Link Report for Thursday 7/2

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Hiram Burgos at Nashville (Athletics), 6:35 PM pre-game, 7:05 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 Jorge Lopez at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 6:55 PM pre-game, 7:10 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!

 

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Brevard County: RHP Johnny Hellweg at Dunedin (Blue Jays), 5:30 PM gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link, Dunedin Feed Only

 

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

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Devin Williams at Beloit (Athletics), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 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: LHP Drake Owenby at Billings (Reds), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 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): at the Dodgers' complex in Glendale, 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

 

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DSL Brewers: at the DSL Cubs, 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]

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

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Maryvale

 

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 this just prior to the game time --

 

Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog

 

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

 

Pioneer League North Division

 

Arizona League Central Division

 

Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris

 

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Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

Maryvale

 

DSL Brewers

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Nashville, TN

 

Biloxi, MS

 

Dunedin, FL

 

Beloit, WI

 

Billings, MT

 

Glendale, AZ

 

San Pedro de Macoris, DR

[Mass Haas]

Kyle Wren lines a single in Colorado Springs' 2-0 loss to Nashville Wednesday

 

[Mass Haas]

FULL AT-BAT: Wisconsin's Zach Hirsch gets his fifth strikeout in the Timber Rattlers' 3-2 loss to Cedar Rapids

 

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's Farmhand Birthday --

 

Wisconsin's Elvis Rubio is 21 today. He can now enjoy a frosty mug with his peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches.

 

http://junkee.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/post-card-PBB.jpg

[WV Brew]

Dunedin feed not working for me.

[TheCrew07]

Chris was just on a quite a roll hating on Harry C. Pohlman Field, it was pretty entertaining.

[Eye Black]

Demi Orimoloye will make his professional debut batting 2nd and playing in LF with the AZL Brewers tonight. This Arizona squad continues to provide "must see" Link Report content.

[Mass Haas]

I've been such an Adam Weisenburger fan, and I'm going to mark out when he makes a deserved big league debut someday. Would love to see a swap with Juan Centeno for that 3rd catcher 40-man roster spot so that Adam could debut this September. We'll see...

 

Full article and a couple of photos at the link, and posted in full in our season-long Biloxi feature archive thread...

 

Weisenburger proves a steady hand at catcher for Shuckers

Catcher proves his fellow Shuckers can count on him

By Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald

 

For a Biloxi pitching staff that stands out as one of the best in the Southern League, Adam Weisenburger has been a steadying force behind the plate.

[Jenkins5]

Soooo Gatewood in usual fashion is 1 for 2 with a double and a strikeout..... Can anyone just teach him to make consistent contact! If he has just an impact bat if it found the ball a little more often!

[TheCrew07]

Snappers spoil Rattlers rally with a walkoff win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

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Devin Williams struck out eight to set a single-game high as a professional, but ended up with a no decision at Beloit on Thursday night. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica)

 

BELOIT, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Beloit Snappers engaged in a back-and-forth contest Thursday night at Pohlman Field, but it was the Snappers who prevailed 5-4 on a walkoff hit by Trent Gilbert in the bottom of the ninth inning. The loss was the fifth straight for the Rattlers.

 

Wisconsin (25-53 overall, 2-6 second half) got on the scoreboard in the first inning. Brandon Diaz was hit by a pitch to start the game. Blake Allemand was next and his bunt up the third base line appeared ready to go foul. But, the ball kicked back fair for a bunt single. Diaz noticed that no one was covering third and time had not been called so he raced for third to put runners on the corners. Khris Davis, in the second game of his rehabilitation assignment for the Milwaukee Brewers, followed with a sacrifice fly to deep right-center. Diaz tagged and scored to make it 1-0 in favor of Wisconsin.

 

Wisconsin tacked on two runs in the top of the third. Diaz drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and went to third on a ground out. Davis knocked in Diaz with a grounder to short for a 2-0 lead.

 

Then, Dustin DeMuth singled, stole second, and took third on a wild pitch. Carlos Leal cashed in DeMuth with a double and the Rattlers were up 3-0.

 

Rattlers starting pitcher Devin Williams retired the first seven batters he faced, but an error with one out in the bottom of the third broke that streak. Then, Shawn Duinkerk lined a home run to right-center and the Snappers were within 3-2.

 

Williams allowed one more hit as he worked through six innings and protected the one-run lead. He struck out eight to set a new single-game high as a professional and walked just two.

 

The Snappers (30-48, 4-4) took the lead in the bottom of the seventh and it was Duinkerk again.

 

Reliever Luke Curtis struck out the first two batters he faced after taking over for Williams to start the Beloit seventh. But, Iolana Akau doubled to left to keep the inning going for the Snappers. Duinkerk worked the count to 3-2 before launching his second two-run home run of the night. The deep drive to right put the Snappers up 4-3.

 

Wisconsin rallied to tie the game in the top of the ninth with two outs. Diaz drew a walk to reach with two away against Beloit reliever Koby Guana. Blake Allemand was next and his sharp grounder to second was booted for an error by Gilbert to let Diaz take third. Mitch Meyer, who took over for Davis in left field in the bottom of the seventh, was at the plate when Akau was charged with a passed ball to allow Diaz to score the tying run.

 

Tyler Linehan, who worked a scoreless eighth for Wisconsin came back out for the bottom of the ninth and allowed a leadoff single to Jose Brizuela. Justin Higley was unable to get a bunt down and struck out for the first out, but Linehan walked the next two batters on eight straight pitches to load the bases.

 

Zach Cooper was called out of the bullpen to try to send the game to extra innings and he got a strikeout for the second out of the inning.

 

Gilbert, who made the error that extended Wisconsin's top of the ninth, stepped to the plate and Cooper battled him. Gilbert fouled off four two-strike pitches from Cooper as the count ran full with two outs. The tenth pitch of the at bat was a sinking line drive to left that landed just out of the reach of Meyer, who made a lunging dive but came up just short and the Snappers celebrated their third straight win.

 

Gilbert also ended the final game of the first half between the Rattlers and Snappers with a bases loaded walk-off single with the bases loaded in the second game of a doubleheader on June 21.

 

Davis went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and two RBI in the second game of his five-game rehabilitation assignment.

 

Game two of the series is Friday night at Pohlman Field. Jon Perrin, the 27th round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2015 draft out of Oklahoma State University, makes his Midwest League debut as the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers on Friday. Joey Wagman (3-2, 2.39) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Snappers. Game time is 7:00pm.

 

Catch the radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:40. The broadcast may also be heard on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio.

 

HOME RUNS:

BEL:

Shawn Duinkerk (2nd, 1 on in 3rd off Devin Williams, 1 out)

Shawn Duinkerk (3rd, 1 on in 7th off Luke Curtis, 2 out)

 

WP: Kody Guana (2-0)

LP: Tyler Linehan (1-3)

 

TIME: 3:11

ATTN: 871

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

So the refrain here is becoming quite familiar; the offense continually comes up just short, spotty defense, and spotty bullpen work again cost the T-Rats a victory.

 

People were asking about Dustin DeMuth's (2-3,BB) defense earlier this season, he's played 3rd the last 2 games and committed 3 errors in those 2 games. I wasn't sure he had the range to play there to start with after the first bunch of televised games and I'm still not sure what to make of him now. He did however have the only multi hit game of the night for the Rattlers.

 

Devin Williams was cruising along until DeMuth's error and then sort of came unhinged for the rest of the inning, he threw more pitches in the 3rd than he did in the first 2 innings combined:

 

Beloit Bottom of the 3rd

• Justin Higley strikes out swinging.
  Iolana Akau reaches on a throwing error by third baseman Dustin DeMuth. Iolana Akau to 2nd.
  Shawn Duinkerk homers (2) on a fly ball to right field. Iolana Akau scores.
  James Harris walks.
  With Trent Gilbert batting, James Harris steals (7) 2nd base.
  With Trent Gilbert batting, wild pitch by Devin Williams, James Harris to 3rd.
  Trent Gilbert strikes out swinging.
  Sandber Pimentel walks.
  Yairo Munoz called out on strikes.

 

However the 3rd was the only blemish, he was fantastic before and after whatever was going on with him in that one inning. I'll take 6 innings, 2 hits, 1 earned run, and 8 strike outs every single time a pitching prospect below AA gets on the mound. Once they get to AA they'd better give us an extra inning though!

 

Wisconsin Recap

[bkrause2]

Final: Mississippi 1, Biloxi 4

 

Behind Lopez, Shuckers beat M-Braves 4-1, win ninth-straight series

Jorge Lopez struck out a career-high nine batters in the win on Thursday

Biloxi Shuckers

 

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Jorge Lopez won his seventh-consecutive decision on Thursday night tossing 7.2 innings, his second-longest outing of the season. (M.K. Krebs)

 

 

BILOXI, MS - Jorge Lopez struck out a career-high nine batters and won his seventh-straight decision, paving the way for the Shuckers' 4-1 victory over the M-Braves in front of a record-crowd of 5,216 at MGM Park on Thursday.

 

The win secured Biloxi's ninth-straight series victory, taking the first two games of the three-game set. The Shuckers have also won six-straight over the M-Braves and lead the season-series 8-4. Biloxi improved to a season-best 21 games over .500 and improved its record to 47-26 overall and 5-2 in the second half. The Shuckers are just one of four teams in Minor League baseball with 48 wins.

 

Lopez (7-2) allowed a run in the first inning on a single by Sean Godfrey and an RBI double off the bat of KD Kang, but would retire 22 of the next 23 batters faced before giving up a double and a walk with two outs in the eighth before leaving to standing ovation. The 22-year-old struck out a career-high nine - won his last seven decisions and has allowed two runs over his last 17.2 innings with 17 strikeouts. Lopez threw a season-high 104 pitches in the outing.

 

Damien Magnifico (SV, 9) took over for Lopez and recorded the final four outs en route to his ninth save of the season.

 

Biloxi (5-2) pulled ahead in the third with the first five batters reaching safely. Nick Shaw (3x4, RBI, R) led off by being hit by a pitch and Orlando Arcia (1x4, RBI, R, 2B) drove in the base runner with a RBI double to left to tie the game at one and advanced to third on the play. Michael Reed (1x3, RBI, R, SB) brought in Arcia with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Nick Ramirez (0x2, 2 BB) drew a walk before Tyrone Taylor (2x4) single to load the bases for the Taylor Green (1x2, RBI, R), who lifted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Reed.

 

Arcia's double places him atop the league with 22 doubles this season.

 

The Shuckers added an insurance run in the sixth on a RBI single by Shaw, scoring Green for a 4-1 advantage. M-Braves' All-Star starter Victor Mateo (4-5) labored through four innings on the mound, giving up three runs and suffering the loss.

 

Biloxi will look for its first sweep of the season in game three against Mississippi (3-4). LHP Hobbs Johnson (5-4, 3.34) will face off against Braves newcomer RHP Steve Janas (0-0, --). First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m., with coverage beginning at 5:55 p.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. The game is also available on MiLB.TV.

 

Friday's game will feature an Independece Day Fireworks Extravaganza after the game and it's also ALS Awareness Night. Prior to the post-game fireworks, the first wedding in MGM Park history will take place at home plate. There are a limited number of Berm and Standing Room tickets available for Friday night's game.

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

Jorge Lopez was outstanding again tonight, giving up just one run and striking out nine. Even more encouraging for Lopez was that he walked only one Mississippi batter. In his last two starts combined Lopez has struck out a total of 17 hitters.

 

It's been a rough season at the plate for 26-year-old utility man Nick Shaw, but he picked up three hits in this one. Tyrone Taylor had two hits in four at bats. Orlando Arcia added a double and Michael Reed singled, walked and stole a base.

 

Biloxi Game Log

 

The Shuckers scored three in the third which proved to be more than enough behind Jorge Lopez

 

Biloxi Bottom of the 3rd

Nick Shaw singles on a ground ball to first baseman Kevin Ahrens.

Orlando Arcia doubles (22) on a line drive to left fielder Matt Lipka. Nick Shaw scores. Orlando Arcia to 3rd on the throw.

Michael Reed singles on a ground ball to left fielder Matt Lipka. Orlando Arcia scores.

With Nick Ramirez batting, passed ball by Steve Rodriguez, Michael Reed to 2nd.

Nick Ramirez walks.

Tyrone Taylor singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Rio Ruiz. Michael Reed to 3rd. Nick Ramirez to 2nd.

Taylor Green out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Sean Godfrey. Michael Reed scores.

Parker Berberet grounds into a double play, third baseman Rio Ruiz to second baseman Eric Garcia to first baseman Kevin Ahrens. Tyrone Taylor out at 2nd.

[WV Brew]

Blue Jay Staff Leads Way In 6-1 Win

Four Dunedin Pitchers Combine To Give Up Three Hits

By Jerry Durney / Brevard County Manatees

07/02/2015 11:04 PM ET

 

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Brevard County reliever Stephen Peterson, pictured here from a game earlier this year, gave up two hits in three innings of relief in the Manatees 6-1 loss to the Dunedin Blue Jays Thursday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

Dunedin, FL- The Dunedin Blue Jays' (3-5, 35-43 overall) strength was on display Thursday night as they rode an excellent performance from four pitchers to cruise to a 6-1 victory over the Brevard County Manatees (3-4, 32-44 overall) at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

 

The Blue Jay breakthrough came in the bottom of the third inning with two out. Anthony Alford worked a walk out of Manatees starting pitcher Johnny Hellweg. Christian Lopes followed with a single that moved Alford to third. Rowdy Tellez would bring home the first run of the night for Dunedin on a single to right.

 

Dunedin's success with timely hitting continued in the following, once again with the bases empty and two out. Emilio Guerrero kept the inning alive with a double to center. Dickie Joe Thon followed with a base hit and then advanced to second as Clint Coulter's throw to third was late. Jorge Saez walked to load the bases for Anthony Alford. He would clear the bases with a triple to right. Alford then came in to score when Hellweg threw a wild pitch with Lopes at the plate.

 

The Manatees' lone bright spot of the night on offense came in the top of the sixth inning. Omar Garcia would start it with a one-out walk and then stole second with Chris McFarland at the plate for his 29th stolen base of the season. McFarland then doubled to right but Garcia had to hold up at third base. After a Michael Ratterree pop out, Coulter walked and on ball four, Blue Jays starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman threw a wild pitch, allowing Garcia to sprint home and put the 'Tees on the board. The wild pitch would bring Hoffman's night to an end. However, Arik Sikula would retire Taylor Brennan on a flyout to center to keep Brevard County at bay.

 

The final tally for the Blue Jays would come in the bottom of the eighth with Stephen Peterson on the mound. Mitch Nay ripped a one-out double to right to set up L.B. Dantzler. He would ground out to third but Guerrero's base hit to center brought home Nay to cap the scoring.

 

Hoffman, the ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft, turned in a sharp start, giving up one run on 2 hits, striking out three and walking two while routinely throwing into the upper 90s over five and two-thirds innings of work. Miguel Castro, who started the season in the Toronto bullpen, retired all six batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings, four of them via strikeout as he reached as high as 100 MPH on the radar gun. Brady Dragmire recorded the final three outs to secure the win.

 

Hellweg made his longest start since joining the Manatees in his recovery from Tommy John Surgery, going five innings. Over the length of the start, he gave up five runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out one. Peterson threw the final three innings, giving up just one run on two hits, striking out three while walking none.

 

The Manatees will look to earn the series win in the final game of their road trip on Friday night. RHP Jorge Ortega (6-4, 1.78 ERA) will be on the hill opposed by RHP Luis Santos (4-6, 5.15 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Lopez dominates on the mound as Biloxi tops Mississippi, 4-1

Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald

 

PHOTO GALLERY: Seven images from the Sun-Herald's Amanda McCoy

 

BILOXI – Shuckers starting pitcher Jorge Lopez retired 18 consecutive batters at one point in another dominant performance for a 4-1 victory over the Mississippi Braves Thursday night.

 

Lopez put on a show for a crowd of 5,216, the largest attendance in MGM Park's brief history. The mark shouldn't stand long with only limited grass berm tickets available for Friday's 6:10 p.m. game.

 

After giving up a two-out single in the second, Lopez didn't allow another hit until Levi Hyams doubled to right with two out in the eighth.

 

Lopez said “everything” was working for him Thursday as he gave up one run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked one.

 

“My command, it was pretty good tonight,” Lopez said. “Every pitch I threw, I was focused and more consistent with my pitches. (Catcher Parker Berberet) did a really good job. I missed a couple of pitches, but I thought we had a real good combination.”

 

The Shuckers have won the last seven times Lopez has started a game. He improved to 7-2 to put in him in a tie with teammate Brooks Hall and Tennessee's Frank Batista for second place in the Southern League in wins.

 

Lopez admitted that he's been at his best of late.

 

“I've learned a lot,” he said. “I've been learning a lot between (pitching coach Chris Hook) and (manager Carlos Subero). Every day is a process. It's a good process here. I've learned a lot.”

 

The nine strikeouts by Lopez, who left the game to a standing ovation, was a career high.

 

“Tremendous,” Subero said of Lopez. “Even when he falls behind he's not giving in with just his fastball. He's spotting his fastball and that's big. When you see kids start doing that, they're closing the gap. We've still got two months to go but what he's done so far has been impressive. He's been very good his last six to seven outings.”

 

After winning the Southern League South first-half title, the Shuckers have shown no signs of cooling off. Thursday's victory gives Biloxi nine consecutive series victories and a second-half record of 5-2 to stay in first place in the South Division.

 

The Shuckers, who have an overall record of 49-27, have taken command of the Magnolia State rivalry with six consecutive wins over the M-Braves and an 8-4 lead in the season series.

 

“Last year, we put a run together in Huntsville that was very similar, but this is a different ball club,” Subero said. “The whole way they're shaped with character, their chemistry. It's different.

 

“We did have a good ball club last year, but it got disrupted with promotions. That hurt in the second half. This club foresees staying together. It's a result of the effort they give on a daily basis. I think that's translating into wins. We've won some games that could have gone the other way and they're going our way. I don't know if it will stay like that all year, but hopefully it does. It all evens out. This is a tremendous club with great character.”

 

A one-out RBI double by K.D. Lang to right field gave the M-Braves (3-4) a 1-0 lead after inning.

 

M-Braves starting pitcher Victor Mateo appeared to lose his composure in the second inning with a pair of walks and two balks, but Josh Fellhauer grounded out to Mateo to leave the bases loaded and keep the Shuckers off the scoreboard.

 

The Shuckers got to Mateo in the third inning with Nick Shaw's leadoff single starting a run of five consecutive Shuckers reaching base.

Orlando Arcia doubled down the left field line to bring home Shaw. Michael Reed followed with a ground ball through the left side of the infield to plate Arcia.

 

Three batters later, Taylor Green gave the Shuckers a 3-1 lead on a sacrifice fly RBI.

 

Shaw made it 4-1 with an RBI single to center in the sixth.

 

Right fielder Reed preserved the 4-1 lead in the ninth inning when he threw out Kang at home plate after he tagged third on a fly ball to right field.

 

The Shuckers host the M-Braves at 6:10 PM Friday in the final contest of the three-game series. A fireworks show will follow the game.

 

Left-hander Hobbs Johnson (5-4, 3.34) will start Friday for the Shuckers and right-hander Jamie Schultz (5-3, 3.55) will go for the M-Braves.

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO via WLOX: Biloxi Game Highlights

[Mass Haas]

FULL AT-BAT: Biloxi's Jorge Lopez strikes out Rio Ruiz in the Shuckers' 4-1 win over Mississippi

 

 

***

 

Biloxi's Orlando Arcia doubles home a run

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: Colorado Springs 4, Nashville 3

 

Sky Sox Outlast Sounds In Tight 4-3 Contest

Sox Catching Corps Combines for Six Hits in Colorado Springs' 15-Hit Attack

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

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Robinzon Diaz collected three hits and an RBI to help lead the Sox 15-hit outburst in their 4-3 win on Thursday night. (File Photo from prior game by Paat Kelly)

 

The Sky Sox would slide past the Sounds with a 4-3 victory thanks to big base knocks and a strong bullpen performance before a crowd of 7,377 at First Tennessee Park on Thursday night.

 

Neither starter made it past the fifth inning in the hitter-friendly contest with the two combining for 8.1 IP with 19 hits allowed.

 

Hiram Burgos benefitted from an early 2-0 after two innings of work as the Colorado Springs lineup worked Nashville righty Parker Frazier (1-1, 7.45) for five hits in their first two trips to the plate. A sacrifice fly from Matt Clark to score Kyle Wren from third gave the Sox a 1-0 lead after one before Matt Dominguez, Robinzon Diaz, Pete Orr and Nevin Ashley opened the second with consecutive singles to extend the lead. Orr's RBi single drove home Dominguez to give Colorado Springs a two-run advantage.

 

Still holding a two-run Sox lead heading into the home third, Burgos would be touched up for three runs on four hits in the roughest frame of his young career with Colorado Springs. The big blow came on a game-tying, two-run blast from second baseman Joey Wendle. Former Sky Sox outfielder Jason Pridie came up with an important two-out triple against Burgos, leading to a high-pressure situation for the right-hander in early going. Jake Smolinski grounded to Yadiel Rivera in the big RBI situation, reaching on the normally sure-handed shortstop's throwing error. The blunder handed Nashville a 3-2 lead after three in the Music City.

 

Burgos' evening was over after hurling 87 pitches over four frames of three-run (two earned) ball. The Sounds managed seven hits and two walks over those four frames while striking out twice against the gritty Burgos. Frazier was charged with four runs over 4.1 innings of work in his spot-start for the recently injured Sean Nolin. The Sky Sox got the best of Frazier in the hits column, collecting a whopping twelve of their fifteen knocks off of the Sounds starter.

 

A Diaz double and Ashley RBI single pulled Colorado Springs even at three in the fourth before the Sox took the lead for good in the fifth. Frazier recorded just one out in the fifth, giving up four singles with the last being a lead-changing RBI single by Diaz. Logan Schafer crossed the plate on the play to provide the Sox a lead they would not relinquish as four Colorado Springs arms combined for five scoreless innings out of the pen to maintain the lead and secure the one-run victory.

 

Ashley and Diaz each recorded three-hits, one RBI games in the strong offensive showing by the slugging backstops. Five total Sky Sox collected mutli-hit games in the 24-hit contest.

 

Ariel Pena (1-1, 4.22), David Goforth, Rob Wooten and Jaye Chapman held the one-run lead with scoreless outings for the Sox despite the efforts of the strong Sounds bullpen trio. Pena tossed frames, allowing just one hit while striking out three to earn the win. Chapman notched his fifth save of the season to improve the Sox record to 32-46 while dropping Nashville to 36-45.

 

Drew Gagnon (1-9, 6.82) and the Sox are back at it Friday against Barry Zito (5-7, 3.84) and the Sounds as Colorado Springs look to secure a series victory before travelling back home for a nine-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM MDT (7:05 Central) from First Tennesse Park in Nashville.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

The four bullpen'ers listed above combined to fan seven and walk only one; it really is remarkable, the production the Sky Sox have received from the Ashley-Diaz backstop duo - I guess we should be rooting for Juan Centeno's health, but the box scores would be much less entertaining...

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

15 Sky Sox hits, no walks -- hacktastic!

[Mass Haas]

Colorado Springs' Robinson Diaz hits a leadoff double in the fourth inning of a 4-3 win over Nashville

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: Billings 4, Helena 3

 

Late Errors Doom Brewers

Helena Brewers

 

The Billings Mustangs (6-8) returned the favor to the Helena Brewers (5-9), winning on a walkoff 4-3 Thursday night in Billings at Dehler Park.

 

Tanner Rainey was outstanding in the start for Billings, pitching perfect baseball into the fifth inning before being pulled when he gave up back-to-back hits. Rainey was the Reds' second-round selection in this year's draft out of the University of West Alabama.

 

The Mustangs gained the first lead of the game, scoring a run in the bottom of the third. Zach Shields hit a double with one out and scored on the RBI-single of Blake Trahan off Helena starter Drake Owenby. Trahan has six hits over his last three games.

 

Owenby, making his Pioneer League debut, pitched four innings, giving up one run on four hits and striking out four. He would not receive a decision.

 

Jake Gatewood hit his league-leading ninth double in the fifth off Rainey. He scored later on an error by Reydel Medina to tie the game 1-1.

 

Trailing 2-1 going to the eighth, Troy Stokes lined a single to left to score both Jose Cuas and Carlos Belonis and give the Brewers their first lead of the night at 3-2.

 

That lead would last into the bottom of the ninth with Junior Rincon (1-1) back for his second inning of relief. Hector Vargas singled to lead off the inning and scored later on an RBI-single from Zach Shields.

 

The Brewers committed two errors in the inning. Rincon threw an errant ball in to left field and George Iskenderian missed his target at first to allow the winning run to score.

 

The win snaps a four-game losing streak for the Mustangs and ends Helena's run of wins at two games.

 

The two teams will meet again Friday for the second game of a four-game series at Dehler Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score

 

Between Helena and Wisconsin, these guys know how to break hearts as of late; 21-year-old University of Tennessee 12th round LHP Drake Owenby with a nice H-Crew debut after two uneven desert appearances, no fly ball outs here.

 

Pro debut - congrats to 40th round catcher Charles Galiano (Fordham) -- first base hit and a seemingly strong game behind the plate, as the pitchers combined to allow only two earned runs...

 

Helena Game Log

 

Sigh...

 

Billings Bottom of the 9th

 

Hector Vargas singles on a ground ball to right fielder Carlos Belonis.

Mitch Trees reaches on a force attempt, throwing error by pitcher Junior Rincon. Hector Vargas to 3rd.

Mitch Piatnik strikes out swinging.

Zach Shields singles on a ground ball to third baseman Jose Cuas. Hector Vargas scores. Mitch Trees to 2nd.

Blake Trahan grounds into a force out, third baseman Jose Cuas to second baseman George Iskenderian. Mitch Trees scores. Zach Shields out at 2nd. Blake Trahan advances to 1st, on a throwing error by second baseman George Iskenderian.

[WV Brew]

Alex Farina: 9 K's in 3 innings?

[Mass Haas]

Final: AZL Dodgers 9, AZL Brewers 6

 

Take away the first inning: AZL Brewers 6, AZL Dodgers 0

 

Maryvale Box Score

 

We'll detail the bottom of the 1st below...

 

Pro debut for 18-year-old OF (LF here) Demi Orimoloye (detailed Draft Forum background link) went like this: strike out swinging, single on a fly ball to center, triples on a ground ball to left; strike out swinging; reached on an E-4. Welcome , young man!

 

SS Gilbert Larasingled in five trips; cleanup 1B Tyrone Perry singled twice and walked (OBP .410).

 

We'd all love to be able to see the top of this order night in and night out in person -- 18-year-old CF Joantgel Segovia, Orimoloye (18), Lara (17), and Perry (19).

 

Maryvale Game Log

 

Two more undrafted free agents made their pro debuts, and they were excellent, so we'll detail them here:

 

21-year-old RHP Aaron Myers (you were introduced to him in our Transaction thread here) retired all six men he faced, four by strikeout.

 

22-year-old LHP Shawn Clowers (you were introduced to him in our Transaction thread here) threw two scoreless, fanning three.

 

Hoochie-mama, RHP Alex Farina!

 

In his third pro outing, the recently-turned 22-year-old undrafted Farina, out of Lafayette University, who you met in this post, retired all nine of his men via strikeout in three scoreless frames. That's 12 K's and a 0.00 ERA in 12 pro innings thus far.

 

Who needs a signing bonus? The Brewers' several undrafted free agents have dazzled in the early going...

 

OK, the elephant in the room --

 

AZL Dodgers Bottom of the 1st

 

Ariel Sandoval lines out to center fielder Joantgel Segovia.

Erisbel Arruebarrena doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Demi Orimoloye.

Jared Walker hits a ground-rule double (3) on a fly ball to center field. Erisbel Arruebarrena scores.

With Ibandel Isabel batting, passed ball by Zach Taylor, Jared Walker to 3rd.

Ibandel Isabel homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Jared Walker scores.

Gage Green singles on a ground ball to right fielder Nicolas Pierre.

Mitch Hansen walks. Gage Green to 2nd.

Shakir Albert singles on a ground ball to left fielder Demi Orimoloye. Gage Green scores. Mitch Hansen to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Connor Baits replaces Jarret Martin.

Gersel Pitre hit by pitch. Mitch Hansen to 3rd. Shakir Albert to 2nd.

Alberto Estrella walks. Mitch Hansen scores. Shakir Albert to 3rd. Gersel Pitre to 2nd.

Ariel Sandoval hits a grand slam (2) to left field. Shakir Albert scores. Gersel Pitre scores. Alberto Estrella scores.

Erisbel Arruebarrena walks.

Jared Walker grounds into a force out, second baseman Daniel Leonardo to shortstop Gilbert Lara. Erisbel Arruebarrena out at 2nd. Jared Walker to 1st.

Ibandel Isabel grounds out, pitcher Connor Baits to first baseman Tyrone Perry.

 

Second appearance each for the rehabbing (shoulder) LHP Jarret Martin and 33rd round RHP Connor Baits.

 

Props to the team for nearly making an incredible comeback...

[Mass Haas]

Final: DSL Brewers 11, DSL Cubs 6

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

 

The Cerveceritos trailed 3-2 after five, but then scored nine consecutive runs to improve to 11-17. They took advantage of Cub sloppiness (fun to type) to net five unearned runs.

 

18-year-old SS Ignacio Otano is now 10-for-14 in SB attempts, he was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI.

 

Another 18-year-old, 2nd-year pro 1B Nicol Valderrey, singled three times and scored three runs. We had received a roster from the Brewers showing Valderrey, who has banged out a lot of singles, had added quite a bit of weight to his MiLB listed 6'2, 180, but we haven't seen the added power yet.

 

Former Tigers farmhand Yerison Pena is doing exactly what a dude who is about to turn 24 should do in this league -- 4-for-5 here with a double, two RBI and two runs scored, he's sporting a 1.154 OPS which we can all primarily ignore unless he's bumped to Brevard this week -- wouldn't that be a bold statement, why not? Pena has been playing corner outfield for the first time in his career this season.

 

DSL Brewers Game Log

 

6'2", 170 lb. 18 year-old Venezuelan RHP Nelson Hernandez remains very projectable in the Brewers' eyes, all 18 of his pro appearances have been starts - 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 7/3 GB/FO here.