Fuentes tossed five innings of one-run ball in the Emperors’ win
There were several significant performances on Friday, as AJ Smith-Shawver, Ian Mejia, Didier Fuentes and Ethan Bagwell turned in great outings for their respective clubs. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the action.
(9-9) Gwinnett Stripers 3, (13-6) Lehigh Valley 5
- Eddys Leonard, 2B: 2-4, HR, 3B, 2 RBI, R
- Luke Waddell, SS: 2-4, R
- AJ Smith-Shawver, SP: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Gwinnett couldn’t take advantage of a brilliant start by AJ Smith-Shawver on Friday despite the young righty striking out eight batters and the Stripers outhitting Lehigh Valley.
Smith-Shawver was brilliant in his first triple-A start of the year for Gwinnett. In 5.2 innings of work, the 22-year-old scattered five hits and allowed three runs while striking out eight batters in the loss.
Under the surface, Smith-Shawver’s numbers were much better than his final line. Of the five hits, three of them came on good pitches out of the zone that batters were able to put a solid swing on and two of those three runs charged to him scored after he exited the game.
Overall, Smith-Shawver topped out at 97.2 miles per hour and induced 11 swings and misses on the night despite his breaking pitches not being as sharp as they have been at the big league level. The average exit velocity off Smith-Shawver’s pitches on Friday was 86 miles per hour, with his fastball proving most effective with an average exit velocity of 81 miles per hour.
Offensively, the Stripers struggled to put together consistent at-bats on Friday night despite originally taking the lead in this one. Gwinnett tallied nine hits on the night compared to Lehigh Valley’s eight hits.
Gwinnett struck first, plating two runs in the bottom of the second inning as Eddys Leonard continued his great week at the dish by launching a two-run homer 363-feet over the opposite field wall to score Conner Capel and make it a 2-0 game.
IronPigs starting centerfielder would prove to be a thorn in the side of Gwinnett pitchers all night. In the top of the third he laced an RBI-double off Smith-Shawver to make it a 2-1 game. Lehigh Valley took their first lead of the game in the top of the sixth inning to make it a 3-2 before Crawford notched a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 4-2. The IronPigs launched a solo homer to tack onto their lead to make it 5-2 in the eighth inning.
Meanwhile, Gwinnett attempted a late comeback in this one, as Matthew Batton singled home Luke Waddell to make it a 5-3 game. Despite getting a triple out of Eddys Leonard in the bottom of the ninth, the Stripers were unable to produce any other meaningful offense in the loss.
(6-6) Columbus Clingstones 2, (9-4) Pensacola Blue Wahoos 1
- Adam Zebrowski, C: 1-4, R
- David McCabe, 3B: 1-4
- Ian Mejia, PS: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K
While Atlanta’s five-run eighth inning takes the cake for the most exciting game in the system on Friday, Columbus’ walkoff win against Pensacola checks in at a close second place.
The Clingstones got off to a great start by getting a solid performance by Ian Mejia, who went six innings and allowed three hits and two walks while striking out three batters.
At the plate, Columbus tallied four hits — the same amount as the Blue Wahoos — with their first coming on an Adam Zebrowski single in the bottom of the first inning. The Clingstones actually put two runners on in the bottom of the third inning, but failed to push a run across, leaving the scoreless.
In the bottom of the fifth, Kobe Kato drew a two-out walk and later stole second base and then third on an error to put the first run of the game 90 feet away. Keshawn Ogans drew a walk to put runners on the corner before Cal Conley grounded out to end the inning.
Reliever Rolddy Munoz allowed a solo homer in the top of the ninth inning as Pensacola took a 1-0 lead. The home half of the frame was filled with action as Columbus tied things up.
David McCabe ledoff with a single into right field, but Cody Milligan — who replaced McCabe as a pinch-runner — was caught stealing. Then, Adam Zebrowski reached on an error before advancing to third on a wild pitch. On the next pitch, Zebrowski would come home to score on yet another wild pitch to tie things up in the bottom of the ninth. Drew Compton and Ethan Workinger struckout to end the frame.
Reliever Hayden Harris kept Pensacola at bay in the top of the tenth despite the Blue Wahoos putting a runner on third.
In the bottom of the tenth, it didn’t take long for Columbus to end things. Starting the inning at second base, Ethan Workinger immediately moved up to third base on a passed ball. Then, on an 0-2 count on Geraldo Quintero, Workinger scampered home on a wild pitch to give the Clingstones the lead and, more importantly, the win.
(6-7) Rome Emperors 3, (6-6) Asheville Tourists 2
- Patrick Clohisy, DH: 1-4, 2B
- Ambioris Tavarez, SS: 2-4, RBI
- Didier Fuentes, SP: 5 IP, 2 H, ER, 9 K
Rome utilized an excellent pitching performance by Didier Fuentes and timely hitting in the late innings to get the win over Asheville.
Fuentes’ start on Friday was his best of the season so far and perhaps one of the best of his young professional career. Across five innings, Fuentes didn’t walk a single batter while scattering a pair of hits, allowing one run and striking out an eye-popping nine batters. In his five innings of work, Fuentes produced 18 swings and misses, best for the high-A level on Friday.
This marks the second straight appearance in which Fuentes has shown significant strides in terms of getting back to the pitcher we saw last season after a rough first start this year.
The Emperors took advantage of some Asheville defensive miscues in the bottom of the second to take the first lead of the game. A Harry Owen single plated Joe Olsavsky to make it a 1-0 game before Stephen Paolini crossed the plate on a Carlos Arroyo force out to extend the lead to 2-0.
Fuentes gave up his only run of the game in the top of the fifth after he gave up a pair of back-to-back doubles — which were the first baserunners he had allowed the entire game as Asheville cut their deficit to 2-1. The Tourists strung together three hits in the top of the seventh to tie things up at 2-2, scoring one run off of Rome reliever Samuel Strickland.
The Emperors once again took the lead, this time in the eighth inning. Titus Dumitru singled before advancing to second on a wild pitch and later moving up to third on a Will Verdung single. Then, Ambioris Tavarez reached on a fielder’s choice forceout, allowing Dumitru to score and give Rome the 3-2 lead.
Cory Wall came on in relief and tossed a pair of scoreless frames while striking out two batters to cap off the Emperors’ win.
(6-7) Augusta GreenJackets 0, (6-7) Myrtle Beach 2
- Isaiah Drake, CF: 1-4
- Colby Jones, 3B: 1-4
- Ethan Bagwell, SP: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 K
Augusta debuted their azalea-themed jerseys on Friday, and while the picturesque uniforms were in full bloom, the same couldn’t be said for the GreenJackets’ offense.
In total, Augusta notched just three hits on the night — all of which were singles. The GreenJackets also put just two runners in scoring position the entire night as Augusta tallied three walks in the inning. Douglas Glod managed to make his way to third base, but Colby Jones and Eric Hartman popped out to end the inning.
Meanwhile, Augusta got an excellent start from Ethan Bagwell, but given the offensive woes on the night, the GreenJackets weren’t able to provide him with anyone with run support.
Bagwell tossed 5.1 innings of two-run ball, scattering four hits and striking out three batters on the night. Bagwell was great, but reliever Logan Samuels was just as brilliant.
In 3.2 innings of work, Samuels allowed just one walk while striking out six batters and holding Myrtle Beach hitless the rest of the way.