Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: Victor Vodnik impresses in first career start as bats are silent

Austin Riley didn’t play on Monday as the Gwinnett Stripers had a day off. While arguably the hottest player in the minor leagues took a breather, the Rome Braves had a chance to play two while Florida saw its one game washed out. Let’s take a look around the Braves farm system Monday night.

Gwinnett Stripers OFF

(Austin Riley probably still homered)

5/14 probable starter: TBD

Montgomery Biscuits 5, Mississippi Braves 0

Box score

• Cristian Pache, CF: 0-for-3, 1 BB
• Drew Waters, LF: 1-for-4
• Tucker Davidson: 6 IP. 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 6 K

It really wasn’t all that bad for Davidson. He landed 62 of his 99 pitches for strikes and was around the zone all day, striking out six and walking just one. Montgomery was just able to capitalize on every hit. For Davidson, he’s looking a lot more like the 2017 breakout pitcher than the one who struggled last year. He’s now gone at least five innings in each of his last six starts, allowing one run or fewer in four of them. These three runs were the most he allowed all year. Jordan Harrison allowed a run in an inning of relief before handing it over to Connor Johnstone who pitched a scoreless eighth.

Offensively, there isn’t much to report. The M-Braves recorded three hits, one by Waters, Ryan Casteel, and another by Alejandro Salazar. Pache has cooled down a bit from his torrid start, but the promising note is that he once again drew a walk, while striking out just once for the second game in a row. Mississippi struck out 14 times on the day in a forgettable afternoon.

5/14 probable starter: Ian Anderson

Florida Fire Frogs vs. St. Lucie Mets PPD

5/14 probable starter: TBD

Game 1: Columbia Fireflies 2, Rome Braves 1

Game 2: Columbia Fireflies 6, Rome Braves 1

Game 1 box score | Game 2 box score

• Justin Dean, CF: 0-for-6, 1 R, 1 RBI (both games)
• Trey Harris, RF: 3-for-6 (both games)
• Alan Rangel: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 5 K
• Victor Vodnik: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K

If there is such a thing as vintage Rangel, we saw it tonight. The breaking ball was bending, and he was highly efficient in strike throwing into the fifth, and only needed 82 pitches to toss the complete game (55 of which were strikes). He was the victim of bad luck as Carlos Paraguate allowed an easy pop fly to fall. Of course, as if on cue, Fireflies shortstop Ronny Mauricio followed with a triple, one of the few hard hit balls on the day, to tie the game.

Rome only mustered four hits in the first game, but it was a hit on the shoulder to Justin Dean that set up the lone run. Andrew Moritz drove the speedy Dean to third on a single and Greg Cullen drove him in.

Game 2 saw the first start of the season for Vodnik and, albeit a short one, he certainly delivered. There is no secret that Vodnik’s turn in the rotation has been a highly anticipated one here at Talking Chop, and he looked the part. He landed 25 of his 38 pitches for strikes and was able to attack the Fireflies without falling behind too often. William Woods made his Rome debut and was drilled with four runs in just 1.1 innings before Jose Montilla came on to end it.

Rome was able to get on base, but they simply couldn’t cross the plate. Led by Harris’ 3-for-3 nightcap, Rome tallied eight hits, one more than Columbia, but also struck out 11 times, totaling 23 total strikeouts for Rome hitters on the day. Harris is still hitting, now with a .384 average and a 1.058 OPS.

5/14 probable starter: Gabriel Noguera