Link Report for Wed. 8/7

[Mass Haas]

Pre-game article --

 

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Home game for Rattlers’ Razo

Wisconsin reliever one of five Illinois Valley Central products in pros: ‘Has to be something in the water in Chillicothe

By Kevin Capie, Peoria Journal Star

 

PEORIA — Chris Razo has pitched at Dozer Park many times before, but his next appearance there will be unlike the others.

 

Razo, a 24th-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in June, returned to central Illinois on Wednesday as a member of the Midwest League’s Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to begin a three-game series with the Peoria Chiefs.

 

“It’s definitely kind of come full circle,” said Razo, who pitched at the Dozer Park in high school at IVC, junior college at Heartland and then against Bradley this year as a member of the Redbirds.

 

“I kind of realize now how nice this really is and how great I did have it growing up in this area. Illinois is a great state and Peoria is a great area.”

 

Razo began his professional career with Helena of the short-season Pioneer League with many of this year’s Brewers draft picks. Razo said that made the transition easier.

 

It was also in Helena that Razo earned a pair of humorous nicknames, Vulture and Snake, after going 5-0 in seven relief appearances.

 

“I’m not going to take all the credit for (the five wins),” Razo said. “I did my job and the ball went the right way and the offense would step up and score some runs.”

 

Razo’s role in the Brewers organization, at least for this season, is different from what he was used to in college.

 

At Illinois State, he earned Missouri Valley Conference pitcher of the year honors after going 8-2 with a 1.71 ERA over 89 1/3 innings pitched in 20 games, including 11 starts.

 

First in Helena, and now with Wisconsin, the Brewers are monitoring Razo’s innings after that college workload and he is working exclusively out of the bullpen. Entering Wednesday, he had made just two appearances for the Timber Rattlers since being promoted from Helena on July 28.

 

“It’s a whole new world out here with limiting innings because you want to get back out there,” Razo said. “If I don’t do well in one appearance I’m used to getting out there in a couple of days. Here you have to wait around to get that shot.”

 

Razo is one of three former IVC players to begin their pro careers this summer. Brothers Jordan and Justin Parr are with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies organizations.

 

They join Josh Parr, already in the Diamondbacks system, and Zach McAllister in the majors with the Cleveland Indians.

 

“To think we were this level good is something you can’t think of,” Razo said. “You just hope for an opportunity to do that. It’s worked out so there has to be something in the water in Chillicothe.”

[Mass Haas]

Pitching, defense propel the Chiefs to 3-1 victory

Peoria manages two hits with runners in scoring position, but wins 3-1

By Kevin Capie, Peoria Journal Star

 

PEORIA — Who cares if the Peoria Chiefs hit just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position?

 

As long as the pitching and defense were as good as they were in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, two hits were all the Chiefs needed.

 

“That’s our club right there in a nutshell,” Chiefs manager Dann Bilardello said. “If you want to get picky we could do a better job with runners in scoring position, but I’ll take that in the long run over just five chances.”

 

Both teams were adept at getting the leadoff runners aboard, 12 of the 17 batters to lead off an inning reached base.

 

The difference is the Chiefs were able to do just enough to get those runners around, starting with a sacrifice fly in the second inning for a 1-0 lead. Peoria added two runs off Chillicothe product Chris Razo with a fielder’s choice in the fifth and the second of the two hits with a runner in scoring position in the sixth.

 

Razo (1-1) took the loss with the two runs allowed in his two innings of work. He gave up three hits, walked one and struck out one. Peoria catcher Jonathan Keener did reach on the wild pitch.

 

The Chiefs led 1-0 on a sacrifice fly in the second by Bruce Caldwell to leave Peoria starter Chris Perry a thin margin to work with as the Timber Rattlers had base runners in each of his seven innings.

 

But Perry worked around six leadoff singles.

 

“We’ve been working on, and stressing, keeping the ball down,” said Perry, who allowed seven singles and struck out four. “I did a good job today to get ground balls.”

 

The defense helped as Keener threw out two potential base stealers and held on when Wisconsin’s Chris McFarland tried to jar the ball loose in the fifth after Wisconsin already scored a run on his RBI triple.

 

“We had a little talk early in the game about them running,” Bilardello said. “Keener threw the heck out of the ball tonight.”

 

Juan Herrera led off the fifth with a single and stole second. The wild pitch moved him to third, and the newest Chief scored easily on Charlie Tilson’s fielder’s choice to short.

 

“It’s always nice to score runs when you make outs,” Bilardello said. “We had some other chances so we need to bear down.”

 

The Chiefs added a run when Breyvic Valera led off with a single, stole second and then stole on Jordan Walton’s single. The Chiefs DH scored the first run in the second.

 

“It’s all about getting guys into scoring position and getting those opportunities,” Walton said.

 

Wisconsin threatened in the seventh when Max Walla reached on an error to start the inning. A hard-hit lineout brought Bilardello out to talk with Perry and the infield.

 

Tyler Roberts grounded through the box but was stopped by a diving Herrera. The shortstop flipped to Caldwell, who turned a perfect pivot to get the double play and end the inning.

 

“Obviously, the end to turn the double play (was big),” Perry said. “But we played good defense all around.”

[Mass Haas]

Thanks to MiLB.TV, we've been able to link to nearly all of Hunter Morris' 22 home runs this season. Here's the video of his two-run HR in the Sounds' 3-0 victory from Tuesday.

[Mass Haas]

Final: AZL Cubs 11, @AZL Brewers 4

 

AZL Brewers Box Score

 

The Cubs only scored in two innings, but a four-run 3rd and seven-run 5th against Crew hurlers spelled doom in this one. It was 11-1 after five innings before Maryvale tallied a few late runs.

 

2013 25th round RHP Drew Ghelfi (University of Minnesota) could not get an out in that 3rd inning, and LHP Chris Matulis did what he could to limit the damage in a no out situation, but after a GIDP, a two-run single burned Matulis and capped the scoring in the frame.

 

The 5th was even uglier, as Matulis, still in the game, similarly failed to record an out, and RHP Gian Rizzo, pitching on normal four days' rest, entered with two on and allowed both runners to score.

 

Rizzo would settle down, and birthday boy RHP Sean Wardour closed things out with two scoreless, but the game was long settled by then.

 

First baseman Alan Sharkey (Shark Week!) gets credit for his double, single, and walk. Outfielders Johnny Davis (double) and Yonki Hernandez each had two hits. Many Brewers saw action in the blowout loss, spreading the AB's, which unfortunately has happened too often.

 

AZL Brewers Game Log

 

You can seek out the Cub 3rd and 5th innings, if you dare...

[TheCrew07]

So much for the Kris Bryant concerns...Billy Hamilton of the Reds and Tyler Glasnow of the Pirates also discussed.

 

Prospect Notebook: Kris Bryant Extends Hit Streak To 10

[TheCrew07]

Winning isn’t everything, but it’s not nothing.