A HB, E5, walk, line out, walk. 2-0 to the next batter. The struggle is very real. Sigh. Make that 3-0. Can't locate anything. Heater outside. Misses outside on another heater. Walks in another run. 6-3 Pandas. Ugly ugly ugly.
He misses with consecutive heaters and walks in a run. 5-3 Trash Pandas. Kuehner is not sharp here in the 4th. No location on anything. It's a 50/50 proposition at present. Bases juiced. One down.
Whewwww. An absolute rocket line drive snared by Zavi Warren who deftly makes up for the earlier error. That ball was absolutely smoked. Warren lept and grabbed the ball across his body. Heck of a play! One down. Bases still juiced. That ball easily would have been down the line into the corner clearing the bases.
Kuehner got ahead 1-2 to the next batter and then missed three straight pitches to walk the bases juiced (two sweepers low and well outside and a heater low and outside). The ugly continues in the 4th frame.
Warren botches a slow-hit routine grounder off the heel of his glove to put two on immediately with nobody down (HBP opened the frame) in the 4th. Ugly play. He was caught trying consider the play at 2B (no chance) when he should have focused on the ball into glove and gotten the sure out. Two runners aboard.
The Shuckers are absolutely cobbling together a starting pitching staff at present knee-deep in a playoff push. If they somehow manage to squeak by the M-Braves it is going to be a true test of resilience and some solid fill-in bullpen efforts. All hands on deck. A post-season berth very very much remains in their hands. After this 7-Game series vs the Trash Pandas - a series they really need to feast on given the Braves current opponent in the juggernaut that is the second half Smokies - they return home to face the M-Braves for the final push. It could go any way at present.
RHP Elvis Peguero was recalled from the Nashville Sounds by the Milwaukee Brewers
LHP Bryan Hudson was optioned to the Nashville Sounds from the Milwaukee Brewers
RHP Enoli Paredes was assigned to the Nashville Sounds from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (where he will continue his rehab assignment)
**Note: Biloxi plays a double header today with Rocket City. They'll begin Game 1 at 5:05 EST completing a game suspended back on August 4th. The Trash Pandas will begin with runners on 2nd and 3rd with one down in toe Top of the 1st inning.
I am so here for the LHP Aaron Ashby RHP Joe Russ bullpen renaissance. They have been fantastic of late. We need all the solidity with strikeout threats in those pivotal multi-inning scenarios. Bodes very well for pulling starters in playoff series should the need arise.
RHP Adrian Houser has been signed to another Minor League contract as his merry-go-round 2024 MLB tour continues. The Orioles signed Houser after the Cubs of Wrigleyville recently released him.
Absolutely. It's certainly not his best role by any stretch - it was proven last year and then again this year. He's best as a middle-innings reliever and he's done quite well in that role. The Biscuits give this Shuckers team fits (as well as most other teams in the North division). If you want to look at where this series was truly lost it was the bullpen blow-up of Childers and Yeager in game 3. If they hold serve it's a 3-3 series split. You pair that blown opportunity and the 1-5 series mark vs Mississippi just two series ago and that is why the Shuckers are barely holding on to their playoff 'lead'.
And, as a direct aside, the move to place RHP Shane Smith back on restricted innings in addition to the Wichrowski injury have really impacted the staff significantly. I have to imagine the Smith maneuver had to do with saving his arm and putting his health at the forefront. He can obviously fill in as a starter and fare quite well in doing so.
CF Yophery Rodriguez picked up his 15th OF Assist today. I don't know where that stands in Low-A but I have to think that's near the top of the leaderboard. His defense continues to be the most consistent high-quality part of his game.
I see we got 'that' version of RHP Yerlin Rodriguez today. Sigh. Just so many sighs.
1 1/3 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 1 WP, 2 K, 8 R (5 ER)
The struggles absolutely continue.
AND the 2nd in 2024.
Carolina Mudcat OF Yhoswar Garcia stole his 60th and 61st bases at Lynchburg earlier this past week.
Put some respect on his name.
Old friend INF Pablo Reyes had his contract selected by the New York Mets after last year's prolonged cup of coffee with the Boston Red Sox. Here's hoping Reyes catches fire for the Wild Card chasing NL team out East.
Interestingly, a roster spot was opened when ol' Brewer friend OF Ben Gamel was DFA'd to Syracuse earlier this month. Gamel was claimed by the Houston Astros.
INF Christian Arroyo has (not so) quietly gone 10-for-30 over his past 30 AB and is 2-for-3 tonight with a key 2-RBI single to LF in the Sound's 7th to give his squad a 6-4 game. Gotta love it.
You have to love Peterson coming through like this. He's been routinely showing signs but has been struggling with 2nd and 3rd times through and has struggled locating off-speed. Tonight's outing is a huge boon for the Shuckers pitching staff.
Quad Cities laying it on the T-Rats early yet again. 4-0 River Bandits lead headed to the 2nd. A solo shot and a two run triple were the primary culprits in RHP Will Rudy's first frame of work.
I continue to think the 'Beach Chickens' look is the best look in Biloxi. That 80's Miami Vice teal with the pink accent is just so choice. I really hope they favor this moving forward.