Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/08): Nashville Dominates. Three Stirring Comebacks Result in One More Affiliate Victory

While the Sounds cruised to a comfortable Mother’s Day win, each of the Brewers’ other affiliates was left for dead late in their matchups:

• Carolina trailed 7-2 in the 8th inning
• Wisconsin had been out-hit 10 to 1 and was down 3-0 entering the bottom of the 9th inning
• Biloxi had 1 hit through 7 innings and was behind 2-0…

…but each of those squads made their mothers proud by never giving up:

• Jackson Chourio homered to spark a 5-run Mudcat rally, though they eventually fell 9-7
• The Timber Rattlers drew 5 walks, before Alex Hall’s 2-out, 2-run game-winning single
• Brent Diaz clobbered a tying 2-run blast, before the Shuckers lost in extra innings

A few Game Balls on this special Sunday are reserved for the pitchers who kept throwing blanks to give their struggling offenses a chance (Tyler Herb, Jason Alexander, TJ Shook), while Jackson Chourio (4-for-4, 1st homer) was the star hitter of the day and Alex Hall was an offensive and defensive hero.

Transactions:

• P Alec Bettinger was transferred to AAA Nashville’s Active Roster from the Development List

Game Action:

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Augusta 9, Carolina 7
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: Chourio Goes 4-for-4 with a Home Run in 9-7 Loss

Opening the game by giving up a leadoff double and then a run-scoring throwing error by 3B Alberis Ferrer on a sacrifice bunt obviously discombobulated normally solid RHP Brannon Jordan, who then walked a batter and gave up two singles to quickly put Carolina down 3-0 at home.

Jordan was reasonably solid from that point, while OF Jackson Chourio kept trying to inspire the offense:

• Singling but not scoring in the 1st inning
• Singling, stealing second and scoring on a DH Hendry Mendez single to cut the Augusta lead to 3-1 in the 3rd inning
• Doubling in OF Arbert Cipion in the 5th inning to claw the game back to 5-2
• Homering to cut it to 7-3 and lead a 5-run rally in the 8th inning
• Walking to lead off the 9th inning and bring the potential tying run to the plate with nobody out

https://twitter.com/CarolinaMudcats/status/1523370833464692736?cxt=HHwWgMDU3fXsjKQqAAAA

After a Green Jacket infield hit and outfield hit chased Jordan to lead off the 5th inning, a steal of home and then a third Ferrer error pushed the deficit to 5-1.

https://twitter.com/CarolinaMudcats/status/1523375915325353984?cxt=HHwWgMDTxdyUj6QqAAAA

It felt like the game was likely over in the top of the 8th inning, when an infield single, walk and 2-out, opposite field triple off LHP Jakob Brustoski stretched the score to 7-2, but it only added to the drama.

Starting with Chourio’s homer opposite field homer, the first 5 Mudcat hitters reached base in the bottom of the 8th inning, ultimately tying the game on 2B Zack Raabe’s first-pitch single to center to score OF Hedbert Perez.

https://twitter.com/CarolinaMudcats/status/1523386691280531456?cxt=HHwWgMCr1fuHlKQqAAAA

Unfortunately, RHP Brandon Ramey wasn’t able to keep it knotted up, as Augusta’s Stephen Paolini pulled a 1-out pitch out to right field to re-claim a lead which would hold up, forcing Carolina to split the 6-game series 3-3.

MLB Pipeline thankfully put the Chourio highlights in one clip:

https://twitter.com/MLBPipeline/status/1523414349338931200?cxt=HHwWgMCjofDRoKQqAAAA

Performances of Note:

• Jackson Chourio – 4-4, HR, double, BB, 2 RBIs, SB
• Jesus Chirinos – 2-5
• Hendry Mendez – 1-3, BB, RBI
• Hedbert Perez – 1-4, RBI
• Zack Raabe – 1-4, RBI
• Brannon Jordan – 4 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 6 H, 2 BB, 1 WP, 4 K
• Trevor Tietz – 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 WP, 2 K
• Junior Montero – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• Brandon Ramey (Loss) – 1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 0 K

Next week’s outlook: The 14-13 Mudcats return travel to Fayetteville (9-18), with RHP Ryne Moore (unless Mr. Moore (2.57 ERA through 28 innings) is on a bus to Quad Cities to join the Timber Rattlers) likely to start the first game of the series.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 4, Fort Wayne 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Rattlers Do It Again!

Wisconsin’s media team always does an amazing job, so please read their write-up and enjoy the video summary: https://twitter.com/TimberRattlers/status/1523427911323500546?cxt=HHwWhIDS9aTnpqQqAAAA

Players and fans may have been forgiven in thinking this was simply not Wisconsin’s day, as they’d had more players caught stealing (2) than hits (1) through 8 innings.

However, Manager Joe Ayrault has instilled some crazy confidence in these Timber Rattlers, who found another way to win, this time despite being down 3-0 and out-hit 10-1 entering the bottom of the 9th inning.

RHP Max Lazar got the start, but was limited to just two innings (plus two leadoff walks in the 3rd inning) after pitching on Tuesday earlier in the week. Three TinCap 2nd inning hits put the Rattlers behind 2-0, which seemed likely to hold up against stellar Fort Wayne pitching.

Thankfully, Wisconsin’s pitching and fielding kept them in the game, starting with RHP Tyler Gillies and C Alex Hall combining to eliminate that 2-on, nobody out 3rd inning threat:

• Strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out to catch the lead runner at 3rd base
• Another caught stealing, this time at 2nd base

RHP TJ Shook came into the 2-0 game in the 4th inning, providing a near-certainty that the game would remain within reach:

• Two infield singles in the 5th inning didn’t faze Shook, who induced two ground-outs to exit that inning cleanly
• Shook responded to a 1-out, 7th inning double by striking out the next two batters

However, a Fort Wayne run-scoring double off RHP Robbie Baker extended the TinCap lead to 3-0 in the 8th inning, which looked somewhat insurmountable after no Rattlers reached base in the bottom half of the inning.

RHP James Meeker pitched around one single in the top of the 9th inning to give his mates one more chance.

What a crazy finish: 5 walks and 2 strikeouts in the bottom of the 9th inning brought the Rattlers back to 3-2 with the bases loaded and 2 outs. That 5th walk was enough for the TinCap manager to call on a reliever to attempt to close it out.

Likely counting on a first pitch strike, Hall received it and smacked the ball into right field to score Joe Gray Jr. and Tristan Peters with the game-winning runs.

https://twitter.com/TimberRattlers/status/1523412705981345792?cxt=HHwWgMCtpZzyn6QqAAAA

Performances of Note:

• Micah Bello – 1-3, BB, RBI
• Alex Hall – 1-4, 2 RBIs
• Ethan Murray – 0-1, 2 BB, 1 HBP
• Max Lazar – 2 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K
• Tyler Gillies – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• TJ Shook – 4 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 5 K
• James Meeker (Win) – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 WP, 2 K

Next week’s outlook: The 17-10 Timber Rattlers take the bus to Quad Cities (11-16), with LHP Brandon Knarr the expected Game One starter. Again, that’s unless the excellent Mr. Knarr (1.27 ERA through 28 1/3 innings) is heading to Mississippi on a promotion.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Montgomery 4, Biloxi 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Walk-Off Home Run In Tenth Leads to Sweep of Shuckers

After those amazing Carolina and Wisconsin comebacks, it really seemed too much to ask or expect that Biloxi would do the same.

I mean, in the midst of a 6-game losing streak, down 2-0 with 2 outs in the 8th inning after mustering only 1 hit to that point in a frustrating contest, one could not reasonably expect the team to pull itself off the mat.

And yet, the Shuckers showed their resiliency, tying it up against the odds and even taking an extra-inning lead before succumbing to the 7th straight loss, this one of the walk-off variety.

RHP Tyler Herb was once again fantastic, starting a second game of the week and throwing blanks for 5 straight innings. Herb dispatched the most dangerous threat after a walk and hit in the 5th inning by notching a 3-pitch strikeout and inducing a 1-3 groundout.

Unfortunately, Biloxi’s offense was downright pitiful through most of this one, putting the minimum number of men to the plate (21) through seven innings, though we must credit Montgomery’s terrific defense:

• A 1st inning walk by Sal Frelick was eliminated by being caught stealing
• A 5th inning Ashton McGee liner back to the pitcher enabled Felix Valerio (who’d singled) to be doubled up off of first base
• A 6th inning Cam Devanney liner to second base caught Brent Diaz (who’d walked) off of first base

After solid 6th inning work by RHP Matt Hardy, the Biscuits ultimately grabbed a 2-0 lead with two doubles, a single and a sacrifice fly off of RHP Nash Walters in the 7th inning.

However, with two outs in the top of the 8th inning, Biloxi responded, with McGee earning a full count walk and Brent Diaz pulling the first pitch he saw out to left field (his 3rd home runs of 2022) to knot the contest at 2-2.

Diaz then threw out an attempted base stealer at 2nd base to send the game to extra innings, where McGee came through with a 2-out single to score Manfred’s ghost (Freddy Zamora) and give the Shuckers a 3-2 lead.

However, the Biscuits’ opening hitter of the bottom of the 10th inning Evan Edwards gave his mother a nice memory, blasting a 1-2 pitch off of RHP JT Hintzen to score himself and Manfred’s ghost and give his squad 4-3 win and complete a 6-game sweep over Biloxi on the week.

https://twitter.com/BiscuitBaseball/status/1523437862003220480?cxt=HHwWgICpob-qq6QqAAAA

Performances of Note:

• Brent Diaz – 1-3, HR, BB, 2 RBIs
• Ashton McGee – 1-3, BB, RBI
• Felix Valerio – 1-3, BB
• Tyler Herb – 4 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 6 K
• Matt Hardy – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K
• Zach Vennaro – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K
• Arnaldo Hernandez – 1 IP,0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• JT Hintzen (Loss) – 0 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K

Next week’s outlook: The 12-15 Shuckers come home to lick their wounds and face Birmingham (11-16). RHP Victor Castaneda (2.31 ERA, 1.11 WHIP in 23 1/3 innings) is the likely starter of the first game of the 6-game set.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 4, Norfolk 0
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details: Sounds Shutout Tides on Mother’s Day

Only the heroics of Alex Hall could prevent OF Jonathan Davis from claiming one of the Game Balls on this Mother’s Day. As a leadoff hitter, the 29-year old Davis is problem for other teams, showing why he’s played in the majors in 4 consecutive seasons.

While 40-man roster RHP Alec Bettinger made his 2022 debut, successfully working around 5 base runners (2 hits, 3 walks) through 3 innings, the pesky Davis kept creating opportunities for the Sounds:

• First inning infield single and stolen base, though stranded at 3rd base
• Second inning single, scoring on a Jon Singleton walk to follow-up Keston Hiura’s RBI hit-by-pitch and extend the Sound lead to 2-0
• Sixth inning single, coming home on a Singleton base hit to left field. 3-0 Nashville
• Eighth inning walk, though stranded

https://twitter.com/nashvillesounds/status/1523409308553125888?cxt=HHwWgICpvbusnqQqAAAA

After OF David Dahl was scratched from the original Saturday line-up, it was great to see him back in right field on Sunday, with his 6th inning RBI single completing the scoring on this fine day.

With Bettinger’s return, RHP Jason Alexander was bumped from starting but thankfully still got in his scheduled work, keeping zeros on the board from the 4th through the 8th innings to earn a deserved win.

https://twitter.com/nashvillesounds/status/1523401764321787904?cxt=HHwWgIDUyar1mqQqAAAA

While Keston Hiura continues to hit righties well, I’m sure that Brewers’ brass is hoping he can face some lefties in AAA. Unfortunately, his first inning strikeout was his only chance against a left-handed pitcher in this one, as he went 1-for-3 against righties the rest of the way.

We should recognize the nice work by 3B Mark Mathias to help Alec Bettinger keep a clean sheet:

https://twitter.com/nashvillesounds/status/1523388337590968321?cxt=HHwWgoCp0eXnlKQqAAAA

Performances of Note:

• Jonathan Davis – 3-4, BB, SB
• David Dahl – 2-5, RBI
• Weston Wilson – 2-4
• Jon Singleton – 1-3, 2 BB, 2 RBIs
• Keston Hiura – 1-4, HBP, RBI
• Brice Turang – 1-4, BB
• Brian Navarreto – 1-4, SB
• Alec Bettinger – 3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 1 WP, 3 K
• Jason Alexander (Win) – 5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K
• JC Mejia – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (20-9) heads to Jacksonville (18-12) this week, aiming to keep the good times rolling. Veteran RHP Josh Lindblom (2.33 ERA, 0.96 WHIP in 27 innings) is the expected starting pitcher in the opening game.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Enjoy your travel day, young fellas!

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