Only three of Atlanta’s five scheduled minor league affiliate games took place on Wednesday, but there was still plenty of action to be had.
(55-61) Gwinnett Stripers 13, (55-61) Norfolk Tide 3
- Drake Baldwin, C: 3-5, 5 RBI, 2 R, BB
- Justin Dean, LF: 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
- Alejo Lopez, 2B: 2-4, 2B, RBI, R, 2 BB
- Bryce Elder, SP: 6 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Result
Gwinnett celebrated a big win on Wednesday, beating Norfolk by a whopping ten runs thanks to Drake Baldwin’s five RBIs.
Norfolk scored first in the game, once in the third inning against Bryce Elder. That would be Elder’s only blemish on the night, as the right-hander went six innings, allowing just five hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Stripers took the lead for the first time and never relinquished it. Zack Short worked a walk after Alejo Lopez singled him to second base. After Nacho Alvarez Jr. moved both runners forward on a flyout, Drake Baldwin singled Short and Lopez to give Gwinnett a 2-1 lead of the night. Later in the inning, when Luis Liberato got to second base on an error, Baldwin scored to give the Stripers a 3-1 lead.
Gwinnett scored twice more in the fifth inning when Liberato scored on a Justin Dean double and Dean later scored on a Short single to give the Stripers a 5-2 lead. Meanwhile, Gwinnett’s pitching staff allowed another run in the eighth inning to tie the game 5-2. The Stripers closed the deal with eight runs in the second half of the home game.
Short led off with a single as Lopez and Alvarez Jr. worked back-to-back walks to load the bases. Then a single by Baldwin brought both Short and Lopez home, extending the Stripers’ lead to 7-2. Yuli Gurriel worked a walk as Brian Anderson then brought home a single for Alvarez Jr. to make it 8-2. Dean then hit a single with the bases loaded to bring Baldwin home and extend the lead to 9-2 on the night.
With the bases still loaded, Short, Lopez, Alvarez Jr. and Baldwin combined for four consecutive bases-loaded walks to extend Gwinnett’s lead to 13-2, which held until the final score as the Stripers emerged victorious in that game as well.
(50-58) Mississippi Braves, (54-52) Biloxi Shuckers (POSTPONED)
Jhancarlos Lara’s Double-A debut was spoiled by rain, as Mississippi’s contest was postponed until Thursday, August 15.
(53-53) Emperor of Rome 6, (45-63) Tourists from Asheville 5
- Jace Grady, RF: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R
- Adam Zebrowski, DH: 1-4, 2 RBI
- Cory Wall, SP: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 K
Result
The Emperors won in extra innings on Wednesday, beating Asheville by one run and reaching a season average of .500.
After both teams went scoreless in the first two innings, Asheville got on the scoreboard first, scoring two runs in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead, but Rome was able to tie the game in the home team’s half.
Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. worked a two-out walk and a single by Drew Compton moved him to third base. Then Jace Grady hit a double to right field to bring home both Compton and Kilpatrick Jr. and tie the game at 2-2. Meanwhile, Rome starter Cory Wall pitched five strong innings, allowing just three hits, allowing two walks and striking out six batters on the night.
After Wall left the game, the Tourists scored three more runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-2 lead. Rome didn’t fare well at the plate, as the Emperors went scoreless for the next five innings until the bottom of the ninth.
Nick Ward led off with a triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Godman to tie the game at 5-2. After Drew Compton and Jace Grady drew back-to-back walks with two outs, a double by Adam Zebrowski scored both runs to tie the game at 5-5 and send the game into overtime.
Replacement Jared Johnson managed to keep the game tied until the tenth inning. Then, in the second half, with Stephen Paolini leading off the run at second base, EJ Exposito hit a single to center field to give Rome a 6-5 lead and, more importantly, the win.
(38-68) Augusta GreenJackets 5, (48-60) Fayetteville Woodpeckers 6
- Wilmer De La Cruz, 3B: 1-2, 3B, RBI, R
- Titus Dumitru, RF: 1-3, R
- Luis Arestigueta, SP: 4 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Result
Although Augusta only scored twice that night, the team lost by one run, 6-5, to Fayetteville on Wednesday night.
Luis Arestigueta made his first start at the Low-A level and threw four innings with two hits and one run. The 18-year-old walked just two batters and struck out five batters in his first season.
After allowing a run to Arestigueta in the first, the Woodpeckers extended their lead to 2-0 by scoring another run in the fifth, but Augusta struck back in the sixth.
John Gil led off with a walk, stole second base, then took third on a wild pitch, putting the GreenJackets’ first run just 90 feet away. A groundout by Junior Garcia brought Gil home and made the game 2-1. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Augusta tied the game when Titus Dumitru — who came on with a single and advanced to third base on a stolen base and a wild pitch — scored on a balk to make the game 2-2.
Fayetteville scored four times in the ninth inning to take a 6-2 lead, but the GreenJackets attempted a comeback in their final at-bat. After Colby Jones drew a one-out walk, Wilmer De La Cruz brought him home with a triple to make the game 6-3. A wild pitch brought De La Cruz home, making it 6-4, before Austin Machado was hit by a pitch and Luis Guanipa was walked to put a runner in scoring position. After a balk that put both Machado and Guanipa one base ahead after Gil Machado brought home a sacrifice fly to make it 6-5, Garcia struck out, ending the game and handing the GreenJackets the loss.
(14-34) DSL Braves, (21-29) DSL Athletics (CANCELLED)
The DSL Braves game was canceled on Wednesday due to weather.
