Link Report for Mon. 8/16 -- High-Scoring Afternoon: Stars Hang On, Rattlers Don't

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

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

Nashville: LHP Chase Wright at home vs. Salt Lake City (Angels), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime
Live Audio Link

Huntsville: TBD (likely RHP Wily Peralta) at home vs. West Tenn (Mariners), 12:45 PM pre-game; 1:00 gametime
Live Audio Link

Brevard County: LHP Dan Merklinger at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:05 gametime
Sorry, no audio for this series...

Wisconsin: RHP Jake Odorizzi at home vs. Cedar Rapids (Angels), 11:45 AM pre-game; 12:05 PM gametime
Live Audio Link

Helena: LHP Evan Frederickson at home vs. Casper (Rockies), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime
Live Audio Link

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

DSL Brewers: at the DSL Mariners, 9:30 AM

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday'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	69	52	.570	-	-	35-29	34-23	6-4	L1
	Omaha	67	55	.549	2.5	21	32-27	35-28	8-2	W1
	Memphis	66	56	.541	3.5	20	36-24	30-32	5-5	L1
	Nashville	62	59	.512	7.0	17	31-29	31-30	3-7	L3

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Tennessee	33	17	.660	-	-	19-7	14-10	9-1	W3
	Huntsville	26	24	.520	7.0	14	16-11	10-13	3-7	L1
	West Tenn	24	26	.480	9.0	12	11-9	13-17	6-4	W1
	Carolina	22	28	.440	11.0	10	10-13	12-15	3-7	L1
	Chattanooga	21	28	.429	11.5	10	11-15	10-13	4-6	L3

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tampa	31	17	.646	-	-	16-7	15-10	5-5	W2
	Daytona	31	19	.620	1.0	21	18-8	13-11	5-5	L3
	Brevard County	29	21	.580	3.0	19	15-10	14-11	5-5	W1
	Lakeland	23	24	.489	7.5	16	13-9	10-15	6-4	W1
	Clearwater	21	28	.429	10.5	12	14-10	7-18	6-4	L1
*	Dunedin	21	29	.420	11.0	11	11-13	10-16	3-7	L1

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Quad Cities	30	18	.625	-	-	10-13	20-5	7-3	W3
*	Cedar Rapids	27	21	.563	3.0	-	14-10	13-11	6-4	L2
	Kane County	27	21	.563	3.0	-	16-8	11-13	5-5	L4
	Clinton	26	22	.542	4.0	22	14-11	12-11	6-4	W1
	Beloit	24	22	.522	5.0	19	14-10	10-12	6-4	L1
	Wisconsin	24	25	.490	6.5	19	14-10	10-15	6-4	W4
	Peoria	22	24	.478	7.0	19	11-12	11-12	5-5	W2
	Burlington	16	31	.340	13.5	11	11-12	5-19	1-9	L3

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	28	16	.636	-	-	9-9	10-7	6-4	W1
	AZL Dodgers	24	20	.545	4.0	9	10-8	9-6	7-3	L1
	AZL Reds	23	22	.511	5.5	7	8-7	10-8	6-4	W1
	AZL Indians	19	26	.422	9.5	3	7-11	9-7	2-8	L8

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]

Rattler Radio

Some new photos (fun), game notes, lineup, etc.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Media Notes

[wibadgers23]

Not a good outing today for Odorizzi. The strikeouts have definitely been down his last three starts. I wonder if he's just getting tired. He's already thrown more than double the number of innings than he did last year.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

 

ALMONTE IS UNBELIEVABLE: Infielder Erick Almonte went 5-for-5 last night and has produced a hit in his last seven plate appearances, the longest stretch by a Nashville player since 3B Aramis Ramirez hit safely in eight straight trips to the plate on May 7 & 8, 2000 at Calgary. Almonte has hit safely in 45 of his last 63 games to the tune of a .392 average (78-for-199). The veteran has posted multi-hit efforts in 25 of his last 44 contests with multiple plate appearances.

 

32 years old, knows his role, and he's been more than solid (stats).

[Mass Haas]

Cutter Dykstra took a 95 MPH fastball to the front of the helmet in the 9th inning of today's 11-10 Wisconsin loss. He was able to walk off the field under his own power, but was obviously not allowed to stay in the game.

 

Details on the tough loss from Chris within the hour.

[homer]

Lawrie's last five hits are all doubles.

[Mass Haas]

Jeremy Jeffress just closed out a 9-7 Stars victory -- he was on the post-game audio, which we should have later tonight. He sounded a bit too comfortable with the closer's role -- he's enjoying it, a lot.

 

See the big picture Jeremy, and we'll see in what role you're groomed for in 2011.

[battlekow]

Final: Cedar Rapids 11, @Wisconsin 10

Wisconsin win streak slips away

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers let one get away on Monday afternoon. The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Rattlers 11-10 at Time Warner Cable Field. The loss prevented the Rattlers from getting their fifth win in a row and from getting back to the .500 mark in the second half. Jose Jimenez, who had four RBI in the game, singled in the tying and winning runs with two outs in the top of the ninth.

 

Wisconsin (50-68 overall, 24-26 second half) appeared to take a very comfortable 6-0 lead when they sent ten men to the plate and scored six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Michael Marseco drove in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly. There were two out and D’Vontrey Richardson in scoring position when Cutter Dykstra singled to drive in Richardson with the second run. Scooter Gennett followed with a two-run homer. Then, Kentrail Davis singled and Khris Davis walked. Hunter Morris tripled off the wall in right-center and the Rattlers were up 6-0.

 

Cedar Rapids (71-46, 28-21) started their first comeback of the afternoon with their first of four home runs. Jake Odorizzi gave up a two-out solo homer to Jon Karcich in the third inning.

 

In the fourth, the Kernels had a pair of runners in scoring position with two outs. Jimenez foreshadowed his later heroics with a single to score both runs and make the score 6-3.

 

Odorizzi gave up a single and a hit batsman to start the top of the fifth. Jean Segura hit a three-run homer and the Kernels tied the game 6-6.

 

Wisconsin rallied to retake the lead by sending ten men to the plate again – this time in the sixth inning. Dykstra was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Gennett followed with a single, his third hit of four on the day. Kentrail Davis doubled in Dykstra, Khris Davis singled in Gennett. Morris sent a grounder to third, but the throw went to the plate and Kentrail Davis beat the throw. Later in the inning, Cameron Garfield singled to knock Khris Davis home for a 10-6 lead.

 

Nick Bucci came on in relief for the Rattlers to start the seventh inning and he worked around a leadoff walk. But, in the eighth, Eric Oliver lead off the inning with a homer to bring the Kernels to within 10-7.

 

The top of the ninth inning started with Bucci giving a free pass to Karcich. Jean Segura was retired on a long fly ball to center. But, Matt Long was next and his fly ball cleared the fence in right for a two-run homer and a 10-9 score.

 

Closer Jon Pokorny was summoned from the bullpen to finish off the Kernels. Instead, Jeremy Cruz singled. Then, uncharacteristically, Pokorny walked Oliver to put the lead run on base. Pokorny had walked just 16 batters in 53-1/3 innings before Monday.

 

Randal Grichuk popped out to shallow right and Gennett made the catch, but the second baseman stumbled to the ground after making the play. Terrell Alliman, who was pinch running for Cruz at second, tagged and headed for third. Gennett got to his feet and fired an ill-advised throw wide of third base. Alliman stayed at third, but Michael Demperio, who was pinch running for Oliver at first, took off for second and made it safely to put the go ahead run in scoring postion.

 

Pokorny got ahead of Jimenez 1-2 to get the Rattlers to within one pitch of the victory. But, Jimenez got a pitch up and out over the plate and he drove a single to left that scored both runs to give the Kernels an 11-10 lead.

 

A scary play started the bottom of the ninth. Kernels closer Johnny Hellweg, who had entered the game in the bottom of the eighth, hit Dykstra on the batting helmet with a 95mph fastball on a 3-1 pitch. Dykstra went to the ground and stayed down for a few moments before walking off the field under his own power. There was no word on Dykstra’s condition after the game.

 

One out later, Kentrail Davis drew a walk to move the tying run into scoring position. Hellweg got the next two batters on fly balls to the outfield to finish the game.

 

The Rattlers are off on Tuesday night. They return to action on Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Field against the Beloit Snappers. Wisconsin will send Damon Krestalude (2-8, 6.47) to the hill. Beloit has Clint Dempster (2-2, 3.38) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Game time is 7:05pm.

 

Wednesday is a special WAPL Bang For Your Buck Night with soda, hot dogs, and Miller Beer for $1. Plus, the first 500 fans into Time Warner Cable Field will receive a Scooter Gennett Magnet courtesy of Lamers Bus Lines.

 

If you can’t make it out to Time Warner Cable Field on Wednesday night, you can tune in to the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm.

 

Wisconsin box score

What can you say? At least you know the games will always be interesting. Odorizzi's final line: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 K, 2 HR, 6/4 GO/AO, 70 pitches, 43 strikes. Bucci's: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HR, 3/3 GO/AO. Odorizzi has allowed seven homers this year, but five of those have come in two games. Gennett sure came back from his day off raring to go, which is great to see. Khris Davis was also on four times with three walks and a single; this is the second time in three games he's drawn three free passes. Dykstra was on five times with two singles, a walk, and two HBP, though of course the last is nothing to celebrate in this case. Kentrail Davis and Garfield both had two hits and a walk, and Richardson doubled and walked twice.

 

Wisconsin play-by-play

The Rattlers ran their way out of a rally in the 4th:

 

Wisconsin Bottom 4th

• Cutter Dykstra walks.
• Ryan Gennett singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Michael Wing. Cutter Dykstra to 2nd.
• With Kentrail Davis batting, Max Russell picks off Cutter Dykstra at 2nd on throw to Jon Karcich.
• Kentrail
  Davis reaches on throwing error by first baseman Eric Oliver. Ryan
  Gennett to 3rd. Kentrail Davis out at 2nd, second baseman Jean Segura
  to shortstop Jon Karcich.
• Khristopher Davis flies out to center fielder Matt Long.

Gennett was also picked off after a leadoff single in the 7th.

[battlekow]

Final: @Huntsville 9, West Tenn 7

Huntsville box score

The Stars rode a huge seven-run 6th to victory. Wily Peralta started and finally posted the peripherals we keep expecting out of him, yet paradoxically got poorer results: 6 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 7/4 GO/AO, 99 pitches, 63 strikes. Peralta allowed four runs through the first two innings but then kept the DiamondJaxx off the board until their two-run 6th, at which point the Stars trailed 6-1. Jeremy Jeffress closed out the win with a scoreless inning, allowed a hit, walking one, and fanning one; the walk is his first in 10 innings with Huntsville. He threw 15 pitches, nine for strikes. As homer pointed out, Brett Lawrie doubled twice again today and now has five doubles over the last three games/two days. Taylor Green was 2-3 with a double and a walk, and Caleb Gindl and Drew Anderson also doubled and walked. Chris Nowak also doubled, and Zelous Wheeler was 1-3 with a walk.

 

Huntsville play-by-play

Peralta's three unearned runs were pretty truly unearned, thanks to Andy Machado:

 

 

West Tenn Top 1st

• Matthew Lawson grounds out, pitcher Wily Peralta to first baseman Chris Nowak.
• Johan Limonta doubles (36) on a ground ball to right fielder Drew T. Anderson.
• Alex
  Liddi reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by pitcher Wily Peralta.
  Johan Limonta advances to 3rd, on missed catch error by shortstop
  Anderson Machado, assist to pitcher Wily Peralta.
• Carlos Peguero singles on a ground ball to shortstop Anderson Machado. Johan Limonta scores. Alex Liddi to 2nd.
• Scott Savastano reaches on fielding error by shortstop Anderson Machado. Alex Liddi to 3rd. Carlos Peguero to 2nd.
• Joseph
  Dunigan singles on a line drive to left fielder Lee Haydel. Alex
  Liddi scores. Carlos Peguero scores. Scott Savastano to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Leury Bonilla called out on strikes.
• Brandon Bantz strikes out swinging.

The big inning:

 

Huntsville Bottom 6th

• Lee Haydel singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Alex Liddi.
• Brett Lawrie doubles (33) on a line drive to left fielder Joseph Dunigan. Lee Haydel to 3rd.
• Zelous Wheeler singles on a line drive to center fielder Leury Bonilla. Lee Haydel scores. Brett Lawrie scores.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Drew T. Anderson doubles (17) on a line drive to left fielder Joseph Dunigan. Zelous Wheeler to 3rd.
• Pitcher Change: Wes Littleton replaces Jarrett Grube.
• Chris Nowak reaches on fielding error by shortstop Carlos Triunfel. Zelous Wheeler scores. Drew T. Anderson to 3rd.
• Taylor Green walks. Chris Nowak to 2nd.
• Anderson Machado walks. Drew T. Anderson scores. Chris Nowak to 3rd. Taylor Green to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Caleb Gindl walks. Chris Nowak scores. Taylor Green to 3rd. Anderson Machado to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: Nick Hill replaces Wes Littleton.
• Anderson De La Rosa strikes out swinging.
• Lee Haydel strikes out swinging.
• Brett
  Lawrie doubles (34) on a fly ball to right fielder Carlos Peguero.
  Taylor Green scores. Anderson Machado scores. Caleb Gindl to 3rd.
  
• Nick Hill intentionally walks Zelous Wheeler.
• Drew T. Anderson flies out to right fielder Carlos Peguero.

[Mass Haas]

Yes, it's been a rough start to August for Caleb Gindl, but after a June and July in which he hit and got on base very well, I fail to see the need for Mike Guerrero to hit him 8th in the lineup (against a right-handed starter, no less). Heck, he hit behind SS Andy Machado.

[Ando Calrissian]

Merklinger continues to pitch well. While I'll enjoy the rest of this season, I can't wait to see the staff at Huntsville next year.

[pete]

Would Cutter have been wearing one of the more protective, newer helmets?

[battlekow]

Would Cutter have been wearing one of the more protective, newer helmets?

All minor leaguers are wearing that helmet starting this year.

[battlekow]

Final: @DSL Mariners 20, DSL Brewers 4

DSL Brewers box score

Uh, yeah. Each of the five Brewers pitchers--Manny Ruiz, Jose A. Garcia, Jairo Mejia, Christopher Roman, and Jean Capellan--was hammered. It was a very democratic demolition by the Mariners. The Brewers had only three hits and drew two walks but were hit by a pitch five times, including four in 2.2 innings by Mariners reliever Joan Vizcaino, who nevertheless got the win.

 

DSL Brewers play-by-play

I stopped reading after the back-to-back six-run innings in the 2nd & 3rd.

[wibadgers23]

Gamel is just having all kinds of fun right now. Three more hits tonight including a grand slam and 5 rbi's.

[battlekow]

Final: @Brevard County 4, Dunedin 1

Merklinger dominates Dunedin

Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - Manatees starting pitcher Dan Merklinger allowed just one run in eight innings of work as Brevard County shut down the Dunedin Blue Jays for a 4-1 win on Monday night at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Merklinger mowed through the Dunedin (62-59 overall, 21-30 second half) line-up as he struck out five and did not walk a batter. The only trouble he ran into was in the fourth inning.

 

A lead-off single by Anthony Gose turned into a run as he advanced to second on a wild pitch and was brought home by a RBI single by Jesus Merchan. That would be the only blip on the radar for Merklinger who threw 96 pitches - 56 of them for strikes.

 

Brevard County (57-63, 30-21) got on the board with a big fifth inning as Scott Krieger and Sean McCraw led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After Josh Prince grounded out to move both runners up 90 feet, Matt Cline brought them home with a two-run double to left. Cline would then steal third and score on a Erik Komatsu ground out as the Manatees took a 3-1 lead.

 

The Manatees would tack on one more run in the eighth on a RBI double by Sean Halton. Corey Frerichs pitched a scoreless ninth for his tenth save of the season.

 

Halton led the way for Brevard County at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a RBI. Cline, Angel Salome and Sergio Miranda also had two hits each for the Manatees.

 

With Brevard County's win and Daytona's loss to Tampa, the Manatees sit just one game out of second place in the North Division.

 

Brevard County's four-game series with Dunedin will conclude on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. at Space Coast Stadium. R.J. Seidel (3-2, 4.21) is scheduled to take the mound for the Manatees in the series finale.

 

Brevard County box score

Great start from Merklinger. Sounds like he tried--or at least achieved--being a little more efficient tonight, and he got more grounders than usual: 9/4 GO/AO. Komatsu was 0-4. Cline stole his 13th base but was caught stealing for the 15th time. He and D'Vontrey Richardson are having a contest to see who can earn this year's Alex Sanchez Basepath Commando Award.

 

Brevard County play-by-play

Salome was thrown out at home in the 4th trying to score from second on Halton's single.

[battlekow]

Final: @Nashville 7, Salt Lake 6

Sounds avoid sweep, defeat Bees 7-6

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds scored seven straight runs to top the Salt Lake Bees, 7-6, on Monday evening at historic Greer Stadium in the finale of a four-game set.

 

With the victory, the Sounds (64-59) avoided their second four-game series sweep in the last two weeks, but lost the season series, 3-1, to the visiting Bees.

 

Continuing to stay hot for Nashville, Mat Gamel went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and five RBIs in the victory, while Carlos Gomez and Brendan Katin each added two hits.

 

Salt Lake took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Mark Trumbo moved to second place in the PCL with his 28th home run of the season, a three run shot over the wall in center field.

 

Trumbo did more damage in the top of the third when the Bees right fielder smacked an RBI single down the left field line, driving home Kevin Frandsen for a 4-0 advantage. The Bees added two more runs in the fifth to make it 6-0, as Trumbo was in on the action again. After he recorded a two-out walk, Paul McAnulty crushed a two-run homer off the clubhouse beyond the wall in left center.

 

Matching McAnulty in the next inning, Gamel brought the Sounds within two runs at 6-4 with a grand slam home run off the clubhouse himself. After Nashville loaded the bases on an Eric Farris single, Adam Stern fielder's choice, and Gomez hit-by-pitch, Gamel tattooed the 2-2 offering from Bees starter Amalio Diaz. The homer was Nashville's third grand slam on the year and Gamel's 10th long ball of the season.

 

The Sounds had the opportunity to take the lead in the next inning, but scored only one run after loading the bases. With two outs in the inning, Farris and Martin Maldonado singled in two straight at-bats to bring in Barrett Browning into the game to replace Diaz. The reliever walked Stern to load the bases, and then allowed an infield RBI single to Gomez. After Farris scored Nashville's only run in the frame to bring the score to 6-5, Maldonado was given the green light by Sounds manager Don Money to come home from second base and was thrown out on the same play to end the inning with Gamel on deck.

 

Gamel led off the next inning with a walk and moved to second on an Erick Almonte single. Katin then knocked a base hit to left field that brought Gamel home to score the game-tying run, but Bees left fielder Nick Gorneault threw out the runner for the first out of the inning. Ray Olmedo smacked a line drive off the leg of pitcher Bobby Cassevah on next play, who quickly picked up the ball to start the double play at second, but fired a bullet into center field that allowed Almonte to score the tying run.

 

On a rehab assignment with the Angels, Salt Lake reliever Brian Stokes (0-1) entered the game in the bottom of the eighth gave up the go-ahead run for the loss. After the reliever recorded the first two outs in the frame, Gomez singled to left field and advanced to second on a throwing error by Gorneault. On the next play as Gamel hit a soft ball to the second baseman, the Bees tried to end the inning by throwing out Gamel at first, but the slugger beat the throw as Gomez rounded third and scored the game-winning run.

 

Sounds starter Chase Wright allowed six runs (five earned) while scattering nine hits with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Brandon Kintzler (2-0) threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win, extending his shutout streak to 11 1/3 innings over his last eight games.

 

Chris Smith picked his 23rd save of the season to tie the closer for the PCL lead with Las Vegas' Jeremy Accardo.

 

The Sounds continue their homestand tomorrow by welcoming the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA-Rockies) to Music City for the first time since 2008. The teams split last season's series, 2-2, at Security Service Field in Colorado. Big Party Marty McLeary (5-7, 7.16) makes the start for the Sounds on Tuesday evening against Sky Sox right-hander Chaz Roe (7-11, 5.72).

 

Nashville box score

Everything's coming up Gamel! You can listen to Stu's call of his grand slam here. His third hit was a double, and his Nashville line now stands at .322/.397/.513. It's hard to look at Gamel with fresh eyes given all that's transpired (and supposedly transpired) in the last couple years, but here's a thought. You know how psyched everyone is about Khris Davis? Imagine how excited you'd be if, two years from now, he's hitting just as well at Nashville as he is right now at Wisconsin. We undersell Gamel a bit even now because of prospect fatigue. Kintzler struck out two, walked none, and allowed one hit; he threw 29 pitches, 22 of which were strikes. I'm glad Mike McClendon got a shot, but I want to see Kintzler more.

 

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: @Helena 3, Casper 2

Helena box score

The H-Crew got three runs in the 8th to pull out a dramatic win. Jimmy Nelson, unexpectedly the Brewers' top 2010 draft pick, turned in three great innings, striking out three, walking none, and allowing just one hit to pick up the win. He also posted a 5/1 GO/AO. Evan Frederickson started and was decent, allowing a run in five innings with three walks and three strikeouts. Cody Hawn had a big game, with a two-run homer, a walk, and a HBP.

 

Helena play-by-play

The winning rally:

 

Helena Bottom 8th

• Carlos George grounds out, third baseman Jose Rivera to first baseman Jordan Ballard.
• Robert Garvey triples (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Juan Crousset.
• Franklin Romero singles on a fly ball to center fielder Jeffrey Squier. Robert Garvey scores.
• Cody Hawn homers (10) on a fly ball to right field. Franklin Romero scores.
• Gregory Hopkins grounds out to first baseman Jordan Ballard.
• Shea Vucinich strikes out swinging.

Very efficient.

[foamboy1]

Wow....whatever has gotten into Merklinger, I hope it's permanent. Aside from his previous outing, he's been dominant the last month. I never thought I would say that.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Brewers 8, @Arizona Padres 1

 

Arizona Box Score

And the beat goes on for the successful A-Crew; old friend Steve Garrison, coming back from knee surgery, made his second Rookie League rehab start for the Padres, and allowed a run in two innings; RHP Brooks Hall had the outing we've been waiting for: six innings, four hits, one run (solo home run), zero walks, five K's -- now that's a nice line; RHP's Kevin Shackelford and Seth Harvey finished up nicely over the final three innings; the Brewers were 6-for-6 in stolen bases, while catcher Tyler Roberts threw out the only Padre attempting to swipe a bag; 22-year-old lefty bat 3B T.J. Mittelstaedt out of Cal St. Long Beach pushed his OPS to .820 with a 3-for-4 effort (two doubles); another 22-year-old corner infielder, Jason Rogers (.873 OPS), had a perfect day, 3-for-3 with a double and a walk; LF Derrick Shaw singled twice and drove in two...

 

The Brewers did very well in identifying college players drafted in the mid-to-late rounds this year that are doing what they are supposed to do -- represent themselves well in both Helena and Maryvale; while we can't read too much into the numbers, the players should get credit for making the most of their opportunities; the creation of the full DSL squad in 2010 allowed for a much more polished group to make up the Maryvale squad, undoubtedly reflected in the season-long box scores...

 

Arizona Game Log

Max Walla did not play here, leaving Sunday's game after a home plate collision...

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Stars pick up ground in race with West Tenn

Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times

 

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- The Stars knitted together a seven-run inning on Monday afternoon to catch and pass the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. They'll need an even more miraculous event to do so in the more important big picture of the postseason chase.

 

Huntsville won three of five against the Diamond Jaxx -- including Monday's 9-7 triumph -- to cut West Tenn's lead to 3 1/2 games in the Southern League North wild-card race, with 19 games remaining.

 

"You might be surprised with the character of this team," manager Mike Guerrero said. "We're not done yet. We're giving up until the last out of the season. That's how winners think."

 

However, the Stars did give up a great opportunity to make up ground on West Tenn in this, the last head-to-head meeting with the Diamond Jaxx. They split doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday before Huntsville rallied for the series-winner.

 

"Nobody says we're going to win all the games. We're going to go out and play the games as hard as we can," Guerrero said. "For now on, if we play the way we're capable of playing, we're going to gain some ground."

 

Huntsville's remaining games are all against Southern League South teams, starting Wednesday with the opening of a five-game set at Birmingham.

 

Tennessee, which won the first half, has a comfortable lead over the Stars in the second-half pennant race, so the Stars' best hope for a playoff spot is the wild-card berth, which goes to the team with the best overall record if the same team wins both halves. The wild-card team hosts only one of the games in a best-of-five playoff series.

 

Sloppy defense and mediocre pitching plopped the Stars into a 6-1 deficit Monday afternoon, in front of an announced crowd of 440.

 

Then in the sixth they erupted for seven runs, taking advantage of three walks by ex-Huntsville pitcher Wes Littleton. Brett Lawrie had two doubles in the inning, driving in a pair of runs. The Stars had nine hits in the game, six of them doubles.

 

Wily Peralta was the beneficiary of the rally, collecting his first Southern League win despite allowing seven hits and six runs (three earned) in six innings. The Stars bullpen held West Tenn to two hits and one run in the final three innings, including Leury Bonilla's second homer of the day.

 

Stars' Brett Lawrie belts two doubles in same inning

 

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