A couple of very good pitching performances highlight tonight's action with wins at the top and bottom but not much in the middle. Matt Lipka also did something tonight he hasn't done all season - and he did it four times. Arodys Vizcainois quietly having a very solid season though with some injury scares.
Rochester Red Wings 0, Gwinnett Braves 4
- Stefan Gartrell RF - 3-4, 2B, K, .257 Avg
- Ed Lucas 2B - 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, K, .211 Avg
- Todd Redmond 9 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 2.59 ERA
For the second time in a week a Braves minor leaguer has cranked out a complete game shutout. Redmond tossed 111 pitches in this one and put up an 8-10 GB:FB ratio for the game. With Redmond pitching as well as he was the Braves didn't need much offense and put two on the board in both the fifth and sixth innings. The nice thing was that the Red Wings had Kyle Gibson on the mound who is the top prospect of the Minnesota Twins but the Braves chased him in the middle of the fifth inning.
Yohan Flande gets the start in in the depleted Gwinnett rotation.
Jacksonville Suns 7, Mississippi Braves 4
- Antoan Richardson CF - 2-4, 2 RBI, SB(3), .224 Avg
- Tyler Pastornicky SS - 2-4, 2 RBI, BB, K, CS(3), .307 Avg
- Ryan Query C - 2-3 2B, BB, K, .800 Avg
The Braves drop the game behind a poor performance from Tim Gustafson. Gus allowed seven runs in six innings of work, but he was actually pitching pretty well until he got to the sixth and things came unglued for him after he gave up a lead off homer. He eventually allowed a total of five runs in the inning. Tyler Pastornicky has been very solid for the Braves with a .307 average and a .785 OPS. He has been killing the ball at home to the tune of a .341 average and he is at .325 against right handers as well.
Randall Delgado will look to continue his solid season against the Jackson Generals.
Lynchburg Hillcats 5, Kinston Indians 6
- Todd Cunningham CF - 2-4 2B, BB, SB(7), .287 Avg
- Andrelton Simmons SS - 2-4, 2 RBI, SB(6), .326 Avg
- Joey Terdoslavich 1B - 1-3 2B, 2 RBI, BB, .254 Avg
- Arodys Vizcaino 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 2.97 ERA
The Hillcats drop their second straight to the Indians after the bullpen failed to protect the lead when Vizcaino put up a solid start. Joey Terdoslavich continues to adjust his game ever so slightly. He now has collected ten walks on the season and seven of them are in the last nine games. He reminds me a little of Tyler Flowers but with poorer plate discipline, but if he keeps improving like this then I'd be happy with another version of Flowers. Todd Cunningham has an interesting split in his line this season: he is hitting .349 with an .894 OPS at home while posting a .180 average and .468 OPS on the road this season. I can't provide any insight on why this is but it is worth keeping an eye on.
Chris Masters will look to rebound after his worst start of the season last time out.
Rome Braves 8, Asheville Tourists 7 - Game 1, 7 Innings
- Matt Lipka 2B - 3-4 2 2B, .245 Avg
- Elmer Reyes SS - 2-4, K, .194 Avg
- Jakob Dalfonso 1B - 2-3, HR(3), 2 RBI, BB, .299 Avg
Matt Lipka went 150 at bats this season without an extra base hit and today he collected four doubles between two games. Maybe he spent the rain time working on his swing yesterday? Steven Kent got knocked around in this game but the Braves came back in the top of the seventh inning and plated four runs to give themselves a one run lead and the win.
Rome Braves 5, Asheville Tourists 2 - Game 2, 7 Innings
- Matt Lipka 2B - 2-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI, .252 Avg
- Evan Gattis C - 2-3, .375 Avg
- David Rohm RF - 2-3, 2B, RBI, .229 Avg
- Ronan Pacheco 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 3 WP, 3.83 ERA
Ronan Pacheco has been a little Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde this season and tonight was one of his Dr. Jekyll games. Or I guess it could have been Mr. Hyde - whichever means he has been good to you. He did have three wild pitches but just one walk which I find strange but his sinker was working (6 GB to 2 FB) and he recorded a season high in strikeouts.
Carlos Perez will pitch for Rome tomorrow against the Tourists.