Link Report for Tue. 8/31 -- Congratulations, Maryvale Brewers, League Champions!

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Tuesday's Daily Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP's Chase Wright and Chuck Lofgren in a doubledip at Oklahoma City (Rangers), 4:50 PM pre-game; 5:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

Live Audio Link

 

Huntsville: TBD (perhaps RHP Michael Bowman) at Montgomery (Rays), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Brevard County: TBD (perhaps RHP Kyle Heckathorn) at Tampa (Yankees); 6:00 PM gametime

Sorry, no audio for this series...

 

Wisconsin: RHP Jake Odorizzi at home vs. Kane County (Athletics), 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Helena: First, it's the completion of this August 9th suspended game at home vs. Billings (Reds) -- Brewers trail 3-0 after four innings, still looking for their first hit, then it's RHP Tyler Thornburg set to start the seven-inning nightcap, 6:15 PM pre-game; 6:30 gametime

Live Audio Link

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the Reds' squad, 9:00 PM; this is a one-game final for the Arizona Summer League championship

 

DSL Brewers: Season complete

[Mass Haas]

If Helena can't pull out the win, does the eight-game winning streak end? Or does it get officially assigned to August 9th? Guessing the latter. Go out and grab the victory anyway, boys...

[Mass Haas]

Nashville's series in Oklahoma City available for subscription viewing via MiLB.TV.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Tuesday'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 Game One (Gameday also available)

Nashville Game Two (Gameday also available)

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

Brevard County

Wisconsin

Helena Completion of Suspended Game

Helena Game Two

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale)

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Iowa	78	58	.574	-	-	37-31	41-27	6-4	W2
	Memphis	78	59	.569	0.5	8	46-25	32-34	8-2	W7
	Omaha	75	62	.547	3.5	5	37-32	38-30	5-5	W1
	Nashville	72	64	.529	6.0	3	39-31	33-33	6-4	L1

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*#	Tennessee	40	23	.635	-	-	25-10	15-13	6-4	L1
	Huntsville	31	31	.500	8.5	E	18-13	13-18	3-7	W1
	Chattanooga	30	33	.476	10.0	E	16-19	14-14	5-5	L1
	West Tenn	28	35	.444	12.0	E	15-13	13-22	4-6	L4
	Carolina	26	35	.426	13.0	E	12-18	14-17	3-7	L1

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tampa	39	22	.639	-	-	19-9	20-13	6-4	L1
	Daytona	37	25	.597	2.5	6	22-11	15-14	5-5	W1
	Brevard County	34	30	.531	6.5	2	18-17	16-13	3-7	L5
	Lakeland	31	31	.500	8.5	E	14-11	17-20	5-5	L1
	Clearwater	28	34	.452	11.5	E	15-14	13-20	6-4	W3
*	Dunedin	27	36	.429	13.0	E	15-19	12-17	5-5	W1

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Quad Cities	38	24	.613	-	-	13-15	25-9	5-5	W1
	Clinton	36	27	.571	2.5	-	20-13	16-14	7-3	W1
	Kane County	34	28	.548	4.0	6	17-12	17-16	5-5	W1
	Beloit	32	28	.533	5.0	4	18-13	14-15	6-4	W3
*	Cedar Rapids	33	30	.524	5.5	5	17-14	16-16	3-7	L1
	Peoria	30	31	.492	7.5	2	17-16	13-15	5-5	L1
	Wisconsin	30	33	.476	8.5	2	16-15	14-18	5-5	L1
	Burlington	20	40	.333	17.0	E	14-17	6-23	3-7	L4

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Helena	18	9	.667	-	-	7-5	11-4	9-1	W8
*	Great Falls	16	12	.571	2.5	9	10-4	6-8	8-2	W2
	Billings	13	13	.500	4.5	7	8-6	5-7	6-4	L1
	Missoula	11	18	.379	8.0	3	6-8	5-10	2-8	L5

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
#	AZL Brewers	34	22	.607	-	-	13-12	12-10	3-6	W1
&	AZL Reds	31	24	.564	2.5	E	12-8	14-9	8-2	W6
	AZL Dodgers	30	25	.545	3.5	E	12-11	13-8	5-5	L1
	AZL Indians	21	35	.375	13.0	E	8-14	10-13	2-8	L2

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
#	DSL Mariners	43	28	.606	-	-	23-13	20-15	7-3	L1
	DSL Cardinals	39	32	.549	4.0	E	24-11	15-21	5-5	L2
	DSL Athletics	32	39	.451	11.0	E	17-19	15-20	6-4	W2
	DSL Brewers	28	43	.394	15.0	E	17-18	11-25	3-7	W1

[Mass Haas]

PDF documents:

 

Nashville Media Notes

 

Huntsville Media Notes

[battlekow]

Sounds doubleheader rained out Tuesday

Nashville Sounds

 

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Tuesday evening's doubleheader between the Nashville Sounds and Oklahoma City RedHawks at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark was postponed due to rain.

 

The teams will make up the two contests in back-to-back doubleheaders on Wednesday and Thursday.

 

Wednesday's doubleheader will begin at 3:05 p.m. CT. Left-hander Chase Wright (7-8, 4.94) is scheduled to start Wednesday's first game for the Sounds opposite right-hander Omar Beltre (3-8, 2.53). Left-hander Chuck Lofgren (7-8, 5.14) toes the rubber in the nightcap for Nashville against Doug Mathis (5-6, 5.75).

 

Thursday's doubleheader start time has not yet been announced.

[Kevbo74]

I was listening to the Rattlers (where Khris Davis has now tied the franchise record for homers) and missed what happened in Brevard.

What went down with Heckathorn?

[colbyjack]

I checked the BC box score at one point in time, and it said the game was delayed. I'm guessing (hoping) that rain shortened his outing this evening, especially since the game started at 6pm this evening and is only in the 5th.

 

Chris Mehring has noted that Odorizzi wasn't as sharp as he normally is tonight, but did a pretty good job despite not having his best stuff. I'm hoping a few people that did make it this evening chime in with their thoughts, especially since we're going to have to wait 7 months for his next appearance.

[battlekow]

Final (game one): Billings 7, @Helena 5

Helena box score

Win streak over--sort of. As MH noted, because this was the completion of a suspended game, it probably doesn't technically snap the run of consecutive wins, but it's a loss all the same. It was 2-0 in favor of the Mustangs when the game was suspended in the top of the 4th; Jimmy Nelson came on, inheriting a mess from Evan Frederickson, and allowed another run to score. He would allow two of his own--both unearned--in the 6th, and finished with four strikeouts and three walks in two innings of work. Frederickson himself walked four and uncorked two wild pitches while allowed the three runs in 3.2 frames. Franklin Romero and Robbie Garvey had two hits, and Garvey also walked and threw a runner out at home. Shea Vucinich reached four times, on a single, a walk, and two HBP; the Brewers were hit four times in total.

 

Helena play-by-play

[And That]

I'm shocked and appalled that few people seem to be interested in the AZL Micro Brewers' run at the League Championship. They're up 7-5 heading into the bottom of the 5th as the Crayola Reds are running out of chances to come back against the Brewers' vaunted offense. Jason Rogers has knocked in 4 on the strength of a double and a home run in 3 trips to the plate. Fdfg favorite son Travis Stortz has settled things down after Dan Britt was knocked around to start the game.

[YoungGeezy]

Tyler Thornburg has really been proving those Lincecum comparisons to be true....he is really just a Freak!! 10K's in 5.2IP brings total up to 41k's in 26.1 IP's not to mention his like .98 WHIP (11BB and 15 hits) and 1.93 ERA. Impressive start!

[battlekow]

Final: @Montgomery 3, Huntsville 2

Stars' playoff hopes waning

Connor Shreve/Huntsville Stars

 

Huntsville failed to rally in Montgomery Tuesday evening and came out on the bottom end of a 3-2 final score.

 

The loss, with a West Tennessee victory, moved the Stars to four games back in the wild card chase with Huntsville's elimination number now at three games.

 

The low scoring affair didn't start that way with both squads combining for four of the five total runs in the first two innings. Zelous Wheeler scored Huntsville's first run in the second inning on a play that handcuffed the Stars chances of adding to the total. Wheeler doubled to lead off the inning and advanced on a wild pitch. He scored on a grounder off the bat of Chris Nowak that wiped the bases clean and accounted for the first two outs of the frame.

 

Michael Fiers kept Huntsville in the game with four shutout innings of relief. Stars starter Mike Bowman lost his 12th game of the season, allowing three earned runs in four innings.

 

The Stars and Biscuits play game two on Wednesday evening beginning at 7:05 CDT.

 

Huntsville box score

Great job by Fiers, who struck out eight and walked none while allowing just two hits; 37 of his 52 pitches were strikes. I think we're seeing a glimpse into the future there: quality multi-inning relief from Fiers. Wheeler also drew a free pass to go with his double. Caleb Gindl doubled, Taylor Green had a walk, and Brett Lawrie was 0-4.

 

Huntsville play-by-play

The Stars' second run:

 

Huntsville Top of the 7th

• Drew T. Anderson flies out to center fielder Rashad Eldridge.
• Zelous Wheeler walks.
• With Taylor Green batting, wild pitch by Dane De La Rosa, Zelous Wheeler to 2nd.
• With Taylor Green batting, wild pitch by Dane De La Rosa, Zelous Wheeler to 3rd.
• Taylor Green lines out to shortstop Drew M. Anderson.
• Chris Nowak singles on a line drive to center fielder Rashad Eldridge. Zelous Wheeler scores.
• Caleb
  Gindl grounds into a force out, second baseman Shawn O'Malley to
  shortstop Drew M. Anderson. Chris Nowak out at 2nd.

[battlekow]

Final: @Wisconsin 16, Kane County 4

Rattlers get offensive to beat Kane County

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had their biggest offensive night of the 2010 season in a 16-4 win over the Kane County Cougars Tuesday night at Time Warner Cable Field. All nine Timber Rattlers in the starting lineup had at least one hit and eight of the nine had at least one RBI. Plus, Khris Davis, Kentrail Davis, and Chris Dennis all homered for Wisconsin, while Joey Paciorek drove in four runs. The home run by Khris Davis made a little team history for the Wisconsin outfielder.

 

The Rattlers (57-75 overall, 31-33 second half) grabbed control of the game with a six run second inning. Khris Davis started the inning with a walk. Then, Dennis hit his sixteenth home run of the season to put the Rattlers up 2-0. One out later, Cameron Garfield reached on a three-base error and scored on an infield grounder by Paciorek. Michael Marseco kept the inning alive with a single and stole second base. Cutter Dykstra singled home Marseco. Then, Kentrail Davis lined a homer over the wall in left and Wisconsin was up 6-0.

 

On Tuesday night Jake Odorizzi was making his first start for the Rattlers since his eight no-hit innings at Cedar Rapids on August 23. He kept the Cougars off the board through the first three innings, but he struggled in the fourth and could not get out of the inning to qualify for the win. The first two batters singled to get runners on first and third for Kane County (66-66, 34-29). Odorizzi got a strikeout for the first out and Tyreace House knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly for the second out. But, a walk kept the inning going for the Cougars. Leonardo Gil followed with a triple to drive in a pair of runs. A mishandled pickoff throw to third let Gil score. Then, Mitch LeVier drew a walk to knock Odorizzi out of the game.

 

Adrian Rosario, who pitched the final inning of the no-hitter on August 23, relieved Odorizzi and got the final out of the fifth with a strikeout.

 

Khris Davis started the bottom of the fifth inning for the Rattlers with a home run to the bullpen in right-center and joined an exclusive club in Timber Rattlers history. The homer was the his twenty-first of the season and tied the franchise record for home runs in a season. Juan Silvestre set the mark in 1999 and Matt Hagen matched it in 2003. Now, Davis is tied and has six games remaining in the season to set a new standard.

 

That homer got the Rattlers going again. Three walks in the inning loaded the bases. Dykstra knocked in two runs with a single for a 9-4 lead. In the sixth inning, Wisconsin pushed the lead to 12-4 on a two-run double by D’Vontrey Richardson and a sacrifice fly by Garfield.

 

Wisconsin put the game away in the bottom of the eighth. Paciorek doubled with the bases loaded to drive in three runs. He would score on another single by Marseco and the Rattlers were up 16-4.

 

The sixteen runs for Wisconsin were the most since in 2010. The previous high of 15 was set on July 12 in a 15-12 win over Burlington.

 

The victory moves the Rattlers to within 3-1/2 games of the Cougars, who currently hold the wild card spot in the second half Western Division standings in the Midwest League. Wisconsin and Kane County play a three-game series at Kane County September 4-6 to conclude the regular season.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin their final homestand of the season on Wednesday night when they host the Quad Cities River Bandits. Nick Bucci (5-6, 3.85) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Daniel Bibona (3-0, 2.10) is set to start for Quad Cities. Game time is 6:35pm.

 

Tuesday night is a bonus Bang For Your Buck Night at Time Warner Cable Field. Soda, hotdogs, and Miller Beer will be available for $1. There are a pair of giveaways on Tuesday night, too. The first 1,000 fans into the ballpark will receive a poster of Timber Rattlers pitcher Maverick Lasker courtesy of Express Convenience Centers. Also, there will be magnet schedule for the 2011 Timber Rattlers season for the first 1,000 fans.

 

Tuesday night is a Back to College Night. Fans who show a college ID will receive admission to the game for just $1.

 

Wisconsin box score

The Rattlers really made colby pay for not going. Marseco and Dykstra both had three hits, and both were on four times total, each drawing a walk. Khris Davis, with three walks to go with his history-tying homer, and Dennis, who doubled and walked twice to complement his blast, also reached base four times. Richardson was also strong, 2-4 with a walk. Despite having 25 doubles and 10 triples on the year, the homer was just Kentrail Davis's third. Rosario struck out five and walked one in 2.1 scoreless innings. Scooter Gennett did not play.

 

Wisconsin play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: @Tampa 6, Brevard County 5 (10 innings)

Brevard County box score

Kyle Heckathorn could only go two innings because of a rain delay, which came after he loaded the bases to begin the 3rd inning. He gave up two runs on four hits, striking out two and walking none. Trey Watten came in and handled the next four innings; as usual, he got a lot of grounders (8/2 GO/AO) but also allowed three runs. Brock Kjeldgaard homered twice for the Manatees, Erik Komatsu doubled twice, walked, and stole his 25th base, and Matt Cline added three hits, including a double. Shawn Zarraga and Juan Sanchez also had two hits each. Big Brock also pitched in on defense, showing off the old arm with an outfield assist (how come he doesn't play RF?)

Brevard County play-by-play

How the game ended:

 

Tampa Bottom of the 10th

• Pitcher Change: Corey Frerichs replaces Daniel Meadows.
• Jack Rye strikes out swinging, catcher Shawn Zarraga to first baseman Sean Halton.
• Mitch Abeita singles on a line drive to center fielder Erik Komatsu.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Anderson Feliz replaces Mitch Abeita.
• With Trent Lockwood batting, wild pitch by Corey Frerichs, Anderson Feliz to 2nd.
• Trent Lockwood doubles (16) on a fly ball to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Anderson Feliz scores.

[UeckerPowell]

Chris Mehring has noted that Odorizzi wasn't as sharp as he normally is tonight, but did a pretty good job despite not having his best stuff. I'm hoping a few people that did make it this evening chime in with their thoughts, especially since we're going to have to wait 7 months for his next appearance.

That is what I thought of Odorizzi tonight too. His fastball was between 90-92 mph for most of the night and even drop down to 88 mph in the 5th. He suffer a little bad luck in the fifth when Michael Gilmartin ground ball trickle through the infielder since Michael Marseco broke for second to cover the bag with Stassi was stealing. If Marseco could made that play Odorizzi probably would of been able to get out of that inning alright.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game Two: @Helena 3, Billings (Reds) 2, ten innings (scheduled for seven)

 

Brewers hold ground in division, split with Billings

By Brett Billings/ Helena Brewers

 

Helena bounced back from a 7-5 defeat in game one to take the nightcap. In a game that was only slated for seven innings, the Brewers walked off in ten, 3-2.

 

Brandon Sizemore doubled in Brent Dean in the second inning to put the Brewers on the board early. An inning later, Franklin Romero, Jr. scored thanks to a single from Shea Vucinich, and the Brewers held an early 2-0 lead.

 

Billings tied the game with a two-run fourth off of Brewers' starter Tyler Thornburg. Thornburg, who recorded a season-high ten strikeouts, threw 5.2 innings and allowed two earned runs.

 

Brian Garman relieved Thornburg in the sixth inning and held the Mustangs at bay. He finished the sixth and pitched the seventh and eighth without allowing a run or a hit. He struck out two and walked three.

 

Ryan Bernal started the ninth. A pair of walks and a passed ball put runners at first and third with two down, but Bernal left them there with a strikeout to end the frame. Bernal left the game with an apparent injury, after warming up in the tenth.

The Brewers decided that ten innings were enough. John Dishon and Carlos George walked with two outs. Romero, Jr. hit a line drive up the middle to score Dishon, who came stumbling into the plate to win the game.

 

Seth Lintz recorded his first professional win by throwing a scoreless tenth. He allowed a hit and a walk but left runners at the corners. Milwaukee's second round pick of 2008 played his first two seasons in the Arizona Rookie League.

 

Helena stays at home to face Great Falls tomorrow for the first game of a three game series. RHP Tyler Cravy (6-5, 6.82) is scheduled to take the hill for the Brewers. The Voyagers are sending RHP Paul Burnside (5-3, 4.45) to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 (8:05 Central).

 

***

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Helena splits with Stangs

By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record

It was the kind of situation Cody Hawn would have loved — two on in the 10th inning for the Helena Brewers, the winning run in scoring position.

 

But the Pioneer League RBI leader is out with a hamstring injury, so outfielder Franklin Romero, Jr. stepped up and got the job done.

 

Romero, who entered Tuesday batting .538 with runners in scoring position, came up with a clutch single to center to score John Dishon and beat the Billings Mustangs 3-2. But in a game where nothing came easy, even the winning run was hard to come by.

 

Dishon stumbled while coming around third base for home, and might not have made it had it not been for Billings center fielder Jefry Sierra bobbling the ball in shallow center. But Dishon found his feet and raced home untouched to give the Brewers their ninth straight victory and stretch their lead over Billings to 4 1/2 games with nine to play.

 

“I’m sure his daughter’s gonna be a good crawler after seeing the way he crawled home,” Helena skipper Joe Ayrault joked after the game. “I kept saying ‘keep going, keep going’ and he just fell. But the wheels came off from underneath him and he was still able to get there.”

 

Billings (35-31, 14-14) won the first of the rescheduled games 7-5 to renew its postseason hopes, but after the wild nightcap a shot at the playoffs is all but sealed for Helena.

 

Seth Lintz came in for Ryan Bernal in the top of the 10th after Bernal appeared to get injured while throwing his warm-up tosses. Lintz, a second-round pick in 2008, picked up that elusive first win as a pro in three years of trying.

 

But it was Tyler Thornburg who shined on the mound most for the hosts. In his longest professional outing—5 2/3 innings—the right-hander struck out 10, twice his career-high, and didn’t walk any Mustangs. He gave up just three hits—all back-to-back singles in the fourth frame—but fanned seven of the last nine batters he faced. Thornburg, who has a fastball that tops out at 98, appeared to throw several in the mid- to low-90s and mix in a solid breaking ball that kept Mustangs on their toes.

 

“He’s got big-league stuff,” Ayrault said. “We’re real happy with the way he pitched.”

 

After sweeping a seven-game road trip in which the Brewers averaged 10 runs a game, Helena struggled to get even a runner in scoring position after the third inning. That is, until Billings reliever Drew Hayes issued a two-out walk to Dishon and a four-pitch walk shortly after to Carlos George, before Romero’s RBI single found a gap up the middle to end the game, which was originally slated to be a seven-inning affair.

 

“He did exactly what we needed him to,” Ayrault said of Romero. “He’s got the tools to play in the Major Leagues and if he keeps increasing his speed and hitting like he has been, he’s gonna keep working his way up the ladder.”

 

Because the early game Tuesday was a makeup of the Aug. 9 rainout, it did not factor into the Brewers’ current win streak.

 

Helena (38-29, 19-10) goes for 10 straight tonight when it hosts Pioneer League North first-half champion Great Falls.

 

Helena Game Two Box Score

Wow, it's been a long time since the Brewers had a draft pick who so quickly and clearly made the case that he is just filthy on the mound -- thanks for planting future ace thoughts in our head, Tyler Thornburg -- how's that for pressure? More combined walks and HBP's (12) than hits in the contest -- Shea Vucinich a bit black-and-blue this AM, plunked in this game (and twice in the opener, although one happened on August 9th); hopefully Florida Atlantic's Ryan Bernal is OK -- you hate to read about incidents like that...

 

Helena Game Two Game Log

[Mass Haas]

From the same two links as the prior post, here's more on the completion of the suspended Helena game --

 

By Brett Billings/ Helena Brewers

The Helena Brewers dropped the first game Tuesday night to the Billings Mustangs in a continuation of the game that was suspended on August 9th. The game picked up in the top of the fifth inning with Helena trailing 3-0. They cut the score to 3-2 in the fifth but eventually lost 7-5.

 

LHP Evan Frederickson (2-3, 5.11) started the game on August 9th and took the loss. He pitched the first 3.2 innings and allowed three runs, all earned.

 

RHP Jimmy Nelson entered the game on August 9th and recorded an out. The 6'6" 245 lb right-hander picked up where he left off on Tuesday. Nelson allowed two unearned runs while striking out four and walking three in two innings of work.

 

The Brewers' runs came in innings five, seven, and nine. Robbie Garvey had an RBI single in the fifth, which scored Franklin Romero, Jr. Shea Vucinich scored on a wild pitch one batter later. Vucinch accounted for Helena's run in the seventh when he scored on a line-drive single from Greg Hopkins making the score 5-3 in favor of Billings at the time.

 

Billings scored twice off of Brewers reliever Caleb Theilbar in the top of the ninth to widen their advantage to 7-3. Helena didn't go down quietly. Garvey singled in Carlos George and Romero Jr. scored after a groundout, but that was close as the Brewers would come as they fell 7-5 with the potential tying run at the plate.

 

***

 

By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record

 

In the completion of an Aug. 9 game Billings scored two runs in the ninth to increase its lead to 7-3, a pair of scores that proved crucial when Helena came back to tack on two of its own. Stephen Hunt hit his second homer of the season to lead off the final frame, and Trey Manz came home on Juan Duran’s RBI double.

Two runs came in for the hosts courtesy of Robbie Garvey’s RBI single and an RBI groundout by Greg Hopkins in their half of the inning.

Evan Frederickson, who started the game for the Brewers 22 days earlier, was tagged with the loss. Daniel Wolford earned the win for the Mustangs, giving up just four hits and three runs while striking out three.

Garvey and Franklin Romero, Jr. were the only Brewers to record more than one hit, in a game where Helena didn’t get a hit until the fifth frame.

DIAMOND NOTES: In the first game of the makeup doubleheader, Billings second baseman Billy Hamilton tied a Mustangs franchise record with his 42nd stolen base of the season. Gary Redus set that mark back in 1978...Hamilton was caught stealing on his only attempt in the nightcap, the first time he was picked off since Aug. 1, which snapped a streak of 23 thefts.

 

All photos by Dylan Brown, Helena Independent Record

Brewers' Robbie Garvey slides safely through Billings' third baseman Oliver Santos Tuesday night at Kindrick Legion Field, during a make-up game from earlier this month.

 

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/3/46/d3d/346d3d42-b57f-11df-ba54-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c7dd2cf773ac.image.jpg

 

Brewers' designated hitter Greg Hopkins hits a double Tuesday night against Billings in their make-up game at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/1/64/121/16412176-b57f-11df-a4f0-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c7dd29c8ef0e.image.jpg

 

Billings' Billy Hamilton slide into second base as Brewers' Carlos George tries to tag him in a close-call play that ruled Hamilton safe.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/0/81/694/08169450-b57f-11df-92b9-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c7dd284bfe59.image.jpg

 

Brewers' designated hitter Brent Dean slides safe into first, while Billings' Donald Lutz tries to tag him out on an attempted pick-off.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/4/3e/21a/43e21a22-b57f-11df-a16d-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c7dd2e9dca66.image.jpg

 

Brewers' designated hitter Brent Dean hits a foul ball.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/5/0c/d06/50cd0620-b57f-11df-83d2-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c7dd2ff93892.image.jpg

 

In Tuesday night's make-up game against Billings, Brewers' second pitcher Caleb Thielbar walks off the mound.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/f/0b/02f/f0b02f4c-b57e-11df-84b1-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c7dd25ebbf36.image.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Arizona Brewers 10, Arizona Reds 8

Champions!!!

 

Rogers, Brewers rally, win AZL crown

32nd-round draft pick drives in five runs to erase early deficit

MiLB.com Staff

 

The Brewers captured the Arizona League championship on Tuesday, getting five RBIs from Jason Rogers and rallying past the Reds, 10-8.

 

Rogers, Milwaukee's 32nd-round pick in this year's draft, fell a triple shy of the cycle. He tied for sixth in the league during the regular season with 32 RBIs, hitting .281 with three homers in 42 games.

 

Nick Shaw, one of the Brewers' two Arizona League All-Stars, went 4-for-4 with a double, four runs scored and two RBIs. Kenny Allison chipped in two hits and scored twice.

 

Shaw, a 25th-round pick in June, started the decisive rally in the eighth with a two-out single. He took third on a base hit by Allison and scored on a wild pitch by relief Jose Marizan (0-1) to snap an 8-8 tie. Allison stole third and came on with an insurance run on Rogers' third hit of the night.

 

Riding a seven-game winning streak into the one-game final, the Reds grabbed the early lead. Kurtis Muller hit an RBI triple in the second and fellow AZL All-Star Robert Maddox capped a two-run third with an RBI single.

 

But the Brewers got on the board in the bottom of the inning on an error by Reds starter Radhames Quezada and tied it on Rogers' two-run double. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Drew Poulk and Juan Silva put the Reds back on top in the fourth, but the Brewers answered with four runs in their half.

 

Shaw came through with a two-run single and Rogers snapped a 5-5 deadlock with a two-run homer.

 

Both teams scored a run in the sixth, but Maddox homered and Jaren Matthews lifted a sacrifice fly in the seventh to lift the Reds into an 8-8 tie.

 

Seth Harvey (1-0) got the win after striking out three in 1 2/3 hitless innings. Jose Sanchez pitched around a hit and a walk in the ninth and saved both of the Brewers' playoff wins.

 

Arizona Box Score

Hail to the victors! It's the first Brewers affiliate League Championship since the Sounds won the PCL title in 2005 (please correct me if I'm mistaken); 2B and leadoff man Nick Shaw is just ridiculous -- the just-turned 22-year-old doubled, singled three times, walked, and scored four runs -- get this young man to Helena as a nice reward today; huge game from a huge man -- way to go, Jason Rogers; the top five in the Arizona order was big, as they were all season -- Shaw, Kenny Allison, Rogers, T.J. Mittelstaedt, and Tyler Roberts combined for 13 (13!) hits, four for extra bases...

 

Arizona Game Log

Closer Jose Sanchez faced the potential "losing' run with just one out in a scary 9th -- fittingly, Shaw and Rogers handled the ball on the championship clinching play:

 

AZL Reds Top of the 9th

• Pitcher Change: Jose Sanchez replaces Seth Harvey.
  
• David Vidal singles on a ground ball to right fielder John Bivens.
  
• With Robert Maddox batting, wild pitch by Jose Sanchez, David Vidal to 2nd.
  
• Robert Maddox flies out to left fielder Derrick Shaw. David Vidal to 3rd.
  
• Yasmani Grandal walks.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Jeff Taylor replaces Yasmani Grandal.
  
• Kurtis Muller flies out to center fielder Kenneth Allison.
  
• Jaren Matthews grounds out, second baseman Nick Shaw to first baseman Jason Rogers.

Jason Rogers tied for fifth in the Arizona League with 32 RBIs. (Photo by Bill Mitchell/Four Seam Images)

 

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2010/09/01/zkOF3DvJ.jpg

[Tedaldtada]

Great job men of Arizona! Congrats.

[colbyjack]

The Rattlers really made colby pay for not going.

 

I take solace in the fact that I would have been gone by the time the offense exploded in the later innings anyway, as my 4-year old companion would have had to leave in the mid-innings to get some sleep before his first day of 4K http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

 

That is what I thought of Odorizzi tonight too. His fastball was between 90-92 mph for most of the night and even drop down to 88 mph in the 5th.

 

Isn't that where Odorizzi usually sits, or does he typically not drop below 90 very often? I took Mehring's comment to be directed more at his command and overall repertoire effectiveness, and it didn't sound as though his curveball was as sharp as it normally is.

 

The AZ Brewers have been terrible for as long as I can remember, with a few exceptions sprinkled in, so it's especially nice to see them win the league championship.

 

I noted this is a different thread, but according to Steve Wendt, Thornburg has been throwing the ball extremely well this summer, particularly in his last several appearances. He mentioned that he continued to sit in the mid-90s last night, and was using mostly fastballs to retire batters, blowing it right by them. He started to mix in a few more breaking balls in the 4th-6th innings, but it didn't sound as though his changeup was working for him last night as it was his previous appearance. It also sounded like he didn't need it, although Billings does have quite a few aggressive, young hitters in their lineup. This young man is due for a big jump in the P50 the next time around...

[brewmann04]

Finally we have something to Cheer about Congrats Young MEN