Sun. 4/20: How Many Wins Will Go into the Basket, Eggzactly?

[Jim Goulart]

This thread will be utilized for any minor league news Sunday.

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[Joseph Zarr]

I am predicting a nice bounce back performance from one RHP John Holobetz after getting wee snake bitten by some bad luck (and, honestly, questionable defense from his teammates) his last outing. Here's hoping we see some magic today.

[Ro Mueller]

22-year old RHP John Holobetz makes his 2nd home start of the week (2.2 IP, 6 R (5 ER), 7 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks on Tuesday) for Low-A Carolina against Delmarva, already leading the series 4 games to 1. The first 6 hitters in the lineup each have an OPS above .820, led by 2B Josh Adamczewski (1.097 OPS in 60 PAs). 

[Ro Mueller]

27-year old RHP Elvin Rodriguez (5 IP, 1 R, 3 H. 1 BB, 7 Ks against the Tigers on Monday) makes his first Minor League appearance since July 2023, as the AAA Sounds look to polish off a 5-1 series win at Charlotte. RF Daz Cameron has a very sustainable 1.322 OPS with 10 RBIs in 30 PAs for the team. 

[biedergb]

Man Delmarva's starter is making the Mudcats look foolish. Sure a patient walk by Pena, and a HBP (what else?) to Dinges, but the others struck out and there were some pretty bad looking swings for many of these bats.

Holobetz had a very quick and efficient 1st inning, nice rebound so far.

[Ro Mueller]

The first 4 Sounds have reached base to start the game, including this 380-foot, 2-run homer by 2B Anthony Seigler. 

 

[biedergb]

And another quick inning for Holobetz as he strikes out the side working around a 2 out walk. 22 pitches in the first 2 innings and 17 for strikes. Considering he walked a batter, that is only 1 ball to the other 6 batter combined, 

 

Will see if the Relentless Mudcat offense can solve Shorebires LHP Gongora.

[Ro Mueller]

5-0 Sounds. Still nobody out. Thank you Jorge Alfaro - 3-run dinger. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Andruw Monasterio adds a 3rd homer (still zero outs) to chase Charlotte starter Chris Rodriguez on an Easter Sunday he’ll want to quickly forget. 6-0 good guys.

 

[biedergb]

Sounds have turned the line up over in the first impressive inning.

Holobetz gives up his first hit, no no-hitter for him. Still pitching in the 3rd, 0-0 game as the Muddies are without a hit so far.

[biedergb]

Dinges is still very much a work in progress.  His glovework is OK, but he struggles. He is very athletic and has a good arm, but just sailed a throw to 2nd into CF, and the runner is safe on the steal. Not sure the throw beats him, and he was quick, but the throw was clearly off. And he had the same thing happen at the end of the 2nd, but since it was a foul tip that he caught for strike 3 and out #3 the throw past 2nd base didn't show up anywhere, and was excusable. Things to work on, but I think he can be a capable catcher if those things are improved with coaching/experience.

[MudcatsfaninBrunsCO]

Happy Easter Brewers Fans! He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed. Watching the Mudcats on this holiday afternoon

[Ro Mueller]

Oh my. Ernesto Martinez Jr. joined with party with a 385-foot solo shot before Daz Cameron’s 421-foot, 107.1mph 3-run rocket.

Nashville 10, Charlotte 1. Nobody out in the 3rd inning. Yes, we have 5 Home Runs!! 

 

[markedman5]

What is going on with Daz? Lol

 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Well, Charlotte did manage to record 2 outs in the 3rd inning before Blast #6, this one a 2-run missile (109mph, 431 feet) for Jorge Alfaro’s 2nd HR of the game: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

AA Biloxi has unfinished business in Birmingham, leading the series 3-2. RHP Alexander Cornielle (0.00 ERA, 15 Ks in 10 IP) makes his 2nd start of the week and INF/OF Eric Brown Jr. gets his first career MILB outfield start. 

[biedergb]

Paused the Mudcats for Easter lunch.

And Holobetz needed about 48 pitches to get through 4 IP. And the Mudcats were given a second chance when Gongora left the game. Yates (who gave up hits/runs in his start on Tuesday against Carolina) comes in and get through the 3rd, but struggles in the 4th. Adamczewski breaks up the no hitter, and Yates walks the bases loaded, and walks a run in. Payne clubbers a pitch to deep right, but 20-30 feet to far to right and just a long foul, then strikes out looking at a pitch on the outside corner - that call has been 50/50 today. Dang. His line is 0-3 with 3Ks so far - but Gongora was just unhittable and he struck Payne out twice.

Holobetz back out for the 5th inning Cruising along right now.

[Ro Mueller]

In the spirit of giving on this Easter Sunday, Elvin Rodriguez conceded back-to-back-to-back solo homers to Charlotte in the 4th inning, adding to an earlier blast conceded. 12-4 Sounds lead.

[CheeseheadInQC]

Is the wind blowing out in Charlotte? 10 homers between the teams?

[biedergb]

Josh Adamczewski with a gapper to score two. And it's 4-0 Mudcats. They chase Yates, and then a GIDP ends the inning.

John Holobetz pitching now into the 6 th inning. He is only at 57 pitches to get thru 5 innings.

In the top of the 6th, he runs into a little trouble, full count and gives up a single. But on his 70th pitch gets a huge K.  Dinges throws another ball into the outfield on a steal attempt. Boy he is struggling there today.

Then another longer at bat and an infield hit as Di Turi makes a nice play and the throw is just down or wide and Bitonti can't come up with it and the runner is safe.

Now Holobetz is out, but his line:

5.2 IP, 8K, only 1 BB, and 3H. No runs so far. And 78 pitches of which 56 were strikes!

Giving way to Bjorn Johnson now who comes in and does Bjorn Johnson things - strands the runners with a long fly out. OK 4-0 through 6 1/2 innings, let's see if the Mudcats can keep the offense rolling.

[Ro Mueller]

4 minutes ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

Is the wind blowing out in Charlotte? 10 homers between the teams?

The internet claims they’ve light winds today - max 9mph. Must be bad pitching and good hitting!

[biedergb]

You are not going to see this often given his talent level.

But Braylon Payne now 0-4 with 4Ks.

Pena and Bitonti then get singles, well Luis Pena does his things as the single is a slow dribbler with a wide throw so he is on second base and Bitonti gets the grounder up the middle that just gets through the infield. 5-0 Mudcats.  HR search is still on for Bitonti, as I would not have guessed he would have 0 HR through April 20th if asked at the start of the season.

On to inning #7.

[biedergb]

Bjorn Johnson has pitched 1.1 IP so far, not sure if he pitches the 8th or if they go to the bullpen or not.

But this young man must be a pleasant surprise. Last year in the ACL he had 8 outings and only 1 was scoreless, and he had a 16K:18BB and allowed 26 H in 19.1 IP.

This year all 4 appearances (so far) have been scoreless, and he has 14K  to 3 BB in those 9 IP (and counting so far). I did not see this coming, but he worked on things in the off-season and it cleared is working so far this young season.

It sounds like Caden Vire (who was just activated earlier this week) is getting ready, he may make his season debut, missing all of 2023 and only 10.1 innings in the ACL last year. And he is fact coming in, and Johnson's day is done so those stats above hold up through today.  Very nice job Mr. Johnson

And welcome to the Carolina league Caden Vire! Excited to see what you can do.

[biedergb]

Hello, welcome Caden Vire. Tall, and throws hard, but not a ton of command. He walks two and hit a batter, and in 21 pitches this inning he only had 10 strikes. BUT...

With the bases loaded and no one out - he goes 3 pitch strike out, and then 4 pitch strike out with the last pitch at 96 mph!!!

Mr. Vire is a "live wire", tall, with velocity, and long moving parts, but he looked good once he started to find the strike zone in his first action as a pro above the ACL.

Mudcats looking to add to what is still a 5-0 lead in the 8th inning.

[biedergb]

Holy Heck - in Charlotte there have been 19 runs scored through 6 innings, and 12 HR between the two clubs, Nashville clinging to 13-6 lead, I mean at this rate is a 7 run lead safe???

Bases loaded with 2 outs and Deivi Garcia trying to keep it a 13-6 lead right now. Welp he throws a WP and the a single and it's a 13-8 game lead. Now really clinging to a 5 run lead which doesn't seem safe in Charlotte. Oh boy this is getting too interesting.

Meanwhile in elsewhere in Carolina, Luiyin Alastre hits a gapper and legs out a triple. Shallow fly by Tyler Rodriguez brings up Braylon Payne who will try to atone for his 0-4, 4K day. And he does. a single to left. That has to feel good. 4K in the first 4 at bats, but gets a 2 strike RBI single to left in his final at bat.

And did someone say "Relentless"? Luis Pena rockets a HR to left field. 383 ft, 102 EV. First HR this season.