Link Report for Sunday 6/28 - 2015 in a nutshell

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Drew Gagnon at Memphis (Cardinals), 5:35 PM pre-game, 6:05 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: LHP Hobbs Johnson at Jacksonville (Marlins), 1:50 PM pre-game, 2:05 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 linking to his fantastic "Shuck Dynasty" blog. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be radio broadcast.

 

MiLB.TV - Eight of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi is among them!

 

NOTE: Jacksonville does provide coverage via MiLB.TV (with the Suns' call, naturally).

 

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Brevard County: RHP Jorge Ortega at Bradenton (Pirates), 12:00 PM gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link, Bradenton Feed Only

 

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

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Cy Sneed at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 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 (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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Helena: RHP Jordan Yamamoto at Great Falls (White Sox), 1:40 PM pre-game, 2:00 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

We welcome back and again look forward to hearing second-year Voice of the H-Crew Dustin Daniel (@dustin__daniel on Twitter).

 

MiLB.TV -- When the H-Crew makes their way to Grand Junction and Orem in July, and Idaho Falls in August, those games will be available to watch online.

 

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Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Idle

 

***

 

DSL Brewers: Idle

 

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! -

 

No free local TV today, but Monday's Timber Rattlers game will be on MyNew32 TV, 7:00 PM airtime.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

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 --

 

Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog

 

Wisconsin Media Notes - Linked on the Rattler Radio blog

 

***

 

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

 

Pioneer League North Division

 

Arizona League Central Division

 

Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris

 

***

 

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Maryvale

 

DSL Brewers

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Memphis, TN

 

Jacksonville, FL

 

Bradenton, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI

 

Great Falls, MT

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Interview with Helena's RHP Cody Ponce, as the 2nd-rounder talks about his pro debut

[Mass Haas]

Miller Park Prospects -- Mailbag Time

[WV Brew]

Manatees in another rain delay.

[WV Brew]

Manatees drop 4-3 decision to Marauders in 11 innings

June 28, 2015 3:31 PM MST

 

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Chris McFarland went 3-for-5 Sunday in the Manatees 4-3 loss at Bradenton

Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography (used with permission)

 

The Brevard County Manatees dropped their second consecutive game at McKechnie Field on Sunday, losing an 11 inning heartbreaker to the Bradenton Marauders, 4-3. A walk-off single by Harold Ramirez sealed the deal.

 

Brevard County ace Jorge Ortega was not as sharp as usual, but he got through five innings and ended up with a no-decision.

 

Things did not start well for the Manatees, who did not have a hit against Marauders starter Jayson Aquino through the first four innings on Sunday. Their only baserunner to that point was Taylor Brennan, who drew a walk in the second inning.

 

Ortega, who has been dominant on the mound for the Manatees this season, ran into trouble in the second inning. He gave up a solo home run to Jin-De Jhang to give the Marauders a 1-0 lead. Edwin Espinal followed the Jhang blast with a single and moved to second one out later when Chris Diaz singled. A walk to JaCoby Jones loaded the bases. That free pass was the first that Ortega had allowed in 40.2 innings. Austin Meadows who had four hits in Saturday’s game, was next up. Ortega got him to fly out, ending the inning.

 

Brevard County (1-2, 30-42) finally found some offense in the fifth inning. Aquino gave up his first hit of the game, a leadoff double to Jose Pena. After a wild pitch moved Pena to third, Rafael Neda doubled him home, tying the game at one. Chris McFarland’s RBI single later in the frame scored Neda and gave the Manatees a 2-1 lead.

 

Ortega allowed a single in the bottom of the fifth but got through the inning and left with the lead after throwing 77 pitches, 55 for strikes. Sunday’s game marked the 11th start of the season for Ortega. He has not pitched less than five innings in any of his starts.

 

The Manatees got Ortega another run in the sixth. A fielding error by third baseman Wyatt Mathisen to start the inning, allowed Clint Coulter to reach. With Garrett Cooper at the plate, Coulter stole second and came home two outs later on a single by Pena, giving the Manatees a 3-1 lead. Pena ended the day 2-for-4.

 

Stephen Peterson came out of the bullpen for the Manatees and pitched a clean sixth and seventh inning, before running into trouble in the eighth. Pinch-hitter Justin Maffei drew a walk leading off the inning. Barrett Barnes, who homered in Saturday’s 7-4 win came through with another one on Sunday, tying the game, 3-3. Just like that, the Manatees lead was gone. Peterson finished the inning, but the damage was done.

 

The Manatees threatened to go ahead in the top of the 10th inning. With one out, McFarland stroked a single to center and went to second on a throwing error by Barnes. Coulter grounded out, but moved McFarland to third in the process. Cooper followed with a ground out of his own and the Manatees came up empty.

 

Mark Williams, who was on the mound to start the ninth for the Manatees, was still out there to start the 11th. He gave up a leadoff single to Barnes, who went to second on a passed ball. Erich Weiss then dropped down a good bunt that was not fielded by the Manatees at all and allowed Barnes to move to third. That brought Ramirez to the plate and he quickly ended it with a fly ball to center that would’ve scored the run even if Garcia caught it. He let it drop and Ramirez was credited with a walk-off single.

 

Meadows, Barnes and Weiss all played key roles in that 11th inning and they all finished the game going 2-for-5 at the plate. The win guarantees the Marauders at least a split of this four-game series.

 

McFarland led the Manatees with a 3-for-5 performance at the dish. It was his second consecutive 3-for-5 game.

 

Game three of the series is scheduled for 6:30 on Monday. Eric Marzec (1-5, 4.08 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Manatees.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

With Jorge Ortega not as sharp as usual after the All-Star break, he could only go 5 innings. Stephen Peterson came in and retired the first 6 hitters he faced. Then they tried to sneak him through a 3rd inning. After a leadoff walk, Peterson retired Austin Meadows bringing up Barrett Barnes, who had homered yesterday. Peterson has a .184 BAA vs left handers. However, he has .270 versus right handers which Barrett Barnes is. With Mark Williams ready in the bullpen, the Manatees stuck with Peterson who then gave up the game tying home run.

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Great Falls 9, Helena 2

 

Brewers Drop 4th Straight

Helena Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers (3-8) dropped their fourth straight game on Sunday, falling to the Great Falls Voyagers (7-3) 9-2 at Centene Stadium.

 

Both starters pitched well through the first three innings, combining for 11 strikeouts on the day. The Voyagers once again used a strong middle three innings, however, to charge to victory.

 

Jordan Yamamoto (0-2) was hit hard by Great Falls, giving up five runs on eight hits in his four and two thirds innings on the hill. He would be able to strike out seven batters and did not give up an extra-base hit.

 

Jake Jarvis had another outstanding game for Great Falls, going 4-for-5 while picking up an RBI and a run. The middle of the Voyagers batting order was dominant with their four through six hitters all coming up with doubles.

 

Monte Harrison picked up his first triple of the season for the Brewers, screaming a liner off the right-center fence. He would score on an error by Johan Cruz.

 

Omar Cotto-Lozada accounted for half of Helena's hits, going 2-for-3 and stealing two bases. He is now tied for the team lead with five stolen bags.

 

The Brewers head back to Helena for one last game against the Voyagers in the first half. First pitch on Monday from Kindrick Field is set for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score

 

19-year-old RHP Jordan Yamamoto made use of two double plays to navigate through three scoreless innings, but trouble was lurking as six men reached in those three frames. Yamamoto's WHIP through three starts (13.2 IP) is an unsightly 2.34 on 24 hits (including three HR's), eight walks, and an HBP. LHP Chad Reeves was ineffective behind Yamamoto.

 

Hide the children's eyes! Helena is last in the Pioneer League with a team ERA of 7.39 and a team WHIP of 1.87.

 

On the bright side, RHP Marcos Diplan gets the home crowd start Monday night.

 

Helena Game Log

 

Ugly game offensively, too, as both H-Crew runs were gifted to them.

 

The squad drew only one walk.

 

In his pro debut, 7th round University of Miami infielder George Iskenderian, playing 2nd base while hit streak king Blake Allemand got his first day off, went 0-for-4 (GIDP, 6-3 groundout, called out on strikes, 6-3 groundout). No memories made there, it'll make Game Two all the more sweet.

[bkrause2]

Final: Biloxi 11, Jacksonville 1

 

Shuckers reach milestones in 11-1 rout of Suns

Biloxi won their eighth-straight series after collecting season-best 10-run win

Biloxi Shuckers

 

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Nathan Orf doubled, homered, drove in four runs and reached base safely for times in Shuckers win. (Elisabetta Zengarro)

 

JACKSONVILLE, FL - The Biloxi Shuckers won their eighth-consecutive series after coming away victorious in Sunday afternoon's matinee with the Jacksonville Suns, 11-1, at Bragan Field. Biloxi set season-highs with six stolen bases, seven extra-base hits and margin of victory in the 10-run triumph. The Shuckers have not lost a series since dropping three of five against the Jackson Generals from May 11-15. Nathan Orf reached base four times Sunday, adding a double, home run and four RBI's for the Shuckers. The Shuckers lead the current series 3-1 and are 12-4 in series play this season.

 

Hobbs Johnson (5-4) continued the dominant stretch of starting pitching for the Shuckers, shutting out the Suns in five innings of work while striking out seven and walking three to go along with allowing three hits. The southpaw improved to 2-0 against Jacksonville in 2015, allowing only two runs in 15 innings to go along with 15 strikeouts to five walks.

 

Biloxi (3-1) grabbed the lead for the fourth-straight game to start the second half with a two-out RBI single to left by Nick Ramirez (2x5, RBI, R, 2B) that plated Orlando Arcia (2x5, RBI, 2 R, 3B). Arcia extended his hitting streak to seven games with an RBI single in the third to stretch the Shuckers' lead to 2-0 and has three multi-hit performances in the first four games of the second half.

 

The Shuckers exploded for four runs in the fourth to blow the game open to a six-run advantage. Ramirez doubled to left for a one-out double and Victor Roache (0x4, BB) followed with a walk to put two runners on for Nick Shaw (0x4, 2 R, BB), who grounded into a fielder's choice to put men on the corners. Shaw stole second and Adam Weisenburger (2x4, RBI, 2 R, 2B, 3B, BB) walked to load the bases for pinch hitter Taylor Green, who drove in Ramirez and Shaw for a two-run single. Nathan Orf (2x3, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R, 2B, BB) followed with a two-run double to break the game open for a 6-0 lead for Biloxi.

 

Biloxi extended the lead in the eighth, putting up five runs, including a two-run shot by Orf, while sending nine batters to the plate.

 

Jed Bradley (2 IP, R, 3 H, 2 SO), Austin Ross (IP, SO) and Manny Barreda (IP, H, BB, SO) worked the four two innings to secure the victory. Marlins rehabbing right-hander Bryan Morris (0-1) went 1.2 innings and suffered the loss for the Suns.

 

The Shuckers will seek out their fourth-consecutive win over the Suns on Monday morning at Bragan Field. All-Star RHP Brooks Hall 7-3, 3.39) will toe the rubber for Biloxi, while Jacksonville (1-3) will send out RHP Austin Brice (2-6, 6.37). First pitch is scheduled for 11:05 a.m., with coverage beginning at 10:50 a.m. 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 http://www.biloxishuckers.com.

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

Biloxi Game Log

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers drop eleven-inning game to Clinton

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

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Cy Sneed allowed one run on four hits and struck out six over six innings on Sunday against the Clinton LumberKings, but had a no decision. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica)

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers could not hold a 4-1 lead and dropped a 6-5 decision in eleven innings to the Clinton LumberKings Sunday at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

Wisconsin (25-49 overall, 2-2 second half) took the early lead with single runs in the first and second inning and Brandon Diaz figured into each run. Diaz singled to start the first, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and took third on a wild pitch. Dustin DeMuth knocked in Diaz with a ground out for a 1-0 lead.

 

The Rattlers loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the second inning and knocked Clinton starting pitcher Lukas Schiraldi out of the game. Diaz greeted reliever Jarrett Brown with an infield single to drive in a run for a 2-0 advantage.

 

Cy Sneed, the starting pitcher for Wisconsin, retired the first eleven Clinton batters he faced, but gave up three consecutive singles with two outs in the top of the fourth. Chantz Mack had the third single of the inning and drove the run to pull the LumberKings to within a run.

 

Tucker Neuhaus got that run back in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Rattlers second baseman hit a leadoff home run over the beach beyond the fence in right-center for his second home run of the season and a 3-1 lead. Later in the inning, Brandon Diaz drove in a run with a sacrifice fly for a 4-1 lead.

 

Sneed went six innings, allowed four hits, and struck out six before turning the three-run lead over to the bullpen.

 

Clinton (28-45, 2-2) scratched back into the game with a run in the seventh. Reliever Scott Lieser hit Joe DeCarlo as the leadoff batter, but DeCarlo was still at first with two outs. Martin Peguero knocked in DeCarlo all the way from first with a double and the Rattlers were down 4-2.

 

The LumberKings tied the game with two runs in the eighth. Lieser got the first out of the inning, but walked Mariscal and gave up an RBI double to Pat Leyland before leaving in favor of Luke Curtis.

 

Curtis threw a wild pitch early in the plate appearance by Chantz Mack to allow pinch runner Gianfranco Wawoe to take third base. Mack would drive Wawoe in from third with the tying run on a sacrifice fly.

 

Both teams had chances to score before extra innings.

 

Wisconsin drew back-to-back walks to start the bottom of the eighth inning, but couldn't score. Clinton had runners on first and second with one out in the top of the ninth, but were denied runs on a couple of nice running catches in center by Diaz.

 

In the eleventh, Tyler Linehan walked Estarlyn Morales to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk put two runners on with one out. Linehan got Wayne Taylor to ground into a force out at third for the second out, but a wild pitch allowed the LumberKings to have two runners in scoring position. Mariscal cashed in the opportunity with a two-run single to center for a 6-4 lead.

 

Wisconsin wasn't done and it was a crazy bottom of the eleventh inning. Gregory Munoz and Diaz started the bottom of the eleventh with singles. Francisco Castillo attempted to bunt both runners into scoring position, but his bunt was within the reach of Taylor, the Clinton catcher. Taylor fired to third for the out on Munoz and the Timber Rattlers argument that DeCarlo was not on the base when he took the throw was dismissed.

 

DeMuth was at the plate when Diaz took off for third base early. LumberKings pitcher Thyago Vieira stepped off the rubber at got Diaz in a rundown. But, Diaz stayed in the pickle long enough for Clinton to make a mistake as DeCarlo made contact with Diaz after making a throw. The ensuing obstruction call allowed Diaz to take third and Castillo, the tying run to take second.

 

After all of that, DeMuth sent a flyball deep to center to score Diaz and move Castillo to third.

 

Wisconsin's comeback attempt was foiled when Greg McCall's hard grounder toward right field was stopped on a diving grab by first baseman Taylor Zeutenhorst, who flipped to Vieira covering first base for the final out.

 

The teams split the four game series with two wins each.

 

Clinton used seven pitchers in the game. Wisconsin went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin a three-game series at home on Monday with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Angel Ventura (3-2, 2.18) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Sam Gibbons (1-2, 6.30) is set to start for the Kernels. Game time is 7:05pm.

 

The first 1,000 fans to attend Monday's game will receive a bobblehead of Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez courtesy of American National Bank. The bobblehead of Ramirez is wearing the Brewers Sunday jersey he wore as a member of the Timber Rattlers while on a rehabilitation assignment last season.

 

As part of American Heart Association CPR Night fans can have their blood pressure checked, view a heart attack survivor gallery, and tour the inside of a giant inflated heart.

 

Plus, purchase an 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.

 

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, there are several ways to follow the action. MyNEW32'sSports 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 RUN:

WIS:

Tucker Neuhaus (2nd, 0 on in 4th inning off Jarrett Brown, 0 out)

 

WP: Thyago Vieira (1-0)

LP: Tyler Linehan (1-2)

 

TIME: 4:05

ATTN: 3,270

 

Rattler Radio Postgame Post – June 28, 2015

The usual assortment of goodies, Erickson's comments spot on an usual. Note that the direct link to the actual post is broken at this time so I'm linking to the blog's main page.

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Dammit!

 

Cy Sneed doing what we've come to expect from him for the T-Rats this season. The bullpen was bad on the ends of the outing but solid in the middle.

 

Brandon Diaz (3-5) is on fire! He's hitting .412 over his last 10 games. Also joining him with multi-hit efforts were Sthervin Matos (2-3,2B) and Tucker Neuhaus (2-3,HR). This was Matos' first multi-hit game in quite a while.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[homer]

Cy Sneed needs to keep that mustache forever.

[Mass Haas]

Bullpen can’t back Sneed in 11-inning loss to LumberKings

Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media

 

GRAND CHUTE – Cy Sneed has been a hard-luck pitcher all season for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

 

The big right-hander did everything he could to break that pattern Sunday, but the Rattlers’ bullpen once again failed to finish.

 

Sneed delivered another quality start, only to see Wisconsin’s relief corps blow a comfortable lead in an 11-inning 6-5 loss to the Clinton LumberKings before a crowd of 3,270 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

Sneed, who represented the Timber Rattlers in last week’s Midwest League All-Star Game, allowed one run on four hits with six strikeouts in six strong innings.

 

The Milwaukee Brewers’ third-round pick in the 2013 first-year player draft, threw strikes on 54 of his 79 pitches.

 

Sneed departed with a 4-1 lead, but Clinton rallied against relievers Scott Lieser and Luke Curtis to tie the game with a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth. The LumberKings eventually broke the 4-4 deadlock with two runs in the top of the 11th on Chris Mariscal’s two-run single off losing pitcher Tyler Linehan.

 

“Sneed was good,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “That’s typical Sneed. He’s been our most consistent guy and every time he goes to the mound, I feel good about our chances.

 

“When he left the game we had a 4-1 lead with nine outs to go. And obviously, we struggled to get those nine outs when we went to the pen.

 

“We gave them a chance. We started walking some people and gave them some life.”

 

The Rattlers bullpen has failed on multiple occasions to protect leads for Sneed, who has a deceptive 3-7 record, but a stellar 2.68 earned run average.

 

“My job is to pitch deep into the game,” said Sneed. “It would have been nice to get the win, but that’s baseball. The best teams in the world lose games and have things slip away.”

 

Sneed retired the first 11 hitters he faced before the LumberKings broke up his perfect game with two out in the top of the fourth on consecutive singles by Mariscal, Patrick Leyland and Chantz Mack.

 

Leyland is the son of Jim Leyland, the former manager of the Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates.

 

“It was nice to get a little rest over the all-star break,” said Sneed. “I polished up a few things with (pitching coach) Gary Lucas this week that allowed me to keep the ball down in the zone.”

 

Sneed’s fastball topped out at 94 mph, and he had excellent control, walking just one.

 

“My stuff was working good,” said Sneed. “Greg McCall called a good game and we had a pretty good game plan against them after seeing them for the fourth day.

 

The Rattlers (25-48 first half, 2-1 second half) collected nine hits and second baseman Tucker Neuhaus slammed a long solo home run to right center, his second of the season.

 

But Wisconsin’s bullpen couldn’t slam the door on the LumberKings (27-45, 1-2) and the Timbers Rattlers struggled to get the big hit.

 

Wisconsin was an ugly 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

 

“We had some missed opportunities,” said Erickson. “We had chances to add on and couldn’t pull away.”

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO via WLOX: Biloxi highlights

[Mass Haas]

Final: Memphis 4, Colorado Springs 3, 11 innings

 

Sox Rally In Ninth, Fall To Memphis In Extras

Two-Run Ninth Saves Sox Before Two-Run Eleventh Gives Redbirds Walk-Off Win

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

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Yadiel Rivera's two-run single in the top of the ninth tied the ballgame at two, helping send the Sox to extras in Sunday's walk-off loss. (File Photo from prior game by Paat Kelly)

 

A tight game throughout; Sunday night's 4-3 contest between the Sky Sox and Redbirds ended with late-inning dramatics that ultimately favored the home side before 3,425 fans at AutoZone Park in Memphis.

 

Sox starter Drew Gagnon put together one of his better start of the season, making just one real mistake while limiting damage over a strong two-run, six inning performance against the dangerous Redbirds lineup. The right-hander allowed five hits and three walks while striking out two.

 

Infielder Alex Mejia got to Gagnon in the home fifth as he launched a one-out long ball to left-centerfield, scoring Matt Williams to provide Memphis a 2-0 lead they would hold for 3.1 more innings.

 

A combination of Tim Cooney, Justin Wright, Keith Butler and Sam Tuivailala kept Coloraodo Springs off the scoreboard for the game's first eight innings as the Redbirds looked destined for a shutout victory. The quartet of arms collectively allowed two hits and four walks while striking out four Sox batters, handing Mitch Harris the ball in the top of the ninth in hopes of securing the team's second 2-0 victory in three nights.

 

Harris could not follow through, allowing two runs in the ninth on a Yadiel Rivera two-run single to short. Nevin Ashley and Logan Schafer came around to score and knot the ballgame at two with one out in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Bryan Petersen and Pete Orr failed to capitalize in potential game-winning at-bats, sending the Sox to the Memphis ninth still deadlocked.

 

Jaye Chapman took over in the ninth after Tim Dillard, Michael Kirkman and Rob Wooten teamed up for two scoreless innings to keep the Sox deficit at two, making the ninth-inning rally possible. Chapman gave Colorado Springs two scoreless frames that it desperately needed as Harris and Marcus Hatley (4-2, 1.69) kept the Sox off the board in the tenth, moving the tight contest to the 11th.

 

Hatley walked Schafer to open the eleventh before a Rivera sacrifice bunt moved the speedy outfielder to second with one out. Pinch-hitter Elian Herrera followed with a base hit, moving Schafer to third to give the visitors runners on the corners still with just one out. After a Redbirds mound visit, Orr came through with a clutch RBI sac fly to plate Schafer and give the Sky Sox their first lead of the night. Herrera stole second base to give Kyle Wren a runner in scoring position but the outfielder could not provide a vital insurance run, flying out to end the inning with the Sox leading, 3-2.

 

With manger Rick Sweet's bullpen options limited, Ariel Pena (0-1, 4.66) would come on for the bottom of the eleventh in an unfamiliar save situation. Pena struggled, recording just one out in the frame as Memphis answered with two runs on four consecutive singles by Tommy Pham, Mejia, Dean Anna and Travis Tartamella. Anna's base knock tied the game at three before Tartamella came through for the home town team with a pinch-hit, walk-off single to give Memphis a thrilling 4-3 victory.

 

The Redbirds improve to 40-37 while dropping Colorado springs to 30-44 after the heartbreaking defeat.

 

The Sky Sox will wrap up their four-game series in Memphis on Monday night as Tyler Cravy (7-5, 4.20) looks to get his team back in the win column against Zach Petrick (4-4, 4.32) and the Redbirds. First pitch is slated for 6:05 PM MDT (7:05 Central) at AutoZone Park.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

So the Johnny Hellweg / Ariel Pena portions of the Zack Greinke trade remain underwhelming.

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

[Mass Haas]

2015 in a nutshell:

 

Colorado Springs, Brevard County and Wisconsin find ways to lose in 11 innings.

 

Helena gets crushed.

 

Biloxi romps, and is awesome again.

[Mass Haas]

Biloxi plays at 11:05 this AM (Central).

 

Look for Monday's Link Report just before gametime.

 

AUDIO via Shuck Dynasty Blog - Orlando Arcia, pitching coach Chris Hook discuss Futures Game