Link Report for Friday 9/4

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Hiram Burgos at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 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.

 

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Biloxi: RHP Jorge Lopez at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 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: RHP Cy Sneed at Daytona (Reds), 5:35 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Dave Walkovic returns as the play-by-play voice of the 'Tees; follow the Brevard broadcast booth staff on Twitter @BCManateesRadio, as all home games and the "commuter" road games are scheduled to be broadcast in 2015.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Angel Ventura at home vs. Cedar Rapids (Twins), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime; expect LHP Kodi Medeiros to pitch in a tandem role

 

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.

 

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Helena: RHP Conor Harber at Billings (Reds), 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).

 

***

 

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Season complete, the team finished the season at 23-33.

 

***

 

DSL Brewers: Season complete, the team finished the season at 32-40.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Friday's action as it happens with box score / game log links:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena

 

MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

[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

 

Brevard County Media Notes - It's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Multimedia" banner on the Manatees' site.

 

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

 

Biloxi, MS

 

Daytona Beach, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI

 

Billings, MT

[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]

The pre-Fairy Godmother Cinderella stepchild --

 

With the promotions of Garrett Cooper, Jorge Ortega, and Wei-Chung Wang, the Manatees are down to 22 players for their final three games. Brevard's season ends on Sunday (no Labor Day game), so the guys should be fine.

 

***

 

Prior to Ariel Pena's recall, the Sky Sox had 14 pitchers on their 25-man roster -- well, they still do, given Wang's presence. But it should be noted that both Rob Wooten and Tim Dillard (and of course, congrats to the wives especially!) have celebrated the births of sons within the past few days, so surely they've been given some time off. We may see Wooten back in a box score soon, his bundle of joy was earlier, it seems.

 

***

 

Congrats to the Brewers, Ariel Pena, and Pena's agent, for having the foresight to agree to a minor league deal for the 2015 season. Pena would have been eligible for minor league free agency last fall if not for the pact, which was probably sweetened a bit.

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Farmhand Birthday --

 

The former Tampa farmhand, LHP Trevor Lubking, who rehabbed and then settled into a Maryvale spot this summer, turns 23 today.

[TheCrew07]

Kernels edge Rattlers in Wisconsin's final home game of 2015

Cedar Rapids scores twice in eighth and holds on for 5-4 win

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

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Tucker Neuhaus went 2-for-5 with two RBI for the Timber Rattlers Friday night. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica)

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers dropped their final home game of the 2015 season in frustrating fashion. The Cedar Rapids Kernels scored twice in the eighth inning and stifled a pair of late Wisconsin rallies to hold on for a 5-4 victory.

 

The Kernels (75-62 overall, 34-33 second half) took advantage of some Timber Rattlers miscues in the fourth inning to score three runs. Angel Ventura struck out Edgar Corcino to start the inning, but the ball got to the backstop to allow Corcino to reach first base. TJ White would single, a fly ball got Corcino to third, and White stole second to put runners at second and third with one out. LaMonte Wade sent a grounder to first and the throw home would have had Corcino, but the ball popped out of catcher Natanael Mejia's glove and Corcino scored for a 1-0 lead.

 

Alex Real and Brett Doe would have RBI singles later in the inning to put the Kernels up 3-0.

 

Wisconsin (50-86, 27-39) nibbled away at the Kernels lead before eventually going in front themselves.

 

Sthervin Matos walked with one out and was at third after a two-out single by Luis Aviles. Tucker Neuhaus singled to right to score Matos and Aviles made it to third ahead of the throw. Neuhaus got caught between first and second and tried to get in a rundown to allow Aviles to score, but was tagged out before Aviles could cross the plate.

 

David Denson drew a walk with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Then, Jake Gatewood doubled to the wall in right to send Denson home and pull the Rattlers to within 3-2.

 

The Rattlers took the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Matos drew a leadoff single and Mejia singled on a hit-and-run play to get Matos to third. Neuhaus singled to center to knock in Matos with the tying run. A two-out wild pitch with Mejia at third base allowed the Wisconsin catcher to race home with the run that put the Rattlers up 4-3.

 

Cedar Rapids came back in the top of the eighth. Corcino coaxed a leadoff walk from reliever Kodi Medeiros and White followed with a double. Max Murphy knocked in Corcino with a grounder to short. Wade put Cedar Rapids back in front with a single through the drawn-in infield.

 

Wisconsin rallied in the eighth after Denson singled, Gatewood walked, and Greg McCall sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Matos was next and Denson tried to score on a grounder to first, but was out in a rundown back to third base. Then, Matos was thrown out trying to get to second base and the Kernels turned an odd, inning-ending double play.

 

In the bottom of the ninth, Mejia singled to start the inning and was replaced by pinch-runner Omar Cotto. Aviles sacrificed Cotto into scoring position. But, the game ended with Cotto standing on third base after a ground out and a strikeout.

 

Wisconsin finished 2015 with a home record of 27-42.

 

The attendance on Friday night was 4,727 to give the Rattlers a season attendance of 247,577. That gives the team an average attendance of 3,641 over 68 home dates.

 

The Timber Rattlers begin their final road trip of the season on Saturday when they play the Burlington Bees in Iowa. Eric Hanhold (0-3, 6.89) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Keynan Middleton (5-11, 5.30) is set to start for the Bees. Game time at Community Field is 6:30pm.

 

The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm. The broadcast is also available on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio.

 

WP: John Curtiss (3-3)

LP: Kodi Medeiros (4-5)

SAVE: Nick Anderson (3)

 

TIME: 2:37

ATTN: 4,727

 

Rattler Radio Postgame Post – September 4, 2015

Erickson was honest and to the point as always, especially regarding the 4th. His comments regarding Angel Ventura are worth a listen as well.

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Another excellent crowd to close it out.

 

Angel Ventura was pretty darn good, the 4th inning was garbage defensively, it was an excellent way for him to close his season. He pitched 122.1 innings, allowed 110 hits, 46 walks, 51 runs, 42 earned, with 126 strike outs and a 1.28 WHIP. I was pleasantly surprised by Angel, his velocity is legit, his curve is legit, his mechanics were streamlined over the course of the season, and I believe he's the most overlooked pitching prospect in the system.

 

Kodi Medeiros didn't finish the way he wanted, he actually blew 2 of the 3 saves he had shots at this season. Kodi finishes the season with 93.1 IP, 79 H, 50 R, 46 ER, 40 BB, 94 SO, and 1.28 WHIP. He gave up runs in bunches all year, he didn't get nickel and dimed, it was usually crooked numbers or nothing for him. While 2015 was much better than 2014, I'm not sure it was a success, it was just kind of meh. When teams would force him to throw strikes he struggled, when they swung at his stuff out of the zone he was pretty successful. I'll say it one last time, he does not induce ground balls by hitting typical ground ball spots, he leaves his FB mostly up in the zone but it moves enough hitters tend to top it. He's atypical in just about every way possible at this point in his career. His slider is awesome and runs it into the hands of righties, but he doesn't hardly ever locate it for a strike. His FB also has tremendous movement but is consistently up like his slider and he actually locates his curve the best within the zone, though it's a pretty average pitch right now.

 

Sthervin Matos (1-2,2 BB)... *sigh*... that 8th inning with a bunt to win, then the damn contact play so Denson is caught in no man's land (or at least Chris made it sound that way), and Matos channels his inner Carlos Gomez to run them completely out of the inning. Tucker Neuhaus (2-5) had a nice game with the bat which was highlighted above and Natanael Mejia (2-4) who struggles defensively at this point in his career posted the other multi-hit game for the Rattlers.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[bkrause2]

Final: Tennessee 3, Biloxi 7

 

Arcia caps a six-run eighth in comeback win over Smokies

Orlando Arcia collected his league leading 48th multi-hit game on Friday night

Biloxi Shuckers

 

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Orlando Arcia collected his 16th three-hit night in the win (M.K. Krebs)

 

BILOXI, MS – In a reversal of fortunes on Friday night, the Biloxi Shuckers took advantage of six Tennessee free passes and a big two-run single from Orlando Arcia, capping a six-run eighth in the 7-3 victory at MGM Park. A crowd of 2,692 witnessed the Shuckers eighth come-from-behind victory of the season, and jump back to 20 games over .500 on the season. Arcia notched his 16th three-hit performance and league-leading 48th multi-hit game in the process.

 

The Shuckes are still mathematically in the second half South Division race, two back of Pensacola in the standings with an elimination number of two.

 

Newcomer Garrett Cooper continues his stifling start by going 2-for-4, which actually dropped his batting average to .652 and is 14-for-23 over his six-game hitting streak at the Double-A level. His average hit .700 after his first inning double.

 

Biloxi (34-32) had to play from behind early on, as Jorge Lopez allowed a home run to Jacob Hanneman on the fourth pitch of the game. Lopez would then pick up back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout to get out of the first.

 

Lopez coasted through his outing after the first. The 2015 Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher allowed just three more hits, walked two and picked up another strikeout after the first before being lifted with two outs in the sixth. The 22-year-old lowered his ERA to 2.26 and moved into second in the league in strikeouts with his 137th coming in the third against opposing pitcher Pierce Johnson.

 

A second-round draft pick in 2011, Lopez set career highs in innings pitched (143.1) and strikeouts in 24 starts, with a career-best ERA.

 

The Shuckers offense didn’t take long to answer the Smokies in the home-half of the first. Yadiel Rivera (1x3, RBI, R, 2 BB) walked and moved to third on Arcia’s (3x5, 2 RBI, 2B) double. Cooper (2x4, RBI, R, 2B) doubled to left-center, bringing home Rivera.

 

Jacob Barnes kept the game knotted at one after coming in for Lopez, but Yhonathan Barrios would allow a run in the top of the eighth to put the Shuckers back down a run.

 

Once again, Biloxi struck fast and rallied to take its first and only lead of the game by tying a season high with six runs in the home-half of the frame.

 

Arcia greeted relief pitcher Neil Ramirez (0-1) with a groundout to first, but Cooper would draw a walk and Josh Fellhauer (1x2, R) singled to give the Shuckers two base runners. Tyrone Taylor (0x4) struck out, ending the night for Ramirez.

 

Nick Ramirez (0x3, R, BB) walked to load the bases against Matt Brazis, who then hit Victor Roache (2x3, RBI, R) to tie the game at two. Three straight free passes to Adam Weisenburger (2x3, RBI, R, BB), Nick Shaw (0x1, RBI, R, BB) and Rivera gave Biloxi a three-run lead.

 

Tennessee (35-32) turned to Tayler Scott to get out of the inning, but Arcia promptly hit a two-run single into left to blow the game open and give the Shuckers a 7-2 advantage.

 

Cooper collected his fifth multi-hit performance in just six games with Biloxi.

 

Manny Barreda came out of the bullpen to start the ninth, but struggled to get two outs. Hannemann singled to start the inning and advanced to second on wild pitch. Anthony Giansanti singled to center and Bijan Rademacher flew out to center, advancing Hannemann to third. Wilson Contreras popped up to Barrreda for the second out, but Dan Vogelbach walked to load the bases.

 

Southern League Manager of the Year Carlos Subero called upon Damien Magnifico (SV, 19) to pick up the final out, but he walked Jeimer Candelario to force in Hannemann. Magnifico settled down and induced a groundout to second by Bryant Flete to end the game and secure the victory and his 19th save in 21 chances.

 

Biloxi sends RHP Adrian Houser (4-0, 1.80) to the mound in game three of the series on Saturday night. Houser will once again look to stay perfect since being acquired from the Houston Astros, while the Smokies will send out RHP Felix Pena (6-8, 3.89). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:55 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 http://www.biloxishuckers.com.

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

Biloxi Game Log

 

The big six run eighth inning that broke the game open for the Shuckers

 

Biloxi Bottom of the 8th

Pitching Change: Neil Ramirez replaces Pierce Johnson, batting 9th, replacing Wes Darvill.

Orlando Arcia grounds out softly, first baseman Dan Vogelbach to pitcher Neil Ramirez.

Garrett Cooper walks.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Josh Fellhauer replaces Yhonathan Barrios.

Josh Fellhauer singles on a line drive to center fielder Jacob Hannemann. Garrett Cooper to 2nd.

Tyrone Taylor strikes out swinging.

Pitching Change: Matt Brazis replaces Neil Ramirez, batting 9th.

Nick Ramirez walks. Garrett Cooper to 3rd. Josh Fellhauer to 2nd.

Victor Roache hit by pitch. Garrett Cooper scores. Josh Fellhauer to 3rd. Nick Ramirez to 2nd.

Adam Weisenburger walks. Josh Fellhauer scores. Nick Ramirez to 3rd. Victor Roache to 2nd.

Nick Shaw walks. Nick Ramirez scores. Victor Roache to 3rd. Adam Weisenburger to 2nd.

Yadiel Rivera walks. Victor Roache scores. Adam Weisenburger to 3rd. Nick Shaw to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Tayler Scott replaces Matt Brazis, batting 9th.

Orlando Arcia singles on a ground ball to left fielder Anthony Giansanti. Adam Weisenburger scores. Nick Shaw scores. Yadiel Rivera to 2nd.

Garrett Cooper singles on a ground ball to left fielder Anthony Giansanti. Yadiel Rivera to 3rd. Orlando Arcia to 2nd.

Josh Fellhauer flies out to center fielder Jacob Hannemann.

[WV Brew]

Tortugas Electric Eighth Silences Sneed's Sterling Start

By Jerry Durney / Brevard County Manatees

09/05/2015 12:28 AM ET

 

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Cy Sneed, seen here from a game earlier this season, struck out a career-high 10 batters in Friday's game. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography)

 

Daytona Beach, FL - In a game with little margin for error, the Daytona Tortugas (38-25, 75-58) rose to the occasion late to earn a 3-0 win over the Brevard County Manatees (26-38, 55-78 overall) Friday night at Radiology Associates Field.

 

While both teams had multiple chances to break through, the game would ultimately be decided in the bottom of the eighth inning against new Manatees reliever Preston Gainey. Sebastian Elizalde led off with an opposite-field double down the left-field line and then came in to score when Daniel Pigott lined a double into left center. After Taylor Sparks struck out, Jeff Gelalich launched a triple to the wall in left center and then scored as Jose Pena misplayed the ball.

 

The star of the night for the Manatees was Cy Sneed, who kept them in the game with his best of the start season. Sneed struck out a career-best 10 over seven shutout innings, giving up just four hits and walking three. Dustin Houle's two-for-four game anchored the Manatees six-hit output while Taylor Brennan logged his 26th double of the season.

 

Gelalich's RBI triple capped a three-for-four night at the plate and included his 16th stolen base of the season.

 

The Tortugas staff turned in a stellar performance of their own to secure the victory. Jackson Stephens gave up just four hits, walked none and struck out three in five shutout innings. Carlos Gonzalez and Alejandro Chacin combined to give up just two hits and strike out five over the final four innings to close it out.

 

The two teams return to Viera Saturday night for the Manatees home finale at Space Coast Stadium. LHP Zach Hirsch (1-3, 5.06 ERA) will get the start against LHP Nick Routt (5-3, 3.66 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Biloxi's Orlando Arcia doubles on a three-hit night in the first inning of a 7-3 win over Tennessee

 

[Mass Haas]

Manatees' Sneed fans career-high 10

Brewers prospect finishes first FSL campaign with strongest start

By Alex Kraft / MiLB.com

 

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Cy Sneed recorded a 1.80 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 30 innings in his last five starts. (Mark LoMoglio/Tampa Yankees)

 

After two months of good starts, Cy Sneed was able to put together a great one.

 

The Brewers righty recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts while allowing four hits and three walks over seven scoreless innings Friday as Class A Advanced Brevard County fell to Daytona, 3-0, at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

 

"I felt pretty good," Sneed said. "Obviously, coming into what's probably going to be my last outing of the year, I wanted to try and finish up strong and go into it feeling as best as I can.

 

"I really tried to prepare the last week, trying to make sure my body was feeling good for my last start, and showed up at the yard today feeling pretty good."

 

The good feelings translated to the mound as Sneed retired his first four batters before issuing a walk to Taylor Sparks and giving up a single to Jeff Gelalich in the second. However, the 22-year-old ended the threat by fanning Ronald Bueno and Joe Hudson in succession.

 

"Anytime you get out of a jam like that, it gives you a little bit of adrenaline," Sneed said. "You go out for the next half-inning and you want to come out trying to attack hitters and get their guys back out on the field as soon as possible."

 

Fired up, the 2014 third-round pick stretched his strikeout streak to five by fanning the side in the third. The momentum carried him through the last four frames, capping his first scoreless outing of more than four innings since coming to the Florida State League at the beginning of July.

 

Sneed, who worked the Tortugas with a splitter and fastball, said the outing was a fitting conclusion to his first full season in pro ball.

 

"That's what we've been trying to do [all season]," he said. "We've had some success at times and wasn't able to really put it together for a complete start, so today was kind of the first time we did that.

 

"I've been working a lot with the pitching coach [David Chavarria] and the catchers and stuff, just trying to understand how to use my stuff against hitters. It all worked out [in terms of] executing pitches and trying to do what I can to get guys out."

 

The Dallas Baptist University product closed his first half-season in the FSL with a 2.47 ERA and 55 strikeouts against 11 walks over 62 innings.

 

"I feel like I did what I had to do to battle the heat and the rain and all the other factors that kind of come with this league," Sneed said. "I just tried to learn from guys who have been here and try to soak up all the information I can so that I could hopefully succeed while I was here. And I was able to do that for the most part."

 

Sneed was relieved in the eighth by Preston Gainey (2-4), who surrendered an RBI double to Daniel Pigott and a two-run triple to Gelalich.

 

Daytona started Reds No. 20 prospect and FSL All-Star Jackson Stephens, who scattered four hits over five frames while striking out three. The win went to Alejandro Chacin (2-0), who fanned three and gave up a hit over two scoreless innings.

[Mass Haas]

Final: New Orleans 2, Colorado Springs 1

 

Early Runs Help Zephyrs Edge Sox In Opener

Colorado Springs Can't Capitalize with Big Hit as New Orleans Takes 2-1 Contest

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

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Hiram Burgos allowed just two runs (one earned) over six impressive frames in Colorado Springs' 2-1 loss to New Orleans on Friday night. (Paat Kelly photo)

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - Despite outhitting the Zephyrs, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox could not overcome two early New Orleans runs in Friday night's 2-1 series-opening loss before a crowd of 5,045 at Security Service Field.

 

Sox starter Hiram Burgos (3-4, 3.35) would serve up a leadoff home run to Zephyrs centerfielder Isaac Galloway on his first pitch of the evening before settling down in what proved to be a very strong outing. The right-hander allowed one more run to score in the New Orleans second thanks to some sloppy defensive play. Juan Diaz came around to score the unearned run on a throwing error by Michael Reed after the right fielder made a sparking diving grab prior to the throw. Burgos locked it up from the second inning on, not allowing another run the rest of the way as he finished his night having allowed just the two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out four over six impressive frames of work.

 

Unfortunately for the Sky Sox, that run-scoring error would ultimately serve as the game-winning play with Zephyrs right-hander Ivan Pineyro (2-2, 2.70) pitching well opposite Burgos. The New Orleans starter allowed just one run on six hits and two walks while striking out two over six innings of work, departing with a 2-1 lead once his night was through. The Colorado Springs offense pushed their lone run across in the home fifth when Kyle Wren came around to score after leading off the frame with a base knock. The speedy outfielder moved to second on a wild pitch before stealing third base with Burgos at the plate. Wren would dash home after Burgos reached first base on a wild pitch ball four by Pineyro. With the manufactured run, the Sky Sox would trail New Orleans 2-1 after five innings of play.

 

Brandon Kintzler gave the Sox a scoreless seventh to keep the home squad within a run of knotting the close contest. Left-hander Cody Ege worked two shutout frames for the Zephyrs to maintain the one-run advantage late.

 

Right-hander Preston Guilmet kept New Orleans off the board the rest of the way, working two clean innings of relief to give Colorado Springs a chance at a comeback win in the home ninth.

 

Zephyrs closer Nick Wittgren would dash those late rally hopes, closing out the 2-1 ballgame with a shutout ninth inning to secure the series-opening win for New Orleans. The right-hander's 18th save helps New Orleans improve to 57-84 as the Sky Sox fall to 60-80 with just three games left to play in the 2015 season.

 

Colorado Springs looks to break this current three-game slide with a win against these same Zephyrs in game two of the four-game set on Saturday evening. Making his Triple-A debut, 22-year old Jorge Ortega (NR) leads the way against fellow right-hander Blake Logan (1-3, 4.97) and the New Orleans offense with first pitch slated for 6:05 PM MDT (7:05 Central) from Security Service Field.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Sky Sox roster currently 100% active (healthy) -- no DL stints, Temp Inactive's, etc. Unique this time of year.

 

These must be anxious times for the many minor league vets on this club.

 

Just the three pitchers who saw action here, for example -- Ariel Pena's 40-man addition doesn't necessarily help Hiram Burgos' chances at the same, Preston Guilmet's uniform number was assigned to Pena despite Guilmet's 40-man roster inclusion, and fellow 40-man roster RHP Brandon Kintzler, was already an attempted DFA.

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 4, Billings 3

 

Another close one goes Brewers' way

Helena Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers (14-19) evened up their series with the Billings Mustangs (16-18) on Friday with a 4-3 win at Dehler Park in Billings.

 

Helena took an early lead with two runs in the top of the first inning off Wendolyn Bautista. George Iskenderian hit a one-out single and scored on a groundout to short from Jonathan Oquendo. Jose Cuas then doubled later in the inning to score Steven Karkenny. It was Cuas' 19th double of the season which leads current Helena players.

 

Bautista, making his Pioneer League debut, gave up three runs in six innings on the hill. He would allow five hits and strike out four. He did not receive a decision.

 

Conor Harber pitched four innings in the start for the Brewers, giving up three runs on four hits. He would strike out three and not walk a batter.

 

Ed Charlton gave the Mustangs their first lead of the night when he cranked a two-RBI double in the third to score both Kevin Garcia and Mitch Trees. Trees would leave after the third with knee soreness.

 

Trailing 3-2, Helena tied it back up when Carlos Belonis reached on an error in the fifth and scored on a groundout from Iskenderian. Belonis would account for two of the four Helena runs.

 

Troy Stokes had his 14-game hitting streak on the line and it came down to the wire. He was 0-for-3 going to the top of the ninth and led off the inning. In a full count he lined a single to left off Israel Cuevas to give him the 15-game hit streak. Stokes' streak is the longest of the season for any Helena batter.

 

J.B. Kole (1-4) picked up his first win of the season and Jon Olczak earned his first professional save as the pair combined for five shutout innings of relief. Olczak would end the game with nine consecutive retired and four strikeouts. He struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth to cap the victory.

 

The Brewers and Mustangs will face off in the third game of their four-game series Saturday at Dehler Park. First pitch is set for 6:05 PM (7:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score

 

21st round RHP Jon Olczak had better be among those going to instructionals -- his numbers are incredible in his age 21 season, check out the K-to-BB and WHIP figures at the link.

 

CF Trent Clark's numbers do include his 4-for-4 in the yet-to-be-completed "smokeout" game. In eight Helena games, his line is at .370/.500/.481, mercy.

 

Helena Game Log