Link Report for Sat. 5/11

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Tyler Thornburg at home vs. Sacramento (Athletics), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

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 home vs. Jackson (Mariners), 6:28 PM pre-game, 6:43 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: LHP Jed Bradley at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 5:05 PM pre-game, 5:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the link based on listed schedule

 

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.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Austin Blaski at home vs. Burlington (Angels), 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]

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

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

New MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

[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.

[Mass Haas]

Weather.com:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Viera (Melbourne)

 

Grand Chute (Appleton)

[TheCrew07]

Well that didn't take long after the the hot sheet chat questions about him yesterday...

 

Hamilton takes novel path to scoring

[TheCrew07]

Blah, blah, another Cards' prospect performing well, blah.

 

Piscotty breaks out, homers twice

[TheCrew07]

I wish Taveras wasn't going to be in our division, it's unusual to have the kind of injury insurance that both he and Profar are providing this year their respective clubs.

 

Taveras, Wacha take flight for Redbirds

[TheCrew07]

I didn't listen to this yet because I have to get out the door and go help build a deck for my sister's pool but apparently Carlos Martinez of the Cards is discussed.

 

Prospect Handbook Podcast Talks Jose Fernandez, Carlos Martinez And More

[Mass Haas]

Via Brad - Photos from last night's doubleheader between Wisconsin and Clinton

[bkrause2]

Jed Bradley and the Manatees have been rained out

[TooLiveBrew]

It's a solid pitching matchup in Nashville tonight, with Oakland's #18 overall pick in 2011, Nashville-born Sonny Gray, squaring off against Thornburg. They're both shorter SPs... both listed at 5'11".

 

Gray has had three excellent starts so far, and two forgettable starts. In fact, he's coming off of one of his best performances as a professional -- a complete game, four hit/one run performance at Fresno on May 1st. With such a long layoff between starts, hopefully the Sounds can jump all over him early.

 

Thornburg hasn't made it past the 5th in any start this season, and frankly has only had two decent starts out of seven. This season, he's looked more & more like the guy who got the label from prospect watchers that he'll have to shift to the bullpen, unfortunately. Hopefully tonight he can turn in his first genuinely impressive start of the season.

[TheCrew07]

Final: Wisconsin 4, Burlington (Angels) 2

 

Blaski and the Rattlers beat the Bees

Rattlers starter strikes out 7 in victory over Burlington

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers moved back to the .500 mark with a 4-2 win over the Burlington Bees Saturday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Austin Blaski tossed another solid start, the Rattlers offense was opportunistic to grab a 4-0 lead, and the bullpen held on for the win.

 

Wisconsin (16-16) was not opportunistic early as they loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first inning, but did not score. The Rattlers loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the third inning and cashed in on a sacrifice fly by Adam Giacalone for a 1-0 lead.

 

Tyrone Taylor reached first on a two out error in the bottom of the fourth inning. Alfredo Rodriguez doubled into the corner in left and Taylor raced home to make it 2-0.

 

Cameron Bedrosian entered the game for the Bees in the bottom of the sixth inning just as a steady rain began to fall. Clint Coulter singled and would wind up on third base after an errant pickoff attempt by Bedrosian. One out later Orlando Arcia drew a walk. Arcia would steal second with Tyrone Taylor at the plate. The ball got by Burlington catcher Anthony Bemboom for a passed ball to allow Coulter to score and Arcia to wind up at third base.

 

Later in the at bat Taylor would strike out on a pitch in the dirt. Bemboom had to throw down to first to retire Taylor for the second out and Arcia timed his break from third perfectly to beat the return throw to the plate to score the run that made it 4-0.

 

Blaski left the game with Jonathan Walsh at first and two outs in the top of the seventh inning with that 4-0 lead intact and the rain still falling on the stadium. Reliever Jono Armold entered the game and balked when he tried to make his first pitch to Chevy Clarke and he nearly tripped. Armold threw a wild pitch on his next offering and Walsh took third base. Then, Clarke walked and the Bees (11-19) were in business.

 

Another wild pitch by Armold let Walsh score and move Clarke into scoring position. Clarke would steal third and score on a throwing error to cut the lead to 4-2.

 

Armold would get out of the inning and pitch a scoreless eighth.

 

Taylor Wall worked a scoreless ninth inning to close out the game and pick up his fourth save of the season.

 

Blaski allowed a run on two hits over 6-2/3 innings. He struck out seven and earned his second win of the season.

 

Game two of the series is Sunday afternoon. Jorge Lopez (0-2, 12.15) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Burlington has Jake Boyd (1-3, 2.61) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 1:05pm.

 

The Timber Rattlers will wear special pink jerseys on Mother's Day. There will be a silent auction for the jerseys during the game with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Central Wisconsin.

 

Fans may catch on the field before the game and there is a postgame autograph session scheduled, too.

 

During the game on Sunday, the first Survivor Games from Affinity Health Systems will be held. Breast cancer survivor Kathy Buelen will be presented with a pink jersey after the third inning to celebrate her survival.

 

If you can't make it out to the stadium, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:45pm. Sunday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

 

WP: Austin Blaski (2-0)

LP: Pat Lowery (0-1)

SAVE: Taylor Wall (4)

 

TIME: 2:31

ATTN: 3,733

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

The 4 runs on only 4 hits is pretty sweet but only 6 hits in the last 16 innings isn't so hot. This team is at .500 again despite being 13th in the 16 team MWL in AVE, only Great Lakes, Dayton, and today's opponent Burlington are worse. If you are curious about the OPS rank, the Rattlers are 12th... 11th in SLG, 13th in OBP... you get the idea. On the positive side they have 5th best strike out total and have the 7th most stolen bases. This team is so young you just have to believe there are better days ahead offensively.

 

Austin Blaski is off to a nice start here in 2013, he's faced the whole gambit of offenses within the league, it's not like he's feasting on the bottom feeders. He's faced the top 3 offenses, the bottom 2 offenses, and 2 teams who are middle of the road. Clint Coulter's error was his 4th on the season.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

Not so clutch in the first and 3rd.

 

Wisconsin Bottom of the 1st

• Tyrone Taylor doubles (5) on a line drive to left fielder Jonathan Walsh.
  Alfredo Rodriguez grounds out, third baseman Michael Bolaski to first baseman Wade Hinkle.
  Mitch Haniger walks.
  With Victor Roache batting, wild pitch by Pat Lowery, Tyrone Taylor to 3rd. Mitch Haniger to 2nd.
  Victor Roache hit by pitch.
  Adam Giacalone strikes out swinging.
  Mike Garza grounds into a force out, third baseman Michael Bolaski to second baseman Kevin Moesquit. Victor Roache out at 2nd.

 

Wisconsin Bottom of the 3rd

• Alfredo Rodriguez walks.
  Mitch Haniger reaches on a fielding error by third baseman Michael Bolaski. Alfredo Rodriguez to 2nd.
  Victor Roache walks. Alfredo Rodriguez to 3rd. Mitch Haniger to 2nd.
  Adam Giacalone out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Jonathan Walsh. Alfredo Rodriguez scores.
  Mike Garza grounds out, first baseman Wade Hinkle to pitcher Pat Lowery. Mitch Haniger to 3rd. Victor Roache to 2nd.
  Clint Coulter grounds out, second baseman Kevin Moesquit to first baseman Wade Hinkle.

 

This was sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.

 

Burlington Top of the 7th

• Kyle Johnson grounds out, second baseman Alfredo Rodriguez to first baseman Adam Giacalone.
  Wade Hinkle walks.
  Jonathan Walsh grounds into a force out, first baseman Adam Giacalone to shortstop Orlando Arcia. Wade Hinkle out at 2nd. Jonathan Walsh to 1st.
  Pitching Change: Jonathan Armold replaces Austin Blaski.
  With Chevy Clarke batting, Jonathan Walsh advances to 2nd on a balk.
  With Chevy Clarke batting, wild pitch by Jonathan Armold, Jonathan Walsh to 3rd.
  Chevy Clarke walks.
  With Michael Bolaski batting, wild pitch by Jonathan Armold, Jonathan Walsh scores. Chevy Clarke to 2nd.
  With Michael Bolaski batting, Chevy Clarke steals (3) 3rd base, Chevy Clarke scores. Throwing error by catcher Clint Coulter.
  Michael Bolaski walks.
  Andrew Ray grounds out, first baseman Adam Giacalone to pitcher Jonathan Armold.

 

Wisconsin Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Well at least Thornburg's 10 strike outs were encouraging.

[TooLiveBrew]

Gray Leads River Cats Past Sounds In Homecoming

Thornburg Fans Season-High 10 For Nashville In Defeat

Nashville Sounds

 

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

Tyler Thornburg (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee native Sonny Gray threw six shutout innings to lead the Sacramento River Cats to a 5-2 victory over the Nashville Sounds in front of a near-capacity crowd of 9,201 fans on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium.

 

Gray (4-1), who grew up in nearby Smyrna, Tenn. and later starred at Vanderbilt, pitched as a professional for the first time in his hometown and authored a quality-start win for the third straight outing. The 23-year-old held the Sounds to three hits while striking out a season-high eight batters and walking five in his six scoreless frames.

 

Tyler Thornburg (0-4) matched Gray's effort with a solid outing of his own for the Sounds. He took a hard-luck loss, however, after striking out a season-high 10 batters while limiting the River Cats to two runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 frames.

 

Nashville batters extended a pair of significant streaks in the early going. Scooter Gennett wasted [little] time pushing the PCL's longest on-base streak of the season to 29 games, drawing a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first inning. Third baseman Stephen Parker extended Nashville's longest hitting streak of the year to 14 games with a leadoff double to right-center in the second.

 

Sacramento right fielder Jeremy Barfield stifled an early Sounds' attempt to break a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning when he fielded Caleb Gindl's two-out single and fired a strike to the plate to gun down Gennett, who attempted to score from second on the play.

 

River Cats center fielder Michael Choice spotted the visitors a 2-0 lead in the fourth when he lifted a towering two-run homer to left-center off Thornburg. Shane Peterson, who preceded Choice with a single, also scored on the outfielder's seventh big fly of the year.

 

Sacramento doubled its lead to 4-0 in the seventh with two runs against reliever Johnnie Lowe. Jemile Weeks, the younger brother of former Sound Rickie Weeks, led off with a triple to right and scored on Grant Green's ensuing single. The River Cats tacked on an unearned run later in the frame following a fielding error by Parker at third base. Scott Moore's two-out RBI double to right plated Shane Peterson. On the play, right fielder Khris Davis combined with shortstop Blake Davis on a relay to the plate to nail Stephen Vogt as he attempted to score a second run on the two-bagger.

 

The Sounds broke up Sacramento's shutout bid in the bottom of the eighth inning against reliever Pedro Figueroa. Caleb Gindl drew a leadoff walk and scored when Khris Davis followed with a laser RBI double to center (audio).

 

Sacramento wrapped up its scoring in the top of the ninth when Green doubled and scored on a two-out Choice RBI single to center off Lowe to increase the lead to 5-1.

 

Nashville didn't go down without a fight in the home half of the final frame, plating a run against River Cats closer Dan Otero. Hainley Statia (3-for-4) led off with a single before scoring from first on Gennett's one-out RBI double to the left-center wall to score the night's final run (audio).

 

The teams continue the series with a 2:05 p.m. matinee on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium. Left-hander Zach Kroenke (0-5, 7.30) will look to pick up his first win of the season when he takes the hill for the Sounds to face Sacramento southpaw Andrew Werner (2-5, 8.54).

 

 

Nashville Box

I just caught this tonight, but Khrush Davis has played RF the last two games. Obviously LF is locked down for a little while with the big club, but I'll let everyone form his/her own opinion here.

 

As I noted in the transactions thread, Hunter Morris did not play tonight & has been placed on the DL. I haven't seen word on what the injury is, but hopefully it's not a major issue.

 

Gennett: 1-2, 2B, RBI, 3 BB

Gindl: 1-3, 2 BB

Davis: 1-4, 2B, RBI, OF assist

Parker: 1-3, 2B, BB, E (fielding)

Statia: 3-4

Dayton Buller: 1-4, PB, 0/2 CS

 

Thornburg's performance tonight was quite encouraging. He absolutely pounded the strike zone, and piled up the K's.

 

[pre]Thornburg: 5.2 IP 7 H 2 R 2 ER 1 BB 10 K HBP 104 TP (71 strikes) 3:0 GO:FO

Lowe: 3.1 IP 5 H 3 R 2 ER 0 BB 2 K[/pre]

 

Nashville PbP

Thornburg had a rocky first inning, but was able to K his way out of the jam -- an auspicious beginning to his outing:

 

Sacramento Top of the 1st

-Jemile Weeks singles on a line drive to right fielder Khris Davis.

-Grant Green called out on strikes.

-With Shane Peterson batting, Jemile Weeks steals (6) 2nd base.

-With Shane Peterson batting, passed ball by Dayton Buller, Jemile Weeks to 3rd.

-Shane Peterson walks.

-With Michael Choice batting, Shane Peterson steals (5) 2nd base.

-Michael Choice strikes out swinging.

-Stephen Vogt called out on strikes.

 

After going down in order in the 2nd & 3rd innings, Sacramento got to Tyler in the 4th. He surrendered four of the seven hits he allowed on the evening, but wriggled off the hook before things got too ugly:

 

Sacramento Top of the 4th

-Shane Peterson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Josh Prince.

-Michael Choice homers (7) on a fly ball to left field. Shane Peterson scores.

-Stephen Vogt singles on a line drive to right fielder Khris Davis.

-Scott Moore singles on a ground ball to right fielder Khris Davis. Stephen Vogt to 2nd.

-Jeremy Barfield lines out to left fielder Caleb Gindl.

-Josh Horton grounds into a force out, first baseman Sean Halton to shortstop Blake Davis. Stephen Vogt to 3rd. Scott Moore out at 2nd. Josh Horton to 1st.

-Andy Parrino called out on strikes.

 

Although he got off to a dicey start in the 6th, Thornburg came roaring back via the strikeout. Lowe got Tyler's back to finish the frame scoreless & close the book on a good outing:

 

Sacramento Top of the 6th

-Stephen Vogt singles on a line drive to center fielder Josh Prince.

-Scott Moore doubles (9) on a line drive to right fielder Khris Davis. Stephen Vogt to 3rd.

-Jeremy Barfield strikes out swinging.

-Josh Horton strikes out swinging.

-Pitching Change: Johnnie Lowe replaces Tyler Thornburg.

-Andy Parrino strikes out swinging.

 

The Sounds had a legit scoring chance in the 7th, down 4-0, but couldn't make it pay:

 

Nashville Bottom of the 7th

-Pitching Change: Hideki Okajima replaces Sonny Gray.

-Blake Davis flies out to center fielder Michael Choice.

-Hainley Statia singles on a ground ball to center fielder Michael Choice.

-Dayton Buller singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jeremy Barfield. Hainley Statia to 3rd.

-Scooter Gennett pops out to second baseman Jemile Weeks.

-Josh Prince strikes out swinging.

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Chris knocks another post game out of the park.

 

Be Opportunistic – Postgame post for May 11, 2013

[Minigoon]

Final: Jackson 12 Huntsville 8

 

The Jackson Generals won game 5 and the series with a 12-8 victory Saturday night at The Joe. Stars pitcher Arcenio Leon (0-3) started, but didn't make it out of the 3rd inning. In 2 1/3 innings, Leon allowed 7 runs, 5 earned on only 3 hits. Control was an issue as Leon walked 5 and threw 3 wild pitches. Only 35 of the 71 pitches Leon threw were for strikes. Righty Mark Williams relieved Leon in the 3rd, but didn't fare much better. Williams, coming off 2 straight scoreless outings, worked 2 1/3 innings, allowing 4 runs, all earned, on 5 hits and 4 walks. Eric Marzec finished up the 5th and then worked a scoreless 6. This was the 6 straight game Marzec has not given up a run. Left hander Brian Garman saved the rest of the bullpen by working the last 3 innings, allowing a run on 3 hits, striking out 2, and did not walk a batter. After some early season struggles saw his ERA balloon up to 7.94, Garman has gotten on track and now is sporting an ERA at 3.72.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

The Stars matched the Generals with 13 hits tonight, but did not draw any walks. This is a bit unusual as the Stars are in the top half of the league in walks drawn. The Stars were led offensively by Jason Rogers who continues to swing a hot bat. Rogers went 2-5, both hits being home runs, including a 1st inning grand slam, and drove in 5. Over his last 7 games, Rogers is hitting .370 with 3 doubles, 3 homers, and 9 RBI's. Nick Shaw, who did not start the game, ended up going 3-5 with a run scored. Ozzie Chavez and Brock Kjeldgaard both had 2 hits. Kjeldgaard's 2 hits were both doubles. Brock is 5-10 with 2 doubles and 2 home runs in his last 3 games. Rene Tosoni extended his hitting streak to 8 with a single in the 3rd. It's also the 10th straight game Tosoni has reached base. Joey Paciorek, Robinzon Diaz, and Kentrail Davis had the Stars other hits. Davis also reached on a hit by pitch and stole his team leading 9th base. Davis appears to be the only threat to steal the Stars have as the rest of the team has 10 stolen bases to Davis's 9.

 

Team RISP: 3-for-14.

Team LOB: 8.

 

Too often we've seen this result from the Stars.

 

Shortstop Hector Gomez was removed from the game in the bottom of the 1st inning. Per the broadcast, the reason for Gomez's removal was not disclosed.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

 

The Stars matched their biggest single inning run output for the season in the 1st, and it could have been an even bigger inning.

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 1st

 

Ozzie Chavez singles on a ground ball to center fielder James Jones.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Nick Shaw replaces Hector Gomez.

Nick Shaw singles on a fly ball to center fielder James Jones. Ozzie Chavez to 2nd.

Kentrail Davis hit by pitch. Ozzie Chavez to 3rd. Nick Shaw to 2nd.

Jason Rogers hits a grand slam (4) to right field. Ozzie Chavez scores. Nick Shaw scores. Kentrail Davis scores.

Brock Kjeldgaard doubles (5) on a fly ball to left fielder Leon Landry.

Robinzon Diaz doubles (5) on a ground ball to left fielder Leon Landry. Brock Kjeldgaard scores.

Rene Tosoni grounds out, first baseman Steven Proscia to pitcher Anthony Fernandez. Robinzon Diaz to 3rd.

Joey Paciorek strikes out swinging.

Shea Vucinich strikes out swinging.

 

Bases loaded in the 7th with no outs for the Stars. They only manage to get 1.

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 7th

 

Kentrail Davis doubles (7) on a line drive to left fielder Leon Landry.

Jason Rogers reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Brad Miller.

With Brock Kjeldgaard batting, Kentrail Davis steals (9) 3rd base.

Brock Kjeldgaard reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by third baseman Vinnie Catricala. Jason Rogers to 2nd.

Robinzon Diaz grounds out, shortstop Brad Miller to first baseman Steven Proscia. Kentrail Davis scores. Jason Rogers to 3rd.

Rene Tosoni pops out to first baseman Steven Proscia.

Joey Paciorek lines out to first baseman Steven Proscia

 

Huntsville (13-22) will hit the road tomorrow morning for Pearl, Mississippi to take on the Southern League South Division leading Mississippi Braves (23-12). Jimmy Nelson (3-2, 2.75) will be on the mound for the Stars. Game time is scheduled for 5:00 Central. Alex Cohen will have the pregame show starting at 4:45.

[bkrause2]

As I noted in the transactions thread, Hunter Morris did not play tonight & has been placed on the DL. I haven't seen word on what the injury is, but hopefully it's not a major issue.

 

 

Jeff mentioned during the broadcast that Morris had a head injury. He sustained the injury when he collided with Chris Dominguez in Friday night's game. I went back and watched the play on milb.tv (It's at the 2:07:30 mark for anyone that has a subscription) Morris fielded a squibber, Dillard got in his way and then when he got around him he had to kind of dive to try to tag Dominguez and collided with him. He was down for a minute but it looked like he was okay (of course I thought the same thing about Corey Koskie and that didn't turn out so well). Jeff said he was day-to-day so it didn't sound too serious. Hopefully just a case of better safe than sorry.

[TooLiveBrew]

Thank you for doing the digging on that one & providing the update, Brad

[Mass Haas]

STARS DROP SERIES FINALE WITH GENERALS

Alex Cohen, Huntsville Stars

 

To finish off a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium, the Huntsville Stars lost a series-deciding contest to the Jackson Generals by a score of 12-8 on Saturday night.

 

Unfortunately for the Stars, one of the better offensive outputs of the season was wasted with the lost.

 

Trailing 2-0 in the first inning, the first three Huntsville hitters reached base against Jackson starting pitcher Anthony Fernandez. With the bases loaded, first baseman Jason Rogers launched a fastball over the right-field wall for the Stars first grand slam of 2013 to give them a 4-2 lead (audio).

 

Two batters later, a RBI double from catcher Robinzon Diaz put Huntsville up by three (audio).

 

However, that lead for the Stars would be short-lived. In the span of two innings, the Generals offense was able to reclaim the lead off of Stars starting pitcher Arcenio Leon (L, 0-3). A bases-clearing double from Generals shortstop Brad Miller in the second highlighted the offensive explosion while left fielder Leon Landry and third baseman Vinnie Catricala each added a RBI double in the third.

 

In the bottom half of the frame, the Stars got one back on another homer from Rogers, this one a solo shot to begin the inning off of Fernandez as well (audio). For Rogers, the multi-homer game was his first of the season and only the second for the Stars as a team, as Brock Kjeldgaard had the only other one in April.

 

That was the closest the Stars would get to take their initial lead back. Jackson scored four more runs in the fifth inning off of Huntsville righty Mark Williams, led by a two-run double from designated hitter Abraham Almonte and another RBI single from Morban.

 

Catricala added an RBI single in the eighth inning off of Stars lefty Brian Garman to give the Generals their final run of the game.

 

On offense, the Stars also got an RBI single from shortstop Ozzie Chavez in the sixth inning and an RBI groundout from Diaz in the seventh. Huntsville also had four players with two or more hits on the game, as infielder Nick Shaw led the way with a 3-for-5 night at the dish. Rogers, Kjeldgaard and Chavez each had two hits.

 

The loss for the Stars marked their sixth consecutive series defeat. Huntsville has not won a five-game set since their opening series of the year against Chattanooga. They are now 5-15 at Joe Davis Stadium this season.

 

With an early morning bus ride on Sunday, the Stars will travel to Trustmark Park to open up a five-game series against the Southern League South-leading Mississippi Braves. The Stars will send RHP Jimmy Nelson (3-2, 2.75 ERA) to the bump to square off against M-Braves RHP Cody Martin (1-1, 3.38 ERA). First pitch is at 5:00 PM.

[Mass Haas]

River Cats' Gray wows in homecoming

A's prospect returns to Nashville, pitches six shutout innings