Jim Goulart

Programming note: Mississippi has MiLB.TV coverage, so if you're a subscriber, you can watch this Stars' series (live and/or archived). *** DVR alerts: The Timber Rattlers are on TV two more times this week (Tuesday, Wednesday). Tonight's broadcast is via Time Warner Cable Sports32 at 6:30. Not a true pre-game, but there is another chance to watch Timber Rattlers Field Pass at 12:30 PM and 5:00 PM today. Wednesday's broadcast is on MyNew32 TV out of Green Bay. More details on that tomorrow.

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Frankie De La Cruz at home vs. Sacramento (Athletics), 10:45 AM pre-game, 11:05 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 Taylor Jungmann at Mississippi (Braves), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:00 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 Drew Gagnon at St. Lucie (Mets), 9:00 AM pre-game, 9:30 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: LHP Mike Strong at home vs. Quad Cities (Astros), 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. 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).

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

Look for Tuesday's Link Report just prior to game time, but a heads up -- Drew Gagnon and the Manatees at 9:30 AM Central, the Sounds at 11:05 AM.

Chris' post-game blog at Rattler Radio includes the video highlights and his usual late-night insightfulness.

Stars Shutdown by M-Braves Bullpen, Lose 5-1 By Alex Cohen / Huntsville Stars Four M-Braves relievers combined to give up one run over seven innings following an injury to their starter J.R Graham, defeating the Stars by a score of 5-1 on Monday at Trustmark Park. Graham exited the ballgame after throwing his warmup pitches in the third inning. The second-ranked prospect in the Braves organization gave up a hit in two innings without giving up a runner while striking out a batter. With the game scoreless after five innings, it was the Stars that took the initial lead of the game, scoring their only run on the contest off of righty Andrew Russell. Following a leadoff single by right fielder Kentrail Davis, first baseman Jason Rogers crushed a double that one-hopped the centerfield wall. The two-bagger scored Davis from first to give Huntsville a 1-0 lead (audio). For Rogers, the RBI double marked his tenth run batted in over the last six games. Unfortunately for the Stars, the M-Braves scored the final five runs of the game over the next two innings. After Stars starting pitcher Ariel Pena began the night with five scoreless frames, he gave up back-to-back singles to pinch-hitter Phil Gosselin and outfielder Mycal Jones. One batter later, Christian Bethancourt hit a sacrifice fly to score Jones, snapping a 16.2 inning scoreless streak for Pena while chasing him from the game. Once Pena exited the ballgame, lefty Alan Williams gave up an RBI single to second basemen Tommy La Stella and another sacrifice fly by third basemen Edward Salcedo to make the score 3-1. Since the RBI single scored Jones, who was the responsibility of Pena, the 23-year-old former Angels prospect fell to 2-3 on the year with the loss. Pena gave up two runs and four hits while striking out five in 5.1 innings of work. In the seventh inning, the M-Braves tacked on two insurance runs off of Stars righty Santo Manzanillo. Following singles from shortstop Jaime Pedroza and Jones, back-to-back RBI singles from Bethancourt and La Stella put Mississippi up 5-1. Earning the win for the M-Braves in relief was Russell, improving to 1-0 on the year after giving up a run in three innings of work. Righty Mark Lamm earned his third save of the season after shutting out the Stars over the final three innings of the game, giving up four hits and striking out three in the process. On offense, the Stars were led by shortstop Ozzie Chavez and catcher Shawn Zarraga with two hits apiece. In game three of a five-game series, the Stars will send RHP Taylor Jungmann (2-4, 6.51 ERA) to square off against M-Braves LHP Alex Wood (2-1, 0.47 ERA). Wood is entering the game without giving up an earned run in his last five starts, spanning 28.1 IP. First pitch is at 7:00 PM.

You'll find a few recent Nashville video plays from Greer Stadium here, including a Khris Davis HR and double. *** Speaking of Davis video highlights, watch Kentrail's triple in Mississippi for the Stars from Sunday's game. *** To complete the Davis media trifecta, here's audio of Khris' HR Monday night.

Listen to three minutes of game highlights from the Brevard broadcast crew.

Four-run seventh powers 'Tees past Mets By Dave Walkovic / Brevard County Manatees PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees used a four-run seventh inning to power past the St. Lucie Mets, 6-5 on Monday night at Tradition Field. With the Mets leading 4-2 in the top of the seventh, Chadwin Stang roped a double to center field to lead off the frame. With one out, Greg Hopkins smacked an RBI double down the third base line to trim the deficit to one run. After Nick Ramirez was retired, Cameron Garfield laced a two-out RBI double to tie the game. Cody Hawn followed up with single up the middle to score Garfield and give the Manatees (19-17) its first lead of the night. Ben McMahan belted an RBI triple into dead center field to give Brevard County a 6-4 cushion. McMahan, who was recently activated off the disabled list, went 2-for-3 with two RBI in his Brevard County debut. Garfield and Hawn had two hits each as well for the Manatees. That was enough for the back end of the 'Tees bullpen. Daniel Meadows retired all four men he faced in the seventh and eighth innings. St. Lucie (22-13) would plate a run in the ninth to make it a one run game, but Seth Harvey struck out Cam Maron with runners on second and third to end the ballgame. Both clubs traded runs in the first four innings, alternating single runs in each frame. McMahan hit an RBI single in the second to score Garfield. Then in the fourth, Mets starting pitcher Hansel Robles walked four consecutive batters with two outs to force in a run. T.J. Mittelstaedt was credited with an RBI when Robles forced in Brandon Macias. The Mets would break the trend of alternating runs when Dustin Lawley and Travis Taijeron hit solo homers off of Manatees' starter Jed Bradley to give St. Lucie a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Bradley (3-1, 3.69) did not factor in the decision as he surrendered four runs on nine hits in five innings of work. He walked three and struck out three. Matt Miller earned the victory by throwing a scoreless frame in the sixth inning. Harvey locked down his ninth save in as many opportunities. St. Lucie reliever Chasen Bradford, who was on the mound for the explosive seventh innings, took the loss after he gave up four runs off of five hits - with four of them being extra-base hits - in just one inning. The Manatees and Mets will square off for a 10:30 AM (9:30 Central) contest on Tuesday at Tradition Field. Drew Gagnon (3-2, 5.29) will toe the rubber for Brevard County. The Mets will counter with Matthew Bowman (1-0, 4.50), a southpaw who made his A-Advanced debut against Daytona last week. Manatees relief pitcher Seth Harvey, seen here in a game from earlier this season, picked up his league-leading ninth save on Monday night as Brevard County defeated the St. Lucie Mets 6-5. Harvey is a perfect 9-for-9 in save opportunities in 2013. (Dennis Greenblatt/Hawk-Eye Sports Photography) http://www.milb.com/assets/images/0/0/8/47465008/cuts/Harvey_4.7_ze9unohd_k4jrmiwk.JPG

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

23-year-old Manatee OF Ben McMahan slugged .500 at Wisconsin last year -- 47 extra-base hits (21 doubles, 11 triples, 15 HR's). K's scary, but managed .287 / .335. Debuted tonight (broken thumb).

Via Jeff Hem's blog -- Audio from Nashville — “Mondays with Mike (Guerrero)” Here is this week’s “Mondays with Mike,” during which the Sounds’ manager discusses the team’s improvements since last week’s chat, what he sees at the plate right now from Khris Davis and Josh Prince, the latest on first baseman Hunter Morris, who suffered a mild concussion on Friday and the impact on the team’s play when the parent club’s general manager is in town (as the Brewers’ Doug Melvin currently is).

AUDIO: Alex talked Huntsville Stars on the Mississippi pre-game Sunday.

Worth your while, not very lengthy, and an insightful read: Technology transforming scouting Ben visits Nashville, where the Minors meet the Internet age

For those who couldn't view the Post Crescent Mothers Day videos, here's a separate Fox 11 link with interviews with the three moms and their Timber Rattlers sons.

Nice job again, Brad -- pink galore in the Timber Rattlers Mothers Day photo gallery.

Weather.com: Nashville Pearl, MS St. Lucie, FL Grand Chute (Appleton)

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.

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

Programming note: Mississippi has MiLB.TV coverage, so if you're a subscriber, you can watch this Stars' series (live and/or archived). *** DVR alerts: The Timber Rattlers are on TV three times this week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). Tonight's broadcast, as is Wednesday's, is on MyNew32 TV out of Green Bay. Tuesday's broadcast is via Time Warner Cable Sports32. Tonight's TV pre-game show is at 6:00 PM, "Showdown: Timber Rattlers Pre-Game".

Monday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP R.J. Seidel at home vs. Sacramento (Athletics), 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 Ariel Pena at Mississippi (Braves), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:00 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: LHP Jed Bradley at St. Lucie (Mets), 5:00 PM pre-game, 5:30 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 Preston Gainey at home vs. Burlington (Angels), 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. 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).

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

Timber Rattlers moms enjoy watching sons on journey to majors by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media GRAND CHUTE — Judy Haniger was hit with a wave of emotions as she pulled into the parking lot of Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Sunday morning. Her son, Mitch, was living his childhood dream of playing professional baseball and the proud mother didn’t attempt to fight back the tears streaming down her face. “When I pulled up and saw the stadium and everyone tailgating and cars everywhere, I just started to cry,” said Judy. “It’s what you dream about for your little boy. That’s what he’s always dreamed of, playing pro ball, and he’s on his journey, hopefully to the major leagues.” Judy was one of four mothers of Wisconsin Timber Rattlers players who journeyed to Grand Chute to watch their sons play minor league baseball on Mother’s Day. Judy, a Cudahy native, flew in from Santa Clara, Calif., a night earlier. It was the first time she’s seen Mitch play pro ball. “It’s Mother’s Day weekend. I wanted to see my son and we love baseball,” said Judy, who attended the game with her husband, Walt. “I miss him terribly. It’s very hard. It’s nice being back in Wisconsin, though. I was ecstatic when he was drafted by the Brewers, because I spent the first five years of my life in the Milwaukee area.” Mitch, a slugging right fielder, is one of three No. 1 draft picks on the Timber Rattlers roster. He gave Judy a Mother’s Day present by using his powerful right arm to throw out runners at third base and home plate during the Timber Rattlers’ 8-3 loss to the Burlington Bees. “My mom and dad spent most of their spare time driving my brother and I all around the state of California for travel ball and different tournaments,” said Mitch. “I was really fortunate to have parents like that. My mom always wanted the best for me and was always there for me.” Judy wasn’t the only California resident celebrating Mother’s Day by watching her son play for the Timber Rattlers. Marisa Thompson, the mother of Wisconsin center fielder Tyrone Taylor, had a big smile on her face after watching Tyrone drill a leadoff double off the left-field wall in the bottom of the first inning. Judy Haniger and Thompson were introduced on the field before the game and got to throw out the first pitches. “My husband surprised me on my birthday last week with plane tickets here,” said Thompson, who flew in from Torrance, Calif., and caught Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s games with her mother and Tyrone’s grandmother, Margarita Herrera. “I love it here. It’s a little cold, but I love it here.” Thompson knew she had an athlete to raise just by watching his actions at a young age. “Ever since he could walk, he always wanted to play with a ball,” said Thompson, who played softball in high school. “He’s always been running around playing sports and he always loved baseball, so it’s great to come out here and watch him play.” Taylor was the Brewers’ second-round pick in the 2012 MLB draft and is rated by Baseball America as the Brewers’ 15th best prospect behind Wisconsin teammates Haniger (No. 10), catcher Clint Coulter (No. 9) and outfielder Victor Roache (No. 7). “My mom means everything to me,” said Taylor. “She’s been my main support my whole life. She’s sent me to all the right places and had me working with all the right coaches to get me where I’m at today. I love her.” Coulter’s parents, Cliff and Sherry Coulter, traveled from Camas, Wash., located just north of Portland, Ore, and watched Clint go one-for-three at the plate. “My dad was my baseball coach up until I was about 14,” said Clint. “He wasn’t a negative type, but he’d offer constructive criticism, and my mom would always tell me to just relax, have fun and keep working hard. “They were so excited when I was drafted in the first round by the Brewers. Being adults and being in the real world, they could comprehend and understand the situation better than a kid just out of high school. My mom means the world to me.” While most of the players’ parents were visiting Grand Chute for the first time, Steve and Cindy Blaski, the parents of Rattlers starting pitcher Austin Blaski, were making a repeat trip to Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Blaskis traveled to the Fox Valley last spring to watch Austin pitch in the Division III World Series for Marietta College. Steve and Cindy were regulars at Marietta College home games and made a majority of the road trips. “Whether we were playing in Florida or Texas, they would travel to support me,” said Austin. “It’s nice to look up in the stands and see that you have support, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.” In addition to having Judy Haniger and Thompson launch the first pitches, the Timber Rattlers observed Mother’s Day by holding their annual Brunch at the Ballpark in their new club level. The team also wore pink and white jerseys during the game to promote breast cancer awareness. Fans were given the opportunity to bid on the jersey of their choice in a silent auction. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Susan G. Komen Fund of Central Wisconsin. As for the game, Wisconsin (16-17) struggled through one of its most forgettable contests of the year. The Timber Rattlers were outhit 15-6, committed four errors and Wisconsin pitchers issued nine walks. “We were not sharp,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson. “We got beat in all facets: on the mound, in the field and at the plate.” (Note - these Post-Crescent videos weren't displaying in my current browser, perhaps they will for you. I'll try an alternate browser later on.) Videos: Timber Rattlers manager Matt Erickson discusses the team's start Timber Rattlers players, moms talk about special day

NELSON, PITCHING HURLS STARS TO VICTORY Alex Cohen, Huntsville Stars In their series opener of a five-game set at Trustmark Park, three Huntsville Stars pitchers held a red-hot Mississippi Braves offense to just four hits en route to a 2-1 victory on Sunday. Headlining the performances from the Stars battery was starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson, who gave up just one run and four hits through six innings while striking out eight batters just six days after his worst start of the season against the Jackson Generals. Following a solo homer from Stars outfielder Rene Tosoni in the second inning off of M-Braves starting pitcher Cody Martin, Nelson gave up his only run in the second, which just so happened to be unearned. With one out, Mississippi left fielder Kyle Russell reached on an error by Nelson on a slow-chopper back to the pitchers mound in which Russell advanced to second on an errant throw. After advancing to third on a groundout from right fielder Jose Martinez, Russell then scored on a wild pitch from Nelson for the M-Braves only run of the game. Nelson was put in line for the win in the sixth inning when the Stars scored their final run of the game to take the lead for good. After right fielder Kentrail Davis began the inning with a triple, he was brought home by a sacrifice fly from first baseman Jason Rogers. For Rogers, the run batted in was his ninth over the last six games. After Nelson exited the game before the seventh, Stars righty Casey Medlen threw two scoreless innings, including one where he stranded the bases loaded in the eighth. Reliever Greg Holle then sent down the M-Braves in order in the ninth for his second save of the season (audio, final out). For Nelson, the win improves his record to 4-2 on the season while dropping his ERA to 2.36. On offense, the Stars were lead by Tosoni, who increased his hit-streak to nine games with a 2-for-4 night at the plate. The nine-game hit streak for Tosoni is the longest for any Stars player this season. Aside from the sixth inning triple from Davis, second basemen Nick Shaw had the only other hit of the night with a double in the third inning. The victory for Huntsville improves their record away from Joe Davis Stadium to 9-7 this season. In game two of a five-game series on Monday, the Stars will send RHP Ariel Pena (3-2, 2.75 ERA) to the bump. Pena is coming off a start where he threw six scoreless innings and struck out a season-high ten batters against the Jackson Generals on May 8th. Pena will square off against M-Braves RHP J.R Graham (1-3, 4.28 ERA). First pitch is at 7:00 PM.