The 24-year-old righty struck out 11 over seven frames in game two for the Braves.
Mississippi got a no-hitter from its starter in game two in what was the top performance on Friday for any of Atlanta’s minor league squads.
(21-22) Gwinnett Stripers 3, (22-21) Memphis Redbirds 10
- Forrest Wall, DH: 3-4, 2B, R, 2 BB
- David Fletcher, 2B: 1-4, 2 RBI
- J.P. Martinez, CF: 1-5, RBI
- Allan Winans, SP: 3 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, K
Early pitching woes proved to be the Stripers’ downfall on Friday as Memphis tagged Gwinnett’s pitchers for ten runs across the first four innings.
Despite the lackluster pitching performance by Gwinnett starter Allan Winans, who allowed six runs in just three innings of work, the Stripers actually took the first lead of the game.
In the top of the first inning, after Forrest Wall ledoff the game with a double, a David Fletcher single brought him home to make it 1-0 Gwinnett early. However, Winans allowed two runs in the home half as Memphis never looked back, nor allowed Gwinnett to retake the lead again.
The Stripers managed to tie the game in the top of the second, as David Fletcher brought Sandy Leon home on a sacrifice fly to make it 2-2.
Things went south quickly for Gwinnett, as the Redbirds soon took a 10-2 lead over the Stripers headed into the fifth frame.
Gwinnett eventually scored another run in the top of the eighth inning. Ryan Casteel singled before Andrew Velazquez replaced him at first base on a forceout. A Wall walk moved Casteel up to second base. J.P. Martinez then singled into right field to make it 10-3 Memphis.
While loading the bases in the top of the ninth inning, the Stripers were unable to cut any deeper into the Memphis lead as the Redbirds took Friday’s contest.
(14-22) Mississippi Braves 1, (17-19) Biloxi Shuckers 3
- Bryson Horne, 1B: 1-3, HR, RBI, R
- Geraldo Quintero, LF: 1-3
- J.J. Niekro, SP: 4.2 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Game one of Mississippi’s doubleheader on Friday was rough, to say the least.
Starter J.J. Niekro put up solid numbers for the Braves, tossing 4.2 innings while allowing just one run and striking out three. However, things at the plate weren’t breaking in favor of Mississippi.
The Braves got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning. On the first at-bat of the inning, Bryson Horne homered over the right centerfield fence to stake Mississippi to a 1-0 lead.
Biloxi tied things up at one apiece in the top of the fifth, just after Niekro — who the run was charged to — was relieved by Anthony Vizcaya. After the game went into extra innings, the Shuckers took the lead in the top of the eighth, scoring two runs to make it 3-1.
Mississippi was unable to score at all in the home half of the frame as they ended game one with just two hits on the day.
(15-21) MIssissippi Braves 2, (16-20) Biloxi Shuckers 0
- Javier Valdes, 1B: 1-2, 2 RBI
- Yolbert Sanchez, 2B: 1-3
- Ian Mejia, SP: 7 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 11 K
In what was easily the best individual performance of the day for Atlanta’s farmhands, Ian Mejia tossed a no-hitter for Mississippi, dominating Biloxi in game two.
Mejia was simply brilliant, allowing just two walks while striking out 11 for Mississippi. With Friday’s performance, Mejia lowered his season ERA to 1.69. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that Mejia could join Gwinnett in a promotion in the very near future.
Meanwhile, while Mejia was doing his thing on the bump, the Mississippi had a touch time getting going. The Braves only tallied one hit through the first three innings, but finally crossed the plate in the bottom of the fourth.
Nacho Alvarez Jr. drew a leadoff walk before Drake Baldwin and Yolbert Sanchez were retired. With two out in the inning, Geraldo Quintero walked before he and Alvarez Jr. stole second and third bases, respectively. A Javier Valdes single plated both runners to stake Mississippi to a 2-0 lead.
Thankfully, Mejia’s performance was more than enough cover as the Braves failed to register a single hit for the rest of the game as Mississippi won, splitting both of Friday’s games.
(19-16) Rome Emperors, (15-21) Asheville Tourists (POSTPONED)
Mother Nature had other ideas for Rome on Friday as the Emperors’ game was postponed and will be made up on Saturday as part of a doubleheader.
(16-20) Augusta GreenJackets 3, (18-19) Salem Red Sox 5
- Diego Benitez, SS: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB
- Robert Gonzalez, CF: 1-3, 2 R
- Davis Polo, SP: 5 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 2 K
Augusta got a solid performance out of their starter on Friday, but still fell to Salem by a 5-3 score as the bullpen faltered in the late going.
The GreenJackets jumped into the score column first, plating a pair of runners in the bottom of the second inning. After Robert Gonzalez singled — and advanced to second on an error — Diego Benitez tallied his second home run of the young season to give Augusta an early 2-0 lead.
Davis Polo got the start on the bump for the GreenJackets and put up five innings of one-run ball while striking out a pair of batters. While Polo was doing his thing, the GreenJacket offense added another run in the bottom of the fourth.
Gonzalez worked a one-out walk and subsequently stole second base before Benitez worked a walk of his own to put two on base. A single by Pier-Olivier Boucher loaded the bases as a Joe Olsavsky forceout extended the GreenJackets’ lead to 3-0.
Salem tagged Polo for one run in the top of the fifth to make it 3-1. Reibyn Corona took over for Polo in the top of the sixth inning and and tossed a scoreless frame before running into trouble. In the top of the seventh inning, Corona allowed four runs as Salem was able to take a 5-3 lead over Augusta.
At the plate, the GreenJackets went down in order in each of the first three innings as they were unable to mount a comeback in the loss.
(1-9) FCL Braves 4, (6-3) FCL Rays 11
- Junior Garcia, LF: 2-4, HR, RBI, R
- John Estevez, RF: 1-3, 3B, RBI, R
- Austin Smith, SP: IP, K
It was a rough go of it for Atlanta’s FCL squad on Friday, losing to the FCL Rays by an 11-4 final.
Starter Austin Smith only went one inning, while holding the Rays scoreless and striking out one. Justin Mitello took over in the second inning and tossed three frames. However, Mitello gave up five runs on six hits while striking out three.
At the plate, the Braves scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second as Angel Nieblas brought home John Estevez on a sacrifice fly. After the Rays tied things up, Estevez brought home John Gil on a sacrifice fly of his own.
Things went downhill for the Braves in the top of the fifth as the Rays scored five runs and another run in the sixth inning.
The Rays got two more runs in each of the eighth and ninth innings as they took Friday’s game against the Braves by an 11-4 final.