Link Report for Wed. 8/1 - Hellweg's Strong Debut; Jungmann cruises; H-Crew walks off

[Tedaldtada]

Morris is often referred to as "competent" in the field but I have read at least one report that was very optimistic.

 

Jungmann has been 90-93 all season, so I expect that is where he was at tonight.

[Tedaldtada]

Chadwin Stang was a beast in July. .319/.373/.478 12 XBH 7/9 in SB's. He has a .751 OPS on the year now.

 

Malcolm Dowell has finally been moved up in the lineup (6-hole tonight). His K's are down, which is really great to see. Next up, start driving the ball so he can fly around the base paths with his speed.

 

Huntsville beat up on Zach Lee today and the Manatees squeaked by Chad James. Well done.

[1e Corbeau]

Per Stars' Media Relations Director Jill Cacic, Hellweg topped out at 98, presumably on the stadium gun, tonight.

[And That]

The three pitchers the Stars used tonight were 6'9, 6'6 and 6'6.

[bkrause2]

Final: Burlington 3, Wisconsin 1

 

Bees break tie late to beat Rattlers

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Aaron Shipman tripled in a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning to give the Burlington Bees a 3-1 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Wednesday night. Both starting pitchers were good, but neither were around for the decision.

 

Max Muncy put the Bees (53-54 overall, 21-17 second half) in front in the second inning. He hit a home run to right-center off Rattlers starting pitcher David Goforth and the solo shot made it 1-0.

 

The Rattlers (63-44, 19-19) were primed to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Chadwin Stang extended his hitting streak to sixteen games with a leadoff triple against Bees starting pitcher Drew Granier. But, Granier got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts around a line out to third base.

 

Goforth left the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning and faced the same situation with two outs in the top of the sixth. He stranded three Bees in the sixth, too.

 

Wisconsin tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Stang tripled with one out to set up the inning. Wednesday marked the second time Stang has had two triples in a game this season. It was also the third time he's had two triples in a game in his Rattlers career.

 

Lance Roenicke drove in Stang with a sacrifice fly to even the game 1-1. That was the only run allowed by Granier. The Bees starting pitcher struck out eight and walked one over six innings.

 

Goforth would toss seven innings and strike out four. He worked around four walks and five hits to allow just one run.

 

Nick Rickles started the Burlington ninth inning with a single off reliever Tyler Cravy. Chi-Fang Pan dropped a bunt in front of the plate that left an opportunity to get Rickles, the Bees catcher, at second base. However, the throw sailed into center for an error and the Bees had a pair of runners in scoring position and no outs.

 

Cravy got the first out, but Shipman lined a triple to right-center to put Burlington up 3-1.

 

Bees closer Jonathan Joseph retired the Rattlers in order in the bottom of the ninth inning to finish off the Rattlers.

 

Game three of the series is Thursday afternoon. Eric Semmelhack (0-0, 4.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. AJ Cole (5-2, 2.06) is set to start for the Bees. Game time is 12:05pm.

 

Thursday is a Baker Tilly Business Persons Special. Show your business card when you purchase a ticket and for $11.50 you will receive a box seat ticket, a beverage and your choice of brat or hot dog. This offer is available to senior citizens, too.

 

All fans can enjoy 16oz soda and beer for just $2 as part of Thirsty Thursday presented by Slugger's Sports Bar! After the game, those in attendance can take their ticket stub to Sluggers Sports Bar - located in Super Bowl on Northland Avenue - to win Miller Lite drinks and prizes.

 

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:45am. Thursday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

 

HOME RUN:

BUR:

Max Muncy (3rd, 0 on in 2nd inning off David Goforth, 1 out)

 

WP: Seth Frankoff (3-7)

LP: Tyler Cravy (1-5)

SAVE: Jonathan Joseph (10)

 

TIME: 2:12

ATTN: 4,585

 

Wisconsin Box Score

 

I feel like I've been saying this a lot lately, but another fantastic pitching performance from a Timber Rattlers starting pitcher tonight. Dave Chavarria is certainly doing something right in Appleton. Tonight it was David Goforth on the hill. He went 7 innings and gave up just one run on five hits. Goforth is 3-1 with a 3.80 ERA since the All-Star break. He struck out four and walked four. Tyler Cravy took the loss in relief. He pitched two innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits.

 

Chadwin Stang scored the only T-Rats run. He went 2-4. Both of his hits were triples. Stang led off the fourth inning with a triple but Roenicke struck out and Macias lined out to third. The Rattlers managed only three other hits, a double by Brandon Macias and singles from Ben McMahan and Max Walla. Cameron Garfield committed a throwing error but also did throw out Oakland's #8 prospect Aaron Shipman trying to steal two times.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

 

The Timber Rattlers only scoring of the game

Wisconsin Bottom of the 6th

Carlos George bunt grounds out, third baseman Wade Kirkland to first baseman Maxwell Muncy.

Chadwin Stang triples (9) on a fly ball to right fielder Aaron Shipman.

Lance Roenicke out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Bobby Crocker. Chadwin Stang scores.

Brandon Macias doubles (26) on a fly ball to left fielder Royce Consigli.

Drew Granier intentionally walks Nick Ramirez.

Ben McMahan lines out softly to pitcher Drew Granier.

[Tedaldtada]

Manatees blank Hammerheads

08/01/2012 10:14 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/08/01/8y3ceomU.jpg

Taylor Jungmann is 6-1 with a 2.18 ERA at home. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - Taylor Jungmann threw seven scoreless innings and Shea Vucinich drove in both Brevard County runs as the Manatees recorded their ninth shutout of the season by blanking the Jupiter Hammerheads, 2-0 on Wednesday night at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Jungmann (9-6, 3.79) had one of his best starts of the season as he yielded just five hits and walked one batter, while striking out seven and retiring ten of the last 12 batters that he faced. He improved to 6-1 with a 2.18 ERA in 11 starts at Space Coast Stadium this season.

Brevard County's (22-18 second half, 51-57 overall) first run came in the bottom of the third on a RBI single off the bat of Vucinich which scored Franklin Romero Jr. Romero Jr. reached base two batters earlier, on a two-out double which was the only extra-base hit of the game for either team.

 

The 'Tees other run came in the fifth inning when Vucinich drove in Romero Jr. with another two-out RBI single. The inning started with Juan Sanchez reaching on an error and then Romero Jr. reached on a fielder's choice that retired Sanchez. Romero Jr. would then get into scoring position by stealing second and then came home on Vucinich's hit.

 

Alan Williams relieved Jungmann in the eighth and after getting the first two outs of the inning; he hit a batter and walked two Hammerheads (18-20, 54-54) in a row to load the bases. Casey Medlen was then brought in for the four-out save and he was able to leave them loaded in the eighth as he induced a ground out from pinch hitter Jacob Realmuto to end the threat and the inning.

 

Medlen then set Jupiter down in order in the ninth, including two via the strikeout, to notch his 17th save of the season. He has converted his last seven save opportunities, dating back to July 14th.

 

Offensively, both Vucinich and Mike Walker had two hits each. Both infielders have been hot at the plate lately as Vucinich is hitting .318 in his last five games, while Walker is batting .389 in his last five games.

 

Brevard County will look for the series victory in the finale of their four-game set with Jupiter on Thursday at 6:35 p.m.

 

The reigning Florida State League Pitcher of the Week, Andy Moye (5-2, 4.69) will toe the slab for the 'Tees. He threw seven shutout innings and allowed just two base runners on one hit and one walk, while fanning five hitters against Fort Myers last Saturday.

 

Robert Morey (5-2, 4.26) will get the ball for the Hammerheads. He has given up no fewer than three earned runs in four of his last five starts and has a 6.65 ERA on the road.

 

Box Score

 

Taylor Jungmann pitched his best game as a pro in this one. 7 IP 5 H 0 R 1 BB 7 K 9:4 GO:FO. Taylor's arsenal (a low-90's 4-seam, an 89-91 2-seam and a slower big breaking curveball) works very well when you can paint the corners with the FB's and get the curve over for strikes. Add a little sink, like Jungmann can do, and good things happen. Time to stack some successes. Casey Medlen bailed out Alan Williams of a bases loaded jam in the 8th. Medlen proceeded to mow them down in the 9th for the 4-out save.

 

Mike Walker (2-3) and Shea Vucinich (2-4) are seeing it well right now and Franklin Romero Jr. (1-3 2B) came back with a strong game.

 

Game Log

[Tedaldtada]

This Helena game just got very interesting. Big-time comeback.

[Tedaldtada]

Helena 7 Billings (Reds) 6

 

Box Score

 

A 5-run bottom of the 9th supplied a very exciting walk-off win against a very hot Reds team.

 

Here is the rally.

 

Helena Bottom of the 9th

 

Pitching Change: Alejandro Chacin replaces Matt Wiley.

Michael Turay singles on a line drive to center fielder Beau Amaral.

Raul Mondesi grounds out, pitcher Alejandro Chacin to first baseman Robert Maddox. Michael Turay to 2nd.

Ruben Ozuna singles on a ground ball to second baseman Brandon Dailey. Michael Turay to 3rd.

Yonki Hernandez reaches on a force attempt, throwing error by second baseman Brandon Dailey. Michael Turay scores. Ruben Ozuna to 3rd. Yonki Hernandez to 2nd.

Andres Martinez hit by pitch.

Christopher McFarland walks. Ruben Ozuna scores. Yonki Hernandez to 3rd. Andres Martinez to 2nd.

Michael Reed grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Seth Mejias-Brean. Yonki Hernandez scores. Andres Martinez out at 3rd. Christopher McFarland to 2nd. Michael Reed to 1st.

Alfredo Rodriguez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jeff Gelalich. Christopher McFarland scores. Michael Reed to 3rd on the throw. Alfredo Rodriguez to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Jordan Remer replaces Alejandro Chacin.

Adam Giacalone singles on a line drive to left fielder Daniel Pigott. Michael Reed scores. Alfredo Rodriguez to 3rd.

 

Team MVP Adam Giacalone (3-4 BB GW Hit) is looking like a steal for 100k. He K's about 1/3 of the time and the power is still untapped, but this 6'2" 218 lb beast will be ripping balls at Time Warner Field next season. Remember, Giacalone started so, so slow. What a turnaround.

 

C Michael Turay went 1-2 with 2 BB. He is having a very nice season. Every Brewers hitter struck out at least once, but they also drew 6 walks and sprayed out 8 hits.

 

Pretty sure I heard Steve say Preston Gainey and Joel Pierce combined to fall behind 20 of 34 hitters they faced. That is not the recipe in R ball. Gainey has been pretty good otherwise and Pierce is still oh so raw.

 

Game Log

[Tedaldtada]

I gotta run tonight. I DM'ed Big Sess about the AZL league but if someone feels the urge, please feel free to report on the game. Clint Coulter with 2 more hits as of right now.

[TheCrew07]

Suspended (8th Inning): DSL Angels 6, DSL Brewers 4

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

The Brewers had just coughed up the lead in the 7th and then allowed the Angels to put 2 on the board in the 8th prior to the suspension. The Brewers currently have runners on 1st and 2nd with no out in the bottom of the 8th.

 

Gian Rizzo was... well just like Gian Rizzo allowing 3 runs, 1 earned over 5 innings allowing 5 hits and no walks while striking out 6. Seriously, why is Gian still in the DSL? He dominated last year, has put up video game numbers this year, who's in AZ or Helena that's truly blocking him? His career numbers are just sick. I'm all about progression with pitchers, but even I'm coming up empty for any kind of justification for him sticking around the DSL. The only thing I can think of is that it's education related, in which case I'm okay with that.

 

Joan De La Cruz and Joshua Torres didn't fare very well giving up 3 runs in 3 innings.

 

So far Alejandro Mendoza (2-4) has the only multi-hit game but both Yunior De La Cruz and Juan Ortiz have doubled. Raphachel Colatosti, Kevin Martinez, and Ortiz have all stolen a base though Ortiz was also caught stealing home. Though Elvis Rubio has 2 errors in the game he did score an OF assist at home, the rest of the fielding below.

 

FIELDING

E: Rubio 2 (7, fielding, fielding), Colatosti (11, fielding).

PB: De La Cruz, Y (4).

Outfield assists: Rubio (Barreto at home).

 

DSL Brewers Play By Play

 

The Brewers had a big 5th to jump out in front before the pen gave it back and then some.

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 5th

• Yunior De La Cruz doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Leudy Garcia.
  Yunior Santana grounds out, third baseman Gustavo Perinan to first baseman Cesar Barazarte.
  Juan Ortiz doubles (10) on a line drive to left fielder Leudy Garcia. Yunior De La Cruz scores.
  Kevin Martinez walks.
  Pitching Change: Miguel Castro replaces Alejandro Solarte.
  With Raphachel Colatosti batting, Juan Ortiz steals (14) 3rd base. Kevin Martinez steals (1) 2nd base.
  Raphachel Colatosti called out on strikes.
  Alejandro Mendoza singles on a line drive to left fielder Leudy Garcia. Juan Ortiz scores. Kevin Martinez scores.
  Jose Dicent singles on a line drive to right fielder Andres De Aza. Alejandro Mendoza to 2nd.
  Juan De Leon strikes out swinging.

[TooLiveBrew]

@Huntsville 5, Chattanooga 1

 

Huntsville Box

Johnny Hellweg's organizational debut looked like it might not go very well after the 1st inning: two BBs followed by a throwing error on a double-steal attempt allowed an unearned run to score. However, Hellweg bounced back & got a swinging strikeout to end the frame and escape any further damage.

 

As it turned out, the strikeout was more of an omen as to how this one would turn out. Hellweg went into beast mode, retiring the next 11 Lookouts batters before surrendering a two-out groundball single in the 5th; all but one of the 11 outs came via either strikeout or groundout. The groundball single was the only hit Chattanooga got off of Hellweg, and he struck out the next batter looking. That was the end of his night: 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R/0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 6:1 GO:AO, 73 TP. A little odd that he was lifted so early after dominating and with a very manageable pitch count... must've been more for psychological reasons.

 

Hellweg's performance wasn't the only impressive performance involving a top prospect... but this one came at the expense of one. The Stars knocked around Zach Lee, rated the Dodgers' #1 prospect pre-2012 by both Baseball America and Perfect Game, to the tune of 8 H (4 2B) and 3 ER (4 R total) over 4.2 IP. The 20-year old had struggled to the tune of a 7.92 ERA in his first six starts since being promoted to AA in late June, but his previous outing was a 5 IP/1 ER effort against Birmingham (CHW). The Stars made sure to make his first trip to Joe Davis Stadium anything but comfortable.

 

Back to the Stars... Dan Meadows tossed two shutout IP of relief on just two days' rest after starting Sunday's game. Kyle Heckathorn matched him with two shutout IP of his own. Neither Heckathorn nor Meadows allowed a hit... tonight's game was a well-placed groundball away from being very special. Really strong performance by these two in relief tonight; hard to give the Stars' pitching anything but an A grade in this one.

 

Hunter Morris continued his push for Southern League MVP -- 2-4 with a pair of doubles and one RBI. Scooter Gennett went 2-3 with one 2B and two RBI. Jean Segura continues to do nothing but impress, going 2-3 with a 2B; this was his third multi-hit game out of four with the organization, and his AVG since becoming a Brewer is now .438 (7-16). Small sample alert! His BABIP means he's lucky! While both of those quips may ultimately be true, it's looking like the Brewers have a big-leaguer in waiting in Segura.

 

Lee Haydel also had two hits, finishing 2-4. Anderson De La Rosa was 1-3 with a 2B (he also committed the throwing error in the 1st that allowed a run to score)... and was thrown out either trying to stretch his 2B into a 3B, or intentionally getting into a rundown, to let the runner score in the 3rd inning. That runner was Josh Prince, who'd singled for his lone hit on the game; he went 1-4. T.J. Mittelstaedt also was 1-4 on the night.

 

 

Huntsville PbP

The messy top of the 1st; thankfully Hellweg righted the ship:

 

Chattanooga Top of the 1st

-Rafael Ynoa flies out to center fielder Josh Prince.

-Nick Buss walks.

-Blake Smith walks. Nick Buss to 2nd.

-J.T. Wise called out on strikes. Nick Buss steals (13) 3rd base. Nick Buss scores. Blake Smith to 3rd. Blake Smith steals (13) 2nd base. Blake Smith advances to 3rd. Throwing error by catcher Anderson De La Rosa.

-Luis Nunez strikes out swinging.

 

You don't see many three-double innings, but the Stars came up with one and along the way chased Lee:

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 5th

Lee Haydel grounds out, second baseman Jake Lemmerman to first baseman J. T. Wise.

Jean Segura doubles (2) on a line drive to right fielder Blake Smith.

Scooter Gennett doubles (27) on a fly ball to left fielder Anthony Jackson. Jean Segura scores.

Brock Kjeldgaard strikes out swinging.

Pitching Change: Eric Eadington replaces Zach Lee, batting 9th.

Hunter Morris doubles (36) on a fly ball to center fielder Nick Buss, deflected by right fielder Blake Smith. Scooter Gennett scores.

Josh Prince called out on strikes.

 

You also rarely see two-balk innings. But that's exactly what the Stars saw in the 7th:

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 7th

-Pitching Change: Geison Aguasviva replaces Eric Eadington, batting 9th.

-Lee Haydel singles on a ground ball to second baseman Jake Lemmerman.

-With Jean Segura batting, Lee Haydel advances to 2nd on a balk.

-Jean Segura out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Geison Aguasviva to first baseman J. T. Wise. Lee Haydel to 3rd.

-Scooter Gennett hit by pitch.

-With Brock Kjeldgaard batting, Lee Haydel scores on a balk. Scooter Gennett advances to 2nd on a balk.

-Brock Kjeldgaard reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Rafael Ynoa to third baseman Luis Nunez. Scooter Gennett out at 3rd.

-Hunter Morris lines out to second baseman Jake Lemmerman.

 

 

Huntsville Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Final: Nashville 7, Fresno 5 (11 Innings)

 

Davis Homer Propels Sounds To 11-Inning Win In Fresno

Red-Hot Outfielder Extends Hit Streak To 16 With 3-for-6 Effort

 

FRESNO, Calif. - Red-hot outfielder Khris Davis belted a homer in the top of the eleventh inning to propel the Nashville Sounds to a 7-5 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies on Wednesday evening at Chukchansi Park in the opener of a four-game series.

 

The triumph was the Sounds' third consecutive last at-bat victory and was Nashville's tenth extra-inning game this season (5-5 in those contests).

 

Davis' game-winning blast, an opposite-field solo blast to right-center on a 3-1 offering from Fresno reliever Wilmin Rodriguez (3-4), was the youngster's second roundtripper in two nights and broke a 5-5 tie. Davis (3-for-6) has hit safely in his last 16 consecutive games between Double-A Huntsville and Nashville, batting an outstanding .484 (31-for-64) with 17 RBIs over that stretch.

 

Nashville tacked on an insurance run later in the frame against Rodriguez. Andy Gonzalez followed Davis' go-ahead blast with a double and scored on Sean Halton's subsequent RBI single for a 7-5 advantage.

 

Prior to Davis' heroics, Eric Farris had led off the Nashville eleventh with a double off Rodriguez but was caught stealing third to leave the bases empty with two outs.

 

Farris enjoyed a solid night at the plate for Nashville, going 4-for-6 with a homer, double, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Three of his four hits in the contest gave the Sounds a lead.

 

Jesus Sanchez (2-0) recorded the final five outs for Nashville and picked up the victory.

 

Fresno score the night's first run against Brian Baker in the bottom of the first inning. After Ryan Lollis drew a leadoff walk, he moved to second when Sounds catcher Jason Jaramillo misfired on a pickoff attempt and came plateward for a 1-0 Grizzlies lead on Conor Gillaspie's RBI single.

 

The Grizzlies doubled their advantage to 2-0 in the second when Juan Ciriaco led off with a single and later scored on a groundout. Baker worked out of a jam to escape further damage, stranding runners on second and third in the frame.

 

Farris put the Sounds on the board in the third when he belted his fifth home run of the year, a one-out solo homer to left-center off Fresno starter Clayton Tanner.

 

Nashville rallied to take their first lead in the fourth, plating three runs against Tanner to grab a 4-2 advantage.

 

After loading the bases with no outs on singles by Jordan Brown (2-for-6)and Jeff Bianchi (2-for-4) followed by a Jaramillo walk, Baker grounded into a double play with Brown racing home to score the tying run on the play. Farris followed with an RBI bunt single that brought in Bianchi with the go-ahead run, then scored when Davis smoked a double to right later in the frame.

 

Fresno catcher Jackson Williams pulled the home team back within one at 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth when he slugged a one-out solo homer to left, his tenth big fly of the season.

 

The Grizzlies rallied to tie the contest at 4-4 against the Sounds' bullpen in the seventh. Brock Bond (4-for-4) led off with a single against Amaury Rivas, moved to second on a throwing error by Bianchi on the play, and raced home to score the tying run later in the inning on Francisco Peguero's RBI single off Nashville left-hander Mitch Stetter.

 

The teams traded single runs in the eighth as the back-and-forth affair continued. Both clubs left two runners in scoring position in the inning as the bullpens escaped jams with minimal damage.

 

In the top of the frame, the Sounds loaded the bags with one out against Steve Edlefsen before Farris delivered his third go-ahead RBI of the night, plating Bianchi with a single to left for a 5-4 Nashville lead. With the bases still loaded and only one out, Edlefsen escaped further damage by popping up Caleb Gindl and fanning Davis.

 

Fresno evened the game for the third time in the bottom of the eighth, manufacturing a run against Fautino De Los Santos. Nick Noonan led off with a single to center, was sacrificed to second, and scored the tying run on a Williams run-scoring single. Bond followed with a double to place Grizzlies runners on second and third with only one out. De Los Santos recovered to strike out pinch-hitter Tyler LaTorre before Sounds skipper Mike Guerrero summoned Juan Perez from the 'pen for a lefty-lefty matchup against Lollis. The Nashville southpaw won the battle, inducing an inning-ending comebacker from the Fresno center fielder to keep the game knotted at 5-5.

 

The teams continue the series with another 9:05 p.m. CT matchup on Thursday night. Right-hander Tyler Thornburg (1-0, 3.60), who won his Triple-A debut for the Sounds in July, makes his second PCL start of the year when he mans the bump for Nashville. Fresno will counter with 11-game winner Eric Hacker (11-5, 4.48).

 

Nashville Box Score

Khrush Freaking Davis! His season OPS is now comfortably above 1.1, he's on some kind of tear. Plenty of good story lines out of this game, all thoroughly covered above. If you look at the box score, the first 4 pitchers for the Sounds all have an ERA over 5... yikes, granted Stetter's sample is extremely small at this point.

 

Unfortunately I dozed off a couple of times waiting for the game to finish so I don't have anything to add.

 

Nashville Play By Play

[saget]

So, I'm reading the LR like I usually do at night, and after seeing the DSL score I had a thought. Whatever happened to Orlando Arcia? Haven't seen anything about him this year.

 

Edit - milb.com has him listed on the 60-day DL. That solves that, I guess.

[X-TAI]

Man Khris Davis is playing great.

[Tedaldtada]

I gotta run tonight. I DM'ed Big Sess about the AZL league but if someone feels the urge, please feel free to report on the game. Clint Coulter with 2 more hits as of right now.

 

I got this...

 

AZL Athletics 4 AZL Brewers 2

 

Box Score

 

Despite the absence of stud SS Addison Russell, the A's did enough to on offense to win tonight. Btw, if you have not laid eyes on Addison's season line, I suggest you do. Power, patience, and speed. There was a time when Russell was being talked about as a possibility for the Brewers. Now Oakland seems to have nailed another one.

 

DH Clint Coulter is certainly doing plenty to keep me very optimistic about his offensive upside. His last 10: .394/.524/.515 (33 AB's). His July: .314/.462/.371 (70 AB's). AS you can see, he just keeps getting better and better. The hit tool and approach are both looking potentially plus and I am sure scouts will tell you that there is plenty of power untapped.

 

Edgardo Rivera smacked a 2B.

 

Helium guy Eduardo Reyes was very good again tonight. 5 IP 5 H 2 R 1 ER 0 BB 3 K 9:2 GO:FO. 63:13 K:BB in 56.2 IP for Reyes in 2012. Taylor Wall and Carlos Sosa also pitched. Both mixed in some struggles.

 

Game Log

[Mass Haas]

So, I'm reading the LR like I usually do at night, and after seeing the DSL score I had a thought. Whatever happened to Orlando Arcia? Haven't seen anything about him this year.

 

Edit - milb.com has him listed on the 60-day DL. That solves that, I guess.

 

He fractured his ankle in extended spring training, out for the season, perhaps back out there for fall instructionals.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Joe Block's Pregame Interview w/ Stars Pitcher Johnny Hellweg

[Mass Haas]

Brewers walkoff with victory

Helena Brewers

 

The Brewers held one lead throughout the nine inning contest Wednesday night at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

Fortunately, it came with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Adam Giacalone hit a line drive single to left-center field scoring Michael Reed to end the game. The 7-6 victory evens the Brewers second half record at 2-2, while dropping the Mustangs to 3-1.

 

The Brewers couldn't get much going offensively for the first eight innings of the contest, which was primarily the result of another strong pitching performance by Ismael Guillon. The lefty entered the evening with the second best ERA in the Pioneer League among qualifying pitchers and did nothing to hurt his position. Guillon finished the night going five innings while allowing just one earned run. Following Guillon, Ben Kilmesh, Jim Moran and Mo Wiley combined for three innings allowing just one unearned run.

 

The Brewers broke through in the bottom of the 9th against Alejandro Chacin and Jordan Remer. In the frame, Helena received hits from Michael Turay, Ruben Ozuna and Alfredo Rodriguez as well as a walk by Chris McFarland and a hit by pitch for Andres Martinez. Eventually, Giacalone would step to the plate with the winning run on third and two outs. Giacalone proceeded to hit the first walk off single of his professional career on a line drive that center fielder Beau Asmaral couldn't corral.

 

On the evening, the Shawnee, Kansas native went 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. The performance raised the sixteenth round pick's batting average to .328 and keeps him in the discussion for the league's hottest hitter.

 

The Brewers will head on the Billings Mustangs for game two of the three game series at Kindrick Legion Field tomorrow night. First pitch is slated for 7:05 (8:05 Central).

 

Adam Giacalone hit a walk off single in the bottom of the 9th. (Sleeping Giant Photography)

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/08/02/T2Sxy2Fv.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Photos by Dylan Brown, Helena Independent Record - Billings' Robert Maddox slides safely into first on a steal, as Brewers' Chris McFarland catches the ball Wednesday night.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/98/798247b8-dc44-11e1-a046-001a4bcf887a/5019dd41901df.preview-620.jpg

 

Brewers pitcher Preston Gainey delivers a pitch in the first inning

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/5a/45acc526-dc44-11e1-99da-001a4bcf887a/5019dca028e66.preview-620.jpg

[JohnBriggs12]

Every time I bring his name up, people roll their eyes, but Eric Farris has been on a nice little run lately. In his last 72 AB's, he's hitting .361/.403/.569.

[Mass Haas]

Helena Audio Interviews:

 

Brewers clubhouse manager Brian Barnum -- cool insights, actually

 

RHP Mike Francisco

[Mass Haas]

STARS PITCHERS COMBINE TO ONE-HIT LOOKOUTS

Huntsville Stars

 

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Three Huntsville Stars pitchers combined to one-hit the Chattanooga Lookouts en route to a 5-1 victory on Wednesday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

In his Huntsville Stars debut and Brewers organizational debut, starting pitcher Johnny Hellweg was spectacular. The 23-year-old flamethrower earned a victory after giving up just one hit and one unearned run while striking out seven in five innings.

 

The only blemish on the night for Hellweg happened in the first inning. After walking both center fielder Nick Buss and right fielder Blake Smith, a throwing error by Stars catcher Anderson De La Rosa on a stolen base attempt allowed Buss to score. Following the first, Hellweg sent down 14 straight batters in a row until his no-hit bid was snapped with two outs in the fifth inning on a single by Lookouts catcher Griff Erickson.

 

Once Hellweg was taken out of the ballgame before the sixth inning, relievers Dan Meadows and Kyle Heckathorn each pitched two innings of hitless baseball to give the Stars the victory.

 

Fortunately for the Stars pitchers, their offense gave them plenty of run support.

 

In the second inning, a two-out RBI double by De La Rosa knocked in center fielder Josh Prince to tie up the game at one.

 

One inning later, another two-out RBI, this one a single by second baseman Scooter Gennett, gave the Stars a 2-1 lead. To put the game away, the Stars tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning on RBI doubles by Gennett and first baseman Hunter Morris. The Stars also scored another insurance run in the seventh inning on a balk by Lookouts LHP Geison Aguasviva.

 

At the plate, Morris, Gennett, left fielder Lee Haydel and shortstop Jean Segura each had two hits. For Segura, he is now 7-for-16 at the plate in his first four games as a member of the Huntsville Stars.

 

The rubber match of a five-game series will take place on Thursday as the Stars will send RHP Jimmy Nelson (1-0, 5.87 ERA) to the mound. First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

[Mass Haas]

Hellweg combines with Stars' bullpen for one-hitter against Chattanooga in Huntsville debut

By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times

 

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- In what loomed as a potential pitchers' duel between two of baseball's top prospects, Huntsville's Johnny Hellweg held up his end of the bargain.

 

Even if, for a moment, that didn't seem likely.

 

After walking two of the first three Lookouts he faced and falling behind by a run before he barely broke a sweat, Hellweg combined with relievers Daniel Meadows and Kyle Heckathorn for a one-hitter in a 5-1 victory over Chattanooga

 

Hellweg's counterpart, Zack Lee, the Dodgers' No. 1 pitching prospect, who had been enrolled to play quarterback for LSU in 2010, suffered the loss. He allowed eight hits and three earned runs.

 

Hellweg, a 6-foot-9 righthander, was making his Huntsville debut, having come over from the Angels' organization in a trade last week. He had been the No. 4-ranked prospect in the Los Angeles system.

 

On Monday, he acknowledged he would "be on the radar" more with Milwaukee, and this wasn't a bad way to earn some notice. He struck out seven and didn't allow a hit until one out in the fifth before Meadows and Heckathorn knitted together four innings of hitless relief.

 

Stars first baseman Hunter Morris had a pair of doubles, improving his league-leading total to 36. He is but four shy of the Huntsville record, held by D.T. Cromer (1997) and Corey Hart (2003). The Southern League record is 47, set in 1998 by Jacksonville teammates Gabe Kapler and Robert Fick.

 

Jean Segura, who along with pitcher Ariel Pena was part of the trade that sent pitcher Zack Greinke from Milwaukee to L.A., had two hits. He's 7-for-16 in his Huntsville tenure.

 

Lee Haydel had two singles, giving him six hits in his last nine at-bats.

 

It was a critical win for the Stars, who are keeping alive some postseason hopes. They trail Chattanooga by five games in the Southern League North. Thursday's 6:43 game will be the final meeting between the two this season.

 

Stars' Hunter Morris, the former Grissom High standout, has 36 doubles on the season

 

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[Mass Haas]

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[TheCrew07]

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