Originally Posted by
rico43
Janas Leaves Bus Wreck Behind; Season Back on Track
FRom MiLB
Steve Janas walked away from an accident six weeks ago that could have been much worse. On Saturday night, it was business as usual for the right-hander. The Braves' No. 29 prospect gave up three hits over five scoreless innings as Class A Advanced Carolina defeated Myrtle Beach, 4-3, at Five County Stadium.
Janas (5-0), walked two, struck out one and hit a batter in his first start since May 6. The 23-year-old right-hander threw 43 of 66 pitches for strikes, getting six ground-ball outs and six flyouts.
"I would say throwing strikes, but I walked a couple and hit a guy," Janas said. "For the most part, I was trying to attack guys and give them a chance to get themselves out. I didn't think I was as sharp as I was before with my fastball command."
Janas was on the Mudcats bus that was involved in an accident on May 13. The Georgia native was just happy to be back with his teammates.
"It was great," he said. "Got into town Wednesday night, the last day of the All-Star break, and got to hang out with some of the guys. Just being in the clubhouse with the guys was a lot better than being in the clubhouse, rehabbing in Orlando.
"It was unfortunate that the bus crashed like that. I just tried to make the best of it. Things like that happen."
In the midst of his best season as a pro, Janas said he felt no frustration for the missed time.
"I didn't look at it as being frustrated. I would say I was happy that everyone was able to walk away," he said. "I was thinking we had some people really messed up that might not be able to walk away from it."
Janas has given up only two runs over 37 innings for a 0.49 ERA that would lead the Carolina League if he pitched enough to qualify. He's limited opponents to a .146 batting average and has recorded 24 strikeouts against only four walks.
"My pitching coach in Rome last year, Gabe Luckert, helped me develop a cutter," the 2013 sixth-round Draft pick said. "I'll give a lot of credit to that, but I think my fastball command is much better this year. It makes all my off-speed pitches effective. I'll say the cutter and the fastball command have come a long way. I really started throwing [the cutter] a couple of weeks after the All-Star break last year. It was a new pitch, so I didn't use it that much. I've got a lot more confidence with that now."
After a lengthy rain delay, Caleb Dirks walked one and struck out one in a hitless ninth to earn his first save. Braves No. 17 prospect Dustin Peterson was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Connor Lien reached base three times and scored twice for the Mudcats.
SUNDAY'S SCHEDULE
ALL TIMES EDT
CLASS AAA
Pawtucket 3, Gwinnett 2 (11)
SP: G. Smith 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5.
Marimon 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.
LP: Fisher (1-3) 1.2 IP 1, H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.
M. Smith 0-5, 2 K; Peraza 2-5, R, SB; Bethancourt 2-3, RBI, SB; EYJ 1-4, R, RBI, SB (9th).
CLASS AA
Pensacola @ Mississippi (34-37), 6:00
SP: Jenkins (4-5).
ADVANCED CLASS A
Carolina (37-35) @ Potomac, 6:05
SP: Webster (3-3).
CLASS A
Rome 6, Augusta 4 (8th)
SP: Toussaint 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 5 K, 2 WP, 2 HBP. (88 pitches)
Albies 2-4, R (.325); Davidson 1-3, 2B, R, RBI; Murphy 2-3, 2B, R, RBI; Oliver 2-3, RBI.
SHORT-SEASON
Greeneville 1, Danville 0
SP: Weigel 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K.
Roney 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K.
LP: Cordero (0-1) 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
Joint no-hitter into 7th; Codero (3rd pitcher) gives up hit, unearned run.
Hoekstra 1-3, 3B; Estevez 1-3.
GCL Braves, DSL Braves idle.
MOVES: Closers are on the move: In addition to Ryan Kelly reaching the big leagues, Dave Peterson has moved from Carolina to Mississippi
RHP Cole Brocker has been released. Indy league pickup has played at three levels this year, but had a 5.14 ERA in 10 total appearances, allowing 20 hits in 14 innings, although he had 15 strikeouts and just three walks. He had no record but picked up two saves for Carolina.
Franklin Azuaje, a Venezuelean, has been moved from GCL hell to Danville. Career .296 hitter in two short seasons.
