Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 4/18

A better night all around for Braves teams. Don't forget to tune in tomorrow and check out our first annual Hot Sheet which will cover who the hottest and coldest farmhands are along with who you should be keeping an on in the future.

Gwinnett 5, Charlotte 1

• B. Clevlen 2-3 2B, 3 RBI, BB
• J. Thurston 2-4 HR(1), 2 RBI
• J. Parr 5IP 5H 0R 1BB 5K
• C. Gearrin 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K

Gwinnett finally ends their losing streak with a strong outing from the pitching staff and a big game from Brent Clevlen. Brent is currently in the middle of a 5 game hitting streak in which he has also had an extra base hit in each game as well. Gregor Blanco also chipped in a couple of hits and a stolen base. Mike Dunn allowed the only run for the Braves.

Mississippi 11, West Tennessee 2

• W. Cabrera 3-4 2B, 4 RBI, SB(1)
  
• R. Sullivan 5.1IP 6H 2R 2BB 1K

With that many runs scored I would think there would have been more guys to write about but really it was just Willie Cabrera and a bunch of walks helping the cause. Cabrera, one of my annual favorite players, is now up to .324 on the season which is helping his .885 OPS. Richard Sullivan just continues to make guys beat the ball into the ground with a 10-3 groundball-to-flyball rate tonight. He may not be Brandon Webb, but his sinker is really getting the job done this year.

Myrtle Beach 3, Salem 9

• A. Milligan 1-4 HR(4), 2K
• G. Rodriguez 2-4 3B, HR(4), K

Adam Milligan and Gerry Rodriguez went back-to-back in the first inning of the ballgame but that was most of the offense for the evening. Both guys have been hitting well so far this season, but Rodriguez has been an absolute terror with 9 of his 11 hits going for extra bases while also learning the ability to draw a walk. Last year he walked in just 6.2% of his PAs last season but has jumped up to 17.5% this season. I know that its a small sample size but drawing 1/4 of your total walks from the previous season in 1/12 the playing time would be more of a real improvement than a fluke in my opinion.

Savannah 2, Rome 3

• K. Rose 1-4 K
• M. Kramer 1-4 2B, K
• C. Masters 5IP 2H 0R 1BB 6K

Chris Masters continues to take offenses to the woodshed with another dominant performance. Masters has been the best pitcher in the Braves organization thus far and probably won't remain in Rome much past the middle of the year if even that long. LV Ware also chipped in a hit in this game and has his AVG up to .313 to go with 6/7 on stolen bases.