Jim Goulart

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

Final: Ogden 7, Helena 1 Ogden Takes Series with 7-1 Win Brewers Held to Two Hits By Craig Durham / Helena Brewers OGDEN, UT - The Ogden Raptors scored five times in the bottom of the 4th, snapping a 1-1 tie, and leading to a 7-1 victory over the Helena Brewers on Tuesday night at Lindquist Field. The Brewers mustered just two hits in the final road game of the first half, a Wes Wilson 1st inning single, and a Caleb Whalen 7th inning double. The loss was the Brewers 14th in the last 15 games away from Kindrick Legion Field. Gentry Fortuno (2-3) suffered his third straight defeat, allowing six earned runs on 10 hits in 3.1 innings. Rodrigo Benoit was sharp in relief, keeping the Raptors off the scoreboard over three innings of work. The right-hander tied a season high with four strikeouts and did not walk a batter while allowing four hits. The Brewers kick off a seven game homestand on Thursday night, when they welcome the Idaho Falls Chukars to Helena for the first of four. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central) with Jordan Desguin on the hill. *** Helena Box Score As noted above, RHP Rodrigo Benoit the only bright spot. Helena Game Log Not good. Not good. Opposite of good.

Brewers' top picks swing right into action Todd Rosiak, Journal-Sentinel Pittsburgh — The upper echelon of the Milwaukee Brewers' June draft class continues to be upwardly mobile. Second-round pick Lucas Erceg has been promoted to low Class A Wisconsin after playing only 26 games at rookie Helena. The third baseman, a three-year college player, leaves the Pioneer League with a team-best .400 average, an OPS of 1.005 and 22 runs batted in. "He was obviously ready," farm director Tom Flanagan said of Erceg, who received a reported $1.15 million signing bonus shortly after being drafted. "He told us he was ready to go. He was hitting so well in Helena that it was only a matter of time. So we're going to get him up to Wisconsin for tomorrow night and then just get him ABs there and hopefully keep him going. "He's been swinging it well and he's definitely earned the promotion." Erceg, 21, joins first-round pick Corey Ray in being aggressively placed in the minor-league system. Ray, an outfielder who played three years at the University of Louisville, was assigned to high Class A Brevard County after signing with Milwaukee. Following a slow start there, Ray had compiled a nine-game hitting streak to raise his average to .266, before going 0 for 4 on Tuesday night. Erceg's promotion would appear to create something of a logjam at third base at Wisconsin since Jake Gatewood, the Brewers' second pick in 2014, has been the regular starter there. But there will be plenty of playing time available for both, Flanagan said, as Gatewood also sees time at first base and in the outfield. "We've kind of worked out a plan so that we'll have both in the lineup regularly," he said. "Both will be getting their ABs. I think Gatewood will probably move around some to other positions, but he'll certainly get some time at third. The key thing for him is continuing to get at-bats, just to build on the season he's had (.244, 10 homers, 47 RBI). "The big thing, which I think is a compliment to Jake, is his athleticism allows you to do this with him. We certainly think he can be a plus defender down the road at multiple positions, probably. But his athleticism allows you to get Erceg in the lineup with Jake at the same time." Flanagan said Ray is already turning heads at Brevard County despite playing just 14 games. "It's exciting," Flanagan said. "He's a guy the staff has just been raving about in terms of his work ethic and the energy he brings to the team. He's on a nice stretch here where he's swinging the bat well. That's a big jump for a college player, and he's handled it well. "So far, so good."

AUDIO via Monday's Sky Sox pre-game: Recent Brewers waiver claim RHP Rob Scahill

Final: Reno 9, Colorado Springs 6 Sky Sox Suffer 9-6 Loss To Aces Pinto and Macias homer as Sky Sox drop sixth straight By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky Sox *** Colorado Springs Box Score Kyle Wren walked three times out of the leadoff spot; Matt Capps is still in pro ball, really? Colorado Springs Game Log

Posted on June 16th -- Earlier we mentioned the subsequent July 12th release of Francisco Pena. Now only Paulino remains, as the Brewers released RHP Luis Benitez Monday after six relief appearances (stats at link).

The only DSL Brewer who is an obvious injury is 3rd year infielder Josue Herrera, who hasn't played since this June 24th play -- What we posted then -- And was 1B Josue Herrera injured on this forceout at second base? DSL Brewers Top of the 6th Pitching Change: Yefri Pena replaces Gerald De La Cruz. Josue Herrera walks. Javier Castillo grounds into a force out, shortstop Juan Pascal to second baseman Luis Aquino. Josue Herrera out at 2nd. Javier Castillo to 1st. With Luis Avila batting, wild pitch by Yefri Pena, Javier Castillo to 2nd. Luis Avila pops out to first baseman Jose Cabello in foul territory. Edwin Sano called out on strikes. DSL Nationals Bottom of the 6th Defensive Substitution: Luis Avalo replaces first baseman Josue Herrera, batting 8th, playing first base.

Shuckers’ struggles continue at the plate Biloxi is batting a Southern League-worst .233 Shuckers have managed just 20 runs over last 14 games Cooper continues to lead the way with a .304 average Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald The Biloxi Shuckers' woes at the plate have continued to worsen in the second half of the season. The team's scoreless streak stands at 25 1/3 innings after suffering its eighth shutout of the season in a 2-0 loss to the Birmingham Barons in the final contest of a five-game series at MGM Park. In the final three games of the series against the Barons, the Shuckers totaled one run on only eight hits. Biloxi has scored only 20 runs over the last 14 games, an average of 1.4 runs a contest. The Shuckers were able to overcome their early deficiencies with the bat thanks to good pitching out of the starters and relievers, but they've mostly wasted decent pitching in recent weeks. Biloxi ranks last in the Southern League with a team batting average of .233 and has produced the fewest runs at 321. Pensacola ranks a spot ahead of Biloxi at .239 and Jackson, Tenn., leads the Southern League at .269, 10 points better than second-place Chattanooga. Garrett Cooper has been Biloxi's best bat all season with an average of .304, but even he has trailed off recently. He is batting .212 in 33 at-bats over the last 10 games. The second best batting average among active members of the Shuckers is just-returned backup catcher Rene Garcia, who has hit .286 in 63 at-bats this season. The next best active Shucker is outfielder Johnny Davis, who is batting .239 since joining Biloxi June 10th. The two men who entered the season as the best hitting prospects for the Shuckers are Brett Phillips and Jacob Nottingham. Phillips is batting .230 and Nottingham is at .237. The Southern League isn't typically a league that puts up plenty of runs, but the Shuckers are starting to lag badly behind the rest of the competition at the plate. Biloxi sits at 9-16 in the second half in the Southern League South, four games out of first place. Hard luck Jorge Shuckers right-hander Jorge Ortega's record of 1-9 is deceiving considering he has delivered eight quality starts this season. Ortega was good on the mound again Sunday, giving up three earned runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. He again took the loss in a 6-0 defeat to the Birmingham Barons. Ortega has an ERA of 4.99 in 18 starts, striking out 54 and walking just 15. Ortega, 23, is a native of Caracas, Venezuela. Filling in well Right-hander Brooks Hall threw well for Biloxi Monday night as he filled in for Brandon Woodruff, who is on the temporarily inactive list. Hall, who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, lasted seven innings in the 2-0 loss to Birmingham. He gave up no runs on two hits, striking out eight and walking one. Hall is 3-1 with a 3.36 ERA in 15 games, five starts, this season at Biloxi. Woodruff was placed on the temporary inactive list after his brother, Blake Woodruff, died last week following an ATV accident near Wheeler. His funeral was held Monday. Busy man Shuckers left-handed reliever Stephen Peterson has thrown in 42 games this season to lead all of Double-A in pitching appearances this season. The only pitcher in the minor leagues who has appeared in more games this season is 2015 short-time Milwaukee Brewer Preston Guilmet, who has thrown in 43 games for Triple-A Toledo. Peterson is 8-2 with a 2.72 ERA. He has 42 strikeouts and 16 walks.

Orlando Arcia Fueled By Love Of The Game By Aaron Cheris, Sky Sox Blog Can usually be seen with a smile on his face at the ballpark. (Paat Kelly photo)

Been a bit since we linked to Nolan's VINE videos taken from MiLB.TV broadcasts of Brewer games, just follow his media links here to catch up from the past several days.

Tuesday's farmhand birthdays -- Sky Sox RHP Tim Dillard is 33, whoo-hoo! Manatee IF/C Fidel Pena is 25

Just silly that we don't link to the Brewers' Zach Weber's report every day (we do, indirectly via Biloxi's media notes). Yeah, '5'3" Jose Altuve (um, no, Gomez)!

AUDIO: Wondering why we haven't seen 3rd round University of South Carolina RHP Braden Webb yet? This morning's interview at the link, click on it from the list...

Oh yeah, set that DVR! TWEET Get to Appleton, see the next "Pedro" make his Padres' debut (Drew Pomeranz trade)

Timber Rattlers DVR Alerts WED, July 20, vs. Fort Wayne TinCaps, 7:00 PM, MyNew32 TV THURS, July 21, vs. Fort Wayne TinCaps, 7:00 PM, TWC SportsChannel

Look for this just prior to game time -- Colorado Springs Media Notes - Linked on the Sky Sox official blog *** STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League South Division High-A - Florida State League North Division A - Midwest League Western Division Pioneer League North Division Arizona League Central Division Dominican Summer League San Pedro Division *** Sortable individual stat pages: Colorado Springs Biloxi Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Maryvale DSL Brewers *** Weather.com: Reno, NV Palm Beach, FL Ogden, UT San Pedro de Macoris, DR

Follow Tuesday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Colorado Springs Brevard County Helena DSL Brewers MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Tuesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Colorado Springs: RHP Hiram Burgos at Reno (Diamondbacks), 8:30 PM pre-game, 9:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Dan Karcher, the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox is on Twitter @SkySoxKarch; joining him this season is Dan Acheson (@Dan_Acheson) MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Colorado Springs games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $49.99 season-long package ($12.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. The video of each game is archived online, which is a nice feature. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. NOTE: Notice that on MiLB.TV's page, you can click on "Filter", then "Milwaukee Brewers", and you'll see just the Crew's organizational TV lineup. ********** Biloxi: Idle ********** Brevard County: RHP Marcos Diplan at Palm Beach (Cardinals), 5:30 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link (Palm Beach feed) Unfortunately, the Manatees have dropped their broadcast coverage for 2016. No Florida State League games are available via MiLB.TV. Ten of the 12 Florida State League teams provide audio (some only for home games), we'll do our best to let you know when an opponent's audio is going to be available. ********** Wisconsin: Idle ********** Helena: RHP Gentry Fortuno at Ogden (Dodgers), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:00 gametime Free Live Audio Link We welcome and look forward to hearing first-year Voice of the H-Crew Craig Durham ([b@CraigMDurham[/b] on Twitter). ********** Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Idle ********** DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Braves, 9:30 AM, although game data won't be available until later in the day We'll link to this Dominican Summer League Brewers' thread as part of the Daily Menu all season to assist you with your familiarity with these young men.

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

Final: Arizona Brewers 5, Arizona Mariners 3 Maryvale Box Score Four Brewer pitchers combined to allow only one earned run with no walks and seven strikeouts, we're seeing some solid baseball peripherals from this staff, which is probably more "experienced" than in recent seasons -- still, nice job. Maryvale Game Log RF Jose Gomez (on base four times), 2B Trey York and SS Ignacio Otano (reached three times each), and catcher Payton Henry (2-for-4, double, three RBI) all shined; Henry really heating up after a slow start at the plate, check the link.

Final: Helena 3, Ogden 4 Late Homer Lifts Raptors Brewers Fall One Run Short in Ogden By Craig Durham / Helena Brewers OGDEN, UT - Cody Thomas hit a two-out home run to break a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the 8th inning, and the Ogden Raptors made it two in a row over the Helena Brewers with a 4-3 victory on Monday night at Lindquist Field. The Thomas home run came just minutes after Lucas Erceg had tied the game 3-3 with his own two-out home run in the top of the 8th. Erceg's second long ball of the year, a two run shot, came on the only pitch thrown by Rapters lefthander Jairo Pacheco, who had been brought into the game exclusively to face the Brewers third baseman. Ogden started the scoring with two runs in the 3rd off Brewers starter Matt Smith. The Brewers made it 2-1 in the 4th when Gilbert Lara doubled home Erceg with two-outs, but the Raptors increased their lead to 3-1 in the 7th on a Luis Paz double. Smith was solid in his second outing with Helena, holding the Raptors to two runs on five hits in five innings. He did not walk a batter. Karsen Lindell (1-4) struggled with command, walking the leadoff man in all three innings he worked, but gave up just two hits in three innings. The home run he allowed to Thomas in the 8th was the first he has allowed in 21+ innings this season. The Brewers will look to salvage a split of four game series when it concludes on Tuesday night. Gentry Fortuno will get the start for Helena opposite Austin French for the Raptors. Game time is set for 7:00 PM (8:00 Central). Helena Box Score 34th round RHP Matt Smith of Georgetown very efficient in his first career start; two doubles and a walk for Gilbert Lara, now we're talking... Helena Game Log

Final: Reno 10, Colorado Springs 1 Man, when things go bad on a AAA club, it really snowballs... Homers Doom Sky Sox 10-1 In Reno Wren hits leadoff homer as Sky Sox drop fifth straight By Aaron Cheris / Colorado Springs Sky *** Colorado Springs Box Score Oh Josh Hader, say it isn't so; guess Chase Anderson will continue to get big league starts for a while... Colorado Springs Game Log

Short-and-not-so-sweet: Biloxi's 6-0 Sunday loss