(39-34) Louisville Bats 1, (38-36) Gwinnett Stripers 10
- Jim Jarvis, SS: 2-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R, .307/.399/.461
- Brett Wisely, 2B: 2-for-3, 4 R, 3B, SB, .293/.392/.456
- Brewer Hicklen, RF: 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, SB, .310/.373/.515
- Hurston Waldrep, SP: 4.1IP 2H 1ER 2BB 5K, 1.17 ERA
- Connor Thomas, RP: 2.1IP 3H 0R 0BB 1K, 0.54 ERA
Offense was the name of the game as the Stripers broke out for 10 runs on 14 hits including seven extra-base hits and two home runs. They scored early, and often, and rode some strong pitching performances to win the game of the series.
Hurston Waldrep made his second start for the Stripers, since coming off of his rehab assignment, and while he ran out of gas late he was still strong – allowing just one run over the course of his outing. The way Hurston did it was diferent as he ditched
the four-seam entirely and instead leveraged his cutter and two-seam, along with the rest of his arsenal (splitter, curveball). Hurston will need a few more starts to build up his arm strength before you can consider him an option for the Braves as his velocity started to drop towards the end of his outing from 97 down to 94 around the 60th pitch. His only run, and the only run allowed by the Stripers pitching staff, came in the first inning when Hurston allowed a two out double, walk, stolen base, and single to open up the scoring before he struck out the final hitter to end the first inning. He would then settle in and simply not allow another hit the rest of his outing before giving way to Connor Thomas who continued his strong return to Gwinnett with 2.1 innings of scoreless ball himself. Following Connor thomas were Daysbel Hernández (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K), and Ian Hamilton (1IP 0H 0R 1B 2K) who worked the final two frames of the game to preserve the big win over the Bats.
Offensively, there was damage throughout the lineup with Jair Camargo the only player not to get a hit, despite hammering a 111 MPH force out. The attack was so balanced that there were only two innings in which the Stripers failed to score a run entirely. The offense was paced by Brewer Hicklen who continued his strong 2026 – hitting his 12th home run, and stealing his 22nd base of the season
Jim Jarvis continued his strong work as well, getting on-base twice, including hitting his sixth home run of the season. Brett Wisley, Aaron Schunk (2-for-4), and Cal Conley (2-for-4) were the five players to register multiple hits in the game as well.
(29-35) Columbus Clingstones 4, (35-30) Biloxi Shuckers 9 – F/7
- Luke Waddell, SS: 1-for-3, HR, R, RBI, .217/.339/.335
- Jordan Groshans, 3B: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB, .270/.349/.514
- Archer Brookman, C: 2-for-4, .256/.350/.376
- Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., RF: 2-for-2, 2 BB, R, SB, .245/.331/.343
- Julio Robaina, SP: 3IP 1H 1ER 1BB 3K, 3.33 ERA
The Clingstones dropped the first game of the double header after taking the early lead as the bullpen struggled to get outs while the offense was held in check throughout the game, outside of one inning.
Julio Robaina got the start and while he only lasted three innings they were relatively pain free as he retired the first six batters he saw before finally giving a single in the bottom of the third. That single was quickly wiped off by a double play before he quickly retired the final hitter of the inning – facing the minimum through three. Robaina would walk the lead off hiterr in the fourth before being replaced by Blane Abeyta (1IP 3H 3ER 1BB 1K) who really struggled as he surrendered a pair of home runs in his only inning of work. Ian Mejia (1.2IP 4H 5ER 0BB 1K) came in for Blane Abeyta and his struggles continued, surrendering five earned runs including surrendering another pair of home runs. Blake Burkhalter (0.1IP 2H 0R 0BB 0K) recorded the final out of the game.
Offensively, the first run of the game for the Clingstones came in the fourth inning when Luke Waddell hit his fourth home run of the season.
As a team the Clingstones went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10. Their big inning came in the sixth inning when they broke out for three runs. The first three batters of the inning reached based via walk-walk-HBP before Ambioris Tavarez drove in the second run of the game for the Clingstones with a force out to the third baseman. Patrick Clohisy would follow that up with a sacrifice fly of his own to drive in the third run of the game for the Clingstones. Following a Luke Waddell walk, Jordan Groshans would single in another run, their final run of the game, before eventually falling to the Shuckers.
(29-34) Columbus Clingstones 2, (34-30) Biloxi Shuckers 3 – F/7
- Patrick Clohisy, CF: 1-for-3, R, .254/.322/.410
- Drew Compton, DH: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R, .184/.250/.270
- Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., RF: 1-for-2, BB, .245/.331/.343
- Brett Sears, SP: 2IP 3H 1ER 0BB 3K, 2.36 ERA
- Lucas Braun, RP: 3.1IP 6H 2ER 0BB 3K, 4.70 ERA
The Clingstones fell late, surrendering a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, to drop game 2 and get swept in today’s double header.
Brett Sears got the start for the Clingstones and his impressive scoreless stretch finally came to an end as he gave up earned run in the first inning. Sears was greeted with a six pitch at bat that resutled in a triple to his first batter of the game. On the next pitch he gave up a run scoring single to Jesús Made that tied the game. He would then retire six of his next six batters before he was forced to sit due to a rain delay, before giving way to Lucas Braun who pitched the next three innings of the game. Lucas Braun would come in for Brett Sears and would surrender a pair of runs in the decisive fifth inning as he gave up four singles that resulted in a pair of runs that swung the game in favor of the Shuckers.
There wasn’t too much to talk about offensively for the Clingstones as they collected a total of just four hits while walking just twice. The only run they were able to score came in the first inning when Will Verdung drove in Patrick Clohisy via a sacrifice fly to originally put up the Clingstones 1-0. Their second run came in the fifth inning when Drew Compton connected on his third home run of the season. Outside of that, the Clingstones struggled to get on base, going just 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position and stranding just two overall.
(32-35) Hudson Valley Renegades 7, (34-33) Rome Emperors 6
- Tate Southisene, SS: 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 SB, .205/.364/.318
- John Gil, 2B; 1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, R, .275/.369/.441
- Eric Hartman, CF: 1-for-3, R, BB, R, 2 SB, .300/.363/.577
- Dixon Williams, 1B: 2-for-4, RBI, R, .218/.319/.397
- Cade Kuehler, SP: 5IP 7H 2ER 2BB 3K, 4.85 ERA
After an offensive outburst in the third inning, the Emperors struggled to get runners out eventually falling after allowing a decisive run in the ninth inning – losing the series two games to three.
Cade Kuehler got the start for the Emperors and pitched to solid results. He gave up a solo home run to the games first batter to put the Emperors down 1-0 but overall lived at the bottom of the zone, inducing weak contact as well as swinging strikes at the bottom. He cruised through the next four innings, only allowing a double, before giving up his second run of the game in the fifth when he gave up a leadoff triple and sacrifice fly. After really struggling through the seasons first five games Cade has turned things around. Cade was removed after the fifth and replaced by Colin Daniel (3IP 4H 4ER 3BB 3K) who struggled, but also was a victim of some poor defense – two fielding errors. Justin Long (1IP 2H 1ER 1BB 1K) pitched the final inning of the game, allowing the games’ decisive run.
Offensively, the Emperors were strong early against starting pitcher Sean Paul Liñan, scoring five runs in the games first three innings, before Franyer Herrera shut them down over the next six. Eric Hartman drove in their first run with a sacrifice fly that drove in Tate Southisene who had earlier drew a walk and stole second and third. In the fifth, Tate drew his second walk of the game and was then driven in by John Gil who hit his 11th home run of the season.
Eric Hartman would immediately follow that up with a walk of his own and would then steal second and third on consecutive pitches. He would then be driven in by Dixon Williams who singled and would later come in to score on a single by Mason Guerra. After that five run third Rome would be shut down over the games final six frames – struggling to get on base.
(31-38) Hill City Howlers 5, (38-31) Augusta GreenJackets 8
- Luis Guanipa, CF: 2-for-4, 2B, 2RBI, BB, R, .326/.377/.504
- Conor Essenburg, RF: 1-for-4, RBI, R, BB, .272/.411/.500
- Alex Lodise, SS: 1-for-2, 2B, 3 BB, 2 R, .248/.342/.432
- Cody Miller, 2B: 1-for-3, HR, 2 BB, 3 RBI, R, .193/.361/.456
- Davis Polo, SP: 5IP 8H 5ER 1BB 5K, 4.31 ERA
The GreenJackets struck late, scoring all eight of the games remaining runs winning the series against the Hill City Howlers a resounding 5-1.
Davis Polo got the start for the GreenJackets and cruised through the games first two innings before surrendering a pair in the third. Davis allowed four consecutive singles in the fifth inning, surrendering three runs, before retiring the next three batters and coming out of the game. Logan Forsythe (1.2IP 1H 0R 4BB 2K) worked around some trouble in the sixth inning – walking two, having a hitter reach on catchers interference, as well as a single but still didn’t allow a run. Kendy Richard (2.1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K) pitched the final innings of the game, consistently attacking the bottom and outside parts of the zone, picking up the win.
After being held mostly in check through the first four innings, the GreenJackets exploded for four runs in the fifth and seventh inning, each. In the fifth Guanipa drew a walk and took second on a wild pitch before being driven in by Conor Essenburg to make it 5-1 Hull City. Alex Lodise would then take a pitch low in the zone and drive it to left, putting runners on 1st and 3rd. Cody Miller would then make it a one run game after this three run home run.
That homer was Cody’s fifth in his last seven games driving his slugging from .314 to .456. The GreenJackets would strike for four more in the seventh – drawing five walks, as well as getting hit by a pitch. The only hit was a two run single by who else but Luis Guanipa, driving in a pair of insurance runs – making it 8-5.
