Jim Goulart

Shuckers take Game 2 behind Houser's gem Brewers righty perfect through six, pitches first career complete game By Alex Kraft / MiLB.com Adrian Houser struggled to come up with a way to describe how he felt after shutting out Pensacola in Game 2 of the Southern League semifinals. "Let alone just a complete game, but to be able to do it in a playoff situation to help put my team up, 2-0, in the series, it's almost a loss for words, you know?" the 22-year-old right-hander said. The Brewers' No. 28 prospect retired his first 18 batters and tossed a three-hitter for his first career complete game Friday as Biloxi beat the Blue Wahoos, 6-0, to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series. "I just really concentrated on keeping the ball down in the zone," said Houser, who recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts without issuing a walk. "My pitches were all working well, me and the catcher [Parker Berberet] were just locked in with each other calling the game. I had great defense behind me tonight and it was just a good team win." Closing in on a perfect game, the 2011 second-rounder gave up a leadoff single in the seventh to No. 11 Reds prospect Phil Ervin. "The way I was throwing and the way I was thinking and focused on the game, I thought I could have done it," Houser said. "I fell behind in the count and left a pitch up and he did what good hitters do: he put it in play. "I was a little disappointed because I made a mistake, but the way the offense was tonight and the lead that we had, I was happy with how I did." The Shuckers had pounced on Pensacola starter Cody Reed (0-1) for four runs in the bottom of the fifth to open a 5-0 lead. Brewers top prospect Orlando Arcia highlighted the outburst with a two-run homer. Seeing the offense do its part motivated Houser to continue doing his. "It just helps keep you locked in more and keep you focused and trying to do everything you can to help the team win," he said. The Oklahoma native allowed two more hits after Ervin's, infield singles by top Reds prospect Jesse Winker and Ryan Wright. He ended up facing one batter over the minimum by inducing two double plays. The win put Biloxi in position to complete a three-game sweep when the series shifts to Pensacola on Saturday night. "We're playing some great baseball right now. Everything's clicking," Houser said. "The pitching's been great, the offense has been phenomenal and the defense has been even better behind us. If we can just keep doing that, we're looking pretty good so far." In other SL playoff action: Montgomery at Chattanooga, postponed

Just making sure you caught 2015 Link Report favorite Nevin Ashley's Intentional Talk appearance

Friday's Farmhand Birthdays -- Brevard County SS Angel Ortega turns 22. Helena LHP Quintin Torres-Costa is 21 today. Maryvale RHP Gentry Fortuno, the 2nd youngest stateside player in the system (only Helena SS Gilbert Lara is younger), celebrates birthday #18 today.

Biloxi: RHP Adrian Houser at home vs. Pensacola (Reds), 6:55 PM pre-game, 7:10 gametime; Game Two of a Best-of-Five Series; Shuckers lead, 1-0 Free Live Audio Link MiLB.TV - Eight of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi is among them! Pensacola does as well. By the way, it's Montgomery (Rays) vs. Chattanooga (Twins) in the other semi-final. MiLB.TV subscribers should root for the Biscuits, as Chattanooga does not offer MiLB.TV. That being said, the Lookouts are up one game to none. *** Box Score / Game Log / Game Day Link *** Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog *** Weather forecast: Biloxi, MS

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'Everything' works for Jorge Lopez as Shuckers win game one, 4-2 Patrick Magee, Biloxi Sun-Herald http://media.sunherald.com/smedia/2015/09/10/20/49/coWfF.AuSt.77.jpg Shuckers pitcher Jorge Lopez had a strong showing in the first game of the Southern League playoffs against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos - AMANDA MCCOY/SUN HERALD PHOTO GALLERY: Twelve images via Amanda's link here BILOXI – Right-hander Jorge Lopez was outstanding in the regular season, but he saved his best performance to start the playoffs for the Biloxi Shuckers Thursday night. Lopez allowed just one run on two hits in 6 2/3 innings to pick up the 4-2 win over the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in game one of the Southern League South Division playoffs at MGM Park. Lopez struck out seven and walked three, giving up no earned runs on two hits. When asked which pitches were working for him Thursday, Lopez answered “Everything.” “It was an awesome night,” Lopez said. “I was going to compete with guys. (Catcher Adam) Weisenburger did a really good job of giving me pitches. We did a really good job together tonight.” Pensacola didn't have its first hit until Alex Blandino singled to center with one out in the top of the sixth. The pitch that worked most for Lopez Thursday night was his changeup and he was able to throw it in all situations. His fastball often topped out at 96 miles per hour. “Jorge has been lights out here for two months now,” Shuckers manager Carlos Subero said. “It's nice to see him do what he did tonight. He's just a man on the mound with the overall sequences of how he pitches. He was throwing changeups behind in the count, 3-2 and 3-1.” Game two of the series is set for 7:10 p.m. Friday at MGM Park with right-hander Adrian Houser (4-1, 2.92) throwing for Biloxi and lefty Cody Reed (6-2, 2.17) on the mound for Pensacola. “(Reed) is a great pitcher,” Subero said. “Not only with his stuff, but he's very competitive. It's going to be a good battle tomorrow.” The announced attendance for Thursday's game was 2,782. Biloxi had 10 hits compared to just two from Pensacola. All of the Shuckers' hits came from five different players with two hits a piece – Orlando Arcia, Yadiel Rivera, Tyrone Taylor, Brett Phillips and Nick Shaw. While Lopez looked every bit the Most Outstanding Pitcher in the Southern League, Arcia showed again why he was deserving of the MVP honor, which went to Chattanooga's Max Kepler. Arcia tripled to deep left center in the bottom of the first to knock in Rivera, who started the inning with a single, and give the Shuckers a 1-0 lead after one inning. Arcia pushed the lead to 2-0 on an RBI groundout to bring home Shaw, who had a leadoff double, and hand Biloxi the 2-1 advantage. Arcia finished 2-of-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. “There he is again,” Subero said of his star shortstop. “Guys who were strong in the year, it was good to see them do well tonight.” Phillips finished 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI in his first game after sitting out the last 18 days with an injury. “I felt great being back in the lineup,” Phillips said. “I didn't know how it would go being out 18 days. I didn't try to do too much. I put together at-bats and did what I could do to help the team.” Jacob Barnes replaced Lopez in the seventh and threw well, retiring all four batters he faced. Yhonathan Barrios picked up the save by retiring the final two batters of the game. Damien Magnifico was the first pitcher on the mound in the ninth, but he struggled with his control, walking a pair of batters and giving up an RBI single to Ray Chang with one out in the ninth. Barrios retired the two men he faced to finish off the first postseason victory in franchise history.

AUDIO: Radio highlights from the Biloxi broadcast

VIDEO via WLOX: Includes Orlando Arcia's triple

Phillips, Lopez lead Biloxi to Game 1 win No. 2 Milwaukee prospect doubles twice; righty takes no-no into sixth By Tyler Maun / MiLB.com While he may still be getting acquainted with his new organization in certain ways, Brett Phillips is anything but a stranger to postseason baseball. Thursday night, he showed his playoff aptitude in a big moment again. The Brewers' No. 2 prospect doubled twice and drove in a run in his return from the disabled list as Double-A Biloxi opened its best-of-5 Southern League semifinal with a 4-2 win over visiting Pensacola at MGM Park. "I've had the opportunity to play in the playoffs the last couple of years, and it's not about individual stats anymore," Phillips said. "It's about stringing together good at-bats, getting on base so the guy behind you can do the job. In the playoffs, it's all about being selfless. Tonight, it was great to get that first win of the series." The 21-year-old knows what it takes to succeed when the calendar turns to September. While with the Astros, Phillips won a California League title with Class A Advanced Lancaster a year ago and took part in the 2013 Appalachian League playoffs with Rookie-level Greeneville. On Thursday night, his Biloxi club got things off on the right foot behind starting pitcher and No. 9 Milwaukee prospect Jorge Lopez. "He was lights-out," said Phillips, who joined the Brewers in a trade deadline deal. "He didn't have a hit going into the sixth inning and had his stuff. We were able to string together some good at-bats for him, but he was lights-out. It was exciting to watch him and play behind him." Lopez (1-0) allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out seven over 6 2/3 innings. After top Brewers prospect Orlando Arcia belted an RBI triple in the bottom of the first, the Shuckers were confident. "I think I heard a comment after we scored the first run like, 'Oh we won this game,' just because Lopez has been lights-out all year," Phillips said. "That's what it's all about. You've got your ace on the mound who has his stuff, and you've got 100 percent confidence in the guy. The whole team does." Phillips, who returned Thursday after missing two weeks on the disabled list due to an irritated nerve in his thumb, plated a run with an RBI double to right field in the sixth. "It was a curveball and I was able to put a good swing on it and put it down the line, put that run across," MLB.com's No. 34 overall prospect said. "The energy just grows more and more in these types of ballgames. When you have the energy, you have the momentum on your side. It was fun." Carrying a three-run lead into the ninth, Biloxi's bullpen performed a high-wire act to close out the win. Damien Magnifico walked the first two batters he faced and gave up an RBI single by Ray Chang before departing with the potential tying runs aboard. Yhonathan Barrios came on to record the final two outs and earn the save. "'Mags' didn't have his stuff tonight, but that's OK, because Barrios came in and shut the door," Phillips said. "It's great going into Game 2 here at home with the first win under our belts. It's good momentum. The team is excited. We're excited to be in the playoffs. We're not ready to go home. We're going to continue to fight and string together team wins." In other SL playoff action: Chattanooga (Twins) 4, Montgomery (Rays) 3 With his team down to its final strike, Max Kepler showed why he was named the circuit's Most Valuable Player. The Twins' No. 6 prospect laced a two-run walk-off single in the ninth to rally the Lookouts to a Game 1 win. Kepler's base hit was just the Lookouts' second in 12 tries with runners in scoring position. Chattanooga starter D.J. Baxendale didn't factor into the decision, but allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out four over 7 2/3 innings,

Shuck Dynasty Blog -- Updated Preview *** Via Tom Haudricourt -- OF Daniel Fields, claimed from Detroit by Brewers, will join @BiloxiShuckers in time to be activated for Game 3 of 1st round playoffs.

Brewers now tell us they accepted cash in the Hunter Morris deal, not a PTBNL.

Hey, the Pirates owe us a player! Hope the initial list was solid, because this wasn't.

MiLB.com's Southern League Playoff Preview And yes, the Shuckers hopefully have figured out how to pitch to Jesse Winker...

Thursday's Farmhand Birthdays -- Helena LHP Christian Trent turns 23. DSL Brewers RHP Yunior Santana (a converted outfielder) is 22 today.

Here's your Biloxi roster answers from @BrewersPD: Brett Phillips has been reinstated from the Biloxi DL. Michael Reed, Jorge Ortega, and Brandon Macias will all join Biloxi for round 1 of the playoffs. Nathan Orf, Hobbs Johnson, Brooks Hall, & Martin Viramontes to the DL. *** Orf is hurt? The other DL assignments seem to be to hide relatively ineffective players as of late.

Here's your Biloxi roster answers from @BrewersPD: Brett Phillips has been reinstated from the Biloxi DL. Michael Reed, Jorge Ortega, and Brandon Macias will all join Biloxi for round 1 of the playoffs. Nathan Orf, Hobbs Johnson, Brooks Hall, & Martin Viramontes to the DL.

Darren Rovell (ESPN) Tweet-- Factoring for inflation, the average Triple A baseball player today makes 53% LESS than what a AAA player made in 1980.

AUDIO: Southern League Roundup -- Playoff Preview via the Shuck Dynasty Blog The playoff matchups are set for the Southern League and Thaddeus Krzus brings you a quick preview of what to expect on this week’s edition of the Southern League Roundup.

You'll find multiple Biloxi "preview" tidbits within several of the posts that carried over from Tuesday's final regular season Link Report.

Biloxi: RHP Jorge Lopez at home vs. Pensacola (Reds), 6:55 PM pre-game, 7:10 gametime; Game One of a Best-of-Five Series Free Live Audio Link MiLB.TV - Eight of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi is among them! Pensacola does as well. By the way, it's Montgomery (Rays) vs. Chattanooga (Twins) in the other semi-final. MiLB.TV subscribers should root for the Biscuits, as Chattanooga does not offer MiLB.TV. *** Box Score / Game Log / Game Day Link *** Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog *** Weather forecast: Biloxi, MS

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He's scheduled to become a minor league free agent. Outside of Yhonathan Barrios, these players aren't on the projected rosters.

Rattler Radio Blog Postseason Entry - 2015 Season in Review

Not wishing releases on anyone, but these were the releases of players above rookie ball that took place at the end of last season -- Heckathorn , Kyle 2014-12-17 Released Colorado Springs Moye , Andy 2014-12-17 Released Biloxi Sermo , Jose 2014-11-12 Released Brevard Co Hopkins , Greg 2014-11-12 Released Brevard Co Vucinich , Shea 2014-11-12 Released Biloxi Prince , Josh 2014-11-12 Released Biloxi Notice these did not take place until November. We'll see what happens later this fall...

Via the Biloxi Sun-Herald -- Biloxi will get some help in the lineup with Michael Reed rejoining the the Shuckers from Colorado Springs. He was promoted to Triple-A last month, where he batted .246. With Biloxi, Reed batted .278 with five homers and 49 RBIs in 313 at-bats. The Shuckers also added an arm to its rotation in right-hander Jorge Ortega, who went 9-9 with a 2.41 ERA in 20 starts with Class-A Brevard. Ortega will likely throw the fifth game of the series, if necessary. *** As we could kind of see coming, LHP Hobbs Johnson likely won't be in the playoff rotation. No word yet on roster drops or Brett Phillips' status.