Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/21): A Clean Sweep As All Four Affiliates Open The Week With Wins

[Ben Lepak]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions: 

• RHP Coleman Crow optioned to Nashville from Milwaukee.
• Nashville Sounds activated RHP Junior Fernández.
• RHP Joe Corbett assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Nashville Sounds.
• SS Jheremy Vargas assigned to Biloxi Shuckers from Nashville Sounds.
• C Tayden Hall assigned to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from Biloxi Shuckers.
• INF/OF Eric Brown Jr. placed on AA Biloxi’s 7-day injured list (per Biloxi’s Game Notes)

 

---

 

Nashville 5, Charlotte (White Sox) 1
Box Score

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

Quero Homers, Adds Three RBI in Win over Charlotte

Nashville and Charlotte were locked in a pitcher’s duel for the first six innings on Tuesday morning, as the teams combined to play the first six innings scoreless.  The Sounds continue to bring starter Logan Henderosn along slowly, as the 24-year-old righty worked only 3.1 IP before being lifted after 65 pitches (42 strikes).

In the seventh inning, Luis Lara opened the scoring with his third home run of the season. Lara bounced back after a mini slump (0/10 4K 1BB) over the weekend, reaching base three times. Lara is now one off his career-high home run total (4 in 2024 at Wisconsin) while raising his OPS back over 1.000 on the season.

Here’s the blast, courtesy of the Sounds’ X account:

Following Lara’s blast, the Sounds collected three straight singles before Jett Williams forced in a run on a bases loaded walk to make it 2-0.

The next inning, catcher Jeferson Quero broke the game open with his second extra-base hit of the game, a three-run home run:

The Sounds used five relivers to close the game after Henderson departed. Jacob Waguespack (1.2IP 0R 0H 1BB 4K) was the only pitcher to record more than three outs. Reiss Knehr earned the win in relief with a scoreless appearance and Brian Fitzpatrick ran his scoreless innings streak to 9.1 to start the season at AAA.

Nashville (12-9) now sits tied for the third-best record in the 20-team International League after three weeks of play.

 

---

 

Biloxi pre-game media notes
Biloxi 7, Rocket City (Angels) 3
Box Score

3-RBI Day for Adams Headlines 7-3 Shuckers Victory

Bolstered by a solid start from Ryan Birchard (3IP 0R 0H 5BB 5K) and a relentless attack on offense (ten hits, four for extra bases), the Shuckers cruised to a series-opening victory over Rocket City on Tuesday night.

Jordyn Adams got the Shuckers on the board with an RBI single in the second, then extended the lead to four when he crushed this one out to deep center, courtesy of the Biloxi X account:

After bulk man Brett Wichrowski was again victimized by a long ball (7 HRs allowed in 18.2 IP) to cut the lead to two, Blake Burke roped a single to score Jesus Made to give the Shuckers some insurance.

Dylan O’Rae extended the lead when he dropped a double just inside the left field foul line in the bottom of the eighth to score two more. It was O’Rae’s sixth multi-hit game of the year, and he’s now second in the Southern League with a .362 batting average.

With the win, Biloxi evened its’ record at 8-8. Bishop Letson (0-3 14.29 ERA) will look to turn in his first good outing of the season on Wednesday morning (11:00AM CT start).

 

---

 

Wisconsin pre-game media notes
Wisconsin 8, Fort Wayne (Padres) 2, (F/6 innings)
Box Score

Wisconsin Beats Fort Wayne and the Weather

The Timber Rattlers are here to do two things: have their game shortened by weather and hit bombs. Wisconsin once again bludgeoned an opponent via the longball in their 8-2 victory on Tuesday. Homers from Braylon Payne (2 for 4, 3 runs, 2 RBI) and Eric Bitonti (2 for 3, 3 RBI) gave the Rattlers a Midwest League-best 17 home runs on the season.

Check out the two mammoth shots here, via Wisconsin’s X account:

Wisconsin tallied runs in each of the first four innings, on the way to collecting nine hits and five walks in the rain-shortened affair. Wisconsin also leads the Midwest League with an .846 team OPS, with four players (Payne, Luis Pena, Marco Dinges and Josh Adamczewski) finishing the day with an OPS over 1.000 on the season.

Dinges 2 RBI Single

Bitonti RBI Single

Wisconsin starter Travis Smith (5IP 3H 2R 2ER 2BB 6K) set a season high in innings and strikeouts to earn the win.

Ethan Dorchies (0-2 9.58 ERA) will look to lead two of every position player to the ark… err lead the Rattlers (9-5) to consecutive victories on Wednesday, so long as the weather cooperates.  

 

---

 

Wilson pre-game media notes
Wilson 3, Delmarva (Orioles) 2
Box Score

Warbirds Hold on to Down Delmarva in Series Lidlifter

Wilson put only two balls in play in the first four innings against Delmarva starter Kiefer Lord (4IP 11K), but they made the most of their batted balls when they scratched a run across in the fourth. After a walk and a single, Jadyn Fielder just beat out an inning-ending double play ball to make it Warbirds 1, Shorebirds 0.

That would be the lone run of the game until Fielder would manufacture a rally on the basepaths in the top of the eighth. With runners on the corners, Fielder stole second but the throw trickled into center, allowing Yannic Walther to score and Fielder to advance to third. Fielder would then score on 2025 #32 overall pick Brady Ebel’s single, his first multi-hit game of the season.

Delmarva rallied for two in the bottom of the 8^th, including a run on a double steal of second and home. (Side note: can anyone defend this play in the lower levels? I feel I have seen this work no less than 10 times already this season. Just hold onto the ball!)

Delmarva put the tying run on in the ninth, but the runner was erased by Walther. After Walther saved a wild pitch with a diving grab, he got up and fired a strike to gun down the runner, who had a late break for second. Walther was 2/9 on the day in caught stealing attempts. Garrett Hodges earned the save, ending the game on a play I am not sure I have ever seen before. The third (swinging) strike bounced in front of home, but Walther turned to run to the backstop. Hodges bounded off the mound and secured his own strikeout, with a comically clunky lob to first to end the game.

Miqueas Mercedes (3IP 2H 0R 5BB 6K) started, but struggled with control all night, throwing 40 of 75 pitches for strikes. Thomas Conrad (3.2IP 0H 0R 4BB 4K) turned in his best professional outing to earn his first ever professional win in relief. Delmarva went just 1/15 with RISP on the night.

Enderson Mercado (0-0, 6.00 ERA) is slated to take the mound on Wednesday, as Wilson (6-9) will look to draw closer to .500 on the season. 

 

---

 

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

[Jim Goulart]

Via WLOX in Biloxi - Additional highlights, including Blake Burke on defense