JR Ritchie threw a one hit complete game shutout on Saturday, while the top off the Augusta lineup went off again.
Saturday saw the exceedingly rare, especially in the minor leagues, complete game shutout from JR Ritchie. Ritchie was absolutely dominant and even finished the game with 27 straight outs without allowing a hit, after giving up a single to open the game. We also got good pitching performances from Jose Suarez and Didier Fuentes, while the fun Augusta lineup had another fun game to watch.
Durham Bulls 4, Gwinnett Stripers 3 – 10 innings
- Jose Suarez, SP: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1.32 ERA
- Craig Kimbrel, RP: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 2.70 ERA
- Jarred Kelenic, CF: 2-5, R, .268/.400/.439
- Eddys Leonard, LF/2B/3B: 2-5, RBI, .220/.271/.472
Jose Suarez came into this game with a perfect ERA through his first two starts in Gwinnett, and while he couldn’t keep the ERA at 0.00 he continued to pitch well. Suarez allowed two runs in five and two thirds innings on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. Suarez was just one out shy of qualifying for the quality start, as he racked up 14 swings and misses among his 82 pitches. Austin Cox went the next two innings and allowed a run while striking out three batters, before a scoreless inning and a third for Domingo Gonzalez. Craig Kimbrel came on for the 10th and after recording an out, gave up a hit to score the inherited extra innings runner to take the loss.
Jarred Kelenic continued his recent hot streak in this one, going two for five with a run scored. This is now three times in his past four games that Kelenic has reached base multiple times in a game. Playing in three different defensive positions Eddys Leonard was also two for five and picked up an RBI. Among the other Stripers to reach base multiple times, Matthew Batten was hitless in one at bat but drew a pair of walks, while Conner Capel was one for three with a walk despite not being in the starting lineup.
Swings and Misses:
Jose Suarez – 14
Austin Cox – 5
Birmingham Barons 4, Columbus Clingstones 1
- Didier Fuentes, SP: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 6.39 ERA
- Hayden Harris, RP: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0.00 ERA
- Kobe Kato, 2B: 2-3, HR, R, RBI, .176/.300/.294
After a lengthy rain delay kept this game from starting until after 9 PM, Didier Fuentes got the ball and pitched five strong innings. Fuentes allowed a run on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Despite the strong effort he was the pitcher who received the loss as the Clingstones were down 1-0 when he left. He was followed by Jorge Juan, who allowed three runs without recording a single out. Blane Abeyta and Hayden Harris finished off the game by each pitching a scoreless inning, and Harris struck out a pair of batters in his inning.
Despite top prospect Hagen Smith only lasting two innings the Clingstones couldn’t manage much offense outside of a Kobe Kato homer. Kato added a single as well. Geraldo Quintero was the only other hitter to reach base twice, as he was 0-1, but walked twice. Ethan Workinger added a double to continue his own hot streak. David McCabe went hitless in two at bats but did draw a walk in the loss.
Swings and Misses:
Didier Fuentes – 13
Hayden Harris – 5
Rome Emperors 2, Greenville Drive 0
- JR Ritchie, SP: 9 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K, 1.30 ERA
- Titus Dumitru, LF: 3-4, .254/.325/.333
- Will Verdung, 2B: 2-4, 2B, .273/.351/.323
JR Ritchie was absolutely dominant in this one from start to finish on his way to a complete game shutout. Ritchie opened the game allowing a single to top prospect Franklin Arias, and then went 27 straight outs without allowing another hit. He also walked just one and struck out nine while recording 16 swings and misses. It goes without saying that this is the longest start of Ritchie’s pro career, and he only needed 95 pitches to go the distance. Ritchie’s stat line wasn’t the only thing that stood out, as his stuff did in a big way as well.
Titus Dumitru stood out going three for four and continuing his recent strong play with the bat. Dumitru has a .748 OPS in May after posting a .630 mark in April. Will Verdung and Lizandro Espinoza were each two for four with doubles, and Espinoza added a stolen base as well. Catcher Dylan Shockley added a two for four day at the plate to his going a perfect two for two in throwing out base stealers, helping Ritchie erase the few threats against him. EJ Exposito also went one for three with a walk.
Swings and Misses:
JR Ritchie – 16
Augusta GreenJackets 9, Hickory Crawdads 4
- Rayven Antonio, SP: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2.53 ERA
- Jacob Gomez, RP: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1.69 ERA
- Owen Carey, RF: 1-2, 3 BB, 3 R, RBI, SB, .286/.370/.420
- Eric Hartman, DH: 2-4, 2 2B, BB, R, RBI, SB, .209/.341/.364
- John Gil, SS: 2-5, 2 R, SB, .243/.339/.318
- Isaiah Drake, CF: 3-5, 3B, R, 3 RBI, SB, .270/.351/.350
Rayven Antonio was the starter and was solid, even if the defense let him down at times. Antonio allowed four runs, though only two were earned, on six hits and no walks with three strikeouts over five innings of work. The defense was a problem though, as Augusta committed four errors and a passed ball in this one. Antonio was followed by Jackson Dannelly, who went two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts. The final two innings were also scoreless innings from Jacob Gomez, who picked up four strikeouts in the process.
The exciting top of the lineup once again carried the Augusta offense. Owen Carey was the star here, going one for two with three walks, three runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. Isaiah Drake was three for five with a triple, run scored, three batted in, and a stolen base. Eric Hartman went two for four with a pair of doubles, walk, run scored, run batted in, and stolen base. Then John Gil went two for five with a pair of runs scored and also stole a base. That doesn’t even get into Colby Jones going two for four with a run, RBI, and two steals in the win. It is worth noting that after picking up a sac fly RBI in the first inning, Nick Montgomery left the game after a catcher interference in the third inning.
Swings and Misses:
Rayven Antonio – 9
Jacob Gomez – 3
FCL Rays 6, FCL Braves 3
- Junior Garcia, LF: 1-3, BB, .286/.375/.286
- Jose Perdomo, SS: 2-5, R, .200/.308/.250
- Juan Mateo, DH: 1-4, R, .333/.391/.429
Jose Perdomo snapped out of his recent mini-slump to have a two hit afternoon, going two for five with a run scored. He and Junior Garcia (1-3, walk) were the only two Braves to reach base more than once. The early season breakout, Juan Mateo, was one for four with a run in the loss.