Link Report for Fri. 6/17 -- Rattlers playoff hopes dimmed after brutal 10th inning loss

[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 Memphis (Cardinals), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers

Huntsville: RHP Michael Bowman at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 6:43 PM gametime

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

Traditional broadcast -- Birmingham feed

Brevard County: Idle for the All-Star Weekend -- FSL All-Star game is Saturday night

Wisconsin: RHP Jimmy Nelson at Cedar Rapids (Angels), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

DSL Brewers: at the DSL Indians, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

[Mass Haas]

Because of the playoff implications for the Rattlers this weekend, we'll leave a bonus box score link for you here --

 

Peoria is at Quad Cities

You're rooting for a Quad Cities loss.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

 

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

 

Wisconsin

 

DSL Brewers

[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.

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	37	30	.552	-	-	21-15	16-15	6-4	W1
	Memphis	34	32	.515	2.5	76	20-15	14-17	8-2	W4
	Nashville	30	36	.455	6.5	72	19-15	11-21	5-5	W1
	Iowa	30	37	.448	7.0	71	14-17	16-20	3-7	L1

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tennessee	42	25	.627	-	-	21-11	21-14	6-4	L1
	Jackson	37	29	.561	4.5	E	17-12	20-17	3-7	L2
	Huntsville	35	32	.522	7.0	E	21-11	14-21	6-4	L1
	Chattanooga	33	34	.493	9.0	E	15-20	18-14	7-3	W1
	Carolina	20	46	.303	21.5	E	12-23	8-23	3-7	W1

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Daytona	46	21	.687	-	-	25-10	21-11	5-5	L2
	Clearwater	39	28	.582	7.0	E	20-12	19-16	3-7	L2
	Dunedin	37	30	.552	9.0	E	16-17	21-13	6-4	W2
	Tampa	35	32	.522	11.0	E	16-17	19-15	7-3	W3
	Lakeland	34	33	.507	12.0	E	19-16	15-17	4-6	L3
	Brevard County	26	41	.388	20.0	E	14-21	12-20	5-5	W2

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*	Burlington	44	23	.657	-	-	23-9	21-14	6-4	W3
	Quad Cities	37	29	.561	6.5	-	16-14	21-15	6-4	L1
	Wisconsin	37	30	.552	7.0	4	20-15	17-15	7-3	W5
	Beloit	36	31	.537	8.0	3	19-16	17-15	8-2	W3
	Peoria	33	34	.493	11.0	E	21-15	12-19	3-7	L4
	Cedar Rapids	30	37	.448	14.0	E	17-15	13-22	3-7	L3
	Kane County	27	39	.409	16.5	E	14-18	13-21	2-8	L3
	Clinton	22	45	.328	22.0	E	9-26	13-19	4-6	W1

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Brewers	11	5	.688	-	-	4-3	7-2	5-5	W1
	DSL Mariners	10	5	.667	0.5	57	5-3	5-2	8-2	W6
	DSL Athletics	5	10	.333	5.5	52	2-4	3-6	3-7	L1
	DSL Cardinals	3	11	.214	7.0	51	2-7	1-4	3-7	L3

[Mass Haas]

Eric and I wish to thank our Link Report friend TooLiveBrew, who will be doing the majority, if not all, of the updates the next two nights while we're watching Brewer romps at Fenway over the dreaded Sawx.

 

Whatever TLB may not be able to get to late each night, we'll get to in the early morning hours.

 

Our regulars can, as always, feel free to chime in with your pre-game summary thoughts as you do occasionally.

 

Go Brew Crew! Go Rattlers! Go Peoria Chiefs!

[TheCrew07]

Is it correct to charge Hinton with a BS when he didn't allow any runs because he allowed 2 inherited runner to score? Runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, a sac fly to LF (with the runner moving up to 3rd on a play at the plate?) and a single off of Halton's glove for the 2 runs.

[TooLiveBrew]

Eric and I wish to thank our Link Report friend TooLiveBrew, who will be doing the majority, if not all, of the updates the next two nights while we're watching Brewer romps at Fenway over the dreaded Sawx.

 

Whatever TLB may not be able to get to late each night, we'll get to in the early morning hours.

Yes, Alex... I'll take "I'm actually spending my Friday night doing this" for 300.

 

I don't mind at all, in fact, I really enjoy following the minors. But I had to laugh at myself once I considered the circumstances. Hope Fenway was still somewhat enjoyable tonight, I can sense that they're going to win for you tomorrow... unless they get rained out.

 

I'll start off with the DSL Brewers, who I think should really be called the Cerveceros.

[TooLiveBrew]

Final: Cerveceritos 7, @DSL Indians 3

 

Cerveceritos Box Score

The DSL crew plated seven runs in the first five innings, & had chased Indians' starter Eliezer Sanchez after just two. Three days shy of his 18th birthday, Jorge Ortega (6'1", 165) pitched five innings, & allowed two earned runs to notch his second win (2-0) of the season. In his last outing, Ortega went seven shutout innings of three-hit baseball. Today he cruised through three innings, but ran into trouble in the 4th, allowing both earned runs. A throwing error in the 5th added another run to the scoreboard, but obviously wasn't charged to Ortega.

 

Everyone's favorite nickname-eluder Orlando Arcia (6'0, 165) was the offensive star, going 2-4 with 4 RBI at shortstop. No-nickname-needing Yonki Hernandez (5'10", 160) had an excellent game as the leadoff man & centerfielder: 2-3 with two walks and a theft of third base. Catcher Deivi Mejia (6'0, 195) also went 2-4 with a double, but added one CS. Third baseman Joan Abreu (5'11", 180) had two singles; DH Raul Mondesi, Jr. (5'10, 182) & leftfielder Dionis Hinojosa (6'1, 180) had one single apiece, with Hinjosa adding three stolen bases. Second baseman Raphachel Colatosti (6'1", no weight listed) walked once & scored a run out of the 9-hole.

 

Hinojosa's three steals today pushed his season total to 8/10 attempts. Either the Indians' catcher had a noodle arm, or Dionis is a real weapon on the basepaths. He stole third base twice, just because that's cooler than only doing it once. There may be something to the Indians' battery not controlling the running game well, however. Arcia, Colatosti, Abreu, & Hernandez also each swiped a base.

 

Pedro Peguero (6'6", 215), who turns 18 in August, allowed just one hit, one walk, and struck out three over two innings. Doni Arias (6'3", 187), 19 in July, closed up the game with 2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB & 0 K.

 

Cerveceritos play-by-play

Only getting one run in the top of the 1st was actually a small disaster. They had the bases loaded with one out, & couldn't add a single run:

DSL Brewers Top of the 1st

• Yonki Hernandez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Joel Mejia.
• Joan Abreu singles on a ground ball to left fielder Victor De Jesus. Yonki Hernandez to 2nd.
• Orlando Arcia singles on a fly ball to center fielder Joel Mejia. Yonki Hernandez scores. Joan Abreu to 3rd.
• With Jose Pena batting, Orlando Arcia steals (3) 2nd base.
• Jose Pena strikes out swinging, catcher Juan De La Cruz to first baseman David Matos.
• Deivi Mejia hit by pitch.
• Juan
  De Leon grounds into a force out, pitcher Eliezer Sanchez to catcher
  Juan De La Cruz. Joan Abreu out at home. Orlando Arcia to 3rd.
  Deivi Mejia to 2nd. Juan De Leon to 1st.
• Raul Mondesi strikes out swinging.

But they cashed in during the next frame, when "El Pirata" Arcia (I'm using it until we come up with a good one for him) unloaded the bases with a one-out double into centerfield:

 

DSL Brewers Top of the 2nd

• Dionis Hinojosa grounds out, pitcher Eliezer Sanchez to first baseman David Matos.
• Raphachel Colatosti walks.
• With Yonki Hernandez batting, Raphachel Colatosti steals (2) 2nd base.
• Yonki Hernandez walks.
• Joan
  Abreu singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Amauri Castillo.
  Raphachel Colatosti to 3rd. Yonki Hernandez to 2nd.
• Orlando
  Arcia doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Joel Mejia.
  Raphachel Colatosti scores. Yonki Hernandez scores. Joan Abreu
  scores.
• Jose Pena walks.
• Deivi Mejia singles on a fly ball to right fielder Felix Lora. Orlando Arcia scores. Jose Pena to 2nd.
• Juan
  De Leon grounds into double play, second baseman Manuel Boscan to
  shortstop Yonathan Mendoza to first baseman David Matos. Deivi Mejia
  out at 2nd.

Fast-forward to the 7th: Peguero had to wriggle off the hook in after retiring the side in order the previous frame:

DSL Brewers Top of the 7th

• Pitcher Change: Edward Estrella replaces Estevenson Encarnacion.
• Juan De Leon grounds out, pitcher Edward Estrella to first baseman David Matos.
• Raul Mondesi singles on a fly ball to left fielder Victor De Jesus.
• Dionis Hinojosa flies out to center fielder Joel Mejia.
• Raphachel Colatosti flies out to right fielder Felix Lora.

[TooLiveBrew]

Final: @Cedar Rapids 8, Wisconsin 7, ten innings

 

Game slips away in Cedar Rapids; Playoff chances take huge hit

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers could not hold a 7-0 lead on Friday night and it cost them a lot in the chase for their first playoff spot since 2005. The Cedar Rapids Kernels rallied to beat Wisconsin 8-7 in ten innings at Perfect Game Field.

Reggie Keen got the Rattlers (37-31) off to a great start with a double to begin the game. He would score after a sacrifice bunt by Nick Shaw and an RBI grounder by Cody Hawn.

Wisconsin got back-to-back- home runs from Chris Dennis and TJ Mittelstaedt in the top of the second. Greg Hopkins hit a leadoff home run in the top of the third. Later in the third, Keen drew a bases loaded walk to give the Rattlers a 5-0 lead.

The Rattlers tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning on an RBI double by Mike Walker and an RBI single by Mittelstaedt.

However, Wisconsin collected just one more hit in the game after that single by Mittelstaedt.

Jimmy Nelson, the starting pitcher for the Rattlers, ran into trouble right away in the bottom of the fourth. He hit Ricky Alvarez to start the inning. Justin Bass followed with an RBI double. Brandon Decker tripled in Bass and would score moments later on a sacrifice fly by Wes Hatton to make the score 7-3.

Nelson got the second out of the inning, but Carlos Lugo singled, Travis Witherspoon reached on catcher's interference, and Rolando Gomez reached on an infield single. An error on the play allowed Lugo to score and Witherspoon to take third. A wild pitch by Nelson let Witherspoon score and the Kernels had pulled to within 7-5 after four innings.

Charly Bashara took over for Nelson in the fifth inning and allowed one hit over 3-2/3 innings. He left with a runner at second and one out in the eighth. Tyler Cravy entered the game and struck out both batters he faced to send the game to the ninth with the Rattlers still up by two runs.

Wisconsin closer Greg Holle entered the game in the bottom of the ninth. Holle was 15-for-15 in save opportunities coming into Friday's game. He allowed a leadoff single to Jean Almanzar. Holle got ahead of pinch-hitter Marcus Nidiffer 0-2, but hit him with an off speed pitch to put the tying run on base. Then, Witherspoon singled to load the bases with no outs.

Gomez knocked in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right, but Nidiffer held at second base. Holle got the second out on a high chopper to first, but both runners moved up a base. That brought Alvarez to the plate and Holle missed away on an 0-1 pitch. The ball got to the backstop and Nidiffer scored the tying run.

The Rattlers were lucky to get the game to extra innings as Alvarez scalded the next pitch to left, but it was hit right at Mittelstaedt for the final out.

Wisconsin went down in order in the top of the tenth. The Kernels got started immediately in the bottom of the tenth against Stosh Wawrzasek. Bass singled. He went to second on a wild pitch. A grounder to the right side moved Bass to third with the winning run. Wisconsin decided to walk Hatton intentionally to set up the double play.

But, a pitch to Jesus Campos bounced well in front of home plate and rolled to the backstop. Bass scored the winning run easily.

The Rattlers playoff chances may have rolled to the backstop with the baseball on the final pitch of Friday's game. The Quad Cities River Bandits, the team the Rattlers trail in the first half Western Division Wild Card race, defeated Peoria 4-1 at home.

Wisconsin's loss and the win by Quad Cities reduced the River Bandits magic number to clinch the wild card to one. Both teams have two games remaining in the half.

The Rattlers and Kernels play again on Saturday night at Perfect Game Field. Game time is 6:35pm. Wisconsin sends Jameson Dunn (2-0,, 1.59) out as their starting pitcher. The Kernels will counter with AJ Schugel (2-2, 3.41). Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattler.com with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm.

HOME RUNS:

WIS:

Chris Dennis (7th, 0 on in 2nd inning, off Baudilio Lopez, 0 out)

TJ Mittelstaedt (5th, 0 on in 2nd inning, off Baudilio Lopez, 0 out)

Greg Hopkins (2nd, 0 on in 3rd inning, off Baudilio Lopez, 0 out)

WP: Daniel Tillman (4-1)

LP: Stosh Wawrzasek (1-2)

TIME: 3:49

ATTN: 3,427

Wisconsin Box Score

Thank you, Chris Mehring, for an outstanding game recap. Firing on all cylinders tonight in spite of the disappointing outcome. Possible translation: I'm going to get lazy on this one, & speed up. Mittelstaedt went 3-4 with a walk; Dennis was 2-4 with the homer. Mike Walker's double was his only hit, and Mike Brownstein added a single.

 

Nelson's final line was 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, & 4 K. Relievers Bashara & Cravy were effective: Bashara struck out three in his inning & one-third of action, with a 6:1 groundout:airout ratio. Cravy's two punchouts were as clutch as it gets.

 

Wisconsin Play-by-Play

The T-Rats pulled ahead 7-0 in the top half of the 4th:

Wisconsin Top of the 4th

• Cody Hawn walks.
  
• Gregory Hopkins grounds into a force out, third baseman Ricky Alvarez to second baseman Wes Hatton. Cody Hawn out at 2nd. Gregory Hopkins to 1st.
  
• With Michael Walker batting, wild pitch by Seth Fowler, Gregory Hopkins to 2nd.
  
• Michael Walker doubles (12) on a fly ball to right fielder Jeremy Cruz. Gregory Hopkins scores.
  
• Chris Dennis called out on strikes.
  
• T. J. Mittelstaedt singles on a ground ball to center fielder Travis Witherspoon. Michael Walker scores.
  
• Tyler Roberts grounds out, second baseman Wes Hatton to first baseman Brandon Decker.

... before Jimmy Nelson self-destructed in the bottom half:

 

Cedar Rapids Bottom of the 4th

• Ricky Alvarez hit by pitch.
  
• Justin Bass doubles (1) on a fly ball to left fielder Chris Dennis. Ricky Alvarez scores.
  
• Brandon Decker triples (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Reggie Keen. Justin Bass scores.
  
• Wes Hatton out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt. Brandon Decker scores.
  
• Jean Almanzar strikes out swinging.
  
• Carlos Lugo singles on a ground ball to left fielder Chris Dennis.
  
• Travis Witherspoon reaches on catcher interference by Tyler Roberts. Carlos Lugo to 2nd. Travis Witherspoon to 1st.
  
• Rolando Gomez singles on a ground ball to shortstop Mike Brownstein. Carlos Lugo scores. Travis Witherspoon to 3rd. Throwing error by shortstop Mike Brownstein.
  
• With Jeremy Cruz batting, wild pitch by Jimmy Nelson, Travis Witherspoon scores. Rolando Gomez to 2nd.
  
• Jeremy Cruz strikes out swinging.

Hard for me not to show the bottom of the 8th inning. Bashara is chased after 3.1 innings of solid relief, and Cravy slams the door:

 

Cedar Rapids Bottom of the 8th

• Ricky Alvarez doubles (14) on a fly ball to left fielder Chris Dennis.
  
• Justin Bass flies out to center fielder Reggie Keen.
  
• Pitcher Change: Tyler Cravy replaces Charly Bashara.
  
• Brandon Decker strikes out swinging.
  
• Wes Hatton strikes out swinging.

[TooLiveBrew]

Final: @Huntsville 6, Birmingham 5

 

Huntsville game notes (pdf)

 

Huntsville Box Score

Michael Bowman allowed five runs over six innings. Robert Hinton allowed four hits, but struck out two & walked none in his two innings of work. Jim Henderson pitched a scoreless 9th inning & registered the win.

 

Logan Schafer's hitting streak was snapped at 13; he went 0-4 & didn't reach base. His defense apparently didn't slump, though, as he recorded an outfield assist at third base to end the top half of the third inning. Erik Komatsu, Sean Halton, Steffan Wilson, & Anderson De La Rosa each had two hits with one double. Angel Gonzales & Lee Haydel each added singles. De La Rosa had the big night as RBI-man, with three. Komatsu had the walkoff (bloop?) single in the bottom of the 9th -- Cool Breeze, indeed.

 

 

Huntsville Play-by-Play

1st inning, go up 4-0 at home. Looking good:

Huntsville Bottom of the 1st

• Logan Schafer flies out to center fielder Justin Greene.
• Erik Komatsu doubles (11) on a line drive to right fielder Kenneth Williams.
• Sean Halton singles on a soft ground ball to third baseman Tyler Kuhn. Erik Komatsu to 3rd.
• Steffan Wilson doubles (14) on a line drive to center fielder Justin Greene. Erik Komatsu scores. Sean Halton to 3rd.
• Angel Gonzalez singles on a ground ball to third baseman Tyler Kuhn. Sean Halton scores. Steffan Wilson to 3rd.
• Hainley Statia grounds out softly, pitcher Justin Edwards to first baseman Christian Marrero. Angel Gonzalez to 2nd.
• Anderson
  De La Rosa singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brandon Short.
  Steffan Wilson scores. Angel Gonzalez scores.
• Lee Haydel grounds out, shortstop Greg Paiml to first baseman Christian Marrero.

But after 7, Birmingham had rallied back to take the lead at 6-5. De La Rosa plated the tying run with a clutch two-out double:

Huntsville Bottom of the 8th

• Steffan Wilson called out on strikes.
• Angel Gonzalez strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Nathan Jones. Angel Gonzalez to 1st.
• Hainley
  Statia grounds into a force out, pitcher Nathan Jones to shortstop Greg
  Paiml. Angel Gonzalez out at 2nd. Hainley Statia to 1st.
• Anderson
  De La Rosa doubles (6) on a ground ball to left fielder Brandon Short.
  Hainley Statia scores. Anderson De La Rosa to 3rd on the throw.
• Lee Haydel called out on strikes.

The walk-off just gets posted, I think that's obligatory:

Huntsville Bottom of the 9th

• Pitcher Change: Brian Omogrosso replaces Nathan Jones.
• Sergio Miranda hit by pitch.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Matt Cline replaces Sergio Miranda.
• Logan Schafer out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Brian Omogrosso to second baseman Alden Carrithers. Matt Cline to 2nd.
• Erik Komatsu singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Brandon Short. Matt Cline scores.

Huntsville Gameday

[TooLiveBrew]

I have to tap out. I'm dead tired right now, so apologies but Nashville's link report will be up in the morning.

[And That]

I'll start off with the DSL Brewers, who I think should really be called the Cerveceros.

The Brewers are the Cerveceros... shouldn't the DSL Brewers be the Cerveceritos?

[TooLiveBrew]

I'll start off with the DSL Brewers, who I think should really be called the Cerveceros.

The Brewers are the Cerveceros... shouldn't the DSL Brewers be the Cerveceritos?

Works for me. I only ever studied German, which has come in so useful in my life beyond school. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eyes.gif

[trwi7]

I only ever studied German

Me too! *E-High Five*

 

The Rattlers lost so of course Quad Cities wins.

 

[YoungGeezy]

I only ever studied German

Me too! *E-High Five*

Add me to the list as well!

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Memphis 1, Nashville 0

 

Sounds Lose Series Opener In Memphis, 1-0

Nashville Sounds

 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis first baseman Freddie Bynum lined a two-out RBI single to right with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to break a scoreless deadlock and give the Redbirds a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Sounds on Friday evening at AutoZone Park in the opener of a four-game series.

 

It marked the second straight pitchers' duel and 1-0 decision for the Sounds, who won a 1-0 contest against Round Rock on Thursday at Greer Stadium. Each of Nashville's last five games has been decided by a single run.

 

A pair of Memphis hurlers combined on a four-hitter, the Redbirds' first shutout of the season and their fifth consecutive victory overall.

 

The Sounds put only one runner on base over the final seven innings of action as Memphis hurlers combined to retire 21 of the final 22 Nashville hitters. Edwin Maysonet led off the ninth with a single but was stranded on first.

 

In the decisive ninth, Matt Carpenter grounded a one-out single up the middle off Sounds reliever Daniel Meadows then stole second as Aaron Luna struck out for the second out of the frame. Bynum stepped into the box and roped Meadows' 0-1 offering to right to plate Carpenter with the game-winning run in the Redbirds' walkoff victory.

 

Sounds starter Frankie De La Cruz was locked in, retiring the first 11 Memphis batters in order and throwing seven scoreless innings while allowing just three hits. He recorded 13 groundouts against only two flyouts to go along with five strikeouts in the outing (you can listen to the last of those five K's via the link available in the lead of this post). De La Cruz allowed only two Redbirds baserunners to reach scoring position during his seventh quality start of the year but took a no-decision for his efforts.

 

Rehabbing Brewers right-hander Takashi Saito followed De La Cruz to the hill and worked a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and striking out two batters while throwing 15 pitches (11 for strikes).

 

Memphis starter Brandon Dickson matched De La Cruz's effort by throwing only 58 pitches during seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball before being removed to allow a rehabilitation appearance by Cardinals right-hander Bryan Augenstein in the eighth. Dickson retired the final 18 batters that he faced, following a Mike Rivera single that led off the second inning.

 

Augenstein (1-0) picked up where Dickson left off, working a pair of scoreless innings while allowing only one baserunner for the Redbirds to earn the victory.

 

Meadows (0-1) took the loss for Nashville after allowing the game-winning run. It marked his first career Triple-A decision.

 

Nashville center fielder Brett Carroll singled in the top of the first inning to extend his season-best hitting streak to seven games, the longest active streak for the Sounds.

 

The teams continue the series with a 6:05 PM meeting on Saturday evening. Right-hander Josh Butler (4-4, 5.77) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Memphis right-hander Adam Ottavino (3-4, 3.63).

 

Nashville Box Score

What a difference it makes playing in the PCL's eastern-most locales vs. the mountain and west coast stadiums; De La Cruz is Mr. No Run Support for 2011; welcome back, Takashi -- see you in Milwaukee very soon, but at whose expense?

 

Nashville Play-by-Play

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio blog manages to find some positives within an admittedly subdued version of post-game thoughts

[Mass Haas]

The Sounds were a-hackin' -- from the Memphis Commercial Appeal game story:

 

The game had been a pitcher's duel between Redbirds starter Brandon Dickson and Nashville's Frankie De La Cruz. Midway through the game, Redbirds manager Chris Maloney knew he was headed toward a dilemma he would have no control over.

With St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bryan Augenstein joining the team on a medical rehabilitation assignment, Maloney was forced to pitch Augenstein for two innings.

That meant taking out Dickson, who had allowed just three hits through seven innings, but more importantly, had only thrown 58 pitches.

"That's one of those things where you've got to do what you've got to do," Maloney said. "We had to do it there. He threw seven innings and he threw 58 pitches, which is virtually unheard of. I've never seen such a low pitch count after seven innings myself."

[Never Outhustled]

TJ Mittlestaedt's HR last night was his 5th of the year, in 134 at-bats, pushing his OPS to 916. Last year with the Arizona Brewers he had just 1 HR in 149 at-bats with a 792 OPS. Props to him.

[CheezWizHed]

I only ever studied German

Me too! *E-High Five*

Add me to the list as well!

Well, I can kind of be on this list... I studied Spanish in HS, but German while living in Munich. And yes, I did use it there. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif