Jim Goulart

Final: @Huntsville 3, Chattanooga 2, 11 innings DAVIS DOUBLES HOME THE WINNING RUN IN STARS WIN Steve Jarnicki, Huntsvville Stars Huntsville, AL - The Huntsville Stars (43-24) outlasted the Chattanooga Lookouts (26-41) Wednesday night in eleven innings 3-2. Kentrail Davis delivered the game-winning RBI double over centerfielder Noel Cuevas’s head scoring Adam Weisenburger from second base giving the Stars the win. Stars RF Mitch Haniger hit a pair of home runs for the second straight game. Haniger’s solo home run in the fourth inning gave the Stars a 1-0 lead. In the fifth inning Chattanooga tied the game at 1-1 on a solo home run from Cuevas. It was Cuevas’s second home run in as many nights for the Lookouts and his fourth of the season. Chattanooga took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning against Stars starter Tyler Cravy. Chris O’Brien singled into left field scoring Daniel Mayora. Haniger then tied the game in the sixth when he hit his second homer of the game. It was a solo shot over the left field wall for his tenth home run of the season. Cravy, who took a no-decision, turned in a quality start. He worked seven innings giving up two runs on five hits. He also struck out seven. The game was delayed going into the bottom of the eighth due to an hour and thirty one minute rain delay. Casey Medlen (4-0) earned the victory out of the Stars bullpen. Medlen tossed three scoreless innings on one hit. The Stars lead Chattanooga 2-0 in their five game series. Game three will be played Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium. RHP Jacob Barnes (1-2, 5.64) will start for the Stars. Chattanooga will send LHP Chris Reed (3-4, 3.01) to the mound. Thursday’s game can be heard starting at 6:15 pm CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM and wtkiradio.com. *** Stars' Haniger continues power surge Brewers' No. 5 prospect homers twice for third time in eight games By Robert Emrich / MiLB.com Mitch Haniger was selected 38th overall in the 2012 Draft out of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. (Huntsville Stars photo) http://www.milb.com/assets/images/4/7/4/79371474/cuts/Haniger_1_d0ukqcqs_9lv7v075.jpg Like the passengers on Noah's Ark, Mitch Haniger's home runs keep coming in pairs. The Brewers' No. 5 prospect recorded his third two-homer game in just over a week on Wednesday night as Double-A Huntsville outlasted Chattanooga, 3-2, in 11 innings. Haniger got the scoring started with one out in the fourth, slugging a solo shot off Lookouts starter Andres Santiago. Two innings later, with the Stars trailing by a run, he knotted things up with a leadoff blast off Santiago. "I was just trying to keep hitting the ball hard," said Haniger, who has climbed into a fifth-place tie in the Southern League with 10 homers. "Swing at good pitches, stay in the middle of the field and I got some good pitches to hit." The 23-year-old outfielder also homered twice and drove in four runs on June 4 at Jackson and slugged a pair of two-run blasts on Tuesday against Chattanooga. While he has six homers and 11 RBIs in 11 games this month, the California native said he hasn't changed much at the plate. "Nothing really different mechanically or approach-wise," Haniger said. "I'm just squaring balls up a little more than I was earlier in the season. I didn't have a fantastic start, but things are starting to turn around. Sticking with the process, not worrying about the results and just focus on hitting good pitches." After batting .193 with three homers in April, Haniger saw his average rise to .314 in May, although he hit just one long ball. He's batting .308 with a .769 slugging percentage in June. "It's good to see some hard work pay off," the 2012 first-round pick said. "It's baseball -- sometimes you're hot, sometimes you're not. You just have to go out there with the same intensity and the same preparation as you do when you're going good. I think I've been good about that this year and it's good to start seeing some results." Given his recent success, it might be easy to start expecting homers to come in bunches. But Haniger said he tries not to think about it. "It crosses my mind, but I'm just trying to stay with the same approach that's allowing me to hit homers," he said. "I'm not trying to change anything, just trying to hit the ball hard, swing at good pitches. If everything is perfect, I'll hit one out and if not, I'm just trying to hit a line drive up the middle. Good things happen when I stay within myself." With the Southern League All-Star Game still a week away, Haniger is one homer from matching the career high he established last year with Class A Wisconsin and Class A Advanced Brevard County. Having already locked up the first-half North Division title, the Stars walked off with their league-best 43rd win when Kentrail Davis doubled home Adam Weisenburger with two outs in the 11th. Casey Medlen (4-0) allowed one hit over three scoreless innings for the win. Noel Cuevas slugged a solo homer for the Lookouts. Huntsville Box Score Mitch, you almost allowed us to overlook another wonderful seven-inning start from RHP Tyler Cravy. Kudos also to RHP's Jose De La Torre and especially Casey Medlen in relief. Former Brewers waiver claim (from the Reds) RHP Josh Ravin took the loss -- forgot about him, didn't you? 1B Nick Ramirez only a .514 OPS in the last ten games... Huntsville Game Log Unearned, but still a walkoff! Huntsville Bottom of the 11th Pitching Change: Josh Ravin replaces Blake Smith, batting 9th. Adam Weisenburger reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Darnell Sweeney. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Shawn Zarraga replaces Casey Medlen. Shawn Zarraga flies out to center fielder Noel Cuevas. Shea Vucinich singles on a line drive to left fielder Scott Schebler. Adam Weisenburger to 2nd. Nick Shaw flies out to left fielder Scott Schebler. Kentrail Davis doubles (10) on a fly ball to center fielder Noel Cuevas. Adam Weisenburger scores. Shea Vucinich to 3rd.

4th round CF Troy Stokes, just 18 years, 4 months old, on top of the world at Miller Park

AUDIO via Jeff Hem's blog -- "Tonight’s interview is with former major leaguer Craig Counsell, now in his third season as a special assistant to GM Doug Melvin with the Sounds’ parent-club Milwaukee Brewers. Counsell discusses the Brewers minor league success so far this year, the Brewers’ place at the top of the NL Central right now, and his take on current Sounds infielders like Hector Gomez and Jeff Bianchi." *** Always hopeful that many of you find time to take in our audio interview links...

The Rattler Radio blog pregame post and includes the video Wisconsin highlights from Tuesday's game, including Taylor Brennan's grand slam and Chris' exciting call. Click and help Mr. Mehring's blog continue to climb the MiLB.com viewership rankings (deservedly so).

Sounds manager sees loss of Mike Fiers as positive Mack Burke, The Tennessean Sounds starting pitcher Mike Fiers, who is fifth in the Pacific Coast League in ERA (2.53), was promoted to the Brewers last Sunday, but, aside from the loss of his production, Nashville manager Rick Sweet said it’s a positive. Sweet said that even though he’s lost one of their better starters, he considers a callup a positive for the team, explaining that it motivates the other players when they see that the big-league club trusts its farm system enough to promote players rather than sign free agents. “When we lose a guy to the big leagues, that’s a positive for us,” Sweet said. “That tells the other guys that the (big league team) is (promoting) guys up and not going out and (signing other players), so it makes our guys work even harder and focus more. “Plus, it gives another young guy (a chance) and we get to move somebody up,” Sweet said. “So, I think (Fiers’ callup) is a positive, even though we lose one of our better pitchers, because it gets everyone back focused and excited (about getting a call up to the major leagues).” Fiers was called up when former Sound Tyler Thornburg was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 8 with right elbow soreness. To replace Fiers’ production, the team can look at starter Taylor Jungmann, who is the Brewers’ No. 8 prospect, according to MLB.com, and has put together a couple of nice outings since his promotion from Double-A Huntsville on May 23. Jungmann had a rough outing in his most recent start on June 8 in Memphis, when he gave up nine hits and six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. But he had won his previous two outings and surrendered only nine hits and two earned runs combined in those appearances. Extra baggage: The Sounds play in a city and ballpark that isn’t really friendly to power hitters. The ball doesn’t usually carry too well at Greer Stadium, which would mean a team such as the Sounds, who haven’t hit very well this season (a .217 team batting average in June through this past Sunday’s game), should struggle at home. But the team’s home record of 22-12 after Tuesday’s game is good for second-best in the Pacific Coast League, while its road record sits at 14-18. Sweet said that the bad road record can’t be pinned just on bad hitting, which is a good argument because the Sounds hit .255 at home and .258 on the road. Sweet said before Monday’s home game against Reno that the Triple-A level and the Pacific Coast League is probably the most grueling level and league in professional baseball when it comes to traveling and road play. “This is probably the worst travel league in all of baseball,” Sweet said. “We fly everywhere on early morning flights, and literally, there are times where you get two or three hours of sleep (a night) and we play every day. This month we actually only have two days off. “So, travel is a big factor. When you go on the road, you’re in one place for four days. We get home late and we get up early and travel, so it’s grueling.” Rehab remarks: Milwaukee Brewers lefty reliever Tom Gorzelanny has been rehabbing his left shoulder in Nashville since May 22, and his performance seems to have him on the right track to return to the majors. Gorzelanny started his 30-day rehab assignment on May 14, and during his time in Nashville he has accumulated a 0.93 ERA with seven strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings. “(The rehab) has been great,” Gorzelanny said after Monday’s game. “It’s been beneficial, obviously, and I’m trying to get my strength back, get back on track and be ready to go up there whenever my arm feels good.” The Brewers, though, are still waiting for his velocity and command to get where it needs to be, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke told MLB.com in a May 31 injury report.

From @BrewersPD: The Brewers have signed 10 picks from the 2014 draft- Sneed (3), Stokes (4), McCall (9), Earls (13), Curtis (18), Hirsch (19), Hissa (21), Blau (24), Hudgens (31), Carver (35). Sneed, McCall, Curtis, Hirsch, & Hissa are assigned to Helena.

Via Steve in Huntsville -- Notes from after Tuesday's game: The Stars received their 28th quality start (6 IP or more of 3 ER or less) and the second by Andy Moye this season. It was their first quality start though since 10 starts ago when Tyler Cravy had one in Jackson on May 31st. The Stars had five different leads of 2-0, 2-1, 4-1, 6-5 and 7-6 as they only trailed once briefly at 6-5 and the game was tied once at 6-6…. Mitch Haniger, who just hit two home runs in last Wednesday’s 7-5 win in Jackson, hit two more last night. It’s his second multi-homer game of his career. In his last 22 games, Hanger is batting .341 (28-82) with 5 home runs and 14 RBI. Haniger has enjoyed hitting at home with his .321 home batting average compared to .209 on the road. Only Shawn Zarraga (.421) swings the bat better at home. Six of Haniger’s eight home runs have been hit in Huntsville. It was the fourth time this year that Adam Weisenburger had come up with a go ahead run producing at bat which ultimately won the game for the Stars. It was his second game winning pinch hit. On May 28th, he pinch hit in the 11th inning against Tennessee and won the game on an RBI single… Stars pitchers allowed three home runs to the Lookouts. It was the third time this year that the Stars allowed 3 or more home runs in one game to the Lookouts. All 10 of the home runs Chattanooga his hit against the Stars have come in the last three games (3, 4, 3)…The Stars improved to 10-7 in one run games, the 3rd best record in the Southern League in one run contests with Chattanooga now 10-10 in games decided by 1 run… Zarraga had two more RBI last night. In his last 6 games, he is batting .643 (9-14) with 6 rbi’s....Since the Stars clinched the 1st half championship they’ve gone 3-5…In the month of June alone, the Stars are 3-7 which is the worst record in the month in the Southern League. The Stars have the 2nd highest team ERA in June of any team in the league with a 5.68 team ERA… Kentrail Davis has batted leadoff now for seven straight game. In his seven games as the leadoff man, he is 7-25 (.280). This season Davis has batted first, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth. The only spot in the order that Davis has had a higher batting average than the leadoff spot is 7th (.333 BA, 15 G).

Magnifico added to North All-Star roster Right-handed starter now fifth Manatee selected for 2014 FSL All-Star Game By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees

Looks like RHP Gian Rizzo will be back in Maryvale to begin things. Although the bloom came off that rose last summer a bit....

It made no sense that big RHP Andy Hillis and his monster 2013 numbers were never assigned to Wisconsin in April. The fact he's not opening in Helena tells us he's got a serious injury, and we'll work to find out the nature of it. Bummer...

Weather.com: Nashville, TN Huntsville, AL Lakeland, FL Grand Chute, WI (Appleton) 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. Brevard County Media Notes - again, it's a unique link each day, but look for it under the "Multimedia" banner on the Manatees' 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 Wednesday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Game One Brevard County Game Two Wisconsin DSL Brewers MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

DVR Alert: Both Wednesday and Thursday Timber Rattler games this week vs. Beloit are on MyNew32 TV, 7:00 PM airtime each evening (no pre-game).

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Reno (Diamondbacks), 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 Tyler Cravy 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: RHP's Austin Ross and Damien Magnifico in a doubleheader at Lakeland (Tigers), 3:30 PM pre-game, 4:00 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Free Live Audio Link -- Select the proper link based on listed schedule Dave Walkovic returns as the play-by-play voice of the 'Tees; follow the Brevard broadcast booth staff on Twitter @BCManateesRadio. All home games and many road games are scheduled to be broadcast. When road games are only available via the opponents' audio feed (or not at all), we'll let you know that. No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Tristan Archer at home vs. Beloit (Athletics), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 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. ********** DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Braves, 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

Catching up on the amazing Timber Rattlers' 17-inning loss last night (hoping you all clicked on the links for Chris' game summary and blog entry). Anyway, there's this -- Wisconsin Bottom of the 13th Pitching Change: Sam Roberts replaces Tyler Hollstegge. Omar Garcia called out on strikes. Michael Ratterree strikes out swinging. Clint Coulter walks. Taylor Smith-Brennan flies out to center fielder B. J. Boyd. Wisconsin Bottom of the 15th Johnny Davis grounds out, pitcher Sam Roberts to first baseman B. A. Vollmuth. Omar Garcia triples (2) on a line drive to right fielder Tyler Marincov. Michael Ratterree out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Tyler Marincov. Omar Garcia scores. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Jose Pena replaces Clint Coulter. Jose Pena flies out to right fielder Tyler Marincov. *** Coulter was the DH and had walked in his prior at-bat. Unless he was ill or strained something on the inning-ending Taylor Brennan fly-out in the 13th, not sure why'd you ever pinch-hit for him there.

Nashville Media: Jeff Bianchi (2-for-4) broke up the scoreless deadlock in the home half of the sixth when his one-out single through the left side of the infield plated Pete Orr, who had opened the frame with a bunt single. AUDIO: Jeff Bianchi RBI Single Ariel Pena carried his no-hit bid into the seventh inning before Reno rallied to knot the contest at 1-1 Alfredo Marte followed an inning-opening walk to Roger Kieschnick with a single to left. VIDEO: Alfredo Marte singles to end Ariel Pena's no-hit bid in Nashville's 2-1 win over Reno Reno attempted to take its first lead of the night in the ninth against Dustin Molleken. With runners on first and second and two outs, Mike Freeman singled to center and Kevin Mattison came up firing, gunning down Mike Jacobs by three steps at the plate to end the inning and keep the game tied. AUDIO: Kevin Mattison Throws Out Runner At Plate Jeremy Hermida provided the game-winner for the first-place Sounds (36-30), driving home Elian Herrera with a one-out single to center in the bottom of the ninth off Aces reliever Joe Paterson. Herrera got things started in the frame with a one-out infield single then hustled to third on Hunter Morris' single to right. AUDIO: Jeremy Hermida's Walkoff Single

Via @BrewersPD: Josh Prince and Shawn Zarraga have been added to the Southern League all star game

Via @BrewerNation - Tentative Helena roster

Manatees get special delivery from starting pitchers Michael Parsons, FLORIDA TODAY Anybody who has followed the Brevard County Manatees through the years knows the history of strong starting pitching. From Yovani Gallardo to Manny Parra to Wily Peralta, there always seems to be one or two former Manatee starters that we see pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2012, Jimmy Nelson, Hiram Burgos and Taylor Jungmann led the way for the Manatees. Nelson and Burgos already have made spot starts for the Brewers and Jungmann has been solid at Triple A. This year's group has the makings of being one of the better quintets to toe the rubber at Space Coast Stadium. Led by All-Star Tyler Wagner (photo at article link) the starting rotation is second in the Florida State League in ERA as a staff at 2.60. Four of the five in the rotation have ERAs under 3.00 and Damien Magnifico has a 3.05 ERA after a rough start last Thursday. He will get the start tonight in Lakeland. Wagner leads the way with at 2.09 through 13 starts this season. Hobbs Johnson has been terrific as well, sporting a 2.62 ERA through 11 starts. Johnson and Jorge Lopez each have six wins, tops on the club. Lopez has a 3.00 ERA heading into his final start of the first half on Thursday night in Lakeland. "Guys have been really picking us up in the first half," Brevard County manager Joe Ayrault said of the rotation. One big addition as of late has been Austin Ross. He entered the rotation after Jed Bradley was promoted to Double A and has been dominating. The right hander is coming back from Tommy John surgery and has been as good as new. He has a 5-0 record with a 2.56 ERA in 13 gamesheading into tonight's start at Lakeland. As a starter, the Shreveport, La., native has given up just four runs in three starts, totaling 19 innings while striking out 17. "He is just bouncing back," Ayrault said of Ross. "He was doing a great job in the pen and we knew he would be the guy to step in the rotation when one of our guys went up." The pitching staff has nine shutouts in the 62 games and catcher Cameron Garfield has seen it all from close up and is proud of the numbers being put up. "It is my job to go out and help them as much as I can," Garfield said. "Their ERA is my ERA and I take pride in that and I want them to do the best they can and reach the big leagues." Just like Gallardo, Parra and Peralta before them.

MLB.com brief summary -- First-half title for Huntsville one of Minors highlights