Link Report for Thurs. 4/26 -- Jungmann Helps Manatees Snap Skid; Thornburg Goes Boom

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Wily Peralta at Iowa (Cubs), 6:20 PM pre-game, 6:35 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 Tyler Thornburg at Mississippi (Braves), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:00 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 Taylor Jungmann at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 5:35 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 Matt Miller at home vs. Dayton (Reds), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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]

Wily Peralta and the Sounds go up against old friend Frankie De La Cruz tonight.

 

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DVR ALERT: Here's your one day's notice. At 7:05 Friday night, Time Warner Cable Sports 32 has the Rattlers and Dayton Dragons from Miller Park. Better yet, DVR it to re-watch later and get to the ballpark yourself!

 

NOTE: We expect several first-person observations and thoughts posted from fans who attend here in the Link Report Friday night -- thanks!

[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]

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

[Tedaldtada]

I'll be at Miller Park tomorrow night watching Drew Gagnon.

[TheCrew07]

I'm going to make an effort to keep everyone up to date on not only our prospects here in the LR, but the top prospects of our division rivals as well.

 

Oscar Taveras (Cards) gets some love in BA's Daliy Dish

 

The Cards AA team plays in the Texas League so we won't see him this year, but Odorizzi will face off against him. Taveras was jumped past A+ or he would have faced Bradley, Jungmann, and Nelson in the FSL. He played in the MWL last year, his stats are linked in the blog post, they are awfully impressive.

[TheCrew07]

This one doesn't hurt my feelings for many reasons.

 

Gerardo Concepcion Lit Up In Pro Debut For Cubs

 

His scouting report is behind the pay wall but here are the highlights:

 

He has advanced feel for pitching for his age and has shown the ability to pitch with his fastball to both sides of the plate, though he doesn't have the stuff to miss many bats. At times his fastball ranges from 88-92 mph, though some scouts have said they've seen him dip to 86-90 mph at times.

 

Concepcion has had success in Cuba by being able to change speeds to keep hitters off balance. Some scouts like Concepcion's mid-70s curveball, which shows good depth at times, but others say it gets loopy.

[Mass Haas]

The "Getting to Know" the Sounds feature has returned -- here's Seth McClung.

 

***

 

Nashville Media Notes

 

Chock-full like always...

 

***

 

Wisconsin Media Notes (and bonus plexiglass knockout video from last night!)

 

***

 

VIDEO from Omaha's feed:

 

Monday -- Brooks Conrad doubles in a run in the Sounds' 6-3 loss to the Storm Chasers

 

Tuesday -- Caleb Gindl homers to the opposite field off Mike Montgomery in the Sounds' 5-3 loss to Omaha

 

How about the score graphic -- a bit obtrusive?

[TooLiveBrew]

Wow, the Gindl home run didn't even look like a very good swing on the ball. Dude is strong.

[jjfanec]

Jungmann with his best night as a pro. Peralta not so much

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Media Notes

[battlekow]

Thornburg goes deep, too

[Mass Haas]

Thornburg couldn't have hit that home run, he's not athletic enough.

 

[TheCrew07]

Wisconsin and Dayton to the 10th...

[Tedaldtada]

Brevard County 2 Tampa (Yankees) 1 F/11

 

Box Score

 

Walk it off, Brevard! Three 2-out singles in the 11th win it. Mike Walker (1-5) was the big hero knocking in Cody Hawn (1-5). The other 11th inning hit belonged to Miguel Velazquez (2-5 CS). C Adam Weisenburger (2-3 3B HBP) was the only other Manatee with multiple hits and the only Manatee with a XBH. Shea Vucinich stole two bases. T.J. Mittelstaedt went 0-5. The other run was scored via a Franklin Romero Jr (1-3) sac fly.

 

Taylor Jungmann was very effective tonight. Final line: 6 2/3 IP 3 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 5 K 10:4 GO:FO. His season ERA crashed (in a good way) to 2.45. His peripherals can be nit-picked but so far he has been about as advertised. Keep up the great pitching, Taylor! A small thanks is owed from Taylor to Greg Holle who stranded a Jungmann runner. Holle went on to pitch a scoreless 8th. Alan Williams was next and didn't have his best stuff over two innings resulting in the blown save in the top of the 9th. Brian Garman pitched a nice inning with 2 K to pillage a win. 8:0 GO:FO for the 3 relievers tonight.

 

Mittelstaedt committed his 3rd error of the season in his return game after two nights off.

 

Game Log

 

Four 1-2-3 innings for Jungmann tonight.

 

Walker's walk-off

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 11th

 

Reggie Keen strikes out swinging.

T. J. Mittelstaedt flies out to left fielder Ramon Flores.

Cody Hawn singles on a fly ball to left fielder Ramon Flores.

Miguel Velazquez singles on a ground ball to second baseman Kelvin Castro. Cody Hawn to 2nd.

Michael Walker singles on a ground ball to center fielder Eduardo Sosa. Cody Hawn scores. Miguel Velazquez to 2nd.

[Tedaldtada]

Sounds' Losing Skid Hits 10 With 7-1 Loss In Iowa

04/26/2012 8:09 PM ET

Nashville Sounds

 

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Nashville Sounds walked a season-high eight batters in an 8-1 loss to the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Thursday night at Principal Park in the opener of a four-game series.

 

The defeat extended Nashville's losing streak to 10 games, which is its longest since the Sounds joined the Pacific Coast League in 1998. Nashville's 4-17 record is the worst among the 30 Triple-A clubs in 2012 and is the worst in club history through 21 games of action.

 

In his second start of the season, former Sound and current Cubs starter Frankie De La Cruz (1-1) came away with the victory after allowing one run on four hits and three walks in five innings pitched.

 

The Sounds scored their only run in the top of the first inning. Outfielder Caleb Gindl worked a two-out walk from De La Cruz and moved to second base on a single from outfielder Brooks Conrad. Gindl would then come home to score the club's run on an RBI double from third baseman Taylor Green (2-for-4).

 

The lead didn't last long, as Iowa scored three runs on starting pitcher Wily Peralta in the home half of the first. With the bases loaded and two outs, Adrian Cardenas crushed a three-run double to center field. Two of the three scoring baserunners reached base via walk. (So Wily calmed down after this. Too bad Wily didn't squirm out of it.)

 

Iowa loaded the bases again in the next inning on Peralta and extended the lead to 5-1. After a single and two walks allowed, Iowa first baseman Anthony Rizzo lined a two-out, two-run single to center field. (More 2-out damage off Peralta. Walks kill.)

 

Iowa tacked on another run in the sixth for a 6-1 advantage. Reliever Donovan Hand began the sixth with singles to the first two batters to put runners on the corners with no outs. Alfredo Amezaga then hit a soft grounder to shortstop that brought home Cardenas.

 

The Cubs scored their final of the game in the seventh. Left-handed reliever Dan Meadows walked three batters in the frame, including a based-loaded free pass to Cardenas for his fourth RBI of the night.

 

In his first start since rejoining the Sounds after making his Major League debut, Peralta (0-2) walked four and surrendered five runs on a couple of two-out hits in the first two frames. The 22-year old also fanned five in five innings while retiring the final 10 batters he faced in the loss. (Nice)

 

Hand gave up one run on two hits in one frame. Meadows finished the game for the Sounds, giving up one run on one hit with four walks in two innings.

 

The Sounds and division-rival Cubs will play the second game of a four-game series at 7:05 pm CT on Friday night. Right-hander Mike Fiers (0-2, 6.23) will toe the rubber against Iowa righty Casey Coleman (2-1, 3.80).

 

Box Score

 

Wily Peralta was all 5's and 4's in his return start for Nashville. 5 IP 4 H 5 R 5 ER 4 BB 5 K. 8:2 GO:FO for Wily who also went 2-2 at the plate. Chalk it up to a hectic travel schedule.

 

Unfortunately for the Sounds, Wily Peralta (2-2) was their best hitter on the night. Taylor Green did go 2-4 with two doubles. Logan Schafer doubled in four AB's. That is pretty much it.

 

2011 Nashville Sound Frankie De La Cruz pitched very effectively. 5 IP 4 H 1 R 1 ER 3 BB 1 K 6:3 G:FO

 

Game Log

 

Meh

 

Get Thorny up here because this is ridiculous

 

Gameday

[Tedaldtada]

I swear, every batting order for each Brewer minor league team is shuffled differently daily.

 

The big movers; Chad Stang, Yadiel Rivera, T.J. Mittelstaedt, Sean Halton.

 

Maybe they will settle in soon.

[Tedaldtada]

'Tees top Tampa in 11 to end skid

04/26/2012 11:18 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/04/26/fdEvsEJr.jpg

Manatees starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings and struck out five on Thursday night at Space Coast Stadium. He did not factor in the decision though as Brevard County snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating the Tampa Yankees, 2-1 in 11 innings. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees ended a seven-game losing streak on Thursday night as they defeated the Tampa Yankees, 2-1 in 11 innings at Space Coast Stadium. Mike Walker singled to center with two outs in the 11th to drive in Cody Hawn for the game-winning run.

 

Once again, the Manatees (9-11) received a quality start from its pitching staff. 2011 first round draft pick Taylor Jungmann (2-2, 2.45) threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits and a walk, while striking out five.

 

The 'Tees took a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Franklin Romero Jr. drove in Adam Weisenburger on a sacrifice fly to center. Weisenburger reached with a one-out triple.

 

It remained a 1-0 game until the top of the ninth. With one out and runners on second and third, Tampa's JR Murphy singled to left off of Alan Williams to score Rob Segedin and tie the game. The runner on second - pinch runner Jose Toussen - tried to score on left fielder T.J. Mittelstaedt, who threw the ball in and Weisenburger cut it off and tossed it to Williams at home to tag Toussen out to keep it a tie game.

 

In the top of the tenth, the Yankees (10-10) led off the inning with a Tyson Blaser single to left. Brevard County's infield then came in for the expected bunt attempt and that's what happened as Garrison Lassiter tried to lay down a bunt. But his attempt popped into the air and third baseman Mike Walker charged in and made a diving catch and was able to double up Blaser off of first.

 

Brevard County had a good chance to win it in the bottom of the tenth as Shea Vucinich reached on a one-out walk and proceeded to steal both second and third base. Weisenburger was then hit by pitch to put runners at the corners with two outs. Romero Jr. then came up and gave a pitch a ride to right field but it was caught for the third out.

 

With two outs in the bottom of the 11th, Brevard County once again began a rally as Hawn and Miguel Velazquez reached on back-to-back two-out singles. Mike Walker then stepped in and singled up the middle to score Hawn from second and end the 'Tees seven-game losing streak.

 

For the 'Tees out of the bullpen, Greg Holle threw a perfect 1 1/3 innings following Jungmann. Williams was charged with a blown save as he allowed the game-tying run in his two innings of work. Brian Garman was credited with the win as he pitched a scoreless 11th, striking out two.

 

Offensively, Velazquez and Weisenburger had two hits each.

 

Brevard County will look to take the series as they take on Tampa on Friday night at 6:35 p.m. in the finale of this three-game set.

 

Jimmy Nelson (2-1, 1.96) will toe the rubber for the 'Tees and Tampa will send Nik Turley (2-0, 1.93) to the hill. Both Nelson and Turley rank towards the top of the Florida State League in strikeouts. Nelson has fanned 25 so far this season in 23 innings of work. Turley has punched out 27 batters in 23 1/3 innings.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Dayton (Reds) 3, Wisconsin 1 (10 innings)

 

Dragons claw past Rattlers in ten

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - For the second time in less than a week, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers took a 1-0 lead to the ninth inning only to lose in extra innings. The latest heartbreaker came on Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium as the Dayton Dragons defeated the Rattlers 3-1 in ten innings. Wisconsin starting pitcher Matt Miller tossed six scoreless innings, but was not involved in the decision.

 

The Rattlers (11-10) scored a run in the bottom of the second. Greg Hopkins, who hit the game winning home run on Wednesday night, singled to start the second on Thursday. The Rattlers third baseman stole second to get into scoring position. Brandon Macias drove in Hopkins with a single to left for the 1-0 lead.

 

Miller, who has his turn skipped in the rotation the last time it came up, pitched very well. The tall righty allowed three hits and struck out four over his six scoreless frames before turning the game over to the bullpen.

 

Stephen Peterson relieved Miller and pitched two scoreless innings. But, Seth Harvey had a couple of breaks go against him in the top of the ninth.

 

Harvey just missed on a close 2-2 pitch to Ryan Wright, the Dragons leadoff batter in the ninth. Wright fouled a few two strike pitches off before he singled to get aboard as the tying run. Wright stole second as Harvey struck out Sean Buckley for out number one and took third when Juan Silva grounded out to first for the second out.

 

Danny Vicioso was next and Harvey made a good pitch to jam the Dayton first baseman. But, Vicioso's blooper dropped in shallow right just out of the reach of Rattlers first baseman Jason Rogers and Wright scored the tying run.

 

The Rattlers went down quietly in the bottom of the ninth and the Dragons (11-10) picked up in the tenth right where they left off in the ninth.

 

Kevin Shackelford got Junior Arias to send a slow grounder to short, but the speedy Arias beat the throw to first. A sacrifice bunt moved the go ahead run into scoring position. Jefry Sierra trickled a single through the infield and into short right to score Arias with the run that made it 2-1 Dayton.

 

An error let Juan Perez reach base. Then, Wright singled in Sierra for a 3-1 lead. Dayton loaded the bases in the inning and appeared to score another run on a sacrifice fly, but Perez was ruled out when the Rattlers successfully appealed that he had left third base too earlty.

 

Kyle McMyne, who shut the Rattlers down the ninth, pitched a 1-2-3 tenth to secure the win for the Dragons.

 

On Sunday, the Rattlers led South Bend 1-0 going to the bottom of the ninth inning on the road only to see the Silver Hawks tie the game in the ninth and win 2-1 in ten innings.

 

The Timber Rattlers and Dragons play game three of the series Friday night at Miller Park, the home of the Milwaukee Brewers. Brewers prospect Drew Gagnon (1-0, 0.89) is the scheduled starter for the Timber Rattlers. Game time is 7:05pm.

 

If you can't make it to Miller Park, there are plenty of ways to catch the game. Tune in on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com for the radio call starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. Time Warner Cable subscribers can tune in to the telecast on Sports32.

 

One other opportunity to catch the game will be on MiLB.com, which will be streaming the game as the Free Game of the Day.

 

WP: Kyle McMyne (2-0),br> LP: Kevin Shackelford (1-1)

 

TIME: 2:53

ATTN: 1,694

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Wow the 2nd time within a week the bullpen gives up a lead in the 9th and the T-Rats lose, and across the organization this happened at least 3 times this week. To quote my almost 2 year old niece; "Relievers... are you?" A stolen base, dying quail, seeing eye single, and error was all it took. Props to Matt Miller for his best outing of the season even though he didn't get the win, he threw 89 pitches and 56 for strikes. Matt also gave up a WP and a HBP.

 

The T-Rats managed just 5 hits in the contest so it's not surprising that no Rattlers had multiple hits and Yadiel Rivera had the only XBH, a double. The opposing pitcher Justice French was a 25th round pick in last year's draft. However the T-Rats did steal 3 bases with Gregory Hopkins, Brandon Macias, and Chadwin Stang each getting in on the action. Defensively there were 2 errors 1 by Stephen Peterson throwing on a bunt attempt and the other was the extremely costly fielding error in the 10 by Jason Rogers. The good news is that there were also 2 OF assists, Stang combined with Tyler Robers to get a runner at 3rd to end the 9th and Ben McMahan gunned a runner at 2nd. Roberts only got 1 of the 4 runners who tried to steal a base in the game, but that's as much on the pitchers as it is him.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

This is probably the only sequence of note that Chris won't cover between the game story and his 9 After 9 feature on the blog.

Dayton Top of the 5th

• Danny Vicioso singles on a line drive to left fielder Ben McMahan. Danny Vicioso out at 2nd, left fielder Ben McMahan to second baseman Adrian Williams.
  Kyle Waldrop called out on strikes.
  Junior Arias singles on a ground ball to shortstop Yadiel Rivera.
  With Nick O'Shea batting, Junior Arias steals (4) 2nd base.
  Nick O'Shea hit by pitch.
  Jefry Sierra lines out to right fielder Max Walla.

 

edit. I lied, Chris covered the bounce off the wall on that play anyway, he's too thorough.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Huntsville 5, Mississippi (Braves) 4

 

Huntsville Box Score

Tyler Thornburg was rolling along until the 6th when he shot himself in the foot with a walk and the defense let him down, then Darren Byrd entered the game and gave up a double to his first batter. Unfortunately Darren is beginning to make a habit of allowing his inherited runners to score. Tyler's final line 5.2IP, 4H, 4R, 1ER, 3BB, and 7SO. My only gripe would be the 3 walks gave up, he threw 83 pitches with 53 being strikes. After the 6th Byrd went 2 more scoreless innings with a walk and a strike out and finally Robert Wooten slammed the door shut with 2 strike outs in the 9th for his 4th save.

 

The Stars scored their 5 runs on only 6 hits, the bats have been quiet now for almost a week. No Stars had multiple hits but Kentrail Davis and Jay Gibbons both doubled. I absolutely love pitchers who can swing the stick, and Thornburg's HR is just another facet of his limited to relief and nonathletic game to appreciate. Gibbons did get picked off later in the game and both Hunter Morris and Matt Cline each had a fielding error in the contest.

 

Huntsville Play by Play

Shoddy defense helped the Stars in the 3rd

Huntsville Top of the 3rd

• Jason Jaramillo walks.
  Matt Cline singles on a line drive to left fielder Adam Milligan. Jason Jaramillo to 2nd.
  Tyler Thornburg reaches on fielding error by pitcher Zeke Spruill. Jason Jaramillo to 3rd. Matt Cline to 2nd.
  Kentrail Davis doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Adam Milligan. Jason Jaramillo scores. Matt Cline scores. Tyler Thornburg to 3rd.
  Josh Prince grounds out, third baseman Joe Leonard to first baseman Ian Gac.
  Scooter Gennett grounds out to first baseman Ian Gac.
  Andy Gonzalez flies out to center fielder Keenan Wiley.

 

The legitimate run Thornburg gave up...

Mississippi Bottom of the 3rd

• Zeke Spruill called out on strikes.
  Keenan Wiley triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis.
  Andrelton Simmons out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Jay Gibbons. Keenan Wiley scores.
  Philip Gosselin grounds out, second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Hunter Morris.

 

Tyler busts out the whuppin stick! That will be the last time they IBB the hitter in front of Tyler.

Huntsville Top of the 4th

• Hunter Morris lines out to shortstop Andrelton Simmons.
  Jay Gibbons doubles (1) on a fly ball to left fielder Adam Milligan.
  Jason Jaramillo grounds out, pitcher Zeke Spruill to first baseman Ian Gac. Jay Gibbons to 3rd.
  Zeke Spruill intentionally walks Matt Cline.
  Tyler Thornburg homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Jay Gibbons scores. Matt Cline scores.
  Kentrail Davis flies out to center fielder Keenan Wiley.

 

Mississippi climbed back into the game in the 6th.

Mississippi Bottom of the 6th

• Philip Gosselin lines out to center fielder Josh Prince.
  Ian Gac walks.
  Joe Leonard called out on strikes.
  Adam Milligan reaches on fielding error by first baseman Hunter Morris. Ian Gac to 2nd.
  Christian Bethancourt singles on a ground ball to shortstop Matt Cline. Ian Gac to 3rd. Adam Milligan to 2nd.
  Pitcher Change: Darren Byrd replaces Tyler Thornburg, batting 9th.
  Cory Harrilchak doubles (6) on a fly ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Ian Gac scores. Adam Milligan scores. Christian Bethancourt scores.
  Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Todd Cunningham replaces Zeke Spruill.
  Todd Cunningham grounds out to first baseman Hunter Morris.

[TheCrew07]

Chris Mehring's 9 After 9 for 4/26/2012, as usual it's a must read.

[Mass Haas]

Thornburg's bat, arm lead to win

By Jonathan Raymond / Special to MLB.com

 

Most times, whether a pitcher will have enough run support to pick up a win is out of his control. On Thursday, though, Huntsville starter Tyler Thornburg pretty much took care of things for himself.

 

The right-hander popped a fourth-inning, three-run homer that eventually proved to be the difference in the Stars' 5-4 win over Mississippi.

 

With two outs and two men on in the top of the fourth, Thornburg (2-0) sent a Zeke Spruill fastball over the left-field wall for his first professional home run.

 

"I was pretty happy about it, thought I hit it pretty well," said Thornburg. "It was funny walking into the dugout, everyone was just smiling. It felt good. Every time a pitcher hits a bomb, it's so unexpected, so people are like, 'What the heck?' or 'Wow.'"

 

Milwaukee's No. 4 prospect retired two of the first three batters in the sixth, and then the Braves' Adam Milligan reached on first baseman Hunter Morris' fielding error and Christian Bethancourt eked out an infield single.

 

Cory Harrilchak's bases-loaded double off reliever Darren Byrd plated all three runs. But it was all the scoring the Braves would muster and Thornburg's second win was preserved.

 

"In the sixth it was really humid, you're sweating a lot so it's kind of hard to grip the ball," said the 2010 third-rounder. "I walked a guy, there was an infield hit and an error. Not too much you can do about it, can't really complain.

 

"It was definitely one of those good nights overall. You know I ended up needing that home run, otherwise I would've gotten the loss. But it feels great to get out there and get the win."

 

Thornburg wound up allowing four runs -- one earned -- on four hits and three walks while striking out seven over 5 2/3 innings. The effort dropped his ERA back below two at 1.93 and his seven strikeouts give him 33 over 28 innings against seven walks through his first five starts.

 

The Houston native said he worked mostly with his fastball, and partially fell into trouble because he wasn't locating his off-speed pitches with consistency.

 

"I'm definitely happy to have the second win," he said. "I was hoping to get to it a bit earlier, but 2-0, I'll take it."

 

Right fielder Kentrail Davis, the Brewers' No. 9 prospect, provided Thornburg with his first two runs when he drove a two-run double to left in the third.

 

Rob Wooten closed the door on Mississippi, striking out two in a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

[Mass Haas]

Rattlers get strong start from Miller in loss to Dragons

by Ricardo Arguello, Post-Crescent staff writer

 

GRAND CHUTE — A few extra days of rest went a long way for Wisconsin Timber Rattlers pitcher Matt Miller.

 

Miller, who struggled this season in his first three starts, rebounded with a solid performance in Thursday's 3-1 Midwest League loss to Dayton in 10 innings at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

"I thought he threw the ball well tonight," Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson said. "He got a bunch of ground ball outs early and he was in the zone. He was very competitive and he kept us right there."

 

Miller, a fifth-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010, was scratched from his last scheduled start and last pitched on April 17, a loss to Burlington at home. He entered Tuesday's game with an 0-3 mark and a 6.75 ERA.

 

He had no such struggles against Dayton, allowing just three hits over six innings. He also had four strikeouts.

 

"I was very relaxed," Miller said. "I had some time off and didn't want to throw on short rest, so I had a little extended rest going into tonight's game. I just went out there and tried to keep the ball down."

 

Erickson said the extra time between starts isn't an uncommon occurrence and all of the team's starters will experience that additional time off at one time or another this season.

 

"We try to control their innings and control their pitches," Erickson said. "We see when they need a break and if that extra time can help. We try to find ways where that can benefit them. I think it benefited (Miller) today."

 

Wisconsin's offense started quickly, getting a run off Dayton starter Justice French in the first inning on Brandon Macias' RBI single in the second inning.

 

From that point on, it was a pitching battle between French and Miller and the bullpens.

 

Dayton (11-10) tied the game in the top of the ninth off Wisconsin reliever Seth Harvey, which gave Miller a no-decision.

 

The Dragons kept that momentum going in the next inning, scoring two runs off reliever Kevin Shackelford for the win.

 

Wisconsin (11-10) didn't get a hit past the fourth inning and also struck out 13 times.