Wed. 7/26 - Rattlers Play Early. Three Late Games. Rookies Take a Day Off.

[Ro Mueller]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Wednesday, lineup updates, etc.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores

[Ro Mueller]

3B Eduardo Garcia returns from injury, as High-A Wisconsin looks for a home win over Cedar Rapids to tie the series 1-1. RHP Cameron Wagoner is ready to build on one of his best performances of the season (5 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 8Ks in last outing). 

[Joseph Zarr]

Wagoner has been much better of late as he looks to keep turning around a season that got away early and often. His last outing at Dayton was far and away his best of 2023. His off-speed stuff was really dialed and keeping hitters guessing. Let's hope he can execute against the very formidable Kernels.

[Ro Mueller]

9 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

Wagoner has been much better of late as he looks to keep turning around a season that got away early and often. His last outing at Dayton was far and away his best of 2023. His off-speed stuff was really dialed and keeping hitters guessing. Let's hope he can execute against the very formidable Kernels.

Gulp. Wagoner walked 3 of the first 5 batters and didn’t make it out of the 1st inning.

We trailed 7-0 by the 2nd inning, but are now giving the home fans something to cheer for with 5 find in the bottom of the 2nd inning on an array of singles, walks, an error, catcher’s interference. Good game re-set.

[Joseph Zarr]

12 minutes ago, damuelle said:

Gulp. Wagoner walked 3 of the first 5 batters and didn’t make it out of the 1st inning.

We trailed 7-0 by the 2nd inning, but are now giving the home fans something to cheer for with 5 find in the bottom of the 2nd inning on an array of singles, walks, an error, catcher’s interference. Good game re-set.

Ugh. I was really hoping he had found some semblance of a stride. Back to the drawing board. That's a big step back - 1 GS, 2/3 IP, 37 pitches. Yikes. 😔

[Joseph Zarr]

An INF Eduardo Garcia long ball in the 3rd has pulled the T-Rats within 1 run at 7-6. Heck of a way to welcome Garcia back into the fold. Let's get even and then pull away, men!

[Ro Mueller]

That’s a terrific 4 1/3 innings for RHP Miguel Guerrero, in 56 pitches (2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks) - exactly what the team needed after the starter didn’t make it out of the 1st inning. 7-7 in the 7th inning now, with RHP Michele Vassalotti pitching. 

[Joseph Zarr]

23 minutes ago, damuelle said:

That’s a terrific 4 1/3 innings for RHP Miguel Guerrero, in 56 pitches (2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks) - exactly what the team needed after the starter didn’t make it out of the 1st inning. 7-7 in the 7th inning now, with RHP Michele Vassalotti pitching. 

Really happy for Guerrero to return to High-A and find success of late. He paid his dues and then some after being re-assigned to Carolina after last season's struggles. You love to see it! It's still knotted at 7 late but RHP Shane Smith has opened his second inning of work with a lead-off single and a walk. Nobody out. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh baby, we call him 'The Smithy'. RHP Shane Smith escapes the two on nobody out jam. He gets the fly out to Doston in LF, the pop up to Garcia at 3B, and the K. 7-7 and we're into the bottom half of the 8th frame.

[Joseph Zarr]

And the T-Rats take the lead, 8-7 on a Hendry Mendez force out where Je'Von Ward (pinch runner) scores on the groundout. Let's go!

[Joseph Zarr]

Smith with a straight nasty and gutsy slider down and away getting Ortega flailing. The T-Rats win! 8-7. Heck of a job by the bullpen of Guerrero, Vassalotti, and Smith (who has been fantastic since his promotion). The T-Rats move back to 0.500 in the 2nd half 13-13 and gain a game back of the 1st Place Kernels. They are now 4.0 GB.

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Shane Smith covers 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Rattlers win 8-7 after trailing 7-0 early!

Smith is putting together a very fine season - 60 Ks in 40 IP, sub-1.00 WHIP, 2.25 ERA. Keep it up!

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, damuelle said:

RHP Shane Smith covers 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Rattlers win 8-7 after trailing 7-0 early!

Smith is putting together a very fine season - 60 Ks in 40 IP, sub-1.00 WHIP, 2.25 ERA. Keep it up!

He is fast developing two very nasty off-speed offerings in his slider and his hammer curve. He remains unafraid to challenge hitters with his 95-96 mph 4-seamer up and in to boot. A very intriguing bullpen arm.

[Joseph Zarr]

I understand the thinking here from the Kernels' Lefty. BUT, imo, you have to throw to home plate here. That's a clear out and the lead runner is now standing on 2B. I take my chances of avoiding damage and get the sure out at home plate to maintain the tie trusting I'll make a timely and accurate throw:

 

[Ro Mueller]

18 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I understand the thinking here from the Kernels' Lefty. BUT, imo, you have to throw to home plate here. That's a clear out and the lead runner is now standing on 2B. I take my chances of avoiding damage and get the sure out at home plate to maintain the tie trusting I'll make a timely and accurate throw:

 

Yeah, pretty funny. I figured he should make a bee-line run directly at the lead runner, then throw to whichever base that runner tries to get to. Yay Rattlers!

[Ro Mueller]

AAA Nashville looks to double its series lead in Norfolk, with Hortonville native RHP Caleb Boushley (4.65 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 7.2 K/9 in 89 IP) getting the start. LF/INF Josh VanMeter has a 5-game hitting streak with 5 hits and 12 walks in the games. 

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Alexander Vallecillo (4.02 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 10.9 K/9 in 31.1 IP) makes his 8th start (11th appearance) for Low-A Carolina, which aims for a 2-0 series lead in Columbia. 1B Jesus Chirinos has hit safely in 12 of 13 games. 

[Ro Mueller]

AA Biloxi is also shooting for a 2-0 series lead, at home against Birmingham. RHP Christian Mejias (6.59 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 9.9 K/9 in 82 IP) gets tonight’s start. 2B Isaac Collins is tied for the 2nd-highest OBP in the 8-team Southern League. 

[Joseph Zarr]

I'm very excited to see RHP Brandon Woodruff get an opportunity to face the Kernels tomorrow. Let's see how deep he goes after hurling 3 IP at Dayton and topping out at 97 mph after 32 pitches. He pitched in the bullpen to get his pitch count to exactly where they wanted it as the staff probably didn't want to risk the 4 IP.

[Joseph Zarr]

Here's a random High-A Deep Cut:

The Cedar Rapids Kernels have made the High-A playoffs in every season since they became a Minnesota Twins affiliate in 2013. 

That's absolutely bananas. Heck of an affiliate and heck of a job the Twins are doing populating their High-A rosters.

[Joseph Zarr]

Sounds and Tides are scoreless as we head to the top of the 3rd. RHP Caleb Boushley just successfully worked around a two out double to RF. Sounds have yet to knock a hit. Boushley has allowed 3.

Meanwhile, the Mudcats have new lead-off 1B Tayden Hall in the batters box to begin game 2. 0-0 in the top of the 1st.

[Joseph Zarr]

The Sounds had struck out 6 times through 3 1/3 IP. 1B Keston Hiura says: Who cares?

He smacks an oppo dinger just over the RF wall - his 15th long ball of 2023. 1-0 Sounds.

[Ro Mueller]

 

[Ro Mueller]

This young man (“Wiemer Junior”) belongs in Wisconsin. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Biloxi grabs a 2-0 first inning lead. Isaac Collins singled. Zavier Warren homered.