Link Report for Fri. 5/11 -- Moye and Roberts Lead Rattlers to Lone Affiliate Win of the Night

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Wily Peralta at home vs. Colorado Springs (Rockies), 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: LHP Dan Merklinger at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 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 Taylor Jungmann at home vs. St. Lucie (Mets), 5:35 PM gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the St. Lucie 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.

 

***

 

Wisconsin: RHP Jacob Barnes at home vs. Quad Cities (Cardinals), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime; RHP Andy Moye will follow in a tandem effort

 

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

 

High-A - Florida State League North Division

 

A - 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]

Video

 

Highlight (Explanation)

[TheCrew07]

BA's Prospect Hot Sheet 5/11/2012

 

No. 12 JUAN CARLOS SULBARAN, RHP REDS

Team: Double-A Pensacola (Southern)

Age: 22

Why He's Here: 1-0, 0.00, 1 GS, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 SO

The Scoop: There are times when it was fair to wonder if the worst thing that happened to Sulbaran's career was his strong outing for the Dutch team against the Cuban national team before he ever threw a pro pitch. Sulbaran didn't always show the same intensity throwing in minor league games. But he has the stuff to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter and in the past year he's shown an improved ability to work out of jams. With a fastball that touches 95 mph, he's on the short list of the Reds' top pitching prospects. Sulbaran's outing this week is his best of the season, but it's not his season high for strikeouts. He struck out 11 in just 6 innings against Jackson earlier this year.

 

In the Team Photo:

In another situation, the clamor to promote 1B Anthony Rizzo to the big leagues would be deafening. After posting a 1.000+ OPS at Triple-A last year, Rizzo is doing it again this year for Iowa, and he hit his 10th home run this week. This week he hit .261/.433/.739 with three home runs. The problem? Bryan LaHair is currently posting a 1.243 OPS for the Cubs at first base. Eventually the Cubs may trade or reposition LaHair to open a spot for Rizzo, but for now it means that Rizzo will just have to keep doing what he's doing at Triple-A

 

Cardinals RHP Tyrell Jenkinsstruck out a career-best 10 hitters on Monday for low Class A Quad Cities. The 19-year-old limited Peoria to two runs on four hits, though he did walk four and throw two wild pitches. Still, he hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his five starts, sporting a 1.96 ERA in 23 innings

I linked Tyrell's scouting report earlier in the week.

 

MAN AMONG BOYS

• Hiram Burgos, rhp, Brewers. Fourth-year pro Burgos leads the high Class A Florida State League in ERA (0.87), WHIP (0.65) and opponent average (.150), but he's also a 24-year-old repeating the league. You'll pardon the Brewers for keeping Burgos put for now after he put up a 4.89 ERA in 24 appearances for Brevard County last year.

[TheCrew07]

Cubs’ Paul Hoilman Sets Peoria Record

 

Posted May. 10, 2012 4:30 pm by Pat Hickey

Filed under: Daily Dish

 

Paul Hoilman is no stranger to re-writing the record book. On Wednesday night, he broke another one by hitting safely in his 22nd straight game—a franchise record for the low Class A Peoria Chiefs.

 

Hoilman, a 23-year-old first baseman, went 2-for-4 with a triple in a 2-1 home loss to Beloit and extended his hit streak in his first at-bat by legging out an infield single to Beloit third baseman Miguel Sano—the strong-armed Twins’ top prospect. Hardly a speedster, the righthanded-hitting Hoilman hit a chopper behind the third-base bag and barely beat Sano’s throw to first.

 

“I knew he had a good arm so I was running as hard as I could,” Hoilman told the Peoria Journal Star.

 

Hoilman passed the Chiefs' previous mark of 21 shared by outfielder Kerry Robinson and infielder Jack Wilson.

 

Hoilman made his professional debut for Boise last season after being selected in the 19th round of the draft and set a franchise single-season record with 17 home runs despite playing just 71 games. During a four-year career at Eastern Tennessee State, Hoilman broke two Atlantic Sun Conference career records—home runs (73) and doubles (83).

 

In 2010, Hoilman won the inaugural TD Ameritrade College Baseball Home Run Derby in the final college baseball event at Rosenblatt Stadium. He hit .421 and tied for fifth in Division I with 25 home runs. The Rays selected him in the 49th round of the 2010 draft, but he elected to return to ETSU and finish his degree in math with a concentration in pre-med. As a senior, Hoilman’s ranked second Division I in both home runs (22) and strikeouts (72) as his average dipped to .313 amid college baseball’s new bat standards.

 

Also Streaking

 

• The Rangers have a pair of prospects with hitting streaks. Shortstop phenom Jurickson Profar, the Rangers top prospect entering this season, has hit safely in 19 straight games for Double-A Frisco. The 19-year-old has seen his average increase from .205/.280/.409 when the streak began on April 19 to .261/.318/.462 after going 1-for-4 with two RBIs yesterday against Midland. Second baseman Yangervis Solarte has a 20-game hit streak with Triple-A Round Rock. Solarte is a 24-year-old switch-hitter with a knack for barreling up the ball and was a minor league free agent pick-up by the Rangers this past offseason.

 

• Royals outfielder Wil Myers has a 15-game hitting streak with Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Myers has hit safely in 28 of 29 games this season. He had a 13-game hit streak snapped with an 0-4 outing against Arkansas on April 22 before starting his current run the next game. The Royals No. 3 prospect entering the season, the 21-year-old Myers is hitting .339/.394/.722 with 11 home runs in 115 at-bats.

 

• Padres prospect Alexi Amarista has a 17-game streak going with Triple-A Tucson. The 5-foot-8 utility player carries the streak over from Triple-A Salt Lake, as he was a part of the trade on May 4 that brought righthander Ernesto Frieri to the Angels.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Audio from Nashville — “In the Dugout with Don (Money)”

 

Jeff's note: Tonight’s interview is with longtime Brewers minor league coach and former Sounds manager (’09-’11) Don Money, who is in town to watch the Sounds this homestand. He is making rounds through the Brewers’ full-season affiliates before heading to rookie-level Helena (Mont.) next month to be the hitting coach for the Helena Brewers

[battlekow]

Final: St. Lucie 11, @Brevard County 2

 

'Tees thumped by Mets, 11-2

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees were pounded 11-2 by the St. Lucie Mets on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium. The loss is Brevard's third in a row and gives the 'Tees their fourth losing streak of the season of three or more games.

 

Manatees starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann (2-3, 2.79) struggled with his command as he scattered six hits in 5 1/3 innings, while allowing two runs (one earned). He walked three, fanned four and hit two St. Lucie batters. The 2011 first round draft pick did not factor into the decision and has not won a game since April 10.

 

The wheels came off for Brevard County (14-21) in the eighth inning. With the game tied 2-2, the Mets scored three, two-out runs on four consecutive singles and a throwing error. The three runs were charged to Greg Holle as he was eventually saddled with the loss.

 

Things didn't get any better in the top of the ninth as St. Lucie (28-7) pushed six runs across in the inning on four hits and an error off of Casey Medlen and Thomas Keeling. In total, Brevard County's bullpen threw 3 2/3 innings and allowed nine runs - five earned - on eight hits.

 

Brevard County's only runs came in the form of a pair of RBI singles by Adam Weisenburger in the second inning and Nick Shaw in the fifth inning. Shaw was 2-for-3 on the night with a double.

 

The Manatees will look to end their slide as they travel to Daytona Beach on Saturday night to take on the Daytona Cubs (12-22) at 7:05 p.m.

 

Jimmy Nelson (2-2, 2.45) will toe the rubber for the 'Tees. In his last start this past Monday against Palm Beach; Nelson had his shortest outing of the year as he went just four innings. The Cubs are scheduled to send southpaw Austin Kirk (1-0, 1.83) to the hill.

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/05/11/tfTpXUqR.jpg

Jungmann (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

Brevard County box score

Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean, that really got out of hand fast!

 

Jungmann has been fine. He's also yet to have a really eye-popping game, or even strike out more batters than innings pitched. He's not doing a lot to allay my fears that the Brewers drafted a #4 starter with the 12th-overall pick. He was uncharacteristically wild tonight, with two hit batters to go along with the three walks. He did characteristically burn worms, posting an 8/2 GO/FO.

 

I'm trying to read the hitters' lines but my eyes are bleeding. Well, that's not fair--Shaw was on three times and is essentially having a carbon copy of his 2011 campaign for the Rattlers. He's also already halfway to last season's total of 16 doubles (though he also had six triples).

 

Greg Vaughn's son, Cory, went 0-5 with a walk for the Mets.

 

Brevard County play-by-play

Jungmann did not have a clean inning. He wriggled out of trouble in the 1st:

 

St. Lucie Top of the 1st

Daniel Muno strikes out swinging.

Robbie Shields grounds out, third baseman Michael Walker to first baseman Cody Hawn.

Cory Vaughn walks.

Wilmer Flores singles on a line drive to right fielder Franklin Romero Jr. Cory Vaughn to 3rd.

Cesar Puello hit by pitch. Wilmer Flores to 2nd.

Richard Lucas grounds into a force out, shortstop Nick Shaw to second baseman T. J. Mittelstaedt. Cesar Puello out at 2nd.

[battlekow]

Final: Colorado Springs 6, @Nashville 2

 

Sounds Split Series With Sky Sox With 6-2 Loss

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds lost to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, 6-2, on Friday night at Greer Stadium in the finale of a four-game set. With the loss, Nashville (11-23) split the four-game series with Colorado Springs for the second straight year.

 

The Sounds were held to five hits and one for extra-bases on the evening, a two-run home run from Logan Schafer. Andy Gonzalez added two singles for his first two Triple-A hits his season.

 

Nashville starting pitcher Wily Peralta retired the first 10 batters of the game before allowing consecutive singles to DJ LeMahieu and Matt McBride in the fourth inning. The 23-year-old then walked Brendan Harris and Andrew Brown to give Colorado Spring its first run.

 

Peralta ran into some trouble after getting the first two Sky Sox out in the top of the sixth. McBride doubled to right and then scored as Harris singled. In the ensuing at-bat, Brown hit a ground-rule double down the right field line to plate McBride for the third run.

 

The Sounds trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the home half of the sixth. After pinch hitter Hailey Statia worked a walk from reliever Jordan Wells to open the inning, Schafer blasted a two-run homer over the right field wall (audio). The long ball was his team-leading fourth of the season.

 

The Sky Sox extended their lead to 4-2 in the top of the seventh inning, which included three pitches. Amaury Rivas got the first out of the inning and then walked former Sound Wil Nieves before leaving the game. Juan Perez then proceeded to walk Brandon Roberts and allow an RBI single to former Sound Hernan Iribarren. Donovan Hand finished the inning by inducing a double play on one pitch.

 

Brandon Wood's opposite field two-run homer pushed the Sky Sox lead to 6-2 in the top of the eighth.

 

In his team-leading fourth quality start of the season, Peralta (1-3) surrendered three runs on five hits and two walks in six innings for the loss. Coming into the game leading the PCL in ground out to air our ratio, Peralta induced 11 groundouts (nine to shortstop) and zero fly outs while striking out four.

 

Rivas was charged with a run in 1/3 of an inning. Hand gave up two runs on two hits in 1 2/3 frames. Dan Meadows allowed a hit and a walk while fanning three in an inning.

 

Sky So starter Edgar Gonzalez (2-1) pitched five scoreless frames while fanning five for the victory.

 

The Sounds begin a four-game series with the Reno Aces (AAA-Diamondbacks) at 6:35 pm CT on Saturday night at Greer Stadium. Right-hander Brian Baker (1-2, 6.65) will toe the rubber for Nashville against Reno righty Joe Martinez (0-2, 5.59).

 

Nashville box score

Peralta's kinda been doing a Jungmann impersonation so far this year, eh? Maybe he's only truly dominant in odd years--or maybe the Brewers just gave him orders to help them find out what Jeff Bianchi is made of.

 

Sean Halton was 0-3 with two strikeouts.

 

What we thought was a standard double switch last night may not have been--no Caleb Gindl tonight.

 

Nashville play-by-play

Bianchi got an assist on six of the first ten outs of the game. Look alive, kid.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Mississippi 9, Huntsville 6

 

Huntsville Box Score

I haven't looked at the WI score yet but I did read the summaries of Nashville and BC, this is shaping up to be an ugly night on the farm. Dan Merklinger started and he's just been unable to get anything going so far this season. Dan only lasted 4 innings (poor defense helped that cause) allowing 4H, 4R, 2ER, 3BB, and 2 HBP against 4SO having thrown 87 pitches and 46 for strikes. Roque Mercedes came on in relief of Merk and did what he does giving up 5ER and 3BBs in his 2 innings, on the positive side he also struck out 3. Bradley Blanks went the next 2.2 scoreless innings working around a hit and 2 walks and Mitch Stetter got the final out of the evening.

 

Stars actually outhit the Braves 10-8. The opposing pitcher Zeke Spruill is rated by BA as the #9 prospect for ATL. Scooter Gennett led the way offensively with a 3-4 effort but Kentrail Davis had the only other multi hit game going 2-4. Anderson De La Rosa did add a double which was the only XBH of the night for the Stars. Juan Sanchez had a forgettable game as he committed 2 errors at 3B and has 4 total errors already for the Stars costing them 2 runs tonight.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

Nice start to the game for the Stars.

Huntsville Bottom of the 1st

• Kentrail Davis singles on a ground ball to second baseman Philip Gosselin. Kentrail Davis advances to 2nd, on throwing error by second baseman Philip Gosselin.
  Josh Prince grounds out, third baseman Joe Leonard to first baseman Barrett Kleinknecht.
  Scooter Gennett singles on a ground ball to shortstop Andrelton Simmons. Kentrail Davis to 3rd.
  Jay Gibbons reaches on force attempt, missed catch error by shortstop Andrelton Simmons, assist to second baseman Philip Gosselin. Kentrail Davis scores. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.
  Tommy Manzella grounds into double play, shortstop Andrelton Simmons to first baseman Barrett Kleinknecht. Jay Gibbons out at 2nd

 

Then the game quickly turned as Mississippi scored 9 runs in 3 innings, but the Stars answered back with crooked numbers in the 4th and 5th.

Mississippi Top of the 3rd

• Zeke Spruill walks.
  Keenan Wiley walks. Zeke Spruill to 2nd.
  Andrelton Simmons out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Dan Merklinger to second baseman Scooter Gennett. Zeke Spruill to 3rd. Keenan Wiley to 2nd.
  Philip Gosselin reaches on fielding error by third baseman Juan Sanchez. Zeke Spruill scores. Keenan Wiley to 3rd.
  Evan Gattis doubles (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Josh Prince. Keenan Wiley scores. Philip Gosselin to 3rd.
  Joe Leonard singles on a line drive to left fielder Jay Gibbons. Philip Gosselin scores. Evan Gattis to 3rd.
  Mathew Kennelly grounds into double play, shortstop Tommy Manzella to second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Matt Cline. Joe Leonard out at 2nd.

 

Mississippi Top of the 4th

• Todd Cunningham doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Josh Prince.
  Barrett Kleinknecht strikes out swinging.
  Zeke Spruill reaches on throwing error by third baseman Juan Sanchez. Todd Cunningham to 3rd.
  Keenan Wiley hit by pitch. Zeke Spruill to 2nd.
  Andrelton Simmons hit by pitch. Todd Cunningham scores. Zeke Spruill to 3rd. Keenan Wiley to 2nd.
  Philip Gosselin strikes out swinging.
  Evan Gattis called out on strikes.

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 4th

• Scooter Gennett hit by pitch.
  Jay Gibbons flies out to left fielder Evan Gattis.
  Tommy Manzella singles on a ground ball to right fielder Keenan Wiley. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.
  Anderson De La Rosa doubles (3) on a ground ball to left fielder Evan Gattis. Scooter Gennett scores. Tommy Manzella to 3rd.
  Juan Sanchez grounds out, second baseman Philip Gosselin to first baseman Barrett Kleinknecht. Tommy Manzella scores. Anderson De La Rosa to 3rd.
  Matt Cline strikes out swinging.

 

Mississippi Top of the 5th

• Pitcher Change: Roque Mercedes replaces Dan Merklinger, batting 9th.
  Joe Leonard flies out to center fielder Josh Prince.
  Mathew Kennelly strikes out swinging.
  Todd Cunningham singles on a ground ball to center fielder Josh Prince.
  With Barrett Kleinknecht batting, Todd Cunningham steals (4) 2nd base.
  Barrett Kleinknecht walks.
  Zeke Spruill walks. Todd Cunningham to 3rd. Barrett Kleinknecht to 2nd.
  Keenan Wiley singles on a soft ground ball to pitcher Roque Mercedes. Todd Cunningham scores. Barrett Kleinknecht to 3rd. Zeke Spruill to 2nd.
  Andrelton Simmons walks. Barrett Kleinknecht scores. Zeke Spruill to 3rd. Keenan Wiley to 2nd.
  Philip Gosselin doubles (8) on a fly ball to left fielder Jay Gibbons. Zeke Spruill scores. Keenan Wiley scores. Andrelton Simmons scores.
  Evan Gattis grounds out, shortstop Tommy Manzella to first baseman Matt Cline.

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 5th

• Roque Mercedes strikes out swinging.
  Kentrail Davis strikes out swinging.
  Josh Prince singles on a line drive to right fielder Keenan Wiley.
  Scooter Gennett singles on a line drive to right fielder Keenan Wiley. Josh Prince to 2nd.
  Jay Gibbons singles on a line drive to left fielder Evan Gattis. Josh Prince scores. Scooter Gennett scores. Jay Gibbons to 2nd. Fielding error by left fielder Evan Gattis.
  Tommy Manzella grounds out, third baseman Joe Leonard to first baseman Barrett Kleinknecht.

 

The Stars went down swinging.

Huntsville Bottom of the 9th

• Pitcher Change: Cory Rasmus replaces Zeke Spruill, batting 9th.
  Juan Sanchez walks.
  Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Lee Haydel replaces Mitch Stetter.
  Lee Haydel flies out to right fielder Keenan Wiley.
  Domnit Bolivar singles on a line drive to left fielder Evan Gattis. Juan Sanchez to 2nd.
  Kentrail Davis singles on a line drive to center fielder Todd Cunningham. Juan Sanchez to 3rd. Domnit Bolivar to 2nd.
  Josh Prince out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Keenan Wiley. Juan Sanchez scores.
  Scooter Gennett pops out to shortstop Andrelton Simmons.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Wisconsin 5, Quad Cities 4

 

Rattlers go long to beat Quad Cities

Roberts cracks two of three Wisconsin homers and Moye K's seven in five scoreless innings out of the pen for 5-4 win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers went long a couple of different ways to beat the Quad Cities River Bandits 5-4 Friday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Tyler Roberts hit two homers and Yadiel Rivera hit one to provide three long balls for Wisconsin. Andy Moye worked five scoreless innings out of the bullpen to give Wisconsin some long relief and the Rattlers moved their record to nine games over .500.

 

However, the game did not start out well for the Rattlers. Matt Williams put Quad Cities (18-17) up 1-0 on the second pitch of the game from Rattlers starting pitcher Jacob Barnes. The River Bandits leadoff hitter cracked a home run to the Quad Cities bullpen in leftcenter for the lead.

 

Wisconsin (22-13) used a pair of homers in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead. Rivera launched a two-run homer over the Quad Cities bullpen with two outs. Roberts crushed the next pitch over the batter's eye in center field and the Rattlers were up 3-1.

 

The Bandits used the another long ball of their own to go back in front in the top of the fourth. Anthony Garcia drew a walk. Then, Juan Castillo cracked a long home run to left for a 4-3 advantage. Quad Cities leads the Midwest League in home runs with 34 this season.

 

The Rattlers took advantage of consecutive walks to start the bottom of the sixth. Jason Rogers, Wisconsin's RBI leader lined a single to left to score Chadwin Stang from second to tie the game.

 

Quad Cities starting pitcher Dail Villanueva retired the first two batters of the bottom of the seventh inning. Then Roberts got a hold of a 1-1 pitch and golfed it over the wall in left to put Wisconsin in front 5-4. This was the second two homer game for Roberts as a Timber Rattler. He also hit two solo shots at Kane County on May 29, 2011.

 

That one run lead was more than enough for Moye. The right-hander was making his first relief appearance of the season and he made it a good one. Moye, who made the start in game one of Monday's doubleheader against Cedar Rapids, came on in relief of Barnes for the top of the fifth and struck out seven over five innings and allowed two base runners - one on a hit batsman in the sixth and the other on a one out double in the seventh. Moye used 55 pitches - 42 strikes - to work his five innings against the River Bandits. He retired the final eight batters he faced to pick up his third win of the season.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin a quick four-day road trip to face the Kane County Cougars on Saturday night. Matt Miller (2-3, 4.03) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Scott Alexander (2-2, 1.75) is set to take the hill for the Cougars. Game time is 6:30pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm.

 

HOME RUNS:

QC:

Matt Williams (2nd, 0 on in 1st inning off Jacob Barnes, 0 out)

Juan Castillo (5th, 1 on in 4th inning off Jacob Barnes, 0 out)

 

WI:

Yadiel Rivera (2nd, 1 on in 2nd inning off Dail Villanueva, 2 out)

Tyler Roberts (1st, 0 on in 2nd inning off Dail Villanueva, 2 out)

Tyler Roberts (2nd, 0 on in 7th inning off Dail Villanueva, 2 out)

 

WP: Andy Moye (3-0)

LP: Dail Villanueva (3-2)

 

TIME: 2:10

ATTN: 3,566

 

Nine after 9 for May 11, 2012 - Chris gives some extended praise to Moye.

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Thank goodness the T-Rats salvaged an otherwise dismal evening on the farm. Jacob Barnes had been living dangerously all season but actually put up his best numbers from a peripheral standpoint tonight but got worse results. 2HRs will do that to a line though. Mr. Barnes gave up 5H including the 2 HRs in his 4IP allowing 4ER and 1 walk against 5 strikeouts. Andy Moye is putting up a very nice season on some very low pitch counts, in his 5 innings he allowed 1 hit, no walks, and struck out 7! He did all of that on only 55 pitches, 42 of which were strikes, my goodness.

 

As Uecker would say, "How about that one folks!?" I've always been a Tyler Roberts fan and it's nice to see him have a big night like this and props to Yadiel Rivera as well. Rivera has seemed to struggle with breaking stuff low and away (think Hart when he struggles) but sincerely hope he learns to be selective because his glove is Escobar good without Alcide's mental mistakes. In case you missed it in the box score link Nick Ramirez did pickup his first hit of the season.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

 

All Moye all the time.

Quad Cities Top of the 5th

• Pitcher Change: Andrew Moye replaces Jacob Barnes.
  Matt Williams grounds out, shortstop Yadiel Rivera to first baseman Nick Ramirez.
  Nick Martini grounds out to first baseman Nick Ramirez.
  Colin Walsh flies out to left fielder Ben McMahan.

 

Quad Cities Top of the 6th

• Roberto De La Cruz pops out to second baseman Carlos George.
  Anthony Garcia strikes out swinging.
  Juan Castillo hit by pitch.
  Roberto Reyes strikes out swinging.

 

Quad Cities Top of the 7th

• David Medina strikes out swinging.
  Luis Mateo doubles (8) on a line drive to right fielder Max Walla.
  Matt Williams flies out to right fielder Max Walla. Luis Mateo to 3rd.
  Nick Martini flies out to center fielder Chadwin Stang.

 

Quad Cities Top of the 8th

• Colin Walsh called out on strikes.
  Roberto De La Cruz called out on strikes.
  Anthony Garcia grounds out, shortstop Yadiel Rivera to first baseman Nick Ramirez.

 

Quad Cities Top of the 9th

• Juan Castillo grounds out, second baseman Carlos George to first baseman Nick Ramirez.
  Roberto Reyes strikes out swinging.
  David Medina called out on strikes.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Media Notes

 

***

 

STARS STREAK SNAPPED AT FOUR

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.- Following a stretch where they won four straight games against the Jackson Generals, the Huntsville Stars lost the first game of a five-game series versus the Mississippi Braves by a score of 9-6 at Joe Davis Stadium on Friday night.

 

Just a day removed from taking over sole possession of first place in the Southern League North on Thursday, Huntsville struck first in the first inning by taking advantage of two M-Braves errors in the field, the latter of them a groundball by left fielder Jay Gibbons that allowed right fielder Kentrail Davis to score to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.

 

From that point on, it was all Braves. Beginning in the third inning, the Braves tacked on three runs, highlighted by an RBI double by left fielder Evan Gattis and an RBI single by Joe Leonard to make the score 3-1. Then, in the fourth, Huntsville starting pitcher Dan Merklinger hit M-Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in another run.

 

After the Stars cut the lead to 4-3 in the top half of the fifth on an RBI double by catcher Anderson De La Rosa and an RBI groundout by third basemen Juan Sanchez, Mississippi tacked on five runs off of Stars RHP Roque Mercedes. Following an RBI by right fielder Keenan Wiley and Simmons drawing a bases-loaded walk to score another run, a bases clearing three-run double by second basemen Phil Gosselin, the Stars found themselves down by a score of 9-3.

 

Huntsville was still able to make a game out of it. First, Gibbons cut the Braves lead to 9-5 with a two-run single in the fifth inning. Then, after three scoreless innings, a sacrifice fly by center fielder Josh Prince brought the Stars within three runs in the ninth inning.

 

Unfortunately, with two runners on base and the potential game-tying run at the plate, second basemen Scooter Gennett popped out to shortstop Andrelton Simmons to end the game.

 

For the Stars, Merklinger fell to 1-4 on the season with the loss, pitching 4.0 innings while giving up four runs (2 ER) and four hits.

 

For the M-Braves, starter Zeke Spruill improved to 3-3 on the season after giving up five runs (3 ER) and eight hits in 8.0 innings pitched.

 

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak overall for the Stars, their second longest of the season.

 

Game two of a five-game series will begin on Saturday as the Huntsville will send highly touted RHP Tyler Thornburg (4-0, 1.98 ERA) to square off against Mississippi southpaw Jose Lugo (2-0, 1.45 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO PLAYER INTERVIEW: Timber Rattlers' Tyler Roberts on his power display Friday night: MAY 11, 2012

 

Power surge carries Rattlers

by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent staff writer

 

GRAND CHUTE — Tyler Roberts is a rocket-armed catcher who needs to prove he can hit professional pitching.

 

He had no problem with the latter skill Friday night.

 

Roberts slammed a pair of long solo home runs and Yadiel Rivera added another tape-measure shot. The unexpected power surge from the bottom of the batting order lifted the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to a 5-4 Midwest League win over the Quad Cities River Bandits.

 

It was the first two homers of the season for Roberts, the Rattlers’ No. 8 hitter who had been struggling mightily at the plate. Roberts is hitting .180 with five RBI and has struck 14 times in 50 at-bats.

 

“All these young players definitely have skills, but they’re working on things,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “With Tyler, what jumps out at you is his arm strength and his power. He’s a little erratic with barrel control, so the consistency of contact isn’t always there.”

 

It was his second time as a Rattler that Roberts has hit two home runs in a single game. His first multi-homer game came May 29, 2011, against Kane County.

 

“When you’ve been struggling and you get a game like this, it feels great,” said Roberts, a Gray, Ga., native who was the Milwaukee Brewers’ 10th-round selection in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. “I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit. I’ve been working with our hitting coaches on some timing issues and changing up with my hands. Going into tonight, I was chasing too many bad balls.”

 

The 21-year-old Roberts split last season with the Wisconsin and Helena. He hit .211 with the Rattlers in 152 at-bats with four home runs and 27 RBI, while batting .263 at Helena with two homers and 14 RBI.

 

Roberts spent most of his first two years with the Arizona Brewers in the Arizona Rookie League and showed promise at the plate, hitting .292 and .288 with a combined seven homers in 228 at-bats.

 

Roberts’ round-trippers Friday before a home crowd of 3,566 weren’t cheap ones. His first was a second-inning bomb to dead center that carried over the “batter’s eye” at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium and traveled over 400 feet.

 

His second was a towering seventh-inning blast that sailed well over the left-field wall and snapped a 4-4 tie, putting the Rattlers on top for good.

 

“The first one was a 1-0 fastball right down the middle,” said Roberts. “I put a good swing on it and got it up in the jet stream. The second one was a 1-1 changeup. I was out in front of it, but I kept my hands back.”

 

Roberts spent time this week watching video of his stroke with hitting coach Dusty Rhodes and Sandy Guerrero, the hitting coordinator for the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Corrections were made and Roberts worked to get his legs more involved in his swing.

 

“Man, I hope this gets me going,” he said. “I’ve got my confidence back and I’m getting some good swings. Hopefully, this jump-starts my season.”

 

Rivera, the Rattlers’ No. 7 hitter, also showed impressive power. He and Roberts slugged back-to-back blasts in the second, and Rivera’s two-run shot was also hit to center. It didn’t carry quite as far as Roberts’ ensuing blast, but was estimated to travel just more than 400 feet.

 

It was the second homer of the season for the slick-fielding shortstop, who is ranked as the Milwaukee Brewers’ 15th best prospect by Baseball America.

 

“Yaddy (Rivera) is very similar offensively to Tyler,” said Erickson. “He’s got a little juice. He’s a long, lanky kid. He’s got some extension through the zone. The ball jumps off his bat. But again, the consistency of barrel control with him and pitch selection is something we have to continue to preach. He has to try and stay in the middle of the field. When he gets pitches to hit and he’s not chasing out of the zone, he can do some damage.”

 

The River Bandits’ Matt Williams and Juan Castillo also homered on a hitter’s night with the wind blowing out from home plate.

 

Quad Cities did all of its damage off Rattlers starter Jacob Barnes, who allowed all four runs on five hits. The Rattlers received stellar relief pitching from Andy Moye, who threw five scoreless innings to pick up the mound win.

 

Moye allowed just one hit and struck out seven to lower his ERA to 1.44.

 

“Moye was awesome,” said Erickson. “He was really good with the curveball, mixing it in and elevating his fastball late in counts. He definitely had their hitters off balance. There was no thoughts of taking him out of that game the way he was rolling.”