Jim Goulart

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Iowa 1 0 1.000 - - 0-0 1-0 1-0 W1 Nashville 1 0 1.000 - - 1-0 0-0 1-0 W1 Memphis 0 1 .000 1.0 143 0-1 0-0 0-1 L1 Omaha 0 1 .000 1.0 143 0-0 0-1 0-1 L1 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Huntsville 1 0 1.000 - - 0-0 1-0 1-0 W1 Tennessee 1 0 1.000 - - 0-0 1-0 1-0 W1 Carolina 0 1 .000 1.0 69 0-1 0-0 0-1 L1 Chattanooga 0 1 .000 1.0 69 0-1 0-0 0-1 L1 Jackson 0 1 .000 1.0 69 0-0 0-1 0-1 L1 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Clearwater 1 0 1.000 - - 0-0 1-0 1-0 W1 Daytona 1 0 1.000 - - 0-0 1-0 1-0 W1 Lakeland 1 0 1.000 - - 1-0 0-0 1-0 W1 Brevard County 0 1 .000 1.0 69 0-1 0-0 0-1 L1 Dunedin 0 1 .000 1.0 69 0-1 0-0 0-1 L1 Tampa 0 1 .000 1.0 69 0-0 0-1 0-1 L1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Wisconsin 1 0 1.000 - - 1-0 0-0 1-0 W1 Beloit 0 0 - 0.5 - 0-0 0-0 0-0 Burlington 0 0 - 0.5 - 0-0 0-0 0-0 Cedar Rapids 0 0 - 0.5 - 0-0 0-0 0-0 - Clinton 0 0 - 0.5 - 0-0 0-0 0-0 Peoria 0 0 - 0.5 - 0-0 0-0 0-0 - Quad Cities 0 0 - 0.5 - 0-0 0-0 0-0 Kane County 0 1 .000 1.0 70 0-0 0-1 0-1 L1

Follow Friday's action as it happens: Nashville (Gameday also available) Huntsville (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin

Nice to see -- Nashville was added to the available games for MiLB.TV for tonight. The games there also archive, so that's a nice feature for Mark Rogers fans like myself. I can't say I'll be streaming lots of Sounds games live this season (certainly not against the big league Brewer time slots), but the ability to go to an archive for specific moments in the game will be great -- and for $10 for the season for MLB.TV subscribers, as we discussed yesterday, that's a sweet deal.

Friday's Daily Menu: Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Mark Rogers at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Live Audio Link iPad/iPhone: Listen Huntsville: LHP Dan Merklinger at Jacksonville (Marlins), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link (Jacksonville feed) If that feed is unavailable tonight, click the Jacksonville feed link from the MiLB.com audio page here Brevard County: RHP Evan Anundsen at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM gametime Live Audio Link (Daytona feed) Wisconsin: RHP Matt Miller at home vs. Kane County (Royals), 6:20 PM pre-game; 6:35 gametime Live Audio Link

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WSSP Post-Game Audio from the Clubhouse or with the studio hosts -- Manager Ron Roenicke's post-game comments Winning pitcher Shaun Marcum joins Tim & Sparky Baseball Insider Adam McCalvy of MLB.com joins the guys OF Nyjer Morgan's post-game comments OF Ryan Braun's post-game comments Thursday's Usinger's Baseball Post-Game Show

Post-Crescent photo gallery -- fan and game shots, including Austin Ross and Nick Shaw among others

Timber Rattlers display a lot of positives in season-opening victory over Kane County by Mike Woods, Post-Crescent staff writer (Article link includes video of fan tailgating) GRAND CHUTE — First impressions always mean a great deal. And no doubt the 3,234 fans on hand at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium walked away greatly impressed with this year's edition of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Rattlers received a stellar effort on the mound from starter Austin Ross, saw eight players collect hits in a 14-hit attack, played some very good defense and did some aggressive, heads-up base running. It all added up to a 9-3 Opening Day victory over Kane County in Midwest League play Thursday night. "When you're coaching or managing and you're organizing the day, you talk about the different facets of the game," said Appleton native Matt Erickson, making his professional managerial debut, "and when you can get the hitters hitting and the pitchers pitching and playing defense and all facets come together, you usually have a pretty solid ball game. That was fun to watch tonight, especially on Opening Day." Having that kind of performance in front of his family and friends made the evening extra special. "It was great," he said. "Obviously, getting the opportunity to do this in my hometown. The kids played well. Hopefully, we can carry that on into (today) and the next day and win every series. Let's do that. But something tells me it won't be that easy every night." But Thursday it was, though it was because the Rattlers made it that way. Ross, after giving up a wind-blown home run in the first, retired 15 of the next 16 batters he faced before leaving with a 9-1 lead after six innings. "I wasn't too, too pleased how I was throwing the ball the first couple of innings," said Ross, who gave up two hits, struck out six and didn't walk a batter. "I think I took advantage of them being amped up, too. It doesn't matter how many games you've pitched. The first time out for the year where it counts you are real amped up and I think I was rushing a little bit to the plate and leaving the ball up, trying to overthrow a little bit those first couple innings. "But I think the hitters were amped up, too, and chasing some pitches up and it worked to my advantage. But after the second inning, I just told myself to relax and just throw how you know how to throw and from there everything kind of went smoothly. Every inning I felt more and more comfortable." The comfort zone was provided by his teammates, who scored three runs in the bottom of the first and added two more three spots in the fifth and sixth innings. Leadoff batter Nick Shaw led the way, going three-for-four with two RBI and three runs scored. But it was his solo home run in the fifth that had everyone talking about the 6-foot, 161-pound second baseman's first professional home run. "I'd have to go back to college for that one," Shaw said of his last homer, which came in his senior year at Division II Barry University. "It's been a while. Being a leadoff hitter like me, it's about the last thing I think about. But I got a pitch in, let the hands work and luckily kept it fair down the line." And, seeing one head for the fence is such a rarity for him, he admitted he had to keep an eye on it. "I was watching it a little bit down the line – don't tell my coaches about that – I was watching it a little bit and I think it stayed fair because of the wind," he said. Though it was just one game in the books, Shaw said he likes the makeup of this team. "This is a great group of guys. Everyone has each other's back,'' he said. "But it starts on the mound. (Ross) set the pace. Even though he gave up a run in the first, we were right there. We got his back. That's how it is for the whole team, really. And the crowd, the crowd didn't hurt at all. Playing in front of a crowd like that, it's hard not to do good."

Manatees fall in opener by Mark DeCotis, Florida Today VIERA — The Brevard County Manatees didn't take advantage of their opportunities. The Daytona Beach Cubs did, handing the Manatees a 3-2 defeat in the Florida State League baseball opener for both teams Thursday night at Space Coast Stadium. The game, played before 4,777 fans, was the first of 17 this season between the FSL North Division rivals. The Manatees let a great chance slip away in the bottom of the sixth inning while leading 2-1. They loaded the bases with no outs, only to have left fielder Khris Davis strike out and right fielder Brock Kjeldgaard ground into a first-to-home-to-first double play. The Cubs made the Manatees pay in the top of the seventh when third baseman Matthew Cerda greeted reliever Efrain Nieves with a two-out, two-run double to give the Cubs a 3-2 lead. "We had multiple opportunities and we didn't take advantage," first-year Manatees Manager Jeff Isom said. "It was 2-1 and we had bases loaded and no outs and we don't get anyone in. I'm big on who gets momentum and keeps momentum and sustains that. We had the momentum at that time . . . and you kind of felt it turn toward them a little bit and they end up coming up with the big hit and got those runs." Manatees starting pitcher Kyle Heckathorn, a supplemental first-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009, cruised through the first four innings, allowing two hits before Michael Burgess -- a 2007 first-round pick of the Washington Nationals -- homered to right field. Heckathorn allowed two more singles but escaped without further damage. He went five innings allowing five hits, one run and striking out four. He did not walk a batter. "I had an OK five innings, my command wasn't the best I thought it would be," Heckathorn said. "I managed to pitch through it and the team played great defense behind me and kept me in the game." Mark Willinsky relieved Heckathorn and went 1 2/3 innings, leaving with runners on first and third with one out in the top of the seventh. He was replaced by Nieves, who promptly gave up the double to Cerda. Willinsky took the loss. First baseman Hunter Morris tripled and doubled and scored once for the Manatees while center fielder Kentrail Davis singled and doubled. The Cubs, led by three hits from Cerda and second baseman Logan Watkins, out-hit the Manatees, 10-7. The Manatees and Cubs meet again at 7:05 PM today (6:05 Central) and Saturday in Daytona Beach before they travel 80 miles south to conclude their series at 5:05 PM Sunday at Space Coast Stadium. Hawkins pitches tonight Sixteen-year big league veteran LaTroy Hawkins, on a rehab assignment with the Manatees, is scheduled to pitch in relief tonight at Daytona. Isom said Hawkins will be limited to 35 pitches as he continues to recover from rotator cuff surgery on his right shoulder. Brevard County Manatees catcher Rafael Neda, left, talks with a fan prior to the start of the Manatees season-opening game on Thursday. (Dennis Greenblatt, for Florida Today) http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20110408&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=104080334&Ref=AR&MaxW=640&Border=0

It was a road game for Huntsville, but you can still watch game highlights from a Jacksonville perspective -- Great catch by Chuckie Caufield in right field here Taylor Green and Wily Peralta in a second video report The local newspaper coverage

Sounds win opener with power by Greg Sullivan, The Tennessean Here's the Tennessean photo gallery from the game. The Nashville Sounds, wearing their red, white, and blue uniforms from the 1980s, opened the 2011 season with some offensive fireworks Thursday night. Brandon Boggs and Edwin Maysonet hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning to give Nashville a 5-1 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs at Greer Stadium in front of an announced crowd of 7,144. "We're going to have a lot of success," Maysonet said. "The pitching and defense are good and you saw the offense tonight. We're going to be a real good club." After Boggs' three-run blast to right field off Zephyrs' starter Elih Villanueva put the Sounds up 4-1, Maysonet hit a home run off reliever Adalberto Mendez to left field for the final run. Amaury Rivas, in his first Triple-A start, was dominant for Nashville after giving up one run in the first inning. "I never saw him pitch before, but they told me he was either going to get lit up or he was going to shut them out," Maysonet said. "He goes right after people." Rivas went seven innings and held New Orleans to just three hits and one run, despite striking out just two batters. The righthander, rated the 10th-best prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers system by Baseball America, was 11-6 with a 3.37 ERA last season in Double-A Huntsville. He displayed an effective changeup Thursday. "What I need is to throw the ball down," said Rivas, a native of the Dominican Republic. "I want ground balls. We've got good position players." When he saw the home runs by Boggs and Maysonet, he said he was relieved his good outing would not be wasted. "I say thank you to the position players for the home runs," Rivas said. "I won my game. I'm excited." Thursday's season opener was the first game of a four-game series with the Zephyrs and kicked off an eight-game homestand. After firing a strike past Ozzie Martinez to start the season, Rivas gave up a double to Martinez over Boggs in left field on the next pitch. Martinez scored on Josh Kroeger's groundout to give New Orleans a 1-0 lead. Nashville tied the game in the bottom of the third inning when Mat Gamel singled to drive in Eric Farris with two outs. "(Rivas) kept us in the ballgame," Sounds Manager Don Money said. "We got the homers from Boggs and the shortstop. But we'll be back again tomorrow. Hopefully, (Mark) Rogers will have his stuff and we'll see what happens." Transactions: Nashville made three moves Thursday to trim its roster to the 24-man limit. Relievers Robert Hinton and Chase Wright were re-assigned to Double-A Huntsville. Also, Patrick Arlis was moved to the rookie-level Helena roster, but he will remain with the Sounds as an inactive player and serve as the team's bullpen catcher. Reliever Brandon Kintzler was sent back to Nashville late Wednesday. He started this season with the Brewers, giving up one earned run in 1-1/3 innings in their 12-3 loss to Cincinnati on April 3.

This TV news video report focuses on the game, including Brandon Boggs' three-run bomb, and a post-game interview with Eric Farris.

You can watch the video of this Nashville TV news report to get a sense of the sights and sounds at Greer Stadium Thursday night. But the report also does a good job of detailing Greer's age and the possible timeline for a new stadium plan to come together (it's not any time soon). Let's say in two years, if no other AAA teams seek new affiliations, then the Brewer / Nashville / Greer Stadium relationship would by default have to remain. Here is a 2nd TV station video report as well.

Wisconsin: RHP Austin Ross at home vs. Kane County (Royals) Score one for the 30th ranked minor league system. Take that, top-rated (by far) Royals kiddies. Do it on the field, not on paper. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif *** By the way, it was free attendance night in Viera. 4,777 for the 'Tees!

Huntsville Top of the 8th Pitcher Change: Darin Downs replaces Chris Hatcher, batting 9th. Sergio Miranda singles on a ground ball to left fielder Alex Romero. Jonathan Lucroy walks. Sergio Miranda to 2nd. Taylor Green pops out to third baseman Paul Gran. Sean Halton hits a ground-rule double (2) on a fly ball to right field. Sergio Miranda scores. Jonathan Lucroy to 3rd. Brandon Jones reaches on a fielder's choice out, second baseman Ryan Curry to catcher Kyle Skipworth. Jonathan Lucroy out at home. Sean Halton to 3rd. With Chuck Caufield batting, Brandon Jones steals (1) 2nd base. Chuck Caufield called out on strikes. I was listening to the Jacksonville feed at this time. Lucroy barreled into his counterpart catcher at the plate, and apparently the finger survived just fine despite being called out.

Nashville audio: April 7 - Chat with Manager Don Money

Doubleheaders In the event that a player you select plays in a double-header, your streak will only continue if the player gets at least one (1) hit in both games in which he plays that Game Day unless all the selected player's plate appearances (one or more) result in a base on balls, hit batsman, defensive interference or a sacrifice bunt. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that a player you select gets at least one (1) hit in both games of a double-header, your streak will continue, but your streak will only increase by one (1) hit for that Game Day, and not two (2) hits.

Somebody more technically proficient than I needs to secure that audio for safe keeping, because it's eventually going to roll off the Homer section of the ESPN audio page. Please bottle that sucker up for history's sake.

Did anyone try the Nashville audio tonight (and get it to work?) It's 9:15, time to try and listen for a couple of minutes as the game just wrapped up. Let us know.

Erik Komatsu did not play in the Rising Stars game, and did not see action for Huntsville tonight.

Chase Wright pitched tonight for the Stars, and Gameday lists 26 players in the Stars' lineup and on the bench, so there's still detective work to do -- the roster should be at 24. And no, didn't count Jonathan Lucroy.

The Manatees with the first "don't score after loading the bases with none out" of the year -- Brevard County Bottom of the 6th Ryan Gennett reaches on fielding error by pitcher Robert Whitenack. Kentrail Davis doubles (1) on a ground ball to right fielder Nelson Perez. Ryan Gennett to 3rd. Hunter Morris reaches on fielding error by third baseman Matthew Cerda. Khristopher Davis strikes out swinging. Brock Kjeldgaard grounds into double play, first baseman Justin Bour to catcher Michael Brenly to first baseman Justin Bour. Ryan Gennett out at home. Of course, the 'Tees then immediately surrendered the lead in the following half-inning. But yes, it's been a positive night so far for sure.

Homer's ESPN Milwaukee Radio interview with Nyjer this evening is just too much fun. 04/07/11 Nyjer Morgan audio

While Gameday is not available at High-A and A, the Play-by-Play (game log) pages are updating automaticlly after every half-inning. No need to refresh the page, so that's a start. Here's Brevard and Wisconsin from tonight.

Hi David, good to see you here. Yes, Wily Peralta has retired his first six -- here's the gameday. We appreciate your enthusiasm on this Opening Night, but not sure we want to set a precedent with individual game threads. Hope you understand. Plenty of room for analysis in today's Link Report. You did a wonderful job with your former site, the now-retired starsboxscore.com, and we would welcome with open arms a similar contribution if you chose to chime in directly in the Link Report as often as you'd wish. Hope you choose to do so, especially with first-hand insights once the Stars return home. Your historical and current insights would be appreciated, absolutely.