battlekow

Brewin' With Kuehn: Moye making the most of his time on the moundAmber Kuehn/Helena Independent Record The St. Louis Cardinals’ loss has been the Helena Brewers’ gain. After pitcher Andy Moye was picked in the 50th round of the 2010 draft by the Cardinals, the right-hander instead opted to return to Georgia Southern University for his senior season. In retrospect, the decision looks to be a good one. After what Moye considers his most successful year on the mound, the 23-year-old greatly improved his draft stock. He was taken in the 15th round this year by Milwaukee, and has been a tremendous addition to Helena’s starting rotation. Moye was recently named the Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending July 3 after throwing 11 dominant innings. In his second and third professional starts, the Alpharetta, Ga., native shut out the Great Falls Voyagers. He gave up just seven total hits, struck out a dozen and didn’t walk a single batter. “It was really a tremendous honor, to be able to come down here and perform like that right away,” said Moye, who was Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week twice as a junior and was named to the all-conference team this past season. “It’s still a big learning process for me and I’m learning a lot every day. I’ve got to just keep getting better every week.” Moye is already ahead of where several rookie pitchers are coming in. Brewers pitching coach Elvin Nina said it can be difficult to teach the young hurlers to throw to contact after years of being punished by aluminum bats. “He’s adapting to the pro game very quickly and he’s getting away from the mentality of throwing away from contact,” Nina said. “College guys are just trying to get accustomed to the wooden bat — that it will break if it’s not hit correctly — and it’s just a matter of trusting that their stuff is good enough to get the out.” In his time in a Brewers’ uniform, Moye (2-0) has allowed just one free pass through 14 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .231 average. His 8.36 baserunners allowed per nine innings is the second best mark in the league, and his 1.93 ERA is tied for second best. His ERA is also the lowest among Helena starters, and he was the only pitcher on the Brew Crew roster with multiple victories entering Thursday’s game at Missoula. “I’ve probably learned more about pitching in the two weeks I’ve been here than the entire time I was in college,” Moye said. “Just pounding the zone with all your pitches and trying to work the strike zone, not try to do too much and just stay within yourself is probably the biggest thing.” Although going back to school an extra year can be a double-edged sword — players are set back a year in terms of how quickly they can climb the minor league ladder — Moye is pleased with the choice he made. He was able to graduate with a degree in business management, a good fall back plan for if his pro baseball career doesn’t pan out. “It just helped me to be more mature and have that extra year of experience under my belt,” he said, adding that he was one of just three seniors on the team and was therefore thrust into more of a leadership role. Moye finished the Eagles’ 2011 season with a 2.39 ERA and 7-2 mark. His fastball has been clocked in the 88-92 mph range and his changeup is his best pitch. Moye said he has learned a lot from former first-rounder Eric Arnett, his roommate. Nina said Moye’s mentality on the mound has given him an edge over other young pitchers. “He’s been even keel, which is basically what I ask of all our pitchers,” he said. “I want them to conduct themselves where somebody coming to the ballpark who doesn’t look at the scoreboard doesn’t know if he’s doing bad or doing well.” So far for Moye, who will make his fourth start tonight, it has been the latter. HUSKY BUDDIES Transitioning from college to pro baseball can be challenging for many players. Moving from the East Coast to a tiny city in Montana perhaps even moreso.But having a familiar face with you each step of the way can make the journey a smooth one, and a fun one at that. Brewers catcher Doug Elliot and first baseman Mike Nemeth had the rare advantage of already knowing one of their teammates upon flying into Helena. The two spent the last four years on the same University of Connecticut baseball team and consider themselves good friends off the diamond. “It definitely helps knowing you’ve got a buddy going through it with ya,” said Elliot, who is hitting .182 in three games with Helena. “It’s a big change going from college to professional baseball.” Elliot and Nemeth have texted one another on more than one occasion about what time they’re supposed to be at the ballpark, and other such questions. Though not living together in the Capital City, the two have remained close. “Having him around has been great,” said Nemeth, who was named to the 2011 Rawlings Division I Gold Glove list for being the top defensive first baseman in the nation. Nemeth finished the 2011 season with 615 putouts and 26 assists as he recorded just two errors on the year for a .997 fielding percentage. “We were close in school and it’s been nice to be able to continue that relationship here.” The tandem was part of a Huskies team that advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals this past season, where UConn was ousted by eventual champion South Carolina. Ten Huskies were drafted following one of the most successful seasons in program history and, surprisingly, three of them were selected by Milwaukee. Pitcher Elliot Glynn is currently with the Arizona League Brewers. “It was pretty cool, guys were getting calls one after another,” Nemeth said. “It was just really exciting knowing that the three of us were going to be in the same organization.” Elliot found out he was drafted while working out at Clemson, as UConn’s season was still alive in mid-June. When Nemeth heard his pal would be wearing the same uniform, Elliot said the infielder gave him a huge hug. “We built off the guys who came before us and left our mark on the program,” Elliot said, citing this past season as the highlight of his college career. Elliot, who is working towards his master’s degree in accounting, has enjoyed the bus trips through scenic Montana and hopes to try his hand at fishing on one of the team’s off days. He hopes Glynn gets promoted to Helena so the Huskies trio can be reunited. ODDS AND ENDS Entering Thursday’s game, Helena catcher Parker Berberet was on a seven-game hitting streak. During that time, the Oregon State product is batting .333 with a home run and four RBIs. He has done particularly well against Missoula, with a .474 on-base percentage in games with the Osprey ... Brewers outfielder Max Walla has appeared in all 18 games for Helena, the only Brewer and one of just four players in the Pioneer League to do so. The 2009 second-round pick is hitting .400 in his last 10 games, tallying 14 hits with a home run and six RBIs in that span ... Including Thursday’s game, Helena has played 11 one-run games, more than any team in the league, posting a 6-5 record.

Well, the Stars have joined the Sounds in refusing to cooperate with my new corporate bedtime, so I'll summarize the first 11 innings and MH can handle the rest in the dewy morn. Huntsville box scoreWily Peralta's line is really the only thing that needs pointing out: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K, 8/4 GO/FO, 102 pitches, 64 strikes. The Stars have are averaging less than a hit every two innings; they have five, one each by Logan Schafer, Matt Cline, Zelous Wheeler, Erik Komatsu, and Lee Haydel. Little Pine has drawn two walks, one intentional. Huntsville play-by-playHuntsville needed Brock Kjeldgaard to find his BC stroke here: Huntsville Top of the 7thMatt Cline singles on a ground ball to center fielder Alfredo Silverio.Sean Halton grounds into a force out, third baseman Travis Denker to second baseman Elian Herrera. Matt Cline out at 2nd. Sean Halton to 1st.Zelous Wheeler doubles (6) on a fly ball to left fielder Scott Van Slyke. Sean Halton to 3rd.Nathan Eovaldi intentionally walks Erik Komatsu.Brock Kjeldgaard grounds into double play, shortstop Ivan Ochoa to first baseman Brian Cavazos-Galvez. Erik Komatsu out at 2nd. Peralta ran out of gas in the 7th but together with Rob Wooten walked the tightrope: Chattanooga Bottom of the 7thScott Van Slyke walks.Travis Denker singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Scott Van Slyke to 3rd.Gorman Erickson reaches on a fielder's choice out, first baseman Sean Halton to catcher Martin Maldonado. Scott Van Slyke out at home. Travis Denker to 2nd.Hector Gimenez flies out sharply to center fielder Logan Schafer.Pitcher Change: Robert Wooten replaces Wily Peralta, batting 6th.Defensive Substitution: Lee Haydel replaces pitcher Wily Peralta, batting 9th, playing left field.Jaime Pedroza grounds out, second baseman Hainley Statia to first baseman Sean Halton. I pointed out the wasted 11th above, but they also put the first two men on in the 10th and failed to score: Huntsville Top of the 10thZelous Wheeler walks.Erik Komatsu walks. Zelous Wheeler to 2nd.Steffan Wilson strikes out on missed bunt.Martin Maldonado pops out to second baseman Jaime Pedroza on the infield fly rule.Hainley Statia flies out to center fielder Alfredo Silverio. Lucas Luetge pitched into and out of a jam in the 11th: Chattanooga Bottom of the 11thPitcher Change: Lucas Luetge replaces Robert Hinton, batting 3rd, replacing Sergio Miranda.Scott Van Slyke flies out to left fielder Lee Haydel.Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Chris Withrow replaces Cole St. Clair.Chris Withrow singles on a ground ball to right fielder Erik Komatsu.Gorman Erickson grounds out, shortstop Matt Cline to first baseman Steffan Wilson. Chris Withrow to 2nd.Lucas Luetge intentionally walks Wilberto Ortiz.With Jaime Pedroza batting, wild pitch by Lucas Luetge, Chris Withrow to 3rd. Wilberto Ortiz to 2nd.Jaime Pedroza strikes out swinging. That's Chris Withrow the pitcher collecting the pinch-hit single there. Only fair, I guess, since he gave up the homer to Cody Scarpetta the other day.

I would think he'd be pulled from the game if that was the case.

In a scoreless tie through 10 innings, the Stars squandered a great chance to score in the 11th: Huntsville Top of the 11thLee Haydel singles on a fly ball to left fielder Scott Van Slyke.Logan Schafer singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Brian Cavazos-Galvez. Lee Haydel to 2nd.Matt Cline grounds into a force out, pitcher Cole St. Clair to third baseman Wilberto Ortiz. Lee Haydel out at 3rd. Logan Schafer to 2nd. Matt Cline to 1st.Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Sergio Miranda replaces Robert Hinton.Sergio Miranda flies out to right fielder Kyle Russell.Zelous Wheeler lines out to first baseman Brian Cavazos-Galvez.

Final: DSL Brewers 4, @DSL Athletics 0 DSL Brewers box score17-year-old RHP Gian T. Rizzo continues to impress, today tossing six shutout innings with six hits and a walk against four strikeouts. The Cerveceritos had only five hits, but three of them belonged to 17-year-old 3B Esthervin Matos, who's sthervin' along so far in his short pro career and finished a homer short of the cycle today. Fellow young'un Elvis Rubio was 0-3 and is hitless in his last 19 at-bats, and Orlando Arcia was 0-4 and is in an uncharacteristic (well, so far--his career is only 29 games long) dry spell with just one hit in his last four games.DSL Brewers play-by-play A three-run 6th broke the scoreless tie: DSL Brewers Top of the 6thSthervin Matos doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Jose Sayegh.Yonki Hernandez hits a sacrifice bunt. Sthervin Matos to 3rd. Yonki Hernandez to 1st.With Alejandro Mendoza batting, Yonki Hernandez steals (10) 2nd base.Alejandro Mendoza reaches on a fielder's choice, fielded by third baseman Renato Nunez. Sthervin Matos scores.Orlando Arcia flies out to center fielder Alfredo Sosa.Deivi Mejia grounds into a force out, first baseman Wilman Martinez to shortstop Luis Osorio. Yonki Hernandez to 3rd. Alejandro Mendoza out at 2nd. Deivi Mejia advances to 2nd, on throwing error by shortstop Luis Osorio.Jose Pena singles on a fly ball to center fielder Alfredo Sosa. Yonki Hernandez scores. Deivi Mejia scores. Jose Pena out at 2nd on the throw, center fielder Alfredo Sosa to catcher Diego Ledezma to second baseman Gabriel Santana.

11th-round RHP Tommy Toledo signed.

Final: @Wisconsin 11, Kane County 5 Rattlers storm back to beat Kane CountyChris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers spotted the Kane County Cougars a four run lead in the top of the first inning before rallying to an 11-5 victory on Thursday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Joey Paciorek went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI and Mike Walker was 4-for-4 as the Rattlers won for the fifth time in their last six games. Rattlers starting pitcher Matt Miller had a shaky start. The first five Kane County batters of the game reached base and four of them scored. The Cougars (37-46 overall, 9-5 second half) loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. The first run scored on a passed ball charged to Paciorek. A double by Brian Fletcher scored one run. Then, an error let in another run and put runners on the corners with no outs. Miller got Kevin David to ground into a 4-6-3 double play that - while it allowed a run to score for a 4-0 lead - stopped the inning from snowballing into an even bigger lead. Miller would strike out Orlando Calixte to end the inning. From that point of the game to the time his outing was over at the end of the sixth, Miller would only one more hit and no more runs. Wisconsin (46-38, 8-6) started their comeback in the bottom of the second inning. Walker tripled to start the inning. Cody Hawn extended his current hitting streak to eight games with an RBI single. Later in the inning, Nick Shaw made the score 4-3 with a two-out, two-run double. Paciorek gave the Rattlers the lead in the bottom of the third. There were two on with two out and the Rattlers catcher lined a home run to left and Wisconsin was up 6-4. Wisconsin tacked on another run in the inning. Chad Stang singled and went to third on a Franklin Romero a single. Shaw was at the plate when Romero got caught in a rundown. Stang broke for the plate and scored before Romero could be tagged for the final out of the inning. Stang and Romero padded Wisconsin's lead with consecutive RBI hits in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 9-4. Paciorek cracked a double in the bottom of the seventh to score Walker. That hit gave Paciorek four RBI in the game. The Cougars got to the Rattlers bullpen for a run in the top of the eighth inning. Then, Walker responded with his fourth hit of the game. Walker's single scored TJ Mittelstaedt to account for the final 11-5 score. The Rattlers and Cougars conclude the series on Friday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Maverick Lasker (0-1, 5.40) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Kane County sends Greg Billo (6-1, 1.49) to the mound. Game time is 7:05pm. Friday night is a North Shore Bank/95.9 KISS Family Night at Time Warner Cable Field. That means children 12 and under eat free. After the game, enjoy a fireworks display! After the fireworks, Fazoli's invites children 14 and under to participate in Kids Run the Bases. Also on Friday night, the first 1,000 fans to attend the game will receive a Timber Rattlers baseball cap from North Shore Bank. If you can't make it out to the game, tune in on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. Wisconsin box scoreNice rebound from Miller, similar to Eric Arnett's outing a couple days ago. Miller's line: 6 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 11/1 GO/FO, 93 pitches, 59 strikes. Check out that ground-ball rate! Nicely done, Mr. Miller. Walker also walked, so he had a perfect afternoon. Stang (three more hits today) is red-hot, with multiple hits in seven of his last eight games and a .425 average over his last ten; however, he's still not hitting for any power or drawing any walks. He's kinda reminiscent of early Lee Haydel at this point (albeit behind where Haydel was at his age), don't you think? Hawn, Mittelstaedt, and Romero each added two hits. Wisconsin play-by-play

BC postponed.

PIO notes: Arnett starting anewGreg Rachac/Special to MLB.com To this point in his young career, Eric Arnett has been dogged by injury, criticism and the notion that the 6-foot-5, 230-pound hurler could be a first-round bust. As the 26th overall selection by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2009 Draft, Arnett admittedly struggled during his first two professional seasons before developing rotator cuff tendinitis the second week of Spring Training this year. Back for his second stint with Helena, Arnett aims to begin anew and restore the promise that made people believe he was a can't-miss power-pitching prospect coming out of Indiana University. "When you're drafted, you don't think you're going to go backwards," said the right-hander. "But I had a rough year, and that has lowered the expectations of a lot of people in the organization. "I'm not mad about being here. I like it here. Hopefully, I can press the restart button and get things done." As a rookie in '09, Arnett went 0-4 with a 4.41 ERA in 14 appearances with Helena. He took a turn for the worse the following year at Class A Wisconsin, going 1-9 with a 6.70 ERA before eventually being reassigned to the rookie Arizona League. The front office in Milwaukee forbade Arnett from throwing this past offseason in an effort to help him rejuvenate and keep his focus on strength and conditioning. By the time Arnett arrived to Spring Training, the Brewers didn't see much difference. "The idea was for him to come in and be ready to go and he wasn't," assistant GM Gord Ash told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel at the time. "It was kind of a mental and physical break for him, but he wasn't ready to go. "I would say that we're discouraged. You never give up, and we're certainly not going to give up on him, but I will say we are disappointed." Arnett says his rotator cuff ailment is healed, and he is now working to rebuild his velocity as well as develop an effective changeup. In college, Arnett's fastball topped out in the upper-90s. It has fallen off a bit (his velocity now sits in the mid-90s), but Helena manager Joe Ayrault says Arnett simply needs to find a mental edge. "He looks like a big leaguer, and when he's on, he definitely is a big leaguer," said Ayrault, who guided Helena to the Pioneer League championship last season. "He's got a plus-fastball, he's got a good slider, he's working on his split-finger. ... It's just a matter of things clicking for him, and he'll take off." Arnett is 1-0 with a 4.57 ERA in four starts this season. He has 20 strikeouts versus just six walks in 21 2/3 innings. Arnett didn't allow more than three earned runs in any of his first three starts and had a season-high eight strikeouts in his most recent outing Tuesday against Missoula. The Brewers hope only good days remain. So does Arnett. "Obviously I want to play in the big leagues. That's my main goal," Arnett says. "But I don't have a time frame on it -- whether I have to go year-by-year or if I can make a big jump. I'm just taking it how it is right now." http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2011/07/07/L2Nqp8F5.jpg (Paul R. Gierhart/MiLB.com)

Atlanta's Thornburg mades rapid ascent to Futures GameCarroll Rogers/Atlanta Journal-Constitution When 50 of the top players in minor league baseball meet in Phoenix for Sunday’s Futures All-Star game at 6 p.m. on ESPN2, Braves fans will recognize at least a few names. Julio Teheran and Arodys Vizcaino, two of the Braves’ top pitching prospects, will pitch for the “World” team. Bryce Harper, last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick by the National League East-rival Washington Nationals and an outfielder for the “U.S.” team, probably rings a bell, too. But there’s another name to take note of who has Atlanta ties and an upper 90s fastball — Tyler Thornburg, a prospect for the Milwaukee Brewers chosen from the high-A Florida State League. Sunday will mark the first time Thornburg has played on television since he was a 12-year-old outfielder for the Sandy Springs All-Stars in the southeast regional final for the Little League World Series. He has spent much of his baseball development in relative obscurity, from Sandy Springs Little League to Riverwood High School and on to Charleston Southern for college baseball. But he was drafted by the Brewers in the third round a year ago and has been on a speedy ascent ever since. Thornburg is 9-1 in 15 starts this season between the Brewers’ low-A affiliate in Wisconsin and three starts for high-A Brevard County. He was named Florida State League pitcher of the week his first week in the league. After being promoted June 24, he went 2-0 with an 0.82 ERA in his first two starts for the Manatees. So what makes Thornburg so special? Well, there’s his fastball that sits at 92-94 mph and touches as high as 97, 98 mph. And the fact that he’s only 5-foot-11, 185 pounds. Because of his size, his velocity and his over-the-top delivery, Thornburg has drawn comparisons to San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum. Thornburg chuckles at the thought of being compared to someone who has won two Cy Youngs and a World Series title in his first four years in the majors, but he was a little curious, too. “I looked at some of his stuff and tried to throw similar to his [delivery] in [bullpen sessions] to see if it works,” Thornburg said. “Stuff he does is definitely unreal. ... With his stride and leg lift, his balance is pretty close to being perfect. You have to be so flexible to do that kind of stuff.” As a scout told his father at one of Thornburg’s games last year, it’s because of pitchers such as Lincecum that teams are willing to take a chance on a pitcher Thornburg’s size in an era when other top pitching prospects tower over him. Thornburg was only 160 pounds coming out of high school, and he played both outfield and pitcher in college. “Sometimes when those kind of guys can just focus on doing one thing, they can really take off,” Brewers minor league pitching coordinator Lee Tunnell said. “I think that’s what’s happened with Tyler.” Tunnell doesn’t buy into the Lincecum comparisons whole-heartedly. “He has a little bit of that in there,” Tunnell said. “I think he has a little bit of Roy Oswalt in there. They’re all three similar-sized guys. He has some uniqueness also. He’s got some deception in his delivery. I don’t think hitters see the ball real well off of him.” They certainly haven’t so far. Thornburg didn’t lose a start in his first 20 in the Brewers organization, including his 1-0 record in nine games (six starts) last year in rookie ball in Helena, Mont. “It’s me going out there and just refusing to lose,” Thornburg said. He didn’t take his first professional loss until Wednesday night, allowing four runs in five innings of an 11-4 loss against Clearwater. The closest he had come before that was midway through his stint with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He had allowed only one unearned run, but trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. His teammate Mike Walker hit a two-run walk-off homer to get him the win. It has been that kind of ride for Thornburg, who never thought he would play in the Futures Game in his first full season in the minor leagues. “One of my friends mentioned it at the beginning of this season,” Thornburg said. “We were just joking around about it. I was like, ‘Maybe in a couple years.’”

Five Kane County homers too much for WisconsinChris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - Jake Kuebler hit three home runs to lead the Kane County Cougars to a 10-7 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Wednesday night at Time Warner Cable Field. The Cougars hit five home runs in the game to build a 10-3 lead. That was enough to hold off a late Timber Rattlers charge and end Wisconsin's four game winning streak. Kane County (37-45 overall, 9-4 second half) went in front in the top of the second inning. Kuebler launched a 2-0 pitch from Rattlers starting pitcher Del Howell with two outs. The ball banged off Kuebler's picture on the scoreboard in left-center to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, Yowill Espinal - Kane County's number nine hitter - cracked a leadoff homer over the wall in left and the Cougars were up 2-0. Wisconsin (45-38, 7-6) cut the deficit to one run on an RBI grounder off the bat of Nick Shaw in the bottom of the third inning. But, the Cougars pulled away in the top of the fourth with four runs. They loaded the bases with one out. Then, Julio Aparicio singled in a run to start the scoring. A run scoring wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Espinal made the score 5-1. Angel Franco singled in one more run to chase Howell from the game with the Cougars in front 6-1. The Rattlers loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning with no outs, but could not score. In the sixth, Greg Hopkins and Mike Walker singled with one out. Both moved up a base on a wild pitch. An RBI grounder by Cody Hawn scored Hopkins. Jason Rogers followed with an RBI double to get the Rattlers to within three runs. But, the Cougars answered in the top of the seventh inning. Brian Fletcher started the inning with a home run to centerfield that cleared the batter's eye. Later in the inning, Kuebler bashed his second home run of the game. This one was a two-run shot to left to make the score 9-3. Kuebler, who was hitting .196 and had two homers in 37 game with the Cougars this season, hit his third home run of the night with two outs in the ninth inning for a 10-3 advantage. The Rattlers put together a little rally in the bottom of the ninth. Chad Stang and Shaw singled to start the inning, but they were still at first and second with two outs in the inning. Hopkins singled to left to score Stang. Then, Walker blasted a homer off the scoreboard. Walker's fourteenth home run of the season made the score 10-7. Hawn followed with a single, his third hit of the night. Rogers was next and his deep drive to left-center was rundown and caught by centerfielder Brett Eibner on the warning track for the final out. Game two of the series is Thursday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Matt Miller (2-4, 4.74) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Kane County has Leondy Perez (2-8, 3.44) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 12:05pm. Tomorrow is a Thirsty Thursday with 22 ounce Pepsi products and 16 ounce Miller products are available for $2. Fans may redeem a Thursday game ticket at Slugger's, located inside Super Bowl on Northland Avenue, for a chance to win great prizes from Miller Lite. Thursday also features s a bonus Baker Tilly Business Person's Special with a box seat ticket, a beverage, and a brat or hot dog for $11.50 and a business card. Senior citizens may also take advantage of this deal. Additionally, Thursday is Taco Bell Day at Time Warner Cable Field. Area Taco Bell restaurants are hosting kids and family members from local Boys & Girls Clubs. There will be an in game offer and T-Shirts from Taco Bell. If you can't make it out to the game, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:45am.

Final: Kane County 10, @Wisconsin 7 Wisconsin box scoreDel Howell was hammered for six runs in 3.2 innings, and though the Rattlers scored four in the 9th to make a game of it, they were too far behind to come all the way back. Mike Walker cracked his 14th homer as part of his two-hit effort, and Cody Hawn collected three hits, including a double. Greg Hopkins, Jason Rogers, and Chad Stang joined Walker in the two-hit club. TJ Mittelstaedt had an off night, 0-4 with a walk; he did steal his 15th base, and Reggie Keen his 30th. Chris's recap tomorrow. Wisconsin play-by-playThe 9th-inning rally-ish: Wisconsin Bottom of the 9thChad Stang singles on a line drive to center fielder Brett Eibner.Nick Shaw singles on a line drive to center fielder Brett Eibner. Chad Stang to 2nd.Reggie Keen flies out to center fielder Brett Eibner.T. J. Mittelstaedt strikes out swinging.Gregory Hopkins singles on a line drive to center fielder Brett Eibner. Chad Stang scores. Nick Shaw to 2nd.Michael Walker homers (14) on a fly ball to center field. Nick Shaw scores. Gregory Hopkins scores.Cody Hawn singles on a line drive to center fielder Brett Eibner.Jason Rogers flies out to center fielder Brett Eibner.

Final: DSL Mariners 7, @DSL Brewers 2 DSL Brewers box scoreAfter three days off (two unscheduled), the Cerveceritos reconvened and rediscovered the fact that they can't seem to beat the Marineritos. Eliezer Montano was tagged for six runs in three innings, though Marcos Padilla turned in a nice game in the longest outing of his career: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K. Yonki Hernandez had three of the Cerveceritos' six hits; the other three belonged, one each, to Esthervin Matos, Raul Mondesi, and Deivi Mejia. Orlando Arcia drew a walk, but the 0-3 day saw his average dip below .300--the horror!DSL Brewers play-by-play Two runs in the 9th kept it from being a shutout. Gotta believe the Marineritos' skipper was none too pleased with his reliever putting the first three men aboard in a blowout: DSL Brewers Bottom of the 9thPitcher Change: Albert Tamarez replaces Wander Marte.Francisco Castillo walks.Orlando Arcia walks. Francisco Castillo to 2nd.Deivi Mejia walks. Francisco Castillo to 3rd. Orlando Arcia to 2nd.Pitcher Change: Enrique Rosario replaces Albert Tamarez.Jose Pena out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Gabriel Guerrero. Francisco Castillo scores.Raul Mondesi singles on a line drive to center fielder Janelfry Zorrilla. Orlando Arcia scores. Deivi Mejia to 3rd.Dionis Hinojosa strikes out swinging.Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Juan De Leon replaces Carlos Pena.Juan De Leon flies out to right fielder Gabriel Guerrero in foul territory.

Final: Clearwater 11, @Brevard County 4 Brevard County box scoreTyler Thornburg wasn't at his best: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 2 WP, 4/4 GO/FO. The seven hits represent almost 10% of his career total including tonight's game, 74--that's how unhittable he's been. Obviously the "relief" corps inflamed things a bit, the chief offender being Rolando Pascual, who gave up four runs and got only one out. They already moved him to relief, so...maybe he can play shortstop? Scooter Gennett went off for three hits, including his fifth homer and a double, and Shea Vucinich also had three hits. Hunter Morris added two hits, and D'Vontrey Richardson singled and walked (His first walk since May! *trumpets blare*). Khris Davis, who never gets shut out, went hitless but drew a walk, while Kentrail Davis, who does, was.Brevard County play-by-play A three-run 1st did most of the damage against Thornburg: Clearwater Top of the 1stJiwan James singles on a ground ball to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson.D'Arby Myers singles on a line drive to left fielder Khristopher Davis. Jiwan James to 3rd.Jonathan Singleton pops out to third baseman Shea Vucinich in foul territory.With Darin Ruf batting, wild pitch by Tyler Thornburg, Jiwan James scores. D'Arby Myers to 2nd.Darin Ruf grounds out, third baseman Shea Vucinich to first baseman Hunter Morris.Sebastian Valle doubles (14) on a fly ball to left fielder Khristopher Davis. D'Arby Myers scores.Jeremy Barnes singles on a ground ball to center fielder D' Vontrey Richardson. Sebastian Valle scores.John Suomi strikes out swinging.

Final: @Chattanooga 5, Huntsville 4 Huntsville box scoreDan Merklinger posted a nice K/BB but an ugly line overall: 5.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 2 HR, 2 WP, 6/2 GO/FO, 99 pitches, 62 strikes. Jim Henderson had a nice outing in relief, striking out three of the six men he faced. Logan Schafer, Anderson de la Rosa, and Matt Cline each had two hits, with Schafer and Cline each swatting a double. Zelous Wheeler also doubled and was hit by a pitch. Lee Haydel was 0-4, and Erik Komatsu and Sean Halton did not start, though struck out pinch-hitting. Brock Kjeldgaard is 3 for his first 20 with the Stars with just one extra-base hit, a double. Two of the hits, including the double, came in his first game, so it's been a poor start to July for the consonanted one. Huntsville play-by-playYou might conclude that fortune did not favor Merklinger today, but he earned his line: just one of the hits he allowed came on a regular (non-"sharp") ground ball.

RHP Kyle Heckathorn was promoted to Huntsville today and will join the team tomorrow. This will be a good test for our Class of '09 torch-bearer.

MVP pitcher balances two dream careersUWM/Kathy Quirk When he was in grade school, Chad Pierce always answered questions about his future employment with either “baseball player” or “teacher.” Now he’s preparing for both careers. “I think it is very neat that I am given the opportunity to do both of the things that I have always dreamed of,” says the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee education major, who was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in June. The signing capped an impressive NCAA baseball season for Pierce, a pitcher for the university’s Milwaukee Panthers. He was named 2011 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year and is the first UWM athlete chosen in the major league baseball draft since 2006. Pierce, who grew up in Fond du Lac, is spending the summer in Montana with the Helena Brewers, rookie affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers He’s elated to be in the Helena Brewers pitching rotation, even if it meant giving up a planned education internship this summer. “Being able to play in the Brewers organization, the team I’ve grown up rooting for my entire life, is so surreal and a great opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.” Pierce is a fifth-year senior specializing in Middle Childhood Early Adult (MCEA) education with a focus on mathematics and social studies. He’s working on a second degree in education studies. “My commitment (to the Brewers) might push back my plans a little bit,” he says. “Whatever happens, I know the main thing that I went to school for is an education. I will end up getting my degrees, whenever that is.” That could be 2011 or ’12, depending on his status with the Brewers at the end of this season. If he gets the chance to continue in professional baseball, he’ll report to spring training in early March 2012. But he’s playing both options, and plans to enroll in classes for the fall 2011 semester. Both his passion for teaching and his passion for baseball started in childhood. Pierce doesn’t remember exactly when he started playing ball, but says he was about five when he joined his first organized team. Many elements of the game appeal to him. “I think I like the fact that you have to control your mind so much in this game. Baseball is a game where it’s easy to fail, and you have to be able to be strong enough to overcome that. Everything is not going to go your way and your mind is what will be able to help you achieve what you want.” And, he adds, baseball appeals to his strong competitive drive. “There is nothing better going one-on-one with a hitter. When I step on the rubber, I let my competitive nature take over to help me succeed.” His choice of an education major grew out of his interest in working with children, and the encouragement of his own teachers. “I like to help people, and I think this is one way that I’m able to give back to the community what I was given. I’ve had some great teachers and each one has told me that I would become a great teacher.” This summer his focus is on adjusting to a new team and new schedule. “The biggest challenge I face right now is getting acclimated to professional baseball. Playing every day takes a toll on your body,” Pierce says. “You will not always be able to give 100 percent, but you will be able to give 100 percent of your 90 percent every day.” While Pierce hasn’t had a chance to explore much of Montana yet, he says the scenery is amazing. “Out on one horizon you have mountains filled with trees, and if you look at the other horizon you have mountains with snow at the top.” But his focus is baseball. “The most exciting part about being here is just the opportunity to continue playing the game I love. I wanted an opportunity to keep playing and I was lucky enough to get that chance.”

Short video interview with 2B Gant Elmore, and we learn that he suffered a thumb injury in his first game as a pro.

Final: Wisconsin 8, @Beloit 3 Mittelstaedt & Nelson lead Rattlers to sweep of BeloitChris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers BELOIT, WI - TJ Mittelstaedt went 5-for-5 with three RBI and Jimmy Neslon settled in after a rough second inning to lead the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to an 8-3 win over the Beloit Snappers 8-3 Tuesday night at Pohlman Field. Mittelstaedt became the first Rattler since 2008 to have five hits in a game. Also, the Rattlers completed a three-game sweep at Beloit. It was the first time the Rattlers have swept the Snappers at Pohlman Field since 2001. Beloit (45-37 overall, 7-5 second half) grabbed the early lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Michael Gonzales doubled to start the inning. Then, Rattlers starting pitcher Nelson committed a couple of unforced errors. He walked the next hitter on four pitches, committed a balk to move both runners up a base, and threw a wild pitch to let in Gonzales. Lance Ray made the score 2-0 with a sacrifice fly. Tyler Grimes was next and he drove a solo home run to center for a 3-0 Snappers lead. Nelson allowed next to nothing after that. The second round pick of the Brewers in the 2010 draft went seven innings, allowed three runs on four hits, walked two, and matched his single game high as a professional for strikeouts with eight. Wisconsin (45-37, 7-5) responded in the top of the third with a pair of runs. Chad Stang doubled with one out. He tagged on a fly ball to center to go to third. Stang would score when the throw to third wound up in the third base dugout. Reggie Keen continued the rally with a single and a stolen base to get into scoring position. Mittelstaedt singled to center and Keen raced for home to score and make the score 3-2. The Rattlers sent nine men to the plate in the top of the fifth to take the lead. Joey Paciorek walked and Stang singled on a hit-and run play to put runners at the corners. Nick Shaw drove in Paciorek with a single to tie the game. After Keen sacrificed both runners up a base with a bunt, Mittelstaedt delivered another big hit. The 44th round pick of the Brewers in the 2010 draft lined a double to right-center that scored a pair of runs for a 5-3 Wisconsin lead. The hit also knocked Beloit starting pitcher Manuel Soliman out of the game. Blayne Weller relieved for the Snappers and got the second out of the inning, but Mike Walker would come through with a single to right and Mittelstaedt scored for a 6-3 lead. Wisconsin tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Mittelstaedt singled for his fourth hit of the game. Greg Hopkins drew a walk to put two runners on base. One out later, Weller committed a balk to put runners on second and third. Cody Hawn cashed both runners in with a single through a drawn in infield and Wisconsin went up 8-3. Hawn extended his current hitting streak to six games with the hit that provided the insurance runs. Mittelstaedt started the top of the ninth inning with an infield single for his fifth hit of the night. The last Rattlers player to have five hits in a game was Alex Liddi. Liddi had five hits in a game against Clinton on June 14, 2008. Wisconsin returns home to begin a brief three-game series with the Kane County Cougars on Wednesday night. Del Howell (1-3, 4.05) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Kane County has Santiago Garrido (0-2, 6.91) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 7:05pm. Wednesday is a bonus Bang for Your Buck Night with Pepsi products, Cher-Make hot dogs, and Miller Beer available for $1. American TV Win-It Wednesday means that every fan aged 16 and older will receive a scratch-off ticket and every ticket is a winner with prizes from the Timber Rattlers and American TV of Appleton. The first 1,000 fans to enter the stadium on Wednesday will receive a poster of Wisconsin outfielder Franklin Romero, Jr. It is also Hispanic Heritage Night at Time Warner Cable Field with salutes to Hispanic culture. If you can't make it out to the game, tune in on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. Time Warner Cable subscribers will be able to watch the game on Sports 32. Wisconsin box scoreAnd from the hills rose the cry: "Mit-tel-staedt! Mit-tel-staedt!" The hit unmentioned in the recap was a triple, and his line now sits at .332/.446/.521--plus he stole his 14th base. The only thing he hasn't done this year is hit lefties, though he's hung in there against them well enough to draw 12 walks in ~58 trips against them. Stang is now hitting over .300 in his 14 games with the Rattlers, but he has just four extra-base hits and has drawn but two walks. Nelson starting to claw his way out of the depths. 98 pitches, 61 strikes for Jimmy J. Stosh Wawrzasek and Brian Garman each contributed scoreless innings. Wisconsin play-by-play

Arnett is in Rookie ball over two years removed from being a first-round pick out of college, with a trail of big innings dragging behind him longer than the Cubs' World Series drought. No one man can be that unlucky.

Final: @Brevard County 4, Clearwater 3 Brevard County holds on to snap three-game skidFrank Longobardo/Brevard County Manatees VIERA, Fla. -- After giving up a 3-0 lead, the Brevard County Manatees rallied to top the Clearwater Threshers, 4-3 on Tuesday night at Space Coast Stadium. The win snapped a three-game losing streak. Hiram Burgos came off the disabled list and made his first start since June 10 and threw three shutout innings. D'Vontrey Richardson singled to lead off the second and then reached third on a fielding error on Clearwater's Cesar Hernandez that put Juan Sanchez on second. After a Scott Krieger strike out, Sean McCraw grounded out to short and Richardson scored to make it 1-0. Evan Anundsen relieved Burgos after three and threw two scoreless innings, to keep it a 1-0 game. Brevard County (33-48 overall, 6-5 second half) score twice more in the sixth, to make it 3-0. Both Khris Davis and Richardson scored as Sanchez laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Threshers pitcher Brody Colvin's throwing error allowed the runs to score. Clearwater (44-38, 5-8) didn't go down easily though as they scored three runs off of R.J. Seidel in seventh to tie the game at 3-3. An error by Kentrail Davis made all the runs unearned as Brian Gump came up with a RBI single and Darin Ruf drove in two with a base hit in the inning. Josh Prince led off the seventh with a single and then Scooter Gennett reached on a bunt single to put two on with no outs. Kentrail Davis then moved each runner up 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt. Hunter Morris then plated Prince with a sacrifice fly to left to make it a 4-3 game. That would be all the damage though as Gennett was doubled up trying to go third. Efrain Nieves - who came in for Seidel in the seventh - retired the last seven batters he faced to earn his first win of the season. Brevard County and Clearwater will continue their four-game series on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. Reigning FSL Pitcher of the Week Tyler Thornburg (2-0, 0.82) will take the mound for the 'Tees, while the Threshers will send Jarred Cosart (6-6, 3.10) to the hill. Both Thornburg and Cosart will participate in the 2011 All-Star Futures Game in Phoenix, Ariz. on July 10. Brevard County box scoreRichardson was the only 'Tee with more than one hit--that's his sixth multihit game in the last nine. He isn't striking out at a fearsome rate, either, though he still hasn't walked since May. Gennett did walk--hurrah! Kentrail Davis singled, was hit by a pitch, and stole his 22nd and 23rd bases. Khris Davis did not homer, which is weird. Brevard County play-by-play

Final: Huntsville 3, @Chattanooga 2 Huntsville box scoreCody Scarpetta did today what Shaun Marcum could not yesterday, leading the team to victory behind a strong pitching performance while providing the margin of victory with his bat. Scarpetta with six innings, allowing two runs (both unearned) on three hits and four walks while fanning six, and also went 2-2, including cracking his second homer of the year. Zelous Wheeler also went deep for the Stars. Not much else going on with the bats. Dan Meadows continues to impress in relief, striking out two over 1.2 scoreless innings.Huntsville play-by-play The two unearnies charged to Scarpetta: Chattanooga Bottom of the 4thElian Herrera grounds out, third baseman Zelous Wheeler to first baseman Sean Halton.Scott Van Slyke reaches on fielding error by right fielder Erik Komatsu. Scott Van Slyke to 2nd.Kyle Russell walks.Travis Denker grounds out, third baseman Zelous Wheeler to first baseman Sean Halton. Scott Van Slyke to 3rd. Kyle Russell to 2nd.Brian Cavazos-Galvez doubles (20) on a ground ball to left fielder Lee Haydel. Scott Van Slyke scores. Kyle Russell scores.Gorman Erickson pops out to shortstop Matt Cline. Clutch two-out hit by Matt Cline to put the Stars ahead: Huntsville Top of the 7thZelous Wheeler homers (1) on a fly ball to right field.Erik Komatsu walks.Martin Maldonado ground bunts into a force out, catcher Gorman Erickson to shortstop Wilberto Ortiz. Erik Komatsu out at 2nd. Martin Maldonado to 1st.With Hainley Statia batting, Martin Maldonado advances to 2nd on a balk.Hainley Statia pops out to third baseman Travis Denker in foul territory.Matt Cline singles on a ground ball to center fielder Brad Coon. Martin Maldonado scores. Matt Cline to 2nd on the throw.Chattanooga Lookouts Manager Carlos Subero ejected by HP umpire Justin Sassaman.Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Steffan Wilson replaces Cody Scarpetta.Steffan Wilson grounds out, third baseman Travis Denker to first baseman Scott Van Slyke. I guess Subero disagreed with the call at the plate.

Cerveceritos postponed again.

Kevin Goldstein on Khris Davis:

Final: @Nashville 5, Memphis 4 Nashville play-by-playAfter finding themselves on the losing end of walk-offs the last three days, the Sounds finally got one of their own: Nashville Bottom of the 9thJordan Brown pops out to first baseman Nick Stavinoha.Edwin Maysonet walks.Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Wil Nieves replaces Tim Dillard.Wil Nieves singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andrew Brown. Edwin Maysonet to 2nd.Eric Farris flies out to right fielder James Rapoport.Caleb Gindl reaches on missed catch error by first baseman Nick Stavinoha, assist to third baseman Donovan Solano. Edwin Maysonet to 3rd. Wil Nieves to 2nd.Brett Carroll hit by pitch. Edwin Maysonet scores. Wil Nieves to 3rd. Caleb Gindl to 2nd. Not quite so dramatic as a walk-off homer, but they'll take it I'm sure. How big is that error by Stavinoha? Karmic retribution for that one-knee homer against Trevor Hoffman last year. #RedbirdsEatBabies Nashville box scoreJosh Butler posted a second straight interesting start, trying to convince me not to give up on him: 7 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 2 HR, 7/2 GO/FO, 98 pitches, 66 strikes. Brandon Boggs and Erick Almonte both went deep, Almonte's coming as a pinch hitter. Eric Farris had two hits, Caleb Gindl was 0-5, and Taylor Green was 0-3 with a HBP. Brett Carroll in addition to truly taking one for the team, had two outfield assists, giving him a league-leading 15 on the year. Sounds' recap tomorrow morning, but I'm off to bed.