Saturday saw the Atlanta Braves affiliates win four out of six games that were played, though the most important news is how the rehabbing players looked. AJ Smith-Shawver turned in a great 72-pitch outing, while Ronald Acuna Jr. reached base twice as did Ha-Seong Kim. We also got a great Lucas Braun outing and a very strong one from Zach Royse, while Conor Essenburg homered and we got big games from John Gil, Tate Southisene, Owen Carey, and Dalton McIntyre.
Gwinnett Stripers 5, Toledo Mud Hens 1
- Ronald Acuna Jr., DH: 1-3, BB
- Carlos Santana, 1B: 2-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB, .278/.435/.444
- AJ Smith-Shawver, SP: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 2.70 ERA
- Blake Burkhalter, RP: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0.00 ERA
AJ Smith-Shawver made
another rehab start with Gwinnett, and this was a strong one. Over four and a third scoreless innings he allowed four hits and a walk with five strikeouts and 13 whiffs. AJSS also hit 99.4 MPH with his fastball and owned the top five velocities in this game during his 72-pitch outing. He was relieved by Hayden Harris, who picked up a pair of strikeouts in his two thirds of an inning stint. Blake Burkhalter came in next and picked up two strikeouts during an inning of work, and Ian Hamilton pitched the final inning – allowing the only run to score.
AJSS wasn’t the only big leaguer rehabbing, as Ronald Acuna Jr. went one for three with a walk and Ha-Seong Kim was one for four with a double. Homers though are what led the offense, as Carlos Santana, Brett Wisely, and Jair Camargo each hit one – and those three homers accounted for all five Stripers runs. Santana led the way going two for three with the homer, walk, and two runs scored while Luke Williams and Patrick Clohisy each joined him with two-hit games, Clohisy picking up a pair of doubles, and Williams also with one.
Gwinnett Stripers 8, Toledo Mud Hens 1
- Jose Azocar, CF: 4-4, R, .257/.306/.353
- Ha-Seong Kim, DH: 1-3, 2B, BB
- Adam Zebrowski, C: 2-3, 2 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI, .200/.300/.417
- Lucas Braun, SP: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 4.15 ERA
The second game of the day saw Lucas Braun turn in one of the best outings of his season. Over five scoreless frames Braun allowed just one hit and two walks as he struck out three. Rolddy Munoz pitched a scoreless sixth, striking out two. James Karinchak allowed a run in the seventh and final inning, but did strike out batters for all three outs he recorded.
Adam Żebrowski was the star in this one, going two for three with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and three runs batted in. Jose Azocar went a perfect four for four with a run scored, while Luke Williams doubled, scored twice, and batted two in, and Cal Conley singled, doubled, scored, and picked up an RBI as the bottom four hitters in the lineup carried the Stripers to the win. That’s not to say the top of the order didn’t produce some too, as Patrick Clohisy singled and walked in his three plate appearances, and rehabbing Ha-Seong Kim doubled and walked in four plate appearances.
Columbus Clingstones 8, Chattanooga Lookouts 7
- Dalton McIntyre, CF: 2-5, 2B, 2 R, .292/.414/.458
- Will Verdung, DH: 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, SB, .167/.255/.267
- Ambioris Tavarez, 2B: 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, .184/.295/.321
- Brett Sears, RP: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 11 K, 4.16 ERA
- Tyler LaPorte, RP: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1.78 ERA
It’s weird to call Brett Sears the reliever in this one, but this game was resumed from the day before with a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the first inning after Julio Robaina allowed three runs in two thirds of an inning. Sears came on to start the day and went the next six and a third. Sears did allow four runs on seven hits, but walked none and struck out 11 with 17 whiffs. This was a huge outing for the pen on a doubleheader day, allowing them to not burn through the pen in a big way. In fact his start looked even better than the final line, as two runs and four hits came off him in the top of the eighth inning without him recording an out. Luis Vargas came in and allowed an inherited runner to score and tie the game, but did pick up two strikeouts. Tyler LaPorte picked up the save as he struck out the side in the ninth, and picked up nine whiffs for his inning of work.
Homers by Will Verdung and Ambioris Tavarez accounted for three of the Clingstones runs, and Verdung also singled, stole a base, and batted in a second run. Dalton McIntyre had a productive day as well, going two for five with a double and scoring a pair of runs. Luke Waddell and Carson Taylor each had two-hit games, with the new Brave Taylor picking up a double in his first game in the system. Logan Braunschweig, Jordan Groshans, and Archer Brookman also had base hits in the win.
Chattanooga Lookouts 4, Columbus Clingstones 0
- Dalton McIntyre, CF: 1-3, .294/.410/.451
- Logan Braunschweig, LF: 1-2, .194/.257/.214
- Anderson Pilar, SP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 7.71 ERA
It was a bullpen game for the second game. Anderson Pilar started and allowed a pair of runs over two and a third innings, while Owen Hackman allowed two more runs over his inning and two thirds. Samuel Strickland and LJ McDonough followed with a scoreless frame apiece, and that was everything from the Clingstones pitching staff.
The offense couldn’t get anything going here, managing to get shutout on just three hits and no walks. Singles by Dalton McIntyre, Logan Braunschweig, and Carson Taylor accounted for the only players to reach base safely. McIntyre finished the pair of games going three for eight, while Taylor also had a three-hit day, and Braunschweig had two hits of his own.
Rome Emperors 12, Asheville Tourists 5
- Tate Southisene, DH: 1-3, 2 BB, R, RBI, .237/.377/.415
- John Gil, SS: 3-6, R, RBI, .248/.343/.387
- Owen Carey, LF: 2-4, BB, R, 3 RBI, .258/.327/.445
- Zach Royse, SP: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 5.40 ERA
Zach Royse turned in a quality start, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks over six innings. He also struck out six and got 13 swings and misses. In fact the start would have been even stronger if not for a pair of mistakes, as two homers accounted for all three runs against him. Rehabbing Ray Kerr followed and after walking one struck out the side, before a scoreless inning from Logan Samuels. Tyler Schoff came in and pitched the ninth, allowing the final two Asheville runs to score.
Once again the prospects carried the offense. John Gil led the way, going three for six with a run scored and one batted in, but Owen Carey and Tate Southisene also each reached base three times. Carey went two for four with a run scored and three runs batted in, while Southisene was one for three with two walks, a run scored, and one batted in. Dixon Williams added a double, while Dallas Macias went two for five with a double, and Colin Burgess singles, tripled, and walked in his five trips to the plate. Luis Sanchez joined Gil with a three-hit game, going three for four and scoring three runs, while Colby Jones walked twice. Eric Hartman was hitless in five at bats with a pair of strikeouts, but did walk and score a run.
Fayetteville Woodpeckers 4, Augusta GreenJackets 3
- Conor Essenburg, CF: 1-3, HR, BB, R, RBI, .251/.397/.464
- Nick Montgomery, C: 1-1, 2B, 2 BB, RBI, .190/.320/.352
- Carter Lovasz, RP: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 3.58 ERA
Derek Vartanian got the start and lasted four innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts. However the guys that followed were lights out. Adiel Melendez went the next two innings without allowing a base runner and struck out three, while Carter Lovasz pitched two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts.
The offense really struggled in this one despite the close score. Conor Essenburg and Nick Montgomery led the way, as Essenburg hit his eighth homer of the season and drew a walk in his four plate appearances. Montgomery was one for one with a double, drew a pair of walks, and batted in a run. Outside of that pair the only hits were singles by Alex Lodise and Cody Miller, though Hayden Friese drew two walks and Juan Mateo had one in the loss.
FCL Braves vs FCL Rays – Cancelled
This game was cancelled due to a wet field. It will not be made up as we are in the final few days of the FCL regular season. After a Sunday off the FCL squad will have four games remaining in it’s season with the playoffs out of reach for them at 17-37.
