Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/12): Biloxi Pulls Out Extra Inning Win. Nashville and Carolina Fall.

The Shuckers grabbed an early 4-1 lead, but defensive difficulties knotted it 4-4 before their suddenly lock down bullpen carried them to an extra inning win, with Tristen Lutz getting to play hero. Zach Vennaro earned that victory with two innings of stellar work, not even allowing Manfred’s ghost to advance. The efforts earned Biloxi a 3-3 series split.

There was little to cheer in the Carolina or Nashville games, though Hedbert Perez continues his terrific resurgence (7th homer of the year). Each squad dropped its series 4-2 this week.

Wisconsin never got a chance to even up their series in Beloit, with the Covid cancellation leaving them with a 3-2 series loss.

Sunday’s Game Balls go to the aforementioned Lutz, Perez, Vennaro, Jakson Reetz and Mario Feliciano.

Transactions:

• N/A
• Hopefully Wisconsin’s Covid cancellation doesn’t result player unavailability in the coming week. Fingers crossed!

Game Action:

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Myrtle Beach 15, Carolina 6
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: Mudcats Fall in Series Finale 15-6 to Myrtle Beach

Carolina needed a victory in their finale against the excellent Myrtle Beach squad, but were essentially blown out of their own building, falling behind 5-0 (first inning) and 10-2 (third inning). Two game-opening walks issued by starting RHP Jefferson Figueroa were followed by an error, triple, two more errors and a wild pitch to put the Mudcats in an early 4-0 hole.

On the bright side, Carolina leadoff man Eduardo Garcia homered to start the bottom of the first inning. Hedbert Perez then did the same in the second inning to cut it to 5-2, with a single and walk bringing the Mudcats’ potential game-tying run to the plate with just one out.

However, opposing starter Tyler Schaffler dispatched that threat (strikeout, ground out) and the Pelicans’ offense erupted for five runs in the 3rd inning.

None of the first four Mudcat pitchers were immune from the beatdown, as Figueroa, Brannon Jordan, Jakob Brustoski and Miguel Segura all struggled. Let’s give credit to Segura for at least covering five innings of work though, thus saving a few arms.

Jackson Chourio had a rare game-to-forget, going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts. I hate to bring attention to him this way, but that spotlight is not going to dim anytime soon, for better or worse. Shake it off, young man! We appreciate you!

Performances of Note:

• Hedbert Perez – 2-4, HR, double, 2 RBIs
• Hendry Mendez – 2-3, walk
• Eduardo Garcia – 1-4, HR, walk, RBI
• Jheremy Vargas – 1-3, walk, 2 RBIs
• Jesus Chirinos – 1-4, RBI
• Jefferson Figueroa (Loss) – 2/3 IP, 5 R (1 ER), 1 H, 3 BB, 1 WP, 0 Ks
• Miguel Segura – 5 IP, 5 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 Ks
• Karlos Morales – 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Next week’s outlook: The 30-27 Mudcats hit the road to take on Royals’ Low-A affiliate Columbia (16-41). Expect one of RHPs Stiven Cruz, Edwin Jimenez or Israel Puello to start in the opening game.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Cancelled Due to Covid Safety Measures (Will Not Be Rescheduled)

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, rainout details: Sunday’s Timber Rattlers Game at Beloit Canceled

Wisconsin was poised to grab a 3-3 series split with a victory in the finale, but never got the chance due to cancellation based on Covid concerns.

Next week’s outlook: The 33-23 Timber Rattlers remain on the road to take on Dodgers’ High-A affiliate Great Lakes (33-24). Expect LHP Russell Smith (5 2/3 IP, 2 runs, 8 Ks last outing) to start the opener after missing his chance to throw today.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 5, Tennessee 4
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers Walk Off Smokies for Second Time in Series Finale

This was the only competitive game for the Brewers’ minor league affiliates, but Biloxi and Chattanooga gave us a doozy.

Starter TJ Shook shrugged off a leadoff homer (INF Chase Stumpf’s 12th of the year) to prevent any more damage over the first four innings, though there was a bit of traffic (stranded two runners in each of the 2nd and 3rd innings).

Biloxi responded in a big way in that same first inning, with a two-run Jakson Reetz double and RBI singles by Tristen Lutz and Cam Devanney giving the team a 4-1 lead.

Shook’s 5th inning should have been straightforward, in spite of a leadoff walk. This was followed by a strikeout, high fly ball to left field and a grounder to first base. Unfortunately, that fly ball got caught in the lights (Lutz couldn’t see it) and the grounder somehow eluded both Noah Campbell at first base and Joey Wiemer in right field, giving the Smokies a lifeline.

RHP Robbie Hitt entered the 4-2 game, with two on and one out, but a Reetz throwing error allowed both inherited runners to score. Shuckers 4, Smokies 4 – all to play for.

To his credit, Hitt retired five consecutive batters, then handed over to RHP Arnaldo Hernandez. Hernandez pitched a clean 7th inning, but faced serious trouble with consecutive walks and a wild pitch to commence the 8th inning. However, he pulled a great escape, getting a harmless ground out and then an unconventional double play (left field to shortstop to double up the runner at 2nd base) to keep things even.

RHP Vennaro entered to cover the 9th inning and more, working around a leadoff walk in the 9th inning and then retiring the next six batters in order.

Offensively, Biloxi put two players on base in the 6th inning (single, error), had a leadoff 7th inning walk, a leadoff 8th inning double (Reetz) and a one-out 9th inning walk, but couldn’t convert any of the chances. On any other night, they’d be ruing the missed opportunities, but not this evening.

Gifted with Manfred’s ghost (in the form of pinch-runner Terence Doston) on 2nd base to start the bottom of the 10th inning, Mr. Lutz made sure to end it immediately, smacking the game-winning single to left field.

Performances of Note:

• Jakson Reetz – 2-5, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs
• Tristen Lutz – 2-5, 2 RBIs
• Sal Frelick – 2-5
• Cam Devanney – 1-3, walk, RBI
• Joey Wiemer – 1-4, SB
• TJ Shook – 4 1/3 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 6 H, 3 BB, 4 Ks
• Robbie Hitt – 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 Ks
• Arnaldo Hernandez – 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 1 WP, 1 K
• Zach Vennaro (Win) – 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks

Next week’s outlook: The 26-29 Shuckers will bus to Reds’ AA affiliate Chattanooga (30-27). Expect promising LHP Brandon Knarr (6 IP, 1 run, 8 Ks in his AA debut last week) to handle the series opener.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Norfolk 7, Nashville 2
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details: Sounds Drop Finale, Lose Six-Game Series to Norfolk 

The Sounds needed a win at home in the finale to salvage a 3-3 series split against Norfolk, but it was not to be on this day. The Tides’ bats were active, with eight hits scoring five runs over the first four innings of the game against Nashville starting RHP Dylan File.

OF Corey Ray managed to double and score in the third inning to cut the deficit to 2-1, but a three-run 4th inning put the Sounds back on their heels down 5-1. A Pablo Reyes double and Mario Feliciano RBI single had them back in business down 5-2 with one out in the 4th inning, but old friend Marcos Diplan came on in relief to eliminate the threat and earn the win.

Feliciano was the bright spot for Nashville, reaching base three times as he continues to prove his offensive capability (now hitting .301 on the season, though waiting for the power to come through).

The game also marked a return to AAA for RHP Luke Barker after recently being optioned from the Big Club.

Performances of Note:

• Mario Feliciano – 2-3, double, walk, RBI
• Corey Ray – 1-4, double
• Pablo Reyes – 1-4, double
• Jonathan Davis – 1-3, walk
• Abraham Almonte – 1-3, walk
• Dylan File (Loss) – 4 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 3 BB, 2 Ks
• Alec Bettinger – 4 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 4 BB, 5 Ks
• Luke Barker – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (36-23) will be away this week to battle Cardinals’ AAA affiliate Memphis (35-25). Expect dominant LHP Ethan Small (2.41 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 11.0 K/9 in 41 innings) to start the series opener.

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

As for the rookie ball teams, their schedule pages for Monday are listed below.

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Dominican Summer League Scoreboard

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