Link Report for Tuesday 4/14

[Mass Haas]

WLOX: More Shuckers video, separate from others linked thus far

[Mass Haas]

Final: Round Rock 7, Colorado Springs 6

 

Round Rock Rides Big Fourth Inning To Edge Sky Sox 7-6

Jungmann Strong Early but Fades Late In Loss

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/9/5/8/118376958/cuts/04_09_024_pk_of6acdfh_bolsxw3i.jpg

 

Taylor Jungmann was strong early but struggled with command in a tough fourth inning in loss to Express. (Photo by Paat Kelly)

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - On the heels of Monday's 9-2 win over Round Rock, the Sky Sox got off to a fast start once again with another three-run first inning in front of 3,601 fans at Security Service Field on Tuesday night. Unfortunately that early three-run lead would not hold up as the Express rode a big fourth inning to pick up a 7-6 win in game two of this four game series.

 

After scoreless top halves of the first and second, the Sky Sox jumped out to a quick four-run lead thanks to well-executed small ball. The Sox loaded the bases immediately with consecutive singles by Matt Long and Elian Herrera followed by a fielding error by second baseman Ed Lucas that allowed Matt Clark to reach. A groundball fielder's choice by Jason Rogers led to the game's first run. A walk to Shane Peterson again loaded the bases with just one out. Bryan Petersen's fielder's choice ground out extinguished Peterson at second base but allowed Herrera to score from third for the game's second run. Ben Guez would follow with a line drive RBI single to center field to score Rogers, making the score 3-0 in the early going.

 

The home half of the second inning would treat spot starter David Martinez in similar fashion. Shortstop Luis Sardinas would lead off the inning with a single up the middle, extending his current hitting streak to six games. A walk to Long and bunt single by Herrera, who also extended his current hit streak to six, led to a run-scoring 4-6-3 double play by Clark. The run would be the last scored by the Sky Sox until the bottom of the ninth inning as Martinez would settle down in the third before handing the ball to a solid Round Rock bullpen.

 

Making his second start of the young season, Sky Sox starter Taylor Jungmann (0-1, 7.88) cruised through his first three innings of work, striking out four of his first eight batters faced while allowing just three base runners. The fourth inning would hold a much different fate for Jungmann as the first seven batters for Round Rock would reach base safely on the strength of two walks, four singles and a hit batsman. Combined with two wild pitches in the inning, the Express were able to score all but one of those base runners before Jungmann was able to set down the top of the Round Rock order to finally end it.

 

Right-hander Chris Perez came on to start the fifth, allowing Round Rock's final run of the game on a leadoff triple by right fielder Jared Hoying and RBI groundout by Lucas. Perez would throw one more scoreless inning before turning the ball over to lefty Brent Leach.

 

Round Rock's bullpen stymied the Sky Sox offense for most of the night as the duo of southpaw Edwar Cabrera (1-0, 8.31) and righty Spencer Patton tossed five innings of shutout baseball while striking out a combined nine total batters.

 

Right-handed reliever David Goforth would finish the night's pitching duties for Colorado Springs in his best performance of the season. Goforth went two innings, allowing just one hit along the way.

 

The bottom of the ninth inning featured what was the most dramatic play of the ballgame. Flame-throwing righty Jon Edwards took the mound to close out the ballgame in a save opportunity with his team up 7-4. After giving up a line drive single to Herrera, Edwards worked Matt Clark to a full count. Clark turned on the pay off pitch, drilling it an estimated 420 feet just inside the right field foul pole for a two-run home run to bring the Sox back within one with no outs in the inning.

 

Shane Peterson would single after a Jason Rogers groundout to keep the home team's hopes alive. However, Edwards found his rhythm and settled down to set both Bryan Petersen and Ben Guez down on swinging strikes to end the ballgame.

 

The Sky Sox will look to regain their winning form on Wednesday night at Security Service field in game three of the four game series. John Ely (0-0, 14.73) will make his second start for the Sox as he locks horns with Round Rock right-hander Luke Jackson (0-1, 11.25). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM (7:35 Central).

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Taylor Jungmann's unpretty line courtesy of one hideous inning we'll detail below: 4 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 3 WP, 2 HBP, 77 pitches, 43 strikes.

 

Sky Sox bats walked three times, fanned 12 times, and were only 2-for-15 with RISP.

 

Elian Herrera is an insane 13-for-26 (this coming off a fantastic spring camp), with a .500/.552/.846 line (1.398 OPS).

 

Not everyone's cranking in the mountain air, OF's Bryan Petersen and Ben Guez off to slow starts.

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

Round Rock Top of the 4th

 

Michael Choice walks.

Jared Hoying singles on a line drive to right fielder Shane Peterson. Michael Choice to 3rd.

Kyle Blanks hit by pitch. Jared Hoying to 2nd.

Ed Lucas singles on a soft fly ball to right fielder Shane Peterson. Michael Choice scores. Jared Hoying to 3rd. Kyle Blanks to 2nd.

Alex Hassan singles on a soft fly ball to right fielder Shane Peterson. Jared Hoying scores. Kyle Blanks scores. Ed Lucas to 3rd.

Trever Adams hit by pitch. Alex Hassan to 2nd.

With Hanser Alberto batting, wild pitch by Taylor Jungmann, Ed Lucas scores. Alex Hassan scores. Trever Adams to 3rd.

Hanser Alberto singles on a ground ball to center fielder Ben Guez. Trever Adams scores.

Ryan Strausborger grounds out, pitcher Taylor Jungmann to shortstop Donnie Murphy to first baseman Matt Clark. Hanser Alberto to 2nd.

Tomas Telis called out on strikes.

Michael Choice flies out to center fielder Ben Guez.

 

***

 

Watched that play - catcher Juan Centeno couldn't find the ball, actually was retrieved by Jungmann.

[Mass Haas]

Sardinas got pulled...not sure if there has been an injury or trade to Padres as I am not listening to call

 

I went back and pulled up the video/audio archive via MiLB.TV.

 

So first I go to the top of the 4th, when Donnie Murphy entered defensively for Luis Sardinas. Talk about frustrating, at that point the audio feed accompanying the video went silent for several minutes. It was like the Watergate tapes!

 

So I then found Murphy's three AB's, hoping to learn why he entered the game when he did.

 

The announcers made no mention of a reason for Sardinas' departure during Murphy's three AB's, and I also had the pleasure of watching him pitifully strike out all three times.

 

We'll inquire with the Sky Sox broadcast team to see what we can learn. As we posted earlier this week, they may not be able to say.

 

Game log gives no clue, not as if he didn't run out a groundball or something.

 

EDIT/UPDATE:

 

We'll inquire with the Sky Sox broadcast team to see what we can learn. As we posted earlier this week, they may not be able to say.

 

No definitive word on Sardinas, says Dan.

[Mass Haas]

Rattlers’ Leal stays hot at the plate in loss to Peoria

Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media

 

GRAND CHUTE – Carlos Leal started his professional baseball career on the mound.

 

Leal is back where he belongs — behind the plate — and seems to be punishing opposing pitchers for last season’s unsuccessful experiment.

 

The 23-year-old catcher has been swinging a hot bat and continued to scorch the ball Tuesday afternoon in the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ 7-1 loss to Peoria.

 

As a team, the Rattlers (0-6) have struggled mightily to score runs and are hitting a dismal .198.

 

But the 5-foot-11, 192-pound Leal has been on a hitting rampage. He slammed a double and a triple Tuesday to raise his batting average to a team-high .643. The left-handed-hitting Leal has a quick, compact swing and has collected nine hits in his first 14 at bats.

 

“I’m just staying inside the ball and trying to hit the ball hard,” said Leal. “I’m just trying to give my team a chance to win. We’re struggling right now, but we’ll figure it out soon.”

 

If Leal continues to sting the ball, Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson will figure out a way to keep him in the lineup. Leal has split playing time behind the plate with Greg McCall and served as the Rattlers’ designated hitter Tuesday. Leal was Wisconsin’s starting catcher Monday night and displayed his exceptional arm, throwing out three runners on attempted steals.

 

“He’s been a bright spot, no doubt about it,” said Erickson. “He’s an older guy with some experience after playing four years of college ball. Going into the season, we thought that he and (Dustin) DeMuth had a little more experience for this level of competition and they’ve been able to handle it a little better. He’s got a short stroke and he’s stayed inside the ball..”

 

Leal is happy to be swinging the bat again and catching the ball — rather than pitching it. The native of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico was a catcher at East Central Mississippi Community College (2011-12) and Delta State University (2013-14), landing first-team all-Gulf South Conference honors his final two seasons at Delta State, located in Cleveland, MS. He hit .359 his senior season, with a home run and 37 RBI.

 

The Milwaukee Brewers liked Leal’s strong right arm, but didn’t plan to initially use it behind the plate. The Brewers drafted Leal as a pitcher, taking him with their 34th-round selection in the 2014 first-year player draft.

 

Leal’s one-year stint on the mound was a struggle. He pitched in six games for the Arizona Brewers in rookie league play and had an 8.53 earned run average, allowing six hits, four walks and six earned runs in 6 1/3 innings.

 

“I caught all my years in college and hadn’t pitched since Little League,” said Leal, who was originally a 33rd-round draft pick of Pittsburgh in 2012 before deciding to stay in college. “The Brewers called me in the draft and told me they didn’t have a spot for me as a catcher, but asked me if I’d like to pitch. It was late in the draft, so I said yes.”

 

The Brewers’ organization decided to pull the plug on the experiment after one year and put Leal back behind the plate in spring training.

 

“I’m just happy to be catching again,” said Leal. “That’s been my passion since I was like 12. Pitching was hard. I thought it was going to go a lot easier, but it was tough. I had a hard time throwing strikes. Maybe I could have figured it out, but catching is really what I wanted to do.”

 

The Rattlers’ lone run Tuesday was delivered by 19-year-old shortstop Jake Gatewood, who slammed a long solo home run over the left-field wall in the bottom of the seventh. It was Gatewood’s first homer as a Rattler and Wisconsin’s first round-tripper of the season.

 

“I had taken a good swing the at bat before, so I was just trying to hit the ball hard,” said Gatewood, the 41st overall selection by the Brewers in the 2014 draft. “Chuckie (Caufield), our hitting coach, talked to me before the game about making sure I stay on my back side. I knew they were going to come inside on me, based on my previous at bats. They did and I put a pretty good swing on it.”

 

Gatewood almost started a brawl after connecting on the blast. He stopped temporarily to watch the ball’s flight, and that angered the Chiefs. Peoria catcher Steve Bean and Wisconsin’s Monte Harrison exchanged words following the homer after Harrison stepped into the batter’s box. Both both benches cleared, and Harrison and Bean had to be separated.

 

Gatewood apologized for setting off the incident, even though it didn’t appear that he was showboating.

 

“You know what, I probably should have ran, I did stop for a second and looked,” said Gatewood. “I shouldn’t have done that. I mean, we’re down seven runs. That’s my fault. I want to actually apologize to the other team and my teammates. I don’t want to put anyone in danger of getting hit, or getting hurt.

 

“I shouldn’t have done that, but the emotions were running high. We were a little frustrated, with the last two games not having gone our way. That’s my fault. I don’t want to put anyone in danger. I take full responsibility for that.”

 

Third baseman Dustin DeMuth also had two hits for the Rattlers to raise his season average to .421. But run production continues to be a problem for Wisconsin. The Rattlers were shut out Monday night and have scored just nine runs in their first six games. Wisconsin managed eight hits in Tuesday’s finale against Peoria, but stranded seven runners and was 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

 

“We just have to keep fighting, keep competing,” said Gatewood. “This game has a way of testing you. When things aren’t going well, you can’t just lay down and let everyone beat you. We’re going to fight. We’re going to compete. We’re going to figure this out eventually, because we have a really good team and a really good coaching staff."

[Mass Haas]

WXXV: More Video from Shuckers FanFest (RHP Jaye Chapman)

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO via WeAreGreenBay.com: Timber Rattlers Manager Matt Erickson talks about 0-6 start

[Jenkins5]

On the positive side DeMuth seems to have found his high batting average stroke again.

 

I really think he'll be our 3b of the future. He'll hit but not for power , could be a really good 2 hole hitter

 

I'd like to see a 23/24 year old hit outside of low A ball before I think of them as the future but hopefully he can develop. I see him more maxing out like Taylor Green