Link Report for Tuesday 7/7 - Explanation for Orlando Arcia's Early Exit

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Tuesday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Hiram Burgos at home vs. Memphis (Cardinals), 7:35 PM pre-game, 8:05 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.

 

**********

 

Biloxi: RHP Johnny Hellweg at Montgomery (Rays), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 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: This series in Montgomery is available via MiLB.TV.

 

**********

 

Brevard County: RHP Javier Salas at Tampa (Yankees), 6:00 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link - Yankees Feed Only

 

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

 

**********

 

Wisconsin: RHP Devin Williams at home vs. Kane County (Diamondbacks), 11:45 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM 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.

 

***

 

Helena: LHP David Carver at Grand Junction (Rockies), 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.

 

NOTE: This series in Grand Junction is available via MiLB.TV.

 

***

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the tiny White Sox, 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

 

***

 

DSL Brewers: at the DSL Yankees #2 squad, 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 Tuesday'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 these just prior to the respective game times --

 

Colorado Springs Media Notes - Home games only, it's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Multimedia" banner on the Sky Sox' site.

 

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:

 

Colorado Springs, CO

 

Montgomery, AL

 

Tampa, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI

 

Grand Junction, CO

 

Maryvale, AZ

 

San Pedro de Macoris, DR

[Mass Haas]

Biloxi's Orlando Arcia legs out an RBI triple as the Shuckers fall, 5-1, to Montgomery Monday night

 

[Mass Haas]

The nation is catching up to what we know --

 

Baseball America Midseason Top 50 Prospects

 

Arcia has hit and everyone loves the glove. He’s the best player in the Southern League as a 20-year-old

 

Preseason # 95.

 

Not here was he #95!

[Mass Haas]

[And That]

Was just contemplating the Timber Rattlers' struggles this year and their potential roster for next year... depending on how things shake out, it could be the most prospect-laden offensive team that the Brewers have had since I've been following them.

 

C: Houle

1B: Denson

2B: Neuhaus

SS/3B: Gatewood

3B/SS: Lara

OF: Stokes

OF: Harrison

OF: Clark

 

A pitching staff potentially headed by Kirby, Ponce, and Diplan is pretty exciting too.

 

The rest of the pitching staff might be another story, and the system is looking like it might have gaping talent holes in Brevard (with the possible exception of the rotation) and Biloxi (with the possible exception of a Coulter/Taylor/Roache outfield) next year, but that Rattlers lineup is definitely something to dream on.

[Mass Haas]

Southern notes: Reed follows his own route

Brewers outfielder breaking out with Biloxi after bypassing Ole Miss

By Guy Curtright / Special to MiLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/5/6/135052256/cuts/Reed_960_3vlmcpk8_lm31uzmk.jpg

Michael Reed has five homers and 40 RBIs in 72 games for the Double-A Shuckers. (Kevin Pataky/MiLB.com)

 

Michael Reed didn't follow his father's athletic path or end up at his dad's college.

 

The Milwaukee Brewers are thankful for both.

 

***

 

Also included (in full) in our season-long Shuckers feature article archive thread...

[TheCrew07]

Williams with his worst inning in a while (34 pitches) to start the game:

 

Kane County Top of the 1st

 

• Chuck Taylor singles on a line drive to center fielder Brandon Diaz.
  With Ildemaro Vargas batting, Chuck Taylor steals (3) 2nd base.
  Ildemaro Vargas walks.
  With Cody Regis batting, wild pitch by Devin Williams, Chuck Taylor to 3rd. Ildemaro Vargas to 2nd.
  Cody Regis reaches on a fielder's choice out, first baseman Alan Sharkey to third baseman Dustin DeMuth. Chuck Taylor out at 3rd. Ildemaro Vargas to 3rd. Cody Regis to 2nd.
  With Marty Herum batting, wild pitch by Devin Williams, Ildemaro Vargas scores. Cody Regis to 3rd.
  With Marty Herum batting, wild pitch by Devin Williams, Cody Regis scores.
  Marty Herum triples (5) on a fly ball to right fielder Elvis Rubio.
  Colin Bray doubles (14) on a fly ball to left fielder Mitch Meyer. Marty Herum scores.
  Michael Perez pops out to first baseman Alan Sharkey in foul territory.
  With Henry Castillo batting, Colin Bray steals (14) 3rd base.
  Henry Castillo strikes out swinging.
  

 

Interesting note from last night's game I forgot to share but one of the Kane County pitchers charting pitches and chatting us up noticed that the Rattlers were able to steal signs from the C. The runner at 2nd base would put his arm up for "breaking ball" and leave it down for "FB". After calling 10 pitches in a row from the stands based on what the Rattlers were doing out at 2B they tried to get the attention of the guys in the dugout but didn't have success. I was wondering why they just didn't walk over there and say something even though they were charting pitches, I would have thought charting pitches could wait... nice guys though.

 

Today's KC starter Wei-Chieh Huang was working hard on his chart with his interpreter nearby, he looks like he's 14, hard to believe he's putting up video game numbers for the D-Backs.

[Mass Haas]

Would not surprise at all if RHP Greg Holle (released March 30th) finds his way back to affiliated ball soon performing like this.

[Mass Haas]

The Timber Rattlers tandem system early in the season barely allows for the middle relievers not in tandems to get any work (think Josh Uhen, now hurt, and Gian Rizzo, Luke Curtis, Tyler Linehan).

 

But then once you break up the tandems, it's not like you have a bunch of seven-inning pitchers all of a sudden. Those same guys who didn't have enough work early are really being called on often as of late.

[TheCrew07]

The Timber Rattlers tandem system early in the season barely allows for the middle relievers not in tandems to get any work (think Josh Uhen, now hurt, and Gian Rizzo, Luke Curtis, Tyler Linehan).

 

But then once you break up the tandems, it's not like you have a bunch of seven-inning pitchers all of a sudden. Those same guys who didn't have enough work early are really being called on often as of late.

 

Yep, and the bullpen hasn't exactly been a strength.

[Mass Haas]

Kudos for official organizational honors for Player and Pitcher of the Month go to Wisconsin OF Brandon Diaz and Biloxi RHP Jorge Lopez (links lead to @BrewersPD tweets).

 

Congrats, gents!

[Mass Haas]

Time flies...

 

So I'm preparing two of our favorite yearly threads for posting later this week -- which farmhands will be eligible for minor league free agency this fall, and which ones are eligible to be protected from December's Rule 5 draft.

 

Regarding the minor league free agents, one name stuck out.

 

2009 2nd round catcher Cameron Garfield, in the midst of his third full season with Brevard County, is in his 7th pro season and will be a minor league free agent this fall at the age of 24 years, five months (barring a re-sign with the Brewers, which we've certainly seen over the years).

 

Bringing that up not because Garfield would be a huge loss given his track record, but just can't remember seeing another free agent so young.

[Mass Haas]

and which ones are eligible to be protected from December's Rule 5 draft.

 

Sneak preview -- among the names, these guys are all first-time eligibles (alphabetical order):

 

Orlando Arcia

Jorge Lopez

Michael Reed

Victor Roache

 

Of course, many others we'll be able to debate later this week. Teaser!

[WV Brew]

Space Coast has been a Bermuda Triangle for Cameron Garfield. I was surprised he didn't go to Biloxi after he made the FSL All-Star team in each of his previous two years. Even now, the Brewers should probably be promoting a catcher from each level (Weisenburger to AAA, Garfield to AA, Leal to A+ and so on). What's the point of Robinson Diaz and Neven Ashley? Of all the Manatees, I think Garfield has been hurt the most by Space Coast. It really doesn't fit his hitting style.

[Mass Haas]

Helena's road game washed out

Helena Independent Record

 

A pair of heavy bursts of afternoon rain wiped out the series opener between the Helena Brewers and the Grand Junction Rockies on Tuesday.

 

The four-game series will now start at 7:00 PM (8:00 Central) Wednesday in Colorado. The teams will make up Tuesday's contest as part of a doubleheader on Thursday, beginning at 5:00 PM (6:00 Central). The twin bill will consist of two seven-inning games, with the second contest starting 30 minutes after the completion of the first.

 

The series will then conclude on Friday, when the Brewers (7-10) will head to South Division-leading Orem (13-6) for a three-game series that will finish their 11-game road swing.

 

Helena will play again at home next Wednesday, taking on the Rockies (10-9) at Kindrick Legion Field.

[TheCrew07]

Kane County's fast start stops Wisconsin

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

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Mitch Meyer went 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI on Tuesday against Kane County. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica)

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Kane County Cougars scored three runs in the top of the first inning and they used four pitchers to keep the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in check for a 6-1 victory Tuesday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

Kane County (47-34 overall, 11-2 second half) had runners at second and third with no outs against Wisconsin starting pitcher Devin Williams in the first inning when Cody Regis sent a grounder to first. Wisconsin came home and got the runner trapped between third and home. The runner was tagged for the first out, but stayed in the rundown long enough to allow the runner at second to make third and Regis to reach second.

 

Williams would throw two separate wild pitches to allow both runners on base to score with Marty Herum at bat. Herum would triple to get himself into scoring position. Colin Bray followed with a double to drive in Herum for a 3-0 lead.

 

Chuck Taylor made it 4-0 with a two-out RBI single off reliever Gian Rizzo in the fourth inning.

 

Wisconsin (28-55, 5-8) struggled to get anything going offensively against Cougars starter Wei-Chieh Huang. The right-hander out of Taiwan allowed two hits, but faced the minimum over his first four innings. That changed in the fifth.

 

Carlos Leal drew a leadoff walk. Alan Sharkey and Sthervin Matos each singled to put a Rattler on every base. Mitch Meyer followed with a walk to force in Leal. Huang regrouped to retire the next two batters and leave the bases loaded.

 

The Cougars padded their lead with single runs in the seventh and the eighth. Bray had a two-out RBI single off Tyler Linehan in the seventh. Regis had a two-out RBI single in the eighth.

 

Wisconsin had runners at the corners in the bottom of the seventh with one out. Tucker Neuhaus appeared to give the Rattlers a run with a sacrifice fly to left, but it was ruled that Sthervin Matos left third for the plate early and Matos was retired on an appeal play to end the inning.

 

Meyer went 2-for-2 with a walk and drove in the only Wisconsin run of the game.

 

The series between the Rattlers and Cougars moves to Kane County, Illinois on Wednesday night. Jon Perrin (0-0, 5.79) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Kane County has Ethan Elias (8-3, 2.61) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Game time is 6:30pm.

 

There are several ways to catch the action from Kane County. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm. The broadcast may also be heard on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio. Subscribers to MiLB.TV may watch the game on that platform with the Kane County announcers.

 

WP: Wei-Chieh Huang (4-1)

LP: Devin Williams (2-5)

 

TIME: 3:09

ATTN: 2,868

 

Rattler Radio Postgame Post: July 7, 2015

Hey no Khris Davis questions!

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Kind of a stinker, every Rattler pitcher gave up at least 1 run.

 

Sthervin Matos (2-4) has a 5 game hit streak going.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[jerichoholicninja]

Got to see Williams in person today. I hope it was an off day for him because he did not look good at all. Huang looked good for Kane County. Hadn't heard of him before but now I'll keep an eye on him.

 

Maybe I'm wrong but that out on appeal play was an incredibly blown call. I had the runner and the catch both in my line of sight for the play and there was no way he left early. I don't know how an umpire can make that call on a play like that. Both umps were pretty bad today though in my opinion.

[Mass Haas]

Cool insights to the Brewers' minor league video system here --

 

Local college student Kurt Bathelt capitalizes on uniquely local opportunity with Sky Sox

By Brent Briggeman, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

PHOTO GALLERY: At link

 

Kurt Bathelt's first pitch to Troy Tulowitzki flew in about 5 feet outside and bounced short of the plate.

 

The second attempt wasn't much better. Eventually, the nerves subsided and the Pine Creek grad grooved the pitches in that the rehabbing Rockies shortstop needed.

 

There's much more to Bathelt's job, but moments like that batting cage encounter make for a unique perk.

 

"I'm grateful for this every day," Bathelt said. "I grew up here, too, so it just fell right in my backyard perfectly."

 

Bathelt is in charge of collecting video data for the Sky Sox, setting up five cameras for each home game that capture and catalogue each pitch. He also manually tracks location and velocity of each of those pitches as well as keeping tabs on the result of each batted ball. He also serves as a sort of I.T. specialist inside the clubhouse.

 

And on top of that, he throws batting practice.

 

"It's like any job in the minors, you wear a lot of hats while you do it," said the right-handed Bathelt, who became a batting practice pitcher during his sophomore season on the Pine Creek baseball team when a broken left hand left him unable to do much of anything else.

 

"He does a great job for us," Sky Sox manager Rick Sweet said. "Computers are his specialty. Anytime we have a problem with our computers, we go to him.

 

"The bonus for us is that he throws great batting practice."

 

Early in high school Bathelt began taking offseason batting practice with former Sky Sox hitting coach Dave Hajek, a Springs resident. That relationship continued after Bathelt began attending the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, where he studies sports management. Hajek recommended Bathelt to the Rockies for the video coordinating position, and Bathelt secured his hiring in an interview with team officials.

 

A similar situation played out when the Brewers took over the Colorado Springs affiliate and Hajek recommended Bathelt to Sweet.

 

"It's a part-time job with full-time hours," Bathelt said.

 

The video Bathelt manages is extensive. The Brewers have used it for all of their minor-league clubs for years, so catalogs of information exist for the Sky Sox players and most of their opponents. Bathelt assists players as they want to study themselves or opponents. Each night he uploads all of the data into massive Milwaukee-based servers that put all of the information available to the organization's brass on demand.

 

"If (Brewers general manager) Doug Melvin is traveling and in the morning he wakes up and wants to see (Matt) Clark's at-bats from yesterday, he can open up his iPad and see all of them, and see them from three different camera angles," Bathelt said. "He can do that all the way down to Single-A, watch all the top prospects without leaving home."

 

Bathelt's program at UCCS requires two internships. For those he logged time at USA Cycling and USA Hockey - taking advantage of more local options as he has built a varied résumé. The Sky Sox position that he's held for three seasons, however, has left him with a career goal in mind.

 

"Baseball is a science, and it's kind of cool to be part of that a little bit," Bathelt said. "For lack of a better term, I'm just a data collector. We'll compile as much info as we can on our own guys and the other guys and we'll formulate and try to make something out of it.

 

"I love being able to have a part in developing a guy to go to the big leagues."

 

And when those big leaguers return on a rehab assignment, he'll help them get back. Just as soon as he corrals those nerves.

[Mass Haas]

Top prospect Williams struggles in loss to Kane County

Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media

 

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Dustin DeMuth of the Timber Rattlers runs down Kane County’s Chick Taylor after he was caught between third and home during their game at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Tuesday. (Photo: Wm. Glasheen/Post-Crescent Media)

 

GRAND CHUTE – Devin Williams has a high ceiling and has pitched like a major league prospect this season.

 

Tuesday, though, was one of those dreary days where every pitch seemed to be a battle for the talented 20-year-old right-hander.

 

Williams, the top-rated prospect on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ roster, struggled through one of his worst starts of the season in a 6-1 home loss to Kane County.

 

Williams — a second-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2014 first-year player draft — allowed three runs on four hits, walked three and uncorked three wild pitches in an ineffective three-inning stint.

 

Williams was shaky right from the start. Much of the damage came in a frustration-filled first inning which saw Williams allow all three runs and launch all three wild pitches.

 

“No command whatsoever,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “He looked a little amped up in the first inning. The ball was shooting all over the place. He was up in the zone and he spiked a few.

 

“He was trying to make adjustments. You could see that by the over-exaggeration. There was little control over anything he was throwing.”

 

Williams — ranked by Baseball America as the eighth-best prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization — entered the game with a solid 2.92 earned run average and hadn’t experienced major control problems, with a very good WHIP of 1.11.

 

But he just couldn’t consistently find the strike zone Tuesday. Of Williams’ 75 pitches, only 38 were for strikes.

 

“Up until this game, he had three outings in a row where he went around 90 pitches and went deep into games and was pretty efficient,” said Erickson. “He’s been really good out of the windup. He’s had a little bit of a struggle in the stretch as far as repeating his delivery and being consistent with his control. But today it started in the windup. There was little control there. We’ll get back to work and hopefully in five days, he’ll be a lot better.”

 

The loss snapped a three-game Wisconsin winning streak. The Rattlers (28-55) managed seven hits off four Cougars pitchers, including two apiece by third baseman Sthervin Matos and outfielder Mitch Meyer. But Wisconsin had no extra-base hits and lost a run when it was ruled that Matos left third base too early on what initially appeared to be a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh.

 

Kane County starter Wei-Chieh Huang limited Wisconsin to four hits in five innings to raise his record to 4-1. Huang, a right-hander signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent out of Taiwan, lowered his ERA to an outstanding 1.54.

 

“He knows how to locate,” said Timber Rattlers first baseman Alan Sharkey. “His changeup is like a whiffleball. It drops a good two feet.”

 

The left-handed-hitting Sharkey has been on a hot streak and went 1-for-3, with a pair of walks. He has hit just over .300 in his last 21 games with an impressive on-base percentage of .436. In Monday night’s 5-4 win over Kane County, Sharkey reached base three times and slammed a two-run homer, his second of the year.

 

“I’m just looking for good pitches to hit and trying to drive the ball,” said Sharkey, a 13th round pick out of Coral Springs High School (Fla.). “I’m trying to not swing at the change-up and bad pitches. I’m just going with my approach and going up there with a purpose.”

 

Some team employees wore paper headgear known as “Sharkey Fins” Tuesday as part of a promotional effort tying the first baseman to the Discovery Channel’s highly popular “Shark Week” which is currently airing. Instructions on how to make Sharkey Fins can be found on the Timber Rattlers’ website.

 

“I thought they were hilarious,” said Sharkey. “I was hanging out in the locker room before the game and Tucker Neuhaus comes in and has this fin on his head. The hats were awesome. It’s Shark Week and it’s a lot of fun.”

[WV Brew]

Yankees Take Series Opener Against Manatees, 6-4

Tampa Smacks 12 Hits in Victory

By Dave Walkovic / Brevard County Manatees

07/07/2015 10:38 PM ET

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/3/6/123303436/cuts/Brennan_5h1duu5r_8fgkp2l8.JPG

Taylor Brennan, seen here from a game earlier this year, collected two hits in Tuesday's loss. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

Tampa, Fla. - The Tampa Yankees (7-5, 41-41) smacked 12 hits en route to a 6-4 victory over the Brevard County Manatees (4-8, 33-48) on Tuesday night at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

 

The Yankees opened the scoring against Brevard County starter Javi Salas in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI groundout by Dante Bichette Jr., but the Manatees were able to answer immediately.

Taylor Brennan led off the top of the second with a single to center. Garrett Cooper then laced his first triple of the season down the right field line. Brennan scored and tied the game. Cameron Garfield plated Cooper with an RBI ground out to second.

 

Tampa tied the game in the bottom of the second when Kyle Higashioka singled home Jake Skole. The Yankees broke the tie in the fourth with a pair of runs. With runners on second and third with two outs, Abiatal Avelino reached on a throwing error by Angel Ortega that scored two runs and gave Tampa a 4-2 advantage.

 

The Manatees would fight back to the tie the game, however. With two outs in the fifth, Ortega singled to right field. He then advanced all the way to third on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by the catcher Higashioka. Brevard County plated another run in the sixth. Chris McFarland singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Clint Coulter drove in McFarland with an RBI single to center.

 

The Yankees took the lead right back in the bottom half of the sixth. After Skole and Higashioka singled to put runners on the corners with no outs, Michael O'Neill grounded into a double play to score Skole. The Yankees led, 5-4.

 

Salas (7-5, 2.95 ERA) was removed after the sixth inning. He surrendered five runs - three earned - on nine hits. He walked two and fanned one.

 

Miguel Andujar hit an RBI single in the seventh and gave the Yankees an insurance run against Stephen Peterson. Peterson allowed just the one run on three hits and struck out three in two innings of relief.

 

Alex Smith recorded a 1-2-3 ninth inning to record his sixth save of the season.

 

Jordan Montgomery (2-3, 3.44 ERA) earned the win. He tossed seven innings and surrendered four runs - three earned - on eight hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out four.

 

The Manatees and Yankees will continue the three-game series tomorrow night. Jorge Ortega (6-5, 2.33 ERA) is scheduled to start for Brevard County. RHP Vicente Campos (0-1, 3.60 ERA) will toe the rubber for Tampa. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Taylor Brennan and Angel Ortega with two hit games. Salas threw 97 pitches in his 6 innings of work, not as efficient as he normally is.

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Memphis 13, Colorado Springs 6

 

Redbirds Emerge Victorious In See-Saw Battle

Memphis Secures Series-Sweep Behind Another Strong Offensive Performance

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

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Elian Herrera went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Sox offense in Tuesday night's loss to the Redbirds. (Photo by Paat Kelly)

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sky Sox will be happy to see Memphis leave town after Tuesday night's 13-6 series-ending loss to the Redbirds before a crowd of 4,983 fans at Security Service Field.

 

Memphis jumped out to a fast 3-0 lead against Sox starter Hiram Burgos (1-1, 4.87) in the game's very first frame. The right-hander allowed two singles, a double and a walk in the inning as Greg Garcia and Jeremy Hazelbaker each collected RBI knocks. Burgos settled down over the next two innings, keeping Memphis off the board until a two-run fourth regained the lead for the visiting side.

 

The Colorado Springs offense battled back early, scoring four combined runs in their first two trips to the plate against Memphis starter John Gast (5-6, 4.45). Logan Schafer pulled the Sox within two with his RBI double to plate Elian Herrera in the first before Yadiel Rivera's RBI double and Herrera's two-run triple in the home second gave the home squad a 4-3 lead.

 

Though Memphis retook the lead in the fourth with a slim 5-4 advantage, the Sox would not take long to respond as they knotted the game thanks to a Jason Rogers RBI sacrifice fly. The RBI was the infielder's first since rejoining the Sky Sox on Monday night.

 

Burgos and Gast each tossed another scoreless inning in the fifth before the Redbirds took the lead for good. Memphis would finally chase Burgos in the sixth, driving in three runs on three hits and an error. Burgos recorded just one out before being replaced by Rob Wooten in that fateful inning. In his shakiest Sox outing to date, Burgos allowed eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out two.

 

Wooten allowed one run on four hits while striking out two in his 1.2 innings of work before giving way to a scoreless inning of work from Wirfin Obispo in the eighth.

 

The Sox offense showed a little late life with two outs an no one on in the home eighth as Rivera doubled before Bryan Petersen scored the speedy shortstop on an RBI single. The RBI was Petersen's first since May 13th at home against these same Redbirds.

 

Now trailing 9-6 after eight full innings of play, Colorado Springs called on the normally reliable Jaye Chapman to keep the deficit at three. The righty would struggle however as he surrendered four consecutive hits, the last being a two-run triple by left fielder Nick Martini, to give Memphis three runs scored in the ninth. Third baseman Alex Mejia followed with a sacrifice fly to Matt Clark in left, plating Martini with the night's final run.

 

Sam Tuivailala took over with two out in the eighth before finishing off the Sox in the home ninth despite back-to-back hits by Rogers and Clark. Tuivailala earned his 12th save, leading Memphis to a four-game sweep of the Sox with their 13-6 victory.

 

The four through seven hitters in the Redbirds lineup combined to go 13-for-18 with 10 runs scored and eight RBIs. Martini led the way, driving in four Memphis runs on the night. Herrera, Schafer and Rivera collected multi-hit efforts in the see-saw battle with Herrera recording four of the Sox 13 total hits to go along with two RBIs and two runs scored.

 

Colorado Springs will look to put this series behind them as the Oklahoma City Dodgers come into town on Wednesday night for a brand new five-game set. Coming off of his best start of 2015, Drew Gagnon (1-9, 6.39) hopes to get the Sox back in the win column against MLB veteran lefty Eric Stults (NR) and the Dodgers with first pitch set for 7:05 PM MDT (8:05 Central) at Security Service Field.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

144 AAA at-bats - .403/.449/.535 (.983 OPS), my goodness, Elian Herrera.

 

Counting the disabled list guys, 21 of the 33 guys on this roster will be minor league free agents at season's end, and collectively, they're playing as if they can't wait to get out.

 

Will have to double-check, but believe we read that the last home run hit at home by a Sky Sox player was May 29th!

 

Colorado Springs Game Log