Sun. 9/3 - Final Mudcats Home Game Until (Hopefully) the Postseason

[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]

Low-A Carolina can clinch a 4-2 home series win over Down East with a victory today. RHP Will Childers (6.17 ERA in 54 IP) gets the start. 19-year old CF Dylan O’Rae and his 32-game on-base streak are back in the lineup. 

[Ro Mueller]

AA Biloxi seeks to complete a 6-game road sweep of Tennessee, with RHP Tobias Myers ready to replicate his Tuesday output (6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 7 Ks). CF Jackson Chourio’s hitting streak is 13 games, while INF/OF Isaac Collins apparently remains unavailable. 

[Ro Mueller]

High-A Wisconsin can also complete a 6-game road sweep of Beloit with a win today, as RHP Edwin Jimenez (4.15 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 8.6 K/9 in 108.1 IP) makes his 6th straight Sunday start. 3B Brock Wilken has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games. 

[Ro Mueller]

3B Josh Donaldson joins the AAA Nashville lineup, as they look for a win to salvage a 2-4 series loss at Durham. RHP Janson Junk (4.29 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 5.9 K/9 in 115.1 IP) pitches his 23rd game. 

[wiguy94]

Carolina has their work cut out for them today facing Brock Porter. He's dominated in A ball all year.

[Ro Mueller]

Josh Donaldson watched all 6 pitches in his first plate appearance. Then Keston Hiura watched all 5 in his own PA. Both walked, but the Sounds didn’t score.

Trailing 2-0 already headed to 2nd inning.

[Ro Mueller]

Dylan O’Rae has 2 hits through 3 innings, the second of which drives in Tayden Hall for the first run of the game.

Carolina 1, Down East 0, now in the 4th inning.

[Ro Mueller]

Payton Henry, Chris Roller and Monte Harrison had consecutive hits to knot Nashville’s game 2-2.

In their second time through, Josh Donaldson fouled off a pitch and popped out to first. Keston Hiura swung at the first pitch and grounded out. 

[Joseph Zarr]

1 hour ago, damuelle said:

Josh Donaldson watched all 6 pitches in his first plate appearance. Then Keston Hiura watched all 5 in his own PA. Both walked, but the Sounds didn’t score.

Trailing 2-0 already headed to 2nd inning.

I guess, given Donaldson's historically woeful BABIP, one strategy is don't swing.

[Joseph Zarr]

The Mudcats lost their 1-0 lead when they conceded a 2-spot in the top of the 5th.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the 6th, they put up a 5-spot of their own! They lead 6-2 in the top of the 7th.

The big hits were a Sibrian two-bagger, a Baez sac fly, and a two out Nicasia three-bagger. 

[Joseph Zarr]

How about a first inning Ernesto Martinez grand salami to get things going in the 6th and closing game at Tennessee?!?

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Sounds lost the tie and are trailing 4-2 late.  

RHP Edwin Jimenez finds himself in trouble early at Beloit. 1-0 Sky Carp and they have the bases juiced with only one down here early.

[Joseph Zarr]

Wow, Jimenez escaped that third inning bases loaded jam! After a mound visit he got the DP ball in a classic 6-4-3. Huge huge play.

A Joe Gray Jr. single sent Brock Wilken across home plate in the top of the 4th. We are now tied 1-1 as we head to the top of the 5th frame. Other than that troubled 3rd, Jimenez has been dealing: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 ER.

[Jake McKibbin]

Wilken 3-3 having hit a two run bomb. Good lord he's on one

[Ro Mueller]

1 minute ago, Jake McKibbin said:

Wilken 3-3 having hit a two run bomb. Good lord he's on one

He’s hitting for a much higher average than I’d expected given all the talk about power, power, power at draft time.

[Jake McKibbin]

6 minutes ago, damuelle said:

He’s hitting for a much higher average than I’d expected given all the talk about power, power, power at draft time.

I noticed the same, a little less power so far than expected too in terms of results, though he hits it like a bullet

[wiguy94]

13 minutes ago, damuelle said:

He’s hitting for a much higher average than I’d expected given all the talk about power, power, power at draft time.

One of my favorite prospect twitter follows who just finished up working with the Cubs this summer has Wilken 51 on his Top 100. The good contact doesn't seem as surprising when you find out his swing is a bit on the flat side. Pretty glowing review. I have a feeling Wilken gets to finish the year at AA after Wisconsin's season is over next week.

[Joseph Zarr]

Love it. AND, I would add the more surprising thing for me is how good he is defensively. His side-to-side diving range is likely limited but man he has an absolute cannon. And, it's accurate. He can make those charging scoop throws look easy. Anything within his range on the bounce is typically scarfed up with another accurate throw. He can ensure the corral because his arm is so good. Very good receiving the ball in the basepaths too. It may seem silly, but, it's big time when you know the tag is getting laid. I think we have to be extremely pleased with what we're seeing. He has MLB player written all over his game. Exit Velo's consistently sitting 104-106 mph on his liners.

[Joseph Zarr]

Lara just added a key insurance run in the 8th (5-2 T-Rats) with a base hit infield grounder to the 1B side. Big time. AND, the Sky Carp have seen enough Brock Wilken.They just intentionally walked him with two down to put Lara at 2B. They did this to face suddenly hot Hendry Mendez who came into the AB 2-for-4. He singles on a liner to CF. It's 6-2. Beautiful to see Mendez punish them for that decision!

[Joseph Zarr]

HUGE props to RHP Tobias Myers who gave his Shuckers teammates two very quality starts in this key road series at Tennessee. He went 7 complete innings today. His second start of the series. 7 H, 1 BB, 7 K, 3 ER. His team leads 5-3 as the ball is handed to RHP James Meeker who will look to give his best stuff as they Shuckers continue to try and keep pace with red hot Montgomery. What a closing series in Biloxi this is turning out to be. Head-to-head with your top foe is the way a season should close out. 

As to Myers, how about K'ng the side to end his day? Sheesh. Little bit of showmanship toward that Smokies dugout? Can you blame him?

 

 

This just in, as well, Myers became the first SP in the Southern League to reach 150 K. Noice!

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Well, Meeker suffers from the classic absolute dribbler to 3B for an infield single lead-off (I swear I've seen that 100 times this season versus the affiliates) and then the batter steals 2B and he heads to 3B when Quero airmails the throw. Not good. Lead-off man on 3B. No outs. 5-3 Shuckers.

[Joseph Zarr]

Because he's James f'n Meeker that's why! He gets the ground out to 1B. He then K's two straight. He strands the man at 3B. Because he's James f'n Meeker that's why! 

[Joseph Zarr]

AND Chourio adds the two-rbi single to CF after Ethan Murray had successfully laid down the sac bunt to advance the runners. <Chef's Kiss>

The Shuckers lead 7-3 and have the chance to close this series out with a 6-0 sweep of the Smokies. Unreal.

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Cam Robinson works around a lead-off come backer deflection single (off his glove) and another poke to CF - men on 1B and 2B by getting a pop out and 2 K (the last one looking in a 3-2 count). AND, the Shuckers sweep the Smokies. Wow.

They are currently tied atop the second half leaderboard with Montgomery set to close their series with Birmingham. 

Once again, the Shuckers face the Biscuits over the final 6 games at Home. Get out early and often Shuckers fans. Let's support these young men and help get them across the finish line!