Link Report for Sunday 7/5 - 2nd round RHP Cody Ponce makes Rattler debut

[WV Brew]

Four-Run Fourth Leads Manatees to Victory

Brevard County Defeats Clearwater, 5-4

By Dave Walkovic / Brevard County Manatees

07/05/2015 9:48 PM ET

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/1/9/8/131575198/cuts/Brennan_3_j2quqccs_x7k3c19f.JPG

Taylor Brennan, seen here, hit the go-ahead double in the 7th inning of the Manatees 9-5 win Friday night (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

Viera, Fla.- A four-run offensive explosion in the fourth inning led the Brevard County Manatees (4-6, 33-46 overall) to a 5-4 victory over the Clearwater Threshers (8-3, 45-36) on Sunday night at Space Coast Stadium.

 

With the Threshers leading 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, Taylor Brennan led off the frame with a single to left field. After Brennan stole second, Cameron Garfield singled to right to move Brennan over to third. Rafael Neda then walked to load the bases with no outs. Angel Ortega stepped to the plate and chopped a single through the left side of the infield. Both Brennan and Garfield scored and gave the Manatees a 3-2 lead. With runners on first and second, Omar Garcia dropped down a bunt and reached first without a throw. After the Threshers cut down a run at the plate on a Chris McFarland fielder's choice, the bases were still loaded with one out for Michael Ratterree. Ratterree sharply lined a ball to short that resulted in an infield RBI single. Clint Coulter followed up the single with a sacrifice fly to right field to complete the Brevard County scoring. The Manatees plated four runs on five hits in the inning and took a 5-2 lead.

 

Brevard County originally took the lead in the bottom of the first. Coulter singled to left with two outs. Garrett Cooper then doubled down the left field line to and advanced Coulter to third. Clearwater starter David Whitehead (5-7, 4.34 ERA) then walked Brennan and Garfield consecutively to force home a run. Brevard County led, 1-0.

 

Clearwater scored a pair of runs in the top of third on a fielding error by Brennan and an RBI single from Angelo Mora.

 

After the Manatees scored four to take the lead in the fourth, the Threshers cut into the deficit in the fifth against Wei-Chung Wang (6-2, 4.54 ERA). Rhys Hoskins hit a leadoff double. Two batters later, Willians Astudillo lined a single to center and scored Hoskins.

 

Wang was lifted after the fifth inning. He surrendered three runs - just one earned - on eight hits. He walked two and fanned five.

 

Tyler Spurlin tossed three shutout innings in relief of Wang. He allowed just three hits - one in each frame - and struck out two batters.

 

With the 'Tees leading 5-3 after eight, Mark Williams was summoned from the bullpen to try to close the game out. With one out, Andrew Pullin singled before Williams hit Hoskins with a pitch. Chace Numata singled to right field to score Pullin. Hoskins tried to advance to third, but a perfect throw from Coulter nabbed Hoskins for the second out of the inning. Astudillo then popped out to second to end the game. Williams recorded his second save of the season.

 

The Manatees and Threshers will play the rubber match of the three game series tomorrow night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Eric Marzec (1-6, 4.87 ERA) will toe the rubber for Brevard County. The Threshers will send Victor Arano (2-7. 4.91 ERA) to the bump.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Wei-Chung Wang used 95 pitches to get through just 5 innings. His line was: 5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. So he had a lot of baserunners. He was able to limit the damage. Spurlin was great in the middle relief role. Mark Williams has now given up runs in 4 of his last 5 appearances. The key play was in the 9th when Clint Coulter threw out the tying runner at 3rd on a single to right for the 2nd out of the inning. Most teams don't run on Clint but it was probably worth the risk here even though it backfired. Taylor Brennan had two hits and a walk.

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

 

Clearwater Top of the 9th

 

Pitching Change: Mark Williams replaces Tyler Spurlin.

Carlos Tocci flies out to left fielder Michael Ratterree.

Andrew Pullin singles on a line drive to center fielder Omar Garcia.

Rhys Hoskins hit by pitch. Andrew Pullin to 2nd.

Chace Numata singles on a line drive to right fielder Clint Coulter. Andrew Pullin scores. Rhys Hoskins out at 3rd on the throw, right fielder Clint Coulter to third baseman Taylor Brennan.

Willians Astudillo pops out to second baseman Christopher McFarland.

[Mass Haas]

Sky Sox pitchers, manager discover true effects of altitude

By Aaron Reiss, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

Rick Sweet didn't anticipate this.

 

Sure, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox manager knew his pitchers would have more difficulty here than in Nashville, home of the Milwaukee Brewers' last Triple-A affiliate. But having elevation lessen the break of pitches as much as it does, requiring pitchers to tweak their release points and pitch locations as much as it has? He didn't realize altitude's effects would be this severe.

 

"Frustrating is probably a good word," Sweet said before Colorado Springs' 7-3 home loss to the Memphis Redbirds on Sunday.

 

Saturday, the Sky Sox surrendered 15 runs. And on the season, Colorado Springs' team ERA (5.25) is the third worst in the Pacific Coast League.

 

The altitude presents an obstacle in pitchers' development, Sweet said. The elevation is unlike that of anywhere else the prospects pitch in Triple-A, and, if they get to the majors, it's unlike Milwaukee, the town they'd call home.

 

"With young guys, we're trying to develop that consistency," Sweet said, "then we throw them into an environment that's totally inconsistent."

 

"When Colorado was here, it makes sense," Sweet added. "It's the perfect environment for them because they're getting ready for the big leagues. For us, it sets us back a little bit."

 

Sky Sox reliever Rob Wooten made his major-league debut at Coors Field and didn't give up a run. In his first game of the year at Security Service Field, he allowed one. He wondered why everyone hyped up the difference elevation makes. Then, in his next outing in Colorado Springs, he gave up three home runs in 1 1/3 innings. The Sky Sox allowed 16 runs in that game.

 

"I was trying to throw stuff nasty," Wooten said, "and it ended up backfiring on me."

 

Wooten, who spent part of last season with Nashville, said that's an easy trap to fall into for pitchers when their stuff isn't working like they want it to at elevation: they try to throw harder, make pitches break off bigger and strike hitters out. They end up getting behind in counts.

 

After that early season game, the Sky Sox pitchers had a meeting. Sweet told them not to worry about their numbers being inflated; the Milwaukee front office knew where they were pitching.

 

Technology the team has tells coaches when a home run is a "true" homer, Wooten said, and when it's a ball off the end of the bat that carries in the altitude. When it's the latter, the Sky Sox know they need to brush it off.

 

Wooten heard more of the same when he was in the majors earlier this season: decision makers in Milwaukee were "taking our statistics with a grain of salt."

 

So he's learned to go out and trust his pitches. And to accept that his balls might break less than they do elsewhere.

 

The Sky Sox pitchers, Wooten said, will talk about the elevation's effects. They'll make the occasional joke.

 

In their conversations, they can maybe take solace in the unique preparation Colorado Springs offers. Sweet said if a player pitches here, his eventual transition to the majors can be easier. Once he leaves this elevation, he wouldn't have to make as many adjustments between home and away games.

 

Taylor Jungmann was 2-3 with a 6.37 ERA for Colorado Springs this season. Since moving up to Milwaukee, he's 3-1, and his ERA is less than three.

 

During Sunday's game, some Sky Sox staffers mentioned Jungmann's recent performance and joked the Brewers' organization would stop sending its best pitching prospects to Colorado Springs.

 

Or maybe it will continue to do so.

 

After all, Wooten said, "if you can pitch here, you can pitch anywhere."

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO via WLOX: Biloxi game highlights - Nick Ramirez HR, and what a catch, Tyrone Taylor

[Mass Haas]

Shuckers' Fellhauer plays for his 'angel in the outfield'

Outfielder's mother died in May following leukemia battle

Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald

 

VIDEO via WLOX: Tastefully done news story follows up this previously posted article

 

***

 

Video also linked in the Biloxi feature thread...

[Mass Haas]

Quotes included here --

 

Four-run fourth seals Manatees victory

Donald Rieber Jr., Brevard County Manatees Examiner

 

After losing a 7-6 decision to the Clearwater Threshers on Saturday, the Brevard County Manatees bounced back with a much needed win Sunday at Space Coast Stadium. Angel Ortega’s two-run single in the bottom of the fourth inning, highlighted a four-run frame and propelled the Manatees to a 5-4 win.

 

Brevard County (4-6, 32-46) struck first in the bottom of the first inning. After Threshers starter David Whitehead retired the first two batters, Clint Coulter singled to left. He moved to third on a double down the left field line by Garrett Cooper. Taylor Brennan drew a walk to load the bases and Cameron Garfield followed with a walk of his own, scoring Coulter and giving the Manatees a 1-0 lead.

 

Manatees’ starter Wei-Chung Wang, like Whitehead in the first inning, recorded the first two outs in the third, before running into trouble. Rhys Hoskins singled and went to third on a Chace Numata double. Willians Astudillo then chopped one to third, which Brennan couldn’t come up with. The error allowed Hoskins to score the tying run, while Numata moved to third.

 

The Threshers would take the lead when Angelo Mora hit a rocket to Brennan that he made a dive for and knocked down with his glove. By the time Brennan got to his feet, Numata scored and Mora was safe at first.

 

The Manatees would turn things around in the bottom of the fourth, an inning in which they would send nine men to the plate. Brennan got things started with a single and with Garfield batting, he stole second. For Brennan, it was his 11th steal of the season. Garfield would hit a ball to right that dropped in front of the fielder, chasing Brennan to third.

 

Whitehead, who hadn’t retired anyone to this point in the inning, would then walk Rafael Neda to load the bases. Ortega came up and hit a chopper that got by the infield and through to leftfield, scoring two runs and giving the Manatees a 3-2 lead. Omar Garcia followed with a great bunt toward third, loading the bases again. Michael Ratterree’s infield single made it 4-2 and Coulter capped the inning off with a sacrifice fly, giving the Manatees a three-run cushion.

 

“That was huge,” said Manatees manager Joe Ayrault of the big inning. “Something we talked about yesterday, just stringing the runs together and that big inning was huge for us.”

 

Clearwater (8-3, 45-36) got a run back in the fifth inning with Hoskins hitting a leadoff double and Astudillo chasing him home one out later, with an RBI single. That made it a 5-3 ballgame.

 

Wang (6-2), who had runners on in every inning he pitched, got through the fifth and got himself a hard earned victory. He threw 97 pitches (63 strikes), gave up three runs (one earned) on eight hits, walked two and struck out five.

 

“He threw the ball well, just got the pitch count up there,” said Ayrault. “He only allowed the one run, the error by Brennan would’ve ended that inning. That gave them two runs.”

 

Tyler Spurlin came took over for Wang in the sixth and did a stellar job. “Spurlin coming in, putting up some zeros and shutting down their offense, was big,” said Ayrault.

 

When Ayrault talks about Spurlin putting up some zeros, he’s not kidding. Spurlin did not allow a hit, didn’t walk a batter and didn’t strike anyone out in his three innings of work. Spurlin set things up nicely for Mark Williams, who was called on to pitch the ninth.

 

Andrew Pullin singled and Hoskins was hit by a pitch. Numata came up and laced a single to Coulter in right. The hit did score Pullin, making it 5-4, but Coulter, who has shown off his arm more than a few times this season, did it again when he fielded the ball and came up throwing. He made a perfect throw to Brennan at third, nailing Hoskins.

 

”The play of the game for me,” said Ayrault of Coulter’s throw. “That’s a huge out. It was the tying run and he made a perfect strike throw to Brennan. That was a big league throw right there.”

 

It was a good day for Coulter all around. He made the game-saving play in the ninth and his single earlier in the game, extended his hitting streak to seven games. Brennan was the only multi-hit guy for the Manatees, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

 

These two teams will battle for the series win Monday in the final game of the Manatees homestand. Eric Marzec (1-6, 4.87 ERA) will pitch for Brevard County. He will face Victor Arano (2-7. 4.91 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM (5:35 Central).

[Mass Haas]

(VIDEO via WFRV-TV) - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Manager Matt Erickson joins Ryan Rodig in studio Sunday for Sports Xtra to talk about a number of topics about his ball club including Brewers OF Khris Davis' recent rehab assignment and 2014 first round pick Kodi Medeiros.

[Mass Haas]

Originally posted June 11th --

 

BROOKLYN BOYS

Maryland baseball's Jose Cuas and Kevin Martir used the sport as their way out of East New York

 

What a great read -- Third baseman Cuas was the Brewers' 11th round pick, Martir, a catcher, went in the 18th round to Houston

 

Now this follow-up:

 

Former Grand Street duo parting ways for pro baseball careers

By Joseph Staszewski, BrooklynDaily.com

 

Jose Cuas and Kevin Martir will have to continue their baseball careers without each other for the first time.

 

***

 

Posted in full as well in our season-long Helena / Maryvale feature article archive thread...

[Mass Haas]

Final: AZL Reds 9, AZL Brewers 4

 

Maryvale Box Score

 

Rehabbing John Ely (see prior post in this thread) surrendered three runs in the first inning, and three hurlers followed to only allow two additional earned runs (four unearned) over the next seven innings.

 

E: Quiterio 2 (2, throw, fielding), Perry (1, missed catch), Lara, G (3, fielding).

 

First two errors of the season in eight games at third base for 20-year-old Jorge Quiterio.

 

LF Joantgel Segovia reached three times (single, two walks).

 

CF Trent Clark and SS Gilbert Lara were each 1-for-4.

 

RF Demi Orimoloye showed off his athleticism, stealing two bases.

 

Maryvale Game Log

[jerichoholicninja]

Kodi Medeiros is not longer the scheduled starter for Monday, Zach Hirsch is getting the nod...I haven't seen him pitch yet, so I'll have to wander over to the stadium again tomorrow night.

 

Williams is starting Tuesday, he is a guy I love to watch pitch. The times I have seen him, he seems to pitch older than he actually is.

 

I'm going to the game on Tuesday. Was hoping to see Kodi pitch but then saw it was Williams which was a good consolation. However, if Kodi is being bumped from Monday I wonder if everyone is being bumped back a day and he actually will pitch on Tuesday? Either way I'll get to see someone I wanted to see.

[CheezWizHed]

He allowed one hit, walked two, and struck out three over four scoreless innings.

 

Just as easy as 1-2-3-4. Which is 33% harder than 1-2-3, but I'll take it.