Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/31): Biloxi and Carolina Win in Extra Innings. Exciting Promotions Likely Imminent

If Andruw Monasterio was offended at the intentional walk issued which brought him to the plate with the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning, he took it out on the baseball by depositing the first pitch he saw far over the left center field wall, as Biloxi defeated Montgomery 6-2, ultimately rewarding starting pitcher Victor Castaneda for a fine performance.

Carolina’s Hendry Mendez suffered a scary collision with the right field side wall early in the Mudcats’ road game, but the team managed to overcome the injury and several other setbacks to win 5-4 in Fayetteville.

Ethan Small returned to AAA and dominated in his usual manner, but the clutch hits were missing on this day in a 2-1 loss.

Wisconsin fell behind 7-0 at home and didn’t have many answers against a quality Cedar Rapids team.

After the games, rumors abounded of promotions for Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Joey Wiemer, Tristan Peters, Antoine Kelly and Justin Jarvis, although the only confirmed promotion is that of Mr. Peters. We can’t wait for the announcements on Monday and Tuesday!!

Sunday’s Game Balls go to the aforementioned Small, Monasterio, Castaneda and Peters, as well as Robbie Hitt.

Transactions (Mostly unconfirmed rumors, though with a decent amount of smoke):

• OF Tristan Peters promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin
• LHP Antoine Kelly promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin (subject to confirmation)
• RHP Justin Jarvis promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin (subject to confirmation)
• OF Sal Frelick promoted to AAA Nashville from AA Biloxi (subject to confirmation)
• OF Garrett Mitchell promoted to AAA Nashville from AA Biloxi (subject to confirmation)
• OF Joey Wiemer promoted to AAA Nashville from AA Biloxi (subject to confirmation)

Game Action:

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

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review each of the affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Knights Score Late to Beat Sounds

Squander enough chances and you’ll ultimately lose…Nashville went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranded nine runners and had two players caught stealing in this home loss.

LHP Ethan Small (5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks) was terrific in his return to AAA action after a start for the Brewers five days earlier, though exited after just 65 pitches (37 strikes).

OF Corey Ray (1-fo-3, HR, walk, RBI) produced the Sounds’ only run with a solo homer (5th of the year) to tie the game in the 3rd inning. Having just recently returned from injury, Ray exited early for the 2nd straight game, likely in an effort to ease him back.

See more highlights, including on Small’s effort and stellar defensive plays, on the team’s twitter handle

The Sounds failed to produce a second run despite having two-on with two outs in the 5th inning, one-on with one out in the 6th inning, two-on with nobody out in the 7th inning, two-on with one out in the 8th inning and a one-out single in the 9th inning.

Reliever Marcus Walden took the loss, having given up a lead-off single and 2-out RBI double in the top of the 9th inning.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Rehabbing RHP Luis Perdomo (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K) followed up Small’s work with two perfect innings, as he announces to all who will listen that he’s ready for a return to The Show.
• 1B Jon Singleton (1-for-2, 2 walks) finished off his terrific July (1.071 OPS with 9 home runs) by getting on base three more times.
• Relatively rare errors by Brice Turang (8th of the year) and Mario Feliciano (4th of the year) thankfully didn’t cost the team.

Despite the loss, Nashville won the series over Charlotte 4-2.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (59-39) goes on the road to face 46-52 Norfolk (Orioles’ affiliate). Expect RHP Tyler Herb (6 IP, 2 ER last outing) to start Game One of the series.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 6, Montgomery 2 (final in 11 innings)
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Grand Finish! Monasterio's Grand Slam Wins It In the 11th For Biloxi

The Biscuits intentionally walked Sal Frelick to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning, opting to face the superb Andruw Monasterio (2-for-6, HR, 4 RBIs) instead. Monasterio responded to the subtle insult by blasting the first pitch he saw far over the wall in left center field to hit the Medical Arts Pharma and Hearing Center.

Full game highlight package via the Shuckers:

RHP Victor Castaneda (5 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 6 H, 1 BB, 5 Ks) had his second excellent start of the week against Montgomery, though faltered in the 6th inning as he ultimately reached 96 pitches. Four consecutive singles to the outfield to commence that 6th inning ended Castaneda’s night, but RHP Robbie Hitt extinguished the bases loaded, nobody out jam with two strikeouts and a groundout to strand all three inherited Biscuits.

Down 2-1 at this point, Biloxi responded by loading the bases (1B Thomas Dillard single, plus two walks) with nobody out in the bottom half of the 6th inning, but nearly got nothing when C Jason Lopez grounded into a 5-2-3 double play. Thankfully a subsequent wild pitch tied up the game 2-2.

Unfortunately, the Shuckers were unable to cash in on Garrett Mitchell’s one-out single in the 7th inning, Cam Devanney’s leadoff 8th inning double or two walks in the 10th inning to load the bases.

Finally, Monasterio came through with the superman blast to win it, giving Biloxi a 5-1 series win.

Two Quick Strikes:

• Along with Hitt, RHPs Kent Hasler, Cam Robinson and Harold Chirino each pitched 1-2 scoreless innings, as the foursome combined for this line: 6 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 4 Ks, thus giving Biloxi’s offense ample time to grab a win.
• Similar to the Sounds’ game, Biloxi also had umpteen chances to win this game earlier (2-for-15 with runners in scoring position; 12 men left on base), but the home crowd was able to celebrate a walk-off grand slam victory in this case thanks to amazing pitching throughout the 11 innings.

Next week’s outlook: 46-48 Biloxi travels to take on the 46-50 Mississippi Braves, possibly with a largely revamped outfield if in fact the trio of Frelick, Mitchell and Wiemer have all been promoted to AAA. If so, expect Tristen Lutz, Tristan Peters and Noah Campbell to man the day-to-day outfield and annihilate opposing pitching. RHP TJ Shook (6 1/3 IP, 2 ER in last game) is my best guess to start the first game of the series.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Cedar Rapids 9, Wisconsin 2
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, details: Homestand Ends with Loss to Cedar Rapids

Also check out the game highlights put together by the Timber Rattlers’ exceptional media team: 

Starting LHP Russell Smith (4 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 5 H, 1 BB, 5 Ks) had better luck against Cedar Rapids earlier in the series, as in this game he was tagged for three 1st inning runs and another two runs in the 3rd inning, as the Timber Rattlers were blown out to end a 2-game winning streak and lose the series 4-2.

3B Zavier Warren (.618 season OPS) has been getting some better results recently (10-game on-base streak with three homers in this stretch), but his game-opening error and then 1st inning strikeout with two-on and one out helped set a negative tone for Wisconsin in this game, which he’ll need to quickly forget as he turns over a new leaf for next week’s series.

Down 5-0 in the bottom of the 3rd inning, Wisconsin again failed to score, this time despite getting singles from Warren and OF Tristan Peters (2-for-4, double, walk, 2 RBIs), along with a walk. This was really their last opportunity to make a game of it, as RHP Christian Tripp gave up a walk and 2-run homer to commence the 5th inning for a 7-0 deficit.

Via SoundCloud: Rattler Radio Postgame Podcast

Four Quick Strikes:

• Out of three relievers, RHP Brady Schanuel had the best outing (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 3 Ks).
• OF Jackson Chourio watch: 0-for-4 in his first hitless game in High-A, though the bright side is that he did not strike out.
• C Darrien Miller arm watch: Cedar Rapids went 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts, so Miller has now caught 15 base stealers out of 106 on the season.
• Fittingly, given how solid of a fixture Peters has been for the Timber Rattlers, he knocked in both of their runs in this game (his last in High-A, as Manager Joe Ayrault announced his promotion to AA Biloxi after the contest) through a 7th inning double.

Next week’s outlook: 50-45 Wisconsin travels to 36-60 Quad Cities, hoping to muster enough offense despite Tristan Peters’ deserved promotion to AA Biloxi. RHP Justin Bullock is expected to make his 4th start for Wisconsin this year in the series opener.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Leones (2-for-4, double, walk, RBI) had a nice game, doubling and scoring in the 7th inning to extend the lead to 4-2.
• The squad’s youngest pitcher (19-year old RHP Jeison Pena) struggled a bit, allowing Fayetteville to tie the game 4-4 with two runs in the bottom of the 7th inning, but 3B Luis Silva made a big play to eliminate a runner trying for home for the second out of the inning.
• RHPs Junior Montero (three hitters, three strikeouts), Miguel Guerrero (three-up, three-down 9th inning) and Brannon Jordan (three-up, three-down 10th inning) were fabulous in relief to give Carolina a chance to win the game.

Next week’s outlook: 48-48 Carolina returns home to host 44-52 Kannapolis. I’d expect RHPs Jefferson Figueroa (6.27 season ERA) and Fernando Olguin (4.85 season ERA) to tag-team the opener.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. While the full season affiliates have their travel day on Monday, the short season DSL and ACL clubs are back in action. Also keep a close watch out for signing of draftees (Monday deadline – how about it Cameron Wagoner, Noah Hall, etc.?) and MLB trades (Tuesday deadline).

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