Link Report for Sun. 5/4 -- Sweet day all around as Roache homers thrice!

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Ariel Pena at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:05 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.

 

**********

 

Huntsville: Idle

 

**********

 

Brevard County: RHP Jorge Lopez at home vs. Clearwater (Phillies), 3:35 PM pre-game, 4:05 gametime

 

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.

 

**********

 

Wisconsin: RHP Tristan Archer 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 Sunday's action as it happens with box score / game log links:

 

Nashville

 

Brevard County

 

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]

It's been a long time, Nashville!

 

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

 

Viera, FL (Melbourne)

 

Grand Chute, WI (Appleton)

[Mass Haas]

Sharing a personal note, hope you find it worthwhile --

 

Deafness doesn't impair RIT baseball player Skip Flanagan

 

Combines multiple favorites for me -- baseball, Massachusetts kid. My daughter will be attending RIT/NTID in the fall.

 

Hopefully a Brewers draft pick next year

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

"Sunday’s interview is with Sounds reliever Brent Leach, the winner from last night’s game. Leach discusses his season so far, his tremendous pick-off move, what it will take for him to get back to the big leagues (where he debuted as a Dodgers reliever in ’09), pitching in Japan (’11) and his ping pong skills."

[igor67]

Denson with a 3 hit day so far, I hope that is a sign that they are going to start falling for him.

[DHonks]

given his numbers, age, and previous dominance, why is Mike Strong not in AA/AAA? There's no lefty reliever infront of him.

[fondybrewfan]

Denson and Roache both with great days. Even though Denson's BA is nothing to write home about he is carrying a nice OBP. Nice skill set to have for such a young kid

[brewmann04]

Nice to see the good Pena tonight

[Jenkins5]

Denson and Roache both with great days. Even though Denson's BA is nothing to write home about he is carrying a nice OBP. Nice skill set to have for such a young kid

 

Denson almost has more hits in May than he did in all of April and is hitting .325 over his last 10 games. Being young in the league and with the cold weather it prob took awhile for him to get adjusted but seems he is looked in now. He is seeing the ball better and I think the power is the next thing to rise!

 

Also as I say everyday....Michael Reed is still to overlooked as a prospect I think.

[bkrause2]

Final: Clearwater 5, Brevard County 11

 

Roache goes deep thrice in 11-5 win over Threshers

By Andrew Luftglass / Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - Victor Roache delivered a massive power surge for the Brevard County Manatees with three home runs in his first three at-bats, en route to an 11-5 win over the Clearwater Threshers on Sunday evening at Space Coast Stadium. Roache became the first player in franchise history to hit three homers in a single game.

 

Roache launched his first homer as the leadoff batter of the second inning. He drilled an offering from Clearwater starting pitcher Miguel Nunez over the tall wall in right-center field, just to the right of the center field batter's eye. His second long ball came in the fourth inning. This time, the power hitter deposited a long fly ball over the left field wall and onto the berm deck.

 

Brevard's left fielder stepped up to the plate for the third time with Cameron Garfield on second base in the fifth inning. Roache's third at-bat produced the same result as the first two. He lifted a ball well over the left-center field fence, past the flagpoles for his third home run of the game.

 

Roache finished the game 3-for-3 with four RBI and a walk. He did have a chance to add to his home run total in the seventh inning.

 

Brevard (16-13) had runners on second and third with just one out and Roache worked himself into a 3-0 count, but the Threshers (5-22) decided to stay as far away from Roache's bat as possible. They tossed an intentional fourth ball and the left fielder did not have another plate appearance.

 

With Roache's help, the Manatees jumped out to a 9-1 lead over Clearwater. Michael Reed also got in on the action with his second home run of the season in the first inning. Brandon Macias, Tyrone Taylor and Garfield also delivered run-scoring doubles to expand the lead. However, the 'Tees almost let the eight-run advantage slip away.

 

Clearwater rallied for four runs in the sixth inning against Brevard starting pitcher Jorge Lopez (3-2, 5.14 ERA). Art Charles and Gabriel Lino came through with the big hits. The pair produced back-to-back two-run singles, but the Threshers could not complete the comeback.

 

After the treacherous sixth, Brevard made a call to the bullpen and brought in southpaw Mike Strong. Clearwater had no answer for the lefty, who struck out seven batters through three scoreless innings. Strong struck out the side in the ninth to complete the save. He only allowed one base runner in his entire outing, when he hit a batter to lead off the ninth.

 

Strong's save helped Lopez secure his third win of the season. He pitched six innings and allowed five runs on six hits. Lopez struck out six Threshers hitters and walked one.

 

Brevard County is now 4-0 against Clearwater this season and the teams will continue their series on Monday night at 6:35 p.m. at Space Coast Stadium. Left-hander Hobbs Johnson (2-3, 2.33) is expected to start for the Manatees against Threshers' lefty Ethan Stewart (1-2, 3.18).

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Have a day, Victor Roache! 3-for-3 with three home runs and a walk. Michael Reed also hit his second home run of the year after hitting only one last year at Wisconsin. Tyrone Taylor added two more doubles to give him 14 on the season. Orlando Arcia's 2-for-5 makes him 8-for-19 in his last four games. Arcia also stole a base. Cameron Garfield and Brandon Macias each added a double. Jorge Lopez gave up five runs in six innings. Not his best outing of the season, but he picked up the win. Mike Strong went three scoreless and struck out seven to pick up his first save.

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

Roache's three home runs

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 2nd

 

Victor Roache homers (3) on a fly ball to center field.

Garrett Cooper singles on a line drive to center fielder Peter Lavin.

With Yadiel Rivera batting, wild pitch by Miguel Nunez, Garrett Cooper to 2nd.

Yadiel Rivera grounds out, shortstop KC Serna to first baseman Art Charles.

Brandon Macias hits a ground-rule double (6) on a fly ball to left field. Garrett Cooper scores.

Nathan Orf pops out to third baseman Harold Martinez.

Orlando Arcia flies out to right fielder Brian Pointer.

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 4th

 

Victor Roache homers (4) on a fly ball to left field.

Garrett Cooper grounds out, shortstop KC Serna to first baseman Art Charles.

Yadiel Rivera grounds out, second baseman Angelo Mora to first baseman Art Charles.

Brandon Macias hit by pitch.

With Nathan Orf batting, Brandon Macias caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Logan Moore to shortstop KC Serna.

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 5th

 

Nathan Orf grounds out, pitcher Miguel Nunez to first baseman Art Charles.

Orlando Arcia singles on a ground ball to center fielder Peter Lavin.

With Tyrone Taylor batting, Orlando Arcia steals (4) 2nd base.

Tyrone Taylor doubles (13) on a fly ball to center fielder Peter Lavin. Orlando Arcia scores.

Michael Reed pops out to first baseman Art Charles in foul territory.

Cameron Garfield doubles (5) on a fly ball to center fielder Peter Lavin. Tyrone Taylor scores.

Pitching Change: Steven Inch replaces Miguel Nunez.

Victor Roache homers (5) on a fly ball to center field. Cameron Garfield scores.

Garrett Cooper flies out to right fielder Brian Pointer.

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers jump to big lead, cruise to 10-3 win over Clinton

Denson collects three hits, drives in three to lead the offense

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers have been looking for fast starts to games for the last few weeks. They found one on Sunday and defeated the Clinton LumberKings 10-3 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. David Denson paced Wisconsin's 12-hit attack with three hits and three RBI.

 

The Timber Rattlers did something on Sunday that they did not do in the first six games of their homestand. They scored first...and on Sunday, the Rattlers scored often.

 

Wisconsin scored six times in the bottom of the first inning to take the early lead. Michael Ratterree started the rally with a one out single. Jose Pena doubled to left to get Ratterree home. Taylor Brennan drew a walk and David Denson singled to center to score Pena. Chris McFarland was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Clinton starter Rigoberto Garcia got the second out of the inning on a force play at the plate, but he would not get the third out.

 

Francisco Castillo singled to drive two runs across the plate and drive Garcia out of the game with Wisconsin leading 4-0.

 

Angel Ortega greeted reliever Aaron Brooks to the game with another two-run single and the Rattlers were up 6-0.

 

Denson delivered a two-out RBI single to drive in Ratterree in the bottom of the second inning to push the Rattlers advantage.

 

Clinton chipped away with single runs in the third and fourth innings off Rattlers starting pitcher Tristan Archer. Joe DeCarlo drew a bases loaded walk with two outs in the third. Ian Miller drove in Zach Shank with a groundout in the fourth.

 

Brennan gave the Rattlers another run with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.

 

The LumberKings got to Archer one last time. In the fifth, Burt Reynolds doubled with one out and scored on a single by DeCarlo. Archer tossed five innings and turned the lead over to Trevor Seidenberger.

 

On Saturday, Wisconsin could not maintain a 12-4 lead and lost 16-13 to the LumberKings. There would be no issues on Sunday. Seidenberger worked three scoreless and struck out three.

 

Denson added to his RBI total in the bottom of the sixth. Brennan drew a walk to start the inning. Then, Denson smacked a line drive off the 405' sign in deep right-center field for an RBI triple. McFarland drove in Denson with a sacrifice fly to put the Rattlers up 10-3.

 

Chris Razo recorded the final three outs to close out the game.

 

Wisconsin wrapped up their seven-game homestand with a 3-4 record.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin a brief three-game road trip on Monday in Kane County. Anthony Banda (1-3, 3.13) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Tyler Skiluna (1-0, 3.81) is set to start for the Cougars. Game time is 6:30pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the pregame show at 6:10pm.

 

The Rattlers return home on Thursday, May 8 to host the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

 

WP: Tristan Archer (1-1)

LP: Rigoberto Garcia (0-1)

 

Post game interviews with Denson and Erickson, some pretty sweet pictures of Neda's bat shattering, and of course the video highlights.

Postgame Post – May 4, 2014

 

TIME: 3:04

ATTN: 3,691

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

So I had this great idea while listening to the broadcast of detailing David Denson's first month, actually it was after he extended his hit streak to 5 games with the single in the first. However everyone beat me to it before I could get back home to my laptop and type up this post so I'll abbreviate it some. Denson was sitting below .111, I want to say he bottomed at .106, but he has climbed all the way back up to .235. He's had a good approach all year, he looked like he belonged from the start, it was only a matter of time. He has hits in 8 of his last 10 games.

 

Michael Ratterree also has a modest 5 game hit streak, collecting single tallies in each of the last 5 games and not to be outdone Jose Pena has also been very hot over the last 5 games collecting 8 hits in that span.

 

Trevor Seidenberger only has 6 appearances on the season but he's been better in the longer outings than he has in the short and was excellent today.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

Wisconsin Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Sounds Extend Win Streak To Six On Sunday Afternoon

Falu, Green Homer For First-Place Nashville In 5-1 Victory

Nashville Sounds

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/3/7/6/74322376/cuts/halton_MPS4299_4pbi9w1j_lkc9p6yu.jpg

(Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Sean Halton went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Taylor Green and Irving Falu each homered to lead the Nashville Sounds to their sixth straight win, a 5-1 victory over the Iowa Cubs on Sunday afternoon at Greer Stadium.

 

The first-place Sounds (18-12) have won nine of their last 10 games and improved to 10-4 in home contests this season with the triumph.

 

Ariel Pena (1-2) picked up his first Triple-A victory with his first quality start of the year. The Nashville right-hander held the I-Cubs to one run on four hits in his season-high six innings of work, striking out six batters with no walks during his 98-pitch effort.

 

Pena's outing continued the recent string of outstanding efforts by Nashville starting pitchers. In the past six games, Sounds starters have allowed only three earned runs in 34 innings, a 0.79 ERA.

 

The Sounds got out to an early 1-0 with a first-inning score against Iowa starter Eric Jokisch. Pete Orr led off the frame with a single to left, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Sean Halton's two-out RBI knock to center.

 

Pena opened the game with four innings of scoreless, one-hit ball before Josh Vitters knotted the contest at 1-1 with a leadoff solo homer in the fifth, the outfielder's third big fly of the year.

 

Green quickly propelled the Sounds back in front, belting an opposite-field solo homer to left off Jokisch to lead off the home half of the fifth. The longball, his third of the year, spotted Nashville a 2-1 advantage and ended a 56-inning home run drought for Sounds batters.

 

The Sounds extended the lead to 4-1 later in the frame when Elian Herrera (2-for-4) and Eugenio Velez, who had both singled, scored when Halton reached on an infield single to third and Christian Villanueva misfired to first on the play.

 

Jokisch (2-2) took the loss despite authoring a quality start of his own for Iowa. He gave up three earned runs on nine hits over his six frames of action.

 

Falu, who replaced Green as part of a double-switch, extended the Sounds' lead to 5-1 in the seventh when he led off a solo homer to left off Jeff Antigua, the infielder's first roundtripper of the season. Falu has reached base safely in each of his last 15 contests, batting .353 (18-for-51) over that stretch.

 

The Nashville bullpen did its job in closing out the victory. Eric Marzec and Kyle Heckathorn each followed Pena with a scoreless inning of relief work before Michael Blazek blanked Iowa in the ninth.

 

The Sounds will look to complete their first series sweep of the year on Monday afternoon when the teams wrap up the series with a 12:05 p.m. finale at Greer. Red -hot right-hander Mike Fiers (5-0, 0.80) will make the start for the Sounds to face an unannounced Iowa hurler.

 

Nashville Boxscore

Eric Marzec's 2014 AAA debut was successful allowing 1 hit and 1 walk against 1 strike out in his scoreless inning.

 

I really like today's version of Ariel Pena, he threw 64 of those 98 pitches for strikes.

 

Taylor Green was removed again today, this time it was double switch.

 

Nashville Recap

 

Nashville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Roache makes more Manatees history

Brewers prospect records Brevard County's first three-homer game

By Kelsie Heneghan / MiLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/7/4/74351074/cuts/Victor_Roache_s5s30dug_iwan7nfb.jpg

 

Victor Roache boasts a .545/.583/1.455 slash line in three games this month. (Mark LoMoglio Photo/Tampa Yankees)

 

As April became May, Victor Roache was looking for a clean slate. And on Sunday, he not only wiped away the memory of a rough first month of the season, he carved a place in Brevard County history.

 

The Brewers' No. 7 prospect belted a pair of solo shots and a two-run blast for the first three-homer game in the franchise's 21-year history as the Manatees defeated Clearwater, 11-5.

 

"It felt good, felt kind of weird at first," Roache said. "I don't think I've ever hit three home runs in a game since college. Everything happened so fast."

 

In fact, the 22-year-old accomplished the feat by the fifth inning. He launched solo homers off Threshers starter Miguel Nunez (1-3) in the second and fourth, then greeted reliever Steven Inch with a two-run jack to center field.

 

Roache never got a chance to tie the single-game Florida State League record with a fourth homer as the Threshers intentionally walked him in the seventh.

 

"I didn't see any good pitches to hit. I was up 3-0, I was really locked in at the plate [and] my manager gave me the green light," he said.

 

Roache led the NCAA with 30 homers in 2011 for Georgia Southern, but he hit .175 with two roundtrippers, 12 RBIs and a .289 slugging percentage in 25 games.

 

"I had some things mechanically wrong that started to affect me mentally. I was getting away from my approach," he said. "I've been getting here early and staying late. I think I've ironed the flaws out.

 

"I just got away from what I usually do when I'm swinging the bat well. All my power comes from my legs [and] just letting my legs work. I wasn't using my legs very well. I was really getting down on myself and pressing, but I came into May thinking, 'This is a clean slate. Don't worry about the batting average, don't worry at the plate.' And I think that helped a lot."

 

Roache's two biggest proponents are his father, Victor, and hitting coach Ned Yost IV. The elder Roache texts his son with tips every day, while Yost encourages him during extra sessions. Both reinforced a positive mind-set.

 

And in three games since the calendar changed, Roache is hitting .545/.583/1.455 with six RBIs.

 

The 28th overall pick in the 2012 Draft also capped an eventful week for the Manatees. His record-setting performance came five days after Tyrone Taylor became the first player in team history to hit for the cycle.

 

"It's been a crazy week for us, with my game and with Tyrone hitting a cycle earlier. I was happy to add to that," Roache said. "It's been fun. Our manager keeps guys loose, we never play tight. He lets us play our game. Win or lose, we always have a positive attitude."

 

Skipper Joe Ayrault had plenty to smile about on Sunday at Space Coast Stadium as Taylor doubled twice and drove in a run, and Brewers No. 15 prospect Michael Reed blasted his second homer of the season.

 

Brevard County's Jorge Lopez (3-2) allowed five runs on six hits over six innings but struck out six to win his second straight start.

 

Nunez surrendered eight runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. Making his season debut and beginning a rehab assignment, Ethan Martin -- the Phillies' No. 8 prospect -- pitched around a walk in a hitless frame.

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County, all AUDIO:

 

The best plays in the month of April courtesy of the Manatees Radio Network

 

Sunday's game highlights - Victor Roache becomes the first Manatees player in history to hit three home runs in a game. The 'Tees defeat Clearwater, 11-5.

 

Postgame interview - Andrew Luftglass catches up with Victor Roache

 

Feature - Rich Gunton, a replacement umpire in the Florida State League, chats about the life of an umpire

[Mass Haas]

Nashville:

 

VIDEO: TV Report

 

VIDEO: Taylor Green leads off the bottom of the fifth with a homer in a 5-1 win over Iowa

 

AUDIO: Irving Falu Solo HR

 

AUDIO: Final Out Of The Game

[Mass Haas]

Looking forward to catching Mike Fiers' start in Nashville at 11:45 Central this afternoon, look for Monday's Link Report kickoff by mid-morning.

[TheCrew07]

Minor League Roundup: Victor Victorious

Florida State League

 

Victor Roache, of, Brevard County (Brewers): Following a wrist injury that required surgery and screws, Roache recovered his power stroke in the second half of last season with 16 homers with low Class A Wisconsin. He’s scuffled early but was kicking on all cylinders on Sunday, when he smacked three longballs in the first five innings of the Manatees’ win over Clearwater. He’s a mistake hitter at present, and doesn’t project to hit for much average going forth. Still, the power the kind that doesn’t come along every day, and that tool alone could get him to the big leagues if he makes even incremental improvements to his pitch recognition and overall hit tool.