Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/14): Fischer, Vargas and Oliva Lead Affiliates to 4-Win Thursday

[Ro Mueller]

Transactions:

• 1B/OF Jake Bauers sent on rehab assignment to AAA Nashville
• (not yet official) OF Steward Berroa recalled to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville
• (not yet official) 1B/OF Tyler Black recalled to MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville

Also, 20-year RHP Bishop Letson is expected to return from injury to pitch for High-A Wisconsin this weekend:

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 7, Durham 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Oliva Collects Four Hits, Sounds Hit Six Doubles in Win

A 6-man Sounds’ bullpen allowed only one run over 7 innings of work, so Nashville’s offense could eventually pull ahead in the 6th inning and quickly run away with the game from there.

Outfielders Jared Oliva (4-for-5, double, RBI, SB) and Daz Cameron (2-for-5, double, RBI) applied consistent pressure, with Cameron knocking in the game’s first run and Oliva triggering the 4-run sixth inning rally with a 1-out bunt single.

Eight Sounds’ collected at least one hit and 3B Oliver Dunn made the most of his on a 1-for-5 evening:

Rehabbing LHP Robert Gasser had gotten the start, but only got through 2 innings this time, allowing a run on 5 singles, a walk and 2 Ks. His velocity peaked at 93.7mph and the sweeper was his most effective pitch.

Sounds’ Extras:

• DH Ernesto Martinez Jr.’s 107.5mph double and 2B Ethan Murray’s 2-out, 2-run single gave the Sounds’ breathing room at 5-2 in the top of the 6th inning. They each went 2-for-4 on the evening, with Murray collecting 3 RBIs.
• 1B Jake Bauers went 0-for-3 with a walk and 2 Ks in his first rehab appearance, his first game action since July 18.
• RHP Easton McGee (1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 3 Ks) and LHP Josh Maciejewski (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K) did the heaviest lifting in the bullpen. RHP Blake Holub was fortunate to get the Win after walking 4 batters in the 5th inning and throwing 19 balls vs. 14 strikes.

Friday’s outlook: LHP Bruce Zimmermann (4.26 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 6.8 K/9 in 112 IP) is scheduled to try to lead Nashville to a 3-1 series lead at Durham, having gone 5 IP, 2 R, 3 Ks on 61 pitches in his last start.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 14, Columbus 8
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Six Extra-Base Hits, Rally Parrot Lift Shuckers to Wild 14-8 Comeback Win

It was apparently Opposites Day in Biloxi, as starting RHP Alexander Cornielle was hit hard (4 IP, 8 R, 8 H, 4 BB, 2 Ks), 2B Jheremy Vargas (3-for-4, 5 RBIs) had his best game of the year, RHP Ryan Middendorf tossed 2 scoreless innings (3 Ks) and Eric Brown Jr. (1-for-3, walk, RBI, SB) got his first career start in left field.

Down 6-1 in the 3rd inning and 8-3 by the 4th frame, 3B Zavier Warren’s 2-out, RBI double kept them in it before six straight batters reached base with 2 outs in the 4th inning to knot the game, highlighted by C Matt Wood’s 2-run shot:

OF Luis Lara (2-for-3, double, 2 walks) drew a walk to start that 5-run, 5th inning rally and Vargas’ 2-run single made it 8-8.

Every Shucker reached base via hit or walk, with 1B Blake Burke (3rd homer in 11 AA games after 5 homers in 95 High-A contests) making the most of his sole hit on a 1-for-5 evening:

And DH Cooper Pratt added his 7th dinger later:

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Kudos to RHP Nick Merkel for stabilizing things with a 1-2-3 fifth inning (2 Ks), setting the tone for 5 innings of scoreless bullpen relief by himself, LHP Raul Alcantara (1 K), Middendorf and RHP Austin Roberts (1 K).
• Warren (2-for-5, RBI) added his second double in the team’s big 5th inning, as the team collected 6 extra base hits to go with their 4 stolen bases.

Friday’s outlook: RHP KC Hunt has turned in great starts in 3 of his last 4 outings and can help Biloxi to a 3-1 home series lead with a Friday win.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 8, Great Lakes 6
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, more game details: Wild Win For Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s media team put together over 8 minutes of video highlights from Thursday’s exciting victory:

We’ve also got the ~19-minute Mehring-Lobner postgame podcast, featuring OF Luis Castillo and Manager Victor Estevez.

Over five thousand home fans (5,388 to be precise, including special guest Seinfeld actor John O’Hurley, hometown hero Sam Dekker, @wiguy94, my parents and I) were entertained with what amounted to four mini-games in one, as Wisconsin jumped out to a 3-0 lead, conceded a 4-run third inning, the teams combined on 9 straight zeros in the middle innings, then fireworks ensued in the 8th and 9th innings.

First round pick 3B Andrew Fischer (3-for-4, walk, 3 RBIs, 2 SBs) did not disappoint in his debut, following 2B Luis Pena’s pretty 1st inning opposite field single with an RBI single of his own to center field on a 2-0 pitch, then putting another line drive single into center field on a 1-2 pitch in the 3rd inning. His only out came on a strikeout against 101mph-throwing Reynaldo Yean in the 5th inning, with the pitcher benefitting from a low strike call to get ahead 1-and-2.

SS Jesus Made (3-for-5, 2 runs) and his leadoff counterpart OF Kendall George were a serious problem for opposing pitchers, with Made collecting 3 singles and George reaching base 4 times and stealing 4 bases.

OF Luis Castillo entered in an 0-for-35 slump, but rocketed some dangerous foul balls before his no doubter solo blast on a 2-2 pitch in the bottom of the 2nd inning:

Great Lakes were seeing starting RHP Tanner Gillis’ primary offering well (~87-90mph), hammering balls foul or directly to outfielders even before their 4-run, 4-hit third inning. Thereafter, Gillis (5 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 Ks) turned much more to his fastball (94 mph), striking out 4 of his last 8 batters faced.

OF Hedbert Perez’s leadoff single and Castillo’s 2-out walk put the pressure on Great Lakes in the bottom of the 8th inning, with OF Daniel Guilarte following with a jam job 2-run single. This was a just reward for Guilarte (2-for-4), who hit the ball sharply in two earlier at-bats.

You’ve got to watch those YouTube highlights to see Pena score from second base on Fischer’s game-winning infield hit, as well as the crazy double play which helped RHP Jeferson Figueroa out of his 9th inning jam (back-to-back walks to open the inning). Wisconsin got the fortunate call on a race to the third base bag and also benefitted from the trailing runner having no idea what was going on.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• After RHP Stiven Cruz’s effective relief (2 IP, 0 R, 3 Ks – throwing 73-93mph), RHP Aaron Rund struggled with a leadoff walk, run-scoring walk (after Samuel Munoz fouled off 7 consecutive pitches) and run-scoring wild pitch to nearly put the game out of reach at 6-3 in the top of the 8th inning. A poor infielder choice to throw to 3rd base on a sacrifice bunt (everybody safe) didn’t help the cause, but Rund got 2 strikeouts and a ground out to complete the frame.
• Every Timber Rattler reached base via hit or walk, with the exception of C Marco Dinges, who did register a first inning sacrifice fly.
• It was rather frustrating game for Dinges, whose throws to second base were generally landing slightly to the shortstop side (caught 1 of 7 basestealers, had one error), at least 2 balls caught him behind the plate (upper leg, facemask) and he hit into a key double play with the bases loaded to end the 7th inning.
• All of the Loons’ pitchers were hard throwers, with Brooks Auger consistently at 94-95mph, Yean at 98-101mph and Logan Tabeling at 95-96mph. Made’s rocket single off of Yean looked downright effortless:

Friday’s outlook: After starting the year 6-and-1, RHP Sam Garcia (3.93 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 in 84 2/3 High-A/Low-A IP) has lost his last 8 decisions. He aims to turn around his recent results to lead Wisconsin to a 3-1 home series lead.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Fayetteville 4, Carolina 1
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Drop Game at Fayetteville

18-year old LHP Enderson Mercado’s solid start (5 1/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 5 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 7 Ks on 81 pitches) went for naught as the Mudcats’ weren’t able to generate any runs after the first inning.

DH Josh Adamczewski reached base twice and scored the team’s only run:

1B Eric Bitonti’s 1-out, 4th inning double led to nothing (fly out, ground out). The team’s last real opportunity came via back-to-back singles from Adamczewski and OF Handelfry Encarnacion with out in the 6th inning, but Bitonti K’d and OF Jose Anderson flew out to strand the baserunners.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• While the team’s 5 through 9 batters went a combined 0-for-16, OF Josiah Ragsdale collected his first professional hit: a 2-out single in the 3rd inning.
• LHP Bjorn Johnson (1 2/3 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 2 H, 1 BB, 0 Ks) and RHP Michael Fowler (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) were effective in relief work.
• Two of the four runs allowed were unearned, as SS Filippo Di Turi and Encarnacion committed an error each in the 5th and 7th innings.

Friday’s outlook: LHP Wande Torres looks to replicate his last excellent outing (5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 6 Ks) and lead Carolina to a 3-2 series lead at Fayetteville.

Final: DSL Brewers Blue 5, DSL Astros Orange 5 (tied and final after 6 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Trailing 5-0 through 3 innings, the Blue Men battled back to score 5 runs in the 6th inning of a game originally for 7 innings to be played, with rains ultimately deeming the outcome a tie.

In fact, the team was held hitless through 5 innings, facing a bases loaded, 1-out situation in the bottom of the 5th inning before RHP Justin Lugo staged an escape (K, ground out). The offense then erupted for 4 consecutive singles in the top of the 6th inning to cut the deficit to 5-4 before an error and wild pitch allowed the tying run home.

C Yoneiker Lugo (1-for-2, double, 2 RBIs) was the top performer for the offense, while it was nice to see DH Brailyn Antunez (1-for-3, RBI) back in the lineup after exiting Tuesday’s game early.

Starting 17-year old RHP Carlos Galindo struggled (3 2/3 IP, 5 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 2 Ks), but Lugo delivered respectable relief (2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 4 Ks). Lugo’s HBP, walk and wild pitch gave the Astros a chance to walk it off with 2 outs in the final frame, but he induced a ground out to keep it tied.

Final: DSL Brewers Gold 6, DSL CLE Goryl 1 (final after 7 1/3 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Terrific pitching from starting 17-year old RHP Gustavo Garcia (5 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 1 K) and 18-year old RHP Derlin Garcia (2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 4 Ks) provided time for the offense to ultimately come through.

C Isais Chavez’s solo blast (2-for-4, HR, RBI) tied the game in the 3rd inning, while 1B Matthew Moses (1-for-2, HBP, 2 RBIs) and 2B Cristian Montilla (3-for-3, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs) both added 2-run doubles in the 6th inning, during which the Golden Men sent 8 batters to the plate.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Friday, 6 Minor League games await, commencing with the Dominican clubs at 10:00am CST (Blue hosting Red Sox Red; Gold playing at Cubs Blue). Nashville’s start time is 5:35pm CST, while the Milwaukee Brewers play at the Reds at 5:40pm CST.

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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[BarremlensTSSC]

Fischer was the first one into and out of the dugout most innings and was bouncing around on the field all night (he carried the go pro out for the top of the 1st too).  I still think he was late getting to the bag on the front end of that double play in the top of the 9th but it was a heads up play after the ball came out of his glove as he hit the ground on the attempted catch.

As you said Dinges had one of those "that's baseball" nights after getting a runner early (2nd i think?) and adding a sac fly in the 1st.  He looked supremely frustrated the rest of the night.

Really fun to watch Made-Pena-Fischer-Dinges 1 through 4.  If you're in Wisconsin I highly recommend it.  These guys won't be here long.  

 

Thanks for the write up as always!

[Playing Catch]

39 minutes ago, BarremlensTSSC said:

Really fun to watch Made-Pena-Fischer-Dinges 1 through 4.

Probably the best 1-2-3-4 we've seen come through here, in terms of sheer prospect-power, when considering the confidence we have in their floors, and the faith we have in their ceilings.

Maybe the 2004 Huntsville Stars with Weeks, Fielder, Gwynn, and Brad Nelson has a claim?

2009 Huntsville squad had Lucroy, LoCain, Taylor Greene, and Brett Lawrie

2005 West Virginia Power featured Braun, Alcides Escobar, Salome, and Hurricane Irribarren.

2022 Biloxi Shuckers had Chourio, Frelick, Mitchell, Wiemer, and Corey Ray, but I'm pretty sure Chourio didn't play with most of the others, who had been promoted to Nashville.

[Joseph Zarr]

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't @sveumrules also in attendance - also a budding film star in his own right🤗

[Trax]

Excellent info, a lot of meat and potatoes to digest!  

[sveumrules]

1 hour ago, Joseph Zarr said:

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't @sveumrules also in attendance - also a budding film star in his own right🤗

I was there. Too slow on the phone to capture Fischer’s first hit, but here’s his second…

 

[sveumrules]

& one more base knock from Made…

[wiguy94]

2 hours ago, Joseph Zarr said:

If I'm not mistaken, wasn't @sveumrules also in attendance - also a budding film star in his own right🤗

I was there as well though no film star.

[Joseph Zarr]

5 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

Over five thousand home fans (5,388 to be precise, including special guest Seinfeld actor John O’Hurley, hometown hero Sam Dekker, @wiguy94, my parents and I) were entertained with what amounted to four mini-games in one, as Wisconsin jumped out to a 3-0 lead, conceded a 4-run third inning, the teams combined on 9 straight zeros in the middle innings, then fireworks ensued in the 8th and 9th innings.

Oh we know...you are a Link Report Feature🤩

[wiguy94]

Not super baseball related but Sam Dekker had one of the worst bratzooka runs I have ever seen. Over half his brats didn't even get over the netting lol