Wed. 9/4 - Biloxi Needs To Keep Plugging Along

[Joseph Zarr]

Hardin gets a K looking on a belt high outside slider for the second out. Ptichers take note: you are getting the outside zone and the low zone by a good half ball.

[Joseph Zarr]

Second pick-off from a Muddies pitcher of a Shorebird running like a wild rabbit on the base paths. Runner leaves 2B early. Hardin cool and calm throws to Baez rushing to the bag. He leaves the inning unscathed. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Guilarte's late-season approach is very very reminiscent of early 2023. You love to see it. Just swinging a more patient and more disciplined bat. He just ripped a double right down that 3B line into bullpen territory. One out two-bagger. Walling will look for better results in his second AB.

[Joseph Zarr]

Walling rips a ball deep into the 2B hole. The Shorebirds' second baseman got there but jump threw a one-hopper and the 1B couldn't hang on. Ball bounced into the 2B path and Guilarte scores. It's 2-0. Yhoswar hits an oppo liner into the RF grass. Men on 1st and 2nd. We have a mini rally brewing in Zebulon. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Yophery lines out to the RF wall. Wind blowing straight in. Whewwww. Too much launch in tonight's conditions. A long out will be recorded a FO. On to the top of the 5th. Runners stranded at 2nd and 3rd.

[Joseph Zarr]

Guilarte is really playing a fantastic SS tonight. Making some very challenging plays look extremely easy. Second web gem made to look casual. 

[Joseph Zarr]

We are already in the bottom of the 5th in Zebulon and we are just singing the National Anthem in Nashville. That's over half a game done in an hour. Gotta love it from a late season report writer's perspective. 😂

[Joseph Zarr]

2 K's on the curveball for Cargo in the first frame. LHP Shane Smith opens his start with a 2-2 K looking on inside heater.

[Joseph Zarr]

My early report on RHP Tyson Hardin is: 

Has ample tools. Still pretty raw. A bit hurried on the mound and presently lacks the fine-tuned polish to put hitters away in pitcher's counts. It's also clear his head may be racing a bit in his early pro tenure. He is still throwing to bases in every disengagement for example - a college rule but not a pro rule. 

Meanwhile, in Cedar Rapids the Kernels have plated three two out runs on Cornielle in their first frame. In Zebulon the infield ump just blew an out on the basepaths when Di Turi tagged out the runner sliding into second base during a double steal. Runners both advance. Should be an inning over. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Cargo just gave up a two-run jack down the RF line. 2-0 Stripers. Lefty batter turned on an inside pitch off the plate. Heck of a homer.

[Joseph Zarr]

Owen Miller grabs one back. Solo jack on a low heater over the LF wall. His 5th HR of the year in 83 games. Towering ball. 2-1 Sounds trail.

[Joseph Zarr]

The Shorebirds have now gathered four outs on the base paths. They were back picked off 2B for their first out in the 7th. They were thrown out at home plate on an over-aggressive attempt after a throw sailed on Diaz bounced off Guilarte's glove and then Walling and Guilarte deked the runner into going when they feigned a casual toss to 2B. Guilarte got him at home plate by about 2-3 feet.

[Joseph Zarr]

LHP Russ Smith running into trouble in the bottom of the third. An opening HB has now reached third base via consecutive inside sliders in the dirt that have befuddled C Darrien Miller. Both scored WP - second one could have gone either way- I continue to think Miller remains very limited laterally - moving and with his slow glove hand. Slow to recognize pitch action and consistently leaving his pitcher's out to dry. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Smith is digging deep, however, here. Ground out to EBJ at SS. Runner stays. Pop out to O'Rae behind 2B. Runner stays. Two down. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Smith gets the check swing chopper that dies in the grass. Does the job. But the ball dies and gives him a slight hesitation on the gather. Runner just ties the throw as he needs to turn around to throw to 1B. 1-0 Rocket City. Definitely deserved better. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Wilken. Bomb. 2 HR. 2 games. LOVE it.

[Joseph Zarr]

I'll give you the same shoddy camera work I caught live:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

A one out bunt single by Guilarte. An oppo sky high double off the LF wall (lefty-to-lefty) by Walling. Runners on 2nd and 3rd. Yoshwar Garcia K's on a high outside heater. C Blayberg Diaz adds the insurance: a timely double down the RF line. 4-0 Muddies in the bottom of the 8th. 

Meanwhile, trailing 3-1 with one down in Nashville and 3B Isaac Collins hit his second triple in two nights. His 7th on the season. This is tied atop the International League leader board.

[Joseph Zarr]

LHP Anferrny Reyes shuts it down in the 9th inning after a two out walk. Fantastic sliding grab in the left CF gap by Yophery Rodriguez for the second out. He got the final out on an outside corner sweeping curve K looking. 4-0 Muddies win. Second straight 'W'. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Bo Bowman runs into trouble in his second inning of work in a 1-1 game in the sixth. Lead-off single. 1-2 HB on a pitch that sailed high and inside his throwing arm. He then gave up an oppo high fly to the LF wall and Zavi Warren couldn't scale the height to grab it as it bounced off the wall as it sailed over his glove. 2-1 Shuckers trail. Nobody out. Men on 1st and 2nd. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Roller just hit his 3rd HR in two games. His 4th over the past week plus. He rips a 3 run jack over the LF wall to give the Sounds a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the 4th. 

Meanwhile, after a Sac bunt advanced both Pandas, Bo Bowman walks the bases full from a full count. He is going to be pulled for Meeker. Failed execution in pitcher's counts throughout the inning led to his exit. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Meeker gives up a 2-2 bloop single to right CF on a dead center heater. 3-1 Pandas. Bases still juiced. One down. 

[Joseph Zarr]

First pitch to the next batter a bloop single into shallow RF. 5-1 Pandas. The late season bullpen hiccups continue. Sigh. 

[Joseph Zarr]

After the Roller homer, Campbell ropes a liner over 3B and into the shallow LF grass. Collins adds a double to the left CF gap that lands on the warning track to drive him in. 5-3 Sounds.

[Joseph Zarr]

Capra bloops a goose snort over 2B into shallow CF and Collins scores. It's a 5-run 4th. Sounds lead 6-3.