Link Report for Fri. 4/29 -- Greinke; Peralta battles, bats balls; Miller cuts LumberKings down; Garfield injures knee

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

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

Nashville: RHP Zack Greinke at home vs. Albuquerque (Dodgers), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime
Live Audio Link
iPad/iPhone: Listen

Huntsville: RHP Wily Peralta at Mississippi (Braves), 7:05 PM gametime
Live Audio Link - Braves' feed

Brevard County: RHP Hiram Burgos at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:05 PM gametime
Live Audio Link - Blue Jays' feed (may not be functional)

Wisconsin: RHP Matt Miller and LHP Del Howell in a doubleheader at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 4:45 PM pre-game; 5:05 gametime
Live Audio Link

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

Brevard County

Wisconsin Game One

 

Wisconsin Game Two

[Mass Haas]

Nashville getting buried early in the standings by that vaunted Royals' Omaha team. There is no split season in AAA (the only minor league level where that is the case). Then, only the four division winners make the playoffs in the PCL. No time to mess around...

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	13	7	.650	-	-	8-1	5-6	9-1	W9
	Iowa	10	10	.500	3.0	122	5-2	5-8	5-5	L2
	Memphis	8	12	.400	5.0	120	7-6	1-6	4-6	W2
	Nashville	8	12	.400	5.0	120	5-7	3-5	3-7	L4

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Huntsville	14	6	.700	-	-	8-1	6-5	6-4	W2
	Tennessee	14	7	.667	0.5	50	5-1	9-6	7-3	W1
	Chattanooga	12	9	.571	2.5	48	5-6	7-3	5-5	L1
	Jackson	9	10	.474	4.5	47	2-6	7-4	5-5	W1
	Carolina	5	16	.238	9.5	41	5-10	0-6	3-7	L3

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Daytona	14	6	.700	-	-	7-2	7-4	8-2	W1
	Clearwater	13	8	.619	1.5	49	6-4	7-4	6-4	W2
	Lakeland	10	11	.476	4.5	46	7-5	3-6	2-8	L3
	Brevard County	9	12	.429	5.5	45	3-7	6-5	6-4	W1
	Tampa	9	12	.429	5.5	45	3-8	6-4	3-7	L1
	Dunedin	7	13	.350	7.0	44	2-8	5-5	5-5	L1

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Burlington	14	5	.737	-	-	6-1	8-4	7-3	W1
	Cedar Rapids	13	7	.650	1.5	-	7-3	6-4	8-2	L1
	Beloit	11	7	.611	2.5	51	7-3	4-4	6-4	W3
	Peoria	11	9	.550	3.5	49	4-3	7-6	7-3	L1
	Quad Cities	10	10	.500	4.5	48	4-6	6-4	5-5	W1
	Wisconsin	6	10	.375	6.5	48	4-6	2-4	2-8	W1
	Kane County	7	14	.333	8.0	44	4-6	3-8	3-7	L5
	Clinton	5	15	.250	9.5	43	3-10	2-5	1-9	L3

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America blog post on the Southern League's storm aftermath issues includes this --

Huntsville begins a five-game road trip this evening before returning home to face Jacksonville on May 3. Those games could be in jeopardy, Stars' GM Buck Rogers said, as the city is without power and could be for another five-to-seven days.

In the meantime, Rogers sent most of his employees home for the week and set up his ballpark as a rest station of sorts for local rescue workers. The team provided food and refreshments for the rescue workers, and will give away the remaining food in the ballpark in exchange for a donation to the relief efforts.

"We're surviving, we're getting through it," Rogers said this morning. "It's just quiet here right now. Creepy quiet."

[Mass Haas]

Pocket Doppler.com with a nice Q&A with the Voice of the Timber Rattlers, Chris Mehring.

[Mass Haas]

Speaking of Chris, from his blog:

 

Rating April since 2003 -- yes, check that out

 

The Sun is out. The sky is blue. -- I was a huge fan of Perfect Strangers.

 

Game one lineup and Game Notes: April 29, 2011

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

[battlekow]

Final (game one): @Wisconsin 5, Clinton 0 (7 innings)

Miller mows down Clinton

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE, WI – Matt Miller’s start was worth the wait. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers starting pitcher was held off a day due to Thursday’s rain. He came out with a vengeance on Friday and pitched a complete game shutout in game one of a doubleheader with the Clinton LumberKings. Wisconsin won 5-0.

The Rattlers broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning. Cody Hawn started the inning with a single and an errant pickoff throw by Seon Gi Kim moved Hawn to second. Back to back walks to Mike Walker and Greg Hopkins loaded the bases.

Robbie Garvey sent a grounder halfway up the first base line. Kim fielded the ball and looked home. But, he had no play on Hawn. Then, Kim flipped the ball to first too high for Tim Morris. By the time the ball was corralled, Walker had scored; Hopkins was at third; and Garvey was at second.

Carlos George followed with a two-run single to center and the Rattlers were up 4-0.

Miller allowed just three hits and walked one while striking out six to earn his first Midwest League victory. He faced one over the minimum in the game thanks to a double play, an outfield assist, and a caught stealing erasing Clinton base runners.

Tyler Roberts added to the Wisconsin lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Game one on Friday was the second straight complete game for Miller. He had tossed a complete game in a loss at Burlington in the first game of a doubleheader on April 23.

http://wisconsin.timberrattlers.milb.com/images/2011/04/29/rYHmhSzH.jpg

Matt Miller fires a strike to the plate in the seventh inning of game one on April 29, 2011.

(Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

Wisconsin box score (game one)

Matt Miller. Pretty good. Easily his most impressive start of the year. He'd struggled with his control previously, but he was on today, needing only 84 pitches for his seven innings, 61 of them being strikes. Hawn, who singled twice, had the only multi-hit game; Hopkins walked twice.

Wisconsin play-by-play (game one)

Half of the baserunners Miller allowed came in the 3rd, but the defense was up to the task:

Clinton Top of the 3rd

• Marcus Littlewood walks.
• Steven Baron singles on a line drive to center fielder Reggie Keen. Marcus Littlewood out at 3rd on the throw, center fielder Reggie Keen to third baseman Gregory Hopkins.
• With Carlos Ramirez batting, Steven Baron caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Tyler Roberts to shortstop Carlos George.
• Carlos Ramirez flies out to left fielder Robert Garvey.

[ilovebeer]

How did Zack do this evening?

[TooLiveBrew]

Saw Jimmy Nelson was pretty excited to pick up some of the free posters the T-Rats were giving out as an all-fan giveaway tonight. The featured player? None other than Jimmy Nelson http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[battlekow]

Final: Dunedin 3, @Brevard County 2

Brevard County box score

The Sea Cows took a 2-1 lead into the 8th inning, but Corey Frerichs gave up a two-spot to spoil a good start from Hiram Burgos. Burgos allowed ten baserunners but just one run 5.2 innings while striking out six. R.J. Seidel turned in another scoreless 1.1 innings in relief. Hunter Morris homered for the second straight night and drew his third free pass of the year, Kentrail Davis had three hits, and Khris Davis singled twice and walked. Scooter Gennett was 1-5 with a stolen base and his 7th error. D'Vontrey Richardson, 1-29 since his three-hit debut, had the night off.

Brevard County play-by-play

Frerichs bailed Burgos out by preventing the Blue Jays from getting a big two-out hit in the 6th:

Dunedin Top of the 6th

• Jon Talley grounds out, second baseman Ryan Gennett to first baseman Brock Kjeldgaard.
• Kevin Nolan strikes out swinging.
• Brad McElroy walks.
• Justin Jackson walks. Brad McElroy to 2nd.
• Ryan Goins reaches on fielding error by second baseman Ryan Gennett. Brad McElroy to 3rd. Justin Jackson to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: Corey Frerichs replaces Hiram Burgos.
• Chris Hopkins called out on strikes.

...but Seidel couldn't do the same for Frerichs in the 8th:

Dunedin Top of the 8th

• Jon Talley called out on strikes.
• Kevin Nolan walks.
• Brad McElroy flies out to left fielder Khristopher Davis.
• With Justin Jackson batting, wild pitch by Corey Frerichs, Kevin Nolan to 2nd.
• Justin Jackson triples (1) on a line drive to center fielder Kentrail Davis. Kevin Nolan scores.
• Ryan Goins walks.
• Pitcher Change: R. J. Seidel replaces Corey Frerichs.
• Chris Hopkins singles on a line drive to right fielder Scott Krieger. Justin Jackson scores. Ryan Goins to 3rd.
• Ivan Contreras flies out to center fielder Kentrail Davis.

The 'Tees could have used some two-out lightning of their own in the 7th from Scott Krieger:

Brevard County Bottom of the 7th

• Ryan Gennett grounds out, shortstop Ryan Goins to first baseman Jon Talley.
• Kentrail Davis singles on a line drive to left fielder Brad McElroy.
• Hunter Morris flies out to left fielder Brad McElroy.
• Pitcher Change: Dumas Garcia replaces Frank Gailey.
• Khristopher Davis singles on a line drive to second baseman Ivan Contreras. Kentrail Davis to 2nd.
• Brock Kjeldgaard walks. Kentrail Davis to 3rd. Khristopher Davis to 2nd.
• Scott Krieger strikes out swinging.

[battlekow]

Final: @Mississippi 6, Huntsville 4

Huntsville box score

The Stars made a game of it with two in the 7th and one in the 9th but couldn't come all the way back. Wily Peralta started and though the six hits he allowed in his five innings is pretty normal, he suffered from a lack of control, throwing just 52 of his 92 pitches for strikes, leading to four walks and four runs. Though he gave up a homer, in general he kept the ball on the ground well, tallying an 8/0 GO/FO. He also hit a homer, the first of his career and his second hit as a pro (the first was a double, so Wily's got some pop). Sean Halton also homered for Huntsville, his second on the year. Erik Komatsu went 1-4, and Lee Haydel was 0-1 after entering the game late on a double switch.

Huntsville play-by-play

[dadofandrew]

The playoffs at AAA often interfere with callups anyway. We'll let Omaha play 'til mid-Sept.

[battlekow]

Final: Albuquerque 4, @Nashville 1

Sounds Lose To Isotopes, 4-1, On Friday Night

Nashville Sounds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Alberto Bastardo tossed a quality start as the Albuquerque Isotopes dropped the Nashville Sounds, 4-1, in front of a season-high 9,116 fans on Saturday Night at Greer Stadium.

The Sounds (8-13) have now lost their last five consecutive contests, and have scored just one run in the last three games. The first three hitters in the Nashville lineup went a combined 0-for-10 on the night.

Bastardo (2-0) earned the win for Albuquerque, allowing one run on five hits with five strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.

In his third rehab appearance for the Brewers, Zack Greinke (0-1) took the loss after surrendering two runs on seven hits in five innings. He walked one while striking out seven on 75 pitches (50 strikes). Greinke also went 1-for-1 at the dish, doubling down the left field line in the third inning.

In the opening frame, Greinke threw 13 pitches (7 strikes) and allowed one hit while striking out one.

Greinke tossed a scoreless second frame on 18 pitches (13 strikes). After retiring first two batters on strikes, Greinke gave up a single to A.J. Ellis, followed by a double to Wilberto Ortiz. As Ellis rounded third to try and score Albuquerque's first run, right-fielder Brett Carroll threw out the Isotopes catcher at home plate for Nashville's league-leading 11th outfield assist.

Greinke added another shutout frame in the third with 16 pitches (10 strikes). He struck out two batters sandwiched between a walk to Dee Gordon. On the first pitch to the rehabbing Jay Gibbons, Dee Gordon was thrown out while trying to steal second base to end the inning.

Greinke ran into trouble in the fourth inning, giving up both of his runs on three hits on 17 pitches (11 strikes). After giving up a single to Corey Smith, Jamie Hoffmann hit the first pitch from Greinke over the wall in left field to give Albuquerque for a 2-0 lead. Next batter and former Sound JD Closser then doubled down the right field line, but was stranded on third base as Greinke fanned Wilberto Ortiz for the third out.

Nashville plated its only run in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Brendan Katin smoked a double off the wall in left center, Carroll hit a soft RBI base hit to center field to plate Katin.

Greinke allowed one hit while striking out one on 11 pitches (9 strikes) in his final inning of work.

The Sounds threatened to do damage in the bottom of the eighth inning, but stranded two runners while trailing by one run. Nashville put runners on first and second with one out to knock Bastardo from the contest. Albuquerque reliever Merkin Valdez then retired Eric Farris and Mat Gamel to end the rally.

The Isotopes tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth inning, highlighted by two wild pitches by Justin James and an RBI-triple by former Sound Trent Oeltjen.

Albuquerque closer Roman Colon pitched a perfect ninth for his third save of the year.

Left-hander Sam Narron tossed three shutout innings in relief, allowing three hits while striking out one. James was tagged for two runs in one inning in relief.

In his first rehab appearance, Nyjer Morgan entered the contest in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter and finished the game defensively in center field. He went 0-for-1 with a walk in the game.

The Sounds and Isotopes will play the third game of a four-game set at 6:35 pm on Saturday at Greer Stadium. Nashville right-hander Frankie De La Cruz (0-1, 1.85) will start against Albuquerque right Francisco Felix (1-0, 4.00). The Sounds will be wearing purple jerseys in support of Alzheimer's awareness. Fans have the opportunity to participate in an in-game silent auction in order to take home a player's jersey right off his back following the contest.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2011/04/29/aVkCsiBO.jpg

(Mike Strasinger/Nashville Sounds)

Nashville box score

Man, of those 11 assists, how many belong to Carroll? Six? Listen to his latest kill here. As much as I've enjoyed Greinke's time in the minors, I'm ready to see him on a big-league mound; this yearning is exacerbated by Jake Odorizzi's 30/4 K/BB in 20 innings for Wilmington. Gamel, Farris, and Taylor Green all went hitless. Caleb Gindl was 0-1 with a walk before being lifted for Morgan in the 5th, I assume because Morgan needed some action and not because of anything wrong with Gindl. Greinke, who famously loves to swing the bat, doubled in his one plate appearance.

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final (game two): Clinton 6, @Wisconsin 1 (7 innings)

Rattlers get Snow-ed under in game two

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The way the weather has been for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers over the last two weeks, you had to figure a pitcher with the last name of Snow would give them trouble. Forrest Snow tossed a complete game for the Clinton LumberKings to beat the Rattlers 6-1 in game two of a doubleheader on Friday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Snow allowed a run on five hits and struck out seven to help Clinton get a split in the twinbill after Matt Miller tossed a complete game shutout for the Rattlers in game one.

Clinton (6-16) got on the board with a little help from the Rattlers in the third inning. Carlton Tanabe struck out to start the frame, but he reached on a passed ball. Back-to-back bunt singles by Shaver Hansen and Julio Morban loaded the bases with no outs.

Wisconsin starting pitcher Del Howell hit Tim Morris on a 2-0 pitch to force in a run. Then, Stefen Romero singled to drive in two runs for a 3-0 Clinton lead.

Romero would score on a sacrifice fly by Ramon Morla to put the LumberKings up 4-0. On the play, Timber Rattlers catcher Cameron Garfield was injured as he twisted a knee trying to catch the throw to the plate and get a tag on Morla going by him. Garfield left the game after the play.

Clinton added a run in the top of the fourth inning. Howell walked the first two batters of the inning and was replaced by Damon Krestalude. Tanabe greeted Krestalude with a single to right, but right fielder Franklin Romero threw out Jabari Bash trying to score from second for the first out of the inning.

Hansen followed with a fly ball to left that was just out of the reach of Robbie Garvey at the wall. Tanabe went halfway at first to make sure the ball was off the wall before moving to second. However, Shaver was running all out and passed Tanabe in the basepath for the second out. Marcus Littlewood scored on the play for a 5-0 Clinton lead.

The Rattlers (7-11) got their only run off Snow in the bottom of the fourth. Cody Hawn lined a homer over the wall in left. It was the first Midwest League home run for Hawn.

Clinton answered with a solo homer by Stefen Romero in the top of the fifth to account for the final score.

Snow did give up a leadoff double in the bottom of the fifth, but retired the final nine batters he faced to close out the Rattlers and earn the doubleheader split.

The final game of the series and of the homestand is Saturday afternoon. Jimmy Nelson (0-1, 4.97) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. George Mieses (0-2, 4.58) will start for the LumberKings. Game time at Time Warner Cable Field is 1:05pm. If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in to AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com for the broadcast starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:45pm.

Wisconsin box score (game two)

Well, good to see Hawn break his homeless skein at least. Garfield may have been seriously injured; he screamed loudly in pain and had to be helped off the field. Howell did not have a successful encore to his six-inning, one-run complete game on the 23rd: he allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks in three innings, fanning three. He threw 57 pitches, 32 of them strikes. This was Krestalude's first appearance of the year after opening the season in extended spring training. Thomas Keeling turned in his third straight scoreless outing, striking out the side in the 6th around two walks. Reggie Keen threw out a runner at third in both halves of the doubleheader.

Wisconsin play-by-play (game two)

[battlekow]

Manatees drop series finale to Dunedin

Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees

VIERA, Fla. -- The Brevard County Manatees were unable to hold onto a two-run lead as they dropped the series finale to the Dunedin Blue Jays 3-2 on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium.

Manatees (9-13) starting pitcher Hiram Burgos had a solid outing as he went 5 2/3 innings and allowed just one run on six hits, while walking three and striking out six.

The Blue Jays (8-13) went on top early with a run in the third, but Hunter Morris gave the 'Tees a 2-1 lead in the fifth with a two-run blast to right.

Corey Frerichs relieved Burgos in the sixth and retired the first five batters he faced via the strikeout, but then ran into some trouble.

With one on and two out in the eighth, Justin Jackson hit a triple over the head of Kentrail Davis in center to tie the game at 2-2. Frerichs would allow a walk to put runners on the corners, before being relieved by R.J. Seidel.

The first batter that Seidel faced - Chris Hopkins - ripped a single into right to give Dunedin a 3-2 lead.

Brevard County's final crack at tying the game came with Kentrail Davis on second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Khris Davis grounded out to end the game.

Both Kentrail and Khris Davis each had multi-hit games as Kentrail went 3-for-5 and Khris Davis went 2-for-4.

The Manatees will welcome the Lakeland Flying Tigers to Viera for a three-game series beginning on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

Brevard County took two of three from Lakeland on the road last week. Nicholas Bucci (2-1, 3.00) is scheduled to start on the hill for the Manatees. The Flying Tigers (11-11) will send Cole Nelson (1-1, 4.87) to the mound.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2011/04/29/qZL68OwK.jpg

Hunter Morris (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

[battlekow]

Chris Mehring informs us of his postgame thoughts.

[DHonks]

Interesting to notice Burgos and Caufield jumping onto my radar for the first time in years. Looking at Caufield's minor league stats, he actually has only had one bad year, and it was in Brevard. I'm starting to get intrigued.

[dadofandrew]

Caufield is 27 and has a 700 OPS in AA. That isn't impressive if he plays SS or C, never mind OF.

[battlekow]

Brad Krause's photos from the Timber Rattlers games.

[TooLiveBrew]

Chris notes Post-Crescent beat writer Mike Woods's tweets on the Garfield injury:

 

- Catcher Cameron Garfield, 2nd-round pick of Brewers in 09, looks to have suffered knee injury. Had to be helped off field after play at plate.

- There was no collision, looks to have caught a cleat. Scream was pretty loud. Tough break for Garfield. Good thing, he’s just 19.

 

That doesn't sound very good. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

[battlekow]

Rattlers' Miller spins three-hit shutout

Ashley Marshall/Special to MLB.com

It took Wisconsin's Matt Miller a couple of weeks to figure out what he needed to do to be successful in the Midwest League. Now that he has, he's getting better every time he takes the mound.

The Brewers prospect pitched a three-hitter for his second straight complete game Friday as the Timber Rattlers blanked the Clinton LumberKings, 5-0, in the first game of a doubleheader.

Miller (1-2), who had an extra day's rest following Thursday's rainout, walked one and struck out six.

"You have to get ahead of guys and pound the zone," he said. "That's what I learned tonight. You have to remember that you are in charge out there. Taking the pressure off yourself and putting it on the hitters is the key."

Miller is the third Minor Leaguer to toss two complete games this season and the first Midwest League pitcher to pitch a complete-game shutout.

The 22-year-old right-hander gave up a leadoff single in the first inning to Shaver Hansen, but Julio Morban grounded into a double play and Tim Morris struck out.

Miller retired the side in order in the second and the Wisconsin defense helped bail him out in the third.

Marcus Littlewood drew a leadoff walk and Steven Baron singled, but Littlewood was thrown out at third base by center fielder Reggie Keen. Baron was nailed trying to steal second and Miller got through the inning unscathed.

"My defense was big behind me," the 2010 fifth-round Draft pick said. "Reggie threw out the guy going first to third and right after that Tyler Roberts threw the runner out at second. Me and Tyler were clicking all night long."

Miller, a Pioneer League postseason All-Star last year, faced just one batter over the minimum the rest of the way, yielding a leadoff double in the fifth to Mickey Wiswall.

"We had a lot of success throwing the fastball tonight," the University of Michigan product said. "They were a predominantly left-handed lineup, so we were going hard away and then changing the pace.

"Once we got ahead, we could use the changeup in any count and that helped us get a lot of ground balls."

Miller, who lowered his ERA to 4.43, had a rough introduction to the Midwest League. He gave up five runs on four hits and five walks over four innings in his season debut on April 8, then surrendered four runs on four hits and three walks over 5 1/3 frames in his second start.

Last time out, Miller allowed three runs -- two earned -- on three hits and three walks over six innings.

"I've made a few changes to my mechanics and my delivery, and that has started to work," he explained. "I was making things too complicated, but each start it is coming around.

"My delivery is becoming more comfortable, I am keeping my weight back and getting a good angle and tilt. I'm not over-thinking things now."

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2011/04/29/LpdIhatv.jpg

(Ann Mollica/Timber Rattlers)

[Mass Haas]

Timber Rattlers ace Matt Miller finding his groove with seven-inning shutout against Clinton

by Mike Woods, Post-Crescent staff writer

GRAND CHUTE — As the saying goes, a double play is a pitcher's best friend.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers right-hander Matt Miller would disagree.

"Personally, I think it (the pitcher-catcher relationship) is one of the most underrated things in baseball," Miller said. "The dynamic between the pitcher and the catcher, there's so much chemistry that goes into that. And when you're on the same page and thinking the same pitch, the game just seems to flow."

Miller made things look easy Friday, tossing a complete-game three-hitter to lead the Timber Rattlers over Clinton 5-0 in the first game of a Midwest League doubleheader at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

Wisconsin lost the second game 6-1.

A fifth-round draft pick out of the University of Michigan, things were rather hard for Miller at the start of this season. He entered Friday's game with a 0-2 record and a 6.46 ERA, having given up 12 runs in 15 ¹/₃ innings, including 11 hits and 11 walks.

But he was spot-on Friday, striking out six against one walk in his seven innings of work as he lowered his ERA to 4.43.

"He was in the strike zone. I think that was a big key for him," Timber Rattlers pitching coach Chris Hook said. "I think he underestimates his stuff sometimes. I think he picks a little bit. Change-up was kind of a key for him. He used that as a strike pitch and, as the game went on, he had a little more conviction with the fastball, which really helped him."

A lot of things helped Miller. He faced just one batter over the minimum due to a double play, an outfield assist and a base runner caught stealing. The latter came with the help of catcher Tyler Roberts, a.k.a. Miller's best friend.

"If you get in a rhythm out there, and that's key for a pitcher to just get in a rhythm, in the sixth we were just clicking," Miller said. "Then when we got to the seventh and we just carried the same momentum we had in the sixth. I thought we were more locked in there than early on in the game. That kind of happens. You find your chemistry and your moments as the game goes on. And Tyler did a great job tonight just being there with me."

Expectations were clearly high for Miller and the rest of the starting staff entering the season. But like every other level of baseball, there is an adjustment period. And when you have three straight starts pushed back because of weather, it makes that adjustment period more trying.

"It's different at every level," Miller said. "Obviously, you come here with high expectations. If you looked at our starting pitching staff, just a slew of great arms and great college careers. And last year we all played together and had some success.

"We've tried to bring that here and everybody is trying to feel it out. Obviously, in the beginning of the season, everyone is going through bumps. But we're just going to put our head down and keep working. Collectively, everybody played a great game today."

Miller hopes that work, and his chemistry with Roberts, will make the road ahead a bit smoother.

"All the stuff mechanically that we've been working on, I felt a lot better," he said. "Tyler and I were obviously clicking and building chemistry slowly game by game because we're new working together. He just did a great job behind the plate and made me feel comfortable. Kept it simple at the start and then starting attacking guys late as the game got on.

"I think this does big things for everyone's confidence. Life is a whole lot better when you win. Everything is better."