Braves general manager John Coppolella was in Chattanooga Saturday to watch Mississippi lose its seventh straight, scoring only on a Joey Meneses solo homer in a 3-1 game.
It didn't help that the Braves were facing the top pitcher in the Twins farm system, Steven Gonsalves (8-1), who worked seven shutout innings. Tough luck loser was Patrick Weigel (0-2), who looked very much like he belonged in AA (at least). Weigel did not give up a hit until the fourth inning, when the Lookouts put two runs up on a two-out, two-run triple.
Chattanooga added its third run on a solo homer by Travis Harrison on a 2-0. But Weigel worked seven strong innings, showing better control than in his first Mississippi start.
The M-Braves bats are DOA. Peterson did not get the ball out of the infield. Albies had only a single and a walk, but made a big league play at second base to get a force play. Albies looks like a natural a second. Camargo also made a big league play at short on a bad-hop grounder. They seemed like a comfortable combo at second.
Astudillo was 0-4, but did not strike out, and keeps his amazing number at only 10 this season.
Schrader just missed a homer with a double high off the left-center wall, but was then promptly picked off second.
Newcomb goes Sunday afternoon trying to stop the bleeding. The Braves have won seven of his last eight starts.