battlekow

Apparently 3B Wayne Dedrick had knee surgery at some point; this hometown article about his brother claims that Wayne might be assigned to Wisconsin when he recovers.

Brewers pitching prospect gets head back in game Tom Haudricourt/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Grand Chute — Eric Arnett had no control over the scary storm front that set off tornado sirens Tuesday night outside of Fox Cities Stadium. What Arnett could control were the black clouds swirling around in his head. Though his brilliant outing for the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers was shortened to three innings by lightning and torrential rain, the 22-year-old right-hander took a big step toward fulfilling the promise that prompted the Brewers to select him in the first round of the 2009 June draft out of Indiana University. "It was kind of bad luck to finally get on track and have a good start and the rain cuts you short," Arnett said after the Midwest League game against Quad Cities was officially suspended with a 0-0 score in the bottom of the third. "But I felt a lot better, just getting back to what I do best. Getting that feeling again, knowing I can do it and putting all that other stuff behind me." "All that other stuff" included four starts for the Timber Rattlers that made Arnett look more like a 30th-rounder than the 26th overall pick a year ago. Covering only 16 innings in those outings, Arnett staggered to a 0-2 record and 11.25 earned run average, with 23 hits allowed and an opponents' batting average of .319. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Arnett did his best to keep a stiff upper lip while absorbing those beatings. But, no matter how gleaming your résumé, doubts start to creep in when crooked numbers are posted on the scoreboard. "He's been getting a little frustrated, but I don't see that as a bad thing," said Timber Rattlers manager Jeff Isom. "I don't always see failure as a bad thing, if you can learn from it. "If you continue to go out and make the same mistakes, then we've got problems. You ask, 'What is this guy made of? Is he a competitor or not?'?" Part of Arnett's rude awakening was the realization that pitching behind in the count was a recipe for disaster. He compounded that problem by resorting to taking a bit off his fastball to throw strikes and avoid walks. Such pitches are commonly called "get 'em over" fastballs. But what enemy hitters did was get them over the fence. In those first four starts, Arnett was tagged for four home runs. "When you throw 92-93 mph and then lay an 86-87 mph fastball right in there, that's what these bats are geared for," said Isom. "They're getting hit hard. He's got to realize you can't do that. "Nothing against Big Ten baseball, but I played at Purdue and you're facing professional hitters now. You need to stay a pitch above their bat speed. When he does that and locates, he has success. We've seen glimpses of that." Arnett flashed more than glimpses against Quad Cities while facing the minimum number of hitters through three innings. Rather than falling behind in the count, he pounded the strike zone with fastballs and sliders, mixing in an occasional changeup. Arnett struck out three and allowed a harmless single that was quickly erased with a double-play grounder. But Arnett's biggest improvement was making a necessary attitude adjustment before taking the mound. For whatever reason, Arnett had lost some of his aggressiveness. Rather than throwing his pitches with conviction, he had become tentative, fearing the worst. In conversations with Timber Rattlers pitching coach Chris Hook, agent Joe Speed and Mike Farrell, the Brewers' scout who signed him, Arnett kept getting the same advice. Be yourself, they told him. Go out there with expectation of success, not failure. "It was all mind-set," said Arnett. "I talked to a bunch of people and they said I have to go out with the mentality that you're better than everyone else. Have that fire in your eyes. "When you have a bad outing, it gets in your head. You try to make perfect pitches instead of just letting it go and doing what you've done best your whole life. I got sidetracked, trying to be too perfect. 'I don't want to give up another home run.' That kind of thing. I just went out (against Quad Cities) and used my stuff. 'Hit it if you can.'?" "Being a first-rounder, you have expectations. And I'm sure everybody else has expectations. I really wasn't feeling any pressure but just being a guy who's supposed to be on top of his game, and struggling and not helping the team, it got to me a little bit. I had to make some changes." Thus continues the journey of a pitcher still trying to find his way as a young professional. Positive results are nice and help build confidence, but development is the top priority in the minors, especially at the lower levels. Accordingly, Hook is working on tightening up Arnett's slider, which gets too big at times and stays in the hitting zone too long. At the top of the to-do list is throwing more changeups, giving hitters a different look from Arnett's hard stuff. "We're really pushing the changeup," said Hook. "That's part of his development process. He has been a fastball, slider guy. He has thrown a 'split' at times. But we're force-feeding him changeups. He has to throw 'X' amount of changeups a night. "It's getting better. He's getting a feel for it. At first, he had some grip issues. His arm action is getting better. It takes time. "He's a big, raw, strong country boy. The talent is there. And he's got an athleticism that you can't teach. We're looking for big things these next five starts. I think we'll start seeing some traction." http://media.jsonline.com/images/660*563/ericarnett050610.jpg (Post-Crescent)

Final: Round Rock 2, Nashville 1 Sounds Drop Third Straight To Round Rock, 2-1 Nashville Sounds ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Nashville Sounds suffered their third straight defeat to the Round Rock Express, falling 2-1 on Wednesday evening at The Dell Diamond. For the third straight game, Nashville took an early lead in the contest with a run in the top of the first inning. Adam Heether singled with two outs against Express starter Polin Trinidad then scored the contest's first run when Erick Almonte followed with a triple to center. Round Rock knotted the score in the home half of the frame with a two-out rally of its own. Brian Bogusevic doubled with two outs off Sounds starter Chuck Lofgren and came plateward to make it a 1-1 contest on Chris Shelton's infield single. The Express pulled ahead, 2-1, in the fourth on ex-Sound Jason Bourgeois' RBI single. Trinidad (1-0) earned his first victory of the year with a quality start for the Express, holding Nashville to one run on four hits over six innings. Lofgren (4-2) drew the loss after giving up two runs on 11 hits in 4 1/3 frames of work. Infielder Ray Olmedo went 1-for-4 for the Sounds on the evening to extend his team-best hitting streak to 10 games. The Sounds look to avoid the sweep when the teams conclude the series with a 7:05 p.m. finale on Thursday. Right-hander Kameron Loe (2-1, 3.87) will make the start for Nashville. Nashville box score Wow, Lofgren had 14 baserunners--11 hits, two walks, and a catcher's interference--and only allowed two runs. That would be pretty lucky for a whole game, let alone 4.1 innings. Two thirds of the should-be-in-Milwaukee relief corps finished out the game, with John Axford striking out two in 1.2 innings, giving up just a hit, and Zach Braddock turning in a merely human two scoreless innings: one hit, two walks, one strikeout. Jonathan Lucroy had the day off. Nashville play-by-playThe Sounds squandered a prime chance to tie the game in the 7th: Nashville Top 7thhttp://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t556&t=g_log&gid=2010_05_05_nasaaa_rreaaa_1 Pitcher Change: Evan Englebrook replaces Polin Trinidad, batting 9th. Trent Oeltjen triples (1) on a line drive to right fielder Andrew Locke. Ben Johnson strikes out swinging. John Raburn grounds out to first baseman Chris Shelton. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Joe Koshansky replaces John Axford. Joe Koshansky strikes out on foul tip.

Final: West Tenn 7, Huntsville 3 Diamond Jaxx victimize Stars' bullpen again to take game two Aaron Morse/Huntsville Stars The West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (13-13) used a four-run seventh inning to take control and defeat the Huntsville Stars (15-12) by a final score of 7-3 on Wednesday night. The Stars took the early lead in this game thanks to some clutch two-out hitting from Brent Brewer. In the bottom of the second inning Zelous Wheeler drew a lead-off walk from Diamond Jaxx starter Steven Hensley (3-1). That was followed by a cue-shot single down the third base line from Taylor Green. But Hensley struck out Chris Errecart and Steffan Wilson in succession. That’s when Brewer stepped to the dish. A wild pitch advanced Wheeler to third. It appeared Hensley was going to get out of the jam when Brewer popped a routine fly in foul territory on the first base side. But Johan Limonta dropped the ball to give Brewer new life. He said ‘thank you very much’ by singling to left to drive home Wheeler. But that would be the only run for quite sometime for the Stars. Chris Cody (2-3) was excellent for the first four innings, but his defense let him down in the top of the fifth. Carlos Triunfel hit a sharp grounder to short that Wheeler could not handle and Triunfel was safely aboard. One out later Cody hit Carlos Peguero with a pitch, putting runners at first and second. Limonta proceeded to redeem himself for his earlier error with a base hit to center that scored Triunfel. He advanced to second on the throw to the plate, putting runners at second and third with only one down. But Cody struck out Mike Wilson for the second out. A walk loaded the bases for former 2nd overall pick Dustin Ackley. Ackley singled to left to drive in Peguero, but Brewer nailed Limonta at the plate to end the inning and avoid further damage. Cody went five innings, scattering six hits and giving up two runs, but neither was earned due to the Wheeler error. For the second straight night the Diamond Jaxx lit up the Stars’ bullpen. This time it was Robert Hinton suffering the abuse. After a scoreless sixth inning, the Diamond Jaxx tagged Hinton for four runs in the seventh. Limonta hit one practically to Tennessee to start the inning which extended the lead to 3-1. With one down, Hinton suffered some control problems as he walked back-to-back hitters. Alex Liddi continued his hot hitting as he tripled to center, clearing the bases and making the score 5-1. A Joe Dunigan single plated Liddi and chased Hinton from the game. Mark Willinsky entered and got the Stars out of the inning with no further damage. Huntsville could do nothing against Hensley as the righty went seven dominating innings, giving up only two hits, one unearned run, walking five and striking out eight. Aaron Jensen entered in the eighth inning and the Stars finally got to work offensively. Back-to-back singles from Brett Lawrie and Lee Haydel got things going. Then the Stars’ RBI leader Caleb Gindl got another one with a double to left that scored Lawrie. A RBI grounder from Wheeler plated Haydel but that would be all the Stars got off Jensen. A fly-out from the struggling Green and a ground-out from Errecart ended the rally. A solo homer from Luis Oliveros off Willinsky in the top of the 9th gave the Diamond Jaxx some nice insurance. Josh Fields worked a scoreless ninth for the Diamond Jaxx. Cody suffered the hard-luck loss while Hensley beat the Stars for the second time this year. The good news for the Stars is that the division-leading Tennessee Smokies also lost Wednesday night so Huntsville remains 3 ½ back in the North. The Stars are back in action Thursday night as they send their ace Amaury Rivas (4-0, 0.90) to the mound. He’ll be opposed by Dan Cortes (2-1, 6.56). First pitch is at 7:00 p.m. Central Time at Joe Davis Stadium. Join us on at 6:45 p.m. for the Window World Pre-Game Show as we’ll bring you all the action from game three of the five game set. Huntsville box score As predicted, Lawrie was 1-4. Wheeler and Green each walked twice, and Haydel also drew a free pass, his 8th this year, almost half already of his 2009 season total (17), a very encouraging sign. Huntsville play-by-play

Final: Quad Cities 10, Wisconsin 9 (7 innings) Bandits steal one from Wisconsin Chris Mehring/Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had an 8-1 lead after four innings in a game that was scheduled for seven Wednesday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. But, the Quad Cities River Bandits took advantage of 11 walks, a hit batsman, two wild pitches, and three errors to mount a comeback that gave them a 10-9 win. The loss spoiled the day of Rattlers outfielder Khris Davis, who was 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a home run, and two RBI. Jason Stidham gave the River Bandits (16-11) a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a sacrifice fly. It was the first of his four RBI in the game. Wisconsin (9-17) rallied back with three runs in the first and four more in the second. Scooter Gennett, Pete Fatse, and Cameron Garfield had the RBIs in the first. Davis launched a two-run homer in the third between RBI singles by Gennett and Chris Dennis. Rattlers starting pitcher Maverick Lasker walked the bases loaded in the top of the third, but escaped with the 7-1 lead intact and after a scoreless top of the fourth, the Rattler offense forced a run on the scoreboard. Davis doubled and D'Vontrey Richardson, who got a bad jump away from second base, motored home. The throw to the plate beat the former Florida State quarterback, but Richardson jarred the ball loose from the grasp of Quad Cities’ catcher Matt Stock and the Rattlers had an 8-1 lead. Lasker got the first two outs in the top of the fifth inning via strikeout to give him six punchouts on the day. But, a single, a walk, and an RBI single ended Lasker’s day one out shy of qualifying for his first win of the season. The right-handed pitching prospect of the Milwaukee Brewers went 4-2/3 innings, allowed two runs on four hits, and walked six. Jon Pokorny relieved Lasker and got the final out of the fifth. Pokorny ran into trouble in the sixth. He got the first out, but a single, double, and walk loaded the bases. Pokorny hit Stidham with a pitch to force in a run and make the score 8-3. Pokorny got the second out, but Niko Vasquez tripled to right field to clear the bases and the Bandits trailed 8-6. Davis and Fatse combined to get an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Davis doubled with two outs and scored on a Fatse single to left field. But, it wasn’t enough insurance. Chad Robinson came on in the seventh and got the first out. But, a walk and a single put two on base. Fatse looked like he had saved the game when he made a leaping catch of a line drive off the bat of Edgar Lara for the second out. But, Stidham looped in a double to right field that drove in two runs to cut Wisconsin’s lead to 9-8. The next two batters walked to load the bases for Ryde Rodriguez. Rodriguez bounced a single through the middle to drive in two runs and the Bandits went up 10-9. In the bottom of the seventh, Garfield lined the first pitch from River Bandits’ closer Aaron Terry off the top of the wall in left field to get the tying run into scoring position. Cutter Dykstra moved Garfield to third with a grounder to the right side of the infield. But, Terry got the final two outs to save the game for Quad Cities. The final game of the series is Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Del Howell (0-1, 12.34) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Quad Cities counters with Jorge Rondon (1-1, 1.47). THURSDAY is a WIXX Thirsty Thursday. There will be 16oz beers and 22 oz. sodas are available for $2. It is also another College Night with $1 reserved or general admission seats with a valid college ID. Plus, World Series of Poker Bracelet winner Eric Baldwin will be on hand to throw out a first pitch. Additionally, the first 1,000 fans will receive a Cameron Garfield Player Poster courtesy of Express Convenience Centers. Game time is 6:35pm. If you can’t make it to the game, you can tune into AM1280, WNAM for the action starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Wisconsin box score"Excruciating" is right. Sean Halton struck out with Garfield on third and one out in the 7th, and Franklin Romero flied out to end it. Obviously, awesome game from Davis, and Gennett and Garfield were both 2-4. Garfield's getting hot, 11 for his last 21. Lasker, though he did walk six, also struck out six; four of the last five outs he got were via the strikeout.http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t572&gid=2010_05_05_qcsafx_wisafx_1&cid=420&t=g_box Wisconsin play-by-play Read it if you dare.

Perhaps unbelievably, perhaps not, the Rattlers have blown an 8-1 lead and now trail 10-9.

Final: Wisconsin 9, Quad Cities 7 Rattlers offense gives Heckathorn first pro win Chris Mehring/Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie. Wisconsin held on for a 9-7 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits in the conclusion of a game that was suspended on Tuesday night. Kyle Heckathorn, the 47th overall pick in the 2009 draft, picked up his first pro win with help from the offensive outburst on Wednesday afternoon. The game had been halted in the middle of the third inning on Tuesday night due to severe weather in the Fox Cities area. Neither team scored on Tuesday, but it didn’t take long for either team long to crack the scoreboard after the restart. Quad Cities (15-11) took the lead on a two-out RBI double by Ivan Castro in the top of the fifth inning. Wisconsin (9-16) took their first lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Cameron Garfield tied the game with a solo homer to start the frame. Chris Dennis was next and he doubled. Franklin Romero, Jr singled with two outs to get Dennis across the plate for a 2-1 lead. Ryan Jackson had the answer for the River Bandits in the top of the sixth. His first professional homer came with one out in the inning to even the score. Wisconsin’s offense took control of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with its most productive inning since June 25, 2008. Wisconsin loaded the bases with no outs on a walk and two singles. Romero singled in the first run. One out later, Scooter Gennett doubled in two more runs. Khris Davis followed with a two-run single. Garfield capped the scoring in the frame with an RBI single and the Rattlers were up 8-2. Heckathorn turned the game over to the bullpen for the top of the eighth. He worked four innings, allowed two runs, and struck out five to put himself in line for his first professional win. But, it wasn’t easy. Caleb Thielbar got the first out in the eighth with a strikeout, but a wind-blown double to right for Luis Mateo started a three-runs rally for the River Bandits. Run scoring doubles for D’Marcus Ingram and Jason Stidham and an RBI single by Matt Adams were sandwiched between two other strikeouts and got the Bandits to within 8-5. The Rattlers tacked on a run in their half of the eighth inning when Romero grounded into a 5-4-3 double play with runners at the corners. Quad Cities got a runner aboard in the top of the ninth on an error. Then, Edgar Lara hit a two-run homer off Thielbar to make the score 9-7. Andre Lamontagne relieved Thielbar and got the first two outs of the inning, but walked the next two batters. He got the final out to pick up the save and give Wisconsin the win. Wisconsin box scorePer the Rattlers' Twitter, Heckathorn threw 49 pitches, 38 of which were strikes, a phenomenal ratio. D'Vontrey Richardson walked in his first two plate appearances, but then struck out looking with Romero on third and two outs in the 5th and then, in a particularly frustrating at-bat, quickly struck out looking again with the bases loaded and none out in the 7th. Gennett finished 2-4 and just keeps on keepin' on. Davis added a walk to his single, Dennis also had a free pass, and Garfield had a third hit in addition to the two big ones mentioned above. Cutter Dykstra, DHing, was 2-4 with at triple.http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t572&gid=2010_05_04_qcsafx_wisafx_1&cid=420&t=g_box Wisconsin play-by-playRichardson wasn't the only player having problems putting the ball in play with a runner on third and less than two outs. Romero bailed them out with his two-out RBI hit, but Dykstra and Michael Marseco both K'd with Dennis on third and nobody down in the 5th.http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t572&t=g_log&gid=2010_05_04_qcsafx_wisafx_1

Utilityman Brett Dowdy was released to make room for Anderson Machado in the wake of Drew Anderson's signing; Dowdy is expected to sign with a Mexican League team.

Final: Clearwater 3, Brevard County 2 Brevard County box score Mike Fiers couldn't make it out of the 5th inning but didn't really get roughed up, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in his 4.2 innings while striking out four; he got six ground outs against three air outs. Lucas Luetge relieved him and, despite allowing just a run in his 3.1 innings, was the loser after the Manatees couldn't scratch out a run to tie the game. Juan Sanchez, 1-3 with a walk, and Matt Cline, 2-4, were the only Manatees on base more than once. Josh Prince was 0-2 with a walk (after which he was promptly picked off) and a sac bunt. Shawn Zarraga drew a walk to prop up his hitless effort. Erik Komatsu was out of the lineup--probably just a day off, but with the way things are going for minor league outfielders in this system I wouldn't be surprised if he suffered a season-ending injury brushing his teeth. Kentrail Davis, meanwhile got his seventh consecutive "day off". Brevard County play-by-play First & second, no outs, leadoff hitter up? Time to sac bunt! Brevard County Bottom 3rd Anderson De La Rosa singles on a line drive to center fielder Anthony Gose. Steve Braun singles on a line drive to center fielder Anthony Gose. Anderson De La Rosa to 2nd. Josh Prince out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Cody Overbeck to first baseman Jim Murphy. Anderson De La Rosa to 3rd. Steve Braun to 2nd. I mean, it worked, in that the Manatees scored twice that inning, but if that's Prince's best play in that situation, he shouldn't be leading off.

C Patrick Arlis from Nashville to Huntsville, with C Sean McCraw going on the DL.

Diamond Jaxx pound Stars Aaron Morse/Huntsville Stars The West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (12-13) got an outstanding performance from Michael Pineda (2-0), and their offense exploded for 13 runs as they crushed the Huntsville Stars (15-11) by a final score of 13-2 Tuesday night. The Diamond Jaxx got on the board in the second inning thanks to a solo homer from former 2nd overall pick Dustin Ackley. But Stars' starter Michael Bowman (2-3) was his own worst enemy in the third inning when he walked Kuo Hui Lo and Carlos Peguero consecutively with one away. A wild pitch moved both runners up 90 feet and Johan Limonta took advantage by singling home both runners to extend the lead to 3-0. After Mike Wilson struck out, Guillermo Quiroz doubled home Limonta to make the score 4-0. Bowman settled down after that, going 5 innings, giving up 6 hits and 4 runs while walking 3 and striking out 3 as well. But the Diamond Jaxx busted the game wide open in the 6th against reliever Jim Henderson as they plated four runs. They?d tack on one more in the 7th and three more in the 8th off Casey Baron before the Stars threw up the white flag and brought in infielder Chris Errecart to pitch. Meanwhile, Pineda was untouchable, going seven innings, giving up only four hits, walking one and striking out 11. Huntsville got their runs in the 9th inning when Caleb Gindl hit a RBI single that plated Brett Lawrie. A double play later in the inning scored Gindl. The Stars look to avenge the blowout Wednesday night at 7:00pm Central Time as they'll send Chris Cody to the mound. Tune to http://www.huntsvillestars.com at 6:45 for the Window World Pre-Game Show.

Final: West Tenn 13, Huntsville 2 Huntsville box score The Stars mounted their customary last-inning rally, scoring two runs in the 9th, but being down 13 at that point they didn't much matter. Michael Bowman started and struggled a bit, allowing four runs in five innings, and his relief didn't live up to its billing, as Jim Henderson and Casey Baron combined to allow nine more runs over the next 2.1 innings. Trying to make their pitching staff look bad, position players Chris Errecart and Anderson Machado finally stanched the torrent of runs by holding the Diamond Jaxx scoreless over the last 1.2 frames. On the bright side, Brett Lawrie was 1-4 with another triple, Caleb Gindl 1-3 with a walk, and Taylor Green was 1-4, his first hit in May. Lee Haydel doubled for the fifth time in the last five games as a part of his 2-4 effort. Brent Brewer went 0-3 with three strikeouts as the starting left fielder. Huntsville play-by-play Attaboy, Andy: West Tenn Top 9th Pitcher Change: Anderson Machado replaces Chris Errecart, batting 7th. Johan Limonta lines out to first baseman Steffan Wilson. Mike Wilson reaches on fielding error by third baseman Taylor Green. Guillermo Quiroz hit by pitch. Mike Wilson to 2nd. Dustin Ackley strikes out swinging. Alex Liddi pops out to third baseman Taylor Green.

Final: Clearwater 8, Brevard County 6 Brevard County box score Starter Brandon Ritchie put BC in a huge hole, getting only one out and surrendering seven runs as part of an eight-run 1st inning for Clearwater; though the Manatees fought back with four of their own in the bottom of the 1st and added two more in the 8th to make it a game again, it was ultimately too much damage to overcome. Trey Watten relieved Ritchie and pitched well, allowing an unearned run in 4.2 innings on four hits, two walks, and a hit batter while striking out six, though he uncharacteristically had more air outs (4) than ground outs (3). Dan Meadows followed and was even more impressive, fanning seven in his four scoreless innings. Six different Manatees had at least two hits, led by Matt Cline's three, including a double. Brock Kjeldgaard added a walk to his two base knocks, and Shawn Zarraga and Josh Prince were also among those with two safeties, with Prince stealing his fourth base but also getting caught for the second time. Erik Komatsu was 1-5 but stole his seventh base. Kentrail Davis missed his sixth straight game. Brevard County play-by-play Anthony Gose, the Phillies' sixth-best prospect by Baseball America, made two of the three outs in the 1st inning for the Threshers (true story: I once saw Eric Young pull that off twice in one game--while going 3-6).

In progress: Wisconsin 0, Quad Cities 0 (2.5 innings) Rattlers and River Bandits suspended on Tuesday Chris Mehring/Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI – Severe weather forced Tuesday’s Midwest League game between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Quad Cities River Bandits to be suspended. Heavy rains and tornado warnings in the area of Time Warner Cable Field halted the matchup at the conclusion of the top of the third inning. The conclusion of Tuesday’s game will have Kyle Heckathorn (0-2, 4.76) taking over on the mound for Wisconsin. Scott Schneider (2-0, 0.39) will be on the hill to face the Timber Rattlers in the bottom of the third. The regularly scheduled game will feature Maverick Lasker (0-2, 5.63) as the starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Eric Fornataro (2-2, 2.57) will be the starter for the River Bandits. The teams will pick up Tuesday’s game right where it left off on Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM. That game is scheduled for nine innings and will be played to its conclusion. There will be a 30 minute break and the teams will return for the regularly scheduled game . Game two is scheduled for seven innings. Wisconsin partial box scoreToo bad, as Eric Arnett was finally having a great game. Cutter Dykstra got his first start.http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t572&gid=2010_05_04_qcsafx_wisafx_1&cid=420&t=g_box

Three shutout innings from Eric Arnett was so startling that it broke the weather.

Minnechaug Regional product Pete Fatse of Hampden learning the ins and outs of minor league baseball Bill Wells/MassLive.com Pete Fatse doesn’t look at himself as a player who was selected in the 24th round by the Milwaukee Brewers, or as someone who played three seasons of Division I collegiate baseball, or as one of the best baseball players to wear a uniform for Minnechaug Regional High School. Instead, the 22-year-old looks at himself as a player on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers just trying to make the next play, whatever that play may be. “Once you get to professional baseball, all the other stuff is out the window,” said Fatse, of Hampden, a 2006 Minnechaug graduate. “Your round ... it doesn’t matter. If you perform and put up numbers, I think that’s what gets you noted, more than this guy is here and this guy is there. “There are guys that were drafted in the 45th round that are unbelievable and are tearing it up. Once you’re in, once you’re here, your production speaks volumes. I just consider myself another guy on the diamond hitting in the four hole for the Timber Rattlers right now. That’s how I see myself.” Fatse, in his first full season of minor league baseball, is putting up great numbers. In 18 games for the Timber Rattlers, he’s batting .351, with two homers and 18 RBI. The 5-foot-10, 170-pounder has a slugging percentage of .684 and on base percentage of .438. He’s among the league leaders in the Midwest League in batting average, slugging, on base percentage and RBI. After being taken by the Brewers in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, Fatse left the University of Connecticut and headed to rookie ball for Helena, Mont., in the Pioneer League. He played four games before being promoted to Wisconsin, which is regarded as low-A. In a combined 63 games, he batted .237. But the 2009 season prepared Fatse for 2010. He worked on transitioning himself physically and mentally from the 60-game season of the college schedule to the 142 of the minors. “For me, there was an adjustment period trying to find out how I fit into a pro ball system and learning what they want me to do and their expectations,” Fatse said. “You’re facing guys who are quality pitchers for the first time with wood bats as opposed to metal, and that makes things difficult at times. Last year was such an adjustment in the schedule and wear and tear on your body every day. “Preparing my mindset for this year, I prepared myself for that aspect as much as I could in the off-season.” Along with his great start at the plate, Fatse has given the Timber Rattlers tremendous flexibility defensively. He’s played both corner outfield positions, as well as third and second base. “I’ve never play two games in the same spot in a row,” he said. “I’m in left then right then second then third. I don’t mind at all. I love playing where ever. I like the opportunity to play all over the diamond.” Despite his hot start, Fatse isn’t falling into the trap of minor league baseball. With the help of a former local major league baseball player, he said he’s not even thinking about moving up the minor league ladder. “Guys move up and down the minor leagues. It’s a crazy system. Mike Trombley of Wilbraham gave me the best advice,” explained Fatse, referring to the former 11-year pro. “He told me, ‘Don’t try and figure out the minor leagues. All you can control is every pitch and every at bat. Just focus on those things and hopefully the rest will play itself out’.” http://media.masslive.com/sports_impact/photo/-1a22abda857008a0_medium.jpg

Odorizzi gives Brewers' pitching hope for future Rob Lucas/Beloit Daily News The current state of the Milwaukee Brewers pitching staff may bring tears to the eyes of some fans, but there is hope on the horizon in the form of Wisconsin Timber Rattler Jake Odorizzi, even if that horizon is a few years away. Prior to getting hit around a bit Monday by the Beloit Snappers, the 20-year-old Illinois native had dominated Midwest League hitters. Through the first month of the season, he had allowed just nine hits and struck out 20 in 14 innings. The ninth-ranked prospect in the Brewers’ system according to Baseball America would be happy if he was called up tomorrow, but he knows he has a lot of work to do. “It’s a long road,” Odorizzi said. “Some people aren’t there yet at 25 or 26, but it’s nice to be on the right progression track toward it. I’m trying to get better, little ways or big ways, anything to make you a little better.” Odorizzi combines a solid fastball with a curveball that has shown to be a plus-pitch, but is still working on refining his skills. The transition from being a thrower, like most high schoolers are, to becoming a pitcher is challenging one. “I’m learning to trust my defense and trust my stuff,” he said. “You can’t strike everybody out anymore like in high school. You really have to trust your defense and your stuff and be confident in what you do. If you are going to throw a pitch you aren’t confident in, you might as well step off and not throw at all. “Last year I was more of a thrower, trying to do everything myself. It’s more than just throwing. You have to think of what you want to do, what’s been working. That’s pitching. If it’s not working, you have to make it work.” The number of strikeouts has been a surprise for the 6-foot-2 right-hander, as he struck out 43 in 47 innings last season. The spike may be an early-season anomaly, but it may have to do with Odorizzi’s comfort on the mound during his second season in pro baseball. “I think it’s being more comfortable (on the mound),” Odorizzi said of his increase in punchouts. “It’s not your first year anymore. You know what to do. It’s growing up a little and being more mature and you feel more effective. You focus more on every pitch and executing.” The Brewers liked Odorizzi’s easy throwing motion and projectable frame when they made him the 32nd pick in the 2008 First Year player draft. Growing up 30 minutes from St. Louis, Odorizzi would have loved to pitch for his hometown Cardinals, but being selected by a team that plays in the same division is good enough. “One of the first thoughts I had in my head was that the Brewers were in the same division as the Cardinals,” he said. “A lot of the teams are relatively close so if or when I get there, I’ll be playing close to home.” Like many amateur players, Odorizzi had no idea who would draft him, and was pleasantly surprised when the Brewers called his name. It was an emotional day, knowing he was a step closer to achieve his dream of being a big league pitcher. “I had no idea, we were just going in open-minded,” he said. “Happiness was my first reaction, then I got a little emotional because I finally accomplished what I wanted to do, at least the beginning part of it.” A signing bonus of $1.06 million was enough to keep Odorizzi from a scholarship at the University of Louisville and give the Brewers a much-needed pitching prospect. The team is moving him along slowly as he only threw 67.2 innings over his first two seasons in the system, but that’s just fine for Odorizzi as he knows the team has his best interests in mind. “I think I’m on a pretty good pace right now,” he said. “Everybody wants to progress quickly and I’m no different, but you can’t say anything about moving faster because it’s what they wantto do.” http://images.townnews.com/beloitdailynews.com/content/articles/2010/05/04/sports/local_sports/sports402.jpg (Marc Correnti/Beloit Daily News)

Uh, maybe take a mulligan on this headline, BDN... Wang-Wei hits it long way Marc Correnti/Beloit Daily News All Wang-Wei Lin wanted was a base hit. What he got was a lot more and the Beloit Snappers benefited. Lin knocked a 1-0 pitch over the center-field wall in the 10th inning, leading the Snappers to a wild 9-8 victory over Wisconsin on Monday at Pohlman Field. The walk-off home run sent the 3,056 “School Day” fans home happy and gave the Snappers a shot of adrenaline as they head to Clinton for a three-game series beginning tonight. Lin hit only one home run in 10 games last year for the GCL Twins. Monday’s solo shot was his first in 2010. “Lin showed he’s got a little pop in his bat,” Beloit center fielder Aaron Hicks said. “It was the right opportunity, right pitch, right time. It’s a good win for us.” For a player who has battled injuries the past three seasons, Monday’s home run was especially sweet for Lin — even if he thought he didn’t think he hit the ball hard enough for a home run. A wind blowing out to center field didn’t hurt. “I didn’t know how it was going to end up,” said Lin, who was 2-for-4 with three runs scored. “I saw the outfielder go back to the wall and I said, ‘Oh no!’ It surprised me a little bit.” For a player who “hits the ball and run,” Lin’s late blast came after the Snappers blew a 7-5 lead in the top of the ninth inning. “He put up a good fight at the plate,” Snappers manager Nelson Prada said. “But that’s the attitude of all these guys. They’re all fighters, battlers who support each other. All these guys come out with a good attitude and they never get down.” Hicks said the morale never changed after the Snappers fell behind 8-7 heading to the bottom of the ninth inning. “This team doesn’t quit,” said Hicks, who finished 1-for-4 with three runs scored. “We’ll always keep fighting and coming after you. That’s the type of team we have.” The Snappers had to battle back after Kane Holbrooks surrendered a two-run home run to the Timber Rattlers’ Khristopher Davis, tying the game 7-7 in the ninth. Wisconsin took its first lead since the sixth inning when Anderson Hidalgo’s throw from third hit the dirt and skipped away from Beloit first baseman Michael Gonzales, allowing Cameron Garfield to score from second, giving the Rattlers an 8-7 advantage. The Snappers — and most of all, Hidalgo — made up for the miscue in the bottom half of the frame. With one out, Danny Rams singled and advanced to second on an error. Reggie Williams struck out swinging for the second out of the inning, giving Hidalgo a chance to send the game to extras. Hidalgo hit a grounder between shortstop and third, while Prada waved Rams home from second base. The throw by Davis was off line and Rams scored the tying run as Hidalgo celebrated the RBI. Coming through with runners in scoring position is one of the reasons the Snappers have won five of their past six series. “Guys that we thought would be hitting are finally starting to hit,” said Prada, who trail Western Division leader Peoria by a half-game. “We’ve had the pitching all year long, so, if we knew we could get some hitting we could be a good team.” Even when the Snappers weren’t hitting, they still were scoring. At one point in Monday’s game, the Snapper had five runs on three hits. “That’s what I’m talking about,” Prada said. “We’re getting runs in different ways.” One of those ways came via the walk as the Snappers drew seven free passes — five against Wisconsin starter Jake Odorizzi, who is regarded as one of the top prospects in the Milwaukee Brewers’ organization. “He had a pretty nice sinker,” Hicks said, “but we were just waiting for our pitch. We weren’t going to give in.” Odorizzi never made it to the fourth inning, yielding four earned runs on three hits with five strikeouts. Brad Stillings had another rough outing for the Snappers, lasting only 4 1/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs on six hits. Beloit reliever Dakota Watts kept the Snappers within striking distance, pitching 2 2/3 solid innings. Matt Tone earned the victory in relief, shutting down the Rattlers in the final 1 1/3 innings. “Our pitchers are always going to give us a chance,” Prada said. But it was Lin, who ended things. “That felt good,” Lin said.

Final: Round Rock 6, Nashville 2 Sounds Drop 2nd Straight Game To Express NashvilleSounds.com ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Nashville Sounds suffered a 6-2 defeat at the hands of the Round Rock Express on Tuesday afternoon at The Dell Diamond in the second game of a four-game series. The Sounds (16-8) have dropped two straight contests following their PCL-best seven-game winning streak. Nashville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Adam Stern led off the contest with a single against Express starter Josh Banks and later scored on Joe Koshansky's two-out RBI single to right. Round Rock responded in the bottom of the opening frame, plating a pair of runs against Sounds starter Marco Estrada to grab a 2-1 advantage. Edwin Maysonet (3-for-3) drew a one-out walk and moved to second when Luis Cruz made an error on Brian Bogusevic's infield grounder. After Chris Shelton singled to load the bases, Express left fielder Collin DeLome ripped a two-run double to right to put the home club out in front. The Express blew the game open in the seventh with a four-run rally against Nashville reliever David Johnson, extending the lead to 6-1. Former Sounds outfielder Jason Bourgeois got things started when his RBI single to left plated Drew Meyer, who had opened the frame by greeting Johnson with a triple. Later in the frame, Bourgeois scored on a wild pitch before Shelton swatted his fourth home run of the year, a two-out, two-run shot to left-center off the Nashville right-hander. Koshansky wrapped up the afternoon's scoring in the eighth inning when his RBI single off Express reliever Yorman Bazardo plated Ray Olmedo, who singled earlier in the frame to extend Nashville's longest hitting streak of the year to nine games. Banks (2-3) picked up the win with a quality start for the Express. He held the Sounds to one run on six hits over 6 2/3 frames of action. Estrada (1-1) took a hard-luck defeat despite his third quality start of the year for Nashville. The right-hander allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out a season-high eight batters in six innings of work. The teams continue the series with a 7:05 p.m. meeting on Wednesday evening. Left-hander Chuck Lofgren (4-1, 4.33) will man the bump for the Sounds to face Round Rock southpaw Polin Trinidad (0-0, 4.12). Nashville box scoreEstrada continues to impress. Jonathan Lucroy was 1-4, as was Adam Heether. Mitch Stetter worked a scoreless 8th.http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t556&gid=2010_05_04_nasaaa_rreaaa_1&cid=556&t=g_box Nashville play-by-playThe Sounds had a chance to climb back into it in the 8th but could only score one run: Nashville Top 8thhttp://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t556&t=g_log&gid=2010_05_04_nasaaa_rreaaa_1 Pitcher Change: Yorman Bazardo replaces T. J. Burton, batting 9th. Ray Olmedo singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brian Bogusevic. Adam Heether singles on a line drive to center fielder Jason Bourgeois. Ray Olmedo to 3rd. Joe Koshansky singles on a line drive to right fielder Brian Bogusevic. Ray Olmedo scores. Adam Heether to 2nd. Jonathan Lucroy strikes out swinging. Trent Oeltjen singles on a line drive to center fielder Jason Bourgeois. Adam Heether to 3rd. Joe Koshansky to 2nd. Norris Hopper grounds into double play, pitcher Yorman Bazardo to catcher Jason Castro to first baseman Chris Shelton. Adam Heether out at home.

Here's a of one of Scooter Gennett's at-bats in spring training, concluding in a home run.

Final: Round Rock 8, Nashville 3 Sounds Lose To Express, 8-3 NashvilleSounds.com ROUND ROCK, Tex. - The Round Rock Express scored the final seven runs in the last four innings to drop the Nashville Sounds, 8-3, on Monday evening at The Dell Diamond in the opener of a four-game series. Express outfielder Brian Bogusevic went 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs, while Chris Shelton added three hits in the Round Rock win. Nashville drops to 16-7 after snapping a seven-game winning streak with the defeat. The Sounds jumped on the board to score their first run in top of the second inning as outfielder Trent Oeltjen led off with a single to reach base. Round Rock starting pitcher Wesley Wright hit Chase Wright with a 3-2 pitch and then proceeded to walk the next two Nashville hitters, bringing Oeltjen home from third base for a 1-0 lead. Round Rock tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with a leadoff solo home run to center field from Bogusevic, his third of the year. After an Adam Heether walk in the next frame, Erick Almonte belted his first home run of the season, a two-run homer to left field that broke a Sounds 57-inning homerless draught over a six-game stretch. The Express again tied the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Oswaldo Navarro led off the frame with a triple off Wright. Bogusevic followed with his second RBI of the game, singling home Navarro for the first run. With no outs in the inning, Tim Dillard came into the game to relieve Wright and surrendered a game-tying RBI-double to Matt Kata as Shelton was thrown out at third on the play. Dillard continued the inning and recorded the next two outs to get out of the jam. Round Rock took the lead in the following inning, posting two runs off Dillard. After Edwin Maysonet and Yordany Ramirez singled, Bogusevic singled to center to plate both runners for his third and fourth RBIs of the contest. Shelton then drove in the next run with a base-knock that made it 6-3 Round Rock. Round Rock tacked on two more runs for a 8-3 advantage when Maysonet added a two-run double in the eighth inning off A.J. Murray. Chase Wright earned a no-decision, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in five innings. Dillard (0-2) took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings pitched. Murray added 1 2/3 innings, surrendering two runs on two hits. Wesley Wright pitched six innings while earning a no-decision, giving up three runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Wilton Lopez (2-1) earned the win, throwing a scoreless frame in relief for the Express. Ray Olmedo extended his team-high hitting streak to eight games with a 1-for-3 performance. The Sounds and Express continue with the second game of a four-game series at 12:05 pm CT on Tuesday afternoon at The Dell Diamond in Round Rock. Sounds right-hander Marco Estrada (1-0, 2.71) takes the hill for Nashville against Round Rock right-hander Josh Banks (1-3, 3.64). Nashville box scoreJonathan Lucroy was 0-4. Heether had a single in addition to his walk. Adam Stern was 0-4 and also drew a walk. Nashville play-by-play

Final: Huntsville 4, Birmingham 3 (7 innings) Huntsville box score The Stars were real cardiac kids today, coming from behind in the 7th inning in both games. This time, Caleb Gindl figured he'd give Lee Haydel a turn as the hero; Haydel had a two-out RBI double in the 5th and drove in the tying run with two outs in the 7th, which Brett Lawrie followed by driving in the go-ahead tally. Gindl was 0-4 and Taylor Green was again hitless, though he did draw a walk. In his first start for the Stars (in left field), Brent Brewer was a surprising source of offense, going 2-2 with a double and a walk, combining with Haydel to will Huntsville to victory. Mike Jones started and again ate up some innings while pitching decently, allowing three runs (two earned) in four frames, though the 1/5 K/BB paints a grim picture. Mike McClendon pitched two perfect innings to pick up the win. Huntsville play-by-play The winning rally: Huntsville Top 7th Chris Errecart singles on a ground ball to center fielder John Shelby III. Steffan Wilson grounds into a force out, second baseman Justin Fuller to shortstop Greg Paiml. Chris Errecart out at 2nd. Steffan Wilson to 1st. With Brent Brewer batting, Steffan Wilson steals (1) 2nd base, . Steffan Wilson advances to 3rd, on throwing error by catcher Jared Price. Brent Brewer walks. Pitcher Change: Joe Torres replaces Justin Cassel. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Brett Dowdy replaces Sean McCraw. Brett Dowdy pops out to shortstop Greg Paiml. Lee Haydel singles on a ground ball to left fielder Tyler Kuhn. Steffan Wilson scores. Brent Brewer to 3rd. Pitcher Change: Tyson Corley replaces Joe Torres. Brett Lawrie singles on a ground ball to third baseman Brent Morel. Brent Brewer scores. Lee Haydel to 2nd. Caleb Gindl grounds out, second baseman Justin Fuller to first baseman Christian Marrero.

Final: Clearwater 3, Brevard County 1 Brevard County box score Evan Frederickson's (lack of) control, abetted by a poorly timed double allowed by Corey Frerichs, spoiled a fine start from Cody Scarpetta and doomed the Manatees to a loss. Scarpetta tossed a season-high 6.1 innings, allowing just one run on five hits and three walks while striking out seven; Frederickson, meanwhile, took over in the 7th and got the final two outs before coming unglued and allowing the first three batters to reach in the 8th. Offensively, and I mean that, BC had but four hits, Brock Kjeldgaard half of them, plus a HBP and a stolen base. Erik Komatsu tripled and walked, and Sergio Miranda singled and walked, and that was pretty much it. Josh Prince was 0-4 and committed his third error. Erik Miller tallied his 4th (I think?) assist already, gunning down a runner at third. This was just the third home game for Brevard since the 17th of April. Brevard County play-by-play Miranda had an interesting battle going on with Clearwater starter J.C. Ramirez. After walking in the first, Miranda was able to take second when Ramirez threw the ball away trying to pick him off first, but Ramirez got Miranda back in the 6th, picking him off after he singled. The Threshers' 8th-inning rally was a weird one, featuring what reads as a very odd double play: Clearwater Top 8th Steve Susdorf walks. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Derrick Mitchell replaces Steve Susdorf. Cody Overbeck singles on a line drive to left fielder Erik Komatsu. Derrick Mitchell to 2nd. Matthew Rizzotti walks. Derrick Mitchell to 3rd. Cody Overbeck to 2nd. Pitcher Change: Corey Frerichs replaces Evan Frederickson. Jim Murphy flies into double play, right fielder Erik Miller to catcher Anderson De La Rosa to shortstop Josh Prince. Cody Overbeck out at 3rd. With Tim Kennelly batting, wild pitch by Corey Frerichs, Matthew Rizzotti to 2nd. Tim Kennelly doubles (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Juan Sanchez. Derrick Mitchell scores. Matthew Rizzotti scores. D'Arby Myers grounds out, third baseman Matt Cline to first baseman Brock Kjeldgaard. So Overbeck must have thought Mitchell was going to try to score on the play and took third, only to be hung out to dry when it turned out that Mitchell hadn't tried to advance after all. So close to getting out of it...

Final: Huntsville 5, Birmingham 4 (7 innings) Huntsville box score Awesome come-from-behind win for the Stars, who scored three in the top of the 7th to overcome a two-run deficit and take the lead. Caleb Gindl was the hero for the second straight night, this time with a two-out, two-run single to put the Stars ahead; Gindl finished 2-4. Lee Haydel also had a great day leading off, 3-4 with two doubles. Brett Lawrie was 1-4 with three punchouts and his seventh error, and the slumping Taylor Green was 0-3. Steffan Wilson, slowly climbing out of the massive hole he dug himself to begin the year, was 2-2 with a walk. Brent Brewer got into his first game with the Stars as a pinch runner. Mark Rogers started the game and allowed three runs in four innings on three hits, two walks, and a hit batter, striking out three; he threw 68 pitches, 42 for strikes. Mark Willinsky went from giving up an insurance run in the 6th to closing out his own surprise win in the 7th, which he did in order. The battery of Rogers and Martin Maldonado allowed four stolen bases in four chances. Huntsville play-by-play The rally: Huntsville Top 7th Pitcher Change: Miguel Socolovich replaces Charles Shirek. Steffan Wilson walks. Chuck Caufield flies out to center fielder John Shelby III. Martin Maldonado walks. Steffan Wilson to 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Brent Brewer replaces Martin Maldonado. Coaching visit to mound. Lee Haydel doubles (6) on a line drive to right fielder Salvador Sanchez. Steffan Wilson scores. Brent Brewer to 3rd. Brett Lawrie strikes out swinging. Caleb Gindl singles on a line drive to center fielder John Shelby III. Brent Brewer scores. Lee Haydel scores. Caleb Gindl to 2nd on the throw. Zelous Wheeler grounds out, shortstop Justin Fuller to first baseman Jim Gallagher.

McCalvy on Braddock: With how effective Braddock has been in the Minors and in Spring Training this season, what are the chances of seeing him this year for the Crew? And are the Brewers looking at him as a potential closer for the future or just a setup guy? -- Alex B., Stevens Point, Wis. Right now, Braddock's just a relief pitcher. Melvin told me at the end of Spring Training that he wanted the guys at Triple-A Nashville to develop a multiple-inning mentality, not get pigeonholed into one-inning roles. Braddock certainly has the "stuff" to close someday, but right now, it's just about getting innings. So far, so good. Braddock has not allowed a run in his first seven appearances this season and has 22 strikeouts vs. four walks in 11 1/3 innings.