(30-34) Gwinnett Braves 10, (21-43) Norfolk Tides 3
Anthony Recker, C: 2-3, 2 BB, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, .246/.316/.397
Daniel Castro, SS: 1-4, HR, .320/.357/.480
Ozzie Albies, 2B: 0-4, RBI, .239/.285/.365
Manny Banuelos, SP: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, 5.40 ERA
It’s always nice when you’re the designated hitter to hit well, and Anthony Recker did that job pretty well. He had Gwinnett’s first multi-home run game since Matt Tuiasosopo did it on April 11. He scored a run each time he stepped up to the plate and drove in 3. Daniel Castro also got in on the home run part with his first as a GBrave this season. Ronnier Mustelier and Emerson Landoni each has 3 singles in the game, and Sean Kazmar had 2.
Manny Banuelos made another rehab start, and was not sharp yet again. He pitched 3 innings at 66 pitches, and walked 4 batters in that time. He did only allow 2 hits while striking out 3, so he is missing some bats. Unfortunately, he is also missing the zone so it isn’t working well. Stephen Janas earned his first AAA win with 2.1 IP and 1 run allowed. He didn’t strike anybody out, but also only allowed 2 hits. Rob Wooten pitched 2.2IP with a run allowed, and struck out 3 batters with no walks allowed. The game was closed out by Jose Ramirez, who struck out 1 in a hitless final inning.
Next Game: 6/14 at (34-29) Lehigh Valley IronPigs @ 7:05 PM ET
Probable Starters
GWN: Joel De La Cruz (1-1, 5.73 ERA)
LHV: David Buchanan (3-4, 4.76 ERA)
(26-34) Carolina Mudcats 9, (25-38) Winston-Salem Dash 8
Joseph Odom, C: 1-5, RBI, .277/.330/.458
Joey Meneses, 1B: 4-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, .330/.394/.467
Jordan Edgerton, 3B: 2-3, HR, 4 RBI, .189/.226/.309
Matt Withrow, SP: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 7 K, 3.88 ERA
Carolina had an offensive outburst, led by a 4 hit game from Joey Meneses. He extended his lead in the Carolina League for batting average, and has now hit for the highest average in the Braves system amongst qualified players. Jordan Edgerton knocked his first home run since May 11, and despite a .189 average now leads the team in RBIs. The joys of hitting being Meneses and basically anyone they’ve thrown at leadoff this year. Braxton Davidson had a double in the game, as did Tanner Murphy. Joey Meneses walked the game off with a single to score Stephen Gaylor, who had 3 hits in the game.
Matt Withrow pitched strongly through 4 innings, hurling a shutout at that point but ran into trouble in the 5th. Holding to a 5-0, he allowed 3 consecutive singles to lead off the inning, and after getting a strike out allowed a double. He was replaced by Taylor Lewis, who promptly allowed a triple to score the 2 runners left on base before retiring the final 2 batters in the inning. Lewis pitched 2 more scoreless before giving way to Sean McLaughlin. McLaughlin pitched well in his first inning, and struck out former Braves Chris O’Dowd to start the 9th inning. He then allowed 2unearned runs on a single, error by Erison Mendez, walk, single, fielder’s choice. He was replaced by Evan Phillips, who allowed the first 2 inherited runners to score on a single before retiring the Dash on a double play. Carolina walked off in the bottom of the inning.
Next Game: 6/13 at (40-22) Lynchburg Hillcats 6:30 PM ET
Probable Starters
CAR: Max Povse (3-4, 3.55 ERA)
LYN: Justus Sheffield (4-2, 3.10 ERA)
(25-37) Rome Braves 0, (33-30) Greensboro Grasshoppers 7
Luke Dykstra, 2B: 0-4, .319/.355/.380
Austin Riley, 3B: 0-3, .256/.305/.377
Lucas Herbert, C: 1-2, BB, .228/.281/.300
Kolby Allard, SP: 3 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 14.14 ERA
To say that Rome had a bad game on offense is an understatement. You see that little “1” next to Lucas Herbert? That is the only hit they got in the game, and it didn’t some until the top of the 8th inning. Herbert also walked in the game, meaning of the 3 baserunners Rome got he was 2 of them. Austin Riley saw his 4 game hitting streak snapped in a very bad way, with a strikeout in all 3 of his plate appearances. Justin Ellison joined him in the hat trick, and the Braves struck out 14 times as a whole. Luke Dykstra, owner of an 11 game hitting streak, is now Luke Dykstra owner of a 0 game hitting streak.
Not only was the offense bad, but last year’s first rounder Kolby Allard had major struggled as well. He allowed 8 hits, 2 walks, and 5 runs in his 3 innings of work, though he did strike out 3 batters. He was leaving the ball up and still hasn’t seen the control return since his back surgery. Grayson Jones pitched 2 scoreless innings, only allowing a hit by pitch. Adam McCreery pitched 2 innings, allowed a run but struck out 2 and didn’t allow a walk. Nice to see him with good control. Chad Sobotka finished it out, allowing a run in his only inning pitched.
Next Game: 6/13 at (32-31) Columbia Fireflies 7:05 PM ET
Probable Starters
ROM: Touki Toussaint (1-5, 5.51 ERA)
COL: Tyler Badamo (3-3, 3.84 ERA)