Link Report for Sat. 8/17

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: LHP Chris Narveson at home vs. Round Rock (Rangers), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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.

 

**********

 

Huntsville: RHP Brooks Hall at home vs. Mobile (Diamondbacks), 6:28 PM pre-game, 6:43 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

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

 

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Brevard County: RHP Tyler Cravy at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 5:35 PM pre-game, 6:05 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 Beloit (Athletics), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 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: Many of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and WACY-TV My NEW32 will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and will try to provide day-before DVR reminders, so regularly check with us.

 

**********

 

Helena: RHP Taylor Williams at home vs. Grand Junction (Rockies), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Voice of the Helena Brewers Steve Wendt is back on board, and this year he's added Twitter to the mix @steve_wendt. We've been treated to Steve's work for many years now (ten!); he is among the very best at the art of the pre-game interview, especially considering how at ease he makes all these first-time professional ballplayers.

 

MiLB.TV -- When the H-Crew makes their way to Grand Junction (August), those games will be available for viewing online.

 

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Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the pint-sized Padres, 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

 

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DSL Brewers: at the DSL Rojos (Reds' #2 squad), 9:30 AM gametime, although game data won't be available until later in the day

[Mass Haas]

Follow Saturday's action as it happens with box score / game log links:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Maryvale

 

DSL Brewers

 

New MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

[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.

 

Also new this season: Helena has media notes; 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]

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

 

Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division

 

Rookie - Arizona Summer League

 

DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris Division

 

***

 

NOTE: To view first half or overall standings for Huntsville, Brevard County, Wisconsin, and Maryvale, you'll notice options at the respective links for that. Otherwise it's second-half standings as the default view for those three leagues.

[Mass Haas]

Weather.com:

 

Nashville, TN

 

Huntsville, AL

 

Viera, FL (Melbourne)

 

Beloit, WI

 

Helena, MT

 

Maryvale, AZ

 

Boca Chica, DR

[sfl2hnq17]

Tyler Cravy has been pitching pretty great since he start pitching out of the rotation. I know he is a little old for High-A but I wonder if things just clicked for him as his K ratio has gone up while the walks and ERA have gone down; so it doesn't seem fluky.

[Mass Haas]

Jeff Hem tweet --

 

Not sure what reason is, but just found out Kyle Heckathorn is making the start tonight for the Sounds, not the scheduled Chris Narveson.

 

Kyle ended up tossing three scoreless, nice year for him.

[Mass Haas]

Just-turned 24-year-old Brevard RHP Tyler Cravy is working his way towards Arizona Fall League consideration, and actually, his name will be in the Brewers war room discussion regarding a 40-man roster spot this fall, to protect from Rule 5.

 

We should be debuting our annual minor league free agent and Rule 5 threads later this week, be on the lookout!

[sfl2hnq17]

I thought I read during his year last year at Wisconsin that Cravy had pretty good stuff. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Mass Haas]

Via Adam McCalvy --

 

The Brewers are more than a week away from finalizing assignments to the prospect-rich Arizona Fall League, but outfielder Mitch Haniger is expected to headline their list of participants. Haniger, 22, was a supplemental first-round pick in 2012, and he is batting .267 this season with 11 home runs and 58 RBIs between Class A Wisconsin and advanced Class A Brevard County.

 

The Brewers expect to name three position players and four pitchers to the AFL.

 

Right-hander Michael Olmsted, one of the Brewers' final cuts in Spring Training, was sent from Triple-A Nashville to Double-A Huntsville on Saturday. He had a 6.71 ERA in 49 games at Nashville and, most troublingly, walked 6.9 batters per nine innings, triple his walk rate from last season and nearly double his career mark.

 

"We're trying to put him in a place where he can have a nice two weeks and finish with some confidence," assistant general manager Gord Ash said.

 

Ash noted that Olmsted is still reaching 96 mph on occasion and was working hard to fix his command issues -- perhaps too hard. Olmstead has committed to continuing that work in winter ball.

 

***

 

Here's Adam's Jimmy Nelson-related rotation/callup note as well.

[Mass Haas]

Via Manatees Radio on an early departure --

 

Update on Nicky Delmonico: He left the game with right elbow inflammation. He's considered day-to-day.

[Minigoon]

Final: Huntsville 2 Mobile 0

 

The Huntsville Stars got stellar pitching and just enough hitting to defeat the Mobile Bay Bears 2-0 Saturday night at The Joe. Stars starter Brooks Hall had a very strong outing. Hall (2-4, 4.53) picked up his 2nd win on the season. He worked 5 innings, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. It took him 73 pitches, 46 for strikes to complete those 5 innings. Hall had a perfect 10-0 GO/FO ratio. Probably the best outing for Hall since his promotion.

 

Behind Hall, the Stars bullpen added 4 scoreless innings, starting with Casey Medlen. Medlen worked 2 strong innings, allowing only a walk and striking out 1. Next, Greg Holle worked a perfect 8th inning, picking up 2 strike outs. Finally, David Goforth pitched a 1-2-3 9th, striking out 1, to notch his 2nd save in as many days, and his 4th on the season.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

The Stars were held to 2 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks Saturday, but it was enough to secure victory. Catcher Shawn Zarraga continued his strong play this season. Zarraga went 2-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. In limited playing time this year (129 AB's) Zarraga is now batting .333. Mike Walker singled, drew a walk, and scored a run. Right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard single and drew a walk. First baseman Jason Rogers had the Stars other hit. Nick Shaw reached base twice on walks. He leads the team with 60 walks drawn. Shea Vucinich drew a walk as a pinch hitter. Shortstop Hector Gomez reached base the hard way, he was hit by a pitch.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

 

Shawn Zarraga puts Huntsville on top for good in the 2nd

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 2nd

 

Rene Tosoni flies out to center fielder Keon Broxton.

Brock Kjeldgaard flies out to center fielder Keon Broxton.

Mike Walker singles on a line drive to left fielder Justin Greene.

Shawn Zarraga doubles (9) on a fly ball to center fielder Keon Broxton. Mike Walker scores.

Hector Gomez grounds out, shortstop Nick Ahmed to first baseman Nick Evans

 

Huntsville (25-29 second half, 54-68 overall) will open a 6 game series with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos Sunday afternoon. Righty Drew Gagnon will be on the mound for the Stars. Game time is set for 4:03 Central. Make sure you tune in at 3:48 to catch the pregame show with the Voice of the Stars, Alex Cohen.

[Mass Haas]

Maryvale's Tucker Neuhaus was lifted mid-AB in the 1st inning. He was not ejected, but was charged with striking out although Francisco Castillo took over for him during the plate appearance.

 

Perhaps a foul ball off his foot? That's a guess, obviously.

 

We jinxed Neuhaus with the comment about leading the club (easily) in games played in yesterday's Link Report.

[Mass Haas]

Neuhaus had committed two errors in the top of the 1st, perhaps there was a nagging issue that contributed to that prior to his AB:

 

AZL Padres Top of the 1st

 

Rod Boykin grounds out, shortstop Luis Aviles to first baseman Alan Sharkey.

Josh VanMeter reaches on a fielding error by third baseman Tucker Neuhaus.

Dustin Peterson reaches on a force attempt, fielding error by third baseman Tucker Neuhaus. Josh VanMeter to 2nd.

With Franmil Reyes batting, Josh VanMeter steals (9) 3rd base.

Franmil Reyes grounds into a force out, second baseman Jose Sermo to shortstop Luis Aviles. Josh VanMeter scores. Dustin Peterson out at 2nd. Franmil Reyes to 1st.

Jose Urena grounds into a force out, second baseman Jose Sermo to shortstop Luis Aviles. Franmil Reyes out at 2nd.

[Mass Haas]

Sounds Hold Off Express For 4-3 Win

Nashville Scores All Four Runs In The Fifth Inning

Nashville Sounds

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds treated 9,501 fans to a 4-3 win over the Round Rock Express Saturday night at Greer Stadium, scoring all of their runs in the fifth inning and surviving a late Express rally.

 

After four scoreless innings, the Sounds attacked Express starter Scott Richmond (4-6) for four runs in the fifth inning.

 

Hunter Morris led off the frame with a double to the right-field corner and scored on a Hainley Statia double in the following at-bat. Blake Lalli singled to move Statia to third and set the table for Josh Prince, who reached on an RBI-fielder's choice.

 

Stephen Parker continued the big inning with a single to the gap in left-center field, scoring Lalli, and Kentrail Davis' groundout plated the final run for the 4-0 advantage that proved to be all the Sounds would need.

 

Right-hander Kyle Heckathorn pitched three scoreless frames to start the game for Nashville, after lefty Chris Narveson was scratched from the lineup at game time. Heckathorn allowed Round Rock only one hit and fanned three batters before Tim Dillard took over in the fourth.

 

Dillard worked two scoreless but ran into trouble in the sixth. A pair of two-out singles and a walk loaded the bases for Dillard, who was touched by Joey Butler for an RBI infield single that made it a 4-1 game.

 

Dillard (3-2) was awarded the win, increasing his franchise-leading wins total to 38. Richmond was charged the loss, his sixth.

 

Reliever Dustin Molleken entered to close out Dillard's frame with a strikeout to Aaron Cunningham, stranding three inherited runners. The right-handed pitcher continued to pitch a perfect seventh.

 

Brent Leach logged a 1-2-3 eighth before closer Jesus Sanchez finished the game for Nashville to pick up his sixth save. Sanchez allowed Round Rock a two-run rally with two hits and a walk, but secured the win for Nashville.

 

Sounds pitchers racked up 12 strikeouts in the game to only two walks.

 

Offensively, designated hitter Blake Lalli led the team with two hits. Outfielder Caleb Gindl recorded a single in the fourth inning to extend his hit Triple-A streak to eight games, which matches his season-best with the club.

 

The Sounds play the rubber game of the five-game series on Sunday night at Greer Stadium. Throwing for Nashville will be RHP Alfredo Figaro, making a debut start for the Sounds, opposite Express' RHP Josh Lindblom (8-2, 2.41). The Sounds will wear camouflage uniforms for Piedmont Natural Gas Military Sunday presented by Tennessee 811.

 

Nashville Box Score

Robinzon Diaz transformed the middle of this lineup upon his arrival from Huntsville, and the team has been a fun follow in this last 6-7 week stretch. He'll definitely be offered a chance to return for 2014, but will he? Will the Brewers carry Blake Lalli on their 40-man all winter? Roster issues pending soon...

 

Nashville Game Log

 

Caleb Gindl photo by Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/8/9/8/57341898/cuts/817_gindl_2en39fni_p9kmydxp.jpg

[DHonks]

One of our forgotten prospects is Brooks Hall. He's having an okay year at a high level. I think they must be really keeping his IP down.

 

Also interesting that Heckathorn managed to pitch well in A and AAA, but threw BP every few days in A+ and AA. I wonder if the college velocity is back

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers start road trip with a win

Wisconsin beats Beloit 6-4

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

BELOIT, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will not go away. Wisconsin scrapped for a 6-4 win over the Beloit Snappers on Saturday night at Pohlman Field. Orlando Arcia and Max Walla led the opportunistic offense with three hits apiece and the Rattlers crept closer in the playoff race.

 

Both teams had similar starts to their first inning.

 

The first two Timber Rattlers to bat reached base. Alfredo Rodriguez started the game with a walk and Arcia singled. But, a double play ball and a grounder to short ended the promising inning.

 

The first two Snappers to bat in their half of the first reached base on back-to-back walks by Wisconsin starter Jorge Lopez to Brett Vertigan and Daniel Robertson. An errant pickoff throw to first by catcher Tyler Roberts with Renato Nunez at the plate allowed Vertigan to go to third. Then, Nunez hit into a double play and Vertigan scored the first run of the game.

 

Wisconsin (53-66 overall, 24-30 second half) rallied on an error by Nunez in the top of the second. Parker Berberet walked to start the frame. Walla topped a grounder up the third base line. Nunez charged, fielded the ball with his bare hand, and fired wildly to first. Berberet scored easily and Walla wound up at third base. But, Wisconsin could not get the lead in the second.

 

That would have to wait until the third. Arcia lined a home run just inside the pole and just over the wall for his fourth home run of the season. The leadoff homer by the Wisconsin shortstop gave them a 2-1 lead.

 

But, Beloit (67-57, 24-30) came back with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. They had loaded the bases on a pair of infield singles and a walk. There was one out and Sam Roberts weak grounder to second could only be turned into a force at second base. That fielder's choice allowed the runner from third to tie the game 2-2.

 

The Rattlers grabbed control of the game in the top of the fifth. Rodriguez was at first with one out and Arcia drove a text book hit-and-run single to right field to put runners at the corners for Tyrone Taylor. Taylor lined a single to left and Rodriguez scored the go ahead run.

 

Victor Roache was next and he sent a one-hopper to third. Nunez went to second to try and start an inning ending double play. But, the throw was wild. Arcia scored and Taylor wound up on third base. Parker Berberet followed with a sacrifice fly to score Taylor for a 5-2 lead.

 

Walla capped the scoring in the inning with a double to left-center that scored Roache from first base.

 

Lopez went back out for the bottom of the fifth inning with a 6-2 lead and pitched a 1-2-3 frame.

 

Reliever Hobbs Johnson struck out three and allowed a hit in a scoreless sixth, but his degree of difficulty went up in the seventh as he walked three batters and the Snappers had the bases loaded with one out. Johnson would escape the inning by getting Robertson to ground into an inning ending double play.

 

Beloit rallied in the eighth against Jono Armold. John Wooten hit a solo homer with two outs for the first run of the inning. Matt Olson singled with two away. Dayton Alexander doubled into the corner in left and Olson came around to score the run and Beloit was within two runs.

 

Armold would work a perfect ninth inning to close out the game.

 

In the race for the second half Wild Card spot in the Western Division, the Rattlers moved to within three games of the teams tied for that spot. Both Clinton and Peoria lost on Saturday night. The LumberKings were beaten 7-6 at Kane County. Peoria lost 6-1 at home to Cedar Rapids. The LumberKings and Chiefs remain tied for the Wild Card spot with a second half record at 27-27.

 

Game two of the four game series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Austin Ross (1-0, 3.63) is scheduled to start for the Timber Rattlers. Deyvi Jimenez (2-4, 8.35) is set to take the mound for the Snappers. Game time is 2:00pm. Tune if for the action on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 1:40pm.

 

HOME RUNS:

WIS:

Orlando Arcia (4th, 0 on in 3rd inning off Andres Avila, 0 out)

 

BEL:

John Wooten (18th, 0 on in 8th inning off Jono Armold, 1 out)

 

WP: Jorge Lopez (7-8)

LP: Andres Avila (5-4)

 

TIME: 2:56

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Hobbs Johnson managed to go scoreless, but as Chris mentioned he really made it tough on himself.

 

Orlando Arcia has hits in 9 of his last 10 games, and in 2 of the last 3 games he's had 3 hits. Also over those last 10 games he's hitting a cool .300 even. Max Walla had the other multi-hit game, also collecting 3 hits. I was surprised by this but Arcia actually has a better OPS (.657) than Walla by .007

 

Wisconsin Recap

[DHonks]

also is Andy Hillis following the Michael Fiers plan? college starter, first year striking out a ton in rookie ball as reliever

[TheCrew07]

One of our forgotten prospects is Brooks Hall. He's having an okay year at a high level. I think they must be really keeping his IP down.

 

He's not really forgotten, he's just not much of a prospect. What part of his season line is even "okay"? He's simply not a starting pitcher at MLB.

 

[pre]Year Age Lev ERA G GS IP H R ER HR BB SO WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB

2013 23 AA 5.06 13 9 42.2 49 26 24 8 18 26 1.570 10.3 1.7 3.8 5.5 1.44[/pre]

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

[Mass Haas]

Stars Pitchers Two-Hit BayBears

By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars

 

To wrap up and decide a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium, the Huntsville Stars pitchers came through with a two-hit shutout en route to a 2-0 victory over the Mobile BayBears on Saturday night.

 

Highlighting the combined two-hitter was a stellar performance from starting pitcher Brooks Hall. The 23-year-old righty improved to 2-5 on the year as a member of the Stars with five innings of two hit baseball while striking out four batters in the process. Over his last three outings (two starts, one in relief), Hall has not given up a run in 12 innings pitched.

 

Much like on Friday night, the Stars bullpen capped off a strong start from their starting pitcher. Righty Casey Medlen tossed two scoreless innings while reliever Greg Holle sent down the BayBears in order over an inning for the second straight game.

 

To finish the game, righty David Goforth blanked Mobile in the ninth in order for the second straight to ensure the two-hit shutout. For Goforth, the save was his second in as many nights and fourth of the season in four opportunities.

 

On offense, all the Stars needed was an RBI double from Shawn Zarraga in the second inning and an RBI groundout by outfielder Eric Patterson in the seventh inning. As a team, the Stars totaled just five hits with Zarraga leading the way collecting two of them.

 

With the win, the Stars clinched a series victory against the BayBears and evened up their season series with the Southern League South first half champions at five games apiece.

 

The victory also marked the fifth time this year the Stars pitching staff held an opponent to two or less hits during a game and the eighth time this year that the opposition was shutout in a game.

 

On Sunday, the Stars will continue their 11-game homestand when they welcome the Pensacola BlueWahoos to town for six games in five days. The series opener will feature Huntsville sending RHP Drew Gagnon (4-6, 5.51 ERA) to the bump. Pensacola will counter with RHP Jon Moscot (1-1, 6.60 ERA).

 

First pitch is at 4:03 CT.

[dacbrewers]

Tyler Cravy has been pitching pretty great since he start pitching out of the rotation. I know he is a little old for High-A but I wonder if things just clicked for him as his K ratio has gone up while the walks and ERA have gone down; so it doesn't seem fluky.

 

A couple amazing stats are that Tyler Cravy and Stephen Peterson have not hit a batter this year.

[battlekow]

I just moved and still have no Internet. If someone could do Helena I'd be much obliged.

[bkrause2]

Final: DSL Brewers 2, DSL Reds 5

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

 

Jorge Quiterio and Yerald Martinez led the offense with two hits each. Both had a single and a double. Leudi Otano was 1-for-4 with a double. Gregory Munoz and Juan De Leon each had a base hit. Rodrigo Benoit started and took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits over four innings. Joan De la Cruz allowed a run in two innings of work and Marcos Padilla pitched two scoreless innings.

 

DSL Brewers Play-By-Play

 

DSL Brewers Top of the 4th

Gregory Munoz singles on a ground ball to second baseman Anthony Rubicondo.

Jorge Quiterio pops out to second baseman Anthony Rubicondo.

Juan De Los Santos flies out to left fielder Deyvi Burgos.

Leudi Otano doubles (14) on a fly ball to right fielder Olvis Jimenez. Gregory Munoz scores. Leudi Otano out at 3rd, right fielder Olvis Jimenez to shortstop Luis Gonzalez to third baseman Jose Monegro.

 

DSL Brewers Top of the 8th

Pitching Change: Gregory Reinoso replaces Carlos Encarnacion.

Raphachel Colatosti grounds out, shortstop Luis Gonzalez to first baseman Pabel Manzanero.

Yerald Martinez doubles (13) on a fly ball to right fielder Olvis Jimenez.

With Daniel Leonardo batting, wild pitch by Gregory Reinoso, Yerald Martinez to 3rd.

Daniel Leonardo grounds out, shortstop Luis Gonzalez to first baseman Pabel Manzanero. Yerald Martinez scores.

Gregory Munoz walks.

Jorge Quiterio singles on a ground ball to shortstop Luis Gonzalez. Gregory Munoz to 2nd.

Juan De Los Santos walks. Gregory Munoz to 3rd. Jorge Quiterio to 2nd.

Leudi Otano strikes out swinging.