Drury Extends Streak, Rome's Offense Hits Double Digits Again, And Helms Returns To Highlight Saturday's Atlanta Braves Minor League Action

Brandon Druy extended his hitting streak to 9 games, Rome scored 10 runs after scoring 12 runs each of the last 2 nights, with Tommy La Stella, Evan Gattis, and Chris Garcia continuing their hot hitting, Wes Helmes played his first game back with the Braves, and the DSL team's final game was cancelled due to rain.

Gwinnett Braves 5, Charlotte Knights 8

• Stefan Gartrell RF 1-3, 2BB, .261 AVG
• Wes Helms DH 2-4, BB, .500 AVG
• Diory Hernandez 3B 2-4, RBI, .200 AVG
• Erik Cordier 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 5.21 ERA
• Cory Gearrin 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1.74 ERA

Wes Helms played his first game in the Braves organization since 2002, and his first in AAA since a 2004 rehab assignment with the Nashville Souns while he was playing with the Brewers, and he reached base 3 times, which was impressive not only because he hadn't played in a week, but also because he only reached base 5 times in his last month with the Marlins. Stefan Gartrell also reached base 3 times, and hopefully this is a sign he's turning things around after struggling to a .212 average and a .692 OPS so far in August. Diory Hernandez hit 2 singles and drove in a run, and in his last 4 games he's gone 5-13 with a double and 2 RBI. Erik Cordier struck out 1 in a perfect inning to start the game, but had to leave as the final out was recorded after a line drive ricocheted off his pitching arm.

Fresh off allowing just 1 run over 6 innings to the San Fransisco Giants in his last outing, Randall Delgado will take on the Knights on Sunday.

Mississippi Braves 3, Huntsville Stars 1

• Myke Jones CF 2-3, BB, 2 SB (11), .247 AVG
• Cory Harrilchak RF 3-4, 2B, .254 AVG
• Matt Kennelly C 1-2, 2B, RBI, 2 SAC, .257 AVG
• Jordan Kreke 2B 3-3, 2 RBI, SF, E (12), .225 AVG
• Jose Lugo 8 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 3 K, W (1), 3.31 ERA
• Billy Bullock 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, (10), 4.93 ERA

Jordan Kreke had 3 hits, and in his other at bat he drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. After only hitting .210 with a lowly .526 OPS from April to July, Kreke has found his stroke in August, hitting .325 with a .708 average and 6 RBI through 13 games. Myke Jones reached base 3 times, and in his last 4 games he's gone 7-16 with a double, a homer, and 4 RBI. Cory Harrilchak had a 3 hit day, and in his last 3 games he's gone 6-14 with a double and 2 RBI, and in his last 10 games he's hitting .394 with a .939 OPS. Jose Lugo was fantastic, allowing just 1 unearned run over 8 innings, picking up his first win with Mississippi. It was by far his best game in the Braves organization, but it has been a good year for him, as he's posted a 3.19 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP in 90.2 innings between Gwinnett and Mississippi. Since the All Star break, Billy Bullock has a 3.44 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and 12.3 K/9, much better numbers than the 5.93 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and 12.5 K/9 he put up in the first half of the year.

The M-Braves head to Montgomery tomorrow, where Chris Cody will face the Biscuits.

Lynchburg Hillcats 6, Frederick Keys 10

• Andrelton Simmons SS 1-5, 2B, E (27), .305 AVG
• Joe Leonard 3B 3-5, .264 AVG
• Shawn McGill C 2-4, 2B, RBI, BB, .262 AVG
• Gerry Rodriguez 1-3, HR (9), RBI, BB, .212 AVG
• David Hale 4.1 IP, 9 R, 8 ER, 9 H, 3 BB, 6 K, 4.50 ERA

David Hale had his worst start of the year, allowing 9 runs, 8 earned, without making it out of the 5th, and after putting up a 1.80 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in 6 July starts, he has a 7.13 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP in 3 starts in August. Andrelton Simmons hit his 29th double of the year, extending his hitting streak to 5 games, and he's gone 9-21 in that span. He also committed his 27th error of the year, which is the second highest total in the league, behind Myrtle Beach shortstop Leury Garcia's 34. Joe Leonard had 3 singles, extending his hitting streak to 5 games, and  he's gone 8-22 with 2 doubles and 5 RBI during those games. Gerry Rodriguez hit his 9th homer of the year, extending his hitting streak to 5 games as well. In those 5 games, he's gone 6-16 with 2 doubles, a homer, and 5 RBI. In his last 10 games, Shawn McGill is hitting .323 with a .836 OPS.

Calvin Falwell, the namesake of Lynchburg's stadium, the man who brought Carolina League baseball to Lynchburg in 1966, passed away today at the age of 91. Falwell was named "King of Baseball" in 2005 at the Winter Meetings.

Caleb Brewer will pitch the series finale tomorrow.

Rome Braves 10, Asheville Tourists 9

• Matt Lipka SS 1-5, RBI, .237 AVG
  
• Tommy La Stella 2B 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, .318 AVG
• Evan Gattis C 4-5, 2B, HR (22), 2 RBI, .323 AVG
• Chris Garcia 1B 2-5, HR (15), 2 RBI, .323 AVG
• David Rohm RF 1-4, HR (6), RBI, .266 AVG
• Matt Weaver 3B 3-5, 2B, HR (1), 2 RBI, .285 AVG
• Ronan Pacheco 4.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 4.72 ERA
• Cody Martin 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K, SV (4), 1.08 ERA

The Rome offense must have been tired after scored 12 runs each of the last 2 nights, because they only managed to score 10 runs tonight. Tommy La Stella had his fifth straight multi-hit game, and he's gone 15-22 with 2 doubles, 2 homers, and 9 RBI during that streak. Evan Gattis hit his 22nd homer of the year, part of a 4 hit day that extended his hitting streak to 9 games. During that streak he's gone 18-36 with 4 doubles, a triple, 4 homers, and 16 RBI, and has upped his season OPS to 1.004, which leads the league. Chris Garcia, who is second in the league in OPS at .983, hit his 15th homer, his second game in a row with a homer. He's had 4 straight multi-hit games, and in that span he's gone 9-19 with 4 doubles, 2 homers, and 8 RBI. Garcia and Rohm hit back-to-back homers in the second inning, Rohm's 6th of the year, and in his last 4 games Rohm has gone 9-19 with 3 doubles, a homer, and 2 RBI. Matt Weaver broke an 0-8 streak with a 3 hit day, hitting his first homer this year with Rome, and in his last 10 games he's hit .278 with a .951 OPS. Matt Lipka extended his hitting streak to 5 games, going 8-22 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI in those games.

Sean Gilmartin will hope the offense keeps on rolling as he starts the series finale tomorrow.

Danville Braves 4, Johnson City Cardinals 6

• Nick Ahmed SS 3-5, 2B, RBI, .269 AVG
• Kyle Kubitza 3B 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI, SB (7), E (7), .305 AVG
• Brandon Drury DH 1-4, 2B, .355 AVG
• Elmer Reyes 2B 2-4, SB (3), .259 AVG
• Adam Holland 7 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 2.81 ERA

Nick Ahmed followed up yesterday's game winning triple with a 3 hit day, and in his last 10 games he's hitting .404 with a 1.068 WHIP, 3 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, and 5 RBI. Kyle Kubitza also had a 3 hit day, and in 5 games since coming off the DL, he's hit .381 with a .911 OPS, 2 doubles, and 6 RBI. Brandon Drury extended his hitting streak to 9 games, and he's hit .488 with a 1.171 OPS, 4 doubles, a homer, and 7 RBI. Adam Hollond lost a streak that saw him throw 12.1 scoreless innings over his last 4 appearances, but he still had a great start, only allowing 2 earned runs over 7 innings. Since being selected in the 16th round this year, the 21 year old has a 2.60 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP in 27.2 innings between Danville and the GCL.

JR Graham will take the hill in the series finale on Sunday.

GCL Braves 2, GCL Phillies 4

• Gerardo Reyes 2B 2-3, RBI, BB, .280 AVG
• Jean Carlos Gil 6.1 IP, 4 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 3.20 ERA
• Clint Wright 1.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 0 K, 0.00 ERA

Gerardo Reyes reached base 3 times, and the 20 year old Mexican has a .382 OBP in 37 games played this season. The Braves selected Clint Wright in the 22nd round this year, and the 21 year old has yet to allow a run as a professional, striking out 2, and allowing 3 hits and 3 walks over 7.2 innings in 7 appearances.

DSL Braves - Cancelled

Rain washed out today's game, just like it caused yesterday's game to be suspended. Today was the final scheduled game in the DSL Braves season, and, barring any makeup games, which seem unlikely, the team finished second in the San Pedro division with a 34-35 record. Jose Peraza led the team in batting average (.281), hits (66), total bases (80), at bats (235), runs scored (29), stolen bases (28), errors (16), and games played (66). Emmanuel Daniel led the team in OBP (.361), slugging (.351), OPS (.712), while Robinson Arno led the team in doubles (12), home runs (2), and RBI (25). Elvin Garcia led the team in wins (6), innings pitched (64.2), and WHIP (0.91). Jorge Montenegro led the team in ERA (0.87), Andry Ubiera led the team in strikeouts (52), and Magdiel Avendano led the team in games pitched (23), saves (6), and games finished (17).