Wed. 5/31: Brunch with the Sounds, Lunch with the Timber Rattlers

[Joseph Zarr]

Yes Sir! Diaz with a beautiful "Take the pitch where it is and send it where it should go" oppo liner into right center knocking across both runs. It's 2-1 Mudcats. Wonderful piece of patient hitting there from the continually pleasantly surprising Diaz.

[Joseph Zarr]

Nicasia hits the deep fly to the warning track in dead CF to drive in another on the deep sac fly. There's two down now and men on 1st and 2nd. Lynchburg is already going to the bullpen. Luke Adams will try to send in some more. 3-1 Mudcats.

[Joseph Zarr]

Two K's for Misiorowski in the 2nd frame. Both on breaking balls. He was robbed of his second K (again) on an inside 98 mph beauty - he had leapt off the mound heading to the dugout only to have to come back. I feel you, Jacob. I do. 

[Joseph Zarr]

And that's another strikeout stolen on a gorgeous hook on the outer stripe. Yikes. Lead-off walk for Misiorowski in the 3rd.

[Joseph Zarr]

It's a testament to Misiorowski he can laugh off this zone, strike out 4 through 3, and not allow a single hit. 😅

[wiguy94]

The Carolina Mudcats are a very enjoyable team to watch.

[Joseph Zarr]

19 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

The Carolina Mudcats are a very enjoyable team to watch.

100%. They have improved too, which is scary. They are taking better and better AB's across the board. Solid D. Fantastic pitching. Very very likable manager. My favorite team in the system.

[Joseph Zarr]

Mudcats are up 9-1 and they call Misiorowski's night and make way for RHP Aidan Maldonado. We are in the fifth frame.

[Joseph Zarr]

Meanwhile, in Biloxi, a line drive comes screaming up the middle at 106 mph and it smashes RHP Tobias Myers possibly in the ear. Yikes. Right behind the ear. And, he is saying he's fine. That ball ricocheted into deep left center field. The game is tied 1-1. Myers, thankfully, has a smile on his face. Man. That was scary.

[Joseph Zarr]

It's really nice to see RHP Tobias Myers (and Quero) work more of his curveball and change-up en lieu of his struggling heater. If it's flat, make sure they can't sit on it. Both off-speed offerings look quite nice here into the 4th inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

Man, I'll put C Blayberg Diaz and C Jose Sibrian up with any catching duo in the system. I love these young men's game. Both just playing phenomenally early in 2023. 

[Joseph Zarr]

With the Mudcats leading Down East by a mere 0.5 games, and Down East leading first place Columbia 3-0 in Columbia, we're looking at a down to the wire race for the first half crown. Those canceled two games this past Sunday could loom large for either club.

[Joseph Zarr]

The Blue Wahoos' RHP Luis Palacios hasn't thrown a pitch faster than 89 mph but you couldn't tell by the way he has the Shuckers hitters all tied up. Perhaps, this isn't all that surprising given the quiet nature of their bats for the most part lately. But, it's nice to see a guy with low velo craftily own the zone. 1-1 into the 5th inning. Make that 2-1 Wahoos - Smith just gave up a lead-off solo jack over the wall in RF.

[Joseph Zarr]

LHP Russ Smith is doing everything to showcase his 1.78 WHIP is no illusion. He's given up a solo shot, a line drive single to LF, a bloop single to RF, and he has a walk from the inning prior. That's 4 men on base (or rounding bases) in 1 2/3 IP so far. Hopefully, we can hang our hat on the crazy 0.417 BABIP. Yeeesh.

[Joseph Zarr]

INF Ethan Murray continues to showcase his defense. He makes an electric charging bare-handed throw to 1B for the final out stranding two Wahoos. What a play. 2-1 the Shuckers trail as they will once again try to wake up their sleepy bats. Take a look. This is not an easy play whatsoever:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Hey now! INF/OF Isaac Collins says 'Ball don't lie!' After a lengthy debate on a wild pitch into the Wahoos dugout (Mike Guerrero felt Ethan Murray should have been given home base) leaving Murray stranded at 3B, Collins comes through with a ground ball up the middle infield. It's 2-2. Smith will try to fare better in the top half of the 6th.

[Joseph Zarr]

The Mudcats continue to lead 9-1 late here. The home plate umpire continues to absolutely botch clear strikes. Uncannily consistent in his egregious inconsistency.

[Joseph Zarr]

Hey it's another 3-up and 3-down inning from Smith! He closes it out with a swinging and missing attempt on a high slider in a 2-2 count. We'll move to the bottom half of the 6th where the Shuckers will look to make their mark and take the lead.

[Joseph Zarr]

Mudcats close it out 9-1. We are 3-0 so far. The Crew clinging to a 4-1 lead. And, the Shuckers are knotted up at 2 into the bottom of the 6th inning. RHP Robbie Baker just pitched a clean first inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

Ethan Murray has played phenomenal defense (as per usual) he stole his 5th base of the year. He's been on base 3 times. He just scored the leading run. AND, INF Felix Valerio grabbed the key poke to RF and stretched it to a 3B on the Griffin Conine error on the rushed attempt to scoop and throw home because, well, Ethan Murray had done the lead-up work. Excellent. Isaac Collins walks. Runners on the corners. Two down. 3-2 Shuckers.

AND, Chourio is to the plate. Let's GO!

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, that lead was very short. RHP Robbie Baker getting hit hard in the 8th on two no doubter solo jacks. 1 108 mph over the LF wall and 96 mph over the RF wall. All this after a pretty poor AB from OF Jackson Chourio who struck out swinging at a change-up a good 9-12" off the outer half. Off-speed and away continues to haunt the talented young outfielder. Shuckers now trail 4-3 in a drop of a hat. One down.

[Joseph Zarr]

After a second out via strikeout, Baker gives up his 3rd XBH of his second inning - a stand-up double to right CF - and Mike Guerrero makes the call for RHP James Meeker. That was a rough inning for Baker. 

[Joseph Zarr]

A bad inning just got worse. Ugh. INF Freddy Zamora just ran full-speed into a charging LF Isaac Collins (who miraculously held onto the catch). Zamora went down motionless instantly. He is moving now but he is badly shaken up by the looks of it. Man, can this young man catch a break?!? OK. He's up and walking in. He's holding the left side of his upper jaw. More importantly, perhaps, here is the injury does not appear to be to his arms or shoulders. That was a knock to the head. Yikes.

MILB.tv subscribers:

The play begins at 3:04:12. 

[Joseph Zarr]

C Jeferson Quero is stranded at 3B (lead off double ripped down the LF line) after Wes Clarke lines out sharply right into the 1B glove. Sigh. 4-3 Shuckers trail headed to the 9th. 

[Joseph Zarr]

I continue to love RHP James Meeker. Noticeable development in 2023: his curveball has become a very plus pitch. This is fun! Keep on trucking, Mr. Meeker. I see you.