Jim Goulart

Stars Take Series Finale in Chattanooga Alex Cohen, Huntsville Stars Chattanooga, TN – Wrapping up a five-game series at AT&T Field, the Huntsville Stars beat the Chattanooga Lookouts by a score of 4-0 on Sunday afternoon. In recording their seventh shutout of the season, starting pitcher Ariel Pena improved to 6-8 on the season, blanking the Lookouts bats through the first five innings of the game. The Brewers Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May earned his first win in ten starts since that point by giving up just five hits while striking out four batters and walking five as well. To ensure the victory for Pena, righty Brooks Hall pitched two innings of scoreless relief while relievers Casey Medlen and Kevin Shackelford each pitched a scoreless frame respectively to finish the game. On offense, the Stars got all the support they needed from an RBI single from shortstop Hector Gomez in the third inning against Lookouts starting pitcher Ross Stripling (L, 5-3). Huntsville duplicated that same result one inning later with an RBI single from outfielder Chadwin Stang. In terms of run support, the Stars got a pinch-hit RBI groundout from Brock Kjeldgaard in the eighth inning and an RBI double from first baseman Jason Rogers in the top of the ninth. As a team, the Stars churned out 11 hits, led by three from Gomez. Catcher Anderson De La Rosa, Rogers and Stang each had two of their own. For Rogers, his two doubles gives him a team-leading 22 on the season. He now has a league-leading 79 runs batted in on the season. With the victory, the Stars finished up their season series against the Chattanooga Lookouts with a 9-6 record, including seven wins in ten games at AT&T Field. After an off day on Tuesday, the Stars will return home to Joe Davis Stadium to open up a five-game series with the Mobile BayBears. The BayBears are the two-time defending Southern League champs and won the Southern League South division crown in the first half this year. Wednesday marks a stretch off 11 games in ten days at Joe Davis Stadium for the Stars.

Listen to two Helena pre-game audio interviews this morning -- From Saturday -- AUDIO: Brewers pitching coach Elvin Nina talks about the Helena Brewers pitching staff (including Tyler Alexander) and more *** From Sunday -- AUDIO: Brewers southpaw Anthony Banda talks about his most recent start and his career

Link to full story from the Billings Gazette, includes quote below -- Tyler Alexander went 1 1/3 innings to pick up the save and lowered his already sub-1.00 ERA. “They brought in a strong left-hander that had given up just one hit all year,” Kelly said of the Brewers’ closer. “That’s pretty dominant.” Yes, before allowing three singles in a scoreless 9th inning Sunday, 2013 27th round lefty Tyler Alexander had allowed only one hit and one walk in 9 1/3 professional innings.

Photo by Jim Duncan, Billings Gazette The Mustangs' Ty Washington makes the catch but misses getting Omar Garcia out at second as the Billings Mustangs play the Helena Brewers on Sunday. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/billingsgazette.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/89/1896ec19-744f-5c3d-8da9-2c04fdd8794f/520845a615397.preview-620.jpg

The Helena Independent Record files this report for its readers on the road game -- *** Brewers pick up road win over Mustangs The Helena Brewers sure like playing at Dehler Park. Helped along by several Mustangs miscues, the Brewers took a 3-1 win over Billings on Sunday. It was the team’s fifth win at Dehler this season — the same number of wins the struggling Mustangs have picked up in their home park in 25 attempts. The win pushes Helena to 29-21 on the season, one game back of red-hot Great Falls in the Pioneer League North Division standings. Helena scored in the first inning without getting a hit. Leadoff hitter Omar Garcia stole second after being hit by a pitch, then went to third when pitcher Zach Weiss’ pickoff attempt sailed into center field. Garcia then scored on a groundout by catcher Dustin Houle. In the top of the second frame, Weiss allowed a leadoff home run to Jose Pena — his fifth of the season — to make it a 2-0 Brewers lead. Weiss was able to get out of the inning quickly after that, but was forced to leave the game two outs into the third after taking a Taylor Brennan line drive off his pitching shoulder. Brennan’s liner put runners on the corners with two outs, but reliever Jose Guzman struck Pena out swinging to end the threat. Guzman continued his strong play through the heart of the contest, striking out five without a walk in 5 1/3 innings of work. Eduard Reyes, however, was also putting on a show for the Brewers. Relieving starter Brandon Moore, Reyes surrendered just four hits and struck out four in his five innings of work, earning his third win of the season. Billings did get one run back in the sixth, though, when Ty Washington doubled with two outs and scored on a Carlos Sanchez single. After a quick and scoreless seventh for both sides, the Brewers got that run back in the eighth when Mustangs shortstop Robert Bueno booted two consecutive potential double-play balls. The second of those errors allowed Nathan Orf to score, making it a 3-1 game. The Mustangs made it interesting down the stretch, though, loading the bases in both the eighth and ninth innings. The eighth-inning threat ended when Tyler Alexander replaced Estevenson Encarnacion, who had issued three consecutive walks with two outs. Alexander promptly struck out Gabriel Rosa on three pitches to send it to the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, Billings loaded the bases with a trio of singles. Jonathan Reynoso was called out on strikes for the second out of the frame — a call he disagreed with, prompting an ejection — before Washington grounded into a game-ending force-out. Alexander went 1 1/3 innings to pick up the save and lower his already sub-1.00 ERA. Offensively, Helena shortstop Angel Ortega turned in his first three-hit game of the year, going 3 for 4 to pace the Brewers. The rest of the team’s nine hits came from Garcia, Orf, Brennan, Pena, Renaldo Jenkins and Charlie Markson. The teams will finish their series tonight in Billings before Helena returns home to Kindrick Legion Field for a seven-game homestand. The stretch opens with a four-game set with Orem and finishes with three against Grand Junction.

Happy 25th Birthday to 2010 6th round pick 1B/DH Cody Hawn of the Manatees. After a promising April, it's been another tough statistical year.

Weather.com: Colorado Springs, CO Chattanooga, TN Dunedin, FL Davenport, IA Billings, MT Glendale, AZ

STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League North Division High-A - Florida State League North Division A - Midwest League Western Division Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division Rookie - Arizona Summer League DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris Division *** NOTE: To view first half or overall standings for Huntsville, Brevard County, Wisconsin, and Maryvale, you'll notice options at the respective links for that. Otherwise it's second-half standings as the default view for those three leagues.

Look for Nashville and Wisconsin media notes at the links just prior to their game times. New this season: Brevard County has media notes; as of now, it's a unique link each day, but look for it just prior to game time each day within the "Stats and Scores" banner here. Also new this season: Helena has media notes; it's a unique link each day, but look for it just prior to game time each day within the "Stats and Scores" banner here.

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 Sunday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Maryvale New MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Programming note: Chattanooga has their games on MiLB.TV, so you'll be able to watch this Huntsville series live and on archive if a subscriber.

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Jimmy Nelson at Colorado Springs (Rockies), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:05 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 $39.99 season-long package ($9.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. ********** Huntsville: RHP Ariel Pena at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 1:00 PM pre-game, 1:15 gametime Free Live Audio Link Alex Cohen is the play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast. It appears four Southern League teams air their home games on MiLB.TV, and we'll let you know when those dates pop up on the schedule. ********** Brevard County: RHP Chad Pierce at Dunedin (Blue Jays), 3:30 PM pre-game, 4:00 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the link based on listed schedule Manatees audio, hooray! Dave Walkovic is the first play-by-play voice of the 'Tees since 2007, he's joined by Andy Towne; 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, we'll let you know that. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Jorge Lopez at Quad Cities (Astros), 4:40 PM pre-game, 5:00 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. MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; Wisconsin is one of four Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV. So for the $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, Stars' road games from four Southern League locales, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games. NOTE: Many of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and WACY-TV My NEW32 will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and will try to provide day-before DVR reminders, so regularly check with us. ********** Helena: RHP Eduard Reyes at Billings (Reds), 2:45 PM pre-game, 3:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Voice of the Helena Brewers Steve Wendt is back on board, and this year he's added Twitter to the mix @steve_wendt. We've been treated to Steve's work for many years now (ten!); he is among the very best at the art of the pre-game interview, especially considering how at ease he makes all these first-time professional ballplayers. MiLB.TV -- When the H-Crew makes their way to Grand Junction (August), those games will be available for viewing online. ********** Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Dodgers' complex in Glendale, 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league ********** DSL Brewers: Idle

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Final: @AZL Brewers 8, AZL Dodgers 5 AZL Brewers Box Score The Dodgers' CF is Jaylen Harris, not to be confused with Helena 1B Jalen Harris. They'll end up on a field together somewhere in a year or two. Hey, Clint Coulter, have a night! Single shy of the cycle. Reached on an error by the shortstop his first AB. C'mon Mr. Official Scorer! Hey Jose Sermo, have a night! After a leg injury sidelined him way back in May with the Timber Rattlers, Sermo announced to his followers pre-game that he was back, and then this happened: AZL Brewers Bottom of the 1st Johnny Davis called out on strikes. Tucker Neuhaus called out on strikes. Jose Sermo homers (1) on a fly ball to right field. Clint Coulter reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Cristian Gomez. David Denson strikes out swinging. My goodness, Elvis Rubio. Just turned 19 years old, with awesome size (6'3", 215), the RH bat just continues to amaze - OPS at .964. Nine-game hitting streak now. Tossed in a SB last night. Genuinely excited. Two doubles for Tucker Neuhaus? Nice. Of course, it's David Denson who draws the team's only walk. Luis Aviles was 2-for-2 after coming in for Sermo. AZL Brewers Game Log RHP's Milton Gomez, Scott Lieser, and Jorge Ortega combined to fan 14 and walk just one. Four-spot breaks a 4-4 tie late: AZL Brewers Bottom of the 8th Pitching Change: Wascar Teodo replaces Bryan Munoz. Tucker Neuhaus doubles (11) on a line drive to right fielder Theo Alexander. Luis Aviles singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Wascar Teodo. Tucker Neuhaus to 3rd. Clint Coulter triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Jaylen Harris. Tucker Neuhaus scores. Luis Aviles scores. David Denson walks. Elvis Rubio singles on a ground ball to third baseman Michael Ahmed. Clint Coulter scores. David Denson to 2nd. Paul Eshleman flies out to center fielder Jaylen Harris. David Denson to 3rd. Edgardo Rivera out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Jaylen Harris. David Denson scores. With Francisco Castillo batting, Elvis Rubio steals (3) 2nd base. Francisco Castillo grounds out, pitcher Wascar Teodo to first baseman Cody Bellinger. Great game!

An example of the daily tidbits you learn when you follow Helena's Steve Wendt on Twitter

Here's the obligatory MiLB.com feature story on the Blue Jays' farmhand cycle vs. Brevard The native of the Dominican Republic fared much better in the Midwest League, hitting .292 with a .737 OPS for Lansing. The adjustment to a higher level has been slow for the free-swinger. Pierre has struck out 105 times across the two levels while drawing only four walks. Yikes.

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers profile: Mike Garza, third base by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media Link includes video interview with Mike, plus "Favorites", "Q&A", etc.

VIDEO from Thursday: Blake Lalli hits a solo homer in the Sounds' 6-1 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox

AUDIO: David Goforth gets Brian Cavazos-Galvez to groundout to ensure the 3-2 victory for the Stars over the Lookouts

Stars Split Suspended Game, Seven-Inning Contest with Lookouts By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars On Saturday night, the Stars lost the conclusion of a suspended game 2-1 and then won a seven-inning contest by a score of 3-2 against the Chattanooga Lookouts at AT&T Field. Trailing the Lookouts 3-0 when the suspended game resumed in the top of the second inning, the Stars were only able to manage one run off of a Lookouts pitching staff headlined by righty Zach Lee. The Dodgers 4th ranked prospect blanked the Stars though six innings, giving up just three hits while striking out a season-high eight batters. Huntsville scored their only run in the eighth inning on an RBI single from first baseman Jason Rogers against Chattanooga lefty Mark Thomas. Rogers paced the offense with two of the Stars six team hits. In the seven-inning contest following the conclusion of the suspended game, the Stars fell behind early in the first after Lookouts first baseman J.T Wise hit a two-out, two-run homer against starting pitcher Taylor Jungmann to make the score 2-0. Fortunately for the Stars, Jungmann settled down. The Brewers 2nd ranked prospect did not give up a run in his final four frames of work, earning a no-decision with just two runs yielded along with five hits over five innings. Despite being no-hit through 3.2 innings by Chattanooga starting pitcher Andres Santiago, the Stars began mounting their comeback in the bottom of the fourth with one swing of the bat from Rogers. The Brewers minor league player of the month for July hit his league-leading 20th homer of the season off the Lookouts scoreboard in left field to cut the Stars deficit in half. Going into the seventh inning down 2-1, both Rogers and outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard drew walks against Lookouts closer Yimi Garcia (L, 4-5) to bring runners on first and second and two outs. With the Stars down to their final out and final strike, third baseman Mike Walker ripped a two-run double, scoring Rogers and Kjeldgaard to put the Stars on top for the first time in the game. The Stars would be able to hold their one-run lead as righty David Goforth notched his first save of the season and second of his career by sending the Lookouts down scoreless in the bottom of the seventh inning. In relief, righty Greg Holle earned the win, improving to 4-3 on the year with an inning of scoreless baseball. En route to the victory, the Stars were held to just two hits for the second time this season. On Sunday, the Stars will play the rubbermatch of a five-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts at AT&T Field. Huntsville will send RHP Ariel Pena (5-8, 4.33 ERA) while Chattanooga will counter with RHP Ross Stripling (5-2, 3.10 ERA). First pitch is 2:15 PM ET (1:15 Central).

Rattler Radio Blog - KRACKKKADOOOM! (And a one-hitter?) Oh yeah, you'll click and read...

We'll let Garrett give the news via his hospital-based tweet. Hopefully he'll be OK.

Not sure if Steve has posted (or read us here), but I did offer condolences from those associated with our site, both staff and all our readers in the Brewerfan community. Steve has already replied.

Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista dedicates game to young fan killed in accident *** Blue Jays’ Jose Bautista cheered on by Wisconsin town for act of kindness