Link Report for Saturday 7/4 - Roller Coaster Ride

[Mass Haas]

Speedy Diaz burning up basepaths for Timber Rattlers

Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media

 

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The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ Brandon Diaz faces the Cedar Rapids Kernels during their baseball game at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium last month. (Photo: Wm. Glasheen/Post-Crescent Media)

 

GRAND CHUTE – He’s workout buddies with Eric Hosmer, an avid Miami Heat fan and the most explosive Wisconsin Timber Rattler on the basepaths.

 

Meet Brandon Diaz, an intriguing outfield prospect who has shown development in recent weeks.

 

***

 

This was also posted in full within our season-long Timber Rattlers feature article archive thread.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Manatees' Manager Joe Ayrault joins the Manatees Radio Network to recap the road trip

 

***

 

AUDIO: Clearwater defeats Brevard County in front of 5,259 fans at Space Coast Stadium, 7-6

[Mass Haas]

Sneed absorbs tough loss in Manatees debut

Donald Rieber Jr., Brevard County Manatees Examiner

 

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Cy Sneed made his Brevard County debut Saturday, allowing four runs in four innings and coming up on the losing end of a 7-6 decision. Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography

 

The Brevard County Manatees gave the Fourth of July crowd at Space Coast Stadium a lot to cheer about late in Saturday’s contest against Clearwater. Unfortunately, the ‘Tees rally ended up falling just short in a 7-6 loss in front of 5,259. “That was a fun game,” said Manatees manager Joe Ayrault. “It was good to see the stadium packed.”

 

The home crowd witnessed the debut of Manatees starting pitcher Cy Sneed, who was called up from Low-A Wisconsin, earlier this week. Sneed pitched well overall, but as you might expect had a bit of a rough first inning.

 

Malquin Canelo and Carlos Tocci hit consecutive singles to start the game and each moved up on a groundout to first base by Andrew Pullin. After Rhys Hoskins walked to load the bases, Sneed made a nice play on a chopper back to the mound off the bat of Chace Numata. Sneed fielded and threw to catcher Cameron Garfield to record the out. Unfortunately, the next batter was Willians Astudillo, who is batting .316. He ripped a single back up the middle that was good for two runs. Numata was thrown out at third by Omar Garcia, ending the inning.

 

“You come into a new league, you’re gonna be a little over-amped,” said Ayrault, when asked about Sneed. “”He left some balls up in the zone and he was probably a little jacked up tonight.”

 

The Manatees (3-6, 31-46) got a run back in the bottom of the second, helped by a Clearwater error. Garfield hit a one-out double against Threshers starter Yacksel Rios and moved to third on a groundout by Jose Pena. Angel Ortega then hit a grounder to second that was fielded cleanly, but the throw went off Astudillo’s glove at first, allowing Garfield to score and close the gap to 2-1.

 

Astudillo atoned for his error in the Clearwater fourth, when he belted a two-run homer to left, chasing home Numata, who singled ahead of him.

 

“Astudillo is a very good hitter,” said Ayrault. “He had four RBI on the night, hit the two-run homer and had the bases loaded two RBI single. That kid can flat out hit.”

 

Brevard County didn’t wait long to answer, getting those two runs back in the bottom of the inning. Garrett Cooper and Garfield hit consecutive singles with one out. An error at third allowed both runners to move up. With Pena batting, Rios threw a wild pitch, bringing Cooper home and making it a 4-2 game. After Pena walked, Ortega hit into a fielder’s choice, earning him an RBI and pulling the Manatees within one, 4-3.

 

Sneed would not come out for the fifth inning, he threw 84 pitches over his four innings of work. He allowed four runs on six hits, walked one and struck out three. Tristan Archer was called on to start the fifth for the Manatees.

 

Clearwater (8-2, 45-35) would get to Archer with two outs in the fifth. Hoskins hit an RBI single to left, giving his team a 5-3 lead. They would pick up another run in the sixth on a Chase Harris RBI single and one more in the seventh on a Numata RBI knock. When all was said and done, the Threshers were ahead 7-3 and they would need every one of those runs.

 

The Manatees put together their best inning of the game in the bottom of the seventh, against Clearwater reliever Miguel Nunez. Ortega singled and Garcia was hit by a pitch. Michael Ratterree came up with an RBI single, making it 7-4. He went to third on an RBI single by Clint Coulter and all of a sudden it was a two-run game.

 

Taylor Brennan’s RBI sacrifice fly made it 7-6 and put an end to Nunez night, after 0.2 innings. He allowed three runs on three hits and walked one. Jesen Dygestile-Therrien came in and threw a wild pitch to Garfield, moving Coulter to third and Cooper to second. Therrien rebounded quickly though, getting Garfield to fly out.

 

“It was good to see the guys string some hits together and score those three runs,” said Ayrault.

 

The Manatees came up in the bottom of the ninth, still needing two runs to win and almost pulled it off. Against Threshers closer Ulises Joaquin. Chris McFarland reached on an error to start the inning and Ratterree followed with a deep fly to center that fell just shy of the warning track. Coulter was up next and he gave a Joaquin fastball quite a ride to left, but came up just short. Brennan was the Manatees last hope, but he grounded out to third, to end the game.

 

“Ratterree hit the ball deep and Coulter just missed that ball off the end of the bat,” said Ayrault. “They both could’ve been game-enders.”

 

The Manatees will try to even the series Sunday, when they play game two at 5:05 PM (4:05 Central). Lefty Wei-Chung Wang (5-2, 4.72 ERA) will take the ball for the Manatees, while the Threshers counter with righty David Whitehead (5-6, 4.06 ERA).

[Mass Haas]

In the April 8th version of Matt Eddy's Minor League Transactions over at Baseball America, Matt wrote:

 

New York Yankees

 

Released: RHP Scott Baker, RHP Felix Santiago, C Roybell Herrera, C Bismar Nunez, C Daniel Vavrusa, 3B Juan Lorenzo, SS Melvin Aquino, SS Allison Reyes, OF Hector Asencio, OF Adolfo Morillo, OF Adam Silva

 

Most interesting among the Yankees’ roll of released players are a pair of Dominican amateurs signed last July 2. Outfielder Adolfo Morillo signed for $50,000 (at age 16) and catcher Bismar Nunez signed for $10,000 (at age 19) just nine months ago, but New York released both players on March 31 rather than keep them in extended spring training. Neither played a game for a Yankees affiliate.

 

***

 

We have learned that the Brewers have since jumped in and signed Morillo. Given his prior release, any financial commitment must have been very minimal.

 

Morillo is listed as a LH bat and arm, 6'0", 170 - in one link he was listed as a CF. He'll turn 18 on September 21st, so this summer will be his age 17 season.

 

And no, we don't know why he never dressed for the Yankees.

 

We posted that earlier in this thread, back in April. Now notice another name on that release list, catcher Bismar Nunez, mentioned in Eddy's note above.

 

Like Morillo, we now learn the Brewers have signed the former Yankee signee Nunez, who never played at all for the Yankees organization.

 

Checking in on the two players the Yankees spurned, for whatever reason --

 

CF Adolfo Morillo, 25 games -- .301/.330/.398 (83 AB's, 4 BB, 22 K, 3 SB, 2 CS)

 

C Bismar Nunez, 11 games -- .316/.350/.421 (38 AB's, 2 BB, 7 K)

 

So far, thanks, Yankees...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Billings 9, Helena 0

 

Helena shut out for first time this year

Helena Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers (6-10) were shut out for the first time this year, falling 9-0 to the Billings Mustangs (7-9) on Saturday at Dehler Park.

 

Ty Boyles was outstanding in the start for Billings, giving up just two hits over six and a third innings and striking out six.

 

Southpaw Christian Trent would pitch well for Helena in the start, but would be limited to three innings. The lefty would throw shutout baseball and strike out one.

 

The Mustangs picked up six runs in the bottom of the fourth off Brock Hudgens (0-1). Reydel Medina hit his fourth home run in two days, going 3-for-4 and coming up a triple short of the cycle. Tyler Stephenson and Hector Vargas would double in the frame, giving Billings a 6-0 advantage after four.

 

Steven Karkenny accounted for two of Helena's three reaches in the game, singling and walking in his two plate appearances.

 

Billings added three more runs in the sixth off Brewers' reliever Marcos Diplan. Aristides Aquino tripled for his second hit of the day and scored on Medina's RBI-single.

 

The two teams will face off in the finale of their four-game series Sunday at Dehler Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

***

 

Billings Gazette: Mustangs-centric coverage

 

***

 

Helena Box Score

 

RHP Brock Hudgens has allowed 22 baserunners in 6.1 innings with Wisconsin and Helena...

 

Helena Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Memphis 15, Colorado Springs 1

 

Sox Pitching Sees Red In 15-1 Loss To Memphis

Redbirds Explode for 22 Hits In Independence Day Drubbing

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

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Security Service Field hosted the Sox seventh largest crowd in team history in Saturday night's 4th of July loss. (Photo by Paat Kelly)

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sky Sox had no answers for Memphis on Independence Day as the visiting Redbirds piled on 22 hits in their 15-1 series-opening victory before a sold out Colorado Springs crowd of 8,896 at Security Service Field on Saturday night.

 

Memphis would get to starter Tim Dillard (2-2, 7.14) for 12 runs (11 earned) in the game's first two frames. Dillard lasted just 1.1 innings in the blowout loss, surrendering 11 hits and a walk in that time. Nine of Memphis' hits went for singles as Cody Stanley, Nick Martini, Matt Williams, Dan Johnson and Jeremy Hazelbaker combined for 10 RBI in the early going with Stanley and Williams each collecting three.

 

Wirfin Obispo relived the struggling Dillard with one out in the second, tossing three total innings of one-run ball on four hits while striking out a whopping six Redbirds.

 

With the score now 13-0 in favor of Memphis, Nick Additon would come on with one out in the fifth in hopes of keeping the Redbirds right where they were. He did just that in the fifth before going on to pitch 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four.

 

Redbirds righty Zach Petrick (5-4, 3.64) benefitted from far better fortunes on America's birthday, shutting down the Colorado Springs lineup over 7.2 innings of truly impressive work. The starter allowed just six hits while walking none and striking out four, benefiting from an abundance of groundball outs.

 

Newest Sox addition Austin Ross took over in the ninth to round out the arms used by manager Rick Sweet in a tough night for the home town pitching staff. Ross worked a scoreless inning, striking out one along the way in his Security Service field debut to send the Sox to the bottom of the ninth still trailing by 15.

 

The Sky Sox showed signs of life in the contest's final frame, recording a run with hits by Logan Schafer and Matt Long before a Yadiel Rivera sacrifice fly to left scored Schafer from third to end the shutout. The run came off of reliever Joey Donofrio whom the Sox were clearly thankful to see, notching four base hits and their lone run against the righty in his 1.1 innings. Already with three hits under his belt in a perfect night at the plate, Juan Centeno came up with a man on and two out in the ninth and followed with a game-ending fly out to center.

 

The Sky Sox managed ten hits in the while every Redbirds starter collected at least one knock with seven notching multi-hit performances. Stanley led the offensive charge for Memphis with his five-hit, four RBI night.

 

Colorado Springs falls to 32-48 with the loss, helping Memphis improve to 42-41 on the season.

 

The crowd of 8,896 on Saturday night represents the seventh largest Pacific Coast League season crowd in team history, and largest since Security Service Field's 2006 renovation. An exhibition between the Rockies and Sky Sox on 4/21/1994 saw a slightly higher attendance with 8,947 fans enjoying the contest.

 

The Sox will look to get back in the win column after a quick turnaround on Sunday afternoon as they take on these same Redbirds in the second of a four-game set. Tyler Thornburg (1-4, 4.75) is set to take on Memphis lefty Tyler Lyons (5-4 , 3.10) with first pitch set for 1:35 PM MDT (2:35 Central) at Security Service Field.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Wow, what a clunker for fans waiting to get to the fireworks; the big-league club now with a better record than the Sky Sox, Manatees, and Timber Rattlers. If Gord Ash was still on hand in Colorado Springs, he was hiding in a corner covering his face.

 

Tim Dillard, who actually had been having a solid season - 1.1 IP, 11 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

[Mass Haas]

One cool story out of Colorado Springs on this 4th of July Link Report --

 

Memphis Redbirds assistant Vance Albitz proud of Gloves 4 Troops on July Fourth

[Mass Haas]

Roller coaster, anyone?

 

15-1 loss, 9-0 loss, 16-0 win, 10-0 win, all wrapped within one Link Report...

[Mass Haas]

Tom Haudricourt -- Brewers need to improve farm system

[Mass Haas]

Myers joins Milwaukee Brewers post-MLB draft: An interview with Aaron Myers

Halle Parker, Longwood University Rotunda Sports Editor

 

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/therotundaonline.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/e/3b/e3b95ce2-21de-11e5-8d1a-039492de944f/559720c92c38d.image.jpg?resize=526%2C760 Laura Clarke photo

 

For Aaron Myers, playing baseball after college was never just an option, but the only option. Whether or not a major league team picked him up, the Longwood graduate planned to continue pitching even if it was for an independent team.

 

A two-year starter for the baseball team, Myers broke five records, including three strikeout records, during his senior season prior to graduating with a degree in Physics. The right-handed pitcher threw 319 strikeouts over the course of his career, solidly surpassing the previous record by 60 strikeouts. Following over 100 innings on the mound, Myers pitched over a third of his career strikeouts during his final season (115).

 

After the MLB draft ended, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Myers as an undrafted free agent officially on Wednesday, June 24.

 

Myers talked about his experience signing and his role with his club. Following are the edited excerpts.

 

***

 

Full Q&A also posted in our Helena / Maryvale feature article archive thread...

[gregmag]

Man, Haudricourt has a gift for weaving together the obvious and the conventional with barely serviceable prose. What percentage of the population could do his job better? At least 20, and I'm being nice.