Link Report for Fri. 7/1 -- Thornburg fans 10; Scary moment for Helena's Brandon Williamson

[Mass Haas]

Helena pitcher Brandon Williamson was taken to a hospital after being hit in the head by a Mustangs line drive in the third inning on Friday.
Photo by Paul Ruhter / Gazette Staff

[Mass Haas]

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/billingsgazette.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/c/1a/c1ada95c-c628-5147-af10-c4e710e16649/4e0eb8acc6e74.image.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Helena Box Score

RH relievers Seth Harvey and Jacob Barnes combined for six scoreless innings after Williamson's unfortunate departure, although Harvey did allow an inherited runner to score; two Brewers were picked off first base -- ugh; RF Max Walla doubled as part of an encouraging 3-for-4 night, but added a caught stealing on what was a poor night on the basepaths for the Crew; Brewer batters fanned 18 times and Brewer hurlers fanned nine; the box score is pretty meaty in terms of multi-hit games and such, so please take a peek...

 

Helena Play-by-Play

You know Brandon Williamson was in tough shape when the line drive off his head deflects all the way to right field --

 

Kurtis Muller singles on a line drive to right fielder Max Walla, deflected by pitcher Brandon Williamson. Danny Vicioso scores.

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog -- Postgame Thoughts

[JohnBriggs12]

Brett Carroll pushed his batting average over .300 and his slugging percentage over .500.

You can hear his home run call via the Nashville game summary page.

Plus he's killed lefties. I was skeptical of this guy early on, but he's convinced me. Brewers need a righthanded bench bat and I think Carroll should be given plenty of consideration.

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: @AZL Dodgers 11, AZL Brewers 10

Walk-off loss...

 

Arizona Box Score

What a wild one -- Brewers led 7-1 heading to the bottom of the 3rd, when a five-spot brought the Dodgers to within one; the Dodgers actually scored nine consecutive runs to grab a 10-7 lead before the Maryvale boys scored three in the top of the 7th to tie it; it would remain that way until the fateful 9th when RHP Mitch Conner saw a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt, and then a ground-rule double end the game.

 

2011 6th round RHP Danny Keller, the California high schooler, made his first pro start (2nd appearance), and allowed one run in two innings; RHP Mike White had a very tough three innings (eight earned runs), LHP Stephen Peterson pitched well (one run in 3 IP, 0 BB, 5 K), but the undrafted free agent is 23 years old and as always, we have to weigh level vs. performance even at the lowest rungs of the system.

 

Fantastic to see 3B Jalen Harris isn't seriously injured, and a nice night here -- on base four times with a double, two singles, and a walk; another teenager, CF Malcolm Dowell, also reached base four times (from the leadoff spot), two singles, two walks, SB; teenager # 3 in this paragraph, 2B Kevin Berard, continues to shine, on base three more times (two of three in SB attempts); teenager # 4, SS Renaldo Jenkins doubled twice and stole a base; C Cameron Garfield hit a three-run HR, and 1B Hitaniel Arias had a solo shot...

 

Arizona Play-by-Play

Brewers four-run 1st --

 

AZL Brewers Top of the 1st

• Malcolm Dowell walks.
  
• Kevin Berard hit by pitch. Malcolm Dowell to 2nd.
  
• Cameron Garfield homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Malcolm Dowell scores. Kevin Berard scores.
  
• Hitaniel Arias called out on strikes.
  
• Adam Weisenburger doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Ronny Lugo.
  
• Jalen Harris grounds out, third baseman Bladimir Franco to first baseman Tae-Hyeok Nam.
  
• Renaldo Jenkins doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Ronny Lugo. Adam Weisenburger scores.
  
• Ronny Puello grounds out, third baseman Bladimir Franco to first baseman Tae-Hyeok Nam.

Ah, kids being kids -- Kevin Berard needlessly greedy here --

 

AZL Brewers Top of the 6th

• Pitcher Change: Gregory Downing replaces Luis Mesa.
  
• Jose R. Garcia strikes out swinging.
  
• Malcolm Dowell walks.
  
• With Kevin Berard batting, Gregory Downing picks off Malcolm Dowell at 1st on throw to Tae-Hyeok Nam.
  
• Kevin Berard walks.
  
• With Cameron Garfield batting, Kevin Berard steals (2) 2nd base.
  
• With Cameron Garfield batting, Kevin Berard caught stealing 3rd base, catcher Jose Capellan to third baseman Bladimir Franco.

[TheCrew07]

Williamson took a line drive to the head off the bat of Kurtis Muller, causing a delay while medical personnel attended to the 6-foot-3 right-hander. Williamson was helped off the field on a cart before later being transported to the hospital via ambulance. A CT scan came back clean and Williamson was traveling on the team bus Friday night.

What an excellent example of medical care provided by the training staff of both teams (I'm guessing both teams due to the nature of the delay). Given the nature of complications with that sort of shot to the head I love that they didn't mess around and took him in for scans right away just to be safe. There aren't many things in sports that scare me, but head injuries could impact the rest of someone's life if not treated properly.