Link Report for Tue. 6/18 - Brevard's Playoff Push Continues

[Mass Haas]

Clutch-hitting Manatees vying for first-half crown

Brevard players 'expect to win,' manager says

by Michael Parsons, FLORIDA TODAY

 

The Brevard County Manatees are last in the Florida State League in hitting and only five teams have a higher ERA, yet they are vying for the first-half title with one game remaining.

 

How is that possible?

 

This Manatees team finds ways to win. Like Monday night, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning with an infield single, a flare to center and an infield single and error scoring both runs.

 

“They expect to win,” Brevard County manager Joe Ayrault said after Monday’s win. “They are just a bunch of clutch hitters that really expect to win.”

 

Monday night’s walkoff victory was the team’s sixth in their 34 wins this season.

 

The team is hitting just .233 this season and has been outscored by 46 runs in the 64 games this season.

 

Yet they are 36-30 and a half game out of first place in the Florida State League North standings.

 

The recipe has been simple.

 

The starting pitching keeps it close, the bullpen has been one of the best in the league and the team can get the big hit.

 

“A boatload of two-out RBIs in this lineup,” Ayrault said. “They just come through in the clutch.

 

“There is a bunch of different players that you want at the plate with the game on the line and they seem to find a way to get it done.”

 

It is led by T.J. Mittelstaedt, who has provided three of the six walk-off hits.

 

Mittelstaedt is the team’s leadoff hitter and while hitting .211 overall, he is hitting .286 with runners in scoring position.

 

But it is not just Mittelstaedt, catcher Cameron Garfield has 29 RBI this season, 11 of them have come with runners in scoring position and two out.

 

Shortstop Yadiel Rivera is hitting .233 on the season, but with runners on base he is hitting .301.

 

You can go right on down the lineup. Almost every hitter is hitting better with runners on base.

 

It has led to a team that is fighting for a title.

 

“We have had plenty of games like that, for sure,” Manatees slugger Nick Ramirez said. “We just find a way to win.”

 

And late in the game. Of the 34 wins, 15 times they have come from behind in the game.

 

They were down 2-0 Monday night before turning things around late in the game.

 

They are 18-6 in one-run games and the bullpen is 23-1 when the Manatees are leading after six innings.

 

“The team chemistry those guys have, they expect to win,” Ayrault said. “Just a bunch of clutch hitters that know how to win.”

 

And that comes from the core group, who has found success as a team throughout the minor leagues.

 

“These guys, some championship-caliber players out there, a lot of them have won two rings already in the minors and I know last year they came up with some big Ws,” Ayrault said.

 

“They find a way to win.”

[Mass Haas]

Sounds Notebook via the Tennessean

Written by Mack Burke

 

After seven years in the Brewers’ minor league system, Sounds outfielder Caleb Gindl finally will get a chance to show his talent in the major leagues.

 

Gindl was called up to the Brewers on Saturday after All-Star slugger Ryan Braun was sent to the 15-day disabled list — his first ever stint on the DL — with a right thumb injury.

 

“I’ve been waiting a long time for (the call-up),” Gindl said. “I’m actually speechless, and I have no words for it at all.

 

“I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. I’m just going to grind every day and play hard every day.”

 

Gindl, the Brewers’ 2007 fifth-round pick, is a small (5-foot-9) but powerful outfielder with a high motor. Before his call-up, he was in the middle of his third straight season with the Sounds.

 

In seven years in the Brewers’ organization, Gindl hit 79 home runs and 402 RBIs.

 

“I think maturity is the biggest thing,” Gindl said. “You don’t stress out over going 0-for-20, and once you’ve been through it so many times it’s so much easier to get out of a slump.”

 

The 24-year-old saw his first big-league action at the plate Saturday when he pinch-hit for Yovani Gallardo and struck out against Reds starter Homer Bailey. He had not appeared in a game since then going into Tuesday’s game at Houston.

 

The Sounds replaced Gindl on the roster by activating catcher Dayton Buller from the disabled list.

 

***

 

Birthday bust: Sounds starting pitcher Mike Fiers seemed to be having a nice birthday Saturday when he entered his fifth start of the season.

 

But after 6 1⁄3 innings that saw him give up only one run, Fiers gave up a grand slam to Zephyrs infielder Donovan Solano. One out later, a line drive hit Fiers on the right forearm, breaking it.

 

Fiers was placed on the disabled list and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. He was replaced by pitcher Frankie De La Cruz, who was called up from Double-A Huntsville.

 

Fiers was 1-2 with a 2.20 ERA in his five starts for the Sounds this season. He was 1-4 with a 7.25 ERA in 11 appearances and three starts for the Brewers.

 

***

 

Long road ahead: After Monday’s game, the Sounds started an eight-day, 10-game road trip that will include two doubleheaders, both against the Iowa Cubs.

 

With so many games in so few days, the Sounds will need to shuffle their pitching staff.

 

“With Fiers being out, obviously, with his broken arm, we’re going to have to jostle things just a tad,” Sounds pitching coach Fred Dabney said about the plan for the pitchers on the long trip.

 

The Sounds have nine pitchers who have started a game this season, and they might need to turn to the bullpen for a spot start during the trip.

 

“Obviously Johnnie Lowe has had some opportunities to start here, so he’s a candidate to help out when we need it,” Dabney said. “(Kyle) Heckathorn is a guy, also, that has started in the past, so if it came down to needing a guy to fill in a spot start, he’s a candidate also.

 

“And, having to fill Fiers’ role, now, will be something that the organization has to discuss.”

 

***

 

Hats off to Halton: Sounds outfielder Sean Halton had his season-high 12-game hitting streak end Monday with a 0-for-4 performance.

 

Over the 10 games dating to his birthday on June 7, Halton was hitting .514 with three home runs and eight RBIs to go with a .595 on-base percentage and an .886 slugging percentage.

 

“It’s just how the tide goes sometimes,” Halton said. “Sometimes it’s going your way, sometimes it isn’t, and when it’s going your way, you just like to ride it out, which is kind of what I’m trying to do.”

 

Entering Monday’s game, Halton, last year’s Sounds MVP, was second among active Sounds in batting average (.286), slugging percentage (.490), runs scored (30), hits (59), home runs (eight), RBIs (29) and total bases (101), and he leads the team in doubles (16) and OPS (.831).

 

“It’s a constant game of adjustments,” Halton said. “Sometimes you’re working on things and they click for you, and sometimes you have to search a little bit longer.

 

“Luckily (coach) Bob Skube has been a really great help for me and has done a good job of keeping me locked in.”

[Mass Haas]

Here's the Des Moines Register article on last night's Sounds loss, with a focus on Cubs' starting pitcher prospect Nick Struck -- regardless of organization, great to see a 39th round pick find quick success. TheCrew07 does such a nice job focusing on divisional prospects, so we link here as well.

[Mass Haas]

Make sure you read this excellent write-up on new Helena Manager Tony Diggs just posted within our Affiliate Manager / Coaching Thread.

[Mass Haas]

West drops All-Star Game 6-5

Erickson & Magnifico enjoy All-Star experience

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

The West rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning, but the East won the 2013 Midwest League All-Star Game in Dayton, Ohio 6-5 on a walk-off single by Dalton Pompey.

 

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson was in charge of the West division team that wound up on the short end of the score, but he still enjoyed the experience. "It was a great night. It was a pleasure to be a part of it," Erickson said. "We jumped on them early. Our starting nine is a pretty talented group. We got a bunch of hits early."

 

The West grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a double by Dan Vogelbach of Kane County and a sacrifice fly by Jorge Polanco of Cedar Rapids.

 

The West carried that lead to the bottom of the fifth. That's when Erickson turned to one of his own pitchers in Damien Magnifico.

 

"I was just trying to go out there and light up the radar gun," said Magnifico. "Just let it loose and have fun with it. Of course, I face Tyler Ogle, who I know from OU, first batter. I was just out there trying to throw fastballs to him."

 

Magnifico did a little more than throw fastballs. "I think he grew up a little bit over the course of the first half because he said exactly that. He was going to go out there and let it fly and he actually pitched," noted Erickson. "He didn't get ahead. He was down 2-1. He threw a nice 2-1 slider to get back to even. Then, he broke a bat."

 

That broken bat allowed Magnifico to retire his former Oklahoma teammate on a grounder to third.

 

Gustavo Pierre was next and he sent a grounder that deflected off Magnifico's leg and turned into a 1-4-3 putout. Magnifico came out of the game after that batter, but it was all part of the plan. The big right-hander laughed it off after the game.

 

"It just grazed my shin. It wasn't nothing bad," he said. "It felt kind of cool having a kick save."

 

The East would rally after Magnifico left the game. A sharp grounder to second should have been the third out to get Jordan Jankowski and the West out of the frame, but an error kept the inning alive.

 

The next two batters singled, with the second single knocking in the first run of the game for the East. A walk loaded the bases. Then, Devon Travis, the West Michigan outfielder who happens to be leading the Midwest League, in hitting cracked a bases-clearing triple to put the East up 4-2.

 

"I guess it doesn't matter what type of game you're playing," said Erickson. "The error is going to come back and hurt you."

 

The East added a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 5-2 lead.

 

The West was still down by that score heading to the top of the ninth. Erickson had a feeling his squad would make a comeback. "I told the third base umpire, 'You watch. We're going to load the bases here and make it interesting.' And sure enough we load the bases and we get a couple of big knocks."

 

The first three batters reached on a walk to Tyler Marlette, an infield single by Breyvic Valera, and a walk to Jabari Henry. Niko Goodrum got the West to within a run with a two-run single. Henry scored the tying run later in the inning on a wild pitch.

 

"We couldn't get that go ahead run in there," Erickson noted. "Then, they come back and get that run there."

 

That run came on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Had Pompey not driven in the winning run, the game would have ended in a tie after nine innings as both teams were out of pitching.

 

The loss, did not dampen Erickson's enthusiasm. "Just a great night for everyone involved," he stated.

 

The 8,746 on hand at Fifth Third Field would agree.

 

MAGNIFICO LOOKS AHEAD:

 

Magnifico is looking forward to the second half. "The first half I was learning a routine," he stated after the game. "Now, I got my routine down so the second half should be more fun for me just going out and pitching instead of worrying to do certain stuff. I'm just going to go out there and pitch."

 

ERICKSON ON….:

 

When asked which players stood out to him on Tuesday night, Erickson went right to the top, as in Carlos Correa of Quad Cities, the top pick in the 2012 draft.

 

"We got to play him a couple of times in the first half and he made some really nice plays," said Erickson. "Today, just watching him through batting practice and his overall demeanor; the character of the kid matches his talent level. He's going to be something special."

 

As Erickson finished his thoughts on Correa, he looked out at the postgame fireworks display and noticed Wisconsin native and Cedar Rapids Kernels outfielder Adam Brett Walker standing by the rail enjoying the show. All Erickson said was, 'That kid….Wow!"

 

He also reflected on the play of Brandon Drury, the third baseman for the South Bend Silver Hawks. Drury was involved in two pivotal plays in the game.

 

"Drury had the double in the ninth to set up their rally," said Erickson. "Plus, he made the play of the game when he robbed [Dario] Pizzano of a hit to get an out at the plate when we were trying to push for more runs early in the game."

 

That game saving play came in the top of the sixth inning as the West tried to rally back after falling behind in the bottom of the fifth. The West had the bases loaded with one out and Pizzano was at the plate. Drury was playing even with the bag at third. He snared a wicked one hopper with a lunge to his left and threw to the plate for a force out. The West did not cash in for any runs in the sixth.

 

When asked if there was anything else he wanted to say about the All-Star experience, Erickson responded with, "Let's enjoy the fireworks."

 

And get ready for the second half.

 

Matt Erickson welcomes Dan Vogelbach of Kane County to third base during Tuesday's Midwest League All-Star Game.

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/9/6/0/51070960/cuts/June_18_2013_Erickson_Coaches_3rd_5imvz93q_4em03784.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Nice, Damien -- looking forward to it in Miller Park!

[Mass Haas]

FINAL: DSL Braves 5, DSL Brewers 4

 

Tough, tough loss.

 

The Brewers kids fell to 3-12 with their 7th consecutive loss, surrendering two runs in the bottom of the 9th to lose in walkoff fashion:

 

DSL Braves Bottom of the 9th

 

Carlos Castro homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field.

Ledernin Tejada hit by pitch.

Pitching Change: Doni Arias replaces Joshua Torres.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Javier Robles replaces Ledernin Tejada.

Ray-Patrick Didder out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Doni Arias to first baseman Juan De Leon. Javier Robles to 2nd.

With Carlos Vasquez batting, Javier Robles advances to 3rd on a balk.

Doni Arias intentionally walks Carlos Vasquez.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Alejandro Flores replaces Carlos Martinez.

Alejandro Flores out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Yunior Santana. Javier Robles scores.

 

18-year-old RHP Miguel Diaz made his season debut, must be working back from injury, got in one inning (one unearned run). Diaz appeared in 15 games in 2012. 19-year-old newcomer RHP Nattino Diplan bounced back from his last outing with four scoreless innings.

 

Second baseman Raphachel Colatosti returned to action after a very brief possible injury scare. Catcher Leudi Otano (triple) and RF Yunior Santana (double) each had two hits and two RBI.

 

Santana and SS (DH today) Daniel Leonardo were each caught stealing, they've combined to go 5-for-12 in that department. 3B Sthervin Matos is 4-for-4, though, in SB attempts.

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

 

DSL Brewers Game Log

[Mass Haas]

At 10:00 AM Central today, you can listen here to see if the Manatees game Wednesday night is for the division crown or not.

 

Root for the Tampa Yankees over the Dunedin Blue Jays in Dunedin.

[Mass Haas]

Here's how close the Manatees are to controlling their own destiny -- had this audio on.

 

Tampa Bottom of the 8th

 

Pitching Change: Blake McFarland replaces Tyler Ybarra.

Robert Refsnyder doubles (17) on a fly ball to left fielder Marcus Knecht.

Gary Sanchez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Marcus Knecht. Robert Refsnyder to 3rd.

Yeral Sanchez out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder MIke Crouse. Robert Refsnyder scores.

Angelo Gumbs flies out to right fielder Nick Baligod.

Anderson Feliz hits a ground-rule double (4) on a fly ball to right field. Gary Sanchez to 3rd.

Jose Toussen grounds out, second baseman Jon Berti to first baseman Gabe Jacobo.

 

That double just cleared the fence on the bounce, and the announcer made it clear the runner would have easily scored the go-ahead Tampa run from third base.

 

Ugh...