Cunningham And Wiley Extend Hitting Streaks And Heffley And Anselment Debut For Rome In Thursday's Atlanta Braves Minor League Action

Todd Cunningham and Keenan Wiley both extended their hitting streaks, Ross Heffley and Chase Anselment made their professional debuts with Rome, and Aris Alcantra and Jose Peraza had big days.

Gwinnett Braves 2, Indianapolis Indians 4

• Ernesto Mejia 1B 2-5, 2B, .312 AVG
• Ruben Gotay 3B 2-4, HR (1), 2 RBI, .132 AVG
• Todd Redmond 6 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 9 K, 3.40 ERA
• Cory Gearrin 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 1.41 ERA
• Dusty Hughes 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 3.16 ERA

Todd Redmond spent the week in Atlanta's bullpen, but he didn't get to make his Major League debut, and he took a loss today in his return to AAA, allowing 4 runs over 6 innings, though he did manage 9 strikeouts. June has been tough for the righty, as he's posted a 5.94 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP in 16.2 innings over 3 starts this month. Cory Gearrin struck out 3 in 2 scoreless innings, and he hasn't allowed an earned run in 5.2 innings over 3 appearances since returning from a 2 appearance stint in Atlanta. Dusty Hughes got his season off to a great start, with a 0.71 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 12.2 innings in April, then stumbled in May, posting a 9.72 ERA and a 2.64 WHIP in 8.1 innings, but has turned things around in June, with a 0.87 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP in 10.1 innings so far this month. Ernesto Mejia had a 2 hit day, making him 5-14 with 2 doubles and a homer in his last 4 games. Ruben Gotay hit his first homer of the year, and he's 3-8 in his last 2 games, after going 2-30 in his first 10 games with Gwinnett.

Gwinnett will head to Syracuse, where Yohan Flande will take on the Chiefs in the opener.

Mississippi Braves 10, Birmingham Barons 7

• Keenan Wiley RF 2-5, .279 AVG
• Joey Terdoslavich 1B 2-5, 2 RBI, .333 AVG
• Todd Cunningham CF 1-5, 3B, 3 RBI, .323 AVG
• Joe Leonard 3B 2-2, RBI, .271 AVG
• Christian Bethancourt C 2-5, .260 AVG
• Ian Gac DH 2-4, 2 2B, RBI, BB, .245 AVG
• Jason Christian SS 2-4, .500 AVG
• Luis Avilan 6 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 5 K, W (2), 3.15 ERA
• Andrew Russell 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 2.37 ERA

Todd Cunningham had a bases loaded triple that extended his hitting streak to 16 games. During that span, he's gone 23-64, that's a .359 average, rapped out 4 doubles, a triple, driven in 10 runs, and stolen 3 bases. He's only walked twice during that span, but when you're that hot it's hard to not take your swings. Keenan Wiley had a pair of hits to extend his own streak to 11 games. During that span, he's gone 15-46 with a a double, a triple, 4 RBI, and 3 walks. Christian Betancourt had a great day, going 2-5 at the plate, making him 9-26 in his last 6 games, and being selected to play in the XM Futures Game for the World Team the Sunday before the All-Star game in Kansas City. Joey Terdoslavich also had a 2 hit day, driving in a pair of runs as well. In his last 5 games, he's gone 9-18 with 3 doubles and 7 RBI. Joe Leonard went 2-2, making him 4-5 with a double and 2 RBI in his last 2 games. Ian Gac walked and rapped out a pair of doubles, and he's hitting .296 with a 1.070 OPS, 2 doubles, 3 homers, and 9 RBI in his last 10 games. Jason Christian had a pair of singles in his first game in the Braves organization after the team purchased him from the Reds. Luis Avilan picked up the win, allowing 2 earned runs over 6 innings while striking out 5. Over his last 10 appearances, he has a 2.79 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP in 38.2 innings.

Gary Moran will face the Barons tomorrow.

Lynchburg Hillcats - Postpones, Rain

The Hillcats and Salem Red Sox will play a doubleheader on Friday, with Chris Masters and Aaron Northcraft scheduled to start.

Rome Braves 7, Asheville Tourists 3

• Ross Heffley 2B 2-5, 2 RBI, .400 AVG
• Kyle Kubitza 3B 2-4, BB, .252 AVG
• Robby Hefflinger LF 2-4, .243 AVG
• William Beckwith 1B 2-4, 2 RBI, .300 AVG
• Chase Anselment DH 0-3, .000 AVG
• Cory Brownsten C 2-3, 2B, .160 AVG
• Greg Ross 5.2 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 K, W (1), 5.69 ERA
• Ian Thomas 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K, 4.20 ERA
• John Cornely 1.1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K, SV (3), 4.61 ERA

Ross Heffley, the Braves 18th round selection in this year's draft, got his career off to a great start, going 2-5 and driving in a pair of runs. Chase Anselment, picked the round before Heffley, didn't fare quite as well in his pro debut, going hitless in 3 at bats. Kyle Kubitza reached base 3 times, making him 5-12 with 2 walks in his last 3 games. Robby Hefflinger had a pair of hits, and he's 6-16 with 2 doubles, a RBI, and a walk in his last 4 games. William Beckwith drove in a pair of runs, and had a pair of hits, extending his hitting streak to 5 games, going 7-19 with a double, 2 homers, and 5 RBI in that span. Cory Brownsten snapped a 0-13 skid in his last 4 games with a 2 hit day that included a double. Greg Ross picked up his first win of the year, allowing 3 runs, 2 earned runs, over 5.2 innings.

Danville Braves 2, Elizabethton Twins 7

• Aris Alcantra 1B 2-3, HR (1), 2 RBI, BB, SB (1), .333 AVG
• Frank Lafreniere 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 1.80 ERA
• Jeremy Fitzgerald 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K, 0.00 ERA

Aris Alcantra hit his first homer of the year and stole his first base. The 22 year old Dominican hit .258 with a .719 OPS in the GCL last season. Frank Lafreniere, who had a 3.51 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP last season in the GCL, walking just 6 in 66.2 innings, got his 2012 off to a great start, allowing just 1 run over 5 innings. Jeremy Fitzgerald, this year's 21st round selection, made his pro debut, striking out 2 over 2 scoreless innings.

GCL Braves 5, GCL Phillies 3

• Jose Peraza SS 3-4, RBI, BB, 2 SB (3, 4), .313 AVG
• Hector Garcia RF 1-5, 2B, 3 RBI, .11 AVG
• Joey Menses DH 4-5, 3B, .429 AVG
• Justin Black CF 2-5, .167 AVG
• KC Clabough 2B 3-4, .429 AVG
• Jorge Montenegro 4 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 7 K, 6.35 ERA
• Shae Simmons 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K, W (1), 0.00 ERA
• Magdiel Avendano 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 Bb, 0 K, SV (2), 0.00 ERA

Jose Peraza had a great day, as the 18 year old reached base 4 times and swiped a pair of bags. Joey Menses had 4 hits, including a triple, and he's gone 6-14 in 3 games this season. KC Clabough, this year's 28th round pick, had 3 hits, the first of his pro career. 19 year old outfielder, the Braves 4th round pick this year, had the first hits of his pro career as well, going 2-5. Hector Garcia, a childhood friend of Julio Teheran in their native Colombia, had his first hit of the year, a bases loaded double. After allowing 3 earned runs in just 1.2 innings in his first appearance, Jorge Montenegro fared much better in his first start of the year, allowing just 1 earned run over 4 innings. The 21 year old Panamanian righty has 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings this season. Shae Simmons, the 22nd round pick this year, was perfect in his pro debut, striking out 3 and picking up the win. Magdiel Avendano, a 18 year old Dominican righty, picked up his second save of the year with a perfect inning.

DSL Braves 3, DSL Blue Jays 11

• Johan Camargo 3B 1-2, 2B, BB, .333 AVG
• Victor Reyes DH 1-3, SB (3), .293 AVG
• Alexander de la Cruz C 1-2, .265 AVG
• Iosif Bernal LF 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, .265 AVG
• Richard Paulino 1.1 IP, 6 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 K, 10.80 ERA
• Ahmed Caballero 2 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 5.06 ERA
• Enrique Medina 2 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K, 0.00 ERA

Iosif Bernal had a pair of hits, including a double, and a pair of RBI. The 17 year old Panamanian is hitting .265 with a .880 OPS, 1 homer, and 8 RBI in 34 at bats this year. Johan Camargo, a 18 year old Panamanian, went 1-2 with a double and a walk, and he's hitting .333 with a .817 OPS in 39 at bats. Victor Reyes, a 17 year old Venezuelan, singled and stole his third base of the year. Alexander de la Cruz went 1-2, and the 20 year old Dominican is 4-10 with a triple and 2 RBI in his last 3 games. 18 year old Panamanian righty Ahem Caballero tossed 2 scoreless innings, a nice comeback after allowing 3 earned runs in 2.1 innings over his last 2 appearances. Nicaraguan lefty Enrique Medina, playing in his third year in the DSL, hasn't allowed an earned run in 8 innings over 4 appearances, but he has given up 6 unearned runs.