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Braves Minor League Summary: Geraldo Quintero records five hits

Posted on by Vaseline

Sunday saw the Atlanta Braves affiliates win three of four on the day with a perfect five for five game from Geraldo Quintero. That, along with the departure of Augusta’s Isaiah Drake after the first inning, had to be the two biggest stories of the day, but we also saw the duo of Nacho Alvarez and Drake Baldwin do more damage in Triple-A and a strong performance from Cade Kuehler.

Charlotte Knights 7, Gwinnett Stripers 5

Box score

Statistics

  • Nacho Alvarez, RVS: 2-4, R, .375/.434/.646
  • Drake Baldwin, C: 1-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, .318/.412/.545
  • Eli White, RF: 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBI, .275/.387/.406

A bullpen day for Gwinnett started with Taylor Widener pitching two innings and allowing one run, a solo homer, and saw three other pitchers go exactly two innings each and also allow at least one run. Brian Moran then gave up two runs in his two innings, then one run and four strikeouts to Parker Dunshee, and finally three runs over two innings to Jackson Stephens – who was charged with a blow save as the Stripers took a 5-4 lead had. heading into the bottom of the seventh.

The Stripers offensive attack was once again led by the two recent promotions from Mississippi. Nacho Alvarez went 2 for 4 and scored a run, while Drake Baldwin doubled in four at bats, scored a run and drove in two. Through eleven games apiece, the duo hasn’t really settled down, with Alvarez posting a 1.080 OPS and Baldwin posting a .957 mark. Eli White also collected two hits, including a two-run homer, with the final run coming on a Luke Williams double.

Mississippi Braves 9, Tennessee Smokies 7

Box score

  • Geraldo Quintero, LF: 5-5, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB, .243/.338/.365
  • Sebastian Rivero, C: 3-4, 2 2B, BB, R, 3 RBI, .231/.286/.385
  • Tyler Tolve, DH: 3-5, R, 2 RBI, .194/.251/.328
  • Cody Milligan, CF: 3-4, 2 2B, BB, 2 R, RBI, .229/.291/.336

Another game that was actually a bullpen game. Landon Harper got the start and pitched three scoreless frames, allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out three before giving way to the bullpen. Patrick Halligan followed Harper and picked up the win when he allowed a run over an inning of work. Jake McSteen was next and managed only two-thirds of an inning before allowing four runs, forcing Jorge Juan to finish the inning. Juan pitched a scoreless inning and a third, followed by a scoreless frame from Hayden Harris. Anthony Vizcaya pitched the eighth and gave up a pair of runs, then struck out Domingo Gonzalez to earn the save.

Geraldo Quintero scored the rare perfect five for five game, filling the box score with a triple, two runs scored, two runs batted in and a pair of stolen bases. This huge performance was enough to increase his OPS by 46 points this year – a particularly startling figure considering it is the end of June. However, Quintero was not the only Brave to add to the box score, as three other players also scored three goals that day. Sebastian Rivero and Cody Milligan were each three for four with a walk and two doubles, with Rivero scoring a run and driving in three, and Milligan scoring two and driving in one. In the end, Tyler Tolve went three for five with a run scored and two runs batted in. A fifth Brave even had a multi-hit performance, as Cal Conley was two for six with a double, stolen base and two runs scored. Those five players alone combined for an impressive 16 hits in the win, all but one of the team’s total on the day.

Rome Emperors 6, Greenville Drive 5

Box score

  • Sabin Ceballos, 3B: 2-5, 2 R, RBI, SB, .271/.359/.371
  • Drew Compton, 1B: 2-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI, .245/.333/.396
  • Blake Burkhalter, SP: 3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 3.60 ERA
  • Jared Johnson, RP: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 2.60 ERA

Blake Burkhalter’s return from injury presented a slight bump in the road on Sunday, as he allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over three innings. Burkhalter seemed to struggle a bit with his command, even if he didn’t get many walks — which isn’t an unusual occurrence for a pitcher so early in his Tommy John rise. Two scoreless innings from Cory Wall followed, then Ryan Bourassa allowed two runs (one earned) in an inning of work. Jared Johnson was next and he went two scoreless to take the win, before a scoreless ninth earned Rob Griswold the save.

The attack was led by a trio of batters who each picked up two hits, essentially accounting for all of the Emperor’s offense hits in this attack. Drew Compton was two for four with a pair of doubles and drove in four of Rome’s six runs that day. Sabin Ceballos was two for five with a pair of runs scored, one batted in and added a stolen base. Finally, Stephen Paolini went two for four with a double. Kevin Kilpatrick and Ethan Workinger each walked twice, stole a base and scored two runs, while Tim Borden also collected a pair of walks.

Augusta GreenJackets 2, Salem Red Sox 1

Box score

  • Kade Kern, CF: 2-4, HR, 2B, R, RBI, .170/.249/.261
  • Will Verdung, 1B: 1-3, 2B, BB, R, .236/.368/.298
  • Cade Kuehler, SP: 5 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 2.52 ERA

Cade Kuehler provided another strong five-inning start, allowing just one run on seven hits and a walk while striking out five. As a result, his ERA for the year dropped to 2.52. He was followed by a pair of relievers who went two scoreless frames each, William Silva and then Reibyn Corona, with Corona picking up the save.

The biggest star for Augusta’s offense wasn’t even in the starting lineup, as Kade Kern came off the bench to home run and double in four at bats from the leadoff spot. Unfortunately, Kern hitting first and playing defensive center meant he took over for Isaiah Drake. Drake singled in his first at bat and singled defensively in the bottom of the first inning, then Kern replaced him defensively in the next inning. It’s hard to say why Drake left the game, as the play he made was just jogging a short distance to field the ball, and there was nothing obvious on the broadcast – although he failed to field and return the ball to throw. Will Verdung went one for three with a double and a walk, continuing his excellent June. Verdung posted monthly OPS figures of .509 and .567 in April and May, but has hit .328/.462/.426 so far in June.