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Gwinnett Braves 4, Toledo Mud Hens 2
- Jose Constanza, LF: 1-4, BB, SB (19)
- Todd Cunningham, CF: 2-4, 2 RBI, BB
- Alden Carrithers, 2B: 2-5, SB (10)
- Ernesto Mejia, 1B: 2-5, R, 2B (29), 2 K
- Joe Leonard, 3B: 0-3, BB, 2 E (fielding, fielding, 8)
- Tyler Greene, SS: 1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
- David Hale: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 7:6 GO:FO, 112 pitches-72 strikes
- Mark Lamm: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0:0 GO:FO, 13p-9s
- Wirfin Obispo: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1:0 GO:FO, 31p-18s
- Ryan Buchter: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1:0 GO:FO, 14p-11s
The G-Braves scored three runs in the top of the 8th inning to take the lead from the Mud Hens, beating them by a final score of 4-2. David Hale started the game and threw extremely well, allowing no earned runs on four hits and two walks in six innings of work, fanning six. The 25-year-old's strikeout rate is a bit down this season, but he has also cut down on his walks and relied on keeping the ball on the ground, posting a 2.11 groundball-to-flyball ratio. Hale's ERA is now down to 2.80 for the season. Mark Lamm, Wirfin Obispo, and Ryan Buchter all pitched scoreless innings in relief of Hale. In his last 13 innings, Ryan Buchter has posted a 20:9 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has held opponents to a .116 batting average; on the season, the lefty has posted an 88:44 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a .170 opponents' average in 54.2 innings of work, placing him in second place in strikeouts per nine innings pitched in the International League behind Jeff Beliveau. The offense collected eight hits and walked seven times with the only extra-base hit coming from Ernesto Mejia, collecting his 29th double. Todd Cunningham and Alden Carrithers put up a couple of hits, while the newly acquired Tyler Greene went 1-3 with a walk, knocking in one and scoring a couple of runs. Joe Leonard's recent defensive woes continued, as the usually sure-handed third baseman committed two more errors on Saturday, bringing his total to seven over his past three games. Hey, defense slumps too.
Lynchburg Hillcats 4, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 5 (Game 1)
- Matt Lipka, DH: 0-2, R, BB
- Emerson Landoni, 2B: 2-3, 2 R, 2 HR (2), 3 RBI
- Josh Elander, LF: 0-2, BB, K
- Trenton Moses, 1B: 0-2, R, BB
- David Rohm, RF: 2-3, RBI
- A.J. Holland: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 2:3 GO:FO
- Ryan Weber: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 4:0 GO:FO
Lynchburg Hillcats 2, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 0 (Game 2)
- Matt Lipka, CF: 2-3, 2 R, BB, 2 SB (30)
- Daniel Castro, SS: 1-4
- Kyle Kubitza, 3B: 1-2, RBI, BB
- David Rohm, RF: 1-3, K
- Josh Elander, LF: 1-3, RBI
- Trenton Moses, 1B: 2-3
- Emerson Landoni, DH: 1-3
- Ryan Hinson: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 5:8 GO:FO
- John Cornely: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0:1 GO:FO
Lynchburg split the doubleheader with Myrtle Beach, losing the first game and winning the second game. The first game was all about Emerson Landoni, as the second baseman pounded two home runs, the only two extra-base hits for the Hillcats in this contest. The two home runs were Landoni's first two for Lynchburg this season, his third overall. A.J. Holland wasn't effective, allowing four runs in two innings of work. Ryan Weber threw four innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits, striking out five. In the second game, Ryan Hinson threw six innings of solid baseball, allowing no runs on three hits and three walks, striking out one. John Cornely picked up his seventh save, striking out two in an inning of work. At 24 years of age, Cornely is old for the Carolina League, but the 15th-rounder out of Wofford College in 2011 has a 61:19 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 43.2 innings of work. He's struggled with the long ball this season, allowing almost two per nine innings of work, but the strikeout rate is definitely intriguing as a potential bullpen option down the road. On the offensive side of things, Matt Lipka went 2-3 with a walk and two stolen bases, his 30th of the season. Third baseman Kyle Kubitza reached base twice via a single and a walk and knocked in a run while Trenton Moses collected two singles of his own.
Charleston RiverDogs 2, Rome Braves 6
- Kyle Wren, CF: 2-4, R, 2B (10), BB, 2 SB (25), CS (5)
- Jose Peraza, SS: 2-4, 2 R, 2B (16), 2 RBI, 2 SB (56)
- Edison Sanchez, 1B: 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
- Carlos Franco, 3B: 3-4, 2 SB (15)
- Casey Kalenkosky, DH: 1-2, RBI, K, SB (7)
- Tyler Tewell, C: 1-4, 3B (2), K
- Felix Marte, RF: 1-3, R, BB
- Paul Maholm: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 9:2 GO:FO
- Zach Jadofsky: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1:1 GO:FO
- Jeremy Fitzgerald: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 2:1 GO:FO
Rome beat Charleston 6-2 behind the great pitching performance of Paul Maholm, bringing the team two games above .500 on the season. The rehabbing Maholm threw five and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on four hits and no walks, striking out six. Zach Jadofsky and Jeremy Fitzgerald relieved Maholm, combining to throw 3.1 innings of one run baseball, striking out five. Kyle Wren and Jose Peraza set the tone on offense, both going 2-4 with a double with two stolen bases. With two more stolen bases on Saturday, Peraza brings his season total to 56 and his success rate to 81 percent, which is mighty fine for a 19-year-old in the Sally League. Edison Sanchez also had a couple of hits while Carlos Franco pounded three singles and stole a couple of bags of his own. Catcher Tyler Tewell smacked his second triple of the year.
GCL Braves 5, GCL Blue Jays 6
- Gerald Chin, 2B: 2-4, R
- Reed Harper, SS: 2-3, RBI, SB (4)
- Jose Morel, RF: 1-4, RBI, K, SB (8)
- Hector Garcia, LF: 2-4, R, RBI, K, 3 SB (4)
- Tanner Murphy, C: 2-3, R, RBI, 2 SB
- Orrin Sears, PH-C: 1-1
- Ibrahim McKenzie, 1B: 1-4, R, 2 K
- Oriel L. Caicedo: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 7:5 GO:FO
- Adrian Rivero 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 1:0 GO:FO
- Jordany Santana: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 2:0 GO:FO
- Steven Schils: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 0:1 GO:FO
The GCL squad lost in a heartbreaker to the GCL Blue Jays, as the Blue Jays scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk off with the win. Oriel L. Caicedo struck out three and allowed one earned run in six innings of work and was relieved by Adrian Rivero and Jordany Santana, who combined to pitch two scoreless innings in relief. Steven Schils, a 9th rounder in 2012 out of Florida Tech, blew the save opportunity, allowing four runs on one hit (a home run) and two walks, throwing two wild pitches in the process. Schils is infamous for allowing seven earned runs on nine walks in one inning of work last season for the GCL squad, after which he underwent surgery. His college statistics between High Point University and Florida Tech also hint at a history of command issues — 34.1 innings pitched, 20:32 strikeout-to-walk ratio, 51 hits allowed. This season, he's sporting a 17:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15.2 innings pitched, so at least he's struck out more than he's walked. The offense tallied 11 hits in the contest. Gerald Chin, Reed Harper, Hector Garcia, and Tanner Murphy all collected two hits apiece. Murphy, the team's fourth-round selection this year, has finally started to break out of his first professional slump, collecting four hits in his past three games, including a double.