Link Report for Monday 7/21

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Donovan Hand at home vs. Colorado Springs (Rockies), 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 Drew Gagnon at Jackson (Mariners), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 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).

 

NOTE: This series in Jackson is available via MiLB.TV.

 

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Brevard County: RHP Austin Ross at Fort Myers (Twins), 5:35 PM pre-game, 6:05 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 home vs. Dayton (Reds), 11:45 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM 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 home vs. Grand Junction (Rockies), 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.

 

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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

 

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DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Rangers #2 squad, 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]

DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Rangers #2 squad

 

That Rangers' club is 22-20.

 

The Rangers #1 club is 35-7. Yikes!

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday'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.

 

***

 

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

 

***

 

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

 

***

 

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Maryvale

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Nashville, TN

 

Jackson, TN

 

Fort Myers, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI (Appleton)

 

Helena, MT

 

Peoria, AZ

 

Santo Domingo, DR

[WV Brew]

Clint Coulter was apparently hit in the face yesterday, not the helmet. He is sporting a black eye today and will sit today's game out. Not known when he will be back. Hopefully soon. He did talk to Chris and seemed to be okay.

 

Welcome back David Denson. Tape measure shot. Est: 456 feet.

[TooLiveBrew]

Clint Coulter was apparently hit in the face yesterday, not the helmet. He is sporting a black eye today and will sit today's game out. Not known when he will be back. Hopefully soon. He did talk to Chris and seemed to be okay.

 

Welcome back David Denson. Tape measure shot. Est: 456 feet.

Good to hear about Coulter not being in any serious injury trouble.

 

And your Denson note reminds me that I wanted to comment after seeing him in person for the first time on Friday. He's a really impressive physical specimen, and relative to MLB, he hasn't really put on any muscle yet. Don't get me wrong, he's already built like a Mack truck. But when you look at his overall build, you can just see how much more room to add muscle there is -- especially in his upper body. It's scary to think that a young man capable of 450'+ bombs is really only still scratching the surface of his power potential. If he develops physically, mentally, & baseball-y to the point where he becomes capable of what I believe he can do, imo we're talking superstar impact in the bigs. If Coulter can do the same, imo we'd be looking at another one-two punch akin to Braun-Fielder.

 

Obviously any speculation like that is for 3, 4, or 5 years from now. But Denson could wind up making his 15th-round status look like an absolute joke.

[Mass Haas]

Alumni FYI (via Portland, ME):

 

Reliever Michael Olmsted was released by Boston, ending his second stint in the Red Sox organization. Olmsted broke out in 2012, ending the season with a 0.00 ERA in AA Portland (12 games). A free agent, he signed with Milwaukee and was added to the Brewers’ 40-man roster.

 

Milwaukee released him in spring training and Boston invited him back. Olmsted, 27, had a 0.93 ERA with the Sea Dogs (Portland, AA) in April, but it climbed to 4.45 by July and the Red Sox decided to move on, releasing Olmsted and promoting Dayan Dyaz, 25, another minor league free agent, from Class A Salem.

[WV Brew]

Rattlers have made a real mess of this game but it was a brilliant performance by Taylor Williams.

 

Wild game. Tyler Alexander and David Denson have been tossed as well as at least one of the Dragons.

[gregmag]

Glad to hear Denson was tossed, because I was worried from the box score he might have gotten hurt.

 

Picking up from TooLiveBrew, fast-tracking Denson sure looks like a smart move right now. He's 19 in low-A; he's actually five months younger than Arcia, so only about a half-year off our franchise's current gold standard in terms of age for level. He's holding his own, drawing a ton of walks, and flashing power that seems very likely to get more consistent over time. He's starting to look like a very exciting prospect.

[WV Brew]

Rattlers win on a walk off single by Jose Pena after a walk, sacrifice and wild pitch put Neda on 3rd. One of Harvey Martin's better outings.

 

Yes, Tyler Alexander gave up a 3 run homer and plunked the next hitter. The batter took a couple of steps towards the mound and both he and Alexander were thrown out. Apparently, Denson and the Catcher for the Reds got into it as well because they were also thrown out. No injuries and really not much of a donnybrook either.

[igor67]

More intriguing would be that Denson's May was awesome (OPS over 1.000 in 52 PAs) before he got hurt after a just horrible April. If May was close to real and he can close out the season that way he would definitely shoot up the charts in my estimation.

[TooLiveBrew]

Rattlers win on a walk off single by Jose Pena after a walk, sacrifice and wild pitch put Neda on 3rd. One of Harvey Martin's better outings.

 

Yes, Tyler Alexander gave up a 3 run homer and plunked the next hitter. The batter took a couple of steps towards the mound and both he and Alexander were thrown out. Apparently, Denson and the Catcher for the Reds got into it as well because they were also thrown out. No injuries and really not much of a donnybrook either.

But the important thing here is that you got to use donnybrook in a sentence! What a word.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Jeff Hem's blog --

 

"First pitch tonight on 102.5 The Game is set for 7:05, and coverage begins at 6:50 with this week’s installment of “Mondays with the Manager” with Sounds skipper Rick Sweet. He discusses the Sounds’ four-game series in Oklahoma City, today’s roster move with the Brewers’ calling up Jeremy Jeffress and optioning Rob Wooten, the offense’s productivity lately and the team’s outlook as it sits in first place with 42 games remaining in the regular season."

[Mass Haas]

Some Huntsville Pre-Game Notes from Steve --

 

The Stars allowed ten runs to the Smokies Sunday. It was only the fifth time this season the Stars had allowed ten or more runs in a game. It was the first time they allowed ten or more since Birmingham scored 18 runs in an 18-9 loss to the Barons on May 19th in Huntsville. Four out of the five games where the Stars have allowed ten or more runs has come at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville…The Stars allowed three home runs in one game for the second time in the series to Tennessee. In both of Tennessee’s wins in the series they hit three homers. LHP Brent Suter has now given up the most home runs in the Southern League with 13. The Stars pitching staff still has given up the most home runs in the league with 85, ten more than Pensacola… Even though Suter allowed 6 ER in 4.2 IP yesterday, Huntsville starters have still been impressive in their last six starts. They are 3-2 with a 2.94 ERA (33.2 IP, 11 ER)…

 

Joey Paciorek extended his hit streak to six straight with a single in the 6th inning. In 16 games in the second half of the season, Paciorek is batting .341 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI. In 11 games in the first half, Paciorek batted only .214 with 1 RBI. He also remains the best pinch hitter for the Stars with his .333 average (4-12, 4 RBI)…Yadiel Rivera went 2-3 with a double. He now has five doubles in his last nine games and all six of his doubles have come in the last 12 games. He has played a total of 22 games since being called up from High-A Brevard County…

 

Since the Stars clinched the 1st half championship they’ve gone 22-20.

[jvrocksaz]

It is nice to see Yadiel Rivera adjusting nicely to AA with the bat...

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers wrap homestand with walkoff win in eleven innings

Wisconsin beats Dayton 5-4 on RBI single by Pena

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/6/2/85598062/cuts/Pena_and_Neda_Celebrate_July_21_61kwvxp9_pxgevkm3.jpg

Rafael Neda leaps at Jose Pena after Pena's RBI single in the bottom of eleventh inning drove Neda home with the winning run for Wisconsin's 5-4 victory over the Dayton Dragons Monday afternoon.

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The series finale between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Dayton Dragons on Monday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium was filled with twists and turns and bumps and bruises, but the Rattlers outlasted the Dragons 5-4 in eleven innings. Jose Pena drove in the winning run with a single in the eleventh inning to put an exclamation point at the end of an odd game.

 

David Denson gave Wisconsin (52-47 overall, 16-14 second half) a 1-0 lead with a mammoth home run to center. The ball sailed out of the stadium just to the right of the extended batters' eye that sits atop the wall beyond the boardwalk for a home run of over 450 feet. The homer was Denson's fourth of the year and his first since rejoining the team on July 18.

 

Dayton (50-48, 14-16) tied the game in the top of the fifth. Jamodrick McGruber singled with two outs to drive in Jonathan Reynoso from third to even the score.

 

That was the only run allowed by Wisconsin starting pitcher Taylor Williams. The right-hander, who was pitching on his 23rd birthday, struck out a professional career high nine and allowed three hits over 6-2/3 innings.

 

Wisconsin went back in front in the bottom of the sixth. Omar Garcia singled and Chris McFarland walked to start the inning. Michael Ratterree drove in Garcia with a single and the Rattlers were up 2-1.

 

Williams would walk Reynoso to start the seventh. Reynoso stole second to get into scoring position. Williams struck out the next two batters to get two outs. He was nearly to 100 pitches and came out of the game in favor of Tyler Alexander, who walked McGruder to put two runners on base. Alexander got the final out of the seventh on a tapper back to the mound.

 

The game zigged in the top of the eighth. Alexander got the first out with a strikeout, but walked Phil Ervin and allowed a single to Jose Ortiz. Carlos Rosa was next and he hammered a tape-measure home run to left on the first pitch he saw from Alexander and the Dragons were up 4-2.

 

Alexander hit Reynoso with the next pitch and the benches cleared as Reynoso stalked to the mound. Wisconsin catcher Rafael Neda got between Reynoso and the mound as Alexander tossed his glove aside and walked towards Reynoso. While that was going on, a heated altercation developed between Denson and Ortiz near first base.

 

The respective coaching staffs calmed the situation down before things escalated. The end result was ejections for Alexander, Denson, Ortiz, and Reynoso.

 

Harvey Martin came into the game to replace Alexander and retired the next two hitters and get the game to the bottom of the eighth. That's where the game zagged.

 

Zack Weiss took over on the mound for the Dragons and walked Garcia. McFarland followed with a single. Ratterree drew a walk and the bases were loaded with no outs. The Dragons called for Alejandro Chacin to bail them out of the inning.

 

Chacin got Taylor Brennan to ground into a 6-3 double play that allowed Garcia to score. The Rattlers trailed 4-3 and had a runner at third, but there were two outs.

 

McGruder, who started the game at second base, had been moved to left after the defensive changed that were needed due to the Dayton ejections in the top of the inning. He had played one game in the outfield this season prior to Thursday, but had been an infielder/outfielder in the Seattle Mariners system for two seasons prior to joining the Reds organization this year.

 

Steve Halcomb, who entered the game at first base for Denson after the ejection, stepped to the plate with the tying run at third and sent a fly to the track in left. McGruder got back to the track and leapt, but just missed the ball. Halcomb's double allowed McFarland to score the tying run to even the game 4-4.

 

Martin tossed 3-2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts to keep the game tied and give Wisconsin a chance to win the game. The Rattlers hitters could not strike the winner in the ninth or tenth.

 

In the eleventh, Neda drew a walk off Scott Brattvet, the fifth Dayton pitcher, to start the inning. Dustin DeMuth sacrificed Neda into scoring position with a bunt. Brattvet threw a wild pitch with Pena at the plate to get Neda to third.

 

Then, Pena smacked a single to right on a 3-2 pitch to drive in Neda with the winning run.

 

This was Pena's second walkoff hit of the season. He had previously hit an extra-innings walkoff, three-run home run to beat Lansing 10-7 in the first game of a doubleheader on April 16.

 

Wisconsin has won two in a row and finished their ten-game homestand with a 6-4 record.

 

The Timber Rattlers are off on Tuesday. They return to action on Wednesday night at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio with a game against the Lake County Captains. Preston Gainey (2-6, 3.95) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Dace Kim (5-11, 4.81) is set to start for the Captains. Game time is 6:00pm CDT. The broadcast is available on AM1280, WNAM and IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 5:40pm.

 

HOME RUNS:

DAY:

Gabriel Rosa (1st, 2 on in 8th inning off Tyler Alexander, 1 out)

 

WIS:

David Denson (4th, 0 on in 2nd inning off Amir Garrett, 1 out)

 

WP: Harvey Martin (3-5)

LP: Scott Brattvet (3-6)

 

TIME: 3:47

ATTN: 2,587

 

Postgame Post – July 21, 2014

A loaded postgame, the interviews are worth your time.

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Remember when I posted Taylor Williams' MWL rankings for pitching peripherals pointing out that he'd been good but not great and I was hoping he'd ascend in the 2nd half? Well, he's been brilliant since the break. Tyler Alexander was ready to throw down which for some reason I found amusing as Chris was relaying the on-field action. Harvey Martin needed his 3.2 scoreless innings today in the worst way, he's only gone scoreless in 2 of his last 10 outings.

 

Jose Pena was 2 for 21 on this homestand before his game winning hit today. I haven't had a chance to gush about David Denson since his injury and I disagree with the take that his April was awful... he was putting in quality ABs each time out, he was not overmatched even though the statistics would suggest otherwise.

 

Omar Garcia (2-3,2 BB) had a nice day at the plate.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

Wisconsin Gameday

[bkrause2]

Final: DSL Rangers2 8, DSL Brewers 1

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

 

The Brewers struggles continued after the All-Star break as they were beaten by the Rangers 8-1. Pedro Peguero started and took the loss after giving up four runs in three innings of work. Nicolas Pierre and Joantgel Segovia each collected two hits in four at bats, but the Brewers managed just two other base hits, singles from Johel Atencio and Yerald Martinez. The Brewers are just 6-11 in July now, 19-24 for the season, and in last place in their division.

 

DSL Brewers Play-By-Play

 

The Brewers only run of the game

 

DSL Brewers Top of the 2nd

Yerald Martinez singles on a line drive to left fielder Abel Rosa.

Juan De Los Santos walks. Yerald Martinez to 2nd.

Kevin Martinez grounds out, second baseman Franklin Rollin to first baseman Jesus Gonzalez. Yerald Martinez to 3rd. Juan De Los Santos to 2nd.

Raphachel Colatosti reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Luis Mejias to third baseman Willy Diaz. Yerald Martinez scores. Juan De Los Santos out at 3rd.

Dilson Fernandez grounds into a force out, third baseman Willy Diaz to second baseman Franklin Rollin. Raphachel Colatosti out at 2nd.

[bkrause2]

Final: Brevard County 2, Fort Myers 4

 

'Tees lead early, fall late at Fort Myers

By Andrew Luftglass / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/9/5/2/81158952/cuts/Orf_6.8_640x360_527urpew_r4bxxl0u.jpg

Manatees second baseman Nathan Orf, seen here in a game from earlier this season, went 2-for-4 in Brevard County's 4-2 loss to the Fort Myers Miracle on Monday night at Hammond Stadium. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

FORT MYERS, Fla. - A couple of quick, fourth-inning runs by the Brevard County Manatees were enough to take an early lead, but not enough to beat the Fort Myers Miracle. The Miracle rebounded to defeat the 'Tees at Hammond Stadium on Monday night, 4-2.

 

Brevard County (15-11 second half, 51-41 overall) grabbed the first runs of the game against Fort Myers (20-9, 61-37) starter Matt Tomshaw. After Tomshaw issued a one-out walk to Cameron Garfield in the fourth, Victor Roache roped a single to put a pair on. Mike Garza then came through with a double to score Garfield and put the 'Tees on top. Garrett Cooper followed suit with a sacrifice fly to bring Roache home and push the lead to 2-0.

 

That was all the Manatees could muster against Tomshaw, however, and in the bottom of the fourth, Fort Myers' bats came alive. Manatees starter Austin Ross recorded the first two outs of the inning, but Dalton Hicks smacked a single to keep the inning alive.

 

Adam Brett Walker came up next and the Florida State League leader in homers and RBI delivered. He drove a double off the center field wall to score Hicks and cut the Miracle deficit to one run. Mike Gonzales then peppered the left field wall with a two-bagger to tie the score at 2-2.

 

Fort Myers rallied again in the sixth. Now at the end of his line, Ross (7-3, 3.38 ERA) sandwiched a single between a pair of walks to begin the inning. The last free pass to Walker knocked Ross out of the game and the 'Tees called on lefty Mike Strong with the bases loaded, nobody out and the score knotted.

 

Strong fared well, but could not keep the Miracle from taking the lead. Gonzales broke his bat on a grounder to third base and Greg Hopkins threw to second for the out, but the Manatees could not roll the double play. The RBI fielder's choice allowed Travis Harrison to score the go-ahead run and Stuart Turner added to the lead with an RBI single to right field. Strong did not allow another run that inning, but the Miracle still held a 4-2 advantage.

 

Brevard had two big chances to come back in the seventh and ninth, but could not quite get there. After Tomshaw (9-2, 2.87 ERA) got the first two 'Tees out in the sixth, the starter issued back-to-back walks to Nathan Orf and Michael Reed.

 

The left-hander then got Tyrone Taylor to ground to third, but Aderling Mejia bobbled the ball to load the bases and keep the inning alive. Tomshaw's night was over after the error, but reliever Brian Gilbert came in and struck out Hopkins looking to end the inning and preserve the two-run lead for Fort Myers.

 

Once again, the Manatees had a shot at a comeback in the ninth. Brandon Macias worked a leadoff walk and Orf singled to put the tying run on base. Gilbert, however, induced a 6-4-3 double play and a subsequent ground out to end the ballgame.

 

Gilbert picked up his fifth save of the season in 2.1 innings of work. The right-hander struck out four, issued one walk and allowed just one hit.

 

The reliever's work sealed Tomshaw's ninth victory of the season. Tomshaw went 6.2 innings and allowed both the Manatees' runs on five hits. Brevard struck out three times against the lefty and walked three times.

 

Ross took the loss in his first official start since July 6. The righty surrendered four runs on six hits through five innings of work. Ross also issued a season-high four walks and struck out two.

 

The 'Tees have now lost each of their last three games and are 0-5 against the Miracle. Brevard County faces Fort Myers again on Tuesday at Hammond Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Tyler Wagner (9-4, 1.71 ERA) is set to pitch for the Manatees against Ethan Mildren (1-0, 6.75 ERA).

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

Brevard County Top of the 4th

Greg Hopkins called out on strikes.

Cameron Garfield walks.

Victor Roache singles on a ground ball to left fielder Travis Harrison. Cameron Garfield to 2nd.

Mike Garza doubles (12) on a fly ball to right fielder Adam Walker. Cameron Garfield scores. Victor Roache to 3rd.

Garrett Cooper out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Adam Walker. Victor Roache scores.

Brandon Macias flies out to right fielder Adam Walker.

[TheCrew07]

Sounds Edged By Sox In Homestand Opener, 5-2

Clark, Gomez Homer For Nashville In Losing Effort

Nashville Sounds

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/9/0/4/84286904/cuts/Clark_0711_lyyhbke3_ea3phv6l.jpg

(Mike Strasinger / Nashville Sounds)

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds opened their homestand on the short end of a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on Monday evening at Greer Stadium.

 

Former Sound Chris Capuano (1-0) twirled a solid outing for the visitors, fanning 11 batters over seven innings while holding Nashville to a pair of runs on four hits to earn the win.

 

PCL mid-season All-Star Donovan Hand made his first start of the season for Nashville and took a no-decision after allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits in four frames of action.

 

After retiring the first six batters in order, Hand gave up a run in the third as Colorado Springs took a 1-0 lead when Drew Garcia doubled and scored on Tim Smalling's RBI single.

 

The Sky Sox upped their lead to 2-0 with an unearned run in the top of the fourth following a two-out fielding error by third baseman Jason Rogers.

 

Capuano was virtually untouchable for the first six innings, holding Nashville scoreless while permitting only two hits over that stretch.

 

The Sounds finally broke onto the scoreboard in a big way in the seventh, blasting a pair of mammoth 400+ foot homers to open the inning and knot the score at 2-2.

 

First baseman Matt Clark broke up Capuano's shutout bid when he led off the Sounds' seventh by blasting the southpaw's first pitch for a massive 442-foot solo homer to right-center, the slugger's second longball of the year. Shortstop Hector Gomez (2-for-4) followed with a game-tying, 421-foot moon shot to left-center, his team-leading 12th roundtripper of the season.

 

The homers were Nashville's third set of back-to-back big flies this season. The red-hot Gomez is batting a team-best .357 (25-for-70) with 13 RBIs and 10 extra-base hits in the month of July for the Sounds.

 

Colorado Springs jumped right back on top in the eighth, plating three runs against Johnnie Lowe. Jason Pridie drew a one-out walk from the right-hander and later scored the go-ahead run on Angelys Nina's single to center. Dustin Garneau followed with a two-run single to up the Sky Sox lead to 5-2.

 

Dan Houston worked the final two innings in scoreless fashion for Colorado Springs to close out the win and earn his first save of the year.

 

The teams continue the series with another 7:05 p.m. matchup on Tuesday. Right-hander Michael Blazek (1-4, 4.70) will make the start for the Sounds and face Colorado Springs southpaw Brian Burres (1-3, 6.92).

 

Nashville Boxscore

Donovan Hand was much better as a starter today despite the lack of strike outs, but perhaps it will be an outing he can build on. If you look at the boxscore you'll notice ever pitcher for the Sounds who pitched today has an ERA north of 4.4... *sigh*

 

Jason Rogers has been a bit streaky since joining the Sounds, he posted his 3rd consecutive 0 fer this evening but still has an impressive last 10 games.

 

I don't mind Capuano pitching well, just don't do it against the Brewers or their affiliates in the future please and thank you!

 

Nashville Recap

 

Nashville Gameday

[TheCrew07]

I've been dismissing Nathan Orfsince he signed (UFA) but he skipped a level and while his power predictably fell off so his OBP is higher than his SLG, he's still been extremely impressive. Between he and Brennan the Brewers have done some very fine work after the first 20 rounds in recent drafts/signing periods.

 

Did I mention he only has 2 errors in 21 games at 2B this season?

[Eye Black]

Final: Grand Junction 11, Helena 7

 

4-0 lead not enough for Brewers

By Dustin Daniel / Helena Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers (13-21) surrendered a 4-0 lead on Monday to the Grand Junction Rockies (19-15) on their way to an 11-7 loss.

 

The Brewers scored two runs in both the first and third innings to take an early 4-0 lead. Francisco Castillo led off the first with a single and would later score on a wild pitch. He would also lead off the third, cranking a double and scoring two batters later. He was 3-for-5 with two runs scored to jump out of a week-long slump.

 

Grand Junction grabbed the lead in the fourth with five runs on four hits off Jorge Ortega (1-1). Randy Reyes crushed a three-run home run off Ortega for the first three runs of the inning. Ortega pitched three and two-thirds, giving up five runs on five hits, walking and striking out one.

 

After taking a 5-4 lead, the Rockies would never trail again. They added three runs in the fifth including a two-run homer from Kevin Padlo.

 

Luis Aviles hit his first professional home run in the eighth. It was a leadoff solo shot off Alec Kenilvort. Aviles was 2-for-5 in the ballgame continuing his transformation at the plate after spending the spring working with Manny Machado.

 

Ryan Deeter pitched the last inning and two-thirds for the Brewers, extending his streak. Deeter has not allowed an earned run in his first two season of professional baseball over 15 appearances.

 

The Brewers and Rockies will face off in the finale of their four-game series Tuesday at Kindrick Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

 

Helena Box Score

 

Helena had five players with multi-hit games, and 12 total hits (4 extra base hits).

 

Lead-off hitter Francisco Castillo was 3-for-5 with a double, stolen base and two runs scored.

 

Tucker Neuhaus was 1-for-5 with a stolen base, but unfortunately that was overshadowed by four strikeouts (went down once swinging and three times looking). The rest of the Helena squad combined only had three strikeouts on the night.

 

Catcher Jack Cleary was 3-for-4 with a walk.

 

Mitch Meyer was 2-for-5 with two doubles.

 

Shortstop Luis Aviles was 2-for-5 with a homerun and a stolen base. Unfortunately Aviles had plenty of struggles in the field, recording three errors (two throwing and one fielding) to bring his season total to 15.

 

Helena Game Log

[Mass Haas]

I haven't had a chance to gush about David Denson since his injury and I disagree with the take that his April was awful... he was putting in quality ABs each time out, he was not overmatched even though the statistics would suggest otherwise.

 

Link includes video interview with David Denson (the audio of which was included in the Rattler Radio blog postgame entry linked earlier --

 

Denson flashes power stroke for Timber Rattlers

Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media

 

GRAND CHUTE - Rehabbing an injury can be a long, tedious and incredibly boring process.

 

David Denson knows all about such drudgery and is thrilled to be playing ball again following a lengthy stay on the disabled list.

 

His return to the diamond has been anything but dull.

 

In just his third game back with the Timber Rattlers after spending most of the summer rehabbing a broken hand, the 19-year-old first baseman displayed his impressive raw power in a 5-4 win over Dayton on Monday by blasting one of the longest home runs hit at Fox Cities Stadium in recent years: a monstrous solo shot over the center-field wall that traveled over 450 feet.

 

The Timber Rattlers won on Jose Pena's game-winning walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 11th, but Denson wasn't around to celebrate on the field. He had been ejected from the game in the eighth inning when benches and bullpens from both teams cleared after Wisconsin's Tyler Alexander hit Jonathan Reynoso with a pitch.

 

The plunking came one pitch after Dayton's Gabriel Rosa had slammed a long three-run homer off Alexander to give the Dragons a 4-2 lead.

 

Reynosa quickly approached the mound and Alexander tossed his glove, but Wisconsin catcher Rafael Neda got between the two. Dayton's Jose Ortiz wanted to get at Alexander, too, and exchanged words with Denson, who made sure that Ortiz never made it to the mound. No punches were thrown in the incident, which took several minutes to defuse, but Alexander, Ortiz and Reynoso were tossed out of the game along with Denson.

 

"It wasn't anything too big. I was just trying to protect my teammate," said Denson, a Los Angeles native who was the Milwaukee Brewers' 15th-round pick out of South Hills High School in the 2013 first-year player draft. "There were no fists thrown or anything like that. I was just holding someone back who was trying to get to my teammate. It just goes with the game."

 

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Denson is a big man and no one to mess with, but has an easy-going demeanor and said it was the first time he had ever been ejected from a baseball game.

 

"It was kind of a shock to me because I'm not the type of guy who wants confrontation," said Denson. "But at the same time, I'm not going to let someone attack my pitcher and my friend. I was just protecting one of my friends. I wasn't going to let that happen."

 

Denson, a left-handed hitter, is an intriguing player because of his youth, size and power. His tape-measure homer off Dragons left-hander Amir Garrett in the second inning was an absolute bomb that landed just to the right of the extended batter's eye that sits atop the wall beyond the boardwalk in center field.

 

It was Denson's fourth homer of the season in 120 at-bats.

 

"It was a fastball, high and inside," said Denson. "I've been working on pulling the ball and keeping my hands in, but still going to the pull side. It was the perfect pitch to do it and I took advantage of the opportunity."

 

Denson missed over six weeks of the 2014 season after suffering a hamate fracture in his right hand in late May which required surgery. He completed a rehab assignment in Arizona before rejoining the Rattlers on Friday.

 

"It felt like a really long process for me," said Denson, who is hitting .242 with 18 RBI. "But I just took it in stride. I took it day by day and it's just great to be back in T-Rat nation."

 

It was a good day at the plate for all Timber Rattlers first basemen. Denson's replacement at first base following the ejection, Steven Halcomb, slammed an RBI double off the left-field wall to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth before Pena eventually won it with his one-out, opposite-field single to right.

 

It was the second game-winning, walk-off hit of the season for Pena, who isn't hitting for average (.229), but has knocked in 44 runs.

 

"I was just looking for a good pitch to hit and he threw me a fastball in," said Pena. "I've been working on hitting the ball the other way. It's a really good feeling to be able to do this."

 

Harvey Martin (3-5) pitched 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief to get the win. Wisconsin starter Taylor Williams provided a quality start on his 23rd birthday, allowing one run on just three hits with a career-high nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

 

"I was able to throw all four of my pitches for strikes and felt like I had good command," said Williams. "It's getting later in the season, but I feel like I'm getting stronger and I'm getting smarter, too. I'm trying to learn from each outing and to show improvement every time I go out there."

[Mass Haas]

The Sounds finally broke onto the scoreboard in a big way in the seventh, blasting a pair of mammoth 400+ foot homers to open the inning and knot the score at 2-2.

 

First baseman Matt Clark broke up (Chris) Capuano's shutout bid when he led off the Sounds' seventh by blasting the southpaw's first pitch for a massive 442-foot solo homer to right-center, the slugger's second longball of the year. Shortstop Hector Gomez (2-for-4) followed with a game-tying, 421-foot moon shot to left-center, his team-leading 12th roundtripper of the season.

 

The homers were Nashville's third set of back-to-back big flies this season. The red-hot Gomez is batting a team-best .357 (25-for-70) with 13 RBIs and 10 extra-base hits in the month of July for the Sounds.

 

AUDIO: Matt Clark Solo HR

 

AUDIO: Hector Gomez Solo HR

 

Great calls, Jeff...

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County -

 

AUDIO: INF Greg Hopkins joins Andrew Luftglass on the Manatees Pregame Show to talk about coming back to Brevard and his host family in Wisconsin

 

AUDIO, Game Highlights: Fort Myers defeats Brevard County, 4-2