given the early start...

 

PDF documents:

 

Nashville Media Notes

 

Huntsville Media Notes

 

***

 

Rattler Radio

[homer]

Another nice outing for Rivas:

 

5IP 3H 1ER 2BB and 7Ks

[wibadgers23]

Yep, and his strikeouts have been up lately too. I'm still hoping he gets a couple of starts in September.

[Tedaldtada]

Rivas has done everything I had hoped for him this year. Lawrie with 3 doubles so far. Chris Nowak has been productive for Huntsville.

 

Scarpetta is going good too. Komatsu, of course, with a ht and a walk.

 

Hunter Morris unleashed two bombs today. Kentrail had a triple.

[pogokat]

Does Hunter Morris remind anyone else of Brendan Katin? I'm just talking statistically here, as I haven't seen the guy play in person...I guess I'd like to know if those of you who have seen him think he will be more patient once he adjusts further to pro ball

[battlekow]

Final: @Wisconsin 10, Cedar Rapids 7

Wisconsin outslugs Cedar Rapids

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – Hunter Morris was at it again. On Saturday night, he drilled a game winning two-run double in the eleventh inning for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. On Sunday afternoon, Morris hit a pair of monstrous home runs and drove in five runs. The Rattlers outslugged and outlasted the Cedar Rapids Kernels for a 10-7 win at Time Warner Cable Field. Wisconsin has won four straight games and six of their seven keep climbing into second half playoff contention.

 

It was the Kernels (70-46 overall, 27-21 second half) who grabbed the early lead by scoring a first inning run off Rattlers starting pitcher Efrain Nieves. Eric Oliver drove in Matt Long with a two out single.

 

Wisconsin (50-67, 24-25) responded immediately. Cutter Dykstra walked to start the bottom of the first. He stole second and scored on a single by Kentrail Davis. One out later, Morris unloaded on a pitch from Kernels starter Ariel Pena. The Rattlers first baseman powered the ball over the Miller High Life Home Run Porch in right field for a two-run homer and a 3-1 Wisconsin lead.

 

The Rattlers added single runs in the second and third on hits by Austin Stockfisch. The Wisconsin catcher doubled a run in the second and blooped in a single to left to plate another run for a 5-1 lead.

 

Tempers flared before the second Stockfisch RBI hit. Rattlers center fielder D’Vontrey Richardson was hit by a pitch and took first. The next play was a grounder back to Pena. He turned and threw to second and Richardson took out Cedar Rapids shortstop Jon Karcich with a slide. Words and shoves were exchanged between Richardson, Karcich, and second baseman Jean Segura. Both benches and both bullpens emptied. After order was restored, Richardson and Karcich were both ejected.

 

Nieves retired eight straight after a third inning single by Segura and was one out from qualifying for the win. Then, the Kernels made it interesting. Nieves gave up consecutive singles to Segura and Long. Then, Nieves walked Michael Wing to load the bases. A walk to Oliver drove in a run. Randal Grichuk was next and he singled in two runs to pull the Kernels to within 5-4.

 

Andy Sauter got out of the frame by striking out Justin Bass looking.

 

Wisconsin added to their lead thanks to an error by Segura in the bottom of the fifth. But, the Kernels scored again in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Long and the Rattlers lead was back to a single run at 6-5.

 

Kentrail Davis and Morris teamed up in the bottom of the sixth to put a crooked number on the board against Kernels reliever Carson Andrew. Dykstra doubled to start the inning. Davis followed with an RBI triple. Khris Davis was hit by a pitch. Andrew missed the strike zone with his first three pitches to Morris. Morris had the green light and cranked the 3-0 pitch into the Wisconsin bullpen just to the right of the batter’s eye in center. Morris’s seventh homer of the season put the Rattlers up 10-5.

 

Cedar Rapids scored twice in the seventh inning. Bass singled home Grichuk and took third when Jose Jimenez doubled to chase Sauter. Rigoberto Almonte entered the game and gave up a sacrifice fly to Carlos Ramirez, but nothing else over his final 1-1/3 innings.

 

Jon Pokorny closed out the game by striking out the side in order in the top of the ninth for his fifteenth save of the year.

 

The series with the Kernels concludes on Monday afternoon. Jake Odorizzi (6-3, 3.21) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Cedar Rapids sends Max Russell (1-2, 4.20) to the hill. Game time is 12:05pm.

 

If you can’t make it to Time Warner Cable Field, you can tune in for the broadcast of the game on AM1280, WNAN starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:45am.

 

Wisconsin box score

We drove up for the game today and had a great time:

 

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc349/battlekow/photo-2.jpg?t=1281924026

 

Came away with a pretty fierce sunburn, but oh well. The Rattlers put on a good show, especially Morris and Ke. Davis. Morris's second homer was a real poke and earned a large round of applause, as did D'Vo's conflagration at second base. His body language was very animated, and they hustled him away from the scrum pretty quickly before something worse could happen. I tried to get a movie of it, but by the time I was rolling it was just a cocktail party. Morris also walked, and Kentrail was 3-4 with a walk. His hamstring may be a chronic problem, but he was moving pretty well on his triple. I also got a laugh when he was forced out at second base a few innings after the dust-up and he popped out of his slide and kind of gave the second baseman a hug and a pat on the butt. Stockfisch was quietly 3-3 with a walk. Pokorny was very impressive--all three strikeouts were swinging.

 

Wisconsin play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final (game one): @Huntsville 10, West Tenn 1 (7 innings)

Stars shine Sunday morning

Aaron Morse/Huntsville Stars

Chris Nowak drove in three runs, Amaury Rivas (11-6) pitched well, and eight Huntsville Stars (26-23, 59-60) collected hits on their way to 13 of them in a 10-1 romp over the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (23-26, 62-56) Sunday morning.

 

The Stars took advantage of some shaky West Tenn defense in the first inning. Lee Haydel drew a lead-off base-on-balls against Steven Hensley (7-11). They played some small ball as Brett Lawrie bunted Haydel to second base. That’s when Zelous Wheeler singled to left. Initially manager Mike Guerrero opted to hold Haydel at third. But Joe Dunigan’s throw to the plate sailed over everyone’s head, allowing Haydel to cross the plate for a 1-0 Stars lead (audio).

 

They tacked on two more in the fourth. Once again it was a lead-off walk that started things as Drew Anderson reached on the free pass. Nowak made Hensley pay as he drilled a two-run home run to deep left (audio).

 

Rivas was dominant through four, surrendering only a lone Alex Liddi single in the second. However the fifth inning was a rocky one. Nate Tenbrink led-off with a walk, the first of the game issued by Rivas. Guillermo Quiroz followed with a chopper up the middle. Wheeler ranged to his left and looked like he’d be able to turn the double play. But the ball snuck under his glove for a single and Tenbrink went to third on the play. Rivas got Carlos Peguero to hit into a 6-3 double play as Wheeler made a nice play behind the bag at second. The twin killing did push across the first one of the game for West Tenn as they cut the Stars’ lead to 3-1 (audio).

 

Rivas had to work hard to get out of the frame without any more damage as he walked Dunigan and surrendered a single to Carlos Triunfel. He struck-out pinch hitter Leury Bonilla to get out of the jam.

 

It’d be his final frame of work as he finished with a line of five innings pitched, three hits, one run, two walks, and seven strikeouts.

 

Huntsville got all the insurance they needed and more in their half of the fifth. Haydel doubled to deep right center on a ball that Peguero badly misjudged. Lawrie followed with a ringing double off the top of the wall in left-center to drive in Haydel and extend the lead to 4-1 (audio).

 

The Stars got lucky when Wheeler hit a chopper to third that Alex Liddi gloved. Lawrie had started towards third and appeared to be caught dead to rights. But he managed to avoid Liddi’s tag and dive head-first in to third safely. Everyone was safe, setting up an Anderson RBI single that made the score 5-1 (audio).

 

That was all for Hensley as the Diamond Jaxx brought on Nick Hill to put out the fire. He was unable to as he immediately gave up a single to Nowak. That plated Wheeler to give the Stars a 6-1 edge (audio). Hill got a little wild as he hit Taylor Green and walked in a run when Andy Machado drew a base-on-balls (audio). A Chuckie Caufield RBI grounder completed the scoring as the Stars put across five runs in the frame to take an 8-1 lead (audio).

 

Huntsville greeted new pitcher Aaron Jensen rather rudely in the bottom of the sixth. Lawrie smacked another double to lead things off. One out later Anderson singled him home (audio). Then with two away Green singled in the hole to right field. Machado continued his hot hitting with a RBI double down the right field line to complete the scoring as the Stars grabbed a commanding 10-1 advantage (audio).

 

Meanwhile Eddie Morlan was untouchable out of the bullpen, striking out all six batters he faced (final out).

 

The Diamond Jaxx managed only three hits in the game, while the Stars had a multitude of players have big days. Four of the first five hitters in the order had multi-hit games. Haydel and Lawrie were 2-3 with two runs scored each. Anderson went 3-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Nowak had a solid day as well, going 2-4 with two runs scored, the homer, and three RBI. Machado only had one hit but drove in two runs in the contest.

 

Huntsville box score

Rivas threw 80 pitches, 48 for strikes, and posted a 3/5 GO/AO. I echo the sentiment that it's nice to see him striking out more batters lately. Love seeing multiple extra-base hits from Lawrie. Also, you have to love any game in which Haydel both smacks a legitimate gapper and draws a walk. Caleb Gindl didn't play but is fine; he started the second game.

 

Huntsville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final (game two): West Tenn 6, @Huntsville 2 (7 innings)

Stars miss multiple opportunities in game two loss

Aaron Morse/Huntsville Stars

 

The Huntsville Stars (26-24, 59-61) gave up four runs with two outs, Alex Liddi hit a home run over the scoreboard, and the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (24-26, 63-56) prevailed 6-2 in game two of Sunday’s double header.

 

The two-out trouble started in the very first inning. With two away, Huntsville starter Andre Lamontagne (3-2) gave up a line drive single to Liddi up the middle. A wild pitch moved him to second and Lamontagne walked Johan Limonta. He got a little unlucky when Scott Savastano’s weak chopper bounced over the mound for an infield single to load the bases. That’s when Carlos Peguero provided the two-out lightning with a two-RBI double to left.

 

Huntsville got two on with only one away in the bottom half of the frame, but West Tenn starter Cesar Jimenez worked out of the jam.

 

That’d be the theme of game two as the Stars got a one-out walk in the second and were unable to score as well.

 

Meanwhile, Liddi cranked a mammoth homer over the left-center field scoreboard to extend the West Tenn lead to 3-0 in the third.

 

Jimenez hit Caleb Gindl with a pitch in the bottom of the frame, and this being his first start after rehabbing in Arizona, that signaled the end of the southpaw’s day. Robert Rohrbaugh (4-2) came on in relief and was greeted by a sharp Brett Lawrie liner to left. Unfortunately the hard hit ball was right at Peguero for out number one. Then, with Zelous Wheeler at the plate, Gindl inexplicably tried to steal second in a three-run game and was promptly picked off by the lefty Rohrbaugh. Wheeler proceeded to strike out and that was that.

 

The fourth inning proved to be more two-out trouble for the Stars. Brandon Bantz led-off with a double to deep left. One out later Joe Dunigan drew a walk. Stars’ manager Mike Guerrero opted to bring in Nick Green at that point. Green blew three heaters past Nate Tenbrink for the second out of the frame. But Liddi struck again, this time with a double down the right field line. On the play Bantz scored, but the Diamond Jaxx tried to hold Dunigan at third. A base-running mistake by Liddi, who was not looking at the fact Dunigan had been held up at third, forced Dunigan to head home. The Stars had him dead for rights, but Lawrie’s throw sailed over everyone’s head, scoring another run and giving West Tenn a 5-0 advantage.

 

Huntsville finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Drew Anderson singled to left to get things started. One out later, Taylor Green hit into a force out and two were away. Luckily Andy Machado came up big with a double, driving in Green and cutting the score to 5-1.

 

The Stars left a man in scoring position in the fifth and loaded the bases in the sixth. Singles by Green, Machado, and Caufield put runners on every base with two away. Unfortunately, Guerrero opted not to pinch hit with Lee Haydel. Instead he allowed the sub-.100 hitting Patrick Arlis to bat for himself. He grounded out to third and the threat was neutralized.

 

Johan Limonta tacked on another run in the top half of the seventh with a homer that snuck over the right field fence by mere inches.

 

Gindl started the seventh with an infield single. One out later Wheeler worked a great AB and doubled home Gindl to the cut the score to 6-2. But that’d be it for Huntsville as they dropped game two of the twin bill.

 

Huntsville left nine men on base and they only managed a 3-11 clip with runners in scoring position. They out-hit West Tenn 9-8 to no avail. Wheeler and Machado both tallied multi-hit games.

 

With the loss the Stars are 4.5 games back of the Diamond Jaxx in the Wild Card Race. They play the finale of the five game set Monday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. central time. Tune in to www.huntsvillestars.com beginning at 12:45 for the Window World Pre-Game Report.

 

Huntsville box score

Nothing wrong with a little second-guessing in the recap. Lamontagne's final line: 3.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 3/6 GO/AO, 57 pitches, 31 strikes. His first three starts were so unexpectedly great, but he was bound to have a rough one eventually. Lawrie doubled again to give him three total on the day, and I like hearing that even his outs are hard-hit.

 

Huntsville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final (game one): Dunedin 1, @Brevard County 0 (7 innings)

Brevard County box score

Tough loss for Cody Scarpetta, who went all seven innings, allowing four hits, walking one, and hitting a batter, while striking out three. Uncharacteristically, he also got a ton of ground outs, posting a 12/3 GO/AO. The 'Tees had seven hits and drew three walks but couldn't score. Three of the hits belong to Matt Cline, who had a perfect game at the plate. Sergio Miranda was also perfect, 1-1 with two walks. Erik Komatsu also singled and walked.

Brevard County play-by-play

BC's best chance to score probably was in the 1st, when they loaded the bases:

 

Brevard County Bottom 1st

• Josh Prince flies out to right fielder Concepcion Rodriguez.
• Matt Cline singles on a ground ball to shortstop Ryan Goins.
• Erik Komatsu singles on a fly ball to center fielder Anthony Gose. Matt Cline to 2nd.
• Angel
  Salome grounds into a force out, shortstop Ryan Goins to second baseman
  Jesus Merchan. Matt Cline to 3rd. Erik Komatsu out at 2nd.
  Angel Salome to 1st.
• Sergio Miranda walks. Angel Salome to 2nd.
• Sean Halton grounds out, shortstop Ryan Goins to first baseman Michael McDade.

They ended three of their seven innings by hitting into double plays.

[battlekow]

Final (game two): @Brevard County 3, Dunedin 1 (7 innings)

Brevard County box score

Trey Watten continues to do his thing: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 8/1 GO/AO. The Manatees fell behind in the 1st inning but scored individual runs in the next three innings. Dan Meadows and Corey Frerichs tossed scoreless relief for the win and save, respectively. Matt Cline continued his nice day by going 1-2 with a walk and HBP, meaning that he reached base six of seven times between the two games. Juan Sanchez had two hits, Erik Komatsu singled and walked, Angel Salome walked twice, and Shawn Zarraga doubled.

 

Brevard County play-by-play

BC's three runs:

 

Brevard County Bottom 2nd

• Sergio Miranda flies out to left fielder Concepcion Rodriguez.
• Brock Kjeldgaard flies out to left fielder Concepcion Rodriguez.
• Shawn Zarraga doubles (12) on a line drive to center fielder Kenny Wilson.
• Juan Sanchez singles on a fly ball to right fielder Welinton Ramirez. Shawn Zarraga scores.
• Steve Braun walks. Juan Sanchez to 2nd.
• Peter Fatse called out on strikes.

Brevard County Bottom 3rd

• Matt Cline flies out to center fielder Kenny Wilson.
• Erik Komatsu walks.
• Angel Salome walks. Erik Komatsu to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: Daniel DeLucia replaces Bobby Bell.
• Sergio Miranda singles on a fly ball to left fielder Concepcion Rodriguez. Erik Komatsu scores. Angel Salome to 2nd.
• Brock Kjeldgaard lines out to left fielder Concepcion Rodriguez.
• Shawn Zarraga grounds out, second baseman Ryan Schimpf to first baseman Michael McDade.

Brevard County Bottom 4th

• Juan Sanchez singles on a ground ball to second baseman Ryan Schimpf.
• Steve Braun out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Daniel DeLucia to first baseman Michael McDade. Juan Sanchez to 2nd.
• Peter
  Fatse singles on a line drive to center fielder Kenny Wilson. Juan
  Sanchez scores. Peter Fatse to 2nd on the throw.
• Matt Cline hit by pitch.
• Erik Komatsu lines out to third baseman Mark Sobolewski.
• Angel Salome walks. Peter Fatse to 3rd. Matt Cline to 2nd.
• Sergio Miranda flies out to center fielder Kenny Wilson.

[battlekow]

BC blanked 1-0 in first game of twin-bill

Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - Despite seven hits and a solid outing by Cody Scarpetta, the Brevard County Manatees were blanked 1-0 by the Dunedin Blue Jays in the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday evening at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Scarpetta's only trouble came in the second inning as he allowed a RBI double to Yan Gomes that scored Mark Sobolewski. Sobolewski led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a ground out and then moved to third on a wild pitch.

 

Following the second inning, Dunedin had only one more hit and just three more baserunners, but the damage had been done. Scarpetta allowed four hits, while walking one and striking out three.

 

Brevard County had a chance early on in the first inning to get on the board, with runners on second and third with two outs, but a ground out by Sean Halton ended that threat. Then with one out and runners on first and second in the fifth, Erik Komatsu lined into a double play to end that inning.

 

With one last chance in the seventh and final inning with a runner on second and two outs, Josh Prince struck out swinging to end the game.

 

Matt Cline was a perfect 3-for-3 in the first game, but as a team Brevard County was 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

[battlekow]

'Tees bounce back against Dunedin

Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - After dropping the first game of Sunday's doubleheader and falling behind 1-0 early in the second game, the Brevard County Manatees came from behind and defeated the Dunedin Blue Jays 3-1 on Sunday night in Viera.

 

Down 1-0 after one half inning, the Manatees scored once in the second, once in the third and once in the fourth to take the lead and hold on for a win. A two-out RBI single by Juan Sanchez that scored Shawn Zarraga evened the game up for Brevard County.

 

In the third, Erik Komatsu and Angel Salome both drew back-to-back one out walks and chased Dunedin's starter Bobby Bell. Dan DeLucia came in for the Blue Jays and was greeted rudely by Sergio Miranda as he battled and singled to left, to drive in Komatsu. DeLucia then retired Brock Kjeldgaard and Zarraga to end the inning.

 

Sanchez led off the fourth with a single and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Steve Braun. Peter Fatse then came up and drove in Sanchez with a single to right-center and went to second on the throw as the Manatees extended their lead to 3-1.

 

Matt Cline was then hit by a pitch and after Komatsu lined out to third, Salome drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. But Brevard County could not scratch another run across as Miranda flew out to center to end the inning.

 

Trey Watten started the second game of the twin-bill for the Manatees and went 4 1/3 innings and allowed one run on three hits, while walking two and striking out four.

 

Watten did not factor into the decision as Daniel Meadows picked up the win in relief by throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Corey Frerichs shut the door in the seventh to earn his ninth save of the season.

 

Sanchez was the only Manatee with multiple hits in game two as he went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a run scored.

 

With the Tampa Yankees sweeping the Daytona Cubs in a doubleheader on Sunday, the Yankees jumped into first place with the Cubs falling into second. Brevard County is two games behind Daytona for second place and three behind Tampa for first place in the North Division.

 

Brevard County and Dunedin will continue their four-game series on Monday night at Space Coast Stadium beginning at 7:05 p.m. Dan Merklinger is scheduled to start on the mound for the Manatees.

[battlekow]

Final: Salt Lake 5, @Nashville 4

Sounds lose third straight to Bees, 5-4

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds suffered their third consecutive loss to the visiting Salt Lake Bees, falling 5-4 on Sunday evening at historic Greer Stadium.

 

Right fielder Brendan Katin spotted the Sounds their first lead of the series in the bottom of the second inning when he belted his 16th home run of the year, a two-run shot to left-center off Salt Lake right-hander Fernando Rodriguez (audio available via the link above).

 

Erick Almonte, who doubled to lead off the frame, also scored on the blast. The Sounds' designated hitter went 5-for-5 in the game and has recorded hits in each of his last seven plate appearances. Almonte's five hits were the most by a Sounds player in a single game since Alcides Escobar recorded five on July 25, 2009 at Oklahoma City.

 

Nashville increased its lead to 3-0 in the third when Mat Gamel drew a two-out walk, moved to third on an Almonte single, and scored when Joe Koshansky struck out but the ball bounded to the backstop for a wild pitch.

 

Salt Lake got onto the board in the fourth, pulling within one at 3-2. Michael Ryan and Mark Trumbo opened the inning with consecutive singles off Sounds starter Tim Dillard before designated hitter Paul McAnulty doubled to right to plate Ryan with the Bees' first run. Katin misplayed the ball, allowing Trumbo to score a second run on the error.

 

The Bees threatened to tie the contest, loading the bases with only one out, but Dillard rebounded to strike out Dwayne Bailey then made an athletic, bare-handed grab-and-throw from near the third-base line on a Terry Evans comebacker to retire the Salt Lake center fielder and end the frame with no further damage.

 

The Sounds missed an opportunity to extend their lead in the home half of the fourth after placing runners on second and third with only one out. Carlos Gomez lined out sharply to third then, after Eric Farris walked to load the bases, Gamel hit a comebacker to Rodriguez to end the frame.

 

Gomez went 2-for-5 on the night in his third rehab game for the Sounds. He is batting .250 (3-for-12) since joining the club on Friday.

 

Salt Lake pulled in front by a 4-3 margin with a pair of runs in the fifth which were charged to Dillard but given up by reliever Donovan Hand.

 

After Dillard walked a pair of batters to put runners on first and second with two out, Hand took over on the hill and was greeted by a game-tying RBI single off the bat of Hank Conger. Nick Gorneault followed with a go-ahead double to left, the outfielder's 9th RBI of the series.

 

Including the two Salt Lake runs in the decisive fifth frame, the Nashville bullpen has allowed 13 of its last 16 inherited runners to score.

 

The Bees added an insurance run in the seventh when Conger delivered his second RBI knock of the night, an RBI single to right off Carlos Villanueva that extended the visitors' lead to 5-3.

 

Nashville rallied to make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. Gomez led off with a single against Bees reliever Bobby Mosebach and later moved to third on Gamel's single that put runners on the corners with one out. Almonte followed with his fifth hit of the evening, an RBI single through the left side of the infield, to plate Gomez to pull the Sounds within a run at 5-4.

 

Mosebach recovered to induce a game-ending double play grounder from Koshansky to preserve the lead and nail down his fourth save of the year.

 

Reliever Gabe DeHoyos (3-1) picked up the win after hurling two hitless innings behind Rodriguez, who lasted only four frames in his start.

 

Dillard (3-6) took the loss for the Sounds after allowing four runs on six hits over his 4 2/3 innings. He walked three batters and struck out five.

 

The teams wrap up the series with a 7:05 p.m. finale on Monday night. Left-hander Chase Wright (7-8, 4.87) will take the hill for the Sounds to face Salt Lake right-hander Amalio Diaz (4-4, 4.71).

 

Nashville box score

Congrats to Almonte on the nice game. Villanueva's been allowing a lot of baserunners at Nashville, three hits and two walks in two innings tonight. Mitch Stetter pitched a perfect 9th with a strikeout

 

Nashville play-by-play

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 3, @Arizona Royals 2

 

Arizona Box Score

Another nice win for the first place A-Crew; southpaw Dane Amedee made the start and pitched five no-hit innings, walking three and facing just two over the minimum; the no-hitter was gone soon after as LHP Dexter Bobo gave up a single to his first batter, but pitched well over his three innings, and RHP Jose Sanchez survived a one-run 9th for the save; 1B Jason Rogers doubled, singled, and drove in two; Max Walla started in center field (interesting), and continued a somewaht 3TO season with a walk and three strikeouts...

 

Arizona Game Log

Walla would be lifted in the 9th after ending the 8th being thrown out at home, hopefully he's OK...

[Mass Haas]

Post-Crescent Blog -- Cory Jennerjohn:DeVo's slide wasn't that bad

[Mass Haas]

Dogs have their day at Wisconsin Timber Rattlers minor league baseball game in Grand Chute

[jjfanec]

Does Hunter Morris remind anyone else of Brendan Katin? I'm just talking statistically here, as I haven't seen the guy play in person...I guess I'd like to know if those of you who have seen him think he will be more patient once he adjusts further to pro ball

They both have good pop and dont hit for the best average, but Morris has much more patience. For his career Katin has struck out 28% of his PA, where Morris has struck out 16%.

[Tedaldtada]

Does Hunter Morris remind anyone else of Brendan Katin? I'm just talking statistically here, as I haven't seen the guy play in person...I guess I'd like to know if those of you who have seen him think he will be more patient once he adjusts further to pro ball

I think he profiles much better then Katin. Here is what Isom had to say: http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20100815/APC021102/8150550/-1/baseball

 

"He has a pro approach at the plate. He understands the strike zone and

gets pitches to hit, and when he squares up balls, there are not many

guys with the power that he has. He can hit a ball a long way. He's

going to be a guy who hits home runs, an RBI type guy" -Isom

[battlekow]

Final: @Wisconsin 10, Cedar Rapids 7Wisconsin outslugs Cedar Rapids

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – Hunter Morris was at it again.  On Saturday night, he drilled a game winning two-run double in the eleventh inning for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.  On Sunday afternoon, Morris hit a pair of monstrous home runs and drove in five runs.  The Rattlers outslugged and outlasted the Cedar Rapids Kernels for a 10-7 win at Time Warner Cable Field.  Wisconsin has won four straight games and six of their seven keep climbing into second half playoff contention.

 

It was the Kernels (70-46 overall, 27-21 second half) who grabbed the early lead by scoring a first inning run off Rattlers starting pitcher Efrain Nieves.  Eric Oliver drove in Matt Long with a two out single.

 

Wisconsin (50-67, 24-25) responded immediately.  Cutter Dykstra walked to start the bottom of the first.  He stole second and scored on a single by Kentrail Davis.  One out later, Morris unloaded on a pitch from Kernels starter Ariel Pena.  The Rattlers first baseman powered the ball over the Miller High Life Home Run Porch in right field for a two-run homer and a 3-1 Wisconsin lead.

 

The Rattlers added single runs in the second and third on hits by Austin Stockfisch.  The Wisconsin catcher doubled a run in the second and blooped in a single to left to plate another run for a 5-1 lead.

 

Tempers flared before the second Stockfisch RBI hit.  Rattlers center fielder D’Vontrey Richardson was hit by a pitch and took first.  The next play was a grounder back to Pena.  He turned and threw to second and Richardson took out Cedar Rapids shortstop Jon Karcich with a slide.  Words and shoves were exchanged between Richardson, Karcich, and second baseman Jean Segura.  Both benches and both bullpens emptied.  After order was restored, Richardson and Karcich were both ejected.

 

Nieves retired eight straight after a third inning single by Segura and was one out from qualifying for the win.  Then, the Kernels made it interesting.  Nieves gave up consecutive singles to Segura and Long.  Then, Nieves walked Michael Wing to load the bases.  A walk to Oliver drove in a run.  Randal Grichuk was next and he singled in two runs to pull the Kernels to within 5-4.

 

Andy Sauter got out of the frame by striking out Justin Bass looking.

 

Wisconsin added to their lead thanks to an error by Segura in the bottom of the fifth.  But, the Kernels scored again in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Long and the Rattlers lead was back to a single run at 6-5.

 

Kentrail Davis and Morris teamed up in the bottom of the sixth to put a crooked number on the board against Kernels reliever Carson Andrew.  Dykstra doubled to start the inning.  Davis followed with an RBI triple.  Khris Davis was hit by a pitch.  Andrew missed the strike zone with his first three pitches to Morris.  Morris had the green light and cranked the 3-0 pitch into the Wisconsin bullpen just to the right of the batter’s eye in center.  Morris’s seventh homer of the season put the Rattlers up 10-5.

 

Cedar Rapids scored twice in the seventh inning.  Bass singled home Grichuk and took third when Jose Jimenez doubled to chase Sauter.  Rigoberto Almonte entered the game and gave up a sacrifice fly to Carlos Ramirez, but nothing else over his final 1-1/3 innings.

 

Jon Pokorny closed out the game by striking out the side in order in the top of the ninth for his fifteenth save of the year.

 

The series with the Kernels concludes on Monday afternoon.  Jake Odorizzi (6-3, 3.21) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers.  Cedar Rapids sends Max Russell (1-2, 4.20) to the hill.  Game time is 12:05pm.

 

If you can’t make it to Time Warner Cable Field, you can tune in for the broadcast of the game on AM1280, WNAN starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:45am.

 

Wisconsin box score

We drove up for the game today and had a great time:

 

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc349/battlekow/photo-2.jpg?t=1281924026

 

Came away with a pretty fierce sunburn, but oh well. The Rattlers put on a good show, especially Morris and Ke. Davis. Morris's second homer was a real poke and earned a large round of applause, as did D'Vo's conflagration at second base. His body language was very animated, and they hustled him away from the scrum pretty quickly before something worse could happen. I tried to get a movie of it, but by the time I was rolling it was just a cocktail party. Morris also walked, and Kentrail was 3-4 with a walk. His hamstring may be a chronic problem, but he was moving pretty well on his triple. I also got a laugh when he was forced out at second base a few innings after the dust-up and he popped out of his slide and kind of gave the second baseman a hug and a pat on the butt. Stockfisch was quietly 3-3 with a walk. Pokorny was very impressive--all three strikeouts were swinging.

 

Wisconsin play-by-play

I had forgotten that Jean Segura was involved in the dust-up with D'Vo. Funny how Segura is now on the Brewers and Richardson isn't (well, he technically is, but you get my point). That was a fun game. It would have been too cosmic if Odorizzi was the starter, or even if Mike Trout was still with the Kernels (I guess he'd been promoted to A+ by that point).