Link Report for Fri. 5/4 -- No-Hitter for Timber Rattlers Chad Thompson and Mark Williams!

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Seth McClung at Albuquerque (Dodgers), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 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 Kyle Heckathorn at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 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 Hiram Burgos at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 5:35 PM gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Palm Beach 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 Chad Thompson makes his season debut at Clinton (Mariners), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime; look for RHP Mark Williams in relief

 

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 evening 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]

Jonathan Mitchell who tweeted about Jed Bradley's start yesterday has

.

[Mass Haas]

Timber Rattlers name their Players of the Month for April

 

***

 

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Updated the Daily Menu based on Chris' tweet

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Media Notes (tarantula included)

[homer]

Hey, dude pitching for BC tonight! Who are you and what have you done with Hiram Burgos??

[DHonks]

and I think we're gonna like Mr. Thompson

[JohnBriggs12]

I'm becoming a huge Hiram Burgos fan. What a start to the season!

[TheCrew07]

T-Rats are taking a combined no hitter to the Clinton 8th, 2 BBs and a HBP are the only Clinton base runners thus far.

[wibadgers23]

Anybody know how hard Burgos throws his fastball?

[TheCrew07]

Anybody know how hard Burgos throws his fastball?

 

A little below average for a RHP last we heard.

[TheCrew07]

1 out away for the T-Rats.

[brewmann04]

what kind of prospect does Burgos project to be?

[TheCrew07]

Back of the rotation/reliever but he's pretty tenacious on the mound, he's probably a guy with a legit chance to overachieve his raw stuff.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Wisconsin 5, Clinton 0

 

Thompson & Williams combine on no-hitter in Clinton

Rattlers win fifth straight on fourth no-no in team history

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

CLINTON, IA - Chad Thompson made one heck of a first start for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The right-hander pitched five no-hit innings and struck out six against the Clinton LumberKings Friday night at Ashford University Field. Mark Williams came on in relief and finished the run to history with four no-hit innings for a combined no-hitter in a 5-0 victory.

 

Wisconsin (17-11) scored four times in the first inning to grab the lead. Jason Rogers was at the plate with runners at first and second and one out and drove an RBI single to left-center. Greg Hopkins was next and the Rattlers second baseman continued his offensive onslaught with a three-run homer off the scoreboard beyond wall in left-center.

 

Hopkins had homered in Thursday's game, too. He has at least one hit in 14 of his last 15 games and has raised his average from .233 to .312 since April 20.

 

Rafael Neda added to the Wisconsin lead with a two-out RBI single in the top of the fourth. That was more than enough for Thompson and Williams against Clinton (10-17).

 

Thompson showed very few nerves in his Midwest League debut. He walked three, but struck out six. The only jam that he faced came in the bottom of the fourth inning. He walked Jamal Anderson to start the inning and Anderson eventually wound up on third with one out after a pair of stolen bases. Thompson walked Jhardimy DeJesus to put runners on the corners with one out. The tall righty got out of the inning with a strikeout and a fly ball to center. Thompson worked a perfect sixth and gave way to Williams with around 70 pitches under his belt.

 

Williams hit a batter with two outs in the sixth, but got the final out. Williams worked a 1-2-3 seventh and got the first two hitters in the eighth. But a two out walk brought Austin to the plate. Williams got him to fly out to Ben McMahan in right field for the final out of the eighth.

 

In the ninth, Williams got the first out on a grounder back to the mound. He finished strong by striking out the final two batters to conclude the fourth no-hitter in Timber Rattlers history.

 

Williams walked one, hit a batter, and struck out three over four innings to earn his first save of the season.

 

Wisconsin's last no-hitter was also a combined job. Jake Odorizzi went eight innings and Adrian Rosario went one in a no-no at Cedar Rapids on August 24, 2012.

 

The Timber Rattlers return home on Saturday to start a four game series with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Wisconsin has David Goforth (2-1, 5.11) as the scheduled starting pitcher. Fond du Lac native Chad Pierce (1-0, 2.20) is scheduled to pitch in relief for the Rattlers. Cedar Rapids has Jairo Diaz (1-2, 7.33) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 6:35pm.

 

The first 1,000 children aged 12 and under to attend the game will receive a Webkinz Tree Frog.

 

It is also a Fly Away Saturday, which means that one lucky fan will win airfare for two from Funjet Vacations and Fox World Travel at this game!

 

As part of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations, ten qualified contestants will take part in a postgame beach dig and one will win an All-Inclusive Vacation for two to the RIU Playacar in Riviera Maya, Mexico from Fox World Travel and Funjet Vacations!

 

If you can't make it out to the game, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Saturday's game will also be available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

 

HOME RUN:

WIS:

Greg Hopkins (3rd, 2 on in 1st inning off Stephen Landazuri, 1 out)

 

WP: Chad Thompson (1-0)

LP: Stephen Ladazuri (3-1)

SAVE: Mark Williams (1)

 

TIME: 2:24

 

Wisconsin Box Score

In no way did I expect to be reporting on this, of all the pitching in the system who would have a guessed Chad Thompson & Mark Williams would combine for the first no hitter of the season? The only time I remember Chris mentioning a gun reading for Thompson I believe he said 89 MPH.

 

Greg Hopkins is as

has been since Gamel went on his long hit streak so many years ago, in case you missed it above he was 2-4 with a HR. Jason Rogers was the only other T-Rat with multiple hits as he went 2-4 with a double. The Rattlers played clean defense again but went 0-2 cutting down base stealers.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

There will be plenty more coverage of this game from MiLB, the Post Crescent, and Chris.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Chattanooga 8, Huntsville 2

 

Huntsville Box Score

Tonight's start was unfortunately Kyle Heckathorn's worst of the season combined with the Stars playing absolutely horrible defense, just a bad game all the way around. Heckathorn gave up single runs in 4 of the 5 innings he pitched. Kyle's final line 4.1 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 2BB, and 1 WP against only 3 strike outs. Darren Byrd relieved Heckathorn in the 5th but then the position players combined for 3 errors in a 4 run 6th that put the game away for the Lookouts. Byrd gave up 4 R, 1 ER, in his 1.1 IP while giving up 3 H, 1 BB, and striking out 3. Eric Marzec finished off the 6th for Byrd pitching 2.1 innings allowing just 1 hit against 3 strike outs. Mitch Stetter pitched a clean final frame.

 

Jeff Bianchi and Hunter Morris had 2 hits a piece and Kentrail Davis doubled for the noteworthy accomplishments at the plate. Khris Davis came in during a double switch and went 0-2 with an error. The other errors were Heckathorn (1, pickoff), Bianchi (4, fielding), and Jason Jarmillo. (3, pickoff)

 

Huntsville Play By Play

U.G.L.Y you ain't got no alibi...

Chattanooga Top of the 6th

• Nick Buss grounds out, shortstop Jeff Bianchi to first baseman Hunter Morris.
  Jake Lemmerman hits a ground-rule double (6) on a fly ball to right-center field.
  J. T. Wise reaches on fielding error by shortstop Jeff Bianchi. Jake Lemmerman to 3rd.
  With Kyle Russell batting, throwing error by Jason Jaramillo on the pickoff attempt, Jake Lemmerman scores. J. T. Wise to 2nd.
  Kyle Russell walks.
  Pedro Baez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Khris Davis. J. T. Wise scores. Pedro Baez to 2nd. Kyle Russell advances to 3rd, on throwing error by left fielder Khris Davis.
  Blake Smith strikes out swinging.
  Luis Nunez singles on a line drive to left fielder Khris Davis. Kyle Russell scores. Pedro Baez scores.
  Pitcher Change: Eric Marzec replaces Darren Byrd, batting 6th.
  Matt Wallach strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

If you read this post the other day, then you knew more than most about Chad Thompson before his no-hit start tonight.

 

***

 

If you read this detailed player profile in the Post-Crescent last Sunday, then you knew more than most about Mark Williams before his no-hit tandem relief appearance tonight.

 

***

 

Great job by Chris Mehring in getting this up so quickly -- Clinton, Iowa not exactly a technological hotbed:

 

[HiAndTight]

Anybody know how hard Burgos throws his fastball?

 

 

Scouting reports say 90-91, but I've seen him pitch a few times, and seen some 92-93 readings.

 

So I don't think he's necessarily below avearge velocity wise, I'd say he's pretty average. It's just that he has so many different pitches, and he throws them for strikes.

 

He can saw guys off with his cutter, has a change that has pretty good movement and a curve that has made guys look pretty silly. Haven't seen enough of his slider to form an opinion, but I agree, he has the chance to break through his velocity ceiling with how many pitches he can throw for strikes and how well he can command those pitches.

 

I don't ever remember having so much fun with these link reports. Every night you feel like you're watching a guy who, with good luck and a little projection, could be legit starters for a playoff caliber team(with the obvious note that the number of things that can go from from AAA to the bigs is a mile long, so from LowA to the bigs, it's even a longer list).

 

Still, makes it fun.

 

 

Edit-I should say I haven't seen him pitch in a couple years, but that's what I noticed. I suppose I'm also highlighting the positives as the highlights I saw from him are likely what's leading to such success right now.

 

If he CAN sit at 91-93 in the big leagues with his command and 5 pitches, it'll be really interesting to see just how good he can be. I'm guessing he's more an 88-91 topping out at 93 or so, nonetheless, with his command, I think he could have the upside of a #3, and a very good chance to at least be a Marco Estrada type pitcher.

 

 

Which again, I know I'm a broken record, but all these young pitchers coming up...it makes it that much more important to re-sign Grienke. Give them the chance to ease into the rotation behind two proven studs. You're more likely IMO to get the most out of them if they don't feel the pressure of starting game 2 for instance and can just blend into a talented rotation full of young power arms behind the two vets.

[TooLiveBrew]

I don't ever remember having so much fun with these link reports. Every night you feel like you're watching a guy who, with good luck and a little projection, could be legit starters for a playoff caliber team(with the obvious note that the number of things that can go from from AAA to the bigs is a mile long, so from LowA to the bigs, it's even a longer list).

 

Still, makes it fun.

I completely agree. This season has been awesome so far.

[Mass Haas]

Rattlers' Thompson, Williams toss no-no

By Sam Dykstra / Special to MLB.com

 

Chad Thompson was making his full-season debut and Mark Williams worked out of the bullpen for only the second time after four starts. So Friday figured to feature a few firsts for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

 

They got at least one they probably weren't expecting.

 

The two right-handers combined to throw the Timber Rattlers' first no-hitter in nearly two years as Class A Wisconsin blanked the Clinton LumberKings, 5-0.

 

Thompson (1-0) struck out six and walked three over his first five innings of Class A ball. Williams issued just one free pass and fanned three over the final four frames for his first professional save.

 

"It was my first outing, so all I was worried about was doing what I'm supposed to do -- just throw strikes, try to get ground balls," Thompson said. "Fortunately, it all ended up working out really well."

 

The Brewers' 27th-round pick in last year's Draft, Thompson made his first Midwest League appearance after recovering from biceps tendinitis suffered during Spring Training. He walked Jamal Austin to open the contest, then retired the next eight batters before issuing another leadoff walk to Austin in the fourth.

 

That inning proved to be Thompson's most challenging of the night as Austin stole second and third. Jharmidy De Jesus also walked to put runners on the corners with one out, but the Orange Coast College product retired the next two LumberKings. He ended up throwing 70 pitches, 39 for strikes.

 

When Williams came out of the bullpen to pitch the sixth, he was unaware of the feat Thompson had begun.

 

"When I came in, it was just another game," Williams said. "I didn't even realize it was a no-hitter until I looked up at the scoreboard in the seventh inning. ... I was a little bit nervous at that point. I knew [Thompson] was throwing really well. But when you're in the bullpen, you're screwing around, you're talking a little, so you don't know just how well the starter's going."

 

After retiring six of the first seven batters he faced -- Steven Baron was hit by a pitch -- Williams struggled a bit in the eighth. The 22-year-old walked Carlton Tanabe, an at-bat that concerned the starter-turned-reliever going into the ninth.

 

"It's funny because I had a really rough eighth inning," Williams said. "I was trying to find my location, so I really wanted to throw strikes. But [catcher Rafael Neda] called a great game for the both of us. He was great out there. So I was feeling really comfy going back out there for the ninth, knowing he was out there with me."

 

In the ninth, Williams had a scare in the ninth when Baron hit a high chopper back to the mound that he dropped on the transfer.

 

"'Oh crap, oh crap' was all I was thinking," he said.

 

But after a successful toss to first, the Ohio native struck out the last two batters to give the Timber Rattlers their first no-hitter since Jake Odorizzi and Adrian Rosario combined on one at Cedar Rapids on Aug. 24, 2010.

 

It was the third no-hitter in the Minor Leagues this season. Three Greensboro Grasshoppers threw one in the South Atlantic League on April 24 and Justin Wilson combined with two relievers on another for Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

 

The no-hitter was an especially big moment for Thompson. Not only was he coming off an injury, the 21-year-old right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in high school in 2009. Concerns over the procedure and lengthy rehab process contributed to his falling Draft stock last year. But Thompson never doubted that a night like Friday would come.

 

"Eventually, I thought something like tonight would happen, definitely," he said. "Everything I was doing during the process, I wasn't expecting anything less than to end up here in pro ball. ... [When I was drafted last year], I wanted to get started. Once I could get healthy, I didn't want to wait any longer."

 

The no-hitter also came almost a year to the day that Thompson lost his stepsister, Heather Faith Beyer, following a 15-month battle with breast cancer. She would have loved to have been there for him on the biggest day of his baseball career.

 

"She would definitely be proud of me and she would have called me, that's for sure," Thompson said. "She was a big baseball fan."

 

Greg Hopkins had two hits, including a three-run homer, and Jason Rogers went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Timber Rattlers, who have won a season-high five straight.

 

Mark Williams recorded his first professional save. (Ann Mollica/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

Photo from prior appearance

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/05/04/IkvSblYj.jpg

[Tedaldtada]

Brevard blanks Palm Beach

05/04/2012 9:38 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

JUPITER, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees recorded their fifth shutout of the season as they blanked the Palm Beach Cardinals, 3-0 on Friday night at Roger Dean Stadium.

 

Manatees starting pitcher Hiram Burgos (2-1, 0.79) threw seven shutout innings as he allowed six hits and a walk, while striking out eight. Burgos has allowed just one run in his last 25 innings of work and has not allowed a run in three of his five starts this season.

 

Brandon Kintzler, who is on a rehab assignment from Milwaukee, threw a scoreless eighth inning and Casey Medlen earned his fifth save of the season after throwing a scoreless ninth.

 

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning as Nick Shaw led the frame off with his sixth double of the season. The double marked the 20th consecutive game in which Shaw has reached base.

 

Reggie Keen then singled to center to put runners on the corners. Keen then stole second and after a T.J. Mittelstaedt strikeout, Cody Hawn grounded out to second to score Shaw and give the 'Tees a 1-0 lead. Keen was 3-for-5 on the night and stole two bases. He has now reached base in 13 straight games.

 

In the eighth inning, Brevard County (13-15) received a couple of insurance runs as Mike Walker hit a two-run home run, his third of the season.

 

Manatees' catcher Shawn Zarraga left the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with an apparent hand injury.

 

Brevard County will go for its third win in a row on Saturday as they continue their four-game set with Palm Beach (13-15) at 6:35 p.m.

 

Brandon Williamson (0-1, 5.00) will toe the rubber for the Manatees, while the Cardinals will send Drew Benes (1-2, 4.29) to the mound.

 

Box Score

 

Hiram Burgos is putting on a clinic in the FSL. The line: 7 IP 6 H 0 R 1 BB 8 K 6:2 GO:FO 1 Pickoff. One of Hiram's top qualities is his control. Baseball America listed Burgos as having the best control in the system after the 2010 season. BF poster, and Link Report Grandmaster, Sessile Fielder remembers Burgos as a mid-80's to high-80's FB guy when he was with the T-Rats. His pre-draft bio was slightly more optimistic. One thing is for certain, Burgos should be moving to AA soon.

 

Brandon Kinzler (2 K) and Casey Medlen (1 K) finished off the shutout with a clean inning each.

 

SS Nick Shaw (1-5 2B) has a 20 game on-base streak going. Shaw has 7 BB and 7 H in his last 10 games. 3B Mike Walker (1-2 HR 2 BB) was the man today. He needs a hot week to factor into the mid-season All-star discussion. Reggie Keen (3-5 2 SB) was a literal hit in the second spot in the order.

 

From the story: "Manatees' catcher Shawn Zarraga left the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with an apparent hand injury."

 

Too bad neither Roberts or Neda has asserted themselves. Paging Cameron Garfield?

 

Game Log

 

Bad start turned wonderful start.

 

Palm Beach Bottom of the 1st

 

Mike O'Neill singles on a line drive to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt.

With Vance Albitz batting, Hiram Burgos picks off Mike O'Neill at 1st on throw to Cody Hawn.

Vance Albitz strikes out swinging.

Rainel Rosario strikes out swinging.

 

Kinzler did well to hold him.

 

Palm Beach Bottom of the 8th

 

Pitcher Change: Brandon Kintzler replaces Hiram Burgos.

Ronny Gil strikes out swinging.

Mike O'Neill singles on a fly ball to left fielder T. J. Mittelstaedt.

Vance Albitz singles on a ground ball to right fielder Juan Sanchez. Mike O'Neill to 2nd.

Rainel Rosario grounds into a force out, third baseman Michael Walker to second baseman Shea Vucinich. Mike O'Neill to 3rd. Vance Albitz out at 2nd. Rainel Rosario to 1st.

With Chris Edmondson batting, Rainel Rosario steals (1) 2nd base.

Chris Edmondson strikes out swinging.

 

CheezWizHed is like, "See!"

 

Palm Beach Bottom of the 9th

 

Pitcher Change: Casey Medlen replaces Brandon Kintzler.

Jonathan Rodriguez grounds out, third baseman Michael Walker to first baseman Cody Hawn.

Geoffrey Klein called out on strikes.

Alan Ahmady walks.

Travis Tartamella grounds out, shortstop Nick Shaw to first baseman Cody Hawn.

 

Edit: Did I mention that was a Cardinals beat down? Boom!