Tue. 8/8 - Crazy Eights (But Only the Standard Seven Games)

[Joseph Zarr]

And now a two-run single poke to RF. It's 8-3 Sounds. Boushley is giving up solid contact here in the 6th. His pitches that were low in the zone earlier are now up and in the zone - his Achilles' heel in every outing given his lower velo.

[Joseph Zarr]

5 K through 4 IP for LHP Nate Peterson. No runs. MUCH better showing than his last outing on the road in South Bend. You love to see it.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Caleb Boushley is coming unwound a wee bit here in the 6th. Up 0-2 in the count with one down, he walks the next batter. Men on 1st and 2nd. Sounds leading 8-3. Boushley's pitch count is now at 90. And J.B. Bukowski is warming up. It looks like they are going to leave Boushley in to fight through this jam.

[Joseph Zarr]

Boushley has the sacks full now. I have no idea why they are sticking with Boushley here or why they gave him that last AB. Six consecutive Indians made the basepaths. He lost his accuracy and control. And, he was getting hit hard and often. Now you bring in Bukauskas with only one down and the bases juiced. I have no problem proclaiming: I think that was a miscalculation from the coaching staff. The Indians announcers agree with me.

[Joseph Zarr]

3B Brock Wilken is now 2-for-2 with a BB. He rips a liner single through to CF here in the bottom of the 4th. 

Bukauskas gets the 0-2 punchout getting his first batter chasing a breaking ball in the dirt. Navarreto protects and prevents the run scoring from 3rd. Two down. Huge K. Bases still juiced.

[Joseph Zarr]

Hey, it's a new week and it's another HR given up by RHP Robbie Baker. It is uncanny how many long balls he has conceded in the last two and 1/2 months. I don't know if I've ever seen this type of run from a Brewer reliever in...I don't know how long. The Shuckers trail 13-1. Yikes.

[wiguy94]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

Hey, it's a new week and it's another HR given up by RHP Robbie Baker. It is uncanny how many long balls he has conceded in the last two months. I don't know if I've ever seen this type of run from a Brewer reliever in...I don't know how long. The Shuckers trail 13-1. Yikes.

...and another one

[wiguy94]

Rick Sweet probably left Boushley in a few batters too long. Nashville's 8-0 lead goes to 8-7 because of an error by CF Monte Harrison

[Joseph Zarr]

CF Monte Harrison just absolutely biffed a charging shallow fly ball to straightaway CF. It was hit perfectly but Harrison was there with plenty of time. He swipes at the ball, inexplicably, and it goes into CF. What the heck was that Monte? That's a great escape out. A great job by Bukauskas. Unbelievable error there. 8-5 Sounds now. Good gracious.

The Indians have our 7-run 6th inning debacle. Just go to the 23 second mark to see Harrison's inexplicable gaffe in shallow CF:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wiguy94 said:

Rick Sweet probably left Boushley in a few batters too long. Nashville's 8-0 lead goes to 8-7 because of an error by CF Monte Harrison

That error was inexplicably bad. Just a complete nonsense play. Ugh.

[wiguy94]

Just now, Joseph Zarr said:

That error was inexplicably bad. Just a complete nonsense play. Ugh.

I wasn't watching, but with Harrison, I am guessing he was trying to be a bit too flashy and this time it bit him in the butt

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

I wasn't watching, but with Harrison, I am guessing he was trying to be a bit too flashy and this time it bit him in the butt

You could probably make that claim. He swung at it like a fly swatter, honestly. AND, well, he certainly didn't hold onto the ball. It went dribbling behind him into CF. That's a play your CF can not botch. Inexplicably bad judgment. Just underhand catch it. Just catch it straight on. But, to swing at it like you're playing Jai Lai?!? 

[Joseph Zarr]

BUT, fear not, C Jose Sibrian (you know he's my guy) just ripped a two-run HR jack over the wall in LF. 5-1 Mudcats. LET'S GO!!!!!

[Joseph Zarr]

THANK the BASEBALL GODS for Patrick Dorrian. He adds an insurance run solo blast well over the RF wall. His second jack of his evening. That ball was absolutely hammered. 9-7 Sounds. A huge insurance run here in the 7th inning!

[Joseph Zarr]

Dorrian botches a routine hard hit chopper (the second bounce really jumped up on him though) during the transfer going for the dp.The ball moved beyond his expectations. He was charged with an error regardless.  Man, if the Sounds blow this they have nothing to blame but their failed defense from the 6th onward. They were fantastic early. Two on, now, nobody out. Should have at least had the lead runner there. Ugh.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Nick Merkel fell behind 2-0 to his third batter and he then gave up a 2-1 three run jack to dead CF. That ball hung up there forever and somehow made it over the wall. T-Rats now lead 6-3 as the Dragons chip away. Nobody out for Merkel in his second inning of relief.

[Joseph Zarr]

The seven game T-Rats errorless streak ends when Jose Acosta is eaten up by what should have been an inning-ending bounceout to 2B. Instead, it keeps the Dragons 6th alive. Two down. Man on first Merkel now w 4 K in 1 2/3 IP. But, the three run jack is blemishing his relief outing. He'll try to escape this error-induced jam.

[Joseph Zarr]

And SS Robert Moore saves his pitcher with a beautiful full diving snare up the middle. Rises to his knees and throws accurately to 1B for the final out. That was easily the best play I've seen Moore make at SS since oft-filling in for the injured Eric Brown Jr. 

Meanwhile, in Biloxi...I mean. Yeeesh. Wes Clarke has stayed red hot. That's nice.

[Joseph Zarr]

The Mudcats 'March to the Post-Season' continues! 6-1 victory. Woot woot!

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Sam Gardner just gave up a solo shot facing his first batter in his first inning of bullpen work here in the 7th. 6-4 T-Rats. Brewers relievers are giving up lotttttta long balls today. I see you, Mr. Peguero. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Vieira in trouble here in the 9th. He walked his first batter...who stole 2B. He then gave up a hard hit liner to CF. Men on the corners. Nobody out. 9-7 Sounds. 

[Joseph Zarr]

An ABS rob of a glorious slider center cut (seriously, I have absolutely zero idea how that wasn't a strike) sees the bases juiced now with nobody down for Vieira who continues to struggle finding the zone. He is leaning absurdly slider heavy and it might be because he just can't locate the heat. 

[wiguy94]

Seems like Thyago Vieira is about to have a blow save. Nashville choking an 8-0 lead would be pretty rough.

[Joseph Zarr]

I have serious questions about the ABS system at Indianapolis. The zone is absurdly tight. And, I mean, absurdly restricted. It's important to remember these ABS systems are unique to each ballpark. I am not a fan of what's going on in Indianapolis. I've seen two dead center strikes called balls confidently.  They have completely eliminated the upper half of the strikezone.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 minute ago, wiguy94 said:

Seems like Thyago Vieira is about to have a blow save. Nashville choking an 8-0 lead would be pretty rough.

Just got a key K. One down. Much better position to be in. That's all I got. 😅