Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 7/29

Gwinnett 13, Rochester 6

The G-Braves 3-4 hitters, Freddie Freeman and Barbaro Canizares, combined to go 5-8 with a double, 2 walks, and 6 RBI. The whole offense was on, as the team pouned out 17 hits. Nate McLouth hasn't had any success in the Majors, but he managed to pick up a pair of hits and an RBI tonight. The team's 8-9 hitters have been hot, as Brandon Hicks is 5 for his last 11 with a double and JC Boscan has gone 5 for his last 11 with a homer and 4 RBI. Jose Ortegano gave up 2 walks and a single to lead off the top of the 5th inning before he was lifted for Cristian Martinez, who proptly gave up all 3 of Ortegano's runs. Martinez then proceeded to pitch 1.2 scoreless innings for the vulture win.

Mississippi 2, Huntsville 1

The M-Braves made the most of their 3 hits tonight, with Jesus Sucre leading the way with his first AA homer. Erik Cordier picks up his career high 9th win and he's been on a roll in July with a 1.70 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP in 31.2 innings. Tim Collins has been great with his new team, racking up a 1.13 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 15.6 K/9 in 8 innings. I thought it was interesting that Jeremy Jeffress made his first appearance of the year for the Stars in this game. Baseball America pegged Jeffress as the number 4 prospect in the Brewers system from 07 to 09, but in the last 2 seasons he's served 2 separate suspensions, totaling 150 games, for testing positive for marijuana. One more positive test and he'll recieve a lifetime ban from the game. It's a shame to see a talented player working toward throwing his career away.

Myrtle Beach - Postponed

Rome 7, Asheville 6

Despite missing a few months with a broken hand, Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg has been a consisten hitter for the team. But it's troubling that he's made 7 errors in just 37 games. He made 6 in 62 last year, so that's a huge regression. It's possible that the broken hand, which has sapped his power, is also affecting his fielding. Chris Masters has been slumping since the All-Star break, but he put up a quality start tonight and picked up his second win of the year.

Danville 1, Princeton 7

Evan Gattis has been slugging all year and he's been on a tear in his last 10 games, with a .395 average and .941 OPS in that span. 23 year old second baseman Jarred Frierson was selected in the 36th round this year and he's played well in limited time, with a .304 average and .798 OPS in 46 at bats. Andrelton Simmons had been on a bit of a run, but he's gone cold in his last three, going hitless in 10 at bats with just a walk in those games. Kyle Farrell got lit up tonight, but if you take out this game and his July 4th start, where he also allowed 6 earned, he has a 1.57 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP in 23 innings.

GCL Braves 3, GCL Blue Jays 4

Matt Lipka has cooled off a bit, with just 2 hits in his last 17 at bats but the young man is still having a fine season. Kurt Fleming, a 18 year old high schooler that the Braves picked in the 8th round this year, hasn't played as well, hitting just .232 with a .548 OPS in 82 at bats, but plenty of young players have struggled in the GCL and gone on to success. Ian Marshall was selected in the 40th round this year, and he's the second lowest pick the Braves have signed so far. The 23 year old out of the University of Richmond hasn't played up to the level you would hope an experienced, older pitcher would in the GCL, with a 4.65 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 31 innings.

DSL Braves 1, DSL Astros 3

Jean Carlos Gil has pitched in 13 games this year, 7 of them in relief, and he followed up his 6 innings of shutout ball in a start a few days ago with a scoreless relief inning today. The 20 year old is one of the better pitchers on the DSL team, putting up a 1.61 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP in 44.2 innings. He's been able to keep his walks down, with a 0.8 BB/9 rate and an outstanding 10.5 K/BB rate.