Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/21): Shuckers Clinch First Half Title Via Doubleheader Sweep

[Ro Mueller]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

For the week, Biloxi (3-1) and Wisconsin (3-2) were series winners, Wilson (3-3) managed a series split and Nashville (2-4) came up short.

 

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Transactions:

• (from credible sources) OF Alexander Frias promoted to Low-A Wilson from ACL Brewers
• LHP Santiago Martinez placed on DSL Brewers Gold’s 7-day injured list

 

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Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Memphis (Cardinals) 10, Nashville 8
Box Score

Via the Sounds’ website, game details and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Seven-Run Rally By Nashville Falls Short to Conclude First Half

All the factors seemed to line up against Nashville on Sunday, playing on the road against a Memphis team looking to clinch the first half International League title. Further, Memphis knew that title rival Rochester already trailed 6-0 in its contest (MILB – shouldn’t these games have started at the same exact time?), while the Sounds had no starting pitcher available after RHP Brett Wichrowski was placed on the injured list on Saturday.

That meant Sounds’ spot starter RHP Will Childers (first start since 2023) was likely to toss a lot of strikes in an attempt to cover more than one inning. Childers succeeded on the first part (26 strikes in 33 pitches), but the Redbirds simply took advantage of it: lead-off double, everybody safe on sacrifice bunt, RBI single, 3-run homer, ground out, solo homer – i.e. a 5-0 first inning lead.

Of course, 22-year old DH/INF Luke Adams was undeterred, hitting a ball 91.7mph in the first inning (fly out), blasting a solo homer 384 feet in the 4th inning (to trail 6-1), hitting the next solo homer 437 feet (to trail 10-2 in the 6th inning), missing the chance at a 3-run blast in the 7th inning (pop up to still trail 10-5), then definitely not missing the next one: 404-foot, 3-run homer to cut the deficit to 10-8 with 1 out in the top of the 9th inning.

RHP Kaleb Bowman (2 IP, 0 R, 1 K), rehabbing LHP Jared Koenig (2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 Ks) and LHP Mark Manfredi (1 IP, 0 R, 3 Ks) issued blanks over the final frames at least give the offense a chance at a miracle comeback. Unfortunately, Adams’ last blast was the team’s final hit, with Luke (3-for-5, 5 RBIs) accounting for 50% of the team’s base knocks.

Koenig’s appearance in consecutive games over the weekend (95.6mph peak velocity on Saturday, 95.0mph on Sunday) is typically a sign that a rehabbing player is ready to be activated by the Brewers. This was also his 12th outing for Nashville since May 29, so let’s see if he’s activated early this week.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Nashville’s 6-man pitching committee only issued 2 walks, but collectively conceded 15 hits, with RHP Junior Fernandez (1 1/3 IP, 4 R, 1 K) putting up a similar line as Childers (1 IP, 5 R, 0 Ks).
• The Sounds’ offense did draw 9 walks, but went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Adams registered the team’s only extra-base hits.
• C Ramon Rodriguez (1-for-3, walk), 3B Jett Williams (0-for-3, 2 walks, RBI, 2 SBs) and OF Tyler Black (1-for-4, walk, RBI, SB) each had respectable afternoons at the plate.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville comes home to prepare for 6 games against Braves’ affiliate Gwinnett, with the first game scheduled for Tuesday evening.

 

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Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Game One Final: Biloxi 3, Columbus (Braves) 2 (in 7 innings)
Box Score
Game Two Final: Biloxi 9, Columbus 4 (in 7 innings)
Box Score

Via the Shuckers’ website, doubleheader details: Shuckers Clinch South Division in Doubleheader Domination

After playing just 2 1/2 out of 6 scheduled contests over the prior 5 days, Mother Nature finally cooperated to give Biloxi the chance to clinch the first half Southern League South division title.

The first game was a resumption of Friday’s suspended contest, tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 3rd inning in a game scheduled to go only 7 frames. Despite only leading Pensacola (playing elsewhere) by 1/2 game in the standings, the Shuckers knew that a victory in either end of their Sunday doubleheader would give them the title based on the first tie-breaker.

OF Eric Brown Jr. (1-for-2, walk) triggered a rally from a 2-1 deficit in the 5th inning of the first game, reaching on an infield single and aggressively claiming second base on a fly out to center field. RBI singles from 2B Dylan O’Rae (2-for-4) and 1B Blake Burke (1-for-3, walk) followed to give Biloxi the only lead they would require at 3-2.

Stellar RHP Cameron Wagoner (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) had minimal difficulty closing it out, working around a single in the 6th inning and an 8-pitch walk in the final frame.

As you’ve read in the linked game report, the talented Shuckers did not rest on their laurels, with 21-year old RHP Bishop Letson (5 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 4 Ks) delivering his 4th consecutive solid outing before Burke, 3B Andrew Fischer, SS Jesus Made and OF Mike Boeve had fun facing the Clingstones’ relief corps over the final 3 innings:

Burke also plays fine defense at the cold corner:

Shuckers’ Extras:

• 20-year old Manuel Rodriguez (2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K) covered the middle innings of the first game, conceding his 17th homer of the season’s first half to commence the 5th inning. The next Clingstone hitter singled and stole second base, but Rodriguez buckled down to strand him, before Brown Jr. started the rally.
• The Shuckers outhit Columbus 20-11 over the two games, with Made (4-for-6, HR, walk, 4 RBIs) and O’Rae (4-for-7, triple, double, walk, 2 RBIs, SB) leading the way.
• 25-year old Brown Jr. (.230 AVG, .697 OPS) may not be doing quite what was expected of the 27th overall pick of the 2022 draft, but his .361 on-base percentage and solid defense (center field in these 2 games; also strong in middle infield) may still pave the way to the Show one day.
• While RHP Travis Smith (1 IP, 3 R, 0 Ks) struggled in his 2nd-ever AA outing, RHP Edwin Jimenez (1 IP, 0 R, 1 K) had no such difficulty in finishing out the weekend.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi travels to Montgomery, Alabama for a 6-game set against the Rays’ affiliate, with the series kicking off on Tuesday evening.

 

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Rain Out: Wisconsin at Quad Cities (Royals)

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, rain out details: Rattlers and River Bandits Rained Out

For those a bit frustrated that recent High-A graduates Andrew Fischer and Josh Adamczewski faced numerous rain-outs it the AA Southern League this week, aren’t we happy that they were in Biloxi on Sunday instead of resting in Iowa?

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin returns home to play 6 games against Twins’ affiliate Cedar Rapids, starting on Tuesday.

 

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Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Charleston (Rays) 11, Wilson 2
Box Score

Via the Warbirds’ website, game details: Charleston Overpowers Wilson in Series Finale

Starting 20-year old LHP Joey Broughton followed up his scoreless Tuesday start with a solid first inning here (3 Ks, 2 singles, 0 runs), but exited immediately after that frame. Hopefully it was a planned short outing, but we’ll have to watch his status.

Wilson needed to get more than one run out of its 4-walk, 1 single second inning, but an out on the basepaths hurt them before LHP Enderson Mercado (1 2/3 IP, 6 R, 4 H, 4 BB, 1 K) was touched for 5 runs in the next half-inning.

After stranding the bases loaded in the 2nd frame, 2B Filippo Di Turi doubled (1-for-3, 2 walks, RBI, SB) home a run to narrow the gap to 6-2 with runners on 2nd and 3rd and nobody out in the 3rd inning, but both baserunners were stranded as part of a 2-for-13 afternoon with runners in scoring position.

After a 1B Frederi Montero (1-for-3, 2 walks) single and Di Turi walk to open the 5th inning resulted in zero runs, the RiverDogs managed to push 2 runs across against RHP Thomas Conrad (3 1/3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 1 K) to essentially put the game out of reach.

Warbirds’ Extras:

• RHP Jose Meneses (2 IP, 0 R, 3 Ks; 2.06 ERA) dominated yet again in relief, though RHP Ismael Yanez (1 IP, 3 R, 2 Ks) struggled.
• Despite just 2 runs scored, Team Wilson did have 7 hits and draw 10 walks, so there were some additional decent lines in the box score: 3B Juan Ortuno (2-for-5, SB), SS Brady Ebel (1-for-4, double, walk), OF Pedro Ibarguen (1-for-4, walk), OF Handelfry Encarnacion (0-for-2, 3 walks).

Next week’s outlook: Wilson make the drive over to Fredericksburg, Virginia for a 6-game series against the Nationals’ affiliate, commencing on Tuesday.

 

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We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Monday, four rookie level minor league games are on the agenda, including DSL Brewers Blue hosting DSL Red Sox Red in a doubleheader at 9:00am CST. DSL Brewers Gold play at DSL Reds at 10:00am, while the ACL Brewers play at the ACL Diamondbacks at 8:00pm CST. Elsewhere, the Milwaukee Brewers commence their series at the Reds at 6:10pm 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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[jay87shot]

Does anyone have a scouting report on Jose Meneses his stats are intriguing? Is there enough stuff to be a legit reliever?