Link Report for Fri. 7/18

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County --

 

AUDIO: RHP Jorge Lopez joins Andrew Luftglass of the Manatees Radio Network to talk about his experience in the MLB All-Star Futures Game

 

AUDIO, Game Highlights: The Manatees defeat the Mets in walk-off fashion, 4-3

 

VIDEO: DH Jose Sermo crushes a game-winning home run to lift the 'Tees over the Mets, 4-3

 

AUDIO: After hitting a walk-off home run, Jose Sermo joins Justin Rocke on the Manatees Radio Network

[Mass Haas]

Owlz shut down, shut out Brewers

by Amber Kuehn, Helena Independent Record

 

Thom Bridge photo / Independent Record - Helena’s Francisco Castillo slides into second as Orem’s Wendell Soto leaps for an overthrow on Friday at Kindrick Legion Field. The Owlz, though, turned in a 5-0 win over the Brewers to take the three-game series, 2-1.

 

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/2/57/25734bc4-0f08-11e4-b589-001a4bcf887a/53ca06d1d3c63.preview-620.jpg

 

Pioneer League baseball is often unpredictable.

 

Just one night after recording 17 hits — their second highest total of the season — and scoring a season-high 15 runs, the Helena Brewers offense became anemic.

 

Orem held Helena to just four hits Friday, matching their lowest output this year, and handed the Brewers their second shutout of the season. The Owlz won the rubber match 5-0 at hazy Kindrick Legion Field, dropping Helena to 12-19 with seven games left to go in the first half of the season.

 

“That’s baseball,” Brewers manager Tony Diggs said of the night-and-day difference between Game 2 and Game 3. “You’re hot one night, and the next night you’re trying to find your way.

 

“Their pitchers did a good job holding our hitters, so give them credit. And we had some guys with some big swings, which part of that might have been because of the way we were hitting last night.”

 

Orem reliever Austin Robichaux threw one-hit ball in relief for the win, while Helena starter Josh Uhen was charged with the loss despite a valiant effort in his longest outing of the season. The right-hander allowed just two hits through the first five innings before giving up the first run of the game in the sixth. Andrew Daniel took a 1-0 breaking ball from Uhen over the left field wall to put the Owlz on the board with a solo shot.

 

“He made one mistake, really,” Diggs said of Uhen. “He had a good night through six innings, and I’m guessing he’d probably ask for that pitch back.”

 

Things didn’t get any better in the seventh for Brewers reliever J.B. Kole. Orem torched Kole for a double, a base hit, then back-to-back RBI singles in the inning, quickly breaking the game open with four runs in the frame.

 

The Brewers didn’t have an answer in the home half of the inning. Owlz reliever Eduardo Paredes came in throwing lightning, striking out the side with fastball after fastball reaching the low 90s.

 

Helena looked to have a rally brewing in the ninth inning against Jacob Kopra, as Brandon Diaz reached on an error and Sthervin Matos singled with one out. But Elvis Rubio struck out and Tucker Neuhaus grounded out to first base to end the threat and the game.

 

First baseman Wade Wass led the Owlz at the dish, going 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles. Wass entered the game batting just 1 for 13 on the season.

 

Diaz had half of the Brewers’ hits, going 2 for 4 with a double.

 

With the win, Orem (21-10) stretched its South Division lead to four games.

 

Helena welcomes Grand Junction tonight for a four-game set, with Javi Salas taking the mound for the Brewers. Right-hander Carlos Polanco gets the nod for the Rockies, who lost 3-2 Friday at Missoula. First pitch is 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

NOTES: Brewers catcher Greg McCall was a late scratch to the Helena lineup Friday. He’s been playing through knee pain the past two weeks, but Diggs said he is day-to-day and will continue to be evaluated. ... Brewers infielder Gregory Munoz saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end. ... The only other time the Brewers were shut out this season was June 23 in Missoula. ... Orem, the Pioneer League leaders in extra-base hits, had five Friday night: four doubles and a home run.