Link Report for Sunday 9/6 -- Manatees Wrap Up A Tough Season

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: LHP Wei-Chung Wang at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 2:05 PM pre-game, 2:35 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: LHP Josh Hader at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 4:55 PM pre-game, 5:10 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.

 

**********

 

Brevard County: RHP Javi Salas at Daytona (Reds), 4:05 PM pre-game, 4:35 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.

 

**********

 

Wisconsin: RHP Cody Ponce at Burlington (Angels), 1:40 PM pre-game, 2:00 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.

 

***

 

Helena: RHP Marcos Diplan at Billings (Reds), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:05 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 Sunday'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

 

Burlington, IA

 

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]

18-year-old Marcos Diplan'slast three appearances with Helena -- 11 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 13 K, gets the start today looking to finish with a bang...

[WV Brew]

Denson!

[WV Brew]

Never mind. Burlington just hit a 2 run homer to tie it with two out in the 9th.

[Mass Haas]

Never mind. Burlington just hit a 2 run homer to tie it with two out in the 9th.

 

Wow, I knew the Rattlers box score would be tragic after your post, but wow, that was a nasty finish.

[Mass Haas]

On the other hand, everybody Wei-Chung tonight!

[Mass Haas]

Biloxi's Victor Roache belts a solo home run in the ninth inning of a 7-2 Saturday loss to Tennessee

 

[Mass Haas]

Colorado Springs' Kyle Wren lines a two-run double to left as the Sky Sox top New Orleans' 6-4 on Saturday

 

[WV Brew]

--and now with Taylor Brennan and Dustin Houle sitting out, the Manatees have been perfect gamed through 6. What else can go wrong?

 

Coulter singled with 2 out in the 7th. May have been their last chance because the top of the order may not have come up again.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Billings 5, Helena 0

 

Mustangs shut out Brewers, 5-0

Helena Brewers

 

The Helena Brewers (14-21) were shut out for the third time this season, falling 5-0 to the Billings Mustangs (18-18) on Sunday at Dehler Park. It was the second time they have been shut out in Billings this year.

 

Jose Lopez (3-2) was nearly untouchable in the start for the Mustangs, posting his best outing of the year. He would go seven innings of quality baseball, allowing just one hit and walking one. He would strike out a career high 10 batters. The sixth-rounder out of Seton Hall also tied his career high in innings pitched.

 

The Mustangs picked up their first runs of the game in the third off Marcos Diplan (2-2). Ed Charlton led off the inning with a walk and later scored on the RBI triple of Hector Vargas. Vargas scored in the next at-bat when Shane Mardirosian hit a sacrifice fly to center.

 

The Mustangs came up with six hits in the game, all of which would be for extra bases, including four doubles in the eighth.

 

Lefty Jake Drossner pitched solid middle relief for Helena, going four innings and allowing no runs. He issued one hit and struck out two.

 

The Mustangs posted three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth when Kevin Garcia, Reydel Medina, and Tyler Stephenson were all able to come up with RBI doubles off Alex Farina.

 

With the loss the Brewers have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. They now return to Helena to finish off their season against the Missoula Osprey. A double-header against the O's starts Monday at 4:05 PM (5:05 Central).

 

Helena Box Score

 

Unlike Colorado Springs and Wisconsin, Helena's regular season ends on Tuesday.

 

Brewers only managed six baserunners -- three singles, two walks, one HBP. Only second baseman George Iskenderian reached base twice.

 

RHP Marcos Diplan struck out five in three innings (two runs allowed).

 

Helena Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final: Colorado Springs 9, New Orleans 2

 

Wang, Sox Breeze By Zephyrs In 9-2 Win

Southpaw Allows Just Four Hits, Strikes Out Five Over Six Scoreless in Triple-A Debut

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/5/0/147810450/cuts/09_06_041sm_pk_85qi40il_23lflotw.jpg

 

Wei-Chung Wang allowed just four hits while striking out five over six shutout frames to pick up the 9-2 win in his Sky Sox debut. (Paat Kelly photo)

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sky Sox won their second straight contest with a convincing 9-2 defeat of the New Orleans Zephyrs before a crowd of 8,152 at Security Service Field on Sunday afternoon.

 

Making his Sky Sox debut, starter Wei-Chung Wang (1-0, 0.00) turned in six extremely impressive innings of shutout ball. The Taiwanese southpaw surrendered just four hits while striking out five and walking none in his first Triple-A appearance. Wang made the jump from rookie complex ball to Milwaukee as a Rule 5 pick in 2014 before beginning the 2015 season in Brevard County.

 

The Sky Sox offense would score early and often against Zephyrs starter Jake Esch (1-3, 5.40) to support Wang's exceptional outing. Matt Clark drove in the first run of the contest in the home first, plating Pete Orr with an RBI double to give the Sox an early 1-0 lead. The lineup would tack on four more runs in the bottom of the third on the strength of six consecutive two-out singles. Clark added his second RBI of the afternoon to extend the Sox lead to 2-0 before Michael Reed and Matt Long combined to drive in three over the following two at-bats.

 

The Sox took their 5-0 lead into the fifth where they continued to punish Esch with timely base hits. Clark plated Nevin Ashley with yet another double for his third RBI of the night before Long picked up his third with a run-scoring sac fly to center. Clark and Long were responsible for six of the Sox runs as the home side took a 7-0 lead after five innings of play. Esch's day would be done after the two-run frame having allowed seven runs on 11 hits and a walk while striking out two over five laborious innings.

 

Colorado Springs added individual runs in the sixth against reliever Chris Reed and the eighth against right-hander Scott McGough. Orr scored Kyle Wren with an RBI knock in the sixth before Wren joined the hit parade himself with a run-scoring double in the eighth.

 

The Sky Sox took their commanding 9-0 lead into the New Orleans ninth after right-handers Jim Henderson and Austin Ross teamed up for two scoreless innings of relief to maintain the shutout. Left-hander Michael Strong took over for what would be the game's final frame as he looked to secure the comprehensive win. The reliever allowed three hits and two walks in the shaky appearance but would ultimately secure the 9-2 Sky Sox win. Juan Diaz drove in the visiting side's first run with an RBI groundout before Jhonatan Solano capped the scoring with an RBI single.

 

Colorado Springs improves to 62-80 with the win as the Zephyrs fall to 57-86 with just one more game left in the PCL season.

 

The Sky Sox will look to wrap up their 2015 campaign with a series-clinching victory against these same Zephyrs on Monday afternoon. Josh Roenicke (7-11, 5.72) gets the honor of starting the last game of the season against Australian southpaw Travis Blackley (4-7, 5.25) with first pitch slated for 1:35 PM MDT (2:35 Central) from Security Service Field.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

I'm just a huge Wei-Chung Wang mark, still can't believe the Brewers picked about the only possible time they could to successfully pass him through waivers. And during a season in which the 40-man roster hovered around 37 or 38 much of the way, and given the fact they'll need to re-add Wang now, was the waiver exposure worth the risk? At least it seemed to shake Wang out of his then-funk.

 

If the Brewers were still debating bringing up 40-man roster LHP Mike Strong, that final inning didn't help his cause.

 

Luis Sardinas back in the starting lineup after Saturday's unexplained box score departure.

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

Pretty!

 

Col. Springs Bottom of the 3rd

 

Wei-Chung Wang strikes out swinging.

Pete Orr grounds out, third baseman Zack Cox to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.

Luis Sardinas singles on a ground ball to center fielder Isaac Galloway.

Nevin Ashley singles on a ground ball to center fielder Isaac Galloway. Luis Sardinas to 2nd.

Matt Clark singles on a line drive to center fielder Isaac Galloway. Luis Sardinas scores. Nevin Ashley to 2nd.

Michael Reed singles on a ground ball to right fielder Austin Wates. Nevin Ashley scores. Matt Clark to 3rd. Michael Reed to 2nd on the throw.

Matt Long singles on a line drive to right fielder Austin Wates. Matt Clark scores. Michael Reed scores.

Brandon Macias singles on a line drive to left fielder Vinny Rottino. Matt Long to 2nd.

Kyle Wren flies out to left fielder Vinny Rottino.

[TheCrew07]

Heartbreak in Burlington

Bees score three in ninth to beat Wisconsin 3-2

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/4/4/123445444/cuts/5_9Denson_WEB_uwomukmk_zso9puhe.jpg

David Denson hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning for the Timber Rattlers on Sunday afternoon at Burlington. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica)

 

BURLINGTON, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning at Community Field on Sunday afternoon, but could not hold on for the win. The Burlington Bees scored three runs after there were two outs for a 3-2 walkoff win.

 

Rattlers starting pitcher Cody Ponce pitched five scoreless innings, allowed three hits, and walked one, but faced just fifteen batters in the game. All three singles were erased on double plays. Ponce picked the walk off first base to end the third inning.

 

Burlington starting pitcher Justin Anderson worked eight scoreless innings. He allowed a one-out walk to Blake Allemand in the first, a two-out double to Greg McCall in the second, and a two-out double to Tucker Neuhaus in the third. After the Neuhaus double, Anderson retired fourteen in a row. That streak was snapped when he walked Elvis Rubio with one out in the eighth, but Anderson kept the game scoreless.

 

Wisconsin (50-88 overall, 27-41 second half) broke through in the ninth inning against reliever Jordan Piche. Allemand singled with one out. David Denson stepped in with two away and lined a homer on a 2-1 pitch to left. Denson's third homer of the season with Wisconsin put the Rattlers up 2-0.

 

Devin Williams, who took over for Ponce to start the bottom of the sixth inning had sailed through his first three innings, but couldn't get the final out in the ninth. Ayendy Perez tripled with one out before Williams got a strikeout for the second out of the inning. Taylor Ward, the first round pick of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2015 draft, got his turn and made the most of it. Ward lined a 2-1 pitch from Williams over the wall in left to tie the game 2-2.

 

The Bees (62-76, 27-42) weren't done. Zach Houchins singled to chase Williams from the game. Rattlers reliever Zach Cooper took over for Williams and gave up a single to Trevor Gretzky to move Houchins to second with the winning run. Steven Mateo ended the game with a deep drive to the wall in left. He was credited with an RBI single as Houchins scored the winning run and the Bees celebrated.

 

Burlington had three hits in the first eight innings of the game. They collected five hits in the ninth, including four straight with two outs.

 

Sunday marked the ninth time the Timber Rattlers have been walked off in 2015. It was also the eighteenth time an opponent has scored a winning run in their final at bat. Wisconsin is now 13-31 in games decided by one run this season.

 

The final game of the 2015 season for both teams is Monday afternoon at Community Field. David Burkhalter (5-8, 4.78) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Austin Robichaux (8-8, 3.88) is set to start for the Bees. Game time is 2:00pm.

 

The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 1:40pm. The broadcast is also available on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio.

 

HOME RUNS:

WIS:

David Denson (3rd, 1 on in 9th inning off Jordan Piche, 2 out)

 

BUR:

Taylor Ward (1st, 1 on in 9th inning off Devin Williams, 2 out)

 

WP: Jordan Piche (3-5)

LP: Devin Williams (3-9)

 

TIME: 2:08

ATTN: 871

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Ugh... with so many brutal losses this season it's hard to pick one that stands out more than the others, but if I had to pick one this would be it. 2 run HR in the 9th to take the lead and it all goes away with 2 outs in the bottom half, heartbreaking doesn't begin to describe this season.

 

Well I had hoped Devin Williams season was done last time he pitched because he was cold, very cold, and of course that continued today and torpedoed an excellent chance at victory. I won't go through the numbers again but Devin ends on his coldest streak of the season, 3 consecutive bad performances. Yes he pitched well until the 9th, but in the end the result was the same.

 

Cody Ponce closes out an an excellent campaign doing what he's pretty much been doing all along... manageable hits and walks with a decent amount of strike outs. I posted his full scouting report earlier in the year so I'll simplify here; his control was better than advertised on draft day but his breaking stuff isn't near as good, it's pretty average. Overall he still profiles like a 3, just in a different way from his original report. Cody pitched 51 innings allowing 47 hits and 9 walks against 40 strike outs for a 1.10 WHIP and 2.29 ERA.

 

Most of David Denson's XBH since he's been back have been opposite field but that's not because he's unable to turn on pitches but rather because that's were he's been pitched most of the season. I sincerely hope he can translate this end of the success into something moving forward, he's been one of my boys since I first saw him play.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[gregmag]

Helena-Billings must be the first time in the annals of pro baseball that two Armenian-American second basemen have squared off against one another. How the national media has slept through this historic moment I can't imagine.

[WV Brew]

Manatees Drop Season Finale to Nearly Perfect Varner, Tortugas

Daytona Lefty Retires First 20

 

Daytona Beach, FL- As they so often have this season, the Daytona Tortugas (40-25, 77-58 overall) rode an excellent performance from their pitching staff to earn a 1-0 win over the Brevard County Manatees (26-40, 55-80 overall) Sunday at Radiology Associates Field.

 

The game’s lone run would come in the bottom of the fifth inning against Brandon Woodruff, who had just come in from the bullpen. Taylor Sparks drew a leadoff walk and would be held up at third on a Jeff Gelalich double to left center. However, as Michael Ratterree’s throw went to second base with no one immediately covering the bag, Sparks sprinted home to put the Tortugas.

 

That one run would be more than enough as Daytona starting pitch Seth Varner was exceptional. He retired the first 20 Manatee hitters he faced with the first baserunner coming on a two-out single in the top of the seventh from Clint Coulter, hit just beyond the reach of a diving Blake Trahan at shortstop. Varner finished with 10 strikeouts and no walks in seven innings, giving up only the one hit.

 

Nolan Becker retired all three Manatees he faced in the eighth and Evan Mitchell escaped trouble in the ninth by inducing Chris McFarland into a 3-6-1 double play to end the ninth and record his eighth save of the season.

 

While coming up on the short end of the result, the Manatees also received excellent efforts from the pitching staff. Javi Salas threw four shutout innings to start, giving up two hits while striking out four and walking one. Woodruff followed with four strong innings of his own, giving up one run on one hit, striking out five and walking two.

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

Javi Salas looked like the Javi Salas that started the season in this one:

 

4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 5/0 GO/FO

 

Brandon Woodruff had a hot second half and his velocity has gone way up since he sat out with an oblique injury. I speculate that that problem was bothering him in the first half. He has been throwing in the 95-97 range ever since that time. His splits for 1st/2nd half:

 

ERA: 4.06/2.33, IP 71/38.2, H 79/33, K 36/35, BAA .286/.237, WHIP 1.42/1.14 (excludes tonight's game)

 

You wonder what could have been had the Manatees ever got the rotation of: Jorge Ortega, Javi Salas, Brandon Woodruff, Cy Sneed and Wei-Chung Wang all going effectively at once. It never happened though.

 

Brevard County Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Wet field conditions postpone Sunday's Shuckers, Smokies contest

Doubleheader scheduled for Monday starting at 1:10 pm

Biloxi Shuckers

 

BILOXI, MS - After a lengthy delay, Sunday's game between the Shuckers and Tennessee Smokies has been postponed due to wet field conditions at MGM Park. The contest will be made up as part of a Labor Day, Monday doubleheader at 1:10 pm. The originally scheduled game will be played 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. Both games are scheduled for seven innings.

 

Any fan with a ticket to Sunday's game may exchange it for another of equal value for Monday's doubleheader, or game one of the Southern League South Division Series, on Thursday night at 7:10 pm. The Shuckers will host game one and two of the best-of-five Division Series at MGM Park.

 

Monday's doubleheader will wrap up the five-game series with the Tennessee Smokies and the 2015 regular season. LHP Josh Hader and RHP Tyler Wagner will be the starting pitchers.

 

Coverage of the doubleheader will begin at 12:55 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 www.biloxishuckers.com.

[igor67]

The sum total of all these late season promotions is leaving me pretty excited for next year. It seems like a lot of guys having a fair amount of success in that initial exposure. I'm not entirely sure if that will translate into a bunch of complete teams that will post wins next year, but seemingly at least half a dozen guys who are pretty interesting across the board.