Saturday saw the teams in the Atlanta Braves organization take three out of five games, with the sixth one being suspended in the first inning. The big story of the day had to be Tate Southisene’s first homer since being promoted to High-A Rome, though Isaiah Drake’s red hot streak continued with another homer and we got to see Conor Essenburg have a massive game. Those weren’t the only standouts, as Dixon Williams, Edelson Cabral, Julio Robaina, and Gensi Angeles were among the others who had big days
on Saturday.
Gwinnett Stripers vs Nashville Sounds – PPD
Things started out great for the Stripers. In the top of the first they loaded the bases with a walk, single, a pair of steals, and then another walk. Unfortunately the rain really came on right then and this game was suspended from that point. This game will be played today as part of a doubleheader.
Rocket City Trash Pandas 5, Columbus Clingstones 1
- Patrick Clohisy, CF: 2-4, 2B, .265/.335/.448
- Ambioris Tavarez, 2B: 1-3, HR, R, RBI, .175/.289/.294
- Julio Robaina, SP: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 2.97 ERA
Julio Robaina had another strong start for Columbus on Saturday, pitching six innings of one-run ball and allowing just four hits with no walks. Robaina struck out seven and had 14 whiffs, needing just 74 pitches to earn his quality start. Owen Hackman followed and allowed a pair of runs in an inning and a third, followed by Luis Vargas picking up two strikeouts (and also three walks) in two thirds of an inning. The final two runs scored in the inning pitched by Isaac Gallegos.
The Columbus offense managed nothing apart from Patrick Clohisy and Ambioris Tavarez, as those two combined for three of the team’s four hits and no walks. Tavarez hit his fourth homer of the season to tie the game in the sixth inning, but that was all of the scoring. Clohisy went two for four with a double, while Luke Waddell was the only other player to reach base safely in the loss.
Greensboro Grasshoppers 15, Rome Emperors 9
- Tate Southisene, SS: 2-5, HR, R, RBI, .219/.367/.344
- Isaiah Drake, RF: 3-5, HR, 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI, .264/.342/.443
- Dixon Williams, LF: 3-4, 2B, BB, R, RBI, .231/.338/.415
- Cade Kuehler, SP: 4 IP, 9 H, 8 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 5.68 ERA
Cade Kuehler was hit early and often in this one, giving up three runs in the first, none in the second, two more in the third, and three final runs in his fourth and final inning. Kuehler allowed eight runs on nine hits and three walks over his four innings, striking out three and picking up 11 whiffs. Tyler Schoff followed and allowed three runs in his inning, then four additional runs in an inning and two thirds from Jacob Shafer. The Emperors pitching staff got an inning and a third from Justin Long and one from Riley Frey without any further damage to finish this game off.
Despite the ugly game from the pitching staff the offense was able to provide some bright spots for the Emperors on Saturday night. Tate Southisene had a two-hit day, which happened to include his first homer since his promotion to High-A. We also saw Isaiah Drake have a three-hit game that included a double and his 12th homer of the season. This is the second straight day for Drake both homering and having three-hit games, and the third straight multi-hit game for him as he takes his month of June OPS up to .795. Dixon Williams also had a big game, reaching base four times with a double, walk, and pair of singles. Eric Hartman went one for four with a walk and two runs scored, while Owen Carey doubled and scored and John Gil singled, stole a base, and scored a run. Finally both Mason Guerra and Colby Jones had two-hit nights, with Guerra doubling and Jones adding a stolen base.
Augusta GreenJackets 7, Charleston RiverDogs 5
- Luis Guanipa, CF: 1-4, 2 BB, .318/.379/.482
- Conor Essenburg, RF: 3-5, 2B, BB, R, .268/.399/.471
- Juan Mateo, 2B: 1-3, 2 BB, 2 R, SB, .271/.348/.360
- Cristobal Abreu, RP: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K, 3.75 ERA
Jeremy Reyes started, but failed to make it out of the first inning after his pitch count went above 30 in the inning. Reyes allowed four runs (two earned) on a hit and three walks over two thirds of an inning before forcing this one into a bullpen game. Adiel Melendez came up big, pitching three and a third scoreless innings in relief of Reyes, followed by two scoreless frames from Cristobal Abreu. Carter Lovasz allowed an unearned run to score during his inning of work, and Styven Paez picked up the save with a scoreless ninth. Combined the bullpen went eight and a third allowing just one unearned run on four hits and six walks with two strikeouts, helping the offense to overcome the early deficit to come back and win.
The prospects starred in this one, as each of Luis Guanipa, Conor Essenburg, and Juan Mateo reached base at least three times. Essenburg had three hits, including a double, along with a walk, and scored a run, while Guanipa singled and walked twice and Mateo singled, walked twice, scored two runs, and stole a base. Tanner Smith homered and also reached base three times, while both Dallas Macias and Cooper McMurray had three-hit games. Cody Miller doubled and walked in the win, while Alex Lodise was one of just two starters not to reach base safely in his five at bats.
FCL Braves 10, FCL Rays 3
- Caden Merritt, CF: 2-5, HR, BB, R, 4 RBI, .216/.364/.364
- Juan Espinal, DH: 2-3, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI, SB, .179/.360/.179
- Gensi Angeles, SP: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 1.80 ERA
Another strong start from Gensi Angeles on Saturday led to a FCL Braves win. Angeles pitched five scoreless frames, allowing just two hits and three walks. He struck out four and had six swings and misses among his 73 pitches. After two more scoreless innings from Jorge Nunez, the final two innings went to Ryan Heppner, who allowed the three Rays runs to score in the eighth inning.
Caden Merritt and Juan Espinal powered the Braves attack in this one. Merritt went two for five with a homer, walk, and four runs batted in, while Espinal reached base four times – two singles and two walks, scoring twice, batting one in, and also picking up a stolen base. Gabriel Cesa joined them in having a multi-hit day, while Johan Rodriguez and Malvin Fernandez each reached base multiple times via a single and a walk apiece.
DSL Braves 9, DSL Astros Orange 6
- Jose Manon, SS: 1-3, BB, R, .283/.397/.417
- Edelson Cabral, 3B: 2-4, R, RBI, SB, .310/.429/.379
- Cesar Navarro, SP: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 2.81 ERA
With one of the team’s two top pitchers on the mound to start, the DSL Braves squad was able to come out with a win. Cesar Navarro went four innings and allowed a pair of runs on two hits and four walks, also striking out four. After he left the bullpen actually coughed up a 4-2 lead, needing the offense to come back for the win with five runs in the bottom of the sixth (seven inning game). Matthew Luna and Michael Castillo each allowed two runs, with Castillo going an inning and Luna making it two thirds of an inning, before a scoreless inning and a third from Wilmer Almonte to pick up the win.
Despite this team’s rough looking record (5-15 with this win), the offense has produced this year, and this day was no exception. Edelson Cabral went two for four with a run, run batted in, and a steal, while Jose Manon singled, walked, and scored a run. Elioberto Mondesir and Yassel Pena each had multi-hit games, while Sherrintely Da Costa Gomez reached twice via a single and a walk. The team’s lone extra base hit was a double by catcher Jose Nelo.
