Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/12): Jimenez and Nicasia Lead Affiliates to Two Wins on Mother’s Day

[Ro Mueller]

Edwin Jimenez delivered six shutout innings and Kay-Lan Nicasia powered Carolina’s offense in series-clinching wins. Nashville blew a late lead and Biloxi only produced one hit in defeat.

For the week, Wisconsin and Carolina each won their series 4 games to 2, while Nashville and Biloxi both ended their series in a 3-3 split.

Transactions:

• RHP Taylor Clarke sent on rehab assignment to AAA Nashville

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Durham 8, Nashville 7
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Fall in Durham on Mother's Day

Four home runs and a 7-3 lead after six innings weren’t enough for Nashville to grab a Sunday victory on the road, but the story wasn’t all bad here. Of particular note, 1B Tyler Black (2-for-4, double, walk, SB) returned to the lineup and the field after exiting Friday’s game early when he’d fouled a pitch off his foot.

LHP Aaron Ashby didn’t start the game, but was the long man of the day despite throwing on 4 days’ rest. All in all, this was a step in the right direction, limiting the opposition to 2 runs and 5 hits while recording 8 strikeouts against just 1 walk (and 1 HBP) over 5 encouraging innings.

Oh, that’s right, Ashby was sent out to attempt a 6th frame, which unsurprisingly (given the relatively short rest and general struggles before this game) went hard hit single, hard hit single, 4-pitch walk, mound visit, K, ultimately leaving after throwing 81 pitches (55 strikes).

RHP Ryan Middendorf was able to limit the damage in that 7th inning to just one run, but Durham had inched closer to 7-4. A frame later, RHP Blake Holub allowed 3 on and recorded 2 outs, giving way to LHP Darrell Thompson to face the lefty Brandon Lowe, who mashed a grooved slider 423 feet for the 8-7 advantage which would hold up.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Eight Sounds collected at least one hit, led by unsung C Nick Kahle (3-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs). 2B Owen Miller, center fielder Isaac Collins (1-for-3, HR, walk, RBI) and left fielder Noah Campbell (1-for-3, HR, walk, 2 RBIs) each homered as well.
• Other than a Black single and stolen base, the Sounds were unfortunately unable to get to Durham closer Joe Record, who’d come in with a 7.43 ERA and 2.25 WHIP. DH/OF Brewer Hicklen will wish he’d done better with a slider down the pipe, as he unfortunately got under it for the 2nd out.
• Per the game link above, MLB-rostered RHP Taylor Clarke (1 IP, 1 ER via homer) got the rehab start in his first game action since spring training. Acquired for two minor leaguers in the offseason, Clarke has minor league options remaining so may officially join the Sounds soon.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville stays on the road, this time headed to face Marlins’ affiliate Jacksonville, with RHP Tyler Woessner expected to get the series-opening start.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Montgomery 7, Biloxi 0
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shook Strikes Out Eight, Shuckers Fall in Finale to Biscuits

Unlike the Sounds’ notes above, this Sunday affair was mostly bad for our Biloxi squad, who registered more errors (2) than baserunners (1) and also failed to throw out any of six attempted basestealers.

But let me get to the three positives I took from this game:

• RHP TJ Shook, making his 3rd start in 11 days, allowed only an unearned run over 4 solid innings, striking out 8 while conceding 1 hit and 2 walks. Oh, forgive me, that’s right: he was sent out to attempt a 5th inning, which went walk, single, single, ultimately being charged with 2 earned runs.
• RHP Shane Smith had the longest relief outing of his career, doing what he could to limit the damage he’d inherited from Shook (a GIDP scored that 3rd run) and throwing 54 pitches overall (3 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks). This is clearly part of a concerted effort to see how Smith fares as a multi-inning guy, as he’s reached or exceeded 40 pitches in each of his last 3 appearances.
• RHP Nick Merkel bounced back from two rough outings to pitch a scoreless top of the 9th inning.

 

Shuckers’ Extras:

• As excited as we are about many players in the Shuckers’ lineup, the batting averages look miserable: 6 players sub-.200, 2 players in the .200-.250 range. Only 1B Mike Boeve (.341 AVG, .931 OPS – but 0-for-3 on this day like nearly every other Biloxi player) stands out as a consistent bat.
• Thankfully Biloxi’s sole baserunner came via a hit (a Justin Dirden single off old friend Evan Reifert in the 6th inning), so we’re not talking about a perfect game being thrown against them.
• Credit Montgomery starting LHP Ian Seymour (Ray’s #19 prospect) with the 5 perfect innings. I’ll also note that their 6 stolen bases came with C Andy Yerzy behind the dish for Biloxi.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi will take the 2.5-hour drive north to take on Braves’ affiliate Mississippi, with RHP Bradley Blalock (2.43 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 7.3 K/9 in 29 2/3 IP) most likely to be given the ball for the opening game.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 6, Quad Cities 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Beats Bandits 6-3 to Win Series

22-year old RHP Edwin Jimenez (6 IP, 0 R, 3 H – all singles, 0 BB, 7 Ks) delivered his 2nd shutout start of 2024 and most dominant performance since July 2023, leading Wisconsin to their Mother’s Day series-clinching victory. Are his 134 2/3 career High-A innings enough to trigger a move to AA Biloxi?

The Timber Rattlers’ offense came from a relatively surprising place, as number 9 hitting (and surprisingly DHing instead of catching) Ramon Rodriguez blasted his first 2 home runs of 2024: a 2-run shot in the 3rd inning for Wisconsin’s first runs and a solo shot in the 6th inning to extend the lead to 5-0.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Eight Wisconsin position players recorded hits, with each of Rodriguez, center fielder Luis Lara, 3B Jheremy Vargas and left fielder Terence Doston each collecting two. Vargas just turned 21 years old a few days ago, so it’s definitely worth continuing to track his progress.
• Having three players thrown out on the basepaths in the 1st inning will usually cost you (tagged out at 3rd base, caught stealing, picked off), but thankfully not this time out. Of course, Victor Estevez-managed clubs tend to be aggressive on the basepaths: they went 6-of-8 on stolen base attempts (including the pick-off). 2B Dylan O’Rae now has 17 SBs on the young season, with Lara close behind at 15.
• Each reliever conceded two hits in their one inning of work apiece, but Quad Cities never managed to get the potential game-tying run to the plate, despite doing a bit of damage against RHP Yerlin Rodriguez (1 IP, 2 ER).

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin returns home to battle Marlins’ affiliate Beloit, with 21-year old RHP Patricio Aquino (6.53 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 4.8 K/9 in 20 2/3 IP) scheduled for the start in Game One.

Final: Carolina 6, Fayetteville 5
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Hold On For Win Against Woodpeckers

World, meet RHP Blake Whiting, the greatest escape artist since Harry Houdini.

After bailing RHP Jeferson Figueroa out of a 2-on, nobody out situation while clinging to a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the 8th inning (fly out, walk – which created a force out opportunity), pop out, fly out), Whiting put himself in the most difficult of jams in the bottom of the 9th: HBP, single, HBP to load the bases with nobody out.

How did Whiting respond on the road on this Mother’s Day?: three consecutive Ks, two called, one swinging. Woo hoo!!

Who else helped Whiting get out of it to preserve the victory and series? Well, that would be C Blayberg Diaz in his only half-inning of work. Entering as a defensive substitute, Diaz corralled 4 pitches in the dirt (including 3 blocked strikes) to keep the Woodpeckers glued to the bases.

Hours before that 8th and 9th inning drama, RHP Josh Timmerman (4 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 4 BB, 1 HBP, 1 WP, 5 Ks) had put in a solid start, while right fielder Kay-Lan Nicasia (2-for-2, HR, triple, 2 walks, RBI) and left fielder Yhoswar Garcia (2-for-4, triple, 2 RBIs, SB) provided most of the offense.

 

 

Mudcats’ Extras:

• RHP KC Hunt had his first difficult outing of 2024, allowing his first earned run in his 17th inning of the season, ultimately conceding 3 runs while gutting out 2 2/3 innings.
• Figueroa’s a veteran in his 4th season of Low-A ball, so he’ll expect much better than his output on this day: HR, 3 walks, 1 K amongst 5 batters faced.
• C Victor Torres produced 2 hits and an RBI in his first start of 2024, before being pinch run for in the top of the 9th inning. 3B Miguel Briceno (2-for-4, double, RBI) also had another solid day to cap off a very productive week at the plate for him.

Next week’s outlook: Carolina stays on the road, headed one hour southeast of Zebulon to play Rangers’ affiliate Down East, with 18-year old Manuel Rodriguez (2.67 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 8.0 K/9 in 27 IP) most likely to take the hill for the opening game.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Operation Restore Momentum will see the Brewers host the Pirates Monday evening, before the ACL Brewers play even later against the ACL Cubs.

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[Joseph Zarr]

Kay-Lan Nicasia headliner?