Link Report for Friday 5/13 -- Scarpetta effective, Thornburg uneven, Gennett back with a bang

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Chase Wright at home vs. Fresno (Giants), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers (archives as well)

Huntsville: RHP Cody Scarpetta at Tennessee (Cubs), 6:15 PM gametime

Live Audio Link -- look for the Tennessee feed off the master MiLB.com audio list

Brevard County: RHP Maverick Lasker at home vs. Charlotte (Rays), 6:05 PM gametime

Live Audio Link -- Stone Crabs' feed

 

Wisconsin: RHP Tyler Thornburg at Clinton (Mariners), 6:10 PM pre-game; 6:30 gametime

Live Audio Link

[Mass Haas]

Good news for MiLB.TV subscribers.

 

The good folks in Nashville have informed us that their home games will now be available on MiLB.TV (a one-camera operation tied into Stu Paul's audio).

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday'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
	Omaha	19	15	.559	-	-	11-5	8-10	5-5	L1
	Iowa	15	19	.441	4.0	107	7-8	8-11	3-7	W1
	Memphis	12	21	.364	6.5	105	9-9	3-12	2-8	L2
	Nashville	11	22	.333	7.5	104	8-9	3-13	2-8	W2

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tennessee	20	14	.588	-	-	9-5	11-9	5-5	W1
	Huntsville	19	14	.576	0.5	37	10-4	9-10	4-6	L1
	Jackson	17	15	.531	2.0	36	6-7	11-8	5-5	L2
	Chattanooga	18	16	.529	2.0	35	9-11	9-5	6-4	L1
	Carolina	10	24	.294	10.0	27	7-13	3-11	3-7	L3

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Daytona	25	9	.735	-	-	11-4	14-5	9-1	W1
	Clearwater	23	11	.676	2.0	35	13-6	10-5	8-2	W2
	Dunedin	16	17	.485	8.5	29	5-9	11-8	7-3	W2
	Lakeland	16	18	.471	9.0	28	9-7	7-11	4-6	L2
	Brevard County	12	22	.353	13.0	24	6-13	6-9	2-8	W1
	Tampa	12	22	.353	13.0	24	6-13	6-9	3-7	L1

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Burlington	24	9	.727	-	-	10-2	14-7	7-3	L1
	Cedar Rapids	20	14	.588	4.5	-	10-6	10-8	4-6	L4
	Beloit	18	14	.563	5.5	37	10-5	8-9	5-5	W1
	Peoria	19	15	.559	5.5	36	11-5	8-10	7-3	W1
	Wisconsin	16	15	.516	7.0	36	10-9	6-6	7-3	W5
	Quad Cities	17	17	.500	7.5	34	8-10	9-7	6-4	W3
	Kane County	11	24	.314	14.0	27	7-12	4-12	3-7	L1
	Clinton	9	26	.257	16.0	25	4-15	5-11	1-9	L6

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

Huntsville Media Notes

[battlekow]

Wisconsin game notes and lineup:

1. Nick Shaw – 2B
2. Greg Hopkins – 3B
3. Cody Hawn – 1B
4. Mike Walker – DH
5. Franklin Romero – RF
6. Robbie Garvey – LF
7. Reggie Keen – CF
8. Tyler Roberts – C
9. Yadiel Rivera – SS

Tyler Thornburg - SP

[Mass Haas]

Scooter Gennett back in action for the 'Tees...

[Tedaldtada]

Scooter Gennett back in action for the 'Tees...

I'd say. All singles, though.

[battlekow]

Final: @Tennessee 4, Huntsville 1

Huntsville box score

Cody Scarpetta had an effective and efficient six innings, shutting out the Smokies on four hits and two walks while fanning five and needing only 86 pitches (55 strikes). He probably could have gone one more inning, and it turns out he should have, since Darren Byrd came on in the 7th and promptly allowed four runs. Not much going on offensively, though Angel Gonzalez did bump his six-game line to a fun-to-type .588/.720/.882 by walking twice and getting hit by a pitch. Erik Komatsu went hitless to break his three-game three-hit streak, but he was also plunked. Scarpetta still doesn't have a base hit in his pro career, but he did make his first positive statistical contribution with a sac bunt.

Huntsville play-by-play

Nice work by Little Shoe here to get out of a jam:

Tennessee Bottom of the 1st

• James Adduci singles on a ground ball to left fielder Lee Haydel, deflected by shortstop Hainley Statia.
• With DJ LeMahieu batting, James Adduci steals (9) 2nd base.
• DJ LeMahieu singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Brandon Jones. James Adduci to 3rd.
• Ryan Flaherty flies out softly to center fielder Erik Komatsu.
• Matthew Spencer pops out to catcher Anderson De La Rosa.
• Rebel Ridling grounds into a force out, shortstop Hainley Statia to second baseman Sergio Miranda. DJ LeMahieu out at 2nd.

The Stars, working with the bloop-and-a-bloop-and-a-blast theory, brought the tying run to the plate in the 9th but couldn't get the blast part:

Huntsville Top of the 9th

• Angel Gonzalez walks.
• Brandon Jones walks. Angel Gonzalez to 2nd.
• Steffan Wilson strikes out swinging.
• Lee Haydel grounds into double play, second baseman Nate Samson to first baseman Josh Vitters. Brandon Jones out at 2nd.

[battlekow]

Final: Wisconsin 3, @Clinton 2

Six the hard way

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

CLINTON, IA – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers picked up their sixth consecutive victory with a 3-2 win over the Clinton LumberKings Friday night at Alliant Energy Field. But, it wasn’t easy. The Rattlers scored twice in the ninth inning to erase a 2-1 Clinton lead. Then, Wisconsin had to dodge a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the ninth. Reggie Keen led the Rattlers with three hits and shortstop Yadiel Rivera contributed with a key hit in the ninth inning.

Clinton (9-27) got on the board first. Mickey Wiswall doubled to start the fourth inning. A walk to Kalian Sams put two runners on base and Jabari Blash knocked in Wiswall for the first run of the game. On the play, Sams was thrown out at third and Blash took second base. One out later, Jake Schlander singled to drive in Blash for a 2-0 lead.??Wisconsin (17-15) responded with a two out rally in the top of the fifth against Paxton. Nick Shaw singled with two outs. Greg Hopkins tripled to right-center to send Shaw home.

??The Rattlers tried another two out rally in the sixth. Mike Walker was at second with two outs. Keen sent a grounder that snuck through to left field. Walker rounded third and headed for home. Sams, who played for the Timber Rattlers in 2007, fielded the ball in left and fired to the plate. Walker slid to the front of the plate and thought he got in under the tag of catcher Steven Baron. But, home plate umpire Garrett Patterson saw it differently and called Walker out. The Rattlers designated hitter was ejected shortly thereafter.

Keen singled with one out in the top of the ninth inning against Clinton reliever Jandy Sena. He stole second, but was still there with two outs. Then, Rivera crushed the first pitch he saw from Sena to the base of the wall in center for an RBI triple to tie the game.??

Shaw continued the rally by drawing a walk against Sena after falling behind 0-2. That brought Hopkins to the plate.??

Hopkins sent a grounder to Stefan Romero at third, but the ball ate up Romero. The third baseman for the LumberKings recovered and threw to first, but Hopkins beat the throw to allow Rivera to score the run to put Wisconsin up 3-2.

But getting that sixth straight win was not going to be easy for the Rattlers. Closer Greg Holle gave up a leadoff single to Wiswall before striking out Sams. Then, Jabari Blash drew a walk, but Holle struck out Baron for the second out of the inning.??

Schlander worked the count to 3-2 and coaxed a walk out of Holle to load the bases and bring Robbie Anston to the plate.??The count ran full again and Anston fouled off one pitch to stay alive. But, Holle found a little extra and blew a fastball past Anston for strike three to record the final out. Holle is now 8-for-8 in save situations.

The loss was the seventh straight for the LumberKings.

Game two of the series is Saturday night at Alliant Energy Field. Matt Miller (1-3, 4.09) gets the start. The LumberKings have Forrest Snow (1-4, 4.54) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Game time is 6:00 PM. Tune in for the Miller Lite Pregame Show on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting at 5:40 PM.

Wisconsin box score

I thought for sure Jabari Blash had the best name on the LumberKings, but Forrest Snow's is pretty damn good, too. Okay, winning streak. Tyler Thornburg's start was so undistinguished that Chris didn't even mention him in the recap; Thornburg's uneven line: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 87 pitches, 43 strikes. Just didn't have it today. Tyler Cravy did a good job with three scoreless innings to bridge the gap to Holle. Keen also stole a base and threw a runner out at third, so he had a great all-around game. Chris Dennis came on after Walker's ejection and doubled. Cody Hawn was 0-4 with a walk. Tyler Roberts drew his fourth walk of the year.

Wisconsin play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: @Brevard County 8, Charlotte 7

Brevard County box score

The pitching staff didn't make it easy, as Maverick Lasker turned in a short start and the bullpen gave up three runs over the last two innings, but the Manatees squeaked out a win. Lasker lasted just five outs and gave up two runs on three hits and four walks. Efrain Nieves pitched the best, allowing just an unearned run over the next 3.1 innings, but then Rob Wooten came on and let in three more. The final tally was charged to Mark Willinsky, who picked up the save despite surrendering as many hits (five) as outs recorded. Scooter Gennett returned to the lineup with a bang, going 4-5. Hunter Morris had an interesting day, going 3-5 with two doubles at the plate but committing three errors in the field (three different kinds, too: pickoff, fielding, missed catch). Man, ten errors overall between the two teams. Brutal. Khris Davis was originally credited with two doubles but a postgame scoring change left him with a 1-5 line. Still waiting for Kentrail Davis and D'Vontrey Richardson to get hit: 1-5 and 0-4 with a walk, respectively. Shea Vucinich, Shawn Zarraga, and Mike Brownstein, hitting 7-8-9, went a collective 0-10 with three walks but scored five runs.

Brevard County play-by-play

The 'Tees' five-run 7th:

Brevard County Bottom of the 7th

• Hunter Morris doubles (9) on a line drive to left fielder Christopher Murrill.
• Khristopher Davis strikes out swinging.
• With D' Vontrey Richardson batting, wild pitch by Deivis Mavarez, Hunter Morris to 3rd.
• D' Vontrey Richardson walks.
• Brock Kjeldgaard walks. D' Vontrey Richardson to 2nd.
• Shea Vucinich grounds into a force out, third baseman Greg Sexton to second baseman Tyler Bortnick. Hunter Morris scores. D' Vontrey Richardson to 3rd. Brock Kjeldgaard out at 2nd. Shea Vucinich to 1st.
• With Shawn Zarraga batting, Shea Vucinich steals (3) 2nd base, D' Vontrey Richardson scores. Missed catch error by third baseman Greg Sexton.
• Shawn Zarraga walks. Wild pitch by pitcher Deivis Mavarez. Shea Vucinich scores. Throwing error by catcher Mark Thomas.
• Mike Brownstein reaches on force attempt, throwing error by shortstop Hak-Ju Lee. Shawn Zarraga to 3rd. Mike Brownstein to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: Josh Satow replaces Deivis Mavarez.
• Scooter Gennett singles on a line drive to center fielder Dustin Biell. Shawn Zarraga scores. Mike Brownstein scores.
• Kentrail Davis grounds out, second baseman Tyler Bortnick to first baseman Michael Sheridan.

The "exciting" conclusion:

Charlotte Top of the 8th

• Mark Thomas flies out to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson.
• Michael Sheridan doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Khristopher Davis.
• Christopher Murrill singles on a line drive to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Michael Sheridan to 3rd.
• Pitcher Change: Mark Willinsky replaces Robert Wooten.
• Dustin Biell singles on a ground ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Michael Sheridan scores. Christopher Murrill to 3rd.
• Hak-Ju Lee called out on strikes.
• Tyler Bortnick singles on a ground ball to second baseman Scooter Gennett. Christopher Murrill scores. Tyler Bortnick to 2nd. Dustin Biell advances to 3rd, on missed catch error by first baseman Hunter Morris.
• Brett Nommensen strikes out swinging.

Charlotte Top of the 9th

• Greg Sexton doubles (10) on a line drive to right fielder Kentrail Davis.
• Jake Jefferies singles on a ground ball to shortstop Shea Vucinich.
• Mark Thomas singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Mike Brownstein. Greg Sexton to 3rd. Jake Jefferies to 2nd.
• Michael Sheridan grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Mike Brownstein. Greg Sexton scores. Jake Jefferies out at 3rd. Mark Thomas to 2nd. Michael Sheridan to 1st.
• Christopher Murrill flies out to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Mark Thomas to 3rd.
• Dustin Biell strikes out swinging, catcher Shawn Zarraga to first baseman Hunter Morris.

[battlekow]

This doesn't include the postgame scoring corrections:

'Tees hold on to win wild one

Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees

VIERA, Fla. -- In a game that saw both teams combine for 28 hits and eight errors, the Brevard County Manatees held on to defeat Charlotte Stone Crabs 8-7 on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium.

Manatees (13-22) starting pitcher Maverick Lasker was knocked out of the game early as he went just 1 2/3 innings and allowed two runs off of four hits and four walks. Efrain Nieves relieved him and was able to limit even further damage as he allowed one unearned run in 3 1/3 innings.

Down 4-3 in the seventh, the Manatees rallied for five runs, thanks in most part to three Charlotte (12-23) errors. Hunter Morris led off the inning with a double and after a Khris Davis strikeout, Morris reached third on a wild pitch on the fourth ball thrown to D'Vontrey Richardson.

Now with runners on the corners and one out, Brock Kjeldgaard walked to load the bases. Shea Vucinich then grounded into a force out, that would have been a double play, had Vucinich not slid head first into first base. Morris scored on the fielder's choice to tie the game.

Now with runners on the corners and two outs and Shawn Zarraga at the plate, the Manatees tried a double steal with Vucinich and Richardson as Vucinich made it to second safely. The Stone Crabs had Richardson caught in a rundown but third baseman Greg Sexton dropped the throw back from catcher Mark Thomas, allowing Richardson to score and give the Manatees a 5-4 lead.

Zarraga then walked but the fourth ball is a wild pitch and Vucinich tries to take third and gets there as the catcher's throw sails into left field and Vucinich scores easily to make it a 6-4 game.

Next up, Mike Brownstein would reach on a force attempt but then take second on a throwing error by Charlotte shortstop Hak-Ju Lee and Zarraga would move up to third. Brevard County would finally earn a run via a hit as Scooter Gennett singled to center to score Brownstein and Zarraga and make it 8-4 in favor of Brevard County.

Charlotte didn't go away quietly though as they scored twice in the eighth to make it 8-6 and one in the ninth to make it a one-run game and the Stone Crabs had the tying run on third with two outs, but Dustin Biell struck out swinging as the Manatees held on to win the game and subsequently the series.

Rob Wooten earned the win in relief, despite giving up three runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings. It also wasn't a pretty save for Mark Willinsky as he one run on five hits in 1 2/3 innings to earn his second save of 2011.

The top of the order again set the pace for the Manatees at the plate on Friday night as Gennett, Morris and Khris Davis combined to go 9-for-16 with four doubles, three RBI and two runs scored.

Brevard County's homestand will continue on Saturday night at 7:05 as the Manatees welcome the top team from the FSL's South Division, the St. Lucie Mets (23-12).

The Manatees will send Kyle Heckathorn (3-2, 3.26) to the mound, while the Mets will counter with Darin Gorski (0-0, 3.00) who is making just his third start in nine appearances this season.

[battlekow]

Chris Mehring's postgame thoughts include this:

A quick look back at the record books shows that the last time the Timber Rattlers won a road game when trailing after eight innings prior to August 23, 2010 was on August 18, 2006. The Rattlers trailed the Dayton Dragons 4-3 heading to the top of the ninth inning at Fifth Third Field. Wisconsin tied the game with a run in the ninth and eventually won the game 7-5 in 14 innings.

Been awhile! I guess you could call today's game a slump-buster.

 

EDIT: Added the italics above. So this was only the second time since 8/18/06.

[battlekow]

Final: @Nashville 3, Fresno 2

Sounds Win Third Straight Over Fresno With Walk-Off Hit

Nashville Sounds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Pinch-hitter Jordan Brown's softly hit, broken-bat RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Taylor Green to give the Nashville Sounds a 3-2 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies on Friday night at Greer Stadium.

Nashville's (12-22) third straight victory gave the club its second series win and first since the club's season-opening series with New Orleans at Greer. It was also the club's third last at-bat victory of 2011.

Fresno reliever Mark Kroon (1-2) began the ninth inning by giving up a leadoff double to Green. The next batter Brown fouled off four pitches, including a contested two-strike foul tip call, before singling softly over the second baseman to end the game.

Fresno's first run came in the top of the fourth inning, as the Grizzlies posted two doubles in the inning off starter Chase Wright. With Fresno leading 1-0 in the middle of the fourth inning, the skies opened and the game was delayed three hours and resumed at 11:00 pm.

After the delay, reliever Jim Henderson helped his own cause after tossing two innings in relief. With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Henderson collected his third career hit, advanced to second on a fielding error, and scored to tie the contest at 1-1 on an Eric Farris RBI base hit.

The Sounds scored a run on no hits and four walks to go ahead 2-1 in the next frame. In his first appearance for Fresno, reliever Geno Espineli recorded two outs while walking the bases loaded before being departing. Henry Sosa came into the contest to face the pinch-hitting Brendan Katin, who then worked a base loaded walk that scored Jeremy Reed.

Fresno knotted the contest at 2-2 in the next inning, as Bred Eldred's third double of the contest led off the frame. Eldred advanced to third on a fly out and scored on a Jackson Williams single.

Henderson fanned two while tossing a season-high three innings on the evening. Justin James (1-2) picked up the win on one run in two innings.

Wright gave up one run on six hits with two walks in four innings before the delay. Fresno starter Josh Banks contributed three scoreless innings to begin the game.

Mat Gamel (eight games) and Edwin Maysonet (seven games) each singled to extend their respective hitting streaks in the victory.

The Sounds continue their homestand by welcoming the Sacramento River Cats (AAA-Athletics) to Music City for a four-game series beginning at 6:35 pm CT on Saturday night. Right-handed starter Amaury Rivas (3-3, 4.70) takes the mound against Sacramento righty Travis Banwart (1-0, 3.24).

Nashville box score

Listen to Brown's walk-off single here. When I saw the game tied at 2-2 in the 8th, I was conflicted: part of me wanted to go to bed, but the other part of me wanted it to go 17 innings or something like that. I'd have stayed up. Maybe. The recap basically tells you all you need to know; Caleb Gindl was 1-4, and Gamel and Green each walked. There you go. Goodnight.

Nashville play-by-play

[Mass Haas]

 

Mostly players, and not fans here.?Turns out Friday the 13th was a very good day for Tim Dillard, always a cut-up.

[Mass Haas]

Despite the end of his 13-game hit streak, Rattler RF Franklin Romero contributed a sacrifice fly, so kudos.

 

However, with two K's, the hacktastic Romero now has a 25-to-0 K-to-BB ratio in 78 AB's. .308 AVG, .308 OBP.

[Mass Haas]

There you go. Goodnight.

 

Awesome job as always, Eric.