Link Report for Games of Sunday 7/17

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

Nashville: RHP Amaury Rivas at home vs. Albuquerque (Dodgers), 6:20 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime
Live Audio Link
iPad/iPhone: Listen
MiLB.TV -- for subscribers

Huntsville: RHP Michael Bowman and LHP Dan Merklinger in a doubleheader at Montgomery (Rays), 5:05 PM gametime; each contest slated for seven innings
Live Audio Link -- This is the Biscuits' feed

Brevard County: TBD at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 4:05 PM gametime
Live Audio Link -- Select the Palm Beach feed from the MiLB main audio page

Wisconsin: LHP Charly Bashara at home vs. South Bend (Diamondbacks), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 gametime
Live Audio Link
MiLB.TV -- for subscribers

Helena: RHP Chad Pierce at Casper (Rockies), 1:50 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime
Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Diamondbacks' complex in Phoenix; 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

DSL Brewers: Idle

[Mass Haas]

This is the unique eight-game Brevard road trip where each contest is in the same ballpark -- Jupiter and Palm Beach share the same complex.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

 

Huntsville Game One (Gameday also available)

 

Huntsville Game Two (Gameday also available)

 

Brevard County

Wisconsin

Helena

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale)

[Mass Haas]

Look for the Nashville and Wisconsin media notes here and here later on, respectively.

 

If Huntsville posts theirs, it will be found by placing your cursor over the "roster" banner at the Stars' home page.

 

Enjoy your summer Sunday.

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	51	43	.543	-	-	27-20	24-23	5-5	W1
	Memphis	49	45	.521	2.0	49	28-19	21-26	4-6	L1
	Iowa	43	51	.457	8.0	43	26-21	17-30	2-8	W2
	Nashville	43	51	.457	8.0	43	29-21	14-30	5-5	L2

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Chattanooga	14	9	.609	-	-	7-6	7-3	6-4	W1
	Carolina	10	12	.455	3.5	45	5-7	5-5	6-4	L3
	Huntsville	10	12	.455	3.5	45	4-6	6-6	3-7	L1
	Jackson	10	13	.435	4.0	44	4-6	6-7	6-4	W3
*	Tennessee	10	13	.435	4.0	44	6-4	4-9	2-8	L2

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tampa	12	10	.545	-	-	7-5	5-5	6-4	L1
*	Daytona	11	11	.500	1.0	48	4-6	7-5	4-6	W1
	Dunedin	11	11	.500	1.0	48	4-5	7-6	4-6	W1
	Lakeland	10	10	.500	1.0	49	5-5	5-5	6-4	L1
	Clearwater	10	12	.455	2.0	47	6-6	4-6	5-5	W1
	Brevard County	8	12	.400	3.0	47	5-6	3-6	3-7	L3

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Kane County	13	9	.591	-	-	6-7	7-2	5-5	L4
	Quad Cities	13	9	.591	-	-	8-5	5-4	8-2	W2
	Beloit	12	10	.545	1.0	48	6-7	6-3	5-5	L2
	Clinton	12	10	.545	1.0	48	6-7	6-3	5-5	L3
	Cedar Rapids	11	11	.500	2.0	47	8-5	3-6	6-4	W5
	Peoria	9	13	.409	4.0	45	4-9	5-4	5-5	L1
	Wisconsin	9	13	.409	4.0	45	4-9	5-4	2-8	L2
*	Burlington	8	14	.364	5.0	44	6-7	2-7	3-7	W1

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Missoula	15	11	.577	-	-	6-6	9-5	7-3	L1
	Billings	14	12	.538	1.0	12	7-7	7-5	5-5	W1
	Great Falls	12	13	.480	2.5	11	6-7	6-6	5-5	W1
	Helena	12	14	.462	3.0	10	6-6	6-8	4-6	L1

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Indians	11	9	.550	-	-	5-5	6-4	6-4	W2
	AZL Reds	11	10	.524	0.5	36	7-4	4-6	6-4	L1
	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	31	10	.756	-	-	17-4	14-6	8-2	W3
	DSL Brewers	27	14	.659	4.0	28	13-8	14-6	7-3	L1
	DSL Cardinals	13	29	.310	18.5	13	9-12	4-17	3-7	L3
	DSL Athletics	13	30	.302	19.0	12	8-12	5-18	2-8	W1

[tstads20]

Wait...didn't Hiram Burgos pitch last night for Brevard County?

 

Either that, or I fell asleep for 5 days. I'm lost in time! I need to seek out Doc Brown!

[Mass Haas]

Wait...didn't Hiram Burgos pitch last night for Brevard County?

 

Either that, or I fell asleep for 5 days. I'm lost in time! I need to seek out Doc Brown!

Thanks, adjusted to TBD.

[BrewCrewForever]

I really hope Taylor Green is out of the lineup for Nashville today http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[battlekow]

Final: South Bend 7, @Wisconsin 6 (14 innings)

Hawks 14th inning homer beats Rattlers

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GRAND CHUTE, WI – Matt Helm hit a two-out solo home run in the top of the fourteenth inning to provide the winning margin for the South Bend Silver Hawks over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Sunday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. South Bend topped the Rattlers 7-6.

Wisconsin (47-46 overall, 9-14 second half) got off to a start that was as hot as the weather. The Rattlers scored three times in the bottom of the first inning. Mike Walker and Jason Rogers collected back-to-back RBI doubles for a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, Cody Hawn scored on an error.

But, South Bend (42-50, 8-15) rallied to take the lead. They scored twice in the top of the second inning on an RBI triple by Gerson Montilla and an RBI grounder by Roberto Ortiz. The Hawks added three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Roberto Rodriguez tripled in a run and would score on a single by Montilla. Later in the fourth, Niko Gallefo drove in Montilla for a 5-3 lead.

Wisconsin rallied back to tie the game with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Chad Stang tripled with one out in the sixth and scored on a ground out by Joey Paciorek. Rogers delivered an RBI double with two outs in the seventh to even the score 5-5.

The score stayed that way until the eleventh. Greg Holle, who had pitched three scoreless innings, gave up a leadoff double in the top of the eleventh. Adrian Rosario relieved Holle and retired Ender Inciarte on a sacrifice bunt that moved the go ahead run to third. Then, Rosario threw a wild pitch that let in the go ahead run.

But, the Rattlers responded in the bottom of the inning. Reggie Keen singled to start the Wisconsin half of the eleventh inning. One out later, Walker singled to send Keen to third. Rogers followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at six.

Rosario retired the first two Silver Hawks in the top of the fourteenth. But, Helm would drive the first pitch he saw in the fourteenth over the wall in left for his fourth home run of the season.

Hawn would single to start the bottom of the fourteenth to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. But, Hawn was left stranded at second base when the game ended.

The Rattlers and Silver Hawks wrap their series on Monday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Game time is 12:05pm. Wisconsin has Brooks Hall (4-2, 4.14) as their scheduled starting pitcher. South Bend has Tyler Green (3-4, 4.91) heading to the mound.

Monday is a bonus Baker Tilly Business Person's Special on Monday with a box seat ticket, a beverage, and a brat or hot dog for $11.50 and a business card. Senior citizens may take advantage of this deal, too. Plus, it is a Qdoba Q*Monday. Fans receive a free ticket to any Monday home game when they purchase a lunch entrée at the Qdoba by the Fox River Mall.

Also, the first 1,000 fans will receive a poster of Brooks Hall, which is poster #8 in a series of 10 that are being given away during the 2011 season.

Wisconsin box score

Well, the in the Holle profile today the Rattlers said they wanted to stretch him out--what better chance than a 14-inning game? Tough duty for Rosario too, though at least he's been a starter for most of the year. Stosh Wawrzasek turned in a nice outing, 2.2 scoreless innings with a 2/0 K/BB. Keen had a great day, on five times in seven trips with three singles and two walks; remarkably, he didn't steal a base in all those opportunities, though he was caught once. Walker was nearly as good, on four times, including three hits. TJ Mittelstaedt did not play.

Wisconsin play-by-play

Chance to win in the 13th:

Wisconsin Bottom of the 13th

• Franklin Romero pops out to second baseman Niko Gallego.
• Reggie Keen pops out to second baseman Niko Gallego.
• Nick Shaw singles on a ground ball to left fielder Roberto Rodriguez.
• Michael Walker singles on a fly ball to center fielder Ender Inciarte. Nick Shaw to 3rd. Michael Walker to 2nd on the throw.
• Jason Rogers grounds out, third baseman Matt Helm to first baseman Yazy Arbelo.

[battlekow]

Final: Brevard County 7, @Palm Beach 0

Cardinals Manage Just Three Hits in 7-0 Loss

Tyler Krochmal/Palm Beach Cardinals

JUPITER, Fla. - The Palm Beach Cardinals (13-11, 42-51) were out-hit 11-3 and managed just five baserunners all night in a 7-0 shutout loss to the Brevard County Manatees (9-12, 36-55) Sunday evening in game one of a four-game series at Roger Dean Stadium.

Blaine Boyer (0-1, 9.53 ERA) suffered the loss in his second appearance of the season with Palm Beach, allowing three earned runs off two hits and a walk. Boyer, a right-hander who was signed by the Cardinals as a Minor League free agent July 7, has spent parts of seven seasons in the Major Leagues with four different teams (including St. Louis) but had never made a start until last week.

The 30-year-old veteran cruised through the first three innings without allowing a hit until Scooter Gennett led off the fourth with a single. Hunter Morris drew a one-out walk to put two on for Khris Davis, who hit a towering three-run homer, his 15th of the year, to left that would ultimately stand up as the game-winner.

Arquimedes Nieto replaced Boyer to begin the fifth inning and set the 'Tees down in order before running into trouble in the sixth, beginning with a one-out single from Davis. Morris followed with a single to center and Kentrail Davis knocked home one with a dribbler back to the mound. D'Vontrey Richardson followed with another run-scoring hit and Shea Vucinich capped the scoring with a deep sacrifice fly to left, leaving the score at 6-0 after six.

The Manatees strung together three hits again to begin the seventh inning to add on another insurance run and end the night for Nieto, who ended up allowing seven hits and four earned runs in 3.0 innings. Right-hander Chris Corrigan finished out the game for Palm Beach with two scoreless innings.

Ted Obregon recorded two of the Cardinals' three hits on the night, with Adam Melker contributing a sixth-inning single as well. Brevard County starter R.J. Seidel (3-3, 3.31 ERA) allowed just one hit and struck out five through 5.2 innings and Evan Anundsen picked up his first save with 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Palm Beach will look to bounce back from the tough loss tomorrow night as right-hander Richard Castillo (0-2, 7.94 ERA) takes the hill against righty Austin Ross (0-1, 5.06 ERA) for the Manatees. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Roger Dean Stadium.

Brevard County box score

Very nice work between the two 'Tees hurlers. Khris Davis had three hits, which is very ordinary. The other Chris, Dennis, had two hits, which is pretty out of the ordinary considering his performance at BC so far this year--he had only three entering the day, in 44 PAs. D'Vo continues to stuff the stat sheet in creative ways, getting caught stealing for the ninth time and picking up another outfield assist.

Brevard County play-by-play

[battlekow]

Chris's postgame thoughts

[battlekow]

Final (game one): @Montgomery 4, Huntsville 3 (7 innings)

Huntsville box score

Michael Bowman continues to get hammered, allowing four runs on ten hits in five innings. Santo Manzanillo worked a scoreless frame but didn't strike anyone out. The Stars actually fared pretty well against Rays megaprospect Matt Moore, scoring three runs off him in 5.2 innings while tallying six hits and two walks. Erik Komatsu had two hits, one of them a double, and Hainley Statia and Matt Cline also had two knocks. Lee Haydel did not play for the second straight day.

Huntsville play-by-play

Single runs in the 5th and 6th narrowed the gap to one, but the Stars left a runner on second in both innings, plus the 7th:

Huntsville Top of the 5th

• Hainley Statia singles on a line drive to center fielder Isaias Velasquez.
• Matt Cline pops out to first baseman Henry Wrigley in foul territory.
• Logan Schafer singles on a line drive to left fielder Stephen Vogt. Hainley Statia to 2nd.
• Erik Komatsu singles on a line drive to left fielder Stephen Vogt. Hainley Statia scores. Logan Schafer to 2nd.
• Sean Halton strikes out swinging.
• Zelous Wheeler flies out to right fielder Kyeong Kang.

Huntsville Top of the 6th

• Steffan Wilson grounds out, third baseman Greg Sexton to first baseman Henry Wrigley.
• Brock Kjeldgaard grounds out, third baseman Greg Sexton to first baseman Henry Wrigley.
• Martin Maldonado walks.
• Hainley Statia singles on a ground ball to left fielder Stephen Vogt. Martin Maldonado to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: Marquis Fleming replaces Matt Moore.
• Matt Cline singles on a line drive to left fielder Stephen Vogt. Martin Maldonado scores. Hainley Statia to 2nd.
• Logan Schafer strikes out swinging, catcher Nevin Ashley to first baseman Henry Wrigley.

Huntsville Top of the 7th

• Erik Komatsu grounds out, second baseman Cole Figueroa to first baseman Henry Wrigley.
• Sean Halton walks.
• Zelous Wheeler flies out to center fielder Isaias Velasquez.
• Steffan Wilson walks. Sean Halton to 2nd.
• Brock Kjeldgaard grounds out, third baseman Greg Sexton to first baseman Henry Wrigley.

[battlekow]

Final: Albuquerque 9, @Nashville 5

Sounds Drop Homestand Finale To Isotopes, 9-5

Nashville Sounds

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds closed out their homestand with a 9-5 loss to the Albuquerque Isotopes on Sunday evening at Greer Stadium.

With the victory, Albuquerque took three of five in the series against the Sounds (43-52) and won the season series between the clubs by a 10-6 margin.

Five of Nashville's eight hits on the night went for extra bases, including a pair of doubles off the bat of Erick Almonte.

The Sounds jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of first-inning runs against Albuquerque starter John Ely.

Shortstop Eric Farris led off the Sounds' first with his fifth home run of the year, a solo shot down the left field line. Nashville doubled its advantage later in the frame when Almonte doubled and scored on a Taylor Green single.

Nashville upped its lead to 3-0 in the second when Jordan Brown opened the frame by bouncing a double over the right field wall and later raced home on a Farris sacrifice fly. The two-bagger extended Brown's hitting streak to six games, the longest active on the club.

Albuquerque evened the score at 3-3 in the top of the fourth against Sounds starter Amaury Rivas. With runners on first and second, Jamie Hoffmann hit a grounder to short and Farris misfired into right field on the force attempt, allowing ex-Sound Jay Gibbons (3-for-4) to score the visitors' first run of the night. A.J. Ellis followed with a game-tying, two-run double to left.

Trayvon Robinson put the visitors in front, 7-3, in the fifth when he slugged a grand slam off Rivas, his team-leading 23rd roundtripper of the year and the PCL-leading sixth bases-loaded blast served up by Sounds pitching this season. To fill the bags for Robinson, Ivan De Jesus Jr. singled and Gibbons and Russ Mitchell drew back-to-back walks.

Nashville got a run back in the bottom of the fifth in unearned fashion against Ely. Farris led off and reached on a fielding error by shortstop Dee Gordon and later scored on a Mat Gamel groundout to make it a 7-4 contest.

The Sounds reduced the deficit to 7-5 in the eighth when Brown slapped a two-out RBI single to right to plate Green, who led off with a double against Isotopes reliever Travis Schlichting.

Albuquerque tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth against Donovan Hand to stretch its advantage to 9-5. Ellis and Joe Becker did the damage with back-to-back two-out RBI singles.

Ely (6-4) picked up the win after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits over five innings of work.

Rivas (6-9) suffered his team-leading ninth loss of the year for the Sounds after giving up seven runs (six earned) on four hits while walking five batters and striking out one in his five frames of action. The right-hander went 0-4 in four starts against Albuquerque this season.

The Sounds travel to Des Moines, Iowa tomorrow to begin a stretch of eight straight games against the division-rival Iowa Cubs. The teams will play a four-game series at Principal Park before continuing to Greer Stadium on Friday to play four more.

Right-hander Frankie De La Cruz (3-6, 4.51) will make the start for Nashville in Monday's 7:05 p.m. series opener. Iowa will counter with right-hander Alberto Cabrera (1-2, 7.00).

Nashville box score

Rivas certainly has no pitched well this year. Dan Meadows contributed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. Farris was at shortstop and Green at second base again; Farris committed a throwing error, his sixth in 20 games there.

Nashville play-by-play

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Casper 4, Helena 3

 

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

 

Brewers fall again in Casper

The Helena Brewers led after one inning, but dropped a 4-3 decision against the Casper Ghosts on Sunday afternoon at Mike Lansing Field in Casper, Wyo.

With the loss, the Brewers remained last in the Pioneer League’s North Division and slipped to 12-15 overall — 5-11 this month. Casper improved to 9-18, but is still bringing up the rear in the South Division.

First baseman Nick Ramirez paced Helena’s offense, going 2 for 5 with a home run. Shortstop Yadiel Rivera was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs, and left fielder John Dishon was 2 for 3.

Helena starter Chad Pierce (0-2) pitched four innings and allowed three runs on seven hits before giving way to Kevin Shackelford and David Goforth, who each pitched two innings. Shackelford gave up Casper’s fourth run in the fifth inning.

Raul Fernandez collected the win for Casper to improve to 2-4, while Michael Wolford collected the save.

 

***

 

Thomore's catch helps preserve Ghosts winCasper Ghosts

Carl Thomore's diving catch in the 8th inning with two runners on base, helped preserve a 4-3 win over the Helena Brewers at Mike Lansing Field.

Helena struck first with a run in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, but the Ghosts took the lead in the second. Trevor Story singled with one out. He stole second, and took third on a wild pitch, which allowed him to score on an error by catcher Tyler Roberts. After that, Harold Riggins doubled and stole third. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Argyropoulos to give the Ghosts a 2-1 lead.

Sam Mende drove the Ghosts last two runs home, the first was on a ground out, the second on a double, which put the Ghosts in front 4-1.

Helena scored a run in the sixth on a Nick Ramirez solo homer, and they made it a one run game in the 8th, and could've had more, but Carl Thomore made a diving catch with two on base to end the inning.

Mike Wolford allowed two base runners in the ninth, but was able to hold the lead to pick up his 3rd save of the season.

 

Raul Fernandez picked up his second win of the season, allowing just one run over five innings.

The Ghosts and Brewers will continue their series Monday night at Mike Lansing Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 (8:05 Central).

Helena Box Score

Nick Ramirez has only walked twice in 77 AB's, otherwise he's showing the power is legit -- he'll turn 22 next month; Yadiel Rivera continues to intrigue, there are holes in his game that will slowly fill in...

 

Helena Play-by-Play

How did catcher Tyler Roberts apparently hurt himself here (a throw to third base)?

 

Casper Bottom of the 2nd

• Samuel Mende grounds out, second baseman Gant Elmore to first baseman Nick Ramirez.
  
• Trevor Story singles on a line drive to center fielder Robert Garvey.
  
• With Harold Riggins batting, Trevor Story steals (2) 2nd base.
  
• With Harold Riggins batting, wild pitch by Chad Pierce, Trevor Story scores. Throwing error by catcher Tyler Roberts.
  
• Harold Riggins hits a ground-rule double (5) on a line drive down the right-field line.
  
• Carl Thomore walks.
  
• Defensive Substitution: Douglas Elliot replaces catcher Tyler Roberts, batting 4th, playing catcher.
  
• With Matthew Argyropoulos batting, Harold Riggins steals (1) 3rd base. Carl Thomore steals (4) 2nd base.
  
• Matthew Argyropoulos out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Max Walla. Harold Riggins scores.
  
• Yafistel Roja flies out to left fielder John Dishon.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @AZL Diamondbacks 4, AZL Brewers 3

Arizona Box Score

Each team committed four errors, but the A-Crew allowed two unearned runs to score, including a walk-off run, and the mini-Snakes allowed one unearned run -- difference in the game; Brewer pitchers threw two wild pitches, there was a balk, and a passed ball, so it was as sloppy as a 4-3 loss gets; RHP Mark Rogers began to stretch out -- he came on in the 2nd inning for rehabbing LHP Brae Wright (another scoreless one-inning outing for Brae), and Rogers tossed 3.1 IP (3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K); RHP Mike White tossed three innings (one run); RF Jose Garcia singled, walked, scored a run and drove one in; 3B Jalen Harris drew two of the club's six walks; 2B Kevin Berard can always say he got a hit off a big leaguer -- singled off rehabbing J.J. Putz to lead off the game; Brewers stranded nine and were 1-for-13 with RISP to fall to 4-17...

 

Arizona Play-by-Play

Gave away the first run of the game --

 

AZL D-backs Bottom of the 4th

• Socrates Brito reaches on throwing error by third baseman Jalen Harris.
  
• Joseph Weik reaches on force attempt, fielding error by third baseman Jalen Harris. Socrates Brito to 2nd.
  
• Pat Donahue bunt pops out to catcher Steve Felix.
  
• With Derek Luciano batting, Socrates Brito steals (4) 3rd base, Socrates Brito scores. Throwing error by catcher Steve Felix.
  
• Derek Luciano strikes out swinging.
  
• Jacob Williams grounds out, third baseman Jalen Harris to first baseman Hitaniel Arias.

Steve Felix got a bit greedy on this steal of third base --

 

AZL Brewers Top of the 8th

• Steve Felix doubles (3) on a fly ball to right fielder Socrates Brito.
  
• With Hitaniel Arias batting, Steve Felix steals (6) 3rd base. Steve Felix out at home, left fielder Derek Luciano to catcher Tyson Van Winkle.
  
• Hitaniel Arias strikes out swinging, catcher Tyson Van Winkle to first baseman Jacob Williams.
  
• Jalen Harris walks.
  
• Matthew Franco reaches on fielding error by second baseman John Leonard. Jalen Harris to 3rd.
  
• With Malcolm Dowell batting, Matthew Franco steals (1) 2nd base.
  
• Malcolm Dowell grounds out, second baseman John Leonard to first baseman Jacob Williams.

This may just be the most ridiculous losing rally we've ever seen here --

 

AZL D-backs Bottom of the 9th

• Defensive Substitution: Jimmie Pharr replaces catcher Steve Felix, batting 4th, playing catcher.
  
• Pitcher Change: Mitchell Conner replaces Michael White.
  
• Tyson Van Winkle reaches on fielding error by shortstop Brandon Macias.
  
• Pedro Ruiz out on a sacrifice bunt, first baseman Hitaniel Arias to second baseman Kevin Berard. Tyson Van Winkle to 2nd.
  
• John Leonard strikes out swinging.
  
• With Wagner Mateo batting, wild pitch by Mitchell Conner, Tyson Van Winkle to 3rd.
  
• With Wagner Mateo batting, Tyson Van Winkle scores on a balk.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game Two: Huntsville 5, @Montgomery 2

Huntsville Game Two Box Score

Sweet seven-inning complete-game effort by LHP Dan Merklinger -- 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 94 pitches, 59 strikes; RF Erik Komatsu signled three times in four trips and stole his 12th base in 18 attempts...

 

Huntsville Game Two Play-by-Play

1B Sean Halton hit a two-run HR in the key four-run 5th --

 

Huntsville Top of the 5th

• Anderson De La Rosa flies out softly to right fielder Kyeong Kang.
  
• Sergio Miranda doubles (7) on a line drive to left fielder John Shelby.
  
• Matt Cline doubles (9) on a line drive to right fielder Kyeong Kang. Sergio Miranda scores.
  
• Logan Schafer lines out to first baseman Henry Wrigley.
  
• Erik Komatsu singles on a line drive to left fielder John Shelby. Matt Cline scores.
  
• Sean Halton homers (7) on a fly ball to left field. Erik Komatsu scores.
  
• Zelous Wheeler walks.
  
• Brock Kjeldgaard strikes out swinging.

Steffan Wilson replaced Halton defensively in the 6th and led off the 7th, perhaps just to get Wilson an AB here, otherwise no reason given...

[JohnBriggs12]

Nice to see Halton with his 2nd dinger in 3 days. He's proven he can hit. At 6'5", 265, it's just got to be a question of getting a little elevation.

[Mass Haas]

Timber Rattlers can't beat the heat, Silver Hawks

by Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

GRAND CHUTE — Baseball is the great equalizer — a sport where game patterns have a way of reversing themselves.

A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers team that had a knack for winning tight games earlier this season is now experiencing life on the other side.

The Rattlers pounded out 14 hits Sunday, but it wasn't enough to pull them out of a mid-July skid with a 7-6, 14-inning setback to the visiting South Bend Silver Hawks.

It was the third straight one-run defeat for the Timber Rattlers (47-46 overall, 9-14 second half) and their eighth loss in the past nine games.

Wisconsin isn't playing sloppy ball, but hasn't been getting timely hitting and the Rattlers struggled in the clutch again Sunday, stranding 14 baserunners.

"We won quite a few one-run games early and now we're in a stretch when we've been losing close games," said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. "It would be nice to come out and bury someone. We're not throwing games away. We're competing nightly. We're in every ballgame. But we need to clean up the little things, the fundamentals. That's how you win close ballgames.

"Today, South Bend did a better job of executing the fundamentals. They got a couple bunts down and we got a runner picked off in a key situation. Those little things kind of crept up on us."

Fatigue may have hurt the Rattlers' focus Sunday. Temperatures soared as high as 93 degrees on the scorcher of an afternoon and the heat index was 105 at one point. The marathon game lasted four hours and 49 minutes.

"The heat was brutal — I'm not going to kid you, man," said Wisconsin third baseman Mike Walker. "I probably lost 15 pounds today. You get a little tired. Maybe you miss some pitches that you would have hit earlier in the game. By the 10th or 11th inning, you're kind of dragging a little and they keep bringing in fresh pitchers who have been sitting around all day. But shoot, what are you going to do? That's baseball."

Despite the loss, Walker likes the fight he sees in his teammates, who rallied from a 5-3 deficit to force extra innings.

"I thought we battled," said Walker. "Things aren't going our way right now, but it's nice to see we're battling and coming every day. We're losing some tough ones and this was a tough one. But you know what? You've got to kind of love games like this. It sucks to lose, but it was a well-played game."

Walker and center fielder Reggie Keen both went three-for-five to lead the Rattlers hitting attack, while designated hitter Jason Rogers slammed a pair of RBI doubles and added a game-tying sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 11th to extend the marathon.

Walker slugged a first- inning run-scoring double that pushed his RBI total to a team-high 64. Meanwhile, first baseman Cody Hawn singled in his final at-bat in the bottom of the 14th to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.

Another bright spot was the work of Wisconsin's bullpen. Rattlers starter Charly Bashara was chased in the top of the fourth and allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits. But relievers Stosh Wawrzasek, Brian Garman, Greg Holle and Adrian Rosario allowed just two runs on eight hits over the final 10 2/3 innings.

Matt Helm's solo two-out homer to left off Rosario in the top of the 14th eventually ended the stalemate. Rosario pitched the final four innings and allowed the one run on four hits with three strikeouts.

"Our bullpen was very solid," said Erickson. "It's what extended the game. They did their job. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a run across."