Link Report for Tue. 5/24 -- Rainiers erupt for 15 runs against Sounds; Rattlers stay hot

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Tuesday's Daily Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Chase Wright at Tacoma (Mariners), 1:20 PM pre-game; 1:35 gametime

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers

Huntsville: Idle

Brevard County: RHP Hiram Burgos at home vs. Palm Beach (Cardinals), 6:05 PM gametime

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

 

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

Live Audio Link

[Mass Haas]

Follow Tuesday's action as it happens:

Nashville (Gameday also available)
Brevard County

Wisconsin

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	24	20	.545	-	-	12-9	12-11	5-5	W1
	Iowa	20	24	.455	4.0	97	10-10	10-14	5-5	L2
	Memphis	18	25	.419	5.5	96	12-11	6-14	6-4	W1
	Nashville	17	26	.395	6.5	95	11-11	6-15	6-4	L2

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tennessee	29	16	.644	-	-	15-5	14-11	8-2	W7
	Jackson	25	18	.581	3.0	24	13-10	12-8	7-3	L2
	Chattanooga	22	22	.500	6.5	20	11-14	11-8	4-6	W1
	Huntsville	22	22	.500	6.5	20	13-6	9-16	3-7	W2
	Carolina	13	31	.295	15.5	11	9-15	4-16	3-7	L1

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Daytona	33	12	.733	-	-	15-6	18-6	8-2	W6
	Clearwater	28	17	.622	5.0	21	15-9	13-8	5-5	L1
	Dunedin	25	20	.556	8.0	18	8-12	17-8	7-3	L2
	Lakeland	23	22	.511	10.0	16	12-10	11-12	6-4	W2
	Tampa	19	26	.422	14.0	12	11-15	8-11	6-4	W1
	Brevard County	15	30	.333	18.0	8	7-17	8-13	2-8	L6

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Burlington	30	14	.682	-	-	15-3	15-11	5-5	L2
	Peoria	25	19	.568	5.0	-	16-7	9-12	6-4	W5
	Wisconsin	25	19	.568	5.0	-	17-12	8-7	7-3	W2
	Quad Cities	24	20	.545	6.0	26	11-11	13-9	7-3	L1
	Cedar Rapids	22	22	.500	8.0	24	11-8	11-14	2-8	W1
	Beloit	21	23	.477	9.0	23	11-11	10-12	2-8	L6
	Kane County	19	26	.422	11.5	20	9-13	10-13	8-2	W4
	Clinton	11	34	.244	19.5	12	5-17	6-17	2-8	L5

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

No transaction for Daniel Ray Herrera until Wednesday at the earliest

[brewmann04]

The 3 A rotation is really bad hopefully in the next year or two some of the lower guys will move up.

[battlekow]

Wisconsin game notes and lineup:

Reggie Keen – CF

Nick Shaw – 2B

TJ Mittelstaedt – DH

Chris Dennis – 1B

Mike Walker – 3B

Franklin Romero – RF

Robbie Garvey – LF

Tyler Roberts – C

Yadiel Rivera – SS

Tyler Thornburg – SP

[TooLiveBrew]

Looking forward to another Thornburg start. I get the feeling he won't be in Appleton much longer.

[battlekow]

Final: @Tacoma 15, Nashville 4

Sounds Drop Third Straight, Lose 15-4

Nashville Sounds

TACOMA, Wash. - The Nashville Sounds lost to the Tacoma Rainiers, 15-4, on the Tuesday afternoon at Cheney Stadium in the second game of a four game set.

It was Nashville's (17-27) third straight loss and largest margin of defeat this season. Seven of the 15 runs were unearned, as the Sounds committed a season-high four errors.

Tacoma starter Luke French (1-5) tossed a season-high 7 1/3 innings for a quality start, allowing three runs on six hits.

Eric Farris put the Sounds on the board first with a solo home run in the top of the third inning. On the second pitch from starter French, Farris belted his third home run of the season over the left field wall.

Tacoma quickly bounced back to take a 2-1 lead in the next frame. After Rainiers second baseman Dustin Ackley hit a leadoff triple to right field, Sounds starter Chase Wright got the next two batters out before giving up four consecutive singles to plate both Tacoma runs. The inning ended as Brett Carroll earned his PCL-leading 10th outfield assist gunning out Johan Limonta at home plate on the Sean Kazmar single.

Tacoma tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to go up 5-1. The first two batters reached base as Wright walked Joe Yepez and hit Brandon Haveman. Ackley doubled the first run home before Matt Tuiasosopo brought home the second run on an infield groundout. Alex Liddi doubled in the final run of the inning.

Tacoma plated four additional runs to extend the lead to 9-1 in the fifth against reliever Donovan Hand. Tuiasosopo singled home the first run of the frame, followed by a bases loaded, two-run double by Liddi. After Hand was replaced by Mike Fiers, the fourth run was scored during a missed catch error by Mat Gamel.

Carroll accounted for the other two runs in the top of the sixth inning. After Edwin Maysonet singled to lead off the inning, Carroll's crushed a two run homer over the wall in left field. The long ball was Carroll's fourth of the year.

Tacoma unloaded six unearned runs in the next inning that made it 15-3, beginning with RBI hits from Yepez and Liddi that removed Fiers from the game. Reliever Mark DiFelice then came into the contest and offered up a grand slam to Mike Carp, which was Nashville's third in the last five games. The Sounds gave up three all of last season.

The Sounds scored their fourth run in the top of the ninth inning off a Maysonet RBI single.

Farris extended his hitting streak to nine games. Taylor Green went 0-for-4 to end his season-best five-game hitting streak.

Wright (1-4) allowed five runs on eight hits with two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings for Nashville. Hand surrendered four runs (three earned) in 1 1/3 innings. Fiers gave up five runs (zero earned) in one inning pitched. DiFelice added 2 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits.

The Sounds and Rainiers continue with the third game of a four-game set at 9:05 pm CT on Wednesday evening at Cheney Stadium. Right-hander Amaury Rivas (3-3, 3.73) will start for Nashville against Tacoma right-hander Blake Beavan (1-1, 5.76).

Nashville box score

Terrible. Gamel did not make up for his error with his bat--he was 0-4. Green committed his fourth error. Farris drew his ninth walk.

Nashville play-by-play

Tacoma Bottom of the 5th

• Sean Kazmar reaches on throwing error by shortstop Edwin Maysonet.
• With Jose Yepez batting, Sean Kazmar caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Dayton Buller to second baseman Eric Farris.
• Jose Yepez singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Jeremy Reed.
• Brandon Haveman lines out sharply to second baseman Eric Farris.
• Dustin Ackley walks. Jose Yepez to 2nd.
• Matt Tuiasosopo singles on a ground ball to first baseman Mat Gamel. Jose Yepez scores. Dustin Ackley to 3rd. Matt Tuiasosopo to 2nd on the throw.
• Alex Liddi doubles (13) on a line drive to center fielder Brett Carroll. Dustin Ackley scores. Matt Tuiasosopo scores.
• Pitcher Change: Michael Fiers replaces Donovan Hand.
• Mike Carp reaches on missed catch error by first baseman Mat Gamel, assist to second baseman Eric Farris. Alex Liddi scores.
• Johan Limonta lines out to center fielder Brett Carroll.

Tacoma Bottom of the 6th

• Ryan Langerhans reaches on fielding error by third baseman Taylor Green.
• With Sean Kazmar batting, wild pitch by Michael Fiers, Ryan Langerhans to 2nd.
• Sean Kazmar singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Brett Carroll. Ryan Langerhans to 3rd.
• With Jose Yepez batting, Sean Kazmar steals (2) 2nd base.
• Jose Yepez singles on a line drive to right fielder Jeremy Reed. Ryan Langerhans scores. Sean Kazmar to 3rd.
• Brandon Haveman strikes out swinging.
• Dustin Ackley walks. Jose Yepez to 2nd.
• Matt Tuiasosopo strikes out swinging.
• Alex Liddi singles on a line drive to left fielder Jordan Brown. Sean Kazmar scores. Jose Yepez to 3rd. Dustin Ackley to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: Mark DiFelice replaces Michael Fiers.
• Mike Carp hits a grand slam (12) to right center field. Jose Yepez scores. Dustin Ackley scores. Alex Liddi scores.
• Johan Limonta lines out to center fielder Brett Carroll.

[And That]

Rainiers erupt

Aha.

[LouisEly]

If there's a positive it's that DiFelice went 2.1 innings, hopefully giving Brewers brass the confidence that he is ready to be more than just a one-inning guy. The negative - he gave up a grand slam after replacing Fiers.

 

I've got Mike Walker as the biggest riser on the next Power 50.

[foamboy1]

Walker has been red hot lately. Is he a legit prospect, or an over-age guy playing in A?

[TheCrew07]

Walker has been red hot lately. Is he a legit prospect, or an over-age guy playing in A?

BA would put him in the "Man among boys" category right now, he's too old and advanced for the level he's playing at.

[LouisEly]

Walker is three months older than Chris Dennis, who is also playing at low-A and ranked #31 on the Power 50.

 

Gamel is soon to turn 26 and in AAA. If Walker advances a level each year that puts him at the same age in AAA as Gamel. Given that BC's 3B are Vucinich and Brownstein, I wouldn't be surprised if Walker gets bumped up at the midway point.

[brewmann04]

Any reason why Thornburg only pitch 3 Innings today?

[YoungGeezy]

Yeah but Gamel has been there since 23....A mix of Macha, McGehee, and terribly timed ST injuries is the only reason he hasn't been in majors last 3 years.

 

If the way Khris Davis was treated last year will be a continued way of business by Nichols, don't expect Walker to move up.

[battlekow]

Walker is three months older than Chris Dennis, who is also playing at low-A and ranked #31 on the Power 50.

That's not really fair. When we put together the last Power 50, Dennis hadn't yet been demoted.

[TheCrew07]

Walker is three months older than Chris Dennis, who is also playing at low-A and ranked #31 on the Power 50.

 

Gamel is soon to turn 26 and in AAA. If Walker advances a level each year that puts him at the same age in AAA as Gamel. Given that BC's 3B are Vucinich and Brownstein, I wouldn't be surprised if Walker gets bumped up at the midway point.

Umm, Gamel is blocked, sitting in AAA for 3 years, and raked when age appropriate for his level. Chris Dennis doesn't belong in A ball for 3rd season either and his recent demotion makes the opposing point against you, his success at A ball doesn't mean anything more about his future than Walker's has. Both players you cited are horrible examples to use to make your point.

 

The question was is he a legit prospect? The answer was he's too old and advanced for his level to know for sure, he's no different than Thornburg or Ross... college players dominating a level of competition that you would expect college players to dominate if they are going to pan out. He's hit the ball very well to start season, but he's not a 19 year old playing against advanced competition for the first time either.

 

Time will tell, I'm not sure why people are in such a rush to judge.

[battlekow]

Final: Palm Beach 3, @Brevard County 1

'Tees come up short again to Cards

Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees

VIERA, Fla. -- For the third night in a row, the Brevard County Manatees' bats went cold in a 3-1 loss to the Palm Beach Cardinals on Tuesday night at Space Coast Stadium.

Things got interesting early when in the top of the third with two outs, Manatees (15-31) starter Hiram Burgos hit Palm Beach's D'Marcus Ingram with a first pitch breaking ball. Words were exchanged between the two as Ingram was taking his base and both benches cleared and situation was diffused quickly.

Yet home plate umpire Jonathan Bailey ejected both Burgos and Ingram, before any warnings were issued. Manatees pitching coach Fred Dabney was also ejected by Bailey.

The ejection forced Brevard County to go to its bullpen early as Mark Willinsky came in and proceeded to give up two two-out runs to give Palm Beach an early 2-0 lead.

Brevard County was able to cut the lead in half in the fourth as Cardinals (18-31) starter Joe Kelly walked the bases loaded to start the inning and Shea Vucinich grounded into a double play to score Kentrail Davis. A ground out by Mike Brownstein ended the inning as the 'Tees were only able to manage the one run.

Even though Brevard County was down 2-1, the 'Tees were no-hit for 7 1/3 innings by Kelly as the no-no was broken up by a single by Scooter Gennett in the eighth. Logan Schafer then singled to put two on for the 'Tees. But again Brevard County would come up empty as Kentrail Davis flew out to right on a ball that almost got over the head of Rainel Rosario and then Khris Davis grounded into a force out to end the inning.

The Cardinals would pad their lead in the top of the ninth, with a runner on second and one out, a routine grounder hit by Patrick Elkins to Brock Kjeldgaard turned into another run for Palm Beach as Kjeldgaard's flip to Efrain Nieves went past Nieves as Palm Beach plated another run.

Considering the situation that they were put in, the Manatees bullpen performed admirably and kept Brevard County in the game, as the trio of Willinsky, Jon Pokorny and Nieves allowed two runs (one earned) in 6 1/3 innings.

The Manatees will look to end their seven-game losing streak and salvage the series finale with the Cardinals on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m.

Brevard County box score

Getting ejected for hitting a batter with a breaking ball is ridiculous. Pokorny had an interesting outing--four hits in two innings, but four strikeouts and no walks. Must have been around the zone a lot. Given his peripherals to date, I'll take it. Khris Davis walked twice; Kentrail did so once and was also hit by a pitch. Shawn Zarraga did not play for the fourth consecutive game.

Brevard County play-by-play

Kentrail Davis was plunked in the bottom of the 1st--perhaps context for the ejection. Though why would Burgos wait until the 3rd, and the top of the order, to get even?

[dadofandrew]

If there's a positive it's that DiFelice went 2.1 innings, hopefully giving Brewers brass the confidence that he is ready to be more than just a one-inning guy.

DiFelice is a ROOGY unless he comes up with another pitch, especially if he's cheap. That said, he's a darn fine one if he gets back to 100%, and can pitch like he did in '09. He'll have to be hidden versus LH bats somewhat, but Loe does as well, and he's found success.

[battlekow]

Final: Wisconsin 10, @Peoria 2

Rattlers score seven in the fourth on the way to a big win

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

PEORIA, IL - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers put a big number on the board in the fourth inning, waited out a rain delay of over an hour, and cruised to a 10-2 win over the Peoria Chiefs Tuesday night at O'Brien Field. Reggie Keen and TJ Mittelstaedt each had two hits, two runs scored, and two RBI for the Rattlers. Mike Walker hit his ninth homer of the season and Brian Garman pitched five scoreless innings of relief for Wisconsin.

Peoria (25-20) threatened first as they loaded the bases with one out in the bottom against Rattlers pitcher Tyler Thornburg. But, Thornburg escaped with a grounder back to the mound that turned into a force out at the plate and another force out to end the inning with the game still scoreless.

Robbie Garvey started the Wisconsin second inning with a single and a stolen base, but he was still at second with two outs. Keen delivered a two-out, RBI single to plate Garvey with the first run off Peoria starter Su-Min Jung. Nick Shaw was next and he doubled off the wall in right to send Keen home. Mittelstaedt came through with another RBI single and the Rattlers were up 3-0.

In the fourth, the Rattlers (26-19) sent 10 men to the plate and scored seven times as the steady rain intensified. Franklin Romero started the inning with a triple. One out later, Tyler Roberts doubled to the gap in left-center to send Romero home. Jung got the second out, but had trouble finding the third out for the second inning in a row.

Keen doubled home Roberts. Shaw singled to send Keen to third. Mittelstaedt singled in Keen and sent Shaw to second base. Chris Dennis singled to drive in Shaw and that was all for Jung.

Rattlers slugger Walker welcomed Peoria reliever Yohan Gonzalez to the game by crushing a three-run homer over the batting eye in center field. Walker's ninth home run of the season gave the Rattlers a 10-0 lead.

A large streak of lightning flashed above O'Brien Field just before Thornburg was ready to throw the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth inning and the umpires called for the tarp to be placed on the field. The game resumed after a delay of 64 minutes.

Thornburg did not return to the game on the restart. He scattered five hits and two walks over his three innings, but extended his scoreless streak to 10-1/3 innings pitched.

Garman started the bottom of the fourth for the Rattlers and allowed two hits and struck out six over five scoreless innings.

The Chiefs scored two unearned runs off Tom Keeling - thanks to three Wisconsin errors - in the bottom of the ninth, but they would get no closer than that.

The Rattlers and Chiefs are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Wednesday night at O'Brien Field. Wisconsin has Charly Bashara (2-2, 4.45) and Jimmy Nelson (1-3, 4.50) are the scheduled starting pitchers for the twinbill. Peoria will send Graham Hicks (0-2, 2.45) and Cam Greathouse (2-3, 5.49) out as their planned starters. Game one will start at 5:00pm.

Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 4:40pm.

Wisconsin box score

Thankfully no Lord of the Rings references necessary tonight against Greg Rohan and the the Chiefs. How about Brian Garman navigating his way to a dominant performance! If you're wondering how a reliever managed to go five innings, Garman was absurdly efficient, needing just 55 pitches, 43 of them strikes. It also didn't hurt that of his nine non-strikeout outs, seven were on the ground. Thornburg threw a fair amount of strikes of his own, 31 in 49 pitches, but for whatever reason didn't miss bats today. Keeling walked one and uncorked two wild pitches. Dennis joined Keen, Mittelstaedt, and Shaw with two hits; Dennis and Mittelstaedt also walked once each.

Wisconsin play-by-play

Roberts' arm helped Thornburg out of more trouble in the 3rd:

Peoria Bottom of the 3rd

• Greg Rohan singles on a fly ball to left fielder Robert Garvey.
• Richard Jones singles on a ground ball to right fielder Franklin Romero. Greg Rohan to 2nd.
• With Micah Gibbs batting, Tyler Roberts picks off Richard Jones at 1st on throw to Chris Dennis.
• Micah Gibbs strikes out swinging.
• Ryan Cuneo pops out to second baseman Nick Shaw.

It's a good thing the score was so lopsided so that the 9th was more entertaining/curious than scary/frustrating:

Peoria Bottom of the 9th

• Pitcher Change: Thomas Keeling replaces Brian Garman.
• Ryan Cuneo reaches on fielding error by first baseman Chris Dennis. Ryan Cuneo advances to 2nd, on interference error by pitcher Thomas Keeling.
• With Anthony Giansanti batting, wild pitch by Thomas Keeling, Ryan Cuneo to 3rd.
• Anthony Giansanti reaches on missed catch error by first baseman Chris Dennis, assist to shortstop Yadiel Rivera. Ryan Cuneo scores.
• D. J. Fitzgerald flies out to center fielder Reggie Keen.
• With Kyung-Min Na batting, wild pitch by Thomas Keeling, Anthony Giansanti to 2nd.
• Kyung-Min Na walks.
• Arismendy Alcantara singles on a ground ball to center fielder Reggie Keen. Anthony Giansanti scores. Kyung-Min Na out at 3rd on the throw, center fielder Reggie Keen to third baseman Michael Walker. Arismendy Alcantara to 2nd on the throw.
• Elliot Soto strikes out swinging.

[TooLiveBrew]

Any reason why Thornburg only pitch 3 Innings today?

"A large streak of lightning flashed above O'Brien Field just before

Thornburg was ready to throw the first pitch of the bottom of the

fourth inning and the umpires called for the tarp to be placed on the

field. The game resumed after a delay of 64 minutes.

Thornburg

did not return to the game on the restart. He scattered five hits and

two walks over his three innings, but extended his scoreless streak to

10-1/3 innings pitched."

 

There's your answer

[Mass Haas]

From the Peoria Journal-Star game story:

The Timber Rattlers came to Peoria after going 7-3 on a homestand that featured three doubleheaders.

 

“We challenged our bullpen back home and they did an excellent job,” Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson said. “We had another situation tonight in cutting our starter short and (Brian) Garman did an excellent job getting us innings that we badly needed.”

[battlekow]

Chris's postgame post notes that injured first sacker Cody Hawn coached first base after regular coach Dusty Rhodes was ejected.

[LouisEly]

Yeah but Gamel has been there since 23....A mix of Macha, McGehee, and terribly timed ST injuries is the only reason he hasn't been in majors last 3 years.

 

If the way Khris Davis was treated last year will be a continued way of business by Nichols, don't expect Walker to move up.

I'd argue that the biggest reason Gamel has been at AAA is because he is/was a bad defensive 3B. Don't kid yourself and say it is to be groomed as Fielder's replacement - if he was a good defensive 3B he'd stay there and they'd move McGehee or Hart to 1B next year.

 

I'm not saying that Walker is a top 10 or 20 prospect. All I said was that he would be the highest riser in the next Power 50. Considering he is currently #47, I could easily see him moving up to #35 - a gain of +12 - which could easily be the highest riser.