Friday's Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap

Scanton/WB RailRiders 6, Gwinnett Braves 2

• Brian McCann DH - 2-4 HR(1), RBI(1), K, .375 Avg
• Joey Terdoslavich RF - 3-4 HR(5), RBI(17), .348 Avg
• Paul Janish SS - 1-3 .217 Avg

The RailRiders got two runs in the first inning and never looked back in this one. The Braves cut the lead to one in the fourth on a solo homer from Brian McCann but could only muster another run on a solo shot from Terdoslavich in the seventh inning. Yohan Flande surrendered five runs on eight hits. McCann now has five home runs in 22 minor league at bats. At the very least he has his power stroke going. Joey Terdoslavich appears to have changed something in his approach or he is just seeing the ball really well. His strike out rate is at a career low right now of 16.5% but he is only walking in less than 2% of his plate appearances. In the past he has been right around 9% for walks and just north of 20% for strike out rates. It could be something worth keeping an eye on.

Tennessee Smokies 2, Mississippi Braves 3 - Final 11 Innings

• Christian Marrero 1B - 2-5 BB, K, SB(2), .265 Avg
• Edward Salcedo 3B - 3-4 2 2B(6), BB, K, SB(5), .264 Avg
• Alex Wood 4 IP 4H 1 R 0ER 2BB 7K 0.58 ERA
• Ian Thomas 2 IP 1H 0R 0BB 4K 1.20 ERA

Alex Wood came into the night leading the Southern League in ERA and he allowed just one run, unearned in four innings which lowered his ERA to 0.58. Only über prospect Tajuan Walker is leading him in strikeouts (38 to 37). Tennessee went up 2-0 through seven innings in this one but the M-Braves scored two in the bottom of the seventh to tie it and the Braves bullpen kept it close until the bottom of the 11th where Kyle Russell singled in Alden Carrithers to win the game in walk-off fashion. The excellent M-Braves bullpen pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out 10 batters.

Wilmington Blue Rock 1, Lynchburg Hillcats 0

• Tommy La Stella 2B - 1-2 .692 Avg
• Robby Hefflinger DH - 1-3 .308 Avg
• James Hoyt 6IP 0H 0R 1BB 8K 1.78 ERA

For the second time in 24 hours a Braves farmhand has thrown at least six no hit innings and the Braves team eventually lost the game. Sean Gilmartin did it last night but eventually gave up four runs in the seventh inning. Tonight James Hoyt went six no hit innings and turned things over to the bullpen. Ronan Pacheco surrendered one run, but it was all the Blue Rock needed because the Lynchburg offense managed just three hits themselves. Tommy La Stella went 1-2 and saw his batting average drop 30 points.

Greenville Drive 4, Rome Braves 11

• Jose Peraza SS - 2-5 2B(4), 2 RBI(6), K, .282 Avg
• Josh Elander LF - 2-4 HR(3), 4 RBI(21), BB, K, .308 Avg
• Joey Meneses RF - 1-5 2B(2), 3 RBI(4), 3 K, .188 Avg
• Tyler Tewell C - 2-3 BB, K, .292 Avg
• Mauricio Cabrera 4.2IP 2H 3R 7BB 4K 3.16 ERA

This one looked like it was going to get away from the Braves early on with Mauricio Cabrera giving up seven free passes and three runs in less than five innings. The offense could get nothing going against opposing starter Brian Johnson, but he was pulled after the fifth inning and the offensive floodgates opened for Rome. The Braves loaded the bases one two walks and a hit by pitch and a bases clearing double from Joey Meneses closed the gap to just one run. Josh Elander hit a two-run homer in the following inning to put the Braves up for good.