Link Report for Wed. 6/29 -- Timber Rattlers win in Miller Park (UPDATED -- Video Highlights)

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County plays yet another audio-free game today for those entranced by self-updating box scores and game logs. We'll fill in the rest of the evening later today --

 

Brevard County: RHP Nick Bucci at Clearwater (Phillies), 11:00 AM gametime

Sorry, no audio available for this series...

 

***

 

Box Score / Game Log

***

 

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Brevard County	3	1	.750	-	-	3-1	0-0	3-1	W1
*	Daytona	3	3	.500	1.0	65	1-2	2-1	3-3	L1
	Dunedin	3	3	.500	1.0	65	0-0	3-3	3-3	W1
	Tampa	3	3	.500	1.0	65	2-1	1-2	3-3	L1
	Lakeland	2	2	.500	1.0	66	2-1	0-1	2-2	W1
	Clearwater	2	4	.333	2.0	64	1-2	1-2	2-4	L1

[Mass Haas]

The rest of Wednesday's Daily Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: Idle

 

Huntsville: RHP Michael Fiers at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 6:43 PM gametime

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

Live Audio Link -- Select the Mississippi feed from the MiLB main audio page

Wisconsin: RHP Brooks Hall at home in Miller Park vs. Peoria (Cubs), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

NOTE: Locals, It's opposite Brewers -- Yankees, but you do have a Rattlers TV option (DVR it) via Time Warner Cable Sports 32.

 

Helena: RHP Tyler Cravy at Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the A's toddlers; 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

 

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

 

NOTE: This will be the 2nd opportunity for the DSL Brewers to make up the home rainout vs. the Mariners of June 16th. Normally, the league makes up the game at the first opportunity, so we will post tonight as if it were a doubleheader. We'll see...

[Mass Haas]

Follow the rest of Wednesday's action as it happens:

 

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

Wisconsin

 

Helena

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale)

DSL Brewers

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	43	37	.538	-	-	23-17	20-20	5-5	W1
	Memphis	41	38	.519	1.5	64	23-16	18-22	5-5	L1
	Iowa	38	42	.475	5.0	60	21-19	17-23	7-3	W7
	Nashville	37	42	.468	5.5	60	25-18	12-24	6-4	W5

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Chattanooga	4	1	.800	-	-	4-1	0-0	4-1	W4
	Carolina	3	3	.500	1.5	64	3-2	0-1	3-3	L1
*	Tennessee	3	3	.500	1.5	64	1-0	2-3	3-3	W2
	Huntsville	2	3	.400	2.0	64	0-0	2-3	2-3	L1
	Jackson	2	3	.400	2.0	64	0-0	2-3	2-3	L2

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Kane County	5	0	1.000	-	-	0-0	5-0	5-0	W5
	Beloit	4	1	.800	1.0	-	3-0	1-1	4-1	L1
	Clinton	3	2	.600	2.0	65	3-2	0-0	3-2	W1
	Quad Cities	3	2	.600	2.0	65	1-1	2-1	3-2	L1
	Peoria	2	3	.400	3.0	64	0-3	2-0	2-3	W2
*	Burlington	1	4	.200	4.0	63	0-2	1-2	1-4	L3
	Cedar Rapids	1	4	.200	4.0	63	0-0	1-4	1-4	W1
	Wisconsin	1	4	.200	4.0	63	1-4	0-0	1-4	L4

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Helena	6	3	.667	-	-	5-2	1-1	6-3	W1
	Billings	5	4	.556	1.0	29	2-2	3-2	5-4	W3
	Great Falls	4	5	.444	2.0	28	1-2	3-3	4-5	L1
	Missoula	3	6	.333	3.0	27	1-3	2-3	3-6	L3

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Dodgers	5	2	.714	-	-	2-1	3-1	5-2	W2
	AZL Indians	3	4	.429	2.0	48	2-2	1-2	3-4	L1
	AZL Reds	3	4	.429	2.0	48	2-1	1-3	3-4	W1
	AZL Brewers	2	5	.286	3.0	47	0-3	2-2	2-5	L4

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Brewers	19	7	.731	-	-	8-4	11-3	8-2	W4
	DSL Mariners	18	7	.720	0.5	47	9-4	9-3	8-2	L2
	DSL Athletics	8	18	.308	11.0	36	4-7	4-11	2-8	W1
	DSL Cardinals	7	19	.269	12.0	35	5-10	2-9	3-7	L1

[Mass Haas]

After being shut out for six innings on just two singles and one walk (along with ten K's), this is the definition of a clucth hit for the Manatees when it looked like a wonderful opportunity would be wasted --

 

Brevard County Top of the 7th

• Hunter Morris singles on a line drive to left fielder Michael Dabbs.
  
• Khristopher Davis walks. Hunter Morris to 2nd.
  
• D' Vontrey Richardson singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Jeremy Barnes. Hunter Morris to 3rd. Khristopher Davis to 2nd.
  
• Shea Vucinich strikes out swinging.
  
• Scott Krieger flies out to left fielder Michael Dabbs.
  
• Sean McCraw hits a grand slam (3) to right field. Hunter Morris scores. Khristopher Davis scores. D' Vontrey Richardson scores.
  
• Pitcher Change: Ebelin Lugo replaces Julio Rodriguez.
  
• Josh Prince grounds out, shortstop Troy Hanzawa to first baseman Jonathan Singleton.

***

Nice! Brevard leads 4-2 through seven, Nick Bucci seven better-than-solid innings thus far. Hopefully another Santo Manzanillo save here shortly...

[brewmann04]

nicee effort by the crew today and good to see Bucci with a good game also. The Box score has a save but not to Manzanillo.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 4, @Clearwater 2

Brevard County Box Score

Pretty amazing how a single swing of the bat -- minor league veteran Sean McCraw's grand slam detailed above can mean the difference between an invigorating victory or a real downer of a defeat; kudos to Hunter Morris, Khris Davis, and D'Vontrey Richardson for lining up as the ducks on that proverbial pond; the Manatees drew one walk (Davis') and fanned 14 times; wonderful effort from Nick Bucci, still just 20 years old for a couple more weeks, and one of the most age-advanced players performing well in the system, if not the most -- Bucci's early June problems seem behind him, and as his April and May work was stellar, that's very exciting; from the top of the 4th to the bottom of the 6th, the teams combined to retire 18 batters consecutively...

 

Brevard County Play-by-Play

Mark Willinsky got the big double-play ball he needed in the 8th, and finished with a 1-2-3 9th --

 

Clearwater Bottom of the 8th

• Pitcher Change: Efrain Nieves replaces Nicholas Bucci.
  
• Michael Dabbs singles on a line drive to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson.
  
• Jonathan Singleton flies out to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson.
  
• Pitcher Change: Mark Willinsky replaces Efrain Nieves.
  
• Darin Ruf singles on a ground ball to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Michael Dabbs to 2nd.
  
• Sebastian Valle grounds into double play, third baseman Shea Vucinich to first baseman Hunter Morris. Michael Dabbs out at 3rd.

[hawing]

If you attend tonight's Rattlers game and see a woman in section 126 rocking a Toby's Power 50 t-shirt, it's very likely me, so say hi if you want.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Media Notes

Wisconsin Media Notes

[CheezWizHed]

a woman in section 126 rocking a Toby's Power 50 t-shirt

 

I'm feeling old, since my first thought when reading this was: Is she rocking just a shirt or will there be a baby in it also? Then I realized you meant another meaning of "rocking". http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[LouisEly]

Free Mike Fiers

[brewmann04]

Martin Maldonado is now hitting and we know he can play defense maybe we found ourself our future Backup Catcher.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @DSL Brewers 1, DSL Mariners 0

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

No doubleheader; five wins in a row and a big win over the equally tough division rivals; each team with only four hits; Brewer pitchers walked one and struck out 11; Brewer batters fanned ten times but drew four free passes; 6'1" 17-year-old RHP Gian Rizzo has been fabulous -- check out his numbers over six appearances (three starts), including a 30-to-6 K-to-BB ratio; Rizzo's not getting ground balls to speak of, but otherwise the club's got to be pleased; equally pleasing was seeing fellow 17-year-old RHP Osmel Perez make his first appearance in 19 days, a near-perfect three-inning effort; closer Carlos Sosa had earned the save the night before, but had the three prior days off, so a bit surprising to see 18-year-old RHP Doni Arias get the pressure save here -- he did so in perfect fashion.

 

Rizzo came up money early on --

 

DSL Mariners Top of the 2nd

• Estarlyn Morales triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Yonki Hernandez.
  
• Wilton Martinez strikes out swinging.
  
• Miguel Sanchez strikes out swinging.
  
• Ismael Alcantara walks.
  
• Luis Matias strikes out swinging.

DSL Brewers Play-by-Play

The lone run scored in the 6th --

 

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 6th

• Pitcher Change: Junior Nunez replaces Wander Marte.
  
• Francisco Castillo flies out to right fielder Estarlyn Morales.
  
• Orlando Arcia singles on a ground ball to center fielder Janelfry Zorrilla.
  
• Deivi Mejia doubles (7) on a fly ball to left fielder Wilton Martinez. Orlando Arcia to 3rd.
  
• Junior Nunez intentionally walks Raul Mondesi.
  
• Juan De Leon out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Janelfry Zorrilla. Orlando Arcia scores. Deivi Mejia to 3rd.
  
• Dionis Hinojosa grounds into a force out, fielded by second baseman George Soto. Raul Mondesi out at 2nd.

[Mass Haas]

Final: AZL Athletics 9, @AZL Brewers 5

Arizona Box Score

Athletics scored in each of the first four innings to grab a 7-0 lead; RHP Jose Oviedo, the 22-year-old Venezuelan native drafted out of a Miami community college in 2009 (31st round) made the start, allowing three runs (one earned) over two innings; fellow Venezuelan RHP Francisco Rivero did not fare well, four earned runs over 1.1 innings; Rivero, 20 years old, is a 4th year Brewer, and given the way he and Oviedo have been guided into 2011, one wonders if they've been coming back from injuries; we introduced undrafted LHP Will West to you in this post, and he made his pro debut here with a scoreless inning, fanning the side (one walk); LHP Connor Whalen, the undrafted 23-year-old UC-Santa Barbara LHP, now has four scoreless innings on his resume...

 

We have a Cameron Garfield sighting, as the rehabbing (knee) 2009 2nd round catcher tripled and singled in three at-bats; in fact, Garfield entered the game to spell also-rehabbing (head injury) 2010 10th round catcher Rafael Neda, making his first appearance since three early April games with Brevard County -- welcome back, guys! 19-year-old 2B Kevin Berard singled twice out of the leadoff spot; 19th round SS Renaldo Jenkins doubled and singled; undrafted Brandon Macias slid over to third base from short for this one and singled twice...

 

Arizona Play-by-Play

This is actually a pretty amazing game log, should you choose to digest it -- of the A's 11 hits, seven were triples! For fun, they also homered and doubled -- what, he couldn't stretch that one out? Only two singles for the opponents. As noted, Cam Garfield added to the lopsided triple contest...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 4, @Billings 2

The Billings Gazette game story focused strictly on the Mustangs, save for these notes --

 

GAME CHANGER: Billings was baffled by Brewers starter Tyler Cravy, who was dominant through five innings. Cravy (1-0) allowed three hits, struck out seven and didn't surrender a walk.

QUOTABLE: "Today was kind of tough. (Cravy) threw well. He kept us off balance early in the game, and we didn't get much going until we got into their bullpen." -- Mustangs CF Kurtis Muller

 

***

 

The Helena Independent Record noted this Brewer road game as such --

The Helena Brewers won their third straight game and halted their opponent’s winning streak at three with a 4-2 victory Wednesday night against the Billings Mustangs at Dehler Park in the Magic City.

Helena jumped ahead in the top of the first inning when designated hitter Parker Berberet advanced to third, then home on a pair of wild pitches by Billings starter Ismael Guillon. The Brewers doubled their lead in the top of the fourth on an RBI double by catcher Tyler Roberts that plated first baseman Michael Nemeth.

Billings pulled within 2-1 when Kyle Waldrop scored on a fielder’s choice.

Helena responded with runs in the top of the eighth and ninth innings — the first on an RBI double by Berberet and the second on an RBI double by second baseman Adrian Williams.

The Mustangs cut the lead in half with a solo home run by shortstop Devin Lohman —his third this season — but couldn’t get any closer, despite having three outs to work with.

Cravy picked up his first win and Thomas Keeling chalked up the save.

 

Helena Box Score

95 degrees, and it's not Maryvale (where it was 110 again); just a superlative five-inning start for soon-to-be 22-year-old RHP Tyler Cravy, not a single fly ball out and seven K's as noted -- what a confidence-builder! A nice three-inning hold for RHP Kevin Shackelford, the Marshall University product has now gone five and three innings in two extended relief appearances; seven Brewers had one base hit apiece, three doubles among them; 3B Kyle Dhanani and 2B Adrian Williams each reached base three times; Oregon State's Parker Berberet has been the team's strongest bat to date -- it's been from the DH spot for the 25th round pick catcher; up from Maryvale as early as Thursday night, Ruben Ozuna should be a nice addition for a slumping Helena outfield...

 

Helena Play-by-Play

Gift run for the Crew in the 1st --

 

Helena Top of the 1st

• Adrian Williams walks.
  
• Yadiel Rivera grounds out, third baseman Sean Buckley to first baseman Robert Maddox. Adrian Williams to 2nd.
  
• Parker Berberet walks.
  
• With Michael Nemeth batting, Adrian Williams picked off and caught stealing 3rd base, pitcher Ismael Guillon to shortstop Devin Lohman to third baseman Sean Buckley, Parker Berberet to 2nd.
  
• Michael Nemeth walks. Wild pitch by pitcher Ismael Guillon. Parker Berberet to 3rd.
  
• With Tyler Roberts batting, wild pitch by Ismael Guillon, Parker Berberet scores. Michael Nemeth to 2nd.
  
• Tyler Roberts strikes out swinging.

Tyler Roberts' fantastic arm helped Cravy early on --

 

Billings Bottom of the 1st

• Kurtis Muller reaches on fielding error by shortstop Yadiel Rivera.
  
• With Dayne Read batting, Kurtis Muller steals (4) 2nd base.
  
• Dayne Read singles on a line drive to left fielder Kenneth Allison. Kurtis Muller to 3rd.
  
• With Devin Lohman batting, Dayne Read caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Tyler Roberts to second baseman Adrian Williams.
  
• Devin Lohman strikes out swinging, catcher Tyler Roberts to first baseman Michael Nemeth.
  
• Robert Maddox grounds out, second baseman Adrian Williams to first baseman Michael Nemeth.

[Mass Haas]

It was an eventful (and fortunately healthy) game for gangly SS Yadiel Rivera on the Helena basepaths as you'll see in this photo gallery from the Billings Gazette.

 

Billings lost 1B Robert Maddox to a thigh injury after a collision with baserunner Yadiel Rivera. Maddox is listed as day-to-day.

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Wisconsin 5, Peoria 1

 

Hopkins and Brooks pace Rattlers to victory at Miller Park

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

MILWAUKEE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers stepped on the big stage Wednesday night and they did not disappoint. Wisconsin beat the Peoria Chiefs 5-1 at Miller Park to snap a four game losing streak. Starting pitcher Brooks Hall had another solid start for Wisconsin. Greg Hopkins homered and drove in four runs to give Hall more than enough offense.

 

Wisconsin (40-36 overall, 2-3 second half) struck right away. Hopkins stepped to the plate with two on and one out in the bottom of the first inning. He lined a 1-2 pitch from Peoria starter Austin Kirk over the left field wall for a three-run homer.

 

Hall allowed a one out triple in the top of the first inning. Then, he retired the next eight batters he faced.

 

Rubi Silva, who had the triple in the first, broke Hall's streak with a bunt single in the fourth. Greg Rohan's ground rule double put runners at second and third. Hall allowed only Silva to score - on a sacrifice fly by Micah Gibbs - and Peoria (35-41, 2-3) cut the Rattlers lead to 3-1.

 

Hall gave up a one out single to Matt Sczcur in the top of the sixth. Then, Silva lined a pitch right back at Hall. The ball hit the Rattlers pitcher on the right side and trickled away from him to the third base side of the mound. Hall gathered himself, picked up the ball, and fired to first to just nip the speedy Silva.

 

After being checked out by the staff, Hall stayed in the game and had to pounce on a slow roller up the third base line off the bat of the next batter Rohan. Hall made the play for the second out of the inning. Brian Garman relieved and got the final out of the inning.

 

Hall worked 5-2/3 innings, allowed one run on four hits, and struck out one to put himself in line for his fourth win of the season.

 

The game remained 3-1 until Hopkins came to the plate with a runner in scoring position in the seventh. Nick Shaw drew a walk, went to second on a wild pitch, and took third on grounder to the right side by Mike Walker. Hopkins lined a two-strike pitch from Yohan Gonzalez to left to send Shaw home for a 4-1 lead.

 

Later in the inning, Cody Hawn doubled to drive in Hopkins and the Rattlers were up 5-1.

 

Garman would turn the ball over to Eric Marzec for the top of the eighth inning. Marzec did the job by pitching a pair of scoreless innings to close down the win that ended Wisconsin's four game losing streak.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin a six-game road trip on Thursday in Cedar Rapids against the Kernels. Jimmy Nelson (2-7, 5.14) is scheduled to start for Wisconsin. Cedar Rapids has Justin La Tempa (2-4, 4.77) as their scheduled starter.

 

Game time is 6:35 PM from Perfect Game Field. Tune in for the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15 PM on AM1280 or timberrattlers.com.

[Mass Haas]

Timber Rattlers' Hopkins has major league day

by Mike Woods, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

MILWAUKEE — Before the start of Wednesday's game at Miller Park, Greg Hopkins put a little glass angel in his locker.

Expect that angel to be invited back for a return engagement.

Hopkins hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over Peoria in a Midwest League game before 7,142 fans.

Beside the angel in his locker was his championship ring from last year's season in Helena, but Hopkins insisted it was the angel that made his day heavenly.

"I go with the angel," he said. "Something else was working through me tonight and I'm thankful for that."

Hopkins' three-run blast came in the first as the ball sailed just over the left-field wall, sending both Bernie Brewer and Fang down the home run slide.

"It was something inside and I just tried to stay short to the ball and fortunately the Big Man up top helped me put a good swing on it," said Hopkins, who now has three homers and 28 RBI on the season. "It felt good, but in this ballpark, I was heading around first and I still wasn't sure. But I'm just glad it got out."

That gave starting pitcher Brooks Hall (4-1) all the support he needed. He went 5 2/3 innings, gave up four hits and just one earned run with one strikeout and no walks. He left one batter after getting hit in the side with a liner in the sixth.

"We did all facets of the game pretty good," said Rattlers manager Matt Erickson, who got hit with a shaving cream pie in his face after the game. "But the most pleasing thing was Hall.

"We lost two starting pitchers, quality starters for us. Well-deserved promotions for (Tyler) Thornburg and (Austin) Ross. And we need somebody to fill that void. That's 13 wins we have missing. That was a challenge to our starting pitching staff over the break and we didn't start out real good. Tonight, it was good that Brooks got out there and went five plus."

It was a sweet ending to a long day for the Timber Rattlers, who arrived at Miller Park shortly before noon and were given the major-league treatment for a day.

"That was awesome," said Hopkins. "It was a night to remember, for sure. I'm just thankful I got the opportunity to play here. It was a good time."

But now it's back to the daily grind as the Rattlers headed off to Cedar Rapids after the game.

"Hopefully, this springboards us into a nice road trip," said Erickson. "I don't know if you can dwell on this. I don't know how far you can carry it.

"It was a great opportunity for the players. And the Brewers organization did a great job. The clubhouse staff treated us like big leaguers for a day and it's a great experience. And then when we can perform like that, it makes it all the better."

Notes: Cody Hawn finished two-for-four, putting an end to a slump during the six-game homestand in which he was three-for-20 during the first five games.

With his three-for-four game, Hopkins finished the homestand seven-for-19.

Hall, meanwhile, turned in his third straight solid starting performance. In his last three starts, Hall has allowed three runs (two earned) in 19 innings. He has given up only 13 hits and four walks, while striking out seven.

[Mass Haas]

Brief WFRV video highlights of the game

 

Note: MiLB.TV doesn't have the archive up quite yet, but the game looks to be archived under the June 29th log for MiLB TV broadcasts. So the Rattlers family and friends will be able to pull up the full archive based on the subscription fee, once the broadcast is available.

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Box Score

Rattlers outhit the Chiefs, 11-6; Wisconsin was 4-for-15 with RISP, not horrible, and a review of the game log gives you a sense of just how many baserunners were waiting to come home; four Rattlers with multi-hit games, led by Greg Hopkins, 3-for-4, who filled the box score with not only that line but his 11th stolen base in 13 tries and an error, his 8th on the season; Nick Shaw and his .380 OBP (despite just a .250 average) on three more times...

 

Wisconsin Play-by-Play

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Huntsville 12. Mississippi 0

 

Stars sock ex-Braves pitcher Kawakami in 12-0 romp

By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Kenshin Kawakami, the former Japanese baseball superstar who signed a three-year, $23 million free agent contract with the Atlanta Braves in 2009, was roughed up by the Huntsville Stars Wednesday night.

http://media.al.com/sports_impact/photo/9752337-large.jpg

Former Atlanta pitcher Kenshin Kawakami delivers against the Stars Photo by The Huntsville Times/Eric Schultz

The Stars chased Kawakami in the third inning en route to a 12-0 win over the Mississippi Braves.

The six-game homestand continues with a 4:43 doubleheader Thursday.

Kawakami, a 36-year-old righthander who was MVP in Japanese baseball in 2004, allowed six hits, seven runs, two walks and struck out one.

"Nothing was working for me today. None of my pitches," Kawakami said after the game through his interpreter, Daichi Takasue. "I felt like I didn't have any strength behind any of my pitches. It just didn't work out well today."

Mike Fiers, who will make somewhat less than Kawakami's $6.67 million this summer, earned the win for Huntsville, allowing only one hit in six innings and striking out nine.

Martin Maldonado had a two-run homer -- only the 31st of the season for the Stars, in 76 games -- and Sean Halton had two hits and two RBIs. Brock Kjeldgaard, making his Huntsville debut after a promotion from Class A, had a third-inning double that knocked Kawakami from the game.

 

***

 

More from Mark McCarter --

 

Kawakami was a superstar in Japan, winning the league's Most Valuable Player award in 2004. He was twice an All-Star. He averaged five strikeouts for every walk his last five seasons there.

He became the Braves' first Japanese-born player in 2009. On the occasion of his signing as a free agent, Atlanta general manager Frank Wren called it "a very significant signing for the Braves. Not only is this a historically-important day for the Braves franchise, but with Kenshin we have acquired a pitcher who will be an integral part of our pitching staff over the next three seasons."

However, Kawakami struggled to a 7-12 season, with 3.86 ERA, in 2009. Last year, he went 1-10 for Atlanta with a 5.15 ERA. In the midst of his woeful season, Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz suggested Kawakami was "quite possibly the worst free agent acquisition in Atlanta Braves history."

"I'm really working hard to get back to the big leagues, but it's also just a lot of adjustments," Kawakami said. "I'm here in the minor leagues and I'm trying to work on whatever's possible at this point.

"To be honest," he continued, "I don't know what I have to do to get back to the big leagues. I know I have to perform well. Am I going to be traded? Am I going to get back with the team? It's a little confusing at this point. The best I can do is give my full effort."

Kawakami, who spent April 20 to June 9 on the disabled list with a shoulder strain, thought he would be at Triple-A Gwinnett County "only one step from the big leagues," and has admitted he "can't adjust to people trying to make me work on different things."

Said Kawakami, "In Double-A, I don't know what to work on, to be honest."

On Wednesday, there were two obvious flaws. One, he was often working behind in the count. Two, he left a lot of pitches up in the strike zone.

"If you do that," said Huntsville manager Mike Guerrero, "you're going to pay for it, no matter what league you're in."

Logan Schafer started things with a double, then Erik Komatsu walked. Sean Halton drilled an RBI single to left and, after two out, Sergio Miranda served a soft single to left to score two more. Martin Maldonado followed with a two-run homer, his third of the year.

After a 1-2-3 second, newcomer Brock Kjeldgaard, just up from Class A Brevard County, hit a two-run double. Mississippi manager Rocket Wheeler then trudged to the mound. His outstretched right hand, palm up, reaching for the baseball from Kawakami, needed no interpreter.

[TheCrew07]

I remember buzz on the major league forums about signing/trading for Kawakami and now our AA team rocked him.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville's major league team from a fan perspective is Atlanta, so it's easy to understand that McCarter would focus on Kawakami, but obviously the game was so much more --

 

***

 

Stars Press Release:

 

Huntsville, AL – Michael Fiers worked six innings tonight over the visiting Mississippi Braves, allowing just one hit while fanning nine batters. The Braves staff wasn’t as fortunate, getting shelled in the 12-0 final.

 

The M-Braves lone hit came early, just three batters into the game when Willie Cabrera lined one up the middle to put two men on with one out. Ernesto Mejia and Donell Linares flew out and ground out respectively to end the threat.

 

The Stars offense attacked early with Logan Schafer hitting a leadoff double off Braves starter Kenshin Kawakami. Erik Komatsu drew a walk, followed by an RBI-single from Sean Halton. Sergio Miranda hit a deep single to left to score two more runs. With one runner on, Martin Maldonado hit a bomb to left center to put Huntsville up 5-0.

 

Fiers allowed a walk to lead off the second inning and advanced the runner to third on a throwing error. He struck out the next three batters.

 

The offensive show Huntsville put on continued with two more runs in the third thanks to a double from Halton and newcomer Brock Kjeldgaard. Reliever Jose Lugo replaced Kawakami, who was tagged with seven earned runs on six hits in two complete innings. He walked two and recorded just one strikeout.

 

The Stars added three more runs in the fifth to make it a 10-0 ballgame. Starter Fiers was pulled at the end of the sixth for reliever Lucas Luetge. In six complete innings, Fiers struck out nine batters and walked two. The bullpen combination of Luetge, Darren Byrd and Rob Wooten threw three innings of no-hit ball. They, with Fiers, retired the last 18 batters of the game.

 

Huntsville’s bats were still making noise in the seventh inning when they added two more runs on a double from pinch hitter Zelous Wheeler.

 

This is the second one-hitter for the Stars pitching staff this season. On April 11, they kept the Jacksonville Suns to just one hit and one run (Michael Bowman and four relievers).

 

The Stars and M-Braves continue the series with a double header Thursday at 4:43 p.m.

 

Huntsville Box Score

One thing about Michael Fiers, he just rarely gets shelled -- check out his lines for the past ten outings; so exciting now that he's fully stretched out (99 pitches here, 69 for strikes, 9-to-1 GB ratio); to be honest, that's a pretty solid lineup for the Stars, even if it's not power-laden in a home run sense, it's not weak by any means; Zelous Wheeler is still going to be in a lineup rotation at AA, at least when Huntsville is in non-designated hitter series, which is the majority of time...

 

Huntsville Play-by-Play

Enjoy the four multi-run innings...

[Mass Haas]

Sessile Fielder brought no luck to the Crew from his nose bleed seats in Yankee Stadium last night -- Eric will be back this evening in Link Report land...