Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/29): T-Rats Walk-Off Tin Caps Again; Mudcats Rally and Steal One Late AGAIN Behind a Castillo Grand Salami

[Joseph Zarr]

For the second consecutive game, this time mid-day, the T-Rats won it in walk-off fashion. Today's win even more improbable than yesterday's 'W'. The Mudcats lost their 3-0 lead early when RHP Daniel Corniel uncharacteristically lost his stuff. It ultimately didn't matter as OF Luis Castillo clearly had other plans. The Shuckers? Don't even get me started - they wasted a sublime start by up-and-coming RHP Shane Smith in a 1-0 loss to Pensacola (their eighth straight loss at their home ballpark). The Sounds got a yeoman's effort from really a not all that sharp RHP Chad Patrick. But he more than did enough as his offense gave him plenty of runs to work with. And, in the desert, RHP Melvin Hernandez keeps on coming strong. Let's get into the report!

Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic

Transactions:

• The Biloxi Shuckers placed RHP Sam Gardner on the 7-Day IL
• The ACL Brewers placed LHP Bjorn Johnson on the 7-Day IL

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Final: Nashville , Memphis (Cardinals) 

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):

Collins, Black Homer as Sounds Beat Memphis 9-4 - Nashville Tallies 14 Hits in Victory

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes

It was a testament to RHP Chad Patrick that he gave his team a quality start when all was said and done - his fifth in his past seven outings. And, unfortunately, sometimes the prescribed baseball term given does not describe the actual game pitched. Patrick was far from 'quality' in this one - he was inaccurate often and simply not that sharp. But, it's a credit to his overall make-up as a player that he was able to fight through it all and give his team and manager Rick Sweet six full innings. He's been really good of late but the Redbirds certainly seem to give him problems (this wasn't his first tough outing vs these pesky Cardinal kin). When all was said and done, Patrick managed 6 IP of 7 H, 4 BB, 1 K, 3 ER ball. He left the game after 93 pitches. If these are Patrick's tough outings? We're going to be doing just fine moving ahead.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) 3B Patrick Dorrian hit a ball and it landed before it found a glove - his 0-for-42 skid ended!! And, he hit it hard to the wall in right field. Let us all rejoice! Maybe this stroke of goodness will help turn things around. He also made a fantastic diving stab of a hard-hit liner to the hole when the game was very much still in question. He then rescued RHP James Meeker who was really struggling in his first inning of relief work by stabbing another absolutely crushed liner to third base with two men on in the eighth frame. I'm going to shine a light here in hopes the very talented young man can turn the corner from what has been a very very rough early going.

2) It was fantastic to see both 1B Tyler Black and LF Isaac Collins have such impactful days at the dish. Both crushed long balls over the right field wall. Both had multiple hits on the evening. 

Always lovely to see a mostly empty and quiet Cardinals org ball park. In general, both talented young men caused problems in the batters box. Collins, in particular, had a chance at the cycle in the eighth frame but he popped up and saw that opportunity fizzle. He'll take the 17-game on base streak and the 3-for-4 night with a smile. With Brewer Hicklen on the 7-Day IL, the Sounds are definitely going to need Collins and Black to have more nights like this if they want to continue moving further past the 0.500 mark.

3) I can tell you about the fine relief work of LHP's Darrell Thompson and Nick Bennett or the rough outing for RHP James Meeker in his sole inning, but take my word for it: the box score tells the story here. Instead, I'm going to congratulate Sounds announcer Jeff Hem. That's right. Hem caught a foul ball smoked to the press box. The Redbirds announcer was extremely surprised and shouting praises. Mr. Hem was showcasing his trophy ball aloft for the crowd and press boxes to see. It was a fun moment! 

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Final: Pensacola (Marlins) 1, Biloxi 0

Smith Stars with Career-Best Start, Shuckers Drop Game to Blue Wahoos - Shuckers Shut Out for Second Consecutive Night

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes

Zero runs scored in their 4-0 series opening loss. Zero runs scored in their game 2 snoozer. These Shuckers bats are, ummm, something. RHP Shane Smith deserved so much more. Through 2 1/3 IP, for crying out loud, he had given his team all the momentum in the world: 6 punch outs. All told, his transition to stretching out as a starter continues to evolve and it continues to impress. I sense very big things ahead in Smith's future and I sure hope we Brewers fans are the beneficiaries. That AFL slider development and evolution has really changed his outlook - once a high-leverage reliever prospect now we are wondering if we have a legitimate starting Ace up the sleeve in Double-A. A fun thought exercise!

*I'd share a RHP Shane Smith highlight for you here but I'm not going to invite you to grab a pair of binoculars. There are some for your viewing 'pleasure' on the Shuckers twitter page HERE*

One Single Remark:

When a team is struggling like this Shuckers team is struggling, they need that spark from somewhere. Anywhere. And, I would politely opine the manager can possibly find that spark. Or, the manager can come across grasping for straws. C Darrien Miller in clean-up? The massively struggling Eric Brown Jr. protecting your 0.202 hitting catcher as your primary RBI man? I can think of roughly 5-10 ways to tinker with the epically slumping Shuckers offense, and, I can avow to you dear readers: not a single one involves this concoction. Elements of the coaching staff certainly seem to be deep in this rut trying to desperately claw their ways out with the players. I can only imagine what 2024-promoted hitting coach JJ Reimer is going through during this first half. I've said it before and I'll say it again: the only ones who can get out of this cellar are in that Shuckers dugout.   

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Final: Wisconsin 4, Fort Wayne (Padres) 3

Wisconsin Rallies for Another Walkoff Win to Extend Division Lead - Rodriguez Drives in Game Winner in Tenth

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

What a way to finish as the feature MiLB.TV free 'Game of the Day'. A second consecutive walk-off? Extending the division lead to 1.5 G over perennial playoff contender Cedar Rapids? Hey! The T-Rats haven't been in the post-season since 2016. 19 games remain. Let's GO!

LHP Tate Kuehner was not as sharp as he has been in recent starts. But like RHP Chad Patrick in Memphis, Kuehner's greater body of work in recent outings paved the way for the young lefty to grind his way through four complete innings. Kuehner needed all 91 pitches to persevere - 4 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 4 K, 2 ER. Obviously, the Tin Caps are going to look at the opportunities missed throughout these four frames and their 2-for-18 with RISP overall. 

Full Game Highlights:

Post-Game Pod:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) RHP Chase Costello: quality unsung reliever. I certainly don't discuss Costello enough but let me remedy that situation right now. Coming on in the top of the tenth frame after a mammoth game-tying OF Equarqui Fernandez at-bat in the bottom of the ninth (more below) and striking out the side? That's the type of outing that can propel you into a new state of confidence and effectiveness. 

2) I highlighted RHP Craig Yoho's impeccable escape work in the crucial middle innings in yesterday's game. Today, I'm going to highlight the fantastic work of unsung RHP Aaron Rund. He came on with trouble on the base paths to spell Kuehner in the fifth inning. He allowed one inherited runner to score but he induced severely weak contact - a couple bad luck bounces and an extremely fast base runner prevented the inning from ending further unscathed.

3) OF Eduarqui Fernandez may have been in the midst of an 0-for-20 slump but it's important to note: he's deserved much better. He's continued to hit the ball very very hard despite the classic baseball results. It was a matter of time. And, boy, what an occasion to re-announce your presence as a bat to reckon with in the T-Rats line-up. Take a look:

This is a player who looks night and day better than he did in 2023 - physically he's filling out and the smoothness and fluidity we're seeing speaks to a maturation process. There's a lot of talent in Fernandez's bag and I have a nagging suspicion he is only just starting to tap into how good he can ultimately be.

** Special Note: In the post-game pod, Kyle Lobner mentions OF Luis Lara's hand laceration is taking longer to heal than they had originally anticipated. They will revisit his healing process next week. There is no current update on the status of RHP Edwin Jimenez.

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Final: Carolina 10, Delmarva (Orioles) 8

Mudcats Storm Back to Stun Shorebirds - Mudcats Maintain 1.0 G Lead on Fredericksburg

Box Score / Game Log  

For the second consecutive game of this six-game home stand, the Mudcats came back from a four run deficit. And, my oh my, these comebacks have had all that sizzle and plenty of steak. RHP Daniel Corniel was looking quite steady and classic 2024 Corniel and, well, then the third inning happened. Corniel suddenly lost all ability to locate his slider despite earning favorable counts. The Delmarva batters saw this and, as a result, he wasn't getting any chases. His 0-2 approach became entirely predictable and hitters could sit back on his heat. Like this grand slam - a pitch and a result that ultimately drove him from the game:

 

He'll look to rebound his next time on the hill. He's earned the benefit of the doubt given his advanced season to date given his age.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Let's get to the fireworks. My oh my. A 3-0 green light? OF Luis Castillo - the 2024 Mudcats long ball leader - did not miss. A real cannon shot over the wall in right field:

What. A. Moment. I watched it live and, man, these are the moments that bring you back every night.

2) The bad news: 3B Juan Baez looked to have seriously injured his right shoulder during a successful Shorebirds double steal. The camera work did not get to the play in time to tell what exactly happened. Suffice it to say, Baez was knocked to his back in some capacity after the Shorebirds runner appeared to have slid head first into the third base bag. Baez was writhing in pain on the grass in foul territory in obvious pain. He was removed from the game, after several minutes, on a Gator. He appeared in the dugout later in the game with his right arm in a sling. We absolutely hope for the best for this talented and entertaining spark plug. Truthfully, I'm quite worried. This is the home stretch of a playoff push!

** For those with subscriptions: 2:00:31 on the replay

 3) There are a lot of things to discuss within the box score and within the game at large - heck, I watched every pitch and every inning. However, I'm simply going to discuss the truly fine season and resurgence we are seeing from intriguing contact specialist OF Yhoswar Garcia. He is showing things in the batters box and on the outfield grass that demonstrate he has potentially found a new gear wearing a Mudcats jersey. I, for one, did not anticipate his consistently very professional AB's. Tonight, he also made a dazzling sliding catch in left field for good measure - it was a real beauty. Garcia's imprint was subtly all over this victory. Because he's unassuming and his power numbers don't pop whatsoever , despite his 0.336 BA and his 23 SB in 125 AB, he somehow goes unnoticed. I implore you to start paying attention. This young man absolutely has game.

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ACL Brewers 7, ACL Angels 2
Box Score / Game Log

The ACL Crew bounced back behing <GULP> strong pitching across the board. You don't hear that all too often in 2024. Let's enjoy the evening! RHP Melvin Hernandez continues to show improving stateside results. Two walks to open his fourth and final inning saw him pulled early but from my vantage point 13 K over his past 7 IP is what really sticks out. He is 17 years old for a little over a month. Let that sink in. RHP Dikember Sanchez fired 5 K over 2 2/3 IP elevating his season totals to 19 K in just 9 2/3 IP in relief. His arrow is pointing up after his opening stinker versus the Dodgers back on May 4th. Plenty of eye candy in the offensive box, as well, in the Crew's 11 hit effort. If I were you, I would shift my eyes to the bottom of the order where DH Edgardo Ordonez, C Eric Martinez, and OF Ramon Moreno went a combined 7-for-11 with 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, and 1 SB. The Crew moved to 8-11 overall - 4 GB the first place tied ACL Reds and ACL Dodgers.

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That's a wrap for my weekly reporting as I hand our dedicated coverage back to Daniel and Jim. Tomorrow, we'll be back to an all evening slate - every team playing. RHP Bishop Letson, RHP Will Rudy, RHP Jacob Misiorowski, and RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez will all take the hill for the affiliates. Let's hope the Maryvale Crew can feast on the lowly ACL Athletics (5-13) and give us a second consecutive solid pitching performance.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Milwaukee Brewers Minor League baseball and the many players deserving of our time and recognition. 

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[Joseph Zarr]

Hey now! We have CF camera views of RHP Shane Smith's career-best start. Hammer curve absolutely still crushes. Slider a nice wrinkle and impactful. Mid 90's heat playing all over the zone. I keep imagining a future where Smithy brings a change-up. I'm greedy after seeing this clip: