Cunningham and Gosselin Power the Hillcats Behind Moran's One-Hitter in the Atlanta Braves Minor League Action

 Not a super exciting night tonight in terms of prospects. Cunningham continues to be awesome since his return from the DL and Gosselin is showing some signs of life after a mini slump. J.R Graham has been pretty fantastic for an already fantastic Danville pitching staff. 

Gwinnett Braves 3, Scanton/WB Yankees 4

• Matt Young, LF 2-4, K, .271 Avg
• Tyler Pastornicky, SS 1-3, .390 Avg
• Brandon Hicks, 2B 1-4, 2B, K, .271 Avg

The Yankees delivered the walkoff win in the bottom of ninth to defeat the Braves. Gwinnett is now three games back in the division race and they are second in the wild card for the league as well. Yohan Flande tossed a nice game but  the offense couldn't capitalize on their few opportunities. 

Carolina Mudcats 4, Mississippi Braves 3

• Cory Harrilchak, RF 1-4, 3B, .241 Avg
• Braeden Schlehuber, C 2-3, BB, .225 Avg

This one was tied going into the seventh inning and Jordan Kreke single handedly cost the Braves three unearned runs in the inning by committing two errors. The Braves got two back in the bottom of the inning but it wasn't enough against a Mudcats staff with a combined ERA well over five. 

Kinston Indians 0, Lynchburg Hillcats 9

• Todd Cunningham, CF 3-3, 2 BB, SB(13), .297 Avg
• Phil Gosselin, 2B 2-4, HR(6), 4 RBI, BB, .264 Avg
• Joey Terdoslavich, DH 1-4, 2B, RBI, K, .280 Avg
• Joe Leonard, 3B 2-3, RBI, 2 BB, .263 Avg
• LV Ware, LF 1-3, HR(7), 3 RBI, BB, K, .250 Avg
• Gary Moran 8 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 0.00 ERA

The Hillcats jumped out to an early lead with five runs in the first two innings behind a Phil Gosselin homer and then added four more behind a big night from Cunningham and a three run shot from LV Ware. The offense didn't need to get much on the board with Gary Moran completely shutting down the Indians' offense. He allowed just the one hit on the night and gave up 12 groundballs to just 2 flyballs. And for my nightly love of Todd Cunningham: he has gotten on base twelve times in the last three games (ten times in the last two!!!). 

Rome Braves

Off Day!

Elizabethton Twins 3, Danville Braves 2 -  10 Innings

• Nick Ahmed, SS 2-5, 2B, SB(12), .236 Avg
• Brandon Drury, 3B 2-4, RBI, K, .333 Avg
• J.R. Graham 6 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 1.85 ERA

J. R Graham tossed another solid game tonight but after getting a walkoff win last night the Braves surrendered two runs in the top of the ninth inning to tie and then gave up the winning run in the tenth. Edison Sanchez didn't pick up a hit tonight which ended his 12 game hitting streak which stretched way back to July 23. Daniel Lopez gave up a couple of runs which were his first allowed for Danville. In case you were wondering Danville has had the best pitching staff in the Appy League this season and it isn't really close. They lead the league in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP, fewest HR allowed and hits allowed. Walks are the only thing they don't lead in but when your pitching staff as whole is striking out a batter an inning you must be doing something right.

GCL Braves @ GCL Phillies

GCL Phillies @ GCL Braves

Rain out!

DSL Tigers 4, DSL Braves 5

• Luis Cabarello, SS 2-5, K, .194 Avg
• Gustavo Gomez, 2B 2-3, 2B, 2 BB, .179 Avg
• Victor Velazquez, C 2-3, .158 Avg
• Abraham Espinosa 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R(0 ER), 1 BB, 5 K, 1.81 ERA

To exacerbate the fact that I know very little about most of the DSL players the Braves apparently played their taxi squad today because I don't recognize half the lineup. Abraham Espinozsa I do recognize and this kid needs to get a call up, though this late in the year in the DSL seems unlikely to me. He is having a very similar season to last year with a little bit higher walk rate but similar hits allowed and a little bit higher ERA, but 1.41 to 1.81 isn't really much.