Saturday saw the teams in the Atlanta Braves farm system split their games. It was also the second to last game of the season for both A-ball affiliates in Augusta and Rome, ahead of Sunday’s season finale. Connor Essenburg reached base five times, including a pair of extra base hits, while Carter Beck and Manuel Campos were also among the notable games from hitters in the system. We also got to see Cedric De Grandpre make a quality start for Gwinnett.
Gwinnett Stripers 5, Charlotte Knights 3
- Jim Jarvis, SS: 2-2, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI, .304/.398/.444
- Lizandro Espinoza, 2B: 2-4, R, .278/.365/.407
- Cedric De Grandpre, SP: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 8 K, 4.09 ERA
Box Score
Statcast
Cedric De Grandpre turned in
a quality start in a solid effort that would eventually lead to a win. Over six innings Cedric allowed three runs on five hits and just one walk. He also struck out eight and had 13 whiffs on a night where he had some of his better command. Two scoreless innings from Bailey Falter led to Joel Payamps coming in for the ninth to pick up the save after Gwinnett scored three runs to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth.
The top of the order played a huge part in Gwinnett’s offensive efforts on Saturday. With Jim Jarvis going two for two with a pair of walks, two runs scored, and one batted in, Lizandro Espinoza going two for four with a run scored, and Rowdy Tellez doubling, scoring a run, and batting in a pair of runs, the top three combined for five of the Stripers eight hits, half of their four walks, and four runs scored with three batted in out of the team’s five runs. The other hits were singles from Brett Wisely, Chuckie Robinson, and Kevin Kilpatrick Jr.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos 6, Columbus Clingstones 2
- John Gil, 2B: 2-4, 3B, .319/.398/.448
- Adam Zebrowski, C: 1-4, 2B, R, .273/.343/.608
- Anderson Pilar, RP: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 4.43 ERA
Box Score
Braden Scott started this one and was hit for five runs over four innings of work. Scott allowed seven hits and a walk as he struck out three and whiffed nine, but he was also credited with three home runs against him. After that Pensacola pretty much just held onto their lead the rest of the way. Anderson Pilar followed Scott and pitched well, allowing just two runs over three and a third innings with four strikeouts and six whiffs – in fact he allowed just one hit, which was the Blue Wahoos fourth home run in this game. LJ McDonough would allow two more runs in two thirds of an inning, while Ian Mejia allowed a run during the eighth inning.
Columbus didn’t have much offense going in this one as they managed four hits and a walk while scoring just two runs. On the positive side John Gil singled and tripled, while Adam Zebrowski picked up a double. The remaining hit was a Luke Waddell single. Eric Hartman and Owen Carey were each hitless in four at bats, while Alex Lodise and Dixon Williams were hitless in three at bats, with the difference in at bats coming because Williams and Lodise were hit by pitches. Overall Columbus had 16 strikeouts and everyone but Waddell struck out at least once, and everyone but Waddell, Carson Taylor, and Carey struck out multiple times.
Rome Emperors 13, Winston-Salem Dash 6
- Carter Beck, CF: 2-5, 2B, BB, 2 R, .194/.325/.313
- Conor Essenburg, RF: 2-3, 2 2B, 3 BB, 4 R, RBI, .214/.397/.337
- Brody Fowler, SP: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 4.09 ERA
Box Score
Brody Fowler was the starter in what amounted to a bit of a bullpen game with a lot of pitchers used. Fowler allowed two runs over four innings with four strikeouts and 10 whiffs. Carter Lovasz was next, but he was tagged for four runs in just two thirds of an inning. The team didn’t allow any further runs with Jacob Kroeger going the next inning and a third, Drew Christo going two innings, and then Blayne Enlow pitching the ninth inning.
Conor Essenburg and Carter Beck played a big part in the Emperors offense going off. Essenburg reached base five times and scored four runs in the win, going two for two with three walks – and both of his hits were doubles. Beck was two for five with a double and scored a pair of runs. Cade Doughty had three hits, including a double, while Cody Miller had a pair of hits and a pair of walks in this win.
Charleston RiverDogs 6, Augusta GreenJackets 4
- Manuel Campos, SS: 1-4, 3B, BB, R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, .262/.287/.408
- Yamvier Carrero, 3B: 2-2, 2 BB, R, SB, .283/.377/.384
- Luis Arestigueta, SP: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 6.50 ERA
Box Score
After allowing just one combined run over his last three starts, Luis Arestigueta was a little more hittable on Saturday night. Arestigueta allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over four and two thirds innings. He struck out three and whiffed 10 as he battled with his command again for the third time in those last four starts. Nico Wagner followed and allowed three runs (two earned) over the next two and a third, before a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts from Kade Woods.
The offense was led by a pair of infielders who started their seasons in the FCL. Yamvier Carrero was a perfect two for two with two walks, a run scored, and a stolen base, while Manuel Campos tripled, walked, stole two bases, scored a run, and batted two in. Those two accounted for half of the Augusta walks and three of the team’s seven hits. Singles by Junior Tilien (two), Dallas Macias, and Cooper McMurray would account for the remainder of the Augusta hits. Parker Brosius didn’t reach base in four at bats, while Caleb Klein was hitless in four at bats but did draw a walk.
