Brewers Minor League Link Report (9/15): Pratt and Hicklen Deliver Game-Winners in 3-0 Sunday Sweep

For the week, Biloxi won its series 3-2 over Mississippi and Nashville managed a 2-2 series draw against Memphis. Wisconsin went 3-0 to inch within one win of a league title and Carolina lost its Division Series two games to zero.

Transactions:

• CF Yophery Rodriguez promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina
• RHP Chandler Welch promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina
• LHP Mason Molina promoted to High-A Wisconsin from Low-A Carolina
• INF/OF Felix Valerio promoted to AA Biloxi from High-A Wisconsin
• LHP Adam Seminaris transferred to Development List from AA Biloxi
• RHP Harrison Durow transferred to Development List from High-A Wisconsin
• RHP Aidan Maldonado transferred to Development List from High-A Wisconsin

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 2, Memphis 1 (in 10 innings)
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Sounds’ website, game details, and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Hicklen Delivers Walk-Off in Extras, Sounds Take Home Finale Over Memphis

Nashville may not be headed to the playoffs (only 2 of 20 International League teams can qualify), but the squad showed they’ve still got plenty to play for in their comeback win.

Starting 26-year old Chad Patrick (2.95 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 9.5 K/9 in 131 1/3 IP) has been one of the top pitchers in the league, adding another 12 Ks and 6 shutout innings to his exceptional campaign on Sunday. The three hits he conceded were all singles, pairing nicely with zero walks or hit-by-pitches.

A rare blemish on RHP Kevin Herget’s resume (7th inning solo homer; 2 IP, 3 Ks – 2.09 season ERA) was erased thanks to the bottom of the order: left fielder Carlos D. Rodriguez walk, center fielder Chris Roller single, SS Freddy Zamora RBI single. 

The Sounds’ three 9th inning singles failed to deliver a run, but RHP Craig Yoho was able to strand the Manfred Man and a walked player in the 10th inning before right fielder Brewer Hicklen walked off the victory on the first pitch of the bottom of the 10th inning.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Both teams missed big chances in the 3rd inning, with Patrick striking out three consecutive batters after allowing 2 singles, then Nashville stranding 3B Vinny Capra and Hicklen, who’d doubled and been hit-by-pitch.
• LHP Bryan Hudson wasn’t fazed by a leadoff bunt single in the 9th inning, notching two strikeouts and inducing an opposite field line out (19 pitches, 14 strikes but just one whiff). His velocity peaked at 93.4mph. Will he have 1-2 more AAA appearances next week before being recalled to the Brewers?
• Patrick is one of many impressive starting pitchers whom the Brewers need to seriously consider adding to the 40-man MLB roster to avoid losing them this winter for essentially nothing. Some others prominently featuring on the list include RHPs Logan Henderson, Shane Smith, Coleman Crow (injured all of 2024) and Mitch White.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville heads 10 hours due east to Norfolk, Virginia to take on the Orioles' affiliate in their final week of the 2024 season, with 22-year old Henderson (3.49 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 11.6 K/9 in 77 1/3 IP) scheduled to start the series opener on Tuesday.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Biloxi 7, Mississippi 4
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Sparks Two-Homer Afternoon Leads Shuckers to Win in Regular-Season Finale

After following up Thursday’s playoff-clinching doubleheader sweep with two lackluster losses, it was great to see Biloxi battle back on Sunday to capture a series win over Mississippi in front of 2,700 fans in their regular season finale.

27-year old RHP Kaleb “Bo” Bowman has been excellent all year (entering with a 2.99 ERA in 69 1/3 IP), but this was perhaps his first start since his high school days, as he conceded a run on 2 hits and a walk in the first inning before handing over to multi-inning man LHP Russell Smith.

DH/OF Lamar Sparks certainly came to play, hitting homer #9 on a 2-2 pitch to tie the game 1-1 in the 2nd inning, then launching homer #10 on a 1-2 pitch in the 4th inning, a 2-run shot for a 3-1 advantage after 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. had beaten out an infield single with 2 outs.

The 26-year old Smith allowed a runner to reach second base in each of his three innings, inducing two ground outs and a fly out to complete three scoreless frames (season ERA 2.73 in 52 2/3 IP). He also registered 3 strikeouts.

Things looked a bit hairy when RHP Tyler Woessner walked consecutive batters to open the 5th inning, but he settled down to retire 6 consecutive hitters before giving way to RHP Will Childers, who conceded 2 runs on 2 hits in the top of the 7th inning.

Martinez (who else?) started the comeback with a single to open the bottom of the 7th, stealing two bases to put the pressure on before right fielder Zavier Warren walked on a full count and C Nick Kahle got the clutch 2-out, 2-run single for a 5-4 lead.

Then left fielder Felix Valerio deposited the very next pitch over the wall for a 2-run blast and the 7-4 final margin.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• RHP Sam Carlson worked around an error and an infield single in a strong 8th inning (K, pop out, fly out) before RHP Justin Yeager peppered the zone in the 9th (13 pitches, 11 strikes, 2 Ks).
• Before his 2-RBI single, Kahle was 0-for-2 at the plate and 0-for-5 in throwing out opposing baserunners, making a timely goat-to-hero turn.
• After an early season injury and three months with High-A Wisconsin, this was Valerio’s first game back in AA ball. He’d spent the entire 2022 and 2023 seasons in Biloxi, so the homer had to feel sweet. The 23-year old Valerio is due to become a minor league free agent this winter, so time will tell what the future has in store.
• Martinez is also due to hit minor league free agency, for the second time in his case. What an intriguing player and man he is – now 25 years old, the best defensive first baseman in the organization, a 6’6” left-handed hitter who stole 20 bases this year and produced an .831 OPS in the offensively-challenged Southern League (.664 league average OPS). Will the Brewers add EMJ to the 40-man MLB roster like they did with Tyrone Taylor in 2018?

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi stays home for Game One of its Division Series against Rays’ affiliate Montgomery on Tuesday. No starter has been named yet, with the team perhaps choosing between a starter on 4 days’ rest (e.g. LHP Tate Kuehner, RHP KC Hunt) or someone slightly more fresh (e.g. RHP Nick Merkel).

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 5, Lake County 4
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Dramatic Finish Has Rattlers One Win from Championship

Wisconsin’s final home game of 2024 means we’ll have to savor these special video highlights put together by their fabulous media team:

Also be sure to listen to the last Mehring/Lobner post-game podcast of the year, a 34-minute set including terrific interviews with RHP Tyler Bryant, SS Cooper Pratt and Manager Victor Estevez after they captured Game One of the Best-of-3 Midwest League Championship Series.

As you heard in the podcast link, Manager Estevez expected some runs early, probably in light of the recent struggles of dueling starters 21-year old RHP Ryan Birchard (6 ER in last 3 1/3 IP with 8 BBs; ramping up activity after a lengthy injury recovery) and Lake County’s RHP Rorik Maltrud (7 ER in his last 1 2/3 IP; after a solid 2024 campaign).

2024 number one overall draft pick 2B Travis Bazzana greeted Birchard with a game-opening double, helping put Wisconsin in an early 2-0 hole, but center fielder Luis Lara equaled Bazzana’s tone with an 8-pitch walk to start the Timber Rattlers’ immediate comeback.

While Maltrud got the early hook (lasting just 6 batters and exiting after C Matt Wood’s 2-out single gave Wisconsin a 3-2 lead), Estevez played with fire by sticking with Bichard after his 4th walk in 1 2/3 innings, with Birchard conceding a run-scoring single (3-3 game) and issuing one more walk to load the bases before calling for 22-year old RHP Stiven Cruz.

Cruz notched a 7-pitch strikeout to keep it a tie ballgame before left fielder Hedbert Perez doubled home 1B Tayden Hall to restore Wisconsin’s lead 4-3. It looked like a bigger inning may be in store, but Perez and Lara were stranded, with the Timber Rattlers leaving two more men on base in the 3rd inning.

Cruz no-hit the opposition for 2 1/3 innings (3 Ks), though did allow a manufactured run (walk, balk, ground out, sac fly) before RHP Chandler Welch (6th round pick in 2024) struck out 4 of 6 batters faced (1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB) in an impressive High-A debut.

From there, both teams had clutch defense, with Lake County inducing a ground ball double play to escape the 6th inning, both teams stranding the bases loaded in the 7th frame (LHP Mark Manfredi escaping via a fly out in a full count), then shortstop Pratt getting the run-saving ground ball pick up and throw to first seemingly from center field to end the 8th.

Of course, you’ve seen and heard about Pratt’s game-winning RBI double off the third base bag, but I’ll still post it here. How excited was left fielder Jheremy Vargas crossing the plate for a 5-4 lead?! Do you think he was confident that Bryant would close out the victory?

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• What was Division Series hero 20-year old 3B Luke Adams up to this time out? How about a 3-for-5 game with 4 stolen bases, an RBI and a run scored?!
• The radar gun was showing 92mph for Welch, 94mph for RHP Dikember Sanchez (1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) and 97mph for Bryant in a dominant bullpen effort.
• I would be remiss not to mention the High-A debut of right fielder Yophery Rodriguez, as the 18-year old batted 5th, collecting a single and an RBI, though he was also off-target on a throw home which allowed a run to score in the 2nd inning.
• 4,183 home fans on a school night after the Packers' home opener was an exceptional turn-out which the players, coaches and Timber Rattlers' officials were all thrilled to experience.

Next week’s outlook: The Championship Series continues with Game Two on Tuesday in Eastlake, Ohio, an 8-hour drive requiring the Timber Rattlers to cross three states. 23-year old RHP Alexander Cornielle has been in solid form and will get the start. If necessary, Game Three would also be hosted by Lake County on Wednesday.

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Monday, it’s only the Milwaukee Brewers who are in action (hosting the Phillies at 6:40 CST) before three minor league squads get back to it on Tuesday.

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