Link Report for Sat. 5/3 - Sounds and Stars Roll On, Rattlers Lose In Epic Fashion

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Johnnie Lowe 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 $49.99 season-long package ($12.99 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: LHP Brent Suter at Montgomery (Rays), 6:20 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Steve Jarnicki is the new play-by-play voice of the Stars - welcome aboard! Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveJarnicki. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast.

 

MiLB.TV - It appears seven of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games (not the Stars). Montgomery does host MiLB.TV broadcasts - be among those hoping Steve's audio link synchs up nicely with your MiLB.TV investment.

 

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Brevard County: First, it's the completion of Thursday's suspended nine-inning game (Manatees lead 4-0 after three innings) at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 3:35 PM pre-game, 4:05 gametime, followed by Saturday's regularly-scheduled game, now shortened to seven innings. LHP Jed Bradley is scheduled to start in the nightcap.

 

Free Live Audio Link -- Select the proper link based on listed schedule

 

Dave Walkovic returns as the play-by-play voice of the 'Tees; 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 (or not at all), we'll let you know that.

 

No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Barrett Astin at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 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.

 

For the $49.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, Stars' road games from seven Southern League locales, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games.

 

NOTE: Thirty-nine (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (9) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (30) will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and remember to refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule so you can coordinate your DVR activity.

 

DVR ALERT: The next Timber Rattlers game available on local TV is Thursday evening May 8th on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County Competion of Suspended Game

 

Brevard County Regularly Scheduled Game

 

Wisconsin

 

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 these just prior to the respective game times --

 

Nashville Media Notes - it's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Roster" banner on the Sounds' site.

 

Brevard County Media Notes - again, it's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Multimedia" banner on the Manatees' site.

 

Wisconsin Media Notes - Linked on the Rattler Radio blog

[Mass Haas]

STANDINGS:

 

AAA - Pacific Coast League American Southern Division

 

AA - Southern League North Division

 

High-A - Florida State League North Division

 

A - Midwest League Western Division

[Mass Haas]

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

[Mass Haas]

Weather.com:

 

Nashville, TN

 

Montgomery, AL

 

Viera, FL (Melbourne)

 

Grand Chute, WI (Appleton)

[TheCrew07]

The T-Rats with an epic fail this afternoon, I'll post the summary and what not later... my goodness.

[Mass Haas]

Notes from Steve in Huntsville:

 

The Stars guaranteed themselves their fifth series victory of the season with Friday night's win. They did not win their fifth series of last year until July 8th in Tennessee…The Stars have won 5 out of their first 6 series of the season… The Stars are now 5-0 on Friday’s….

 

Jason Rogers produced his second three hit game of the season last night, and it also was his third game this year of having two doubles in one game. His 8 doubles are now tied for the 3rd most in the Southern League…With the nine runs scored last night, Huntsville has now scored more runs than any other team in the Southern League with 133. They passed Montgomery, who has scored 128. Nick Ramirez (.268, 4 hr, 16 RBI during streak) extended his on base streak last night to 14 consecutive games which is the 2nd longest active streak in the Southern League. He needed his final at bat in the 8th on a two run single to extend the streak. John Andreoli of Tennessee has the longest active on base streak at 21 consecutive games….Shawn Zarraga’s streak of recording at least one hit in every start came to an end last night. He had at least one hit in his first 17 starts of the season…Greg Hopkins’ 12 game on base streak also ended with his 0-5 game…The streak is the 7th longest on base streak this season. It started April 18th as he hit .231 during the streak… Adam Weisenburger still has his streak alive after not playing yesterday (.323, 3 RBI during streak) has now reached base safely in 11 straight thanks to a pair of walks in game two yesterday.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

"Tonight’s interview is with the Sounds’ current closer, Donovan Hand, who discusses his new role compared to the many others he’s had in his career; the feel and success of this Sounds team compared to years past; his mentality this season after having success in the major leagues last year but being removed from the Brewers’ 40-man roster before spring training; and his excitement about becoming a parent with his wife, Haley, in July."

 

***

 

Hey, congrats to the Hand's!

[Mass Haas]

We'll see what it means going forward, but as per the Sounds media notes, RHP Alfredo Figaro is set to start on Monday afternoon (LHP Brad Mills' spot).

[TheCrew07]

LumberKings outslug Rattlers 16-13

Clinton scores five in ninth inning to rally from 12-4 deficit for the win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a 12-4 lead over the Clinton LumberKings after scoring seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on Saturday at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Clinton closed the gap with a run in the sixth and six in the seventh and finished off the Rattlers with five runs in the ninth inning. Austin Wilson drove in six runs for the LumberKings in their 16-13 win.

 

Clinton (14-13) scored twice on three hits in the first inning. Ian Miller started the game with a single and stole second. Zach Shank, he second batter of the inning, singled to put runners on the corners. Jack Reinheimer followed with a single to drive in Miller and send Shank around to third base. Reinheimer stole second with Wilson at the plate. Then, Wilson knocked in Shank with a grounder to short.

 

Wisconsin's opponents have scored first in the first six games of this seven game homestand.

 

The Rattlers (12-16) answered in the bottom of the first by scoring a run without a hit. Clinton starting pitcher Edwin Diaz walked the first two batters of the inning. Omar Garcia started the inning and drew the first walk. He stole second and third. Michael Ratterree drew a walk and stole second. The throw to get Ratterree sailed into center and Garcia scored.

 

Clinton added to their lead in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by Lonnie Kauppila.

 

Wisconsin staged a two out rally in the bottom of the third inning. Garcia walked to lead off the inning, stole second, and stole third. He was still there with two outs. Taylor Brennan singled to drive him in and the Rattlers were down 3-2. David Denson would single and Chris McFarland came to the plate. McFarland launched a home run, his fourth of the season, to left. The three-run blast gave the Rattlers a 5-3 lead.

 

Wilson cut into Wisconsin's lead in the top of the fifth with a sacrifice fly against Wisconsin starting pitcher Barrett Astin.

 

Leoncio Munoz, Clinton's second pitcher, walked the first two Timber Rattlers batters he faced in the bottom of the fifth. Both Ratterree and Clint Coulter took their walks, but were still at first and second with two outs. The Rattler bats woke up to plate seven runs in the inning. McFarland singled to drive in Ratterree. Jose Pena doubled and that got Coulter and McFarland across the pay station. Steve Halcomb kept the inning going with a walk. Angel Ortega singled and that got Pena home. Garcia doubled to score Halcomb and knock Munoz out of the game with the Rattlers up 10-4.

 

Ratterree, in his second plate appearance of the inning, greeted reliever Blake Holovach with a two-run double off the wall in right field. That capped the scoring in the inning and the Rattlers were up 12-4.

 

Tyler Linehan entered the game in the top of the sixth inning and gave up a leadoff triple to Burt Reynolds. Christian Carmichael drove in Reynolds with a grounder to short. The Rattlers still led 12-5 after the sixth inning.

 

The LumberKings sent eleven men to the plate in the top of the seventh inning to make the score 12-11.

 

Shank walked to start the comeback. Reinheimer singled. Wilson doubled to drive in both runners. Tyler O'Neill singled and Wilson scored. Later in the inning, O'Neill scored on a grounder to third. The Rattlers lead was just 12-8, but the LumberKings had two outs and none on after O'Neill scored.

 

But, Carmichael singled, Kauppila walked, and Miller singled to drive in Carmichael. That hit drove Linehan out of the game and the Rattlers lead was down to 12-9. Harvey Martin took over for Linehan, but gave up an RBI single to Shank that scored Kauppila. Martin got the final out of the frame to keep the Rattlers up by a run.

 

Wisconsin added a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Halcomb was on third and Garcia was on first with one out. Ratterree drove a foul popup down the right field line. Shank, the second baseman, made the catch with his back to the plate. Halcomb tagged and scored for a 13-11 edge.

 

Martin tossed a 1-2-3 top of the eighth and retired the first two batters he faced in the top of the ninth.

 

Kauppila, the #9 hitter in the Clinton lineup, started another two out rally when he singled up the middle on a 2-2 pitch. Miller also singled. Shank, who is 6-for-8 and has been on base nine times in the first two games of this series, drove in Kauppila with a single. That cut Wisconsin's lead to one run with runners on the corners and two outs.

 

Reinheimer hit a slicing fly ball down the right field line and it stayed fair. The ball bounced off the wall in the corner for a two-run triple and the LumberKings led 14-13. Reinheimer is 7-for-11 in the first two games of the series.

 

Wilson put an exclamation point on the inning by lining a home run down the line in left. His two-run shot made the score 16-14.

 

Rafael Pineda, Clinton's fourth pitcher of the afternoon, worked a scoreless eighth. He allowed a leadoff single to Pena in the bottom of the ninth, but Wisconsin could not rally. Pineda was the only pitcher for either team to not allow a run on Saturday afternoon.

 

The teams combined for 34 hits in the game. Clinton collected 21 while the Rattlers had 13. McFarland led the way for the Rattlers as he was 3-for-5 with four RBI and a couple of runs scored.

 

The final game of series - and Wisconsin's homestand - is Sunday afternoon. The Timber Rattlers send Tristan Archer (0-1, 1.93) to the mound as their starting pitcher. The LumberKings have named Rigoberto Garcia as their starting pitcher. Garcia will be making his 2014 debut tomorrow. Game time is 1:05pm.

 

Fans may play catch on the field from noon to 12:30pm on Sunday courtesy of Rasmussen College.

 

It's Brewers Sunday from the Rattlers and 107.5, The Fan. Wisconsin players and coaches will wear their Brewer-themed Sunday jerseys and Milwaukee legend Gorman Thomas will make a personal appearance at the ballpark. There are a limited number of VIP Packages (box seat ticket, a pregame meet & greet with Thomas, and one guaranteed autograph) for $35 from the Timber Rattlers. Thomas will also throw out a ceremonial first pitch and sign for fans on the third base concourse near the Festival Grill until the fifth inning.

 

Please see this link to read the autograph guidelines for the Gorman Thomas appearance.

 

All Timber Rattlers players will be available for a postgame autograph session on this busy Sunday afternoon.

 

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, the radio broadcast can be heard on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the pregame show at 12:45pm. Sunday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

 

HOME RUNS:

CLN:

Austin Wilson (3rd, 1 on in 9th inning off Harvey Martin, 2 out)

 

WIS:

Chris McFarland (4th, 2 on in 3rd inning off Edwin Diaz, 2 out)

 

WP: Rafael Pineda (2-2)

LP: Harvey Martin (2-2)

 

TIME: 3:22

ATTN: 3,249

 

Chris' postgame includes some nuggets he talked about during the broadcast and tweeted, postgame interviews with McFarland, Garcia, and Erickson, photos, and what should have been an excellent highlight package.

Postgame Post – May 3, 2014

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

The pitching was awful, that's about it. I'm not sure what it is about these Saturday games but that's 2 in a row now that the Rattlers should have won but lost late.

 

Omar Garcia (2-3,2B,2 BB), Chris McFarland (3-5,HR), Jose Pena (2-5,2B), and Steven Halcomb (2-4,BB) had the multi-hit games for the T-Rats.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

With the extremely poor pitching on both sides there are very few 1-2-3 half innings.

 

Wisconsin Gameday

[bkrause2]

Final: Tampa 4, Brevard County 7

 

Brevard tops Tampa 7-4, in completion of suspended game

By Andrew Luftglass / Brevard County Manatees

 

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Manatees left fielder Victor Roache went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Brevard County's 7-4 win over the Tampa Yankees on Saturday night, in a game that originally began on Thursday night but was suspended due to rain. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - It took a couple days with all of the rain on the Space Coast, but the Brevard County Manatees finished off a 7-4 win over the Tampa Yankees on Saturday evening in a game that was suspended on Thursday due to heavy precipitation.

 

The 'Tees (15-12) and Yanks (14-13) resumed play in the top of the fourth inning on Saturday night with Brevard County on top, 4-0. The home side had produced a four-run second inning on Thursday before the rain fell.

 

Brandon Macias and Nathan Orf each delivered sacrifice flies, Yadiel Rivera plated a run with a single and the 'Tees were gifted another run on a Tampa error.

 

Damien Magnifico (1-2, 3.10) started the game on Thursday and threw three scoreless innings, as he yielded three hits and struck out three.

 

Though the 'Tees had all of the offense on Thursday, the Yankees struck first on Saturday. Peter O'Brien led off the fifth inning with a home run and Dante Bichette, Jr. hit a solo homer in the seventh, as the Yanks used the long ball to cut the Manatees' lead to 4-2.

 

However the Manatees would respond, in the bottom half of the seventh. Tyrone Taylor and Victor Roache both delivered the big blows in an inning that produced three runs for Brevard County. Taylor slammed an RBI double, while Roache plated two runs with a two-bagger of his own. The pair of extra-base hits gave Brevard County a 7-2 lead.

 

Tampa mounted a short comeback in the ninth inning that just did not have enough juice. Eric Jagielo began the frame with a homer and then Bichette doubled.

 

Then with one out, Zach Wilson singled to bring home Bichette. That was all Greg Holle would allow though, as he induced a ground out and struck out Jose Toussen to end the ballgame.

 

Brevard's Austin Ross (2-0, 3.43) picked up the win in relief as he came in the game for Magnifico when play resumed on Saturday. He pitched five solid innings, surrendered just two runs on solo homers, allowed one other hit and struck out five Yankees.

 

Yankees' left-hander Eric Wooten took the loss. He was Tampa's starter on Thursday and finished with four runs - three earned - against him over three innings of work. Wooten surrendered seven hits, walked two and fanned one.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Michael Reed and Orlando Arcia were each on base four times for the Manatees. Reed singled, doubled and walked twice, while Arcia singled and walked three times. Yadiel Rivera singled and walked twice. Cameron Garfield and Victor Roache each were 2-for-4.

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 2nd

Michael Reed singles on a line drive to left fielder Claudio Custodio.

Cameron Garfield singles on a line drive to center fielder Jake Cave. Michael Reed to 2nd.

Victor Roache singles on a line drive to left fielder Claudio Custodio. Michael Reed to 3rd. Cameron Garfield to 2nd.

Brandon Macias out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Jose Toussen. Michael Reed scores. Cameron Garfield to 3rd.

Yadiel Rivera singles on a ground ball to second baseman Angelo Gumbs. Cameron Garfield scores. Victor Roache to 2nd.

Mike Garza singles on a line drive to right fielder Jose Toussen. Victor Roache to 3rd. Yadiel Rivera to 2nd.

Nathan Orf out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Jose Toussen. Victor Roache scores. Yadiel Rivera scores. Throwing error by right fielder Jose Toussen.

With Orlando Arcia batting, Mike Garza steals (1) 2nd base.

Orlando Arcia walks.

With Tyrone Taylor batting, Mike Garza caught stealing 3rd base, pitcher Eric Wooten to first baseman Zach Wilson to third baseman Eric Jagielo.

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 7th

Orlando Arcia walks.

Tyrone Taylor doubles (12) on a fly ball to left fielder Claudio Custodio. Orlando Arcia scores.

Michael Reed walks.

Pitching Change: Evan Rutckyj replaces Rafael De Paula.

Cameron Garfield grounds out, shortstop Cito Culver to first baseman Zach Wilson. Tyrone Taylor to 3rd. Michael Reed to 2nd.

Victor Roache doubles (4) on a fly ball to left fielder Claudio Custodio. Tyrone Taylor scores. Michael Reed scores.

Brandon Macias flies out to center fielder Jake Cave. Victor Roache to 3rd.

Yadiel Rivera grounds out, shortstop Cito Culver to first baseman Zach Wilson.

[bkrause2]

Final: Tampa 6, Brevard County 2

 

Seventh inning dooms 'Tees in 6-2 loss to Yanks

By Justin Rocke / Brevard County Manatees

 

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In his first game back since an injury a week ago, Manatees first baseman Garrett Cooper - seen here in a game from earlier this season - hit a solo home run in Brevard County's 6-2 loss to the Tampa Yankees on Saturday night at Space Coast Stadium. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees couldn't manage to sweep Saturday's doubleheader as the Tampa Yankees rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh to emerge with a 6-2 victory at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Manatees' closer Tanner Poppe, who came into today with a spotless ERA of 0.00, struggled for the first time in 2014. With the score deadlocked at two, Yankees' second baseman Angelo Gumbs lined a single to center to lead-off the inning and first baseman Reymond Nunez followed by drawing a seven-pitch walk.

 

With one out, Jake Cave - who was 0-for-3 at that point in the game - smoked a 2-1 pitch into deep right-center field. The ball sailed way over the head of Tyrone Taylor as both Gumbs and Nunez raced home to give Tampa a 4-2 lead.

 

Tampa (15-13) was not done, however. With two outs, Eric Jagielo hammered a pitch well over the right field wall for his second home run of the doubleheader, his sixth of the year, to put the Yankees up comfortably, 6-2.

 

The Manatees (15-13) did have their fair share of opportunities at the plate as the team left nine runners on base in the seven-inning ballgame. In the bottom of the sixth, the 'Tees had runners at second and third with one out, as well as the bases loaded and two outs. Yankees' reliever Zach Woods, who would go on to pick up his first victory of the season, was able to get out of the jam and keep the game tied.

 

Brevard County did grab the early lead as they jumped out in front 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning. Garrett Cooper, who had missed eight days with a left elbow injury, stepped up to the plate against Yankees starter Dan Camarena (1-3, 3.34) to lead off the frame. The first pitch that Cooper saw landed well over the right-center field wall for his second homer of the season to put the Manatees up 1-0.

 

Brevard would rally for another run in the inning as a bunt single and a wild pitch moved Brandon Macias to second base with two outs. Taylor then slapped an offering from Camarena into center to score Macias and put the 'Tees up by two.

 

Those were the only two runs the left-hander would surrender on the evening, as Camarena allowed seven hits while walking two and striking out four over five innings.

 

Tampa would tie the game in the top of the fourth inning off Manatees' starter Jed Bradley (3-1, 3.34). Dante Bichette, Jr. blasted the first pitch of the inning to deep center field, well over the 404 foot sign, for his second home run of the doubleheader and his third of the year to pull the Yankees within a run. Peter O'Brien followed with a double and would score to tie the game on a RBI single by Nunez.

 

Bradley, who picked up his second straight no-decision, was impressive once again. Over six innings over work, he allowed those two runs on seven hits and struck out six without walking a batter.

 

The Manatees will continue their homestand as the Clearwater Threshers (5-21) come to Viera to begin a three-game series on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m.

 

Right-hander Jorge Lopez (2-2, 4.50) will look to pick up his second straight victory against the Threshers. Clearwater will call upon left-hander Ethan Stewart (1-2, 3.18), who surrendered eight runs against the Manatees in Brevard County's 20-0 win over the Threshers, this past Tuesday.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Michael Reed is up to .313 after picking up ten hits in his last four games. Reed singled, doubled and walked. Brandon Macias also went 2-for-3. Garrett Cooper homered and walked in his first game back in the lineup and Tyrone Taylor singled and drew a walk. Jed Bradley went six scoreless before being lifted following the rain delay.

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 2nd

Garrett Cooper homers (2) on a fly ball to center field.

Brandon Macias singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Dan Camarena.

With Parker Berberet batting, passed ball by Trent Garrison, Brandon Macias to 2nd.

Parker Berberet pops out to shortstop Cito Culver.

Jose Sermo strikes out swinging.

Tyrone Taylor singles on a line drive to left fielder Zach Wilson. Brandon Macias scores.

Yadiel Rivera flies out to center fielder Jake Cave.

[TheCrew07]

Sounds Defeat I-Cubs For Fifth Straight Win

Nashville Takes Sole Possession Of First Place For First Time Since April 2011

Nashville Sounds

 

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(Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The red-hot Nashville Sounds sent a season-high crowd of 8,011 fans home happy on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium by recording their fifth straight victory, a 3-1 triumph over the Iowa Cubs.

 

The win combined with a Round Rock loss to New Orleans gave Nashville (17-12) sole possession of first place in its division for the first time since April 17, 2011. The Sounds have won eight of their last nine games.

 

Nashville starter Johnnie Lowe turned in a solid start for the Sounds, continuing the club's recent outstanding work in that department. The right-hander held Iowa to one hit over four scoreless innings of work and struck out six batters during his 63-pitch outing.

 

Sounds starting pitchers have posted a collective 0.64 ERA (2er/28.0ip) in the last six games, blanking the opposition in five of those six contests.

 

The Sounds took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Elian Herrera legged out an infield single and later scored on a wild pitch uncorked by Iowa starter Kyle Hendricks (3-2), who took the loss.

 

Nashville extended its lead to 3-0 in the sixth on an RBI single from Hunter Morris followed by Jeremy Hermida's run-scoring double off the left-center wall.

 

Brent Leach (2-0) followed Lowe with three scoreless innings of relief to pick up the victory. The southpaw allowed one hit and struck out four batters.

 

Iowa got on the board in the top of the eighth against Jeremy Jeffress, pulling within 3-1 and leaving a pair of runners in scoring position in the frame.

 

The Nashville right-hander issued consecutive one-out walks before Lars Anderson delivered an RBI single to left to break up the Sounds' shutout bid. After a wild pitch put runners on second and third with one out, Jeffress escaped the jam by striking out Logan Watkins before inducing an inning-ending groundout from Arismendy Alcantara.

 

Dustin Molleken retired the Cubs in order in the ninth to close out the victory and notch his first save of the year.

 

The teams continue the series with a 2:05 p.m. matinee on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Ariel Pena (0-2, 5.29) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Iowa left-hander Eric Jokisch (2-1, 3.48)

 

Nashville Boxscore

With Gindl, Schafer, and Wooten up with the big club and Burgos on the DL it's thin pickens from a prospect perspective around this team right now.

 

Nashville managed just 6 hits and Hermida's double was the only extra base hit.

 

I hadn't really followed Jeremy Jeffress' post Brewer career all that much, just peaking in on his peripherals from time to time, he had actually gotten his BB rate down under 4 for a couple of years but right now he's up over 10, it will be interesting to see if that quickly normalizes to where he sat the last couple of years or it will be a problem like it was tonight.

 

Cubs uber prospect Javier Baez has always been knocked for his plate discipline and holes in his swing, and it took until AAA for him to get really get exposed, but the pitchers with greater pitchability at this level are humbling him mightily. He was 0-4 tonight with 3 SOs and his AVE is sitting at a measly .154 with a .573 OPS. To add insult to injury his defense at SS isn't progressing and it's still looking like he'll ultimately end up at 3B. He had a dugout incident with a teammate earlier in the season and coupled with his offensive and defensive struggles it's been a miserable campaign for him. In fact Arismendy Alcantara who I think is the Cubs next SS has a .780 OPS, he's playing 2B only because Baez bumped him off SS as he was flying through the system. Baez had out OPS'd Alcantara by at least 100 points at every level thus far, it wouldn't shock me to see Baez get demoted if he doesn't turn things around by the end of May. The Cubs have time, they aren't playing for anything this year so they don't really have any reason to be aggressive if he's not being successful.

 

Nashville Recap

 

Taylor Green exited the game in the 6th, he had struck out in the 5th but didn't hadn't made a defensive play since Vitter's ground out to end the 4th. Sean Halton obviously wasn't go to play 3rd but Zac Rosscup is a lefty so maybe it was just a platoon advantage situation?

 

Nashville Bottom of the 6th

• Pete Orr singles on a ground ball to center fielder Logan Watkins.
  Elian Herrera grounds into a force out, first baseman Chris Valaika to shortstop Javier Baez. Pete Orr out at 2nd. Elian Herrera to 1st.
  With Eugenio Velez batting, Elian Herrera steals (3) 2nd base.
  Eugenio Velez walks.
  Hunter Morris singles on a line drive to right fielder Brett Jackson. Elian Herrera scores. Eugenio Velez to 3rd.
  Pitching Change: Zac Rosscup replaces Kyle Hendricks, batting 9th.
  Jeremy Hermida doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Josh Vitters. Eugenio Velez scores. Hunter Morris to 3rd.
  Robinzon Diaz flies out to right fielder Brett Jackson.
  Zac Rosscup intentionally walks Irving Falu.
  Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Sean Halton replaces Taylor Green.
  Sean Halton strikes out swinging.

 

Iowa Top of the 7th

• Defensive switch from shortstop to third base for Irving Falu.
  Defensive Substitution: Hector Gomez replaces Sean Halton, batting 8th, playing shortstop.
  Javier Baez strikes out swinging.
  Chris Valaika grounds out, third baseman Irving Falu to first baseman Hunter Morris.
  Josh Vitters pops out to first baseman Hunter Morris in foul territory.

 

Nashville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 11, @Montgomery 0

 

Stars Shut Out Biscuits

 

Montgomery, AL - The Huntsville Stars earned their fourth shutout of the season after they blanked the Montgomery Biscuits 11-0 Saturday night at Riverwalk Stadium. The Stars won four out of five against the Biscuits, the Double-A Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, and finished their ten-game road trip with a 7-3 record.

 

Brent Suter (4-1) threw seven shutout innings and allowed just two hits. He also struck out seven and was backed by plenty of offense.

 

In the third inning, the Stars broke out against Montgomery starter Matt Neil (1-1). With runners on the corners and two-outs, Nick Ramirez produced an RBI double. It was the first of five hits for Ramirez. Jason Rogers then followed with a two-run homer over the left field wall making it 3-0. It was Rogers' second home run of the season.

 

The Stars added to their lead in the fourth. Kentrail Davis led off with a double. Two batters later, Josh Prince walked and stole second. Adam Weisenburger then brought both runners home on a two-run double making it 5-0. D'Vontrey Richardson and Ramirez also had RBI singles in the inning increasing Huntsville's lead to 7-0.

 

Neil was hit hard by the Stars allowing nine hits on seven runs in 3.1 innings.

 

The Stars scored another run in the eighth when Rogers reached on a fielder's choice. Then in the eighth, Weisenburger singled home a run and Ramirez provided a two-run single.

 

The Stars pounded out a season high 17 hits as they improved to 19-11 on the season and still lead the Southern League North division by 2.5 games.

 

Ramirez led the Stars by going 5-5 with 4 RBI. Weisenburger was a hit away from the cycle as he needed a home run but was pinch hit for in the ninth inning. Weisenburger was 3-4 with 3 RBI. Mitch Haniger, Prince and Rogers all had two hits for the victorious Stars.

 

The Stars will return to Huntsville and have Sunday off. The Stars resume play on Monday night at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville as they host the Jackson Generals, the Double-A Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The Stars will have RHP Tyler Cravy (4-1, 2.59) on the mound. Jackson will have LHP James Gillheeney (1-0, 1.64). The game can be heard starting at 6:15 PM CT with Steve Jarnicki on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM, and wtkiradio.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Montgomery was 16-9 before the Stars came to town and wrecked them in four of five games. My goodness, the Stars put 20 men on base and didn't commit an error in this 11-0 game. Suppose you can quibble with a combined five walks from the scoreless performances of LHP Bruce Suter and RHP Kevin Shackelford, but this contest was about as perfectly played as we'll see anywhere in the system all summer. Even the Montgomery weather (75 degrees, clear) was perfect.

 

Nick Ramirez is now 5th in the Southern League in slugging at .541 and 8th in OPS at .887, what a monster game, his confidence must be sky-high right now.

 

C'mon, man! Joey Paciorek deserves another blowout chance off the bench late, but you can't pinch-hit for Adam Weisenburger a homer shy of the cycle there, you just can't.

 

Suter now sports a 1.46 ERA -- 18 hits allowed in 37 innings, a 0.70 WHIP, best in the league.

 

Huntsville Game Log

 

Enjoy! Running out of superlatives for this club...

[Mass Haas]

Nashville:

 

VIDEO: Local TV Coverage

 

AUDIO: Unlike the announcer above, Jeff gets Jeremy Hermida's name pronounciation right on this call

 

AUDIO: Final Out Of The Game

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville:

 

VIDEO: Nick Ramirez adds his fifth hit of the day in an 11-0 rout of Montgomery

 

And from Friday --

 

VIDEO: Taylor Jungmann ends the sixth inning with a strikeout in a 9-1 win over Montgomery

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County:

 

AUDIO: Don Money, the special instructor of player development for the Milwaukee Brewers, joins Justin Rocke on the Manatees Radio Network

 

AUDIO, Game Highlights: The Manatees win, 7-3, in the resumption of a game suspended on 5/1

 

AUDIO, Game Highlights: The Yankees score four runs in the seventh and beat the Manatees, 6-2

[Mass Haas]

Be sure to read Tim Froberg's Post-Crescent feature on Clint Coulter here.