Link Report for Thurs. 5/22 - Kentrail Davis hits for first cycle in Huntsville's 30-year history, but Stars lose in 13th

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Johnnie Lowe at home vs. Omaha (Royals), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 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.

 

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Huntsville: RHP Drew Gagnon 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: LHP Hobbs Johnson at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 9:05 AM pre-game, 9:35 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 Victor Diaz at Beloit (Athletics), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 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 Wisconsin game scheduled for local TV is Saturday evening, May 31st (MyNew32 TV).

[Mass Haas]

Former Brewers (unsigned) #1 draft pick RHP Dylan Covey (career stats) makes the start for Beloit tonight against Wisconsin.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville

 

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

 

Beloit, WI

[Mass Haas]

Via Justin Rocke of the Manatees broadcast team --

 

"Tough break for Brevard as the flu bug effecting the lineup. Victor Roache, Garrett Cooper, and Yadiel Rivera all out as a result."

[Mass Haas]

Baseball America's

 

HITTER OF THE DAY: Victor Roache, of — high Class A Brevard County (Brewers)

 

"Roache's calling card is power. He's got plenty of raw sock, some of which translates in games. On Wednesday, he doubled twice and homered as part of a 3-for-4 effort with a run and two RBIs. It's going to take more than power to get him out of the Florida State League, however, and his .211 batting average suggests he has plenty more work to do. Special mention to Jon Griffin, who at 25 at Double-A Mobile (Diamondbacks) is no longer a prospect but who homered in four consecutive at-bats."

[Mass Haas]

Manatees Blog -- Mow-’Em-Down Magnifico – TBT 5/22

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Voice of the Sounds Jeff Hem was interviewed on Nashville Sports Talk 1025thegame Thursday.

[Mass Haas]

Via Huntsville's Steve Jarnicki -

 

With the two home run game by Greg Hopkins, Hopkins joins Josh Prince as the only other Stars player to hit two home runs in a game this year. Prince just had a two-homer game last Friday, May 16th against Birmingham...The Stars have homered at least once in six out of their last seven road games…Tyler Cravy turned in a quality start last night but was unable to get a win. Cravy allowed a home run to Ryan Brett. It was the 40th home run that the Stars have allowed which leads the Southern League. It was the 4th straight game that the Stars were outhit, and they’ve gone 3-1 in these games…

 

Jason Rogers extended his hitting streak to nine consecutive games with a single in the 1st inning. During his hitting streak, he is 13 for his last 31 (.419 average) with a grand slam and seven RBI. Rogers now has 13 doubles which ties him with Tennessee’s Stephen Bruno for the most in the Southern League. Rogers has also been on base in 14 straight games…SS Nick Shaw extended his on base streak to 16 straight games with a walk in his first at bat. His on base streak which began on April 30th, is the second longest active streak in the Southern League. Shaw is batting .292 with 4 RBI and has 12 walks during his streak… John Hicks of Jackson has reached base in 19 straight games, which is currently the longest active streak….Josh Prince extended his on base streak to 13 straight on a single in his final at bat in the 8th.

[bkrause2]

Final: Brevard County 1, Palm Beach 7

 

Brevard's bats quiet in 7-1 loss to Palm Beach

By Justin Rocke / Brevard County Manatees

 

JUPITER, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees struggled to push runs across once again, as they scored one run on four hits in a 7-1 loss to the Palm Beach Cardinals on Thursday afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium.

 

The Cardinals (21-26) were spearheaded by another fantastic performance by a starting pitcher. Left-hander Kyle Helisek (2-2, 2.62 ERA) was phenomenal as he allowed just one base-hit - a bunt single by Orlando Arcia in the fourth - over a season-high seven innings. The former Villanova Wildcat allowed only one other baserunner, when he issued walk to Nathan Orf in the fourth.

 

Palm Beach wasted no time jumping out to an early lead, as they scored runs in the first and second innings.

 

Breyvic Valera led off the ballgame with a walk and advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt and a fly out to right. Luke Voit then stepped to the plate and on a two-strike pitch, fought off an inside fastball from Manatees' starter Hobbs Johnson (4-5, 2.94) into center field for an RBI single to give the Cardinals the lead, 1-0.

 

The Cards pushed another run across with two outs in the second. Ildemaro Vargas singled to start the inning and advanced to second a wild pitch. After a line out and a strike out, Luis Perez stepped in against Johnson. On the first pitch he saw, Perez grounded one through the hole on the right side for a base-hit. Vargas motored home from second to extend the Palm Beach lead to two.

 

It wasn't until the bottom of the sixth when the Cards blew the game wide open. A single by Starlin Rodriguez and a walk to Voit put two runners on to start the inning, setting up a situation for a sacrifice bunt. Alex Mejia squared and bunted the ball right back to Johnson, but the starter could not make an accurate throw on to first. His delivery was low and in the dirt, as Mike Garza tried to make the scoop, but could not. Rodriguez hustled home from second on the throwing error to increase the lead to 3-0.

 

It would only get worse from there as Vargas singled to left to load the bases. That spelled the end of the day for Johnson as right-hander Kevin Shackelford - who was just added to the roster from Double-A Huntsville a day prior - was called upon to try and get Brevard out of the jam.

 

Shackelford forced Jesus Montero to ground into a fielder's choice, which brought another run home from third, to get the first out, but the Cardinals bats would continue to pounce. David Washington followed with an RBI double to right and with two outs, Valera blooped a two-run single to left to balloon the lead up to 7-0.

 

Palm Beach almost increased the lead further with a single by Nick Martini, but Tyrone Taylor gunned out Valera trying to score from second to end the inning.

 

The Manatees (23-22) would tack on their only run of the game in the top of the eighth inning off reliever Kyle Barraclough. Nicky Delmonico and Alfredo Rodriguez started the frame with back-to-back singles and with one out Parker Berberet delivered.

 

The catcher crushed a his first double to right-center field, to score Delmonico and cut the lead to 7-1. That is all that would come across as the 'Tees stranded runners at second and third.

 

Barraclough struck out Jose Sermo and Orf consecutively to end the threat.

 

Johnson, who had won his last two outings entering today, was saddled with the loss this afternoon. The Brewers' 14th round pick from a year ago issued six runs (four earned) on five hits, walked three and struck out three over five innings.

 

Brevard County will attempt to salvage the final game of this four-game series on Friday, when they wrap things up against the Palm Beach Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

 

Tyler Wagner (3-2, 1.76) will try and end the three-game skid for the Manatees. Silfredo Garcia (0-1, 5.40) gets the call for Palm Beach to make his second start since being added to the roster.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

The Manatees bats didn't wake up for the early AM start. Four hits and Parker Berberet's double was the only one that went for extra bases. Orlando Arcia's bunt single was the only BC hit on the board going to the eighth inning and the game was pretty much out of hand by that point. Having so many guys out of the lineup surely didn't help.

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

Palm Beach broke the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth

 

Palm Beach Bottom of the 6th

Starlin Rodriguez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jose Sermo.

Luke Voit walks. Starlin Rodriguez to 2nd.

Alex Mejia hits a sacrifice bunt. Throwing error by pitcher Hobbs Johnson. Starlin Rodriguez scores. Luke Voit to 2nd. Alex Mejia to 1st.

Ildemaro Vargas singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jose Sermo. Luke Voit to 3rd. Alex Mejia to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Kevin Shackelford replaces Hobbs Johnson.

Jesus Montero grounds into a force out, shortstop Orlando Arcia to second baseman Alfredo Rodriguez. Luke Voit scores. Alex Mejia to 3rd. Ildemaro Vargas out at 2nd. Jesus Montero to 1st.

David Washington doubles (5) on a ground ball to right fielder Nathan Orf. Alex Mejia scores. Jesus Montero to 3rd.

Luis Perez strikes out swinging.

Breyvic Valera singles on a ground ball to left fielder Jose Sermo. Jesus Montero scores. David Washington scores. Breyvic Valera advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by left fielder Jose Sermo.

Nick Martini singles on a ground ball to center fielder Tyrone Taylor. Breyvic Valera out at home on the throw, center fielder Tyrone Taylor to catcher Parker Berberet.

 

The Manatees only offense of the game

 

Brevard County Top of the 8th

Pitching Change: Kyle Barraclough replaces Kyle Helisek.

Nick Delmonico singles on a ground ball to center fielder Nick Martini.

Alfredo Rodriguez singles on a line drive to right fielder Starlin Rodriguez. Nick Delmonico to 3rd.

Mike Garza called out on strikes.

Parker Berberet doubles (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Starlin Rodriguez. Nick Delmonico scores. Alfredo Rodriguez to 3rd.

Jose Sermo strikes out swinging.

Nathan Orf strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

Audio via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

"Today’s interview is with Sounds infielder and former Omaha Storm Chaser Irving Falu, who is in first year with the Brewers organization after spending the first 11 years of his career with the Royals, including at least parts of five seasons with Omaha. Falu discusses facing his former team, winning in the minor leagues (he won 3 division titles and 2 league titles with Omaha), coming to the Brewers and having the ability to play several different positions."

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County -

 

AUDIO, Game Lowlights: Palm Beach defeats Brevard County, 7-1

[LouisEly]

Odd statistical lines of the night:

 

Jeffress struck out 7 of the 10 batters that he faced.

 

Gagnon in four innings gave up five hits, walked four, struck out eight, and gave up only one run.

[TheCrew07]

Beloit trips up Rattlers to start road swing

Snappers score winning run in bottom of the ninth

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

BELOIT, WI - The Beloit Snappers scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 3-2 Thursday night at Pohlman Field. The Snappers came back to spoil a terrific pitching performance by Wisconsin's Victor Diaz.

 

The starting pitchers dominated through the first six innings. Beloit starter Dylan Covey allowed two hits and no runs to extend his scoreless innings streak to 13-1/3 innings. Diaz matched Covey zero for zero. The Wisconsin right-hander went six innings, allowed two hits, walked none, and struck out a pair to keep the game scoreless. Diaz extended his scoreless innings streak to 15-1/3 innings with his six shutout frames on Thursday.

 

The Rattlers (21-25) broke through against Covey in the top of the seventh. Angel Ortega singled and Michael Ratterree was hit by a pitch to start the inning. David Denson singled to center and Ortega scored on the play. Ratterree took third on the play, but Denson was thrown out at second base for the first out. Rafael Neda drove in Ratterree with a two-out double to left and the Rattlers were up 2-0.

 

Beloit (21-25) got the game back to even against Wisconsin reliever Anthony Banda in the bottom of the seventh. BA Vollmuth singled to start the inning. Luis Baez followed with a double to drive in Vollmuth. Sam Roberts bunted to move Baez to third and reached when the play to third was late. Phil Pohl tied the game with a safety squeeze bunt up the first base line to get Baez home. Beloit loaded the bases against Banda later in the inning, but did not take the lead in the seventh.

 

The game stayed tied until the bottom of the ninth. Banda, who struck out the side in order in the bottom of the eighth, walked Roberts to start the Beloit rally. A sacrifice bunt moved Roberts to second and a wild pitch got Roberts to third with the winning run.

 

Wisconsin tried a five infielder alignment at this point of the game. Francisco Castillo was sent into the game to replace left fielder Omar Garcia. Castillo was stationed just to the left of second base as the fifth infielder with the entire infield drawn in to try and cut down the run at the plate.

 

Melvin Mercedes foiled the strategy by pulling a hard grounder fair inside the bag at third for a clean single to score Roberts with the winning run.

 

The Timber Rattlers have been involved in sixteen one-run games this season. They are 4-12 in one runs games during 2014.

 

Game two of the series is Friday night at Pohlman Field. Preston Gainey (1-2, 2.75) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Bobby Wahl (0-3, 6.38) is set to start for the Snappers. Game time is 6:30pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm.

 

WP: Tyler Vail (1-0)

LP: Anthony Banda (1-5)

 

TIME: 2:33

ATTN: 603

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

While I wait for the game story I'll start my post as I need to get to bed when the story pops. The T-Rats lose another heartbreaker late, this is getting old. I really like the tandem system, but man when that second pitcher doesn't have it then the system can torpedo victories like it did tonight.

 

The good was Victor Diaz allowing just 2 hits and a walk through his 6 innings though in an organizational trend he's not getting many strike outs, but dueled Dylan Covey pitch for pitch and was in line for the win when he left. Victor did skip 2 levels going right from the DSL to WI but one has to wonder why he spent 2 seasons in the DSL to start with? Regardless he's still almost 2 full years younger than the average age in the league.

 

Getting back to the strike outs, if you sort that link by SO/9 you'll see that the organization only has 8 RHPs across all levels with a rate over 8 and only one of them in on the major league staff in Marco Estrada. Toss in Hobbs Johnson who's the only lefty above 8 and we have a grand total of 9 pitchers out of a total of 29 possible with a reasonably high K rate.

 

I know the counter argument is pitchers pitching deeper into games and so on, but a pitcher going more than 6 innings is rare enough above WI that I would much rather have pitchers who miss bats. The goal of pitchers has been to induce ground balls forever, that's not a novel concept, we need pitchers that can also get themselves out of jams and not have to rely on the defense to do so.

 

I'm also glad the Brewers left Beloit as they are rinky dink compared to banner Midwest League affiliates like the T-Rats... no gameday, pitch counts, a gimpy facility built in 1982, poor media coverage by comparison, and poor attendance. I was happy with the move to West Virginia, but the move to back to WI has been tremendous, not only for me on a personal level getting to see players in person but for the players, organizations, this forum, and the fans as well.

 

Rafael Neda (2-3,2B) continues to romp in his 3rd time through the Midwest league, well at least by his previous standards. I've always liked him, he's one of those little thing guys that likely doesn't have a long career in front of him but just keeps grinding away, I guess you could say he's a coaches' player. He had the only multi-hit game of the contest for the T-Rats.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Montgomery 7, Huntsville 6, 13 innings

 

STARS FALL IN EXTRA INNINGS

Steve Jarnicki, Huntsville Stars

 

Montgomery, AL - The Huntsville Stars built a 5-1 lead early, but were unable to hang on as the Montgomery Biscuits outlasted the Stars Thursday night 7-6 in thirteen innings.

 

Cameron Seitzer broke a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the 13th as he hit a ground rule double to straight away centerfield scoring Jeremy Moore which won the game for the Biscuits.

 

The Stars had just taken the lead in the top of the twelfth inning when Kentrail Davis hit a home run over the right center field wall breaking a 5-5 tie and giving the Stars a 6-5 lead.

 

The home run by Davis was his fourth hit of the night. More importantly for Davis it was the home run that he needed to become the first Stars player in the franchise’s 30 seasons to hit for the cycle.

 

VIDEO, Montgomery feed via MiLB.TV: Huntsville's Kentrail Davis completes the cycle with a go-ahead homer in the 12th inning at Montgomery

 

The Stars took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Greg Hopkins laced a two-run double to right center field. The Stars made it 3-0 in the third after Nick Ramirez singled into right field for his team best 34th RBI of the season.

 

The Biscuits got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third on a Richie Shaffer RBI single against starter Drew Gagnon.

 

The Stars then added two runs in the fourth inning on a D’Vontrey Richardson RBI single and a bases loaded walk to Nick Shaw forcing home a run.

 

The Biscuits mounted their comeback starting in the fifth. With two outs and the bases empty, Shaffer launched his seventh home run of the season against Stars reliever Tanner Poppe to cut the deficit to 5-2.

 

In the eighth, the Biscuits tied the game as Stars reliever Casey Medlen allowed three runs. Jeff Malm had an RBI single making it 5-3. Willie Argo got a bunt down scoring Jake Hager making it 5-4. Pinch hitter Jeremy Moore then lined a double down the left field line tying the game at 5-5.

 

Gagnon took a no decision after four innings on five hits. He walked four and struck out eight.

 

David Goforth (1-2) took the loss as he allowed the game winning RBI double by Seitzer.

 

Montgomery improves to 25-21, while the Stars are now 31-16.

 

The Stars and Biscuits are tied 1-1 in their five game series. Game three will be Friday night at Riverwalk Stadium. The Stars will feature RHP Taylor Jungmann (4-4, 2.77). Montgomery will have RHP Dylan Floro (3-4, 4.50) on the hill. Friday’s game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki starting at 6:50 pm CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM, and wtkiradio.com>

 

***

 

Davis pedals to 'surprise' cycle for Stars

Brewers prospect thought fourth-inning triple was only a double

By Mark Emery / MiLB.com

 

Kentrail Davis walked off the field in the wee hours Friday morning thinking he had merely performed well in Huntsville's extra-inning defeat at Montgomery.

 

The Brewers outfield prospect thought he had collected a homer and two doubles on a four-hit night. But he thought wrong.

 

After the game -- following a walk-off ground-rule double by Cameron Seitzer that gave the Biscuits a 7-6 win over the Stars in Thursday's 13-inning game -- Davis learned that his drive to the left-center gap in the fourth inning was ruled a triple, not a double.

 

That meant his home run in the 12th inning was the finishing touch on the eighth cycle in the Minor Leagues this season.

 

"I had no clue," Davis said. "It was a surprise to me. It feels good, man."

 

With one out in the fourth, Davis laced a ball that split left fielder Willie Argo and center fielder Joey Rickard and reached the fence, where Argo needed two attempts to retrieve it. The Mobile, Alabama native made it to third base standing up, under the impression that he had another two-bagger to go with the one he hit to right in the second.

 

"Pretty much everyone on the team thought it was a double, so I thought it was a double too," Davis said. "I just found out before I called you. I guess that's even better.

 

"Now that I think about it, it was probably better that I thought it was a double and not a triple to keep if off my mind," he laughed.

 

In his next two at-bats, the left fielder flew out to center in the fifth and reached on a fielding error by shortstop Jake Hager and got caught stealing in the eighth.

 

Montgomery scored three runs in the eighth to tie the score and send the game to extras. The 2009 supplemental first-round pick (No. 39 overall) hit a liner into right for a single in the 10th, and in the 12th, he roped a solo shot over the center-field fence with two outs.

 

"This is definitely at the top of my list as far as being in pro ball," said Davis, who scored three times in the game. "It's a great accomplishment. You can go your whole career without doing it. To have it happen now, five years in, it's awesome."

 

The long ball was a go-ahead shot, but in the bottom of the frame, Montgomery's Richie Shaffer doubled and scored on a throwing error by shortstop Nick Shaw. In the 13th, Jeremy Moore led off with a single, advanced on Taylor Motter's sacrifice bunt and scored on Seitzer's double.

 

The 25-year-old is hitting .239/.307/.398 with 14 RBIs, two homers and four stolen bases in five attempts across 31 games this season. After six games, he suffered a groin injury that sidelined him about two weeks. Davis said he struggled with timing when he returned April 24, but has been feeling better at the plate lately.

 

His cycle was the first in Huntsville's 30-year history.

 

"I had no clue about that," Davis said. "I guess it's a great accomplishment."

 

It was also the second such feat in the Southern League this season. Pensacola's Donald Lutz completed one in a 17-1 win at Jacksonville on April 21.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Even the ending was bizarre in this one - was it a great catch? A home run? It was ruled a ground-rule double. Watch --

 

VIDEO: Cameron Seitzer's walk-off, ground-rule double gives Montgomery a 7-6 win over Huntsville in 13 innings.

 

Huntsville Game Log

[TheCrew07]

Sounds Conclude Homestand With 3-2 Loss

Morris Belts Team-Leading 6th Homer Of Year For Nashville

Nashville Sounds

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/8/3/0/43924830/cuts/morris_1g748avj_xxh2ci2l.jpg

(Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds closed out their nine-game homestand on the short end of a 3-2 loss to the Omaha Storm Chasers on Thursday evening at Greer Stadium.

 

Nashville (26-22) finished its homestand with a 5-4 record and won its 16-game season series against Omaha, 9-7. Five of the Sounds' last seven defeats have been one-run losses.

 

After Omaha took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Johnnie Lowe, Sounds right fielder Caleb Gindl (2-for-4) evened the score in the home half of the frame when he belted veteran Brett Tomko's 2-0 offering over the left-center wall for his third home run of the season (audio).

 

The Storm Chasers regained the lead in the fourth when Matt Fields singled and later scored on a Jesus Flores RBI single, which ended Lowe's night.

 

Sounds reliever Jeremy Jeffress had an outstanding outing, striking out seven of his 10 batters faced during his 2 2/3 scoreless innings of work.

 

First baseman Hunter Morris (2-for-4) leveled the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning when he belted a one-out solo homer to right off Omaha reliever Justin Marks (audio). The blast was the slugger's team-leading sixth of the year.

 

Omaha took its third lead of the night in the top of the eighth with an unearned run against Brent Leach (2-1). Melky Mesa led off with a double off the center field batter's eye, moved to third on an errant pickoff throw by Leach, and raced home on Brian Bocock's sacrifice fly to center to give the visitors a 3-2 advantage.

 

Taylor Green singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth against Spencer Patton to put the potential tying run on base for Nashville. However, Patton induced a game-ending popout from pinch-hitter Sean Halton to quell the threat and pick up his eighth save of the year.

 

The Sounds travel to New Orleans tomorrow for a four-game series against the division-rival Zephyrs before returning to Music City on Tuesday to begin another homestand. Top prospect Jimmy Nelson (5-1, 1.71) will make the start in Friday night's 7:00 p.m. series opener in the Big Easy. He'll face Zephyrs righty Elih Villanueva (4-2, 2.68).

 

Nashville Boxscore

 

ADDITIONAL AUDIO: Kevin Mattison makes a nice diving catch in Thursday's game against Omaha

 

Nashville Recap

 

Nashville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

The prior post has been "enhanced" with three audio clips now available from Jeff's call of the Nashville game. Check them out if you had read it previously.

 

***

 

Catching up from Wednesday:

 

VIDEO, Montgomery feed via MiLB.TV: Huntsville's Greg Hopkins slugs his second homer of the game as the Stars beat Montgomery, 5-2

[LouisEly]

Getting back to the strike outs, if you sort that link by SO/9 you'll see that the organization only has 8 RHPs across all levels with a rate over 8 and only one of them in on the major league staff in Marco Estrada. Toss in Hobbs Johnson who's the only lefty above 8 and we have a grand total of 9 pitchers out of a total of 29 possible with a reasonably high K rate.

To me, the most concerning part of your link is that there are only five LH starting pitchers in the entire organization, one of them a 29-year-old AAA free agent, and only six LH relief pitchers in the minors under the age of 30, one of them a 26-year-old in high-A. No LH relief pitchers under the age of 30 in AA or AAA.

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio blog - Postgame entry

 

Criminal case included...