Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/7): Early Deficits, Lack of Timely Hitting Doom System on 5-Loss Night

[Ben Lepak]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

Transactions: 

• Milwaukee Brewers recalled LHP Robert Gasser from ACL Brewers.
• Milwaukee Brewers sent RHP Carlos Rodriguez on a rehab assignment to Nashville Sounds.
• Milwaukee Brewers selected the contract of LF Greg Jones from Nashville Sounds.
• Milwaukee Brewers optioned CF Blake Perkins to Nashville Sounds.
• Milwaukee Brewers recalled CF Luis Lara from Nashville Sounds.

 

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Game Action:

Nashville pre-game media notes
Charlotte (White Sox) 8, Nashville 2
Box Score

As always, you are encouraged to read the official round-up from the team’s site:

Early Slam Quiets Sounds in Series Opener - Matos earns his second straight multi-hit game, his 9th of the season for Nashville

With all the aforementioned transactions, shuffling players to and from the big-league club, the shorthanded Sounds fell to Charlotte 8-2 in their series opener Tuesday night. The Sounds fell behind 5-0 after two innings and never really threatened to make it a game, despite collecting eights hits and four walks.  As a team, the Sounds were 0-for-7 with RISP.

Luis Matos provided the lone extra-base hit for the Sounds with this home run, courtesy of the Nashville X account:

The Sounds’ other run came on an Eddys Leonard GIDP.

Carlos Rodriguez made his second rehab start and didn’t make it through two full frames. Rodriguez left with the bases loaded, due in part to an error. Peter Strzelecki then came on and allowed a grand slam to the first batter he faced. The only positive appearance on the mound for the Sounds was from Blake Holub who struck out the side in the 8^th inning.

The loss drops the Sounds to 7-6 in the second half and 50-38 overall. RHP Tyson Hardin (3-1, 3.67 ERA) will look to get the Sounds back on track on Wednesday.

 

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Biloxi pre-game media notes
Knoxville (Cubs) 9, Biloxi 4
Box Score

Fischer Stars in Return to Knoxville, Shuckers Fall to Smokies - Shuckers extend home run streak to second-longest in Southern League during Digital Stats Era

Biloxi dropped their first game in their series in Andrew Fischer and Blake Burke’s return to Knoxville, where they played at the University of Tennessee.  The game got off to a promising start when Fischer just missed another home run when he laced a ball to center for a triple. Fischer came around to score on a Mike Boeve sac fly to give the Shuckers an early 1-0 lead.

Matthew Wood added his 12^th home run of the year to make it 2-0 Shuckers, highlight here courtesy of the Shuckers’ X account:

After Knoxville responded with a solo home run in their half of the fifth, Josh Adamczewski launched his second AA home run of the season:

Unfortunately, the wheels fell off for Biloxi in the 6^th, when Knoxville rallied for a six-run frame and put the game out of reach.

Fischer was once again the story of the Shuckers’ offense. Fischer had three extra-base hits, two of which he banged off the wall, narrowly missing out on adding to his home run total. Check out all of Fischer’s hits here:

Adamczewski was the only other Shucker with two hits. As a team, the Shuckers went 1-for-8 with RISP.

On the mound, both Manuel Rodgriguez (5ER in 5.1IP) and Anthony Flores (4ER in 2.1 IP) were roughed up. Although not charged with any errors officially, the defense wasn’t super clean behind them. Adamczewski took a circuitous route on what looked like a catchable ball that led to a double early in the game. Ragsdale had a chance to make a great catch at the wall and missed it in the big six run rally. The Shuckers also allowed five stolen bases, including a double steal of home.

The Shuckers are now 8-5 in the second half and 43-35 on the season. RHP Travis Smith (0-1, 6.75 ERA) is scheduled to make his second start and fifth appearance at AA in Wednesday’s game.

 

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Wisconsin pre-game media notes
Beloit (Marlins) 7, Wisconsin 2
Box Score

Sky Carp Take Tuesday’s Series Opener from Wisconsin - Rattlers fall behind early and can’t come back in game one

Continuing the theme of tough nights in the system on Tuesday, Wisconsin was soundly beaten 7-2. Wisconsin managed just five hits (one double) but did draw eight walks. However, the team was just 1-for-9 with RISP and struck out 12 times, resulting in a fangless offensive attack on Tuesday.

The Rattlers fell behind 2-0 after two innings. Starter Ethan Dorchies (4.1IP 3H 2ER 2BB 3K) held the game in check from there, but was pulled in the fifth at 82 pitches. Chandler Welch came on and struck out three in 1.2IP. However, Quinton Low couldn’t make it through his inning, and when the dust settled after a homer, bases loaded walk and wild pitch, the Rattlers trailed 5-0.

Luis Pena had the only RBI of the night for Wisconsin on a single. You can check out all the highlights, or lack thereof below:

Wisconsin is 11-4 in the second half and tied for first place in the second half standings.  RHP Daniel Corniel (0-1, 1.93 ERA) is listed as the probable starter for Wednesday’s game.  

 

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Wilson pre-game media notes
Wilson 10, Fayetteville (Astros) 9, F/11
Box Score

Di Turi Secures Walk Off Win Over Fayetteville

Wilson made things much more difficult than it needed to be in their extra innings affair on Tuesday night. Wilson blew separate leads of four and three runs, but still pulled out the victory in their 10^th walk-off win of the season.

Brady Ebel got the scoring started for Wilson with an RBI double. Pedro Ibarguen knocked in two with a chopper to give the Warbirds an early 4-0 lead:

After Fayetteville knotted the game at 5-5, Frederi Montero provided the big fly, a three-run home run that looked like it would give Wilson the win:

However, Fayetteville rallied for three runs in the top of the 9^th to eventually send the game to extra innings.  After a scoreless 10^th, Fayetteville actually took the lead with a run in the 11^th.  Juan Ortuno responded by lacing a double to tie the game. Ortuno led the Warbirds with three hits and four funs scored. Then, with the rain pouring down, and with just a few dozen fans still in the park, Filippo di Turi walked it off for Wilson with a single. Di Turi had only entered the game in the 10^th after Juan Martinez left the game when he banged knees covering a bunt at first base.

The Wilson pitching staff struggled with control all night combining to walk 16 batters. Starter Miqueas Mercedes, who turned 20 on Tuesday, threw four one-run innings, despite four walks. Mercedes struck out six on his birthday. The two relievers (Enniel Cortez and Ismael Yanez) that followed Mercedes walked a whopping 10 men in just 4.1 combined innings. Eric Prado did great work to earn the win, working around the Manfred Man in the extra innings and allowing just one unearned run in 2.2IP.

With the win, Wilson cuts Fayetteville’s lead to just one game in the second half standings. RHP Jacob Morrison (0-1, 4.58 ERA) toes the slab for Wilson on Wednesday.

 

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ACL Reds 9, ACL Brewers 4
Box Score

The ACL Brewers, in the theme of the day, fell behind early and never threatened to make the game close, falling 9-4 in the desert.  The pitching staff struggled early and often, starting with opener Rob Zastryzny, who took the loss after recording just two outs and surrendering two earned runs in the opening frame. The Brewers' bullpen couldn't quite stop the bleeding, allowing a pair of home runs and a total of seven earned runs over the course of the night, playing from behind the entire night.

Offensively, the Brewers showed some flashes, putting together a seven-hit performance led by multi-hit games from right fielder Gerlyn Payano and first baseman Ramon Flores. Flores sparked the lineup by scoring twice, while Payano drove in a run with a third-inning triple. The highlight of the night for the Brewers offense came late from Engel Paulino, who launched his sixth home run of the season in the top of the eighth.

Despite those bright spots, missed opportunities and defensive miscues hindered the Brewers' comeback efforts. The lineup struggled mightily with RISP, going just 1-for-10 and leaving nine runners stranded on base. Coupled with two throwing errors in the field that led to a pair of unearned runs for the Reds, the Brewers simply couldn't string together enough clean innings to close the gap, dropping their season record to 24-25.

 

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DSL Brewers Gold 4, DSL Cubs Blue 2
Box Score

The DSL Brewers Gold put together a complete team effort to secure a 4-2 victory over the DSL Cubs Blue, bringing their season record to an even 13-13.

The story of the day was the Brewers' stellar pitching staff, which combined to hold the Cubs to just a single hit (thought they walked seven) over seven innings. Reliever Paul Hoff (4IP 0H 1ER 4BB 6K) earned his second win of the season with a strong middle-innings performance, while Wandy Cabrera shut the door late to lock down his second save, stifling any hopes of a Cubs comeback.

The Brewers' offense broke the game open with a decisive three-run outburst in the top of the fourth inning. Josue Rodriguez delivered the biggest hit of the game, smashing a clutch two-run triple to right field that brought home Angeni Fernandez and Carlos Done. Moments later, Rodriguez showcased some sharp baserunning by hustling home to score on a wild pitch during Manny De Los Santos's at-bat, extending the lead to 3-0. Fernandez and Rodriguez paced the Brewers with two hits apiece.

An insurance run in the top of the fifth inning on a single from Enrique Oropeza provided some extra breathing room for the Brewers. The Gold squad has now run off wins in nine of their last 10 games. They reached the .500 mark for the first time all season after an 0-4 start and after being as many as eight games below .500.

 

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DSL Padres Gold 7. DSL Brewers Blue 5 (game called after the top of the 9th)
Box Score

The DSL Brewers Blue suffered a frustrating, weather-shortened 7-5 defeat against the DSL Padres Gold, with a late-game rally that was ultimately cut short. The Brewers dug themselves an early hole, surrendering a run in the first inning and falling victim to a costly four-run fifth inning by the Padres. Starter Luis Aguayo absorbed the loss despite pitching fairly well (3IP 3H 1ER 0BB 3K).

Despite trailing 5-0, the Brewers showed plenty of resilience and steadily chipped away at the lead. They got on the board in the bottom of the fifth on a Cristian Montilla infield single.  Then added another run in the sixth courtesy of a solo blast by Enrique Lovera. After the Padres extended their lead to 7-2 in the eighth, the Brewers mounted a three-run response in the bottom of the frame, narrowing the gap to just two runs.

Just as momentum seemed to be swinging in their favor, Mother Nature intervened. The game was abruptly called due to lightning after the top of the ninth inning, completely stripping the Brewers of their final chance to complete the comeback in the bottom of the ninth. It was a bitter pill to swallow for a squad that had fought back within striking distance before the weather locked in the final score.

Montilla and Leanders Matos each had multi-hit days for the Brewers. The newly turned 17 year-old Matos’ OPS on the season is an absurd 1.076. Wilmer Duarte had a rough day on the mound, surrendering six earned runs and hitting four batters in three innings of work. The trio of Lonell Downs, Merwin Manrique, and Manuel Moreno (season debut) all tossed scoreless innings in their appearances for the Brewers.

With the loss, the Brewers Blue fell to 15-12 on the season.

 

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Wednesday features just the four full-season affiliates, as the rookie ball squads all have the day off. Wilson and Wisconsin get things started with day games at 10AM and 12PM CT respectively. 

 

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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[igor67]

Fischer is up to 70 PAs in AA and still out hitting High numbers, perhaps most significant is that his K rate has dropped a bit down to 31.4% from 33.3%

[eklinka]

50 minutes ago, igor67 said:

Fischer is up to 70 PAs in AA and still out hitting High numbers, perhaps most significant is that his K rate has dropped a bit down to 31.4% from 33.3%

I think more importantly, his contact rate is at 77.1% which is still below average, but decent for his profile. The 69% at A+ was very concerning, but if he stays where he is, 31% K rate isn't looking so horrible.