Autumn Dreamin

My guy Mason Adams did pretty well in his AA debut despite not missing as many bats as in the lower levels. 5IP, 1ER, 5H, 3BB, 4K. The run scored on a bloop single > SB > WP > single. Barons made a nice play to cut down Caminero at the plate when he tried to score on a grounder to 2B after a leadoff triple in the 5th. They trail 1-0, getting on base a fair amount but not hitting anyone in.

There was a weird call toward the end Kannapolis game. Nishida tried to bunt for a hit, but the ball ran in on him and he kicked his leg back out of the way. Seemed like it clipped the bat for a foul ball, but he was called out on interference. Didn't matter ultimately, since Sprinkle hit that go ahead shot later in the inning, but the dugout wasn't happy. McDougal looked solid and had some extra zip on the FB, but his night was cut short after a two base throwing error put him in a jam. 3+ IP, 1ER, 4H, 2BB, 3K. Comas was solid in 2IP of scoreless relief. Kole Ramage was very impressive pitching the remaining 4 innings, no baserunners and 6K. He struggled in WS after being promoted earlier this season, but looks basically untouchable his past couple outings back in Kanny.

If I remember correctly, he gets a $1+ million bonus for making the MLB roster by 2025.

Cousin turns in a QS, 6IP, 7H, 3ER, 1BB, 6K.

Kinda surprised about Burke, thought he was maybe wearing down a bit, but looks like he'll be joining Montgomery and Ramos (who I think have 99% and 90% AFL odds, respectively). Curious to see if Eder or Vera are among the arms going.

Lance Lynn did his usual post-inning swearing into the void, and the Dodgers broadcaster threw some shade about how he must be fired up by being "miles away from pitching for the White Sox." The next inning he loads the bases, walks in the tying run, gives up a slam to Acuna Jr, and then another HR for good measure while racking up 60 pitches through 2IP. Ironically, turns in a a worse line (4.1IP, 7ER, 7H, 2BB, 1K, 3HR) than he did for the White Sox in the exact same matchup vs. Strider and the Braves (5.1IP, 6H, 4ER, 3BB, 6K 2HR, W) I liked Lynn and I don't think he's totally cooked, but the "stupid Sox, Dodgers found one simple trick to make him a 2 ERA pitcher" narrative while he was pitching to soft offenses and still running a high FIP/low BABIP was annoying. He has more HRs (5) and walks (3) allowed than Ks (2) in his past two starts, and more hits allowed (17) than innings (10.1). But sure, the Dodgers "fixed his pitch mix" or whatever.

Definitely looked better than the line shows. One of the runs took both a (probable) missed call on a tag at third and Colson bobbling the following would-be DP ball to score. Colson also missed the hop on a bouncer that should have ended the 5th, and that runner ended up scoring. Seems like Mason Adams should be getting his AA debut tomorrow, then Eder and Cannon to finish the series.

Kanny wins Game 2 with a 2-1 walkoff. I'm pretty sure these teams have scored like 10 runs total in 3 games. Shane Murphy adds another good start to the list for the org today, 5IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 6K. Bush maybe could have completed the collection, but the Barons seem a bit checked out tonight. Spotty defense has been giving bases away and the bats are doing nothing.

6IP, 2ER, 2H, 2BB, 9K for Nastrini. Probably should have been 1 run, honestly. Velo started to dip a bit at the end, but still averaged 94. Changeup seems like a solid swing and miss pitch. Mixed in a few cutters, sliders, and curves. Statcast Report Deivi Garcia on in relief. He strikes out the side. 14 pitches, 8 whiffs. Leasure walked 1, but also got 3K's in his inning. Knights outhit the opposition but can't come through with one when they need it, so they lose 2-1 despite absolutely stellar pitching (2H, 3BB, 15K).

McCullough done, 6IP, 1H, 1BB, 8K. The "hit" clipped the top of Chappy's glove but didn't stay in.

Nastrini has allowed just 1 walk and 1 hit, but they cost him. A grounder down the 1B got past Perez into the corner, allowing the walk to score. They were slow getting the ball back in and indecisive with the cutoff, so the runner got to 3rd and then scored on a sac fly. Another groundball snuck down the 3B line for a hit in the 5th, but was stranded. 8Ks through 5IP, the changeup looks very effective.

41% CSW on the fastball so far, 38% overall.

2Ks for Nick "Nasty" Nastrini in the first, though the second one took 10 pitches. 3U/3D with another K in the 2nd. Throwing a lot of strikes, hitting 95-96.

No Quero or Popeye for Bham tonight.

Batista continues to look very solid. Allowed a single in the first but Harris got the CS: 6U/6D with 3K in the second and third. Allowed a double and walk in the 4th, but stranded them with a FC to 3B and a GIDP. The game was flying by since Kanny bats weren't doing anything either, but they're on the board now. Nishida walk and Park single put runners at the corners to set up a Gonzo bloop RBI single. Still two on, no outs.

Chris Lanzilli moving from Kanny to WS. Eddie Park back from the IL. I'm guessing Nishida shifts over to LF.

Is it still an org sweep if only 3/5 games are played? ? Barons won 7-1. Other than Thompson's shaky command in the first, one of the most well rounded games they've played all season. Thompson was backed up by scoreless work out of the pen from LHPs Haylen Green and Fraser Ellard and an offense led by Popeye (2-4, HR, 4RBI), Ramos (3-4, 2B), and Veras (2-4, HR, 3RBI). Curt Bloom mentioned on the broadcast that undisclosed Rays org personnel had nice things to say about Colson. Their top prospect Junior Caminero had a rough multi-error night at the hot corner. Meanwhile...Neither team could get much going offensively in the WS game, which stayed scoreless until late. WS put up two in the 7th with the help of shoddy opposing defense (SS sailed one into the dugout). They gave one back the next inning throwing the ball away trying to cut down a runner at home. Things got a little chippy in a tight game with a lot of close calls, the Braves manager and someone else from their dugout got the boot at some point. RHP Johnny Ray loaded the bases (single, walk, HBP) with no outs trying to protect the one run lead in the 9th, but got out of it with 2Ks and a pop to short for the 2-1 win. Local product Brooks Gosswein chipped in his best work in a while, with 3.1IP scoreless behind Vera. Nastrini makes his Charlotte debut tomorrow, and Bush will be going for Bham. Kanny plays two.

Thompson hasn't allowed a baserunner since he labored through the first, really impressive recovery by him. He finally gave up another hit in the 6th after 4 perfect innings, but left him stranded. Went from 28 pitches in the first with bases loaded to finishing 6IP on 84 pitches. 1ER, 2H, 3BB (all in the first), 2K. Barons up 7-1.

Popeye grabs the lead with a 3 run shot to LF.

Barons defense bails Thompson out of a bases loaded, no outs situation in the first. Ramos and Quero team up for a force at home on a grounder, then a 5-4-3 to end it. A run had already scored in the inning unfortunately, but a perfect 6 pitch second should help keep Thomspon in the game when it looked like it might get out of hand early.

Vera hits his pitch count with 2 outs in the third. He looked pretty confident, seemed like he tried to plead his case to finish the inning. 2.2IP, 0ER, 1H, 2K, 2BB. One walk was a pretty uncompetitive 4 pitches, the other was a good sequence where he just missed with a borderline pitch and didn't get the call.

2 RBI triple for Colson, OF whiffed on a diving attempt.

Mena wiggled out of a bases loaded jam in the 5th. Fell behind 3-0 to the batter, but recovered to a 3-2 flyout to end the inning. At 91 pitches, I assume he's done. 5IP, 4H, 2ER, 3BB, 3K. The runs were on a walk > single > double steal > 2B sequence in the 4th. You could tell he was a bit amped up early with an extra tick or two on the FB. Command was a little shaky but still a solid AAA debut for a 20 year old.

6th rounder LHP Lucas Gordon making his affiliate debut for Kanny. Struck out 3 (all swinging) in the first after a leadoff single. He turned in a solid 2.1IP, 1H, 2BB, 4K. Didn't want to give up the ball, lol.

Mena gets his first AAA strikeout on the last batter of a 1-2-3 second inning.