Minors Report 4/4/14: Santana going today for sure!

[rico43]

When are the Braves going to send poor Mejia to some AL team so he can at least earn some MLB time like Mauro did?

Daniel Castro of Lynchburg has the first walk-off GW hit of 2014, a single in the 10th. They plucked him out of the Mexican League midway through 2013 after breaking in with the Dominican Braves.

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CLASS AAA

Gwinnett (1-1) 12, Durham 7

WP: Santana (1-0) 5.1 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K.
Martin (Save) 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
JoeyT 3-5, 2B, R, RBI; Mejia 2-5, 2 HR (3), 3 RBIs; Salcedo 1-4 HR (1st), 2 RBI, 2 R; La Stella 2-4, 2B, 2 R; Constanza 1-5, 2 RBIs; Cunningham 1-5, 2 RBIs.

CLASS AA

Mobile 7, Mississippi (0-2) 5

SP: Hursh 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K.
LP: Hoyt (0-1) 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. Hoyt only one of five MB pitches who did not allow an earned run.
Nunez 2-4, 2B, 2 R; Loman 2-4, 2B, R, RBI; Lipka 1-4, 2B, R, RBI, SB.

ADVANCED CLASS A

Lynchburg (1-1) 6, Frederick 5 (10)

SP: Cabrera 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
WP: Jadovsky 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K.
Castro 3-3, R, RBI (GW hit); Wren 1-4, 2 RBI, SB; Sanchez 2-5, 2B, R; Elander 1-4, 2B.

CLASS A

Hagerstown 2, Rome (0-2) 1
(Walkoff win; trailed 1-0 going to 9th; Rome only 3 hits)

SP: Buchanan 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K.
LP: Brosius 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB.
JC Gil: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K.
Brown 1-3, 2B, RBI.

[Braves1976]

I'm looking forward to watching Santana pitch tonight for the G-Braves. Hopefully MILB.tv is working better tonight (it went out a few times last night). I'd like to see Hursh pitch too if that one has a feed, last night they scheduled one but it didn't work.

[Braves1976]

Mejia with another long homer for the G-Braves. This one a two run shot and the homer makes him the Gwinnett Braves franchise leader in homeruns. 2-0 G-Braves over Durham Bulls early.

[Braves1976]

Santana looks good through three innings, still 2-0 G-Braves. It seems the Mississippi feed is going to work tonight so I am about to watch Hursh pitch now.

[BremanFan88]

Salcedo hit the bull...

[Heyward]

Sounds like Santana had a rough inning but otherwise looked good, no?

[Braves1976]

Santana struggled tonight, gave up six runs (5 ER as one was a result of an error by La Stella) and walked more than he struck out (4 BB vs 3 SO). Mejia btw just crushed another homerun. That's three long homers for him through less than two games.

Hursh has looked good so far for Mississippi. He gave up a run in the first after a leadoff walk and single. But has looked strong since then so far.

I've been flipping back and forth from the Mississippi game and G-Braves game on MLB.tv tonight.

[Braves1976]

Jason Hursh line tonight: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K in his Double-A debut

Ervin Santana line tonight: 5.1 IP, 8H, 6R, 5ER, 4BB, 3K, HR, WP (93 pitches/50 strikes)

[Krovahn]

Sounds like Santana had a rough inning but otherwise looked good, no?
I think so, yes. 5 of the 6 runs came as he was facing the lineup for the third time.

So, essentially, they adjusted to him, and he didn't adjust back; however, it was only his 3rd or 4th start. I'd give him one more in the minors before bringing him up, but, he was not bad.

[Braves1976]

I watched the game (actually I am still watching as it isn't over), Santana was struggling most of the game. He fell behind in the count to most hitters before the innings he gave up most of the runs. But I just think it was rust and that he might need one more game to get ready. I'd also point out that Harang gave up six runs his last spring game and then pitched well vs the Brewers. Santana may come out next game and pitch great.

Update: G-Braves just won 12-7 over Durham tonight. Santana will get the win tonight.

[nsacpi]

I'm a little concerned about Hursh's strikeout rates so far as a pro. I know he has talked about getting grounders and pitching to contact, and maybe that will work for him. But I'd feel better with a few more Ks.

[Braves1976]

I'm a little concerned about Hursh's strikeout rates so far as a pro. I know he has talked about getting grounders and pitching to contact, and maybe that will work for him. But I'd feel better with a few more Ks.

If it makes you feel any better, Hursh got squeezed a few times tonight (cost him at least two strikeouts). There was one that should have been strike three right down the middle. Hursh reacted to it a bit and could've annoyed the ump.

[Tapate50]

Pretty business as usual night for everyone in AAA.

[50PoundHead]

Pretty good set of bats at Gwinnett. I don't know the ceiling for a lot of those guys (La Stella and Salcedo are likely the highest), but some of them could be solid bench bats if the occasion arises.

[Braves1976]

Pretty good set of bats at Gwinnett. I don't know the ceiling for a lot of those guys (La Stella and Salcedo are likely the highest), but some of them could be solid bench bats if the occasion arises.

Yea, offense looks very good so far.

[MadduxFanII]

I feel bad for Mejia. He can obviously hit. Somewhere off the coast of Maine there's a lighthouse with a door leading to a parallel universe where Mejia isn't in an organization with an All Star first baseman or one where he can play a little bit of left field or one where he plays in an American League organization or one where 12 pitchers isn't the only acceptable roster construction option.

[Braves1976]

I feel bad for Mejia. He can obviously hit. Somewhere off the coast of Maine there's a lighthouse with a door leading to a parallel universe where Mejia isn't in an organization with an All Star first baseman or one where he can play a little bit of left field or one where he plays in an American League organization or one where 12 pitchers isn't the only acceptable roster construction option.

Mejia looks really locked in so far too. It's too bad we didn't have room for him on our bench to make use of him while he's hot.