Link Report for Wed. 8/25 -- Alex Periard lives!

[battlekow]

BC powers past Yanks in first game

Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - Six runs in the third inning were all that the Brevard County Manatees needed in the first game of a doubleheader against the Tampa Yankees in a 8-3 victory on Wednesday evening at Space Coast Stadium.

 

The inning was highlighted by two home runs from the Manatees. Erik Komatsu hit a two-run homer, his fifth of the season and Shawn Zarraga had a full count on him when he deposited a ball over the left field fence for a three-run homer.

 

A six-run cushion was all that Manatees starting pitcher Kyle Heckathorn needed as he threw a seven-inning complete game allowing just one earned run on eight hits, while striking out five.

 

Five Brevard County hitters had multi-hit games. Zarraga led the way by going a perfect 3-for-3, while Komatsu, Sergio Miranda, Angel Salome and Sean Halton all had two hits each. Both Zarraga and Komatsu drove in three runs.

 

============================

 

Tampa tops 'Tees in game two

Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - In the second game of Wednesday night's doubleheader, the Brevard County Manatees looked to pull to within 2 1/2 games of the first place Tampa Yankees. That did not happen as the Manatees fell 5-3 in the second game to split the twin-bill with the Yankees.

 

The Manatees (61-68 overall, 34-26 second half) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a two-run homer from Sergio Miranda.

 

But Tampa (73-52, 37-20) would put four on the board against Brevard County starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta in the second, chasing him from the game after just 1 2/3 innings.

 

Unlike game one of the doubleheader the Manatees bats went cold, as they managed just two hits after the first inning of game two.

Trey Watten pitched well in relief of Scarpetta as he went 3 1/3 innings and allowed just one unearned run and three hits.

 

By splitting the doubleheader, the Manatees are back where they started Wednesday night - 4 1/2 games back of Tampa for first place in the North Division. Brevard County will try and pick up a game on the Yankees in the series finale on Thursday night beginning at 7:05 p.m. at Space Coast Stadium.

 

The reigning Florida State League Pitcher of the Week, Dan Merklinger (7-5, 3.71) is scheduled to take the mound for the Manatees. The Yankees will counter with Graham Stoneburner (8-4, 2.52).

 

Thursday night's game at Space Coast Stadium will be Military Appreciation Night and all active and retired military will get tickets for just $3! Military personnel who come to the game in uniform will get in free!

 

It will be Thirsty Thursday, so start the weekend early with Thirsty Thursday drink specials - 20-oz Coca-Cola and 18-oz Budweiser products are just $2.00!

 

For those who can't make it to Thursday night's game, you can still follow all the action at Space Coast Stadium live on your computer. Stephen C. Smith of SpaceCoastBaseball.com will be providing a free webcast of the series finale between the Manatees and the Yankees. Click here to listen live on Thursday night.

[battlekow]

Final: @Nashville 2, New Orleans 1

 

Sounds win homestand opener, 2-1

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds kicked off their final homestand with a 2-1 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs on Wednesday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a five-game series.

 

Tim Dillard turned in an outstanding effort for the second straight start for Nashville, twirling seven innings of scoreless, three-hit ball but took a no-decision as the Sounds' bullpen was unable to protect his 1-0 lead in the late innings.

 

Dillard, who has given up only one run over 15.0 innings in his last two outings, is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA (11er/34.2ip) in six starts for Nashville this season.

 

The victory was the Sounds' sixth in eight meetings versus New Orleans this season and the seventh win in the last 10 games overall for Nashville (69-62).

 

Sounds right fielder Brendan Katin (2-for-3) spotted the home team a 1-0 lead in the fourth with a one-out, opposite-field solo homer to right. The blast, which came against New Orleans starter Wes Whisler, was the slugger's 19th roundtripper of the season.

 

In the top of the eighth, New Orleans took immediate advantage of Dillard's departure by tying the game at 1-1 against Sounds reliever Mitch Stetter. The Z's loaded the bases as the first three runners reached bases before Mike Lamb blooped an RBI single to shallow right-center to bring home Scott Cousins with the tying run.

 

The Sounds escaped the no-out, bases-loaded jam with no further damage. Stetter struck out Mark Saccomanno and Danny Richar in succession before Donovan Hand was summoned to the mound. With Brett Carroll at the plate, the right-hander's 0-2 offering was in the dirt and briefly skirted Sounds catcher Martin Maldonado but the backstop recovered to toss to Hand to retire Bryan Petersen at the dish on a bang-bang play for the third out.

 

Nashville pulled back in front in the bottom of the eighth with a run against Z's reliever Dan Meyer (1-2) as the left-hander hurt his own cause with inaccuracy on the hill. With one out, Erick Almonte drew a walk then Katin was hit by a pitch. After a Meyer wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Luis Cruz lined a sacrifice fly to left to plate Almonte with the go-ahead run.

 

Brandon Kintzler retired the Zephyrs in order in the top of the ninth to preserve the lead and notch his fifth save of the year for Nashville.

 

Hand (2-0) was handed the victory following his three-pitch relief effort for the Sounds.

 

Whisler matched Dillard's solid start with one of his own for New Orleans, limiting the Sounds to one run on six hits over seven innings in a no-decision.

 

The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. matchup on Thursday. Left-hander Chase Wright (7-8, 4.95) will toe the rubber for the Sounds and face New Orleans southpaw James Houser (0-1, 3.60).

 

Nashville box score

Wait, what? Is Greer Stadium no longer historic? Listen to Cruz's sac fly here. It was the usual Kintzler outing--perfect with one strikeout. Mat Gamel was 0-3 with a HBP.

 

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: Helena 6, @Casper 2

Helena box score

Tyler Thornburg struck out five over five innings, allowing just a single run and hit. He did walk four, but all came in the last two innings; his previous high in innings pitched was three, so the wavering control is perhaps understandable. He allowed a homer and posted a 4/5 GO/AO. Rob Currie and Eric Marzec were very good in relief, the former fanning six and walking none in three innings, and the latter, as usual, tossing a perfect 9th with two K's. Carlos George and Franklin Romero were both 3-4, with George tripling and Romero homering; Romero was also hit by a pitch, so he was on four times. Shea Vucinich and Greg Hopkins added two hits. Cody Hawn was 1-5, and Rafael Neda was 0-4 with a walk.

 

Helena play-by-play

Thornburg's last two frames:

 

Casper Bottom of the 4th

• Rafael Ortega walks.
• Brett Tanos walks. Rafael Ortega to 2nd.
• Corey Dickerson strikes out swinging.
• With
  Jordan Ballard batting, Rafael Ortega caught stealing 3rd base, catcher
  Rafael Neda to third baseman Gregory Hopkins, Brett Tanos to 2nd.
• Jordan Ballard walks.
• Juan Crousset called out on strikes.

Casper Bottom of the 5th

• Ryan Casteel homers (2) on a fly ball to left field.
• Robert De La Cruz strikes out swinging.
• Jeffrey Squier walks.
• Jose
  Rivera grounds into double play, second baseman Shea Vucinich to
  shortstop Carlos George to first baseman Cody Hawn. Jeffrey Squier
  out at 2nd.

[TooLiveBrew]

Steve Wendt mentioned that Thornburg has been throwing in the mid-90s this summer (no radar gun available tonight) while tossing a spike curveball and what he called a 'bugs bunny' changeup.

 

Even if that's a bit overstated, or homer-ized, that sounds like a pretty darn impressive arsenal for Tyler.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Arizona Reds 10, @Arizona Brewers 0

 

Arizona Box Score

Bummer of a game for all the Maryvale season ticket holders; as noted, RHP Alex Periard began his latest rehab by making his first appearance since his June 5th start for Huntsville -- it doesn't seem like he made eleven starts for the Stars early this season, but he did -- they just were not overly memorable (4.71 ERA, only 24 K's in 63 innings), the Brewers need to figure out how to drop him off the 40-man roster this fall (exposing him, of course) so he can be added again later and still retain an option for future use; RHP Dan Britt stranded two of Periard's baserunners and then added three scoreless innings, just-turned 20-year-old LHP Dane Amedee picked up three frames (two runs), but fellow southpaw Marques Kyles had another rough outing as it blew up late...

 

It wouldn't have mattered, as the Maryvale crew managed just two singles, two walks, fanned 14 times, and committed four errors. Other than that, the guys played well.

 

Arizona Game Log

Periard's return --

 

AZL Reds Top of the 1st

• Ronald Torreyes singles on a line drive to right fielder Thomas Mittelstaedt.
  
• Jaren Matthews walks. Ronald Torreyes to 2nd.
  
• David Vidal walks. Ronald Torreyes to 3rd. Jaren Matthews to 2nd.
  
• Robert Maddox singles on a ground ball to right fielder Thomas Mittelstaedt. Ronald Torreyes scores. Jaren Matthews to 3rd. David Vidal to 2nd.
  
• Yasmani Grandal reaches on force attempt, missed catch error by catcher Tyler Roberts, assist to pitcher Alex Periard. Jaren Matthews scores. David Vidal to 3rd. Robert Maddox to 2nd.
  
• Kurtis Muller singles on a line drive to right fielder Thomas Mittelstaedt. David Vidal scores. Robert Maddox to 3rd. Yasmani Grandal to 2nd.
  
• Samuel Diaz grounds into a force out, second baseman Nick Shaw to shortstop Yadiel Rivera. Robert Maddox scores. Yasmani Grandal to 3rd. Kurtis Muller out at 2nd. Samuel Diaz to 1st.
  
• Pitcher Change: Dan Britt replaces Alex Periard.
  
• Drew Poulk strikes out swinging.
  
• Adam Muenster called out on strikes.

[Mass Haas]

Stephen has video of the Shawn Zarraga and Erik Komatsu home runs online.

 

Zarraga has that Brad Nelson body style working for him, Komatsu nothing like that -- Erik actually knew his was gone earlier than Shawn did.

[Tedaldtada]

colbyjack wrote:

The Helena staff really has my interest piqued, and I believe it has been Invader that has been offering his support for the 2010 draft class even without Covey, which I'm starting to subscribe to (although I recognize that a college pitching heavy class better have good results in the Pioneer League).

Peaking head up....

Maybe Invader has been as well. If so, welcome to the bandwagon.

That said, next year will be very telling for Nelson, Thornburg, Miller, Ross and Holle. Can they keep it up in A/A+? From their peripherals and reports on their stuff, I see no reason why not.

[Mass Haas]

Stars salvage series finale with Biscuits

By Aaron Morse, Huntsville Stars

 

Chuckie Caufield doubled in Drew Anderson in the sixth to break a 3-3 tie and the Huntsville Stars (30-29, 63-66) won on get away day Wednesday afternoon by a final score of 5-3 over the Montgomery Biscuits.

 

The Stars jumped out to the early lead in the bottom of the first. With one away, Brett Lawrie drew a walk. He showed off his trademark aggressiveness with a stolen base, his 29th of the year. Zelous Wheeler singled to left to move Lawrie to third and put runners at the corners with one out. That’s when Anderson nearly smacked a three-run homer as the ball went off the top of the right field wall. He settled for a two-RBI triple to give the Stars a 2-0 lead. Andy Machado hit a ball hard to center to score Anderson. Taylor Green struck-out to end the inning, a sign of things to come for the Stars.

 

In fact, between the first and sixth innings, Montgomery starter Alex Cobb (6-5) could not have been more dominating. He struck out two in the second inning and sent the side down in order via the K in the third and fourth innings respectively.

 

Meanwhile, the Biscuits came back to tie the game. With one out in the third, Rashad Eldridge singled to left off Stars’ starter Mark Rogers. The hard throwing right-hander was able to get John Matulia to hit a tailor-made double play ball to second baseman Lawrie. Lawrie’s feed to Wheeler was true, but Wheeler dropped the ball and everyone was safe. With two away, more bad luck hit Rogers as a shattered bat caused him to have to try field a slow roller while avoiding the sharp barrel. He successfully did the latter, but the ball squeaked past him for an infield single. At that point, Rogers walked in two runs and the Biscuits cut the score to 3-2 in favor of the Stars.

 

They got one more run in the fifth. With one out, Jose Ruiz singled to center. After a walk, Rogers struck out Matt Spring for the second out of the inning. But Mike Folli delivered a clutch RBI single to center.

 

Rogers got a ground-out to end the inning and his night. The former first round pick went five innings, giving up three runs (one earned), on six hits. He walked four and struck-out eight.

 

Speaking of strike-outs, Cobb sent down 13 Stars’ hitters via the K. However Huntsville got to him for the eventual winning run in the sixth. With one away, Anderson doubled to left field. Cobb struck-out the next batter and then the Biscuits decided to intentionally walk Green to get to Caufield.

 

Big mistake. The Biscuit-killer laced a double to right center field to drive in Anderson and give the Stars a 4-3 lead.

 

The Stars tacked on an insurance run in the eighth thanks to a RBI double off the bat of Green.

 

Chris Cody (7-7) tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to get the win. Michael Fiers finished things off for his first save of the year with two scoreless frames of his own.

 

Despite the win, the Stars remain 4.5 games back of the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx in the wild card race with 11 games to play. They head to Mobile to open a four game series Thursday. Amaury Rivas (11-6) will be on the mound. First pitch is at 7:05 PM central time and all the action can be heard on the Stars Radio Network.

[CheezWizHed]

...and what he called a 'bugs bunny' changeup.

 

Cool! That's the one where you can strike out the whole side with one pitch! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzqxIql0Pnk&sns=em

 

Right around the 1:45 mark

[colbyjack]

Maybe Invader has been as well. If so, welcome to the bandwagon.

 

My bad Tedaldtada29, I do believe I was thinking of you. I meant to reply to a few of your other posts elsewhere in which you have defended this year's draft class, and while losing Covey really stinks, the early returns on the early college arms has been encouraging. Someone mentioned above that college pitchers should enjoy success in the Pioneer League, which I agree with, adding to your point about how important their progression will be heading into next year.

 

I should also note that I was initially disappointed (somewhat) on this year's draft haul because it seemed far too conservative, so yes, I'm coming around http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

[SpaceCoastBaseball]

Video of Kyle Heckathorn is now on the SpaceCoastBaseball.com home page, along with the homers by Erik Komatsu and Shawn Zarraga.

 

More video from the game will be posted over the weekend.