Drake is now hitting .258/.314/.581 in 8 games to start the month
(34-30) Nashville Sounds 9, (30-34) Gwinnett Stripers 13
- Forrest Wall, CF: 2-for-4, 2R, .285/.396/.424
- Ramón Laureano, RF: 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R, .333/.377/.625
- Chadwick Tromp, DH: 2-for-4, 4 RBI, BB, .269/.321/.423
- Andrew Velazquez, 2B: 3-for-4, 3 R, 2 SB, .262/.355/.455
- Grant Holmes, SP: 4.2IP 8H 4ER, 2BB, 9K, 2.63 ERA
Offense continues to be the name of the game, just as we all expected, for the Gwinnett Stripers who exploded for 13 runs on 15 hits. Gwinnett found themselves down early as starter Grant Holmes gave up a three run homer in the first inning. The Stripers would respond in the third inning when Chadwick Tromp would single in Skye Bolt and Forrest Wall who had both singled earlier in the inning before both moving up 90’ after a wild pitch. The Stripers would tie the game in the next inning Luke Williams singled, took second on a bunt by Andrew Velazquez, stole third, and then came in on a Sandy León single. The Sounds would respond by going up by a run in the fifth inning before the Stripers exploded for five runs in the sixth inning including a bases loaded walk by Sandy León (4-4), two run double by Skye Bolt (6-4), and another two run single by Chadwick Tromp (8-4).
The Sounds, once again, had an answer of their own as they added four runs themselves, in the seventh inning off of Daysbel Hernández, and Parker Dunshee. But, yet again, the Stripers would tack on another run in the seventh inning when Luke Waddell doubled in Andrew Velazquez, who had singled earlier in the inning. The Stripers would put away the game the following inning started by a two run homer by Ramón Laureano (11-8), and two run single by Luke Waddell (13-8). The Sounds added another run in the 9th inning before Jackson Stephens worked himself into and out of danger and preserved the win for the Stripers.
(31-25) Rome Braves 2, (32-26) Bowling Green Hot Rods 4
- Kevin Kilpatrick, CF: 1-for-4, 3B, R, RBI, .277/.335/.405
- Ethan Workinger, LF: 1-for-4, RBI, .275/.366/.411
- Drue Hackenberg, SP: 6.2IP 3H 2ER 2BB 6K, 4.13 ERA
Drue Hackenberg was dealing for most of his outing up until the sixth inning when the Hot Rods manufactured a run after Drue walked leadoff man Brock James. The Hot Rods would add on another run the following inning when Hunter Haas doubled in Ryan Cermak who singled to open the inning. The game was 2-0 up until the top of the ninth when Carlos Arroyo reached on a fielding error. He would be tripled in by Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. cutting the lead down to 1. Kevin would come in after Ethan Workinger singled him in, before being thrown out at second – tying the game at 2-2 but leaving there two outs in the ninth. Adam Zebrowski would strike out to end the frame, and leaving the game tied. Unfortunately, that tie did not last long as Shay Schanaman would hit the second hitter he saw, and then give up a walk off homer to Hunter Haas and giving the Hot Rods the win.
(25-32) Augusta GreenJackets 9, (31-27) Lynchburg Hellcats 1
- Isaiah Drake, CF: 3-for-4, 2 (2B), 2R, RBI, SB (8), .143/.246/.252
- Jeremy Caledonia, DH: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, HR, R, .222/.377/.463
- Jeremy Reyes, SP: 5IP 3H 1ER 4BB 2K, 1.80 ERA
Jeremy Reyes made his Low-A debut for the Augusta GreenJackets and showed a glimpse of what he was capable of. At just 18 years of age, Reyes finds himself in full season ball and more than held his own tonight – giving up just one earned run over five innings pitched. We saw glimpses of a possibly good changeup, solid slider, and big fastball that made him the talk of the FCL Braves roster this season and despite struggling a bit with his command – walking four, he more than held his own and looked like a starting pitcher. What I mean by that is that Jeremy looks the part, and looks like someone who can project as a starting pitcher in his career. With his command wavering just a bit when he came out in the sixth inning it was pitcher William Silva who worked his magic, pitching an outstanding three innings of two hit baseball where he struck out three. And the game was closed out by Beau Philip who worked a scoreless ninth inning.
How did the offense get it done? The story starts with Isaiah Drake who doubled in the first inning, stole third, and then came to score on a Will Verdung sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. The Hillcats would tie the game up at 1-1 in the fourth, but then Isaiah Drake lead off the sixth with a double off the wall, took third on a grounder to the shortstop, and then would score on a single by none other than Will Verdung. What had been a tightly contested game for six innings quickly turned lopsided when the GreenJackets would score seven runs in the seventh inning to break it open 9-1, highlighted by Jeremy Caledonio hitting a two run homer.