Atlanta Braves Morning Chop
TomahawkTake.com
Friday Night Minor League Results
ROME BRAVES
The R=Braves improved to 3-5 while defeating Augusta last night in Sally League play. Ozhaino Albies got 2 hits in five trips, which got his average to the Mendoza line (.200). Jordan Edgerton (2-3) and Joseph Daris (3-4) supplied most of the offense, though Wigberto Nevarez added one timely hit to produce 2 RBI. The Rome team wasn’t real patient at the plate (just 1 walk combined), but there was still enough offense to gain a 6-3 victory.
Ricardo Sanchez (the youngster acquired from the Angels in the Kyle Kubitza deal) started, but did not complete the third inning. He gave up 2 earned, though also struck out five, walking two and giving up 2 hits. Sean Furney gets the hero trophy for going 4.2 innings in the middle, walking 1 and giving up no earned runs (1 overall). He got the W.
CAROLINA MUDCATS
The ‘Cats fell to the Salem Red Sox 6-2, evening their record at 4-4. Offensively, there isn’t much to report as 5 hits were scattered throughout the lineup and the 2 runs scored came late in the contest.
On the pitching side Andrew Thurman (Gattis trade w/Houston) went 5 innings, splitting up 2 runs allowed along with 8 hits and 1 walk. He also struck out 3 batters. Mauricio Cabrera came on to finish it up (the eighth) and posted a line full of zeros for 1 inning.
MISSISSIPPI BRAVES
Starting to look like the M-Braves are getting their stride going… and it’s starting at the top of the lineup.
The Braves are in the midst of a six game sequence against the Jackson Generals, and so far the scores read like a tennis match: 6-4, 6-4, 4-5, 6-5. Last night the Braves broke above .500 (5-4) with that 6-5 victory.
Mallex Smith had a 5 hit night on Thursday, and got two more on Friday: 2-5 to raise his average to .323. Unlike most of the minor league affiliates, when you gaze down the roster here, you see big numbers for hitting. Catcher Chris O’Dowd is just unconscious right now… he’s up to .462 after going 3 for 6 (which was needed just to maintain) that average. Last night he put a homer up in the 12th inning to put the Braves ahead for good.
But beyond those two, Daniel Castro is hitting .375, Matt Lipka (triple) is at .333… there’s just a lot of hits going around.
Pitching, however… as you could see from the scores above, that isn’t quite going according to plan. Jake Brigham started, but couldn’t quite finish the 5th: 2 earned runs (3 total), 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts to go with 7 hits allowed. Lots of base runners. Six other pitchers followed him, with Mark Lamm perhaps being the most successful: 2 hits allowed, but nothing else with 2 Ks.
But the pitchers have been beat up a lot: five staff members are now sporting ERAs above 7 with a fifth (Tyrell Jenkins) that has a 2.35 ERA desipte allowing a team-high 10 runs to cross (just 2 “earned”).
GWINNETT BRAVES
Matt Wisler (61) poses during photo day at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Gwinnett is scuffling right now: losing 4 straight and 3-6 overall. As the M-Braves successes begin up top, Gwinnett’s problems do as well: Todd Cunningham (.143) and Jose Peraza (.200/3 Ks last night) aren’t getting on base enough. That leaves Perdro Ciriaco (.306) and Adonis Garcia (.357) with little to do in the middle of the order. Thus, the team fell again to Charlotte last night, 7-5.
Matt Wisler (Kimbrel trade) took the loss, giving up 10 hits and 6 runs (a Joe Benson error made two of those unearned), though did walk only 1 and K’d 5. John Cornely continued to do excellent work in relief… he will make the majors in the bullpen at some point for certain. Michael Kohn finished up with 2 solid innings, striking out 3 and walking none. After Wisler left, in fact, Charlotte managed only 1 hit against the bullpen.