Link Report for Mon. 8/26 -- Somehow, Rattlers are in a real playoff chase

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO from Sunday: Stephen Parker homers in Nashville's 10-5 win at Albuquerque

 

Unlike in Houston, the CF "hill" is much closer to home plate, just ridiculous.

[Mass Haas]

Schlosser Outduels Pena, Stars

Alex Cohen, Huntsville Stars

 

In game four of a five-game series at Trustmark Park, the Huntsville Stars lost to the Mississippi Braves by a score of 2-1 on Monday night.

 

With three runs combined between the two teams, the game featured a pitchers duel between Stars RHP Ariel Pena and M-Braves RHP Gus Schlosser.

 

Despite giving up an RBI single to M-Braves third baseman Edward Salcedo in the first inning and allowing a solo homer to outfielder Mycal Jones in the fifth inning, Pena threw well in a losing effort.

 

The 24-year-old fell to 7-9 on the year after giving up those two runs on five hits in five innings while striking out five batters. Pena has now given up two runs or less in each of his last four starts.

 

Aside from Pena, righty Eric Marzec retired the M-Braves in order during an inning in relief while righty Greg Holle also tossed two scoreless frames.

 

Unfortunately for Pena and the Stars, two runs was plenty for Schlosser and the rest of the M-Braves pitching staff. The M-Braves 24-year-old starting pitcher notched his third win of the season and improved to 7-5 on the year after giving up just one run on three hits in seven innings of work. The seven innings for Schlosser ties his season-high, while he also duplicated his season-high in strikeouts with seven.

 

Mississippi ensured the victory for Schlosser with a scoreless inning of relief from righty Juan Jaime and a three-up, three-down ninth inning from closer Ryne Harper. The save was the tenth on the season for Harper.

 

Huntsville got their only run against the M-Braves and Schlosser in the seventh inning on a solo homer from first baseman Jason Rogers. For Rogers, the roundtripper was his 22nd on the season, putting him atop the Southern League in that category all by himself.

 

Aside from Rogers, the only other two hits on the night came from two singles by second baseman Nick Shaw.

 

With the loss, the Stars have dropped three of the first four games of this series at Trustmark Park. Huntsville has now scored two or less runs in ten consecutive games.

 

On Tuesday, the Stars will try to salvage the series in the finale of a five-game set against the Mississippi Braves at Trustmark Park. Huntsville will send RHP Brooks Hall (2-4, 4.10 ERA) while Mississippi will counter with RHP Gus Schlosser (6-5, 2.50 ERA).

 

Coming into the game, Pena has given up just two earned runs in his last three starts (15 innings pitched).

 

First pitch is at 7:00 PM.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Stars 1B Jason Rogers hits his league-leading 22nd homer on the year to cut the Stars deficit versus the M-Braves to 2-1 in the 7th

[Eye Black]

Game One Final: Lakeland 3, Brevard County 0 10 Innings

 

Flying Tigers outlast Manatees in twinbill opener

By Al Hernandez / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/3/6/58552036/cuts/Pierce_8.26_cdjeprwl_vdo2bfo6.JPG

Manatees starting pitcher Chad Pierce threw 5.2 shutout innings and struck out six, but did not factor in the decision as Brevard County fell 3-0 in ten innings in the first game of Monday night's doubleheader against the Lakeland Flying Tigers at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

AUDIO: Game Highlights

 

AUDIO: Tommy Toledo Pre-Game Interview

 

VIERA, Fla. - It took ten innings instead of the scheduled seven, in the first game of Monday night's doubleheader at Space Coast Stadium and it was the Lakeland Flying Tigers that ended up with a 3-0 victory over the Brevard County Manatees.

 

The Manatees (27-33 second half, 64-63 overall) and the Flying Tigers (28-27, 58-65) were deadlocked in a scoreless tie heading into the the top of the tenth, when Alex Moore entered the game for Brevard. He issued a walk to Devon Travis to begin the inning.

 

Dean Green followed Travis with a single before Aaron Westlake drew the second walk of the inning, which loaded the bases with no one out. Following a strikeout, Steven Moya doubled to right field to clear the bases and give Lakeland a 3-0 lead.

 

Jose Valdez entered the game for the Flying Tigers in the bottom half of the frame. He surrendered a lead-off double to Nick Ramirez and a two-out walk to Brandon Macias but escaped unscathed to earn his 14th save of the season.

 

Chad Pierce (5-6, 3.51 ERA) started on the mound for the Manatees as he threw pitching 5.2 scoreless innings. He surrendered three hits, four walks, and struck out six men.

 

Santo Manzanillo pitched 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the 'Tees before Moore entered the game.

 

Lakeland starter Wilsen Palacios did not factor into the decision, either, despite tossing eight shutout frames. Chad Green twirled a scoreless ninth inning and earned the win for the Flying Tigers.

 

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

 

Brevard County Play-by-Play

[Eye Black]

Game Two Final: Lakeland 3, Brevard County 2

 

Brevard falls short to Lakeland in doubleheader finale

By Andy Towne / Brevard County Manatees

 

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Manatees pitcher Taylor Mangum made his first career professional start in game two of Brevard County's doubleheader against the Lakeland Flying Tigers on Monday night. Mangum allowed three runs on six hits in six innings of work. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

AUDIO: Game Highlights

 

VIERA, Fla. - Another late comeback attempt fell short for the Brevard County Manatees in the second game of Monday night's doubleheader at Space Coast Stadium as they fell 3-2 to the Lakeland Flying Tigers and were swept in the twinbill.

 

A three-run home run from Dean Green after a leadoff walk and a single gave the Flying Tigers a 3-0 lead before the first out was recorded.

 

Brevard County (27-34 second half, 64-64 overall) battled back, with Mitch Haniger's one-out double and an RBI single from Ben McMahan putting the 'Tees on the board in the bottom of the fourth.

 

In the sixth, a leadoff walk drawn by Haniger was followed by a single from Cody Hawn that pushed Haniger to third. Greg Hopkins drove Haniger home with a RBI base hit to right, but the Manatees ended up leaving runners on second and third at the end of the inning.

 

Lakeland (29-27, 59-65) starting pitcher Patrick Cooper did not factor into the decision, as he left the game alongside the trainer and pitching coach after a four-pitch walk to Hopkins with two outs in the fourth inning. He was charged with just one run, with the RBI hit coming against reliever Nick Avila. Cooper surrendered two singles and two walks.

 

For the Manatees, Taylor Mangum (1-2, 4.71) was making his first professional start of the mound. After a rocky first inning, Mangum settled down and made it through six innings, as he surrendered six hits and three walks, while fanning three. Dan Meadows threw a perfect seventh to keep the 'Tees within striking distance.

 

The third game of the series will begin at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday night at Space Coast Stadium. Tyler Cravy (4-2, 2.18 ERA) will look to continue his dominance on the mound for the Manatees, as he will be opposed by Kevin Eichhorn (2-5, 3.52 ERA) for the Flying Tigers.

 

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

 

Brevard County Play-by-Play

[Mass Haas]

[TheCrew07]

Taveras' injury problems are about the only thing that's gone wrong for the Cards in some time.

 

Lost Year Doesn’t Diminish Oscar Taveras’ Potential

[TheCrew07]

With all of the hitting prospects the Cubs have acquired here's hoping they don't manage to find any impact pitching.

 

Baez, Smokies seal second-half crown

[TheCrew07]

For those that don't follow such things Jim Callis is leaving BA for MLB. This is great for MLB as I don't hold Mayo in much regard, but it is a blow to BA. Best of luck Jim.

 

A Heartfelt Goodbye To Baseball America

[CheezWizHed]

So what's the proper tag team (nick)name for the Nelson/Pena twin-bill?

 

Downhill Speedwagon? Speedwagon Thunder? Thunder Speedwagon?

 

I think its "Wagon Speeding Downhill." Not very catchy, but they have a great logo:

 

http://files.doobybrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/calvin-and-hobbes-wagon.gif

[TooLiveBrew]

That's an awesome image