Link Report for Fri. 5/18 -- A Super-Eventful Night All Around

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Brian Baker at Tucson (Padres), 8:50 PM pre-game, 9:05 gametime

 

UPDATE EDIT: RHP Claudio Vargas now starting

 

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.

 

**********

 

Huntsville: RHP Evan Anundsen at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:15 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.

 

**********

 

Brevard County: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Fort Myers (Twins), 5:35 PM gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Fort Myers 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 Drew Gagnon at home vs. Burlington (Athletics), 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]

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]

Remember this, bidding period is now thru midnight (I imagine Eastern Time) Saturday. The Jungmann jersey bidding is competitive!

 

***

 

From the Manatees, a very nice opportunity --

 

Bookmark the link by clicking on the red text below.

 

Bid on a Breast Cancer Awareness jersey!

 

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The Brevard County Manatees will be wearing pink jerseys against the Fort Myers Miracle for Breast Cancer Awareness Weekend on May 17-19. The jerseys will be auctioned off online at manatees.milbauctions.com and all proceeds from the auction will go to benefit Health First Diagnostic Services. The auction will begin at 5 p.m. on May 17 and end at 11:59 p.m. on May 19.

[Mass Haas]

Minor League Tale of Love -- very cool: Brewers pre-game audio with Travis Ishikawa

[Mass Haas]

Really, another start tonight from Brian Baker and his 7.33 ERA? After his 2011 6.62 ERA in the more pitching-friendly International League somehow grabbed the eyes of Brewers' pro scouts this winter, are they surprised with the 2012 results?

 

Go ahead, Brian, as we await (ahem) Claudio Vargas' appearance, prove the Link Report Guy wrong tonight.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet:

 

Andy Moye -- RHP, Brewers Pro ball had to wait a while to land Moye. Ranked among Baseball America's Top 200 prospects in 2006, he opted against signing as a 11th-round pick of the Mets. He also decided to head back to Georgia Southern for his senior year after being drafted in the 50th round by the Cardinals in 2010. Moye finally became a pro after the Brewers took him the 15th round as a senior sign last year. He's been making up for lost time since signing. Moye went 1-0, 1.80 in 11 innings this week, allowing one run and four hits while striking out 13 (he didn't walk a batter). That's par for the course for Moye this year, as he 3-0, 1.45 overall for the Timber Rattlers. At 24, Moye is extremely old for the Midwest League, but the Brewers have sped up his development, promoting him to high Class A Brevard County to replace the injured Jed Bradley.

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Send the repair bill to Josh Prince?

 

***

 

So much for my Brian Baker post earlier...

 

***

 

Now it's a classic AAA veteran matchup!

[Mass Haas]

Wow, Jimmy Nelson doing the family proud, now the Manatees need to help him out in the 9th!

[wibadgers23]

Nelson just pitched a complete game, 2 ER, 5 K's and a 10:3 GO to flyout ratio. And he's probably going to take the loss thanks to Brevard's inept offense.

[Tedaldtada]

Oswaldo Arcia 2 Brevard County 1

 

Box Score

 

The older brother of our Orlando Arcia was the story as he accounted for all of the damage off of Jimmy J Nelson tonight. Besides that mistake pitch, Jimmy was excellent going the full distance. 9 IP 6 H 2 R 2 ER 1 BB 5 K 1 HR 1 HBP 10:3 GO:FO. Check out Jimmy's game log this season. Very consistent, but tonight might have been his best. Jimmy is clearly the best pitcher in this rotation right now. Perhaps Brooks Hall will continue to challenge him.

 

Miguel Velezquez hit a home run, his second on the year. We were all expecting more of him I think. In 2010, his last professional season, he put up a mid-700's OPS with 15 homers and 15 steals. Those numbers are pretty much unthinkable for Miguel right now.

 

Levi Michael, the Twins 1st rounder from 2011, had a big day. The numbers are a little low for him, but I have heard some decent things about him in the Twitter-verse. There was a small contingent clamoring for Michael on draft day for the Brewers pick.

 

Game Log

Four perfect innings tonight for Nelson folded into tonight's game log.

[Mass Haas]

Nick Ramirez updated his blog

[Tedaldtada]

Brevard edged 2-1 as Nelson goes the distance

05/18/2012 10:46 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/05/18/M49SLLDn.jpg

Manatees starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson threw a complete game as he allowed two runs on six hits, while striking out five. Nelson was the hard-luck loser though as Brevard County fell 2-1 to the Fort Myers Miracle on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - Brevard County Manatees starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson threw a complete game and allowed just two runs, but it was not enough as 'Tees were defeated by the Fort Myers Miracle 2-1 on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium.

 

The 2010 second round pick threw 107 pitches in nine innings as he scattered six hits while walking one and striking out five. It was Nelson's first complete game as a professional and his longest outing since June 30, 2011 when he went eight innings for Class-A Wisconsin against the Cedar Rapid Kernels. Nelson (2-4, 2.40) has now lost in three consecutive starts.

 

The only two runs that Nelson allowed to the Miracle were in the top of the sixth inning. After hitting Jairo Perez with a pitch with one out, Nelson gave up a first pitch home run to Oswaldo Arcia as Fort Myers took a 2-1 lead.

 

That homer by Arcia erased the lead that the 'Tees took in the bottom of the second with a round-tripper of their own. Miguel Velazquez led off the inning by taking the 0-1 pitch from Pat Dean and depositing it over the left field fence for his second home run of the season.

 

Brevard County (15-25) had a couple of chances late in the game to either tie it or take the lead. In the eighth, Adam Weisenburger led off the inning with a double. Two batters later with two outs, Reggie Keen singled to right and Weisenburger tried to score from second but was thrown out at home plate.

 

With their last chance in the ninth, T.J. Mittelstaedt led inning off with a single and reached second on a fielding error to put the tying run in scoring position with no outs. Cody Hawn then grounded out to move Mittelstaedt to third as the tying run was now 90 feet away from scoring.

 

Velazquez came up to the plate looking to drive in his second run of the game but he popped out to first in foul territory on a nice catch by Fort Myers (16-25) first baseman Michael Gonzales against the railing of the 'Tees dugout.

It was then left up to Mike Walker, who had the game-winning hit last night, but he would strike out to end the game and Brevard County's rally was thwarted.

 

Velazquez, Reggie Keen and Shea Vucinich all had two hits each for the 'Tees on Friday night.

 

Brevard County will look to get back on track in game three of their four-game set with Fort Myers on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m.

 

Brandon Williamson (0-2, 4.76) will get the start for the Manatees as he is still looking for his first with in a Brevard uniform. Williamson has not pitched since May 10. The Miracle will send Miguel Munoz (1-1, 3.18) to the bump.

[TheCrew07]

This is going to be a long one, I was at the game and there's quite a bit to talk about so please bear with me.

Final: Wisconsin 5, Burlington 3

Gomez goes deep to lead Rattlers past Bees

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Carlos Gomez was 0-for-9 in the first nine at bats of his rehab assignment with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He made the most of his tenth at bat. The Milwaukee Brewers outfield launched a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the Rattlers to a 5-3 victory over the Burlington Bees Friday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

Burlington (18-23) took the lead on the first pitch of the game. Sean Jamieson cracked Drew Gagnon's first offering over the wall in left for a home run and a 1-0 advantage for the Bees.

 

Wisconsin (25-17) had trouble getting anything going against Burlington starter Sean Murphy. Wisconsin had two hit in the first three innings, but Murphy faced the minimum through the first 5-1/3 innings due to a caught stealing and a double play.

 

Burlington extended their lead to 3-0 on a two-run homer by Nick Rickles in the top of the sixth. Gagnon allowed three runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 5-1/3 innings on the evening.

 

Wisconsin's bats got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Parker Berberet singled with one out and Carlos George followed with a line drive to left that just cleared the wall in left. The homer was the second of the season for George and got the Rattlers to within 3-2.

 

Murphy got through the rest of the sixth without a run and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning to hold the lead.

 

But, the eighth was a different story with a very different ending.

 

It appeared the Rattlers were set to tie the game early in the eighth. Yadiel Rivera singled with and - with one out and Berberet at the plate - went from first to third on a wild pitch.

However, Rivera went home on a grounder to third and was easily thrown out at the plate for the second out.

 

George extended the inning to the major leaguer and Gomez wasted no time putting the Rattlers in front. Gomez jumped on the first pitch from Murphy and hit a no-doubt home run to left field to give the Rattlers a 5-3 lead.

 

The game took an interesting turn as Drew Tyson relieved Murphy after the home run and hit Max Walla with the first pitch of his appearance. Tyson was immediately ejected from the game by plate umpire Fernando Rodriguez.

 

Rattlers reliever Tommy Toledo, who worked 2-2/3 innings of scoreless relief of Gagnon, turned the game over to closer Seth Harvey for the ninth. Harvey worked a perfect inning to close out the Bees. Toledo is now 6-0 on the season and Harvey earned his eighth save by finishing off Burlington.

 

The Timber Rattlers welcome the Kane County Cougars to town on Saturday to start a three-game series. Chad Thompson (1-1, 6.39) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Kane County has Kellen Moen (2-1, 4.54) as the scheduled starter. Game time is 6:35pm.

 

Saturday is a Fly Away Saturday from Funjet Vacations and Fox World Travel. One lucky fan will win airfare for two from at this game!

 

If you can't make it out 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 to MiLB.TV subscribers.

 

HOME RUNS:

BUR:

Sean Jamieson (2nd, 0 on in 1st inning off Drew Gagnon, 0 out)

Nick Rickles (3rd, 1 on in 6th inning off Drew Gagnon, 1 out)

 

WIS:

Carlos George (2nd, 1 on in 6th inning off Sean Murphy, 1 out)

Carlos Gomez (1st, 2 on in 8th inning off Sean Murphy, 2 out)

 

WP: Tommy Toledo (6-0)

LP: Sean Murphy (1-2)

SAVE: Seth Harvey (8)

 

TIME: 2:31

ATTN: 4,179

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Drew Gagnon just didn't locate well at all, the first pitch was a belt high FB that looked to be right down the middle (I was sitting down the RF line) and it was absolutely crushed. Drew did a nice job of working himself out of trouble until he walked a batter and then gave up another no doubt homer which was also grooved for the batter. He only gave up 3 hits, but because of the 2 HRs he also gave up the 3 runs. It was kind of like a Doug Davis start where you aren't comfortable watching but the end result turned out to be pretty decent. Tommy Toledo looked pretty good and didn't get rattled in the 7th when there was some shoddy defense behind him. A ball was hit out to McMahan who booted it and the runner took off for second. Ben had plenty of time to gun him but threw so wide of 2B that George was barely able to corral the throw, he missed the bag by a good 10 feet which put the leadoff runner at 2B. Tommy just did his thing and worked out of the inning nicely with a soft liner, a ground out, and a pop up to strand the runner at 3rd. Seth Harvey throws about as hard as Gagnon, the stadium gun wasn't working only catching a pitch or 2 each inning, but he's had a very solid start to the season.

 

A little bit about Gomez... he looked horrible until his HR. He struck out in his first AB, skyed a pop-up to shallow left field in his second, and nubbed a grounder to short in his 3rd AB. The pitch he hit for a homer was some kind of hanging off speed pitch that was belly button high on the outer half and he just crushed it, the announced distance was 412 ft. However, he cadillaced the home run trot (really, in A ball) horribly and didn't pick up the pace until he was halfway between 2nd and 3rd. Obviously Burlington was pissed about Gomez showing up an A ball pitcher so they actually threw at Max Walla, the ball rode up and behind Max's head skipping off his shoulders in the area where one would hold a squat bar when doing squats. Ben McMahan was on-deck absolutely livid and started jawing at the pitcher. The home plate umpire immediately tossed the pitcher, warned both benches, then he went for straight for McMahan to stop him before another Rattler came out of the dugout to calm him down. The base ump also raced in to settle things down and of course the Burlington manager came out for his token ejection. After the game Gomez ended up having words with one of the Burlington coaches over by the T-Rats dugout and then literally gave the guy the blow off good-bye wave and went down into the dugout. Horrible pitch, great hit, and a bonehead move, but that's kind of Carlos in a nutshell.

 

The opposing pitcher was Sean Murphy a 33rd round pick for the A's in 2010. He certainly didn't look like the guy who put up 5.73 ERA last year and is repeating the level. He appeared to throw a tick slower than Gagnon, but he located and mixed his pitches very well, it's no accident the T-Rats only had 4 hits going into the 8th inning.

 

The Yadiel play at the plate was the contact play, and the Brewers must have some data that they are using as an organization to justify it's use, but I absolutely hate it, it seems we run into more outs than runs we gain. Berberet didn't get around on a ball all night, everything he hit was to the right side and then he rolled over the ball right to the 3rd baseman for an easy out at the plate. Yadiel wouldn't cut it in football, he didn't seem to want to make contact with the catcher who blocked the plate very well and he just kind of batted at the catcher's glove as he fell down. It's okay Yaddy, just keep making plays in the field.

 

Parker Berberet and Carlos George both had 2 hits a piece and George's HR looked like a Weeks tape measure job. I was coaching it to get up off the wall and we were all surprised when it carried over the fence, it was an absolute rocket.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

 

edit. Clarified the part about McMahan, what lousy typing that was.

[Tedaldtada]

Great write up TC07. Really enjoyed it.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Huntsville 4, Chattanooga 3 (11 Innings)

 

Huntsville Box Score

More late inning heroics! If only the pitchers in BC could get some of that love. Evan Anundsen started and while it appears he didn't have his best stuff only going 4.2 IP and giving up 3 runs, he did just enough. Dan Meadows came on to record the final out in the 5th and went 2 more scoreless innings, why exactly is he back in AA? I wonder who's decision that was? I've been looking for a reason to boot Nichols in the behind for about 6 years now so I'll place my blame there for convenience sake. Darren Byrd pitched the next 2 scoreless innings giving up 2 hits, and Jesus Sanchez closed it out pitching 2 scoreless innings of his own though he did make the bottom of the 11th a tad interesting. In fact Meadows, Byrd, and Sanchez all went 2ish IP and gave up 2 hits, a box score oddity that only happens a couple of times a season.

 

The offensive hero was Jay Gibbons who provided the game winning RBI with a bases loaded walk. The Stars tried to play small ball to score a run but the Lookouts were determined to let them score by other means. Overall Gibbons went 2-3 with a double and 3 walks. Scooter Gennett went 3-4 with a double and 2 walks, he now has walked a total of 7 times on the season. He's made good progress with his defense, hopefully he can learn to be more selective and take what the pitcher gives him down the road. Anderson De La Rosa had the only Stars' error on an errant pickoff attempt. Gibbons scored an OF assist at 2B and Anundsen wiped out a baserunner with a PO at 1st base.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

The Stars jumped out to an early lead.

Huntsville Top of the 1st

• Kentrail Davis walks.
  Josh Prince singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Matt Magill. Kentrail Davis to 2nd.
  With Scooter Gennett batting, wild pitch by Matt Magill, Kentrail Davis scores. Josh Prince to 2nd. Throwing error by catcher Gorman Erickson.
  Scooter Gennett walks.
  Hunter Morris strikes out swinging.
  Anderson De La Rosa called out on strikes.
  Jay Gibbons singles on a line drive to left fielder Brahiam Maldonado. Josh Prince scores. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.
  Tommy Manzella called out on strikes.

 

Anundsen gave it back in the 2nd.

Chattanooga Bottom of the 2nd

• Travis Denker singles on a line drive to right fielder Kentrail Davis.
  Pedro Baez triples (3) on a fly ball to center fielder Josh Prince. Travis Denker scores.
  Blake Smith grounds out, second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Hunter Morris. Pedro Baez scores.
  Brahiam Maldonado strikes out swinging.
  Gorman Erickson strikes out swinging.

 

The teams traded runs in the 5th.

Huntsville Top of the 5th

• Scooter Gennett singles on a ground ball to right fielder Blake Smith.
  Hunter Morris strikes out on foul tip.
  Anderson De La Rosa singles on a line drive to center fielder Nick Buss. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.
  Jay Gibbons walks. Scooter Gennett to 3rd. Anderson De La Rosa to 2nd.
  Pitcher Change: Red Patterson replaces Matt Magill, batting 9th.
  Tommy Manzella out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Nick Buss. Scooter Gennett scores.
  Matt Cline strikes out swinging.

 

Chattanooga Bottom of the 5th

• Gorman Erickson pops out to third baseman Matt Cline in foul territory.
  Red Patterson called out on strikes.
  Nick Buss doubles (6) on a line drive to right fielder Kentrail Davis.
  With Jake Lemmerman batting, throwing error by Anderson De La Rosa on the pickoff attempt, Nick Buss to 3rd.
  Jake Lemmerman singles on a line drive to center fielder Josh Prince. Nick Buss scores.
  Pitcher Change: Daniel Meadows replaces Evan Anundsen, batting 8th.
  Defensive Substitution: Juan Sanchez replaces pitcher Evan Anundsen, batting 9th, playing third base.
  With Luis Nunez batting, Jake Lemmerman steals (4) 2nd base.
  Luis Nunez grounds out, pitcher Daniel Meadows to first baseman Hunter Morris.

 

The game winning rally!

Huntsville Top of the 11th

• Pitcher Change: Geison Aguasviva replaces Steve Ames, batting 5th.
  Kentrail Davis walks.
  Josh Prince out on a sacrifice bunt, first baseman J. T. Wise to second baseman Rafael Ynoa. Kentrail Davis to 2nd.
  Geison Aguasviva intentionally walks Scooter Gennett.
  Hunter Morris grounds into a force out, second baseman Rafael Ynoa to shortstop Jake Lemmerman. Kentrail Davis to 3rd. Scooter Gennett out at 2nd. Hunter Morris to 1st.
  Anderson De La Rosa walks. Hunter Morris to 2nd.
  Jay Gibbons walks. Kentrail Davis scores. Hunter Morris to 3rd. Anderson De La Rosa to 2nd.
  Tommy Manzella strikes out swinging.
  

[Tedaldtada]

I will post the full recap in the morning. Nashville down 1 heading into the 8th.

 

Box Score

 

Returning Brewer and Sound Claudio Vargas made the start. He was uninspiring. He did K 4 in just 2 IP. Equally unimpressive major league vet Kip Wells took the hill for Tucson. What, is this a mid-aughts Pirates-Brewers game? Both pitchers were very highly thought of at one point in time.

 

Game Log

 

Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Nine after 9 for May 18, 2012

[wsuprise24]

The opposing pitcher was Sean Murphy a 33rd round pick for the A's in 2010. He certainly didn't look like the guy who put up 5.73 ERA last year and is repeating the level. He appeared to throw a tick slower than Gagnon, but he located and mixed his pitches very well, it's no accident the T-Rats only had 4 hits going into the 8th inning.

Murphy hit 97 in the first when Gomez spun himself into the ground on strike three, but that was easily his fastest of the game. I guess facing a big leaguer plus it being the first batter of the game will do that.

[Mass Haas]

Audio from Tucson — “Let’s Ask Andy (Gonzalez)”

 

Jeff's note -- Tonight’s interview is with veteran utility-man Andy Gonzalez, who reflects on a career that has been spent with the White Sox, Indians, Marlins and now Brewers (since last season).

[Mass Haas]

TimesFreePress.com

 

After Chattanooga starter Matt Magill gave up two runs in the first, the Lookouts drew even in the second when Travis Denker led off with a single and scored on a Pedro Baez triple off the wall in center field. That was followed by an RBI groundout by Blake Smith that tied the game at 2.

 

Josh Prince, the Stars center fielder, crashed into the wall on the triple, damaging one of the black wooden panels. The game was delayed for a few minutes before the third inning as the Lookouts field crew replaced the panel, which had a big hole in it.

 

***

 

Even though it was 11 innings, the combined number 31 below must be a Link Report (2001 - present) record.

 

Huntsville batters struck out 19 times and drew 12 walks! Game time was four hours, 20 minutes. Chattanooga hurlers threw 230 pitches!