Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/25): Thursday Stumble: Three Affiliate Losses

The pitching star on this difficult day was Carolina’s Edwin Jimenez, who yielded just one earned run over six innings, while Patrick Dorrian homered for the third straight game in a close Nashville loss.

Thursday’s game balls go to the aforementioned Jimenez and Dorrian, as well as Eduardo Garcia, Jadher Areinamo and Eduarqui Fernandez.

Transactions:

• LHP Justin King activated from High-A Wisconsin’s 7-day injured list
• LHP Clayton Andrews activated off AAA Nashville’s 7-day injured list and assigned to AA Biloxi (though really moving from rehab work at ACL Brewers Gold)

Game Action

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Durham 7, Nashville 5
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: Sounds Lose Battle in Durham

Starting LHP Ethan Small (1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 2 Ks) wasn’t able to make it through the second inning, while Durham starter Yonny Chirinos completed his three scheduled innings (coming back from injury), quickly turning this into an entertaining bullpen game.

The Sounds’ offense battled back three times, grabbing its first lead 2-1 lead in the second inning without hitting the ball out of the infield. Is that luck? No, it’s actually speed and contact: 2B Patrick Dorrian (1-for-3, HR, walk, 2 RBIs) walked, C Mario Feliciano (1-for-4) and OF Esteury Ruiz (1-for-4, RBI) had infield singles, OF Sal Frelick (1-for-4, double) mixed in a sacrifice bunt and 3B Brice Turang (1-for-3, walk, RBI) added an RBI groundout.

However, after RHP Matt Hardy bailed out Small by getting the final out with the bases loaded in the 2nd inning, he himself ran into trouble in the bottom of the third inning, giving up three runs on three hits (including a 2-run jack which Feliciano and 1B Jon Singleton both knew was outta here on contact) and a walk for a 4-2 deficit.

Nashville’s second comeback was again immediate, with red-hod Dorrian smacking his eighth homer of the year in the top of the 4th inning, a two-run shot to right field which plated DH/OF Garrett Mitchell (2-for-3, walk, 2 SBs) to knot the affair 4-4.

At 5-5 in the bottom of the 8th inning, things unfortunately fell apart when recently-outrighted RHP JC Mejia entered and gave up a leadoff double, followed by two hit batsmen and Sounds’ Manager Rick Sweet getting ejected. Following with two walks to load the bases with Nashville down 7-5, RHP Nash Walters was summoned for his first-ever AAA action, getting a ground out to end the rough inning.

Three Quick Strikes and a Foul Ball:

• The third Sounds comeback came in the top of the 6th inning, when Mitchell singled, stole second and scored on an OF Joey Wiemer (1-for-4, RBI, SB) RBI single to even the game 5-5. Wiemer then stole second base, but got a little greedy and was caught stealing third. Mitchell has 16 stolen bases (caught once) this year, while Wiemer has 29 (caught thrice).
• Recently-optioned RHP Jake Cousins gave up one run in two innings, while RHPs Zack Brown and Hobie Harris completed one scoreless inning each to keep the game knotted at 5-5.
• Durham retired the final seven Sounds in order, so the last real chance for Nashville came in the 7th inning when Frelick doubled and Turang walked, but Singleton (just a .617 OPS in August after a terrific 1.071 July) wasn’t able to come through.
• As long at Small keeps allowing counts to run full, I’m going to keep comparing him to former Brewer Yovani Gallardo. Five of the nine batters he faced in this game went to full counts, contributing to three 2nd inning walks and an early exit after he’d thrown 36 pitches in that particular frame.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Dylan File (4.42 ERA) is scheduled to start in Durham tonight, as Nashville aims to grab a 3-1 series lead, with second place Columbus just 2.5 games back of the Sounds.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes (Not Available)
Rainout - Postponed
Via the Shuckers’ website, rainout details: Thursday Doubleheader Between Biloxi and Chattanooga Postponed

After three straight rain-outs, Biloxi and Chattanooga plan to play a Friday doubleheader in Biloxi, Saturday single game and Sunday doubleheader, hoping to only cancel one game for the week.

Friday’s outlook: Expect RHP Victor Castaneda (3.94 ERA) and LHP Robert Gasser (3.90 ERA in High-A/AA) to start the two 7-inning doubleheader contests tonight, in the first games of the series.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Lansing 6, Wisconsin 1
Box Score / Game Log
Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, details: Cedar Rapids Solo Homer Stops Wisconsin

And be sure to watch the detailed video recap put together by Wisconsin’s fine media team: 

Despite garnering just two hits through seven innings, Wisconsin only trailed 2-0 up to that point thanks to starting RHP Brady Schanuel (3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 4 BB, 1 WP, 1 K) battling through traffic and RHP Zach Mort (4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 7 Ks) blanking the Lugnuts over his first four inning of relief work.

Unfortunately, the dam which Mort had so firmly held eventually broke in the top of the 8th inning as he conceded three singles and was replaced by RHP Miguel Guerrero (1 2/3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 2 HBP, 2 Ks), who gave up another two singles for a 5-0 deficit.

Credit goes to the Lugnuts, who’ve struggled most of the year (48-69 record) but really put the Timber Rattlers in their place behind starting pitcher Joey Estes’ six shutout innings of one-hit ball.

Three Quick Strikes:

• SS Eduardo Garcia (3-for-4, double, RBI) produced three of Wisconsin’s four hits, fittingly knocking in their only run with an RBI single in the bottom of the 9th inning.
• DH/C Jeferson Quero was a welcome sight, returning to action after a 9-day absence, though he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Hopefully OF Jackson Chourio is not far behind him in coming back after recent arm soreness.
• Even major league rehabber 3B/RF Jace Peterson caught the offensive malaise, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. He played three innings at third base and three innings in right field before exiting.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Israel Puello (5.84 ERA in Low-A/High-A) is scheduled to take the mound in Game Four in Appleton tonight, with the Timber Rattlers needing a win to knot the series 2-2.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Kannapolis 4, Carolina 3
Box Score / Game Log
Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Sibrian Stays Hot, but Mudcats Fall 4-3

Carolina will rue this loss, as three key plays which went Kannapolis’ way essentially decided the game.

After five innings of stellar work from competing starters 20-year RHP Edwin Jimenez (6 IP, 4 R (1 ER), 6 H, 0 BB, 7 Ks) and 25-year old Dylan Burns, Carolina’s offense finally broke through in the top of the 6th inning when the Cannon Ballers’ bullpen walked three consecutive Mudcats to open the inning.

OF Eduarqui Fernandez (2-for-4, RBI) and 2B Jadher Areinamo (2-for-3, walk, RBI) followed with RBI singles to score OF Hedbert Perez and DH/OF Jace Avina (2-for-4, double, walk) to take a 2-1 lead, but Kannapolis escaped further damage by throwing out a Mudcat at home (the first key play) and inducing an inning-ending ground ball double play.

When the Cannon Ballers finally put pressure on Jimenez with two singles in the bottom of the 6th inning, Edwin induced a grounder to third base, but 3B Branlyn Jaraba booted it (the second key play) to tie the game 2-2 and extend the inning, which was followed by a two-run double for a 4-2 Kannapolis advantage.

After stranding two runners in the 7th inning, the Mudcats put two men on in the 8th inning and C Jose Sibrian (1-for-4, double, RBI) came through with an RBI double to left field (extending his hitting streak to nine games), but only one run would score as Jaraba was thrown out at home (the third key play) with Carolina trailing 4-3.

Three Quick Strikes:

• OF Hendry Mendez (2-for-4, double, walk) led off the 9th inning with a double, reached third base on a ground out, but was stranded there as the final two Mudcats struck out.
• RHP Alexander Vallecillo (2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks) continued Jimenez’s excellent work by pitching two scoreless innings in relief.
• 1B Jesus Chirinos will want to forget this game quickly after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts while leaving five men on base in his appearances, including a game-ending strike out on top of being thrown out at home in the 6th inning.

Friday’s outlook: Expect 22-year old RHP Jeferson Figueroa (6.68 ERA) to get the start and once again try for his first organizational win and even this week’s series in Kannapolis 2-2. Figueroa’s been getting the strikeouts (79 Ks in 64 2/3 innings this year), but it hasn’t translated to success quite yet.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Good luck on Friday to all teams, including the Biloxi doubleheader!

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