Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/4): Sparks, Adams and Garcia Lead Six-Win Fourth of July Fireworks

Transactions:

• OF Chris Roller cleared waivers and outrighted to remain at AAA Nashville

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Memphis 10, Nashville 3
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 Fall to Memphis on Independence Day

The Brewers have a decision to make after LHP DL Hall’s 8th rehab start in Nashville. Hall essentially emulated last week’s start by throwing 61 pitches and allowing 6 baserunners (2 doubles, 1 single, 3 walks) over 3 innings, conceding 3 unearned runs as the Sounds defense wasn’t sharp on this day. Is there room on the MLB roster or will Hall be optioned to remain in Nashville?

LHP Aaron Ashby (5 IP, 5 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 7 Ks) was the main innings eater, retiring 5 of the first 6 batters he faced before a run-scoring wild pitch in the 5th inning and then a disastrous 6th frame: 4 runs on 3 singles and 2 walks. Of course, the strikeouts and Ashby’s perseverance are encouraging:

Sounds’ Extras:

• Center fielder Isaac Collins (2-for-3, double, walk, RBI) and left fielder Noah Campbell (1-for-2, triple, 2 walks) each reached base 3 times to lead the Sounds’ attack. This might be the last time we see Collins in center field for a while, given the retention of Roller and Joey Wiemer (day off) also remaining in AAA.
• Kudos to the Brewers for sticking with 3B Patrick Dorrian through a 2-month slump and Dorrian for putting his season back on track:

Friday’s outlook: 22-year old RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez (5.54 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 in 66 2/3 IP) makes his second start after his MLB stint, with Nashville and Memphis tied 2-2 in this week’s home-and-away series.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 12, Mississippi 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Sparks' Five-Hit Day Helps Shuckers to Independence Day Blowout Win

Of course, per the game story, this contest was a lot closer than the final score, with the Shuckers trailing 1-0 in the 6th inning on the road before erupting across the final four frames.

Starting RHP Logan Henderson (4 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 WP, 5 Ks) was about 85% as dominant as he usually is, having to rely more on his off-speed arsenal to limit the Braves to 1 run over 4 innings.

When your number 9 hitter (right fielder Lamar Sparks) goes 5-for-5 on Independence Day, victory should definitely follow. After being stranded in the 3rd inning, Sparks started the 6th inning rally with a 1-out single, knotting the game 1-1 on 3B Brock Wilken’s 2-out hit to right before SS Eric Brown Jr.’s clutch 2-run single. Wilken and Brown ultimately combined for 7 RBIs.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• RHP Nick Merkel 2 2/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K) picked up nicely from where Henderson left off, facing the minimum number of hitters through his first 8 batters and collecting the Win.
• RHP Craig Yoho (1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks) helped Merkel strand two baserunners via a swinging K with the game 7-2 in the bottom of the 7th inning, lowering his AA ERA to 2.03, while RHP Justin Yeager closed it out with a 3-up, 3-down 9th inning.
• Sparks tallied 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored while tripling and collecting 4 singles, lifting his season batting average to .254 and OPS to .692 after a very slow start to the year. 2B Dylan O’Rae, Wilken and Brown Jr. each reached base 3 times.

Check out this defensive teamwork between Zavier Warren and O’Rae:

Friday’s outlook: RHP Shane Smith (3.23 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 11.5 K/9 in 53 IP) is set to make his 18th appearance (9th start) of the year, with Biloxi in a position to clinch a series win.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 9, Beloit 0
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Mr. Adams Sets Off Fourth of July Fireworks with Grand Slam

After 3 games in Beloit, the Timber Rattlers and Sky Carp drove up to Appleton for this 4th of July affair, while means we’ve got video highlights from Wisconsin’s terrific media team:

Be sure to also check out the 19-minute Mehring/Lobner post-game podcast, including comments on the win from Manager Victor Estevez and grand slamming 3B Luke Adams.

When you’re wearing “USA” jerseys on July 4th in front of 4,936 fans at Neuroscience Group Field, domination evidently ensues. RHP Brian Fitzpatrick put in a fabulous outing, allowing only 3 singles and a walk while registering 7 Ks over 5 scoreless frames, by which point the Timber Rattlers led 8-0.

The top of the order of center fielder Luis Lara, SS Jadher Areinamo and 3B Luke Adams combined for a 5-for-11 day with 2 home runs, a walk, 7 RBIs and 5 runs scored.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Credit RHPs Bayden Root and Tyler Wehrle with working around 4 singles and a walk over a combined 4 scoreless innings of their own to maintain the shutout and lower their season ERAs.
• Left fielder Felix Valerio walked 3 times, stole a base and scored 2 runs as he works his way back to AA ball after being out the first 2.5 months of this season.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Will Rudy gets the start, with Wisconsin also in position to clinch a series win with one more victory.

Final: Carolina 6, Down East 4
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Rally Past Wood Ducks

After striking out with a runner on third and one out in the 2nd inning, C David Garcia (2-for-3, 2 doubles, walk, 3 RBIs) came through in an even bigger spot in the bottom of the 4th inning, doubling home two runs to cut the deficit to 3-2 with two outs and scoring the tying run in the same frame.

Garcia then drove home right fielder Reece Walling (2-for-3, double, walk) in the 6th inning to grab the lead 5-4 and scoring on left fielder Yhoswar Garcia’s (2-for-4, 2 RBIs, SB) RBI single. Center fielder Yophery Rodriguez and 3B Miguel Briceno both had 2-for-4 days to contribute to the win, including a double and stolen base for Rodriguez and an RBI for Briceno.

The youngest pitcher in the 12-team Carolina League, 18-year old RHP Enniel Cortez made his 3rd start, conceding solo homers in the 1st and 2nd innings and facing a 2-on, nobody out situation in the 3rd inning where he thankfully minimized the damage (sac fly, pop out, fly out) to only trail 3-0.

The pitcher star of the game was 20-year old RHP Dikember Sanchez (3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks), who faced the minimum over the final 3 innings, including inducing a 6-4-3 double play to end the victory.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• RHPs Brailin Rodriguez and Jose Nova combined over the middle innings to only concede one run, though there was certainly traffic: 3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 4 BB, 2 HBP, 3 Ks.
• The Mudcats had numerous opportunities (4-for-16 with runners in scoring position), but only stranded 7 baserunners while the Wood Ducks went 0-for-8 with RISP and stranded nine.
• SS Cooper Pratt returned to the lineup after a rare rest day for him, but unfortunately had to watch from the on-deck circle as his impressive 36-game on-base streak came an end (0-for-4, zero Ks).

Friday’s outlook: RHP Josh Knoth is scheduled to make his 14th start of 2024, with Carolina looking to grab a 3-2 series lead at home.

Final: ACL Brewers 5, ACL Giants 2
Box Score and Game Log

Here’s to @MassHaas for contributing the Rookie League portions of today’s Link Report:

In the blink of an eye, the A-Crew were up 3-0 as the road crew in this one, before the capacity 4th of July crowd of fireflies were settled in. 19-year-old second baseman (yet to see action elsewhere on the diamond) Josh Adamczewski walked to open the game. It was the first of four times on base for the 15th round 2023 pick out of an Indiana high school (two subsequent singles and a 9th inning home run for insurance, yanked to right field, his first as a professional).

Back to the first inning, A review of the game log shows that hijinks ensued after Adamczewski stole second base. A Luiyin Alastre RBI single punctuated with a Giants error, then a walk to Eric Bitonti, Bitonti's own stolen base, then a run-scoring passed ball immediately followed by a run-scoring wild pitch. Boom, lead never lost.

The A-Crew had seven base hits, the Adamczewski home run the sole one for extra bases, but also drew seven walks, three by corner INF/OF Pedro Ibarguen, who only turned 18 years old this past Tuesday. That inched his 2024 OPS to just .502, coming off his remarkable .884 line in the 2023 DSL that netted him the stateside callup at a very young age.

There were a couple of 6th inning substitutions for the Maryvale boys, but no dreaded notation of "injury delay" in the game log. It was 99 degrees at first pitch.

Mound efforts were important. Nine-year pro (well, eight, pandemic year) and cup-of-coffee big leaguer Easton McGee is now up to four appearances covering six innings in his Tommy John rehab.

Ultra-young (18 years old the day before this game) RHP Melvin Hernandez made the Brewers' Nicaraguan pipeline proud with five one-run frames with no walks and four K's. Unlikely Milwaukee will get to enjoy near exclusivity to that nation's talent in coming years.

The victors improved to 19-25. The ACL Brewers will host the ACL Mariners late Friday night.

Final: DSL Brewers Uno 7, DSL Cubs Red 4 (in 7 innings as scheduled)
Box Score and Game Log

Team Uno trailed 4-0 heading into the bottom of the 3rd, not an ideal situation in a planned shortened game. But 18-year-old Venezuelan rookie RHP Carlos Canales allowed only two baserunners (HBP, single) over his four scoreless innings on the backside of the linescore, far surpassing his four prior mound efforts.

The comeback began with two familiar names in the Team Uno lineup. Shortstop Jesus Made opened with a walk - Made would reach all four times up, with two singles and a triple. Made's fellow 17-year-old partner-in-crime Luis Pena followed with a line drive double, moving Made to third base. In very DSL fashion, three runs scored in the inning, all forced in via HBP or walk, and the deficit was down to one run.

Said deficit was erased in the 4th when 17-year-old INF/LF Juan Ortuno (DH'ing here), lined a two-run single to center field. Ortuno, with two singles and two walks, joined Made with perfect days at the plate. Ortuno spiked his OPS to 1.000, now sporting a .373/.529/.471 line in 68 plate appearances, rivaling his teammates Made and Pena for being ridiculously impressive in the early going.

Cerveceros Squad #1 moves to a nice 14-8 record. The Uno squad plays at DSL LAD Bautista on Friday morning.

Final: DSL Brewers Dos 14, DSL Royals Fortuna 5
Box Score and Game Log

Five-run 4th and six-run 6th, yeah, that'll work for Team Dos, now with a 13-9 record.

Before we discuss 14 tallies, appreciation for 18-year-old Venezuelan native and 2nd-year starting RHP Argenis Aparicio, who went exactly five innings for the 4th consecutive appearance, allowing only five earned runs over that 20-inning span. Aparicio allowed only a solo home run here, walking just one with two K's.

The Brewers only had seven base hits, four for extra bases, but were handed 14 free passes and an HBP. Though in his second season, Dominican INF/RF Roderick Flores is still just 17 years old. He drew four of the walks, bumping his 16-game-sample OBP to .443.

Well, hello again, CF Jose Anderson! A triple shy of the cycle and on base five times, including round-tripper #5, 13 of his 22 hits now for extra bases. Nearly as many walks (15) as K's (17). The K rate is manageable at just over 18%.

Switch-hitting top bonus baby ($1.7 M) SS Jorge Quintana doubled and also walked twice, driving in three. The OPS is up to .714 after a slow start.

Speaking of big $$ investments, infielder (second base in this game) Kevin Ereu somehow went 0-for-5 among all the baserunning company, though he did draw a walk and drove in one run. Ereu and his $1.4 M bonus struggled in his age 17 rookie season with a .553 OPS. His .785 mark through 79 plate appearances in 2024 is more palatable (.274/.430/.355).

The Dos crew hosts DSL Red Sox Red on Friday morning.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Friday will see another seven minor league games, as well as the Brewers starting their 3-game series at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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