Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/21): Janson Junk Dominates in Nashville Win, While Two Affiliates Lose Close Ones

[Ro Mueller]

Janson Junk lowered his ERA to 0.57 in Nashville’s deserved shutout victory. Nate Peterson was equally dominant for Carolina and Alex Hall homered yet again for Wisconsin, though both squads lost.

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Nashville evened their series 2-2 in Jacksonville, while Wisconsin dropped to 1-3 on the week and Carolina’s 4-game winning streak was halted on a walk-off blast. Biloxi will play two on Saturday after a rainout.

Friday’s Game Balls go to Junk, Peterson, Hall, Quinton Low and Abraham Toro.

Transactions:

• OF Sal Frelick placed on AAA Nashville's 7-day injured list
• OF Skye Bolt activated by AAA Nashville from 7-day injured list
• OF Tristen Lutz placed on AA Biloxi's 7-day injured list
   

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Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 7, Jacksonville 0
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: Big Innings Back Junk In Sounds Shutout Win

RHP Janson Junk (5 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 5 Ks) shook off any rust from not playing since April 12th, matching Jacksonville starter Ronald Bolanos pitch for pitch through the first four scoreless innings.

When Bolanos exited after just 63 pitches, the Sounds took advantage with seven consecutive batters reaching base (four singles, three walks) against the Jumbo Shrimp bullpen in the top of the 5th inning.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Cruise control games are nice every once in a while. As little as Jacksonville did against Junk, they were hopelessly bad against Nashville bullpen, as RHPs Pedro Fernandez, Jake Cousins and Luis Contreras combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings, with eight strikeouts.
• 33-year old 2B Eddy Alvarez (2-for-4, double, walk, RBI) wants that International League MVP award, lifting his average to .353 and OPS to 1.132 in yet another sterling game. He did, however, get caught stealing and record his third error of the season.
• After struggling defensively at first base and second base early in the season, INF/OF Keston Hiura (2-for-5, double, 2 RBIs; .246 AVG, .931 OPS) may very well be settling into the left field job, as he recorded his sixth start there in 2023. The injuries to Garrett Mitchell (shoulder – potentially season-ending) and Sal Frelick (thumb – expected to be short-term) have removed competition for outfield spots.

Saturday’s outlook: RHP Robert Stock (10.45 ERA, in 10 1/3 IP) is scheduled to make his 3rd start of 2023 in his 5th appearance, as Nashville seeks its third straight win over Jacksonville.
 

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Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Rained Out – To be made up in Saturday doubleheader

Via the Shuckers’ website, rainout details: Shuckers, Trash Pandas Postponed on Friday Night

Saturday’s outlook: Exciting 21-year old RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (1.00 ERA in 9 IP) and red-hot RHP Justin Jarvis (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 10.6 K/9 in 11 IP) are your expected starters in two, 7-inning affairs. Winning the twin-bill would reverse Biloxi’s current 2-1 series deficit in Rocket City.
 

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Quad Cities 6, Wisconsin 4
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Late Defensive Lapse is Costly for Wisconsin

Wisconsin battled back twice in this game, but did just enough to lose it in the end. RHP Stiven Cruz (4 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 4 BB, 5 Ks, 1 WP) wasn’t his usual sharp self, giving up homers in the 1st and 3rd innings and exiting with his team down 4-2.

Yet another C/OF Alex Hall blast (a 2-run shot) tied the game 4-4 in the 6th inning, but the Timber Rattlers only recorded one hit thereafter, with Quad Cities “out-clutching” them in this tight battle.

An error to allow C Darrien Miller to reach base opened the door in the 9th inning, with DH/1B Jesus Chirinos singling to get him to third base with one out. Unfortunately, neither Micah Bello nor Robert Moore could get the base knock to drive in the two necessary runs.

Three Quick Strikes:

• RHP Ryan Brady (3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks) retired the first seven batters he faced (four via strikeout) before a single and his own error undid his fine effort. He was immediately punished for his errant throw past second base on a potential inning-ending double play in the 7th inning, as the next pitch was lined into left field for a 2-run double.
• Give credit to Quad Cities for working counts to eventually get to Cruz, forcing him to throw 33 pitches against seven hitters in their 3-run 3rd inning.
• Although Hall (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs) is unstoppable in High-A ball at the moment, hitting his fifth homer in his last four games, the Brewers have to consider the ripple effect of a promotion to AA Biloxi – e.g. would Wes Clarke play more first base and one of Tyler Black, Isaac Collins or Noah Campbell get promoted to AAA?

Saturday’s outlook: 23-year old RHP Tyler Woessner (1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 11.7 K/9 in 10 IP) will aim for another strong starting effort and his third win of 2023, as the Timber Rattlers try to claw back to 3-2 in Quad Cities.
 

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Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Down East 4, Carolina 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Wood Ducks Walk-Off Mudcats 4-3

Carolina appeared to have its fifth consecutive win in the bag, before a stunning turnaround when Down East was down to its last out.

Starting LHP Nate Peterson (4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 7 Ks, 1 WP) set aside two rough outings to put in a fabulous first start in the Brewers’ organization, exiting with the Mudcats leading 1-0 on a C Matt Wood (2-for-4, RBI) RBI single.

Tied 1-1 going into the 9th inning, Carolina confidently followed their recent script, with 2B Jadher Areinamo, INF/OF Jheremy Vargas and SS Daniel Guilarte (1-for-3, 2 walks, RBI, 2 SB) connecting for back-to-back-to-back hits and a 3-1 advantage.

This allowed Manager Victor Estevez to get to normally-reliable RHP Shane Smith (2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks), but a double, walk and 3-run walk-off blast to Yosy Galan stunned the Mudcats.

Three Quick Strikes:

• RHP Quinton Low (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 6 Ks) was exceptional in keeping the game tied over three innings, mowing down Wood Ducks with ease to lower his season ERA to 1.23. If the hitting thing doesn’t work out for this two-way player, an MLB career as a pitcher wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
• Many Carolina players will believe they should have done more to win this one, outhitting Down East 10-7, leaving nine men on base (vs. five for Down East) and having three baserunners nabbed (two caught stealing, one picked off).
• The 22-year old Wood appears to have figured out Low-A pitching (.313 AVG, .919 OPS) and he also went 1-for-2 in throwing out basestealers. Keeping up this pace should ultimately force a promotion to High-A ball and maybe force the Brewers hand on the aforementioned Alex Hall as well.

Saturday’s outlook: RHP Alexander Vallecillo (1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 10.8 K/9 in 5 IP) will try to put Carolina back on the winning track, as they’re one victory away from clinching their first series win of 2023.
 

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We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report! Good luck to all squads on Saturday, including Biloxi’s doubleheader. Carolina and Biloxi commence at about 4:00pm central time, while Wisconsin has a late 6:30pm start.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

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[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Luis Contreras is definitely showing Big League stuff in 2023. Attacking hitters. Very active heat. Intimidating stuff. His number show it as do his Statcast peripherals. 

And, definitely agreed early on RHP Quinton Low. As we discussed recently, his pitching tools are borderline (if not already) filthy. We have yet to see anything offensively in 2023 screaming we have a long-term two-way candidate here. Granted, it's very very early and I personally still love the Brewers are allowing Low to explore both sides of the diamond.