(36-45) Gwinnett Braves 3, (39-41) Louisville Bats 0
- Rob Wooten, SP: 6.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 8K
- Matt Marksberry, RP: 2.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
- Jose Ramirez, RP: 1.0IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
- Matt Tuiasosopo, RF: 2-4 HR, RBI, BB, R, .244/.345/.463
- Rio Ruiz, 3B: 2-5 2B, R, RBI, .260/.314/.329
The Gwinnett Braves combined for a no-hitter, just the second in Gwinnett Braves history. Making just the second start of his career, first one was in 2015 for the Colorado Springs, Rob Wooten was absolutely masterful keeping the Louisville Bats (hah) completely off balance for 6 innings. Two runners reached base against him: the first via error by Sean Kazmar, and the second after Wooten struck out Jermaine Curtis on a wild pitch. He pounded the strikezone throwing 45 strikes on 61 pitches, struck out 8 of the 20 batters he faced, recorded 7 groundouts and just 3 flyouts. Even crazier might have been the fact that his last outing was on the 27th where he threw one inning, gave up 1 run on 1 hit. With the many promotions/demotions on the Atlanta team he was forced into a spot start and was fantastic.
Following Wooten was Matt Marksberry who returned to Gwinnett last night after being optioned for Joel De La Cruz who made a spot start in Atlanta last night. Marksberry wasn’t the sharpest throwing 19 strikes on 30 pitches but he got it done forcing two flyouts, and one groundout along with striking out two. Marksberry has now just allowed 1 run over his last 13.1 innings (8 games) down in Gwinnett and his ERA is now down to 2.63 on the season.
Marksberry was replaced by Jose Ramirez, who on his own is pitching really well recently, and he needed just 10 pitches (7 strikes) to retire the final 3 batters of the night and preserved the no-hitter for Gwinnett. Jose has now given up only 3 runs in his last 22 games (24.1IP), and while the walk rate is still scary (5BB/9 during that stretch and 4.80BB/9 on the season) his stock has really risen this year.
Offensively Gwinnett did things the #BravesWay using multiple hits to score the first two runs. The first run came in the 2nd inning when Rio Ruiz singled, stole 2nd, and scored on a single by Blake Lalli. In the third Reid Brignac picked up a walk, and scored on a Rio Ruiz double to center. Matt Tuiasosopo collected the final Gwinnett run on a long homer to right. It was Tuiasosopo’s 10th homer of the season and he’s enjoying a solid year with a .800+ OPS thanks in large part to his near 13% walk rate.
Here is the final out
No hitter in Louisville!! pic.twitter.com/drSkBMpNtq
— Wes (@Sheffield1022) July 1, 2016
Next Game: 7/1 @ Louisville Bats @ 7:05 PM ET
Probables
GWI: Harrell, 2.92 ERA
LOU: Stephenson, 3.93 ERA
(36-38) Mississippi Braves 6, (49-28) Jackson Generals 5 - F/10
- Ozzie Albies, 2B: 3-5, R, .281/.345/.395
- Dansby Swanson, SS: 4-5, 3B, RBI, R, .276/.366/.436
- Dustin Peterson, LF: 1-4 R, RBI, .274/.336/.425
- Connor Lien, CF: 1-4 R, .250/.286/.300
- Akeel Morris, RP: 1.0IP, 1H, 1ER, 2BB, 1K
The long awaited Ozzie-Dansby pairing came to fruition tonight and it couldn’t have gone better. This Mississippi team now is easily the most entertaining to watch boasting several of the better bats, and arms in the organization. The trio of Ozzie, Dansby, and Dustin could see themselves in Atlanta within the next year. Okay, back to the game. Trailing 5-4 in the 9th is was none other than WILLIANS ASTUDILLO saving the day for Mississippi by hitting the second homerun of the season tying the game up at 5. I feel like he was so angry about his strikeout earlier in the game, the 8th of the season, he knew he had to make up for it. Mississippi took their third lead of the night in the 10th inning when Dustin Peterson walked, was bunted over to second by Carlos Franco, and scored on a Jacob Schrader single to right. This is going to be a very fun team to watch day in and out and if you want a glimpse of what the near future holds for Atlanta you should check them out.
Lost in all of that goodness was Connor Lien, an intriguing prospect on his own. The big power, but big K prospect with incredible defense struck out twice again today but collected another hit along with his third stolen base, and another outfield assist when he threw out Ian Miller at home. Just in case you weren’t aware Ian Miller is incredibly fast but that’s how good Lien’s arm and defense is. He had 21 outfield assists just last year.
Victor Mateo took the mound for Mississippi and managed to throw 92 pitches in 4 innings while giving up 6 hits and 5 walks. He was followed by Steve Kent who gave up 1 over 2 innings who was then replaced by Akeel Morris who went an inning as well giving up 2 walks. Through 7 innings Mississippi staff had given up 10 hits, 5 runs, and 8 walks. Luckily Jason Hursh calmed things down going 2 perfect innings while striking out 2, and Madison Younginer picked up his 7th save of the season. Over Jason’s last 10 outings he’s pitched 17.2 innings and given up just 3 earned runs. He’s still not striking out many (6K/9), and walks too much (4.2BB/9) but he’s enjoying the best season of his career.
Here is a neat factoid:
When Steve Kent was signed by the #Braves in 2006, Ozzie Albies was 7 years old. Now they're on the same field, Kent pitching, Albies at 2B.
— Kyle Tait (@HearKyleTait) July 1, 2016
Next Game: 7/1 @ Jackson Generals @ 7:05 PM CT
Probables
MIS: Whalen, 2.43 ERA
JAC: Gavigllo, 3.68 ERA
(48-29) Lynchburg Hillcats 9, (31-47) Carolina Mudcats 1
- Braxton Davidson, RF: 1-3 R, BB, .232/.336/.369
- Sean McLaughlin, RP: 2.1IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K
- Sal Giardina, C: 2-3, BB, .171/.216/.257
This was a game of baseball. One team baseballed better than the other team. After two solid starts following his promotion (10.2IP 2ER 1BB 7K), Caleb Beech was shelled for 6 runs, 5 earned, on 9 hits in 5.2 innings. The lone bright spot for the staff was Sean McLaughlin churning out another solid outing needing just 23 pitches to get through 2.1 innings allowing just 1 hit and striking out 2. Unfortunately for Carolina it wouldn’t be surprising if Sean was promoted soon, further depleting their roster of talent. Chase Johnson-Mullins struggled giving up 3 runs in his lone inning of work and has gotten hit hard over his last 2 outings (1.1IP 5ER 3BB 0K).
Braxton Davidson hit a single. That’s pretty neat. He also has a .906 OPS over his last 28 games so that’s really neat. The neatest thought might be Sal Giardina’s mustache.
This is @sGIARDINA21's mustache. He is the manliest man in all of baseball. Don't @ me. pic.twitter.com/vLZtMikfOd
— Tom Edwards (@MrWorkrate) July 1, 2016
The end.
Next Game: 7/1 vs Lynchburg Hillcats
Probables
LYN: TBD
CAR: Clark, 5.83 ERA
(32-45) Rome Braves 4, (27-50) Lexington Legends 5
- Austin Riley, 3B: 1-4, K, .262/.306/.410
- Lucas Herbert, C: 0-4, K, .205/.257/.268
- Leudys Baez, LF: 2-4, HR, RBI, R, 2K, .255/.333/.309
- Touki Toussaint, SP: 4.0IP 5H 4ER 4BB 8K
Odd game for Touki who had his 2nd highest K total of the year, but needed 96 laboring pitches to get through 4. All of the damage off of him came in the 1st when he gave up two walks, and a 3-run homerun. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings for Touki consisted of 3 singles, 1 error (pick off), 1 wild pitch, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. It was a bit of a dud outing after Toussaint had a wonderful June before tonight consisting of a 1.08 ERA and 0.880 WHIP. He was replaced by Adam McCreery who had his second straight scoreless outing, a nice reprieve for him after surrendering runs in 4 of the previous 5 games. He hasn’t been particularly good so far since being acquired in the Jhoulys Chacin trade - evident by his .302 BAA and 1.59 WHIP but at least now he is coming off of 3 scoreless innings. Because of McCreery’s good outing Rome was still in the game tied 4-4 going into the 7th. Dalton Geekie replaced McCreery and surrendered a solo homerun to Brandon Dulin which ended up being the game winning run.
Austin Riley picked up another hit and is now sitting at a .713 OPS after struggling a lot earlier in the season. The strikeouts are still a problem with this game (31% K%), but he’s starting to put on a nice streak of games. Carlos Castro continues to hammer the ball, when he makes contact, collecting another 2 homeruns. He now has 10 on the year in just 105 at-bats, and is homering on a hilarious 44% of his hits. Unfortunately he doesn’t make contact that often (.219 BA), nor does he walk much (3% BB%), but his slugging prowess (70% of his hits are XBH) has lead him to have an .819 OPS. Leudys Baez collected his first homerun on the season and is hitting .345 over his last 10 games. He’s another big power, big strikeout guy on Rome (though he has not hit for much power this year) but unlike Castro or Riley is walking at a 9.5% clip. Hopefully the power starts to play more in his games and he can raise that slugging percentage up above .309 soon. Luke Dykstra also had a hit and of course it was a single. 82% of his hits are singles.
Next Game: 7/1 @ Lexington Legends @ 7:05 PM ET
Probables
ROM: Sanchez, 6.26 ERA
LEX: Garabito, 6.33 ERA
(5-3) Johnson City Cardinals 0, (4-4) Danville Braves 3
- Brett Cumberland, C: 1-3 2B, BB, RBI,
- Isranel Wilson, RF: 0-2, BB, SB .167/.286/.375
- Kolby Allard, SP: 6.0IP 2H 0R 1BB 5K
Kolby Allard was great striking out 5, and getting 7 groundouts in 6 solid innings. I don’t know how much longer he will be in Danville. Jacob Webb struck out 2 more and now has 5 strikeouts in 2 innings pitched. Cameron Stanton followed Webb with a spotless inning, and the game was closed out by Brandon White who got 3 groundouts. It was the Brandon White out of Davenport.
Brett Cumberland made his 2016 campaign hitting a double, and walking once, along with collecting an RBI. Matt Gonzalez collected another hit, and Marcus Mooney was the lone Brave to collected a multi-hit game going 2-for-4 with a double and RBI.
Next Game: 7/1 vs Johnson City Cardinals @ 7:00 PM ET
Probables
JCC: Hicks, 4.91 ERA
DAN: Mora, 8.10 ERA
(3-3) GCL Braves 3, (0-5) GCL Yankees West 0
- Randy Ventura, RF: 2-3, RBI, BB, 2(SB), 1(CS), .329/.421/.394
- Gordon Beckham, 2B: 1-4, 2B, 2K
- Cristian Pache, CF: 1-4, .400/.400/.520
- Alan Rangel, SP: 5.0IP 2H 0R 1BB 4K
Alan Rangel had another good outing and is an intriguing young arm with 3 potential plus pitches (FB, CH, CB). He was a part of the 2014 international class along with Juan Yepez. Cristian Pache now has a hit in every game this season and is sporting a nice .920 OPS through 6 games. The other Brandon White, this one out of Lander, SC picked up the save.