Braves Minor League Recap: JR Ritchie throws seven shutout innings

A look at all the action on the farm

(16-11) Nashville Sounds 3, (10-17) Gwinnett Stripers 1

• Jarred Kelenic, CF: 2-for-4, BB, .500/.600/.500
• James McCann, C: 2-for-4, .267/.327/.333
• David Fletcher, SS: 2-for-4, .125/.222/.125
• Josè Suarez, SP: 4IP 2H 0R 0BB 5K, 0.00 ERA

Box Score

Josè Suarez with a much needed good start for the Gwinnett Stripers as he struck out five over four strong innings generating 9 whiffs. He sat 92-93 with his fastball with a heavy mix of his changeup and slider. He left the game with a 1-0 lead thanks to this Matthew Batten homer

The Stripers collected 10 hits, including two extra-base hits, and walked five times but went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 runners. Overall, it was a dumpster fire to watch outside of Matthew Batten’s homer.

Following Suarez was Brian Moran who gave up three runs, two earned, in a rough fifth inning for the Stripers. After picking up the blown save just a couple of days ago, Wander Suero pitched a dominant 8th inning – striking out the side on 14 pitches. Enoli Parades worked around a lot of runners (two hits, one walk), but also struck out two in the final frame of the game.

(11-11) Biloxi Shuckers 8, (8-13) Columbus Clingstones 2

• David McCabe, 3B: 2-for-4, .293/.447/.431
• Ethan Workinger, RF: 1-for-4, R, 2B, .224/.297/.397
• Geraldo Quintero, LF: 2-for-2, 2R, 2 RBI, BB .160/.259/.400
• Lucas Braun, SP: 5.1IP 1H 1ER 5BB 4K, 2.76 ERA
• Elison Joseph, RP: 1IP 2H 2R 1ER 2BB, 2.35

Box Score

An overall struggle of a game for a majority of the Columbus roster tonight in a rough loss to the Shuckers. Lucas Braun was one of the highlights, however, as he gave up just one hit across 5.1 innings of work. He did, however, surrender five walks. On the season he now has a 2.76 ERA, and 9 K/9.

Lucas left the game up 2-0, both thanks to Geraldo Quintero who had an RBI single in the second, and a solo homer in the fourth. Lucas was removed in the sixth inning after a one out walk. He was relieved by Jake McSteen who would let the next four hitters reach base (including a catchers interference) and give up the lead, and the Shuckers never looked back. Shay Schanaman would give up two earned runs in his 1.2 innings of work, and Elison Joseph would give up two runs himself (one earned) in one of his roughest outings of the year.

It wasn’t all bad as Quintero and David McCabe each recorded multi-hit games. On the season McCabe is now hitting .293/.447/.431 and is looking comfortable at the plate. He’s played an okay third base so it remains to be seen if he’s destined for first where his bat wouldn’t play as well because he doesn’t have traditional first base power. All that being said, he’s getting on-base nearly half the time he’s goes to the plate.

(12-10) Hub City Spartanburgers 0, (13-9) Rome Emperors 5

• E.J. Exposito, 3B: 2-for-4, R, .370/.485/.741
• Jace Grady, RF: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, .163/.294/.302
• JR Ritchie, SP: 7IP 4H 0R 1BB 6K, 1.93 ERA
• Isaac Gaellgos, RP: 2IP 2H 0R 0BB 2K, 0.00 ERA

Box Score

It was the pitching show starring JR Ritchie and Isaac Gaellgos. The two completely shutdown the Spartanburgers of Hub City. JR showcased really good command of his fastball, slider, and changeup. He sat comfortably in the mid-90s throughout the night, and he consistently located his slider glove side. It was as close to everything you wanted to see from a prospect of his caliber and I would have to imagine his time in Rome being up soon.

As for the offense, they got it done in a, let’s say, non-traditional way. Their first two runs came separately in the second and sixth inning, both from grounding into double plays. The third run, also coming in the sixth, was from a two out single by Justin Janas. The final run, also in the sixth, came via this solo homer by Jace Grady.

(13-19) Augusta GreenJackets 3, (12-10) Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 4

• John Gil, SS: 1-for-4, 2B, R, .232/.312/.280
• Eric Hartman, 2B: 1-for-4, 3B, R, RBI, .237/.341/.408
• Isaiah Drake, CF: 1-for-3, 3B, BB, .254/.363/.328
• Brett Sears, SP: 5IP 3H 1ER 1BB 9K, 1.93 ERA

Box Score

The GreenJackets lose a rough one – falling late to the Cannon Ballers, spoiling an absolute gem by Brett Sears. Sears was overall overwhelming for the GreenJackets, with his only really damage done against him being in the second inning on a two-out double which scored the lone run he gave up. The 2024 seventh round draft pick has now lowered his ERA to 1.93 on the season across five games. His 31 strikeouts give him an insane 15 K/9. Suffice it to say he’s probably pitched, or will soon pitch, his last game in Low-A.

The GreenJackets struggled a bit on offense as they totaled 13 strikeouts to just one walk. They scored all of their runs in the third inning in quite a unique way as well with back-to-back triple by Eric Hartman and Isaiah Drake. It started with a triple by Hartman, which scored John Gil. While trying to throw out Hartman, the second baseman threw the ball into the dugout allowing Hartman to advance one base, scoring the GreenJackets second run. Isaiah Drake would then hit his own triple, before taking home on a wild pitch.

Augusta entered the 9th with a 3-2 lead but Jacob Gomez was unable to close out the game, allowing two runs to score.