Link Report for Saturday 6/20 - Play Ball, Maryvale!

[Mass Haas]

Andujar unlikely Home Run Derby winner

Yankees No. 11 prospect outdistances Cardinals' Voit in final round

By Erin Brown / Special to MiLB.com

 

Not a great overall day for Clint --

 

Brevard County's Clint Coulter, Daytona's Phillip Ervin, Bradenton's JaCoby Jones and Charlotte's Jake Bauers, all of whom rank among the league's top 10 home run hitters at the break, struggled Saturday.

 

Coulter and Bauer failed to hit any balls out of the home of the St. Lucie Mets; Ervin managed one. Jones registered three homers but failed to tack on more in the second round.

[Mass Haas]

Matt Clark follows his father's footsteps to Colorado Springs Sky Sox, life in pro baseball

By Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

Also posted in full in our season-long Sky Sox archived feature thread...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Great Falls 12, Helena 7

 

Brief game summary of this road contest via the Helena Independent Record:

 

Brewers bested in road opener

 

In a three-run hole early, the Helena Brewers battled back to tie it up in their first road contest of the season in Great Falls on Saturday. A sixth-inning surge was too much for the Capital City squad to handle, however, and Great Falls pulled away for a 12-7 win at Centene Stadium.

 

The loss drops Helena to 1-2 on the season, while Great Falls -- which had a game washed out in Billings earlier this week -- improves to 1-1.

 

Helena reliever Bubba Blau took the loss after entering in the sixth inning. The game tied at 5, he gave up six runs on five hits over two frames, ballooning his ERA to 33.75 after also struggling in the Brewers' season opener.

 

Great Falls picked up three runs in the bottom of the first, getting to starter Milton Gomez early. The Voyagers got another run in the second, but Gomez then settled down and saw his team rally for a 5-4 lead with a four-run fourth inning. The advantage didn't last long, however, as Great Falls tied it up in the fifth and then put up four in the sixth to take control.

 

Left fielder Troy Stokes finished 3 for 4 with two runs scores and three RBIs -- aided by a pair of home runs -- to lead the Brewers. Helena also got a pair of hits from leadoff man Blake Allemand, Steven Karkenny and Omar Cotto.

 

***

 

Via the Great Falls Tribune:

 

Troy Stokes’ two home runs kept Helena within striking distance. His second, a solo shot in the eighth inning, easily cleared the Centene Stadium scoreboard behind the left-field fence.

 

Helena Box Score

 

19-year-old 2014 4th round LF Troy Stokes is certainly capable of playing CF, but Monte Harrison is patrolling there now. These were the first two professional home runs of the 5'8", 182 lb. Stokes' career, congrats! Stokes also stole a base after his single.

 

Speaking of Harrison, he was 0-for-4 here (one sacrifice bunt), and is now 1-for-14 (one BB, four K's) in three Helena contests.

 

SS Jake Gatewood is no better, 0-for-5 with three K's on Saturday night, now 1-for-15 (one BB, six K's) in three Pioneer League games.

 

Needless to say, these two young men are in need of some positive performances.

 

Congratulations to RF Omar Cotto on his first two professional hits, including a triple.

 

David Denson singled in four trips as the designated hitter.

 

Helena Game Log

 

Four runs, all with two outs here --

 

Helena Top of the 4th

 

Jake Gatewood strikes out swinging.

Steven Karkenny singles on a fly ball to left fielder Landon Lassiter.

David Denson grounds out, shortstop Grant Massey to first baseman Sikes Orvis. Steven Karkenny to 2nd.

Jose Cuas singles on a ground ball to right fielder Antonio Rodriguez. Steven Karkenny scores. Jose Cuas advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by right fielder Antonio Rodriguez.

Troy Stokes homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field. Jose Cuas scores.

Kevin Martinez walks.

Omar Cotto triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Antonio Rodriguez. Kevin Martinez scores.

Pitching Change: Lucas Shearrow replaces Evin Einhardt.

Blake Allemand lines out to shortstop Grant Massey.

 

***

 

Rough start is an understatement for 2014 24th round RHP Bubba Blau of Dixie State (Utah) - walks were not a big issue for him in Maryvale last summer, but he's now walked ten in 2.2 innings in 2015.

 

RHP Brock Hudgens made his Helena debut - also wild as detailed below. Hudgens had struggled in two Timber Rattler appearances in April before being sent to extended spring training.

 

Great Falls Bottom of the 8th

 

Pitching Change: Brock Hudgens replaces Bubba Blau.

Antonio Rodriguez walks.

Sikes Orvis walks. Antonio Rodriguez to 2nd.

Zach Fish walks. Antonio Rodriguez to 3rd. Sikes Orvis to 2nd.

Casey Schroeder out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Monte Harrison. Antonio Rodriguez scores.

With Victor Velasquez batting, wild pitch by Brock Hudgens, Sikes Orvis to 3rd. Zach Fish to 2nd.

Victor Velasquez called out on strikes.

Landon Lassiter pops out to second baseman Blake Allemand.

[Mass Haas]

Final: AZL Brewers 4, AZL Cubs 0

 

Yee-hah!

 

Maryvale Box Score

 

Guess we'll start with the pitching, yes?

 

There are some happy Brewer scouts this AM, as four pitchers, all making their professional debuts, combined on the six-hit shutout, walking only one with six K's total.

 

22-year-old 6'5", 220 lb. Oklahoma State RHP Jon Perrin (27th round), retired all nine men he faced, fanning two.

 

Next up was 38th round Texas State RHP Scott Grist, listed at 6'4", 185. The 23-year-old Grist got himself out of a jam in his first frame and after a 1-2-3 followup inning, watched his catcher do spectacular work --

 

AZL Cubs Bottom of the 4th

 

Pitching Change: Scott Grist replaces Jon Perrin.

Roberto Caro singles on a ground ball to right fielder Yerald Martinez.

With Andruw Monasterio batting, wild pitch by Scott Grist, Roberto Caro to 2nd.

Andruw Monasterio flies out to center fielder Trent Clark.

Carlos Sepulveda grounds out, second baseman Daniel Leonardo to first baseman Tyrone Perry. Roberto Caro to 3rd.

Joe Martarano strikes out swinging, catcher Beau Wallace to first baseman Tyrone Perry.

 

AZL Cubs Bottom of the 6th

 

Robert Garcia singles on a ground ball to center fielder Trent Clark.

With Danny Gutierrez batting, Robert Garcia caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Beau Wallace to second baseman Daniel Leonardo.

Danny Gutierrez singles on a line drive to left fielder Joantgel Segovia.

With Roberto Caro batting, Danny Gutierrez caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Beau Wallace to shortstop Gilbert Lara.

Roberto Caro lines out to shortstop Gilbert Lara.

 

Not bad for a converted third baseman, we learned about Beau Wallace in this February 7th post.

 

Next up was 22-year-old 6'0", 200 lb. 31st round RHP Colton Cross, out of Shorter University in Georgia. He would toss 2.2 innings, and remember this from earlier in this Link Report:

 

TWEET from baseball writer Eric Longenhagen who is in attendance at tonight's AZL Brewers game.

 

@longenhagen: Trent Clark hasn't taken the bat off his shoulder yet but just hosed Joey Martarano at 2B trying to stretch a double.

 

AZL Cubs Bottom of the 7th

 

Pitching Change: Colton Cross replaces Scott Grist.

Andruw Monasterio grounds out, shortstop Gilbert Lara to first baseman Tyrone Perry.

Carlos Sepulveda singles on a line drive to left fielder Joantgel Segovia.

Joe Martarano singles on a line drive to center fielder Trent Clark. Carlos Sepulveda to 3rd. Joe Martarano out at 2nd, center fielder Trent Clark to shortstop Gilbert Lara.

Wladimir Galindo called out on strikes.

 

Sweet!

 

On for the one-out save, 22-year-old 6'2", 202 lb. 20th round East Carolina RHP David Lucroy --

 

AZL Cubs Bottom of the 9th

 

Roberto Caro walks.

Andruw Monasterio flies out to right fielder Yerald Martinez.

Carlos Sepulveda grounds into a force out, second baseman Daniel Leonardo to shortstop Gilbert Lara. Roberto Caro out at 2nd. Carlos Sepulveda to 1st.

Joe Martarano singles on a fly ball to right fielder Yerald Martinez. Carlos Sepulveda to 3rd.

Pitching Change: David Lucroy replaces Colton Cross.

Wladimir Galindo lines out to second baseman Daniel Leonardo.

 

Maryvale Game Log

 

Clean defense by the A-Crew, too, save for one passed ball by Beau Wallace.

 

Wonderful pro debut for 19-year-old 14th round Florida high school 1B Tyrone Perry, who doubled, singled, walked, drove in a run, and scored a run (one K). The imposing Perry is listed at 6'1", 265.

 

The other two pro debuts were much anticipated:

 

That of first-round CF Trent Clark -- called out on strikes, walked, called out on strikes, line drive opposite field RBI single to left.

 

That of SS Gilbert Lara -- 6-3 groundout, flyout to CF, 4-3 groundout, single on ground ball to LF

 

Congrats on your first pro hits, young men!

 

In fact, we should memorialize this inning:

 

AZL Brewers Top of the 8th

 

Pitching Change: Trey Masek replaces Erling Moreno.

Jonathan Oquendo walks.

Daniel Leonardo out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Trey Masek to first baseman Roney Alcala. Jonathan Oquendo to 2nd.

Joantgel Segovia called out on strikes.

Trent Clark singles on a line drive to left fielder Danny Gutierrez. Jonathan Oquendo scores.

Gilbert Lara singles on a ground ball to left fielder Danny Gutierrez. Trent Clark to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Michael Knighton replaces Trey Masek.

Tyrone Perry singles on a ground ball to center fielder Roberto Caro. Trent Clark scores. Gilbert Lara scores. Tyrone Perry to 2nd. Throwing error by center fielder Roberto Caro.

Yerald Martinez strikes out swinging.

 

When those three kids make their Miller Park debuts, we'll remember that inning image, won't we?

 

18-year-old LF Joantgel Segovia, who won the DSL batting title in his age 17 season, was 1-for-4 in his stateside debut.

 

Also debuting stateside was 19-year-old RF Yerald Martinez, who also singled in four trips.

 

So this was truly a pretty spectacular day for all the newbies with may "firsts" out of the way.

[Mass Haas]

Cool Manatees All-Star Tweet / Photo

[Mass Haas]

Voice of the Shuckers Chris Harris also has a fun Twitter timeline from last night.

[Eye Black]

And to put a bow on Saturday's AZL coverage, here is video of Trent Clark's first hit as a professional...

(video link accessed from this

channel or this Twitter account).