Brewers Minor League Link Report (9/1): Affiliates End the Week on a Sour and Rainy Note

For the week, Carolina (4-1) and Nashville (3-2) were series winners, while Biloxi (2-4) and Wisconsin (1-5) ended up on the wrong end of the stick.

Transactions:

• LHP DL Hall recalled by MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville
• OF Brewer Hicklen recalled by MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Cancelled (Rain): Nashville at Charlotte

Via the Sounds’ website, rainout details: Rain Cancels Sounds and Knights Finale in Charlotte

What had been expected to be a 7-game series at Charlotte ended up being just five games due to inclement weather, but at least Nashville was able to capture 3 of the 5 games.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (69-61) heads home to face Braves’ affiliate Gwinnett (66-66) this week, with RHP Chad Patrick (3.02 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 8.8 K/9 in 116 1/3 IP) scheduled to start the opening game on Tuesday.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Montgomery 10, Biloxi 0
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Shuckers Fall to Biscuits in Series Finale on Margaritaville Night

If you clicked on the box score (out-hit 16-2; also committed 2 errors; K’d only 3 Biscuits), you may be searching for some positive notes, such as starting LHP Adam Seminaris somehow throwing 70 pitches (4 IP, 6 ER, 10 H, 1 BB, 0 Ks) in his second start of the week (after 83 pitches on Tuesday) in an attempt to preserve arms before 7 games in 6 days in the week ahead.

Seminaris actually did all right through 7 batters (2 infield hits, 1 walk, 5 outs including a GIDP, 0 runs allowed) before the wheels fell off: 7 of the next 9 batters collected hits to give Montgomery a 5-0 advantage.

RHP Shane Smith was probably the Shucker performer of the evening (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks), but the game was already 10-0 when he entered in the 7th inning.

The offense was hitless until left fielder Adam Hall (substituting for Connor Scott, who exited after 4 innings) collected an infield single in the 5th inning off of old friend Evan Reifert. At least dependable right fielder Lamar Sparks (1-3) doubled later to give the team one hit to the outfield.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• One of the highlights on a rough night on the farm was simply the return of 2023 first round pick 3B Brock Wilken (0-for-3, walk) to action after he was substituted during Thursday’s game and missed the subsequent two contests.
• I’d thought RHP James Meeker may be poised to eat several innings (he’d thrown just 34 pitches over 4 games in the previous 35 days), but he was limited to one inning of relief (1 unearned run), along with RHP Tyler Woessner (3 ER) and position player Ben Metzinger (0 ER). We also note that RHP Sam Carlson has not appeared in a game since August 21.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi’s (60-63) final road trip of the regular season takes them to Madison, Alabama for seven big games against Angels’ affiliate Rocket City (55-69), starting with a quasi-doubleheader (2-on, 1-out with the Shuckers pitching in the top of the 1st inning) on Tuesday. They lead the Mississippi Braves by 0.5 games in the quest to earn a playoff berth.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Quad Cities 15, Wisconsin 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Rattlers Hit Sour Note in Home Finale

Wisconsin’s media team has once again blessed us with video highlights which we greatly appreciate:

Despite the defeat, we’re also fortunate to have this 20-minute Mehring/Lobner post-game podcast, including comments from rehabbing Hoby Milner and Manager Victor Estevez.

The short-handed Timber Rattlers dropped a fifth straight game in their final regular season homestand of 2024, but are due back in Appleton for Game 2 of their semi-final playoff series on September 12.

LHP Mark Manfredi (1 1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 Ks) had thrown 45 pitches in Tuesday’s victory, but served as the opener on Sunday, working around two 1st inning walks before allowing 3 hits to 4 batters in the 2nd frame, handling over to RHP Yerlin Rodriguez down 1-0.

Rodriguez (1 1/3 IP, 8 R (5 ER), 4 H, 4 BB, 1 WP, 2 Ks) was tasked with throwing a season high 55 pitches (only 24 strikes), retiring just 4 of 12 batters faced and exiting after a run-scoring error pushed Quad Cities’ advantage to 9-0 in the 3rd inning.

As mentioned in the podcast, the game’s bright spots were center fielder Luis Lara (2 singles, walk, run, outfield assist) and Milner (3-up, 3-down 5th inning with 1 K).

RHPs Bayden Root, Brailin Rodriguez and Dikember Sanchez garnered 8 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings of work, but also allowed 4 earned runs, 7 hits, 3 walks, 1 HBP and 2 inherited runners to score, along with committing 1 balk.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• Having already qualified for the playoffs by winning the first half title, Wisconsin continued to let three regulars recuperate from injuries (Luke Adams, Cooper Pratt, Tayden Hall) while another rested (Ramon Rodriguez).
• As we also learned in the podcast, (i) Manager Estevez expects Hall back around Wednesday next week, Adams on Wednesday or Thursday and Pratt hopefully by Saturday or Sunday; and (ii) Mehring and Lobner don’t believe that 2B Jadher Areinamo’s exit after 4 innings was anything more than the Manager giving him a well-deserved rest amidst the blowout.
• Sunday marked Victor Torres’s (0-for-3) first game catching with the Timber Rattlers and first MILB start of any kind since June 20th.

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin (74-51) hits the road to Cedar Rapids (64-60) for their final series of the regular season, facing the Twins’ affiliate. RHP Stiven Cruz (3.86 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 7.2 K/9 in 56 IP) is expected to start the series opener on Tuesday.

Final: Lynchburg 6, Carolina 2
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Drop Series Finale

19-year old LHP Anthony Flores (4 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 HBP, 2 balks, 4 Ks) took the loss but kept the Mudcats in the game, before the Hillcats pushed 4 runs across in the middle innings against Carolina’s bullpen.

Right fielder Miguel Briceno (2-4, double, RBI) continued his solid recent stretch at the plate by doubling in a run with one out in the 5th inning to cut the deficit to 2-1, but was left stranded and the team trailed 5-1 half an inning later.

While RHP Jesus Flores was tagged for those 3 runs (2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 1 WP, 1 K), RHP Morris Austin stranded 2 baserunners for him and RHPs Jack Seppings (1 1/3 scoreless, 1 K) and Jeison Pena (1 IP, 1 K) each put in solid relief shifts. This was Pena’s first game action since August 11 after recovering from an injury.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• 18-year old 3B Eric Bitonti (2-for-4, HR, double, RBI) is a threat to go deep every time he’s up, smacking his 8th blast for Carolina and 16th homer of the season, depositing the first pitch he saw in the 8th inning over the fence (solo shot).
• This was 4th round pick Marco Dinges’ second game behind the plate for Carolina, throwing out 1 of 3 attempted basestealers. However, he also saw his on-base streak end at 8 games (0-for-4).

Next week’s outlook: Carolina (75-48) returns home for their final series of the regular season, hosting Orioles’ affiliate Delmarva (50-75).

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. While the minor league squads won’t be back in action until Tuesday, the Milwaukee Brewers host the St. Louis Cardinals at 1:10pm CST on Monday.

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