Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/20): Crow, Payne and Mercedes Deliver in Three-Win Thursday

Blake Burke and Luis Pena smacked homers in wins for Nashville and Biloxi. Miqueas Mercedes had a solid start and Wilson held on. Wisconsin was blown out and DSL Brewers Gold lost a close playoff game.

Transactions:

• RHP Cameron Wagoner activated from AAA Nashville’s 7-day injured list

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 7, Norfolk (Orioles) 0
Box Score

Via a Sounds’ press release: Blake Burke Hits First Triple-A Home Run as Sounds Blank Tides

1B Blake Burke’s first extra-base hit at the AAA level was a massive 110.9mph, 437-foot, two-run blast, giving RHP Coleman Crow (6 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 6 Ks) all the runs he needed to take Nashville to victory lane.

This was 25-year old Crow’s 3rd consecutive scoreless outing, though he had to battle through a hit-by-pitch (picked off) and triple in the first frame and a single and walk to open the second inning.

2B Eric Brown Jr. (2-for-3, HR, walk, RBI) had a big day from the #9 spot in the lineup, while six other Sounds reached base twice in their dominating win.

C Ramon Rodriguez’s first start since a late June injury was a successful one, as he singled, walked and drove in a run. 3B Brock Wilken also doubled, walked and had an RBI.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t all positive news, as OF Luis Matos exited with an injury in the 5th inning after a collision with 2B Ethan Murray in right field.

Sounds’ Extras:

• The bullpen of RHP Cameron Wagoner (2 Ks), rehabbing RHP Joel Kuhnel (1 K) and LHP Jared Koenig were stellar over three scoreless, hitless innings of relief.
• Rehabbing Sal Frelick (2-for-5, double) and Burke (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBIs) both had two-hit evenings.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Brandon Sproat is scheduled for his third Nashville start, as the Sounds seek to claw back to a 2-2 tie in their road series.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 4, Rocket City (Angels) 2
Box Score

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details:

Peña Records First Double-A Home Run, Shuckers Snap Skid - Hodges records first Double-A save, Shuckers pitching staff strands 15 Trash Panda runners

Cue Survivor 1984: The skid is over; they needed escape artist pitching all the while.

A Biloxi three-run first inning held up behind RHP Manuel Rodriguez (5 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 Ks), LHP Anthony Flores (2 IP, 0 R, 0 Ks) and RHP Garrett Hodges (2 IP, 1 R, 3 Ks), as the Trash Pandas went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, standing 15 baserunners.

Three of the Shuckers’ four hits came in the first inning, with OF Braylon Payne’s two-out, two-run single serving as the key blow.

SS Luis Pena (2-for-4, HR, RBI) smacked his first AA homer two frames later.

A 6-4-3 ground ball double play helped Flores work around two walks and a hit-by-pitch in the seventh inning, then Hodges got two big strikeouts to strand a single which opened the bottom of the 8th inning. A walk, infield single and hit-by-pitch put Hodges in trouble with one out in the 9th inning, but he induced a force out and got a swinging K to end it.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• After Peña’s homer, the remaining 20 of 21 Biloxi batters were retired by Rocket City, but the Shuckers’ staff and defense held on.
• Despite their second half struggles, Biloxi will stay be in the playoffs by virtue of their first half title.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Bishop Letson gets the start, with Biloxi aiming to even this week’s series at two games apiece.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Lake County (Guardians) 10, Wisconsin 1
Box Score

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details:

Captains Sail Away from Rattlers - Lake County builds big lead and holds Wisconsin to three hits

Despite the loss, Wisconsin’s terrific media team has compiled video highlights and lowlights:

An inside-the-park home run on the 7th pitch of the game may have been a bad omen, but errors on three consecutive plays in Lake County’s six-run fourth inning is how this game got away from RHP Ethan Dorchies (4 IP, 7 R (3 ER), 9 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) and the Timber Rattlers.

Wisconsin was out-hit 9-3, with SS Brady Ebel doubling for the team’s only extra-base hit. 1B Tayden Hall walked thrice, while OF Sawyer Strosnider (1-for-3, HBP) and DH Luis Castillo (1-for-3, walk) both reached base twice.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• C Yannic Walther is having a solid year (.268 AVG, .801 OPS), but came up empty in two big spots this time out: fly out with two on in second inning, line out with bases loaded in fourth inning while trailing 7-0.
• RHP Joshua Quezada’s first game at the High-A level was a solid one, as he pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings (1 K) to preserve other arms.
• RHPs Jose Nova (2 Ks) and Michael Fowler tossed a scoreless frame each, while RHP Yerlin Rodriguez (2/3 IP, 3 R, 0 Ks) allowed five of seven batters to reach via walk or hit-by-pitch.

Friday’s outlook: LHP Wande Torres starts for Wisconsin as the squad seek to grab a 3-1 home series lead.

Wilson Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wilson 11, Salem (Red Sox) 10
Box Score

Via the Warbirds’ website, game details:

Warbirds Bounce Back to Beat RidgeYaks - Wilson Survives Late Rally for Victory

Starting 20-year-old RHP Miqueas Mercedes (4 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 4 Ks) continued his solid recent form and the Warbirds ran the RidgeYaks ragged (7-of-8 on stolen base attempts) to take a commanding 10-1 lead by the seventh inning, then held on for dear life to grab their first win of this week’s series.

OF Brailyn Antunez (2-for-3, walk, HBP, RBI, SB), OF Kyle Jones (1-for-4, 2 walks, 3 SBs) and 3B Juan Ortuno (1-for-3, 2 walks, 2 RBIs) combined to reach base 10 times, including Ortuno’s early two-run double:

Wilson scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning, including via RBI singles by Antunez and 2B Filippo Di Turi (1-for-4, walk, RBI, SB) and ended up needing every one of them.

RHP Hayden Robinson (2 2/3 IP, 7 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks) entered in the fifth inning and faced the minimum number of batters through two frames, before allowing seven of nine batters to reach base in the bottom of the seventh inning.

2026 10th round draft pick RHP Andrew Gaines (1 IP, 1 R, 1 K) was thrown into the fire for his professional debut, getting the ball leading 11-9 on the road in the bottom of the 9th inning. He issued a five-pitch walk and allowed an infield single to turn up the tension, before recording a ground out, sacrifice fly and three-pitch swinging strikeout to preserve the victory.

Warbirds’ Extras:

• 2026 first round pick SS Trey Ebel had a productive day, going 2-for-5 and earning his first career RBI and stolen base.
• RHP Cesar Espinal (1 1/3 IP, 1 R, 1 K) had a rough entry in relief of Robinson, commencing with a walk, balk and two run-scoring wild pitches, but he did bounce back to retire three of the next four batters.
• C Rylan Mills helped out the staff by throwing out 2-of-3 attempted basestealers, including one in the 6th inning and another in the 8th inning.

Friday’s outlook: RHP Tyler Renz gets the chance to lead Wilson to a series-tying win.

Final: DSL Giants Black 8, DSL Brewers Gold 7
Box Score

In their first of three playoff games in pool play, the Golden Men blew a 7-3 lead in the 6th inning, losing 8-7 despite out-hitting Giants Black 7-5.

Before the collapse, SS Ricki Moneys (3-for-5, 2 RBIs) was the story of the contest, smacking a two-run homer in the third inning for a 2-0 lead, singling and scoring in the team’s four-run fifth inning, then doubling and scoring to extend the advantage to 7-3 in the top of the sixth inning.

DH Josue Rodriguez also clubbed a three-run homer, while OF Angeni Fernandez (1-for-3, 2 walks, SB) reached base three times and also doubled a baserunner off of first base to end the 4th inning. OF Frandy Lafond was on base thrice as well (walk, HBP, catcher’s interference), while 1B Jefer Lista (1-for-3, walk), 2B Santiago Garcia (1-for-3, walk, SB) and C Moises Salazar (walk, HBP) each came aboard twice.

Veteran right-handed reliever Justin Lugo (1 2/3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 1 K) entered in the fifth inning, working around an error and a stolen base for a scoreless frame. However, he issued a walk and a hit-by-pitch to commence the sixth inning and couldn’t quite get that third out, with five runs scoring via sacrifice fly, wild pitch, homer, double steal and RBI single.

A 2-for-11 afternoon with runners in scoring position hurt a bit, but the real difference between the teams was in the running game: the Giants were 7-for-7 (or 7-for-8 – the game log is unclear) on stolen base attempts vs. the Brewers going 3-for-5, including being caught for the final out of the game with the capable Lafond at the plate. A single and walk to open the 8th inning could have been a golden scoring opportunity, but Lista was thrown out trying to extend the single.

RHP Wandy Cabrera tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief (2 Ks) but was also credited with a blown save for allowing both runners inherited from Lugo to score. 18-year-old RHP Luis Aguayo (4 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 Ks) turned in a respectable start.

Via the We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Friday, the DSL Gold team’s playoff adventure continues at DSL Royals Ventura at 10:00am CST, while the four full season affiliates all have evening contests. The Milwaukee Brewers also have a 3:10pm CST start time, hosting the Braves.

Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth
Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth

Are you optimistic about the Brewers right now?

Are you optimistic about the Brewers right now?

• Are you optimistic about the Brewers right now? Required
  

  
• Save

See All Brewers Polls >

Interested in learning more about the Milwaukee Brewers' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!