Sun. 9/15 - Early: Shuckers' Last Playoff Tune-Up. Late: T-Rats' Championship Series Opener

[Ro Mueller]

Thread will be utilized for any minor league news Sunday.

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[Ro Mueller]

AA Biloxi’s final regular season game sees RHP Kaleb “Bo” Bowman (2.99 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 8.6 K/9 in 69.1 IP) make his first start since perhaps his high school days. A win would clinch a home series win 3-2 this week over Mississippi. LF Felix Valerio returns to AA for the first time since September 2023. 

[Ro Mueller]

 

[Ro Mueller]

The Braves grabbed one run off Bowman (25 pitches, 2 hits), who gives way to Russell Smith for the 2nd inning. 

[Ro Mueller]

Tie game - 1-1 in the 2nd inning:

 

[Ro Mueller]

Russell Smith tosses 3 shutout innings (51 pitches) to lower his season ERA to 2.73.

Then Ernesto Martinez Jr. beats out a 2-out infield single and Lamar Sparks smacks his 2nd homer of the game on a 1-2 pitch. 3-1 Biloxi in the 4th inning.

 

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Tyler Woessner comes in to handle the 5th inning and walks the first batter on 4 pitches. Dude probably needs a break.

[Ro Mueller]

Well, after 2 walks, a wild pitch and a run, Tyler Woessner settles down to retire 6 batters in a row. Shuckers lead 3-2 thru 6 innings.

Will Childers comes in for the 7th.

[Ro Mueller]

Childers gives up a walk, double and 2-run single. Braves now lead 4-3 in the 7th inning.

[sveumrules]

Wow, Nick Kahle much in the clutch with a two out two RBI double to put the Shuckers back on top 5 to 4 bottom seven.

& Felix Valerio follows up with a two run BOMB.

[Ro Mueller]

C Nick Kahle goes from goat (5-for-5 stolen bases against; 0-for-2 hitting) to potential hero with a 2-out, 2-run double.

EMJ has singled and stole 2 bases. Zavier Warren drew a walk. And Kahle knocked them both home.

Then Felix Valerio homers on the next pitch. 7-4 Shuckers!

[Ro Mueller]

Solid work from RHPs Sam Carlson and Justin Yeager to close it out. Biloxi wins 7-4.

Sparks 2 homers. Kahle a 2-run double. Valerio 2-run homer. Ernesto Martinez Jr. 3 hits, 2 SBs. Russell Smith 3 shutout innings. AA playoffs start at home on Tuesday.

[Ro Mueller]

AAA Nashville’s last home game of 2024 has RHP Chad Patrick (3.09 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 in 125.1 IP) looking for his 14th win and a 2-2 series draw against Memphis. 2B Vinny Capra is 20-for-50 over his last 13 games

[Ro Mueller]

It’s Game One of the Midwest League Best-of-3 Championship Series, with Wisconsin hosting Guardians’ affiliate Lake County. Starting RHP Ryan Birchard aims to put his last 2 outings behind him (3.1 IP, 6 R, 7 H, 8 BB, 3 Ks). RF Yophery Rodriguez makes his High-A debut. C Matt Wood and LF Hedbert Perez get starts ahead of Ramon Rodriguez, Jheremy Vargas and Eduarqui Fernandez.

[Ro Mueller]

2024 #1 overall pick Travis Bazzana opened the game with a double off BIrchard. A walk followed, but Birchard nearly escaped with a ground and K. However, an infield single and error on Areinamo plated 2 runs.

Wisconsin immediately responded: 8-pitch walk Lara, 4-pitch walk Pratt, Adams RBI single. A Yophery groundout tied it, then Matt Wood got a 2-out RBI single.

3-2 Wisconsin after one inning.

[Ro Mueller]

Chad Patrick has 12 Ks through 6 scoreless innings (84 pitches, 61 strikes), but Nashville has also been held scoreless.

[wiguy94]

I cannot believe that the Timber Rattlers have Birchard pitching in a Championship game. There's just got to be better options.

[Ro Mueller]

Birchard walks 2 (was ahead 0-2; 1-2), then gives up an RBI single to tie it. Then walks another for good measure. Bases loaded, 2 outs, tied 3-3 in the 2nd inning. In comes RHP Stiven Cruz.

[Ro Mueller]

Cruz gets the key K swinging on the 7th pitch to strand the bases loaded. Still 3-3 as they go to the bottom of the 2nd inning.

Note: Lake County's starter only lasted 6 batters - i.e. 0.2 IP, exiting after Wood's RBI single. So Birchard got a relatively long leash (1.2 IP) by comparison. :)

[Ro Mueller]

Kevin Herget relieved the dominant Patrick (gonna protect him from Rule 5 Draft?) and conceded a solo homer to the 2nd batter of the 7th inning. Sounds trail 1-0 and their offense should please wake up.

[Ro Mueller]

Carlos D. Rodriguez takes advantage of a tight strike zone to draw a 2-out walk, then Chris Roller and Freddy Zamora deliver singles, the latter scoring CDR. Tie game 1-1 through 7 innings in Nashville.

[Ro Mueller]

Wisconsin starts the 2nd frame with a Tayden Hall walk, Hedbert Perez RBI double and Luis Lara single, but only scored 1 run. Pratt and Adams K'd (the latter looking at 3 pitches), then Areinamo grounded out.

Wisconsin leads 4-3 after 2 innings.

[Brewcrew82]

That was really impressive from Hudson. Looked as close to being back as he has in a while. 

[Ro Mueller]

Yophery and Eduardo each singled, but Wisconsin didn't score in the 3rd inning. Then Lake County only needed a full count walk to manufacture a run (balk, ground out, sac fly).

4-4 game heading to bottom of 4th.

[Joseph Zarr]

Here's my 2024 RHP Ryan Birchard scouting report:

Walks way too many guys

After tonight's 5 BB in a mere 1 2/3 IP, he is up to a woeful 25 BB in just 23 IP on his season. Batters were hitting 0.390 against him in High-A and he was sporting an unsightly 2.90 WHIP. One, might ask why he got the starting nod (or was even considered) over Cruz. I don't know. I think his line was absolutely predictable.