Sun. 8/6 - Two Times the T-Rats Action

[Jim Goulart]

This thread will be utilized for any minor league news Sunday, lineup updates, etc.

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

[Ro Mueller]

The High-A Timber Rattlers play 2 games in South Bend today and need to win both to split the series 3-3. 22-year old RHP Bradley Blalock (recently acquired for Luis Urias) makes his organizational debut, sporting a 2.19 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 58 Ks in 53.1 IP. 

[Ro Mueller]

The Low-A Mudcats aim to grab their 5th win of 7 games in Fayetteville this week, with RHP Aidan Maldonado making his 2nd start since returning from injury. SS Daniel Guilarte is hitting .277 over 11 games since his own return from injury. 

[sveumrules]

Wisco up 4-2 after top of five.

Alex Hall and Jose Acosta went back to back, then Ernesto Martinez doubled home Brock Wilken, who had walked for the second time earlier.

Joe Gray Jr. also 2-3 with a SB and the other run scored.

Bradley Blalock went 4 IP | 2 R | 2 H | 3 BB | 6 K in his Brewers debut with Shane Smith on in relief bottom of five.

[sveumrules]

Hall (walk) and Acosta (double) link up for another TRat run top of six.

Smith has two scoreless frames under his belt with a single, two walks and two punch outs (not the Jose Ramirez kind).

Wood, Wilken, Martinez lined up top of seven.

 

[markedman5]

No Black again

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Smith & Shears really know how to hammer and snip things in high-leverage innings. What those two have done all season long is nothing short of remarkable. The charnel grounds of the challenging Southern League awaits them...when will they get that call? Only time will tell.

The T-Rats close out a Game 1 victory 5-2. They move to 18-17 - 2 GB of the Peoria Chiefs for that second half crown (Cedar Rapids, again, is irrelevant because they did what they seem to do every year: secured a Playoff birth with the first half runaway crown).

[sveumrules]

Edwin Jimenez toeing the rubber for Wisco in game two. Lineup is…

Doston LF
Gray Jr. CF
Wilken DH
Hall C
Ward RF
Garcia SS
Acosta 2B
Metzinger 1B
Vargas 3B

[wibadgers23]

 

[CheeseheadInQC]

32 minutes ago, wibadgers23 said:

 

Bizarre timing given the usual Monday off day, but obviously well deserved.

[Joseph Zarr]

They promote him when he was 5 or 6 SB removed from breaking the Shuckers overall record. Sigh. This just in: when you are really good at baseball you get moved before you can break a lot of things. He did, however, break the On Base streak. So, that's nice.

[Joseph Zarr]

Meanwhile, the Mudcats have scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th to tie things at 3-3 in Fayetteville. An rbi double by CF Luis Lara scored 1B Jesus Chirinos (who also doubled). Then a weak dribbler off the bat of OF Jace Avina fielded by the catcher and charged with a throwing error scored Lara and saw Avina grab 1B. We now have Avina on 2B and Castillo at 1B after his single. Two on. One down. Both runners just advanced on a WP with C Blayberg Diaz at the dish.

[Joseph Zarr]

Diaz delivers with a liner to LF! Avina scores but a poor send (imho) sees Mercado gunned down at homeplate. He was out by a good 3'. Diaz on 1B. Two down. 4-3 Mudcats.

[Joseph Zarr]

It looks like Wehrle is going to get the SVO. Let's see if he can pull this unexpected chance at victory out of the rabbits hat!

[Joseph Zarr]

Wehrle gives up a rising liner to CF (103 mph off the bat) but it hangs long enough so Lara can charge it and get the first out. He then walks the next batter on four pitches - none of them close. This is only the second SVO for Wehrle so this is a big opportunity for him. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Eight consecutive balls. Wehrle just put the tying and winning runs on and not a single pitch was questionable. Yikes.  

[Joseph Zarr]

After nine consecutive balls (a slider low and in) Wehrle gets the slider center left cut. 1-1. He then gets the batter in front of one on the inner stripe (hard to tell what that was - maybe a change-up) and then strikes him out on a slider that tailed low and out of the zone. Two down. Whewww. The drama.

[Joseph Zarr]

Wehrle had the next batter 2-2. He fouled off two pitches. Wehrle lost control of a slider on the inner half and it beans the batter in the upper back. Yikes. That's the third HBP from the Mudcats staff. Wehrle is making things very difficult with his walks and now a plunked batter. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Wehrle grabs the K! He is given the generous call on the upper outer corner on a slider. It did look like he caught the outer stripe - according to 'K Zone', however it may have been just outside. Who cares?!? LOL. Mudcats steal one 4-3. 

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP James Meeker picks up where the Shuckers bullpen left last night:

single, 2-run HR, single

The Shuckers trail 2-0 early. Let's hope Meeker can settle down and find his stuff. I still believe Meeker's best role is in any relief role. This starting pitching thing is really pushing his envelope. He's never been a huge strikeout guy but he's certainly not an 8 K in 25 2/3 IP guy either. 

[markedman5]

Black playing 3rd tonight 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Another HR for the sizzling man known as Wes Clarke. 18 on the year. A two-run jack. Scores none other than Isaac Collins.

Meeker made it 4 IP, 10 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 6 ER.

Shuckers trail 6-2

[wibadgers23]

Glad to see this series against Pensacola coming to an end for Biloxi. That team is TOUGH. Chourio stays hot though with a couple hits and an RBI.

[Ro Mueller]

Here’s that first-ever AAA Sounds lineup with newly-promoted 3B Tyler Black (.925 OPS in 385 AA PAs). Nashville needs a home win over Durham to split the series 3-3. RHP Janson Junk (4.44 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 5.7 K/9 in 93.1 IP) is tonight’s starter. 

[Joseph Zarr]

LHP Bennett Sousa just lost the 3-3 tie versus the Bulls here in the 7th. Walk, HBP, K, Double, WP. Not a pretty inning. He's pulled for RHP Pedro Fernandez who will try to prevent further damage. And he gives up the two out, two run single. It's a weekend of bullpen meltdowns. 7-3 Bulls. Ouch.