Link Report for Fri. 6/27

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 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.

 

**********

 

Huntsville: LHP Brent Suter at home vs. Montgomery (Rays), 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).

 

**********

 

Brevard County: LHP Hobbs Johnson at Clearwater (Phillies), 5:00 PM pre-game, 5:30 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.

 

**********

 

Wisconsin: LHP Clint Terry at home vs. Burlington (Angels), 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.

 

**********

 

Helena: RHP Chad Thompson at Billings (Reds), 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.

 

**********

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Padres' complex in Peoria, 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

 

Miller Park Prospects - Arizona League Primer

 

**********

 

DSL Brewers: at the DSL Blue Jays, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day

 

We're also 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 Alerts: As we've been telling you for some time now, tonight's and Saturday's Timber Rattlers games will be televised on MyNew32 TV out of Green Bay, 7:00 PM airtime each evening.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Maryvale

 

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: (For split-season leagues, 2nd half standings are shown as the default, although overall standings are also available at the link.)

 

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

 

Rookie - Arizona Summer League Central Division

 

DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris

[Mass Haas]

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Maryvale

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers

[Mass Haas]

Weather.com:

 

Nashville, TN

 

Huntsville, AL

 

Clearwater, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI (Appleton)

 

Billings, MT

 

Peoria, AZ

 

Santo Domingo, DR

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Notes from Steve Jarnicki:

 

Drew Gagnon turned in a second consecutive quality start by a Stars pitcher Thursday. It was Gagnon’s 7th quality start of the season and the Stars 32nd on the year. In their last five starts, the Stars starters are 2-1 with a 1.42 ERA (5 ER in 31.2 IP). The Stars are 26-6 when their starters go six innings or longer while allowing 3 ER or less...

 

Lucas May hit a home run for the Stars Thursday. It was the team's 14th home run in their last 13 games. The Stars have hit 19 home runs in June tying them with Mobile for the most in the month…May hit his first home run since his grand slam last August 23rd while playing for AAA Indianapolis (Pirates) against Rochester.

 

Also Thursday, RHP Jose De La Torre earned his first save. It was his first save since April 6th of last year while pitching for AAA Pawtucket (Red Sox) against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The bullpen for the Stars now is is 0-2 with 1 save with an 6.75 ERA (11 ER in 14.2 IP) in their last five games.

 

Nick Shaw did not record a hit but did get on base via a walk. It was Shaw’s 40th walk of the season which put him in a two-way tie with Montgomery’s Willie Argo for the second most walks amongst active players in the Southern League. Shaw has reached base safely in nine straight games…

 

Shawn Zarraga did not play. He still has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games. In his last 13 games, Zarraga is batting .606 (20-33) with 10 RBI. In the month of June alone, Zarraga is batting .500 which is the best average amongst all players in the Southern League.

 

Josh Prince did not play yesterday. He went 0-3 Wednesday and is batting just .148 (8-54) in June after he hit .319 in May. After going 1-22 recently, Prince is now 4 for his last 10.

[bkrause2]

DSL Brewers 1, DSL Blue Jays 9

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

 

The Brewers put a run on the board in the top of the first inning, but it was all Blue Jays after that. Nelson Hernandez made the start and allowed five runs in four innings before giving way to Juan Diaz who gave up a run in two innings. Marcos Padilla tossed a scoreless seventh but Boanerges Nova allowed three more runs in the eighth. Joantgel Segovia reached base in three of his four plate appearances with a single and a pair of walks while Juan De Los Santos went 2-for-4 and Yerald Martinez doubled for the only Brewers extra-base hit.

 

DSL Brewers Play-By-Play

 

The Brewers only offense came on a Yerald Martinez double in the first inning.

 

DSL Brewers Top of the 1st

Nicolas Pierre grounds out, second baseman Junior Vasquez to first baseman Enmanuel Moreta.

Franly Mallen called out on strikes.

Joantgel Segovia walks.

With Yerald Martinez batting, wild pitch by Jose Nova, Joantgel Segovia to 2nd.

Yerald Martinez doubles (3) on a fly ball to center fielder Rodrigo Orozco. Joantgel Segovia scores.

Johel Atencio flies out to left fielder Leudy Garcia.

[saget]

Arcia is reaching swoon territory.

[narwhalattack]

So uhhh... when's Nelson gonna be promoted?

[nate82]

So uhhh... when's Nelson gonna be promoted?

 

Sometime after the all star break. The Brewers are not going to risk the super 2 status with Nelson.

[bkrause2]

Final: Brevard County 8, Clearwater 4

 

Manatees double up Threshers, 8-4 in series opener

By Andrew Luftglass / Brevard County Manatees

 

CLEARWATER, Fla. - For the second time in four nights, Orlando Arcia fell just shy of hitting for the cycle, as the Brevard County Manatees pounded out 17 hits in an 8-4 win over the Clearwater Threshers at Bright House Field on Friday night.

 

Arcia went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and a single. He had two cracks at the triple that would have completed the cycle, but grounded out to third in the fifth and lined out to left in the ninth. Arcia was a home run away from hitting for the cycle on Tuesday against the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

 

The Manatees shortstop got the offense started early. After Nathan Orf led off the ballgame with a single to extend his hit streak to 11 games, Arcia hooked a double down the left field line. Orf came home to put Brevard County (6-3 second half, 42-33 overall) on top, 1-0.

 

Arcia advanced to third when the relay throw to home plate got away from catcher Gabriel Lino. Tyrone Taylor then chopped a single that allowed Arcia to scamper home from third and push the early lead to 2-0.

 

Later on in the frame, Taylor found himself on third base with one out, following a Cameron Garfield single. Victor Roache then drove in Taylor with an RBI groundout to second. The 'Tees finished the top of the first inning with three runs on four hits.

 

However, Clearwater (4-5, 21-56) used the long ball to knot the score in their half of the first. After Roman Quinn led off the inning with a double, J.P. Crawford hit a line drive home run over the right field wall. Two batters later, 'Tees starting pitcher Hobbs Johnson gave up another long ball to Brandon Short. The solo shot over the left field wall tied the game at 3-3.

 

The wild contest continued in the second. Alfredo Rodriguez began the inning with a walk and Brandon Macias grounded a single through the right side.

 

With runners on first and second, Orf hit a fly ball to right field that Brian Pointer caught and threw in to third base. The throw was wide of the third baseman, Harold Martinez and bounced past him. Starting pitcher Jeb Stefan then scrambled after the ball, as Rodriguez took off for third.

 

Stefan picked up the ball and threw to the shortstop, Crawford, who was covering third base. Crawford applied the tag to Rodriguez for the second out, as Macias moved up to second.

 

That play could have doomed the Manatees' hopes of taking back the lead that inning, but Arcia made sure it did not. He slammed a single to left-center to score Macias and the 'Tees reclaimed their advantage, 4-3.

 

Brevard still held a one-run lead heading into the fifth, but that was when the fireworks went off for the 'Tees offense. Of course, Arcia was the catalyst. He lifted a high fly ball over the left field wall for his second homer of the season.

 

The solo shot to leadoff the inning extended the 'Tees lead, but Taylor added to that. He followed up Arcia's long ball with a line drive that just cleared the left field wall. The back-to-back home runs made it a 6-3 Brevard County edge.

 

Clearwater answered with a run in the fifth, but that was all the home side could muster. The Manatees added insurance in the seventh and ninth to put the game away.

 

In the seventh, Taylor legged out an infield single and Michael Reed followed with a double in the right-center field gap. Taylor was off on the pitch and scored all the way from first, as the Manatees took a 7-4 lead.

 

Two innings later, Orf gave the 'Tees their final run of the game and reached a big career milestone in the process. The second baseman lifted his first career home run over the left field wall and the Manatees went on top, 8-4.

 

Every man in Brevard County's batting order recorded a hit, with the first three in the lineup - Orf, Arcia and Taylor - combining to go 8-for-15 with a double, three homers, six RBI and seven runs scored.

 

After a rocky first inning, Manatees starter Hobbs Johnson recovered to pick up the victory. The left-hander tossed five innings and surrendered four runs on five hits. Johnson walked three and struck out two.

 

With the victory, Johnson (9-6, 3.23 ERA) now sits atop the Florida State League in wins. He has also won each of his last five starts to go a perfect 5-0 in June.

 

The 'Tees continue their series with the Threshers on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Austin Ross (7-1, 2.98) will get the start for the Manatees. He will go up against Mark Leiter, who is making his first start for Clearwater since being called up from Class-A Lakewood.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

The Manatees got on the board early again with a three run first inning

 

Brevard County Top of the 1st

Nathan Orf singles on a line drive to left fielder Angelo Mora.

Orlando Arcia doubles (18) on a line drive to left fielder Angelo Mora. Nathan Orf scores. Orlando Arcia advances to 3rd, on a missed catch error by catcher Gabriel Lino.

Tyrone Taylor singles on a fly ball to left fielder Angelo Mora. Orlando Arcia scores.

Michael Reed grounds out, third baseman Harold Martinez to first baseman Chris Serritella. Tyrone Taylor to 2nd.

Cameron Garfield singles on a line drive to center fielder Roman Quinn. Tyrone Taylor to 3rd. Cameron Garfield to 2nd on the throw.

Victor Roache grounds out, second baseman KC Serna to first baseman Chris Serritella. Tyrone Taylor scores. Cameron Garfield to 3rd.

Mike Garza grounds out, third baseman Harold Martinez to first baseman Chris Serritella.

 

Then got back-to-back home runs from Arcia and Taylor

 

Brevard County Top of the 5th

Orlando Arcia homers (2) on a fly ball to left field.

Tyrone Taylor homers (5) on a fly ball to left field.

Michael Reed flies out to right fielder Brian Pointer.

Cameron Garfield flies out to center fielder Roman Quinn.

Victor Roache flies out to right fielder Brian Pointer in foul territory.

[Noche]

Look at Orlando Arcia's and Jorge Polanco's seasons thus far in the FSL. Which guy would you take? Keep in mind, Polanco is 13 months older. Polanco just got called to the majors straight from A+. I doubt any of the so called experts will even notice how well Arcia compares. Arcia just screams 2-3 WAR player with some higher peaks. Love it considering it represents the new wave of international prospects.

 

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_bat&lid=123&sid=t503

[Noche]

Look at Orlando Arcia's and Jorge Polanco's seasons thus far in the FSL. Which guy would you take? Keep in mind, Polanco is 13 months older. Polanco just got called to the majors straight from A+. I doubt any of the so called experts will even notice how well Arcia compares. Arcia just screams 2-3 WAR player with some higher peaks. Love it considering it represents the new wave of international prospects.

 

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_bat&lid=123&sid=t503

 

Compare Tyrone Taylor as well. Who would you rather have? Taylor is about 5 months younger.

[jjkoestler]

I'm heading to the T-Rats vs Bees game tomorrow. Any studs play for Burlington?

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Huntsville 4, Montgomery 3, 11 innings

 

Stars Walk Off On Biscuits

Steve Jarnicki, Huntsville Stars

 

Huntsville, AL - Erik Komatsu drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the eleventh inning scoring Josh Prince, lifting the Huntsville Stars to a 4-3 win over the Montgomery Biscuits Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville.

 

The game was dominated by home runs up until the Stars' late inning heroics.

 

Cameron Seitzer gave Montgomery a 1-0 lead in the second inning when he homered against LHP Brent Suter to start the inning.

 

The Stars then matched Seitzer's homerun in the bottom of the fourth.

 

Kentrail Davis and Komatsu started the inning with back to back singles. Nick Ramirez then hit a three run homer against Montgomery starter Angel Sanchez.

 

It was Ramirez's 15th home run of the year and it gave the Stars a 3-1 lead.

 

In the top of the sixth inning the Biscuits tied the game. With two outs, Richie Shaffer doubled. Seitzer then deposited a two-run homer of his own off Suter to tie the game at 3-3. It was Seitzer's eighth home run of the year.

 

Suter took a no decision working 5.2 innings. He allowed three runs on five hits. He walked four and struck out three.

 

Sanchez also took a no decision for the Biscuits. Sanchez went five innings allowing three runs on five hits.

 

In the bottom of the eleventh with Andrew Bellatti (1-4) pitching, Prince opened the inning by reaching on an error by second baseman Hector Guevara. Prince advanced to second base on a Lucas May sacrifice bunt.

 

D'Vontrey Richardson got on base on a fielding error by the third baseman Shaffer.

 

Bellatti struck out Yadiel Rivera for the second out, but walked Davis to force the bases loaded.

 

On a 3-1 pitch, Komatsu took ball four allowing Prince to score giving the Stars the walkoff win.

 

Montgomery (5-4, 40-39) and the Stars are tied 2-2 in their five game series. The rubber match will be Saturday night. The Stars (4-4, 50-28) will have RHP Andy Moye (3-0, 2.12) on the mound. Montgomery will turn to RHP Michael Colla (4-8, 5.26). The game can be heard starting at 6:15 pm CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM and wtkiradio.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Nick Ramirez is impressed with the return of his teammate Mr. Komatsu (tweet).

 

Did you notice in our transaction thread today that three former Brewer Organization Players of the Year were on the move? Taylor Green (two-time winner), Jason Rogers, and Erik Komatsu. See that thread if you haven't caught up on all the activity.

 

Komatsu is now 26, but his performance today (on base three times) was vintage 2010 Komatsu (his .323/.413/.442 POY season at Brevard). Welcome back, sir.

 

It was a very un-typical 0-for-5 night for Shawn Zarraga (but again with no K's), at least he was back in the lineup (at DH) after the hamstring tweak sidelined him only briefly.

 

Kentrail Davis continues to excel in the leadoff spot, on base three times here.

 

Huntsville Game Log

 

Stellar bullpen work by Tommy Toledo, David Goforth, and Tim Dillard, 5.1 scoreless one-hit frames...

[Mass Haas]

Looks our old favorite, Cody Scarpetta, is still plenty nasty. I am sure there will be feature stories but just caught this quick on Twitter.

 

 

Déjà vu: Scarpetta, 'Cats unhittable again

Lynchburg holds Blue Rocks hitless for second time in 24-hour span

By Danny Wild / MiLB.com

[Eye Black]

Final: Helena 13, Billings 2

 

Brewers stomp Mustangs 13-2, pull even for 2nd in North

By Dustin Daniel / Helena Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers (5-6) moved into a tie for second in the Pioneer League North Division on Friday night with a 13-2 plastering of the Billings Mustangs (5-6).

 

The Brewers set a season-high in hits with 16 in the series opener. Nine of those would come in the top of the third.

 

After a clean first two innings, Tyler Mahle would be pulled with one out in the third after giving up eight consecutive base-hits to the Brewers. Mitch Meyer highlighted the inning with a two-RBI triple to right to score both Natanael Mejia and Alan Sharkey. It would be the first triple of Meyer's professional career.

 

Javi Salas was solid in the start on the hill for the Brewers, pitching four shutout innings, giving up just two hits and striking out four. Despite leaving with an 8-0 lead, he would not qualify for the win.

 

Chad Thompson (2-1) pitched three perfect innings in relief, striking out six batters in his time on the rubber. The Brewers pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts on the game.

 

Mejia added an insurance run in the ninth when he pushed a sacrifice fly to deep left, scoring Brandon Diaz. Mejia finished the game 2-for-5 with four RBI.

 

The Brewers and Mustangs will face off again on Saturday night in game two of their four-game series at Dehler Park. First pitch from Billings is set for 7:05 p.m.

 

Helena Box Score

 

Starter Javier Salas went 4.0 innings allowing 2 hits (both singles), no runs, no walks, and striking out 5. Chad Thompson came on in relief pitching 3.0 hitless innings while recording 6 strikeouts.

 

Offensively Helena finished with six players with multi-hit games and 16 hits overall. Both Brandon Diaz and Elvis Rubio finished 3-for-5 including doubles for each. H-Crew members with 2 hits apiece were Dustin DeMuth, Nathanael Mejia (including 2B and 4-RBI), Mitch Meyer (including 3B), and Gregory Munoz.

 

 

Helena Game Log

 

Helena with 9 hits and 8 runs in the third inning:

 

Helena Top of the 3rd

• Luis Aviles grounds out, third baseman Kevin Franklin to first baseman Argenis Aldazoro.
  Gregory Munoz singles on a line drive to left fielder Jimmy Pickens.
  With Brandon Diaz batting, missed catch error by Argenis Aldazoro on the pickoff attempt, Gregory Munoz to 2nd.
  Brandon Diaz singles on a line drive to center fielder Nick Benedetto. Gregory Munoz to 3rd.
  Elvis Rubio doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Jimmy Pickens. Gregory Munoz scores. Brandon Diaz to 3rd.
  Dustin DeMuth singles on a ground ball to center fielder Nick Benedetto. Brandon Diaz scores. Elvis Rubio to 3rd.
  Natanael Mejia singles on a fly ball to right fielder Brian O'Grady. Elvis Rubio scores. Dustin DeMuth to 3rd.
  Alan Sharkey singles on a ground ball to center fielder Nick Benedetto. Dustin DeMuth scores. Natanael Mejia to 2nd.
  Mitch Meyer triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Brian O'Grady. Natanael Mejia scores. Alan Sharkey scores.
  Dionis Hinojosa doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Brian O'Grady. Mitch Meyer scores.
  Pitching Change: Fabian Roman replaces Tyler Mahle.
  With Luis Aviles batting, wild pitch by Fabian Roman, Dionis Hinojosa to 3rd.
  Luis Aviles strikes out swinging, catcher Shedric Long to first baseman Argenis Aldazoro.
  Gregory Munoz walks.
  Brandon Diaz singles on a line drive to left fielder Jimmy Pickens. Dionis Hinojosa scores. Gregory Munoz to 2nd.
  Elvis Rubio flies out to right fielder Brian O'Grady.

 

 

Very good pitching outing for Chad Thompson including a dominant 7th inning:

 

Billings Bottom of the 7th

• Alex Blandino called out on strikes.
  Cory Thompson strikes out swinging.
  Jimmy Pickens called out on strikes.

[TheCrew07]

I apologize in advance but I'm on the road the next couple of days and won't have time for commentary.

 

Bees, Bayardi beat Wisconsin 5-4

Burlington DH goes 4-for-4 with homer and three RBI

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers played their first home game since June 12 when they faced the Burlington Bees Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Bees wrecked the welcome home party with a 5-4 defeat of Wisconsin. Brandon Bayardi went 4-for-4 with a homer, a double, and three RBI to pace the Bees to their fourth straight win.

 

Burlington (42-35 overall, 4-4 second half) strung together three straight singles with one out in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Mike Fish started the singles binge. Eric Aguilera's hit-and-run single pushed Fish around to third. Bayardi's sinking liner dropped in for a single in right to drive in Fish for Burlington's run.

 

Tyler Palmer tripled with one out in the top of the second inning. He headed for the plate on a suicide squeeze, but Erick Salcedo missed the bunt. Palmer was trapped between third and home, but scored to make the score 2-0 when the Rattlers (41-36, 5-3) botched the rundown play.

 

Burlington added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning. They had a runner at first with two outs and Aguilera tripled to deep right-center to knock that run in. Bayardi followed with an RBI single and the Bees were up 4-0.

 

Burlington starting pitcher Garrett Nuss struck out seven and allowed three hits through six shutout innings. He went back out for the seventh and got into trouble. Taylor Brennan singled and Clint Coulter walked. Nuss got the first out on a popup to first. Cooper followed with a double over the head of the right fielder to drive in both Brennan and Coulter. That two-run double knocked Nuss out of the game.

 

Burlington reliever Alan Busenitz got the second out of the frame. Then, Steve Halcomb dropped a single into shallow center to drive in Cooper and make it a one-run game. Angel Ortega kept the rally going with a single that got Halcomb around to third base with the tying run, but the inning ended with the Bees up 4-3.

 

Bayardi gave the Bees an insurance run in the top of the eighth with a long home run to left. The solo shot, Bayardi's first home run of the season, came off Barrett Astin with one out and extended Burlington's lead to 5-3.

 

Ben Carlson came on for the Bees in the bottom of the ninth and Michael Ratterree greeted him with a double to the wall in left. Cooper was next and he sent a line drive to right. Ranyelmy Mendoza raced back on the ball, but had it glance off his glove to the wall. Ratterree came home with the run to make it a one-run game again. However, Cooper pulled up limping at first base and could not move up to second base.

 

Carlson got the first out of the inning on a force play at second. Carlson closed out the game by inducing a 4-6-3 double play, the fourth twin killing of the game for the Bees.

 

Saturday night is Star Wars Night. Timber Rattlers players and coaches will wear jerseys based on the armor worn by Darth Vader in the classic science fiction movies. Many characters from the movies will be on hand to meet with fans and pose for pictures. There will be a silent auction for the jerseys with the proceeds going to Make-A-Wish Wisconsin. There will be a postgame fireworks display presented by FOX 11.

 

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, there are many ways to catch the action. MyNEw32's Sports Showdown has the television broadcast starting at 6:30pm. The radio call may be heard on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Saturday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

 

HOME RUN:

BUR:

Brandon Bayardi (1st, 0 on in 8th inning off Barrett Astin, 1 out)

 

WP: Garrett Nuss (4-0)

LP: Clint Terry (1-2)

SAVE: Ben Carlson (5)

 

TIME: 2:33

ATTN: 3,552

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

Wisconsin Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Nelson, Sounds Blank Z's, 5-0

Brewers Top Prospect Hurls Seven Scoreless; Rogers Goes 2-for-3 In Triple-A Debut

Nashville Sounds

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/5/7/6/81988576/cuts/J_Rogers_Red_wsxhjo5t_sk0yvmjc.jpg

(Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Top prospect Jimmy Nelson worked seven scoreless frames and combined with a pair of relievers on a four-hit shutout in the Nashville Sounds' 5-0 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs on Friday evening at Greer Stadium.

 

Nashville (41-41), which snapped a five-game losing skid at Greer, tossed its fifth shutout of the year and improved to 21-1 when scoring first at home.

 

Nelson (9-2) was spectacular again for Nashville, holding the Z's to three singles in his seven frames to log his co-leading ninth win of the year and lower his ERA to 1.66.

 

The Brewers' top prospect struck out nine batters during his 85-pitch effort, the right-hander's 14th quality outing in 15 trips to the hill for the Sounds this season.

 

Dustin Molleken worked around a pair of baserunners in striking out the side during a scoreless eighth for Nashville before Jeremy Jeffress retired the Z's in order to close out the shutout win in the ninth.

 

Third baseman Jason Rogers -- who enjoyed a solid Sounds debut with a 2-for-3 effort that included two RBIs and a pair of extra-base hits -- ripped a leadoff triple to left-center in the bottom of the fifth inning for his first Triple-A hit and scored the night's first run when Jeremy Hermida followed with a bloop RBI single to left.

 

Bryan Evans (4-5) took a hard-luck loss in his spot start for the Zephyrs. The right-hander allowed one run on two hits over five innings.

 

The Sounds upped the lead to 4-0 in the sixth against Z's reliever Arquimedes Caminero. Rogers plated Jeff Bianchi (2-for-4) with a sacrifice fly before right fielder Jeremy Hermida (2-for-4) blasted a monstrous 401-foot three-run homer to right-center, the slugger's eighth roundtripper of the season.

 

Rogers continued his strong PCL debut in the eighth when he stroked an RBI double to left-center that plated Bianchi to up the Nashville advantage to 5-0.

 

The teams continue the series with a 6:35 p.m. matchup on Saturday evening. Right-hander Taylor Jungmann (3-4, 6.17) will man the bump for the Sounds and face New Orleans lefty Adam Conley (2-2, 4.08).

 

Nashville Boxscore

 

Nashville Recap

 

Nashville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog - Postgame entry

 

Garrett Cooper and Matt Erickson audio, and video highlights (nice to finally have the boys home again)

 

***

 

And here's another look at the highlights via the MyNew32 TV game broadcast.

[Mass Haas]

Sounds' Nelson tosses seven scoreless

Top Brewers prospect picks up nine strikeouts, improves to 9-2

By Josh Jackson / MiLB.com

 

If opposing hitters don't get to Jimmy Nelson early, there's a good chance they won't get to him at all.

 

"I feel personally like my control gets a little bit better once I get to the middle-late innings," he said. "Your body is tired and you can't overthrow. You have to trust your delivery, and I end up throwing more quality pitches than I do in the beginning of the game."

 

The Brewers' top prospect still threw pretty well at the beginning of Friday's game. He struck out the side in the opening frame and scattered three hits while recording nine strikeouts over seven innings in Triple-A Nashville's 5-0 shutout of visiting New Orleans.

 

"It's nice to set the tempo coming out and it's good that you're throwing strikes. You want to get the opposing team on the aggressive side, get them swinging early," Nelson said. "You're not sitting there trying to strike guys out, but you want to force early contact and keep your pitch count down."

 

Nelson (9-2) moved into a tie with Iowa's Kyle Hendricks for the Pacific Coast League in wins and his 1.66 ERA and 105 strikeouts are tops among the circuit's active hurlers. In other word's, Friday's performance was the norm for the 25-year-old right-hander.

 

"I was just able to consistently repeat my delivery and work down, the way I've done for the most part of the year," he said. "[shortstop Hector] Gomez made some really good plays and Hunter [Morris] made some good picks at first base."

 

After the Zephyrs' Josh Rodriguez opened the third inning with a single, Nelson struck out the next two batters, then picked off Rodriguez.

 

"This was my first this year at first base, so I was pretty happy," he said. "That was good.

 

"One thing we stress in our system in the development of pitchers is controlling the running game. You'll take outs any way you can. Something we worked on every day in Spring Training and that they preach all season is controlling the runners, changing holds."

 

In the fourth, Nelson issued a two-out walk to Mark Canha and a base hit to Rob Brantly.

 

"It was a good at-bat on that walk, just a battle back and forth. [Canha] did a good job laying off some tough pitches," he said. "On the hit, I made another good pitch and he just had a hit on it. When stuff like that happens, you can't try to change your game plan. You try to attack the hitters and stick with what's been working for you."

 

Nelson induced a dribbler to short, one of eight groundouts he recorded.

 

After that, the University of Alabama product settled into his middle-late innings groove, pitching a perfect fifth and working around a walk in the sixth and a single in the seventh.

 

He handed the game over to Dustin Molleken, who walked one and gave up a hit but struck out the side in the eighth. Jeremy Jeffress worked a 1-2-3 ninth.

 

Nelson had support from Jason Rogers, who tripled, doubled, drove in two runs and scored once in his Triple-A debut.

 

"I've played with Rogers for a few years now," Nelson said. "He's always been able to hit. The kid can straight up swing it. It's pretty fun to watch a guy who can hit like that consistently."

 

In recent weeks, Nelson's name has come up in discussions about replacing Brewers No. 4 starter Marco Estrada in the rotation. Still, MLB.com's No. 66 overall prospect thought nothing of general manager Doug Melvin watching him pitch at Salt City last Saturday or of visits from special assistant to the GM Dan O'Brien.

 

"I didn't know until after I got done pitching," Nelson said. "Our front office and Doug and Mr. O'Brien and everyone comes out and sees everybody multiple times during the year.

 

"It's not something you stress about. You can't try to be perfect because somebody's watching, you just have to go out there and execute the game plan that you have worked out with your catcher."

 

Jimmy Nelson has 74 strikeouts over his last 65 1/3 innings in the PCL. (Mike Strasinger photp / Nashville Sounds)

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/6/6/82006066/cuts/14337057389_25734c2f14_k_4y2dnfd9_abytvklv.jpg

 

***

 

VIDEO: Nashville's Jimmy Nelson fans New Orleans' Mark Canha for his ninth strikeout of the game.