Atlanta Braves Week 9 Farm Report: Rome Struggles, Drew Waters Thrives

Now into June, it’s time for Dominican Summer League baseball. The DSL Braves join our report this week, while the Braves in Single-A probably wish they weren’t.

It’s that time of year when the Atlanta Braves organization starts really getting busy, the DSL is getting started and the Gulf Coast League is right around the corner — the Danville Braves begin their season on Wednesday, June 19.

But let’s dive in to Week 9, a week of more offense from Gwinnett, solid pitching from Mississippi and some hot hitting from a the ‘new guy’ in Rome. Oh yeah, the DSL Braves kicked off the 2019 season on Saturday as well.

Here’s the last eight weeks of reports, in case you’ve missed out:

Week 1 ¦ Week 2 ¦ Week 3 ¦ Week 4

Week 5 ¦ Week 6 ¦ Week 7 ¦ Week 8

(33-23) Gwinnett Stripers (AAA)

Week 9 Record: 3-4

Players of the Week

(INF) Sean Kazmar Jr.

5 games, 7-for-18 (.388 BA), 3 HR, 2B, 10 RBI

Without playing the last two games of the week (Saturday, Sunday) Kazmar Jr. still put up the best offensive performance this week, hitting the most home runs and RBI, and finishing with the highest batting average on the team.

In 40 games this season in Gwinnett, Kazmar Jr. is slashing .275/.312/.486 (.798), far from the best rates on the team this year; but as of late, there’s no doubt he’s been one of the key hitters in this Stripers lineup.

The lifelong minor leaguer — he played 19 games in the majors with the Padres in 2008 — isn’t expected to put anyone on the big roster in danger. However, when you’re hot you’re hot, and Kazmar Jr. is just that. He’s hit homers in three-straight games that he’s played in (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday).

(SP) Bryse Wilson

1 start, 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, BB, 6 K

Wilson wins Pitcher of the Week for the second time after winning the award in Week 8. The starting pitching for Gwinnett was rather weak this past week, as no starting pitcher made it over 4.1 innings until Wilson’s start on Friday. Out of seven starts in Week 9, only two were more than five innings (Wilson’s outing on Friday and Kolby Allard‘s on Saturday).

I wrote about Wilson’s struggles at the beginning of the season, also bringing it up in last week’s report; but as of late, the righty has been strong, leading the team in strikeouts with 51. The 4th round pick in 2016 is 3-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 10 starts this season.

Week At A Glance

(May 27 – June 2)

(5/27) Monday: Lost 9-7 vs. Norfolk Tides – FULL RECAP

• (P) K. Allard: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
• (2B) A. Blanco: 3-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R, BB
• (1B) S. Giardina: 3-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R

Down 8-1 and going into Gwinnett’s half of the 8th inning, the Stripers scored five runs but still came up short on Memorial Day, splitting their 4-game series with the Norfolk Tides.

Sal Giardina kicked off the scoring in that 8th frame, slugging a line-drive RBI-double. Then, Travis Demeritte plated Giardina with a ground ball RBI-single, making it an 8-3 game. Demeritte finished with another hit (a double), a walk and scored a run. Demeritte extended his on-base streak Monday to an IL-best 29 games.

Catcher Alex Jackson was hit by a pitch and Pedro Florimon drew a walk, pushing two more runs across and resulting in an 8-5 score. Jackson finished 0-for-3 and Florimon 2-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.

Here’s the final run scored in the 8th (Gwinnett’s 6th run), thanks to Sean Kazmar Jr. and his sac-fly that scored Travis Demeritte:

Shane Carle and A.J. Minter were two of four Stripers relievers to appear in Monday’s game, with both combining to pitch 2.2 scoreless innings and strikeout four.

(5/28) Tuesday: Lost 5-4 vs. Toledo Mud Hens – FULL RECAP

• (P) P. Weigel: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
• (2B) S. Kazmar Jr.: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
• (LF) T. Demeritte: 1-4, HR, RBI

On Tuesday, Gwinnett lost what was Game 1 of nine-straight road games, falling to the Mud Hens after Toledo’s Willi Castro (DET’s #7 prospect) slugged a solo-homer in the 8th inning.

It was a short outing for starter Patrick Weigel, even for him, as the slowly worked-in prospect only pitched 2.2 innings. Although he did throw his usual 50-something pitches (52).

In Gwinnett’s half of the 4th, down 2-0, Travis Demeritte went deep with a solo shot (his 12th HR of 2019):

Then in the following frame, Rafael Ortega tied things up at two apiece with a solo homer of his own:

Ortega’s 5th inning home run was his only hit of the game. He also walked once.

Keeping with the trend, Sean Kazmar Jr. this time hit a 2-run home run in the 6th inning, putting the Stripers up 4-2.

Unfortunately the lead couldn’t be savored, as Toledo plated two runs in the 7th inning, followed by Castro’s homer in the 8th.

Gwinnett, after Tuesday’s loss, has 91 home runs in 51 games; a total that leads all of the International League. They’re currently averaging 2.23 homers in the month of May, or 58 home runs in 26 games this month so far (per MiLB.com).

Also on Tuesday, the Stripers turned their first triple-play of the season in the 2nd inning. Check it out:

https://twitter.com/GoStripers/status/1133879913080074241?s=19

(5/29) Wednesday: Lost 9-4 vs. Toledo Mud Hens – FULL RECAP

• (P) H. Ynoa: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
• (1B) S. Kazmar Jr.: 4-4, HR, 2B, 4 RBI
• (RF) R. LaMarre: 4-5, 3 RBI, SB

Huascar Ynoa‘s second start in a Stripers uniform didn’t go too well, but thanks to Sean Kazmar Jr. and Ryan LaMarre‘s eight hits combined, Gwinnett came away on top Wednesday.

Kazmar Jr. kicked off the hitting with a home run of the scoreboard in the 2nd:

Then in the 3rd, Kazmar Jr. struck again. This time the first baseman scorched a liner to left, plating two more runs:

Here’s LaMarre’s RBI-single, also in the 3rd inning:

Pedro Florimon was another run producer on Wednesday, hitting a sac-fly in the 5th and finishing 1-for-3 with a walk.

(5/30) Thursday: Won 6-0 vs. Toledo Mud Hens – FULL RECAP

• (P) K. Wright: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• (2B) S. Kazmar Jr.: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI
• (3B) J. Lopez: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI

A 28-minute rain delay spoiled Kyle Wright‘s start on Thursday, but between excellent pitching out of the bullpen and homers from Sean Kazmar Jr. and Jack Lopez, the Stripers shutout Toledo.

Here’s Lopez’s homer in the 2nd, putting the good guys on the board:

https://twitter.com/GoStripers/status/1134237590490624000?s=19

Then one off the scoreboard by Kazmar Jr., giving him three-straight games with a home run. He had one home run in 2018.

In the 5th, Travis Demeritte plated the sixth and final run for Gwinnett:

Rounding out the Stripers XBHs, Rafael Ortega hit his 16th double of 2019 and finished 1-for-4 with 2 runs and a walk.

Reliever Jonathan Aro converted his second save after pitching four innings and striking out two. He only gave up one hit, walking none.

(5/31) Friday: Lost 4-1 vs. Indianapolis Indians – FULL RECAP

• (P) B. Wilson: 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, BB, 6 K
• (RF) R. LaMarre: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB
• (LF) T. Demeritte: 1-3, 2B, BB

The Stripers played sloppy defense on Friday, squandering a quality-start turned in by Bryse Wilson. The righty didn’t surrender any earned runs, but was tagged with 4 unearned runs due to Gwinnett’s four errors.

Shortstop Luis Marte had two errors (one fielding and one from a missed catch); catcher Alex Jackson committed a throwing error (his 5th error this season); and infielder Jack Lopez also made a fielding error (his 5th error of 2019).

It really was a shame, as Wilson did more than just pitch well. He also finished 2-for-2 with the bat. Wilson is now hitting .400 for the season. Here’s one of his base-hits:

https://twitter.com/GoStripers/status/1134612754080391169?s=19

Gwinnett only totaled 4 hits all evening, so Wilson’s two knocks plus LaMarre’s and Demeritte’s above was all the lineup managed Friday.

With the month of May ending Friday, the Stripers’ power surge resulted in a franchise record in home runs by the team, with 61 long balls in only 29 games (2.10/game average). The team still leads the IL with 94 home runs in 54 games this season.

With Friday’s homerless loss, Gwinnett is now 3-12 when the team fails to hit a home run. I’d say this team lives and dies by the long ball, which is fun but also frustrating as well.

(6/1) Saturday: Won 7-6 (F/10) vs. Indianapolis Indians – FULL RECAP

• (P) K. Allard: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
• (C) A. Jackson: 2-5, HR, 3 RBI
• (2B) A. Blanco: 2-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R

Adam Duvall‘s RBI-double and Alex Jackson’s RBI-single pushed the Stripers ahead in the top of the 10th Saturday, giving Gwinnett their 32nd win of 2019.

Duvall, who has been mysteriously absent since May 24, finished 2-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and also scored a run. Jackson not only played a part in winning the game at the end, but also gave Gwinnett two runs in the first frame with his home run:

Before Jackson’s homer, Ryan LaMarre broke the 0-0 tie in the 1st with an RBI-double. LaMarre went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run.

Andres Blanco added two more with his deep drive in the 5th:

Once again Travis Demeritte reached base safely on Saturday, pushing his IL-leading on-base streak to 34 games. Demeritte finished with a double and a walk in four at-bats.

Wes Parsons dominated the 10th, striking out two in his one inning of work.

(6/2) Sunday: Won 4-2 vs. Indianapolis Indians – FULL RECAP

• (P) P. Weigel: 3.2 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• (2B) A. Blanco: 1-3, HR, 3 RBI, BB
• (LF) A. Duvall: 1-4, RBI

In the final game of the Stripers/Indians series and the final game of Week 9, Gwinnett put together another impressive offensive performance.

The Stripers got on the board in the 3rd inning from an RBI-ground out by Andres Blanco, scoring Luis Marte. The next batter, Adam Duvall, would plate another run with his RBI-linedrive single out to center field.

With a 2-1 lead in the 8th inning, Blanco gave the Stripers an instant two-run cushion, blasting a 2-run homer out to right field:

https://twitter.com/GoStripers/status/1135276204456579072

That long ball was Blanco’s 9th of the season and gave him 28 total RBI in 2019. The infielder from Venezuela is batting .282 in 50 games.

Leadoff hitter, Rafael Ortega, finished the game 1-for-3 with two runs and two walks. He also stole second base, giving him seven swipes this season. Ortega is up to a .269 average in 2019, while also running an above-average .906 OPS with 16 doubles and 11 home runs.

Catcher Sal Giardina picked up two hits, one a double, in four at-bats. The part-time backstop has played in 22 games this season and is hitting .246. Shortstop Luis Marte was the only other batter in the lineup to record a hit, finishing 1-for-3 with a run and a walk. Marte has struggled a bit this season, OPSing .574 in 37 games thus far.

Patrick Weigel’s third Triple-A start on Sunday didn’t consist of many innings, but the right-handed pitching prospect has continued to comeback strong from his Tommy John surgery from last year. Weigel is running a 2.63 ERA in Gwinnett, with eight strikeouts in 13.2 innings-pitched.

(25-29) Mississippi Braves (AA)

Week 9 Record: 3-3

Players of the Week

(OF) Drew Waters

6 games, 10-for-25 (.400), 2 3B, 2B, RBI, SB

If you’ll keep reading down to the game recaps below, you will find that Waters had a heck of a game on Saturday, coming so close to a certain special something.

Frankly, I’m running out of adjectives for this kid. The guy is 20-years-old and going into this season had only played 164 games of professional baseball. He’s already literally a top-5 player in Double-A.

Here’s his numbers and Double-A ranking in 53 games this season:

• 221 at-bats
• .312 batting average (8th)
• 69 hits (1st)
• 34 runs (9th)
• 17 doubles (4th)
• 6 triples (t-1st)
• 107 total bases (2nd)

He has three home runs and 18 RBI, but I’m sure the power will come, at least somewhat. Like any young player, plate-discipline is something Waters could work on (5.4 BB%, 31.6 K%), but that will also come in due time.

Oh yeah, Waters also has a 10-game hitting streak going. He had three multi-hit games over his past 10 contests, including his four-hit game on Saturday.

M-Braves Starting Rotation

6 starts, 37 IP, 21 H, 13 ER, 14 BB, 35 K

It was a great week for Mississippi’s rotation, with Tuesday and Saturday’s starts being the only outings where a Braves starter surrendered more than three runs.

Altogether, the staff finished Week 9 with a 3.17 ERA, striking out 8.5 batters-per-nine and walking 3.4 per nine.

I suppose if one start had to be chosen as the best, it would have to go to Tucker Davidson‘s outing on Wednesday. Davidson pitched six scoreless innings, working around three hits and three walks. He struck out eight.

Literally every single pitcher in the M-Braves rotation is a ranked pitching prospect, so more of what we seen this past week should be expected.

Week At A Glance

(May 27 – June 2)

(5/27) Monday: OFF DAY

The M-Braves were off on Memorial Day, but there was some hardware to be given out:

https://twitter.com/mbraves/status/1133410712754237440?s=19

Also, Muller earned another award, joining Christian Pache as last week’s Farm Bureau Player and Pitcher of the Week:

(5/28) Tuesday: Lost 7-0 vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos – FULL RECAP

• (P) J. Wentz: 6 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
• (RF) C. Pache: 1-3, BB, K
• (LF) D. Waters: 1-4, 3 K

Outfielder Conner Lien returned for the M-Braves on Tuesday, but it didn’t matter as they ran into some shutdown pitching by Pensacola’s starter, Bryan Sammons.

Sammons tossed four 3-hit innings, striking out eight Braves, while walking none and surrendering zero runs. Then, the Blue Wahoos bullpen pieced together four more innings, only giving up one hit and striking out seven combined.

Joey Wentz wasn’t so fortunate. For the first time this season, Wentz gave up three home runs, resulting in five earned runs.

Other than Pache and Waters listed above, Riley Unroe was the only other Mississippi batter to record a hit, finishing 2-for-3.

(5/29) Wednesday: Won 6-3 vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos – FULL RECAP

• (P) T. Davidson: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
• (RF) C. Pache: 2-5, HR, 3 RBI
• (LF) C. Lien: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R

Before Wednesday’s game, a roster move was made:

Tyler Neslony had a terrific first game back, picking up two hits including a solo home run in the 6th inning to put the M-Braves on the board. His other hit was a double.

Christian Pache also did this to the baseball…

https://twitter.com/mbraves/status/1133948329489043462?s=19

That punishing line-drive 3-run homer was Pache’s fourth of the season.

Five of the M-Braves six runs came in the 8th inning, thanks to Pache’s dinger and Conner Lien’s 2-run double. Ryan Castell also contributed with a run and two base-hits.

Drew Waters finished 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts, extending his hitting streak to six games.

Tucker Davidson’s six shut-out innings lowered his ERA to 1.49 for the season, currently the lowest rate in the Southern League. Also, his eight strikeouts was the highest total he’s ever accrued in one start.

(5/30) Thursday: Won 6-4 vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos – FULL RECAP

• (P) De La Cruz: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
• (DH) T. Neslony: 2-5, HR, 3B, 3 RBI
• (1B) R. Casteel: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI

Even though the righty surrendered two home runs, Jasseel De La Cruz picked up his first Double-A win on Thursday, throwing a 94-pitch three-hitter.

Both teams combined to hit six homers in the game, totaling 15 thus far in the series. Regardless, De La Cruz finished with eight punchouts, giving him 12 total strikeouts in his first 11 innings for Mississippi since being promoted from Florida.

Shortstop Riley Unroe finished with two hits, one being a double, and scored a run. Christian Pache and Drew Waters both recorded hits, with the former finishing 1-for-5 and the latter 2-for-4 with a walk. Both Pache and Waters scored a run apiece.

Reliever Andres Santiago worked an inning for the hold and Jeremy Walker converted his second save of 2019, pitching 0.2 innings and striking out one.

(5/31) Friday: Lost 2-1 vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos – FULL RECAP

• (P) I. Anderson: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K
• (RF) C. Pache: 1-4
• (LF) D. Waters: 2-4, 2B, K, ERROR

Starter Ian Anderson, former 3rd overall pick in 2016 MLB Draft, tossed a season-high 7 frames Friday night, after throwing a 106-pitch four-hitter to give the M-Braves 15 quality-starts in the month of May.

https://twitter.com/mbraves/status/1134638581883052032?s=19

Anderson had somewhat of a slow start to the 2019 season, but has since gotten things turned around. For the month of May, he finished with 32 innings-pitched and 44 strikeouts to go along with a nice 3.09 ERA.

Mississippi’s loss Friday tied the series 2-2 with Pensacola, as the Braves actually outhit the Blue Wahoos 8-5. Drew Waters’ 2-for-4 finish gives him 19 multi-hit games (leads Southern League) and 17 doubles. Waters also leads all of Double-A with 65 hits this season.

Second baseman Alejandro Salazar had a nice game, going 3-for-4 with a double.

(6/1) Saturday: Won 8-4 vs. Pensacola Blue Wahoos – FULL RECAP

• (P) K. Muller: 7 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 K
• (LF) D. Waters: 4-5, 2 3B, 2B, RBI, 2 R
• (SS) R. Unroe: 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI, R

Drew Waters stole the show from starter Kyle Muller, as Waters finished a home run short of the cycle on Saturday night. Waters led the M-Braves to their first series win over the Blue Wahoos since 2016.

The young outfielder is up to 9-straight games with a hit and leads the league in hits, XBHs, doubles, triples, total bases and runs.

Muller, the Braves #11 prospect, was practically flawless in his 97-pitch outing. The 21-year-old surrendered his 10-inning scoreless streak when he surrendered a 2-run homer in the 4th inning.

After Saturday’s game, the lefty leads the league in opponent’s batting average (.180) and ranks second in strikeouts (67) and ERA (1.49). His 10 strikeouts Saturday was his first double-digit strikeout finish.

Christian Pache wasn’t bad himself, going 1-for-5 with a double, two RBI and a run. The Braves #1 prospect has himself an 8-game hitting streak.

(6/2) Sunday: Lost 9-1 vs. Biloxi Shuckers – FULL RECAP

• (P) J. Wentz: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
• (3B) D. Lockhart: 1-4, 2B, RBI
• (LF) D. Waters: 1-4, 2 K, SB

After a leadoff walk to Conner Lien in the 1st inning, Biloxi’s Alex Bettinger retired 12-straight M-Braves hitters on Sunday.

The game stayed competitive until the 9th, when the Shuckers scored five runs and put the game out of reach.

Tyler Neslony picked up a base-hit and struck out twice. Shortstop Ray-Patrick Didder finished 1-for-2 with two walks. Luis Valenzuala pinch-hit for Joey Wentz in the 6th and got a base-hit.

With the loss, Joey Wentz settles for a 4-5 record. He’s now made 11 starts this season and is up to a 5.00 ERA after Sunday’s outing. The lefty has 45 strikeouts in 54 innings-pitched.

Christian Pache had the night off, but did make an appearance as a pinch-hitter, going 0-for-1. The top Braves prospect had a solid week in Week 9, going 6-for-23 (.260 BA) with a double, a home run and five RBI. He still not being very patient at the plate (only one walk in 23 ABs), but he’s still hitting well.

(23-33) Florida Fire Frogs (A+)

Week 9 Record: 3-3

Players of the Week

(OF) Jefrey Ramos

5 games, 7-for-21 (.333 BA), 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, SB

How is a guy successful with a walk-rate of 3.4%? Well, I guess ask Jefrey Ramos, because he’s currently walking at that minuscule rate and is still slashing .263/.293/.420 (.713 OPS).

Even with his super-low walk rate, Ramos is striking out 25.8% of the time, which frankly isn’t that bad when considering he only has seven walks in 205 at-bats this season. The reason Ramos has been so successful is because, well, he hits the ball a lot!

In Week 9, Ramos continued his 9-game hitting streak, getting a knock in every single game of the week. And guess what? He didn’t walk one time, either. But, he also only struck out three times, with all three strikeouts coming in Tuesday’s game.

For the season, Ramos has seven home runs, seven doubles and 30 RBI.

(SP) Nolan Kingham

1 start, 9 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, BB, 4 K

You can read more about Kingham’s second complete-game shutout this season down on Friday’s game recap. The righty has been up-and-down this season, giving up seven earned runs in his first two starts of 2019.

For the 2019 season, Kingham’s ERA is still a bit bloated from those poor starts, at 4.56. However, with a 3-3 record and plenty of season left, he still has time to finish with a solid season.

Kingham started 2019 in Rome, making three starts and pitching to a 0.56 ERA. He’s worthy of pitching in High-A, but now he needs to show it on a consistent basis.

Week At A Glance

(May 27 – June 2)

(5/27) Monday: OFF DAY

The Fire Frogs were off Monday, and going into Tuesday they found themselves in last place in the North division of the Florida State League (9.5 GB from 1st).

(5/28) Tuesday: Lost 7-5 (F/10) vs. Fort Myers Miracle – FULL RECAP

• (P) P. Pfeifer: 6 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
• (C) W. Contreras: 1-5, HR, 2 RBI
• (RF) G. Jenista: 1-4, HR, RBI

Thanks to a Fort Myers wild pitch in the 9th inning, Rome’s Kevin Josephina scored from third base to send the game into extra innings, but in the 10th, the Miracle scored three runs and put the game out of reach for the Fire Frogs.

The Florida bats were hot on Tuesday, tallying nine hits as a team and two home runs, including William Contreras and Greyson Jenista‘s back-to-back homers in the 6th inning.

Josephina (2-for-3), Drew Lugbauer (1-for-4) and Jefrey Ramos (1-for-4) all contributed with doubles; and Brett Langhorne, Izzy Wilson and Riley Delgado all finished with base-hits in the loss. Wilson also finished with a stolen base (his sixth of 2019).

Florida had the pleasure of facing the Minnesota Twins top-prospect, shortstop and leadoff hitter Royce Lewis, who hit a solo homer on the third pitch of the game in the 1st inning. Lewis finished 1-for-5 with three strikeouts.

Philip Pfeifer dealt with runners on the basepaths seemingly all evening, but his 6 innings-pitched on Tuesday was his longest outing of his 2019 season, and it was also an improvement from the four walks in his last start.

(5/29) Wednesday: Lost 7-1 vs. Fort Myers Miracle – FULL RECAP

• (P) F. Tarnok: 6.1 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
• (LF) J. Ramos: 1-4, HR, RBI
• (CF) S. Michel: 2-3, 2B, K

Florida’s Freddy Tarnok threw 100 pitches for the second time this season, but was knocked around a bit in Wednesday’s loss.

The Fire Frogs only managed 5 hits, with two of them coming from Shean Michel, who just got transferred back to Florida before the game.

Kevin Josephina added a hit and a stolen base while Juan Morales went 1-for-3, rounding out the hitting.

Relievers Bradley Roney and Daysbel Hernandez pitched 2.2 innings and struck out three batters combined, with Hernandez surrendering a two-run homer from last year’s 20th pick in the draft, Trevor Larnach.

(5/30) Thursday: Lost 3-2 vs. Fort Myers Miracle – FULL RECAP

• (P) H. Deal: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
• (C) R. Estrada: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI
• (1B) K. Josephina: 3-4, 2B, R

Kevin Josephina turned in three hits for the Fire Frogs, giving him a 4-game hitting streak, but it wasn’t enough as the Miracle slugged a go-ahead solo homer in the 8th to win Thursday.

Starting pitcher Hunter Deal pitched another great game, but made a couple of costly mistakes at the wrong time. His two walks both came in the 5th inning, and Fort Myers benefited by scoring both walked runners.

Greyson Jenista and William Contreras both went hitless, with Jenista striking out twice and Contreras striking out once.

(5/31) Friday: Won 7-0 vs. Palm Beach Cardinals – FULL RECAP

• (P) N. Kingham: 9 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, BB, 4 K
• (C) W. Contreras: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB
• (CF) S. Michel: 2-4, RBI, R, BB

In 103 pitches on Friday night, Florida’s Nolan Kingham tossed a complete-game shutout, giving the Fire Frogs only their third nine-inning shutout in franchise history. He already had one back on May 1st against Lakeland.

https://twitter.com/FireFrogsBB/status/1134613339009703941?s=19

Florida’s offense did their job as well, coming up with 11 hits on the night. With a 4-0 lead in the 5th, Kevin Josephina (finished 2-for-4) plated a run, putting the Frogs up by five.

https://twitter.com/FireFrogsBB/status/1134600297224036353?s=19

Shortstop and #2 hitter Riley Delgado, picked up two hits as well. Delgado knocked in a run from a sac-fly in the 8th inning and became the first player in the FSL to accrue 60 hits this season. His multi-hit game Friday gives him 17 total so far in 2019.

Greyson Jenista finished 1-for-4 with 3 strikeouts and Drew Lugbauer was hitless in 4 at-bats. Friday’s DH Rusber Estrada went 2-for-2 with two runs and a walk.

(6/1) Saturday: Led 2-0 vs. Palm Beach Cardinals (SUSPENDED / TOP 2ND) 

Due to unplayable conditions from rain, the Fire Frogs game on Saturday was suspended after one inning. Sean Michel doubled and Jefrey Ramos homered later in the inning to put Florida up 2-0. Matt Withrow started the game on the mound for Florida.

(6/2) Sunday: GM1 Won 9-7 vs. Palm Beach Cardinals (RESUMED GAME) – FULL RECAP

GM2 Won 4-0 vs. Palm Beach Cardinals – FULL RECAP

Game 1:

• (P) P. Pfeifer: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• (LF) J. Ramos: 3-4, HR, 3B, 4 RBI
• (CF) S. Michel: 3-4, 2 2B, 4 R, BB, SB

Saturday’s suspended game was resumed on Sunday, starting in the top of the 2nd inning. Since Saturday’s starter, Matt Withrow, only pitched an inning before the game was suspended, Philip Pfeifer was tasked with the shortened game on Sunday.

Sean Michel did it all in Game 1 as he continues to tear up High-A baseball. Michel scored four of the nine runs the Fire Frogs scored on Sunday. The leadoff hitter is batting .276 in Florida, after hitting only .100 in Mississippi before he demotion. He’s already got three triples in just 19 games with the Fire Frogs.

Greyson Jenista got in the hit column with a base-hit in four at-bats.

Pfeifer’s win in Game 1 gives him a 1-2 record in five starts and one appearance for Florida (4.75 ERA). He appeared in seven games as a reliever in Mississippi this season, posting a 1-1 record with a 4.91 ERA.

Game 2:

• (P) W. Borkovich: 3 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, K
• (DH) G. Jenista: 2-3, 2B, RBI, R
• (C) W. Contreras: 1-3, RBI, R

The Florida bats cooled off in Game 2, only managing three hits as a team, despite scoring four runs and sweeping the two games on Sunday.

Reliever Daysbell Hernandez picked up the win after relieving Walter Borkovich in the 4th inning. Hernandez pitched two innings and struck out four with just one walk and no hits or runs. He’s now 4-1 in 15 appearances, and has a 1.90 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 23.2 innings-pitched.

Greyson Jenista’s double and two hits pushes his poor batting average up a bit to .225 (.683 OPS). Jenista, in 53 games with Florida, has 13 doubles and four home runs. He’s knocked in 26 runs as well.

Catcher William Contreras was the only other batter to record a hit, besides Jenista. Contreras is having a respectable season thus far, batting .269 (.707 OPS) with three homers and 11 doubles in 48 games.

(1-0) DSL Braves (RK)

Week 9 Record: 1-0

Players of the Week

With the Dominican Summer League just starting on Saturday, June 1,  there wasn’t enough games played to determine any Players of the Week.

Week At A Glance

May 27 – June 2

(6/1) Saturday: Won 2-1 vs. DSL Dodgers Bautista – FULL RECAP

• (P) J. Bautista: 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K
• (1B) Y. Medina: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI
• (LF) R. De La Cruz: 1-2, 2B, R, BB

It was Game 1 of 72 for the DSL Braves as they opened up the Dominican Summer League season on a good note, holding the Dodgers to only three hits in their win.

19-year-old Yerangel Medina led the way with his two-run homer, a quick burst of power as opposed to the 46 games last season where he never hit a home run for the DSL team. The first baseman was a rather weak hitting corner-player in 2018, slashing .216/.300/.269 (.569 OPS).

Randi De La Cruz, one of two De La Cruz’s on the team and one of three in the Braves minor league organization, had the only other XBH Saturday. De La Cruz was a .178 hitter with only four XBHs (4 doubles) in 35 games last season for the DSL Braves.

Outfielder Jeremy Celedonio, 17-years-old, was the only Braves batter to have multiple hits. He finished 2-for-4 with a strikeout.

Righty Jorge Bautista started on the mound for the Braves, but Jordano Perez picked up the win. Perez, also a right-hander, pitched 2.1 innings and struck out two, walking none and giving up two hits.

Carlos De La Cruz picked up the save, appearing as the 4th and final pitcher of the game for the Braves. De La Cruz pitched 1.2 innings and struck out one. In 2018, the 22-year-old Cruz pitched in 13 games, converting two out of four save chances and finishing with a 2.28 ERA in 27.2 innings-pitched.

(6/2) Sunday: OFF DAY

No baseball for the DSL Braves on Sunday. They get back on the field Monday, June 3.