Link Report for Thursday 9/10 - Shuckers Game One, Best of Five

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Biloxi: RHP Jorge Lopez at home vs. Pensacola (Reds), 6:55 PM pre-game, 7:10 gametime; Game One of a Best-of-Five Series

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

MiLB.TV - Eight of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi is among them! Pensacola does as well.

 

By the way, it's Montgomery (Rays) vs. Chattanooga (Twins) in the other semi-final.

 

MiLB.TV subscribers should root for the Biscuits, as Chattanooga does not offer MiLB.TV.

 

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Box Score / Game Log / Game Day Link

 

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Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog

 

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Weather forecast:

 

 

Biloxi, MS

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You'll find multiple Biloxi "preview" tidbits within several of the posts that carried over from Tuesday's final regular season Link Report.

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AUDIO: Southern League Roundup -- Playoff Preview via the Shuck Dynasty Blog

 

The playoff matchups are set for the Southern League and Thaddeus Krzus brings you a quick preview of what to expect on this week’s edition of the Southern League Roundup.

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Here's your Biloxi roster answers from @BrewersPD:

 

Brett Phillips has been reinstated from the Biloxi DL.

 

Michael Reed, Jorge Ortega, and Brandon Macias will all join Biloxi for round 1 of the playoffs. Nathan Orf, Hobbs Johnson, Brooks Hall, & Martin Viramontes to the DL.

 

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Orf is hurt? The other DL assignments seem to be to hide relatively ineffective players as of late.

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Thursday's Farmhand Birthdays --

 

Helena LHP Christian Trent turns 23.

 

DSL Brewers RHP Yunior Santana (a converted outfielder) is 22 today.

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MiLB.com's Southern League Playoff Preview

 

And yes, the Shuckers hopefully have figured out how to pitch to Jesse Winker...

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Shuck Dynasty Blog -- Updated Preview

 

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Via Tom Haudricourt --

 

OF Daniel Fields, claimed from Detroit by Brewers, will join @BiloxiShuckers in time to be activated for Game 3 of 1st round playoffs.

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Final: Pensacola 2, Biloxi 4

 

Lopez deals Shuckers a win over Wahoos in game one of Division Series

Lopez tosses a season-high 115 pitches and takes no hitter into the sixth

Biloxi Shuckers

 

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Jorge Lopez allowed just two hits over 6.2 innings on Thursday night (M.K. Krebs)

 

BILOXI, MS – A raucous crowd of 2,782 at MGM Park witnessed the Southern League’s Most Outstanding Pitcher, Jorge Lopez dazzle the Pensacola Blue Wahoos through 6.2 innings as Biloxi took game one of the Southern League South Division Series, 4-2 on Thursday night. Lopez’s 115-pitch performance gives the Shuckers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

 

Lopez (1-0) took over where he left off in the regular season, allowing just an unearned run on two hits, three walks and seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings on the season-high115 pitches – 65 for strikes. The 22-year-old carried a no-hitter into the sixth, before a one-out single by Alex Blandino broke up the bid.

 

Biloxi (1-0) came out of the gate swinging to take an early 1-0 lead at the end of the first. Yadiel Rivera (2x5, R) singled to kick start the offense and came all the way around to score on Orlando Arcia’s (2x4, 2 RBI, R, 3B) triple to center.

 

Pensacola (0-1) tied things up with an unearned run in the third. Ray Chang reached on an error by Arcia at shortstop to start the inning and advanced to second on the play. After moving over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Daniel Wright, Phillip Ervin brought in the tying run with a groundout to second.

 

The Shuckers had a leadoff double in the fourth from Tyrone Taylor (2x3, 2B), but could not get the run across. Instead, Biloxi used a leadoff double from Nick Shaw (2x4, R, 2B) in the fifth to piece together a rally. Rivera singled the runner over to third after Lopez struck out, and Arcia drove in his second run of the game with a groundout to second.

 

Biloxi added insurance with a RBI double from Brett Phillips (2x3, RBI, 2 2B) in the sixth and a RBI groundout by Garrett Cooper (0x3, RBI, R, BB) to plate Arcia in the seventh for a 4-1 advantage.

 

Jacob Barnes took over for Lopez with two outs in the seventh and struck out Ryan Wright to end the inning and carried that momentum into the eighth, striking out two more in a perfect frame.

 

Damien Magnifico, who saved 20 games in 22 chances during the regular season, struggled to shut the door on the Blue Wahoos in the ninth. Back-to-back walks to Marquez Smith and Juan Duran started the inning and a fielder’s choice by Seth Mejias-Brean placed runners on the corners. Chang singled home Smith to cut the Shuckers’ lead to 4-2.

 

Southern League Manager of the Year Carlos Subero turned to Yhonathan Barrios (SV, 1) to pick up the final two outs. The 23-year-old responded in kind, striking out Skipworth and inducing a groundout to second from Zach Vincej to end the game.

 

Biloxi will try to finish off its home-field advantage and take a 2-0 lead on Friday night. RHP Adrian Houser (4-1, 2.92) will make his second start against Pensacola, and first since Aug. 13, when the 22-year-old gave up four runs – two earned – over six innings with eight strikeouts. The Blue Wahoos will send out LHP Cody Reed, who shutout the Shuckers over seven innings and struck out 10 on Aug. 15. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on 1240-AM WGCM, 1580-AM WPMO and the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network. Fans can also listen to the game using the TuneIn Radio app or by going to www.biloxishuckers.com. The game is also available on MiLB.tv.

 

Biloxi Box Score

 

Biloxi Game Log

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Phillips, Lopez lead Biloxi to Game 1 win

No. 2 Milwaukee prospect doubles twice; righty takes no-no into sixth

By Tyler Maun / MiLB.com

 

While he may still be getting acquainted with his new organization in certain ways, Brett Phillips is anything but a stranger to postseason baseball. Thursday night, he showed his playoff aptitude in a big moment again.

 

The Brewers' No. 2 prospect doubled twice and drove in a run in his return from the disabled list as Double-A Biloxi opened its best-of-5 Southern League semifinal with a 4-2 win over visiting Pensacola at MGM Park.

 

"I've had the opportunity to play in the playoffs the last couple of years, and it's not about individual stats anymore," Phillips said. "It's about stringing together good at-bats, getting on base so the guy behind you can do the job. In the playoffs, it's all about being selfless. Tonight, it was great to get that first win of the series."

 

The 21-year-old knows what it takes to succeed when the calendar turns to September. While with the Astros, Phillips won a California League title with Class A Advanced Lancaster a year ago and took part in the 2013 Appalachian League playoffs with Rookie-level Greeneville. On Thursday night, his Biloxi club got things off on the right foot behind starting pitcher and No. 9 Milwaukee prospect Jorge Lopez.

 

"He was lights-out," said Phillips, who joined the Brewers in a trade deadline deal. "He didn't have a hit going into the sixth inning and had his stuff. We were able to string together some good at-bats for him, but he was lights-out. It was exciting to watch him and play behind him."

 

Lopez (1-0) allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out seven over 6 2/3 innings. After top Brewers prospect Orlando Arcia belted an RBI triple in the bottom of the first, the Shuckers were confident.

 

"I think I heard a comment after we scored the first run like, 'Oh we won this game,' just because Lopez has been lights-out all year," Phillips said. "That's what it's all about. You've got your ace on the mound who has his stuff, and you've got 100 percent confidence in the guy. The whole team does."

 

Phillips, who returned Thursday after missing two weeks on the disabled list due to an irritated nerve in his thumb, plated a run with an RBI double to right field in the sixth.

 

 

"It was a curveball and I was able to put a good swing on it and put it down the line, put that run across," MLB.com's No. 34 overall prospect said. "The energy just grows more and more in these types of ballgames. When you have the energy, you have the momentum on your side. It was fun."

 

Carrying a three-run lead into the ninth, Biloxi's bullpen performed a high-wire act to close out the win. Damien Magnifico walked the first two batters he faced and gave up an RBI single by Ray Chang before departing with the potential tying runs aboard.

 

 

Yhonathan Barrios came on to record the final two outs and earn the save.

 

"'Mags' didn't have his stuff tonight, but that's OK, because Barrios came in and shut the door," Phillips said. "It's great going into Game 2 here at home with the first win under our belts. It's good momentum. The team is excited. We're excited to be in the playoffs. We're not ready to go home. We're going to continue to fight and string together team wins."

 

In other SL playoff action:

 

Chattanooga (Twins) 4, Montgomery (Rays) 3

 

With his team down to its final strike, Max Kepler showed why he was named the circuit's Most Valuable Player. The Twins' No. 6 prospect laced a two-run walk-off single in the ninth to rally the Lookouts to a Game 1 win. Kepler's base hit was just the Lookouts' second in 12 tries with runners in scoring position. Chattanooga starter D.J. Baxendale didn't factor into the decision, but allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out four over 7 2/3 innings,

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VIDEO via WLOX: Includes Orlando Arcia's triple

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AUDIO: Radio highlights from the Biloxi broadcast

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'Everything' works for Jorge Lopez as Shuckers win game one, 4-2

Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald

 

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Shuckers pitcher Jorge Lopez had a strong showing in the first game of the Southern League playoffs against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos - AMANDA MCCOY/SUN HERALD

 

PHOTO GALLERY: Twelve images via Amanda's link here

 

BILOXI – Right-hander Jorge Lopez was outstanding in the regular season, but he saved his best performance to start the playoffs for the Biloxi Shuckers Thursday night.

 

Lopez allowed just one run on two hits in 6 2/3 innings to pick up the 4-2 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in game one of the Southern League South Division playoffs at MGM Park.

 

Lopez struck out seven and walked three, giving up no earned runs on two hits.

 

When asked which pitches were working for him Thursday, Lopez answered “Everything.”

 

“It was an awesome night,” Lopez said. “I was going to compete with guys. (Catcher Adam) Weisenburger did a really good job of giving me pitches. We did a really good job together tonight.”

 

Pensacola didn't have its first hit until Alex Blandino singled to center with one out in the top of the sixth.

 

The pitch that worked most for Lopez Thursday night was his changeup and he was able to throw it in all situations. His fastball often topped out at 96 miles per hour.

 

“Jorge has been lights out here for two months now,” Shuckers manager Carlos Subero said. “It's nice to see him do what he did tonight. He's just a man on the mound with the overall sequences of how he pitches. He was throwing changeups behind in the count, 3-2 and 3-1.”

 

Game two of the series is set for 7:10 p.m. Friday at MGM Park with right-hander Adrian Houser (4-1, 2.92) throwing for Biloxi and lefty Cody Reed (6-2, 2.17) on the mound for Pensacola.

 

“(Reed) is a great pitcher,” Subero said. “Not only with his stuff, but he's very competitive. It's going to be a good battle tomorrow.”

 

The announced attendance for Thursday's game was 2,782.

 

Biloxi had 10 hits compared to just two from Pensacola.

 

All of the Shuckers' hits came from five different players with two hits a piece – Orlando Arcia, Yadiel Rivera, Tyrone Taylor, Brett Phillips and Nick Shaw.

 

While Lopez looked every bit the Most Outstanding Pitcher in the Southern League, Arcia showed again why he was deserving of the MVP honor, which went to Chattanooga's Max Kepler.

 

Arcia tripled to deep left center in the bottom of the first to knock in Rivera, who started the inning with a single, and give the Shuckers a 1-0 lead after one inning.

 

Arcia pushed the lead to 2-0 on an RBI groundout to bring home Shaw, who had a leadoff double, and hand Biloxi the 2-1 advantage.

 

Arcia finished 2-of-4 with two RBIs and one run scored.

 

“There he is again,” Subero said of his star shortstop. “Guys who were strong in the year, it was good to see them do well tonight.”

 

Phillips finished 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI in his first game after sitting out the last 18 days with an injury.

 

“I felt great being back in the lineup,” Phillips said. “I didn't know how it would go being out 18 days. I didn't try to do too much. I put together at-bats and did what I could do to help the team.”

 

Jacob Barnes replaced Lopez in the seventh and threw well, retiring all four batters he faced.

 

Yhonathan Barrios picked up the save by retiring the final two batters of the game. Damien Magnifico was the first pitcher on the mound in the ninth, but he struggled with his control, walking a pair of batters and giving up an RBI single to Ray Chang with one out in the ninth.

 

Barrios retired the two men he faced to finish off the first postseason victory in franchise history.