Brewers Minor League Link Report (7/9): Comebacks Aplenty in 5-0 Affiliate Evening; RHP Manuel Rodriguez Continues to Breakout

Transactions:

• LHP Nick Bennett was transferred to the Development List by the Nashville Sounds
• RHP Nolan Blackwood was transferred to the Development List by the Nashville Sounds
• INF Mike Boeve was transferred to the 7-Day IL (retroactive to July 6th) by the Biloxi Shuckers

Final:  Nashville 3, Iowa (Cubs) 1

Via the Sounds' website, please be sure to click and read each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine (believe me, it's worth it):

Two Home Runs in Fifth Inning Power Nashville to Victory in Opener Against Iowa - Seven Pitchers Combine for 12 Strikeouts

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes

LHP DL Hall had struck out five-of-six before heading back out to the mound to start the third frame. 

He likely wishes his night had ended after two complete frames. The lead-off batter to start the third inning hit a 93 mph come-backer directly off his throwing forearm. It was a scary scene in what is fast becoming a forgettable season mired in injury woes. Before the unfortunate exit, Hall was working through three hits and two free passes. 54 pitches over only two complete innings pitched speaks to Hall's ongoing road to recovery. Is DL Hall ready to return to an MLB pitching staff? It would appear we might have to wait even longer to learn this answer. The early prognosis if favorable:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) The comeback started with a bang. OF Joey Wiemer is trending up. The calendar flipped to July and Wiems said: "Pay dirt." Well, I don't know if that's what he actually said but 8-of-22, 2 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K indicates it may have been something along those lines. Three free passes in a 1-for-1 evening that included this game-tying rocket:

2)  Major kudos are in order for the entirety of the Sounds bullpen. After Hall's early exit, the combined efforts of six different relievers held serve. We even got a clean inning of work from RHP Tyler Woessner despite his two free passes (37 BB in 58 IP overall is entirely too much charity). RHP Kevin Herget did the heavy lifting early in his 2 IP of 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 0 ER work. RHP Ryan Middendorf closed down the ninth and final inning picking up his fourth save in the process.

3) The Sounds were 0-for-7 with RISP stranding 10 men on base. The Cubbies were 3-for-12 with RISP while stranding 13. AND, ol' friend and former Brewer farmhand INF/OF Hayden Cantrelle swiped two bags and knocked across the Cubs sole run. And, squeezed in there, RHP Tyler Woessner picked up the victory. Sometimes, a box score will make you scratch your chin.

Final: Biloxi 5, Chattanooga (Reds) 4

Clutch Hits Lead Shuckers to Comeback Win over Lookouts in Opener - Scott Delivers Go-Ahead Hit in Second Straight Game

Box Score / Game Log

Pre-Game Media Notes

The first place Shuckers continue to make their mark on the second half in the Southern League. Plating three runs in the ninth and final inning to steal a 5-4 victory in Chattanooga, they improved to 9-4 in the second half - 2.0 G ahead of second place Pensacola. How sweet it is. 

RHP Bradley Blalock was brilliant in many parts of his 5 1/3 IP. However, some inopportune walks and some bad luck in a two-run sixth frame will tarnish what was a solid outing overall. In those same 5 1/3 IP, Blalock gave up 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB and 6 K. He was credited with a WP but I would politely opine C Darrien Miller was slow to raise his arm when his catching mitt started on the dirt behind home plate and a high heater sailed past him and off his glove. Regardless, the main theme for Blalock of late is steady improvements and reliable outings. He is hitting a much better glide path so far in the second half, fresh off his Southern League Pitcher of the Week honor.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Tips of the proverbial cap are due to both newcomers (in 2024) LF Adam Hall and RF Connor Scott. Sometimes all players need is a change of scenery and a new opportunity. In both Scott and Hall's case, they have played pivotal roles in recent victories. It's a boon to this team's chances in the second half if they can get mini outbursts like this from unlikely sources. The two combined to go 3-for-8 with 1 R, 3 RBI, and 2 K (both Scott's).  More importantly, they each had key hits in the comeback ninth inning winning rally. As the article title above indicates, this was Scott's second consecutive game in which he smacked a go-ahead hit late. (Be sure to check back in to the Shuckers Player Interview page tomorrow when tonight's pre-game interview with Connor Scott will be posted)

2) 20-year-old 2B Dylan O'Rae continues to run on the Double-A Hamster wheel. O'Rae certainly isn't overmatched, per se, but he is absolutely meeting his early career match in the Southern League. I personally believe the 'struggles' he is currently facing, as he approaches 100 Double-A AB, will lead to the most important off-season of physical development in his young career. It's no stretch to observe and share he needs to add strength and meaningful muscle mass. Can he do this while keeping his lightning quick qualities in other areas? Time will tell. After an 0-for-4 night with 1 BB and 1 K in the lead-off spot, he fell to 0.182 in his time with Biloxi. He has now accumulated 77 AB. Plenty of ballgame remaining here, obviously, but he certainly hasn't hit the ground running with the Shuckers.

3) We spoke of it in the day's game thread, and it was certainly a no doubter live. Take a quick look at 3B Brock Wilken's 10th long ball of his season. It was a mammoth off his former Demon Deacon teammate and last year's number 7 overall draft pick RHP Rhett Lowder:

Final: Wisconsin 4, West Michigan (Tigers) 0

Areinamo Leaves Whitecaps Seeing Double - Doubles Three Times and Drives in Four for 4-0 Win

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

RHP Alexander Cornielle (5-3) continued having an under-the-radar season in a very effective game one start at home versus West Michigan. In what is certainly a bounce back season for the young hurler, I would opine we're at the High-A stage of fine-tuning the little things. 2 BB, 2 HB, and a WP mar what was an otherwise stellar output of 5 IP of 2 H, and 6 K scoreless work. Cornielle has work to do, no doubt, but we should all be quite thrilled he's raised the floor to a higher level in 2024. With the innate movement he possesses in his pitch kit, there's quite a bit to work with moving forward. His season ERA lowered to 2.86 after tonight's victory, opponents are only hitting a mere 0.202 BAA with a very respectable 1.09 WHIP. Again, all the makings are there it's now about the little things and the fine-tuning moving forward. The bar has been raised.

Full Game Highlights:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Speaking of break-outs, the adjustments and return to impact we've seen in RHP Patricio Aquino's game of late has been a sight to see. He's been in a dedicated long relief role since the calendar flipped to June. He was pitching to good results throughout that month but he was still getting peppered to a 0.284 BAA. After tonight's extremely effective and controlled 4 IP of 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 0 R long relief, picking up his second save in the process, Aquino has lowered that mark to 0.143 BAA in 10 IP through early July. If this is the type of Aquino we're going to be seeing regularly in the second half, manager Victor Estevez has himself a real weapon in long relief. 

2) One Timber Rattler accounted for all the runs in the 4-0 victory, INF Jadher Areinamo. With three doubles cracked to left field, he raised his season OPS to 0.830. His season-long batting average raised to 0.317 after his 3-for-4 night. He is off to a 5-to-0 K:BB ratio in early July. Can we have our cake and eat it too? He worked to a 18:20 K:BB ratio through the months of May and June. 

3) I continue to see C Matt Wood routinely drop catchable pitches and throws out of his catching mitt. This is an issue I've watched, in starts and fits, since last season. Development is the name of the game and Wood definitely continues to have work to do cleanly catching balls. Too many balls aren't sitting clean in the leather. There is work to be done.

Final: Carolina 2, Fredericksburg (Nationals) 1

Box Score / Game Log

Eighth Inning Rally Propels Mudcats to Victory - RHP Manuel Rodriguez with Yet Another Quality Start

It's almost getting cliché at this point, but I continue to be mesmerized with the number of times 18-year-old Manuel Rodriguez is pitching into the sixth inning in 2024. Tonight marked his sixth consecutive quality start and his eighth in his past ten starts. Unbelievable stuff! Truly. Tonight, he went to-to-toe with last year's Nationals third round pick RHP Travis Sykora (who, after two consecutive absolutely shut-down starts versus these Mudcats bats may declare part ownership) and met the moment and then some. 6 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 HB, 7 K, 1 ER. With a 3.24 season ERA and an absurdly impressive 0.97 WHIP it's absolutely fair to say Rodriguez is getting the Corbin Burnes treatment from his offense with his 3-5 overall record. Once again, despite a dominant outing, the young righty did not factor into the final decision in the record books.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) Last year's early season Mudcats infield darling, INF Daniel Guilarte, is mired in his most unproductive stretch at the plate he's had all season. Coming off a Down East series in which he went 2-for-18 and struck out 10 times, he began his series at Fredericksburg 0-for-4 with three more K's. And, I loathe to report the strikeouts were not all that pretty. If he can't learn to identify and lay-off those off-speed offerings low and away he is going to end up going the route of so many talented but flawed infielders before him. He now has an 81:35 K:BB ratio in 2024 good for a 31% strikeout rate. We are in a precarious balance here.

2) In a game where the Mudcats took the lead with a two-run eighth inning mini-rally, the bullpen was key in securing a victory. Hats off to RHP Josh Timmerman for a dominant and successful return fresh off the IL (1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K). RHP Aidan Maldonado looked absolutely filthy in the ninth frame securing his fourth save  in a scoreless inning of work. Last month's 'Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month' at Brewer Fanatic, was dropping change-ups that'd make your heart palpitate. Fantastic stuff. I hope to see him promoted in the coming weeks - his stuff and age match a higher level of baseball.

3) In a game where both teams' pitching staffs were dealing out swings and misses (14-to-13 K's between the Mudcats and Nationals bats, respectively), we'll have to give out the 'Golden Sombrero' trophy to RF Reece Walling. His inability to lay off (or foul off) the inside slider was to his detriment in a four strikeout night at the plate. The young man will look to rebound and get back to it with hopes of getting his batting average back above the Mendoza Line - it dipped down to 0.197 after tonight's struggles.

A Quick Note on the DSL Brewers 1:

The Brewers Uno had jumped out to a 3-0 lead heading to the fourth frame. That is where play was suspended. However, there are a few notes our own @Ro Muellergave us with concise prose in the day's game thread:

Quote

DSL Brewers-1 had jumped out to a 3-0 lead against DSL Orioles Orange, but the weather suspended play in the 4th inning.

The two squads are battling for first place in the 8-team DSL Northwest division, so July 25th will likely now be a big date on their calendars (i.e. scheduled game plus presumed completion of today's suspended game).

Stats-wise, SS Jesus Made (single, SB), 3B Luis Pena (triple, 2 RBIs), DH Juan Ortuno (single, RBI) and RHP Ayendy Bravo (4 scoreless innings, 4 Ks) should all benefit from this game ultimately being completed.

Final: ACL Brewers 8, ACL Reds 6
Box Score / Game Log

The up-and-down ACL Brewers season has gotten back to six games under 0.500. Let's hope the young men can keep reaching for that 0.500 mark. The top of the Crew's batting order was definitely on point in a combined 7-for-17 mark amongst the one-through-five hitters. This led to a fantastic 5-for-12 mark with RISP. Big nights were had by DH Luiyin Alastre (2-for-4, 2 R), 3B Eric Bitonti (1-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 2B, 1 SB), and SS Tyler Rodriguez (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 SB). 1B Johan Barrios' single in the top of the seventh added two two out insurance runs - he also added a stolen base. In the evening's game thread a brief but worthwhile discussion was had concerning the mysterious but very alluring season of one LHP Anthony Flores. Heavy K numbers. Insane bad luck with BABIP. Tonight was more of the same for the young and talented Flores: 4 IP, 7 H (on eight balls put in play - crazy), 2 BB, 8 K, 2 ER. He picked up the victory and moved to 2-3 overall. Despite the 7.79 ERA for Flores, I think it's clear this is a young hurler to be reckoned with. Hopefully, we'll get an opportunity to see his full arsenal in Carolina later this summer.

The DSL Cerveceros will be taking their standard mid-week day of rest and recovery - all make-up games will be completed at later dates. Wisconsin will play the lone matinee as LHP Tate Kuehner will look to hit the ground running yet again. In Fredericksburg, RHP Daniel Corniel will look to conquer his resurfacing third inning woes. In Chattanooga, RHP Brett Wichrowski will look to build off his season-best start his last time on the bump. And, we are 'TBD' at time of publish in Nashville.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Milwaukee Brewers Minor League baseball and the many players deserving of our time and recognition. 

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