Tue. 6/18 - Make It (A Clinch) Happen Today, Mudcats!

[Jim Goulart]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Tuesday. 

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[wiguy94]

No Luis Pena for DSL Brewers 1 today. Hopefully whatever caused him to be removed early yesterday and not be in the lineup today is minor and won’t keep him out long.

[wiguy94]

AAA is moving to full time challenge system. No more 3 days of ABS and 3 days of challenge system. I know one @Joseph Zarr will be thrilled to see this news.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40377474/abs-challenge-system-set-used-triple-starting-june-25

[Joseph Zarr]

57 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

AAA is moving to full time challenge system. No more 3 days of ABS and 3 days of challenge system. I know one @Joseph Zarr will be thrilled to see this news.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40377474/abs-challenge-system-set-used-triple-starting-june-25

HUGE. Thank the Baseball Gods the higher ups understood the overwhelming sentiments. 

[sveumrules]

DSL Uno loses 7-5.

Jesus Made (2-5, HR, SB) had the big day at the plate while Juan Martinez (2-5, 3B) and Engel Paulino (2-5, 3B) each collected multiple hits including a three bagger.

Juan Ortuno also made some noise walking twice and stealing three bags while getting caught stealing once.

Only zero for the pitchers was Wande Torres who started the game off with a perfect 1-2-3 inning (one strikeout).

[sveumrules]

DSL Dos wins 11-4.

Jorge Quinata (1-4, 2B, BBx2), Kevin Ereu (1-5, BB), Jose Anderson (1-3, BBx3, SB), Luis Corobo (2-4, 2B, BB, SB), Frederi Montero (2-4, 2B, BB), Roderick Flores (1-2, BB, HBPx2), Angel Gonzalez (1-4, BB) and Pedro Tovar (2-4, 2B, BB) all reached multiple times.

Couple of zeros on the mound belonging to Lenin Mendez (1 IP | 2 BB | 1 K) and Oliver Camilo (1 IP | 2 HBP | 1 K).

[Ro Mueller]

High-A Wisconsin stays on the road, taking on Padres’ affiliate Fort Wayne this week. LHP Mark Manfredi (3.43 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 12.4 K/9 in 39.1 IP) has the 3rd-highest K/9 rate amongst starting pitchers in the Midwest League. 3B Luke Adams has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games. 

[Ro Mueller]

Newly-promoted 2B Dylan O’Rae (.728 OPS in 284 PAs with 33 SBs) becomes the 3rd-youngest player in the Southern League, as AA Biloxi plays at Angels’ affiliate Rocket City. RHP Shane Smith (3.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 12.3 K/9 in 38 2/3 IP) gets the start after Sunday’s rainout. INF Casey Martin (acquired from Phillies) debuts in the outfield.

[Ro Mueller]

Low-A Carolina’s magic number for a first half division title is 1 game. They and Royals’ affiliate Columbia have resumed play of their May 4th game at Zebulon which was suspended due to rain.

They re-commence with 1 out in the top of the 5th inning, with Carolina trailing 1-0. RHP Jesus Rivero (6.55 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 12.3 K/9 in 34.1 IP) has entered to kick things off.

[Joseph Zarr]

I see the Mudcats tied it up in the bottom of the 5th. We're 1-1 in Game 1 (came in trailing 1-0). AND, what would be my RHP Jesus Rivero experience other than a 1st batter HBP followed by a balk called on Rivero. Unreal how this young man can unravel at any given moment when I tune in. Man on 2nd now. Zero outs in the top of the 6th. 

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Garrett Stallings makes his 2nd start since joining AAA Nashville, aiming to build on his last outing (3.1 IP scoreless with 3 Ks), this time at home against Rays’ affiliate Durham. DH Wes Clarke has a 10-game hitting streak. 

[Joseph Zarr]

AND, kudos to Rivero! He caught the runner leading too far. He threw an accurate turnaround dart to 2B and they snagged the runner in the pickle. One down.

[Joseph Zarr]

Three up and three down in the  top of the 7th as the Mudcats try to steal game 1 and seal their Playoff fate. On to the bottom of the 7th frame.

[Joseph Zarr]

Hey now! Dylan O'Rae promoted to Biloxi. Yowza!

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Rivero K's 2 and gets a groundout for a very clean 7th frame. This is the best he's looked in quite some time (quickly hides in the closet having typed this and thought it and now shared it - shameful!). On to the 8th. 1-1 game.

[Joseph Zarr]

For all of you who haven't seen RHP Manuel Rodriguez pitch. @wiguy94, @Smichaelis9, and I have talked him up quite a bit (and for good reason). Here's your first look:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

 Yophery grounds out into a DP to end the inning and it looked like he was limping pretty discernably and heavily after he landed on 1st base. I don't know but that looked suspicious. 1:43:50 on the MiLB.tv viewing. He is still in CF and he is clearly not fully right in his gitty-up. Probably tweaked an ankle.

[Ro Mueller]

21 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I see the Mudcats tied it up in the bottom of the 5th. We're 1-1 in Game 1 (came in trailing 1-0). AND, what would be my RHP Jesus Rivero experience other than a 1st batter HBP followed by a balk called on Rivero. Unreal how this young man can unravel at any given moment when I tune in. Man on 2nd now. Zero outs in the top of the 6th. 

LF Yhoswar Garcia singled, stole 2 bases (giving him 4 in this game; 31 SB on the year) and scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 5th inning to tie it up 1-1.

[Joseph Zarr]

Another three-up and three-down for Rivero. That's 8 consecutive outs. Love it. 1-1 and we head to the 9th frame.

[Joseph Zarr]

Pratt lays down the surprising lead-off bunt. The pitcher rushes the gather and throw and sails it down the 1B line into the Mudcats bullpen. We have a lead-off bunt single and an error. Pratt is on 2B. Guilarte tried to sacrifice bunt him over and nearly popped out to the catcher.  Yeesh. 

[Joseph Zarr]

LET'S GO!!!! Guilarte wisely thinks better of the bunt opportunity after that first effort. He pokes an 1-2 offering into CF and Pratt comes around to score as the throw is up line. It's 2-1 Muddies. Guilarte took 2B on the offering Home. Come on, men! Let's add some insurance and take this game!

[Joseph Zarr]

Walling rips a 1-2 single into the shallow RF grass. The diving 2B corrals it but can't execute a meaningful throw. Walling beats the throw and Guilarte takes advantage of a 1B not fully aware of the scene and scores from 2B. It's a 3-1 game. Diaz flies out to end the frame. BIG insurance there.

[Joseph Zarr]

It is going to be RHP Aidan Maldonado to try for another Save. He is 2-for-5 in SVO's on the season. He concedes a flare bloop single over the leaping SS Cooper Pratt to lead off the frame. Man on 1B. Nobody down. Runner takes 2B on a high outside heater. 1-0 count. Not a good start for Aidan. Let's hope he can buckle down!

[Joseph Zarr]

A groundout to 3B and the runner takes third on the play. Guilarte smartly takes the play at 1B regardless of the lead at 2B. A ground out to 1B - Walling back-hands it and takes out 2. Runner scores from 3rd. It's 3-2. We have a mound meeting amongst the infield and the pitching coach. Two down. 3-2 game. Let's go, Aidan. You got this.

[Joseph Zarr]

WE GOT A PLAYOFF BERTH, GENTS!!!!! 3-2 MUDCATS VICTORY. THAT'S A WRAP!!!!! MALDONADO WITH THE K LOOKING!!!!!! The Lads are celebrating!