Link Report for Friday 4/12 - Mother Nature finally to cooperate? Not in Appleton!

[bkrause2]

Manatees win streak snapped at three

Clearwater blasts past Brevard, 9-5 in series opener

By Andy Towne / Brevard County Manatees

 

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Manatees shortstop Yadiel Rivera leaps in the air to avoid the slide of Clearwater's Harold Martinez to finish turning a double play in the second inning of Brevard County's 9-5 loss to the Threshers on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - With two teams fresh off of three-game series sweeps, one team's streak had to end. Unfortunately for the home crowd, it was the Brevard County Manatees that took a 9-5 loss at the hands of the Clearwater Threshers at Space Coast Stadium on Friday night.

 

Offense was aplenty in the first two innings as Brevard County (4-4) led 4-1 going into the third inning on four walks and four base hits. It looked like even more runs were possible, but on a sacrifice fly in the second inning it was ruled that Chadwin Stang left third base early in an attempt to score, resulting in an inning-ending double play that left two other runners on.

 

Clearwater's (5-3) Chris Serritella bounced a home run off of the top of the left-center field wall to cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth inning and then another long ball by Carlos Alonso gave Clearwater a 5-4 lead that they would not relinquish.

 

In the top of the seventh, Threshers reliever Jose Mojica worked his way around for what would eventually be the winning run. Brevard County kept it interesting though as Nick Ramirez hit his first homer of the season and his fourth extra-base hit in as many days to tighten it back up at 6-5 right after the stretch.

 

Clearwater though would put the game out of reach with two more runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth on a wild pitch.

 

Even though the Manatees set new season highs for offense at home, with eleven hits matching Opening Night for the overall season high and the five runs more than doubling the previous total in Viera, Clearwater's timely hitting and Alonso's shot did the 'Tees in.

 

Manatees starting pitcher David Goforth (0-1) pitched well through the first four innings, but the three runs in the fifth spelled the end of his night. He finished with a line of five runs (four earned) on five hits - including two home runs allowed - two walks and five strikeouts.

 

On the other side, Threshers starting pitcher Ethan Stewart didn't last through the second after issuing four walks and also surrendering four hits for four runs. He only struck out one in 1.1 innings, but did not take the loss as Gabriel Arias came out of the bullpen with 4.2 scoreless frames and had the offense step up behind him.

 

Brevard County will look to get back on track in game two of its three-game set with Clearwater on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. Jacob Barnes (0-0, 0.00) will make his first start for the Manatees, while Colin Kleven (0-1, 11.25) toes the rubber for Clearwater.

 

The game can be heard live on ManateesBaseball.com, with pregame coverage starting at 6:05 p.m.

[TooLiveBrew]

Sounds' Four Bombs Not Enough; Lose 6-5

Nashville Sounds

 

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Stephen Parker (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds) ** Man, took me a while to figure out who this was!

 

PAPILLION, Neb. - The Nashville Sounds crushed four baseballs over Werner Park's outfield walls Friday night, but never recovered from a five-run first inning turned in by the Omaha Storm Chasers, who defeated the Sounds 6-5.

 

Laying the lumber for the Sounds was first baseman Hunter Morris, who homered twice in the game, third baseman Stephen Parker, and right fielder Cole Garner. Morris, the 2012 Southern League MVP, connected on his first shot with two outs in the first inning and again in the sixth to mark the first time since Sounds left fielder Sean Halton hit two in one game on August 22 last season. Parker hit his in the sixth; and Garner sent his to left field in the ninth to pull the Sounds to within one.

 

As for other offensive chances, the Sounds were held to six hits by Omaha pitchers, who combined to fan 14 Nashville batters, helping to preserve their first-inning production.

 

The Storm Chasers jumped on Sounds starting pitcher Johnny Hellweg (1-1), who struggled to find control in the 36-pitch first inning, issuing three walks and chucking two wild pitches to give up five runs. Omaha second baseman Johnny Giavotella knocked a double into shallow right field under a sliding Garner, to get the Storm Chasers their first two runs of the frame. They plated two more on two fielder's choice groundouts later in the inning and another on Hellweg's second wild pitch.

 

The Sounds picked up a run in the third inning, as Scooter Gennett logged a base hit up the gap at second to score Blake Davis from second, who walked before stealing a bag. Gennett finished 1-for-4, and has now hit safely in each of the six games he has played for a team-high batting average of .435.

 

Hellweg offered his fourth and final walk in the third inning, this one to Adam Moore, who scored on Irving Falu's double to the warning track. The 24-year-old took the loss after four innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits with four strikeouts.

 

From the 'pen, Donovan Hand fired a flawless fifth inning in which he struck out the side on 13 pitches, before Frankie De La Cruz took over in the sixth. De La Cruz walked two and retired two to set the table for Chris Jakubauskas, who after sending a wild pitch that put both runners in scoring position got the final out of the sixth on a deep fly ball to right field. Jakubauskas stayed in for the final two scoreless innings, collecting three strikeouts along the way.

 

Notching the win for the Chasers was starter Nate Adcock (1-0), who accounted for seven strikeouts. Donnie Joseph earned the save, his first, despite drama in the ninth on Garner's jack.

 

The Sounds look to level the series Saturday night against Omaha at Werner Park. Starting on the hill for the Sounds will be LHP Zach Kroenke (0-1, 9.00) against an Omaha pitcher TBD. The game will be broadcast on the Sounds' flagship station 102.5 FM "The Game" as well as NashvilleSounds.com; Jeff Hem on the call.

 

 

Nashville Box

Gennett: 1-4, RBI, E (missed catch)

Morris: 2-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI

Parker: 1-4, HR, RBI

Garner: 1-4, HR, RBI

Hainley Statia: 0-3, BB

Blake Davis: 0-3, BB, SB

 

[pre]Hellweg: 4 IP 5 H 6 R 5 ER 4 BB 4 K 2 WP 78 TP (43 strikes) 6:1 GO:FO

Hand: 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 3 K

De La Cruz: 0.2 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 2 BB 0 K

Jakubauskas: 2.1 IP 1 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 3 K 1 WP[/pre]

 

Nashville PbP

Morris got the roadtrip off on the right foot:

 

Nashville Top of the 1st

-Scooter Gennett strikes out swinging.

-Caleb Gindl grounds out, second baseman Johnny Giavotella to first baseman Xavier Nady.

-Hunter Morris homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.

-Sean Halton grounds out, third baseman Irving Falu to first baseman Xavier Nady.

 

The nightmare bottom half of the 1st:

 

Omaha Bottom of the 1st

-David Lough walks.

-Christian Colon singles on a line drive to left fielder Sean Halton. David Lough to 3rd. Christian Colon to 2nd on the throw.

-Johnny Giavotella doubles (3) on a fly ball to right fielder Cole Garner. David Lough scores. Christian Colon scores.

-With Xavier Nady batting, wild pitch by Johnny Hellweg, Johnny Giavotella to 3rd.

-Xavier Nady strikes out swinging.

-Max Ramirez walks.

-Adam Moore reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by shortstop Blake Davis. Johnny Giavotella scores. Max Ramirez advances to 2nd, on a missed catch error by second baseman Scooter Gennett, assist to shortstop Blake Davis.

-With Irving Falu batting, passed ball by Dayton Buller, Max Ramirez to 3rd. Adam Moore to 2nd.

-Irving Falu walks. Wild pitch by pitcher Johnny Hellweg. Max Ramirez scores. Adam Moore to 3rd.

-Willy Taveras grounds into a force out, shortstop Blake Davis to second baseman Scooter Gennett. Adam Moore scores. Irving Falu out at 2nd. Willy Taveras to 1st.

-With Paulo Orlando batting, Willy Taveras steals (1) 2nd base.

-Paulo Orlando grounds out, catcher Dayton Buller to first baseman Hunter Morris.

 

Morris & Parker got the Sounds right back in the game in the 6th:

 

Nashville Top of the 6th

-Pitching Change: Francisley Bueno replaces Nate Adcock.

-Caleb Gindl grounds out, second baseman Johnny Giavotella to first baseman Xavier Nady.

-Hunter Morris homers (3) on a fly ball to right field.

-Sean Halton grounds out, shortstop Christian Colon to first baseman Xavier Nady.

-Stephen Parker homers (1) on a fly ball to right field.

-Cole Garner strikes out swinging.

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Looks like each Manatees game that is broadcast will include a link for audio highlights on their game summary page.

[Mass Haas]

Stars Swept In Doubleheader

By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars

 

On Friday night, the Stars were swept in a doubleheader by the Jacksonville Suns, losing game one by a score of 9-4 and game two by a score of 5-4.

 

In game one, Stars starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann struggled in his second Double-A start, giving up seven runs on six hits through just 2.1 innings pitched to fall to 1-1 on the season. The Suns ended Jungmann's outing in the third inning when they scored six runs off of him and reliever Eric Marzec.

 

The Stars only offense came in the top half of the second inning, where they sent 10 batters to the plate. Catcher Adam Weisenburger highlighted the frame with a two-run double and also scored on a wild pitch from starting pitcher Robert Morey. In addition to that, right fielder Kentrail Davis drew a bases-loaded walk.

 

Jacksonville scored an extra insurance run in the seventh inning on a RBI single by shortstop Danny Black.

 

In game two, the Stars got off to a scorching start to take the early momentum.

 

After falling behind by a score of 1-0, the Stars knocked around Suns starting pitcher Adam Conley in the bottom half of the first. To begin the frame, both center fielder Rene Tosoni and Davis got hit by a Conley pitch. Following consecutive RBI singles by first baseman Jason Rogers and left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard, three throwing errors on two consecutive plays plated Rogers and Kjeldgaard to make the score 4-1.

 

From that point on, it was all Suns.

 

In the top of the fifth inning, a towering homer from first basemen Audy Ciriaco off of Stars reliever R.J Seidel cut the Stars lead to two.

 

Then, in the seventh inning, Jacksonville showed their flair for the dramatic with three runs, two coming with them down to their final strike. To start the rally, pinch-hitter Zack Cox drew a walk off of Stars reliever Casey Medlen. Then, after a single by shortstop Danny Black, an error by first baseman Mike Walker allowed Cox to score to cut the Stars lead to one. Two batters later, with the Suns down to their final strike, a two-out single by left fielder Kyle Jensen off of Stars righty Greg Holle put the Suns ahead for good.

 

However, the Stars had their chances in the bottom half of the ninth. With two-out singles from second basemen Shea Vucinich and Davis, the Stars had runners at the corners with two outs. Unfortunately, Suns closer Michael Brady got Rogers to ground out to end the ballgame.

 

With the losses, Huntsville is now 5-3 on the season.

 

The Stars and Suns will play game four of a five-game series on Saturday as they will send RHP Andy Moye (1-0, 1.50) to the hill to square off against Suns RHP Matthew Neil (0-1, 4.76 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

[Mass Haas]

Chasers are solid right off the bat

By Rob White / World-Herald Staff Writer

 

Whenever he got the chance, Nate Adcock got himself into the dugout bathroom.

 

“There's a little heater in there,” Adcock said. “I just tried to stay as warm as I could. If a guy had to use the bathroom, I had to step out.”

 

When he wasn't thawing out, Adcock was on the mound pitching five solid innings Friday night to help Omaha to a 6-5 victory against Nashville in front of a home opening-crowd of 3,985 at Werner Park.

 

The game-time temperature was 40 degrees, and the wind chill started at 32 and kept cooling off.

 

“That was probably one of the colder ones I've pitched in — just because of the wind,” Adcock said.

 

The first-place Storm Chasers scored five first-inning runs and survived four solo homers to improve to 5-4 while winning for the fifth time in six games.

 

“It's not fun playing in weather like that, win or lose,” Omaha manager Mike Jirschele said. “When you've got guys running off the field to go stand by the heater … you know it's not a great night.”

 

But if you've got to play, you feel a lot warmer afterward if you won.

 

Christian Colon, Johnny Giavotella and Irving Falu each had two hits for Omaha. Giavotella's two-run bloop double put the Chasers ahead after Milwaukee prospect Hunter Morris hit the first of his two homers in the top of the first.

 

Heads-up base running by David Lough and Colon combined to put pressure on another top Brewers prospect, starter Johnny Hellweg, before Giavotella's double. Lough aggressively went from first to third on Colon's single to left, and when the throw went to third, Colon sped in to second behind him.

 

“I thought that was key, just to get things going,” Jirschele said.

 

Two Omaha runs were unearned, and the Sounds could have prevented another had they been able to turn a routine inning-ending double play behind Hellweg. second baseman Scooter Gennett dropped the relay throw on the frigid night.

 

But Hellweg (1-1) also got himself into trouble. The 6-foot-9 right-hander, acquired as part of the package from the Angels for Zack Greinke last July, walked three and had two wild pitches in the inning (and catcher Dayton Buller was charged with a passed ball). The Chasers scored five on two hits.

 

“I was happy with our hitters that inning,” Jirschele said. “We were patient, didn't chase a lot of pitches out of the zone. Hellweg got himself in trouble — and we didn't help him out.”

 

Hellweg eventually started zipping his fastball in the 97 mph range before his four-inning outing ended.

 

“It was a tough night to throw,” Jirschele said. “He's got great stuff, and you could just see he wasn't as free and easy as he usually is because of the cold.”

 

Meanwhile, Adcock (1-0) turned in a more efficient outing than his first start. After walking four in four innings in his season debut Sunday, the 25-year-old right-hander allowed two runs on three hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts in five innings.

 

“I hadn't thrown to hitters in about 10 days before my last outing,” Adcock said. “And since then L.C. (pitching coach Larry Carter) and I have worked on some things, just trying to drive the baseball. It's helped out a lot. I'm starting to feel some things.”

 

Adcock's strikeout total was his second-highest in 20 starts in an Omaha uniform. Relievers Francisley Bueno and Donnie Joseph combined for seven more strikeouts — Joseph fanned four in two innings to pick up his first save — to give the Chasers 14 for the night.

 

An Omaha staff that on paper doesn't appear to be stacked with flamethrowers entered the night second in the PCL in strikeouts.

 

“I think just attacking hitters has a lot to do with it,” Adcock said.

 

It's good policy. While the Sounds hit four homers — the last by Cole Garner with one out in the ninth — no one was on base for any of them. Nashville had two other hits and twice reached on walks.

 

“That's what you've got to do,” Jirschele said. “If you start walking guys and then giving up home runs, you're in trouble.”

 

***

 

Omaha native LHP Zach Kroenke is Nashville's scheduled starting pitcher Saturday. Omaha starter Everett Teaford is expected to pitch about three innings on a “bullpen” night.