Wed. 8/28 - Can Biloxi and Nashville Bounce Back from Lopsided Game 1 Losses?

[Joseph Zarr]

Wilken is playing a fantastic 3B tonight. You love to see it. Clean glove in two key spots. Just threw out the lead-off in the 4th on a deep hard hit chopper. Got their quickly. Grabbed it cleanly. Turned and fired an accurate dart to grab the runner. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Castillo knows he was robbed of a two-run jack earlier. He shrugs it off in the 8th. He rips a no doubter over the RF wall well inside foul territory. A pure missile and a huge insurance run. 4-2 Mudcats.

[biedergb]

Rodriguez goes 7 innings. Just the first inning blemishes. 101 pitches. Nice outing for him. The process. Struggles but figures out how to get through it and pitched deep into the game. 
 

Otherwise tight ones in Lynchburg and Biloxi. But the good guys are ahead for now.
 

 

[biedergb]

And as I typed that. Hicklen goes yard to extend the lead. 
‘Shane Smith comes in for relief of Kuener and goes 1-2-3 in the 5th.

While Castillo walks to load the bases for the Lynchburg pitcher who was struggling with command.

[biedergb]

Holy happenings. As Carolina makes them pay for the walks with a wild pitch, rbi ground out, and then an error by the 3B on the throw and it’s now 7-2

EMJ hit a homer and it’s 4-1 Biloxi.  The Shuckers bats are starting to wake from the August slumber I see. 
And Nashville is in full cruise control mode - 12-2 bottom 8.

[biedergb]

Carolina closes it. And Nashville pitching in the 9th with a commanding lead

Biloxi up now 4-2.  Shane Smith gives up a single then a wild pick off and the ball in RF bullpen, and runner advances to third. He starts a Houdini act with a fly out to RF and a pop up to 1st. But then gives up a hit up the middle. Another single and he walks Morgan to fill the bases. 
Smith night is over and Holub comes in. And I missed the video feed but looks like a grounder to third. End of inning. Still 4-2. Smith not as sharp as usual. 

[brewmann04]

Good work from Carlos Tonight. And hopefully Wilken finally turning it on 

[biedergb]

I only watched a few inning of Carlos. But it looked like typical for him. Lots of different pitches, and had decent command.  Kept batters off balance. Granted with a huge lead that is exactly what you want to see with a lead. 

[Joseph Zarr]

11 minutes ago, brewmann04 said:

Good work from Carlos Tonight. And hopefully Wilken finally turning it on 

Last night was nice. Tonight was really nice. The long ball and he has played absolutely fantastic defense at 3B. This really needs to become the norm. Obviously, he's not going to hit long balls every night. BUT, hard contact; good swing decisions; and plus defense is what we are looking for. We need to start stacking these into the playoffs. That's my hope. All the talent is there. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Martinez Jr. absolutely scorched a 104 mph oppo jack off the building past the fence. Just a dart. AND, WIlken drew the walk before the AB. Love it.

 

[biedergb]

Holub works around a 2 out hit. And it’s still 4-2 Biloxi.  Three more outs to go for a big win for the Shuckers. 
‘Fingers crossed as I’m calling it a night.

[Joseph Zarr]

Smith went 1-2-3 in the 6th. Then gave up a complete goose snort oppo bloop to shallow LF over the infield and miraculously to the grass to start his 7th. Smith then misfires a throw to 1B as a pick-off. I can not tell you the number of times I've seen a Minor Leaguer misfire a quick turnaround throw to 1B. He got a line out to Sparks in RF - runner held. He then got the second out on a weak pop out to EMJ at 1B. In an 0-2 count to the next hitter he missed low and in the dirt. Then a foul down the 1B line into the stands. 1-2 count he elevated a slider to the upper corner and it was lofted enough for an RBI single to CF. It was 4-2. He then gave up another single to LF. Walked the next batter. Bases juiced with two down and that was when Holub got the call and shut it down. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Holub has not only not allowed a run in Double-A. BUT, he's also inherited 9 runners allowing only one to score. He's been a major cog for the Shuckers bullpen. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Yeager goes 1,2,3 and the Shuckers hold on 4-2. With the M-Braves beating Pensacola the Shuckers hold on to their 2.5 G lead on the playoff berth. Big win.

[wiguy94]

Brett Wichrowski is in Arizona per his Instagram story. I wonder if he’s hit his innings limit and is being shutdown for the year. He threw 50 innings in 22 and 62 innings in 23. He’s at 89 innings in 24 so seems like maybe there was an innings limit reached?

[Joseph Zarr]

36 minutes ago, wiguy94 said:

Brett Wichrowski is in Arizona per his Instagram story. I wonder if he’s hit his innings limit and is being shutdown for the year. He threw 50 innings in 22 and 62 innings in 23. He’s at 89 innings in 24 so seems like maybe there was an innings limit reached?

Very well could be. I'll see if we can glean anything in the pre-game interviews this week. I certainly noticed Seminaris got the game 1 nod and not our usual Wichrowski on the bump. O'Rae has also been out of the line-up since being pulled as the DH in the 9th inning Saturday. It was apparent, in the replay I went back to, he was pulling up with some nagging type of something after stealing his second base in the top of the 7th. He seemed to be favoring his right hip. (3:03:38 on the replay - you can see him grimace and bend over numerous times from the time he lands on the face first slide and the moments after before EBJ strikes out).