Sunday saw the Didier Fuentes that earned his top prospect status, while Isaiah Drake also had a big game.
Gwinnett Stripers 10, Memphis Redbirds 1
- Nacho Alvarez Jr., 2B: 1-5, BB, .333/.500/.467
- Eddys Leonard, LF: 3-3, HR, 2B, BB, 3 R, 5 RBI, .235/.307/.447
- Didier Fuentes, SP: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 9 K, 4.96 ERA
- Jackson Stephens, RP: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2.57 ERA
Didier Fuentes got the start and was excellent on Sunday. Over five innings he allowed one run on just two hits and a walk, striking out nine and picking up 14 swings and misses. This is the version of Fuentes that the Braves were hoping to see during his brief call up, but he wasn’t quite ready yet. Starts like this however give more hope that he shouldn’t be too much further away. Jackson Stephens followed and was similarly great, though he wasn’t really missing bats. Stephens went three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and no walks. Domingo Gonzalez also kept Memphis off the bases in his inning. Combined the final stat line was a run on three hits and a walk, in a dominant team performance.
The offense put up 10 runs in the way, but it was the Eddys Leonard show in this one. He went three for three with a walk, which included both a homer and a double, as he scored three runs and batted in five. Jonathan Ornelas also had a big game, going two for two with a pair of walks and also hitting a homer. Jarred Kelenic, Carlos Rodriguez, Conner Capel, and Jason Delay all had two-hit games as well, while Nacho Alvarez, Luke Waddell, and Cody Milligan all had a base hit and a walk to reach base multiple times – something all nine guys in the lineup did in this win.
Swing and Misses
Didier Fuentes – 14
Jackson Stephens – 3
Chattanooga Lookouts 11, Columbus Clingstones 10
- Ethan Workinger, RF: 2-3, 2B, 2 BB, 2 R, RBI, .225/.297/.407
- EJ Exposito, 2B: 2-4, HR, 2B, R, 5 RBI, .172/.243/.263
- Drue Hackenberg, SP: 3 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 9.00 ERA
This game was not as close as the final score looked. Chattanooga scored four runs off Drue Hackenberg in the first, and had scored 10 runs off of him in the first three innings to run out to a 10-1 lead. Hackenberg just got beat up, giving up four in the first and three each in the second and third innings, giving up eight hits and three walks. Brian Moran followed and went three and a third innings, allowing the final Lookouts run to come across but pitching well. Shay Schanaman battled command a bit, but threw a scoreless inning despite three walks and a hit. The final five outs came from LJ McDonough, who didn’t allow any more damage to come home.
After going into the bottom of the third down 10-1, the Stones added a run there, five in the bottom of the fifth, one in the seventh, and two in the eighth to cut it to a one run game. Unfortunately the comeback came up a little short, but they certainly fought their way back into it. There was another five-RBI game in this one, as EJ Exposito went two for four with a homer, double, and five batted in. He was joined by Ethan Workinger, who was two for three with a double, two walks, two runs scored, and one batted in. They were the only guys with multi-hit games, though a bunch of guys had a hit and a walk, including David McCabe, Geraldo Quintero, and Drew Compton.
Swing and Misses
Drue Hackenberg – 5
Shay Schanaman – 4
Brian Moran – 4
Hudson Valley Renegades 6, Rome Emperors 3
- Ambioris Tavarez, SS: 1-3, 2B, BB, R, .266/.333/.367
- Adam Maier, SP: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 5.74 ERA
- William Silva, RP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 8.77 ERA
Adam Maier was another pitcher in the system who got knocked out very early, as he allowed six runs in the second and couldn’t make it through the inning. Maier was knocked around pretty easily by the Renegades in the second, but they couldn’t do any additional damage against the pen. Three relievers combined to not allow another run the rest of the way. First was William Silva for two and a third, then two and two thirds from JJ Niekro, and then the final inning and a third came from Ryan Bourassa. The trio allowed three hits and two walks over six and a third, striking out four.
Ambioris Tavarez was the standout in the lineup in this loss, doubling, walking, and scoring one of the Emperors runs. Jace Grady and Keshawn Ogans each had two-hit games that included doubles, while singles from Jake Steels and Luis Sanchez accounted for the remainder of the Rome hits. Although he didn’t reach base safely, Patrick Clohisy stole his 58th and 59th bases and scored a run in the loss.
Swing and Misses
JJ Niekro – 7
Adam Maier – 4
Ryan Bourassa – 3
Augusta GreenJackets 13, Hickory Crawdads 6
- Juan Mateo, SS: 2-4, 2 BB, 3 R, RBI, 2 SB, .194/.286/.226
- Isaiah Drake, RF: 4-6, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, SB, .264/.346/.370
- Douglas Glod, DH: 2-4, HR, BB, 2 R, 4 RBI, .221/.358/.363
- Colby Jones, 2B: 1-3, 3 BB, 2 R, SB, .212/.351/.259
Owen Hackman got the start here, and didn’t quite have his best stuff. He allowed two runs over three and two thirds, but also gave up seven hits. That ended up leading to a bit of a bullpen game for the Jackets. Reibyn Corona came in and didn’t allow a run for the next inning and a third. Colson Lawrence started the sixth, but allowed three runs while recording just one out. Albert Rivas took over and went the next inning and two thirds, allowing a run. Trent Buchanan followed with a scoreless inning, before Juan Sanchez finished off the game with a scoreless frame of his own.
The real story of this game was the Augusta lineup putting up some stats. Isaiah Drake was the biggest star, going four for six with a homer, steal, two runs scored, and three batted in – hitting his fifth homer of the season. He was joined by Douglas Glod, who hit his sixth homer of the year, while going two for four with a walk, two runs scored, and four batted in. Juan Mateo went two for four with a pair of walks, three runs scored, a run batted in, and two steals in his best game since being promoted from the FCL. Colby Jones also had a notable game, going one for three with three walks, two runs scored, and a steal. Even Nick Montgomery added a walk, extending his on base streak to six games – though ending his four game hitting streak. Finally Eric Hartman walked, doubled, and got hit by a pitch in his six trips to the plate. The only key guy not to reach safely was Owen Carey, who went hitless in six at bats.
Swing and Misses
Owen Hackman – 6
Reibyn Corona – 3
Trent Buchanan – 2