Jim Goulart

Similar Story, Different Result Helena Brewers The beauty of baseball is that each day brings a new game and with a new game brings a new story. On consecutive nights for the Helena Brewers, a part of the story was exactly the same, yet the result was totally different. For the second straight night the Brewers slugged out 10 base knocks, but instead of getting shutout like Helena did on Tuesday, the team took advantage of the hits on Wednesday scoring eight times en route to a 8-3 victory over Great Falls. And strangely enough, a night after Helena pitching allowed only one hit and lost, the Brewers allowed 12 hits on Wednesday yet found a way to win. "You look at the scoreboard, same amount of hits that we had last night and we score eight runs tonight an no runs last night so that's just the way the ball falls," said Helena manager Tony Diggs. After going 20 innings without scoring, it took Helena two outs to find the run column in this one. On the first pitch of the game Charlie Markson continued to swing a hot bat by pulling a double to left. Markson would advance to third on a passed ball and would eventually come home on a ground ball to third hit by Jose Pena. "I don't think there was really any pressure, but it's nice to get off to a good start," said Diggs. The Brewers kept the scoring coming in the third inning. With one out, Markson got his fifth straight hit, an infield single that took a wicked bounce on shortstop Tyler Shryock. Markson would steal second and score when Michael Ratterree hit a blooper that dropped in along the right field line for a double. Garrett Cooper would follow by slapping a grounder past the first baseman for another double as Ratteree scored Helena's third run of the night. "That's always our approach, you look to use the whole field. Pitchers are taught for the most part to keep the ball on the outer half of the plate and if you can execute over there then you did a good job pitching. Well you try to teach hitters the same thing, to be able to handle that half of the plate and our guys did a good job of that tonight," said Diggs. In the fourth Helena added picked up another run when Taylor Brennan reached on an infield single, advanced to second on a grounder, and scored on a double to right-center by Jesse Weiss. The Voyagers chipped away in the top of the sixth off of Eduard Reyes. Reyes allowed back-to-back singles to Zach Voight and Tyler Williams and then walked Jacob Morris to load the bases. Dillon Haupt would follow with a base hit off the glove of second baseman Renaldo Jenkins to make it 4-1. That would be it for Reyes. Andy Hillis would come into the game and get a pop out for the first out of the inning. Justin Jirschele would then hit a grounder up the middle in which Jenkins dove to his right and tossed to Angel Ortega to retire Haupt at second but Williams would come home on the play. Adam Engel would drive home Morris on a single up the middle and just like that it was a 4-3 game. With the game close the Brewers pulled away in the seventh inning of off Sean Hagan. Helena would load the bases thanks to a walk, an error by Hagan on a throw to second, and another free pass. With the bases juiced Cooper would rip a single between short and third to score a pair. He would finish the night 2 for 4 with three RBI. Jose Pena would then follow with a double to right-center which scored Ratterree and Cooper would eventually score the eighth Helena run of the night on a single by Dustin Houle. "The guys did a good job scoring four, they gave us a cushion and they carried it out to the end. It was a good game," said Diggs. Helena starter Brandon Moore pitched 3.2 shutout innings before being lifted in the fourth for Reyes. Andy Hills got the win after allowing a pair of hits in the sixth and seventh. The Brewers will head to Great Falls on Thursday for a four game set and another day of the unpredictability of baseball. Garrett Cooper photo by Seth Eikomstead http://www.milb.com/assets/images/3/4/8/52651348/cuts/28_Garrett_Cooper_throwing_jbz33y2t_z3tf47i7.jpg

Unique Manatee Pre-Game Audio Interview -- RHP Chad Pierce and Radio Broadcaster Dave Walkovic chat as they get their heads shaved to fight childhood cancer on St. Baldrick's Night

Sorry TC07, I had read the game summary on the Rattlers site and at that point my brain told me it was already here as well. Normally the post-game post isn't batting leadoff . Oh well, now we've linked to it thrice -- more hits for Chris!

Rattler Radio Blog -- post-game notes from Chris and home game video highlights

Helena's Steve Wendt (paraphrasing): "Dustin Houle just a cannon for an arm, in ten years covering Pioneer League action, the best I've seen, maybe Salvador Perez of the Royals comparable. An absolute stud of an arm behind the plate." Canadian kid won't be 20 until November...

Jimmy Nelson, Jacob Barnes, and Jorge Lopez would be headlining this Link Report on any other night. Oh, Moye! Great job, guys!

Via Jeff Hem's blog -- Audio from Nashville — Sounds All-Star Rob Wooten Tonight’s pregame interview is with Sounds reliever Rob Wooten, who Tuesday was named a Pacific Coast League all-star, the Sounds’ lone representative in the July 17 Triple-A All-Star Game. Wooten discusses the honor of being an all-star, his and the team’s season so far, the development of his cutter and split-finger, whether he feels pressure as a right-handed closer to throw harder than he does and why his former Sounds teammate Donovan Hand, now with the Brewers, has given him confidence.

Final: AZL Giants 8, @AZL Brewers 1 AZL Brewers Box Score Five losses in a row for the 4-8 A-Crew. 21-year-old 5th round RHP Josh Uhen was assigned to Maryvale instead of Helena, which seemed odd for an early round college pick. Here's his second and final inning, which was scoreless (unlike inning # 1 pasted above) but not clean: AZL Giants Top of the 2nd Johneshwy Fargas singles on a ground ball to center fielder Brandon Diaz. With Rando Moreno batting, Josh Uhen picks off Johneshwy Fargas at 1st on throw to Alan Sharkey. Rando Moreno grounds out, second baseman Francisco Castillo to first baseman Alan Sharkey. Brett Kay walks. Ryan Tuntland strikes out swinging. None of the five pitchers were ideal today, RHP Scott Harkin was not charged with a run but gave up a double upon entering to allow an inherited runner to score. Brewer batters fanned 12 times while only drawing two walks. Only offensive notable was OF Elvis Rubio with two singles and an HBP. There was clean defense, so there's that. AZL Brewers Game Log So we learn these young 'uns aren't "day people", they get the holiday off before the nighttime games begin again Friday.

Via the Manatees: RHP Tommy Toledo placed on the disabled list, retroactive to June 27th. Hopefully that's just a part of the "week off" approach the Brewers are taking with their arms. Manatees without their closer for a week. *** LHP Brent Leach signed to a minor league contract and has reported to Brevard County. 6'5" southpaw will be 31 in November. 38 games but only 20.1 IP for the Dodgers in 2009 in his only big league action. Finished up 2012 in the Braves' organization, had been idle thus far in 2013. Only 2011 action was eight games in Japan. Likely to be bumped up to AA or AAA soon if he shows anything early on.

Huntsville: STARS ROSTER MOVE: C Joey Paciorek activated from disabled list. Active roster stands at 25, the Southern League maximum.

Taylor-made: Tyrone Taylor and Taylor Jungmann -- Player and Pitcher of the Month for June in the Brewers' system, as per Milwaukee media relations.

Happy 20th birthday to DSL Brewers infielder Raphachel Colatosti!

Only day game of the year for Maryvale, not off to the best start: AZL Giants Top of the 1st Rando Moreno triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Elvis Rubio. Brett Kay out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Elvis Rubio. Rando Moreno scores. Ryan Tuntland walks. Tyler Horan grounds into a force out, second baseman Francisco Castillo to shortstop Tucker Neuhaus. Ryan Tuntland out at 2nd. Tyler Horan to 1st. Julio Pena singles on a line drive to right fielder Elvis Rubio. Tyler Horan to 3rd. Fernando Pujadas walks. Julio Pena to 2nd. Blake Miller singles on a line drive to left fielder Eric Williams. Tyler Horan scores. Julio Pena scores. Fernando Pujadas to 2nd. Will Callaway grounds out, second baseman Francisco Castillo to first baseman Alan Sharkey. AZL Brewers Bottom of the 1st Eric Williams lines out to second baseman Rando Moreno. Francisco Castillo strikes out swinging. Tucker Neuhaus strikes out swinging, catcher Fernando Pujadas to first baseman Blake Miller.

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, and Wisconsin, you'll notice options at the respective links for that. Otherwise it's second-half standings as the default view for those three leagues.

Weather.com: Nashville, TN Huntsville, AL Viera, FL (Melbourne) Grand Chute, WI (Appleton) Helena, MT Maryvale, AZ Boca Chica, DR

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

Programming note: Wow, another DVR alert not on the original schedule Timber Rattlers on MyNewTV 32, chance to watch Jorge Lopez 6:30 PM pre-game, 7:00 game broadcast

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Jimmy Nelson at home vs. Round Rock (Rangers), 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 $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 Andy Moye at home vs. Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:28 PM pre-game, 6:43 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 Jacob Barnes at home vs. Daytona (Cubs), 5:05 PM pre-game, 5:35 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 home vs. Kane County (Cubs), 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. 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: 32 of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel has seventeen games scheduled and WACY-TV My NEW32 plans to show fifteen games. We'll let you know when, but won't be providing day-before DVR reminders, so regularly check for proper channel and time planning (scroll to the bottom of this link). ********** Helena: RHP Brandon Moore at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 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 Idaho Falls (July) and Grand Junction (August), those games will be available for viewing online. ********** Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): RHP Josh Uhen at home in Maryvale vs. the Giants' lads; 12:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day

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Final: @AZL Cubs 6, AZL Brewers 4 AZL Brewers Box Score So Gian Rizzo is a human being, not a cyborg, allows three earned runs in one frame -- AZL Cubs Bottom of the 5th Kelvin Freeman flies out to right fielder Eric Williams. Erick Castillo doubles (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Eric Williams. Mark Malave singles on a line drive to right fielder Eric Williams. Erick Castillo to 3rd. Kevin Brown singles on a ground ball to center fielder Edgardo Rivera. Erick Castillo scores. Mark Malave to 2nd. Jeffrey Baez called out on strikes. Giuseppe Papaccio doubles (1) on a fly ball to left fielder Brandon Diaz. Mark Malave scores. Kevin Brown scores. Jesse Hodges pops out to second baseman Francisco Castillo. *** Actually, Rizzo also allowed single runs in the 1st and 3rd, but those were unearned and little was done in terms of actual damage to him in those innings. Gian also now owns a 15-to-0 K-to-BB ratio in 15 innings, so this was hardly a catastrophe. RHP's Drew Ghelfi (2 IP, 0 R) and Alex Moore (1 IP, 1 R) finished up. AZL Brewers Game Log The A-Crew falls to 4-7 after this one. Yes, Francisco Castillo had another multi-hit game, his eighth in 11 games this season, and added a sacrifice bunt. Just turned 20, his 2013 is starting to have a 2004 Hernan "Hurricane" Iribarren feel to it, no? Brewers outhit the Cublets, 13-8, but those five errors hurt, including two by Castillo. Catcher Paul Eshleman had three hits including a double -- he'll be 23 in September and needs a Maryvale exit route up the chain soon. Tanner Norton returned to play behind the plate, he exited after a GIDP to end the 8th. 17-year-old 1B David Denson doubled and walked to help maintain his .979 OPS. He also fanned twice to give him nine in 25 AB's. Exciting...of course we read too much into early small samples, but still fun.

Brewers drop third straight, run scoreless innings streak to 20 By Curt Synness, Helena Independent Record After a close 2-0 loss to the Great Falls Voyagers in a pitching duel Tuesday at Kindrick Legion Field, the Helena Brewers are now scoreless in their last 20 straight innings. Great Falls used three pitchers to shut out the Brewers in the Pioneer League tilt, with starter Todd Kibby going five innings for the win. He was relieved by Jose Brito and Eric Jaffe, who went two innings apiece. Helena starter David Otterman worked four frames and took the hard-luck loss, giving up just two hits and the only two runs of the game in the second frame. Relievers Tristan Archer, Tanner Poppe and Juan Santiago did not allow a Voyagers hit over the last five innings of the contest. The Voyagers two tallies in the second came on Jacob Morris’ RBI double and a run-scoring single by Jacob May. Helena actually outhit Great Falls 10-2, but stranded 11 base runners during the evening. A critical call hurt the Brewers in the third inning, when with the bases loaded and just one out, the Voyagers turned an inning-ending 5-3 double play — but only after the umpires changed their initial safe call at first base. Dustin Houle singled, followed by a double by Taylor Brennan, moving Houle to third. Jose Pena was hit by a pitch to juice the bags, and then Nathan Orf lined a screamer to third baseman Nick Basto. After checking to see if he had a chance to double up Houle, Basto fired over to first baseman Corey Thompson in an attempt to get Pena. The field umpire ruled Pena safe, but after Great Falls manager Pete Rose Jr. appealed the call, the home plate ump changed the call to out. Helena manager Tony Diggs questioned the decision for several moments before heading into the first-base dugout. “I asked for an explanation, and they made the right call,” Diggs said afterwards. “You never like it when a call is reversed that goes against you, but ultimately their job is to get the call right and they did.” Charlie Markson had more hits than the entire Voyagers lineup combined, with three. Markson also made the defensive play of the game, on a circus catch leaping up against the right-field fence on Christian Stringer’s booming fly ball in the seventh inning. The loss dropped the Brewers to 7-6 and they have now lost three games in a row following their six-game win streak. They are still in a tie for first in the Pioneer League North Division. “We played hard, we just came up short in the runs department,” Diggs said. Photos by Eliza Wiley, Helena Independent Record Helena Brewer Michael Turay makes his way back to first barely beating Great Falls Corey Thompson during their near scoreless game Tuesday night. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/0/c2/0c299a56-e38f-11e2-9a4a-001a4bcf887a/51d397b6c7144.preview-620.jpg Nathan Orf takes a big swing at the ball as the Brewers try to get on the scoreboard Tuesday as they played Great Falls in record breaking heat. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/1d/11d0cad8-e38f-11e2-ba99-001a4bcf887a/51d397c06c7b5.preview-620.jpg

We'll have more from Helena and the Maryvale details, including a Gian Rizzo update, shortly.

Helena Shutout In Second Straight Game Brewers can't score despite 10 hits By Zac Vierra / Helena Brewers http://www.milb.com/assets/images/7/6/8/52539768/cuts/32_David_Otterman_P_naeda79l_uut138di.jpg Seth Eikomstead Photo One quick glance at Tuesday night's box score and it would be safe to assume an easy victory for the Helena Brewers after out-hitting Great Falls 10-2. But baseball is a strange game and for the second straight night no Helena base runner touched home plate. Helena was shutout by Great Falls 2-0 at Kindrick Legion Field despite a solid pitching performance by Brewers starter David Otterman (above) and a terrific job by the Helena bullpen which allowed only one base runner in five innings. Todd Kibby picked up the win for Great Falls tossing five shutout innings. Otterman's only hiccup in his four innings of work was in the second inning. After retiring the first two batters with ease, Otterman handed a two-out walk to Tyler Shyrock. The free pass would end up haunting the lefty as Shryock stole second and scored on a double by Jacob Morris. On the play Morris advanced to third when left fielder Jose Pena bobbled the ball in the corner. It would prove to be a costly play as Morris would score on an infield singly by Jacob May. "We had an error that probably cost us one or two of those runs but you look at it and it's a 0-0 ballgame," said Helena manager Tony Diggs. Otterman would settle down retiring seven of the last eight batters he faced. But when the Brewers bats couldn't pull through, Otterman was handed the loss after allowing the two runs (one earned) on two hits in four innings. He struck out a pair and walked three. The bullpen took over in the fourth and kept the Brewers in the game. Tristan Archer retired all six batters he faced in the fifth and sixth. In his first appearance with Helena after being called up from Arizona, Tyler Poppe pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning. "It's always good to get your feet wet and [Poppe] did it in good fashion today so hopefully its something he can continue to do and build on for this season," said Diggs. Juan Santiago came into the game in the eighth and pitched two perfect innings with a pair of strikeouts. "You can't fault pitching for tonight. It was really good," said Diggs. But Helena could never get a big hit when needed. In the third with the bases loaded and one out, Nathan Orf hit a rope right at third baseman Nick Basto who caught it and threw to first to double off Pena. In the seventh the Brewers had two on and one out but Jalen Harris grounded into a 6-3 double play. Even with those prior missed opportunities Helena brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth off Eric Jaffe. After Jaffe got two quick outs to start the frame, Renaldo Jenkins and Charlie Markson hit back-to-back singles. The pair would advance into scoring position when Jaffe uncorked a wild pitch, but yet again Helena couldn't score as Dustin Houle struck out on a half swing to end the ballgame. "We put up 10 hits on the board and we hit into [a few] inning-ending double plays, that's always a pitcher's dream when that happens for you and it's a nightmare when it happens against you. We are swinging the bats well we are playing good defense and everything else we just need to get runs across the plate that's all," said Diggs. "Our approaches [at the plate] are still being solid and that's all you can ask for." Wednesday the Brewers will try to end a streak of 20 innings without scoring in the final game of the series with Great Falls. First pitch is at 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).