Link Report for Fri. 8/19

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

Nashville: RHP Amaury Rivas at home vs. Tucson (Padres), 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 Mississippi (Braves), 7:05 PM gametime

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

Brevard County: RHP Tyler Thornburg at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 6:05 PM gametime

Sorry, no audio available for this series...

 

Wisconsin: RHP Eric Arnett at Peoria (Cubs), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime

Live Audio Link

Helena: RHP Tommy Toledo at home vs. Oren (Angels), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

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

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the mini-Reds; 1:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

 

DSL Brewers: Doubleheader at the DSL Athletics, 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 Game One

DSL Brewers Game Two

[Mass Haas]

PCL Amer. Northern
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Omaha	70	55	.560	-	-	36-28	34-27	7-3	W4
	Memphis	65	60	.520	5.0	14	39-23	26-37	7-3	W1
	Nashville	64	62	.508	6.5	13	38-28	26-34	7-3	L1
	Iowa	58	68	.460	12.5	7	34-26	24-42	7-3	W3

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Chattanooga	31	21	.596	-	-	15-13	16-8	6-4	L1
*	Tennessee	30	23	.566	1.5	17	16-9	14-14	7-3	W3
	Carolina	24	28	.462	7.0	11	12-13	12-15	5-5	W1
	Jackson	23	30	.434	8.5	10	12-16	11-14	5-5	L4
	Huntsville	22	30	.423	9.0	9	8-16	14-14	3-7	W1

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Dunedin	29	24	.547	-	-	13-11	16-13	7-3	L1
	Tampa	27	25	.519	1.5	17	13-14	14-11	4-6	W1
	Clearwater	26	26	.500	2.5	15	17-11	9-15	4-6	W1
	Brevard County	25	26	.490	3.0	14	10-13	15-13	5-5	L1
*	Daytona	25	26	.490	3.0	14	13-11	12-15	5-5	W1
	Lakeland	22	28	.440	5.5	12	10-15	12-13	4-6	L1

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Kane County	31	21	.596	-	-	13-14	18-7	6-4	W1
	Quad Cities	30	22	.577	1.0	-	15-9	15-13	4-6	L1
	Clinton	28	24	.538	3.0	17	13-13	15-11	6-4	W1
	Beloit	24	28	.462	7.0	13	12-14	12-14	5-5	L1
	Wisconsin	22	30	.423	9.0	11	11-17	11-13	5-5	L1
*	Burlington	21	31	.404	10.0	10	12-12	9-19	7-3	W4
	Peoria	21	31	.404	10.0	10	11-17	10-14	4-6	W1
	Cedar Rapids	20	32	.385	11.0	9	11-14	9-18	3-7	L5

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Great Falls	11	7	.611	-	-	4-3	7-4	5-5	W3
*	Missoula	11	7	.611	-	-	8-3	3-4	6-4	L1
	Billings	10	8	.556	1.0	20	4-3	6-5	7-3	W2
	Helena	6	12	.333	5.0	16	3-8	3-4	4-6	L1

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	AZL Dodgers	29	18	.617	-	-	14-9	15-9	8-2	W1
	AZL Reds	27	20	.574	2.0	8	14-9	13-11	7-3	L1
	AZL Indians	24	23	.511	5.0	5	13-10	11-13	5-5	W1
	AZL Brewers	13	34	.277	16.0	E	5-18	8-16	5-5	W1

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	DSL Mariners	43	24	.642	-	-	21-13	22-11	4-6	W1
	DSL Brewers	42	26	.618	1.5	4	21-15	21-11	6-4	L1
	DSL Cardinals	26	43	.377	18.0	E	15-18	11-25	5-5	W1
	DSL Athletics	24	43	.358	19.0	E	14-18	10-25	4-6	L1

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

[tstads20]

Brewers 2nd-round pick Jorge Lopez is out already after taking the start for the Arizona Brewers, assumedly on a strict pitch count right now.

 

His line: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K

1 GO:0 FO

[Mass Haas]

Media Notes:

Huntsville

 

Wisconsin

[battlekow]

Final: @AZL Brewers 9, AZL Reds 1

AZL Brewers box score

Very nice second outing for Jorge Lopez: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. As with last time, Manuel Ruiz pulled a starter's load, working five shutout innings after Lopez was done; Ruiz only struck out two, but then again, he also only walked one. Things were fun on the offensive side as well, as the Brewers pounded out 16 hits, drew five walks, and were hit by a pitch twice. Michael Reed finished a homer short of the cycle, Jalen Harris collected two doubles and a single, Jose Garcia doubled, singled twice, and was plunked, Rafael Neda was on all five times up, and everyone else had good lines, too--well, except for poor Andres Martinez, who was 0-5. Kevin Berard was at shortstop again and this time did not commit an error.

AZL Brewers play-by-play

Six-run 4th did most of the damage:

AZL Brewers Bottom of the 4th

• Jose Garcia singles on a fly ball to left fielder Phillip Bauer.
• Andres Martinez pops out to second baseman Brandon Dailey.
• Kevin Berard singles on a fly ball to right fielder Steven Selsky. Jose Garcia to 3rd.
• Michael Reed triples (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Phillip Bauer. Jose Garcia scores. Kevin Berard scores.
• Adam Weisenburger walks.
• Rafael Neda singles on a fly ball to left fielder Phillip Bauer. Michael Reed scores. Adam Weisenburger to 2nd.
• Jalen Harris doubles (6) on a fly ball to left fielder Phillip Bauer. Adam Weisenburger scores. Rafael Neda scores.
• Renaldo Jenkins walks.
• Malcolm Dowell grounds into a force out, third baseman Gabriel Rosa to second baseman Brandon Dailey. Jalen Harris to 3rd. Renaldo Jenkins out at 2nd. Malcolm Dowell to 1st.
• Jose Garcia doubles (4) on a fly ball to right fielder Steven Selsky. Jalen Harris scores. Malcolm Dowell to 3rd.
• Andres Martinez flies out to center fielder Jon Matthews.

[battlekow]

Final (game one): DSL Brewers 10, @DSL Athletics 8 (7 innings)

Final (game two): DSL Brewers 5, @DSL Athletics 2 (7 innings)

DSL Brewers box score (game one)

DSL Brewers box score (game two)

Hey, today is fun so far (non-Mark Rogers division). In game one, the Cerveceritos had a five-run 1st and survived but actually fell behind 8-7 after allowing six runs in the 5th before storming back with three runs in the 6th. Eliezer Montano allowed an impressive seven runs on ten hits in 4.1 innings. In game two, Juan Francisco followed up his no-hitter with...a relief appearance, albeit a good one: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K. Deivi Mejia finished a cumulative 5-7 with a homer and a double, and Raphachel Colatosti had four hits. Orlando Arcia: 1-7, BB.

DSL Brewers play-by-play (game one)

DSL Brewers play-by-play (game two)

The Atleticitos committed nine errors totals, including seven in game one alone; shortstop Hiram Martinez had a glovely day with three miscues in the first game and a cherry-on-top fourth in the second. Trying not to be outdone, the Cerveceritos committed two errors on one play in the first game. Read the PBP if you want your eyes to bleed.

[TheCrust]

Less than great outing from Arnett tonight:

 

4.2IP, 8H, 5R, 4ER, 0BB, 2HBP, 2K

[battlekow]

Final: Tampa 5, @Brevard County 3

'Tees drop series opener to Yanks

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

VIERA, Fla. -- Despite nine strikeouts by starting pitcher Tyler Thornburg, the Brevard County Manatees fell 5-3 to the Tampa Yankees at Space Coast Stadium on Friday night, in front of 2,559 fans.

With the Manatees (52-70 overall, 25-27 second half) up 3-1 in the top of the seventh with two outs, Thornburg gave up a three-run homer to Mitch Abeita on a 1-1 pitch, which turned out to be the difference in the game.

The only other run that Thornburg gave up was an unearned run in the first inning. He scattered five hits and walked just one in his seven innings of work, which was his longest start of the season with the Manatees.

A three-run first inning for the 'Tees gave Thornburg an early cushion as D'Vontrey Richardson singled home Shea Vucinich with one out and then Hunter Morris hit a two-run homer to make it a 3-0 game.

It was the 17th homer of the season for Morris, who needs just one homer to tie the single-season Manatees record which is shared by Jose Santos (2001) and Brock Kjeldgaard (2011).

The Manatees managed to get just one more runner past first base the rest of the way, as Brevard County struck out 10 times on the night.

All seven Brevard County hits came from the first four men in the order as Scooter Gennett went 1-for-4, while Vucinich, Richardson and Morris were all 2-for-4.

The Yankees (65-57, 28-25) scored an insurance run in the eighth off of Eric Marzac, who pitched the final two frames for the 'Tees.

Brevard County and Tampa will continue its three-game series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

Nick Bucci (8-11, 3.76) will take the hill for the Manatees, while the Yankees will counter with Brett Marshall (9-7, 3.88).

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2011/08/19/qKjcHBbR.jpg

Manatees starting pitcher Tyler Thornburg struck out nine in seven inning of work, but it was in a losing effort as Brevard County fell 5-3 to the Tampa Yankees at Space Coast Stadium on Friday night. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

Brevard County box score

Even with the homer, still a nice outing from Thornburg with a 9/1 K/BB. Funny that the franchise home-run mark might be (at least) tied twice in one year. Vucinich, Richardson, and Morris all had two hits. Former Brewer farmhand Josh Romanski was the opposing starter; he allowed the three runs in six innings with a sterling 8/0 K/BB. He's pitched some at AA Trenton this year--wonder why he's back in the FSL.

Brevard County play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: @Peoria 8, Wisconsin 2

Chiefs drop Rattlers in Peoria

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

PEORIA, IL – The Peoria Chiefs defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 8-2 Friday night at O’Brien Field. Peoria collected 13 hits and pulled away to beat the Rattlers for the second night in a row.

The Chiefs (55-68 overall, 22-31 second half) took the lead in the first inning. A two-out RBI single by Richard Jones plated Rubi Silva and Peoria was up 1-0.

A mishandled double play ball allowed the Chiefs to put runners on first and third with no outs in the second inning. Jesus Morelli got the run home from third with a ground out.

Jones struck again to set up a run in the bottom of the third. He doubled to the wall in right with Anthony Giansanti at first to put runners on second and third with one out. Dustin Geiger, who knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on Thursday night, got Giansanti home with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Eric Arnett threw a scoreless fourth inning, but the Chiefs got to him for two more runs in the fifth. Jones and Rafael Valdes each delivered an RBI single for a 5-0 lead.

Peoria poured it on against reliever Seth Lintz in the sixth. Arismendy Alcantara tripled off the wall in right field to drive in a run. Silva was next and he singled off Lintz to score Alcantara. Later in the inning, Geiger singled in Silva for an 8-0 lead.

Wisconsin (60-63, 22-31) had many chances early in the game. Twice – the fourth and sixth innings – the Rattlers got a leadoff double. But, each time that runner was still at second when the inning ended.

Frank Del Valle tossed 5-1/3 scoreless innings and struck out seven to put himself in position for the win.

The Rattlers got on the board in the eighth inning. They had runners at first and second with one out. Cody Hawn sent a grounder to short. The Chiefs got the force play at second, but the throw to first was wild. That allowed Reggie Keen, the runner at second when the play started, to score.

Jason Rogers, who had doubled in the fourth, singled in Hawn to account for the Rattlers second run. That hit by Rogers was the only one by a Rattler player with a runner in scoring position. Wisconsin ended the night 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

Wisconsin’s road trip continues on Saturday when they open a four game series at Community Field in Burlington, Iowa against the Burlington Bees. Matt Miller (5-6, 4.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. The Bees are sending Jose Macias (5-3, 4.45) to the mound. Game time is 6:30pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm.

Wisconsin box score

Pretty sorry line for Arnett: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 HBP, 2 K. How much longer do you let him start? STOSH! Wawrzasek finished the game with 2.1 scoreless innings and three strikeouts, so that's nice. Rogers also walked, so he was on three times. TJ Mittlestaedt doubled and walked as well. Brandon Macias stayed hot with two hits.

Wisconsin play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: @Mississippi 3, Huntsville 0

Huntsville box score

Very blah. Dan Merklinger: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 91 pitches, 52 strikes. Brock Kjeldgaard had two hits, and Lee Haydel singled and walked. Khris Davis did not play. I wish had more to say about this game, but I don't.

Huntsville play-by-play

[TooLiveBrew]

Final: Orem 6, @Helena 3

 

Brewers Fall 6-3 to Orem

By Nicholas Allen

 

The Orem Owlz got a strong start from Logan Odom and utilized a

successful small-ball approach at the plate to defeat Helena 6-3 Friday

at Kindrick Legion Field. Tommy Toledo (0-4) took the loss for the

Brewers, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks in five

innings.

 

Orem's Taylor Lindsey led off the game with a double, was sacrificed to

third and later scored on a sacrifice fly. In nearly the exact same

fashion, the Owlz added a run in the second after a Kaleb Cowart leadoff

double. Orem added a run in the fourth and two in the sixth before

Helena got on the board.

 

The Brewers rallied for three runs in the seventh inning, making it a

5-3 ballgame but could not capitalize on further opportunities to score.

Helena was 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, stranding 12 men

on base. Gant Elmore finished the night 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run

scored for Helena.

 

The teams will meet again Saturday.

 

 

Helena Box Score

Toledo: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R/ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Thomas Keeling: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 K

David Goforth: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 3 K

 

John Dishon: 1-4, 2 SB, 1 CS

Kyle Dhanani: 1-4, BB

Ben McMahan: 1-5, 2B

Steve Felix: 1-3, 2B

Max Walla: 0-3, 2 BB, RBI

Parker Berberet: 0-3, 2 BB

Tyler Roberts: 0-2, 2 BB

Yadiel Rivera: 0-5, RBI

 

 

Helena Play-by-Play

Down 5-3 in the 8th, Helena started up a rally they whiffed on finishing:

 

Helena Bottom of the 8th

• Kyle Dhanani singles on a fly ball to center fielder Drew Martinez.
• Tyler Roberts walks. Kyle Dhanani to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: Nick Mutz replaces Aaron Meade.
• Steve
  Felix out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Nick Mutz to second baseman
  Taylor Lindsey. Kyle Dhanani to 3rd. Tyler Roberts to 2nd.
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Robert Garvey replaces Tyler Roberts.
• Gant Elmore strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Nick Mutz. Gant Elmore to 1st.
• John Dishon strikes out swinging.
• Yadiel Rivera strikes out swinging.

[TooLiveBrew]

Final: Tucson 4, @Nashville 3

 

Tucson Bests Sounds 4-3, Teams Split Series

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tucson Padres plated three runs in the top of the eighth inning and staved off a late comeback attempt to hang a 4-3 loss on the Nashville Sounds on Friday evening in front of 5,740 fans at Greer Stadium.

 

With the win, Tucson secured a split of the four-game season series against the Sounds.

 

Nashville (64-63) finished 4-4 during its eight-game homestand, winning the first two games of each series before dropping the final two contests against both Las Vegas and Tucson.

 

Outfielder Caleb Gindl went 3-for-4 on the evening, the Sounds' lone multiple-hit effort.

 

Sounds starter Amaury Rivas worked out of jams throughout the early portion of the contest, stranding Tucson runners in scoring position in three of the first four scoreless frames, before the Padres finally got on the board in the fifth.

 

Tucson starting pitcher Jeremy Hefner broke a scoreless tie in the fifth when he led off the inning with his first home run of the year, a solo shot to left off Rivas. It marked the third longball slugged by an opposing pitcher against Nashville this season.

 

Nashville rallied to knot the contest at 1-1 in the home half of the seventh when Edwin Maysonet doubled with one out against Hefner before Logan Schafer later greeted new Tucson reliever Ernesto Frieri with a game-tying two-bagger to right-center.

 

The Padres immediately re-took the lead, plating three runs in the top of the eighth off of Sounds reliever Randy Flores.

 

Tucson loaded the bases without the benefit of a hit against Flore. Anthony Rizzo led off by reaching on a fielding error by Maysonet, the Sounds' shortstop. Matt Clark and Bobby Kielty then drew consecutive walks from the Nashville left-hander to fill the bags with no outs.

 

Former Cumberland University standout Luis Martinez delivered the lone Tucson hit of the inning, hammering a two-run double off the top of the right field wall to put the visitors back on top by a 3-1 margin. Later in the inning, new Sounds reliever Mike McClendon uncorked a wild pitch to allow Kielty to scamper home to make it a 4-1 contest.

 

The Sounds got a run back in the bottom of the eighth against Luis Perdomo when Erick Almonte, Gindl, and Mike Rivera posted three consecutive one-out singles against the right-hander. Rivera's knock plated Almonte to pull Nashville within a pair of runs at 4-2.

 

Nashville drew within a run in the ninth when Eric Farris hit a two-out double to right-center off Tucson reliever Brad Brach then scored when Taylor Green followed with an RBI single to center. With the potential tying run on base, Brach recovered to strike out Almonte swinging to preserve the win and earn his eighth save of the year.

 

Frieri (1-0) earned his first win of the year for Tucson despite suffering a blown save in the contest.

 

Flores (1-3) took a loss in his first decision in a Sounds uniform after giving up three runs (one earned) in just one-third of an inning of work.

 

Both starting pitchers turned in quality starts on the evening but neither factored in the decision.

 

Rivas allowed one run on four hits over six innings of work for the Sounds, his first quality start in his last nine outings. The right-hander walked five batters and struck out three during his 110-pitch effort.

 

Hefner allowed one run on three hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings for Tucson, walking three batters and striking out seven.

 

The Sounds hit the road on Saturday for a crucial four-game series against the division-leading Omaha Storm Chasers. Right-hander Josh Butler (7-7, 5.16) will start Saturday's 7:05 p.m. CT series opener for Nashville. Omaha will counter with southpaw Mike Montgomery (5-7, 5.35).

 

 

Nashville Box Score

Rivas: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R/ER, 5 BB, 3 K

Donovan Hand: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB 1 K

Flores: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R/1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

McClendon: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 K

 

Schafer: 1-4, BB

Farris: 1-4, 2B, BB

Green: 1-5, RBI

Almonte: 1-5

Gindl: 3-4, SB

Rivera: 1-4

Brandon Boggs: 0-3, BB

Maysonet: 1-3, 2B

 

 

Nashville Play-by-Play

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Photo by Ron johnson / Peoria Journal-Star

Peoria Chiefs second baseman Arismendy Alcantara can't make the tag on Brandon Macias of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at second in time during Friday's game at O'Brien Field.

 

http://www.pjstar.com/archive/x386670133/g12c00000000000000094c8c196790297e5cef4e1e20ae6ff913db4c735.jpg

 

***

 

Rattler Radio Post-Game Thoughts

[Mass Haas]

Brewers drop series opener vs. Orem

by Amber Kuehn, Helena Independent Record

Bullpen blunders left Orem in a couple of sticky situations late in the game, but a pair of Owlz relievers were able to work out of jams when it mattered most.

Helena left the bases loaded in the seventh and eighth innings as the visitors came out on top, 6-3 on Friday at Kindrick Legion Field to take the first game of the three-game set. It was a story of missed opportunities for the Brewers, who also had a man at third with less than two outs on three different occasions early in the game and failed to bring them home.

With three on and the Brewers trailing 5-3 in the eighth, Orem reliever Nick Mutz got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning and help the Owlz preserve the lead. It followed a seventh inning where Aaron Meade also worked out of a bases-loaded jam.

“It was good for my ulcer,” Orem manager Tom Kotchman joked after the game, before adding seriously, “Mutz definitely turned something that could have been bad into something good.”

The Owlz at one point led 5-0 and were looking at their first shutout bid of the season heading into the bottom of the seventh. But as has often been the case this season, Orem’s bullpen unraveled. The Brewers scored three runs on two different pitchers, despite getting just one hit — a double by Steve Felix — in the seventh. They were issued three free passes, John Dishon was hit by a pitch and one run was walked in, as the other two counters came courtesy of RBIs by Yadiel Rivera and Gant Elmore, who each reached on a fielder’s choice. Ben McMahan was thrown out at second base for the third out of the inning, after the Brewers batted around.

Unlike the hosts, the Owlz made the most of every hit — and they were few and far between. The Pioneer League’s top offensive team, with a .309 batting average and .378 on-base percentage, was mostly held in check by Helena starter Tommy Toledo. The right-hander allowed just four hits, but the Owlz plated three runs on sac bunts and sac flies, the kind of small ball preached throughout the Angels organization.

“I scouted Florida and saw Tommy for five years, but you can have a scouting report and it doesn’t matter,” Kotchman said. “We obviously didn’t do a whole lot often, but did just enough to get a lead.”

Orem leads the South Division with a 12-7 record, but dropped three of four games in its previous series in Missoula. Kotchman said it was important to bounce back, especially against the second-best pitching staff in the league. The Owlz finished with eight hits in the game, after averaging 11 hits per game throughout the season.

“(David) Goforth was very impressive and we didn’t have much of a chance against him,” Kotchman said of Helena’s right-handed reliever, who retired the first seven he faced before allowing a double and insurance run in the final frame. “I know that we’re playing a team that’s always prepared ... and good pitching beats good hitting.”

A team that typically relies on its bats instead depended on one of its own arms — a righty who joined the Owlz just a month ago after being drafted in the ninth round.

“Mutz did a great job,” Kotchman said, after the closer picked up his first save of the season.

Taylor Lindsey was the hot hitter for the Owlz, getting two doubles, scoring two runs, and knocking in a run. The second baseman fresh out of high school is now hitting .367, one of four Orem sluggers batting over .350.

Gant Elmore was 2 for 4 for the home team, the only Brewer with a multi-hit game.

“Our guys battled tonight,” Helena manager Joe Ayrault said, before noting that the Brewers had their chances, but that missed opportunities were what spelled the Brewers fate. Helena left a dozen men on, and were 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Southpaw Mike Strong will try to right the ship for the Brewers tonight, as he gets the start for game two. Right-hander Baudilio Lopez takes the bump for Orem.

NOTES: Entering Friday’s game, Orem was leading the league in hits (631), runs scored (381), total bases (990), RBIs (355), slugging percentage (.486) and on-base percentage (.378). Four Owlz rank in the top seven in the league in batting average.