Link Report for Sat. 5/18 - Ariel "Speedwagon" Pena Shines for Stars; Sounds romp, 'Tees Victorious

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: LHP Zach Kroenke 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's Jimmy Nelson and Ariel Pena in a doubleheader at home vs. Montgomery (Rays), 4:28 PM pre-game, 4:43 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

 

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 Dunedin (Blue Jays), 5:00 PM pre-game, 5:30 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 Eric Semmelhack at Burlington (Angels), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 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 Game One

 

Huntsville Game Two

 

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

 

Dunedin

 

Burlington, IA

[TheCrew07]

Quite the hitting performance for 2 Cubs' prospects

 

Soler, Geiger tee off for D-Cubs

[TheCrew07]

New swing or not I'm still not convinced Brett Jackson of the Cubs' will hit enough. We'll see I guess.

 

Jackson learning, evolving at Triple-A

[Mass Haas]

Via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

Audio from Salt Lake — “Catching Up with Blake Lalli”

 

Tonight’s interview is with Sounds catcher Blake Lalli, who rejoined the team Thursday after being optioned by the Brewers. Lalli discusses his time in the big leagues with the Brewers, his first-ever call-up last year when he was with the Cubs, the transition to feeling comfortable in the major leagues, his experiences in playing three consecutive full seasons at Double-A for the Cubs and his current role as both a catcher and first baseman.

[Minigoon]

Final: Huntsville 7 Montgomery 5 (Game 1)

 

Jimmy Nelson wasn't his sharpest but he was good enough to help the Stars earn a 7-5 win in game 1 of tonight's doubleheader. Nelson (5-2) earned the win despite not having his best start. He worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing 5 earned runs on 6 hits and 3 walks while only striking out 1. Nelson allowed a home run and hit 3 batters. Of the 90 pitches Jimmy threw, 50 were for strikes. He also posted a 7-3 ground out to fly out ratio.

 

The Stars got 1 2/3 innings of scoreless bullpen work to close out the win. Lefty Thomas Keeling came in to relieve Nelson in the 6th and stranded 2 inherited runners. Keeling worked the 1st out in the 7th before turning it over to Greg Holle. Holle recorded the last 2 outs in the 7th to record his 3rd save on the season. Holle now has not allowed an earned run since April 26th and Keeling has now gone 10 straight appearances without allowing a run. Those 2 have really been pitching well.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

The Stars offense was on tonight. All 9 hitters reached base at least once on 10 hits and 3 walks. The Stars were led by hot hitting Jason Rogers. Rogers went 2-3 with a home run, scored twice and drove in 3. The home run was Rogers 7th on the season and his 5th in the last 9 games. Brock Kjeldgaard was also 2-3 with 2 RBI's. Rene Tosoni was 1-3 with his 3rd home run on the season. Robinzon Diaz drove in the Stars other run. Kentrail Davis was the only Stars hitter without a hit, but did draw 2 walks, continuing his excellent eye at the plate he's shown this season. Last season Davis drew 54 walks in 122 games. So far this season, Davis has walked 27 times in only 40 games. A marked improvement.

 

Hector Gomez started for the 1st time since he was removed after a half inning one week ago with what was described on a recent broadcast as a minor injury.

 

Team RISP: 3-for-8.

Team LOB: 4.

 

Nice to see numbers like this

 

Huntsville Play By Play

 

The Stars big 4 run inning

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 5th

 

Joey Paciorek walks.

Nick Shaw singles on a bunt ground ball to catcher Mayo Acosta. Joey Paciorek to 2nd.

Hector Gomez out on a sacrifice bunt, catcher Mayo Acosta to second baseman Robby Price. Joey Paciorek to 3rd. Nick Shaw to 2nd.

Jacob Thompson intentionally walks Kentrail Davis.

Jason Rogers singles on a line drive to right fielder Mikie Mahtook. Joey Paciorek scores. Nick Shaw scores. Kentrail Davis to 2nd.

Rene Tosoni grounds out to first baseman Cameron Seitzer. Kentrail Davis to 3rd. Jason Rogers to 2nd.

Brock Kjeldgaard singles on a line drive to left fielder Todd Glaesmann, deflected by center fielder Kevin Kiermaier. Kentrail Davis scores. Jason Rogers scores.

Pitching Change: Andrew Bellatti replaces Jacob Thompson.

Mike Walker grounds out, second baseman Robby Price to first baseman Cameron Seitzer.

 

Game 2 recap to be up shortly.

[Minigoon]

Final: Huntsville 6 Montgomery 1 (Game 2)

 

SWEEP!!!! The Stars were able to earn a doubleheader sweep against Montgomery with a 6-1 victory in game 2 Saturday night. Starter Ariel Pena (3-3) continued his remarkable May picking up another win. Pena worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing only 1 unearned run (scored in the 7th after he left the game) on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. Pena was consistently in the 92-96 MPH range per Alex Cohen on the broadcast.

 

After an April where Pena went 1-2 with a 4.84 ERA, 22 1/3 innings, 16 hits and 18 walks against 12 strike outs, in May he's 2-1 with a 0.89 ERA. In 20 1/3 innings, Pena's allowed 4 runs but only 2 earned on 13 hits and 7 walks while striking out 25. His ERA for the season is now down to 2.95. He's getting more pitches over early for strikes. Very nice work!

 

Stars manager Darnell Coles tried to get Pena through the 7th, but with 103 pitches already thrown, he turned to Santo Manzanillo to close it out. Manzanillo did allow an inherited runner to score on a ground out, but put that runner in position to score with a wild pitch earlier in the at bat. Santo did record the last 2 outs to finish the game.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

The Stars kept their hitting shoes on for the nightcap as they were able to pound out 10 more hits and scored 6 runs. Jason Rogers again went 2-3 to lead the Stars attack. In his last 3 games, Rogers is now 6-11 (.545) with 2 home runs and 5 RBI's. Kentrail Davis got the Stars on the board in the 1st with a solo home run. For the game, Davis was 2-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Ozzie Chavez was 1-3 with 3 RBI's. That doubled Chavez's RBI total for the season. Catcher Shawn Zarraga was 2-3 with 2 runs scored. Zarraga is now hitting .317 in limited playing time. Third baseman Shea Vucinich went 1-2 with a walk and scored twice. Centerfielder Rene Tosoni went 1-2 with a walk and an RBI and second baseman Nick Shaw was 1-3 with an RBI.

 

Team RISP: 3-for-7.

Team LOB: 6.

 

Again, nice work with runners in scoring position!

 

Huntsville Play By Play

 

Kentrail Davis gives the Stars an early lead.

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 1st

 

Nick Shaw strikes out swinging, catcher Mark Thomas to first baseman Cameron Seitzer.

Ozzie Chavez flies out to center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.

Kentrail Davis homers (3) on a fly ball to center field.

Jason Rogers singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.

Rene Tosoni walks. Jason Rogers to 2nd.

With Brock Kjeldgaard batting, wild pitch by Matt Buschmann, Jason Rogers to 3rd. Rene Tosoni to 2nd.

Brock Kjeldgaard lines out to center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.

 

Stars add on in the 2nd.

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 2nd

 

Mike Walker flies out to center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.

Shawn Zarraga singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.

Shea Vucinich walks. Shawn Zarraga to 2nd.

Nick Shaw singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Riccio Torrez. Shawn Zarraga to 3rd. Shea Vucinich to 2nd.

Ozzie Chavez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Mikie Mahtook. Shawn Zarraga scores. Shea Vucinich scores. Nick Shaw out at 3rd on the throw, right fielder Mikie Mahtook to first baseman Cameron Seitzer to third baseman Riccio Torrez.

Kentrail Davis flies out to right fielder Mikie Mahtook.

 

The Stars (18-24) will go for a series clinching win tomorrow afternoon. Righty Taylor Jungmann will be on the bump for Huntsville. Game time is scheduled for 4:03 Central with Alex Cohen and the pregame show starting at 3:48.

[bkrause2]

Final: Brevard County 6, Dunedin (Blue Jays) 3

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Nick Ramirez hit his sixth home run of the year and knocked in two runs. Greg Hopkins went 2 for 4 and scored a pair of runs. T.J. Mittelstaedt was on base three times with a double and two walks. Cody Hawn singled, walked and stole a base. Yadiel Rivera singled and was hit by a pitch. Yadi's had a hit in four straight now and 6 of his last 7. Jed Bradley only went 3.2 innings. He only gave up two runs on four hits but got lifted with an injury. I didn't get to listen to the game so I don't know what the injury was exactly, but doesn't sound too serious. Chad Pierce pitched 3.1 scoreless innings to get the win. He did walk five, but didn't allow a hit. Tommy Toledo inherited a pair of baserunners in the ninth but stranded them both as he retired all three batters he faced to earn the save.

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

Brevard County Top of the 1st

T. J. Mittelstaedt strikes out swinging.

Gregory Hopkins singles on a ground ball to third baseman Andy Burns.

Nick Ramirez homers (6) on a fly ball to right field. Gregory Hopkins scores.

Ben McMahan flies out to right fielder MIke Crouse.

Cody Hawn grounds out, third baseman Andy Burns to first baseman K. Hobson.

 

Brevard County Top of the 5th

Lance Roenicke singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jonathan Jones.

With Chadwin Stang batting, wild pitch by Tyler Ybarra, Lance Roenicke to 2nd.

Chadwin Stang doubles (5) on a line drive to left fielder Marcus Knecht. Lance Roenicke scores.

With T. J. Mittelstaedt batting, wild pitch by Tyler Ybarra, Chadwin Stang to 3rd.

T. J. Mittelstaedt walks.

Pitching Change: Marco Grifantini replaces Tyler Ybarra.

Gregory Hopkins walks. T. J. Mittelstaedt to 2nd.

Nick Ramirez grounds into a double play, shortstop Shane Opitz to second baseman Jon Berti to first baseman K. C. Hobson. Chadwin Stang scores. T. Mittelstaedt to 3rd. Gregory Hopkins out at 2nd.

Ben McMahan grounds out, shortstop Shane Opitz to first baseman K. C. Hobson.

 

Brevard County Top of the 7th

T. J. Mittelstaedt doubles (5) on a fly ball to center fielder Jonathan Jones.

Gregory Hopkins singles on a ground ball to left fielder Marcus Knecht. T. J. Mittelstaedt scores. Gregory Hopkins to 2nd. Fielding error by left fielder Marcus Knecht.

Pitching Change: Tony Davis replaces Marco Grifantini.

Nick Ramirez grounds out, shortstop Shane Opitz to first baseman K. C. Hobson. Gregory Hopkins to 3rd.

Ben McMahan called out on strikes.

Cody Hawn walks.

With Yadiel Rivera batting, Cody Hawn steals (1) 2nd base.

Yadiel Rivera hit by pitch.

Rafael Neda reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by shortstop Shane Opitz. Gregory Hopkins scores. Cody Hawn to 3rd. Yadiel Rivera to 2nd.

Lance Roenicke strikes out swinging.

[TheCrew07]

Burlington beats Rattlers in eleven innings

Bees spoil Rattlers comeback with 6-5 walkoff win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/5/9/2/47959592/cuts/May_18_2013_ArciaHR_5rjbigc9_brjaxco2.jpg

Rattlers manager Matt Erickson congratulates Orlando Arcia after his third inning home run at Burlington on May 18.

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers fought back all Saturday night long against the Burlington Bees at Community Field. But, Wendell Soto took advantage of some late Wisconsin lapses to drive in the winning run on a bases loaded single in the bottom of the eleventh. Burlington edged the Rattlers 6-5.

 

Burlington (14-24) scored twice in the bottom of the first inning. Sherman Johnson started the inning with a double. Kyle Johnson followed with a bunt single. The throw to first was wild and allowed the first Johnson to score and the second Johnson to take second base. Later in the inning, Michael Bolaski drove in Kyle Johnson with a sacrifice fly.

 

Orlando Arcia cut the Bees lead in half with a solo home run in the top of the third inning. The Rattlers shortstop tagged a 2-2 pitch from Aaron Newcomb for his first homer of the season.

 

But, Burlington answered with two runs in the bottom of the third. Soto singled, his first of three hits in the game, on a sinking line drive to center. Sherman Johnson was next and he doubled to deep center to drive in Soto to put the Bees up 4-1.

 

Eric Semmelhack, Wisconsin's starting pitcher, settled in after those two runs by the Bees. He did not allow another hit and retired the last nine batters he faced to keep his team within striking distance.

 

Alfredo Rodriguez got the Timber Rattlers (19-20) to within two runs in the top of the fifth inning. His RBI single scored Clint Coulter from second base.

 

Arcia struck again in the top of the seventh inning. He singled with two outs to knock in Adam Giacalone to get the Rattler to within a run.

 

But, Burlington scored in the bottom of the seventh inning. An RBI single by Soto off Preston Gainey pushed the Bees lead back to two runs.

 

Then, the Rattlers rallied to tie the game in the eighth. Mitch Haniger hit a titanic home run to left with one out off Cam Bedrosian. Haniger's homer, a solo shot, was his fifth of the season.

 

Adam Giacalone kept the inning going by drawing a walk with two outs in the inning. Pinch runner Jose Sermo took over at first base and scooted around to third on a single to right-center by Chris McFarland. Clint Coulter tied the game with a single to right that scored Sermo.

 

Arcia drew a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth inning against Bees reliever Curt Spomer. Tyrone Taylor moved Arcia to second with a sacrifice bunt, but Arcia was left stranded. The Rattlers would not get another base runner in the game.

 

The winning rally for the Bees started when Chevy Clarke's high popup on the infield was dropped for an error. Zac Livingston was trying to bunt Clarke into scoring position, but Gainey would issue a walk to put runners on first and second. Kevin Moesquit was next and he bunted back to the mound. Gainey went to second, but his throw was late and the Bees had the bases loaded with no outs.

 

Soto worked the count to 2-2 before he lined a clean single to right-center to drive in the winning run for the Bees.

 

Game three of the series is Sunday afternoon at Community Field. Tyler Wagner (4-1, 2.12) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Ryan Crowley (2-1, 2.64) is set to start for the Bees. Game time is 2:00pm.

 

Tune in for the play-by-play action on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 1:40pm.

 

HOME RUNS:

WIS:

Orlando Arcia (1st, 0 on in 3rd inning off Aaron Newcomb, 0 out)

Mitch Haniger (5th, 0 on in 8th inning off Cam Bedrosian, 1 out)

 

WP: Joe Krehbiel (2-3)

LP: Preston Gainey (1-4)

 

TIME: 3:08

ATTN: 798

 

Additional notes on Arcia, Coulter, Haniger, and Semmelhack.

Walked off in Burlington – Postgame post for May 18, 2013

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Well Chris hammered through pretty much all of the positives between his game story and the blog post. Unfortunately whenever I listen or watch Eric Semmelhack doesn't pitch all that well, I'll have to start avoiding his starts and see if things change.

 

Mitch Haniger might have 20 HR potential, he's really growing on me with his approach at the plate and positional versatility. He's right on the edge of being a legit 5 tool guy, I'm not sure he runs well enough for that designation but I like his bat and arm, while his defense has been a plus too thus far as well. I just looked at BA and they have him as a 2 tool guy calling him a fringe average runner, hitter, and an average defender. I guess we'll see where he ultimately falls.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

As Chris noted shoddy defense cost the T-Rats key runs in this game.

 

Burlington Bottom of the 1st

• Sherman Johnson doubles (8) on a fly ball to left fielder Victor Roache.
  Kyle Johnson singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Alfredo Rodriguez. Sherman Johnson scores. Kyle Johnson to 2nd. Throwing error by third baseman Alfredo Rodriguez.
  Wade Hinkle flies out to right fielder Michael Reed. Kyle Johnson to 3rd.
  Michael Bolaski out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Michael Reed. Kyle Johnson scores.
  Andrew Ray strikes out swinging, catcher Clint Coulter to first baseman Adam Giacalone.

 

Burlington Bottom of the 7th

• Pitching Change: Preston Gainey replaces Eric Semmelhack.
  Sandy Martinez flies out to center fielder Tyrone Taylor.
  Kevin Moesquit singles on a line drive to right fielder Michael Reed.
  With Wendell Soto batting, passed ball by Clint Coulter, Kevin Moesquit to 2nd.
  Wendell Soto singles on a ground ball to center fielder Tyrone Taylor. Kevin Moesquit scores.
  With Sherman Johnson batting, Wendell Soto steals (8) 2nd base.
  Sherman Johnson flies out to center fielder Tyrone Taylor.
  Kyle Johnson pops out to shortstop Orlando Arcia.

 

In addition to the error Gainey went to 2nd for some reason on the bunt and the catcher beat the throw, just get the out at first buddy.

 

Burlington Bottom of the 11th

• Chevy Clarke reaches on a fielding error by second baseman Christopher McFarland.
  Zac Livingston walks. Chevy Clarke to 2nd.
  Kevin Moesquit hits a sacrifice bunt. Chevy Clarke to 3rd. Zac Livingston to 2nd. Kevin Moesquit to 1st.
  Wendell Soto singles on a fly ball to right fielder Michael Reed. Chevy Clarke scores. Zac Livingston to 3rd. Kevin Moesquit to 2nd.

[TooLiveBrew]

Sounds Blow Out Bees, 11-0

Morris Homers Twice, Gindl Plates Four In Nashville's Best Offensive Output Of Season

Nashville Sounds

 

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

Hunter Morris, archive photo (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

SALT LAKE CITY - Hunter Morris belted a pair of home runs, Caleb Gindl went 4-for-5 with four RBIs, and Zach Kroenke turned in his best start of the year to lead the Nashville Sounds to an 11-0 victory over the Salt Lake Bees on Saturday evening at Spring Mobile Ballpark.

 

Nashville (12-28) set a new season high with 17 hits and matched its season best for runs scored in recording its third shutout win of the season.

 

Morris -- in his first game back with Nashville following a weeklong stint on the disabled list due to a concussion -- showed no rust from his hiatus, producing his second two-homer effort of the season (and fifth of his career) and driving in four runs in the contest with a 3-for-4 effort that included three extra-base hits.

 

Gindl (4-for-5), who missed the cycle by a triple, contributed a two-run homer and two-run double as he drove in a season-high four runs.

 

Kroenke (1-6) snapped a season-opening six-game skid with his first quality start of the year. The left-hander scattered six hits over 6 1/3 scoreless frames that included a string of 11 consecutive batters retired. Each of his four strikeouts ended innings.

 

Donovan Hand followed Kroenke with 1 2/3 scoreless frames before Rob Wooten closed out Nashville's largest shutout win since a 19-0 whitewash of Colorado Springs on August 4, 2011.

 

After the teams played scoreless ball over the first three innings, Gindl put the Sounds on the board in the top of the fourth by hammering a two-run homer to right off Bees starter Matt Shoemaker. Josh Prince, who opened the inning with a single, also scored on the roundtripper, Gindl's fourth of the year.

 

Khris Davis followed the longball with a single and Morris drilled a double off the center field wall, but the Salt Lake defense executed a perfect relay to gun down Davis at the plate. On the play, shortstop Andrew Romine made a barehanded catch-and-throw on former Sound Trent Oeltjen's one-hop toss from center to retire Davis on a bang-bang play.

 

Morris continued his solid evening in the sixth when he slugged his fifth home run of the year, a towering solo shot to right off Shoemaker that stretched the lead to 3-0.

 

The Sounds put the game out of reach in the seventh with a five-run frame to extend the lead to 8-0.

 

Gindl continued his big night when he smashed an opposite-field, two-run double to left-center to chase Shoemaker and extend the Nashville lead to 5-0. Hainley Statia and Scooter Gennett, who each singled earlier in the frame, both scored on the knock, which gave Gindl a season-high four RBIs on the evening.

 

Following Khris Davis' second walk of the night, Morris went deep again, belting a three-run big fly down the line in right off Bees reliever David Carpenter. The two-out blast gave him his fourth career multi-homer effort as well as the outright team lead with six roundtrippers this season.

 

Salt Lake's best scoring chance came in the seventh when the Bees put runners on second and third with one out against Kroenke, but Hand was summoned to the hill and escaped the jam unscathed by retiring the next two hitters to keep the shutout intact.

 

Nashville closed out its scoring in the eighth, plating three runs off Carpenter to make it an 11-0 game. Prince hit an RBI single and the Sounds loaded the bases before Carpenter uncorked consecutive wild pitches to allow a pair of runs to score. Nashville re-loaded the bases once again but Blake Lalli (0-for-5, the lone Sound to not reach base in the game) popped out to end the frame with no further damage done.

 

A pair of streaks were extended for the Sounds in the victory. Catcher Anderson De La Rosa went 2-for-5 to run his season-best hitting streak to nine games and third baseman Stephen Parker singled in the ninth inning to extend his on-base streak to 19 consecutive games.

 

Shoemaker (3-6) suffered his league co-leading sixth loss of the year for the Bees after giving up six runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 frames.

 

The Sounds will look to secure their first winning series of the year when the teams wrap up the four-game set with a 2:05 p.m. CT finale on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Frankie De La Cruz (1-5, 7.94) will start for the Sounds and face Salt Lake right-hander Jarrett Grube (0-0, 0.00).

- that sure puts the Sounds' season in perspective... ouch

 

Nashville Box

Gennett: 2-5, BB, SB

Prince: 2-5, RBI, HBP

Gindl: 4-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI

Davis: 1-3, 2 BB

Morris: 3-4, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB

De La Rosa: 2-5, 2/2 CS

Parker: 1-5, E (throw)

Statia: 2-5, E (throw)

 

[pre]Kroenke: 6.1 IP 6 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 4 K PO 90 TP (52 strikes) 7:4 GO:FO

Hand: 1.2 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 3 K

Wooten: 1.0 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 2 K[/pre]

 

Nashville PbP

Nashville's five-run 7th:

 

Nashville Top of the 7th

-Stephen Parker grounds out, second baseman Bill Hall to first baseman Efren Navarro.

-Hainley Statia singles on a line drive to right fielder Matt Long.

-Scooter Gennett singles on a line drive to pitcher Matt Shoemaker. Hainley Statia to 2nd.

-Josh Prince flies out to right fielder Matt Long. Hainley Statia to 3rd.

-Caleb Gindl doubles (10) on a line drive to left fielder Roberto Lopez. Hainley Statia scores. Scooter Gennett scores.

-Pitching Change: David Carpenter replaces Matt Shoemaker.

-Khris Davis walks.

-Hunter Morris homers (6) on a fly ball to right field. Caleb Gindl scores. Khris Davis scores.

-Blake Lalli grounds out, second baseman Bill Hall to first baseman Efren Navarro.

 

As Jeff noted in the game story, Hand came up big in the bottom half to preserve the shutout:

 

Salt Lake Bottom of the 7th

-Brad Hawpe hits a ground-rule double (7) on a fly ball to left-center field.

-Bill Hall singles on a ground ball to shortstop Hainley Statia. Bill Hall to 2nd. Brad Hawpe advances to 3rd, on a throwing error by shortstop Hainley Statia.

-Matt Long pops out to shortstop Hainley Statia.

-Pitching Change: Donovan Hand replaces Zach Kroenke.

-John Hester strikes out swinging.

-Jimmy Swift grounds out, second baseman Scooter Gennett to first baseman Blake Lalli.

 

Another long inning in the very next frame put this one 100% out of reach for the Bees:

 

Nashville Top of the 8th

-Anderson De La Rosa singles on a line drive to left fielder Roberto Lopez.

-Stephen Parker grounds into a double play, second baseman Bill Hall to first baseman Efren Navarro. Anderson De La Rosa out at 2nd.

-Hainley Statia singles on a line drive to right fielder Matt Long.

-Scooter Gennett walks. Hainley Statia to 2nd.

-Josh Prince singles on a line drive to right fielder Matt Long. Hainley Statia scores. Scooter Gennett to 2nd.

-Caleb Gindl singles on a ground ball to shortstop Andrew Romine. Scooter Gennett to 3rd. Josh Prince to 2nd.

-With Khris Davis batting, wild pitch by David Carpenter, Scooter Gennett scores. Josh Prince to 3rd. Caleb Gindl to 2nd.

-With Khris Davis batting, wild pitch by David Carpenter, Josh Prince scores. Caleb Gindl to 3rd.

-Khris Davis walks.

-Hunter Morris walks. Khris Davis to 2nd.

-Blake Lalli pops out to shortstop Andrew Romine.

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[TooLiveBrew]

Starter Ariel Pena (3-3) continued his remarkable May picking up another win. Pena worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing only 1 unearned run (scored in the 7th after he left the game) on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. Pena was consistently in the 92-96 MPH range per Alex Cohen on the broadcast.

 

After an April where Pena went 1-2 with a 4.84 ERA, 22 1/3 innings, 16 hits and 18 walks against 12 strike outs, in May he's 2-1 with a 0.89 ERA. In 20 1/3 innings, Pena's allowed 4 runs but only 2 earned on 13 hits and 7 walks while striking out 25. His ERA for the season is now down to 2.95. He's getting more pitches over early for strikes. Very nice work!

This stretch from Ariel is really encouraging. One thing I recall reading about him in nearly every scouting writeup I saw was that he struggles/struggled from time to time with keeping the ball down in the hitting zone. I have to assume he's been doing that very well lately.

 

After getting off to a rough start to the season in his first three starts, Pena has gotten good results in the next six: 6 ER in 31.1 IP, good for a 1.72 ERA.

 

His last three starts in particular have been encouraging -- a combined 22/5 K/BB ratio in 17.2 IP, & a 1.02 ERA.

[WV Brew]

I listened to the Stars first game and Alex mentioned that the umpire had a small strike zone (for both pitchers). Alex seemed like he was getting frustrated at times. Probably Nelson will always have the umpire problem. With his extreme sinker, batters are always going to tell themselves make him get the pitch up. Pitching coaches will tell Jimmie to keep it down. It will sometimes depend on what the umpire is calling a strike.

 

Pena, now that he is having a good streak, tends to get more fly outs than ground outs which he did tonight. Not sure that would be a good thing in Miller Park but certainly good to seem him throwing better.

[Mass Haas]

The Sounds' game story has been updated with audio highlights, check them out.

[Mass Haas]

Morris rejoins Sounds, homers twice

Brewers prospect comes off disabled list, drives in four runs

By Jonathan Raymond / Special to MLB.com

 

Professional athletes typically are not wired in a way that makes it easy to just shut down and relax for a few days.

 

But that's what is required of a player who suffers a concussion. Unlike a blow to just about any other part of the body, a head injury necessitates that he just turn everything off, at least for a short period.

 

That was the challenge facing Hunter Morris on Saturday as he returned a week after a concussion put him on the disabled list for the first time in his career. The results suggest he handled it well.

 

The Brewers' No. 4 prospect homered twice for the second time this year, going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and four RBIs, as Triple-A Nashville cruised past Salt Lake, 11-0.

 

"You know, that was my first career stint on the DL, so there was a lot of anxiety, obviously, with a head injury. That's something I've never had before and I was a little nervous about how the outcome was gonna be," Morris said. "But I got past the anxiety, past the pressure I was putting on myself.

 

"I guess I could have not struck out the first at-bat," he joked, "but overall, I'd say it was a very good day."

 

The 2010 fourth-round draft pick admitted to getting antsy in the first few days after the concussion.

 

"The doctor, he told me the less mental activity you do the faster it's going to heal. Like if you sprain your ankle, you're not gonna go out and run a 40-yard dash," Morris said. "So with an injury to the head, you're not gonna watch TV, be messing around on your phone, sending texts, reading, all that stuff. He basically told me to go and be bored.

 

"I wanted to come back as quick as possible, so I listened. It's tough, even sitting in a dugout and watching, you're putting yourself in situations mentally, trying to visualize everything going on on both sides of the ball, so it's tough to shut that side down, for sure."

 

The 24-year-old had a breakout season at the plate in 2012, hitting .303/.357/.563 with 28 homers, 40 doubles and 113 RBIs for Double-A Huntsville. He'd scuffled some in his first exposure to Triple-A this spring, posting a .220/.303/.390 line in 32 games before going on the DL.

 

Following Saturday's outburst, he's brought those numbers up to .238/.321/.459 with six homers and 17 RBIs. And he hopes it will mark a turning point in his season.

 

"I've had a couple other good games along the way. Obviously, this is the best to this point, but I think hopefully with a little bit of confidence, having the seven days off kind of got my legs back under me right now, I'm gonna try to continue to get the same feel I had at the plate tonight and carry it through the rest of the year," Morris said.

 

A pair of other Brewers prospects shined on Saturday, with Caleb Gindl (No. 16) going 4-for-5 with four RBIs and falling a triple short of a cycle. Leadoff man Scooter Gennett (No. 6) reached safely three times, finishing 2-for-5 with a walk and two runs scored.

 

"To get out there and see the production, one through nine, in the lineup makes [a big game] a lot more fun," Morris said, "when it's not just your own success but the guy in front of you, the guy behind you, the whole lineup just clicking."

 

The Sounds also got solid pitching as Zach Kroenke (1-6) scattered six hits over 6 1/3 innings for his first win of the season.

 

Hunter Morris is slugging .459 in 33 games with Nashville this year. (Archive photo by Mike Strasinger/Nashville Sounds)

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/9/7/0/47972970/cuts/morris480_aknizzwn_sajx9nwx.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Nashville video from Friday night:

 

Khris Davis lines and RBI single

 

Trent Oeltjen homers off Tyler Thornburg (launched to deep left? Not quite)

[Mass Haas]

Stars Sweep Biscuits in Doubleheader

By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars

 

Two nights after clinching their first series victory since their opening five-game set of the season, the Huntsville Stars rode that wave of confidence by sweeping the Montgomery Biscuits in a series-opening doubleheader at Joe Davis Stadium on Saturday night.

 

In game one, the Stars started off quickly against Biscuits starting pitcher Jacob Thompson (L, 2-5).

 

Starting in the second inning, the Stars got a solo homer from center fielder Rene Tosoni and an RBI single from catcher Robinzon Diaz to make the score 2-0. One inning later, Huntsville got another solo home run, this one from first baseman Jason Rogers to put them up three.

 

However, Mongtomery would not go down without a fight. With a sacrifice fly from left fielder Todd Glaesmann in the third and then a solo homer from catcher Mayo Acosta in the fourth off of Stars starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson (W, 5-2), the Biscuits cut the Stars lead to one.

 

Then, after a pair of two-run singles by Rogers and outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard put the Stars back up by a score of 7-2 in the fifth, the Biscuits counteracted and chased Nelson from the game in the top of the sixth. Nelson allowed the first five batters of the inning to reach base, walked and hit a batter with the bases loaded and gave up a sacrifice fly to bring Montgomery within two.

 

Fortunately for the Stars, that's as close as the Biscuits would get. Lefty Thomas Keeling and righty Greg Holle (S, 3) combined to shut out Montgomery through the final 1.2 innings following the exit of Nelson to give Huntsville the victory.

 

Here's the Game One full audio highlights.

 

In game two, the story was Stars starting pitcher Ariel Pena.

 

The 23-year-old righty baffled the Biscuits bats all night, throwing 6.1 frames while giving up just three hits and one unearned run in the seventh inning. Pena also struck out seven batters and only walked two while dropping his season ERA to under 3.00 (2.95) for the first time all season.

 

On offense, the Stars gave Pena all the run support he needed in the first two innings. As the third batter of the game in the first inning, outfielder Kentrail Davis hit a solo homer off of Biscuits starting pitcher Matt Buschmann to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.

 

One inning later, a two-run single from shortstop Ozzie Chavez gave Huntsville a run cushion that they would not relinquish (audio highlight).

 

The Stars got an RBI single from Tosoni in the fifth inning and back-to-back sacrifice flies by second baseman Nick Shaw and Chavez in the sixth inning as their other insurance runs.

 

With the doubleheader sweep, the Stars won two games in a row at home for just the second time this season. Overall, the Stars have won three games straight and four of their last five (final out audio).

 

The Stars and Biscuits will play game three of their five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium on Sunday. Huntsville will send RHP Taylor Jungmann (3-4, 5.35 ERA) to the bump to square off against Montgomery RHP Merrill Kelly (2-4, 4.40 ERA). First pitch is at 4:03 PM.

[Mass Haas]

Manatees double up Dunedin, 6-3

Brevard holds off late rally by Blue Jays

By Dave Walkovic / Brevard County Manatees

 

DUNEDIN, FLA. - The Brevard County Manatees held off a late rally attempt by the Dunedin Blue Jays in a 6-3 victory on Saturday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

 

After Kevin Shackelford allowed three straight hits and a run to start the bottom of the ninth inning, Tommy Toledo was called on to try and shut the door for the Manatees (22-19). Toledo entered the game in the bottom of the ninth with two men on and nobody out and the tying run at the plate.

 

He induced a pop up by pinch hitter Matt Newman. Jon Berti, the next man up, hit a long drive to right field, but Lance Roenicke was able to track it down on the warning track for the second out. Jonathan Jones popped out to the first baseman Nick Ramirez to seal the win for the Manatees. Toledo earned his second save of the season.

 

Brevard County jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. After Greg Hopkins reached on an infield single, Ramirez stepped up and launched a two-run homer to right field. For Ramirez, it was his sixth homer of the season, which ties him for the team lead.

 

Dunedin (23-16) would respond with a run in the bottom half of the frame off of Manatees starting pitcher Jed Bradley. Andy Burns plated Jon Berti, who doubled, with an RBI groundout to second base. The Blue Jays tied the game at two in the bottom of the fourth. After Andy Burns singled and stole second, Marcus Knecht smacked a double to left field that Ben McMahan lost in the sun.

 

Bradley (3-1, 3.82) would leave the game with an undisclosed injury with two outs in the fourth and a 2-0 count on Pierce Rankin. He allowed two runs on four hits, while walking two and striking out three.

 

After Chad Pierce took over on the mound, the Manatees would take the lead back in the fifth. Roenicke started things off with a single up the middle. After Roenicke advanced on a wild pitch, Chadwin Stang followed with a roped RBI double to the left-center field gap.

 

T.J. Mittelstaedt and Hopkins both walked to load the bases. Hopkins finished the night 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a walk. With the bases full, Ramirez grounded into a double play that scored Stang and gave Brevard County a 4-2 lead.

 

The 'Tees would tack on two insurance runs in the seventh inning to extend the lead to four.

 

Pierce was credited with the win, as he threw 3.1 innings of no-hit relief. Pierce walked five, but did not surrender a run. He also fanned three batters.

 

The rubber match of the series will take place at 1:00 PM (12:00 Central) on Sunday afternoon. Drew Gagnon (3-3, 5.45) will take the mound for the Manatees. The Blue Jays will send Scott Copeland (3-1, 2.82) to the bump.

 

Manatees relief pitcher Chad Pierce, seen here in a game from earlier this season, who despite five walks threw 3.1 shutout innings and earned the win in Brevard County's 6-3 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays on Saturday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/5/2/6/44496526/cuts/Pierce_4.7_huf9b9xl_7nrh2q0d.JPG

[Mass Haas]

More audio!

 

Brevard County game highlights

 

Pre-game interview with SS Yadiel Rivera

[Mass Haas]

Ariel Pena turns 24 on Monday, by the way...

[LouisEly]

Bradley pulled in the 4th due to injury; they don't think it is serious. Hopefully it is something minor that has been bothering him for a while and the cause of his up-and-down year, and a relatively short DL stint will clear it up and get him back on track.