Link Report for Mon. 6/16 - Jorge Lopez Excels Again; Helena Falls in Wet Opener

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Tacoma (Mariners), 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: Idle (All-Star Game Tuesday night in Chattanooga)

 

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Brevard County: RHP Jorge Lopez at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 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, as all games are scheduled to be broadcast in 2014.

 

No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV.

 

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Wisconsin: Idle (All-Star Game Tuesday night in Comstock Park, Michigan)

 

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Helena: RHP Chad Thompson at home vs. Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

There's a new Voice of the Helena Brewers in 2014, as Dustin Daniel (@dustin__daniel on Twitter) takes over for legendary Steve Wendt. We look forward to Dustin building his own legacy moving forward.

 

MiLB.TV -- When the H-Crew makes their way to Grand Junction, Orem, and Idaho Falls (one series each), those games will be available to watch online.

 

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DSL Brewers: at the DSL Blue Jays, 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]

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

 

Nashville

 

Brevard County

 

Helena

 

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.

 

***

 

We'll see if Helena's staff follows through with Media Notes this season and will let you know. Last year was their first season making notes available online.

[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

 

Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division

 

DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris

[Mass Haas]

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers

[Mass Haas]

Weather.com:

 

Nashville, TN

 

Viera, FL (Melbourne)

 

Helena, MT

 

Santo Domingo, DR

[Mass Haas]

Todd Rosiak tweet(s) --

 

Brewers Asst. GM Gord Ash says he doesn't expect any resolution on Brad Mills' (opt-out) situation in Class AAA Nashville today. Mills cannot unilaterally opt out of his deal. He can be assigned to a 25-man roster if there is interest.

[Mass Haas]

That Helena forecast is a bit ominous.

 

Here's the Helena roster as per what the parent club has fed MiLB.com.

 

Nice tweet response here by Dustin.

[Mass Haas]

Here's your Helena Brewers preview via our own Brad and his Miller Park Prospects site.

[TooLiveBrew]

I'll accept blame later for jinxing him, but Jorge Lopez's ERA over his last 5 starts is 1.13 (4 ER in 32 IP)

[WV Brew]

Well, you should probably throw out ERA in Brevard County anyway. What has improved over the last three years is his K/BB ratio. This has gone from 1.67 to 1.92 to 2.67 this year. He is striking out hitters at about the same rate all three years so the improvement is almost all due to reducing his walk rate. That's progress in my book and I'm pleased with his year so far.

[fondybrewfan]

I'll accept blame later for jinxing him, but Jorge Lopez's ERA over his last 5 starts is 1.13 (4 ER in 32 IP)

 

Well you didn't jinx him. Another fantastic outing. 7 innings, 5 hits, 6 k's, 0 walks, 9-3 GO:FO ratio. Awesome

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

"Tonight’s interview is this week’s installment of “Mondays with the Manager” with Sounds skipper Rick Sweet. He discusses the team’s struggling offense (.231 team batting average in June), the recent roster moves involving Logan Schafer and Irving Falu’s return to the Sounds, and the upcoming eight-game road trip to Las Vegas and Salt Lake."

[Mass Haas]

Another weather update --

 

This ain't Maryvale, kids!

[Mass Haas]

Here's a note from Stars' GM Buck Rogers:

 

Stars fans, we’re at the halfway point of the 2014 baseball season and here’s where we are by the numbers:

 

The entire Milwaukee Brewers organization is above the .500 mark. The Helena Brewers and Arizona Brewers have not yet started their season. This is an awesome indicator of where the organization is headed!

 

- MLB Milwaukee Brewers (41-29 .586)

 

- AAA Nashville Sounds (38-33 .535)

 

- AA Huntsville Stars (46-24 .657)

 

- A+ Brevard County Manatees (33-30 .524)

 

- A- Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (36-33 .522)

 

- Rookie+ Helena Brewers (0-0 .000)

 

- Rookie- Arizona Brewers (0-0 .000)

 

- Rookie DSL Brewers (9-4 .692)

 

 

 

Here are your final 1st-half standings:

 

NORTH DIVISION 1st HALF RECORD

 

W L .PCT GB

 

Huntsville Stars 46 24 .657 ---

 

Tennessee Smokies 33 36 .478 12.5

 

Jackson Generals 31 38 .449 14.5

 

Birmingham Barons 29 41 .414 17.0

 

Chattanooga Lookouts 26 44 .371 20.0

 

 

 

SOUTH DIVISION 1st HALF RECORD

 

W L .PCT GB

 

Mobile BayBears 42 27 .609 ---

 

Mississippi Braves 39 30 .565 3.0

 

Jacksonville Suns 36 34 .514 6.5

 

Montgomery Biscuits 35 35 .500 7.5

 

Pensacola Blue Wahoos 31 39 .443 11.5

 

 

 

The playoffs will begin on Thursday, September 4th as follows:

 

North 2nd half winner at Huntsville

 

South 2nd half winner at Mobile

 

The opening round of the playoffs is a best-of-five and the 1st half winners will host games one and two. Games three (and, if necessary games four and five) will be played at the 2nd half winners). The championship round will be the north division’s winner hosting games one and two, the south division’s winner hosting games three (and, if necessary games four and five). That means the Stars will not close out the season at Joe Davis Stadium. Our final game as the Huntsville Stars will be played elsewhere…no two ways about it. Good thing we’re a road team!

 

There are 35 home games remaining in the regular season and at least two home playoff games. That’s 37 home games and that’s it. If you haven’t been out to a game, two-and-a-half months is all you have.

 

The Stars are:

 

- 24-11 (.686) at home and 22-13 (.689) on the road

 

- 7-5 (.583) in day time games

 

- 5-5 (.500) in extra-inning games

 

- 3-1 (.750) in doubleheader games

 

- 12-5 (.706) in one-run games

 

- 7-3 (.700) in games ending in a shut-out

 

- Currently riding a six-game winning streak after sweeping Chattanooga here last week.

 

- Holding the best record in the Southern League and ended the 1st half of the season sitting in first place since April 6th.

 

15 of the 35 home games this season have been affected by rain, either at game time or afternoon showers requiring tarping the field. The tarp crew is currently on pace to tie the franchise mark for the number of tarp pulls in a season.

 

The pre-season campaign of #JustOneGame to encourage area residents to attend one game this season and bolster interest in returning baseball to Huntsville in the future has not been successful as we had hoped, even with one of the most winningest teams in team history. Weather has played a hand in it, but we will have to step on the gas to get caught up in the second half. Please let your family and friends know that this is a season-long campaign for baseball’s future in Huntsville. Without a sense of urgency we will fall short of the goals.

 

To those that have attended games this season, thank you for your support! To the player, coaches, and their families: thanks for a memorable season thus far! We have a long way to go until September gets here and if we can clinch the 2nd half of the season the playoff format would change dramatically in our favor (home for games one and two, on the road for game three, and home for games four and five, if necessary). That’s a huge advantage, so there’s no time to back off.

 

For those that haven’t thought about it, the Chattanooga Lookouts are hosting the 2014 Southern League All-Star Game tomorrow night. The Lookouts have a great night of fun, history, and baseball planned, including introducing the inaugural class of inductees to the new Southern League Hall of Fame. Our very own Don Mincher and Rosemary Hovatter are in that class. They will be recognized before the game Tuesday night on field at AT&T Park. Chattanooga’s ballpark is an easy drive and we invite all Stars fans to come join in this historic moment in the league.

 

Rock on!

[And That]

With Eric Williams playing 1B tonight (all 5'10 of him), the Brewers have five 19 year old starters in the lineup (also Neuhaus, Aviles, Rubio, and Diaz). That's pretty young, even by Pioneer League standards, and especially for the Brewers.

[TooLiveBrew]

I'll accept blame later for jinxing him, but Jorge Lopez's ERA over his last 5 starts is 1.13 (4 ER in 32 IP)

 

Well you didn't jinx him. Another fantastic outing. 7 innings, 5 hits, 6 k's, 0 walks, 9-3 GO:FO ratio. Awesome

http://i.imgur.com/Py3WoPP.jpg

[Mass Haas]

His tweet --

 

Huntsville's Nick Ramirez competing in the HR Derby in Chattanooga tonight.

[TooLiveBrew]

Good luck Nick!

[Mass Haas]

If anybody has a viable link for Helena (still on KCAP?), please share it here, thanks.

[bkrause2]

Final: Dunedin 0, Brevard County 1

 

Lopez blanks Jays in 1-0 'Tees win

By Justin Rocke / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/3/6/80125436/cuts/Lopez_6.16_640x360_hcx24ebk_8cdl7fx9.jpg

Brevard County starting pitcher Jorge Lopez hurled seven shutout innings, en route to his seventh win of the season as the Manatees shut out the Dunedin Blue Jays, 1-0 on Monday night at Space Coast Stadium in Viera. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - Behind another masterful performance by starting pitcher Jorge Lopez, the Brevard County Manatees shut out the Dunedin Blue Jays, 1-0 at Space Coast Stadium on Monday night.

 

The right-hander, who is now locked in a three-way tie for the league lead in victories with seven, baffled Dunedin (46-21) over seven innings. He scattered five hits and did not walk a batter in a start for just the second time all year. Lopez (7-2, 2.69 ERA) also struck out six Blue Jays, falling one shy of tying his season-high.

 

Lopez's brilliant performance did not require much help from his offense. The Manatees (34-30) scored the only run of the game off Dunedin starter Kendall Graveman (5-3, 3.42) in the bottom of the first.

 

Orlando Arcia ripped a one-out double to right-center and then advanced to third after a fly out to right by Tyrone Taylor. The following batter Nicky Delmonico, took a 3-2 pitch low for ball four. However, the ball squirted past the catcher Santiago Nessy and Arcia raced home to score on the wild pitch to put Brevard in front, 1-0.

 

Lopez also received plenty of help from his defense. In the seventh inning, Dunedin sparked a rally with back-to-back singles by Nick Baligod and Nessy to start the frame. Emilio Guerrero stepped in and smoked a line drive right to Arcia at second base. Arcia made the play, but got ahead of himself as he dropped the ball as he raced towards second base to try and double-up Baligod.

 

The defensive gem of the game came one play later as Gustavo Pierre ripped a line drive into right field. Michael Reed sprinted in and dove to make a gorgeous head-first grab to rob Pierre of a base-hit. Reed then staggered to his feet and made a strong throw on to shortstop Yadiel Rivera, who stepped on the second base bag to retire Baligod and end the threat.

 

Following Lopez's seven scoreless innings, the bullpen would finish the job for Brevard County's ninth shutout of the season. First, Martin Viramontes worked around a lead-off walk to throw a scoreless eighth inning. Kevin Shackelford then got out of a jam in the game's final frame to close out the victory and pick up his fourth save with the Manatees this year.

 

After singles by L.B. Dantzler and Baligod started the ninth, Shackelford struck out Nessy swinging and then forced Guerrero to hit a tapper to third to start a game-ending, 5-3 double play.

 

Mike Garza continued his hot hitting for the Manatees in the win. The first baseman went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles to raise his batting average to an impressive .295. Garza has now raised his batting average 62 points since May 28.

 

Brevard County will turn to southpaw Hobbs Johnson (6-6, 2.62) on Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m., for the second game of their three-game set with Dunedin. Right-hander Ben White (3-3, 4.22) will get the start for the Blue Jays as he makes his first career appearance against Brevard County.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Seven shutout innings from Jorge Lopez with no walks and six punchouts. Definitely something to get excited about. Not much to talk about on the offensive side for the Manatees. Mike Garza had two hits in three at bats. Orlando Arcia doubled and scored the game's only run and Cameron Garfield singled for the only other BC hit. The 'Tees turned three double plays behind Lopez.

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

[bkrause2]

Final: DSL Brewers 1, DSL Blue Jays 3

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

 

The Brewers got a run in the top of the first but then the offense went silent the rest of the game. Joantgel Segovia was in the leadoff spot as Nicolas Pierre had the day off and Segovia continued to get on base, going 2-for-3 with a triple and a walk. The only other Brewers hits came on singles by Raphachel Colatosti and Johel Atencio. Pedro Peguero started and went three innings, giving up one run. Melvin Tejada gave up just one unearned run in two innings but was tagged with the loss. Nattino Diplan worked the final three innings and gave up a run on two hits. Franly Mallen committed his 12th error already in just his 13th game.

 

DSL Brewers Play-By-Play

 

If not for a passed ball, Segovia would have been stranded at third following a leadoff triple.

 

DSL Brewers Top of the 1st

Joantgel Segovia triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Rodrigo Orozco.

With Franly Mallen batting, passed ball by Javier Hernandez, Joantgel Segovia scores.

Franly Mallen strikes out swinging.

Kevin Martinez strikes out swinging.

Yerald Martinez called out on strikes.

[TheCrew07]

Souds Swept by Rainiers, 9-0

Nashville's Schafer comes homer short of cycle; Nelson allows two earned runs in 5.2 innings

Nashville Sounds

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/6/0/80143060/cuts/Logan_Schafer_430_4_Large_k8w0knb2_zrdkgll7.jpg

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds suffered their fourth-straight loss at Greer Stadium Monday night, as the offense again struggled in a 9-0 defeat to the Tacoma Rainiers.

 

The loss handed the Sounds their first four-game series sweep since Sacramento took four games from Nashville from May 11-14, 2013. The four-straight losses also matches Nashville's longest losing streak of the season.

 

The Sounds found ways to get runners on base throughout the evening, but could not bring them home. Nashville hit 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

 

Sounds center fielder Logan Schafer provided a spark at the top of the order in his first game back in Nashville, going 3-for-3 and coming up a home run short of the cycle. He would never get home, however, as he would twice be stranded on third base. Eugenio Velez also appears to be finding his stroke again at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double.

 

Sounds starter, and Brewers top prospect, Jimmy Nelson struggled with his command, but still gave Nashville a chance to win. He went 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out five but still got saddled with his second loss of the season. The start was also the first non-quality start for Nelson at any level in 2014.

 

The Rainiers got to Nelson in the top of the second when a Hector Gomez error allowed Ty Kelly to reach base. Kelly would later score in the inning on a Hunter Morris error before scoring two more runs on an Abraham Almonte double.

 

Nelson's start would come to an end in the top of the fifth, and the Rainiers began pouring it on shortly after with a two-run single by Xavier Nady. The wheels fell off for the Sounds in the top of the seventh when Tacoma plated four runs on two hits off of Nashville relievers Dustin Molleken and Alfredo Figaro.

 

Johnnie Lowe pitched effectively for the Sounds in his first appearance since being activated off of the disabled list, throwing two perfect innings of relief.

 

The Sounds will hit the road for an eight-game road trip that begins Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Nashville RHP Michael Blazek (0-3, 4.26 ERA) will square off with 51s RHP Logan Verrett (5-2, 4.79 ERA) at 9:05 p.m.

 

Nashville Boxscore

Well Jimmy Nelson was bound to have a "rough" day sooner or later and though the defense didn't help him out, he did give up 8 hits. If this is as bad as it gets how can anyone complain? At least Johnnie Lowe went scoreless...

 

Logan Schafer (3-3,3B,2B,BB) had quite the return to AAA, he hasn't thrived in a bench role for the Brewers but I believe he's better hitter than his MLB line would suggest thus far.

 

Nashville Recap

 

Nashville Gameday