Sat. 9/2 - Labor Day Weekend Action Continues

[Jim Goulart]

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

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

[wiguy94]

Even though Nashville and Wisconsin likely aren’t going to make the playoffs in the 2nd half, it’s nice to see all 4 full season teams playing above .500 baseball in the 2nd half of the season.

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, wiguy94 said:

Even though Nashville and Wisconsin likely aren’t going to make the playoffs in the 2nd half, it’s nice to see all 4 full season teams playing above .500 baseball in the 2nd half of the season.

Wisconsin would seem to have a legitimate shot if they were chasing anyone but Peoria. Those pesky Chiefs have been on one this entire second half and it certainly doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon. What really drives this home, for me at least, is the T-Rats close with a six-game series at Home vs the juggernaut that is Cedar Rapids. Peoria closes at home vs these same Beloit Sky Carp the T-Rats are currently handing it to on a nightly basis. It would seem like the T-Rats would have needed to pick up a couple games these past nights to really make the last week interesting.

Nashville, well, there's just too many teams in their way. Last night's loss was a big big one. They needed that game. Anything, in theory, could happen here, but as you allude to: doesn't seem likely.

 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Low-A Carolina is tied 2-2 in their home series against Down East and have stud RHP Logan Henderson (2.85 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 11.9 K/9 in 72.2 IP) on the mound. C Blayberg Diaz comes in with a 12-game hitting streak. 

[Ro Mueller]

AA Biloxi has won 5 straight and has RHP Christian Mejias (7.00 ERA with 113 Ks in 106. 2 IP) starting at Tennessee tonight. 19-year old CF Jackson Chourio has a 12-game hitting streak with homers in 4 of his last 8 contests. 

[Ro Mueller]

The High-A Timber Rattlers have won 6 consecutive games and have rehabbing LHP Aaron Ashby starting tonight. INF Mike Boeve is absent from the lineup for a 3rd straight day. 

[wiguy94]

Logan Henderson just dominating a very overmatched Down East lineup. 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 SO.  Mudcats up 5-0 with Jesus Chirinos accounting for 4 of the 5 runs on a 3rd inning grand slam to RF

[Ro Mueller]

AAA Nashville have lost 5 of 6 games and look to LHP Eric Lauer (3.60 ERA with 32 Ks in last 20 IP) to turn things around. SS Cam Devanney has an 11-game hitting streak. 

[wiguy94]

Mudcats put another 2 runs on the board in the 4th with a Kay-Lan Nicasia single followed by Reidy Mercado and Gregory Barrios doubles. 7-0 after 4 innings. Henderson retires the side in order in the 5th with 2 strikeouts. His line is now 5 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO. The 9 strikeouts has tied a career high and with his pitch count at 67 through 5 innings he should have at least another inning to set a new career high in strikeouts.

[wiguy94]

Henderson does pick up the 10th strikeout but also gives up 3 singles resulting in earned run. The damage could have been more but Reidy Mercado threw a dart from CF to get the runner trying to go from 1st to 3rd on the third single of the inning.

I imagine that will be Henderson's final inning. Great start from him. 6 IP, 4 H (all singles), 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO.

[wiguy94]

Very bizarre play in Carolina. Juan Baez just his a "ground rule double" with the bases loaded on a line drive comebacker that bounced so hard off the pitcher that it shot into the Down East dugout. Can't say I have ever seen that before.

[Ro Mueller]

Heckuva start for RF Lamar Sparks: 2 homers and 4 RBIs in the first 2 innings.

Shuckers lead 5-0 in the 3rd inning.

[Ro Mueller]

In Aaron Ashby's first rehab outing, he throws just one inning: 18 pitches (9 strikes). After a ground out and two walks, he remembered he's facing High-A hitters and struck the next two batters out.

RHP Tyler Woessner (4.14 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 8.0 K/9 in 111 IP)  has come in the 2nd inning for long relief. Scoreless game between Wisconsin and Beloit thus far.

[Ro Mueller]

For Nashville, 1B Jesse Winker grounded into a double play to end the top of the 1st inning, then immediately exited the game.

With his 20-day rehab assignment ending tomorrow, that was likely either:

• His last plate appearance in the organization;
• His last plate appearance in the minors before a surprise reinstatement to the MLB roster on Sunday or Monday; OR
• A new injury which could extend his time on the MLB injured list

[Ro Mueller]

It was feast or famine for LHP Eric Lauer, who strikes out 8 Bulls in 4.2 innings pitched, but also conceded 3 home runs.

Sounds trail 3-2 in the 6th inning. They're missing key opportunities:

• 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position
• Tyler Black grounded out with the bases loaded to end the 3rd inning
• Monte Harrison was thrown out trying to steal 3rd base to end the 5th inning

[Ro Mueller]

The wheels fell off rather abruptly in Durham - 4 runs off Alex Claudio, 3 runs off Luis Contreras. Sounds trail 10-2...

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Kaleb "Bo" Bowman makes his first appearance for AA Biloxi since a July 8 injury, retiring 2 of 4 batters with Biloxi leading 5-2 in the bottom of the 6th inning. LHP Nick Bennett is coming in to hopefully get the third out in this frame.

[Ro Mueller]

They're 2/3rds of the way through Wisconsin's game in Beloit, with the good guys trailing 1-0. C Matt Wood leads off the 7th inning with a single.

[Ro Mueller]

3B Zavier Warren smacks a solo homer for a Biloxi insurance run (now up 6-2) and the Smokies manager gets ejected for the 2nd straight game. Keep it up Shuckers!

[Ro Mueller]

10 minutes ago, damuelle said:

They're 2/3rds of the way through Wisconsin's game in Beloit, with the good guys trailing 1-0. C Matt Wood leads off the 7th inning with a single.

And SS Eric Brown Jr. does more than just knock Wood home. He hits a clutch 3-run homer with 2 outs in the top of the 7th inning. That’s Brown’s 3rd hit of the game.

Wisconsin takes the lead 3-1! Win it!!!

[Joseph Zarr]

Thanks for all these updates, gents. Love reading through and getting up to speed.

[Joseph Zarr]

HUGE win by the Mudcats! They push their second half Division lead to 3.0 G over Lynchburg and 3.5 G over Fredericksburg. They take a 3-2 series lead. This 'could' be the series tune-up and test  before they potentially face these same Wood Ducks in the post-season. 7 regular season games remain!

[Joseph Zarr]

Wisconsin added another run in the 8th frame off a Matt Wood single to CF. They lead 5-1. And, in Quad Cities the Chiefs just grabbed two runs back from  the River Bandits. 7-6 QC as they are near completion of the 6th frame. IF the River Bandits can finally steal one the T-Rats would pull within 3.0 G. Tall ask but doable. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Also, of note, we haven't seen Mike Boeve play since his rough 3-4 game stretch (mentioned it in my report earlier this week but he was making lots of weak contact and topping balls and had a fairly bad error behind 2B). If I'm not mistaken he's been on the bench now for three straight? Hopefully he's working on his craft and isn't sidelined with an unreported injury.

[Joseph Zarr]

Middendorf gave up a two-out solo shot and then worked around a walk and single by getting the punch out. 6-3 Shuckers into the top of the 9th. Shuckers likely need to win this to stay tied with Montgomery. The Biscuits lead the woeful Barrons 4-2 in the 7th. 
 

Let's go out ahead and state the blatantly obvious:

The season-ending six-game homestand vs the co-leading Biscuits is large. Hopefully it is the Shuckers drenching the Biscuits in some homestand victory gravy!