MILWAUKEE -- Even Brewers manager Craig Counsell has found himself caught up in the Triple-A Nashville Sounds’ winning ways.

Under veteran Minor League skipper Rick Sweet, the Sounds won their 15th consecutive game on Thursday at Charlotte, and it wasn’t even close. Jace Peterson homered twice, Peterson and Jake Hager drove in four runs apiece, and the Sounds matched their club record by taking 14 walks in a 15-4 rout of the top White Sox affiliate.

Left-hander Aaron Ashby, the Brewers’ No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is scheduled to start Friday night as the Sounds seek a 16th straight victory and a new franchise record.

“It’s awesome. It’s incredible,” Counsell said. “It’s got me checking the scores at night as we’re walking out of here to see if they can keep it going. What’s great about it all is that when you put together a streak like that, so many players are adding to that. It’s not one guy that’s engineering a streak like that, it’s the whole team.”

That’s especially true because the Brewers keep pulling players from that team to fill needs for the big league club. Left-hander Eric Lauer struck out 12 batters in a start early in the streak and was called up to the Majors. Outfielder Tyrone Taylor hit three home runs in a four-game span over the weekend and was called up to the Majors on Tuesday. Left-hander (and sometimes closer) Hoby Milner extended his scoreless streak for the season to nine innings spanning eight outings and was called up to the Majors on Thursday.

On and on.

“It feels like twice a week we take their starting pitcher,” Counsell said. “That means guys are getting the call late-notice and delivering. I think that’s awesome. They’ve got it going, and it’s got to be fun, that’s for sure.”

It’s been a happy reunion between Milwaukee and Nashville, which were partnered in a player development agreement from 2005-14 during a long battle to have a new stadium constructed in the Music City. Just as that effort succeeded, the marriage was broken up, and the Brewers’ top affiliate moved to Colorado Springs and then San Antonio before returning to Nashville for this season as part of Minor League Baseball’s realignment. And fans are responding to the Sounds’ winning ways. The team leads all of Minor League Baseball in average attendance.

On Wednesday afternoon, Sweet was asked what had been clicking for his club -- besides everything.

“We’re playing very good baseball all around,” Sweet said. “Our starting pitching has done a really nice job. Our bullpen has been coming in throwing strikes -- that’s been key. Defensively, we’re playing solid. And probably the one area that has gone over and above has been the offense. We’ve really had quality at-bats, working deep counts. I’ve never had a club this consistent offensively with working counts and making pitchers throw strikes.”

Sweet has a veteran group of hitters this year. Catcher Mario Feliciano (No. 5) and outfielder Corey Ray (No. 24) are the only hitters among MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Brewers prospects who have played for the Sounds this season.

“Everyone’s just loving playing the game and being around each other, and that’s the way it should be,” Taylor said. “It was fun to be around. It’s cool to feel that here [in Milwaukee] as well.”

Hiura sticks in the bigs
Slumping first baseman Keston Hiura was out for early batting practice with Brewers hitting coach Andy Haines on Thursday and will continue, for now, to get an opportunity to work through his season-long slump at the Major League level. A series of right-handed opposing pitchers means Hiura will probably be out of the starting lineup for a couple of days, giving him a chance to take some extra swings early in the day.

“We’re just continuing to work to try to get him in a good spot,” Counsell said. “That’s what we have to continue to do, and what Keston knows he has to do. We just continue to work to try to get him in a good place.”

The Brewers already tried some time at Nashville to get Hiura going, and he responded with six doubles and three home runs in nine Triple-A games. But he was unable to bring that good production back to the big leagues. In Hiura’s first eight games back with the Crew, he went 1-for-23 with 14 strikeouts.

Brewers mark first Lou Gehrig Day
Counsell and his coaches wore red armbands along with special uniform patches on Thursday to mark Major League Baseball’s first Lou Gehrig Day, which was implemented to raise awareness of the fight against ALS.

It’s a somewhat personal cause for Counsell, who has long been good friends with Cubs broadcaster Jon Sciambi, who watched a close friend suffer with ALS and succumb to the disease in 2007.

“I think [Sciambi has] been instrumental in highlighting ALS and been a vocal person on this disease,” Counsell said. “His connection with Major League Baseball, as well as the work of many others, has gotten it to this point. I’m really happy and proud of everybody that’s put all the work in to do this. It’s a great cause; it’s so connected to baseball. It almost feels like it’s our job to highlight this with one of the all-time great players having suffered from this disease.”

More than 100 ALS Wisconsin volunteers ran concession stands throughout the ballpark during Thursday’s game, and ALS Wisconsin will receive a portion of the profits. Other ALS Wisconsin volunteers and supporters attended the game as guests of the Brewers. Jimmy Vandenbrook, who lost his brother to ALS, threw out the ceremonial first pitch and Tyler Stich, who has a parent battling ALS, was tabbed as the junior announcer. The national anthem was performed by ALS Wisconsin volunteer Lucy Chamberlin.