Link Report for Wed. 8/8

[Mass Haas]

Audio Interviews:

 

Gord Ash Tuesday night on ESPN540

 

Doug Melvin Wed. AM on WTMJ

[Tedaldtada]

Brevard County 5 Dunedin (Jays) 1 F/7

 

Box Score

 

This one finished a little earlier than scheduled which is fine because we won. But not only did we win, we thoroughly dominated.

 

Brandon Williamson pitched his best pro game and Eric Arnett went the final inning in equally impressive fashion. The combined line was 7 IP 1 H 1 R 1 ER 1 BB 7 K 1 HR 1 HBP 8:3 GO:FO. Only 25 blue jays saw the batter's box through 7 innings.

 

At the dish, a hitting clinic was put on by the Manatees. The 1-5 hitters were unstoppable as they combined for 8 H in 16 AB with 3 2B and a BB. Mike Walker had 2 of the 2B's and Jason Rogers had the other.

 

Btw, has anyone seen this gem?

 

 

Game Log

 

It was a hit-it-to-the-wall 5th inning for BC.

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 5th

 

Brent Dean grounds out, second baseman Jon Berti to first baseman Jon Talley.

John Dishon doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Kevin Pillar.

Franklin Romero Jr. strikes out swinging.

Nick Shaw walks.

Reggie Keen singles on a line drive to right fielder Kenny Wilson. John Dishon scores. Nick Shaw scores. Reggie Keen to 2nd on the throw.

Jason Rogers doubles (9) on a line drive to left fielder Marcus Knecht. Reggie Keen scores.

Mike Walker doubles (21) on a line drive to center fielder Kevin Pillar. Jason Rogers scores.

Shea Vucinich called out on strikes.

[TooLiveBrew]

Btw, has anyone seen this gem?

 

I hadn't, but thank you for linking that.

[Tedaldtada]

'Tees top Jays in rain-shortened game

08/08/2012 10:25 PM ET

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/08/08/cwCsAc2R.jpg

Manatees starting pitcher Brandon Williamson had his best start of the season as he allowed just one run on one hit, while walking one and tied a season-high with five strikeouts. Brevard County defeated Dunedin 5-1 in seven innings on Wednesday night at Space Coast Stadium. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees snapped the Dunedin Blue Jays' five-game winning streak and kept pace in the jumbled North division race as they won 5-1 in a rain-shortened, seven inning game on Wednesday night at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Manatees starting pitcher Brandon Williamson (3-9, 6.20) had his best start of the season with Brevard (25-21 second half, 54-60 overall). He allowed just one run on one hit - a solo homer by Jon Talley to lead off the second - walked one and tied a season-high with five strikeouts. For Williamson, it was his first win since July 14 and his first quality start since April 25.

 

After Dunedin (23-23, 65-48) took a 1-0 lead in the second, the 'Tees tied the game in the bottom of the inning as Mike Walker led off the inning with a double and came home two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Joey Paciorek.

 

Brevard's bats busted out in the bottom of the fifth against Blue Jays starter Casey Lawrence as they roughed him up for four runs in the frame, all with two outs. With runners on first and second, Reggie Keen cleared the bases with a single to right and then took second on the throw home. Then back-to-back two-out RBI doubles from Jason Rogers and Walker gave the Manatees a 5-1 lead.

 

Eric Arnett pitched a perfect seventh inning in relief of Williamson and after Brevard batted in the bottom of the inning, the rain started and the tarp went on the field. After about a 30 minute delay, the umpires made the decision to call the game and give the 'Tees just their fifth win in 14 games against Dunedin.

 

The duo of Williamson and Arnett held the Jays to just three base runners. At the plate, the meat of the order got the job done for Brevard as Keen, Rogers and Walker had two hits each. Keen also drove in two runs.

 

The 'Tees will close out their three-game set with Dunedin on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m.

 

Drew Gagnon (0-1, 3.21) will toe the rubber for Brevard as he is still in search of his first win as a Manatee. Gagnon has gone at least six innings in five of his seven starts with the 'Tees.

 

Dunedin will send undefeated southpaw Sean Nolin (9-0, 2.18) to the hill. In his only other start against Brevard back on April 12, he threw 5.2 shutout innings and struck out 11. Nolan needs to be promoted.

[Tedaldtada]

Missoula (D'Backs) 3 Helena 0

 

Box Score

 

The desert snakes sent 3 pretty good pitchers to the mound tonight to face the Brewers and all 3 continued their season success with a 4-hit shutout of the Brewers. Ryan Gibbard started for Helena and he allowed 3 R on 7 H in 5 IP. Ryan did not BB anyone and got 7 GO's. He did uncork 2 WP's.

 

Next was Damien Magnifico who tweeted this before the game: "Work everyday to get better so I can do my job every five days #pitchergrind Had my pregame orange today, time to work"

 

If by every 5 days, he means the Brewers are stretching him out, then I am super pumped. His appearance tonight was fantastic, inadvertently awarding oranges with a bump in popularity in this household. 4 IP 1 H 0 R 0 BB 5 K 1 Balk 6:1 GO:FO for Damien. Our Helena IR friend Amber Kuhn reports that Magnifico was routinely hitting 98-99 on the stadium radar gun.

 

Magnifico gets a healthy bump up my prospect list if the Brewers are confident he can start.

 

At the dish, Ruben Ozuna singled to lead off the game and was later robbed of a gapper by a nice defensive play. He also misplayed two balls in the field giving him 6 errors already this season. Adam Giacalone had anther hit and Michael Reed went 1-3 with a BB.

 

Game Log

[Tedaldtada]

Meanwhile in Arizona: Weather: 115 degrees, cloudy.

 

[sarcasm]Yup, cooler in the shade.[/sarcasm]

[brewmann04]

well is is DRY HEAT

[faede]

The damian magnifico box score watch is starting to get exciting. Nice to see Hiram back on track in a big way too.

[TooLiveBrew]

Huntsville 7, @Tennessee 2

 

Huntsville Box

A pair of three-run innings, combined with a solid start from Johnnie Lowe and another scoreless effort from the bullpen, led to a comfortable win tonight in the first of a five-game set in Kodak, TN against the Cubs' AA affiliate.

 

Lowe finished with a line of 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R/ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 7:4 GO:AO, 101 TP. Brian Garman pitched around a single in each of the 6th & 7th for a scoreless 2 IP appearance. Dan Meadows tossed a scoreless 8th, and Evan Anundsen matched him with a scoreless 9th. The Stars have been getting some good relief pitching lately.

 

As Mass Haas noted up-thread, Hunter Morris (2-4, HR, 4 RBI) kicked off the scoring in this one in the top of the 1st with a two-out three-run HR to centerfield on a belt-high 2-1 pitch. The Stars didn't wait long to post their other three-run inning -- they got line drive singles from Josh Prince (1-5) and Hainley Statia (2-5), followed by an infield single from Scooter Gennett (2-5), to lead off the 3rd and load the bases. Andy Gonzalez (1-1, HR, 2 BB, 2 RBI, HBP) drew a BB to force in a run, and a missed catch error by the Smokies' pitcher on the back end of an attempted double play on a grounder from Morris allowed two more runs came in to score. In the 5th, Gonzalez knocked a belt-high 1-0 pitch out to left field for his HR; Gonzalez reached base safely in all four PAs tonight.

 

Adam Weisenburger finished 1-4, and was caught stealing once. Kentrail Davis also went 1-4, adding his 17th SB (17/24, 71%) on the season. Brock Kjeldgaard was 0-4 with three strikeouts. T.J. Mittelstaedt flew out in his only PA, a pinch-hit appearance in the 9th.

 

 

-Gennett had his fourth straight two-hit game tonight, and has hit to a .325 clip in his last 10 games. Keep hittin', kid!

 

-Prince has an interesting six-game hitting streak right now, just 9-26 (.257) to this point. A hitting streak's a hitting streak!

 

-Davis also has a modest five-game hitting streak going, and has gone 7-17 (.292) over that stretch... after going hitless in his previous five games.

 

 

Huntsville PbP

The Huntsville 1st got this game off on the right foot:

 

Huntsville Top of the 1st

-Josh Prince flies out to right fielder Matthew Szczur.

-Hainley Statia grounds out, second baseman Logan Watkins to first baseman Justin Bour.

-Scooter Gennett singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jae-Hoon Ha.

-Andy Gonzalez hit by pitch. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.

-Hunter Morris homers (22) on a fly ball to center field. Scooter Gennett scores. Andy Gonzalez scores.

-Brock Kjeldgaard grounds out, third baseman Matt Cerda to first baseman Justin Bour.

 

And here's the slightly less conventional three-run 3rd:

 

Huntsville Top of the 3rd

-Josh Prince singles on a line drive to left fielder Nelson Perez.

-Hainley Statia singles on a line drive to left fielder Nelson Perez. Josh Prince to 2nd.

-Scooter Gennett singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Dallas Beeler. Josh Prince to 3rd. Hainley Statia to 2nd.

-Andy Gonzalez walks. Josh Prince scores. Hainley Statia to 3rd. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.

-Hunter Morris grounds into a force out, first baseman Justin Bour to shortstop Junior Lake. Hainley Statia scores. Scooter Gennett scores on the throw. Andy Gonzalez out at 2nd. Hunter Morris advances to 2nd, on a missed catch error by pitcher Dallas Beeler, assist to shortstop Junior Lake.

-Brock Kjeldgaard strikes out swinging.

-Kentrail Davis grounds out, second baseman Logan Watkins to first baseman Justin Bour.

 

 

Huntsville Gameday

[Tedaldtada]

AZL D'Backs 6 AZL Brewers 3

 

Box Score

 

For all those freaking out about Clint Coulter's defense, Stryker Trahan is having many of the same issues (14 PB's on the season). Trahan was drafted just ahead of Coulter by the Diamondbacks. My point is that these raw defensive catchers with plus tools are known to make big jumps in short periods of time. I'd expect both Trahan and Coulter to be much better next season. Heck, Coulter has already shown some improvement as the season has progressed. The pitchers and Clint combined to throw out 4 of 9 attempted base-stealers tonight.

 

One thing you should not be freaking out about is Clint Coulter's (1-3 3B BB) bat unless you freak out when excited.

 

Dustin Houle (2-4) has stacked another solid game onto his recent mini hot streak and Angel Ortega (1-3 BB) was solid.

 

Jose Sermo (2-4 HR) is a somewhat interesting guy. From P.R. via Bethany College (KS), Sermo is just 21, plays multiple positions, and is putting up a balanced ~.800 OPS in his 1st taste of pro ball. If he finishes really hot, he might warrant more investigation (He might already). Keep it up, Jose!

 

Joel Dicent and Jonathon Armold were the piggy-backers tonight. Both had uneven outings with Dicent's being particularly ugly. Dicent has average approx. 1 K and 1 BB per inning this season. Armold had a stronger outing tonight and he has been one of the better pitchers in Maryvale all year. Anthony Banda pitched the final 2 innings giving up 3 H 1 R with 3 K.

 

Game Log

 

Messy Banda D.

 

AZL D-backs Top of the 9th

 

Miles Walding singles on a line drive to right fielder Jose Pena.

With Damion Smith batting, Miles Walding picked off and caught stealing 2nd base, Miles Walding to 3rd. throwing error by Anthony Banda.

Damion Smith strikes out swinging.

Andrew Velazquez called out on strikes.

With William Castillo batting, Miles Walding steals (2) home.

William Castillo strikes out swinging.

 

The Sharkey line out and two weak outs to end it make this one tough.

 

AZL Brewers Bottom of the 9th

 

Pitching Change: Donald Medlinger replaces Eric Meyerchick.

Alan Sharkey lines out to shortstop Jose Munoz.

Dustin Houle singles on a line drive to right fielder Alex Glenn.

Jalen Harris singles on a line drive to right fielder Alex Glenn. Dustin Houle to 2nd.

Angel Ortega walks. Dustin Houle to 3rd. Jalen Harris to 2nd.

Malcolm Dowell called out on strikes.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Deivi Mejia replaces Dionis Hinojosa.

Deivi Mejia pops out to first baseman Rudy Flores.

[Tedaldtada]

Missoula turns the tables

08/08/2012 11:20 PM ET

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/08/08/suDhAkcN.jpg

Alfredo Rodriguez took part in a double play in the top of the first. (Sleeping Giant Photography)

 

Yesterday the Brewers exited the field with a shutout victory. Twenty-four hours later the Missoula Osprey returned the favor and handed Helena a 3-0 loss.

 

The Osprey received strong pitching performances from Yoimer Camacho, Chase Stevens and Vince Spilker, the three of which combined for nine innings of work and zero runs. The trio limited the Brewers to just four hits, despite the Brewers entering the contest having recorded 43 hits in the last three games.

 

Camacho was particularly strong on the evening. The Venezuelan native recorded eight strikeouts through six innings of work and earned his second victory of the season. Stevens was credited with a hold and Spilker received the save for his scoreless frame in the 9th.

 

On the mound for the Brewers, Ryan Gibbard was tabbed with his third loss of the season. Gibbard pitched well through five innings allowing just three Osprey runners to cross the plate. Damien Magnifico followed Gibbard with four scoreless innings while striking out five.

 

The victory improves Missoula's record to 26-12 overall and 8-3 in the second half. The loss drops Helena to 17-32 and pushes them to five games out of first place with a 4-7 second half record.

[bkrause2]

Final: Cedar Rapids 15, Wisconsin 1

 

Rattlers drop 15-1 decision to the Kernels

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - A return home did not halt the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers recent woes. The Cedar Rapids Kernels defeated the Rattlers 15-1 Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Andy Workman did most of the damage with four RBI, but the Kernels cracked 18 hits off a total of three Wisconsin pitchers to send the Rattlers to their fourth straight loss.

 

Wisconsin (65-49 overall, 21-24 second half) scored first. Lance Roenicke was at first base and Cameron Garfield singled down the line in left. Roenicke stopped at third. The throw went to second base and took a bad bounce. Roenicke scored and the Rattlers were up 1-0.

 

The Kernels (46-69, 14-31) stormed back in the third inning. An RBI double by Eric Stamets and a RBI single by Alex Yarbrough put Cedar Rapids up 2-1. A two-run homer by Workman made it 4-1.

 

Cedar Rapids sent nine men to the plate and scored five times in the top of the fourth inning. A grounder off the bat of Trevor Hairgrove drove in the first run of the frame. Staments drove in another run with a single and Workman knocked in a run with a grounder. Frazier Hall capped the inning with a two-run double to make it 9-1.

 

Wisconsin had a few chances early. Carlos George singled to start the third inning, Ben McMahan doubled with two outs in the fourth, and Mike Garza doubled to lead off the fifth inning. But, three Kernels pitchers would retire the final fifteen Wisconsin hitters of the game after the double by Garza.

 

Eswarlin Jimenez allowed an unearned run on five hits over 5-2/3 innings. Joe Melioris pitched 2-1/3 innings of perfect relief and Frank De Jiulio worked a 1-2-3 ninth to close out the Rattlers.

 

Jimenez is 6-4 with a 3.67ERA on the season. But, Jimenez is 3-0 with a 1.89ERA against the Timber Rattlers in 2012.

 

The Kernels were not done with the offense. They scored two runs in the sixth on a single and an error. Cedar Rapids added two more on back-to-back RBI doubles by Drew Martinez and Stamets. An RBI grounder and an error in the eighth inning pushed two more runs home to give the Kernels a 15-1 lead.

 

Game two of the series is Thursday night. Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Shaun Marcum is scheduled to make the start for the Timber Rattlers. Cam Bedrosian (3-8, 5.08) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Kernels. Game time is 7:05pm.

 

The first 500 fans to attend this game will receive a magnet of current Timber Rattler - and Milwaukee Brewers pitching prospect - David Goforth. As part of Thirsty Thursday, 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.

 

Sports32 will have the broadcast of the game for subscribers of Time Warner Cable.

 

The radio broadcast of the game is available on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. Subscribers of MiLB.TV can tune in for the game that way, too.

 

HOME RUN:

CR:

Andy Workman (9th, 1 on in 3rd inning off Jacob Barnes, 1 out)

 

WP: Eswarlin Jimenez (6-4)

LP: Jacob Barnes (4-5)

 

TIME: 2:49

ATTN: 4,984

 

Wisconsin Box Score

 

This one was just plain all-around ugly. The pitching staff surrendered 15 runs on 18 hits, the offense managed only one unearned run on five hits, and the defense committed three errors. Ben McMahan and Michael Garza each went 1-3 with a double. Lance Roenicke, Cameron Garfield and Carlos George each added a single.

 

Jacob Barnes started and went five innings, giving up nine runs, six earned, on nine hits. Michael White made his T-Rats debut in relief of Barnes and allowed four runs on six hits in two innings. Tyler Cravy pitched the final two innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on three hits. Greg Hopkins, Chadwin Stang and Carlos George each had an error and George was also caught stealing.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

 

Plenty of bad in this one. Feel free to click through for all the details, here was the Wisconsin first inning, where they actually took the lead early on.

Wisconsin Bottom of the 1st

Chadwin Stang grounds out, second baseman Alex Yarbrough to first baseman Frazier Hall.

Lance Roenicke singles on a ground ball to shortstop Eric Stamets.

Brandon Macias flies out to right fielder Drew Martinez.

Cameron Garfield singles on a line drive to left fielder Zachary Borenstein. Lance Roenicke scores. Cameron Garfield to 2nd. Throwing error by left fielder Zachary Borenstein.

Ben McMahan grounds out, shortstop Eric Stamets to first baseman Frazier Hall.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Sacramento 1, Nashville 0 (10 Innings)

 

Sacramento Blanks Sounds In Extras To Force Series Split

Hiram Burgos Tosses Six Shutout Innings In No-Decision

 

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Designated hitter Daric Barton was hit in the knee by Donovan Hand with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Sacramento River Cats a 1-0 shutout victory over the Nashville Sounds in the finale of a four-game set on Wednesday afternoon at Raley Field.

 

Brandon Hicks hit a ground-rule double on the first pitch from Hand to begin the bottom of the 10th inning, which was lost in the sun by center fielder Logan Schafer. Hicks later moved to third on a couple of walks, and scored the winning run as Barton was struck by Hand's off-speed pitch. Hand and pitching coach Fred Dabney both argued that Barton leaned into the pitch after the game ended.

 

The defeat moved Nashville to 5-8 in extra-inning play this season and gave the club two series splits during their eight-game road trip through Fresno and Sacramento. The Sounds' series split with the River Cats was only the second in team history at Raley Field (also in 2008).

 

Nashville has been involved in four 1-0 contests this season, taking two from New Orleans and losing one to Iowa.

 

Sacramento third baseman Josh Donaldson provided three of the River Cats' four hits on the afternoon.

 

The Sounds were held to just three hits. Shortstop Jeff Bianchi singled to extend his hitting streak to a season-high eight games, while second baseman Eric Farris and first baseman Sean Halton also added base hits. Designated hitter Jordan Brown reached twice on a couple of walks.

 

Nashville threatened in the ninth, stranding the go-ahead run on third base against reliever Travis Banwart. Bianchi singled to begin the frame and advanced to third on a sacrifice and infield groundout, but was stranded as Taylor Green struck out to end the inning.

 

Sacramento rallied in the bottom of the ninth, but also came up empty. With the bases loaded and two outs, Amaury Rivas induced a Grant Green 5-4 groundout to end the inning and force the game to extras.

 

Nashville starting pitcher Hiram Burgos authored his best Triple-A start of the season, striking out five while tossing six innings of shutout ball. The 24-year-old walked one and allowed only two hits, a single and double to Donaldson.

 

Fautino De Los Santos struck out two of his former teammates in 1 1/3 shutout innings. Juan Perez followed with a scoreless inning while stranding his only inherited runner. Rivas escaped a ninth-inning jam to strand two inherited runners.

 

Hand (3-2) was given the loss with the run allowed.

 

Sacramento starter Bruce Billings also pitched well in a no-decision, facing only two batters over the minimum during his outing. The right-hander allowing two hits with six strikeouts in seven scoreless innings. Banwart (8-3) allowed one hit and one walk in three scoreless innings in relief for the victory.

 

After a league-wide off day tomorrow, the Sounds return home to Music City on Friday to begin an eight-game homestand against the Salt Lake Bees (AAA-Angels) and Tacoma Rainiers (AAA-Mariners) of the Pacific Conference Northern Division. Right-hander Claudio Vargas (5-1, 3.86) takes the mound for Nashville in Friday's 7:05 p.m. CT homestand opener against Salt Lake southpaw Greg Smith (7-8, 4.15).

 

Nashville Box Score

Dang, what a gem by Hiram Burgos wasted with no offense, the game story pretty much says it all.

 

Nashville Play By Play

 

How exactly do you eject someone after the game is already over?

Sacramento Bottom of the 10th

• Pitching Change: Donovan Hand replaces Amaury Rivas.
  Brandon Hicks hits a ground-rule double (23) on a fly ball to right-center field.
  Donovan Hand intentionally walks Shane Peterson.
  Jermaine Mitchell strikes out swinging.
  Josh Donaldson walks. Brandon Hicks to 3rd. Shane Peterson to 2nd.
  Daric Barton hit by pitch. Brandon Hicks scores. Shane Peterson to 3rd. Josh Donaldson to 2nd.
  Nashville Sounds Pitching Coach Fred Dabney ejected by HP umpire John Tumpane.

[TooLiveBrew]

One thing you should not be freaking out about is Clint Coulter's (1-3 3B BB) bat unless you freak out when excited.

http://www.thefeelgoodlifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Freaking-Out.jpg

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Helena catcher Michael Turay joins the Brewers pre-game show to discuss the start to his career so far

[Mass Haas]

STARS CRUISE TO VICTORY AGAINST SMOKIES

 

KODAK, Tenn. – Opening up a five-game series in Kodak, Tenn., the Huntsville Stars cruised to a 7-2 victory against the Tennessee Smokies on Wednesday night.

 

From the get-go, the Stars got a lead that they would not relinquish. With two outs in the top of the first inning, the Huntsville bats started a rally with a single by second baseman Scooter Gennett. After third baseman Andy Gonzalez was hit by a Dallas Beeler pitch to put runners on first and second, first baseman Hunter Morris brought them all home with a booming three-run home run to give the Stars a 3-0 lead. For Morris, his homer was his 22nd on the season, tying him for the league lead with Jackson’s Joe Dunigan.

 

Up 3-2 in the third inning, the Stars offense struck again. With back-to-back-to-back singles to begin the frame by center fielder Josh Prince, shortstop Hainley Statia and Gennett, the Stars loaded the bases with nobody out. After a bases-loaded walk by Gonzalez brought home one run, an RBI groundout by Morris brought home another. A fielding error by Beeler on the Morris grounder allowed Gennett to score to make the score 6-2.

 

That run support would be plenty for the Stars pitching staff. Starter Johnnie Lowe improved to 2-2 on the season after giving up two runs on five hits in five innings of work. Relievers Brian Garman, Dan Meadows and Evan Anundsen combined to shut out the Smokies for the final four innings.

 

On offense, Morris led the way, going 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs. Aside from Morris, Gonzalez also reached base all four times he was at the plate and also hit a solo homer of his own in the fifth inning. In addition, Both Gennett and Statia each had two hits. For Gennett, the multi-hit game for him was his fourth in a row.

 

Game two of a five-game series will take place on Thursday as the Stars will send Ariel Pena (0-0, 4.50 ERA) to the mound. First pitch is at 6:15 CT.

[Mass Haas]

Offense missing in action as Brewers fall to Osprey

by Amber Kuehn, Helena Independent Record

 

It was another terrific outing by Helena Brewers pitchers Wednesday, but an even better one by Missoula.

 

Osprey starter Yoimer Camacho combined with relievers Chase Stevens and Vince Spilker on a four-hit shutout, as the trio struck out 13 Helena batters in a 3-0 victory at Kindrick Legion Field. Missoula turned the tables on the Brewers 24 hours after being held without a run, and ended a hot streak by Helena’s offense. The Brewers had recorded 10 hits or more in their previous three games.

 

“We’ve been swinging the bats well, but tonight we ran into a hot pitcher in Camacho,” Helena manager Jeff Isom said. “He ended up locating his fastball on both sides of the plate, commanding his offspeed pitches, just had us off-balance all evening. We tip our cap to him, he did a nice job.”

 

Isom said he began to see batters deviating from their approach the second time through the lineup, and said he spoke to his players after the game about keeping that consistency.

 

“At times you do have to make adjustments depending on the pitcher, but we got way out of what we do well,” he said.

 

Ruben Ozuna led off the game for the Brewers with a single, but it was the only offense the hosts would muster until the fifth inning. Camacho retired 12 in a row before walking Emmanuel Quiles and giving up a single to Michael Reed.

 

“Camacho threw probably his best game of the year so far today,” Osprey skipper Andy Green said. “He really spotted it up a lot better than he has been. Then the bullpen came in. Chase Stevens was outstanding and Spilker closed it out. … He had a couple days off and he looks fresh again, so that’s good to see.”

 

Camacho got the win and Spilker the save after he struck out the side in the ninth. Brewers starter Ryan Gibbard took the loss, his third of the season. Gibbard allowed three runs on seven hits before giving way to Damien Magnifico, who came out of the bullpen throwing heat. The right-hander lived up to his name, showing good command of his upper-90s fastball and mixing his off-speed pitches well. Magnifico fanned five in four innings of relief and gave up only one hit – an infield single by Daniel Pulfer.

 

“He was magnificent out there,” Isom said. (Unintended pun, apparently.) “He threw the ball very well, that’s the best outing we’ve seen … that was a treat; that was fun to watch.

 

“If he can show the fastball command that he had tonight and show he’s got average off-speed stuff, he’s gonna be somebody. He’s got a great arm.”

 

Pulfer was the only player to record an RBI in the contest, as Missoula’s other runs scored on an error and a wild pitch. After playing picture-perfect defense the previous night, the Brewers had three miscues in the field.

 

Green was pleased with the bounce-back win following Tuesday night’s struggles, especially considering the tough losses the Osprey have endured at Kindrick in the past.

 

“We haven’t played well in Helena at all, so we talked about staying away from the ballpark for most of the day and coming a little bit later,” he said. “We tried our hand at a different pregame approach, just kind of washing yesterday away to get ready for today. It worked well, so we’ll try it again tomorrow and see if we have success again.”

 

Tonight marks the last time these two teams will meet this season. Leonard Lorenzo is scheduled to start for the Brewers, while fellow right-hander Jared Ray goes to the mound for Missoula. First pitch is 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

All photos by Dylan Brown Independent Record

 

Brewers second baseman Chris McFarland dives for a line drive..

 

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Brewers third baseman Andres Martinez throws the ball to first for an out..

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/9/1f/91f1eb82-e1cb-11e1-9724-0019bb2963f4/5023231a5244d.preview-620.jpg

 

Brewers' Alfredo Rodriguez watches a strike pass him by.

 

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[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog: Nine after 9 (includes "highlights" from 15-1 loss)

[brewmann04]

Nice to see Daniel getting his stuff together.