Milwaukee Brewers Minors: Plenty of long balls for affiliates

It was a busy weekend for the Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates.

Triple-A

San Antonio Missions (51-32) vs. Iowa Cubs (47-36)

The Milwaukee Brewers top affiliate split the weekend, dropping Saturday’s game but getting the win Sunday.

Jake Hager hit his eighth homer of the season in the 12-2 loss against the Cubs Saturday. Lucas Erceg drove in the other run for the Missions. Johan Belisario, who was 6-0 in Biloxi made his Triple A debut and it didn’t go as according to plan. He made it two innings before allowing seven runs in the third. Miguel Sanchez and Taylor Williams pitched well out of the bullpen in garbage time, combining for 4 1/3 scoreless with 5 k’s.

Sunday was a different story as the Missions erupted for four home runs in a 10-2 win. Erceg led the way with two hits, including a two-run home run and three RBIs. Mauricio Dubon hit a solo shot in the fifth followed by a two-run home run by Cory Spangenberg. Blake Allemand hit a solo shot in the seventh.

Spangenberg went 2-4, while David Freitas went 2-3 with two runs.

Thomas Jankins went six strong innings to pick up win number eight on the season. Jon Olczak and Donnie Hart finishes off the game with three scoreless innings in relief.

Game three of the series is tomorrow.

Double-A

Biloxi Shuckers (45-36) – Mobile Bay Bears (32-47)

It was a tough weekend for the Shuckers as they lost both Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday was a rough 5-1 game, with only five hits. Dillon Thomas drove in the only run for the Shuckers, his 41st RBI of the season.

Sunday wasn’t much better, Bruce Caldwell’s solo home run in the first and Jake Gatewood’s RBI single in the third inning was the only offense of note.

Drew Rasmussen looked good in his 2 2/3 innings to start Sunday’s match up. He allowed just two hits and struck out four.

Biloxi continues the series this week against the Bears.

Class A Advanced

Carolina Mudcats (45-35) vs. Potomac Nationals (34-44)

The Mudcats split the weekend but won the series against the Nationals.

On Saturday, they got the 7-5 victory on the strength of two-way player, pitcher Clayton Andrews who started in center field. Andrews had three hits, two RBIs and drew a walk. Ryan Aguilar also had three hits and two RBIs while Pat McInerney drove in two on two hits, including a run on a solo shot in the seventh.

Christian Taugner picked up his third win of 2019 while Rodrigo Benoit picked up save number 12 of the season.

There was not much tonight from Sunday’s 9-1 loss except Aguilar getting two hits and scoring on Mario Feliciano’s RBI single in the sixth. Feliciano now has 54 RBIs on the season.

Class A

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (39-40) vs. Beloit Snappers (28-49)

Rattlers pull a game under .500 after winning their fifth in a row and taking the first two games against Beloit.

On Saturday, Conner McVey’s solo home run in the first got the scoring started. Then they added five in the third inning, including a two run homer for Yeison Coca. Coca drove in three runs, McVey had two, while Je’Von Ward and Brice Turang each had one.

Chad Whitmer got the win, his fourth of the year. He worked three scoreless with four strikeouts.

Sunday’s 5-3 win started with Gabriel Garcia’s eighth home run of the year. Leugim Castillo hit his second home run in three games and drove in the insurance run to ensure the victory. Turang scored twice in the game, while David Fry had two hits.

Logan Gillespie got the win, going six innings with five strikeouts.

The Rattlers will finish the series tomorrow.

Short Season

Rocky Mountain Vibes (6-9) vs. Grand Junction Rockies (8-7)

After a come from behind win on Friday night, the Vibes kept in going Saturday with a 7-5 win against the Rockies. Antonio Pinero was 3-4 with three RBIs. Ernesto Martinez hit his third home run on the young season, wile Jose Siberian drove in a run on a single in the eighth.

Steve Pastora earned his first win, going three shutout innings in relief.

Sunday’s 3-2 was close as the Vibes tried to make a late inning come back again. Micah Bello has three hits, while Avalo had two hits and an RBI. Milwaukee Brewers 4th round pick Nick Kahle drove in the other run in the game for the Vibes.