Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/30): Cornielle and Collins Shine as Affiliates Split Sunday Games

[Ro Mueller]

Alexander Cornielle pitched six shutout innings in a tight Wisconsin win and Isaac Collins led a relentless Nashville comeback. Biloxi and Carolina couldn’t muster enough offense in their series finales.

For the week, Wisconsin won its series 4 games to 2, while each of Nashville, Biloxi and Carolina earned 3-3 series splits.

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Although it’s not official yet, here’s the plan for OF Garrett Mitchell’s Major League return from his 20 days of rehab work:

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 7, Jacksonville 6
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 Win Wild Affair Against Jacksonville in Series Finale

Down 4-0 early and in the midst of playing 9 road games in 9 days, left fielder Isaac Collins (3-for-5, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, SB, 2 runs) and his teammates rose to the occasion nonetheless, tying the contest at 4-4 and 5-5 before grabbing the lead at 7-6 in the 8th inning.

Kevin Herget walked two on 24 pitches in the 8th inning to ratchet up the tension, but escaped with a swinging strikeout, setting up a 9th inning against the Jumbo Shrimps’ power-hitting 4-5-6 trio. Herget was up to the challenge, getting strikeouts looking and swinging to sandwich around a hard hit fly out to Collins in left.

There were many contributions on this day, with 1B Wes Clarke reaching base 4 times, SS Vinny (Don’t DFA Me) Capra homering, RHP Nolan Blackwood stranding 2 baserunners inherited from Stallings and more to see in the box score.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Starting RHP Garrett Stallings was hit hard, further weakening his case to be considered as MLB starting pitching depth: 1 2/3 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks.
• RHP James Meeker hasn’t appeared as sharp since his MLB call-up, hitting old friend Jonathan Davis on a wild first pitch and walking the next batter on 5 pitches in this one. But he came back to himself to retire the next 6 batters, helped immensely by 2B Yonny Hernandez gunning down a baserunner at home in the 6th inning.
• Unfortunately, struggling center fielder Joey Wiemer (0-for-3, HBP, 2 Ks) feels like something of an automatic out at the present time, but at least he was dropped to 6th in the lineup.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville remains on the road, presumably flying from Jacksonville over to Memphis to battle the Cardinals’ affiliate for 3 games, with inconsistent RHP Evan McKendry (6.49 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 7.3 K/9 in 43 IP) set to start the series opener on Monday. However, they’ll be back home by Thursday, July 4th to take on the same Memphis squad.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Pensacola 5, Biloxi 1 (in 7 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Martin Smashes First Home Run with Shuckers, Biloxi Falls to Pensacola in Finale

After RHP Jacob Misiorowski dominated Pensacola on Tuesday, some of their hitters took a more aggressive approach against him Sunday night, smacking first-pitch home runs in the 1st and 2nd innings for an early 3-0 lead. According to viewers in our daily minor league game forum, Misiorowski (4 R, 5 H, 1 BB) was still hitting 97-100mph, recording 5 strikeouts over just 2 1/3 IP.

Perhaps the 2-hour rain delay dampened the Shuckers’ offense, which only produced 4 hits, including SS Casey Martin’s first homer with the team. Their best (only?) chance to get back into the game came and went with a 2-on, 2-out strikeout to end the 6th inning.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• RHP Nick Merkel (2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 5 Ks) stranded one runner for Misiorowski and LHP Russell Smith paid the favor forward by stranding two for Merkel. RHP Blake Holub also threw 2 scoreless frames: 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks.
• Each of DH/3B Brock Wilken (2 walks) and 1B Ernesto Martinez (single, walk) reached base twice in a game which was shortened to 7 innings due to the delayed start.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi gets to stay home, welcoming the Mississippi Braves for 3 games before the teams jointly head to Pearl, Mississippi to continue from Thursday. LHP Adam Seminaris (3.79 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 in 38 IP) is slated to start the series opener on Monday, for just his second start in his 13th appearance of 2024.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 2, South Bend 1
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Wins 2-1 Over South Bend

We once again thank Wisconsin’s media team for compiling video highlights:

And don’t forget to listen to the 21-minute Mehring/Lobner post-game podcast featuring comments from Manager Victor Estevez, RHP Alexander Cornielle and RHP Aarun Rund.

Cornielle (6 IP, 0 R, 3 H (all singles), 1 BB, 5 Ks) was back in excellent form, baffling South Bend hitters for six shutout innings. As you’ve seen in the video, he was also helped by line out double plays in the 4th and 6th innings, though one of those erased a defensive error.

After the Cubs plated one against RHP Stiven Cruz in the 7th inning, it was up to Rund (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) to get six outs to close the game, though normally-reliable SS Gregory Barrios put him into a tricky spot with an error that put the potential game-tying run on 2nd base to open the top of the 9th inning. Watch those Youtube highlights to see how Rund nailed it down.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Center fielder Luis Lara (doubled and scored) and 2B Jadher Areinamo (single, RBI, run) produced all the offense the team needed in the 1st and 4th innings. C Matt Wood (1-for-1, 2 walks) also reached base three times as he continues to notch up his season OPS (now .750).
• DH/1B Jesus Chirinos exited after lining out in the 2nd inning, so we’ll have to monitor his health status.

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin will head 150 miles south to face Marlins’ affiliate Beloit for 3 games, with LHP Mark Manfredi aiming to bounce back from his worst start (4 IP, 6 R last outing). I really wish I could be in Appleton, where the clubs will play on Thursday.

Final: Lynchburg 4, Carolina 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Dominate Bullpen Effort Leads Lynchburg Past Carolina

When throwing a bullpen game, you hope your offense can muster more than just two runs, but Lynchburg’s young catcher Manuel Mejias stifled Carolina’s attempted rallies by throwing out 3 of 4 steal attempts. Of course, we can’t really blame Manager Nick Stanley for the aggressive approach on the basepaths, as the club went 9-for-9 on steal attempts one game prior.

Although eight Mudcats reached base via hit or walk in the game, Carolina only had two at-bats with runners in scoring position, with C Satchell Norman singling home DH Miguel Briceno in the 2nd inning and 1B Blayberg Diaz striking out with Norman on third base to end the same frame.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• 2B Filippo Di Turi (2-for-3, walk) was a bright spot for the offense, reaching base 3 times including leading off the 8th inning with a single, before the final six Mudcats were retired in order.
• RHP Jeferson Figueroa (2 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) made his second spot start of 2024, giving up two homers and a double as the Mudcats fell behind 3-1 by the 2nd inning.
• Let’s note the solid relief work of RHPs Jose Nova, Brailin Rodriguez and Aidan Maldonado, who combined to concede just one run: 7 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 5 BB, 5 Ks. While Brailin needs to curtail those walks (3), I won’t begrudge Nova’s two walks given that he’d never exceeded 2 innings in any of his prior 12 games.

Next week’s outlook: Carolina takes the short one-hour ride southeast to face Rangers’ affiliate Down East for 3 games, with 18-year old RHP Manuel Rodriguez (3.43 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 7.0 K/9 in 65 2/3 IP) scheduled to start the opening game. They’ll be back in Zebulon by Thursday for the 4th of July contest.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. There’s a special FULL Monday slate of minor league games, with 8 scheduled in all, kicking off with 3 games in the Dominican Republic. The Milwaukee Brewers also head out to Colorado to commence their 4-game series.

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