Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/15): Shuckers and Timber Rattlers Add Wins

Friday’s games saw frustration for the Sounds, domination from expected places (Biloxi Shuckers; Wisconsin’s RHP Max Lazar) and take-note performances from the relatively-unheralded RHP TJ Shook, DH/C Brent Diaz and RHP Brannon Jordan. After a barrage of homers across the squads on Thursday, only Diaz connected this night, but it was a grand salami ?.

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Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Fredericksburg 14, Carolina 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: ‘Cats Commit Five Errors in 14-1 Loss

Fans of the young Mudcats should expect fair shares of awesome, good, bad and ugly this year, with this game falling into the latter category. After again taking the early lead, Fredericksburg quickly reversed it in the same inning and piled on from there.

But hey, each squad tallied 8 hits, so if not for the 10 walks, 5 wild pitches, 1 hit batsman, 5 errors and hitting into 3 double plays, we could have been right in this game. Right? ?

We start in the top of the first, where DH Jeferson Quero singled and advanced on an error, ground out and wild pitch to give the Mudcats a 1-0 lead. But that didn’t last long, as RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez loaded the bases with two hits and a hit-by-pitch, then a 1B Jesus Chirinos error and a wild pitch allowed 2 runs to score.

The second inning saw 3B Alberis Ferrer’s night-to-forget unravel, hitting into a double play, then committing his first of his 3 errors on the night. Rodriguez was removed after giving up a home run and two singles in the frame, throwing 48 pitches on the night. LHP Karlos Morales came in with 2-on and 1-out, but the Ferrer error and a ground out allowed both inherited runners to score. 5-1 Nationals.

The Nationals added 2 more in the 3rd inning on 2 wild pitches, a walk, and a single, then 1 more run in the 4th inning on an error and a passed ball. 8-1 Nats.

By this point, Carolina’s bright spot had already entered the game. RHP Brannon Jordan covered the 4th through 7th innings in exceptional fashion: no hits, 4 walks, 8 strikeouts, 1 run that I swear was unearned.

Unfortunately, the Mudcats’ bats did not wake up in spite of Jordan’s terrific effort. Then LHP Jakob Brustoski tried to handle the 8th inning, but instead simply opened the turnstile: 4 walks, a double, a homer, and a wild pitch to give up 6 earned runs before handing over to LHP Pablo Garabitos, who mercifully ended the carnage.

It is worth noting that Mudcat pitchers did win the strikeout battle of the evening, K’ing 13 Nationals in 8 innings of challenging work.

Tomorrow will be a better day, young men. Lace ‘em up!

Performances of Note:

• Micah Bello – 2-3, walk
• Jheremy Vargas – 2-4
• Jose Sibrian – 2-4
• Carlos F. Rodriguez (Loss) – 1 1/3 innings, 5 runs (4 earned), 2 Ks
• Brannon Jordan – 4.0 innings, 1 run (unearned though the box score presently says otherwise), 8 Ks

Saturday’s outlook: Expect RHPs Edwin Jimenez and Israel Puello to cover most innings, as the Mudcats try to mount a comeback from their 3-1 series deficit against Fredericksburg.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 2, Beloit 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Rattlers Win Fifth Straight on 2-0 Shutout at Beloit

The Timber Rattlers and Beloit Sky Carp played a much crisper game (no hit-by-pitches, wild pitches, or passed balls), though with limited offense. The story in Beloit was the duo of RHPs Max Lazar and TJ Shook, who combined to throw 87 strikes in 121 pitches, allowing just 2 hits, one walk, and no runs.

In the top of the first inning, LF Carlos D. Rodriguez (single, stolen base) and C Wes Clarke (RBI single to left field) produced the only run that Lazar and Shook would actually require. 1-0 Timber Rattlers.

Lazar then went to work, allowing only 1 of 13 batters to reach base over 4 innings. That was a 1-out double in the first inning, which thankfully went for naught. Given the early season passes issued by our major leaguers, it’s terrific to see a Brewers’ hurler not give up any walks, systematically destroying the opposition while throwing in the zone. However, don’t expect Lazar to get the quick promotion to AA Biloxi just yet, as he’s still ramping up after a long injury, throwing just 50 pitches this evening.

If Beloit was thinking they’d have better success post-Lazar’s exit, TJ Shook crushed that dream quite readily, striking out the first two batters he faced. In fact, only three Sky Carp managed to reach base against Shook over five innings (5th inning infield hit, 6th inning walk, 9th inning error). His most amazing stretch was five consecutive strikeouts from the 6th to 8th innings, all swinging.

In all, no Beloit hitter so much as reached 3rd base on the evening. Way to go Max and TJ!

Rattler bats were relatively quiet this night, producing only three hits. But that last hit was a 9th inning RBI single by DH Darrien Miller, driving home RF Joe Gray Jr. who had walked and stolen 2nd base. That 2-0 lead was more than enough cushion for Shook to finish the job and earn the win.

We’d be remiss not to recognize the solid game thrown by Beloit’s 20-year-old LHP starter Dax Fulton, who had to wear the loss despite giving up just 1 run and 2 hits over 5 1/3 innings

Performances of Note:

• Wes Clarke – 1-3, walk, RBI
• Darrien Miller – 1-4, RBI
• Carlos D. Rodriguez – 1-4, SB
• Max Lazar – 4.0 innings, 0 ER, 4 Ks
• TJ Shook (Win) – 5.0 innings, 0 ER, 10 Ks

Saturday’s outlook: RHP Brandon Knarr is on the hill after being unlucky his first time out (a loss despite yielding 1 run in 5 2/3 innings), as the Timber Rattlers seek a 6th straight win.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 7, Mississippi 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers Slam Their Way to Seventh Straight Win

Another boring, ho-hum victory for the Biloxi Shuckers, their 7th in a row to start the season? Not quite, actually. This one featured a grand slam for the Shuckers and constant traffic against Biloxi pitchers, as the Mississippi Braves left 11 runners on base in the game.

After the Braves stranded two runners in the top of the first against Biloxi RHP Tyler Herb, the Shuckers grabbed the lead in the bottom half via a 3B Ashton McGee single to drive in 2B Felix Valerio.

While Herb settled in from there, Braves’ RHP Darius Vines got a little wild in the 3rd inning, with a wild pitch scoring Valerio (10 runs in seven games for Super Felix!) and walks to McGee (full-count) and LF Tristen Lutz (four pitches) to load the bases. Then DH Brent Diaz entered the box expecting a first-pitch strike and sent it high and deep into the dark left-field night. Grand Slam! 6-0 Shuckers.

More highlights --

• Brent Diaz – 2-3, HR, HBP, 4 RBIs
• Ashton McGee – 1-2, 2 walks, RBI
• Garrett Mitchell – 1-3, walk
• Tyler Herb – 4.0 innings, 2 runs (1 earned), 4 Ks
• Luis Contreras (Win) – 3.0 innings, 0 ER, 3 Ks
• Harold Chirino + Lucas Erceg – combined 2.0 innings, 1 ER, 4 Ks

Saturday’s outlook: RHP Victor Castaneda (1.93 ERA in 4.0 innings) is scheduled for his 2nd start in 2022, as the Shuckers try for an 8th consecutive win to start the season.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Gwinnett 2, Nashville 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details: Missed Opportunities Doom Sounds in Gwinnett

With several regulars on the bench as part of early-season roster shuffling, the Sounds just could not collect a key hit in this tough loss to the Stripers, going a hard-to-comprehend zero-for-18 with runners in scoring position. But let’s give credit to Gwinnett, who struck out 15 Nashville batters and threw out a runner at home which would have given the Sounds an 8th inning lead.

RHP Josh Lindblom was his usual solid self, as he undoubtedly wonders when he’ll get his next chance in the majors. He scattered 5 hits and 2 walks across 5 1/3 innings, with the Stripers knocking in one run in the bottom of the 5th inning. Lindblom did not allow lead-off doubles in the 1st inning or 4th inning to result in any damage and did well to escape the 5th inning with only the one run allowed, getting two infield outs to strand 2 runners.

Now about those Sounds’ hitters. Despite a 3B Mark Mathias walk and C Mario Feliciano single giving the team 1st and 3rd with one out in the 2nd inning, DH Alex Jackson and LF Dustin Peterson could not knock a run in. The 3rd and 5th innings saw SS Andruw Monasterio stranded at 2nd base despite reaching there with no outs and 1 out, respectively. And in the 6th inning, 1B Tyler White was left stuck at 2nd base.

LHP Rex Brothers finished off the 6th inning for Lindblom, before the Sounds knotted it up in the 7th inning on a walk and an error. However, as was the theme of the night, Nashville was unable to add a second run even though Monasterio had stolen 3rd base with just one out, as CF Garrett Whitley struck out on three pitches and RF Abraham Almonte grounded out.

RHP Zack Brown pitched a clean bottom of the 7th inning before the Sounds faced more pain in the 8th. A lead-off single by White and ground-rule double by Mathias had Nashville poised to take the lead and potentially blow the game open. Instead, Feliciano grounded out to first (on a nice defensive play with the infield in) and Jackson flew out to right, with Gwinnett RF Justin Dean throwing a strike home to double up White at the plate.

Performances of Note:

• Mark Mathias – 1-2, double, 2 walks
• Dustin Peterson – 1-3, double, walk
• Andruw Monasterio – 1-3, walk, 3 SBs
• Tyler White – 1-3, HBP
• Josh Lindblom – 5 1/3 innings, 1 ER, 4 Ks
• Rex Brothers + Zach Brown – combined 1 2/3 innings, 0 ER, 2 Ks
• Miguel Sanchez (Loss) – 1.0 inning, 1 ER, 1 K

Saturday’s outlook: LHP Ethan Small makes his third start, as Nashville looks to take a 3-2 series lead in Gwinnett, while regulars Brice Turang, David Dahl and Weston Wilson will likely return to the line-up.

Unfortunately, when three of the four affiliates are on the road, we may end up with more embedded Twitter highlights from the opposition, so let me balance that by adding this video of LHP Russell Smith dominating Beloit on Thursday evening:

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Good luck this weekend, Brewers’ affiliates.