Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/20): Alex Jackson and Matt Wood Propel Nashville and Carolina to Thursday Victories

[Ro Mueller]

Alex Jackson’s three-run, ninth inning blast halted the Sounds’ five-game skid. Homers by Alex Hall (x2) and Noah Campbell weren’t enough for Wisconsin and Biloxi.

Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers

The four full season affiliates split their road games 2-2 on Thursday, maintaining their early season up-and-down form.

Thursday’s Game Balls go to Jackson, Hall, Wood, Christian Mejias and Caleb Boushley, with honorable mentions to Yujanyer Herrera, Daniel Guilarte and Campbell.

Nashville, Biloxi and Wisconsin each have .500 records thus far in the 2023 campaign, while Carolina moved into winning-record territory at 6-5.

Transactions:

• INF Cam Devanney activated by AAA Nashville from 7-day injured list
• RHP J.B. Bukauskus placed on AAA Nashville's 7-day injured list
• OF Tyler Naquin placed on AAA Nashville's 7-day injured list
• INF Josh VanMeter placed on AAA Nashville's 7-day injured list
• RHP Pedro Rivas released by DSL Brewers-2

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 3, Jacksonville 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review the affiliate write-up as part of their Link Report routine: Jackson's Ninth Inning Homer Helps Sounds End Losing Streak

Fittingly, it took bounce-back games for two struggling Sounds to reverse a late 1-0 deficit and end the team’s five-game losing streak.

RHP Caleb Boushley (5 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 Ks) set aside two bad outings to give Nashville a chance, while C Alex Jackson (1-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs) didn’t let an 0-for-19 stretch at the plate stop him from blasting the one-out, 9th inning homer to win it. 

Nashville’s bullpen also returned to form in this game, with RHP Tyson Miller and LHP Bennett Sousa combining on 3 2/3 scoreless innings, with Sousa earning the win.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Jackson also contributed defensively (and the team had no errors, after a rather terrible run of games), calling an excellent game (pitchers threw 84 strikes in 133 pitches) and gunning down both attempted basestealers (leadoff batter in bottom of the 5th inning; another runner for the second out of the 6th inning).
• INF Abraham Toro (2-for-4), has also turned around his early season slow start, now boasting an 8-game hitting streak and 13-game on-base streak.
• It wasn’t all roses, as INF Cam Devanney (first action, returning from injury), OF Keston Hiura (get used to seeing him in left field), INF Patrick Dorrian and OF Monte Harrison combined to go 0-for-16 with 10 strikeouts.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Janson Junk (0.90 ERA in 10 IP in AAA) the scheduled starter in what should be his first action since April 12th in the majors, with Nashville requiring a win to even their series in Jacksonville 2-2.
 

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Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Rocket City 5, Biloxi 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Four-Run Inning Lifts Trash Pandas Past Shuckers, 5-3

Don’t blame RHP Christian Mejias (4 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 7 Ks, 1 WP, 1 balk) or DH/OF Noah Campbell (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs) for this loss, as both came to play and put Biloxi in a strong 3-1 position through four-plus innings. 

You’re not going to win many games with just four hits, accompanied by three errors in the field (two by left fielder Carlos D. Rodriguez). Hitters 1-3 and 7-9 were a combined 0-for-19 with 13 strikeouts.

When you’re on the road in the minors, sometimes the main available video consists of lowlights: 

Three Quick Strikes:

• The switch-hitting Campbell was actually a last-minute replacement for OF Tristen Lutz, so let’s hope that Lutz is okay. Noah’s only garnered 21 plate appearances through the Shuckers’ first 12 games, but I suspect we’ll see the 23-year old and his 1.095 OPS in the lineup more regularly going forward.
• Tagged with the loss, this was LHP Nick Bennett’s (2 2/3 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 5 H, 1 BB, 1 K) second straight difficult outing, as he adjusts to a long relief role.
• Super-prospect OF Jackson Chourio (0-for-4, 2 Ks) saw his season average dip to .196 as he figures out AA-level pitching.

Friday’s outlook: Exciting 21-year old RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (1.00 ERA in 9 IP) leads the Shuckers, who need a victory to avoid a 3-1 deficit at Rocket City.
 

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Quad Cities 11, Wisconsin 4
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Slow Start Costs Wisconsin at Quad Cities

RHP Cameron Wagoner’s (4 1/3 IP, 7 R, 4 H, 4 BB, 4 Ks) first inning went about as badly as you can imagine, hitting the first batter, walking the next on four pitches, giving up four singles and throwing a run-scoring wild pitch to put Wisconsin in an early 5-0 hole.

C Alex Hall (2-for-4, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs) homered from both sides of the plate to give the Timber Rattlers a chance, but River Bandits’ right fielder River Town was essentially his equal in terms of impact, knocking in four runs of his own, stealing a base and saving two runs with a diving catch to end the top of the 5th inning when the score was 5-2.

Three Quick Strikes:

• The 23-year old Hall now has four home runs over his last three games (and a 1.198 OPS through 23 PAs), as he proves that his awesome winter league season in Australia (1.066 OPS in 159 PAs) represents the Real Mr. Hall, rather than his difficult 2022 MILB campaign.
• Hitters 1-5 in the order went a combined 0-for-20 with 10 strikeouts. Most troubling is probably the case of 2022 first round pick INF Eric Brown Jr. (0-for-5), who saw his season average drop to .108. I can’t help but assume that he’s suffering serious teething issues with recent (necessary) swing adjustments.
• The good news for 23-year old RHP Max Lazar (3 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks) is that he’s getting more punch-outs (9 Ks in 6 2/3 IP through three games), but the bad news is the rest of his line (6.75 early season ERA). Hopefully the craftsman (1.19 WHIP in 213 1/3 career innings) turns the corner soon to start putting up zeroes.

Friday’s outlook: 21-year old RHP Stiven Cruz (2.00 ERA in 9 IP) looks for his second straight win, which Wisconsin needs to tie up this week’s series at Quad Cities.
 

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Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Carolina 8, Down East 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Streaking ‘Cats Win Fourth Straight 8-3

19-year old RHP Yujanyer Herrera (5 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 Ks; season ERA 2.84, though benefitting from a .241 BABIP) looked like an experienced veteran in grabbing his first victory of 2023.

Center fielder Jace Avina (1-for-5, double, RBI) has had a rocky start to the season (.083 AVG), but his first-pitch RBI double gave Carolina a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning, which the Mudcats would not relinquish.

C Matt Wood’s (2-for-3, HR, walk, 2 RBIs) first career minor league homer (in 41 career PAs) was a 2-run shot in the top of the 3rd inning to put Carolina comfortably in front 5-1.

A 9th inning 2-run triple from 2B Daniel Guilarte (2-for-5, triple, 3 RBIs) restored the Mudcats’ breathing room after the Wood Ducks had cut the lead to 5-3.

Kudos to @Mass Haas for finding 44 seconds of game highlights embedded at this link.

Three Quick Strikes:

• What a difference a week makes! After averaging a minuscule 3.1 runs on 4.1 hits through their first 7 games of the season, the Mudcats offense has come to life with 6.3 runs and 8.3 hits per game over their 4-game winning streak. Credit Manager Victor Estevez and the players, as the team now owns a winning record (6-5) and can clinch their series in Down East with one more victory.
• Wood encapsulates the improvement, going 3-for-19 with zero RBIs in the early stretch and 5-for-9 with 5 RBIs during the winning streak. SS Gregory Barrios (2-for-5, double, RBI) and OF Eduarqui Fernandez (1-for-3, double, walk) have similarly turned things around after slow starts.
• Unlike many Low-A games, the teams combined for a solid defensive performance, including three outfield assists (with Avina nabbing a runner at third base), three double plays and a pick-off.

Friday’s outlook: 2022 8th round draft pick LHP Nate Peterson (13.50 ERA in 6 IP) is scheduled for his first minor league start, as Carolina seeks to extend its 4-game winning streak.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report! Good luck to all squads on Friday evening.

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[Joseph Zarr]

Really enjoying the turning of the Tides in Carolina. They are playing the most consistent brand of baseball in the entire Brewers system (which feels odd to say given their youth and inexperience). As a whole, however, the affiliates are very much exemplifying a combined one game above 0.500. It's time for the blue chippers to jump start their innate talents and gifts.