Link Report for Games of Sunday 4/10 -- Hey, at least the big leaguers won...

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

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

Nashville: RHP Frankie De La Cruz at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 1:50 PM pre-game; 2:05 gametime
Live Audio Link
iPad/iPhone: Listen

Huntsville: RHP Cody Scarpetta at Jacksonville (Marlins), 2:05 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 Adrian Rosario at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 4:05 PM gametime
Live Audio Link (Daytona feed)

Wisconsin: LHP Del Howell at home vs. Kane County (Royals), 12:45 PM pre-game; 1:05 gametime
Live Audio Link

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday'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
	Nashville	3	0	1.000	-	-	3-0	0-0	3-0	W3
	Iowa	2	1	.667	1.0	141	0-0	2-1	2-1	L1
	Memphis	2	1	.667	1.0	141	2-1	0-0	2-1	W2
	Omaha	1	2	.333	2.0	140	0-0	1-2	1-2	W1

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Huntsville	2	1	.667	-	-	0-0	2-1	2-1	W1
	Tennessee	2	1	.667	-	-	0-0	2-1	2-1	L1
	Chattanooga	1	2	.333	1.0	67	1-2	0-0	1-2	W1
	Jackson	1	2	.333	1.0	67	0-0	1-2	1-2	L1
	Carolina	0	3	.000	2.0	66	0-3	0-0	0-3	L3

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Clearwater	3	0	1.000	-	-	1-0	2-0	3-0	W3
	Daytona	3	0	1.000	-	-	2-0	1-0	3-0	W3
	Tampa	2	1	.667	1.0	67	1-0	1-1	2-1	W2
	Lakeland	1	2	.333	2.0	66	1-1	0-1	1-2	L2
	Brevard County	0	3	.000	3.0	65	0-1	0-2	0-3	L3
	Dunedin	0	3	.000	3.0	65	0-2	0-1	0-3	L3

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Burlington	2	1	.667	-	-	0-0	2-1	2-1	W1
	Cedar Rapids	2	1	.667	-	-	0-0	2-1	2-1	W1
	Quad Cities	2	1	.667	-	-	2-1	0-0	2-1	L1
	Wisconsin	2	1	.667	-	-	2-1	0-0	2-1	W1
	Beloit	1	2	.333	1.0	67	0-0	1-2	1-2	W1
	Clinton	1	2	.333	1.0	67	1-2	0-0	1-2	L1
	Kane County	1	2	.333	1.0	67	0-0	1-2	1-2	L1
	Peoria	1	2	.333	1.0	67	1-2	0-0	1-2	L1

[Mass Haas]

Adam McCalvy discusses oblique injuries here.

 

Good news that Erik Komatsu may be back within a week. One would think that Huntsville's Brandon Jones would be the obvious choice to replace Caleb Gindl at AAA, but Huntsville, and the whole organization for that matter, isn't swimming in outfielders right now.

 

Perhaps time to scour for an independent league veteran to backfill?

[YoungGeezy]

Yeah depth is hurting right now. Beginning of spring I thought that would be a nice strength but then you lose Shafer, Gindl, Komatsu, and Richardson, prob 4 of our top 5 OFs, that kills.

[Mass Haas]

If you are not one to listen to all the linked audio / video in our archive thread (and why not, shame on you), then you should at least dip your ear in water of the audio pool -- some candid assessments of Mark Rogers here.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

Huntsville Media Notes

 

Wisconsin Lineup and Media Notes

[And That]

Mike Brownstein makes his box score return, batting 9th and playing SS for the Manatees today. He missed all of last year with a severe hamstring injury.

[battlekow]

Final: Kane County 9, @Wisconsin 5

Rattlers drop series finale to Kane County

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE, WI – Ryan Stovall and Alex Llanos homered to pace the Kane County Cougars to a 9-5 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Sunday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Keaton Hayenga allowed two runs on five hits over five innings to pick up the win for the Cougars. Both teams are 2-2 after the first four games of the Midwest League season.

For the first time in the four game series, Wisconsin scored first. Greg Hopkins doubled with one out. Robbie Garvey followed with an RBI single. Tyler Roberts doubled to right and Garvey scored for a 2-0 Wisconsin lead. Then, Hayenga shut down the Rattlers. He retired the next 11 batters he faced.

The lead did not last long. Rattlers starter Del Howell walked Stovall to start the top of the third. Then, Llanos homered to left. One inning later, Angel Franco drew a leadoff walk and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Stovall. In the fifth, Howell walked Yowill Espinal to start the inning. A single and a double play moved Espinal to third with two outs. Howell ended his day when he walked Guelin Beltre – the sixth walk of the game for Howell – to put runners on the corners.

Stosh Wawrzasek relieved Howell and was greeted by Franco’s bunt single to send Espinal home with a run to make the score 4-2 in favor of Kane County.

The Cougars loaded the bases with no outs against Wawrzasek in the sixth inning. But, a strikeout and a 3-2-3 double play got Wawrzasek out of the inning with no damage.

However, there was no escaping the seventh. Murray Watts doubled to start the frame for Kane County. One out later, Franco doubled to right to send Watts home. Franco was out at third trying to stretch the hit into a triple. Wawrzasek got the second out, but issued a walk to the next batter. Tom Keeling was next and he gave up a single to Fernando Cruz and a three-run homer to Stovall.

The final Kane County run crossed the plate on an error in the eighth.

Wisconsin stopped the streak of consecutive batters retired at 14 when Mike Walker drew a walk to start the seventh against Dusty Odenbach. The Rattlers got back on the scoreboard with three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Cody Hawn doubled against Chas Byrne and would score on a Walker single. One out later Garvey singled. Roberts doubled in two more runs to get the Rattlers to within 9-5 and there was only one out in the inning. Byrne settled down and got the final two outs of the game to secure the split in the series for the Cougars.

Wisconsin starts their first road trip of the season on Monday evening with a game against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Tyler Thornburg makes his Midwest League debut as the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Cedar Rapids has Brian Diemer (2-1, 5.48) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Game time at Perfect Game Field in Cedar Rapids, Iowa is 6:35pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or at www.timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm.

Wisconsin box score

Howell and Keeling in the same game is a recipe for left-handed disaster; they may someday reach their high ceilings, but today was not that day--nine walks between them in seven innings. Wawrzasek, despite being northpawed, wasn't any better, allowing nine baserunners in two innings. Yeesh. Nice game from Tyler Roberts with the two doubles and a runner thrown out; he's started three of the first four games behind the dish for the Rattlers. True to his name, Mike Walker was the only T-Rat to draw a free pass. Carlos George turned in a vintage performance, committing two errors, one each throwing and fielding.

Wisconsin play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: New Orleans 4, @Nashville 3 (14 innings)

Zephyrs Edge Sounds In 14 Innings To Avoid Sweep

Nashville Sounds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - New Orleans catcher Brad Davis drew a bases-loaded walk from Sounds reliever Zack Segovia in the top of the fourteenth inning to give the visiting Zephyrs a dramatic 4-3 victory over Nashville on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon series finale.

With the win, New Orleans avoided a season-opening sweep by the Sounds (3-1).

The contest was the first extra-inning affair of the year for both teams and the second in the Pacific Coast League. It was Nashville's longest game since a 15-inning affair in Albuquerque on June 24, 2009.

Nashville relievers retired 15 consecutive Zephyrs batters from the ninth through thirteenth frames before Ozzie Martinez opened the fourteenth with an infield single off Segovia. Ruben Gotay followed with a bunt up the third base line that Sounds infielder Taylor Green let roll past him. The ball stayed fair and New Orleans had runners on first and second.

After a subsequent sacrifice bunt attempt by Joe Thurston was fielded by Green and erased Martinez at third, Segovia uncorked a wild pitch to move the runners to second and third with only one out. Aaron Mathews was intentionally walked to load the bags for Davis, who drew the game-winning free pass after falling behind 0-2 in the count to start the at-bat.

New Orleans reliever Jose Ceda (1-0) worked around a one-out single by Brett Carroll (3-for-6) to blank the Sounds in the bottom of the fourteenth to secure the win and pick up his first victory of the year. The right-hander worked two scoreless frames in the contest.

Segovia (0-1) was saddled with the Sounds' first loss of the season after surrendering the game-deciding run in his two innings of work. The right-hander has allowed both runs allowed by Nashville relievers this season; the other six members of the Sounds' relief corps have combined for 14 1/3 scoreless innings through the club's first four games.

Sounds starter Frankie De La Cruz held New Orleans hitless for the first four frames before running into trouble in the fifth. After Z's catcher Brad Davis led off with a single and Mike Cervenak drew a four-pitch walk, former Vanderbilt star Ryan Klosterman drove the first pitch he saw from the right-hander over the left field wall to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. The blast was the infielder's first of the year.

The three runs in the New Orleans fifth matched the club's run total from their first 31 innings of play against the Sounds to start the season. They were held to just one run per game by Nashville pitching in each of the previous three contests between the clubs.

Sounds right fielder Brendan Katin put the home team on the board in the sixth when his two-out single to right off New Orleans starter Tom Koehler drove in Mat Gamel, who preceded Katin with a double.

Carroll, the Sounds' center fielder, kept the deficit at two runs in the top of the eighth when he fielded a two-out Josh Kroeger single and threw out ex-Sound Vinny Rottino at the plate to end the inning as he attempted to score from second on the knock.

The Sounds evened the score at 3-3 with a pair of runs against the Z's bullpen in the home half of the eighth. Edwin Maysonet blooped a one-out single down the right field line off Jay Buente then moved to third when Carroll followed with a single, which extended the outfielder's hit streak to four games.

Left-hander Victor Garate was summoned to the mound to face Gamel and walked the Nashville slugger to load the bases for Katin, who drew a six-pitch free pass from the southpaw to force in Maysonet and make it a 3-2 contest. Garate recovered to fan Chris Nowak for the second out but then walked Brandon Boggs to allow Carroll to trot home with the tying run.

Neither starting pitcher factored in the decision despite a pair of quality starters. The Zephyrs' blown save took away a potential win for Koehler in his first career Triple-A outing. The 24-year-old held the Sounds to one run on four hits while fanning four over six frames. De La Cruz authored a quality start in his Sounds debut, allowing three runs on three hits with three walks and six strikeouts over six innings of work.

The Sounds missed an opportunity to end it in the twelfth frame, when they had the bases loaded with one out against Z's reliever Steve Cishek. The right-hander recovered to induce a fielder's choice groundout from pinch-hitter Eric Farris that erased Carroll at the plate, then struck out Brandon Boggs on a 3-2 offering to escape the jam unscathed.

Green made his career Triple-A debut for the Sounds in the contest and went 0-for-4.

The Sounds continue their opening homestand on Monday evening with the 7:05 p.m. opener of a four-game series against the Oklahoma City RedHawks, the new Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. Veteran left-hander Sam Narron will make his 2011 debut with a start for Nashville. Oklahoma City will counter with right-hander Henry Villar.

It will be Dollar Dog Night at the ballpark as well as the first Money Monday of the 2011 season; all fans in the attendance can register to win prizes and experiences revolving around third-year Sounds skipper Don Money.

Nashville box score

The game was played in an even four hours, which is a good clip for 14 innings. Decent debut for de la Cruz; he also hit a batter and threw 54 strikes in 87 pitches while keeping the ball down to the tune of an 8/1 GO/FO. Tim Dillard, Justin James, and Mark DiFelice each authored two scoreless innings of relief. Great game from Carroll, who was on four times and saved a run with his arm. Gamel singled, doubled, and walked in seven trips, and Katin singled and walked twice. Keep that walk rate up, Brendan. Boggs was also on three times with a double and two free passes.

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: Daytona 11, @Brevard County 7

'Tees drop to 0-4 after 11-7 loss to Cubs

Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

VIERA, Fla. --The Manatees took a 5-0 lead after one inning, but were held in check the rest of the way as Daytona rallied to beat Brevard County 11-7 on Sunday evening at Space Coast Stadium.

Brevard County batted around in the first, scoring five times, racking up five hits and benefiting from two Daytona errors. For a moment, it looked like the Manatees were going to get into the win column.

That moment was short-lived as the Cubs scored twice in the second, once in the third and three times in the fourth, to take a 6-5 lead and chase Brevard County starter Adrian Rosario from the game. Counting Rosario's start, Manatees starting pitchers have an 8.59 earned run average in the first four games of the season.

A Khris Davis sacrifice fly that scored Kentrail Davis in the fifth would tie the game at 6-6, but the Manatees would never be that close the rest of the way.

Offensively, it was the most runs and hits that the Manatees have had in a game this season. Scott Krieger went 2-for-4 with a double, triple, RBI and two runs scored. Khris Davis also notched two hits and Rafael Neda drove in two runs.

But through the first four games of the season, Brevard County is tied with Charlotte for the worst ERA in the Florida State at 5.56.

Brevard County will hit the road for a three-game series with the Tampa Yankees. The Yankees split their opening series of the season with the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

The Manatees will return home on Thursday to start a six-game home stand, beginning with a three-game set with the Clearwater Threshers.

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Kentrail Davis (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

Brevard County box score

The big-league Brewers took their series from the big-league Cubs, but not so here. We can only hope the Sea Cows will be 5-2 over their next seven, just like the Brew Crew. Rosario struck out five and walked just one in four innings but got battered, allowing nine hits. Trey Watten struggled in relief, surrendering three runs on six hits in two innings. R.J. Seidel actually pitched the best of the three BC hurlers, but the two unearned runs he gave up in three innings were enough to saddle him with the loss. Scooter Gennett finally got on the board, and on base, with a single and a HBP. Kentrail Davis was also on twice with a single and a walk, and Khris Davis had a single and a double to go with his sac fly. Hunter Morris continues to display the thunder in his bat, adding another double. Neda committed his second error of the young season but also picked a runner off second. As Toby mentioned above, great to see Mike Brownstein back.

Brevard County play-by-play

The 'Tees big 1st:

Brevard County Bottom of the 1st

• Josh Prince singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha.
• Ryan Gennett singles on a line drive to center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha. Ryan Gennett to 2nd. Josh Prince advances to 3rd, on fielding error by center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha.
• Kentrail Davis reaches on fielding error by pitcher Brett Wallach. Josh Prince scores. Ryan Gennett scores.
• Hunter Morris pops out to third baseman Matthew Cerda.
• Khristopher Davis doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Nelson Perez. Kentrail Davis to 3rd.
• Shea Vucinich out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha. Kentrail Davis scores.
• Scott Krieger doubles (2) on a line drive to center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha. Khristopher Davis scores.
• Rafael Neda singles on a ground ball to second baseman David Macias. Scott Krieger scores.
• Mike Brownstein grounds into a force out, third baseman Matthew Cerda to second baseman David Macias. Rafael Neda out at 2nd.

After tying the game on Khris Davis's sac fly in the 5th, BC almost took the lead on another:

Brevard County Bottom of the 5th

• Kentrail Davis singles on a line drive to right fielder Nelson Perez.
• Hunter Morris doubles (3) on a line drive to right fielder Nelson Perez. Kentrail Davis to 3rd.
• Khristopher Davis out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Nelson Perez. Kentrail Davis scores. Hunter Morris to 3rd.
• Shea Vucinich walks.
• Pitcher Change: Jordan Latham replaces Brett Wallach.
• Scott Krieger flies into double play, center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha to catcher Michael Brenly. Hunter Morris out at home on the throw.

Neda's errant throw must have been pretty impressive:

• With Evan Crawford batting, David Macias steals (1) 2nd base, David Macias scores. Throwing error by catcher Rafael Neda.

And they say Khris Davis has a bad throwing arm:

• Evan Crawford singles on a line drive to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Michael Brenly scores. David Macias scores. Evan Crawford out at 2nd, left fielder Khristopher Davis to shortstop Mike Brownstein to second baseman Ryan Gennett.

[battlekow]

Final: @Jacksonville 7, Huntsville 4

Pitching Hands Stars Second Loss

Ryan Edwards/Huntsville Stars

Jacksonville, FL- After falling behind 6-0 after the second inning, the Huntsville Stars weren’t able to recover on Sunday afternoon after the Suns picked up the 7-4 win.

Stars starter Cody Scarpetta was tagged for six runs (five earned) in just 1.1 innings of work. Reliever Chase Wright came in to replace Scarpetta in the second and pitched 4.1 innings of one-run ball, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Suns from earning their second victory of the 2011 season.

Leading the Stars offense were Sergio Miranda, who went 2-for-5 with two RBI’s and Lee Haydel who went 3-for-5. Miranda also belted the Stars first triple of the season. The Suns’ Kevin Mattison went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Luke Montz chipped in a home run and two hits to pave the way for the Suns offense.

Joseph O’Gara (1-0) took the win for the Jacksonville Suns throwing five innings and giving up four runs. Sandy Rosario recorded his first save of the year striking out one batter in an innings worth of work. The Stars (2-2) send 2010 Southern League All-Star RHP Michael Bowman to the mound against the Suns (2-2) LHP Darin Downs in the final game of the series at 12:05 p.m. CST tomorrow.

The Stars return home on Wednesday, April 13 for a five-game series against the Carolina Mudcats. Single game tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling (256) 882-2562 or stopping by the ticket office at Joe Davis Stadium. For more information, visit www.huntsvillestars.com!

Huntsville box score

Ouch. Well, it can only get better for Scarpetta; I doubt he'll finish the year with a 33.75 ERA. Adding insult to injury, the unearned run was as a result of his own fielding error. He threw 57 pitches, 30 for strikes. Haydel's making me look good; he also stole two bases to go with his three hits. Lucroy, still too good for Huntsville, had two hits, a walk, a stolen base, and picked a runner off first; he did, however, allow four stolen bases, though three were to Kevin Mattison, who stole two on Friday and has 109 in his 3+ year career.

Huntsville play-by-play

The entirety of Scarpetta's afternoon:

Jacksonville Bottom of the 1st

• Kevin Mattison walks.
• With Chris Gutierrez batting, Kevin Mattison steals (3) 2nd base.
• Chris Gutierrez walks.
• With Jim Negrych batting, Kevin Mattison steals (4) 3rd base. Chris Gutierrez steals (1) 2nd base.
• Jim Negrych grounds out, second baseman Sergio Miranda to first baseman Sean Halton. Kevin Mattison scores. Chris Gutierrez to 3rd.
• Jorge Padilla grounds out, third baseman Steffan Wilson to first baseman Sean Halton. Chris Gutierrez scores.
• Ben Lasater strikes out swinging.

Jacksonville Bottom of the 2nd

• Jake Smolinski grounds out, shortstop Juan Sanchez to first baseman Sean Halton.
• Paul Gran singles on a line drive to center fielder Lee Haydel.
• Luke Montz walks. Paul Gran to 2nd.
• Joseph O'Gara hits a sacrifice bunt. Fielding error by pitcher Cody Scarpetta. Paul Gran scores. Luke Montz to 3rd. Joseph O'Gara to 1st.
• Kevin Mattison singles on a ground ball to right fielder Chuck Caufield. Luke Montz scores. Joseph O'Gara to 2nd.
• With Chris Gutierrez batting, wild pitch by Cody Scarpetta, Joseph O'Gara to 3rd. Kevin Mattison to 2nd.
• Chris Gutierrez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Lee Haydel. Joseph O'Gara scores. Kevin Mattison scores.
• Pitcher Change: Chase Wright replaces Cody Scarpetta, batting 9th.
• Jim Negrych strikes out swinging.
• With Jorge Padilla batting, Jonathan Lucroy picks off Chris Gutierrez at 1st on throw to Sean Halton.

The Stars did bring the tying run to the plate in the 7th:

Huntsville Top of the 7th

• Matt Cline strikes out swinging.
• Lee Haydel singles on a line drive to right fielder Jorge Padilla.
• Sergio Miranda flies out to center fielder Kevin Mattison.
• With Jonathan Lucroy batting, Lee Haydel steals (2) 2nd base.
• Jonathan Lucroy walks.
• Sean Halton pops out to second baseman Jim Negrych.

[battlekow]

Chris Mehring's three quick thoughts on the Rattlers game:

• Throwing a runner out from your knees is not recommended…But is sure is impressive
• Walks WILL may not kill you…But 10 walks by Rattlers pitching sure didn’t help
• In the 16 innings NOT pitched by Manny Parra over the last two games, Kane County put their leadoff batter on base in 14 of those innings….Let that sink in for a bit.

That first one refers to Tyler Roberts, which makes the second time in as many days that Roberts' arm behind the plate has impressed Mehring.

The highlights:

[Mass Haas]

Cubs hand Manatees their fourth consecutive loss

by Mark DeCotis, Florida Today

A low team batting average -- .208 – and a high team earned run average -- 4.68 -- spelled three consecutive defeats for the Brevard County Manatees heading into Sunday's game with the Daytona Beach Cubs.

The Manatees wasted little time in attempting to rectify that, banging out five hits and taking advantage of two Cubs errors to score five times in the first inning. But the Cubs continued to abuse Manatees pitchers, banging out 17 hits -- for a total of 39 in four games -- en route to an 11-7 victory before 875 at Space Coast Stadium.

The Cubs also roughed up the Manatees for 28 runs in the four-game series that opened the Advanced Class A Florida State League season.

The Manatees did collect 10 hits but fell to 0-4. They hit the road today, traveling to Tampa for a three-game series with the two-time defending league champion Yankees. They return to Space Coast Stadium on Thursday night to begin a six-game homestand with three games against Clearwater and three against Tampa.

Sunday's loss frustrated Manatees Manager Jeff Isom.

"With these young pitchers, we've got to establish the inside of the plate, command their secondary pitches and command their fastball," Isom said.

"It's a combination of pitch selection and command of the strike zone. We didn't do that. To their credit, we made mistakes and they hit us. I thought things got off to a great start for us, and we couldn't hold them down after that. And that's the frustrating part. With the way our pitchers are right now, we've got to play solid defense, and we haven't done that. That's the frustrating thing for me right now."

The Manatees committed two errors including a costly three-base miscue by center fielder Kentrail Davis that allowed two runs to score, breaking a 6-6 tie in the sixth inning.

There were bright spots but the Cubs offensive outburst negated them.

"I was encouraged by the way we swung the bats today and ran the bases," Isom said. "Just a frustrating one. Not the way we wanted to start the season, obviously."

 

Brevard County Manatees second baseman Ryan Gennett tags out Junior Lake of the Daytona Cubs on an attempted steal during Sunday's game at Space Coast Stadium. / Dennis Greenblatt, for FLORIDA TODAY

http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20110411&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=104110317&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0

[Mass Haas]

Sounds wait a long time for first lossby Greg Sullivan, the Tennessean

The Sounds played their longest game in nearly two years Sunday as they lost to New Orleans 4-3 in 14 innings for their first loss of the season.

Reliever Zack Segovia walked Brad Davis with the bases loaded to send in the go-ahead run for the Zephyrs in the top of the 14th inning of the final of the four-game series.

The Sounds had plenty of chances to win the game earlier, including in the 12th inning when they had the bases loaded with one out.

The game was the longest for Nashville since an 8-3 win over Albuquerque in 15 innings on June 24, 2009. Sunday's game lasted four hours.

Sounds Manager Don Money said there were many missed opportunities for his club.

"We had many chances (offensively), and guys were swinging at bad pitches," Money said. "And then (our) third baseman (Taylor Green) lets the bunt go (in the last inning) for some unknown reason and I don't know why … He could have thrown the guy out and they don't score."

Green, who arrived in Nashville on Sunday, struggled in his Triple-A debut. He went 0-for-4 and let Ruben Gotay's bunt roll and stay fair down the third-base line in the 12th inning.

It was the second infield hit of the inning, and Segovia later intentionally walked Aaron Mathews before giving up the go-ahead walk.

Parra to pitch here Tuesday: Milwaukee Brewers lefty Manny Parra told mlb.com he expects to pitch in the Sounds' game Tuesday against Oklahoma City.

"I'm definitely not dialed in," Parra told the website after a Saturday rehab appearance for the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. "But I do feel good, I feel healthy. Now the next step is to polish."

Parra, recovering from a back injury, threw a perfect game for the Sounds on June 25, 2007, at Round Rock in just his second Triple-A start.

Transactions: Sounds third baseman Zelous Wheeler was placed on the disabled list Sunday, retroactive to Saturday.

He was replaced by Green. The 24-year-old British Columbia native hit safely in his first three games this year with Double-A Huntsville.

Green was the Brewers' 2007 Minor League Player of the Year.

[Mass Haas]

The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville) coverage (Steffan Wilson photo at that first link) naturally features little from a Stars' perspective, and their photo gallery is mostly devoid of Stars, although there are lots of shots of Jonathan Lucroy behind the plate.

[Mass Haas]

Rattlers report: Kane County 9, Wisconsin 5

by Jesse Osborne, Appleton Post-Crescent

The Timber Rattlers got off to a good start in the series finale against the Cougars, striking for two runs in the bottom of the second inning via three straight hits.

Greg Hopkins started things off with a double, and Robbie Garvey drove him in with a single back through the middle one hitter later. Tyler Roberts followed with a double to score Garvey, and just like that, the Rattlers held a 2-0 lead.

But it turned out to be short-lived.

The Cougars quickly tied the game in the top of the third on a two-run homer to left field by center fielder Alex Llanos off Wisconsin starter Del Howell, who was making his first start of the season.

"It was good to get out there and throw again in a real game," said Howell, who walked six and allowed four hits and three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. "Fastball command wasn't that great, but I thought I made some good pitches throughout the game. Left a few balls up. Definitely walked too many."

Kane County tallied lone runs in both the fourth and fifth innings before plating four in the top of the eighth, with the big blow a three-run homer from No. 9 hitter Ryan Stovall.

Aside from its second- inning flurry, the Rattlers offense didn't have an answer against Cougars starter Keaton Hayenga. Hayenga retired the Rattlers in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings before exiting the game.

"He was getting ahead of people. He was mixing pitches," Rattlers manager Matt Erickson said of Hayenga, who allowed three hits, while striking out four. "If you can do that in this league, or in any other league, you're going to have some success and keep hitters off balance."

Wisconsin scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single by designated hitter Mike Walker and a two-run double by Roberts.

[Mass Haas]

Post-Crescent Timber Rattler Photo Gallery includes this almost-painful-to-see shot shot of Thomas Keeling --

http://cmsimg.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Site=U0&Date=20110410&Category=APC0206&ArtNo=104100818&Ref=PH&Item=10&Maxw=620&Maxh=465&q=60

[Mass Haas]

Timber Rattlers walking too many batters

Wisconsin pitchers allowed 18 passes in team's losses

by Jesse Osborne, Post-Crescent staff writer

GRAND CHUTE — The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are just four games into their Midwest League season, so it's a bit early for lofty predictions or major pronouncements. But first-year manager Matt Erickson likes what he has seen from his team — aside from one pesky issue — during its first series of the year.

"We're 2-2. We did some good things," Erickson said following Sunday's 9-5 loss to Kane County at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. "I thought we ran the bases really well. We swung the bats really good the first night. And in our two losses, we've walked 18 people.

"If you're going to put people on base like that, you're going to put your defense in a bad situation. You give them more baserunners, they get more opportunities to score. Our pitchers have got to pitch more to contact, and really, to me, that's one of the strengths of our team. … I think we're going to be good defensively, so there should be no reason why we're pitching out of the (strike) zone.

"We did a lot of good things in the four games. But we have to clean up some of the stuff as far as the free passes are concerned. If we can do that, I think day in and day out we'll put ourselves in a good situation."

As was the case in Friday's 7-6 loss to the Cougars, Timber Rattlers pitchers put themselves in sticky situations due to walks Sunday. Wisconsin pitchers issued 10 in all, including six by starter Del Howell in four-plus innings, and three by reliever Thomas Keeling over two-plus innings.

"It's been addressed," said Erickson, whose team opens a four-game series at Cedar Rapids today. "We need to pitch to contact. If you can't get people out in the strike zone, or you don't have fastball command, it's tough to move you (up). It's important that we stress that to our pitchers and that they understand that to move to the next level you've got to have fastball command."

Outside of that, though, Erickson said he feels good about his team's chances over the long haul. So does catcher Tyler Roberts.

 

"We're a great team. We play great together, have good chemistry," Roberts said. "We're going to lose games. ... But we're going to be good overall. We're going to be there in playoff contention at the end of the year."

That team chemistry is one of the things that has opened Erickson's eyes in the early going.

"They're a pretty close knit group. There's all kinds of personalities, but they all seem to get along. The work has been good, the preparation before the games. You don't have to pull people out of the clubhouse. They seem eager to go out and compete," Erickson said. "They're upbeat, they're excited to be there."

And Erickson, an Appleton native who spent the past two seasons as the team's hitting coach before taking over the managerial duties this season, is enjoying his new role.

"These four games seem like they flew by because you're always constantly trying to think of what to do next," Erickson said. "As a hitting coach you're kind of in the moment. You're looking at the hitter that's at the plate, trying to see what he's doing.

"Now, in this role, it's organization and delegation, making sure everybody's prepared before the game. And then during the game you're just always trying to think of the next inning or the next half inning, or what we are going to do if this happens or that happens. That's probably the biggest adjustment. … But I'm having a blast."

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville plays a 12:05 PM matinee Monday afternoon, with audio from the Jacksonville feed available. Monday's Link Report will thus be available by late morning.

[battlekow]

Brad Krause has another Rattlers report, including the observation that Del Howell was only touching 86 on the stadium gun.

[Mass Haas]

Thanks for Brad's blog link -- let's not forget that at the bottom of each post he includes a link to his wonderful photos -- the Rattlers stylin' in their mid-70's Brewer-themed uni's.