Wed. 4/19: Three (Central Time) Morning Starts, Kids!

[Joseph Zarr]

Andrews works around a walk to get those bases juiced and gets the lazy pop fly to shallow left center. Harrison scoops it with ease. Nothing's easy for the Sounds at present but they have another opportunity to grab the lead here into the 9th frame.

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

Clayton Andrews really battling his command here today. Will be interesting to see how he pitches through this considering he has been firing on all cylinders before today.

Yup. Definitely wasn't sharp but he got the key change-up foul to heater surprise to get that lazy pop fly. He dug deep when it mattered. As you say, and I agree, this was the least sharp he's been in 2023. A theme it would appear for the bullpen outside of Small today. 

[Joseph Zarr]

VanMeter continues to struggle at the dish and his body language speaks to this. He has looked utterly dejected wallowing with his head hanging and bat flailing after his two most recent back-to-back K's. Let's get that body language swimming in a better direction, Josh. You have the talent.

[wiguy94]

Gutsy 9th inning out of Andrews after a leadoff double and walk. Thanks in part due to a poor bunt by Jacksonville to give the Sounds a free out.

Love seeing Andrews grind out 4 outs when he clearly wasn't firing on all cylinders today. To extras we go!

[Joseph Zarr]

5 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Gutsy 9th inning out of Andrews after a leadoff double and walk. Thanks in part due to a poor bunt by Jacksonville to give the Sounds a free out.

Love seeing Andrews grind out 4 outs when he clearly wasn't firing on all cylinders today. To extras we go!

Definitely agreed. That's the stuff we need to see. We know when he's on he's nearly untouchable at Triple-A. When he's not on? Still working around himself but getting out cleanly. That's the stuff you love to see out of your Pen. Also, every time I watch Jerar Encarnacion play I wish he was a Brewer. Such a toolsy guy. He's improved so much at the dish and already had all the power and then some. He's an MLB level talent.

[Joseph Zarr]

Who other than Eddy Alvarez to drive two runs in?! He's been such a fantastic offensive player for Rick Sweet and his staff. So many beautiful easy swings. The stuff of a true veteran. Well, I wouldn't call that pick off at 1B on a weak pop fly to foul territory the stuff of a savvy vet but who's counting?!!

[wiguy94]

1 minute ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Who other than Eddie Alvarez to drive two runs in?! He's been such a fantastic offensive player for Rick Sweet and his staff. So many beautiful easy swings. The stuff of a true veteran.

And then he somehow gets doubled up at 1B on a foul pop up between 1st and home...was he taking off on that pitch? Has to be what happened.

[Joseph Zarr]

2 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

And then he somehow gets doubled up at 1B on a foul pop up between 1st and home...was he taking off on that pitch? Has to be what happened.

He definitely was but his reaction time to the fly ball was, how shall I say, a tad off? LOL. One of those plays. And, honestly, that is just exactly how it is going for the Sounds at present. Really hoping Claudio can help squeak this one out. Mangum is not an easy first out. Wow. Got him reaching way off the plate there. That's been extremely rare in early 2023. Nice get, Claudio!

[Joseph Zarr]

AND. That is exactly how it is going for the Sounds. Good grief. Ugh. There is absolutely zero way that runner from 1st should have scored off that seeing eye reach loop single. Just no way. A botched scoop off his hips by Harrison and then just a lazy approach to getting the ball in. You have to be thinking home plate instantly there. Who cares if he gets to 3B? My goodness.

[wiguy94]

And Alex Claudio blows the game after getting 2 outs. Somehow the winning run scored from 1B on routine single liner to CF. 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, wiguy94 said:

And Alex Claudio blows the game after getting 2 outs. Somehow the winning run scored from 1B on routine single liner to CF. 

Poor play and decision off the misplay by Harrison. Again, showcasing why Encarnacion is one of my favorite players in the International League. Just lunge and get your powerful bat on that ball as he did there. That was a cheap hit but a beautiful piece of hitting. Harrison has to do better with that. Here's the play pulled from the Jacksonville twitter feed:

Another question we might ask here, given the circumstances: why is Harrison not laying out for that catch? Just poorly played all the way around. The look on Sweet's face at the Sounds railing says it all.

[Joseph Zarr]

Really really nice to see RHP Ryan Middendorf back to his steady ways on the hill today! 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K. That's what I've come to expect. Hopefully, we see more of this in the games ahead! RHP Harold Chirino continues his excellent start to 2023 as well with yet another scoreless frame (1 H, 0 BB, 2 K) himself. 

[Joseph Zarr]

After today, opponents are batting just .083 (2-for-24) against Ethan Small through his six appearances (7.1 IP). Let's start stacking those dominant controlled outings. He's really flashing.

[wiguy94]

10 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

After today, opponents are batting just .083 (2-for-24) against Ethan Small through his six appearances (7.1 IP). Let's start stacking those dominant controlled outings. He's really flashing.

His stuff has always been good enough. Just need to stop giving up the free passes and he's going to be in a good spot.

[Ro Mueller]

The Timber Rattlers, who need a victory tonight in Quad Cities to even up their series 1-1, send 22-year old RHP Joseph Hernandez (5.63 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 11.3 K/9 in 8 IP) out for his 3rd start. 21-year old 2B Robert Moore leads the team in a number of offensive categories (.583 SLG, 6 RBI, 2 HR, 5 R, .916 OPS). 

[Joseph Zarr]

T-Rats have warmed up the Jets. The Natty is being sung to the heavens. T-Rats baseball is about to begin. Our sole evening affair and I am looking forward to only one screen pumping out baseball!

[Ro Mueller]

Our affiliates are a combined 24-24 as we enter the final game of the evening. Go Wisconsin!

[Joseph Zarr]

Eric Brown Jr. begins his night in a charitable way: three straight strikes looking down the heart of the plate. Ummmm, yup. That's what happened. Bat literally never left his shoulder. I'll call the dugout to see if he is awake.

[Joseph Zarr]

A beautiful slider gets RHP Joseph Hernandez his first K of his evening after a four-pitch walk to the second batter he faced. He then gets a weakly hit ground out to 3B off an up and in curveball. Very nice inning of work. He fills the stat sheet with the K, the BB, a fly out to CF, and a groundout to 3B. 0-0 and we're onto the 2nd frame. 

[Joseph Zarr]

After a groundout to 3B, Hernandez walks his next batter on 5 pitches. These free passes have definitely been his biggest issue early in the 2023 season. He's not what you'd call wild, per se, but he let's AB's get away from him. Tonight, Quad Cities lefty bats are not chasing his heater just outside the upper and outer half. Good pitches. No chase. He gets the fly out to Gray Jr. in CF and then a sky high pop up to Moore at 2B. On to the top of the 3rd. This game is zipping by early. Neither squad has a hit.

[Joseph Zarr]

A K swinging from Martinez, a K looking for Ward (lots of lefties in the line-up versus the Quad Cities lefty), and a fly out to CF off the bat of Bello. We'll see if Hernandez can get a clean frame.

[Joseph Zarr]

Metzinger just made a really nice diving stab and pop and toss to 1B to prevent a run from scoring from second base. Nice work there! On to the 4th inning already and we're still knotted at zeroes.

[Joseph Zarr]

Hernandez facing his first real test of his outing. A walk (yup) and a seeing eye groundball single to RF have two runners on (1B and 2B) with one down. He has a 1-2 count. Let's see how he fares. Got his second K swinging at another effective slider off the outer half. Two down.

[Joseph Zarr]

And he gets out of it by inducing a weak check single right to his glove side at the mound. He adeptly scoops it. Trots toward 1B and underhands it to Martinez. It's on to the top half of the fifth inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh baby! Joe Gray Jr. works the walk. He steals second. Metzinger worked the count full. Metzinger rips a single to shallow right field through the infield dirt and Gray Jr. hustles his behind and executes a perfect slide around the tag at home plate. It was as bang-bang as it gets and the call could have gone either way but it did appear Gray Jr. slid in just before the turn and tag. Whewww baby. 1-0 T-Rats. Metzinger now at 2B with Eduardo García looking to do some more damage.