Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/21): Manuel Rodriguez Shines in Near No-No, Rest of System Struggles at the Plate

[Ben Lepak]

Image courtesy of BrewerFanatic

The Biloxi Shuckers came a tantalizing three outs away from a no-hitter on Tuesday. Josh Adamczewski powered the Shuckers to a 5-0 win. The rest of the full-season affiliates combined for just five runs and one win. In DSL action, the Brewers narrowly avoided a no-hitter.

 

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Transactions: 

• RHP Manuel Moreno assigned to DSL Brewers Gold from DSL Brewers Blue

 

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Game Action:

Nashville pre-game media notes
Sugar Land (Astros) 3, Nashville 2, F/10
Box Score

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

Sounds Suffer Extra-Inning Walk-Off Loss to Sugar Land - Tyler Black extends on-base streak to 25 consecutive games

Nashville suffered a narrow 3-2 extra-inning loss to Sugar Land Tuesday night at Constellation Field. Despite a solid pitching performance and holding a mid-game lead, the Sounds were unable to hold on down the stretch, ultimately dropping the contest in ten innings.

The Sounds struck first in the second inning thanks to an RBI single from Ethan Murray, and catcher Andrick Nava later reclaimed a 2-1 lead with a solo home run in the fifth inning. That would be the extent of the excitement for the Sounds’ offense, which managed just four other singles on the night. Luke Adams had two of the singles and now sports a .953 OPS on the season. The rehabbing David Hamilton was in action and singled in his return. However, Hamilton was one of the three players who were caught stealing for Nashville.

On the mound, left-handed starter Thomas Pannone delivered a quality outing, yielding just two earned runs on three hits over 5.2 innings while striking out five. The bullpen was largely effective in keeping the game tied, highlighted by Blake Holub, who tossed two scoreless frames with three strikeouts to force extras. Unfortunately, the tenth inning proved to be Nashville's undoing when Reiss Knehr allowed the "ghost runner" to score with one out, handing the Space Cowboys the walk-off victory.

Nashville is 11-11 in the second half and six games out of a playoff berth. RHP Garrett Stallings (3-3, 3.68 ERA) will take the hill on Wednesday.

 

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Biloxi pre-game media notes
Biloxi 5, Chattanooga (Reds) 0
Box Score

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

Rodriguez, Shuckers Staff Shines in One-Hit Shutout - Biloxi Carries No-No into Ninth, Still Blank Chattanooga

The Biloxi Shuckers put on a pitching masterclass Tuesday night at Erlanger Park, falling just three outs shy of a combined no-hitter in a dominant 5-0 shutout.

Right-hander Manuel Rodriguez was spectacular on the mound, keeping the Lookouts hitless through six dazzling innings. Rodriguez racked up six strikeouts and surrendered just two walks, earning the win to improve to 10-3 on the season. That makes Rodriguez the 9th Shucker to win 10 games in a season:

VIDEO via MLB.com: Rodriguez' spins six no-hit innings

The bullpen nearly completed the combined no-hitter, with Nick Merkel and Jesus Broca continuing the hitless streak before Will Childers allowed a lone single to Graham in the ninth inning.

On the offensive side, Biloxi supplied more than enough run support to back up their dominant pitching. Josh Adamczewski continued his torrid season at AA, going 2-for-3 and crushing a solo home run in the sixth inning to break the game open. Feast your eyes on Adamczewski’s homer here, courtesy of the Biloxi X account:

Adamczewski also added a scorching double and drew a pair of walks, reaching base in four of his five plate appearances and raising his OPS to .986. Mark Coley II joined the home run party with a blast of his own in the seventh:

Meanwhile, Dylan O'Rae continued to wreak havoc on the basepaths, crossing the plate twice and swiping three bases to push his season total to an impressive 43 steals. Blake Burke added two hits and a steal as well.

Biloxi improves to 14-8 in the second half.  RHP Travis Smith (0-1, 5.52 ERA) is scheduled to make his third AA start of the season for Biloxi on Wednesday.

 

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Wisconsin pre-game media notes
South Bend (Cubs) 5, Wisconsin 2
Box Score

South Bend Takes Game One from Wisconsin - Kepley continues to torment Timber Rattlers

Wisconsin fell to South Bend 5-2, unable to sustain their offensive momentum after an early rally. The Cubs jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning, but Wisconsin answered back in the top of the third to tie the game. Luis Castillo sparked the offense by launching his 12th home run of the season to center field, which you can see here courtesy of the Wisconsin X account:

Shortly after, Eric Bitonti delivered an RBI single on a line drive to right field, bringing Braylon Payne across the plate and evening the score at 2-2.

Unfortunately for the Timber Rattlers, their bats went cold for the remainder of the night, finishing the game with just five total hits. South Bend immediately reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the third inning and tacked on two more insurance runs in the fifth.

Ethan Dorchies started and for the first time since June 18, he allowed more than two earned runs. It was an uneven performance for the 19-year-old as he threw just 44 of 80 pitches for strikes, allowing all five Cub runs on four hits and three walks with just a lone strike out. Chandler Welch took over for Dorchies and delivered three flawless innings with four strikeouts. Jose Meneses tacked on a scoreless frame, but the Rattlers could not muster any more offense in the late innings

With the loss, Wisconsin falls to 14-10 in the second half, 1.5 games out of first. LHP Wande Torres (6-5, 4.85 ERA) will look to rebound from a tough outing (3 IP 5ER) in his last start.

 

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Wilson pre-game media notes
Wilson 1, Charleston (Rays) 0
Box Score

Wilson Wins Pitcher’s Duel in Series Opener at Charleston - Three Warbirds Combine on Shutout

Wilson blanked Charleston 1-0 in a Carolina League pitcher’s duel Tuesday night, despite a whopping seven combined errors by the teams.

The bats were quiet for both teams for most of the night, but the Warbirds finally broke the deadlock in the top of the 8th inning. Kevin Garcia and Juan Ortuno got things rolling with a pair of singles. After Charleston opted to intentionally walk Alexander Frias to load the bases, Rylan Mills showed off his plate discipline, drawing a clutch bases-loaded walk to bring Garcia home for the game's only run.

On the mound, it was a lethal three-headed attack from the Warbird pitching staff.  Miqueas Mercedes started and went four scoreless innings, working around three hits and two walks. Hayden Robinson was even better in his four-inning outing, allowing just one hit and two walks to earn the win. Both Mercedes and Robinson struck out four. After the Warbirds took the lead in the top of the 8^th, Joshua Quezada needed just nine pitches to earn his fourth save of the season.

The win moves Wilson (12-11) just a half game out of first in the second half standings. RHP Diustin Mayorquin (0-0, 0.00) is set to make his first start in full-season ball on Wednesday.  Mayorquin tossed three scoreless innings in his first Low A appearance last week.

 

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DSL Astros Blue 7, DSL Brewers Gold 3
Box Score

The DSL Brewers Gold came one out from being no-hit on Tuesday morning. With two down in the top of the 9^th, second baseman Romano Donato connected on a solo home run to break up the no-no. It was just the fourth hit of the season for Donato in 42 at-bats.

The Brewers other two runs came courtesy of a throwing error and wild pitch. As a team, the Gold squad managed to take six walks and steal two bases. However, they also struck out 11 times and went 0-for-8 with RISP.

On the mound, Daniel Garcia started and for the first time in his now three appearances (five innings) this season, Garcia allowed a run. 20-year-old Carlos Canales (3 IP 1H 2BB) had his longest outing since 2024, while not allowing any runs to close the game.

The Brewers Gold are now 19-15 on the year.

 

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DSL LAD Mega 8, DSL Brewers Blue 7
Box Score

Despite a furious comeback attempt in the final innings, the DSL Brewers Blue dropped a tough 8-7 decision to DSL LAD Mega on Tuesday.

Starting pitcher Luis Aguayo delivered a strong performance to keep the game close early, tossing five innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out four. If you take out Aguayo’s five-run 1.1 inning outing on June 30, the 18-year-old righty has only allowed three earned runs across his other 19 innings this season.

Johanderson Tarazona socked an RBI double in the 4th inning to get the Brewers on the board. Leanders Matos had a fly ball single that briefly knotted the game at 2-2. That would be it for the Brewers’ offense until late in the game.

The Brewers found themselves in a deep 8-2 hole heading into the bottom of the 8th inning after the bullpen surrendered a combined six runs in the 7th and 8th.

Roniel Paulino was a major bright spot in the lineup, leading the offensive charge by going 2-for-5 with three RBI. Paulino’s two-run double in the 8^th cut the deficit to 8-4. Enrique Lovera then followed Paulino with a double of his own to make it 8-5.

In the 9^th, a sac fly from Frandy Lafond and a single from Paulino cut the deficit to one. Unfortunately, the tying run was left stranded on second when Tarazona struck out to end the game.

Lafond was a menace on the basepaths. Though he officially went 0-for-1, he walked three times, scored twice, picked up an RBI, and stole three bases. As a team, the Brewers stole seven bags on the day.

The DSL Brewers Blue are now 20-15 on the season.

 

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Wednesday features two matinees on the schedule. Wisconsin gets things started with an 11AM CT first pitch, The ACL Brewers will follow with their penultimate game of the season at noon. The three other full-season affiliates will be in action in the evening.

I will be down in the Bay next week for Brewers/Giants, so I will be back with you on Thursday next week.  Until then, enjoy the games!

 

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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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