Link Report for Sun. 6/2

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: LHP Zach Kroenke at Round Rock (Rangers), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 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 Andy Moye or RHP Arcenio Leon at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 3:48 PM pre-game, 4:03 gametime

 

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

 

Alex Cohen is the play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast. It appears four Southern League teams air their home games on MiLB.TV, and we'll let you know when those dates pop up on the schedule

 

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Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 3:35 PM pre-game, 4:05 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 Jorge Lopez at home vs. Peoria (Cardinals), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 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).

 

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DSL Brewers: Idle

[Mass Haas]

Follow Sunday'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

 

DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris

[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:

 

Round Rock, TX

 

Huntsville, AL

 

Viera (Melbourne)

 

Grand Chute (Appleton)

[Eye Black]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

Brevard County: TBD at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 3:35 PM pre-game, 4:05 gametime

 

Cody Scarpetta makes his return to the mound tonight and will get the start for Brevard County.

[TheCrew07]

Cody has never been much of a strike thrower so I'll be curious how well he does since typically command is the last attribute to come back to a pitcher post TJ.

[narwhalattack]

A quality start from Jorge Lopez. Would like to see the walks come down but the progress he made from earlier in the season is encouraging.

[TheCrew07]

Wisconsin cools off Chiefs

Rattlers settle in after six-run third for a 7-5 win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers ended the four-game winning streak of the Peoria Chiefs by topping Peoria 7-5 Sunday at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Chris McFarland drove in three runs and Jorge Lopez pitched six solid innings as Wisconsin erased an early deficit with a six-run third inning.

 

Jordan Walton was at second base with two outs in the top of the second inning for Peoria (29-25). Carson Kelly put the Chiefs in front with a single that drove in Walton. Peoria loaded the bases with another single and a walk. Then, Breyvic Valera singled to drive in two more runs for a 3-0 lead.

 

Wisconsin (24-28) started their comeback with a run in the bottom of the second inning. McFarland singled with two outs to send Adam Giacalone home and cut the Chiefs lead to two runs.

 

Then, the Rattlers went from down two to up four thanks to a six run third inning.

 

The frame started when Tyrone Taylor drew a walk and Michael Reed doubled. Victor Roache scorched a single to center that drove in Taylor. Adam Giacalone grounded into a force play at second base and beat throw to first for an RBI fielder's choice as Reed scored the tying run.

Mike Garza kicked the rally into high gear with a double off the wall in center to send Giacalone to third and Chiefs starting pitcher Hector Hernandez to the showers.

Parker Berberet welcomed reliever Chris Thomas to the game by smacking a single through the drawn in infield to score Giacalone with the go ahead run. McFarland followed with a triple into the left field corner that plated both Garza and Berberet. Alfredo Rodriguez drove in McFarland with a single and the Rattlers were up 7-3.

 

Lopez, the Timber Rattlers starting pitcher, settled in after the third inning. He tossed six innings and allowed six hits. But only one of those hits came after the third inning. He walked three and struck out two and put the Rattlers in line for the win.

 

Peoria scored a run in the seventh and in the eighth against reliever Ryan Gibbard. An RBI grounder by Valera in the seventh made the score 7-4 before the stretch. The Chiefs loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning and got a run on a sacrifice fly by Kelly to make it 7-5.

 

But, Gibbard worked out of the eighth without further damage and pitched around a two-out single in the ninth to earn his first professional save.

 

The final game of the four game series is set for Monday afternoon. Preston Gainey (1-4, 6.39) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Silfredo Garcia (1-1, 6.62) is set to start for the Chiefs. Game time is 12:05pm.

 

Monday is a Qdoba Q*Monday. Purchase a lunch entrée at either Qdoba location in Appleton (3813 E. Calumet Street or 4343 W. Wisconsin Avenue) on Monday and receive a ticket to any Monday home game during the 2013 regular season.

 

Plus, Timber Rattlers outfielder Michael Reed is featured on the Dunkin Donuts Player Poster Giveaway on Monday. The first 1,000 fans to attend the game will receive this collectible.

 

Miller Summer Kickoff continues on Monday, too. Miller products available for $1 while supplies last.

 

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:45am. Monday's game is also available on MiLB.TV.

 

WP: Jorge Lopez (2-4)

LP: Hector Hernandez (2-2)

SAVE: Ryan Gibbard (1)

 

TIME: 2:39

ATTN: 3,717

 

Chris goes Sci Fi in today's blog entry.

A very satisfying thump – Postgame post for June 2, 2013

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

It's hard to call Jorge Lopez' line encouraging, but hey any outing that lowers his ERA is something to build off of.

 

Tyrone Taylor nearly had a perfect day. His fly out in the 8th was the only blemish... 2 singles, 2 walks, and the FO.

 

Wisconsin's team Batting Average is slowly moving upwards, now .246 which is good for 10th.

 

Mehring covered Chris McFarland in the blog post but Alfredo Rodriguez, Adam Giacalone, and Michael Garza also had multi-hit days.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

The Wisconsin 3rd in all it's glory.

 

Wisconsin Bottom of the 3rd

• Tyrone Taylor singles on a line drive to right fielder Nick Martini.
  Michael Reed doubles (10) on a fly ball to right fielder Nick Martini. Tyrone Taylor to 3rd.
  Victor Roache singles on a line drive to center fielder Charlie Tilson. Tyrone Taylor scores. Michael Reed to 3rd.
  Adam Giacalone grounds into a force out, shortstop Ildemaro Vargas to second baseman Breyvic Valera. Michael Reed scores. Victor Roache out at 2nd. Adam Giacalone to 1st.
  Mike Garza doubles (7) on a fly ball to center fielder Charlie Tilson. Adam Giacalone to 3rd.
  Pitching Change: Christopher Thomas replaces Hector Hernandez.
  Parker Berberet singles on a ground ball to shortstop Ildemaro Vargas. Adam Giacalone scores. Mike Garza to 3rd. Parker Berberet to 2nd on the throw.
  Christopher McFarland triples (3) on a line drive to right fielder Nick Martini. Mike Garza scores. Parker Berberet scores.
  Alfredo Rodriguez singles on a line drive to left fielder Jordan Walton. Christopher McFarland scores.
  Orlando Arcia strikes out swinging.
  Tyrone Taylor walks. Alfredo Rodriguez to 2nd.
  Michael Reed called out on strikes.

 

Wisconsin Gameday

 

edit. My thoughts on Lopez were not directed at narwhalattack, I didn't see his post until just now. I wanted to call his line encouraging but couldn't bring myself to do so.

[Mass Haas]

Via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

Audio from Round Rock — “Hear it from (Clay) Hensley”

 

Tonight’s pregame interview is with the newest Nashville Sound, reliever Clay Hensley, who discusses his time so far with the Sounds, his time in Spring Training with the Reds and 15 appearances this year at Triple-A Louisville before being let go and signing with Milwaukee, the new arm angle he’s using this year and the sinker-slider approach he’s used since 2010, and his full-season in the major leagues last year with the World Series-champion Giants, including why he hasn’t gotten his ring yet.

[Mass Haas]

Cool writeup on the Rattlers bullpen cart (hat tip to the team for the heads up)

[Minigoon]

Final: Birmingham 5 Huntsville 1

 

Huntsville finally got back to playing Sunday afternoon at The Joe but were defeated 5-1 by the Birmingham Barons. After 2 consecutive rain outs, the Stars elected to start Jimmy Nelson on his normal rest. Nelson pitched well but was hurt by some unearned runs. Over 6 2/3 innings, Jimmy allowed 6 hits and 4 runs but only 1 was earned, walked 3, hit a batter and struck out 7. Nelson threw 105 pitches, 61 for strikes. His ground out to fly out ratio was 7-3. Nelson's record fell to 5-4 but his ERA dropped to 2.74.

 

Lefty Brian Garman was brought in to face left handed hitting Andy Wilkins to get out of the 7th inning jam. Unfortunately, Wilkins took Garman deep for a 3 run home run. Garman's line was 1/3 inning, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 strike out. Arcenio Leon pitched the 8th inning and recorded 3 straight ground outs. Leon is still scheduled to start a game later in the series, but as he missed his last start due to the weather, and today is his normal bullpen session day, Manager Darnell Coles elected to use him in relief instead. Eric Marzec was called on to finish the game. In his 1 inning of work, Marzec allowed a walk and recorded a strikeout.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Offensively, Huntsville was held to 1 run on 6 hits and 4 walks. The run scored on Brock Kjeldgaard's league leading 10th home run in the second. Kjeldgaard also drew 1 of the 4 Stars walks. Centerfielder Rene Tosoni had 2 of the Stars 6 hits, both doubles. Adam Weisenburger also contributed 2 hits, one a double, and a walk as the Stars continue to get solid offensive play from their catchers this season. Second baseman Nick Shaw had the Stars other hit and also drew a walk. Mike Walker drew a walk and Hector Gomez was hit by a pitch to be Huntsville's other base runners tonight.

 

Team RISP: 0-for-6.

Team LOB: 9.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

 

Brock's league leading home run. Not a "wall scraper"

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 2nd

 

Jason Rogers flies out to center fielder Keenyn Walker.

Rene Tosoni flies out to left fielder Michael Earley.

Brock Kjeldgaard homers (10) on a fly ball to left field.

Mike Walker flies out to center fielder Keenyn Walker.

 

Bases left loaded in the bottom of the 6th....

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 6th

 

Pitching Change: Kevin Vance replaces Nick McCully.

Kentrail Davis flies out to right fielder Trayce Thompson.

Jason Rogers lines out to second baseman Marcus Semien.

Rene Tosoni doubles (9) on a fly ball to left fielder Michael Earley.

Brock Kjeldgaard walks.

Mike Walker walks. Rene Tosoni to 3rd. Brock Kjeldgaard to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Salvador Sanchez replaces Kevin Vance.

Robinzon Diaz flies out to center fielder Keenyn Walker.

 

...and Montgomery puts the game away in the top of the 7th.

 

Birmingham Top of the 7th

 

Daniel Wagner called out on strikes.

Marcus Semien called out on strikes.

Keenyn Walker reaches on a fielding error by third baseman Mike Walker.

Trayce Thompson hit by pitch. Keenyn Walker to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Brian Garman replaces Jimmy Nelson.

Andy Wilkins homers (7) on a fly ball to right field. Keenyn Walker scores. Trayce Thompson scores.

Dan Black called out on strikes.

 

Game 2 of this 5 game series is scheduled for 6:43 Central tomorrow evening. Huntsville (24-30) will send Ariel Pena (5-3, 2.60) to the mound. Pena will be looking to continue his stellar play as of late. Stars play by play man Alex Cohen will have the pregame show starting at 6:28.

[Eye Black]

'Tees shutout in shortened game

Brevard falls 5-0 to Daytona in contest called early due to rain

By Dave Walkovic / Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, FLA. - The Daytona Cubs scored early and often again in a 5-0 rain-shortened victory over the Brevard County Manatees at Space Coast Stadium on Sunday night.

 

The Cubs plated three runs in the top of the first inning against Manatees' starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta (0-1, 8.10), who was making his first appearance in a game since having Tommy John surgery last May. The righty walked Tim Saunders and Ben Carhart to lead off the game. Javier Baez plated Saunders with a single to left field to put Daytona on the board.

 

Jorge Soler then chopped a single to left field to make it 2-0 Cubs. After Baez and Soler advanced to second and third, respectively, on a Scarpetta wild pitch, Scarpetta unleashed another wild pitch that plated Baez.

 

Scarpetta would settle down after a rocky first inning, but he went just 3.1 innings and allowed just the three runs on three hits. He walked four and struck out three.

 

Brooks Hall came on to relieve Scarpetta for the Manatees (28-27) in the fourth. He would finish off the game, which was called during the seventh inning stretch due to rain. Hall surrendered two runs - one earned run - over his 3.2 innings of work.

 

Daytona (28-26) starter Austin Kirk was credited with a six-inning complete game shutout. He scattered five hits and three walks, while striking out seven.

 

Mitch Haniger had two of the five Brevard County hits, including a fifth inning double, as well as a stolen base. Greg Hopkins, Cameron Garfield and Yadiel Rivera each recorded a hit as well for the 'Tees

 

The Manatees will hit the road and open a four-game series with the Fort Myers Miracle (40-15) on Monday night, with first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

 

Brent Suter (3-3, 3.44) will toe the rubber for Brevard County. He will be opposed by Matt Tomshaw (1-0, 1.50) for Fort Myers.

 

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

FINAL: Daytona 5, Brevard County 0

Gregory Hopkins: 1-3

Mitch Haniger: 2-3, 2B, SB

Cameron Garfield: 1-3

Yadiel Rivera: 1-3, 2B

 

Cody Scarpetta's final line was 3.1 IP, 3 Hits, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO, and 2 WP. All three hits he gave up were singles. Both of his wild pitches were in the first inning including one that scored Javier Baez. He did force three straight strikeouts swinging at one point (two to end the 1st inning and one to start the 2nd inning). It was noted during the radio broadcast that he was changing his landing point of his front foot during the outing although they admitted he has always pitched with an awkward and hard downward action on his front leg that causes his foot to slide/double-tap on landing. It was also mentioned that the stadium gun which was recently fixed was again not working during the game.

 

Brooks Hall pitched the remaining 3.2 of the rain shortened game and finished with 3 Hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO, and 1 WP.

 

 

Brevard County Play-by-Play

 

Scarpetta's first regular season inning on the mound since August of 2011 started out shaky (2 BB, 2 WP, 3 ER), but ended with two swinging strikeouts:

 

Daytona Top of the 1st

-Tim Saunders walks.

-With Ben Carhart batting, Tim Saunders steals (16) 2nd base.

-Ben Carhart walks. Tim Saunders to 3rd. Tim Saunders steals (17) 3rd base.

-Javier Baez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ben McMahan. Tim Saunders scores. Ben Carhart to 2nd.

-Jorge Soler singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ben McMahan. Ben Carhart scores. Javier Baez to 2nd.

-Dustin Geiger lines out to second baseman T. J. Mittelstaedt.

-With Chadd Krist batting, wild pitch by Cody Scarpetta, Javier Baez to 3rd. Jorge Soler to 2nd.

-With Chadd Krist batting, wild pitch by Cody Scarpetta, Javier Baez scores. Jorge Soler to 3rd.

-Chadd Krist strikes out swinging.

-Wes Darvill strikes out swinging.

 

BC only had more than 1 hit in an inning once:

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 1st

-Chadwin Stang strikes out swinging.

-Gregory Hopkins singles on a line drive to left fielder Taiwan Easterling.

-Mitch Haniger flies out to right fielder Jorge Soler.

-Cameron Garfield singles on a line drive to center fielder Tim Saunders. Gregory Hopkins to 3rd.

-Nick Ramirez flies out to center fielder Tim Saunders.

 

First two BC batters walked in the 2nd, but Rivera flied out on the first pitch he faced and some disputed strike calls ended the threat:

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 2nd

-Ben McMahan walks.

-T. J. Mittelstaedt walks. Ben McMahan to 2nd.

-Yadiel Rivera flies out to right fielder Jorge Soler.

-Brandon Macias strikes out swinging.

-Chadwin Stang called out on strikes.

 

Scarpetta pitched a clean 3rd:

 

Daytona Top of the 3rd

-Jorge Soler grounds out, first baseman Nick Ramirez to pitcher Cody Scarpetta.

-Dustin Geiger grounds out, third baseman Brandon Macias to first baseman Nick Ramirez.

-Chadd Krist grounds out, shortstop Yadiel Rivera to first baseman Nick Ramirez.

[TheCrew07]

Pirates' 1B prospect Alex Dickerson profiled here

 

Curve's Dickerson digs in for career day

[TooLiveBrew]

Sounds Fall To Express, 3-2

Nashville Catcher Blake Lalli Homers In Loss

Nashville Sounds

 

http://i.imgur.com/3E7lUnl.jpg

Blake Davis, archive photo (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

AUDIO: Blake Lalli's Go-Ahead Home Run

AUDIO: Blake Davis Scores On Error

 

[ROUND ROCK, Texas] - The Nashville Sounds were held to six hits Sunday night at Dell Diamond on the losing side of a 3-2 contest against the Round Rock Express.

 

Nashville had their best chance to rally in the eighth inning with two men on and none out, but Caleb Gindl hit into a double play to reduce the opportunity. Blake Davis, who singled to lead off the inning, came around to score on a fielding error by Round Rock's shortstop, but that would be Nashville's last run.

 

Another opportunity for the Sounds arose in the ninth, with Hunter Morris on third and only one out, but Morris got caught up in a fielder's choice run down before Davis grounded out to end the game.

 

The Sounds took an initial 1-0 lead in the third inning when Sounds catcher Blake Lalli belted an opposite-field home run to score the first run of the game, but the Express were quick to answer, connecting for a pair of runs in the fourth inning off Sounds starting pitcher Zach Kroenke (2-8).

 

Yangervis Solarte led off with a double down the left-field line and scored on a single from Greg Miclat. Express infielder Mark Teahen followed with an RBI-single to score Joey Butler, who reached on Blake Davis' fielding error earlier in the inning, and give the Express the 2-1 lead.

 

Kroenke worked through seven innings, allowing three runs, one earned, to the Express on eight hits with six strikeouts and two walks. The lefty was charged with the loss, his eighth of the season.

 

Reliever Jesus Sanchez pitched in the eighth for Nashville, holding Express batters to one hit and having three ground out.

 

Recording hits for Nashville were Gindl, Khris Davis, Sean Halton, Lalli, Blake Davis and Morris.

 

Round Rock starter Josh Lindblom (6-0) picked up the win, his sixth, holding the Sounds to one run on four hits through seven innings of work. Cory Burns pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save of the year.

 

The Sounds take on the Express again on Monday at 7:05 p.m. Throwing for Nashville will be RHP Johnnie Lowe (0-0, 4.68) opposite Round Rock's RHP Scott Richmond (1-0, 2.40). Baseball returns to Greer Stadium on Monday, June 10, when the Sounds host the Omaha Storm Chasers to a four-game series.

 

 

Nashville Box

Scooter Gennett: 0-3, BB

Gindl: 1-4

Kh. Davis: 1-3, BB, CS, PO

Morris: 1-2, 2 BB, SB

Halton: 1-4

Lalli: 1-4, HR, RBI

B. Davis: 1-4, 0/1 CS

 

[pre]Kroenke: 7 IP 8 H 3 R 1 ER 2 BB 6 K WP 96 TP (65 strikes) 9:3 GO:FO[/pre]

 

Nashville PbP

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Huntsville game plus Manager Darnell Coles comments

[Mass Haas]

Manatees 'stung' by Daytona, bees and rain

Swarm of bees hit stadium in Viera

by John Torres, FLORIDA TODAY

 

An approaching storm eventually closed out the game Sunday in the seventh inning. / Photo by Malcolm Denemark/FLORIDA TODAY

 

http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20130603&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=306030013&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0&Manatees-stung-by-Daytona-bees-rain

 

VIERA — Just when you think you’ve seen every type of baseball delay, Brevard County Manatees officials were all abuzz Sunday afternoon, making sure the 5 p.m. game against Daytona went off without any delays — or stings.

 

About 4,000 honey bees decided to take a rest on the top step of the visiting dugout, prompting General manager Kyle Smith to find a beekeeper willing to come out on Sunday afternoon.

 

Groundskeepers spotted the bees four hours before game time.

 

“We called these guys who came up from Palm City to handle it for us on a Sunday and we really appreciate that,” Smith said. “If we could have had a game called for bees, that would have been a first. I like publicity but that wouldn’t have been good.”

 

Daytona Cubs players approached the dugout cautiously so as not to rile the remaining bees.

 

“There was like a three-foot section of bees on the ground moving around and it was pretty cool,” said Daytona pitcher P.J. Francescon. “They don’t bother me. There’s a lot of guys here who might be little girls about it.”

 

Asked to respond to rumors that Manatee players might have slathered honey in the opposing dugout to try and throw the Cubs off his game, Smith laughed heartily.

 

“I can neither confirm nor deny those remarks,” he smiled.

 

The Manatees ended up losing 5-0 in the seventh when a rainstorm hit.

[Mass Haas]

Stars Drop Series Opener With Barons

By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars

 

Playing their first game in three days, the Huntsville Stars opened up a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium with a 5-1 loss against the Birmingham Barons on Sunday evening.

 

On offense, the Stars were held to just one run and six hits by four Barons pitchers, led by starter Nick McCully. The former reliever improved to 5-1 on the year after giving up a run on four hits through five innings pitched.

 

The only blemish for McCully and the Birmingham pitching staff was a solo homer by Stars outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard in the second inning to give Huntsville an initial 1-0 lead. For Kjeldgaard, the blast put him in a tie with fellow Stars player Jason Rogers for the most homers in the Southern League with ten.

 

As McCully exited the game before the sixth inning, Barons relievers Kevin Vance, Salvador Sanchez and Daniel Webb shut down the Stars offense through the final four innings to ensure the victory.

 

After Huntsville took the early lead, the Barons scored the final five unanswered runs to finish the ballgame. Birmingham began their scoring in the third inning as a sacrifice fly from outfielder Trayce Thompson tied things up at one.

 

The next inning, a solo homer from designated hitter Dan Black off of Stars starter Jimmy Nelson put the Barons up for good.

 

From an insurance standpoint, Birmingham got a three-run homer from first baseman Andy Wilkins in the seventh inning off of Stars lefty Brian Garman to make the score 5-1.

 

En route to the hard-pressed loss, Nelson pitched 6.2 innings while giving up four runs (one earned) and striking out seven batters. The Brewers 8th ranked prospect fell to 5-4 on the year while dropped his ERA in the process to 2.74.

 

Aside from Nelson, Stars righties Arcenio Leon and Eric Marzec each pitched a scoreless inning in relief. Despite the relief appearance, Leon is still set to start game four of this series.

 

On offense, the Stars were paced by outfielder Rene Tosoni and catcher Adam Weisenburger with two hits apiece. Besides from Kjeldgaard's homer, second baseman Nick Shaw added the only other hit for the Stars on the night.

 

On Friday, the Stars and Barons will play game four of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville will to even the series at one game apiece by sending RHP Ariel Pena (5-3, 2.63 ERA) to the bump as Birmingham will counter with RHP Stephen McCray (5-3, 3.31 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 CT.

[Mass Haas]

Youngster Anthony Banda reminds us that Maryvale is already acting like Maryvale

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville's bats had the uppercut thing going Sunday:

 

Groundouts-flyouts: McCully 0-10, Vance 0-1, Sanchez 1-1, Webb, D 2-2

[Mass Haas]

Any word on Clint Coulter, absent from the last five Rattlers games?

[TooLiveBrew]

Youngster Anthony Banda reminds us that Maryvale is already acting like Maryvale

Woof. Subtract about 40 degrees from those forecasted highs, & you have your local weather

[TheCrew07]

Any word on Clint Coulter, absent from the last five Rattlers games?

 

He was coaching 1st base yesterday, that's all I remember Chris saying.