Jim Goulart

Ex-Cat Brown glad to be home after rough start Daniel Berk, Arizona Daily Star Jordan Brown's trip to Tucson couldn't have come at a better time. The former Arizona Wildcats star needed something to smile about and Tucson has always brought out the best in him. "The last couple of months of baseball have been awful," said Brown, who started in right field for Nashville on Friday night. "It's been a really poor experience." Brown, who helped lead the Arizona Wildcats to the College World Series in 2004, was released on the final day of spring training by the Astros. A free agent in the offseason, he chose the Astros and thought it was a perfect fit. Instead, the organization decided Brown wasn't in its plans and informed him after a solid showing in spring that he was on his own. "They tried to explain their reasoning, but I was so stunned, I just walked out," said Brown, who began his minor-league career in 2005 and has more than 2,700 career at-bats. "No matter what they try to tell you, it doesn't change the fact that it happened." Brown headed back to Tucson, where he makes his offseason home with his wife, Mendi, and two children, Damon and Alexis. He had two choices. He could stay in town and work out on his own, waiting for a call from another organization. Or, he could sign with a team in the Mexican League and head south. He decided to sign with Campeche of the Mexican League. On the 12th day with his new team, Brown got word the Milwaukee Brewers wanted to sign him and he was to report to Nashville, where he finished last season. He joined the club earlier this month and came into Friday's game with a .244 average in 13 games. He went 1 for 3 Friday for the Sounds in a 4-3 win over Tucson. "To leave for the game from my own house where I have my wife and kids was very weird," said Brown of his routine before Thursday's game. "I've driven by here before and knew it was here, but I've never played as a professional in Tucson before. "It was weird getting on the field." Thursday was a quiet night for the former Wildcat with just about 15 friends and family in attendance. But Friday was a different story with more than 100 people at Kino Stadium to cheer him on. His brother in-law, former Wildcat pitcher Lance Dickson, rented one suite and a friend rented another. He also left a handful of tickets for other friends. "It's always easy to tell which players are coming home based on the ticket requests," Nashville manager Mike Guerrero said. "I don't know him very well yet, but Jordan seems like a great guy." The 28-year-old spent the most recent offseason working out at Hi Corbett Field with Shelley Duncan and current Tucson Padres reliever Cory Burns. He faced Burns on Thursday and was plunked on the foot by a curveball, prompting him to send his buddy a postgame text. "I called him a, well I can't say what I called him," Brown said laughing. Brown, who follows the Wildcats regularly thanks to an application on his phone, is a die-hard fan.

Tough season for the Tucson Padres, too: The Padres now have a chance to earn their first series win of the season Sunday.

Sounds Homer Twice To Lead Early, Fall To Tucson, 6-2 Logan Schafer And Corey Patterson Go Yard In First Two Frames Nashville Sounds TUCSON, Ariz. - The Nashville Sounds lost to the Tucson Padres by a score of 6-2 on Saturday evening in the third game of a four-game series at Kino Stadium. The Sounds are just 5-16 when playing away from Greer Stadium this season, and have been held to two runs or less in 13 of their 21 road games. Both runs came courtesy of solo homers in the first two innings by outfielders Logan Schafer and Corey Patterson. Batting third in the Sounds lineup for the first time in 2012, Schafer gave the Sounds a 1-0 advantage in the opening frame with a solo homer to right center (audio). The long ball was Schafer's team-leading fifth homer of the year. Patterson scored Nashville's other run in the next inning with his second blast of the season, a leadoff, solo shot to right center (audio). The Sounds threatened to do more damage with three more hits in the frame, but had baserunners thrown out at third and home before starting pitcher Mike Fiers struck out to end the rally. Matt Clark cut the lead in half with one swing to leadoff the second. On the first pitch from Fiers, Clark crushed his sixth homer of the season to right. The run allowed by Fiers snapped a scoreless streak of 11 consecutive innings, leading back to the 5th inning on May 8 vs. Colorado Springs (most by a Nashville starting pitcher in 2012). Tucson later knotted the game at 2-2 in the same inning with a Yasmani Grandal double and RBI single from Beemer Weems. The Padres batted around on only two hits while taking a 5-2 lead in the top of the fifth after a crazy series of events. With runners moving from first and second and one out, Fiers' 3-2 pitch to Logan Forsythe was gunned to third by catcher Martin Maldonado for an inning-ending, strike-them-out-throw-them-out double play. However, the borderline pitch was ruled a ball, which caused Nashville pitching coach Fred Dabney to argue and get ejected. On the following play, Jeff Gyorko brought home the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to remove Fiers from the contest. Victor Garate entered and quickly hit a batter to load the bases and then walked home the next run on four pitches. The fifth run was scored on a Sawyer Carroll infield single. The Tucson lead moved to 6-2 on an unearned run against Garate in the sixth. Fiers moved to 1-3 after being touched for five runs on five hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old fanned five in 94 pitches, 60 for strikes. Garate allowed both inherited runners to score while also giving up an unearned run in 2/3 of an inning. Jim Henderson added 1 2/3 scoreless innings to extend his PCL-leading scoreless streak to 20 1/3 innings over 12 outings to open the season. Rob Wooten ended the game with a perfect ninth. Jorge Reyes (3-5) surrendered two runs (both homers) on eight hits while striking out five in seven innings of work. The Sounds and Padres will wrap up their series with a 9:05 pm CT finale at Kino Stadium on Sunday evening. In a battle of winless pitchers, Sounds right-hander Seth McClung (0-4, 6.25) will take the mound against Tucson southpaw Tom Layne (0-3, 8.05).

Nashville Media Notes *** Wisconsin Media Notes

Should it be an issue down the road, no minor league options remaining for Juan Perez.

RHP Vinnie Chulk has been designated for assignment. The Brewers have selected the contract of 33-year-old LHP Juan Perez from Triple-A Nashville. Juan Perez Major League Stats Juan Perez Minor League Stats

RHP Vinnie Chulk has been designated for assignment. The Brewers have selected the contract of 33-year-old LHP Juan Perez from Triple-A Nashville. Juan Perez Major League Stats Juan Perez Minor League Stats Any discussion will take place in this Major League Forum thread.

Final Reminder on the Manatees Jersey Auction bidding *** Please allow me to give my yearly personal thanks to the Sounds for this particular charitable effort. Sounds Connect With Hearing Impaired Children Annual Fantasy Baseball Camp Held At Greer Stadium

Joe Block's Brewer Pre-Game Audio Interview with Erik Komatsu

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

Follow Saturday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin

Saturday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Mike Fiers at Tucson (Padres), 8:50 PM pre-game, 9:05 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: RHP Tyler Thornburg at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:00 PM pre-game, 6:15 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: A total of 24 Stars' games (in Jacksonville and Tennessee) will be broadcast. ********** Brevard County: RHP Brandon Williamson at home vs. Fort Myers (Twins), 5:35 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Fort Myers 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 Chad Thompson at home vs. Kane County (Royals), 6:15 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime; RHP Mark Williams will see action as part of the tandem 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).

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Chasers' Odorizzi solid in Triple-A debut

Flipped-over ping-pong table in Tucson -- now, how about Miller Park?

Brad Krause with his always worthwhile Rattlers thoughts and photos from the game last night.

The Post-Cresent Rattler game story includes another Carlos Gomez video interview, Gomez' thoughts on the HBP post-HR theatrics, and more. “That’s bull,” said Gomez. “I’ve been in the big leagues for six years and no one’s ever hit me yet for something like that. That’s not the way you teach young players. If they’re mad, then hit me, not someone else.” Tough for the Bees to do when you're dancing in the dugout, dude...

Tucson Bottom of the 8th Yasmani Grandal doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Logan Schafer. With Sawyer Carroll batting, wild pitch by Johnnie Lowe, Yasmani Grandal to 3rd. Sawyer Carroll walks. Defensive switch from first base to third base for Erick Almonte. Defensive Substitution: Sean Halton replaces pitcher Johnnie Lowe, batting 9th, playing first base. Pitcher Change: Mike McClendon replaces Johnnie Lowe, batting 6th. Daniel Robertson called out on strikes. Beamer Weems grounds into double play, shortstop Hainley Statia to second baseman Eric Farris to first baseman Sean Halton. Sawyer Carroll out at 2nd. *** Mike McClendon's finest moment this season, no doubt. Johnnie Lowe's season-long scoreless streak continues, and Lowe is now 4-0, but wow, that's an impressive job to salvage both the win and Lowe's streak by Mike.

Sounds Score Late To Win 4-3 In Tucson Gonzalez Delivers Game-Winning RBI In The Eighth Inning Nashville Sounds TUCSON, Ariz. - Third baseman Andy Gonzalez delivered a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning for a 4-3 victory over the Tucson Padres on Friday evening at Kino Stadium. Trailing 2-3 entering the eighth, second baseman Eric Farris got things started by singling, stealing second base, and reaching third on a throwing error. After first baseman Erick Almonte and right fielder Jordan Brown worked two-out walks, Gonzalez grounded a two-run single up the middle to plate Farris and Almonte (audio). The game-winning RBI was Gonzalez's second in the last three games. Winners in six of their last nine games, the Sounds improve to 15-25 and pick up their first win in Friday action this season (1-6). Twenty-four of the Sounds' 40 games have been decided by one or two runs (10-14 in those contests), which lead the PCL. Starting pitcher Claudio Vargas helped his own cause in the second frame to put the Sounds on the board. With the bases juiced and one out, Vargas lined a hit up the middle that deflected off of pitcher Kip Wells and drifted past the second baseman to score Gonzalez. On the following play, center fielder Logan Schafer made it 2-0 with an infield groundout to shortstop. The Padres knotted the contest at 2-2 in the home half of the third. Leadoff hitter Blake Tekotte lined his fourth homer of the right field wall and was followed by a Logan Forsythe double, which removed Vargas from the game. Later in the inning with two outs, Yasmani Grandal knocked a game-tying RBI single to left. The Padres took a 3-2 in the sixth as Grandal lead off the frame with a base hit, moved to second on a wild pitch from Donovan Hand, and scored on a Sawyer Carroll RBI single. Tucson threatened in the eighth, putting runners on the corners with no outs. After Grandal doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch, Carroll walked to remove Johnnie Lowe from the ball game. Reliever Mike McClendon then entered the game and worked out of a jam. The right-hander struck out Daniel Robertson on three pitches and induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. The Padres threatened again in the bottom of the ninth, but stranded the tying run in scoring posotion. McClendon struck out the first two batters before walking a batter and allowing a base hit. McClendon then induced a game-ening groundout for his second save of the season (audio). In his Sounds debut, Vargas gave up two runs on three hits and two walks in two plus innings of work. The 33-year-old struck out four batters with 51 pitches, (31 strikes) in a no-decision. In relief of Vargas, Hand worked a season-high four innings, giving up one run on four hits while striking out two. Lowe (4-0) pitched a scoreless frame for the victory and extended his scoreless streak to 15 1/3 innings. McClendon stranded two runners and picked up a six-out save. Nashville swiped a season-high four bases, including two from Farris. Tucson starter Kip Wells allowed two unearned runs on four hits while fanning two for a no-decision. Anthony Reyes (0-1) took the loss in his season-debut with two runs in 2 2/3 innings. The Sounds and Padres will play the third game of a four-game series at 9:05 pm CT at Kino Stadium in Tucson. Right-hander Mike Fiers (1-2, 3.53) will man the bump against Tucson righty Jorge Reyes (2-5, 4.93).

Photo array of Carlos Gomez' A-Ball home run admiration

TimesFreePress.com After Chattanooga starter Matt Magill gave up two runs in the first, the Lookouts drew even in the second when Travis Denker led off with a single and scored on a Pedro Baez triple off the wall in center field. That was followed by an RBI groundout by Blake Smith that tied the game at 2. Josh Prince, the Stars center fielder, crashed into the wall on the triple, damaging one of the black wooden panels. The game was delayed for a few minutes before the third inning as the Lookouts field crew replaced the panel, which had a big hole in it. *** Even though it was 11 innings, the combined number 31 below must be a Link Report (2001 - present) record. Huntsville batters struck out 19 times and drew 12 walks! Game time was four hours, 20 minutes. Chattanooga hurlers threw 230 pitches!

Audio from Tucson — “Let’s Ask Andy (Gonzalez)” Jeff's note -- Tonight’s interview is with veteran utility-man Andy Gonzalez, who reflects on a career that has been spent with the White Sox, Indians, Marlins and now Brewers (since last season).

Nick Ramirez updated his blog

Wow, Jimmy Nelson doing the family proud, now the Manatees need to help him out in the 9th!