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Atlanta Braves farm report week 4: Austin Riley and the Stripers are heating up

By Clint Manry

CUDHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: A tractor works in a field on August 15, 2018 in Cudham, England. The National Farmers' Union has warned that Britain would 'run out of food' next year if it cannot continue to easily import from the European Union after Brexit negotiations have ended and in the event of a 'no-deal Brexit'. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
CUDHAM, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: A tractor works in a field on August 15, 2018 in Cudham, England. The National Farmers' Union has warned that Britain would 'run out of food' next year if it cannot continue to easily import from the European Union after Brexit negotiations have ended and in the event of a 'no-deal Brexit'. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by John Amis/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Amis/Getty Images) /

(10-12) Mississippi Braves (AA)

WEEK 4 RECORD: 2-5

WEEKLY AWARDS: Mississippi Braves outfielder, Conner Lien, won the Southern Player of the Week and the Farm Bureau M-Braves Player of the Week for his performance last week (Week 3). Lien, the Braves 12th round pick in 2012, hit 3 home runs last week, including a 2-homer game.

M-Braves’ relief pitcher, Conner Johnstone, also received some hardware: winning the Farm Bureau M-Braves Pitcher of the Week. Johnstone, a 21st round pick by the Braves in 2017, started and struggled in Triple-A earlier this season; but he’s been excellent of late, with just one earned-run and 5 hits over 8.1 innings last week.

(4/22) Monday: Won 2-1 (F/10) vs. Montgomery Biscuits – FULL RECAP 

  • (P) T. Davidson: 5 IP, H, 5 BB, 3 K
  • (1B) R. Casteel: 1-4, HR, RBI, 2 K
  • (SS) R. Didder: 1-4, RBI, 2 K

While the M-Braves’ bats have been the difference maker in recent weeks, the start of Week 4 featured some shutdown pitching by Mississippi on Monday.

As a team, the Braves only surrendered 2 hits in 10 innings, while walking six and striking out four. Starter Tucker Davidson (#20 prospect) threw 86 pitches and was a bit wild, but benefited from some strong defense as he had plenty of baserunners to deal with.

Davidson ended up having to square off against Biscuits starter, and Tampa Bay’s #2 prospect, Brendan McKay on Monday.

Christian Pache (#1 prospect) had two singles, while Drew Waters went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Ray Patrick-Didder won it in the 10th with a perfect bunt down the third base line, scoring Luis Valenzuala.

(4/23) Tuesday: Lost 3-7 vs. Montgomery Biscuits – FULL RECAP

  • (P) I. Anderson: 4 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
  • (CF) C. Lien: 1-4, HR, 3 RBI, K
  • (C) J. Morales: 2-4, R

The beginning of the 2019 season hasn’t been a very characteristic start for Braves # 4 prospect, Ian Anderson. The 20-year-old righty now has 13 walks in 17 innings-pitched and as demonstrated by his below-average outings thus far, he has a 4.76 ERA.

Conner Lien and catcher Jonathan Morales each scored a run Tuesday, while Lien continues to provide power for the Mississippi offense. Shortstop Ray Patrick-Didder went 1-for-3 and Daniel Lockhart finished 1-for-4 with a strikeout.

Twenty-seven-year-old Andy Wilkins went hitless Tuesday, bringing his season average and OPS to .150 and .525, respectively.

(4/24) Wednesday: Lost 4-6 vs. Mississippi Biscuits – FULL RECAP

  • (P) K. Muller: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
  • (C) J. Morales: 1-4, RBI
  • (3B) L. Valenzuala: 2-4, RBI, K

Similar to Gwinnett’s Wednesday night game, the M-Braves received a refreshing performance from their starter, #13 prospect, Kyle Muller. The 2016 2nd round selection labored through his longest start of the young season, pitching into the 6th inning.

The two most prominent Mississippi players, #6 prospect Drew Waters and organization leader Christian Pache, went 1-for-4 and 2-for-4, respectively. Waters hit his first triple of 2019 and scored a run, while Pache had two base-hits with an RBI and a run scored.

(4/25) Thursday: PPD (rain)

(4/26) Friday: Lost 3-5 vs. Mobile BayBears – FULL RECAP

  • (P) P. Weigel: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
  • (P) J. Walker: 6.1 IP, 5 H, ER, 0 BB, 5 K
  • (DH) R. Casteel: 1-3, RBI, BB, K

As usual, #19 prospect Patrick Weigel didn’t work very long as the Braves continue to ease him back into the rotation after his Tommy John surgery from last season. Jeremy Walker came in and pitched well enough for the win, but instead went home with the loss after making the longest outing of any M-Braves’ pitcher this season.

Offensively, the Braves didn’t do much, unable to manage an XBH. Drew Waters stole a base and went 0-for-4, and Christian Pache went hitless. Conner Lien had a base-hit, while walking three times. Friday night’s catcher, Carlos Martinez, went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout

(4/27) Saturday: GM 1 Lost 3-8 vs. Mobile BayBears – FULL RECAP

(4/27) Saturday: GM 2 Lost 3-4 vs. Mobile BayBears – FULL RECAP

GAME 1

  • (P) J. Wentz: 3 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
  • (RF) D. Waters: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, K
  • (CF) C. Pache: 2-3, 2B, RBI, BB

A rough 4th inning by M-Braves’ starter Joey Wentz (4 ER in that inning), ruined a strong first three innings on the mound and resulted in a Braves loss.

Drew Waters and Christian Pache did their usual thing, with both prospects contributing with XBHs and RBI. Left fielder Conner Lien continues his excellent play, as he went hitless in Game 1, but drew a walk and stole second base.

Reliever Philip Pfeifer came in to relieve Wentz in the 4th (Wentz was unable to get an out) and worked 3 total innings, surrendering a run and two hits. Pfeifer struck out one and walked two.

GAME 2 (7 inn.)

  • (P) T. Davidson: 5 IP, H, ER, 3 BB, 3 K
  • (RF) D. Waters: 2-4, R, K
  • (1B) R. Casteel: 3-4, 2 2B, RBI, 2 R, K

Drew Waters opened up the scoring for the M-Braves again in Game 2, hitting a single in the 1st and scoring soon after from an RBI single by Ryan Casteel (who had a heck of a game).

Starter Tucker Davidson pitched a gem in terms of limiting the damage, but all of that went to waste when Huascar Ynoa allowed 3 runs (including a HR). Ynoa only pitched 1.2 innings, but the damage was done.

Christian Pache finished 0-for-3 with two strikeouts but moved Drew Waters to second base in the 1st inning on a perfect sac-bunt.

We haven’t seen much production out of the big man, Andy Wilkins, but in Game 2 he finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a strikeout. Also, Daniel Lockhart contributed with two hits and an RBI.

(4/28) Sunday: Won 6-0 vs. Mobile BayBears – FULL RECAP

  • (P) I. Anderson: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
  • (SS) R. Didder: 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, K
  • (1B) R. Casteel: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R, 2 K

Drew Waters once again led off the game with a hit (his third time doing so) and the M-Braves received a quality start from their starting pitcher for the first time this season.

Ian Anderson’s gem on Sunday improves the #3 prospect’s 2019 numbers to a 1-1 record and 3.52 ERA.

Ray Patrick-Didder went off on Sunday, hitting 2 homers in a game for the first time in his career and raising his average to .153 for the time being.

Christian Pache finished with a single and a double, as he’s been locked in from day one. Pache is hitting at a .313 clip thus far, with 7 doubles.

The 20-year-old phenom, Drew Waters, is now batting a nice and even .300 with an .840 OPS. It’s been a fantastic four weeks for Waters and Pache in Mississippi.

Players of the Week

(1B) Ryan Casteel

  • 2019: 8 G, .357 BA, 1.169 OPS, 2 HR
  • Week 4: 5 G, .421 BA, 2 HR, 3 2B, 6 RBI

Casteel hadn’t played much until recently, but he’s been on fire since his first game. Until Casteel slows down, we won’t be seeing much of the 27-year-old Andy Wilkins at first base.

(RP) Jeremy Walker

  • 2019: 4 app., 22 IP, 19 H, 6 ER, BB, 16 K
  • Week 4: 1 app., 6.1 IP, 5 H, ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Walker doesn’t make starts, but as a reliever, he’s been extremely reliable, especially when it comes to limiting walks (only 1 BB in 22 innings). Ian Anderson would’ve won it this week if not for his poor start on Tuesday.

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