Link Report for Thursday 6/4

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Josh Roenicke at home vs. Fresno (Astros), 7:35 PM pre-game, 8:05 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 Hiram Burgos at Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 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 Eric Marzec at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 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: LHP Luis Ortega at home vs. Lake County (Indians), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime; expect to see RHP Milton Gomez pitch in a tandem role

 

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 (scroll to bottom of link) 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.

 

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DSL Brewers: at the DSL Braves, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day

 

We'll link to this Dominican Summer League Brewers' thread as part of the Daily Menu all season to assist you with your familiarity with these young men.

[Mass Haas]

DVR ALERT!

 

The Timber Rattlers are in the midst of being on local TV five times in six days. Tonight's game is on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, 7:00 PM airtime.

 

Refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule (scroll to bottom of link) so you can coordinate your DVR activity.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

DSL Brewers

 

MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

[Mass Haas]

To see tweets as to when the Link Report has been technically "completed" with available links, as well as to know when the new day's Report has been posted, please follow @Mass_Haas on Twitter.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Colorado Springs Media Notes - Home games only, 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

 

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Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Colorado Springs, CO

 

Birmingham, AL

 

Viera, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI

 

San Pedro de Macoris, DR

[Mass Haas]

Tweet via @BrewersPD:

 

Brevard County RHP Jorge Ortega has been named Brewers Pitcher of the Month for May. 2-3 with a 1.54 ERA. 22 SO, 3 BB, 0.93 WHIP, .224 OPP BA

 

***

 

Tweet via @BrewersPD:

 

Biloxi OF Michael Reed has been named Brewers player of the month for May. .380/.463/.658 in May, 30 H, 15 R, 7 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 8x8 in SBs

 

Congrats to both!

[Mass Haas]

Latest from Jeff Levering's Minor Details Blog -- The “Cravy Train”; Player of the Month Awards

[Mass Haas]

As Biloxi's 55-game road adventure wraps up, one more feature article, via the American Sports Network, with a few more snippets and quotes.

[Mass Haas]

Via Ryan Kaufman at Miller Park Prospects -- Feature Profile on Sky Sox catcher Nevin Ashley, who has been hot all season...

 

This was also linked in our season-long Colorado Springs feature story archive thread...

 

Every pitcher in the Sky Sox rotation has a better ERA with Nevin Ashley catching them.

 

This is an excellent player profile article.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO (Episode 14): While the latest version of Jeff Levering's "Brewers on Tap" podcast doesn't have a specific minor league interview this week, Jeff does pass along a very good question (at the 19:50 minute mark) to Michael Blazek from a certain yours truly (thanks, Jeff and Michael)!

 

But actually, the whole podcast, as per usual, is worth your while.

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Farmhand Birthday --

 

Timber Rattler IF/OF Francisco Castillo turns 22.

[Mass Haas]

Another Manatees jerseys auction, all you collectible folks!

 

http://manatees.milbauctions.com/images/stores/87/500/Front_500.jpg

[TheCrew07]

Captains sink Rattlers 12-4

Bautista has four hits, including homer, for Lake County

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

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Dustin DeMuth had three hits and drove in a run for the Timber Rattlers on Thursday night against Lake County. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica)

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Lake County Captains defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 12-4 on Thursday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Claudio Bautista was a triple shy of the cycle as he collected four hits to lead Lake County's 16-hit attack.

 

Wisconsin starting pitcher Luis Ortega got the first two outs of the first inning, but allowed a double to Bautista and a walk to Bobby Bradley. Dorssys Paulino sent a grounder to right for a single and Bautista crossed home plate just before Bradley was tagged out trying to get back into second base.

 

The Captains (26-27) added to their lead in the top of the second inning. David Armendariz doubled with one out and Francisco Mejia followed with a home run to the Wisconsin bullpen for a 3-0 lead.

 

Lake County's defense gave the Rattlers (16-38) a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning. Carlos Leal, who was named to the Western Division's All-Star Team earlier in the day, started the inning with a single. Elvis Rubio was next and his slow roller to third turned into a run when the throw to first was wild and Leal raced around the bases with Rubio ending up on second. Dustin DeMuth bunted for a hit and put runners on the corners with no outs. Monte Harrison grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to score Rubio and the Rattlers were within a run.

 

The game remained 3-2 until the top of the fifth inning. Bautista was at the plate with runners at the corners and no outs. Ortega got Bautista to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to score the runner from third to make it 4-2.

 

Paulino singled to start the sixth inning. Taylor Murphy followed with a double to drive in Paulino. Ortega got the first out of the inning on a sacrifice bunt and was replaced by Gian Rizzo, who gave up a sacrifice fly to Mejia and the Captains were up 6-2.

 

The Rattlers responded in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Captains committed three errors in the frame. Sthervin Matos walked to start the inning and Leal singled to left-center. The throw to third was wild and that allowed Leal to break for second. The throw to get Leal was also wild and the second error on the play allowed Matos to score. Rubio was next and his popup on a bunt was jarred loose from Mejia's glove by starting pitcher Anderson Polanco. That play put runners at the corners. DeMuth, who had three hits in the game, reached on a fielder's choice that scored Leal to make it 6-4. Wisconsin loaded the bases with two outs in the inning, but could not cash in another run.

 

Bautista, who was named to the Eastern Division All-Star team today, hit a two-out solo home run off Milton Gomez in the top of the seventh inning to give the Captains a 7-4 lead.

 

Lake County tacked on five runs in the ninth inning as they sent ten men to the plate, collected five hits, and took advantage of two Wisconsin errors in the frame. Both teams have won a game in the three-game series.

 

Game three of the series is Friday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Joshua Torres (0-3, 4.60) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Lake County has named Justus Sheffield (4-1, 4.34) as their starting pitcher. Game time is 7:05pm.

 

The first 1,000 fans through the gates for this game will receive a Timber Rattlers baseball cap from North Shore Bank. It's also Faith Night presented by 91.9, The Family with a special postgame concert from Danen Kane. Children 14 and under may participate in Kids Run the Bases thanks to Molina Healthcare after the postgame Fireworks display on this North Shore Bank/Y100 Family Night.

 

If you can't make it out to the ballpark on Friday, there are several ways to catch the action. MyNEW 32's Sports Showdown will televise the game starting at 7:00pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45. The broadcast may also be heard on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio. Subscribers to MiLB.TV can see the game that way.

 

HOME RUNS:

LC:

Francisco Mejia (5th, 1 on in 2nd inning off Luis Ortega, 1 out)

Claudio Bautista (6th, 0 on in 7th inning off Milton Gomez, 2 out)

 

WP: Anderson Polanco (3-5)

LP: Luis Ortega (1-5)

 

TIME: 2:55

ATTN: 4,872

 

Postgame Post – June 4, 2015

Well if Wisconsinites know 1 thing, it's tacky... and we do it with gusto, the cow uniforms are right there with cheese heads... No pre-game interviews, lots of post game interviews including the 2 All-Stars, check out the defensive awesomeness from the T-Rats in this one via the highlights.

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Well this one was fun for a while as the T-Rats just kept battling back, but the pitchers consistently left the ball up all night and things got ugly towards the end. The defense in this game was fantastic, maybe the best game in the field the Rattlers played all season. Matos had a trio of plays that were exceptional and Rubio made a fantastic diving grab as well, check out the highlights to see them if you weren't able to watch the game.

 

The Rattlers even won an appeal at 3rd, the TV replay clearly showed the runner missing the bag which saved them a run, but stealing a run back there and then stealing another with the heads-up baserunning Chris described above in the 6th inning wasn't enough. I didn't agree with the official scoring, neither throw was that bad and neither fielder had the ball pop that far way, it was just very good base running all the way around.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[WV Brew]

Brevard County Bats Quiet in 5-1 Loss

Gabryszwski Tosses Six Shutout Innings

By Dave Walkovic / Brevard County Manatees

06/04/2015 11:26 PM ET

 

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Viera, Fla. - Jeremy Gabryszwski dominated on Thursday as the Dunedin Blue Jays (23-31) defeated the Brevard County Manatees (23-30) by a score of 5-1 at Space Coast Stadium.

 

Gabryszwski (3-3, 3.69 ERA) threw six shutout frames and allowed just two hits to earn the victory. He walked two and fanned four in a brilliant effort.

 

Dunedin opened the scoring in the top of the third. With two outs, J.D. Davis hit a ground-rule double over the left field wall. L.B. Dantzler then singled on a grounder through the right side. Clint Coulter's throw was late and the Blue Jays grabbed a 1-0 lead. Dantzler finished 4-for-4 with four singles on the night.

 

The Jays would tack on a pair in the fourth against Eric Marzec. With one out, Christian Lopes drew a walk. Ian Parmley then reached on a ball that was booted by Christopher McFarland. Lopes went to third on the play. Parmley stole second to put two runners in scoring position. With the infield back, Jorge Saez plated Lopes with a grounder to second. Parmley moved up to third on the play. Roemon Fields then drilled a comebacker that Marzec was able to knock down. But, Fields legged out an infield single to score Parmley and give Dunedin a 3-0 advantage.

 

The Blue Jays were able to add another in the fifth. Dantzler singled with one out and Matt Dean followed up with a double. Mitch Nay recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly to right field.

 

Marzec was removed after five innings. He surrendered four runs - two earned - on seven hits. He walked one and struck out four.

 

Brevard County was able to get on the board in the seventh. Garrett Cooper hit a sharp grounder that kicked off the first base bag and went down the right field line with no outs. Cooper recorded a double and extended his hitting streak to 13 games. Two batters later, Paul Eshleman stroked a double off of the fence in left-center field to score Cooper.

 

Dunedin scored a late insurance run in the ninth on another sac fly from Nay.

 

Stephen Peterson threw four solid innings of relief. He allowed just one run on three hits and four walks. He also struck out four batters.

 

Coulter went 2-for-3 with a double in the loss.

 

The Manatees wore tool belt themed jerseys for Habitat for Humanity Weekend, which concludes on Saturday. The jerseys are available for purchase via auction on manatees.milbauctions.com. The auction concludes on Saturday at 11:59 p.m.

 

Brevard County and Dunedin will play again on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. LHP Wei-Chung Wang (3-2, 6.16 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Manatees. The Blue Jays will send RHP Jeff Hoffman (1-1, 5.02 ERA) to the bump.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

With Jonathan Lucroy gone, Marzec went back to his old way of pitching. He took 95 pitches to get through 5 innings. Angel Ortega and Chris McFarland both made their 10th error of the season.

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Cooper extends hitting streak in loss to Dunedin

Michael Parsons, Florida Today

 

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Brevard County first baseman Garrett Cooper makes a play during a recent game. Cooper has a 13-game hitting streak heading into Friday's game with Dunedin. (Photo: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY)

 

VIERA – The hits just keep on coming for Brevard County Manatees first baseman Garrett Cooper.

 

On Thursday night the Manatees managed just five hits in a 5-1 loss to Dunedin, but Cooper extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a double to lead off the seventh inning.

 

The Auburn, Alabama native has become much more selective at the plate and it has led to the third-year pro raising his average to .287 and has hits in 19 of the past 20 games.

 

“I have been working with Ned (Yost, the hitting coach) on just picking my pitch to hit and not swinging at pitchers' pitches,” Cooper said. “I am seeing the ball well and hopefully that continues.”

 

It didn’t look like Dunedin was going to give him a chance to extend the streak as he walked in his first at-bat, then was hit by a pitch in his second at-bat.

 

It looked like he may walk again, but stroked an outside pitch down the first base line, hitting the base and ricocheting into right field for a double.

 

“They were working around me a little, pitching me outside so I just tried to get something I could hit,” Cooper said.

 

He would score the lone run of the game as teammate Paul Eshleman drove a ball 384 feet off the top of the wall in left-center field for an RBI double.

 

“We just spread out our five knocks,” Manatees manager Joe Ayrault said. “We hit some balls hard tonight but spreading out the five hits hurt us.”

 

Outfielder Clint Coulter finished with two of the five hits as he begins to snap out of a bit of a slump. Following an 0-for-22 spell, he now has eight hits in his last 23 at-bats, good for a .348 average in his last six games.

 

Cooper said the team has been much more selective at the plate since Jonathan Lucroy’s weekend with the team.

 

“He pulled us aside and had a few words about hitting and what he attacks and how you should look at pitches and what pitchers do to you specifically. Just going up there with a plan,” Cooper said. “We have done pretty well with that the past week and hopefully that continues.”

 

The Manatees will look to get the offense going tonight as the face Dunedin in Game 2 of the series. Wei-Chung Wang will take the mound for Brevard County as Habitat for Humanity weekend continues. The special jerseys are currently being auctioned on the Manatees web site www.manatees.milbauctions.com (as linked earlier in this thread).

[Mass Haas]

Catching Up: Via Manatees Examiner, linking to this game story from LHP Clint Terry's big effort Wednesday evening, which includes various quotes.

 

***

 

AUDIO: LHP Clint Terry joins the Manatees Radio Network for Thursday's Pregame Show

 

***

 

AUDIO, Game Highlights/Lowlights: Dunedin defeats Brevard County, 5-1

[Mass Haas]

FEATURE ARTICLE: A must-read from Tom Haudricourt, with plenty on LHP Kodi Medeiros, and the Helena plans for SS Jake Gatewood and OF Monte Harrison

 

This was also linked in our season-long Timber Rattlers feature thread...

[Mass Haas]

Midwest League Press Release -- All-Star Teams Announced

 

Congratulations to RHP Cy Sneed and catcher Carlos Leal!

[Mass Haas]

Sky Sox pitcher, longtime friend in opposite dugouts for first time

By Kristen Gowdy, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

Relief pitcher Rob Wooten remembers a small hotel room in Omaha, Nebraska, where he and his roommate, fellow University of North Carolina pitcher Alex White, alternated filling the bathtub with hot and cold water.

 

That was in 2008, when the teammates were trying to recover for the next day's College World Series game while trading pitching tips. When White, now a starter for the Fresno Grizzlies, takes the mound against the Sky Sox at Security Service Field Friday night, Wooten will be watching from the home team's bullpen.

 

Despite growing up just 50 minutes apart, the North Carolina natives' high school teams never met, and though both have spent their fair share of time at the professional level - Wooten since 2008 and White since 2010 - the former Tar Heels have never faced each other.

 

But that doesn't mean they haven't stayed in touch.

 

"We work out together in the offseason, always attending weddings together and family functions together," Wooten said.

 

"Anytime you play against guys that you grew up playing with, especially in college where we were all so close, that relationship is strong, it always is."

 

The connection runs deeper than just winter workouts back home.

 

When White had Tommy John surgery in 2013, he said he turned to Wooten, who had undergone the same procedure in 2010, for support.

 

"I think having guys like him, people that know and have gone through it, we communicate about it," White said.

 

While White will continue his quest to regain a spot in the majors Friday night - the former Rockies right-hander owns a 1-4 record and a 5.56 ERA in nine starts this season - Wooten will begin a recovery process of his own after landing on the DL on Thursday with bicep tendonitis. According to manager Rick Sweet, Wooten will be back on track in about a week.

 

Hectic schedules haven't stopped Wooten and White from crossing enemy lines for the sake of friendship. The two managed to meet before Thursday's game, and plan to grab lunch before White's start Friday.

 

For Wooten, the bond that grew from a collegiate friendship is the cornerstone of their mutual support.

 

"He wants nothing but the best for me and I want the same for him," Wooten said.

[Mass Haas]

Sky Sox notes: Team working in the sunshine

By Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

Rick Sweet loves the great outdoors

 

The Sky Sox manager has been on the field each day about six hours before first pitch, working through every imaginable drill with players looking to get the extra work they couldn’t get while the team has been cooped up in the clubhouse waiting out bad weather.

 

“What we’re trying to do right now is catch up because we’ve gotten so little work,” Sweet said. “We got off to a rough start, we’ve lost a lot of players, not gained a lot of players. We need to catch up, and part of that is getting work on the field.”

 

The Sky Sox entered Thursday 20-32, 14 games back in the PCL’s American North.

 

Sweet isn’t blaming the weather on the team’s woes, and he praised the indoor batting cages available to his players at Security Service Field. But he’s happy to see the change.

 

“There’s very few places in April and part of May where you aren’t going to run into some kind of weather problems,” he said. “It’s been fine, but we needed it to turn.”

 

Up front money vs. gambling

 

With Fresno’s Jon Singleton in town, the conversation with Sweet turned to money. Sweet has been around Triple-A clubhouses for nearly three decades – few know the pulse of this level quite like him – so he was asked about the reaction when Singleton signed a deal last year for a guaranteed $10 million before making his big league debut.

 

The deal limited what Singleton might have been able to earn in arbitration, but it was money in his pocket. It also signaled what might be a change in pay structure in the minors now that draft bonuses and the funds to sign international free agents are being tightly restricted.

 

“You talk to guys and they’ll be split,” Sweet said “Some would say he might have thrown away $50-$60 million. Other guys say, ‘Yep, he’s guaranteed 10.’ It’s all relative. It’s an individual thing – do you want to take a chance. Remember, he could blow out his shoulder, blow out his knee and be done and left $10 million on the table.”

 

CarGo retrospective

 

It was six years ago Thursday – June 4, 2009 – that Carlos Gonzalez was called up by the Rockies after spending two months in Colorado Springs.

 

At the time, CarGo had 59 RBIs.

 

The Pacific Coast League leader this year on June 4 was Singleton at 50.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Colorado Springs 7, Fresno 3

 

Sox Explode For 15 Hits In 7-3 Win Over Fresno

Colorado Springs' Offense Backs Up Roenicke's Strong Six-Inning Start In Victory

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

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Robinzon Diaz led the offensive charge for the Sox, collecting three hits and two RBI in Thursday night's 7-3 win. (Photo by Paat Kelly)

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sky Sox put their last two nights behind them as the offense came alive in a 7-3 win over the Fresno Grizzlies before a crowd of 6,401 on Thursday night at Security Service Field.

 

Each starter would toss two clean innings before the Sky Sox broke through for the game's first run in the bottom of the third. Matt Clark got the Sox started with a one-out double against Grizzlies starter and former big leaguer Dan Straily (4-4, 4.44) before Robinzon Diaz moved him to third on a slow rolling grounder down the third base line that stayed fair just long enough to bounce off the bag for a base hit. Matt Long would come to the plate with runners on the corners and one out. The outfielder continued to produce with an RBI sacrifice fly, bringing Clark home to give the Sox an early 1-0 lead.

 

Colorado Springs would head into the home fifth looking to break a 1-1 tie after Fresno got on the board in the top of the inning thanks to a Max Stassi solo shot to right-centerfield. The offense would break the tie in a big way, scoring five runs in the fifth to take a commanding 6-1 lead by inning's end.

 

The Sox sent 10 batters to the plate in that explosive fifth inning, with the first six batters reaching safely en route to three quick runs. In fact, Diaz, Long and Logan Schafer would record three consecutive doubles to ultimately chase Straily from the game with just one out in the inning. Diaz's double plated Yadiel Rivera and Clark to give the Sox a then 3-1 lead. Schafer's extended the lead to 4-1 just before Fresno reliever Richard Rodriguez took over on the mound.

 

Rodriguez quickly walked Chris Nelson before getting Pete Orr to fly out to right for the second out of the inning. After a double steal put Schafer and Nelson at third and second respectively, Juan Centeno would find himself in his best run-producing situation since his return to Colorado Springs. The catcher did not miss his opportunity, lining a base hit over the leaping try of Grizzlies second baseman Nolan Fontana to score both runners and extend the Sky Sox lead to 6-1.

 

Fresno worked its way out of further trouble and promptly tacked on another run in the top of the sixth. The run was unearned however as Nelson's missed catch on an L.J. Hoes two-out liner extended Fresno's turn at the plate. Right fielder Domingo Santana ripped a double down the left field line in the following at bat to cut the Grizzlies deficit to four. Sox starter Josh Roenicke (3-2, 4.35) settled down to retire Matt Dominguez on a groundout to short, ending his night with a 6-2 lead after six.

 

The right-hander would allow just two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out one over six impressive innings of work. Roenicke did not issue a single free pass, the first time he has done so in a start this season.

 

The Sox would add one final run, scoring their seventh in the seventh thanks to a little small ball as Rivera brought Orr home from third on an infield single to extend the lead to 7-2. Fresno added a final run of their own in the top of the eighth against Sox reliever Ariel Peńa as RBI machine Jon Singleton drove home Alex Presley with a run-scoring double to cut the deficit to four once again.

 

Colorado Springs' bullpen would shut it down from there as recently called up reliever Jaye Chapman came on to toss a scoreless ninth. The right-hander would allow two base hits in his Sox debut while striking out one to secure the 7-3 victory for the home squad.

 

All but one Sox starter recorded a base hit in Thursday's 15 hit performance with four collecting multi-hit games. Rivera, Diaz and Long led the way with three hits apiece. Diaz and Centeno each drove home two in the strong offensive showing.

 

The Sky Sox improve to 21-32 with the win as they knock Fresno down to a 31-23 record.

 

The Sox will look to earn a series-split in Friday night's series finale against the Fresno Grizzlies. Drew Gagnon (1-7, 7.91) takes the mound for Colorado Springs in a matchup against Fresno right-hander Alex White (1-4, 5.56) with first pitch set for 7:05 PM MDT (8:05 Central) at Security Service Field.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Just one walk in 77 AB's for Yadiel Rivera, but hitting otherwise; one of the bigger games Logan Schafer has had at any level in some time...

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

The big frame re-visited --

 

Col. Springs Bottom of the 5th

 

Yadiel Rivera singles on a ground ball to right fielder Domingo Santana.

Matt Clark walks. Yadiel Rivera to 2nd.

Robinzon Diaz doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder L. J. Hoes. Yadiel Rivera scores. Matt Clark scores. Robinzon Diaz out at 3rd, left fielder L. Hoes to shortstop Carlos Correa to third baseman Matt Dominguez.

Matt Long doubles (14) on a fly ball to right fielder Domingo Santana.

Logan Schafer doubles (6) on a fly ball to left fielder L. J. Hoes. Matt Long scores.

Pitching Change: Richard Rodriguez replaces Dan Straily.

Chris Nelson walks.

With Pete Orr batting, Logan Schafer steals (2) 3rd base. Chris Nelson steals (1) 2nd base.

Pete Orr flies out to center fielder Alex Presley.

Juan Centeno singles on a ground ball to right fielder Domingo Santana. Logan Schafer scores. Chris Nelson scores.

Scooter Gennett singles on a line drive to right fielder Domingo Santana. Juan Centeno to 3rd.

Yadiel Rivera strikes out on a foul tip.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Scooter Gennett hits a double in Colorado Springs' 4-1 loss to Fresno (Wednesday's game)

[Mass Haas]

Final: Birmingham 6, Biloxi 4

 

Late scoring frenzy results in 6-4 loss to Barons

Thursday's loss forces the rubber match on Friday in road trip finale

Biloxi Shuckers

 

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Hiram Burgos tossed six scoreless innings in a no decision on Thursday night (Jason Clark Photo)

 

BIRMINGHAM, AL. - Nine of the games' ten runs came across in the seventh and eighth innings on Thursday as Birmingham plated four of those in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Shuckers 6-4 in front of 7,924 at Regions Field. The loss forces the rubber match of the set on Friday night, which is the final game of the opening 54-game road trip. In Thursday's game, Biloxi committed two errors for just the sixth time this season and fell to 27-4 when scoring four-or-more runs. The Shuckers' division lead shrank to 2.5 games and the magic number for a first half clinch remains at 14.

 

Biloxi (32-21) entered the seventh down 1-0 and promptly greeted reliever Blake Smith with a leadoff single by Nathan Orf (2x3, R, BB), who advanced to second on an error by right fielder Brian Fletcher. Taylor Green (2x4, RBI) followed with an RBI single to plate Orf and tie the game at 1-1. Green attempted to take second on the play at the plate, but was thrown out by Barons' catcher Rob Brantly. Adam Weisenburger (2x3, RBI, R, 2 2B, BB) roped a double to left, Brandon Macias (0x3, R, BB) walked and Kyle Wren (0x5) reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases for Tyrone Taylor (2x5, 2 RBI, 2B). The centerfielder drove a double to right to bring in Weisenburger and Macias to give the Shuckers a 3-1 advantage.

 

Birmingham (26-28) answered back with a run in the bottom-half of the seventh off of reliever Mike Strong (IP, R, 2 H, SO) with an RBI single off the bat of Brantly, scoring Jeremy Farrell.

 

The Shuckers pushed their lead back to two in the eighth with an RBI double from Weisenburger that brought in Nick Ramirez (0x3, R, BB).

 

Biloxi reliever Austin Ross (L, 3-2, 0.2 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 H) retired the first batter in the eighth, but six straight Barons reached base, which resulted in four runs to boost Birmingham back in the lead. The Shuckers' defense committed two errors in the frame. The Biloxi bullpen struggled again Thursday, giving up five runs and now 15 runs (14 ER) over the four games in the series.

 

Trevor Seidenberger replaced Ross and needed just two pitches to get Marcus Lemon to fly out to left.

 

Hiram Burgos allowed just one hit through the first four innings, but still faced the minimum before the Barons took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Farrell produced the third consecutive hit to start the frame, scoring Fletcher who had led off with a double. Fletcher collected four three hits in the game and an RBI.

 

Burgos worked out of trouble in that fifth inning, as Birmingham loaded the bases with one out, but a double play ended the Barons' threat and only one runs came across.

 

Biloxi will send out LHP Brent Suter (3-1, 2.43) in the rubber match on Friday. The Harvard lefty will make his second start of the year against Birmingham, picking up the win on May 22 with six innings of shut-out ball. The Barons will counter with RHP Tyler Danis (4-2, 4.36) who allowed seven runs - four earned - over four innings against the Shuckers on May 25. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with coverage beginning at 6:50 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.

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

Five Shuckers had two hits; bullpen with rare struggles just as this road trip ends; SS Orlando Arcia with a stolen base, now 6-for-9 in that department...

 

Biloxi Game Log

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Biloxi's Michael Reed slugs his fifth homer in the Shuckers' 6-3 win over Birmingham (Wednesday's game)

 

It's Reed, not Red, Birmingham announcer boy...