Tue. 4/16 - Mudcats Hit The Road at 8-1; Others Commence Home Series

[Jim Goulart]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Tuesday, lineup updates, etc.

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

[Joseph Zarr]

• Our first look @ recently acquired (claimed off waivers via the Marlins) RHP Vladimir Gutierrez in a Nashville Sounds jersey tonight as he takes the hill for game 1 vs 10-5 Omaha - the Triple-A affiliate of the suddenly surging KC Royals; first place in the International League West. 
• LHP Nate Peterson will look to maintain his early season Double-A momentum for the Shuckers (5-4) as they take on the Reds Double-A affiliate Chattanooga Lookouts (3-5).
• And, RHP Patricio Aquino will look to build off his recent fantastic start at South Bend as the young Timber Rattlers (6-3) take on last year's Midwest League juggernaut Cedar Rapids Kernels (4-4). He'll be taking on Twins 2022 8th Rd pick, 23-year-old 6'5" RHP Zebby Mathews who is back for his second stint in the Midwest League. He went 5 scoreless, 8 K innings in his first start of 2024. 'Should' be an interesting contest!
• We don't know who is taking the hill for the upstart Mudcats, but, we do know manager Nick Stanley has his very young squad dealing quality of baseball well beyond the rosters' cumulative years:

[Ro Mueller]

Nashville hosts Royals’ affiliate Omaha this week, with 28-year old RHP Vladimir Gutierrez (2 scoreless IP in relief last week) making his first start since being claimed from the Marlins. The team welcomes INF Andruw Monasterio to AAA ball for more playing time. 

[Ro Mueller]

The High-A Timber Rattlers host Twins’ affiliate Cedar Rapids this week, with 20-year old RHP Patricio Aquino ready to repeat last week’s domination (5 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks). 3B Mike Boeve has 13 hits and 10 walks in 39 PAs. 

[Ro Mueller]

The AA Shuckers host Reds’ affiliate Chattanooga this week and 24-year old LHP Nate Peterson (4.2 shutout innings last week with 5 Ks) gets the opening game start. DH/UT Noah Campbell now leads the team in OPS (.847 in 24 PAs) as Biloxi aims for a 4th straight win.

[Ro Mueller]

Carolina has a 5-game winning streak and is in Augusta to take on the Braves’ Low-A affiliate. 18-year old Manuel Rodriguez (3 ER in 4 IP last week) makes his 2nd start and 1B Tayden Hall leads the league in OPS (1.249 in 31 PAs). 

[Ro Mueller]

They’ll have to play 2 tomorrow in Appleton. 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

30 minutes ago, damuelle said:

They’ll have to play 2 tomorrow in Appleton. 

 

Man, I am back in the Bizarro World of Rain Outs on my nights of reports. Come on nawwwwww!

[Joseph Zarr]

Baez shallow pop out to the LF grass to Augusta SS. Yophery grounds out sharply to 2B. Tayden Hall stays red hot hitting a sharp liner to RF for a single. Guilarte grounds out sharply to 3B where they take the easy out nabbing Hall at 2B. 

[Joseph Zarr]

RHP Manuel Rodriguez starts his evening with an 8 pitch K on a 90 mph heater with good run on the outer stripe for the swing and miss. He gets a pop out to 3B foul territory on 1 pitch for his second out. On a 2-2 pitch, Rodriguez grabs his 2nd K on an outer half sinker. A 1-2-3 inning and the Mudcats will bat again in the 2nd frame.

[Joseph Zarr]

C David Garcia just attempted a 3B side bunt single. BUT, it was too close to the mound. Garcia was trucking and may have more athleticism than we knew coming into this season.

[Joseph Zarr]

Nicasia really putting together a nice AB here in the 7-spot as the DH. Takes the count full. Fouls off two consecutive. Then looked like he clearly check swung successfully on a change up down and in AND both the 1B coach and manager Nick Stanley came out to complain about the missed call. That was a good AB and likely should have been a free pass. Regardless, Mudcats hitless and scoreless through two innings.

[Joseph Zarr]

3rd K for Rodriguez on an inside slider to get his first out in the 2nd frame. He is sitting 87-90 on his sinker with good depth and a very effective slider in the mix as his primary off-speed offering. 

[Joseph Zarr]

He gets the 2nd out with a broken bat flare to the shallow RF grass where old friend Jose Acosta successfully grabbed it with ease. He gets the 3rd out with a casual pop fly to CF and Yophery easily grabs it. Looking very sharp in every facet tonight for the young righty!

[Joseph Zarr]

Yhoswar Garcia singles to LF through the 3B/SS gap and then is nearly picked off 1B after standing on 2B and not seeing the 2B camped under the fly ball. On the very next batter, he's picked off 1B. Not a good way to follow up the Mudcats second hit of the evening. 0-0 into the bottom of the 3rd. Meanwhile Augusta gets their first knock - a single to RF - after Acosta failed to corral it sliding to his left. On the next pitch, a slider in the dirt, the same batter takes 2B easily.

[Joseph Zarr]

Augusta is on the board first with a double to the wall. Meanwhile Omaha just ripped a deep double over the wall in Right CF.

[Joseph Zarr]

Gutierrez hangs a dead center slider for an easy poke  to shallow left center and drives in the first run. Ugly pitch. Sounds trail 1-0. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Meanwhile, Monasterio and Young completely botch an absurdly high pop fly to shallow CF. 

THIS IS UGLY baseball early. Yuck.

[Joseph Zarr]

Facing ol' Brewers system legend, Cam Devanney and 25 pitches on his first inning count, Gutierrez drops a dime on the outer stripe for his 2nd out. Bases are juiced. 2 down. Gutierrez is struggling but Monasterio really let him down with that absurd high pop fly he let fall to the grass. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Guiterrez walks in his 2nd run on a full count near miss on the lower center part of the plate. His pitch count at 31, we see LHP Nick Bennett warming up in the Pen. Just an ugly ugly first frame for the Sounds - sloppy baseball. New pitcher scuffling.

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, just like that Omaha gets 2 more runs on a sinking line drive single to LF 4-0. BUT, the Sounds get the relay at the plate for the third out. Mercifully, Gutierrez's ugly first inning of work with the Brewers ends with his pitch count already mid 30's. Yikes. His heater was sitting 92-93 mph. Enitrely too many pitches seeing the meat of the plate.

[Joseph Zarr]

Gutierrez starts his se cond frame like he endured his first: a blast to the RF wall for a one hop double. He is hanging em and getting hit hard and when he isn't he's missing or his fielders are letting him down it would appear. An inauspicious beginning for the righty.

[markedman5]

I think we know where a 40 man spot can come from when needed…….Guitierezz stinks

[markedman5]

Black just homered……but we need some starting pitching to step up …..they are going to be needed

[Joseph Zarr]

Hall just hit a single up the middle. Men on 1st and 2nd nobody down. Mudcats pull within 7-4. Rally cap is on.