Link Report for Fri. 4/20 -- Bianchi walks off Stars; Rattlers on a roll

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Michael Fiers at home vs. 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.

 

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Huntsville: RHP Brandon Williamson at home vs. Jackson (Mariners), 6:28 PM pre-game, 6:43 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.

 

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Brevard County: RHP Austin Ross at Dunedin (Blue Jays), 5:30 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.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Andy Moye at West Michigan (Tigers), 5:15 PM pre-game, 5:35 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 Friday'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]

Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet -- We Have A Brewer!

 

By the way, surely I'm jinxing this, but it seems like it's been three years or more since a Brewer farmhand was in the "Not-So-Hot" portion of the Sheet.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville's Jill Cacic's YouTube interview with Tyler Thornburg after his near perfect game

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin's Chris Mehring featured in MiLB.com's feature on "scoring" games

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Follow our Major League Forum on news re: Chris Narveson's rotator cuff tear. Wily Peralta won't be starting in Nashville tonight (temporarily changed to TBD on our playlist above).

[Tedaldtada]

It shows Fiers in the box score for Nashville. Not sure if that is official or not.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

 

The Nashville rotation got tossed about given Wily Peralta's callup and yesterday's doubleheader. Mike Fiers pitches on three days' rest Friday night after his short outing last time out.

 

On Saturday, RHP Donovan Hand makes his first start since his only 2010 start (with Huntsville); Hand made a dozen starts in Huntsville in '09.

 

Seth McClung returns to the Sounds' rotation Sunday, to be followed by Mark Rogers Monday and Brian Baker Tuesday.

 

Wednesday is an off day, so the Sounds will reset -- we'll see what Peralta's status is at that time, along with a slumping Josh Butler.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio with OF Corey Patterson

[Tedaldtada]

Austin Ross left his start in the middle of the 2nd after a GB out to the 2B.

 

Two thoughts:

 

1. Injured on a comebacker.

2. Some sort of crazy Narveson chain reaction.

 

Edit: Eric Arnett enters late in the BC game.

[Tedaldtada]

Dunedin (Jays) 11 Brevard County 4

 

Box Score

 

A close game until late. Austin Ross started but lasted only 8 batters. The game story should shed some light on that. Brian Garman came in and was decent until his final inning. Connor Whalen allowed 3 Garman runs to score upon entry.

 

The game was lost with Eric Arnett's arrival. After giving up a run in his first inning, Arnett imploded (no thanks to the D) in the 8th. Final line: 1 2/3 IP 3 H 6 R 2 ER 3 BB 0 K 1 WP 2:3 GO:FO. Thomas Keeling came in for Arnett and K'ed the final Dunedin hitter of the night.

 

5 errors for the prestigious Sea Cow D tonight including 3 for Nick Shaw (1-5). T.J. Mittelstaedt (2-5 3 K) had an assist.

 

Franklin Romero Jr. (2-2 2B 2 BB SB) was the offensive star. Cody Hawn (2-4 2B) and Mike Walker (2-4) produced.

 

Game Log

 

Arnett's follies

 

Dunedin Bottom of the 7th

 

Pitcher Change: Eric Arnett replaces Connor Whalen.

Kevin Nolan singles on a ground ball to shortstop Nick Shaw. Kevin Nolan advances to 2nd, on throwing error by shortstop Nick Shaw.

Jon Talley flies out to left fielder T. Mittelstaedt. Kevin Nolan to 3rd.

Michael Crouse out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt. Kevin Nolan scores.

Kenen Bailli reaches on fielding error by shortstop Nick Shaw.

With Kevin Ahrens batting, Kenen Bailli caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Shawn Zarraga to second baseman Shea Vucinich.

 

Dunedin Bottom of the 8th

 

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

With Jack Murphy batting, wild pitch by Eric Arnett, Kevin Ahrens to 2nd.

Jack Murphy walks.

Jake Marisnick walks. Kevin Ahrens to 3rd. Jack Murphy to 2nd.

Ryan Schimpf triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Miguel Velazquez. Kevin Ahrens scores. Jack Murphy scores. Jake Marisnick scores.

Marcus Knecht flies out to right fielder Miguel Velazquez.

Kevin Nolan pops out to second baseman Shea Vucinich.

Jon Talley walks.

Michael Crouse doubles (3) on a fly ball to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt. Ryan Schimpf scores. Jon Talley scores.

Pitcher Change: Thomas Keeling replaces Eric Arnett.

Kenen Bailli strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

K-Rod trade -- updated folks on LHP Daniel Ray Herrera's unfortunate news today, which reminded me to see how 22-year-old RHP Adrian Rosario was doing.

 

Nicely, in tiny chunks -- the Manatees will see him when they hook up with St. Lucie next month.

[Tedaldtada]

Oklahoma City (Astros) 2 Nashville 1

 

Box Score

 

Michael Fiers made the emergency start on short rest. He fared well considering. 5 IP 5 H 2 R 2 ER 1 BB 3 K 1 WP 6:4 GO:FO on 74 pitches (54 strikes). Johnnie Lowe and Juan Sanchez shut the AAA Astros down for the final 4 innings.

 

Astros starter Henry Sosa was the story as the Sounds managed just 5 hits. Sosa has been toiling around the league since 2006, mostly in the minors.

 

The disappointed Taylor Green went 1-4 with a 2B. Brooks Conrad matched Green. Sean Halton paced with a 2-3 night and the 9th inning RBI, his 7th on the year. Corey Patterson was picked off. The Sounds are really not scoring many runs right now.

 

Game Log

Not much context here, but Taylor is not known for his wheels.

 

Nashville Bottom of the 4th

 

Edwin Maysonet grounds out, third baseman Brian Bixler to first baseman Brett Wallace.

Brooks Conrad flies out to center fielder Justin Ruggiano.

Taylor Green doubles (2) on a line drive to center fielder Justin Ruggiano.

Sean Halton singles on a ground ball to shortstop Angel Sanchez. Taylor Green to 3rd.

Martin Maldonado strikes out swinging.

 

Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Nice to see Caleb Gindl (hamstring) avoid the DL, making a pinch-hit appearance in Nashville (groundout).

[Mass Haas]

Random:

 

Franklin Romero Jr. of the 'Tees (only 22 walks in 881 AB's prior to tonight) walked twice Friday and is now halfway to his 2011 total of six.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Huntsville 5, Jackson (Mariners) 4

 

Stars Walkoff in Series Opener Against Generals

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala- On Friday night, the Huntsville Stars opened up their five-game series against the Jackson Generals with a 5-4 come-from-behind walkoff win at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

The coming from behind part would begin early for the Stars. After a leadoff homerun by Generals OF Denny Almonte on the third pitch of the game began the scoring early, 2-run home from third basemen Johermyn Chavez in the top of the fourth inning gave Jackson an early 3-0 lead off of Stars starting pitcher Brandon Williamson.

 

In terms of the comeback, the Stars began that in the bottom half of the fourth inning when first basemen Hunter Morris plated a run with his Southern League-leading 8th double to make to make the score 3-1. Then, just an inning later, a two-run single by shortstop Jeff Bianchi tied the game up at three apiece.

 

After another solo homerun by Jackson SS Nick Franklin off of Stars RHP Darren Byrd gave Jackson a 4-3 lead in the eight inning, it was Bianchi again who came through. This time, he delivered a two-run single with one out in the ninth inning to give the Stars their first walkoff victory of the season.

 

Pitching wise, RHP Jesus Sanchez improved to 1-0 on the season with a scoreless top half of the ninth inning. For the Generals, RHP Carter Capps was tabbed with his first loss of the season after giving up the eventual game-winning run in the ninth inning.

 

On offense, the story of the night was Bianchi. All in all, the 25-year-old went 4-for-5 at the plate with 4 RBI's and a run scored.

 

For Huntsville, their victory on Thursday gave them their fifth win in six games to start off their 10-game homestand.

 

Game two of a five-game series will take place on Saturday when the Stars will send RHP Tyler Thornburg (1-0, 0.92 ERA) to the mound to face off against LHP James Paxson (1-0, 1.20 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

 

Huntsville Box Score

As mentioned in the story Stars starter Brandon Williamson struggled with the long ball allowing 2 HRs. His final line was 5IP, 3H, 3ER, 1BB, and 4SO. Darren Byrd only allowed the HR in his 3 innings, he also walked 1 and struck out 4.

 

In addition to the offensive notes above Domnit Bolivar went 2-4 plus a stolen base. Jason Jarmillo also went 2-4, but Jason also added a double and finally Brock Kjeldgaard smacked his own double to round out the XBHs. Khris Davis only got 1 AB being replaced by Lee Haydel after grounding out to 1st to end the Hunstville 2nd.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

[TheCrew07]

Final: Wisconsin 8, West Michigan (Tigers) 2

 

Defense leads the way to fourth straight win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers defeated the West Michigan Whitecaps 8-2 Friday night at Fifth Third Ballpark, but there were some big defensive plays that stood out as the Rattlers won their fourth straight game. Jason Rogers had three hits and the duo of Greg Hopkins and Rafael Neda each had big two-run singles late in the game for the Rattlers.

 

Wisconsin (9-6) took the lead when Rogers scored from third on a wild pitch in the fourth inning. The Rattler appeared to go up 2-0 after a Hopkins sacrifice fly scored Brandon Macias from third on the next pitch. But, the Whitecaps appealed that Macias left early. Plate umpire Carlos Martinez agreed and ruled Macias out.

 

West Michigan (7-8) came back in the bottom of the fourth inning and tied the game when Brandon Loy scored from third on a passed ball.

 

The Rattlers took advantage of some sloppy defense by the Whitecaps in the sixth to score three runs. Carlos George started the inning with a single and went to second on an error by catcher Pat Leyland. Rafael Neda drew a walk. Then, Adrian Williams was called on to drop a sacrifice bunt to move the runners along. The Rattlers got more than they expected on the play.

 

Williams dropped a perfect bunt towards third, but Colin Kaline's throw to first was wild. By the time the ball got back into the infield, George had scored, Neda was on third, and Williams had pulled into second base.

 

The Rattlers added two runs in the fifth on back-to-back sacrifice flies by Yadiel Rivera and Max Walla.

 

Wisconsin starting pitcher Andy Moye worked his way through a jam in the bottom of the fifth to keep Wisconsin up 4-1. Moye allowed an unearned run on six hits with two strikeouts and turned the game over to Jacob Barnes in the sixth.

 

Barnes worked a scoreless sixth thanks to Rivera snaring a line drive and turning the hot shot into an inning ending double play. Barnes also ran into a problem in the bottom of the seventh. A walk was sandwiched between two singles to start the inning. Barnes walked Eugenio Suarez to force in a run to score. But, that was all he gave up in the inning.

 

The Rattlers reliever struck out Dean Green for the first out. Rivera made a leaping backhanded stab of a line drive off the bat of Aaron Westlake for the second out to prevent at least two runs. Barnes got Brandon Loy to ground out sharply to first to end the inning with the Rattlers up 4-2.

 

Whitecaps reliever Ramon Lebron walked the first three batters in the top of the eighth inning on twelve straight pitches. Melvin Mercedes came on to get the first out with a strikeout, but Hopkins drove in two runs with a single. One out later - after Hopkins had stolen second base - Rafael Neda padded Wisconsin's lead to 8-2 with a two-runs single to left.

 

The Rattlers defense had one more flourish to end the game. Suarez singled down the right field line with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and tried to stretch the hit into a double. Right fielder Max Walla fired a strike to Rivera at second base to cut down Suarez for the final out and make Wisconsin's four game winning streak official.

 

Timber Rattlers outfielders have seven assists this season. In the last ten games, Wisconsin has committed just two errors.

 

Game three of the series is Saturday afternoon at 12:00pm CDT. Kevin Shackelford (1-0, 3.00) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Josue Carreno (0-2, 5.54) is set to start for the Whitecaps. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:40am.

 

WP: Andy Moye (1-0)

LP: Wilsen Palacios (0-1)

 

TIME: 2:55

ATTN: 1,936

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Despite only allowing 2 runs the Rattler pitched walked almost hitters (3) as they struck out (4) and the T-Rats were actually out hit in the game 9-10. Excellent defense was the difference in this game and it's nice to have Wisconsin coming out on the better end of this type of contest.

 

Unfortunately Max Walla is still hitless as he went 0-3 on the evening, but he did add another walk to his total. Carlos George had a nice night at the plate going 2-4 and both Rogers and Gregory Hopkins each swiped a bag. There were no XBHs for the T-Rats.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

A very busy game log, lots to take in if you are so inclined, there were only 5 "1,2,3" half innings in the contest.

[Mass Haas]

The always must-read Rattler radio Blog post-game tidbits

[Mass Haas]

Here's the Manatees game story from the Dunedin site. That is one talented (and hot) Blue Jays squad.

 

Unfortunately there is no mention of the reasons behind starter Austin Ross' very early exit. It obviously wasn't planned.

 

(Insert investigative reporting here )

 

With no newspaper coverage, we've emailed the Dunedin broadcaster (who also puts together their game summaries). When we hear back, we'll let you know.

[Mass Haas]

RedHawks Complete Four-Game Sweep Of Sounds

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Right-hander Henry Sosa tossed seven strong innings as the Oklahoma City RedHawks completed a four-game sweep of the Nashville Sounds with a 2-1 victory on a wet Friday evening at Greer Stadium in front of 7,101 fans.

 

Nashville (4-12), which finished 2-6 on its opening homestand of the year, suffered its fifth straight loss overall and fell to just 1-7 against Oklahoma City this season.

 

Sosa (1-0) tossed a gem for the visitors, twirling seven shutout frames and allowing only four hits and striking out six batters to pick up his first win of the year.

 

Oklahoma City grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning when J.B. Shuck singled with one out and later scored from third on a two-out wild pitch by Sounds starter Mike Fiers.

 

The RedHawks doubled the advantage in the fourth on Jimmy Paredes' one-out RBI single to right.

 

Fiers (0-2) took the loss for Nashville while pitching on three days' rest. He allowed two runs on five hits over five innings of work, walking one batter and striking out three.

 

Enerio Del Rosario pitched a scoreless eighth for the RedHawks before the Sounds finally got onto the scoreboard in the ninth against Jose Valdez, who recorded his fourth save despite allowing the run.

 

Brooks Conrad led off with a double to the left-center gap and later scored on a Sean Halton sacrifice fly to center to provide the Sounds' lone run of the night.

 

The Sounds travel to Omaha tomorrow to begin a nine-day, eight-game road trip that contains consecutive series against division rivals. Saturday's 7:05 p.m. contest kicks off a four-game set against the defending PCL champion Storm Chasers. After an off day on Wednesday, Nashville plays a four-game series at Iowa before returning to Greer Stadium on Monday, April 30.

 

In tomorrow's series opener in Omaha, Sounds right-hander Donovan Hand (0-0, 5.00) makes a spot start to face Omaha right-hander Vin Mazzaro (0-0, 6.75).

[Tedaldtada]

Nice to see Caleb Gindl (hamstring) avoid the DL, making a pinch-hit appearance in Nashville (groundout).

 

Thanks for catching that. Slipped past me.