Article: Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/31): Robert Gasser Dominates (9 K:0 BB) in Best Triple-A Outing to Date

[Joseph Zarr]

Two morning/matinee games started things off in the lower levels - Nashville and Wisconsin, respectively. And they each started with a bang by grabbing two victories. In the evening, we had Biloxi and Carolina trying to round out an undefeated mid-week slate of games. We fell one game short as the Shuckers saw a late lead slip away in the eighth inning. Let's get into the report!

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

Game Balls:

• LHP Robert Gasser was absolutely fabulous in what was far and away his best outing as a Nashville Sound. It all came together and it was especially rewarding given his truly bad luck outing his last time out: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 K. This is the potential that is oozing from his deep toolkit.
• OF Blake Perkins continued his extremely solid work in the Sounds outfield. This week he's been leading off and today he put it all together: a two-run HR jack and a 2-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 R game overall. Fantastic work from the smooth moving young prospect.
• RHP Edwin Jimenez gets the nod for his deepest outing (6 IP), his second win as a starter in High-A, and generally just continuing to put forth solid outings every time on the hill in 2023. He won't wow you with velocity but he continues to demonstrate he can pitch with his blend of off-speed.
• C Blayberg Diaz gets the nod for a very solid night overall - behind the plate and in the batter's box. Read more below. We have another solid catcher in the stables. 
• INF Ethan Murray gets the final salute here with more fabulous defense and solid production in the batters box getting on base three times and scoring what was a brief go-ahead run in the seventh inning.

Transactions:

• (5/29 - announced late) INF Jamal Zalm was released by the ACL Brewers
• (5/30 - announced late) RHP Breijher Subero was released by the DSL Brewers 1

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Final: Nashville 4, Charlotte (White Sox) 0
Box Score / Game Log
Game Notes 

Via the Sounds' site, game details, please visit and review:

Robert Gasser Gifts Sounds Dominant Start in Birthday Win

LHP Robert Gasser certainly looks the part - he has the eclectic blend of pitches that make up a solid lefty MLB rotation pitcher. And, today, he finally really showed out in Triple-A after some truly bad luck his most recent outing. I've opined in the past, given his truly fantastic aforementioned blend of pitches, if he could just consistently find the zone or nibble closer to it the rest will simply take care of itself. He did that, and quite a bit more, today to the tune of 7 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 K, 0 ER. It's outings like these that simply remind us why the Brewers targeted him at last year's trade deadline. The refinement of a pitcher often takes time. Let's hope, with Gasser, this is, the start of that clock!

Three Quick Strikes:

1) He didn't turn many heads or impress all that much in his recent call-up opportunity, but that shouldn't take a single thing away from how fantastic OF Blake Perkins has played for the Sounds. Since his first game, he's been as solid and as consistent as anyone on the roster. He showed out, yet again, today. A two-run jack in the fifth inning (his second of the year) and a 2-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 R overall in the lead-off spot is a manager's dream. If nothing else, in 2023 he is definitely proving the Brewers right for signing him with a 40-Man spot in the off-season.

2) After scuffling a bit since his return from injury, it's a breath of fresh air to see one of my favorites in INF Cam Devanney find some production at the dish. 2-for-3 with a 2B on the day - it's important to remember we're still only dealing with a 76 AB sample size given his early season injury. I will continue to go to bat for this young man's game - when he is on and clicking he's as tantalizing an infield prospect as the Brewers have in the lower levels. It's a matter of staying healthy and finding that groove. 

3) Meanwhile, in Canada, we salute the Sounds on-base maven of the early going, Mr. Abraham Toro. First AB with the big club today in Toronto. Pay dirt:

 

What? It's a road series. Let's celebrate one of our favorite Sounds of the early going 😝.

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Final: Pensacola (Marlins) 4, Biloxi 3
Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes 

Via the Shuckers' site, game details, please visit and review:

Shuckers Fall in Close Affair Against Blue Wahoos, 4-3

Pre-Game Interviews: Brewers Organizational Pitching Coordinator (and former Shuckers pitching coach) Nick Childs is now in the archive and, tomorrow, RHP Luis Contreras will be on the mic in the same place. Check them out HERE 

RHP Tobias Myers had a very effective blend of his curveball and change-up to keep Wahoos hitters off balance throughout his three innings pitched. He was likely pulled early because he took a 106 mph liner off the back of his head during the third frame! He stayed in the inning, he was even smiling during the mound visit, but none the less being so close to the Adames episode it was certainly a worrisome moment. We'll have to stay abreast of any developments as the week progresses. LHP Russ Smith came on in relief. He pitched an effective first inning but ran into trouble in his second frame with a lead-off jack over the wall in right field followed by an opposite field line drive single. All in all, Smith continues to struggle to find his footing in Double-A but is suffering from an absurd BABIP and, ultimately, settled down tonight after the long ball. We'll take it as a successful appearance.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) If you would have told me Pensacola starter RHP Luis Palacios didn't throw a ball in the 90's his entire outing, you could have fooled me. He had the Shuckers bats entirely out of synch. He was mixing in an extremely effective blend of off-speed (primarily a change-up and slider combo) and repeatedly had the Shuckers batters off-balance and making extremely weak contact if any. This was as clear as ever when he got OF Jackson Chourio swinging and whiffing at a change-up that tailed outside the zone in a crucial AB in the 7th inning with two down and two men on. It was refreshing to see a pitcher showcase velocity most definitely isn't everything. It was equally frustrating watching several of the Shuckers at-bats. 

2) INF Ethan Murray continues to showcase his defensive acumen on a near nightly basis. Last night it was a head first diving save in the shallow right field grass. Tonight, not only did he leap to save a liner and grab the first out of the fifth frame he also ended it with runners on second and third and two down on this web gem:

There are few better all around infield defenders in the entire system. He's that consistently good. And, what's more, in 2023 he's doing some solid work at the plate. A very refreshing story in the early going. 

3) Some final quick hits: After a single early, INF Tyler Black is now up to a 25 game on-base streak - two shy of Cooper Hummel's club record. RHP James Meeker now has a plus curve ball - a big development for his pitching future. We may see Freddy Zamora hit the shelf for a spell with a concussion - just a hunch after a scary and violent collision sprinting toward a fly ball in left field and crashing full speed into LF Isaac Collins (who miraculously held on for the final out). You'll see this play at 3:04:12 on the MILB.tv broadcast. This game came down to OF Jackson Chourio's rough AB with two men on and two down in the 7th and then RHP Robbie Baker's two mistakes that left the yard. That was ball game. The Shuckers fell five back of these same Wahoos after gaining a game last night.

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Final: Wisconsin 5, Peoria (Cardinals) 2
Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes 
 
Via the Timber Rattlers' site, game details, please visit and review:

Rattlers Rally Past Chiefs

RHP Edwin Jimenez continued his break-out 2023 campaign by pitching his deepest outing to date - 6 IP, 2 ER (2 solo shots), 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K. He picked up his second victory in High-A and greatly helped his squad grab their second consecutive victory. That's right: the Timber Rattlers have a winning streak! Just as importantly, they handed the Peoria Chiefs their seventh consecutive loss. How sweet it is. 

Remember, after the matinee, we get the home game post-game podcast:

Full Game Highlights:

 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) RHP Max Lazar grabbed the three inning save - 3 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K. He missed that third strikeout in his first inning by what must have been an inch, if that, on a glorious curveball on the outer stripe. He was walking off the mound, actually - it was a nasty pitch. He looked quite sharp overall on the afternoon. We just request one thing: stay healthy, Mr. Lazar!

2) INF Eric Brown Jr. was credited with a double error (fielding and throwing) on a two out chopper in the eighth inning. It was a play where he attempted to backhand the ball and it bounced up his glove and popped into the air. He ultimately should have eaten it. However, he barehand grabbed it and forced the throw late taking Hall off the bag and the ball down the line. The runner advanced to second base. We discussed it in our game thread (Start HERE), but his 10 errors on the season-to-date are more a product of forcing things or trying to get too much from a situation. I personally feel this is related to an over-confidence in his skills (and, they are quite delicious). In other words: with experience and practice he'll have to learn when to eat a play or when to dial it back.

3) I could discuss EBJ's 3-for-4 day at the dish driving his BA up to 0.272 but I am going to hone in on INF Eduardo Garcia. Garcia played what may have been his best game at the hot corner - making the very difficult look routine in a variety of ways. He also 'drove' in a run with a painful inside HBP with the bases dripping while also ripping two doubles. The first two-bagger was the T-Rats first hit of the afternoon. The second two-bagger resulted in what could have been a key insurance run heading into the ninth and final inning. The random feel good week of inexplicably advanced discipline at the plate is gone, sadly. But, it is still quite nice to see the young man find success at the dish. He finished his day 2-for-3, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 K, 0 BB. He and Joe Gray Jr. both continue to mightily struggle with anything off-speed down or away. It is definitively their collective Achilles' heel.

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Final:  Carolina 9, Lynchburg (Guardians) 1
Box Score / Game Log

Game Notes  
  
Via the Mudcats' site, game details, please visit and review:

Diaz & Parra Help Mudcats Hammer Hillcats 9-1

Let me start by simply sharing: the ump crew in Lynchburg tonight was, unfortunately, as amateur as it gets. The home plate ump clearly didn't know the breadth of the strike zone - under his watch it became an absurdly tight dead center box. The field ump was missing calls at 3B robbing a beautiful Diaz to Vargas throw out on a double steal - the runner was out by a good 3 feet yet he somehow casually called him safe. This same ump was letting men who blatantly flew out stand at 2B as if they'd hit a double. It was unreal what I was seeing in the first inning. Regardless, a game was to be played. The missed strike calls continued throughout.

RHP Jacob Misiorowski suffered from the above mentioned tight zone early as he was robbed of at least three strikes in the top of the first. However, it's a testament to him he was able to maintain his poise

Three Quick Strikes:

1) If you were to carve out a bit of time to watch one team in the Brewers system with a strict focus on quality of baseball, the Mudcats would have to be at the top of your list. These young men play truly solid defense. They play smart baseball. They play aggressively. They are managed extremely well by an up-and-coming leader in Victor Estevez. The breadth of their pitching staff is fantastic. And, they are improving at the plate on an almost nightly basis. Tune in early and tune in often. These young men are simply enjoyable to watch.

2) Let me take a brief moment to introduce you to yet another fantastic catcher in the Brewers system: Blayberg Diaz. He is extremely spry behind the dish and has some deceptive size to boot - he is every bit of 5'11" and 190 (I would imagine he's added some weight and sits closer to 195-200). He has a plus arm - he was robbed tonight of a gorgeous throw to third base from his knees. And, he has an ascending bat. Each time out, I've seen him put forth better and better AB's. I  mentioned Sibrian last night. Tonight, I share with you Diaz.

3) There are plenty of things to check out in the box score tonight - shutdown pitching throughout with a mere three hits allowed. Offensively, a bevy of men were on base - every Mudcat touched the bags, actually, but OF Jace Avina who still managed to knock in a run. With this being said, and being a road series and all, I deliver you the only Mudcat highlight - a Jesus Parra bomb over the wall in left field:

 

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We'll be back to all evening slates tomorrow. RHP Caleb Boushley looks to put his walk woes of his last outing to bed in Charlotte. RHP Christian Mejias will look to replicate his fantastic last trip to the hill and give the Shuckers a 2-1 series lead. RHP Cameron Wagoner will look to stop hanging those curveballs and give his team some solid innings - let's be honest, it's been a tough start to his 2023 season. And, we're still 'TBD' for Carolina in Lynchburg at time of publish. As always, thank you for reading and thank you for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball!

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