Link Report for Fri. 7/29 -- Brooks Hall strikes out ten more than Nick Bucci

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

Nashville: LHP Chase Wright at Oklahoma City (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime
Live Audio Link -- Select the Nashville feed from the MiLB main audio page
MiLB.TV -- for subscribers

Huntsville: LHP Dan Merklinger at Birmingham (White Sox), 7:05 PM gametime
Live Audio Link -- It's the Barons' feed...

Brevard County: RHP Nick Bucci at home vs. Bradenton (Pirates), 6:05 PM gametime
Live Audio Link -- Select the Bradenton feed from the MiLB main audio page

Wisconsin: RHP Brooks Hall at Clinton (Mariners), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime
Live Audio Link

Helena: RHP Tommy Toledo (11th round, 2011) makes his 1st pro start (3rd appearance) at Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime
Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Just-turned 19-year-old LHP Will West at the Royals' complex in Surprise; 1:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

DSL Brewers: at the DSL Red Sox, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville (Gameday also available)

 

Huntsville (Gameday also available)

 

Brevard County

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale)

DSL Brewers

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	56	49	.533	-	-	31-24	25-25	4-6	L1
	Memphis	52	53	.495	4.0	35	30-21	22-32	3-7	L2
	Nashville	52	54	.491	4.5	35	32-23	20-31	8-2	W1
	Iowa	46	59	.438	10.0	30	27-25	19-34	2-8	L1

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Chattanooga	20	13	.606	-	-	9-9	11-4	6-4	W1
*	Tennessee	15	18	.455	5.0	33	9-6	6-12	5-5	L2
	Carolina	14	19	.424	6.0	32	7-11	7-8	3-7	L7
	Huntsville	14	19	.424	6.0	32	5-10	9-9	4-6	L2
	Jackson	13	20	.394	7.0	31	6-9	7-11	3-7	L1

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tampa	20	14	.588	-	-	9-7	11-7	7-3	W4
	Clearwater	17	17	.500	3.0	34	13-7	4-10	7-3	W1
	Brevard County	16	16	.500	3.0	35	0-0	0-0	0-0	L2
*	Daytona	16	18	.471	4.0	33	6-8	10-10	4-6	L2
	Dunedin	16	18	.471	4.0	33	5-8	11-10	4-6	L1
	Lakeland	13	19	.406	6.0	32	8-10	5-9	2-8	L3

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Kane County	19	13	.594	-	-	8-9	11-4	6-4	W1
	Quad Cities	19	13	.594	-	-	11-6	8-7	6-4	W3
	Clinton	17	15	.531	2.0	37	9-8	8-7	5-5	W3
	Beloit	16	16	.500	3.0	36	8-7	8-9	4-6	W2
	Cedar Rapids	14	18	.438	5.0	34	8-7	6-11	3-7	L1
	Wisconsin	13	19	.406	6.0	33	5-10	8-9	4-6	L2
	Peoria	10	22	.313	9.0	30	4-11	6-11	1-9	L4
*	Burlington	9	23	.281	10.0	29	7-10	2-13	1-9	L9

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Missoula	24	12	.667	-	-	13-6	11-6	9-1	W7
	Billings	19	17	.528	5.0	E	8-9	11-8	5-5	L1
	Helena	17	19	.472	7.0	E	9-10	8-9	5-5	W1
	Great Falls	16	20	.444	8.0	E	8-9	8-11	3-7	L4

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Dodgers	16	14	.533	-	-	8-8	8-6	6-4	W4
	AZL Indians	15	14	.517	0.5	27	7-7	8-7	5-5	W1
	AZL Reds	15	15	.500	1.0	26	8-7	7-8	4-6	L1
	AZL Brewers	7	21	.250	8.0	20	4-11	3-10	3-7	L4

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Mariners	36	15	.706	-	-	19-6	17-9	5-5	L1
	DSL Brewers	32	19	.627	4.0	18	16-10	16-9	5-5	W1
	DSL Cardinals	19	32	.373	17.0	5	12-14	7-18	6-4	W3
	DSL Athletics	17	35	.327	19.5	2	10-15	7-20	5-5	L3

[Mass Haas]

Standings stuff --

 

Boy, that doubleheader sweep hurt Brevard Thursday. If we did an analysis of his clubs' record in all the games Rolando Pascual ever has appeared in, the winning percentage has to be .250 or below.

 

How 'bout them Sounds? 4.5 games back. Four games remain vs. first place Omaha, on the road in late August.

 

You know Brewers' brass really hopes Nashville or Brevard, with the best chances now, make the playoffs. Those early September minor league playoff games could be key for a rehabbing Rickie Weeks or any other player working back from injury.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Media Notes

[battlekow]

Final: AZL Brewers 6, @AZL Royals 4

AZL Brewers box score

As a 6'4" 19-year-old lefty, Will West is intriguing physically, but his pitching line was pretty blah: 3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. Mike Francisco pitched for the first time since the 20th and got the save. The Royals doubled up the Brewers in hits, 12 to 6, but the Brewers made theirs count. Greybeard Steve Felix, one of the A-Team's various and sundry backstops (though he's actually only caught one game this year, now that I look at it) homered and tripled, and Jose Garcia had another nice game, 2-3 with a triple and a walk; the walk was just his third of the year. Jalen Harris hasn't had trouble walking this year but hasn't done much else, and that was true as ever today, as he drew three free passes but went 0-2 otherwise. Renaldo Jenkins had it worse: hitless as well but with the "3" in the strikeouts column instead. Nobody has it worse than Ronny Puello, though--0-4 today and 3-52 this year.

AZL Brewers play-by-play

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Lineup and Media Notes

[sfl2hnq17]

How about that brooks hall and tommy toledo's first inning?

[ramssuperbowl99]

Taylor Green walked 3 times. C'mon Doug. The guy has made 1 out in his past 10 trips to the plate.

[And That]

It's not just that McGehee is hitting poorly, it's a disgrace that you have a hard worker, a grinder, who is killing AAA and you just leave him there to rot. In my 10+ years of writing about this team, I don't think I've ever been more exasperated about a non-move.

[TheCrew07]

If Green isn't the list and wasn't called up simply because they really "wanted to McGehee going"... well that's just par for the course with Melvin as far as I'm concerned. Casey has looked much better in the last week (I should probably go check his stats before I say that), but that doesn't mean riding him out this long was the correct decision.

[battlekow]

Final: @Oklahoma City 5, Nashville 3

Sounds Drop Road Trip Finale, 5-3

Nashville Sounds

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Oklahoma City RedHawks rallied from an early deficit then held on to record a 5-3 victory over the Nashville Sounds on Friday evening at RedHawks Field in the finale of a four-game series.

Oklahoma City gained a split of the four-game set against the Sounds (52-55) and earned a 9-7 win in the season series against Nashville.

Sounds batters had plenty of opportunities in the contest but finished just 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position on the night, leaving 12 runners on base.

Nashville took an early 2-0 lead with single runs in the first two innings of action against Oklahoma City starter Andy Van Hekken.

Logan Schafer led off the contest by extending his hit streak to eight games with a single then scored the night's first run when Caleb Gindl followed with an RBI double to left.

The Sounds doubled the advantage in the second when catcher Martin Maldonado doubled with one out and came around to score on a two-out Schafer triple to left.

Schafer continued his hot start to his Triple-A career. He is hitting .387 (12-for-31) with hits in each of his eight PCL contests since joining the Sounds.

Oklahoma City tied the game at 2-2 with a pair of runs in the fourth against Sounds starter Chase Wright.

With one out, Drew Locke singled to left and advanced to center on a line drive single up the middle that narrowly eluded the glove of second baseman Andy Gonzalez. After J.B. Shuck drew a walk to load the bases, Tommy Manzella lifted a sacrifice fly to left to allow Locke to race home with the RedHawks' first run of the evening.

Van Hekken then helped his own cause with a bloop RBI single to shallow center that dropped just in front of the glove of a diving Schafer to plate Navarro with the tying run.

Sounds reliever Mike McClendon deftly thwarted a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the fifth, inducing an inning-ending double play grounder off the bat of Navarro to escape the inning with the 2-2 tie.

Van Hekken worked out of a bases-loaded situation of his own in the top of the sixth, getting Maldonado to fly out to center to leave the bags full of Nashville baserunners.

Oklahoma City grabbed its first lead of the night at 4-2 with a pair of runs off McClendon in the bottom of the sixth.

After the first two batters of the frame were retired, pinch-hitter Collin DeLome smacked a towering solo homer into the upper deck in right field on a 1-0 McClendon offering. The blast was his fifth of the year. Luis Durango followed with an infield single, stole second, and scored the inning's second run on Anderson Hernandez's RBI single up the middle.

In the seventh, the Sounds failed to cash in on a bases-loaded opportunity for the second straight inning. After Schafer, Gindl, and Taylor Green each drew a walk from RedHawks reliever Douglas Arguello to fill the bags with two outs, the right-hander recovered to strike out Mat Gamel on a down-and-away off-speed offering to escape the jam unscathed.

The Sounds loaded the bases for a third straight inning in the eighth, this time against Oklahoma City reliever Ross Wolf, and finally broke through for a score, pulling within a run at 4-3.

Gonzalez singled with one out, Nashville's first hit since Schafer's RBI triple in the second, and Maldonado drew a walk before pinch-hitter Erick Almonte filled the bags with a ball up the middle that was ruled as an error on Manzella at shortstop, the second error of the night questionably issued to the infielder that took hits away from Sounds batters.

Wesley Wright took over on the hill for the RedHawks and was greeted by Schafer, who hit a RBI grounder to first that erased Almonte at second but allowed Gonzalez to score to bring the visitors within a run. Gindl followed with a sinking liner to center that was scooped off the top of the grass by a sliding Durango for the third out of the frame.

Oklahoma City plated an insurance run against Jim Henderson in the bottom of the eighth when J.B. Shuck drew a leadoff walk, was sacrificed to second, and scored on Luis Durango's single off the glove of a diving Edwin Maysonet to up the RedHawks' lead to 5-3.

The Sounds put a runner on base in the ninth when Maysonet led off with a single against Wright, but the next two batters hit grounders that resulted in forceouts at second before the left-handed hurler caught Brandon Boggs looking at a called third strike on a 3-2 pitch to end the ballgame.

Van Hekken (6-4) earned the victory by authoring a quality start for the RedHawks. He held the Sounds to two runs on four hits with six strikeouts in six innings of work.

Wright earned his second save after recording the final five outs.

McClendon (3-2) took the loss after giving up two runs in his 1 2/3 innings of action. The right-hander had allowed just one run in his previous 16.0 frames of work over 11 games.

The Sounds return home to Greer Stadium on Saturday to open a four-game series against the Round Rock Express (AAA-Rangers). Right-hander Josh Butler (6-5, 4.70) will take the hill for the Sounds in Saturday's 6:35 p.m. contest to face Round Rock right-hander Ryan Tucker (2-2, 4.75).

Gates open at 5:05 p.m. The first 2,000 fans through the turnstiles will receive a bobblehead doll of third-year Sounds manager Don Money, courtesy of McDonald's. Following the on-field action, fans will enjoy another spectacular fireworks show, presented by Nashville's News 2.

Nashville box score

Very nice game from Schafer, who smacked his third extra-base hit and drew his sixth walk in his brief time with the Sounds, neither of which have been strong parts of his game in the past. As pointed out above, Green walked thrice, but failed to hit even a single home run. Dan Meadows worked a perfect inning with a strikeout.

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: Huntsville 2, @Birmingham 1

Huntsville box score

All three runs were scored in the 9th inning. Prior to that, each starter turned in a gem, both going eight shutout innings. Dan Merklinger was phenomenal, striking out eight against just one walk and three hits. 72 of his 103 pitches were strikes. Merk's been pretty good lately--maybe he's turning a corner? Erik Komatsu was one of two bright spots on offense, 2-3 with a walk; Hainley Statia added a double and a walk. The only other baserunner Huntsville had came on a Sean Halton walk. Interestingly, the Stars had no RBI.

Huntsville play-by-play

Huntsville Top of the 9th

• Pitcher Change: Leyson Septimo replaces Terry Doyle.
• Hainley Statia doubles (11) on a line drive to left fielder Brandon Short.
• Sean Halton grounds out, second baseman Alden Carrithers to first baseman Jon Gilmore. Hainley Statia to 3rd.
• Steffan Wilson strikes out swinging.
• Erik Komatsu walks.
• Zelous Wheeler reaches on throwing error by third baseman Jake Oester. Hainley Statia scores. Erik Komatsu scores. Zelous Wheeler to 2nd.
• Brock Kjeldgaard strikes out swinging.

Birmingham Bottom of the 9th

• Pitcher Change: Robert Wooten replaces Dan Merklinger.
• Jose Martinez strikes out swinging.
• Brandon Short strikes out swinging.
• Jon Gilmore doubles (4) on a fly ball to left fielder Lee Haydel.
• Seth Loman doubles (22) on a line drive to right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Jon Gilmore scores.
• Jake Oester grounds out, first baseman Sean Halton to pitcher Robert Wooten.

Well that explains the lack of RBI. Must have been some throwing error. Two bases from the field, I guess, with Komatsu already having secured second base.

[battlekow]

Final: Bradenton 10, @Brevard County 1

BC falls 10-1 to Bradenton

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

VIERA, Fla. -- After being swept in a doubleheader in Port Charlotte to end a six-game road trip, the Brevard County Manatees returned home and drop their third straight game as the 'Tees fell 10-1 to the Bradenton Marauders on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium.

Nick Bucci went six innings and allowed three earned runs, but allowed them all in the first inning. He gave up six hits and walked three and for the first time in 2011, did not strike out a batter in an outing.

Brevard County (43-60 overall, 16-17 second half) had an early chance to respond to the 3-0 deficit as Scooter Gennett reached on a hit by pitch and then Kentrail Davis singled to start the bottom of the first.

D'Vontrey Richardson would then line out to third and then a groundout by Hunter Morris moved Gennett and Davis to second and third. Shea Vucinich was then hit by a pitch with two outs, but then Chuck Caufield grounded out to short to leave the bases loaded.

The Manatees wouldn't get another runner in scoring position until the seventh inning, when they scored their only run of the game on a RBI single by Caufield that plated Vucinich.

The damage though, had already been done in the top of the seventh, as Bradenton (50-56, 20-16) scored five runs on six singles and one Brevard County error off of reliever Efrain Nieves.

The Marauders padded their lead to 10-1 in the eighth as they plated two runs off of Rolando Pascual, who walked three and allowed two hits.

Overall, Brevard County's pitching staff allowed 14 hits and walked six batters, while striking out just one. The 'Tees offense wasn't much better as they went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and four times left a runner in scoring position with two outs.

Brevard County will look the stop its three-game skid as they continue their series with Bradenton on Friday at 7:05 p.m.

The Manatees will send Austin Ross (1-1, 7.53) to the hill, while the Marauders will counter with southpaw Jhonathan Ramos (2-3, 2.97).

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2011/07/29/S7XzKEKQ.jpg

Bucci (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

Brevard County box score

Bucci's seven-inning streak was snapped at four games. He has a 2/7 K/BB in his last two starts. I give Nieves a vote on my Power 50 ballot and this is how he rewards me? I did not give Pascual a Power 50 vote, but he "rewarded" me anyway. D'Vo cooled off, 0-4 with two strikeouts, but hey--at least he lined out. He also committed a fielding error; dude, you're only supposed to screw up when you also do something good. Morris collected a double.

Brevard County play-by-play

Nieves wasn't giving up quails and bleeders:

Bradenton Top of the 7th

• Pitcher Change: Efrain Nieves replaces Nicholas Bucci.
• Benji Gonzalez singles on a line drive to left fielder Chuck Caufield.
• Robbie Grossman singles on a line drive to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Benji Gonzalez to 3rd. Robbie Grossman to 2nd on the throw.
• Adalberto Santos singles on a line drive to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Benji Gonzalez scores. Robbie Grossman to 3rd.
• Ramon Cabrera singles on a line drive to left fielder Chuck Caufield. Robbie Grossman scores. Adalberto Santos scores on the throw. Ramon Cabrera to 2nd.
• Aaron Baker singles on a ground ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Ramon Cabrera to 3rd.
• Evan Chambers out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Ramon Cabrera scores.
• Elevys Gonzalez singles on a line drive to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Elevys Gonzalez to 2nd. Aaron Baker advances to 3rd, on fielding error by center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson.
• Kelson Brown grounds out, shortstop Josh Prince to first baseman Hunter Morris. Aaron Baker scores.
• Jairo Marquez grounds out, second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Hunter Morris.

[battlekow]

Final: @Clinton 5, Wisconsin 3

LumberKings rally again to beat Wisconsin

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

CLINTON, IA – For the second night in a row, the Clinton LumberKings owned the seventh inning. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers rode a 10-strikeout performance from Brooks Hall to a 3-2 lead. But, Clinton scored three times off the bullpen in the bottom of the seventh inning to grab a 5-3 lead. Clinton would hold off the Rattlers over the last two innings to record the three-game series sweep.

Mike Walker, the Timber Rattlers leader in RBI, cashed in an early scoring opportunity for Wisconsin (51-52 overall, 13-20 second half). TJ Mittelstaedt singled and Jason Rogers walked with one out to put runners at first and second. Walker bounced a single to right and Mittelstaedt scored for a 1-0 lead.

Clinton (42-62, 18-15) rallied with two outs and none on in the third inning. Mike McGee was hit by a pitch. Kevin Rivers followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Before the 0-1 pitch from Hall went homeward to Matt Browning, a balk was called on the Rattlers starter. That allowed McGee to score. Then, a grounder off the bat of Browning was booted for an error to let Rivers score and the LumberKings were up 2-1.

The Rattlers put together a two out rally of their own in the top of the fourth. Greg Hopkins was at third and scored when Tony Pechek reached on an error. Franklin Romero, Jr. followed with a triple to score Pechek and give the Rattlers a 3-2 lead.

Hall settled in with that lead and protected it through the sixth inning. Hall struck out ten in the game to set a new single game high as a professional. He walked one and scattered five hits to put the Rattlers in position to close out their long road trip on a high note.

In the bottom of the seventh, Alan Williams relieved Hall and struck out the first batter he faced. But, Williams walked the next three batters to load the bases.

Casey Medlen relieved Williams and got the second out of the inning with a strikeout, but a wild pitch with Kalian Sams at the plate let the tying run score. Sams smacked the next pitch to left field for a two-run single and a 5-3 Clinton lead. That would be the final score.

The Rattlers wrapped up their nine game road trip with a 3-6 record.

The Timber Rattlers return home on Saturday night to face the Burlington Bees. Matt Miller (3-4, 4.74) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Burlington has Jose Macias (2-3, 6.23) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 6:35pm.

The first 1,000 fans in attendance at Time Warner Cable Field on Saturday night will receive an umbrella courtesy of Cher-Make. There is also a postgame fireworks display courtesy of FOX 11.

Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280 or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Saturday is also the official debut of Timber Rattlers on milb.tv.

Wisconsin box score

Wow, how about Brooks Hall? 97 pitches, 66 strikes for the big righty in the outing we've been waiting to see from him. As for Alan Williams, I guess the lefties of the organization don't like being on the Power 50 (see Efrain Nieves above). Romero drew his second walk of the year! Nick Shaw looks on scornfully. Reggie Keen was 2-4 with a double and did not attempt a stolen base. Nick Ramirez (1-4) collected his first hit as a Rattler.

Wisconsin play-by-play

[battlekow]

Chris's postgame thoughts indicate that Williams' outing could have gone a little differently had a call gone his way.

[battlekow]

Final: Helena 10, @Billings 7

Helena box score

The H-Crew weathered a seven-run 6th inning by the Mustangs for the victory. Tommy Toledo pitched very well in his first start, three shutout innings with a 5/0 K/BB. Jacob Barnes was also quite impressive, striking out six of the seven men he faced. The 21-year-old righty, the Brewers' 14th-round pick, has a 22/5 K/BB in 17.2 innings now. Tom Keeling with a weird line (0.1 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB) until you look at the bottom and notice he hit two batters. Johnny Dishon had three hits, including a triple, and also walked. Robbie Garvey, Yadiel Rivera, and Ben McMahan all collected two hits. Max Walla has been hot but was 0-3 tonight, though he reached twice, on a walk and a HBP.

Helena play-by-play

A six-run 4th gave the Brewers the cushion to absorb the Mustangs' blow:

Helena Top of the 4th

• Adrian Williams walks.
• John Dishon walks. Adrian Williams to 2nd.
• Robert Garvey singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Sean Buckley. Adrian Williams to 3rd. John Dishon to 2nd.
• Yadiel Rivera grounds out, pitcher Wes Mugarian to shortstop Cristobal Rodriguez to first baseman Robert Maddox. Adrian Williams scores. John Dishon to 3rd. Robert Garvey to 2nd.
• Parker Berberet singles on a line drive to left fielder Juan Silva. John Dishon scores. Robert Garvey scores.
• Max Walla grounds out, pitcher Daniel Jensen to first baseman Robert Maddox. Parker Berberet to 2nd.
• Kyle Dhanani singles on a ground ball to left fielder Juan Silva. Parker Berberet scores.
• Benjamin McMahan doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Kyle Waldrop. Kyle Dhanani scores.
• Michael Nemeth singles on a line drive to center fielder Kurtis Muller. Benjamin McMahan scores.
• Adrian Williams grounds out, pitcher Daniel Jensen to first baseman Robert Maddox.

[TheCrew07]

10Ks for Hall is very nice to see.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Logan "I'm diggin' this AAA thing" Schafer's 2nd inning two-out RBI triple

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 2, @Birmingham 1

Interestingly, the Stars had no RBI.

Huntsville play-by-play

Huntsville Top of the 9th

• Pitcher Change: Leyson Septimo replaces Terry Doyle.
  
• Hainley Statia doubles (11) on a line drive to left fielder Brandon Short.
  
• Sean Halton grounds out, second baseman Alden Carrithers to first baseman Jon Gilmore. Hainley Statia to 3rd.
  
• Steffan Wilson strikes out swinging.
  
• Erik Komatsu walks.
  
• Zelous Wheeler reaches on throwing error by third baseman Jake Oester. Hainley Statia scores. Erik Komatsu scores. Zelous Wheeler to 2nd.
  
• Brock Kjeldgaard strikes out swinging.

Well that explains the lack of RBI. Must have been some throwing error. Two bases from the field, I guess, with Komatsu already having secured second base.

Hainley Statia was at third when Childersburg native Zelous Wheeler hit a slow grounder to the left of the mound. Birmingham's Jake Oester charged the ball but his off-balance throw sailed down the right-field line. -- Birmingham News

 

 

[Mass Haas]

This particular audio link will only be available until early evening Saturday, so we'll place it here:

WSSP interviews Eric Farris in the clubhouse Friday (after he's learned he's returning to Nashville)

[Mass Haas]

The Helena Independent Record provides a Brewers perspective from a distance for the road game in Billings --

BILLINGS — Even with the Helena Brewers holding a comfortable 9-0 lead, the Billings Mustangs wouldn’t back down.

The Mustangs went yard twice in a seven-run sixth inning to make Friday night’s Pioneer League game interesting, but the visiting Brewers held off the hosts for a 10-7 victory at Dehler Park.

Helena relievers Jacob Barnes and Sean Albury combined for seven strikeouts over the final three innings, allowing just one hit — a double by Cristobal Rodriguez — and no runs the rest of the way.

The Brewers (18-19) broke the game open in the fourth frame, peppering Billings starter Wes Mugarian (2-4, 7.00 ERA) for two hits and three runs to go along with a pair of walks in the inning. Mugarian was wild out of the gate Friday, walking three, hitting a batter and taking two balk calls before the Mustangs ever even came to the plate. Helena got on the board courtesy of one of the balks, then tacked on another run in the second inning when a wild pitch by Mugarian scored Williams.

Mugarian was chased with just one out in the fourth, but the Brewers proceeded to score three more runs on Daniel Jensen to pad their lead.

But with runners on in Billings’ half of the sixth — due to an error, a walk and a wild pitch — Nick O’Shea stroked a two-out, three-run home run off reliever Chad Pierce to break up the shutout bid. Thomas Keeling then entered and hit two batters, walked one, and the next run scored on a wild pitch from the lefty. Drew Poulk then came to the plate and hit Billings’ second homer of the game, a three-run shot over the right-field fence.

Brewers starting right-hander Tommy Toledo threw three strong innings of three-hit, shutout ball, fanning five. Pierce picked up his first win of the year, and Albury earned his third save of the season. Mugarian took the loss.

John Dishon led Helena at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a triple and two runs scored. Ben McMahan, Yadiel Rivera and Robbie Garvey also had multi-hit games for Helena, which had a dozen base knocks in the contest.

[Mass Haas]

The Brewers need to continue using later round picks on pitchers from Nova Southeastern University in lovely Fort Lauderdale. First it was Mike Fiers, and now check out the numbers for native Bahamian and now Helena closer Sean Albury.