Link Report for Friday 4/10 -- Kintzler Exits With Unspecified Injury

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP John Ely at home vs. Nashville (Athletics), 7:05 PM pre-game, 7:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

We welcome Dan Karcher, who is the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox; follow him on Twitter @SkySoxKarch

 

MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Colorado Springs 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. The video of each game is archived online, which is a nice feature. All MiLB.TV details available at the link.

 

NOTE: Notice that on MiLB.TV's page, you can click on "Filter", then "Milwaukee Brewers", and you'll see just the Crew's organizational TV lineup.

 

**********

 

Biloxi: RHP Tyler Wagner at Pensacola (Reds), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

We also welcome Chris Harris as the very first play-by-play voice of the Shuckers! Follow Chris on Twitter @CHarris731. We'll be looking off to his very promising "Shuck Dynasty" blog. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be radio broadcast.

 

MiLB.TV - Seven of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi staff indicates it is hopeful it will be eight when the new stadium opens.

 

NOTE: This opening series in Pensacola will be broadcast on MiLB.TV (with the Blue Wahoos audio feed).

 

**********

 

Brevard County: LHP Wei-Chung Wang at home vs. Daytona (Reds), 5:05 PM pre-game, 5:35 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

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 2015.

 

No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV.

 

**********

 

Wisconsin: RHP Cy Sneed (tandem partner RHP Angel Ventura) at Burlington (Angels), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link -- 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.

 

NOTE: Forty-two (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (9) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (34) 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.

 

***

 

So, for the $49.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sky Sox games, most Shuckers games, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

[Mass Haas]

Look for these just prior to the respective game times --

 

Colorado Springs Media Notes - It's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Multimedia" banner on the Sky Sox' site.

 

Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog

 

Brevard County Media Notes - 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:

 

AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division

 

AA - Southern League South Division

 

High-A - Florida State League North Division

 

A - Midwest League Western Division

 

***

 

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Colorado Springs, CO

 

Pensacola, FL

 

Viera, FL

 

Burlington, IA

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Voice of the Timber Rattlers Chris Mehring via the Bill Michaels Show

[CheezWizHed]

Yeah! The Link Report has returned!

[Jenkins5]

Wang is rolling and McFarland is cementing himself as top 2b prospect that made me so excited when we signed him away from Rice!

[WV Brew]

Coulter has added his 1st home run into the teeth of the Space Coast wind. Yep, McFarland looking good so far this year.

[Mass Haas]

From Thursday night -- remember, MiLB.com is often almost a full day behind in posting video highlights.

 

NOTE: Depending on your browser, you may need to adjust the volume in the video player in order to activate the audio.

 

VIDEO: Matt Clark goes yard in his first at-bat of the year in Colorado Springs' 7-5 win over Nashville

 

***

 

VIDEO: Orlando Arica drove in Biloxi's first two runs as a franchise with a double as the Shuckers topped Pensacola, 4-0.

[packfan79]

Cy Sneed with a good outing 4 ip 2 hits 1 unearned run 5 k's and a walk on 58 pitches. Trats tied at three in the bottom of the 8th.

[packfan79]

Harrison ejected in the ninth, trats fall 4-3. Good nights for Carlos Leal and Elvis Rubio not so much for the rest of the team.

[TheCrew07]

Burlington beat Rattlers 4-3 with ninth-inning run

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

BURLINGTON, IA - Jake Yacinich's third hit of the night did in the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Friday night at Community Field. The shortstop of the Burlington Bees lined a single to center in the ninth inning to drive in the run that beat the Rattlers 4-3.

 

Burlington (2-0) took the lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning against Cy Sneed and Yacinich was in the middle of the action. Sneed jammed Yacinich with a pitch, but the slow tapper back the mound coupled with the speed of Yacinich forced Sneed to rush his throw. The ball skipped down the right field line to allow Yacinich to race all the way to third with one out. Exicardo Cayones hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Yacinich with the first run of the game.

 

Wisconsin (0-2) answered in the top of the fifth inning. Dustin DeMuth started the inning with a single against Burlington starter Mike Bolaski. A one out single by Carlos Leal got DeMuth to third. Jose Pena struck out, but strike three went to the backstop and DeMuth crossed the plate on the wild pitch to tie the game.

 

The Bees went back in front in the bottom of the fifth inning with another unearned run. Brandon Gildea doubled against reliever Angel Ventura with one out and went to third on a passed ball. Michael Hermosillo hit the next pitch to right for a sacrifice fly and a 2-1 lead.

 

The Timber Rattlers came back with two runs in the top of the sixth inning to take their first lead of the season. Gregory Munoz and Brandon Diaz started the inning singles. They were at second and third with one out and Elvis Rubio at the plate. Rubio lined a double to left-center to score both runners to give Wisconsin a 3-2 lead.

 

But Burlington tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Cayones drew a leadoff walk and was still at second base with two outs. Natanael Delgado stroked the first pitch he saw from Ventura back through the middle of the diamond for an RBI single to knock in Cayones with the tying run.

 

Leal lead off the seventh inning with a single, his third hit of the night. The Rattlers put two runners on with two outs in the eighth and Leal collected his fourth hit of the evening with a one out single in the top of the ninth. But, Wisconsin could not push a run across the plate.

 

Luke Curtis, the third Timber Rattlers pitcher of the night, pitched a scoreless eighth, but was in trouble right away in the ninth inning as Caleb Adams singled to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Gildea and an infield single by Hermosillo set the stage for Yacinich.

 

Yacinich lined a 2-1 pitch from Curtis up the middle. Jake Gatewood made a valiant diving effort to keep the game alive, but the ball was just out of the reach of the Wisconsin shortstop. Adams scored easily from third to give the Bees their second straight win over the Rattlers to open the season.

 

The final game of the series is Saturday at Community Field. Left-hander Zach Hirsch is the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Burlington sends Jeremy Rhoades to the mound. Game time is 6:30pm.

 

The game broadcast can be heard on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm. The game is also available on TuneIn Radio.

 

WP: Justin Anderson (1-0)

LP: Luke Curtis (0-1)

 

TIME: 2:42

ATTN: 519

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Well TuneIn radio feed didn't work for me again tonight but the iHeartRadio feed was working just fine. 2 unearned runs was the difference here, not uncommon for young teams.

 

Cy Sneed had a nice Rattler debut with 2H, 1BB, 5SO, and 4IP.

 

Elvis Rubio (2-4,2B) and Carlos Leal (4-4) had big nights at the plate.

 

Monte Harrison was ejected after slamming his bat down on the plate after taking a called strike 3 to end the 9th... some will remember a young Scooter Gennett getting ejected for drawing a line in the dirt early in his TRat career.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[TheCrew07]

Wang Leads 'Tees to Win in Home Opener

Wei-Chung Wang tossed six shutout innings in his first 2015 start.

By Jerry Durney / Brevard County Manatees

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/3/0/6/91823306/cuts/Wang_Wei_Chung2_qy3s0c6o_aiq8e8qu.JPG

(Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

VIERA, Fla. - It was a picture perfect home opener for the Brevard County Manatees on Friday night, getting key contributions on both sides, as the Manatees cruised to an 8-1 victory over the Daytona Tortugas.

 

The standout performance for the 'Tees came from their starting pitcher, Wei-Chung Wang. The 22-year-old left-hander, solidified as a starter in Brevard after spending most of last season as a reliever in Milwaukee, was in command after escaping a first inning jam with two runners on. Wang went on to retire nine straight batters between the second and fourth innings. With a sharp fastball and plenty of movement on his breaking balls throughout the night, Wang threw six innings of shutout ball, giving up five hits and walking two, while striking out six.

 

As they did on Thursday night, the Manatees once again took the lead early, this time keeping it for good. Johnny Davis took a leadoff walk in the first and then promptly stole second. Chris McFarland doubled on a ball to short center to bring home Davis and put Brevard County in front. Clint Coulter flew out to center, moving McFarland over to third, leading to Taylor Brennan's second sacrifice fly in as many nights and a 2-0 lead.

 

The top of the order would be responsible for the action once again in the third inning. This time Davis bunted his way on, and went to third on another McFarland double. After strikeouts by Coulter and Brennan, Victor Roache recorded his first hit of the season, a two-run single to left center to make it 4-0.

 

The Manatees would put the game away for good in the fifth, starting with a one-out solo home run to left by Coulter, the first of the season for the team. Brennan then walked, and would go on to score from first on a double to left by Garrett Cooper. Brandon Macias then followed with an RBI single to right center to plate Cooper and extend the lead to 7-0. Macias was caught in a rundown to end the inning.

 

The Tortugas would avoid the shutout in the top of the eighth thanks to an RBI groundout from Sammy Diaz, but as the night tended to go, Brevard County got it right back in the bottom of the frame McFarland delivered an RBI single to bring home Davis for the final score.

 

After mustering just two hits on Thursday, the Manatees broke out for 13 on Friday, led by a 3-for-5 night by McFarland, and multi-hit nights for Davis, Roache, Cooper and Rafael Neda. The final tally also showed six extra-base hits and a stolen base.

 

The two teams have split the first two games of their season-opening four-game set so far, and will resume tomorrow night in Daytona Beach at 7:05 P.M. Brandon Woodruff (0-0, 0.00) will be on the mound for his first start in a Manatee uniform. He will be opposed by left-hander Amir Garrett (0-0, 0.00).

 

BC Boxscore

Wei-Chung Wang! I'm so starved for a successful LH starting pitcher that I've placed all my hopes on Wang and he was very solid in his 2015 debut.

 

A big night for the offense as 8 of 9 batters made contributions.

 

Tyler Spurlin had an eventful inning which I'll highlight below.

 

BC Recap

 

Daytona Top of the 7th

• Pitching Change: Tyler Spurlin replaces Wei-Chung Wang.
  Sammy Diaz walks.
  Joe Hudson walks. Sammy Diaz to 2nd.
  Nick Benedetto strikes out swinging. Wild pitch by pitcher Tyler Spurlin. Sammy Diaz to 3rd. Joe Hudson to 2nd.
  Carlton Daal strikes out swinging.
  Sebastian Elizalde walks.
  Alex Blandino grounds out, second baseman Christopher McFarland to first baseman Garrett Cooper

[Jenkins5]

Burlington beat Rattlers 4-3 with ninth-inning run

 

Monte Harrison was ejected after slamming his bat down on the plate after taking a called strike 3 to end the 9th... some will remember a young Scooter Gennett getting ejected for drawing a line in the dirt early in his TRat career.

 

Wisconsin Recap

 

Ironically Scooter was ejected tonight for similar thing

[Mass Haas]

Final: Biloxi 7, Pensacola 1, six innings, rain

 

Shuckers win second straight, in rain shortened 7-1 affair

Biloxi has outscored Pensacola 11-1 in the first two games of series

By Thaddeus Krzus / Biloxi Shuckers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/3/8/117556238/cuts/DSC_0268_6s4si3cg_awlhzx8f.JPG

 

Orlando Arcia had two more hits on Friday and is 5-for-8 to start the 2015 campaign. (Photo by Cristina Coca)

 

PENSACOLA, FLA. - The Biloxi Shuckers (2-0) opened up the scoring before the rain rolled in and shortened Friday night's 7-1 victory over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos to six innings at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium. Biloxi earned its second straight victory after a 55-minute rain delay paused play in the top of the seventh inning. The Shuckers have outscored the Blue Wahoos 11-1 over the last two days, while the pitching staff has allowed just one unearned run on eight hits in 15 innings of work.

 

Orlando Arcia continued to show why he was the second-ranked prospect in the organization according to Baseball America, going 2-for-4 and scoring two runs. Through two games, the young right-handed hitter is 5-for-8 with three RBIs and three runs scored.

 

The 20-year-old shortstop was not perfect, however, as his first-inning error led to leadoff man Beau Amaral reaching safely. Amaral would come around to score on an RBI groundout by Sean Buckley and put the Shuckers in a 1-0 hole.

 

Starting pitcher Tyler Wagner (1-0) kept his composure after the error, retiring the next 10 Blue Wahoos who stepped into the batter's box, before Buckley doubled with one out in the fourth.

 

Wagner earned the complete game, going six innings and allowing just the one unearned run on five hits and four strikeouts.

 

Biloxi answered Pensacola's run in the first with three of its own in the top of the second.

 

Nick Ramirez (0x2, R, 2 BB) led off the frame with a walk. After a Michael Reed (2x3, RBI, R) fly out, Tyrone Taylor (2x3, 2 RBI, R) singled and Nick Shaw (0x1, RBI, R) followed with a base-on-balls.

 

The stage was set for Adam Weisenburger's bases-clearing double to put the Shuckers up for good.

 

Biloxi's offense did not let up from there, putting up three more runs in the third, knocking Blue Wahoo's starter Daniel Wright (0-1) out in the process.

 

The right-handed hurler would surrender six runs on five hits and four walks through 2.2 innings.

 

Arcia singled and Ramirez's one-out walk put a runner in scoring position for Reed, who singled in Arcia from second.

 

Taylor drove in Ramirez with a single of his own with Reed hustling into third on the play. Shaw's sacrifice fly to center gave the Shuckers a 6-1 advantage, and forcing Wright from the game.

 

Taylor would get another RBI in the fourth when he drew a bases-loaded walk to plate Arcia.

 

Pensacola (0-2) used two relievers before the rains came in the top of the sixth inning with Shaw at the plate.

 

Jacob Johnson lasted 2.1 innings in relief, gave up just one run on three hits and three walks, while striking out two.

 

Kyle McMyne pitched the fifth and allowed a hit and had a 2-1 count on Shaw before the game was called due to rain.

 

The two teams will battle it out Saturday night at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, where LHP Hobbs Johnson will take the mound for the Shuckers against RHP Tim Adleman. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. on 1240-AM WGCM and the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network. Fans can also listen to the game using the TuneIn Radio app or by going to www.biloxishuckers.com. The game can also be seen, live, on MiLB.TV.

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

Even in just six innings, all the Shuckers, including Tyler Wagner, reached at least once via a hit or walk.

 

Biloxi Game Log

 

Wagner needed only 72 pitches for the complete game six-inning effort, fantastic...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Nashville 12, Colorado Springs 8

 

Sky Sox Falter Late in Slugfest With Sounds

Guez and Rogers Homer but Sky Sox Fall For First Time in 2015 with 12-8 Loss to Sounds

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/8/8/117588288/cuts/04_09_035_pk_d6wt810o_fzmwc17h.jpg

 

Elian Herrera reached base four times in Friday's 12-8 loss to Nashville. (Photo by Paat Kelly)

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - A potential pitcher's duel between former big-leaguers quickly turned into a heavyweight battle as the Nashville and Colorado Springs lineups went shot-for-shot before a crowd of 3,177 at Security Service Field.

 

Making his first start of the season, John Ely made quick work of the Sounds order in the early going with the help of some devastating changeups, striking out three of his first five batters faced. Staked to an early 2-0 lead heading into the top of the third inning, Ely struggled to find the same efficiency giving up six runs on six hits and two walks over his next 1.2 innings pitched before being relieved by left-hander Jed Bradley with two outs in the fourth.

 

2002 Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito started for Nashville in his first Triple-A appearance since a rehab stint with the Fresno Grizzlies in 2011. Zito's signature curveball carried him through four strong innings of work until things started to unravel in the bottom of the fifth inning. After surrendering a loud lead-off double to Elian Herrera and walking Jason Rogers, Sky Sox center fielder Ben Guez made Zito pay with a prodigious blast that went well over the left field fence. The three-run shot travelled an astonishing 429 feet and brought the Sox back to a one-run deficit at 6-5. Things seemed like they would continue to go in favor of manager Rick Sweet's squad as third baseman Rogers added to the slug fest with a two-run shot off of Sounds reliever Kevin Whelan in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the team an 8-6 lead.

 

Bradley and fellow reliever Ariel Peńa combined to turn in 3.1 innings of one-run ball as the Sky Sox took an 8-7 lead into the 8th inning. Former Brewers set-up man Brandon Kintzler (0-1, 54.00) started the 8th but was only able to record one out before being pulled with an apparent injury with a 1-0 count on Nashville right fielder Jason Pridie. David Goforth was summoned to pick up where Kintzler left off in what was his first ever Triple-A appearance after serving as Double-A Huntsville's All-Star closer in 2014. While Goforth recorded his first career Triple-A strikeout after blowing second baseman Joey Wendle away with a 94 mph fastball, he struggled with command, ultimately allowing his inherited runners to score while giving up a run of his own. Nashville continued to pile on the runs and brought in righty Chad Smith to shut the door as they downed the Sky Sox by a final score of 12-8 giving Ryan Cook (1-0, 0.00) the win after a strong two inning appearance.

 

There was certainly no lack of offense in the game as the two sides combined for a total of 32 hits and 20 runs scored. Rogers, Guez, Herrera and opening night hero Matt Clark turned in strong offensive performances that give the team optimism heading into game three of the 2015 season.

 

The Sky Sox will look to take control of the four-game series in game three tomorrow night at Security Service Field as LHP Nick Additon makes his season debut against Nashville right-hander Angel Castro starting at 5:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Welcome to the "real" Pacific Coast League box score sample.

 

Kintzler's injury aside, the veteran bullpen arms struggled again. John Ely made only one appearance in 2013 (Tommy John) and pitched strictly out of the bullpen last season.

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

More of this, please, LHP Jed Bradley --

 

Jason Pridie singles on a line drive to right fielder Elian Herrera. Anthony Aliotti scores. Billy Burns scores. Max Muncy to 3rd. Jason Pridie advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by right fielder Elian Herrera.

Pitching Change: Jed Bradley replaces John Ely.

Bryan Anderson grounds out to first baseman Matt Clark.

 

Nashville Top of the 5th

 

Joey Wendle grounds out, shortstop Luis Sardinas to first baseman Matt Clark.

Niuman Romero singles on a line drive to left fielder Matt Long.

Alden Carrithers grounds into a double play, second baseman Donnie Murphy to shortstop Luis Sardinas to first baseman Matt Clark. Niuman Romero out at 2nd.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: WLOX with Shuckers highlights

 

***

 

Here's the Pensacola News-Journal Game Coverage

 

***

 

Shuckers dominate Pensacola to take Game 2

By Patrick Magee, SunHerald.com

 

http://media.sunherald.com/smedia/2015/04/10/22/47/15JC08.AuSt.77.jpeg

 

Photo by Barrett McClean / Pensacola Blue Wahoos Biloxi Shuckers first baseman Nick Ramirez, left, takes a lead while Pensacola Blue Wahoos first baseman Kyle Waldrop covers the bag Friday in Pensacola, Fla. The Shuckers won, 7-1.

 

PENSACOLA, Fla.--The Biloxi Shuckers made it look easy again Friday night in a rain-shortened game at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

 

A night after shutting out the Blue Wahoos 4-0 in the season opener, the Shuckers rolled to a 7-1 victory over Pensacola in 6 1/3 innings Friday in front of another sold-out crowd of 5,038.

 

There was intermittent rain early in the contest and a heavy downpour began with one out in the top of the seventh. The game was put to a stop and the tarp was brought on the field at 8:25 PM. The umpires decided to call it a game at 9:03 PM.

 

Tyler Wagner (1-0) was impressive in his first start of the season for the Shuckers, giving up one unearned run on five hits in six innings to earn the complete game. He struck out four and walked none.

 

"He was great," Biloxi catcher Adam Weisenburger said. "He didn't have his curve ball going today, but he had enough to get the job done. He's a competitor, a great guy to have on that mound. He showed why he's good."

 

After going 13-6 with a 1.86 ERA at Class-A Brevard (Fla.) last season, the 6-foot-3 Wagner was labeled the No. 9 prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

 

He lived up to the billing Friday night, but he thinks he can do better.

 

"(The curve ball) is not what I want it to be, but I have other pitches that I can throw for strikes," Wagner said. "It was a good mix of those and (Weisenburger) called a great game."

 

The Shuckers (2-0) have 53 games remaining in their season-opening road trip, but they seem at ease two contests into a five-game series in the confines of Bayfront Stadium.

 

The Biloxi pitching staff has held Pensacola to one run on eight hits in 15 innings.

 

Shuckers shortstop Orlando Arcia, the second-rated prospect in the Brewers organization, continued his hot start to the season. After going 3-for-4 with three RBIs in the opener, he went 2-for-4 with two runs scored Friday.

 

"They took away a base hit up the middle (from Arcia) and turned it into a double play," Subero said. "He's swinging the bat well through two games."

 

The man rated No. 1 in the Brewers' system by Baseball America is Shuckers centerfielder Tyrone Taylor, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs Friday.

 

The only run Wagner surrendered came in the first. Pensacola leadoff man Beau Amaral reached on an error by Arcia at shortstop. Amaral advanced to second on a groundout and took third on a passed ball by Weisenburger. Sean Buckley grounded out to Nathan Orf at third to bring home Amaral and set the score at 1-0 after one inning.

 

The Shuckers answered with three runs in the top of the second when Weisenburger stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out and pulled a double down the left field line to clear the bases.

 

"He showed me all of his pitches early," Weisenburger said. "I got comfortable and was able to get a good pitch to hit and capitalize."

 

Biloxi pushed its lead to 6-1 with three more runs in the the third. Taylor and Michael Reed both had RBI singles to right field and Reed later scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Nick Shaw.

 

Blue Wahoos pitchers struggled with their control, walking seven batters through the first four innings.

 

Pensacola starting pitcher Daniel Wagner (0-1) took the loss, giving up six earned runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out none.

 

Subero was pleased with the approach of his batters Friday night.

 

"The biggest thing is we worked deep counts and that's part of what this team is about," he said. "We took a bunch of borderline pitches that went our way as balls. We got into good hitting counts and drove in runs when we had to."

 

Left-hander Hobbs Johnson will be the starting pitcher for the Shuckers in today's 4:00 PM game in Pensacola with the Blue Wahoos going with left-hander Wandy Peralta.

[Mass Haas]

PREGAME AUDIO: RHP Hiram Burgos joins Jerry Durney of the Manatees Radio Network

 

***

 

AUDIO, Game Highlights: The 'Tees win the home opener, 8-1

 

***

 

Manatees get even with Daytona in home opener

Michael Parsons, Florida Today

 

VIERA – The Brevard County Manatees showed the 1,854 fans the kind of baseball they can expect this summer.

 

Power hitting and aggressive base running.

 

"These guys have been swinging the bats well all spring," Joe Ayrault said of his team's 8-1 win against the Daytona Tortugas in the home opener.

 

Clint Coulter hit his first home run of the season, a shot to left field in the fifth, and the Manatees finished with five doubles, part of 13 hits.

 

"He has definitely got legit power," Ayrault said of his right fielder. "Especially with the wind blowing in from left field, he just cut the wind. I was just hoping it wouldn't go foul from third base, I was trying to blow it to keep it fair. He crushed that ball."

 

The top two in the lineup wreaked havoc as Johnny Davis and Chris McFarland scored the first four runs of the game and five of the eight total runs. Davis finished with two hits and three runs scored while McFarland had three hits, scored twice and drove in two.

 

It was more than enough for starter Wei-Chung Wang, who tossed six shutout innings, striking out six, to get the win.

 

"He did a great job of mixing up his pitches and attacked hitters," Ayrault said. "It was a good outing for him."

 

The Manatees added three runs in the fifth inning to pull away for their first victory of the 2015 season.

 

"It's always nice to get a W in front of the home crowd; we had a good crowd tonight," Ayrault said.

 

And they did it with clutch hitting as five of the team's eight runs were scored with two outs.

 

"That is one of the things we preach is picking up your teammates," Ayrault said. "The two-out knocks are big."

 

The two teams will meet tonight in Daytona Beach for Game 3 of the series with Brandon Woodruff making his Manatees debut. Game 4 will be at Space Coast Stadium on Sunday evening.

 

***

 

Photo gallery via Florida Today

[Mass Haas]

Elvis Rubio (2-4,2B) and Carlos Leal (4-4) had big nights at the plate.

 

As was posted on March 24th, Leal's path to last night is interesting.

[Mass Haas]

[Mass Haas]

Take that, shift! God, I love Matt Clark...

 

Col. Springs Bottom of the 1st

 

Matt Long called out on strikes.

Elian Herrera pops out to second baseman Joey Wendle.

Matt Clark singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Niuman Romero.

Jason Rogers grounds into a force out, third baseman Niuman Romero to second baseman Joey Wendle. Matt Clark out at 2nd.

[igor67]

Nice to see some hitting outside of Adam Lind. And Nice nights from Wang and Wagner