Link Report for Fri. 4/27 -- Rattlers are all big leaguers for a day; "Downhill Thunder" on Brevard's mound

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Mike Fiers at Iowa (Cubs), 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 Evan Anundsen 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 Jimmy Nelson 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 Drew Gagnon at "home" (in Miller Park) vs. Dayton (Reds), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 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]

As we noted earlier this week (so no excuses for DVR failures and such), tonight's Miller Park Rattler's game is being televised on Time Warner Cable Sports 32. Also, we've been told by Chris Mehring that MiLB.TV is making that game available free this evening, so those outside of eastern Wisconsin can watch it as well.

 

If the archive of the game turns out to be free as well, we'll let you know.

[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]

Nashville Media Notes -- Taylor Green and Logan Schafer are heating up...

[Mass Haas]

Here's archived audio from Thursday AM -- Appleton 1570 AM with rattlers Manager Matt Erickson

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Sounds, Cubs Rained Out On Friday Night In Iowa

Nashville Sounds

 

DES MOINES, Iowa - Friday's scheduled contest between the Nashville Sounds and Iowa Cubs at Principal Park was postponed due to rain.

 

The game will be made up as part of a 5:30 pm CT scheduled doubleheader, consisting of two seven-inning contests on Saturday, June 9 in Des Moines.

 

The division rivals will continue their series on Saturday night at 7:05 pm CT when Nashville right-hander Mike Fiers (0-2, 6.23) toes the rubber against Iowa righty Casey Coleman (0-2, 3.80.)

[TooLiveBrew]

This tweet from Sports32 reporter JP Cadorin includes a pre-game shot of the T-Rats:

 

[Mass Haas]

If Khris Davis doesn't make a late appearance for Huntsville, that'd be three consecutive games on the sideline.

[Tedaldtada]

If he stays healthy, Max Walla is going to make some noise in Appleton this year. He crushed a 3-run bomb tonight at Miller Park for his second HR in two career games there (2011 Rising Stars Game). Dude has a huge, but proportional, lower half (not that I look at that sort of thing ).

[TheCrew07]

Final: Wisconsin 3, Dayton (Reds) 0

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Drew Gagnon was pretty darn good, though he pitched differently than the last time I saw him. In the home opener he was moving the ball vertically to get strike outs, which I'm really into. Given that his FB moves in on RHBs that's just an extremely tough pitch to catch up with. Tonight my impression was that he was working on corner location (I was multitasking the draft so I didn't see every pitch, I did DVR the game though) and I saw him miss back over the plate grooving about a dozen pitches, half of which ended up getting hit pretty hard. Drew did keep his pitch count down and went 8 innings allowing 4 hits, a HBP, and 1 walk against 4 strike outs throwing 87 pitches, 62 for strikes. The strike outs are way down in the last 2 outings, but put me in the unconcerned category because as I said it appears he's working on something specific rather than challenging every hitter. Tommy Toledo came in and pitched a perfect 9th and punctuated the game by getting the last batter looking.

 

Once again the Rattler bats did a bunch early and then not much after. Max Walla's first WI HR will be a lasting memory as it came at Miller Park, he went 2-3 adding a double and a walk later in the game. His season line is starting to look very respectable and I really liked his approach at the plate. He looks primed to put up some big numbers and get me excited about him again. Gregory Hopkins had the other multi-hit game as he went 2-4 with a double. Rafeal Neda nailed 1 of 2 runners trying to steal and the Rattlers played clean defense.

 

The opposing pitcher Radhames Quezada has an interesting career progression and looks to be a player on the rise for the Reds, he seemed to have pretty good velocity and after the first inning he pitched pretty well. He wasn't hitting his spots, but the Rattlers only managed 2 walks against him after the 1st.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

This was the only time Gagnon was threatened all game so he hit a batter to give himself an easy way out of the inning!

Dayton Top of the 4th

• Juan Perez doubles (5) on a line drive to center fielder Chadwin Stang.
  Ryan Wright flies out to right fielder Max Walla. Juan Perez to 3rd.
  Sean Buckley hit by pitch.
  Juan Silva grounds into double play, pitcher Drew Gagnon to shortstop Yadiel Rivera to first baseman Gregory Hopkins. Sean Buckley out at 2nd.

 

One note on the Ryan Wright F9, Perez cadillaced it pretty bad moving to 3rd and Max came up firing making it a relatively close play, he has a pretty good arm and a looks to be a good fit for RF.

[igor67]

Glad to see there was a great game at Miller Park tonight. I really like Walla's upside with all of that power to go along with the big improvement in other hitting skills.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Huntsville 7, Mississippi (Braves) 4

 

Hunstville Box Score

In exciting news the Stars actually out hit the opposition and broke double digits again! Evan Anundsen was your starting pitcher tonight and he went 6 erratic though very effective innings allowing 4 hits, 3 walks, and 1 earned run, against only 1 strike out. Evan threw 70 pitches, but only 37 were strikes, and yes I did a double take myself before typing it. Mitch Stetter came on and had his best outing since he returned striking out the side, all swinging. Eric Marzec came on to finish the game working a solid 8th inning but then caught the "we give up runs in the 9th inning" bug that seems to be making the rounds of our entire minor league relief core this season. Having already given up 3 runs and with runners on 1st and 2nd and 2 out he was removed in favor of Jesus Sanchez who got the final out of the game to pick up his first save of the season.

 

Sean Gilmartin was the opposing pitcher, he's the #5 prospect in the Braves organization, so we should feel pretty good about the results here. Offensively the Stars pounded out 11 hits, led by Josh Prince who went 2-4 with a HR and a walk. Andy Gonzalez, Hunter Morris, and Jason Jarmillo each had 2 hits plus a double while Jay Gibbons added a 2 bagger of his own. Matt Cline had the only Huntsville error (throwing), it was his 4th of the season. As Mass noted Khris Davis was absent from the line-up yet again.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

The Stars jump started the offense in the 4th.

Huntsville Top of the 4th

• Josh Prince homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.
  Scooter Gennett grounds out, shortstop Andrelton Simmons to first baseman Ian Gac.
  Andy Gonzalez reaches on fielding error by shortstop Andrelton Simmons.
  Hunter Morris singles on a ground ball to left fielder Adam Milligan. Andy Gonzalez to 2nd.
  Jay Gibbons grounds into a force out, second baseman Philip Gosselin to shortstop Andrelton Simmons. Andy Gonzalez to 3rd. Hunter Morris out at 2nd. Jay Gibbons to 1st.
  Jason Jaramillo doubles (5) on a line drive to center fielder Mycal Jones. Andy Gonzalez scores. Jay Gibbons scores.
  Matt Cline singles on a ground ball to shortstop Andrelton Simmons. Jason Jaramillo to 3rd.
  Evan Anundsen grounds out, third baseman Joe Leonard to first baseman Ian Gac.

 

After scoring 1 in the 6th adding another crooked number in the 7th would be all the offense the Stars would need, though they thankfully tacked on an insurance run in the 9th.

Huntsville Top of the 7th

• Pitcher Change: Chris Jones replaces Sean Gilmartin, batting 9th.
  Evan Anundsen grounds out, second baseman Philip Gosselin to first baseman Ian Gac.
  Kentrail Davis walks.
  Josh Prince singles on a line drive to right fielder Todd Cunningham. Kentrail Davis to 2nd.
  With Scooter Gennett batting, wild pitch by Chris Jones, Kentrail Davis to 3rd. Josh Prince to 2nd.
  Scooter Gennett strikes out swinging.
  Andy Gonzalez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Todd Cunningham. Kentrail Davis scores. Josh Prince scores. Andy Gonzalez to 2nd on the throw.
  Hunter Morris grounds out, second baseman Philip Gosselin to first baseman Ian Gac.

[TheCrew07]

Gagnon pitches + Walla homer = Rattlers win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

MILWAUKEE, WI - Drew Gagnon tossed eight scoreless innings and Max Walla hit a three run homer for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Friday night at Miller Park. That was all the Rattlers needed to defeat the Dayton Dragons 3-0.

 

The Timber Rattlers (12-10) started quickly against Dragons starting pitcher Radhames Quezada. Chadwin Stang singled past Quezada's glove to get the first inning going. Brandon Macias followed with a line drive single off the chest of Quezada. Walla drove the next pitch from Quezada over the wall in right field for a three-run homer.

 

The home run was the second for Walla at Miller Park. He also homered in the Rising Stars game, an All-Star Game for prospects in the Milwaukee Brewers system, on April 2, 2011.

 

Gagnon didn't need anything else. The third round pick of the Brewers in the 2011 draft allowed four hits, walked one and struck out four. He extended his current scoreless streak to 19-2/3 innings with his eight scoreless frames on Friday night.

 

The only real threat that the Dragons (11-11) had came in the fourth inning. Juan Perez doubled and went to third on a deep fly ball to right. Gagnon hit Sean Buckley to put runners on the corners. But, Gagnon induced Juan Silva to ground into an inning ending 1-6-3 double play.

 

The Rattlers offense wouldn't cross the plate after the first, but Walla would a double in the fifth inning. Greg Hopkins moved his hitting streak to a team high eight games with a double in the sixth and a single in the eighth.

 

Tommy Toledo worked a perfect ninth.

 

The Timber Rattlers return to Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium to face the Bowling Green Hot Rods Saturday night. Mark Williams (0-2, 4.24) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Bowling Green has Trevor Shull (0-0, 6.30) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 6:35pm.

 

Saturday night is a Fly Away Saturday and one lucky fan will win airfare for two from Funjet Vacations and Fox World Travel at this game! Also, the first 1,000 fans will receive a poster of Timber Rattlers shortstop Yadiel Rivera, the #15 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers system.

 

If you can't make it to the ballpark, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280,WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. The game is also available on MiLB.TV.

 

HOME RUN:

WIS:

Max Walla (1st, 2 on in 1st inning off Radhames Quezada, 0 out)

 

WP: Drew Gagnon (2-0)

LP: Radahmes Quezada (0-3)

SAVE: Tommy Toledo (1)

 

TIME: 2:10

ATTN: 6,616

[Tedaldtada]

The opposing pitcher Radhames Quezada has an interesting career progression and looks to be a player on the rise for the Reds, he seemed to have pretty good velocity and after the first inning he pitched pretty well.

 

Gagnon was throwing a tick or two harder than Quezada at his peak. Both were sitting in the low-90's via the Miller Park scoreboard, mostly 91 for Gagnon and 90 for Quezada. Lots of off-speed for Gagnon at times including at least one curve ball resulting in a backwards K.. I will expand on this a bit more tomorrow.

 

Off to write about "Downhill Thunder".

[Mass Haas]

Doesn't seem the Brewers will go this route, particularly hoping Marco Estrada is strong in Saturday's matinee, but still interesting analysis from Kyle at BCB.

[TheCrew07]

I realize this is extremely late notice but if someone could cover Huntsville and Wisconsin tomorrow (Saturday) I would greatly appreciate it. Once again I asked 2 different posters earlier in the week and didn't receive a PM back. I have a double header starting at 11 AM and then a family get together at my brother's restaurant after the games so I have no idea when I'll be getting home. Sometimes these family things go pretty quick, sometimes they get rather boisterous...

 

If no one is available I'll certainly get the recaps in, but they might not get posted until early Sunday morning which isn't a problem for me, I just wanted everyone to know that I didn't forget if they aren't posted by midnight.

[Mass Haas]

As Mass noted Khris Davis was absent from the line-up yet again.

 

Starting lineup, yes, but did strike out in a pinch-hit role.

 

Great job this month on the Link Report, guys, thanks again.

[TheCrew07]

Thanks for catching that, somehow I missed it even though I was looking for him.

[Tedaldtada]

Brevard wins again on walk-off single

04/27/2012 10:07 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/04/27/8kL2MCFr.jpg

Jimmy Nelson allowed one earned run in 7 2/3 innings on Friday. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

VIERA, Fla. - For the second night in a row, the Brevard County Manatees were victorious over the Tampa Yankees in their final at-bat. Shea Vucinich's walk-off single with one out in the bottom of the ninth gave Brevard a 3-2 win over Tampa on Friday night, in front of 3,726 fans at Space Coast Stadium.

 

For the fourth game in a row, the Manatees (10-11) received a quality start from its pitching staff. Jimmy Nelson - in his third quality start of the young season - went 7 2/3 innings and allowed two runs, one of which was earned. He gave up two hits and walked three, while striking out six. Nelson (2-1, 1.76) kept the ball on the ground for his defense as he recorded 15 groundouts and just two flyouts.

Brevard County gave Nelson some early run support as the 'Tees scored twice in the bottom of the second. Mike Walker led the inning off with a single to center and then Shawn Zarraga reached base on a hit by pitch. Vucinich would then double to left, to score Walker and move Zarraga to third. Zarraga came home for the second run on a Juan Sanchez sacrifice fly.

 

Tampa (10-11) got one of those runs back in the fourth off of Nelson. Rob Segedin doubled to right with one out and then advanced to third on a ground out by Kyle Roller. Segedin would come home to score on a passed ball by Zarraga.

 

The Yankees scored their second run in the sixth with some small ball as Segedin drove home Jose Toussen with two outs. Touseen had led the inning off with a walk, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and then got to third on a fly out.

 

The Manatees had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth as T.J. Mittelstaedt singled to center with two outs and Juan Sanchez tried to score from second. He was gunned down by center fielder Eduardo Sosa as Sanchez tried to jar the ball loose by attempting to truck catcher Hector Rabago.

 

Tampa's starting pitcher Nik Turley, who struck out five 'Tees, was lifted in the bottom of the ninth for reliever Branden Pinder. Pinder forced Cody Hawn to ground out to start the inning, but then ran into some trouble.

 

Miguel Velaquez drove a ball deep into the left center gap and it looked to be a walk-off homer but Tampa's Ramon Flores chased it down but could not make the catch against the wall as Velazquez reached on with a double.

 

Mike Walker was then intentionally walked to get to Zarraga. With Zarraga batting, a wild pitch by Pinder moved Walker and Velazquez to second and third, respectively. Tampa decided to go ahead and give Zarraga a free pass to set up a possible force at home and possible double play ball. The Yankees also brought in a fifth infielder as Vucinich stepped to the plate.

 

Vucinich hit a rocket down the third base line, scoring Velazquez and give the Manatees their second consecutive walk-off win. He was 2-for-3 with two RBI on Friday night. Mittelstaedt also had two hits.

 

Casey Medlen earned his second win of the season, in relief of Nelson as he threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out three.

 

Brevard County will now welcome the Clearwater Threshers (9-10) for a three-game series, beginning on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. The Manatees were swept in a three-game set earlier in the week at Clearwater.

 

Lefty Jed Bradley (2-1, 1.50) is set to take the mound for the Manatees on Saturday night in the series opener. In Bradley's last outing - which was against Clearwater - he allowed seven runs (four earned) in five innings of work.

 

The Threshers will send Perci Garner (0-1, 3.95) to the mound. He gave up four runs in 3 2/3 innings of work to the 'Tees this past Monday.

 

Box Score

 

Ho-hum, another walk-off. Tonight's hero was Shea Vucinich, but it was a group effort in the 9th.

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 9th

Pitcher Change: Branden Pinder replaces Nik Turley.

Cody Hawn grounds out, second baseman Kelvin Castro to first baseman Kyle Roller.

Miguel Velazquez doubles (5) on a line drive to left fielder Ramon Flores.

Branden Pinder intentionally walks Michael Walker.

With Shawn Zarraga batting, wild pitch by Branden Pinder, Miguel Velazquez to 3rd. Michael Walker to 2nd.

Branden Pinder intentionally walks Shawn Zarraga.

Shea Vucinich singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ramon Flores. Miguel Velazquez scores. Michael Walker to 3rd. Shawn Zarraga to 2nd.

 

Vucinich (also walked) and T.J. Mittelstaedt each had 2 hits. Mike Walker was 1-3 with a IBB. Mittelstaedt's .273 average represents the high water mark for Manatee starting lineup. Nick Shaw was MIA.

 

Early season stud Jimmy Nelson was overwhelming again for the opposing hitters. Final line: 7 2/3 IP 2 H 2 R 1 ER 3 BB 6 K 15:2 GO:FO. I cannot recall another game where one pitcher recorded 15 or more ground ball outs. Games like this are becoming commonplace for the BC staff. Casey Medlen (1 1/3 IP 3 K) continued the flame-throwing domination swindling the W along the way.

 

Game Log

 

This represents the first fly ball out of the game for Jimmy J.

 

Tampa Top of the 5th

 

Eduardo Sosa called out on strikes.

Hector Rabago grounds out, shortstop Juan Sanchez to first baseman Cody Hawn.

Garrison Lassiter flies out to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt.

[Tedaldtada]

Btw, I turned in my voucher for two Scooter Gennett vs the Snowman bobble heads tonight at the game. It is like folk art, perhaps?

[TooLiveBrew]

If he stays healthy, Max Walla is going to make some noise in Appleton this year. He crushed a 3-run bomb tonight at Miller Park for his second HR in two career games there (2011 Rising Stars Game). Dude has a huge, but proportional, lower half (not that I look at that sort of thing ).

I've been a Walla bandwagoner for a little while now... not very long, mind you. But yeah, the guy is put together & physically there's not much to stop him from becoming a big-leaguer.

 

Really nice to see the great starts from Gagnon & Nelson. The system is really full of arms right now; plenty of reasons to feel good about the state of Brewers pitching prospects.