Jim Goulart

STARS COMEBACK FALLS SHORT, DROP NINTH STRAIGHT HUNTSVILLE, Ala.- In a game where they took a six-run deficit and made it into a tied ballgame in the eighth inning, the Huntsville Stars (33-34) ultimately fell to the Montgomery Biscuits (35-30) by a final score of 9-7 on Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars got on the board first in the third inning. Center fielder Josh Prince drew a walk and stole second to get in scoring position. Shortstop Tommy Manzella singled up the middle to plate Prince and put the Stars up 1-0. Huntsville starter Dan Merklinger threw a gem in his spot start, holding the Biscuits scoreless through three innings. Reliever R.J Seidel came in in the fourth and gave up a two-out single and he left the runner stranded. The fifth inning was a different story. Montgomery sent nine batters to the plate against the 24-year-old righty in the inning. Overall, the Biscuits scored five runs highlighted by an RBI single by catcher Matt Thomas, a two-run single by left fielder Omar Luna and a RBI groundout by first baseman Michael Sheridan to take a commanding four-run advantage. Then, with Stars reliever Darren Byrd on the mound, a two-run double by right fielder Brett Nommensen gave Montgomery a steady 7-1 lead. However, Huntsville would not go down without a fight. With a pair of two-run home runs by catcher Anderson De La Rosa and center fielder Josh Prince, the Stars cut their deficit to two by the end of the seventh. In the eighth inning, the Stars were able to make it a brand new ballgame. After a lead-off double by second baseman Scooter Gennett, an RBI single from first baseman Hunter Morris made the score 7-6. Following back-to-back singles by right fielder Kentrail Davis and De La Rosa that would load the bases, a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Domnit Bolivar scored Morris to tie up the ballgame. The tie would not last for long though. In the top half of the ninth inning, the Biscuits loaded the bases against Stars reliever Brandon Kintzler. Then, with one out, a Mark Thomas grounder caused a throwing error by Gennett while trying to turn an inning-ending double play that helped plate the final two runs of the ballgame. For Montgomery, LHP Frank De Los Santos pitched a scoreless ninth inning to improve to 4-1 on the season. For Huntsville, Kintzler took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the year. The Stars bullpen as a whole gave up all nine runs on the night after Merklinger began the game. The loss was the Stars season-high ninth straight of the season and ties their longest streak dating back to 2009. On offense, both Manzella and De La Rosa had three hits apiece. Manzella is now 7-for-9 at the plate through the first two games of the series. On Friday, the Stars will face off against Biscuits LHP Kyle Lobstein (3-2, 4.15 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 p.m.

Schafer's bat heating up for Sounds by Greg Sullivan, The Tennessean On the most recent Sounds roadtrip, center fielder Logan Schafer couldn’t stop getting hits. The 25-year-old prospect led the Pacific Coast League with a .593 average (16-for-27) over the recent seven-game trip that ended Wednesday. In Thursday’s home game, he was 0-for-4 with a strikeout. “To be honest, I think I’ve been swinging the same as I have since April but, yeah, balls are starting to find holes,” said Schafer, who was recently dropped to the third spot in the batting order from leadoff. “I love hitting with people on base,” Schafer said. “I welcome the challenge.” “His average will tell you he’s hitting a lot better, hitting the ball to all fields, staying within himself”, Sounds Manager Mike Guerrero said. “He’s a line-drive hitter who occasionally hits the long ball. He’s coming around.” Schafer has raised his average to .295 after a slow start and has five home runs. He is hitting .419 (18-for-43) in 12 games batting third. Nashville Brewers: The Sounds have sent 10 players to Milwaukee this season, but this weekend Nashville will be playing host to a group of rehabbing Brewers for the first time. Brewers right-hander Marco Estrada, who is rehabbing a right quadriceps strain, is scheduled to start for the Sounds on Saturday against the Storm Chasers. Brewers first baseman Travis Ishikawa (left oblique strain) and shortstop Cesar Izturis (left hamstring) are also expected to play in this weekend’s series, Guerrero said. From the majors: Sounds reliever Vinnie Chulk has lots of stories from the big leagues, but his best is easily the one of his major-league debut at Yankee Stadium in 2003. Chulk, then a Blue Jay, jogged from the bullpen to make his first appearance but he left the bullpen a little too early. “I got caught in the middle of left field, ‘God Bless America’ starts and my legs start shaking,” Chulk said. “And I’m like, ‘Just keep it together.’ Telling myself to keep it together the whole time, not even thinking about pitching, just trying to stay up on my feet. “Finally it ended and I got to run in. I think I sprinted as fast as I could to the mound, threw some warmup pitches and got on with the inning. “I ended up throwing two innings. Well, I almost hit (Derek) Jeter in the head by accident. That probably would have ended up being the worst thing of my career, but I put it together and got some outs.” Tennessee’s trophy: The new I-40 Cup was in the Sounds’ press box on Thursday night. The two-foot-tall, silver trophy presented by the Tennessee Education Lottery will go to the winner of the Nashville-Memphis season series beginning this year. Nashville has a 2-1 lead for the Cup after winning its first road series this season against the Redbirds with Wednesday’s 5-4 win. The two teams will meet 12 more times this season.

Sounds tap Vinnie Chulk's experience by Greg Sullivan, The Tennessean Sounds relief pitcher Vinnie Chulk has been in baseball so long his entry in Nashville’s media guide fills up three pages. That makes sense given he’s been called the Incredible Chulk. The 33-year-old right-hander smiled and gave a sheepish laugh as the recently resurrected nickname was brought up. “It’s not a bad thing, I guess,” said Chulk, who has spent parts of eight seasons with the Blue Jays, Giants, Indians and Brewers with a career ERA of 4.51. “That came out in Toronto and then I guess (Brewers outfielder) Nyjer Morgan got a hold of it (this year) and I heard it some up (with Milwaukee). “Hopefully I can have them screaming it again one of these days.” Sounds reliever Donovan Hand said the team hasn’t settled on a nickname yet. “We’ve been calling him the Bullpen Liaison a lot,” Hand said. “He can speak Spanish since he’s got Cuban roots, so he’s been doing a lot of translating for the team.” Chulk pitched for Toronto from 2003-06. He was traded to San Francisco midseason in 2006 and stayed with the Giants through 2008, spending most of his time in the majors before beginning the 2009 season in Cleveland. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound power pitcher made stops in Columbus, Indianapolis, Japan, Sacramento and Nashville over the next three years before finally getting another shot at the majors in late April. But in seven appearances in Milwaukee, he had an ERA of 10.00. “Once I got the call this year and got up there, it was a good feeling,” Chulk said. “I wish I could have stayed longer. But at the same time I got my feet wet. Hopefully I can keep throwing the ball well and get back up there.” Chulk, who rejoined the Sounds on May 22, is 2-0 with a 1.90 ERA in 14 appearances in Nashville. He credits a recently added curveball with his success here. “It just slows the hitters a little bit,” Chulk said. “Everything was hard, hard, hard. Now I’ve got a little, looping curveball that helps out to keep (hitters) off-balance.” Chulk also has been playing the role of willing mentor in Nashville’s bullpen, Sounds manager Mike Guerrero said. “So far he’s been doing good,” Guerrero said. “He helps the younger guys learn how to prepare. Players talk to each other so much. Any player that’s been to the big leagues, they can be a utensil to help teach other players.” Hand said Chulk has been helpful for the bullpen because of his experience in the major leagues. “I’ve been in Nashville three years and some of the big league pitchers like that are very approachable and some guys aren’t as much,” Hand said. “But Vinnie’s a guy you can always talk to. A lot of the younger guys, like me, ask him questions and kind of pick his brain. There’s not really a dumb question.”

Audio from Nashville — “Verbiage from Victor (Garate)” Jeff Hem's note -- Tonight’s interview is with Sounds reliever Victor Garate, who discusses his outing in yesterday’s Sounds win in Memphis, his season so far, his great ’11 campaign in the PCL with New Orleans (Marlins) and his first major league call-up with the Washington Nationals in ’09

Huntsville Media Notes Wisconsin Media Notes

WTMJ Pregame Interview w/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Manager Matt Erickson

From the Rattlers: Congratulations to Rafael Neda! He has been named to the Western Division as an All-Star as a reserve catcher! *** Whoo-hoo, let's celebrate a .486 OPS and the apparent state of Midwest League catching! OK, congrats young man...

From the Rattlers: LHP Will West has been transferred to Helena. IF Carlos George has been activated off the DL *** West, still a teenager, acquitted himself well. We'll probably see him in Wisconsin again later this summer.

Brewers extend affiliation with rookie Helena “We are excited to extend our player development contract with the Helena franchise,” farm director Reid Nichols said in a statement. Well, they're tied to the franchise, we'll see if the franchise is tied to Helena.

Honors for Georgetown Shortstop Mike Garza (20th round draft pick / signee)

Nashville Media Notes Odorizzi and Peralta still line up for Sunday...

Gainey forgoes naval career to sign with Crew Milwaukee's 11th-round pick pitched for two seasons at Academy By Walter Villa / Special to MLB.com

Brian Garman, the soon-to-be 24-year-old 5'10" Brevard County southpaw the Brewers drafted in the 17th round in 2010 out of the University of Cincinnati, will make only his 2nd pro start tonight. He has 79 career appearances, his only other start came last year, also with the Manatees. *** Also, you'll note that the Manatees will be the home team for the completion of the suspended game tonight, although the game will be played in Daytona. Brevard will be the road team for the seven-inning nightcap.

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 Completion of Suspended Game Brevard County Regularly Scheduled Game Wisconsin DSL Brewers

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Seth McClung at home vs. Omaha (Royals), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Jeff Hem is the new 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). We imagine the audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. ********** Huntsville: LHP Dan Merklinger at home vs. Montgomery (Rays), 6:28 PM pre-game, 6:43 gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page I-Phone friendly audio link Alex Cohen is the new play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. It's fantastic that Huntsville is returning to what will be a traditional broadcast format this year. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast. MiLB.TV subsciption note: Huntsville road games in four locales (Mississippi, Tennessee, Jacksonville and Pensacola) will be broadcast. ********** Brevard County: First, it's the completion of Wednesday's nine-inning game vs. Daytona (Cubs), 4:35 PM gametime (Manatees lead 3-1 after three innings), followed by LHP Brian Garman starting the seven-inning nightcap Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Daytona feed from the MiLB main audio page Once again this season, Brevard does not have its own audio coverage. It appears two teams in the Manatees North Division (within which the majority of games are played) have audio, and all six teams in the South Division have audio (at least for their home games), so there will be opportunities to listen to approx. 70% or Brevard's games this season, just all from the opponent's perspective. There are no Florida State League games on MiLB.TV this year. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Drew Gagnon at Clinton (Mariners), 6:40 PM pre-game, 7:00 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 only two (Great Lakes) Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV; Chris' call provides the audio. So for the $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, all Timber Rattlers home games, and 24 Stars' road games (one Helena series this summer, too). ********** DSL Brewers: at the DSL Angels, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

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

Via Mark McCarter of the Huntsville Times: The Stars are playing a bit shorthanded and dealing with injuries. Matt Cline has completed the last of a three-game league-mandated suspension. Thornburg and infielder Juan Sanchez begin three-game suspensions today; Thornburg will miss a start and not pitch until next Tuesday's Southern League All-Star Game. "Other teams have injuries," Manager Darnell Coles said of his team's current eight-game losing streak. "Other teams are shorthanded. The nine guys we have on the field have to find a way to play together and execute the gameplan."

Huntsville Stars' losing streak grows to eight By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama --As much as an eight-game losing streak brings the impression that all the wheels have come off at once, it's more vexing than that. "It's all facets," said Huntsville Stars manager Darnell Coles, "but not at the same time." "If we pitch well, we don't swing the bats or we don't field. If we field, we're not hitting. If we're hitting, we don't pitch well," Coles continued as he sat in his office Wednesday night after Huntsville's 6-3 loss to Montgomery. There's no simple solution except the most obvious. As Coles said, "You've just got to grind through it." Now 33-33 on the season, this is the first time they've fallen to the .500 mark since April 27. This is the longest losing streak for the club since an eight-game skid May 12-19, 2011. Huntsville will try to turn things around tonight in the second of a five-game home stand that ends Sunday, which also marks the end of the first half of play. Until last week, and the beginning of this losing streak, the Stars were in contention for the Southern League North first-half title, which has long-since been clinched by Jackson. "You hate to say it, but you know you're going to go through stretches like this," Coles said. "But you still preach the same message. You have to execute and you have to make your pitches. Right now, teams are just playing better than us." As a competitor, along with his chief role in developing talent, it's eating at Coles. "I can't sleep at night, trying to figure out a way to get a W," he said. "Maybe a hit-and-run or a bunt, to try to do things but within the framework of the gameplan." The Stars couldn't figure a way to overcome a five-run deficit after two innings. Starter Josh Stinson was bidding to join teammate Tyler Thornburg as the only eight-game winner in the Southern League. But four singles, a two-run double by Omar Luna, two walks and a wild pitch all added up to five runs. Hunter Morris smacked a two-run double in the third to cut the gap to 5-2; it was his league-leading 23rd of the season. After the two swapped runs in the fourth, Montgomery went the rest of the game without a hit. Huntsville bubbled up a small threat in the ninth when Josh Prince and Tommy Manzella led off with singles. But Scooter Gennett hit into a double play and Morris struck out.

STARS LOSE OPENER TO BISCUITS, DROP EIGHTH STRAIGHT HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Following a five-game sweep by the Mobile BayBears, the Huntsville Stars (33-32) fell to the Montgomery Biscuits (33-30) in the first of five games at Joe Davis Stadium by a score of 6-3 on Wednesday night. Coming out of the gates, it was Montgomery that struck first. Highlighted by RBI singles from shortstop Hak-Ju Lee and first baseman Ryan Garko, a two-run double by third baseman Omar Luna and a run-scoring wild pitch from Stars starter Josh Stinson, the Biscuits took a commanding 5-0 lead in the second inning. In the third inning, the Stars were able to cut that lead down a bit. After center fielder Josh Prince reached on a Biscuits error and shortstop Tommy Manzella drew a walk to lead off the inning, first baseman Hunter Morris doubled both of them home to make the score 5-2. For Morris, the double was his league-leading 23rd of the season. Following another RBI double from the Biscuits’ Luna and chasing Stinson from the game in the fourth inning, Huntsville was only able to manage to score one more run the entire ballgame. That run came in the fourth inning on a two-out rally where Prince singled and scored on a RBI double by second baseman Scooter Gennett to make the score 6-3. With the loss, Stinson fell to 7-4 on the season after giving up six runs on eleven hits in three-plus innings of work. The 24-year-old was also defeated for the second straight start, and the three innings was his shortest outing of the season in ten starts. Montgomery starting pitcher Jake Thompson improved to 4-5 with the victory after giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits in five innings. On the pitching side, the Stars bullpen shut down Montgomery’s offense without a hit for the final six innings of the ballgame. Reliever Dan Meadows led the way with three scoreless innings, while LHP Mitch Stetter , RHP Darren Byrd and RHP Santo Manzanillo each threw a scoreless frame. For the Stars, the eight-game losing streak is their longest since May 12 th -19th of 2011. On offense, the Stars got three hits apiece from both Prince and Manzella. Game two of a five-game series will begin on Thursday as the Stars will send LHP Dan Merklinger (1-6, 5.93 ERA) to the mound to square off against Biscuits RHP Alex Colome (2-2. 4.79 ERA). First pitch is at 6:43 PM.

Rattler Radio Nine after 9

Three of Wisconsin's Matt Miller's five wins this year are against Clinton.

Williamson getting used to life in pro ball By Oscar LeRoy | Sports Writer Midland (TX) Reporter-Telegram In his first full season of professional baseball, Lee grad Brandon Williamson is getting to experience everything that comes with it, and that includes the constant moving from team to team that is sometimes life in the minor leagues. This season Williamson, a 20th round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers out of Dallas Baptist in 2011, has gone from playing Single-A ball with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, to a Double-A stint with the Huntsville Stars in Alabama and currently he’s with the Advanced-A Brevard County Manatees in Viera, Fla. “Early on, I was moving quite a bit but I got to experience different things and get a taste of what it’s like at each level of pro ball,” said Williamson, who also had two stellar seasons at Midland College before moving on to DBU. “What I have found out is that nothing can surprise you. You just have to go in and go to work because people are always watching. You’ve just got to prepare for your next outing, which is every five days. And every day is important.” So far this season with the Manatees, Williamson is 1-4 with a 6.21 earned run average. Other than one bad outing, which ballooned his ERA, Williamson has had a solid season and he doesn’t try to think too much about wins and losses. “I had a pretty bad outing two outings ago, but you’ve really got to look at the whole picture,” said Williamson, whose next start is next Thursday against Dunedin after the Florida State League All-Star break. “It’s definitely a process you have to go through and it’s a long season. Your season usually depends on how you respond to each challenge. You have to remember that this game is based around failure. If a hitter gets a hit three out of 10 times, they’re successful.” Another thing the 6-foot-2, 180-pound right-hander has learned from playing pro ball is that a pitcher just can’t rely on his fastball to get hitters out. “My command with my off-speed pitches has really improved,” Williamson said. “Having the ability to throw a breaking ball or a changeup when you’re behind in the counts is really important.” And like many others in pro ball, Williamson has learned playing at that level takes a lot of work and it’s a constant grind. When he’s not pitching every fifth day, he’s either doing some light running, playing catch, lifting weights, working on pickoffs or throwing pitches. “It’s a different type of grind in pro ball,” Williamson said. “Here you practice and you play all the time before you have to throw that fifth day. I’ve been learning the ins and outs on how to prepare because what may work for you may not be working for someone else. I’ve definitely progressed faster than I thought. I just need to keep working and need to put together a good year. Nothing is ever certain but I’m definitely excited about where I’m at and pleased where I’ve come from.” Williamson is also proud to see several of his former Lee and Midland College teammates, as well as some of his former buddies from Midland in pro ball. As well as fellow 2007 Lee grad Conrad Flynn and fellow MC alum Chadwin Stang, Williamson said he’s either played with or against Midland Christian products Carson Smith, Reid Redman and Chris Withrow. “To me it’s not really surprising that they’re playing pro ball,” Williamson said. “I’ve played countless games with or against them and I know their work ethic is unbelievable. It just kind of shows the baseball talent that Midland has.”

Adam at the Brewers' site The Brewers finalized plans for three injured players ready to start rehabilitation assignments with Triple-A Nashville. Shortstop Cesar Izturis (left hamstring) will begin playing for the Sounds on Friday and first baseman Travis Ishikawa (left rib cage) will follow on Saturday. Right-hander Marco Estrada (right quadriceps) will start Saturday for the Sounds, the first of two outings before the Brewers decide whether to reinstate him to the starting rotation. *** Jake Odorizzi is scheduled to face the Sounds Sunday. If Brian Baker backs up Estrada's start, then we're likely looking at Wily Peralta vs. Odorizzi.