Link Report for Thurs. 5/5 -- "Relief" in name only

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

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

Nashville: LHP Sam Narron at Oklahoma City (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime
Live Audio Link
iPad/iPhone: Listen

Huntsville: LHP Dan Merklinger and RHP Michael Bowman in a doubleheader at home vs. Jacksonville (Marlins), 4:43 PM gametime
Live Audio Link
iPad/iPhone: Listen
Traditional broadcast via the Jacksonville feed: Listen
Brevard County: RHP Nick Bucci at Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:00 PM gametime
Live Audio Link -- Look for the Dunedin Feed

Wisconsin: LHP Del Howell at Beloit (Twins), 10:40 AM pre-game; 11:00 gametime
Live Audio Link

[Mass Haas]

Follow Thursday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

Huntsville Game One (Gameday also available)

Huntsville Game Two (Gameday also available)

Brevard County

Wisconsin

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	16	10	.615	-	-	9-3	7-7	7-3	W2
	Iowa	13	13	.500	3.0	116	6-4	7-9	4-6	W1
	Memphis	10	15	.400	5.5	114	8-7	2-8	6-4	L2
	Nashville	9	16	.360	6.5	113	6-8	3-8	2-8	L3

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Huntsville	15	10	.600	-	-	8-2	7-8	5-5	L2
	Tennessee	16	11	.593	-	-	7-3	9-8	4-6	L2
	Jackson	14	11	.560	1.0	44	4-6	10-5	7-3	W2
	Chattanooga	14	13	.519	2.0	42	7-10	7-3	4-6	W1
	Carolina	8	19	.296	8.0	36	6-11	2-8	4-6	L1

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Daytona	19	8	.704	-	-	10-4	9-4	7-3	W3
	Clearwater	18	9	.667	1.0	43	10-4	8-5	8-2	W5
	Lakeland	13	14	.481	6.0	38	8-6	5-8	4-6	L2
	Dunedin	12	15	.444	7.0	37	4-8	8-7	6-4	W2
	Brevard County	10	17	.370	9.0	35	4-10	6-7	3-7	L4
	Tampa	9	18	.333	10.0	34	3-10	6-8	2-8	L7

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Burlington	18	7	.720	-	-	10-2	8-5	6-4	L1
	Cedar Rapids	18	8	.692	0.5	-	8-3	10-5	8-2	W4
	Beloit	15	9	.625	2.5	44	9-4	6-5	7-3	W2
	Peoria	13	13	.500	5.5	40	5-3	8-10	5-5	W1
	Quad Cities	12	14	.462	6.5	39	5-10	7-4	5-5	W1
	Wisconsin	10	13	.435	7.0	40	5-8	5-5	5-5	L1
	Clinton	8	19	.296	11.0	34	4-12	4-7	3-7	L2
	Kane County	8	19	.296	11.0	34	4-10	4-9	1-9	L4

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Game Notes and starting lineup

[Mass Haas]

Stu Paul in Oklahoma City with the Sounds; Stu's not going to wow us with off-the-cuff humor or controversy, but he's earnest and sincere in his efforts.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Beloit (Twins) 10, Wisconsin 5

 

Snappers strike it big in the fifth inning

Chris Mehring, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

BELOIT, WI – The Beloit Snappers broke a 2-2 tie with a big eight run fifth inning and cruised to a 10-5 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Thursday afternoon at Pohlman Field. Andy Leer hit a three-run homer in the frame as the Rattlers dropped their second straight game.

 

Tobias Streich put the Snappers (16-9) up 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth. His two-run homer to center came off Rattlers starting pitcher Del Howell.

 

Wisconsin (10-14) rallied to tie the game in the top of the fifth inning. Tony Pechek doubled to start the inning. One out later, Nick Shaw singled to drive in Pechek. Cody Hawn doubled to send Shaw home to even the game 2-2.

 

But, the bottom of the fifth was not good for the Rattlers bullpen. Beloit sent 13 batters to the plate and scored eight times to go up 10-2. Daniel Britt started the inning and allowed all five batters he faced to reach base. Jamaal Hawkins singled to start the onslaught. An RBI double by Nate Roberts put Beloit in front 3-2. A four pitch walk to Michael Gonzales was followed by an RBI double off the bat of Daniel Ortiz and a three run homer by Andrew Leer.

 

The long ball by Leer knocked Britt out of the game and brought Tyler Cravy on in relief. But the Snappers continued to hit. Streich greeted Cravy with a single. Wan Wei Lin followed with a single. Gunner Glad doubled in both runners. Daniel Santana would double in Glad to make the score 10-2.

 

The Rattlers chipped away at the edges with a single run in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Franklin Romero drove in all three runs. His RBI grounder in the sixth sent Robbie Garvey home. In the seventh, Romero’s two-run double extended his hitting streak to nine games.

 

But, that was a close as the Rattlers would get.

 

Garvey and Shaw each had three hits for the Rattlers offense. Damon Krestalude (2 IP) and Eric Marzec (IP) worked the final three innings without allowing a run.

 

Wisconsin wraps up their road trip on Friday night with the final game of the series at Pohlman Field. Jimmy Nelson (0-2, 4.74) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Beloit will send Manuel Soliman (0-0, 5.19) to the mound. Game time is 6:30 PM. Tune in for the Miller Lite Pregame Show on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting at 6:10 PM.

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Before you get too excited about soon-to-be 23-year-old RF Franklin Romero's hit streak and .345 average, he's yet to walk in 58 AB's -- Romero has walked only nine times in 604 professional AB's -- I realize that's raining on his current parade, but just pointing out that his work is unsustainable without any free passes to speak of; balls are starting to fall in for Mr. Walk, Nick Shaw; all four outfielders on the Rattler roster are under 6' feet tall, not that there's anything wrong with that -- LF Robbie Garvey tripled among his three base knocks, but Reggie Keen was 0-for-5; the teams combined for 13 extra-base hits, six for Wisconsin; the Snappers were 7-for17 with RISP, the Timber Rattlers were 3-for-19.

 

Delayed discussing the mound work, but here goes -- Del Howell's four innings will show only two runs allowed, but five hits, three walks, and two HBP's don't make for a strong outing; Dan Britt's last two appearances combined (no outs recorded today) -- 3 IP, 11 H, 10 R, 9 ER; Tyler Cravy (1 IP, 5 H, 3 R today) has struggled, you wonder how quickly he had to get warm given Britt's out-free outing; the club is carrying 13 pitchers on the 25-man roster, but given some of the middling starting efforts outside of Austin Ross' work (and doesn't he stand out even more in comparison), some of these guys may be gassed already.

 

Wisconsin Play-by-Play

Game was scoreless after 3.5 innings; yet another outfield assist for Wisconsin (Romero) -- does anybody put up the stop sign in this league? Shortstop Carlos George left after grounding out in the 6th, something to keep an eye on, or perhaps just an opportunity to sit after the game was out-of-hand. We will note the only "line drive" or "line out" of this painful frame actually resulted in an out -- that's really reaching for a silver lining...

 

Beloit Bottom of the 5th

• Pitcher Change: Dan Britt replaces Del Howell.
  
• Jamaal Hawkins singles on a ground ball to third baseman Gregory Hopkins.
  
• Nate Roberts doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Reggie Keen. Jamaal Hawkins scores.
  
• Michael Gonzales walks.
  
• Daniel Ortiz doubles (11) on a ground ball to right fielder Franklin Romero. Nate Roberts scores. Michael Gonzales to 3rd.
  
• Andy Leer homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Michael Gonzales scores. Daniel Ortiz scores.
  
• Pitcher Change: Tyler Cravy replaces Dan Britt.
  
• Tobias Streich singles on a ground ball to center fielder Reggie Keen.
  
• Wang-Wei Lin singles on a fly ball to center fielder Reggie Keen. Tobias Streich to 2nd.
  
• Gunner Glad doubles (3) on a ground ball to left fielder Robert Garvey. Tobias Streich scores. Wang-Wei Lin scores.
  
• Daniel Santana doubles (3) on a fly ball to left fielder Robert Garvey. Gunner Glad scores.
  
• Jamaal Hawkins strikes out swinging.
  
• Nate Roberts singles on a fly ball to right fielder Franklin Romero. Daniel Santana to 3rd.
  
• Michael Gonzales lines out to right fielder Franklin Romero.
  
• Daniel Ortiz strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

[battlekow]

Final (game one): Jacksonville 8, @Huntsville 6 (8 innings)

Huntsville box score (game one)

Because the game was scheduled for just seven innings, when the Stars put up a five spot in the bottom of the 6th to go up 6-3, the game seemed to be in hand--not so. Michael Fiers allowed three runs in the 7th to tie the game, and Darren Byrd let in two more to give it away in the 8th. Fiers and Byrd have been two of the few reliable relievers in the early going for any of the farm teams, so this result is quite disappointing. Dan Merklinger started, allowing three runs in 5.2 innings. Though he set a season high with seven strikeouts, they came with four walks and two wild pitches. After walking just two in his first three starts, Merklinger's handed out 12 free passes in his last three. Good day for the catchers: Anderson de la Rosa homered and doubled, and Martin Maldonado had a two-run pinch-hit single. Lee Haydel did not play, which meant Erik Komatsu got to temporarily escape the six-hole and bat leadoff, where he went 0-4. Perhaps answering my question from yesterday, Hainley Statia started at shortstop and went 1-4; Matt Cline started at second. Corey Frerichs made his AA debut, getting an out and stranding two of Merklinger's runners to finish the 6th.

Huntsville play-by-play (game one)

Huntsville Bottom of the 6th

• Hainley Statia singles on a line drive to center fielder Kevin Mattison.
• Sean Halton singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Romero, deflected by third baseman Jim Negrych. Hainley Statia to 2nd.
• Brandon Jones lines out to center fielder Kevin Mattison.
• Steffan Wilson grounds into a force out, second baseman Ryan Curry to shortstop Chris Gutierrez. Hainley Statia to 3rd. Sean Halton out at 2nd. Steffan Wilson to 1st.
• Chuck Caufield doubles (7) on a line drive to left fielder Alex Romero. Hainley Statia scores. Steffan Wilson scores.
• With Matt Cline batting, Chuck Caufield steals (2) 3rd base.
• Matt Cline walks.
• Pitcher Change: Daniel Jennings replaces Brad Hand, batting 9th.
• Anderson De La Rosa doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Alex Romero. Chuck Caufield scores. Matt Cline to 3rd.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Martin Maldonado replaces Corey Frerichs.
• Martin Maldonado singles on a line drive to center fielder Kevin Mattison. Matt Cline scores. Anderson De La Rosa scores.
• Erik Komatsu grounds out, second baseman Ryan Curry to first baseman Paul Gran.

Jacksonville Top of the 7th

• Pitcher Change: Michael Fiers replaces Corey Frerichs, batting 9th.
• Kevin Mattison walks.
• Ryan Curry singles on a line drive to center fielder Erik Komatsu, deflected by pitcher Michael Fiers. Kevin Mattison to 2nd.
• Jim Negrych singles on a fly ball to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Kevin Mattison to 3rd. Ryan Curry to 2nd.
• Luke Montz out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Kevin Mattison scores. Ryan Curry to 3rd.
• Jorge Padilla singles on a ground ball to right fielder Chuck Caufield. Ryan Curry scores. Jim Negrych to 3rd.
• Pitcher Change: Darren Byrd replaces Michael Fiers, batting 9th.
• Alex Romero singles on a ground ball to right fielder Chuck Caufield. Jim Negrych scores. Jorge Padilla to 2nd.
• Erik Lis strikes out swinging.
• Chris Gutierrez flies out to center fielder Erik Komatsu.

Jacksonville Top of the 8th

• Aaron Dudley pops out to first baseman Sean Halton.
• Kevin Mattison walks.
• Ryan Curry triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Kevin Mattison scores.
• Darren Byrd intentionally walks Jim Negrych.
• Luke Montz out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Brandon Jones. Ryan Curry scores.
• Jorge Padilla grounds out, second baseman Matt Cline to first baseman Sean Halton.

[battlekow]

Final: @Dunedin 3, Brevard County 1

Brevard County box score

More extremely unclutch relief pitching. After Nick Bucci twirled a fine game--7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K--R.J. Seidel allowed two runs in the 8th and that was that. Scooter Gennett, Mike Brownstein, and Josh Prince each had two hits; the rest of the team had one (Hunter Morris's single). D'Vontrey Richardson drew a walk (and, because he can't do anything good without doing something bad to even it out, committed a fielding error), Khris Davis was 0-4, and Kentrail Davis did not play. Prince stole his 10th base, which is even more impressive when you consider his .271 OBP. Former Brewers farmhand Wes Etheridge picked up his third save of the year against the Manatees and eighth overall.

Brevard County play-by-play

Missed opportunity:

Brevard County Top of the 4th

• Scooter Gennett singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kenny Wilson.
• Mike Brownstein singles on a fly ball to right fielder Justin Jackson. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.
• Hunter Morris flies out to right fielder Justin Jackson. Scooter Gennett to 3rd.
• With Khristopher Davis batting, Mike Brownstein steals (4) 2nd base.
• Khristopher Davis strikes out swinging.
• D' Vontrey Richardson grounds out, second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Jon Talley

Interesting scoring decision, or lack thereof, here:

Dunedin Bottom of the 5th

• Sean Ochinko flies out to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson.
• Ryan Goins walks.
• Ryan Goins out at 2nd, catcher Sean McCraw.
• Justin Jackson walks.
• Kenny Wilson strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

Why stats can be a joke sometimes -- Huntsville's Michael Fiers retires one of five batters in the disastrous 7th but gets a "hold".

[battlekow]

Chris Mehring has post-game thoughts from yesterday and today.

[battlekow]

Final: @Oklahoma City 4, Nashville 3

Sounds Swept After Another Last At-Bat Defeat

Nashville Sounds

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Pinch-hitter Brian Dopirak knocked a game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Oklahoma City RedHawks a 4-3 win over the Nashville Sounds on Thursday night at RedHawks Field.

Oklahoma City scored four unanswered runs in the final three innings to take a four-game series sweep from Nashville (9-17), which has now been swept twice in the last three series and dropped 15 of the last 19 games overall.

Anderson Hernandez hit a leadoff single off Justin James (0-2), moved to second on a sacrifice, and came home to score the game-winning run on Dopirak's double.

Sounds left-hander Sam Narron threw a quality start, tossing six shutout innings while striking out four in the no-decision. The quality start was Narron's first of the year and Nashville's eighth of the season.

Oklahoma City's Sergio Perez countered with a quality start and no-decision for Oklahoma City, surrendering three runs (two earned) in six innings pitched.

Nashville plated their first run of the contest in the top of the third inning. Shortstop Luis Figueroa reached first on a leadoff walk and then moved to third on the next play as RedHawks shortstop Tommy Manzella committed an error. Sergio Perez then induced a double play that allowed Figueroa to score.

The Sounds scored their next two runs in the top of the sixth inning. After Jeremy Reed led off the frame with a double, Brendan Katin belted his team-leading seventh home run, a two-run shot over the left field wall.

The first of Oklahoma City's runs came in the bottom of the seventh inning after Narron left the ballgame. Jim Henderson allowed the first batter he faced to go deep, as Brandon Barnes knocked a solo home run over the wall.

The RedHawks got two more runs to knot the game at 3-3 in the next inning. Henderson walked Joe Inglett to begin the inning, struck out Koby Klemens for the first out, and then allowed a single off a 10-pitch at-bat with Robinson Cancel. James came into the contest to relieve Henderson and gave up a single that brought home Oklahoma City's first run of the inning. The game-tying run was scored when Cancel stole home as the RedHawks executed a double steal.

Henderson was tagged for three runs in 1 1/3 innings in relief. James took the loss after giving up the run in the ninth.

The Sounds continue their road trip and begin a four-game series with tomorrow's 7:05 pm CT series opener with the Round Rock Express. Right-hander Frankie De La Cruz (0-1, 2.42) takes the mound against former Sounds southpaw Zach Jackson (2-0, 5.01).

Nashville box score

More unrelieving relief work. The RedHawks stole five bases off George Kottaras without being caught, though Narron did notch a pick-off; cruelly, Kottaras himself was caught stealing. Caleb Gindl singled and took an intentional walk, Taylor Green also drew a free pass, and Eric Farris and Mat Gamel took collars. Listen to Katin's homer.

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final (game two): @Huntsville 7, Jacksonville 3 (7 innings)

Huntsville box score (game two)

Finally, someone else's bullpen blows it! After the Suns tied it up at three-all in the top of the 6th, the Stars answered with four runs in the bottom of the 6th to seal the win. Another of the system's few reliable relievers malfunctioned, as Dan Meadows allowed the tying run (but ended up vulturing a win). Robert Hinton struck out two in the 7th for what doesn't officially qualify as a save but surely feels like one. Michael Bowman was the starter and, despite allowing nine baserunners in five innings, held J'ville to two runs. Sergio Miranda was a perfect 2-2 with two walks to lead the offense, and Lee Haydel also had two hits. Haydel took over the leadoff spot from a resting Erik Komatsu but not the center field position; Haydel stayed in left field, his normal spot, while Chuckie Caufield manned center. Komatsu pinch-hit in the 6th and drew a walk; he's now sporting an 11/7 BB/K on the year. Sean Halton went 1-3 with his sixth walk; all six have come in the last ten games, an encouraging sign. Hainley Statia again got the start at short, so it looks like he'll get an extended look there.

Huntsville play-by-play (game two)

Revel in someone else's misfortune:

Huntsville Bottom of the 6th

• Steffan Wilson strikes out swinging.
• Chuck Caufield singles on a line drive to left fielder Alex Romero. Chuck Caufield advances to 2nd, on fielding error by left fielder Alex Romero.
• Martin Maldonado flies out to right fielder Jorge Padilla. Chuck Caufield to 3rd.
• Hainley Statia walks.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Erik Komatsu replaces Daniel Meadows.
• With Erik Komatsu batting, Hainley Statia steals (1) 2nd base.
• Erik Komatsu walks.
• Lee Haydel singles on a line drive to right fielder Jorge Padilla. Chuck Caufield scores. Hainley Statia scores. Erik Komatsu to 3rd.
• Sergio Miranda singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Romero. Erik Komatsu scores. Lee Haydel to 2nd.
• Sean Halton singles on a line drive to center fielder Kevin Mattison. Lee Haydel scores. Sergio Miranda to 3rd.
• With Brandon Jones batting, Sean Halton caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Kyle Skipworth to shortstop Chris Gutierrez.