Jim Goulart

Follow Thursday's action as it happens: Nashville Game One (Gameday also available) Nashville Game Two (Gameday also available) Huntsville (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Arizona Rookie (Maryvale) DSL Brewers

REMINDER: Time Warner Cable Sports 32 has the Rattlers' game this evening. *** Brevard's Hiram Burgos with a birthday start tonight -- busy day for that in the system, young gun Mr. Arcia no longer Sweet 16. Orlando Arcia - 17 Hiram Burgos - 24 Joel Dicent - 20 Mike Francisco - 23 Casey Medlen - 22

Thursday's Daily Menu: Nashville: RHP Mike Fiers and LHP Sam Narron in a doubleheader at Colorado Springs (Rockies), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Live Audio Link -- Select the Nashville feed from the MiLB main audio page MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Huntsville: RHP Cody Scarpetta at home vs. Carolina (Reds), 6:43 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page iPad/iPhone: Listen Traditional Broadcast Live Audio Link -- Select the Carolina feed from the MiLB main audio page Brevard County: RHP Hiram Burgos at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Dunedin feed from the MiLB main audio page Wisconsin: RHP Matt Miller at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 6:45 pre-game, 7:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Helena: LHP Mike Strong at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the Reds' tykes; 1:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Mariners, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until late afternoon at the earliest

First posted back on June 2nd -- Happy Holle Daysby Bob Brainerd, sports32.com (Time Warner Cable)http://www.sports32.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Holle-2-300x200.jpg Baseball closers are a unique breed. They possess no fear tools to shutdown an opponent and preserve a victory, in tandem with the demeanor to flush away any lingering stench of a blown save opportunity. A closer also seems to have the desire to ugly-up to make their appearance on the mound frightening and intimidating. Clean-shaven Wisconsin Timber Rattlers pitcher Greg Holle isn’t quite there just yet. “I’ve always shaved my head,” said Holle, a 2010 11th round draft pick of the Brewers. “But with my size, I hope it’s intimidating. You can do all that stuff, but not if you can’t bring it. A lot of guys who are doing that are proven with their stuff and it all goes hand in hand.” At 6-8, Holle is a towering enough drink of water to strike fear into an unsuspecting batter, but the 22-year-old right-hander will dispense with the trickery and facial accessories until he’s proven his worth on the mound. “Honestly, I love it,” said Holle, who went the first two months of the Midwest League season a perfect 11 for 11 in save opportunities. “It can’t be any more cut and dry. Throw the ball in the ninth inning, get three outs before they get anything and you come out on top. I’ve done it all before. I’ve closed before, I’ve started. But I really like it. “I have to get people out…that’s all that matters. If you can’t get adrenaline and get fired up to come in and finish off a game you’re probably not in the right profession.” Holle kick started his profession working out of the bullpen for the Brewers entry in the Arizona Fall League last season. In eight games, Holle fashioned a 3-1 mark with a stingy 0.79 ERA. But none of those outings put Holle in the ninth inning limelight, where he has been lights out since coming to Appleton. http://www.sports32.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Holle-1-199x300.jpg “This is my first full season and you’ve got to have such a short term memory,” said Holle. “Stuff will hit the fan one night, the next night, no one cares.” While the Brewers don’t necessarily groom a minor league pitcher like Holle to become strictly a closer, this is the role thrust upon him to test his makeup and moxy. There is constant on the job training for Holle to soak up and absorb. “It’s almost like flipping a switch,” said Holle, who claims he’s more routine oriented than superstitious. “Sixth, seventh inning starts rolling in and you start moving, get stretched, and obviously watching the score to get a better feel for the game, watching hitters as you go. Sure as heck, once he tells you to toss and says you’ve got the ninth, I don’t care if it’s my mom in the batter’s box, I’m coming after you. I think you have to have that mentality. You’ve got guys behind you that did all the other stuff in the game, you’ve got to come in and finish it.” When April and May were history, Holle’s 11 saves were second in the Midwest League, but his 4.79 ERA needs some work and shrinkage. As far as the closer mentality, Holle seems to have the proper frame of mind. “For me it’s just, game’s over,” Holle said. “Go out, pound the zone, don’t put guys on that don’t earn it and let the rest take care of itself.” Holle continues to hone his craft as well as his God-given abilities thanks in part to an acute awareness of his baseball environment. His high school resume at Christian Brothers Academy (NY) High School includes being tabbed the 2007 Player of the Year in the state of New York. But when the Yankees drafted Holle that same year in the 35th round, the pitcher tossed a changeup, didn’t feel ready, and didn’t sign. “Honestly, I was pretty good growing up,” admitted Holle. “I was 16 playing Connie Mack baseball with 18 year olds and I was having success there. By the time my senior year rolled around, I got drafted by the Yankees. I had an idea I could do something…I threw hard, but you’ve got to have other stuff with it.” Rather than sign on the bottom line, Holle went to establish “other stuff” pitching for the Horned Frogs at Texas Christian University. Games to pitch and opportunities to tweak his repertoire became plentiful. “The biggest wakeup call is going to high school in New York for my senior year we played 18 games or so, two games a week,” said Holle. “Then I get there (TCU) and my first year, we had success, and then we kept getting better as I went on, going to the World Series my junior year, and I never played that much before. Summer ball you play a lot, but this was, from start to finish playing year round, just a work load. I was finally on my own, so I had to hit the floor running.” What Holle gleaned from his days in Fort Worth, besides the hint of a Texas drawl, could be seen when he stepped on a scale as well as when he stepped off the mound. “I think the biggest thing is I showed up at TCU 188 (pounds) as a freshman, this tall, and I was like 245 when I left,” said Holle. “I was lucky that my pitching coach (Randy Mazey) at TCU was pretty good, and on the field stuff is the most important, but it’s all the off the field stuff, the preparation without a ball in your hands, taking care of yourself. You have to be durable to be able to throw all the time.” http://www.sports32.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Holle-dad-2.jpg But the déjà vu moment in Holle’s career came when the Brewers selected Greg in the 11th round, two slots higher than the round Milwaukee chose his father, Gary, back in 1976. “I think one time I remember seeing something from the Double-A or Triple-A All Star Game at Fenway Park and that was pretty cool,” said Greg, who was born in 1988, some seven years after Gary’s baseball career concluded. “I never had much of a chance to see him play.” Gary never donned a Milwaukee uniform, spending three years in the Brewers system without a call up. The first baseman was packaged and traded to Texas in 1979, where he got his one and only Major League taste with the Rangers for a five-game stint, recording one base hit, a double, in six at-bats. The remainder of his playing days unfolded in various Triple-A stops, leaving very little viewing pleasure for his future family. “It’s sort of one of those things where I sort of wish I did get to see him, but at the same time, between my brother (Gary Jr.) and I, he was there for everything,” said Greg. Gary spread the love, and the athletic genes to both of his sons. Once a standout two-sport athlete back in the day at Siena College, Gary Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps on the basketball court at Siena, while Greg ventured off to mirror his dad’s diamond life. “A lot of the hands on stuff,” said Holle when asked to describe lessons learned from his father, who also provided inspirational mottos for Greg to follow. “The way you carry yourself, act like you’ve done it before…Don’t leave anything out there and work harder than everyone else…Stay humble and go win.” And while Holle hopes to have longer staying power in the big leagues than his dad, Greg is quick to point out that his mother Paula had a huge helping hand in the process. “Growing up my mom was a nurse and my parents ended up getting divorced,” explained Holle. “It was never anything bad, I was around them both, but seeing how my mom did stuff working two jobs sometimes, you don’t realize that stuff until now. “Looking back, I’ve done something right so far, but it’s got to come from somewhere, and I took bits and pieces from both of them.” Just like that ninth inning vibe, Greg Holle grasps the crucial urgency of this moment in his life. He spends down time laying low, spends road trips and bus rides reading and contemplating his future. A future he refuses to compromise by steering off the path he walks in the present. “For me at least, and I don’t want to speak for anyone else, but just keep your head on straight, stay focused and get the job done,” said Holle. “You’ve got the whole offseason to do whatever. You work your butt off your whole life to get this opportunity, so don’t blow it.”

VIDEO: Nashville was rained out, as noted, but MiLB.com has another Mat Gamel HR highlight, from a day prior.

Link Report Bonus:Huntsville Manager Sandy Guerrero gave a Nationals' blogger a detailed report on Erik Komatsu.

Brewers bedazzled by Great Falls pitcher Blair Walters by Amber Kuehn, Helena Independent Record The first words out of Helena manager Joe Ayrault’s mouth when he came out of the clubhouse Wednesday night were “Blair Walters.” No more was needed. Walters, the Great Falls Voyagers’ ace, struck out eight Brewers while throwing a five-hitter to become the first pitcher in the Pioneer League this season to reach six wins. Walters (6-0) kept his unblemished record intact, as the visiting Voyagers beat the Brewers 5-2 at Kindrick Legion Field to stand alone in first in the North Division. “He has our number,” Ayrault said of the southpaw, who lowered his ERA to 2.57 after giving up just two runs. “He has six wins now, I think three of those are against us. He’s 3-0 against us, because he throws the ball very well. He mixes his pitches well, keeps everything down in the zone, and has a good fastball.” Walters at one point retired eight straight on Wednesday, seeming untouchable at times. He did issue a pair of free passes, however, after not walking a batter in his last 17 innings. It was just the third time in eight outings he had allowed more than one base on balls. The 6-foot, 200-pound hurler out of the University of Hawaii said it means a great deal to know he has the best record in the league, but was quick to give credit where credit is due. “I’ve been pitching well, but the team’s been playing well when I pitch,” said Walters, who left after 89 pitches. “They get the runs that I need and the bullpen does well. Everything clicks for me I guess.” Cody Winiarski and Joe Dvorsky threw two perfect innings of relief, facing the minimum. Offensively for the Voyagers (3-1), leadoff batter Qualon Millender continued his hot hitting. The slugger was 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored, extending his on-base streak to 17 games. But it was right fielder Mark Haddow who had the highlight of the game, and not just his run-scoring double that tied the game in the fourth frame. Haddow chased down a foul ball by Ben McMahan in the sixth inning on a 1-2 count, flipping head over heels over the padded railing and into the visitors’ bullpen. Haddow made a brilliant catch, and appeared to break the fence in the process, but was not hurt. “That was amazing,” Walters said of the play. “He saved me a couple more pitches that let me go seven (innings). He just laid out, and I think he may have broken the fence. That was just a great catch.” Helena (2-2) struck first blood in the contest, scoring two in the third. Mike Nemeth led off the inning with a double, his first extra-base hit as a pro, and later came home on John Dishon’s RBI single. The second run came in on second baseman Joe De Pinto’s error while trying to put Parker Berberet out at second. That would be it for the Brewers offensively, as they managed just one run the rest of the way. Ayrault said it’s not cause for concern. “When you have a good pitcher like that you almost just try to tip your hat to the pitcher and just wash that one out, think about what we did the night before,” the skipper said. “They just have to keep working with Ned (Yost), stay in the cage, keep with their approach and trust their approach. You don’t want to change a lot of what you’re doing.” Defensively, the Brewers turned their fifth double play in a two-game span but were plagued by a pair of errors, one of which allowed Great Falls to extend its lead to 4-2. The Voyagers tacked on another run on back-to-back doubles in the eighth inning. Tommy Toledo (0-1) was dealt his first loss of the season after allowing three runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings pitched. It was the 11th-rounder’s longest outing of the season as the Brewers gradually continue to build his pitch count. Reliever David Goforth fanned four through two innings, using a filthy fastball that reached 97 miles per hour. Walters said his team was just happy to take the division lead, regardless of how early in the second half it is. “It’s called the second-half push, and we’re all buying into it,” he said. “We want to finish in first and come out on top. We’re going for it. We just have to believe in ourselves and show everybody what we’re made of.” NOTES: Outfielder Ruben Ozuna was transferred to the Arizona League Brewers on July 30. Ozuna had been battling a groin injury … Lefty Pete Gehle (2-5, 4.54) gets the nod for Great Falls tonight, while fellow southpaw Mike Strong (2-1, 3.67) makes his seventh start of the season for Helena. Photos by Dylan Brown, Independent Record - Brewers second baseman Adrian Williams tags out Great Falls' Qualon Millender Wednesday evening at Kindrick Legion Field. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/4d/a4d83bf0-be47-11e0-80b0-001cc4c002e0/4e3a0e35dc4bf.image.jpg Williams is tagged out by Great Falls' Joe De Pinto while trying to steal second base http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/7/15/715cf3e2-be47-11e0-9029-001cc4c002e0/4e3a0ddf804a7.image.jpg Williams throws the ball to first for an out http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/6d/46db89bc-be47-11e0-a63c-001cc4c002e0/4e3a0d98335ce.image.jpg

A familiar face and a new faceby Jim Oskola, PostCrescent.com Remember back when the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers were the Class A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners? Oh, come on now. It wasn't that long ago. One of the members of the Rattlers in those waning days of the affiliation with the Mariners was Tony Butler. Yes, that Tony Butler of Oak Creek who led his high school baseball team to three state WIAA summer baseball state titles. In 2008, Butler was ranked as high as the No. 4 on the Mariners prospect list by Baseball America was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2008 as part of the Eric Bedard trade. From being part of the Orioles system, Butler ended up in the Brewers system until he was released by the Brewers last year. Butler is back in the Mariners organization after signing with them as a minor league free agent, trying to work his way back up the ladder to the big leagues. How's he doing? So far, Butler is doing well. Through six starts, Butler is 1-1 with a 2.41 earned run average. He has allowed 31 hits, 13 walks and 11 runs in 33 2/3 innings. He has struck out 32. Butler was originally slated to start on Friday in the series finale against the Timber Rattlers but that start has been pushed back by a day. That brings us to the new face. The Mariners top draft pick from 2010 Taijuan Walker will get the start for the LumberKings in the series finale. Currently listed as the Mariners No. 4 prospect, Walker has done well this season. In 16 starts covering 86 2/3 innings, he is 4-6 with a 3.12 ERA. He has allowed 62 hits, 32 runs and 35 walks while striking out 104. Walker is one of those players who a few years from now when he's in the majors (assuming he makes it), you will be able to say you saw him pitch at Fox Cities Stadium.

Timber Rattlers pitchers putting together stretch of solid outings by Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent staff writer GRAND CHUTE — As the dog days of August hit, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers pitching staff seems determined to change its identity. A serviceable mound staff has been sublime in recent games. Wisconsin's pitching has been lights out all week and the staff delivered another gem Wednesday afternoon. Four Timber Rattlers pitchers limited Clinton to five hits in a 2-1 extra- inning win, culminated by Greg Hopkins' one-out RBI single in the bottom of the 12th. Wisconsin pitchers have allowed just two runs in their last 27 innings. Clinton managed just 10 hits off Wisconsin pitching in the first 21 innings of a four-game series that opened Tuesday at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium with a 2-1 Rattlers victory. The pitching revival started Monday when the bullpen delivered five scoreless innings in an 8-5 10-inning victory over Burlington. "We sat down as a staff and talked about what we should be doing in August," Wisconsin pitching coach Chris Hook said. "We talked about how we should be turning it up a notch. Obviously, there's a learning period, but for the players, the days of wondering if they belong here or not are over. We just talked about finishing up strong and letting everyone in the organization know that we're ready to move up to the next level. "The guys have definitely been throwing the ball better as of late." After a strong seven- inning outing by Jimmy Nelson Tuesday, righthander Brooks Hall delivered another quality start. Hall, a fourth-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2009 draft, blanked the LumberKings on three hits over six innings. Hall had just two strikeouts and wasn't nearly as overpowering as he was in his previous start when he fanned 10 over six innings against Clinton on July 29, but he was effective. "He showed me something today because he didn't have his best stuff," Hook said. "He wasn't as sharp as last time, but he finagled and made pitches when he needed to. That showed me something right there." Wisconsin relievers Dan Britt, Adrian Rosario and Greg Holle allowed just two hits over the final six innings. Rattlers relievers have allowed just one run in their last 14 innings. "There's been times when our pitchers have tried to do too much," Hook said. "We've talked about staying within ourselves and just executing pitches and that's what we've been doing lately." Hopkins rebounded from what had been a tough day at the plate to emerge as the Rattlers' hitting hero. The Wisconsin third baseman had gone hitless in his five previous at-bats, with two strikeouts — including a whiff with the bases loaded for the second out of the 10th inning. He was down 0-2 in the count against losing pitcher John Taylor before lashing a clean single to left to score Nick Shaw from second with the winning run. "I didn't want to get too frustrated with that strikeout in the 10th and I just tried to clear my mind," Hopkins said. "He threw me a slider the previous pitch and I checked my swing and went around. He threw it again and left it up. I'm happy I was able to come through for us and that I didn't let the team down."

We've adjusted for a swap-out -- LHP Dan Merklinger tonight, RHP Cody Scarpetta Thursday for Huntsville. Merk is on a roll.

RHP Mike Fiers (bruised finger) activated from Nashville's DL to make the start Wed. night. LHP Chase Wright placed on the DL (perhaps as a paper-only move) to make room.

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

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Omaha 61 49 .555 - - 32-24 29-25 6-4 W5 Memphis 56 54 .509 5.0 29 34-21 22-33 5-5 W4 Nashville 54 57 .486 7.5 27 34-25 20-32 5-5 W1 Iowa 47 64 .423 14.5 20 27-25 20-39 3-7 L4 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Chattanooga 22 16 .579 - - 10-10 12-6 6-4 L1 * Tennessee 19 19 .500 3.0 30 12-6 7-13 7-3 W4 Huntsville 18 20 .474 4.0 29 7-11 11-9 5-5 W1 Carolina 17 21 .447 5.0 28 9-11 8-10 3-7 L1 Jackson 15 23 .395 7.0 26 7-11 8-12 3-7 L2 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tampa 21 18 .538 - - 10-10 11-8 5-5 L4 Dunedin 20 18 .526 0.5 32 9-8 11-10 7-3 W4 Clearwater 20 19 .513 1.0 31 14-7 6-12 7-3 W1 * Daytona 19 19 .500 1.5 31 9-9 10-10 6-4 W3 Brevard County 16 19 .457 3.0 30 5-10 11-9 5-5 L5 Lakeland 16 20 .444 3.5 30 8-10 8-10 4-6 W2 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Quad Cities 23 14 .622 - - 14-7 9-7 7-3 W3 Kane County 22 15 .595 1.0 - 9-9 13-6 6-4 W1 Clinton 19 18 .514 4.0 31 11-10 8-8 5-5 L2 Beloit 17 20 .459 6.0 29 8-8 9-12 3-7 L3 Cedar Rapids 16 21 .432 7.0 28 10-9 6-12 4-6 L1 Wisconsin 15 22 .405 8.0 27 7-12 8-10 4-6 W2 Peoria 13 24 .351 10.0 25 5-11 8-13 4-6 W2 * Burlington 12 25 .324 11.0 24 8-10 4-15 3-7 L2 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Great Falls 2 1 .667 - - 2-1 0-0 2-1 L1 Helena 2 1 .667 - - 0-0 2-1 2-1 W1 Billings 1 2 .333 1.0 35 1-2 0-0 1-2 W1 * Missoula 1 2 .333 1.0 35 0-0 1-2 1-2 L1 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak AZL Dodgers 19 15 .559 - - 9-8 10-7 7-3 W2 AZL Reds 18 16 .529 1.0 22 9-8 9-8 5-5 W3 AZL Indians 17 17 .500 2.0 21 9-8 8-9 5-5 W1 AZL Brewers 8 24 .250 10.0 14 4-13 4-11 3-7 L3 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Mariners 37 17 .685 - - 20-7 17-10 4-5 L1 DSL Brewers 34 20 .630 3.0 16 17-10 17-10 5-4 W2 DSL Cardinals 20 33 .377 16.5 3 13-15 7-18 6-4 L1 DSL Athletics 19 37 .339 19.0 E 11-15 8-22 4-6 L1

The A's kid appears in the Link Report the same day as his random Power 50 mention -- sweet!

Rattler Radio Post-Game Thoughts

With Nelson's win against LumberKings, Timber Rattlers are finding recipe for success by Jim Oskola, Appleton Post-Crescent staff writer Photo gallery at the link as well, and a few of the shots are actually of Wisconsin players... GRAND CHUTE — Strong pitching, errorless defense and timely hitting. That's what the Timber Rattlers coaching staff wants to see from its players and Tuesday at Fox Cities Stadium, it got just that as Wisconsin defeated Clinton 2-1 at Time Warner Cable Field. The path to the victory started on the mound with right-hander Jimmy Nelson continuing his strong second half of the season performance. Nelson went seven innings, allowing four hits, two walks and one run, while striking out eight. "I felt all right," said Nelson who was quick to credit the other eight guys out in the field. "We had some good defensive plays out there, too. Hoppy (Greg Hopkins) made some good plays. He's done it all year and so has Reggie (Keen) out there in center. Just overall, I was just trusting them and trying to get some ground balls and let them make me look good." Nelson was being a bit modest. He needed only 85 pitches to work through seven innings, a very efficient effort in the eyes of Rattlers pitching coach Chris Hook. "Jimmy is a sinker ball-type pitcher", Hook said. "He's had innings this year like that quality, 15 pitches or less. Lately, he's been striking out more guys. The slider is really coming on strong. That's exactly what we want out of our guys. Early count outs, get them in and out. Tonight, as hot as it was and as humid as it was, it really helped in the long run." Nelson said getting ahead in the count is something he has been trying to do all season. "Getting them to put the ball in play within three pitches is something they stress a lot," Nelson said. "That helps keep the tempo going and that helps to keep the team on their toes behind you." Nelson's success since mid-June (5-1, 3.57 ERA) is due to his doing a couple of different things, according to Hook. "Obviously, he's making big pitches when he needs to," Hook said. "That's what he had a hard time with early in the season. I think he's really getting comfortable in his delivery. He's out there focused. He can make a pitch. He doesn't have to worry about his delivery. There's a lot of things he's been working on over the course of the season." Nelson's effort would have gone for naught if Jason Rogers hadn't delivered the only offense the Rattlers needed. Rogers turned on the first pitch he saw from George Mieses in the sixth inning and drove it over the left-field wall on a night that the ball wasn't carrying well. "I was thinking that if he throws me a first-pitch fastball, I'm swinging," Rogers said of his two-out home run. "But if he hangs that slow curveball, I'll swing at that, too. I got a good swing on it and it went out." Rogers is proving to be a good clutch hitter. He's batting .333 (seven-for-21) with runners in scoring position with two outs. "I'm trying not to be nervous," he said. "It's just get a good pitch that's up, not try to do too much and just put it in play." The importance of this win over the LumberKings after Monday's come-from-behind extra-inning victory was not lost on Rogers. "We needed that to get on a win streak," Rogers said. "We've been losing a lot of close games lately."

Welcome relief for Rattlers by Jim Oskola , Appleton Post Crescent A relative newcomer to the Timber Rattlers roster, Alan Williams is quickly making himself known to his teammates. With many more outings like Tuesday night against Clinton and he will become the best friend of the Rattlers starting pitchers. Williams, a southpaw, threw two innings of scoreless relief in Wisconsin's 2-1 win over the LumberKings. Williams allowed a single and struck out two to earn his first Midwest League save. "This guy came out of the Frontier League which is an independent league," Rattlers pitching coach Chris Hook said. "He didn't get drafted this year. He came to Helena and pitched really well for them. They told us he's good at the back end of a game. He likes the ball in his hand and he's done a really nice job. When he gets out there, his curveball is nice and tight. He's throwing his fastball. He's aggressive. We really like what we see out there." Williams doesn't waste any time on the mound, either. "He is just a bulldog and that's good to see late in the game," Hook said. Williams has appeared in five games for Wisconsin, pitching 6 2/3 innings. He has allowed two hits, three earned runs, four walks and struck out 10. Three of the four walks and all three runs came last Friday against Clinton when, after striking out the first batter he faced, he walked the next three. They all scored later in the inning after Williams had been replaced.

24-year-old Huntsville LHP Lucas Lester Luetge (Rice University) not only has a perfect LOOGY name, but has held lefty bats to a .169 average in a large sample (15-for-89) this year. A just-miss on the P50.

Look for the Nashville and Wisconsin media notes here and here later on, respectively. If Huntsville posts theirs, it will be found by placing your cursor over the "roster" banner at the Stars' home page.

While today's Wisconsin matinee is up against a Milwaukee big league day game as well, there will be no such conflict Thursday evening. The 7:05 contest will be televised by Time Warner Cable 32 for you locals with access. Please consider this your DVR alert for Thursday evening.

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens: Nashville (Gameday also available) Huntsville (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Arizona Rookie (Maryvale) DSL Brewers

Wednesday's Daily Menu: Nashville: RHP Mike Fiers at Colorado Springs (Rockies), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Nashville feed from the MiLB main audio page MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Huntsville: LHP Dan Merklinger at home vs. Carolina (Reds), 6:43 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page iPad/iPhone: Listen Traditional Broadcast Live Audio Link -- Select the Carolina feed from the MiLB main audio page Brevard County: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Dunedin feed from the MiLB main audio page Wisconsin: RHP Brooks Hall at home vs. Clinton (Mariners), 11:45 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link MiLB.TV -- for subscribers Helena: RHP Tommy Toledo at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link -- Select the Helena feed from the MiLB main audio page Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Reds' complex in Goodyear; 1:00 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 late afternoon at the earliest

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

Rotoworld -- LHP Tom Wilhelmsen back up with Seattle.