Jim Goulart

Final: El Paso 2, Colorado Springs 1 Chihuahuas Edge Past Sox Late In 2-1 Loss The Sky Sox dropped their series-finale with the El Paso Chihuahuas in a close 2-1 loss before a crowd of 6,404 at Southwest University Park on Wednesday night. Sox starter Ariel Pena was strong once again, allowing just one run on three hits and two walks while striking out eight over six very impressive innings of work. The lone mistake on the right-hander’s night came on a one-out pitch to Hector Gomez in the Chihuahuas first as the shortstop deposited his second home run of the season in the left-centerfield seats to give El Paso an early 1-0 lead. The Colorado Springs offense would strike back against El Paso lefty Robbie Erlin in the very next frame on the strength of a Nevin Ashley solo blast. The catcher’s eighth long ball of the season tied the ballgame at one; a score that would remain until the home eighth. Erlin allowed just the one run on seven hits and a walk while striking out three over six strong frames. Austin Ross (2-1, 7.07) took over for Pena in the seventh, tossing a scoreless frame before coming back out for the eighth in the 1-1 contest. The right-hander recorded just one out in the fateful frame, allowing two base hits with Gomez driving in the game-winner on a one-out RBI double to center. Gomez’s second run driven in gave El Paso a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. Jeremy Horst came on to get the final two outs of the frame to send the Sox to the top of the ninth trailing by one. Right-handers Dale Thayer (1-0, 0.00) and Jon Edwards (S, 21) would toss a combined three scoreless innings to close out the Sky Sox offense and secure the slim one-run victory. The win helps El Paso avoid the four-game sweep while improving their record to 70-61. The Sox drop to 56-75 despite outhitting the Chihuahuas 10-6. The Sky Sox pack their things and head to Albuquerque for the first of a four-game set with the Isotopes. Zach Davies (1-1, 5.14) leads the way against left-hander Aaron Laffey (3-3, 4.34) with first pitch set for 6:35 PM MDT (7:35 Central) from Isotopes Park. *** El Paso Chihuahuas outpitch Sky Sox in series finale Center fielder Liriano guns down base runner at home plate for last out to preserve victory By Bill Knight / El Paso Times Luis Sardinas laced a single up the middle. Brandon Macias rounded third, running full steam. Chihuahua center fielder Rymer Liriano charged the ball and a game was on the line ... a win, a much-needed win, was on the line. Liriano scooped the ball on the run and gunned a throw home, a rifle shot from possibly the best arm in the Pacific Coast League. One hop and boom. Catcher Rocky Gale took the throw, expertly cut off the plate from Macias and made the tag. Game saved. El Paso took a dramatic 2-1 win over Colorado Springs Wednesday night, snapping a three-game losing streak in front of 6,404 fans at Southwest University Park. "Heck of a baseball game," said El Paso manager Jamie Quirk. "You don't see many 2-1 games in this league. Rymer has got the best arm in the league. He was voted that. And he showed it tonight. What impressed me is that he was under control. Sometimes guys get out of control when they try to make that throw. He didn't. He was right on the money and Rocky did a great job blocking the plate." Liriano said, "Everybody was charging hard with the ground ball and the runner on second base. Sure, if they get a hit, you want it to come to you. Stay positive. I just knew I've got to throw hard, I've got to get an out. That was a good win for El Paso." The win was indeed big, moving the Chihuahuas to 70-61 on the season and keeping them 2 1/2 games behind Las Vegas in the Pacific Southern Division. The Chihuahuas have struggled at the plate throughout this four-game series with Colorado Springs — and Wednesday night was no exception. But they got just the hits they needed to go with a trio of fine mound performances, a pair of double plays, a fielding gem by first baseman Cody Decker and, of course, that big rifle shot of a throw from Liriano at the end. Starter Robbie Erlin worked six innings, giving up just one run. Dale Thayer came on and worked a scoreless seventh and eighth. Jon Edwards notched the save in the ninth ... thanks to some help from Liriano. "It all starts with pitching," Quirk said. "And all three of those guys did a good job. The offense was good ... or should I say (Hector) Gomez was good." Gomez, the Chihuahua's slick fielding shortstop, crushed a home run over the blue wall in the first frame. And then he came through with the clutch base hit in the eighth. Hunter Renfroe, getting a night off, opened the Chihuahuas' eighth with a pinch-hit single to center. Casey McElroy dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving Renfroe to second. Gomez then ripped a double to left center, one-hopping it off the wall and easily plating Renfroe with what proved to be the game winning run. "You win by executing," Quirk said. "Great at-bat for Renfroe. He looked at a nice slider, stayed on it, thinking just get on, don't go for a home run. McElroy put the bunt down. And Gomez just really played well." Pausing, shaking his head, Quirk said, "That win was huge ... huge. We had to stop the bleeding. They (the Sky Sox, who are now 56-75) came in and played a great four days." The Chihuahuas took infield and had the outfielders throwing from the outfield Wednesday afternoon, something teams do not always do this late in the season. "I wanted to show them there are other ways to win than just hitting," Quirk said. And, watching Liriano gun down Macias on that final walk-off play of the game, Quirk knew he had just the right idea. Colorado Springs Box Score Thanks to our faithful commentators earlier in this thread, you won't be surprised to see this: Team RISP: 1-for-7. Team LOB: 10. Lots of production at the top of the order wasted... The new GM will have multiple 40-man decisions to make, and even among the potential minor league free agents (list), RHP Yhonathan Barrios seems a lock, and RHP Ariel Pena joins RHP Hiram Burgos in the "do we let them walk?" category. Colorado Springs Game Log

Houser pitches best start of career Dekota Gregory, Pryor Creek (OK) Times Sports Correspondent Former Locust Grove pitcher Adrian Houser made a statement Tuesday night: fear the beard. The Milwaukee Brewers’ No. 28 prospect tossed seven shutout innings to earn the win in Class Double-A Biloxi Shuckers’ 9-0 romping over the Mobile Bay Bears. Houser only gave up two hits and a pair of walks, and never allowed a runner past first base in the best outing of his career. The right-hander also struck out three batters to raise his season strikeout total to 104. “It felt pretty nice,” Houser said. “Especially not having my best stuff tonight. I just made some pitches and let my defense work behind me tonight. They were great tonight.” The win maintained Houser’s perfect 3-0 record with the Shuckers since joining the team in late July after being traded from the Houston Astros. Since the trade, Houser has been one of the hottest prospects in the Brewers’ organization. The former second round draft pick has posted a 2.17 ERA in five starts with the Shuckers, and hasn’t given up more than two runs in an outing since Aug. 3, which was his first appearance with Biloxi. “I think it’s just that I’m getting outs early in counts,” Houser said. “And that just comes from me getting ahead early in counts. But, I wouldn’t have my good outings without the guys behind me helping me out.” Houser’s performances have also helped jolt the Shuckers in the second half division title race. Biloxi now sits just two games back of the division leading Mississippi Braves with six games left in the regular season. The Shuckers will close out the season with a four-game series at Mississippi. Biloxi has also already secured a spot in the playoffs after claiming the south division first half title before the all-star break. Houser will look to keep his groove going into the playoffs. “I’ve just been taking it easy and making sure I’m relaxed out there on the mound,” Houser said. “And the beard is just getting ready for the playoffs.”

I've emailed the creator of that fantastic map tool and asked him to move the AA club to Biloxi.

Backstorysports.com - Coming out to media Q&A with Tom Haudricourt

Via John Sickels at MinorLeagueBall.com -- Today we continue our summer reviews of the pre-season Top 20 Prospects lists with the Milwaukee Brewers. This is a review of the pre-season list. It is not a new list. These are the pre-season grades. This list was originally published January 2, 2015 Read on at the link... *** Also posted in our Community Prospect Ranking Thread...

Via John Sickels at MinorLeagueBall.com -- Today we continue our summer reviews of the pre-season Top 20 Prospects lists with the Milwaukee Brewers. This is a review of the pre-season list. It is not a new list. These are the pre-season grades. This list was originally published January 2, 2015 Read on at the link...

Jeff Levering's Brewers On Tap - Episode 26 With the Crew focusing on the future, so is Brewers On Tap. We have conversations with prospect standouts LHP Josh Hader and OF Victor Roache who play for Double-A affiliate Biloxi Shuckers.

AUDIO via the Shuck Dynasty Blog -- Josh Fellhauer talks about the big surprise on Sunday at MGM Park

VIDEO via KPAX: Helena Tuesday game lowlights

Adrian Houser picks up a strikeout en route to seven two-hit innings in Biloxi's 9-0 Tuesday win over Mobile

Colorado Springs' Matt Long lines an RBI triple to right as the Sky Sox top El Paso on Tuesday, 10-4

DVR ALERT! Tonight's Timber Rattlers game is being telecast on MyNew32 TV, 7:00 gametime.

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.

Look for these just prior to the respective game times -- Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog Wisconsin Media Notes - Linked on the Rattler Radio 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 de Macoris *** Sortable individual stat pages: Colorado Springs Biloxi Brevard County Wisconsin Helena Maryvale DSL Brewers *** Weather.com: El Paso, TX Biloxi, MS Grand Chute, WI Missoula, MT Glendale, AZ

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Colorado Springs Biloxi Wisconsin Helena Maryvale MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Colorado Springs: RHP Ariel Pena at El Paso (Padres), 7:35 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link We welcome Dan Karcher, who is the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox; follow him on Twitter @SkySoxKarch 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: LHP Josh Hader at home vs. Mobile (Diamondbacks), 6:25 PM pre-game, 6:40 gametime Free Live Audio Link We also welcome Chris Harris as the very first play-by-play voice of the Shuckers! Follow Chris on Twitter @CHarris731. We'll be linking to his fantastic "Shuck Dynasty" blog. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be radio broadcast. MiLB.TV - Eight of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi is among them! All the Biloxi games for the rest of the season are available via MiLB.TV. ********** Brevard County: Idle ********** Wisconsin: RHP David Burkhalter at home vs. Burlington (Angels), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime; expect RHP Cody Ponce to also pitch tonight in a tandem role Free Live Audio Link - 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. NOTE: Forty-two (!) of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel (9) and WACY-TV My NEW32 (34) will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and remember to refer to the Rattlers' full TV schedule (scroll to bottom of link) so you can coordinate your DVR activity. *** Helena: RHP Marcos Diplan at Missoula (Diamondbacks), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link We welcome back and again look forward to hearing second-year Voice of the H-Crew Dustin Daniel (@dustin__daniel on Twitter). *** Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at the Dodgers' complex in Glendale, 9:00 PM gametime; never audio for games in this league *** DSL Brewers: Season complete, the team finished the season at 32-40.

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

Final: AZL Dodgers 4, AZL Brewers 2 After tying the game in the bottom of the 8th, Dodgers score two in the top of the 9th to eliminate the A-Crew from postseason contention. Maryvale Box Score FIELDING E: Smith, C (2, pickoff), Quiterio (8, throw), Martinez, Y (1, throw). All four runs scored by the L.A. kids were unearned. Brewer RHP's Scott Grist, Caleb Smith, and Miguel Diaz combine to strike out 16 wihout walking a single batter, but lose the game. This, one night after the Maryvale boys lost a game in which they stole 12 bases in 13 attempts! That's an insane combo! Only three games left for this bunch, season ends on Saturday. Maryvale Game Log With RF Demi Orimoloye in Japan with the Canadian Junior National squad, the team could have used the big bat of hulking 1B Tyrone Perry, but he's been sidelined for the second significant stretch this summer with an unknown injury, idle since August 12th.

Final: Missoula 11, Helena 4 Osprey torch Helena hurler Bill Speltz, The Missoulian Jordan Yamamoto was probably the only guy in Missoula that could've used a little more smoke Tuesday. Smoke as in speed on his fastball, which didn't give the Missoula Osprey much trouble. Smoke as in pollution created by area forest fires, which made it hazy at Ogren-Allegiance Park but didn't seem to affect the O's vision at the plate. Yamamoto was gouged for eight runs and eight hits in 2 1-3 innings as the Osprey seized control early and sailed to an 11-4 win in front of 1,545 fans. Catcher Francis Christy topped the list of heroes for the O's, hammering two home runs. Christy finished 3 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBIs. He has worked hard to improve his hitting this month and has been on a tear with four home runs in his last three starts. "I wish I could tell you what it is, I'm just seeing the ball really well and it's helping my team out so I'm loving it," said Christy, who also threw out baserunner Jonathan Oquendo as he tried to steal second. "I'm just finally hitting the pitches I need to be hitting and putting a really good swing on it." Missoula stretched its lead to three games over second-place Billings and Great Falls in the race for Pioneer League North Division second-half bragging rights. The Osprey are 15-10 in the second half and own the best overall record at 38-24. Christy was one of three Osprey hitters that had their way with the Brewers (24-37). Jason Morozowski was 4 for 5 with two runs scored and Isan Diaz came within a triple of hitting for the cycle for the second time in three games. Meanwhile, four Osprey pitchers turned in solid performances. Starter Yefrey Ramirez (5-4) earned the win, allowing four runs on six hits with four strikeouts in five-plus innings. Aaron Sookee, Dallas Newton and Keegan Long kept Helena at bay the rest of the way. "They grinded every single pitch and Yefrey had a hell of an outing," Christy said. "Our bullpen did a great job too coming out there and pitching strong." *** The Brewers broke on top in the first inning. Troy Stokes led off with a single, stole second, beat a throw to third after a Jose Cuas grounder to short and scored on a Yerison Pena sacrifice fly. Missoula answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. After Morozowski and Diaz hit back-to-back singles to start the rally, Matt Railey came through with a two-out base hit beyond the reach of Helena first baseman Milan Post. The Osprey used the long ball to batter Yamamato (1-6) in a two-out surge in the second. Christy smacked a solo shot over the right field fence. Then after Morozowski legged out an infield single, Diaz ripped his 10th home run to make the score 5-1. Yamamoto's trouble continued in his third and final inning. Missoula loaded the bases with no outs after Marcus Wilson singled, Railey was hit by a pitch and Kal Simmons lined a base hit. Wilson came home on a sacrifice fly and that spelled the end for Yamamoto. Missoula tallied three more runs with reliever Bubba Blau on the hill, the last of which came on Christy's second home run. The Brewers scored a run in the fifth and chased Ramirez with two more in the sixth. Sookee came on in relief with the bases loaded and one out and performed well. Helena did cut its lead to 9-4 with a run on an Oquendo fielder's choice, but Sookee followed with an critical strikeout against the Brewers' No. 9 hitter, Carlos Belonis. The Osprey added two insurance runs in the eighth. Matt McPhearson started the rally with an infield single and Christy followed with a base hit. McPhearson scored on a wild pitch and Christy on a single by Morozowski. *** NOTES: The O's hold a 6-4 edge on Helena in their season series ... After Wednesday, the O's head to Helena for a two-game series. Helena Box Score Actually, RHP Bubba Blau allowed only one earned run of his own, but two of Jordan Yamamoto's runners scored on Blau's watch. Regardless, it was a rough outing (again) for Yamamoto, who has dazled on occasion. He's shown flashes (remember July 31st?), but 98 hits allowed in 60 innings is rough, even for a 19-year-old in the Pioneer League. Mentioned this once before, but the 2016 Timber Rattlers are shaping up as a potentially power-friendly offensive club, but the arms will need to step up. Helena Game Log

Final: Colorado Springs 10, El Paso 4 Sky Sox score in bunches by spreading hits around Colorado Springs bunched its runs and spread its hits in a 10-4 victory at El Paso on Tuesday night. The Sky Sox scored four times in the fourth and three times each in the sixth and eighth for the easy victory. El Paso scored twice in the sixth and added two homers in the bottom of the ninth. Pete Orr had three hits and Matt Dominguez two for the Sky Sox. Nine other players had one hit for the team total of 14. Sky Sox starter Hiram Burgos (3-3) picked up the victory, allowing no hits and no runs in five innings. Three relievers finished the job. Burgos also had two RBIs, which was tied for the team lead since RBIs were spread around nearly as much as hits. Juan Centeno and Matt Clark were the others with two RBIs. Four other players had a single RBI. The Sky Sox starting pitchers have held El Paso to one run in 16.2 innings so far in the series. Of the Chihuahuas four hits, only one was a single. Jake Goebbert doubled and both Hector Gomez and Will Middlebrooks hit solo home runs to comprise the other three hits. Colorado Springs Box Score Recently-turned 28-year-old Hiram Burgos is going to be a popular minor league free agent candidate this fall, he was pulled after 84 pitches here with the five hitless innings, and remains a fringe candidate to be added to the 40-man regardless. You do have to admire how he's battled back from the 2013-2014 shoulder issues. Fourteen hits, seven walks and an HBP for the Sky Sox offense. Old friend LHP Caleb Thielbar fared well, however, for El Paso, he's yet to give up a run since being claimed off waivers by the Padres from the Twins. Colorado Springs Game Log

VIDEO via WLOX: Biloxi game highlights, all good, naturally in a 9-0 rout

Shuckers bomb BayBears in 9-0 win By Doug Barber, Special to the Sun Herald BILOXI -- The Biloxi Shuckers turned in a complete performance Tuesday night, blasting two homers to go with a two-hit shutout as the Shuckers mauled Mobile 9-0 at MGM Park. Josh Fellhauer drove in three runs. Nick Ramirez and Parker Berberet slammed solo homers, and Adrian Houser (3-0) tossed a two-hit shutout for seven innings. Manny Barreda and Martin Viramontes mopped up the final two innings. "It was a pretty one-sided game," said catcher Berberet, who went 3-for-4, including his homer to left in the eighth. "We managed to throw a shutout and the bats came alive for us. We were able to save our bullpen and Houser did that for us. "It was an 0-2 count (on the homer). I was looking to protect the plate. He threw me a high slider and I was able to get some wood on it. "He (Houser) has been really good since he came over. I'm glad to have him on our staff." Game 4 of the five-game series is Wednesday at 6:40 p.m., with Biloxi left-hander Josh Hader (1-2) facing Mobile right-hander Braden Shipley (9-9). The homestand concludesat 6:40 p.m. Thursday with Mobile, then the Shuckers head to Jackson to face the Mississippi Braves in a five-game series. The Shuckers jumped on top 1-0 in the bottom of the first, starting a two-out rally. Nathan Orf walked off Johnny Shuttlesworth (0-1), then advanced to second on a passed ball. Then Fellhauer ripped an opposite field RBI single to left for the lead. Nick Ramirez set off a four-run uprising in the fifth when he slammed his 14th homer over the right field wall to lead off the inning. Yadiel Rivera ripped a RBI single, Houser scored on a wild pitch and Fellhauer hit another opposite field RBI single as Biloxi sent nine batters to the plate. The Shuckers added three more runs in the seventh, taking advantage of two walks from reliever Will Locante and two errors. Berberet went deep in the eighth. "It was good to see our offense come through," Biloxi manager Carlos Subero said. "It's been awhile. Fellhauer did a good job in the 4-hole. Rivera in the leadoff got two more hits. Houser did a good job throwing seven innings of shutout ball. Overall, it was a good ballgame for us." It was the biggest offensive explosion for the Shuckers since posting a 10-2 win at Pensacola on July 26. *** Josh Fellhauer (.365 OBP) reached all four times up; Nathan Orf (.383 OBP) on base four times also (in five trips).

Matos flashes talent in Rattlers’ win Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/9393fda765e09f0f71c67c9758e53c5b0b4502c5/c=522-0-2729-1655&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/08/25/Appleton/B9318586149Z.1_20150825230518_000_G95BNQ04S.1-0.jpg Wisconsin’s Elvis Rubio is tagged out at third base by Burlington’s Zach Houchins during Tuesday’s game at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute. (Photo: Dan Powers/Post-Crescent Media) GRAND CHUTE – Sthervin Matos can be both an exciting and exasperating player. His batting average of .214 doesn’t suggest a player on the rise. But there are games when the 21-year-old third baseman looks like a high-ceiling prospect. Wisconsin’s 6-3 win over the Burlington Bees on Tuesday afternoon was one of them. Matos went 3-for-3 at the plate with a sacrifice fly to lead a 10-hit attack and stay on a hot streak, which has seen him collect seven hits in the last three games. “He’s a damn jack in the box, you never know what you’re going to get from him,” said Wisconsin manager Matt Erickson with a laugh. “I just walked by him and said, ‘I can’t wait to see what Matos is going to show up tomorrow.’ ” Despite his poor batting average, Matos has power and leads the Timber Rattlers in home runs (eight) and RBI (39). He has also shown speed, with 20 stolen bases. “That’s the kind of player he can be,” said Erickson. “He’s high energy. He has all kinds of emotion and when he can harness his emotion, his passion for the game is awesome to watch. Today he swung the bat well.” Matos provided a hustle play for Rattlers in the bottom of the eighth inning when he stretched what looked to be a single into a double. He eventually scored on a single by Luis Aviles. “He makes a big turn at first, puts pressure on the defense and tries to get an extra base and gets in there,” said Erickson. “And we end up getting a run. That’s great baseball. That’s the stuff he’s capable of. We’ll continue to slap him on the back when he does things like that and kick him in the butt when you get all the other garbage.” Matos, a native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, has hit .325 in his last 10 games. “I’m just seeing the ball well and trying to stay with my approach,” said Matos through Aviles, who served as an interpreter. “I’ve got the same plan for every at-bat. I just look for my pitch and try to go up the middle.”

Openly gay player returns to T-Rats Tim Froberg, Post-Crescent Media http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/a15d399e7ccb86231d817503cd846c68aa30983e/c=224-0-3251-2276&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/08/25/Appleton/B9318586059Z.1_20150825185913_000_GUJBNQR8B.1-0.jpg Wisconsin Timber Rattler David Denson is all smiles in a game Tuesday against the Burlington Bees at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute. Denson made news earlier this month by being the first player affiliated with a Major League Baseball franchise to come out as gay. (Photo: Dan Powers/Post-Crescent Media) GRAND CHUTE – David Denson’s life has taken some eventful twists and turns since he opened the baseball season with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Denson’s diamond-themed roller-coaster ride started in April when he struggled at the plate for the low Class A Rattlers and was sent down to Helena. He eventually regained his hitting prowess in rookie league ball, where he earned MVP honors at the Northwest League-Pioneer League All-Star Game. Denson then made history in mid-August by becoming the first player affiliated with a Major League Baseball franchise to reveal publicly that he is gay. Two weeks and a promotion later, the 20-year-old Los Angeles native is back at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium where he is working on his game and looking to be judged strictly by his production. Despite his life-changing revelation, some things remain the same for Denson in Grand Chute. He still plays first base. He still generates a lot of power with a left-handed swing as he showed Tuesday afternoon by banging a double off the left field wall in the Timber Rattlers’ 6-3 win over the Burlington Bees. And according to manager Matt Erickson and his teammates, he continues to be treated with warmth and respect in the Rattlers’ clubhouse. “It’s been great having him back,” said Erickson. “He’s a very likable young man. He’s got a fun personality. This isn’t new news to us in the clubhouse. There are a number of people that are close to David, including teammates, that knew this. It’s new news to the nation and the general public, but this is something that’s been out there for a while. “David spent parts of the last two seasons here. He’s very comfortable in our clubhouse and it’s been no different the past few days.” Denson agreed to a post-game interview Tuesday with the condition that only baseball matters be discussed (you'll find the audio archive here). He looked sharp at the plate in his second game back with the Rattlers, going 2-for-3 with a run scored. “When you come back, you have to focus on taking caring care of business,” said Denson. “Playing this game, you learn that you control what you can control. You let go what you can’t control and focus on the task at hand. You do that to the best of your ability.” Rattlers shortstop Jake Gatewood, who was elevated Monday from Helena along with Denson, says that teammates at both places haven’t viewed Denson’s announcement as a huge deal. “He’s our teammate — and there really isn’t much to this,” said Gatewood, the 41st overall selection by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2014 draft. “He’s our brother, our teammate, and he’s a great teammate. He means well and we’ll help him out. Whenever he’s going through trouble, we’ll be there for him.” Erickson knew that Denson was troubled by the matter in spring training when Denson met with Becky Schnakenberg, a professional counselor contracted by the Brewers to provide mental health assistance to the players. Denson then sat down with Erickson, Brewers farm director Reid Nichols and hitting coordinator Jeremy Reed and told them in an emotional meeting that he was gay. “He let us know what he’d been dealing with and the secret he had, so to speak,” said Erickson. “He wanted it to be known. He didn’t know when he wanted to make it public, but wanted us to know at that time. So I feel good about our relationship and the trust we’ve built the last couple years. I know him as a baseball player and a human being and I’m going to do everything I can to help him have success as a baseball player and in his life.” Rob Zerjav, the Timber Rattlers’ general manager and team president, sensed earlier in the season that something was bothering Denson. “I think it took a lot of courage for him to do what he did,” said Zerjav. “When he was here earlier this year, you could tell something was wrong. I’m just guessing that’s what it was. It’s good to have him back and I’m sure he feels like a weight has been lifted from him. I’ve always enjoyed David. He’s a very nice young man. We’re happy to have him back and hopefully he can help contribute and be a positive role model for others.” Erickson feels that Denson should be able to focus on baseball the rest of the season. “Anybody that is living a secret and is able to come out and let people know who you are, and to be honest with yourself and now your friends and teammates, that’s probably a huge relief,” said Erickson. “Just knowing him and seeing him and how he’s reacted to different parts of his baseball life and the clubhouse life the last couple years, he seems to be in a good place right now. “While I believe this is a courageous decision, we’re at a time now where this is out in the open. I feel good that he was able to do this. We’ll help him however we can. Hopefully he and Jake (Gatewood) can add some punch to our lineup.” Denson should be able to do that. Even though he’s hitting .202 for Wisconsin with a homer and six RBI in 89 at bats, he has tremendous power. Burlington retired him only once Tuesday and that was on a long fly ball that nearly cleared the fence in dead center. “I’m just looking to put the barrel of the bat on the ball, and just hit the ball hard,” said Denson. “As long as you go out there and give 110 percent and play hard all the time, that’s all you can do. Once you start getting caught up in your head and try to do too much at the plate, that’s when you get in trouble.”

"Slap him on the back when he does stuff like that (today's great game) and kick him in the butt when he does all that other garbage" -- priceless stuff from Matt Erickson on Sthervin Matos in the Rattler Blog audio linked above