Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 5/17

Gwinnett 7, Lehigh Valley 8, 15 innings

Gwinnett scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into extra innings. Jordan Schafer drove in Brandon Hicks on a sacrifice fly, then Gregor Blanco drove in JC Boscan on a double. Freddie Freeman followed with a double that scored Blanco and Wes Timmons. Unfortunately, Cory Gearrin gave up the winning run in the 15th, leading to the G-Braves loss. When short-inning relievers are forced to pitch too long bad things typically happen, and that was the case with Gearrin tonight as he came undone in his third inning, hitting three batters and throwing a wild pitch, all of which led to a bases loaded sacrifice fly.

Mississippi 1, West Tennessee 9

The embarrassing thing wasn't that the only offense the M-Braves could muster was a solo homer by Travis Jones, who came into the game as a pinch runner, it was that the Diamond Jaxx had a bullpen day where 5 different pitchers, none pitching more than 2 innings, combined to stifle them. Jacob Thompson has been very hittable this year, allowing 12.3 hits per 9 innings, leading to a 1.70 WHIP, which just won't cut it. Jaye Chapman was outstanding in relief though, striking out 4 in 3.1 innings. Ryne Reynoso made his first appearance for Mississippi this year, pitching a perfect 9th.

Myrtle Beach - posponed, rain

Rome 14, Charleston 6, game 1

Every hitter in the Rome lineup had a hit, with the exception of Jordan Kreke, and even he reached on a walk and on a hit by pitch, scoring both times. Robby Hefflinger drove in 3 runs on a double and LV Ware collected the most hits on the day with 3. Myke Jones drvoe in a pair of runs, giving him a team leading 17 RBI, impressive considering he's still hitting below .200. Chris Masters looked good again, only pitching 3 innings because the game was the completion of Sunday's game which was suspended in the middle of the 3rd. David Hale finished off the game and proved my assumption that he would pitch better in relief correct.

Rome 7, Charleston 4, game 2

Rome manages to sweep the double header, pounding out a combined 24 hits in the 12 offensive innings they had to work with. Cory Harrilchak goes 4-7 with 3 RBI and Hefflinger goes 3-7 with 3 doubles and 5 RBI. Great night for both hitters. Christian Bethancourt was 2-8 on the night, hitting his 2nd homer of the season. He'd been in an extended slump, but is showing signs of breaking out with 4 hits in his last 15 at bats. Robinson Lopez made his first start of the season and it was his longest appearance. With 5 Ks in 5 innings he actually lowed his K/9 down to 11.2, still a very high number that pretty much any pitcher would kill to have. Add in the 2.9 K/BB and it's no wonder he's been making so many take notice this season.