Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/6): Chourio and Perez lead Biloxi and Carolina Offenses to Victories

Transactions:

• SS Eric Brown Jr. placed on High-A Wisconsin's 7-day injured list
• LHP Justin King activated from High-A Wisconsin's 7-day injured list
• LHP Justin Wilson’s rehab shifted to AAA Nashville from ACL Brewers

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Columbus 6, Nashville 2
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: Sounds Fall 6-2 to Clippers

Unfortunately, RHP Justin Jarvis’ AAA debut was marred by the 3rd inning meltdown of Guardians’ #2 prospect OF George Valera at the plate. After the brawl which ensued, Jarvis (3 1/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 5 H, 6 BB, 3 Ks, 1 WP) was unable to settle back in and a 2-0 deficit quickly became a 5-0 mountain that was too much for the Sounds to overcome.

Sounds’ Extras:

• In terms of baseball, RHP Pedro Fernandez, rehabbing LHP Justin Wilson and LHP Clayton Andrews all did well to give Nashville’s offense a chance, combining on 5 2/3 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 7 Ks. Offensively, the team had six hits by six different players.
• Promotion Watch: left fielder Keston Hiura had a single, a bad error and K’d twice. DH/OF Tyrone Taylor singled. 3B Luis Urias went 0-for-4. Only 1B Abraham Toro helped his cause, going 1-for-1, with a double, sacrifice fly, two walks and no errors at first base.
• Unless C Alex Jackson (1-for-1, season OPS now 1.002) said something so grotesque which would trigger a grown man to throw multiple punches at him despite an umpire standing in the way, Jackson looks like he’ll face a rather unlucky ejection and subsequent suspension for Valera’s attack.
• RHP Abner Uribe, on the other hand, ended up looking a bit out of control in taking on multiple Clippers in front of their dugout. Again, words were probably passed, but by reacting that aggressively, Uribe was also tossed and will likely be suspended. It was Charlie Greene (Brewers’ Assistant Director of Player Development, better known as the organization’s roving catching coordinator) who carried Uribe out of the dust-up. Uribe did not actually play in Thursday’s game.

Friday’s outlook: LHP Robert Gasser (3.94 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 10.7 K/9 in 80 IP) is the scheduled starter, with the Sounds needing a victory to even the series 2-2.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 10, Pensacola 4
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Late Runs, Home Runs Power Shuckers to 10-4 Win over Blue Wahoos

With starting RHP Tobias Myers (6 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 5 H, 2 BB, 9 Ks) pitching on four days’ rest, the Shuckers fell behind 3-0 by the 2nd inning, but a late offensive explosion gave them the game and a 2-1 series lead.

Biloxi’s bats kept coming, with center fielder Jackson Chourio (2-for-5, HR, double, 2 RBIs) leading the charge with a 6th inning RBI double and a game-tying solo shot in the 8th inning, before red-hot SS Freddy Zamora doubled in two runs to give the Shuckers their first lead. 

 You’ll see plenty more video highlights at the Shuckers Twitter feed.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• Myers struggled early with an error and a balk, but ultimately settled in nicely in throwing 99 pitches on the evening, nearing his season high in strikeouts.
• Every spot in the lineup reached base, with eight Shuckers notching hits. Left fielder Lamar Sparks doubled and singled, 3B Zavier Warren hit a key solo homer and 1B Noah Campbell added helpful icing with a 2-run, 2-out homer in the top of the 9th inning.
• Hooray for RHP Cam Robinson (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) throwing two scoreless innings to close it out and earn a save, as well as LHP Luis Amaya for working around two hits to earn a win.

Friday’s outlook: Expected starting RHP Christian Mejias needs to start putting up some zeros to lower his 6.31 ERA (in 67 IP).

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Beloit 8, Wisconsin 6 (in 12 innings)
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Rattlers’ website, game details: Rattlers Drop a Heartbreaker to Beloit

With Eric Brown Jr. out injured for eight weeks due to a non-displaced hairline fracture on his left scapula (per Curt Hogg), SS Robert Moore (3-for-5, walk, 2 RBIs, SB) is being asked to do more than ever for the Timber Rattlers.

On this night, that meant extending his on-base streak to 24 games, knocking in the game-tying run with an 11th inning single, but also committing the error with two outs in the top of the 9th inning which essentially sent the game to extra innings.

You’ll find lots of highlights and lowlights from the video highlights compiled by the Wisconsin media team, along with a 17-minute post-game discussion.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• The Timber Rattlers jumped on Beloit with four runs in the 1st inning, setting up RHP Tyler Woessner (6 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 K) for what looked like a sure-fire win.
• DH/OF Hendry Mendez contributed three hits (triple, double, single, 2 RBIs) and 2B Jose Acosta reached base thrice (2-for-3, triple, double, HBP, sacrifice bunt), but the team will rue going 5-for-23 with runners in scoring position, stranding 13 baserunners (vs. 8 for Beloit).
• RHP Sam Gardner (1 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), had come through in his last two save opportunities, but couldn’t quite pin this one down in the 9th inning unfortunately.
• Teammates and coaches will be thrilled to have LHP Justin King back from his two-month injury, even if he gave up an earned run in his first game back (season ERA now 1.84). However, 3B Eduardo Garcia exited at the start of the 7th inning with an apparent wrist injury, which risks exacerbating the team’s depth woes.
• C’mon, have some guts! Rather than face left fielder Alex Hall’s wrath, the Sky Carp intentionally walked him with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning and it unfortunately worked out for Beloit despite them actually loading the bases with another walk.
• RHP Nick Merkel (3 1/3 IP, 3 R (2 ER), 4 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks) took the loss, but gave the team important innings as they manage their staff while playing 12 games in 12 days.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Edwin Jimenez has found rough seas in his last three starts (14 IP, 13 ER), so will look for a return to his previous form and lead Wisconsin to a 3-1 series advantage.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Carolina 6, Fayetteville 3
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Figueroa’s Strong Start Leads Mudcats to 6-3 Victory

Similar to the Rattlers, Carolina grabbed an early 4-0 lead, but they thankfully managed to hold on despite the Woodpeckers clawing to within 5-3 by the 8th inning.

RHP Jeferson Figueroa (4 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 Ks, 1 WP) was thrust into the game as a spot starter (we hope that originally-scheduled starter RHP Alexander Vallecillo is okay) and turned in a terrific four scoreless innings. 

Mudcats’ Extras:

• 20-year old left fielder Hedbert Perez (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs) has hopefully put his 1.5 years of struggle truly behind him, delivering the 1st inning two-run homer in this game. Perez has an .898 OPS over his last 23 games (96 PAs) after a .468 OPS in his first 35 games to start the season (143 PAs).
• C Blayberg Diaz also had two hits, while DH/OF Luis Castillo produced a single, walk, RBI and stolen base.
• Neither of RHPs Jose Chavez or Jeison Pena were particularly effective (combined 5 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 Ks), although Pena managed to retire the final hitter of each of the 8th and 9th innings with a runner on base.

Friday’s outlook: Either Vallecillo or RHP Quinton Low will get the chance to lead the Mudcats to a 3-1 series lead.

Dominican Summer League Action

Final:  DSL Brewers #2 Squad 2, DSL Guardians Red 1
Box Score / Game Log

Our Dos squad only produced three hits, but that’s all the Guardians managed as well, with neither club delivering an extra-base hit in a combined 54 at-bats.

Down 1-0 in the top of the 6th inning, 3B Demetrio Nadal (2-for-3, SB) started the comeback with a single, stole second (his 10th on the year in 10 attempts) and scored on a wild pitch.

Nadal’s efforts apparently unnerved the Guardians’ relief pitcher enough that he walked the next two batters and threw a ball away to allow the Brewers take a 2-1 lead which they held onto thereafter.

However, the real story is the pitching:

• Starting RHP Carlos Maurera: 4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K
• Long reliever RHP Melvin Hernandez: 4 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 Ks
• Closer (on this day) RHP Dikember Sanchez: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks

SS Roderick Flores notched the team’s only other hit, while each of 2B Filippo Di Turi and center fielder Antony Gomez walked twice, although both Flores and Gomez were caught stealing.

Final: DSL Royals Gold 1, DSL Brewers #1 Squad 0
Box Score / Game Log

Starting 17-year old RHP Eric Prado (5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks, 1 WP) is five games into his baseball career and has not disappointed in any of them. His season ERA dropped to 0.98, with 15 Ks in 18 1/3 IP.

17-year old Enniel Cortez (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) is also delivering exceptional results, with two scoreless innings to drop his season ERA to 2.18, with 25 Ks in 20 2/3 IP.

Unfortunately, their teammates were unable to score, stranding seven runners in the game (vs. four left-on-base for the Royals). The most egregious missed opportunity was in the bottom of the 6th inning, when a leadoff double and walk led to nothing.

RHP Jesael Cabrera took the loss after two singles, a wild pitch and sacrifice fly brought the game’s only run home in the top of the 6th inning.

Center fielder Yophery Rodriguez led off for the team, doubling, walking and stealing a base while lifting his season OPS to .947. Three other players singled, but the team only managed to produce four hits.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Good luck in Friday’s 7-game MILB slate!

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