House That Hank Built
Fansided

Atlanta Braves Minor League Weekend Wrap: April 11th

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 17, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Mallex Smith (63) celebrates with Atlanta Braves catcher Blake Lalli (88) after scoring a run in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. The Washington Nationals won 9-7. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Melbourne, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves center fielder Mallex Smith (63) celebrates with Atlanta Braves catcher Blake Lalli (88) after scoring a run in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. The Washington Nationals won 9-7. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
GwinnettBraves
GwinnettBraves /

AAA Gwinnett Braves (3-1)

Thursday

The Braves opened the season on the road against Norfolk, starting their “borrowed” pitcher, Jhoulys Chacin, who will be with the club until he starts this coming week with the big league club in the 5th spot in the rotation. He opened the season with a bang for the pitching staff, going 7 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7 as the Braves defeated the Tides 2-0. Mallex Smith led off the game with a triple, and he ended up the only Braves hitter with multiple hits, also collecting a double on the day. Reid Brignac, Matt Tuiasosopo, and Chase d’Arnaud were each on base twice with a single and a walk. Blake Lalli and Ryan Lavarnway each had doubles.

Friday

Mike Foltynewicz toed the rubber for the Braves second game of the season, but he forgot to bring along his control with him. He was out of the game after throwing 4 innings and giving up 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits and 5 walks while striking out one. Four Braves relievers then combined to hold Norfolk scoreless as the team came back to tie the game and eventually win the game in 10 innings, 4-2. Ryan Weber had the real “star” performance out of the bullpen on the day, going 3 1/3 innings, allowing 3 hits and striking out 1. Tyler Moore provided the exclamation point on the game with a 2-run home run in the 10th inning, his second hit of the game. He was the only Braves hitter with multiple hits. Rio Ruiz had a single and two walks on the day. Matt Tuiasosopo and Ryan Lavarnway each had a double and a walk. Daniel Castro had a single and a walk.

Saturday

The Braves jumped out of the gate with a 7-run first inning, and they never looked back, winning 11-5 Saturday. Aaron Blair got the start, and he went 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and a walk while striking out 6. Blair was extremely sharp the first four innings, but as is common early in the season, he wore down a bit in the 5th and in the 6th, he made a mistake pitch that was crushed for a 2-run home run, skewing the numbers on a very good start. Mallex Smith had the biggest day at the plate with 4 hits, including a double, and scoring 3 runs and even stealing a base in what would prove to be his last game before being promoted to Atlanta. Every Gwinnett batter had a hit in the game. Blake Lalli had 3 hits and a walk. Brandon Snyder had two singles and a walk. Sean Kazmar and Matt Tuiasasopop each had 2 hits, with one of those hits being a home run. Tyler Moore also collected two hits, though he did collect them in a weird way, going 2-6 on the day with 4 strikeouts!

Sunday

The Braves’ undefeated streak ran out on Sunday in a most peculiar way. They didn’t get a great start from their starter, Tyrell Jenkins, but he left with a 4-2 lead after 3 innings in which he had thrown 76 pitches, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits and 5 walks, but also striking out 4. His stuff was moving with incredible bite, but it was as if Tyrell was simply not used to THIS much bite on his pitches, and he couldn’t keep them in the zone. However, when Jenkins left the game, the next three relievers combined to give up 7 runs over 4 innings, costing Gwinnett the win as they fell 9-4. Daniel Castro and Ryan Lavarnway each had two singles. Tyler Moore had a double and a walk. Rio Ruiz and Sean Kazmar each had a double.

Video Highlights

Next: Mississippi Braves

Home/Braves Minors