Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/28): Dominant Pitching Leads Affiliates to 3 Wins, 1 Close Loss on the Night

After collectively scuffling for four days, Milwaukee’s minor league pitchers stepped to the fore on Thursday night, giving up a combined 6 runs across four 9-inning contests, with Biloxi leading the way with a shutout at home.

Nashville and Wisconsin were also winners this evening, although Carolina was done in by missed opportunities in the early innings.

Despite pitchers only constituting 2 of the Brewers’ top 13 prospects (including Aaron Ashby – so let’s call it 1 of 12) in our Brewer Fanatic Pre-Season Top 25 Prospect Poll, those apparently under-appreciated arms have actually been doing the heavy lifting throughout this month:

• AAA Nashville – easily the top ERA in the 20-team International League at 2.52 (second place is Iowa at 3.15, third is Toledo at 3.53)
• AA Biloxi – also easily tops the ERA listing in the 8-team Southern League at 3.19 (second place is this week’s opponent Pensacola at 3.68)
• High-A Wisconsin – a more-than-respectable 6th place in ERA in the 12-team Midwest League at 3.97, skewed by an 18-run affair last week
• Low-A Carolina – not applicable. They’re young! ?

Thursday night’s starting pitchers combined to cover 22 1/3 innings, yielding only 3 runs, 14 hits and 6 walks, while striking out 24 opposing hitters. Combined with solid relief pitching (12 2/3 innings, 2 runs), our hurlers are posting notice that they’re ready to move up the prospect lists.

Of course, some offense was required as well and tonight was about solo homers: 2 by Weston Wilson and 1 each for Wes Clarke, Brice Turang, Jon Singleton and Freddy Zamora. And let’s not forget Antonio Pinero and his 2-run homer for Wisconsin.

Game Balls this night go to RHP Victor Castaneda, LHP Brandon Knarr, RHP Caleb Boushley, RHP Ryne Moore and LF Weston Wilson.

Transactions:

• None

Game Action:

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Down East 2, Carolina 0
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: Carolina Shut Out 2-0 at Down East

Although the squad had four promising scoring opportunities, none came to fruition on this frustrating night for our young Mudcats:

• Hedbert Perez was thrown out at home on Eduardo Garcia’s 1st inning single
• Leadoff 2nd inning hits by Jesus Chirinos and Oswel Leones produced nothing
• A leadoff Jesus Chirinos single and two-out Zack Raabe walk didn’t result in any run in the 7th inning
• A Hedbert Perez single and a Eduardo Garcia triple in the 8th inning didn’t result in a run, undone by an intervening double play

RHP Ryne Moore’s first inning had a bit of everything: infield single, hit-by-pitch, throwing error, two stolen bases, walk, regular single, strikeout. But thankfully the damage was only one run, with 3B Luis Silva throwing out one Wood Duck at home.

The second inning was a bit unfair to Mr. Moore, with a 2-out walk and a balk (after 2 strikeouts to open the frame) setting the stage for a run-scoring single to put the deficit at 2-0.

Thankfully, C Jeferson Quero’s second throwing error in the first three innings did not cost Moore and the Mudcats a run in the 3rd inning.

In all, Moore only yielded 2 hits and recorded 9 strikeouts in his 6 innings of solid work, but unfortunately had to take the loss. LHP Pablo Garabitos and RHP Junior Montero continued to baffle Down East hitters thereafter, but the Carolina offense couldn’t quite come through.

Performances of Note:

• Eduardo Garcia – 2-4, triple
• Jesus Chirinos – 2-4
• Hedbert Perez – 1-4, SB
• Ryne Moore (Loss) – 6 innings, 2 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks, 1 HBP, 1 balk, 9 Ks
• Pablo Garabitos – 1 inning, zero runs, 1 hit, 2 Ks
• Junior Montero – 1 inning, zero runs, zero hits, 1 walk, 2 Ks

Friday’s outlook: Today’s essentially a doubleheader, as the squads need to complete the remaining 8 1/2 innings from Tuesday’s contest before moving on to a 7-inning second game. RHP Israel Puello is slated to start one of the games, as he tries to forget his last appearance (7 earned runs in 2 innings). My money is on RHP Edwin Jimenez making the other start, with RHP Jefferson Figueroa also throwing a few innings.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 6, Peoria 2
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Knarr K’s Seven in Six Scoreless Innings for Rattlers Win at Peoria

LHP Brandon Knarr decided to make a late run for Brewer Minor League Pitcher of the Month, blanking the Chiefs for 6 innings to lower his ERA to 1.61 after four terrific appearances this month, with 27 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings. It’s clear his mind is on earning a promotion to AA Biloxi before his 24th birthday coming in early June.

The Knarr-ly effort was necessary, as the only thing which separated the Timber Rattlers and Chiefs after six innings was Wes Clarke’s solo home run on a 2-0 count in the 4th inning.

Thankfully, Peoria’s impressive 21-year old RHP Dionys Rodriguez exited after six innings and Wisconsin immediately feasted on the relief core, starting with a Carlos D. Rodriguez single and then Antonio Pinero’s first home run of 2022, matching his total of last year. Two walks and a hit-by-pitch set up Clarke (single) and Zavier Warren to drive in 2 more runs and extend the lead to 6-0.

RHPs Kent Hasler and RHPs Cam Robinson weren’t as sharp as usual (4 hits, 2 runs in 2 innings), but let’s blame it on rustiness. Hasler has only thrown 4 2/3 innings thus far and Robinson hadn’t pitched in a full week.

Performances of Note:

• Wes Clarke – 2-5, HR, 3 RBIs
• Antonio Pinero – 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs
• Zavier Warren – 2-4, double, 1 RBI
• Sal Frelick – 1-4, walk, SB
• Brandon Knarr (Win) – 6 innings, zero runs, 2 hits, 1 walk, 7 Ks
• Kent Hasler – 2 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, zero walks, 3 Ks

Friday’s outlook: Always-impressive LHP Antoine Kelly (2.62 ERA in 13 2/3 innings) makes his 4th start of the year as Wisconsin tries to even this week’s series in Peoria at 2 games apiece.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 3, Pensacola 0
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers Shutout Wahoos For Second Night

Manager Mike Guerrero must have played a hunch. Moving SS Freddy Zamora up to 2nd in the lineup in spite of his .204 AVG / .245 OBP / .245 SLG slash line entering the game, Zamora came through in the bottom of the first inning with his first home run of the season.

And for RHP Victor Castaneda, that was the only run he needed. After escaping a first-and-third, 1-out situation in the 1st inning by striking out Griffin Conine and inducing an infield pop up from old friend Luis Aviles Jr., Castaneda only allowed one more baserunner to reach over the next 4 innings. Oh, and he picked that runner off of first base to keep things neat and clean.

Apparently tiring in the 6th inning by giving up consecutive walks, RHP Luis Contreras picked him up by stranding both runners and also blanking Pensacola in the top of the 7th inning.

Being too close for comfort at 1-0 with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Shuckers’ bats woke up, with a Cam Devanney single plating Brent Diaz (who had doubled) and then Jakson Reetz (don’t underestimate this man and his 1.096 OPS) scoring Devanney to extend the lead to 3-0.

Thereafter, RHP Nash Walter and RHP Zach Vennaro continued the strong work to complete the shutout.

Performances of Note:

• Jakson Reetz – 2-3, double, RBI
• Freddy Zamora – 1-4, HR, RBI
• Cam Devanney – 1-3, RBI
• Brent Diaz – 1-3, double
• Thomas Dillard – 1-3
• Victor Castaneda (Win) – 5 1/3 innings, zero runs, 3 hits, 2 walks, 5 Ks
• Luis Contreras – 1 2/3 innings, zero runs, zero hits, 1 walk, 2 Ks
• Nash Walters – 1 inning, zero runs, zero hits, zero walks, 1 K
• Zach Vennaro (Save) – 1 innings, zero runs, 1 hit, zero walks

Friday’s outlook: LHP Nick Bennett is scheduled to take this one, looking to bounce back from his last outing (5 runs in a loss), as Biloxi aims to seize a 3-1 series lead over Pensacola.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 6, St. Paul 2
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details: Solo Shots Power Sounds Past St. Paul

A late switch saw RHP Caleb Boushley called to start a day earlier than expected, but the Hortonville and La Crosse man was unfazed and up to the challenge.

Of course, it helps when super-prospect Brice Turang gets things rolling with a first-inning blast, his first of the year.

In fact, it was a pleasant night of solo efforts, with four of the Sounds’ six runs coming on homers, including Weston Wilson extending the lead to 2-0 in the 2nd inning. Nashville then extended it to 4-0 thanks to a Pablo Reyes single, 4 walks and a wild pitch. It may have been a bigger inning if not for St. Paul gunning down Turang at home on an infield grounder.

Boushley’s sole blemish was a run in the bottom of the third inning, in part created by the speed of the Twins’ own super-prospect Royce Lewis (infield single, stolen base, scored on a single).

Jon Singleton joined the bachelor party in the 5th inning with a solo shot to authoritatively end his 0-for-19 skid at the plate, pushing the lead to 5-1.

St. Paul managed to cut that deficit to 5-2 in the bottom of the 6th inning, with two singles and a double off RHP Thomas Jankins, but impressive field work caught a Saint at 3rd base to lessen the threat (LF Weston Wilson to SS Brice Turang to 3B Andruw Monasterio).

In the 8th inning, Wilson added his second homer of the night for the 6-2 final margin.

RHPs Zack Brown, Pete Strzelecki and Luis Perdomo were again solid to keep the Saints’ bats quiet, as Strzelecki and Perdomo in particular battle for the coveted Brewers’ Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month award.

Performances of Note:

• Weston Wilson – 2-4, 2 HRs, 2 RBIs
• Pablo Reyes – 2-5, 1 SB
• Jon Singleton – 1-3, HR, walk, 2 RBIs
• Brice Turang – 1-4, HR, walk, RBI
• Andruw Monasterio – 1-2, 2 walks, 2 SBs
• Caleb Boushley – 5 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 1 walk, 1 balk, 3 Ks
• Zack Brown – 1 inning, zero run, zero hits, zero walks, 1 K
• Pete Strzelecki – 1 inning, zero runs, zero hits, zero walks, 1 K
• Luis Perdomo – 1 inning, zero runs, zero hits, zero walks

Friday’s outlook: LHP Ethan Small (0.49 ERA in 18 1/3 innings) got an extra day of rest in advance of his 5th start of the month. Nashville needs a win to even this week’s series in St. Paul 2-2. 

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

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores

Links for affiliate audio

Standings and sortable stat pages

Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth

Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth