Link Report for Sat. 5/24 - Timber Rattlers Set To Enjoy The Miller Park Big League Experience

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: LHP Brad Mills at New Orleans (Marlins), 5:40 PM pre-game, 6:00 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 Jacob Barnes 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 place their games on MiLB.TV.

 

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Brevard County: RHP's Damien Magnifico and Austin Ross in a doubleheader at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 3:35 PM pre-game, 4:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

 

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: LHP Tyler Alexander at Beloit (Athletics), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:10 gametime; although Beloit is the home team for the game, the action takes place at Miller Park!

 

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]

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

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County Game One

 

Brevard County Game Two

 

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:

 

New Orleans, LA

 

Montgomery, AL

 

Viera, FL (Melbourne)

 

Milwaukee, WI

 

Roof should be open at Miller Park for the Wisconsin kids!

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Stars making their pitch as best team in Southern League

By Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times

 

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Memorial Day is one of those traditional mileposts in baseball, prompting reflection once a substantial chunk of the season has been completed and some trends established.

 

For the Huntsville Stars, who open a five-game home stand Monday with the Tennessee Smokies, one trend is obvious: They are the most successful, if not the best, team in the Southern League. Going into Saturday's game at Montgomery, they were 31-17. They had lost only one series all year, only once lost as many as three in a row.

 

The series with the Smokies begins a stretch of 15 home games in the final 20 of the first half and can give the Stars the opportunity to put some space between themselves and their closest competitor in the Southern League North; Tennessee was 5.5 games back after Friday night while the rest of the division is all but eliminated already.

 

The other obvious trend is that the Stars are doing all this in a vacuum. They're first in the standings, last in attendance. Whether it is the city's reaction to the team's lame-duck status - the franchise has been sold and moves to Biloxi next season - or the operation's dearth of marketing resources is anyone's guess.

 

They are also doing this with pitching and an offense that is more resourceful than resounding.

 

The Stars are only batting .243 as a team, tying them for sixth in the league. However, they are second in runs and first in stolen bases. First baseman Nick Ramirez is third in RBIs and fourth in homers and Josh Prince second in stolen bases. Huntsville's leading hitter is third baseman Jason Rogers, whose .268 average is a mere 82 points off the league lead.

 

The Stars are tops in the league in fielding percentage and have allowed only 11 unearned runs, fewest in the league. They're second in ERA tops in WHIP, second in fewest walks allowed and second in fewest runs allowed.

 

(Coincidentally, Milwaukee's Class AAA Nashville affiliate leads the Pacific Coast League South and is second in ERA, 13th of 16 teams in batting average; the High-A affiliate in Brevard County is second in ERA, ninth in batting.)

 

The four-man nucleus of the starting rotation has been sensational.

 

Tyler Cravy (7-1, 1.82 ERA), Drew Gagnon (4-1, 2.35), Brent Suter (6-3, 2.70) and Taylor Jungmann (4-4, 2.77) have provided two-thirds of the Huntsville wins. However, Jungmann was promoted Friday to Class AAA as the Brewers called up ex-Star Jimmy Nelson to the majors.

 

A minor league team's success often hinges on health in the major leagues and the movement of players to fill a void. That in mind, it might not be long before a homecoming.

 

Pitcher Jed Bradley, a former Huntsville High pitcher, has been lights-out at Brevard County. He'd join Hunter Morris as the only Huntsville natives to have played for the Stars.

 

Bradley is 4-2 with a 2.67 ERA and twice been named the Florida State Pitcher of the Week. Though his health has been a concern, he was strong enough to pitch nine innings of shutout ball on Tuesday in a no-decision.

 

"I would love to get to Double-A and have a strong season and see what the Brewers want to do with me from there," Bradley told milb.com earlier in the month, "but I don't like to look that far ahead. They just told me they want me to prove I can take the ball every fifth day and stay healthy. That's the big thing, to stay healthy and get guys out. That's what I've done so far and what I plan to do."

 

Getting guys out would fit right in with what the Stars have done to be the league's most successful team.

[WV Brew]

Manatees in trouble in this double header. Only 3 relief pitchers available due to the flu and Magnifico has served up his first 3 gopher balls of the year all in game one.

 

edit. Well Magnifico made it through 6 innings. Hopefully, Ross can do that much too.

[Mass Haas]

Well, this pretty much sucks.

 

Via @BrewerNation at Miller Park tonight --

 

"I found out why @rafaelneda88 is starting at 1B tonight for the #TRats instead of @_DavidD_41. Denson has a broken hamate bone."

[TooLiveBrew]

Well, this pretty much sucks.

 

Via @BrewerNation at Miller Park tonight --

 

"I found out why @rafaelneda88 is starting at 1B tonight for the #TRats instead of @_DavidD_41. Denson has a broken hamate bone."

Oh for the love of...

[brewmann04]

Terrible news the kid seemed to be holding his own. Let's hope for a speedy recovery

[bkrause2]

Final: Tampa 4, Brevard County 1 (Game One)

 

Homers doom 'Tees in 4-1 loss to Tampa

Brevard drops game one of doubleheader as skid extends to five

By Andrew Luftglass / Brevard County Manatees

 

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Manatees' starting pitcher Damien Magnifico, only allowed one earned run, but gave up four total on three home runs as Brevard County lost the first game of Saturday night's doubleheader at Space Coast Stadium to the Tampa Yankees, 4-1. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees scored all of its runs on three homers to defeat the Brevard County Manatees, 4-1 in the first game of Saturday night's doubleheader at Space Coast Stadium.

 

The Yanks did not waste time getting on the board. With two outs and one on in the first, Dante Bichette, Jr. hit a two-run homer to right field and Matt Snyder made it back-to-back jacks with a solo shot to right.

 

Two innings later, Greg Bird went deep. Bird skied a solo home run over the right field wall with two outs to give Tampa a 4-0 lead.

 

Brevard County (23-24) scored its only run of the game in the third inning. Mike Garza drilled a double over the head of right fielder Zach Wilson. Garza then moved to third on a groundout and Nathan Orf followed by working a walk to put runners on the corners.

 

Orlando Arcia came up next and hit a high chopper to third base. Bichette charged, made a barehanded play and threw Arcia out at first base. However, Garza came home to put the Manatees on the board.

 

Tampa lefty starter Dan Camarena (4-3, 2.36 ERA) earned his second win against the Manatees in 2014. He only allowed one run and two-hit the 'Tees over six innings of work. The southpaw struck out four and walked four.

 

Phil Wetherell picked up his second save of the year. Despite a leadoff single by Garza, Wetherell induced three ground outs to his middle infielders to seal the win for Tampa. With the win, the Yankees (26-22) extended their winning streak to five games.

 

Manatees' starter Damien Magnifico (3-4, 2.28) took the loss. He surrendered four runs, but only three were earned because an error in the first inning that ultimately led to the Yankees' back-to-back homers. Magnifico gave up six hits, walked one and struck out four, as the Manatees suffered their fifth straight loss.

 

Garza led the way at the plate for Brevard County, as he went 2-for-3 with a double and scored Brevard's lone run.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

 

Final: Tampa 2, Brevard County 8 (Game Two)

 

Manatees snap five-game skid with 8-2 win

Brevard scores six in sixth to top Tampa in game two of twinbill

By Andrew Luftglass / Brevard County Manatees

 

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Brevard County pitcher Austin Ross allowed two runs on four hits, while striking out five in six innings of work, as the Manatees snapped a five-game losing streak with an 8-2 win over the Tampa Yankees in the second game of Saturday night's doubleheader at Space Coast Stadium. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees were not afraid to employ small ball, as they scored six runs in the sixth inning to defeat the Tampa Yankees, 8-2 in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Brevard County (24-24) pulled off a pair of successful safety squeezes, including one that scored the eventual game-winning run, as Parker Berberet pushed across the deciding run in the sixth.

 

With the game tied 2-2, the 'Tees had runners on the corners with one out. Berberet bunted toward first base and Mike Garza sprinted home. Yankees' first baseman Greg Bird fielded with his bare hand and delivered a backhand flip home, but Garza slid around the tag of catcher Trent Garrison to give Brevard County the lead.

 

The 'Tees added five more runs that inning on three consecutive RBI hits. Nathan Orf was the first to add insurance, as he grounded a sharp single up the middle with the bases loaded to score both Yadiel Rivera and Berberet.

 

Orlando Arcia was the next to deliver with an RBI double to score Jose Sermo. Tyrone Taylor followed that up with a two-run single, as Orf and Arcia scored on the base hit to give the 'Tees an 8-2 lead.

 

The Manatees had bunted twice in the fifth to take their first lead of the game. Brevard County entered the inning down 1-0, but rallied quickly with back-to-back singles by Rivera and Berberet. Sermo then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the tying and go-ahead runs into scoring position, respectively.

 

With Orf at the plate, Tampa's starting pitcher Chaz Hebert delivered a wild pitch that skipped to the right of Garrison. Rivera scored from third to tie the game, 1-1.

 

Orf then worked a walk that forced Hebert out of the game, as the Yankees (26-23) called on righty Kyle Haynes out of the bullpen. Arcia was the first man Haynes faced and the second baseman pushed a bunt toward first. Bird's only play was to first base, but his flip to Haynes was not in time to get Arcia. Berberet sprinted home from third and the Manatees took a 2-1 lead.

 

Tampa scored its first run in the first inning on a home run to right field by Cito Culver. The Yankees' other run was in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Dante Bichette, Jr., that plated Culver. However, Brevard County doubled off Bird at first on that sacrifice fly on double play that went from Orf to Rivera to Garza at first.

 

Austin Ross (3-0, 3.31 ERA) made his first start of the season for the 'Tees and picked up the win. He allowed two runs on four hits over six innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked one.

 

The Manatees and Yankees will close out their three-game set on Sunday, beginning at 5:05 p.m. Southpaw Jed Bradley (4-2, 2.67) will get the nod for Brevard County and righty Rafael De Paula (1-1, 2.90) will start for Tampa.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

[TheCrew07]

Sounds Lose Third Straight Game, 3-2 To New Orleans

Six Of Nashville's Last Nine Losses Have Come By One Run

Nashville Sounds

 

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(Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

METAIRIE, La. - The Nashville Sounds dropped their third straight game on Saturday evening, falling 3-2 to New Orleans at Zephyr Field.

 

Eugenio Velez, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, and Sean Halton drove in the two Nashville runs.

 

The Sounds took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning against New Orleans starter Alex Sanabia.

 

Irving Falu led off with a bunt single and hustled home when Velez followed with an RBI double off the center field wall. Two batters later, Halton roped a run-scoring single to right to bring in Velez.

 

New Orleans halved the Nashville lead to 2-1 in the fifth. The Z's loaded the bases against Brad Mills without putting a ball in play, sandwiching a pair of walks around a hit batsmen, before Josh Rodriguez ripped an RBI single to left to put the home team on the board. The Sounds southpaw worked out of further damage in the frame by popping up Mark Canha then striking out Justin Bour to end the inning with the bags full of Zephyrs.

 

Mills -- who received a no-decision for his efforts -- allowed one run on four hits over five innings of work, walking three batters and striking out seven.

 

The Zephyrs took their first lead of the night at 3-2 in the sixth against Michael Blazek (0-3), who made a costly two-out throwing error on pinch-hitter Zack Cox's dribbler to allowed a pair of baserunners to score in unearned fashion.

 

Nashville (26-24), which has held a lead in 11 of its 15 road losses this season, had runners on base in each of the final five innings but were unable to add to their two-run scoring total. The Sounds finished just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position on the night.

 

Z's reliever Grant Dayton (2-0) was awarded the victory after working a scoreless inning. Arquimedes Caminero followed with a pair of scoreless frames before Chaz Roe took over in the ninth and worked around a leadoff single to secure his second save of the year.

 

Dustin Molleken turned in another solid relief outings for Nashville, striking out four batters while retiring all seven Zephyrs he faced. In his last five appearances, the Canadian has worked 9 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing only three hits and fanning 12.

 

The teams continue the series with a 1:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday afternoon. Rehabbing Brewers left-hander Tom Gorzelanny will make the start in his first rehab appearance for the Sounds and will be followed by regular starter Ariel Pena (2-4, 4,43). New Orleans will counter with left-hander Brian Flynn (4-3, 3.42).

 

Nashville Boxscore

 

Nashville Recap

 

Nashville Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Beloit busts Timber Rattlers 4-2 at Miller Park

Herrera stifles Rattlers as Marincov homers in Snappers win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

MILWAUKEE, WI - Tyler Marincov had three hits, including a key home run, and Ronald Herrera broke a personal three game losing streak with seven solid innings as the Beloit Snappers defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4-2 Saturday night at Miller Park.

 

Rafael Neda hit a solo home run with one out in the top of the second inning. Neda hit a high drive down the line in left and the ball caromed off the foul pole. The home run was Neda's first since June 29, 2012 and it gave the Rattlers (22-26) a 1-0 lead.

 

Beloit (22-26) broke through against Wisconsin starter Tyler Alexander in the bottom of the fifth. Jose Chavez just missed a home run as he lined a double off the top of the wall in left to lead off the inning. He was still there with two outs. Alexander hit Marincov on to keep the inning alive. BA Vollmuth lined a 3-2 pitch from Alexander back up the middle and knocked the glove off the Wisconsin pitcher. The single to center drove in Chavez with the tying run. Jaycob Brugman lined the next pitch to right to score Marincov and the Snappers had a 2-1 lead.

 

Wisconsin responded with a two-out RBI hit of their own in the top of the sixth. Steve Halcomb was hit by a pitch, sacrificed to second, and took third on a wild pitch. Clint Coulter dropped in single to right on an 0-2 pitch to knock in Halcomb with the tying run. Herrera ended the inning with his sixth and final strikeout of the night.

 

The Snappers went back in front in the bottom of the sixth against Wisconsin reliever Taylor Williams. Chavez singled with two outs and none on base. Boog Powell lined a 3-2 pitch to deep center for a triple to score Chavez with the go-ahead run.

 

Marincov capped his night with a leadoff home run off Williams in the seventh to give Beloit a 4-2 lead.

 

Wisconsin managed just two hits off Herrera in seven innings and didn't fare any better against the two Beloit relievers they faced. Blake McMullen tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Tyler Vail walked Coulter with one out in the ninth, but that was the only blemish on his night as he earned his first save of the season.

 

The Timber Rattlers continue their road trip with a game at 2:00pm on Sunday at Ashford University Field in Clinton, Iowa against the Clinton LumberKings. Barrett Astin (4-2, 3.65) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Clinton has named Lars Huijer (2-2, 3.96) as their starting pitcher. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the pregame show at 1:40pm.

 

HOME RUNS:

WIS:

Rafael Neda (1st, 0 on in 2nd inning off Ronald Herrera, 1 out)

 

BEL:

Tyler Marincov (6th, 0 on in 7th inning off Taylor Williams, 0 out)

 

WP: Ronald Herrera (3-4)

LP: Taylor Williams (1-1)

SAVE: Tyler Vail (1)

 

TIME: 2:22

ATTN: 5,301

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

 

Wisconsin Recap

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 7, @Montgomery 3

 

Stars Comeback To End Mini Skid

 

Montgomery, AL - The Huntsville Stars ended their two game losing streak Saturday night with a come from behind 7-3 win over the Montgomery Biscuits at Riverwalk Stadium.

 

With the Stars trailing 3-2 going into the sixth inning, Kentrail Davis came through with a clutch RBI double scoring Jason Rogers and tying the game at 3-3.

 

The Stars took the lead for good when Adam Weisenburger followed Davis' run producing hit with a sacrifice fly scoring Shawn Zarraga and giving the Stars a 4-3 lead.

 

The Stars were not finished in the sixth because D'Vontrey Richardson capped off three consecutive at bats by the Stars which produced a run. An RBI double by Richardson scored Davis and made it 5-3.

 

The Stars scored the final runs of the game in the seventh. Nick Shaw walked to lead off the inning. Josh Prince then doubled to deep left field for his third hit of the game. After an intentional walk to Rogers, Zarraga blooped a ball that went under second baseman Ryan Brett's glove scoring Shaw and Prince giving the Stars a 7-3 lead.

 

Jacob Barnes earned the win for the Stars. Barnes, who earned his first Double-A win to improve to 1-2, turned in a quality start. He went six innings, allowing three runs on three hits, as only one run was earned. He struck out six and also gave up a home run to Luke Maile which at the time gave the Biscuits a 3-2 lead.

 

The Stars took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Nick Ramirez had an RBI groundout to second and Rogers singled down the left field line.

 

Prince and Richardson each had three hits for the Stars, while Davis, Rogers and Shaw had two hits apiece.

 

The Stars are now 32-17 with the win, while the Biscuits drop to 26-22.

 

The Stars evened their series with the Biscuits at two games apiece to force a rubber match in their five game series. Game five will be Sunday night at Riverwalk Stadium. The Stars will feature RHP Andy Moye (0-0, 0,00). Montgomery will have RHP Michael Colla (1-5, 5.79) on the hill. Friday's game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki starting at 5:20 pm CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM, and wtkiradio.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Chadwin Stang got a rare start, tough after the layoff -- only player not to contribute offensively in some manner.

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

"Tonight’s interview is with Sounds outfielder and former Zephyr Kevin Mattison, who discusses his return from a recent shoulder injury, his return to New Orleans where he played over 200 games during his several seasons with the Marlins, hitting at pitcher-friendly Zephyr Field and beings selected by the Brewers this past winter in the Rule 5 draft."

[Mass Haas]

Now enhanced with audio --

 

The Sounds took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning against New Orleans starter Alex Sanabia.

 

Irving Falu led off with a bunt single and hustled home when Velez followed with an RBI double off the center field wall (audio). Two batters later, Halton roped a run-scoring single to right to bring in Velez (audio).

 

***

 

From Friday - What a Bomb!

 

VIDEO: Nashville's Hunter Morris starts the seventh inning with his seventh home run, but the Sounds go on to lose at New Orleans, 6-3

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County --

 

AUDIO: INF Mike Garza joins Andrew Luftglass on the Manatees Radio Network.

 

AUDIO, Game One Highlights: The Yankees take the first game, 4-1.

 

AUDIO, Game Two Highlights:

The Manatees explode in the sixth inning to win, 8-2.

 

AUDIO: Catcher Parker Berberet joins Andrew Luftglass after the Manatees game two victory against Tampa.