(44-40) Norfolk Tide 3, (36-50) Gwinnett Stripers 4

• Rio Ruiz, 3B: 1-for-4, R, RBI, .264/.309/.381
• Xavier Avery, CF: 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, BB, .239/.330/.333
• Touki Toussaint, SP: 6.2IP 5H 1ER 3BB 5K

Box Score

Touki Toussaint made his Triple-A debut and he certainly did not disappoint - almost reaching seven innings while giving up just one earned run. After struggling just a bit in the first and giving up one run he settled in and returned the next 10 batters. Touki worked mid-90s for most of the game, held his velocity deep into the game, hit 97 a few times all the while showing much improved command/control of his changeup and using his curveball to toy with batters. After walking a batter with two outs in the seventh Touki Toussaint was replaced by Jason Hursh who immediately induced a groundball and preserved the lead for Touki. Jacob Webb came in, in the 9th and struggled - giving up three hits, two wild pitches, two earned runs but ultimately escaped and preserved the win for Gwinnett and picked up his second save of the season.

It wasn’t a particularly offensively gifted performance by Gwinnett but they got the job done when it counted and manufactured runs when the time arose. In the second inning Sal Giardina doubled to lead off the inning, was bunted over to third, and came in on a Rio Ruiz ground out. They went up 2-1 in the fourth when Xavier Avery tripled in Carlos Franco. Dustin Peterson grounded to centerfield after deflecting off the pitcher to extend the lead to 3-1, and a Preston Tucker single extended the lead to 4-1 in the fifth and capped off the scoring for Gwinnett.

(47-36) Biloxi Shuckers 1, (35-49) Mississippi Braves 4

• Alex Jackson, C: 1-for-3, RBI, .211/.289/.353
• Luis Marte, SS: 1-for-3, R, .262/.287/.358
• Bruce Zimmermann, SP: 6.0 IP 6H 1ER 4BB 4K, 1-for-1, RBI, BB

Box Score

Believe it or not this was one of Bruce Zimmermann’s better starts of the season as his very respectable 57 game score was the bottom six he’s had on the season! His four walks were the most he’s had over the course of his last 10 starts. He also got it done offensively with a one out single in the third that brought in Luis Marte and was the first run of the game. Kelvin Vasquez worked the seventh and eighth innings and gave up one hit while walking two and striking out one. Chad Sobotka worked a perfect ninth to pick up his second save of the season and lower his ERA on the season to 2.45.

Other than Zimmermann - it was a collection of players that got it done when it counted for Mississippi. A two out-single by Daniel Lockhart scored Tyler Neslony to extend the lead to 2-0 in the fourth. Lockhart then stole second and scored on an Alex Jackson single to make it 3-0. Mississippi picked up their fourth and final run in the seventh when Connor Lien singled to right that allowed Alejandro Salazar to score.

(39-41) Charlotte Stone Crabs 4, (33-45) Florida Fire Frogs 5

• Cristian Pache, CF: 1-for-2, 2B, R, .280/.302/.426
• Garrison Schwartz, RF: 2-for-4, RBI, .258/.355/.321
• Kyle Muller, SP: 5.0IP 6H 4ER 2BB 3K

Box Score

Kyle wasn’t particularly sharp as he gave up four runs while walking two and striking out three but he kept the team in the game and they were able to come from behind and pick up the win. Muller finished the game with seven flyouts and two groundouts as well and had a game score of 45. Jon Kennedy was fantastic and threw a hitless final four innings while striking out five and walking two.

There wasn’t a huge offensive night for any particular player but once again timely hitting gave the win to an Atlanta team once again. Back-to-back doubles to start the second inning gave Florida the lead 1-0. Braxton Davidson hit his 13th homer of the season to tie the game at 2-2. A fielding error in the sixth allowed Kurt Hoekstra to score from first to lessen the lead for the Stone Crab to 4-3. Florida went on to tie the game in the seventh when Garrison Schwartz singled to left to score Brett Cumberland. The game winning run was scored in the seventh via a bases loaded walk by Brett Cumberland scored Ray-Patrick Didder.

(40-41) Charlotte Stone Crabs 13, (33-46) Florida Fire Frogs 4

• Isranel Wilson, CF: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, .233/.316/.377
• Kurt Hoekstra, DH: 2-for-3, 2B, R, .250/.325/.341
• Kurt Hoekstra, P: 1.0IP 1H 0R 0BB 0K

Box Score

This was a game to forgot for Miguel Jerez who was recently promoted from the GCL to Florida and gave up five earned runs in his three innings of work. Miguel finished with a line of 3.0IP 6H 5ER 2BB 2K. He was followed by Mauricio Cabrera who gave up six runs of his own to finish with this line: 1.1IP 3H 6R 5ER 2BB 2K 1WP. Josh Graham gave up a pair of runs in his 1.2 innings of work as well. Overall, pitchers for Florida finished a combined six innings, gave up 12 hits, 13 runs, walked five, and struck out six. Position player Kurt Hoekstra was the lone “pitcher” for Florida who did not give up a run.

Florida was already down five before they scored their first run of the game when Braxton Davidson hit his 13th double of the season. A Jared James double in the sixth inning scored Isranel Wilson and pulled Florida within a respectable 11 runs. Florida tacked on another pair of runs in the seventh inning but it wasn’t nearly enough as they fell 13-4. This was one of Florida’s drink free until Florida gives up a run promo day but it lasted less than an inning so not only did those fans miss out on free beer, they watched a truly terrible game as well.

(46-38) Rome Braves 1, (36-46) Asheville Tourists 2

• Drew Waters, CF: 2-for-4, R, 2(SB), .298/.346/.527
• Greyson Jenista, RF: 0-for-4, .291/.381/.545
• Odalvi Javier, SP: 7.0IP 7H 2ER 2BB 4K

Box Score

Despite the stellar pitching put on by Odalvi Javier and and Tyler Watson, Rome picked up the loss because their normal juggernaut of an offense struggled against the pitching quartet of Asheville. Odalvi, pretty fresh off of being named Keith Law’s breakout player of the year for the organization which we are still trying to understand, needed 98 pitches to work through the seven innings he faced. He induced a fantastic eight groundballs while striking out four. Tyler Watson pitched a perfect final inning to give the Rome offense one more inning but they were unable to capitalize.

Drew Waters did what Drew Waters does and got on base twice while picking up two stolen bases. There was a chance he would have picked up a third of the game but he was picked off. The stolen bases were the 12th and 13th of the season and Waters is enjoying an absolutely fantastic 2018 season. Greyson Jenista proved he was human and went 0-for-4, but still picked up the lone RBI that scored Waters. As a team Rome went hitless with runners in scoring position - going 0-for-4, but they only stranded four on base. After struggling with errors recently - the defense was behind Javier collected two double plays and Shean Michel picked up an outfield assist.

(13-15) DSL Marlins 9, (9-20) DSL Braves 5

• Deivi Estrada, RF: 0-for-2, 3BB, .147/.310/.206
• Kelvin Pena, C: 1-for-4, RBI, .375/.375/.375
• Kimberling Encarnacion, DH: 2-for-3, .269/.345/.333

Box Score

(6-6) GCL Braves 2, (7-5) GCL Phillies 5

• Austin Riley, 3B: 1-for-3
• Jonathan Morales, DH: 2-for-4
• Trey Harris, CF: 3-for-5, 3B, R, .294/.429/.412
• Mitch Stallings, SP: 2.0IP 1H 0R 0BB 4K

Box Score

(9-7) Danville Braves 8, (5-10) Greeneville Reds 4

• Andrew Moritz, CF: 3-for-5, 2B, 2R, 2RBI, .250/.345/.354
• AJ Graffanino, SS: 4-for-5, 2RBI, .471/.450/.471
• CJ Alexander, 3B: 1-for-5, 2RBI, .408/.508/.612
• Dilmer Mejia, SP: 7.0IP 4H 0R 2BB 5K

Box Score