Brett Sears pitched a one-hit shutout for the Columbus Clingstones before a rain delay cut his outing short. The Gwinnett Stripers also had notable performances, defeating the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 4-1.
Key points
Brett Sears pitched a one-hit shutout for the Columbus Clingstones.
MONTGOMERY, AL - JULY 29: Brett Sears #66 of the Columbus Clingstones pitches during the game between the Columbus Clingstones and the Montgomery Biscuits at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Natalie Buchanan/Minor League Baseball)
MONTGOMERY, AL - JULY 29: Brett Sears #66 of the Columbus Clingstones pitches during the game between the Columbus Clingstones and the Montgomery Biscuits at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Natalie Buchanan/Minor League Baseball)
Saturday’s biggest story in the Atlanta Braves farm system had to be the weather. Not only were half of the games rained out, but the best performance of the day was cut short by a rain delay. Brett Sears got pulled a bit early because of that rain delay, but he was pitching a one-hit shutout through five innings. Other events of note would be a monster game from Tristin English and the bottom of the Gwinnett lineup running wild on the Jumbo Shrimp.
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It was pretty much a bullpen day from the start, as Victor Mederos was the starting pitcher and his previous longest outing of the season was three innings back with the Angels organization. Mederos pitched another solid game since coming over, allowing one run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts over three and two thirds innings, only needing 49 pitches to get through nearly four innings. He was followed by five relievers who didn’t allow any further runs to score. First was Anderson Pilar, who went an inning and a third, then an inning apiece out of Ian Hamilton, Blayne Enlow, Javy Guerra, and Rolddy Munoz – who picked up the save.
The bottom of the lineup did the heavy lifting for the Stripers. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. was two for three with a double, three stolen bases, and two runs scored out of the eight spot in the lineup and out of the nine hole Brewer Hicklen was two for three with a pair of steals and a run. Together the eight and nine hitters combined to go four for six, three runs scored, and five stolen bases. Aaron Schunk also had a big day, going three for four with a double, while Rowdy Tellez blasted his fifth homer of the season. Nacho Alvarez singled in three at bats and picked up an RBI, while Jim Jarvis was hitless in four at bats, but also picked up an RBI.
Brett Sears was dominant in this one, though a rain delay knocked him out after just five innings and 72 pitches. Sears was pitching a shutout with just one hit and two walks allowed, to go with seven strikeouts and eight whiffs, before the weather required about a 45 minute delay. Sears didn’t miss a ton of bats, but he was pounding the zone and in complete control in this start. Blane Abeyta pitched the next inning and two thirds, allowing an unearned run, before Tyler LaPorte pitched a scoreless inning and a third. LJ McDonough came in to get the final three outs, but also allowed three runs – via a homer, in his inning of work.
This game was actually a tightly contested game all along, as Columbus held a 2-1 lead heading into the ninth inning, before they tacked on four runs in the top of the inning. Tristin English led the way, going three for five with a homer, double, and four runs batted in. Cal Conley, who went two for four with a double, scored two of the runs for the Clingstones, while Lizandro Espinoza was one for four with a triple, walk, run scored, and one batted in. The only other player to reach base more than once was Jordan Groshans, who went one for four with a walk.
Rome Emperors vs Greensboro Grasshoppers – PPD, Rain
This game was rained out and is going to be played today, as part of a doubleheader starting at 1 PM.
Augusta GreenJackets vs Columbia Fireflies – PPD, Rain
This game was rained out and is going to be played today, as part of a doubleheader starting at 3:30 PM.
