Link Report for Tue. 7/24 -- It's Hiram Burgos' world, we just live in it

[DHonks]

TheCrew, Yost looked promising until he got hurt and was permanently moved to 1b.

[TooLiveBrew]

Carlos Belonis returned and made an appearance as a PR, stole his 20th base, and scored a run.

Glad to hear it... and good catch, man.

[TheCrew07]

Sounds Open Homestand With 4-1 Win Over Memphis

Lucroy Goes 3-For-4 With One RBI And Three Runs Scored

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds topped the cross-state rival Memphis Redbirds, 4-1, on Tuesday night at Greer Stadium in the opener of a four-game series.

 

In his first game with the Sounds and fifth overall during his rehab appearance, catcher Jonathan Lucroy went 3-for-4 with and RBI and three runs scored. The three runs scored matched a season-high by a Sounds player this season.

 

The backstop popped out to first in the first, singled up the middle in the fourth, ripped an RBI single to center in the sixth, and knocked an opposite-field base hit to right in the eighth.

 

First baseman Sean Halton doubled twice and drove in a run. Second baseman Eric Farris singled to extend his hitting streak to six games. Juan Sanchez also had a pinch-hit single for his first Triple-A hit of his career.

 

Memphis quickly jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but failed to score the rest of the game. Eugenio Velez doubled down the right field line and proceeded to score as Mark Hamilton singled to right.

 

Nashville knotted the game at 1-1 in the home half of the fourth. Lucroy singled to left, moved to third on a double from first baseman Sean Halton, and scored on an infield groundout from right fielder Jordan Brown.

 

The Sounds added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to go ahead for good. Farris worked an inning-opening walk, moved to second on a sacrifice from center fielder Caleb Gindl, and scored as Lucroy lined a single to center. Halton then tacked on an RBI double to score the rehabbing catcher from first base.

 

· AUDIO: Jonathan Lucroy RBI Single

· AUDIO: Sean Halton RBI Double

 

Nashville added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as Lucroy led off the frame with a single, moved to second and third on groundouts, and scored on a wild pitch.

 

In a no-decision, Seth McClung allowed one first-inning run on five hits while striking out six in five innings.

 

Donovan Hand (2-1) followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings while fanning four for the victory. Jesus Sanchez worked around a hit for scoreless eighth before Jim Henderson shut the door with his team-leading 15th save.

 

Memphis starter Tyler Lyons (1-6) pitched his second quality start of the season against the Sounds in a losing effort. The left-hander surrendered three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in six innings.

 

The Sounds and division-rival Redbirds continue their four-game series at 7:05 p.m. CT on Wednesday night. Nashville will send right-hander Claudio Vargas (3-1, 4.66) to the mound to face Cardinals top prospect RHP Shelby Miller (5-8, 5.40).

 

Nashville Box Score

Big Seth with perhaps his best outing of the season while Sean Halton continues to rake. I'm really intrigued by Jesus Sanchez, especially if he truly has the mid 90s heat that's been reported. He threw 24 pitches in his inning, but 17 were for strikes.

 

Tomorrow's pitching match up is interesting, in case you missed it from an earlier LR Shelby Miller thinks he found and fixed a mechanical problem with his delivery before his last start, which was one of his better outings of the season. The Sounds will put that theory to the test...

 

Nashville Play By Play

[TheCrew07]

TheCrew, Yost looked promising until he got hurt and was permanently moved to 1b.

 

In Helena sure...

[Tedaldtada]

AZL Brewers 13 AZL Mariners 7

 

Box Score

 

Anthony Banda started and he pitched well. 4 IP 4 H 1 R 1 ER 3 BB 2 K 2 WP 5:3 GO:FO. Joel Dicent followed and walked 4 in 2 IP while surrendering only 1 run. Dicent was nasty in the DSL last summer, but so far that has not translated. Joel will turn 21 in about a week. Austin Blaski threw 2 good innings allowing an unearned run with 2 K. Alejandro Lavandero started the 9th and struggled a bit. 5 BB and 2 H while only recording 2 outs for Lavandero. Carlos Sosa came in a quickly ended the madness.

 

I am really liking what I am seeing (in box scores and scouting reports) from Edgardo Rivera (0-2 4 BB) thus far. He seems to have some sort of idea at the plate, and although he does not profile for future power, he does profile as a plus defender and any kind of on-base prowess will be capitalized on with his speed on the basepaths.

 

6'0" 190 lb 19 year old Renaldo Jenkins (1-3 2 BB SB) has been getting most of the starts at 2B for the AZL Brewers. I had him personally pegged as a sleeper coming into this season and so far, he is about a 3 game hot streak from making me look smart. As is, he is walking a more then 10% of his PA's while striking out at a similar rate. He has a few XBH's and he is capable of swiping some bases as he did have a 3 SB game recently.

 

C Dustin Houle (2-6 2B) had a bases clearing 2B in this one. He is another one of these patient AZL Brewers hitters.

 

19 year old Jose Pena (1-3 3 BB), who Keith Law recently described as having the "...potential to hit for average and power (in the big leagues)...", had another good game.

 

Alan Sharkey (2-6 2 SB) and Jose Sermo (2-4 BB) also had good games. Sermo was thrown out trying to steal home though.

 

No Clint Coulter tonight. After 5 seperate defensive miscues last night, he probably needed a breather.

 

Game Log

 

8-run 8th inning feast.

 

AZL Brewers Top of the 8th

 

Pitching Change: Cody Weiss replaces Richard White, batting 7th.

Alan Sharkey singles on a fly ball to center fielder Isaiah Yates.

With Jose Sermo batting, Alan Sharkey steals (4) 2nd base.

Jose Sermo walks.

Angel Ortega singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Cody Weiss. Alan Sharkey to 3rd. Jose Sermo to 2nd.

Renaldo Jenkins singles on a ground ball to right fielder Rashynol Michel. Alan Sharkey scores. Jose Sermo to 3rd. Angel Ortega to 2nd.

Malcolm Dowell strikes out swinging.

Edgardo Rivera walks. Jose Sermo scores. Angel Ortega to 3rd. Renaldo Jenkins to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Daniel Mata replaces Cody Weiss, batting 7th.

Dustin Houle grounds into a force out, shortstop Roberto Velasquez to second baseman Timothy Lopes. Angel Ortega scores. Renaldo Jenkins to 3rd. Edgardo Rivera out at 2nd. Dustin Houle to 1st.

Jose Pena walks. Dustin Houle to 2nd.

Deivi Mejia singles on a ground ball to left fielder Cory Scammell. Renaldo Jenkins scores. Dustin Houle scores. Jose Pena to 3rd.

Alan Sharkey reaches on a fielding error by left fielder Cory Scammell. Jose Pena scores. Deivi Mejia to 3rd. Alan Sharkey to 2nd.

Jose Sermo singles on a fly ball to left fielder Cory Scammell. Deivi Mejia scores. Alan Sharkey to 3rd.

Angel Ortega reaches on a fielding error by center fielder Isaiah Yates. Alan Sharkey scores. Jose Sermo to 3rd. Angel Ortega advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by center fielder Isaiah Yates.

Renaldo Jenkins grounds out, shortstop Roberto Velasquez to first baseman Luke Guarnaccia.

[TheCrew07]

Boise's Dickson hurls six no-hit frames

Cubs prospect able to repay organization that had faith in him

By Ashley Marshall / Special to MLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/07/24/CCCeJA6v.jpg

Ian Dickson was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 35th round in 2011. (Boise Hawks)

 

When Ian Dickson blew out his knee going into his junior year of college, he thought his chances of going pro the following summer went with it.

 

Then the Cubs took a chance on the 6-foot-5 right-hander on Day 3 of the 2011 Draft and he knew he had been thrown a lifeline.

 

On Tuesday, Dickson turned in the finest outing of his young Minor League career. The New York native fired six no-hit innings and the short-season Boise Hawks carried the bid into the eighth frame en route to a 2-1 win over the Yakima Bears.

 

"It went according to plan," Dickson said. "I threw my fastball and my breaking ball for strikes and I kept my changeup down in the zone.

 

"First time through the lineup, I threw primarily fastballs to get ahead. Then the second and third times through, my off-speed was working. I could throw my slider for first-pitch strikes and my changeup as a swing-through."

 

Only two batters got on base against Dickson, who was perfect through the first five innings.

 

Ronnie Freeman reached on shortstop Stephen Bruno's fielding error to begin the sixth, the only ball Dickson said was hit hard all evening against him. Two batters later, Bruno misplayed Josh Parr's ground ball.

 

But Dickson set down Daniel Poma for the second out of the inning and he struck out his final batter of the night, Kevin Medrano, before placing the no-hitter in the hands of the bullpen.

 

"It was Aug. 2, 2010. It was the final start I had in the Virginia Baseball League," the 6-foot-5 right-hander said of the last no-hitter he was involved in. "It was my last start I made before pro ball.

 

"Guys say they aren't aware of [no-hitters and perfect games], but it was in the back of my mind tonight. I just tried to focus on my pitches on the mound. My catcher, Carlos Escobar, called a great game. I kept a good tempo and started my delivery as soon as possible once the umpire said play."

 

Dickson said he would "have been delighted" to come back out for the seventh, but he knew he was on a pitch limit of 75 pitches or six frames, depending on how things were working out. He exited after throwing 71 pitches through six.

 

Hunter Ackerman took the no-no bid into the eighth, but Ronnie Freeman broke it up with a leadoff single to center field. Michael Lang followed with a base hit to left, and both runners advanced on Parr's groundout. Daniel Poma then shattered the shutout with a run-scoring ground ball to first base.

 

Michael Hamann retired the final two batters in the ninth to earn his first save.

 

Dickson (2-3) lowered his ERA more than a run to 5.06 with the win.

 

He tore the ACL meniscus in his left knee going into his junior season at Lafayette College in 2010. He underwent surgery in the middle of December that year and the Cubs -- fully aware of the injury -- took a chance on him in the 35th round of the following June's Draft.

 

Dickson signed above slot at the deadline in August, and a month later, he went to the instructional league, where he started pitching in competitive games again.

 

"It was reassuring to know they were willing to invest the time in me," said Dickson, who throws a four-seam and two-seam fastball, a changeup and two variations of slider -- one of which he says is like a curveball, the other more like a cut-fastball.

 

"It gave me confidence and allowed me to do what I'm doing now. It's nice to know they had that confidence in me even though I hadn't pitched in nearly a year. I was fortunate enough to be drafted anyway."

 

Yakima starter Daniel Watts took the hard-luck loss Tuesday. He allowed two runs -- one earned -- on six hits over six innings. He walked two batters and fanned a pair in the loss.

[TheCrew07]

2 articles on Pirates prospects, the second is behind the pay wall.

 

Alen Hanson's Breakout Season At The Plate Has Him Focused On Glovework

 

Pirates' Gregory Polanco Finds The Spotlight Suits Him

[TheCrew07]

Top Batting Performances Over The Weekend, July 20-22

 

Our own Khris Davis and the a fore mentioned Gregory Polanco from the Pirates.

 

Miguel Sano has gone into some kind of slump since I handed off the T-Rats and quit following the MWL as closely.

[SenatorShriv]

That 2009 draft makes me want to puke. Trout gets taken the pick before the Brewers in the first round, and then between that pick and when the Reds draft Billy Hamilton at #57 the Brewers select Eric Arnett, Kentrail Davis, and Kyle Heckathorn. And Tyler Skaggs gets taken the pick after Kentrail Davis.

 

The Brewers don't make the playoffs, pick ahead of Anaheim, and end up with Trout, Skaggs, and Hamilton. What could have been...

 

Aren't most drafts kind of like that? One or two that we "just missed" and a couple selected later that turn out to be stars?

 

I believe that the 2009 draft also produced Burgos. Just saying it may not have been a complete waste...

[Mass Haas]

Steve keep schurning out the Helena audio --

 

Manager Jeff Isom

Chris McFarland love...

 

Special Asst. to the GM Dan O'Brien

[Mass Haas]

Brewers rally not enough to earn victory

Helena Brewers

 

For seven and a half innings it appeared that the Ogden Raptors would easily escape Helena with their 23rd win of the season. However, it was at that point the Brewers bats came to life. Despite getting the tying run to the plate, the Brewers eventually fell 9-5.

 

The Brewers got off to a rough start on Tuesday evening as the Raptors tallied nine runs before the home team could do any damage. However, down 9-0 in the bottom of the eighth, the Brewers bats would heat up. With the bases loaded and one out, Alfredo Rodriguez drove a 3-2 pitch deep into the gap scoring three and winding up at third with a triple. Chris McFarland proceeded to single him in and the Brewers cut the lead to 9-4.

 

In the bottom of the ninth, with Mike Nemeth at first and two outs things began to click again. Yonki Hernandez drew a walk, which would be followed by back to back singles from Ruben Ozuna and Michael Reed. Unfortunately, the hot hitting Rodriguez couldn't come through in the ninth like he did in the eighth and would eventually strike out looking.

 

For the Raptors the game was highlighted by the first Ogden cycle since 1998. Tae-Hyeok Nam, who entered the game hitting just .216, came to the plate in the top of the eighth just a triple away from the rare feat. One baseball over the right fielder's head and 270 feet later Nam was at third.

 

The game improved Ogden's record to 23-12 and dropped the Brewers to 12-23. Matt Laney earned his third victory of the season, while Helena's Leonard Lorenzo was slapped with the loss.

 

The Brewers will take on the Ogden Raptors for the final game of the three game series at Kindrick Legion Field Wednesday night. First pitch is slated for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

Michael Reed had two hits in Tuesday's game. (Sleeping Giant Photography)

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/07/25/8wp3svqt.jpg

 

***

 

This is the MiLB.com write-up focusing on the Ogden youngster's cycle.

[Mass Haas]

Six photos in this Helena Independent Record gallery

[Mass Haas]

Stars Take Series Opener 6-1

32nd Sellout Crowd Hosted After PDC Extension Announced

By Andrew Green / Pensacola Blue Wahoos

 

Huntsville starting pitcher Hiram Burgos tossed a nine-inning complete game, while left fielder Khris Davis and and first baseman Hunter Morris each blasted two-run homers, as the Stars defeated the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 6-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 5,038 on Tuesday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

 

The victory improved the Stars' record in the second half to 14-17, while the loss dropped the Fish to an 18-13 mark since the league's All-Star Break. The capacity crowd was the 32nd of the year for the Blue Wahoos in their 50th home opening of the season. Before the game, the Blue Wahoos and Cincinnati Reds announced a four-year extension to their Player Development Contract, meaning Pensacola will be affiliated with the Reds through the 2016 season.

 

The lone hiccup for Burgos (9.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 SO) came in the opening frame, when he gave up a solo home run to left off the bat of CF Ryan LaMarre, the outfielder's second roundtripper in a three game span. It was also the fifth longball of the season for LaMarre.

 

From that point on, the Stars' hurler did not allow a runner past second, giving up the lone earned run on eight hits while fanning one in his nine frames. It was also the first complete game in Burgos' professional career, who improved to 6-1 on the year.

 

Pensacola starting pitcher Tony Cingrani (5.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO) suffered the loss, snapping his four-game winning streak that dated back to June 27. Relievers Brian Pearl (1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO), Mark Serrano (1.0 IP) and Chris Manno (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 SO) all combined to give up just one hit in the final 3.2 scoreless frames.

 

Huntsville took the lead they would not give back in the fourth, with the first of their two big flies. With two outs, 2B Scooter Gennett doubled to right, before Davis deposited the first pitch he saw over the right field line to move the Stars ahead 2-1.

 

They would then plate two tallies in the next two innings to extend the margin to five. RF Kentrail Davis doubled and C Anderson De La Rosa walked in the fifth, before CF Josh Prince sent both home with a triple to right center. Morris in the following frame then mashed his 16thh homer of the year to right to end the scoring for Huntsville.

 

Kentrail Davis (2-4, 1 R, 1 2B) and Khris Davis (2-4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI) each recorded multi-hit efforts in the victory for the Stars, while LaMarre (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) and LF Donald Lutz (2-4) both accumulated two hits. 1B Beau Mills reached base with a single to extend his on-base streak to 27, as well as his hit streak to seven.

 

With Huntsville leading the series 1-0, the two clubs will meet Wednesday night for the second game of the five-game set, with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m. at the bayfront stadium. RHP Kyle Lotzkar is expected to get the nod for the Blue Wahoos, while the Stars are scheduled to counter with RHP Josh Stinson.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville's T.J. Mittelstaedt impressed by his teammates Tuesday night

[JohnBriggs12]

Hunter who?

 

I'd just like to point out that Sean Halton's OPS at Nashville is now .855. In Gamel's first year in AAA, his OPS was .839.

 

Just sayin.

[Mass Haas]

From the DSL game:

 

Inherited runners-scored: Tejada 3-0, Flores, J 3-0.

 

(In two separate innings, by the way).

 

After all these years, I still find myself turning to the inherited runners line within each box score before any other. All our Link Reporters have done a great job all season, just pointing out that it's easy to either dismiss a reliever's seemingly average line, or praise a scoreless line that didn't include good work in this regard. (Not picking on TC07 for this particular game at all, and you guys shouldn't feel the need to note this line item every single box now, either .)

[igor67]

Halton's home/road split is less kind. His home OPS this year is a mid .700's entirely consistent with last year in Huntsville. He's doing well enough to keep around, but I suspect the somewhat interesting line is mostly a PCL creation. Suddenly the no position prospect Brewers look at lot more like the mid 2000's Twins when they had a ton of guys at the corners who could all hit a little and field acceptably (Kielty, Kubel, Ford, Cuddyer... and a few others). No one who was going to become a consistent All-star but a lot of useful pieces. The biggest challenge will probably be figuring out who can play and giving everyone a fair look.

[JohnBriggs12]

Halton's home/road split is less kind. His home OPS this year is a mid .700's entirely consistent with last year in Huntsville. He's doing well enough to keep around, but I suspect the somewhat interesting line is mostly a PCL creation. Suddenly the no position prospect Brewers look at lot more like the mid 2000's Twins when they had a ton of guys at the corners who could all hit a little and field acceptably (Kielty, Kubel, Ford, Cuddyer... and a few others). No one who was going to become a consistent All-star but a lot of useful pieces. The biggest challenge will probably be figuring out who can play and giving everyone a fair look.

 

What do home/road splits have to do with anything? He only has 93 AB at home. That's not a large enough sample. He's done damage this week in New Orleans and Memphis. That's not Reno and Las Vegas. He's 6'5" 265. He can hit the ball out of any park. It's taken him a while to learn to get more lift but he's hit at every level and anyone that size has power potential. His OPS is .080 higher than anyone on the Nashville roster. Isn't everyone else playing in the same parks?

[Tedaldtada]

JohnBriggs12, have you ever seen Sean Halton play a game?

 

Do your eyes match the stats?

[igor67]

The sample is not big enough to produce a definitive statement about him as a player. My point however was that if you look at all of his minor league stat lines, his data looks a lot like the same player this year as last year with a bump to his numbers from playing in more offensive parks. He might be making some improvements, but there is not enough statistical data to be convincing. Nor as tedaldtada pointed is there a strong amount of scouting evidence as yet that he is taking things to a new level.

[yoshii8]

So when does Burgos get the bump to Nashville? I think 83 dominating innings at AA is enough to justify it.

[X-TAI]

Great game last night for the Stars. Glad I got to see it live. Another great performance for Burgos.

Highlight of the night:Burgos said to me if Hamilton gets on base he's going to pick him off at 1st. 2 throws later he did.

[yoshii8]

X-TAI, I'm guessing you know Burgos. Could you please give us a detailed scouting report on him? Also, has he changed something from last season to this season that has helped him have this great of a year? Thanks.

[FVBrewerFan]

So when does Burgos get the bump to Nashville? I think 83 dominating innings at AA is enough to justify it.

 

Forget the bump to Nashville. Just wait for Greinke to be traded, and put him in the Brewers rotation. Why not?

[yoshii8]

I'd be ok w/ that. What do the Brewers have to lose by doing that?