Sunday saw a big day at the plate from Drake Baldwin, as well as strong efforts from Jace Grady and Kevin Kilpatrick. On the pitching side of things Garrett Baumann was excellent again, while Lucas Braun, Adam Shoemaker, and Dylan Dodd all had some positives from their outings and Mitch Farris made his Rome debut.
Memphis RedBirds 7, Gwinnett Stripers 6
- Andrew Velazquez, SS: 1-4, HR, BB, 2 R, 3 RBI, .198/.274/.314
- Skye Bolt, RF: 2-3, BB, R, .206/.317/.382
- Dylan Dodd, SP: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 4.50 ERA
Dylan Dodd got the nod to start and pitched well before he started to run out of gas. Dodd’s final line of four runs on six hits over five and two thirds innings doesn’t tell the whole story, as he had allowed just two runs on three hits through five and two thirds before he allowed three consecutive doubles leading to a pair of Memphis runs. Infielder David Fletcher relieved him and allowed three runs over an inning and a third to take the loss, and Brooks Wilson tossed a scoreless inning to finish this game off from the pitching side.
The Stripers offense had a balanced attack on their way to putting up six runs, as every starter recorded a hit. Only Skye Bolt, who was two for three with a walk, recorded a multi-hit game. Andrew Velazquez homered and batted in three runs, giving him the team’s one extra-base hit.
Mississippi Braves 7, Biloxi Shuckers 3
- Drake Baldwin, C: 3-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, 4 RBI, .240/.302/.344
- Nacho Alvarez, SS: 0-2, 2 BB, 2 R, .258/.383/.315
- Justin Dean, CF: 2-5, 2B, R, .260/.350/.380
Drew Parrish got the start and battled through four and two thirds innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts, before the bullpen came in and completely shut down the Biloxi lineup. After Parrish left the next four and a third innings were completed by four different relievers, who combined to not allow any further runs on just two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. Rolddy Munoz punched out three guys over an inning and a third, Domingo Gonzalez and Hayden Harris each struck out two in an inning apiece, and Parker Dunshee had a strikeout in the ninth. Overall the five pitchers for the Braves struck out 13 Shuckers.
Drake Baldwin was the star of the day, going three for four and coming a triple shy of the cycle with a pair of runs scored and four batted in. Baldwin, who got off to a slow start to the year in terms of power production, has started to find his stride there since late-April and has seven extra-base hits over his last 23 games after having none in his first 11 games of the season. Justin Dean contributed a pair of hits, including a double, as did Yolbert Sanchez. Nacho Alvarez didn’t pick up a hit, but he did draw a pair of walks and scored twice in the win.
Asheville Tourists 7, Rome Emperors 6
- Kevin Kilpatrick, CF: 2-4, BB, R, RBI, SB, .303/.358/.446
- Ambioris Tavarez, SS: 1-2, BB, R, 2 SB, .207/.312/.303
- Lucas Braun, RP: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 6.00 ERA
This is the suspended game from Saturday that was started by Jhancarlos Lara and came in with Rome up 3-0 heading into the second inning after Lara kept Asheville off the board in the first inning the previous night. Lucas Braun came in on Sunday as basically a starter and went four and two thirds innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk, with five strikeouts. Braun was in position to pick up the win and the Emperors brought in Jared Johnson to get the last out in the sixth inning and attempted to close it out with a 6-4 lead in the seventh, but went on to allow a three-run homer after recording two outs in the inning for a walkoff win by Asheville.
Kevin Kilpatrick led the Rome offense in this one, going two for four with a walk, scoring a run, batting one in, and stealing a base. Ambioris Tavarez went one for two with a walk, run scored, and a pair of steals, and Adam Zebrowski went three for four with a run scored and batted in. Ethan Workinger, Justin Janas, Nick Ward, and Nick Clarno also all reached base multiple times in the loss as the Rome offense combined for eight hits and eight walks.
Asheville Tourists 9, Rome Emperors 4
- Kevin Kilpatrick, CF: 1-3, BB, R, SB, .304/.358/.446
- Sabin Ceballos, 3B: 0-1, 2 BB, R, .252/.368/.324
- Mitch Farris, SP: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 10.80 ERA
After overmatching Low-A hitters to start the season, Mitch Farris made his first start with Rome in this one and it was a bumpy outing. Farris kept Asheville off the board in the first two innings, before allowing two runs in the third and then two more runs while recording just one out in the fourth inning. He finished his High-A debut allowing four runs on four hits and two walks over three and a third innings. Shay Schanaman followed and gave up a run during his two thirds of an inning, and then Elison Joseph allowed four runs (three earned) in his inning of work. Samuel Strickland pitched a scoreless inning with a pair of strikeouts to finish this one off.
Kevin Kilpatrick’s strong day continued in the second game on Sunday, as he went one for three with a walk and a run scored to make him a combined three for seven with two walks in his nine trips to the plate to go with a pair of stolen bases. Kilpatrick had one of just two Rome hits in the second game, with the other being a two-run homer by Bryson Worrell. After sitting out the first game Sabin Ceballos was hitless in his only at bat, but drew a pair of walks and scored a run. Ambioris Tavarez was hitless in three at bats, but did score a run in the loss.
Salem Red Sox 4, Augusta GreenJackets 1 – 10 innings
- Jace Grady, RF: 3-4, 2 2B, R, 2 SB, .303/.384/.462
- Garrett Baumann, SP: 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1.85 ERA
- Adam Shoemaker, RP: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 5.32 ERA
This was another game where the final score doesn’t tell you everything as the pitching from Augusta was excellent through nine innings of play. Garrett Baumann got the start and threw six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out four. That dropped his ERA to 1.85 and WHIP to 0.90 through his first 39 innings this season. He was followed by Adam Shoemaker, who went three innings and allowed just one hit – though that hit was a solo homer in the top of the ninth to tie the game. Shoemaker also allowed three walks and struck out three over his three innings. Rolando Gutierrez came in for the tenth and allowed the inherited extra-inning runner to score, plus two additional runs, and Augusta ended up losing by a 4-1 score.
The Augusta offense was non-existent in this one outside of Jace Grady, who continues to make his case for a promotion. Grady was three for four with a pair of doubles and a pair of stolen bases, and scored the lone GreenJacket run. Outside of Grady the only other hits to come from Augusta bats were singles by Will Verdung and Jacob Godman. Isaiah Drake made his return to Augusta after an injury on April 18th and was hitless in four at bats. Diego Benitez was also 0-4 on the day.
