Link Report for Wed. 5/23 -- Finally, An Organizational Victory Sweep!

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Claudio Vargas at Las Vegas (Blue Jays), 8:50 PM pre-game, 9:05 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.

 

**********

 

Huntsville: RHP Evan Anundsen at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 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.

 

**********

 

Brevard County: RHP Jimmy Nelson at Charlotte (Rays), 5:30 PM gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Charlotte 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 Matt Miller at Quad Cities (Cardinals), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 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 Wednesday'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]

This photo tweet from 20-year-old RHP R.J. Johnson gives us a rare glimpse at a Maryvale lineup in a game prior to the start of the formal Arizona Summer League season.

 

Thanks to R.J., who missed all of 2011 with a major shoulder injury.

 

Looks like Josh Butler (elbow) is getting in rehab innings.

 

The catcher "Quiles" you see is 22-year-old newcomer Emmanuel Quiles, the Puerto Rico native with five years of pro ball experience in the Padres' system.

 

Another newcomer, 25-year-old LHP Philippe Valiquette, the former Reds' farmhand with AAA experience, also set to pitch today.

 

The other names should be known to diehards here -- if not, refer to our Player Index.

[Mass Haas]

Stars’ Morris Named Brewers Minor League Player of the Month

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – He might not win the upcoming mayoral campaign for Huntsville, but Huntsville native and Huntsville Stars first baseman Hunter “The Mayor” Morris won the campaign for the Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Player of the Month for April.

 

The 23-year-old lefty hit .303 (30-99) with 12 doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs in April. He led the Southern League in doubles and was tied for second in all of Minor League Baseball in that category. He also ranked eighth in Minor League Baseball in at bats (99) and 11 th in hits (30) for the month. He was tied for the team lead in hits (30) and tied for second on the team in home runs (2) and RBIs (11). Morris continues to lead the Southern League in doubles with 19, and is still tied for second in all MiLB.

 

He spent most of the 2011 season with the Brewers High-A Affiliate Brevard County, where he hit .271 in 126 games. While at Brevard County, he set a single season franchise record for home runs with 19. He was also ranked third in the Florida State League in total bases (231). Morris was promoted to Huntsville mid-season where he played 4 games with the Stars and hit .353 for a combined .274 in the 2011 season.

 

Morris was named an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star in 2011 and was named the Best Power Hitter in the Brewers organization for the second consecutive season by Baseball America.

 

The Stars will honor Morris with a pre-game presentation before tomorrow’s Thirst-Aid Thursday, Grab Some Buds game against the Birmingham Barons at approximately 6:25 p.m.

 

The Stars will play game two out of five against the Barons tonight after a 6-3 victory last night. The Stars are currently three games out of first place in the Southern League. The first pitch is at 6:43 p.m.

[Mass Haas]

Media Notes:

 

Nashville

 

Wisconsin

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Media Notes

[And That]

Jimmy Nelson is having another nice outing, but if you'll take a look at Shawn Zarraga for a moment... the big Aruban has passed 100 PA and is sporting a Tony Senior Gwynn-esque total of 6 strikeouts.

[Mass Haas]

Jeff Hem with worthwhile Nashville audio interviews with Manager Mike Guerrero (several specific individual player updates) and Pitching Coach Fred Dabney (who speaks mostly in more general terms, although he does finish up by discussing Wily Peralta -- pre last night's tough start).

[jjfanec]

Brevard County has scored 48 runs in their last 5 games. They scored 49 in the previous 17 games (which included a 12 run game).

 

That pitching staff might actually start getting some wins to go with their stellar starts.

[bork]

Jimmy Nelson is having another nice outing, but if you'll take a look at Shawn Zarraga for a moment... the big Aruban has passed 100 PA and is sporting a Tony Senior Gwynn-esque total of 6 strikeouts.

 

And he becomes BC's first .300 hitter.

[Mass Haas]

Having roster fun with Alex in Huntsville

[Mass Haas]

3rd linked interview of the thread from Jeff (via Las Vegas) -- his intro below:

 

Tonight’s interview is with Sounds veteran catcher Paul Phillips…personally I love the part where he tries to put into words what it’s like for a player to put on a major league uniform, whether for the first time or the 100th time.

[brewmann04]

It sounds Mr Nelson is making a Push for Huntsville

[Mass Haas]

Cool thing about a Brewers matinee -- caught the final audio innings of both the Stars' and Rattlers' hold-your-breath wins...

[sheetskout]

I'm really impressed with Yadiel Rivera lately.

[Tedaldtada]

'Tees trounce Charlotte, 12-1

05/23/2012 10:35 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - For the second straight night, the Brevard County Manatees routed the Charlotte Stone Crabs as the 'Tees were victorious 12-1 on Wednesday night at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte.

 

Shawn Zarraga had a career-high five RBI and Jimmy Nelson earned his first win since April 16. Brevard had a season-high 18 hits and ten of their eleven RBI came with two outs.

 

The 'Tees (19-26) were up against Stone Crabs starter C.J. Riefenhauser who had not allowed a run in his last 26 innings of work, but that streak came to end as Brevard County scored eight runs in 3 2/3 innings against the reigning Florida State League Pitcher of the Week. (dang, that's nice.)

 

Brevard's big inning came in the fourth as the 'Tees scored six runs on five hits and benefitted from two Charlotte (22-23) errors. The final blow in the frame came off the bat of Zarraga as he greeted reliever George Jensen rudely with a three-run homer on a 3-2 count.

 

Zarraga was 3-for-4 on the night and in his last five games is hitting .600 (12-for-20) with two doubles, two home runs, eight RBI and eight runs scored.

 

Five other Manatees had multi-hit games including Shea Vucinich who was 4-for-5 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored. In his last five games, Vucinich is hitting .526 (10-for-19) with five RBI and nine runs scored.

 

Mike Walker added three hits of his own, while T.J. Mittelstaedt, Reggie Keen and Franklin Romero Jr. had two hits each. As a team in the last five games, Brevard County is hitting .340 with eight home runs and 48 runs scored.

 

Nelson (3-4, 2.27) recorded his third straight quality start as he allowed just one unearned run in seven innings of work, while scattering five hits and striking out seven. Nelson has struck out at least six in seven of his ten starts and now has 62 on the season.

 

The Manatees will look to make it three in a row and take the series from the Stone Crabs as the two teams meet in the series finale on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.

 

Brandon Williamson (1-2, 3.68) will toe the rubber for the 'Tees. Williamson allowed one unearned run in five innings of work, while striking out five in his last start this past Saturday against Fort Myers.

 

Charlotte will send Grayson Garvin (2-3, 4.31) to the mound, in hopes of earning a split with the 'Tees. The southpaw was drafted 59th overall by Tampa Bay in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Vanderbilt.

 

Box Score

 

This is like crazy bizarro world around these parts. Is Charlotte a renowned hitters park? Did the boys appease the baseball gods with some sort of

voodoo? What exactly is Shawn Zarraga's role in all of this? Speaking of Zarraga (3-4 HR), he is now a .301 hitter on the season. Shawn has 12 hits in his last 5 games and more BB than K on the season (8:6). Brand new two-hitter Shea Vucinich (4-5 2B HBP) is well on his way to a POtM award for May (1.046 OPS). Mike Walker (3-5 2 2B) has pushed his line towards respectable. The only Sea Cow without a base knock was poor Nick Shaw, but he walked once. There were too many great games to mention.

 

Jimmy Nelson has been a rock in a rotation of impressive pitchers. 7 IP 5 H 1 R 0 ER 0 BB 7 K 1 WP. He is not long for BC if he keeps his ERA around 2.00. Remember, this kid is touching 98 MPH, so the results closely match the stuff.

 

Game Log

 

BC scored in 7 of 9 innings, but they got a six spot here.

 

Brevard County Top of the 4th

 

Michael Walker grounds out, second baseman Derek Dietrich to first baseman Philip Wunderlich.

Reggie Keen singles on a line drive to left fielder Brandon Allen.

With Adam Weisenburger batting, Reggie Keen steals (14) 2nd base.

Adam Weisenburger grounds out to first baseman Philip Wunderlich. Reggie Keen to 3rd.

Franklin Romero Jr. singles on a ground ball to center fielder Mikie Mahtook. Reggie Keen scores.

With Nick Shaw batting, Franklin Romero Jr. steals (5) 2nd base, . advances to 3rd, on throwing error by catcher Keith Castillo.

Nick Shaw walks.

Shea Vucinich singles on a line drive to pitcher C. J. Riefenhauser. Franklin Romero Jr. scores. Nick Shaw to 2nd.

T. J. Mittelstaedt singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brett Nommensen. Nick Shaw scores. Shea Vucinich advances to 3rd, on fielding error by right fielder Brett Nommensen.

Pitcher Change: George Jensen replaces C. Riefenhauser.

Shawn Zarraga homers (2) on a fly ball to right field. Shea Vucinich scores. T. J. Mittelstaedt scores.

Cody Hawn grounds out, second baseman Derek Dietrich to first baseman Philip Wunderlich.

[Tedaldtada]

Nashville 5 Las Vegas (Jays) 3

 

Box Score

 

Logan Schafer and Caleb Gindl went 0-8 but each took a walk. Brooks Conrad and Sean Halton each hit a bomb. Corey Patterson and Jordan Brown each had two hits.

 

Claudio Vargas and Donovan Hand combined for 7 IP 7 H 2 R 2 ER 3 BB 6 K 3:8 GO:FO and Mike McClendon did a good thing by saving the game flawlessly.

 

Wait, is today an Org. Sweep Day?

 

http://gifs.gifbin.com/1232905446_michael%20phelps%20victory%20reaction.gif

 

Game Log

 

Nice escape, that is the heart of the order.

 

Las Vegas Bottom of the 3rd

 

Adeiny Hechavarria doubles (13) on a line drive to right fielder Corey Patterson.

David Cooper strikes out swinging.

Adam Lind strikes out swinging.

Moises Sierra called out on strikes.

 

Nice relay.

 

Las Vegas Bottom of the 5th

 

Anthony Gose strikes out on foul tip.

Adeiny Hechavarria singles on a ground ball to center fielder Logan Schafer.

David Cooper flies out to center fielder Logan Schafer.

Adam Lind walks. Adeiny Hechavarria to 2nd.

Moises Sierra doubles (7) on a line drive to right fielder Corey Patterson. Adeiny Hechavarria scores. Adam Lind out at home on the throw, right fielder Corey Patterson to shortstop Hainley Statia to catcher Martin Maldonado.

 

Deciding runs and Brooks ConrAAAAd.

 

Nashville Top of the 8th

 

Pitcher Change: Bobby Korecky replaces Jerry Gil.

Brooks Conrad homers (7) on a fly ball to left center field.

Sean Halton flies out to right fielder Moises Sierra.

Corey Patterson triples (3) on a fly ball to center fielder Anthony Gose.

Jordan Brown singles on a ground ball to right fielder Moises Sierra. Corey Patterson scores.

Eric Farris grounds into a force out, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria to second baseman Ruben Gotay. Jordan Brown out at 2nd. Eric Farris to 1st.

With Hainley Statia batting, Eric Farris steals (14) 2nd base.

Hainley Statia flies out to right fielder Moises Sierra.

 

Gameday

[DHonks]

I was really hoping for Hawn to have a better season. Lots of time left though.

 

As for Zarraga, I like seeing the good numbers from our converted switch-hitting catcher/dh

 

And as for RJ Johnson, I wonder if he's still planning to play both ways.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Wisconsin 5, Quad Cities 4

 

Wisconsin hangs on for fifth straight win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

DAVENPORT, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers didn't make it easy, but they held on for a 5-4 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits at Modern Woodmen Park on Wednesday night. The Rattlers committed four errors, were outhit 9-6, and struck out eleven times, but managed to start their 13-game road trip with a victory over their division rivals.

 

Wisconsin (29-17) grabbed a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second. Nick Ramirez started the inning with double and took third on an infield grounder. Parker Berberet's tough high bounding grounder was ruled an error on the shortstop and Ramirez scored. Yadiel Rivera was next and he smacked a 1-2 pitch inside the third base bag. Berberet hustled home with the second run of the inning.

 

Quad Cities (21-24) tied the game with single runs in the second and third innings. Juan Castillo started the second with a double. He took third on a single by Roberto De La Cruz and scored when the ball was kicked around in the outfield. In the third inning, Castillo drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly to right.

 

Chadwin Stang put the Rattlers back in front with a two-run single with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning.

 

Rattlers starting pitcher Matt Miller bounced back from a shaky start. Miller allowed four hits in the second inning and seven hits through the first two hitters of the top of the fourth. His defense bailed him out with three outfield assists in the first 3-1/3 innings. Then, Miller took over. The right-hander retired the last eleven batters he faced in the game. Miller finished his night after the seventh inning. He struck out four and walked one and left with a 4-2 lead.

 

The Rattlers picked up an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning. Ramirez doubled to start the frame. Pinch runner Max Walla would take over for Ramirez and eventually score on a sacrifice fly by Berberet.

 

The Bandits rallied in the eighth against Tommy Toledo with an unearned run. Luis Mateo reached on a dropped fly ball to left. Matt Williams was next and his double to right scored Mateo to make the score 5-3.

 

Seth Harvey took over for the bottom of the ninth and struck out the first batter he faced. Harvey walked Virgil Hill and Hill would take second base on defensive indifference. David Medina followed with a single to right and Hill ran through the stop sign at third to score the run. Walla committed an error on the play and Medina took second base with the tying run.

 

Harvey increased the degree of difficulty on the save by throwing a wild pitch on the first pitch to Roberto Reyes to allow pinch runner Casey Rasmus to take third with the tying run. Harvey walked Reyes on four pitches and the winning run was aboard.

 

Harvey bounced back to strike out Mateo on three pitches, but the final out was a doozy.

 

Williams hit a high bouncer in front of the mound. Harvey bobbled the ball momentarily and threw high to first. Jason Rogers made a leaping catch, dropped the tag on Williams, and held on to the baseball after a collision to record the final out.

 

Game two of the series is set for Thursday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Drew Gagnon (3-1, 2.36) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Sam Gaviglio (2-3, 5.11) is set to start for the River Bandits. Game time is 7:00pm.

 

Tune in for the action on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame show at 6:40pm.

 

WP: Matt Miller (3-4)

LP: Kyle Hald (0-3)

SAVE: Seth Harvey (9)

 

TIME: 2:46

ATTN: 2,034

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Matt Miller's night covered above. Tommy Toledo had his scoreless streak ended, sort of, what's the official ruling on unearned runs as streak stoppers? Seth Harvey struggled a bit in the 9th but held on, he's given up runs in consecutive outings.

 

Nick Ramirez was 2-4 with 2 doubles and Yadiel Rivera went 2-3 with a double. As Chris mentioned the defense was horrible, Rivera committed his 5th error (fielding), Ben McMahan had 2 errors (both fielding), and Max Walla had his 3rd (fielding). In addition the T-Rats were 0-4 stopping base stealers in the contest. Jason Rogers stole his 5th base and Chadwin Stang had another OF assist to round out the evening.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

[TheCrew07]

Final: Huntsville 4, Birmingham 2

 

Barons fall to Stars 4-2, lose fifth straight

 

The Birmingham Barons dropped their fifth-straight game Wednesday night, falling 4-2 to the Huntsville Stars in front of fans at Joe Davis Municipal Stadium.

 

Both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings as Barons starter Cameron Bayne (4-3, 4.80) retired the first ten batters. However, he ran into trouble in the fourth as the Stars put runners at first and second for Hunter Morris. Morris would put Huntsville up 3-0 with a three run shot to right, his third of the season.

 

The Barons were held scoreless until the eighth inning when the Barons led off the inning with three-straight hits. Seth Loman started the rally with a double, went to third on a Corey Smith single and scored on a Damaso Espino base hit. Jared Mitchell sacrificed the runners over with bunt and Erik Morrison brought home Smith with an RBI groundout closing the lead to 3-2.

 

Bayne allowed just one hit outside of the fourth inning before surrendering back-to-back hits to lead off the eighth. A dropped fly ball by Jared Mitchell in centerfield allowed Kentrail Davis to score from third. Brandon Kloess relieved Bayne and struck out the final two Stars hitters in order to prevent further damage. Bayne allowed four runs on six hits in 7.1 innings.

 

The Barons were unable to mount a rally in the ninth, falling to 22-25 on the year. The win went to Evan Anundsen (3-1, 2.55) while Bayne picked up his third loss of the season. Darren Byrd tossed a perfect ninth for his third save of the season and second in two games against the Barons.

 

The heart of the Barons lineup, consisting of Loman, Smith, Espino and Mitchell finished with all nine of the Barons hits on the night, going a combined 9-for-14. Mitchell finished with three hits on the night, all singles, going 3-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt.

 

The Barons will look to snap their five-game losing skid tomorrow night as RHP Nestor Molina (3-3, 4.96) takes the hill against Tyler Thornburg (5-0, 2.21). First pitch is scheduled for 6:43 PM CDT.

 

Huntsville Box Score

I've been sick all night so I'll keep this short. Somehow Evan Anundsen gave up 5H and 4BB in 5IP but didn't allow a run. Santo Manzanillo made a triumphant return pitching a scoreless inning, Mitch Stetter pitched a scoreless inning, Dan Meadows was beat around pretty good giving up 2 runs in his one third of an inning, and Darren Byrd closed out the final 1.2 innings.

 

No Stars had multiple hits though Hunter Morris had the game winning HR mentioned above and Kentrail Davis doubled. Josh Prince was picked off of 2B, Anderson De La Rosa committed his 4th error (throwing), but Anundsen also picked off a base runner of his own.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

[HiAndTight]

Wow. When you come into a season with as many potential stud pitchers in the minors, you seem to inevitably end up disappointed as a number of them will struggle, go on the DL, or have a long term injury....

 

This year it just seems like the guys we hoped would pitch well are pitching exceptionally well.....and a number of guys you didn't expect much from(not sure who thought Nelson would be hitting 98 and dominating this year) are breaking out.

[Mass Haas]

Video report (on right of screen) matching the article linked here:

 

Huntsville: Mayor Battle vs. Mayor Morris