Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/1): Mudcats Win Pitching Duel in Extras; Affiliates Split the Day 2-2

[Joseph Zarr]

The Mudcats and Fireflies bats combined for 35 strikeouts (not a misprint) after 12 innings. BUT, the good guys won! The Shuckers took a 4-1 lead early and managed to hold on and take game one 5-3 (last night's game was postponed, remember). Meanwhile, the T-Rats fell behind early and couldn't quite claw their way to victory though they made a truly valiant comeback effort. And, after LHP Aaron Ashby held the Tides to one run, RHP Blake Holub sadly struggled once again and put the Sounds in a deficit they would not recover from. Let's get into the report!

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

 Transactions: 

• RHP Abner Uribe was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers

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Final: Norfolk (Orioles) 7, Sounds 3 

Via the Sounds' website, please be sure to click and read each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine (believe me, it's worth it):

Tough Sixth Inning Costs Sounds in Loss to Tides - Vinny Capra Tags 3 Hits, Leadoff Triple in 7-3 Loss

Box Score / Game Log

LHP Aaron Ashby continues to struggle with location inning-to-inning but I am seeing progress as he learns how to pitch with his new arm. He faced a Norfolk lineup the Sounds greater pitching staff continues to struggle with and absolutely had them off balance his entire outing. Sure, there were four free passes and a hit batter - the mystery of the inning-to-inning experience. But, make no mistake about it: his mix of off-speed had the Tides' batters absolutely befuddled the majority of his outing. 5 IP, 2 H, 1 HB, 4 BB, 6 K, 1 ER. We can absolutely work with this. The trick is, obviously, can he carry this over to his next trip to the bump? We know he currently sits 92-93 mph. Maybe he touches 95 mph on occasion. But, the off-speed plays throughout. I'll personally look for more zone consistency as he moves forward. 

Three Quick Strikes:

1) I said it the last report I watched RHP Blake Holub pitch. I'm going to say it again this report after watching him pitch for the fourth time in 2024: I currently just don't see it. And, with four more earned runs tonight - lots of the same very hittable flat four seam pitches in favorable pitcher counts - his ERA on the season is now above 13.00. This was a very winnable 1-1 ball game when Holub came aboard. That changed in a hurry. He has now allowed 13 earned runs in his past four outings spanning a mere 3 1/3 IP. A demotion to Double-A may be in store so he can rediscover his confidence and location on the bump.

2) Goodness gracious the season-long INF Patrick Dorrian slump trudges on. 0-for-4. Three punch outs. Season BA at a robust 0.098. OPS at 0.459. It's no secret, I've been a fan of Dorrian's overall game since he arrived in Nashville. He's never had a slump this early in this season this profoundly rife with no impact. Given the promotions and thin roster overall, he's going to have to keep grinding and hope he can find his way out of this one.

3) Tip of the cap to INF Vinny Capra who had his best offensive performance as a Sound- he even led off the contest with a triple off the right field wall leading to an early 1-0 Sounds lead. 

He also made a nice snag on the shallow right field grass. IF he could play like this more consistently, we'd consider ourselves lucky we found a right-handed Eddy Alvarez. Let's hope he gets there - Alvarez was fantastic for the Sounds during his 2023 stint.

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Final: Biloxi 5, Tennessee (Cubs) 3

Shuckers Win Series Opener, 5-3, Behind Record-Tying Night from Rodriguez - Rodriguez Ties Franchise Record with Five Hits

Pre-Game Media Notes 

Box Score / Game Log

RHP Bradley Blalock continues to show he is fit and ready for Double-A ball in 2024. He isn't striking out a ton of hitters - and, honestly, I don't quite see the polish of absolute surefire strikeout pitches. None the less, he is extremely impactful in and around the zone on a consistent inning-to-inning basis. I'd love to see a touch more movement or deception on all his offerings. But, as is, I'm certainly not going to complain about his effectiveness. Tonight, he managed 76 pitches (46 strikes) through four complete innings - 4 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 3 K (18 K in 24 IP to date). He may have cut it short at four innings but he gave his team everything they needed to carry on to a victory.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) All it takes after a mere month of baseball is a 5-for-5 outing to help your offensive numbers come across respectably. Like many of his teammates, Carlos D. Rodriguez has been slumping throughout the early going. But, tonight, he was not only 5-for-5 but he also hit a pivotal two-run line drive single early in the game to take the lead in the third frame after the Smokies had taken a 1-0 lead themselves a mere half inning before. It was a huge moment. Props to Cargo for a huge night. I still contend he's a lead-off hitter but it won't matter where manager Joe Ayrault puts him if he continues to have nights like this.

2) RHP Shane Smith certainly isn't having quite the early 2024 he envisioned - he is prone to losing his zonal accuracy and is paying for it on nearly every occasion. But, this doesn't mean he isn't also continuing to mow hitters down. After six more punch outs in his 3 IP tonight, he is now sporting a robust 20 K over 11 IP. The high-leverage impact pitcher is absolutely still in there. It certainly appears to be a matter of avoiding those brief lapses that are resulting in hard hit innings.

3) Ernesto Martinez Jr. killed a baseball into the trees beyond the right field wall in his 2-for-4 bounce back evening. He continues to hit balls harder than most Brewers prospects when he unleashes cleanly on a ball. Let us all enjoy a moment of revelry, and a subtle but manly bat flip, in a much-needed game one Shuckers victory:

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Final: Great Lakes (Dodgers) 9, Wisconsin 8

Rattlers Rally Falls Just Short in 9-8 Loss to Great Lakes - Wisconsin Trailed 8-0 Before Storming Back

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

Full Game Highlights:

Post-Game Podcast:

One thing is very true in the early part of this ongoing series with the Great Lakes Loons: It is INF Noah Miller's world and the Timber Rattlers are living in it. The young man (apparently, Owen Miller's brother) continues to mash and beleaguer the T-Rats pitching staff. RHP Patricio Aquino scuffled for the second consecutive outing as he merely made it through 3 2/3 IP while allowing 5 ER on 5 H, 2 BB, 2 K, and 2 HR. It was a struggle and it has been a struggle (just watch the highlights above and you will see the Loons were hitting Aquino very hard). We all know the capacity to have shutdown innings is there but he has to be more precise to achieve those results. Let's hope he can turn it around and avoid a prolonged slump.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) I'm not going to lie, and the game thread reveals this truth: I left this one early after watching one T-Rats defender after the next misread or misplay balls in the swirling winds at lovely Fox Cities Stadium. It was ugly. I was frustrated as a fan. I would like to think my departure aided the near comeback victory. What's more, one of my favorite unsung players OF Terence Doston hit a solo jack to pull within one run late. I did my part. We came up short.

2) LHP Mark Manfredi continues to state his case he is a force to be reckoned with in High-A. It seems every outing he is impacting the game in serious ways. He'll want the home run back (INF Noah Miller's third long ball in just two games in the series) but he continues to mow batters down on the regular. That's now 28 K in a 15 2/3 IP in 2024. He joins the RHP Sam Gardner Aussie strikeout race! If you know, you know.

3) Speaking of Doston, let's put him in the spotlight:

 

I said this throughout 2023, and I'm going to say it again here: despite his limitations and despite his likely low ceiling, Doston simply finds ways to impacts games in positive ways nearly every opportunity he receives. He plays within himself. He rarely chases pitches. He remains a plus on the Timber Rattlers roster. It was lovely to go back and review the later innings to witness Doston's moments of impact. 

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 Final: Carolina 2, Columbia (Royals) 1

Walk-Off Hit Lifts Mudcats Past Fireflies 

Box Score / Game Log

What a battle. What a pitching showcase. Each team's batters routinely looked overmatched inning-to-inning. For the Mudcats, and their 19 strikeouts (!!) it was largely their inability to stay disciplined on off-speed pitches sinking below the zone. I saw one too many swinging whiffs in the dirt. However, not to be out-dueled, 18-year-old RHP Daniel Corniel rose to the occasion: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 7 K. How about these young Mudcats starters? Incredible debut seasons across the board by these young men.

1) The game went into the twelfth and it certainly looked like RHP Jeison Pena lost the lead. But, then we witnessed the incredible plays by both CF Yophery Rodriguez and C David García. Lost in the Rodriguez celebration here (and, rightfully so) is the incredible catch and tag while managing to keep the ball in his glove by García:

 

I've said it all year long: the Mudcats continue to make winning plays in big moments. Even tonight, with the futility at the dish, these young men battled and found a way.

2) I guess this is my weekly RHP K.C. Hunt declaration post: he just absolutely continues to dominate and he continues to absolutely look the part while doing it. High-A: it is time. 3 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 5 K. He has yet to concede a run in his 14 plus innings pitched. He has all the tools fit for a promotion. I also contend: he has all the tools to be stretched out. His change-up, in particular, was just filthy and dominating hitters in favorable pitcher counts. 

3) If I am going to celebrate and push attention toward OF Kay-Lan Nicasia, I am also going to share when he endures a struggle. 0-for-4 with 4 K at the dish while consistently struggling with check swings and then consistently swinging and missing for strike three. It is rumored he was seen leaving the ballpark wearing a golden sombrero. I can not confirm.

** Special Shout Out to RHP Bayden Root who gave his teammates two crucial extra innings of scoreless work. To say his innings were crucial is an understatement. Shout out to the free agents who continue to impact Brewers Minor League baseball games at large**

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We will be back for an all evening slate of Brewers games tomorrow night. RHP TJ Shook and LHP Nate Peterson will take the bump as the Shuckers make-up Tuesday's postponement in a Thursday double header. As of the time of publish, we do not know who will take the hill for Carolina or Nashville. RHP Will Rudy will try and help the Timber Rattlers prevent a Loons double digit win streak.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Milwaukee Brewers Minor League baseball and the many players deserving of our time and recognition. I now pass the baton to Daniel and Jim for the remainder of these ongoing series.

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[Jim Goulart]

VIDEO: Carlos D. Rodriguez' five-hit night for Biloxi