It was a quiet night down on the farm as three teams were off for All Star breaks and short season hasn’t begun, leaving just one game in the system last night.
Gwinnett Braves 5, Indianapolis Indians 7
- Ozzie Albies, 2B: 2-5, .242/.291/.358
- Rio Ruiz, 3B: 2-5, R, K, .264/.365/.358
- Ronnier Mustelier, RF: 3-4, RBI, .283/.340/.376
Unfortunately the only game in the system last night was never really close until the end. The Indians got a run in the top of the first after Alen Hanson singled then advanced to second on an error coming from a pickoff attempt, and later scored on a ground out.
Pirates top prospect Josh Bell got Casey Kelly for a solo homer in the top of the fourth, and the Indians added another run to go up 3-0 after four. Pedro Florimon’s double off Ryan Weber in the top of the sixth made it 4-0 Indians.
To this point the Braves hadn’t really threatened at all, but in the bottom of the sixth back to back RBI singles by Ronnier Mustelier and Sean Kazmar cut the Indians lead to 4-2.
Unfortunately Weber was off tonight for the Braves and Hanson led off the seventh with a triple, later scoring on a fielders choice. Later in the inning another Pirates top prospect, Austin Meadows, scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 6-2.
The Braves got a run in the bottom of the seventh off a Reid Brignac ground out, but the Indians answered in the top of the eighth off of Brandon Cunniff as Alen Hanson continued his big night with an RBI single making it 7-3.
The Braves did mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth as Matt Lipka and Braeden Schlehuber led off the inning with back to back singles off Kelvin Marte. They each advanced on an Albies groundout, then scored on the next at bat when Blake Lalli lined a single to left making it 7-5 with only one out.
The Indians brought in Dovydas Neverauskas to close it out, and he was greeted by a Brignac single off of Josh Bell’s glove at first- Bell’s defense at first has been a real weakness for him this year to put runners on first and second with one out. Unfortunately the streaking Anthony Recker struck out and Rio Ruiz grounded out to end the late comeback attempt just short at 7-5.
Kelly and Weber really struggled tonight as each gave up three runs, Kelly over four innings and Weber over one. Walks did Kelly in as he walked four and threw just 37 of 72 pitches for strikes. Weber was hit hard for a double and triple in his inning of work.
Ruiz is now up to five games with his hitting streak and is hitting .350 over that period. Albies two singles makes him 3-9 over the last two days. Mustelier is now hitting .357 over his last 11 games after tonight’s three hit effort.
Next Game: 6/21 hosting Indianapolis @ 7:05 PM
Probable Starters:
Gwinnett: Lucas Harrell(2-1, 3.81)
Indianapolis:Wilfredo Boscan(5-5, 3.33)