Link Report for Wed. 8/22 - Doubleheader loss painful for Brevard; 2012 4th rounder Tyler Wagner making smooth conversion to starting pitcher

[TooLiveBrew]

To the 13th we go in Mississippi, and Kentrail Davis leads it off with a BB... come on bats!

[TooLiveBrew]

@Mississippi 3, Huntsville 1

 

Huntsville Box

*sigh*

 

Another tough loss for the Stars tonight, and another night of getting dominated by Mississippi's pitchers (H'ville was a combined 6-42 on the game). The main culprit tonight was starter Gary Moran (get a brain, moran!), who allowed 1 unearned R on just three H over 7 IP (0 BB/8 K). The best scoring threat Huntsville amassed was in the 4th, when a SB & throwing E allowed Domnit Bolivar (3-5) to reach 3B. Bolivar was plated on a SF from Andy Gonzalez (0-3, RBI, BB). Aside from that, the Stars advanced a runner to 2B just three times.

 

Starter Evan Anundsen went 4.2 IP and allowed just one run (earned), before appearing to lose command in the 5th somewhere around... you guessed it... 85 pitches. Perhaps the problem isn't that the Brewers are limiting their MiLB pitchers to 85-pitch outings, but instead that the system is full of guys who just don't project realistically as SPs due to endurance issues. Either way... sucks.

 

Five Huntsville RPs combined to work 7.2 IP of scoreless relief. I don't really feel like posting each one's performance, but in such a tight game, each guy's contribution was pretty clutch. Since many of us love tracking prospects, Johnny Hellweg turned in his second consecutive 2 IP scoreless relief outing.

 

Aside from Bolivar & Gonzalez, Josh Prince (1-6), Hunter Morris (1-5), Brock Kjeldgaard (1-5), and Kentrail Davis (0-4, BB) were the only other Stars to reach base.

 

 

Huntsville PbP

Darnell Coles took a page from the Ron Roenicke playbook in the 1st with his #3 hitter batting -- why?!:

 

Huntsville Top of the 1st

-Josh Prince called out on strikes.

-Domnit Bolivar singles on a ground ball to left fielder Evan Gattis, deflected by third baseman Joe Leonard.

-Scooter Gennett out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Joe Leonard to first baseman Joey Terdoslavich. Domnit Bolivar to 2nd.

-Andy Gonzalez grounds out, pitcher Gary Moran to first baseman Joey Terdoslavich.

 

And here's Anundsen's wild 5th inning:

 

Mississippi Bottom of the 5th

-Philip Gosselin walks.

-Jason Christian strikes out swinging.

-With Gary Moran batting, wild pitch by Evan Anundsen, Philip Gosselin to 2nd.

-Gary Moran strikes out swinging.

-Todd Cunningham singles on a ground ball to second baseman Scooter Gennett. Philip Gosselin to 3rd.

-Keenan Wiley singles on a fly ball to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard, deflected by center fielder Josh Prince. Philip Gosselin scores. Todd Cunningham to 3rd.

-Pitching Change: Brian Garman replaces Evan Anundsen, batting 9th.

-Joey Terdoslavich called out on strikes.

 

The walk-off:

 

Mississippi Bottom of the 13th

-Pitching Change: Philippe Valiquette replaces Josh Butler, batting 9th.

-Evan Gattis grounds out, shortstop Domnit Bolivar to first baseman Hunter Morris.

-Joe Leonard reaches on a throwing error by shortstop Domnit Bolivar.

-Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Bobby Stevens replaces Billy Bullock.

-Bobby Stevens homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Joe Leonard scores.

 

 

Huntsville Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Final: Round Rock 7, Nashville 6 (11 Innings)

 

Sounds Drop Series Opener To Express In 11 Innings

Halton Homers Twice In Losing Effort As Nashville Blows Five-Run Lead

 

ROUND ROCK, Texas - Round Rock overcame a five-run deficit to force extras and a two-out Ryan Spilborghs single in the bottom of the eleventh inning gave the Express a 7-6 victory over the Nashville Sounds late Wednesday evening at The Dell Diamond in the opener of a five-game series.

 

The contest was the Sounds' PCL-leading 16th extra-inning affair of the year (6-10 in those games).

 

The Sounds (61-71) scored in the top of the first inning, eventually built a five-run advantage, and led for the entire game until Round Rock rallied in the bottom of the ninth against Rob Wooten to send it to extras. Since the promotion of All-Star closer Jim Henderson to Milwaukee on July 26, the Nashville bullpen has nine blown saves in 12 opportunities.

 

In the decisive Round Rock eleventh, Leonys Martin led off with a single to right against Nashville reliever Brandon Kintzler (0-1) and was sacrificed to second. After a fielder's choice advanced Martin to third, Spilborghs ended the contest with a two-out single to left.

 

Third baseman Sean Halton enjoyed his third two-homer game of the season for Nashville and upped his team-leading RBI total to 49 by plating four runs in the contest.

 

Shortstop Eric Farris (4-for-6) led five Nashville players with multi-hit efforts in the game, his second four-hit effort of the year and the seventh by a Sound this season.

 

Sounds starter Brian Baker continued his strong second half, holding Round Rock to two runs in five innings of work and was in line to earn wins in back-to-back starts for the first time all season before the late blown save by the Nashville bullpen. The right-hander has posted a 2.74 ERA (17er/55.2ip) in his last 11 PCL outings.

 

Nashville grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Round Rock starter Greg Reynolds. Farris led off the game with a double to left and later scored the game's first run on a Khris Davis sacrifice fly.

 

In the second, Halton -- who made his first professional appearance at third base with a start at the hot corner due to the call-up of Jeff Bianchi and Taylor Green being unavailable due to illness -- doubled the Sounds' lead to 2-0 with a towering solo homer to left.

 

· AUDIO: Sean Halton's 1st HR

 

Halton broke the game open in the fourth when he blasted his second home run of the night, a three-run shot to left-center off Reynolds that extended the Sounds' advantage to 5-0. It was his team-leading 14th roundtripper of the season.

 

· AUDIO: Sean Halton's 2nd HR

 

Baker opened the night with four scoreless frames to run his personal streak to 15.0 consecutive scoreless innings for Nashville before the Express finally broke through in the fifth.

 

Julio Borbon opened the Round Rock fifth with an infield single before shortstop Alberto Gonzalez put the home team on the board when he followed with his first homer of the year, a two-run shot to left that reduced the Nashville lead to 5-2.

 

The Express rally continued as the next three hitters reached base to load the bases with still no outs. Baker recovered to induce a 1-2-3 double play from Yangervis Solarte then struck out Spilborghs to escape the inning with no further damage.

 

Borbon pulled the Express within a pair of runs in the sixth when he ripped a two-out solo homer to right off Sounds reliever Amaury Rivas to make it a 5-3 game.

 

Nashville tacked on an important insurance run in the top of the eighth when second baseman Adrian Williams, who went 2-for-5 in his first career Triple-A start, singled against Fabio Castillo and scored on Logan Schafer's team-leading eighth triple of the year to extend the Sounds' lead to 6-3.

 

· AUDIO: Logan Schafer RBI Triple

 

Round Rock made it a one-run game in the bottom of the eighth when Spilborghs greeted reliever Tim Dillard with a two-run homer to right, his eighth big fly of the year. Solarte, who opened the inning with a double against Juan Perez, also scored on the roundtripper, which reduced the Nashville advantage to 6-5.

 

Later in the eighth, the Express placed the potential tying run into scoring position when Borbon doubled with two outs against Wooten, but the Nashville right-hander punched out Gonzalez for the final out of the frame.

 

The Sounds attempted to tack on a run in the ninth. Jordan Brown doubled and tried to score on catcher Humberto Quintero's two-out single to center but was thrown out at the dish by Martin.

 

The Express rallied to pull even at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth against Wooten.

 

Martin led off with an infield single and moved to third on a Nelson single that deflected off the glove of a diving Williams on the right side of the infield to put runners on the corners. Kata followed with a grounder to second which Williams double-clutched then misfired to the plate to allow Martin to score the tying run.

 

With runners on the corners and no outs, Wooten was able to escape the jam without further damage with the help of an atypical double play. Solarte hit a grounder to first and Brown looked the runner back to third then stepped on the bag for the first out. During the play, Kata made contact with Williams in between first and second and stopped running, allowing Brown to throw him out at second to complete the twin-killing, leading to a lengthy Round Rock argument that culminated in the ejection of Express manager Bobby Jones. After an intentional walk, Wooten struck out Brandon Snyder for the third out of the inning.

 

The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. meeting on Thursday night. Right-hander Tyler Thornburg (1-1, 2.25) will toe the rubber for the Sounds. Round Rock will counter with left-hander Chad Bell (3-4, 4.76).

 

Nashville Box Score

 

Nashville Play By Play

[TheCrew07]

Final: DSL Tigers 6, DSL Brewers 3

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

This had all the makings a great game for the Brewers until the 6th when some questionable pitching and shoddy defense led to back to back 3 run innings for the Tigers. Angel Ventura was in and out of trouble only pitching 1 clean inning through 5 and couldn't keep the train rolling through the 6th. In all he went 6 innings allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, on 8 hits, a wild pitch, a balk, and 2 walks while striking out 8. He was followed by Junior Flores who managed to hit 3 batters and walked 1 in just 1 inning of work, and of course the defense fell apart as well. Somehow Junior only managed to give up 3 runs, with 1 being earned, but he obviously didn't pitch well. Orlando Torres pitched a clean 8th to close out the pitching... All 3 Brewer pitchers who appeared today have a season ERA over 7... it's tough to be excited about any of these guys (small sample alert), Ventura does have a K/9 right around 9, which is at least something to hang a hat on if you're looking for something positive.

 

A relative offensive explosion was wasted as the Brewers pounded out 11 and 5 players had multiple hit games. Francisco Castillo (2-5), Juan Ortiz (2-5,2B), Jose Dicent (2-4), Sthervin Matos (3-4), and Alejandro Mendoza (2-2,2B) all nice games at the plate. The rest of the box score was pretty busy:

 

BASERUNNING

SB: Ortiz, Ju 2 (18, 3rd base off Lara, Ca/Rodriguez, S, 2nd base off Lara, Ca/Rodriguez, S), Castillo, F (29, 2nd base off Lara, Ca/Rodriguez, S).

CS: Dicent, Js (2, 2nd base by Lara, Ca/Rodriguez, S).

PO: Dicent, Js (1st base by Lara, Ca).

 

FIELDING

E: Otano (5, throw), Belonis (14, throw), Matos (3, throw).

PB: De La Cruz, Y (6).

Outfield assists: Castillo, F (Santana, Fel A at home).

Pickoffs: Ventura (Oses at 1st base).

 

DSL Brewers Play By Play

 

 

DSL Tigers Bottom of the 6th

• Victor Ovalles singles on a fly ball to center fielder Francisco Castillo.
  Lenny Pena doubles (10) on a fly ball to center fielder Francisco Castillo. Victor Ovalles to 3rd.
  Yerison Pena singles on a fly ball to center fielder Francisco Castillo. Victor Ovalles scores. Lenny Pena to 3rd.
  Sandy Acevedo grounds into a force out, shortstop Carlos Belonis to second baseman Leudi Otano. Lenny Pena scores. Yerison Pena out at 2nd. Sandy Acevedo advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by second baseman Leudi Otano.
  Albertin Chavez pops out to second baseman Leudi Otano.
  Sandy Rodriguez reaches on a throwing error by shortstop Carlos Belonis. Sandy Acevedo scores. Sandy Rodriguez to 2nd.
  Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Felix A. Santana replaces Sandy Rodriguez.
  Omar Oses singles on a fly ball to center fielder Francisco Castillo. Felix A. Santana out at home on the throw, center fielder Francisco Castillo to catcher Yunior De La Cruz.

 

DSL Tigers Bottom of the 7th

• Alejandro Mendoza remains in the game as the second baseman.
  Pitching Change: Junior Flores replaces Angel Ventura.
  Anderson Yance hit by pitch.
  Francisco Contreras hit by pitch. Anderson Yance to 2nd.
  With Victor Ovalles batting, passed ball by Yunior De La Cruz, Anderson Yance to 3rd. Francisco Contreras to 2nd.
  Victor Ovalles reaches on a throwing error by third baseman Sthervin Matos.
  Lenny Pena walks. Anderson Yance scores. Francisco Contreras to 3rd. Victor Ovalles to 2nd.
  Yerison Pena out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Francisco Castillo. Francisco Contreras scores.
  Sandy Acevedo hit by pitch. Victor Ovalles to 3rd. Lenny Pena to 2nd.
  Albertin Chavez grounds into a force out, shortstop Carlos Belonis to second baseman Alejandro Mendoza. Victor Ovalles scores. Lenny Pena to 3rd. Sandy Acevedo out at 2nd. Albertin Chavez to 1st.
  Felix A. Santana flies out to center fielder Francisco Castillo.
   
  

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog -- Wednesday’s Video Highlights and three lists

[Mass Haas]

Helena Video Highlights

 

***

 

Helena Site Game Summary

 

***

 

Helena Photo Gallery from the Independent Record along with game summary

[Mass Haas]

Brevard swept in twin bill by Lakeland

Manatees lose both games 3-2, now 3.5 games out of first

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County

 

VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees were swept in Wednesday's doubleheader at Space Coast Stadium by the Lakeland Flying Tigers as both games ended with the final score of 3-2. The 'Tees have now lost six straight games to Lakeland.

 

GAME ONE: Lakeland 3, Brevard County 2 (8 inn.)

 

Down 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning of game one, Shea Vucinich led the frame off with a single. Two batters later, Brevard would take the lead thanks to a two-run homer to left from Parker Berberet.

 

The lead would be short-lived however as a two-out RBI single from Hernan Perez off of Greg Holle tied the game at 2-2. The 'Tees were unable to win it in the bottom of the inning as the seven-inning game went into extras.

 

Alan Williams replaced Holle to start the eighth and he allowed a lead-off single to Marcus Lemon, who would then go to second on a sacrifice bunt. After hitting Tyler Collins with a pitch, Williams was able to force Wade Gaynor to fly out to left for the second out of the inning.

 

Luis Castillo then entered the game as a pinch hitter for the left-handed Matt Perry and the strategy worked as Castillo singled to left to plate Lemon. Castillo though would be thrown out trying to stretch it into a double as the inning came to an end.

 

Brevard was unable to extend the game as a two-out single by Cody Hawn put the tying run on base, but Berberet grounded out to second to end it.

 

Drew Gagnon (0-2, 3.15) got the start for the 'Tees and pitched well as he allowed just one run on three hits in five innings of work. The only run he allowed came on a solo homer by Tyler Collins to lead off the fourth. Gagnon struck out five and walked just one as he is still winless in ten starts with Brevard (Note -- thank you, Manatee offense -- MH).

 

The Manatees tallied nine hits, including two each from Nick Shaw and Hawn, but Brevard County went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.

 

GAME TWO: Lakeland 3, Brevard County 2

 

The Flying Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning off of 'Tees starting pitcher Nick Bucci (1-2, 1.93) on a two-out, two-run single off the bat of Adolfo Reina.

 

Even though those would be the only runs that Lakeland would score off of Bucci, he struggled with his command in his five innings of work as he walked six batters. Bucci allowed just the three singles in the first inning, while striking out five.

 

Brevard cut Lakeland's lead in half in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Reggie Keen that plated Joey Paciorek, who led the inning off with a single.

 

The Flying Tigers though would plate an insurance run off of Eric Arnett in the top of the sixth as James Robbins hit an opposite field, solo homer to lead off the inning and give Lakeland a 3-1 lead.

 

Paciorek led the bottom of the seventh off with a single and would score on a two-out single by Keen to make it a 3-2 lead but it was too little, too late as Keen was picked off while Nick Shaw was at the plate to end the game.

 

Paciorek was a perfect 3-for-3 in the second game of the double dip, while Mike Walker added two hits as well.

 

The two losses dropped the Manatees to 3.5 games back of first place in the jumbled North Division race. Brevard will look to snap a three-game losing streak in the series finale with the Flying Tigers on Thursday night at 6:35 PM (5:35 Central).

 

Matt Miller (1-1, 10.00) will get the ball for the 'Tees, while Warwick Saupold (2-1, 3.27) is scheduled to start for Lakeland.

 

Brevard County starting pitchers Drew Gagnon (L) and Nick Bucci ® struck out five batters each in Wednesday's doubleheader, but the 'Tees were swept in the twin bill by the Lakeland Flying Tigers. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

http://www.milb.com/images/2012/08/23/sTQqkZsD.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Timber Rattler photo gallery at link for Post-Crescent game story (quotes)

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Huntsville's Andy Gonzalez starts a double play

[X-TAI]

Joe Block with Nashville SP Hiram Burgos.

 

http://www.620wtmj.com/podcasts/sports/brewers/167105505.html

[Tedaldtada]

AZL Rangers 7 AZL Brewers 2

 

Box Score

 

Rehabbing pitchers and few hits were the story for the Brewers. Andre Lamontagne and Vinnie Chulk each threw a scorless inning. Francisco Rivero, a bit of mystery man for me, was stretched out to 2 innings on the night. He held them as well. Next was Danny Keller and he did some Danny Keller-ish things (see: gave up a bunch of hits, walks and runs.) Carlos Sosa saw an inning and gave up a run too, but the big disappointment is how Zachary Quintana got smoked.

 

At the plate, Dustin Houle went 2-3 with a 2B. No other hits or walks for anyone.

 

Seeing how we played the Rangers, maybe now is a good time to remind everyone about one of the quirks of this past draft. Here is how the Rangers and Brewers picks stack up over the 1st 2 rounds.

 

1st Round:

 

27: C Clint Coulter (R-): 150 AB's .287/.429/.413 9 XBH 3 SB (37.5%) SOlid start to his career, but Brinson has been amazing.

28: OF Victor Roache (Instructs): NA, but his offensive ceiling is very comparable to anyone on this list

29: OF Lewis Brinson (R-): 216 AB's .301/.363/.565 36 XBH 13 SB (86.7%) With Gallo promotoed, Brinson is probably the MVP of the AZL League

 

1st Round Suppy

 

38: OF Mitch Haniger (A): 49 AB's .289/.379/.429 5 XBH 1 SB (100%) Not the same ceiling as the HS kids but there is still All-Star potential in the bat.

39: 3B Joey Gallo (R+): 177 AB's .288/.422/.718 33 XBH (21 HR) 6 SB (100%) Also, striking out 38.4% of the time, but he clearly has an 80 power grade.

53: P Collin Wiles (R-): 32.2 IP 7.71 ERA 22:11 K:BB Seen as an overdraft, but is super projectable.

 

2nd Round:

 

83: OF Jaime Jarmon (R-): 119 AB's .185/.326/.235 4 XBH 5 SB (62.5%) Raw as can be.

92: OF Tyrone Taylor (R+): 75 AB's .387/.434/.667 14 XBH 6 SB (66.7%) Was clearly headed for Brewers' Rookie League MVP award. Did Texas actually not draft a raw HS OF? I'll take him.

93: OF Nick Williams (R-): 182 AB's .319/.382/.467 17 XBH 14 SB (93.3%) Looks like another keeper for the talent laden Rangers.

 

If I still care about such things in 20 years, it would be super-duper interesting to see which group of players produces the highest WAR. Texas probably has the betting edge for most scouts currently, but Brewers prospects always seem to squeeze plenty of value out of themselves despite less than stellar reports.

 

Game Log

[Tedaldtada]

FYI, the effort is appreciated, Tedaldtada. Great work.

 

Thanks!

 

I know the leader board posts left off some of the better performers in the system, but I just thought it would be fun to compare these players to something, anything.

 

Anyways, you can bet Hiram Burgos, Jason Rogers, T.J. Mittelstaedt, Jimmy Nelson, Drew Gagnon, Michael Garza, Tyler Thornburg, etc. would have been much more prevalent in the lists if they had stayed put all year.

[Tedaldtada]

I just want to continue fawning over the Rangers and their system.

 

So, besides the five 2012 1st or 2nd round picks they sent to the AZL to start the season the Rangers also sent 4.95M bonus baby Nomar Mazera (181 AB's .260/.385/.469 21 XBH 5 SB (71.4%)) and 3.5M bonus baby Ronald Guzman (191 AB's .309/.363/.424 17 XBH 5 SB (83.3%)).

 

Their #2 hitter is a teenage infielder from Venzuela with an .800 OPS named Luis Mendez. Their 2B is an 18 year old from the D.R. named Alberto Truinfel who has some idea at the plate despite little contact. Alberto is the younger bro of former super-prospect Carlos Truinfel. At SS, they have another teenager named Luis Marte who they signed for 250K.

 

So, all together, they have roughly 15M invested in their AZL League team this season. Could that possibly be more than the entire Brewers minor league system? I am too scared to find out.

 

Edit: That was just the hitters. Pitching for the Rangers last night was the ultra effective Angelo Leclerc. His 2011 DSL numbers would make Gian Rizzo blush. He is dominating the AZL this year.

[Mass Haas]

To Twitter followers:

 

#Brewers Minor League Link Report from Wed. - audio, video, photos, summaries, quotes, and a partridge in a pear tree

 

http://hautenthekitchen.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/1635530685_9565d99edd1.jpg

[Mass Haas]

STARS LOSE THIRD STRAIGHT

 

PEARL, Miss. - A two-run, walk-off home run by Mississippi Braves pinch-hitter Bobby Stevens in the bottom of the 13th inning sent the Huntsville Stars to a 3-1 loss on Wednesday night at Trustmark Park.

 

For the first time this series, the Stars offense was able to strike first. In the fourth inning, shortstop Domnit Bolivar started off the frame with one of his three singles on the night. Following a stolen base attempt, Bolivar ended up on third base thanks to a throwing error from M-Braves catcher Shawn McGill. Later in the inning, a sacrifice fly from third baseman Andy Gonzalez brought home Bolivar to make the score 1-0.

 

In the bottom half of the fifth inning, a RBI single from M-Braves right fielder Keenan Wiley off of Stars starter Evan Anundsen tied up the game at 1-1. Relief pitcher Brian Garman replaced Anundsen after that run. The righty ended the night after 4.2 innings, giving up just one run on four hits. He walked two and struck out five batters.

 

Following that fifth inning run, both bullpens were able to shutdown their opposing offenses all the way up until the 13th inning. With reliever Philippe Valiquette in the ballgame as the Stars seventh pitcher of the night, the M-Braves came through with their second walk-off win of the series. After Mississippi third baseman Joe Leonard reached on a throwing error from Bolivar, Stevens crushed a Valiquette fastball well over the left field wall to end the ballgame.

 

Valiquette fell to 0-1 on the season to the loss. Prior to the home run, the Huntsville bullpen pitched 7.1 combined innings of scoreless relief.

 

The win went to Mississippi reliever Billy Bullock who tossed two hitless innings to close out the game. M-Braves starter Gary Moran threw seven complete innings, giving up one run on three hits. He didn’t allow a walk and struck out eight batters.

 

On offense, the Stars could only manage six total hits in the ballgame. Aside from Bolivar, Huntsville got a single apiece from first baseman Hunter Morris, left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard and center fielder Josh Prince. In the first four games of this series, the Stars offense has only been able to muster up a combined eight runs.

 

For the Stars, the loss was their third in a row. Combined with a win by the Chattanooga Lookouts, Huntsville is now eight games back of a playoff spot in the Southern League with 11 regular season games left to play.

 

The Stars and M-Braves will wrap up a five-game series at Trustmark Park on Thursday. The Stars will look to starter Jimmy Nelson (1-3, 4.76 ERA) to stop the losing skid. First pitch is at 7 PM.