Link Report for Fri. 8/10 -- Despite Helena's scoring drought, a fine night on the farm

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Claudio Vargas at home vs. Salt Lake (Angels), 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 Josh Stinson at Tennessee (Cubs), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:15 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: RHP Nick Bucci at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 5:35 PM gametime

 

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

 

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: First, it's RHP Shaun Marcum in his first rehab start at home vs. Cedar Rapids (Angels), followed by RHP Mark Williams in the doubleheader nightcap, 5:15 PM pre-game, 5:35 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

 

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 Stars' road games from four Southern League locales, plus one July Helena series (11th-13th).

 

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Helena: RHP Tyler Wagner 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): Idle

 

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

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin Game One

 

Wisconsin Game Two

 

Helena

 

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

 

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NOTE: AAA Nashville, Rookie Maryvale and the DSL do not play a split schedule. When you click on a standings link for Huntsville, Brevard County, Wisconsin, and/or Helena, 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]

Huge series this weekend for Huntsville and Brevard County, little room for losing streaks the rest of the way. Manatees play firstplace Yankees, they are currently four games out.

 

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Nashville Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Media Notes

[Mass Haas]

Marcum doubts he will be a Brewer past this season

by Dan Kohn, Post-Crescent staff writer

 

GRAND CHUTE — Shaun Marcum would like nothing better than to continue pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers beyond this season. But he knows that probably isn’t going to happen.

 

Marcum, who was at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium today in the first of at least two rehab assignments with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, is set to become a free agent after this season. Marcum is scheduled to pitch the first game of today’s doubleheader, set to begin at 5:30 p.m.

 

“The experience has been great,” Marcum said of his time with the Brewers. “Last year is what you play for, a chance to get to the World Series. I’d love to return but I don’t write the checks and I don’t make the offers, so it’s going to be up to them.”

 

The emergence of several pitching prospects, coupled with his arm issues, which began in mid-June, may prevent that from happening.

 

“Everything has been quiet on their end,” Marcum said of a possible extension with the club. “That’s just part of it. They have a lot of young pitchers there and in Triple A. We’ve seen some of them this year with (Mike) Fiers and (Tyler) Thornburg that have good arms and have a chance to do some pretty good things here.”

 

Marcum said he hasn’t thought much about free agency, but knows he needs to get back to form if he is to continue his career.

 

“The free agent route hasn’t really crept into my mind very much,” Marcum said. “Obviously, the injury thing going into free agency, you want to be healthy so when teams come calling there are no questions. But it’s a part of it. Hopefully, there will be someone out there I can sign on with and we’ll see what happens. The main thing for me is I have to finish the season and stay healthy.”

 

Today is the first step in getting back to the big leagues.

 

“Staying healthy,” Marcum said of his goal for his rehab assignments. “Just going out there and pitching and getting back to my normal routine. Throwing strikes, getting ahead of hitters and working on a couple of things mechanically that is going to help me stay healthy and stay on the field.

 

“I’ll have one more start, I believe with these guys, then kind of see where I’m at pitch-count-wise to see if I need a third one. We’ll see where I am after that start.”

 

Although his elbow has been a problem, it appears to be sound.

 

“It’s frustrating. Injuries are part of the game,” Marcum said. “You have to find a way to fight through them. It just happened this year to be the elbow that I recently had surgery on. Everything showed up in the MRIs being fine and OK.

 

“It’s just a matter of getting out all the soreness. We’ve been able to get it all out of there. Now it’s just a matter of getting out there and competing, getting my pitch count up there so I can get out there and start competing and help the Milwaukee Brewers the rest of the season.”

 

And although the Brewers are well out of the playoff race, Marcum still holds out slim hope Milwaukee can still get on a run, especially since the team is getting healthy.

 

“It’s been frustrating,” Marcum said of the season. “But at the same time, we have a good group of guys down there. It’s not for a lack of effort that we’ve lost games. Everybody is busting their butt day in and day out and we’ve been in a lot of games. You take half of those games we’ve blown, that we’ve lost after the seventh and eighth innings and we’re just three or four games out of first place right now.

 

“That’s part of baseball. We still have a lot of baseball left. We saw what St. Louis did last year in the month of September and we still have a couple of extra weeks more than they had, so we still have a chance to make a run. We just have to keep playing ball the way we did those past three games against Cincinnati.”

[Mass Haas]

Audio from Nashville — A Chat with Dick Groch

 

Jeff Hem's note -- Tonight’s interview is with Dick Groch, who works in the Milwaukee Brewers’ front office in scouting and player personnel as a special assistant to GM Doug Melvin. Groch has been with the Brewers since ’02 and used to work for the Yankees, where he was responsible for signing Derek Jeter. Groch discusses a few of the positives for the Brewers this year, such as ’12 Sounds like Mike Fiers, Jim Henderson and Martin Maldonado. He also discusses what the Brewers got from the Angels in the Zack Greinke trade (INF Jean Segura and RHPs Johnny Hellweg and Ariel Pena), how many opinions were sought in the Brewers in the organization before the deal, and, as a scout, where he thinks more about the players he did sign or the ones he didn’t (see Votto, Joey).

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Media Notes

[bkrause2]

Final: Cedar Rapids 4, Wisconsin 6 (Game One)

 

Fast start gives Rattlers win in game one

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers scored five times in the first inning and held off the Cedar Rapids Kernels for a 6-4 victory in game one of a doubleheader at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Friday night.

 

The Wisconsin offense corrected their recent struggles with a big first inning. The Rattlers (66-49 overall, 22-24 second half) sent ten men to the plate and scored five runs. Ben McMahan drove in the first two runs of the frame with a triple. Nick Ramirez followed with an RBI single for a 3-0 lead. Yadiel Rivera kept the hits coming with a single to send Ramirez to third base. Carlos George made it 4-0 with a RBI single. Adrian Williams capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly to left.

 

Frazier Hall got the Kernels (46-70, 14-32) on the board with a solo homer in the top of the second inning. That was the only hit allowed by Marcum. The Brewers right-hander struck out three and walked none over three innings. Marcum, who was schedule to throw just 40 pitches in the game, tossed 36 - 26 for strikes - as he retired nine of the ten batters he faced.

 

Wisconsin tacked on a run in the bottom of the second inning. Brandon Macias tripled in Max Walla for a 6-1 lead.

 

Kevin Shackelford pitched a scoreless fourth and a scoreless fifth, but ran into trouble in the sixth inning. Eric Stamets singled in a run and stole second. Alex Yarbrough drew a walk and the pair pulled a double steal to get to second and third. Andy Workman singled to drive in both runners and make the score 6-4.

 

Stosh Wawrzasek relieved Shackelford and struck out Hall. But a walk to the next batter put the tying runs on base. Wawrzasek got out of the frame with a groundout.

 

Wawrzasek walked the leadoff batter in the top of the seventh, but retired the next three Kernels to earn his third save of the season.

 

WP: Kevin Shackelford (3-4)

LP: Cam Bedrosian (3-9)

SAVE: Stosh Wawrzasek (3)

 

TIME: 2:09

 

Wisconsin Box Score

 

The Rattlers jumped all over Angels pitching prospect Cam Bedrosian right away. They sent 10 men to the plate in the first inning, racking up five of their six runs in the first. Ben McMahan was 1-2 with a triple and had 2 RBI. he was also hit by a pitch. Max Walla went 2-4. Brandon Macias, Nick Ramirez and Carlos George all went 1-3 with an RBI. Yadiel Rivera was on base two times with a single and a hit by pitch. He also made a real nice defensive play with the tying run at the plate in the seventh on a little chopper over the mound to throw the runner out at first.

 

Shaun Marcum was making his first rehab start and looked pretty good. He made one mistake that Frazier Hall crushed for a 2nd inning home run but that was the only hit Marcum allowed in three innings. He threw 36 pitches and 28 of them went for strikes. Kevin Shackelford came on in relief of Marcum and allowed three runs in 2.1 innings. Stosh Wawrzasek came in to get the last two outs in the sixth and worked a scoreless seventh to earn the save.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

 

Five run first inning

Wisconsin Bottom of the 1st

Chadwin Stang singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Andy Workman.

Max Walla singles on a ground ball to left fielder Gary Mitchell. Chadwin Stang to 2nd.

Brandon Macias grounds into a force out, shortstop Eric Stamets to second baseman Alex Yarbrough. Chadwin Stang to 3rd. Max Walla out at 2nd. Brandon Macias to 1st.

Ben McMahan triples (9) on a fly ball to center fielder Andy Workman. Chadwin Stang scores. Brandon Macias scores.

Nick Ramirez singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Andy Workman. Ben McMahan scores.

Yadiel Rivera singles on a soft fly ball to right fielder Drew Martinez. Nick Ramirez to 3rd.

Carlos George singles on a line drive to center fielder Andy Workman. Nick Ramirez scores. Yadiel Rivera to 2nd.

Rafael Neda walks. Yadiel Rivera to 3rd. Carlos George to 2nd.

Adrian Williams out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Gary Mitchell. Yadiel Rivera scores.

Chadwin Stang strikes out swinging, catcher Zach Wright to first baseman Frazier Hall.

[bkrause2]

Final: Cedar Rapids 0, Wisconsin 2 (Game Two)

 

Williams Ks 11 in game two for 2-0 shutout

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Mark Williams made a spot start for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in game two of Friday's doubleheader against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Williams made the most of it as he tossed a complete game shutout and struck out eleven in a 2-0 Rattlers victory. The win gave the Rattlers a sweep in the twinbill.

 

Cedar Rapids (46-71 overall, 14-33 second half) had a few chances early against Williams. A walk and a two out single put runners at first and second in the third inning. Williams ended that inning with a strikeout. Alex Yarbrough doubled to start the fourth. Williams got a flyout to center, a grounder to first and strikeout number six to keep Yarbrough from scoring.

 

Wisconsin (67-49, 23-24) had difficulty mounting a rally against Kernels starting pitcher Austin Wood, who did not give up a hit in his first 4-1/3 innings. That would change in the bottom of the fifth.

 

Greg Hopkins and Mike Garza each singled with one out. Yadiel Rivera followed with a single to center and Hopkins scored the first run of the game. Later in the inning, Max Walla's two-out single scored Garza and the Rattlers were up 2-0.

 

Williams went back out for the sixth inning and pitched around a one out single by recording his ninth and tenth strikeouts of the night.

 

The Rattlers starter headed to the mound for the top of the seventh and a chance for the first complete game by a Rattlers pitcher this season. He got the first two outs, but allowed a single to Abel Baker that extended the game.

 

Cedar Rapids went to pinch-hitter Frazier Hall, who had homered off Shaun Marcum in game one of the doubleheader. Williams got Hall to chase a 2-2 pitch for strike three to end the game with his eleventh strikeout of the game.

 

The Timber Rattlers continue their homestand with a three-game series against the Clinton LumberKings. Game one against Clinton is Saturday night. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin native Chad Pierce (5-4, 3.67) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. The LumberKings will send Mayckol Guaipe (3-0, 3.19) to the mound. Game time is 6:35pm.

 

Saturday is Jimmy Buffett Night and Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium becomes Margaritaville. The Rattlers players will wear special Jimmy Buffett jerseys and you can bid during the silent auction to take one of the jerseys home. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Fox Valley Humane Association.

 

It's also a Fly Away Saturday. One lucky fan will win airfare for two from Funjet Vacations and Fox World Travel at this game! FOX 11 presents a postgame fireworks display. Stick around after the fireworks for a concert tropical songs from OD-TAPO-IMI.

 

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 6:15pm. Saturday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

 

WP: Mark Williams (6-9)

LP: Austin Wood (5-11)

 

TIME: 1:54

ATTN: 3,674

 

Wisconsin Box Score

 

I was kind of kicking myself for not going to see Marcum vs. Bedrosian in Game One tonight and thought I'd really be mad at myself when Austin Wood had a no-hitter going halfway through game two, but the Rattlers finally got to him in the fifth. Yadiel Rivera and Max Walla each went 1-3 and knocked in a run. Cameron Garfield doubled for the only T-Rats extra base hit. Greg Hopkins was on base twice with a single and a walk, as was Brandon Macias who walked and was hit by a pitch. Speaking of which, that was a Timber Rattlers record 19th time that Macias was plunked this season, surpassing the old mark set in 1996 by Luis Tinoco.

 

Mark Williams pitched a great game to earn his sixth win of the season. He went the whole way, striking out 11 Cedar Rapids hitters. He gave up six hits, but this was the definition of scattering six hits over seven innings, never allowing more than one hit in any single inning.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

 

All the offense Mark Williams would need came in the fifth inning

Wisconsin Bottom of the 5th

Cameron Garfield lines out to right fielder Drew Martinez.

Gregory Hopkins singles on a ground ball to right fielder Drew Martinez.

Mike Garza singles on a line drive to center fielder Andy Workman. Gregory Hopkins to 2nd.

Yadiel Rivera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Andy Workman. Gregory Hopkins scores. Mike Garza to 2nd.

Chadwin Stang strikes out swinging.

Max Walla singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Andy Workman. Mike Garza scores. Yadiel Rivera to 3rd.

Brandon Macias walks. Max Walla to 2nd.

Ben McMahan strikes out swinging, catcher Abel Baker to first baseman Gary Mitchell.

[TooLiveBrew]

Brevard holds on to beat Tampa

'Tees win 8-6, now three games back of first-place Yanks

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/08/11/tn9XOBa8.jpg

Manatees starting pitcher Nick Bucci threw five scoreless innings and struck out six as Brevard County defeated the Tampa Yankees, 8-6 on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees jumped out to a 6-0 lead and survived a rally from the Tampa Yankees to take the first game of a three-game set, 8-6 on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium.

 

The 'Tees (26-22 second half, 55-61 overall) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and chased Tampa's starting pitcher Jose A. Ramirez, without even recording a hit. Nick Shaw drew a one-out walk and then Jason Rogers reached on an error by second baseman Jose Toussen, as Shaw reached third. Rogers then stole second and then Mike Walker walked to load the bases.

 

Shea Vucinich plated the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly that scored Shaw and moved Rogers and Walker up 90 feet each. The bases would be loaded for Brevard once again after Cody Hawn drew a walk. Joey Paciorek then reached on an error by third baseman Zach Wilson that allowed two runs to score and gave Brevard a 3-0 lead. Ramirez was then lifted from the game and the inning finally ended with John Dishon flying out against the new pitcher Aaron Dott.

 

Brevard scored two more in the second thanks to a two-out, two-run homer by Jason Rogers, his fifth of the season. The 'Tees would score once again in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI ground out from Shaw.

 

The six-run lead was plenty for Manatees starting pitcher Nick Bucci (1-0, 0.00) to work with as he threw five scoreless frames, while striking out six.

 

Tampa (29-19, 59-56) did not go down without a fight however as they plated four unearned runs against southpaw Thomas Keeling in the seventh inning. Keeling walked one, hit two batters and gave up a three-run double to Gary Sanchez. The inning would have ended with Tyler Austin at the plate, but an error by Walker extended the inning and led to the unearned runs.

 

The 'Tees would get one run back in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI single from Hawn to take a 7-4 lead, but the Yanks made it a one-run game in the eighth thanks to RBI singles from Slade Heathcott and Kyle Roller off of Greg Holle.

 

Brevard County plated an insurance run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Walker and Alan Williams came on in the ninth and pitched around a lead-off single for the save as the 'Tees moved to within three games of first place Tampa.

 

Matt Miller will make his Brevard County debut as the 'Tees take on Tampa on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. Miller was 10-7 with a 3.68 ERA in 22 starts with Class-A Wisconsin this season. The Yankees will counter with Shane Greene (4-3, 4.24).

 

 

Brevard County Box

So, Nick Bucci, umm, I know you had a long layoff & road to recovery, so if you don't pitch well right away we won't worry.

 

[cue Bucci laughing maniacally]

 

Seriously, this dude hasn't missed a beat. In his second start with BC in 2012, and coincidentally... second start against Tampa, Bucci was excellent: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 2:5 GO:AO. Nick walked one batter in each of his first two innings, but didn't allow a hit until two outs in the 4th. I assume he must've been tiring towards the end of his outing, but the game recap doesn't include a pitch count so that's purely my speculation.

 

Back to Bucci -- in his two starts with BC, his cumulative line is 9 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K. I guess the one thing to point to as not being incredible & awesome is a 0.45 GO:AO ratio thus far, but he does appear to be a bit of a flyball pitcher (at least, statistically). Adding in his four starts with the AZL Brewers, his season ERA is 0.90. Zero. Point nine-zero.

 

Keen: 2-4, 2B, BB, SB (38)

Shaw: 0-2, 2 BB, RBI

Rogers: 1-3, HR, 2 BB, 2 RBI

Walker: 1-3, 2B, BB, RBI

Vucinich: 0-2, BB, RBI

Hawn: 1-3, BB, RBI

Paciorek: 0-3, BB

Dishon: 1-4, 3B

Franklin Romero, Jr: 2-4

 

 

Brevard County PbP

Lots of chaos in this game log -- this was a wild one. Frank Longobardo's (standard) excellent recap covered basically everything, but here's one inning that the 'Tees might have worried would come back to haunt them:

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 6th

-John Dishon triples (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Kelvin Duran.

-Franklin Romero Jr. strikes out swinging.

-Reggie Keen strikes out swinging.

-Nick Shaw walks.

-Jason Rogers strikes out swinging.

[TheCrew07]

Sounds Plate Two In Ninth To Edge Bees, 2-1

Vargas Outstanding Again For Nashville In No-Decision

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to claim a 2-1 victory over the Salt Lake Bees on Friday evening at Greer Stadium in front of 7,551 fans in the opener of a four-game series. Trailing 1-0 entering the final half-inning, Nashville rallied for the win against a pair of Salt Lake relievers, scoring the game-winner when Humberto Quintero drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk from Bees left-hander Andrew Taylor.

 

The come-from-behind triumph was Nashville's 19th last at-bat win of the year. The Sounds (55-65) have plated the winning run in their final turn at the plate in five of their last seven victories.

 

In the bottom of the ninth, Jordan Brown drew a one-out walk from Bees reliever Ryan Brasier and moved to third on Khris Davis' single to right-center before scoring when Taylor Green slapped a game-tying single to right and kept runners on the corners.

 

After Brasier struck out Sean Halton for the second out, Taylor took over on the Salt Lake hill and walked Caleb Gindl to load the bases for Quintero, who took a 3-2 offering low and in to force home Davis with the game-ending score.

 

The late rally made a winner out of Nashville reliever Amaury Rivas (5-7), who retired his only two batters faced in the top of the ninth.

 

Brasier (6-2) was charged with the loss after suffering his first blown save of the year in 12 attempts.

 

Starter Claudio Vargas turned in another in his recent string of solid efforts for the Sounds, authoring his fourth consecutive quality start. The veteran -- who took a no-decision -- allowed one run on five hits over seven innings, lowering his ERA to 1.84 in his last seven outings (9er/44.0ip).

 

The visitors took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Vargas. Andrew Romine singled to center with one out and later scored on a Luis Jimenez RBI single to left.

 

Neither team scored again after the top of the first inning until the Sounds rallied for the victory in the last of the ninth.

 

Salt Lake starter Greg Smith (8-8) threw an outstanding game, working 6 2/3 scoreless frames and allowing only three hits while striking out five, but took a no-decision following the late blown save.

 

Sounds shortstop Jeff Bianchi went 0-for-4 to bring an end to his season-best eight-game hitting streak.

 

The teams continue the series with a 6:35 p.m. meeting on Saturday night. Right-hander Wily Peralta (6-10, 5.17) will take the hill for the Sounds and face Salt Lake right-hander Barry Enright (10-6, 5.39).

 

Nashville Box Score

What a great walk off win! Claudio Vargas is on some kind of run. Khrush Davis (2-4) had the only multi-hit game. Caleb Gindl (1-3,2B,BB) had the only XBH.

 

Nashville Play By Play

[TheCrew07]

Final: DSL Brewers 5, DSL Angels 4

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

Another come from behind walk off win. The young Brewers scored all 5 runs in the last 3 innings including 2 in the 9th on a walk off HR by Carlos Belonis (2-2,2 HR) who just had a monster of a game after apparently being in the dog house for a while now.

 

Orlando Torrez was the actual starter, but he didn't make it through his 1 inning again and had to be bailed out by Jorge Lopez who had his best outing as a pro. Jorge went 5.2 innings allowing an unearned run on 3 hits and 1 walk while striking 9. Very good to see. Victor Diaz and Felix Paulino combined to pitch the final 3 scoreless innings.

 

Jose Dicent (2-4) and Alejandro Mendoza (3-4) had the other multi-hit games for the Brewers.

 

DSL Brewers Play By Play

 

Lopez bails out Torres in the 1st...

DSL Angels Top of the 1st

• Ayendy Perez walks.
  With Erick Salcedo batting, throwing error by Orlando Torrez on the pickoff attempt, Ayendy Perez to 2nd.
  Erick Salcedo called out on strikes.
  Enyelber Vivas singles on a ground ball to center fielder Juan Ortiz. Ayendy Perez scores.
  Angel Montilla hit by pitch. Enyelber Vivas to 2nd.
  Ranyelmy Mendoza reaches on a force attempt, throwing error by pitcher Orlando Torrez. Enyelber Vivas scores. Angel Montilla to 3rd.
  Bladimir Aquino singles on a ground ball to center fielder Juan Ortiz. Angel Montilla scores. Ranyelmy Mendoza to 2nd.
  Pitching Change: Jorge Lopez replaces Orlando Torrez.
  With Ercilio De La Cruz batting, passed ball by Natanael Mejia, Ranyelmy Mendoza to 3rd. Bladimir Aquino to 2nd.
  Ercilio De La Cruz strikes out swinging.
  Jose Herrera strikes out swinging.

 

The winning rallies...

 

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 7th

• Juan De Leon flies out to right fielder Ranyelmy Mendoza.
  Jose Dicent singles on a ground ball to center fielder Angel Montilla.
  Pitching Change: Yordany Reinoso replaces Francisco Santana.
  Elvis Rubio flies out to left fielder Ayendy Perez.
  Carlos Belonis homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Jose Dicent scores.
  Natanael Mejia strikes out swinging.

 

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 8th

• Kevin Martinez grounds out, first baseman Ercilio De La Cruz to pitcher Yordany Reinoso.
  Raphachel Colatosti singles on a ground ball to center fielder Angel Montilla.
  Alejandro Mendoza singles on a ground ball to center fielder Angel Montilla. Raphachel Colatosti to 3rd.
  Yunior Santana strikes out swinging.
  Juan De Leon singles on a ground ball to center fielder Angel Montilla. Raphachel Colatosti scores. Alejandro Mendoza to 3rd.
  Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Marcos Padilla replaces Juan De Leon.
  Jose Dicent called out on strikes.

 

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 9th

• Defensive switch from left field to center field for Ayendy Perez.
  Defensive Substitution: Luis Tovar replaces center fielder Angel Montilla, batting 4th, playing left field.
  Luis Jolly remains in the game as the designated hitter.
  Pitching Change: Ramon Rodriguez replaces Yordany Reinoso.
  Elvis Rubio walks.
  Carlos Belonis homers (2) on a fly ball to left field. Elvis Rubio scores.

[TooLiveBrew]

Huntsville 4, @Tennessee 3

 

Huntsville Box

This one was just a good, old-fashioned ballgame. Not old-timey, like a ball game, but old-fashioned nonetheless. It was a pitchers' duel through six innings, with the Stars up 1-0 thanks to some small ball in the 3rd. The Stars & Smokies wound up combining for 6 runs in the final three frames, and this one got pretty crazy.

 

In the 7th, the Stars got back-to-back one-out BBs from Brock Kjeldgaard (1-3, HR, BB, RBI, CS, PO) & Kentrail Davis (1-3, BB, OF assist). Adam Weisenburger (1-4) then flied out to RF, and on the play Smokies RF Matt Szczur was charged a throwing error, with Kjeldgaard coming in to score & Davis advancing to second. No idea if the throw went to third or second, but either way some aggressive baserunning appears to have paid off for Huntsville, and the extended their lead to 2-0.

 

Szczur almost immediately atoned for his mistake, leading off the 7th with a triple. Sounds starter Josh Stinson had allowed just one hit to that point, a single in the 3rd. He got a groundball double play right after allowing the hit, and had faced the minimum through six innings. The next Tennessee batter, Logan Watkins, singled Szczur home to cut the deficit to one run. However, Sintson bounced back and went K--pop out--K to end the inning and put an exclamation point on his outing. His final line: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 9:2 GO:AO, 80 TP (51 strikes)

 

After Huntsville was held scoreless in their half of the 7th, Darren Byrd took over in the 8th. He surrendered a one-out 2B, and then with two outs, a BB and a RBI 1B to Szczur. In a bit of irony, aggressive baserunning by Szczur led to him getting thrown out at second base by Davis to end the inning. Had Szczur been content with first base, Watkins would've come up with two runners on... Watkins doubled to lead off the home half of the 9th.

 

So the game was tied 2-2 entering the 9th, and with one out, Kjeldgaard knocked a 1-1 pitch out to centerfield to put the Stars up 3-2. Davis & Weisenburger followed with back-to-back good-luck singles (Davis's of the IF hit variety, Weisenburger's of the bloop variety). Davis took third base on Weisenburger's 1B, but Weisenburger was thrown out by Tennessee 3B Matt Cerda trying to take second base. -- [Fun fact: CF Jae-Hoon Ha gets credit for an OF assist on that play. The more you know...] -- The charmed-life 1Bs continued for the Stars as the next batter, PH T.J. Mittelstaedt singled on another bloop to centerfield, scoring Davis. Mittelstaedt then stole second base, Josh Prince (0-3, BB) drew a BB, but the inning ended on a Hainley Statia (2-4, BB) groundout and with Huntsville ahead 4-2.

 

Brandon Kintzler came on for the 9th, and as I mentioned earlier, surrendered a leadoff 2B. Then the Smokies had their turn with good-luck 1Bs -- an IF 1B by Ha, and a bloop 1B by first baseman Justin Bour. No runs came in, but with the bases loaded and no outs,

. Kintzler induced a lineout to shortstop to get the first out of the inning. He then got Cerda to hit a groundball to Hunter Morris (0-4), who attempted to start a game-ending double play. The Stars got the force out at second, but weren't able to double up Cerda, & Watkins came in to score. With runners on the corners, two outs, and a tenuous 4-3 lead, Kintzler struck out Nelson Perez swinging to secure the game for Huntsville. Phew!

 

-Scooter Gennett went 2-4 with one RBI, and extended streak of multi-hit games to six. He's 13-25 (.520) on the streak. Really nice to see Scooter surging -- with this hot stretch, he's already taken his second half OPS from sub-.600 to .660 after tonight's game. Keep hitting, Scooter!

 

-Davis extended his own hitting streak to seven games, and just like last night, waited until his final PA in the 9th inning to do so! He's 9-24 (.375) to this point on the streak. Keep hitting, Kentrail!

 

 

Huntsville PbP

The aforementioned Huntsville 3rd:

 

Huntsville Top of the 3rd

-Josh Stinson singles on a ground ball to left fielder Nelson Perez.

-Josh Prince hit by pitch. Josh Stinson to 2nd.

-Hainley Statia singles on a bunt ground ball to catcher Michael Brenly. Josh Stinson to 3rd. Josh Prince to 2nd.

-Scooter Gennett grounds into a force out, fielded by shortstop Junior Lake. Josh Stinson scores. Josh Prince out at 3rd. Hainley Statia to 2nd. Scooter Gennett to 1st.

-Andy Gonzalez grounds into a double play, pitcher Eric Jokisch to second baseman Logan Watkins to first baseman Justin Bour. Scooter Gennett out at 2nd.

 

A missed opportunity in the 8th probably felt pretty agonizing at the time, and even moreso after Tennessee tied things up in the home half:

 

Huntsville Top of the 8th

-Josh Prince flies out to right fielder Matthew Szczur.

-Hainley Statia walks.

-Scooter Gennett singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Matt Cerda. Hainley Statia to 2nd.

-Andy Gonzalez grounds into a double play, shortstop Junior Lake to second baseman Logan Watkins to first baseman Justin Bour. Scooter Gennett out at 2nd.

 

 

Huntsville Gameday

[TooLiveBrew]

Enemy game recap... some mistakes in this one

 

Rally falls short in 4-2 loss Friday night

Huntsville's two-run ninth too much for Tennessee to overcome

By Dana Argo/Adam Kline / Tennessee Smokies

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/08/11/UGfiRd3i.jpg

Matt Szczur went 2-for-4 with a triple in Friday's loss to Huntsville. (Dana Argo)

 

KODAK, Tenn. - The Tennessee Smokies had the game-winning run on base in the ninth inning, but were unable to score and fell to the Huntsville Stars Friday night, 4-3. The loss, in front of 4,927 at Smokies Park, drops the Smokies to 21-27 for the second half, 56-62 overall. Huntsville improves to 24-24, 59-59.

 

Down 4-2 in the ninth inning, the Smokies made a big threat off Huntsville closer Brandon Kintzler. Logan Watkins led off the inning with a ground-rule double and Jae-Hoon Ha reached on an infield single. Justin Bour loaded the bases with no outs with a single to center. Junior Lake then popped out to shortstop and Matt Cerda scored Watkins on a fielder's choice that forced Bour out at second. With runners at the corners, Nelson Perez struck out to end the game and the Smokies' rally.

 

Earlier in the game, Huntsville drew first blood off Tennessee starter Eric Jokisch in the third when Scooter Gennett singled home [grounded into a fielder's choice to score] Josh Stinson to give the Stars a 1-0 lead. Huntsville then extended their lead to 2-0 in the seventh when Brock Kjeldgaard scored from second on a throwing error by Matt Szczur.

 

Huntsville starter Josh Stinson faced the minimum batters allowed until the seventh inning. Szczur led off the inning with a triple and scored on a Watkins single to cut the Smokies' deficit to 2-1.

 

The Smokies tied the game at two in the eighth inning off reliever Darren Byrd. Nelson Perez hit a one double and would score three batters later on a Szczur single.

 

With the game tied in the ninth, Smokies reliever Kevin Rhoderick (2-6) gave up a one-out home run to Kjeldgaard then three consecutive singes to give the Stars a 4-2 advantage.

 

Jokisch, who did not factor in the decision, scattered five hits over his six innings of work allowing one run while striking out six.

 

Byrd (3-5) picked up the win for the Stars and Kintzler collected his ninth save of the season.

 

The Smokies will look to even the five-game series with the Stars on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. at Smokies Park. RHP Dae-Eun Rhee (7-6, 5.24) will start for the Smokies and Huntsville will counter with RHP Evan Anundsen (5-7, 4.88).

[Mass Haas]

After striking out swinging in the DSL Brewers 5th, CF Juan Ortiz exited (injury?) prompting this merry-go-round:

 

DSL Angels Top of the 6th

Defensive switch from shortstop to third base for Raphachel Colatosti.

Defensive switch from right field to center field for Yunior Santana.

Defensive switch from third base to left field for Jose Dicent.

Defensive switch from left field to right field for Elvis Rubio.

Defensive Substitution: Carlos Belonis replaces center fielder Juan Ortiz, batting 7th, playing shortstop.

 

So the DSL squad's top position player prospect, Belonis, didn't enter until the 6th and still managed to slug two home runs including the walkoff.

 

Sweet write-ups tonight, thanks guys...

[Mass Haas]

Mark Williams pitched a great game to earn his sixth win of the season. He went the whole way, striking out 11 Cedar Rapids hitters.

 

I really don't understand why, after nearly a decade of mining the independent ranks (second only to the Padres in sheer volume), the Brewers have abandoned this talent acquisition route all together in 2012.

 

RHP Mark Williams was signed in August 2011, making his affiliated debut with the Brewers. Just prior to that, the Brewers' indy signings included intriguingly promising LHP Alan Williams and a youngish versatile infielder in Hainley Statia, so it's not like those most recent signings were disappointing.

 

Here's hoping the Brewers haven't pulled the plug on having their scouting staff monitoring the independent leagues.

[Mass Haas]

I'm trying to wrap my head around the fact that a Pioneer League team could go scoreless for 28 innings (and counting!). It's an offensive haven league! How do you not stumble into an unearned run even? Hitting Coach Don Money would be such an entertaining interview this AM with his "non-filter" on....

 

***

 

Parrent sets the rules

Helena Brewers

 

For the third consecutive night the Brewers simply couldn't get the bats going as Brandon Parrent and the Great Falls staff threw a shutout. The Brewers managed just four hits in the loss and fell on Friday night 3-0 to the Great Falls Voyagers.

 

Despite only recording four hits, the Brewers did have opportunities thanks to seven walks issued by Voyager pitchers. The Brewers posed a very real threat in the bottom of the fifth trailing 2-0, thanks to back-to-back walks and a bunt single by Raul Mondesi Jr. However, with no outs and the bases loaded, Voyager starter Parrent buckled down, striking out Andres Martinez and then forcing Ruben Ozuna to ground into a double play.

 

The Brewers were able to stay close throughout the evening thanks to quality pitching from starter Tyler Wagner, and relievers Brent Suter and Connor Whalen. The trio combined for twelve strikeouts on the evening and only allowed two earned runs to score. In spite of the strong performance Wagner was tabbed with his third loss of the season.

 

After collecting 43 hits over three games against the Missoula Osprey, the Brewers have only hit safely 15 times since. On Friday, hits were recorded by Chris McFarland, Alfredo Rodriguez, Adam Giacalone, and Mondesi.

 

The Brewers will face the Great Falls Voyagers in the final game of a two game set tomorrow night at Kindrick Legion Field. First pitch is slated for 7:05 (8:05 Central).

 

Connor Whalen pitched a scoreless 9th on Friday night. (Sleeping Giant Photography)

 

http://helena.brewers.milb.com/images/2012/08/10/aRSw7tcx.jpg

 

***

 

Brewers held scoreless for third straight game

Helena Independent Record

 

Kindrick Legion Field hasn’t exactly been home sweet home for the Helena Brewers the last three days.

 

They haven’t been able to find home plate, either.

 

Friday night’s loss to the Great Falls Voyagers marked the third straight game that Helena was shut out 3-0, running the Brewers’ scoreless inning streak to 28 frames.

 

Helena had just four hits as the offense was stymied once again. The Voyagers pitching staff was less than perfect, too, issuing seven walks to Brewers batters. Still, the hosts failed to do anything with runners upon getting them on base, stranding seven.

 

Great Falls catcher Zachary Fisher hit his first home run of the season in the third inning off of Tyler Wagner, who fell to 0-3.

 

Voyagers starter Brandon Parrent picked up his first win after starting the season with four straight losses. He hurled a two-hitter, and Cory McGinnis, David Putman and Brett Merkley kept the Brewers off the board the rest of the way. It was the third shutout by Voyagers pitching this season, and Merkley has now been a part of two. He earned his sixth save.

 

Chris McFarland, Alfredo Rodriguez, Adam Giacalone and Raul Mondesi Jr. had hits for Helena, all of them singles. McFarland and Giacalone were also part of two double plays on the evening.

 

Helena Box Score / Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog: Nine after 9 includes doubleheader highlights

[Mass Haas]

Post-Crescent (mostly Shaun Marcum) photo gallery

[Mass Haas]

Video: Voice of the Huntsville Stars Alex Cohen Interview

[Mass Haas]

Nashville audio from the 9th inning rally:

 

Taylor Green Game-Tying Single

 

Humberto Quintero Walks To Force Home Winning Run

[ramssuperbowl1999]

Final: Great Falls White Sox 3, Helena Brewers 0

 

Helena Brewers Box Score

Well, not the way I was hoping to get into the Link Report - the Brewers' offense was completely overpowered by the Voyagers today. They only mustered 4 hits all night, but solid pitching kept them in the game most of the way.

 

Tyler Wagner started off, and was quite good. He went 5 IP allowing 2 runs (both earned) with 6 strike outs to 2 walks. He's now put together two solid starts in a row, after starting his career off pretty abysmally. Brent Suter and Connor Whalen went the rest of the way - Suter went 3 IP, 3 H, 3 K, 1 BB, and allowed an unearned run while Whalen struck out the side and walked one in the 9th. If you are looking for positives from this game, the pitching did a very nice job, particularly in the strikeout department. Young guys missing bats is always a good thing.

 

Offensively, there isn't really that much to talk about. Chris McFarland and Adam Giacalone each managed to get on base twice with a single and a walk. McFarland probably had the best night of anyone though, since he chipped in a steal to boot. Michael Reed went hitless, but walked twice. The Brewers put together potential scoring opportunities in only 2 innings, and squandered them both. Billy Beane would not have been happy with the H-Crew today, as Andrez Martinez and Michael Turay each were caught stealing.

 

Helena Brewers Play By Play

 

The only two chances:

Helena Brewers Bottom of the 4th

• Christopher McFarland grounds out, pitcher Brandon Parrent to first baseman Brent Tanner.
  Alfredo Rodriguez reaches on a fielding error by third baseman Thomas McCarthy.
  With Adam Giacalone batting, wild pitch by Brandon Parrent, Alfredo Rodriguez to 2nd.
  Adam Giacalone grounds out, second baseman Micah Johnson to first baseman Brent Tanner. Alfredo Rodriguez to 3rd.
  Emmanuel Quiles flies out to right fielder Yoandy Barroso.

 

Helena Brewers Bottom of the 5th

• Michael Reed walks.
  Michael Turay walks. Michael Reed to 2nd.
  Raul Mondesi singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Brandon Parrent. Michael Reed to 3rd. Michael Turay to 2nd.
  Andres Martinez called out on strikes.
  Ruben Ozuna grounds into a double play, shortstop Bradley Salgado to second baseman Micah Johnson to first baseman Brent Tanner. Raul Mondesi out at 2nd.