RHP Drew Gagnon (L, 1-10): 4.1 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 2 HR — 6.96 ERA

RHP Wirfin Obispo: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K — 5.63 ERA

C Nevin Ashley: 3-for-3, HR (6), 2 R, RBI, BB — .309 AVG

DH Matt Clark: 2-for-2, RBI, BB — .263 AVG

Biloxi Shuckers (10-13), 4.5 GB

RHP Jorge Lopez (L, 8-4): 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 2 HR -— 2.70 ERA

LHP Jed Bradley: 2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K — 5.27 ERA

SS Orlando Arcia: 0-for-4, K — .309 AVG

1B Nick Ramirez: 0-for-4, 3 K — .274 AVG

Brevard County Manatees (10-13), 6 GB

Postponed: Rain

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (8-16), 12.5 GB

RHP Angel Ventura (W, 4-4): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 2 K — 3.42 ERA

LHP Kodi Medeiros (s, 1): 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K — 4.13 ERA

DH Carlos Leal: 3-for-4, HR (2), R, RBI -— .318 AVG

SS Blake Allemand: 2-for-5, R, RBI — .254 AVG

Helena Brewers (14-16), 4 GB

LHP Drake Owenby (L, 1-1): 3.1 IP, 13 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 HR — 6.75 ERA

RHP J.B. Cole: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K — 4.68 ERA

2B George Iskenderian: 3-for-4, R, K — .310

AZL Brewers (9-15), 6 GB

RHP Caleb Smith (L, 1-3): 3.1 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K — 6.04 ERA

RHP John Olczak: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K — 1.93 ERA

SS Gilbert Lara: 0-for-4, K — .313 AVG

RF Demi Orimoloye: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 K — .339 AVG

DSL Brewers (17-26)

RHP Nattino Diplan (L, 1-5): 7 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K — 4.17 ERA

2B Franly Mallen: 1-for-4, 2B, R, RBI — .259 AVG

RF Yerison Pena: 1-for-3, 2B, R, RBI, BB — .356 AVG

Prospect of the Day:

Yesterday I wrote that I would be most interested in seeing how the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers competed against the Kane County Cougars, who had put together a ridiculous 21-3 record to open the Midwest League’s second half.  It turns out that the Rattlers were pretty much the only thing worth watching on Monday.

For Milwaukee’s other affiliates, it was a lousy evening in the results department.  Aside from Wisconsin, the other five teams that played on Monday were outscored by a combined 40-15.  There were a few solid pitching performances, particularly of the bullpen-saving variety, but overall the individual numbers were as pedestrian as the team totals.

Wisconsin RHP Angel Ventura, therefore, wins Prospect-of-the-Day thanks to an effective performance at Kane County.  Ventura, 22, has been well off the Brewers’ prospect radar.  Signed as an international free agent in 2010, he spent three years in the DSL and one year in the AZL, posting mediocre numbers at both stops.  In 2015, however—his first year of full-season A-ball—Ventura has been one of Wisconsin’s most consistent performers (4-4, 3.42 ERA, 79 IP, 71 H, 3 HR, 32 BB, 73 K).  From mid-May through early-July he kept his ERA between 2.18 and 2.84.  Set aside a rough outing at Kane County on July 9th (4.2 IP, 9 ER), and his ERA still would stand at 2.54 rather than 3.42.  Using a mid-90s fastball and an average slider, he has amassed nearly a strikeout per inning.  On the whole, while it remains difficult to project a future role for all young players, particularly those who are in the midst of a mini-breakout at 22, Ventura at least has established himself as a prospect worth watching.

Speaking of which:

What I’ll Be Watching on Tuesday:

Wily Peralta will make his third rehab start, this time with the Biloxi Shuckers, who host the Mobile Bay Bears.  Braden Shipley, one of Arizona’s top prospects, is scheduled to start for Mobile.

Friday, July 17:

RHP Josh Roenicke (W, 5-7): 5 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K — 5.26 ERA

RHP Tim Dillard: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K — 6.49 ERA

1B Jason Rogers: 3-for-5, HR, R, 4 RBI — .400 AVG

2B Elian Herrera: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI — .378 AVG

Sky Sox Team RISP: 5-for-9

Saturday, July 18:

RHP Hiram Burgos (W, 2-1): 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K — 3.51 ERA

RHP Jaye Chapman (S, 7): 1.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K — 3.79 ERA

1B Jason Rogers: 1-for-2, R, 2 BB — .403 AVG

C Nevin Ashley: 1-for-4, 2 RBI — .300 AVG

Sunday, July 19:

LHP Nick Additon (W, 5-3): 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K — 5.62 ERA

RHP David Goforth (S, 3): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K — 2.48 ERA

LF Matt Clark: 1-for-3, HR, R, 3 RBI, K — .259 AVG

CF Logan Schafer: 2-for-4, 2B, R — .254 AVG

Biloxi Shuckers (10-12), 3.5 GB

Friday, July 17:

RHP Johnny Hellweg: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K — 6.23 ERA

LHP Jed Bradley (L, 0-1): 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K — 5.40 ERA

SS Orlando Arcia: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K — .314 AVG

C Adam Weisenberger: 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, 2 BB — .241 AVG

Saturday, July 18:

RHP Tyler Wagner (L, 6-5): 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 HR — 2.53 ERA

LHP Mike Strong: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR — 2.84 ERA

2B Nathan Orf: 3-for-4, R — .271 AVG

SS Orlando Arcia: 1-for-5, 2B, RBI, 2 K, SB — .313 AVG

Sunday, July 19:

Postponed — rain

Brevard County Manatees (10-13), 5.5 GB

Friday, July 17:

RHP Tristan Archer (L, 1-4): 4 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K — 5.12 ERA

LHP Stephen Peterson: 3 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K — 3.26 ERA

CF Omar Garcia: 2-for-4, R, K — .263 AVG

1B Garrett Cooper: 1-for-4, RBI, 2 K — .277 AVG

Saturday, July 18:

RHP Javier Salas: 4 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K — 3.44 ERA

RHP Mark Williams: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K — 2.70 ERA

RHP Caleb Earls (W, 1-1): 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K — 3.34 ERA

1B Taylor Brennan: 2-for-4, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, K — .251 AVG

LF Michael Ratterree: 1-for-3, R, 2 RB, BB, K, walk-off HBP — .170 AVG

Sunday, July 19:

RHP Jorge Ortega (L, 8-6): 6 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K — 2.21 ERA

LHP Trevor Seidenberger: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K — 1.17 ERA

CF Omar Garcia: 1-for-4, K, 2 SB (34) — .262 AVG

1B Garrett Cooper: 3-for-4, 2B — .284 AVG

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (7-16), 13.5 GB

Friday, July 17:

RHP Cody Ponce (L, 0-1): 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR — 2.25 ERA

RHP Gian Rizzo: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K — 3.48 ERA

CF Brandon Diaz: 1-for-3, 2B, R, BB — .239 AVG

SS Blake Allemand: 3-for-4 — .232 AVG

Friday, July 17 (makeup of 7/16 PPD):

RHP David Burkhalter (W, 3-5): 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K — 4.07 ERA

RHP Luke Curtis (S, 2): 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K — 3.94 ERA

DH Dustin DeMuth: 3-for-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI — .287 AVG

SS Blake Allemand: 2-for-3, R — .254 AVG

Saturday, July 18:

RHP Devin Williams: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K — 3.18 ERA

RHP Eric Hanhold (L, 0-1): 2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K — 9.00 ERA

CF Brandon Diaz: 2-for-4, 2B — .240 AVG

DH Carlos Leal: 1-f0r-3, 2B, R, BB — .310 AVG

Sunday, July 19:

RHP Jon Perrin: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K — 7.82 ERA

LHP Tyler Linehan (L, 1-4): 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K — 6.68 ERA

LHP Luis Ortega: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K — 5.14 ERA

3b Sthervin Matos: 2-for-3, .206 AVG

Helena Brewers (14-15), 3 GB

Friday, July 17:

LHP Jake Drossner: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR — 4.15 ERA

RHP Marcos Diplan (W, 2-0): 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K — 3.00 ERA

SS Jake Gatewood: 1-for-3, HR (3), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB — .235 AVG

DH David Denson: 3-for-4, 2 2B, R, SB (3) — .320 AVG

Saturday, July 18:

RHP Milton Gomez: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K — 6.10 ERA

RHP Bubba Blau (W, 2-3): 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR — 9.95 ERA

SS Jake Gatewood: 1-for-4, R, RBI, K, 3-run walkoff HR (4) — .236 AVG

3B Jose Cuas: 1-for-3, HR(2), R, RBI — .250 AVG

Sunday, July 19:

LHP Chad Reeves: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K — 5.65 ERA

RHP Junior Rincon (L, 2-2; BS, 2): 0.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K — 5.23 ERA

RF Carlos Belonis: 1-for-4, HR (4), R, RBI, BB — .242 AVG

CF Monte Harrison: 2-for-4, R, SB (13) — .309 AVG

Prospect(s) of the Weekend:

This was a tough call. The results down on the farm this weekend were rather mixed. A few players stood out, such as Brevard County RHP Mark Williams, who pitched four shutout innings of relief on Saturday, surrendering two hits, striking out seven, and keeping the Manatees in the game long enough to allow for one of the strangest endings of the season: a bases-loaded, walkoff HBP, which followed a bases-loaded, game-tying HBP, and gave Brevard County a 7-6 comeback win.

The prospect-laden roster at short-season Helena also produced several candidates. RHP Marcos Diplan, profiled on this site a few weeks ago, pitched four shutout innings in relief, gave up only one hit, no runs, one walk, and struck out six. Meanwhile, SS Jake Gatewood homered twice, including a three-run walkoff blast on Saturday.

The award for Prospect(s)-of-the-Weekend, however, goes to the Colorado Springs pitching staff, which allowed only two earned runs in a weekend sweep of the New Orleans Zephyrs. In 16 combined innings, Sky Sox starters gave up only 12 hits and did not allow an earned run. Not bad for a staff with the second-worst ERA in the Pacific Coast League.

What I’ll Be Watching on Monday:

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers continue their series with the Midwest League’s 2015 juggernaut, the Kane County Cougars, who have followed up a first-half championship with a 21-3 start to the ML’s second half. Thus far the Rattlers have held their own through two narrow defeats. Kane County will provide another tough test for a young Wisconsin team.

RHP Hiram Burgos:  (L, 1-1) 5.1 IP, 7 H, 8 R (7 ER), 3 BB, 2 K — 4.87 ERA
RHP Rob Wooten:  1.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K — 4.15 ERA
2B Elian Herrera:  4-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R — .403 AVG
SS Yadiel Rivera:  2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, 2 R — .267 AVG

Biloxi Shuckers: (6-6), 1.0 GB

RHP Johnny Hellweg:  (L, 0-1) 2.1 IP, 2 H, 5 R (2 ER), 5 BB, 2 K, 1 HR — 7.71 ERA
RHP Manny Barreda:  2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 3 K — 4.05 ERA
DH Nick Ramirez:  2-for-3, HR (12), 2 RBI, BB, 2 R — .288 AVG
C Adam Weisenburger:  2-for-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 R — .236 AVG

Brevard County Manatees: (4-8), 5.5 GB

RHP Javier Salas:  (L, 7-5) 6.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 1 K — 2.95 ERA
LHP Stephen Peterson:  2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K — 2.70 ERA
SS Angel Ortega:  2-for-3, 2B, R — .219 AVG
DH Clint Coulter:  1-for-4, RBI, 2 K — .259 AVG

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers: (5-8), 6.0 GB

RHP Devin Williams:  (L, 2-5) 3.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K — 3.27 ERA
RHP Gian Rizzo:  2.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K — 4.08 ERA
LF Mitch Meyer:  2-for-2, RBI, BB, CS (2) — .245 AVG
DH Sthervin Matos:  2-for-4, K — .210 AVG

Helena Brewers: (7-10), 3.5 GB

Game postponed due to rain.

AZL Brewers: (6-9), 3.0 GB

RHP Karsen Lindell:  1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K — 6.00 ERA
RHP Connor Baits:  (L, 0-2) 1.0 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K — 33.00 ERA
1B Tyrone Perry:  1-for-2, 2B, RBI, 2 BB — .304 AVG
LF Joantgel Segovia:  1-for-4, SB (2), R — .309 AVG

DSL Brewers: (13-19), 11.0 GB

RHP Junior Flores:  (L, 0-2) 4.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 4 K — 3.86 ERA
LHP Boanerges Nova:  3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K — 3.38 ERA
SS Franly Mallen:  3-for-4, K — .259 AVG
CF Marcos Pinero:  1-for-2, BB — .324 AVG

Prospect of the Day:  1B Nick Ramirez, Biloxi

Ramirez is a prototypical power-patience first baseman in the upper minors. He has stretches of quality performance, in which he racks up the homers and sports a high on-base percentage, but the overarching package remains flawed in some important way. For Ramirez, as with many sluggers, his questionable hit tool and his historical inability to handle lefties keep him from having a higher ceiling. Optimists can hang their collective hats on his decreased strikeout rate; however, I’m not convinced that’s sustainable in Triple-A or the majors. Some may object to a guy hitting .288/.372/.483 as being “normal” or “uninspiring,” but much of that success is built upon this being his second go-round in Double-A. Repeating a level almost always results in a drastic uptick in performance. Ramirez is no different.