Jim Goulart

Gagnon, Davis Lead Stars to Victory By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars Coming off a stretch where they lost four of five games against the Montgomery Biscuts at Riverwalk Stadium, the Huntsville Stars returned home on Thursday to beat the Chattanooga Lookouts by a score of 3-1 in the series opener of a five-game set at The Joe. For Huntsville, starting pitcher Drew Gagnon baffled the Chattanooga offense all night long in just his second start with the Stars. Gagnon earned his first ever Double-A victory on Thursday and improved to 1-0 on the year with the Stars after giving up a run on just two hits in six innings of work while striking out and walking three batters each. The only blemish on the night for the Brewers 12th ranked prospect (per MLB.com) was giving up an RBI single to Lookouts outfielder Brian Cavazos-Galvez in the fourth inning. On offense, the Stars bats put Gagnon in line for his first Double-A win early in the first inning against Lookouts ace Zach Lee (L, 5-3). Two batters after second basemen Nick Shaw led off the inning with a single, outfielder Kentrail Davis launched a two-run homer well over the right-field wall to put the Stars up 2-0 and give them the lead for good. The Stars tacked on their other insurance run in the eighth inning on an RBI single from first baseman Jason Rogers. Aside from Gagnon, the Stars got a combined two innings of scoreless relief from righty Frankie De La Cruz and southpaw Dan Meadows. In the top of the eighth inning, Meadows got the Stars and himself out of a bases-loaded, one out jam by getting Lookouts outfielder Blake Smith to ground in to an inning-ending doubleplay. With the Stars up 3-1 in the top of the ninth, righty Greg Holle pitched a scoreless frame while stranding two runners on base to notch his fifth save on the season. From an offense perspective, Davis led the way with three hits, being just a triple shy of the cycle. Rogers also chipped in with a 2-for-3 night at the plate after just one hit in his previous 26 at-bats. Huntsville is now 5-1 this season against Chattanooga. On Friday, the Stars and Lookouts will play game two of a five-game series at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville will try to earn that series victory by sending RHP Ariel Pena (5-4, 3.00 ERA) to the bump as Chattanooga will counter with LHP Chris Reed (2-5, 4.13 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 CT.

Brief promotion gives Sounds pitcher a taste of success By Jerome Boettcher, Nashville City Paper In just his 10th Major League game, Tyler Thornburg proved his mettle to his Milwaukee Brewers teammates. After allowing a double and single in the sixth inning of a tie game against Philadelphia last Saturday, Thornburg wiggled his way out of trouble. The 24-year-old struck out Delmon Young swinging and induced back-to-back groundouts to get out of the inning unscathed. That was the end of the night for Thornburg. The Brewers rewarded him with two runs in the bottom half of the frame to make him the pitcher of record. The lead stood up as Francisco Rodriguez ended five innings of solid work by the bullpen with a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save. As Thornburg walked onto the field to congratulate his teammates, he pondered what was to come. “This is going to be the weirdest first win ever,” he thought. He was right. Less than an hour after notching his first career Major League win with two scoreless innings of relief, Thornburg was optioned back to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. He had been called up only four days ealier but Thornburg had a feeling the move was temporary. He was filling a spot left open by Brewers closer and former Sounds pitcher Jim Henderson, who returned from the disabled list Sunday. The celebration was brief and rather tame for Thornburg. In the Brewers clubhouse, he was doused with the customary cold water and baby powder shower. Pitching coach Rick Kranitz then took him to manager Ron Roenicke’s office, where he received the news. He spent the night in a hotel and flew out the next morning. “I pretty much knew the situation and that was the case,” Thornburg said. “I was blessed to get the opportunity for those four days. Every time I went up last year I was a lot more nervous. Going up this year I was a lot calmer. It really definitely helped me, getting through the first couple outings without any [problems]. Hopefully I get the opportunity to go back up and do the same thing.” After allowing just five hits in four scoreless innings in two games with the Brewers last week, Thornburg is optimistic he can turn his fortune around down in the minors. The right-hander from Houston dropped to 0-8 for the Sounds this year in Thursday's 4-2 loss to Omaha at Greer Stadium. It was his first quality start of the season, though, as he allowed four hits in seven innings. He struck out six. Nashville continues an eight-game homestand on Friday when it hosts New Orleans for the opener of a four-game series. The Sounds (23-41) are battling Reno (24-43) for the position of worst team in the Pacific Coast League but they have improved lately, winning nine of 14. Thornburg hopes to pull from his big league experience in order to pick up his first Triple-A win since last August. “If anything you probably should have a little bit more confidence,” Thornburg said. “If you put up zeros up there you should be able to do it down here. Sometimes it is not that easy. It is harder to get the adrenaline pumping and get locked in down here compared to up there when you have 40,000 screaming up there. At the same time, you have different hitters down here. They’re a little bit more aggressive, a little more energetic down here than some of the guys up there.” Thornburg, a third-round draft pick out of Charleston Southern in 2010, was tabbed by Baseball America as the Brewers’ No. 2 prospect entering this season. Rated as having the best curveball by Baseball America, the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder leads the Sounds with 62 strikeouts and has allowed just 23 walks. At the same time, Thornburg has struggled with longevity. He has made 12 starts but only pitched 56 innings this year. In his last 10 games he has failed to make it through six innings. “He can be dominant when he executes his pitches,” manager Mike Guerrero said. “He is learning the process. I know the numbers doesn’t show he has been successful. But in what we’re seeing he is being successful because he is learning how to do things so he can make adjustments in the big leagues.” Adjusting back to the minors after experiencing success in Milwaukee could help him get back there sooner. While all but three of his appearances in the minors the last three seasons have been starts, all but three of his 10 appearances with Milwaukee have been in relief. Thornburg says his goal is to win a starting spot with the Brewers. The highly touted prospect just needs to improve his results in the minors in order to get an extended stay in the majors. “You think about it a little bit because you know you’re one of their guys and you know you have to do well,” Thornburg said. “Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming but it hasn’t been. I just try to use it as motivation. I like to put that pressure on myself sometimes. If anything I can take the confidence I threw well up there and hopefully it will roll over to here and get things going.”

Via Jeff Hem's blog -- Audio from Nashville — Part 2 with the Brewers’ Gord Ash Jeff's note: Here is Part 2 of my two-part chat with Gord Ash, assistant general manager of the Sounds’ parent-club Milwaukee Brewers. While we talked mostly pitching on Wednesday, this segment focuses primarily on hitters, including names like Hunter Morris, Scooter Gennett, Josh Prince, Khris Davis and Brewers shortstop and budding star Jean Segura. I also want to reiterate my appreciation for how gracious Ash is with his time when he visits, as all the Brewers executives are, for that matter.

Official rosters still pending, although player Twitter feeds give us plenty of info. To kick off this year's thread, here's a video report from Helena on one returnee. Catcher Mike Turay returns to lead the Brewers

AUDIO: WSSP's Bill Michaels spoke with Scouting Director Bruce Seid on Wednesday

WSSP Audio -- RHP Josh Uhen Interview

Weather.com: Nashville, TN Huntsville, AL Viera, FL (Melbourne) Beloit, WI Santo Domingo, 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.

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.

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 DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris

Follow Thursday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin Game One Wisconsin Game Two DSL Brewers New MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Tyler Thornburg at home vs. Omaha (Royals), 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 Drew Gagnon at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:28 PM pre-game, 6:43 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page 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 home vs. Jupiter (Marlins), 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's Hiram Burgos (on a rehab assignment) and Austin Blaski in a doubleheader at Beloit (Athletics), 4:10 PM pre-game, 4:30 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings 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. 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). ********** DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Tigers, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day

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

Sounds Manager Mike Guerrero had Figaro on his staff in the Dominican Winter League and alerted the Brewers to him, nice job.

First undrafted free agent signing -- RHP Sean Wardour - a 6'5" 230 lb. senior out of Cal State Dominguez Hills; Team player profile page Scroll down for pitchings stats Signing photo and brief article

Playoff Update!

Audio - Adam of BrewerNation fame interviews 11th round RHP Andy Hillis

Nashville Game Story now includes three audio highlights

Getting closer in Helena - Groundskeeper Video

Brevard County Pre-Game Audio Interview with T.J. Mittelstaedt

Via the Manatees: Brevard County's Nick Ramirez will be one of the eight participants in this Saturday's Home Run Derby that will take place before the 2013 Florida State League All-Star Game in Dunedin. Please see the attached release from Tyler Murray of the Dunedin Blue Jays. Eight FSL sluggers set to square off in Saturday’s HR Derby The competition starts at 5:35 PM (4:35 Central) on Sat, June 15 at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium DUNEDIN, FL – Eight of the Florida State League’s top home run hitters will take center stage in Dunedin this Saturday, June 15 for the Home Run Derby at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. The event leads right into the All-Star Game which follows. Javier Baez, Andy Burns, Maikel Franco, Dustin Geiger, Dustin Lawley, Stephen Piscotty, Nick Ramirez and Kennys Vargas will participate in the HR Derby and All-Star Game. SS Javier Baez, the top prospect in the Chicago Cubs organization and the No. 15 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com, will represent the Daytona Cubs in the event. At age 20, Baez currently ranks second among active Florida State League hitters with 13 home runs, including his historic four-homer performance on Monday night against Fort Myers. 1B Dustin Geiger will join Baez in representing Daytona. The 21-year-old from Merritt Island, Florida leads the league with 52 RBIs, and has blasted seven home runs for the Cubs this season. 3B Andy Burns has hit eight long balls this season, and leads the Blue Jays with 43 RBIs. The 22-year-old from Fort Collins, Colorado was drafted in the 11th round of the 2011 draft. He ranks eighth in the FSL with an OPS of .886. Clearwater’s 20-year-old 3B Maikel Franco will bring his 12 homers and 43 RBIs to Dunedin, and entered the 2013 campaign as the Phillies’ 10th best prospect according to MLB.com. A native of Azua, Dominican Republic, Franco is tied for third in home runs and fifth in RBIs. OF Dustin Lawley of the St. Lucie Mets and 1B Kennys Vargas of the Fort Myers Miracle each lead current FSL South sluggers with 12 homers apiece in 60 games. Vargas ranks second in the Florida State League with 51 RBIs and third with a .925 OPS. Lawley has knocked in 44 runs, which puts him in a tie for fourth in the league. OF Stephen Piscotty, the Cardinals’ No. 15 prospect as ranked by MLB.com, has paced Palm Beach’s offense throughout the season, hitting seven homers and driving in 27 runs with a .274 average. The 22-year-old from Pleasanton, California was drafted in the first round (36th overall) in the 2012 draft. Brevard County’s 1B Nick Ramirez leads all active FSL hitters with 14 home runs, including three in his last 10 games. Ramirez also leads a Manatees club that tops the FSL North with 47 homers. The 23-year-old from Anaheim, CA was drafted in the fourth round of the 2011 draft. Tickets for Saturday’s festivities start at $8. For more information on All-Star Weekend in Dunedin, check out DunedinBlueJays.com.

Happy 25th Birthday to Stars 3B Mike Walker and Happy 23rd birthday to Manatees LHP Jed Bradley!

Weather.com: Nashville, TN Viera, FL (Melbourne) Beloit, WI Santo Domingo, 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.

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.