Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/14): Four Early Leads Result in Only Two Wins

[damuelle]

Wisconsin held on for a hard-won series victory, led by a Chourio masterpiece. Biloxi withstood three consecutive homers in a comeback victory. Nashville and Carolina unfortunately gave up late leads in tough losses.

 

Sunday’s Game Balls go to Jackson Chourio, Marcus Walden, Tristen Lutz, Corey Ray and Nick Bennett, with an honorable mention to Garrett Whitley.

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Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Gwinnett 5, Nashville 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Sunk by Stripers After Late Letdown

Given their first-place standing, terrific performance all year and the advantage of playing at home, the Sounds appeared to have this game in hand up 3-0 entering the 8th inning, only to give up a shocking 5-spot and fall 5-3. The loss ensured a 3-3 series split with Gwinnett for the week.

Starting RHP Marcus Walden (5 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 BB, 8 Ks) had his best outing of the year, while SS Brice Turang (2-for-3, walk, RBI) knocked in the game’s opening run on an RBI single in the 3rd inning.

The trouble started in RHP Justin Topa’s (1 2/3 IP, 2 ER) second inning of work and continued with RHP Trevor Kelly (1/3 IP, 3 ER – season ERA balloons to 2.00) unable to put out the flames, with all the damage occurring with two outs – five runs on six consecutive singles.

Three Quick Strikes:

• 3B Weston Wilson (1-for-3, double, sac fly, RBI), OF Joey Wiemer (1-for-4, double) and Matt Lipka (1-for-3, double, RBI) each doubled as the team built that 3-0 lead, while leadoff DH/OF Sal Frelick continued his amazing month by reaching base twice (1-for-3, walk – his AAA OPS is now .981).
• RHP Hobie Harris (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks – season ERA of 1.96) pitched a clean 9th inning to give Nashville a final chance, but the offense was unable to re-start as Gwinnett retired the final 10 Sounds in order.
• Once-heralded and still-grinding 27-year old RHP Zach Brown (1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) pitched a clean 6th inning to lower his season ERA to 3.08 as he builds his resume for potential future MLB relief work.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (66-44) hits the road to take on 60-51 Jacksonville (Marlins’ AAA affiliate). Rehabbing RHP Adrian Houser is expected to start Game One of the series.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 7, Rocket City 5
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Biloxi Rallies To Claim Series Finale

LHP Nick Bennett (6 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks) faced just 17 batters while sailing through a scoreless initial five innings, before the wheels suddenly jammed as the Trash Pandas went back-to-back-to-back with three consecutive homers to lead off the top of the 6th inning.

Of course, to Bennett’s credit, he recovered to finish the inning with no further damage and his team only down 3-2.

That initial Shucker lead came courtesy of a 1st inning OF Corey Ray (2-for-3, HR, HBP, RBI) leadoff homer, then OF Garrett Whitley (2-for-4, double, 2 RBIs) singling and scoring on a DH/OF Tristen Lutz (2-for-3, double, walk, 3 RBIs) single in the 4th inning.

Unlike the aforementioned Sounds’ game, Biloxi’s offense was able to immediately get back into gear, with Ray and SS Andruw Monsterio (1-for-4, RBI) singling and both scoring on a Whitley double to re-claim the lead 4-3 in the bottom of the 6th inning.

After RHP Robbie Hitt allowed a run to tie it up again, 2B Yeison Coca (1-for-3, walk) walked and scored on a groundout to grab a 5-4 advantage, then Lutz doubled in two more runs to provide a 7-4 cushion in the bottom of the 7th inning.

By winning both weekend games, Biloxi was able to grab a 3-3 series tie for the week.

Three Quick Strikes:

• RHP Nash Walters (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 Ks) continued his notable 2022 resurgence by getting the final four outs of the game and earn his first save of the year.
• 3B Cam Devanney is in a bit of a slump (0-for-4 in this game, 6-for-43 in August), although this writer still believes in him after his amazing first four months of 2022.
• It’s honestly good to see old friend 27-year old 1B/OF Ryan Aguilar (.889 season OPS; 13th homer of the year in this game) playing regularly and playing well for Rocket City. He was an intriguing prospect given the amount of center field time the Brewers’ gave him before his nightmare 2021 campaign which led to his exit.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi (54-52) goes on the road to face 53-48 Montgomery (Rays’ AA affiliate). RHP TJ Shook (3.86 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 10.0 K/9 in 98 High-A/AA innings) is scheduled to get the first crack at the Biscuits.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 5, South Bend 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, details: Brewers' Chourio homers on four-hit day

Don’t miss the terrific video highlights put together by the Rattlers’ media team: 

Wisconsin’s offense came through early to give their tired staff much-needed support, as a leadoff C Darrien Miller walk was followed by OF Jackson Chourio annihilating a 3-0 pitch for his 4th homer as a Timber Rattler (and his 16th of the year) for a 2-0 lead. Chourio was something of a one-man wrecking crew, going 4-for-4 in the game with 2 RBIs.

Tied 2-2 in the 3rd inning, Miller and Chourio again led the charge, walking and singling with one out, then scoring on RBI singles by C Jeferson Quero (2-for-4, RBI) and SS Eduardo Garcia (2-for-4, RBI). A wild pitch added another run for a 5-2 advantage.

Facing the Cubs for the second time in six days, RHP Israel Puello (3 1/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 6 BB, 2 Ks) again struggled, walking batters each and every inning, including the last three hitters he faced. Thankfully, RHP Christian Tripp (1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks) managed to strand two of three inherited runners to limit the damage and exit the frame up 5-3.

From there, it wasn’t easy, but RHPs Taylor Floyd (2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K) and James Meeker (2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 1 K) managed to battle through traffic to pitch four shutout innings, giving Meeker his 11th save of the year.

South Bend actually has men on 2nd and 3rd base with one out in the top of the 9th inning before Meeker delivered a full-count strikeout and then induced a line out to left field to end the win, giving the Timber Rattlers a hard-earned 4-2 series victory.

Three Quick Strikes:

• After Puello’s rough Tuesday outing (3 2/3 IP, 7 ER), I’d imagine that Manager Joe Ayrault wanted to give him a full week of rest, but that theoretical plan (if it existed) needed to be shelved after the team was forced into a bullpen game on Saturday (given RHP Justin Bullock’s absence).
• Both teams were generous in their own way in this game, with the Cubs going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, while the Timber Rattlers allowed four Cubs’ stolen bases with zero caught stealing.
• For the second straight game, Miller (0-for-2, 3 BB) walked three times in the leadoff spot, so it’s a safe bet he’ll continue in the role.

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin (58-49) travels to battle 63-45 Cedar Rapids (Twins’ High-A affiliate) this week. RHP Justin Jarvis (3.74 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 10.0 K/9 in 110 2/2 innings) is expected to start the opener.

Carolina Pre-Game Notes (not available)
Final: Delmarva 3, Carolina 2
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Carolina Wastes Early Lead in Series Splitting Loss

Starting RHP Fernando Olguin (5 IP, 2 R, 10 H, 1 BB, 5 Ks) had kept a zero on the board in spite of giving up a hit in each of the first five innings, before his fortune ran out in the bottom of the 6th inning.

By contrast, both initial Carolina runs (2nd and 5th inning) were produced without the benefit of a hit, as they were actually outhit 13-5 in the contest. Of course, the Mudcats did walk six times and get hit by a pitch, but they’ll rue their 0-for-7 output with runners in scoring position.

That fateful 6th inning went single, triple, single before RHP Miguel Guerrero (2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) entered in relief. Three Shorebird singles off Guerrero in the 7th inning gave them the only lead they would ever need in claiming a come-from-behind win to knot the series 3-3.

Three Quick Strikes:

• 19-year old RHP Jeison Pena (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K – lowering season ERA to 3.38 in ACL/Low-A) pitched a scoreless 8th inning to give his teammates a chance to tie it up, but unfortunately Delmarva retired the Mudcat hitters in order in the 9th inning.
• 2B Jadher Areinamo (2-for-4, SB) and DH/SS Eric Brown Jr. (1-for-3, double, walk) each reached base twice to lead the Mudcat offense, although each were also caught stealing.
• OF Hendry Mendez exited the game in the bottom of the 6th inning. Let’s hope this was a scheduled time-share with OF Jace Avina as part of Mendez’ re-introduction to action after a recent injury.

Next week’s outlook: Carolina (55-53) returns home to face 47-60 Fayetteville (Astros’ Low-A affiliate). Expect RHP Jeferson Figueroa to start the series opener, still looking for his first organizational win.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Good luck on Monday DSL/ACL squads! Get some rest on your travel day, full season squads.

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[Joseph Zarr]

Marcus Walden has sneakily been really effective since a rough initial outing in Nashville. Given Josh Lindbolm's cagey start his last outing, it's clear Nashville has two high-quality AAAA arms who are helping the team stay in that first place picture in a tightening race for a first place finish.