<img alt="MLB: APR 20 Rangers at Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/njqHLdet7s4FrKZh258snlXUot0=/3x0:2739x1824/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73417804/2147964209.0.jpg">
Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Fuentes has struck out 18 batters across his last 12 innings of work. Rome clinched a playoff spot, Didier Fuentes was spectacular for Augusta and Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. doubled twice in what was a jam-packed day down on the farm. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
(34-37) Gwinnett Stripers 3, (30-40) Charlotte Knights 9
Luke Williams, 3B: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB
Eli White, CF: 2-4
Zach Logue, SP: 3 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, BB, K
Box Score
A last ditch effort by Gwinnett fell short as the Stripers fell to Charlotte by six runs on Wednesday.
Neither team score in the first two innings before Gwinnett starter Zach Logue allowed the wheels to fall off the wagon in the bottom of the third frame. The Knights tagged Logue for five runs — three earned — to give Charlotte the 5-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Stripers finally got on the board. Yuli Gurriel ledoff with a single before Chadwick Tromp followed that off with a walk. After Eli White grounded into a forceout to move both runners up a base, Gurriel scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-1.
Things went from bad to worse in the home half of the fourth, as Charlotte scored three more runs off of reliever Brian Moran to extend their lead to 8-1. In the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, things quieted down a bit as both teams went scoreless during that stretch. However, the Knights tacked on an additional run to their lead in the bottom of the eighth — off of reliever Parker Dunshee — to make it a 9-1 game.
The Stripers attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth inning, but would ultimately fall short. After Luke Waddell notched a one-out single, Luke Williams launched his sixth homer of the year over the left center field wall to cut the deficit to 9-3. But it would be too little, too late as Gwinnett was handed the loss on the night.
(29-35) Mississippi Braves 2, (38-26) Tennessee Smokies 5
Yolmer Sanchez, 2B: 1-4, 2B, RBI
Cody Milligan, CF: 2-4, 2B, R
Tyler Tolve, DH: 1-4, 2B, RBI
Ian Mejia, SP: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Box Score
Things appeared to be looking up for Mississippi against the Smokies. That is, until the midpoint of the game.
Getting the start on the mound was Ian Mejia, who tossed four brilliant, scoreless innings. Meanwhile, while his offense also was held scoreless for the first three frames, Mississippi finally scored in the top of the fourth. Justin Dean singled and advanced to second on a balk. Then, Yolmer Sanchez doubled into left field to score Dean and make it a 1-0 Braves lead.
That lead didn’t last long, as Mejia would allow four runs in his final inning of work as Tennessee took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. The Smokies would tack on to their lead in the bottom of the sixth, scoring once to make it 5-1.
The final run of the game came in the top of the seventh when Tyler Tolve doubled in Cody Milligan to make it a 5-2 game.
While Milligan would double in the ninth, that would be the last offensive output Mississippi would get the rest of the game as Tennessee held on for the win.
(36-27) Rome Emperors 6, (25-40) Greenville Drive 4
Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., CF: 3-4, 2 2B, RBI, 3 R
Ethan Workinger, LF: 1-3, 3 RBI
E.J. Exposito, SS: 1-4, 2B, R
Luis Vargas, SP: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 5 K
Box Score
Rome came out on top in what was a true back-and-forth battle against Greenville, winning by a 6-4 final. But more importantly, with the win, the Emperors clinched the SAL South First-Half Championship, securing a playoff berth for the season.
The Drive jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs off of Rome starter Luis Vargas in the top of the first inning. However, the Emperors were able to get one of those runs back in the home half. Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. ledoff with a double before moving up to third base on a Sabin Ceballos groundout. Then Ethan Workinger brought Kilpatrick Jr. home on a sac fly to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Greenville got that run back in the top of the fourth to make it a 3-1. However, things broke right for Rome in the bottom of the fifth frame. E.J. Exposito laced a one-out, ground-rule-double before advancing to third on a passed ball. Then, Nick Ward brought Exposito home on a sac fly to make it 3-2 Greenville. In the final at-bat of the inning, Workinger singled into center field, but Kilpatrick Jr. and Nick Clarno both scored on a throwing error to make it 4-3 Rome.
The Emperors got some much-needed insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ward singled in the first at-bat of the frame and stole second base. Kilpatrick Jr. then doubled Ward home to make it 5-3. Later in the inning, Sabin Ceballos brought Kilpatrick Jr. home on a single to make it 6-3 Rome.
While Greenville scored one run in the top of the eighth off of reliever Ryan Bourassa to cut the Emperors’ lead to 6-4, but that was all the Drive would get as Rome held on for the victory and a postseason spot.
(27-37) Augusta GreenJackets 2, (33-32) Salem Red Sox 0
Isaiah Drake, CF: 1-3, 2B, R
Will Verdung, 1B: 1-3, 2 RBI, BB
Didier Fuentes, SP: 6 IP, H, 7 K
Box Score
Didier Fuentes continued to impress, as he once again dazzled on the mound in Augusta’s shutout win over Salem on Wednesday.
Across six innings, Fuentes struck out seven batters while only allowing one baserunner — a single in the fifth inning — in his start. On the season, Fuentes’ ERA is down to 2.60 and he has struck out 18 batters across his last three starts. After Fuentes gave way to the bullpen at the start of the seventh inning, LJ McDonough and William Silva continued the dominance on the mound, preserving the shutout on the night.
Offensively, the GreenJackets gave Fuentes some early run support, striking quickly in the first inning. Isaiah Drake ledoff with a double and used his plus-plus speed to his advantage, advancing to third base on an error by the Salem second baseman. Two batters later, Will Verdung singled into center field to make it 1-0 Augusta.
In the top of the third, the GreenJackets added on to their lead. Joe Olsavsky reached on a one-out error and subsequently stole second base before Drake drew a walk. After Luis Sanchez singled to load the bases, Verdung once again came through with a walk to plate Olsavsky to extend the Augusta lead to 2-0.
While the GreenJackets didn’t score the rest of the game, the two runs were more than enough as Augusta’s pitching staff tossed a one-hitter in the win.
<img alt="MLB: APR 20 Rangers at Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/njqHLdet7s4FrKZh258snlXUot0=/3x0:2739x1824/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73417804/2147964209.0.jpg">
Photo by John Adams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Fuentes has struck out 18 batters across his last 12 innings of work. Rome clinched a playoff spot, Didier Fuentes was spectacular for Augusta and Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. doubled twice in what was a jam-packed day down on the farm. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
(34-37) Gwinnett Stripers 3, (30-40) Charlotte Knights 9
Luke Williams, 3B: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB
Eli White, CF: 2-4
Zach Logue, SP: 3 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, BB, K
Box Score
A last ditch effort by Gwinnett fell short as the Stripers fell to Charlotte by six runs on Wednesday.
Neither team score in the first two innings before Gwinnett starter Zach Logue allowed the wheels to fall off the wagon in the bottom of the third frame. The Knights tagged Logue for five runs — three earned — to give Charlotte the 5-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Stripers finally got on the board. Yuli Gurriel ledoff with a single before Chadwick Tromp followed that off with a walk. After Eli White grounded into a forceout to move both runners up a base, Gurriel scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-1.
Things went from bad to worse in the home half of the fourth, as Charlotte scored three more runs off of reliever Brian Moran to extend their lead to 8-1. In the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, things quieted down a bit as both teams went scoreless during that stretch. However, the Knights tacked on an additional run to their lead in the bottom of the eighth — off of reliever Parker Dunshee — to make it a 9-1 game.
The Stripers attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth inning, but would ultimately fall short. After Luke Waddell notched a one-out single, Luke Williams launched his sixth homer of the year over the left center field wall to cut the deficit to 9-3. But it would be too little, too late as Gwinnett was handed the loss on the night.
(29-35) Mississippi Braves 2, (38-26) Tennessee Smokies 5
Yolmer Sanchez, 2B: 1-4, 2B, RBI
Cody Milligan, CF: 2-4, 2B, R
Tyler Tolve, DH: 1-4, 2B, RBI
Ian Mejia, SP: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Box Score
Things appeared to be looking up for Mississippi against the Smokies. That is, until the midpoint of the game.
Getting the start on the mound was Ian Mejia, who tossed four brilliant, scoreless innings. Meanwhile, while his offense also was held scoreless for the first three frames, Mississippi finally scored in the top of the fourth. Justin Dean singled and advanced to second on a balk. Then, Yolmer Sanchez doubled into left field to score Dean and make it a 1-0 Braves lead.
That lead didn’t last long, as Mejia would allow four runs in his final inning of work as Tennessee took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. The Smokies would tack on to their lead in the bottom of the sixth, scoring once to make it 5-1.
The final run of the game came in the top of the seventh when Tyler Tolve doubled in Cody Milligan to make it a 5-2 game.
While Milligan would double in the ninth, that would be the last offensive output Mississippi would get the rest of the game as Tennessee held on for the win.
(36-27) Rome Emperors 6, (25-40) Greenville Drive 4
Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., CF: 3-4, 2 2B, RBI, 3 R
Ethan Workinger, LF: 1-3, 3 RBI
E.J. Exposito, SS: 1-4, 2B, R
Luis Vargas, SP: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 5 K
Box Score
Rome came out on top in what was a true back-and-forth battle against Greenville, winning by a 6-4 final. But more importantly, with the win, the Emperors clinched the SAL South First-Half Championship, securing a playoff berth for the season.
The Drive jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs off of Rome starter Luis Vargas in the top of the first inning. However, the Emperors were able to get one of those runs back in the home half. Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. ledoff with a double before moving up to third base on a Sabin Ceballos groundout. Then Ethan Workinger brought Kilpatrick Jr. home on a sac fly to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Greenville got that run back in the top of the fourth to make it a 3-1. However, things broke right for Rome in the bottom of the fifth frame. E.J. Exposito laced a one-out, ground-rule-double before advancing to third on a passed ball. Then, Nick Ward brought Exposito home on a sac fly to make it 3-2 Greenville. In the final at-bat of the inning, Workinger singled into center field, but Kilpatrick Jr. and Nick Clarno both scored on a throwing error to make it 4-3 Rome.
The Emperors got some much-needed insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Ward singled in the first at-bat of the frame and stole second base. Kilpatrick Jr. then doubled Ward home to make it 5-3. Later in the inning, Sabin Ceballos brought Kilpatrick Jr. home on a single to make it 6-3 Rome.
While Greenville scored one run in the top of the eighth off of reliever Ryan Bourassa to cut the Emperors’ lead to 6-4, but that was all the Drive would get as Rome held on for the victory and a postseason spot.
(27-37) Augusta GreenJackets 2, (33-32) Salem Red Sox 0
Isaiah Drake, CF: 1-3, 2B, R
Will Verdung, 1B: 1-3, 2 RBI, BB
Didier Fuentes, SP: 6 IP, H, 7 K
Box Score
Didier Fuentes continued to impress, as he once again dazzled on the mound in Augusta’s shutout win over Salem on Wednesday.
Across six innings, Fuentes struck out seven batters while only allowing one baserunner — a single in the fifth inning — in his start. On the season, Fuentes’ ERA is down to 2.60 and he has struck out 18 batters across his last three starts. After Fuentes gave way to the bullpen at the start of the seventh inning, LJ McDonough and William Silva continued the dominance on the mound, preserving the shutout on the night.
Offensively, the GreenJackets gave Fuentes some early run support, striking quickly in the first inning. Isaiah Drake ledoff with a double and used his plus-plus speed to his advantage, advancing to third base on an error by the Salem second baseman. Two batters later, Will Verdung singled into center field to make it 1-0 Augusta.
In the top of the third, the GreenJackets added on to their lead. Joe Olsavsky reached on a one-out error and subsequently stole second base before Drake drew a walk. After Luis Sanchez singled to load the bases, Verdung once again came through with a walk to plate Olsavsky to extend the Augusta lead to 2-0.
While the GreenJackets didn’t score the rest of the game, the two runs were more than enough as Augusta’s pitching staff tossed a one-hitter in the win.
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