Link Report for Fri. 7/13

[Mass Haas]

Captains 7, Timber Rattlers 6: Sprint ends marathon for Lake County

By David S. Glasier, News-Herald.com

 

You know it's a long night at the ol' ballpark when the crowd sings along with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" for the second time.

 

That was the case Friday at Classic Park as the Captains and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers worked overtime, 15 innings and 4 1/2 hours, before the Captains pulled out a 7-6 victory.

 

Captains right fielder Jordan Smith accounted for the game-winning run. With the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the 15th, Smith sent a fly ball to straightaway left field off Wisconsin reliever Stephen Peterson.

 

Lake County speedster Jose Ramirez, stationed on third base after doubling to open the frame and moving up on an intentional walk to Francisco Lindor, never hesitated on the decisive play.

 

Ramirez broke home after the catch by Wisconsin right fielder Ben McMahan. The throw was strong but high and slightly up the line, allowing Rodriguez to slide around the attempted tag by Wisconsin catcher Cameron Garfield.

 

Smith and Ramirez immediately were mobbed by joyous teammates.

 

"With bases loaded, I'd rather have hit it over the fence, but it went out there just far enough for Mini-Me (Ramirez) to score," Smith said. "We had so many chances to win this. It's really big when a game like this breaks your way."

 

Left-handed reliever Kyle Petter (1-0, 0.96), the sixth pitcher used by Captains manager Dave Wallace, worked a scoreless top of the 15th to earn the victory.

 

The pressure was on Petter. He was only going to be permitted to go the one inning after working two scoreless innings in Thursday's 5-3 loss to Wisconsin.

 

Wallace had designated hitter Patric Tolentino, a catcher by trade, warming up in the bullpen.

 

"Petter stepped up. He gave us a clean inning and a chance to win the game. If we'd gone to the 16th (inning), Tolentino was going to be on the mound," Wallace said.

 

Petter had has left arm encased in ice after the Captains prevailed in the marathon affair.

 

"Just a great effort by both ballclubs," Petter said. "We couldn't get it done in nine innings, but we stepped up when it mattered most."

 

The Captains improved to 10-11 in the second half with the victory in the series finale. Wisconsin slipped to 11-10 with the loss.

 

It was the longest game of the season at Classic Park and the longest for both teams this season in terms of innings and game time.

 

"This will make sleeping a lot easier tonight," Wallace said.

 

Smith went 3-for-4 with three RBI for the Captains. Tolentino had a double, home run and two RBI.

 

The Captains took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Luigi Rodriguez raced home off Jordan Smith's two-out RBI single to right field.

 

Wisconsin pulled even in the top of the fifth inning when Lake County starter Mason Radeke yielded a one-out, solo home run to Tyler Roberts.

 

In the bottom of the fifth, the Captains answered with two runs to take a 3-1 lead. The first tally came on Tolentino's tape-measure solo home run to left field. Francisco Lindor doubled home Hankins with the second run. Hankins had reached base on an error by Wisconsin shortstop Yadier Rivera.

 

Lake County extended its lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI doubles by Tolentino and Todd Hankins.

 

The Timber Rattlers tallied single runs in the top of the seventh and eight innings to draw closer, then scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.

 

Wisconsin's Max Walla slammed a solo home run in the top of the 12th inning. Smith's RBI single in the bottom of the 12th prolonged the drama.

 

Photo by Jeff Forman/News-Herald.com

Captains designated hitter Patric Tolentino beats the tag from Rattlers second baseman Adrian Williams for an RBI double in the sixth inning, giving the Captains a 4-1 lead in the sixth inning Friday at Classic Park.

 

http://news-herald.com/content/articles/2012/07/14/sports/nh5725560.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Helena Independent Record summary of road contest --

 

Idaho Falls’ Adrian Martinez scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the Chukars won their second straight Pioneer League game over the Helena Brewers 4-3 on Friday night.

 

Idaho Falls starter Sam Selman followed teammate Ali Williams’ 11-strikeout start on Thursday with a seven-strikeout outing of his own on Friday, but lasted just 5.1 innings after allowing Helena to pull within 3-2 on Yonki Hernandez’s bunt single that plated Michael Reed in the fifth.

 

Selman allowed five hits and just one walk before being pulled.

 

David Middendorf relieved him and was hit with a blown save after allowing Adam Giacalone to score on Raul Mondesi Jr.’s single to center field in the sixth that knotted the score. Middendorf rebounded to allow no more runs and four hits total in his two innings of work, though, and picked up the win on Martinez’s sprint to the plate.

 

Reliever Martin Viramontes (1-2) took the loss for the Brewers.

 

Martinez and Carlos Garcia both went 2 for 3 to lead the Idaho Falls offense.

 

Helena’s Tyrone Taylor had his second straight strong day at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a run scored as the only Brewers batter with multiple hits on the day.

 

Idaho Falls won the series 2-1.

[bkrause2]

Rattler Radio Nine after 9

[TooLiveBrew]

The surprising Malcolm Dowell had the only baseball knock. His average this year is now .333.

Although his MiLB player page might lead you to believe he was an UDFA, Dowell was the Brewers' 9th round selection last season. He struggled last year in his pro debut, but your post made me check out his production -- .333/.424/.373/.796 (4/4 SB attempts) through his first 16 games this year.

 

He's in just his age-19 season, and is listed at 6'0" & 190 lbs., so I think it's reasonable to project him to develop more power as he gets older. However, there wasn't much (if any) scouting info available at the time Dowell was drafted... so unless he breaks out & garners more attention, we're kind of flying blind as to how he actually profiles.