Link Report for Sat. 4/9 -- Sounds, Suns, Rattlers victorious; 'Tees struggling

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Josh Butler at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 6:20 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

 

Huntsville: RHP Jesus Sanchez at Jacksonville (Marlins), 6:05 PM gametime

Live Audio Link (Jacksonville feed)

If that feed is unavailable tonight, click the Jacksonville feed link from the MiLB.com audio page here

 

Brevard County: RHP Nick Bucci at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime

Live Audio Link (Daytona feed)

 

Wisconsin: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Kane County (Royals), 12:45 PM pre-game; 1:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

Brevard County

Wisconsin

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Iowa	2	0	1.000	-	-	0-0	2-0	2-0	W2
	Nashville	2	0	1.000	-	-	2-0	0-0	2-0	W2
	Memphis	1	1	.500	1.0	142	1-1	0-0	1-1	W1
	Omaha	0	2	.000	2.0	141	0-0	0-2	0-2	L2

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tennessee	2	0	1.000	-	-	0-0	2-0	2-0	W2
	Huntsville	1	1	.500	1.0	68	0-0	1-1	1-1	L1
	Jackson	1	1	.500	1.0	68	0-0	1-1	1-1	W1
	Carolina	0	2	.000	2.0	67	0-2	0-0	0-2	L2
	Chattanooga	0	2	.000	2.0	67	0-2	0-0	0-2	L2

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Clearwater	2	0	1.000	-	-	1-0	1-0	2-0	W2
	Daytona	2	0	1.000	-	-	1-0	1-0	2-0	W2
	Lakeland	1	1	.500	1.0	68	1-0	0-1	1-1	L1
	Tampa	1	1	.500	1.0	68	1-0	0-1	1-1	W1
	Brevard County	0	2	.000	2.0	67	0-1	0-1	0-2	L2
	Dunedin	0	2	.000	2.0	67	0-1	0-1	0-2	L2

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Quad Cities	1	0	1.000	-	-	1-0	0-0	1-0	W1
	Burlington	1	1	.500	0.5	-	0-0	1-1	1-1	L1
	Cedar Rapids	1	1	.500	0.5	-	0-0	1-1	1-1	L1
	Clinton	1	1	.500	0.5	-	1-1	0-0	1-1	W1
	Kane County	1	1	.500	0.5	-	0-0	1-1	1-1	W1
	Peoria	1	1	.500	0.5	-	1-1	0-0	1-1	W1
	Wisconsin	1	1	.500	0.5	-	1-1	0-0	1-1	L1
	Beloit	0	1	.000	1.0	69	0-0	0-1	0-1	L1

[battlekow]

Rattlers game notes and lineup:

Shaw SS

Keen CF

Hawn DH

Rogers 1B

Walker 3B

Hopkins 2B

Roberts C

Mittelstaedt LF

Romero RF

Nelson SP

[Tedaldtada]

Tyler 'Big Country' Roberts helps Jimmy Nelson push through a couple of walks by gunning down both guys trying to steal, one 'by a mile'.

[tstads20]

Scouting report says Roberts is good behind the dish, so good to see he's living up to expectations there. Would love to see some of that offensive potential surface, double today is a nice start.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

Huntsville Media Notes

[battlekow]

Final: @Wisconsin 4, Kane County 3

Rattlers rally, then hold off Kane County

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers trailed the Kane County Cougars 1-0 after the seventh inning stretch on Saturday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. The home team scored twice in the seventh and twice in the eighth thanks to some defensive miscues by the Cougars. Then, Brian Garman held off Kane County in the ninth to secure a 4-3 win for Wisconsin. Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Manny Parra pitched two perfect innings and struck out four on a rehabilitation assignment and picked up the win for the Rattlers.

The two starting pitchers found different ways to keep the game scoreless through five innings. Wisconsin’s Jimmy Nelson allowed the leadoff batter to reach in four of the first five innings he pitched. Nelson worked around three walks, an error, and three hits over the first five, but got help on two caught stealing, a pair of double plays and four strikeouts.

Leondy Perez also allowed three hits in the first five frames, but did not walk a batter and struck out two. He got help when Mike Walker was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first on a two out double by Tyler Roberts in the bottom of the second.

Kane County broke through first with a run in the top of the sixth. Alex Llanos singled to lead off the inning. A sacrifice bunt and a flyout to right sent Llanos to third. Murray Watts came through with a two out single to left to score Llanos for a 1-0 Kane County lead.

Wisconsin got to Perez in the seventh inning with a pair of runs on one hit. Cody Hawn started the inning with a line drive to short that was ruled a trap. Perez issued his first walk of the game when he issued a four pitch free pass to Jason Rogers, the next batter of the inning. Walker followed and dropped a sacrifice bunt up the third base line. Perez fired wildly to first. That allowed Hawn to score the tying run, Rogers to take third, and Walker to move to second.

Perez got the next two outs. Then, the Cougars decided to walk TJ Mittelstaedt intentionally. Franklin Romero was next and his grounder to third was booted to allow Rogers to score the go ahead run.

Wisconsin tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning off Kane County reliever Nick Wooley. Reggie Keen singled, went to second on a wild pitch, took third on a grounder to the right side, and scored on another wild pitch. Rogers tripled on the next pitch. Greg Hopkins sent Rogers home with a single for a 4-1 Wisconsin lead.

Parra pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth for the Rattlers. He struck out four and retired all six batters he faced to put himself in line for the win.

Brian Garman, who recorded nine saves for the Helena Brewers in the Pioneer League in 2010, came on to close out the Cougars. He gave up a triple to Brian Fletcher to start the innings. Garman struck out the next two batters, but allowed an RBI double to Angel Franco and an RBI single to Ryan Jenkins. Garman closed out Kane County by striking out the final batter of the game for the 4-3 Rattlers win.

The final game of the series between Wisconsin and Kane County is Sunday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Del Howell is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Keaton Hayenga is set to start for the Cougars. Game time is 1:05pm

Sunday is the first Brewers Sunday of the 2011 season. The Rattlers will wear uniforms based on the jerseys worn by the 1975 Milwaukee Brewers during the game. The players will be available for fans in an autograph session after the game.

The first 1,000 fans in attendance on Sunday afternoon receive a poster of Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson courtesy of DiGiornio’s Pizza.

If you can’t make it to the game, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or www.timberrattlers.com.

http://wisconsin.timberrattlers.milb.com/images/2011/04/09/ZevZFMqr.jpg

Brian Garman strikes out Fernando Cruz for the final out of Wisconsin's

4-3 win over Kane County on Saturday afternoon. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

Wisconsin box score

Reggie Keen, baserunning hero? Seven of the nine Rattlers had exactly one hit, the exceptions being Romero and Nick Shaw. This was just Shaw's 7th career game at shortstop, compared to 48 at second base. Roberts, in addition to his double, drew a walk and threw out two runners stealing but also committed a passed ball, his nemesis last year at Maryvale. Nelson's final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 9/2 GO/AO. He threw 81 pitches, 47 for strikes, though Mehring said he was stretched out to an upper limit of 90 already. Parra was on his game, throwing only four balls in 22 pitches and hitting 94.

Wisconsin play-by-play

As mentioned above, Roberts' CS came in the same inning. Mehring was impressed.

Kane County Top of the 3rd

Fernando Cruz walks.

Gerard Hall called out on strikes.

With Alex Llanos batting, Fernando Cruz caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Tyler Roberts to second baseman Gregory Hopkins.

Alex Llanos walks.

With Yowill Espinal batting, Alex Llanos caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Tyler Roberts to second baseman Gregory Hopkins.

More of Nelson getting out of trouble, aided (and, in the 5th, hindered) by the D:

Kane County Top of the 4th

Yowill Espinal walks.

Brian Fletcher grounds into double play, third baseman Michael Walker to second baseman Gregory Hopkins to first baseman Jason Rogers. Yowill Espinal out at 2nd.

Murray Watts doubles (1) on a fly ball to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt.

Geulin Beltre grounds out, third baseman Michael Walker to first baseman Jason Rogers.

Kane County Top of the 5th

Angel Franco reaches on fielding error by first baseman Jason Rogers.

Ryan Jenkins grounds into double play, shortstop Nick Shaw to second baseman Gregory Hopkins to first baseman Jason Rogers. Angel Franco out at 2nd.

Fernando Cruz singles on a fly ball to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt.

With Gerard Hall batting, passed ball by Tyler Roberts, Fernando Cruz to 2nd.

Gerard Hall strikes out swinging.

[battlekow]

Haudricourt: "[Jonathan] Lucroy is scheduled to play seven innings for Class AA Huntsville today, then nine innings on Sunday and Monday before being re-evaluated."

[battlekow]

[DHonks]

sure would be nice to see someone from the group of Butler, Periard, Anundsen, and Wright bounce back and re-establish himself as a prospect.

[hsvstarsfan]

In Jacksonville, Brandon Jones tonight hit 3 doubles in a game in his first three at-bats. He's the 23rd Huntsville Star in history to do hit 3 doubles in a game, and the 12th since the Stars became a Milwaukee affiliate. Taylor Green and Caleb Gindl turned that trick last year.

[battlekow]

The Timber Rattlers have some photos from the opening series up on Facebook.

Jimmy Nelson:

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/205122_10150152729679176_264627419175_6410491_3106816_n.jpg

Manny Parra:

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/207310_10150152730584176_264627419175_6410511_5560945_n.jpg

[battlekow]

Final: Huntsville 9, @Jacksonville 2

Strong Offense Gives Stars Win

Huntsville Stars

Jacksonville, FL – Every player in the Stars starting lineup recorded a hit in Saturday’s game against Jacksonville, including pitcher Jesus Sanchez. The strong offense led the Stars to their second victory of the year, a 9-2 final over the Suns.

Left fielder Brandon Jones started the offensive barrage with his first of three doubles in the second inning. Center fielder Chuckie Caufield followed up with a double of his own to bring home Jones. Another double by second baseman Sergio Miranda resulted in a run for the Stars in the third.

Jones hit his second double to lead off the fourth and advanced to third on a passed ball by Suns catcher Kyle Skipworth. Caufield drove in Jones for his second RBI game. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy followed up with a single to bring home Caufield, giving the Stars four unanswered runs.

The Suns’ Skipworth belted a two-run homerun in the bottom of the fourth off of Stars starter Sanchez to close the Huntsville lead to two.

Sanchez, who had a quality start, added to his pitching performance with an RBI single at the plate in the fifth. The Stars kept their bats awake in the sixth, added four more runs with the help of a two-run dinger from right fielder Steffan Wilson.

Neither the Stars nor the Suns would score again in the 9-2 final.

Pitcher Sanchez picked up his first win, going 6.0 innings and giving up just two runs on two hits. He walked two and struck out three. Relievers Robert Hinton and Roque Mercedes combined to close out the game, allowing just two hits over 3.0 innings.

Suns starter Brad Hand went just 4.0 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out four. Reliever Jeffery Allison gave up the bulk of the runs, 5, in just 1.1 innings of work.

The Stars and Suns face off again tomorrow for game four of the five-game series. Stars righty, and the Brewers’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Cody Scarpetta will take the mound against right-hander Joey O’Gara. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 CST.

Huntsville box score

Solid, if less than dominant, Brewers (and AA) debut for Jesus Sanchez. He threw 85 pitches, 48 for strikes, and posted a 6/4 GO/FO. Brandon Jones got his Prince Fielder on. Miranda also had three hits, and Lucroy, who was only supposed to play seven innings but finished the game, was on three times as well with a hit and two walks. Taylor Green was 1-3 with a HBP and sac fly. Matt Cline started at shortstop for the second game in a row after seeing action there just four times last year.

Huntsville play-by-play

Like Fielder, Jones doubled to both right and left field. The full four-run 6th, including some dubious defense by the Suns during Lucroy's at-bat.

Huntsville Top of the 6th

Sergio Miranda singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kevin Mattison.

With Jonathan Lucroy batting, Sergio Miranda steals (1) 2nd base, Sergio Miranda scores. Throwing error by center fielder Kevin Mattison. Throwing error by catcher Kyle Skipworth.

Jonathan Lucroy walks.

Taylor Green singles on a line drive to right fielder Jorge Padilla. Jonathan Lucroy to 3rd.

Sean Halton grounds into a force out, second baseman Jim Negrych to shortstop Chris Gutierrez. Jonathan Lucroy scores. Taylor Green out at 2nd. Sean Halton to 1st.

Steffan Wilson homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Sean Halton scores.

Pitcher Change: Corey Madden replaces Jeff Allison, batting 9th.

Brandon Jones flies out to left fielder Alex Romero.

Chuck Caufield grounds out, second baseman Jim Negrych to first baseman Erik Lis.

By the way, Jeff Allison has gone from "Oh yeah, I forgot about that guy" to "This guy has been around forever" in record time for me.

[battlekow]

Final: @Nashville 8, New Orleans 1

Sounds Quiet Zephyrs Again, Win 8-1

Nashville Sounds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds beat New Orleans Zephyrs, 8-1, in front of 7,151 fans on Saturday night at Greer Stadium, marking the third consecutive game that the Sounds held the Zephyrs to only one run.

Nashville continued its pitching dominance for the third straight game, backed by a quality start from starting pitcher Josh Butler. The 26-year-old right-hander tossed six innings of scoreless ball while tying a career high of eight strikeouts for the victory, allowing five hits with two walks. Butler previously fanned eight batters with Advanced-A Brevard County on June 25, 2008 vs. Dunedin.

Four of Nashville's six hits went for extra bases, led by catcher Mike Rivera's two-hit, three-RBI performance in his first game playing for the Sounds this season.

Nashville did early damage in the opening frame, plating four runs on Zephyrs starter Mark McLemore who began the contest by walking leadoff hitter Edwin Maysonet and then proceeding to hit Brett Carroll to put runners on first and second. Mat Gamel then hit a grounder to New Orleans Mike Cervenak, but the first baseman made a throwing error that led to Maysonet scoring the club's first run. After Brendan Katin walked to load the bases, Chris Nowak hit a sacrifice fly to deep center to score Carroll.

In his first at-bat since returning to Nashville, Rivera then smoked a two-run double to the gap in left-center that gave Nashville its final two runs of the frame, bringing home Gamel and Katin.

The Sounds tacked on another run in the next inning to go up 5-0. The bases were quickly juiced after McLemore hit Carroll again and walked both Gamel and Nowak. Rivera then earned his third RBI of the contest and chased McLemore from the game after the right-hander hit Rivera, forcing Carroll walk home from third.

Nashville got another run in the next frame after Maysonet tripled and scored on a Carroll sacrifice fly off Zephyrs reliever Dustin Richardson. The Sounds' final two runs came in the bottom of the seventh inning. Anderson Machado collected his first hit of the season with a two-run-double down the right field line, scoring Brandon Boggs and Rivera. Machado was tagged out trying to stretch it into a triple.

New Orleans' lone run came in the top of the ninth inning off a Clint Sammons home run off reliever Zack Segovia, halting a 8 1/3 inning scoreless streak by the Nashville bullpen.

McLemore (0-1) was charged with the loss after walking or hitting nine of his 15 batters faced. The right-hander gave up five runs (four earned) on one hit and six walks in 1 2/3 innings.

The Sounds and Zephyrs will play the afternoon finale of a four-game series at 2:05 pm CT on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium. Right-handed pitcher Frankie De La Cruz will make his Sounds debut on the mound and face New Orleans righty Tom Koehler.

Nashville box score

Great start from Butler, who's trying to get back on the Brewers' radar as a viable starting candidate after being booted from the 40-man roster this winter. He allowed five hits, two walks, and a hit batter (Vinny Rottino; sorry, Vinny), posted an even 4/4 GO/FO, and threw 54 strikes in 88 pitches. Brandon Kintzler fanned two in a perfect 8th inning. You can listen to Rivera's two-run double here; he had a perfect night, collecting a walk to go along with the two hits and HBP. How about McLemore hitting three batters, including Brett Carroll twice? Gamel singled in addition to his walk and also stole a base.

Nashville play-by-play

Nice job by Katin here to short-circuit a potential rally:

New Orleans Top of the 3rd

Osvaldo Martinez strikes out swinging, catcher Mike Rivera to first baseman Mat Gamel.

Ruben Gotay singles on a line drive to left fielder Brandon Boggs.

Vinny Rottino singles on a line drive to right fielder Brendan Katin. Ruben Gotay out at 3rd on the throw, right fielder Brendan Katin to third baseman Chris Nowak. Vinny Rottino to 2nd on the throw.

Chris Aguila strikes out swinging.

[battlekow]

Final: @Daytona 7, Brevard County 3

Cubs Win Again behind Perez Bombs

Robbie Aaron/Daytona Cubs

The Daytona Cubs won its third consecutive game Saturday night, defeating the Brevard County Manatees 7-3 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

Coming from behind in the first two games of the season, the Cubs got on the board first on Saturday when 1B Justin Bour hit an opposite field solo home run in the second inning during his first at-bat. His first at-bat home run was his second in as many nights.

RF Nelson Perez hit the first of his two long-balls in the same frame, lining a fastball from RHP Nick Bucci over the center field wall, extending the Cubs' lead to 3-0 behind 20 year-old RHP Aaron Kurcz.

Kurcz retired the first eight Manatees he faced, then surrendered a pair of two-out doubles in the third and fourth innings but escaped unharmed. After striking out Manatees' RF Brock Kjeldgaard looking to start the fifth inning, DH Scott Krieger doubled and 3B Shea Vucinich walked, leading way to leadoff hitter SS Josh Prince who crushed a game-tying three-run home run over the left field fence. Prince hit one home run in all of 2010.

Kurcz' night was finished after five innings, but the Cubs plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth putting Kurcz back in line for his first win as a Daytona Cub.

Perez led off the sixth with his second home run of the night, a towering shot that landed on the tennis courts over the right field fence, extending the Cubs' lead to 7-3.

RHP Dae-Eun Rhee came out of the bullpen for Daytona and pitched himself into trouble in the seventh, loading the bases with nobody out, but managed to work out of trouble with a pair of fly-outs and a strike out. Rhee worked into the ninth inning, but with two outs and a two ball no strike count on Vucinich, he had to be removed from the game because of a blister on his pitching hand. LHP Jeff Beliveau retired Vucinich via a swinging strike out to end the game.

Bour, Perez and LF Michael Burgess each have two home runs for the Cubs in 2011. Daytona will travel down to Space Coast Stadium in Brevard County on Sunday to play the final game of the series and look for the four-game series sweep. RHP Adrian Rosario will toe the rubber for the Manatees and his mound-foe will be RHP Brett Wallach who will make his 2011 debut for the Cubs.

Brevard County box score

The Sea Cows appear to be taking the Brewers' example to heart and are 0-3 to start the year; the fact that all three losses came at the hands of the Cubs makes it even worse. Bucci had a poor High-A debut: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 6/3 GO/FO. I'd congratulate him on least keeping the ball on down, but he also gave up two homers, so...hey, six strikeouts! Santo Manzanillo came in and struck out four in two innings without allowing a walk, though he did give up a run on two hits. As noted, Prince has now matched his 2010 home run total--and I wouldn't be surprised if they're still matched at year's end. Shea Vucinich had another nice game in the nine hole, doubling and drawing two walks. Scooter Gennett remains hitless on the year and also committed an error. Hunter Morris doubles, Khris Davis singled, and Kentrail Davis took the collar. It was Shawn Zarraga's turn in the catching platoon, and he too was 0-4 while allowing the Cubs to steal two bases.

Brevard County play-by-play

Bucci's control deserted him a bit in the 5th, and Gennett's glove didn't help him out:

Daytona Bottom of the 5th

Chad Noble strikes out swinging.

Evan Crawford walks.

With Logan Watkins batting, Evan Crawford steals (2) 2nd base.

Logan Watkins walks.

Matthew Cerda reaches on force attempt, throwing error by second baseman Ryan Gennett. Evan Crawford to 3rd. Logan Watkins to 2nd.

Justin Bour grounds out, second baseman Ryan Gennett to first baseman Hunter Morris. Evan Crawford scores. Logan Watkins to 3rd. Matthew Cerda to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Santo Manzanillo replaces Nicholas Bucci.

With Welington Castillo batting, wild pitch by Santo Manzanillo, Logan Watkins scores. Matthew Cerda to 3rd.

Welington Castillo singles on a ground ball to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Matthew Cerda scores.

Michael Burgess lines out softly to shortstop Josh Prince.

[Mass Haas]

From the Florida Times-Union Huntsville-Jacksonville game report --

 

"This is my spring training. It's the shortest spring training I've ever had — five games, one week," Jonathan Lucroy said. "I'm feeling good right now though, and I'm thinking I'll get the call from the Brewers to join the team once this series is over on Monday. I'm anxious to get back there. It's always tough being on the sidelines. You want to help your team as much as you can."

Lucroy has collected two hits in nine at-bats in the three games against the Suns, but he's drawn four walks and has hit the ball hard on several occasions, just right at a Suns fielder. Jacksonville (1-2) was successful in all three stolen base tries against Lucroy, however.

"The finger feels good. Right now, I'm just trying to get some good ABs under my belt and get my timing down," said the 24-year-old catcher who's from Eustis and played high school ball at Umatilla. " ... I'm not worried about my stats right now. I just want to have some quality at-bats and be ready when I get the call next week."

[Mass Haas]

BOB MACK/The Times-Union

On a disputed play at the plate in the third inning Saturday, Suns catcher Kyle Skipworth tries to tag Huntsville's Sergio Miranda. Home plate umpire Blake Davis called the runner safe.

http://jacksonville.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/story_slideshow_thumb/editorial/images/images/mdControlled/cms/2011/04/10/813018843.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Daytona Cubs' Evan Crawford (7) slides in safe at second when Brevard County Manatees' Josh Prince (17) misses the tag at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Saturday. (Daytona News-Journal Photo | Sean McNeil)

http://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/assets_c/2011/04/cubs2410-thumb-180xauto-16274.jpg

Larger version available at game story here.

[Mass Haas]

Normally we only "link" to blogs, but the formatting of blog posts at the new Post-Crescent site is just brutal, so we'll copy and link, always sure to provide the credit name...

 

Post-Crescent blog -- posted by Jim Oskola

Manny Parra looked sharp in his two-inning rehab assignment during the Timber Rattlers' 4-3 win over Kane County at Fox Cities Stadium on Saturday. Twenty-two pitches, 16 strikes, four strikeouts and two 1-2-3 innings.

 

One hopes that he makes steady progress as he continues to rehab his back.

 

After he was done pitching and doing his post-game work, he met with the assembled media and talked about playing in Appleton.

 

"I think it's great for the Brewers to be here (in Appleton)," Parra said. "When I was in Beloit, this is a place where I wondered why we weren't here. It just seems like a good city. The ballpark is a nice ballpark. There are a lot of parks that were underpar. This place is really nice. For these guys to have this (indoor) batting cage here, we don't even have that at the Triple-A level. Nashville doesn't have an indoor batting cage like this. This is a really nice facility. It should generate a lot of excitement for these fans to come out and see these guys because these guys are going to be on the big league team at some point."

 

As a former Midwest League ballplayer, Parra also talked about what he would want these players to remember as they work toward becoming major league players.

 

"It's just going to be the bumps and bruises that come along with being a baseball player," he said. "There's a saying that I heard in this organization when I was younger. There are those who are humble and those who are about to be. It means this game will humble you. It's how you bounce back from those situations. I have had my fair share of things I've had to battle through whether it's surgery or just poor performances. You look at them and everything's fresh and everything's new. I remember when I was at this point in 2003 when I was in this league. It's just fun and you don't think about too much. I want them to enjoy that and enjoy the game for what it is. I look at the innocence of everybody and the fun that they're having and it's nice to see."

[Mass Haas]

Manny Parra makes strides in road back to Brewers by pitching two shutout innings for Timber Rattlers

by Jim Oskola, Post-Crescent staff writer

GRAND CHUTE – Manny Parra is an established major league pitcher.

But coming off offseason hip surgery and a back injury, the Milwaukee Brewers southpaw said that he was nervous before taking the mound as part of his rehabilitation during the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers game against the Kane County Cougars on Saturday at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

"I think it eased the guys' minds a little bit," Parra said of his temporary Timber Rattlers teammates. "A couple of guys asked me and I said that anytime I compete, I get anxious or however you want to put it. There was a little bit of excitement and I haven't faced but one hitter in a game situation so I was excited."

As part of what he hopes is a quick rehab, Parra pitched two innings in the Timber Rattlers' 4-3 win over Kane County.

Parra, who was on a pitch count of 25 pitches, used just 22 pitches (16 strikes) to set down the Cougars 1-2-3 in the seventh and eighth innings. His fastball clocked on the radar gun anywhere from 90 to 94 mph.

"As far as pitching goes, I feel 100 percent health- wise," Parra said. "It was a good test out there. That weather can be tough to get warm in, but it (his back) responded well."

Parra, who struck out four and had only one of the six batters reach a full count against him, said he wasn't sure what the next step in the rehab process would be.

"I don't know for sure if we're going to go back to Milwaukee and let them dictate what's next," said Parra, regarding the timetable for a return to the majors. "It's however long it takes for me to feel sharp.

"We're a team that should be competing this year and going to the playoffs and possibly the World Series with the team that we have. It wouldn't be fair to the team for me to show up and get in the games before I'm ready. I'm going to take as much time as I need to get sharp because I basically didn't have a spring training. This is my spring training right now."

Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson said Parra looked good on the mound.

"He looked relaxed," Erickson said. "He looked clean. The ball came out of his hand nice. It was good to see him back on the mound."

While it would not be a good sign for the Milwaukee this season if they are continually sending their major league players to Fox Cities Stadium for rehab assignments this season, Erickson said that his players can learn plenty from watching the veterans who do rehab with the Timber Rattlers.

"Guys that have gone through the levels, have gone through the system, are in the big leagues usually have a tremendous work ethic," Erickson said. "They act in a professional manner. Our pitching coach Chris Hook made sure that he addressed the guys to make sure they watched how he (Parra) prepares himself from getting to the park to going to the training room to coming out and stretch, how he works in the bullpen and, hopefully, it carries on to the field.

"He just addressed the team. Something he doesn't have to do. He stuck around for the whole game and it's good to have good people like that in the organization."

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Manny Parra pitched two scoreless innings during a rehab assignment with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Saturday in Grand Chute. / Post-Crescent photo by Ron Page

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[Mass Haas]

By the way, how fan-tabulous have the new combo of audio / video highlights from Chris Mehring coming from Time Warner Cable Field been?!

 

Chris' random comments associated with the highlights shown above --

 

• Jason Rogers is deceptively fast
  
• Tyler Roberts was a bit off target on one of his throws to second, but it got there with enough time to still get the runner
  
• Thank you, Manny Parra. Good luck when you get to Milwaukee

[molitor fan]

I was already rooting for Parra to come back and post what I think could be a really good season, and after those exceedingly mature statements, am rooting doubly hard for him