Link Report for Games of Thursday 7/14

[Mass Haas]

Finals:

 

Helena 9, @Idaho Falls 6

 

@AZL Rangers 13, AZL Brewers 4

 

Full details on these games later this morning. Please check back with us. Thanks for your patience.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 9, @Idaho Falls 6

 

Chukars Defense Falters in 9-6 Loss

Four Idaho Falls errors lead to four unearned runs for Helena

By Aaron Cox / Idaho Falls Chukars

A lot of things went right for Idaho Falls Thursday night, but defense wasn't one of them as the Chukars committed four more errors leading to four unearned runs for the Helena Brewers in a 9-6 loss at Melaleuca Field.

 

The Chukars slammed four home runs in the game and Idaho Falls relievers Spencer Patton and Nathan Johnson combined to retire the last 10 Brewers they faced, but the Chukars fielding was once again their achilles heel in the loss. Errors in the second, third and two in the sixth inning pushed the Chukars season error total to 56, and the four unearned runs put that season total at a lofty 44 in just 24 games.

 

The Chukars came out swinging against Brewers starter Andy Moye, scoring a run in the first with a Daniel Mateo RBI single to go up 1-0. After Helena answered with an unearned run in the top of the second inning, the Chukars exploded for three runs, all on solo homers, in the bottom of the frame to go up 4-1. Catcher Edul Escobar and right fielder Runey Davis kicked off the slugfest with back-to-back shots over the right field wall and were followed one out later by center fielder Tyler Chism who also put a solo shot over right field.

 

The Brewers offense would come alive in the third inning however, as they knocked in four runs, two earned, to go up 5-4. Shortstop Yadiel Rivera got in on the home run parade with a solo blast of his own over the suddenly popular right field wall. He was followed by third baseman Kyle Dhanani, designated hitter Nick Ramirez and first baseman Parker Berberet who singled, singled and walked respectively to load the bases. Catcher Tyler Roberts followed and drove in the first run with an RBI groundout before a fielding error by Chukars third baseman Mark Threlkeld allowed both Ramirez and Berberet to come in.

 

The Chukars would briefly tie up the score at 5-5 in the fourth after Chism was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a wild pitch, but the Brewers would put up two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to pull away.

 

Despite the season high four home runs the Chukars had to feel disappointed offensively, as the unit loaded the bases in the first, fourth and sixth innings, the first and sixth with no outs, and only came away with a single run in each instance. Shortstop Adrian Martinez was the only Chukar to have a multi-hit game, as he finished the night 3-5 with an RBI. Roberts, meanwhile, paced the Brewers offense driving in two runs while going 1-4.

 

Chukars starting pitcher Brian Peacock (0-3) earned the loss, as the left-hander allowed seven runs, four earned, over five innings pitched. The southpaw allowed eight hits, one walk and five strikeouts. Brewers reliever Jacob Barnes (2-0) exited with the win after tossing two scoreless innings allowing just one hit and striking out three.

 

With the loss the Chukars (10-14) drop their fifth game in their last six, while the Brewers (11-13) pick up a half game on the dormant Billings Mustangs in the North Division. The two teams will square off in the rubber match Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM (8:15 Central0.

 

***

 

Helena Independent Record game summary on this road contest

Brewers rally past Chukars

 

The Helena Brewers answered a rare three-home run second inning from the Idaho Falls Chukars with four runs of their own in the top of the third and held on for the 9-6 Pioneer League road win on Thursday.

The Brewers improved to 11-13 on the season with just their fourth win in their last 14 games. They remain at the bottom of the league's North Division. Idaho Falls fell to 10-14.

Chukars Edul Escobar, Runey Davis and Tyler Chism all took Helena starter Andy Moye deep with solo shots in the second frame to give the hosts their first three-homer inning — and game — of the year.

The Chukars entered the contest with just 12 homer runs on the season, by far the fewest in the Pioneer League.

Moye surrendered six hits, two walks and four earned runs in just three innings of work before being replaced by Tom Keeling on the mound.

Brewers shortstop Yadiel Rivera answered with his own solo homer with one out in the third frame, though. A Tyler Roberts sacrifice grounder, a fielding error by Chukars third baseman Mark Threlkeld and an RBI single by Kenny Allison pushed three more runs over the plate in the inning to give the visitors a brief one-run lead.

Chism scored on a wild pitch by Keeling to knot the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth, but Helena's Kyle Dhanani scored on a sacrifice by Parker Berberet and Roberts singled in Nick Ramirez in the bottom of the frame to give Helena the advantage for good.

Gant Elmore singled in John Dishon and later scored on a fielding error by Idaho Falls first baseman Henry Moreno in the sixth to cap the scoring for the Brewers.

Jacob Barnes replaced Keeling in the sixth and allowed just one hit, no runs and struck out three to pick up the win, moving him to 2-0 on the year.

Alan Williams tossed the final two innings and allowed no hits while striking out three for Helena to pick up the save, his fourth of the season.

The Chukars stranded 10 runners in the game.

“We had the bases loaded three times, and twice with no outs,” Idaho Falls manager Buck Buchanan said. “We didn't get the big hit when we needed it.”

 

Helena Box Score

Brewer batters did strike out 12 times, but ten base hits and clean defense paves the way to victory; LHP Tom Keeling allowed only one hit, but two runs, two walks, two HBP's, one wild pitch, and 3 K's in an eventful two relief innings; Brewer pitchers plunked four with no retaliation in a visting park -- protect your nest, Chukars! Their starting pitcher Peacock is a Chukar, odd. SS Yadiel Rivera now with six long balls in 207 AB's this season...

 

Helena Play-by-Play

RF Max Walla was 0-for-4 with two K's but ended the Chukar 1st inning in nice fashion --

 

Idaho Falls Bottom of the 1st

• Tyler Chism walks.
  
• Adrian Martinez singles on a line drive to right fielder Max Walla. Tyler Chism to 3rd.
  
• Daniel Mateo singles on a line drive to right fielder Max Walla. Tyler Chism scores. Adrian Martinez to 2nd.
  
• Richard Espy hit by pitch. Adrian Martinez to 3rd. Daniel Mateo to 2nd.
  
• Henry Moreno grounds into a force out, third baseman Kyle Dhanani to catcher Tyler Roberts. Adrian Martinez out at home. Daniel Mateo to 3rd. Richard Espy to 2nd. Henry Moreno to 1st.
  
• Mark Threlkeld flies into double play, right fielder Max Walla to catcher Tyler Roberts. Daniel Mateo out at home on the throw.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @AZL Rangers 13, AZL Brewers 4

Arizona Box Score

Bright spots -- C Cameron Garfield is toying with this level (2-for-4, two doubles, three RBI, 1.099 OPS after 32 AB's -- how's the knee?); 20-year-old RF Jose Garcia is doing some nice things at the plate; 22-year-old LHP Manuel Ruiz bounced back from a horrific outing last time out with three innings (facing just one over the minimum)...

 

Not so bright spots -- everything else.

 

Arizona Play-by-Play

[CheezWizHed]

Interesting that Wheeler played 2b. Is he now being groomed as a utility player? Hopefully he gets back to AAA soon since he belongs there

 

I would think so. His bat doesn't look like he could start at 3B and his defense isn't good enough to start at SS. Hopefully, Taylor is bumped up to 3B and Wheeler can take his place at AAA. But until then, there really isn't room at AAA.

 

In other thoughts, Fiers, Bucci and Maldonado are quickly solidifying themselves as my under-dog favorites. I'm beginning to think that Bucci will help ease the loss of Odorizzi.

 

Free Khris Davis and TJ Mittelstaedt! (Man, its going to take a while to learn how to spell that and I lived in Germany for a year, too...)

[TheCrew07]

In other thoughts, Fiers, Bucci and Maldonado are quickly solidifying themselves as my under-dog favorites. I'm beginning to think that Bucci will help ease the loss of Odorizzi.

I'm not sure that's true at all, I think they have vastly different ceilings as players.

[brewmann04]

I thinking Bucci will be the pitcher in the Minores to go to the Mets.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Jordan Brown's 2nd home run of the game for Nashville (apparently a young fan is in the booth with Stu)

 

"Have you ever seen two home runs in a game there?"

 

Had to chuckle -- a

!".

 

Just kidding, Stu.

[bucksman4]

Anybody else catch Taylor Green playing 2B for Nashville last night? Wonder why.

[And That]

Green has been doing that off and on for awhile now. That was his 18th game there.