Link Report for Fri. 7/22 -- Good AAA debut for Schafer; Nelson hitting his stride

[Mass Haas]

Ramirez helps Brewers rip Chukars

Helena Independent Record

Big first baseman Nick Ramirez continued swinging a hot bat for the Helena Brewers on Friday, sparking an 8-2 victory over the Idaho Falls Chukars.

Ramirez, a 6-foot-3, 225-pounder from Anaheim, Calif., went 2 for 4 with two doubles and a pair of RBIs in the second tilt of a four-game set versus the Chukars at Kindrick Legion Field.

Helena starter Eric Arnett hurled the win. He went seven innings and scattered eight hits, while striking out seven. The 6-5 Arnett, who attended the University of Indiana, did not give up a base on balls.

David Goforth tossed the final two innings of hitless and scoreless ball for Helena, striking out three.

Ramirez entered the Pioneer League contest batting .521 with seven doubles and eight home runs over the last 10 games, amassing a 1.125 slugging percentage.

Arnett and Idaho Falls’ Kellen Moen were locked in a scoreless duel until the fourth, when the visitors broke on top 2-0.

The inning saw Chukars manager Brian Buchanan ejected for arguing too aggressively that Mark Threlkeld’s blast into the netting down the left field line should have been called fair instead of foul.

Helena evened the score in their half of the inning, when Ramirez led off with a double and Tyler Roberts walked. Then Max Walla lined a two-bagger to left, plating two runs. Roberts was actually tagged before crossing the plate, but the ball popped out of the catcher’s glove.

Ramirez’s safety extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games.

The hosts went up 4-2 in the fifth, after Gant Elmore walked, Robbie Garvey bunted a single and Ramirez laced his ninth double of the year to drive in two runs.

Manager Joe Aryault’s club then tacked on four more in the sixth stanza to ice the victory, highlighted by a solo home run by Yadiel Rivera.

Garvey (two runs) and Walla (double, two RBIs) joined Ramirez with two hits apiece.

Walla and Elmore made two of the better defensive plays on the night for the Brewers.

The Chukars were paced by Michael Liberto and Threlkeld, at two base knocks each. Idaho Falls used four pitchers, with Moen taking the loss.

All photos by Dylan Brown Independent Record

Brewers' Tyler Roberts knocks the ball out of Idaho Halls catcher Edul Escobar's mitt to tie up the game Friday night at Kindrick Legion Field.

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/d7/dd74b862-b4d8-11e0-875d-001cc4c002e0/4e2a3ae2451e8.image.jpg

 

Mr. Clay Park calls Brewers' Nick Ramirez, center, safe, while Idaho Falls second baseman Michael Liberto contests the call

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/0c/b0cb1748-b4d8-11e0-bdca-001cc4c002e0/4e2a3a9755940.image.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Nelson steadily improving

by Jim Oskola, Appleton Post Crescent

 

Jimmy Nelson might not get promoted to high Class A Brevard County in the Florida State League this season but over his last five starts, the big Timber Rattlers right-hander has shown that he is certainly figuring out what it takes to succeed.

 

After a start on June 7 at Bowling Green during which he gave up seven runs in five innings, Nelson had a 1-5 record with an ERA of 5.68.

Since that start, Nelson has gone 4-2 with four no-decisions.

 

Over those 57 2/3 innings, Nelson, the Brewers tenth-ranked prospect, has allowed 50 hits, 21 walks and 22 runs (19 earned). That translates into a 2.98 ERA.

 

Take a look at his last five starts covering 33 2/3 innings and the ERA is even better - 2.13.

 

After his last start at Fox Cities Stadium, Nelson gave a lot of credit to his defense, commenting that they played well behind him and bailed him out of some tough spots.

 

Maybe, but one doesn't come up with an ERA of 2.13 unless he's doing something right on his own, too.

[Mass Haas]

Friday night’s game between the St. Lucie Mets and the Brevard County Manatees was postponed because of rain.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader, set to start at 10:30 AM (9:30 Central) Sunday in Port St. Lucie.

***

Trying to remember if the Manatees will be allowed to be the home game for one of the contests, for some reason I don't believe that's been the case in these situations. We'll see Sunday.

[molitor fan]

http://web.minorleaguebas...p;t=p_pbp&pid=598286

 

The above is the recount of Nick the Stick's recent ten game barage.......amazing stuff and he leads the league in OPS by a wide margin.....Ramirez leads the league in dingers and Yadiel is 2nd

[gregmag]

Did April Fool's Day come early this year? A strong start by Arnett, Rogers pitching and not walking anybody, Rivas pitching well and not walking anybody . . . these are guys who, at this point, almost no one is seriously counting on. Jimmy Nelson pitched great. Then we get Schafer starting strong at AAA and Khris D. getting his feet wet at AA. Baby steps all, but still, that's one very encouraging day.

[bubblegum tate]

If Nick Ramirez is still at Helena on Monday I'm gonna....I'm gonna... I'm gonna just bite my pillow!

This made my day - wonderful reference.

Agreed on Ramirez. I can't remember ever having this much prospect depth at 1B.

[LouisEly]

Schafer also walked; great to see him get off on the right foot.

I hope you knocked on wood when you typed this...

[TooLiveBrew]

Cameron Garfield went 1-4 with a double, but was replaced in the bottom of the 7th after a successful steal of 2B by the Dodgers' Devon Shines. Adam Weisenburger came on to replace Garfield; no word on whether the substitution was injury-related, but it certainly seems like a strange time to replace the young backstop Garfield if there was no injury concern.

Sadly, as Sessile Fielder noted in the MiLB transactions thread, Jim Breen tweeted that Garfield suffered a dislocated knee. The 2009 2nd rounder has definitely had rough luck with injuries so far in his young career, and a major knee injury is certainly a big obstacle for someone trying to develop as a catcher. Hope you can bounce all the way back, Cameron.

 

It was only 38 PAs in Maryvale, but Garfield's slash line so far was .361/.395/.667/1.061. This is his age-20 season.

[CheezWizHed]

Green did not get on base

He was hit by a pitch. Bite your tongue.

Mat Gamel blooped an opposite-field ducksnort to left that dropped right onto the foul line for an RBI single that knocked in Taylor Green and increased the Sounds' advantage to 4-1.

Too bad, cause it would have been really impressive to score without getting on base. That might have really gotten RR's attention. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

[battlekow]

Mat Gamel blooped an opposite-field ducksnort to left that dropped right onto the foul line for an RBI single that knocked in Taylor Green and increased the Sounds' advantage to 4-1.

 

Too bad, cause it would have been really impressive to score without getting on base. That might have really gotten RR's attention. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

Well, he could have gotten on via a fielder's choice or error, neither of which count as "getting on base" though they literally are instances of that.