Link Report for Friday 8/7

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: TBD at Oklahoma City (Dodgers), 6:35 PM pre-game, 7:05 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 Jorge Lopez at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 6:55 PM pre-game, 7:10 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! All the Biloxi games for the rest of the season are available via MiLB.TV.

 

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Brevard County: LHP Wei-Chung Wang at Dunedin (Blue Jays), 5:30 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link (Blue Jays' feed)

 

**********

 

Wisconsin: LHP David Carver at Great Lakes (Dodgers), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:05 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.

 

NOTE: Great Lakes does make its games available via MiLB.TV.

 

***

 

Helena: RHP J.B. Kole at home vs. Idaho Falls (Royals), 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 Idaho Falls in August, those games will be available to watch online.

 

***

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Dodgers' complex in Glendale, 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league

 

***

 

DSL Brewers: at the DSL Braves, 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 Friday'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]

Look for these just prior to the respective game times --

 

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:

 

Oklahoma City, OK

 

Biloxi, MS

 

Dunedin, FL

 

Midland, MI

 

Helena, MT

 

Glendale, AZ

 

San Pedro de Macoris, DR

[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.

[WV Brew]

Manatees delayed because the umpires failed to show up. (Not making this up). Sounds like they may be going with one umpire (out of the stands?). Now have a second umpire. You got me.

[Mass Haas]

The Manatees Examiner home game report from Thursday evening included several quotes from Manager Joe Ayrault and some additional game insight, it posted late, so we'll link to it here now.

[Mass Haas]

Every week, the MLBPipeline.com crew will rank the top 10 fantasy baseball prospects in the Minor Leagues. These rankings are based solely on expected 2015 fantasy production in the Major Leagues, in contrast to the MLBPipeline Top 100 Prospects list, which reflects long-term value in all phases of the game.

 

There's a Brewer at #3 this week...

[WV Brew]

Manatees getting no-hit through 5 and Wang getting hammered. If you're looking for a game to listen to, you may want to look elsewhere.

[Mass Haas]

LHP Brent Suter doing well early on in his Sky Sox (and AAA) debut tonight.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via MLB Trade Rumors -- Podcast: New Brewers Righty Zach Davies

 

We'll also link in our season-long Sky Sox feature archive thread...

 

Note to MLB Trade Rumors: Thanks! But you release this in the early stages of the Brewer game (we'll listen afterwards)...

[Mass Haas]

Gotta love minor league baseball --

 

Circus lights postpone Threshers-Yankees FSL game

Tents beyond batter's eye in center field deemed a distraction

By Danny Wild / MiLB.com

[homer]

Trent Clark gets a hit to extend hitting streak to 13 games.

[bkrause2]

Final: DSL Brewers 3, DSL Braves 5

 

DSL Brewers Box Score

 

The Brewers managed three runs on just three hits as they lost to the Braves by a score of 5-3. Wuilder Rodriguez started on the mound for the Brewers and went five innings, giving up three runs on eight hits. Joaquin De La Cruz followed up Rodriguez and worked the final three frames. He gave up two runs, one earned and was charged with the loss.

 

Franly Mallen had two of the Brewers three hits, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Mallen was at shortstop with Ignacio Otaño serving as the designated hitter and committed the lone Brewers error. Jay Feliciano walked and drove in a run and Anderson Jesus picked up the only other RBI.

 

DSL Brewers Game Log

[TheCrew07]

Loons take game one from Wisconsin

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

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Mitch Meyer had three of Wisconsin's five hits on Friday night at Great Lakes. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica)

 

MIDLAND, MI - The Great Lakes Loons defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-2 on Friday night at Dow Diamond. Alex Verdugo had three hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs for the Loons in game one of the three-game series.

 

Great Lakes (55-54 overall, 17-24 second half) scored twice in the bottom of the second inning against starting pitcher David Carver. Willie Calhoun and Frederico Celli singled to start the inning. Justin Chigbogu followed with a double to right-center to drive in Calhoun. Carver got the first out of the inning with a strikeout. Nick Dean followed with a grounder to short and the Rattlers got Chigbogu at third base for the second out as Celli scored.

 

The Loons made it 3-0 in the bottom of the third. Matt Beaty doubled and Verdugo singled to start the frame. Then, Kyle Garlick knocked in Beaty with a single. Carver got out of the inning without further damage.

 

Grant Holmes, the Loons starting pitcher, didn't allow a run until there were two outs in the top of the fifth. Mitch Meyer lined a clean single to center to start a rally for the Rattlers. Holmes walked the next two batters to load the bases before being removed in favor of Jose Molina. The Great Lakes reliever walked Omar Cotto, the first batter he faced in the game, to force in Meyer and the Rattlers were within 3-1. But, Molina left three Rattlers on base to end the inning.

 

Verdugo gave the Loons a three-run cushion back with a long solo home run to right with one out in the bottom of the fifth off reliever Gian Rizzo.

 

Great Lakes added one more run in the bottom of the seventh against Jarrett Martin. Beaty doubled with two outs and scored on a single by Verdugo.

 

The Timber Rattlers (37-73, 16-26) scratched for a run in the top of the ninth inning against JD Underwood. Sthervin Matos struck out for what would have been the second out of the inning, but reached as the ball got back to the backstop. Underwood got the second out on a popup, but Meyer extended the game with an infield single, his third hit of the game, which was also Wisconsin's fourth hit of the night.

 

Tucker Neuhaus sent a hard grounder up the middle that was backhanded by Calhoun. The Loons second baseman tried to flip the ball from his glove to Dean at second for the force to end the game, but the ball shot back towards the infield grass. Neuhaus was given an infield single and Matos scored on the error to bring the tying run to the plate. But, Underwood would get the final out on a routine fly to center.

 

Friday was the ninth straight game the Rattlers' opponents scored first.

 

Game two of the series is Saturday night at Dow Diamond. Cody Ponce (1-1, 1.29) is the scheduled starter for the Timber Rattlers. Luis De Paula (0-2, 3.93) is set to start for the Loons. Game time is 6:05pm CDT.

 

The action may be heard on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 5:45pm. The broadcast is also available on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio. The Loons are also a team that participates in MiLB.TV and fans with subscriptions may watch the game on that platform.

 

HOME RUN:

GL:

Alex Verdugo (5th, 0 on in 5th inning off Gian Rizzo, 1 out)

 

WP: Jose Molina (4-2)

LP: David Carver (1-3)

 

TIME: 2:26

ATTN: 4,832

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Well I was extremely interested in this game for a variety of reasons as the Rattlers were matching up against Grant Holmes. Holmes had a SO:9 coming into the game of 10.9 and he's at the top of the MWL leaderboard in every category including walks, his BB rate of 4.6 coming into today's action is pretty bad. True to form Grant walked 3 Rattler hitters but surprisingly only struck out 1, so I was pretty pleased in that regard. His one strike out was against Sthervin Matos who watched 3 straight 91-92 MPH FBs (stadium gun) paint the outside corner. (which by the way is probably why Holmes is walking so many, he's nibbling off the corners). Unfortunately once Holmes left the strike outs picked up tremendously and the Rattlers still ended up with 8 in the game.

 

Every pitcher on the Rattler side gave up at least 1 run with the exception of Scott Lieser. Jarret Martin was up to 94 on the stadium gun.

 

If not for Mitch Meyer (3-4) this would have been woeful offensive performance as they were into the bullpen in the 5th but just couldn't scrape together any hits to take advantage of their limited opportunities.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[bkrause2]

Final: Mississippi 7, Biloxi 0

 

M-Braves hand Shuckers worst loss at MGM Park in 7-0 shutout Friday night

Jorge Lopez suffered his fifth loss, but earned 12th quality start

Biloxi Shuckers

 

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Taylor Green had two of Biloxi's six hits on Friday night in the 7-0 loss to Mississippi. (M.K. Krebs)

 

BILOXI, MS – The Biloxi Shuckers were shutout for the 10th time in their inaugural season after a 7-0 loss to the Mississippi Braves on Friday night in front of a crowd of 3,897 at MGM Park. The seven-run defeat is the largest setback suffered by Biloxi at MGM Park. Despite the loss, the Shuckers maintain an 8-6 advantage in the Magnolia State rivalry.

 

Mississippi (24-17) cracked the scoreboard first with a two-run second. Back-to-back strikeouts by Shuckers’ starter Jorge Lopez (10-5) started a promising inning for the righty, but a single to Rio Ruiz and a hom erun off the bat of Kevin Ahrens put Biloxi in a 2-0 hole. Ahrens came in to the contest, 0-for-5 against Lopez, but changed that with a 3-for-3 performance on Saturday, coming a triple shy of the cycle.

 

The Braves added onto their lead in the fourth, once again striking with two outs. A leadoff single from David Rohm was followed by a walk to KD Kang before Matt Kennelly and Ruiz were put out. Ahrens drove in his third run of the game with a single to right to plate Rohm, putting the Shuckers at a 3-0 disadvantage.

 

Lopez’s loss was not indicative of his performance on the mound. In six innings, the 22-year-old allowed the three runs on four hits, two walks and struck out seven. The back-to-back winner of the Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Month award did earn his 12th quality start of the season, allowing the maximum of three runs over the minimum of six innings.

 

Drew Gagnon made his first appearance as a Shucker since being transferred from Triple-A Colorado Springs. In two innings, the 25-year-old allowed four runs on six hits and two walks.

 

Jed Bradley took the mound in ninth for Biloxi (19-21) and worked a scoreless frame.

 

Biloxi’s best scoring chance came in the second after Victor Roache (0x3, BB) reached on a fielder’s choice and moved over to third on a double by Taylor Green (2x4, 2B). But, back-to-back groundouts to third by Tyrone Taylor (0x4) and Parker Berberet (0x3) ended the threat.

 

The 10-game homestand continues on Saturday with game two of the series with the M-Braves. Saturday features a Post-Game Fireworks Extravaganza, weather permitting and a special appearance by former Atlanta Braves’ relief pitcher John Rocker.

 

RHP Adrian Houser (0-0, 4.76) will make his MGM Park debut, and face off against RHP Zack Bird (0-0, 0.00). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on 1240-AM WGCM, 1580-AM WPMO and the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network. Fans can also listen to the game using the TuneIn Radio app or by going to www.biloxishuckers.com.

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

Biloxi Game Log

[folly412]

LHP Brent Suter doing well early on in his Sky Sox (and AAA) debut tonight.

 

Hope he makes it here. Harvard!

[WV Brew]

Blue Jays Staff Dominant in 4-1 Win

Reid-Foley, Dragmire Hold 'Tees Hitless For Six Plus

By Dave Walkovic / Brevard County Manatees

08/07/2015 11:25 PM ET

 

 

Dunedin, FL - The Dunedin Blue Jays (16-24, 48-62 overall) used an excellent effort from their bullpen to take the series opener 4-1 over the Brevard County Manatees (18-21, 47-61 overall) Friday night at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium.

 

The game's deciding runs came in the bottom of the second, which was ignited by a one-out double from L.B. Dantzler off of Manatees starting pitcher Wei-Chung Wang. After Dickie Joe Thon flew out, Derrick Loveless launched his seventh home run of the season, an opposite-field two run home run blast to put Dunedin on top.

 

The Jays would get some insurance in the fourth with Dantzler starting the rally with a two-out walk. Thon would move him to second on a base hit to left and when Loveless followed with a walk, the bases were loaded for Jorge Saez. Saez slapped a single just past a diving Angel Ortega into left to bring home Dantzler and Thon to double the lead. Wang would avoid further damage when he struck out Anthony Alford to end the inning.

 

The Manatee offense showed signs of life in the top of the seventh when Robinzon Diaz's singled to left with one out for the 'Tees first hit of the game off of Blue Jays reliever Brady Dragmire. Taylor Brennan immediately followed with a double to left that brought Diaz to third base. He would come with the first Manatee when Rafael Neda lifted a sacrifice fly to left. Dragmire would get the final out of the inning and his outing when he got Michael Ratterree to ground out to short.

 

Brevard County put up a valiant last gasp with two out in the top of the ninth against Blue Jays closer Wil Browning. Neda started the charge with an infield single and would move up on a walk to Ratterree. Ortega then reached first to load the bases when Saez was called for catcher's interference. Browning then preserved the victory by inducing an Omar Garcia groundout to short.

 

Dunedin starter Sean Reid-Foley anchored the Blue Jay staff on the night, throwing five and one-third innings of no-hit ball, striking out six and walking four in the process. Browning recorded the four-out save. Offensively, the Jays were led by Saez's three-for-four night at the plate, logging his 10th double of the season in the eighth.

 

Wang gave up four runs on seven hits in six innings, striking out four and walking two. Garcia swiped his 43rd base of the season with a steal of third in the fourth inning.

 

The Manatees will look to bounce back on Saturday night as RHP Cy Sneed (3-1, 3.09 ERA) takes the ball against LHP Alonzo Gonzalez (2-3, 3.23 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 P.M.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Wei-Chung Wang has been better since the All-Star game but got hit pretty hard in this one. His splits are reversed this year. Right hand hitters are batting .268 with a ground out/air out ratio of 1.25. Left handers are: .308 and 0.51 so he really struggles against lefties. In this game, L.B. Dantzler, a left handed hitter, doubled off Wang in the 2nd. He was then Homered in by Derrick "Miguelito" Loveless, a left handed hitter. In the 4th, both of those hitters walked contributing to the 2 runs they scored there. This is probably why he's been working on his curveball. The changeup is apparently less effective against lefties.

 

Taylor Brennan's double was probably the only hard hit ball for the Manatees in the game.

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: AZL Brewers 7, AZL Dodgers 5

 

Tied 3-3 after six, A-Crew scores three in the 7th and then hangs on...

 

Maryvale Box Score

 

18-year-old Venezuelan second baseman Julio Mendez made his stateside debut, batting second, he walked twice, was HBP and drove in a run; CF Trent Clark (OPS up to .900, sweet) and RF Nicolas Pierre each had three singles; two of 1B Juan Ortiz' three hits were doubles; LF Demi Orimoloye was 1-for-3 with a walk and a sacrifice fly and knocked in three, he was also 1-for-2 on the basepaths (now 17-for-20 in that regard); 17-year-old SS Gilbert Lara, dropped down to the six-spot, was 0-for-5, as his line has fallen to .247/.274/.327 (.601 OPS); the Brewers must be questioning their decision to forego one season in the DSL for Lara. Lara committed error #8, still pretty solid for a 37-game stint on those sun-baked AZL infields.

 

19-year-old 9th round Oregon native Karsen Lindell has struck out 15 and walked only four in his first 17 pro innings, nice. One hit allowed in a scoreless rehab inning for RHP Brandon Kintzler, as he maintains his 40-man roster spot for now. Kintzler's $1.075M arbitration salary was locked in regardless of his potential DFA status.

 

Maryvale Game Log

 

The key rally --

 

AZL Brewers Top of the 7th

 

Pitching Change: Caleb Ferguson replaces Angel German.

Jimy Perez remains in the game as the first baseman.

Nicolas Pierre singles on a line drive to center fielder Ariel Sandoval.

Trent Clark singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Jimy Perez. Nicolas Pierre to 2nd.

Julio Mendez hit by pitch. Nicolas Pierre to 3rd. Trent Clark to 2nd.

With Demi Orimoloye batting, wild pitch by Caleb Ferguson, Nicolas Pierre scores. Trent Clark to 3rd. Julio Mendez to 2nd.

Demi Orimoloye out on a sacrifice fly to left fielder Federico Giordani. Trent Clark scores.

Tyrone Perry walks.

Pitching Change: Brian Bass replaces Caleb Ferguson.

Juan Ortiz doubles (8) on a line drive to right fielder Mitch Hansen. Julio Mendez scores. Tyrone Perry out at home on the throw, right fielder Mitch Hansen to second baseman Moises Perez to catcher Gersel Pitre.

Gilbert Lara flies out to right fielder Mitch Hansen.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Helena pre-game interview with Mitch Ghelfi, catcher out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

[Mass Haas]

Final: Idaho Falls 8, Helena 7, ten innings

 

Sigh...

 

Idaho Falls wins in 10

Helena Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers (2-6) lost a heartbreaker on Friday 8-7 to the Idaho Falls Chukars (7-1) in 10 innings. It was the Chukars' seventh straight win, their longest winning streak since 2007.

 

J.B. Kole was roughed up in the start, giving up six runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings of work.

 

The Chukars used another five-run inning to establish a lead, scoring five in the fourth. Brawlun Gomez led the rally with a two-run homer, his seventh of the season.

 

The Bullpen would be the backbone of the Brewers on Friday, as Junior Rincon, Conor Harber, and Alex Farina (0-1) combined to keep the Chukars scoreless from the fifth through the ninth.

 

Harber pitched three innings of shutout relief, giving up just one hit and striking out two.

 

Trailing 6-5 going to the bottom of the ninth, Malik Collymore and Steven Karkenny came up with back-to-back singles to start the inning. David Denson then hit a sacrifice fly to score Collymore and force extras. Collymore had another solid night at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI.

 

Karkenny is now riding a four-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games.

 

Farina would get the bases loaded with nobody out in the top of the 10th and gave up two runs on just one hit. A throwing error by Jake Gatewood would allow two to score.

 

Helena would get a run in the bottom of the 10th when Charles Galiano scored on a fielding error by Jeckson Flores at second, but Carlos Belonis was stranded at second representing the tying run to end it.

 

The two teams will face off in the third game of their four-game series on Saturday from Kindrick Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

 

***

 

VIDEO: Helena game highlights via KTVH

 

***

 

PHOTO GALLERY: Via Gary Marshall, Helena Independent Record / Blackfoot Media Group

 

***

 

Helena Box Score

 

2014 Villanova 8th round RHP J.B. Kole now has 70.2 Helena innings under his belt, safe to say more was expected of him.

 

Five Brewers had multiple-hit games, six Brewers reached base at least twice, and all but leadoff 2B Jose Cuas (0-for-6, ouch) had a base hit. RF Carlos Belonis was 3-for-5 and versatile 3B Steven Karkenny was 2-for-4 with a walk.

 

Helena Game Log

 

RHP Alex Farina and his dazzling numbers had tossed two scoreless before the fateful 10th, when the big Jake Gatewood error led to two unearned runs -- it was the H-Crew's only error on the night...

 

Idaho Falls Top of the 10th

 

Marten Gasparini singles on a ground ball to center fielder Troy Stokes.

Nick Dini hit by pitch. Marten Gasparini to 2nd.

Brawlun Gomez hits a sacrifice bunt. Marten Gasparini to 3rd. Nick Dini to 2nd. Brawlun Gomez to 1st.

Logan Nottebrok reaches on a force attempt, throwing error by shortstop Jake Gatewood. Marten Gasparini scores. Nick Dini scores. Brawlun Gomez to 3rd. Logan Nottebrok to 2nd.

Cody Jones strikes out swinging.

Jeckson Flores reaches on a fielder's choice out, third baseman Steven Karkenny to catcher Mitch Ghelfi. Brawlun Gomez out at home. Logan Nottebrok to 3rd.

With Amalani Fukofuka batting, Jeckson Flores caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Mitch Ghelfi to second baseman Jose Cuas to first baseman David Denson.

 

Helena Bottom of the 10th

 

Troy Stokes singles on a line drive to center fielder Cody Jones.

Mitch Ghelfi flies out to left fielder Roman Collins.

Charles Galiano grounds into a force out, third baseman Logan Nottebrok to second baseman Jeckson Flores. Troy Stokes out at 2nd. Charles Galiano to 1st.

Carlos Belonis singles on a line drive to right fielder Amalani Fukofuka. Charles Galiano to 3rd.

With Jose Cuas batting, Carlos Belonis steals (13) 2nd base, Charles Galiano scores. Missed catch error by second baseman Jeckson Flores.

Jose Cuas called out on strikes.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Colorado Springs 6, Oklahoma City 3

 

Homers Back Suter With 6-3 Win In Sox Debut

 

The Sky Sox benefitted from a strong Triple-A debut and some timely hitting to down the division-leading Oklahoma City Dodgers 6-3 on Friday night before a crowd of 10,245 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

 

Colorado Springs secured a series victory with their third consecutive road win against the Dodgers thanks to an impressive effort by recently-promoted starter Brent Suter (1-0, 0.00). The left-hander out of Harvard allowed just four hits and a walk over six scoreless frames, striking out two along the way as he picked up the win in his first Triple-A action.

 

The Sox offense collected the game’s first three runs in the third inning against OKC starter Zach Lee (8-4, 2.53). Kyle Wren would plate Yadiel Rivera with an RBI single for the first run before Pete Orr tagged the Dodgers lefty for a two-run homer to centerfield, extending the early Sox lead to 3-0. Colorado Springs added another in the fourth when Juan Centeno’s sac fly to right scored Matt Long with the decisive fourth run.

 

Mike Strong took over for the Sox in the OKC seventh after six sparkling frames by Suter. Leading off the inning, Dodgers first baseman Andy Wilkins welcomed the recently-recalled lefty with his 16th home run of the season to get the home team on the board with just nine outs remaining. Strong settled down to get out of the inning with the Sox leading 4-1 after seven.

 

Colorado Springs added insurance in the eighth on the strength of Domingo Santana’s first Sky Sox home run. The two-run dinger, his 17th of the season, off of Dodgers righty Yimi Garcia extended the Sox lead to 6-1 heading into the home eighth.

 

Austin Ross loaded the bases in the OKC eighth, getting just one out before new addition Preston Guilmet was called upon to wiggle out of the precarious situation. Wilkins drove in a run with a sac fly before a throwing error by Orr allowed Darnell Sweeney to score, cutting the Sox lead to 6-3. Guilmet struck out Kyle Jensen to end the inning before Jim Henderson tossed a scoreless ninth to secure his first save of the season and the Sox 6-3 win.

 

Colorado Springs improves to 46-65 with their third straight win, dropping OKC to 67-46 in the process. The Sox will go for the series sweep on Saturday night with Hiram Burgos (2-2, 3.10) set to lead the way against RHP Brandon Beachy (1-1, 4.34) and the Dodgers in the last of a four-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 PM MDT (7:05 Central) at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Given the teams' records, this has been a heck of a series for the Sky Sox.

 

Three weeks from his 26th birthday, LHP Brent Suter rocked his AAA debut, probably the best in the system at doing this --

 

Pickoffs: Suter (Peraza at 1st base).

 

Some say RHP Austin Ross is a fringe 40-man roster addition this fall, but the going has been tough at AAA. LHP Mike Strong, already on the 40-man, is feeling his way at this time as well.

 

When Hector Gomez joins the club, the team will need to make a corresponding move, likely a pitcher (14 active now).

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

CF Kyle Wren was on base three more times and stole his 29th base of the combined AAA/AA season in 41 attempts.

 

The eventual Khris Davis - Domingo Santana playing time dynamic will be interesting.

 

Luis Sardinas has four multiple-hit games in his last six starts, but his 14 walks vs. 262 AB's tells us a trade to the Padres or such shouldn't upset anyone...

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO via WLOX: A rarity, Biloxi (mostly) "lowlights"

 

***

 

VIDEO via WXXV: Nathan Orf on the heat in Bilxoi

 

***

 

PHOTO GALLERY: 13 images from Tim Isbell of the Biloxi Sun-Herald

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Pete Orr's HR from this OKC news report

[Mass Haas]

Here's the new Top 40 from Miller Park Prospects.