Brandon Beachy had an outing we were all waiting for Friday; five innings, five hits, one run, three strikeouts. He threw 70 pitches and did not give up a run until the fifth against the Pirates' Triple-A club.
One surprise in Gwinnett's lineup is the coming of age of Phil Gosselin.
The second baseman's average with the G-Braves is higher than it was at any previous professional level. The former Virginia Cavalier is a savvy baseball player who figures to have a future if he can maintain his offense.
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Critics of Christian Bethacourt's lack of power may have to find a new argument. The up-and-coming Braves catcher hit two homers tonight for Mississippi, giving him a solid nine for the year in the M-Braves' tough, tight game with Jackson.
Bethancourt this week was the only Southern League all-star to repeat his 2012 honor in 2013. My goodness, what could he bring in a trade?
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Earning his first professional win for Danville today was all-name team member Dakota Dill. He followed a shaky outing from still-healing Jean-Claude Gil with two hitless innings of relief. Dill was a 2013 draft pick (26th round, the latest pitcher to sign) out of Sullivan Ross State. And he seems to be settling in; he has not allowed a run over his last three outings (4.1 innings).
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FRIDAY'S SCORES
CLASS AAA
Gwinnett (43-57) 4, Indianapolis 3
WP: Beachy (1-3) 5 IP, 5 H,1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K. (70 pitches)
Rasmus (Save, 11) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K.
Mejia 1-3, HR (25th), RBI; Gosselin 2-4, RBI; Kazmar 1-2, R, RBI; Gartrell 1-4, R.
CLASS AA
Jackson 4, Mississippi (12-15) 3 (10)
SP: Lee 7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER(2R), 0 BB, 1 K. L: Pacheco (1-1) 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER(1R), 1 BB, 2 K Bethancourt 2-4, 2 HR (8th, 9th), 2 RBI; La Stella 1-3; Kleinknecht 1-3, 2B, RBI; Salcedo 2-4; Pedroza 2-3, R.
ADVANCED CLASS A
Lynchburg (8-16) 8, Potomac 2
WP: Ross (6-4) 6 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. Rivera 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K. (1.83).
Moses 2-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI; Lipka 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI; Landoni 2-5, 2 R, 3B, RBI; Elander 1-3, R, RBI; Rohm 1-5, 2B, RBI.
CLASS A
Lexington 3, Rome (10-17) 2
SP: Parsons 7 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
LP: Wilson 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER(1R), 1 BB, 1 K.
Wren 2-4, 2B, R, 2 SB (10); Peraza 1-4, RBI; Franco 2-4, 2B.
APPALACHIAN LEAGUE
Game One
Danville (13-12) 12, Kingston 5 (7)
SP: Gil 3 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
WP: Dill (1-0) 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
Lien 1-3, 2 R, HR (4th), 3 RBI, 2 BB, SB; Caratini 2-4, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI; Nunez 3-3, 3 R; Piloto 2-5, R, 2 RBI; De La Rosa 2-4, 2B, R, RBI; Schrader 1-1, RBI.
Game Two
Kinston 1, Danville (13-13) 0 (7)
LP: Waszak (1-2) 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.
Piloto 2-3, 2B; Caratini 1-3 (.326). .
SHORT-SEASON ROOKIE
GCL Braves (10-13) 8, GCL Phillies 6
WP: Gonzalez (3-1) 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K. Holmes (Save, 3) 2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
Oliver 2-5, R, 3B, 2 RBI; V. Reyes 0-4, RBI; Reed Harper 2-5, 2B, R; McKenzie 1-3, R, RBI; Monasterio 1-4, 2B, R, 3 RBI.
Game One
DSL Tigers 7, DSL Braves (16-21) 4 (7)
LP: Santiago (1-4) 5.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
Didder 2-5, 2B, R; Castro 2-4, RBI; Asuaje 1-4, RBI; Mendez 1-4, R, RBI (July FA signee)..
Game Two
DSL Tigers 7 DSL Braves (16-22) 3 (7)
LP: Ledezma (0-2) 3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER(1R), 2 BB, 2 K..
Chin 2-4 (2 E); Cleofa 1-2, R, SB; Castro 1-2, 2B; Estevea 1-2, RBI.