Link Report for Sun. 9/1

[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 home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 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.

 

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Huntsville: RHP Ariel Pena at home vs. Jackson (Mariners), 3:48 PM pre-game, 4:03 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 Damien Magnifico at Daytona (Cubs), 4:05 PM pre-game, 4:35 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 Burlington (Angels), 1:40 PM pre-game, 2:00 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 Danny Keller at home vs. Billings (Reds), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:05 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): Season complete (23-33), final individual stats found here

 

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DSL Brewers: Season complete (26-45), final individual stats found here

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

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, Helena 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

 

Daytona Beach, FL

 

Burlington, IA

 

Helena, MT

[WV Brew]

Jose Pena homers his first two at bats today.

[sfl2hnq17]

How about that Hobbs Johnson?

[TheCrew07]

MVP Ratterree heads Pioneer All-Stars

[TheCrew07]

Glasnow untouchable again for Power

[TheCrew07]

Baez, Smokies dominate SL All-Stars

[TheCrew07]

Prospect Hot Sheet (Aug. 30): Pitchers Play Keep Away With Byron Buxton

 

Prospect Hot Sheet Chat (Aug. 30) With J.J. Cooper

[nate82]

Prospect Hot Sheet (Aug. 30): Pitchers Play Keep Away With Byron Buxton

 

Buxton sure looks like a complete player already at a young age.

 

Also from that article:

 

IN THE TEAM PHOTO

.....

Hunter Morris, 1b, Brewers: When Corey Hart and Mat Gamel went down with injuries in spring training, the club found itself without a first baseman. It was the perfect opportunity for Morris, who had hit .303/.367/.563 at Double-A Mobile last year, winning the Southern League MVP award. But he went out and hit .115/.179/.269 in spring training. That led the Brewers to decide that Yuniesky Betancourt would be a more appealing first-base option for the big league club. Morris, 24, hasn’t exactly made the Brewers regret that decision. He’s hit only .245/.305/.447 this year, but he is finishing strong, going 14-for-30 (.467) with a homer sand three doubles this week at Triple-A Nashville.

[Minigoon]

Final: Huntsville 7 Jackson 0

 

Stars starter Ariel Pena (8-9, 3.73) and 4 relievers combined to shut out the Jackson Generals 7-0 Sunday afternoon at The Joe. Pena, who has been on a roll as of late, started and worked 5 very strong innings. He allowed 2 hits and only 1 walk while striking out 6. Pena threw 54 pitches, 37 for strikes and had a 3-3 GO/FO ratio. After a rocky June and July, Pena has been very good in August and September (today). Over his last 5 starts, Pena has given up only 4 runs over 28 innings pitched (1.29 ERA). If he's not a September call up, he should at least feel good going into the off season with the way he finished.

 

After Pena exited, the Stars bullpen kept the Generals off the board. Micah Owings was first on. A day after a 2-3 outing with a home run and a couple RBI's at the plate as an outfielder, he pitched a 1-2-3 6th, striking out 2. Next, Greg Holle was called on for the 52nd time, tops in the Southern League. He worked a scoreless 7th, allowing a hit and striking out 1. With the scoreless innings, Holle was able to drop his ERA below 4 to 3.96. Eric Marzec came on to pitch the 8th. He was his typical dominant self, allowing no hits or walks and striking out 2. With his scoreless inning today, his ERA now sits at 1.99. Finally, Arcenio Leon closed out the game with a scoreless 9th. The Generals got a couple hits of Leon, but he buckled down and got out of it unscathed to seal the shut out. It was the 10th shut out for Stars pitching this season.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

The 7 runs the Stars scored today matched the most they scored in any game during August. Once again, Jason Rogers paced the Stars offensively. Rogers went 2-3 with 2 doubles, a walk, a run scored and 2 RBI's. Rogers will go into the final game of the season leading the league in RBI's with 87, 2nd in home runs behind teammate Brock Kjeldgaard with 22, tied for 5th in the league in hits with 130, and tied for first in the league in total bases with 225. With the 2 hits today, Rogers pushed his average to .272. Brock Kjeldgaard, in the line up today as the DH, had a big hit for the Stars, a based clearing double in the 3rd. Chadwin Stang reached base 3 times. He singled, doubled and drew a walk. Catcher Shawn Zarraga had 2 hits and scored a run. Right fielder Rene Tosoni reached base twice, single and a walk, and scored twice. Second baseman Nick Shaw was 1-4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Third baseman Mike Walker drove in the Stars other run with a sacrifice fly.

 

Huntsville Play By Play

 

Huntsville jump out to a quick lead today

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 1st

 

Chadwin Stang walks.

Nick Shaw grounds into a force out, pitcher Trevor Miller to shortstop Gabriel Noriega. Chadwin Stang out at 2nd. Nick Shaw to 1st.

Rene Tosoni walks. Nick Shaw to 2nd.

Jason Rogers doubles (24) on a fly ball to center fielder Denny Almonte. Nick Shaw scores. Rene Tosoni scores.

Mike Walker grounds out, second baseman Jack Marder to first baseman Steven Proscia. Jason Rogers to 3rd.

Brock Kjeldgaard called out on strikes.

 

Brock Kjeldgaard with the clutch, 2 out bases loaded hit.

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 3rd

 

Chadwin Stang hits a ground-rule double (7) on a fly ball to right-center field.

Nick Shaw called out on strikes.

Rene Tosoni singles on a ground ball to right fielder Jabari Blash. Chadwin Stang to 3rd.

Jason Rogers walks. Rene Tosoni to 2nd.

Mike Walker strikes out swinging.

Brock Kjeldgaard doubles (11) on a ground ball to left fielder Daniel Paolini. Chadwin Stang scores. Rene Tosoni scores. Jason Rogers scores.

Eric Patterson pops out to third baseman Ramon Morla in foul territory.

 

The Stars (29-40 second half, 58-79 overall) and Generals wrap up the 2013 season tomorrow afternoon at The Joe. Right hander Brooks Hall (2-4, 4.37)will take the mound for the Stars. He'll be looking to shake off a rocky start his last time out. Game time is set for 1:03 Central. Make sure you tune in starting at 12:48 to hear the Voice Of The Stars, Alex Cohen and the pregame show. I'll put together a season wrap post early this week.

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers get slammed in the 14th at Burlington

Wright hits walkoff grand slam for Bees in 9-5 win over Wisconsin

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

BURLINGTON, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers were up by three runs heading into the bottom of the eighth inning at Community Field on Sunday afternoon. Then, the Burlington Bees rallied to tie the game with a run in the eighth and two in the ninth to send the game to extra innings. Zach Wright cracked a game-ending grand slam in the bottom of the fourteenth to give the Bees a 9-5 win. Wright went 4-for-5 and drove in six runs to help the Bees to their comeback victory.

 

Michael Reed started the Rattlers (59-75 overall, 30-39 second half) off with a one out triple in the first inning. Parker Berberet followed with an RBI double to drive in Reed. Berberet was out trying to stretch his hit into a triple.

 

The triple by Reed was his twelfth of the season. It tied him with Jamie Bubela on the franchise single season triples list for second place. Bubela hit twelve triples in the 2001 season.

 

Burlington (55-78, 29-39) had two outs and none on in the bottom of the second inning. Wisconsin starter Jorge Lopez walked the next two batters and allowed an infield single to load the bases. Lopez uncorked a wild pitch to let the tying run score.

 

Wisconsin broke the tie with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Dustin Houle walked and Chris McFarland singled on a bunt to start the inning. Tyrone Taylor's sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. Reed was next and his sinking line drive to center dropped in for a hit and skipped past Chevy Clarke, who tried to make a diving catch. Reed cruised into third with a two-run triple.

 

Reed's scored triple of the game tied him with Jermaine Clark for the franchise record for triples in a season. Clark had thirteen triples in 1998.

 

Houle added to the Wisconsin lead with an RBI double in the top of the sixth inning for a 4-1 lead.

 

The Bees tallied an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning against reliever Hobbs Johnson. Angel Rosa reached second on an error and stole third base. He scored on a two-out single by Wright.

 

The Rattlers got that run back in the top of the eighth. Victor Roache doubled to start the frame. He took third on a grounder to the right side off the bat of Garrett Cooper. A passed ball let Roache score and the Rattlers were up 5-2.

 

Taylor Wall took over for Johnson to start the bottom of the eighth inning. Wall had not allowed a run in any of his seven appearance totaling twelve innings during August. He allowed a single to Wade Hinkle to start the eighth and an error on the play let Hinkle take second base. A sacrifice bunt moved Hinkle to third. Wright drove in Hinkle with a sacrifice fly.

 

McFarland started the Timber Rattlers ninth with a single. He stole second and went to third on a throwing error. But, McFarland was left stranded at third base when the inning ended. That would cost the Rattlers.

 

Chevy Clarke doubled to lead off the Burlington ninth. He was at third base with two outs after a pair of grounders. Sandy Martinez drove in Clarke with a single to left to cut the Wisconsin lead to a run. Wall got ahead of Rosa 0-2 and was a strike away from nailing down a win. But, Rosa hit a high chopper to the left of the mound and the ball trickled off the glove of Wall for an infield single to keep the Bees alive. Hinkle made the Rattlers pay with a single to left that scored Martinez from second to tie the game 5-5.

 

Burlington had the winning run at second with one out in the bottom of the tenth inning. But, McFarland made a leaping grab of a line drive off Clarke's bat for the second out. The Rattlers would escape the tenth with the game still tied.

 

Wisconsin had a chance in the top of the eleventh inning. Alfredo Rodriguez singled and Houle walked with one out. But, the Bees keep got a force play and a popup to keep the score at 5-5.

 

The score remained tied with neither team getting a hit in the twelfth and thirteenth inning. Wisconsin's batters went down in order in the top of the fourteenth and the Bees came to the plate after the second playing of Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

 

Rattlers reliever Jono Armold came out for his fourth inning of work in the bottom of the fourteenth. He had struck out five and walked one in his first three innings. But, Rosa tripled off the wall in right to start the Bees rally. Wisconsin elected to walk the next two batters intentionally to set up a force play at the plate. Additionally, the Timber Rattlers sent Adrian Williams into the game for Tyrone Taylor in center. They brought Williams in to play in front of second base as a fifth infielder with Wright at the plate.

 

Wright foiled all of the strategy by crushing a 1-0 pitch from Armold over the wall in left for a walkoff grand slam.

 

Wisconsin had been 43-1 when leading a game heading into the ninth inning this season before Sunday's game. The loss was their fifth in a row.

 

The final game of Wisconsin's 2013 season is Monday afternoon at Community Field. Austin Ross (2-0, 2.58) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Chris O'Grady (3-1, 2.27) is set to start for the Bees. Game time is 2:00pm. The broadcast may be heard on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 1:40pm.

 

HOME RUN:

Zach Wright (4th, Grand slam off Jono Armold in 14th inning, 0 out)

 

WP: Joseph Krehbiel (6-5)

LP: Jono Armold (4-3)

 

TIME: 3:53

 

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

 

Wisconsin Recap

[Eye Black]

Final: Daytona 7, Brevard County 4

 

Brevard's 2013 season ends with 7-4 loss at Daytona

By Andy Towne / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/6/8/4/49977684/cuts/Hopkins_5.15_uswtbng3_x0juv4s0.JPG

Manatees second baseman Greg Hopkins, seen here in a game from earlier this season, went 3-for-4 in Brevard County's 7-4 loss to the Daytona Cubs on Sunday evening at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

AUDIO: Game Highlights

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The 20th season of Brevard County Manatees' baseball concluded on Sunday evening at Jackie Robinson Ballpark with a 7-4 loss to the Daytona Cubs.

 

Brevard County (29-38 second half, 66-68 overall) jumped on the board early with a two-run home run by Yadiel Rivera in the top of the first inning, but that vanished quickly.

 

Daytona (40-20, 75-51) responded with three runs in the bottom of the opening frame as they drew four walks and recorded two hits against Manatees' starter Damien Magnifico (0-2, 6.08 ERA). The first of the hits was a run-scoring single from Dustin Geiger, followed two batters later by Kris Bryant's two-run triple.

 

Magnifico pitched just one inning and did not factor into the decision.

 

The Manatees immediately fought back to tie the game in the top of the second and it started with a leadoff double by Cody Hawn. Greg Hopkins then smacked a single to center - the first of his three hits - to bring the run home.

 

A single and a walk in the bottom of the third for Daytona, allowed Vogelbach to score on a throwing error by Yadiel Rivera to give the Cubs a 4-3 edge.

 

Once again, Brevard responded in the very next half inning to even the score, with Hopkins singling and scoring on a Brandon Macias double.

 

That was it for the Manatees' offense, with Daytona scoring twice in the sixth inning and again in the seventh. A pair of doubles from Bryant and Chadd Krist, followed by a single from Pin-Chieh Chen, put the Cubs up, 6-4, through six.

 

Taylor Mangum took the loss as the fifth of six total pitchers used by the Manatees. One of the three runs that he allowed in two innings of work was unearned. Of the six total men he retired, five were on strikeouts.

 

The Manatees finished 2013 with a .493 overall winning percentage, which is the franchise's best mark since 2009.

 

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

 

Brevard County Play-by-Play

[TooLiveBrew]

Sounds Slip In Ninth; Lose 3-2 In Extras

Nashville's Zach Kroenke Fires Seven Scoreless In Loss

Nashville Sounds

 

http://i.imgur.com/MAGdJX5.jpg

Zack Kroenke (Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

• AUDIO: Blake Lalli's Go-Ahead Single
  
• AUDIO: Josh Prince's RBI Single

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds had one out to go before picking up their eighth shutout victory of the season, but the Iowa Cubs battled back Sunday night to force extras before handing Nashville the 3-2 loss at Greer Stadium.

 

Iowa's first baseman Greg Rohan hit the game-winning home run off the guitar scoreboard in the 10th inning, but it was former Sound Edwin Maysonet who kept the Cubs in the game with his at-bat in the 9th inning, hitting the game-tying two-run single up the middle facing two outs in the ninth inning.

 

Sounds reliever Travis Webb (2-6) was charged the loss, manning the hill in the 10th, while Dustin Molleken took a blown save after loading the bases for Maysonet in the ninth.

 

Maysonet's hit prevented the Cubs from recording a franchise single-season high 15th shutout loss. Instead, Nashville was charged with its ninth extra innings loss in 10 qualifying games.

 

Up until the ninth inning, Sounds pitching had been solid.

 

Sounds starter Zach Kroenke limited the I-Cubs to three hits across seven scoreless innings en route to his sixth quality start of the season. The lefty struck out seven and walked none before Kyle Heckathorn took over in the eighth for a perfect frame.

 

Kroenke's outing continued the Sounds recent trend of solid pitching: over the last five games, starters hold a 1.21 ERA (4er/29.2ip) with a 3-0 record and three quality starts after seeing only one pitcher log six innings or more in the club's previous 12 games.

 

Offensively, catcher Blake Lalli put the Sounds on the board first with his RBI single in the sixth inning. The hit scored Kentrail Davis, who reached base on balls and moved into scoring position on Eugenio Velez's single.

 

Velez's grounder through the infield extended his season-best hit streak to 21 games, the longest by a Sounds batter this season. He has reached base in each of his last 35 games, which is the longest such stretch in the Pacific Coast League this year.

 

Josh Prince doubled the Sounds lead with his two-out RBI single in the eighth inning, which followed an intentional walk to first baseman Hunter Morris. Velez, 3-for-5, scored on the play after landing a double just fair in shallow left field.

 

In the seventh inning, Hainley Statia recorded his team-leading 10th pinch hit: a double to left field. He has more than half the team's 17 pinch hits this season and holds a .417 pinch-hit average (10-for-24).

 

Iowa reliever Marcus Hatley (3-2) picked up the win after holding Nashville to one hit across their final two innings. He struck out three of his six batters faced.

 

The Sounds play their final game of the season at 12:05 p.m. on Labor Day at Greer Stadium against the Iowa Cubs. Throwing for Nashville will be LHP Aaron Laffey (6-8, 6.52) opposite Iowa's RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-0, 2.38). Concessions will serve $2 beer, nachos, popcorn, and $1 hot dogs for Fan Appreciation Day at Greer Stadium.

 

 

Nashville Box

 

 

Nashville PbP

 

The disastrous 9th:

 

Iowa Top of the 9th

-Pitching Change: Dustin Molleken replaces Kyle Heckathorn, batting 9th.

-Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Brad Nelson replaces Brian Schlitter.

-Brad Nelson strikes out swinging.

-Ty Wright singles on a line drive to center fielder Kentrail Davis.

-Dave Sappelt pops out to first baseman Hunter Morris in foul territory.

-Edgar Gonzalez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Josh Prince. Ty Wright to 2nd.

-Mike Olt walks. Ty Wright to 3rd. Edgar Gonzalez to 2nd.

-Edwin Maysonet singles on a line drive to center fielder Kentrail Davis. Ty Wright scores. Edgar Gonzalez scores. Mike Olt to 2nd.

-Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Tim Torres replaces Mike Olt.

-Jae-Hoon Ha pops out to first baseman Hunter Morris in foul territory.

 

Iowa nearly added more than just one in the 10th:

 

Iowa Top of the 10th

-Pitching Change: Travis Webb replaces Dustin Molleken, batting 9th, replacing Robinzon Diaz.

-Greg Rohan homers (1) on a fly ball to left field.

-J. C. Boscan grounds out, second baseman Eugenio Velez to pitcher Travis Webb.

-Julio Borbon singles on a line drive to left fielder Josh Prince.

-Ty Wright grounds into a force out, shortstop Blake Davis to second baseman Eugenio Velez. Julio Borbon out at 2nd. Ty Wright to 1st.

-With Dave Sappelt batting, Ty Wright steals (3) 2nd base.

-With Dave Sappelt batting, wild pitch by Travis Webb, Ty Wright to 3rd.

-Dave Sappelt walks.

-Edgar Gonzalez grounds out, shortstop Blake Davis to first baseman Hunter Morris.

 

Velez actually got the home half of the 10th off to a promising start, but the potential rally was quickly squashed:

 

Nashville Bottom of the 10th

-Eugenio Velez singles on a line drive to left fielder Dave Sappelt.

-Blake Lalli grounds into a double play, shortstop Edwin Maysonet to first baseman Greg Rohan. Eugenio Velez out at 2nd.

-Sean Halton strikes out swinging.

 

 

Nashville Gameday

[brewmann04]

Nice to see the big 4 of Hellweg,Jungman,Nelson and Pena finishing strong.

[battlekow]

Final: @Helena 10, Billings 7

 

Helena box score

Two homers from Jose Pena helped the Brewers overcome a five-spot from Billings in the 2nd inning.

 

Pena has 49 hits on the year, and over half have gone for extra bases (18 doubles, nine homers). Nathan Orf led off and Orfed it up, reaching base in four out of five trips; his OBP is .446 and he has 23 walks against just 20 strikeouts. Michael Ratterree singled, doubled, and walked, running his hit streak to nine games. Clint Coulter had a tough night, 0-4 with three strikeouts. Charlie Markson, whose ex-girlfriend I saw tonight, did not play.

 

Figures that Danny Keller, while finally posting a nice K/BB ratio (5/1 in five innings), would get hammered for five runs, too. He also kept the ball down well (7/1 GO/FO), so I guess it just wasn't his night.

 

Helena play-by-play

[Mass Haas]

Looks like Joe Ayrault had some fun with the top half of the Manatee lineup for the finale.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO link within game story

 

***

 

http://Stars Shutout Generals, Even Series at Two

By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars

 

To even up their series at two games apiece, the Huntsville Stars blanked the Jackson Generals by a score of 7-0 on Saturday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

As they did the previous two nights, the Stars offense took the initial lead on the ballgame. Following two walks by Generals starting pitcher Trevor Miller in the bottom of the first inning, first baseman Jason Rogers came through with a two-run double to put the Stars on the board. For Rogers, the two runs batted in gives him 87 for the season, a total that leads the Southern League.

 

Two innings later, the Stars were able to put the game out of reach against Miller and the Generals. With the bases-loaded and two outs, outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard roped a payoff pitch down the line, scoring outfielders Chadwin Stang and Rene Tosoni as well as Rogers to make the score 5-0 (audio).

 

That lead was plenty for Stars starting pitcher Ariel Pena. The Brewers 17th ranked prospect dazzled in his final start of the season, improving to 8-9 on the year by tossing five scoreless frames while giving up just two hits and striking out six batters. Pena now ranks in the top-five in the league with 131 strikeouts and finishes off the season with five straight starts of giving up two runs or less.

 

Huntsville tacked on their two insurance runs with an RBI groundout from second baseman Nick Shaw in the fourth inning and a sacrifice fly by third baseman Mike Walker in the seventh inning.

 

On offense, the Stars cranked out nine hits, with two apiece from Stang, Rogers and catcher Shawn Zarraga.

 

To ensure the victory for Pena and shutout for the Stars, right-handed relievers Micah Owings, Greg Holle, Eric Marzec and Arcenio Leon each pitched an inning of scoreless relief. For Owings, the scoreless frame came one day after he went 2-for-4 at the plate with a two-run homer as the Stars designated hitter. Overall, the Stars hurlers struck out 12 batters, tying their second-highest total of the season.

 

The win for the Stars marks the 10th shutout of the season for the pitching staff and fourth over the last calendar month.

 

On Sunday, the Stars wrap up a series against the Jackson Generals and their 2013 regular season at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville will send RHP Brooks Hall (2-4, 4.37 ERA) to the bump to try to capture the series victory while Jackson will counter with LHP Cam Hobson (1-1, 1.25 ERA). First pitch is 1:03 CT.

[Mass Haas]

Brief VIDEO interview with Jason Rogers at the link

 

***

 

Southern League RBI title in reach for Huntsville Stars' Jason Rogers

by Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

 

Tough to gripe about a double that doesn't land until it's nearly 400 feet from home plate. But a ground-rule double in the seventh inning of the Stars' 7-0 win over Jackson on Sunday afternoon didn't do Jason Rogers any favors.

 

Rogers had a sure RBI had the ball not bounced over the fence. Nonetheless, he finished with two RBIs, helping him maintain a four-RBI lead over Birmingham's Dan Black atop the Southern League statistics with one game remaining in the season.

 

As the Stars close their 2013 season Monday at 1:03 against the Jackson Generals, the drama will involve individuals more than the game itself.

 

Rogers, the Stars' All-Star first baseman from Riverdale, Ga., can sew up the RBI title, barring a monster day by Black, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs Sunday in the Barons' 7-1 win over Montgomery.

 

Rogers said he was merely taking things "day by day" and not getting wrapped up in statistics.

 

The Stars' Brock Kjeldgaard has 23 homers to lead the league, one more than Rogers.

 

However, the Stars will take a 58-79 record into the finale, the fifth straight losing season for the franchise. A couple of statistical champions provide at least some consolation.

 

"It's small, bright spots that you look for," said hitting coach Kenny Dominguez. "As a hitting coach I'm disappointed we didn't do better as a club. But to see certain guys get certain accolades it gives you a sense of joy we were able to help somebody get better, that somebody heeded the message and did some good things and had a good year."

 

This will give the Stars' the RBI and home run champ for the second consecutive season, as Hunter Morris led the league in both categories in 2012. Huntsville will have had the home run champ in three of the past 11 seasons (Brendan Katin in 2007 along with Morris) and RBI leader in five of the last 11 years (Corey Hart in 2003, Katin in 2007, Mat Gamel in 2008 along with Morris and this year's champ).

 

Rogers is batting .272 after his 2-for-3 game Sunday, a nice recovery from a June in which his average for the month hovered around the .200 mark.

 

"I had a lot of ups and downs and I just tried to battle back and stay strong," he said.

 

"The biggest thing with him has been zone discipline and plate discipline," Dominguez said. "When he went through that slump in June and knowing that he's a guy that drives in a lot of runs for us, he was trying to make things happen. When you put up the numbers he was putting up you get a target on your back from other teams and they're not going to let you beat them."

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog - Postgame entry

[Mass Haas]

Pena Slugs Two Homers in Victory

Outfielder has four RBI, Ratterree drives in three

By Zac Vierra / Helena Brewers

 

Jose Pena was locked in at the plate on Sunday afternoon. The slugging outfielder smashed a pair of homers and drove in four runs as the Brewers beat the Mustangs 10-7.

 

Pena's first bomb came in the first inning with the Brewers up 2-0. On a 1-1 pitch from Luke Moran, Pena (photo below by Seth Eikomstead) hit a fly ball to deep center field. The ball bounced off the top of the fence and left the ballpark as Pena had his eighth homer of the year.

 

With Helena trailing 5-4, Pena would belt his second homer, a solo shot, to lead off the fourth inning. It was his sixth home run against Billings this season.

 

Pena's sac fly in the seventh inning would start a three-run rally, which ended up being the difference in the game.

 

"You could see it from the first at bat on he was really locked in and didn't get fooled by much. He was looking for his pitch and got it a couple times," said Helena manager Tony Diggs.

 

Pena wasn't the only one who was seeing the ball well on Sunday. After a day off on Saturday, Pioneer League MVP Michael Ratterree got right back to business in the first inning pulling a bullet down the left field line for a double to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead.

 

After Pena had tied the game in the fourth, Ratterree would put the Brewers ahead 6-5 with a RBI single in the fifth. The Brewers would not trail again in the contest.

 

Ratterree would finish the afternoon 2 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored.

 

"He's a solid player and that's what you expect, get a little bit of a breather to catch his breath a little bit and be ready to play every day and that's what we emphasize to all our players, just be ready to go every day," said Diggs.

 

Helena starter Danny Keller earned his first win of the season. Keller stumbled in the second inning, allowing five runs on six hits but he would settle down allowing just one hit in the next three frames.

 

"Keller did a great job after having the second inning that he did. He came back in and threw strikes, made them swing the bats. The big thing about today even though he gave up those five runs he made them swing the bats that inning. We have been a little bit prone to walks but he did a good job of not allowing that to happen," said Diggs.

 

Tristan Archer was given the save after pitching the final four innings. He allowed two unearned runs and got out of a jam in the ninth when the Mustangs brought the tying run to the plate.

 

The Brewers and Mustangs will finish the series on Monday. It will be the second straight afternoon contest as there will be a special 1:05 PM start (2:05 Central) at Kindrick Legion Field on Labor Day.

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/7/6/59261276/cuts/17_Jose_Pena_Hi_5_p5xt35oj_jr3t6k23.jpg