The hot starts in Triple-A by Nacho Alvarez and Drake Baldwin continued on Sunday, as the duo combined to reach base four times.
Sunday saw the hot starts of a trio of recent promotions and one of the hottest hitters of the month all have notable games. Nacho Alvarez and Drake Baldwin in Triple-A and Jace Grady in High-A all reached base multiple times, with Grady hitting a homer, as did Isaiah Drake – who has been red hot in June after returning from an injury that followed a slow start to his season.
Gwinnett Stripers 5, Nashville Sounds 4
- Nacho Alvarez, SS: 2-5, .478/.500/.826
- Drake Baldwin, C: 1-4, BB, RBI, .400/.500/.700
- Brooks Wilson, RP: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 4.26 ERA
Taylor Widener got the start and was able to record just one out before getting knocked out of the game after allowing four runs on three hits and three walks. He was followed by Brooks Wilson, who allowed only one base runner over two and two thirds innings, striking out four and picking up nine swings and misses during the nine batters he faced. Ben Bowden, Matt Carasiti, and Tommy Doyle each provided a scoreless inning, then two from Parker Dunshee and one final scoreless frame from Jackson Stephens. The bullpen was excellent, pitching eight and a third scoreless innings and allowing one hit and four walks while striking out 12 after Widener was knocked out almost immediately.
The hot start by the recently promoted duo of Nacho Alvarez and Drake Baldwin continued on Sunday as each one reached base multiple times. Alvarez ended up two for five, while Baldwin was one for four with a walk and a run batted in. Forrest Wall and Luke Williams each had a pair of singles, with Williams adding two steals, and both Yuli Gurriel and Eli White had a single and a walk to go with a stolen base. That’s six guys in the Gwinnett who reached base multiple times, and all nine guys in the lineup reached base in this comeback win.
Mississippi Braves 3, Rocket City Trash Pandas 2
- Bryson Horne, 1B: 2-4, R, .261/.315/.362
- Cody Milligan, CF: 1-2, 2 BB, .216/.282/.320
- Cal Conley, SS: 1-5, 2B, .255/.333/.326
This was what became another bullpen game with the pen pitching very well. Jake McSteen started and allowed two runs over two and a third innings before the pen went on to not only not allow a run the rest of the day, but not allow any more hits either. Jorge Juan followed with an inning and two thirds scoreless, then an inning from Anthony Vizcaya, an inning and a third from Jonathan Hughes, two thirds of an inning from Hayden Harris, and the final two innings by Domingo Gonzalez. Combined the bullpen went six and a third innings, giving up no hits and three walks and striking out seven.
This is another game where every starter reached base in the win, though only a Cal Conley double went for extra bases. Bryson Horne and Yolbert Sanchez each collected two hits, and Cody Milligan had a single and two walks to be the three Braves to reach base more than once.
Rome Emperors 6, Bowling Green Hot Rods 0
- Sabin Ceballos, 3B: 2-4, 2B, BB, R, .270/.357/.365
- Jace Grady, DH: 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBI, .265/.342/.382
- Blake Burkhalter, SP: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 1.29 ERA
- Riley Frey, RP: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1.80 ERA
Making just his second start with Rome as he continues his return from surgery, 2022 second round pick Blake Burkhalter was a part of a combined shutout for Rome. Burkhalter went three and two thirds, giving up a hit and a walk and striking out three before reaching his limit of pitches. This became a third game in the system with a shutout from the pen, but this time it was all one guy. Riley Frey went the final five and a third innings, giving up three hits and striking out one as he dropped his ERA to 1.80 on the season.
A trio of homers powered the Rome offense in this win. A two-run homer by the recently promoted Jace Grady, who also had a single, and solo shots from Stephen Paolini and Ethan Workinger were the other homers. Workinger also added a pair of walks to reach base three times. Sabin Ceballos had a notable game, reaching base three times as well, going two for four with a double and a walk while scoring one of the runs. Justin Janas singled and walked twice and Adam Zebrowski went two for five to also reach base multiple times in the win.
Augusta GreenJackets 7, Lynchburg Hillcats 6
- Isaiah Drake, DH: 1-3, 3B, 2 BB, 2 R, 2 SB, .169/.234/.285
- Cade Kuehler, SP: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 2.60 ERA
- Beau Philip, RP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 4.88 ERA
Cade Kuehler got the start and threw five strong innings, giving up one run on three hits and a walk with a pair of strikeouts to pick up the win. This dropped Kuehler’s ERA to 2.60 on the season. He was followed by Beau Philip as Philip continued his conversion from infielder to relief pitcher, and he was credited with an inning and two thirds with one run on a hit and three walks with one strikeout. Giomar Diaz was next and he allowed four runs (three earned) over his inning and a third, before a scoreless frame from Reibyn Corona to pick up the save.
Isaiah Drake’s hot month continued on Sunday as he was one for three with a triple and a pair of walks, stealing two bags and scoring two runs in the process. On June 2nd Drake had a slash line of .093/.160/.128 that is now sitting at .169/.234/.285 with a .255/.321/.511 month. Robert Gonzalez also added a triple while Luis Sanchez, Joe Olsavsky, and Harry Owen each recorded a double. Olsavsky (2-3, walk), Owen (1-3, walk), and Will Verdung (0-3, 2 walks) each joined Drake by reaching base multiple times in the victory.