Link Report for Sun. 4/15 -- Sounds and Stars with Walk-Off Wins

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Wily Peralta at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 1:50 PM pre-game, 2:05 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.

 

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Huntsville: Soon-to-be 23-year-old RHP Brandon Williamson at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 3:48 PM pre-game, 4:03 gametime; this is Williamson's first game at AA (skipped High-A), no pressure -- just the home opener

 

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.

 

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Brevard County: RHP Taylor Jungmann at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 4:05 PM gametime

 

Sorry, no audio for this series...

 

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.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Andy Moye at home vs. Peoria (Cubs), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 gametime

 

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 Sunday'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]

To see 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]

Nashville Media Notes

 

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Wisconsin Lineup & Game Notes courtesy of Carl, the rain hating camel

[narwhalattack]

Is it just me or is Peralta's strikeout numbers decreasing again?

[jjfanec]

Is it just me or is Peralta's strikeout numbers decreasing again?

 

I dont know before today he had 10 K's on 11 innings. That isnt too bad at all. Today he only had 3 in 6 IP, but he only walked one guy and got a lot of ground balls so it was a solid start in my mind

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Media Notes

[TheCrew07]

Final: Peoria (Cubs) 5, Wisconsin 3 (11 Innings)

 

Chiefs tax Rattlers in extra innings

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Peoria Chiefs denied the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers a sweep of the four game series between the teams with a 5-3 win in 11 innings Sunday afternoon on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Zeke DeVoss tied the game with a two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning and Oliver Zapata homered in the eleventh to put Peoria in front.

 

DeVoss put the Chiefs (4-6) in a position to go in front in the top of the first. He tripled to start the game. Pin-Chieh Chen drove in DeVoss with an infield grounder.

 

The Rattlers (5-5) answered in the bottom of the first with a run of their own. Brandon Macias singled with one out. A walk to Chadwin Stang and a wild pitch moved both runners to scoring position. Jason Rogers knocked in Macias with a grounder to tie the game 1-1. Wisconsin has scored in the first inning in five straight games.

 

Rogers would score in the fourth inning on an RBI grounder by Yadiel Rivera to put the Rattlers up 2-1. An RBI double by Carlos George in the fifth inning made the score 3-1.

 

Wisconsin carried that 3-1 lead to the ninth inning. Tommy Toledo came on to face the Chiefs for the ninth. Marco Hernandez, who singled with one out, went to second on defensive indifference with two outs. Then, Toledo walked Zapata. That brought DeVoss to the plate in a familiar situation. He was at the plate on Saturday afternoon with two outs and the tying run at second base and knocked in the tying run with a single.

 

On Sunday, Toledo got ahead of DeVoss with two quick strikes, but the third pitch of the at bat got away from catcher Tyler Roberts. The wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. DeVoss lined the very next pitch to the outfield for a two-run single that tied the game 3-3.

 

The Rattlers had the winning run aboard in the ninth and tenth innings, but they could not repeat their walkoff feat from April 14.

 

Zapata, a 5'-9" switch hitter who is just 180 pounds had just joined the Chiefs during Saturday's game, shocked just about everyone in the ballpark with his homer in the eleventh inning. He jumped on a 2-0 pitch from Tyler Cravy and cleared the wall 405' from home plate in right-center field. Later in the eleventh, Chen was at first with two outs and Ryan Cuneo sent a popup to shallow left field. The ball dropped in amidst three Rattlers defenders and Chen, who was running on contact with two outs, scored all the way from first on the single by Cuneo for a 5-3 lead.

 

Yadiel Rivera did single with two outs in the bottom of the eleventh inning, but Wisconsin could not comeback against Yao-Lin Wang.

 

The Rattlers continue their homestand on Monday night with the first game of a three-game series against the Burlington Bees. Matt Miller (0-2, 6.30) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Burlington has Drew Granier (0-0, 3.00) set to start. Game time is 6:35pm.

 

Monday is a Q'Doba Q'Monday. Purchase a lunch entrée at the Fox River Mall Q'Doba and receive a free ticket to any Rattlers home game played on a Monday this season.

 

Also, fans can purchase a half price ticket when they bring in a non-perishable food item to donate to St. Joe's Food Program.

 

If you can't make it to the stadium, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:45pm. Saturday's game is also available on MiLB.TV.

 

HOME RUN:

PEO:

Oliver Zapata (1st, 0 on in 11th, off Tyler Cravy, 1 out)

 

WP: Yao-Lin Wang (1-0)

LP: Tyler Cravy (0-1)

 

TIME: 3:41

ATTN: 2,450

 

Wisconsin Box Score

I'm not sure I understand what the point of only pitching Andrew Moye 3 innings in each of his first two starts is? He pitched 78 1/3 innings over 15 outings in Helena last season. His efficiency was decent as he threw 60 pitches, 39 for strikes, giving up 2H, 1ER, 2BB, and 4SO over his 3 innings. He should at least throw 4 if not 5IP as the starting half of the tandem, or at the very least his pitch count should be climbing. The April 10th game was in Burlington so there isn't an accurate pitch count available but I'm pretty sure he was around 60 pitches in that game as well. He's being piggy backed by Jacob Barnes who was a 2 inning reliever between Helena and Wisconsin last year. Jacob went 4 clean innings today allowing 3H an 2BB against 1SO.

 

Seth Lintz put a scoreless frame as well giving up only a BB during his inning, he doesn't have a strike out yet in only 3 IP through the first half of April. As Chris mentioned above Tommy Toledo didn't have it today giving up 2H, 2BB, and 2ER while striking out 1 in his only inning of work. Speaking of Tommy, Mass linked his feature article here and it's a story worth reading. My breakout pick for 2011 was Tyler Cravy who just hasn't been able to harness his raw talent to this point in his career.

 

On the position player side of things Brandon Macias, Jason Rogers, and Greg Hopkins each had 2 hits a piece. Macias, Hopkins, and Carlos George each had a double. Yadiel Rivera committed his 2nd error on the season, Adrian Williams had 2 stolen bases, and Hopkins was caught stealing to end the WI 6th.

 

Wisconsin Play by Play

Dishon helped out Barnes in the 6th.

Peoria Top of the 6th

• Ryan Cuneo flies out to center fielder Adrian Williams.
  Paul Hoilman doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder John Dishon.
  Taylor Davis pops out to first baseman Gregory Hopkins in foul territory.
  Eduardo Gonzalez singles on a ground ball to left fielder John Dishon. Paul Hoilman out at home on the throw, left fielder John Dishon to catcher Tyler Roberts.
  

 

Tyler Robers has had a rough start to the season and missed an opportunity to win the game in the 9th

Wisconsin Bottom of the 9th

• Pitcher Change: Andrew McKirahan replaces Luis Liria.
  Jason Rogers singles on a line drive to center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen.
  Gregory Hopkins lines out to right fielder Eduardo Gonzalez.
  Yadiel Rivera grounds into a force out, shortstop Marco Hernandez to second baseman Zeke DeVoss. Jason Rogers out at 2nd. Yadiel Rivera to 1st.
  John Dishon singles on a ground ball to right fielder Eduardo Gonzalez. Yadiel Rivera to 3rd.
  With Tyler Roberts batting, John Dishon advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.
  Tyler Roberts strikes out swinging.
  

 

Wisconsin didn't go quietly with runners on in each of the last 3 innings but failed to any across, Chadwin Stand couldn't bring home Macias here.

Wisconsin Bottom of the 10th

• Adrian Williams grounds out, second baseman Zeke DeVoss to first baseman Ryan Cuneo.
  Carlos George called out on strikes.
  Brandon Macias doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Oliver Zapata.
  Pitcher Change: Yao-Lin Wang replaces Andrew McKirahan.
  Chadwin Stang grounds out, second baseman Zeke DeVoss to first baseman Ryan Cuneo.

[Tedaldtada]

Sounds Win, 3-2, In 13 Innings On Sunday

04/15/2012 2:53 PM ET

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Reliever Jim Henderson pitched two scoreless innings and provided the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 13th inning for a 3-2 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium.

 

Erick Almonte (2-for-4) crushed a one-out double off Sandy Rosario (0-1), moved to third on an infield groundout from Hainley Statia, and scored when Henderson lofted the game-winning base hit to left field. Henderson was previously was 3-for-19 (.158) in his career from behind the plate.

 

It was the league-high third extra-inning game for both teams and the second last at bat victory for the Sounds. The extra-inning contest was also the longest game of the year (previous longest was a 12-inning defeat on April 6 at New Orleans).

 

Nashville shortstop Edwin Maysonet went 4-for-6 with a double and an RBI. It was the second four-hit game of the season for the Sounds (Sean Halton on April 5 at New Orleans) and Mayonset's 10th of his career, matching his career high. Catcher Martin Maldonado added two hits to extend his hitting streak to four games.

 

In a rematch from Opening Night in New Orleans earlier this season, both starting pitchers tossed quality starts and earned no-decisions.

 

Wily Peralta surrendered one run on just three hits while fanning three in six innings of work. Both quality starts of the season for Peralta have come against New Orleans, which also was the 22-year-old's sixth quality start in eight career Triple-A outings. Peralta has received only one run in each of his three outings this season.

 

New Orleans Alex Sanabia gave up two runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings for his third consecutive quality start to open the season.

 

The Sounds scored the first run in the fourth as Green opened the frame with a double off the left field wall. The third baseman moved to third on a groundout and came home on a weak infield single by first baseman Erick Almonte.

 

New Orleans tied the contest at 1-1 in the visiting half of the sixth inning as Kevin Mattison tripled to right field to lead off the inning. During the ensuing Donovan Solano sacrifice fly, the mustached outfielder narrowly scored after getting under the Martin Maldonado tag from a strong throw from right fielder Caleb Gindl.

 

Maysonet gave Nashville back the lead at 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning. In his Sounds debut, pinch hitter Brooks Conrad blooped a one-out single over the third baseman's head to remove Alex Sanabia from the game. Conrad moved to second on a walk by Logan Schafer and scored the go-ahead run on a line drive single to center from Maysonet.

 

With two outs in the top of the ninth, New Orleans knotted the contest at 2-2 with a game-tying solo homer by catcher Luke Montz. Mike McClendon, who struck out the first two batters of the inning, gave up Montz's second homer of the season on a 0-1 offering.

 

Nashville used a season-high six pitchers on the afternoon. Dan Meadows struck out one in a scoreless seventh while Vinnie Chulk tossed his second straight scoreless outing with a scoreless eighth inning. McClendon, who recorded his second blown save of the season, gave up his first run of the season in the ninth.

 

Victor Garate followed by throwing two shutout innings while striking out three. Henderson (1-1) picked up the win by ending game with two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

 

The Sounds look for their first series win of the season with tomorrow's finale at 7:05 pm CT at Greer Stadium. Nashville right-hander Mike Fiers (0-0, 3.60) will toe the rubber against New Orleans southpaw Brad Hand (1-0, 0.00).

 

Box Score

 

17 Sounds played in this one. Lots to digest. After BC and the T-Rats walked off yesterday, Nashville got into the act today in a 13 inning affair. Jim Henderson, the pitcher, smacked the game-ending line drive to plate Erick Almonte in the bottom of the 13th. Henderson also picked up the win, so he had a memorable Sunday afternoon. Here is the final call.

 

Top Prospect Wily Peralta started and was very good. Final line: 6 IP 3 H 1 R 1 ER 1 BB 3 K 1 HBP 1 Pickoff 9:3 K:BB. He did not allow a run until the 6th. We have been enjoying some pretty spectacular starting pitching across the system thus far. Five Sounds relievers followed Wily. The good: Victor Garate and Jim Henderson combining to go the last 4 innings allowing 1 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 6 K. The bad: Mike McClendon blowing the save in the top of the 9th.

 

Starting SS Edwin Maysonet paced the offense with a 4-6 night and a 2B. Corey Patterson and Erick Almonte were on 3 times each. Maysonet and Almonte RBI hits can be heard via the links on their names. Taylor Green and Martin Maldonado each had 2 hits. Brooks Conrad appeared as a pinch hitter and singled.

 

Game Log

 

Henderson's Heroics. Possibly a botched hit-and-run for Maldonado and Almonte here?

 

Nashville Bottom of the 13th

 

Pitcher Change: Sandy Rosario replaces Beau Jones, batting 7th, replacing Cole Armstrong.

Martin Maldonado singles on a line drive to left fielder Bryan Petersen.

With Erick Almonte batting, Martin Maldonado caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Clint Sammons to shortstop Donovan Solano to first baseman Luke Montz.

Erick Almonte doubles (1) on a line drive to center fielder Kevin Mattison.

Sandy Rosario intentionally walks Corey Patterson.

Hainley Statia grounds into a force out, third baseman Matt Dominguez to second baseman Chase Lambin. Erick Almonte to 3rd. Corey Patterson out at 2nd. Hainley Statia to 1st.

With Jim Henderson batting, Hainley Statia advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

Jim Henderson singles on a line drive to left fielder Bryan Petersen. Erick Almonte scores. Hainley Statia to 3rd.

 

With 13 innings worth of game log, there is plenty to keep you busy. Enjoy!

 

Gameday

[Tedaldtada]

Lakeland (Flying Tigers) 3 Brevard County 2

 

Box Score

 

A narrow defeat for the Manatees here. Taylor Jungmann made his 3rd pro start and was solid. 6 IP 6 H 3 R 2 ER 2 BB 3 K 9:4 GO:FO. His ERA sits at 3.06 through 3 starts. The peripherals are not great but his FIP sits at 3.29. Greg Holle and Wild Thomas Keeling finished the final 3 innings in superb fashion. Is Keeling heading for a Santo Manzanillo-like explosion? Check out this progression:

 

2010: 23 BB in 7 2/3 IP (~27 BB/9)

2011: 34 BB in 52 IP (5.66 BB/9)

2012: 0 BB in 4 IP

 

That said, I will never drop the "Wild" from Thomas' name because it just sounds too cool.

 

The hits were powerful, yet sparse for the 'Tees. 4 in total, but all were XBH's highlighted by T.J. Mittelstaedt's 2 triples. That's 6 XBH's in 33 AB's for T.J. Nick Shaw and Miguel Velazquez each had a double.

 

Game Log

 

Jungmann's best.

Lakeland Top of the 4th

 

Avisail Garcia flies out to center fielder Reggie Keen.

James Robbins strikes out swinging, catcher Adam Weisenburger to first baseman Cody Hawn.

James McCann called out on strikes.

 

3 FO for WTK.

Lakeland Top of the 9th

 

Pitcher Change: Thomas Keeling replaces Greg Holle.

Avisail Garcia flies out to right fielder Juan Sanchez.

James Robbins flies out to left fielder T. Mittelstaedt.

James McCann flies out to left fielder T. Mittelstaedt.

 

Edit: Just realized that Jungmann's FIP is only for his first 2 starts. Fangraphs seems a little slow to update.

[Tedaldtada]

'Tees drop series opener to Flying Tigers

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/04/15/EIkjmzvJ.jpg

Manatees starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann allowed two earned runs in six innings of work as he suffered his first professional loss. Brevard County fell 3-2 to the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Sunday night at Space Coast Stadium. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

04/15/2012 9:10 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees dropped their series opener with the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Sunday evening by a score of 3-2 at Space Coast Stadium. Manatees' starting pitcher and 2011 first round draft pick Taylor Jungmann suffered the first loss of his pro career.

 

Lakeland (5-5) got to Jungmann in the top of the second as they collected three straight hits to start the inning, including a RBI single by James McCann. The other Flying Tigers' run scored as Wade Gaynor grounded into a double play.

 

The Manatees (6-4) cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth as T.J. Mittelstaedt led off the inning with a triple and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Miguel Velazquez. Lakeland would get a run back in the top of fifth on a Hernan Perez RBI single to take a 3-1 lead.

 

Brevard County cut it back to a one-run game in the bottom of the sixth as Nick Shaw doubled with one out and then came home on Mittelstaedt's second triple of the game. Mittelstaedt's second three-bagger would chase Lakeland starter Shawn Teufel and Matt Crouse came on and was able to strand the tying run at third.

 

For Jungmann in his third pro start, he went six innings and allowed three runs, two of which were earned. He gave up six hits and two walks, while striking out three. Greg Holle and Thomas Keeling combined to throw three perfect innings, in relief of Jungmann.

 

Brevard County will look to get back on track on Monday night at 6:35 p.m. as they continue their three-game series with Lakeland.

 

Jimmy Nelson (1-0, 1.80) will toe the rubber for the 'Tees. In his last start - which was against the Flying Tigers - he tied a career high with eight strikeouts. Lakeland will send Alex Burgos (1-1, 3.00) to the hill.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Huntsville 5, Tennessee (Cubs) 4

 

Stars Rally Late for Victory Against Smokies

Eighth inning blast by Andy Gonzalez wins it for Huntsville in home opener.

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala-- As a special treat for the 6,103 fans in attendance for the home opener at Joe Davis Stadium, the Huntsville Stars scored three unanswered runs late to beat the Tennessee Smokies by a score of 5-4 on Sunday afternoon.

 

Huntsville began their comeback in the fourth inning facing a 3-0 deficit. Right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard and first baseman Hunter Morris each walked to start the inning and then scored on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Andy Gonzalez and a RBI groundout by catcher Jason Jaramillo respectively to cut the Tennessee lead to 3-2.

 

After the Smokies tacked on a run in the seventh inning, the Stars scored two runs on a sacrifice fly by Kjeldgaard and a RBI single by left fielder Khris Davis to tie up the game at four apiece.

 

However, that tie would not last long. In the bottom of the eighth inning, it was Andy Gonzalez who struck again with leadoff solo homerun off of Tennessee RHP Marcus Hatley that would prove to be the game-winning run for the Stars.

 

For Huntsville, RHP Eric Marzec earned his first Double-A win in two innings of relief duty. Once the Stars took the lead in the eighth, newly-appointed closer Robert Wooten shut down the Smokies in order in the ninth to secure the victory for Huntsville. The save for Wooten was his third of the season, and fifth consecutive appearance to start off the without giving up a run.

 

On offense, aside from Gonzalez (1-3, solo homerun, 2 RBI), both Hunter Morris and Khris Davis extended their own personal hitting streaks to six games with two hits apiece. Shortstop Jeff Bianchi also added two hits with a run scored.

 

The Stars will try to continue their winning ways at Joe Davis Stadium on Monday by sending RHP Tyler Thornburg (0-0, 0.82 ERA) to the mound to square off against Smokies RHP Trey Mcnutt (0-0, 0.00 ERA in two starts). First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

 

Huntsville Box Score

Beat the Cubs! Brandon Williamson allowed 3 runs, 2 earned over his 4 innings. He gave up 4 hits, walked 2, and struck out 3. Jesus Sanchez wasn't mentioned the game summary but had a fine outing, he went 2IP giving up a hit and a walk against 2 strike outs. Despite allowing a run Eric Marzec did strike out 4 in his 2 innings.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

Williamson's run in the first was unearned and he cruised until the 4th. Rebel Ridling is a pretty sweet name.

Tennessee Top of the 4th

• Rebel Ridling doubles (2) on a ground ball to left fielder Khris Davis.
  Michael Burgess grounds out, second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Hunter Morris. Rebel Ridling to 3rd.
  Jonathan Mota doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Rebel Ridling scores.
  Michael Brenly singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Khris Davis. Jonathan Mota scores.
  Nicholas Struck grounds into double play, pitcher Brandon Williamson to shortstop Jeff Bianchi to first baseman Hunter Morris. Michael Brenly out at 2nd.

 

Sanchez had an interesting 5th

Tennessee Top of the 5th

• Pitcher Change: Jesus Sanchez replaces Brandon Williamson, batting 9th.
  Elliot Soto doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Khris Davis.
  Logan Watkins walks.
  Jae-Hoon Ha grounds into double play, pitcher Jesus Sanchez to shortstop Jeff Bianchi to first baseman Hunter Morris. Elliot Soto to 3rd. Logan Watkins out at 2nd.
  Justin Bour lines out to pitcher Jesus Sanchez.

 

This must have been one heck of a WP

Tennessee Top of the 7th

• Pitcher Change: Eric Marzec replaces Jesus Sanchez, batting 9th.
  Michael Brenly called out on strikes.
  Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter James Adduci replaces Daniel Berlind.
  James Adduci doubles (2) on a ground ball to right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard.
  With Elliot Soto batting, wild pitch by Eric Marzec, James Adduci scores.
  Elliot Soto walks.
  With Logan Watkins batting, Elliot Soto caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Jason Jaramillo to shortstop Jeff Bianchi.
  Logan Watkins singles on a pop up to shortstop Jeff Bianchi.
  Jae-Hoon Ha flies out to center fielder Josh Prince.
  

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Video Highlights

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Times Mark McCarter focuses on the tribute to Don Mincher at the Stars' Opening Day celebration (and celebration of his life).

[Mass Haas]

Gonzalez homer lifts Stars past Tennessee in home opener

By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times

 

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama --Andy Gonzalez has had more professional baseball opening days than anyone on the Huntsville roster. For that matter, the Stars third baseman has more than the rest of the infield put together.

 

But the 30-year-old Gonzalez hasn't had one like this one ever before. He smacked an eighth-inning, tie-breaking home run to give Huntsville a 5-4 win over the Tennessee Smokies Sunday afternoon in the Stars' 2012 home opener.

 

"I've never hit a home run on opening day," said Gonzalez, now in his 12th professional season. "It's a good opening day. It's a good day overall. We had a good crowd, we played good and we won the game."

 

It was an important win for the Stars, coming in front of an announced crowd of 6,103 and moving them to 5-6 on the season after a long 10-day road trip to begin the season.

 

"You couldn't have scripted it any better," manager Darnell Coles proclaimed.

 

Well...only if hometown Star Hunter Morris had been the one with the homer.

 

Morris did go 2-for-3 in this milestone game in which he became the first Huntsville-born player in a Stars' home-opener. Said Coles, "He did enough for the day."

 

Though the Smokies played a defensive shift against Morris with three fielders on the right side of second, he defied that defense and stretched his hot streak to 15-for-33 after an 0-for-11 start.

 

"Any opening day is special," Coles said, "but here after being on the road as long as we were, and come home for Hunter's debut in front of all his friends and family and relatives and coaches and people that he's grown up with was special."

 

As memorable as this opening day was for Gonzalez, he'll never forget his first.

 

"I went 0-for-4," he said. "And actually it was a struggle the rest of the year. But you learn from that."

 

He was a member of the White Sox organization at the time. He eventually reached the majors with the Sox in 2007, and has a total of 91 games in the big leagues with Chicago, Cleveland and the Marlins.

 

He keeps plugging away in Class AA wanting an encore, wanting "to play in the big leagues again," he said. "I love playing this game. I don't know what I'd do without it. This is what I know. I'm trying to get another trip to the big leagues, so you do what you've got to do."

 

"He's a little older player and he understands how to play," Coles said. "He puts a lot of pressure on himself. He takes a lot of time teaching the younger guys a lot of things. He takes pride in that. He's just a gamer. He understands his role and he relishes it."

 

Gonzalez had delivered the Stars' first run as well, in one of those only-in-America moments: A Puerto Rican outfielder hits a fly off a pitcher from Damascus (OK, it's Damascus, Oregon, to be honest) to a South Korean outfielder (Jae-Hoon Ha) to drive home a Canadian player (Brock Kjeldgaard).

 

His homer led off the eighth inning, then Rob Wooten shut down the Smokies in order in the ninth for his third save.

 

The Stars host Tennessee, the Chicago Cubs' Double-A affiliate again tonight at 6:43 in the second of a 10-game homestand.

 

Photo gallery from Opening Day

[Mass Haas]

Brad Krause Rattlers Notebook

 

Brad's first-person account and photos from Sunday

[Mass Haas]

Yeah, Jeff Hem liked the AAA game-winner Sunday...