Link Report for Wed. 6/15 -- Stars & Rattlers both sweep DHs; Peralta, Thornburg, and Fiers all pitch well

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: LHP Sam Narron at home vs. Round Rock (Rangers), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers

Huntsville: RHP's Wily Peralta and Michael Fiers in a doubleheader at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 4:43 PM gametime; each contest is slated for seven innings

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

Traditional broadcast -- Birmingham feed

Brevard County: RHP Hiram Burgos at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime

Live Audio Link -- Cubs' feed

Wisconsin: RHP's Tyler Thornburg and Dan Britt in a doubleheader at Peoria (Cubs), 4:40 PM pre-game, 5:00 gametime; each contest is slated for seven innings

Live Audio Link

 

DSL Brewers: at the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM

[Mass Haas]

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

Huntsville Game One (Gameday also available)

Huntsville Game Two (Gameday also available)

Brevard County

Wisconsin Game One

 

Wisconsin Game Two

DSL Brewers

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	36	29	.554	-	-	20-14	16-15	5-5	L1
	Memphis	32	32	.500	3.5	77	18-15	14-17	8-2	W2
	Nashville	29	35	.453	6.5	74	18-14	11-21	6-4	W2
	Iowa	29	36	.446	7.0	73	14-17	15-19	4-6	W1

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tennessee	41	24	.631	-	-	20-10	21-14	6-4	W1
	Jackson	37	28	.569	4.0	2	17-11	20-17	4-6	L1
	Huntsville	33	31	.516	7.5	E	19-10	14-21	5-5	W1
	Chattanooga	32	33	.492	9.0	E	15-20	17-13	7-3	L1
	Carolina	19	46	.292	22.0	E	12-23	7-23	3-7	L1

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Daytona	46	19	.708	-	-	25-9	21-10	6-4	W4
	Clearwater	39	26	.600	7.0	E	20-12	19-14	4-6	W1
	Dunedin	35	30	.538	11.0	E	14-17	21-13	5-5	L1
	Lakeland	34	31	.523	12.0	E	19-16	15-15	4-6	L1
	Tampa	33	32	.508	13.0	E	14-17	19-15	7-3	W1
	Brevard County	24	41	.369	22.0	E	13-21	11-20	4-6	L2

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Burlington	42	23	.646	-	-	21-9	21-14	5-5	W1
	Quad Cities	36	28	.563	5.5	-	16-14	20-14	6-4	W2
	Wisconsin	34	30	.531	7.5	5	20-15	14-15	6-4	W2
	Beloit	34	31	.523	8.0	4	17-16	17-15	7-3	W1
	Peoria	33	31	.516	8.5	4	21-12	12-19	4-6	L1
	Cedar Rapids	30	35	.462	12.0	E	17-15	13-20	3-7	L1
	Kane County	27	37	.422	14.5	E	14-18	13-19	3-7	L1
	Clinton	21	44	.323	21.0	E	8-25	13-19	4-6	L4

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Brewers	10	5	.667	-	-	4-3	6-2	5-5	L1
	DSL Mariners	9	5	.643	0.5	58	5-3	4-2	7-3	W5
	DSL Athletics	5	9	.357	4.5	54	2-3	3-6	3-7	W1
	DSL Cardinals	3	10	.231	6.0	53	2-6	1-4	3-7	L2

[Mass Haas]

Michael Fiers gets the start tonight for Huntsville in Game Two on birthday # 26 -- one of the least-relevant age analyses we can do, since the somewhat intriguing arm was drafted just before his 24th birthday.

 

Seth McClung (stats) faces the Sounds.

[CheezWizHed]

Well, after starting out horribly, most of the team are playing fairly respectable ball. Brevard still remains a head-scratcher, as they probably are one of the more talented squads we have.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

Wisconsin Media Notes

[fondybrewfan]

Thornburg is putting up video game numbers. Another very strong outing. Just move him up already

[battlekow]

Final (game one): Wisconsin 2, @Peoria 1 (7 innings)

Thornburg strikes out nine in complete game victory at Peoria

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

PEORIA, IL – Tyler Thornburg continued his season long hot streak in game one of Wednesday’s doubleheader at O’Brien Field. The Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect tossed a seven inning complete game and struck out nine as the Timber Rattlers topped Peoria 2-1. Tyler Roberts, Thornburg’s batterymate, broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out RBI single in the top of the sixth inning.

Greg Hopkins gave the Timber Rattlers (34-30) a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Nick Shaw and Cody Hawn collected consecutive singles to put runners on the corners with one out. Hopkins lined a pitch deep to left. Chiefs outfielder Greg Rohan made a diving catch to rob Hopkins of extra bases, but Shaw tagged and scored easily from third base for the first run of the game.

Peoria tied the game in the bottom of the third inning. The Chiefs (33-32) had runners at the corners with one out and Pierre LaPage knocked in the tying run with a sacrifice fly.

The Rattlers kept putting base runners on through the middle innings, but could not cash in the go ahead run.

Thornburg got into a jam in the fifth inning. A one out double by Sergio Burrell was followed by a walk to Kyung-Min Na. The walk, one of four issued by Thornburg on the evening, put runners at first and second with the top of the order coming to the plate. But, Thornburg dispatched Matt Szczur with a pop fly to center and LaPage looking to end the inning.

TJ Mittelstaedt was at first with two outs in the top of the sixth and took off early with left-handed pitcher Brent Ebinger on the mound. Ebinger threw to first and it looked like Mittelstaedt would be out easily at second base. But, Ebinger had been called for a balk to allow Mittelstaedt to move freely to second base.

Roberts smacked a 2-1 pitch from Ebinger to right-center and Mittelstaedt scored the go-ahead run easily. The hit was the ninth and final hit of the game for the Rattlers.

Thornburg struck out three – working around an error with two outs – in the sixth inning. He went back out for the seventh and got the first out, but walked Burrell. Na was out trying to bunt his way aboard. But, the tying run was now at second base with two outs. Thornburg got Szczur to fly out to right to end the game.

This was Thornburg’s second complete game of the season as he moved his record to 7-0, lowered his ERA to 1.57, and ran his season strikeout total to 76 in 68-2/3 innings.

Game two is starting soon.

Wisconsin box score (game one)

Thornburg, at 93 pitches after six innings, needed just nine pitches to complete the 7th; he threw 67 strikes in total. This could easily have been his last game as a Timber Rattler. Shaw, Hawn, and Mittelstaedt each had two hits, Roberts singled and walked, and Mike Walker doubled. Chad Stang did not play.

Wisconsin play-by-play (game one)

Thornburg's overwhelming stuff kept him from giving up a run in the 1st:

Peoria Bottom of the 1st

• Matthew Szczur walks.
• With Pierre LePage batting, Matthew Szczur steals (15) 2nd base.
• Pierre LePage grounds out, shortstop Mike Brownstein to first baseman Cody Hawn. Matthew Szczur to 3rd.
• Ryan Cuneo strikes out swinging.
• Greg Rohan strikes out swinging.

The run he did allow:

Peoria Bottom of the 3rd

• Sergio Burruel walks.
• Kyung-Min Na strikes out swinging.
• With Matthew Szczur batting, wild pitch by Tyler Thornburg, Sergio Burruel to 2nd.
• Matthew Szczur singles on a fly ball to right fielder Franklin Romero. Sergio Burruel to 3rd.
• Pierre LePage out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Reggie Keen. Sergio Burruel scores.
• Ryan Cuneo grounds out, shortstop Mike Brownstein to first baseman Cody Hawn.

The T-Rats missed a chance in the 4th:

Wisconsin Top of the 4th

• Michael Walker doubles (11) on a fly ball to left fielder Greg Rohan.
• T. J. Mittelstaedt singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Brandon May. Michael Walker to 3rd.
• Mike Brownstein reaches on a fielder's choice out, third baseman Brandon May to catcher Sergio Burruel. Michael Walker out at home. T. J. Mittelstaedt to 2nd.
• Tyler Roberts strikes out swinging.
• With Franklin Romero batting, T. J. Mittelstaedt steals (11) 3rd base.
• Franklin Romero flies out to left fielder Greg Rohan.

[sfl2hnq17]

After looking at his stats the only thing I can come up with is that they are keeping him down a little longer because he RH/LH splits are fairly drastic.

[And That]

I assume they're keeping Thornburg in Appleton because they want him to finish the first half of the season/playoff push with the Rattlers. They do that on a pretty regular basis.

[battlekow]

Final: DSL Brewers 2, @DSL Cardinals 1

DSL Brewers box score

I think I have a new man-crush. 17-year-old righty Gian Rizzo made his first start and went five shutout innings, allowing five hits, walking three, and striking out six. He now has 18 whiffs in his first 15 pro innings. Juan Francisco allowed a run in the 6th, but the Brewers already had a two-run lead, and Francisco and Carlos Sosa, who picked up his sixth save and kept his triple-zero ERA, kept the Cardenalitos off the board the rest of the way. #DSLCardinalsEatDSLBabies. After missing yesterday's doubleheader, 16-year-old shortstop/heartthrob Orlando Arcia was back in the lineup and went 2-4. Dionis Hinojosa also had two hits. Jose Pena was 0-4 with two strikeouts, and Elvis Rubio again was MIA. I'm toying with creative a DSL Craziness Index, which would be something like errors + caught stealing + hit by pitch. This game rates a 6 + 2 + 2 = 10, or "standard-issue crazy".

DSL Brewers play-by-play

Little-known fact: at least one inning a game in the DSL is contractually required to end on an out at home:

DSL Cardinals Bottom of the 2nd

• Fernando Baez triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Yonki Hernandez.
• Rafael Medina lines out to first baseman Deivi Mejia.
• George Araujo walks.
• Domingo Diaz called out on strikes.
• Amaury Capellan walks. George Araujo to 2nd.
• Fernando Baez out at home, catcher Natanael Mejia to pitcher Gian Rizzo.

The Brewers retuned the squandering in the next half inning:

DSL Brewers Top of the 3rd

• Natanael Mejia doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder George Araujo.
• Dionis Hinojosa grounds out, shortstop Daniel Barbuena to first baseman Domingo Diaz. Natanael Mejia to 3rd.
• Yonki Hernandez pops out to first baseman Domingo Diaz.
• Francisco Castillo strikes out swinging.

And Pena tried hard to continue it in the 4th before Deivi Mejia ruined it:

DSL Brewers Top of the 4th

• Orlando Arcia singles on a fly ball to left fielder George Araujo.
• With Jose Pena batting, throwing error by Silfredo Garcia on the pickoff attempt, Orlando Arcia to 3rd.
• Jose Pena strikes out swinging.
• Deivi Mejia singles on a line drive to center fielder Jhohan Acevedo. Orlando Arcia scores.
• Juan De Leon lines out to center fielder Jhohan Acevedo.
• Raul Mondesi strikes out swinging.

Not to be outdone, the Cards fought back:

DSL Cardinals Bottom of the 4th

• Fernando Baez singles on a fly ball to center fielder Yonki Hernandez.
• Rafael Medina singles on a fly ball to right fielder Jose Pena. Fernando Baez to 3rd.
• George Araujo strikes out swinging.
• Domingo Diaz strikes out swinging.
• Amaury Capellan strikes out swinging.

The D-Crew again had an answer:

DSL Brewers Top of the 5th

• Natanael Mejia grounds out, third baseman Rafael Medina to first baseman Domingo Diaz.
• Dionis Hinojosa singles on a ground ball to left fielder George Araujo.
• Yonki Hernandez hit by pitch. Dionis Hinojosa to 2nd.
• With Francisco Castillo batting, wild pitch by Silfredo Garcia, Dionis Hinojosa to 3rd. Yonki Hernandez to 2nd.
• Francisco Castillo strikes out swinging.
• Orlando Arcia flies out to left fielder George Araujo.

Another Cardinals riposte:

DSL Cardinals Bottom of the 5th

• Jhohan Acevedo singles on a ground ball to center fielder Yonki Hernandez.
• With Robelys Reyes batting, Jhohan Acevedo steals (1) 2nd base.
• Robelys Reyes grounds out to first baseman Deivi Mejia. Jhohan Acevedo to 3rd.
• Daniel Barbuena pops out to first baseman Deivi Mejia.
• Ronnierd Garcia pops out to shortstop Orlando Arcia.

...before they finally blew it by blowing blowing it:

DSL Cardinals Bottom of the 6th

• Pitcher Change: Juan Francisco replaces Gian Rizzo.
• Fernando Baez triples (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Raul Mondesi.
• Rafael Medina strikes out swinging.
• George Araujo grounds out, shortstop Orlando Arcia to first baseman Deivi Mejia.
• Eduardo Celestino singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jose Pena. Fernando Baez scores.
• Amaury Capellan hit by pitch. Eduardo Celestino to 2nd.
• Jhohan Acevedo pops out to first baseman Deivi Mejia in foul territory.

The Brewers put the game to bed with a true tour de force:

DSL Brewers Top of the 8th

• Orlando Arcia singles on a fly ball to left fielder George Araujo.
• With Jose Pena batting, throwing error by John De Aguas on the pickoff attempt, Orlando Arcia to 3rd.
• Jose Pena flies out to center fielder Jhohan Acevedo.
• John De Aguas intentionally walks Deivi Mejia.
• Juan De Leon strikes out swinging.
• John De Aguas intentionally walks Raul Mondesi. Deivi Mejia to 2nd.
• Natanael Mejia grounds into a force out, shortstop Daniel Barbuena to second baseman Robelys Reyes. Raul Mondesi out at 2nd.

If you're keeping track (and I obviously am), the two teams were 1-13 with a runner on third and less than two outs, with no productive outs of any kind and seven strikeouts. I love this league.

[wibadgers23]

They kept Odorizzi in Appleton the whole season last year. Why would they do anything different with Thornburg?

[battlekow]

They kept Odorizzi in Appleton the whole season last year. Why would they do anything different with Thornburg?

Thornburg is a year and a half older than Odorizzi, which means Odorizzi was two and a half years ahead of him developmentally last year. Not the same at all.

[wibadgers23]

Oh wow. Didn't realize he's 20 years old. It probably is time for bump to Brevard then.

[Bernman23]

Gamel is 2 for 3 w/ a double and walk.

 

He needs to be up at the major league level right now.

 

Learning 1st base doesn't require a full year in the minors. He should be adequate between the experience he's gotten thus far, occasionally playing in a major league game, practices, ST before next season, etc.

 

Besides, he's almost 26, and the team went all in this year. If he could help the club win one more game via being a utility guy and pinch hitter, which could improve our chances at making it into the playoffs, it'd be worth a minor loss in development for the start of next season. The same principle applies to Green.

[NYChez]

Here's a story about the Rattlers' closer, Greg Holle. [Please discuss in the dedicated Rattlers thread] Can anyone report what his stuff looks like?

[battlekow]

Final: Brevard County 5, @Daytona 1 (5 innings)

Brevard County box score

Presumably called because of rain after the bottom of the 5th. Exciting lines atop the order as Scooter Gennett, Kentrail Davis, Hunter Morris, and Khris Davis all had nice games. Scooter was 3-3 with a double, Kentrail was also 3-3, Hunter smacked his eighth homer, and Khris singled, doubled, and stole his ninth base. Brock Kjeldgaard cooled off with another 0-3 night, D'Vontrey Richardson joined him (though he picked up another outfield assist), and Shawn Zarraga did not play. Maverick Lasker started and went four innings, allowing a run on three hits, a walk, and a hit batter, with two strikeouts. Evan Anundsen worked a scoreless 5th.

Brevard County play-by-play

A four-run 4th was the big inning:

Brevard County Top of the 3rd

• Juan Sanchez reaches on fielding error by third baseman Matthew Cerda.
• Scooter Gennett singles on a ground ball to right fielder Rubi Silva. Juan Sanchez to 3rd.
• Kentrail Davis singles on a line drive to center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha. Juan Sanchez scores. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.
• With Hunter Morris batting, wild pitch by Dae-Eun Rhee, Scooter Gennett to 3rd. Kentrail Davis to 2nd.
• Hunter Morris homers (8) on a fly ball to center field. Scooter Gennett scores. Kentrail Davis scores.
• Khristopher Davis doubles (14) on a fly ball to right fielder Rubi Silva.
• Brock Kjeldgaard grounds out, shortstop Rafael Valdes to first baseman Justin Bour.
• With Shea Vucinich batting, Khristopher Davis steals (9) 3rd base.
• Shea Vucinich strikes out swinging, catcher Michael Brenly to first baseman Justin Bour.
• D' Vontrey Richardson grounds out, second baseman Logan Watkins to first baseman Justin Bour.

[battlekow]

Final (game two): Wisconsin 6, @Peoria 2 (7 innings)

Fast start in game two gives Rattlers a doubleheader sweep

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

PEORIA, IL – The first five Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to bat in game two of Wednesday’s doubleheader at O’Brien Field scored. The Rattlers cruised to a 6-2 victory over the Peoria Chiefs. Wisconsin also won game one 2-1 and picked up a doubleheader sweep over the Chiefs.

Peoria starting pitcher Cam Greathouse entered game two as the Midwest League leader in walks issued with 49. He started the game by walking Reggie Keen, hitting Nick Shaw, and walking Greg Hopkins. Mike Walker, the Rattlers leader in RBI, smacked a 2-1 pitch from Greathouse to center for a two run single. That single gave Walker 48 RBI this season.

Chris Dennis was next and he crushed a 3-1 pitch from Greathouse over the fence in right for a three-run homer. The long ball was the sixth home run of the season for Dennis and it put the Rattlers (36-30) up 5-0.

TJ Mittelstaedt doubled in a run with two outs in the top of the third inning and Wisconsin went up 6-0.

Rattlers starting pitcher Dan Britt took the hill with that big lead and retired the first eight batters he faced. But a single and a walk with two out in the third inning was followed by a double by Pierre LaPage into the corner in right. The first run scored, but Franklin Romero hit Walker with a strong throw. Walker turned and fired to the plate to cut down the second run at the plate and Wisconsin’s lead was 6-1.

Peoria (33-33) scored again in the sixth inning off Britt. Matt Szczur tripled to start the frame and LePage’s grounder to short got Szczur home to make the score 6-2.

Britt allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts to pick up his fourth win of the season.

Stosh Wawrzasek worked around a two-out error and a double in the bottom of the seventh inning to close out the sweep.

The final game of the series is Thursday night at 7:00pm. Wisconsin has Brooks Hall (2-1, 4.39) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Peoria has Eric Jokisch (7-0, 3.20) heading to the hill. Jokisch has made 14 relief appearances in 2011. Thursday will be his first start of the season.

Tune in for the broadcast from O’Brien Field on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:40pm.

NOTE: As this story is being sent Quad Cities and Clinton are tied 5-5 in the ninth inning. If Clinton wins, the Rattlers will be .5 games behind Quad Cities for the first half Wild Card playoff spot in the Western Division of the Midwest League. If Quad Cities wins, they will be up 1.5 games on the Rattlers for the Wild Card spot. After tonight, both Wisconsin and Quad Cities have four games remaining in the first half.

Wisconsin box score (game two)

Doubleheader sweeps to get you back into playoff contention are pretty awesome. Apart from what Chris mentioned, Mike Brownstein had a perfect night, 1-1 with two walks. Shaw also walked in addition to being plunked and has quietly been very hot in June. The outfield kill was Romero's seventh and the team's 27th. No Chad Stang today, I guess.

Wisconsin play-by-play (game two)

[battlekow]

Quad Cities wins with a four-run 9th, so the Rattlers are 1.5 games back with four to play.

[battlekow]

Final: Round Rock 4, @Nashville 3

Round Rock Edges Sounds, 4-3 In 10 Innings

Nashville Sounds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Round Rock Express plated a run in the top of the tenth inning to hang a 4-3 loss on the Nashville Sounds on a misty Wednesday evening at Greer Stadium.

It was the second straight extra-inning contest between the teams.

In the decisive Round Rock tenth, Julio Borbon reached on a well-executed drag bunt single with one out, moved to second on a Sean Green wild pitch, and stole third. After Matt Kata drew a walk to put runners on the corners, Chris Davis slapped a high chopper to first that bounded over the head of Mat Gamel for an RBI single to plate Borbon with the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the tenth, Express reliever Cody Eppley (2-1) worked around a leadoff walk to Brett Carroll to blank the Sounds and secure the win. The sidearmer earned the victory after working 1 2/3 hitless frames.

Green (0-2) took the loss for Nashville after giving up the game-winning run in his two innings of work.

Round Rock catcher Kevin Cash broke up a scoreless deadlock in the top of the sixth when he slugged Narron's first pitch of the inning to deep left for his third home run of the year.

Mike Rivera, the Sounds' backstop, responded in the bottom of the frame by giving Nashville a 2-1 lead with a two-out, two-run single to left off Round Rock starter and former Sound Seth McClung.

After McClung retired the first two batters of the inning, the Sounds loaded the bases as Carroll and Gamel drew a pair of walks sandwiched around an Erick Almonte single. Rivera followed with his go-ahead knock.

Round Rock reclaimed the lead a half-inning later, plating a pair of runs off Narron to take a 3-2 advantage. Just as the Sounds had done in the previous frame, the Express did all of their damage after the first two batters were retired. Barden hammered a 2-0 Narron offering over the right field wall to knot the score at 2-2. It was the infielder's fifth homer of the year. Butler and ex-Sound Luis Cruz followed with back-to-back doubles to put the visitors in front.

Narron took a no-decision for the Sounds after authoring his fourth quality start of the season. He allowed three runs on six hits while striking out a season-high seven batters and walking none in his seven frames of action. The left-hander retired 14 consecutive Express batters at one point, matching the longest such stretch by any Sounds hurler this season.

Brewers right-hander Takashi Saito made a rehabilitation appearance for the Sounds and worked a hitless inning of relief, striking out one batter. He threw 17 pitches (12 for strikes).

Carroll evened the game at 3-3 in the home half of the eighth when he led off with an opposite field solo homer to right off Express reliever Ryan Tucker. The line drive shot, which curled just inside the right field foul pole, was the outfielder's eighth roundtripper of the season.

Taylor Green led off the Nashville ninth with a double into the right field corner, the infielder's 10th straight game with an extra-base hit. He extended his overall hitting streak to 13 games.

Gamel went 2-for-4 with a double for the Sounds to extend his hit streak to seven games; he has recorded multiple hits in six of those outings.

Sounds third baseman Zelous Wheeler doubled in the third inning to extend his season-best hitting streak to five games.

The teams wrap up the series with a 7:05 p.m. finale on Thursday evening. Right-hander Amaury Rivas (4-6, 4.45) will make the start for the Sounds to face right-hander Scott Feldman (1-0, 5.40), who will make a rehab start for Round Rock.

Nashville box score

A Saito sait-ing! I wonder what muscle he strained this time. Nice to see Wheeler hitting well, and nice to see Green get promoted all the way to seventh in the batting order [trumpets blare]. Eric Farris was 0-5 with two strikeouts. Jordan Brown (hitting eighth) was 0-3 with a sac bunt. Caleb Gindl did not play; George Kottaras didn't either and is positively thrilled about it.

Nashville play-by-play

[TooLiveBrew]

Final (game one): @Huntsville 8, Birmingham 3

 

Huntsville Box Score

The first seven Huntsville batters reached base safely en route to a five-run first inning, & the Stars never gave back the lead. Starter Wily Peralta pitched seven strong innings, good for a complete game since it was the first half of a doubleheader. He wasn't charged an earned run, thanks to two errors from shortstop Angel Gonzalez... and one from Peralta himself. Gonzalez compensated by leading the way for the Stars offense, going 3-3 with two doubles, a walk, one RBI, & two runs scored. His doubles were the only extra-base hits for Huntsville.

 

Peralta's final line: 7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. Logan Schafer extended his hitting streak to 12 games, going 1-2 with a walk, stolen base, & two runs scored. Erik Komatsu played in his first game since June 11th, and went 1-3 with a walk & a run. Sean Halton (two RBI) & Steffan Wilson (two runs) were both 2-4; Martin Maldonado was 3-4 with two RBI. Sergio Miranda went 1-3, and Lee Haydel was 0-2 with a walk.

 

 

Huntsville Play-by-Play

Here's that 1st inning:

Huntsville Bottom of the 1st

• Logan Schafer walks.
• Erik
  Komatsu singles on a ground ball to pitcher Hector Santiago. Erik
  Komatsu to 2nd. Logan Schafer advances to 3rd, on throwing error by
  pitcher Hector Santiago.
• Sean Halton singles on a
  soft line drive to right fielder Kenneth Williams. Logan Schafer
  scores. Erik Komatsu scores. Sean Halton advances to 2nd, on
  fielding error by right fielder Kenneth Williams.
• Steffan Wilson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Brandon Short. Sean Halton to 3rd.
• With Angel Gonzalez batting, wild pitch by Hector Santiago, Steffan Wilson to 2nd.
• With Angel Gonzalez batting, Sean Halton scores on a balk. Steffan Wilson advances to 3rd on a balk.
• Angel Gonzalez walks.
• Martin Maldonado singles on a line drive to center fielder Brandon Short. Steffan Wilson scores. Angel Gonzalez to 2nd.
• Sergio Miranda singles on a ground ball to left fielder Tyler Kuhn. Angel Gonzalez to 3rd. Martin Maldonado to 2nd.
• Lee
  Haydel grounds into a force out, second baseman Alden Carrithers to
  shortstop Greg Paiml. Angel Gonzalez scores. Martin Maldonado to
  3rd. Sergio Miranda out at 2nd. Lee Haydel to 1st.
• Matt Cline grounds into double play, shortstop Greg Paiml to second baseman Alden Carrithers to first baseman Christian

Really could've been much worse for the Barons.

 

 

Huntsville Gameday

[TooLiveBrew]

Final (game two): @Huntsville 3, Birmingham 1

 

Huntsville Box Score

On his 26th birthday, Michael Fiers turned in five and two-thirds innings of sharply pitched baseball for the Stars. Happy Birthday, Michael! His final line was 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K. Thanks to Fiers, reliever Lucas Luetge was only needed to record one out to close out the 6th inning, and Jim Henderson shut down the Barons' bats in the 7th for the save. Luetge allowed a single before recording the final out of the 6th, and then walked the leadoff man in the 7th. Henderson then came on & slammed the door, striking out two & not allowing a baserunner.

 

Huntsville scored one run in the first, and two in the second. Thanks largely to Fiers & Henderson, they didn't need any more offense. Logan Schafer stretched that hitting streak to 13 games, singling to lead off the bottom of the 1st. He also reached on an error, and finished 1-3 with a run scored. Steffan Wilson, Brandon Jones, Angel Gonzalez, Anderson De La Rosa, & Lee Haydel added the only other hits for the Stars... all singles. Gonzalez & Hainley Statia scored the other two runs, with De La Rosa & Sean Halton (sac fly) plating the only two RBI. Statia scored on a fielding error on a ball in play off the bat of Schafer for the unearned run. Erik Komatsu also played the second half of the doubleheader, but finished this one 0-3.

 

 

Huntsville Play-by-Play

After Birmingham brought in a righty pinch-hitter to face the lefty Luetge, manager Mike Guerrero countered with Henderson. Here's how Jim shut down the rally in the 7th:

Birmingham Top of the 7th

• Seth Loman walks.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Jon Gilmore replaces Alden Carrithers.
• Pitcher Change: Jim Henderson replaces Lucas Luetge.
• Jon Gilmore called out on strikes.
• Greg
  Paiml grounds into a force out, shortstop Angel Gonzalez to second
  baseman Hainley Statia. Seth Loman out at 2nd. Greg Paiml to 1st.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Josh Phegley replaces Jared Price.
• Josh Phegley strikes out swinging, catcher Anderson De La Rosa to first baseman Sean Halton.

 

Huntsville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 5, @Daytona 1 (5 innings)

Presumably called because of rain after the bottom of the 5th.

Not quite rain -- this was actually discussed last evening during the Cubs' broadcast of the Brewers' game -- Bob Brenly's son plays for Daytona --

 

Cubs lose smoke-shortened game

By Buddy Shacklette, Daytona Beach News-Journal Staff Writer

 

DAYTONA BEACH -- Five innings and one hour and 30 minutes in, umpires called Wednesday's Florida State League game at Jackie Robinson Ballpark between the Brevard County Manatees and Daytona Cubs because of smoke from the area wildfires.

"I think the umpires used good judgment," Daytona Cubs manager Buddy Bailey said. "I think they made the right decision because some of the guys were getting a little light-headed and weren't getting enough oxygen. The players' safety is the most important thing."

The game started on time and with a smoky haze over the field, but visibility diminished as nightfall fell on the crowd of 1,622.

Two errors were made but neither of the two were fly balls or condition-induced.

"It's been smoky all day and I feel like it was getting to guys because some guys have got asthma and some guys don't take in the smoke very well," Cubs designated hitter Mike Burgess said. "It was a pretty crazy night."

At 8:35 PM the game was called and declared official -- because five innings had been completed -- with Brevard (25-41) coming away with a 5-1 victory over the first-half division champions.

Daytona (46-20) only had three hits to show for its efforts, but Bailey said he was more concerned with those outside in the conditions.

"We had some people getting kind of nauseated earlier today. They were having problems from inhaling smoke," Bailey said. "It's one thing sitting there and sitting still breathing it, but you run down a double or go hard and start gasping for air hard and it's another dimension sucking this stuff in. It's really dangerous."

Brevard was first to get on the board in the opening inning.

Hunter Morris hit into a double play that scored Scooter Gennett, who led off with a double, from third base for an early 1-0 Manatee lead.

Daytona tied things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning when Rubi Silva singled in Burgess, who doubled off the left-field wall earlier in the inning.

Brevard County broke the game open in the third thanks to a four-run, four-hit inning, including a three-run homer to center field by Morris.

RBIs by Morris and Kentrail Davis left the visitors with a 5-1 lead.

Brevard made some plays but the story of the night was the smoke.

"I've had delays with fog or smoke but actually having to stop it, probably not. There's no chance that it's going to improve that much right now with the weather the way it is," Bailey said. "It's actually worse now than what it was at game time. The wind died. We had a breeze earlier but then the wind died and the humidity just forced it straight down."

[Mass Haas]

By the way, also from the Cubs' broadcast, catcher Michael Brenly and his .527 OPS (well, they glossed over that stat) was added to the Florida State League All-Star team. The Cubs' AA club in Tennessee, which is a solid team, had 12 (12!) All-Stars named to the Southern League squad.

 

So as we've discussed in the various team threads, when it comes to these mid-season All-Star games, particularly in the ten-team Southern League and 12-team Florida State League, there are deserving spots, and there are "hey, we need to field a full roster" spots.