Brewers Minor League (Playoff) Link Report (9/10): T-Rats Win Game One Pitching Duel; Mudcats Blow Comeback Lead in Frustrating Game One Loss

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• RHP Sam McWilliams was assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers from the ACL Brewers

Final:  Memphis (Cardinals) 5, Nashville 3

Via the Sounds' website, please be sure to click and read each of the affiliate write-ups as part of your season-long Link Report routine (believe me, it's worth it):

Sounds' Late Rally Not Enough in Series Opening Loss to Redbirds - Brian Navarreto Has Two RBI in 5-3 Loss

Box Score / Game Log

Unfortunately, I haven't been particularly impressed with RHP Logan Henderson's late-season work with Triple-A Nashville. His velocity had been down and his 'stuff' nowhere near as electric (particularly, the vanishing act of his curveball) before his recent two weeks off. I was curious to see what version of the talented Henderson we were going to see given his recent respite. This just in: he struggled yet again. Sigh. We appear to have hit a road block in his late season. And, well, that's all just fine. Let's see the forest for the trees together: this has been a massively successful season for Henderson as a whole. These past few starts should not muddy that in any way shape or form. Henderson scratched his curveball entirely in this start. He maxed at 93.5 mph - still a few ticks down from his early-season heat maximums. He only grabbed six whiffs on 24 swings - this paints the story quite well. He worked with his four-seamer as his primary and, yet, in seven swings he saw an average 103.5 mph exit velocity. It's quite honest to share: he was hanging pitches and getting peppered. Often, in favorable counts. When all was said and done, Henderson only managed a 2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR, 5 ER final line. The Redbirds scored all their runs in those two frames and it was enough to take a game one victory.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) C Brian Navarreto. Definitively a 'my guy' kind of player. You know this by now but I'm hammering my point home yet again. All he does is hit clutch knocks and play fantastic defense. I've been saying it for two years. Navarreto simply continues to play the part of what I share with you. Two key pokes produced two key RBI's tonight - the only one producing in a 2-for-8 RISP mark for the Sounds as a whole. At this point, I am definitively a guy beating a proverbial dead horse. And, as long as he is continually ignored by the greater fan base I will continue to point out what they are missing. Another fantastic game from one of my favorite players in the system.

2) 1B Tyler Black. What can we even say at this point regarding Black's defense? We know it's erratic. We know the Brewers are trying to give him opportunities throughout the diamond given his offensive toolkit. I certainly consistently try to give him the benefit of the doubt. But, my goodness, if he isn't continuing to make the routine look sublimely hard! Let me set the stage. In the ninth inning, with two down and a man in scoring position Black took a routine grounder off his glove and down the 1B line. He got to the ball with plenty of time and room to spare despite the original snafu. He had an easy exit and an afterthought staring him in the face. Instead of throwing to his covering pitcher, rehabbing RHP Enoli Paredes, Black threw the ball all the way to home plate. It was a play that left me dumb-founded, quite honestly. Thankfully, Black was dealing with the ever alert Navarreto at the back stop who made a leaping snag and a prompt dive and swiping tag for the force out at home plate. Black is at the stage of his career where If the bat isn't producing...questions likely need to be asked moving forward. Look at the play at first base as he winds up to throw home here. This runner is out by 9-12 feet:

I truly don't know what to say any more. Even after the sublime defensive plays - and, yes, they do happen - with the talented young player I find myself asking: Was that even his ball? Take a look. You decide.

3) With INF/OF Isaac Collins with the MLB Brewers, the Sounds have a big hole to fill in their line-up. Tonight, 3B Vinny Capra (1-for-5, 1 K, 1 2B) was thrust into the lead-off slot after thriving of late batting second. Such is the life of a Minor Leaguer, however. Can they ever truly get comfortable? RF Brewer Hicklen (1-for-5, 2 K) was placed in the second spot. All damage done on the scoreboard for the Sounds came in the bottom of their line-up. But, given how CF Chris Roller (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B)  and LF Carlos D. Rodriguez (3-for-4, 1 R)  have been swinging of very late I found this entirely unsurprising. Navs backed them up with his extremely opportunistic 2-for-4, 2 RBI night himself. SS Freddy Zamora continues getting a massive opportunity as the everyday shortstop and, yet, he has done very little with the opportunity hitting daily in the ninth spot with a 0.192 BA and a 0.596 OPS in 193 Triple-A AB's. I guess I say all this to simply point out: losing Isaac Collins is a big deal to this Sounds line-up. He was and is a vastly under-appreciated player for what he does for a ball club. Tonight's discombobulated batting order and results speaks to this. He's a force dearly missed.

Final:  Wisconsin 1, Quad Cities (Royals) 0

Wisconsin Wins Dramatic Game One 1-0 Over River Bandits - Areinamo's Homer the Only Run in Game One Shutout

Box Score / Game Log  

Pre-Game Media Notes

What a gritty performance from RHP Alexander Cornielle. 5 2/3 IP of 2 H, 4 BB, 1 HB, 5 K, 0 R work. 98 pitches for the young man and 59 strikes. Sure, he walked a few too many batters. But, on the road in the playoffs - working around those free passes with aplomb, no less - you can't ask for much more. He buckled down and grabbed key punch outs when he needed them most and quite simply just completely minimized any meaningful contact. He continues to be the workhorse for the Timber Rattlers staff. A fantastic start to his post-season after a truly solid bounce back season for Cornielle while he continues to validate manager Victor Estevez and the Timber Rattlers coaching staff's faith in his abilities. The slider was an especially impactful pitch tonight - he seemed to dig deep and throw his best tailing off-speed deliveries when he needed them most. Here's to you, young Alexander. You impressed us all tonight.

Three Quick Strikes:

1) What more do I need to say about 'my guy' INF Jadher Areinamo? Not all that much. Appreciate this absolute rocket that, ultimately, won the game early. Into the ferris wheel, no less:

 2) Outside of pitching, how did the young T-Rats win game one? Defense. Defense. Defense. Here's two clutch plays from the late innings via 1B Tayden Hall and SS Cooper Pratt. Just huge plays in the moneymaking innings. Let me start you off with Hall's sliding double play off a pop up bunt (fantastic pitch by LHP Mark Manfredi here, to boot):

It doesn't get much better than that. Well, until it does. Take a look at this snow cone snare by SS Cooper Pratt with the tying runner at third base in the ninth and final inning. Unbelievable poise and reaction here:

3) In a game where the T-Rats bats were doing their best Brewers post-season offense impression as a collective group, we have to at least mention the 2 BB work from DH Luke Adams in lead-off. 0-for-2 with 1 K but taking two free passes is fine work from the lead-off position. Unfortunately, Pratt and Lara went a combined 0-for-8 with 2 K following his work. When all was said and done, however, this game was entirely about the 'bend but don't break' pitching efforts from  Cornielle, Manfredi, and Bryant (6 BB, 8 K) and the clutch defense in key moments. Hopefully, the bats will liven up some back at the home ballpark later this week. 

Final: Fredericksburg (Nationals) 7, Carolina 6

Box Score / Game Log

Mudcats Fall in Playoff Opener - Comeback Falls Short after Lead Squandered in Sixth Frame

RHP Daniel Corniel scuffled to start his game one surrendering two runs in a 21-pitch first frame. However, I ultimately came away entirely impressed by Corniel's fortitude and grit as he truly slung a masterpiece as the game progressed. The combination of his location, his high heater, and his slider was simply giving the Nats' bats all sorts of problem into the sixth inning before he was pulled. 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 8 K, 3 ER. Corniel truly deserved better when all was said and done. Unfortunately, a series of extremely bad luck bounces and rolls sent the Mudcats to the showers surely feeling all sorts of frustrations seeing their comeback fade into the night of a 7-6 loss. The Mudcats defense was charged with three errors in the fateful sixth frame. Let's just say: Mr. (or Mrs.) Scorer, I did not and do not agree with these decisions. But, let's be honest, that bad luck started from the get go:

Three Quick Strikes:

1) In a game of this nature, after clawing back for a 6-3 lead and losing said lead, there are going to be questions. And, well, I certainly had questions when the line-up card was drawn and when key pitching decisions were made (or not made). The Mudcats team, as a whole, is very young. And, I think it's fair to say manager Nick Stanley showed his youth and inexperience in this one as well. 2B Filippo Di Turi has been a struggling offensive player for nearly two months. He was chosen as the game one starter over a red hot Miguel Briceno - I questioned this decision before the game began and I still question that decision now that the game has ended. It did not fare well. Di Turi was charged with a key catcher's interference late after a silly swinging K on a heater well high and outside. He stepped over the plate and ultimately cost the Mudcats the tying run in Payne at 2B (who had successfully stolen the bag). He added insult to injury in his 0-for-3, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 R night. And, well, with a 6-5 lead and two down it is fair to point out Stanley left RHP Morris Austin too long a leash. Austin had lost his location as the sixth frame progressed. He had suffered numerous bad breaks as well. From a birds eye view and from a man who has watched this team all season: it was a misfire in a key playoff scenario especially given he was pushing his reliever into a pitch count in the high 20's. This is the post-season. This isn't August at Delmarva. 

2) Point 'A' is Briceno above. Point 'B' is SS Dainel Guilarte. I've been sharing with you, dear readers, Guilarte has been swinging a truly disciplined and hot bat for two months now. A bat reminding me of the fiery and dynamic player who arrived early in 2023 to the Mudcats roster before injuries mired his season in absence and slump. That talented player has been rearing his head all over the field for quite awhile now. Well, tonight, he absolutely hit the mark. This two out AB started in an 0-2 count:

 3) To close this, I can question some of the decisions (and, I do) by young manager Nick Stanley. BUT, when all is truly said and done this game was lost in poor AB's while protecting a 6-3 lead (four consecutive strikeouts ring a piercing bell) and the failed defensive execution throughout. Whether or not I agree with scoring five errors on the Mudcats ledger is one thing. The fact there are five questionable plays happening in a playoff environment is another. And, this didn't even account for Payne's bobble on a gather before attempting to throw home off a fly out to right field. Given how close his throw and the Garcia tag were, one can reasonably surmise a clean gather leads to an even closer play and a possible out.

Unfortunately, things are likely going to get even tougher for this young squad as they head home to face RHP Travis Sykora and his 16 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 20 SO versus these same Mudcats throughout this season. It doesn't bode well. But, in the post-season anything is possible. I'll hang on to that small glimmer. Thankfully, we'll have Chris Edwards on the call at Five County stadium. I'm looking forward to it later this week.

Given Biloxi's ongoing postponement and a playoff schedule in Carolina and Wisconsin, it would appear we only have Nashville on the docket tomorrow evening. RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez will be back on the bump looking to help his squad even this ongoing series 1-1. The Playoffs return Thursday evening as will Biloxi when they play their first double-header of their weather-impacted week.

As always, thanks for reading and thanks for supporting Milwaukee Brewers Minor League baseball and the many players deserving of our time and recognition. 

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