Link Report for Wed. 6/11

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Reno (Diamondbacks), 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 Tyler Cravy at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:30 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).

 

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Brevard County: RHP's Austin Ross and Damien Magnifico in a doubleheader at Lakeland (Tigers), 3:30 PM pre-game, 4:00 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: RHP Tristan Archer at home vs. Beloit (Athletics), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 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.

 

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DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Braves, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day

 

We're going to lock in the link to Brad Krause's fantastic Miller Park Prospects - Dominican Summer League primer right here, at least for the first couple of months of the DSL campaign, for your easy review. Brad will also be adding DSL Link Report duties to his Brevard coverage for us here. Thanks, Brad!

[Mass Haas]

DVR Alert: Both Wednesday and Thursday Timber Rattler games this week vs. Beloit are on MyNew32 TV, 7:00 PM airtime each evening (no pre-game).

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County Game One

 

Brevard County Game Two

 

Wisconsin

 

DSL Brewers

 

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

 

DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris

[Mass Haas]

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers

[Mass Haas]

Weather.com:

 

Nashville, TN

 

Huntsville, AL

 

Lakeland, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI (Appleton)

 

Santo Domingo, DR

[Mass Haas]

Via Steve in Huntsville --

 

Notes from after Tuesday's game:

 

The Stars received their 28th quality start (6 IP or more of 3 ER or less) and the second by Andy Moye this season. It was their first quality start though since 10 starts ago when Tyler Cravy had one in Jackson on May 31st. The Stars had five different leads of 2-0, 2-1, 4-1, 6-5 and 7-6 as they only trailed once briefly at 6-5 and the game was tied once at 6-6….

 

Mitch Haniger, who just hit two home runs in last Wednesday’s 7-5 win in Jackson, hit two more last night. It’s his second multi-homer game of his career. In his last 22 games, Hanger is batting .341 (28-82) with 5 home runs and 14 RBI. Haniger has enjoyed hitting at home with his .321 home batting average compared to .209 on the road. Only Shawn Zarraga (.421) swings the bat better at home. Six of Haniger’s eight home runs have been hit in Huntsville.

 

It was the fourth time this year that Adam Weisenburger had come up with a go ahead run producing at bat which ultimately won the game for the Stars. It was his second game winning pinch hit. On May 28th, he pinch hit in the 11th inning against Tennessee and won the game on an RBI single…

 

Stars pitchers allowed three home runs to the Lookouts. It was the third time this year that the Stars allowed 3 or more home runs in one game to the Lookouts. All 10 of the home runs Chattanooga his hit against the Stars have come in the last three games (3, 4, 3)…The Stars improved to 10-7 in one run games, the 3rd best record in the Southern League in one run contests with Chattanooga now 10-10 in games decided by 1 run…

 

Zarraga had two more RBI last night. In his last 6 games, he is batting .643 (9-14) with 6 rbi’s....Since the Stars clinched the 1st half championship they’ve gone 3-5…In the month of June alone, the Stars are 3-7 which is the worst record in the month in the Southern League. The Stars have the 2nd highest team ERA in June of any team in the league with a 5.68 team ERA… Kentrail Davis has batted leadoff now for seven straight game. In his seven games as the leadoff man, he is 7-25 (.280). This season Davis has batted first, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth. The only spot in the order that Davis has had a higher batting average than the leadoff spot is 7th (.333 BA, 15 G).

[bkrause2]

Brevard County rained out again. Will play a doubleheader on Thursday. Game originally scheduled for Tuesday has been cancelled as the two teams don't play each other again in the first half.

[Mass Haas]

Sounds manager sees loss of Mike Fiers as positive

Mack Burke, The Tennessean

 

Sounds starting pitcher Mike Fiers, who is fifth in the Pacific Coast League in ERA (2.53), was promoted to the Brewers last Sunday, but, aside from the loss of his production, Nashville manager Rick Sweet said it’s a positive.

 

Sweet said that even though he’s lost one of their better starters, he considers a callup a positive for the team, explaining that it motivates the other players when they see that the big-league club trusts its farm system enough to promote players rather than sign free agents.

 

“When we lose a guy to the big leagues, that’s a positive for us,” Sweet said. “That tells the other guys that the (big league team) is (promoting) guys up and not going out and (signing other players), so it makes our guys work even harder and focus more.

 

“Plus, it gives another young guy (a chance) and we get to move somebody up,” Sweet said. “So, I think (Fiers’ callup) is a positive, even though we lose one of our better pitchers, because it gets everyone back focused and excited (about getting a call up to the major leagues).”

 

Fiers was called up when former Sound Tyler Thornburg was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 8 with right elbow soreness.

 

To replace Fiers’ production, the team can look at starter Taylor Jungmann, who is the Brewers’ No. 8 prospect, according to MLB.com, and has put together a couple of nice outings since his promotion from Double-A Huntsville on May 23.

 

Jungmann had a rough outing in his most recent start on June 8 in Memphis, when he gave up nine hits and six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. But he had won his previous two outings and surrendered only nine hits and two earned runs combined in those appearances.

 

Extra baggage: The Sounds play in a city and ballpark that isn’t really friendly to power hitters.

 

The ball doesn’t usually carry too well at Greer Stadium, which would mean a team such as the Sounds, who haven’t hit very well this season (a .217 team batting average in June through this past Sunday’s game), should struggle at home.

 

But the team’s home record of 22-12 after Tuesday’s game is good for second-best in the Pacific Coast League, while its road record sits at 14-18.

 

Sweet said that the bad road record can’t be pinned just on bad hitting, which is a good argument because the Sounds hit .255 at home and .258 on the road.

 

Sweet said before Monday’s home game against Reno that the Triple-A level and the Pacific Coast League is probably the most grueling level and league in professional baseball when it comes to traveling and road play.

 

“This is probably the worst travel league in all of baseball,” Sweet said. “We fly everywhere on early morning flights, and literally, there are times where you get two or three hours of sleep (a night) and we play every day. This month we actually only have two days off.

 

“So, travel is a big factor. When you go on the road, you’re in one place for four days. We get home late and we get up early and travel, so it’s grueling.”

 

Rehab remarks: Milwaukee Brewers lefty reliever Tom Gorzelanny has been rehabbing his left shoulder in Nashville since May 22, and his performance seems to have him on the right track to return to the majors.

 

Gorzelanny started his 30-day rehab assignment on May 14, and during his time in Nashville he has accumulated a 0.93 ERA with seven strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings.

 

“(The rehab) has been great,” Gorzelanny said after Monday’s game. “It’s been beneficial, obviously, and I’m trying to get my strength back, get back on track and be ready to go up there whenever my arm feels good.”

 

The Brewers, though, are still waiting for his velocity and command to get where it needs to be, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke told MLB.com in a May 31 injury report.

[Mass Haas]

The Rattler Radio blog pregame post and includes the video Wisconsin highlights from Tuesday's game, including Taylor Brennan's grand slam and Chris' exciting call.

 

Click and help Mr. Mehring's blog continue to climb the MiLB.com viewership rankings (deservedly so).

[bkrause2]

Final: DSL Braves 11, DSL Brewers 5

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

 

The Brewers put up a five spot in the first, but it was all Braves from there in a very sloppy DSL contest. Yosmer Leal started and went five innings, allowing five runs, though only two were earned. Marcos Padilla followed and gave up three runs, one earned in just 0.2 innings and was charged with the loss. Kevin Martinez had another 3-for-4 game that also included a walk and two stolen bases. Raphachel Colatosti was 2-for-4 with a walk and Franly Mallen went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk. Mallen did commit three errors in the game however, as the Brewers committed a total of eight errors in the game. Juan De Los Santos had two and Colatosti, Nicol Valderrey and Yerald Martinez each had one.

 

DSL Brewers Play-By-Play

 

We'll choose to highlight the good here with the Brewers five run first.

 

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 1st

Nicolas Pierre strikes out swinging.

Franly Mallen singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ledernin Tejada.

Yerald Martinez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ledernin Tejada. Franly Mallen to 2nd.

Johel Atencio singles on a ground ball to shortstop Bryan Philips. Franly Mallen to 3rd. Yerald Martinez to 2nd.

Juan De Los Santos out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Elias Arias. Franly Mallen scores. Yerald Martinez to 3rd.

Kevin Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Elias Arias. Yerald Martinez scores. Johel Atencio to 2nd.

Raphachel Colatosti singles on a ground ball to center fielder Elias Arias. Johel Atencio scores. Kevin Martinez scores. Raphachel Colatosti to 3rd. Fielding error by center fielder Elias Arias.

Nicol Valderrey reaches on a fielding error by second baseman Rafael Barrios. Raphachel Colatosti scores.

Henry Correa strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

"Tonight’s interview is with former major leaguer Craig Counsell, now in his third season as a special assistant to GM Doug Melvin with the Sounds’ parent-club Milwaukee Brewers. Counsell discusses the Brewers minor league success so far this year, the Brewers’ place at the top of the NL Central right now, and his take on current Sounds infielders like Hector Gomez and Jeff Bianchi."

 

***

 

Always hopeful that many of you find time to take in our audio interview links...

[TooLiveBrew]

AUDIO via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

"Tonight’s interview is with former major leaguer Craig Counsell, now in his third season as a special assistant to GM Doug Melvin with the Sounds’ parent-club Milwaukee Brewers. Counsell discusses the Brewers minor league success so far this year, the Brewers’ place at the top of the NL Central right now, and his take on current Sounds infielders like Hector Gomez and Jeff Bianchi."

 

***

 

Always hopeful that many of you find time to take in our audio interview links...

Jeff Hem in particular does a great job with these feature interviews.

[guylanderfridancies]

Looking like a rain suspension in Huntsville, tarps on the field.

[jvrocksaz]

Mitch Haniger continues to RAKE!

 

Jimmy Nelson with another solid outing. He needs to be in Milwaukee SOON!

[guylanderfridancies]

Games back on! Can Haniger hit a 3rd?!

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers back in the win column with 6-2 decision

Wisconsin stays two games back in Wild Card Race

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/9/6/79359496/cuts/Neda_Slide_Web_x4wakr5m_k04x31na.jpg

Rafael Neda slides into home plate to score Wisconsin's sixth run of the night. (Ann Mollica/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers broke a 2-2 tie with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and defeated the Beloit Snappers 6-2 on Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Steve Halcomb drove in a pair of runs and Zach Quintana threw 3-1/3 scoreless innings of relief to help the Rattlers stay in the playoff race.

 

The Rattlers (33-32) scored first. Halcomb knocked in Clint Coulter with a grounder to short in the bottom of the second. Halcomb scored from third base in the bottom of the fifth when Johnny Davis beat out a potential inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. That gave Wisconsin a 2-0 lead.

 

Beloit (27-39) rallied to tie the game with two outs in the top of the sixth. Wisconsin starting pitcher Tristan Archer had allowed two hits in his first 5-2/3 innings. Boog Powell doubled with two outs and none on in the sixth. Melvin Mercedes followed with an RBI single. Jaycob Brugman tied the game with a double to left that scored Mercedes. That double knocked Archer out of the game.

 

Quintana entered for Archer and struck out Tyler Marincov for the final out of the sixth.

 

The Rattlers broke the tie in the bottom the sixth. Michael Ratterree doubled to start the inning. A wild pitch moved him to third. Taylor Brennan lined a base hit over the drawn-in infield to score Ratterree for a 3-2 lead. Jose Pena would double to put Brennan on third base. Halcomb made it 4-2 with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Brennan.

 

Rafael Neda kept the inning going with a two-out single to send Pena to third base. Beloit starting pitcher Lou Trivino looked like he would get out of the inning on a routine fly to center off the bat of Angel Ortega, but Powell lost the ball off the bat. BJ Boyd raced over from left and made a diving attempt, but he came up short. The ball dropped in for a double that scored both Pena and Neda for a 6-2 score.

 

Ortega now has a ten-game hitting streak after that double.

 

Beloit had runners at first and second with one out in the top of the seventh inning. Quintana got Boyd to send a grounder to second. Wisconsin got the force play at second, but Boyd beat out the play at first. However, Chih-Fang Pan, the runner at second, kept running around third for the plate and was thrown out easily for the final out of the frame.

 

The Rattlers turned their third double play of the game with an inning-ending twin killing in the top of the eighth.

 

Quintana tossed a scoreless ninth to nail down his first win of the season and Wisconsin's eighth win in their last eight games.

 

In the First Half Western Division Wild Card chase, Burlington held on to beat Clinton 8-6; Quad Cities came up short 5-4 at Cedar Rapids; and Peoria split a doubleheader with Kane County with a 2-1 win and a 4-3 loss.

 

Burlington is alone in first in the wild card standings with a 35-30 record. Quad Cities and Peoria are both 34-31. The Rattlers are 33-32. Clinton was eliminated from the first half playoff race with their loss on Wednesday.

 

The final game of the homestand is set for Thursday night at 7:05pm. Preston Gainey (1-3, 3.38) is the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Beloit will send Kyle Finnegan (5-3, 2.39) to the mound.

 

The one and only Salute to Cows is back on Thursday night and it is bigger and better than ever! Help the Timber Rattlers and Milk Source celebrate Dairy Month in America's Dairyland! The first 1,000 fans to attend the game will receive a Timber Rattlers batting helmet with a cow-patterned design. Timber Rattlers players and coaches will be wearing jerseys with a cow-pattern, too. Take one of these incredible jerseys home by making the winning bid in the silent auction that will be held during the game.

 

Enjoy a 22-ounce soda, a 16-ounce beer, or an Arty's Old Fashioned drink for just $2 as part of Thirsty Thursday presented by Arty's Old Fashioned and 95.9 KISS FM.

 

If you can't make it out to the game, there are several ways to catch the action. MyNEW32's Sports Showdown will have the television broadcast starting at 7:00pm. The radio broadcast is available on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. Thursday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

 

WP: Zach Quintana (1-4)

LP: Lou Trivino (4-5)

 

TIME: 2:22

ATTN: 3,372

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Well after last night's debacle I'll take a win. Check out Tristan Archer's weird line in the box, all 5s and 2s. Zach Quintana's 3.1 innings were eventful but effective as he didn't allow a run for the first time since a 3 inning stint on May 26th.

 

The bottom of the line-up owned this game with the 6-7-8 hitters doing the majority of the damage as Jose Pena (2-4,2B), Steven Halcomb (2-3), and Rafael Neda (2-4) had multi-hit games. It would be nice if Clint Coulter would heat up again at the plate though he did nab both would be base stealers.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

Wisconsin Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Sounds Grind Out 3-2 Victory

Nashville's Nelson strikes out 10 in quality start

Nashville Sounds

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/9/4/6/78466946/cuts/Hector_Gomez_519_1_Large_fpnfh2vr_mziy8nhz.jpg

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The first-place Nashville Sounds (37-30) found late game heroics for the third straight night, downing the Reno Aces 3-2 at Greer Stadium Wednesday night. The close victory makes the Sounds 15-10 in one-run games during the 2014 season.

 

It was Hector Gomez's turn to come through in the clutch with an RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth that scored Matt Pagnozzi, whose athletic slide beat the tag from Aces catcher and former Sound Blake Lalli. Gomez now has six RBIs in his last seven games and has hit safely in 14 of his last 19 games.

 

Before Gomez's game-winning hit, Reno's Mike Jacobs led off the top of the eighth by crushing his 12th home run of the season over the right field wall, tying the game at 2-2.

 

Nashville took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh when Sean Halton hit an RBI single that scored Kevin Mattison. Nashville loaded the bases shortly after on a pair of walks, but could not capitalize with more runs.

 

Nashville opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Hunter Morris knocked in Jeremy Hermida with a double. It would be the Nashville's last substantial offensive threat until the seventh, as Aces starter Mike Bolsinger would retire the next 11 Sounds batters.

 

The opening run and win by the Sounds moved the team's record when scoring first at Greer Stadium this season to 19-1.

 

Reno responded in the top of the third when Tony Campana came through with an RBI single. The Aces loaded the bases with one out later in the inning, but Sounds starter Jimmy Nelson struck out Danny Dorn and Mike Jacobs to end the threat.

 

Nelson, the top prospect in the Brewers' system, settled down shortly after, finishing the game with 10 strikeouts in six innings while allowing one run on four hits. His quality start gives Sounds hurlers 32 quality starts, which ranks second in the PCL.

 

Donovan Hand came on and pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his 13th save, a mark that ranks third in the PCL. Sounds reliever Jeremy Jeffress (4-1) earned the win by recording the final out of the eighth inning.

 

The Sounds will get their chance to complete a sweep of the Aces Thursday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Michael Blazek (0-3 4.91 ERA) will take to the hill for Nashville on Throwback Thursday against Reno RHP Lucas Harrell (3-0 3.89 ERA).

 

Nashville Boxscore

Jimmy Nelson did what he's done all year, he's been nothing short of fantastic, but it's time for the soapbox quick as this has been bothering me for the better part of 2 months... Am I the only baseball fan that hates the "quality start" stat? Nelson has been much better than a quality start all year... and 3 runs in 6 innings isn't good, but it's not terrible, so hooray for mediocrity? I could absolutely care less about a QS.

 

Lots of double switches for Nashville tonight, I don't remember a Brewers' AAA manager using the double switch this much in the past but it makes the boxscores and recaps interesting.

 

With just 5 hits no Sound player had a multi-hit game.

 

Nashville Recap

 

Here's the only inning that was a bit of a struggle for Jimmy.

 

Reno Top of the 3rd

• Blake Lalli strikes out swinging.
  Mike Freeman walks.
  Mike Bolsinger hits a sacrifice bunt. Mike Freeman to 2nd. Mike Bolsinger to 1st.
  Tony Campana singles on a ground ball to third baseman Elian Herrera. Mike Freeman scores. Mike Bolsinger to 2nd.
  Nick Ahmed singles on a line drive to center fielder Kevin Mattison. Mike Bolsinger to 3rd. Tony Campana to 2nd.
  Danny Dorn called out on strikes.
  Mike Jacobs strikes out swinging.

 

Nashville Gameday

[gregmag]

It would be nice if Clint Coulter would heat up again at the plate though he did nab both would be base stealers.

 

Maybe I'm imagining this, but I think you've been a bit quick a couple of times this year to say that Coulter's in a slump. In his past five games, he's 3 for 18, but with 5 walks . . . certainly not the greatest five games of his life, but I wouldn't say it's enough to remark on. In his past ten games his OPS is over .900.

 

A month ago I had Haniger down as our most disappointing position prospect this year, at least among guys who had been healthy. He seems to have gotten the memo from somebody. Wow.

[TheCrew07]

Maybe I'm imagining this, but I think you've been a bit quick a couple of times this year to say that Coulter's in a slump. In his past five games, he's 3 for 18, but with 5 walks . . . certainly not the greatest five games of his life, but I wouldn't say it's enough to remark on. In his past ten games his OPS is over .900.

 

You are... I'm well aware of his OPS and what he's done, as an FYI I look at every player I cover last 10 games just about every other day, in addition to watching and listening to every game I can.

 

I would ask if you have you watched any of the games? It's nice that he's doubling so much of late for his 1 hit per game, but he's not having consistent ABs like he was when he was really on earlier this year. Is a .280ish BA good enough for Clint? I honestly don't think so, not in A ball, if he was Taylor Brennan absolutely, but his ceiling is well beyond that. He seems... well angry mostly, I noticed it yesterday. He's going to get pitched around, he's the most consistent threat in the line-up so he's going to have to adjust. I don't mind a little red-ass from a player, in fact I kind of like it, but I think if Clint settles in he's a .320+ hitter at this level, he should ultimately be a 1.000+ OPS guy this year and I think he will be.

 

This is his line since May 1st which is what I was referring to... I could have elaborated better but I've been making an effort to try and keep my points shorter this year.

 

[pre]Rk G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS

2 Clint Coulter 35 154 124 28 32 7 1 7 28 22 1 29 7 0 1 2 1 2 .258 .396 .500 .896[/pre]

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Generated 6/11/2014.

 

Yes the power and walks are there, but the consistent hard contact is not. It might not be fair but I have the bar set higher for Coulter than any of the other position players in Wisconsin as he could easily be 1 of the 3 best overall hitters in the league this year. I understand he's leading the league in OPS, I also look at the league leader boards on a very regular basis (see my Taylor Williams post from the other day), my commentary is about the consistent quality of each AB. I understand I'm nitpicking him but he's got the potential to be *that* good. I've never set the bar that high for a Brewer hitting prospect in A ball before, not even Lawrie, but I believe Clint is special.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Huntsville 3, Chattanooga 2, 11 innings

 

DAVIS DOUBLES HOME THE WINNING RUN IN STARS WIN

Steve Jarnicki, Huntsvville Stars

 

Huntsville, AL - The Huntsville Stars (43-24) outlasted the Chattanooga Lookouts (26-41) Wednesday night in eleven innings 3-2.

 

Kentrail Davis delivered the game-winning RBI double over centerfielder Noel Cuevas’s head scoring Adam Weisenburger from second base giving the Stars the win.

 

Stars RF Mitch Haniger hit a pair of home runs for the second straight game. Haniger’s solo home run in the fourth inning gave the Stars a 1-0 lead.

 

In the fifth inning Chattanooga tied the game at 1-1 on a solo home run from Cuevas. It was Cuevas’s second home run in as many nights for the Lookouts and his fourth of the season.

 

Chattanooga took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning against Stars starter Tyler Cravy. Chris O’Brien singled into left field scoring Daniel Mayora.

 

Haniger then tied the game in the sixth when he hit his second homer of the game. It was a solo shot over the left field wall for his tenth home run of the season.

 

Cravy, who took a no-decision, turned in a quality start. He worked seven innings giving up two runs on five hits. He also struck out seven.

 

The game was delayed going into the bottom of the eighth due to an hour and thirty one minute rain delay.

 

Casey Medlen (4-0) earned the victory out of the Stars bullpen. Medlen tossed three scoreless innings on one hit.

 

The Stars lead Chattanooga 2-0 in their five game series. Game three will be played Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium.

 

RHP Jacob Barnes (1-2, 5.64) will start for the Stars. Chattanooga will send LHP Chris Reed (3-4, 3.01) to the mound. Thursday’s game can be heard starting at 6:15 pm CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM and wtkiradio.com.

 

***

 

Stars' Haniger continues power surge

Brewers' No. 5 prospect homers twice for third time in eight games

By Robert Emrich / MiLB.com

 

Mitch Haniger was selected 38th overall in the 2012 Draft out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. (Huntsville Stars photo)

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/7/4/79371474/cuts/Haniger_1_d0ukqcqs_9lv7v075.jpg

 

Like the passengers on Noah's Ark, Mitch Haniger's home runs keep coming in pairs.

 

The Brewers' No. 5 prospect recorded his third two-homer game in just over a week on Wednesday night as Double-A Huntsville outlasted Chattanooga, 3-2, in 11 innings.

 

Haniger got the scoring started with one out in the fourth, slugging a solo shot off Lookouts starter Andres Santiago. Two innings later, with the Stars trailing by a run, he knotted things up with a leadoff blast off Santiago.

 

"I was just trying to keep hitting the ball hard," said Haniger, who has climbed into a fifth-place tie in the Southern League with 10 homers. "Swing at good pitches, stay in the middle of the field and I got some good pitches to hit."

 

The 23-year-old outfielder also homered twice and drove in four runs on June 4 at Jackson and slugged a pair of two-run blasts on Tuesday against Chattanooga. While he has six homers and 11 RBIs in 11 games this month, the California native said he hasn't changed much at the plate.

 

"Nothing really different mechanically or approach-wise," Haniger said. "I'm just squaring balls up a little more than I was earlier in the season. I didn't have a fantastic start, but things are starting to turn around. Sticking with the process, not worrying about the results and just focus on hitting good pitches."

 

After batting .193 with three homers in April, Haniger saw his average rise to .314 in May, although he hit just one long ball. He's batting .308 with a .769 slugging percentage in June.

 

"It's good to see some hard work pay off," the 2012 first-round pick said. "It's baseball -- sometimes you're hot, sometimes you're not. You just have to go out there with the same intensity and the same preparation as you do when you're going good. I think I've been good about that this year and it's good to start seeing some results."

 

Given his recent success, it might be easy to start expecting homers to come in bunches. But Haniger said he tries not to think about it.

 

"It crosses my mind, but I'm just trying to stay with the same approach that's allowing me to hit homers," he said. "I'm not trying to change anything, just trying to hit the ball hard, swing at good pitches. If everything is perfect, I'll hit one out and if not, I'm just trying to hit a line drive up the middle. Good things happen when I stay within myself."

 

With the Southern League All-Star Game still a week away, Haniger is one homer from matching the career high he established last year with Class A Wisconsin and Class A Advanced Brevard County.

 

Having already locked up the first-half North Division title, the Stars walked off with their league-best 43rd win when Kentrail Davis doubled home Adam Weisenburger with two outs in the 11th.

 

Casey Medlen (4-0) allowed one hit over three scoreless innings for the win.

 

Noel Cuevas slugged a solo homer for the Lookouts.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Mitch, you almost allowed us to overlook another wonderful seven-inning start from RHP Tyler Cravy. Kudos also to RHP's Jose De La Torre and especially Casey Medlen in relief.

 

Former Brewers waiver claim (from the Reds) RHP Josh Ravin took the loss -- forgot about him, didn't you?

 

1B Nick Ramirez only a .514 OPS in the last ten games...

 

Huntsville Game Log

 

Unearned, but still a walkoff!

 

Huntsville Bottom of the 11th

 

Pitching Change: Josh Ravin replaces Blake Smith, batting 9th.

Adam Weisenburger reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Darnell Sweeney.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Shawn Zarraga replaces Casey Medlen.

Shawn Zarraga flies out to center fielder Noel Cuevas.

Shea Vucinich singles on a line drive to left fielder Scott Schebler. Adam Weisenburger to 2nd.

Nick Shaw flies out to left fielder Scott Schebler.

Kentrail Davis doubles (10) on a fly ball to center fielder Noel Cuevas. Adam Weisenburger scores. Shea Vucinich to 3rd.

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio - Postgame Entry

 

Audio interviews with Clint Coulter, Steven Halcomb, and Hitting Coach Chuckie Caufield.

 

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Post-Crescent Timber Rattlers story includes video of the Halcomb interview