Link Report for Friday 7/24

[Mass Haas]

Via the MLB Tribune, a fascinating look at the Dominican players' introduction to pro ball via the Blue Jays' Jose Bautista

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog Postgame Entry -- Five breif postgame audio interviews, a nice Elvis Rubio photo, and these highlights --

 

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: A second look at the Wisconsin game highlights, this time via the MyNew32 TV broadcast

[Mass Haas]

Final: Billings 4, Helena 3

 

Mustangs score 2 in 9th to win 4-3

Helena Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers (16-18) squandered a late lead to give the Billings Mustangs (14-20) a comeback 4-3 win on Friday at Kindrick Field.

 

Joshua Torres was outstanding in the start for Helena, throwing five shutout innings and striking out two. He would allow just three hits.

 

The Brewers grabbed the first lead of the ballgame with a run in the bottom of the first. Omar Cotto led off with a walk from Jacob Constante and scored later on the sacrifice fly from Steven Karkenny. Karkenny led the Helena offense with a 3-for-3 performance, adding two doubles, one RBI, and a run.

 

Constante pitched the first six frames for Billings, giving up three runs on four hits and striking out six. It was a season-high for Constante in innings pitched and strikeouts.

 

The Brewers would take a 3-2 lead to the top of the ninth, but it would not last. Junior Rincon (2-3) blew his third save of the season, giving up two runs in the inning. Tyler Stephenson came up with a one-out double, his second hit of the night. With men at second and third and two outs, Dalton Carter ripped a two-RBI double to right-center to score Stephenson and Reydel Medina. Rincon is now 2-for-5 in save attempts.

 

Helena threatened in the bottom of the ninth, getting men on the corners, but a grounder to short from Carlos Belonis would the game.

 

The Mustangs and Brewers will face off in the second and final game of their two-game series Saturday at Kindrick Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score

 

RHP Junior Rincon, released by the Marlins after his 2013 season, throws hard, but he's deflating his squad (and the Link Reports).

 

Helena Game Log

 

The bottom of the 9th was even more depressing than the top, my goodness --

 

Billings Top of the 9th

 

Pitching Change: Junior Rincon replaces Nate Griep.

Kevin Franklin flies out to right fielder Carlos Belonis.

Tyler Stephenson singles on a ground ball to second baseman George Iskenderian.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Zach Shields replaces Tyler Stephenson.

Reydel Medina singles on a line drive to center fielder Omar Cotto. Zach Shields to 3rd.

With Hector Vargas batting, Reydel Medina steals (5) 2nd base.

Hector Vargas strikes out swinging.

Dalton Carter doubles (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Omar Cotto. Zach Shields scores. Reydel Medina scores.

Mitch Piatnik pops out to second baseman George Iskenderian.

 

Helena Bottom of the 9th

 

Defensive Substitution: Mitch Trees replaces Zach Shields, batting 5th, playing catcher.

Pitching Change: Tyler Parmenter replaces Jake Johnson.

George Iskenderian singles on a fly ball to center fielder Mitch Piatnik.

With Dustin Houle batting, wild pitch by Tyler Parmenter, George Iskenderian to 2nd.

Dustin Houle singles on a bunt ground ball to catcher Mitch Trees. George Iskenderian to 3rd.

Troy Stokes strikes out swinging.

Milan Post strikes out swinging.

Carlos Belonis grounds out, shortstop Blake Trahan to first baseman Kevin Franklin.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Omaha 4, Colorado Springs 2

 

Early Runs Help Omaha Chase Sox In 4-2 Loss

Three First-Inning Runs Enough for Storm Chasers as Sox Drop Opener

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/8/0/137161480/cuts/04_11_037_pk_h9iuvv9f_wu5462cm.jpg

 

Jason Rogers' late solo blast would not be enough as the offense mustered only three more hits in Friday's loss. (File photo from prior game by Paat Kelly)

 

Colorado Springs followed consecutive exhilarating walk-off victories with a modest offensive performance on Friday night, falling 4-2 in their series opener with the Omaha Storm Chasers before a crowd of 8,192 at Werner Park.

 

Elian Herrera and Matt Clark helped the Sox to a quick start with first-inning doubles against Omaha lefty Buddy Baumann. Clark would record his 48th RBI of the season with the two-out two-bagger, giving his team a 1-0 lead through half an inning.

 

The Sky Sox did not hold the lead for long as starter Hiram Burgos (2-2, 3.66) would face seven Storm Chasers in the home first, allowing three runs on four hits and a hit batsman. An RBI double by Jose Martinez knocked in Omaha's first run to tie it before Bret Eibner and Francisco Pena singled home runs, with one and two outs respectively, to provide the home team a 3-1 lead after one inning of play.

 

Burgos would settle down and pitch beautifully from that point on, serving up just two more hits over his final five frames. In all, the right-hander went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out three to salvage a quality start for his squad.

 

After Baumann provided the Storm Chasers with 3.2 innings of two-hit ball, right-hander Brian Broderick (5-3, 2.31) tossed 2.1 perfect innings to keep the Sox offense to just two hits through six innings of play.

 

The Sox would break Omaha's six-inning scoreless streak in the seventh thanks to a Jason Rogers solo blast off of left-hander Troy Patton. The long ball drew the Sky Sox within one run of tying the ballgame as Omaha led 3-2 going to the eighth. The Storm Chasers extended their lead against Ariel Pena in the eighth as Eibner drove in his second run of the night with a solo shot of his own.

 

In his second inning of work, Casey Coleman would shut the Colorado Springs offense down in the ninth to secure the 4-2 victory for his team. Coleman's first save helped Omaha improve to 56-44 while dropping the Sox to 40-57 on the season.

 

The Sky Sox collected just four hits on the night, all coming from the lineup's first four batters.

 

Colorado Springs will look to get back in the win column on Saturday night as they take on these same Storm Chasers in game two of a four-game set. The Sox send Drew Gagnon (1-10,6.96) to the mound against Omaha lefty Brandon Finnegan (0-2, 8.25) with first pitch set for 5:05 PM MDT (6:05 Central) from Werner Park.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

It was a costly final out of the game for the Royals' Futures Game participant (and indy ball signee) first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor - read what happened here.

 

Not much going on as evidenced by --

 

Team RISP: 1-for-4.

Team LOB: 1.

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

Welcome back, Jim Henderson (out since June 18th)

 

Omaha Bottom of the 7th

 

Defensive Substitution: Pete Orr replaces first baseman Matt Clark, batting 4th, playing third base.

Defensive switch from third base to first base for Matt Dominguez.

Pitching Change: Jim Henderson replaces Hiram Burgos.

Angel Franco walks.

With Whit Merrifield batting, Angel Franco caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Nevin Ashley to second baseman Luis Sardinas.

Whit Merrifield grounds out, shortstop Yadiel Rivera to first baseman Matt Dominguez.

Reymond Fuentes walks.

With Jose Martinez batting, Reymond Fuentes steals (16) 2nd base.

With Jose Martinez batting, Reymond Fuentes steals (17) 3rd base.

Jose Martinez grounds out, second baseman Luis Sardinas to first baseman Matt Dominguez.

 

***

 

Ejections: Colorado Springs Sky Sox first baseman Matt Clark ejected by HP umpire Jeff Morrow (7th)

 

Col. Springs Top of the 7th

 

Pitching Change: Troy Patton replaces Brian Broderick.

Jason Rogers homers (7) on a fly ball to left field.

Matt Clark called out on strikes.

Colorado Springs Sky Sox first baseman Matt Clark ejected by HP umpire Jeff Morrow.

Matt Dominguez flies out to center fielder Reymond Fuentes.

Nevin Ashley flies out to center fielder Reymond Fuentes.

[Mass Haas]

Do yourself a wonderful favor and read this April feature from Montana Magazine

 

Helena resident has become the ultimate minor league baseball fan

By Gabriel Furshong

 

***

 

God bless you, Mary -- you represented so much about what the game of baseball can represent -- Jim (Mass Haas)

[JimH5]

That was a tremendous story about that fan. Thanks for posting it.

[Mass Haas]

http://montanamagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/mary-1.jpg

 

July 24th (Montana magazine) -- We were very saddened to hear of the passing of Mary Gunstone last week. Mary was featured in our May/June 2015 issue in a feature that introduced us to her passion for the Helena Brewers baseball team.

 

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God bless you, Mary -- you represented so much about what the game of baseball can represent -- Jim (Mass Haas)