Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/12): Wilson Reveals How to Earn an Extra Inning Win

[Ro Mueller]

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Lots of contact was enough to push ghost runners across in the 10th and 11th innings in Wilson’s win. Nashville and Wisconsin both dropped one-run games, but Sal Frelick’s rehab is looking good. Biloxi was blown out.

 

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Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Indianapolis (Pirates) 4, Nashville 3
Box Score

Via a Sounds’ press release, game details: Sounds Drop Game Two to Indianapolis on Wednesday Night

In their second one-run game of this week’s series, Nashville ended up on the wrong side this time, despite only allowing five hits and two walks (vs. five hits, 11 walks and three HBPs earned by Sounds’ batters). That can happen when three of the hits allowed are home runs, all unfortunately against starting LHP Colton Gordon (6 1/3 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 Ks).

As a Brewers’ fan, I’ve a sudden appreciation for how quickly Gordon covered first base for the final out of the 4th inning. This is a terrific flip by 1B Blake Burke as well:

Two-out hits by Sal Frelick (1-for-2, double, 2 walks, HBP – fourth game of rehab, all as the DH) and C Bo Naylor brought the Sounds to within a run in the 4th inning, but that’s as close as they’d get.

Burke’s first hit in AAA ball gave the team a chance while trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th inning, but a ground ball double play and strike out ended the game.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Gordon exited after 96 pitches (62 strikes), yielding to RHPs Gerson Garabito and Grant Anderson, who were solid in relief (combined 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 K). Garabito did, however, allow the Indians’ only hit with a runner in scoring position after inheriting a baserunner from Gordon.
• Nashville stranded 11 baserunners (vs. five for the opposition), including two in the 4th inning and the bases loaded in the 8th inning.
• Outfielders Tyler Black (1-for-2, walk, HBP) and Akil Baddoo (1-for-3, 2 walks) each reached base three times in the close loss.

Thursday’s outlook: The Sounds have yet to name a starter, as they seek to claim a 2-1 series lead.

 

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Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Pensacola (Marlins) 13, Biloxi 4
Box Score

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

Shuckers Set Single-Season Franchise Stolen Base Record in Loss to Blue Wahoos

If it feels like Biloxi’s games are the highest scoring in the Southern League, it’s because they are – the team leads the league by scoring 5.83 runs/game, but also concedes the second-most: 5.69 runs/game.

Starting 22-year old LHP JD Thompson (3 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 4 Ks) worked around traffic in his AA debut, exiting after 73 pitches while trailing 2-1, but RHP Garrett Hodges (2/3 IP, 6 R, 0 Ks) was rudely greeted with a first pitch homer to open a six-run fourth inning.

Despite their immense talent, the Shuckers have now dropped seven consecutive contests, though the positive offensive numbers continue to pile up. SS Jesus Made (1-for-3, 2 walks) and 2B Daniel Guilarte (2-for-3, walk, SB) both reached base three times, while 1B Andrew Fischer delivered an early RBI single and OF Damon Keith smacked his first home run since early May after recently returning from a two+ month injury.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• 3B Mike Boeve (2-for-4, SB) and C Matt Wood (1-for-3, double, walk) also had solid offensive days, despite the loss.
• Each of Biloxi’s five pitchers (including position player Jheremy Vargas) conceded at least one earned run and multiple hits, but RHP Ryan Birchard (2 IP, 1 R, 4 Ks) did manage to strike out half the batters he faced.
• After being quite effective much of the season, RHP Stiven Cruz has hit a rough patch: 2 1/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks last night; 20 earned runs over last 15 2/3 innings pitched.

Thursday’s outlook: RHP Braylon Owens was terrific in his last outing (6 IP, 1 R, 7 Ks) and Biloxi needs him at his best again to halt their skid.

 

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Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Cedar Rapids (Twins) 6, Wisconsin 5 (in 13 innings)
Box Score

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details:

Win Slips Away from Wisconsin - Cedar Rapids scores two runs in thirteenth for 6-5 win

From the linked game report: “Fowler got a grounder near second off the bat of McCombs. Daniel Dickinson flipped to Alastre for the forceout on pinch-runner Byron Chourio.  However, Alastre’s throw to first was wild to allow the placed runner to score the tying run.”

That’s how close Wisconsin was to closing out a hard-fought 4-3 victory in 12 innings, including three straight scoreless extra frames in spite of the ghost runner starting at second base. But alas, the squad will have to take the moral victory and come right back at them on Thursday.

Largely emulating their big league brethren, the Timber Rattlers battled into extra innings on the road, drove the ghost runner home (twice in Wisconsin’s case) but ultimately fell short.

Solid pitching by High-A debutant LHP Andrew Healy (5 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks), RHP Jacob Morrison (5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 Ks) and RHP Michael Fowler positioned the team for a potential gritty win. SS Luiyin Alastre drove home the team’s first run with this solid single into center field.

After his injury-plagued 2025 campaign, OF Luis Castillo (1-for-4, walk) is playing with renewed confidence and success in 2026. His leadoff walk in the 7th inning sparked Wisconsin’s three-run outburst. DH Luis Pena (2-for-5, walk, RBI, 2 SBs) is also producing, driving in the game-tying run in that frame and reaching base three times.

Fowler (2 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 1 K) did an amazing job to work around a walk to open the bottom of the 10th inning with the game tied 3-3: pop out, ground ball force out, ground out. By contrast, RHP Jose Nova’s nightmare 2026 season continued, as he conceded a first pitch single to tie the game 5-5, then the game-winning double in an 0-2 count.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• OF Sawyer Strosnider is fitting right in, collecting two hits, stealing a base and driving home runs in the 7th and 13th innings. C Blayberg Diaz also got the job done with his RBI double with two outs in the 12th inning.
• Credit to Cedar Rapids for getting the 8th inning run they needed against tough Morrison, earned by their leadoff batter coming back from an 0-2 count to draw a walk, steal second and score on a single.
• OF Braylon Payne has been a massive contributor all season, but unfortunately went 0-for-5 this time out (but did draw a walk). As the ghost runner in the 11th inning, he was thrown out on a ground ball to the shortstop, then hit into a double play in the top of the 13th inning while trying to tack on an insurance run.

Thursday’s outlook: Now 21 years old after a Monday birthday, RHP Josh Knoth (5 IP, 3 R, 8 Ks last outing) is Wisconsin’s scheduled starter, with the team needing a win to avoid an 0-3 series hole which would put them further behind in the second half playoff chase.

 

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Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wilson 5, Columbia (Royals) 4 (in 11 innings)
Box Score

Via the Warbirds’ website, game details:

Warbirds Come From Behind Four Times in Walk-Off Win - Espinal Picks Up First Win

The headline tells the major story in Wilson’s victory, which keeps them 1.5 games behind division-leading Fayetteville. 18-year old, 5’11” LHP Joan Pena also made his Low-A debut, allowing just one run in 3 2/3 innings of relief (5 H, 2 BB, 5 Ks), with assists from C Rylan Mills (caught stealing third) and RHP Joshua Quezada to get out of the 8th inning still down only 3-2.

OF Kyle Jones’ two-out RBI single tied the game in the bottom of the 8th inning, then Quezada (2 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 4 Ks) stranded two baserunners for himself in the top of the 9th. This was long after Mills had homered and 1B Carsten Sabathia III delivered an RBI single for the team’s first two runs.

A chaotic play (yet another ground ball to the right side of the infield) saw Columbia grab the lead in the top of the 10th inning and also led to Wilson Manager Eddy Morgan’s early exit (joining the Fireflies’ manager who’d been ejected six innings earlier), but Quezada (strikeout) and RHP Cesar Espinal (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 K) combined to strand baserunners at 2nd and 3rd to keep it a one-run game.

Two ground balls were enough for Wilson to bring the ghost runner home to send the game to an 11th inning, when C Kevin Garcia (who entered in the 10th inning) threw out another Columbia baserunner trying for third base. Once again, the Warbirds didn’t need any walks or hits to bring the Manfred Man home, this time via 2B Juan Ortuno’s game-winning fielder’s choice.

Kudos to 19-year-old starting LHP Enderson Mercado for one of his best outings of 2026: 4 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 5 Ks. Hopefully that’s a performance that he can build upon.

Warbirds’ Extras:

• Leadoff batter Jones (2-for-5, walk, RBI, SB), Sabathia (1-for-3, 2 walks, RBI) and #9 hitting DH Pedro Ibarguen (2-for-4, double, walk, RBI, SB) led the Wilson offense by reaching base three times each.
• Every Wilson batter reached base via hit or walk in their well-earned team victory. SS Brady Ebel also stole his 35th base, while Ortuno had a double and grabbed his 29th theft.
• Both staffs deserve credit for escaping tough situations, as the Warbirds went 2-for-18 with runners in scoring position (stranding 15 baserunners) and the Fireflies went 2-for-12 (with 11 LOB).

Thursday’s outlook: RHP Jarrette Bonet (5.06 ERA in 94 1/3 IP) is set for his 16th start (21st appearance), seeking to lead Wilson to a 3-0 home series lead.

 

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Final: DSL Brewers Blue 9, DSL Padres Brown 5 (in 7 innings)
Box Score

Facing an early 4-2 deficit and knowing they likely need to win their final six games if they’re going to sneak into the DSL playoffs as a wild card, the Blue Men (28-22) battled back to claim a victory against the woeful Padres (10-40).

C Johanderson Tarazona (0-for-2, two walks) drew the first of five walks in the team’s two-run fourth inning to grab a 5-4 lead, then gunned down a steal attempt at second base to end the top of the fifth inning and strand a baserunner at third in support of RHP Lukas Gonzalez (3 1/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 3 Ks).

The Blue Group kept up the patient approach, benefitting from three walks, a hit-by-pitch and two wild pitches to re-take the lead 7-5 in the sixth inning before SS Diego Frontado (1-for-2, double, walk, 3 RBIs, SB) delivered a two-run double for the final margin. The good guys were victorious despite being out-hit 5-4, thanks to the 11 walks and two HBPs drawn.

Reliable RHP Lonell Downs (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 Ks) closed out the victory by retiring the final four batters in order. Outfielders Manny De Los Santos (1-for-3, walk, RBI, 2 SBs) and Enrique Lovera (1-for-3, walk, 2 RBIs) had solid games at the plate, while RHP Yancarlos Vasquez (2 1/3 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 5 BB, 3 Ks) struggled as the starting pitcher.

 

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We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Thursday, six games are scheduled for affiliates, starting with the Dominican Summer League games at 10:00am CST and followed by the full season affiliates from 6:05pm onward. The Milwaukee Brewers also commence their series at the Dodgers at 9:10pm CST.

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