(75-54) Gwinnett Stripers 8, (69-61) Durham Bulls 5 F/7
- Cristian Pache, CF: 1-3, 2B, 3 RBI, .213/.284/.279
- Drew Waters, RF: 1-2, 2 BB, .324/.382/.426
- Johan Camargo, 3B: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, .433/.469/.667
- Tucker Davidson, SP: 4 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1.72 ERA
Gwinnett had a huge outburst of offense in the seventh inning, just before a huge outburst of rain halted the game and gave them a win. The Stripers sent the minimum to the plate through the first three innings, then in the fourth they had a small spark of life. Drew Waters led off with his second walk of the game, and after a ball hit Ryan LaMarre they found themselves with a couple of runners on and no outs. Johan Camargo struck out swinging, but a Pedro Florimon infield hit loaded the bases. This came to no consequence, as Lucas Duda and Andres Blanco struck out to end the inning. The Stripers went down in order in the fifth and six innings, and in that time Durham managed to open up a 5-0 lead with bad weather looming. In what would end up being their final three outs, the Stripers went to work in a big way. Florimon led off the seventh with a single, then walks to Duda and JR Murphy brought to bat Cristian Pache. Pache came through in a big way, clearing the bases on a gapper and bringing the tying run to the plate.
3-RUN DOUBLE BY @cristianpache25 pic.twitter.com/MRgVClihv3
— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) August 24, 2019
Luis Marte singled to score Pache and cut it to a one run deficit, and Drew Waters singled to put two runners on. Waters represented the go ahead run in the game, and when Johan Camargo doubled into the corner he was off to the races. He and Marte both scored and Gwinnett found themselves up by a run. Florimon and Duda both knocked in runs on base hits, and suddenly the Stripers opened up a three run lead late in the game.
Tucker Davidson was not in his peak form, and although he held the Bulls to just one run a flurry of hits and some command issues cut his start down to four innings as his pitch count ran high. Davidson got two strikeouts in the first inning that allowed him to work around a leadoff base hit from Emilio Bonifacio-who is still playing for some ungodly reason and will somehow find a way to haunt the Braves again I can just feel it in my bones. Davidson allowed two hits and a run right off the bat in the second inning, but a double play was key and prevented more from scoring in the inning. Davidson allowed a couple of walks and a hit in the third, but Bonifacio was thrown out trying to steal second base and Davidson also got a strikeout to help keep Durham off the board. The fourth was relatively smooth, as Davidson worked around a one out hit and pitched a scoreless inning. Tyler Matzek was nails in the fifth, leading it off with a strikeout of Bonifacio and then getting two more quick outs to send it to the sixth. Matzek was whatever the opposite of nails is in the sixth, maybe like elmer’s glue and he allowed three hits and only recorded one out before being pulled. Jeremy Walker came in and got a strikeout, then allowed a run scoring hit to make it 3-0 Durham. That brought up, guess who, Emilio Bonifacio who hit a ground-rule double to score two runs and extend the lead. Walker went at it in the seventh and retired the bulls in order and the Stripers escaped with a rain shortened win.
Next Game: 8/24 vs (69-61) Durham Bulls 6:35 PM ET
Probable Starters
GWN: Ian Anderson (1-1, 5.63 ERA)
DUR: TBD
(61-69) Mississippi Braves 3, (77-53) Biloxi Shuckers 2
- Trey Harris, RF: 2-4, 2B, RBI, .281/.311/.430
- William Contreras, C: 0-4, .219/.289/.308
- Braden Shewmake, SS: 2-3, BB, .250/.323/.250
- Connor Johnston, SP: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 4.33 ERA
Greyson Jenista crushed a pinch hit home run in the ninth inning that propelled Mississippi to a one run win. The Braves jumped out in the first inning and took the lead, with Braden Shewmake knocking a one out hit and then Trey Harris coming through with a run scoring double. That score stayed until the fourth inning when Shewmake led off the inning with his second hit of the game. After a walk to Ryan Casteel it came on the shoulders of Connor Lien, who doubled into the gap in left field to score Shew and put Mississippi up 2-0. Biloxi came in and tied it in the bottom of the fourth, and the Braves and Shuckers then traded zeros for the second half of the game. Finally in the ninth it was Jenista, crushing a 3-1 pitcher over the left field wall to put the Braves on top for good.
Connor Johnstone did the work for Mississippi, holding Biloxi to two runs in the game. Johnstone didn’t allow a run through the first three innings, but when he went into the fourth with a two run lead the trouble started to mount. A double led off the inning, and the next batter reached on an error but then was eliminated thanks to a clutch double play. With two outs Johnstone allowed a walk, and CJ Hinojosa made him pay with a game-tying two run double into center field. Johnstone pitched through the next two innings scoreless before turning the game to the bullpen. Josh Graham allowed a double to the first batter of the seventh inning but got a couple of fly outs and a ground out to escape with the game still tied. Graham pitched a clean eighth for the Braves and then was lifted for Bradley Roney. Roney struck out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning, breaking a span of eight straight outings with multiple strikeouts. In The last twelve appearances for Roney he has pitched 15 2⁄3 innings, allowed only one run, and has 24 strikeouts to five walks.
Next Game: 8/24 vs (77-53) Biloxi Shuckers @ 7:35 PM ET
Probable Starters
MIS: Jasseel De La Cruz (4-7, 3.84 ERA)
BLX: Dylan File (8-2, 2.62 ERA)
(51-79) Florida Fire Frogs 2, (75-53) Dunedin Blue Jays 1
- Riley Delgado, SS: 2-4, 2B, .281/.324/.322
- Jefrey Ramos, LF: 1-4, RBI, .248/.295/.363
- Matt Hartman, SP: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 4.06 ERA
Matt Hartman and the Fire Frogs pitching staff were up to the task against the Blue Jays league leading offense, holding them to one run in a close win for Florida. Florida trailed after three innings by a run, but in the fourth got that back to tie the game. Riley Delgado led off the inning with a double on an 0-2 pitch and then Jefrey Ramos singled to bring him home and tie it up. Andy Wilkins led off the eight inning with a solo home run and that was all that Florida would need to win the game. Ramos now has a five game hitting streak rolling and has hit safely in eleven of his last twelve. He has done his best work in August, hitting .302 with a couple of home runs and 14 RBIs in 24 games.
Matt Hartman found his groove on the mound and was able to hold the Blue Jays in place for his start and keep Florida in the ball game. Hartman didn’t look too strong early and had allowed five hits and a run after the third inning, but he would only allow one more hit over the rest of his start. He retired eight straight straight after the run scoring hit in the third, but in his sixth and final inning he got himself into trouble. The leadoff man in the inning got an infield hit, and then after two walks Hartman found himself facing bases loaded and no outs. A shallow fly ball wasn’t enough to score the run, then a force out at home and another force out at third allowed Hartman to wiggle out of the jam. Matt Withrow struck out three batters over two scoreless innings and now has fourteen strikeouts over nine scoreless innings in his last four outings. Dasybel Hernandez struck out three batters in a scoreless ninth with the only runner to reach against him coming on a throwing error from Delgado.
Next Game: 8/24 vs (75-53) Dunedin Blue Jays @ 6:00 PM ET
Probable Starters
FLO: Brooks Wilson (4-2, 2.03 ERA)
DUN: Kyle Johstone (1-3, 8.27 ERA)
(60-69) Rome Braves 5, (51-75) Columbia Fireflies 7
- Bryce Ball, 1B: 2-5, .354/.380/.500
- Justin Dean, CF: 1-5, HR, RBI, .290/.390/.445
- Shea Langeliers, C: 2-4, 2B, BB, .230/.296/.317
- Victor Vodnik, RP: 3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2.88 ERA
Rome was stacked on the offensive end with their normal lineup plus the rehabbing Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley, but they blew the game in the ninth inning to lose 7-5. The Braves did most of the work in the fourth inning without much help from Swanson or Riley. Bryce Ball lead off with a single, and Greg Cullen had his first of four hits in the game to give the Braves a big time threat. Shea Langeliers got on and loaded the bases via walk, bringing up Michael Harris. Harris singled on the first pitch he saw, scoring Ball and putting the Braves up by a run. Brendan Venter followed with a two run double, then after a walk to Swanson a wild pitch brought in Harris to put Rome up 4-0. Justin Dean knocked him ninth home run of the season in the sixth inning to put the Braves up 5-2, and it seemed like they would roll to victory. Austin Riley went 0-4 in his first rehab appearance and Dansby Swanson went 1-3 with a walk and played seven innings at shortstop. Shea Langeliers has seven hits over his past three games. Greg Cullen notched his fourth four-hit performance of the season, extending his hitting streak to seven games and giving him eight hits over his last three games. His on base percentage is back over .400 for the first time since May 26th. After struggling mightily after being called up Michael Harris has five hits and two walks in a four game hitting streak and has reached base safely in seven straight.
Alan Rangel got the start for the Braves and he was lights out early with four scoreless innings to open the game and only two hits allowed. The Braves gave him a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning and then he got into some trouble when he loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth. Rangel was able to somewhat limit the damage, but still allowed two RBI ground outs to cut their lead to 4-2. Victor Vodnik made an extended relief outing and looked sharp on the mound in his first three innings. He allowed two hits and no runs from the sixth to eighth, but when he was brought out to finish the game in the ninth the game got away from him. Vodnik loaded the bases with no outs on two hits and a walk, then he allowed his first run on a 3-0 hit batter. He still held to a 5-3 lead, but the next man up drove a single into left field on the first pitch to tie the game at five. Vodnik was removed from the game and his replacement Gabriel Noguera struck out three batters, but he also allowed a two run triple (both charged to Vodnik) that gave Columbia a 7-5 lead.
Next Game: 8/24 vs (49-71) Columbia FireFlies @ 6:00 PM ET
Probable Starters
ROM: Mitch Stallings (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
COL: Colin Holderman (3-2, 3.99 ERA)
(27-36) Danville Braves 5, (30-32) Elizabethton Twins 6
- Willie Carter, LF: 2-3, HR, BB, .251/.338/.392
- Jose Palma, RF: 3-5, 3B, .277/.358/.353
- Alger Hodgson, SP: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 5.50 ERA
Danville’s offense had a late comeback up their sleeves, but it was not meant to be as they couldn’t hold on and the Twins walked them off in the bottom of the ninth. Pitchers rolled and both teams were scoreless through three, but Elizabethton opened it up with a lone run on a home run in the bottom of the fourth. The Braves immediately came back with Jose Palma leading off the inning with a triple and then scoring on a sacrifice fly to tie it. Two batters late Willie Carter put the Braves on top when he smashed his fourth home run of the season. The Twins got back on top with three runs in the sixth inning and held a 4-2 lead until the eight, when the Braves made another comeback. Carter and Cody Birdsong both reached base to lead off the inning, and a Mason Berne ground out brought Danville within a run with two outs. Victor De Hoyos rolled up to the plate and came through with a two run home run, his second of the season, and put the Braves on top by a run.
Starting pitcher Alger Hodgson gave the Braves some good pitching through his 4 2⁄3 innings, with a long mistake putting a run on his record. Hodgson had no problems early in his start and retired the first six batters he faced before a leadoff base hit in the third inning. He bounced right back with an infield pop up and a strikeout to make sure the runner was going no further and finished off a scoreless third with a ground out. Hodgson left a 1-1 pitch over the plate with one out in the fourth inning that Seth Gray mashed for his tenth home run of the season to put the Twins on top. Zach Daniels was also victimized by the home run ball, allowing a two run bomb in the bottom of the sixth as part of a three run inning that saw the Twins go up 4-2. Daniels stayed in and pitched a scoreless seventh before turning the ball over to Justin Yeager for a two out save. Yeager came out flaming and struck out all three batters he faced in the eight and then the first of the ninth inning. After a single and a walk allowed two runners on Yeager got his fifth strikeout to bring the Braves one out away. A Wild pitch moved both runners up a base, and then Yeager allowed a double to Seth Gray that scored both and ended the game at 6-5.
Next Game: 8/24 vs (30-32) Elizabethton Twins @ 6:30 PM ET
Probable Starters
DAN: Darius Vines (0-4, 7.57 ERA)
ELZ: TBD
(17-29) GCL Braves 1, (23-25) GCL Rays 3
- Stephen Paoilini, CF: 0-2, BB, .192/.331/.231
- Mahki Backstrom, 1B: 0-4, .270/.370/.413
- Darren O’Day, SP: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER,0 BB, 2 K, 0.00 ERA
It was not the brightest of days for the GCL Braves position players, who had only two hits in the game and made three errors that led to three unearned runs in a 3-1 loss. Darren O’Day exists, allegedly, and pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts in his first rehab start that definitely wasn’t a fever dream and happened on a real baseball field in our timeline. The Braves lone run came in the sixth inning when Cade Bunnell drew a leadoff walk and then advanced in to score on a wild pitch, a passed ball, and then another wild pitch.