Link Report for Thurs. 5/16 - Sounds, Stars, and 'Tees Win; Rogers and Mittelstaedt 9th Inning Heroics

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Johnny Hellweg at Salt Lake (Angels), 7:15 PM pre-game, 7:35 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 Mississippi (Braves), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:00 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 Brooks Hall at home vs. St. Lucie (Mets), 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. Quad Cities (Astros), 11:45 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM 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]

Programming note: Mississippi has MiLB.TV coverage, so if you're a subscriber, you can watch this Stars' series (live and/or archived).

[Mass Haas]

Follow Thursday'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]

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.

[Mass Haas]

Weather.com:

 

Salt Lake City

 

Huntsville

 

Viera (Melbourne)

 

Grand Chute (Appleton)

[Mass Haas]

Kind of a sobering series preview on the Salt Lake site, detailing the Sounds' struggles.

[TheCrew07]

No divisional prospects

 

Thursday Prospect Notebook: Max Fried Extends Scoreless Streak

[TheCrew07]

Quad Cities survives late Rattler rally

Bandits get by Wisconsin 3-1

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a frustrating Thursday afternoon in a 3-1 loss to the Quad Cities River Bandits at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Bandits scored all the runs they needed in the fifth inning and held off a pair of late comeback attempts by the home team.

 

Quad Cities (23-16) scored three times in the top of the fifth inning. The first two batters reached on a walk and a single against Wisconsin starting pitcher Austin Blaski. Teoscar Hernandez was next and he bunted up the third base line for a sacrifice attempt. Blaski fielded the ball and had a play at third for the force out, but he threw wildly and the ball wound up in left field. The runner scored and the Bandits had runners on second and third with no outs by the time the ball was retrieved.

 

Carlos Correa made it 2-0 with an RBI grounder. Miles Hamblin singled in Hernandez for a 3-0 lead.

 

The Timber Rattlers (18-19) got a run in the bottom of the fifth. Orlando Arcia singled to start the inning. Tyrone Taylor doubled in Arcia to cut the Quad Cities lead to 3-1 and put a runner at second with no outs. But, the Rattlers would strand Taylor on the bases in the fifth.

 

Wisconsin tried to put together a rally in the seventh as Arcia and Taylor singled with one out to put runners on the corners. Then, Michael Reed hit a line drive that was ticketed for the left field corner. But, third baseman Ryan Dineen made a backhanded grab of the liner for the second out. Wisconsin would strand both Arcia and Taylor to end the inning.

 

In the ninth, Arcia walked with one out and Reed walked with two outs. Both walks were against Quad Cities closer John Neely. Mitch Haniger, who had three hits in the game, worked the count to 3-2 and lashed a wicked grounder to third that deflected off Dineen into short left field.

 

However, the ball caromed to Correa, who threw the ball back to Dineen at third base as Arcia had rounded the bag too far. Arcia tried to make it to the plate, but was out for going out of the baseline as he tried to avoid the tag and that was how the game ended.

 

Wisconsin outhit the River Bandits 9-7 and stranded eleven runners in the game.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin a 13-game, 14-day road trip with a game against the Burlington Bees at Community Field in Burlington, Iowa on Friday night. Ryan Gibbard (2-1, 2.03) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Reid Scoggins (0-1, 1.29) is set to start for the Bees. Game time is 6:30pm.

 

Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm.

 

WP: Mike Hauschild (2-0)

LP: Austin Blaski (2-1)

SAVE: John Neely (7)

 

TIME: 2:35

ATTN: 3,469

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Well that was tough way to lose. I am happy with Tyrone Taylor and Orlando Arcia putting up 2 hit efforts, not to mention Mitch Haniger's 3 hit day. It occurred to me as I was driving around yesterday that maybe Haniger is still in WI to be a "steadying" factor, kind of a role model for the younger guys as they progress through the start of their first full season of professional baseball. If that's the case, I can get behind it.

 

Normally I would say Austin Blaski got a raw deal but he committed 2 errors and the big one which allowed the majority of the damage in the 5th to take place. Jonathan Armold has some interesting peripherals going through his first 3 games. I'll have to keep an eye on him and see what he throws.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

Both halves of the 5th.

 

Quad Cities Top of the 5th

• Austin Elkins walks.
  Jordan Scott singles on a ground ball to left fielder Tyrone Taylor. Austin Elkins to 2nd.
  Teoscar Hernandez reaches on a force attempt, throwing error by pitcher Austin Blaski. Austin Elkins scores. Jordan Scott to 3rd. Teoscar Hernandez to 2nd.
  Carlos Correa grounds out, second baseman Christopher McFarland to first baseman Adam Giacalone. Jordan Scott scores. Teoscar Hernandez to 3rd.
  Miles Hamblin singles on a line drive to left fielder Tyrone Taylor. Teoscar Hernandez scores.
  With Jesse Wierzbicki batting, passed ball by Clint Coulter, Miles Hamblin to 2nd.
  Jesse Wierzbicki grounds out, pitcher Austin Blaski to first baseman Adam Giacalone. Miles Hamblin to 3rd.
  Ryan Dineen flies out to left fielder Tyrone Taylor.

 

Wisconsin Bottom of the 5th

• Orlando Arcia singles on a ground ball to second baseman Austin Elkins.
  Tyrone Taylor doubles (8) on a line drive to left fielder Jordan Scott. Orlando Arcia scores.
  Michael Reed grounds out, shortstop Carlos Correa to first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki.
  Pitching Change: Mike Hauschild replaces Colton Cain.
  Mitch Haniger singles on a line drive to left fielder Jordan Scott. Tyrone Taylor to 3rd.
  Victor Roache grounds into a double play, shortstop Carlos Correa to second baseman Austin Elkins to first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki. Mitch Haniger out at 2nd.

 

As Chris noted the T-Rats had opportunities to take this game back with runners in scoring position through each of the last 3 frames.

 

Wisconsin Bottom of the 7th

• Jose Sermo lines out to third baseman Ryan Dineen.
  Orlando Arcia singles on a ground ball to center fielder Teoscar Hernandez.
  Tyrone Taylor singles on a line drive to center fielder Teoscar Hernandez. Orlando Arcia to 3rd.
  With Michael Reed batting, Tyrone Taylor steals (9) 2nd base.
  Michael Reed lines out to third baseman Ryan Dineen.
  Mitch Haniger flies out to right fielder Ariel Ovando.

 

Wisconsin Bottom of the 8th

• Victor Roache strikes out swinging, catcher Roberto Pena to first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki.
  Adam Giacalone flies out to left fielder Jordan Scott.
  Christopher McFarland singles on a line drive to right fielder Ariel Ovando.
  With Clint Coulter batting, Christopher McFarland steals (3) 2nd base.
  Clint Coulter grounds out, third baseman Ryan Dineen to first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki.

 

Wisconsin Bottom of the 9th

• Pitching Change: John Neely replaces Mike Hauschild.
  Jose Sermo strikes out swinging.
  Orlando Arcia walks.
  Tyrone Taylor pops out to first baseman Jesse Wierzbicki in foul territory.
  Michael Reed walks. Orlando Arcia to 2nd.
  Mitch Haniger reaches on a fielding error by third baseman Ryan Dineen. Michael Reed to 2nd. Orlando Arcia out at home, shortstop Carlos Correa to third baseman Ryan Dineen to catcher Roberto Pena.

 

 

Wisconsin Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Well at least the title made me chuckle, nice work Chris. Are you reading Chris' pre and post game work? If not why not?!

 

Linguistically frustrated – Postgame post for May 16, 2013

[daintrain28]

I ask this question, because I do not know and am looking for someone to give me some feedback. But, what is the deal with Johnny Hellweg? At the time of the Zack Greinke trade, Hellweg was thought of as a reliever prospect. Then at the beginning of this season, fans were saying he's not only a starting caliber pitcher, but able to be a top of the rotation guy. Now, I am once again hearing he is struggling and probably will be a middle reliever in the bigs.

 

Does anyone have any insight on this?

[TooLiveBrew]

As Jeff Hem noted in this tweet...

 

The Sounds have given Johnny Hellweg as much run support (7) in 5 innings tonight as they gave him in his last 6 outings combined.

... some big offense tonight. A 5-run 5th:

 

Nashville Top of the 5th

-Blake Davis walks.

-Scooter Gennett walks. Blake Davis to 2nd.

-With Josh Prince batting, Blake Davis steals (3) 3rd base.

-With Josh Prince batting, Blake Davis scores on a balk. Scooter Gennett advances to 2nd on a balk.

-Josh Prince walks.

-Caleb Gindl doubles (9) on a line drive to center fielder Trent Oeltjen. Scooter Gennett scores. Josh Prince scores.

-Khris Davis homers (5) on a fly ball to center field. Caleb Gindl scores.

-Pitching Change: Jeremy Berg replaces Kip Wells.

-Stephen Parker flies out to right fielder Scott Cousins.

-Sean Halton pops out to second baseman Bill Hall.

-Anderson De La Rosa flies out to center fielder Trent Oeltjen.

[TooLiveBrew]

Hellweg velocity report from Mr. Hem:

 

Can only go by stadium gun, which has shown as high as 99 mph. He's been sitting 95-98

[TooLiveBrew]

I ask this question, because I do not know and am looking for someone to give me some feedback. But, what is the deal with Johnny Hellweg? At the time of the Zack Greinke trade, Hellweg was thought of as a reliever prospect. Then at the beginning of this season, fans were saying he's not only a starting caliber pitcher, but able to be a top of the rotation guy. Now, I am once again hearing he is struggling and probably will be a middle reliever in the bigs.

 

Does anyone have any insight on this?

I think the opinions you encountered that you're citing in this post are simply too extreme.

 

At the time of the trade what I read on Hellweg was that, while he has the stuff to be a top-of-rotation starter, he has/had a hard time repeating his mechanics consistently (with some suggestions that his height plays a role in that). So honestly what I read then & what I've read since is very much a mixed bag.

 

He's a hard one to project, but unless he really starts to harness his control (& soon), I think he's more likely to be a back-end impact RP type. And that is by no means a bad thing... I mean, the guy touches triple digits on the FB at times as a starter. Imagine what kind of heat he could bring when he knows he can simply let it fly for an inning at a time.

 

Also, welcome to the board!

[Minigoon]

Final: Huntsville 5 Mississippi 4

 

Just when it looked like the Stars were going to go down to defeat, Jason Rogers stepped up and blasted a 2 run home run in the top of the 9th to give the Stars their 1st series win since the opening series of the season.

 

Arcenio Leon turned in a decent start for Huntsville. Leon, working through a nagging injury, went 5 innings allowing just 1 run, on a 1st inning home run, on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 5. Leon was clocked at 94 tonight. He threw 45 of 79 pitches for strikes.

 

The bullpen was not able to hold the lead tonight as the normally stellar Alan Williams was tagged for 2 runs on a 7th inning home run. Williams went 2 innings and gave up those 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk while striking out 3. Greg Holle (2-1) pitched the 8th and allowed an unearned run on a wild pitch. Holle allowed 1 hit and 1 walk. After Jason Rogers' heroics, Casey Medlen came on to close it out working a scoreless 9th to record his 6th save. The 9th wasn't without drama as a walk and a stolen base had the tying run on 2nd when the final out was recorded on a very deep fly ball that sounded like it was going out.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

The big story offensively was Jason Rogers game winning 2 run homer in the 9th. Rogers added a single earlier in the game. His 31 RBI's have him tied for 2nd in the Southern League in that category. The home run was Rogers 6th on the season, tying him with Brock Kjeldgaard for the team lead. Catcher Shawn Zarraga had a big night as he went 3-4 with a double. Second baseman Nick Shaw singled twice and scored twice. Kjeldgaard had an RBI infield single and Mike Walker added a single as well.

 

Shortstop Hector Gomez made an appearance as a pinch hitter tonight. It was the 1st time Gomez played since leaving the game after 1 inning on May 11 with a minor injury.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

 

If not for Rogers home run, the Stars would have been lamenting their missed chances, like this.

 

Huntsville Top of the 5th

 

Nick Shaw singles on a fly ball to right fielder Jose Martinez.

Ozzie Chavez walks. Nick Shaw to 2nd.

Jason Rogers strikes out swinging.

Rene Tosoni walks. Nick Shaw to 3rd. Ozzie Chavez to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Erik Hamren replaces Aaron Northcraft, batting 9th.

Brock Kjeldgaard singles on a ground ball to third baseman Edward Salcedo. Nick Shaw scores. Ozzie Chavez to 3rd. Rene Tosoni to 2nd.

Mike Walker strikes out swinging.

With Joey Paciorek batting, passed ball by Braeden Schlehuber, Ozzie Chavez scores. Rene Tosoni to 3rd. Brock Kjeldgaard to 2nd.

Joey Paciorek strikes out swinging.

 

The 9th. M-Braves pitcher Pat Egan was in Brewers camp a couple springs ago as a rule V candidate.

 

Huntsville Top of the 9th

 

Pitching Change: Pat Egan replaces Cole McCurry, batting 7th, replacing Philip Gosselin.

Nick Shaw grounds out, shortstop Barrett Kleinknecht to first baseman Christian Marrero.

Ozzie Chavez walks.

Jason Rogers homers (6) on a fly ball to left center field. Ozzie Chavez scores.

Rene Tosoni flies out to center fielder Mycal Jones.

Brock Kjeldgaard strikes out swinging.

 

The Stars head back to The Joe to open a 5 game series against the Montgomery Biscuits. Game 1 is tomorrow night. Jimmy Nelson should get the start for Huntsville. Game time is scheduled for 6:43 with Alex Cohen's pregame show kicking things off at 6:28.

[TooLiveBrew]

Wow, I just noticed that we have a Bill Hall sighting with the Salt Lake Bees. Yes, that Bill Hall.

[TooLiveBrew]

Sounds Squash Bees To Open Road Trip

Nashville's Hellweg Throws Six Scoreless; Khris Davis Homers

Nashville Sounds

 

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

Johnny Hellweg, archive photo (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

SALT LAKE CITY - The Nashville Sounds enjoyed a 7-2 victory over the Salt Lake Bees Thursday night at Spring Mobile Ballpark, highlighted by a five-run fifth inning and a quality start from pitcher Johnny Hellweg (2-4). The win snapped Nashville's five-game losing streak.

 

Silencing the Bees early was Hellweg, who scattered four hits over six scoreless innings for the Sounds en route to his second win of the year and first since April 6. The 6-foot-9 hurler walked six and fanned one, at times touching 101 mph on the in-park radar gun.

 

The win is the first by a Nashville starting pitcher in the club's last 33 games, dating back to Frankie De La Cruz's quality-start win versus Oklahoma City on April 8. Hellweg escaped a bases-loaded two-out jam in the sixth to notch the Sounds first quality start since Mike Fiers' six-inning stint on May 3 at Round Rock.

 

Offensively, the Sounds struck first in the third inning with second baseman Scooter Gennett's RBI-triple into centerfield. The liner was driven just over a diving Trent Oeltjen and rolled to the track. Right-fielder Scott Cousins was there to back up the play, which prevented Gennett from trying for an inside-the-park home run.

 

The three-bagger marks the 31st game in 32 starts in which Gennett has reached base safely. The drive scored Blake Davis, who had singled down the left-field line.

 

In the fourth inning, right-fielder Khris Davis drew a lead-off walk, stole second base, and moved to third on Stephen Parker's groundout before scoring on a single from catcher Anderson De La Rosa. The knock made it 2-0 Sounds and extended De La Rosa's hitting streak to eight games, matching his previous best this season.

 

Salt Lake starting pitcher Kip Wells (1-3) gifted a run for the Sounds in the 5th with three consecutive walks to lead-off the inning and one balk that scored Blake Davis. Outfielders Caleb Gindl and Khris Davis added to Wells' struggles by tacking on a pair of two-run hits.

 

Gindl hit a bases-clearing double to put the Sounds up 5-0 and Khris Davis launched a home run to left-center field for a 7-0 advantage. Khris Davis, who went 1-for-4, has nine hits with the Sounds this season and five are home runs. He has recorded four homers over his last four games.

 

At the end of the 7th inning, Sounds first baseman Sean Halton was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Gerard Ascani, after arguing a called strike three on his check swing. Halton finished 0-for-3 with a walk. Blake Lalli, optioned to Nashville from Milwaukee the night before, manned first for Nashville's final three defensive innings.

 

The Bees spoiled the Sounds hopes of recording their third shutout of the season by plating a run in the seventh inning off reliever Travis Webb. Salt Lake drew a one-out walk and cashed in the run on Brad Hawpe's double into left field.

 

Relievers Kyle Heckathorn and Mike Olmsted each logged one inning on the bump for Nashville. Heckathorn fanned two and walked one in the eighth. Olmsted entered in the ninth to surrender one run on two hits and one walk before closing out the game with a strikeout. Oeltjen's RBI-single off Olmsted scored Cousins.

 

The Sounds try for back-to-back wins Friday night at 7:35 against the Bees in game two of the four-game series. RHP Tyler Thornburg (0-4, 5.59) gets the nod for Nashville against a Salt Lake's A.J. Schugel (0-2, 5.59). Baseball returns to Greer Stadium on Friday, May 24, as the Sounds host the Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA-Dodgers) to a four-game set. The game will feature a postgame fireworks show.

 

 

Nashville Box

Hellweg's line: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 1 K, HBP, 99 TP (53 strikes), 10:3 GO:FO

 

 

Nashville PbP

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[bkrause2]

Final: St. Lucie (Mets) 2, Brevard County 3

 

'Tees walk off with 3-2 win over Mets

Mittelstaedt's double gives Brevard series win over St. Lucie

By Andy Towne / Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - T.J. Mittelstaedt sent a two-out double to right field in the bottom of the ninth to plate Yadiel Rivera and give the Brevard County Manatees a 3-2 walk-off win over the St. Lucie Mets on Thursday night at Space Coast Stadium.

 

An expected pitchers' duel between Brevard County's (21-18) Brooks Hall and St. Lucie's (23-15) Noah Syndergaard ended with neither starter taking a decision, though both hurlers were impressive on the mound.

 

Hall (2-3, 2.82) left with one out in the sixth inning, a frame in which he allowed three of his seven hits - one of which was lined right off of his lower body - and his only walk. Two runs were able to score on Rylan Sandoval's single to center that chased Hall from the game.

 

Syndergaard fanned a career high ten batters with no walks as he surrendered two runs on seven hits in his 6.2 innings of work. Behind him, Hamilton Bennett and Randy Fontanez fanned five more hitters to give the Manatees 15 strikeouts on the night, the most in a game for Brevard this season.

 

The Manatees tied the game up in the sixth against Syndergaard as Mittelstaedt and Greg Hopkins led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After both moved up 90 feet each on a Nick Ramirez groundout, Cameron Garfield tripled to left to clear the bases and make it a 2-2 game.

 

Rivera would lead off the bottom of the ninth with a single down the left field line off of Fontanez to put the winning run on base. Lance Roenicke would then move Rivera over to second with a sacrifice bunt.

 

Two batters later with two strikes on him and with two outs, Mittelstaedt roped the offering from new reliever T.J. Chism to the right field wall for a double to give Brevard the series over St. Lucie. The win also improves Brevard County's record to a Florida State League best 11-3 in one-run games

 

Jacob Barnes made his return to the mound for the first time since April 23, going three innings with four strikeouts to earn the win in relief. He allowed just one hit and lowered his ERA to 0.92 for the season.

 

Brevard County travels to Dunedin (22-15) for a three-game weekend set, with a chance to take over first place in the FSL North division. Lefty Brent Suter (2-1, 4.58) is scheduled to take on the Blue Jays' Marco Grifantini (1-0, 3.00) with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch from Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Greg Hopkins had a nice night, going 3 for 4. T.J. Mittelstaedt was 2 for 5 out of the leadoff spot, including his walk-off double in the ninth. Cameron Garfield was 1 for 4 with a triple and two RBI. Chadwin Stang and Lance Roenicke each swiped a bag. Brooks Hall went 5.1 innings, allowing two runs. Jacob Barnes made his return to the Manatees and pitched three scoreless innings to earn the win.

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 6th

T. J. Mittelstaedt singles on a ground ball to shortstop Matt Reynolds.

Gregory Hopkins singles on a ground ball to left fielder Dustin Lawley. T. J. Mittelstaedt to 3rd.

Nick Ramirez grounds out, catcher Cam Maron to first baseman Rylan Sandoval. Gregory Hopkins to 2nd.

Cameron Garfield triples (3) on a line drive to left fielder Dustin Lawley. T. J. Mittelstaedt scores. Gregory Hopkins scores.

Cody Hawn pops out to third baseman Aderlin Rodriguez.

Ben McMahan strikes out swinging.

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 9th

Yadiel Rivera singles on a line drive to left fielder Dustin Lawley.

Lance Roenicke out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Randy Fontanez to first baseman Rylan Sandoval. Yadiel Rivera to 2nd.

Chadwin Stang strikes out swinging.

Pitching Change: T. J. Chism replaces Randy Fontanez.

T. J. Mittelstaedt doubles (4) on a line drive to right fielder Charley Thurber. Yadiel Rivera scores.

[Mass Haas]

Audio-fest:

 

Brevard County --

 

Game highlights

 

Pre-game interview with 1B Nick Ramirez

 

***

 

Huntsville --

 

Rene Tosoni sacrifice fly for an early lead

 

Jason Rogers go-ahead 9th inning two-run HR

 

Pre-game interview with Stars Pitching Coach Chris Hook

 

(VIDEO) Andy Moye slider for the strikeout (Wednesday's game)

 

***

 

Nashville --

 

The Sounds game story has been updated to include five audio highlights.

[Mass Haas]

Rogers Homer Leads Stars to Win, Series Victory

By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars

 

Trailing by one and down to their final two outs in the ninth inning, a two-run homer from first baseman Jason Rogers led the Huntsville Stars to a 5-4 win over the Mississippi Braves on Thursday night at Trustmark Park.

 

After the M-Braves and Stars each traded runs in the first inning, the Stars took back the lead in the fifth inning off of Mississippi starter Aaron Northcraft. With the bases loaded and one out, an RBI infield single from Brock Kjeldgaard put the Stars back up by one. The next at-bat, Northcraft threw a wild pitch that allowed Stars shortstop Ozzie Chavez to score from third to make the score 3-1.

 

Following a strong outing from Stars starting pitcher Arcenio Leon where he gave up just one run over five innings, the Stars bullpen kept the lead intact up to the seventh inning.

 

With reliever Alan Williams in the ballgame, M-Braves outfielder Mycal Jones began the frame with a leadoff walk. One batter later, outfielder Jose Martinez crushed a two-run homer well over the left-field wall to tie up the game at three.

 

Mississippi continued that momentum into the eighth inning. Against Huntsville reliever Greg Holle, third baseman Edward Salcedo hit a leadoff single. Then, after stealing second and third on consecutive pitches, Salcedo scored on a wild pitch from Holle to give the M-Braves their first lead of the game.

 

Fortunately for the Stars, their bats would provide some rare heroics on this evening. After Chavez drew a one-out walk against M-Braves closer Pat Egan, Rogers hit his sixth homer of the year just over the outstretched arms of Mississippi left fielder Kyle Russell to put the Stars back up 5-4.

 

In the bottom half of the frame, Huntsville righty Casey Medlen stranded a runner on first to shut the door and give the Stars their first series victory since their opening five-game set of the 2013 season against the Chattanooga Lookouts.

 

For Medlen, the save was his sixth of the season and third converted save opportunity in a row. Holle improved to 2-1 on the season with the victory in relief.

 

Aside from Rogers, the Stars were led on offense by catcher Shawn Zarraga with three hits.

 

The Stars will look to continue their winning momentum on Friday as they welcome the Montgomery Biscuits to Joe Davis Stadium for a five-game series. Huntsville will send RHP Jimmy Nelson (4-2, 2.36 ERA) to the bump. He will face off against Mongtomery RHP Jacob Thompson (1-2, 6.41 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

[Mass Haas]

"Hellweg did a good job," Salt Lake manager Keith Johnson said. "He got himself behind in the count sometimes, but he made pitches when he had to. He had his good fastball working for him when he needed it, going down in the zone."

[Mass Haas]

Mittelstaedt delivers walk-off winner for Manatees

Syndergaard hits 97 mph for Mets

by Michael Parsons, FLORIDA TODAY

 

VIERA — T.J. Mittelstaedt got to fulfill every Little League player’s dream Thursday night.

 

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, score tied 2-2, Mittelstaedt took a 3-1 pitch from reliever T.J. Chism and drilled it over the right fielder’s head, scoring Yadiel Rivera and sending the Manatees to a 3-2 walk-off win against the St. Lucie Mets.

 

“It was a huge at-bat for him,” Manatees manager Joe Ayrault said after the victory that gave the Manatees the series. “Coming down from AA he has some things he is working on. For him to get that kind of hit is huge. It is huge for a hitter to get back on the right track and get hot. I am sure this will get him going.”

 

Overall it was a rough night for hitters as the Manatees’ Brooks Hall and the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard traded zeroes for the first five innings.

 

But Aderlin Rodriguez changed the game in an instant in the sixth when he hit a pitch right back at Hall, striking him in his left shin.

 

“He took a shot but, thankfully, it was a broken bat,” Ayrault said. “He wanted to be out there, said it didn’t affect him at all throwing.”

 

But he was not the same after that, even though he had induced 10 groundball outs. And St. Lucie took advantage of it. He gave up a single to Travis Taijeron, walked Cam Maron and the bases were loaded with one out. Rylan Sandoval made him pay, driving in two with a single and that was the end of Hall’s night.

 

Stephen Peterson came in and shut the door.

 

Syndergaard, who was part of the R.A. Dickey deal in the offseason, was nearly unhittable, striking out 10 Manatees in 6 2⁄3 innings, reaching 97 mph on his fastball. But they found a way to rally after seeing their starter leave.

 

Mittelstaedt hit an infield single to start the sixth. Greg Hopkins followed with a single and after Syndergaard got an out, Cameron Garfield ripped a triple down the left field line to tie it.

 

“We had a few opportunities early and he really dialed up his pitches,” Ayrault said. “He (Garfield) has been clutch for us this year and it was huge to come up in that situation and come through.”

 

The Manatees visit the first-place Blue Jays beginning tonight.

[Mass Haas]

Looking for a playoff-caliber atmosphere in the Brewers chain this time of year?

 

Big, big series at Dunedin starts tonight.

 

Florida State League Standings

 

Go you Sea Cows!