Link Report for Sat. 7/16 -- Farm clubs go 0-7; Eric Arnett sets his bar even lower

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

Nashville: First, it's the completion of Friday's suspended game (3-3 after 11 innings), then LHP Sam Narron at home vs. Albuquerque (Dodgers), 5:30 PM pre-game, 5:45 gametime

Live Audio Link

iPad/iPhone: Listen

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers

 

Huntsville: TBD (likely RHP Kyle Heckathorn) at Montgomery (Rays), 7:05 PM gametime

Live Audio Link -- This is the Biscuits' feed

 

Brevard County: RHP Hiram Burgos at Jupiter (Twins), 5:35 PM gametime

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

 

Wisconsin: LHP Del Howell at home vs. South Bend (Diamondbacks), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime

Live Audio Link

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers

Helena: RHP Eric Arnett at Casper (Rockies), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

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

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Idle

 

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

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville completion of Friday's suspended game (Gameday also available)

 

Nashville regularly scheduled game (Gameday also available)

 

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

 

Brevard County

Wisconsin

Helena

 

DSL Brewershttp://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&gid=2011_07_16_datrok_dbwrok_2&cid=607&t=g_box

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	50	43	.538	-	-	26-20	24-23	4-6	L2
	Memphis	49	44	.527	1.0	51	28-18	21-26	4-6	W1
	Nashville	43	49	.467	6.5	46	29-19	14-30	6-4	W4
	Iowa	42	51	.452	8.0	44	25-21	17-30	2-8	W1

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Chattanooga	13	9	.591	-	-	6-6	7-3	5-5	L1
	Carolina	10	11	.476	2.5	47	5-6	5-5	6-4	L2
	Huntsville	10	11	.476	2.5	47	4-6	6-5	4-6	W1
*	Tennessee	10	12	.455	3.0	46	6-4	4-8	3-7	L1
	Jackson	9	13	.409	4.0	45	4-6	5-7	5-5	W2

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tampa	12	9	.571	-	-	7-4	5-5	6-4	W1
	Lakeland	10	9	.526	1.0	50	5-4	5-5	6-4	W2
*	Daytona	10	11	.476	2.0	48	4-6	6-5	4-6	L1
	Dunedin	10	11	.476	2.0	48	3-5	7-6	4-6	L4
	Clearwater	9	12	.429	3.0	47	6-6	3-6	5-5	L3
	Brevard County	8	11	.421	3.0	48	5-6	3-5	3-7	L2

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Kane County	13	8	.619	-	-	6-6	7-2	5-5	L3
	Beloit	12	9	.571	1.0	-	6-6	6-3	5-5	L1
	Clinton	12	9	.571	1.0	-	6-6	6-3	6-4	L2
	Quad Cities	12	9	.571	1.0	-	7-5	5-4	8-2	W1
	Cedar Rapids	10	11	.476	3.0	48	7-5	3-6	6-4	W4
	Peoria	9	12	.429	4.0	47	4-8	5-4	5-5	W1
	Wisconsin	9	12	.429	4.0	47	4-8	5-4	3-7	L1
*	Burlington	7	14	.333	6.0	45	5-7	2-7	2-8	L1

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Missoula	15	10	.600	-	-	6-6	9-4	8-2	W3
	Billings	13	12	.520	2.0	12	6-7	7-5	5-5	L2
	Great Falls	12	13	.480	3.0	11	6-7	6-6	5-5	W1
	Helena	12	13	.480	3.0	11	6-6	6-7	4-6	W2

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Reds	11	9	.550	-	-	7-3	4-6	6-4	W3
	AZL Indians	10	9	.526	0.5	37	5-5	5-4	5-5	W1
	AZL Dodgers	10	10	.500	1.0	36	5-5	5-5	2-8	L6
	AZL Brewers	4	16	.200	7.0	30	2-8	2-8	2-8	L3

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Mariners	30	10	.750	-	-	16-4	14-6	8-2	W2
	DSL Brewers	27	13	.675	3.0	30	13-7	14-6	7-3	W6
	DSL Cardinals	13	28	.317	17.5	15	9-12	4-16	3-7	L2
	DSL Athletics	12	30	.286	19.0	13	8-12	4-18	1-9	L3

[Mass Haas]

Given how often they play each other, that DSL division is pretty distinct in its standings.

 

***

 

Happy 21st birthday, Brevard starter Nick Bucci.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Christmas in July Wisconsin Media Notes

[battlekow]

Final: DSL Athletics 7, @DSL Brewers 6 (10 innings)

DSL Brewers box score

Leonard Lorenzo allowed five runs in six innings, but the Cerveceritos still held a 6-5 lead until the 9th inning and then lost the game in the 10th. Young lefty Marcos Padilla turned in the best pitching performance, allowing a hit and a walk while fanning two in two scoreless frames. Orlando Arcia and Esthervin Matos continue to perform well, each with two hits, though it looks like both were removed for defensive replacements; given that Matos committed his fifth error in just 12 games, I can't exactly fault the decision. Matos was removed late, but Arcia somewhat earlier, which is worrisome. Dionis Hinojosa was on four out of five trips with three hits and a walk. Matos and Yonki Hernandez each stole two bases and Arcia one, but the baserunning wasn't all roses--Atleticos pitcher (guess which hand he throws with) Anderson Mata put six runners on in his 4.2 innings and, remarkably, picked three of them off. Toss in a caught-stealing at home plate and you have, at best, a mixed bag on the bases.

DSL Brewers play-by-play

The circumstances surrounding Arcia's removal:

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 4th

• Francisco Castillo grounds out, pitcher Fernando Cruzado to first baseman Jose Rosario.
• Yonki Hernandez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jesus Rivas.
• Orlando Arcia singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jose Sayegh. Yonki Hernandez to 2nd.
• With Sthervin Matos batting, Yonki Hernandez steals (15) 3rd base. Orlando Arcia steals (7) 2nd base.
• Sthervin Matos strikes out swinging.
• Deivi Mejia grounds out, third baseman Wilman Martinez to first baseman Jose Rosario.

DSL Athletics Top of the 5th

• Defensive Substitution: Raphachel Colatosti replaces shortstop Orlando Arcia, batting 2nd, playing shortstop.

Brutal two-out, bases-loaded walk to force in the winning run:

DSL Athletics Top of the 10th

• Pitcher Change: Eliezer Montano replaces Doni Arias.
• Luis Osorio walks.
• Vicmal De La Cruz singles on a line drive to center fielder Yonki Hernandez. Luis Osorio to 2nd.
• Jose Rosario out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Eliezer Montano to second baseman Francisco Castillo. Luis Osorio to 3rd. Vicmal De La Cruz to 2nd.
• Eliezer Montano intentionally walks Wilman Martinez.
• Pitcher Change: Javier Belen replaces Eliezer Montano.
• Jonesy Zarraga strikes out swinging.
• Andy Paz walks. Luis Osorio scores. Vicmal De La Cruz to 3rd. Wilman Martinez to 2nd.
• Gabriel Santana grounds into a force out, shortstop Raphachel Colatosti to second baseman Francisco Castillo. Andy Paz out at 2nd.

[battlekow]

Final (suspended game): Albuquerque 8, @Nashville 4 (13 innings)

Sounds Fall To Isotopes In Completion Of Suspended Game

Nashville Sounds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Albuquerque Isotopes belted a pair of homers and plated five runs in the top of the thirteenth inning to post an 8-4 victory over the Nashville Sounds on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium in the completion of Friday night's game that was suspended early Saturday morning.

All five runs came against Sounds right-hander Frankie De La Cruz (3-6), who took the loss for Nashville (43-50).

First baseman Russell Mitchell led off the Albuquerque thirteenth with a solo blast to left-center, his eighth longball of the year. Later in the frame, a pair of walks came back to haunt De La Cruz as Ivan De Jesus, Jr. lined a run-scoring single to left before ex-Sound Jay Gibbons mashed a three-run homer to right to extend the visitors' lead to 8-3. It was the slugger's fourth tater of the year.

Nashville plated the game's final run in the bottom of the thirteenth when pinch-hitter Mike Rivera led off with a single and later scored on a Jordan Brown sacrifice fly.

Reliever David Pfeiffer (1-1) earned his first win of the year for the Isotopes after allowing one run on two hits in two innings.

In the contest, the Sounds held a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning before Albuquerque scored a pair of late runs against Sean Green to force extra frames.

The game was suspended at 12:59 a.m. early Saturday morning at the conclusion of the eleventh inning with the score tied at 3-3 due to the enforcement of the PCL's curfew rule.

Right-hander Josh Butler continued his recent dominance on the hill as he dominated the Isotopes for the second straight start, hurling 5 2/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit ball. He walked one batter and struck out five during his 76-pitch outing, but was left with a no-decision for his efforts following a late blown save by the Nashville bullpen.

In his last four starts, Butler has recorded a 1.85 ERA (5er/24.1ip) while striking out 25 batters.

Nashville jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Isotopes starter Randy Keisler. After Caleb Gindl (single) and Brett Carroll (walk) reached with one out, both players scored on Taylor Green's RBI single to right combined with a throwing error by Gibbons. Green came plateward with the frame's third run when Mat Gamel followed with an RBI tapper back to the mound.

The Sounds missed a chance to add to their advantage in the sixth. After Nashville loaded the bases with no outs against Albuquerque reliever Ramon Troncoso, the right-hander escaped the jam unscathed as Gindl grounded into a forceout at the plate then Erick Almonte was gunned down at the plate by left fielder Jerry Sands following a Brown flyout.

Albuquerque broke up the Sounds' shutout bid in the top of the eighth. After loading the bags with no outs against Daniel Meadows, the left-hander retired De Jesus Jr. on a flyout before Gibbons delivered an RBI single to right to bring home Damaso Espino with the Isotopes' first run. Brandon Boggs came up firing and threw out Jamie Hoffmann at the plate as he attempted to score a second run on the play. It marked the 15th runner that Nashville outfielders have gunned down at the plate this season.

The Isotopes rallied to tie the game with a pair of ninth-inning runs Green, who suffered his second blown save in eight tries for Nashville. Trayvon Robinson led off with a single off the right field wall and moved to second when Russ Mitchell walked. After Justin Sellers advanced both runners a base with a sacrifice bunt, Espino (3-for-4) lined a game-tying, two-run single up the middle to make it a 3-3 contest.

Sounds shortstop Edwin Maysonet snuffed out the visitors' attempt to take a lead in the top of the twelfth inning when, with runners on the corners, he threw out Dee Gordon at the plate as he attempt to score on a Gibbons grounder.

Gamel singled in the fifth inning for Nashville to extend his longest hitting streak of the season to 11 games.

Nashville box score

So, about FDLC being a reliever... Anyway, MH wrote up the first 11 innings yesterday. Caleb Gindl reached three times in seven PAs on two singles and a walk.

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Nashville is facing our old friend Dana Eveland in the regularly scheduled tilt.

[And That]

Taylor Green is not in tonight's lineup for the Sounds.

[Mass Haas]

Taylor Green is not in tonight's lineup for the Sounds.

I definitely know what you're hoping to imply (and I'd love to see the same), but Green did take part in the completion of the suspended game, so it's not as if he's on a plane (yet http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif).

 

He could definitely make it to Phoenix for Monday, though, and he's not going to get injured on the Nashville bench in the regularly scheduled game.

 

Josh must be Green's agent still, we need an Agent39 update...

 

[battlekow]

Final: @Jupiter 9, Brevard County 5

Brevard County box score

Nobody pitched well, so let's dispense with discussion of that, except to note that Rolando Pascual's ERA is now over 11 and richly deserved; whatever the Brewers were hoping for with his surprising promotion to BC, it ain't working. Scooter Gennett rapped three hits, including a double, to lead the offense. Shawn Zarraga singled and walked, and D'Vontrey Richardson bagged a triple and an outfield assist. Chris Dennis drew a walk as a pinch hitter, the first time he's reached base since being re-promoted. I marveled at the pickoffs in the DSL game, so it's only fair to note that Hiram Burgos had two himself--and he's right-handed.

Brevard County play-by-play

If Zarraga's recent head injury was a concussion, this could have been bad:

Brevard County Top of the 7th

• D' Vontrey Richardson pops out to first baseman Jaime Ortiz in foul territory.
• Shea Vucinich singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jose Duarte.
• Josh Prince singles on a line drive to center fielder Jose Duarte. Shea Vucinich to 2nd.
• Shawn Zarraga singles on a line drive to right fielder Kyle Jensen. Shea Vucinich to 3rd. Josh Prince to 2nd.
• Scott Krieger out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Kyle Jensen. Shea Vucinich scores. Josh Prince to 3rd.
• Scooter Gennett doubles (11) on a ground ball to right fielder Kyle Jensen. Josh Prince scores. Shawn Zarraga out at home on the throw, right fielder Kyle Jensen to second baseman Ernesto Manzanillo to catcher Taylor Krick.

Zarraga finished the game, though, so it appears he's fine regardless.

[battlekow]

Final: @Montgomery 5, Huntsville 4

Huntsville box score

Kyle Heckathorn pitched okay but wasn't at all dominant: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 8/6 GO/FO, 93 pitches, 63 strikes. He allowed two runs in the 7th, but it was a two-out, two-run homer off Robert Hinton in the 8th that baked the Biscuits. Anderson de la Rosa poked a two-run homer, Brock Kjeldgaard had two hits, and Logan Schafer walked twice. Lee Haydel and Martin Maldonado did not play. Schafer bagged his 10th bag but was also caught for the fifth time.

Huntsville play-by-play

Heckathorn's 7th:

Montgomery Bottom of the 7th

• Henry Wrigley reaches on fielding error by third baseman Steffan Wilson.
• Cole Figueroa flies out to right fielder Erik Komatsu.
• Greg Sexton doubles (2) on a line drive to shortstop Hainley Statia. Henry Wrigley to 3rd.
• Pitcher Change: Darren Byrd replaces Kyle Heckathorn.
• Kyeong Kang out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Henry Wrigley scores.
• John Shelby singles on a line drive to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Greg Sexton scores.
• Isaias Velasquez grounds out, second baseman Sergio Miranda to first baseman Sean Halton.

[battlekow]

Final: South Bend 5, @Wisconsin 4

South Bend edges Rattlers, 5-4

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The South Bend Silver Hawks built a 5-1 lead and held off a late rally by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Saturday night at Time Warner Cable Field. The Rattlers scored twice in the eighth and once in the ninth, but fell short 5-4 to their Eastern Division rivals.

The Silver Hawks grabbed the early lead with back-to-back, two-out home runs in the top of the first inning. Earlier in the inning, Ender Inciarte tried to score from second on a single to left by Zach Walters. But, Chad Stang threw out Inciarte at the plate for the second out.

However, Yazy Arbelo, the Midwest League leader in home runs, was up next. He lifted an 0-2 pitch from Rattlers starting pitcher Del Howell over the wall in left for his 23rd home run of the season and a 2-0 Silver Hawks lead.

Raywilly Gomez was next and he drove a home run off the scoreboard in left-center. That put South Bend up 3-0.

In the top of the second inning, Roberto Rodriguez tripled to start the frame. One batter later, Roberto Ortiz sent a weak grounder up the first base line. Ortiz was retired, but Rodriguez scored to put the Silver Hawks up 4-0.

The Rattlers (47-45, 9-13) came back in the bottom of the second. Mike Walker and Stang singled one out apart to put runners on the corners. An RBI grounder by Tony Pechek sent Walker home with Wisconsin’s first run.

The score remained 4-1 until the top of the sixth inning. Matt Helm cracked a home run to left to lead off the inning and the Silver Hawks picked up a big insurance run.

Bradin Hagens was the starting pitcher for South Bend and he worked seven innings. Hagens struck out seven and allowed one run.

The Rattlers started their comeback attempt against reliever Blake Cooper. Franklin Romero, Jr. started the bottom of the eighth with a single. An error on a Reggie Keen grounder to third sent Romero around to third base. A wild pitch by Cooper allowed Romero to score.

Later in the eighth, Keen scored on an infield grounder by Greg Hopkins and the Rattlers were within 5-3.

South Bend went to Eury De La Rosa in the bottom of the ninth, but Cody Hawn started the inning with a double. Hawn, who had also singled in the seventh inning to push his hitting streak to 16 games, was replaced by pinch-runner Mike Brownstein. Pecheck’s infield single with one out put runners at the corners and brought the winning run to the plate.

Romero’s sacrifice fly to center got Brownstein home to make the score 5-4. But, the Rattlers would get no closer.

The series continues on Sunday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Charly Bashara (3-3, 4.30) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. South Bend has J.R. Bradley (3-12, 5.10) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 1:05pm.

Sunday is Strike Out Cancer Day at the ballpark. One dollar for every ticket sold on Sunday will be donated to four area cancer charities.

Also, special Timber Rattlers baseball card set from the Disabled American Veteran will be given out to the first 2,000 fans at the game.

Before the game, fans may play catch on the field presented by momslikeme.com. During the game, the Timber Rattlers players will be wearing jerseys and caps based on those of the 1975 Milwaukee Brewers as part of Brewers Sunday. After the game, players will be available for a post-game autograph session.

If you can’t make it out to the ballpark on Sunday, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:45pm.

Wisconsin box score

Howell gave up three homers, and he wasn't even the only pitcher in the system to do that today, as you'll see when the sordid tale of Eric Arnett is told in the Helena recap. Hawn's torrid July has pushed his season line to .296/.378/.407; just need some more power out of you, big Cheetah.

Wisconsin play-by-play

Inciarte was at the center of a bunch of close plays. In addition to getting thrown out at home by Stang:

South Bend Top of the 2nd

• Roberto Rodriguez triples (1) on a fly ball to left fielder Chad Stang.
• Gerson Montilla reaches on fielding error by third baseman Gregory Hopkins.
• Roberto Ortiz grounds out, pitcher Del Howell to first baseman Michael Walker. Roberto Rodriguez scores. Gerson Montilla to 2nd.
• Ender Inciarte reaches on missed catch error by first baseman Michael Walker, assist to second baseman T. J. Mittelstaedt. Gerson Montilla to 3rd.
• With Niko Gallego batting, Del Howell picks off Ender Inciarte at 1st on throw to Michael Walker.
• Niko Gallego flies out to right fielder Franklin Romero.

South Bend Top of the 6th

• Matt Helm homers (3) on a fly ball to left field.
• Roberto Rodriguez grounds out, second baseman T. J. Mittelstaedt to first baseman Michael Walker.
• Gerson Montilla grounds out, shortstop Nick Shaw to first baseman Michael Walker.
• Roberto Ortiz doubles (8) on a fly ball to center fielder Reggie Keen.
• Ender Inciarte grounds out, first baseman Michael Walker to pitcher Del Howell.
• South Bend Silver Hawks center fielder Ender Inciarte ejected by 1B umpire Chris Tipton.

[battlekow]

This week's sign that the apocalypse is upon us: Yadiel Rivera has followed up last night's rare free pass by walking twice tonight.

[BrewCrewForever]

Taylor Green is not in tonight's lineup for the Sounds.

I definitely know what you're hoping to imply (and I'd love to see the same), but Green did take part in the completion of the suspended game, so it's not as if he's on a plane (yet http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif).

 

He could definitely make it to Phoenix for Monday, though, and he's not going to get injured on the Nashville bench in the regularly scheduled game.

 

Josh must be Green's agent still, we need an Agent39 update...

It would make my week of Green was called up and started in Arizona on Monday. Hopefully that is why he is out of the lineup.

[battlekow]

Final: Albuquerque 3, @Nashville 2

Sounds Drop Pitching Duel To Albuquerque, 3-2

Nashville Sounds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds lost a 3-2 pitching duel to the Albuquerque Isotopes, as two Pacific Coast League All-Star starting pitchers tossed fine pitching performances in front of more than 8,000 fans at Greer Stadium on Saturday night.

Albuquerque All-Star and former Sound Dana Eveland (9-5) picked up a victory after surrendering just one run on three hits in seven innings of work.

Nashville All-Star Sam Narron (4-4) matched with a quality start of his own but came away with a tough loss. The left-hander gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings of work, tossing a season-high 119 pitches.

Nashville (43-50) has played in a PCL-high 42 one-run games this season, going 18-24 in those contests. The Sounds' 24 one-run losses are most in the PCL and account for nearly half of the club's total defeats.

The Isotopes jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Ivan De Jesus Jr. led off the contest with a double off the right field wall and later scored as third baseman Russell Mitchell singled to left.

The Sounds lineup was hitless through the first three innings before outfielder Caleb Gindl looped a single between the second baseman and right fielder. First baseman Erick Almonte followed by lining a base hit to center field.

Albuquerque left fielder Trayvon Robinson untied the game in the top of the sixth inning with his 22nd home run of the season, a solo shot off the guitar-shaped scoreboard. The home run moved Robinson into a tie for third place in the PCL.

The Isotopes tacked on their final run in the next inning for a 3-1 advantage. Reliever Donovan Hand came into the contest and gave up a solo homer on the first pitch to Corey Smith off the out-of-town scoreboard in left field. The home run was Smith's seventh of the season.

The Sounds rallied in the bottom of the ninth to come within one run at 3-2, but failed to come away with a victory. Catcher Mike Rivera and outfielder Brandon Boggs each worked a two-out walks off Albuquerque reliever Merkin Valdez, followed by an RBI single by Jordan Brown that chased the reliever from the game. Closer Justin Miller then came into the contest and struck out pinch-hitter Taylor Green looking on a back door slider to end the contest and pick up his third save of the season.

Hand fanned three while giving up the one home run in two innings. Daniel Herrera finished the game for Nashville with a scoreless ninth inning.

In his first game at third base for the Sounds, Mat Gamel went 0-for-2 to snap his season-best 11-game hitting streak, the longest active streak on the club.

The Sounds and Isotopes wrap up their season series at 6:35 pm CT on Sunday evening at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Amaury Rivas (6-8, 4.41) takes the mound for Nashville against right-hander John Ely (5-4, 5.18).

Nashville box score

Dana Eveland will turn 28 in a few months; I can't decide whether that's surprisingly old or surprisingly young. Gamel did draw a walk and was also hit by a pitch; he also committed a throwing error, surely inspiring confidence in his ability to man the hot corner for the big club. The summary has Gindl with a single, but the box score shows his only hit as a double.

Nashville play-by-play

Down 3-1 in the 7th, the Sounds could have used a run here:

Nashville Bottom of the 7th

• Mat Gamel hit by pitch.
• Mike Rivera singles on a line drive to right fielder Jerry Sands. Mat Gamel to 2nd.
• Brandon Boggs grounds into double play, shortstop Justin Sellers to second baseman Ivan De Jesus to first baseman Corey Smith. Mat Gamel to 3rd. Mike Rivera out at 2nd.
• Jordan Brown grounds out, shortstop Justin Sellers to first baseman Corey Smith.

[Mass Haas]

James Tosses Six One-Hit Innings For First WinMinors' longest losing streak ends as Jupiter bats come alive

Jupiter Hammerheads

Chad James has made a number of terrific starts this year, but it took his best performance as a pro - and a breakout night by the Jupiter offense - to end the Minor Leagues' longest losing streak.

 

James tossed six innings of one-hit ball before exiting with a 5-0 lead, then watched as the Hammerheads and Manatees traded late runs, with Jupiter holding on for a 9-5 win.

 

Though he matched his season high with four walks, the lefty held Brevard County without a hit until a bunt single in the 6th inning, and made sure the runner had no chance to move by following it with a pop-up and two of his seven strikeouts.

 

With the performance, James lowered his ERA to 3.59, the 14th-lowest in the Florida State League, but only this one was recorded with a win next to his name. The left-hander's 0-13 start goes down as the longest losing streak by a minor league pitcher since statistics were centralized prior to the 2005 season.

 

The hard-luck stretch saw James allow two earned runs or less in 10 of 18 starts prior to Saturday's, but the Hammerheads finished those games with more than three runs just five times.

 

But the offense came through for James on this night, scoring nine runs for the first time since June 6th. It was a team effort, with eight of ten batters recording a hit and six driving in at least one run.

 

The biggest contribution came from Chase Austin, who went 3-for-4 with a double that drove in Jupiter's first run and a base hit to bring home its final two. In addition to the three hits and three RBIs, Austin scored three times himself and stole a base.

 

Center fielder Jose Duarte crossed the plate on both of Austin's RBI hits, scoring the team's first and final runs as part of his own three-hit night. J.L. Ortiz and Jeff Dominguez also knocked out multiple hits, while Danny Pertusati drove in a pair with his triple in the 6th inning.

 

That hit turned a three-run lead into five, and seemed to change the mind of manager Ron Hassey as to whether James would toss the 7th inning. Already at 90 pitches, James came out to the mound to warm up, but Hassey decided the lead was big enough that it wasn't worth the risk to the Marlins' 2009 first-round pick.

 

Reliever Jose Rosario, who had quickly begun warming after Pertusati's triple, came on to relieve James, who got the chance to exit to the applause of the night's 801 fans.

 

With James out, however, the Manatees finally break through. After getting the first out, Rosario gave up three consecutive singles to load the bases. The Manatees finally got on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly and a double that just hopped over first base, scoring two more despite Hassey's protest that the ball was foul.

 

The Hammerheads got the runs back in the bottom, and nearly did more than that. After Duarte drove in a run but was thrown out trying to stretch his double into a triple, Austin and Dominguez both singles ahead of Kyle Jensen. The Florida State League's home run leader sent a ball deep to center field, but it fell just a few feet short of the wall, more than enough to score Austin from third.

 

Jupiter and Brevard County again traded two-run halves in the 8th inning, sending the game into the final frame with the Hammerheads still up by five. With a man on third and just one out separating James from his first win, a fielding error gave the Manatees one more run and kept alive the possibility of the unthinkable. But Zach Simons, signed less than ten days ago by the Marlins, go a deep fly ball to center field to end the game and finally put a tally in James' win column.

 

***

 

Not a single Manatee mentioned, but a worthwhile recap from the Hammerheads' site.

[Mass Haas]

Chris musters up a few Rattler Post-Game Thoughts

[Mass Haas]

[Mass Haas]

Wrigley Homer Caps Comeback Victory

Wrigley crushes two-out, two-run blast in 8th to beat Stars 5-4

 

MONTGOMERY, AL - Henry Wrigley crushed an eighth inning, two-out, two-run homer to push the Biscuits (12-10) past the Huntsville Stars (10-12) in a 5-4 comeback-win Saturday night at Riverwalk.

 

A Stephen Vogt single kept the inning alive for Wrigley to nail the homer to left off Robert Hinton (1-2), turning a one-run deficit into a one-run lead. The Biscuits trailed 4-1 before the seventh, when Kyeong Kang and John Shelby both delivered RBIs to cut the deficit to one.

 

The ninth inning wasn't easy, with Brock Kjeldgaard leading the inning off with a single. He'd move to second on a groundout before Isaias Velasquez made a game-saving over-the-shoulder catch on the warning track. Zach Quate (14) got Anderson De La Rosa to fly out to left to end the game.

 

Frank De Los Santos (3-6) was the winner for the Biscuits, allowing just one hit over 3.1 scoreless innings of relief. Both starters took no-decisions, with Jim Paduch allowing four runs on six hits over 4.2 and Kyle Heckathorn giving up three runs on four hits over 6.1.

 

The Stars had scored four straight in the middle innings after Cole Figueroa homered to stake the Biscuits to a 1-0 second inning lead.

 

The Biscuits will play a double-header against the Stars tomorrow. LHP Matt Moore will go in game one with RHP Shane Dyer taking the ball in the second game.

 

***

 

a game-saving over-the-shoulder catch

 

Darn...

[TooLiveBrew]

Final: @Casper 9, Helena 8

 

Mende's big night helps Ghosts snap losing streak

Casper Ghosts

 

Sam Mende tripled and homered twice as the Casper Ghosts snapped their 7-game losing streak with a 9-8 win over the Helena Brewers at Mike Lansing Field.

 

For the first time since Monday, the Ghosts struck first. Yafistel Roja led off with an infield single and he scored on a David Kandilas double. With two out, Sam Mende made it 3-0 when he hit a 2-run homer, his fifth of the season.

 

Helena got one of those runs back. They had runners at the corners with one out, and on a pickoff throw to first Danny Winkler threw the ball away, allowing a run to score.

 

Matt Argyropoulos got that run back with a home run to lead off the bottom of the second, his first homer since opening night in Orem June 20.

 

Another error on Winkler allowed another Brewer run to score, cutting the Ghosts lead to 4-2.

 

The Ghosts put up another 3-spot in the third. Will Swanner singled with one out, and he scored on a triple by Mende. Carl Thomore brought Mende home with a single. He stole second and scored on a single by Argyropoulos to give the Ghosts a 7-2 lead.

 

Helena scored a run in the fourth on a double by John Dishon to cut the lead to -3.

 

Mende's second homer came with 1 out in the fifth, that made it an 8-3 game, but John Dishon answered with his third home run of the season to cut the lead to four runs.

 

The Ghosts ninth run came via a 2-out rally in the bottom of the sixth. Yafistel Roja singled and then stole second. He scored on a single by David Kandialas to put the Ghosts up 9-4, but Helena answered with two runs in the seventh after Nick Ramirez hit a 2-run homer to make it a 9-6 game.

 

Helena made the Ghosts sweat it out, as they had the tying run in scoring position with two away, but Russell Brewer came in and struck out Kyle Dhanani to lock down his second save of the season.

 

The Ghosts and Brewers continue their 4-game series Sunday afternoon, first pitch is set for 1:05 at Mike Lansing Field.

 

 

Helena Box Score

Eric Arnett optimists, shield your eyes: 4.1 IP, 11 H, 8 R/ER, 1 BB, 2 K. *sigh*

 

Seth Harvey allowed one run in 2.2 IP, allowing two hits, striking out three & walking none. Sean Albury ('11 31st-rd.) pitched a clean 8th inning.

 

Ramirez added two singles to go along with his homer. Dhanani also singled twice. Max Walla walked once, and had a two-out RBI double in Helena's almost-enough rally in the 9th inning. Yadiel Rivera singled twice & walked twice.

 

 

Helena Play-by-Play

The Ghosts were up 9-4 heading into the 7th inning, when Ramirez's longball brought the Brewers back within striking distance:

 

Helena Top of the 7th

• Robert Garvey grounds out, pitcher Alejandro Barraza to first baseman Matthew Argyropoulos.
• Yadiel Rivera walks.
• With Nick Ramirez batting, wild pitch by Alejandro Barraza, Yadiel Rivera to 2nd.
• Nick Ramirez homers (3) on a fly ball to right center field. Yadiel Rivera scores.
• Parker Berberet pops out to second baseman Jose Rivera.
• Max Walla flies out to left fielder Carl Thomore.

And here's the top of the 9th; Helena took Casper down to the wire tonight:

Helena Top of the 9th

• Defensive Substitution: Harold Riggins replaces first baseman Matthew Argyropoulos, batting 8th, playing first base.
• Robert Garvey grounds out, second baseman Jose Rivera to first baseman Harold Riggins.
• Yadiel Rivera singles on a line drive to left fielder Carl Thomore.
• Nick Ramirez singles on a fly ball to left fielder Carl Thomore. Yadiel Rivera to 2nd.
• With Parker Berberet batting, wild pitch by Benjamin Hughes, Yadiel Rivera to 3rd. Nick Ramirez to 2nd.
• Parker Berberet out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder David Kandilas. Yadiel Rivera scores. Nick Ramirez to 3rd.
• Max Walla doubles (6) on a fly ball to left fielder Carl Thomore. Nick Ramirez scores.
• Pitcher Change: Russell Brewer replaces Benjamin Hughes.
• Kyle Dhanani strikes out swinging.

 

[Mass Haas]

The Helena Independent Record summarizes the road contest from a Brewer perspective --

 

Ghosts bruise BrewersThe Casper Ghosts weren’t so friendly to Helena Brewers starting pitcher Eric Arnett on Saturday night.

The hosting Ghosts rocked Arnett for 11 hits and eight earned runs in just 4.1 innings of work and held on for the 9-8 victory despite a late Brewers rally.

Helena fell to 12-14 on the year and a half-game behind Great Falls for last place in the Pioneer League’s North Division. Casper improved to 8-18.

Helena trailed 8-3 before Arnett was replaced by Seth Harvey in the bottom of the fifth.

Arnett combined with Sean Albury for a two-hit relief effort the rest of the way, but the Brewers’ bats couldn’t quite help their team crawl out of the early hole.

Nick Ramirez’ two-run homer to right center in the top of the seventh helped the visitors cut the deficit to 9-6, and the momentum carried over to the final stanza.

Yadiel Rivera and Ramirez both singled and then advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch by Casper reliever Benjamin Hughes to start the Brewers’ final push with one out in the top of the ninth.

Parker Bereberet’s sacrifice fly to center plated Rivera and Ramirez followed him home soon after on a double by Max Walla, but Kyle Dhanani struck out swinging to end the threat.

Casper’s Sam Mende went 3 for 4 with a pair of home runs, four RBIs and three runs scored to lead his team to the win.

Ramirez was 3 for 5 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored to lead the visitors.

Daniel Winkler pitched five innings, allowing six hits and three runs to get his first win.

[Mass Haas]

The Montgomery Advertiser's A. Stacy Long:

 

Left-hander Matt Moore, who leads the Southern League in ERA and strikeouts, will start today's opener and right-hander Shane Dyer the nightcap for the Biscuits.

The Stars will have right-hander Michael Bowman and left-hander Dan Merklinger on the mound.

Both games are scheduled for seven innings.

Moore (7-3, 2.14 ERA) has not lost in his last nine starts and has won four straight. Bowman (2-7, 5.40) is 0-5 with a 7.27 ERA in his last seven games.

Dyer (4-4, 4.32) is winless in his last six starts and Merklinger (5-6, 4.67) has lost his last two outings.

***

 

Infielder Zelous Wheeler just recently rejoined the Huntsville Stars, just in time for this week's trip to Montgomery, which coincided with the AHSAA's All-Star Sports Week.

Wheeler was part of the baseball festivities in 2004 as a pitcher from Childersburg High.

"I remember it was such a good time," Wheeler said. "Coming down here and playing with a lot of great players was something memorable."

Wheeler was with Triple-A Nashville before a knee injury and, once healthy, returned to Huntsville so he could play every day. Saturday marked his 20th game this season with the Stars.

It was convenient timing. He's close to home this series and will be even closer later this month.

"I have quite a few people coming this weekend, but I can't say how many," Wheeler said. "When we go to Birmingham, it will be even more."

***

 

Center fielder Isaias Velasquez authored the surprising second piece of the final crescendo.

With Zach Quate on for his 14th save, the Stars had a runner at second base with one out. Anderson de la Rosa, who cracked a two-run home run in the fifth inning, hit a ball into the right-center field gap.

Velasquez got to it just in time and, with a Willie Mays-style, back-to-the-plate basket catch, pulled it in. Huntsville baserunner Brock Kjeldgaard retreated to second, and was stranded by a game-ending flyout.

"Off the bat, in my head, I thought the ball was down," Henry Wrigley said. "That catch was unreal. I honestly thought he had dropped it, too.

"That definitely saved the game for us."