Milwaukee Brewers Minors: Missions fall short in comeback bid

Another comeback falls short, two close games and a postponed game highlight the night for the Milwaukee Brewers affiliates.

Triple-A

San Antonio Missions (7-6) vs. Memphis Redbirds (6-7)

Another ninth inning comeback falls short again for the Milwaukee Brewers top affiliate as they drop game two of the series 7-6.

Tristan Archer put the Missions in a hole early, allowing three runs in 2 1/3 innings of work. The bats heated up to tie the game in the fourth after a Jacob Nottingham three run homer. Brad Kuntz couldn’t hold the lead, giving up two runs in the fourth. Josh Fields pitched a clean fifth, striking out one in his inning of work and gave the ball to Taylor Williams who gave up a run in 1 2/3 innings while striking out three. Donnie Hart came in to finish up the seventh but gave up another run before getting the final out.

Nottingham’s home run was the big blast for the offense that put six runs on the board. Tyler Saladino had another good game going 3-4 with two runs and and RBI. Mauricio Dubon (5th) also got in the fun hitting a solo shot in the ninth inning.

Keston Hiura (1st), Lucas Erceg (8th) and Nate Orf each had singles in the contest.

The Missions wrap the three game series tomorrow night.

Double-A

Biloxi Shuckers (6-7) vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos (9-4)

The Shuckers took a page out of Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell’s playbook and played a bullpen game. Maybe not by choice, but that is what happened. In the end, five pitchers gave up five runs and the Shuckers dropped game three of the series 5-2.

Braden Webb started the game but didn’t make it out of the first inning. He got the first out then went single, hit batter, strikeout, then walk, and then a bases loaded walk. Manager Mike Guerrero was forced to pull Webb and replace him with Nattino Diplan.

Diplan lasted two and a third, giving up five hits and two runs. Devin Williams came in and pitched three innings, striking out four while giving up two runs in the sixth inning. Daniel Brown and Aaron Kurcz came in and pitched three shutout innings to finish the game.

Michael O’Neill was locked in Wednesday, going 3-4, driving in two runs in the second inning in a double to left. Dillon Thomas collected another hit and has a team high 12 on the season.

Class A Advanced

Carolina Mudcats (8-6) vs. Fayetteville Woodpeckers (8-6)

Another one run game for the Mudcats leads to a 5-4 victory against the Woodpeckers in game three of the series.

It just took four hits to get five runs tonight for Carolina, as Mario Feliciano (14th) led the offense with a solo home run.

Payton Henry (10th) and Zach Clark each collected two RBIs on singles, the only hits they each collected tonight.

Team batting average leader Ryan Aguilar collected was 1-3 and is now hitting .289 with a .907 OPS.

Drew Rasmussen made his Mudcat debut on Wednesday, going three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out six. Matt Smith came in pitching three innings in relief, however was roughed up in the fifth for three runs. J.T. Hintzen worked 1 2/3 innings before being pulled after blowing the save after giving up a home run to Bryan De La Cruz. Feliciano’s home run regained the lead and gave Cody Beckham the win.

The Mudcats have four more games against the Woodpeckers this week.

Class A

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (6-6) vs. Beloit Snappers (5-7)

So mid game rainouts are the worst… the game starts today, but won’t be finished until June against the Snappers. The current score is 3-2, bottom of the fourth with one on and two outs.

As for the first three innings, Pitcher Aaron Ashby (9th) went 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs but struck out nine.

The Rattlers will head to Clinton, Iowa tomorrow to take on the LumberKings in a three game series.

We’ll continue to cover the Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates with daily reports from down on the farm.