Link Report for Thurs. 9/4 - Do-Or-Die for Rattlers; Stars Open; Helena Closes

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Nashville: Season complete - Finished 77-67, but out of the postseason; Seth (TheCrew07) put together a detailed player review summary here

 

**********

 

Huntsville: RHP Drew Gagnon at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime; it's Game One of a Best-of-Five Series, first two games at home

 

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.

 

**********

 

Brevard County: Season complete - Finished 73-62, but out of the postseason

 

**********

 

Wisconsin: RHP Preston Gainey at Kane County (Cubs), 5:40 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime; it's Game Two of a Best-of-Three Series, Rattlers trail 1-0

 

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.

 

**********

 

Helena: RHP Jorge Ortega at Billings (Reds), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime; it's the season finale

 

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.

 

**********

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Season complete - Finished 24-31, out of the postseason

 

**********

 

DSL Brewers: Season complete - summary post here

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Huntsville

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

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.

 

***

 

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:

 

Huntsville, AL

 

Geneva, IL

 

Billings, MT

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin Media Notes and Lineup at the Rattlers Radio Blog here.

[Mass Haas]

Latest from Bob Brainerd on Rattlers' Coach Lance Roenicke - The Son Also Rises

[Mass Haas]

MiLB conveniently ignores the Stars in their Series Preview --

 

Via MiLB.com:

 

Huntsville Stars (77-63, North Division first-half champion) vs.

Chattanooga Lookouts (61-77, North Division second-half champion)

 

Huntsville won the season series, 14-6

 

Game 1 at Huntsville, Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m. ET

Game 2 at Huntsville, Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. ET

Game 3 at Chattanooga, Sept. 6 at 7:15 p.m. ET

Game 4 at Chattanooga (if necessary), Sept. 7 at 2:15 p.m. ET

Game 5 at Chattanooga (if necessary), Sept. 8 at 7:15 p.m. ET

 

Chattanooga finished last in the first half in the North Division with a 26-44 record and was 14-24 in the second half heading into August before making a complete turnaround.

 

"We went from finding ways to lose games to finding ways to win games," said outfielder Scott Schebler, who led the league with 28 homers and 14 triples while hitting .280.

 

The Lookouts had an 11-game winning streak and edged out Tennessee for the second-half title after taking four of five games in a closing series at Chattanooga.

 

Even with the turnaround, Chattanooga was just 35-33 in the second half, but that was good enough to make the postseason.

 

"I knew we had a good team -- it just took us a while to show it," said Schebler, the Los Angeles Dodgers' No. 9 prospect. "This is like last year."

 

Most of the Chattanooga players spent last season with Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga, which made the California League Playoffs after a rough first half.

 

Chattanooga got a boost when shortstop Corey Seager, the Dodgers' No. 1 prospect, joined the team in late July and hit .345 in 38 games. The Lookouts, though, mostly benefited from a relatively stable roster.

 

Third baseman Daniel Mayora hit .302 with 75 RBIs and Darnell Sweeney, who played second base, shortstop and center field, led the league with 88 runs scored while batting .288.

 

Pitching was an issue in the first half but stabilized in the second. Although right-hander Andres Santiago was just 6-8 with a 4.48 ERA, he was at his best when it mattered most -- no-hitting Tennessee in a 1-0 victory to the open the final series.

[Mass Haas]

In order to make room for SS Orlando Arcia, 2B/UT Nathan Orf, and RHP Tyler Wagner on the Stars' postseason roster, three players were transferred to the Maryvale roster in a paper move -- INF Shea Vucinich, C/UT Joey Paciorek, and RHP Tommy Toledo.

[Mass Haas]

Some Huntsville Notes from Steve --

 

The Stars finished the regular season losing back to back series. They finished tied with Birmingham for last place in the second half of the Southern League North with a 31-39 record, 5 games behind the 2nd half champs Chattanooga. The Stars dropped seven of their final ten games. They scored just 30 runs during these ten games against Mobile and Mississippi who are ranked one and two in lowest team ERA’s in the Southern League. The Stars now face a Chattanooga team who had the 2nd best pitching staff in August(2.80).

 

The Stars received a quality start from Brent Suter, his 11th of the year. The Stars lost for only the 13th time this year and are now 39-13 when they receive a quality start from their starter…OF Erik Komatsu went 0-3 but in his final six games went 7-18 (.389, 1 hr, 7 rbi’s). C/INF/OF Hector Gimenez went 2-3 to extend his hitting streak to five straight. He did not homer, but still homered in 6 out of his final 13 games. Since August 1st, he has hit 7 home runs, which are third most in the Southern League in that span. Chattanooga’s Scott Schebler has the most homers in this time period with 10….In his last 20 games, Gimenez has seven home runs and 24 rbi’s.

 

Since the Stars clinched the 1st half championship on June 2nd, they’ve gone 38-44.

[Mass Haas]

Read the Huntsville recap here, full details in the AM.

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers knocked out of playoffs in a heartbreaking loss

Kane County tops Wisconsin 4-3 in thirteen innings

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GENEVA, IL - The Kane County Cougars defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4-3 in thirteen innings on Thursday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. The win gave the Cougars a sweep in the best-of-three first round Midwest League playoff series.

 

The Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Chesny Young doubled to right with one out in the frame. Jeimer Candelario followed with a double to right-center on the next pitch and Kane County was up 1-0. That was the only run allowed y Wisconsin starting pitcher Preston Gainey.

 

Clint Coulter tied the game for Wisconsin with a leadoff home run in the top of the fourth inning. Coulter, who hit 22 homers during the regular season, blasted a 1-1 pitch from Duane Underwood over the wall in left-center.

 

Wisconsin had the bases loaded with two outs later in the fourth inning. Jose Pena lined a 1-2 pitch from Kane County starter Duane Underwood to right field to drive in both Rafael Neda and Chris McFarland to give the Rattlers a 3-1 lead.

 

Gainey protected the 3-1 lead, but left after walking Trey Martin with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Gainey left after allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts over 6-1/3 innings. Trevor Seidenberger took over and struck out the next two batters to send the game to the eighth.

 

Seidenberger hit Jeimer Candelario to start the bottom of the eighth inning. That brought Mike Olt to the plate. Olt, who hit twelve home runs in 72 games with the Chicago Cubs this season, cracked a 1-2 pitch over the scoreboard in left-center to tie the game 3-3. Olt, who hit a three-run homer in Game One of the series, a 7-3 Kane County win.

 

The Cougars nearly won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. They had the bases loaded with one out and Olt was due to bat, but the Cougars sent Danny Lockhart up to pinch-hit. Trey Martin broke from third on the first pitch to Lockhart on a suicide squeeze attempt. But, Lockhart missed and Martin was run down between third and home for the second out. Later in the at bat, Lockhart sent a liner towards left, but shortstop Angel Ortega made a spectacular diving catch to end the inning.

 

Martin nearly won the game in the eleventh inning. He lined a pitch deep left with one out against reliever Luke Curtis and went into his home run trot. But, the ball hit off the top of the wall and dropped at the feet of Pena on the warning track. Martin tried to turn on the speed to get to second for a double, but was out on a strong relay throw from Ortega.

 

Wisconsin's best chance to score in extra innings came in the top of the twelfth inning. Taylor Brennan walked with two outs and the Cougars went to the bullpen. Francisco Carrillo entered the ballgame and proceeded to walk the next two batters to load the bases. But, the Rattlers could not capitalize as Carrillo got the next batter to ground out.

 

The end came in the thirteenth inning. Martin reached on an infield single against Brandon Moore to start the frame. Shawon Dunston, Jr. dropped a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error put runners at second and third. Moore walked Young intentionally to load the bases and Wisconsin brought Michael Ratterree in from right field to play as a fifth infielder with Candelario at the plate.

 

Moore got ahead of Candelario 1-2, but the Cougars third baseman lined a clean single to center to drive in Martin with the winning run and end Wisconsin's season.

 

HOME RUNS:

WIS:

Clint Coulter (1st, 0 on in 4th inning off Duane Underwood, 0 out)

 

KC:

Mike Olt (2nd, 1 on in 8th inning off Trevor Seidenberger, 0 out)

 

WP: Francisco Carrillo (1-0)

LP: Brandon Moore (0-1)

 

TIME: 4:36

ATTN: 2,796

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Between the Badgers on Saturday, the Brewers all week, Bruce Seid's untimely death, Packers tonight, and the T-Rats getting knocked out tonight as well I really can't imagine a worse sports week.

 

The Rattlers gave everything they had but the difference in this series was a rehabbing Mike Olt and it pisses me off.

 

I really enjoyed this Rattler team, there's a ton of untapped potential on this particular club. As always the Wisconsin staff was fantastic, thank you to you all, especially Chris and Ann who's work I leaned on all season.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

Wisconsin Gameday

[dacbrewers]

Some Huntsville Notes from Steve --

 

The Stars finished the regular season losing back to back series. They finished tied with Birmingham for last place in the second half of the Southern League North with a 31-39 record, 5 games behind the 2nd half champs Chattanooga. The Stars dropped seven of their final ten games. They scored just 30 runs during these ten games against Mobile and Mississippi who are ranked one and two in lowest team ERA’s in the Southern League. The Stars now face a Chattanooga team who had the 2nd best pitching staff in August(2.80).

 

The Stars received a quality start from Brent Suter, his 11th of the year. The Stars lost for only the 13th time this year and are now 39-13 when they receive a quality start from their starter…OF Erik Komatsu went 0-3 but in his final.

 

Komatsu batted a stellar .214 and that OBP of .286...really helped the Stars in the second half...NOT. I would of rather called someone up from the DSL.

[dacbrewers]

My question is why pitch to Olt. The guys hits great in the minors...not so in the majors. Pitch around him and make him swing at bad pitches. He beat you once...why let it happen back to back.

[Eye Black]

Final: Helena 5, Billings 2

 

Brewers close season with a win

By Dustin Daniel / Helena Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers (14-24) ended their year on a high note, beating the Billings Mustangs (24-14) 5-2 on Thursday at Dehler Park in Billings.

 

The Brewers jumped all over Mustangs starter Tejay Antone (2-3), blowing the righty up for ten hits and five runs in his four innings on the hill.

 

Dustin DeMuth doubled in the third to score Brandon Diaz who would come around all the way from first to cross the plate. DeMuth was 2-for-5 with two RBI in the game.

 

Helena then scored their final four runs of the game in the fourth on the power of four hits and one Billings error. Francisco Castillo and DeMuth each had RBI singles and the Brewers' offense was greatly aided by two wild pitches and a throwing error by catcher Shed Long.

 

Jorge Ortega (4-5) had one of his best outings of the year in the start for Helena, pitching six shutout innings while striking out six.

 

The Mustangs made a late push with runs in both the seventh and eighth, but would come up short. They put the tying run at the dish in the eighth, but Jimmy Pickens flew out to left to end the inning.

 

Wesley Cox pitched the ninth, picking up his team-leading fourth save of the season.

 

The win concludes the Brewers' 2014 season. They finish with an overall record of 27-49.

 

Helena Box Score

 

It has been a tough season overall in Helena, but the Brewers have a nice cap to the season offensively with a 15 hit performance. Contributors with multi-hit games included Brandon Diaz (2-for-5), Dustin DeMuth (2-for-5, 2B), Alan Sharkey (2-for-3, 2B, 2 BB), Mitch Meyer (3-for-5), Tucker Neuhaus (2-for-4), and Francisco Castillo (2-for-4).

 

Helena Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Cougars’ Olt provides jolt, talking point

by Kevin Druley, Kane County Chronicle

 

GENEVA – Erstwhile Cougars infielder Mike Olt and New York Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud share the National League rookie lead with 12 home runs this season.

 

On his way to attempting to seize sole possession of that honor, Olt homered in his first two Class-A games.

 

"Well, there you go," Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson grinned. "That's why he's here. He wants to get a taste of the Midwest League."

 

In reality, the parent Cubs sent Olt on a rehab assignment as he recovers from a strained hamstring, a move that simultaneously generated plenty of buzz as he joined the heart of the Cougars' order to start their first-round playoff series against the Timber Rattlers.

 

The Cougars won't have Olt for the remainder of their postseason run as he rejoins the Cubs, but he already did his part. His two-run shot tied Thursday's Game 2 in the eighth inning, helping the Cougars to an eventual series-cllinching, 4-3 victory in 13. On Wednesday, his three-run home run turned the tide in a series-opening road victory and began starting a dialogue among opposing fans.

 

"It's not like the Cubs purposely sent me down here [to win]," Olt said. "It's just somewhere. It's close to Chicago, and I was able to get here pretty conveniently. I mean, yeah, it's a playoff spot. You know, it could come back and hurt them. But I don't think the players are [resentful]. More the fans."

 

Olt's No. 20 locker nameplate was removed by the time the Cougars commenced their clubhouse celebration.

 

The Cougars will begin the Western Division finals on the road Saturday, facing either Cedar Rapids or Burlington.

 

Erickson supported Olt's contention before the game, saying he didn't have a problem with the stint before the Timber Rattlers (72-68) tried to even the series against the 92-49 Cougars, who still own the best record in the minor leagues.

 

Whether in their clubhouse after Wednesday's game or during Thursday's bus ride from Appleton, Wis., the Timber Rattlers hardly groveled about facing a player with 72 big league games under his belt in 2014.

 

"For our pitchers, the challenge to our pitchers, is, 'Hey, do you want to play in the big leagues? Well, you're going to have to get quality hitters out.' " Erickson said. "And Mike's a quality hitter, so they have a number of tough outs in their lineup."

 

A prized prospect the Cubs acquired from the Texas Rangers in July 2013, Olt sensed mutual respect from the Timber Rattlers, who welcomed rehabbing Aramis Ramirez of the parent Milwaukee Brewers earlier this season. Olt was hitting .302 in 28 games with Triple-A Iowa before his injury last month. The only other Cubs farm team in the postseason is Advanced-A Daytona (Fla.).

 

One dissenting argument to Olt's presence after Iowa's season ended this week hinged on this being the postseason. Olt's response? It's competitive sports, no matter the setting.

 

Of course, that's an easier position for someone who bypassed Class-A in the Rangers' system and faced C.J. Wilson in one of his first live batting practices as a major leaguer.

 

"You get that edge going, and you really want to compete," Olt said. "So it's not like they're going to back down from me. It's their going to come at me with their best stuff, and that's what I like."

 

Wisconsin right-hander Preston Gainey kept the Cougars – and Olt – in check to open the game, spacing four hits, three walks and five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. The Timber Rattlers led, 3-1, entering the bottom of the eighth, but Olt tied the game with a two-run blast on a 1-2 pitch with no outs.

 

With Olt having reached his requiste four plate appearances, Cougars manager Mark Johnson pinch-hit for Olt with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth. Danny Lockhart was unable to put down a suicide squeeze, which erased Trey Martin between third base and home plate. Lockhart lined out to shortstop to end the inning.

 

In the 13th, Jeimer Candelario smacked a Brandon Moore changeup with the bases loaded to end the series and the game.

 

"If you just compete, you know, something happens," Candelario said. "If you compete, something always will."

 

The bullpen relay of lefty Michael Heesch and righties James Pugliese, Jasvir Rakkar and Francisco Carrillo combined for 9 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, spacing four hits, four walks and eight strikeouts.

 

"The bullpen's got the right mentality, I think, just going out there each inning and just trying to keep the score where it's at and put up zeroes one after the other," Heesch said. "And I think we're doing a really good job of that."

 

The Cougars said they treated Olt's arrival like most any other. His acquisition marked the 94th roster move of the season. The clubhouse remained mellow before the game, per the norm.

 

"We had a successful season, and we know we're a good team, and we don't want to change anything," righty Zak Hermans said. "If it's not broke, don't fix it. So just trying to approach it the same way. Keep going, keep winning like we have been."

[Mass Haas]

Darn, I just attempted to post a Huntsville update and botched that, so I'll just note that there was no additional media or print updates on the Stars' game Friday AM, so Steve's game story I linked to during the overnight covers it all.

 

As for the rather non-descript box score, while Orlando Arcia did double in his lone at-bat, history will not mark this as his true AA debut, which will have to wait until next season. We'll file away this postseason and know better, despite what Baseball Reference and such note years from now.