Braves Minor League Recap: System flexes power

(15-16) Columbus Clingstones 6, (14-17) Biloxi Shuckers 9 – F/7

• Patrick Clohisy, LF: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R, .235/.278/.365
• David McCabe, 1B: 1-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, R, .264/.363/.632
• Luke Waddell, SS: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, .267/.383/.416
• Cal Conley, 2B: 1-for-3, 2B, .339/.453/.677
• Garrett Baumann, SP: 4IP 5H 3ER 2BB 4K, 7.26 ERA Box Score Some miss-located pitches, and inability to end an inning, is what really did Garrett Baumann in as the Clingstones dropped game one of the double-header 9-6. After going up in the first following a Luke Waddell double that scored Lizandro Espinoza, Garrett Baumann immediately responded by surrendering a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. A hung curveball that sat at the top of the zone is what did him in for the first run of the game – a solo home run with two outs. Two pitches later he allowed a double, and then a hung changeup did him in for the second run of the inning as it allowed the runner at second to score when it was hit for a single. The following inning he would once again get the first two outs but then go single, disengagement violation, walk, and single to extend the lead to 3-1. Patrick Clohisy would respond in the top half of the next inning with his first home run of the season. It’s been a frustrating season for Patrick after such a fun 2025. The walk rate has plummeted to 5.6% and a result his on-base has dropped below .300 (.278) which takes away from his ability to run on the base pads where he had 100 stolen bases last season. So to say the least, it was a good sight to see Patrick having a strong game. Garrett would work a scoreless third and fourth and the game would enter the fifth inning with the score at a tight 3-2 in favor of the Shuckers. The Clingstones would score a pair of runs in the fifth inning – a Patrick Clohisy single that scored Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., and then later a sacrifice fly by David McCabe that would score Patrick Clohisy and the Clingstones would take the 4-3 lead. Luis Vargas would replace Baumann in the bottom half of the fifth and would have an inning to forget. Luis has looked strong this season, upon returning from having a tumor removed from his head, which has been a very happy surprise but it just wasn’t his day. After allowing the game tying run to score, there would be just one runner on base with two outs. However, Vargas would walk the next two batters to load the bases before surrendering a grand slam to swing the game back in favor of the Shuckers at 8-4. The Clingstones would score a pair of runs in the games final inning from this David McCabe two run home run but it wasn’t enough as the Clingstones would drop game one of the double header.

(16-16) Columbus Clingstones 6, (14-18) Biloxi Shuckers 1 – F/7

• Lizandro Espinoza, SS: 2-for-2, BB, 2B, .284/.404/.558
• Luke Waddell, DH: 2-for-3, HR, 5 RBI, BB, R, .267/.383/.416
• Adam Żebrowski, C: 2-for-4, .300/.394/.600
• Cal Conley, 2B: 1-for-4, R, 2B, .339/.453/.677
• Owen Hackman, SP: 3IP 1H 0R 1BB 5K, 4.76 ERA Box Score After some pitching troubles ing game one, the Clingstones deployed a bullpen game for game two of the double header to some fantastic results. Owen Hackman got the start as an opener and worked three fantastic innings where he surrendered just one hit and struck out five. He was relieved by Ryan Bourassa (1Ip 1H 1ER 1BB 0K) allowed the long run to score which came from a solo home run in the fourth inning but that was the final Shuckers batter to reach base for the rest of the game. LJ McDonough (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K) worked a perfect fifth inning, Blayne Enlow (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K) a perfect sixth, and Blane Abeyta (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K) a perfect seventh inning to end the game and give the Clingstones the victory. As a group the staff allowed just two hits, two walks, and struck out eight. They allowed just one runner to reach scoring position, and stranded four total batters. Offensively, all the damage happened in the games first two innings. Luke Waddell singled in Lizandro Espinoza who doubled and stole third earlier in the inning to make it 1-0. They would then tack on five runs the following inning – all with two outs. A Kevin Kilpatrick Jr., single would drive in Cal Conley to make it 2-0. Kevin would then steal second, Patrick Clohisy would draw a walk, and Lizandro Espinoza would hit an infield single to load the bases setting up Luke Waddell to hit this grand slam to extend the lead to 6-0. The Clingstones would threaten again – including loading the bases in the fourth inning, but would not score a run the rest of the game. But, as stated, the pitching staff did not need more and surrendered a single run before securing the win, and a split of the double header.

(18-15) Rome Emperors 17, (8-25) Asheville Tourists 4

• Isaiah Drake, RF: 3-for-6, 2 2B (8), HR (7), 4 RBI, 2 R, .298/.361/.519
• John Gil, SS: 2-for-5, 2 HR (6), 2 RBI, 3 R, BB, .305/.403/.508
• Eric Hartman, CF: 4-for-5, 2 HR (12), 2B, .331/.417/.710
• Dixon Williams, DH: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, .328/.446/.621
• Cody Miller, 2B: 3-for-6, HR (3), 2 2B (8), 2 RBI, 2 R, .207/.300/.347
• Cedric De Grandpre, SP: 5IP 4H 3ER 1BB 8K, 6.49 ERA
• Justin Long, RP: 2IP 0H 0R 3BB 1K, 13.11 ERA Box Score This game was an absolute drubbing as the Emperors collected **twenty** hits, score **seventeen** runs, including five doubles, and **six** home runs. The Emperors would score runs in all but three innings including exploding for seven in the fourth inning. It started with a bang with back-to-back homers in the first by John Gil and Eric Hartman. They would score a pair of runs again in the second inning – this time from a force out by Isaiah Drake, with the bases loaded scored the first run, and then a double steal by Logan Braunschweig and Isaiah Drake would result in Logan stealing home and extending the lead to 4-2. They would score a pair in the third, again, with an RBI single by Dixon Williams, and RBI single by Mason Guerra to extend the lead to 6-2. The power showcase started back up in the fourth inning first with this Isaiah Drake two run home run to push the lead to 8-3. John Gil just two pitches later would hit his second home run of the game to make it 9-3. An RBI double by Cody Miller would make it 10-3, a single by Colby Jones 11-3, Logan Braunschweig single 12-3, and finally double Isaiah Drake would push the lead to 13-3 – by the fourth inning. That would not be the end of things as the very next inning it was now tie for Eric Hartman to hit his second home run of the game, and Cody Miller would join the party and hit one himself to make it **15-3.** Fast forward to the ninth inning and it was…yup, Isaiah Drake that would lead off the inning with a double, John Gil would walk, and then Eric Hartman hit an RBI double to score Isaiah and extend the lead to 16-4. He was followed up by Dixon Williams who would hit a sacrifice fly and give the games its final run. As a team the Emperors went 9-for-18 with runners in scoring position and would still strand eight on base despite scoring seventeen runs. On the mound, it was a trio of pitchers that got things done. Cedric De Grandpre had his good start followed by a bad start streak continue as a pair of home runs were really the only damage he gave up. It wasn’t pretty all the time, but he showed much better command in his pitches which is all he needs because his pitch arsenal is so filthy. Ryan Heppner (2IP 2H 1R 0ER 2BB 2K) would work the sixth and seventh innings and would face trouble but ultimately it wouldn’t really matter in the blowout. Justin Long (2IP 0H 0R 3BB 1K) would pitch the final two innings and wouldn’t surrender a hit but would walk three – all in the ninth inning with two outs before securing the win.

(20-13) Charleston RiverDogs 3, (17-16) Augusta GreenJackets 7

• Tate Southisene, 2B: 1-for-3, HR (6), RBI, R, BB, .267/.426/.492
• Alex Lodise, SS: 1-for-5, .252/.318/.403
• Luis Guanipa, DH: 3-for-5, 3B (2), HR (7), RBI, R, .311/.346/.549
• Dalton McIntyre, CF: 2-for-4, HR (4), 3 RBI, R, .333/.413/.561
• Juan Mateo, 1B: 2-for-4, R, .343/.397/.433
• Davis Polo, SP: 4IP 7H 3ER 1BB 4K, 3.38 ERA
• Kendy Richard, RP: 5IP 1H 0R 1BB 3K, 9.00 ERA Box Score The offensive fun continued, this time in Augusta as the GreenJackets had eleven hits scored seven runs, and hit four home runs. Tate Southisene got the fun started in the bottom of the first inning with his sixth home run of the season – an absolute bomb, launched at 105 MPH. They would tack on another run in the fourth inning, a sacrifice fly by Joe Olsavsky, that would drive in Tanner Smith. Another run scored via a sacrifice fly, this time in the sixth inning by the newly promoted John Estevez, would ultimately tie the game at 3-3. They would then score four runs in the bottom of the seventh to swing the game back in their favor and ultimately secure the win. It started with Luis Guanipa connecting on his seventh home run of the season on a slider inside to give Augusta the 4-3 lead. After a Nick Montgomery hit by pitch, and a Juan Mateo single, Dalton McIntyre connected on his fourth home run of the season to extend the lead to 7-3. The GreenJackets flexed their power, as situationally they struggled. Despite scoring seven the team still went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine, but it didn’t matter. Davis Polo (4IP 7H 3ER 1BB 4K) got the start and was solid, showing an improved changeup especially later in the game. It’s a season of hoping for sustained health for Davis, everything else is the cherry on top and he’s been pretty solid since returning. Kendy Richard had a much needed strong inning. After struggling most of the season, Kendy attacked hitters and pitched five scoreless innings.