Another day, another Eric Hartman homer down in the Atlanta Braves farm system. The day also had Owen Murphy record double digit strikeouts and see Drake Baldwin begin his rehab assignment. However Saturday wasn’t all positive, as Luke Sinnard exited after just one inning. We are still awaiting word on why Sinnard left his start early, but when a player with his injury history leaves a start that early, it is something worth monitoring closely.
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 3, Gwinnett Stripers 2
- Drake Baldwin, C: 1-3, HR, R, RBI
- Jim Jarvis, SS: 1-4, .301/.395/.435
- Owen Murphy, SP: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, 4.43 ERA
You may have missed this one as a rain
delay kept this one from starting until after 9 PM, but if you saw it then you got to witness Owen Murphy carving up the Jumbo Shrimp. After allowing a first inning run on three hits, Murphy settled in to allow just one unearned run on no hits and a walk over the next five innings. He also added 10 strikeouts and 24 swings and misses, including 14 on his fastball alone. The next inning and a third went to Hunter Stratton, who would allow the walkoff run to score in the bottom of the eighth, via a sac fly.
It was just his first rehab game, but Drake Baldwin certainly seemed ready to get back to Atlanta when he came up in the top of the sixth down 2-1 and smashed a 110.4 MPH exit velocity homer to tie the game at two. Baldwin finished his day one for three before leaving early, which is normal for a player’s first game on rehab assignment. The rest of the offense had a fairly quiet day as they managed a combined five hits and three walks. With a two walk game DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was the only player to reach base more than once, and Baldwin’s homer was the lone extra base hit. Jim Jarvis ended up one for four in the loss, while Brewer Hicklen singled and scored the Stripers other run.
Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4, Columbus Clingstones 0
- Luke Waddell, SS: 1-4, .218/.335/.328
- Julio Robaina, SP: 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 3.38 ERA
- Shay Schanaman, RP: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 5.63 ERA
Julio Robaina turned in four innings of three run ball, though only two of the runs were earned. Robaina only struck out three, but did have 11 whiffs. Shay Schanaman followed him with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and one walk. Jacob Wallace went the final two innings, and allowed an unearned run but did strike out three hitters.
The Columbus hitters just couldn’t get anything going in this one, managing just three singles and one walk. It is actually even tougher than that as they had just one hit through five innings, and only added the walk over the next two innings. It wasn’t until the final two innings where they were able to record the other two base hits. Luke Waddell, Drew Compton, and Keshawn Ogans had the singles, and Will Verdung took the lone walk.
Bowling Green Hot Rods 5, Rome Emperors 1
- Eric Hartman, CF: 2-4, HR, R, RBI, .311/.377/.601
- Tate Southisene, SS: 1-4, .217/.357/.348
- John Gil, 2B: 1-4, .266/.365/.432
- Luke Sinnard, SP: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2.30 ERA
- Isaac Gallegos, RP: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 1.99 ERA
Luke Sinnard started and only went one inning, being removed for still unknown reasons. During that inning he allowed one hit and one walk, and struck out one with four whiffs. Sinnard threw 23 pitches, 12 of which for strikes, and also hit a batter. We now await an update on a talented prospect who has had a troubling injury history. Mathieu Curtis took the ball from Sinnard and allowed four runs over two and a third innings. Riley Frey was next, and he allowed one run over two and two thirds as the next man up. The final two innings went to Isaac Gallegos, and he was dominant. Gallegos allowed a hit and a walk, but struck out five and picked up a remarkable 11 swings and misses in the 28 pitches he threw.
Once again Eric Hartman was the biggest storyline, as he went two for four with his 17th homer of the season – a solo shot in the eighth inning. Besides Hartman the bats were pretty much nonexistent, as singles by Tate Southisene and John Gil accounted for all of the hits, and one walk to Mason Guerra was the only other player to reach base safely. It is worth noting that Tate Southisene did get the start at short, his second straight day there but only his 10th start of the season there.
Augusta GreenJackets 4, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 3
- Conor Essenburg, CF: 1-4, BB, R, RBI, .262/.415/.512
- Juan Mateo, 3B: 1-3, BB, R, RBI, .280/.328/.345
- Zach Royse, SP: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 4.42 ERA
Zach Royse had another solid outing on Saturday, going one out shy of the quality start. Royse allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts and 15 whiffs to pick up his third win of the season. Kendy Richard followed and allowed a run over his inning and two thirds, before Daniel Brooks pitched a scoreless inning and two thirds to pick up his first save.
Despite scoring four runs the Augusta lineup managed just three hits, all singles. Conor Essenburg, Juan Mateo, and Tanner Smith each singled and walked, with Essenburg and Mateo each scoring a run and batting one in. Both Alex Lodise and Luis Guanipa were hitless, but drew walks, and Lodise came around to score.
FCL Rays 9, FCL Braves 5
- Manuel Campos, DH: 2-5, SB, .272/.380/.417
- Arlenn Manzanillo, C: 2-4, BB, 3 R, .163/.229/.209
- Wuilinyer Tovar, SP: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 5.75 ERA
The continuation of Friday’s suspended game saw the FCL Rays beat the Braves squad 9-5. Starter Wuilinyer Tovar battled his command, allowing four runs (three earned) over three and a third innings, walking four and striking out five. After two thirds of an inning from Melvin Hidalgo, Victor Duarte allowed a pair of runs in his inning. Will Eldridge was next and kept the Rays off the board for two and two thirds, before Cesar Rodriguez allowed the final three runs to come in during his inning and a third.
Manuel Campos continued showing his hit tool in this one, picking up a pair of hits and stealing his 15th base of the season, while Arlenn Manzanillo had a pair of singles and a walk, scoring three of the Braves five runs. Caden Merritt also reached base three times, walking twice and hitting a single, and also stealing a base. Top prospect Diego Tornes was hitless in four at bats, but did steal a base.
FCL Braves 3, FCL Rays 2
- Diego Tornes, DH: 1-4, RBI, .190/.269/.250
- Manuel Campos, SS: 1-3, R, SB, .274/.379/.415
- Gensi Angeles, SP: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1.99 ERA
In the second game team ace Gensi Angeles was on the mound and went four and a third, allowing two runs (only one earned) on two hits and three walks. Angeles also struck out four and had seven whiffs as he moved his ERA to 1.99 on the season. Jorge Nunez went the next inning and two thirds and struck out three hitters to pick up the win, while a scoreless seventh inning got Juan Olmos the save.
Manuel Campos collected yet another hit and another stolen base in the second game, giving him a combined three hits and two steals. The lone multi-hit game came from outfielder John Estevez, who picked up a pair of singles in three at bats. Diego Tornes also broke into the hit column and batted in a run.
DSL Braves 7, DSL Royals Fortuna 4
- Sherrintely Da Costa Gomez, LF: 3-3, 2 RBI, .440/.563/.800
- Edelson Cabral, DH: 2-3, 2 R, .250/.382/.321
- Jose Manon, SS: 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI, .320/.471/.560
- Cesar Navarro, SP: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 3.68 ERA
The DSL Braves squad pulled off just their second win of the season thanks to one of their better pitching performances. Starter Cesar Navarro allowed a run over three and a third innings, while Charlis Medina followed with two and a third scoreless. Matthew Luna allowed three runs in his inning of work, and they needed Yostin Pinales to come in to pick up the final out and collect the save.
The fun lineup down here had a strong performance as well. Sherrintely Da Costa Gomez led the way, going a perfect three for three with a pair of runs batted in, while Edelson Cabral and Osmar Torrealba each went two for three. Durban Arnedo walked, singled, stole two bases, and scored a pair of runs, while Jorwin Pulido and Jose Manon each recorded a double in the win.
