Link Report for Wednesday 5/6

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Wednesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Taylor Jungmann at Memphis (Cardinals), 6:35 PM pre-game, 7:05 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.

 

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Biloxi: RHP Brooks Hall at "home" in Pearl, Mississippi vs. the M-Braves, 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:00 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 series is available online for MiLB.TV subscribers.

 

 

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Brevard County: RHP Jorge Ortega at Clearwater (Phillies), 12:00 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link (Clearwater Feed Only)

 

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

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Victor Diaz at home vs. Cedar Rapids (Twins), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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.

 

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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 Wednesday'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

 

Wisconsin Media Notes - Linked on the Rattler Radio blog

 

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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

 

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Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Memphis, TN

 

Pearl, MS

 

Clearwater, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI

[Mass Haas]

Catching up from Tuesday via Rattler Radio Blog's postgame entry:

 

VIDEO highlights and AUDIO interviews; after multiple losses, seems like a few one-word answers are becoming more frequent in Kyle's interviews...

[Mass Haas]

Great jog around the bases, Tyler! This is for your keeper file!

 

VIDEO: Sky Sox hurler Tyler Cravy provides his own run support in Colorado Springs' 6-4 win at Memphis Tuesday

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: A young man does a nice job interviewing the Shuckers' Tyler LaTorre --

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvfI8lJ_lpI&feature=player_embedded

[Mass Haas]

Via Miller Park Prospects -- Scouting Snapshot: OF Michael Reed

 

***

 

Via SBNation -- Prospect Review: Monte Harrison, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

 

(Each link was also posted for archiving in our season-long Shuckers and Timber Rattlers threads, respectively...)

[Mass Haas]

Via Disciples of Uecker -- 30 Farmhands #3: Depth, Surprises, Replacements

 

Detailed write-up, Nicholas with a nice job there...

[Mass Haas]

Via Jeff Levering's weekly Brewers On Tap Podcast:

 

It's been a busy week in Brewers baseball as Craig Counsell was named the 19th manager in franchise history. Jeff Levering recreates the atmosphere at Miller Park after the 15-year veteran earned his first managerial win. Plus, prospect Taylor Jungmann and Sky Sox manager Rick Sweet join the podcast.

 

Jungmann at the 12:20 minute mark; Sweet at 21:30.

[Mass Haas]

Once Logan Schafer officially catches up with the Sky Sox, the team will need to free up a roster spot.

 

It'll likely be a pitcher move (currently 14 -- actually 15 active, one being Jim Henderson, who doesn't count while on rehab).

[Mass Haas]

Brewers Manager of Media Relations Zach Weber's Twitter timeline from Wednesday includes statistical notes on RHP Brooks Hall, 3B Taylor Brennan, and this afternoon's Brevard starter, RHP Jorge Ortega.

[WV Brew]

Cameron Garfield was a late scratch. No word on what the problem is.

[TheCrew07]

Timber Rattlers Field Pass

 

This week's episode was absolutely fantastic.

 

Monte Harrison was the featured interview, he's such a likable young man it's been hard for me to watch him struggle, I still wish the TV crew wouldn't have highlighted his frustration last night. The question I liked the best was when Chris asked him about weaknesses and he said that he had to improve every part of his game and then went into some detail. The reason I liked that question so much is I've often thought there aren't enough people who are self critical in a positive manner. I've been on a reading kick here the last 4-5 months and I bought some books focusing on Delta Force(1st SFOD-D for you military types), that's one of the questions they ask during their psychological board after the physical portion of selection, if a recruit can not accurately identify and adequately explain his weaknesses during the interview then Delta is no longer interested in him. So few recruits pass the physical selection course and then they lose more through the interview process. That was a nice validation for me personally.

 

There was a segment where all of the players returning from 2014 were interviewed, their thoughts were wonderfully candid, one of Harvey Martin's answers was along of the lines of "I'm just happy to be here after last year", his honesty struck me. All of the young men did very well though.

 

Without a doubt my favorite segment was where they mic'd up manager Matt Erickson, we got to see him interact with his players in his office, during field work, in the cage, and also interact with his and the opposing coaching staffs, and of course his players on the field and in the dugout during the game. It was filmed the day of Medeiros' rough first inning in the bitter cold on 4/22. I could comment on just about every scene but the one I'll relate was up in the cage where he was talking with Harrison about his load and exploding towards the ball and then the video cuts away to Monte putting that immediately into practice during that game when he drilled 2 HRs. Matt seems to have an affinity for David Denson which my mirrors my own, that was good to see. I love how Matt coaches on the fly, just quick little nuggets of wisdom, that don't really interrupt anything else that's going on, that was something every football coaching staff I've been on has struggled with.

 

edit. fixed the year.

[WV Brew]

Clearwater 7, Brevard County 3

 

Jorge Ortega with probably his worst start this year. Went 5 innings giving up 4 runs. He was behind a lot of batters, unlike his usual performance. He went, I think, 30 innings between walks when he walked J. P. Crawford in the 5th inning. That was the only walk he issued but made it tough on himself by working deep counts. Crawford, probably the Phillies' top prospect, also had a two run home run off Ortega.

 

Clint Terry worked two scoreless innings after the Manatees got back in the game. Tyler Spurlin came in in the eighth inning and couldn't make it out of that inning. Check the box score if you have a strong stomach.

 

Clint Coulter's three run home run in the 6th put the Manatees within one run. The home run was followed by a long double to left center by Victor Roache but they couldn't get him home. Coulter's home run went to right center. He has really been pull happy this year and some teams are playing a shift on him so it's good to see that.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

No Manatees' story yet, so here is the Clearwater take:

 

Crawford Returns, Lifts Threshers to 7-3 Win

Top Prospect Drives in 3 as Threshers Salvage Finale over Manatees

By Kirsten Karbach / Clearwater Threshers

05/06/2015 3:54 PM ET

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/8/9/4/122740894/cuts/JP_Crawford_2_9htxo9ca_nfum19v2.JPG

 

CLEARWATER, Fla. - JP Crawford made an immediate impact for the Threshers in his season debut.

 

The Phillies' No. 1 prospect belted a two-run shot in the third inning, and finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs in his first appearance of 2015. Crawford had been sidelined since Spring Training with an oblique injury, and the 20-year old was activated from the disabled prior to Wednesday's contest.

 

It was his home run in the third which broke open the scoring on Wednesday. With Chase Harris aboard after a single, Crawford lifted a 2-2 offering onto the berm in right field to put the Threshers up, 2-0.

 

Clearwater (13-14) would add another tally in the inning when Andrew Knapp doubled with two outs, and later scored on an error by Manatees first baseman Garrett Cooper. Knapp finished 2-for-4, and the reigning FSL Player of the Week has collected at least one hit in each of his last nine games.

 

Two innings later, Crawford worked a one-out walk against Brevard County starter Jorge Ortega (3-2), and moved up to second on a wild pitch. Andrew Pullin followed by delivering a single up the middle, plating Crawford to make it 4-0.

 

David Whitehead held the Manatees to just three hits across five shutout innings before Brevard County (12-14) struck for three in the sixth. Whitehead, who had five consecutive strikeouts prior to the frame, permitted a pair of singles before Clint Coulter lifted a three-run home run to cut the lead down to one.

 

Whitehead (2-3) earned the win after giving the Threshers six innings in the start. He did not issue a walk and finished with seven strikeouts, having permitted three runs on seven hits.

 

Crawford found himself in the midst of yet another Threshers rally in the eighth inning.

 

Clearwater loaded the bases with two down against reliever Tyler Spurlin thanks to a single, hit batsman, and walk. Crawford was then hit with an 0-1 pitch to push across a run, before Pullin and Knapp each worked a walk to score two more and give the Threshers the 7-3 advantage.

 

The Threshers will hit the road to battle the Daytona Tortugas for three games, beginning on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Clearwater returns home to Bright House Field on Monday, May 11th, to open a seven-game homestead.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers Manager of Media Relations Zach Weber's Twitter timeline from Wednesday includes statistical notes on RHP Brooks Hall, 3B Taylor Brennan, and this afternoon's Brevard starter, RHP Jorge Ortega.

 

He jinxed Taylor Brennan (0-for-4 today).

[Mass Haas]

Catcher Adam Weisenburger is in tonight's Shuckers starting lineup after exiting Monday's game, dinged somehow upon chasing a wild pitch, I believe...

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: This was Tuesday's Colorado Springs' pregame interview --

 

[Mass Haas]

From April 2nd --

 

Also via the beat guys again --

 

Brewers Asst. GM Gord Ash said RHP Taylor Williams will begin year on DL with elbow irritation. Not considered serious.

 

This twitter conversation reminds us there's been no formal word on Williams.

[TheCrew07]

Kernels keep the Rattlers down

Cedar Rapids sweeps Wisconsin with 8-2 win on Wednesday

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/5/5/0/122857550/cuts/5_May6_Denson_ai8udut4_hwsv4trm.jpg

David Denson drove in a pair of runs to tie Wednesday's game 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica)

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers dropped an 8-2 decision to the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Wednesday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Max Murphy had three hits and drove in three runs for the Kernels and the Rattlers dropped their sixth straight game.

 

Cedar Rapids (16-11) scored first. Rainis Silva lined a two-out double to left that drove in Jorge Fernandez from first base in the top of the second inning and the Kernels were up 1-0.

 

In the fourth inning, Cedar Rapids had runners at the corners with one out against Wisconsin starting pitcher Victor Diaz. The right-hander got TJ White to send a grounder to third. The Rattlers got the force and second, but the throw was ruled to have pulled first baseman David Denson off the bag, White was ruled safe, and the run scored for a 2-0 lead.

 

Frustration boiled over for Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson moments later when White was ruled safe again on a close play at second on a stolen base. Erickson was ejected by base umpire Brock Ballou after a brief, but intense objection.

 

Denson tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Monte Harrison started the inning with a single for Wisconsin (8-19). One out later, Mitch Meyer extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single. The duo pulled a double steal with two outs to get into scoring position. Then, Denson snuck a single into right field to drive in both runners to tie the game 2-2.

 

Diaz had 70 pitches through five innings as he went back out for the top of the sixth. Nick Gordon was the leadoff batter for the Kernels in the inning and he fouled off five two-strike pitches in an ten-pitch at bat before reaching on an error. Trey Vavra was next and he worked the count full while fouling off three two-strike pitches before reaching on a single after a nine-pitch at bat. Those two battles pushed the pitch count for Diaz to 89 and he was done for the night.

 

Reliever Gian Rizzo was welcomed to the game by Murphy swinging at the first pitch he saw. The ball went to left for a single. Meyer overran the ball and both Gordon and Vavra scored. Murphy wound up at third base. He scored on an RBI grounder by White and the Kernels were up 5-2.

 

Cedar Rapids added to their lead in the seventh inning. They loaded the bases with one out on a double by English, a walk to Gordon, and a single by Vavra. Murphy singled to center to score English and Gordon. Brandon Diaz's throw to the plate was wild and wound up out of play to allow Vavra to score and Murphy to take third base again.

 

Wisconsin went out quietly after the fifth inning. Their only base runner after Denson tied the game was a one out double by Tucker Neuhaus in the sixth inning. Neuhaus pushed his hitting streak to seven games. But, the final eleven Rattlers were retired in order.

 

John Curtiss picked up the win for Cedar Rapids as he allowed two runs on six hits with eight strikeouts over six innings.

 

The Kernels are 6-0 against Wisconsin this season. Wisconsin is 5-13 at home in 2015.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin a brief three-game series at in Davenport, Iowa against the Quad Cities River Bandits on Friday night. The River Bandits have the best record in the Midwest League at 21-6 and have won eight straight games heading into the series.

 

Cy Sneed (1-2, 1.25) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Chris Lee (1-2, 4.79) is set t0 start for the River Bandits. Game time is 7:00pm.

 

Listen to the radio broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:40pm. The broadcast may also be heard on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio. Subscribers may watch the game on MiLB.tv.

 

WP: John Curtiss (2-2)

LP: Victor Diaz (0-2)

 

TIME: 2:38

ATTN: 2,235

 

Postgame Post – May 6, 2015

Brandon Diaz on the pre-game, no post game interviews, and the highlights.

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Hmm good news? Not much other than a tidbit I forgot to mention yesterday, Jake Gatewood is with the team, he was in the dugout during yesterday's game, so he wasn't sent to AZ to rehab, hopefully that means he'll be back quickly.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[Mass Haas]

Final: Biloxi 8, Mississippi 7

 

Rivera's franchise best four-hit night paces Shuckers on historic night

Shuckers beat M-Braves in first meeting between inter-state rivals

Biloxi Shuckers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/8/4/8/122872848/cuts/DSC07404_vp45ahdg_vuajdw3c.JPG

 

Yadiel Rivera notched the first four-hit performance in franchise history on Wednesday night (Photo by John Shadrick)

 

PEARL, MS - Wednesday night in Pearl provided lots of firsts for the Biloxi Shuckers franchise. The club opened their inaugural series with the Mississippi Braves on Wednesday night with a wild 8-7 victory at Trustmark Park. The Shuckers served as the home team and won their third straight, moving to a game up on the Mobile BayBears in first place in the Southern League South Division. The contest between the two teams was the first between two professional affiliated teams in the state of Mississippi since 1955. The last time teams met from the two areas was 1908, when the Gulfport-Biloxi Sand Crabs of the Cotton States League met the Jackson Senators.

 

The game produced several franchise marks including the 15 runs combined, 31 hits (16 by Biloxi) and four hits on the night by Yadiel Rivera. The game also included five errors combined and 22 runners left on base.

 

Brooks Hall (W, 4-0, 6 IP, 3 R - 2 ER - 8 H, 2 BB, 5 SO) made his first start since being named the Milwaukee Brewers' Pitcher of the Month for April and struggled early on, allowing two runs in the second inning, but ended up with his fourth straight quality start and fourth win, matching teammate Tyler Wagner for the league lead in wins. But, on Wednesday Biloxi started in a 2-0 hole.

 

Biloxi (17-9) got one back in the bottom-half of the inning as Tyrone Taylor (2x5, 2 RBI, R) reached base safely on an error by Daniel Castro at short. Kyle Wren (1x4, R, BB) walked with two outs to put a runner in scoring position, setting up Yadiel Rivera's (4x5, 2 RBI, R, 2 2B) RBI single.

 

The second baseman's four-hit performance is the first such occurrence in the young history of the Biloxi Shuckers.

 

The Shuckers took the lead in the third with a two-out rally when Michael Reed (3x4, 2 R, 2B, BB, SB) singled, advanced to second on a single by Nathan Orf, (1x4, R, BB) and scored on a single by Taylor to right field that was mishandled by KD Kang, allowing Orf to score as well and make the score 3-2 Biloxi.

 

A three-run fourth allowed Biloxi to pad onto its lead. Wren singled with one out and advanced to third on a double by Rivera. Orlando Arcia (2x5, 2 RBI, R) singled both men home to give the Shuckers a 5-2 advantage. Nick Ramirez (2x5, RBI, 2B) added an RBI double of his own to plate Arcia and give Biloxi a four-run cushion. Arcia extended his current hitting streak to seven games and Ramirez' RBI was his 19th, placing him in first place in the Southern League in that department.

 

The two teams would exchange runs in the fifth, with the Shuckers adding another run in the sixth off of a RBI single by Taylor to bring in Reed.

 

Mississippi (11-13) would not go down quietly, putting up two runs in both the seventh and eighth off of relievers Austin Ross (IP, 2 R, 3 H, SO) and Mike Strong (0.2 IP, 2 R, 3 H) before the Shuckers called upon Damien Magnifico (SV, 2, 1.1 IP, H, SO) to preserve the win, albeit in dramatic fashion.

 

Magnifico got Kang to fly out to start the ninth, but an error on Arcia allowed Corban Joseph gave the Braves a one-out base runner. Matt Lipka flew out to right, but Steve Rodriguez singled to move the tying run into scoring position for Seth Loman. The pinch hitter would go down on strikes to end the game.

 

Mississippi starter and Atlanta Braves' 2014 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Jason Hursh (L, 0-2) could not make it out of the fourth, lasting just 3.2 innings and allowing six runs - four earned - on 10 hits, three walks and a strike out.

 

Biloxi will look to go ahead 2-0 in the five-game series when they send out RHP Tyler Wagner (4-0, 1.86) against Mississippi's RHP Tyrell Jenkins (1-2, 5.04). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM, with coverage beginning at 6:45 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.

 

AUDIO Via Shuck Dynasty Blog -- Game Highlights

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

Shuckers picked a good night to be up 8-2 after six, as RHP Austin Ross and LHP Mike Strong faced rare struggles; Yadiel Rivera has only walked five times in 88 AB's, but how can we quibble after such a tremendous month? RF Michael Reed doubled, singled twice, and walked, now hitting .316; Tyrone Taylor with a nice night, let's remember this is just his age 21 season, and it's likely his AA experience will likely be a two-year process -- batting in that 7th spot for now seems right...

 

Biloxi Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Memphis 6, Colorado Springs 5

 

Sky Sox Fall In 6-5 Heartbreaker To Redbirds

Dan Johnson's Walk-Off HR Downs Sox in Dramatic Contest

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

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Taylor Jungmann tossed six scoreless innings while striking out an impressive six batters in relief. (File photo from prior game by Paat Kelly)

 

The Sky Sox fought valiantly in their 6-5 loss to the Memphis Redbirds before a crowd of 2.110 at AutoZone Park on Wednesday night.

 

Making his second appearance for Colorado Springs in his rehab stint en route to Milwaukee, reliever Jim Henderson would get the start for the Sox. Henderson would allow three runs over 1.1 innings on two hits and five walks before handing the ball over to side-slinging Tim Dillard who would work out of the second to avoid further trouble.

 

The Colorado Springs offense would pull within a run in the fifth after plating two off of Memphis starter John Gast on an RBI double by Matt Long and RBI single off the bat of Matt Clark.

 

The Sox originally scheduled starter, Taylor Jungmann would toss six extremely effective innings in relief of Henderson and Dillard. The opening night starter wouldn't give up a run on three hits and three walks while striking out six, five of which were swinging, in what may have been his best outing of the season.

 

Colorado Springs would tie it up in the seventh at the expense of Redbirds reliever Dean Kiekhefer when a Luis Sardinas two-out RBI double scored the speedy Long all the way from first.

 

Jungmann and Memphis right-hander kept the game knotted at three heading into the ninth inning. Then, with Sam Tuivailala (1-0, 1.80) on the mound for Memphis, the Sky Sox offense would break through for the team's first lead of the ballgame with two runs thanks to the spark of leadoff man Matt Long. Long would help manufacture a run after his one-out walk and stolen base got him to scoring position for two-hole hitter Pete Orr, whose following double to deep left field scored Long for the lead run with ease. Orr would eventually score on a Matt Clark single, giving Clark two RBIs on the game and his team a 5-3 lead.

 

Sox closer Corey Knebel (1-2, 6.35) would come on in the ninth in hopes of locking down the save for a second-straight night. Knebel would not be able to secure the potential comeback victory on a tough night. After two consecutive singles opened the inning for the Redbirds, Knebel struck out Stephen Piscotty for the first out of the inning. Things would look good for the right-hander as he worked a 2-2 count to veteran infielder Dan Johnson in the very next at-bat. The next pitch would change all of that however as Johnson deposited it in the right field seats to give Memphis a 6-5 walk-off victory on the three-run long ball.

 

Tyler Thornburg (0-0, 2.70) leads the way against Redbirds righty Zach Petrick (0-3, 6.85) in the series-finale as the Sox look to earn a series-split before hitting the road again. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM MDT at AutoZone Park in Memphis.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

"may have been his best outing of the season" -- may have been? Kudos, Taylor Jungmann. We know that Corey Knebel can be more than a Wooten/Kintzler big league contributor, the stuff is on such a different level, so we hope he bounces back quickly after a few rough outings in the past week+. Luis Sardinas played second base in this one, offsetting the impressive duo of Donnie Murphy at SS and Pete Orr at third. Sardinas is slugging .400 over 26 games, so batting him 3rd suits this team, although there are so many moving parts within this squad, we're left confused more often than not, anyway. The Matt's (Long & Clark) continue to rock our Link Report world, even in eventual losing efforts...

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

[WV Brew]

Clearwater Tops Brevard County, Avoids Sweep

Threshers Defeat Manatees 7-3 in Series Finale

By Dave Walkovic / Brevard County Manatees

05/06/2015 9:14 PM ET

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/7/0/119206470/cuts/IMG_2726_6dg3g2ya_p5fk4k4r.JPG

 

(Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

Clearwater, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers (13-14) won the final game of the series against the Brevard County Manatees (12-14) by a score of 7-3 on Wednesday afternoon at Bright House Field.

 

Clearwater opened the scoring in the third inning against Brevard starter Jorge Ortega (3-2, 3.00 ERA). Chris Harris singled to left to start the frame. After a balk, J.P. Crawford hit a two-run home run to right field. Two batters later, Andrew Knapp doubled to left. Dylan Cozens then reached on a throwing error by first baseman Garrett Cooper. The error allowed Knapp to score and made it 3-0 Threshers.

 

Ortega was hit with the loss. He allowed four runs - three earned - on seven hits. He walked one and struck out one.

 

The Threshers added to the lead in the fifth. With one out, Crawford walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Andrew Pullin then singled up the middle to plate Crawford and give Clearwater a four-run advantage.

 

The Manatees cut into the deficit in the top of the sixth inning. Omar Garcia reached on an infield single to lead things off. Chris McFarland singled as well on a liner to center. Two batters later, Clint Coulter stepped into the box and launched a three-run homer to the opposite field. It was Coulter's seventh home run of the season and gave him 22 RBI. The homer made it 4-3, Clearwater.

 

Clearwater would put the game away in the eighth against Tyler Spurlin. With one out, Drew Stankiewicz singled to right. Spurlin threw a pickoff attempt away and hit Devin Lohman to put runners on first and second. Two batters later, Harris walked and the bases were loaded. Spurlin then hit Crawford, walked Pullin and walked Knapp to give the Threshers a 7-3 advantage.

 

Clint Terry threw two scoreless innings of relief. He allowed two hits and fanned two.

 

Spurlin surrendered three runs in 0.2 innings and Tristan Archer recorded the final out of the eighth.

 

Clearwater starter David Whitehead (2-3, 3.28 ERA) earned the win after he allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out seven.

 

The Manatees return home tomorrow to kickoff a three-game series with the Tampa Yankees. First pitch at Space Coast Stadium is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Hiram Burgos (1-3, 3.81 ERA) will start for Brevard County. The Yankees will send Chaz Hebert to the hill.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: WLOX Biloxi Game Highlights

 

***

 

VIDEO: WJTV Biloxi Game Highlights (and ownership interview)

[Mass Haas]

The Shuckers' Chris Harris posted some Biloxi tidbits this AM on his Twitter timeline.