Link Report for Sun. 6/12 -- Sounds lose, but Taylor Green rocks

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Frankie De La Cruz at Albuquerque (Dodgers), 2:20 PM pre-game, 2:35 gametime

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers

Huntsville: RHP Michael Bowman at home vs. Jackson (Mariners), 6:43 PM gametime

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

Traditional broadcast -- look for the Jackson feed off the master MiLB.com audio list

 

Brevard County: TBD at Lakeland (Tigers), 12:00 PM gametime

Sorry, no audio available for this series...

 

Wisconsin: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Fort Wayne (Padres), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

DSL Brewers: Idle

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

Brevard Countyhttp://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t503&gid=2011_06_12_breafa_lakafa_1&cid=503&t=g_box

Wisconsin

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	34	28	.548	-	-	18-13	16-15	5-5	L1
	Memphis	30	31	.492	3.5	80	16-15	14-16	7-3	W2
	Iowa	28	34	.452	6.0	77	14-16	14-18	4-6	W1
	Nashville	27	34	.443	6.5	77	16-14	11-20	6-4	L2

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tennessee	40	23	.635	-	-	20-10	20-13	6-4	W3
	Jackson	36	27	.571	4.0	4	17-11	19-16	5-5	L3
	Huntsville	32	30	.516	7.5	1	18-9	14-21	5-5	W3
	Chattanooga	31	32	.492	9.0	E	15-20	16-12	6-4	W5
	Carolina	18	45	.286	22.0	E	11-22	7-23	2-8	L5

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Daytona	43	19	.694	-	-	23-9	20-10	4-6	W1
	Clearwater	38	24	.613	5.0	4	20-12	18-12	5-5	L1
	Dunedin	33	29	.532	10.0	E	12-16	21-13	5-5	L1
	Lakeland	33	29	.532	10.0	E	18-14	15-15	6-4	L1
	Tampa	32	30	.516	11.0	E	14-17	18-13	8-2	W1
	Brevard County	23	39	.371	20.0	E	13-20	10-19	3-7	W1

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Burlington	41	22	.651	-	-	20-8	21-14	4-6	L3
	Quad Cities	34	28	.548	6.5	-	15-14	19-14	6-4	L1
	Beloit	32	30	.516	8.5	7	15-15	17-15	7-3	W4
	Peoria	32	30	.516	8.5	7	20-11	12-19	4-6	W2
	Wisconsin	32	30	.516	8.5	7	19-15	13-15	5-5	L2
	Cedar Rapids	29	33	.468	11.5	4	17-14	12-19	3-7	L1
	Kane County	26	36	.419	14.5	E	13-18	13-18	3-7	L4
	Clinton	21	42	.333	20.0	E	8-23	13-19	6-4	L2

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Brewers	9	3	.750	-	-	3-2	6-1	7-3	L2
	DSL Mariners	6	5	.545	2.5	59	3-3	3-2	6-4	W2
	DSL Athletics	4	7	.364	4.5	57	2-3	2-4	3-7	L4
	DSL Cardinals	2	8	.200	6.0	56	1-5	1-3	2-8	W1

[Mass Haas]

Look for the Nashville and Wisconsin media notes here and here later on, respectively.

 

If Huntsville posts theirs, and they are doing so more consistently now, it will be found by placing your cursor over the "roster" banner at the Stars' home page.

[battlekow]

Final: Brevard County 6, @Lakeland 4

Brevard County box score

The Sea Cows, down 4-3 entering the 9th, mounted a three-run rally capped by a two-out, two-run Khris Davis bomb to put them ahead for good. All Khris did today was reach four out of five times on the homer, a single, and two walks. He's now hitting .317/.410/.540. Scott Krieger also had two hits and a homer. Brock Kjeldgaard didn't homer, but he did double and walk. The rest of the usual suspects: Scooter Gennett, 1-4, sacrifice bunt; Kentrail Davis, 0-3, two walks; Hunter Morris, 0-3, walk, sac fly; Shawn Zarraga, 0-4. D'Vontrey Richardson still hasn't played since the 6th, which is a little silly considering the 7-day DL in the minors; he could go on retroactively and be activated after tomorrow's game. R.J. Seidel made his first start of the year, and after a three-run first, settled down to go four innings with a sterling 8/0 GO/FO. Evan Anundsen pitched the next four, allowing one run

Brevard County play-by-play

Brevard County Top of the 9th

• Juan Sanchez doubles (3) on a fly ball to left fielder Brent Wyatt.
• Scooter Gennett out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Wade Gaynor to first baseman Jordan Lennerton. Juan Sanchez to 3rd.
• Kentrail Davis walks.
• Hunter Morris out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Daniel Fields. Juan Sanchez scores. Kentrail Davis to 2nd on the throw.
• Khristopher Davis homers (10) on a fly ball to right field. Kentrail Davis scores.
• Brock Kjeldgaard grounds out, third baseman Wade Gaynor to first baseman Jordan Lennerton.

[Mass Haas]

It's 4:40 Central, and Nashville and Albuquerque are tied 9-9 after four innings should you be seeking audio or video (MiLB.TV) entertainment.

 

This is nice to see -- making AAA fun to follow and two of the best developments in the system this year:

 

Nashville Top of the 4th

• Taylor Green homers (9) on a fly ball to right field.
  
• Caleb Gindl homers (7) on a fly ball to left field.

[Mass Haas]

Speaking of "why not on the DL" with D'Vontrey Richardson, how about Kyle Heckathorn (stats)?

 

Since his June 1st start when he retired only one of seven batters, he's been idle.

 

The Manatees have four games this week prior to next weekend's All-Star Game break, and his turn could now be skipped all week, resulting in at least a 19-day absence.

[battlekow]

Final: @Wisconsin 4, Fort Wayne 1

Nelson strikes out eight, Holle closes the door

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Jimmy Nelson bounced back from a couple of rough outings to toss a gem on Sunday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field to beat the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Rattlers hitters Greg Hopkins and Nick Shaw stayed on their hot streaks and Greg Holle put out a late fire to help the team to a 4-1 win.

Wisconsin (33-30) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Shaw singled with one out in the first to move his hitting streak to ten games. Shaw scored from third with two outs when third baseman Jake Blackwood booted a grounder off the bat of Mike Walker to let the runner from third score.

Nelson walked a pair of TinCaps with one out in the fourth, but struck out the next two batters to maintain the lead.

Fort Wayne (28-34) staged another threat in the sixth inning on back-to-back singles by the first two batters in the inning. NeIson got Jake Blackwood to popout. The, Nelson was on the tail-end of a spectacular 3-6-1 double play to end the inning with the Rattlers still up 1-0.

Reggie Keen started the bottom of the sixth with a triple. Shaw sent him home with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 Wisconsin lead.

Fort Wayne attempted to mount another rally in the seventh inning. Nelson struck out the leadoff batter, but a wild pitch allowed him to reach. The next two batters singled to load the bases with no outs. Chris Bisson was at the plate when Nelson uncorked a wild pitch to allow a run to score.

But, Nelson came back to strike out Bisson. Nelson struck out the next two batters looking to record four strikeouts in an inning and keep the Rattlers up 2-1. Nelson finished his game with eight strikeouts to set a new professional high for punchouts in a game.

However, the TinCaps weren't done with the threats. They loaded the bases against Wisconsin reliever Stosh Wawrzasek on a pair of walks and a hit batsman with no outs in the eighth. The call went out for closer Holle.

Holle got the first out on a force play at the plate. He fielded a slow tapper in front on the plate and flipped the ball from his glove to the glove of catcher Tyler Roberts. The next batter sent a slow chopper to third. Hopkins came home with the throw, but short-hopped Roberts. The Rattlers catcher made the scoop and held the plate for the force out. Holle capped the inning with a strikeout and the Rattlers kept the 2-1 lead.

The Timber Rattlers offense padded their lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth. Hopkins, who had extended his hitting streak to twelve games earlier in the game, singled to drive in a run. Walker drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run and give the Rattlers a 4-1 lead.

Holle worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his fourteenth save in 14 save opportunities on the season.

The Timber Rattlers are off on Monday. They will start a 6-day, 7-game road trip to end the first half in Peoria on Tuesday. Game time is 7:00pm with Austin Ross (5-3, 2.93) as the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers at O'Brien Field. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:40pm.

Wisconsin box score

Great to see signs of life from Nelson, who also posted a 7/3 GO/FO. He threw 95 pitches, 65 of them strikes. High drama between Nelson's and Wawrzasek's consecutive bases-loaded, no-out jams; amazing that the Rattlers allowed just one run combined through them. Stosh wasn't STOSH! today but he'll bounce back. Really nice work from Holle, who continues to get batters to pound the ball into the ground. Hopkins continued his tear out of the cleanup spot with three hits. Cody Hawn was 1-4 and Roberts 0-4; Roberts and Nelson allowed the Tin Caps to go 4-4 in steals, with three belonging to Rymer Liriano. Keen stole his 25th base.

Wisconsin play-by-play

[DHonks]

Awesome go: fo ratio for Seidel and anundsen(15:0)

[Boy Jeenius]

Taylor Green with 2 jacks so far. Nice to be playing at that altitude in ABQ. I know others have posted about his wrist seemingly getting healthy. Really hope that is the case.

[pogokat]

Taylor's having a better offensive season than Gamel statistically now...wonder if he's the starting third baseman next year

[Never Outhustled]

Taylor's having a better offensive season than Gamel statistically now...wonder if he's the starting third baseman next year

 

Or the big league DH later this week. Green makes a good argument with an OPS over 1.500 this month. More defensive versatility than Gamel too. Great to see him all the way back.

[TooLiveBrew]

Or the big league DH later this week. Green makes a good argument with an OPS over 1.500 this month.

 

Nope. If we didn't have Roenicke as manager, it could be someone not named Mark Kotsay. Too bad.

[TooLiveBrew]

Final: @Albuquerque 16, Nashville 14

 

Sounds Conclude Road Trip With Heartbreaking 16-14 Loss

Nashville Blows Late Five-Run Lead In Albuquerque

Nashville Sounds

 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Nashville Sounds endured a heartbreaking end to

their road trip on Sunday afternoon at Isotopes Park, blowing a late

five-run lead in a 16-14 loss to Albuquerque in the finale of a

four-game series.

 

With the defeat, Nashville (27-35) dropped its third straight game to

the Isotopes and wrapped up the road trip with a 4-4 record.

 

Trailing 14-9 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Albuquerque

rallied to tie the contest with a five-spot in that frame against the

Sounds' bullpen then took the lead with two runs against Donovan Hand in

the eighth to claim the come-from-behind victory.

 

Albuquerque batters legged out 22 hits on the afternoon, the most ever

recorded in a game against the Sounds in the club's 34-year history. The

previous high was 21 hits by New Orleans in 2006 in the Zephyrs'

24-inning win over Nashville.

 

 

The 43 combined hits between the clubs in the game matched the Isotopes Park record.

 

 

Second baseman Taylor Green (2-for-3) paced the all-hands-on-deck

Sounds' offensive attack with two home runs and four RBIs on the day. It

marked the infielder's seventh straight game with an extra-base hit.

 

 

Every Nashville starting position player recorded a knock, including

multiple-hit efforts from seven players. Former Isotope Brett Carroll

turned in a 4-for-6 effort, his team-leading third 4-hit game of the

season.

 

 

Outfielder Trayvon Robinson finished 5-for-6 on the day in extending his hitting streak to 14 games for the Isotopes.

 

 

The Sounds got the scoring started by jumping out to a 1-0 lead against

Albuquerque starter John Ely in the top of the second. Shortstop Edwin

Maysonet opened the frame with a double to deep left-center and later

scored on Zelous Wheeler's two-out RBI single to center.

 

 

Albuquerque responded in the home half of the frame, plating four runs

against Sounds starter Frankie De La Cruz to grab a 4-1 lead.

 

 

De La Cruz turned in a short start against his former club for the

second time in two starts this season. The right-hander gave up four

runs on five hits while walking three batters and striking out two in

just two innings of work, throwing 65 pitches (38 for strikes). De La

Cruz worked only 1 2/3 frames against the Isotopes in an April 30th

start at Greer Stadium.

 

 

The Sounds got a run back in the third when Carroll singled with one out

and later scored on a two-out single off the bat of George Kottaras,

who has hit safely in 19 of his last 22 games at a .410 clip

(34-for-83). Nashville could have had at least one more run in the frame

but an outstanding running catch on the warning track by Robinson, the

Albuquerque left fielder, took extra bases away from Maysonet for the

final out of the inning.

 

 

Russ Mitchell, who enjoyed a 4-for-5, five-RBI game for Albuquerque that

included four runs scored, touched Sounds reliever Chase Wright for a

mammoth one-out solo homer to right-center in the home half of the

third. The slugger's fifth longball of the year made it a 5-2 contest.

The Isotopes then pieced together three straight singles off Wright, the

last of which by Justin Sellers plated Robinson from second to add a

second run in the inning.

 

 

Nashville reclaimed the lead at 9-6 in the fourth by putting up a

seven-spot against Ely, sending 11 batters to the plate during the

Sounds' best single-inning output of the year.

 

 

Green and Caleb Gindl led off the inning with the club's third set of

back-to-back home runs this season to bring the visitors back within two

at 6-4. The blasts were Green's ninth and Gindl's seventh roundtrippers

of the year, and extended each player's longest hitting streak of the

year: Green to 10 games, Gindl to 12 games.

 

 

After the Sounds loaded the bases with one out, Mat Gamel quickly

unloaded them by rifling a line-drive double just past the first base

bag for a three-run double into the right field corner to put Nashville

on top, 7-6. Kottaras drove in Gamel with an RBI single and later

scored the inning's final run on a Green sacrifice fly.

 

 

Albuquerque responded immediately with three runs in the bottom of the

frame to even things up at 9-9. The first two batters reached against

Wright before Mitchell delivered an RBI single to left and Robinson

scalded a two-run double to center to tie the game and chase Wright from

the contest.

 

 

The Sounds moved back in front, 14-9, with five runs against a pair of

Albuquerque relievers in the top of the seventh. A pair of massive home

runs off the bats of Erick Almonte and Green highlighted the outburst.

 

 

Pinch-hitting for the pitcher's spot, Almonte broke a nine-all tie when

he led off the inning with a solo homer to deep left off Isotopes

reliever Adam Dedeaux, his second longball of the year.

 

 

Jordan Brown followed with double to right then scored on a Brett

Carroll single. Later in the frame, Maysonet dropped down a two-out RBI

bunt single up the third-base line to give the visitors a 12-9 lead.

 

 

Green followed the Sounds' shortest hit of the day with the club's

longest - a towering drive to right off right-hander Mario Alvarez that

landed on the second tier of the seating berm, the infielder's second

home run of the game and his tenth of the year.

 

 

For the fourth time on the afternoon, Albuquerque responded to a Sounds'

scoring outburst in the top of the frame with one of its own in the

home half, getting all five runs back with a two-out rally against

Justin James to pull back even at 14-14.

 

 

After the 'Topes loaded the bags on a double and a pair of walks,

Albuquerque reeled off three straight two-out run scoring singles to

pull back within one and chase James from the contest. New Sounds

reliever Donovan Hand came on to face veteran pinch-hitter John Lindsey

with runners on the corners and lost the battle, surrendering a

game-tying, opposite-field single to left.

 

 

Merkin Valdez retired the Sounds in order in the top of the eighth, then

Albuquerque broke the tie in the home half of the inning with a pair of

runs off Hand courtesy of a Jerry Sands RBI double and a Mitchell

run-scoring single.

 

 

The Sounds didn't go down without a fight in the ninth, putting runners

on first and second to open the inning against Valdez. After a Kottaras

strikeout, Maysonet was robbed of a run-scoring extra-base hit for the

second time by an Isotopes outfielder, as a hard-running Sands tracked

down his long fly ball deep in the gap in right-center for the second

out. Carroll advanced to third on the play, but Valdez left him standing

there as he struck out pinch-hitter Brandon Boggs looking at a 3-2

curveball to end the game.

 

 

Valdez (4-1) was the beneficiary of the late Isotopes rally and picked

up the win after blanking the Sounds in his two frames of action.

 

 

Hand (1-3) suffered a blown save and took the loss for Nashville after

allowing two runs on four hits in his 1 1/3 innings of work.

 

 

The Sounds travel home to Music City tomorrow to open a four-game series

at Greer Stadium against the Round Rock Express (AAA-Rangers).

Nashville right-hander Josh Butler (3-4, 4.57) will start Monday's 7:05

p.m. series opener and face Round Rock right-hander Derek Hankins (5-4,

6.71).

Nashville Box Score

Excellent game story from the Sounds crew tonight; really detailed & well-written. That, paired with me being really tired, means I'll keep this brief. Every starting position player aside from Gindl tonight had a multi-hit game. Green added the only walk for the Sounds to go along with his two longballs. Maysonet & Carroll added stolen bases, and Jordan Brown had an outfield assist, throwing out the Isotopes' first hitter trying to stretch a single into a double.

 

Relievers Zach Segovia & Danny Herrera were the only two pitchers whose lines weren't shield-your-eyes ugly.

 

Oh, and the Sounds have basically now made a liar out of me for my claim that they'd only score 12 runs in two or three more games the rest of the season. Shut up, TLB.

 

 

Nashville Play-by-Play

Time for some pain. After the Sounds took a 14-9 lead with five runs in the 7th, here's how the Isotopes came *charging* back http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif, with 5 runs of their own in the bottom half:

 

Albuquerque Bottom of the 7th

• Pitcher Change: Justin James replaces Daniel Ray Herrera, batting 6th, replacing second baseman Taylor Green.
• Defensive Substitution: Eric Farris replaces Erick Almonte, batting 9th, playing second base.
• Ivan De Jesus grounds out, shortstop Edwin Maysonet to first baseman Mat Gamel.
• Eugenio Velez doubles (11) on a fly ball to center fielder Caleb Gindl.
• A. J. Ellis flies out to right fielder Brett Carroll.
• Jerry Sands walks.
• JD Closser walks. Eugenio Velez to 3rd. Jerry Sands to 2nd.
• Russell
  Mitchell singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jordan Brown.
  Eugenio Velez scores. Jerry Sands scores. JD Closser to 3rd.
• Trayvon Robinson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Caleb Gindl. JD Closser scores. Russell Mitchell to 3rd.
• Jamie
  Hoffmann singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brett Carroll.
  Russell Mitchell scores. Trayvon Robinson to 3rd.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter John Lindsey replaces Mario Alvarez.
• Pitcher Change: Donovan Hand replaces Justin James, batting 6th.
• John Lindsey singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jordan Brown. Trayvon Robinson scores. Jamie Hoffmann to 2nd.
• Ivan De Jesus lines out to shortstop Edwin Maysonet.

Nashville Gameday

[TooLiveBrew]

Final: Jackson 3, @Huntsville 1

Jackson Game Story: "Generals Stop Three-Game Skid"

By Chris Harris

 

HUNTSVILLE, ALA. (June 12, 2011 - The Generals snapped their three game losing streak Sunday with a 3-1 victory over the Huntsville Stars at Joe W. Davis Stadium. With the Jackson win win and Tennessee Smokies loss, the Generals find themselves three games back in the division, with six to play in the first half.

 

Joe Dunigan and Carlos Triunfel paced Jackson's 10-hit attack with two hits each. Triunfel reached base three times. Brandon Bantz was 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. No Stars batters recorded a multi-hit game. Tom Wilhelmsen (2-1) earned his first win as a starter this season, in his longest outing. Tom allowed one run on four hits in five innings. Taylor Stanton secured his second save of the year, working a perfect final 1.1 innings of the game. Huntsville starter Michael Bowman (2-4) was saddled with the loss.

 

Huntsville had three singles in the bottom of the second inning, and a run scored on one by Martin Maldonado. Huntsville jumped ahead 1-0 in the second inning. After three scoreless innings, the Generals rallied and scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Kuo Hui Lo doubled to start the inning, then with one out Nate Tenbrink singled in Lo and the Generals tied the game at 1-1. Rich Poythress followed reaching on an error and Carlos Triunfel singled. Brandon Bantz doubled home Tenbrink and Poythress, giving Jackson a 3-1 lead. The two teams played a scoreless final three frames and the lead held.

 

The Generals finish up there 10-game road trip against the Stars Monday night at Joe Davis Stadium, with first pitch set for 6:43 PM. All-Star LHP Anthony Vasquez (4-4, 3.86) takes the mound for Jackson against RHP Cody Scarpetta (2-3, 4.63). The Generals are 6-3 against the Stars this season. The game can be heard on Jackson's NewsTalk 101.5 FM and jacksongeneralsbaseball.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

That's one of the worst game stories I've ever encountered. I added any paragraph breaks... just ugly to read.

 

Anyway, Logan Schafer, Steffan Wilson, Angel Gonzalez, Hainley Statia, & Maldonado tallied all the Stars' hits, with one single apiece. Maldonado added the lone walk for Huntsville.

 

Bowman's final line: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K. Jesus Sanchez worked two and two-thirds scoreless innings in relief; Lucas Luetge recorded the final out against the Generals without allowing a baserunner. Sanchez must've hit a pitch count limit to have been lifted when he was.

 

You may recognize the Generals' starter, former Brewers 7th round pick Tom Wilhelmsen.

 

 

Huntsville Play-by-Play

It was a night of offensive disappointment for the Stars, and their other best shot at scoring came in the 3rd inning:

Huntsville Bottom of the 3rd

• Hainley Statia grounds out, second baseman Kyle Seager to first baseman Rich Poythress.
  
• Logan Schafer singles on a fly ball to left fielder Jake Shaffer.
  
• Lee Haydel reaches on force attempt, fielding error by first baseman Rich Poythress. Logan Schafer to 2nd.
  
• Sean Halton flies out to center fielder Brandon Haveman.
  
• With Brandon Jones batting, wild pitch by Tom Wilhelmsen, Logan Schafer to 3rd. Lee Haydel to 2nd.
  
• Brandon Jones strikes out swinging.

Huntsville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Timber Rattlers coping with the pressure of being in playoff race

Nelson, Roberts raising level of their play

by Mike Woods, Appleton Post-Crescent

GRAND CHUTE — Pressure has done a lot of funny things to people.

See Jean Van de Velde, 1999 British Open, as Example A.

But there hasn't been anything funny about how Wisconsin Timber Rattlers pitcher Jimmy Nelson and catcher Tyler Roberts have handled some pressure situations this year.

They've been usually rated R, for language and violence to the water cooler.

But that all changed Sunday, when the Rattlers were involved in their greatest pressure-filled situation of the season.

"Some guys today that haven't had success in pressure situations had some really good success,'' said Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson after his team's 4-1 victory over Fort Wayne in a Midwest League game on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. "That was fun to watch.''

It was a sharp contrast when the Rattlers, fighting for a first-half playoff spot, weren't fun to watch at all as they committed nine errors in a pair of losses the previous two days.

"After the last two days, it would have been easy to kind of tank, I guess, because we did not play very well,'' said Erickson. "We had some concentration issues defensively. But today, we made the plays.''

It started with the Rattlers holding a 2-0 lead in the sixth when Nelson, after he struck out the first batter who nonetheless reached first on a third-strike wild pitch, gave up consecutive singles to load the bases. Then he uncorked another wild pitch to give the TinCaps their first run.

But he responded by striking out the next three hitters and left the field pumping his first.

"Those are those innings I was talking about where some stuff happens, some stuff falls. A walk, mix in an error, something,'' said Nelson, who improved to 2-6. "Those innings this year have been extended to big-run innings. So I was just excited I was able to execute the pitch and our defense was able to make the plays. I was just pumped up that I kind of finally got over that little hill.''

Erickson said Nelson showed him something more than just making the right pitch at the right time.

"This is the day that we've been waiting for from Mr. Nelson,'' said Erickson. "Because each time he's been out there he has shown signs of being pretty good then he'll have some sort of adversity and things will then fall apart for a little bit and then after that happens he seems to go out and be pressure free and things are all right.

"Today, when he dealt with that adversity, he battled right through it. He showed some tenacity, he showed a little competitiveness with the fire and that's what, in my opinion, you have to have that. Not just as a pitcher; but you have to have that inner fire if you're going to play at the highest level. Because the talent is just so close, each level you move up, when you can find ways to get those competitive juices going and working for you I think that's how you really separate yourself.''

As for Roberts, he blocked the ball three times at the plate with a runner at third in the sixth and then made a slick pick on an in-between hop on a throw from third baseman Greg Hopkins for a force at the plate in the seventh.

"I've kind of been on Roberts about his inconsistency of play and we've had a lot of talks,'' said Erickson. "But he was really good in that sixth inning … and then he was good in the eighth as well. Those are big-time plays. Those are game changers.''

The Rattlers also needed a stellar effort from reliever Greg Holle, who came on in the eighth with the bases-loaded and nobody out. But he got out of the jam unscathed, making him 14-for-14 in save situations.

"Coming into that situation you're more thinking about minimize or, obviously, keep the ball down and I was able to do that,'' said Holle. "Got a couple of weak ground balls. … The eighth inning was pretty big for me just to minimize the damage. Luckily I got out of there with nothing.''

The Rattlers will now take to the road for a seven-game road trip, still trailing Quad Cities by two games in the race for the final playoff spot in the season's first half.

The pressure will be on.

[Mass Haas]

He's back --

 

Huntsville CF Logan Schafer now with a nine-game hit streak -- in fact, his one-hit effort Sunday followed up five consecutive two-hit games. Schafer is 15-for-39 (.385) during the streak (one double, two walks, five K's).

[Mass Haas]

Fantastic highlights (flashing leather, whoo!) and much more, including Chris' thoughts at the Rattler Radio Blog. Watch Reggie run!

[CheezWizHed]

Gamel, Green, Schafer, Komatsu, Gindl, Kh Davis... might not be any can't miss guys, but there is a decent crop of bats in the minors.

[pogokat]

i still think Taylor Green is going to have a Jeff Cirillo-like career....

[battlekow]

Komatsu didn't play. Schafer is hitting .313 but only slugging .373.