Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/20): Two Comebacks (One EPIC!!) and a Nashville Shutout Victory

The Friday night rollercoaster twisted and turned in all directions:

• All 4 full season affiliates appeared in decent position to win in the early innings, with Nashville up 1-0, RHP Victor Castaneda retiring the first 9 batters he faced for Biloxi, Wes Clarke matching homer-for-homer to knot Wisconsin’s game 1-1 and Carolina tying up their contest at 2-2 in the 5th inning
• A few innings later, Nashville held the only lead, but reliever Peter Strzelecki was facing a bases loaded jam in that contest, putting the entire night in jeopardy. But Strzelecki escaped the jam and Cam Devanney came through for Biloxi with an 8th-inning, 2-out, 2-run game-tying homer, thus opening the door to a 2-2 night for our young heroes
• Then in a script which Hollywood studios would have written off as too farcical, Carolina battled back from the literal brink of defeat. Down 6-2 with 2 outs, 2 strikes and nobody on base in the 9th inning, it started with a Jheremy Vargas single and ended five batters later with a Hendry Mendez Walk-Off Grand Slam for an 8-6 victory
• And finally, Jakson Reetz smacked a 2-out, 9th inning RBI single to give Biloxi its first lead of the game, with the team holding on to a satisfying 4-3 fight-back victory

In all, our affiliates went 3 and 1 on the most entertaining night we’ve seen in a while. Well done, Brewer minor leaguers!!

Friday’s Game Balls go to the aforementioned Mendez, Reetz, Devanney, Castaneda and Jason Alexander.

Transactions:

• None

Game Action:

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Carolina 8, Down East 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: Mendez Caps Comeback With Walk-Off Grand Slam

Although they had battled hard and seemed a bit unlucky to be down 6-2 heading into the 9th inning, this game certainly looked lost as the first two Mudcats struck out in the bottom of the 9th and Jheremy Vargas was down to his final strike in a 1-2 count.

But let’s take it back to the beginning, where starter RHP Jefferson Figueroa was solid if not spectacular in covering the first 3 innings of the game, conceding an RBI double as the Wood Ducks took a 1-0 lead.

RHP Miguel Segura relieved from the 4th inning and is apparently still amongst the “innings eaters” for the squad as he threw 74 pitches to take the game into the 8th inning. After giving up a 5th inning RBI single, the Mudcat offense answered with 2 runs on 3 doubles (by Hedbert Perez, Vargas and Zack Raabe) to knot the game at 2-2.

Segura gave up a homer to open the 6th inning as Down East re-took the lead at 3-2, but continued without damage until issuing a full count walk and 1-out single in the 8th inning and giving way to usually-dominant RHP Michele Vassalotti.

Unfortunately, Mr. Vassalotti was not sharp on this night, hitting the first batter and walking in a run. The team nearly escaped only down 4-2, but two more runs scored on a fielding error by first baseman Jesus Chirinos, setting the stage for the nearly-unfathomable comeback.

The young men of Zebulon simply refused to lose, starting with Jheremy Vargas working the count full before lining a single the other way. Raabe followed with an RBI double, before Arbert Cipion walked to bring the potential game-tying run to the plate in the person of SS Eduardo Garcia.

0-for-4 to this point but undaunted nonetheless, Garcia lined an RBI single to center field before Down East brought in a new pitcher to face the youngest man in Low-A ball, Jackson Chourio.

Fortunately, fresh pitcher Jackson Leath threw the ball away to allow Chourio aboard.

Now down only 6-4, with the bases loaded and still 2 outs (yes, this was ALL happening with 2 outs), left-handed youngin' Hendry Mendez stepped to the plate and smashed the first pitch he saw the other way, down the left field line for a Walk-Off Grand Slam!

What an unforgettable win for Victor Estevez' team!!

Performances of Note:

• Hendry Mendez – 2-3, HR, 2 BBs, 4 RBIs
• Jheremy Vargas – 2-3, double, BB, RBI
• Zack Raabe – 2-4, double, 2 RBIs
• Arbert Cipion – 1-4, double, BB
• Hedbert Perez – 1-4, double
• Eduardo Garcia – 1-5, RBI
• Jefferson Figueroa – 3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BBs, 3 Ks
• Miguel Segura – 4 1/3 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 4 H, 3 BBs, 1 balk, 4 Ks
• Junior Montero (Win) – 1 IP, 0 R, 2 BBs, 1 K

Saturday’s outlook: Electric RHP Stiven Cruz (0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 24.0 K/9 in 3 innings) is slated to make his 2nd start of the season, as the Mudcats seek to clinch a series victory at home against Down East.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: South Bend 6, Wisconsin 2
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: South Bend Hits Three Homers to Get By Wisconsin

A reminder of the excellent video recaps produced by the Timber Rattler media team: 

The game marked the return of LHP Russell Smith after a 13-day absence and he competed well through the first 3 innings.

The teams exchanged 2nd inning solo homers, with Wes Clarke knotting it at 1-1 for his 4th home run of 2022.

However, a leadoff 4th inning error, then first pitch single apparently rattled Smith, who then yielded a 3-run blast and a single before retiring his final 3 batters.

Down 4-1 at that point, the Timber Rattlers only managed to put 2 runners on base from the 4th through 8th innings.

RHP Joey Matulovich worked around two 5th inning singles to strike out 3 hitters, then RHP Max Lazar threw a clean 6th before a 2-run shot in the 7th inning appeared to put the game out of reach at 6-1. (Bright side: These were the only runs surrendered by Lazar over 4 innings.)

Wisconsin did manage 1 run on 3 singles (Carlos D. Rodriguez RBI) in the 9th inning to put the potential game-tying run on deck, but that's as close as they got.

In the Darrien Miller defense watch, Miller threw out 1 of 4 base stealers.

Performances of Note:

• Carlos D. Rodriguez – 2-3, double, BB, RBI
• Wes Clarke – 2-4, HR, RBI
• Tristan Peters – 2-4, SB
• Ethan Murray – 1-3, SB
• Russell Smith (Loss) – 4 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 5 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks
• Joey Matulovich – 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks
• Max Lazar – 4 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 0 Ks

Saturday’s outlook: Exceptional LHP Brandon Knarr (1.34 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 10.7 K/9 in 40 1/3 innings) is the scheduled starter, ready to snap Wisconsin’s 3-game skid at home against South Bend.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 4, Mississippi 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Reetz Ninth-Inning Single Lifts Shuckers to 4-3 Victory

In a reversal of fortune from Thursday night's contest between these teams, it was Biloxi which came from behind late to grab a victory over Mississippi this night.

The first 5 innings were a story of frustration, as the Shuckers stranded 6 runners without scoring. By contrast, the Braves cashed in on their very first opportunity with two 4th inning doubles, after RHP Victor Castaneda retired all 9 batters through 3 innings.

Power Hitter (and apparently left fielder these past 2 games) Jakson Reetz blasted his 10th home run of 2022 to tie it back up at 1-1 in the 6th inning before Mississippi answered right with a 2-run shot for a 3-1 lead.

The frustration continued in the 7th inning, with Cam Devanney, Yeison Coca and Joey Wiemer left stranded despite a double, walk and single respectively, done in by left fielder Jalen Miller’s incredible catch of Thomas Dillard’s fly ball at the wall which would have scored 3 runs against any ordinary being.

Coming up again with 1-on (Reetz, via walk) and 2-out in the 8th inning, Devanney decided to take matters fully into his hands, driving a 2-run shot (his 5th of the year) to left to knot the score at 3-3.

Stud reliever RHP Harold Chirino retired all 6 hitters he faced in the 7th and 8th innings to keep Biloxi squarely in it.

Who would play hero in the 9th? Well, Mr. Reetz of course, knocking a 2-out, RBI single into center field to plate Felix Valerio, who'd reached via error and stolen 2nd base to get into scoring position.

Zach Vennaro then closed the game out without drama with a 3-up, 3-down save of Biloxi's 4-3 win.

Performances of Note:

• Jakson Reetz – 2-4, HR, BB, 2 RBIs
• Cam Devanney – 2-4, HR, double, 2 RBIs
• Tristen Lutz – 2-5
• Gabe Holt – 2-5
• Victor Castaneda – 6 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks
• Harold Chirino (Win) – 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks
• Zach Vennaro (Save) – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K

Saturday’s outlook: Experienced RHP Noah Zavolas (2.70 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 8.1 K/9 in 3 1/3 innings) is ready to make his 2nd start of the 2022 season, with Biloxi aiming to take a 3-2 series lead on the road against the Mississippi Braves.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 4, Louisville 0
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details: Sounds Shut Out Bats at First Horizon Park

Don't be fooled by the scoreline as this game was much more competitive than a 4-0 Nashville victory suggests.

After the Sounds stranded two runners in the 2nd inning, Andruw Monasterio (double) and Brice Turang (RBI single) combined on the game's first run in the 3rd inning.

 From that point, it was the RHP Jason Alexander Magic Show, escaping:

• 1st and 3rd nobody out in the 4th inning (fly out, double play grounder)
• 1st and 3rd nobody out in the 5th inning (and bases loaded 1 out) via a strikeout and double play grounder

Clinging to that 1-0 lead, Monasterio (bunt single) and Turang (RBI single) also teamed up to double the lead in the 5th inning, before Tyler White connected on his 6th home run of 2022 for a 4-0 Sounds lead.

However, RHP Peter Strzelecki continued the drama in the 6th inning by walking two after a single with 1 out. He struck out the next batter before running the count full and being bailed out by C Alex Jackson picking the runner off first base for the 3rd out, triggering an eruption and ejection for Bats' manager Pat Kelly.

The bullpen combo of RHPs Miguel Sanchez, Matt Hardy and Connor Sadzeck calmed the waters from there, facing the minimum 9 batters over the final 3 innings.

Mario Feliciano continues to re-assert his prospect status, raising his average to .293 with his 6-game hitting streak.

Here are a few more Nashville-Louisville highlights from the night:

Performances of Note:

• Tyler White – 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs
• Brice Turang – 2-4, 2 RBIs, SB
• Mark Mathias – 2-3, BB
• Pablo Reyes – 2-4
• Andruw Monasterio – 2-4
• Mario Feliciano – 1-3, BB, SB
• Jason Alexander (Win) – 5 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BBs, 1 HBP, 5 Ks
• Peter Strzelecki – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BBs, 2 Ks
• Miguel Sanchez – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks
• Matt Hardy – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K
• Connor Sadzeck – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks

Saturday’s outlook: RHP Josh Lindblom (2.58 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 8.0 K/9 in 38 1/3 innings) looks to continue his domination of AAA and lead Nashville to a 4-1 series lead at home against Louisville.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Let’s keep up the winning over the weekend!

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