Link Report for Sunday 4/10

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Jorge Lopez at Memphis (Cardinals), 1:30 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Dan Karcher, the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox is on Twitter @SkySoxKarch; joining him this season is Dan Acheson (@Dan_Acheson)

 

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 Wei-Chung Wang at home vs. Chattanooga (Twins), 12:55 PM pre-game, 1:10 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Chris Harris is the play-by-play voice of the Shuckers. Follow Chris on Twitter @CHarris731. We'll be linking to his fantastic "Shuck Dynasty" blog. Thaddeus Krzus (@Shucks1stIntern) joins Chris often. 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.

 

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Brevard County: RHP Eric Hanhold at home vs. Daytona (Reds), 4:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link (Daytona Feed)

 

Unfortunately, the Manatees have dropped their broadcast coverage for 2016.

 

No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV. Ten of the 12 Florida State League teams provide audio (some only for home games), we'll do our best to let you know when an opponent's audio is going to be available.

 

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Wisconsin: RHP's Jon Perrin and David Burkhalter in a doubleheader at home vs. Beloit (Athletics), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings

 

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.

 

MiLB.TV - Eight of the 16 Midwest League teams telecast their home games, and Wisconsin, once again, is among them.

 

NOTE: Thirty-nine (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on local TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (10) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (29) 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.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin Game One

 

Wisconsin Game Two

 

MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Colorado Springs Media Notes - Linked on the Sky Sox official blog

 

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

 

***

 

Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Brevard County

 

Wisconsin

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Memphis, TN

 

Biloxi, MS

 

Viera, FL

 

Grand Chute, WI

[Mass Haas]

Via Miller Park Prospects -- Marcus' notes after viewing Friday night's Colorado Springs game

[Mass Haas]

Final: Biloxi 8, Chattanooga 5

 

Shuckers erase deficit Sunday to clinch series

Biloxi ties a team-high with seven doubles to come from behind against the defending champs

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/7/1/4/171580714/cuts/Wang1_fo6sx7q8_jrbjne7s.jpg

 

Wei-Chung Wang allowed just one run on six hits over 5.2 innings on Sunday afternoon. (Michael Krebs)

 

This was a 2-1 game after six innings, so the linked game summary includes an old friend victimized, GIDP madness, and as you can imagine, plenty of detailed action.

 

***

 

Betancourt lifts Shuckers past Lookouts

by Doug Barber, Special to the Biloxi Sun-Herald

 

BILOXI - Shortstop Javier Betancourt broke a 5-all tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with an RBI single to right as the Biloxi Shuckers rallied for an 8-5 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts on Sunday at MGM Park.

 

The Shuckers (3-1) trailed 5-3 going into the eighth. But back-to-back-to-back doubles by Nathan Orf, Brett Phillips and Garrett Cooper tied the game at 5. Two outs later, Betancourt singled home Cooper with the go-ahead run. Then Nick Ramirez hit a two-run pinch-hit double for two insurance runs before a crowd of 2,015.

 

Steve Peterson (1-0) picked up the win in relief while Mike Strong (0-1) took the loss for the Lookouts (1-3). Jaye Chapman retired all three batters in the ninth for his first save of the season.

 

"I just wanted to take the ball up the middle,'' Betancourt said. "There was a big hole between first and second. Finally I got the right pitch, a breaking ball. We fight to the final, we have to play 27 outs This was a big win.''

 

The Shuckers, who rapped out 14 hits, will take on Chattanooga in the series finale at 6:40 p.m. Monday. Jorge Ortega (0-0) will start for Biloxi on the mound and Chattanooga will counter with Ryan Eades.

 

"I think we had a lot of chances throughout the game,'' said Orf, who went 2-for-3 and had a double to start the winning rally. "We had tough luck in hitting into a bunch of double plays the whole day. Finally, the guys stayed aggressive and didn't let that (the double plays) bother the way we approached our at-bats. Finally, we ripped a couple of liners and we put up a 5-spot. This early, I think this was a more important win than the two earlier ones where we led all the game.''

 

Chattanooga turned six double plays in eight innings.

 

Left-hander Wei-Chung Wang had a good opener for Biloxi, going 5 2/3 innings, giving up just one run on six hits. He fanned five and walked three.

 

"The whole game we had people on base but we hit into six double plays and killed all the momentum we were trying to build,'' Shuckers manager Mike Guerrero said. "We put it together with some clutch hitting in the eighth inning. Wang threw the ball outstanding. He allowed only one run in 5 2/3 innings in his first game in Double-A. I was proud how he threw the ball.''

 

Betancourt, Orf, Chris McFarland, Tyrone Taylor and Rene Garcia each had two hits for the Shuckers.

 

Zach Granite had three hits for Chattanooga.

 

Travis Harrison staked the Lookouts to a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a solo homer to left. But the Shuckers answered on an RBI single to center by McFarland, and an RBI single to right by Betancourt to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second.

 

Wang kept the Lookouts at bay, but Chattanooga exploded for four runs in the seventh inning against reliever Tristan Archer to regain the lead. Engelb Vielma reached on an error, Granite bunted and Leo Reginatto got hit by a pitch by Archer. Daniel Palka doubled to center to score three runs, then crossed the plate himself on a throwing error.

 

Biloxi cut into the lead at 5-3 when Taylor scored as the Lookouts turned a double play in the seventh.

 

PHOTO GALLERY: Via the Sun-Herald

 

***

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

I've never wavered in my faith in the Wei-Chung Wang Rule 5 pick, brilliant; Shuckers reached base 19 times; Nate Orf now 7-for-14 with two doubles...

 

Biloxi Game Log

 

BATTING

2B: Roache (2, Slegers); Taylor, T 2 (2, Slegers, Lee); Orf (2, Strong); Phillips (2, Strong); Cooper (2, Strong); Ramirez, N (1, Peterson, Bra).

 

GIDP: Garcia, R; Cooper; Taylor, T; Wren; Roache; Betancourt, J.

 

FIELDING

E: Betancourt, J 2 (2, throw, throw); Wang (1, fielding); McFarland (1, fielding).

 

Gotta love baseball!!!

[Eye Black]

Final: Daytona 2, Brevard County 1

 

Daytona squeaks by Brevard County in series finale

By Donald Rieber, Jr., Manatees Examiner

 

http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/0a/70/0a709877cece0a3c2b590be79a260e4b.JPG?itok=BFXflSdS

 

Johnny Davis had the only RBI of the day for the Manatees, as they fell to Daytona by the score of 2-1 on Sunday. (Photo by Tim Holle)

 

The article link above provides the most complete game recap, so please check it out.

 

*****

 

Brevard County Box Score

 

We're only four games in, but Brevard County leads the Florida State League in walks. They added six more today and have now drawn 19 free passes on the season.

 

Good news, bad news on the strikeout front where the teams combined for 24 total K's...

 

Good news: Manatees pitchers combined to strikeout 12 Daytona batters, led by starter Eric Hanhold who retired a career high seven batters via strikeout. Hanhold, last year's 6th round selection out of the University of Florida, worked 5.2 innings giving up just three hits and one run (on a solo HR) while walking a lone batter. Hanhold threw 78 pitches, 50 of which were strikes.

 

Bad news: Manatees hitter combined to strikeout 12 times versus Dayton, and now have 40 strikeouts on the season through four games. Leading the way in the strikeout department was Brandon Diaz who was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts. Taylor Brennan added three strikeouts in his first three at-bats, but did manage to get on base after a dropped third strike and added a base hit in the 9th inning rally that fell short. Angel Ortega twice in a single at bat thought he had drawn a walk and flipped his bat as he headed towards 1st base before ultimately being rung up on strikes.

 

George Iskenderian injured his left hand early, but remained in game and finished 1-for-4 to extend his early season hitting streak to four games.

 

Catcher Dustin Houle was 1-for-2 with two walks and threw out a runner at 3rd base. On the season Houle has reached base on 9 of his 14 plate appearances.

 

The Jose Cuas error was described as a tough play that probably should have been scored a hit. The Dustin DeMuth error was described as "the ball just ate him up". DeMuth's error led to the runner that scored Daytona's go ahead run in the 7th inning and proved to be the difference.

 

Brevard County Game Log

 

Manatees were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners stranded on base. The first inning provided an ominous sign of things to come.

 

Brevard County Bottom of the 1st

Johnny Davis strikes out swinging.

Angel Ortega strikes out swinging, catcher Chad Tromp to first baseman Avain Rachal.

Dustin DeMuth walks.

George Iskenderian singles on a line drive to right fielder Aristides Aquino. Dustin DeMuth to 2nd.

Dustin Houle walks. Dustin DeMuth to 3rd. George Iskenderian to 2nd.

Brandon Diaz strikes out swinging.

 

One defensive highlight was an apparently very nice leaping catch by Omar Garcia to snag a line drive in deep right field and then a throw to double off the Daytona runner at first.

 

Daytona Top of the 4th

O'Grady homers (1) on a fly ball to right field.

Aristides Aquino singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brandon Diaz.

Taylor Sparks lines into a double play, right fielder Omar Garcia to first baseman Dustin DeMuth. Aristides Aquino doubled off 1st.

Avain Rachal strikes out swinging.

 

*****

 

Bubba Derby making his organizational debut for the 'Tees tomorrow night in Fort Myers. Hoping Cody Ponce makes a quick recovery to help fill out what should prove to be a fun rotation to follow this year.

[Mass Haas]

Final: Colorado Springs 6, Memphis 4

 

Sky Sox Offense Erupts In 6-4 Win

Sky Sox produce 15 base hits to win the series finale over Memphis

By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

You'll read about this heads-up play to bail out Jorge Lopez in the opening frame --

 

Memphis Bottom of the 1st

 

Dean Anna singles on a line drive to center fielder Alex Presley.

Nick Martini singles on a ground ball to right fielder Shane Peterson. Dean Anna to 3rd.

Carlos Peguero strikes out swinging.

Jonathan Rodriguez strikes out swinging.

Patrick Wisdom walks. Nick Martini to 2nd.

Charlie Tilson walks. Dean Anna scores. Nick Martini to 3rd. Patrick Wisdom to 2nd.

Mike Ohlman lines out, right fielder Shane Peterson to first baseman Garin Cecchini.

 

Lopez also assisted by more stranding magic by LHP Mitch Lambson --

 

Memphis Bottom of the 4th

 

Mike Ohlman strikes out swinging.

Matt Williams doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Alex Presley.

With Thomas Lee batting, Matt Williams advances to 3rd on a balk.

Thomas Lee walks.

Dean Anna singles on a fly ball to center fielder Alex Presley. Matt Williams scores. Thomas Lee to 2nd.

Nick Martini grounds into a force out, shortstop Orlando Arcia to second baseman Hernan Perez. Thomas Lee to 3rd. Dean Anna out at 2nd. Nick Martini to 1st.

Pitching Change: Mitch Lambson replaces Jorge Lopez, batting 9th.

Carlos Peguero pops out to catcher Josmil Pinto in foul territory.

 

Inherited runners-scored: Lambson 2-0 (one pitch)

 

***

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

Hey, the Sky Sox also put themselves on base 19 times, sweet!

 

So Orlando Arcia has a three-hit game and Michael Reed is on base four times, yeah, that'll work. Reed has an OBP of .500 through the first four games.

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

Eight different half-innings produced the game's ten runs, lots to digest as each team stranded nine...

[TheCrew07]

Final Game 1: Wisconsin 4, Beloit 2

 

Rattlers beat Snappers to win 2016 home opener

Stokes has three hits, Neuhaus drives in three

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

Wisconsin Game 1 Boxscore

WI put a win on the board much sooner than last year!

 

This was a well pitched game, Jon Perrin and David Lucroy combined to strike out 4, allow 6 hits, but they didn't walk a batter in the abbreviated 7 inning contest.

 

Troy Stokes had a monster game 1 as he was perfect at the plate going 3-3 with 2 doubles. Tucker Neuhaus came up with the incredibly timely 3 run double, and Isan Diaz walked twice, though 1 was intentional.

 

Wisconsin Game 1 Recap

 

Final Game 2: Beloit 4, Wisconsin 3

 

Iriart Powers Beloit in Game Two

Snappers get split in twinbill with 4-3 win over Wisconsin

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

Bah! Give us double header sweeps for the good guys instead of these constant splits! Double headers are momentum killers, though I guess in the case of the Rattlers that hasn't mattered so much of late. The young men battled all the way to the end in this one though, that's good to see at this level as teams will have a tendency to check out mentally and pack it in when they get down relatively early.

 

At any rate MH linked preview about the WI pitching earlier this season in the T-Rat thread and the paragraph which dealt with David Burkhalter attributed his 2015 season to bad luck. Like most luck based baseball "analysis" it was off the mark. David doesn't throw all that hard and his curve is a borderline eephus pitch. Last year it was in the mid to upper 60s, and he has success when he can locate that curve for strikes, and struggles when he doesn't. It will be interesting to see how he changed over the winter when I get to see him later this spring. He had a nice outing going 3 innings with a hit and a strike out.

 

Conor Harber who dominant in his first outing struggled today, a Gatewood error, HBP, and then a HR cost Harber the 3 runs, 2 earned, in that 4th inning. Jordan Yamamoto followed and threw the final 3 innings, striking out 3 and allowing the HR.

 

Monte Harrison collected his first hits of the season with a 2-3 effort, Carlos Belonis was perfect going 3-3 with a double, and 7 of the 9 batters collected at least 1 hit.

 

Strike outs were a major issue for the Rattlers last year, they were over double digits in almost every game in the first half, through the first 4 games they are down at the bottom of the list. Beloit is the only other team which has played 4 games who has less (16) than the Rattlers (24), that's a trend I'd like to see continue. Though since Beloit and WI have played 4 straight games that might be more related to the pitching from both teams, we'll just have to see how it shakes out.

 

Wisconsin Recap

[Mass Haas]

Link includes VIDEO post-doubleheader interview with Manager Matt Erickson --

 

Neuhaus, Belonis spark Rattlers in split with Beloit

Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/37ff6492f1206abc4e400e4eab2fa03cb70b603a/c=414-0-1924-1135&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2016/04/10/Appleton/B9321699128Z.1_20160410231841_000_G1PE19JQS.1-0.jpg

 

Carlos Belonis makes a catch in right as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers play their home opener against the Beloit Snappers in the second game of a doubleheader (Photo: Ron Page/USA Today Network-Wisco)

 

GRAND CHUTE — Tucker Neuhaus knows his way around Neuroscience Group Field after spending the entire 2015 season with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

 

Neuhaus won’t be in Grand Chute much longer if he continues to play like he did Sunday.

 

The 20-year-old second baseman made a couple of stellar defensive plays and delivered a key hit to give the Timber Rattlers their first win of the season: a 4-2 victory over Beloit in the first game of a doubleheader which served as their home opener.

 

The Timber Rattlers split the twin bill before a Fox Cities Stadium crowd of 1,422, dropping a 4-3 decision in the second game. The doubleheader was forced after Saturday’s original home opener was postponed due to nasty weather.

 

“I’d say it was a pretty good competitive day,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “We went out and swung the bats pretty well. Jon Perrin kept us right there in the first game and we got a real good start from Burky (David Burkhalter) in the second game. We had one rough inning, but came back and made it a close game.”

 

Wisconsin was outhit 6-5 in the opener, but Neuhaus delivered a three-run double in the bottom of the third to give the Rattlers a lead they would never surrender. Rattlers starter Perrin and reliever David Lucroy took care of the rest, allowing a combined total of six hits with no walks.

 

Neuhaus — batting cleanup in the Wisconsin lineup — had plenty of incentive when he stepped to the plate. With runners on second and third and one out, Beloit starter James Naile issued an intentional walk to Wisconsin’s No. 3 hitter, Isan Diaz, and opted to pitch to Neuhaus.

 

Neuhaus, a left-handed-hitter with some pop in his bat, made him pay for the decision by ripping a 1-1 fastball into the left-center gap.

 

“It kind of rubbed me the wrong way,” said Neuhaus. “It’s a game, but our hitting coach told me, ‘Don’t let them do that to you.’ So he (Naile) kind of sparked a fire and I kind of shoved it back at them.”

 

Neuhaus also had a tremendous game in the field, making two exceptional plays with backhand stops. His second defensive gem came in the top of the fifth when he threw from his knees after making a diving backhand grab to retire Jesus Lopez at first and prevent a second run from scoring in the inning.

 

“He’s a guy repeating the league and he knows what to expect,” said Erickson. “He put a lot of time into this during the off-season. He came into spring training in great shape, and it’s showed. He’s running a little better and defensively, he had a couple of run-saving plays the first game. Hopefully, we’ll keep him healthy and he’ll have a good year.”

 

Neuhaus — a second-round pick by Milwaukee in the 2013 draft — was switched from third to second base last season. He was solid in the field, but a bit inconsistent at the plate, hitting .249 with four home runs and 40 RBI.

 

“I had a routine here last year, so I’m able to bring that back — plus it’s the same coaches and the same staff, so you know who you’re working with,” said Neuhaus. “I think that makes everything easier.

 

“I played about 70 games at second last year and I got to do a lot of off-season work there. It’s been a pretty easy transition.”

 

Four games into the season, Neuhaus is hitting an impressive .400.

 

“It’s a long season and it’s important how you approach it mentally,” Neuhaus said. “You can’t get too high or too low. You just have to stay even keel and take things for what they are.”

 

Another player off to a strong start is right fielder Carlos Belonis, who went 4-for-5 in the doubleheader with a double and two runs scored. The 21-year-old Belonis went a perfect 3-for-3 in the second game and pulled Wisconsin within a run of Beloit in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single.

 

“I was looking for certain pitches to hit and was able to get them,” said Belonis, who leads the team with a .500 batting average. “I was focusing on staying opposite field and I stayed with the same routine for both games. It worked out for me.”

 

This is the fifth professional season for Belonis, a right-handed hitter with good speed. He spent all of the 2015 season at Helena in rookie league ball and hit .252 with seven homers, 28 RBI and 21 stolen bases.

 

“He’s a guy with a skill set,” said Erickson. “He has some speed, and he’s got a really nice arm. He working hard with Al (LeBoeuf) and Chuckie (Caufield) on shortening his swing and making sure he’s using the middle of the field. He’s done a nice job so far. He’s had some good two-strike at-bats and he’s put the ball into play.

 

“It’s encouraging, because it wasn’t like that at the beginning of spring training. He’s put a lot of time into it. Hopefully, he’s gaining confidence and knows that it’s not the end of the world playing in this weather and continues to get better.”

 

Led by Belonis, Wisconsin outhit Beloit 10-4 in the second game. Center fielder Monte Harrison, who has struggled to make contact in the early going, showed signs of getting untracked, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

 

“He’s struggled a little bit at the plate, but defensively he’s been real good, ” said Erickson. “He’s ran down some balls and has already saved some extra-base hits. I think his short game has got to be a bigger priority for him. While he’s gaining confidence with the stick and looking for a more consistent swing, he’s got to be able to bunt a little bit more and use his speed to get on base.”

 

***

 

Via the Rattler Radio Blog --

 

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO Interviews and photos via the Rattler Radio Blog

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO via WLOX: Biloxi Game Highlights