Brewers Minor League Link Report (9/7): Saturday's Eventful Mixed Bag Saw Dominance as well as Futility

[Jim Goulart]

What a wild Saturday on the Brewers farm. From top to bottom, Nashville's vets won via a workmanlike effort, Biloxi fought to an extra-inning lead only to lose in embarrassing fashion. Wisconsin was involved in a tight contest - until it wasn't, that is. Carolina's box score is glorious, and Braylon Payne announced himself to Milwaukee fans with what was likely the most exciting one-game performance of the season.

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Did we say eventful? Let's ride!

 

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Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes 

Final: Nashville 6, Gwinnett (Braves) 2

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:

Clarke's Grand Slam Helps Sounds Beat Stripers - Nashville bullpen keeps Gwinnett quiet to take 6-2 win in front of sellout crowd in Hit City

There are plenty of morsels of knowledge in that game summary, you'll learn how many career grand slams this made for Wes Clarke --

Each of the four pitchers who toed the rubber for Nashville did their part. The law firm of Clarke - McGee - Smith - Middendorf combined on a three-hitter (everything but a single, actually), four walks, one HBP, ten K's.

The "Mis" remains very soft-spoken, and you won't find any response that isn't well-thought out and polite, but considering this interview took place after a bit of a blow-up outing on Thursday, it does show a maturity level from Jacob that belies his very youthful front:

Additional game video is available via the Sounds' "X" feed.

 

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Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Rocket City (Angels) 4, Biloxi 3, ten innings
Box Score and Game Log

Shuckers Drop Heartbreaker to Trash Pandas in Extras - Seminaris tosses five scoreless, Martinez, Miller record multi-hit nights

Reminder - there are only eight teams in the Southern League, and half will make the postseason due to the split schedule. It feels like the Shuckers are backing into a playoff spot, but there were stretches of solid play in this second half, Biloxi now 33-29. That being said, momentum isn't exactly on the Shuckers' side. 

It'd be nice if outfielder Connor Scott's 7-day IL placement would be for the minimum, that would have him back for the hopeful playoff series beginning on the 17th. As those box score player lines show, production would be welcome from any source.

One of the more insightful comments and follow-ups from Saturday's "as it happens" forum thread focused on Manager Fidel Pena's unusual choice to have Adam Hall pinch-run for Ernesto Martinez in the top of the 9th. Hall did eventually score the game's tying (1-1 at the time) run, but it wasn't because of any perceived speed increase (he was pushed forward base-by-base via walks).

And of course, when Martinez' spot came up again in the 10th, Ernesto's hot bat was missed (Hall fanned).

Moundwork: nice, needed five-inning start from southpaw Adam Seminaris, and RHP Sam Carlson tossed two scoreless in his first appearance since August 21st.

Can't delay it any longer - On a night in which the Trash Pandas drew over 7,000 fans to the stadium built within earshot of the former Huntsville home of the longtime Brewers affiliate, and celebrating that "Stars" legacy with incredible uniforms, this is how the game ended:

No words. Next...

 

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: Cedar Rapids (Twins) 11, Wisconsin 0
Box Score and Game Log

Rattlers Suffer Shutout Loss in Cedar Rapids - Kernels hold Wisconsin to four hits

It'd be interesting to learn from Retrosheet if any big-league game was ever 1-0 heading to the 8th, and then the team in front put up a ten-spot, resulting in an 11-0 final. That's what happened here, so this was a tight contest to be sure. 

Reliever Aaron Rund has been so solid, but this wasn't his night, even taking into account rough defense within the frame and a position player (seldom-used catcher Victor Torres) coming in to clean up the mess. 

Cooper Pratt (0-for-3 as the DH, one K), played for the first time since August 23rd.

It would be simple enough to pull up box scores from when the T-Rats were at their peak first-half steamroller mode, but hopefully we won't have to do that, lamenting what injuries and promotions did to a roster that was firing on all cylinders until recently. Heck, Wisconsin was on cruise control for much of the second half as well.

Now we're just Sunday's finale away from having to flip a playoff switch for Tuesday in Game One at Cedar Rapids.

 

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Final: Carolina 18, Delmarva (Orioles) 4
Box Score and Game Log

Big Innings Lift Mudcats Past Delmarva

The Shorebirds are now 52-78. Wow was that 3-0 Carolina loss on Friday night an outlier.

Speaking of young Mr. Payne, find time to invest 12 minutes later today (or now!):

Not mentioned in that Braylon Payne game tweet was his two walks, he was on base all six times! 

Short-series playoff baseball, especially in the minors, is highly unpredictable. But goodness, the Mudcats are going to be riding some serious momentum into Tuesday's road opener, in good part thanks to Payne.

Normally it would be hard to overshadow the lines of Yophery Rodriguez, Miguel Briceno, Reece Walling, or Yhoswar Garcia in this mammoth effort. Only Payne's line managed to do so, enjoy this box score to the max!

One bummer, as discussed in the previously linked discussion thread, 2024 4th round C/DH Marco Dinges was forced to exit after an HBP to the hand. Doesn't read as promising.

Shoutout to 19-year-old RHP Jesus Flores for his scoreless 4.2 frames in a piggyback effort. Back in April, Flores was toiling in the Dominican League.

 

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Step aside long enough from your NFL RedZone experience to check out the regular season Wisconsin and Carolina finales this afternoon. Or maybe even, step outside and get some fresh air! How ever you choose to spend your Sunday, enjoy.

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[Joseph Zarr]

Do ensure to watch that Braylon Payne 'My Draft Day' video linked by Jim above. It. Is. Awesome. I said it in the game threads the past couple nights: this young man has something. He has that 'It' factor. He carries himself differently on that field than pretty much anyone else on it. He knows. We absolutely have something here I was, frankly, entirely unaware of. Obviously, the sample size is ridiculously small and inconsequential in a vacuum. However, he is already smashing 100 mph + line drives to the OF grass. He is already causing massive havoc on the base paths. It certainly seems his swing set up and easy follow-through can build up toward higher loft. I think we might have an unknown amount of untapped power here. He already has the frame to get stronger - a true specimen. Anyhow, extremely exciting young prospect. We should all be waving a finger at the Draft Industrial Complex that yet again wasn't ready to celebrate this moment.

Shoutout to my guy LF Yoshwar Garcia for picking up his 65th SB last night - continues to be entirely overlooked by the Minor League fan base. A true lead-off guy the Muddies continue to bat in the lower part of the order like a second lead-off type of deal within their line-up. I continue to root for this young man. He continues to be an afterthought, somehow. Very good player. Final shoutout to my guy INF/OF Miguel Briceno. Just continues to have a truly fantastic season as the every man for manager Nick Stanley and the Mudcats line-up. He just always seems to step up and perform when called upon. You can not underestimate what that type of thing does for a team. He is nearly always popping with solid play and line drives and really plus AB's every opportunity he gets. What's more? He can step to the mound as well and give you a relief inning. Incredible.

And, I would be remiss if I didn't share 1B Reece Walling's absolute bomb from last night. This puppy left in a hurry.:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Quote

No words. Next...

As you know, I watched that live and I certainly didn't handle it well 😂 There truly are few words. AND, what I missed in the original viewings was that unbelievably lazy and indifferent swipe tag attempt from C Nick Kahle. What is that? Show some urgency for crying out loud. I mean. Whewwwwww.😅

Only way to move on from that type of failure to execute is make a statement today. With this Shuckers team? I have absolutely zero expectations. 

[jay87shot]

That Payne video (great job whomever is responsible) on top of the huge game vaults him way up my org. favorites. 

[James Zumstein]

5 hours ago, jay87shot said:

That Payne video (great job whomever is responsible) on top of the huge game vaults him way up my org. favorites. 

After watching that video, I couldn't agree more.  That shows what reading a scouting report online can never show: the player's heart.  I'll admit I was a bit miffed when we took him at 17, but not anymore.  I will be cheering this kid on from here on out, big time!