Link Report for Monday 7/21

[Mass Haas]

A full Helena photo gallery in the Helena I-R this AM...

 

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One Helena scorekeeper was once the team’s pitcher

[Mass Haas]

Final: Huntsville 5, @Jackson 2

 

Stars win opener in Jackson

 

Jackson, TN - The Huntsville Stars came through late with some clutch two-out hitting leading them past the Jackson Generals 5-2 Monday night at The Ballpark At Jackson.

 

The Stars took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a Nick Ramirez groundout to shortstop scoring Josh Fellhauer.

 

The Generals responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning against Huntsville starter Drew Gagnon (7-4). Pat Kivlehan doubled down the left field line tying the game at 1-1. Jackson then took the lead when Julio Morban grounded out to the first baseman Ramirez scoring Ketel Marte to give Jackson a 2-1 lead.

 

The Stars tied the game with two outs in the top of the fifth inning. Yadiel Rivera reached on an infield single. Rivera then took second base on a wild pitch from Matt Anderson. Rivera advanced to third when catcher Steve Baron tried to get Rivera at second and his throw sailed into center allowing Rivera to score and tying the game at 2-2.

 

Anderson worked six innings and allowed four hits on two runs. Anderson, took a no-decision.

 

The Generals turned things over to their bullpen and LHP Cam Hobson (5-8) in the seventh with the game tied at two.

 

With two outs, Adam Weisenburger and Rivera produced back to back singles. Nick Shaw then delivered a two-run single past the second baseman giving the Stars a 4-2 lead.

 

Erik Komatsu added to the Stars lead with a two-out RBI single off Hobson in the eighth making it 5-2. Hobson suffered the loss for the Generals.

 

RHP Tim Dillard pitched two scoreless innings out of the Stars bullpen setting up a save chance for David Goforth.

 

Goforth recorded a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his Southern League best 21st save of the season.

 

Gagnon, who earned the win for the Stars, turned in his 10th quality start of the season. He went six innings allowing two runs on five hits.

 

The Stars (16-15, 62-39) lead the Generals (12-18, 43-56) 1-0 in their five-game series. Game two will be Tuesday night. RHP Jacob Barnes (2-4, 4.55) will start for Huntsville. Jackson will send LHP Tyler Olson (4-5, 4.62) to the hill. The game can be heard starting at 6:50 pm CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM and wtkiradio.com.

 

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Timely hitting by Stars beats Jackson

The Jackson Sun

 

Two-out, situational hitting wins baseball games.

 

Coming up with the timely hitting most of the time is the difference between a win and a loss.

 

The Huntsville Stars put on a clinic Monday night in their 5-2 win over the Jackson Generals.

 

All five runs scored by the Stars came with two gone, and nine of their 10 hits came with one left in the inning as well.

 

Generals manager Jim Horner said the club has got to do a better job of getting off the field if they want to make a run at the postseason.

 

"We had a hard time getting off the field with two outs," Horner said. "The two runs in the seventh, the one run in the eighth [and] the one run in the fifth all came with nobody on base.

 

"Next thing you know we give up a two-out hit or a two-out walk. It's just one of those things. You've got to get off the field."

 

The only hit with less than two gone came in the top of the first when Generals starting pitcher Matt Anderson gave up a one-out triple to Stars left fielder Josh Fellhauer. Fellhauer scored on an RBI ground-out on the next play to give Huntsville a 1-0 lead.

 

Anderson gave up one more run over the next five innings when his two-out wild pitch led to a throwing error from catcher Steve Baron got past centerfielder Leon Landry and trickled back to the wall to score Yadiel Rivera from first base.

 

"He really did a nice job," Horner said. "He didn't have a whole lot of help defensively in the fifth obviously.

 

"He had to make a lot of pitches because it seemed like the strike zone was small. But it was small for both ways."

 

After dropping back-to-back heartbreaking losses in Montgomery then having a five-hour bus ride home Sunday night, Horner said he gives his players the benefit of the doubt for the poor defensive performance Monday night.

 

"It was a tough trip last night," Horner said. "But we've got to play better defense.

 

"A guy can't score from first on a single to center, and a guy can't score from first on a wild pitch. Those are just two gifted runs that we gave them."

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Huntsville Game Log

[Mass Haas]

When Nick Ramirez turns 25 on August 1st, among Huntsville's active position players, only 22-year-old Yadiel Rivera will be 24 or younger.

 

Mitch Haniger, 23, remains on the DL since June 14th with his elbow issue.

 

So we love the 62-39 record, it just needs to be tempered with perspective.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @AZL Padres 10, AZL Brewers 3

 

Maryvale Box Score

 

The mini-Padres scored in six of their eight trips to the plate. This was the first really rough outing for 24th round RHP Bubba Blau (22 years old next month). 33rd round LHP Chad Reeves saw his numbers skew poorly after this one three-run inning, so tough when opportunities are limited. Particularly for the late-round college guys, an escape to Helena and beyond is so key.

 

First baseman (looks like we can call him that now) Tanner Norton had the A-Crew's lone extra-base hit, a double, among the team's six base knocks (six walks, eight K's).

 

Steady and solid production for Carlos Belonis and Monte Harrison, both at the plate and on the basepaths. Since they are two very important names for future reference, steady and solid certainly works for now. Spectacular can wait...

 

Maryvale Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Miller Park Prospects -- Wisconsin Photo Gallery, Monday's game

[WV Brew]

When Nick Ramirez turns 25 on August 1st, among Huntsville's active position players, only 22-year-old Yadiel Rivera will be 24 or younger.

 

Mitch Haniger, 23, remains on the DL since June 14th with his elbow issue.

 

So we love the 62-39 record, it just needs to be tempered with perspective.

 

Also when looking at the Rookie level teams where the Brewers do not have many high level college guys. Many of us wanted this change and having struggling teams at this level may be one of the prices to pay. Hopefully it pays off in a few years.