Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/3): Saturday Redux: Nashville, Wisconsin and Carolina Victorious While Biloxi Falls

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Amazing relief performances helped Carolina, Wisconsin and Nashville to wins, while four Biloxi home runs weren’t enough to complete its comeback. The top reliever in the minor leagues announced his promotion to AA Biloxi after the game, while all eight minor league squads will be in action today, the 4th of July.

In a repeat of Saturday’s results, Carolina, Wisconsin and Nashville were all winners, with Biloxi unfortunately dropping its game. The bullpens combined for 15 scoreless innings in the three victories, with Biloxi also getting three scoreless relief innings before yielding a few runs in the 9th inning.

The outcomes gave Carolina and Wisconsin highly-impressive 5-1 series wins over Fayetteville and Cedar Rapids, respectively, while Nashville won its series 4-2 over Indianapolis and Biloxi fell to 2-4 against Mississippi.

The Timber Rattlers and Mudcat games were particular nail-biters, as Carolina battled back from a 3-0 deficit to extend the game to extra innings and win 4-3 on a 10th inning Zach Raabe single; and the Wisconsin game was tied at 4-4 for five innings before a Tyler Black RBI single.

Scoreless two-inning relief appearances are nothing new to Cam Robinson, but this time he earned the victory instead of the save. Mr. Robinson was subsequently promoted, so he’s probably on a bus or plane to Montgomery, Alabama as we read and write.

Jakson Reetz’ Southern League leading 18th and 19th homers of the season weren’t enough for Biloxi, which fell behind 5-2 and 8-3, ultimately losing 8-5.

Nashville’s pitchers had to step into the batter’s box three times in this game, but the squad came out with a 7-4 win anyway.

Sunday’s Game Balls go to the aforementioned Reetz and Robinson, along with Carlos F. Rodriguez, David Dahl and Jeferson Quero, with apologies to Brady Schanuel, Jon Singleton, Brannon Jordan and Michele Vassalotti.

Transactions:

• RHP Cam Robinson promoted from High-A Wisconsin to AA Biloxi
• RHP Miguel Guerrero assigned to Low-A Carolina from High-A Wisconsin

Game Action:

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Carolina 4, Fayetteville 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Raabe Rips Walk-Off Single in 4-3 Victory in Extras

AUDIO: Post-Game Interview with Manager Victor Estevez

In spite of a rare rough start for RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (first four batters of the game reached, scoring two runs), giving up an unearned run in the 5th inning and being one-hit through first five innings, the Mudcats were never far out of this game.

DH/C Jeferson Quero started the comeback with a solo homer (sixth of the year) in the 6th inning, before OF Jackson Chourio doubled and scored on a Jean Carmona sacrifice fly in the same frame to cut the deficit to 3-2.

RHP Brannon Jordan had one of best relief outings, throwing three scoreless innings (6th through the 8th) while yielding only two hits, no walks and striking out three Woodpeckers.

Jordan’s effort thus gave Carolina ample time to grab that third and tying run, which they did via an 8th inning RBI double from SS Eduardo Garcia to bring home Chourio (who’d singled).

RHP Michele Vassalotti was then extraordinary in the scoreless 9th and 10th innings, striking out five more Fayetteville hitters while conceding only a harmless hit and walk. Vassalotti lowered his season ERA to an impeccable 2.10 and earned the win for his efforts.

Despite two 9th inning singles, Quero and Chourio were unable to walk off the game in that opportunity, thus leaving the hero work to 2B Zack Raabe, who singled home Manfred’s ghost with one out in the 10th inning.

The victory gave Carolina a 5-1 series win on the week.

Next week’s outlook: 39-36 Carolina will play 32-43 Kannapolis on the road this week. 

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 5, Cedar Rapids 4
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, details: Timber Rattlers Wrap a 10-2 Homestand with a 5-4 Win

Youtube highlights from Wisconsin’s exceptional media team: 

The early game see-saw was active in this game, with runs scored off struggling starters before the very capable bullpens took over.

Wisconsin RHP Zach Mort escaped a bases loaded jam in the 1st inning before Tristan Peters gave the Timber Rattlers the initial 1-0 lead on an RBI single.

That lead was extended to 3-1 in the 2nd inning thanks to back-to-back jacks from 1B Ashton McGee and SS Antonio Pinero .

However, Cedar Rapids responded immediately with a three-run homer off Mort in the 3rd inning for a 4-3 lead, before 3B Zavier Warren knotted it up 4-4 in the same inning with an RBI double. Warren now has a 10-game hitting streak.

The Second Act of the game was in direct contrast to the frenetic first three innings, with RHP Brady Schanuel masterfully retiring nine of ten batters he faced over three scoreless innings, thus dropping his ERA from 6.86 to a more palatable 5.96.

Of course, Wisconsin also posed minimal threat from the 4th through the 7th innings, as the home fans waited with bated breadth for an exciting denouement.

Although it wasn’t a save situation, super stopper RHP Cam Robinson nonetheless entered the game in the 8th inning for the potential two-inning win. Although Robinson yielded a leadoff 8th inning single and two-out 9th inning single, the Kernels of course never really had a chance against Mr. Robinson.

With two outs in the bottom of the 8th inning, OF Arbert Cipion doubled, then was brought home by 2B Tyler Black’s RBI single into center field, giving Wisconsin an impenetrable 5-4 advantage.

Robinson struck out the final hitter to earn the victory, in what is likely the last High-A action he’ll ever see, given his well-earned promotion to AA Biloxi, which he announced after the game: 

Next week’s outlook: 44-30 Wisconsin (8-1 in the second half) hits the road to face the 42-33 South Bend Cubs (also 8-1 in the second half) this week, with RHP Justin Jarvis starting the opener.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Mississippi 8, Biloxi 5
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Four Home Runs Not Enough for Shuckers in Series Finale 

That’s a fourth consecutive loss for Biloxi, which may feel outgunned (11 available position players, including three catchers, along with two players that were expected to be playing at lower levels). However, one cannot blame an offense which puts up five runs.

RHPs Justin Bullock and Carlos Luna once again tag-teamed this game, with Bullock starting and giving up runs in four of the first five innings. Together, they were knocked around for 15 hits over the nine innings.

Future major league catcher Jakson Reetz hit a two-out 1st inning homer (18th of the season) for a temporary 2-1 lead.

Tied up 2-2 in the 2nd inning, two Shucker singles unfortunately went for naught. Trailing 3-2 in the 3rd inning, a Cam Devanney double also yielded no runs.

Down 5-2 by the 6th inning, Mr. Reetz smacked his 19th home run of the season to bring Biloxi within two runs at 5-3.

Luna was actually terrific through three innings (no runs, two singles, one walk, seven strikeouts) before running out of gas in the 9th inning. In that final frame, he conceded three runs on five hits for an 8-3 deficit.

2B Felix Valerio and C Jason Lopez each hit 9th inning homers to make the final score a more respectable 8-5.

Next week’s outlook: 36-37 Biloxi is on the move to play in Montgomery (32-36) this week.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 7, Indianapolis 4
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details: Sounds Take Series in Front of Sellout Crowd 

Three batters into this game, Nashville already trailed 2-0, but RHP Alec Bettinger got significant support early and often.

First inning doubles from SS Brice Turang and OF David Dahl (RBI), then a run-scoring wild pitch and RBI single from 1B Jon Singleton gave Bettinger a helpful 3-2 lead.

Bettinger then worked around a 2nd inning double before things got really weird. Yes, Nashville manager Rick Sweet has had a deep, loaded roster all season, but he ran out of infielders in this game!

Newcomer 3B Patrick Dorrian exited after a 2nd inning flyout, forcing Tyler White to vacate the designated hitter spot and the Sounds’ pitchers to bat for the remainder of the contest.

Bettinger was assisted by a terrific play from Turang in the 2nd inning, then C Brian Navaretto throwing out a base stealer in the 3rd inning.

The deluge hit Indianapolis in the bottom of that 3rd inning: OF Abraham Almonte homer (9th of the year), Dahl double, Singleton RBI double, 2B Weston Wilson RBI single for a 7-2 advantage.

Singleton is really turning a corner, reaching base all four times in this game (two singles, two walks).

Indianapolis ultimately out-hit Nashville 14-9, getting to Bettinger for another two runs in the 5th inning to make the game interesting at 7-4.

However, RHP Tyler Herb had his second straight solid game in relief, pitching four scoreless innings in spite of material traffic: six hits, one walk.

The Indians will feel like they should have gotten more out of this game, stranding 11 runners and failing to score any runs despite having the game-tying batter at the plate in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings.

How’d those Sounds’ pitchers do at the plate, you ask? Mr. Bettinger walked(!) on five pitches in that exciting 3rd inning, then took three called strikes to end the 5th inning. Mr. Herb was also called out on strikes to end the 7th inning, stranding the bases loaded. In that frame, Nashville failed to score in spite of a single and two walks. Bettinger and Herb didn’t swing in any of their three at-bats.

Oh, if you’re expecting a promotion from AA Biloxi to fill the sudden infield gap at AAA Nashville, given the injuries to Pablo Reyes and Dorrian, don’t hold your breath. Biloxi’s also a bit short on depth and INF/OF Mark Mathias is likely returning from the MLB taxi squad, given that the Big Club returns home to Milwaukee today.

Next week’s outlook: The 47-30 Sounds travel to second place 46-32 Columbus this week, with RHP Caleb Boushley expected to start the opener

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Good luck to all in their Monday, 4th of July games!

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Filling in two gaps above. I expect RHPs Alexander Cornielle and Victor Castaneda to start today's Low-A Mudcat and AA Shucker games, respectively, as each last started games on June 29th.

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Filling in two gaps above. I expect RHPs Alexander Cornielle and Victor Castaneda to start today's Low-A Mudcat and AA Shucker games, respectively, as each last started games on June 29th.

[Joseph Zarr]

The great thing with Big Jon is all you have to do is take one look at his OPS and know he's been impacting the game and the pitch counts all season long. What you don't see is his defense - he's really quite an athletic guy with a sweet glove. He had a prolonged slump in terms of hits but he's certainly turning a corner recently. He's not even at 0.200 yet and his OPS is approaching 0.800 (currently, 0.784). He has a 62:80 bb:k line. So glad he's in that 1B/DH rotation in Nashville. 

On May 22nd, he was batting 0.224. It was a painful month-long crawl down to 0.163 for him. BUT, here he is with two hot days at the plate and he's creeping back toward 0.200. In other words, he's working back toward his career norms as he leaves the halfway point. In 3,272 Minor League AB's Jon has told us he's essentially a 0.250 hitter with a 0.825 OPS. That's a damn good Minor League player. And, I've said it before: I wouldn't flinch twice to use him in Milwaukee. He can handle his business and he'd be a welcome addition.

[Joseph Zarr]

The great thing with Big Jon is all you have to do is take one look at his OPS and know he's been impacting the game and the pitch counts all season long. What you don't see is his defense - he's really quite an athletic guy with a sweet glove. He had a prolonged slump in terms of hits but he's certainly turning a corner recently. He's not even at 0.200 yet and his OPS is approaching 0.800 (currently, 0.784). He has a 62:80 bb:k line. So glad he's in that 1B/DH rotation in Nashville. 

On May 22nd, he was batting 0.224. It was a painful month-long crawl down to 0.163 for him. BUT, here he is with two hot days at the plate and he's creeping back toward 0.200. In other words, he's working back toward his career norms as he leaves the halfway point. In 3,272 Minor League AB's Jon has told us he's essentially a 0.250 hitter with a 0.825 OPS. That's a damn good Minor League player. And, I've said it before: I wouldn't flinch twice to use him in Milwaukee. He can handle his business and he'd be a welcome addition.