(54-39) Memphis Redbirds 2, (46-45) Gwinnett Stripers 7
- Patrick Clohisy, CF: 4-for-5, RBI, R, SB, .275/.356/.465
- Rowdy Tellez, 1B: 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, R, .265/.376/.510
- Cal Conley, 2B: 2-for-2, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, .278/.326/.443
- Drue Hackenberg, SP: 5IP 1H 1ER 2BB 4K, 4.88 ERA
- Connor Thomas, RP: 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K, 1.09 ERA
The Stripers extended their winning streak to four games after a well fought game featuring strong pitching and the long ball. Let’s take a look at how the Stripers got it done.
Drue Hackenberg got the start and was extremely strong – allowing just a single hit over five innings of work. His one blemish came in the fourth inning when Hackenberg allowed back-to-back walks before allowing a sacrifice fly to score. Outside of that, Drue was completely in control. Drue featured his two-seam, four-seam, curveball, changeup, while sprinkling in his cutter. After a rough 2025, Drue hasn’t allowed more than four earned runs in a single start and has done a great job of re-establishing his value in the Braves pitching depth chart. After five strong innings the Stripers turned to Elieser Hernández (2IP 0H 0R 0BB 3K) who was just as strong – getting through two perfect innings as he leaned heavily on his four-seam and cutter. Following Elieser was Connor Thomas who was also absolutely fantastic as he absolutely pounded the zone with 9 strikes on 10 pitches while recording two strikeouts. Closing out the game, with the game pretty firmly in hand, was Anthony Molina (1IP 2H 1ER 0BB 1K) who allowed a run to score while inducing a double play.
Offensively, the recipe for success was a lot like the last game as Patrick Clohisy and Rowdy Tellez continued to show out. Fast forwarding to the fourth inning, the Stripers found themselves down 1-0, before loading the bases when Patrick Clohisy tied the game with an RBI single. Two batters later Rowdy Tellez drove in two with a two RBI single. One inning later, Cal Conley connected on his second home run of the seasons driving in Aaron Schunk and DaShawn Keirsey Jr., extending the Stripers lead to 6-1. One inning later it was once again Rowdy Tellez who drove in the last run of the game for the Stripers with this absolute bomb of a home run coming in at 110.4 MPH and going 430’ – extending his streak to three straight games with a home run.
(32-55) Birmingham Barons 4, (40-42) Columbus Clingstones 7
- Jordan Groshans, 3B: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, .266/.345/.549
- Archer Brookman, C: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, R, .248/.344/.400
- Luke Waddell, SS: 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI, .208/.314/.321
- Cedric de Grandpre, SP: 6IP 3H 1ER 0BB 7K, 4.12 ERA
- Luis Vargas, RP: 1.2IP 0H 0R 1BB 3K, 4.65 ERA
The suddenly surging Columbus Clingstones picked up their seventh win in their last 10 games with another strong starting pitching performance, and timely hitting.
Cedric de Grandpre got the start for the Clingstones and was absolutely dynamic – striking out seven across six innings of work. Cedric continued to utilize his four-seam/two-seam/cutter fastball repertoire to great success as he never really ran into much trouble in the start. His only blemish cam in the third inning when he allowed a run scoring single with two outs. After that, Cedric would retire the next ten hitters to get the Clingstones through six innings. He would be replaced by Braden Scott (0.1IP 4H 3ER 0BB 1K), making his Clingstones debut, and he struggled – allowing back-to-back singles before eventually surrendering a three run home run and another single. He would be replaced by Luis Vargas (1.2IP 0H 0R 1BB 3K) who was the opposite, immediately retiring the first two batters he saw to end the threat, before striking out the side in his next inning of work. Isaac Gallegos (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K) picked up his first save of the season for the Clingstones with a perfect ninth.
Offensively, it was Jordan Groshans who got the fun started for the Clingstones very early on – hitting a two run home run in the first.
This was Jordan’s 17th home run of the season which has been one of the best of his career, and has been an absolutely fantastic signing for the organization. Logan Braunschweig would drive in the third run of the game for the Clingstones in the fourth inning with an RBI single that drove in Will Verdung to extend the Clingstones lead to 3-1. They would tack on an additional three runs in the fifth inning highlighted by an Archer Brookman two run home run. The final run of the game for the Clingstones came in the seventh inning with a Drew Compton RBI single that drove in Luke Waddell.
As a team the Clingstones went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranding seven on base.
(42-42) Rome Emperors 7, (41-44) Hudson Valley Renegades 4
- Tate Southisene, SS: 3-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R, .234/.375/.423
- Eric Hartman, CF: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, .281/.359/.543
- Owen Carey, LF: 2-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI, R, .259/.327/.456
- Dallas Macias, RF: 1-for-2, RBI, R, 2 BB, .156/.200/.469
- Aiven Cabral, SP: 5IP 2H 0R 0BB 5K, 0.67 ERA
The Aiven Cabral show continued, while Tate Southisene got it going offensively in a thrilling victory for the Rome Emperors.
Cabral did what he has done all year, absolutely pounding the zone with his pitch mix and allowing just two hits across five innings, while striking out five. Outside of a third inning double Aiven was in complete control of the game. He was efficient as he needed just 63 pitches to get through his outing. On the season Aiven has now made 15 appearances across two levels, and his ERA is now a ridiculous 1.88 on the season, with a WHIP of 0.99. Even without a standout pitch, he lives in the zone and induces a ton of weak contact with all three of his pitches. He was replaced by Tyler Schoff (1.1IP 3H 4ER 3BB 0K) who struggled in his fourth appearance for the Emperors. Brody Fowler (1.2IP 0H 0R 2BB 4K) , the Braves 17th round pick from 2025, had one of his best outings of his careers – striking out four across 1.2 innings of work. Justin Long (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K) picked up his third save of the season with a perfect inning of work.
The fun got started early for the Emperors as John Gil walked, and stole his 38th base of the season, before Owen Carey connected on his sixth home run of the season – giving the Emperors a 2-0 lead.
They would be held scoreless until the seventh inning when Dallas Macias drove in Dixon Williams to push the Emperors lead to two runs, at 3-1. One inning later, the Emperors found themselves down and it was once again Owen Carey that came up with the big hit – this time a run scoring single that drove in Tate Southisene, to tie the game at 4-4. One inning later it was Tate Southisene’s time to shine as he drove in two on his second triple since joining the Rome Emperors.
After John Gil struck out, Eric Hartman drove in Tate on a laser double to right field to extend the lead to 7-4.
(49-36) Hickory Crawdads 7, (48-39) Augusta GreenJackets 0
- Tanner Smith, C: 1-for-3, BB, .258/.324/.495
- Juan Mateo, 2B: 1-for-4, .261/.333/.353
- Luis Guanipa, CF: 0-for-4, .303/.360/.459
- Conor Essenburg, RF: 1-for-3, BB, .254/.398/.457
- Kendy Richard, SP: 4IP 4H 3ER 1BB 2K, 6.36 ERA
The GreenJackets fell, running into the buzzsaw that is Evan Siary, in a shutout loss to the Crawdads.
Kendy Richard got the start for the GreenJackets and was OK, allowing three earned runs across four innings of work while giving up a pair of home runs. Kendy has an up-and-down season, finding more success coming out of the bullpen, but overall did enough to keep the GreenJackets in the game. He was replaced by Luis Arestigueta (3.2IP 3H 3ER 2BB 0K) who has had a very odd 2026. After having strong success to start his career, Luis has found himself moving between Augusta and the FCL Braves as he’s struggled to generate whiffs and consistently find the zone. To his credit, Luis did allow just three earned runs while providing some length so it was a step in the right direction but it still has been a rough 2026 in a year he had some loftier expectations. Cristobal Abreu (1.1IP 2H 1ER 0BB 1K) worked the final stretch of the game and allowed one earned run over his inning+ of work.
Offensively it was a complete struggle as the GreenJackets had just two opportunities with runners in scoring position the entire game, to which they unfortunately went 0-for-2. The top four of the lineup (Guanipa, Essenburg, Lodise, Miller) went a combined 0-for-15, with Essenburg drawing a walk, but the totality of the group striking out seven times. The pitching hero from two games ago, shortstop Joe Olsavsky, was the only hitter to not strike out, as he and Tanner Smith were the only two players to reach base twice.