In a day shortened by weather some of top prospects in Mississippi had big nights, giving a glimpse into the near future.
It was an ugly day in the system for the Braves. In addition to the Braves loss, three minor league affiliates lost and two more were rained out. But not all was lost with a key performance for Mississippi, as the Braves shutout Jackson behind big performances on the mound and at the plate by some of the biggest prospects in the system.
Gwinnett Braves 4, Syracuse Chiefs 7
- Rio Ruiz, 3B: 2-4, RBI, 2 K, .269/.356/.372
- Omar Infante, 2B: 3-5, 2B, RBI, .263/.275/.342
- Mel Rojas Jr, RF: 1-3, BB, RBI, SB, .261/.344/.529
The Braves had a pair of leads in this one, but the pitching just didn’t get the job done in a loss to the Nationals AAA team. Former big leaguer Roberto Hernandez- also known as the former Fausto Carmona, made his debut in the Braves system after signing as a minor league free agent. A former 19 game winner in 2007 and a 2010 All Star, Hernandez/Carmona isn’t the guy he was earlier in his career as he averaged just 88.9 MPH on his fastball with Houston last year, far from the 93.5 he averaged in 2007. He hasn’t appeared in the big leagues this year, and games like today show why as he was roughed up for five runs in less than five innings. Matt Marksberry and Bradley Roney came in and pitched two and a third scoreless innings before Maikel Cleto allowed a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to open it up a bit for Syracuse.
The Braves offense was going in the loss as six of the eight starters got hits. Omar Infante had a three hit game, showing that he could be an option for the Braves at some point in the next couple of months. Rio Ruiz had a pair of hits and a pair of strikeouts in his four at bats, snapping a three game drought for him. Mel Rojas Jr. continues to look like a nice addition to the team, as he reached base a pair of times. Rojas isn’t likely to keep up playing this well, but he is riding out a hot streak since being promoted.
Tonight’s game should be a real test for the Braves as Syracuse has the top pitching prospect in baseball, Lucas Giolito, set to make his AAA debut after spending time in AA and the big leagues.
Next Game-Tuesday 7/19 visiting Syracuse @ 6:35 PM
Probable Starters: Syracuse-Lucas Giolito(AAA debut)
Gwinnett-Casey Kelly(2-5, 3.90)
Mississippi Braves 5, Jackson Generals 0
- Sean Newcomb, SP: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 BB 0 R, 6 K
- Dansby Swanson, SS: 2-4, HR, 4 RBI, .272/.351/.432
- Ozzie Albies, 2B: 2-5, 2 R, .375/.451/.519
This was the game that gives Braves fan hope for the future. On one of the tougher nights throughout the system, a Sean Newcomb shutout backed by a Dansby Swanson homer shows what we are all waiting for. Newcomb was great here pitching six shutout innings, allowing just five base runners and striking out six. His command here was on, as he threw 60 of his 95 pitches for strikes and he was efficient enough to pitch his longest start in the last three weeks. He was followed by three relievers to combine on the shutout. The first was Caleb Dirks, who gave up a hit in his inning. He was followed by AJ Minter who pitched a perfect inning, striking out the side- each one of the strikeouts coming swinging. Finally Madison Younginer finished off the game with a scoreless ninth.
Dansby Swanson hit a two run homer in the first that ended up being all the Braves needed to get the win, but he also had a two run single in the fourth as he finished with four runs batted in. The homer is Dansby’s seventh in Mississippi and eight on the year, as well as his second in his last three games- though the other one deserves an asterisk as an inside the park homer. Ozzie Albies singles twice and scored twice to help him snap out of a four game mini-slump that saw his average drop from .399 to .374. Dustin Peterson also had a multi-hit night, and his double was quietly his 25th of the year.
The rebuild is sometimes hard to watch, but when you can see Sean Newcomb pitching well, AJ Minter dominating hitters out of the bullpen, the Dansby and Ozzie middle infield leading the team offensively, and Dustin Peterson quietly chipping in a pair of hits, it’s easy to see the potential for what the Braves are building.
Next Game-Wednesday 7/20 visiting Tennessee @ 7:05 PM
Probable Starters: Tennessee-Tyler Skulina(3-8, 5.27)
Mississippi-Max Povse(1-0, 4.76)
Carolina Mudcats 3, Frederick Keys 10
- Braxton Davidson, RF: 1-3, 2B, BB, RBI, K, .226/.346/.387
- Luis Valenzuela, SS: 2-4, 2B, 3B, .222/.290/.370
- Isaias Tejeda, DH: 1-4, HR, 3 K, .217/.288/.493
This was one of those ugly games where no one could get outs on the mound, though it didn’t start out that way. The Mudcats went into the fifth inning tied at one as Caleb Beech looked to be having a solid start. Then things got ugly, as Beech allowed four runs in the fifth and failed to make it out of the inning. He was followed by Michael O’Neal giving up two runs and Zack Bird allowing three. The only reliever to get out of this one without seeing his ERA take a hit was Carlos Salazar, and even he allowed a pair of base runners in just a third of an inning.
Braxton Davidson’s odd season continued with a double, walk, and strikeout. He’s hitting just .226, but the walks and the strikeouts both keep adding up for the 20 year old. A couple of extra base hits here could be the jump start that Luis Valenzuela needs as he tries to shake off the rust from missing the first half of the season with an injury. Recent minor league free agent Isaias Tejeda hit his fourth homer in just 20 games with the Mudcats, a surprising number considering he has never hit more than six homers in a season before.
Next Game-Tuesday 7/19 hosting Frederick @ 10:30 AM
Probable Starters: Frederick-David Richardson(3-2, 2.35)
Carolina-Ryan Clark(1-10, 5.60)
Rome Braves-PPD Rain
The Braves got through one inning before rain ended this one early. It was a promising start offensively as Ray-Patrick Didder led off with a single, Austin Riley got hit by a pitch, and Jonathan Morales doubled, but no runs crossed the plate as Didder got thrown out stealing. Patrick Weigel was on the mound and had a perfect inning with one strikeout before the game got called off.
Next Game-Wednesday 7/20 hosting Lexington @ 7:00 PM
Probable Starters: Lexington-TBD
Rome-Mike Soroka(2-9, 3.35)
Danville Braves 4, Bristol Pirates 8
- Ryan O’Malley, 3B/SS: 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, .148/.200/.389
- Marcus Mooney, SS: 2-2, BB, CS, .293/.384/.347
- Matt Gonzalez, 2B: 1-4, K, .294/.333/.388
Luis Mora pitched three strong innings allowing only a pair of walks, but then came out in the fourth and the wheels came off. He got the lead off guy out in the fourth before allowing three hits, two walks, and five runs in the inning while recording just one more out. Both guys who followed him in relief, Evertz Orozco and Zach Rice also allowed runs, as this game got away from the Braves in a hurry.
At the plate Ryan O’Malley homered for the second straight game, and third in his last eight games as well as fourth on the year. After a slow start to his pro career he may be showing signs of coming around by going four for his last seven with a walk to raise his average from .085 to .148 in a two game span. He also played shortstop after Marcus Mooney was ejected following his caught stealing in the fifth. A Matt Gonzalez hit gives him hits in five straight, and he’s hitting .476 over that time. Brett Cumberland went hitless in four at bats, including a pair of strikeouts, in the loss.
Next Game-Tuesday 7/19 hosting Pulaski @ 7:00 PM
Probable Starters: Pulaski-TBD
Danville-Jhon Martinez(2-1, 2.05)
GCL Braves-PPD Rain
- Alan Rangel, SP: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 4 K
The GCL Braves got through three innings before rain ended play for the day with no score in the game. Not much going on in this one outside of a strong bounce back start from Alan Rangel. Rangel, who pitched very well in his first two starts of the year, allowed seven runs over seven innings in his two most recent starts before pitching well again here. That’s the only real positive here as the lineup went to the plate one time through the order with Christian Pache being the only Brave to reach base with his walk, though he was erased on a double play ball in the next at bat.
The Braves and Phillies will play a pair today to complete this one and play today’s game as well.
Next Game-Tuesday 7/19 versus GCL Phillies @ 12:00 PM
Plus resumption of postponed game.