MINORS FINAL 7/11: Gil SO much better; Lipka sighting!
Yean-Carlos Gil has managed to have a brilliant season on the Braves' worst farm club in years...
FROM MiLB.com
Yean Carlos Gil faced the most fearsome lineup in the South Atlantic League on Wednesday and gave them something to worry about instead.
The left-handed Atlanta prospect allowed one hit over seven innings in a rain-shortened complete game as Class A Rome blanked Asheville, 4-0. He faced just two over the minimum.
Gil gave up only a fourth-inning single to No. 8 Rockies prospect Raimel Tapia and also hit Tapia with a pitch in the first. The 23-year-old struck out two, and for the third straight start, did not walk a batter. He threw 59 of his 92 pitches for strikes en route to the first complete game of his career.
"He did a great job of mixing his pitches and it's something he's been working on," R-Braves pitching coach Gabriel Luckert said. "If you look at his stats for the past three games pitched, he's done a good job of minimizing hits and runs by just mixing the pitches, pitching like a Double-A pitcher, I'd say.
"By changing speeds the way he's done, by throwing curveballs and changeups for strikes in fastball counts, pitching inside with his fastball and then establishing his secondary stuff on the outside part of the plate and keeping hitters off balance, [he's distinguished himself.] It's not something you see in a low-A pitcher."
What makes Wednesday's performance even more impressive for Gil (5-4) is that it came against the best hitting team in the South Atlantic League. The Tourists lead the league in average (.293), runs scored (507) and OPS (.812), a fact that hasn't escaped Luckert.
"Tonight was even more special because he did it against the top hitting club in the league in a hitter-friendly park," he said. "So that was very special."
Gil, who had Tommy John surgery in 2012, has allowed three runs on 12 hits over 21 2/3 innings in his last three starts.
"He's been confident in his fastball command and that's the key," Luckert said. "By working ahead of the count with his fastball, it allows him to be more aggressive with his secondary stuff. He's throwing pitches that, earlier in the season, he wouldn't. He wasn't confident enough. Right now, the confidence is good and it's great to see him doing it."
After posting a 1.70 ERA through the season's first two months, Gil struggled in June, giving up 18 earned runs in his first four starts of the month. Despite the setback, the 6-foot-2 Venezuela native still ranks eighth in the league with a 2.99 ERA and third with a 1.02 WHIP.
"The first two months were outstanding. He scuffled a little bit, but it happens," Luckert said. "Really good to see him bouncing back, because he went through Tommy John surgery two years back and this is his first full season after that surgery. It's great to see him learning and staying mentally tough to overcome the adversity he faced last month."
Victor Caratini, the Braves' No. 7 prospect, doubled home a run and Connor Oliver plated a pair for Rome.
------------------
FRIDAY BOXES LINK
-----------------
CLASS AAA
Game One
Norfolk 12, Gwinnett 11 (8)
Two blown saves; four-run 8th for Norfolk.
SP: C. Martin 5 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 6 BB, 3 K.
Jaime (BS) 1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K.
LP: Severino (BS, 3-2) 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K.
Terdoslavich 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBIs.
E. Reyes 1-1, HR (1st), 3 RBIs. (PH)
Boggs 1-1, 2B, 2 RBIs. (PH)
Gosselin 2-4, 2 R. (.331)
Cunningham 2-5, 2 R, 2B.
Game Two
Gwinnett 7, Norfolk 4 (11)
SP: Beato 1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HR.
WP: Fisher (1-0) 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K.
Doyle (Save, 1) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
Gosselin 4-5, 2B, 3B, R, RBI, SB. (.338)
Boggs 1-4, HR (7th), 2 RBIs, SB.
Terdoslavich 1-6, R, RBI.
E. Reyes 1-5, R.
CLASS AA
Mississippi 2, Mobile 0
WP: Ross (3-1) 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 K.
Shreve (Save, 7) 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Peraza 2-4, R.
Hunter 1-3, 2B, RBI.
Castro 1-3.
ADVANCED CLASS A
Myrtle Beach 2, Lynchburg 1
LP: Sims (6-8) 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, HR.
Martinez 4-5, 3B.
Landoni 2-2, 2B, RBI.
Skinner 1-3, 2B, R.
CLASS A
Rome 7, Hickory 3
WP: Marksberry (1-6) 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K.
Kreitemeier 3-4, 2B, 3B, 4 RBIs.
Giardina 1-4, 2B, R, 2 RBIs.
Camargo 2-4, 2 R, RBI.
Godfrey 2-4, R, SB.
SHORT-SEASON
Danville 5, Pulaski 4 (11)
SP: Waszak 5 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
WP: Kinman (1-0) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
Miranda (Save, 1) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
Piloto 1-5, HR (2nd), RBI.
Grullon 2-5, 2 RBIs.
Black 2-5, 2 R, RBI, SB.
Edgerton 1-5, RBI.
GCLTigers 5, GCL Braves 4 (walkoff win)
SP: Ian Thomas 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K. (rehab)
R. Rodriguez 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
LP: Espinosa (1-1) 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Davidson 1-3, R. (.229)
Albies 1-3, 2 RBIs, 2 BB, 2 SB.
Pina 1-3, HR (1st), 2 RBIs. (.308)
Lipka 0-3, 3 K. (rehab)
DSL Braves 6, DSL Brewers 3
SP: Gil 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 0 K.
WP: Henry (1-0) 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K.
Moreno (Save, 8) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K.
Cortes 2-4, 3B, R, 2 RBIs.
Arias 1-5, SB.
K. Josephina 1-5, R, SB.
Salazar 3-4, R, 2 RBIs.
POYTHRESS SIGNS: Former Georgia Bulldog Rich Poythress, who hit .244 in 46 games with Jacksonville, has signed with the Miss. Braves. He hit 15 home runs in 2013, 31 in 2010. A beast at 6-4, 235, he is an Augusta native. He was the Mariners' second round pick in 2009.
OTHER MOVES: Yunesky Maya has been released.
Beato outrighted to Gwinnett, dropping him from 40-man.
1B Tanner Kreitemeier, OF Sean Godfrey, RHP Matt Kimbrel, Michael Flores promoted to Rome from Danville; Nathan Hass assigned to Rome from GCL. C Wigberto Nevarez to GCL Braves from Danville.
FA LHP pitcher Dylan Stuart released from GCL Braves after five reasonably good games (1-0, 3.24, 9 K, 1 BB in 10 IP).
Trevor Sprowl moved from Rome to Danville; Rafael Rodriguez to GCL Braves from Rome;
