Link Report for Monday 9/7 - Rattlers, Sky Sox Say Goodbye to 2015 Seasons

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Monday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Josh Roenicke 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.

 

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Biloxi: LHP Josh Hader and RHP Tyler Wagner in a doubleheader at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 12:55 PM pre-game, 1:10 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

 

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: Season complete, the team finished the season at 55-80, last in Florida State League

 

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Wisconsin: RHP David Burkhalter 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: First, it's the completion of the August 28th smoke-suspended game vs. Missoula (Helena leads 8-2 after five innings), then a seven-inning nightcap follows, 4:45 PM pre-game, 5:05 gametime; expect RHP Nate Griep to see action today

 

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

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi Game One

 

Biloxi Game Two

 

Wisconsin

 

Helena Completion of Suspended Game

 

Helena Regularly Scheduled Game

 

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

 

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

 

Burlington, IA

 

Helena, 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]

Colorado Springs' Matt Clark hits his second RBI double in the fifth inning of a 9-2 Sunday win over New Orleans

 

[Mass Haas]

Originally posted July 31st --

 

OF Robbie Garvey was a Brewers' non-drafted signing (2009-10). Look what Dodgers are doing with him now at AA.

 

Latest from Baseball America:

 

The Dodgers groomed 26-year-old speedster Robbie Garvey to be a designated pinch-runner, but they cut ties with the center fielder last week after he appeared in 24 games at Double-A Tulsa and stole 11 bases in 18 tries without actually taking a turn at bat. He hit .240/.267/.272 in 45 games at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga earlier this season, batting 137 times and stealing eight bases.

[TheCrew07]

Rattlers get shutout in season finale

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

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The Rattlers lost 4-0 at Community Field in the final game of the season.

 

BURLINGTON, IA - The Burlington Bees completed a three-game sweep of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers with a 4-0 victory on Labor Day at Community Field. The Bees scored twice in the first and twice in the second while four Burlington pitchers combined on the five-hit shutout.

 

Wisconsin (50-89 overall, 27-42 second half) threatened to score first. Tucker Neuhaus singled to start the game. Elvis Rubio had a hit-and-run single with one out and David Denson drew a walk to load the bases. But, Bees starting pitcher Austin Robichaux got out of the inning with a strikeout and a force play at second base.

 

The Bees (63-76, 28-42) went up 2-0 three batters into the bottom of the first inning. Ayendy Perez reached on a bunt single and wound up at third base after a throwing error. Tim Arakawa followed with a ground rule double to knock in Perez. Zach Houchins made it 2-0 with an RBI single.

 

Burlington scored two runs in the second inning. Mitchell Esser and Nick Flair had back-to-back doubles to convert the first Bees run. Arakawa plated Flair with a single later in the inning and Burlington was up four runs.

 

Robichaux tossed five scoreless innings, allowed four hits, walked three, and struck out two.

 

A trio of Timber Rattlers relievers - Gian Rizzo, Scott Lieser, and Luke Curtis - combined to pitch five scoreless innings to keep Wisconsin close. However, three Bees relievers - Eric Alonzo, Gaither Bumgardner, and Jacob Kopra - shut the Rattlers out over the final four innings.

 

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will open the 2016 season on the road with two games at the Beloit Snappers on April 7 and 8. The next Timber Rattlers home game is scheduled for Saturday, April 9 against the Snappers at 4:05pm.

 

WP: Austin Robichaux (9-8)

LP: David Burkhalter (5-9)

 

TIME: 2:05

ATTN: 959

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

What a downer to end the season on...

 

I don't have anything to add regarding any of the pitchers beyond what I've already said in the past. The offense didn't do enough to discuss in this game.

 

I'd just like to thank everyone from the Rattlers who's work I've leaned on all year, Chris and Ann specifically. Also to our own MH who's wonderful work started the Link Report tradition and continues.

 

Here's to a better 2016 for WI!

 

Wisconsin Recap

[TigerUppercut]

I know we're not quite done just yet, but thank you to all of the LR guys who make the season so enjoyable for us all! Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated!

[Mass Haas]

PHOTO GALLERY: Some sweet shots from the Sun Herald from Biloxi Game One, including a couple of images from a Tyrone Taylor circus catch I hope we get to see later on...

[bkrause2]

Final: Tennessee 2, Biloxi 0 (Game One)

 

Final: Tennessee 2, Biloxi 3 (Game Two)

 

Shuckers close regular season with doubleheader split on Monday

Game two starter Tyler Wagner claims Southern League ERA title

Biloxi Shuckers

 

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Tyler Wagner finished the regular season with a 2.25 ERA (MK KREBS)

 

BILOXI, MS - The Biloxi Shuckers finished the 2015 regular season by splitting Monday's doubleheader against the Tennessee Smokies, claiming the best overall record in the Southern League at 78-59. A crowd on 3,041 witnessed a few milestones as Tyler Wagner claimed the league's ERA title at 2.25 in game two, and manager Carlos Subero set a new career high in wins, as he tops his previous high set in 2011 and 2014.

 

The Shuckers will begin postseason play on Thursday night at MGM Park in game one of the best-of-five Division Series against the South Division second half champion Pensacola Blue Wahoos, with first pitch set for 7:10 pm.

 

Game 1: Smokies 2, Shuckers 0

 

Josh Hader (1-4) coasted into the fourth inning of the opener before running into trouble. The southpaw hit Bijan Rademacher to start the inning and gave up back-to-back singles to Wilson Contreras and Jeimer Candelario to load the bases. A walk to Dan Vogelbach brought in Rademacher to put the Shuckers down a run.

 

That one run would be the only blemish on Hader's line, as the Maryland native allowed the run on four hits, two walks and six strikeouts. In 38.2 innings with Biloxi, Hader struck out 49 batters and walked 11 in seven games. The Shuckers have been shutout in four of his last five starts.

 

Biloxi had a chance to put a run on the board in the fourth, but came up empty when Hader popped up to third with the bases loaded and two outs. The Shuckers went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven on base.

 

The shutout was the 14th of the season suffered by Biloxi.

 

Game 2: Shuckers 3, Smokies 2

 

Biloxi (35-34) grabbed the early lead in the season finale with a run in the second against Smokies reliever Corey Black. Tyrone Taylor (0x2, R, BB) started the frame by striking out, but a wild pitch allowed the 21-year-old to reach first base safely. With Nick Ramirez (1x1, RBI, 2 BB) at the plate, Taylor stole second and came around to score when Ramirez roped a 3-2 pitch off the right-field wall.

 

The lead did not last long as Tyler Wagner allowed two runs to score in the third to put the Shuckers down a run. Bryant Flete tripled down the right-field line and scored on Tyler Pearson's triple that followed to right-center. Black hit a grounder to Orlando Arcia at shortstop, who tagged out Pearson for the first out. Jacob Hannemann, Stephen Bruno and Bijan Rademacher each singled to plate another run and place Biloxi in a one-run deficit.

 

Wagner tossed five innings in his final start of the regular season, surrendering both runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts. The Las Vegas native finished the year with a 2.25 ERA, one one-hundredth of a point better than teammate Jorge Lopez to win the ERA crown in the Southern League.

 

The Shuckers rallied in the sixth to take the lead over the Smokies. Garrett Cooper (1x1, R, 2 BB) walked to start things out and moved to third on a single by Josh Fellhauer (1x3, R). After a groundout to short by Taylor, Ramirez was intentionally walked to load the bases. A free pass to Adam Weisenburger (0x2, RBI, BB) forced in the tying run before Nick Shaw (0x3) struck out for the second out. Pinch hitter Taylor Green (0x0, RBI, BB) drew a walk to drive in the winning run.

 

Damien Magnifico earned his 20th save in 22 chances by working a scoreless ninth.

 

Biloxi will take the next two days off before its first-round matchup with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos on Sept. 10. 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 (Game One)

 

Biloxi Game Log (Game One)

 

Biloxi Box Score (Game Two)

 

Biloxi Game Log (Game Two)

[Mass Haas]

Final: New Orleans 8, Colorado Springs 7

 

Sky Sox, Rattlers, Manatees all losing finales that kind of represent their seasons...

 

Sox Fall To Zephyrs In Season-Ending Slugfest

Teams Conclude 2015 with 15 Combined Runs and 28 Hits in Colorado Springs' 8-7 Loss

By Ed Pearsall / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Sky Sox dropped their final game of the 2015 Pacific Coast League season to the New Orleans Zephyrs in a fitting 8-7 slugfest before a Monday afternoon crowd of 6,412 at Security Service Field. With their largest Labor Day crowd since 1990, the Sky Sox finish with a 300,209 season attendance, marking the eighth straight year the team has broken the 300,00 mark.

 

Sox starter Josh Roenicke (7-12, 6.15) tossed a perfect first inning before serving up three runs to a consistent Zephyrs offensive attack in the top of the second. The right-hander would get Vinny Rottino to ground out to open the frame before giving up three straight base hits to Brady Shoemanker, Austin Nola and Zack Cox with the latter two collecting RBI knocks to give New Orleans a quick 2-0 lead. Jhonatan Solano flew out for the second out of the inning before Zephyrs starter Travis Blackley drove in his first run of the season with a soft line drive single to right field to pad the early advantage.

 

Now holding a 3-0 lead after two innings of play, Blackley (5-7, 6.00) would allow the Sky Sox lineup to combine for the cycle in the bottom of the third en route to taking a 4-3 lead. Kyle Wren and Roenicke opened the inning with a double and RBI triple respectively to get Colorado Springs on the board. Pete Orr added a run-scoring single in the following at-bat to pull the Sox within one before Luis Sardinas reached on a bunt single, giving the home side four straight hits to start the frame. Michael Reed grounded into a run-scoring double play to knot the game at three and bring Matt Clark to the plate with two out and the bases empty. The slugging first baseman would have some high-flying fun for everyone, swatting his 20th long ball of the season to give Colorado Springs their first lead of the contest.

 

Roenicke would not hold the newly attained 4-3 lead for long as the New Orleans offense once again put a crooked number on the scoreboard to chase the starter in the top of the fourth. The Zephyrs posted five runs on six hits in the big inning as Nola and Cox each drove in their second runs of the night while Isaac Galloway and Austin Wates completed the scoring with RBI knocks of their own. Rick Sweet turned to Jeremy Horst out of the bullpen to get out of the one out, one on situation in the five-run fourth. The lefty did just that, sending the Sox to the home fourth with the team trailing 8-4.

 

Colorado Springs chipped away at the four-run lead, scoring in the sixth and seventh innings against Blackley and reliever Cody Ege. Ege came in to relieve Blackley in the sixth after the Aussie southpaw failed to record an out in the inning, allowing four straight hits with Juan Centeno's RBI single serving as the big blow. Ege worked out of the frame to preserve the now 8-5 lead before allowing an unearned run in the seventh when Centeno reached on a fielding error by Reid Brignac that helped Michael Reed cross the plate for the Sox' sixth run of the day. Blackley would be charged with five runs on 13 hits and one walk while walking one and striking out two over five innings of work as the Sox trailed by just two runs in the 8-6 contest after seven innings of play.

 

Horst worked 1.2 scoreless frames before a combination of Rob Wooten, Brandon Kintzler and Preston Guilmet combined for three shutout frames to maintain the 8-6 score through seven and a half innings of play.

 

Matt Long blasted his seventh home run of the season to lead off the home eighth against left-hander Greg Nappo to bring the Sky Sox within one of tying the ballgame late. The left fielder's 405 foot round-tripper would be the final run of the Sky Sox season as the Zephyrs would preserve their 8-7 lead thanks to closer Nick Wittgren. After Jaye Chapman gave the home side a scoreless ninth, the right-handed Wittgren recorded his 19th save with a shutout ninth to secure the 8-7 season-ending win, helping New Orleans to a 58-86 final record. Colorado Springs finishes their 2015 campaign with a 62-81 record in their first year of affiliation with the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

While Colorado Springs wraps up the 2015 campaign with a heartbreaker, they did secure the best team fielding percentage (.981%) after making the fewest errors (98) in Sky Sox history. 2015 also marks the first year that a Sky Sox staff has not allowed a single grand slam home run in a season. Though the squad finished at the bottom of the bottom of PCL American Northern Division, the future is certainly bright as the Sky Sox look to return to Colorado Springs with a fresh crop of talented players set to join an already talented veteran Triple-A group in 2016.

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Whoo-hoo, no grand slams allowed!

 

All six Sky Sox pitchers here face minor league free agency outside of a re-up (please, Jaye Chapman).

 

My words, not his -- Matt Clark wondering how Adam Lind stayed healthy.

 

Matt Long will find work, nice player.

 

Brewers will likely invite ageless veteran Pete Orr back, he put a cap on a fine season today with three hits.

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO via KOAA: The first-year Sky Sox Brewers relationship certainly marred by Mother Nature, but folks are putting a good spin on things

[Mass Haas]

Final, Completion of Suspended Game: Helena 10, Missoula 3

Final, Regularly Scheduled Game: Missoula 6, Helena 0

 

Via the Missoulian:

 

HELENA -- Six Missoula pitchers combined to blank the Helena Brewers 6-0 in the second half of a Pioneer League baseball twin bill of sorts Monday evening.

 

The Brewers completed a 10-3 win over the Osprey earlier Monday in a game that was suspended after five innings due to smoke on Aug. 28.

 

Pitching dominated the first five innings of the nightcap. Missoula ace Bo Takahashi warmed up for the postseason with two scoreless innings before giving way to Emilio Vargas (1-0), who tossed three shutout frames. Cody Clark, Gabriel Moya, Keegan Long and Dan Savas all pitched one inning of scoreless relief.

 

Helena starter Joshua Torres was even more impressive, throwing five two-hit innings while striking out eight. But the Osprey got to Bubba Blau (3-5), who was tagged for six runs in 3 1/3 innings.

 

The Osprey finally drew first blood in the sixth on Austin Byler's 15th home run of the season, a two-run shot to right. Jason Morozowski had singled and stolen second in front of Byler.

 

Missoula got four insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Joey Armstrong and Tyler Humphreys had run-scoring singles, Jason Morozowski earned a bases-loaded walk and Byler finished things off with an RBI single.

 

Helena Regularly Scheduled Game Box Score

 

Helena Regularly Scheduled Game, Game Log

 

***

 

The Brewers made quick work of the Osprey in the completion of the game suspended by smoke. Already leading 8-2, Helena added two more in the eighth to offset one by the Osprey in the seventh.

 

Missoula's additional run came on Byler's 14th homer of the season. But that was all the Osprey could muster against Christian Trent, who tossed the final four innings to earn his first save of the season. He allowed four hits, just the single run and struck out five.

 

Junior Rincon (5-4) was credited with the win for his one inning of hitless relief back in August.

 

Starter Bryant Holtmann (2-1) was tagged with the loss. He started the game and lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, six walks and five runs. Aaron Sookee threw the remaining 5 1/3 innings. He allowed eight hits and five runs, just three of which were earned.

 

In an unusual statistical twist, Holtmann is the scheduled starter for the Osprey against the Brewers on Tuesday in Helena.

 

Helena Completion of Suspended Game Box Score

 

Helena Completion of Suspended Game, Game Log

 

Kudos to Christian Trent and Joshua Torres on wrapping up their seasons in style.

 

***

 

There is a Link Report Tuesday -- Helena finale!

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO via WLOX: Biloxi Game One highlights - Victor Roache interview quotes

 

Includes the Tyrone Taylor catch alluded to earlier...

[Mass Haas]

Clark collects five hits in doubleheader

No. 3 Brewers prospect ties career high with four singles in first game

By Andrew Kahn / MiLB.com

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/1/6/4/148023164/cuts/Clark_khujqdnv_eihwz5wj_t5lr2pyd.jpg

 

Trent Clark racked up four hits in a game for the third time in his young professional career. (USA Baseball)

 

Holding the bat like it's a golf club, Trent Clark hits scorchers that would make any golfer proud. The unconventional grip wasn't taught by coaches, but it's been working for the Brewers' 2015 first-round pick in his first professional season.

 

Milwaukee's No. 3 prospect collected five hits during Monday doubleheader for Rookie-level Helena, four of them in the continuation of Rookie-level Helena's suspended game against Missoula from Aug. 28. The Brewers won the resumed game, 10-3, and lost the nightcap, 6-0.

 

Clark collected four singles and drove in three runs from the fifth spot in the batting order in the first game. The left-handed hitter went 1-for-4 in the second contest out of the leadoff spot.

 

"He stayed on the ball well," Helena manager Tony Diggs said. "He used the entire field. Three of his four hits were to left or center field."

 

Clark is hitting .370 over 46 at-bats with Rookie-level Helena. He batted .309 in 43 games with the Rookie-level Arizona League Brewers earlier this season.

 

The box score marked the second time in his short career that the Fort Worth, Texas native amassed four hits. He belted a grand slam en route to hitting for the cycle in the AZL on July 9.

 

"Is it something you teach? Not necessarily, but it's not something we're going to change if he's successful," Diggs said. "The grip felt good in his hands when he first tried it. It's something that continues to morph and change into something more conventional."

 

Clark, the No. 78 overall prospect, won't even turn 19 until November.

 

"He shows, for his age, that he has a pretty good idea of the strike zone," his skipper said. "That's big. Most youngsters come into pro ball, and it's really difficult for them to have a great idea of the strike zone. He doesn't have a big swing, so he gives himself a chance to barrel up balls. He shows us flashes of what the scouts saw."

 

Diggs isn't concerned that his young charge only has two homers at this point.

 

"You can see as he gets stronger and understands the game even more, he can add some more power as well," he said. "I think most hitters will tell you the power always comes last. It's a matter of becoming a good hitter first, and he's well on his way. It's just about learning about the mechanics of his swing, so when something's going wrong he can fix it."

 

Diggs likes Clark's defense out in center field, particularly as he adapts to the thinner air in Montana. Still, the youngster will continue to refine his game at instructs, which will start up a few weeks after Helena's season concludes Tuesday.

 

"He'll work on everything -- defense, baserunning, hitting," the manager said. "He can't be satisfied with what he's done, because the game will only get faster as he moves up. He has to learn how to slow the game down and make sure he doesn't give away at-bats.

 

"All young hitters get satisfied with a couple of hits and try to take a bigger swing. I haven't seen that as much with him. I have seen him get a little complacent in a hitter's count where he should get aggressive. He's a little patient because he wants to work a walk or get deep in count."

[CheezWizHed]

I know we're not quite done just yet, but thank you to all of the LR guys who make the season so enjoyable for us all! Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated!

 

+1

I really appreciate all the hard work put in here!