Link Report for Sun. 4/14

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Tyler Thornburg at Omaha (Royals), 1:50 PM pre-game, 2:05 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.

 

**********

 

Huntsville: RHP Arcenio Leon at home vs. Jacksonville (Marlins), 3:38 PM pre-game, 4:03 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: RHP Chad Pierce at home vs. Clearwater (Phillies), 3:35 PM pre-game, 4:05 PM gametime

 

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

 

Manatees audio, hooray! Dave Walkovic is the first play-by-play voice of the 'Tees since 2007, he's joined by Andy Towne; follow the Brevard broadcast booth staff on Twitter @BCManateesRadio. All home games and many road games are scheduled to be broadcast. When road games are only available via the opponents' audio feed, we'll let you know that.

 

NOTE: Dave indicates that he hopes to include a pre-game interview prior to each game; it's a 30-minute pre-game! We'll fill you in if Brevard masters archiving a la Nashville and/or Helena.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP's Damien Magnifico and Leonard Lorenzo in a doubleheader at home vs. Kane County (Cubs), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 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 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]

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

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin Game One

 

Wisconsin Game Two

 

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.

 

New this season: Brevard County has media notes; as of now, it's a unique link each day, but look for it just prior to game time each day within the "Stats and Scores" banner here.

 

Once we're aware of the new online location for Huntsville's Media Notes this season, we'll let you know. (Coming soon, we're told!)

[Mass Haas]

NEW FEATURE!

 

Weather.com:

 

Omaha

 

Huntsville

 

Melbourne (Brevard County)

 

Wisconsin (Appleton)

[TheCrew07]

Not that I'm rooting against him but this recent uptick in his production has me nervous... the last thing the Pirates need is another top 100 prospect and Allie has all the physical tools you'd want in a player. Click his stats link in the story and share my concern, he's currently in the midst of an 8 game hitting streak.

 

You know, I still have a big soft spot for WV as a franchise for some reason, they are the only old affiliate that I check in on. I guess it helps that they are under the Pirates umbrella so still fall within my sphere of interest.

 

Opposites attract for Power's Allie

[bkrause2]

Timber Rattlers postponed again

[TheCrew07]

Timber Rattlers postponed again

 

*sigh*

[homer]

Timber Rattlers postponed again

 

 

Amazing how much different 200 miles makes. It's supposed to be 70 and partly sunny here in Chicago today.

[TheCrew07]

Thornburg gave up 2 in the 1st, with nothing positive to hang my hat on thus far I'm done with baseball for the day, going to rent a movie. The IF single was tough, but he always seems to give up an XBH at the worst time.

 

 

Omaha Bottom of the 1st

• David Lough strikes out swinging.
  Christian Colon singles on a ground ball to third baseman Stephen Parker.
  Johnny Giavotella singles on a line drive to center fielder Caleb Gindl. Christian Colon to 3rd.
  Xavier Nady reaches on a fielder's choice out, third baseman Stephen Parker to catcher Dayton Buller to third baseman Stephen Parker to pitcher Tyler Thornburg. Christian Colon out at home. Johnny Giavotella to 3rd. Xavier Nady to 2nd.
  Brett Hayes doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Caleb Gindl. Johnny Giavotella scores. Xavier Nady scores.
  Irving Falu flies out to right fielder Cole Garner.

[Mass Haas]

Rattlers snowed out on Sunday

Winter denies that it is baseball season

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Sunday's doubleheader between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Kane County Cougars has been snowed out. Wisconsin managed to play on just two of their seven scheduled home dates to open their 2013 home schedule. Games from April 9 through April 12 were postponed due to the lingering winter weather. Wisconsin did manage to play their home opener on Monday, April 8 and a doubleheader with the Cougars on a chilly, but dry Saturday, April 13.

 

Fans who had tickets for games that were scheduled for any of the weather postponements over the last week may exchange those tickets - based on availability - for any regular season 2013 Timber Rattlers' home game.

 

The Timber Rattlers and Kane County will make up the two games that were postponed in Grand Chute when the teams meet in Geneva, Illinois over the weekend of June 14-16 at the end of the first half of the Midwest League season.

 

Wisconsin hits the road for a road trip on Monday morning. The team will play Cedar Rapids from April 15 through April 17. The Rattlers and Kernels will play single games on Monday and Wednesday and a doubleheader on Tuesday at 5:00pm.

 

One of the games between the Timber Rattlers and Cedar Rapids that was lost to weather at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium last week will not be made up this half. The Kernels have already played doubleheaders in Clinton on Saturday and Sunday and league rules allow for only three doubleheaders in seven days.

 

Speaking of the Clinton LumberKings, the Rattlers will play them April 18 through the 20 in three single games - we hope - at Ashford University Field.

 

Wisconsin will resume its home schedule with a nine-game homestand from Sunday, April 21 through Tuesday, April 30. The Quad Cities River Bandits visit town for three games April 21-23. There is a scheduled off day on April 24. Then, The West Michigan Whitecaps (April 25-27) and South Bend Silver Hawks (April 28-30) are in town. Please check the promotions schedule on timberrattlers.com to see all of the great things that will be going on during that next Timber Rattlers homestand.

 

Tickets for the games on that upcoming homestand or any of the remaining games on the home schedule may be purchased over the phone at (920) 733-4152 or 800-WI-TIMBER, on timberrattlers.com, or in person at the Timber Rattlers Box Office.

 

Winter will not take the hint and go away!

 

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[TooLiveBrew]

Omaha Overpowers Sounds, 11-2, On Sunday Afternoon

Hayes Belts Two Homers, Drives In Seven For Storm Chasers

Nashville Sounds

 

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Tyler Thornburg (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

PAPILLION, Neb. - Omaha catcher Brett Hayes was a one-man wrecking crew on Sunday afternoon at Werner Park, homering twice and driving in seven runs to lead the Storm Chasers to an 11-2 victory over the Nashville Sounds.

 

Hayes missed the cycle by a triple during his 4-for-4 afternoon and produced the most RBIs against Nashville since Albuquerque's Jerry Sands drove in eight runs during his two grand slam performance on July 29, 2012.

 

Omaha grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Hayes turned a two-out Tyler Thornburg fastball into a line-drive, two-run double to deep center.

 

The Sounds evened the contest at 2-2 in the third against Omaha right-hander Brian Sanches. [Dayton] Buller led off with an infield single and raced around to score the first Nashville run when Hainley Statia doubled off the left-center wall. After Blake Davis advanced Statia to third with a groundout, Scooter Gennett drove in his third run of the series with an RBI groundout up the middle that deflected off the pitcher before being fielded by the third baseman.

 

Hayes struck again with another huge two-out knock for the Storm Chasers in the home half of the third, belting a towering three-run homer to left off Thornburg to propel Omaha to a 5-2 advantage. The pair of baserunners on board for the backstop's first home run of the year each reached due to wildness by the Sounds right-hander: David Lough was hit by a pitch and Johnny Giavotella drew a five -pitch walk.

 

Sanches (1-0) picked up the victory for Omaha by limiting the Sounds to two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings of work. Thornburg (0-1) was saddled with a loss in his first decision of the year after allowing five runs in his five frames of action.

 

Omaha broke the game open in the sixth against veteran Sounds reliever Jim Hoey, plating four runs to increase the advantage to 9-2.

 

After the Storm Chasers loaded the bases with no out on a pair of singles and a walk against the right-hander, Willy Taveras quickly unloaded them with a three-run triple off the right field wall. Brandon Wood followed with an RBI single to left to drive in Taveras with the fourth Omaha run of the frame.

 

Hayes capped off his day in the seventh when he slugged his second longball of the contest, a two-run shot to right that chased Hoey from the contest and made it an 11-2 game.

 

The Omaha bullpen was spotless behind Sanches. Louis Coleman worked 2 1/3 frames before Blaine Boyer closed out the win with a scoreless ninth that included three strikeouts.

 

Hunter Morris doubled as part of a 2-for-4 game for the Sounds, the first baseman's team-leading fourth multi-hit effort of the young season.

 

Right-hander Johnnie Lowe made his season debut for the Sounds with 1 2/3 scoreless frames of relief.

 

The Sounds will attempt to gain a series split when the teams wrap up the four-game series with an 11:05 a.m. contest on Monday morning. Right-hander Hiram Burgos (0-1, 1.80) will toe the rubber for Nashville and face Omaha southpaw Will Smith (1-1, 4.50).

 

 

Nashville Box

This was Gennett's first hitless game on the season. Nice to see him still work a walk & drive in a run.

 

Gennett: 0-3, BB, RBI

Morris: 2-4, 2B

Stephen Parker: 2-4

Buller: 1-4

Statia: 1-3, 2B, RBI, OF assist (played LF today)

 

[pre]Thornburg: 5 IP 4 H 5 R 5 ER 1 BB 3 K HBP 85 TP (58 strikes) 4:5 GO:FO

Hoey: 1.1 IP 7 H 6 R 6 ER 1 BB 2 K HBP

Lowe: 1.2 IP 1 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 1 K[/pre]

 

Nashville PbP

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Pre-Game Audio with recently acquired 3rd baseman Stephen Parker (Oakland / RHP Darren Byrd trade)

[Minigoon]

Final: Jacksonville 1 Huntsville 0

 

After combining for 16 runs last night, Jacksonville scored the only run tonight as Huntsville lost for the 4th consecutive game at The Joe. Arcenio Leon was the hard luck loser for the Stars. Leon went 5 1/3 innings, allowing the only run on just 2 hits. Leon did struggle with command as he walked 4, hit a batter, and uncorked 2 wild pitches. Still, he deserved a better fate. R.J. Seidel and Eric Marzec combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Seidel going 1 2/3 and Marzec went 2. Both allowed a hit, a walk, and struck out a batter.

 

Points of concern. Both Leon and catcher Adam Weisenburger left the game early. Weisenburger was hit by a pitch. He stayed in the game for another inning before giving way. Leon left with the trainer in the middle of the 6th inning with, what was described as, a possible finger/blister issue. No official word in either during the broadcast.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Rehabbing Brewer infielder Jeff Bianchi had 2 of the Stars 6 hits tonight. Bianchi played 5 innings at 3rd base tonight after playing 3 innings at short yesterday.

 

Other Stars with hits tonight included Hector Gomez with a hustle double in the 8th, and Jason Rogers, Brock Kjeldgaard, and Rene Tosoni with singles. Rogers now has a modest 6 game hitting streak going.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

 

The Stars had chances:

 

2nd and 3rd with no outs:

Huntsville Bottom of the 5th

 

Robinzon Diaz reaches on a throwing error by shortstop Chris Gutierrez.

Arcenio Leon walks. Robinzon Diaz to 2nd.

With Nick Shaw batting, wild pitch by Sam Dyson, Robinzon Diaz to 3rd. Arcenio Leon to 2nd.

Nick Shaw called out on strikes.

Pitching Change: Michael Ojala replaces Sam Dyson, batting 9th.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Shea Vucinich replaces Jeff Bianchi.

Shea Vucinich flies out to left fielder Jake Smolinski.

Kentrail Davis grounds out, first baseman Mark Canha to pitcher Michael Ojala.

 

2nd and 3rd with one out:

Huntsville Bottom of the 7th

 

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Rene Tosoni replaces R. J. Seidel.

Rene Tosoni singles on a ground ball to second baseman Derek Dietrich, deflected by pitcher Michael Ojala.

Nick Shaw walks. Rene Tosoni to 2nd.

Shea Vucinich out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Zack Cox to second baseman Derek Dietrich. Rene Tosoni to 3rd. Nick Shaw to 2nd.

Kentrail Davis strikes out swinging.

Pitching Change: Rett Varner replaces Michael Ojala, batting 9th.

Jason Rogers flies out to right fielder Kyle Jensen.

 

 

Team RISP: 0-for-11. For the 5 game series, the Stars were a combined 9-45.

Team LOB: 11. For the 5 game series, the Stars stranded a total of 41.

 

The Stars, now 5-5, will continue the homestand tomorrow night. Jimmy Nelson looks to snap the losing streak as he takes the mound to face the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs). Game time is 6:43 Central with pre game starting at 6:28.

[bkrause2]

Final: Clearwater 1 Brevard County 2

 

'Tees edge Threshers to take series

Roenicke's homer the difference in 2-1 win over Clearwater

By Andy Towne / Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - A dogged determination by the Brevard County Manatees' pitching staff helped the home team to a 2-1 win over the Clearwater Threshers on Sunday evening at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Lance Roenicke's home run into the left field bullpen in the bottom of the seventh off of Luis Paulino, snapped a 1-1 tie and proved to be all that Brevard County (6-4) would need to pull out the victory.

 

In his first start of the year, Chad Pierce (1-0, 2.70) went a hard-fought five innings, in which he only allowed two hits and one run. He also rung up six batters and issued only one walk.

 

Mark Williams was credited with the win as the pitcher of record as he threw three scoreless innings. He pitched his way into and out of both a jam with runners on second and third with nobody out and then one with the bases loaded and nobody out. Stephen Peterson pitched a perfect ninth for his first save.

 

Clearwater (5-5) got on the board first in the fourth inning as Jonathan Roof led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and then scored on a Cameron Perkins single.

 

Brevard County answered right back though to tie the game at 1-1, after Cameron Garfield set himself up to score with his second career triple. Brandon Macias provided the sacrifice fly that allowed Garfield to cross the plate.

 

Starting pitcher Nick Hernandez also had a strong outing for the Threshers and did not factor in the decision as he gave up just the one run and four hits in his six innings of work. The lefty struck out seven batters and walked only one.

 

With the win, the Manatees have won two straight series and will again take on the Lakeland Flying Tigers (3-7) for a three-game set, beginning on Monday night at 6:35 p.m. in Viera.

 

Brevard County's Drew Gagnon (0-1, 12.28) and Lakeland's Thomas Collier (0-0, 7.27) will square off in a rematch of starting pitchers from last Wednesday's game in Lakeland that saw the Manatees come out on top by the score of 7-6.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Lance Roenicke was 1-3 with his first home run of the season. Cameron Garfield had a two hit day with a single and a triple. Chadwin Stang had a double and a walk. Yadiel Rivera was 1-3. Adrian Williams saw action for the first time this season but went 0-3.

 

Chad Pierce with five strong innings, struck out six and gave up just the one run. Mark Williams with three shutout innings of relief and Stephen Peterson with a scoreless ninth for his first save.

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 7th

Pitching Change: Luis Paulino replaces Nick Hernandez.

Yadiel Rivera grounds out, second baseman Jonathan Roof to first baseman Chris Serritella.

Dionis Hinojosa strikes out swinging.

Lance Roenicke homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.

Adrian Williams called out on strikes

 

Brevard County Audio Highlights

[TooLiveBrew]

Rehabbing Brewer infielder Jeff Bianchi had 2 of the Stars 6 hits tonight. Bianchi played 5 innings at 3rd base tonight after playing 3 innings at short yesterday.

To me, this says Yuni's days with the big club are numbered.

 

At least... I hope they are.

[TooLiveBrew]

Greg Hopkins with the early nominee for Brewers MiLB tweet of the season:

 

WNBA Draft party tomorrow night?

[HiAndTight]

Rehabbing Brewer infielder Jeff Bianchi had 2 of the Stars 6 hits tonight. Bianchi played 5 innings at 3rd base tonight after playing 3 innings at short yesterday.

To me, this says Yuni's days with the big club are numbered.

 

At least... I hope they are.

 

 

Not to me. They gave him a major league contract, and with both Hart and Aram still out, I doubt that Bianchi is going to replace Yuni B.

 

By the way, yeah, as our starter for 162 games, he's bad,although I gotta be honest, using the eye test, he really wasn't as bad as I thought he'd be, especially in the field....but I digress. We're not talking about Betancourt as a guy we'd like to see starting, and I don't see why we're so confident that Bianchi is going to out perform Yuni B.

 

 

We're talking about a career .188/.230/.338 and a .578 OPS guy. 33 games, tiny sample size so I'm not saying he can't play(his minor league numbers are pedestrian).

 

I think Lalli would likely be the guy sent back down and when either Hart or Aram(and certainly when both are back provided nobody else goes down) then Yuni B should be replaced, but I don't think it'll be soon by Bianchi.

[Mass Haas]

STARS SHUTOUT BY SUNS

By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars

 

In the finale of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium, the Huntsville Stars were shutout by the Jacksonville Suns 1-0 on Sunday evening.

 

The only run of the game came in the second inning, where the Suns took the lead for good without even recording a hit. To begin the frame, Stars starting pitcher Arcenio Leon hit right fielder Kyle Jensen and walked third baseman Zack Cox. After Leon struck out left fielder Jake Smolinski, the 26-year-old righty threw two wild pitches in consecutive at-bats to first baseman Mark Canha and shortstop Chris Gutierrez, the second of which allowed Jensen to score the game's only run.

 

While giving up the only run and taking the hard-pressed loss to fall to 0-1 on the year, Leon pitched very well on Sunday. In just his second start since 2009, the former Astros farmhand gave up just two hits over 5.1 innings pitched while striking out six batters. Leon also left the game in the sixth inning with a blister on his throwing hand after walking his fourth batter of the game.

 

Unfortunately for Leon, the Stars offense was unable to muster up any sort of run support, despite out-hitting the Suns by a 6-4 margin. The Huntsville offense left a season-high 11 runners on base, including seven of them that were in scoring position at the time the inning ended.

 

Leading the way for Huntsville on offense was third basemen Jeff Bianchi, who went 2-for-2 with two singles during his second rehab appearance with the Stars in as many days. Bianchi, who has been on the Brewers disabled list since March 27th with a hip injury, is now 3-for-4 with three singles and an RBI in the last two games with Huntsville.

 

In addition to Bianchi, first baseman Jason Rogers, right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard, shortstop Hector Gomez and pinch-hitter Rene Tosoni each added a hit apiece.

 

Besides Leon, Stars relievers R.J Seidel and Eric Marzec combined to shut down the Suns through the last 3.2 innings of the game, giving up no runs and just two hits over that span.

 

The loss for the Stars was their fourth in a row, putting them at an even .500 record (5-5) through the first ten games of the season.

 

On Monday, the Stars will welcome the Tennessee Smokies into town for five more games at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville will try to snap their four-game skid by sending RHP Jimmy Nelson (2-0, 1.64 ERA) to the bump to square off against Smokies RHP Dallas Beeler (0-2, 7.46 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville video highlights via WHNT

 

***

 

MILB video highlights a day behind --

 

4/13/13: Nashville's Cole Garner brings in three runs with a third-inning homer in the Sounds' 8-5 win over Omaha

[Mass Haas]

From Omaha.com, where the focus was on catcher Brett Hayes' huge seven-RBI day --

 

Hayes had half of the four hits allowed by Tyler Thornburg, who walked one and struck out three in five innings.

 

“He's got some power stuff — mid-90s fastball, good cutter, sharp curveball,” Hayes said. “He's obviously got great stuff and showed it. He threw me a couple of pitches that were up that I took advantage of, but otherwise he did an excellent job.”

 

Omaha's last two-homer game by an individual was last July 30, by Wil Myers. The Chasers hadn't had a seven-RBI game since Lorenzo Cain did so May 14, 2011, while hitting for the cycle against Colorado Springs.

 

Hayes, a former All-Western Athletic Conference catcher at Nevada, had a two-homer, seven-RBI game while rehabbing with high Class A Jupiter in 2010.

 

Omaha veteran Brian Sanches (1-0) pitched 5 2/3 solid innings for the win, allowing two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out four.

 

“He's the type of pitcher who moves the ball both ways away from the plate,” Jirschele said. “These guys (Nashville) like the fastball, and he's the kind of guy they can struggle with because he's throwing his off-speed for strikes and mixing in just enough fastballs to keep them honest.”