Link Report for Wed. 5/21 - Sounds Sweep, Huntsville's Hopkins a Huge Night

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP's Mike Fiers and Michael Blazek in a doubleheader at home vs. Omaha (Royals), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

 

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: RHP Tyler Cravy at Montgomery (Rays), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 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 place their games on MiLB.TV.

 

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Brevard County: RHP Jorge Lopez at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 5:05 PM pre-game, 5:35 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.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Tristan Archer at home vs. Kane County (Cubs), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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.

[Mass Haas]

DVR ALERT: As we've been indicating this week, Wednesday's Timber Rattlers game is being broadcast on local MyNew32 TV out of Green Bay, 6:00 PM pre-game.

 

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And reminding folks (as mentioned above), the Stars are available on MiLB.TV while in Montgomery. Chance for those with subscriptions to peek in on RHP Tyler Cravy this evening.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville Game One

 

Nashville Game Two

 

Huntsville

 

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]

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

 

Jupiter, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI (Appleton)

[bkrause2]

Final: Brevard County 3, Palm Beach 4

 

'Tees come up short in 3-2 loss to Cards

Roache hits team-leading seventh homer in defeat

By Justin Rocke / Brevard County Manatees

 

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Brevard County left fielder Victor Roache - seen here in a game from earlier this season - went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and two RBI, in a 4-3 to the Palm Beach Cardinals on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. Roache currently leads the 'Tees with seven homers. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

JUPITER, Fla. - Despite three hits from Victor Roache - including two doubles and a home run - and another three hits from Orlando Arcia, the Brevard County Manatees dropped their second straight game, as they fell 4-3 to the Palm Beach Cardinals on Wednesday night at Roger Dean Stadium.

 

The Cardinals (20-26) grabbed their only lead of the game in the bottom half of the sixth inning against Major League rehabber Tom Gorzelanny. After retiring the first two batters of the inning, Starlin Rodriguez came up to the plate and went ahead in the count, 2-0.

 

The next pitch to Rodriguez was rocketed down the left field line, chasing Roache into the corner. The ball would continue to carry and ricochet off the foul pole for Rodriguez's second home run of the game. That gave Palm Beach a 4-3 lead that they would never relinquish.

 

The blow came after Brevard County (23-21) missed a major opportunity in the top of half of the inning. Arcia started the frame with a single and Tyrone Taylor followed by drawing a walk.

 

Cameron Garfield then came to the plate and hit a ground ball to the third baseman Bruce Caldwell, who was playing close to the line. Caldwell stepped on the bag, then spun and fired to Breyvic Valera at second, who then relayed the throw to Luke Voit at first for a triple play. The around-the-horn triple killing got Palm Beach starter Joe Cuda (1-5, 8.07) out of the frame and kept the ball game tied.

 

Brevard missed another key opportunity to the tie or take the lead in the eighth. Yadiel Rivera led off with a single to left and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nathan Orf. Arcia followed with a single to left of his own, but Rivera held at third with the left fielder Rodriguez charging on the play.

 

Arcia proceeded to steal second, but both he and Rivera would not advance any further. Cardinals' reliever Aidan Lucas struck out Taylor and then got Garfield to ground out to short to strand the runners.

 

The missed chances came after the Manatees had grabbed the lead twice in the early portion of the game. Brevard jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a solo shot by Roache, his team-leading seventh home run of the year, but Palm Beach responded with Rodriguez's first homer of the game to tie it up.

 

The 'Tees took the lead again in the fourth with the help of Roache and a defensive mistake. Arcia reached on a bunt single and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor. Garfield followed with a walk, bringing Nicky Delmonico to the plate.

 

Delmonico would lift a fly ball deep into the corner in right, but it was run down by Nick Martini. Arcia broke for third as Martini's throw came in, however no one was there to cut it off. The ball rolled into foul territory down the third base line as Arcia turned third and headed for home to give Brevard the lead again, 2-1. Roache kept the rally going with an RBI double to right-center to push the lead to 3-1.

 

Palm Beach responded again in the fifth as they tied the game with nobody out. Martini singled to right and Caldwell walked to start the inning. Both advanced to second and third on a wild pitch by Manatees starter Jorge Lopez (5-2, 3.72).

 

On a 2-0 pitch, David Washington lined a single to left to score both runners and tie the game at three apiece. Washington advanced to third on a ground out, but would not score as Lopez finished his outing with a flourish. The Puerto Rico native struck out both Charlie Tilson and Ildemaro Vargas swinging on nasty sliders tailing towards their back foot to end the inning and keep the game tied.

 

That marked the end of the night for Lopez who did not factor in the decision, thus ending his streak of four consecutive victories. The righty allowed three runs on five hits, walked one and struck out three over five innings.

 

His counterpart, Cuda, pieced together his best start of the year to get his first win of 2014. The St. Petersburg, Fla. native went a season-high seven innings and issued three runs on five hits, walked two and struck out three.

 

Gorzelanny, who gave up the go-ahead homer to Rodriguez, took the loss in his final scheduled rehab appearance with Brevard County. The dinger was the only blemish for Gorzelanny as he retired the other six batters he faced, including striking out the last four hitters in a row.

 

The Manatees will try to get back in the win column when they battle Palm Beach again at 10:35 a.m. on Thursday at Roger Dean Stadium. Southpaw Hobbs Johnson (4-4, 2.45), who is looking for his third straight win, will get the start for Brevard County. Fellow left-hander Kyle Helisek (1-2, 3.11) will get the call for the Cardinals.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Victor Roache and Orlando Arcia combined for six of Brevard's eight hits. Roache had a pair of doubles and his team leading seventh home run, while Arcia picked up three singles. The only other Manatee hits came on singles by Nicky Delmonico and Yadiel Rivera. Rivera has quietly recorded hits in eight of his last nine games. Jorge Lopez pitched okay, going five innings and allowing three runs. Not his best start of the year, but not bad either.

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

Brevard County Top of the 2nd

Cameron Garfield strikes out swinging.

Nick Delmonico pops out to third baseman Bruce Caldwell in foul territory.

Victor Roache homers (7) on a fly ball to left field.

Brandon Macias grounds out, pitcher Joe Cuda to first baseman Luke Voit.

 

Brevard County Top of the 4th

Orlando Arcia singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Bruce Caldwell.

Tyrone Taylor out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Joe Cuda to first baseman Luke Voit. Orlando Arcia to 2nd.

Cameron Garfield walks.

Nick Delmonico flies out to right fielder Nick Martini. Orlando Arcia scores. Cameron Garfield to 2nd. Throwing error by right fielder Nick Martini.

Victor Roache doubles (6) on a fly ball to center fielder Charlie Tilson. Cameron Garfield scores.

Brandon Macias grounds out, third baseman Bruce Caldwell to first baseman Luke Voit.

[TheCrew07]

Kane County stops Wisconsin 8-2

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

Kane County (30-14) put together a two-out rally in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Ben Carhart doubled after Wisconsin starting pitcher Tristan Archer retired the first two Kane County batters he faced. Yasiel Balaguert sent what appeared to be a routine fly ball to center, but the wind blew the ball to deep right-center just out of the reach of Omar Garcia for an RBI triple.

 

The Cougars added single runs in the second and third innings to build their lead to 3-0. Daniel Lockhart drove in a run in the second with a double. Carhart knocked in a run with a single in the third inning.

 

Wisconsin (21-24) struggled to get anything started against Kane County starter Duane Underwood. The Rattlers managed two hits off Underwood in five innings and could not take advantage of a hit batsman and four walks.

 

Kane County padded their lead in the top of the sixth. The first three batters reached base against Wisconsin starter Tristan Archer. Will Remillard dropped a single into left-center to drive in a pair of runs and make the score 5-0. Remillard has driven in twelve runs in six games against the Rattlers this season.

 

Archer walked the next batter to reload the bases and he was replaced by Rodolfo Fernandez. Fernandez allowed a run to score on a sacrifice fly, but escaped the inning without further damage.

 

Angel Ortega started a rally for the Rattlers in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out double against Kane County reliever Corbin Hoffner. Johnny Davis followed with an infield single to put runners on the corners. Chris McFarland was next and he sent a line drive to right-center. Ortega scored easily and Davis looked like he would as well. But McFarland was tagged out trying to get back to second before Davis touched the plate.

 

In the eighth, David Denson drove in Clint Coulter from second with a two-out single to right to cut into Kane County's lead.

 

But, Kane County scored twice off Fernandez in the top of the ninth inning. Jake Hannemann drove in a run with a single. Carlos Penalver would single to knock in Hannemann to make the score 8-2.

 

The Rattlers went down in order in the bottom of the ninth and Kane County took two of three in the series.

 

Wednesday's game was the final meeting of the first half between the Rattlers and Cougars. Wisconsin went 2-7 against Kane County in the half.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin a nine-game road trip with a game against the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field on Thursday night. Victor Diaz (1-1, 3.77) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Beloit has Dylan Covey (3-2, 3.26) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 6:30pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the pregame show at 6:10pm.

 

WP: Duane Underwood (1-1)

LP: Tristan Archer (2-2)

 

TIME: 2:45

ATTN: 3,486

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

This was a clunker of a game but at least there is an interesting pitching match-up tomorrow!

 

Johnny Davis (2-5) and Angel Ortega (2-4) had the multi-hit games for the T-Rats.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

McFarland left the game in the 9th... no idea of the circumstances as I forgot to set the DVR before I went out.

 

Kane County Top of the 9th

• Danny Lockhart doubles (9) on a line drive to right fielder Jose Pena.
  Trey Martin pops out to shortstop Angel Ortega in foul territory.
  Jacob Hannemann singles on a line drive to left fielder Johnny Davis. Danny Lockhart scores. Jacob Hannemann to 3rd on the throw.
  Carlos Penalver singles on a fly ball to center fielder Omar Garcia. Jacob Hannemann scores.
  Defensive Substitution: Francisco Castillo replaces second baseman Christopher McFarland, batting 2nd, playing second base.
  Ben Carhart pops out to third baseman Taylor Smith-Brennan.
  Yasiel Balaguert lines out to third baseman Taylor Smith-Brennan.

 

Wisconsin Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Pagnozzi Belts Walkoff Blast In Twinbill Opener Victory

Nashville Sounds

 

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(Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Catcher Matt Pagnozzi hit a walkoff solo home run in the bottom of the 7th inning to give the Nashville Sounds a 5-4 victory over Omaha in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday evening at Greer Stadium.

 

Pagnozzi's blast, his third of the year, came on a 1-0 offering from Omaha reliever Donnie Joseph. Jeremy Hermida also homered and drove in three runs for the first-place Sounds (25-21) in the win.

 

The late heroics were needed after Sounds starter Mike Fiers dominated early before allowing Omaha to tie the contest with three runs in the top of the seventh.

 

The Sounds took a 2-0 lead against Omaha starter Sugar Ray Marimon in the bottom of the third inning.

 

Hector Gomez led off with a line-drive single to left and Kevin Mattison drew a walk before both runners were sacrificed by Pagnozzi. Pete Orr followed with a grounder to shortstop that plated Gomez; Orr reached safely when Brian Bocock's throw was wide of first. Hermida doubled the Nashville lead to 2-0 when his sacrifice fly to center brought in Mattison.

 

Hermida upped the Sounds' lead to 4-0 in the fifth when he slugged a two-out, two-run homer to left off Marimon, the outfielder's fifth roundtripper of the season.

 

After Fiers faced one batter over the minimum through five innings, he allowed hits to six of his final nine batters as Omaha mounted a rally.

 

Omaha catcher Jesus Flores broke up Fiers' shutout bid in the sixth when he led off the frame with his second home run of the year, a solo shot down the left field line.

 

The Storm Chasers continued to rally against the Nashville right-hander in the seventh. Jimmy Paredes, Brian Fletcher, and Carlos Peguero opened the frame with consecutive singles to plate one run, then Fletcher raced home to make a 4-3 contest when Fiers made an errant pickoff throw to first.

 

Following a groundout for the first out of the inning, Matt Fields laced a game-tying RBI single to right-center to even the score at 4-4 and chase Fiers from the contest.

 

The outing was only the third non-quality start in nine trips to the hill for Fiers this season. The right-hander gave up four runs on eight hits in 6 1/3 frames, racking up six strikeouts to increase his minor league-leading punchout total to 78 on the year.

 

Nashville Game 1 Boxscore

Mike Fiers is always going to be a guy who the game can turn on quickly because he doesn't have great stuff, but it's hard not to like him because he's such a savvy pitcher. I wouldn't have guessed he'd be the minor league leader in strike outs at this point of the season, injuries to key legitimate prospects around baseball have helped that cause some, but he's been impressive none the less.

 

Nashville Game 1 Recap

 

Nashville Game 1 Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Sounds Blow Out Chasers In Nightcap, 13-4

Nashville Plates A Season-High 13 Runs; Gomez Goes 3-for-4 with 3 RBI

Nashville Sounds

 

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds finished off the doubleheader sweep with a commanding 13-4 drubbing of the Omaha Storm Chasers on Wednesday night.

 

Every member of the Sounds plated a run to give Nashville a season-high 13 runs and match a season-high winning margin of nine runs.

 

Nashville fell behind in the first inning when Omaha designated hitter Carlos Peguero hit a two-run homer off Michael Blazek, but it was all Sounds after that.

 

After hitting a single through the infield, lead-off batter Irving Falu helped the Sounds cut into the Omaha lead in the home half of the first inning, scoring from third on Ryan Verdugo's wild pitch.

 

Then in the 2nd, the Sounds plated four runs to take the lead away from Omaha.

 

Sounds short stop Hector Gomez, 3-for-4, leveled the game at three runs apiece with a home run over the left-field wall, traveling an estimated 412 feet. The shot is Gomez's fifth of the season and scored Jeremy Hermida, who led off the inning with a walk.

 

Hainley Statia connected on an infield single to keep the productive inning alive and moved to second on Kevin Mattison's walk. The pair of runners advanced one base on Falu's sacrifice bunt and another on Eugenio Velez's sac-fly. Sean Halton ripped a double into centerfield off former Sound Kameron Loe to score Mattison for the 5-3 advantage.

 

Nashville logged another multi-run inning in the 3rd to put Nashville up 8-3. Mattison hit a bases-clearing triple before scoring on a wild pitch from Loe.

 

Hunter Morris and Robinzon Diaz each recorded run-scoring knocks in the bottom of the sixth inning to increase the Sounds' lead to seven. Jeremy Hermida followed with an RBI groundout before Gomez plated the team's 12th run on his third hit of the night: a single into left field.

 

Falu pushed a single into shallow left field for the team's final run of the game.

 

Blazek finished with three runs, two earned, on four hits over three innings of work in the start. Reliever Dustin Molleken (1-2) picked up the win, limiting Omaha to two hits and striking out five over three innings of work. Brent Leach also saw work out of the 'pen for Nashville and allowed Omaha their fourth and final run in the 7th.

 

The pair of wins gives Nashville its second doubleheader sweep of the season and the season-series victory against Omaha, currently at 9-6 with one game to play Thursday.

 

The teams wrap up the series with a 7:05 p.m. finale on Thursday evening at Greer. Right-hander Johnnie Lowe (0-0, 3.00) will make the start for the Sounds and face veteran Omaha right-hander Brett Tomko (2-3, 5.04).

 

Nashville Game 2 Boxscore

I have no rational explanation but for some reason my favorite thing in baseball is a double header sweep, for whatever reason it just trips my trigger. The Sounds certainly punctuated this particular sweep riding the momentum of the walk off win in Game 1.

 

I highlighted the pitching above and Hunter Morris (2-3,BB) was the only prospect with a multi-hit game.

 

Yes *that* Kameron Loe and yes *that* 110 year old Brett Tomko.

 

Nashville Game 2 Recap

 

Nashville Game 2 Gameday

[TheCrew07]

The usual Rattler postgame, always worth a look/listen/watch.

 

Postgame Post – May 21, 2014

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 5, @Montgomery 2

 

HOPKINS HOMERS TWICE LEADING STARS TO VICTORY

 

Montgomery, AL - Huntsville Stars 2B Greg Hopkins broke a 2-2 tie in the ninth inning with a three-run homer against Montgomery Biscuits RHP Andrew Bellatti (1-2) which gave the Stars a 5-2 lead. That would turn out to be the final score Wednesday night at Riverwalk Stadium.

 

Hopkins homered twice for the Stars. With Huntsville trailing 1-0, Hopkins launched a two-run homer over the left field wall in the fifth inning giving the Stars a 2-1 lead.

 

Montgomery tied the game in the seventh off Stars reliever Tim Dillard. Jake Hager led off with a double. Two batters later Joey Rickard doubled past third baseman Jason Rogers scoring Hager and tying the game at 2-2.

 

In the top of the ninth, Kentrail Davis led off with a walk. Adam Weisenburger then put down a sacrifice bunt in front of the pitcher’s mound. Bellatti fielded the bunt and threw wildly to second trying to get Davis. Davis wound up taking third base on the throwing error.

 

Hopkins then came to the plate and belted his second home run of the game, a three-run homer over the left field wall. For Hopkins it was his fourth home run of the season.

 

In the bottom of the ninth, David Goforth walked a pair of batters and had the tying runner at the plate, but was able to get Ryan Brett to ground out to third to end the game.

 

Arcenio Leon (1-0) collected the win out of the Stars bullpen.

 

Tyler Cravy started for the Stars went six innings giving up five hits. The only run he allowed was a solo home run to Brett in the third. Cravy took a no decision.

 

The Stars lead the Biscuits 1-0 in their five game series. Game two will be Thursday night at Riverwalk Stadium. The Stars will feature RHP Drew Gagnon (4-1, 2.36). Montgomery will have RHP Victor Mateo (6-3, 3.40) on the hill. Thursday’s game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki starting at 6:50 pm CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM, and wtkiradio.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Mansfield, Mass., Bishop Feehan High School and St. John's product Greg Hopkins drove in all five runs with his two long balls. The 25-year-old did all his damage from the nine-spot in the lineup, as Huntsville finds a new hero on this night.

 

SS Nick Shaw singled and walked three times out of the leadoff spot, and now sports the unique batting line of .216/.376/.252. He has 24 each of hits, K's, and walks. Shaw was caught stealing once and D'Vontrey Richardson and Nick Ramirez combined to go 0-for-10 with five K's right behind Shaw, so it was up to Hopkins and the bottom half of the order in this one.

 

Yes, RHP Tyler Cravy was very good -- again.

 

Huntsville Game Log

 

Yay, Mitch Haniger's arm --

 

Montgomery Bottom of the 2nd

 

Jeremy Moore singles on a fly ball to right fielder Mitch Haniger.

Jake Hager out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Tyler Cravy to first baseman Nick Ramirez. Jeremy Moore to 2nd.

Luke Maile lines into a double play, right fielder Mitch Haniger to third baseman Jason Rogers. Jeremy Moore out at 3rd.

 

Cravy worked around leadoff doubles in each of his last two innings -- stressful pitches, but bigtime pitches:

 

Montgomery Bottom of the 5th

 

Luke Maile doubles (5) on a line drive to right fielder Mitch Haniger.

Alejandro Segovia lines out to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Luke Maile to 3rd.

Joey Rickard grounds out, shortstop Nick Shaw to first baseman Nick Ramirez.

Ryan Brett flies out to left fielder Kentrail Davis.

 

Montgomery Bottom of the 6th

 

Taylor Motter doubles (10) on a ground ball to left fielder Kentrail Davis.

Cameron Seitzer walks.

Richie Shaffer flies out to left fielder Kentrail Davis.

Jeremy Moore grounds into a double play, second baseman Greg Hopkins to shortstop Nick Shaw to first baseman Nick Ramirez. Cameron Seitzer out at 2nd.

[Mass Haas]

Palm Beach turns 'routine' triple play

Caldwell, Valera, Voit go around-the-horn in win over Manatees

By Kelsie Heneghan / MiLB.com

 

Worth a read for the story behind the play, but it's the Cardinals, so we're not pasting the text here :

[Mass Haas]

Hopkins powers Stars over Biscuits

A. Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser

 

Greg Hopkins didn't need long to recount the last time he had a game like his Wednesday at Riverwalk Stadium.

 

His two home runs and five RBIs led the Huntsville Stars in a 5-2 victory over the Biscuits, and Hopkins harkened back to his last two-homer game.

 

It was two years ago in low-Class A.

 

"Those games definitely stick out," Hopkins said. "They don't happen often. You just want to stay in the moment and enjoy them."

 

Hopkins' two-homer game was almost on the second anniversary of his last. He finished with six RBIs, added a double and scored three runs in the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' 11-3 win over the Peoria Chiefs on May 26, 2012.

 

He entered Monday with a .193 average, two home runs and 10 RBIs.

 

"This is the best Double-A game he's had so far," Stars manager Carlos Subero said. "Hopkins has been in kind of a slump and hasn't been hitting well.

 

"It's nice to see him with two hard-hit balls."

 

Hopkins hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to give Huntsville a 2-1 lead. His three-run blast in the ninth inning snapped a 2-2 tie.

 

"I wouldn't say I'm a home run hitter at all," Hopkins said. "I got a couple of good pitches to hit and put a good swing on them."

 

His ninth-inning homer came just after an error by the Biscuits.

 

Kentrail Davis walked to begin the inning and Adam Weisenburger bunted. Biscuits pitcher Andrew Bellatti (1-2) threw wildly to second, allowing Davis to advance to third.

 

Hopkins stepped up and, on a 2-0 pitch, put Huntsville ahead.

 

"You have to get back to focusing on the hitter," Biscuits manager Brady Williams said. "You can't think about what has happened and you have to move on.

 

"He's learning. We're all learning. That's why we're here."

 

Ryan Brett homered in the third and Joey Rickard doubled home Jake Hager with two outs in the seventh for Montgomery. But the Biscuits finished just 1-of-13 with runners in scoring position.

 

"We did very well at getting guys to third, but we hit some balls right at guys," Williams said. "That was a big hit from Rickard to tie it up, but it just wasn't enough."

[Mass Haas]

Just for fun, here's the May 26, 2012 Link Report for Hopkins' last monster game alluded to in the prior post.

[Mass Haas]

Link includes a video interview with Manager Matt Erickson with some, but not all, of the quotes listed below, so follow and listen -- (this audio was also included in the Rattler Radio blog postgame entry linked earlier).

 

Clint Coulter making defensive strides for Timber Rattlers

by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media

 

GRAND CHUTE — The pop in Clint Coulter’s bat is what may get him to Miller Park on a permanent basis.

 

Coulter is one the most improved hitters in the Midwest League and is starting to put up the type of offensive numbers the Milwaukee Brewers expected when they made him the 27th overall selection in the 2012 first-year player draft.

 

What the Brewers may find even more intriguing is that the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ slugger is making strides behind the plate as a catcher.

 

In Wisconsin’s 8-2 loss Wednesday night to Kane County, the 20-year-old Coulter gunned down the Cougars’ David Bote on an attempted steal of third. It was the third baserunner that Coulter has thrown out in the past two days.

 

In addition, Coulter also picked off a baserunner Tuesday in the second game of a doubleheader split with the Cougars.

 

“I’ve been working a lot with Charlie Greene (a field coordinator and catching instructor for the Brewers) and it’s been paying dividends,” said Coulter. “I’m getting a lot of reps and just trusting what he’s teaching me.”

 

On the season, Coulter has thrown out 12 of 37 runners. He has always had a terrific arm, but has shown improvement this season on his release and overall mechanics.

 

“He picked off a guy the other night and is getting the ball down to second a little better,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “He’s cleaned up his footwork and we’ve been working on his pop times to second. He’s still got a ways to go, but you take it step by step.”

 

At the plate, Coulter has emerged as one of the Midwest League’s better hitters. He is hitting .291 and leads the league in RBI (35) and is tied for the league in home runs (eight).

 

Despite Coulter’s ability to contain Kane County’s running game, the Timber Rattlers finished out a three-game home stand with a disappointing performance. The Rattlers were outhit 13-7 and made some costly mistakes that allowed the Cougars to build a 6-0 lead after six innings.

 

“It was a frustrating game, to be very honest,” said Erickson. “We didn’t set the tone well. We let a ball drop in right center that gave them their first run. We had a balk that advanced a runner an inning later and we had a fairly easy double steal where we got thrown out on the back end. And you can’t get thrown out when you’re down by three. This was a ballgame to forget about, to learn from and to move on.”

 

Wisconsin starter Tristan Archer struggled in his fifth start of the season, allowing six runs on nine hits in five innings, while also uncorking a wild pitch and committing a balk.

 

The Rattlers collected just two hits off Kane County starter Duane Underwood in his five innings of work and one of them was an infield single by speedy Johnny Davis. Underwood, a right-hander, was a second-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in the 2012 first-year player draft.

 

“He’s a good pitcher. There’s a reason why he was drafted high like that,” said Coulter. “He had good stuff, but I thought we could have approached our at-bats a little better.”

 

Wisconsin second baseman Chris McFarland left the game in the top of the ninth inning with an ankle injury following a collision with center fielder Omar Garcia, while the two were trying to catch Carlos Penalver’s RBI bloop single to shallow right.

 

“Chris is athletic and he’s made some circus catches going away from the infield like that,” said Erickson. “He rolled his ankle a little bit. We’ll evaluate him tomorrow, but he’s pretty sore and he might miss a few days.”

[Mass Haas]

Nashville --

 

AUDIO, Game One: Jeremy Hermida slams one out of the park scoring two runs

 

VIDEO, Game One: Matt Pagnozzi hits a home run to end Nashville's 5-4 win over Omaha

 

VIDEO, Game Two: Hector Gomez hits a home run in Nashville's 13-4 win over Omaha

 

(No sound on that last link...)

 

But here's the AUDIO separately.

 

AUDIO, Game Two: Kevin Mattison's hits a two-run triple opens up a 7-3 lead

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County --

 

AUDIO: Craig Counsell, the Brewers Special Assistant to the G.M., joins Justin Rocke on the Manatees Pregame Show.

 

AUDIO, Game Highlights: Palm Beach turns a triple play in a 4-3 victory over Brevard County. Victor Roache goes 3-for-4 with a homer in the loss.

[Mass Haas]

LHP Hobbs Johnson toes the rubber for the Manatees this morning (yes, this morning), and the pre-game audio from the Manatees broadcast crew will be on the air at 9:05 AM Central Time.

 

So yes, we'll effort another breakfast Link Report in time for everyone...

[bork]

All of a sudden Gomez has an OPS of 750.

[brewmann04]

could this Gomez kid replace Bianchi?