Brewers Minor League Link Report (9/8): Patrick and Pratt Spur Affiiates to Two Wins on Sunday

For the week, Nashville (4-2) was the sole series winner, with Wisconsin and Carolina managing 3-3 draws and Biloxi dropping a rare 7-game set (4-3). It’s playoff time(!) for Wisconsin and Carolina, while Nashville and Biloxi see their regular seasons continue.

Transactions:

• OF/INF Isaac Collins’ contract selected by MLB Brewers from AAA Nashville
• OF Brewer Hicklen optioned to AAA Nashville by MLB Brewers
• RHP Chandler Welch (2024 sixth round draft pick) assigned to Low-A Carolina from ACL Brewers
• RHP Gerson Calzadilla assigned to ACL Brewers from Low-A Carolina

Game Action:

Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Nashville 1, Gwinnett 0
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: Sounds Strike Out a Dozen in Shutout Win Over Stripers

26-year old starting RHP Chad Patrick (3.09 season ERA) has been one of the top pitchers in the 20-team International League this season, but scuffled in 2 of his last 3 outings. On Sunday, Patrick re-asserted his dominance (6 IP, 0 R, 1 H – a first inning single, 1 BB, 8 Ks) to help the Sounds clinch a series win.

Although the Sounds’ staff limited the Stripers to one hit, retiring 15 in a row at one point, the offense was unable to pull away, collecting just five singles. Thankfully, 1B Tyler Black (1-for-3, RBI) came through with the clutch 2-out RBI single to plate SS Vinny Capra in the 6th inning.

RHP Jacob Misiorowski set aside a rough appearance three days’ earlier to register a 4-out 7th inning (3 Ks – one reaching via wild pitch, one pop out), perhaps putting himself right back into the postseason roster discussion.

LHP Bryan Hudson made his first “refresher” appearance since a surprise option to AAA and RHP Kevin Herget worked around a leadoff 9th inning walk to induce three outs on two ground balls to preserve the victory.

Sounds’ Extras:

• Right fielder Carlos D. Rodriguez (1-for-3, walk) and left fielder Noah Campbell (1-for-2, walk) each reached base twice, with Rodriguez singling Capra to third in that 6th inning.
• Hudson’s successful 1-2-3 eighth inning involved 11 pitches (6 strikes) and saw his velocity top out at 91.1mph. Are the Brewers hoping for more?
• The victory helped Nashville edge to within 4.5 games of Columbus for a playoff spot, with 12 games remaining in the AAA regular season.

Next week’s outlook: Nashville (73-63) remains home, this time welcoming Cardinals’ affiliate Memphis (68-70) for six games. 22-year old RHP Logan Henderson (2.99 ERA with 97 Ks in 75 1/3 IP) was last seen in action on August 27, but is expected to start the opening game of the series on Tuesday.

Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Rocket City 6, Biloxi 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Magic Number Drops to Four Despite Loss in Finale for Shuckers

RHP Nick Merkel (4 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 Ks) made his third start in the last 11 days after 36 relief appearances to start the 2024 campaign, giving the seemingly short-handed Shuckers a sizeable 149 pitches over two starts this week, exiting down 3-2 after four innings on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the playoff-chasing Shuckers were basically stuck-in-the-mud from there, failing to cash in on 2-on, 1-out opportunities in the 6th and 7th innings or the leadoff man reaching in the 8th inning, while also allowing 3 unearned runs (on two errors by 3B Brock Wilken) across in late innings to face a 6-2 deficit.

The team ultimately went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding 11, but showed life with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th thanks to a C Darrien Miller single and three consecutive walks before a Rocket City pitching change helped end the contest on a SS Eric Brown Jr. groundout with the bases juiced.

Shuckers’ Extras:

• DH Ernesto Martinez Jr. continues to carry the offense (1-for-2, RBI, 3 walks), while 2B Ethan Murray also had a solid game at the plate (2-for-4, RBI).
• RHP Bo Bowman (2 IP, 0 R, 3 Ks) produced the top pitching line, K’ing the side in the 5th inning before working around a single (whom he picked off) and walk for a scoreless 6th frame. The unearned runs came against RHPs Harold Chirino (1 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 1 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks) and James Meeker (1 IP, 2 R (0 ER), 2 H, 2 BB, 0 Ks).
• With Dylan O’Rae getting a day off and Martinez playing DH, the team had to choose either Nick Kahle or Ben Metzinger to start in the outfield, opting to give Kahle his first-ever outfield start in his 5th minor league season (excluding the Covid year). To his credit, Kahle caught both fly balls hit out his way and also went 1-for-4 at the plate.

Next week’s outlook: Biloxi (63-67) returns home for its final week of the regular season, hosting the Mississippi Braves (61-70), with LHP Tate Kuehner (3.07 ERA with 112 Ks in 99 2/3 IP) scheduled to start on Tuesday. The Shuckers lead Pensacola (hosting Montgomery) by 2.5 games for a playoff spot and the Braves by 3 games.

Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes
Final: Wisconsin 10, Cedar Rapids 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Wisconsin Closes Out Regular Season Campaign with a Win

In Wisconsin’s final tune-up before the Midwest League playoffs, the offense returned to life in a big way with 10 runs on 5 extra-base hits, 4 singles and 5 stolen bases to even their final regular season series of 2024.

SS Cooper Pratt’s 8th homer of 2024 came in the 1st inning and was followed three batters later by 3B Eduardo Garcia’s 5th blast of the year to grab the early 3-0 lead.

Back-to-back run-scoring doubles from left fielder Hedbert Perez and C Victor Torres (2-for-4, RBI) pushed the advantage to 5-1 by the 4th inning and the Kernels never threatened from there.

Center fielder Luis Lara played an eventful 5 innings, walking and stealing third base in the 3rd inning, then blasting his 4th homer (video here) of 2024 to push the lead to 7-1 in the 5th frame.

The true “bullpen game” saw six Timber Rattlers’ hurlers cover the nine innings, with none going more than two innings or exceeding 40 pitches. RHP Harrison Durow (2 IP, 0 R, 1 infield hit, 0 BB, 3 Ks) had a terrific High-A debut, retiring 6 of 7 batters faced in the 3rd and 4th innings.

Timber Rattlers’ Extras:

• RHP Stiven Cruz made his second start of the week, but only had to cover the first inning: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks. Along with Cruz and Durow, RHP Aidan Maldonado also registered a scoreless appearance (2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 Ks).
• Wisconsin’s staff struck out 14 Kernels and its hitters only K’d 4 times, with RHP Yerlin Rodriguez grabbing 4 Ks over 1 2/3 IP (1 R, 3 H, 0 BB).
• Manager Victor Estevez was able to get 12 hitters into the contest in the regular season finale, 10 of which reached base via hit or walk. Even then, 3 players rested: Luke Adams, Ramon Rodriguez, Felix Valerio. What a contrast from AA Biloxi’s situation.

Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin’s best-of-3 playoff semifinal series against Quad Cities starts on Tuesday at 6:30pm CST, with RHP Alexander Cornielle (4.31 ERA with 98 Ks in 104 1/3 IP) pegged to start Game 1 on the road, before the teams return to Appleton for Game 2 on Thursday.

Final: Delmarva 9, Carolina 3
Box Score and Game Log

Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats Drop Regular Season Finale

The organizational debut of 21-year old starting RHP Chandler Welch out of Tulane was a success (1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks), though the offense struggled to cash in on numerous opportunities as Carolina fell behind 6-0 by the 7th inning in its regular season finale in front of 1,512 home fans.

18-year old RHP Eric Prado made his Low-A debut in his first official game in nearly two months, battling well for two innings (allowing a sacrifice fly) before two homers in the 5th inning marred his line (3 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 1 WP, 1 K).

The offense finally came to life in the bottom of the 8th inning, with SS Daniel Guilarte (2-for-3, 2 doubles, walk, 2 RBIs) and 1B Reece Walling (terrific week with 9 hits in the series) driving home three runs to make the contest 6-3 with 2-on and nobody out. Unfortunately, three straight strikeouts ended that dream, so we have to credit Shorebirds’ pitchers for bearing down in that situation.

Mudcats’ Extras:

• Along with Guilarte, DH Yophery Rodriguez and right fielder Reidy Mercado also collected 2 hits apiece, with Mercado stealing his 20th base on the campaign.
• Center fielder Braylon Payne followed up his 4-hit, 4-SB game on Saturday with an 0-for-4, 2 K game on Sunday, but he did lead off the bottom of the 1st inning with a walk. INF Juan Baez then surprisingly swung at the first pitch (ground ball double play) as part of a day of missed opportunities for the offense: 2-for-13 with RISP, 10 baserunners stranded.
• LHP Anfernny Reyes (2 R (1 ER), 2 H, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 3 Ks) covered three innings and INF/OF Miguel Briceno allowed three runs in the 9th inning for the final margin.

Next week’s outlook: Carolina’s best-of-3 playoff semifinal series against Fredericksburg starts on Tuesday at 6:05pm CST, with RHP Daniel Corniel (4.29 ERA with 95 Ks in 98 2/3 IP) the most likely Game 1 starter on the road, before the teams return to Zebulon for Game 2 on Thursday.

2024 Mudcats’ team MVP Pratt had a message for the fans and his former teammates:

We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Even the Brewers have a day off on Monday (series in San Francisco starts Tuesday night) before all squads are back in action on Tuesday.

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