Wiles produced a triple-A best 23 swings and misses on Friday
It was a busy day down on the farm on Friday, as Cam Caminiti made his highly anticipated 2025 debut for the FCL club and Nathan Wiles had a dominant outing for Gwinnett. So, without further ado, let’s dive into it.
(16-21) Gwinnett Stripers 3, (23-14) Durham Bulls 2
- Conner Capel, RF: 2-4, HR, RBI, R
- Garrett Cooper, 1B: 2-4, 2 RBI
- Nathan Wiles, SP: 6.1 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 9 K
Despite the box score indicating otherwise, Gwinnett’s 3-2 win over Durham really wasn’t all that close on Friday.
Nathan Wiles absolutely dominated the Bulls in his start for the Stripers, striking out nine batters across 6.1 innings while producing a triple-A-leading 23 swings and misses on the night as well. Friday’s dominant outing represents Wiles’ third straight excellent start in which he has struck out 26 batters in his last 17.1 innings pitched. With his 6.1 innings of one — unearned — run ball, Wiles has lowered his ERA to a team-best 1.72 on the season.
Meanwhile at the plate, while Gwinnett only outhit Durham by one, that was all they needed in order to get the victory. Garrett Cooper got the scoring started for the Stripers in this one, lacing a single into shallow center field to plate Jarred Kelenic to make it a 1-0 game. Then, in the second, Conner Capel got in on the fun and hit a 106.3 miles per hour rocket over the right field wall for a solo shot, extending the lead to 2-0 on the night. While the Bulls would get that run back in the home half, Gwinnett would eventually retake the lead.
In the top of the fifth there was a bit of deja vu, as Cooper once again came through in the clutch and scored Kelenic on a single on a liner into center field, giving the Stripers a 3-1 lead.
Durham would make things interesting in the bottom of the final frame by scoring one run, but Jordan Weems — who notched his first save of the season in the process — managed to get out of the inning without allowing any additional damage.
(13-17) Columbus Clingstones 4, (14-16) Birmingham Barons 2
- Stephen Paolini, RF: 1-3, HR, RBI, R
- Ethan Workinger, LF: 1-4, 2B, RBI, R
- Blake Burkahter, SP: 3.2 IP, 4 H, ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Blake Burkhalter had a less-than-stellar performance in his start for Columbus, but the Clingstones found a way to win in the end.
Across 3.2 innings, Burkhalter scattered four hits and gave up four walks while striking out a pair. However, despite those questionable numbers, the righty only gave up one earned run in his outing.
The Clingstones provided Burkhalter with early run support, scoring twice in their first opportunities at the dish. Cal Conley and Ethan Workinger laced back-to-back doubles to score the game’s first run before David McCabe singled to plate Workinger and make it a 2-0 contest. Birmingham eventually tied things up after scoring once in the top of the fourth and again in the top of the seventh. However, in the bottom of the eighth, Stephen Paolini tallied his first double-A homer to give Columbus a 3-2 lead. Later in the same frame, Drew Compton tallied a bloop single into right field, scoring Conley to extend the Clingstones’ lead to 4-2.
Elison Joseph slammed the door shut on the win, striking out one and giving up one hit in the top of the ninth.
(17-14) Rome Emperors 5, (14-17) Greenville Drive 9
- Joe Olsavsky, 2B: 2-4, HR, RBI, 2 R
- Justin Janas, DH: 2-3, R
- Herick Hernandez, SP: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, BB, 5 K
Simply put, it just wasn’t Rome’s night on Friday. Starter Herick Hernandez gave up five runs, four of which were earned, in his 4.1 innings of work on the night. While he ultimately struck out five batters in his 4.1 innings of work, the five runs given up would be too much for the Rome offense to overcome.
Trailing 2-0, the Emperors took their first and only lead in this one in the bottom of the third inning. Justin Janas and Joe Olsavsky tallied back-to-back singles before both guys moved up a base on a wild pitch. Janas proceeded to score on an error off the bat of Lizandro Espinoza while Olsavsky would cross the plate on a passed ball to tie the game at 2-2. Espinoza was then brought home on an RBI groundout off the bat of Patrick Clohisy to make it a 3-2 Emperors lead.
Rome would score once more in the bottom of the fifth after Olsavsky launched a solo homer. Clohisy would eventually draw a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to score Ambioris Tavarez to cut the deficit to 7-5. However, that would be the last offense Rome would get as the Emperors ultimately fell by a 9-5 final.
(15-16) Augusta GreenJackets 4, (15-16) Hickory Crawdads 7
- Mason Guerra, 3B: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Mac Guscette, C: 2-4, R
- Owen Hackman, SP: 5 IP, 4 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K
While their offense was solid — producing four runs on seven hits — it was the pitching that somewhat doomed Augusta against Hickory on Friday. Starter Owen Hackman struck out five batters in five innings and actually only allowed one earned run in that work. His defense didn’t help matters though, as three runs would cross the plate while he was on the mound after a series of errors.
Hackman was solid, but the bullpen couldn’t keep Hickory in check enough to allow the GreenJacket offense to keep up. Seth Keller came on in relief after Hackman and gave up three runs on three hits in his lone inning of work. Also, Albert Rivas gave up an additional run in his 2.2 innings of work as the Crawdads tallied seven total runs on the night.
At the plate, the highlights were a homer off the bat of Mason Guerra and an RBI from Owen Carey. Otherwise, there wasn’t much to write home about at the plate in Augusta’s loss.
(3-2) FCL Braves 1, (4-1) FCL Rays 10
- John Estevez, LF: 1-4, RBI
- Mario Baez, 2B: 1-4, 2B
- Cam Caminiti, SP: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K
Cam Caminiti’s first start of the 2025 season was intriguing, to say the least, as he continues his rehab.
While he struck out the side in the top of the first, he also gave up a solo homer as the FCL Rays took a 1-0 lead. Camino then worked around a leadoff single and then a walk to toss a scoreless frame in the second. The 18-year-old gave up a lead off double that would later come around to score before getting a groundout and giving way to the bullpen, finishing his day.
It was an encouraging sign for Caminiti, especially the strikeout numbers and issuing only one walk in his first official work of the season. He did give up a pair of extra-base hits, but the homer was given up to 23-year-old Ryan Cermak — who is also rehabbing an injury — who has high-A experience. With that being said, take Caminiti’s “struggles” in this one with a grain of salt.
At the plate, it wasn’t a great day for the Braves as only three players tallied a hit, with John Estevez driving in the team’s only run of the game.