Gwinnett Braves: 3 vs. Charlotte Knights: 5
- Tyler Pastornicky, 2B: 0-3, BB, .296
- Christian Bethancourt, DH: 0-4, .269
- Joey Terdoslavich, 1B: 2-4, 2B (17), K, .257
- Edward Salcedo, RF: 2-4, R, 2B (18), RBI (32), .211
- Sean Kazmar, 3B: 3-4, R, HR (2), RBI (17), .297
- Aaron Northcraft: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 7:5 GO:FO, 6.31 ERA
- Luis Ávilan (L): IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1:1 GO:FO, 7.11 ERA
- Chasen Shreve: 1.2 IP, K, 3:0 GO:FO, 0.00 ERA
The Knights came out on top in a 5-3 final at Coolray Field last night. Aaron Northcraft made the start on the mound and had yet another mediocre performance, allowing three runs on seven hits and a couple of walks in five innings of work. He hasn't adjusted well to his new level since a good debut in double-A, so it bears watching if he can begin to settle down and pitch better as the final month of the season progresses. Luis Ávilan pitched poorly, coughing up a pair of runs on two hits and two walks in an inning. Chasen Shreve had a good outing, pitching 1.2 perfect innings. Sean Kazmar had the biggest night offensively of any G-Brave, getting three hits including his second home run of the season. Joey Terdoslavich and Edward Salcedo also turned in two-hit games, with each doubling in the contest. Tyler Pastornicky, Christian Bethancourt, and Elmer Reyes were all held hitless. It's Zombie Day at the park this afternoon, which is slightly more exciting than Kanekoa Texeira's start.
Mississippi Braves: 1 vs. Mobile BayBears: 0
- José Peraza, 2B: 1-4, R, 2 SB (24), .356
- Mycal Jones, CF: 1-3, RBI (34), K, PO, .266
- Kyle Kubitza, 3B: 0-3, 3 K, .295
- Daniel Castro, SS: 1-3, .317
- David Rohm, RF: 1-3, K, .258
- Williams Perez: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K, 13:1 GO:FO, 3.25 ERA
- Andrew Robinson (W): 2 IP, BB, 3 K, 0:3 GO:FO, 2.45 ERA
The M-Braves and BayBears were held scoreless through eight and a half innings on Saturday until Myke Jones sent José Peraza across the plate with a sacrifice fly to win it for Mississippi in the bottom of the ninth. Williams Pérez took the ball for the M-Braves and was excellent, throwing seven shutout innings and allowing a pair of walks and four hits. Pérez also struck out six hitters and generated tons of ground balls, as per usual. Andrew Robinson also kept Mobile off of the scoreboard, allowing only a walk and striking out three. Peraza, in addition to scoring the game-winning run, also stole his twenty-third and twenty-fourth bags of the season to set up the game-winning sac fly. Kyle Kubitza was held hitless and was struck out three times in the game. Daniel Castro and David Rohm each singled. Ryan Weber will toe the rubber for Mississippi this evening against the BayBears.
Lynchburg Hillcats: 4 at Winston-Salem Dash: 5
- David Nick, 2B: 3-4, RBI (32), BB, .303
- Will Skinner, CF: 1-4, BB, K, .272
- Kevin Ahrens, 3B: 1-4, BB, K, .262
- Levi Hyams, 1B: 2-4, 2 R, .240
- Blake Brown, RF: 1-4, R, 2 K, .269
- Joseph Odom, C: 1-2, R, 2B (6), 2 RBI (18), 2 BB, K, .219
- Cody Scarpetta (L): 2.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2:1 GO:FO, 3.81 ERA
- Brady Feigl: 2.1 IP, H, 2 K, 2:1 GO:FO, 1.69 ERA
- Mauricio Cabrera: 2 IP, K, 3:0 GO:FO, 3.22 ERA
Lynchburg lost a close 5-4 ballgame to the Dash yesterday. Cody Scarpetta put the Hillcats in a hole with a forgettable performance, allowing five runs on six hits and a pair of walks in only 2.2 innings. Fortunately, Brady Feigl, Mauricio Cabrera, and Cody Fassold combined for 6.1 innings of shutout relief work, but Lynchburg just couldn't completely claw back. David Nick had a good game in the leadoff slot, going 3-4 with a walk and an RBI. Joe Odom also did well, doubling and walking twice in four tries. Levi Hyams had a two-hit night and scored a pair of runs. Will Skinner, José Martinez, Eric Garcia, Kevin Ahrens, and Blake Brown all singled in the game, but the team fell just short. The 'Cats will face a couple of tough customers in Winston-Salem this evening, as both Tyler Danish and Carlos Rodon are supposed to oppose Daniel Watts.
Rome Braves: 2 at Greenville Drive: 4
- Connor Oliver, RF: 1-4, K, .251
- Johan Camargo, SS: 1-3, .269
- Ross Wilson, 3B-1B: 1-2, R, HR (6), RBI (34), 2 BB, .263
- Reed Harper, 2B: 1-3, BB, K, .200
- Connor Lien, LF: 1-3, R, HR (3), RBI (25), K, OF assist, .271
- Matt Marksberry (L): 6 IP, 9 H, 3 R (2 ER), BB, 5 K, 9:3 GO:FO, 3.40 ERA
- Pete Pérez: IP, 1:1 GO:FO, 2.81 ERA
Rome couldn't scrape together much offense last night, and dropped a 4-2 game to the Drive. Matt Marksberry started for Rome and had an okay outing, allowing three runs (two were earned) on nine hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out five hitters. Michael Swanner allowed a run in relief, and Pete Pérez pitched a clean eighth inning. The offensive production for the R-Braves came in the form of two solo home runs. The first was off the bat of Ross Wilson, who also reached twice on free passes. The second was courtesy of Connor Lien, his third long ball of the season. Connor Oliver and Johan Camargo also picked up a hit apiece, and Reed Harper reached twice on a single and a walk. Steve Janas takes the mound for Rome tomorrow in a 4:05 matinee game.
Danville Braves: 2 vs. Pulaski Mariners: 1 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Ozhaino Albies, SS: 1-3, RBI (6), .400
- Omar Obregón, 2B: 1-2, RBI (9), BB, CS (3), .298
- Alejandro Piloto, LF: 1-3, 2B (5), K, .303
- Tanner Murphy, C: 1-1, R, BB, .215
- Fernelys Sánchez, RF: 1-2, R, .278
- Alec Grosser (W): 5 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 6:1 GO:FO, 2.38 ERA
- Kyle Kinman (SV): 2 IP, BB, 2 K, 2:1 GO:FO, 3.32 ERA
Danville squeaked out a win over Pulaski by a 2-1 margin in the first game of their doubleheader. Alec Grosser was the starting pitcher for the D-Braves and had a solid outing, allowing only one run in five innings with work. Grosser allowed four hits and struggled with control a bit, walking three hitters, but he was typically Grosser-esque in that he struck out plenty of hitters and generated ground balls. Kyle Kinman got the last two innings and kept the Mariners off of the board, allowing only one baserunner in two innings. Ozhaino Albies and Omar Obregón each had a hit and an RBI at the top of the order, and Obregón also drew a walk and was caught stealing. Alejandro Piloto smacked his fifth double of the season, and Tanner Murphy reached twice in two tries on a single and a walk.
Danville Braves: 0 vs. Pulaski Mariners: 1 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Ozhaino Albies, SS: 3-3, SB (7), 2 CS (3), PO, .442
- Mike Dodig, 1B: 2-3, 2B (4), K, .253
- Yeudi Grullon, 2B: 1-3, 2 K, .281
- Fernelys Sánchez, RF: 1-3, K, .280
- Andrew Waszak (L): 6 IP, 3 H, ER, 5 K, 3:8 GO:FO, 3.91 ERA
- Michael Flores: IP, K, 1:0 GO:FO, 2.70 ERA
Danville dropped the second game of its doubleheader against Pulaski and was shutout in a 1-0 contest. Andrew Waszak pitched well for the Braves, allowing one run on three hits and no walks in six innings of work, striking out five hitters. The lone run he surrendered was one on a solo home run by Mariners outfielder Estarlyn Morales. Michael Flores pitched well in a brief relief appearance, striking out one batter and allowing no runners. Danville didn't get too much going offensively in this game, but Ozhaino Albies did have a perfect three-for-three day. That good hitting performance was nullified, however, by the fact that Albies was caught stealing twice on the basepaths in three attempts, and was also tagged out on a pickoff play. Mike Dodig also had a multi-hit game with a single and a double, and Yeudi Grullon and Fernelys Sánchez also had a single. The D-Braves bid adieu to the Mariners and welcome the Princeton Rays to town for a series beginning this afternoon.
GCL Braves: 3 at GCL Yankees1: 4
- Luke Dykstra, 2B: 2-5, R, E (6), .323
- Braxton Davidson, DH: 2-3, R, RBI (4), BB, K, .274
- Dylan Manwaring, 3B: 1-3, 2B (5), BB, .205
- Kelvin Estevez, RF: 1-4, 2 RBI (15), 2 K, .198
- Jordany Santana: 5 IP, 3 H, 4 K, 5:2 GO:FO, 5.15 ERA
- Mark Lamm (L): 1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, BB, K, 2:0 GO:FO, 7.36 ERA
- Abraham Espinosa: IP, K, 1:1 GO:FO, 5.48 ERA
The Braves were narrowly defeated by the Yankees by a 4-3 count yesterday. Jordany Santana started on the mound for the GCL squad and was excellent, allowing no runs over five innings. The 19-year-old Dominican product allowed only three hits and struck out four batters without allowing a walk. Mark Lamm had a rough rehab outing, giving up a pair of runs on four hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. Mitchell Osnowitz also coughed up a pair of runs and only got one out, but Abraham Espinosa stopped the damage with a perfect eighth. Braxton Davidson had yet another productive day at the plate, singling twice and drawing a walk in four tries. It'd be nice to see a little more in-game power from Davidson, but he's young and doing an excellent job of reaching base. Luke Dykstra also had a two-hit game, and committed his sixth error of the season. The GCL team is off today, and will begin a two-game set with the GCL Phillies tomorrow.
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To close the recap, I just wanted to write a short thank you to Pete van Wieren, who passed away yesterday after a battle with lymphoma. Pete actually got his start in broadcasting in Norfolk, Virginia, broadcasting Tidewater Tides minor league games in the mid-1970s. I grew up listening to Skip and Pete on the radio and on television, and Pete, along with Skip, enhanced my love and appreciation for the game of baseball more than I could adequately put into words. Pete was a true baseball luminary whose passion for baseball and the statistics that describe it served to deepen my passion for and understanding of the game. In fact, I probably wouldn't spend nearly as much time watching and writing about the game were it not for him. So thanks for everything, Pete, and rest in peace.