Link Report for Mon. 7/2 -- Peralta and Bradley look to build off most recent efforts

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Wily Peralta at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

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

 

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

 

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Huntsville: RHP Evan Anundsen at Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page

 

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: LHP Jed Bradley at Clearwater (Phillies), 6:00 PM gametime

 

Sorry, no audio for this series...

 

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 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).

 

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Helena: LHP Brent Suter at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page

 

We're lucky to have Steve Wendt back on board for another H-Crew season.

 

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Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Diamondbacks' complex at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (Scottsdale); 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

 

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DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Braves, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Maryvale

 

DSL Brewers

[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

 

Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division

 

Rookie - Arizona Summer League

 

DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris Division

 

***

 

NOTE: AAA Nashville does not play a split schedule. The other leagues, including the rookie leagues, do. When you click on a standings link for Huntsville, Brevard County or Wisconsin, you'll then be able to choose 1st half and/or overall standings in addition to the current 2nd half standings.

[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]

Congratulations to Jason Rogers, your Florida State League Player of the Week!

[Mass Haas]

Audio from Nashville — “Time with (Brad) Tammen”

 

Here last night’s pregame interview with Sounds GM Brad Tammen, who joined me live in the radio booth to discuss the Sounds’ promotional schedule with just under half of the season remaining, the recent extreme heat wave that has come through Nashville, the latest on a potential new stadium for the Sounds and his thoughts about the Sounds’ affiliation with the Milwaukee Brewers.

[Mass Haas]

More video on the Roenicke connection

[Mass Haas]

First pitch: A century in the making

 

Good for her!

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes

 

Tyler Thornburg will come off the DL to make a 4th of July start, his AAA debut.

 

Man, I remember this 4th of July Yankee Doodle Dandy's day.

 

29 years ago, yikes!

[Mass Haas]

Manatees Press Release:

 

VIERA, Fla. – The Florida State League announced on Monday that Brevard County Manatees outfielder/first baseman Jason Rogers was named the league’s player of the week for the period of June 25-July 1.

 

In seven games last week, Rogers hit .428 (9-for-21) with three home runs, ten RBI and scored nine runs. He had multi-hit games in three of those contests.

 

Rogers, 24, was promoted to Brevard County from Class-A Wisconsin on June 21. Since joining the ‘Tees, he is hitting .419 (13-for-31) with three homers, 13 RBI, 11 runs scored and 11 walks. He has a .571 on-base percentage and a .710 slugging percentage in those ten games.

 

The Columbus, Ga. native was a Midwest League midseason All-Star with the Timber Rattlers. He hit .301 with six home runs, 24 doubles and 43 RBI in 66 games with Wisconsin before his promotion to the Manatees.

 

He was drafted by the Brewers in the 32nd round of the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft out of Columbus State University.

[TheCrew07]

Player links on the main page

Players of the Week

 

AAA - Starling Marte - Pirates

 

AA - Tony Cingrani - Reds

AA - Chris Swauger - Cards

 

A+ - Jason Rogers - see stories linked previously.

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Planning a visit? Stadium review -- Space Coast Stadium

[Mass Haas]

Audio from Nashville — “Mondays with Mike (Guerrero)”

 

Jeff Hem's note -- Here is this week’s installment of “Mondays with Mike” with Sounds manager Mike Guerrero, who discusses the Sounds’ recent road trip to Albuquerque and Round Rock, the last start from Wily Peralta, the upcoming start for Tyler Thornburg, the defensive shift the Sounds often employ against left-handed-batting sluggers and how the extreme heat changes the way the game is approached and managed.

[Tedaldtada]

Mitch Haniger with his 1st pro bomb! A 2-out 3-run shot of the Quad Cities starter.

[jjfanec]

Peralta with a great night. 7 IP, 5 H, 6 K, 0 ER and maybe more importantly ZERO walks

[Mass Haas]

After 1/2 inning, the Maryvale Crew need to make this eight-spot stand up -- all with two outs!

 

***

 

AZL Brewers Top of the 1st

Tyrone Taylor grounds out, second baseman Andrew Velazquez to first baseman Jake Williams.

Clint Coulter grounds out, shortstop Jose Munoz to first baseman Jake Williams.

Khris Davis singles on a line drive to left fielder Brian Billigen.

Jose Pena singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brian Billigen. Khris Davis to 2nd.

Jalen Harris singles on a line drive to right fielder Chuck Taylor. Khris Davis scores. Jose Pena to 2nd.

Taylor Smith-Brennan homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Jose Pena scores. Jalen Harris scores.

Jose Sermo reaches on fielding error by shortstop Jose Munoz.

Renaldo Jenkins singles on a ground ball to right fielder Chuck Taylor. Jose Sermo to 2nd.

Malcolm Dowell singles on a line drive to center fielder Alex Glenn. Jose Sermo scores. Renaldo Jenkins to 2nd.

Tyrone Taylor triples (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Chuck Taylor. Renaldo Jenkins scores. Malcolm Dowell scores.

Clint Coulter walks.

Pitcher Change: Jonathan Pulley replaces Luis Hernandez.

With Khris Davis batting, throwing error by Jonathan Pulley on the pickoff attempt, Tyrone Taylor scores. Clint Coulter to 2nd.

Khris Davis strikes out swinging.

[TheCrew07]

Peralta Stellar As Sounds Defeat I-Cubs, 4-1

Nashville Extends Winning Streak To Season-High Four

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Starting pitcher Wily Peralta tossed seven scoreless frames and Nashville plated four seventh-inning runs en route to a 4-1 victory over the division-rival Iowa Cubs on Monday evening at Greer Stadium.

 

With the victory, the Sounds (36-49) extended their winning streak to four games, matching the club's longest of the year (third occurrence).

 

Peralta (4-8) recorded his third win in his last four outings and matched a Sounds and personal season high with his seven scoreless innings, scattering five hits and striking out six in his 87-pitch effort. The 23-year-old allowed only one Cubs baserunner to reach second base during his outing. Peralta, who entered the contest with a PCL-high 48 walks, did not issue a free pass for the first time all season.

 

Iowa starter Chris Rusin matched Peralta's quality start with one of his own, working six scoreless frames, allowing four hits, and striking out five. The southpaw took a no-decision for his efforts, though.

 

The Sounds finally broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh inning with four runs against Cubs reliever Jeff Beliveau.

 

Edwin Maysonet drew a one-out walk and lumbered around to score the night's first run on catcher Dayton Buller's RBI double into the left field corner. The rally continued as pinch-hitter Corey Patterson followed with a run-scoring single to center before Logan Schafer tripled off the right field wall to bring him home for a 3-0 Nashville advantage. Schafer scored the fourth and final run two batters later when Jeff Bianchi ripped an RBI single through the left side of the infield.

 

AUDIO: Buller Go-Ahead Double

AUDIO: Schafer RBI Triple

 

Iowa finally got on the scoreboard with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. After Adrian Cardenas reached on a fielder's choice, Josh Vitters smashed an RBI double to the gap in right-center off Sounds reliever Juan Perez to make it a 4-1 contest. Perez recovered to strike out Blake DeWitt to end the contest.

 

Beliveau (2-5) was saddled with the loss after surrendering four runs in just one-third of an inning of work, retiring only one of his five batters faced in the contest.

 

The teams wrap up the series with a 7:05 p.m. finale on Tuesday evening. Right-hander Mark Rogers (3-5, 5.68) will man the bump to face Iowa right-hander Randy Wells (2-2, 7.71). After the on-field action, the Sounds' annual Independence Day fireworks spectacular will light up the sky.

 

Nashville Box Score

I listened to this game in it's entirety and Wily Peralta sounded as good as his final line looked, hopefully he's straightened himself out and finishes the year like he pitched all of last year. He threw 58 of 87 pitches for strikes and posted a 7:3 ratio in the game. Yes that really was Edwin Maysonet playing LF, feel the power baby!

 

Nashville Play By Play

[bkrause2]

Final: Wisconsin 9, Quad Cities 2

 

Rattlers rock River Bandits

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

DAVENPORT, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers defeated the Quad Cities River Bandits 9-2 Monday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Mitch Haniger homered and drove in four runs for the offense. Matt Miller pitched seven solid innings and Wisconsin's defense played error-free ball while the River Bandits committed three costly errors.

 

Anthony Garcia put the River Bandits (42-38 overall, 7-4 second half) in front in the first inning. Stephen Piscotty doubled with two outs. Garcia, who drove in two runs for Quad Cities on Sunday, drove in Piscotty with a single for a 1-0 lead.

 

Haniger got the Rattlers (50-30, 6-5) in front with one swing in the third inning. Max Walla reached on an error and took second on a wild pitch to start the inning. He was still at second base with two outs. Then, Bandits starting pitcher Willy Paulino hit Brandon Macias to extend the inning to Haniger.

 

Haniger, the supplemental first round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2012 draft, worked the count to 3-1 before pasting a pitch from Paulino well past the fence in deepest left-center for a three-run homer. The long ball was the first professional home run for Haniger and it put Wisconsin up 3-1.

 

Cameron Garfield scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning against River Bandits reliever Jonathan Cornelius to pad their lead to 4-1.

 

The Rattlers put the game away in the seventh inning with a little help from the River Bandits defense. The inning started with Carlos George and Chadwin Stang reaching on singles. A sacrifice bunt by Brandon Macias moved both runners into scoring position. Haniger drove in George and got Stang to third base with a sacrifice fly. Then, things got weird.

 

Nick Ramirez struck out for the final out of the inning, but catcher Juan Castillo dropped the ball. He had an easy throw to first to get Ramirez, but the throw was wild and Stang scored. Garfield was next and he reached on an error to keep the frame going. Yadiel Rivera singled to load the bases. Lance Roenike cracked a two-run single to left-center and the Rattlers went up 8-1.

 

Quad Cities got a run against Miller in the bottom of the seventh inning on an infield grounder by Roberto Reyes. But, Wisconsin responded with one more run in the top of the eighth. George tripled to start the inning and scored on a sac fly by Stang.

 

Miller won his fourth straight decision by going seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out four. Stosh Wawrzasek came on to pitch two perfect innings of relief to close out the River Bandits.

 

Game three of the series is Wednesday night at 6:00pm. Chad Pierce (2-2, 3.88) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Tyrell Jenkins (1-3, 5.36) is set to start for the River Bandits. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 5:40pm.

 

HOME RUN:

WIS: Mitch Haniger (1st, 2 on in 3rd inning off Willy Paulino, 2 out)

 

WP: Matt Miller (7-5)

LP: Willy Paulino (2-6)

 

TIME: 2:40

ATTN: 1,925

 

 

Wisconsin Box Score

 

The Rattlers bats came alive tonight as they banged out 11 hits and scored 9 runs. As was previously mentioned, Mitch Haniger hit his first pro home run, a 3 run shot. He finished the night 1 for 3 with 4 RBI. He also drew a walk. Carlos George was 2 for 4 with a triple and scored two runs. Cameron Garfield had two hits in five at bats and scored a pair of runs. Yadiel Rivera was 2 for 4 with a double. Lance Roenicke had two hits as well. Chadwin Stang and Nick Ramirez had the Rattlers other two hits, though Ramirez did strike out four times.

 

Matt Miller has had an up and down season but the good Miller showed up tonight. He went seven innings and gave up just two runs. Miller walked just one and struck out four. Stosh Wawrzasek pitched final two innings and didn't allow a hit. He struck out two of the six batters he faced.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

 

Haniger's first pro bomb

Wisconsin Top of the 3rd

Max Walla reaches on fielding error by shortstop Matt Williams.

With Carlos George batting, wild pitch by Willy Paulino, Max Walla to 2nd.

Carlos George lines out to shortstop Matt Williams.

Chadwin Stang strikes out swinging, catcher Juan Castillo to first baseman Roberto De La Cruz.

Brandon Macias hit by pitch.

Mitch Haniger homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field. Max Walla scores. Brandon Macias scores.

Nick Ramirez strikes out swinging.

 

Even the outs were productive in the seventh inning.

Wisconsin Top of the 7th

Carlos George singles on a ground ball to shortstop Matt Williams.

With Chadwin Stang batting, Carlos George advances to 2nd on a balk.

Chadwin Stang singles on a ground ball to shortstop Matt Williams.

Brandon Macias out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Stephen Piscotty to second baseman Neal Pritchard. Carlos George to 3rd. Chadwin Stang to 2nd.

Mitch Haniger out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder David Medina. Carlos George scores. Chadwin Stang to 3rd.

Nick Ramirez strikes out swinging. Chadwin Stang scores. Nick Ramirez advances to 1st, on throwing error by catcher Juan Castillo.

Cameron Garfield singles on a ground ball to third baseman Stephen Piscotty. Nick Ramirez to 2nd.

Yadiel Rivera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Anthony Garcia. Nick Ramirez to 3rd. Cameron Garfield to 2nd.

Lance Roenicke singles on a line drive to center fielder Nick Martini. Nick Ramirez scores. Cameron Garfield scores. Yadiel Rivera to 3rd.

Max Walla pops out to shortstop Matt Williams.

[bkrause2]

Final: Huntsville 4, Birmingham 13

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Not a good night for Huntsville pitching. Evan Anundsen started for the Stars and gave up eight runs, six earned in four innings. He allowed eight hits and a walk while striking out four. Dan Merklinger was up next and pitched an inning and a third, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks. R.J. Seidel mopped up the final 2 2/3 innings. He surrendered three runs on three hits and walked a pair.

 

The offense tried to do their part, amazingly out-hitting Birmingham 14-13. Hunter Morris led the way with a 4 for 4 night. He doubled, walked, scored a run and knocked in one. Scooter Gennett had a 3 for 5 night with an RBI. Lee Haydel had two singles and walk. Kentrail Davis was on base three times with a single and a pair of walks. Davis also stole his 12th base. Josh Prince, Domnit Bolivar and Juan Sanchez each had a double.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

The Stars got one run in the 7th but it could have been a much bigger inning

Huntsville Top of the 7th

Pitcher Change: Leroy Hunt replaces Jon Bachanov.

Scooter Gennett singles on a line drive to center fielder Jared Mitchell.

Hunter Morris singles on a line drive to right fielder Kenneth Williams. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.

Hainley Statia flies into double play, left fielder Brady Shoemaker to second baseman Daniel Wagner. Scooter Gennett doubled off 2nd.

Anderson De La Rosa singles on a line drive to left fielder Brady Shoemaker. Hunter Morris to 2nd.

Kentrail Davis singles on a line drive to right fielder Kenneth Williams. Hunter Morris to 3rd. Anderson De La Rosa to 2nd.

Domnit Bolivar hit by pitch. Hunter Morris scores. Anderson De La Rosa to 3rd. Kentrail Davis to 2nd.

Juan Sanchez flies out to center fielder Jared Mitchell

[TheCrew07]

Final: DSL Brewers 7, DSL Braves 3

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

The young Brewers continued their first place ways and while Jorge Ortega wasn't as good as last time out, he was still very solid going 7IP allowing 8H, 1BB, 3R, 2ER, and 1WP against 4SO while posting a 10:4 ratio. Joshua Torres and Victor Diaz both pitched a scoreless inning of relief and both have yet to allow a run on the season though this was just Torres' 2nd and Diaz' 3rd appearance of the season respectively.

 

Jose Dicent went 2-3 with a walk and continues his climb towards respectability, after a slow start he's hitting .294 through his last 10. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that maybe catching prospect Natanael Mejia should play more, he's only played in 3 games, his first on July 29th, but he went 3-4 with a HR tonight, has a hit in all 3 games, and is currently sporting a .500 BA, though he did have the Brewers only error on an errant pick off attempt. Elvis Rubio also homered and went 1-3 in the contest. Alejandro Mendoza stole his 4th base and Juan Ortiz stole his 5th base but was also picked off first.

 

As Sessile noted the other day Gian Rizzo hasn't shown up in a box score for some time, here's hoping it's just a reporting/box score issue and there's not anything wrong with him.

 

DSL Brewers Play By play

The WP pitch hurt Ortega in this frame.

DSL Braves Top of the 3rd

• Jesus Heredia strikes out swinging.
  Omar Obregon doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Elvis Rubio.
  Luis Monasterio singles on a line drive to left fielder Juan Ortiz. Omar Obregon scores.
  With Johan Camargo batting, wild pitch by Jorge Ortega, Luis Monasterio to 2nd.
  Johan Camargo grounds out to first baseman Jose Dicent. Luis Monasterio to 3rd.
  Alejandro Piloto singles on a line drive to right fielder Elvis Rubio. Luis Monasterio scores. Alejandro Piloto out at 2nd, first baseman Jose Dicent.

 

This was all the offense the pitchers would need.

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 3rd

• Natanael Mejia singles on a line drive to first baseman Ibrahim McKenzie.
  With Alejandro Mendoza batting, Natanael Mejia advances to 2nd on a balk.
  Alejandro Mendoza walks.
  Francisco Castillo grounds into a force out, pitcher Nelson Leon to third baseman Johan Camargo. Natanael Mejia out at 3rd. Alejandro Mendoza to 2nd. Francisco Castillo to 1st.
  Raphachel Colatosti walks. Alejandro Mendoza to 3rd. Francisco Castillo to 2nd.
  Pitcher Change: Darrel Leiva replaces Nelson Leon.
  Carlos Belonis grounds into a force out, third baseman Johan Camargo to catcher Alexander De La Cruz. Alejandro Mendoza out at home. Francisco Castillo to 3rd. Raphachel Colatosti to 2nd. Carlos Belonis to 1st.
  Elvis Rubio hit by pitch. Francisco Castillo scores. Raphachel Colatosti to 3rd. Carlos Belonis to 2nd.
  Juan Ortiz hit by pitch. Raphachel Colatosti scores. Carlos Belonis to 3rd. Elvis Rubio to 2nd.
  Jose Dicent singles on a fly ball to center fielder Jose Morel. Carlos Belonis scores. Elvis Rubio scores. Juan Ortiz advances to 3rd, on fielding error by center fielder Jose Morel. Jose Dicent out at 2nd, center fielder Jose Morel to second baseman Luis Monasterio.

 

Another crooked number in the 5th sealed the deal.

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 5th

• Carlos Belonis pops out to second baseman Luis Monasterio.
  Elvis Rubio homers (2) on a fly ball to right center field.
  Juan Ortiz walks.
  With Jose Dicent batting, Juan Ortiz steals (5) 2nd base.
  Jose Dicent singles on a line drive to right fielder Jesus Heredia. Juan Ortiz to 3rd.
  Yunior Santana grounds into a force out, fielded by second baseman Luis Monasterio. Juan Ortiz scores. Jose Dicent out at 2nd. Yunior Santana to 1st.
  Natanael Mejia singles on a line drive to right fielder Jesus Heredia. Yunior Santana to 3rd. Natanael Mejia to 2nd on the throw.
  Pitcher Change: Ahmed Caballero replaces Darrel Leiva.
  Alejandro Mendoza lines out to shortstop Omar Obregon.

[TheCrew07]

Thinking about Gian Rizzo reminded me of Nick Bucci who hasn't made any kind of appearance since hurting his arm in that spring training game. At least Lasker has started to rehab but we're already into the second half without a mention of Bucci anywhere, it's looking like a lost season for him, which is too bad given the track he was on.

[TheCrew07]

video of the shot Cole took at the link

Cole bounces back with second win

Bucs prospect fans five in first start since he was felled by liner

By Danny Wild / MLB.com

 

Altoona right-handed Gerrit Cole was struck by a pair of comebackers in his previous start.

 

Pirates fans and scouts can breathe easy -- Gerrit Cole is back.

 

Or perhaps he never left. A week after getting knocked out of a game by a pair of comebackers that glanced off his face, the Pirates' first-rounder bounced back with 5 2/3 strong innings, hitting 99 mph as Double-A Altoona beat Binghamton, 6-2, on Monday night.

 

It was a big test for the 21-year-old right-hander, who dropped to the mound in pain on June 26 after Harrisburg's Sean Nicol hit a line drive that struck Cole in the face, the second comebacker to hit the Curve ace that inning. In what looked like a scary moment, Cole laid motionless on the ground, but eventually got back on his feet and struck out the final batter of the inning before going to a hospital for tests.

 

That game marked the shortest outing of Cole's career, but it clearly did not deter him Monday when he struck out six and held the Mets to a pair of runs -- one earned -- on six hits over 5 2/3 frames for his seventh overall win and second in the Eastern League.

 

Cole worked a 1-2-3 first inning and struck out Eric Campbell and Dustin Martin in the second en route to retiring the first seven batters he faced. Juan Centeno reached on missed catch error by first baseman Matt Curry with one out in the third, and after Mets starter Gonzalez Germen bunted foul with two strikes, Juan Lagares finally connected for the Mets' first hit, driving home Centeno with a single to left off Cole.

 

The run was unearned, and Cole got back to task, working around a pair of two-out singles in the fourth. He survived a leadoff single and a walk in the fifth, but didn't finish the sixth.

 

Cole, who hit 99 mph in the sixth, allowed a leadoff single to Campbell and an RBI double by Wilmer Flores before throwing a wild pitch to let Flores take third.

 

The UCLA product popped up Sean Kazmar for the second out but handed the ball off to Nathan Baker, who got Centeno to fly to left to end the frame.

 

Cole threw 63 of his 87 pitches for strikes in his second win in three Double-A starts. In 11 2/3 innings since his promotion, the California native has allowed six earned runs and one walk with 13 strikeouts.

 

The Pirates' first-round pick in last year's Draft began his first professional season with Class A Advanced Bradenton, going 5-1 with a 2.55 ERA in 13 starts.

 

Cole was in position to win all night after Altoona scored twice in the first and Brock Holt's solo shot in the third gave the Curve a 3-0 lead. Ramon Cabrera doubled and scored in the fourth before Altoona tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and ninth.

 

Germen fell to 4-6 for Binghamton after allowing five runs -- three earned -- on eight hits and two walks over seven frames.

[TheCrew07]

Ramsey collects three hits in debut

Cardinals' first-rounder feels right at home in Palm Beach

By Ashley Marshall / Special to MLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/07/02/G8H963Aa.jpg

James Ramsey led the Florida State Seminoles with 13 homers and a .378 average in 2012. (AP)

 

Just two weeks after guiding Florida State to the semifinals of the College World Series, St. Louis first-rounder James Ramsey made the transition to pro ball look effortless.

 

Ramsey went 3-for-5 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in his Minor League debut Monday in Class A Advanced Palm Beach's 5-4 loss to Jupiter.

 

"I would say it was good just to get out there and compete again," said Ramsey, selected 23rd overall in the 2012 Draft. "It hasn't been long since the College World Series, but it was nice to become part of the Cardinals' family this week.

 

"It was a quick transition for me. I signed Friday night and then flew out on Sunday. It was a challenge going through four different cities. I went from Tallahassee to Atlanta, and then after 36 hours, I went from Atlanta to St. Louis to sign. I went back to Atlanta on Saturday morning and then to Palm Beach on Sunday."

 

On Monday, the 22-year-old doubled to left field in his first at-bat in the first inning and he beat out an infield single to shortstop with two outs in the third.

 

Ramsey then singled back up the middle to load the bases in the fifth frame before grounding into a forceout, stealing second base and scoring on Rainel Rosario's line drive to center field in the seventh.

 

"I was just staying with my normal approach -- taking pitches, getting deep into counts and taking what the pitcher gave me," said Ramsey, who had around 15 family members and friends in the stands. "If he pitched me away, I'd try to go away; if he pitched me inside, I would try and pull it.

 

"To get the first hit out of the way in the first at-bat was pretty special. I worked the count 3-2 and hit a line drive down the left side over the third baseman. It was big for me, but all of the hits were great."

 

Playing center field and batting third, Ramsey struck out in his final at-bat in the ninth.

 

"[The Cardinals] want to see me be myself and do the things that got me here. They will evaluate me day to day, but if I do the things I know I can do well, hopefully I will be on the fast track. I need to keep my blue collar mentality -- never too high, never too low and keep on grinding."

 

In his senior year at Florida State, he led the Seminoles -- ranked third nationally -- to their 21st College World Series where they lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Arizona.

 

Ramsey earned a below-slot $1.6-million signing bonus, according to Baseball America. Ramsey had to wait until his participation in the NCAA Division I playoffs ended before he was eligible to sign.

 

"I think a lot of people will question why [st. Louis] paid that, but the Cardinals value me as a player and a lot of other teams valued me in the same ballpark. They know I will be in the big leagues before long, and they know they have someone who will be able to lead this team.

 

"They put me straight in High-A for a reason and they obviously have a lot of faith in me."

 

In 2012, the native of Alpharetta, Ga., led all Seminoles hitters with a .378 batting average and 13 homers in 67 games in his senior year. The captain of the team, he also ranked first on the team in runs scored (78) and triples (six), and he finished second in RBIs (58) and walks (63).

 

Despite those numbers, Ramsey -- a finance major twice named to the President's List for holding a 4.0 GPA -- says his top attribute is his makeup.

 

"I think maybe my best tool is my sixth tool, because people know that I do the other five pretty well, said Ramsey, named the MVP of the East team at the 2011 Cape Cod All-Star Game. "I have the confidence to know that I project to be a big leaguer pretty quickly and I have a team-first mentality. I don't have a glaring weakness, but there is always room to improve.

 

"Coach [Mike] Martin was the college baseball coach of the year and FSU invests on you on and off the field. The things I learned there are invaluable."

 

On Monday, Palm Beach starter Scott Schneider surrendered one run on three hits over four innings, but he did not factor in the decision. Dean Kiekhefer (2-2) gave up three runs on four hits over two-thirds of an inning in the ninth.

 

Cardinals catcher Luis De La Cruz was 3-for-4 with an RBI in the loss.

 

Jupiter's Chad James allowed three runs -- one earned -- on five hits and three walks while striking out five batters over the first five innings. Michael Brady, the third reliever out of the 'pen, fanned two batters over a perfect ninth to improve to 2-3.

 

Hammerheads' center fielder Christian Yelich -- MLB.com's No. 28 prospect -- was 2-for-4 with his 10th homer of the year in the victory. Leadoff hitter Danny Black recorded the decisive blow with a two-out, game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.