Link Report for Wed. 8/29 -- Burgos strong again; Maryvale ends season with 3-game win streak, avoid basement

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Hiram Burgos at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 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). The audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link.

 

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Huntsville: Idle

 

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Brevard County: RHP Matt Miller at Lakeland (Tigers), 5:30 PM gametime

 

Sorry, no audio available for this series...

 

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

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Chad Thompson at home vs. Beloit (Twins), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

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.

 

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Helena: LHP Taylor Wall at Billings (Reds), 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): at the Indians' complex in Goodyear; 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

 

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DSL Brewers: Season complete; final stats and analysis here

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Maryvale

[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 (FINAL)

 

***

 

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]

Look for Nashville and Wisconsin media notes at the links just prior to their game times.

[nate82]

From Adam McCalvy today on Arnett and Burgos

 

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120829&content_id=37556608&notebook_id=37556720&vkey=notebook_mil&c_id=mil

 

Last call

 

• Ash said right-hander Hiram Burgos is a candidate for a September callup, though the plan was subject to change. Burgos, whose style is similar to Brewers command specialist Mike Fiers, was 9-4 with a 2.09 ERA for three Brewers affiliates entering his start for Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.

 

• Former first-round Draft pick Eric Arnett touched 94 mph in a recent outing, Ash said, and has shown signs of progress since a permanent switch to relief. Arnett, 24, was 4-6 with a 5.13 ERA in 14 starts last season for rookie-level Helena and Class A Wisconsin, but has a 3.68 ERA in 32 relief appearances for advanced Class A Brevard County in 2012.

 

"He's been better -- much better," Ash said. "There's at least a chance for him."

 

Another selection from the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, Heckathorn, made a similar move to relief this season.

[Tedaldtada]

I'll be going somewhat short tonight because I am in the process of moving, but be sure to keep an eye out for my season recaps on the teams I reported on. The Maryvale should be up sometime by the end of the weekend at the very latest.

 

Helena 6 Billings (Reds) 4

 

Box Score

 

Well, Jose Pena came to the plate just needing a well struck single to tie the game. He decided to crack a 3-run bomb setting the final tally. With Tyrone Taylor's mysteriously abrupt season, Pena (2-5 2B HR) is certainly the Rookie League MVP for the Brewers. Great season with a couple to go. Ruben Ozuna (2-4 SB), Chris McFarland (3-4 2B SB), Emmanuel Quiles (3-4) and Michael Turay (3-4 2B) all were all going good tonight.

 

Taylor Wall and Martin Viramontes covered this one for Helena. Wall got 19 outs with reasonable damage, but the periphs, besides the GB's, are not that great. Viramontes continues to K well over a guy per inning.

 

Game Log

 

No game stories yet, so dive in and tell me what happened.

[bkrause2]

Final: Beloit 6, Wisconsin 5 (12 Innings)

 

Twelve round decision goes to the Snappers

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Beloit Snappers defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 6-5 in twelve innings Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. AJ Pettersen had a pair of extra-inning, two-out, RBI singles for the visitors, who erased an early 4-0 Timber Rattlers lead.

 

Wisconsin (75-59 overall, 31-34 second half) took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Yadiel Rivera doubled and Carlos George reached on an error. A sacrifice bunt by Adrian Williams moved both runners into scoring position. Chadwin Stang put the Rattlers in front with a single to right that scored Rivera. George would score - and Stang take third - on an errant pickoff. An RBI grounder by Brandon Macias sent Stang home for a 3-0 lead.

 

Ben McMahan blasted a long home run in the fourth inning for a 4-0 lead. McMahan's 13th home run of the season was the 100th of the year for the team. Wisconsin is one round tripper shy of tying the franchise mark for team homers in a season. The 2005 Rattlers squad hit 101 home runs.

 

Beloit (73-62, 34-41) rallied for a run in the sixth inning off Rattlers starting pitcher Chad Thompson. A two-out RBI double by Wang-Wei Lin drove in Kennys Vargas for the first Beloit run.

 

Thompson left after six innings with that 4-1 lead. That lead was gone before the top of the seventh was over and the Snappers did it without a hit.

 

Wisconsin Reliever Eric Semmelhack walked the first two batters of the inning. Then, JD Williams dropped a sacrifice bunt in front of the plate and an errant throw to first allowed two runs to score and Williams to take third base. An RBI grounder off the bat of Kennys Vargas score the tying run.

 

The Rattlers had chances to at least take the lead in the eighth or win the game in the ninth.

 

Wisconsin loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning, but Beloit's right-handed reliever Corey Williams got out of the frame with a popout and a strikeout.

 

In the ninth, Rivera was at third base with two outs and the Snappers brought Zack Jones out of the bullpen to face Chadwin Stang. Stang fouled off several 3-2 pitches from Jones before lining a pitch deep to center field. However, Lin ran the ball down on the track and made the catch to send the game to extra innings.

 

Beloit got a leadoff walk in the top of the tenth inning and had runners at first and second with two outs against reliever Michael Strong. Pettersen singled to drive in the go ahead run.

 

Wisconsin answered in the bottom of the tenth Macias walked to start the inning. A single to right by Rafael Neda and an error on the play sent Macias to third. Nick Ramirez drove in Macias with a sacrifice fly.

 

A leadoff walk started the Beloit twelfth inning. That runner was at second with two outs. Rattlers reliever Kevin Shackelford got ahead of Pettersen with two quick strikes, but the Snappers third baseman lined the 0-2 pitch to left and the go ahead run scored for a 6-5 lead.

 

Wisconsin went down in order in the bottom of the twelfth and the Snappers picked up the win in game one of the series.

 

Game two of the series is Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Jacob Barnes (4-6, 3.61) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Snappers send Cole Johnson (3-1, 1.70) to the mound. Game time is 7:05pm.

 

Beloved former Timber Rattlers concessions worker Brock Calmes, who passed away earlier this season, was the overwhelming selection to be the Pepsi Fans' Choice Bobblehead. The first 1,000 fans to enter the stadium on Thursday will receive the bobblehead of Brock.

 

Thursday is a Thirsty Thursday presented by Slugger's Sports Bar and 95.9 KISS-FM. All fans can enjoy 16oz soda and beer for just $2. 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.

 

Fans may also pick up their Static Cling schedule for the 2013 Timber Rattlers scheduled courtesy of BioLife Plasma Services at this game.

 

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 6:45pm

 

HOME RUN:

Ben McMahan (13th, 0 on in 4th inning off David Hurlbut, 0 out)

 

WP: Steven Gruver (7-8)

LP: Kevin Shackelford (-5)

 

TIME: 3:53

ATTN: 3,984

 

 

Wisconsin Box Score

 

The bullpen did in the Rattlers in this one as they got a quality start out of Chad Thompson who allowed just one run over six innings. Eric Semmelhack relieved him in the seventh and gave up three runs to allow Beloit to tie the game at 4-4. Two of the runs were unearned but Semmelhack struggled with control, walking three. Michael Strong gave up one run in three innings of relief while striking out six. Kevin Shackelford pitched the final two innings and took the loss, giving up the eventual game winning run in the 12th.

 

Ben McMahan had a big night at the plate, going 3-5 with his 13th home run. Brandon Macias was 2-4 with a walk and a double. Yadiel Rivera went 2-5 with a double. Nick Ramirez, Rafael Neda and Chadwin Stang had the other Wisconsin hits. Rivera, Adrian Williams and Cameron Garfield each had an error.

 

Wisconsin Play By Play

 

Wisconsin Bottom of the 3rd

Yadiel Rivera doubles (24) on a line drive to left fielder JaDamion Williams.

Carlos George reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Stephen Wickens.

Adrian Williams out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher David Hurlbut to second baseman Eddie Rosario. Yadiel Rivera to 3rd. Carlos George to 2nd.

Chadwin Stang singles on a sharp line drive to right fielder Nate Roberts. Yadiel Rivera scores. Carlos George to 3rd.

With Brandon Macias batting, throwing error by David Hurlbut on the pickoff attempt, Carlos George scores. Chadwin Stang to 3rd.

Brandon Macias grounds out, shortstop Stephen Wickens to first baseman Drew Leachman. Chadwin Stang scores.

Cameron Garfield flies out to right fielder Nate Roberts.

[Tedaldtada]

AZL Brewers 8 AZL Indians 1

 

Box Score

 

Hey, that is nice way to finish off a tough season.

 

Andre Lamontagne rehabbed another 2 innings but Juan Francisco stole the show. He pitched the next 5 innings giving up just 2 H and BB while putting down 7 batters. Anthony Banda pitched 2 very nice scoreless innings to end this silver lining game.

 

My two favorite hitting prospects on the team, Clint Coulter and Edgardo Rivera, did not play in the finale. Oooookay.

 

Angel Ortega (2-4 CS) and Dionis Hinojosa (2-4 CS) did though. Dustin Houle and Alan Sharkey each had a 2B.

 

Game Log

 

Again, sorry for the quickies tonight. I'll make up for it with my season recaps.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Nashville 3, Iowa 0

 

Sounds Blank I-Cubs For Fourth Straight Victory

Hiram Burgos Tosses Six Shutout Innings For Quality Start Victory

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Starting pitcher Hiram Burgos tossed six shutout innings of four-hit ball as the Nashville Sounds handed the division-rival Iowa Cubs a 3-0 shutout defeat on Wednesday night at Greer Stadium.

 

The shutout victory was Nashville's PCL co-leading 12th of the season.

 

The 24-year-old Burgos (2-2) struck out four and walked zero in his fifth quality start in seven PCL outings.

 

The victory was the Sounds' ninth over the Cubs this season, which gave Nashville its seventh winning season series in the last eight years over Iowa since become a Brewers affiliate in 2005.

 

Shortstop Eric Farris led the Sounds offense, going 2-for-4 with a homer and a double. Farris' two-hits also moved the infielder past Brad Nelson for 10th place on the Sounds all-time list with 345 hits.

 

Nashville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with Logan Schafer's 10th homer of the season. The long ball to right field was the center fielder's first since July 15 at Albuquerque.

 

· AUDIO: Logan Schafer Homer

 

The Sounds pushed the lead to 2-0 in the next frame, beginning with a leadoff walk by third baseman Andy Gonzalez. After right fielder Jordan Brown moved Gonzalez to second on a base hit, Burgos hit a weak sacrifice to the pitcher, who airmailed the throw into the outfield. Gonzalez then walked home from third.

 

· AUDIO: Gonzalez Scores On Error

 

Nashville scored its final run in the bottom of the eighth as Farris belted his career high-tying seventh homer down the left field line off Iowa reliever Jeff Beliveau.

 

· AUDIO: Eric Farris Goes Way Back

 

Three Nashville relievers followed Burgos for the combination shutout. Donovan Hand worked around a pair hits for a scoreless inning, stranding both runners in scoring position. Mitch Stetter struck out two in one scoreless inning. Robert Wooten closed out the contest with his seventh save.

 

Iowa starter Ryan Rowland-Smith (3-6) came away with the loss, surrendering two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks in five innings.

 

Nashville and Iowa will "turn back the clock" while the two teams conclude their season series at 7:05 p.m. on Taco Bell Throwback Thursday. Right-hander Claudio Vargas will make his final start of the season for the Sounds against Iowa righty Yoanner Negrin (0-0, 3.60).

 

The Sounds will be wearing retro 1980s-style uniforms for the final time in 2012. Iowa will be sporting retro green and yellow 1970s-style uniforms representing the Iowa Oaks, which played in Iowa's capital city from 1969-1980.

 

Nashville Box Score

Hiram Burgos is such a fascinating pitcher, the only thing that's really changed for him is his H/9, he's just killing it this year. He's basically a slightly more talented Dave Bush from where I'm sitting, he just gets after it on the mound. Josh Bulter was the last prospect to have such a meteoric rise from A+ to AAA in a single season, but that hasn't turned out very well. I want to believe in Hiram, but I've read so much about regression over the years that I am a tad worried. Like all of the pitchers on this AAA staff whom are performing, 2013 will likely tell the tale in what we have.

 

It's probably obvious that Eric Farris has never been nor will ever be one of my favorite prospects, to me he always profiled as a utility guy, except he doesn't have the physical arm strength to play anywhere but 2nd which is extremely unfortunate. He's been absolutely raking lately, his OPS over his last 10 is very good. He's a productive enough hitter, but his defensive limitations just kill any chance he has to be a MLB regular with the Brewers, perhaps if he were with a different organization he'd get a legit shot to be a big league player.

 

Nashville Play By Play

[DHonks]

TheCrew, does Farris have the armstrength to play SS in a pinch? I think of a utility guy as someone that might play roles like pinch running, but also playing some 2b, 3b, ss, lf, cf. To me he wouldn't kill us for a day or two (or 5).

[TheCrew07]

TheCrew, does Farris have the armstrength to play SS in a pinch? I think of a utility guy as someone that might play roles like pinch running, but also playing some 2b, 3b, ss, lf, cf. To me he wouldn't kill us for a day or two (or 5).

 

Well anyone can play a position in a pinch, our Helena team is proof of that year in and year out. However if Segura were to go down, there's no way that Farris would be a competent SS on any kind of long-term basis. I haven't read a single positive review on his arm since he's been with the organization, his glove work is excellent, he just has physical limitations that will severely limit his upside on the next level.

 

I think his best bet would be to latch with an organization who doesn't have an established MLB 2nd baseman. I think he'd eventually lose his job to someone more talented, but he could have a nice 2-4 year run and that might be enough to land him a gig on team with an established middle infield combination so he could play as a bench bat/pinch runner and only get a start a week or so.

 

He's a good young man who works hard and plays the game the right way, but he just wasn't gifted with the one tool that would round out his repertoire enough to make him a viable utility player in my opinion. I don't want him on my bench, I prefer utility players to be competent defenders at every position first, and hitters second, kind of like a CC. I've just never seen that in Farris.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Nice interview with Caleb Gindl on Nashville sports radio

 

AUDIO: Voice of the Sounds Jeff Hem interviewed

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Helena pre-game interview with young infielder and newest H-Crew'er Renaldo Jenkins

[Mass Haas]

The Mustangs chase a ball in the outfield while Jose Pena of Helena reaches second base after hitting an RBI double to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead on Wednesday at Dehler Park.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/billingsgazette.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/12/812d7c4a-c3e6-5404-83c0-5cc2cce71557/503f00ee7d6b3.preview-620.jpg

 

Pena was listed at 6'2", 192 to begin this season.

[Mass Haas]

Pickoffs: Taylor Wall 3 (Amaral, B at 2nd base, Matthews, Jo at 1st base, Vincej, Z at 1st base).

 

Nice job by the Helena southpaw.

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Brevard/Lakeland game cancelled

Game will not be made up as two teams don't face each other again

By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

 

LAKELAND, Fla. - The scheduled game on Wednesday, August 29 between the Brevard County Manatees and Lakeland Flying Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland has been cancelled due to heavy rain and unplayable field conditions.

 

Since the Manatees and Threshers do not play each other again this season, the game will not be made up. Since last Tuesday, the 'Tees have had a total of four games that were either postponed or cancelled due to inclement weather.

 

Brevard County will close out the season with a four-game set against the Daytona Cubs at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. The first game of the series will be Thursday, August 30 at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin falls in 12 innings against Beloit

by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent staff writer

 

GRAND CHUTE — A dramatic walk-off win looked like a distinct possibility for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the ninth inning Wednesday night.

 

Instead, plain-old walks issued by their pitching staff cost the Timber Rattlers a ballgame.

 

Beloit’s A.J. Pettersen drilled a two-out RBI single in the top of the 12th inning following a leadoff walk — one of seven collected by the Snappers in a 6-5 Midwest League win over the Rattlers.

 

It was a frustrating loss for the Rattlers (75-59) because they blew a 4-0 lead and were robbed of a potential game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth by Beloit center fielder Wang-Wei Lin.

 

With a runner on third, two out and the score tied 4-4, Wisconsin’s Chadwin Stang drilled Zack Jones’ fastball to left-center. But Lin took off like a sprinter and ran down Stang’s liner before it hit the gap, making a sensational over-the-shoulder catch for the third out.

 

“We were all just shocked that he caught it,” said Wisconsin outfielder Ben McMahan. “He made a heck of a catch.”

 

Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson agreed that Lin’s catch was a defensive gem, but felt that his bullpen’s inability to throw strikes, along with some shaky defensive play, were bigger factors.

 

“That was a great play, but this game was lost well before that in the seventh inning, “ said Erickson. “We couldn’t find the plate in the seventh and had a two-base throwing error. It’s not a good feeling when you get a lead like that and can’t hold it. We didn’t take care the ball and we didn’t throw strikes.”

 

Two walks by Wisconsin reliever Eric Semmelhack, followed by a two-base throwing error by catcher Cameron Garfield, led to Beloit’s three-run seventh that erased a 4-1 Rattlers lead and tied the game.

 

Beloit grabbed a brief 5-4 lead in the top of the 10th on Pettersen’s RBI single, but Wisconsin stayed alive in the bottom of the inning on an RBI sacrifice fly by Nick Ramirez on a well-hit ball that was snagged by Lin with another nice running catch.

 

Wisconsin outhit Beloit 10-9 and was led by McMahan, who went three-for-five with a long solo homer to left.

 

“I’ve been going through kind of a rough stretch and I just went up there hacking to see if I could get something started,” said McMahan. “It was a fastball, low and in, and I kind of got it up there in that jet stream.”

 

It was the 13th home run of the season for McMahan, a .285 hitter who is second on the team with 65 RBI.

[JohnBriggs12]

It will be quite a story if Burgos gets a September call up. Not many guys make it from A ball to the majors in one season and ever rarer in the Brewer organization. He certainly deserves it though. What makes it remarkable is that he wasn't on anyone's radar at the start of the season. He's already at 165 innings so not sure how much he'd pitch, but he deserves the honor for sure. There have been plenty of solid pitching performances in the Brewer system, but Burgos should easily win the Brewer Minor League Pitcher of the Year recognition too. Another Fiers? Now that would be something.