Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/7): Three Sunday Wins, Four Series Victories

Sunday’s Game Balls go to

Pablo Reyes, Victor Castaneda, Thomas Dillard, Jace Avina and Ethan Small, with Honorable Mentions to Jeferson Quero, Garrett Mitchell and Arbert Cipion.

Transactions:

• RHP Jason Alexander recalled to MLB Milwaukee from AAA Nashville (replacing DFA’d Jake McGee)
• OF/INF Noah Campbell transferred from AA Biloxi’s 7-day injured list to 60-day injured list
• There are also rumors of potential upcoming moves, so watch the wire (e.g. this Brewer Fanatic thread) on Monday and Tuesday

Game Action:
Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 9, Norfolk 4
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 Steal Series With Reyes' Four-Hit Day

Pablo Reyes remains “Mr. Steady” for Nashville, extending his on-base streak to 21 games and leading the team to a 4-2 series win. With Brice Turang getting a day off, Reyes manned shortstop and went 4-for-6, with a home run and 4 RBIs.

Starting LHP Ethan Small’s numbers were solid (5 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 Ks), although he exited after five innings (85 pitches) trailing 3-2.

Down 4-3 going into the top of the 8th inning, INF/OF Weston Wilson homered to lead off the inning (his 9th of the year) and OF Matt Lipka (1-for-3, double, 2 walks, 3 SB) walked, stole two bases and scored on an error to grab the lead. An OF Garrett Mitchell (3-for-6, RBI, SB) infield single produced another run before Reyes’ 2-run homer extended the lead to 8-4.

Good Baseball is when your opponent throws six wild pitches, commits two errors, has a balk, a passed ball and hits a batter, while the Nashville Sounds committed zero such infractions in this game. The win gave the Sounds a 4-2 series win over Norfolk for the week.

Although Reyes may have had the big game, in prospect land it’s Mitchell who gets the highlight reel:

Three Quick Strikes:

• OF Joey Wiemer, unfortunately, left the game in the top of the 6th inning. He’d fouled a ball off his leg, completed the plate appearance by drawing a walk, but was replaced on the bases by OF Sal Frelick
• C Jakson Reetz and OF Esteury Ruiz both had days to forget, combining to go 0-for-9 with 5 strikeouts and stranding 12 baserunners in their plate appearances, although Ruiz did draw a walk and deliver a sacrifice bunt
• The MLB rehab tour continued with RHPs JC Mejia (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K) and Justin Topa (2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K) covering some middle innings, although I’m more interested in RHP Hobie Harris (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) continuing to roll and RHP Lucas Erceg
• (1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K) successfully pounding the zone to induce three groundouts

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (63-41) returns home to take on 50-55 Gwinnett (Braves’ AAA affiliate). RHP Caleb Boushley (3.62 ERA, 1.23 WHIP in 104 1/3 IP) is expected to start Game One of the series.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes (link not working when I checked)
Final: Biloxi 6, Mississippi 5
Box Score / Game Log
Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Dillard's Three-Hit Afternoon Helps Propel Shuckers to Series Finale Win

1B Thomas Dillard (3-for-4, two doubles, 2 RBIs) got the party started early with a 2-run double in the 1st inning for a 2-0 lead, producing three of the Shuckers’ ten hits in the game.

Starting RHP Victor Castaneda (5 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks) was fresh after not pitching for seven days, earning his second win of the season, dropping his ERA to 3.87 and exiting with a 5-1 lead.

Things got nervous when Mississippi scored one in the 7th inning and three in the 8th inning to make it a one-run game, but RHP Harold Chirino (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K) came in to escape the 8th inning and pitch a 3-up, 3-down 9th inning for his first save of the year.

The victory gave Biloxi a 5-1 series win over Mississippi for the week.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Multi-hit games actually abounded: SS Andruw Monasterio (2-for-5), OF Tristen Lutz (2-for-4, RBI), DH/INF Felix Valerio (2-for-4, RBI)
• The inconsistency of the Biloxi bullpen night-to-night is a head-scratcher, perhaps best exemplified by RHP Robbie Hitt having a second straight difficult game after an exceptional outing on July 31
• Former 4th round pick C Nick Kahle (1-for-4; just 38 plate appearances this year) is still just 24 years old and has never repeated a minor league level, so let’s tip our cap to his resilience and hope that he gets more opportunities next year.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi (51-49) returns home to take on 58-44 Rocket City (Angels’ AA affiliate). LHP Nick Bennett is listed as the expected starter for the series opener, aiming for a fourth straight solid outing (1.50 ERA with 20 Ks in last 18 innings pitched).

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Quad Cities 7, Wisconsin 5
Box Score / Game Log
Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, details: Bandits Big Inning Steals One from Wisconsin

For the second time in less than a week, the Timber Rattlers’ bullpen was called upon very early and it once again didn’t go well.

Starting RHP Justin Bullock (3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K) exited after three innings, with RHPs Christian Tripp (2 ER) and Joey Matulovich (3 ER) then conceding a five-run 6th inning to turn a 3-2 lead into a 7-3 deficit.

Of course, the Timber Rattlers still made Quad Cities work hard for the victory, with OF Arbert Cipion (2-for-3, double, walk, 2 RBIs) and Joe Gray Jr. (2-for-3, double, SF, RBI) in particular putting the River Bandits under pressure. Cipion doubled and scored as part of a two-run 7th inning to cut the gap to 7-5. Gray doubled to lead off the 8th inning and Cipion walked to start the 9th inning, but both were stranded as the Rattlers could get no closer.

Despite the loss, Wisconsin still won the series over Quad Cities 4-2.

Three Quick Strikes:

• RHP Taylor Floyd (2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 BB, 3 Ks) had to throw 48 pitches (just 23 strikes) to get through 2 1/3 innings, but still managed to keep the River Bandits off the board
• C Darrien Miller ’s struggles against base stealers continued, with Quad Cities going 3-for-3 in the game. Of course, the team is exponentially better-placed to rate other aspects of Miller’s defense (e.g. game management, pitch framing), while Miller always finds ways to contribute offensively (e.g. earning three walks in this game)
• With Bullock leaving this game early and LHP Russell Smith going on the injured list earlier in the week, the Brewers may look to promote one or more of the many terrific candidates available in Low-A Carolina (e.g. Alexander Cornielle, Stiven Cruz, Miguel Guerrero, Michele Vassalotti, Karlos Morales, Pablo Garabitos, Brannon Jordan …)

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin (54-47) will be home this week against 57-45 West Bend (Cubs’ High-A affiliate). Expect RHP Israel Puello (5.05 season ERA, though with 88 strikeouts against 33 walks in 82 innings pitched) to start Game One of the series.

Carolina Pre-Game Notes
Final: Carolina 9, Kannapolis 6
Box Score / Game Log
Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Carolina Clubs Two Homers in 9-6 Finale Victory

When 1B Jesus Chirinos tied the game at 5-5 in the 5th inning with a 2-run blast (his ninth of the year and third of the series), Mudcat manager Victor Estevez had to rightfully feel pretty confident about the ensuing Battle of the Bullpens, given Carolina’s strength in this area.

True to form, Carolina outscored the Cannon Ballers 4-1 the rest of the way, with all four runs coming in the 6th inning.

3B Luis Silva (2-for-4, 2 doubles), doubled and scored on a 2B Jheremy Vargas (1-for-2, 2 walks, RBI) single, then DH/C Jeferson Quero (3-for-3, double, walk, RBI) walked and OF Jace Avina (2-for-5, HR, triple, 3 RBIs) smashed his third homer in two games, a 3-run shot to grow the lead to 9-5.

The Sunday victory gave Carolina a 4-2 series win over Kannapolis for the week.

Four Quick Strikes:

• Starting RHP Fernando Olguin (5 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 balk, 5 Ks) struggled a bit in this game to grow his season ERA to 5.29, but he’s still just 21 years old and this is his first season of full season ball
• RHP Junior Montero, LHP Leoni De La Cruz and RHP Brannon Jordan combined to pitch 4 innings, conceding one run on one hit, walking five (oops), but striking out six (great)
• Every Carolina starter notched at least one hit in the game. OF Eduarqui Fernandez (double, HBP) and SS Jadher Areinamo (single, walk) each reached base twice
• Quero was actually pinch-hit for in the 8th inning, but I want to believe this had more to do with the Mudcats’ 9-6 lead and strong bullpen

Next week’s outlook: Carolina (52-50) goes on the road to face 34-67 Delmarva (Orioles’ Low-A affiliate). Expect RHP Jeferson Figueroa (6 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 7K performance in last outing) to start the series opener, still looking for his first organizational win.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Good luck on Monday DSL/ACL squads! Get some rest on your travel day, full season squads.

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