Braves Minor League Recap: Nacho Alvarez Jr. collects another multi-hit game, leaves with injury

Nacho Alvarez had another big game Thursday, but was forced to leave early after an injury.

(30-48) Gwinnett Stripers 6, (32-44) Norfolk Tides 0

• Jackson Stephens, SP: 5IP 1H 0R 2BB 3K, 3.21 ERA
• Jhancarlos Lara, RP: 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K
• Jurickson Profar, DH: 1-for-3, R, 2BB, .314/.395/.514
• Nacho Alvarez Jr., 3B: 2-for-4, R, RBI, 2B, .394/.556/.576
• Conner Capel, RF: 2-for-3, BB, R, .227/.319/.319

Box Score

Jackson Stephens in his second spot start was fantastic once again, pitching five scoreless innings. He came into the game with a 3-0 lead after seven hitters came to bat in the top of the first for the Stripers. A sacrifice fly by Jonathan Ornelas put the Stripers up 1-0, while a José Devers liner to left scored Nacho and Carlos Rodríguez to extend the Stripers lead to 3-0. They would tack on another run in the second inning after Nacho Alvarez Jr. doubled in Conner Capel, who had earlier tripled, to push the lead to 4-0. They would then add on runs in the 4th and 9th inning in a really strong performance by the Stripers offense. Of significant note, Nacho Alvarez Jr. was removed due to the game due to strained oblique. Really tough as he just returned from a wrist injury and was off to a great start as he returned.

After that really strong start by Jackson Stephens, the Gwinnett Stripers bullpen really flexed their muscle in an overpowering final four innings. Kevin Herget (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K, 12 pitches), Jhancarlos Lara (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K, 17 pitches), Enoli Paredes (1IP 0H 0R 1BB 1K, 15 pitches), and Wander Suero (1IP 0H 0R 1BB 0K, 17 pitches) did a great job of shortening the game and giving the Stripers the win.

Swings and Misses:

Jackson Stephens – 6

Jhancarlos Lara – 2

(43-29) Biloxi Shuckers 1, (28-41) Columbus Clingstones 3

• David McCabe, 1B: 2-for-4, .244/.348/.360
• Stephen Paolini, RF: 1-for-2, BB, RBI, R, HR, 213/.330/.363
• Kobe Kato, 2B: 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI, .175/.295/.262
• Blake Burkhalter, SP: 5.1IP 4H 1ER 3BB 7K, 3.29 ERA

Box Score

The Clingstones rode the waves of really strong pitching in a rare win. Blake Burkhalter gave up just one earned run in 5.1 innings of work, with his single run coming in the first. He never really faced any real duress outside of an inning where he walked the lead off hitter and allowed him to steal second – outside of that he cruised, only really struggling against himself with three walks.

He would leave the game up 2-1 after the Clingstones offense picked up a run in the first and second inning. The Clingstones asked some questions in the bottom of the first as they led of the game BB, 1B, 1B, 1B – however a strikeout and GIDP by Cal Conley quickly ended the threat. They would go up in the second inning on this Stephen Paolini homer

They would then be relatively shutdown over the next four innings, before Kobe Kato hit his second homer of the season.

Tyler LaPorte (1.2IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K), LJ McDonough (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K), and Jose Cuas (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K) would limit the Shuckers to two hits over the final 3.2 innings to complete the win.

Swings and Misses:

Blake Burkhalter – 12

LJ McDonough – 2

(36-36) Greenville Drive 2, (31-40) Rome Emperors 1

• Lizandro Espinoza, CF: 0-3, 2 BB, SB, .209/.269/.365
• Ambioris Tavarez, SS: 0-3, 2 BB, 2 SB, .228/.328/.311
• Riley Frey, SP: 5.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K, 4.35 ERA

Box Score

This game was the definition of a pitchers duel. Although Rome scored a first inning run, neither team had a hit through the first six full innings on Thursday. Riley Frey threw five and a third hitless, scoreless innings with a pair of walks and eight strikeouts. Cory Wall finished off the sixth, but got into some trouble and gave up a run in the seventh. Samuel Strickland pitched two more hitless, scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth to help send this game into extra innings. Rob Griswold came on and pitched the next two innings, and after making it out of the 10th scoreless he allowed the inherited runner to score in the 11th.

As good as the pitching staff was, the offense was non-existent in this loss. The Emperors managed just one run on one hit. The offensive stars of the day were Ambioris Tavarez and Lizandro Espinoza, who each went hitless in three at bats, but drew a pair of walks apiece with Espinoza adding a stolen base and Tavarez collecting two. The lone hit on the day was a leadoff single in the ninth by Will Verdung.

Swings and Misses:

Riley Frey – 8

Samuel Strickland – 6

(35-35) Augusta GreenJackets 3, (39-33) Fayetteville Woodpeckers 4

• John Gil, SS: 1-for-5, .237/.333/.306
• Luis Guanipa, CF: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, .063/.211/.125
• Colby Jones, 2B: 1-for-4, .218/.346/.268
• Douglas Glod, RF: 1-for-4, HR, R, RBI, .208/.365/.354
• Owen Hackman, SP: 5IP 10H 4ER 1BB 1K, 4.75 ERA

Box Score

The GreenJackets offense continued to struggle in their 3-4 defeat to the beaks of the Woodpeckers. Starting pitcher Owen Hackman worked around traffic as he surrendered 10 hits over five innings. He was hit hard in the first – allowing a triple, and a double. The GreenJackets answered with a run themselves in the second on this Douglas Glod homer

Owen would work a scoreless second but then would never really get into a groove as he gave up one earned run in his final three innings. Down 4-2 in the 6th, the GreenJackets would turn to Justin Long (2IP 0H 0R 0B 2K) and Juan Sanchez (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 3K) for the games final innings and allowing the offense a few more chances to tie the game. Unfortunately the would only pick up one more, this time in the 8th inning, from a Nick Montgomery sacrifice fly.

Luis Guanipa picked up his first hit back in full season a ball, after rehabbing in the FCL following his injury where he was hit by a pitch.

Swings and Misses:

Owen Hackman – 6

Juan Sanchez – 4

Justin Long – 1

(14-24) FCL Braves 7, (24-13) FCL Twins 6

• Eric Hartman, LF: 1-for-5, R, .143/.235/.143
• Jose Perdomo, SS: 1-for-5, R, RBI, .207/.257/.264
• Dalton McIntyre, CF: 2-for-4, 2R, .256/.370/.291
• Kendy Richard, SP: 5IP 2H 0R 2BB 6K, 2.43 ERA

Box Score

The FCL Braves scored four runs in the final two innings of the game to pick up their 14th win of the season. Starting pitcher Kendy Richard pitched five scoreless innings and lowered his season ERA to 2.43. The rehabbing Eric Hartman played the whole game and went 1-for-5 with a run scored. Jose Perdomo got on base and had an RBI as well but has overall struggled this season.

(8-10) DSL Royals Fortuna 0, (10-7) DSL Braves 16

• Diego Tornes, CF: 2-for-6, 2B, R, .344/.429/.508
• Yassel Garcia, 3B: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 3R, .136/.387/.205
• Michael Martinez, DH: 2-for-3, 2R, 2 RBI, BB, 2B, .275/.420/.500
• Gabriel Cesa, LF: 3-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R, .385/.500/.538
• Wuilinyer Tovar, SP: 5IP 2H 0R 2BB 5K, 6.35 ERA

Box Score

Really good starting pitching and insane offense is always a recipe for success regardless of level of play as exhibited by the DSL Braves. Starting pitcher Wuilinyer Tovar out of Ocumare de la Costa, Venezuela, shutdown the Royals over five scoreless innings. Gensi Angeles (3IP 0H 0R 0BB 3K), and Jacksel Labastida (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K) pitched a combined four scoreless innings. To go along with 16 runs on 15 hits, the Braves also stole seven bases without a single caught stealing.