Link Report for Thurs. 7/10

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Mike Fiers at Memphis (Cardinals), 11:45 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Jeff Hem is the play-by-play voice of the Sounds; follow him on Twitter @jeffhempbp; we'll link to his blog updates at On the Air…and Off

 

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Nashville games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $49.99 season-long package ($12.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link.

 

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Huntsville: RHP Drew Gagnon at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:15 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: LHP Hobbs Johnson at Lakeland (Tigers), 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.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Taylor Williams at Cedar Rapids (Twins), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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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Helena: RHP Jorge Ortega at Orem (Angels), 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 -- This entire seven-game road trip (Orem and Grand Junction) will be available for viewing by MiLB.TV subscribers, including archived broadcasts.

 

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Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the White Sox complex in Glendale, 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

 

Miller Park Prospects - Arizona League Primer

 

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DSL Brewers: at the DSL Braves, 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]

As per our highlight above, if you only want to make a one-month commitment to MiLB.TV for Helena (plus the other Brewer affiliates), here's the link for the $12.99 purchase.

 

***

 

Also,

 

DVR ALERT! The next televised Timber Rattlers game is Friday, July 11th on MyNew32 TV (7:00 PM airtime).

[Mass Haas]

Follow Thursday'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:

 

Memphis, TN

 

Chattanooga, TN

 

Lakeland, FL

 

Cedar Rapids, IA

 

Orem, UT

 

Glendale, AZ

 

Santo Domingo, DR

[Mass Haas]

Golf tourney to benefit Manatees player's son

 

Please support Jorge Lopez and his family if in the area on Friday August 8th. Hopefully the Brewers are helping to contribute to the day's plans.

 

No wonder Lopez has been so excited about his upcoming Futures Game appearance, it seems his family is dealing with quite a challenge.

[Mass Haas]

Expectedly, no Jason Rogers in the Nashville lineup after yesterday's exit.

 

Missed the beginning of Jeff Hem's pregame just now, if we learn more about the nature or severity of Rogers' injury, we'll let you know.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

"Today’s interview is with Rick Tomlin, minor league pitching coordinator for the Sounds’ parent-club Milwaukee Brewers. Tomlin discusses the arms in the Brewers’ farm system to this point in the season, what he’s looking for at this stage of the season and the stellar season Jimmy Nelson continues to put together."

[WV Brew]

Excellent outing by Fiers but no support. 3 singles by Velez is it.

 

Sounds lose. Gindl now in an 0-18 slump. The whole organization with a few exceptions seems to be in a slump right now. Zarraga pinch hit and walked and then threw out an attempted base stealer so there was that.

[Mass Haas]

INSIDE-THE-PARK HR JOYRIDE

 

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers shortstop Angel Ortega slides safely into home plate against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, July 9, 2014. (Adam Wesley photo / The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

 

http://www.thegazette.com/storyimage/GA/20140709/ARTICLE/140709684/AR/0/AR-140709684.jpg&MaxW=650&MaxH=420

 

***

 

And here's the video.

 

Notice that link also includes a photo gallery tab, Rattlers LHP Clint Terry among the shots there.

 

Chris Mehring has included his own audio call of the ITPHT in his Thursday pre-game Rattler Radio blog post.

[TheCrew07]

Sounds Shut Down By Redbirds, 1-0

Nashville's Fiers Logs Quality Start; Velez Records Three Hits

Nashville Sounds

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/8/8/71417288/cuts/Fiers_Mike_taken_by_Mike_Strasinger_hhy49m8s_gojsnvkw.jpg

 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Despite a strong outing from pitcher Mike Fiers, the first-place Nashville Sounds (49-46) could not find their stride offensively and suffered a 1-0 loss to the Memphis Redbirds (45-47) Thursday afternoon at AutoZone Park. The loss marks the fourth time Nashville has been shut out in 2014.

 

Fiers (6-5), who was recently named to the PCL All-Star team, pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out eight to pick up his 10th quality start of the year. After this outing, he now boasts an ERA of 2.52, the fourth lowest in the PCL.

 

The lone run of the afternoon came in the bottom of the fifth, when Shane Robinson scored Pete Kozma on a sacrifice fly following a pair of lead-off singles and a sacrifice bunt.

 

Nashville managed just four hits on the afternoon, three of which came off the bat of Eugenio Velez. He now has hits in six of his last nine starts, hitting .310 (9-for-29) in that stretch.

 

Redbirds starter Boone Whiting (2-6) went through the Sounds lineup with relative ease, allowing two hits and three walks in five innings while racking up seven strikeouts. Dean Kiedkhefer and Eric Fornataro each pitched two innings of scoreless relief to secure the victory.

 

The Sounds' best chance to tie the score came in the top of the eighth, when Shawn Zarraga walked to lead off the inning, but was stranded on second base. Nashville finished the game hitting 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

 

Nashville reliever Alfredo Figaro pitched a scoreless eighth inning, increasing his streak of scoreless outings between Nashville and Milwaukee to seven games (10.1 IP).

 

Nashville returns home after the road trip for a brief three-game homestand against Round Rock that will begin on Friday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Ariel Pena (5-6, 4.81) will get the start for the Sounds against Express RHP Scott Richmond (1-3, 7.46). The contest will be broadcasted on 102.5 The GAME with Jeff Hem on the call.

 

Nashville Boxscore

Mike Fiers was fantastic, too bad the offense wasn't. Fiers' final line 7IP, 4H, 1ER, 1BB, and 8 SO while throwing 56 of 89 pitches for strikes... just awesome.

 

Nashville Recap

 

Nashville Gameday

[Mass Haas]

Tennessean Notes Column:

 

Sounds pitchers know all about being All-Stars

[TooLiveBrew]

Golf tourney to benefit Manatees player's son

 

Please support Jorge Lopez and his family if in the area on Friday August 8th. Hopefully the Brewers are helping to contribute to the day's plans.

 

No wonder Lopez has been so excited about his upcoming Futures Game appearance, it seems his family is dealing with quite a challenge.

I can't begin to imagine how difficult this must be for the Lopez family & Jorge. Puts his impressive season in further context.

[Eye Black]

Helena Game vs. Orem Suspended in 5th Inning

 

Tonight's Helena game at Orem was suspended due to rain in the top of the 5th inning. At the time Helena trailed 1-0, but had moved a runner to third base with one out. The game will resume tomorrow evening and be followed by a 7-inning contest.

 

Helena Box Score

 

Helena Game Log

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers road trip ends with 7-5 loss in Cedar Rapids

Kernels rally with five in the eighth inning to erase Wisconsin lead

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers dropped a 7-5 decision to the Cedar Rapids Kernels Thursday night at Perfect Game Field. Logan Wade's two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning put the Kernels up 5-4 and Cedar Rapids tacked on two more runs for insurance in the eighth as part of their game winning rally.

 

Things started out great for the Timber Rattlers (46-43 overall, 10-10 second half). Johnny Davis singled with one out in the top of the first inning. Chris McFarland dropped a bunt up the third base line and the throw to first was wild allowing Davis to take third and McFarland to reach second. Michael Ratterree was next and his grounder towards short was cut off by third baseman Wade. Wade also threw wildly to first base. Both Davis and McFarland scored for a 2-0 lead as Ratterree went to second base.

 

Ratterree was out at third on a grounder back to the mound off the bat of Rafael Neda for the second out. Taylor Brennan kept the inning going with a single. Omar Garcia singled to left to drive in Neda. The throw to the plate was wild and the third Cedar Rapids error of the inning allowed Brennan and Garcia to each move up a base.

 

Steve Halcomb followed with a single to right that scored Brennan. Garcia was out at the plate for the final out of the inning, but the Rattlers were up 4-0.

 

The Kernels (38-51, 7-12) got a pair of runs off Wisconsin starting pitcher Taylor Williams in the bottom of the third. Bo Altobelli singled to start the inning. Tanner Vavra tripled to right-center to send Altobelli home. Wade's fly out to left was deep enough to score Vavra from third and Wisconsin's lead was down to 4-2.

 

Williams worked seven innings and struck out eight to set a new single-game high for strikeouts as a professional. He allowed two runs on four hits and was in line for his seventh win of the season.

 

Wisconsin had a chance to extend their lead in the top of the eighth inning. Dustin DeMuth and Davis singled to start the inning, but the Rattlers could not cash in any insurance. It would cost them.

 

Tyler Alexander came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning and struck out the first batter he faced. Altobelli was next and he doubled off the top of the wall in left-center on a 3-2 pitch. Then, Vavra was hit by a pitch to bring the tying run to the plate. Alexander got Ryan Walker for the second out on a fly ball to shallow center.

 

Wade stepped in and cracked a three-run home run to left and the Kernels were up 5-4. The homer was the second of the season by Wade. It was also only the second home run allowed by Alexander in 59-2/3 innings.

 

Alexander hit Christensen on a 2-2 pitch to keep the inning going. Mitch Garver lined a 1-2 pitch off Alexander's ankle for an infield single. The ball caromed to foul territory on the first base side of the diamond and Alexander had to leave the game with runners at the corners.

 

Tyler Spurlin entered the game to face Alex Swim and got to a 2-2 count. Swim sent a sinking liner to center and Davis couldn't make the diving catch. The ball got behind Davis for a double that allowed both Christensen and Garver to score and the Kernels were up 7-4.

 

Dallas Gallant dispatched the first two Rattlers he faced in the top of the ninth with strikeouts. Halcomb reached on an error and Angel Ortega singled to left on a 1-2 pitch to keep the inning alive. DeMuth singled to left to knock in Halcomb and get the Rattlers to within 7-5. But, Gallant got the final out with a strikeout to end the game.

 

Wisconsin finished their six game road trip with a 2-4 record. The Rattlers had the lead in three of the four losses. Two of the losses on the trip came on the final at bat of their opponents.

 

The Timber Rattlers return home to begin a four-game series with the Quad Cities River Bandits. Preston Gainey (2-5, 3.86) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Andrew Thurman (4-5, 4.92) is set to start for the River Bandits. Game time is 7:05pm.

 

Friday is Ultimate Tailgate Night. Grill masters Mad Dog & Merrill are hosting Ultimate Tailgate Night and the first 500 fans to enter the ballpark will receive a bottle of Da Works Brat Sauce. Make sure you bring your grill and your decorations to show that you are an Ultimate Tailgater before the game for a chance to win great prizes from Cher-Make and Mad Dog & Merrill.

 

All children 12 and under receive a free hot dog and soda as part of North Shore Bank Family night. There will be a postgame fireworks display. Kids 14 and under may participate in Kids Run the Bases thanks to Molina Healthcare after the fireworks. Plus, Potawatomi Bingo Casino presents Baseball Bingo, a chance to win prizes by playing a baseball-themed bingo game.

 

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

 

HOME RUN:

CR:

Logan Wade (2nd, 2 on in 8th inning off Tyler Alexander, 2 out)

 

WP: Alex Muren (3-1)

LP: Tyler Alexander (5-4)

SAVE: Dallas Gallant (1)

 

TIME: 2:38

ATTN: 2,700

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

A fantastic outing by Taylor Williams spoiled by the 8th inning and Tyler Alexander was apparently injured to boot. Cedar Rapids tried to give the game away with 5 errors...

 

Dustin DeMuth(2-4,BB) batting leadoff, Johnny Davis(2-5), and Angel Ortega(2-4) had the multi-hit games for the Rattlers.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[bkrause2]

Final: DSL Brewers 8, DSL Braves 1

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

 

The Brewers used a five run third inning to help knock off the Braves 8-1 on Thursday. Joan De La Cruz started and earned the win after going five innings and giving up just one run. Carlos Luna followed with three scoreless innings and Axel Cordero worked a scoreless ninth. First baseman Nicol Valderrey and second baseman Julio Mendez each collected two hits while Kevin Martinez added a triple and Nicolas Pierre doubled. Joantgel Segovia moved back in to the three spot and reached base in three of five at bats with a single, a walk and a hit-by-pitch.

 

DSL Brewers Play-By-Play

 

The previously mentioned five run inning

 

DSL Brewers Top of the 3rd

Raphachel Colatosti walks.

Julio Mendez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Reangelo Willems. Raphachel Colatosti to 2nd.

Nicolas Pierre doubles (4) on a fly ball to left fielder Reangelo Willems. Raphachel Colatosti scores. Julio Mendez scores.

Franly Mallen singles on a ground ball to center fielder Elias Arias. Nicolas Pierre scores.

Pitching Change: Alvaro Silvestre replaces Javier Sanchez.

With Joantgel Segovia batting, passed ball by Ruben Perez, Franly Mallen to 2nd.

Joantgel Segovia singles on a ground ball to shortstop Alejandro Salazar. Franly Mallen to 3rd.

With Nicol Valderrey batting, Joantgel Segovia steals (2) 2nd base.

Nicol Valderrey singles on a ground ball to center fielder Elias Arias. Franly Mallen scores. Joantgel Segovia scores.

With Kevin Martinez batting, wild pitch by Alvaro Silvestre, Nicol Valderrey to 2nd.

Kevin Martinez pops out to shortstop Alejandro Salazar.

Johel Atencio walks.

With Juan De Los Santos batting, wild pitch by Alvaro Silvestre, Nicol Valderrey to 3rd. Johel Atencio to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Evertz Orozco replaces Alvaro Silvestre.

Juan De Los Santos reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Alejandro Salazar to catcher Ruben Perez. Nicol Valderrey out at home. Johel Atencio to 3rd.

With Raphachel Colatosti batting, Ruben Perez picks off Johel Atencio at 3rd on throw to Ronny Guillermo.

[bkrause2]

Brevard's game was suspended shortly after it got underway. It will be completed on August 26th as part of a doubleheader.

[WV Brew]

Denson rehabbing in Maryvale, had to come out in the 6th inning. He had one double in 3 at bats before that.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Chattanooga 5, Huntsville 3

 

Lookouts Storm Back And Steal One From Stars

Steve Jarnicki, Huntsville Stars

 

Chattanooga, TN - The Chattanooga Lookouts erased a 2-0 lead and scored five unanswered runs late to come back and defeat the Huntsville Stars 5-3 Thursday night at AT&T Filed in Chattanooga.

 

The Stars scored an early run against Chattanooga starter Nick Struck in the first inning. Nick Ramirez recorded an infield RBI single on the right side of the infield scoring Nick Shaw making it 1-0 Stars.

 

Drew Gagnon lined an RBI single to right center in the fifth scoring Yadiel Rivera making it 2-0 Stars.

 

The Lookouts started their comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning against Gagnon. Alex Liddi singled and stole second base. Pinch hitter Bobby Coyle brought Liddi home on a groundout to first base making it 2-1.

 

In the bottom of the sixth, Gagnon retired the first two batters before getting in trouble.

 

O'Koyea Dickson and Chris O'Brien recorded back to back singles. Greg Holle then came in to face Liddi. Liddi singled back up the middle tying the game at 2-2.

 

Gagnon, who took a no decision went 5.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits.

 

The Lookouts took the lead for good in the seventh against Holle.

 

Noel Cuevas led off as a pinch hitter and reached on an infield single. Darnell Sweeney singled putting runners at first and second with nobody out.

 

After Holle struck out Jeremey Hazelbaker, Scott Shebler singled into right field scoring Cuevas giving the Lookouts a 3-2 lead.

 

Sweeney later scored on a wild pitch making it 4-2. Daniel Mayora added a sacrifice fly extending the lead to 5-2.

 

The Stars staged a late comeback in the ninth, but came up short. Josh Prince led off with a walk. Prince later scored on a sacrifice fly by Shaw getting it to a 5-3 game.

 

With a runner at first and two outs, Josh Ravin got Adam Weisenburger to ground out back to the mound.

 

Mike Thomas earned the win out of the Lookouts bullpen. He pitched two scoreless innings and improves to 3-3.

 

Holle suffers the loss after allowing three runs on five hits and is now 1-2 on the year.

 

The Lookouts (9-12, 35-56) lead the Stars (9-12,55-36)1-0 in their five game series. Game two will be Friday night. The Stars will have RHP Jacob Barnes (1-3, 4.91) on the hill. Chattanooga will feature RHP Matt Shelton (2-1, 3.65) on the mound. The game can be heard starting at 6:00 pm CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM and wtkiradio.com.

 

***

 

Not fun from a Stars' perspective, but you can watch how things went poorly late via video found here.

 

***

 

Stars' center fielder D'Vontrey Richardson leaps in vain to catch Scott Schebler's drive. The ball landed at the base of the wall while Schebler scrambled to third with his 12th triple of the year. The Lookouts broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in the seventh inning and went on to beat Huntsville, 5-3. Chattanooga's win moves the team into a tie with Huntsville for third in the SL North Division. Chattanoogan photos by Tim Evearitt

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/photos/2014/7/photo.21838.large.jpg

 

Erik Komatsu catches up with O'Koyea Dickson's deep drive to left field.

 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/photos/2014/7/article.280120.2.jpg

 

***

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Big 6'8" Greg Holle had been excellent in his return to the Stars, but it wasn't his night.

 

SS Yadiel Rivera doubled twice and had the only multi-hit game.

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: @AZL White Sox 7, AZL Brewers 3

 

Maryvale Box Score

 

Welcome back, David Denson, rehabbing from hamate bone (wrist) surgery.

 

Jake Gatewood made an error at short, but that's only his 2nd in 14 games. For the Arizona League, that's excellent.

 

Starter Bubba Blau lowered his ERA to 0.83, the victim of two unearned runs here.

 

Maryvale Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Wow, some pretty serious talk from Cedar Rapids management --

 

Kernels tee off on Wisconsin reliever, feel good about it

Five-run 8th inning gives C.R. a 7-5 win

Jeff Johnson, Cedar Rapids Gazette

 

Jake Mauer was ecstatic his Cedar Rapids Kernels were able to mount a five-run rally in the eighth inning Thursday night to pull out a 7-5 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

 

That all five of those runs came against relief pitcher Tyler Alexander, well, that was even better.

 

Rarely do you hear a manager speak with relative glee about an opposing player’s trials and tribulations, but the Kernels skipper wasn’t shy about doing it this time. Even when offered the opportunity to have his comments be off the record.

 

“Pretty good what happened to him there,” Mauer said.

 

There’s a history between the Kernels and Alexander, a side-arming lefty who entered the game in the eighth to try and protect a 4-2 lead but gave up a go-ahead, three-run home run to Logan Wade and a couple of following insurance runs. A June 4 game between the teams in Appleton featured six ejections and a bench-clearing incident that cost each club $1,400 in fines from the Midwest League.

 

Alexander was the starting pitcher, and his two hit batsmen began what turned out to be a rather ugly situation. At least that’s what Mauer and the Kernels believe.

 

Tanner Vavra and Chad Christensen each were plunked by Alexander in the eighth, Christensen immediately after Wade’s huge hit. Alexander was forced to leave the game a batter later after Mitch Garver smoked him in the right foot/ankle with a vicious comebacker.

 

Vavra also left the game, replaced defensively for the ninth.

 

“I had kind of a long at-bat there (before being hit), so I don’t know if he just missed in hard or if he got a little emotional after Logan’s homer. I’m not really sure,” Christensen said, diplomatically. “I’m just happy with the result. Logan had a big hit, he hit me, and I tried to steal second on him, then Garver had a big hit. So if he did throw at me, it came back to bite him.”

 

“He was the one who started the problem before,” said Mauer, who demonstratively discussed his concerns with Nate Caldwell, the home-plate umpire. Caldwell and base umpire Adrian Gonzalez were, coincidentally, the men in blue for that June 4 game.

 

If you’re wondering, Cedar Rapids and Wisconsin play a series again here in early August.

 

“I don’t think he hit Tanner on purpose, but he might have taken a shot at Chad,” Mauer said. “I don’t know. Guy hits a three-run home run in front of him. A little too fishy for me ... The baseball Gods do funny things, man. Things have a funny way of evening out. They take care of themselves most of the time.”

 

Wade was playing his first game with the Kernels (38-51, 7-12) since going on the disabled list May 7 with a dislocated shoulder, incurred while diving for a grounder. He played 10 rehab games in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before coming back to town Wednesday.

 

“Playing down in Florida was kind of tough, with the heat and playing during the day,” Wade said. “I’m definitely excited to be back. I wasn’t trying to hit a home run there. I was just trying to hit something hard.”

 

Wisconsin (46-43, 10-10) scored four unearned runs against newbie starting pitcher Chih-Wei Hu in the first inning, but the Taiwanese right-hander settled down and threw six wonderful innings. Hu, promoted from Rookie-level Elizabethton, gave up just five hits, one after the first.

 

“Because this was my first game and I just came here, I wasn’t familiar with the hitters and the environment here,” Hu said, with translation help from Dean Lin, who covers professional players from Taiwan for Major League Baseball. “I just have to get used to it.”

 

Alex Muren got the win in relief, with Dallas Gallant his first save. Gallant missed the first 50 games of the season serving a Major League Baseball-imposed suspension for testing positive for amphetamines while a Kernel last season.

 

***

 

At the article link above, you'll also find brief game highlights on video, but we don't see LHP Tyler Alexander's late-inning ankle/leg injury.