Ro Mueller

Title-clinching video highlights from Wisconsin at West Michigan:

Alexander Cornielle threw 4 shutout innings in Wisconsin’s clincher. Yophery Rodriguez was clutch in Carolina’s tight win. Nashville’s offense disappeared after the 1st inning and Biloxi was rained out. Image courtesy of Wisconsin Timber Rattlers For the week, Wisconsin (4-2) captured its series and Carolina earned a 3-3 split, while Biloxi (2-3) and Nashville (1-5) both ended up on the short end. Happy Fathers’ Day to all readers! Transactions: RHP Alexander Cornielle activated by High-A Wisconsin from 7-day injured list In related news, SS Eric Brown Jr. did not need an injury placement despite leaving Friday's game early, as he returned the the Biloxi starting lineup (though they were ultimately rained out on Sunday). Also @ARobsBrewCrew gave us insider updates on Eric Bitonti, Juan Baez and Jason Woodward as only he can. Game Action: Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Gwinnett 5, Nashville 4 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 Give Up Early Lead and Lose Series Finale at Gwinnett Handed a 4-0 advantage before throwing a pitch, rehabbing starting LHP DL Hall retired 6 of 7 batters faced, issuing one walk and striking out one hitter as his velocity peaked at 93.9mph. This was the 4th straight outing that opposing starter Taylor Widener was shelled (3 hits, 3 walks, 1 HBP amongst 8 batters faced), exiting with Nashville leading 4-0 with the bases loaded and 1 out in the 1st inning. However, Patrick Dorrian and Garrett Mitchell both K’d to strand the runners, which loomed large as Gwinnett chipped away against LHP Aaron Ashby (3 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 8 H, 3 BB, 1 WP, 4 Ks) thereafter. In his first game back since being optioned, designated for assignment and outrighted, RHP James Meeker was handed a tricky situation with the game tied 4-4, 2-on and nobody out in the bottom of the 6th inning, yet nearly escaped: K, fly out, 0-2 count fastball to Yuli Gurriel wasn’t quite high enough: Nashville sent the minimum number of hitters to the plate (12) from the 6th through the 9th innings. Sounds’ Extras: 1B Tyler Black (1-for-3, double, walk, SB) and DH Wes Clarke (1-for-3, double, walk, 2 RBIs) both doubled in the solid start to the game. Right fielder Brewer Hicklen reached base 3 times (infield single, 2 walks), while left fielder Chris Roller had a bloop hit fall in to register 2 RBIs. Rehabbing center fielder Garrett Mitchell went 0-for-5. Three of the Sounds’ five losses this week were by a sole run, as they lost their first series since early May. Next week’s outlook: Nashville returns home to face Rays’ affiliate Durham, with either RHP Taylor Clarke or RHP Garrett Stallings likely to be the starter on Tuesday. Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Rained out: Biloxi vs. Tennessee Via the Shuckers’ website, rainout details: Shuckers, Smokies Canceled on Sunday at Keesler Federal Park Tennessee entered Sunday trailing Birmingham by 3.5 games for the first half title, so will likely be disappointed at this rainout. However, Birmingham dropped a doubleheader so the battle continues into next week. Next week’s outlook: Biloxi faces a nearly 6-hour drive to the Huntsville suburbs to face Angels’ affiliate Rocket City. Although a Tuesday starter has not yet been announced, RHP Shane Smith (3.49 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 12.3 K/9 in 38 2/3 IP) is the logical choice after having this Sunday start scrapped. Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Wisconsin 8, West Michigan 5 Box Score and Game Log Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Rattlers Clinch Division Title with 8-5 Win over West Michigan Needing only a win or a Cedar Rapids loss to clinch the first half Midwest League West title, Wisconsin was sitting pretty up 8-0 through 4 innings behind injury-returnee RHP Alexander Cornielle (4 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks – exited after 46 pitches) before things got a bit hairy. Hitting just .194 over his past 126 plate appearances (plagued by a .217 BABIP in that stretch), C Matt Wood (4-for-5, 3 RBIs) started the 6-run 2nd inning with a single and left fielder Jheremy Vargas (1-for-4, HR, walk, 3 RBIs) delivered the key 3-run homer. This was the 3rd time in 2024 that June 16th birthday boy (25) RHP Aaron Rund has topped 50 pitches, doing exceptionally well to keep the Whitecaps at bay (3 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 Ks) before handing over to RHP Bayden Root to close it out. Root recorded his first save at the High-A level in his second opportunity and is now 7 of 8 in converting save opportunities this year (including 6-for-6 at Low-A Carolina before promotion). Timber Rattlers’ Extras: LHP Brian Fitzpatrick (2/3 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 3 H, 2 BB, 1 K) had an uncharacteristically poor outing in relief of Cornielle, conceding a 2-run homer before throwing 10 of 11 pitches for balls and allowing an RBI double. He’s been solid all season, so will expect to bounce back next week. Every starter in the Rattlers’ lineup reached base at least twice via hit or walk, except typical on-base machine 2B Dylan O’Rae (unlucky to be 0-for-6 with no Ks). Each of SS Gregory Barrios, 3B Luke Adams and 3B Jadher Areinamo had 2 hits and 1 walk, with Barrios also doubling and stealing a base. The year-end playoff dates are already set, so go ahead and get your t-shirt! Next week’s outlook: Staying on the road, Wisconsin will travel 2.5 hours south from West Michigan to face Padres’ affiliate Fort Wayne, with LHP Mark Manfredi scheduled to start Tuesday’s series opener. Final: Carolina 4, Fredericksburg 3 Box Score and Game Log Via the Mudcats’ website, game details: Mudcats run past Nationals in series finale Sitting on the same Magic Number (3) on Sunday morning as they had after Wednesday’s victory may have been a bit unsettling, but Carolina somewhat improbably got the job done and now only needs one more win to clinch the first half Carolina League North title. Having run out of starting pitchers this week, 21-year old RHP Cristofher Carrasco (2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 2 Ks) got the spot start and retired the first 5 batters he faced to set a terrific tone. 3B Daniel Guilarte (3-for-4, double, 2 SBs) and SS Cooper Pratt (2-for-4, double) also set tones of their own, each delivering ground rule doubles in the bottom of the 1st inning as the Mudcats raced out to a 2-0 lead. Left fielder Yhoswar Garcia then singled, stole second (27th of the year to lead the Carolina League, with 2 more to be credited when an earlier half-played game concludes on Tuesday) and scored FROM SECOND BASE on this ground out in the 4th inning: After hitting two batters but conceding no runs in the 4th inning, RHP Morris Austin allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk in the 5th inning before RHP Blake Whiting (2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 3 Ks) induced a crucial 5-3 ground ball double play to keep the game knotted at 3-3. Was the 3rd youngest player in the Carolina League nervous at the plate with the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 7th inning with 2 outs and 2B Miguel Briceno on 2nd base? Nah, center fielder Yophery Rodriguez hit the first pitch he saw into right field to re-gain the lead at 4-3: Mudcats’ Extras: RHP Aidan Maldonado has been getting the job done of late, recording scoreless outings in 8 of his last 9 games, including this critical one: 2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks. How improbable was this victory?: The Nationals stranded 14 baserunners to Carolina’s 5, including 2 in each of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th innings. In the 8th inning, they had a leadoff double and stranded him too. The nerves were definitely at play: 2 errors, 4 HBPs, 1 wild pitch, 1 passed ball for the Mudcats – yet it’s the player development and the Win which matter. Next week’s outlook: Carolina hits the road for 8 games in Columbia, South Carolina against the Royals’ affiliate, including doubleheaders on Tuesday and Thursday, although Tuesday’s first game will resume in the 5th inning with Carolina trailing 1-0. 18-year old RHP Manuel Rodriguez and 19-year old RHP Daniel Corniel are most likely to handle the bulk load on Tuesday. We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. Monday’s minor league action will be light, with only the two Dominican Summer League clubs playing at 9:00 and 10:00am CST. The Milwaukee Brewers also head out to Anaheim with an 8:38pm CST start time. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View full article

That’s actually the usual schedule, ending the first half half-way through a random 6-game series. They play 132 games - 66 in each half. But the season-opening series is always 3 games (starting on a Friday), so it screws up the math and makes the schedule look funny.

Yeah, T-Rats have clinched. Get your t-shirt!

Down East lost 4-0 and Lynchburg fell 7-6 (despite scoring 5 runs late), so Carolina’s magic number drops to One Game. They’ve got 5 games from Tuesday-Thursday next week before the first half ends. Likely feeling good going into next week despite some hiccups this week.

SS Eric Brown Jr. (exited Friday’s game early) is healthy and back in AA Biloxi’s lineup as they aim to even their home series against Tennessee 3-3. RHP Shane Smith (5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 5 Ks on Tuesday) makes his 2nd start of the week.

RHP Alexander Cornielle returns from injury for High-A Wisconsin, which can clinch the first half division title with a win at West Michigan or a Cedar Rapids loss.

LHP DL Hall makes his 2nd rehab start of the week, as AAA Nashville tries to end a rough week at Gwinnett on a positive note.

Low-A Carolina has dropped 3 straight at home against Fredericksburg, so needs a win behind spot starter RHP Cristofher Carrasco to salvage a series tie.

It appears that 21–year old RHP Cristofher Carrasco is Carolina’s spot starter today. He’s only averaged 21 pitches per outing, so this is an interesting choice. I wish RHP Hayden Robinson had gotten the call from ACL ball, but he may be injured for all I know (last pitched June 6).

That’s a real rough loss for Carolina, who’d finally grabbed the lead in the bottom of the 8th inning. Having entered Thursday’s games with a Magic Number of only 3, that number is unchanged 3 days later (though it’s unclear to me who would win a tiebreaker with Lynchburg). Manager Stanley’s choice of Harrison Durow for the 9th (last pitched June 12) wasn’t a surprise, though he might have preferred recently-reliable Aidan Maldonado (last pitched June 13). Complicating matters is the fact they’re essentially out of starting pitchers for the week. 18-year old Manuel Rodriguez threw 93 pitches on Tuesday. If he’s healthy, don’t be surprised if 18-year old Hayden Robinson (last pitched June 6 in the ACL) gets promoted and starts.

A 2-out dumped single (69.8mph exit velo) was followed up by a 2-run opposite field blast to tie it up off Patrick in the bottom of the 6th inning. Nashville and Gwinnett are now in the 8th inning, still tied 2-2. What an outing by Hendo. My goodness.

Recent signee INF Adam Hall (starting at shortstop; EBJ exited early yesterday) singled, stole a base and scored in the 2nd inning, then knocks in 2 more with a single in the 3rd inning. Biloxi is up 5-0!

Low-A Fredericksburg brings in their 4th 24-year old pitcher of the night to try to close it out. SS Cooper Pratt has singled with 2 outs. We need a Luis Castillo bomb, trailing 6-4.

RHP Harrison Durow was handed a 4-2 Mudcats’ lead in the top of the 9th inning. but couldn’t close it out. Two doubles and two HBPs tied the game and were followed by a back-breaking 2-run single. The Good Guys suddenly trail 6-4.

After Yhoswar (K) and Briceno (fly out) were retired, a balk scores Reidy Mercado (running for D. Garcia) and then Jose Acosta singles home Walling. 4-2 Mudcats. To the 9th we go.

1B Mike Boeve gives Biloxi and Logan Henderson an early lead:

Nashville still hasn’t gotten a runner in scoring position, but they’ve taken a 2-0 lead on C Eric Haase’s 108.2mph 2-run homer in the top of the 5th inning, scoring DH Wes Clarke (who’d singled).

Now it’s the Mudcats’ turn to have 2-on, nobody out in the 8th inning (David Garcia single, Walling HBP). Yhoswar, Briceno or Acosta need to come through.

Wow did the Nats blow that one! They try a sac bunt, but Figueroa gets the out at 2nd. And then C David Garcia guns down a steal attempt which didn’t trigger the runner at 3rd base breaking for home. And Figueroa gets an infield pop out to escape. To the bottom of the 8th we go, still 2-2.

Carolina put 2 on (Yophery walk, Pratt single) with 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th, so Fredericksburg brought in a 3rd 24-year old pitcher and he induced a Castillo groundout. Now resident old man RHP 23-year old Jeferson Figueroa gives up 2 singles to start the 8th inning. This is trouble. He’d retired 4 straight before this frame. Still a 2-2 game for now.

Chad Patrick’s solid as usual (4 shutout IP thus far), but the Sounds have yet to even get a runner to 2nd base. 0-0 thru 4.

…and the Nats replaced one 24-year old pitcher with another, who retired Castillo (pop out) and D. Garcia (K) to strand 2 baserunners, though only after a throwing error allowed Jose Acosta to scramble home and tie it up. 2-2 thru 5.

Trailing 2-1, an error and a walk (Filippo Di Turi) to start the bottom of the 5th inning open the door for the Mudcats. Will the Nats pull their 24-year old starting pitcher now? Let’s go Carolina!