Link Report for Thurs. 4/12 -- Jed Bradley strong despite illness; Stars and Rattlers win, Sounds punchless again

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Josh Butler at Oklahoma City (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Jeff Hem is the new play-by-play voice of the Sounds; follow him on Twitter @jeffhempbp; we'll link to his blog updates at On the Air…and Off

 

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Nashville games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $39.99 season-long package ($9.99 to pay for a single month). We imagine the audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link.

 

**********

 

Huntsville: RHP Evan Anundsen at Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

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

 

I-Phone friendly audio link

 

Alex Cohen is the new play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. It's fantastic that Huntsville is returning to what will be a traditional broadcast format this year. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast.

 

MiLB.TV subsciption note: A total of 24 Stars' games (in Jacksonville and Tennessee) will be broadcast.

 

**********

 

Brevard County: LHP Jed Bradley at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 5:35 PM gametime

 

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

 

Once again this season, Brevard does not have its own audio coverage. It appears two teams in the Manatees North Division (within which the majority of games are played) have audio, and all six teams in the South Division have audio (at least for their home games), so there will be opportunities to listen to approx. 70% or Brevard's games this season, just all from the opponent's perspective. There are no Florida State League games on MiLB.TV this year.

 

**********

 

Wisconsin: RHP Drew Gagnon at home vs. Peoria (Cubs), 6:20 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime

 

TV! As we prepped you for yesterday, tonight's Rattlers game can be viewed on Time Warner Cable Sports 32.

 

Free Live Audio Link - 1280 AM WNAM

 

Chris Mehring is back to do his customary fantastic work as the Voice of the Rattlers. Follow him on Twitter @CMehring; we'll link to Chris' infamous blog often -- Rattler Radio.

 

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; Wisconsin is one of only two (Great Lakes) Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV; Chris' call provides the audio. So for the $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, all Timber Rattlers home games, and 24 Stars' road games (one Helena series this summer, too).

[Mass Haas]

Follow Thursday's action as it happens with box score / game log links:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

[Mass Haas]

STANDINGS:

 

AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division

 

AA - Southern League North Division

 

Florida State League North Division

 

Midwest League Western Division

[Mass Haas]

Catching up from Wednesday:

 

Top prospect Thornburg has tough-luck day as Stars fall to Barons

By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times al.com

 

HOOVER -- Tyler Thornburg slowly walked down the steps at the far end of the Huntsville Stars' dugout at the end of the sixth inning, fresh from retiring eight of the last nine batters.

 

Chris Hook, the Huntsville pitching coach, greeted him with a handshake and praises. Said Thornburg, the top pitching prospect on the Stars' roster, "Whenever he sticks his hand out and says 'Good job,' you know you're done.'"

 

Thornburg's day may have been done but the drama -- and frustration -- of the game was just beginning, everything from absent sunglasses to a continuing saga for the Stars, who lost to Birmingham 4-2 Wednesday afternoon.

 

The Stars, now 2-5, have three more games here before their 4:03 p.m. home opener Sunday against Tennessee.

 

This loss was a familiar plot. For the third time in four days, the bullpen blew a save opportunity. And again the Stars came up lacking when a key hit was needed. They left seven on base, going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

 

The Stars are hitting an impressive .272 as a team. Alas, they are tied for sixth in runs driven in. They have mustered only 17 hits in 74 opportunities with runners in scoring position.

 

They got one when Anderson de la Rosa plopped a game-tying RBI single into left field in the seventh that followed a leadoff double by Khris Davis. A Birmingham error let the Stars take a 2-1 lead.

 

It was short-lived. Davis lost a fly ball in the sun for a double in the eighth. He wasn't wearing sunglasses. Said manager Darnell Coles sternly, "That's been addressed, so it won't happen again."

 

Reliever Darren Byrd gave up two more hits, good for two runs, then reliever Jesus Sanchez hit a batter with the bases loaded.

 

Thornburg, a 23-year-old Atlanta-raised righthander, deserved better. He allowed just four hits in six innings, striking out six before being removed because of his pitch count. The only run he allowed was unearned, after a first-inning Drew Garcia triple.

 

"He's one of those guys, once he starts sweating, he's better," Hook said. "His velocity was very good, his location was good, he changed speeds."

 

Baseball's romance with the subjective rankings of prospects has put Thornburg under a microscope. Depending upon the list, he's somewhere from the top to at least the top four pitching prospects in the Milwaukee chain.

 

"It means you better do good," Thornburg said. "There's a lot of pressure on you, to be honest. I kind of like it, though. I wouldn't have it any other way. Being labeled a prospect, there's more pressure to perform."

 

It also opens more doors. He had five major-league spring training appearances. And he was selected for the prestigious Futures Game last year.

 

"I was expecting to go in and it'd be a nice experience. But I got there, and everything was awesome," he said.

 

He came home with a suitcase full of apparel and accessories. Said Thornburg, "Every time I put something on or maybe wear some sunglasses I got from there, it makes you think about it."

 

Ironic quote, on a day when not thinking about sunglasses was so critical for the Stars.

[Mass Haas]

To get tweets as to when the Link Report has been technically "completed" with available links, as well as to know when the new day's Report has been posted, please follow @Mass_Haas on Twitter.

[Mass Haas]

The 2012 Timber Rattlers Intro Video

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

LHP Jon Pokorny, a surprising cut in spring training, found a new independent league home

[Tedaldtada]

BC is playing the Blue Jays affiliate tonight. There are a couple of studs in the lineup to face Bradley.

[Tedaldtada]

C'mon bats! And keep it up gloves...

[jjfanec]

Interesting line so far from Bradley. 6 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 ER but only 2 K's

 

Ends 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 ER, and 4 K's. He left with runners on but no one scored

[Tedaldtada]

Dunedin (Blue Jays) 2 Brevard County 0 F/8

 

Box Score

 

For the Manatees, it was the Jed Bradley show. He was perfect through 4, faced the minimum through 5, and did not give up a hit until the first hitter of the 6th. His ERA remains 0.00 on the season as the only run he gave up was unearned. He uncorked one wild pitch and had a 7:7 GO:FO ratio. His final line: 6 2/3 IP 3 H 1 R 0 ER 1 BB 4 K 1 WP

 

Wild Thomas Keeling entered in the 7th and finished the (weather?) shortened 8 inning game. He gave up a home run to the 9 hitter catcher but did have 2 K in 1 1/3 innings. He is getting a lot of early run. Remember, Thomas signed an over slot deal after being drafted in the mid-rounds. The book on him is he has a great arm but he is wild. So far this year, his control has improved.

 

Some of the Manatees got a hit. Most just struck out (12 K). The 2-5 hitters had 8 K tonight. Names have been withheld for their own protection.

 

As I mentioned, the Blue Jays have a few studs on this team. The Blue Jays have more big arm pitchers than anyone else and that includes Sean Nolin, who pitched tonight. 5 2/3 3 H 0 ER 0 BB 11 K.

 

You may recognize the name Marcus Knecht. The Brewers drafted him out of HS and made a strong push to sign him before he opted for JUCO. He improved his stock considerably and Jays took him in the 3rd round in 2010. Knecht hit 3rd tonight. The real big prospect on the Dunedin team is Jake Marisnick. He was a standard name to see on top-100 lists this past off season.

 

Game Log

 

Every single Bradley batter faced.

 

Dunedin Top of the 1st

 

Jake Marisnick flies out to right fielder Franklin Romero Jr.

Jonathan Jones called out on strikes.

Marcus Knecht flies out to right fielder Franklin Romero Jr.

 

Dunedin Top of the 2nd

Kevin Nolan flies out to right fielder Franklin Romero Jr.

Ryan Schimpf called out on strikes.

Kevin Ahrens grounds out, third baseman Michael Walker to first baseman Cody Hawn.

 

Dunedin Top of the 3rd

Jon Talley grounds out to first baseman Cody Hawn.

Ivan Contreras pops out to second baseman Shea Vucinich.

Jack Murphy grounds out to first baseman Cody Hawn.

 

Dunedin Top of the 4th

 

Jake Marisnick flies out to right fielder Franklin Romero Jr.

Jonathan Jones lines out to third baseman Michael Walker.

Marcus Knecht flies out to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt.

 

Dunedin Top of the 5th

 

Kevin Nolan reaches on fielding error by third baseman Michael Walker.

Ryan Schimpf flies out to center fielder Reggie Keen.

Kevin Ahrens grounds into double play, third baseman Michael Walker to second baseman Shea Vucinich to first baseman Cody Hawn. Kevin Nolan out at 2nd.

 

Dunedin Top of the 6th

 

Jon Talley singles on a fly ball to right fielder Franklin Romero Jr.

Ivan Contreras reaches on force attempt, fielding error by second baseman Shea Vucinich. Jon Talley to 2nd.

With Jack Murphy batting, wild pitch by Jed Bradley, Jon Talley to 3rd. Ivan Contreras to 2nd.

Jack Murphy flies into sacrifice double play, left fielder T. Mittelstaedt to catcher Adam Weisenburger to third baseman Michael Walker. Jon Talley scores. Ivan Contreras out at 3rd on the throw.

Jake Marisnick triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Reggie Keen.

Jonathan Jones grounds out, shortstop Nick Shaw to first baseman Cody Hawn.

 

Dunedin Top of the 7th

Marcus Knecht strikes out swinging.

Kevin Nolan singles on a line drive to center fielder Reggie Keen.

With Ryan Schimpf batting, Kevin Nolan steals (1) 2nd base.

Ryan Schimpf called out on strikes.

Kevin Ahrens walks.

Pitcher Change: Thomas Keeling replaces Jed Bradley.

Jon Talley lines out to first baseman Cody Hawn.

[Tedaldtada]

I have been watching the WI game and Gagnon looks really good. He was painting corners with a nice two plane break fastball. He would start it down early in the count then pump it past hitters up in zone. He should find a ton of success in the MWL. I'm very interested in what TheCrew07 thinks.

[battlekow]

The Blue Jays have more big arm pitchers than anyone else and that includes Sean Nolin, who pitched tonight. 5 2/3 3 H 0 ER 0 BB 11 K.

 

You may recognize the name Marcus Knecht. The Brewers drafted him out of HS and made a strong push to sign him before he opted for JUCO. He improved his stock considerably and Jays took him in the 3rd round in 2010. Knecht hit 3rd tonight. The real big prospect on the Dunedin team is Jake Marisnick. He was a standard name to see on top-100 lists this past off season.

The Brewers drafted Nolin, too, in the 50th round in 2008.

 

As for Marisnick, it's kind of interesting. He was the Jays' fifth pick that year, since they had a supplemental first rounder and two third-round picks. The one they used to take Marisnick they actually got from the Yankees as compensation for losing AJ Burnett. You'll of course remember that the Yankees also signed two other rather big-ticket free agents that offseason, Mark Teixeira and some guy named Carsten Charles; Teixeira famously outranked Sabathia in Elias's rather questionable ranking system, which meant the Angels got to draft Mike Trout (one pick ahead of the Brewers, who took Eric Arnett), while Milwaukee was stuck with the Yankees' second-rounder, which they used to take Max Walla.

 

The other Brewers tie is that the Blue Jays' first-rounder that year was Chad Jenkins, who teamed up with Kyle Heckathorn, who went in the supplemental round to Milwaukee, to form a hellacious one-two punch at Kennesaw State University. To make you feel better after that gut-wrenching paragraph above, Jenkins hasn't done a whole hell of a lot in his pro career to date. He's been a lot better than the Blue Jays' next three picks, though--because they didn't sign any of them. James Paxton, Jake Elipoulous, and Jake Barrett (that's three Jakes in a row, counting Marisnick) all failed to sign. Paxton, of course, went on to sign with the Mariners the next year and has been carving up minor leaguers since, including, memorably, the Timber Rattlers last year. Eliopoulous, a Canadian citizen (though he was born in Ukraine--weird), was drafted by the Dodgers the next year and the Blue Jays again last year, but again refused to sign each time. Mini-Matt Harrington.

 

Anyway, that doesn't have anything to do with anything, really, but I thought it was interesting.

[Tedaldtada]

OKC (Astros) 2 Nashville 0

 

Box Score

 

Caleb Gindl and Logan Schafer each had a hit. Eric Farris had a hit and a steal. The Brevard County and Nashville hitters combined for zero walks on the night. Taylor Green got the night off.

 

Josh Butler pitched and finished with this line: 6 IP 5 H 2 R 2 ER 0 BB 2 K 5:5 GO:FO 1 Pickoff (76 pitches, 46 strikes). Victor Garate finished the game with a clean 2 innings.

 

Game Log

 

Rally killer(s)

 

Nashville Top of the 3rd

 

Eric Farris singles on a line drive to right fielder Collin DeLome.

Paul Phillips singles on a line drive to left fielder Fernando Martinez. Eric Farris to 3rd. Paul Phillips out at 2nd, left fielder Fernando Martinez to shortstop Angel Sanchez to second baseman Diory Hernandez.

Josh Butler strikes out on missed bunt.

Logan Schafer grounds out, second baseman Diory Hernandez to first baseman Mike Hessman.

Nashville never got real close to scoring after that.

 

Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Final: Wisconsin 4, Peoria (Cubs) 2

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Always, Always, Always beat the Cubs! Well I DVR'd the WI game and boy am I ever glad I did, I REALLY like Drew Gagnon. He pitched almost exclusively off his FB which featured good run and topped out at 96 on the stadium gun which is probably +1-2 MPH in my experience looking over the shoulder of the Rattler pitchers on their Stalker gun. Two things about his FB really impressed me: The first was simply that the Peoria hitters couldn't square it up, the only hard hit ball was a line out to CF, and they swung through a ton of FBs. The second was that he climbed the ladder for strike outs with his FB, something that I've been harping on Gallardo to do for years. When Gagnon missed, for the most part he missed low, though he did groove a couple that Peoria hitters simply swung through or watched go bye. The angle of the camera made it hard to distinguish breaking stuff at times, especially without the benefit any of kind of velocity reading, but no Peoria hitter got more than just a piece of either pitch. 3 of the hits were on the IF... a bunt, a chopper up the middle that Rivera bobbled, and a ground ball through the midde of the shift. In the first inning he gave up a little looping liner to LF. He has work to do in the running game and with repeating his delivery, but as Tunnell has mentioned numerous times the work on the running game comes later in the pitching progression, after the delivery and FB command are set. Gagnon's final line 5IP, 4H, 1ER, 1BB, and 7 strike outs.

 

Tommy Toledo followed and I liked his FB movement as well, he went 2.2 IP, 1H, 1ER, 1BB, and 3SO. Seth Harvey closed it out going the final 1.1 and allowing a single hit.

Jason Rogers and Chadwin Stang smacked HRs and Yadiel Rivera went 2-3 boosting his season AVE to .375 as he's now 6-16 with 2 doubles and a HR on the year to boot. Peoria C prospect Rafael Lopez went 3-4 in the game including a bunt single, not something you see very often from a catcher and I was impressed even though Hopkins didn't field ball with his feet in good position and then didn't get much on the throw.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

I'm always torn on this stuff in the minors as players need to learn how to bunt but I hate giving outs away.

Wisconsin Bottom of the 3rd

• Yadiel Rivera singles on a ground ball to second baseman Wes Darvill.
  With John Dishon batting, wild pitch by Patrick Francescon, Yadiel Rivera to 2nd.
  John Dishon hit by pitch.
  Chadwin Stang out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Brad Zapenas to first baseman Paul Hoilman. Yadiel Rivera to 3rd. John Dishon to 2nd.
  Brandon Macias grounds out, third baseman Brad Zapenas to first baseman Paul Hoilman.
  Jason Rogers grounds out, shortstop Marco Hernandez to first baseman Paul Hoilman.
  

 

The only run Gagnon allowed.

Peoria Top of the 5th

• Wes Darvill called out on strikes.
  Eduardo Gonzalez flies out to left fielder Jason Rogers.
  Brad Zapenas singles on a ground ball to shortstop Yadiel Rivera, deflected by pitcher Drew Gagnon.
  With Pin-Chieh Chen batting, Brad Zapenas steals (1) 2nd base.
  Pin-Chieh Chen singles on a ground ball to right fielder John Dishon. Brad Zapenas scores.
  With Marco Hernandez batting, Pin-Chieh Chen steals (1) 2nd base.
  Marco Hernandez strikes out swinging.

 

Toledo's Run

Peoria Top of the 8th

• Brad Zapenas walks.
  Pin-Chieh Chen strikes out swinging.
  With Marco Hernandez batting, wild pitch by Tommy Toledo, Brad Zapenas to 2nd.
  Marco Hernandez strikes out swinging.
  Rafael Lopez singles on a line drive to right fielder John Dishon. Brad Zapenas scores.
  Pitcher Change: Seth Harvey replaces Tommy Toledo.
  Paul Hoilman pops out to shortstop Yadiel Rivera.

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers homestand starts with a win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers started their seven game homestand with a nice 4-2 victory over the Peoria Chiefs Thursday night on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Jason Rogers and Chadwin Stang homered in support of solid pitching by three Wisconsin Timber Rattlers hurlers in the win.

 

Rogers started the scoring early with a two-out solo homer in the first inning. Rogers second blast of the season gave him at least one hit in six of the seven games Wisconsin (3-4) has played this season.

 

Drew Gagnon, Wisconsin's starting pitcher, worked five innings and struck out seven while allowing four hits. But, the Chiefs (3-4) got to him with a run in the fifth inning. Brad Zapenas singled with two outs and stole second. A single by Pin-Chieh Chen drove in Zapenas for the tying run.

 

Stang put Wisconsin in front with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the fifth. Stang's second home run of the season moved his hitting streak to five games and gave the Rattlers a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, Parker Berberet singled in a run to make it 3-1.

 

The Chiefs cut into the lead in the eighth inning against reliever Tommy Toledo. The right hander had retired the first six batters he faced, but allowed a walk to Zapenas in to start the eighth. Toledo struck out the next two batters, but Rafael Lopez knocked in Zapenas with his third hit of the night.

 

Seth Harvey got the final out of the eighth inning and the Rattlers offense got a little insurance in the bottom of the frame. Stang walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. He took off for third on a wild pitch with Rogers at the plate and a throwing error on the play allowed him to score.

 

Harvey worked around a one out single in the ninth for his first Midwest League save.

 

Wisconsin and Peoria play game two of the series on Friday night at 6:35pm. Mark Williams (0-1, 4.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. The Chiefs send Jose Rosario (0-0, 1.93) to the hill.

 

Friday night is at North Shore Bank Family Night. Children 12 and under eat free. Plus, after the game, Jernegan's Health Mart hosts Kids Run the Bases for children 14 and under.

 

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in for the broadcast on 1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm Friday's game is also available on MiLB.tv.

 

HOME RUNS:

WIS:

Jason Rogers (2nd, 0 on in 1st inning, off PJ Francescon, 2 out)

Chadwin Stang (2nd, 0 on in 6th inning, off PJ Francescon, 0 out)

 

WP: Tommy Toledo (1-0)

LP: PJ Francescon (0-1)

SAVE: Seth Harvey (1)

 

TIME: 2:34

ATTN: 740

[TheCrew07]

Final: Huntsville 6, Birmingham (White Sox) 1

 

Huntsville Box Score

A very good pitching performance pushed the Stars past the Barons this evening as Huntsville pitchers struck out 11 batters on the evening. Evan Anundsen continued his fine start to the season by going 4IP, with 4H, 1ER, 1HR, 1BB, and 3SO. Josh Stinson went the next 4 innings give up 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 6. Newly promoted Eric Marzec went the final inning allowing 1 BB but he did strike out 2.

 

Hunter Morris was the offensive story of the night, he went 4-4 with 2 doubles. Josh Prince also had his best night on the young season going 2-4 with a double.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

Great way to start the game...

Huntsville Top of the 1st

• Lee Haydel singles on a ground ball to shortstop Tyler Saladino.
  Jeff Bianchi bunt pops out to pitcher Simon Castro.
  Scooter Gennett singles on a line drive to center fielder Jared Mitchell. Lee Haydel to 2nd.
  Brock Kjeldgaard walks. Lee Haydel to 3rd. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.
  Hunter Morris doubles (5) on a ground ball to right fielder Jose Martinez. Lee Haydel scores. Scooter Gennett scores. Brock Kjeldgaard to 3rd.
  Khris Davis grounds out, second baseman Drew Garcia to first baseman Andy Wilkins. Brock Kjeldgaard scores. Hunter Morris to 3rd.
  Andy Gonzalez walks.
  Jason Jaramillo strikes out swinging.
  

 

The final 3 runs, all the Stars would need

Huntsville Top of the 2nd

• Josh Prince singles on a ground ball to left fielder Kenneth Williams.
  Lee Haydel walks. Josh Prince to 2nd.
  Jeff Bianchi hits a sacrifice bunt. Throwing error by pitcher Simon Castro. Josh Prince scores. Lee Haydel to 3rd. Jeff Bianchi to 2nd.
  Scooter Gennett grounds out, second baseman Drew Garcia to first baseman Andy Wilkins. Lee Haydel scores. Jeff Bianchi to 3rd.
  Brock Kjeldgaard grounds out to first baseman Andy Wilkins.
  Hunter Morris doubles (6) on a fly ball to center fielder Jared Mitchell. Jeff Bianchi scores.
  Khris Davis walks.
  Andy Gonzalez pops out to second baseman Drew Garcia.

 

Anundsen wiggled out of a Jam in the 2nd.

Birmingham Bottom of the 2nd

• Corey Smith singles on a ground ball to left fielder Lee Haydel.
  Seth Loman lines out to third baseman Andy Gonzalez.
  Jared Mitchell walks. Corey Smith to 2nd.
  Jose Martinez grounds into a force out, shortstop Jeff Bianchi to second baseman Scooter Gennett. Corey Smith to 3rd. Jared Mitchell out at 2nd. Jose Martinez to 1st.
  Luis Sierra grounds out to first baseman Hunter Morris.

[Tedaldtada]

Sounds Blanked In Road Trip Finale

Nashville Sounds

 

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Nashville Sounds were held to five hits by a trio of Oklahoma City pitchers during a 2-0 shutout loss to the RedHawks on Thursday evening at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

 

With the defeat, Nashville finished its season-opening road trip with a 2-6 record, going 1-3 against both New Orleans and Oklahoma City.

 

The Sounds' lone hits in the contest were singles off the bats of Erick Almonte, Eric Farris, Caleb Gindl, Paul Phillips, and Logan Schafer. Nashville put a runner into scoring position only three times on the night.

 

It was a pitchers' duel for much of the evening as neither team scored until Oklahoma City finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh inning.

 

Sounds starter Josh Butler held the RedHawks to just two hits through the first six innings. In the seventh, Fernando Martinez led off with a single to left and Mike Hessman followed with a grounder to third that was mishandled by Erick Almonte for an error.

 

With two on, left-hander Victor Garate took over on the hill. After a sacrifice moved the runners to second and third, pinch-hitter Justin Ruggiano delivered a two-run single to right to break the scoreless deadlock and give Oklahoma City a 2-0 advantage.

 

Butler (0-2) took a hard-luck loss despite a quality start for the Sounds in his second outing of the year. He allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits in his six-plus frames of action.

 

RedHawks left-hander Dallas Keuchel (2-0) was even sharper than Butler, twirling seven scoreless frames while holding the Sounds to four singles and striking out five to pick up the victory.

 

Mickey Storey tossed a perfect eighth before Jose Valdez worked around a one-out Schafer single in the ninth to close out the shutout and earn his first save of the year.

 

The Sounds return to Greer Stadium tomorrow night to host their 2012 home opener, a 7:05 p.m. contest against the New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA-Marlins). Right-hander Brian Baker (1-0,0.00) will toe the rubber for Nashville to face Z's right-hander Tom Koehler (0-1, 0.00). Mayor Karl Dean will throw out the season's ceremonial first pitch and a fireworks show will follow the on-field action.

[TheCrew07]

Barons Fall to Stars 6-1

 

The Birmingham Barons dropped game three of their five game set with the Huntsville Stars 6-1 Thursday night in front of 2,905 fans at Regions Park.

 

The Stars scored all of their runs in the first two innings, jumping on Barons starter Simon Castro (0-1, 8.00) three runs in the first and second frames. Hunter Morris started the scoring with a two-run double in the first. Morris would double again in the second driving in another run to help the Stars to a 6-0 lead. Morris would finish the night 4-for-4 with three RBI.

 

Andy Wilkins accounted for the Barons only run with a solo home run in the fourth. Wilkins' blast was his second of the year. So far he has accounted for all of the Barons home runs.

 

Castro took the loss allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits in 4.0 innings. Huntsville reliever Josh Stinson (2-0, 2.25) picked up the win with 4.0 scoreless innings in relief of starter Evan Anundsen.

 

With the loss the Barons fall to 3-5 on the year while Huntsville improves to 3-5. The Barons will look to return to their winning ways Friday as Cameron Bayne (0-0, 3.86) takes the hill against Huntsville starter Kyle Heckathorn (0-0, 4.76). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.

[Mass Haas]

Manatees' Bradley wards off illness

By Jonathan Raymond / Special to MLB.com

 

(Photo at link from Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-eye Sports Photography)

 

Jed Bradley came to Space Coast Stadium sick to his stomach Thursday, which was particularly unfortunate because it was also his day to start.

 

The 15th overall pick by the Brewers in the 2011 Draft persevered, though, to throw 6 2/3 innings while allowing just one unearned run in Class A Advanced Brevard County's 2-0 hard-luck loss to Dunedin.

 

Bradley (1-1) scattered three hits, striking out four and walking one. The Georgia Tech product wound up throwing 88 pitches and nearly completed seven of the rain-shortened game's eight innings, despite being affected by an illness which kept him from even eating during the day.

 

The native of Huntsville, Ala., said he had no doubt that he'd get on the mound and give it what he had.

 

"There was never a time where I didn't think I was going to throw," Bradley said. "I knew I was going to go out there and give it my best shot. I didn't know if that would be for two innings, or for 6 2/3 like I wound up going.

 

"I did everything I could to feel good before I did go out. I'm thankful for the good fortune I had tonight and to be able to get through it. There were a couple middle innings in there where I wasn't feeling too good, but I just had to talk myself into going back out."

 

The 21-year-old said he mostly relied on his two-seam fastball and changeup against the Blue Jays lineup. He was able to work through the first five innings flawlessly, before losing his perfect-game bid in the sixth.

 

"Ironically my first five innings were my best five innings while I felt the worst," MLB.com's No. 96 prospect said. "I just had to keep telling myself, 'Get to the fifth, get to the fifth.' Once I got past that, there were some guys on base in the sixth and the adrenaline kicked in, which helped [how I felt]."

 

Bradley's shot at the win was undone by an unearned run he allowed in the sixth. Jon Talley singled and Ivan Contreras reached on a fielding error by second baseman Shea Vucinich. After a wild pitch moved the runners over, Jack Murphy's sacrifice fly plated Talley.

 

Brevard County's lineup proved unable to crack Bradley's opponent, Dunedin starter Sean Nolin (2-0). Toronto's sixth-round selection in the 2010 Draft struck out 11, walked none and allowed just three hits in 5 2/3 innings for the win. Nolin hasn't allowed a run in either of his first two starts.

 

"The challenge [of a pitching duel] is good, but obviously you'd never say no to blowing a team out though," Bradley joked. "But it is what it is. That's baseball - some things even out, some things don't. There were some great defensive plays made behind me to make my outing easier, so I was thankful for that."

 

Bradley, for his part, has yet to allow an earned run after Thursday's start. In two games this season the left-hander has thrown 13 innings, struck out 11 and walked two while maintaining a 0.00 ERA.

 

As impressive as Bradley's start was given what he was battling, Milwaukee's No. 2 prospect didn't want to make too big a deal of his outing.

 

"I came to the field, felt [terrible], tried to feel a little better and just went out there and did what I needed to do."

[Mass Haas]

Additional details not already mentioned from Florida Today, see full article --

 

Mike Walker and Reggie Keen with big defensive plays, pouring rain hampered at-bats late in the game, tonight's hurler gets his first start of the season.

[Mass Haas]

Eric Farris started for Nashville at shortstop Thursday. A bit disappointed to see that Baseball Reference's defensive stats list him as an outfielder, not shortstop, for games in 2012.

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Media Notes

 

***

 

VIDEO! Timber Rattlers Highlights – April 12, 2012, including the exciting game-ender

 

***

 

More outstanding work from the Post-Crescent, all via one link -- Parker Bereberet video interview, Yadiel Rivera photos, and a game-story with detailed quotes from starter Drew Gagnon among others. Click away.

 

***

 

Grounds crew fun