Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/14): Pannone and Henry Lead Nashville to Mother’s Day Win, But Three Affiliates Fall in Close Finales

[Ro Mueller]

Thomas Pannone collected his first win, while Payton Henry and Andruw Monasterio homered for Nashville. Cameron Wagoner and Ryan Brady were terrific for Wisconsin, though they lost in 11 innings.

Image courtesy of Biloxi Shuckers

The 1-3 day meant that Biloxi (4-2) was the sole series winner, while each of Nashville, Wisconsin and Carolina had three wins and three losses on the week.

Sunday’s Game Balls go to my wife, my mother (and all the amazing moms out there who lift us up), along with Thomas Pannone, Payton Henry, Blake Perkins, Cameron Wagoner and Ryan Brady, with an honorable mention to Andruw Monasterio.

Transactions:

• Keston Hiura placed on the Nashville 7-day injured list retroactive to May 13
• RHP Justin Yeager placed on AA Biloxi’s 7-day injured list

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 6, Gwinnett 5
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: Nashville outlasts late Gwinnett rally to work a 6-5 victory in the series finale

Nashville needed this victory to salvage a 3-3 series tie and looked in good shape until a rough 9th inning, barely holding on in front of 8,154 fans.

Here’s Payton Henry’s (3-for-4, HR, double, 2 RBIs) first blast of 2023 and you can find more highlights at the Sounds’ Twitter feed:

 

Three Quick Strikes:

• Blake Perkins (4-for-5, triple, two doubles) and Henry had their best games in a while and Andruw Monasterio (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs) continues his recent surge. LHP Clayton Andrews and RHP Jake Cousins were both solid in the ‘pen (combined 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K), while RHP Lucas Erceg and LHP Bennett Sousa allowed three unearned runs before closing it out.
• The Sounds’ starting rotation has been in flux since RHP Janson Junk and Colin Rea were called up to make Major League starts in mid-April, but it’s settling into two tiers: (i) Talented youngsters Junk and Robert Gasser; (ii) Crafty veterans Pannone (6 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 4 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks; lowers ERA to 2.04 in 17 2/3 IP), Caleb Boushley and Pedro Fernandez.
• Hot-hitting Keston Hiura went on the 7-day injured list (exited Friday’s game early after being picked off base), shifting the spotlight to 3B Abraham Toro (1-for-4, double, RBI) as the next position player up for possible promotion. In this game, Toro extended his on-base streak to 31 games, but also committed two errors to give him five on the season.

Next week’s outlook: The Sounds (20-18) head out to take on Rays’ affiliate Durham (also 20-18). RHP Janson Junk (2.90 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 6.7 K/9 in 31 IP) is scheduled to start the series opener.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Rocket City 6, Biloxi 4
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers Threaten Late, Fall to Trash Pandas, 6-4, in Series Finale

This tight 3-2 affair nearly got out of hand when RHP Cam Robinson (0 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 0 Ks) opened the 7th inning by throwing nine consecutive balls, ultimately failing to retire any of the five batters he faced. As such, it may be back-to-the-drawing-board for Mr. Robinson.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Leading 6-2, Rocket City attempted to return the favor by allowing the first five Shuckers to reach base in the bottom of the 7th inning, before normally-reliable left fielder Noah Campbell (struck out looking) and center fielder Jackson Chourio (GIDP) were unable to knock in any more runs with the bases loaded in a 6-4 game. Chourio (1-for-4, double, RBI) did hit an RBI double to drive in Campbell in the 1st inning, then have a great catch in the top of the 9th inning.
• Prior to the game, we breezed a sigh of relief as 20-year old C Jeferson Quero (1-for-4; threw out 1 of 3 basestealers) returned to full action, despite exiting Friday’s game after three innings.
• Although the Shuckers committed two errors (SS Freddy Zamora, right fielder Joe Gray Jr.), they did manage to turn a nifty 4-2-3 double play in that troublesome 7th inning, with credit going to 2B Ethan Murray in particular. One of those errors led to an unearned run in the 3rd inning, thus tagging starting RHP Christian Mejias (5 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 3 H, 3 BB, 3 Ks) with the loss.

 

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi (19-14) travels to face Reds’ affiliate Chattanooga (14-18) this week, with terrific RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (1.88 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 12.9 K/9 in 28 2/3 IP) expected to start the opening game.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: South Bend 2, Wisconsin 1 (in 11 innings)
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Rattlers’ website, game details: Cubs Tip Rattlers in Eleven Innings

More than perhaps any other pitcher in the organization, RHP Cameron Wagoner (5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks; lowering ERA to 9.24) needed a bounce-back performance and he did just that on Sunday.

One would have hoped that this spectacular play by 24-year old RHP Ryan Brady (3 IP, 1 Manfred Run (0 ER) 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) in the 10th inning would spark the offense to close out a series win, but alas Wisconsin ultimately went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position in a tough loss. 

 

 Check out many more highlights from this Mother’s Day game as compiled by the Wisconsin media team.

We’ve also got a 15-minute Chris Mehring, Kyle Lobner post-game podcast for your listening pleasure.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Wisconsin’s sole run was a SS Eric Brown Jr. special in the bottom of the 8th inning: single, two stolen bases (giving him 15 on the year), scored on a fielder’s choice as South Bend threw home in a futile effort to nab the speedster.
• RHP Max Lazar (2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) had a solid run of results coming in (1 ER in last 11 IP), but an opposite field triple tripped him up in this game.
• Unfortunately, Wisconsin failed to convert any of their late scoring opportunities: 1-on with nobody out in the 9th inning, Manfred man on with nobody out in the 10th inning, 2-on with nobody out in the 11th inning.

Next week’s outlook: The Timber Rattlers (11-21) get to stay home, hosting Royals’ affiliate Quad Cities (12-21) this week. Opening game starter RHP Stiven Cruz (6.26 ERA in 23 IP) needs a rebound of his own after allowing 13 runs (9 earned) and 13 hits in his last two starts (five innings).

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Fredericksburg 6, Carolina 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Drop Finale 6-3 in Error Filled Day

As detailed in the game report, this was a mistake-filled finale for the Mudcats, including for normally-reliable C Matt Wood (two errors) and talented-but-frustrating RHP Jeison Pena (balk, wild pitch, error).

The defense wasn’t all bad, however, as 2B Jadher Areinamo continued his terrific glove work on this fabulous 7th inning double play:

 

Three Quick Strikes:

• Perhaps players started trying to do too much after Carolina squandered a bases loaded, nobody out opportunity in the bottom of the 6th inning while trailing 4-3. Credit the Fredericksburg defense for completing a 1-2-3 double play on struggling (at-the-plate) Areinamo (1-for-4; .223 AVG, .515 OPS) and then striking out 1B Jesus Parra (2-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs; .196 AVG, .564 OPS).
• Still trailing 4-3, Pena’s 8th inning included a leadoff walk, Wood committing catcher interference on an 0-2 pitch for one of his errors and a wild pitch. After a nice infield play (3B Luke Adams to Wood for one out) and a fly out, Pena nearly pulled off the scoreless escape, but instead threw past first base for a 2-run error that extended the Nationals’ lead to 6-3.
• Nine walks helped make up for the Mudcats’ limited hits (4-for-27), but Fredericksburg took a page from Carolina’s playbook in stealing five bases on Sunday (vs. one stolen base for the good guys). We’ll see if the Mudcats get some reinforcements before Tuesday (e.g. Is OF Luis Castillo healthy enough for his 2023 debut?), given that their active roster is down to 27 players (vs. the customary 30).

Next week’s outlook: Load up the bus, as Carolina (18-13) heads to take on White Sox affiliate Kannapolis (also 18-13) this week. Although no starter has been listed, I’d expect RHPs Logan Henderson and Patricio Aquino to tag-team the opening game on Tuesday.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report! Enjoy the day off on Monday and good luck next week!

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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