Brewers Minor League Link Report (6/28): Bitonti’s Walk-Off Grand Slam Highlights 3-Win Sunday

For the week, Wisconsin (5-1) and Biloxi (4-2) were series winners, while Nashville (3-3) and Wilson (3-3) managed to split their respective series.

Transactions:

• INF/OF Jett Williams activated AAA Nashville’s temporarily inactive list
• RHP Logan Henderson sent on rehab assignment to AAA Nashville
• RHP Will Childers transferred to Development List from AAA Nashville
• (from credible sources) OF Josiah Ragsdale promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Game One Final: Gwinnett (Braves) 8, Nashville 5
Box Score
Game Two Final: Nashville 7, Gwinnett 0
Box Score

Via a Sounds’ press release, doubleheader details: Sounds Blank Stripers to Secure Series Split

The clubs resumed Saturday’s rain-suspended game with the bases loaded and nobody out, with RHP Jake Woodford inheriting that mess and initially doing a beautiful job to limit the damage: K, RBI ground out, 5-3 ground oh no it’s a run-scoring error by 3B Brock Wilken.

After that, 7 of the next 10 Gwinnett batters reached base (5 singles, 1 triple, 1 everybody’s safe fielder’s choice) against Woodford (2 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 4 Ks) as they built an 8-0 lead just 1 ½ innings into the contest.

From that point, the afternoon and evening belonged entirely to the Sounds, as 9 pitchers combined to toss 14 consecutive scoreless innings, led by rehabbing RHP Logan Henderson who tossed the first 3 innings of the second game of the doubleheader (0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 7 Ks – 11 batters faced, 50 pitches, 32 strikes).

In fact, all 7 of Henderson’s strikeouts are captured here, a fine outing in his first game since May 22.

Sounds’ batters did claw back to 8-5 by the 6th inning of Game One, highlighted by C Andrick Nava’s 3-run blast (his first career homer above the High-A minor league level). However, the final 11 Nashville batters of that game went 0-for-10 with 1 walk.

3B Jett Williams (1-for-2, double, 2 walks, RBI, SB) returned to action without missing a beat, leading off the bottom of the 1st inning of Game 2 with a double and scoring on OF Tyler Black’s sacrifice fly, which was already enough scoring for the stout Sounds’ staff.

Black (3-for-6, HR, HBP, 4 RBIs across the 2 games) then popped out with the bases loaded and the Sounds leading 3-0 in the 2nd inning, before letting loose with his 342-foot solo homer in the 5th inning and his 2-RBI single in the 7th frame.

Back to the dominant pitching, let’s recognize LHP Drew Rom (2 IP, 0 R, 3 Ks), RHP Reiss Knehr (2 IP, 0 R, 1 K), RHP Craig Yoho (2 IP, 0 R, 1 K) and RHP Blake Holub (1 IP, 0 R, 1 K).

Sounds’ Extras:

• Others with relatively productive offensive days: C Darrien Miller making his AAA debut (1-for-3, run scored), 2B Ethan Murray (2-for-6, RBI), OF Luis Lara (1-for-5, double, 3 walks, 2 RBIs).
• Other relievers with one scoreless inning of relief each: RHP Junior Fernandez, RHP JB Bukauskas, LHP Mark Manfredi, RHP Peter Strzelecki.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville remain at home for a 6-game battle against Marlins’ affiliate Jacksonville, with the first game set for Tuesday evening.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Montgomery (Rays) 4, Biloxi 3
Box Score

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Homer Happy Shuckers Fall Short in Series Finale

Losing while limiting your opponent to two hits may appear like the main story here, but it’s more likely the injury delay and exit of RHP 25-year old RHP Tanner Gillis after issuing a full count walk to open the bottom of the 4th inning with the Shuckers leading 3-0.

Pitching on 4 days’ rest, Gillis had held the Biscuits scoreless over 9 innings this week, including 3 innings in this contest (3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks). While we don’t have news on the exact nature of Gillis’ exit, we will share when we do.

Four of Biloxi’s five hits came before Gillis’ exit, including the homers for 1B Mike Boeve (2-for-4, HR, RBI) and DH Andrew Fischer (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs), as well as OF Josh Adamczewski’s double which extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

LHP Anthony Flores (1 2/3 IP, 3 R, 2 Ks) retired the first 3 batters he faced in relief of Gillis, but things went awry for him and RHP Ryan Birchard (1 IP, 1 R, 1 K) as they issued 9(!) free passes in the 5th and 6th innings alone (8 BB, 1 HBP). For their part, Biloxi drew zero walks in the entire game, which proved the fundamental difference in this late afternoon contest.

RHP Sam Garcia came through in a big way in relief of Birchard, striking out Brayden Taylor with the bases loaded the Biloxi trailing 4-3 in the 7th inning, but 19 of the final 20 Biloxi batters were retired by the solid Montgomery pitching staff (exception: Boeve’s 2-out single in the 9th inning).

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Fireballing RHP Cam Wagoner tossed yet another scoreless inning of relief: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 Ks; 2.21 season ERA.
• 3B Jheremy Vargas saw his first action in 9 days, though he was one of five Shuckers’ batters who failed to reach base by hit, walk or HBP. The team went 1-for-2 with runners in scoring position, stranding just 2 baserunners (vs. 0-for-8 and 9 LOB for the Biscuits).

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi return home to take on Reds’ affiliate Chattanooga for six games, with the series commencing Tuesday evening.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 8, Cedar Rapids (Twins) 4
Box Score

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Bitonti Slams Kernels

For our viewing pleasure, Wisconsin’s media team have captured the exciting video highlights, including 1B Eric Bitonti’s walk-off grand slam with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning:

Chris Mehring and Jonathan Timm 20-minute post-game podcast, featuring walk-off hero Bitonti, RHP Garrett Hodges, 2B Daniel Dickinson and Manager Nick Stanley.

As you’ve read, seen and heard, the Timber Rattlers were in control (leading from the 2nd inning) until they weren’t (trailing 4-3 from the 6th inning), then saved the best blast for last for the 4,813-strong home crowd.

Starting RHP Braylon Owens (5 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 Ks) was his customary solid self, even on 4 days’ rest, handing the bullpen a 3-2 advantage, but was unfortunately denied his 2nd win of the week when RHP Tanner Perry struggled in relief (1 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks).

While Bitonti (2-for-5, HR, 4 RBIs) deservedly gets the headlines, there were numerous contributions including solid days for OF Josiah Ragsdale (2-for-3, HR, walk, HBP, 2 RBIs), OF Braylon Payne (2-for-5, double), DH Marco Dinges (2-for-4, double, walk, RBI), 2B Daniel Dickinson (2-for-4, double, RBI, 2 SBs) and winner-of-record RHP Garrett Hodges (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 Ks).

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Payne also gunned down a baserunner at home to end the 3rd inning with Wisconsin still leading 3-2, as you’ve seen in the video.
• SS Luis Pena exited after 6 innings, though there was no indication of any physical setback.
• 24-year old RHP Yerlin Rodriguez is who he is at this point: 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 wild pitch, 2 strikeouts, 0 runs to keep the game close in the 7th inning.

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin travel down to battle Cardinals’ affiliate Peoria for 6 games, with RHP Josh Knoth expected to start Tuesday’s series opener.

Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wilson 10, Fredericksburg (Nationals) 7
Box Score

Via the Warbirds’ website, game details: Big Innings Guide Wilson to Sunday Victory

Wilson led wire to wire on the road on Sunday, starting with OF Juan Ortuno’s RBI single just three batters into the contest. Ortuno (2-for-4, double, 2 walks, 3 RBIs) drove home or scored 5 of the team’s 10 runs and also threw out an aggressive baserunner at second base to end the game.

The contest was tight at 4-3 until the top of the 6th inning, when five straight Wilson batters reached base with 2 outs, the first four coming aboard without a hit: 3 walks, a 2-run error, then 3B Filippo Di Turi’s 2-run single.

10 hits, 10 walks, 10 runs and 13 left on base for the Warbirds – that’ll generate some solid stat lines – e.g. DH Handelfry Encarnacion (2-for-5, walk, SB), Di Turi (1-for-3, walk, HBP, 2 RBIs, SB), OF Jose Anderson (2-for-5, double, walk), SS Brady Ebel (1-for-3, 3 walks, SB).

On the mound, starting LHP Joey Broughton tossed 66 pitches, but only made it through 2 2/3 innings (3 R (2 ER, 2 H, 4 BB, 1 K), with RHP Jarrette Bonet (5 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 Ks; 73 pitches) doing the heavy lifting on this Sunday afternoon.

Warbirds’ Extras:

• Ortuno’s RBI double to extend the lead to 9-4 in the top of the 7th inning was apparently too much for the opposing manager to bear, as he was ejected at that point.
• 18-year old C Kevin Garcia will need to turn the page on this contest: 0-for-5, 2 errors – although he did throw out 1 of 3 attempted basestealers.
• Anderson’s 2-for-5 game inched his season batting average up to .195 (OPS .732 for the Carolina’s League’s home run leader), so a 2-for-4 game on Tuesday would get him up to .200.

Next week’s outlook: Wilson will host White Sox affiliate Kannapolis for six games this week, with the series commencing on Tuesday.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Monday, three rookie level games are scheduled, with the two Dominican Summer League squads playing their respective games at 10:00am CST. ACL Brewers host ACL Cubs at 8:00pm CST. The Milwaukee Brewers also host the Reds at 6:40pm CST.

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