Wed. 8/30 - Carolina Hosts, Other Road Series Continue

[Joseph Zarr]

Just now, wibadgers23 said:

Anyone know of any good sites that has minor league historical stats? Trying to see where Chourio’s season ranks amongst the best.

Baseball Reference, I believe, might be your place. Try it out. 

[Joseph Zarr]

The homeplate ump is absolutely screwing Shook. I'm telling you. Every beautiful close pitch. He just sits there and calls a ball. Maddening. He's pitching too good to get screwed on these calls.

[Joseph Zarr]

Bless you, Mr. Shook for getting that second 6th inning out with a change-up swing-and-miss. We're headed to the bullpen. Shook gave a great outing but for the mistake heater 3-run HR. Deserved better but he'll exit after 5 2/3 IP. Two men on. Let's see who comes aboard.

[Joseph Zarr]

Glorious. That was a vintage (ie 2022 😅) RHP Ryan Middendorf relief appearance. With two men on. Two down. He rips a three pitch K to end the threat. Yeah baby. We are on to the 7th. And Shook is given the 'no decision' there. He deserved that, at least. 3-3 game still.

[Joseph Zarr]

We have our very first run @ Beloit. T-Rats lead 1-0 now after Lara ripped a line shot into shallow LF. The bases were juiced with one down. They are still juiced now with 1 down for Brock Wilken. 

Meanwhile, the Smokies dugout now feels what I've felt all game long: the ump's zone sucks. They were just robbed of a strike three pitch that now has two Shuckers on base. We'll take it. But, ump: be better, please. Ugly stuff. I mean, seriously, that ball was worse than every blown call Shuck received. A laser strike at the knees. 

Meanwhile, at Beloit Wilken gets screwed on an outside pitch a good 6" outside the zone. 

It's the Clown Show across the Minor League Ump show. Not shocking.

[Joseph Zarr]

Huge moment in Tennessee. Chourio to the dish with the bases juiced. Top of 7th. Tie ball game 3-3. I'm here for it. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Chourio got just under an off-speed pitch and ended up flying out to mid LF. He'll want that pitch back. He read it. He just missed. Ugh. 3-3 it remains. The bases stay juiced (well now they empty into the dugout). We are on to the bottom of the 7th.

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh, well, I guess I should really start paying attention in Beloit. Mr. Wagoner: I see you. Your incredible close to your season continues ripping. And, Metzinger can't make the play to save the 'No No'. He lets his pitcher down. Wagoner was at a mere 57 pitches with nary a single knock. It was a difficult play. I don't begrudge the inability to scoop the short hop - hit hard and bounced high. Scorer has yet to make a tally. T-Rats lead 1-0. 1 H for Beloit. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Collins diving stab web gem. Such an underrated player. He holds the lead runner at 2B and he wisely pops and hurls to 1B grabbing the first out. Man, I love this young man's game. What a ML Rule 5 grab Crew.

[Joseph Zarr]

Middendorf works around men on 1st and 2nd with one down by getting a first pitch pop-up to Murray in 3B foul territory and a grounder to Murray at 3B who rifles to 2B for the force out. On to the 8th in a very tight 3-3 ball game. We are in some good tilts tonight. T-Rats are clinging to a 1-0 lead in Beloit. Top of the 6th. Runner on 1st. Two down for Metzinger.

[Joseph Zarr]

Metzinger rises up and smashes a 3-2 ball into the deep RF corner scoring Mendez all the way from 1B. THAT's how you respond, Ben! Well done! 2-0 T-Rats. HUGE run.

[Joseph Zarr]

Let's open the faucets, gents! Fernandez rips a single up the middle and Metzinger scores. 3-0 T-Rats. And Wagoner is pitching a gem. Top of the 6th. GLorious!

[Joseph Zarr]

Quero just worked an 0-2 count for a 3-2 walk. Two men on now. Fantastic battle by Quero. Men on 1st and 2nd. Two down. We have a mound visit for Tennessee as they discuss their strategy, presumably, for facing Carlos D. Rodriguez. Still 3-3 in the 8th here.

[Joseph Zarr]

Cam Wagoner is on one in Beloit. 6 IP. 1 H. 0 R. Just dealing.

AND, Carlos D. Rodriguez just poked a 3-2 pitch into LF scoring Clarke. Runners on the corners now. 2 down. 4-3 Biloxi! 

LET'S GO!!!!!!

[Joseph Zarr]

Ethan Murray rockets a liner to 3B. And, though the ball was stabbed miraculously, he dives head first to avoid any tag and gets their safely (while I cringe). 5-3 Shuckers! Woot woot! Come on, men!

[Joseph Zarr]

Amaya has the first two men aboard in a Shuckers bullpen 'Ruh Roh Not Again' scenario. No outs. 2-1 count on batter 3. 2-2 on a foul ball. He strikes him out with a high heater. 1 down. 

[Joseph Zarr]

We're going back to the Shuckers bullpen now. Two on. One down. 5-3 lead. Bottom of the 8th. It just never feels safe with the SHuckers Pen. 😅

We're 4-0 in Beloit, baby. Good stuff.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Cam Robinson just walked the bases full on four pitches. One was a strike (what's new). One down. Man, this might end up painful.😅

[Joseph Zarr]

Sac Fly to deep CF (not quite the warning track). Batter just missed. Whew. 5-4. Men on the corners as the runner from 2B tags.

Meanwhile, in Beloit Boeve just threw a ball into LF advancing two runners. Up 4-0. One down. You can't throw that ball. That's forced and unnecessary and it put EBJ right into harm's way. Sheesh. Men on 2nd and 3rd now. One down. mound visit. Wagoner is staying in the game.

[Joseph Zarr]

Robinson escapes the 8th without further harm. Phewwwwww. 5-4 Shuckers. He gets the high fly out to middle RF and Sparks calmly gathers it. 

4-1 in Beloit. Ground out to SS. Runner advances to 3rd. Runner scores. 2 down. The error haunts with one out remaining. 

[Joseph Zarr]

What I wouldn't give to get an umpire called balls and strikes proper read-out in Tennessee. This home plate ump is an absolute inconsistent butcher. Nobody knows what the zone actually is - most definitely including the ump. If it's not dead center you are playing 50/50 ball. Unreal stuff.

[Joseph Zarr]

 Wes Clarke just rocked a ball deeeeeeep to far left CF. The Smokes CF sprinted all out and got to the ball but couldn't corral that laser. Chourio scores from 1B. AND we are back to a 2-run cushion. 6-4. Top of the 9th.

 

Wagoner was pulled after walking his next batter. Runners on the corners. Two down. RHP Sam Gardner will try to stop the threat. Bottom of the 7th. 4-1 T-Rats. 

[Joseph Zarr]

FInally a manager is tossed with these ump shows. It's Beloit's manager in this one. Meanwhile the Shuckers get one across via a wild pitch. Yeah babyyyy. 7-4! Huge runs here! 

Gardner got the strikeout - probably was given a strike or two but tonight it's anyone's guess. 4-1 T-Rats and we are into the top of the 8th. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Why was Beloit's manager tossed? Just ask a player. This was called strike 3 on Eduarqui Fernandez in the 9th. 6-9" inside. Time of pic that is a curveball coming back. The ball was further inside. It's just really bad in both ballparks in the balls and strikes department. Really bad.

[Joseph Zarr]

HUGE WIN for Biloxi. Just HUGE. Robinson pitches a smooth and easy 1-2-3 9th frame. They win 7-4. Meanwhile, Birmingham leads Montgomery 7-1 headed to the 8th. 

We might be moving back to a mere 0.5 GB.

Large Marge sent Me.