We had the dreaded reverse organizational sweep tonight, as the parent club and every minor league club took a loss today (Mississippi took 2!). But the day was marked by some bright spots. Stefan Gartrell homered for the third straight game, Evan Gattis went deep for the first time in Mississippi, Cody Martin pitched a gem in a losing effort, and David Filak struck out people left and right in a rain-shortened start.
Gwinnett Braves 8, Columbus Clippers 12
- Stefan Gartrell, RF: 1-3, HR(4), 3 RBI, 2 BB, .209
- J.C. Boscan, C: 1-3, HR(2), BB, .219
- Josh Wilson, 2B: 2-4, HR(1), 2 RBI, E(6), .277
- Jose Constanza, CF: 1-4, BB, 2 R, 2 SB(3,4), .315
- Christian Marrero, DH: 2-4, 2B, R, .254
- Yohan Flande, SP: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 7 R (6 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 2 E(1,2), 2.96 ERA
- Erik Cordier, RP: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 4.22 ERA
The International League finally caught up to Yohan Flande tonight, as the G-Braves' lefty was rocked hard. Flande went 4.1 innings, allowing 7 runs (6 earned) on 5 hits and two walks. He also committed two throwing errors in the field, and Josh Wilson made one behind him as well. With this outing, Flande quadrupled his earned run total for the year. It's really a shame that he blew up in this game, because the G-Braves offense rocked Clippers starter Kevin Slowey as well. Stefan Gartrell, J.C. Boscan, and Josh Wilson all went yard, and for Gartrell it was his third consecutive game with a home run. That'll get you on the hot sheet, for sure. Jose Constanza continued his good work out of the leadoff spot, reaching base twice and swiping two bags.
Todd Redmond looks to wrap up the series with Columbus on a high note tomorrow evening.
Mississippi Braves 4, Mobile BayBears 7 - Game 1
- Evan Gattis, LF: 3-5, 2B, HR(1), 2 RBI, OF Assist, .444
- Todd Cunningham, RF: 2-4, 2B, R, OF Assist, .290
- Adam Milligan, PH: 1-1, 2 RBI, .200
- Chris Masters, RP: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 4.50 ERA
Zeke Spruill started this game Wednesday and went two innings, giving up 3 runs before it was postponed. After play resumed today, Chris Masters took the hill and was very solid in long relief, striking out 6 over 3.2 innings while only allowing one run on one hit. The big story from this game however is Evan Gattis, who hit his first AA home run in only his third game with Mississippi. Gattis finished a triple short of the cycle and drove in a pair of runs. He even got a chance to show off his arm in left field, gunning down a runner trying to stretch a single into a double. That's a promising sign for his play defensively going forward. In the other corner spot, Todd Cunningham got into the fun as well, throwing out a man at home and going 2-4 at the plate.
Mississippi Braves 0, Mobile BayBears 2 - Game 2, 7 Innings
- Evan Gattis, C: 1-3, .417
- Andrelton Simmons, SS: 1-3, .322
- Sean Gilmartin, SP: 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 3.55 ERA
Another day, another (shortened) complete-game loss for a Braves' farmhand. Today it was Sean Gilmartin's turn, as the lefty threw 6 innings of 2 run ball. He didn't walk a batter but only struck out 2, and his ERA for the year now sits at 3.55. Despite sitting at 0-4 on the year now, Gilmartin has been very solid. What's impressed me most is his control: he's only walked 6 batters in 38 innings. On the other side of the ball, the M-Braves managed to reach base only 4 times, all on singles. Not much else that can be said about the offense in this game.
David Hale looks to get Mississippi back to their winning ways tomorrow.
Carolina Mudcats 3, Lynchburg Hillcats 0
- Nick Ahmed, SS: 1-4, 2B, .287
- Matt Lipka, CF: 0-2, 2 BB, SB(6), .262
- Cody Martin, SP: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 2.86 ERA
- Andrew Wilson, RP: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2.70 ERA
Lynchburg's normally potent offense one-upped Mississippi tonight, getting two-hit by the Mudcats. Nick Ahmed and catcher Ryan Query accounted for the Hillcats' hits. Matt Lipka did walk twice however and stole his 6th base of the year. In his last 7 games, Lipka's taken 6 walks, and hopefully this is a sign that his plate discipline is coming around; he'll need it if he ever plans to be a major-league leadoff man. Cody Martin took the ball for the M-Braves tonight and twirled a gem, allowing only 4 baserunners in 7 innings. His only mistake came on a solo home run, but other than that he was lights out, punching out 8 Mudcats. On the year, Martin has notched 35 strikeouts in only 28 innings pitched.
Gus Schlosser starts for the Hillcats as they open a series with Myrtle Beach tomorrow.
Rome Braves 3, Hagerstown Suns 9
- Jakob Dalfonso, RF: 2-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, R, .393
- Edison Sanchez, LF: 2-3, 2 2B, .203
- Brandon Drury, 1B: 2-4, R, .184
- David Filak, SP: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 1.88 ERA
- Ryan Weber, RP: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 4.15 ERA
David Filak started this one for Rome and was pitching superbly before a long rain delay in the 3rd. Filak had allowed a run on 4 hits, but struck out a whopping 7 men in 2.2 IP without walking a single batter. That means that all but one of Filak's outs were strikeouts. It's a real shame that there was such a long rain delay, as Filak could have been well on his way to besting his season high of 11 strikeouts in a single game. After the rain delay, Ryan Weber took over and was solid through the 5th inning. Then the R-Braves turned to Joe Lucas and Carlos Perez, who gave up 7 runs in 3 innings. The tandem combined to allow 6 hits and 4 walks, and both their ERAs are north of 11. Perez was a highly-touted signing, but either he is struggling to make adjustments, or he's still dealing with injury problems. Neither is a very promising thought. Jakob Dalfonso and Edison Sanchez each hit a pair of doubles, but that was about all the offense Rome could muster.
Navery Moore takes the mound tomorrow for Rome.