Link Report for Fri. 5/27 -- Brevard's Nick Bucci continues to shine in 2011

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

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

Nashville: RHP Frankie De La Cruz at home vs. Oklahoma City (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime
Live Audio Link
iPad/iPhone: Listen
MiLB.TV -- for subscribers

Huntsville: LHP Dan Merklinger and RHP Michael Fiers in a doubleheader at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 4:15 PM gametime; each contest slated for seven innings
Live Audio Link -- Lookouts' feed

Brevard County: RHP Nick Bucci at home vs. Jupiter (Marlins), 6:05 PM gametime
Live Audio Link -- look for the Jupiter feed off the master MiLB.com audio list

Wisconsin: RHP Jameson Dunn at Kane County (Royals), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime
Live Audio Link

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday'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	26	21	.553	-	-	14-10	12-11	5-5	W1
	Iowa	21	26	.447	5.0	93	11-12	10-14	5-5	L1
	Memphis	20	26	.435	5.5	93	12-11	8-15	6-4	W1
	Nashville	18	28	.391	7.5	91	11-11	7-17	5-5	W1

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tennessee	31	16	.660	-	-	17-5	14-11	9-1	W9
	Jackson	26	20	.565	4.5	20	13-10	13-10	5-5	W1
	Chattanooga	24	22	.522	6.5	18	12-14	12-8	5-5	W3
	Huntsville	22	23	.489	8.0	17	13-6	9-17	3-7	L1
	Carolina	13	34	.277	18.0	6	9-18	4-16	2-8	L4

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Daytona	36	12	.750	-	-	18-6	18-6	9-1	W9
	Clearwater	30	18	.625	6.0	17	15-9	15-9	6-4	W2
	Dunedin	26	22	.542	10.0	13	9-13	17-9	6-4	L1
	Lakeland	24	24	.500	12.0	11	13-11	11-13	5-5	L1
	Tampa	21	27	.438	15.0	8	12-16	9-11	6-4	W2
	Brevard County	17	31	.354	19.0	4	9-18	8-13	3-7	W2

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Burlington	33	14	.702	-	-	15-3	18-11	5-5	W3
	Peoria	27	20	.574	6.0	-	18-8	9-12	7-3	W2
	Wisconsin	26	21	.553	7.0	23	17-12	9-9	7-3	L2
	Quad Cities	25	21	.543	7.5	22	12-12	13-9	7-3	L1
	Cedar Rapids	23	24	.489	10.0	20	12-10	11-14	3-7	L1
	Beloit	21	26	.447	12.0	18	11-14	10-12	1-9	L9
	Kane County	20	27	.426	13.0	16	9-13	11-14	7-3	W1
	Clinton	13	35	.271	20.5	9	5-17	8-18	3-7	W1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Yay for unheralded players!

 

As you'll be able to see from the various roster links in Chris' pre-game post, the Rattlers' starting pitcher and two of their outfielders tonight were non-drafted free agents. Actually, the highest-drafted player in Friday's starting lineup is 18-year-old SS Yadiel Rivera, (9th round, 2010).

[Mass Haas]

We've seen nights get off to better starts...

 

Huntsville Top of the 1st

• Lee Haydel walks.
  
• With Erik Komatsu batting, throwing error by Allen Webster on the pickoff attempt, Lee Haydel to 2nd.
  
• With Erik Komatsu batting, wild pitch by Allen Webster, Lee Haydel to 3rd.
  
• Erik Komatsu pops out to first baseman Scott Van Slyke.
  
• Sean Halton pops out to first baseman Scott Van Slyke.
  
• Brandon Jones flies out to center fielder Alfredo Silverio.

LHP Dan Merklinger earned a 40-man roster spot last fall (since dropped) on the strength of 9.3 K's and only 2.8 BB's per every nine innings in 2010, mostly at Brevard County.

 

2011 with the Stars -- 6.5 and 4.3 -- ugh.

 

Scoreless after two. Lookout RH starter Allen Webster (18th round, 2008) is making his AA debut for the Dodgers.

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County is on the wrong list at this Baseball America page.

[YoungGeezy]

Worse part is BC was suppose to be our most talent prospect team....I think that tells us the shape our system is in

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: Huntsville 5, @Chattanooga 0, seven innings

Huntsville Game One Box Score

Listened in to the Lookouts' feed for this one. Dan Merklinger obviously read my earlier post and took heed -- 5 IP, 76 pitches (55 strikes), 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K -- sweet! It's possible that Merklinger left after five innings because his ankle might have stiffened up. He was safe on a slide into second in this sequence in the top of the 5th --

 

Huntsville Top of the 5th

• Anderson De La Rosa walks.
  
• Dan Merklinger hits a sacrifice bunt. Anderson De La Rosa to 2nd. Dan Merklinger to 1st.
  
• Lee Haydel out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Allen Webster to second baseman Elian Herrera. Anderson De La Rosa to 3rd. Dan Merklinger to 2nd.
  
• Erik Komatsu out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Kyle Russell. Anderson De La Rosa scores. Dan Merklinger to 3rd.
  
• Sean Halton strikes out swinging.

Play was halted as the Stars' staff checked in on their starter and inexperienced baserunner. The initial play call sounded a little scary, but Merklinger convinced manager Mike Guerrero he was good to go, and he subsequently worked around a leadoff double in the bottom of the frame.

 

The Stars made the most of their five hits by also drawing four walks. Both indy league shortstops signed recently have made strong contributions to Huntsville, as Andy Gonzalez doubled twice and drove in two in this contest. Hainley Statia will likely see action in the nightcap. First baseman Sean Halton boosted his pre-game .834 OPS in his first game off the DL with a double, single and RBI. Lee Haydel and Erik Komatsu also had positive contributions -- Haydel a triple, walk, sacrrifice and RBI, and Komatsu with a sacrifice fly and a walk.

 

Huntsville Game One Play-by-Play

Rob Wooten allowed three baserunners in two scoreless innings for the save. Woot off!

[sfl2hnq17]

This Bucci kid seems to be something...

[DHonks]

Nice to see Big Brock and Zarraga starting to heat up. Brock's OPS just fine for BC. Also good that milb.com now lists Zarraga as a switch hitter, which is something we'd only heard as a rumor last year.

[TheCrew07]

Brock Kjeldgaard?

 

He's 25 in A+ and he still has a horrible strike out rate, I was intrigued by him before he started in WI, but I don't follow him at all anymore. i had hoped they had found a diamond in the rough after converting him but it just hasn't worked out, even though he's currently enjoying a nice hot streak. If I were to make an organizational depth chart at 1B between the players at A-AA, he'd be dead last.

 

I will say he's made a nice improvement to his BB rate this season.

[battlekow]

Final: @Nashville 3, Oklahoma City 1

Sounds Score Late To Take Homestand Opener, 3-1

Nashville Sounds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to post a 3-1 victory over the Oklahoma City RedHawks on Friday evening at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

With the win, the Sounds (19-28) continued their recent strong play at home, notching the sixth victory in the club's last eight contests at Greer.

Oklahoma City took a 1-0, first-inning lead against Sounds starter Frankie De La Cruz. Anderson Hernandez singled with one out and later scored on Drew Locke's two-out RBI double to right-center.

Nashville first baseman Mat Gamel evened the score at 1-1 in the fourth with a massive solo homer to right off RedHawks starter Ryan Rowland-Smith to open the inning. The roundtripper was his sixth of the year.

The Sounds broke the deadlock in the eighth, plating a pair of runs to take their first lead of the night at 3-1. With the bases loaded, one out, and Brendan Katin at the plate, Oklahoma City reliever David Carpenter uncorked an 0-2 offering to the backstop for a wild pitch that allowed Caleb Gindl to scamper home from third with the go-ahead run [audio]. Katin then dumped an opposite-field RBI single to right to plate Eric Farris with the frame's second run.

Nashville reliever Jim Henderson (2-1) picked up the win with a two hitless relief innings that included a pair of strikeouts.

Mark DiFelice blanked the RedHawks in the top of the ninth to nail down his team-leading sixth save of the year.

Rowland-Smith (2-4) took a tough-luck loss for the visitors after tossing a quality start. The Aussie southpaw allowed three runs on seven hits over 7 1/3 frames.

De La Cruz authored his fifth quality start of the year for the Sounds, tying Amaury Rivas for the highest total on the club, but took a no-decision in the contest. He allowed one run on four hits over six innings while walking three batters and striking out five.

The teams continue the series with a 6:35 p.m. meeting on Saturday evening, when the Sounds will wear special pink-colored jerseys in support of breast cancer awareness. Nashville right-hander Josh Butler (2-3, 5.35) will make the start and face Oklahoma City southpaw Gustavo Chacin (1-1, 4.64).

Nashville box score

De la Cruz has a vote on my Power 50 ballot. Gamel also doubled. Gamel is a pretty good offensive player, but it's really a shame he's now a first baseman; his AAA SLG is .489, while Prince Fielder's MLB SLG is .536. Gindl was on twice with a hit and a walk. Gindl's only hitting .250, but he's got a solid .354 OBP thanks to 18 walks.

Nashville play-by-play

[And That]

Gamel is a pretty good offensive player, but it's really a shame he's now a first baseman

So you've seen his defense, then?

[battlekow]

Final (game two): Huntsville 2, @Chattanooga 1 (7 innings)

Huntsville box score (game two)

Michael Fiers obviously isn't stretched out, but he made it three innings on his 55 pitches (35 strikes), allowing a run on three hits and a walk while striking out two. Dan Meadows took over from Fiers; all he did was toss four innings of shutout ball, limiting the Lookouts to just one hit. He struck out two and threw a ton of strikes, 36 in 49 pitches. Logan Schafer, who did not play in the first game, took over in center for Erik Komatsu, who got the second game off, and went 0-3. The question of which will be the everyday center fielder remains unanswered, though I'd have to think it will be Schafer. Lee Haydel singled and walked, Sean Halton singled, and Hainley Statia had two hits. Haydel was caught stealing for the seventh time; he has only seven successful steals.

Huntsville play-by-play (game two)

All the scoring came in the 1st inning:

Huntsville Top of the 1st

• Lee Haydel called out on strikes.
• Logan Schafer grounds out, second baseman Jaime Pedroza to first baseman Brian Cavazos-Galvez.
• Sean Halton singles on a ground ball to shortstop Ivan Ochoa.
• Brandon Jones doubles (11) on a sharp fly ball to right fielder Kyle Russell. Sean Halton scores.
• Angel Gonzalez walks.
• Hainley Statia singles on a ground ball to right fielder Kyle Russell. Brandon Jones scores. Angel Gonzalez to 2nd. Fielding error by right fielder Kyle Russell.
• Martin Maldonado grounds out sharply, second baseman Jaime Pedroza to first baseman Brian Cavazos-Galvez.

Chattanooga Bottom of the 1st

• Brad Coon lines out softly to third baseman Angel Gonzalez.
• Elian Herrera doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Lee Haydel.
• Scott Van Slyke singles on a line drive to center fielder Logan Schafer. Elian Herrera scores.
• Kyle Russell grounds into a force out, second baseman Matt Cline to shortstop Hainley Statia. Scott Van Slyke out at 2nd. Kyle Russell to 1st.
• Brian Cavazos-Galvez singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Lee Haydel. Kyle Russell to 3rd.
• Matt Wallach strikes out swinging.

The Stars' 2nd inning was pretty similar to the game-one futility MH highlighted earlier:

Huntsville Top of the 2nd

• Matt Cline hits a ground-rule double (6) on a line drive to right field.
• Michael Fiers bunt pops out to catcher Matt Wallach in foul territory.
• Lee Haydel walks.
• Logan Schafer called out on strikes.
• Sean Halton flies out to right fielder Kyle Russell.

[battlekow]

Final: @Brevard County 3, Jupiter 1

'Tees top Hammerheads for third straight win

Frank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees

VIERA, Fla. -- The Brevard County Manatees made it three wins in a row with a 3-1 win over the Jupiter Hammerheads on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium.

Brevard County (18-31) received another quality start from Nick Bucci as he threw seven strong innings and allowed just one run on four hits, while walking three and striking out six. Bucci is now 5-2 with a 2.29 earned run average in 10 appearances this season.

Bucci's run support on Saturday came off of the bat of Brock Kjeldgaard as he drove in all three runs for the 'Tees. He socked a two-run homer in the first inning, which was his ninth of the season. Kjeldgaard also singled home Khris Davis in the third to make it 3-0 in favor of the Manatees.

In his last three games, Kjeldgaard is 7-for-10 with three homers, one double, seven RBI, four runs and two stolen bases, with a slugging percentage of 1.900.

Along with Kjeldgaard, Shawn Zarraga had two hits and Juan Sanchez had the only other extra-base hit with a double in the second inning.

Mark Willinsky relieved Bucci in the eighth and threw two scoreless innings to earn his third save of the season.

The Manatees will look to make it three in a row against the Hammerheads (24-25) and four overall when the two teams face-off on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

Brevard County will send Adrian Rosario (2-3, 6.16) to the mound, while Jupiter will counter with Matt Montgomery (1-1, 3.35).

Brevard County box score

I have Bucci as a top-ten prospect now. He's one of the few prospects actually taking a step forward this year. He threw 97 pitches and 64 strikes. Great to see Zarraga back in the lineup. Khris Davis singled and walked--another of the few. Scooter Gennett and Kentrail Davis--neither among the few--both went 0-4. Kentrail took over center field duties from Logan Schafer. Each Davis stole a base. Hunter Morris must not have made it into town in time to be in the starting lineup; maybe they gave him an extra day in his hometown.

Brevard County play-by-play

Bucci didn't allow a run until the 7th:

Jupiter Top of the 7th

• Daniel Pertusati walks.
• Jaime Ortiz singles on a line drive to right fielder Scott Krieger. Daniel Pertusati to 3rd.
• Miguel Fermin pops out to third baseman Shea Vucinich.
• Chase Austin grounds into a force out, pitcher Nicholas Bucci to shortstop Juan Sanchez. Daniel Pertusati scores. Jaime Ortiz out at 2nd. Chase Austin to 1st.
• Jose Duarte grounds out, second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Brock Kjeldgaard.

[Cracked Bat Collector]

Went to the Stars DH tonight and will say this, for those of you who haven't seen Merklinger in person, think Chris Capuano. Same build, almost same exact mechanics/pitching motion however you want to say it, same velocity, it's nuts. Was disappointed to not get a chance to see Hunter Morris play since he was sent down. Schafer didn't really do anything at all in his 1st game with Los Stars. Meadows did a great job and his changeup sure is good.

[And That]

Went to the Stars DH tonight and will say this, for those of you who haven't seen Merklinger in person, think Chris Capuano.

You hear this almost to a person.

[battlekow]

Final: @Kane County 2, Wisconsin 1

Rattlers fall on a ninth inning error in Kane County

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GENEVA, IL - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers tied the Kane County Cougars with a run in the top of the ninth inning on Friday night at Elfstrom Stadium. But, the Cougars scored a run in the bottom of the ninth on a throwing error to beat Wisconsin 2-1.

The Rattlers (26-22) collected two hits and had runners on second and third in the first inning against Kane County starting pitcher Yordano Ventura. But, Ventura got a pair of strikeouts to end the inning. That also started a streak of 11 straight batters retired by Ventura.

Ventura struck out ten, walked two, and didn't allow a run through five innings.

Wisconsin starting pitcher Jameson Dunn matched Ventura zero for zero. Dunn tossed 5-2/3 innings of shutout ball and allowed three hits.

Kane County (21-27) almost broke through on a single to right by Orlando Calixte in the bottom of the seventh against Rattlers reliever Eric Marzec. Cheslor Cuthbert tried to score from second base but, right fielder Franklin Romero made a perfect throw to the plate and cut down the run for the second out.

But, the Rattlers had very little time to savor the play. Travis Jones singled to center on the very next pitch and Calixte, who had taken second on the throw to the plate on the previous play, scored easily to put the Cougars in front 1-0.

Greg Billo, who relieved Ventura in the sixth inning, cruised through the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. He even looked like he would cruise through the ninth.

Nick Shaw drew a one out walk and was still at first base with two outs. Then, Mike Walker cracked a double to right-center and sent Shaw home with the tying run.

But, Marzec, who had not allowed a run in 13-1/3 innings over eight appearances in the month of May, got into trouble in the bottom of the ninth. Ryan Stovall doubled. Cuthbert singled and Stovall was held at third. Marzec walked Geulin Beltre intentionally to set up a force play at the plate.

Greg Holle came on to relieve Marzec and face Calixte to get the grounder that would allow for the force at the plate.

Calixte sent a slow chopper past the mound to shortstop Yadiel Rivera. Rivera charged and picked the ball clean on a good hop. But, he double-clutched and wound up rushing the throw to the plate. The throw was wild and to the backstop allowing Stovall to score the winning run.

Billo picked up the win. He struck out eight over four innings and is 3-1 on the season. Billo and Ventura combined on 18 strikeouts in the game.

The series continues on Saturday night. Austin Ross (5-1, 1.96) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Kane County will send Jason Adam (1-0, 2.19) to the hill. Game time is 6:00pm. Tune in for the broadcast starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com at 5:40pm.

Wisconsin box score

Impressive spot start from Dunn, who struck out four and walked just one. Chris Dennis had a tough night, picking up a golden sombrero in just four at-bats. Despite being activated before the game, Cody Hawn did not play.

Wisconsin play-by-play

Tyler Roberts was removed for Tony Pechek in the bottom of the 7th; in his last plate appearance, he walked and stole second base in the 5th.

[battlekow]

Chris is not a big fan of Kane County's Elfstrom Stadium. He has an update on Tyler Roberts:

I know there will be some questions about this so…Tyler Roberts left the game after a foul bunt got him on his throwing hand in the bottom of the seventh. He took a few warmup tosses after that to try to stay in the game. His first two throws back to Marzec sailed over the pitcher’s head. He missed Hopkins a few tosses later and was removed from the game in favor of Tony Pechek. Roberts was on the seat across from me on the ride back to the hotel and he said that he felt fine now, but couldn’t feel the ball at the time. He may be out tomorrow, but he thought that he would be back soon.

[Mass Haas]

Chattanoogan Photo by Tim Evearitt

Dan Merklinger (aka Seton Hall's Chris Capuano)

 

http://images.chattanoogan.com/article_images/article_202304-2_large.jpg

[Mass Haas]

The video highlights will probably stagger by a day --

 

Mat Gamel's home run (he'd hit two more the next day)