Braves minor league recap: Dixon Williams homers twice in Rome’s win

(11-8) Columbus Clingstones 5, (8-11) Birmingham Barons 3

• Jordan Groshans, 3B: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI
• Lizandro Espinoza, SS: 1-4, 2B, R
• David McCabe, DH: 2-4, RBI
• Herick Hernandez, SP: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Box Score It took extra innings, but Columbus managed to scratch out a win against Birmingham on Friday. Herick Hernandez got the start and it was another discouraging outing from the lefty as he again failed to make it beyond three innings for the second straight start. The main issue, as it always has been with Hernandez, has been his inability to throw strikes and when he does hit the zone, it’s often up which leaves him vulnerable to get knocked around. Hernandez’ overall numbers are solid as he’s carrying a 2.84 ERA on the season. But the current trajectory he is on is worrisome and hopefully it’s just a blip on his radar and he can get his control taken care of. At the plate, Columbus did just enough to get the job done. David McCabe laced an RBI-single to put the Clingstones on the board in the first inning and the game went back-and-forth from that point forward. However, the Clingstones got a significant boost from Jordan Groshans who, in the top of the ninth while trailing 3-2 with two outs, took a 1-0 pitch and crushed it over the left field wall to send the game into extra innings. It was Groshans’ fourth homer of the season for Columbus. Shay Schanaman came on in relief and tossed two innings of scoreless ball to keep Columbus in the game in the eighth and to send the game to the tenth as well. Schanaman struck out three while giving up just one walk in his two frames of work. In the top of the tenth, Columbus capitalized on a Birmingham mistake, as Ambioris Tavarez — who came on to pinch-run — scampered home on a wild pitch to give the Clingstones a 4-3 lead. Tristin English later came around to score on an RBI-single off the bat of Cal Conley to provide an insurance run and extend the lead to 5-3. Elison Joseph was called upon to get the save and did so despite giving up a hit and issuing a walk.

(9-10) Rome Emperors 11, (12-7) Greensboro Grasshoppers 3

• Dixon Williams, 1B: 2-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 R
• Eric Hartman, DH: 1-3, R, 2 BB
• John Gil, SS: 1-4, RBI, R
• Colin Daniel, SP: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 5 K Box Score The Emperors got back in the win column following a loss on Thursday, as Colin Daniel spun six innings of three-run ball while getting a massive night at the dish from 2025 draftee Dixon Williams. Across his six innings of work, Daniel limited Greensboro to three runs on five hits while striking out five. The best news is that he did not issue a single walk on the night. He also managed to get 18 swings and misses on the night, which was good for second-best across all high-A performances on Friday based on when this recap was written. In four starts this season, Daniel has sort of been a middle of the pack type of starter. His stuff hasn’t exactly been overwhelming and he’s given up his fair share of homers — four to be exact — but he has somehow managed to put up somewhat decent numbers. At the plate, it was the Dixon Williams show who homered not once, but twice to pace Rome’s offense. It was Williams’ first (and second) homers of the season, as he works his way to full speed after starting the season on the injured list. The first of Williams’ homers came on an inside-the-park shot with two outs in the top of the first that bounced off the right center field wall and he beat the throw home to score. What is ironic is that his second homer, which came with two runners on in the top of the fourth inning, managed to go over the wall in almost the same exact spot his inside-the-park shot hit off the wall. In five games for Rome thus far, Williams has posted an OPS of 1.054 while striking out six times and walking four. In other offensive news, while it wasn’t his typical three-homer night performance, Eric Hartman had a decent night at the plate as he went 1-3 with a run scored and a pair of walks to his credit. John Gil also drove in a run and later came around to score as he finished 1-4 on Friday.

(11-8) Augusta GreenJackets 11, (10-9) Columbia Fireflies 10

• Tanner Smith, C: 2-4, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, R, BB
• Tate Southisene, 2B: 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, SB
• Alex Lodise, SS: 2-6, 2 R
• Luis Guanipa, CF: 2-5, RBI, R, 2 SB
• Ethan Bagwell, SP: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 K Box Score When your starting pitcher gives up six runs in just 4.1 innings of work and a reliever gives up another four runs, you can pretty much chalk it up as a loss almost every time. The key word in the previous sentence is: *almost*. That was not the case for Augusta, as the GreenJackets rode an 11-run, 12-hit performance on Friday to an exciting victory where Tate Southisene got the opportunity to play hero and he did so with swagger. Getting the start was Ethan Bagwell who simply did not have his best stuff. In 4.1 innings, Bagwell struggled by giving up six runs (five earned) on five hits, while walking four and striking out four. It was Bagwell’s shortest outing of the season, and the third consecutive in which he has given up two or more earned runs after his stellar six-inning shutout to open his season on April 3. As mentioned, thankfully the Augusta offense showed up and showed out after scoring just three total runs in the previous two games. Southisene got the party started for Augusta — and he would ironically end it later in the game — by drawing a leadoff walk in the first at-bat of the game and proceeded to swipe second for his 13th stolen base of the season. Southisene later came around to score on an RBI-single off the bate of Luis Guanipa who eventually stole his 11th and 12th bases of the year as well. From that point forward, there were a total of seven lead changes between Augusta and Columbia throughout the remainder of the game. The biggest breakthrough of the night came in the top of the ninth inning. Trailing 10-8, Southisene came to the plate with two outs, the bases loaded and on a 1-0 count, the 2025 first round draft pick took a fastball to the opposite field, lacing it over the right fielders head to unload the bases and give the GreenJackets the 11-10 lead. Despite the late-inning heroics from Southisene, the GreenJackets would need a bit more to go their way in the final half-inning. With two runners in scoring position — and the tying run just 90 feet away — Luis Guanipa fielded a pop out into shallow centerfield for the second out, but proceeded to fire the ball home which was in time to get the tagging runner for the final out of the inning and the game. Catcher Tanner Smith had a tremendous night at the plate as well, as the former University of Miami backstop hit a home run and a double, driving in a whopping four runs on the night. He also drew a walk on Friday and managed to raise his season OPS to .936 while batting .293 for Augusta through eight games. Southisene’s night extends his hitting streak to six games, while also increasing his season OPS to .951. It is an incredibly encouraging start to the year for Southisene who has shown an improved zone recognition and increased raw power as well early on this season.