Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/6): Wisconsin and Carolina Lead the Way in Series Finales

In Sunday’s finales, three fine pitching performances very nearly resulted in three victories, though Biloxi’s generous bullpen narrowed it to a 2-win, 2-loss day for the Brewers’ MILB affiliates.

In Lynchburg, the combination of Jackson Chourio (HR, 3 RBIs) and Carlos F. Rodriguez (4 shutout innings, 8 Ks) was too much for the Hillcats.

In Pensacola, Sal Frelick, Felix Valerio and Nick Bennett put the Shuckers firmly in charge (6-1 lead mid-way; 6-4 entering the 9th inning), though Biloxi’s bullpen was once again unable to hold the lead, losing their 5th one-run game of the week.

At home against Peoria, Justin Jarvis (6 innings, 1 run, 3 hits) didn’t require much offensive support, but received it anyway with home runs by Zavier Warren, Ashton McGee and Alex Hall, enabling Wisconsin to split the series 3-3.

In Durham, Nashville only managed to score 1 run despite a few early opportunities, whilst the Bulls made the most of their chances. Durham’s bullpen was exceptional, retiring the final 14 Sounds of the game in dropping Nashville to its first series loss of 2022.

Sunday’s Game Balls go to the aforementioned Chourio, Jarvis, Rodriguez, Bennett and Frelick.

Transactions:
The Arizona Complex League and Dominican Summer League start their seasons today, Monday, June 6th, so there were dozens of promotions and appointments. Links to season opening rosters are here, whilst promotions are noted at the bottom of today’s summary:

• ACL Brewers Blue
• ACL Brewers Gold
• DSL Brewers1
• DSL Brewers2

Game Action:
Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Carolina 6, Lynchburg 3
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 Stays Red Hot in 6-3 Finale Victory

Down 4-1 in this week’s tough series in Lynchburg and needing a victory to claw back to within a half-game of first place, OF Jackson Chourio and SS Eduardo Garcia rang the ball early, with 1st and 2nd inning homers, respectively, to give Carolina a 2-0 lead. Chourio also singled and scored in the 4th inning to restore the 2-run lead at 3-1.

RHP Alexander Cornielle bravely fought through traffic over 5 innings of work, conceding an unearned run in the 3rd inning, then a home run, walk and RBI single in the 4th inning as the Hillcats knotted up the game 3-3.

The entrance RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez in relief in the bottom of the 6th inning had to give the Mudcats a shot of confidence. Still 3-3 in the 8th inning, it was Jackson Chourio once again who came through, plating Jheremy Vargas (who’d walked) and Luis Silva (who’d singled) with a 1-out, 2-run single to enable Carolina to re-take the lead at 5-3. OF Oswal Leones then added another run with an RBI double in the 9th inning for good measure.

As to Rodriguez, he faced the minimum number of hitters (9) through 3 innings of work, then had to work out of a 2-on, 1-out situation in the 9th. Of course, he cleaned it up nicely, striking out the final two batters on 7 pitches.

Performances of Note:

• Jackson Chourio – 3-4, HR, 3 RBIs
• Jeferson Quero – 3-4, SB
• Eduardo Garcia – 1-4, HR, RBI
• Oswal Leones – 1-4, double, RBI
• Hedbert Perez – 1-3, SF, RBI
• Jheremy Vargas – 1-4, walk
• Luis Silva – 1-2
• Alexander Cornielle – 5 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 1 WP, 3 Ks
• Carlos F. Rodriguez (Win) – 4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 Ks

Next week’s outlook: The 28-23 Mudcats face off against the top team in Low-A as they host 36-15 Myrtle Beach

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 5, Peoria 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Rattlers Hit Three Homers in Support of Jarvis to Beat Peoria

We encourage you to also have a look at the fine game video summary put together by Wisconsin's terrific media team: 

Wisconsin’s see-saw week at home against Peoria was looking bright from the outset, with starting RHP Justin Jarvis playing some of his best baseball over recent starts and Zavier Warren smacking a first inning homer (his 3rd of the year) to give the Timber Rattlers the early 1-0 lead.

Jarvis was excellent as usual, conceding only 1 run and 3 hits over 6 solid innings of work. That run came via a triple-single combination to start off the second inning, after which the Chiefs did not manage even a single hit over Jarvis’ next 5 innings.

The tight 1-1 affair didn’t open up until 1B Ashton McGee’s solo homer to lead off the bottom of the 5th inning. It’s wonderful to see McGee put his miserable start to 2022 far in the review mirror. That’s his second dinger of the year (first in Wisconsin) and he’s now sporting a 7-game hitting streak. Furthermore, he recorded zero strikeouts for the 3rd straight game.

In the 7th inning, highly effective RHP Joey Matulovich picked up where Jarvis left off, before C Alex Hall blasted a 2-run homer (bringing home OF Arbert Cipion, who’d singled) to stretch Wisconsin’s lead to 4-1.

Combined, Matulovich and RHP James Meeker covered the final 3 scoreless innings, only allowing 2 harmless singles.

Oh, and pesky 2B Jose Acosta (recently acquired from Texas) looks like a keeper, singling and scoring via wild pitch in the 8th inning to put the finishing touch on the 5-1 scoreline. He now has a 5-game hitting streak (3 with Wisconsin, 2 from prior club).

Performances of Note:

• Alex Hall – 1-3, HR, 2 RBIs
• Ashton McGee – 1-2, HR, walk, RBI
• Zavier Warren – 1-4, HR, RBI
• Jose Acosta – 1-3
• Arbert Cipion – 1-4, SB
• Justin Jarvis (Win) – 6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 Ks
• Joey Matulovich – 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks
• James Meeker – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Next week’s outlook: The 31-20 Timber Rattlers sit in 2nd place in their division and hit the road as they take on Beloit, whilst keeping one eye on first place Cedar Rapids.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Pensacola 7, Biloxi 6
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Blue Wahoos Shock Shuckers Again in Ninth 

While Pensacola aims to win the first half division title, the Shuckers appear to be playing some sort of catch-and-release game instead. Losing a 5th one-run game of the week is extremely painful. Keep your heads up men! There are certainly better days ahead.

In this contest, Biloxi shook off the disappointment of a failure to cash in on a first inning, bases loaded situation to jump out to leads of 3-0 and 6-1 on the strength of 2-run blasts by OF Sal Frelick (2nd inning – his first since his promotion to AA) and 2B Felix Valerio (4th inning).

On the mound, LHP Nick Bennett put together a solid performance, conceding 2 runs on 3 hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Unlike Saturday’s contest, when Biloxi appeared out of bullpen arms as RHP Taylor Floyd struggled in an attempted 2nd inning of work, Manager Guerrero employed something of a quick hook in this game, well at least until the fateful 9th inning:

• RHP Nash Walters pitched to just 2 batters, closing out the 5th inning to retain the Shuckers’ 6-2 lead
• RHP Carlos Luna threw 60 pitches to get through 2 2/3 innings, though that included 2 runs to tighten the game at 6-4 in the 8th inning
• RHP Arnaldo Hernandez picked up Luna nicely, striking out the only batter he faced to strand a runner at 3rd base

Of course, in line with the theme of the week, Biloxi essentially laid down in the 9th inning, generously allowing 6 Blue Wahoo batters to reach base without even managing a single hit.

Sunday’s nightmare experience went to RHP Harold Chirino, who’ll want to forget the walk and then 4 consecutive hit batsmen to end the contest in favor of Pensacola at 7-6.

Performances of Note:

• Gabe Holt – 3-4, RBI
• Sal Frelick – 2-5, HR, double, 2 RBIs
• Felix Valerio – 1-3, HR, walk, HBP, 2 RBIs, SB
• Cam Devanney – 1-4, double, SF, RBI
• Jakson Reetz – 1-4, double, walk
• Tristen Lutz – 1-4, walk
• Nick Bennett – 4 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 7 Ks
• Carlos Luna – 2 2/3 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K
• Harold Chirino (Loss) – 0 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 0 H, 1 BB, 4 HBP, 0 K

Next week’s outlook: The 23-36 Shuckers are home this week, seeking to turn over a new leaf as they face the 29-22 Tennessee Smokies.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Durham 4, Nashville 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details: Sounds Drop First Series With Sunday Loss

While it’s natural to expect a dip in Nashville’s performance when so many of their players are unavailable due to call-ups to the Big Club and/or its taxi squad. However, Sunday’s defeat was actually more a matter of Durham simply cashing in on the few opportunities which came its way.

For the game, the Sounds went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position (leaving 5 men on base), while Durham went 2-for-4 in the same position (leaving only 2 men on base in the game). Credit Durham for their clutch hitting and pitching, then try again next week gentlemen!

Despite OFs Jonathan Davis and Abraham Almonte putting Nashville in strong position with a first inning single and double, they were left stranded, while Durham went the easy route via solo homer by Jonathan Aranda (his 9th of the year) in the bottom half of the inning.

Almonte then tied things up with an RBI single in the 3rd inning, but that’s the only run the Sounds would manage to bring home this day.

A double and RBI single gave the Bulls a 2-1 lead against starting RHP Dylan File in the same inning. This lead was extended to 4-1 in File’s final inning of work (the 6th inning) via an infield single, full-count walk, base hit and steal of home.

Credit to Durham for retiring the final 14 Nashville batters of the game. Unfortunately, the loss meant a 4-2 series defeat for the Sounds, their first series loss of 2022.

Performances of Note:

• Abraham Almonte – 2-4, double, RBI
• Jonathan Davis – 1-3, walk, SB
• Brian Navarreto – 1-3
• Dylan File (Loss) – 6 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks
• Peter Strzelecki – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• Zach Vennaro – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (34-19) return home after their 2-week road trip, aiming to get back to their winning ways as they host 26-28 Norfolk.

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

As noted in the Transactions commentary above, here are the promotions from the Dominican Summer League to the Arizona Complex League (listed from youngest to oldest, along with a few extra details on last year’s stats in DSL), which have their season openers today: 

1. C Felipe Valderrama to ACL Blue
2. C Jason Ollarve to ACL Gold
3. INF Ney Serrano to ACL Blue – $360k bonus Jan 2021; .707 OPS in 173 PAs
4. INF Gregory Barrios to ACL Gold – $1m bonus Jan 2021; .549 OPS in 116 PAs
5. INF Jonatan Guzman to ACL Blue – signed Jan 2021; yet to debut
6. INF Daniel Guilarte to ACL Blue – $1m bonus Jan 2021; yet to debut
7. OF Luis Castillo to ACL Gold – signed Jan 2021; yet to debut
8. RHP Henrison Mota to ACL Gold – 25 1/3 IP, 3.20 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 12.1 K/9
9. OF Eduarh Colina to ACL Gold – .741 OPS in 190 PAs
10. RHP Jesus Rivero to ACL Blue – 28 1/3 IP, 2.22 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 12.1 K/9
11. RHP Patricio Aquino to ACL Gold – 44 IP, 2.66 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 11.0 K/9
12. RHP Gerson Caldazilla to ACL Gold – 45 IP, 2.80 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 7.0 K/9
13. INF Alexander Perez to ACL Blue
14. RHP Rosmel Reyes to ACL Blue
15. RHP Yorman Galindez to ACL Gold – a 2022 signing
16. LHP Junior Castillo to ACL Blue – 41 1/3 IP, 3.05 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 7.8 K/9
17. OF Diego Larez to ACL Gold – .753 OPS in 149 PAs
18. RHP Arielbi Gonzalez to ACL Blue – 43 1/3 IP, 2.08 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 7.9 K/9
19. RHP Delson Guzman to ACL Gold
20. RHP Jared Albir to ACL Blue
21. RHP Alexander Vallecillo to ACL Blue – 40 IP, 1.80 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 8.1 K/9
22. OF Rafael Martinez to ACL Gold – .774 OPS in 85 PAs
23. RHP Domingo Mejia to ACL Gold – 50 IP, 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 12.1 K/9

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