(29-28) Gwinnett Stripers 3, (35-22) Nashville Sounds 4
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Jim Jarvis, SS: 3-for-5, 2B, .300/.404/.440
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Aaron Schunk, DH: 1-for-4, R, 2B, .245/.307/.391
The Gwinnett Stripers ended their week with a very narrow, late fall, to the hands of the Nashville Sounds. After striking early, the Stripers were held in check by the Sounds thanks to some very unfortunate production with runners in scoring position – going 3-for-14 while also grounding into three double plays.
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Austin Gomber picked up the spot start for the Stripers, who have seen a number of pitchers cycle between Gwinnett and Atlanta, and was good as he surrendered just one earned run across six innings of work along with five whiffs. The only really damage he allowed was a solo home run given up in the second inning, and would go on to retire the next 15 hitters. Hunter Stratton (0.0IP 2H 3ER 2BB 0K) would relieve Gomber and was just flat out bad as he allowed four runners to reach base without retiring a single hitter. He left the game with the bases loaded and was relieved by Rolddy Muñoz (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K) who would immediately induce a ground ball, but would surrender the final run charged to Hunter Stratton before ending the threat in the seventh. Connor Thomas (1IP 1H 0R 0BB 0K) pitched the final frame of the game – needing just seven pitches (six strikes).
Offensively, the Stripers struck first and they scored a pair of runs in the second inning. An RBI single by Jair Camargo with one out, would drive in Aaron Schunk who doubled to start the inning. Ben Gamel would follow up the Camargo hit with one of his own, as he would drive in Camargo to push the Gwinnett lead to 2-0. The Stripers wouldn’t really threaten again until the seventh inning with a Rowdy Tellez RBI double that would drive in Luke Williams to extend the Gwinnett lead to 3-1, before they ultimately surrendered three runs in the bottom half of the inning to re-gain the lead at 4-3, before taking the win.
(25-23) Biloxi Shuckers @ (23-26) Columbus Clingstones – POSTPONED
(27-24) Rome Emperors 3, (20-21) Winston-Salem Dash 6
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John Gil, SS: 2-for-4, RBI, BB, .267/380/.417
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Eric Hartman, CF: 2-for-5, .296/.373/.581
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Dalton McIntyre, LF: 2-for-4, R, RBI, .313/.378/.445
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Mason Guerra, DH: 1-for-3, BB, 2 R, .225/.354/.358
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Colin Daniel, SP: 3.2IP 6H 3ER 3BB 7K, 5.19 ERA
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The Emperors would fail to hold onto a slim 2-0 lead before eventually falling to the Dash to end the week, and series. Rome would be forced to use five pitchers, as starting pitcher Colin Daniel lasted just 3.2 innings. The offense would also struggle with situational hitting, going 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranding 10 on base.
The Emperors staff got off to a hot start as Colin Daniel originally was able to get through three scoreless innings but then it all unraveled in the fourth when he would allow three hits, two walks, and a hit by pitch to give up what was an Emperors lead. He would be relieved with two outs by David Rodriguez (1.1IP 4H 3ER 0BB 2K) who would end that bases loaded threat via strikeout, but would then surrender an additional three runs in the bottom of the fifth to push the Dash lead to 6-3. Logan Samuels (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K), Elison Joseph (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K), and Isaac Gallegos (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K) would shut down the Dash the rest of the game.
Offensively, it was a struggle for the Emperors as they could never get the big hit. They would threaten throughout the start of the game but were unable to drive in a run until the fourth inning when Dalton McIntyre start the festivities by hitting his first double – driving in Mason Guerra who had walked earlier. Right after, Mac Guscette would reach on error to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out. Isaiah Drake would follow that up with a force out to the pitcher, but thanks to some chaos on the base pads it drove in the speedy Dalton McIntyre from second. They would tack on another run in the sixth inning with this John Gil single that would score Mason Guerra. That would be the last time a runner would reach base until a one out single by John Gill but it would not lead to anything as Rome would fall once again.
(29-22) Augusta GreenJackets 8, (26-25) Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 4
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Tate Southisene, 2B: 2-for-5, HR, 3B, 2 RBI, R, .299/.435/.514
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Conor Essenburg, CF: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, .240/.377/.480
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Alex Lodise, SS: 1-for-5, 2B, .250/.335/.399
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Davis Polo, SP: 4IP 2H 1ER 3BB 9K, 3.49 ERA
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Kendry Richard, RP: 4.2IP 3H 3ER 4BB 2K, 6.68 ERA
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The GreenJackets leaned on strong starting pitching and hard hitting offense to score eight runs and pick up the win to end the series against the Cannon Ballers and once again find themselves tied for first in the Carolina League.
Davis Polo, coming off of a marvelous previous start (6IP 6H 1ER 0BB 6K) on May 24th, got the start for the GreenJackets and continued to look fantastic as he utilized all three of his pitches and was able to live at the bottom of the zone. The only run he surrendered came in the fourth inning after some self-inflicted trouble (1B, K, HBP, BB) but was able to work out of it with a weak force out that scored the run. He was replaced in the fifth inning after starting the inning of with a walk, and was replaced by Kendry Richard who has looked much better coming out of the bullpen than starting. Working with a lead, Kendry was able to fill out a bulk of the game before turning it over to Carter Lovasz who needed just one pitch to pick up the save.
Offensively, it was a huge game for the top of the lineup as Tate Southisene and Conor Essenburg went a combined 5-for-10 with three home runs, and a triple. The two went back-to-back in the third inning to initially give the GreenJackets the 2-0 lead. Augusta would tack on another two runs in the seventh inning when Joe Olsavsky would double in Nick Montgomery and Hayden Freiese. They would tack on three more runs in the eighth inning with Conor Essenburg getting it started – hitting his second home run of the game. Later in the inning Dallas Macias would score on a wild pitch, and Michael Martinez would then score on a sacrifice fly by Nick Montgomery to make it 7-4. Augusta scored their eighth and final run of the game in the ninth inning when Tate Southisene tripled in Joe Olsavasky to push the lead to the conclusive 8-4.
