Brewers Minor League Link Report (5/9): Corniel, Patrick, Warren Stand Out in 4-Win Thursday

Transactions:

• RHP Logan Henderson sent on rehab assignment to ACL Brewers from High-A Wisconsin
• 3B Ben Metzinger placed on Development List from AAA Nashville
• RHP Jose Nova assigned to ACL Brewers from DSL-Brewers1

The 6’5” Nova is something of a mystery man, originally signing with Boston in 2021. He recently turned 22 and is yet to play in an MILB game.

The most significant transaction news has not yet been made official – i.e. LHP Robert Gasser’s highly-anticipated call-up to MLB on Friday:

Game Action:
Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes (not available at press time)
Final: Nashville 3, Durham 2 (in 10 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Hang On For Another Extra Inning Win Over Bulls

Don’t sleep on 25-year old RHP Chad Patrick, who appears to be getting stronger in each start. He didn’t get the Win here, but delivered a line of 6 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 HBPs, 5 Ks. On his 2nd last pitch (92 total pitches, 56 strikes), Patrick unleashed his hardest throw: 93.7mph velocity.

In a game as tight as this, it’s worth noting that the greatest recorded win probability swings all came with RHP Nolan Blackwood on the mound in the bottom of the 10th inning. Consecutive singles tightened the score to 3-2 with 2-on and nobody out, but Blackwood and the Sounds managed to escape with a line out, wild pitch, strikeout, intentional walk and game-ending ground out.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Despite being out-hit 8 to 5 and having no extra-base hits, Nashville took advantage of a Bulls’ error (Durham 3 errors, Nashville 0) to get their first run, then got clutch 10th inning RBI hits from DH Nick Kahle and 1B Tyler Black (2-for-5, RBI).
• Credit RHPs Ryan Middendorf and Corbin Martin, along with LHP Darrell Thompson, who delivered a combined 3 scoreless innings.
• Other than Black, other position players to reach base twice included SS Yonny Hernandez (1-for-4, walk, SB) and left fielder Noah Campbell. Campbell battled back from an 0-2 count to earn a key 8-pitch walk to open the top of the 10th inning, ultimately scoring the vital 3rd run.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez aims for a repeat of his last start (5 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 HBPs, 9 Ks), as the Sounds look to extend their 2-1 series lead.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 9, Montgomery 8
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Zavier Warren Walk-Off Single Caps Off Wild, 9-8, Shuckers Win Over Biscuits

After blowing an 8-1 lead, it took a crazy bottom of the 9th inning for Biloxi to ultimately come through victorious. DH Mike Boeve (3-for-5) had started the frame with a single, before the Biscuits’ defense gifted an error then got a second out at home, setting the stage for left fielder Zavier Warren’s (2-for-5, double, 3 RBIs) walk-off single.

Hours before, starting LHP Nate Peterson (5 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 4 BB, 1 WP, 5 Ks) had put in a solid shift, inducing a ground ball double play to escape the top of the 1st inning with a 1-0 deficit, and was then staked to a lead via 3B Brock Wilken’s first homer in AA ball – a 104mph shot to left center. 

Shuckers’ Extras:

• A 9-pitch walk against RHP Nick Merkel to lead off the 7th inning spiralled into the costly 7-run frame: 3 doubles and a single against Merkel, then two more doubles and a single against LHP Russell Smith, with Biloxi only escaping the inning by catching the last hitter in a pickle (RF-1B-2B-SS-1B).
• In a unique deep dive in the daily MILB forum, BrewerFanatic Contributor sveumrules revealed that playing 6’6”, 250lb Ernesto Martinez in center field is typically accompanied by solid offensive production: 3-for-5, double, 2 RBIs, SB in this instance.
• 2B Ethan Murray (2-for-4, average now .186) had been in a rough stretch, but came through with an RBI double in the 2nd inning.
• RHP Justin Yeager has consistently proven capable of delivering one shutout inning of relief (but not necessarily being extended further), coming through in the top of the 9thto earn the Win: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Brett Wichrowski is scheduled to make his 2nd AA start, expecting a better result than last time (3 IP, 4 R), as Biloxi also seeks a 3-1 series lead.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Quad Cities 8, Wisconsin 1
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Big Blast Sends Bandits Past Wisconsin

This game was entertaining for 4 1/2 innings, before Quad Cities blew it open to notch their first win of this week’s series against Wisconsin.

RHP Will Rudy (4 1/3 IP, 4 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 1 K) scaled through 3 scoreless innings (helped by a caught stealing in the 3rd frame) before the balls started dropping in for doubles and singles. Rudy’s line was further tarnished by RHP Joseph Hernandez’ (1 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 K) rough relief outing, allowing two of Rudy’s inherited runners to score on a grand slam.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• 3B Luke Adams’ homered to give Wisconsin an initial advantage, ultimately reaching base 3 times in a solid effort: 1-for-2, HR, walk, HBP, RBI, SB.
• Wisconsin did manage to extend their Midwest League lead in being hit by pitches (34 times in 30 games; second place is 23), notching another three HBPs in this game.
• Ending on a positive, this was RHP Stiven Cruz’s first time not conceding a hit in his 8th relief outing of 2024: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks.

Friday’s outlook: In what will be his 2nd appearance in High-A ball, impressive 20-year old RHP Yujanyer Herrera (1.80 ERA with 33 Ks in 20 IP) makes his first career start since August 2023, with the Timber Rattlers looking to grab a 3-1 series advantage.

Final: Carolina 11, Fayetteville 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Game Turns Lopsided Late in Woodpeckers Loss to Mudcats

Let’s not be fooled by the final score, as this game was a lot more tense over the first 8 innings.

19-year old RHP Daniel Corniel (6 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 Ks) was terrific once again, conceding no earned runs and no extra base hits while throwing 92 pitches (60 strikes).

1B Miguel Briceno made his first start at first base since 2021, contributing in many ways: sacrifice fly to give Carolina a 2-1 lead in the 6th inning, solo homer for a 5-2 advantage in the 8th inning, groundout RBI in the 9th inning, stolen base, no errors in the field. 

Mudcats’ Extras:

• After stumbling to a 9.18 ERA over his first 6 games (16 2/3 IP) in ACL ball in 2023, Corniel clearly turned a corner in late July (2.75 ERA over final 5 games – 19 2/3 IP, despite a .409 BABIP) which has carried over into solid 2024 performances at Low-A Carolina (2.28 season ERA in 23 2/3 IP).
• Every spot in the lineup collected at least one hit, with C Blayberg Diaz (2-for-4, walk, 2 runs) and left fielder Yhoswar Garcia contributing two each. The team went 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
• Center fielder Yophery Rodriguez (1-for-2, 3 walks, HBP) reached base five times, DH Luis Castillo (1-for-3, 2 walks, RBI) three times.

Friday’s outlook: 18-year old RHP Josh Knoth (3.07 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 11.0 K/9 in 14 2/3 IP) is scheduled to make his 6th start of 2024, as Carolina also aims for a 3-1 series advantage.

Final: ACL Brewers 8, ACL White Sox 7
Box Score and Game Log

This late night affair in the Arizona desert pitted the sole winless ACL teams against each other and is one of the more interesting box scores you’ll ever find:

• Six-run 1st inning for the good guys, highlighted by 1B Gery Holguin’s grand slam.
• Dominant rehab start for 22-year old RHP Logan Henderson (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks), who led four pitchers who covered a combined 7 1/3 scoreless innings.
• Terrific stateside debut for 17-year old RHP Melvin Hernandez (2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 2 Ks) from Nicaragua.
• 15 total runs scored in the first 4 innings, then 0 runs came across over the final 5 frames.
• Great bounceback outing (and Save) for RHP Dikember Sanchez, who helped Hernandez escape the 8th inning (BB, K), then successfully navigated around a 9th inning-opening error which put the potential game-tying run on 2nd base with nobody out (3 straight Ks).
• Samuel Valerio and Sanchez each recorded 4 outs, all of the strikeout variety, although Valerio did throw 3 wild pitches.
• Great game at the plate for 3B Eric Bitonti: 3-for-5, HR, walk, 2 RBIs, SB, zero Ks.
• All seven White Sox runs were scored off of 20-year old LHP Caden Vire (1 2/3 IP, 7 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 2 Ks), who was drafted in 2021 and last pitched in an official game in August 2022. Welcome back Caden!
• Stateside debut for 20-year old C Eric Martinez (who DH’d this game) – 1-for-3, 2 walks.
• Four different Brewers stole a base, with none caught.

The ACL Brewers (1-3) will host the ACL Mariners (1-2) on Friday.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Enjoy the five minor league games on Friday, along with Brewers-Cards.

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