(57-55) Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 5, (58-55) Gwinnett Stripers 0 – F/5
- Patrick Clohisy, CF: 0-for-2, .388/.462/.625
- Brewer Hicklen, RF: 0-for-2, .303/.374/.516
- Rowdy Tellez, 1B: 0-for-2, .266/.366/.488
- Cedric De Grandpre, SP: 3IP 2H 2ER 5BB 1K, 5.25 ERA
- Bailey Falter, RP: 1IP 2H 1R 0ER 0BB 1K, 3.27 ERA
It was a very rough game for the Stripers as the game was first delayed due to rain, and then called due to rain after just five innings.
Cedric De Grandpre got the start and struggled with his control, walking five over just three innings of work. He gave up just two earned runs despite the control problems which was the positive, but ultimately he needed 62 pitches to get through three innings, throwing only 31 strikes (50% strike rate). Cedric was able to work around walks in the first
and second inning, but they caught up to him in the third when with two outs he went BB, 1B, HBP, BB to drive in the second run of the game. He was removed from the game after the third inning and was replaced by Ray Kerr (1IP 1H 1ER 0BB 1K) who gave up a solo shot for his run. The recently acquired Bailey Falter made his first appearance for the Stripers, working what ended up being the final inning, and gave up an unearned run following a throwing error by catcher Jair Camargo.
Offensively, there is pretty much nothing to recap as the Stripers were no-hit through those five innings. Patrick Clohisy was the only player to reach base and that came in the first inning via a throwing error. Outside of that one play, the Stripers had the minimum come to plate where they were overmatched by starting pitcher Jace Beck.
(55-49) Biloxi Shuckers 7, (50-53) Columbus Clingstones 9
- John Gil, SS: 2-for-3, R, .286/.346/.378
- Owen Carey, RF: 2-for-3, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, .250/.400/.550
- Jordan Groshans, 3B: 3-for-3, HR, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, .259/.329/.523
- Luke Waddell, 2B-3B: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, R, .208/.301/.323
- Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., CF: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R, .251/.333/.390
- Ian Mejia, SP: 4IP 7H 5ER 1BB 5K, 8.25 ERA
In what was a wildly entertaining back-and-forth game the Clingstones were able to strike late to secure the win against an extremely strong Biloxi Shuckers team that features quite a few prominent prospects for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Ian Mejia got the start for Columbus who was strong at the start, facing the minimum through the first three innings. Unfortunately things changed immediately in the third inning where he allowed three extra-base hits including a two run home run. He would allow back-to-back singles to start the fifth inning before he was replaced by Owen Hackman (1IP 2H 2ER 2BB 1K) who struggled, allowing a pair of runs on two walks and two hits. Shay Schanaman (2.2IP 0H 0R 1BB 1K) replaced Owen and provided stability to the Clingstones, getting through 2.2 scoreless innings of work. Samuel Strickland (0.1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K) came in, in the 8th inning and needed a total of six pitches to face his one batter, ending the eighth. Luis Vargas (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K) worked a scoreless ninth inning, picking up his fourth save of the season.
Offensively, this was a wildly entertaining game featuring several big hits and offensive contributions. The Clingstones put up three runs in the first inning including back-to-back home runs by Owen Carey (2R HR), and Jordan Groshans on back-to-back pitches.
This made it back-to-back games with a home run for Owen who is adapting to Double-A pitching quite well. After losing the lead in the top of the fourth, the Clingstones offense responded and took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth when Jordan Groshans tripled in Owen Carey who singled to start the inning. The Clingstones would fall behind again in the fifth inning, Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., responded once again in the bottom half of the inning with a lead off solo home run. They would then close the lead to just one in the bottom of the sixth on a Luke Waddell RBI double. Two innings later in the decisive 8th, the Clingstones would re-take the lead following a Will Verdung two run single, and Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., would add the cherry on top with a run scoring ground out that scored Luke Waddell for the games final run.
(66-42) Greensboro Grasshoppers 3, (50-54) Rome Emperors 6
- Luis Guanipa, CF: 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, R, .143/.143/.250
- Conor Essenburg, RF: 1-for-4, HR, RBI, R, BB, .208/.321/.375
- Alex Lodise, SS: 1-for-2, BB, .293/.412/.488
- Colin Burgess, C: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, R, .189/.288/.269
- Aiven Cabral, SP: 5.1IP 6H 1ER 1BB 1K, 3.64 ERA
A return to form for Aiven Cabral, along with strong offensive contributions from some of the systems top prospects led to the Emperors taking the final game of the series against an extremely strong Grasshoppers squad. The Emperors stadium lost power so there was no MiLB.tv.
Aiven got the start and it was a return to form for him. He utilized tons of weak contact to quickly make his way through the Grasshoppers lineup. Unlike the past couple of starts, he was able to stay away from the long inning by simply inducing weak contact and being in the zone. Jacob Kroeger (2.1IP 2H 2ER 0BB 2K) came in for Aiven and pitched solidly despite the two runs scored. Those runs came on a fly ball that found space and fell for a double – allowing two runs to score. Drew Christo (1.1IP 2H 0R 0BB 1K) recorded the final four outs, picking up his third save of the season – he did so by being aggressive and being in zone with his pitch mix.
Offensively, it was an unfortunate game to miss as there were multiple contributions by some of the organizations top prospects, but it was a strong game for a lot of the team. Colin Burgess drove in the first run of the game in the first inning with a sacrifice fly that drove in Dallas Macias. The Emperors would re-take the lead on a Colby Jones home run in the the fourth inning with a solo shot. Conor Essenburg connected on his first home run as an Emperor and it was a BANG (HR coming at 49 second mark)
Mac Guscette would add another solo shot of his own in the sixth inning, while Luis Guanipa hit his first home run since the promotion.
(57-49) Augusta GreenJackets 2, (64-41) Hickory Crawdads 7
- Carter Beck, DH: 1-for-4, BB, .429/.500/.429
- Jacob Jarrell, C: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, R, .375/.375/.500
- Cooper McMurray, 1B: 1-for-4, RBI, .244/.371/.396
- Matt Scannell, LF: 2-for-4, 2B, .290/.436/.613
- Brody Fowler, SP: 5IP 6H 2ER 0BB 5K, 5.91 ERA
The GreenJackets ran into the buzzsaw that is the Hickory Crawdads falling 7-2 on Sunday.
Brody Fowler got the start for the GreenJackets and put together one of his better professional careers. He attacked the zone with his fastball, especially early, setting himself up well later in his start where he sequenced in his breaking pitches a bit more (slider, splitter). He allowed a pair of runs scattered across five innings – including a solo shot in the second inning. After his solid outing, Brody was replaced by Logan Forsythe (2.2IP 1H 2ER 1BB 2K) who kept the game well within reach for the GreenJackets before a disastrous eighth inning did them in. Logan was removed from the game with two outs and runners on first and second and replaced by Styven Paez (0.1IP 4H 3ER 0BB 1K) who simply could not get it done – allowing both inherited runners to score, and allowing three more additional runs to score all before he could secure a single out. He was un-done by his inability to land his breaking pitches in the zone, instead turning into a single pitch pitcher and getting hit hard and continually.
The GreenJackets offense struggled for a majority of the game, collecting just six total hits. They were held scoreless in all but one inning and as a team went just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. The lone two runs came in the sixth inning thanks to a first – as Braves 8th round draft pick Jacob Jarrell out of Clemson collected his first professional double, doubling in Parker Brosius for Augusta’s first run of the game.
One batter later Cooper McMurray drove in Jacob on a grounder to right field to tie the game at 2-2 at the time. Matt Scannell would double right after that to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with just one out, but the GreenJackets were unable to drive them in. After that, the GreenJackets failed to really threaten – picking up just a single and a walk in the games final two innings.
