It’s a Four-Game Affiliate Sweep, Including Stiven Cruz’s Sterling Debut and Team-Record Six Biloxi Home Runs!

What a terrific Sunday for our minor league affiliates, as each and every one jumped out to early leads which held up nicely:

• Nashville Sounds – 8-4 by the 4th inning
• Biloxi Shuckers – 4-1 by the 4th inning and 7-1 by the 5th inning
• Wisconsin Timber Rattlers – 3-0 through 5; 4-0 through 6
• Carolina Mudcats – 5-0 in the 2nd inning; 9-1 in the 5th inning

And let’s give a shoutout to the minor league staffers and players obviously working hard in extended spring training in Arizona. If the fabulous initial performances of OF Jackson Chourio and RHP Stiven Cruz are anything to go by, there’s some serious competition and development going on down there.

The recently-promoted 20-year old Cruz had a scintillating debut for Carolina, striking out eight of the 11 batters he faced, whilst otherwise only conceding a walk, fly out and “soft line drive” single to right field.

Who does he think he is, Brandon Knarr? Well, that’d be something special, as Knarr dazzled for Wisconsin on Sunday by shutting out the opposition over seven innings of three-hit, one-walk, ten-strikeout ball.

Or if dominant pitching is too boring for you, Sunday saw a team-record six home runs for our Biloxi Shuckers, including two each for Joey Wiemer and Cam Devanney. Oh, and Alberis Ferrer jacked a grand slam for Carolina ?.

Coupled with a Brewers’ victory, Sunday, May 15, 2022 almost went down in history as a perfect Wisconsin sports day. Almost…

Sunday’s Game Balls go to the aforementioned Knarr, Wiemer, Devanney, Cruz and Nashville’s Weston Wilson (three hits, four RBIs). Sorry Alberis – your grand slam would have been enough on any other day.

Transactions:

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Game Action:

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Carolina 12, Fayetteville 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: Cruz Totals 8 Ks; Ferrer Hits Grand Slam in 12-6 Victory

It’s Stiven Cruz’s world and we’re all just enjoying living in it. The 20-year old Nicaraguan was more-than-ready for his 2022 debut, striking out the side in the first inning and then working around a 2nd inning walk to K the next three hitters. In all, he threw 60 pitches over three innings, with no runner reaching 2nd base.

On this day, the opposing starter was not quite as sharp, to say the least. Five walks, a single and a wild pitch in the 2nd inning gave Carolina a 3-0 lead before OF Jackson Chourio lined a single to left field to extend the lead to 5-0.

At 5-1 with two outs in the top of the 5th inning, 3B Alberis Ferrer blasted a grand slam to left field for his third home run of 2022, seemingly giving the team sufficient cushion.

However, some scuffling by RHPs Trevor Tietz and Miguel Segura enabled Fayetteville to claw back to 9-6 in the 7th inning, before LHP Jakob Brustoski calmed nerves by striking out the side in the 8th inning. Thankfully, the Mudcats tacked on another three runs in the 9th inning to put the game out of reach, aided by four walks and a hit-by-pitch.

Carolina’s win was enough to draw the week’s series 3-3 with Fayetteville and keep the Mudcats’ record above .500 in 2022.

The main downside in this game was SS Eduardo Garcia’s early exit after a fielding error in the 7th inning. Hopefully he’ll be back in the lineup early this week.

Performances of Note:

• Jackson Chourio – 2-5, double, 2 RBIs
• Jeferson Quero – 2-3, 2 BBs, 2 SBs
• Alberis Ferrer – 1-3, HR, BB, HBP, 6 RBIs
• Eduardo Garcia – 1-3, BB, RBI
• Jesus Chirinos – 1-2, 3 BBs
• Stiven Cruz – 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 8 Ks
• Junior Montero (Win) – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BBs, 2 Ks
• Jakob Brustoski – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BBs, 3 Ks
• Christian Tripp – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BBs, 3 Ks

Next week’s outlook: The 17-16 Mudcats return home to face Down East (14-19) in the third series of 2022 between these rivals. Expect RHPs Edwin Jimenez and Israel Puello to start the opener of the six-game series.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 4, Quad Cities 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Knarr Quiets Quad Cities with Ten Ks

LHP Brandon Knarr doesn’t ask for much from his offense, so Joe Gray Jr.’s two-run shot to left field in the 3rd inning surely had him smiling with a 2-0 lead.

After working around a one-out single and walk in the first inning, Knarr only allowed two more River Bandits to reach base over his seven innings of work. This was Knarr’s 5th consecutive win.

Of course, Quad Cities players and fans must have been excited upon seeing Knarr remain in the dugout in the 8th inning and their prayers seemed to be answered when RHP Joey Matulovich allowed the first three hitters to reach base (two hit-by-pitch, single). Matulovich nearly escaped unscathed, but a two-out walk brought the potential game-winning run to the plate.

Timber Rattler Manager Joe Ayrault wasn’t messing around in this one, pulling Matulovich after 23 pitches to have RHP James Meeker end Quad Cities’ threat with a strikeout. Meeker remained in the game to cover the 9th inning, earning his 3rd save of 2022.

Wisconsin’s victory gave them a second-consecutive 5-1 series win over their opponent, which is huge in light of 3rd place South Bend coming to town next week.

Performances of Note:

• Tyler Black – 3-5, double, RBI
• Joe Gray Jr. – 1-5, HR, 2 RBIs
• Darrien Miller – 1-4, double, HBP, RBI
• Zavier Warren – 1-3, double, 2 BBs
• Tristan Peters – 1-4, double
• Brandon Knarr (Win) – 7 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 10Ks
• James Meeker (Save) – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks

Next week’s outlook: The 22-11 Timber Rattlers return home for their second series of the year against South Bend (20-13). LHP Antoine Kelly is listed as the Game One starter, but don’t be surprised if LHP Russell Smith (last pitched May 7th) or RHP Ryne Moore (recently promoted to High-A) get in some work as well.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 8, Birmingham 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: History Again! Biloxi Launches Franchise-Record Six Home Runs

The Shuckers won their series! The Shuckers won their series!

After a frustrating month, Biloxi’s bats have woken up and the squad notched a 4-2 series win over the Birmingham Barons, their first series victory since April 17th.

RHP Noah Zavolas apparently does not subscribe to my “rust” theory, where I give athletes a few mulligans after a long lay-off. (Remember Michael Jordan putting his shorts on backwards and shooting 7-for-28 in his grand mid-season return to the Chicago Bulls?)

Zavolas was cool, calm and collected through three innings of work in his 2022 debut, retiring nine of the ten batters he faced and getting the boost he needed when OF Joey Wiemer smacked his 8th homer of 2022 for a 1-0 Biloxi lead in the 3rd inning.

However, the 4th inning looked like trouble, with a Birmingham single and two walks opening the frame. To my shock, Zavolas remained in the game, striking out dangerous veteran left-handed hitter Craig Dedelow (eight home runs in 2022) before then being lifted for RHP JT Hintzen.

Hintzen was up to the task in this one, inducing a sacrifice fly and a ground out to keep the contest tight at 1-1. In the bottom half of the 4th inning, the Shuckers decided to make a winner of Hintzen, with Jakson Reetz connecting on his 7th home run of 2022 (for the 3rd consecutive day!) and then Cam Devanney blasting a 2-run homer to give Biloxi a 4-1 lead.

The shock and awe kept coming, as Wiemer (two-run shot) and Felix Valerio went back-to-back in the 5th inning and Devanney added his 2nd of the game (and 4th of the year) in the 6th inning.

The team decided to give RHP Victor Castaneda a bit of work in this one and he was unlucky to give up two runs in the 7th inning on a walk, infield hit and deflected single into left field. That said, Castaneda still struck out six batters over three innings and the Barons never seriously threatened.

Performances of Note:

• Joey Wiemer – 3-5, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs
• Cam Devanney – 2-4, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs
• Jakson Reetz – 2-4, HR, RBI
• Tristen Lutz – 2-3, BB
• Sal Frelick – 2-5
• Felix Valerio – 1-5, HR, RBI
• Noah Zavolas – 3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BBs, 3 Ks
• JT Hintzen (Win) – 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BBs, 0 Ks
• Nash Walters – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BBs, 1 K
• Arnaldo Hernandez – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K

Next week’s outlook: The 16-17 Shuckers travel to face the 14-19 Mississippi Braves. LHP Nick Bennett (5.28 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 6.5 K/9 in 29 innings) is scheduled to get the first crack at the Mississippi lineup.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 11, Jacksonville 6
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details: Sounds Take Sixth Straight Series With Sunday Win

Nashville had won five straight series entering this game and wasn’t ready to entertain any possibility of a 3-3 draw with Jacksonville this week, jumping out to a 4-0 first inning lead on two-out doubles by 3B Weston Wilson and OF Pablo Reyes.

However, starting RHP Alec Bettinger is still rounding into 2022 form and was unfortunately roughed up in the 2nd inning (thus re-proving my rust theory), giving up three hits, a walk and sacrifice fly to quickly re-knot the contest at 4-4.

RHP Luke Barker then served as an efficient bridge to innings-eater RHP Josh Lindblom, covering the 3rd inning before another Sounds’ barrage.

Once again doing all their damage with two outs, Nashville posted another four runs in the 4th inning, including an RBI infield single by Tyler White (snapping an 0-for-27 skid) and a bases-clearing double by Wilson.

Lindblom was his usual efficient self, allowing only two hits and two walks over five innings of work.

SS Brice Turang had been in a mini-slump (0-for-10 before a first inning infield single), so his 7th inning two-RBI single extending the Sounds’ lead to 11-4 had to feel good.

As if 11 runs weren’t enough, the scoreline could have ballooned much further if not for three tremendous defensive plays by the Jumbo Shrimp, which you can see on their twitter feed.

Performances of Note:

• Weston Wilson – 3-5, 2 doubles, BB, 4 RBIs
• Pablo Reyes – 3-5, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, SB
• Alex Jackson – 2-5, double, SB
• Brice Turang – 2-6, 2 RBIs
• Jonathan Davis – 2-4, BB, HBP
• Abraham Almonte – 2-4, BB, HBP
• Andruw Monasterio – 1-4, BB
• Alec Bettinger – 2 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks
• Luke Barker (Win) – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BBs, 0 Ks
• Josh Lindblom – 5 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 BBs, 5 Ks
• Trevor Kelley – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (24-11) is home this week to take on the Louisville Bats (13-22). RHP Caleb Boushley (4.28 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.3 K/9 in 33 2/3 innings) is expected to make his 8th start of the year to open the series.

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

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