Atlanta Braves Week 5 Farm Report: The best week yet
By Clint Manry
Not only did the Atlanta Braves cap off the weekend with a sweep, but the minor league system went15-8 in Week 5.
The Atlanta Braves organization as a whole did very well this past week, including Friday when not only did the big league club win, but all four minor league teams did as well.
Need a refresher? Here are the previous recaps:
(17-13) Gwinnett Stripers (AAA)
Week 5 Record: 4-3
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
(3B) Austin Riley
Riley went 11-for-23 (.478 average) and belted 3 doubles in Week 5; not to mention 5 home runs, four of them coming from two 2-homer games.
The future Atlanta Braves third baseman picked up 11 of his 27 RBI this past week, and now has a .301 batting average (1.014 OPS) and 10 home runs, to go along with 9 doubles this season.
(SP) Sean Newcomb
Newcomb gets Pitcher of the Week again, as he had another walk-less start last Monday. His line wasn’t outrageous (6 IP, 4 H, ER, 3 K), but that makes back-to-back starts without a walk.
For the season in Gwinnett, Newcomb is 2-1 with a 2.43 ERA (15 K / 4 BB). I’m thinking one or two more solid starts, and he’s on Brian Snitker‘s good side again (or maybe Alex Anthopolous?).
(4/29) Monday: Won 9-2 vs. Charlotte Knights – FULL RECAP
- (P) S. Newcomb: 6 IP, 4 H, ER, 0 BB, 3 K
- (CF) R. Ortega: 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB
- (LF) A. Duvall: 2-4, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R, BB
So a couple of notable Gwinnett achievements on Monday night: Adam Duvall homered in his 5th-straight game, tying the mark set by Joey Terdoslavich in 2014.
Also, Rafael Ortega‘s lead-off homer gives him four total this season, which ties Ozzie Albies from 2017 for such lead-off hits. Finally, Andres Blanco‘s double on Monday extended his on-base streak to 18 games.
And even better, Sean Newcomb once again made a quality start (2nd-straight), forcing Charlotte to keep everything on the ground with his 9 groundouts Monday.
*Also, reliever Grant Dayton was recalled to the Atlanta Braves on Monday, due to Chad Sobotka being placed on the 10-day IL (abdominal strain).
(4/30) Tuesday: Won 4-2 vs. Charlotte Knights – FULL RECAP
- (P) B. Wilson: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, BB, 7 K
- (LF) A. Duvall: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, K
- (3B) A. Riley: 2-4, 2B, 2 R, K
The Stripers received a strong pitching performance by Bryse Wilson (#9 prospect) and some timely hits by Adam Duvall and Rafael Ortega (2-5 with an RBI and K).
Duvall snapped his home run streak at 5 games but has now hit safely in 9-straight contests. Andres Blanco (2-5 with a double, a run and a K) held on to his on-base streak, now up to 19-straight games and Austin Riley (#3 prospect) is up to 16-straight after Tuesday’s game.
(5/1) Wednesday: Lost 10-7 vs. Charlotte Knights – FULL RECAP
- (P) K. Allard: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 K
- (3B) A. Riley: 4-5, 2 HR, 2B, 2 RBI, K
- (LF) A. Duvall: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI
In a game where Gwinnett outhit the Knights 14-10, hit 5 home runs, and pounced to a 5-0 lead after just three innings — the Stripers couldn’t muster a win Wednesday night.
Starter Kolby Allard (#12 prospect) couldn’t get any help from his defense or bullpen, as Austin Riley committed 2 costly throwing blunders and all together Allard finished with a total of 4 unearned runs.
Riley and Andres Blanco both notched another game for their respective on-base streaks (Riley is up to 17 games and Blanco is at 20). Rafael Ortega went hitless with two walks and a strikeout.
(5/2) Thursday: Lost 8-2 vs. Durham Bulls – FULL RECAP
- (P) A. Santiago: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
- (DH) A. Duvall: 2-3, 2B, R
- (RF) T. Demeritte: 1-3, R, BB, K
The hot-hitting Adam Duvall added another game to his hitting streak, now up to 11-straight, but the Stripers fell too far behind from a rough start by starter Andres Santiago.
As a team, Gwinnett finished with only 3 hits (Duvall’s two hits and Demeritte’s base-hit), their lowest hit total this season. The Stripers only managed the one XBH by Duvall, while striking out 10 times and hitting 16 groundouts. Also, moving runners was obviously a problem (0-for-9 with RISP).
*Before Thursday night’s game, lefty Jordan Harrison (from Mississippi) was promoted to the Stripers.
Also, reliever Shane Carle was optioned back to Gwinnett from the Atlanta Braves.
(5/3) Friday: Won 11-3 vs. Durham Bulls – FULL RECAP
- (P) K. Wright: 7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, BB, 4 K, 2 HR
- (RF) T. Demeritte: 3-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, R
- (3B) A. Riley: 2-4, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, BB, K
The Stripers remained scorching hot in all phases of the game on Friday, with starter Kyle Wright (#2 prospect) putting together his second-straight quality start and several Gwinnett hitters continuing various hitting streaks.
Adam Duvall extended his hitting streak and finished 1-for-3 with a run scored, two walks, and a strikeout. That’s 9-straight games with a hit for Duvall. Speaking of 9-game hitting streaks, Travis Demeritte had a heck of a game with 2 homers, pushing his streak to 9-straight as well.
Andres Blanco has a streak of his own, now 21-straight games getting on base after Friday night’s game. Blanco finished 1-for-5 and scored a run. He also walked once and struck out twice. Catcher Alex Jackson (#16 prospect) also had a big game (3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI).
*Before Friday’s game, starter Touki Toussaint was recalled by the Atlanta Braves.
Also, Jesse Biddle was sent to Gwinnett for a rehab assignment after the Atlanta Braves game versus the Marlins.
(5/4) Saturday: Won 10-0 (F/6) vs. Durham Bulls – FULL RECAP
- (P) B. Rowen: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
- (3B) A. Riley: 3-3, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB
- (DH) P. Florimon: 1-3, HR, 3 RBI, K
Saturday’s win was cut short by rain, but frankly, the game was over after the third inning when Gwinnett ambushed the Bulls with 7 runs. Runs have been coming pretty easy for the Stripers lately and after Saturday’s game the team now has 44 total home runs.
Gwinnett’s starter, Ben Rowen, made his first start in 2019 and first of his career. Newly demoted pitcher, Jesse Biddle, worked the fifth inning and threw 12 pitches (7 strikes). Biddle didn’t allow a hit and struck out one, while picking up the win.
The offense was of course led by Austin Riley, as shown above, but Rafael Ortega also played well with a 3-hit night (one double) and two runs scored. Adam Duvall finally went hitless (ended at 9-straight games) in his 2 at-bats, but he scored a run and walked.
*Starter Touki Toussaint was optioned back to Gwinnett to make room for starter, Sean Newcomb, as he was recalled to the Atlanta Braves.
(5/5) Sunday: Lost 6-2 vs. Durham Bulls – FULL RECAP
- (P) B. Wilson: 4 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 2 K
- (3B) P. Florimon: 1-2, 2B, RBI, BB, K
- (LF) A. Duvall: 1-4, RBI, 2 K
Bryse Wilson started for the Stripers Sunday night and he still hasn’t quite got things going, now 0-3 with a 5.68 ERA (25 K / 5 BB). Gwinnett’s offense didn’t help much with just 5 hits and 2 runs.
Austin Riley finished 0-for-3 with a run, a walk, and 2 strikeouts, ending his torrid stretch of hitting.
Adam Duvall put the Stripers up quick, driving an RBI-single to left field in the 1st inning, scoring Rafael Ortega. Duvall is now up to a .314 average (169 wRC+) with 9 home runs and 23 RBI.
Ortega finished Sunday 1-for-2 with a run, two walks, and a strikeout. He’s currently batting .321 (158 wRC+) with 7 homers and 8 doubles.