Link Report for Sat. 8/6 -- Rivas and Scarpetta good, Peralta not so much

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

Nashville: RHP Amaury Rivas at Colorado Springs (Rockies), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime
Live Audio Link -- Select the Nashville feed from the MiLB main audio page
MiLB.TV -- for subscribers

Huntsville: RHP's Cody Scarpetta and Wily Peralta in a doubleheader at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 4:43 PM gametime; each contest slated for seven innings
Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page
iPad/iPhone: Listen
Traditional Broadcast Live Audio Link -- Select the Tennessee feed from the MiLB main audio page

Brevard County: RHP Austin Ross at Lakeland (Tigers), 5:00 PM gametime
Sorry, no audio available for this game...

Wisconsin: RHP Maverick Lasker at Kane County (Royals), 5:40 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime
Live Audio Link

Helena: RHP Drew Gagnon at Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime
Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): RHP Mike White at the Cubs' complex in Mesa; 1:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

DSL Brewers: (likely) doubleheader at home vs. the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest; each contest slated for seven innings

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday'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)
DSL Brewers Game One

DSL Brewers Game Two

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	62	51	.549	-	-	33-26	29-25	7-3	L2
	Memphis	57	56	.504	5.0	26	34-21	23-35	5-5	L1
	Nashville	56	58	.491	6.5	25	34-25	22-33	5-5	W1
	Iowa	49	65	.430	13.5	18	29-26	20-39	3-7	L1

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Chattanooga	24	16	.600	-	-	10-10	14-6	6-4	W2
*	Tennessee	21	19	.525	3.0	28	14-6	7-13	7-3	W6
	Huntsville	18	21	.462	5.5	25	7-12	11-9	5-5	L1
	Carolina	18	22	.450	6.0	24	9-11	9-11	4-6	L1
	Jackson	17	24	.415	7.5	23	9-11	8-13	5-5	L1

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Dunedin	22	19	.537	-	-	9-8	13-11	7-3	W2
	Tampa	22	19	.537	-	-	10-10	12-9	5-5	W1
	Clearwater	21	20	.512	1.0	29	15-8	6-12	6-4	L1
*	Daytona	20	21	.488	2.0	28	10-11	10-10	5-5	L2
	Lakeland	18	21	.462	3.0	28	8-10	10-11	5-5	W2
	Brevard County	17	21	.447	3.5	27	6-12	11-9	3-7	L2

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Quad Cities	25	15	.625	-	-	14-7	11-8	8-2	W1
	Kane County	24	16	.600	1.0	-	9-9	15-7	6-4	L1
	Clinton	21	19	.525	4.0	28	11-10	10-9	6-4	W2
	Beloit	18	22	.450	7.0	25	9-10	9-12	4-6	W1
	Cedar Rapids	17	23	.425	8.0	24	11-11	6-12	4-6	L1
	Wisconsin	16	24	.400	9.0	23	8-14	8-10	3-7	L2
	Peoria	15	25	.375	10.0	22	7-12	8-13	5-5	W1
*	Burlington	13	27	.325	12.0	20	8-10	5-17	4-6	L1

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Great Falls	5	1	.833	-	-	2-1	3-0	5-1	W3
*	Missoula	3	3	.500	2.0	31	2-1	1-2	3-3	W1
	Billings	2	4	.333	3.0	30	1-2	1-2	2-4	L1
	Helena	2	4	.333	3.0	30	0-3	2-1	2-4	L3

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Dodgers	20	16	.556	-	-	10-8	10-8	8-2	W1
	AZL Reds	20	17	.541	0.5	20	10-8	10-9	6-4	L1
	AZL Indians	19	18	.514	1.5	19	10-8	9-10	4-6	W1
	AZL Brewers	8	26	.235	11.0	11	4-14	4-12	1-9	L5

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Mariners	38	16	.704	-0.5	-	20-7	18-9	5-5	W1
	DSL Brewers	33	20	.623	4.0	15	16-10	17-10	6-4	W2
	DSL Cardinals	20	33	.377	17.0	2	13-15	7-18	6-4	L1
	DSL Athletics	19	37	.339	19.5	E	11-15	8-22	4-6	L1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Pre-Game Notes

[Mass Haas]

Final: @AZL Cubs 9, AZL Brewers 5

Arizona Box Score

Wow, things are tough for the under-manned A-Crew, especially with the recent promotions of Steve Felix to Helena and Brandon Macias to Wisconsin; 18-year-old OF Malcolm Dowell has not played since July 22nd, fellow 18-year-old OF Matt Franco left Thursday's game early and apparently is not available, and OF Ruben Ozuna, while back in Maryvale, hasn't played since July 27th (groin). So other than their one healthy backup catcher (Jimmie Pharr), there weren't enough position players to field a team, so LHP Elliott Glynn, the 22-year-old drafted in the 39th round this past June, was your starting LF and actually singled in four trips, driving in one. Glynn last batted in the Huskies' 2009 season (.266 in 64 AB's), and wow, added two outfield assists (one was direct, the other led to a rundown putout)!

 

AZL Cubs Bottom of the 1st

• Kyung-Min Na flies out to left fielder Elliott Glynn.
  
• Darien Martin triples (3) on a line drive to right fielder Ronny Puello.
  
• Marco Hernandez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jose R. Garcia. Darien Martin scores.
  
• Taylor Davis singles on a line drive to left fielder Elliott Glynn. Marco Hernandez out at 3rd on the throw, left fielder Elliott Glynn to third baseman Jalen Harris.
  
• Neftali Rosario singles on a ground ball to left fielder Elliott Glynn. Taylor Davis to 2nd.
  
• Eduardo Gonzalez singles on a line drive to center fielder Jose R. Garcia. Taylor Davis scores. Neftali Rosario to 2nd.
  
• Ryan Durrence strikes out swinging.

3B Jalen Harris doubled twice but committed two more errors; C Adam Weisenburger tripled and walked; SS Renaldo Jenkins reached three times (two walks, one HBP); Brewer batters fanned 14 times.

 

RHP Mike White allowed three runs but scraped through four innings; RHP Danny Keller and LHP Connor Whalen had rough short stints.

 

Arizona Play-by-Play

To the envy of all the other rookie pitchers hoping to pick up a bat, Elliott Glynn contributed to the A-Crew's one highlight inning, a four-run 7th --

 

AZL Brewers Top of the 7th

• Renaldo Jenkins walks.
  
• Ronny Puello strikes out swinging.
  
• Andres Martinez reaches on fielding error by center fielder Kyung-Min Na. Renaldo Jenkins to 3rd. Andres Martinez to 2nd.
  
• Elliott Glynn singles on a line drive to left fielder Eduardo Gonzalez. Renaldo Jenkins scores. Andres Martinez to 3rd.
  
• Kevin Berard out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Eduardo Gonzalez. Andres Martinez scores.
  
• Jalen Harris doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Eduardo Gonzalez. Elliott Glynn scores. Jalen Harris scores. Throwing error by catcher Neftali Rosario. Throwing error by left fielder Eduardo Gonzalez.
  
• Pitcher Change: Andrew McKirahan replaces Sheldon McDonald.
  
• Adam Weisenburger walks.
  
• Hitaniel Arias grounds out to first baseman Taylor Davis.

The front office needs to consider a DSL bat or two to fly to Maryvale.

[DHonks]

Mass if the DSL boys make an appearance in Maryvale, it starts their Rule V clock

[battlekow]

18-year-old OF Malcolm Dowell has not played since July 22nd

Toby reported that Dowell has a concussion.

[battlekow]

Final (game one): Tennessee 5, @Huntsville 2 (7 innings)

 

Huntsville box score

Looks like the Hot Sheet love finally jinxed Wily Peralta, who still seems unwilling to turn the corner into top-100 land: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 2 HR, 3/7 GO/FO, 105 pitches, 55 strikes. Seems Peralta wasn't throwing enough strikes and was getting the ball up when he did find the zone. He gave up two two-out, two-run homers, including one that was part of a three-run 6th inning that really ruined his line. Peralta did single, one of the Stars' four hits. Hainley Statia stayed hot with a single and a walk. Brock Kjeldgaard and Khris Davis were both 0-3.

Huntsville play-by-play

The two innings in which Peralta was scored upon:

Tennessee Top of the 4th

• Junior Lake flies out to right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard.
• Rebel Ridling singles on a ground ball to center fielder Lee Haydel.
• Ty Wright flies out to right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard.
• Josh Vitters homers (12) on a fly ball to left field. Rebel Ridling scores.
• Nelson Perez doubles (12) on a ground ball to right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard.
• Luis Flores flies out to right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard in foul territory.

Tennessee Top of the 6th

• Junior Lake pops out to shortstop Hainley Statia.
• Rebel Ridling walks.
• Ty Wright pops out to second baseman Sergio Miranda.
• With Josh Vitters batting, passed ball by Anderson De La Rosa, Rebel Ridling to 2nd.
• With Josh Vitters batting, wild pitch by Wily Peralta, Rebel Ridling to 3rd.
• Josh Vitters singles on a ground ball to second baseman Sergio Miranda. Rebel Ridling scores.
• Nelson Perez homers (7) on a fly ball to right field. Josh Vitters scores.
• Luis Flores walks.
• Nate Samson walks. Luis Flores to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: Darren Byrd replaces Wily Peralta, batting 9th.
• Ryan Searle grounds out, second baseman Sergio Miranda to first baseman Steffan Wilson.

Wow. He really lost it there in the 6th.

[battlekow]

Final (game one): @DSL Brewers 7, DSL Cardinals 0 (7 innings)

DSL Brewers box score

20-year-old righty Eduard Reyes made his return from PED suspension with five shutout innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while fanning six. Welcome back, Eduard. Please behave and earn a promotion to AZL, k thx. No real big lines for the offense. Orlando Arcia had a hit and a walk, as did Esthervin Matos. LF Dionis Hinojosa was perfect, 1-1 with two walks, and is hitting .317 now. Do we know any teams that need a left fielder? Arcia committed his 11th error; recall that when he was signed it was mentioned that second base might be in his future. Matos stole his ninth base in 23 games.

DSL Brewers play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: @Kane County 5, Wisconsin 2

Cougars scratch past Rattlers

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

GENEVA, IL - The Kane County Cougars defeated the Wisconsin 5-2 Saturday night at Elfstrom Stadium. Yowill Espinal's two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning gave Kane County a lead they would never lose. The loss was the third straight for the Timber Rattlers.

Kane County (53-57 overall, 25-16 second half) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth. Rattlers starting pitcher Maverick Lasker had allowed one hit and faced the minimum through the first five innings. But, a leadoff walk and a single put runners at first and third with no outs in the sixth.

Espinal was at the plate to bunt the runners over, but a wild pitch by Lasker put both Cougars on base in scoring position. Espinal fought off a tough 1-2 pitch from Lasker later in the at bat to bloop in a two-run single for a 2-0 Kane County lead.

The Rattlers (54-57, 16-25) came back with a run in the top of the seventh. Mike Brownstein drew a leadoff walk, but was forced out at second on a TJ Mittelstaedt grounder. Mittelstaedt beat the throw to first to keep the Cougars from turning two.

Then, Mittelstaedt got a good read on a pitch in the dirt with Jason Rogers at the plate. The throw to second was wild and Mittelstaedt reached third base. Rogers drove in Mittelstaedt with a grounder to short.

Kane County put three insurance runs on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning. Espinal reached on a bunt single with one out. Angel Franco tripled to send Espinal home. Later in the inning, Brian Fletcher and Jake Kuebler had back-to-back RBI singles with two outs to give the Cougars a 5-1 lead.

Wisconsin tried to rally in the top of the ninth against Kane County closer Chas Byrne. Brownstein reached on an infield single and Mittelstaedt drew a walk to put two on with no outs. Rogers sent a deep drive to left-center that sounded great off the bat. But, the ball did not carry and centerfielder Brett Eibner ran the ball down just short of the track.

Nick Ramirez knocked in Brownstein with a single to get the Rattlers to within 5-2. But, Byrne got the next batter to ground into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

Game two of the series is Sunday afternoon at Elfstrom Stadium. Jimmy Nelson (6-7, 4.12) is the scheduled starter for the Timber Rattlers. Jason Adam (5-6, 4.68) is set to start for the Cougars. Game time is 1:00pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:40pm.

Wisconsin box score

Lasker's final line: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. Ramirez also drew a walk! [trumpets] Mittelstaedt also singled. Reggie Keen was 2-3. Brandon Macias was 0-3 with a CS in his MWL debut.

Wisconsin play-by-play

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 9, @Lakeland 6

 

Brevard County Box Score

Starter Austin Ross with a much-needed mostly respectable effort, pitching 6.2 innings, allowing two earned runs (five runs overall), two of which crossed the plate after his departure. He gave up six hits (two doubles), walked none (one HBP) and fanned four.

 

Three different Manatees cracked their first Brevard home runs of 2011 after joining the Sea Cows from various outposts -- Chuckie Caufield (Huntsville) had a solo shot in the 2nd, and Brent Dean (Helena) and Chris Dennis (Wisconsin) went deep in a four-run 5th, Dean's with a man on. D'Vontrey Richardson survived his latest injury scare, an ealy exit two days ago, to drive in three with two singles and a sacrifice fly. Dennis and Caufield joined Richardson and Scooter Gennett with two-hit games, with now 28-year-old vet Chuckie legging out a triple behind his earlier round-tripper. Scooter scooted to his 10th stolen base (in 17 tries).

 

INJURY? Kentrail Davis popped out in the 3rd, apparently played defense in the bottom of the frame, but was replaced in the 4th.

 

Brevard County Play-by-Play

A two-base sacrifice fly to extremely deep center, or maybe after a diving catch?

 

Brevard County Top of the 1st

• Scooter Gennett singles on a fly ball to left fielder Tony Plagman.
  
• Kentrail Davis pops out to shortstop Shawn Roof.
  
• With D' Vontrey Richardson batting, Scooter Gennett steals (10) 2nd base.
  
• D' Vontrey Richardson out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Daniel Fields. Scooter Gennett scores.
  
• Hunter Morris flies out to left fielder Tony Plagman.

Gotta love game logs -- saw the Flying Tiger CF had an assist (at first base) -- here's how, hot potato deflection of some sort:

 

Brevard County Top of the 2nd

• Shea Vucinich flies out, center fielder Daniel Fields to left fielder Tony Plagman.

D'Vo and Scooter make Lakeland pay for a hideous 9th inning baserunning blunder --

 

Lakeland Bottom of the 9th

• Jordan Lennerton doubles (21) on a line drive to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Jordan Lennerton out at 3rd, center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson to second baseman Scooter Gennett to third baseman Shea Vucinich.
  
• Tony Plagman flies out to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson.
  
• Wade Gaynor flies out to left fielder Chris Dennis.

[Mass Haas]

Cougars infielder Yowill Espinal turns a double play as Wisconsin's Mike Brownstrein slides into second base Saturday at Elfstrom Stadium. | Donnell Collins~For Sun-Times Media

 

http://couriernews.suntimes.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=KsUMcx1Vyc2j9EMwz3xKV8$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYsYkNtv7fYEFANwmMO_5vOEWCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_CryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg

 

Corresponding game story from the Kane County perspective -- apparently a wide strike zone aided Maverick Lasker, which he put to use nicely until the 6th...

[And That]

there weren't enough position players to field a team

This is completely deficient roster management. They knew Dowell was going to be out for 2-4 weeks, Houle at least 4 weeks, Franco is out after being HBP a few days ago, Garfield is pretty much done for the year, they must have been thinking about sending Macias out to Helena or Wisconsin for at least a little while and Ozuna hasn't been 100% healthy in weeks. You have to be able to find some position players, be it from the DSL or college kids off the street, to fill the roster in.

 

Ridiculous.

[battlekow]

Final (game two): @Huntsville 3, Tennessee 2 (7 innings)

Huntsville box score

Cody Scarpetta again battled his control but was otherwise quite effective: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K, 96 pitches, 61 strikes (one of the walks was intentional). Lucas Luetge struck out the only batter he faced. Santo Manzanillo almost blew the game, giving up two runs in the 7th. Khris Davis finally got on the home run board at AA with a solo shot, and Zelous Wheeler and Matt Cline also went deep. Lee Haydel had a two-hit game and stole his 15th base.

Huntsville play-by-play

Scarpetta wasn't in trouble in the 6th but was getting up there in pitches and was lifted so Luetge could face the lefty:

Tennessee Top of the 6th

• Rebel Ridling flies out to right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard.
• Ty Wright flies out to right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard.
• Pitcher Change: Lucas Luetge replaces Cody Scarpetta, batting 9th.
• Nelson Perez strikes out swinging.

Manzanillo:

Tennessee Top of the 7th

• Pitcher Change: Santo Manzanillo replaces Lucas Luetge, batting 9th.
• Nate Samson grounds out, third baseman Zelous Wheeler to first baseman Steffan Wilson.
• David Macias walks.
• Jae-Hoon Ha doubles (11) on a ground ball to left fielder Khris Davis. David Macias to 3rd.
• James Adduci grounds out sharply, pitcher Santo Manzanillo to first baseman Steffan Wilson.
• Josh Vitters singles on a ground ball to left fielder Khris Davis. David Macias scores. Jae-Hoon Ha scores.
• Blake Lalli strikes out swinging, catcher Dayton Buller to first baseman Steffan Wilson.

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Post-Game Thoughts (and when will Eric Arnett make his first 2011 Wisconsin start?)

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Colorado Springs 4, Nashville 3

Walk-off, ugh...

 

Sounds Suffer Walkoff Loss In Series Finale At Colorado Springs

Sky Sox Plate Four Late Runs Against Nashville Bullpen To Steal Win

Nashville Sounds

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Colorado Springs scored four runs in the final two frames, including two in the bottom of the ninth, to hang a walkoff 4-3 loss on the Nashville Sounds on Saturday evening at Security Service Field in the finale of a four-game series.

With the win, the Sky Sox salvaged a split of the four-game set. It marked the Sounds' 11th walkoff loss among their 34 road defeats.

 

After the Sounds had two runners thrown out at the plate in the top of the ninth as they attempted to extend a 3-2 lead, Colorado Springs touched Nashville closer Mike McClendon for a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to hang a tough loss on the visitors.

 

McClendon was greeted by a Mike Paulk liner that glanced off the glove of left fielder Jordan Brown for a leadoff double, placing the potential tying run in scoring position.

 

Scott Beerer followed with a sacrifice bunt to third that was bobbled by Taylor Green, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Matt Pagnozzi ripped a game-tying single to left to bring home Paulk to even the score at 3-3.

 

Pinch-hitter Jordan Pacheco attempted to bunt the runners up a base, but Green threw out Beerer at third on the play for the first out of the inning. After McClendon struck out Ryan Rohlinger for the second out, Matt Macri lined a game-ending RBI single to left to plate Pagnozzie with the winning run.

 

The late heroics made a winner out of Jim Miller (6-5), who worked the top of the ninth for the Sky Sox. McClendon (3-3) took the loss after suffering his third blown save of the year for the Sounds.

 

Sounds starting pitcher Amaury Rivas drove in the first run of the night with a two-out, bases-loaded squeeze bunt up the first-base line, plating Mat Gamel.

 

Nashville increased its lead to 3-0 in the sixth with a pair of two-out RBI singles off Sky Sox starter Edgar Gonzalez. Gamel reached on a one-out fielding error by Macri at second base and Edwin Maysonet walked, his third free pass of the night, before catcher Martin Maldonado and pinch-hitter Erick Almonte delivered back-to-back run-scoring knocks to chase the Colorado Springs right-hander from the contest. Both runs came home in unearned fashion as a result of the error.

 

Rivas scattered three hits over five scoreless innings for the Sounds, walking one batter and striking out four in his 74-pitch effort, but was left with a no-decision for his efforts following the late collapse by the Nashville bullpen.

 

Daniel Meadows followed Rivas with two scoreless frames of relief before Randy Flores took over in the eighth and surrendered the first Colorado Springs scoring of the night.

 

In the bottom of the eighth, Rohlinger drew a one-out walk then trotted home on Mike Jacobs' two-out, two-run homer to right-center. The slugger's 23rd roundtripper of the year, which came on a 3-2 offering from the left-hander, pulled the Sky Sox within a run at 3-2 and chased Flores from the contest.

 

Later in the frame, Colorado Springs continued the rally against new Sounds reliever Donovan Hand, putting runners on first and second by virtue of a walk and a single before Maldonado picked Joe Mather off second to bring an end to the inning with Nashville's one-run lead intact.

 

Nashville attempted to score an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning but came up empty as Colorado Springs threw out two runners at the plate in the inning to keep it a one-run contest.

 

After Taylor Green tripled with one out and Gamel was issued an intentional walk to put runner on the corners, Maysonet dropped a drag bunt up the first-base line and Jacobs threw home to nail Green, who overslid the plate and was tagged out. Caleb Gindl followed with a single to center, but Gamel was gunned down at the dish by Mather as he attempted to score on the play.

 

The Sounds travel to Reno tomorrow to wrap up their road trip with a four-game series against the Aces (AAA-Diamondbacks). Right-hander Frankie De La Cruz (6-6, 3.73) will man the bump for Nashville in Sunday's 8:05 PM CT series opener to face Reno left-hander Wade Miley (3-0, 3.66).

 

Nashville Box Score

Mike McClendon doing his best as of late to dissuade a possible Mets PTBNL claim -- it's gotta be distracting for the potentially listed reliever; Randy Flores (two-run HR for lefty bat Mike Jacobs) doing his best to convince the Brewers they don't need a loogy wannabe, not until September call-ups, anyway; show Flores how, Daniel Meadows; Taylor Green, tripled and singled, hitting cleanup in Don Money's nightly pinwheel lineup shuffle (Eric Farris' turn at # 3, he was 0-for-5)...

 

Nashville Play-by-Play

Pretty sad loss, a win would have had the Sounds a game within .500...

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game Two: DSL Cardinals 2, @DSL Brewers 1, nine innings (as scheduled)

DSL Brewers Game Two Box Score
OK, so this wan't a makeup of the July 30th rainout, that will wait for another day; this game, and OK, while we're listing it as Game Two, this was actually Game One on the day and was the completion of a suspended game from back on July 8th. Here's what Eric wrote at that time (a suggested click for you -- to save me typing).
DSL Brewers Game Two Play-by-Play
So pretty amazingly, both clubs returned the same relievers to the mound who left off nearly a month ago. Too bad for the Cerveceritos, who did very little in 5.1 combined innings off the Cardinal hurler. Meanwhile, 19-year-old RHP Elvis Mora had a miserable top of the 9th (make them earn it, kid) and not even Orlando Arcia could save the squad in the last gasp effort --

DSL Cardinals Top of the 9th

• Ronnierd Garcia singles on a ground ball to center fielder Yonki Hernandez.
• Fernando Baez out on a sacrifice bunt, first baseman Juan De Leon to second baseman Raphachel Colatosti. Ronnierd Garcia to 2nd.
• Domingo Diaz pops out to second baseman Raphachel Colatosti.
• Rafael Medina walks.
• With Jhohan Acevedo batting, wild pitch by Elvis Mora, Ronnierd Garcia to 3rd. Rafael Medina to 2nd.
• With Jhohan Acevedo batting, wild pitch by Elvis Mora, Ronnierd Garcia scores. Rafael Medina to 3rd.
• Jhohan Acevedo strikes out swinging.

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 9th

• Raphachel Colatosti singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jhohan Acevedo.
• Yonki Hernandez out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Kender Villegas to first baseman Rafael Medina. Raphachel Colatosti to 2nd.
• Dionis Hinojosa grounds out, second baseman Robelys Reyes to first baseman Rafael Medina. Raphachel Colatosti to 3rd.
• Orlando Arcia flies out to left fielder George Araujo.

[Mass Haas]

Don't overanalyze player lines from that last DSL box score. The listed totals and stats reflect the players as they would have been if the game had ended back when scheduled on July 8th.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Missoula 10, Helena 5

 

Belza lifts O's over Brewers

By Fritz Neighbor of the Missoulian

Tom Belza got Launch-a-Ball Night going early Saturday, drilling a three-run homer that paced the Missoula Osprey to a 10-5 win over Helena in a Pioneer League baseball game at Ogren-Allegiance Park.

Aside from a messy ninth inning it was a textbook win for the O's, the Northern Division's first-half champions. They improved to 4-3 this half while making short work of Helena starter Drew Gagnon, who didn't make it out of the third inning.

Osprey right-hander Raymond Hernandez again looked like an ace, improving to 6-0 - 5-0 as a starter - with six strong innings. He gave up four hits and two runs and fanned six.

Eric Groff had two hits to increase his club-record hitting streak to 23 games and drove in a run with a sixth-inning double. Groff then scored on Stephen Cardullo's single to put Missoula up 10-2.

Such is the nature of playing a team stocked with hitters: Four of the top five O's in the lineup are north of .300 in batting average.

Manager Hector De La Cruz is enjoying this.

"Last year was a struggle. We struggled," he said. "This year we've got more guys with experience."

One of them is Groff, who hit the second pitch he saw for a single in Missoula's two-run first inning.

It was Belza, though, who had the big blow - a clout over the fence in right-center that made it 6-1 in the second inning.

"He does a good job out there," said De La Cruz of his designated hitter, who is hitting .344. "He's one where you kind of expect something good at the plate every time."

Belza said it was a 1-1 fastball that he parked.

"He (Gagnon) did get ahead of me with a breaking ball," he said, as O's officials set up hoops for prize-hunting, tennis ball-launching fans. "Then there was a change-up in the dirt. I don't know - I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but I got a fastball and was able to drive it out of here."

Belza swung a hot bat to start the season before cooling off in late July. He's 10 for 23 in August.

"Peaks and valleys in baseball - that's what it's all about," said the second-year pro out of Oklahoma State. "You just have to grind out ABs when you're not seeing the ball very well. Like I've said before, the only thing you can do is go up there and get good plate appearances. And hope for the best."

Cardullo, playing shortstop, had two hits and two RBIs for Missoula, which is 29-16 overall. In the fifth he hit a liner that took a bad hop past Ben McMahan in left for a triple, and he scored on Ty Linton's single to make it 8-2.

Linton tripled and scored on a passed ball ahead of Belza's second-inning homer; in the third he was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on Justin Bianco's single to put Missoula ahead 7-1.

Helena catcher Tyler Roberts, who had a rough night with foul tips and wild pitches, managed two hits - including an RBI double off Johan Jaime in the ninth. Roberts drove in two, including an RBI single in the second inning.

Jaime hit a batter and gave up three runs before fanning Adrian Williams to end the game.

Missoula's Victor Lara threw two sparkling innings of relief of Hernandez, fanning five.

Hernandez, who was hit hard in his last outing, was back in form. De La Cruz said the Californian is done switching between starts and bullpen duty; he's now strictly a starter.

"You know he's going to give us a quality start almost every time he's out there," said Belza. "He's going to throw strikes. It's good for the defense too, because the defense is in the game, on their toes. We're pretty comfortable with him out there."

Missoula ends its current home stand Sunday against the Brewers. Game time is 5:00 PM (6:00 Central).

NOTES: Groff is a ways away from the Pioneer League record hitting streak: Billings' Chris Valaika hit in 32 straight in 2006... In 2003 Ricardo Nanita of Great Falls hit in 30 straight games, and before that the Pioneer League record was 27 games, by Billings' K.C. Gillum in 1990. ... Groff's 30 RBIs ties him for sixth in the PL, with Helena's Nick Ramirez. Ramirez is no longer with Helena. ... The O's have won 26 of their last 36 games.

 

Helena Box Score

Just not loving the rookie ball roster management this year, Reid Nichols -- fill us in, as we already discussed the Maryvale roster above; 23rd round pick Ben McMahan yet to see any action behind the plate, now listed as an outfielder by MiLB.com; Parker Berberet (nine games behind the plate thus far) starts at first base which pushes stellar 1B glove Mike Nemeth to third base (actually, because Kyle Dhanani is nursing a hand injury, Nemeth is needed at the hot corner), and your DH is another C / 1B / OF type in Steve Felix. We understand that Tyler Roberts is the primary catcher, fine, but everything just feels very disjointed like it did a few years back when we counted six catchers in a starting H-Crew lineup. And it's obviously not translating into wins. Go find some athletic young independent leaguers looking for their first affiliated deals and build up these rookie rosters. Golden sombrero here for 2B Adrian Williams.

 

Helena Play-by-Play

The words "line drive" fill Drew Gagnon's game log, unfortunately, so his bad outing was legit; lefty Tom Keeling still too wild; but the Mad Bahamian, Sean Albury, remains darn near perfect.

[Mass Haas]

It's been too long since we wished Helena RHP Brandon Williamson well, it's been since July 1st since he last pitched when this scary incident occurred.

[Mass Haas]

"but the Mad Bahamian, Sean Albury, remains darn near perfect."

 

I just copyrighted this tonight. Remember this in 2014, Miller Park faithful. All the merchandising coin goes to me.

[Mudville9]

Nice. If he's in Milwaukee fanning people and screaming at batters, I will buy a T-shirt.

[LouisEly]

"but the Mad Bahamian, Sean Albury, remains darn near perfect."

 

I just copyrighted this tonight. Remember this in 2014, Miller Park faithful. All the merchandising coin goes to me.

Whoever has been scouting Nova Southeastern has done quite the job of finding some productive pitching prospects drafted in the later rounds.

 

Edit: who would have thought that of all four players drafted from Nova Southeastern in 2009 that someone else would make the majors before Fiers.