Link Report for Mon. 4/8 - Stars complete strong opening 4-1 road series

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Frankie De La Cruz at home vs. Oklahoma City (Astros), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

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

 

Jeff Hem is the 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: RHP Arcenio Leon at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:15 gametime

 

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

 

Alex Cohen is the play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast. It appears four Southern League teams air their home games on MiLB.TV, and we'll let you know when those dates pop up on the schedule.

 

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Brevard County: Idle

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Preston Gainey at home vs. Cedar Rapids (Twins), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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 four Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV.

 

So for the $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, Stars' road games from four Southern League locales, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games.

 

NOTE: 32 of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel has seventeen games scheduled and WACY-TV My NEW32 plans to show fifteen games. We'll let you know when, but won't be providing day-before DVR reminders, so regularly check for proper channel and time planning (scroll to the bottom of this link).

[Mass Haas]

Time Warner Cable SportsChannel continues as a television partner of the defending Midwest League Champions. The channel - formerly known as Sports32 - is set to show seventeen games during the regular season. These games will be available state-wide to Time Warner Cable subscribers. Time Warner Cable has broadcast Timber Rattlers games since 2007.

 

The first game on their schedule is the 2013 home opener at newly renovated Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium when the Rattlers host the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Monday, April 8.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Wisconsin

 

New MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, 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

[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.

 

Once we're aware of the new online location for Huntsville's Media Notes this season, we'll let you know.

[Mass Haas]

NEW FEATURE!

 

Weather.com:

 

Nashville

 

Chattanooga

 

Wisconsin (Appleton)

[Mass Haas]

Appleton Post-Crescent (lengthy Q&A includes video):

 

Strong foundation: Rattlers' Erickson talks about building the future

[TheCrew07]

Cingrani's 14 strike out performance earns him pitcher of the week honors.

 

Colabello, Cingrani honored in IL

[TheCrew07]

A nice moment for him in an otherwise difficult start to his professional career.

 

West Virginia's Allie sparks walk-off win

[TheCrew07]

Median Age For Every Full-Season League

[TheCrew07]

Fresh off of whupping up on BC this weekend Jorge Soler leads off this article and Gregory Polanco of the Pirates is discussed farther down. Arcia's older brother is the last player discussed.

 

Monday Minor League Prospect Notebook

[TheCrew07]

Appleton Post-Crescent (lengthy Q&A includes video):

 

Strong foundation: Rattlers' Erickson talks about building the future

 

I really enjoyed that Q&A, thanks MH.

[Mass Haas]

Audio via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

With Mike Guerrero having returned for a second season as Sounds manager, we’ll have “Mondays with Mike” again this season on Monday pregame shows. Here is tonight’s first installment, as the Sounds’ manager discusses the club’s first four games, the exciting rotation trio of Thornburg-Burgos-Hellweg, the slow start at the plate for Caleb Gindl and his relationship with returning pitching coach Fred Dabney and new hitting coach Bob Skube.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: 4-8-13 Joe Block Pregame Interview With Josh Prince

[Noche]

I am so excited about this system right now. Just about every important bat is off to a great start. Coulter put one off the scoreboard after a Haniger double.

 

Some of the back-end pitching has had it rough and the D has been suspect, but that has mostly been at the lower levels.

[Mass Haas]

Excellent radio work by both Jeff and Alex down the stretch in one-run victories tonight.

 

With runners on the corners, Cole Garner comes up with a HUGE catch in right field to end the game. Sounds win!!! 1-0

 

Edge-of-your-seat radio call, good stuff.

[DHonks]

The Brewers' system may not have any Ryan Braun-types, but I think we have a whole lot of Weeks-types. It's been fun to follow so far. I can't wait till we get up to 6 teams playing each day, even if the AZ squad is generally a waste to follow

[TheCrew07]

Final: Cedar Rapids(Twins) 10, Wisconsin 2

 

Kernels wreck Rattlers home opener

Wisconsin can't escape early 6-0 hole

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Cedar Rapids Kernels jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Monday night and cruised to a 10-2 win in Wisconsin's home opener at renovated Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The loss was the third straight for the Rattlers.

 

The Kernels (4-1) put three runs on the scoreboard in the first inning. Rattlers starting pitcher Preston Gainey walked the first two batters of the game. He would get the first out on a force out at second base. Then, Dalton Hicks doubled to drive in the first run. Adam Brent Walker was next for Cedar Rapids and he would also double. Walker's two-base hit drove in two more runs for a 3-0 Cedar Rapids lead.

 

Gainey would walk the first two batters he faced in the top of the second inning and Byron Buxton made it hurt. The Kernels centerfielder cracked the first pitch he saw over the wall just to the right of the batter's eye in center. The three-run homer by Buxton put the Kernels up 3-2.

 

Mitch Haniger doubled to start the Wisconsin half of the fourth inning. Clint Coulter, the top draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2012 draft, was next and he lined a home run to left-center. Coulter's blast was the first of the season by a Timber Rattler and pulled Wisconsin to within four.

 

The Kernels got one of those runs back in the top of the fifth inning. A solo home run by Travis Harrison off Eric Semmelhack put Cedar Rapids up 7-2.

 

Cedar Rapids tacked on three unearned runs in the top eighth inning. A two-out error allowed a run to score. Later, Walker singled with the bases loaded to drive in a pair of runs to account for the final score of 10-2.

 

Game two of the series is Tuesday night. Tyler Wagner (0-0, 1.80) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Cedar Rapids sends Brett Lee to the mound. Game time is 6:35pm.

 

Tuesday night is the first Baker Tilly Business Person & Senior Citizens Special presented by WVBO and AM1280, WNAM of the season. Show your business card when you purchase a ticket and for $11.50 you will receive a box seat ticket, a beverage and your choice of brat or hot dog. The offer is also available to senior citizens (55 & older).

 

If you can't make it out to the game, tune in for the radio broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Tuesday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

 

HOME RUNS:

CR:

Byron Buxton (2nd, 2 on in 2nd inning off Preston Gainey, 0 out)

Travis Harrison (1st, 0 on in 5th inning off Eric Semmelhack, 1 out)

 

WI:

Clint Coulter (1st, 1 on in 4th inning off David Hurlbut, 0 out)

 

WP: David Hurlbut (1-0)

LP: Preston Gainey (0-1)

 

TIME: 2:40

ATTN: 3,036

 

Wisconsin Gameday

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Well where to start... I guess I'll start with Preston Gainey and work my way down. Preston really struggled in the first 2 innings, in fact his first pitch of the game was barely in the LH batter's box. He was as awful as his line would suggest through 2 innings but then in the 3rd he came out a completely different guy: attacking the zone, throwing strikes, obviously agitated with himself, he looked good in that final inning.

 

In the field pass segment that aired before the game Matt Erickson said that Tyrone Taylor had some arm problems last year, but his arm appeared to be much better this season, he plays good defense, and they aren't sure what he's going to offensively given his relative inexperience. Taylor didn't do anything of note through the first 6 innings and I admit to falling asleep with Semmelhack on the mound so I still need to go back and watch the rest of the game on the DVR.

 

Erickson said that Orlando Arcia made a couple of the best plays in spring training that he's seen, but he also had an error in something like 5 straight games. I compared him to a young Escobar earlier in the season, and I still think that's a very good comparison for where he's at defensively. Erickson also said that Orlando has great enthusiasm for the game, which was a common theme when talking about the young players. Arcia doubled the opposite way on a FB up and on the outside corner, it was a very nice approach and good contact. In his next 2 ABs he popped up to the OF and rolled over one to 3B or SS.

 

Mitch Haniger looks to have a quick bat and Erickson said of all of the A ball players (including BC) Mitch had the best spring and that he doesn't expect him to stay in WI past the first half of the season. Haniger's double was more of a misplayed single, but I liked his approach at the plate.

 

Clint Coulter is a work in progress defensively, I had a feeling from the radio calls that the "wild pitches" were more like "passed balls" and if tonight's game was a solid indication Clint needs work on low/balls in the dirt. There were a couple that I felt he should have handled that got away from him, one into the Rattler's dugout. He's also very deliberate when throwing to 2B, he's not slow, but it's not exactly quick and smooth either, though he has a strong arm. The CS he was credited for was a bad call by the base ump, the runner was in under the tag and it wasn't even really a bang bang play. Erickson did say during field pass that Coulter made the most progress in his game of any player from the time instructionals started last fall to the start of spring training, which is exactly the kind of work ethic you want to hear about from a 1st round high ceiling pick. In contrast to his D his HR was very impressive, he went down and got a FB that caught too much of the plate (pretty much down the middle) but was knee high, not a horrible pitch by any stretch and he would have deposited it off the scoreboard in CF if not for the netting that's protecting the scoreboard this season.

 

Even though he's an AL prospect, everyone needs to get familiar with Byron Buxton, I thought he was the most impressive player on the field today through 6 innings (when I dozed off).

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

Chris just skimmed over this and I missed it but here is the 3 run CR 8th, Arcia had the error.

Cedar Rapids Top of the 8th

• Jairo Rodriguez grounds out, shortstop Orlando Arcia to first baseman Mike Garza.
  J. D. Williams walks.
  Byron Buxton strikes out swinging. J. D. Williams steals (4) 2nd base.
  Candido Pimentel reaches on a throwing error by shortstop Orlando Arcia. J. D. Williams scores.
  Romy Jimenez doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Mitch Haniger, deflected by center fielder Tyrone Taylor. Candido Pimentel to 3rd.
  Eric Semmelhack intentionally walks Dalton Hicks.
  Adam Walker singles on a ground ball to left fielder Michael Reed. Candido Pimentel scores. Romy Jimenez scores. Dalton Hicks to 3rd.
  Pitching Change: Rodolfo Fernandez replaces Eric Semmelhack.
  With Travis Harrison batting, wild pitch by Rodolfo Fernandez, Adam Walker to 2nd.
  Travis Harrison grounds out, third baseman Jose Sermo to first baseman Mike Garza.

[Mass Haas]

BrewCrewBall:

 

The Timber Rattlers Notebook

 

Coulter, Semmelhack, Erickson...

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog - Home opener

[TheCrew07]

Final: Huntsville 3, Chattanooga(Dodgers) 2

 

Huntsville Boxscore

In continuing an early season organizational trend Arcenio Leon struggled in the first and then settled in. There was an error in there but Leon did most of the damage walking 2 batters in the inning (4 total) and throwing 2 wild pitches. Arcenio went 5 innings allowing 3 hits, the 2 earned runs, and the 4 walks against 1 strike out. He wasn't exactly efficient with his pitches either throwing only 34 of 69 for strikes. Santo Manzanillo followed pitching 1 innings walking and striking out 2 batters, for some reason I find it odd that he's pitching middle relief these days, but at least he's healthy and pitching. Thomas Keeling came on for the 7th and was saved an ER by some good defense behind him: Yasiel Puig who has just destroyed Stars pitching doubled to Kentrail Davis who hit cut off man T. J. Mittelstaedt who got the ball to catcher Robinzon Diaz to nab the runner at home.

 

Keeling pitched into the 8th and was replaced by Greg Holle with 1 on and 2 out, Holle record the final out in the 8th turning the game over to Casey Medlen who picked up his 3rd save thus far by pitching a clean 9th.

 

Offensively there wasn't much to talk about other than Jason Rogers who had the only multi hit game and a HR.

 

In other box score items of note Eric Shaw committed 2 errors, Davis stole his 2nd base of the season, and Leon picked Puig off of first base.

 

Huntsville Recap

 

The Lookouts got it all in the first...

Chattanooga Bottom of the 1st

• Rafael Ynoa lines out to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard.
  Joc Pederson doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard.
  Yasiel Puig singles on a ground ball to shortstop Nick Shaw. Joc Pederson to 3rd. Yasiel Puig advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by shortstop Nick Shaw.
  Blake Smith singles on a ground ball to shortstop Nick Shaw. Joc Pederson scores. Yasiel Puig to 3rd.
  C. J. Retherford grounds out, shortstop Nick Shaw to second baseman T. Mittelstaedt. Yasiel Puig scores. Blake Smith out at 2nd. C. Retherford to 1st.
  With Gorman Erickson batting, wild pitch by Arcenio Leon, C. J. Retherford to 2nd.
  Gorman Erickson walks.
  With Chris Jacobs batting, wild pitch by Arcenio Leon, C. Retherford to 3rd. Gorman Erickson to 2nd.
  Chris Jacobs walks.
  Miguel Rojas grounds into a force out, shortstop Nick Shaw to second baseman T. J. Mittelstaedt. Chris Jacobs out at 2nd.

 

...but then the Stars jumped in front in the 7th.

Huntsville Top of the 7th

• Kentrail Davis singles on a ground ball to center fielder Joc Pederson.
  Brock Kjeldgaard walks. Kentrail Davis to 2nd.
  With Rene Tosoni batting, wild pitch by Aaron Miller, Kentrail Davis to 3rd. Brock Kjeldgaard to 2nd.
  Rene Tosoni strikes out swinging.
  Mike Walker strikes out swinging.
  Defensive switch from second base to shortstop for Rafael Ynoa.
  Pitching Change: Gregory Infante replaces Aaron Miller, batting 8th.
  Defensive Substitution: Omar Luna replaces pitcher Aaron Miller, batting 9th, playing second base.
  Robinzon Diaz singles on a line drive to center fielder Joc Pederson. Kentrail Davis scores. Brock Kjeldgaard scores.
  Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Shawn Zarraga replaces Santo Manzanillo.
  Shawn Zarraga walks. Robinzon Diaz to 2nd.
  Nick Shaw strikes out on a foul tip.

 

The defense picks up Keeling for the W!

Chattanooga Bottom of the 7th

• Pitching Change: Thomas Keeling replaces Santo Manzanillo, batting 9th, replacing Shawn Zarraga.
  Omar Luna grounds out, shortstop Nick Shaw to first baseman Jason Rogers.
  Rafael Ynoa singles on a line drive to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard.
  Joc Pederson pops out to first baseman Jason Rogers in foul territory.
  Yasiel Puig doubles (1) on a sharp fly ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Rafael Ynoa out at home on the throw, right fielder Kentrail Davis to second baseman T. J. Mittelstaedt to catcher Robinzon Diaz.

[TooLiveBrew]

Sounds Blank RedHawks In Series Opener, 1-0

De La Cruz Dominant In First Start Of Year For Nashville

Nashville Sounds

 

http://i.imgur.com/vNZkW2x.jpg

Frankie De La Cruz (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Right-hander Frankie De La Cruz was magnificent in his return to the Nashville Sounds, combining with a pair of relievers on a four-hit shutout of the Oklahoma City RedHawks in a 1-0 victory on Monday evening in the opener of a four-game series at Greer Stadium.

 

The win was the second shutout among Nashville's first three victories this season.

 

De La Cruz (1-0) faced one batter over the minimum through six innings of outstanding pitching. The veteran allowed only Trevor Crowe's first-inning single and struck out five batters in his six scoreless frames.

 

Michael Olmsted worked one scoreless inning of relief before Rob Wooten closed out the contest with a pair of scoreless frames and thwarted a ninth-inning RedHawks rally to secure his second save of the year.

 

The Sounds scored the game's only run in the bottom of the second inning on a well-executed hit-and-run by shortstop Blake Davis.

 

After Sean Halton opened the frame by reaching on a fielding error by RedHawks third baseman Jimmy Paredes, the Sounds outfielder broke for second and drew the Oklahoma City shortstop towards second base, allowing Davis' ground ball to go right through the vacated spot into the left-center gap for an RBI double that plated the only run that Nashville would ultimately need.

 

Oklahoma City had only three baserunners through the first eight innings before putting together a rally against Wooten in the ninth.

 

With one out, Robbie Grossman and Jake Elmore blooped weakly-struck balls into the shallow outfield for back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. The right-hander recovered to catch Trevor Crowe looking at a strike three curve ball for the second out before right fielder Cole Garner tracked down a Brandon Laird line drive at full gallop in the right-center gap to bring the game to a close.

 

Nashville second baseman Scooter Gennett wasted little time extending his season-opening hitting streak, opening the bottom of the first inning with a single to up the streak to five. Caleb Gindl broke a season-opening 0-for-17 slump with a double in the sixth inning.

 

Rudy Owens (0-1) took a hard-luck loss for the 'Hawks, allowing only one unearned run on three hits over five innings of action in his first start of the season.

 

The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. meeting on Tuesday evening. Right-hander Tyler Thornburg (0-0, 1.80) will make his second start of the year for the Sounds. Oklahoma City will counter with right-hander Ross Seaton, who will make his first appearance of the season.

 

 

Nashville Box

Gennett: 1-4

Gindl: 1-4, 2B

Hunter Morris: 0-3, BB

Halton: 1-3, BB

Davis: 1-4, 2B, RBI

Anderson De La Rosa: 1-3, 1/2 CS

 

De La Cruz: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 85 TP (48 strikes), 6:4 GO:FO

Olmsted: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Wooten: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

 

 

Nashville PbP

The game story already describes the lone run-scoring action in detail, so I won't post that. In the home half of the 6th, the Sounds were in prime position to tack onto that one-run margin, but couldn't cash in -- thankfully the pitching stepped up to the point where it wasn't relevant:

 

Nashville Bottom of the 6th

-Pitching Change: Jose Cisnero replaces Rudy Owens.

-Caleb Gindl doubles (1) on a fly ball to left fielder Trevor Crowe.

-Hunter Morris walks.

-Sean Halton pops out to second baseman Jake Elmore on the infield fly rule.

-Blake Davis grounds out, second baseman Jake Elmore to first baseman Brandon Laird. Caleb Gindl to 3rd. Hunter Morris to 2nd.

-Cole Garner strikes out swinging.

 

Olmsted's inning wasn't smooth sailing, and it's great to see that he battled through some adversity & came up clutch:

 

Okla. City Top of the 7th

-Pitching Change: Michael Olmsted replaces Frankie De La Cruz.

-Jake Elmore doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Cole Garner.

-Trevor Crowe grounds out, shortstop Blake Davis to first baseman Hunter Morris.

-With Brandon Laird batting, Jake Elmore steals (1) 3rd base.

-Brandon Laird strikes out swinging.

-Jimmy Paredes grounds out to first baseman Hunter Morris.

 

The game story captures the 9th inning better than the game log, so here's Wooten's 1-2-3 8th:

 

Okla. City Top of the 8th

Pitching Change: Robert Wooten replaces Michael Olmsted.

Marc Krauss called out on strikes.

Jonathan Villar grounds out, pitcher Robert Wooten to first baseman Hunter Morris.

Che-Hsuan Lin pops out to first baseman Hunter Morris in foul territory.

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Stars Take Four of Five From Lookouts to Start Season

By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars

 

In the finale of a five-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Huntsville Stars rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win by a final score of 3-2 on Monday Night at AT&T Field.

 

For the fourth time in five games, the Stars were unable to draw first blood.

 

In the first inning, Huntsville starting pitcher Arcenio Leon allowed the first four batters he faced to reach base. Ultimately, an RBI infield single by left fielder Blake Smith and a run-scoring groundout by third baseman C.J Retherford gave the Lookouts a 2-0 lead.

 

From that point on, the Huntsville arms completely shut down Chattanooga's bats. Leon left the game after five innings, where he only gave up those two runs on four hits in his first game started since 2009. Following Leon's exit, relievers Santo Manzanillo, Thomas Keeling, Greg Holle and Casey Medlen shut out the Lookouts bats the rest of the way.

 

The Stars offense began their comeback in the fourth inning, where first baseman Jason Rogers hit the third pitch he saw from Lookouts starter Onelki Garcia well over the left-field wall to cut the Chattanooga lead to 2-1. For Rogers, the homer was his first of the season.

 

With the score remaining the same in the seventh inning, a leadoff single by right fielder Kentrail Davis and a walk from left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard started the rally. After a wild-pitch from Lookouts reliever Aaron Miller advanced Davis and Kjeldgaard into scoring position, catcher Robinzon Diaz drove both runners home with a two-out, two-run single off of Chattanooga righty Greg Infante that put up the Stars for good.

 

Manzanillo earned the win for the Stars with his scoreless frame of work in the sixth inning. The 2011 Brewers organizational all-star has now started off the season with two scoreless outing, totaling three innings without giving up a hit.

 

With a 1-2-3 ninth inning, Medlen notched his third save for the Stars in the last five games.

 

In regards to offense, Rogers led the way with a 2-for-4 night at the plate. For Rogers, the multi-hit game was his third in the Stars' first five contests. Aside from Davis and Diaz, third basemen Mike Walker also added a single.

 

By winning four of their first five games of the season on the road in Chattanooga, the Stars sit alone atop of the Southern League North standings.

 

After an off day on Tuesday, the Stars return to "The Joe" on Wednesday, April 10 to open up their home slate against the Jacksonville Suns for a five-game series. Immediately following that, the Stars will welcome the Tennessee Smokies in to town for an additional five-game series.