Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/1): Perkins and Adams Power Nashville and Carolina to Wins

Thursday’s Game Balls go to Blake Perkins, Luke Adams, Thyago Vieira, Ethan Murray and Jadher Areinamo, with honorable mentions to Eddy Alvarez and Felix Valerio.

Transactions:

• RHP/1B Quinton Low activated from Low-A Carolina’s 7-day injured list
• OF Tyler Naquin activated from AAA Nashville’s 7-day injured list (last played April 28)
• OF Monte Harrison transferred to Development List from AAA Nashville

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 10, Charlotte 7
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review the affiliate write-up as part of their Link Report routine: Perkins Powers Sounds To Victory

The Sounds built a 7-2 lead by the 4th inning on the back of two homers by left fielder Blake Perkins (4-for-4, 2 HRs, walk, 3 RBIs), nearly squandered it all in the bottom of the 7th inning as the game tightened to 8-7, then held on for the win to give them a 2-1 series lead in Charlotte. The fans saw plenty of action as the teams combined to produce 29 hits.

The road game limits our access to game highlights, but here’s RHP Thyago Vieira dominating batters from earlier contests:

Three Quick Strikes:

• Starting RHP Caleb Boushley’s (6 2/3 IP, 5 R, 8 H, 2 BB, 5 Ks) line looked a lot better through five innings, before yielding one run in the 6th inning, then exiting after consecutive walks with two outs in the 7th inning.
• 3B Eddy Alvarez (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs) chose an excellent time to break out of his slump (.455 OPS in last 67 PAs), halting the Knights’ momentum with a home run to lead off the top of the 8th inning and push the lead back to 9-7. 1B Jon Singleton and C Alex Jackson also combined on a 6-for-10 night with two RBIs and four runs scored, while the team was happy to see right fielder Tyler Naquin (2-for-4, 2 RBIs) back in action.
• In a case of two pitchers trending opposite directions, RHP Tyson Miller (retired just one of five batters) had his third straight ineffective outing, while Vieira (1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks; stranded two inherited runners in the 8th inning) pitched a five-out save to maintain his perfect 0.00 season ERA.

Friday’s outlook: LHP Thomas Pannone (3.45 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 7.8 K/9 in 28 2/3 IP) is scheduled to make his sixth start as Nashville seeks a 3-1 series lead.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Pensacola 8, Biloxi 6
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Biloxi Falls in A Back-and-Forth Battle Against Pensacola

Biloxi unfortunately managed to lose despite outhitting first-place Pensacola 16-7, blowing leads of 3-0 (sixth inning), 4-3 (seventh inning) and 5-4 (eighth inning).

SS Ethan Murray was quite confident that this blast had the distance:

There are many more highlights on the Shuckers’ Twitter feed.

Three Quick Strikes:

• This game serves as Exhibit A in explaining why starting RHP Christian Mejias (5 1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 Ks) has a solid WHIP (1.24) and K/9 ratio (11.4), but an unsightly ERA (5.40). He was nearly untouchable through five innings, holding the Blue Wahoos to one single and one walk, before allowing an infield single, walk and 3-run homer in the top of the 6th inning and exiting with the game suddenly tied at 3-3.
• 23-year old Murray (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs; season OPS .797) has been turning heads with his exceptional fielding and now with his bat as well. DH/OF Tristen Lutz and 2B Felix Valerio (3-for-3, HR, HBP, RBI) each collected their first homers of the season, Carlos D. Rodriguez reached base four times, C Jeferson Quero and 1B Zavier Warren each collected two hits and 3B Tyler Black extended his on-base streak to 26 games.
• The bullpen of RHPs Cam Robinson, Zach Vennaro and Bo Bowman unfortunately wasn’t able to keep Pensacola down, allowing five runs in 3 2/3 innings, with each allowing at least one run.

Friday’s outlook: 21-year old RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 12.5 K/9 in 44 2/3 IP) is scheduled to make his 10th start of the year, with the Shuckers needing a victory to even the series 2-2.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Peoria 3, Wisconsin 2
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Rattlers’ website, game details: Speed Kills the Rattlers in 3-2 Loss

Similar to their friends in Biloxi, Wisconsin outhit the Chiefs 9-to-5, but wasn’t able to convert that advantage to a victory. Thankfully, the Timber Rattlers still lead the series two games to one.

As always for home games, here are detailed video highlights compiled by the Timber Rattlers’ terrific media team:

You can also listen to the Chris Mehring / Kyle Lobner post-game comments here.

Three Quick Strikes:

• Starting RHP Cameron Wagoner (5 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) shook off two months of struggle and a difficult 2nd inning (two runs on two triples and a single) to produce one of his best starts of the season, though still exited after 75 pitches with the team trailing 2-1.
• Although 3B Eduardo Garcia doubled and scored on an error in the bottom of the 6th inning to tie the game 2-2, RHP Luis Amaya (3 IP, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K) was ultimately tagged with the loss despite not allowing a hit in three innings of work. A walk, sacrifice bunt, stolen base and RBI groundout were sufficient to produce the Chiefs’ winning run in the top of the 8th inning.
• After striking out in the 2nd inning, center fielder Eduarqui Fernandez was ejected, but replacement Terence Doston went 2-for-3 to try to help the cause.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Stiven Cruz (6.23 ERA in 34 2/3 IP) aims to carry the momentum from a decent last start (5 IP, 2 R, 6 Ks) and earn a win this time.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Carolina 11, Lynchburg 5
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: First-Place Mudcats Win Fifth Straight 11-5

The two-team race for the Carolina League North First Half crown continues, with Carolina winning its fifth straight game and Down East grabbing its third consecutive win, keeping the Mudcats just a half-game in the lead.

In this one, the Mudcats first seven batters in their lineup pounded out 15 hits, the biggest of which was undoubtedly 3B Luke Adam’s (1-for-4, HR, walk, 3 RBIs) three-run shot in the top of the 5th inning, which turned a 4-3 deficit into a 6-4 advantage which the Mudcats comfortably added to thereafter. 

Three Quick Strikes:

• Though he only pitched one inning, starting 20-year old RHP Quinton Low (1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) was a welcome sight after missing six weeks due to injury. For now, the run allowed on an infield single is credited as earned, but that fails to account for an earlier passed ball which advanced the runner to third base.
• 23-year old LHP Nate Peterson (4 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 2 Ks) earned his fourth win, but won’t be pleased with coughing up a 3-1 lead in the 4th inning and striking out just two batters (vs. registering at least 4 Ks in each of his first 8 games).
• It was an enjoyable parade of activity, as 2B Jadher Areinamo (3-for-4, double, walk) reached base four times, right fielder Kay-Lan Nicasia (2-for-4, double, walk, RBI, SB) and SS Gregory Barrios (3-for-5, 2 RBIs) three times each and center fielder Luis Lara and 1B Jesus Chirinos collected two hits each. Chirinos was pinch hit for in the 5th inning, so we’ll have to monitor his status.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Logan Henderson (2.25 ERA with 15 Ks in 8 IP) is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season, with the Mudcats needing to keep winning to stay ahead of Down East.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. We wish all the clubs success in their Friday night games.

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