Jim Goulart

DVR ALERT: As we've been reminding you, Friday night's Timber Rattlers game is available on local TV on MyNew32 TV, 6:00 pregame show.

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! All times are Central Nashville: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 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 Taylor Jungmann at Montgomery (Rays), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 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). Montgomery does host MiLB.TV broadcasts - be among those hoping Steve's audio link synchs up nicely with your MiLB.TV investment. ********** Brevard County: First, it's the completion of Thursday's suspended nine-inning game (Manatees lead 4-0 after three innings) at home vs. Tampa (Yankees), 3:35 PM pre-game, 4:05 gametime, followed by Friday's regularly-scheduled game, now shortened to seven innings. LHP Jed Bradley is scheduled to start in the nightcap. 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: LHP Tyler Alexander at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 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.

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

As will be discussed on the Major League Forum, Caleb Gindl to Milwaukee (Jim Henderson DL, shoulder inflammation), Brewers roster back to 12 pitchers.

Via Adam McCalvy -- Hiram Burgos hit the Triple-A DL Thursday with a shoulder strain. Brewers will be very careful with him because of shoulder fatigue last year.

Via @BrewersPD -- (posted Thursday evening) The Brewers have re-signed RHP Tim Dillard. He will join the Stars in time for their games tonight against Montgomery. At Wisconsin, RHP Tyler Spurlin was placed on the DL today to make room for RHP Preston Gainey, who was activated from the Rattlers disabled list. *** No word on the nature or severity of Tyler Spurlin's injury at this time.

If you listened to the Matt Erickson audio in Chris' post, then you know that Wisconsin 1B David Denson was sick, and that's why he exited Game One. No injury, good to hear, get well, David.

Link includes post-game interview VIDEO with Manager Matt Erickson, audio had been placed in Chris Mehring's post-game post, which had been linked earlier in this thread. Reaching a milestone: Erickson gets win No. 216 by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media GRAND CHUTE — Taylor Brennan had played close to 31 innings of baseball in just under 25 hours, so his bat could have felt like an oak tree when he swung it for the final time Thursday. Instead, Brennan handled it like a magician’s wand to end a marathon and start a celebration. The Wisconsin third baseman delivered a game-winning, walk-off single for the second straight day to culminate a 3-2 Timber Rattlers comeback victory over Burlington in the second game of a doubleheader and give manager Matt Erickson a landmark win. By gaining a split with the Bees and picking up his 216th win with the Timber Rattlers, Erickson passed Gary Thurman and became the winningest manager in franchise history before a Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium crowd of 1,556. A lot of people wanted to pat Erickson on the back after the game, but the Appleton native downplayed his achievement. “I had to lose a lot of games to win 216,” said Erickson with a laugh. “I just feel fortunate to be in the situation I’m in. To get to do this in my hometown and for the Brewers, a team I grew up watching and got to play for, it’s just a neat experience. Very humbling.” Erickson, a man held in high regard by the Milwaukee organization, is in his fourth year managing the Timber Rattlers. He started out as the team’s batting coach and led the Timber Rattlers to a Midwest League title in 2012. “I’m happy for Matt,” said Wisconsin second baseman Chris McFarland. “He’s a great coach, one of my favorites. It was a great win.” The 22-year-old Brennan had a major role in putting Erickson’s name in the Wisconsin record books. With runners on first and third and one out in the bottom of the seventh of the second game, the right-handed hitting Brennan went opposite field and smoked an Eswarlin Jimenez pitch to deep right to knock in Michael Ratterree with the game-winning run. “I didn’t want to go for a low pitch and hit a ground ball,” said Brennan. “I was looking for a pitch that was elevated, so I could get it to the outfield. I got one and put a good swing on it. It’s a great feeling. The team put me in a great situation and I got the job done.” Brennan has been swinging a hot bat. He had a game-winning walk-off single in the opener of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Bees and went six-for-15 in the back-to-back twinbills, with four extra-base hits. “I feel good right now, I don’t feel tired,” said Brennan, who played every inning of the consecutive doubleheaders. “In junior college, we had back-to-back doubleheaders every weekend, so I’m kind of used to it.” Brennan, a 37th-round draft pick by the Brewers in the 2012 first-year player draft, is hitting .250 and has shown pop, with four home runs and 12 RBI. “We need him to play well to be successful,” said Erickson. “He’s been playing with confidence, not only with his bat, but it seems to have carried over to his defense. He made some great plays at third base yesterday. He’s helped us out in the middle of the order, too, and we’re going to need his bat if we’re going to be a contending club.” Catcher Clint Coulter started Wisconsin’s comeback with a long solo home run in the bottom of the sixth. A Brennan triple followed by a McFarland sacrifice fly tied the game at 2-2. It was the fifth home run of the season for the much-improved Coulter, a No. 1 pick by Milwaukee in 2012. He is hitting .313 and leads the team in homers and RBI (18). Reliever Harvey Martin pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts in relief of starter Preston Gainey to get the win. Gainey was effective in his five innings, scattering five hits and allowing two earned runs. In the opener, the Timber Rattlers collected 10 hits, but committed three errors and struggled on the mound in a 6-4 loss. Center fielder Johnny Davis had a pair of RBI singles for the Timber Rattlers and continued his stellar play in the outfield with a fine running catch. Catcher Rafael Neda and McFarland slammed RBI doubles and had two hits apiece. Wisconsin starter Zach Quintana allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits in his four innings of work and the Timber Rattlers played catch-up ball the entire game. Post-Crescent Photo Gallery

Earlier we linked to Kyle Lobner's pre-game work from Appleton, here's his follow-up post via BrewCrewBall.

Always one of the better interview listens -- AUDIO via Jeff Hem's blog: "Today’s interview is with Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash, who is in town for a few days to watch the Sounds in person. Among the topics, Ash discusses the Brewers’ 20-8 start (best record in MLB); the Sounds’ 14-12 start that includes currently sharing first place with Round Rock; Mike Fiers’ start to the season (5-0, 0.80 ERA, most strikeouts in MiLB); and Johnny Hellweg’s “Tommy John” elbow surgery."

Final, Game Two: @Montgomery 7, Huntsville 3 Huntsville Game Two Box Score Crazy - just one night earlier, Nick Ramirez needed a triple to complete the cycle. He would pop out in his final at-bat. So what would Ramirez, the owner of only three career triples (all with Brevard County in 2013), do here? Triple twice, of course! Nice to see Shawn Zarraga play both ends of the twinbill (catcher, designated hitter) -- 2-for-6, sacrifice fly. D'Vontrey Richardson is just 2-for-21 (one walk) over his last five games. Just prior, he had been 5-for-12 with a walk in his first three games coming off the DL. Huntsville Game Two Game Log Rough outings for bullpen mates Eric Marzec and Tommy Toldeo...

Final, Game One: Huntsville 5, @Montgomery 2 Huntsville Game One Box Score RHP Drew Gagnon walked four and hit a batter in four innings, partially explaining the relatively short (four-inning) start. Looks as though RHP David Goforth, the former starter, then closer, is now more of a setup man working multiple innings, with RHP Arcenio Leon apparently the one-inning closer for now. You'll notice in the box score that every Star reached base at least once except for LF Josh Prince, batting in the nine-hole in this seven-inning affair. Huntsville Game One Game Log Nice job bailing out Drew Gagnon here by Jason Rogers and the boys -- Montgomery Bottom of the 2nd Alejandro Segovia homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Willie Argo strikes out swinging. Luke Maile hit by pitch. Jake Hager walks. Luke Maile to 2nd. Joey Rickard walks. Luke Maile to 3rd. Jake Hager to 2nd. Ryan Brett grounds into a double play, third baseman Jason Rogers to catcher Shawn Zarraga to first baseman Nick Ramirez. Luke Maile out at home.

STARS SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER WITH MONTGOMERY Montgomery, AL - The Huntsville Stars split their doubleheader Thursday evening with the Montgomery Biscuits, the Double-A Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. The Stars won game one, 5-2 with the Biscuits claiming game two, 7-3 at Riverwalk Stadium. The Stars and Biscuits are both 17-11 now after their doubleheader split. In game one, Montgomery jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out solo home run by Cameron Seitzer off Stars starter Drew Gagnon. The Stars took the lead in the top of the second. The Stars recorded five singles against Dylan Floro (2-2). Kentrail Davis singled into left field bringing home Shawn Zarraga to tie the game at 1-1. Greg Hopkins grounded into a double play scoring Jason Rogers giving the Stars a 2-1 lead. The Stars made it 3-1 when Josh Prince reached on a fielding error by third baseman Richie Shaeffer. Gagnon allowed his second homer of the night in the second inning when Alejandro Segovia took him deep over the left field wall. It was Segovia’s second homer of the year and it brought the Biscuits within a run at 3-2. The Stars extended their lead in the seventh on a Hopkins RBI double scoring Davis. Hopkins also scored in the inning on a balk by Braulio Lara. Gagnon took a no decision after allowing two runs on four walks in four innings. David Goforth (1-1) earned the win out of the Stars bullpen. He pitched two innings and left the tying and go ahead base runners on base in the sixth. Arecenio Leon nailed down his third save of the year in the seventh when he got a 1-2-3 inning. In game two, the Stars jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning against Montgomery starter Jared Mortensen. Nick Ramirez tripled down the right field line scoring Nick Shaw. Zarraga then brought Ramirez home on an RBI single. The Biscuits tied it in the second inning against Huntsville starter Jacob Barnes. Jeff Malm singled into left-center scoring Segovia and Jake Hager to tie the game at 2-2. The Stars retook the lead in the fifth. Ramirez tripled for the second time in the game. Zarraga scored Ramirez on a sacrifice fly giving the Stars a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, the Biscuits took the lead for good against Stars reliever Eric Marzec (0-2). With one out, Luke Bailey doubled and Riccio Torrez singled putting runners on the corners. Ryan Brett then hit a towering three-run homer over the wall in left giving Montgomery a 5-3 lead. Marzec suffered the loss for the Stars. The Biscuits added two more runs in the seventh against Tommy Toledo. Ramirez finished game two 2-4 with an RBI. Zarraga went 1-2 with 2 RBI. The Stars and Biscuits play game four of their series Friday night. RHP Taylor Jungmann (1-3, 4.23) will start for Huntsville while RHP Michael Colla (1-3, 5.55) goes for the Biscuits. The game can be heard starting at 6:50 PM CT with Steve Jarnicki on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM, and wtkiradio.com.

Storms led Stars to change travel by A. Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser The Huntsville Stars, faced with Monday night's severe storms, delayed their arrival in Montgomery. After finishing a series at Tennessee, the Stars were to drive through the night for Montgomery. However, Monday night's severe storms promised a suspenseful trip. "One of the players Tweeted that he didn't want to ride through a land infested with tornadoes," Stars manager Carlos Subero said. "Somebody played 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' on the bus.'" Stars general manager Buck Rogers, Subero said, noticed the players' online worries. He called the team and told them to stay in Tennessee on Monday night and drive to Montgomery on Tuesday. "I know we wouldn't do anything to put anyone's life in danger," Subero said. "I thank our GM and everybody involved."

Kevin Kimmes of Cream City Cables has a Q&A with OF Johnny Davis

The always entertaining and worthwhile Timber Rattlers pre-game report from Appleton, written by Kyle Lobner (now of @BrewFrostyMug fame) and posted on BrewCrewBall.

First baseman David Denson left the first game of today's Wisconsin doubleheader, and is not in the lineup for Game Two -- Burlington Top of the 4th Erick Salcedo grounds out, second baseman Christopher McFarland to first baseman David Denson. Kody Eaves strikes out on a foul tip. Mark Shannon reaches on a fielding error by first baseman David Denson. Mike Fish grounds out, third baseman Taylor Smith-Brennan to first baseman David Denson. Burlington Top of the 5th Defensive Substitution: Steven Halcomb replaces first baseman David Denson, batting 3rd, playing first base.

From @BrewersPD: Hiram Burgos has been placed on the DL in Nashville. He'll be replaced there by Johnnie Lowe. *** No word on the nature or severity of Burgos' injury.

Notes from Steve in Huntsville: FROM YESTERDAY: The Stars recorded seven doubles in yesterday’s game. The club record for the most doubles in one game is nine, which has been done twice. The first time was on April 15, 1991 at Jacksonville in a 13-5 victory, then tied August 20, 2010 at Birmingham in an 11-10 loss… The Stars finished the month of April with a 16-10 record which is their best April mark since the 2008 team went 18-8… Shawn Zarraga finished April with a .489 average, a record for the month previously held by Freddy Parejo (.421 in 2008)…Going into today, Huntsville starters have gone seven straight games of at least five innings or more. UNDEFEATED: Entering today’s second game of the five-game series, the Stars are 5-0 in game two’s of series this year. GOTTA SCORE: When the Stars score only 1-run their record is 1-5. SUPRISING START: With their 16 wins already in 2014, the Stars are ahead of where they were this time last year. The Stars did not win their 16th game of last season until May 16th. This year they won their 16th on April 30th. APRIL SUCCESS: The Stars finished the month of April with the best record in the Southern League at 16-10. Even though Mobile and Montgomery each finished 16-10 as well, the Stars won the head-to-head matchups with those two teams. They finished with the 2nd lowest team ERA (2.86), walked the fewest hitters (64), scored the 3rd most runs (116, 4.5 per gm), walked the most (118) and also hit the third lowest of any team in the league (.223)

Miller Park Prospects -- Farm Progress Report: 5/1/2014

John Sickels has released his new Top 150 -- 89. Jimmy Nelson 148. Clint Coulter

Via Alec Dopp at BrewCrewBall -- Brewers Minor League Report: Who's Hot and Who's Not, April 2014

We asked Adam McCalvy to ask Gord Ash about RHP Brooks Hall, the 40-man roster Huntsville Star who left his last start after five shutout innings -- thanks, Adam. The Double-A Huntsville Stars placed Brewers 40-man roster member Brooks Hall on the disabled list this week because of irritation in his right elbow caused by an attached bone fragment. Hall received a cortisone shot, assistant general manager Gord Ash said, and the Brewers hope to get him through the season before addressing the issue in the offseason.

From April 18th -- Farmer was Baseball America's Pitcher of the Day Wednesday 4/30 -- PITCHER OF THE DAY: Buck Farmer, rhp — low Class A West Michigan (Tigers). Farmer, who set a career high with 11 strikeouts on April 18, did one better Wednesday with 12 Ks against one walk. He threw 64 strikes among 95 pitches. Farmer is 23, right on the cusp of old for the Midwest League, but he was Georgia Tech's Friday starter as a senior before the Tigers drafted him in the fifth round.

Weather.com: Nashville, TN Montgomery, AL Viera, FL (Melbourne) Grand Chute, WI (Appleton)