Brewers Minor League Link Report (4/2): Sounds Lose Fourth Straight Despite 4 2/3 Combined Scoreless Relief Innings

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No official transactions BUT there was important news on the prospect front pertaining to the Nashville Sounds:

Let's simply hope this 'slight hamstring issue' doesn't linger. 

Final: Gwinnett (Braves) 4, Nashville 1 

Via the Sounds' website, please be sure to click and read each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine (believe me, it's worth it):

Sounds Held to Two Hits in Wednesday Loss to Gwinnett - Sounds Bullpen Holds Stripers to One Hit Over Final 4 1/3 IP

Box Score / Game Log

Last year the Sounds had one of the best bullpens in the entire International League for large portions of the season. As bullpen arms were plucked by the Brewers to give them innings with the big club, the Sounds arms kept churning. This year, the bullpen continues to show flashes it has the horses to hold their own - they've now allowed a single earned run over their last 13 1/3 IP. Today's battery mates were RHP Blake Holub, LHP Grant Wolfram, RHP Jesús Liranzo, and RHP Craig Yoho. Once again, they gave their team every chance to make a game of it. The starting pitching remains a different story. Outside of a single Jacob Misiorowski outing, the starting arms have not looked the part. RHP Deivi García darn near replicated LHP Bruce Zimmerman's work from game one: 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 HB, 1 WP, 4 K, 4 R (3 ER). Nearly a 3.00 WHIP in game two. Garcia topped out at 93.3 mph on his four-seamer and averaged a mere 91.4 mph. He mixed in a cutter and a change-up but threw the heater nearly 70% of his outing.

Needless to say, Garcia's overall output just isn't going to do any favors for a struggling offense. Addendum: we're five games in. The early season loss of C Jeferson Quero and INF/OF Tyler Black (as well as a rest day for one INF Caleb Durbin) has made its mark in the early going. Let's hope the veteran bats wake up and start delivering some more production.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) There isn't all that much to discuss offensively, but a very early bright spot would have to be the improved early discipline from 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. He has only collected three pokes in 16 AB but he's sporting a 4:3 BB:K ratio. He grabbed two of the team's five free passes in the loss. He also collected a single. Despite the small sample induced 0.188 BA he has managed a respectable 0.663 OPS as a result. Unfortunately, his error in the fourth frame led to the Stripers final run.

2) INF Freddy Zamora saw his second action of the season in his seemingly entrenched nine-spot in the Sounds batting order. He managed an 0-for-3, 2 K outing. Zamora has yet to grab a hit or a free pass in his meager six AB. Like many others on the Sounds roster, he's looking to find a spark. It will be interesting to see if he is given another chance tomorrow when INF Caleb Durbin surely returns to third base duties.

3) As alluded to above, the offense has been struggling. How bad has the struggle been through five games? The bats as a whole have struck out a whopping 54 times in 161 official PA. That's good for a team K-rate of 33.5%. This is not a typo. DH Wes Clarke has certainly done his part in this department with 10 whiffs in just 16 AB. It isn't just Clarke, however - as a team the swing and miss has been a major problem. There are far too many veteran hitters in this line-up to see this level of futility last for much longer. I'm calling for a breakout tomorrow. My over/under is the Sounds scoring five runs. I'm taking the over.

Game Three starts at a more reasonable 5:05 CST and RHP Logan Henderson will look to rebound from an erratic first outing.  Let's hope the Sounds bats wake up as a group and the men can pull out an elusive victory. Until then, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Brewers Minor League baseball.

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