Atlanta Braves Minor League Recap: 7/15

(45-45) Gwinnett Braves: Off until Thursday

(43-44) Mississippi Braves 2 vs. (28-5) Jacksonville Suns 7

Box Score

• Levi Hyams, SS: 3-4, 3B (1), .221/.299/.337
• KD Yang, RF: 2-3, .263/.330/.360
• Matt Lipka, CF: 2-5, .279/.306/.340
• Jorge Reyes, SP: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 K, 2.81 ERA

Jorge Reyes made it two full innings before falling apart on the mound - he allowed four runs, digging Mississippi into an early 4-0 hole. He would go on to allow two more runs before being yanked from the game. As far as the bats are concerned, the Braves scored two runs, but failed to record a single RBI. The first run came courtesy of a fielders choice in the bottom of the fourth inning, and their second run came via wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth.

(43-46) Carolina Mudcats 2 vs. (41-47) Winston-Salem Dash 5

Box Score

• Carlos Franco, 3B: 2-5, HR (9) 1 RBI, .257/.329/.423
• Joey Meneses, 1B: 2-5, 2B (11), .230/.292/.328
• Johan Camargo, SS: 2-2. 1 RBI, .281/.333/.356
• Mox Povse, SP: 7 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 4 K, 8.83 ERA

Carolina's offense failed to gain much momentum against Winston-Salem's Matt Heidenreich. The Mudcats were able to snag a run in the second inning and the seventh. Caroilina fell behind 2-0 early, but was able to come within one run as Johan Camargo was able to drive in Joey Meneses. Meneses and Carlos Franco (the four and five hitters in the lineup) combined for four of Carolina's eight hits. Max Povse kept Carolina in the game until the sixth inning, where he allowed three runs to make the score 5-1. Franco's seventh inning solo shot was too little, and too late.

(39-49) Rome Braves 5 vs. (42-47) Charleston RiverCats 10

Box Score

• Ozhaino Albies, SS: 2-4, 2 SB (27), .333/.390/..426
• Joseph Daris, LF: 1-4, HR (4), 1 RBI, .276/..343/.423
• Touki Toussaint, SP: 5 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 3.68 ERA

Rome fell behind early in this one, as they found themselves trailing 6-1 after three innings. Atlanta's newest prized prospect Touki Toussaint struggled early, but was able to settle down after a five-run third inning. Rome had a chance to climb back into the game in the bottom of the fourth; trailing 6-4, Joseph Daris launched his fourth home run of the year to bring the Braves within one run. The game remained 6-5 until the top of the eighth, when Dustin Emmons surrendered four runs on three hits and two walks to make it 10-5, and essentially end any potential late-inning Rome comeback.

(16-24) DSL Braves 3 vs. (19-21) DSL Tigers 1

Box Score

• Luis Mejia, 3B: 2-4, 2 runs scored, .261 AVG.
• Sander Boeldak, RF: 2-4, 2B (4), .262 AVG.
• Gabriel Henry, SP: 3 IP, 1 H, 3 K, 3.60 ERA

They say pitching wins championships, and while that may still be a debatable statement, it certainly helped the DSL Braves win their 16th game of the season on Wednesday night. Five pitchers combined to seal the shutout. Gabriel Henry tossed three scoreless innings to start the game. Jasseel De Cruz came in to pitch the fourth, and was relieved by Jason Laguna in the fifth, who pitched three innings and earned the win. Jhonny Diaz and Ramon Tavares pitched the eighth and ninth, respectively. It took just seven hits and three runs for the Braves to lock down a win.

(5-15) GCL Braves 1 vs. (7-13) GCL Yankees1 10

Box Score

• Angel Perez, 2B: 2-3, 1 BB, .194 AVG.
• Alejandro Salazar, SS: 2-4, .279 AVG.
• Gabino Avalos, SP: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 K, 6.94 ERA

The GCL Braves' first, and only, run of the game came in the bottom of the first, as Angel Perez scored on a wild pitch. After that, inept pitching proved to be the downfall of the Braves on Wednesday night, as three different pitchers gave up at least two earned runs in the blowout. Gabino Avalos saw three runs scored while he was on the mound (two earned) in the first three innings. He handed the ball off to Bladimir Matos, who was shelled for five runs in one inning pitched. Dilmer Meija gave up another four runs, and just like that, the Braves were in a 10-1 hole.