Link Report for Saturday 5/9

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Josh Roenicke at Iowa (Cubs), 6:38 PM pre-game, 7:08 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: LHP Hobbs Johnson at "home" in Pearl, Mississippi vs. the M-Braves, 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:00 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 Brandon Woodruff at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 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 home games and the "commuter" road games are scheduled to be broadcast in 2015.

 

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

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Milton Gomez at Quad Cities (Astros), 5:40 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link - WNAM

 

NOTE: This road series is available online for MiLB.TV subscribers.

 

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 (scroll to bottom of link) 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 Saturday'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

 

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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

 

***

 

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Des Moines, IA

 

Pearl, MS

 

Viera, FL

 

Davenport, IA

[Mass Haas]

JERSEY AUCTION: Sea Cows as Space Explorers! Manatees on the Moon! Check it out!

 

Clint Coulter and Victor Roache popular, you've got until 11:00 PM Central Saturday night, it appears.

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's farmhand birthday:

 

Dominican Summer League catcher Dilson Fernandez turns 21 today.

 

He'd probably have had a better chance at the plate than Martin Maldonado did Friday night...

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Parker Berberet knocks in two runs in Biloxi's 4-2 loss to Mississippi

 

Now normally posting a highlight is a plus for a player, but in this case, we're with the Braves' announcer -- how did Berberet not get a double?

 

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AUDIO: Friday's pregame visit with pitching coach Chris Hook on Tyler Wagner and the nice start by the Biloxi staff (scroll down at link)

 

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AUDIO, Game Highlights: The Space Explorers (Manatees) clinch a series win with a 5-4 victory over the Yankees.

 

***

 

VIDEO: Brandon Diaz goes yard in Wisconsin's 11-6 loss to Quad Cities, his 2nd HR in as many games

[Mass Haas]

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 (scroll to bottom of link) so you can coordinate your DVR activity.

 

Chris Mehring provided us with an updated link that now points to the new schedule (as of today). MyNew32 TV in particular made multiple changes from the original provided.

 

Next up are three consecutive broadcasts starting this Thursday, and we'll provide DVR alerts as those dates approach.

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County catcher Cameron Garfield is not on the DL, but must be dinged up -- last played on the 3rd, and is not in tonight's starting lineup.

[Mass Haas]

Nick Delmonico's suspension ended eight games into '15, yet he remains on the White Sox restricted list. Must be even more to the backstory there. No new news online since his February signing...

 

***

 

Yikes, wish things were going better for him, but Hunter Morris has a .338 (!) OPS through 63 AB's w/Indy (PIT AAA).

 

***

 

Caleb Gindl's spring hasn't been much better than Morris' (.506 OPS in 81 AB's; Blue Jays AAA).

 

***

 

Considering the Reds' porous bullpen, hoping Donovan Hand gets a crack in '15; he's been excellent early on in AAA, all but one appearance in relief.

[Mass Haas]

Including this Brevard report from Friday night with multiple quotes --

 

Space Explorers come from behind to beat Tampa

Donald Rieber Jr., Examiner.com

 

http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/17/ad/17ad617389cf2d5cfa1cce3790c9700c.jpg?itok=9aCNzqEV

 

Garrett Cooper's game-tying double highlighted the Space Explorers three-run sixth inning on Friday. They won the game 5-4. Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography

 

The Brevard County Space Explorers won their second consecutive game Friday night over the Tampa Yankees, in front of 2,085 fans at Space Coast Stadium. Garrett Cooper’s two-run double highlighted a three-run sixth inning and carried the home team to a 5-4 victory.

 

Tampa didn’t take long to get to Brevard County starter Wei-Chung Wang, scoring in the top of the first. With one out, Tyler Wade singled and stole second. One out later, Mike Ford stroked a single to center, putting the Yankees up 1-0.

 

The Space Explorers (14-14) had a very quick answer in the bottom of the inning against Tampa starter Jonathan Holder. Leadoff man Chris McFarland singled and Taylor Brennan followed with a double, putting runners at second and third. Clint Coulter flew out to centerfielder Michael O’Neill, deep enough to score McFarland and tie the game. Victor Roache made it 2-1 with a double to right field. Holder got himself out of further trouble, retiring the next two hitters.

 

The Yankees (15-14) regained the lead in the top of the third. Renzo Martini doubled and came home when Abiatal Avelino laid down a bunt that Wang fielded, but threw wildly to Cooper, hitting Avelino with the throw and allowing Martini to score from second and tie the game. After a balk got Avelino to second, Wade drove him in with a single to left, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

 

Tampa would make it a 4-2 game on a solo home run by Ericson Leonora in the top of the fourth. Wang would get through five innings, but he would leave with a no-decision. He gave up five hits, three earned runs, walked three and struck out two.

 

“Some of his pitch selection was questionable,” said Space Explorers manager Joe Ayrault. “He fell behind with some breaking stuff where he could’ve stayed more aggressive with his fastball. He’ll make the adjustments.”

 

Tristan Archer came on in the sixth inning in relief of Wang. He worked a solid inning, allowing one hit and Brevard County’s offense came through in the bottom of the inning to get Wang off the hook. Brennan and Coulter hit back-to-back singles and after a Roache strikeout, Cooper smoked a ball to left that touched down for a two-run double and tied the game at four.

 

“He fouled off numerous pitches,” said Ayrault of Cooper’s at bat. “To see him battle deep in the count and come through with a big knock, was huge for us.”

 

“I fought off about six or seven pitches,” said Cooper. “They were trying to work away and up with two strikes and then he threw a fastball in and I got barrel in. The outfielders were shaded a little to the right, so they left a gap in left center. Who knows if they were playing normal depth, but I found the gap and it got us the tie game.”

 

Cooper’s double meant the end of the night for Holder. He was replaced on the mound by Angel Rincon, who promptly gave up a single to Jose Pena, giving Brevard County a 5-4 lead. It is the second night in a row that Pena came through with a big hit. Thursday night, he hit a solo home run to start a seven run third inning, that propelled Brevard County to an 8-4 win.

 

Archer (1-0) came back for the seventh inning on Friday and completed his second inning of scoreless relief before handing things off to Trevor Seidenberger in the eighth. Seidenberger got some help on defense immediately to start that eighth.

 

Mike Ford led things off for the Yankees and laced a ball that was ticketed for the gap in right center. Omar Garcia took off on a dead run from his spot in center, dove and made an unbelievable catch. He was closer to right field when he made the dive.

 

“That was a heck of a catch,” Ayrault said. “He’s made some highlight-reel catches in the past for us and that was a huge play in the game for us. It was a sure double and he chased it down into the gap, right on the (warning) track too. It was good to see him be aggressive and do an all-out dive to make that play.”

 

The top of the Space Explorers lineup had a big night Friday. McFarland went 2-for-4, Brennan was 3-for-4 and scored twice. Coulter went 1-for-3 with an RBI, Roache went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Cooper had the game-tying double, which extended his hit streak to six games.

 

Seidenberger finished things up in the ninth and earned his first save of the season and earning his team their second win in their special Space Explorers jerseys. They will wear them one more time, on Saturday, when they finish up their series against these Tampa Yankees.

[Mass Haas]

Not Brewer-related, but if you didn't see the injury A's Jarrod Parker suffered in Nashville Friday on Tommy John rehab, brace yourself, pretty horrific.

 

Still awaiting word on his status...

[WV Brew]

Tampa 6, Brevard County 2

 

The Manatees were looking for their first sweep of the season and going above .500. They took a 2-1 lead into the 9th despite only having 2 singles and 3 walks to show for offense. Kaleb Earls has had a good start to the season and he was brought in for the save. However, after giving up a soft single and double, he gave up a 3 run home run to Miguel Andujar. The Yankees added 2 more runs for more than enough to take the game. Brandon Woodruff has really struggled to make it through 5 innings and today was no exception. He gave up 4 hits and 5 walks in only 4 2/3 innings but only one run.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

I will add the game story in a separate post later.

[TheCrew07]

Bandits get big hits to beat Rattlers

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

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David Denson had a pair of doubles and scored two runs for the Timber Rattlers on Saturday night at Quad Cities. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica)

 

DAVENPORT, IA - Jacob Nottingham delivered two crushing two-out hits for the Quad Cities River Bandits on Saturday night at Modern Woodmen Park. Those hits led to a 6-3 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and kept both teams streaking in opposite directions.

 

David Denson started Wisconsin's rally in the top of the second with a two-out double off the wall in center. Elvis Rubio was next and he lined a double to the gap in left-center to drive in Denson for a 1-0 lead.

 

Quad Cities (24-6) responded in the bottom of the third inning. Nottingham stepped up with runners at the corners and two outs against Wisconsin starter Milton Gomez. Nottingham cracked the first pitch of the at bat over the wall in right-center for a three-run homer and a 3-1 lead.

 

Austin Chrismon went five innings, walked one, and struck out five as the starting pitcher for the River Bandits.

 

Rubio kept the Timber Rattlers within striking distance in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sean McMullen singled to right with two outs and Nick Tanielu tried to score from second base on the play. Rubio threw a one-hop strike to the plate and Tanielu was out by ten feet. The outfield assist was the fifth of the season for Rubio.

 

Wisconsin (8-22) rallied against the Quad Cities bullpen in the seventh inning. Denson started the inning with his second double of the game. Rubio got Denson to third with a grounder to the right side of the infield. Denson was still at third when Mitch Meyer struck out for the apparent third out of the frame, but the ball was wild and made it to the backstop. This allowed Meyer to take first and Denson to score and the score was 3-2.

 

But, the Bandits went to the bunt in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Luis Ortega. Jason Martin bunted for a hit. Kristian Trompiz dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Martin to second. Bobby Boyd bunted for a hit to put runners at the corners. Then, Mott Hyde bunted up the first baseline on a safety squeeze. Ortega looked home, but didn't have a play, then double-clutched on his throw to first. That allowed Hyde to reach on a single. Ortega got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, but Nottingham tripled to right-center to knock in both Boyd and Hyde and the River Bandits were up 6-2.

 

Gregory Munoz doubled with one out in the ninth and went to third on a grounder. Francisco Castillo legged out a two-out infield single to let Munoz score and the Rattlers were within 6-3. But, that was as close as they would get as Ryan Thompson got a strikeout to end the game.

 

The loss was the ninth straight for the Timber Rattlers. Quad Cities has won eleven in a row. The River Bandits have won six times in six games against the Timber Rattlers this season.

 

Wisconsin will be off on Sunday. They return to action on Monday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium at the start of a seven-game homestand.

 

Wisconsin will host the Clinton LumberKings on Monday night Angel Ventura (1-0, 0.90) as the scheduled starting pitchers. The LumberKings have not named a starter yet. Game time is 6:35pm.

 

Monday is a Qdoba Q*Monday at the ballpark. Purchase a lunch entrée at any Qdoba location in Appleton, Neenah, or Oshkosh on Monday and receive a ticket to any Monday home game during the 2015 season courtesy of the Timber Rattlers, Qdoba, and NASH-FM, 99.5 & 104.9.

 

If you can't make it out to the game, catch the radio broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. The broadcast may also be heard on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio. Subscribers may watch the game on MiLB.tv.

 

HOME RUN:

QC:

Jacob Nottingham (4th, 2 on in 3rd inning off Milton Gomez, 2 out)

 

WP: Austin Chrismon (4-1)

LP: Milton Gomez (1-2)

 

TIME: 2:31

ATTN: 4,229

 

Postgame Post – May 9, 2015

Pregame Interview with Matt Erickson

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

 

Wisconsin Recap

[WV Brew]

Yankees Avoid Sweep With Five-Run Ninth

 

Brevard County Held to Just Two Hits in 6-2 Loss

 

 

Viera, Fla. – The Tampa Yankees (16-14) exploded for five runs in the top of ninth inning against the Brevard County Space Explorers (14-15) en route to a 6-2 win on Saturday Night at Space Coast Stadium.

 

With the Space Explorers leading 2-1, Kaleb Earls (0-1, 4.91 ERA) was summoned from the bullpen to try to close the game out. Abiatal Avelino started the frame with a single to left field. After showing bunt, Tyler Wade then blooped a double down the left field line to move Avelino over to third. Miguel Andujar, the number three hitter, made his way to the plate. On a 3-0 pitch, Andujar crushed a three-run home run onto the left field berm deck and gave the Yankees their first lead of the night, 4-2. Tampa was not done, however. Two batters later, Danny Oh doubled into the right-center field gap. After a Michael O’Neill strike out, Ericson Leonora was hit by a pitch. The night was over for Earls as Scott Lieser came on in relief. His first pitch was wild and to the backstop. Oh scored from third to extend the Tampa lead to three. O’Neill took second on the wild pitch. Wes Wilson completed the scoring with an RBI single to right field that plated O’Neill. When the inning was over, the Yankees had scored five runs on four hits and turned a one run deficit into a four run advantage.

 

Earls was hit with the blown save and the loss. He surrendered five runs on four hits in 0.2 innings.

 

The Space Explorers were limited to just two hits on the night, but never trailed until the ninth inning. Brevard County originally opened the scoring in the third. Angel Ortega drew a leadoff walk. With one out, Chris McFarland singled to right to put runners on the corners. Taylor Brennan then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Ortega. It was Brennan’s 12th RBI of the year.

 

The Yankees would tie the game in the top of the fourth on an RBI double by Michael O’Neill, but the Space Explorers immediately answered in the bottom of the frame. With

one out, Garrett Cooper walked. Rafael Neda stepped up and singled through the hole on the left side to move Cooper up to second. The next batter, Jose Pena, lifted a high fly ball into left field that was dropped by Leonora. It appeared Leonora had trouble locating the ball and each runner moved up 90 feet to load the bases with one out. Ortega bounced a grounder to third, but beat the throw on the attempted around-the-horn double play. Cooper scored on the fielder’s choice to give Brevard County the 2-1 lead.

 

Brevard County starter Brandon Woodruff battled the entire night, but ended up with a no-decision. He tossed just 4.2 innings, thanks in largely to a 5th inning 16-pitch at-bat from Wade, which resulted in one of Woodruff’s three strikeouts. Woodruff allowed one run on four hits and walked five.

 

Preston Gainey pitched two scoreless relief innings. He allowed three hits and fanned two. Gainey has not allowed a run in his first eight appearances and 13.2 innings of the season.

 

Conor Mullee (1-1, 2.13 ERA) was credited with the win. He pitched a perfect 1.2 innings with two strikeouts.

 

The loss marked the first time in 2015 that Brevard County lost a game when leading after eight innings. They were 11-0 entering Saturday. Despite the loss, the Space Explorers still recorded the series win, taking two of three games from the Yankees.

 

 

Tomorrow is a league-wide off day for Mother’s Day. The Manatees return to action on Monday night when they will host the Bradenton Marauders at Space Coast Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. RHP Javi Salas (3-2, 3.00 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday’s game. He will be opposed by LHP Cody Dickson (2-3, 2.97 ERA).

[Mass Haas]

Final: Colorado Springs 3, Iowa 1

 

Sky Sox Take Advantage Of Sloppy I-Cubs In 3-1 Win

Josh Roenicke Leads the Way In Strong 5.1 Inning Performance

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

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Shane Peterson drove in the game's first run with a two-out RBI single to score Matt Clark in the second. (File Photo from prior game by Paat Kelly)

 

The Sky Sox rebounded nicely on Saturday night with a 3-1 win over the Iowa Cubs in front of 7,614 fans at Principal Park.

 

Sox starter Josh Roenicke (2-0, 0.96) would impress in his first start of the season, tossing 5.1 innings of one-run ball on four hits and two walks while striking out six I-Cubs batters.

 

The Colorado Springs offense would fare a bit better against Iowa starter Eric Jokisch (1-1, 3.38), scoring three total runs (one earned) off of the left-hander on five hits over his six innings of work.

 

The Sox first run came in the top of the second after Matt Clark's leadoff double would eventually come around to score on a Shane Peterson two-out single to right-centerfield.

 

The score would remain 1-0 until the top half of the sixth, when the Sky Sox would add a little insurance thanks to some sloppy I-Cubs defense. New Sox outfielder Logan Schafer lead off the frame with a bunt single down the third base line and would advance to third on a Jokisch throwing error after Pete Orr's attempted sacrifice bunt. With runners on second and third, with an out yet to be recorded in the inning, Luis Sardinas would smack a ball to shortstop Javy Baez who would not be able to corral the ball, allowing Schafer to score on the error and increase the lead to 2-0. Nevin Ashley would cap the Sox scoring later in the inning with an RBI single to drive home Orr and give his team a 3-0 lead going into the home sixth. In all, the I-Cubs' two errors in the inning made each of the runs scored unearned.

 

Iowa would get on the board with a run in the sixth. Roenicke would allow a leadoff double to outfielder Adron Chambers before striking out Baez to end his evening. Left-hander Jed Bradley came on in relief of Roenicke with Chambers on second and one out. Bradley would walk his first batter, Rafael Lopez, before getting Junior Lake to fly out and leaving just Mike Baxter in the way of escaping the inning without any damage. Baxter wouldn't allow that to happen however, stroking a base-hit to right field to score Chambers and cut the I-Cubs deficit to two.

 

Bradley would work out of the inning with the 3-1 score intact. The Colorado Springs bullpen would perform strongly as a unit as Michael Kirkman and David Goforth combined for two scoreless innings before turning the ball over to closer Corey Knebel in the bottom of the ninth.

 

Knebel would retire the I-Cubs side to nail down the 3-1 victory, improving the Sky Sox record to 10-19.

 

Tyler Cravy (2-3, 4.18) will look to build on his last outing as he strives to keep the Sky Sox on the winning track against Iowa right-hander Carlos Pimentel (1-2, 5.40) and the Cubs on Sunday afternoon at Principal Park. First pitch is scheduled for 12:08 PM MDT (1:08 Central).

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Chris Nelson debuted with a pinch-hit groundout in the 9th; veteran Bryan Petersen (.210) has been relegated to bench duty as of late...

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

Knebel's save --

 

Iowa Bottom of the 9th

 

Pitching Change: Corey Knebel replaces David Goforth, batting 7th, replacing Chris Nelson.

Jonathan Mota lines out to third baseman Donnie Murphy.

Arismendy Alcantara grounds out, second baseman Pete Orr to first baseman Matt Clark.

Adron Chambers walks.

Javier Baez lines out to left fielder Bryan Petersen.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Mississippi 5, Biloxi 2, ten innings

 

Bullpen collapses late as Braves beat Shuckers 5-2 in 10 innings

Shuckers rallied to tie the game at two, but drop to 0-3 in extras

Biloxi Shuckers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/5/6/0/123465560/cuts/DSC_0292_tmdg9wq3_atyvj4xl.JPG

 

Nick Shaw lays down a bunt single that put Biloxi on the board in the bottom of the fifth (Photo by Elisabetta Zengarro)

 

PEARL, MS -The Shuckers fell for the third time in extra innings, this time in a 5-2, 10-inning contest, at the hands of the Mississippi Braves at Trustmark Park on Saturday night. The top of the 10th included two hits, two walks, an error and a hit batsman as the Braves scored three runs, dropping Biloxi to 0-3 in extra-inning games. The loss also meant back-to-back series defeats for the first time and the Shuckers are now 3-3 in six series' all away from Biloxi. Because Mobile also lost, the Shuckers remain tied atop the Southern League South Division with the M-Braves pursuing, just two games back.

 

For the fourth time in as many games, the Braves struck first with a run in the first on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Ahrens to bring in Mallex Smith. Mississippi would add on another tally in the third on an RBI groundout off the bat of Emerson Landoni to put the Shuckers in a 2-0 hole.

 

Biloxi starter Hobbs Johnson allowed eight base runners in his five innings of work in a no decision, allowing two runs, one earned on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

 

Biloxi (17-12) scratched its way back with a two out rally in the fifth after a double by Tyrone Taylor (1x4, RBI, R). The Shuckers' outfielder advanced to third on a wild pitch to Adam Weisenburger (0x3, B), who walked to put runners on the corners for pinch hitter Nick Shaw (1x1, RBI). The 26-year-old put down a bunt single to bring in Taylor and move Weisenburger up to second. Nathan Orf (1x4) singled to load the bases, but Yadiel Rivera (2x5) struck out swinging to end the threat.

 

Reliever Austin Ross continued to dominate Southern League hitting, striking out five of the six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings. In 17.2 innings this season, Ross has 28 strikeouts and just two walks. Reliever Mike Strong preluded that performance by Ross by tossing a perfect sixth and seventh.

 

The Shuckers squandered chances in the sixth and seventh before punching through again in the eighth to tie the game at two. Nick Ramirez (1x4, R, BB) and Michael Reed (1x5) led off the frame with back-to-back singles and advanced 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Taylor Green (1x3). Green then grounded out to the shortstop, allowing Ramirez to cross the plate.

 

Mississippi (14-13) broke out in front in a three-run 10th off of three Biloxi relievers. Wirfin Obispo (L, 0-2, 0.1 IP, 3 R - 2 ER - BB, SO) gave up a leadoff single to Eric Garcia and walked KD Kang before striking out Smith, and gave up another single to Landoni to load the bases before being pulled.

 

Damien Magnifico (three batters, HP, BB) walked Ahrens and plunked Seth Loman to force in two runs. The hard-throwing righty induced a grounder to Ramirez at first off the bat of Andrew Robinson, but the ball was bobbled and Robinson beat Ramirez to the bag.

 

Jaye Chapman (0.2 IP) stopped the bleeding, inducing a double-play ball from Chris O'Dowd, but the damage had already been done against the Shuckers.

 

In total, the Shuckers committed a season-high three errors and stranded nine runners on base.

 

The Shuckers will try to stop their three-game losing streak on Sunday afternoon, with RHP Jorge Lopez (2-2, 3.52) taking on Mississippi's RHP Victor Mateo (0-1, 5.40) in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM, with coverage beginning at 12:45 on 1240-AM WGCM, 1580-AM WPMO 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.

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

LHP Hobbs Johnson still yet to pitch into the 6th inning after five starts despite a fine 2.39 ERA; LH reliever Mike Strong was overmatched in his first big league camp, but has been stellar with Biloxi; Yadiel Rivera now 7-for-12 in SB attempts, Kyle Wren 10-for-15...

 

Biloxi Game Log

 

Bummer of a 10th, kicked off by Wirfin Obispo, as noted above --

 

Inherited runners-scored: Magnifico 3-3, Chapman, J 3-0

 

There really needs to be a brain study of closers brought in during home games that are tied late.

[Mass Haas]

Two feature articles in our forums today, worth your while, posted in the respective team feature threads --

 

Struggles in minors don’t make former Husker recruit Monte Harrison pine for football

By Jon Nyatawa / Omaha World-Herald staff writer

 

Suggested audio at the link (author interviewed about his visit with Harrison)

 

***

 

Hall bringing the heat in Biloxi

By Scott Adamson, independentmail.com

 

Photos at link

[Mass Haas]

Via Chris Harris --

 

From tonight's 10th inning, a Shuckers reliever allowed an inherited run to score for the first time this season. Pretty incredible.

[Mass Haas]

Via Jason Arndt -- Much more on the Shuckers