Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/16): Plenty of Standout Performers Across Three-Win Night

[Ben Lepak]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions: 

• Milwaukee Brewers sent RHP Brandon Woodruff on a rehab assignment to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
• SS Eduardo Garcia assigned to Nashville Sounds from Biloxi Shuckers.
• RHP Ayendy Bravo assigned to ACL Brewers from Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

 

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Game Action:

Memphis (Cardinals) 12, Nashville 5
Box Score

 

Nashville Outslugged in Memphis - Sounds Drop Fourth Straight

The Nashville Sounds’ pitching staff, which has been so good all season long, ran into a buzz saw in their series opening loss to first half champion Memphis. That buzz saw’s name was Joshua Baez. Baez homered four times off three different Sounds’ pitchers, and drove in seven runs, en route to a 12-5 thrashing that had the Sounds singing the blues in Memphis on Tuesday night.

Not to be outdone, a couple Brewers’ top prospects also flashed some power.  Jett Williams hit two solo home runs, one of which Spencer Michaelis captured on his X account:

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The rest of the offense was supplied by Jeferson Quero, who also homered, a two-run shot, and drove in three runs on the night. It looks like there were some video issues on the night, so enjoy this rendering of Queso’s homer from the Sounds’ X account:

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Luis Lara went 0-for-5 on the night and his .322 average at the end of the night is his lowest mark since May 10. For the month of June, Lara is just 5-for-25 with his last extra-base hit coming on May 28.

There were not many positives for the pitching staff, which you can see with all the crooked numbers in the box score. Jake Woodford pitched a clean inning. That’s it. Brett Wichrowski continued his brutal season. After allowing Baez’s first two home runs, Wichrowski has now allowed 16 long balls in 61.2 innings across AA/AAA this season.

No official probables for the series without any pre-game media notes, but it should be Thomas Pannone in game two of the series on Wednesday.

 

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Biloxi pre-game media notes 

Bilioxi’s game – plus the debuts of Andrew Fischer and Josh Adamczewski at the level – was postponed on Tuesday due to rain. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve being told Santa’s sleigh was delayed. The forecast for the rest of the week doesn’t look any more promising.

 

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Wisconsin pre-game media notes
Wisconsin 11, Quad Cities (Royals) 6
Box Score

Wisconsin Wins with Contributions from Woodruff and Payne

In Game One of the AFA (After Fischer and Adamczewski) Era, the Rattlers did not miss a beat, winning handily by the score of 11-6 at Quad Cities. Without the aid of their 20 homer slugger in Fischer, the whole lineup chipped in, as the team pounded out 10 hits and drew a flabbergasting 15 walks. Every Rattler in the lineup, save for designated hitter Tayden Hall, scored at least one run.

Luiyin Alastre drove in a run with a single and was on base five times.

Braylon Payne, featured in the third spot in the lineup in this new look Rattlers offense, provided the power, courtesy of the Wisconsin X account:

Payne also had an RBI single.

Not to bury the lead, but we got a rehab start from Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff looked good and more importantly, he pitched into the 6^th inning, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk. You can check out his six strikeouts here:

 

 

Braylon Owens picked up his second save of the season, working the last three innings and allowing just one run while striking out three.

RHP Josh Knoth (0-0, 2.19) will take the mound for the Rattlers on Wednesday.

 

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Wilson pre-game media notes
Charleston (Rays) 5, Wilson 4
Box Score

Charleston Defeats Wilson; Clinches South Title

Wilson suffered a narrow defeat on Tuesday night, falling 5-4 to Charleston at Wilson Ballpark. Wilson’s pitching staff got off to a stellar start as starting pitcher Joey Broughton tossed four scoreless innings, scattering just three hits and striking out four. It was Broughton’s second outing in full-season ball with Wilson.

The Warbirds broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 1-0 lead, courtesy of an RBI single from Luis Lameda. However, the game completely unraveled in the top of the sixth. Enderson Mercado struggled mightily, surrendering five runs on five hits and three walks across just 1.2 innings.

Despite the deflating sixth inning, the Warbirds refused to go quietly and mounted a late-game comeback. Wilson chipped away with a run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double from Kevin Garcia.  

Then trailing by three entering the final frame, the Warbirds put together an inspired ninth-inning rally. Down to their final strike, Brady Ebel delivered a clutch, two-out, two-RBI single to pull Wilson within a single run. Ultimately, the comeback fell just short, with two runners left stranded in the ninth leaving the Warbirds with a tough 5-4 loss.

Joshua Quezada (3.1 IP 1H 0R 0BB 4K) was the unsung hero of the game for the Warbirds, putting together a lights-out performance out of the bullpen to give his team a fighting chance.

RHP Hayden Robinson (1-1, 9.39) will take the mound for Wilson on Wednesday.

 

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ACL Brewers 8, ACL White Sox 0, seven innings as scheduled
Box Score

The ACL Brewers (17-17) put together a complete performance at the American Family Fields of Phoenix, shutting out the ACL White Sox. Facing blistering 107-degree weather, the Brewers’ bats heated up early, while the pitching staff kept the White Sox wandering the desert in search of offense.

The Brewers didn't waste any time getting on the board, striking for two runs in the bottom of the 1st inning thanks to a two-out, two-run blast by shortstop Juan Martinez, his 4th HR of the year.

The Brewers played aggressive, small-ball baseball to manufacture runs in the middle innings.  Kenny Fenelon swiped two bags (bringing his total to 18 on the season) and scored twice. Alexander Frias stayed scorching hot, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base, raising his average to an absurd .404. One has to wonder how long before we see Frias in Carolina. 

Left fielder Engel Paulino provided the late-game insurance, launching a solo shot in the bottom of the 6th inning (his 5th HR of the year) to cap off the 8-run night. Paulino also added a stolen base.

On the mound, Joan Pena set the tone with a brilliant start, earning his second win of the season. Pena baffled White Sox hitters over five innings, allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out six. It was Pena’s best and by far longest outing of the season. The rehabbing Michael Fowler closed the game out with two scoreless innings in relief.

 

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DSL Brewers Blue 12, DSL Orioles Black 3
Box Score

The DSL Brewers Blue put on an offensive clinic, routing the DSL Orioles Black 12-3 on Tuesday. The Brewers’ bats were locked in from the opening frame, launching a relentless 11-hit attack that included five home runs.

The power surge was led by third baseman Leanders Matos and center fielder Gerlyn Payano, who both had big days at the plate. The 16 year-old Matos turned in a perfect 4-for-4 performance, including a solo shot in the third inning. Matos now sports a 1.328 at the conclusion of play Tuesday. Payano provided the definitive fireworks by blasting two separate solo home runs—one in the sixth and another in the seventh. Shortstop Jose Rodriguez also hit a solo homer of his own in the third and later added a triple, while catcher Sebastian Franeites cracked a two-run homer during a decisive four-run sixth inning.

Starting pitcher Carlos Galindo earned the win after a solid five inning performance, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out four. Galindo also issued four free passes (three walks and one HBP). Lukas Gonzalez stepped in to lock down a four-inning save, keeping the Orioles at bay to close out a dominant team victory.

While the Brewers' lineup was explosive, they were also heavily aided by an incredibly sloppy defensive showing from the Orioles, who committed a dumbfounding six errors over the course of the game. The Brewers left 11 runners on base and technically went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position, but their extra-base power the line kept moving. With the victory, DSL Brewers Blue improve their early-season record to 8-2.

 

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DSL Orioles Orange 5, DSL Brewers Blue 2
Box Score

In the other half of their showdown with the Orioles, the Brewers Blue was not as successful as their Gold counterparts. The Brewers' pitching staff struggled mightily with command all morning, combining to issue 10 walks over eight innings. German-born starting pitcher Paul Hoff kept things competitive through 4.1 innings, allowing just two runs on two hits while striking out four, but his performance was marred by four walks and three wild pitches.

Offensively, the Brewers actually out-hit the Orioles six to four, while jumping out to an early 2-0 lead, but struggled to cash in when it mattered most, finishing 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position and leaving 11 men stranded on base.

 

Left fielder Angeni Fernandez was a bright spot at the top of the lineup, turning in a 2-for-4 performance and causing havoc on the basepaths with two stolen bases. Center fielder Manny De Los Santos also flexed his speed, drawing two walks and swiping three bags on the day. The Brewers’ only runs came courtesy of an RBI single by catcher Francisco De Marchena in the second inning, and a sacrifice fly from Jefer Lista in the fifth.

With the loss, the Brewers Gold slide further down the DSL Central standings, dropping their record to 3-9 on the early season. 

 

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On Wednesday, Nashville's game at noon Central is MiLB's free game of the day. The other full-season affiliates have traditional early-evening starts, though be safe, Biloxi, things look ominous. There's one Dominican League game this AM, as the 8-2 Brewers Blue squad hosts a 9-3 Astros team.

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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