(74-56) Durham Bulls 4, (58-74) Gwinnett Stripers 1
•Carlos Rodríguez, CF: 2-for-4, 2B, .253/.330/.340
•Eddys Leonard, DH: 2-for-4, HR (20), .232/.298/.441
•Jesús Bastidas, SS: 1-for-4, 2B, .288/.337/.463
•David McCabe, 1B: 0-for-4, .196/.275/.348
•JR Ritchie, SP: 5IP 2H 0R 3BB 7K, 3.19 ERA
After his blow up against the Memphis Redbirds, JR Ritchie has put together back-to-back strong starts, this timing striking out seven over five innings of work. At 42 innings, this is the most JR has pitched at a level this season and when you look at what
he’s doe at Rome, and Columbus – it looks as though he is really settling into the increased competition level because his numbers through these eight starts are quite parallel to his eight starts with the Columbus Clingstones. The walk rate is still a bit inflated (4 BB/9) compared to where he was in Rome (2.2 BB/9), but he’s settled in nicely with a 9 K/9 rate, and an ERA right at 3.19 (3.49 at Columbus). The added development and focus on his two-seamer and cutter have helped him find a more stable identity in Gwinnett which has helped tremendously.
JR Ritchie pitched through the fifth inning before being replaced by Connor Seabold (1IP 3H 3ER 1BB 0K) who struggled to generate whiffs and ultimately gave up a three run homerun to give the Bulls a 3-0 lead. He was replaced by Enoli Paredes (1.2IP 0H 1ER 2BB 2K) who struggled with his command and gave up a run of his own, hitting a batter and walking another one before leaving the game with two outs in the eighth inning. Wander Suero (1.1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K) would relieve Enoli, and immediately give up an RBI single to extend the Bulls lead to 4-0.
The Stripers offense struggled to find their footing, collecting just five hits all game. They stranded six runners on base, and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position to exacerbate things. Their lone run game in the ninth inning when Eddys Leonard connected on his 20th homer to put the Stripers on the board before ultimately falling 4-1.
(61-66) Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 10, (65-59) Augusta GreenJackets 6
•John Gil, 3B: 3-for-4, 2R, .259/.354/.374
•Tate Southisene, SS: 1-for-5, R, .233/.250/.326
•Owen Carey, CF: 2-for-5, R, .258/.329/.342
•Dixon Williams, 2B: 1-for-4, R, BB, .267/.391/.467
•Juan Mateo, DH 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, .225/.293/.255
•Rayven Antonio, SP: 1.1IP 6H 6ER 3BB 4K, 4.15 ERA
After an extremely strong season that saw him jump in the prospect rankings, it appears as though Rayven Antonio has hit a bit of a wall towards the end of the season. Coming into 2025 the most innings he had thrown in a single season were 46.2 (2024), with about two weeks remaining and maybe another start left, Rayven is sitting at 93.1 innings pitched when has impacted his performance the past two starts. Rayven failed to get out of the second inning, surrendering six runs in the 1.1 inning stint, while walking three. He was relieved by Jhonly Tavares (3.2IP 2H 4R 3ER 5BB 4K) who struggled with his command, walking five and giving up another four runs to extend the Cannon Ballers lead to 10-1 through the games first five innings. A Juan Mateo double in the fourth inning was the lone offensive highlight through the games, well, first seven innings. Drew Christo (3IP 2H 0R 1BB 5K) provided some stability, working three scoreless innings while striking out five, while positional prospect Leiker Figueroa (1IP 2H 0R 0BB 0K) finished out the game with a scoreless inning of work.
The GreenJackets didn’t exactly slump offensively either, as they went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position, and drove in six runs, while collecting twelve hits. A majority of the damage came in the games final two innings -a bases loaded sacrifice fly by Juan Mateo, bases loaded two run single by Nick Montgomery, and RBI single by Hayden Friese made the score 10-5 in the eighth. The GreenJackets would threaten again in the ninth, scoring a run on another RBI single by Juan Mateo, before ultimately falling to the Cannon Ballers.
