Link Report for Thurs. 8/14 - Take in Action Tonight (Big League Matinee)

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: RHP Michael Blazek at El Paso (Padres), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 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: LHP Jed Bradley at Tennessee (Cubs), 5:55 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).

 

NOTE: Tennessee is among the Southern League squads to offer MiLB.TV broadcasts.

 

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Brevard County: LHP's Hobbs Johnson and Mike Strong in a doubleheader at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 3:35 PM pre-game, 4:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

 

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 Javier Salas at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 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.

 

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Helena: RHP Cy Sneed at home vs. Idaho Falls (Royals), 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): Idle

 

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DSL Brewers: at home vs. 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]

DVR Alert!

 

The Rattlers are on local TV on four consecutive evenings this week, Tuesday through Friday, with a 7:00 airtime each night. Night three is tonight.

 

TWC Sportschannel tonight, MyNew32 TV on Friday.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Brevard County Game One

 

Brevard County Game Two

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

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.

 

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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

 

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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

 

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Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Nashville

 

Huntsville

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Maryvale

 

Dominican Summer League Brewers

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

El Paso, TX

 

Kodak, TN

 

Viera, FL (Melbourne)

 

Grand Chute, WI (Appleton)

 

Helena, MT

 

Santo Domingo, DR

[WV Brew]

Interesting. Game 1 Kyle Schwarber at catcher. Game 2 Kyle Schwarber in LF. Are the Rattlers paying attention? Coulter?

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: The Voice of the Sounds Jeff Hem checks in from El Paso to Nashville Sports Talk Radio

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers get shutout by Clinton

LumberKings beat Wisconsin 10-0

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

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Angel Ortega prepares to throw the ball after making a diving catch in the third inning against the Clinton LumberKings on Thursday night. (Ann Mollica/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - Three Clinton LumberKing pitchers combined on a six-hit shutout to defeat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 10-0 on Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Eddie Campbell struck out eight over six innings to get the win. Tyler O'Neill hit a grand slam in the sixth inning for the LumberKings, who took two of the three games played in the series with the Rattlers.

 

Clinton (53-67 overall, 23-29 second half) took the lead in the top of the third inning. O'Neill started the inning with a double. Justin Seager reached on an error that allowed O'Neill to score. Later in the inning, Jeff Zimmerman hit a two-run home run to the beach in right field for a 3-0 Clinton advantage.

 

Wisconsin (65-56, 29-23) put two runners on base in the third, fourth, and fifth innings against Campbell, but could not score.

 

Rattlers reliever Victor Diaz took over for starting pitcher Javier Salas to start the sixth inning and had runners on second and third with two outs. Diaz walked Aaron Barbosa to load the bases. Then, he issued back-to-back walks to Brett Thomas and Marcus Littlewood to force in two runs and Clinton was up 5-0.

 

O'Neill was next and he drilled a 1-0 pitch from Diaz off the scoreboard in left-center for a grand slam and a 9-0 advantage.

 

Clinton added another run in the sixth inning. Zimmerman tripled off the fence in left-center against reliever Harvey Martin. Nelson Ward singled to right to get Zimmerman home for the 10-0 lead.

 

Campbell, Tyler Herb, and Paul Fry combined for 14 strikeouts in the game. Thursday night was the fifth time Wisconsin has been shutout this season.

 

Paul Eshleman accounted for half of Wisconsin's six hits in the game. The Rattlers catcher went 3-for-3 with a double. Clint Coulter had two hits for the Rattlers. Taylor Brennan had a single in the fifth inning.

 

The loss hurt the Timber Rattlers in the race for the second half division lead as Cedar Rapids won 10-3 at Beloit. Wisconsin trails the Kernels by two games with eighteen games left in the season. But, Wisconsin maintained their lead in the second half wild card race at two games over Peoria, who lost 4-2 at Burlington, and at three games over Quad Cities, who lost 4-1 at Kane County.

 

Speaking of Kane County, the Timber Rattlers will start a three game series with the Kane County Cougars, the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and - at 77-45 - the team with the best record in the league this season, on Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Barrett Astin (7-6, 5.06) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Jonathan Martinez (8-5, 3.46) is the scheduled starter for Kane County. Game time is 7:05pm.

 

Help mascot Fang T. Rattler celebrate his birthday on Friday night! Dozens of area mascots will be on hand for a pregame kickball game. Participate in "Cans for Cake" by bringing a non-perishable food item to donate to St. Joe's Food Program and you will receive a slice of birthday cake.

 

Friday is also North Shore Bank Family Night and all children 12 and under receive a free hot dog and soda. There will be a postgame fireworks display. Then, 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. MyNEW 32's Sports Showdown will televise the game starting at 7:00pm. The radio broadcast will be on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio beginning with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. The game will also be available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

 

HOME RUNS:

CLN:

Jeff Zimmerman (6th, 1 on in 4th inning off Javier Salas, 1 out)

Tyler O'Neill (11th, grand slam in 6th inning off Victor Diaz, 2 out)

 

WP: Eddie Campbell (9-8)

LP: Javier Salas (0-1)

 

TIME: 2:51

ATTN: 4,435

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Chris covered my original comments in the game story.

 

None of the pitchers were worth discussing in a positive manner, not much else to say about this besides come back and get em tomorrow.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

Wisconsin Gameday

[TheCrew07]

Sounds Clip Chihuahuas, 4-2

Nashville's Clark and Velez Go Yard; Blazek Deals Quality Start

Nashville Sounds

 

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EL PASO, Texas - The Nashville Sounds (68-57) edged the El Paso Chihuahuas Thursday night at Southwest University Park to win by a final 4-2 margin.

 

Nashville got on the board first courtesy of a Matt Clark, 3-for-4, solo home run in the second inning. The first baseman has lifted four homers over the last three games.

 

Clark's streak of three consecutive games with a dinger is the longest by a Sound this season. He has left the yard nine times since joining the Sounds on July 4.

 

After singling to reach base in the sixth, Clark added to the Sounds' cause by scoring on Pete Orr's triple to the corner in right field. Orr finished the night 2-for-4.

 

Outfielder Eugenio Velez, 3-for-4, blasted his seventh home run of the season in the seventh inning to give Nashville a 4-0 lead over the Chihuahuas. The one-out roundtripper over the right field wall scored Logan Schafer, who doubled to reach scoring position and extend his hit streak to 12 games, the longest by a Sound this season.

 

After six scoreless innings, Sounds starting pitcher Michael Blazek (3-4) ran into trouble. El Paso newcomer Jeff Francoeur singled to lead off the seventh and was followed by Yeison Asencio, who touched the right-hander for a two-run homer to end his night.

 

But that's all the bite the Chihuahuas could muster as relievers Brent Leach, Alfredo Figaro and Rob Wooten each turned in a scoreless inning.

 

Blazek picked up his third win of the season with his six-inning quality start, while Wooten notched his 11th save by fanning two in the ninth.

 

El Paso's Matt Wisler (7-5) took the loss, allowing Nashville two runs on five hits and one walk over six innings.

 

The win keeps Nashville a half-game ahead of Memphis for the division lead with 19 games to go. At 68-57, the Sounds sit a season-best 11 games above .500.

 

The Sounds will look to win the series over El Paso Friday night. Nashville sends RHP Ariel Pena (9-7, 4.28) to the hill opposite the Chihuahuas' RHP Joe Wieland. First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m.

 

Nashville Boxscore

Sometimes mascots make me shake my head, at least in minor league baseball there aren't really chants to be done like there are with say college sports, so in that respect I get a Chihuahua mascot. However, and I mean no offense to my friends who may read this and own chihuahuas (no I'm seriously not picking on you), nor anyone on this forum who may own said breed of dog, but I don't really associate "Chihuahuas" with Texas in any way, especially based on my hand full of experiences spread around the state. There's nothing over the top manly or rugged about a Chihuahua, then again maybe it's the irony that makes it work... On to the actual game!

 

Matt Clark had spent all of his AAA career in the thin desert air of Tuscon where he put up respectable yet not mind blowing numbers, he OPS'd in the mid to high .800s in Tuscon. Many will remember our old friend Cole Gillespie who was traded to the D-Backs for Lopez back in 2009. If you click the link you will notice that Gillespie put up a pretty average .756 OPS in Nashville before posting similar mid to high .800 OPS through his stay in Reno. In 4 years, 113 games, and 270 plate appearances Cole amassed a measly .624 OPS though his multiple short stints in MLB.

 

I know he never got an extended look and I also know that Clark and Gillespie are much different hitters, but this is simply my word of caution to temper your enthusiasm at the best stretch in Clark's career. He's certainly not someone to arbitrarily write off simply because he's spent so much time in hitter friendly environments, but he's also someone we need to view with a bit of caution before people get carried away claiming 1B WOAH SOVVLD.

 

Nashville Recap

 

Nashville Gameday

[bkrause2]

Final: DSL Braves 11, DSL Brewers 8

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

 

The Braves used a 4 run ninth to help knock off the Brewers 11-8. Joan De La Cruz started and went four innings, allowing five runs. Carlos Luna followed with four innings in which he allowed two runs. Juan Diaz tossed the final inning, giving up four runs and was charged with the loss. Joantgel Segovia singled, tripled and drew a pair of walks. Juan De Los Santos went 2-for-4 with a home run. Franly Mallen had two hits and knocked in three while Yoel Vasquez tripled and walked in three plate appearances.

 

DSL Brewers Play-By-Play

 

The Brewers got off to a nice start with five in the first

 

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 1st

Joantgel Segovia singles on a ground ball to center fielder Elias Arias.

Juan De Los Santos walks. Joantgel Segovia to 2nd.

With Yerald Martinez batting, throwing error by Ruben Perez on the pickoff attempt, Joantgel Segovia to 3rd. Juan De Los Santos to 2nd.

Yerald Martinez walks.

Johel Atencio flies out to right fielder Jose George.

Nicolas Pierre reaches on a force attempt, throwing error by third baseman Terrence Josephina. Joantgel Segovia scores. Juan De Los Santos to 3rd. Yerald Martinez to 2nd.

Franly Mallen singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ledernin Tejada. Juan De Los Santos scores. Yerald Martinez scores. Nicolas Pierre out at 3rd on the throw, left fielder Ledernin Tejada to third baseman Terrence Josephina.

Nicol Valderrey walks. Franly Mallen to 2nd.

Yoel Vasquez walks. Franly Mallen to 3rd. Nicol Valderrey to 2nd.

Julio Mendez walks. Franly Mallen scores. Nicol Valderrey to 3rd. Yoel Vasquez to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Gabriel Henry replaces Luis Perez.

Joantgel Segovia walks. Nicol Valderrey scores. Yoel Vasquez to 3rd. Julio Mendez to 2nd.

Juan De Los Santos grounds out, pitcher Gabriel Henry to first baseman Jan Guerrero.

[bkrause2]

Final: Daytona 6, Brevard County 2 (Game One)

 

Daytona's four-run first dooms 'Tees

By Andrew Luftglass / Brevard County Manatees

 

Viera, FL - The Brevard County Manatees fell behind early and could not rally back, as they lost to the Daytona Cubs in game one of Thursday's doubleheader at Space Coast Stadium, 6-2.

 

Daytona (30-20 second half, 56-62 overall) rallied for four runs in the first against Manatees starter Hobbs Johnson. Jacob Hanneman led off the game with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. After a pair of walks to Dan Vogelbach and Rock Shoulders loaded the bases, Billy McKinney cleared the bags with a three-run double. Ben Carhart wasted no time in driving in a run of his own, as he ripped an RBI single to score McKinney and give Daytona a 4-0 lead.

 

McKinney helped the Cubs tack on another run in the top of the third. With one out, Shoulders drilled a line drive to left-center field and raced to third for a triple. McKinney came up next and lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Shoulders to push Daytona's advantage to 5-0.

 

Brevard County (24-26, 60-56) began to chip away at its deficit in the bottom of the third. Brandon Macias slammed a one-out double and scored the Manatees' first run on an RBI single by Nathan Orf. After Orlando Arcia worked a walk, Tyrone Taylor singled up the middle to score Orf and trim the Cubs' lead to 5-2.

 

The Cubs added another run on a wild pitch in the fourth. After Johnson loaded the bases with one out on a single and two walks, Martin Viramontes came in from the bullpen and threw a pitch that skipped past catcher Cameron Garfield. Gioskar Amaya scored from third to add to Daytona's lead and make the score, 6-2.

 

Johnson (11-8, 3.21 ERA) took his first loss in four starts. The left-hander was charged with all six Cubs runs over 3.1 innings of work. He allowed seven hits, walked four and struck out a pair.

 

Cubs starter Jose Rosario earned the win. Rosario (5-7. 5.50 ERA) pitched five innings and allowed two runs on five hits. The righty walked two and struck out three.

 

Viramontes did not factor in the decision, but he pitched well in relief for Brevard County. He pitched 3.2 scoreless innings, in which he did not allow a hit. Viramontes struck out a season-high six men and walked two.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

 

Final: Daytona 1, Brevard County 2 (Game Two)

 

Strong spins first complete game in 2-1 win

By Andrew Luftglass / Brevard County Manatees

 

VIERA, Fla. - Mike Strong lifted the Brevard County Manatees to victory with his first career complete game in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader, as the 'Tees defeated the Daytona Cubs, 2-1 at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Strong (2-1, 2.33 ERA) allowed just one run on four hits over seven innings. The southpaw fell one strikeout short of a season-high with eight and walked just one man. Strong's victory was his first as a starter in four attempts this season.

 

The Manatees' starting pitcher was particularly solid from the second inning until the final out. After an RBI single by Bijan Rademacher gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead with one out in the second, Strong rattled off a streak of 5.2 hitless innings that ended when he struck out Wes Darvill for the final out of the game.

 

Brevard County (25-26 second half, 61-56 overall) gave Strong all of the run support he needed in the bottom of the third with a little bit of timely hitting and a little bit of good fortune. With the 'Tees trailing by one run, Garrett Cooper reached first on a throwing error by shortstop Marco Hernandez and Greg Hopkins singled to put runners on first and second with nobody out.

 

Jose Sermo sacrifice bunted the runners into scoring position and Nathan Orf came to the dish with a chance to put the Manatees ahead with one swing. Daytona (30-21, 56-63) pulled the infield in and Orf hit a ground ball to shortstop. Hernandez tried to throw home, but the ball sailed past catcher Wilson Contreras and Cooper scored to tie the game.

 

After Cooper scored, the play was not over. Orf took a wide turn around first base and Contreras saw a chance to catch the runner in a pickle between first and second. Contreras picked up the ball and threw to Wes Darvill, but the second baseman fumbled the throw. Hopkins, who had moved up to third base while all of this was going on, sprinted home and scored on Darvill's error. By the time the dust settled, the Manatees had claimed a 2-1 lead.

 

Once the 'Tees pulled ahead, Strong took care of the rest. The left-hander's victory meant Justin Amlung was saddled with the loss. Amlung (3-4, 4.89 ERA) allowed both Brevard County runs, but both were unearned because of the errors by the Cubs' middle infield. The right-hander surrendered seven hits, walked one and struck out three.

 

The Manatees and Cubs split the doubleheader in the final meeting between the I-95 rivals. Brevard County finished the season with a 12-8 record against Daytona.

 

The 'Tees will hit the road for a three-game series at the Dunedin Blue Jays on Friday. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Damien Magnifico (8-6, 3.74 ERA) is scheduled to start for Brevard County against Ben White (5-6, 5.13 ERA).

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Brevard County Play-By-Play

[SoupTown]

My view of Matt Clark is to think that maybe we can have an average 1st baseman (at least vs righties) at league min for a couple of years. It appears for 2015 if you replace Overbay with the better spring training performance of Morris and Clark, then you have improved the team at less cost. Kind of like I guess replacing Estrada with Fiers improves the team a bit and costs less. You just do that in as many places as you can. Heck, you can replace Weeks with a right hand infielder who is better at less cost... again.

[Eye Black]

Final: Idaho Falls 14, Helena 0

 

Idaho Falls wins 14-1 to claim series

By Dustin Daniel / Helena Brewers

 

The Idaho Falls Chukars (9-8) trounced the Helena Brewers (7-11) 14-1 on Thursday to take the three-game series.

 

The Chukars got off to a quick start with three runs in the first. Robert Pehl highlighted the frame with a two-run double and later scored on an RBI single from Samir Duenez off Cy Sneed (0-2).

 

Sneed pitched three innings, giving up five runs on five hits and walking two batters in the start. The Brewers as a staff would walk nine batters in the game.

 

The lone Helena run crossed the plate in the bottom of the second. Luis Aviles walked with two outs, stole second and came in on an RBI single from Tucker Neuhaus off Eric Skoglund (1-2).

 

Skoglund pitched six solid innings in the start, giving up just one run on seven hits and striking out six.

 

Helena was able to pick up nine hits in the game, but scattered them throughout, coming up with multiple hits in just one inning.

 

The Brewers have lost seven straight series against the Pioneer League South Division.

 

The Brewers will now host the Ogden Raptors in a four-game series at Kindrick Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 7:05 p.m.

 

Helena Box Score

No extra base hits for Helena. Despite the one run, they did manage nine hits. The only multi-hit game came from Sthervin Matos who went 2-for-4.

 

Helena Game Log

[Eye Black]

Gomez, Chukars blow past Brewers

By Amber Kuehn / Helena Independent Record

 

The Idaho Falls Chukars weren’t about to be shut out again.

 

One night after falling 3-0 to the Helena Brewers, the Chukars’ offense came alive in a 14-1 victory by the visitors at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

Idaho Falls had 13 hits in the final game against Helena this season, taking the three-game series with the Brewers. It was the Chukars’ eighth win in their last 11 games, while Helena dropped its sixth game in the last eight.

 

“Last night the pitcher (Jorge Ortega) was in more of a comfort zone than we wanted him to be, and we were swinging at bad pitches,” said Idaho Falls shortstop Corey Toups, who reached base a season-high six times Thursday night. “This gives us a lot of confidence. Anytime you can score 14 runs in a ballgame, it just means it’s all starting to come together. All the guys are contributing.”

 

Toups finished with three hits and three walks, while Chukars right fielder Brawlun Gomez, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound right fielder from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, finished a double shy of the cycle. His two-run bomb in the third — the Chukars’ first home run since Aug. 6 — gave Idaho Falls a 5-1 lead.

 

The Chukars led 9-1 going into the eighth frame, then broke the game open in that inning against Brewers relievers Luis Ortega and Junior Rincon.

 

Ryan O’Hearn’s two-run double made it 11-1, Samir Duenez added an RBI single, and Rincon walked in a pair of runs for the final tally.

 

The Brewers scored their lone run in the second on Tucker Neuhaus’ RBI single. It was one of nine hits for Helena, which is now just 7-17 against teams out of the South Division so far this season.

 

In addition to a strong night offensively for the Chukars, the Idaho Falls’ defense was also much improved. A team that had recorded 20 errors in its last six games had none Thursday.

 

The victory gave the 3-game series at Kindrick Legion Field to the Chukars, 2-1, as the Southern Division club improves to 29-26 overall, and 9-8 for the second half of the Pioneer League season.

 

The Brewers, meanwhile, slip to 20-36, 7-11.

 

NOTE: Manager Tony Diggs was not at the game due to an out-of-town funeral. Hitting coach Jason Dubois took over for Diggs at third base.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Tennessee 1, Huntsville 0

 

Smokies Walk Off On Stars

Steve Jarnicki, Huntsville Stars

 

Kodak, TN - The Tennessee Smokies pulled off a walk-off victory for the second straight night against the Huntsville Stars. Dustin Geiger delivered a bases loaded RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to give the Smokies a 1-0 win Thursday at Smokies Park.

 

The Stars had five infielders positioned around the infield and Geiger squeezed a hit into right field against Stars closer David Goforth (5-4) scoring Albert Almora for the winning run.

 

It was a terrific pitcher's duel as both starters turned in a quality start.

 

Tennessee RHP C.J. Edwards threw six shutout innings and gave up four hits.

 

Huntsville lefty Jed Bradley matched Edwards with seven shutout frames. Bradley gave up six hits and struck out four.

 

Frank Batista (4-0) earned the win out of the Smokies bullpen by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

 

The Stars now trail first place Tennessee by two games with 17 games left in the second half schedule.

 

The Stars (25-28, 71-52) and the Smokies (27-26, 60-62) resume their series Friday night with the Smokies leading 2-1. The Stars will feature RHP Austin Ross (0-1, 3.86) on the mound. Tennessee will have RHP Pierce Johnson (5-4, 2.49) on the hill. The game can be heard starting at 6:00 CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM and wtkiradio.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score

 

Also no walks and seven groundouts for Jed Bradley, fantastic performance. Seven of his last eight starts have ranged from decent to stellar.

 

Huntsville Game Log

 

Nick Ramirez on the bench as Hunter Morris, soon to be sleeping in his own bed again, was 0-for-3 at first base. Starting Saturday, the five-game Jackson series includes the designated hitter, so things won't get real curious until after that.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Javier Salas, Wei-Chung Wang, & Fang promoting Bergstrom’s Drive for the Cure.

 

Wang is a natural, he nailed all his lines. It's all part of Chris' Rattler Radio Blog postgame entry.

[Mass Haas]

Catching up with Tuesday media from Nashville's 13-3 win in El Paso --

 

Shortstop Hector Gomez gave the Sounds a 1-0 lead in the second when he belted his team-leading 14th home run of the year, a one-out solo shot to left off Andrew Cashner (0-1).

 

AUDIO: Hector Gomez HR

 

The home run show continued in the third when Matt Clark slugged a two-out, two-run homer to right to put Nashville back on top, 3-2, and chase Andrew Cashner from the contest. The blast was Clark's second in two nights and seventh on the year.

 

AUDIO: Matt Clark's 1st HR

 

The Sounds broke the game open with a six-run outburst in the top of the fifth inning against a pair of El Paso relievers, sending 11 batters to the plate in the frame. Clark got things started as he struck again for the Sounds, swatting a leadoff opposite-field homer down the left field line off Dennis O'Grady to up the Nashville lead to 4-2. The blast was Clark's eighth with the Sounds and 18th overall on the year. His two-homer night is the fifth recorded by a Nashville batter in 2014.

 

VIDEO: Matt Clark hits his second homer in Nashville's 13-3 win at El Paso - Fair or foul?

 

AUDIO: Jeff Hem's call on the 2nd HR

[Mass Haas]

The Tennessee Smokies pulled off a walk-off victory for the second straight night against the Huntsville Stars. Dustin Geiger delivered a bases loaded RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to give the Smokies a 1-0 win Thursday at Smokies Park.

 

The Stars had five infielders positioned around the infield and Geiger squeezed a hit into right field against Stars closer David Goforth (5-4) scoring Albert Almora for the winning run.

 

VIDEO: The walkoff (sigh)

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County --

 

AUDIO: Amid distractions from Ned Yost IV, 'Tees pitching coach Dave Chavarria chats with Andrew Luftglass of the Manatees Radio Network

 

AUDIO, Game Highlights: The Cubs win game one, 6-2

 

AUDIO, Game Highlights: LHP Mike Strong throws his first career complete game in a 2-1 Brevard County victory

[Mass Haas]

Yikes, David Denson's Golden Sombrero Thursday gives him 18 K's in his last ten games (34 AB's, eight walks in that span).

[LouisEly]

Also no walks and seven groundouts for Jed Bradley, fantastic performance. Seven of his last eight starts have ranged from decent to stellar.

Box says nine groundouts. Not only that, of the six hits he gave up:

 

- two were ground balls into the outfield

- one was a ground ball to 2B

- one was a "bunt ground ball" to 1B

- one was a "pop-up single" to 1B (?)

 

Only one hit was a line drive to the OF, that a line drive single. Guy has just been killing worms, and once he gets better defense and positioning behind him he could be a very good pitcher. His demise as a prospect has been greatly exaggerated.