Gwinnett Braves 5, Norfolk Tides 0
Box Score
- Ozzie Albies, 2B: 3-3, HR, 3 runs, 2 BB, 2 RBI, SB, .268/.315/.416
- Lane Adams, RF: 1-4, RBI, .293/.330/.512
- Aaron Blair, SP: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 5.29 ERA
Aaron Blair had another strong outing down in AAA and Ozzie Albies had his best game of the season as Gwinnett rolled to victory over Norfolk 5-0. Blair’s overall line this season is pretty severely marred by two awful outings where he gave up a combined 13 earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched. Beyond those two starts however, he has been quite good thanks to improved command of his fastball and the development of his slider since last year. In the other 5 starts he has made this year, he has given up a total of 6 runs in 27 innings which is good for a 2.00 ERA while striking out 25 batters. The walk rate is still too high, but there are good things for him this year despite the overall ugliness of his line.
On offense, Ozzie Albies wasn’t messing around in this game as he reached base a total of 5 times including hitting his second home run of the season and stealing his 13th base of the season. He has now hit safely in 5 straight games and stolen bases in 4 straight games. He now leads the International League in stolen bases and is in the top 5 in the league in runs scored as he looks to continue to break out in AAA. Beyond Ozzie, Sean Kazmar had a pair of RBIs which came late in this game and Anthony Recker reached base three times including a pair of hits. Rio Ruiz had a down game in this one which is a rarity of late and Johan Camargo had the day off, possibly signalling that he will be joining the Braves to replace Adonis Garcia on the roster after his injury.
Next Game: 5/17 at 12:05 PM @ Norfolk. Probable Starter - Sean Newcomb
Mississippi Braves 3, Biloxi Shuckers 6
Box Score
- Carlos Franco, 3B: 2-3, HR, RBI, BB, .280/.348/.517
- Ronald Acuna, CF: 0-2, 2 BB, 2 SB, .336/.391/.555
- Matt Withrow, SP: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 4 K, 2.88 ERA
A rough bullpen appearance for Danny Reynolds spoiled another good start from Matt Withrow as Mississippi fell to Biloxi 6-3. Despite getting the loss in this game, Withrow was good yet again as he went 5 innings while only one of the two runs he gave up was earned as the other was due to an error on Dylan Moore and Danny Reynolds hitting a batter to force an inherited runner to score. The walk rate for Withrow is concerning (19 in 40.2 innings), but he has given up more than 2 runs in a start just once this season and has really improved from his time in high-A last season in terms of getting batters to swing at his pitches in addition to the overall quality of his breaking ball.
On offense, Ronald Acuna was stifled at least a little bit as all he did is draw two walks and steal two bases, which based on his recent torrid stretch is almost a letdown. Mississippi’s big performer in this game was Carlos Franco as he went deep for his 9th home run of the season. He hit just 4 home runs last year and he should easily eclipse his career high of 11 homers that he set in high-A assuming nothing catastrophic happens (knocks on wood). The bottom of the order has really struggled this year, in particular Dylan Moore and Connor Lien as both players now sport batting averages well below .200. Moore’s start has been particularly surprising given his track as always being reasonably productive at the plate, although all of that success was in A and high-A ball.
Next Game: 5/17 at 7:35 PM @ Biloxi. Probable Starter - Max Fried
Florida Fire Frogs 0, Tampa Yankees 3
Box Score
- Austin Riley, 3B: 1-4, .272/.331/.437
- Alex Jackson, C: 1-3, BB, .304/.360/.588
- Drew Harrington, SP: 5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 2.28 ERA
The offense was held silent in this one and the Yankees made the most of their chances in the third inning against the stingy Drew Harrington as the Fire Frogs fell to Tampa 3-0. Harrington was his usual strong self except for the third inning where his command slipped a bit and a timely double scored a pair of runs after he got himself in trouble. He pitched well the rest of the game and he still remains on the short list in terms of guys that could be promoted at midseason assuming a spot in Mississippi’s vaunted rotation opens up. Andres Santiago and Sean McLaughlin were strong in relief with a combined 4 scoreless innings while striking out 5 batters.
There is not much to talk about on offense as the Fire Frogs managed just 5 hits in the game and Anfernee Seymour’s leadoff double was the only extra-base hit on the night. Austin Riley and Alex Jackson each had singles and both have hit safely in 8 of their past 10 games now. Braxton Davidson appears to have remembered how to walk again, but the strikeouts continue to pile up for him as well (although he did not strike out in this game thankfully). He has 48 strikeouts in 131 plate appearances this season which is....less than ideal.
Next Game: 5/17 at 7:35 PM vs. Tampa. Probable Starter - Ricardo Sanchez
Rome Braves 1, Kannapolis Intimidators 5
Box Score
- Lucas Herbert, DH: 1-3, 2B, BB, .198/.266/.407
- Matt Gonzalez, LF: 2-4, .222/.300/.296
- Bryse Wilson, SP: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2.23 ERA
Bryse Wilson got tagged for the second home run he has allowed this season, but pitched well beyond that. However, the offense struggled as did Bladimir Matos in relief as Rome fell by the score of 5-1. The consistency that Bryse has shown this season has been quite impressive as he has not given up more than three earned runs in any of his starts this season while striking out better than a batter an inning. Bladimir Matos continued his inconsistent start to the season as he gave up two earned runs in his inning of work thanks to a two-run homer for Seby Zavala.
On offense, Matt Gonzalez had his first multi-hit game of the season while the rest of the lineup scattered 6 hits throughout the game with Marcus Mooney scoring Rome’s only run in the game. Randy Ventura now has himself a 5 game hitting streak Cristian Pache reached base twice and extended his own hitting streak to 9 games. While Brett Cumberland has struggled to make contact with baseballs with his bat, he still sports a .433 thanks to his ability to draw walks and make contact with baseballs with his body. After his 13th hit by pitch of the season, he has reached base 30 times in 25 games by way of walk or HBP this season.
Next Game: 5/18 at 7 PM vs. Lexington. Probable Starter - Jeremy Walker
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