Braves Minor League Recap: Brett Sears pitches scoreless outing

Saturday saw all four affiliates in the Atlanta Braves system in action, as the teams earned a split on the day. The biggest highlight on the day had to be the Brett Sears scoreless outing, but we also saw Juan Mateo return from injury, Lucas Braun throw five solid innings, and both John Gil and Tate Southisene reaching base multiple times.

Gwinnett Stripers 4, Nashville Sounds 3

• Aaron Schunk, 3B/1B: 2-2, 2B, 2 BB, R
• Rowdy Tellez, 1B: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
• Lucas Braun, SP: 5 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
• Hayden Harris, RP: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Box Score

Statcast

This was a back and forth affair with Nashville taking one run leads and Gwinnett tying the game up from there, until the Stripers were able to break the cycle with a walkoff win in the 10th inning. Lucas Braun got the start and pitched five solid innings, giving up a pair of runs on eight hits and a walk. He also recorded five strikeouts to go with a game-high 13 whiffs. Tayler Scott got the next inning and two thirds, allowing a run, before a scoreless inning and a third from Hayden Harris. Ian Hamilton came on for the ninth and 10th innings, not giving up a run, and picking up the win. Combined the Stripers pitching staff allowed three runs on 11 hits, three walks, and 11 strikeouts with 23 whiffs – good enough to claim four of the top five spots on the game’s whiff leaderboard despite not recording any of the game’s top five velocities.

Offensively the Stripers had six guys combine for nine hits, with Aaron Schunk, Rowdy Tellez, and Brett Wisely each having two-hit nights. Schunk also added two walks, meaning he reached base in all four of his plate appearances in this one. Schunk, Tellez, and DeShawn Keirsey Jr. picked up doubles as well, the team’s only extra base hits. Cal Conley was promoted just in time for this game, and came off the bench as a pinch runner, getting caught stealing home in the bottom of the eighth.

Columbus Clingstones 6, Montgomery Biscuits 2

• Drew Compton, 1B: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB
• Adam Zebrowski, C: 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB
• Brett Sears, SP: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K
• Blayne Enlow, RP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Box Score

Brett Sears took the ball for the start and tossed six and a third shutout innings on Saturday night. Sears allowed just four hits and a walk, striking out six and picking up 13 whiffs. He was commanding it well in this one, throwing 61 of his 84 pitches for strikes. Blayne Enlow followed and didn’t allow a run during his inning and two thirds. Ryan Bourassa came in for the ninth, and gave up a pair of runs to put an end to the combined shutout.

This was a pretty complete performance by the offense, as seven starters picked up at least one hit and eight reached base safely. Five Clingstones ended up with multi-hit games in this win, including Drew Compton, Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., Luke Waddell, Tristin English, and Jordan Groshans. Compton and Adam Zebrowski each connected on homers, with Compton’s being a two-run shot and Zebrowski’s being a solo, while Kilpatrick recorded a pair of doubles and a steal. Waddell and Lisandro Espinoza each added doubles in the win as well.

Bowling Green Hot Rods 7, Rome Emperors 6

• Eric Hartman, CF: 1-4, 2B, R, RBI, SB
• John Gil, SS: 1-2, BB, 2 RBI, SB
• Cade Kuehler, SP: 3 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
• Ian Mejia, RP: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Box Score

Cade Kuehler got hit early on in this one, giving up three runs in the first and two more in the second. He lasted just three innings, allowing the five runs on four hits and four walks. Ian Mejia came in for the next two innings, and while he did allow two runs, he also picked up four strikeouts and 11 whiffs in those two innings. Cory Wall pitched the next two innings without giving up a run, before giving way to Logan Samuels. Samuels walked the first batter he faced in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the game was called at that point, so he only faced one hitter.

Despite those five early runs against them, the Rome offense did a good job of fighting back to stay in the game. Once again John Gil and Eric Hartman headlined the performances for the offense, as Hartman doubled, batted in a run, scored once, and stole a base. Gil singled, walked, batted in two runs, and also stole a base. Colby Jones and Dalton McIntyre each had two-hit nights, with each scoring a run plus McIntyre batting one in. Among the other prospects here, Owen Carey was hitless in two at bats, but drew a walk and scored twice. Cody Miller went hitless in four at bats, striking out in each one.

Delmarva Shorebirds 7, Augusta GreenJackets 4

• Tate Southisene, 2B: 0-3, 2 BB, R
• Juan Mateo, 3B: 1-2, BB, RBI
• Zach Royse, SP: 3.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Carter Lovasz, RP: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Box Score

This one featured all pitchers from the 2025 draft class for Augusta, along with one undrafted free agent from last year as well. Seventh rounder Zach Royse was the starter, and he had a rough first inning allowing three runs, before rebounding and pitching better for the rest of his night. Overall Royse allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks to go with three strikeouts and 11 whiffs. Next came 19th rounder Ryan Heppner, who allowed two runs in his inning and two thirds, though he did induce nine whiffs. Eighth rounder Carter Lovasz was next, and he allowed a run over two innings of work, picking up three strikeouts and seven whiffs. Undrafted free agent Drew Christo pitched a scoreless frame to finish this one off.

The big story offensively had to be the season debut for Juan Mateo, who just returned from the injured list. The versatile infielder got the start at third base and went one for two with a walk and run batted in, before being removed from the game – something the Braves often do with guys making their return from injury. Nick Montgomery’s solid start to the year after really struggling here last year continued on Saturday, as he recorded a double in four at bats. Last year’s first round pick Tate Southisene was hitless in three at bats, but did draw a pair of walks and scored a run. Alex Lodise and Conor Essenburg were each hitless in four at bats, with Essenburg striking out four times and Lodise three of his own.