Link Report for Thursday 6/23 - Second Halves Begin, Let's Go!

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: DSL Nationals 4, DSL Brewers 2

 

DSL Brewers Game One Box Score

 

A three-run Nationals' 4th inning was the difference in this seven-inning contest.

 

Rookie 18-year-old Venezuelan RHP Henry Medina made his second start (4th appearance), he's only walked two in 16.1 innings thus far.

 

Five Brewers singled, two others walked, LF Marcos Pinero (HBP) was the only Brewer to reach twice.

 

0-for-11 with RISP won't get you many wins...

 

DSL Brewers Game One Game Log

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game Two: DSL Brewers 5, DSL Nationals 0

 

This was a makeup game from June 8th; Nationals were the home team here, although this game was played at the Brewers' complex, it appears.

 

DSL Brewers Game Two Box Score

 

It's getting serious now for 6'4" 20-year-old Dominican rookie RHP Johan Dominguez -- after dazzling in six relief appearances, he earned his first start and dazzled again: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, six ground ball outs. Dominguez has now pitched 14.2 scoreless career innings, fanning 15 with a WHIP of 0.95.

 

DSL Brewers Game Two Game Log

 

The top of the order shined, especially 17-year-old rookie switch-hitting second baseman Edwin Sano, batting 2nd in this lineup, 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, two RBI, and a run scored.

 

Catcher Bryan Torres (yes, batting leadoff), singled twice, and fellow catcher Jose Sibrian (DH'ing here) also had two base knocks and drove in two.

[Mass Haas]

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via the Biloxi Pre-Game Show: LHP Stephen Peterson -- the distracting background music at the beginning of the interview ends quickly...

 

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AUDIO: Biloxi game highlights

 

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VIDEO via WLOX: Biloxi highlights

 

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Shuckers avoid being no-hit, fall to Biscuits

by Maurice Singleton, Special to the Sun-Herald

 

BILOXI — The Biloxi Shuckers rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday to score two runs, but they failed to overcome a three-run deficit and fell to the visiting Montgomery Biscuits 3-2.

 

Montgomery dominated the first eight innings, with Hunter Woods denying the Shuckers a hit in the first six innings. Ryne Stanek did the same in seventh and eighth, but he walked Johnny Davis and Jacob Nottingham in the bottom of the ninth. Brett Phillips then singled for the Shuckers' first hit of the game, loading the bases.

 

Garrett Cooper launched a base hit to right field to score Davis and Nottingham, and with no outs and runners on first and second, things looked pretty good for the Shuckers. But the Biscuits (35-36) retired the next three Shuckers (39-31) in order as Tyrone Taylor popped up to second base, Nick Ramirez struck out and Montgomery made a nice play on Gabriel Noriega's ground ball to the shortstop.

 

"For eight innings we were shut down completely," Shuckers manager Mike Guerrero said. "To have the opportunity to win the game is very exciting. You're never done until you're done. That's the character of this team — never giving up. That's a compliment to this team.”

 

Wood rolled through the first six innings but was hit on the hand by a hard Nottingham line drive and was pulled after 74 pitches.

 

"They threw the ball well," Guerrero said of Montgomery's pitching. "Their starter was outstanding."

 

The Shuckers gave up two runs in the third inning and a home run in the fourth. Adrian Houser pitched the first four innings for the Shuckers. Tristan Archer, Tyler Spurlin and Stephen Kohlscheen all pitched in relief.

 

Montgomery opened the third inning with two base hits. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. A line drive to centerfield then scored the first run. A base hit later scored the second.

 

Patrick Leonard launched a full-count pitch over the left field fence to close out the scoring for Montgomery in the fourth inning.

 

Houser fell to 3-7 with the loss, surrendering three runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

 

Next up

 

The Shuckers face Montgomery in the second game of their five-game series on Friday at MGM Park. Javier Salas is projected to start on the mound for the Shuckers.

 

Roster moves

 

The Milwaukee Brewers announced two roster moves prior to Thursday's game. Angel Ortega (SS) transferred to the Shuckers from Brevard County and promptly made his Double-A debut. Ortega brings a .275 batting average through 60 games. Nathan Orf transferred back to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

[Outlander]

Unfortunate about Harrison, I remember last July he was really getting going with a OPS over 1 in July then he got hurt. Started out poorly this year, really gets going again in June with a OPS over 1 and hurt again.

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: Colorado Springs 9, Memphis 8

Final, Game Two: Colorado Springs 7, Memphis 5

 

Sky Sox Sweep Doubleheader Over Memphis

Sky Sox use late rallies to win both games on Thursday

By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/6/5/8/185877658/cuts/06_23_4037sm_pk_ouuavjm0_2ohijwgj.jpg

 

Will Middlebrooks celebrates his grand slam in game one of Thursday's doubleheader. (Paat Kelly photo)

 

Obviously, a highly suggested read for all the details...

 

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Usual bad cool weather behind slow start for Sky Sox attendance, organization says

by Joe Paisley, Colorado Springs Gazette

 

Mother Nature still reigns at Security Service Field and that is the main reason Sky Sox attendance continues its recent downturn, despite a competitive team with a knack for late comebacks, the franchise president said earlier this week.

 

The franchise is second-to-last in the Pacific Coast League in average (3,838) and total attendance (122,817) through 32 openings, ahead of only New Orleans (2,531; 86,069, 34 openings), entering Thursday night's doubleheader. The Sky Sox have finished 12th or lower out of 16 PCL teams in overall paid attendance in 10 of the past 11 years, despite a record 350,374 in 2014.

 

"More than anything else in the past two summers it has been the weather," president and general manager Tony Ensor said. "It's been an unusual period. That hurts but there is nothing you can do about Mother Nature."

 

The third-place Sky Sox (34-37) have lost six openings during the usual poor weather in April and May. A number of games during those months were played in cold conditions, further stamping down attendance numbers.

 

Ensor expects an attendance uptick now that the summer heat has hit Colorado Springs.

 

The offseason news about the Triple-A baseball franchise considering a move to San Antonio has little to do with the early attendance, Ensor said.

 

"Certainly there was some initial reaction but the fans have come to realize this is a long process that is far from a done deal," he said. "They understand that this team is not going anywhere soon. The fans get it."

 

Area fans have proved loyal, Ensor said. They have been treated to competitive baseball by the team, which remains in contention for a playoff berth out of the PCL American North division. The two-time league champion Sky Sox last made the playoffs in 1997.

 

If they do make it, chances are it will be in dramatic fashion. The Sky Sox lead all of professional full-season baseball with 13 last at-bat wins so far; 12 when trailing after six innings and 10 after seven complete. The Sky Sox also have 17 victories after falling behind early.

 

That is indicative of the winning culture manager Rick Sweet wants in his clubhouse.

 

"We are in rebuilding mode at the major level and you want players in your organization who have developed in winning situations," Sweet said.

 

Veteran outfielder Eric Young Jr. said learning to battle though the final is a valuable habit for the next level. The Rockies organization was focused on developing players for the bigs, as then-manager Glenallen Hill said, and not worried about wins and losses.

 

"You can't get too low if you fall behind," Young said. "You just chip away and before you know it, you end up in a big situation at the end of the game. Young players will find themselves in close situations in the bigs and having that experience helps."

 

Sweet is pleased to be contending as the season midway point nears.

 

"I like this team," he said. "We have a good mix of young and older players who play the right way, hard on every play."

 

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Amarillo Waits While San Antonio Ballpark Plan Develops

By Kevin Reichard, Ballpark Digest

 

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Colorado Springs Game One Box Score

 

This team is just insane with the late heroics, good for the locals (and concessions)...

 

Colorado Springs Game One Game Log

 

 

Colorado Springs Game Two Box Score

 

Holy cow, have you taken notice of what Kyle Wren has been up to as of late?

 

Colorado Springs Game Two Game Log

 

[Mass Haas]

As also posted in our season-long Helena/Maryvale thread for archiving purposes --

 

Former Pacer Cooper Hummel drafted by Brewers

Matt Sherman, Lake Oswego Review (Portland, OR)

 

To say it’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks for Cooper Hummel would be an understatement. The Lakeridge graduate recently finished his junior year at the University of Portland where he put up very strong numbers as the team’s starting catcher.

 

More...

[Mass Haas]

As also posted in our season-long Helena/Maryvale thread for archiving purposes --

 

PHOTO at link

 

Erceg thankful after college career derailed

Second-round draft pick already shining for Brewers

Ryan Collingwood, Helena Independent Record

 

Just hours after putting pen to paper on a $1.15 million dollar signing bonus, Lucas Erceg, the 46th overall pick in this month's MLB Draft, was on a plane to Helena, his first assignment in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

 

He expected his career to start in the lower rungs of MLB-affiliated baseball. He didn't know what to expect when he got there, though.

 

More...

[Mass Haas]

Final: Great Falls 7, Helena 3

 

Voyagers Strike Early, Often in 7-3 Win

Four Straight for Great Falls

By Craig Durham / Helena Brewers

 

GREAT FALLS, MT - The Great Falls Voyagers scored three runs in the top of the 1st - before the Helena Brewers even recorded an out - on their way to a 7-3 victory to kick off a four game series at Centene Stadium.

 

The fifth meeting of the season between these North Division rivals was suspended for 28 minutes in the bottom of 1st inning due to lightning, but the Voyagers were able to pick up right where they left off in the 2nd, adding a run to take a commanding 4-0 lead early.

 

Helena got on the board with Ronnie Gideon's first career home run, a solo shot in the top of the 4th, but the Voyagers responded with two in the bottom of the inning to take their largest lead of the night at 6-1.

 

Yosmer Solarzano (1-0) was dominant for Great Falls, allowing just four hits in five innings to earn his first victory of the season. Zack Brown (0-1), meanwhile, struggled in his pro debut, surrendering three earned runs on three hits in just 0.1 inning of work. Brown did not return to the game following the delay, and was replaced by Thomas Jankins who also made his pro debut.

 

The Brewers highlight of the night came in the top of the 8th inning when Lucas Erceg launched his first career home run, a two run shot, over everything in right to pull Helena to within four at 7-3. That was as close as the Brewers would get however, and they have now dropped two straight to Great Falls in the head-to-head season series.

 

The Brewers (5-2) remain atop the Pioneer League North Division standings, and will try to get back in the win column tomorrow when they send Michael Petersen to the hill in game two of the series. Great Falls will counter with Adam Panayotovich, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM (8:00 Central).

 

Helena Box Score

 

Joantgel Segovia, Gilbert Lara, and Demi Orimoloye a combined 0-for-11 with a walk (Segovia), each had a bit of a slow first week.

 

Helena Game Log

[Mass Haas]

As in our Manatee stadium thread, the latest official news on their move.

[Mass Haas]

Via the Manatees:

 

While the Manatees (0-1) finished the first half with a record of 23-45, the team saw five players move up in the Milwaukee system. Johnny Davis, Angel Ortega, Brandon Woodruff, Gage Smith and Tyler Spurlin were all called up to Double-A Biloxi.

 

Said manager Joe Ayrault, "Seeing those guys move up was definitely the highlight of the first half. That is a big part of our job is player development. Starting a new, this second half, it has been reiterated to these guys that it is huge for their careers how they finish here. Whether or not they move up to Double-A, staying here or possibly looking for another career. It's a cliché, but it's not how you start but how you finish. If you had to pick a half you had to win, you'd pick the second half to go into playoffs hot. Excited about starting fresh, getting after it and finishing strong."

[Mass Haas]

Forgot to link to catcher Rene Garcia's two big video moments from Wednesday --

 

Here

 

and

 

here