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(25-34) Gwinnett Stripers 1, (28-31) Syracuse Chiefs 0
Dustin Peterson, LF: 0-1, BB, .263/.315/.444
Matt Wisler, SP: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 4.38 ERA
Rain rolled into Gwinnett halfway through this game, and the early run the Stripers put up turned out to be a game winner in a shortened contest. Dustin Peterson walked with one out in the first inning, and Carlos Franco and Phil Gosselin each came out with a two-out single to bring Petey in for the games first and only run. The Stripers put up a few more hits in the game, including a leadoff double from Xavier Avery in the bottom of the 5th just before the skies opened themselves, but they only pushed across the one.
Matt Wisler was very good in the game and it wasn’t just because he didn’t have to pitch for long. Wisler dominated the Chiefs offense from the outset of the game, retiring the first seven batters he faced before the lone hit against him broke up that streak. Wisler finished the game by setting down the next 8 batters, and finished with just 60 pitches thrown in the game. This was the best Wisler has pitched all season, and is his second complete game with both coming in 5 inning affairs. Also, those are his only two wins of the season. Overall Wisler has been strong this season in Triple-A with a 3.14 FIP, he just hasn’t been able to translate that to Major League success.
Next Game: 6/10 vs (28-31) Syracuse Chiefs @ 1:05 PM ET
Probable Starters
GWN: Lucas Sims (2-2, 1.45 ERA)
SYR: Cesar Vargas (1-6, 5.43 ERA)
(26-36) Mississippi Braves 12, (25-35) Pensacola Blue Wahoos 4
Alex Jackson, C: 0-3, RBI, BB, .169/.254/.279
Luis Valenzuela, SS: 2-5, HR, RBI, .276/.302/.370
Touki Toussaint, SP: 2-3, 2B, 3 RBI, .412/.412/.529
Touki Toussaint, SP: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 3.36 ERA
Touki Toussaint was the star of the game, but it was more for his offense performance than his (still solid) pitching. Toussaint strolled to the plate with 2 runners in scoring position and two outs in the bottom of the second inning, and singled into left field to bring both runners in to score and give Mississippi the early 2-0 lead. After a rough inning for Toussaint and the defense that saw the Braves fall behind 3-2, Luis Valenzuela came through with a response in the form of a game-tying home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Then, with two outs Touki once again gave Mississippi the lead with a double off of the center field wall to score Connor Lien. Lien also had a strong game at the plate, going 1-1 with 3 walks. That one hit was a big one, a bases-loaded triple in the bottom of the sixth inning that scored the final three runs of the game. Toussaint came to bat again in the 5th inning with a runner at third base, but this time flew out to end the inning after Taylor Murphy had singled in two runs.
Touki Toussaint was on fire in the early stages of the game, retiring the first 8 batters he faced before allowing a walk to the pitcher. Touki got a ground out from the next batter, and through three had a no hitter going with 3 strikeouts. Toussaint struck out Shed Long to open the fourth inning, but from there his command started to escape him and he got into deep trouble. A hit by pitch and a wild pitch put a runner at second base, and a double scored the first run of the game off of Toussaint. An error by Tyler Marlette allowed another runner to reach base, and this came back to be a big moment in the inning. Touki struck out the next batter but hit a batter before a two run single gave Pensacola the lead. Touki retired the pitcher to end the inning, but never fully regained his earlier form. Touki allowed a walk and a couple of hits in the 5th inning, but an outfield assist on a double play helped him escape trouble in the inning. Toussaint walked a batter with one out in the second and then got a ground out before being pulled out of the game. Kelvin Vasquez replaced Toussaint and went 2 1⁄3 innings, with the only run allowed being on a 7th inning home run. Corbin Clouse closed the game with a scoreless 9th inning and two strikeouts.
Next Game: 6/10 vs (25-35) Pensacola Blue Wahoos @ 6:00 PM ET
Probable Starters
MIS: Bryse Wilson (1-2, 7.43 ERA)
PNS: Keury Mella (4-3, 3.56 ERA)
(25-32) Florida Fire Frogs 9, (36-24) Jupiter Hammerheads 3 Game 1
Jared James, LF: 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, .248/.308/.446
Braxton Davidson, DH: 3-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .161/.266/.333
Cristian Pache, CF: 0-4, RBI, .284/.303/.412
Kyle Muller, SP: 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 3.86 ERA
(25-33) Florida Fire Frogs 1, (37-24) Jupiter Hammerheads 2 Game 2
Cristian Pache, CF: 0-3, .281/.303/.412
Jeremy Walker, SP: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2.60 ERA
Braxton Davidson had a career game in the first game of the double header, leading the way for a Fire Frogs win. Jared James doubled in the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning, bringing up Davidson who crushed a 3-run home run to give Florida an early 4-0 lead. In the third inning it was James’s turn to go yard with his fourth home run of the season, and Florida followed that up by loading the bases and getting three runs to put the game out of reach at 8-0. All the while Kyle Muller was cruising on the mound, with three hits allowed by no runs or walks over his first three innings. Muller got into trouble in the 5th with a lead off double that came around to score, but Davidson and Florida answered right back with a home run in the fourth inning. Muller allowed his second run of the game in the 5th inning, when a leadoff single came around to score on his throwing error and a couple of ground outs. Jon Kennedy replaced Muller and went two innings with a run allowed.
Game Two didn’t go nearly as well for the Fire Frogs offense, and the 2 run home run allowed by Jeremy Walker in the first inning was all the Hammerheads would need to take the game. The Fire Frogs were held at bay until the fourth inning, when Braxton Davidson did his part once again with an RBI double that cut the lead to 1 run. Unfortunately that was all of the runs they managed in the game. Meanwhile, Jeremy Walker settled in nicely after that home run, and following a lead off double in the top of the second inning retire the next 11 batters before allowing a 2 out single in the fifth inning. Walker then retired the final 7 batters of the game, with two of his strikeouts coming to consecutive batters in the 6th inning.
Next Game: 6/10 vs (37-24) Jupiter Hammerheads @ 11:00 AM ET
Probable Starters TBD
(37-24) Rome Braves 5, (36-23) Kannapolis Intimidators 4
Drew Waters, CF: 2-4, 2B, .305/.363/.557
Drew Lugbauer, DH: 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, .235/.304/.374
Jean Carlos Encarnacion, 3B: 1-3, RBI, .300/.327/.430
Odalvi Javier, SP: 5 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 4.19 ERA
This game started as every Rome game of late seems to, with Drew Waters getting on with a base hit. Waters then advanced to second on a wild pitch, third on a ground out, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jean Carlos Encarnacion. Rome’s lead lasted until the fourth inning, but the responded and took that lead right back in the bottom of the inning on Drew Lugbauer’s 3-run home run. Kannapolis chipped away at the lead and tied it in the 7th inning, leaving three more chances for Rome to take the lead back. Rome was retired in order in the 7th and 8th innings, but Lugbauer got things started in the 8th inning with a lead off single. Derian Cruz managed to be fast enough to get a single on a sacrifice bunt attempt, putting two runners on with nobody out. A walk loaded the bases for Austin Bush, who came through with a game winning single after a 7 pitch battle.
Odalvi Javier was a bit shaky on the mound today, but was able to work out of trouble to limit damage and give his team a chance to win. Javier stranded runners at second and third with a strike out in the 1st inning and once again in the third stranded a couple of runners on base to keep the Intimidators scoreless. Javier was not as lucky in the fourth inning and allowed 2 home runs in the inning that gave Kannapolis the lead back, but then he worked a scoreless 5th inning to preserve another Rome lead. Newly-promoted Daysbel Hernandez struggled in his first opportunity with the team, allowing a run on a double, a balk, and then a wild pitch. Walkter Borkovich replaced him in the 7th inning and allowed 3 straight singles with one out to give up the game tying run. Brandon White was the best man in relief in the game with two scoreless, hitless innings and two strikeouts. White has a 1.29 ERA on the season and 32 K to 3 BB in 28 innings. He hasn’t allowed a home run, has a .157 BAA and a 0.68 WHIP. At 23 years old, I can’t think of any reason he should still be in Low-A and really there was no reason for him to be assigned there at all after he had similar success last season in Rome.
Next Game: 6/10 vs (36-23) Kannapolis Intimidators 2:00 PM ET
Probable Starters TBD