<img alt="Arizona Diamondbacks v. Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A2sGwOtWPJU-cVC6ThjtnuVhovY=/0x0:5932x3955/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73433300/2133954176.0.jpg">
Photo by Todd Kirkland/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Braun put up a solid start in his Double-A debut. There were seven total games for Atlanta’s minor league affiliates on Thursday, chock-full with action from top to bottom. So, let’s dive into it all.
(36-42) Gwinnett Stripers 0, (40-38) Memphis Redbirds 4
Nacho Alvarez Jr., SS: 2-4
Drake Baldwin, C: 1-4, 2B
Darius Vines, SP: 7 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, K
Box Score
It was a rough go of it for Atlanta’s top minor league squad as Gwinnett was shutout in the loss to Memphis.
Darius Vines got the start on the mound for the Stripers and provided some length for Gwinnett. Across seven innings, Vines allowed seven hits and a walk, but also gave up four runs which would prove to be enough to beat the Stripers on the night.
At the plate, Gwinnett only tallied four hits on the night. While that number itself is discouraging, one positive aspect is that Nacho Alvarez Jr. went 2-4, raising his average at Triple-A to .373. Across 14 games with Gwinnett, the shortstop has posted a 1.058 OPS with eight extra-base hits and 12 RBI.
All-in-all, it was a disappointing night as the Stripers failed to put up much of a collective fight as they fell by the 4-0 final.
(34-37) Mississippi Braves 5, (40-32) Montgomery Biscuits 3
Tyler Tolve, C: 2-3, HR, 3B, RBI, 2 R, BB
Cody Milligan, 2B: 2-4, R
Lucas Braun, SP: 5.2 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 9 K
Box Score
Lucas Braun turned in a solid performance in his Double-A debut. While scattering ten hits across 5.2 innings, Braun allowed three runs and struck out nine batters.
Braun’s offense provided him with some early run support in the bottom of the first inning. Cody Milligan tallied a one-out single and proceeded to steal second base before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Geraldo Quintero singled Milligan home in the next at-bat to make it 1-0 as Justin Dean followed that up with a single of his own to move Quintero up to third. Then, on a perfectly-executed double steal, Quintero stole home while Justin Dean would end up scoring all the way from second on a throwing error by the Montgomery catcher to make it a 3-0 Braves advantage.
Braun, meanwhile, tossed three scoreless frames before running into a little trouble in the top of the fourth as he allowed two runs as the Biscuits cut the lead to 3-2. Montgomery would ultimately tie things up in the top of the fifth, scoring one run.
Mississippi retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Tyler Tolve tripled into center field before Javier Valdes doubled to plate Tolve and make it a 4-3 Braves lead. Tolve would come through again in the bottom of the eighth, homering to make it a 5-3 lead which would hold on as the final as Mississippi got the win.
(40-30) Rome Emperors 6, (33-39) Winston-Salem Dash 7
Carlos Arroyo, 2B: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI
Adam Zebrowski, C: 2-4, 2B
Sabin Ceballos, 3B: 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB
Jhancarlos Lara, SP: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Box Score
Rome fell victim to a walkoff loss on Thursday, as Winston-Salem came away with the victory.
The Dash jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, tallying two runs off of Rome starter Jhancarlos Lara. The Emperors managed to get one of those runs back in the top of the second as Stephen Paolini scored Drew Compton on a sac fly to make it 2-1.
In the top of the third, Rome was able to tie things up at 2-2. Sabin Ceballos notched a one-out double before Ethan Workinger singled him to third. Then, as Ceballos and Workinger attempted to execute a double-steal, Workinger was thrown out but Ceballos crossed the plate to knot the game at 2-2.
Rome doubled down in the top of the fourth, scoring twice more. After Paolini singled, Carlos Arroyo brought him home on a two-run homer to extend the Emperors lead to 4-2. In the top of the sixth, E.J. Exposito tripled to leadoff the frame and subsequently scored on a balk to make it a 5-2 lead for Rome.
After Tyree Thompson took over for Lara on the mound, Winston-Salem tagged him for two runs to cut the Rome lead to 5-4. In the next frame, the Emperors were able to get one of those runs back as Sabin Ceballos scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-4.
The Dash tied things up in the bottom of the eighth, scoring two runs off of reliever William Silva to knot the game at 6-6. Things went from bad to worse in the bottom of the ninth, as Shay Schanaman allowed one run to score, walking off Rome as the Emperors were handed the loss.
(29-42) Augusta GreenJackets 1, (30-41) Charleston RiverDogs 4
Kade Kern, DH: 2-4, HR, RBI, R
Luis Sanchez, 2B: 2-5
Didier Fuentes, SP: 4.2 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Box Score
The GreenJackets came up short against Charleston despite a solid outing by starter Didier Fuentes on the night.
Across 4.2 innings, Fuentes scattered four hits while only allowing one run and striking out five batters. On the season, Fuentes has lowered his ERA to 2.54.
However, after both teams were held scoreless over the first three innings, Charleston scored twice in top of the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. The River Dogs would add on one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings to extend their lead to 4-0 over Augusta.
Offensively, despite only being outhit by one knock, the GreenJackets were unable to string enough of them together to put up a crooked number on the board. The lone run on the night came in the bottom of the sixth inning as Kade Kern launched a solo homer over the left field wall to make it a 4-1 game. That score would hold as the final, as Augusta failed to score in the final innings.
(10-26) FCL Braves 5, (18-19) FCL Twins 0 (GAME ONE)
Junior Garcia, DH: 1-3, 2B, RBI, R, BB
John Gil, SS: 1-2, RBI, 2 BB, R
Luis Parababire, C: 1-3, RBI, R
JR Ritchie, SP: 3 IP, 2 BB, 3 K
Box Score
In what would eventually be a sweep on the day across two games, the FCL Braves shutout the FCL Twins by a 5-0 final to start the minor league action on Thursday.
Getting the nod to kick things off on the mound for the Braves, JR Ritchie performed exceptionally well in his rehab start with the FCL squad. Across three innings, the righty held the Twins scoreless and hitless, while only issuing a pair of walks and striking out three.
Offensively, a bulk of the Braves five runs on the day came in the bottom of the first frame. John Gil drew a one-out walk before Junior Garcia doubled him home before moving up to third on the throw as the Braves took a 1-0 lead. Two batters after Diego Benitez drew a walk of his own, Luis Parababire singled home Garcia to extend the lead to 2-0. Benitez then scored on an error off the bat of Jair Casanova before Parababire scored on a wild pitch to bring home the fourth run of the inning.
The Braves got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning as John Gil singled home Willmer De La Cruz to make it a 5-0 lead.
Genderson Almonte and Marco Patino followed Ritchie on the mound and continued his success, tossing four scoreless innings to hold the Twins to zero runs in the game one win for the Braves.
(11-26) FCL Braves 3, (18-20) FCL Twins 2 (GAME TWO)
Roiber Niazoa, 1B: 1-2, RBI, R, BB
Carlos Cordero, 3B: 1-2, 2 RBI, BB
Luis Arestigueta, SP: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Box Score
In game two on the day, the FCL Braves overcame an early deficit to come away with another win and sweep on the day.
Starter Luis Arestigueta allowed two runs in the bottom of the first inning as the Twins took a 2-0 lead. Arestigueta would settle down after the first frame, striking out six across 3.2 innings.
The Braves would strike back, taking the lead for good in the top of the second. Mario Baez reached on an error to begin the frame before moving up to third on a groundout off the bat of Angel Nieblas. Then, Roiber Niazoa singled home Baez to cut the deficit in half at 2-1. Later in the inning, Carlos Cordero singled home Niazoa to tie the game at 2-2, but Josnaider Orellana would also score on an error on the play to give the Braves a 3-2 lead.
Relievers Carter Rees and Albert Rivas came on and held the Twins scoreless in the final three innings to seal off the win for the Braves.
(4-12) DSL Braves 4, (12-6) DSL Arizona Red 13
Michael Martinez, LF: 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB
Michael Baez, 1B: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Edward Cedano, SP: 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 BB, 3 K
Box Score
The DSL Braves squad was limited to just five hits on the day while the pitching staff gave up a whopping 13 runs in the loss.
Despite the lopsided stats, the Braves actually got on the board first, plating one run in the top of the third. Gabriel Cesa laced a two-out single before moving up to second base on a throwing error. Michael Martinez then tripled into right field to plate Cesa and make it a 1-0 lead for the Braves.
However, starter Edward Cedano allowed Arizona to score three times in the bottom of the third inning and an additional three in the bottom of the fourth to put the Braves behind by a 6-1 tally.
In the top of the fifth, Isaac Osorio walked to begin the inning Joan Acevedo singled him to second base before a pickoff error allowed both runners to move up a base. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Martinez plated Osorio to make it 6-2.
Arizona scored twice more in the bottom of the fifth to make it 8-2 in their favor and plated five more runs in the bottom of the seventh, staking Arizona to a 13-2 lead.
While the Braves would get two of those runs back in the top of the eighth — thanks to a Michael Baez double to plate Carlos Monteverde and Elio Campos — to make it 13-4, that would be the last offense the squad would get in the loss.
<img alt="Arizona Diamondbacks v. Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/A2sGwOtWPJU-cVC6ThjtnuVhovY=/0x0:5932x3955/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73433300/2133954176.0.jpg">
Photo by Todd Kirkland/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Braun put up a solid start in his Double-A debut. There were seven total games for Atlanta’s minor league affiliates on Thursday, chock-full with action from top to bottom. So, let’s dive into it all.
(36-42) Gwinnett Stripers 0, (40-38) Memphis Redbirds 4
Nacho Alvarez Jr., SS: 2-4
Drake Baldwin, C: 1-4, 2B
Darius Vines, SP: 7 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, K
Box Score
It was a rough go of it for Atlanta’s top minor league squad as Gwinnett was shutout in the loss to Memphis.
Darius Vines got the start on the mound for the Stripers and provided some length for Gwinnett. Across seven innings, Vines allowed seven hits and a walk, but also gave up four runs which would prove to be enough to beat the Stripers on the night.
At the plate, Gwinnett only tallied four hits on the night. While that number itself is discouraging, one positive aspect is that Nacho Alvarez Jr. went 2-4, raising his average at Triple-A to .373. Across 14 games with Gwinnett, the shortstop has posted a 1.058 OPS with eight extra-base hits and 12 RBI.
All-in-all, it was a disappointing night as the Stripers failed to put up much of a collective fight as they fell by the 4-0 final.
(34-37) Mississippi Braves 5, (40-32) Montgomery Biscuits 3
Tyler Tolve, C: 2-3, HR, 3B, RBI, 2 R, BB
Cody Milligan, 2B: 2-4, R
Lucas Braun, SP: 5.2 IP, 10 H, 3 ER, 9 K
Box Score
Lucas Braun turned in a solid performance in his Double-A debut. While scattering ten hits across 5.2 innings, Braun allowed three runs and struck out nine batters.
Braun’s offense provided him with some early run support in the bottom of the first inning. Cody Milligan tallied a one-out single and proceeded to steal second base before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Geraldo Quintero singled Milligan home in the next at-bat to make it 1-0 as Justin Dean followed that up with a single of his own to move Quintero up to third. Then, on a perfectly-executed double steal, Quintero stole home while Justin Dean would end up scoring all the way from second on a throwing error by the Montgomery catcher to make it a 3-0 Braves advantage.
Braun, meanwhile, tossed three scoreless frames before running into a little trouble in the top of the fourth as he allowed two runs as the Biscuits cut the lead to 3-2. Montgomery would ultimately tie things up in the top of the fifth, scoring one run.
Mississippi retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Tyler Tolve tripled into center field before Javier Valdes doubled to plate Tolve and make it a 4-3 Braves lead. Tolve would come through again in the bottom of the eighth, homering to make it a 5-3 lead which would hold on as the final as Mississippi got the win.
(40-30) Rome Emperors 6, (33-39) Winston-Salem Dash 7
Carlos Arroyo, 2B: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI
Adam Zebrowski, C: 2-4, 2B
Sabin Ceballos, 3B: 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB
Jhancarlos Lara, SP: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Box Score
Rome fell victim to a walkoff loss on Thursday, as Winston-Salem came away with the victory.
The Dash jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, tallying two runs off of Rome starter Jhancarlos Lara. The Emperors managed to get one of those runs back in the top of the second as Stephen Paolini scored Drew Compton on a sac fly to make it 2-1.
In the top of the third, Rome was able to tie things up at 2-2. Sabin Ceballos notched a one-out double before Ethan Workinger singled him to third. Then, as Ceballos and Workinger attempted to execute a double-steal, Workinger was thrown out but Ceballos crossed the plate to knot the game at 2-2.
Rome doubled down in the top of the fourth, scoring twice more. After Paolini singled, Carlos Arroyo brought him home on a two-run homer to extend the Emperors lead to 4-2. In the top of the sixth, E.J. Exposito tripled to leadoff the frame and subsequently scored on a balk to make it a 5-2 lead for Rome.
After Tyree Thompson took over for Lara on the mound, Winston-Salem tagged him for two runs to cut the Rome lead to 5-4. In the next frame, the Emperors were able to get one of those runs back as Sabin Ceballos scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-4.
The Dash tied things up in the bottom of the eighth, scoring two runs off of reliever William Silva to knot the game at 6-6. Things went from bad to worse in the bottom of the ninth, as Shay Schanaman allowed one run to score, walking off Rome as the Emperors were handed the loss.
(29-42) Augusta GreenJackets 1, (30-41) Charleston RiverDogs 4
Kade Kern, DH: 2-4, HR, RBI, R
Luis Sanchez, 2B: 2-5
Didier Fuentes, SP: 4.2 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 BB, 5 K
Box Score
The GreenJackets came up short against Charleston despite a solid outing by starter Didier Fuentes on the night.
Across 4.2 innings, Fuentes scattered four hits while only allowing one run and striking out five batters. On the season, Fuentes has lowered his ERA to 2.54.
However, after both teams were held scoreless over the first three innings, Charleston scored twice in top of the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. The River Dogs would add on one run in each of the fifth and sixth innings to extend their lead to 4-0 over Augusta.
Offensively, despite only being outhit by one knock, the GreenJackets were unable to string enough of them together to put up a crooked number on the board. The lone run on the night came in the bottom of the sixth inning as Kade Kern launched a solo homer over the left field wall to make it a 4-1 game. That score would hold as the final, as Augusta failed to score in the final innings.
(10-26) FCL Braves 5, (18-19) FCL Twins 0 (GAME ONE)
Junior Garcia, DH: 1-3, 2B, RBI, R, BB
John Gil, SS: 1-2, RBI, 2 BB, R
Luis Parababire, C: 1-3, RBI, R
JR Ritchie, SP: 3 IP, 2 BB, 3 K
Box Score
In what would eventually be a sweep on the day across two games, the FCL Braves shutout the FCL Twins by a 5-0 final to start the minor league action on Thursday.
Getting the nod to kick things off on the mound for the Braves, JR Ritchie performed exceptionally well in his rehab start with the FCL squad. Across three innings, the righty held the Twins scoreless and hitless, while only issuing a pair of walks and striking out three.
Offensively, a bulk of the Braves five runs on the day came in the bottom of the first frame. John Gil drew a one-out walk before Junior Garcia doubled him home before moving up to third on the throw as the Braves took a 1-0 lead. Two batters after Diego Benitez drew a walk of his own, Luis Parababire singled home Garcia to extend the lead to 2-0. Benitez then scored on an error off the bat of Jair Casanova before Parababire scored on a wild pitch to bring home the fourth run of the inning.
The Braves got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning as John Gil singled home Willmer De La Cruz to make it a 5-0 lead.
Genderson Almonte and Marco Patino followed Ritchie on the mound and continued his success, tossing four scoreless innings to hold the Twins to zero runs in the game one win for the Braves.
(11-26) FCL Braves 3, (18-20) FCL Twins 2 (GAME TWO)
Roiber Niazoa, 1B: 1-2, RBI, R, BB
Carlos Cordero, 3B: 1-2, 2 RBI, BB
Luis Arestigueta, SP: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Box Score
In game two on the day, the FCL Braves overcame an early deficit to come away with another win and sweep on the day.
Starter Luis Arestigueta allowed two runs in the bottom of the first inning as the Twins took a 2-0 lead. Arestigueta would settle down after the first frame, striking out six across 3.2 innings.
The Braves would strike back, taking the lead for good in the top of the second. Mario Baez reached on an error to begin the frame before moving up to third on a groundout off the bat of Angel Nieblas. Then, Roiber Niazoa singled home Baez to cut the deficit in half at 2-1. Later in the inning, Carlos Cordero singled home Niazoa to tie the game at 2-2, but Josnaider Orellana would also score on an error on the play to give the Braves a 3-2 lead.
Relievers Carter Rees and Albert Rivas came on and held the Twins scoreless in the final three innings to seal off the win for the Braves.
(4-12) DSL Braves 4, (12-6) DSL Arizona Red 13
Michael Martinez, LF: 2-4, 3B, 2 RBI, BB
Michael Baez, 1B: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Edward Cedano, SP: 2.2 IP, 3 ER, 7 BB, 3 K
Box Score
The DSL Braves squad was limited to just five hits on the day while the pitching staff gave up a whopping 13 runs in the loss.
Despite the lopsided stats, the Braves actually got on the board first, plating one run in the top of the third. Gabriel Cesa laced a two-out single before moving up to second base on a throwing error. Michael Martinez then tripled into right field to plate Cesa and make it a 1-0 lead for the Braves.
However, starter Edward Cedano allowed Arizona to score three times in the bottom of the third inning and an additional three in the bottom of the fourth to put the Braves behind by a 6-1 tally.
In the top of the fifth, Isaac Osorio walked to begin the inning Joan Acevedo singled him to second base before a pickoff error allowed both runners to move up a base. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Martinez plated Osorio to make it 6-2.
Arizona scored twice more in the bottom of the fifth to make it 8-2 in their favor and plated five more runs in the bottom of the seventh, staking Arizona to a 13-2 lead.
While the Braves would get two of those runs back in the top of the eighth — thanks to a Michael Baez double to plate Carlos Monteverde and Elio Campos — to make it 13-4, that would be the last offense the squad would get in the loss.
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