Tue. 4/12 - Biloxi Home Opener, Others Hit The Road

[Joseph Zarr]

Or, maybe not...?

[Joseph Zarr]

Cornielle is getting tagged in the 4th. After a run-clearing single to RF, he gives up an absolute bomb to De la Rosa to RF. 5-2 Fredericksburg now in front. Cornielle gives way to LHP Carlos Morales. 

[damuelle]

I should have mentioned that 21-year old LHH LF Oswel Leones was making his Low-A Carolina debut as well, hitting a first inning triple. Somewhat oddly for this level of ball, he was replaced in the 6th inning by Micah Bello. Hopefully he didn't pick up any sort of injury.

[Joseph Zarr]

Bennett opens with 2 k's and a weak ground out to Felix Valerio who now has bases juiced with 1 out. On a 2-2 count he ropes a foul ball off of Garret Mitchell who has now been nailed on that right shoulder 3 times (!!) in this early season.

[damuelle]

Antoine Kelly didn't give up a hit in his first inning, but he gave up an earned run anyway: walk, 2 stolen bases, sac fly. He K'd 2 batters. It's 1-1 after the first inning for the Timber Rattlers. The exciting Sal Frelick got a hit, stole second, moved to third on a hit and scored on a wild pitch in the top half of the inning.

In AAA, Caleb Boushley got tagged for a double and two home runs in the 2nd inning. Sounds are down 3-0.

[damuelle]

Biloxi was gifted with 2 errors and 2 walks, resulting in 2 first inning runs without a hit. Nick Bennett then yielded a walk and a homer to Drew Lugbauer (18 homers in AA last year, then 6 in the Arizona Fall League, yet still stuck in AA) in the top of the second inning. They're knotted 2-2. 

[damuelle]

Nick Kahle pinch hits for Garrett Mitchell in the 3rd inning, making his AA debut with a run-scoring single. Let's hope that the exit is just precautionary for Mitchell.

Somehow nearly all of our early season injuries (McGee, Campbell, perhaps Mitchell) and trades (Howell, Cantrelle) have hit just one club (Biloxi).

[damuelle]

Antoine Kelly struck out 2 more in the 2nd inning (4 Ks through 2 innings), but also gave up 2 doubles. Wisconsin trails 2-1 entering the 3rd inning.

Nashville clawed a run back in Gwinnett, as David Dahl and Corey Ray each tallied singles. They trail 3-1 in the 4th inning.

[damuelle]

10 minutes ago, damuelle said:

Nick Kahle pinch hits for Garrett Mitchell in the 3rd inning, making his AA debut with a run-scoring single. Let's hope that the exit is just precautionary for Mitchell.

Somehow nearly all of our early season injuries (McGee, Campbell, perhaps Mitchell) and trades (Howell, Cantrelle) have hit just one club (Biloxi).

Given how short-handed Biloxi has suddenly become, Kahle is now playing left field. But to be fair, he played 16 innings in the outfield in the Australia Winter League in late 2020 / early 2021.

[damuelle]

Carlos D. Rodriguez doubles for his 2nd hit of the game and scores on Zavier Warren's first hit of the season. It's 2-2 in Beloit in the 3rd inning.

[damuelle]

LHH 1B Ernesto Martinez blasts his first High-A homer to opposite field. The Timber Rattlers now lead 4-2.

[Joseph Zarr]

That was just after the single to tie it. Love it, baby.

 

[Joseph Zarr]

We have some absolute web gems tonight - early in Carolina where Garcia had 2 and Silva had another and now in the Top of the 4th Valerio nabs a ground ball seemingly destined for CF and flips to Zamora who makes the circling catch to throw out the runner at First. Dillard with a very nice dig on the laser throw as well. Love to see it.

[Joseph Zarr]

Garrett Mitchell was subbed out of the game after being hit with that line drive foul in the First off Valerio's bat. Was it precautionary or is this something to monitor? He is replaced in the lineup by Nick Kahle who sees his first action of the young season.

[Joseph Zarr]

Joey Wiemer is not an easy Out. We may not have seen a HR as of yet, but he continues to be a tough tough out. Even when he is down 0-2 he doesn't lose his poise and stays off pitches. He works the count to 1-2 after fouling off a couple pitches and ropes a single to LF with a nice exit velocity to split the gap and score Diaz. 4-2 Shuckers after 4. Bennett's only mistake so far was a fastball on a favorable count right over the heart of the plate to arch nemesis of Biloxi, Lefty hitting 1B Drew Lugbauer. He hit the 2 run bomb in the Top of the 2nd and, in 2021, Lugbauer also hit 9 HR against the Shuckers, albeit a very different team.

[damuelle]

Wiemer picks up his 2nd hit of the game, this one an RBI single which knocks in Brett Diaz, who reached on Mississippi's 3rd error of the game. It's 4-2 Biloxi through 4 innings.

[damuelle]

After a frustrating start to the young season, Darrien Miller makes his first High-A hit count: a 2-run shot to left field. The Timber Rattlers lead 6-2 in the 4th inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

I can honestly say, I am unsure if I've seen a single clean throw to 1B from Freddy Zamora this entire season. After airmailing 3 balls in Pensacola in the opening series, tonight I've seen him pull Dillard off the bag; throw a one-hop laser (his best throw to date I've seen) on a circling double play; and on a seemingly routine deep one-hopper with plenty of time to spare he unnecessarily one-hopped Dillard. Dillard was credited with the error but it wasn't an easy play. I hope to see better from the young prospect as the season progresses.

[Joseph Zarr]

2 minutes ago, damuelle said:

After a frustrating start to the young season, Darrien Miller makes his first High-A hit count: a 2-run shot to left field. The Timber Rattlers lead 6-2 in the 4th inning.

You love to see it. Hoping for big things from Darrien.

[Joseph Zarr]

5 minutes ago, damuelle said:

Wiemer picks up his 2nd hit of the game, this one an RBI single which knocks in Brett Diaz, who reached on Mississippi's 3rd error of the game. It's 4-2 Biloxi through 4 innings.

As I noted above, the most impressive part of the AB is he faced an 0-2 count. He fought off a couple tough pitches including his first curve he saw in the AB and then took a high and outside heater, laying off the tantalizing pitch, and then roped the single splitting 3B and SS. He is turning into one of the toughest outs in the lower levels. Outside of his first AB, every AB has been absolutely professional.

[Joseph Zarr]

Nice to see Freddy Zamora rewarded, finally, for all the hard contact he's been getting at the plate. He just roped a single up the Middle. The previous AB, he roped a one-hopper right to the 2B. This is a situation where the Box score isn't telling the story. His issues haven't been at the plate - he's getting great contact there tho his average doesn't tell that story - they've been throwing the ball accurately.

[damuelle]

Antoine Kelly exits after 81 pitches (3 2/3 innings, 9 Ks, 2 hits, 4 walks, 2 runs). Hopefully RHP Miguel Guerrero can strand the 2 inherited runners in his first-ever playing time in High-A ball.

[Joseph Zarr]

Nick Bennett goes 5 ip on 70 pitches with 3 k's. A very nice first outing after the mistake 2-run HR. He gives way to the tantalizing Abner Uribe who comes out with a first pitch 100mph high heater ?. Devanney continues his stellar defense at the Hot Corner with a great deep dig at 3rd and a laser to First right on the money. After a beautiful inside breaking ball induces a chopper to Dillard with the flip back to Uribe at 1st, Abner gives up a soft single to LF on a 3-2 fastball, then a full count walk. With men on 1st and 2nd, after not getting the benefit of the calls on 2 absolutely borderline low balls, Uribe induces the moon ball fly out to  Right Field and Tristen hauls it in. Onto the bottom of 6 and it is still 4-2 Shuckers. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh my, Joey just missed an absolute laser 3 run bomb to LF. Just, just, in front of it on the 1-2 pitch. Whewwwww. What does he do? On the next pitch, he hits an opposite field rbi single. he is hitting 9-17 on the young season. Are you kidding ?!? Just, wow.

[Joseph Zarr]

18 minutes ago, damuelle said:

Antoine Kelly exits after 81 pitches (3 2/3 innings, 9 Ks, 2 hits, 4 walks, 2 runs). Hopefully RHP Miguel Guerrero can strand the 2 inherited runners in his first-ever playing time in High-A ball.

They definitely held, and then tacked on some runs I see. That's a very successful first outing. Obviously, we want to see those walks come down but for his first ever action at High A we'll take those 9 k's in the shortened outing.

Edit to Add: I was super bummed they didn't have a feed for tonight's game. I've looking forward to seeing Antoine all off-season. LOL. Murphy's Law.