Link Report for Sun. 6/3 -- Huge Win for Timber Rattlers; Two for the Stars! Jimmy Nelson the FSL's best

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Brian Baker at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 1:50 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Jeff Hem is the new play-by-play voice of the Sounds; follow him on Twitter @jeffhempbp; we'll link to his blog updates at On the Air…and Off

 

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Nashville games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $39.99 season-long package ($9.99 to pay for a single month). We imagine the audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link.

 

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Huntsville: RHP Evan Anundsen and TBD in a doubleheader at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 1:48 PM pre-game, 2:03 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

 

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: Huntsville road games in four locales (Mississippi, Tennessee, Jacksonville and Pensacola) will be broadcast.

 

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Brevard County: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Bradenton (Pirates), 4:05 PM gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Bradenton 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 Drew Gagnon at Beloit (Twins), 1:40 PM pre-game, 2:00 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).

 

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DSL Brewers: Idle

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday's action as it happens with box score / game log links:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville Game One

 

Huntsville Game One

 

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

 

DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris

[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]

Look for Nashville and Wisconsin media notes at the links just prior to thier game times.

 

If Huntsville posts theirs today, we'll link later this evening.

 

Everybody enjoy your Sunday!

[Mass Haas]

Catching up on video:

 

Nashville pitcher Wily Peralta doubles in the Sounds' 5-3 loss in Oklahoma City

 

Nashville's Wily Peralta fans Fernando Martinez

 

Huntsville's Kentrail Davis steals second base in the Stars' 2-1 loss to the Tennessee Smokies

[Mass Haas]

Manatee Beach Jersey Auction Reminder

[Mass Haas]

Stars' manager Darnell Coles celebrates 50th birthday with something of an off day

By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times

 

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Having birthdays off is not one of the employee perks.

 

And, I suppose, Darnell Coles really didn't get the day off. Even if he wasn't on the field as the Huntsville Stars manager and where somebody - blush - suggested all his No. 11 jerseys should be hidden and he'd have to wear an appropriate big five-oh on his back.

 

Not that some merry pranksters didn't do enough to mark the occasion.

 

Black and white crepe streamers dangled from the ceiling in his office. An inflatable walker sat on the floor, surrounded by balloons with "50" printed on them. The cinder-block walls were covered with signs.

 

"If they tease you about your age, beat them with your cane," one urged.

 

All in all, it looked what would happen if delivery trucks from Dick's Sporting Goods and Spencer Gifts had a head-on collision.

 

Coles had his "off night" necessitated because of a minor incident Wednesday night in Kodak, Tenn. In the sixth inning of the game against the Tennessee Smokies, he had a difference of opinion with umpire Thomas Newsom.

 

Coles may be one of the nicest, most accommodating people you'll ever meet. But don't mess with his players. He's going to protect them.

 

"I don't condone arguing with umpires," Coles quickly said before Saturday's win over Mississippi.

 

He respects everyone has his job to do. No one is perfect. Etc etc etc.

 

Still, the ump may have blown the call. Coles pleaded his case. With umpires as judges, managers remain winless since the dawn of history.

 

As Coles was tossed from the game, he swept his helmet off his head. It took a wacky bounce. It hit Newsom in the leg.

 

Automatic three-game suspension.

 

Which, as it happened, coincided with his 50th birthday on Saturday.

 

Now, Coles certainly was on the clock. Heck, he was on the bus when the birthday arrived, traveling back from Tennessee. He led the Stars through their pregame workouts.

 

Then, once the game started, he settled into skybox No. 6, just another spectator. The box was decorated as well, with an array of cupcakes on the side.

 

He felt more than a little awkward when, in the eighth inning, the Stars' Jill Cacic announced the birthday and the crowd turned around to face him and sing "Happy Birthday."

 

How many, in a crowd of 7,360, had to wonder if it was customary for a baseball manager to be in a skybox, not in a dugout?

 

Coles was joined by wife Shari and a couple of visitors. Their son D.J., just graduated from law school, is in town.

 

So, too, is a terrific lady named Jan Hartzell, all the way here from Arizona.

 

"My adopted second mother," Coles called her.

 

She was the first person Coles met when he arrived for his first spring training as a professional ballplayer, in Tempe, Ariz., back in 1980. She worked for the Seattle Mariners front office. They "forged a great relationship," he said.

 

She's been to graduations, weddings and other red-letter events for the Coles family. Naturally, she couldn't miss Darnell's big five-oh.

 

Back down in the clubhouse after the win, the Stars chowed down on lasagna that Shari cooked, along with garlic bread and salad. She had a birthday cake. Another was waiting at home.

 

In the office adjacent to Coles, pitching coach Chris Hook was finishing his paper-plate full of lasagna.

 

As I asked Hook a question, perhaps a little flippantly, Coles overheard.

 

"See, most nights those are the questions I have to answer," he said in mock frustration.

 

Happy birthday, D.C.

 

You got the night off after all.

 

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[TheCrew07]

My internet has been constantly up and down all day so if I don't get the 3 games updated today that will be why. I haven't been able to stay connected to the T-Rats game more than 5 minutes at a time. Hopefully I at least maintain this level of connectivity to get the posts done but if it drops entirely on me I'll be crap out of luck.

 

T-Rats are in the 7th now up 2-1.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Wisconsin 3, Beloit 1

 

Rattlers alone in first after 3-1 win in Beloit

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

BELOIT, WI - Drew Gagnon scattered seven hits over eight innings and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers offense scratched out three runs for a 3-1 victory over the Beloit Snappers Sunday afternoon at Pohlman Field. The win put the Rattlers back in first place in the Western Division of the Midwest League by one game over the second place Snappers.

 

Jason Rogers gave the Rattlers (35-22) a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the top of the first. That double also put runners at second and third with no outs against Beloit starter Tyler Jones. But, Wisconsin would not score again in the first.

 

Eddie Rosario tied the game in the bottom of the first inning. The Snappers second baseman homered to right with two outs against Wisconsin starting pitcher Drew Gagnon.

 

The Rattlers regained the lead in the top of the second. Chadwin Stang singled to right and the ball got past Snappers outfielder Wang-Wei Lin to the wall. Stang raced to third. Carlos George's sacrifice fly to left got Stang home for a 2-1 lead. Jones settled in after that run in the second inning. Jones retired the final 15 batters that he faced and struck out five.

 

Beloit (34-23) had a runner on in every inning except the second inning, but could not dent the plate.

 

The Snappers got to Gagnon for a leadoff double in the third, a leadoff single in the fourth, and two out doubles in the fifth and sixth innings. But each time Beloit was poised to tie the game, Gagnon stymied them and kept the lead at 2-1.

 

The Rattlers offense got going again in the top of the seventh inning against Beloit reliever AJ Achter. Greg Hopkins drew a leadoff walk. Then, Cameron Garfield doubled to left-center and Hopkins hustled home with an insurance run for a 3-1 lead.

 

Gagnon was touched for a one out triple in the bottom of the seventh inning, but escaped with a strikeout and a ground out.

 

Beloit mounted one more threat against the Wisconsin starting pitcher in the eighth inning. Tyler Grimes singled to start the inning. Gagnon got his fourth strikeout of the game for the first out, but he hit Nate Roberts to put the tying run on base and bring Rosario to the plate as the lead run.

 

Rosario had singled and doubled to go along with his first inning homer over his first three at bats, but Gagnon won the final battle by getting the Snappers second baseman to ground into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play.

 

Closer Seth Harvey would allow a one out single in the bottom of the ninth inning, but nothing else as he finished off Beloit for his twelfth save of the season.

 

The final game of the series - and of Wisconsin's thirteen game road trip - is Monday night at Pohlman Field. Chad Thompson (2-1, 5.06) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Tim Shibuya (2-3, 5.17) is set to start for Beloit. Game time is 7:00pm.

 

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

 

HOME RUN:

BEL:

Eddie Rosario (7th, 0 on in 1st inning off Drew Gagnon, 2 out)

 

WP: Drew Gagnon (4-1)

LP: Tyler Jones (0-1)

SAVE: Seth Harvey (12)

 

TIME: 2:14

ATTN: 994

 

Wisconsin Box Score

Drew Gagnon had his command today going 8IP allowing 7H, 0BB, 1ER, 1HR, and 1HBP against 4SOs. He was around 80 pitches in the 8th by Chris' unofficial count when I lost the game and I didn't get it back until the top of the 9th so I'm unsure exactly where he finished. Drew posted 9:7 ratio and also picked off a runner at 1B before he gave way to Seth Harvey.

 

No T-Rat had a multi-hit day but Max Walla, Jason Rogers, and Cameron Garfield all smacked doubles in the contest. The Rattlers played clean defense and no Snappers attempted to steal a base.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

Should have more in the 1st, but I love the fast starts by the T-Rats this year.

Wisconsin Top of the 1st

• Brandon Macias singles on a line drive to center fielder JaDamion Williams.
  Max Walla walks. Brandon Macias to 2nd.
  Jason Rogers doubles (17) on a line drive to left fielder Nate Roberts. Brandon Macias scores. Max Walla to 3rd.
  Nick Ramirez pops out to third baseman Miguel Sano in foul territory.
  Gregory Hopkins reaches on a fielder's choice out, first baseman Adam Bryant to catcher Kyle Knudson. Max Walla out at home. Jason Rogers to 3rd.
  Cameron Garfield grounds into a force out, shortstop Tyler Grimes to second baseman Eddie Rosario. Gregory Hopkins out at 2nd.

 

Gagon's lone blemish.

Beloit Bottom of the 1st

• Wang-Wei Lin grounds out, second baseman Carlos George to first baseman Nick Ramirez.
  Nate Roberts grounds out, second baseman Carlos George to first baseman Nick Ramirez.
  Eddie Rosario homers (7) on a fly ball to right field.
  Miguel Sano flies out to center fielder Chadwin Stang.

 

While this play was scored a 3B Walla dove for it near the line and it went all the way to the wall. It probably should have been a single or a double at worst. Wonderful job to get out of the inning unscathed.

Beloit Bottom of the 7th

• Adam Bryant grounds out, second baseman Carlos George to first baseman Nick Ramirez.
  Drew Leachman triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Max Walla.
  JaDamion Williams strikes out swinging.
  Kyle Knudson grounds out, pitcher Drew Gagnon to second baseman Carlos George to first baseman Nick Ramirez.
  

[TheCrew07]

Final Game1: Huntsville 4, Mississippi 0 (7 Innings)

 

Huntsville Box Score

Evan Anundsen who has his very own thread started on the MiLB forum pitched a complete shortened game gem in this one. Evan only allowed 2H and 2BB in the contest and was literally never threatened once in the game. He threw 55 of 86 pitches for strikes and posted a 7:7 ratio.

 

The Stars scored 2 runs each in the 1st and 2nd and Lee Haydel led the way for the Stars going 2-3, he's having an excellent season from an AVE standpoint. Anderson De La Rosa hit a HR, Tommy Manzella smacked a key double in the first, and Josh Prince manufactured a run on his own in 2nd. Haydel and Prince had back to back bunt singles in the 6th apparently exploiting whatever was going on defensively perfectly.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

A little De La Rosa and Prince then...

Huntsville Bottom of the 2nd

• Anderson De La Rosa homers (3) on a fly ball to center field.
  Matt Cline grounds out, second baseman Philip Gosselin to first baseman Ian Gac.
  Evan Anundsen singles on a ground ball to shortstop Greg Paiml, deflected by pitcher Gary Moran.
  Josh Prince grounds into a force out, shortstop Greg Paiml to second baseman Philip Gosselin. Evan Anundsen out at 2nd. Josh Prince to 1st.
  With Lee Haydel batting, Josh Prince steals (18) 2nd base.
  With Lee Haydel batting, Josh Prince steals (19) 3rd base, Josh Prince scores. Throwing error by catcher Mathew Kennelly.
  Lee Haydel grounds out, second baseman Philip Gosselin to first baseman Ian Gac.

 

All Anundsen all the time!

Mississippi Top of the 1st

• Keenan Wiley walks.
  Philip Gosselin flies out to left fielder Lee Haydel.
  Joe Leonard flies out to center fielder Josh Prince.
  Ian Gac strikes out swinging
  

 

Mississippi Top of the 2nd

• Todd Cunningham singles on a ground ball to center fielder Josh Prince.
  Alden Carrithers walks. Todd Cunningham to 2nd.
  Mathew Kennelly grounds into double play, third baseman Matt Cline to first baseman Hunter Morris. Todd Cunningham out at 3rd. Alden Carrithers to 2nd.
  Greg Paiml lines out to first baseman Hunter Morris.

 

Mississippi Top of the 3rd

• Gary Moran grounds out, second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Hunter Morris.
  Keenan Wiley strikes out swinging.
  Philip Gosselin flies out to right fielder Kentrail Davis.

 

Mississippi Top of the 4th

• Joe Leonard grounds out, shortstop Tommy Manzella to first baseman Hunter Morris.
  Ian Gac grounds out, third baseman Matt Cline to first baseman Hunter Morris.
  Todd Cunningham pops out to shortstop Tommy Manzella.

 

Mississippi Top of the 5th

• Alden Carrithers bunt grounds out, pitcher Evan Anundsen to first baseman Hunter Morris.
  Mathew Kennelly flies out to center fielder Josh Prince.
  Greg Paiml singles on a ground ball to center fielder Josh Prince.
  Gary Moran strikes out swinging.

 

Mississippi Top of the 6th

• Keenan Wiley flies out to left fielder Lee Haydel.
  Philip Gosselin grounds out, shortstop Tommy Manzella to first baseman Hunter Morris.
  Joe Leonard grounds out, third baseman Matt Cline to first baseman Hunter Morris.

 

Mississippi Top of the 7th

• Ian Gac flies out to center fielder Josh Prince.
  Todd Cunningham called out on strikes.
  Alden Carrithers flies out to center fielder Josh Prince.

[TheCrew07]

Final Game2: Huntsville 6, Mississippi 5 (7 Innings)

 

Huntsville Box Score

The Stars take both games of the double header and win this one on a walk off error after entering the 7th down 5-4! Dan Merklinger got the start here and went 3IP allowing 4H, 2BB, 1HR, 1WP, and 3ER in that time. Dan Meadows went 1.2IP posting 1 across the board, Darren Byrd went the final 2.1 innings allowing 2H, 1BB, and 1ER against 4SO.

 

Tommy Manzella was the story in game 2, he started a 4 run rally in the 3rd with a 2 run HR and then had the game winning single which I think was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the 7th with no outs and runners on 1st and 2nd. The first pitch was a missed bunt attempt, then a ball in the dirt, then Gameday had it listed as a single to the pitcher and both runs scoring on a throwing error. Hunter Morris also belted a 2R HR in the 3rd and that was all the Stars would get until the game winning rally in the 9th.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

The 4 run 3rd.

Huntsville Bottom of the 3rd

• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Matt Cline replaces Dan Merklinger.
  Matt Cline pops out to first baseman Ian Gac in foul territory.
  Josh Prince walks.
  Tommy Manzella homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Josh Prince scores.
  Scooter Gennett singles on a ground ball to second baseman Philip Gosselin.
  Hunter Morris homers (5) on a fly ball to right field. Scooter Gennett scores.
  Pitcher Change: Andrew Russell replaces Chris Masters, batting 9th.
  Domnit Bolivar walks.
  Juan Sanchez strikes out on foul tip.
  Adam Weisenburger grounds out, pitcher Andrew Russell to first baseman Ian Gac.

 

It's rally time baby! The Stars had a plethora of bunt hits between the 2 games.

Huntsville Bottom of the 7th

• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Lee Haydel replaces Darren Byrd.
  Lee Haydel singles on a line drive to left fielder Alden Carrithers.
  Pitcher Change: Mark Lamm replaces Ryan Buchter, batting 9th.
  Josh Prince singles on a bunt ground ball to catcher Christian Bethancourt. Lee Haydel to 2nd.
  Tommy Manzella singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Mark Lamm. Lee Haydel scores. Josh Prince scores. Throwing error by pitcher Mark Lamm.

[TheCrew07]

divine intervention..

Slugger Clement cycles in Indianapolis

Pirates farmhand cites divine intervention in accomplishment

By Andrew Pentis / Special to MLB.com

 

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Jeff Clement has hits in eight straight games, raising his average to .307. (Bill Gentry)

Triple-A Indianapolis infielders Jeff Clement and Brian Friday were in the training room the night before Saturday's home game when their conversation turned to hard-hit balls landing in gloves. A night earlier, they combined to go 1-for-8 -- lining out, one after the other, to third base in consecutive innings -- in the Indians' series opener against the Syracuse Chiefs.

 

The teammates discussed how ballplayers indulge silly superstitions in hopes of ending a slump or kick-starting a streak. Then Clement, making a leap, proposed "something different, something that makes sense" to reverse their fortunes at the plate.

 

"Maybe we pray for hits?" Clement, a first baseman, said to Friday, his second baseman and roommate on the road.

 

"We're both Christians. It's going to glorify God if we do it."

 

This was Clements' thinking in the wake of something special. The veteran slugger became the sixth Minor Leaguer this season and third in the 16-year history of Victory Field to hit for the cycle while driving in a season-high three runs in his Indians' 7-3 victory over the Chiefs.

 

"For the first time in my life, I prayed for hits," he said. "I wouldn't suggest anyone else do it, but I don't think it was any coincidence that this happened tonight. I'm pretty humbled."

 

Whatever the cause, whether it be divine or merely of the diamond, Clements sprayed his hits all over the field. Batting cleanup, the left-handed hitter doubled in the second inning and singled in the third off starter Tanner Roark. Clement slugged a solo homer on a 2-1 offering from right-hander Erik Arnesen in the sixth.

 

"I watched him warm up," Clement said, "and he threw me something out over the plate."

 

How aware he was of his cycle-in-progress is not up for debate.

 

"I wasn't even thinking about it," he said. "I didn't even realize I needed a triple."

 

The 28-year-old delivered the two-run three-bagger -- his first since June 25, 2010 and just his eighth in eight Minor League seasons -- on the first pitch he saw in the seventh from left-hander Atahualpa Severino.

 

"The gap is 418 [feet] here to left-center and I probably hit it 415," Clement said. "I wasn't even thinking of going three since I'm so slow. I turned around and saw the ball in the gap and [thought], 'If I can't get to third on this ball, I'm really slow.'

 

"I got to third and our third-base coach, Jeff Branson, high-fived me. Then a Syracuse coach came over and asked, 'Was that for the cycle?' I said, 'No.' Then I got to thinking and realized that it was. If I had known [beforehand], I probably wouldn't have squared the ball up so well."

 

Friday, who has been victimized by well-struck lineouts of late according to his roommate, singled and walked in four plate appearances, bringing his batting average to .200.

 

Clement said he didn't pull off the cycle at Marshalltown High School in Iowa or at the University of Southern California before the Mariners picked him -- as a catcher -- with the third overall selection in the 2005 Draft. He said he might have cycled when he was 8 or 9 years old.

 

The last Indian to accomplish the feat was batting leadoff Saturday night. Alex Presley pulled it off on June 27, 2010 against Toledo.

 

On Clement's historic night, Presley went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, while Pirates' No. 3 prospect Starling Marte, who fell a double shy of cycling Friday, smacked a run-scoring single in three at-bats.

 

"I was here when [Presley] did it," Clement said. "I remember wathcing him do it. As soon as I came in the dugout, I told him, 'It didn't seem that long ago that you did it.'"

 

Clement is actually in the midst of his fourth season in the Pirates organization. Each year since 2009, he has played at least 22 games with Indianapolis; his stints have been interrupted either by a big league callup (he played 54 games with the Pirates in 2010) or injury (he underwent microfracture surgery on his knee the following offseason, permanently shifting him from behind the plate and limiting him in 2011).

 

With the way his numbers look, he could be headed back to Pittsburgh. Clement has hits in eight straight games, raising his average to .307. He's also finally feeling fit.

 

"I'm very encouraged," Clement said. "Now that the knee is healthy, I feel like I'm capable of doing the things I'm capable of doing."

 

Overshadowed, Indians starter and No. 9 Pirates prospect Jeff Locke (4-3) contributed seven innings of two-run ball. From his vantage point at first, Clement said Locke, who recorded six strikeouts and 10 groundouts, was using his sinker to success.

 

Roark (3-7) yielded three runs on six hits over five frames.

[TheCrew07]

not divisional but would be noteworthy even without all of the talk about him in the transaction forum

Profar's on-base streak reaches 50

Rangers top prospect gets infield hit in seventh, walks in ninth

By Robert Emrich / Special to MLB.com

 

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Jurickson Profar is tied for third in the Texas League with 61 hits. (James Garner/MiLB.com)

 

The last time Jurickson Profar didn't find a way to get on base, neither Hideki Matsui nor Roy Oswalt had a Major League team.

 

MLB.com's No. 5 overall prospect singled and walked to extend his on-base streak to 50 games Saturday before the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders dropped a 10-5, 10-inning decision to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

 

Hitless in his first three plate appearances, Profar grounded a ball to first base and beat Mario Lisson to the bag. With Frisco trailing in the ninth, 5-3, he drew a one-out walk and scored on Mike Olt's game-tying homer.

 

Profar was last kept off the bases on April 6, when he went 0-for-4 against Springfield. During the streak, the 19-year-old shortstop has reached base at least twice in a game 26 times and is batting .302 (61-for-202) with 24 RBIs and 37 runs scored.

 

The reigning South Atlantic League MVP, Profar has displayed the skills that have made him such a highly regarded prospect. He ranks second in the Texas League in runs scored, is tied for fifth with 103 total bases and leads the circuit's shortstops with a .854 OPS.

 

Overall, he's hitting .292 with six homers, 24 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 52 games.

 

Olt continued his assault against Northwest Arkansas pitching, going yard twice for the second straight night. The Rangers' No. 3 prospect leads the league with 15 homers and has driven in 17 runs in his last nine games.

 

Julio Rodriguez put the Naturals in front for good with a two-run single in the 10th and Paulo Orlando followed with a three-run homer.

[TheCrew07]

Nine after 9 for June 3, 2012

[Tedaldtada]

Brevard walks off with win in pitcher's duel

06/03/2012 9:49 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/06/03/r59KZdWw.jpg

Jimmy Nelson's 2.12 ERA now leads the FSL. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - It was the pitching duel that was expected between newly named Florida State League All-Stars Jimmy Nelson and Gerrit Cole, but neither factored into the decision as the Brevard County Manatees defeated the Bradenton Marauders 3-2 on a walk-off single by T.J. Mittelstaedt on Sunday night.

 

With the game tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Nick Shaw led off the inning by drawing a lead-off walk off of new reliever Quinton Miller. Then with Shaw running, Reggie Keen grounded to the second baseman Drew Maggi as Shaw was in motion to second. Shaw reached second before Maggi could make a play there, so he had to take the out at first.

 

With the winning run in scoring position, Mittelstaedt stepped to the plate and ripped a frozen rope down the first base line past the diving Alex Dickerson, on a ball that was very close to being called foul. It was ruled a fair ball and just like that, Shaw scored and the Manatees (24-31) had wrapped up their third consecutive victory.

 

Thomas Keeling earned the win in relief as he threw two scoreless innings while striking out four.

 

The 'Tees jumped on top Cole - the first overall pick of the 2011 draft - early as they plated two runs in the first inning of off him. Shaw and Keen had back-to-back singles to lead off the frame and then Mittelstaedt drove home Shaw with his 11th double of the season.

 

After a Mike Walker strikeout, the Manatees would score their other run of the inning on a RBI groundout by Shea Vucinich to take a 2-0 lead on the Marauders (24-32).

 

Bradenton got one of those runs back off of Nelson in the second as left-handed Stefan Welch took a high and in fastball and deposited it over the right field fence for his seventh homer of the season.

 

Brevard County couldn't get anything else off of Cole (4-1, 2.53) in his other five innings on the mound. Cole went six innings and allowed just the two first inning runs. He scattered six hits, while walking four and striking out six Brevard hitters.

 

The Marauders tied the game at 2-2 with another run off of Nelson in the top of the fifth. Andy Vasquez led the frame off with a double to left and then Justin Howard walked, to put two on with no outs. Carlos Paulino's sacrifice bunt moved both Vasquez and Howard up 90 feet to second and third. Then a RBI groundout by Dan Grovatt plated the tying run.

 

Nelson (4-4, 2.12) departed after seven innings and allowed two runs on just three hits. He walked three and struck out five to bring his season strikeout total to 72, which is second in the FSL. Nelson is also now the league leader in both earned run average and innings pitched.

 

Shaw, Mittelstaedt and Parker Berberet had two hits each for the 'Tees who are hitting .288 as a team in their last ten games.

 

The Manatees will be going for a four-game sweep of the Marauders on Monday night at 6:35 p.m.

 

Brandon Williamson (1-2, 3.67) will get the ball for Brevard County. He has gone five innings and struck five batters in each of his last two starts.

 

Bradenton will send Tyler Waldron (4-2, 3.65) to the hill. He has gone seven innings and struck out at least seven in each of his last two starts.

 

Box Score

 

Way to jump on Gerrit Cole! You will not find a pitcher who more consistently sits at 98-99 MPH than Gerrit Cole, so the three 2B's and four BB's are a good sign for our hitters.

 

Two 1st inning runs kept things close until the Manatees walked off in the bottom of the 9th. The hero of the night was T.J Mittelstaedt (2-4 2B BB). 2011 25th rounder Parker Berberet (2-4) is hitting .346 through 26 A+ ball AB's. Mike Walker was 1-2 with two BB's.

 

'Downhill Thunder' imposed his will on the Bradenton offense allowing only 3 hits, but he did allow his 3rd HR on the year. You will find Jimmy's name littered all over the FSL pitching stat leaderboards. Thomas Keeling actually got the win with 2 scoreless IP and 4 K. Well done.

 

Game Log

Boom

Bradenton Top of the 1st

 

Gift Ngoepe strikes out swinging.

Drew Maggi strikes out swinging.

Mel Rojas called out on strikes.

 

...annnd Boom

 

Bradenton Top of the 9th

 

Andy Vasquez strikes out swinging.

Justin Howard flies out to left fielder Scott Krieger.

Carlos Paulino strikes out swinging.

 

That is about as good as you can start and finish a game.

[Tedaldtada]

Marauders Drop Another Close One

06/03/2012 1:55 PM ET

By Bradenton Marauders

 

Viera, FL- The Bradenton Marauders (24-32) dropped a 3-2 contest in the last of the ninth against the Brevard County Manatees (24-31) at Space Coast Stadium on Sunday. The game ended on a line drive over the first base bag off the bat of T.J. Mittelstaedt with a runner in scoring position for the Manatees.

 

The game started with a matchup of all-star pitchers on the hill with Gerrit Cole starting for the Marauders and Jimmy Nelson throwing for the Manatees. Neither factored in the decision.

 

Cole allowed two runs in the first on hits by the first three batters of the game and an RBI-groundout. Cole settled in to pitch six innings without another run allowed. He struck out six and walked a season-high four.

 

Nelson pitched seven innings. He allowed a solo home run to Stefan Welch in the second. The homer was Welch's team-high seventh of the season. In the fifth the Marauders tied the score on a double by Andy Vasquez to start the inning, a walk to Justin Howard, a sacrifice bunt by Carlos Paulino and finally an RBI-groundout by Dan Grovatt.

 

Quinton Miller (L 0-2) allowed the winning run in the ninth. Kenn Kasparek pitched two scoreless innings after Cole was lifted. Thomas Keeling (W 1-2) got the win by throwing two scoreless frames for the Manatees.

 

The Marauders have dropped nine straight road games.

 

The series concludes Monday night with a 6:35pm first pitch. The game will air on News Talk 930 WLSS.

[Tedaldtada]

Sounds Drop Afternoon Matinee To Zephyrs, 7-3

06/03/2012 5:41 PM ET

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds were handed a 7-3 defeat by the visiting New Orleans Zephyrs in the second game of a four-game series on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium.

 

Nashville (21-35) stranded 11 batters on the afternoon and went 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position.

 

Right fielder Jordan Brown went 2-for-5 for his third straight multi-hit game. Center fielder Logan Schafer, who entered the game as a defensive replacement, added two hits in two at-bats.

 

New Orleans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third against starting pitcher Brian Baker, who walked three, fanned two, and committed a throwing error in the visiting half of the third.

 

Nashville scored their only three runs in the third inning. After shortstop Jeff Bianchi it a ground-rule double down the left field line, third baseman Andy Gonzalez hit a two-out RBI single to left field to knot the contest. Outfielder Caleb Gindl followed with a two-run triple (Audio) off the center field batter's eye to score Gonzalez and Halton, who reached earlier on a walk.

 

Consecutive two-out RBI singles by Gil Velazquez and Scott Cousins tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the fifth and removed Baker from the game. Cousins would later swipe second base and attempt to score the go-ahead run, but was thrown out at home by outfielder Corey Patterson.

 

New Orleans broke through in the next frame with two unearned runs against Amaury Rivas for a 5-3 lead. Mat Dominguez reached on a fielding error by Gonzalez to begin the frame, moved to second on a walk, and scored the first run on a RBI double from pinch hitter Luke Montz. On the following play, Kevin Mattison hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field.

 

The Z's tacked on two more runs in the top of the eighth for a 7-3 advantage thanks to doubles from pinch hitter Nick Green and Cousins, sandwiched around a walk to Velazquez.

 

Both starters took no-decisions on the afternoon. Baker yielded three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings. Hand also gave up three runs on four hits and four walks in four frames.

 

Rivas (3-3) allowed two unearned runs on a couple of hits and walks in 2/3 of an inning for the loss. (Victor Garate) followed with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Mike McClendon gave up two runs on a 1 1/3 innings. Johnnie Lowe worked around two hits in a scoreless inning of work.

 

Mike Dunn (1-1) followed Hand with a scoreless frame for the win.

 

The Sounds and Zephyrs will continue their series at 7:05 pm CT on Monday evening. Right-hander Seth McClung (1-5, 4.93) will toe the rubber for Nashville against New Orleans southpaw Wade LeBlanc (2-4, 3.50).

 

Box Score

 

So Caleb Gindl (1-3 3B) was pulled for defensive reasons in favor of Logan Schafer (2-2) in the top of the 6th. That is somewhat interesting I guess. Sean Halton went 1-3 with a 2B and a BB. Jeff Bianchi (1-3 2B BB), Jordan Brown (2-5) and Andy Gonzalez (1-5, okay but he has been hitting) all continue their hot hitting.

 

Five Sounds pitchers made an appearance and none of them really earned a mention. The scoreless innings that were thrown were far from clean.

 

AUDIO: Bianchi Turns Double Play

 

Game Log

 

Double dose of double switches.

 

New Orleans Top of the 6th

 

Steve Holm strikes out swinging.

Matt Dominguez reaches on fielding error by third baseman Andy Gonzalez.

Chase Lambin walks. Matt Dominguez to 2nd.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Luke Montz replaces Mike Dunn.

Luke Montz doubles (5) on a line drive to center fielder Caleb Gindl. Matt Dominguez scores. Chase Lambin to 3rd.

Pitcher Change: Victor Garate replaces Amaury Rivas, batting 6th.

Defensive Substitution: Logan Schafer replaces pitcher Amaury Rivas, batting 9th, playing center field.

Kevin Mattison out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Logan Schafer. Chase Lambin scores.

Gil Velazquez grounds out, shortstop Jeff Bianchi to first baseman Sean Halton.

 

New Orleans Top of the 7th

 

Scott Cousins grounds out, second baseman Eric Farris to first baseman Sean Halton.

Gaby Sanchez flies out to center fielder Logan Schafer.

Mike Cervenak singles on a line drive to right fielder Jordan Brown.

Steve Holm walks. Mike Cervenak to 2nd.

Pitcher Change: Mike McClendon replaces Victor Garate, batting 2nd.

Defensive Substitution: Hainley Statia replaces pitcher Victor Garate, batting 6th, playing shortstop.

Matt Dominguez grounds into a force out, shortstop Hainley Statia to second baseman Eric Farris. Steve Holm out at 2nd.

 

Gameday

[HiAndTight]

I've been curious about Thomas Keeling.

 

He had big time upside coming out of Okie State but had terrible control. IIRC he was throwing in the upper 90's and had the potential for a nasty slider.

 

 

Where's he sitting now? Any chance he could still develop into a future SU/CL type?

[TheCrew07]

all I can say is wow

Report: Bucs moving Allie off mound

'10 second-round Draft pick played the infield in high school

By Daren Smith / MLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/06/04/U588lw44.jpg

Stetson Allie has a 7.76 ERA in 17 Minor League pitching appearances. (Steve Manuel/MiLB.com)

 

Stetson Allie, a top pitching prospect who struggled with his control since the Pirates selected him in the second round of the 2010 Draft, reportedly is being converted to a hitter.

 

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that the decision to move Allie, presumably to the infield, was made recently.

 

"We believed his highest upside was as a pitcher. We obviously were very pleased to sign him as a pitcher. Since then, we've faced some challenges with him as a pitcher," Huntington said in a story posted on the newspaper's website late Sunday night.

 

Allie, a 21-year-old right-hander, made his professional debut last season with short-season State College. In 15 New York-Penn League appearances, including seven starts, he was 0-2 with a 6.58 ERA and issued 29 walks while striking out 28 over 26 innings.

 

Moved up to Class A West Virginia to start this season, Allie fared no better. He retired only two batters in two outings, walking eight and allowing four runs on one hit for a 54.00 ERA.

 

According to the Tribune-Review, the Ohio native recently took batting practice at the Pirates' complex in Bradenton, Fla.

 

"Through that process, the determination was made that our best next step is to make the conversion full-time to position player," Huntington told the newspaper.

 

While Huntington did not specify Allie's new position, he played the left side of the infield at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio.

 

Among those who have made the conversion from pitcher to position player in recent years are Rick Ankiel of the Nationals, Brian Bogusevic of the Astros and Adam Loewen, who is playing for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate.

[Mass Haas]

Interview from Nashville — “Audio from Claudio (Vargas)”

 

Jeff Hem's note - Today’s interview is with Sounds right-hander Claudio Vargas, who pitched five shutout innings last night in the Sounds’ dominant 8-0 victory over New Orleans to earn just the sixth win this year by a Sounds starting pitcher. Vargas also chipped in an RBI double to help his own cause, and his incremental pitch count totals (51, 62, 76, and 87) have reached the point where he’s now on par with the rest of the rotation. He is in his third stint with the Brewers (’07, ’09-’10) and has logged more major league time (217 appearances) than minor league time (183) in his career.

[Mass Haas]

STARS SWEEP DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST M-BRAVES

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - With a 4-0 shutout in game one and a 6-5 walkoff win in game two, the Huntsville Stars swept a doubleheader from the Mississippi Braves on Sunday at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

For the Stars, the story of game one was starting pitcher Evan Anundsen. The 24-year-old righty absolutely silenced the Braves bats, pitching a complete-game, two-hit shutout to improve to 4-2 on the season. The complete game from a starting pitcher and the shutout of an opposing team were both firsts for the Stars this season.

 

On offense, the Stars got all of the run support Anundsen needed in the first two innings of the ballgame. In the first inning, a two-run double by Tommy Manzella gave Huntsville an initial 2-0 lead.

 

In the second inning, following a solo home run by catcher Anderson De La Rosa to begin the frame, centerfielder Josh Prince virtually manufactured a run all by himself. After reaching base on a fielder’s choice, Prince stole second. Then, while attempting to steal third, a throwing error by catcher Christian Bethancourt helped plate Prince to give the Stars a 4-0 lead that they would not relinquish.

 

In game two, down 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh, the Stars came through with their third walk-off win of the year in the most dramatic of fashions. After two singles from pinch-hitter Lee Haydel and Prince, a throwing error by Braves pitcher Mark Lamm on a Manzella bunt allowed both runs to score.

 

Aside from the seventh inning, both Manzella and first baseman Hunter Morris contributed with two-run home runs in the fourth inning for the only other scoring for the Stars.

 

On the pitching side, RHP Darren Byrd improved to 1-2 on the season by earning the win in 1.2 innings of work in relief duty. Starting pitcher Dan Merklinger earned a no-decision after giving up three runs on four hits in three innings pitched.

 

The sweep helped Huntsville improve to 4-2 on the season during doubleheaders. The two wins also give the Stars a three-game winning streak.

 

Game four of a six-game series will begin on Monday as the Stars will send RHP Tyler Thornburg (7-0, 2.52 ERA) to the mound to face off against LHP Luis Avilan (1-4, 3.06 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

[Mass Haas]

Minor league pitching duel a major treat

Nelson matches No. 1 draft pick pitch-for-pitch

John Torres, Florida Today

 

VIERA — It wasn’t always pretty or easy but Sunday night’s pitching duel at Space Coast Stadium likely served as a preview for a rivalry coming soon to a major league ballpark near you.

 

Brevard Manatees All-Star Jimmy Nelson not only stood toe-to-toe with last year’s No. 1 overall amateur draft pick, future star Geritt Cole, during a late afternoon Florida State League game, he actually out-pitched him.

 

But neither pitcher figured in the 3-2 ninth-inning walkoff victory by the Manatees.

 

Think Seaver vs. Carlton, Ryan vs. Gibson or Halladay vs. Verlander. OK, maybe I’m being optimistic but at least for one gorgeous evening these two hard-throwing righties chalked up K’s and posted lots of zeroes looking like prospects not long for this league.

 

“It was definitely a battle,” Cole said after the game, acknowledging the fact that most teams appear more focused or aggressive in facing him, a top draft pick, a target. “Both sides pitched well. There was a lot of stuff that you just had to grind through out there.”

 

That was the perfect word because while both pitchers looked in command, it felt labored, grinding.

 

In the end, it was a great night at the stadium — well, except maybe for that awful “Fear the Sea Cow” song blaring from the speakers .

 

Still, you kind of knew it was going to be the pitching duel it was billed to be when Nelson threw the game’s first pitch at 5:07 p.m. and recorded his first strikeout at 5:08. Three minutes later, at 5:11 he jogged off the field after having struck out the side.

 

Nelson, recently named to the FSL All-Star Game, denied any extra incentive at facing Cole.

 

“You really just have to treat it like any other game as a pitcher,” he said. “You just concentrate on the hitters, try to do as much homework on them as you can and play your game.”

 

Nelson said once players are drafted and signed, the playing field levels out a bit.

 

“Once you get in the minors, a lot of crazy stuff happens,” he said. “A lot of guys with good stuff do well and a lot of guys with good stuff struggle.”

 

Cole didn’t fare well initially, yielding two line-drive singles to the two first batters he faced and then a soft RBI double to right by T.J. Mittelstaedt. Then Cole, the first overall pick of the 2011 MLB Draft, settled down, striking out Mike Walker and getting Shea Vucinich to ground out weakly to second before striking out Cody Hawn to escape the first with only two runs being pushed across.

 

The 21-year-old — regularly hitting 98 mph on the radar gun and topping off at 99 — retired the next eight men he faced before the Manatees again threatened in the third when they loaded the bases. But Cole, who pitched collegiately at UCLA, caught the outside corner on a 96-mph fastball for his fifth strikeout in three innings.

 

He allowed two runs while scattering six hits over six innings and fanning half a dozen. His last pitch of the night? A 99-mph fastball.

 

“In a situation like that, when it’s your last inning, you’ve got to leave it all on the field,” he said.

 

Nelson, selected by the Brewers in the second round (64th overall) of the 2010 MLB Draft out of the University of Alabama, allowed two runs on only three hits through seven innings. He topped out at 95 on the radar gun and struck out five.

 

The only hard-hit ball seemed to be a second-inning solo home run to right by Stefan Welch. Nelson later described it as a good pitch that Welch was able to handle and pull to right.

 

“Give him credit,” he said.

 

It was the first time that Cole, ranked as the top prospect in the Pirates’ organization by Baseball America, faced Nelson, the Brewers’ 10th-ranked prospect.

 

It’s hard to believe this is Cole’s first season of professional baseball. He smiled when I asked him what his timetable was for making it to the big leagues.

 

“I’m just going day-to-day and right now focus on my next start and just let the guys who control that sort of thing control it,” he said.

 

I’m sure it won’t be the last time these pitchers take the mound against each other. But I bet it’s the last time they do it at this level.

 

Both seemed destined to move up to the next level sometime real soon.

 

“I hope you’re right,” Nelson laughed.

[Mass Haas]

Notebook: 6/3/12 - TRatsBaseball.com