Link Report for Saturday 4/8 - Timber Rattlers Home Opener

[Mass Haas]

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[Mass Haas]

Saturday's Daily Menu:

 

All times are Central

 

Colorado Springs: RHP Brandon Woodruff at home vs. Omaha (Royals), 4:30 PM pre-game, 5:00 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Dan Karcher, the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox is on Twitter @SkySoxKarch; joining him again 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: RHP Taylor Williams at Montgomery (Rays), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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. Erik Bremer (@Erik_Bremer) 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. Only games in Chattanooga and Mobile won't be available.

 

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Carolina: LHP Kodi Medeiros at Frederick (Orioles), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:00 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

We look forward to Mudcats audio with Greg Young (@gregyoungjr), especially after going without gameday audio for much of the Brewers' stay in Brevard County.

 

MiLB.TV - Yes, Carolina home games will be on MiLB.TV, sweet. It appears three other Carolina League teams (Salem, Myrtle Beach, and Winston-Salem) broadcast as well.

 

No TV for this opening series in Frederick .

 

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Wisconsin: RHP Thomas Jankins at home vs. Quad Cities (Astros), 3:45 PM pre-game, 4:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

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. We'll let you know when a road TV feed is available.

 

In 2017, fifteen games will be broadcast on Spectrum Sports in Wisconsin, available on channel 32 and in HD on channel 1332. We'll keep you posted with our "DVR Alerts" days in advance.

[Mass Haas]

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

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Carolina

 

Wisconsin

 

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

 

Carolina Media Notes - Linked on the Mudcats official 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 - Carolina League Southern Division

 

A - Midwest League Western Division

 

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Sortable individual stat pages:

 

Colorado Springs

 

Biloxi

 

Carolina

 

Wisconsin

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Colorado Springs, CO

 

Montgomery, AL

 

Frederick, MD

 

Grand Chute, WI

[Mass Haas]

Timber Rattler DVR Alert --

 

MON. 4/10 vs. Burlington, 7:00 PM

 

Spectrum Sports are available on channel 32 and in HD on channel 1332 in Eastern Wisconsin

[homer]

Taylor Williams hasn't pitched since 2014?

[And That]

Big league spring training 2015 was the last time his name was in a published box score. Arm troubles started there.

[Eye Black]

Taylor Williams hasn't pitched since 2014?

Here is the Link Report for August 28, 2014. That is the last time Taylor Williams took the mound in a regular season MiLB game. Today marks 955 days since that last start. The wait is finally over!

[WV Brew]

Not much hitting for the Mudcats today. The Orioles' number one pick from last year, Cody Sedlock, pretty much dominated. Will get in the link report when the story is reported.

[WV Brew]

Sedlock and Keys stifle Mudcats in Saturday matinee

The Keys defeated the Mudcats 5-1 behind a dominant start by Cody Sedlock

 

No heroics this time. Sedlock was commanding all his pitches. After a 4 pitch walk to Trent Clark, the Mudcats managed only a ground ball single to left and an infield single off the pitcher until the Keys' bullpen came in.

 

Carolina Box Score

 

Jake Gatewood with a homerun and, yes, also a walk. He also has looked very good in the field. Kodi Medeiros with kind of an okay perfomance. Nothing great but nothing horrible either.

 

Carolina Game Log

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via the Sky Sox pre-game show Opening Night Thurs. 4/6:Manager Rick Sweet

 

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AUDIO via the Sky Sox pre-game show Fri. 4/7: OF Ryan Cordell

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Chris Mehring's Timber Rattlers Pregame Show Sat. 4/8: Monte Harrison

[Eye Black]

Brett Phillips last two at-bats in today's game were a fly out and a ground out. Not a big deal, except that it was a change from the outcome of 10 of his first 11 at bats of the season which were either a strikeout or a hit. In order here were Phillips' first 11 at bats this season: K, 1B, K, K, K, 2B, 6-3, HR, K, K, 1B

[reillymcshane]

Woodruff Shuts Down Storm Chasers in 11-2 Win

Offense uses five-run fourth inning to cruise to the series-clinching victory.

By Robby Veronesi / Colorado Springs Sky Sox

 

Garrett Cooper drove in his first four RBIs of the season, including three on a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning. (Photo: Paat Kelly)

 

Colorado Springs Box Score

 

If Brandon Woodward keeps pitching like this, a ticket to Milwaukee won’t be far off.

 

Woodruff tossed 6.1 innings of five hit ball, allowing no earned runs, as the Sky Sox routed the Omaha Storm Chasers 11-2. Woodruff struck out four batters and walked none to get the win.

 

Not to be outshone, Sky Sox hitters rapped out 12 hits. Leading the way was Garrett Cooper (2-4, 2 2B, BB, 4 RBI), Kyle Wren (2-5), Eric Sogard (2-5, HR), Ryan Cordell (2-4) and Yadiel Rivera (2-4, HR).

 

Colorado Springs Game Log

 

The Sky Sox broke open the game in the bottom of 4th, scoring five runs, highlighted by Rivera’s HR and Cooper’s double.

 

Col. Springs Bottom of the 4th

Nick Noonan strikes out swinging.

Yadiel Rivera homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field.

Adam Weisenburger walks.

Kyle Wren singles on a line drive to center fielder Bubba Starling. Adam Weisenburger to 2nd.

Eric Sogard reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by third baseman Dean Anna. Adam Weisenburger to 3rd. Kyle Wren to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Bobby Parnell replaces Josh Staumont.

Ryan Cordell strikes out swinging.

Garrett Cooper doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Bubba Starling. Adam Weisenburger scores. Kyle Wren scores. Eric Sogard scores.

Brett Phillips singles on a ground ball to left fielder Billy Burns. Garrett Cooper scores.

Ivan De Jesus Jr. grounds into a force out, third baseman Dean Anna to second baseman Whit Merrifield. Brett Phillips out at 2nd.

[Eye Black]

Final: Biloxi 2, Montgomery 1

 

DeMuth's heroics spark Shuckers to another victory over Biscuits

Williams and the Biloxi bullpen keep Montgomery's bats quiet

 

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

In his long awaited return to the mound Taylor Williams gave up just one hit and one walk while recording three strikeouts over 3.0 scoreless innings. That lone hit against Williams was the first Biscuits batter of the game in what was one of the weakest infield worm killing dribbler singles you will ever see.

 

After recording 144 strikeouts over 150 innings in 2016, Jon Perrin started off 2017 with 7 K's over 4.2 relief innings.

 

Speedster Johnny Davis extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games dating back to last season.

 

In addition to Dustin DeMuth’s 9th inning RBI double he also hit a solo home run in the 5th inning and was the only Shuckers player with multiple hits.

 

Biloxi Game Log

 

Taylor Williams was on a pitch count, but worked an efficient three innings in which he faced 10 batters and threw just 40 pitches (25 for strikes). Only one ball even made it out of the infield against Williams who was running his fastball into the mid-90s.

 

Montgomery Bottom of the 1st

Granden Goetzman singles on a ground ball to shortstop Mauricio Dubon.

Alec Sole grounds into a double play, second baseman Javier Betancourt to shortstop Mauricio Dubon to first baseman Dustin DeMuth. Granden Goetzman out at 2nd.

Cade Gotta grounds out, second baseman Javier Betancourt to first baseman Dustin DeMuth.

 

Montgomery Bottom of the 2nd

Justin Williams strikes out swinging.

Grant Kay flies out to center fielder Michael Reed.

Justin O'Conner walks.

Nick Ciuffo grounds out, second baseman Javier Betancourt to first baseman Dustin DeMuth.

 

Montgomery Bottom of the 3rd

Michael Russell grounds out, third baseman George Iskenderian to first baseman Dustin DeMuth.

Riley Unroe strikes out swinging, catcher Dustin Houle to first baseman Dustin DeMuth.

Granden Goetzman strikes out on a foul tip.

[bork]

Is Wang in relief now? Then who's the fifth starter?

[And That]

Rattlers Rally to Win Home Opener 3-2

Feliciano breaks tie with eighth inning home run

By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

(Photo: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

 

Wisconsin Boxscore

 

Mario Feliciano made his first hit of the year count. Ryan Aguilar continued his strong start by posting the only multi hit game for the good guys, one of which was a double. The Rattlers have scored 4 times in 3 games. But hey, they've won 2 of them.

 

Starting pitcher Tom Jankins flashed a good change up. He pitches from a high three quarters delivery and is able to keep a good plane on his fastball, which makes the change more effective. He threw a handful of what looked to me like curveballs, but Mehring referred to as sliders. His high delivery point limits how much horizontal break he can give his offspeed stuff, so while it may be a slider grip, it had more of curve shape at least today. In any case, given his height and downhill fastball, he'll generate plenty of ground balls when he's on, and his change should give him a weapon against LHB that many RH sinker-type pitchers don't have. At least if he's able to keep executing that pitch like he was today. He's an interesting prospect. He did leave the game maybe earlier than expected after taking a hard ground ball off the ankle in the 5th. Didn't look like a long term worry but it's possible it could swell and cause him to miss a start or two.

 

Nattino Diplan is a pretty fascinating pitcher in his own right, but I'll speak about him more another time. He was inconsistent today in his 2/3 of an inning, but you can see why they've spent so much time developing him. Dan Brown and Aaron Myers finished things out with 3 1/3 scoreless but I didn't see either pitch so I can't add much. Myers got yet another pop up.

 

Wisconsin Log

[And That]

Some pretty sweet Isan Diaz photos.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Chris Mehring's Timber Rattlers Pregame Show Sat. 4/8: "The first Timber Rattlers Postgame Podcast brought to you by Papa John's Pizza. Chris & Kyle talk about the Timber Rattlers 3-2 victory over Quad Cities in the Rattlers Home Opener of 2017. Kyle also has interviews with Ryan Aguilar, Matt Erickson, Tom Jankins, & Aaron Myers."

 

***

 

VIDEO via NBC26: Timber Rattlers highlights

 

***

 

Article includes a video interview with RHP Thomas Jankins -

 

Rattlers win home opener on late home run

Tim Froberg, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

GRAND CHUTE - He had been slumping, but Mario Feliciano did some slugging to provide an ideal finish to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ home opener.

 

The 18-year-old catcher picked the perfect time to deliver his first hit of the season, launching a two-out solo homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a tie game and lift the Rattlers to a dramatic 3-2 win over Quad Cities.

 

The blast was Feliciano’s first professional home run and it was a no-doubter, easily clearing the wall in left-center and traveling an estimated 415 feet.

 

“It felt great,” said Feliciano through translator Fidel Pena. “With it being my first home run in pro ball, I was so excited.”

 

Feliciano’s homer came on a 3-1 pitch and capped an unusual at-bat for the youngest player on the Rattlers’ roster. He had taken three straight balls from losing pitcher Carlos Sierra and thought he had drawn a walk on the fourth pitch, and dropped the bat and started walking toward first. But home plate umpire Andrew Barrett ruled it a strike and Feliciano had to step back into the box.

 

If Feliciano was frustrated, he didn’t show it. He took Sierra deep on the next pitch to give a Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium crowd of 4,712 a proper opening-day memory.

 

“I stayed positive,” said Feliciano, who had been 0-for-3 in the game and 0-for-7 on the season. “I wasn’t having a good game, but I stayed positive.”

 

Feliciano, a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, will be a closely watched player by the Milwaukee Brewers this summer. He was a competitive-balance round pick by the Brewers in the 2016 draft and the 75th overall selection. He is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the 23rd best prospect in the Brewers organization and is rated 28th by Baseball America.

 

The Brewers are intrigued with Feliciano’s defensive skills and he showed promise at the plate in rookie league at Helena, hitting .265 with 16 RBI in 29 games last season.

 

“He’s a young kid, but he has a pretty decent approach at the plate,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “He has a short stroke and stays inside the ball. He swung the bat pretty good in spring training. But his No. 1 priority right now is taking care of our pitching staff and getting better daily at receiving the baseball.

 

“The one thing that stood out in spring training is that he really blocks. He’s really good at blocking and today he had some key blocks with runners in scoring position that kind of gets lost in the shuffle. Those are big plays and he’s made them look fairly routine thus far.”

 

Reliever Aaron Myers worked out of a two-on jam in the ninth to pick up the save. The Rattlers got a strong start from Thomas Jankins, who allowed one run on three hits in five innings before departing after being drilled on the left ankle by a ground ball hit by Rodrigo Ayarza in the top of the fifth. The ball ricocheted off Jankins’ ankle directly to first baseman Ronnie Gideon for the third out of the inning.

 

“It was an unfortunate way to end, but I thought I did a good job for the most part,” said Jankins. “I’ve never taken one off the ankle like that. It will probably be sore for a couple days, but I don’t think I’ll miss any time. I offered to stay in the game, but they were kind of being cautious and trying to take care of me and I am thankful for that.”

 

Dan Brown, a lefty reliever, was also sharp, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win.

 

“It’s always good when you get to shake hands after the game, no matter where you are,” said Erickson. “But today was exciting. We got a little dramatic win in a home opener before a really nice crowd. That’s the best crowd I’ve seen on opening day since I’ve been here, and it was definitely the best weather.”

 

It was the third straight game the Rattlers, who played error-free ball, have received exceptional pitching. Wisconsin pitchers have allowed just three runs in the season’s first 26 innings.

 

However, the Rattlers have also struggled at the plate, producing just four runs on the season.

 

“Our pitching has been phenomenal,” Erickson said. “If you can pitch and take care of the baseball, it’s going to give you a chance in every game. Historically in this league, offenses run a little behind in the early going. It’s not uncommon with young hitters facing better pitchers than they have before and obviously pretty anxious at the plate.

 

“If we can settle in and start doing a better job of controlling the zone and having better head discipline and using the big part of the field, the teams that make those adjustments have a better chance of waking up the bats and having better offensive days.”

[Mass Haas]

Note: We didn't know the status of 25-year-old Fidel Pena, who played with Brevard County last season, and was not listed as active on a full-season roster. So for now, we know he's in Appleton, but not active. He was listed as assisting as a translator in the story above.

[Mass Haas]

World Baseball Classic gives Shuckers’ Jorge Lopez a lift for ‘17

Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald

 

Biloxi Shuckers right-hander Jorge Lopez has pitched in the majors and was the Milwaukee Brewers’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2015, but his experience in the World Baseball Classic this spring may rank above all other accolades up to this point.

 

Lopez was twice the starting pitcher for his native Puerto Rico during the team’s 7-0 run through the WBC to reach the title game against the U.S.

 

He finished 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two appearances. He picked up the win in a 9-4 victory over Mexico in the first round in Mexico and did not figure into the decision in a 4-3 win over the Netherlands in the semifinals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

 

“It was something I’m never going to forget,” Lopez said. “Not only what happened on the field, but how great of a union we had. My family, everybody was watching that. Having that happiness on the field, every time out on the field. It was something I’m never going to forget.”

 

Everything stopped on the Caribbean island when the team took the field during the WBC.

 

For a U.S. territory mired in debt, the World Baseball Classic provided the distraction it so badly needed. Lopez and his teammates dyed their hair blonde as a sign of unity and rallied around the idea of representing their fellow Puerto Ricans.

 

The 8-0 loss to the U.S. in the title game was a disappointing outcome, but the team’s star catcher, Yadier Molina, put it all perspective for Lopez and his teammates.

 

“He told us that we spent two weeks together and had so much fun,” Lopez said. “We failed, but we’ve got to think positive. We’re still winning with the people in Puerto Rico, for the sport.”

 

Turnaround

 

If his first start of 2017 at Double-A is any indication, Lopez’s experience in the WBC may have been just what he needed coming off a disappointing 2016 campaign split between Biloxi and Triple-A Colorado Springs.

 

Lopez lasted six innings in a 5-3 win at Montgomery Friday night, striking out seven and walking none while allowing six hits.

 

Those stats are a great sign after he went 3-11 with a 5.78 ERA in 25 games last year. He was 1-7 with a 6.87 ERA in 17 starts at the hitter-friendly ballpark in Colorado Springs.

 

Lopez was outstanding at Biloxi in 2015, going 12-5 with a 2.26 ERA in 24 starts.

 

The 6-foot-3 Lopez showed big league stuff that season at MGM Park and he got the late call up to Milwaukee. He was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts for the Brewers.

 

Offseason work

 

The signs of a turnaround for Lopez began to emerge in winter ball in Puerto Rico following the 2016 season. It was his performance there that helped convince PR manager Edwin Rodriguez that he could factor into the starting rotation for the WBC.

 

“I threw in winter ball, fixing my delivery,” Lopez said. “It was just trusting myself and I came to spring training trying to do the same thing. I had a couple of games where I lost my fastball command and secondary pitch. The thing now is I’m trying to get my confidence, be positive all the time.”

 

Lopez was helped by getting the chance to work with the game’s best defensive catcher, Molina, during the WBC. He was also surrounded by some of the game’s bright young stars like Carlos Correa, Javier Baez and Francisco Lindor.

 

“I spent a lot of time with those guys,” Lopez said. “You feel like those guys will spend 15-20 years in the big leagues. They’ll probably be hall of famers.”

 

If Lopez takes advantage of his third stint in Biloxi, he’ll likely find himself back in the big leagues with many of his Puerto Rico teammates.

[Mass Haas]

Once again check out @BrewerProspect's Twitter timeline for several videos from Saturday, across the chain

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO via Saturday's Biloxi pre-game: Jorge Lopez interview

 

***

 

AUDIO via Chris Harris' Biloxi broadcast: Shuckers game highlights

[Mass Haas]

This is from Friday's game --

 

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Another look at Mario Feliciano's first professional home run from the Wisconsin game, this one with Chris' call