Sorry for the sporadic updates. I'm planning on a move to WV in the next couple of weeks and work has been crazy because of it. Bear with me.
5/21
Richmond 0, Norfolk 2
Brandon Jones and Josh Anderson both had a couple of hits and a stolen base. Jones has been hitting well this month and has been the most consistent hitter. Chuck James pitched 7 solid innings here but damn if the offense couldn't do anything for him. Richmond has been struggling...
Mississippi 2, Tennessee 1
Perry had a double and an RBI and James Parr pitched brilliantly. In truth Rafael Soriano started the game on rehab and pitched 1 scoreless inning. Parr picked it up from there and pitched 6.1 innings allowing 1 run and K-ing 8. He also went 2-3. His splits between April and May are weird. He is striking out more batters this month and his ERA is lower but hitters are batting nearly 70 points higher against him in May compared to April.
Kinston 13, Myrtle Beach 2
Brandon Hicks hit another homer (his 8th) and Ryne Reynoso pitched 5 innings of 1 run ball. The bullpen then proceeded to give up another 12 runs in the next 2.2 innings. That sort of sealed the deal.
Rome 3, Asheville 4
Freddie Freeman went 2-4 with a double and a HR (4) but he was the only person hitting in this one. Chad Rodgers threw a very solid game allowing only 2 runs over 6 innings but as has often been the case with Rome the offense just couldn't pick up the slack.
5/22
Durham 17, Richmond 3
The second game inside a week where the pitching staff gave up 20+ hits. That just cannot be good. This Durham team has some solid hitters sure, but damn this is ridiculous for a team that is supposed to be at the top of their division. Thorman and Diory Hernandez both went 2-4 with a double and RBI. Brad Nelson took it in the rear in his first AAA start.
Mississippi 6, Tennessee 0
Young, Perry, and the resurgent Van Pope all had 2 hits and Javier Guzman had 3 to drive the offense in this one. Todd Redmond pitched another very solid game going 6 scoreless innings. Kevin Gunderson went 2 perfect innings with 2 Ks.
Kinston 5, Myrtle Beach 6
Chris Vines gave up 5 runs in 4 innings of work in this game. He had allowed 2 runs in his previous 27.1 innings before this game. I'll let it slide this time. Travis Jones homered and doubled from the leadoff spot and Ernesto Mejia and Concepcion Rodriguez both chipped in a couple of hits to secure the win over the second place team in the division.
Rome 6, Asheville 4
Finally! Rome ends its 9 game losing streak by beating the Tourists. Asheville is also one of the best teams in the league so that helps a bit too. The offense was spread around nicely with Coles Miles leading off with 3 hits and a his first homer of the season.
5/23
Durham 4, Richmond 1
Only Jones, Canizares and Thorman had hits in this game. That is all you need to know really.
Mississippi 3, Tennessee 8
Well Tommy Hanson got hammered for the second straight game at AA. He gave up 5 runs (3 earned) over 5 innings. He is looking a little more hittable as he gave up 6 hits in those 5 innings, but that is to be expected with the jump in competition. We'll just have to wait and see if he can adjust. The big news in this game is Kala Kaaihue hit 2!!!!! HRs to raise his total to 5 on the season. All 5 have come this month and he is actually hitting around .250 so far in the month of May. Now that isn't great really but if he can actually maintain better than a .250 average Kaaihue has some value because he has power and walks a ton. He is what we call a "3 True Outcome" player meaning when he comes to the plate he is generally expected to walk, homer or strike out. The ultimate example of this is Adam Dunn.
Myrtle Beach 7, Frederick 6
Tyler Flowers hit his 4th homer of the season in a brief flash of talent and Brandon Hicks hit his 9th of the season which leads all Braves farmhands. Every Pelicans starter, save for Johan Silva, had a hit in this one. I want to know if Deunte Heath and Tommy Hanson are intrinsically linked somehow because their performances seem to mirror each other a bit as Heath gave up 6 runs in 6 innings on the same night Tommy Hanson gave up a crapload of runs for Mississippi for the second straight start. Too many qualifiers there?
Rome 5, Asheville 3 (11 innings)
A rare flash of power for the Rome team with Cody Johnson, Adam Coe and Freddie Freeman all homering in the game with Freeman's and Johnson's coming in the 11th to give the Braves the win. Jason Heyward also had two hits and a double to continue his hot hitting for the month of May. Jeff Locke also pitched a solid game with 7 Ks in 6 innings and allowing only 2 runs.