Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/16): Timber Ratters Clinch Title. Carolina’s Magic Number is One

[Ro Mueller]

Alexander Cornielle threw 4 shutout innings in Wisconsin’s clincher. Yophery Rodriguez was clutch in Carolina’s tight win. Nashville’s offense disappeared after the 1st inning and Biloxi was rained out.

Image courtesy of Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

For the week, Wisconsin (4-2) captured its series and Carolina earned a 3-3 split, while Biloxi (2-3) and Nashville (1-5) both ended up on the short end.

Happy Fathers’ Day to all readers!

Transactions:

• RHP Alexander Cornielle activated by High-A Wisconsin from 7-day injured list

In related news, SS Eric Brown Jr. did not need an injury placement despite leaving Friday's game early, as he returned the the Biloxi starting lineup (though they were ultimately rained out on Sunday). Also @ARobsBrewCrew gave us insider updates on Eric Bitonti, Juan Baez and Jason Woodward as only he can.

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Gwinnett 5, Nashville 4
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 Give Up Early Lead and Lose Series Finale at Gwinnett

Handed a 4-0 advantage before throwing a pitch, rehabbing starting LHP DL Hall retired 6 of 7 batters faced, issuing one walk and striking out one hitter as his velocity peaked at 93.9mph.

This was the 4th straight outing that opposing starter Taylor Widener was shelled (3 hits, 3 walks, 1 HBP amongst 8 batters faced), exiting with Nashville leading 4-0 with the bases loaded and 1 out in the 1st inning. However, Patrick Dorrian and Garrett Mitchell both K’d to strand the runners, which loomed large as Gwinnett chipped away against LHP Aaron Ashby (3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 8 H, 3 BB, 1 WP, 4 Ks) thereafter.

In his first game back since being optioned, designated for assignment and outrighted, RHP James Meeker was handed a tricky situation with the game tied 4-4, 2-on and nobody out in the bottom of the 6th inning, yet nearly escaped: K, fly out, 0-2 count fastball to Yuli Gurriel wasn’t quite high enough:

 

Nashville sent the minimum number of hitters to the plate (12) from the 6th through the 9th innings.

Sounds’ Extras:

• 1B Tyler Black (1-for-3, double, walk, SB) and DH Wes Clarke (1-for-3, double, walk, 2 RBIs) both doubled in the solid start to the game.
• Right fielder Brewer Hicklen reached base 3 times (infield single, 2 walks), while left fielder Chris Roller had a bloop hit fall in to register 2 RBIs. Rehabbing center fielder Garrett Mitchell went 0-for-5.
• Three of the Sounds’ five losses this week were by a sole run, as they lost their first series since early May.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville returns home to face Rays’ affiliate Durham, with either RHP Taylor Clarke or RHP Garrett Stallings likely to be the starter on Tuesday.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Rained out: Biloxi vs. Tennessee

Via the Shuckers’ website, rainout details: Shuckers, Smokies Canceled on Sunday at Keesler Federal Park

Tennessee entered Sunday trailing Birmingham by 3.5 games for the first half title, so will likely be disappointed at this rainout. However, Birmingham dropped a doubleheader so the battle continues into next week.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi faces a nearly 6-hour drive to the Huntsville suburbs to face Angels’ affiliate Rocket City. Although a Tuesday starter has not yet been announced, RHP Shane Smith (3.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 12.3 K/9 in 38 2/3 IP) is the logical choice after having this Sunday start scrapped.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 8, West Michigan 5
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Rattlers Clinch Division Title with 8-5 Win over West Michigan

Needing only a win or a Cedar Rapids loss to clinch the first half Midwest League West title, Wisconsin was sitting pretty up 8-0 through 4 innings behind injury-returnee RHP Alexander Cornielle (4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks – exited after 46 pitches) before things got a bit hairy.

Hitting just .194 over his past 126 plate appearances (plagued by a .217 BABIP in that stretch), C Matt Wood (4-for-5, 3 RBIs) started the 6-run 2nd inning with a single and left fielder Jheremy Vargas (1-for-4, HR, walk, 3 RBIs) delivered the key 3-run homer.

This was the 3rd time in 2024 that June 16th birthday boy (25) RHP Aaron Rund has topped 50 pitches, doing exceptionally well to keep the Whitecaps at bay (3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 Ks) before handing over to RHP Bayden Root to close it out.

Root recorded his first save at the High-A level in his second opportunity and is now 7 of 8 in converting save opportunities this year (including 6-for-6 at Low-A Carolina before promotion).

 

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• LHP Brian Fitzpatrick (2/3 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K) had an uncharacteristically poor outing in relief of Cornielle, conceding a 2-run homer before throwing 10 of 11 pitches for balls and allowing an RBI double. He’s been solid all season, so will expect to bounce back next week.
• Every starter in the Rattlers’ lineup reached base at least twice via hit or walk, except typical on-base machine 2B Dylan O’Rae (unlucky to be 0-for-6 with no Ks). Each of SS Gregory Barrios, 3B Luke Adams and 3B Jadher Areinamo had 2 hits and 1 walk, with Barrios also doubling and stealing a base.
• The year-end playoff dates are already set, so go ahead and get your t-shirt!

 

Next week’s outlook: Staying on the road, Wisconsin will travel 2.5 hours south from West Michigan to face Padres’ affiliate Fort Wayne, with LHP Mark Manfredi scheduled to start Tuesday’s series opener.

Final: Carolina 4, Fredericksburg 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats run past Nationals in series finale

Sitting on the same Magic Number (3) on Sunday morning as they had after Wednesday’s victory may have been a bit unsettling, but Carolina somewhat improbably got the job done and now only needs one more win to clinch the first half Carolina League North title.

Having run out of starting pitchers this week, 21-year old RHP Cristofher Carrasco (2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 Ks) got the spot start and retired the first 5 batters he faced to set a terrific tone. 3B Daniel Guilarte (3-for-4, double, 2 SBs) and SS Cooper Pratt (2-for-4, double) also set tones of their own, each delivering ground rule doubles in the bottom of the 1st inning as the Mudcats raced out to a 2-0 lead.

Left fielder Yhoswar Garcia then singled, stole second (27th of the year to lead the Carolina League, with 2 more to be credited when an earlier half-played game concludes on Tuesday) and scored FROM SECOND BASE on this ground out in the 4th inning:

After hitting two batters but conceding no runs in the 4th inning, RHP Morris Austin allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk in the 5th inning before RHP Blake Whiting (2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 Ks) induced a crucial 5-3 ground ball double play to keep the game knotted at 3-3.

Was the 3rd youngest player in the Carolina League nervous at the plate with the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 7th inning with 2 outs and 2B Miguel Briceno on 2nd base? Nah, center fielder Yophery Rodriguez hit the first pitch he saw into right field to re-gain the lead at 4-3:

Mudcats’ Extras:

• RHP Aidan Maldonado has been getting the job done of late, recording scoreless outings in 8 of his last 9 games, including this critical one: 2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks.
• How improbable was this victory?: The Nationals stranded 14 baserunners to Carolina’s 5, including 2 in each of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th innings. In the 8th inning, they had a leadoff double and stranded him too.
• The nerves were definitely at play: 2 errors, 4 HBPs, 1 wild pitch, 1 passed ball for the Mudcats – yet it’s the player development and the Win which matter.

Next week’s outlook: Carolina hits the road for 8 games in Columbia, South Carolina against the Royals’ affiliate, including doubleheaders on Tuesday and Thursday, although Tuesday’s first game will resume in the 5th inning with Carolina trailing 1-0. 18-year old RHP Manuel Rodriguez and 19-year old RHP Daniel Corniel are most likely to handle the bulk load on Tuesday.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Monday’s minor league action will be light, with only the two Dominican Summer League clubs playing at 9:00 and 10:00am CST. The Milwaukee Brewers also head out to Anaheim with an 8:38pm CST start time.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

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[Ro Mueller]

Title-clinching video highlights from Wisconsin at West Michigan: