Brewers Minor League Link Report (8/20): Lauer, Bennett and Childers Stand Out in Two-Win Sunday

For the week, Biloxi (5-1) and Nashville (4-2) were series winners, while Carolina (2-4) and Wisconsin (1-5) suffered series losses.

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Game Action: 

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 5, Charlotte 4
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: Vihuelas Vanquish Caballeros, Walk-Off to Win Series

With 1B Keston Hiura smacking his 21st homer (a two-run shot in the 1st inning) and starting LHP Eric Lauer cruising (5 IP, 0 R, 3 H – all singles, 1 BB, 6 Ks), the Sounds nearly coasted to victory before requiring late heroics. 

With two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning and left fielder Jahmai Jones on second base, Charlotte opted to intentionally walk Hiura (2-for-4 HR, walk, 2 RBIs) in favor of facing SS Patrick Dorrian and his streak of nine strikeouts in a row, with Dorrian then pulling the game winning single into right field on the first pitch he saw. 

Sounds’ Extras:

• Lauer started his second game of the week, throwing 76 pitches five days after delivering 67 pitches. His velocity peaked at 94.3mph in the 2nd inning.
• RHP Jason Alexander’s offseason may require him go back to the drawing board, following up his 2.84 ERA in AAA in 2022 with a 6.29 mark in 2023. He conceded the four Knights’ runs on this day, with RHP JB Bukauskas limiting further damage (two groundouts resulted in stranding two inherited baserunners).
• Seven Sounds collected hits, with good days in particular for DH Tyler Black (double, single) and Jones (single, 2 walks, RBI, 2 SBs).
• LHP Darrell Thompson worked around a leadoff single in the top of the 9th inning before retiring the next three hitters in order, thus earning the Win.

Next week’s outlook: The Sounds (64-54) head to Gwinnett (55-63) to face the Braves’ affiliate. Expect RHP Caleb Boushley to start the opening game on Tuesday, with rehabbing Jesse Winker joining the squad at some point.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 2, Mississippi 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers' Pitching Finishes Out Dominant Series with 2-1 Win

While LHP Nick Bennett (3 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K) and five other pitchers combined on 8-plus shutout innings, the Shuckers offense played a dangerous game by going 0-for-16 with runners in scoring position and stranding 11 baserunners.

That 9th inning got more frightening due to an error on 3B Zavier Warren, bringing Mississippi to within 2-1 with two runners on base and just one out. Thankfully RHP Cam Robinson (1 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 1 H, 1 BB, 0 Ks) induced the game-ending 4-3 double play to second baseman Freddy Zamora, earning his 11th save in the process.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• RHP Jacob Misiorowski was listed as the expected starter on five days’ rest, but there was always a chance the organization would give him an extra two days. Bennett had only thrown eight pitches (1 1/3 shutout innings on August 16) over the prior 11 days, so was the logical choice to start on late notice.
• RHPs Ryan Middendorf, Max Lazar and Zach Vennaro and LHP Russell Smith combined to cover 3 1/3 innings of scoreless middle relief, only allowing a single and a walk.
• Although OF Jackson Chourio and C Jeferson Quero were given a rest day, the team produced nine hits and four stolen bases, while C Jason Lopez gunned down the Braves’ only attempted basestealer.
• The best offensive days were had by right fielder Carlos D. Rodriguez (two doubles, SB), DH Wes Clarke (two singles, walk) and Lopez (two singles).
• Only one Mississippi batter had any hits (DH Luke Waddell: 4-for-4), with the other eight going 0-for-26. 

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi (60-54) returns home to host Marlins’ affiliate Pensacola (63-50). Expect Misiorowski to start the opening game on a full week of rest.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Cedar Rapids 4, Wisconsin 1
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Rattlers’ website, game details: Kernels Beat the Rattlers 4-1

One pitch basically determined the outcome of this game, with neither team doing much on the game’s other 257 pitches. Unfortunately, that one pitch resulted in a game-altering three-run homer off starting RHP Edwin Jimenez (4 1/3 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 5 Ks) in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

That fateful inning may also have turned out differently if 2B Mike Boeve had taken the sure out at first base instead of getting nobody out on a toss to second base earlier in the frame.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Credit RHPs Nick Merkel and Tanner Shears for delivering 3 2/3 scoreless innings to give the Wisconsin offense a chance. They only conceded a single, walked none, hit one batter and struck out four.
• The Timber Rattlers had two runners on in each of the 4th and 5th innings, but didn’t really threaten thereafter.
• C Matt Wood highlighted the unfortunately limited offense – two singles, HBP, RBI. 3B Brock Wilken also singled and walked, though the first round draft pick committed his first error.

Next week’s outlook: The Timber Rattlers (48-64) welcome Royals’ affiliate Quad Cities (50-64) to Appleton this week, with LHP Nate Peterson (3.66 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 10.4 K/9 in 59 IP) the anticipated starting pitcher on Tuesday.

Carolina Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Kannapolis 8, Carolina 6
Box Score / Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Carolina Collapses Late in 8-6 Finale Loss

Prior to the late collapse, the story of the game was starting RHP Will Childers (6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) and a balanced offense which saw seven Carolina players collect 10 hits. The two remaining starting position players both walked, while six different Mudcats had one RBI each.

Unfortunately, for the second time in four days, the Mudcats’ bullpen let a big lead slip away, this time with RHPs Jeison Pena and Chase Costello conceding seven earned runs in the 7th and 8th innings to lose the game and the series.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• Carolina had the potential game-tying runs on base with nobody out in the top of the 9th inning, but were unable to bring either of them home, as you’ll note at the Game Log link above.
• Right fielder Luis Castillo reached base his first three times up: walk, solo homer for a 4-1 lead, hit-by-pitch. Hopefully his exit for a pinch hitter in the top of the 9th inning was nothing to worry about health-wise.
• Players with two-hit days included 2B Dylan O’Rae (two singles, walk, SB), 1B Tayden Hall (two singles, RBI) and SS Gregory Barrios (double, single, SF, RBI). 

Next week’s outlook: The Mudcats (62-49) commence a 12-game homestand, with Royals’ affiliate Columbia (58-55) coming to town for six games this week. RHP Alexander Vallecillo is most likely to start the series opener.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Four Rookie-level games are on tap for Monday, including a doubleheader for DSL Brewers-1, single game for DSL Brewers-2 and ACL Brewers’ regular season finale.

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