Brewers Minor League Link Report (9/19): Hunt Dominates as Biloxi Evens Division Series

[Ro Mueller]

K.C. Hunt covered 7 2/3 nearly flawless innings as the Shuckers forced a deciding Game Three on Friday. Carlos F. Rodriguez threw well for Nashville, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead.

Image courtesy of MiLB/Matt Austin

Transactions:

• SS Cooper Pratt promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin
• SS Eric Brown Jr. placed on AA Biloxi's 7-day injured list
• INF Owen Miller activated by AAA Nashville from temporarily inactive list
• C Andy Yerzy activated by AAA Nashville from Development List
• C Brian Navarreto placed on AAA Nashville’s 7-day injured list
• RHP Logan Henderson placed on Development List by AAA Nashville

Game Action:

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 5, Montgomery 1
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Hunt Dominates, Shuckers Force Game Three in Montgomery

On the road and facing potential elimination from the playoffs, Biloxi turned to 24-year old RHP K.C. Hunt, who started the season as a reliever at Low-A Carolina and may just end up being the Brewers’ Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year.

Hunt delivered in phenomenal fashion, retiring 13 in a row at one point and not allowing Montgomery to generate any extra base hits or even put a runner in scoring position over his 7 2/3 innings. Tossing 92 pitches (65 strikes), he walked none and struck out five in front of a respectable crowd of 5,645 opposing fans.

Offensively, it was number nine hitter C Nick Kahle (1-for-3, double, walk, 2 RBIs) who produced the Shuckers first hit, a clutch 2-out, 2-run double in the 2nd inning to give Biloxi a 2-0 lead after his teammates had drawn 4 walks and a hit-by-pitch to that point.

DH Darrien Miller (1-for-2, 2 walks, 2 runs) later triggered the Shuckers’ 6th inning mini-barrage with a leadoff single to left field, the first of four consecutive hits, including a 2-run double by right fielder Connor Scott (1-for-4, double, 2 RBIs, run).

This game also marked the AA debut for 20-year old super-prospect SS Cooper Pratt, who was hit-by-pitch his first time up, then grounded out twice before coming through with an RBI single in the 6th inning to push Biloxi’s advantage to 5-0. He also struck out and had an error in the 9th inning, so I guess it’s good that he also got those “firsts” out of the way.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Although Hunt was truly exceptional, he was still ultimately charged an earned run, as RHP Blake Holub relieved him with a runner on first base and 2 outs in the 8th inning, conceding a 4-pitch walk and RBI single before settling in to close out the game: 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K.
• Left fielder Zavier Warren (2-for-3, walk, run scored) also came through with a solid performance, while center fielder Lamar Sparks doubled and scored a run, and 2B Dylan O’Rae drew two walks.
• Biloxi’s number 3 and 4 hitters 3B Brock Wilken and 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. saved their big hits for the series finale tomorrow, going a combined 0-for-10 with 3 strikeouts.

Friday’s outlook: 24-year old LHP Nate Peterson (4.08 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 9.3 K/9 in 92 2/3 IP) has been named the starting pitcher for the Division Series’ deciding Game Three, with the winner advancing to the Southern League’s Best-of-3 Championship Series starting on Sunday.

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Norfolk 8, Nashville 4
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details: Sounds Stumble Late in Loss to Tides

Nashville and Norfolk played their 3rd game in a 24-hour span, with the Sounds unfortunately coughing up a late lead for the third consecutive game.

At this stage of the AAA season (which ends on Sunday), any pitcher entering the game is likely making his last appearance of 2024 and trying to end the campaign on a positive note.

For starting 22-year old RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (6 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 6 H, 1 BB, 1 WP, 4 Ks), the results were solid through five innings before an infield error to start the 6th inning set him back, with Norfolk batters getting two first pitch hits to plate 2 runs and tie the contest at 3-3.

Sounds’ hitters battled through 7 innings, taking a 2-1 lead on three hits in the 4th, then getting a solo shot from center fielder Chris Roller to re-take the lead at 4-3 in the 7th.

Unfortunately, RHP Elvis Peguero and LHP Tyler Jay (both on the 40-man MLB roster) weren’t sharp on this evening, combining to allow 5 runs over 2 innings (4 H, 4 BB, 2 Ks).

Sounds’ Extras:

• 1B Wes Clarke had the team’s most productive day offensively with a 1-for-3 effort – double, walk, 2 RBIs, run scored. C Francisco Mejia also went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
• 24-year old Tyler Black’s season can’t seem to end fast enough. He did collect one single, but also struck out 3 times and had an error in left field.
• The team may face an interesting off-season decision on Jay’s status. The 30-year old was extremely effective at AAA Syracuse (2.40 ERA, 1.02 WHIP in 41 1/3 IP), but wasn’t generating strikeouts (6.5 K/9) and has struggled at Nashville since coming over in a July trade (4.70 ERA, 1.63 WHIP in 15 1/3 IP). Will the pitching lab be key to transforming him into an effective Major League reliever in 2025?

Friday’s outlook: RHP Mitch White (2.25 ERA with 37 Ks in last 32 IP) gets one final 2024 start to make his case to the Brewers and the rest of the league that he deserves a Major League contract this offseason, with Nashville needing a victory to start clawing back from this week’s 0-3 series deficit.

Congratulations to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ Midwest League All-Stars:

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Friday, we’ve got Nashville (5:35pm CST), Biloxi (6:35pm) and the Milwaukee Brewers (7:10pm) all in action.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

View full article

[biedergb]

1 hour ago, Ro Mueller said:

Biloxi’s number 3 and 4 hitters 3B Brock Wilken and 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. saved their big hits for the series finale tomorrow, going a combined 0-for-10 with 3 strikeouts.

Please yes.

[Joseph Zarr]

Those infield errors have really cost the Sounds in 2-of-3 games I've watched. Both immediately ended in run-scoring karma. No error was charged to Arroyo in game one but it should have been. His brief mishandle and bobble led to the lead runner getting aboard vs Hudson. That runner tied the game. Cruel game!