Augusta’s exciting young offense had a big day at the plate on Sunday.
Sunday ended up being a light schedule for the Atlanta Braves system, as two of the four games on the schedule were wiped out due to rain. Still we got both of the A-ball affiliates in action, with the pair splitting the games. The exciting young Augusta offense came alive in a big way, putting up 13 runs led by Eric Hartman – the Canadian prep outfielder drafted in the 20th round last summer and already having early success in full season ball.
Gwinnett Stripers vs Nashville Sounds – PPD, Rain
The Stripers game was rained out and will be moved to May 1.
Columbus Clingstones vs Montgomery Biscuits – PPD, Rain
Columbus was also the victim of rain, with that game being moved to May 22.
Winston-Salem Dash 11, Rome Emperors 3
- Ambioris Tavarez, SS: 1-3, 2B, BB, R
- EJ Exposito, 3B: 1-3, BB
- Didier Fuentes, SP: 2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 18.00 ERA
- Ryan Bourassa, RP: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 0.00 ERA
Sunday saw a Didier Fuentes start, but he didn’t have his command. Fuentes allowed four runs on three hits and three walks over just two innings of work, throwing 35 strikes to 26 balls. The good news for him is he did pick up four strikeouts in that time, and also racked up nine swing and misses. Rob Griswold followed and allowed three runs over two innings, then Luis Vargas allowed a pair of runs over a pair of innings. The lone bright spot for the Rome pitching staff was Ryan Bourassa, who went two scoreless frames and allowed just one walk while striking out five. Austin Smith tossed the final inning, and allowed the final two Dash runs.
The Rome offense was shut right down in this one, picking up just three hits. Ambioris Tavarez led the way, going one for three with a double, walk, and run scored. EJ Exposito was also one for three with a walk, and the final hit was a single by Lisandro Espinoza. The Emperors did draw seven walks, with Will Verdung picking up a pair and scoring a run in the loss and joining Tavarez and Exposito as the lone Rome hitters to reach base multiple times.
Swing and Misses
Didier Fuentes – 9
Luis Vargas – 8
Ryan Bourassa – 6
Augusta GreenJackets 13, Columbia Fireflies 12 – 10 innings
- Luis Gil, SS: 0-4, BB, 3 RBI, SB
- Eric Hartman, LF: 3-6, HR, 2B, R, 2 RBI, SB
- Isaiah Drake, CF: 3-5, 2 R, SB
- Luis Sanchez, 3B: 2-3, 2B, 2 BB, R, 3 RBI
- Brett Sears, SP: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA
This game was a shootout from the start. Brett Sears started and failed to make it three innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and two walks through his two and two thirds innings. However he did strikeout four, and more impressively he picked up 13 swings and misses. Jacob Kroeger followed and struggled with command, walking five and allowing a pair of runs in just an inning and a third. A clean inning from Jackson Dannelley followed, before David Rodriguez was tagged for four runs in an inning of work. Samuel Mejia gave up three runs in two and a third innings, and the final pitcher was Trent Buchanan, who only allowed an inherited extra inning base runner to score over his inning and a third.
Luckily as bad as things looked for the pitching staff, the offense was just as great. Eric Hartman led the way again, going three for six with a double, homer, steal, and two runs batted in. It’s early on, but Hartman has been one of the standouts over the first weekend and is sitting on a 1.396 OPS. Isaiah Drake went three for five with a steal and scored a pair of runs, while Luis Sanchez was two for three with a pair of walks, double, and three runs batted in. John Gil had a bit on an up and down game, going hitless in four at bats, but he did pick up a walk, steal, and three runs batted in. On a down note, Luis Guanipa left the game early with an injury that we are waiting to hear more information on at this point. He was credited by going 0-0 with a walk and an RBI, before being replaced by Douglas Glod in the second inning.
Swing and Misses
Brett Sears – 13Brett S Brett Sears – 13
Samuel Mejia – 10
David Rodriguez – 5