Wed. 4/16: Join the Rattlers for Lunch in Appleton

[Joseph Zarr]

Another hanging slider. Another long ball for Charlotte. 5-3 Sounds. The pitches are sitting on a platter. This one to straight away right CF. 

[liveforoctober]

That pitch to Elko showed 90 on the gun, is that a slider for Mis? It didn't slide anywhere.. :/

[Jastro]

40 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

No kidding. He had really gotten going of late. And, with Pena also possibly nursing some type of minor injury hopefully Tyler Rodriguez can get some action tomorrow. Either way, to your point, really stinks.

Right, the games I've been able to tune into, he was having very productive ABs.

[Joseph Zarr]

I don't have a box score up but I'd imagine RHP Jesus Flores has given up many hits. Many many hits. He's had at least one base runner aboard in every inning.

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, liveforoctober said:

That pitch to Elko showed 90 on the gun, is that a slider for Mis? It didn't slide anywhere.. :/

Well, traditionally, for him it has been a slider. Then there was a period of time we thought he was throwing cutters. BUT, those typically sit around 93 mph in my experiences watching him (I believe he's thrown a couple tonight). These two long balls look like hanging sliders to my eyes. We'll have to see what Statcast says.

[Joseph Zarr]

Meanwhile, Darrien Miller just knocked a double into the LF corner. 1-0 Shuckers as Spain crosses and Pratt (BB) advances to 3B. Adams ends the inning with a weak ground out to 3B, however. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Hey now! Miz comes back and gets Elko looking at a buckling curve on the outer black. Gorgeous pitch. Totally fooled. On to the top of the 6th. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Kuehner's ongoing struggles continue. He opens his outing tonight with a five pitch free pass. He has yet to record a single strikeout in 2025.

[Joseph Zarr]

So, what will we get first in 2025:

A Bitonti nuke or a Kuehner strikeout?

[Joseph Zarr]

Kuehner will need to buy RF Garrett Spain a beer for saving him with a gorgeous run down reaching grab of a smoked liner toward the RF wall to end the first frame. Zero K's in the inning. He escapes with a runner left stranded. That ball was smoked. Spain got an incredible jump and made an incredible lunging grab over his head.

[Joseph Zarr]

Oh no. Miz just took a 1-2 come backer hard hit grounder directly off the outside of his right knee. Yikes. That was a 98 mph ground ball. He is up. Moving around. And it looks like with a pitch count at 84 he is going to stay in the game. Wild. 

[Joseph Zarr]

This is an ugly game by the Mudcats. Poor AB's. Sloppy defense. Poor pitching. Two more cross. They failed to cover first in a clear bunt scenario earlier after Sepping walked two aboard. Payne then misplays a basic gather on a poke to CF for an error and the second run crosses. They have two hits as an offense in the 7th. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Lara's rude introduction to Double-A continues. Two swinging K's on breakers tonight. 

[Joseph Zarr]

25 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

So, what will we get first in 2025:

A Bitonti nuke or a Kuehner strikeout?

The answer to my question is a Kuehner K. He gets his first K of his season on a check swing 1-2 punch out to strand two runners in the second frame (both had singled to LF). On to the 3rd. Shuckers lead 2-0.

[Joseph Zarr]

Elko has the long ball to straightaway CF earlier but he's also digging everything at 1B. He's really having a fantastic game overall.  5-5 game. On to the bottom of the 7th.

[Joseph Zarr]

Made just smoked an oppo double high off the left CF wall. He thought it was a homer. It appears to have just missed on the high wall. 100 mph. 370 feet. The first Muddies hit since the 2nd inning. They still trail 6-2.

[Joseph Zarr]

Made swipes 3B with ease. Sheeesh. His 4th on the season.

[Joseph Zarr]

Adamczewski sends him home with a smoked liner the SHorebirds' CF'er shoestring grabs. Made tags and scores. That's Josh's 13th RBI. He is credited with an 0-for-4, 2 K night but that second K the ump absolutely blew strike 2 which would have been a free pass. Muddies trail 6-3. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Elko again. LOL. He literally is a Brewer Killer. Absolute one out bomb. Two run jack. Bottom of the 7th. Sounds now trail 7-5. McWilliams.

[Joseph Zarr]

That was a 428 foot 110 mph bomb to CF. 

[Joseph Zarr]

3rd K for Kuehner! He strands a runner at 3B (two SB off Miller - bang/bang play at 2B). Gorgeous string pull change-up. Shuckers still lead 2-0.

[Joseph Zarr]

Jimmy Herron has gotten his season going this series. I believe he has three more hits tonight? He just ripped a two out single to right CF and the Sounds now have runners on the corners in the top of the 8th. Two down. And, they'll need a miracle from Freddy Zamora who is 0-for-3 and 1-for-16 with a single on the season. Let's hope he gets that elusive poke. AND he does it! Reach line drive single to LF. Let's go, Freddy! 7-6 the Sounds grab one back.

[Joseph Zarr]

Cameron gets a gift. Weak chopper up the 3B line. He fires across his body and pulls Elko up the line and he can't make the play. Bases juiced. Two down. Oliva will try to keep the two out rally going. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Oliva walks on a Challenge of an inside heater 3-2 pitch. AND he wins the challenge and it was inside by over 2". Well done, Jared! It's 7-7. AND, that is precisely why you Save your challenges for the latter half of the contest. EMJ up to the dish. Bases still juiced. Two down.

[Joseph Zarr]

Whewwwwww. EMJ misses a long ball to RF by about 10-12 feet right of the foul pole. Got a hold of that one but in front of the pitch. 1-2 count. Swings and misses on a high off-speed pitch. Whewwwww. Took some mammoth hacks in that AB. All he ended up to show for it was a long foul ball tallied a common strike. The bases are left stranded. BUT, the Sounds tie it with two two out runs. On to the bottom of the 8th.