Dbacks Minor League Round-Up 5/4: Brewer Putting Things Together

As down as we've been on just about everything related to the Reno Aces, there is one person emerging from the dust who is suddenly putting things together...and that's Charles Brewer. After a mostly difficult 2012 season saw a lot of the shine go off his prospect status, and a somewhat rough start to his 2013 season, over his last three starts Brewer is reintroducing himself as a polished professional pitcher. Last night was one of his finest performances as he tossed 8 shutout innings on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 4. That was on top of his last outing of one run over 8 innings which has lowered his ERA to a respectable 3.89 and a .232 BAA. He's pitching so well that he's climbing onto the possible list of starters who could be called up if a rash of injuries occurred, something that was pretty unthinkable just a few short weeks ago. Let's hope he can keep it up and get himself back into the legitimate prospect category, even if he is approaching that age when they don't call you a prospect anymore.

So naturally with Brewer's fine performance the Aces won as the offense showed up at the same time led by the usual suspects of Chris Owings, Matt Davidson and Kila Ka'aihue. Mobile split a doubleheader losing the first as a continuation from Friday's game that Holmberg started, but winning the second on a very good outing from Michael Bolsinger, another fringe pitching prospect that doesn't get talked about much. Visalia continued its winning ways as starter Cody Wheeler took advantage of his recent promotion and earned his first win at the High A level. And South Bend won a battle of division leaders with another wild 9th inning rally.

Snake Stars
3 Stars: Charles Brewer, Reno 8 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K, o ER, W (2-2)
2 Stars: Kevin Medrano, South Bend 3 for 4, 2 BB, 3 R, 1 DBL, 1 TPL
1 Star: Ender Inciarte, Mobile 4 for 6, 3 R, 1 DBL, 1 RBI, 1 SB (7)*
0 Stars: Jon Griffin, Mobile 0 for 6, 4 K*
*Results are combined from both games of a doubleheader

Triple A: Reno 7 @ Tacoma 0. Charles Brewer's 8 shutout innings were just what the doctor ordered for ice cold Reno and the offense heated up at the same time for a much-needed 7-0 win. Kila Ka'aihue had a 3 for 4 night including his 6th homer of the year. Chris Owings had 2 more hits, the 7th time in the last 10 games he has done so. And Matt Davidson rapped a pair of doubles with 2 RBI.

Double A: Game 1: Mobile 2 Huntsville 5. This game started on Friday with David Holmberg on the mound and getting through just 3 innings before the rains came. Holmberg allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits while striking out 3. Derek Eitel took the loss as he allowed 3 runs in the top of the 7th of a tie game. The Bay Bears only managed 3 hits with 2 coming from leadoff man Ender Inciarte who went 4 for 6 in the doubleheader.

Double A: Game 2: Mobile 4 Huntsville 1. Michael Bolsinger made his 3rd consecutive solid start to open his season in leading the Bay Bears to a comfortable 4-1 win. Bolsinger allowed just 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 2. Inciarte had 2 more hits including a double and an RBI , and Mike Freeman contributed 2 hits and an RBI.

High A: Visalia 5 @ Stockton 3. Due to the departure of Archie Bradley, there was an opening in the Visalia rotation, and that honor went to left-hander Cody Wheeler who was promoted from South Bend. Wheeler pitched well enough to earn the victory in his High A debut and was impressive in striking out 8 in 5 innings of work. Unfortunately he walked 6 and pitched into and out of trouble as he allowed 3 earned runs. But the offense didn't let him down as they pieced together several small rallies to make Wheeler a winner. Gerson Montilla has found his power stroke of late with his 4th home run as part of a 2 for 4 night. Tom Belza also had a 2 for 4 night including a double, and Jake Lamb added an RBI double. The real star of the game though was the dominating Rawhide bullpen which tossed 4 shutout innings on 1 hit, 1 walk and a whopping 8 strikeouts. Jake Barrett struck out the side again in the 9th for his 8th save and 17th strikeout in 10 innings.

Low A: South Bend 6 Cedar Rapids 5. In a battle of division leaders it wasn't looking good for the Silver Hawks as they entered the 9th trailing by three. But the Cedar Rapids closer couldn't find the plate and South Bend rallied for 3 runs to tie it on 4 walks, a wild pitch, a bunt single and a sac fly. They won it in the 11th on Ryan Court's walk-off RBI single. Leadoff batter Kevin Medrano had 3 hits, 2 walks and scored 3 times to pace the offense. Ryan Court had 2 more hits plus 3 RBI and is hitting .364. Steve Rodriguez contributed a pair of singles.