Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/2): Nashville 9th Inning Splash Out of Nowhere Saves the Day

[Jim Goulart]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions: 

• Milwaukee Brewers sent LHP Rob Zastryzny on a rehab assignment to Nashville Sounds.
• 1B Blake Burke assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
• RHP Bryan Regalado assigned to DSL Brewers Blue from DSL Brewers Gold.

Additionally, there were injury-related updates on catcher Marco Dinges and RHP's Jason Woodward and Eric Prado posted within our Minor League Transaction Thread here. 

Finally, it's not a formal transaction as of yet, but expect a breakaway from the organization confirmation soon -

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Final: Nashville 7, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 5
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine:

Seven Run Ninth Propels Sounds to Saturday Night Win Over RailRiders - Martinez Jr. Puts Sounds in Front with 2-RBI Double in Ninth Inning

Waiting until the 9th inning to score is an interesting strategy, but if a team is going to go that route, might as well put the pedal down and score seven times (apparently the MLB record for all a team's runs coming in the 9th inning is 13, accomplished twice). Scoring seven times was also a smart move considering Joel Payamps' efforts to wrap things up in the bottom of the inning (3 R, 2 ER).

The Sounds do a nice social media job with video, but unlike the Shuckers and Timber Rattlers, never point to their game summaries on "X". Nice that we always link to them here, because they are pretty fantastic.

The two-run one-out double for Ernesto Martinez, Jr. is the biggest moment for EMJ that we've referenced here in a long time. Unfortunately, no video highlight clips from a Nashville perspective on this night.

Before the big late rally, RH reliever Craig Yoho stranded two of Will Childers' baserunners in the 7th with two K's. Back out for the 8th, that scoreless frame included yet another K but also two walks. Yoho's otherwise gaudy AAA stats show 18 free passes (14 BB, 4 HBP) in 33.2 innings.

One of my first reactions upon the Nestor Cortes (and Jorge Quintana!) giveaway to the Padres - well, beyond why would you help San Diego out - was this: if Jared Oliva and Brandon Lockridge met in an alleyway, couldn't we bring out the twin Spidermen pointing at each other GIF? Matt Arnold, you essentially already had Lockridge in your system! Surely Jared raised an eyebrow over that.

This Yankees' AAA team plays its home games in PNC Field in Pennsylvania. How many baseball enthusiasts have mistakenly booked trips and ended up in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre instead of glorious PNC Park in Pittsburgh?

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Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Pensacola (Marlins) 4, Biloxi 2
Box Score and Game Log

Catch up with the latest Biloxi pre-game audio interview archives

Cornielle Ties Season-High with Six Innings, Shuckers Fall to Blue Wahoos - Burke records first Double-A hit, Miller extends hit streak to eight

Blake Burke fanned in his first AA at-bat, but not the second - off LHP Thomas White, who, as Voice of the Shuckers Javik Blake notes here, is pretty well-regarded (White K'd 14 in five innings his last time out):

A minute prior, we got the only other posted highlight from this one:

RHP Ryan Middendorf was the only arm needed beyond starter Alexander Cornielle.

One thing you'll notice about Daniel's Monday AM Link Reports all season, really, is how the bullpens often get emptied during Sunday's action, knowing that Monday is a day off for all. If any pitcher needs to get work in, the organization will make sure it happens in a semi-scheduled way. Watch, this weekend will be the first to make me a false prophet in that regard.

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes (download link)
Final: Lake County (Guardians) 5, Wisconsin 1
Box Score and Game Log

Captains Contain Wisconsin - Rattlers fall 5-1 as Chourio has four hits and drives in three for Lake County

Shortstop Eduardo Garcia was a precautionary exit a couple of innings after fouling a ball off his ankle. We'll likely see him rested Sunday prior to Monday's day off. That meant that the later innings of the highlight package won't include season-long staples Jadher Areinamo, Blake Burke or Garcia. Within the linked Postgame Podcast below, Voice of the Rattlers Chris Mehring spotlights some gritty 9th inning at-bats among the much-less-heralded remaining T-Rats. When asked about his depleted position player group, Manager Victor Estevez was reserved in his comments, also within the podcast. Estevez was politely professional yet realistic.

Be thankful no one looks at batting averages any more in box scores, right. Right? Yikes.

Southpaw Sam Garcia has now wrapped two very good efforts around his rough July 27th outing. Progress.

I'm happy for the Wisconsin organization (and especially the cash flow in the team store) - but Udder Tuggers, Brats, Frozen Pizzas, Shantymen, I'm sure I'm missing others beyond the MiLB Latin-themed Cascabeles - it's kind of enough already. Excuse me while I old man chase kids out of my backyard now.

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Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Augusta (Braves) 5, Carolina 3
Box Score and Game Log

Home Runs Lift Augusta Past Mudcats

It was a short night for Eric Bitonti, who was DH'ing on Saturday. What's that, a backfill for Blake Burke at Wisconsin? Not quite, he was ejected after a called third strike in the top of the 1st.

A little secret? Jesus Made has been quite "not good" for several weeks now. His July split was not aided in this first game of August, 0-for-5, one K. Reminder - Made turned 18 years old in May.

The Mudcats scored single runs in the 5th, 7th and 9th to account for all their runs. Each was driven in by Pedro Ibarguen, which I find pretty cool.

Also, very cool? Saturday's other corner outfielder, Tyler Rodriguez, singled twice and walked. He scored all three runs. Since it was a Saturday (cartoons back in the day), in honor of Ibarguen and Rodriguez, a good reason to pull up a "Wonder Twins Activate!" video:

Being able to morph into any animal is one thing, but the whole superpower of transforming into any water-based entity was usually pretty uninspiring.

Yeah, guess we have to live with the occasional Josh Adamczewski off day.

We got another Ethan Dorchies / Jayden Dubanewicz piggyback, and the youngsters combined for nine K's vs. one walk. In a combined 67 innings, both pitchers sport Carolina League ERA's of 2.15, and that's beyond very good work in Maryvale to begin the year,

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Final: DSL Rays 3, DSL Brewers Blue 2
Box Score and Game Log

The Men in Blue were held without a run until a Brailyn Antunez line drive double in the 8th placed runners on 2nd and 3rd. Antunez would be thrown out at 3rd base for the final out of the inning on the next fly ball sacrifice fly, thankfully Carlos Done scored before the 9-3-5 putout. The score was 3-1 after eight frames.

Then in the 9th, Blue loaded the bases with no outs (single, HBP, walk). An unassisted double play on a liner to second base scored one run (only thanks to the second baseman's throwing error), but the game ended on a subsequent strikeout. 

The box score tells us the four Brewer pitchers were generally effective.

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Final: DSL Brewers Gold 15, DSL Tampa Bay 5
Box Score and Game Log

We'll give credit to the Crew for going with "Blue" and "Gold" vs. Tampa's "Rays" and "Tampa Bay".

As you can see, the organizations split the day's action, with the good guys clearly taking the run differential battle. 

Ugly however, with each team committing four errors. 

Also, Tampa pitchers plunked three batters and walked eight. In the midst of that lack of control, they tossed (12!) wild pitches. Shoutout to Tampa catcher Deinys Gonzalez, not a single passed ball. Those pitches were really wild! This also explains why the Golden Boys had only nine RBI while scoring 15 runs. Ah, the joy of DSL box scores...

18-year-old Venezuelan native 3B/2B (playing 3B here) Juan Martinez doubled, singled and walked twice, lifting his season-long OPS to 1.010. His 20-game July OPS was an awesome 1.262. On the season, Martinez has 22 stolen bases in 23 tries, and the switch-hitting 2nd year pro is now 37-for-39 in attempts in his career. Talk about a breakout campaign (.700 OPS in 2024).

Jonathan Rangel, an 18-year-old 1B/C, has had a very strong 2025 (1.013 OPS in his 2nd pro season). He had to leave the game after an 8th inning HBP, hopefully OK.

For yet another 18-year-old, RHP Christopher Peralta (Freddy's cousin), four of his last five outings have been quite solid.

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Robert Gasser continues his road back from Tommy John with another Appleton rehab appearance today. Hope everyone has a spectacular Sunday. Go Brewers (and Orioles!).

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

 

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[biedergb]

24 minutes ago, Jim Goulart said:

Made turned 18 years old in May.

Cut him. He peaked at 17 😉

But his swoon in mid May lasted 2 weeks. 
‘He struggled mightily to start July and was off for several games (including the ASG break) and rebounded slightly, but as noted he has not shown any power recently- could be adjustments, fatigue or nagging minor injuries.

Hopefully he gets into a hot streak again soon.  
His tools shine and he has more power potential, but he looks like he can be streakier. Peña has solid tools as well with less power projection but also appears more consistent.  Nice to have them both

[James Zumstein]

I'm hoping all the hype isn't getting into Made's head, but he hasn't been as productive as one would hope. Meanwhile, maybe so much focus being on Made has allowed Pena to thrive. In the world of projection versus production, Made still screams superstar potential even if he isn't putting up the numbers his potential suggests, but Pena just goes about his business and keeps showing that he's got that same potential as well. We're lucky to have them both in our system and hopefully both continue to challenge each other to achieve greatness.