battlekow

Final: Brevard County 4, Dunedin 1Brevard County box score Two pitchers' seasons intersected briefly tonight in Dunedin. Mike Fiers, making his last appearance for the Manatees before heading to Huntsville, tossed seven strong innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while fanning seven. Meanwhile, Jeremy Jeffress made a triumphant return to BC, picking up the save with a perfect 9th inning featuring two swinging strikeouts. Angel Salome had a nice game with the bat, doubling twice and walking once in four trips. Josh Prince and Shawn Zarraga also each doubled and singled. Erik Komatsu was 0-4, and Sean Halton was 1-3 with a sac fly. Brevard County play-by-play The 'Tees got all the runs they'd need in the first: Brevard County Top 1st Josh Prince doubles (9) on a fly ball to left fielder Justin McClanahan. Sergio Miranda singles on a ground ball to center fielder Brad McElroy. Josh Prince scores. With Erik Komatsu batting, wild pitch by Chuck Huggins, Sergio Miranda to 2nd. Erik Komatsu flies out to center fielder Brad McElroy. Sergio Miranda to 3rd. Angel Salome walks. Sean Halton out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Brad McElroy. Sergio Miranda scores. Brock Kjeldgaard lines out to left fielder Justin McClanahan.

Chris: "NOTE: This was originally scheduled to be Kyle Heckathorn and the post was already posted. Just learned that Heckathorn is being skipped today. NOTHING WRONG! JUST BEING SKIPPED! GEEZ! I wasn't expecting the Spanish Inquisition." He just said on the broadcast that it was being done to keep Heckathorn's innings down.

Per his agent, RHP Mike Fiers was promoted to Huntsville.

RHP Jeremy Jeffress was transferred from Wisconsin to Brevard County, with RHP Trey Watten going on the DL to make room. I'd guess that RHP Alex Jones, whom we learned was promoted to "AA Wisconsin" a few days ago, will be taking Jeffress' place for the Rattlers.

Final: AZL Brewers 11, AZL Dodgers 4AZL Brewers box score Venezuelan righty Francisco Rivero, one of the few graduates from last year's DSL squad, turned in a very strong outing, tossing five scoreless innings while surrendering just a single hit and striking out five. After a sterling debut, Michael Schaub, the 38th-round mystery man from this year's draft, had a tough encore, allowing four runs while only recording one out--he walked three and hit two. Fortunately, the Baby Brewers' bats were more than strong enough to overcome that hiccup and run their record to a stunning 9-0. Max Walla, hitting sixth for whatever reason, had a perfect night, 3-3 with a double, walk, and HBP. Demetrius McKelvie smacked his first homer of the year as part of his two-hit night, and Kenny Allison chipped in with three singles in six trips. Puerto Rican shortstop Yadiel Rivera, one of only two draftees younger than Schaub, was 1-5 with a walk. AZL Brewers play-by-play

Final: Billings 4, Helena 3 Brewers fall short against Billings Brett/Helena Brewers The Helena Brewers (8-2) suffered their second loss of the season (first home loss) Wednesday night at Kindrick Field against the Billings Mustangs (3-7). The Brewers got on the board first, scoring a run in the second and third inning. Three walks and a hit batsman brought in Helena's first run in the second inning. Mike Walker hit his first home run of the season to make it a 2-0 game in the third. The Mustangs scored one in the fifth to cut the deficit in half and three in the seventh to take the 4-2 lead. The Brewers fought back in the ninth inning, as the always do, but fell ninety feet short. Tony Pechek led off the inning with a walk. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Connor Lind. A few pitches later Peckek made it to third on a ball that got away from Billings' catcher, Tucker Barnhart, but that was as far as he would get. Stosh Wawrzasek started on the mound for the Brewers tonight. He went 4.2 innings allowing only a run. Ryan Bernal, a 23rd round draft choice from Florida Atlantic, suffered the loss. He left the game after 1.2 innings of work. The Brewers now travel to Billings to play a two more games against the Mustangs Thursday and Friday. Action will return to Kindrick Field next Wednesday as the Brewers take on the Great Falls Voyagers. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 with gates opening at 6:00. Helena box score Wawrzasek did, however, allow a ton of baserunners--seven hits and two walks, while only striking out two. Adrian Rosario worked the final 2.2 innings for the H-Crew, allowing no runs on two hits and a walk, fanning two. Walker also doubled in addition to his homer. Carlos George singled twice in five at-bats, and Johnny Dishon was 1-3 with a walk. Greg Hopkins (0-3, BB) and Shea Vucinich (0-4) cooled off. Franklin Romero struck out four times in five trips (but did contribute by throwing a runner out at home), and John Bivens, off to a really tough start to his pro career, whiffed three of four times. Helena play-by-play The Brewers put the tying run on third with one out in the 9th but came up empty: Helena Bottom 9th Tony Pechek walks. Connor Lind out on a sacrifice bunt, first baseman Jonathan Kaskow to second baseman David Vidal. Tony Pechek to 2nd. With Carlos George batting, wild pitch by Porfirio Martinez, Tony Pechek to 3rd. Carlos George grounds out to first baseman Jonathan Kaskow. Franklin Romero strikes out swinging.

Final: Brevard County 5, Daytona 3Cubs drop finale against Brevard Christian Bruey/Daytona Cubs VIERA, FL - The Daytona Cubs (5-2, 39-38) did not complete the sweep of the Brevard County Manatees (3-4, 30-46) on Wednesday night as they fell by the score of 5-3. The Cubs out-hit the Manatees twelve to eight but could not score the runs to complete the four-game sweep. The Cubs got on the board first on Wednesday night. Catcher Michael Brenly smacked a solo home run well over the right field wall to give Daytona a 1-0 lead. It was the fourth home run of the season for Brenly and his third in the last seven games. Daytona made it 2-0 in the top of the third inning. Middle infielders David Macias and Junior Lake started the frame with back-to-back infield singles. They were sacrificed up 90 feet by Jose Valdez. Third baseman DJ LeMahieu picked up an RBI as he grounded out to second base. The Manatees answered back with a run in the bottom of the third inning and then two more in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Both runs in the bottom of the fourth inning were unearned against Cubs starter Dae-Eun Rhee. The Cubs tied the game at three in the top of the fifth inning. Center fielder Jose Valdez reached on a fielder's choice after Junior Lake reached on an infield single. DJ LeMahieu singled and then designated hitter Ryan Flaherty walked to load the bases. First baseman Rebel Ridling grounded into a fielder's choice to bring in Valdez. The Manatees re-took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning as they plated two more runs. David Patton (2-4) came in the game and could not find the strike zone. Patton gave up the two runs off of two hits and three walks. Patton was the losing pitcher of record with Trey Watten (1-5) picking up his first win of the season. Andre Lamontagne came into the game in the ninth and the Cubs had the bases loaded with only one man out. Unfortunately, Daytona could not plate any runners and Lamontagne collected his second save in 2010. Brevard County box scoreDan Merklinger started for the Manatees and allowed three runs in five innings on eight hits and a walk, striking out just one. It's been a tough season for Merklinger, whom I fancied as a bit of a sleeper entering the year. Watten tossed three scoreless frames, allowing just two hits and striking out three. Josh Prince's double was the only extra-base hit for BC; Prince also walked and stole his 24th base. Erik Komatsu (two singles), Angel Salome (single and walk), Brock Kjeldgaard (two walks), and Scott Krieger (single and walk) all reached base twice. Shawn Zarraga walked once in four trips, and Sean Halton tallied a single. Brevard County play-by-play Here's Lamontagne's adventure: Daytona Top 9th Jake Opitz flies out to center fielder Erik Komatsu. David Macias singles on a ground ball to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Junior Lake hit by pitch. David Macias to 2nd. Mark Reed singles on a line drive to left fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. David Macias to 3rd. Junior Lake to 2nd. DJ LeMahieu pops out to first baseman Sean Halton in foul territory. Ryan Flaherty strikes out swinging.

For Cain and Lawrie, two very different roads to the All-Star Game Aaron Morse/Huntsville Stars Just call Huntsville Stars’ outfielder Lorenzo Cain “The Natural.” It’s not often a player can start playing baseball in high school and eventually end up on an all-star team, much less a major league club’s 40-man roster. But that’s exactly what the relentlessly upbeat 24-year old outfielder out of Tallahassee Community College has accomplished. Cain laughs when asked what led him to baseball. “I don’t tell too many people this, but I got cut from my high school basketball team,” Cain said. “I was tired of just going home every day after school; I wanted something to keep me busy.” Hitting was never an issue, which is impressive considering as Pete Rose once said, “It’s a round ball and a round bat, and you got to hit it square.” But fielding was another matter. “I played third base in high school and I was terrible,” Cain said with a grin. “So one of the biggest challenges was finding a position I was comfortable playing.” He did exactly that at Tallahassee, shifting to center field where he could most take advantage of his plus speed. But there was still more to learn. “I didn’t know how to crow hop,” Cain said. “So that was something that required an adjustment in how I threw the ball.” The Brewers made Cain their 17th round draft choice in 2004, which came as no surprise to many, but stunned Cain. “I wasn’t expecting to be drafted at all,” he said. “I mean, my game was so raw at that time, it was a pleasant surprise.” Cain didn’t watch baseball very much growing up, but since taking up the sport has modeled his game after one man: Torii Hunter. “I love watching him play,” Cain said. “I want to be able to play the outfield just like him.” Cain tracks balls down in the gaps with an ease that belies his relative inexperience. Asked if he’s ever robbed anyone of a home run like Hunter does routinely, he flashes a smile and says that he has, but that Hunter is on a whole different level. The man they call “Lo-Cain” credits his mom with keeping him focused throughout high school and college as well. She was able to see him play with the Stars when they were in Jacksonville last week for a six-game series. Cain is currently on the Brewers’ 40-man roster, but his rise to the Southern League All-Star game has not been easy. Like so many young players, injuries have slowed him down at times. In particular 2009 was a rough time as he only hit .218 in the minors. This came the year after he got a cup of coffee in triple-A with the Nashville Sounds. “Taking care of my body has got to be priority number one right now,” Cain said. “I have to do everything in my power to avoid another trip to the disabled list.” But for now, it’s full speed ahead as he prepares to represent the Stars on July 12 as the All-Star Game comes to Huntsville. Just call Stars’ second baseman Brett Lawrie “The Chosen One.” The Brewers have a lot of hope and money riding on the 2008 first round draft pick out of Brookswood Secondary (Langley, British Columbia). He received a bonus of 1.7 million dollars upon signing, and so far he’s been just as good as advertised. Lawrie, 20, talks a mile a minute and likes to joke about his short attention span. “I have a really hard time watching a baseball game all the way through,” Lawrie said. “Growing up I liked to watch individual players; I didn’t really have a particular team I rooted for.” Lawrie has often been characterized as a hitter without a position, something he cringes at. “I know I have to work on my defense, but I can play anywhere they need me to,” Lawrie said. “I can play third, catcher, second base, whatever they need.” Currently Lawrie is holding down the fort at second base and improving every day. He says that he loves watching Dan Uggla and Dustin Pedroia play. Their combination of powerful hitting and slick glove-work is something that appeals to the Southern League’s total bases leader. Lawrie comes from a family of athletes. His sister Danielle recently graduated from the University of Washington, where she led the Dawgs to the 2009 NCAA softball national title. “Oh yeah, it was a pretty competitive household growing up,” Lawrie said. “Nowadays we’ve kind of gone our separate ways, but when we were younger we definitely pushed each other.” Lawrie says he’s never tried to hit a pitch from his sister. He smiles and says that she’d probably get him the first few times, but he’d make the necessary adjustments. The confident infielder played in the MLB “Futures Game” last year at age 19, and said it was an amazing experience. “It was the same day as that softball game they play with all the baseball legends, so I got to meet a few of them,” Lawrie said. “This year, with the game in Los Angeles, I expect there to be even more star-power at All-Star Weekend.” Lawrie’s schedule is about to get hectic, as the Futures game is a little earlier this year, allowing him to play there and play in the Southern League All-Star game. “It’s very exciting to have the game in Huntsville,” Lawrie said. “Normally that would mean I wouldn’t have to go anywhere, but I don’t mind the flight to LA and back.” Cain and Lawrie’s backgrounds are very different, but they share a few similar qualities. Cain has his trademark grin while Lawrie always seems to have a twinkle in his eye. Both love almost every minute of their journey to the big leagues. But Cain does caution those fans who think it is all fun and games that the minor leagues are definitely a grind. The long bus trips to Jacksonville, Carolina, and other SL destinations are taxing. “You have to have serious mental toughness to make it through a minor league season,” said Cain. Lawrie agrees and says now that he plays baseball for a living, he tries to avoid it as much as possible during his rare off days. Like Cain, Lawrie played a lot of basketball growing up; he played all the way through high school. Despite his avoidance of baseball on days off, America’s national pastime remains the Canadian’s favorite sport. He makes no bones about his goal for the remainder of the season. “At the start of the year my goal was to begin the season in Double-A,” Lawrie said. “I’ve accomplished that, I’ve hit the ball well, and now my goal is a September call-up to the major leagues.” Confident? Yes. Realistic for the youngest player on the Stars? Quite possibly. The Stars have already seen catcher Jonathan Lucroy promoted first to Nashville, then to Milwaukee. Meanwhile, another young player, Starlin Castro, formerly of the Tennessee Smokies, became the first player born in the 1990’s to play in the majors when he debuted with the Chicago Cubs this year. “The Natural” and “The Chosen One” aren’t far behind.

Final: Wisconsin 4, Quad Cities 1 Davis, Davis, & Rattlers top River Bandits Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers stopped a brief two-game slide with a 4-1 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits Wednesday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Doug Davis pitched well in a seven inning rehab start and picked up the win. Kentrail Davis had three hits, including a big home run late in the game for Wisconsin. Cutter Dykstra and Chris Dennis combined for a two-out Timber Rattlers rally in the bottom of the second inning. Dykstra doubled with two outs and nobody on base. Dennis followed with a single to right and Dykstra scored for a 1-0 lead. Davis kept the River Bandits (44-31 overall, 4-2 second half) off the scoreboard over the first five innings. But, in the sixth, Devin Goodwin tripled with one out. Edgar Lara followed with an RBI single to tie the game 1-1. Wisconsin (30-44, 4-2) charged back in front in the bottom of the sixth. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Cameron Garfield’s one-out single drove in the go-ahead run. But, that was the only run the Rattlers could manage in the inning. Davis pitched around a pair of walks in the top of the seventh inning with help from an inning ending 4-6-3 double play. He tossed seven innings, scattered six hits, walked three, hit one, and struck out four to put himself in line for the win. Efrain Nieves relieved Davis and walked the leadoff batter in the top of the eighth. But, another double play, the third of the game turned by the Rattlers defense stifled the Quad Cities rally. Scooter Gennett started the Wisconsin eighth inning with a double. Kentrail Davis followed with a home run that curled around the foul pole in right field for a two-run homer and a 4-1 Wisconsin lead. The long ball was the second of the season for Davis, who has driven in 11 runs in his 11 games with the Timber Rattlers. Nieves worked around an error and a walk in the top of the ninth inning to close out the Bandits and pick up his first save of the season. The Timber Rattlers hit the road for a nine-game road trip that starts on Thursday night. Wisconsin will take on the Burlington Bees at Community Field. Kyle Heckathorn (6-4, 2.52) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Keaton Hayenga (1-6, 9.37) is the scheduled start for the Bees. Game time is 6:30pm. Fans may tune into the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or www.timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm. Wisconsin box score Must be a trip for Hunter Morris, who was playing college baseball a month ago, to be on the field with a major leaguer (Morris was 0-4). Doug Davis threw 96 pitches, 63 for strikes--not quite the same nibbler against A-ball hitters. Gennett added a single to his double, and Dykstra also walked and was hit by a pitch. Dennis also had a double. D'Vontrey Richardson was 1-4, Khris Davis 0-3 with a walk, and Cameron Garfield 2-4. Wisconsin play-by-play

From the Helena game recap, we learn that RHP Alex Jones, the Brewers' 27th-round pick this year, was promoted to Huntsville. I would imagine he's the first player from this year's draft to climb above A-ball, however short his stay might be. EDIT: MH pointed out that the recap actually says Jones was promoted to "Class AA Wisconsin", so it seems likely that he's actually headed to Wisconsin rather than Huntsville.

Brewers win fourth straight Mark Vinson/Helena Independent Record This time, there was no need for late-inning fireworks. Shea Vucinich drilled a two-run homer into the face of a gale-force wind and three Helena pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts as the first-place Brewers won their fourth straight game, beating the Billings Mustangs 5-3 in a Pioneer League contest witnessed by 864 fans at Kindrick Field on Tuesday night. “We’re just playing hard-nosed baseball,” Helena manager Joe Ayrault said. “Vucinich came up big with the home run.” The Brewers’ 8-1 start ties their best since 2005, when they finished 46-30. It’s also Helena’s second four-game winning streak of the season after never winning more than three straight in either of the past two years. “We’re just doing the little things well,” said Vucinich, whose home run was his second in as many nights. The Brewers came from behind to win for the fifth time in the young season, scoring one in the fourth inning to tie before Vucinich’s line-drive shot to left field off Billings reliever Daniel Wolford (0-2) put them ahead to stay in the bottom of the fifth. “It was a fastball inside,” Vucinich said. “I was trying not to get under it. It felt good off the bat.” Winds that gusted to more than 40 miles per hour played havoc with fly balls all night and made life difficult for the pitchers as well. “There were a couple of points where the wind was coming at you pretty good,” said Brewers starter and winner Matt Miller (2-0). Miller struck out eight and allowed five hits in five innings, but did hit three batters, leading to a pair of Billings runs in the third inning. “They started crowding the plate a little more,” he said. “I have to establish the inside corner. I was effective with the fastball, got ahead in the count and got a couple on curveballs.” Tyler Thornburg and Alex Jones followed Miller and combined for seven more strikeouts in four scoreless innings. Jones earned the save with a pair of perfect innings and learned afterward he had been promoted to Class AA Wisconsin. “I knew I wanted to move up by the end of the summer, but I was surprised it happened this quickly,” said the 6-6 rookie righthander from Jacksonville (Ala.) State University. After Billings took advantage of two hit batsmen and a single to score twice in the third, Helena evened things in the bottom of the frame on consecutive doubles by John Dishon, Franklin Romero and Cody Hawn. The Mustangs (2-7), who have lost four one-run games already this season, took the lead in the top of the fourth on a solo home run to right field by Trey Manz, before an aggressive play on the bases tied the game. Carlos George reached on a fielders’ choice, advanced on a single by Romero and then stole third with the right-handed-hitting Connor Lind at the plate. Billings catcher Chris Berset threw the ball into leftfield, allowing George to score and tie the contest. Vucinich then provided the winning runs an inning later. “For Vucinich to drive that ball threw the teeth of the wind was incredible,” Ayrault said. DIAMOND NOTES: Two more Brewers had to leave the game with minor injuries. Hawn was hit in the ankle by a pitch and left the game in the third inning. Catcher Brent Dean re-aggravated a hamstring injury and also left the contest. Both are considered day-to-day, as is outfielder Reggie Keen, who injured a hamstring in the finale of the Great Falls series on Sunday. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/d/37/705/d37705de-83fd-11df-96f9-001cc4c002e0-revisions/4c2ac4682b050.image.jpg Brewers' Shea Vucinich is greeted by his teammates after he hit a two-run homer Tuesday night against Billings at Kindrick Field. (Dylan Brown/Independent Record) Five more photos from the IR here.

Daytona wins fourth straight Mike Rosa/Daytona Cubs DAYTONA BEACH, FL - The Daytona Cubs (5-1, 39-37) continued their dominance as they took down the Brevard County Manatees (2-4, 29-46) Tuesday night by the score of 6-3. The Cubs were in an early three to nothing hole but were able to pull their way out and score six unanswered runs. The Manatees struck first with a solo run in the top of the third inning. Second baseman Sergio Miranda lined a one-out single into center field off Cubs starter Brooks Raley. After a fly out by Erik Komatsu, right fielder Angel Salome drove a double to right-center field to bring home Miranda for the early lead. Brevard County extended that lead to three runs in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, designated hitter Scott Krieger and catcher Shawn Zarraga blasted back-to-back solo home runs off of Raley. It was the third home run of the season for Krieger and the first for Zarraga. On his birthday, Brooks Raley lasted only 4.1 innings in the start. He gave up the three runs on six hits and struck out two. The Cubs got the offense going in the bottom of the fifth inning. Left fielder David Macias led off the frame with an infield single. He was forced out on a Junior Lake ground ball to third. Lake moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on line-drive single from center fielder Jose Valdez. With third baseman DJ LeMahieu at the plate, Valdez stole second to put two runners in scoring position. The Cubs RBI leader, DJ LeMahieu, picked up two more with a single to center field that made it a 3-2 ball game. Daytona tied the game at three the very next inning. Right fielder Kyler Burke led off the inning with a double into the right field corner. Michael Brenly brought Burke in with a single up the middle with his nineteenth RBI of the season. The Cubs did not waste any time to continue their rally as they scored three more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. LeMahieu got things started with a one out single to right field. Ryan Flaherty stepped up to the plate next and drove LeMahieu in with a two-base-hit that went all the way to the wall in right centerfield. With Flaherty at second Rebel Ridling blasted his fifth home run of the season deep over the centerfield wall. The ballgame ended with a 6-3 final as the Daytona Cubs bullpen combined for four and two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball. James Leverton (2-0) was the winning pitcher of record in this contest with Corey Frerichs (4-2) picking up the loss. Marco Carrillo slammed the door in the ninth to pick up his third save of the season. The Cubs next home game will be on the Fourth of July. Come out to Jackie Robinson Ballpark to cheer on the Cubs and watch an out of this world Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza in the Volusia County area thanks to the U.S. Marines. For ticketing information contact the Daytona Cubs at 386-257-3172.

Final: Quad Cities 6, Wisconsin 4 (12 innings) Rattlers and Bandits battle to extra innings...again Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Quad Cities River Bandits did it to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers again. For the second night in a row, the Bandits beat Wisconsin in extra innings. Michael Swinson had four hits and drove in four runs to pace Quad Cities to a 6-4 win in 12 innings at Time Warner Cable Field. The loss spoiled a terrific start by Rattler pitcher Maverick Lasker. Chris Dennis cashed in the first scoring opportunity of the night for the Rattlers (29-44 overall, 3-2 second half). Wisconsin had runners at second and third with no outs in the first inning, but both runners were still there with two outs. Dennis dropped in a single to right to drive in both runners for a 2-0 lead. In the third, Hunter Morris doubled in a run and Wisconsin had a 3-0 lead. That looked like more than enough for Lasker. The right-hander carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. But, he ran into trouble in that inning and some of it was of his own making. Lasker committed an error with one out on a slow roller back to the mound off the bat of Luis Mateo. A wild pitch sent Mateo into scoring position. Swinson made the Rattlers pay the for the first time with an RBI single. An error on the play allowed Swinson to take second. He would score when Ryan Jackson, the next batter in the frame, singled. One inning later, déjà vu struck. On Monday night, Frederick Parejo tripled with two outs and none aboard in the top of the fourteenth inning. He scored on a wild pitch. On Tuesday, Parejo tripled with two outs and none on in the top of the seventh. Lasker threw a wild pitch and Parejo scored the tying run. Lasker went a career high nine innings and struck out eight batters, but he was not involved in the decision. Swinson struck again in the top of the eleventh inning against Matt Costello. He drove an 0-1 pitch over the right field wall for a home run and the River Bandits were up 4-3. Dennis answered right away in the bottom of the eleventh. He crushed the first pitch from Jason Novak just to the right of the batters’ eye in straightaway center for a game-tying home run. The home run was the eighth of the season for Dennis. The Rattlers got two runners on with two outs later in the eleventh, but could not get the winning run home. It would cost them. Costello got the first out of the twelfth, but a walk to Parejo and a single by Lara put two runners on base. A strikeout was recorded for the second out of the inning. Then, Costello walked Mateo on the 3-2 pitch to load the bases for Swinson. Andy Sauter was summoned from the bullpen to face Swinson. The count ran to 3-2 and Swinson hit a soft popup to shallow left. Rattlers shortstop Michael Marseco made a diving attempt, but the ball barely dropped in for a two-run single and a 6-4 Quad Cities lead. In the bottom of the twelfth, Novak retired the first two batters, but Morris singled and Dennis walked. Pinch hitter Cameron Garfield came up as the winning run, but Novak struck him out to end the game. The River Bandits have played three consecutive extra inning games. They went 16 innings in a 4-3 win at home over the Kane County Cougars on Sunday night. Monday’s game was a 7-6 decision in 14 innings at Time Warner Cable Field. The Rattlers are 0-9 in extra inning games this season. They are 0-for-12 in their last 12 games that have gone longer than regulation. The last Wisconsin win in an extra inning game was on July 24, 2009 when they beat Dayton 5-4 in 11 innings at Time Warner Cable Field. Wisconsin and Quad Cities play the final game of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon at 12:05pm. Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Doug Davis will make a rehabilitation start for the Timber Rattlers. Eric Fornataro (5-6, 3.73) is the scheduled starter for the River Bandits. If you can’t make it to the ballpark, you may listen to the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or www.timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 11:45am. Wisconsin box score Ah, it was nice to be able to listen to Mr. Mehring again, but it would have been even nicer to hear the Rattlers finally win an extra-inning game. Lasker walked but one and allowed only four hits; meanwhile, Sauter's allowed 22 hits in 9 innings this year. Dennis added another walk to complete a really nice night. With D'Vontrey Richardson getting the day off, Scooter Gennett was 1-5 with a sac bunt as the leadoff hitter. Kentrail Davis was 0-5 with a walk, and Khris Davis was 1-3 with three walks. Cutter Dykstra also was not in the starting lineup, but did see action as a pinch runner. Wisconsin play-by-play

Final: Chattanooga 9, Huntsville 3Stars fall at home to Lookouts Huntsville Stars The Stars trailed the entire way Tuesday night, falling in game one of a series opener 9-3 to the visiting Chattanooga Lookouts. Dee Gordon led off the game with a single, stole two bases and scored on a sacrifice fly. Things took a strange turn after Stars pitcher Mark Rogers worked out of the inning with 29 pitches. Lookouts starting pitcher Mario Alvarez only delivered one pitch before he was ejected from the game for hitting Brett Lawrie with a fastball. Home plate umpire Marcus Patillo then tossed Chattanooga manager Carlos Subero during the heated argument that followed. The Stars and Lookouts last played in Huntsville from April 26-29 and it’s possible Patillo felt the wayward pitch was a carryover from the previous series between the two squads. Lawrie did score as the lone run of the Stars first. Lawrie’s run tied the score and was credited to Alvarez, who did not record an out before being run from the contest. Rogers did not last long either. One of the Stars hottest hurlers of late retired one and allowed one in the second before calling Stars pitching coach John Curtis out of the dugout. After examining Roger’s pitching hand, the decision was made to bring in reliever Donovan Hand. Roger’s threw 41 pitches through 1.1 innings, allowed three runs on two hits and walked three while striking out one. The Stars bullpen did not fare much better, giving up six runs on 11 hits. Rogers picked up the loss, his sixth of 2010. Huntsville’s best chance came in the third but could only take one run back. With one run already in, two outs and runners on the corners, Dayton Buller sent a fly ball to right field that Kyle Russell reeled in easily to end the frame. A doubleheader is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. (CDT) in Huntsville on Wednesday. Huntsville will send Amaury Rivas (6-5 2.960 in game one and Lucas Luetge (1-0 1.00) in game two. Both games will be streamed live on huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville box score Chad Anderson speculated that Rogers had a blister. Lawrie added two singles, both off left-handed pitchers, to his HBP. Lorenzo Cain had a tough night, striking out four times, though he did walk once. Caleb Gindl was 1-4 with a HBP, Taylor Green was 0-4, and Zelous Wheeler was on all four times with three singles and a walk. Huntsville play-by-play Down 6-2 in the 5th, Green had a chance to get the Stars back into the game but came up empty: Huntsville Bottom 5th Mark Willinsky grounds out, pitcher David Pfeiffer to first baseman Jerry Sands. Brett Lawrie singles on a ground ball to center fielder Trayvon Robinson. Lorenzo Cain called out on strikes. Caleb Gindl hit by pitch. Brett Lawrie to 2nd. With Zelous Wheeler batting, Brett Lawrie steals (18) 3rd base. Caleb Gindl steals (4) 2nd base. Zelous Wheeler walks. Pitcher Change: Cole St. Clair replaces David Pfeiffer, batting 9th. Taylor Green called out on strikes. Trivia: That was Willinsky's third career plate appearance and the first time he's put the ball in play.

Final: Helena 5, Billings 3Helena box score When Matt Miller was drafted, the word was that he might be best used as a reliever, but his first two starts have been just fine. Tonight, he struck out eight and walked none in five innings, allowing three runs on five hits, though he did also hit three batters. Tyler Thornburg also pitched well in his second pro game, striking out four and walking one in two scoreless innings, though he did allow four hits. Alex Jones also impressed, striking out three over two perfect innings to close out the win. Franklin Romero's 3-4 night led the charge offensively. Romero doubled, as did Johnny Dishon (2-4, BB) and Cody Hawn (1-1, HBP). Hawn had only two plate appearances because he was removed for a pinch runner after his double; hopefully the IR's recap will let us know if that was related to the HBP. Shea Vucinich continued his extremely hot start by smacking his second homer. Greg Hopkins and Mike Walker were both 1-3 with a walk. Helena play-by-play Miller allowed a solo homer, but the other two came in a pretty unusual rally: Billings Top 3rd David Vidal hit by pitch. Chris Berset singles on a ground ball to center fielder Franklin Romero. David Vidal to 2nd. Theo Bowe hit by pitch. David Vidal to 3rd. Chris Berset to 2nd. Dayne Read out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Franklin Romero. David Vidal scores. Chris Berset to 3rd. Jefry Sierra out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder John Dishon. Chris Berset scores. Yorman Rodriguez flies out to right fielder John Dishon. Here's Hawn's exit: Helena Bottom 3rd Carlos George lines out to left fielder Theo Bowe. John Dishon doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Yorman Rodriguez. Franklin Romero doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Theo Bowe. John Dishon scores. Cody Hawn doubles (4) on a fly ball to right fielder Yorman Rodriguez. Franklin Romero scores. Gregory Hopkins walks. Michael Walker singles on a ground ball to center fielder Dayne Read. Cody Hawn to 3rd. Gregory Hopkins to 2nd. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Connor Lind replaces Cody Hawn. Shea Vucinich strikes out swinging. John Bivens strikes out swinging.

Reality check serves Grafton star hurler well Todd Rosiak/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel West Allis - Everyone has those "what-if" moments. Conor Fisk's came in his junior year. Playing hockey for Grafton High School, he tried checking an opponent but instead hurt himself badly. He suffered a major tear to the labrum in his left shoulder, an injury that kept his arm in a sling for two months and him off the baseball field - his true love - for all but the final few weeks of the Black Hawks' season last summer. Fisk is doing great now, but what if he'd decided to check him with his right shoulder instead? The one that helps him fire a baseball up to 92 miles an hour and ultimately got him drafted in the 34th round by the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this month? He doesn't even want to think about it. "Thank God I checked with my opposite shoulder," Fisk said Saturday at West Allis Hale's Harvey Kuenn Tournament. "It was an easy decision not to play hockey this year." Grafton coach Brian Durst is thanking his lucky stars as well because Fisk has returned from his mishap with a flourish, ranking as one of the most dominating pitchers in the area, if not the state. Using a four-pitch arsenal, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Fisk has gone 7-1 for Grafton (11-6), striking out 90 batters in 60 innings and walking just 13 en route to a 1.05 earned-run average and an incredible WHIP of 0.88. He has also thrown a five-inning perfect game against Brown Deer and a one-hitter in a 2-0 win over North Shore rival Cedarburg. "He's learned to make the most of every opportunity he's given on the mound," Durst said. "Every start he's going to give us a chance to compete." This is Fisk's fourth season pitching at the varsity level for Grafton but his first under the microscope. He flashed major promise as a freshman, clocking a 74 mph fastball, but it was during that off-season that Fisk realized he was only scratching the surface of what he could become. Buying completely into a throwing program he and his father had discovered, Fisk saw his fastball jump into the mid-80s. Injuries kept him off-balance as a sophomore and then the shoulder surgery almost wiped out his junior season. But he was impressive enough upon his brief return, striking out 41 in 35 1/3 innings to go along with two complete games, that the possibility of being drafted as a senior suddenly appeared real. Last August he got some exposure by attending an Atlanta Braves tryout camp at Marian College. Then after pitching well for his traveling fall team, the letters from both major-league and college teams began rolling in. He signed with Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel, Ill., a Division I junior college, and entered his senior season as the top-rated pro prospect in Wisconsin, according to Baseball America. Projected by the magazine to be drafted in the 20th round, Fisk went in the 34th to the Brewers, a team he grew up watching, of course, yet never heard from as a prospect. "It's exciting. It's also shocking," he said. "You grow up watching the home team play, then to be drafted by them - I'm still shocked by it all. They never talked to me or anything. I guess they're notorious for that. I was expecting another team to pick me, and they got me. Shocked and amazed." Fisk said at this point his plans are to attend school, with the possibility he can be drafted again next season - potentially much higher - an alluring one. "I signed with (Wabash Valley) and had them way before any of this talk about getting drafted came up," he said. "That's where I plan on going, but if they offer me something and I sign then I'll go play for the Brewers." While Fisk's fastball tops out at 92, he throws it consistently between 88-90 and combines it with a curveball that Durst termed "devastating," a slider and a changeup that he's still refining. Only a two-out, two-strike bloop single in the top of the seventh kept Fisk from posting a no-hitter against Cedarburg just five days after his perfect game. "I left a changeup up," Fisk said, shaking his head. "He's got a lot of poise on the mound," said Durst. "He's thrown in front of scouts and big crowds, and so he's had eyes on him for awhile now. He just comes out and knows what he has to do on the mound, and he's able to take care of that and block out everything outside the lines. That's a real credit to him." Cedarburg exacted some revenge on Fisk on Thursday, "spanking" him, as he put it, in a 7-2 loss that dropped Grafton's record in the North Shore to 6-4 with the playoffs approaching. In other words, exactly the types of situations in which Fisk believes he excels. "Coming out here I have the mentality that, being a draft pick now, I don't want to lose," said Fisk. "Bad days are going to happen; my stuff isn't going to be that good, but I want to come out here and win every game and show (everyone) how good I am and why I was picked."

Final: Nashville 6, Round Rock 3 Nashville Beats Round Rock, 6-3, On Tuesday Night Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds topped the Round Rock Express, 6-3, on Tuesday evening at historic Greer Stadium in the finale of a four-game set. Taking three of four games from Round Rock in the series, Nashville (43-36) moves back into first place in the PCL Northern Division with the victory after Memphis and Iowa took losses earlier in the evening. Marty McLeary (2-6) threw his first quality start in his longest outing of the season to earn the win, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits on three walks and five strikeouts over seven innings. McLeary allowed leadoff doubles to begin the first two innings on the mound for the Sounds, but the right-hander retired the Express offense in order to strand the runners on base to keep the game scoreless. For the third consecutive game, Joe Koshansky crushed a home run over the right field wall that put the Sounds on the board, 1-0, in the bottom of the second inning. Koshansky's 10th home run tied him with Brendan Katin for the team lead. The last time a Sounds player hit a home run in three straight games with Katin from 9/5 to 9/7 to end last season. Trent Oeltjen continued to stay hot for Nashville, homering to right center and extending the Nashville lead to 2-0. The Australian recorded a multi-hit game for the seventh straight contest, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Round Rock came within one run in the next frame at 2-1 as Express first baseman Tommy Everidge hit his eighth home run off the guitar scoreboard. The Express tied the contest at 2-2 at the top of the fifth inning. After a single and Nashville fielding error, McLeary intentionally walked Matt Kata to load the bases and then walked home the tying run as Luis Maza walked with one out in the inning. McLeary fanned the next two batters to end the inning, followed Brian Bogusevic getting ejected by home plate umpire Shaun Francis. Round Rock again loaded the bases in the next inning, but failed to score and take the lead. After recording the first out, McLeary surrendered three consecutive singles, and then induced a double play to end the inning. The Sounds took a 5-2 lead over the Express in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring three runs with two outs on Round Rock starter Shane Loux. Raburn singled to begin the scoring rally, moved to second on a groundout, then came home on a pinch-hit RBI double by Erick Almonte for his team-leading ninth pinch-hit this season. The Sounds added the other two runs on RBI singles from Oeltjen and Ray Olmedo. Johnny Raburn singled home Adam Stern in the bottom of the eighth inning that extended the Nashville lead to 6-2. Kata hit his third home run on the year in the top of the ninth inning, but the Express were unable to score more runs before Brandon Kintzler stuck out Gary Majewski to end the game earn his third save on the year. Loux (2-5) took the loss, giving up five runs on nine hits while fanning a season-high eight batters. After a league-wide off day on Wednesday, the Sounds welcome the New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA-Astros) to Music City, for a three-game series beginning at 7:05 pm on Taco Bell Throwback Thursday. The Famous San Diego Chicken will also make an appearance at historic Greer Stadium that night. Left-hander Chris Waters (4-4, 3.36) will start for Nashville against New Orleans righty Tom Mastny (1-0, 1.71). Nashville box score Kintzler went the final two innings, allowing just Kata's solo homer while striking out two and walking none. Mat Gamel was 1-4. Nashville play-by-play

Jeremy Jeffress was added to the 40-man roster.

Final: Daytona 6, Brevard County 3Brevard County box score Instead of Cody Scarpetta, R.J. Seidel got the start and allowed two runs in 4.1 innings on five hits and two walks while failing to strike out a batter. The rest of the damage was charged to Corey Frerichs in his two innings of work. Josh Prince was on base three out of five times on two singles and a walk, and Angel Salome singled and doubled. Scott Krieger and Shawn Zarraga both homered for the Manatees; for Zarraga, touted for his power when he was drafted in 2007, that's the first homer since 2008. Erik Komatsu was 0-3 with a walk, and Sean Halton was 0-4. Brevard County play-by-play Krieger and Zarraga went back-to-back in the 4th.

These are good points, and I have no idea why I didn't just think of Brewer. I'm sure you're right.

I may be wrong, but I assume that his NFL contract makes him ineligible in all NCAA sports, which would mean that the Brewers have until a week before next year's draft to sign him, rather the mid-August deadline for players with remaining eligibility.

LHP Thomas Keeling, the Brewers' 18th-round pick and Baseball America's #189 overall prospect, has signed.

The Brewers signed RHP Marty McLeary (majors/minors) to fill out Nashville's staff.

Final: Memphis 7, Nashville 5 Sounds drop homestand opener to Redbirds Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds suffered their fourth consecutive loss on Monday evening at historic Greer Stadium, falling 7-5 to the division-leading Memphis Redbirds in the opener of a six-game series. Nashville (33-30), which is mired in its longest skid of the season, has lost nine of its last 11 games. Outfielder Brendan Katin, playing in just his second home game of the year, spotted the Sounds a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when he belted his team-leading seventh homer of the year, a solo shot to left off Redbirds starter Ryan Kulik. Katin suffered a knee injury in Nashville's home opener on April 16 and missed seven weeks before returning to action during the club's recent road trip. Trent Oeltjen doubled the Nashville advantage to 2-0 in the fourth when he led off the frame with a solo homer to center off Kulik, the outfielder's fourth longball of the year. Starter Chris Waters allowed two hits over five scoreless innings for the Sounds, exiting after throwing 73 pitches. He took a no-decision, however, as Memphis quickly rallied against the Nashville bullpen. Memphis sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the sixth, plating seven runs against a pair of Nashville relievers to grab a 7-2 lead. The first three batters to face Sounds right-hander Tim Dillard recorded singles. The third of those hits, off the bat of Joe Mather, plated Tyler Greene to halve the Sounds' lead to 2-1. After a walk and a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Dillard issued a bases-loaded walk to Rapoport, forcing home Allen Craig with the tying run. Right-hander David Johnson was summoned from the Nashville bullpen and inherited a bases-loaded jam from Dillard. He struck out pinch-hitter Bryan Anderson before issuing a four-pitch walk to pinch-hitter Kevin Howard to plate Mather and give Memphis a 3-2 lead. Jon Jay followed with a bases-clearing, three-run double into the right field corner to increase the Redbirds' cushion to 6-2. Greene added an RBI single to wrap up the inning's scoring. Nashville pulled back within a pair of runs at 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth with three runs against Redbirds reliever Andrew Brown. Norris Hopper (4-for-4) ripped a two-run double into the right field corner then later scored on a Ray Olmedo groundout. The Sounds could get no closer over the final three frames against the Memphis bullpen. They put two runners on for Katin in the eighth, but he was retired by Rich Hill on an inning-ending groundout to squelch the threat. Kulik (1-1) picked up his first win of the year for the Redbirds, allowing two runs on the two homers while striking out six batters in his five frames of work. Dillard (1-3) absorbed the loss for Nashville after being tagged for five runs in just one-third of an inning. The teams continue the series with a 6:05 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday evening. Left-hander Chuck Lofgren (6-4, 4.58) will toe the rubber for the Sounds in the first seven-inning contest to face Memphis right-hander Brandon Dickson (7-3, 3.16). Newly-signed right-hander Marty McLeary (0-5, 12.21 in 9G with Las Vegas) will start the nightcap for Nashville against Redbirds right-hander Oneli Perez (2-2, 4.74). Nashville box score Hmm, apparently we've signed someone named Marty McLeary. Mat Gamel was 1-3 with a walk. Brandon Kintzler tossed a perfect inning with a strikeout. Nashville play-by-play

McCalvy: