Link Report for Thursday 6/18 - Play Ball, Helena!

[Mass Haas]

Final: New Orleans 9, Colorado Springs 2

 

Sky Sox Sixth Inning Struggles Secure 9-2 Loss

New Orleans Piles On Seven in Sixth to Take Series Opener

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

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Matt Long led the Sox with three hits (two doubles) and a run scored in Thursday night's 9-2 loss to the Zephyrs. (Photo by Paat Kelly)

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sox struck first for the fourth consecutive contest before a seven-run New Orleans sixth helped the Zephyrs to a convincing 9-2 win before a Colorado Springs crowd of 5,826 at Security Service Field on Thursday night.

 

The Sky Sox scored the first run of the ballgame in the bottom of the second for the fourth straight night, taking the early 1-0 lead against New Orleans southpaw Adam Conley (6-2, 2.83). It was fellow starter Tyler Cravy that would draw first blood in the potential pitchers' duel as the Sox righty scored Yadiel Rivera from third base on an RBI groundout.

 

Colorado Springs added another run in the next inning thanks to the hot-hitting combination of Matt Long and Robinzon Diaz. Long drilled a one-out double off of Conley before being driven home on a Diaz RBI single. The base-hit, Diaz's second of the game at the time, gave the catcher eight hits over his last eleven at-bats and the home team a 2-0 lead after three.

 

Cravy (7-5, 3.65) cruised through the first four innings, keeping the Zephyrs scoreless while allowing just one hit and one walk in that time. He stumbled slightly in the top of the fifth, giving up a run on two straight hits and an RBI groundout by catcher Jesus Flores. With two out and a runner on third, New Orleans looked to tie the ballgame at two before Cravy's lightning-quick reflexes were put on display. The Sox starter snagged a screaming liner just above his head to retire Zephyrs shortstop Miguel Rojas for the final out of the inning.

 

Unfortunately Cravy could not elude trouble in the sixth after the Sox went down quietly in the home half of the fifth. The reliable righty gave up three consecutive hits; the final being a two-run double off the bat of New Orleans' newest addition: Kila Ka'aihue. The first baseman's clutch knock chased Cravy from the ballgame and gave the Zephyrs a 3-2 lead. The visiting side would not look back as Ariel Pena struggled mightily in relief of Cravy. The right-hander allowed his lone inherited runner to score before three of his own crossed the plate in the eventual seven-run sixth. Rojas' two-out, two-run triple served as the biggest blow to Pena's line as he finished his night having given up four runs on three hits and a walk in just 0.2 of an inning pitched.

 

Cravy's final line saw the Sox ace go five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six Zephyrs. With the unfortunate outcome, Cravy becomes the only Sox pitcher to have earned a decision in each of his 12 starts this season.

 

Sox manager Rick Sweet called upon former Brewers closer Jim Henderson to stop the bleeding in the sixth. Henderson would not get out of the inning before allowing another run to score on a Cole Gillespie RBI single. Ka'aihue flew out to end the big inning, bringing it full circle as the Zephyrs took their brand new 8-2 lead into the home seventh.

 

Conley finished his evening after five solid frames, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out two and walking none before handing the ball over to the New Orleans bullpen. Three Zephyrs combined to keep the Sox scoreless over the game's final four innings with lefties Pat Misch and Greg Nappo matched righty Lay Batista with a strikeout and walk each in their appearances.

 

Tim Dillard rounded out the Sox bullpen work, tossing two innings of one-run ball on two hits and a walk. The side-winding Dillard twirled a scoreless ninth to lead the Sox into the bottom of the ninth trailing 9-2.

 

Colorado Springs was able to load the bases against Batista, giving the home crowd hope of an interesting finish. The early-game hero in Diaz came up in the two-out, bases loaded situation only to pop out meekly to Rojas at shortstop to end the long night. Thanks to the big seven-run sixth, New Orleans took game one of this four-game set by a 9-2 final to improve to 30-35 on the season while dropping the Sox to 26-39.

 

The seven-run frame marks only the second time that the Zephyrs have scored seven runs in an inning against the Sky Sox. The only other instance came on June 15th, 2002 at Security Service Field in game one of a doubleheader. In that game, New Orleans tallied eight runs in the top of the fourth inning as the Zephyrs won the 10-7 slugfest. For good measure, The Sky Sox ended up winning game two by a slim 7-6 margin.

 

Colorado Springs will look to break a two-game skid on Friday night in game two of this four-game set with the Zephyrs. New Orleans sends left-hander Justin Nicolino (4-3, 2.87) to the mound against Sox righty Tyler Thornburg (1-3, 5.40) with first pitch set for 7:05 PM MDT (8:05 Central) at Security Service Field.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Ninety-six pitches for Tyler Cravy to get through 5+ innings; glimmers of hope from Ariel Pena offset by efforts like this, does not look like that chip from the Greinke deal will be cashed in...

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

Nice AAA debut, CF Kyle Wren -- single, walk, HBP, SB; 28-year-old OF Matt Long, also capable of filling in at second base, with three hits here including two doubles - he's a minor league free agent at season's end, would be a nice re-sign, deserves his chance...

[Mass Haas]

Sky Sox position players happy to pitch in a pinch

By Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

Chris Barnwell was a career minor leaguer who logged 13 games in the majors, finishing with an .067 average. He's been out of the game since 2009.

 

Still, Pete Orr will never forget him.

 

Barnwell was the lone strikeout victim when Orr stepped from his infield position onto the mound in a Triple-A game. As Orr can attest, few things in baseball are more memorable than when a position player comes in to pitch - a situation that has happened six times in the major leagues this week.

 

"You can have fun with it," said Orr, a Sky Sox infielder. "It can make a crappy situation fun for the team."

 

Orr would be the second option, behind Donnie Murphy, if Colorado Springs manager Rick Sweet felt the need to go to an emergency arm. Sweet said he identifies a pitching option immediately after breaking spring training camp, much like he would an emergency catcher. He always finds a guy who isn't a prospect, can throw accurately and someone who has preferably done it in the past.

 

"You don't really volunteer, but you speak a little louder than normal when those things come up," Murphy said before Thursday's 9-2 loss to New Orleans. "I think every position player kind of wants to do it, just to have fun with it and see how you would do."

 

Murphy is like the Moonlight Graham of position-player pitchers. He was told last year while with the Texas Rangers that he was going in if the batter extended the inning. But the next ball, a shot down the right-field line, deflected off the bag and right to the first baseman, who recorded the out. Murphy came that close to a dream - or at least a curiosity - and didn't touch it. He still hasn't pitched since he was a high school closer blowing away hitters with a 90 mph fastball.

 

It would not be surprising if he gets his shot at some point this year. Sweet said he has used many emergency pitchers in his three decades of managing. He once had to save his bullpen deep in an extra-inning game with Louisville and ended up getting a win and save from position players in the same game.

 

"You only go that route when your bullpen's taxed, you're getting your butt whipped or you're way behind and you don't want to burn your pitchers," Sweet said. "When that happens, you just want somebody to throw it over the plate. That's all you care about. You just want to get out of it."

 

And when you do get through it, there's usually a memory that comes with it.

[Mass Haas]

PHOTO GALLERY: Manatees photos via Florida Today

[Mass Haas]

Final: Missoula 8, Helena 6

 

Brewers fall in Opener

Helena Brewers

 

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Luis Aviles' three-hit night wasn't enough as the Brewers fall in their season opener

 

The Helena Brewers (0-1) fell 8-6 to the Missoula Osprey (1-0) in their Pioneer League season opener Thursday at Kindrick Field.

 

Jordan Yamamoto got the start on the hill for the Brewers, tossing five innings and striking out six while giving up three runs. He would not record a decision.

 

Missoula would strike first with three runs in the top of the second. Austin Byler led off the inning with a double and came in to score later on the RBI single of Joey Armstrong. Armstrong went 2-for-5 in the game with three RBI and two runs.

 

The Brewers retaliated with two runs of their own. Jose Cuas singled and scored in the frame on his way to a 2-for-5 night. The former Maryland Terrapin accounted for two of the six Brewers' runs. Luis Aviles would pick up an RBI single in the inning, scoring Cuas on the hit. Aviles led the way offensively with three hits on the day and two RBI.

 

Missoula pulled away for good when they put four runs on the board in the sixth. Bubba Blau (0-1) struggled in relief for Helena, giving up four runs and walking five in his two-thirds of an inning of work.

 

Donnie Hissa would pitch the remainder of the game for Helena, giving up one run in three plus frames. Helena's pitching staff as a whole walked 10 Osprey batters.

 

The Osprey and Brewers will face off in the second game of their two-game series Friday at Kindrick Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

***

 

Sixth-inning struggles spoil season opener for Brewers

Ryan Collingwood, Helena Independent Record

 

PHOTO GALLERY at article link - James Ridle, Blackfoot Media Group

 

Digging itself out of an early hole wasn't a chore for the Helena Brewers.

 

That second crevasse, however, was a little too much work.

 

After erasing a three-run deficit, the Brewers couldn't overcome a disastrous sixth inning in an 8-6 Opening Day loss to the Missoula Osprey on Thursday night at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

Helena, which knotted the contest at 3 when Carlos Belonis scored on a passed ball in the fourth frame, saw the Diamondbacks affiliate feast on reliever Bubba Blau.

 

Blau, one of four arms the Brewers used, gave up two hits -- one a two-run homer by Matt Jones -- and recorded five walks in 2/3 innings, two of which brought in runs, to make it a 7-3 game.

 

"You can't defend a walk," Brewers manager Tony Diggs said. "But if you asked Bubba if that's how he wanted to pitch tonight, he'd say absolutely not. He's just going to have to go back out there next time and get it done."

 

Missoula's defense followed up with a near-collapse of its own, though, in the bottom of the sixth when it opened the door for Helena with three errors.

 

A Jose Cuas base hit off reliever Austin Mason was followed by a Troy Stokes hit-by-pitch before Luis Aviles -- who finished the night 3 for 4 for two RBI -- roped an RBI single to center field to score Cuas. Belonis, who reached on a fielder's choice, would later score from third on a wild pitch. Aviles rounded out the inning by scoring after Osprey third baseman Kal Simmons' ill-fated throw to first.

 

In a game that saw a combined 19 hits, the Brewers, playing in front of a home crowd of 1,479, wouldn't get any closer.

 

Aviles, who also played in Helena last summer, was quick to point to the silver lining in his team's loss.

 

"We had a great day defensively," he said. "We didn't make any errors. We executed on every single play, but unfortunately they came up with some big hits and ended up winning."

 

Brewers starting pitcher Jordan Yamamoto finished with a no-decision after going four innings, giving up three runs off six hits to go with six strikeouts. He walked just one batter, but a five-hit, three-run second inning soured an otherwise solid Helena debut.

 

David Carver came in for relief in the fifth and retired two of the three batters he faced in an inning that ended with a double play.

 

Diggs wanted Carver and Blau to both get action tonight, so making the change was a scripted move.

 

"It was by design," Diggs said. "Carver is going to be throwing here shortly and we wanted to get him into a game situation and give him one inning and see how he felt. He did a good job of it and we were going to pull him regardless."

 

Cuas also had a notable night at the plate for the Brewers (0-1), going 2-for-3 with two runs.

 

Missoula pitcher Bo Takahashi earned the win after giving up five runs on six runs in five innings.

 

The Brewers and Osprey meet again today at 7:00 PM (8:00 Central). The Brewers will be starting right-hander Marcos Diplan and Missoula is going with southpaw Anfernee Benitez.

 

***

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HRl0DcWJ5kE

 

***

 

Helena Box Score

 

6'7" 23-year-old RHP Donnie Hissa out of Notre Dame (21st round, '14) stranded three of RHP Bubba Blau's baserunners with a strikeout, or Blau's 54.00 ERA after one game would be higher -- get them next time, Bubba; Hissa finished up with 3.1 innings of one-run ball...

 

This article indicates 19th round Steve Karkenny is making a new transition to playing first base; CF Monte Harrison singled and stole a base in five trips (two K's); SS Jake Gatewood, batting cleanup, was 0-for-5 wih a K; LF Troy Stokes (4th round, '14) reached base all four times up (single, walk, two HBP's)...

 

Helena Game Log

 

Looking forward to the Brewers debut of 18-year-old RHP Marcos Diplan (Gallardo trade) this evening!

[Mass Haas]

For those of you keeping score at home, the organization is 0-for-6 heading into our Dominican Summer League post...

[Mass Haas]

Whew!

 

Final: DSL Brewers 3, DSL Mets #2 Squad 2

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

 

Fine pitching throughout -- all 14 career appearances for 18-year-old Venezuelan Nelson Hernandez have been starts, indicating the Brewers are bullish on him; 22-year-old former Tampa Bay RHP Yomelbin Almonte was strong, and then bailed out of a bases-loaded situation by 20-year-old former Diamondback Starling Duval, who has managed to go 4-0 in five relief appearances for the 7-10 Cerveceritos -- talk about a good luck charm!

 

18-year-old 2B Franly Mallen is slugging .493, wow - nine doubles and a home run among his 21 hits, excellent, the nine doubles tie him for the league lead; three errors for 18-year-old SS Ignacio Otano, giving him 12 in 16 games...

 

DSL Brewers Game Log

 

This triple saved the day for the organization --

 

DSL Brewers Bottom of the 8th

 

Ranfy Adon remains in the game as the right fielder.

Defensive switch from right field to left field for Grabiel Jimenez.

Sandy Martinez strikes out swinging.

Adolfo Morillo singles on a ground ball to left fielder Grabiel Jimenez.

Pitching Change: Misael Familia replaces Renlly Tejada.

Ignacio Otano triples (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Ranfy Adon. Adolfo Morillo scores.

Julio Mendez walks.

With Franly Mallen batting, Julio Mendez steals (2) 2nd base.

Franly Mallen called out on strikes.

Nicol Valderrey strikes out swinging.

[And That]

Is it ok to get a little excited about Otono yet? An 18yo who displaces Mallen at SS and seems to have an XBH hit every night, I can even look past the errors for now.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: We'll let Blake Allemand know that his first professional hit was captured on film in this Montana news station report (Helena game action begins at the 1:13 second mark).

[Mass Haas]

Nice story about former Brewers farmhand catcher Jack Cleary doing well in his indy ball stint.

[Mass Haas]

Adam McCalvy: Paperwork is all done on #Brewers 4th round Draft pick Demi Orimoloye. He's signed and will start with rookie-level Arizona.