Jim Goulart

This is awesome -- three called strikes in 32 seconds! VIDEO: Wisconsiin's Victor Diaz strikes out Chase McDonald for his sixth strikeout of the night

Diaz flirts with perfecto; Rattlers win again Brewers prospect yields one hit, fans six, walks none over six innings By Mark Emery / MiLB.com It's not every day that a pitcher takes a perfect game into the sixth inning. Victor Diaz's performance Friday night was anything but run of the mill. In Class A Wisconsin's 7-0 win at Quad Cities, the Brewers prospect retired the first 16 batters, ultimately allowing one hit over six innings as the Timber Rattlers won their third game in a row and 10th in the last 11. "My focus was to be aggressive in the zone, making the hitters get themselves out and getting them to swing at my pitches as early as possible," Diaz said through a translator, Wisconsin pitching coach Elvin Nina. "Not trying to get them out in one pitch. I was just trying to get them to be overaggressive." After recording 1-2-3 innings in each of the first five frames, the Venezuela native lost the perfecto with one out in the sixth by plunking Jake Rodriguez. Then, after getting Thomas Lindauer to pop out in foul territory, he watched the no-hitter slip away on James Ramsay's line drive single to right. The inning ended moments later as right fielder Michael Ratterree cut down Rodriguez at third base. "It was an aggressive pitch, down in the zone, and he was able to get a good swing on it and it got through," Diaz said of the knock that ended his no-hit bid. "The hitter did a pretty good job of hitting right there." The 20-year-old right-hander faced one batter over the minimum, inducing four groundouts and five flyouts. Diaz's stellar effort improved his record to 2-2 and lowered his ERA to 3.69. Over 53 2/3 innings across 13 games (seven starts) this season, he has 41 strikeouts against 24 walks. The only player to notch a hit against him Friday came away impressed. "He was mixing his pitches well, getting everything over, and we didn't adjust," Ramsay told the Quad-City Times. "He never gave us a chance to get anything going." It was the third time this season that Diaz did not issue a walk. In his prior start, he issued a career-high six free passes -- with just one strikeout -- en route to surrendering five runs over 3 2/3 innings at Clinton. "I just tried to stay in the zone, stay aggressive in the zone and not work on the edges," said Diaz, who signed with Milwaukee as a non-drafted free agent on March 5, 2012. Thanks to Diaz and left-hander Anthony Banda, who allowed two hits over the final three innings to earn his second save, the Timber Rattlers collected their third shutout of the season and first since April 16, when they blanked Lansing in the second game of a doubleheader. "I'm very pleased with my outing," Diaz said. "I'm just going to continue working and try to build off this outing, continue to work hard and remain aggressive." Wisconsin plated four runs in the second before adding two in the eighth and one in the ninth. Johnny Davis picked up three hits, while Ratterree, Jose Pena and Francisco Castillo had two apiece. Pena's two-run double in the second opened the scoring.

Sounds reliever Dustin Molleken halted Tacoma's batters by throwing three perfect innings in relief while striking out five batters for his sixth-straight scoreless outing. He has now allowed a run in just one of his last 13 appearances. The big 29-year-old Canadian and his 98 MPH heater is going to make his MLB debut in 2014, perhaps sooner rather than later... Hint to Jeff Hem for an interview soon, please...

VIDEO: Brief Nashville report via local TV sports broadcast *** The Sounds responded in the bottom half of the fourth when Jeff Bianchi hit a solo home run, his second of the season. Bianchi has been on a hot streak since joining the Sounds hitting .308 in his last 13 games. AUDIO: Bianchi Homers

Be sure to check out all the recent posts here in the Minor League Forum threads, as the Manatees and Stars threads include All-Star Game preview updates.

Manatees' trio hit FSL All-Star Game tonight Michael Parsons, FLORIDA TODAY The Brevard County Manatees will be well represented in today's Florida State League All-Star Game. The game, which begins at 7:05 PM in Bradenton (6:05 Central), will feature three members of the Brevard County Manatees. Two others who have already been promoted and will not be attending, pitchers Jed Bradley and Tanner Poppe, were also named. Starting pitchers Tyler Wagner and Damien Magnifico, as well as catcher Cameron Garfield, will represent the Manatees on the North Division roster. Wagner, who will take Bradley's spot, is currently fifth in the league with a 2.09 ERA. He ranks second in the FSL with 77 2/3 innings pitched and has gone at least five innings in all of 13 of his starts with the Manatees. "He can mix his pitches well and not only does he have the stuff but he can pitch," Manatees manager Joe Ayrault said. "Some guys with that type of stuff are just throwers, but he does a great job of utilizing all his pitches." Seven of Wagner's 13 starts have been quality starts and he has not allowed more than four earned runs in any of his 13 outings in 2014. Magnifico, who is replacing Dunedin's Daniel Norris on the roster, is 3-4 with a 3.05 ERA in 12 starts. He has struck out 38 and walked 22 in 68 innings. It is the second straight season he has been named to an All-Star team as he was chosen to play in the Midwest League All-Star Game last season, while with Class-A Wisconsin. Garfield is hitting .241 with 25 RBI and has scored 15 runs. The catcher is throwing out 35 percent of base stealers as well. It is the second straight season Garfield has made the All-Star roster. "It is great getting the award and playing against some of the best guys in the league," Garfield said. "I am looking forward to it a lot, know what to expect from last year and ready to just soak it in and enjoy it."

Tyler Cravy leads the way for Huntsville Stars with Southern All-Star Game start Jane Hammond, al.com http://imgick.al.com/home/bama-media/width620/img/alphotos/photo/2014/06/15147331-mmmain.jpg Huntsville Stars pitcher Tyler Cravy. (Bob Gathany photo) When not on the mound, it's hard to picture Tyler Cravy intensely mowing down batter after batter that he faces. The laid back 25-year-old transforms on the days he starts for the Stars, helping him own an 8-1 record with an impressive 1.72 ERA, the lowest in the Southern League, in 12 starts. For his great work, Cravy was selected to be the starting pitcher for the North in Tuesday's Southern League All-Star Game at AT&T Field in Chattanooga. "He's super aggressive," Stars' pitching coach Chris Hook said. "He comes at you. He's got three solid major league pitches that he just attacks with. He is a grinder, and he does it really well. He embraces that, and he takes the ball like, 'I'm coming to get you.' " Cravy has dazzled in his first season in Huntsville. He's struck out 64 batters while only walking 15 and also owns the lowest WHIP, 0.845, in the league. The 6-foot-3, 195 lb right-hander said the key to his success so far has been focusing on not overthrowing when his competitive side kicks in for starts. "I'm definitely a completely different person on the mound," Cravy said. "I like to be the most competitive guy out there. I try to be." The Stars clinched the first-half season title back on June 2, with almost two weeks' worth of games left to play before the All-Star Game. Huntsville's good play led to nine other Stars being named to the roster -- Nick Ramirez, Jason Rogers, Josh Prince, Shawn Zarraga, Arcenio Leon, David Goforth, Drew Gagnon, Brent Suter and Taylor Jungmann. Ramirez and Rogers will also start for the North, Ramirez at first and batting fourth and Rogers in the seven hole as the designated hitter. Leon and Jungmann will not appear, as each now plays for the AAA Nashville Sounds.

Drink the Nelson Hernandez Kool-Aid after just two starts. Will have to do a future analysis to provide examples for you, but when the Brewers dip into Venezuela, those kids just seem to be more advanced off the top. Hernandez only turned 17 in March. Despite that, the Brewers knew to place him in a starting role immediately. Two starts, 12 innings, only one walk with a .167 BAA thus far. Also glad another 17-year-old Venezuelan (won't be 18 until November), CF Joantgel Segovia, is back, was worried an injury might knock out his season. He's sqeezed two outfield assists from right field (and three errors - two in RF, one in CF) into three games, along with five singles and two walks (.538 OBP).

Final: @Huntsville 8, Chattanooga 7 Richardson's Home Run Sinks Lookouts Steve Jarnicki, Huntsville Stars Huntsville, AL - D'Vontrey Richardson broke a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with his two-run home run leading the Huntsville Stars (45-24) past the Chattanooga Lookouts (26-43) 8-7 Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Chattanooga took an early 2-0 lead against Stars RHP Drew Gagnon in the first inning. Darnell Sweeney hit a leadoff home run on the very first pitch from Gagnon. Scott Schebler also provided an RBI single in the inning. The Stars took a lead in the bottom of the first. Kentrail Davis led off by reaching base on a throwing error by the shortstop Sweeney. Davis ultimately came around and scored on another error by Sweeney. Mitch Haniger grounded a ball back up the middle and the shortstop booted it into centerfield giving the Stars their first run. Jason Rogers tied the game in the first on a sacrifice fly. Shawn Zarraga gave the Stars a 3-2 lead after his RBI single. The Stars took a 5-2 lead in the third inning. Haniger recorded an RBI on a groundout to second base. Nick Ramirez also scored in the inning on a passed ball by Chattanooga catcher Chris O'Brien. In the bottom of the fourth with two outs and Nick Shaw at second base, Davis reached on an infield single which scored Shaw. The shortstop Sweeney made a diving stop then threw to third base trying to get Shaw. Daniel Mayora, the Lookouts third baseman, dropped the ball allowing Shaw to score. With the Stars leading 6-2, Chattanooga started to chip away at the deficit in the fifth. O'Koyea Dickson doubled down the left field line making it 6-3. Gagnon, who pitched five innings allowing three runs on six hits, left the game with a 6-3 lead but ended up taking a no decision. Schebler hit a long home run to right field off Tanner Poppe. It was Schebler's twelfth homer of the year. Brian Cavazos-Galvez also added an RBI groundout bringing it to a 6-5 Stars lead. Sweeney tied the game in the seventh for the Lookouts on his second homer of the game. He launched his sixth home run of the season against Jose De La Torre. Sweeney's home run tied the game at 6-6. In the bottom of the eighth Chattanooga brought in RHP Juan Gonzalez (1-5). Zarraga led off with a single off Gonzalez's leg. Richardson then stepped to the plate and took Gonzalez deep over the right center field wall. It was Richardson's third home run of the season. David Goforth (3-3), who entered the game for the Stars in the eighth to record the final out, pitched the ninth. Mayora gave the Lookouts a ninth inning run on his infield RBI single. Goforth though buckled down to get Casio Grider to ground out to second base to end the game. The Lookouts left the tying and go ahead runners on base in the ninth. Ramirez and Zarraga each led the Stars with two hits apiece. The Stars lead Chattanooga 4-0 in their five game series. Game five will be played Saturday night at Joe Davis Stadium. LHP Jed Bradley (0-2, 5.00) will start for the Stars. Chattanooga will send RHP Raydel Sanchez (0-4, 7.76) to the mound. Saturday's game can be heard starting at 6:15 pm CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM and wtkiradio.com. Huntsville Box Score The 957 folks in attendance on this Friday night were treated to a heck of a game. Nine different half-innings saw a run or more scored. These guys find a way, not sitting on their first-half title laurels. It's going to be tough to live up to these expectations for the Biloxi fans next summer. RHP Drew Gagnon threw 70 pitches in five innings, but only 39 for strikes. Six Stars reached base multiple times, please digest the box score link best you can... Huntsville Game Log

39th round California high school LHP John Gavin will be honoring his commitment to Cal State Fullerton.

When was the last time a Brewer appeared as high as #2 on Baseball America's Prospect Hot Sheet?

MiLB.com -- Early opening: With permission from Major League Baseball, the Pioneer League is getting an earlier start to its season. Officially, short-season Rookie ball doesn't begin until two weeks after the Draft. But in an effort to begin and end the year sooner to accommodate players headed to instructional leagues, the Pioneer League petitioned for -- and was granted -- a waiver to open its season three days before its originally scheduled start day of June 19. *** Helena's Tony Diggs, Grand Junction's Anthony Sanders and Idaho Falls' Ramirez are the league's only returning managers among the eight.

Weather.com: Nashville, TN Huntsville, AL Davenport, IA Santo Domingo, DR

Sortable individual stat pages: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin Dominican Summer League Brewers

STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Southern Division AA - Southern League North Division High-A - Florida State League North Division A - Midwest League Western Division DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris

Look for these just prior to the respective game times -- Nashville Media Notes - it's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Roster" banner on the Sounds' site. Wisconsin Media Notes - Linked on the Rattler Radio blog

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.

Follow Friday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Wisconsin DSL Brewers MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! All times are Central Nashville: RHP Taylor Jungmann at home vs. Tacoma (Mariners), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Jeff Hem is the play-by-play voice of the Sounds; follow him on Twitter @jeffhempbp; we'll link to his blog updates at On the Air…and Off MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Nashville 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. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. ********** Huntsville: RHP Drew Gagnon at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime Free Live Audio Link Steve Jarnicki is the new play-by-play voice of the Stars - welcome aboard! Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveJarnicki. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast. MiLB.TV - It appears seven of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games (not the Stars). ********** Brevard County: Idle (FSL All-Star Game is Saturday) ********** Wisconsin: RHP Victor Diaz at Quad Cities (Astros), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Free Live Audio Link - 1280 AM 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. For the $49.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, Stars' road games from seven Southern League locales, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games. NOTE: Thirty-nine (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (9) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (30) will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and remember to refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule so you can coordinate your DVR activity. Quad Cities does have MiLB.TV coverage available for this series. No local TV coverage until Friday June 27th. ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Tigers, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day We're going to lock in the link to Brad Krause's fantastic Miller Park Prospects - Dominican Summer League primer right here, at least for the first couple of months of the DSL campaign, for your easy review. Brad will also be adding DSL Link Report duties to his Brevard coverage for us here. Thanks, Brad!

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

Look for Friday's Link Report to kick off just before game times early this evening, but before gametimes. Thanks for your patience.

VIDEO: Nashville local TV sports report AUDIO: Three HR calls from Jeff Hem here (Velez, Mattison, and yes, Heckathorn)

Classy, Huntsville -- appreciated by Kentrail, surely.

Review Twitter timeline of @BrewersPD for recent update notes.

VIDEO: Game highlights from the MyNew32 TV Timber Rattlers broadcast