Link Report for Saturday 7/18

[Mass Haas]

Biloxi's Michael Reed hits a two-run double in the third inning of a 5-3 loss to Chattanooga

 

[Mass Haas]

Final: Colorado Springs 2, New Orleans 0

 

Burgos, Sky Sox Blank Zephyrs 2-0

Nevin Ashley's two-run single propels Sky Sox to series victory over New Orleans

By Nick Dobreff / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

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Hiram Burgos tossed 6.0 shutout innings Saturday as the Sky Sox blanked the Zephyrs 2-0. (File Photo from prior game by Paat Kelly)

 

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox shutout the New Orleans Zephyrs Saturday by a score of 2-0 in front of 3,996 fans at Zephyr Field. It was their fourth win in a row, tying for the team's longest winning streak of the season.

 

Locked in a scoreless tie entering the sixth inning, catcher Nevin Ashley provided the key hit of the game, delivering a two-run single against starter Adam Conley (8-3, 2.37) to give the Sky Sox a 2-0 lead.

 

Sky Sox starter Hiram Burgos (2-1, 3.51) held the Zephyrs scoreless through 6.0 IP allowing just three hits and striking out five. Relievers Austin Ross, Michael Kirkman and Jaye Chapman combined to hold the Zephyrs scoreless over the final 3.0 innings with Chapman recording the final four outs for his seventh save with the Sky Sox in eight chances.

 

First baseman Jason Rogers finished with one of the Sky Sox' four hits on the night going 1-for-2 with a run scored. The hit extended his hitting streak to 16 games in 16 appearances with the Sky Sox, tying him with Corey Dickerson for the longest hitting streak to begin a stint with the organization. Dickerson accomplished the feat from April 4-25, 2013.

 

With the win, the Sky Sox improved to 37-54 while the Zephyrs fell to 42-51. The Sky Sox will look to clinch their first series sweep of the season tomorrow afternoon as LHP Nick Additon (4-3, 6.08) takes the hill against RHP Kendry Flores (2-1, 2.31). First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM MDT (4:00 Central).

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Remember what it was like following a AAA squad (Nashville) that didn't play so many games in the Pacific Coast League's high altitude locales? This series in New Orleans reminds us...

 

Late change in the lineup has Luis Sardinas, off the DL (transaction thread), starting after all.

 

Jason Rogers singled and walked twice to now sport a .403/.472/.742 line (1.214 OPS) in 62 AAA at-bats this year. Pinball numbers...

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

Inherited runners-scored: Kirkman 1-0, Chapman, J 2-0.

 

One of the first things we look for in each and every box score...

[Mass Haas]

Many will list RHP Austin Ross as a 40-man roster candidate this fall.

 

***

 

Austin Ross climbing through minors the hard way

Darrell Williams, Special to The (Baton Rouge, LA) Advocate

 

http://theadvocate.com/csp/mediapool/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=i093aNWOg8odmIaU5Bmlcs$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYtpGwSSr7YU55DRBwx0SR3aWCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_CryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg

 

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox's Austin Ross has made it to Triple-A after overcoming Tommy John surgery in 2012 and a nerve issue in 2013. (Photo by Paat Kelly)

 

Austin Ross faced a difficult stretch in which it at least crossed his mind to explore his other option.

 

Also linked in full in our season-long Sky Sox feature article thread for archiving purposes...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 4, Orem 3

 

Gatewood Walks Off For Brewers Win

Helena Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers (14-14) got back to even on Saturday with a 4-3 win over the Orem Owlz (18-12) in walkoff fashion. It was the second time this season that Helena has won on the last play of the game.

 

It was all defense early on, as both starting pitchers performed well. Grayson Long got his second start against the Brewers. He would go just 1 2/3 innings, giving up one hit and striking out three.

 

Milton Gomez made it through 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and six hits. He would leave with a 2-0 deficit.

 

The Brewers had trouble at the plate, coming up with two hits through the first five innings and not having multiple hits in a frame until the ninth.

 

Jose Cuas added his second professional home run, a solo shot in the fifth off Travis Herrin. Herrin would be one of six pitchers that the Owlz threw on Saturday.

 

Armed with a 3-1 lead, Orem's closer Arjenis Fernandez could not finish the job. Steven Karkenny and David Denson each hit singles to lead off the inning to put the tying run aboard.

 

With men on the corners and nobody out, Jake Gatewood hit a three-run home run to center to seal the victory.

 

AUDIO: Jake Gatewood's walkoff 3-run home run

 

Bubba Blau (2-3) picked up the win, pitching the final 3 1/3 innings of one-run baseball.

 

The Brewers have now won three straight against the Owlz. The two teams will face off in the second game of their four-game series Sunday at Kindrick Field. First pitch is set for 1:05 PM (2:05 Central).

 

***

 

Helena Independent Record

 

All week, the Brewers have been chasing .500.

 

And, all week, Helena has fallen short, splitting a pair of doubleheaders with visiting Grand Junction.

 

Those near misses did not, however, carry over into the weekend -- where, with one mighty swing, Jake Gatewood lifted the Brewers to a thrilling, come-from-behind win over Orem, 4-3.

 

The Pioneer League North-leading Owlz (18-12) were in control through most of the contest, and handed closer Arjenis Fernandez a 3-1 lead with the game in the bottom of the ninth. The Helena squad, though, quickly got him in trouble when Steven Karkenny and David Denson each hit singles to lead off the inning. And, with men on the corners and no outs, Gatewood sent one out of Kindrick Legion Field, giving the home team a walk-off win to move its season record to 14-14.

 

The clutch, ninth-inning hitting came after a slow offensive start for the Brewers. The team had just two hits through the first five innings, and didn't have a multi-hit inning until the ninth. That helped the Owlz to an early lead, with the visitors plating one in the first and another in the third.

 

Helena got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth on Jose Cuas' second pro home run, a solo shot off of Travis Herrin -- one of six pitchers to throw for Orem on Saturday -- over the center field wall.

 

Orem answered with a homer of its own, the seventh of the year for Ranyelmy Mendoza, with two outs in the eighth inning. That set the stage for the dramatic ninth for Helena.

 

Bubba Blau (2-3) picked up the win, pitching the final 3 1/3 innings. Milton Gomez got the start for Helena and made it through 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and six hits.

 

Fernandez (3-1), meanwhile, took the loss, giving up three runs on three successive hits.

 

The Brewers have now won 11 of their last 17 games, and their last three against the Owlz. The two teams will face off in the second game of their four-game series at 1:05 p.m. Sunday and Kindrick Legion Field. A win, and Helena will move above that .500 mark for the first time in two years.

 

Helena Box Score

 

Hopefully this launches Jake Gatewoord into a Monte Harrison-type run...

 

Helena Game Log

 

Great coaching getting RHP Bubba Blau to recover from his early-season woes -- kudos, Bubba, too, of course...

[Mass Haas]

Final: AZL Mariners 3, AZL Brewers 2

 

Maryvale Box Score

 

The Mariners scored all three of their runs in the first inning as 19-year-old 9th round Oregon HS RHP Karsen Lindell couldn't escape the first inning, mostly due to pitch count, we imagine.

 

AZL Mariners Bottom of the 1st

 

Ricky Eusebio walks.

Julius Gaines doubles (3) on a line drive to right fielder Demi Orimoloye. Ricky Eusebio to 3rd.

Dalton Kelly triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Trent Clark. Ricky Eusebio scores. Julius Gaines scores.

Jose Leal hit by pitch.

Gareth Morgan walks. Jose Leal to 2nd.

Johmbeyker Morales pops out to first baseman Juan Ortiz in foul territory.

Augustus Craig singles on a ground ball to right fielder Demi Orimoloye. Dalton Kelly scores. Jose Leal to 3rd. Gareth Morgan to 2nd.

Juan Camacho strikes out swinging.

Pitching Change: Shawn Clowers replaces Karsen Lindell.

Taylor Perez grounds out to first baseman Juan Ortiz.

 

My goodness, more immaculate work from the non-drafted duo of LHP's Shawn Clowers and Brad Kuntz, as they combined for 7.1 scoreless innings, two hits, no walks, nine K's.

 

Maryvale Game Log

 

Speaking of my goodness, cleanup RF Demi Orimoloye doubled twice, singled, and stole two more bases...

 

So close to tying it in the 9th...

 

AZL Brewers Top of the 9th

 

Pitching Change: Jared West replaces Aneurys Zabala.

Defensive Substitution: Dominic Blanco replaces catcher Juan Camacho, batting 8th, playing catcher.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Beau Wallace replaces Kevin Martinez.

Beau Wallace singles on a line drive to left fielder Ricky Eusebio.

Zach Taylor out on a sacrifice bunt, pitcher Jared West to second baseman Taylor Perez. Beau Wallace to 2nd.

Jorge Quiterio strikes out swinging.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Yerald Martinez replaces Jonathan Oquendo.

Yerald Martinez walks.

With Trent Clark batting, wild pitch by Jared West, Beau Wallace to 3rd. Yerald Martinez to 2nd.

Trent Clark flies out to center fielder Gareth Morgan.

[CheezWizHed]

Vargas, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound powerhouse switch hitter, went 2-for-4 at the plate, with both hits leaving the park as solo home runs.

 

Is he listed as a DE?