battlekow

Rattlers are having weather problems as well, in a rain delay after seven.

I'm bumping this, the oldest Power thread I could find, for this long, loving retrospective from the Charleston Gazette covering some of the most prominent Brewers prospects that came through West Virginia from 2005 to 2008, in particular the '05 squad.

Rattler Radio: What Chris's gut is telling him about tonight's game and how close Eric Arnett was to having a good outing.

Jays take care of Manatees handily, 6-1 Tim Livingston/DunedinBlueJays.com Henderson Alvarez was solid once more against Brevard County, allowing only one run in five innings and letting his offense do the talking as Dunedin cruised to a 6-1 win over the Manatees. The right-hander (2-0) gave up only five hits and struck out three, with the run coming across in the fifth inning being unearned. He has now allowed only two runs in 19 innings of work in his three starts, with his 0.47 ERA pacing the Florida State League. The second inning was all Alvarez needed on his way to victory. After a double from Shawn Bowman, who went 4-for-4 in his first game with the Blue Jays organization after being claimed on waivers Monday, Daniel Perales smashed a two-run home run to right for the first score of the game, making it 2-0. Dunedin added a third run on a Tyler Pastornicky RBI double and pushed two more runs across in the fourth on RBI walks from Pastornicky and Raul Barron. The sixth run came in the fifth when Perales came through with another RBI, this time on a double to deep left field. Perales three RBIs paced the production for Dunedin, with Pastornicky driving two runs in from the leadoff spot. Barron drew three walks, pushing his on-base percentage to .467, which is amongst the league leaders in the FSL. Sergio Miranda went 2-for-3 to lead Brevard County (4-10), driving in the Manatees' only run. Cody Scarpatta (1-2) took the loss for Brevard County, not getting through the fourth inning and giving up five runs on five hits. With the win, Dunedin has moved into a first place tie with Clearwater atop the FSL North Division at 9-6. Dunedin has now won five of six games and are in position for their second sweep of the young season on Friday night when they take on the Manatees at 7 p.m. Dan DeLucia will get the start for Dunedin.

After reading this, see if you can figure out what Mr. Ackley's first name is. Jaxx End Losing Streak Thursday DiamondJaxx.com JACKSON, TN. (April 22, 2010) - The Diamond Jaxx (5-9) snap their five game losing skid on Thursday night with an 8-1 thumping of the Huntsville Stars (9-5) at Pringles Park. The Jaxx also ended their five game homerless streak by sailing two baseballs over the wall in the win. Dustin Ackley collected his second straight multi-hit game going 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored. Guillermo Quiroz was 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Mike Wilson finished the night 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI. Michael Pineda (1-0), the #7 prospect for the Mariners gets the win on Thursday night, dealing his second straight six inning outing. Pineda struck out six and walked none in the outing. Michael Bowman (2-1) suffers the loss for Huntsville lasting just 3.2 innings. Steve Bray (S, 1) picked up the save, dealing three shutout innings and allowing just one hit. The Diamond Jaxx had a five game homer drought entering the game on Thursday night, but Carlos Peguero ended that in the bottom of the first. Peguero launched a tape measure homer to right giving the Jaxx a 1-0 lead. The homer was Peguero's fourth of the season The Jaxx one-run lead did not last long though as Lee Haydel singled home Taylor Green with two outs to even the score at one in the second. Green tallied his 10th double of the year to get in scoring position for Haydel. The score was even a 1-1 after the top of the second inning. The Jaxx re-took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning and ran Huntsville starter Michael Bowman from the game. After a leadoff double by Dustin Ackley, Mike Wilson hit his fourth homer of the year on the 12th pitch of his at-bat giving the Jaxx a 3-1 lead. West Tenn added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Dustin Ackley picked up his second hit of the night and came around to score on a throwing error by Stars second baseman Brett Lawrie. The Stars committed three errors in the game. Guillermo Quiroz drove in two runs with his first triple of the 2010 season. The Jaxx opened up a 6-1 lead. In the bottom of the seventh inning Mike Wilson singled in Kuo Hui Lo and Johan Limonta singled in Dustin Ackley to extend the lead to 8-1. The Jaxx and Stars will finish their five game series on Friday night at Pringles Park, with the first pitch at 7:05. RHP Steven Hensley (0-1, 1.93) will make the start for the Jaxx while LHP Chris Cody (2-0, 2.61) gets the ball for Huntsville.

Final: Wisconsin 11, Cedar Rapids 6 Rattlers chill Kernels Chris Mehring/TimberRattlers.com GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers scored a season high 11 runs and got some stellar relief pitching from Andre Lamontagne to defeat the Cedar Rapids Kernels 11-6 on a cool Thursday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Khris Davis homered and a trio of players – Scooter Gennett, Chris Dennis, and Sean Halton – drove in two runs for the Rattlers, who won their second straight game. Wisconsin (7-8) jumped out quickly with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Rattlers loaded the bases with no outs against Cedar Rapids starting pitcher Tyler Kehrer on a single and a pair of walks. The first run scored on a mishandled grounder of the bat of Dennis. Kehrer got two outs on a line drive to short that would up doubling off the runner at second. But, a hit batsman reloaded the bases and Halton cashed in two runs with a single to right. Cedar Rapids (7-8) went in front with four third inning runs off Rattlers starter Eric Arnett. There were two on with two outs and Luis Jimenez doubled in both runners. Jose Jimenez was next and he launched a homer to right-center for a 4-3 Kernels lead. Pete Fatse drove in the tying run in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice fly, but Arnett got into trouble in the top of the fourth. The first round pick of the Brewers in the 2009 draft retired the first two batters of the fourth inning. But, he walked Kevin Ramos on a 3-2 pitch. Then, Adam Younger drove the first pitch of his at bat over the wall in left for a two-run homer and a 6-4 Kernels lead. But, the Rattlers offense came right back in the bottom of the fourth. D’Vontrey Richardson drew a leadoff walk. Gennett drove him home with a double. A sacrifice bunt moved Gennett to third. A double by Dennis chased home Gennett with the tying run. Two wild pitches by Kehrer let Dennis score to put the Rattlers up 7-6. Lamontagne relieved Arnett to start the fifth inning. He gave up a single to the first batter he faced. He would retire the next 12 batters he faced. That allowed the Timber Rattlers offense to pad the lead. Michael Marseco drove in a run in the fifth and another run scored in the inning on an error. Gennett drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. In the same inning, Davis, who had extended his hitting streak to nine games earlier in the game, line a solo homer over the left field wall and the Rattlers led 11-6. Jon Pokorny took over in the top of the ninth a retired the side in order to close out the Kernels. The Timber Rattlers begin a three game series with the Beloit Snappers at Time Warner Cable Field on Friday night. It’s a North Shore Bank Family Night. Children 12 and under eat free in conjunction with momslikeme.com. After the game, ThedaCare Orthopedics presents Kids Run the Bases for children 14 and under. The Community Blood Center will be at the stadium to inform fans about how to Step Up to the Plate & Donate. Maverick Lasker (0-1, 3.60) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Liam Hendricks (0-0, 0.00) is set to start for the Snappers. Wisconsin box score "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action." I don't think Arnett is a Cubs spy, but there's no denying that his first three starts have been awful, as he's now sporting a 11.57 ERA. Tonight's may have been his worst, as he only tallied one strikeout and walked his first two batters of the year. Oh well, let's accentuate the positives: Gennett walked twice to go along with his double and sac fly, continuing to show a precocious grasp of the strike zone. Richardson singled, but I'm more excited about the walk, his third this year. In addition to his homer, Davis also walked and singled and, oddly, had a sac bunt; I wonder how many guys homer and sac bunt in the same game? He's having a nice year so far and would fit in nicely with all the K's at Brevard County (Kentrail Davis, BrocK Kjeldgaard, EriK Komatsu, EriK Miller). Maybe Chris Dennis should adopt Davis's variant spelling as well, but I think he'll make it to BC on the merits of his bat, regardless of how he spells his name: he drew his 11th walk of the year today against only 8 strikeouts, which is eye-popping in light of his 25% K-rate last year. Cameron Garfield was 0-5. Wisconsin play-by-play

Final: Oklahoma City 7, Nashville 4 RedHawks Drop Sounds, 7-4 NashvilleSounds.com NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds lost to the Oklahoma City RedHawks, 7-4, on Thursday evening at historic Greer Stadium in the third game of a four game series. Wearing throwback jerseys as part of Taco Bell Throwback Thursday, the Sounds (9-6) have now dropped five of their last seven contests. RedHawks starter Michael Ballard earned the win (2-0) after throwing six innings and surrendering four runs (three earned) on six hits with four strikeouts. The Sounds had another fast start as Nashville took a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. After Erick Almonte walked and Joe Koshansky singled to right field, Adam Heether ripped a single to center for the club's first run. Luis Cruz followed with an RBI-triple to deep center to score Heether for the next run. Nashville second baseman Eric Farris singled to left field to reach base in the next frame, stole second base, advanced to third on a throwing error from catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and then scored on a Norris Hopper sacrifice fly for a 3-0 Nashville advantage. Oklahoma City quickly reduced the Nashville lead to 3-2 in the next inning, as Chad Tracy and Matt Brown both belted solo home runs off Sounds lefty Chase Wright. Esteban German doubled home Brandon Boggs to knot the game at 3-3 in the next inning, before Tracy was walked to load the bases. Wright then fanned Justin Smoak to get out of the jam and end the inning. In the next frame, right fielder Johnny Raburn untied the contest with his first jack of the season, a solo home run to left field for a 4-3 Sounds lead. Saltalamacchia quickly tied the contest again in the top of the next frame with his first home run of the year to left field. Oklahoma City took a final 7-4 lead in the top of the seventh inning, as right-handed reliever Tim Dillard (0-1) surrounded three straight singles followed by a triple to RedHawk batters, his first runs surrendered of the season to earn the loss. Wright earned a no-decision, allowing four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. In his third game of his major league rehab assignment, Saltalamacchia went 1-for-4 with a home run. The Sounds and RedHawks wrap up their four-game series with Friday night's 7:05 pm CT homestand finale at historic Greer Stadium. Sounds right-hander Kameron Loe (1-1, 5.51) takes the mound against Oklahoma City southpaw Derek Holland (2-0, 0.46). Nashville box scoreJonathan Lucroy was 0-4. Heether finished 2-4. Mitch Stetter struck out three in two innings to finish the game, allowing just a single. This might be the last game Rangers stud prospect Justin Smoak plays in the minors, as he was called up to the big leagues afterwards.http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=t556&gid=2010_04_22_orhaaa_nasaaa_1&cid=556&t=g_box Nashville play-by-play

Final: West Tenn 8, Huntsville 1 Huntsville box score And so endeth Lorenzo Cain's hitting streak. In fact, this is as little action as I remember from the top of the Stars' order; Caleb Gindl was hitless as well, and Brett Lawrie and Taylor Green had one each. Lee Haydel went 2-4 with a double. Lawrie committed his fifth error already, on an errant throw. Michael Bowman allowed three runs in 3.2 innings on five hits, striking out three and walking none. Mike Jones allowed five runs in relief. Huntsville play-by-play Bowman was removed in the 4th after only 78 pitches. He'd allowed a two-run homer earlier in the frame, but seemed to be working out of it; he struck out the last batter he faced, and there was only a runner on first at the time.

Final: Dunedin 6, Brevard County 1 Brevard County box score Themes: Cody Scarpetta and Evan Frederickson continued to stuggle with their control, and the Manatees offense continued to struggle with pretty much everything. Scarpetta allowed five runs (four earned) in 3.2 innings on five hits, three walks, and a hit batter, striking out three. Frederickson went 2.1 innings, allowing a run on two hits and five walks, strikings out three. Five walks while getting seven outs is not a particularly inspiring ratio. Josh Prince had a double and a steal, Sergio Miranda was 2-4, and Erik Komatsu had a single and walk. Erik Miller threw out another guy at home; I think that's three now already. Brevard County play-by-play The Manatees were threatening to carry over yesterday's offensive explosion in the first inning but suddenly remembered who they were and reverted to form. Brevard County Top 1st Josh Prince doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Daniel Perales. Sergio Miranda singles on a line drive to right fielder Welinton Ramirez. Josh Prince to 3rd. Erik Komatsu walks. Sergio Miranda to 2nd. Brock Kjeldgaard strikes out swinging. Erik Miller grounds into a force out, pitcher Henderson Alvarez to catcher Travis d'Arnaud. Josh Prince out at home. Sergio Miranda to 3rd. Erik Komatsu to 2nd. Erik Miller to 1st. Anderson De La Rosa strikes out swinging.

The Yankees signed Josh Romanski

The Yankees signed Josh Romanski

Wow, I didn't even realize it was the Manatees' first home run of the year.

Yeah, it was Fatse:

Final: Dunedin 9, Brevard County 8 (10 innings) Brevard County box scoreThis was an unfortunate combo of bad pitching and bad defense. With a chance for the system to go 5-0 today, the Manatees blew a six-run lead in the 6th inning and then, after regaining the advantage, a two-run lead in the 9th before losing in the 10th. Dan Merklinger had a gem going through five innings, allowing no runs on five hits with five strikeouts and no walks, but loaded the bases with one out in the 6th. He struck out the next batter but then surrendered a two-run single, prompting a call to the bullpen for Corey Frerichs, who promptly allowed three consecutive hits to bring in the other four runs. In the bottom of the 9th, Nick Green also loaded the bases, this time with no outs. It looks like he almost got out of it, striking the next man out and then inducing a possible game-ending double play grounder, but Brent Brewer threw the ball away to allow the tying runs to score. Similarly, the winning run scored on a bases-loaded grounder with one out in the 10th, as pitcher Dan Meadows threw home to force the lead runner for the second out before catcher Anderson de la Rosa's throwing error, presumably while trying to retire the batter, allowed the runner from second to score. It's too bad that the rare offensive explosion from the Manatees had to go to waste, particularly Erik Komatsu's fine night. The left fielder was 4-4 with three doubles and a walk and four runs scored. Erik Miller added two doubles and Brock Kjeldgaard a two-run homer and a walk; in all, the 'Tees totaled eight extra-base hits, which is about a week's allotment under normal circumstances. Brevard County play-by-play BC had a great chance to extend their lead in the top of the 9th, but fell on their faces: Brevard County Top 9th Sergio Miranda singles on a ground ball to right fielder Welinton Ramirez. Erik Komatsu doubles (6) on a line drive to left fielder Brian Van Kirk. Sergio Miranda to 3rd. Boomer Potts intentionally walks Brock Kjeldgaard. Erik Miller grounds into a force out, shortstop Tyler Pastronicky to catcher Yan Gomes. Sergio Miranda out at home. Erik Komatsu to 3rd. Brock Kjeldgaard to 2nd. Erik Miller to 1st. Anderson De La Rosa flies into double play, right fielder Welinton Ramirez to catcher Yan Gomes. Erik Komatsu out at home on the throw. Kjeldgaard was also thrown out at home in the 7th inning.

Stars shutout Jaxx on Wednesday DiamondJaxx.com JACKSON, TN. (April 21, 2010) - The Diamond Jaxx (4-9) lost on Wednesday afternoon at Pringles Park to the Huntsville Stars (9-4) in front of 1,376 fans, 7-0. The mostly school kids at the ballpark saw the Jaxx drop their fifth straight game of the year. The shutout loss is the first suffered this season. The Stars trail the first place Tennessee Smokies (10-2) by just two games in the Southern League North Division. The bright spot offensively for West Tenn on Wednesday was Mariners first round pick (2nd overall) Dustin Ackley who finished the day 2-for-3 with a walk and a triple. The Jaxx pounded out six hits in the loss. Huntsville received multi-hit games from Zelous Wheeler, Taylor Green, Lee Haydel and Andy Machado. The Stars had a great day on the mound with Mark Rogers (1-1), Jim Henderson and Robert Hinton combined to strike out eight and walk just three in the shutout. Taking the loss for West Tenn was Mauricio Robles (1-1), who tossed his shortest outing in three starts (3.2 innings) and gave up three runs on five hits. The Jaxx used five pitchers in the game. The Stars scored first again Wednesday morning on a wild pitch by Diamond Jaxx pitcher, Mauricio Robles. Anderson Machado scored on the wild pitch after leading off the inning with a triple. The Stars took a 1-0 lead after the third. Huntsville scored two more runs in the top of the fourth inning. After a double by Zelous Wheeler, Taylor Green plated Wheeler on an RBI double. Anderson Machado brought in Green with an RBI fielders' choice groundout and the Stars led 3-0. In the sixth inning, Huntsville got a leadoff triple from Lee Haydel then Machado picked up his second RBI in the game and brought in Haydel with a single. The Stars plated three more runs in the ninth inning against Jaxx reliever Chris Sorce. Sorce walked five batters in the ninth inning and hit a batter. Lorenzo Cain did drive in the final run of the inning with a hit to left. The Stars took a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning and held for the shutout. The Jaxx and Stars will meet again on Thursday night at 7:05 as the Jaxx look to snap the five game losing skid. Taking the mound for the Jaxx will be RHP Michael Pineda (0-0, 1.93) while RHP Michael Bowman (2-0, 3.60) toes the rubber for Huntsville.

Nightmare 6th inning for the Manatees. Merklinger, who had been phenomenal up to that point, and Frerichs combine to allow six runs, tying the game.

Braddock had Tommy John surgery as an amateur. As I understand it, usually the ulnar nerve is transposed when a pitcher undergoes TJ, but because of his youth Braddock's was not; ultimately, he required surgery before last season to perform that nerve transposition. He's also had some shoulder problems that didn't require surgery.

I originally interpreted this as someone here promoting a "Free Mike Marseco!" message and was going to welcome Mrs. Marseco to the board.

The Minor League Ladder Josh Wussow/Inside Wisconsin Sports It's not hard to like Chris Dennis, as baseball fans from Appleton can certainly attest. Whether you're watching him sock home runs in batting practice, chatting with him at the field rail or cheering as he digs out a bad relay throw to first, the young man from Amherstburg, Ontario has a comfortable, courteous air about him. It's being Chris Dennis that's the challenging part. "There's a lot of work that goes on in the background that a lot of people don't see," he told IWS on Monday night, fresh off the team's five-hour return bus ride from Iowa. "The coaches spend time with us, working on our game and trying to make us better. It's just a long, long process and a lot of hard work." For those outside of the Timber Rattler circle, here's a brief introduction: Selected by the Brewers in the 13th round of the 2007 Amateur Baseball Draft, the 6'1", 205-pound infielder from the great white north has a frame that will allow him to play nearly anywhere on the field, and he sports a sweet left-handed swing to boot. "I look at myself as a power guy, as a hitter," he says, "a guy that's supposed to drive in runs and create offense for the team." For now, the Brewers have decided to give him a shot on the right side of the diamond. "I'm first base right now," he says. "I talked with the team, and with my bat being the way it is, they thought it'd be a better adjustment for me." An adjustment to be sure, but nothing like the transition he experienced from playing high school baseball in Canada to going pro in the US. It was a journey that, as recently as 2006, Dennis was not yet prepared to undertake. Holding Out During the summer following his high school graduation, Tampa Bay came calling. A year before he would be selected by the Brewers, the Rays took him with their 38th-round pick. After receiving the news, Dennis took time for a little soul searching. "I talked to my family, and I really looked at myself in the mirror and said, 'Am I really ready to go away and play professional baseball?' From what I'd heard, it was a grind. To be a professional baseball player, you have to be mature." Thankfully, there was another option. "In Canada, you're allowed to go back [to high school] for what's called an OAC, or a 13th year. I went back for half a year, which allowed me to be draft-eligible." The choice to stick close to home paid big dividends for Dennis, who wound up going a full 25 rounds higher the following year. "That extra year I held out helped me, both with my maturity and allowing my body to develop," he says, "which I think has helped me to become a more consistent player in the minor leagues." As the days ticked off toward the 2007 Draft, he began to hear rumblings of further things headed his way. "My area scout, Jay Lapp, he had contacted me and said that the Brewers had been showing a lot of interest," Dennis says. "He called me the day before the draft and asked, 'If you're still available in [the 13th] round, what kind of money are you looking for?' So the day came, I said, 'This is the amount I want,' and sure enough, the round came, and they selected me. It was an exciting day." The Climb to Appleton After spending 2007-08 in rookie ball with the Brewers Arizona and Helena farm clubs, Dennis was bumped up to Milwaukee's newest affiliate, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, to start 2009. For someone still learning to play outside his home country, there could be few better places to earn his stripes. "When I got to the city of Appleton, everybody really kind of just embraced me and welcomed me," he says. "It made it kind of an easy transition, you know, from not being here or not ever coming to Wisconsin personally. All the people here are very nice. It's a beautiful city, it's clean, and like I said, once you're a Timber Rattler, they just take you right under their wing and help you out with anything you need." The Wisconsin spirit did wonders for Dennis, who kicked off the year by socking 42 base hits in his first 132 at-bats, with 15 doubles and four home runs. But the honeymoon was short lived for the then-20-year-old, who would suffer a badly sprained ankle after only 38 games in a Rattler uniform. "It was definitely a tough recovery," he remembers. "I went back to Arizona to rehab it, and then that was a long process, about three or three and a half weeks. "Then I tried to play on it. I kind of tried to rush it because I was excited to try to get back for hopefully a playoff run with Wisconsin here, and I injured it again. I did more damage, ended up tearing everything in my ankle. So, definitely, it was a frustrating road." A painful lesson to be sure. But as so often happens, the most unexpected roadblocks can provide the best motivation. After shutting it down for the season, the young infielder had a chance to regroup and refocus. Battling Back "I worked hard in the off-season to get back to where I wanted to be. I think that taking the rest of the year off and allowing it to heal the way it should really helped me to come out ready and stronger this year." And no one can argue with his production so far in 2010. Through his first 12 games with the Timber Rattlers, Dennis has batted .375 (15-40), with four doubles, four home runs and 11 RBIs. He's drawn 10 bases on balls while whiffing only five times, bringing his OPS to a whopping 1.285. "I've been working with my hitting coach, Matt Erickson," he says. "He's helped me a lot." Beyond the assistance provided by Erickson, an Appleton native, Dennis has been busy honing his mental game as well. "I think the biggest thing is just attitude. I kind of came in this year and wanted to do certain things, hit certain goals. I'm sticking to my game plan, and everything's working out. It definitely helps when you've got the team around you." Now, due to the early success, his name is being tossed around as a potential candidate for promotion to High-A Brevard County or even Double-A Hunstville. "Obviously, my main goal is to make it to the major leagues," he says of the situation. "So any time you have a chance to move up a level and get one step closer, it's something that's always in the back of your mind. But during a season, like right now, you really don't even think about it. My goal is to help this ball club win games. If I have personal success doing that and the team is winning, then it's kind of a win-win situation." If he maintains his current pace, there is no question that Dennis will continue his journey up the minor league ladder. But one wonders, is there something he'll look forward to the most about a future return to the Badger State? "Oh, I've definitely gotta say the brats," he says. "As a Canadian guy, brats weren't really a big thing growing up. I'd heard of them, but I never really ate them. But ever since I got to Wisconsin, I've met a couple people, host families and people in the area, that were kind enough to invite me to their house and have cookouts. And definitely at the park, they have them. I love them; can't get enough."

Lucroy Movin' Up Jim Shonerd/Baseball America One hitter [Mike] Minor won't have to worry about facing in the Southern League is Jonathan Lucroy, formerly of Huntsville. The Brewers promoted the 23-year-old catcher to Triple-A Nashville yesterday after he'd gotten off to a .452/.500/.524 start through 42 at-bats for the Stars, leaving the SL behind as its leading hitter. Lucroy's manager with Huntsville, Mike Guerrero, had worked with him previously as the manager at high Class A Brevard County in 2008 and could see the difference in Lucroy's maturation level from then to now. "He's improved as you go through the ladder," Guerrero said. "As you go higher, the game gets a little faster and you have to think within the game a little quicker and recognize situations. And he has improved in that area. I believe that as he goes to Triple-A, he'll grow up a lot more. You're always learning in baseball. It's just a game where you're always learning about everything." After hitting a combined 20 home runs in 2008 between stints with Brevard County and low Class A West Virginia, Lucroy hit just nine last year with Huntsville. He still held his own with a .267/.380/.418 line in 419 at-bats, but his average and slugging percentage were both easily career lows. His on-base skills weren't diminished though, as Lucroy walked more than he struck out (78 walks, 66 whiffs), and he'd had picked up where he left off to start this year, having struck out just three times in 10 games. He drew praise from Guerrero as a line-drive hitter who excels at letting the ball travel deep in the zone and using the whole field. Guererro also liked Lucroy's work behind the plate, saying he'd improved his blocking and receiving, doing a better job of reading pitches in the dirt and getting in position to keep the ball in front of him. He had yet to allow a passed ball after giving up 12 last year, second-most in the SL. • Lucroy isn't the only Huntsville hitter to have gotten off to a hot start. Outfielder Lorenzo Cain, 24, missed most of 2009 with a left knee injury suffered in spring training and hit just .214/.277/.338 in 42 games with Huntsville after getting back on the field. Healthy to start 2010, Cain has opened the year on a 12-game hitting streak and, after going 2-for-4 Tuesday night at West Tenn, was sporting a .385/.458/.423 average through 52 at-bats. Another sign of Cain's return to health is his basestealing proficiency, as he's gone 8-for-8 to lead the league after swiping just three bases all of last year. Cain didn't even start playing baseball until high school, where the Brewers drafted him in the 17th round in 2004, then watched him play a year at Tallahassee (Fla.) CC before signing him as a draft-and-follow. As such, he was more raw then the typical prospect entering pro ball, but it looks like his instincts might be starting to catch up to his athleticism. "His hitting approach has improved," Guerrero said. "He's letting the ball travel. He's using his lower half to hit. I think he's going to get better as the season goes along. It's only been a small part of the season, but you can see the improvement these guys have done in 10 ballgames."

Rattler Radio: What Chris's gut is telling him

Final: Wisconsin 5, Cedar Rapids 2 Good day for Fatse GRAND CHUTE, WI – Pete Fatse stayed hot and Efrain Nieves warmed up for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Wednesday afternoon. Fatse extended his hitting streak to seven games with a 3-for-4 day at the plate that included a homer, a triple and three RBI to pace the offense. Nieves picked up the win with four innings of scoreless relief and picked up a little redemption as the Rattlers topped the Cedar Rapids Kernels 5-2 at Time Warner Cable Field. Cedar Rapids (7-7) stole four bases and scored two runs in the first inning on Tuesday night. They did it again on Wednesday afternoon. Rattlers starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi got the first out of the game before Matt Long singled and stole second. Odorizzi got the second out of the frame on a strikeout. Then, Carlos Ramirez drew a walk and Long stole third base on ball four. With Luis Jimenez at the plate, Ramirez would steal second to get into scoring position. Odorizzi got ahead of Jimenez 1-2, but the Kernels’ third baseman blooped in a single to center to knock in both runs. Jimenez stole second and Odorizzi walked another batter in the inning, but he got out of the frame without any further damage. Wisconsin (6-8) tied the game in the bottom of the second. Fatse and Sean Halton had back-to-back singles to start the inning. Austin Stockfisch sent a slow roller to second that moved the runners up to second and third. Michael Marseco’s slow roller up the first baseline got Fatse home with the first Rattlers run. Then, Franklin Romero, Jr. tied the game with a sharp single through the right side of the infield to send Halton home. Odorizzi steadied himself after the shaky first inning. He would allow just one more hit, one more walk, and no more runs over the next three innings. The righty went four innings and struck out seven. Fatse untied the game with a two-out, solo home run to right field. It was the second home run of the season for the Rattlers’ third baseman. Nieves, who went 0-2 with an ERA of 10.80 in his first two starts of the season, took over for Odorizzi and worked a perfect fifth and sixth inning. He allowed two base runners in both the seventh and eighth innings, but escaped unscathed and kept the Rattlers up 3-2. That put him in line for his first win of the season. Fatse provided insurance for the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the eighth, he laced a two-run triple into the corner in right to put the Rattlers up 5-2. Fatse is 14-for-25 (.560) during his hitting streak. Chad Robinson walked three in the top of the ninth inning, but a nifty 6-4-3 double play after the first walk kept the Kernels from threatening to tie the game. The final game of the three game set between the Kernels and Rattlers is Thursday night. It is a WIXX Thirsty Thursday with 22 oz. sodas and 16 oz. beers for $2. Also, the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Michael Marseco poster from Express Convenience Centers. Additionally, the Rattlers are holding a Let’s CAN Hunger Food Drive to benefit local food pantries. Fans who bring in a non-perishable food item will receive $1 off their ticket price. Plus, it is also College Night. By showing a valid college ID, fans may purchase reserved seat or general admission ticket for $1. College students with a canned food item and a college ID receive a free ticket. Eric Arnett (0-2, 10.57ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Tyler Kehrer (0-0, 4.76ERA) is set to start for the Kernels. Wisconsin box score Eight walks allowed total by Rattlers pitching on the day. Odorizzi settled down nicely after the first, allowing just a single and a walk in the next three innings and striking out four of the last six men he faced. Overall, he allowed two runs on three hits and three walks in four innings while striking out seven. D'Vontrey Richardson went 2-4, Scooter Gennett drew a walk, Khris Davis had a single, and Chris Dennis had a double. Wisconsin play-by-play Five of Odorizzi's seven K's were looking.

Jim Callis:

Final: Nashville 4, Oklahoma City 2 Sounds End Skid With 4-2 Win Over RedHawks NashvilleSounds.com NASHVILLE - The Nashville Sounds snapped a three-game skid with a 4-2 victory over the Oklahoma City RedHawks in a Wednesday matinee at historic Greer Stadium in the second game of a four-game series. With the win, Nashville (9-5) improved to 6-0 in morning contests over the last two seasons. The Sounds grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Norris Hopper (3-for-4) led off with a double to center off Oklahoma City starter Guillermo Moscoso. After the next two batters were retired, Eric Farris drew a walk before new Nashville catcher Jonathan Lucroy ripped his first Triple-A hit, an RBI double to left that plated Hopper to put the home team on the board. Trent Oeltjen followed with a run-scoring single to left that doubled the advantage. Third baseman Adam Heether upped the Nashville lead to 3-0 in the fourth with a one-out solo homer down the left field line off Moscoso. The blast was the infielder's fourth of the year, tying him with the injured Brendan Katin for the team lead. RedHawks center fielder Craig Gentry pulled the visitors back within a run at 3-2 in the fifth with a two-out, two-run homer to left off Sounds starter Chris Waters. The longball, Gentry's second of the year, also scored Gregorio Petit, who had preceded him with a two-out single. Nashville got a run back in the bottom of the fifth when Oeltjen lifted a sacrifice fly to the warning track in right to plate Ray Olmedo, who had opened the frame with a single. Waters (2-0) turned in his first quality start of the year to notch the win for Nashville. The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits over seven frames of work. Zach Braddock followed Waters to the hill and worked two scoreless innings to close out the win and pick up his first career Triple-A save. The 22-year-old lefty has yet to allow a run in 7 2/3 innings this season. Moscoso (0-1) took his first loss of the year for Oklahoma City after giving up four runs on five hits in five innings. The teams play game three of the four-game set at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday night. Left-hander Chase Wright (1-0, 2.25) will make the start for Nashville to face Oklahoma City southpaw Michael Ballard (1-0, 5.40). Nashville box scoreBraddock continues to lay waste to the PCL. He threw 32 pitches, 20 for strikes. I like seeing him for multiple innings. Lucroy drew a walk in addition to his double; nice debut, though he did commit a throwing error. Hopper was the only Sound with more than one hit. Nashville play-by-play The PBP has Luis Cruz being ejected to begin the top of the 9th, but I assume it actually occurred after his at-bat in the bottom of the 8th, when he was called out on strikes.

It kind of just sunk in that Mike Jones, Mark Rogers, and Brett Lawrie are somehow on the same baseball team. When Jeremy Jeffress is activated next month, the Stars will have fully half of the Brewers' first-round picks from the 2001-2008 period.